New York forest rangers braved rugged terrain and frigid temperatures to rescue a lost hiker in the Catskills last week.
New York Department of Environmental Conservation officials said rangers responded to a call for a lost hiker in the Slide Mountain Wilderness on Tuesday, December 12 at 5:30 p.m.
Coordinates placed the 17-year-old from Youngsville between Slide and Cornell mountains, approximately three miles from the trailhead. Rangers worked with New York State Police and the Big Indian and Claryville fire departments.
Rescuers endured snowy, icy conditions during the rescue of a lost hiker in the Catskills. (NYDEC Photo)
At 7:30 p.m., rangers reached the hiker, who was showing symptoms of mild hypothermia. He was in the middle of a two-night backpacking trip that started at the Giant Ledge trailhead with a planned meeting with family at the Slide Mountain trailhead.
Due to the steep and rugged terrain, snow accumulation, rapidly dropping temperatures, and exhaustion, the hiker could not reach his planned destination.
After warming the hiker with hot liquids, food, and hand and foot warmers, rangers assisted the subject to the Slide Mountain trailhead, where he was met by his family. Resources were clear at 2:30 a.m.
Rescuers adjust equipment during a snowy rescue of a lost hiker in the Slide Mountain Wilderness.