Forest rangers in New York recently conducted several missions to rescue hikers who were unprepared to encounter cold, icy conditions in late April.
According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, rangers conducted a rescue on April 23 when Greene County 911 received a call around 2 p.m. for two hikers unable to hike down the Batavia Kill Trail due to icy conditions. The hikers were in good health and within cell range. However, the pair did not have crampons and could not get off the trail without assistance. Two rangers responded up the trail, provided the hikers with crampons, and assisted them down the trail, all reaching the trailhead by 8 p.m.
Rangers conducted two more rescues on April 24. At 6:44 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a male hiker suffering from the cold weather. He had hiked Pillsbury Mountain and by the time he got to the trailhead he did not believe he could make the 5-mile trek through the remaining snow to get back to his vehicle. He also believed he had frostbite. Two rangers responded along with a Hamilton County Sherriff’s Deputy. A ranger ATV and sheriff UTV were utilized to locate the hiker. After his injuries were assessed by rangers, he was taken back to his vehicle by 9:53 p.m.
DEC Ray Brook Dispatch also received a call at 7:11 p.m. from a female lost off the trail on Scarface Mountain due to icy trail conditions. Ray Brook had the caller contact Franklin County 911 to obtain her coordinates. The hiker spoke with a ranger, but was unable to find the trail. At 9:18 p.m., a ranger located the hiker in good health and began slowly descending the ice-covered trail with her. He assisted the subject back to her vehicle by 10:40 p.m.