The Adirondack High Peaks seen from St. Regis Mountain. (Wikimedia Photo)
Forest rangers in the Adirondack High Peaks rescued a pair of distressed hikers early Tuesday morning.
On Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call reporting two distressed hikers traveling from Upper Works to the Adirondack Loj. The 34-year-old man and 27-year-old woman, both from Plattsburgh, New York, left Upper Works at noon. They texted a family member at 5:45 p.m. stating “the trail to the Loj is closed” and requested assistance.
Two DEC forest rangers responded first, one from Upper Works and one from the Adirondack Loj. The forest ranger who started from the Adirondack Loj encountered high water from snow melt and was forced to turn back. Additional forest rangers were sent to Upper Works. The rangers located both hikers at 2:08 a.m. on the Indian Pass trail. The male hiker had lost a boot in the snowpack and sustained a possible lower leg injury. Due to the extent of the injuries, New York State Police Aviation responded at 7:35 a.m. and airlifted the pair to AMC Lake Placid for treatment. The Lake Placid Fire Department assisted in the rescue. The incident concluded at 8:05 a.m.