A hiker who fell and struck their head on New York’s Mount Haystack was rescued by helicopter last week. It was one of several wilderness rescues recently conducted by New York forest rangers.
On September 6 at 4:26 p.m., forest rangers received a call for a hiker who fell and hit their head while hiking Mount Haystack. The hiker reportedly had previous medical issues and was bleeding from the face.
Rangers determined a hoist rescue was the safest and quickest option. A New York State Police helicopter pilot flew a ranger to the scene. Rangers on the ground harnessed the subject, and the 56-year-old hiker was then hoisted into the helicopter.
The hiker was flown to a nearby hospital and the incident was clear at 6 p.m.
Hiker Passes Out
On September 5 at 1:30 a.m., rangers received a call from Garmin about a hiker feeling ill who passed out once. The subject was at the Mud Lake lean-to in Silver Lakes Wilderness Area.
Two forest rangers reached the 36-year-old, completed a patient assessment, and provided food, water, and electrolytes.
The patient was able to hike under their own power. Rangers assisted the subject back to the trailhead. The incident was clear at 7:50 a.m.
Overdue Hiker
On September 5 at 7:45 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call reporting a 70-year-old hiker overdue from Cliff and Redfield mountains in Newcomb, New York.
The hiker from Illinois was planning to camp at Lake Colden after finishing the two mountains, but satellite coordinates the night before placed the subject near the summit of Cliff Mountain.
At 9:49 a.m., a ranger made contact with the hiker and determined they were lost near the Cliff Mountain summit.
At 11:58 a.m., the Lake Colden caretaker two rangers located the hiker and provided food and water. At 5:27 p.m., they made it to the Herbert Brook lean-to. The hiker needed rest before continuing. At 1:18 p.m. the next day, the caretaker escorted the hiker out of the woods to the trailhead. The incident was clear at 2:50 p.m.
Lost Hiker Near Marcy Dam Trail
On September 5 at 10:03 a.m., rangers responded to a call for a lost hiker off the Marcy Dam Trail.
The subject’s son was hiking Mount Marcy and the subject planned to get a little exercise and stop half a mile before the Algonquin Mountain Junction. While seeking privacy for a bathroom break, the subject lost the trail and walked for an hour before contacting their spouse for help.
A ranger requested the subject call 911 so they could get updated coordinates. Those coordinates placed the hiker roughly half a mile east of the ski trail towards Marcy Brook.
Rangers located the hiker and reached the trailhead at 11:05 a.m.
Overdue Hiker In Dix Range
On September 6 at 9 p.m., five forest rangers responded to a call for an overdue hiker in the Dix Range.
The 53-year-old from Clinton Corners texted coordinates to their sister, placing the subject moving toward East Dix and Route 73.
Rangers located the hiker on the north fork of the Boquet Trail. The subject’s headlamp died, so they were using their phone for both light and navigation.
Rangers provided a head lamp and walked them to the trailhead. The incident was clear at 11:28 p.m.
