FOUND: Hiker near Strafford NH go missing in night rain UPDATE 2

UPDATED: 5:45pm 10/08/12

STRAFFORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire man reported missing by his family has been found safe in the woods in Strafford.

Fifty-four-year-old Francis Drown of Rochester had gone hiking on Blue Job (jobe) Mountain in Strafford on Sunday morning but did not return by evening.

About 20 people searched the woods on Sunday night but did not find him. Search teams continued on Monday morning. Drown was found by a search dog shortly before noon.

Fish and Game Department officials say he had been camping in the woods about a half mile from where his vehicle was parked near Johnsonboro Road and was unaware that people were looking for him.


STRAFFORD NH — Rescue crews gathered on Johnsonboro Road near Blue Job Mountain Sunday evening to execute a search for what officials believed to be a missing hiker or hikers.

Due to inconsistent cell phone service little was known of the party’s description as officials began canvassing the area a little before 8 p.m.


Members of New Hampshire Fish and Game along with Strafford police were on scene attempting to make contact with the lost party via cell phone, though service in the area is sparse.


A K-9 team was dispatched to pick up a track, but was unsuccessful in initial attempts. Officials attempted contact with Verizon Wireless to get a signal from the closest service tower to the lost party’s phone. Initial attempts to do so were also unsuccessful.


By 10:15 p.m. as rain began falling more heavily, search volunteers continued arriving along with an ambulance and requested N.H. Department of Forestry vehicle a well as a Gator Utility All Terrain Vehicle.

UPDATED: 9:57am 10/08/12
A search for a missing hiker or hikers continues on a New Hampshire mountain.

Searchers from the Strafford police and New Hampshire Fish and Game gathered Sunday evening to begin looking for a man who was reported missing on Blue Job (jobe) Mountain.

Fish and Game spokeswoman Jane Vachon says the search continued into Monday morning.

UPDATED: 2:02pm 10/08/12
STRAFFORD, N.H. (AP) — A 54-year-old Rochester, N.H. man is missing after going hiking on Blue Job (jobe) Mountain in Strafford.

Police say Francis Drown began his hike Sunday morning but did not return by evening.

Authorities say initial efforts to reach the man by cell phone were unsuccessful, and a dog failed to pick up the missing man’s scent.

Police say the blue-eyed, brown-haired drown was wearing camouflage plants and a tan shirt.

Police say they do not suspect foul play.

Blue Job Mountain is a mountain summit in Strafford County in the state of New Hampshire (NH). Blue Job Mountain climbs to 1,296 feet (395.02 meters) above sea level. Blue Job Mountain is located at latitude - longitude coordinates (also called lat - long coordinates or GPS coordinates) of N 43.33147 and W -71.115065.