A young hiker was found dead near New York’s Sugarloaf Mountain on Saturday, December 21 after suffering what appeared to be a fall off a cliff.
New York conservation officers received a call at 6:45 p.m. on December 21 from a mother concerned about her son after not hearing from him for three days. Seven forest rangers responded to coordinate search efforts with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
The family indicated they often hiked Sugarloaf Mountain together, so search efforts focused on that area.
At 10:20 p.m., rangers found the 20-year-old from Whitehall deceased at the bottom of a cliff. Rangers conducted a carry-out operation back to the trailhead to turn the subject over to the county coroner.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department is working with the DEC Division of Law Enforcement’s Bureau of Environmental Crime Investigations to investigate the incident.
In other news, conservation officers were also involved in two wilderness rescues on December 26 and 27.
On Thursday, December 26 at 12:52 p.m., officers received a call from a hiker at Marcy Dam who said he and his companion’s feet were frozen and they could not continue hiking.
Forest rangers located the two 18-year-olds from New Jersey. One of them was barefoot with his feet wrapped in his jacket. The hiker’s boots and socks were frozen.
Rangers treated both subjects for mild hypothermia, provided extra layers of clothes, and transported the pair back to the trailhead. Resources were clear by 4 p.m.
On Friday, December 27 at 10:24 a.m., rangers responded to a call for an ice-climber fall in Kaaterskill Clove. The 62-year-old fell approximately 35 feet.
Rangers worked with Haines Falls Rescue, Kingston Technical Rescue Team, Tannersville Rescue, and the Twin Cloves Technical Rescue Team on a technical rope rescue.
Crews pulled the climber to safety and brought him to a waiting ambulance. Resources were clear at 12:15 p.m.