Forest rangers had a busy day on Mount Marcy recently when they rescued a group of four lost hikers on the mountain just hours after rescuing a hypothermic hiker near the summit.
According to New York Department of Environmental Conservation officials, emergency personnel received a 911 text from a hiker at 4:10 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20 reporting that they were “freezing and in shock” near the summit of Mount Marcy.
Officials said the hiker fell, refused to move due to stress, and became hypothermic.
A forest ranger contacted the hiker by phone and explained that if they didn’t get out of the wind, they could die from hypothermia.
A New York State Police helicopter pilot flew three forest rangers to the scene. Two rangers were lowered down to the hiker’s location. They warmed the hiker and then guided them down to Marcy Dam Outpost.
A ranger provided an ATV ride to the hiker’s vehicle. The incident was clear at 10 p.m.
However, at 9:04 p.m., dispatch received a call about a group of four hikers lost on Mount Marcy.
The group of 18- to 23-year-olds from New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania had been hiking Phelps Mountain and took a “short cut” across Marcy Brook, hoping to make it out before their phone and headlamp batteries died.
They called 911 for help shortly before their phones died.
A ranger who had just finished the previous rescue hiked back into the woods and located the group.
Three other rangers who had also just finished with the rescue drove ATVs to meet the hikers.
They drove the group back to their vehicle at the Adirondak Loj trailhead. The incident was clear at 10:42 p.m.
