Several hikers exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion had to be rescued in separate incidents last week in New York, including one incident in which hikers had to be rescued by helicopter.
At 1:13 p.m. on Thursday, August 7, forest rangers received a call from an 18-year-old hiker who was 50 yards off the summit of Mount Marcy. The hiker complained of fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, and vomiting.
The hiker from New Jersey had also run out of water, which the summit steward provided.
Once rehydrated, the teenager told a forest ranger he could hike the Van Hoevenberg Trail on his own. While hiking in, the forest ranger continued checking in on the subject.
At 5 p.m., rangers met the hiker one mile above Indian Falls. The hiker was moving well, but rangers provided electrolytes and food out of an abundance of caution and escorted the group of hikers he was with to Marcy Dam and then to the Adirondak Loj.
DEC encourages hikers to bring plenty of food and water for their hike in case the hike lasts longer than expected. Proper preparation for a hike can reduce bouts of cramping and dehydration.
In another incident on Friday, August 8, forest rangers received a report at 2:43 p.m. about a hiker at Kaaterskill Falls who had called 911 because of heat exhaustion.
At 5:06 p.m., rangers reached the 62-year-old from New Jersey. The subject was complaining of weakness, dizziness, and exhaustion, and was also a diabetic.
Rangers provided electrolytes and food, which enabled the hiker to continue the hike out.
At 5:14 p.m., they started walking with the subject and their hiking group when rangers were met by a Greene County Paramedic and Tannersville Fire Department. At 5:25 p.m., everyone exited the woods and the patient was turned over to Hunter EMS.
In an incident on Saturday, August 9, rangers received a call at 3:40 p.m. about a 62-year-old hiker experiencing weakness and persistent vomiting on Wittenberg Mountain.
Despite showing signs of fatigue at 1 p.m., the hiker and their son continued to the summit of the mountain. After hiking back down half a mile, the hiker from New Jersey could no longer continue.
Due to the remote location, New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation was approved. Two rangers and a NYSP medic were lowered down to the patient. NYSP successfully hoisted the subjects and brought them back to the Catskill Interpretive Center.
Rangers also conducted several other rescues last week. On Friday, August 8 at 10:40 a.m., forest rangers received a call from a subject reporting her friend, a 70-year-old from Colorado, had become disoriented on the Freedom trail.
A forest rangers in the area found the caller and the two hiked the Freedom trail.
After reaching the end of the state land boundary, the ranger called out the missing subject’s name and they answered. The ranger guided the pair back to the trail and assisted them to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 1:45 p.m.
On Sunday, August 10 at 7:05 p.m., rangers received a third-party Garmin SOS activation stating “sick, injured, broken, dislocated” in the Sawtooth Mountains.
At 9:51 p.m., forest rangers made contact with the subject and provided care to the subject. Based on the patient assessment, rangers determined the hiker could walk out overnight. At 12:05 a.m., rangers assisted the subject to the trailhead.
