Forest rangers in New York conducted several rescues of hikers last week, some of whom suffered injuries, while others were dehydrated, undernourished, or exhausted.
On Friday, October 10 at 4:11 p.m., rangers received a call from a hiker on Thomas Mountain in Bolton reporting their mother could not continue the hike due to a preexisting knee condition. The hiking party was descending from the summit to the north trailhead.
Rangers searched the trail with negative results. A ranger called them back and instructed them to call 911 so they could get accurate coordinates. Coordinates placed them on the Ridge trail between Cat and Thomas Mountains.
Eleven rangers carried a wheeled litter, medical equipment, and ropes to their location. After completing a medical assessment, rangers wrapped the 73-year-old from Bath in a hypowrap for warmth and packaged the hiker into the litter.
Rangers evacuated the patient using a series of ropes to reach an ATV. They reached the trailhead at 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, October 11 at 3:34 p.m., rangers received a 911 call from two hikers unable to make it back to the trailhead from Cranberry Lake Wild Forest in Clifton.
The hikers, ages 29 and 57, were suffering from exhaustion after hiking the Peavine Swamp trail.
Two rangers found the hikers, provided water and electrolytes, and assisted them back to the trailhead.
On Saturday, October 11 at 3:45 p.m., rangers received a 911 call about a hiker on the lower falls of Kaaterskill Falls who was possibly experiencing a diabetic emergency and a partial loss of consciousness.
At 4 p.m., rangers reached the 34-year-old from New Jersey. The hiker was not diabetic but was suffering from low blood sugar because they hadn’t eaten enough during the day.
Rangers provided water and electrolytes while someone else in the hiking party provided snacks.
After resting, the subject was feeling better and able to walk out. Rangers assisted the subject to the Laurel House trailhead, where they were met by Hunter EMS and Greene County Paramedic. Resources were clear at 5 p.m.
On Saturday, October 11 at 5:45 p.m., the Marcy Dam caretaker contacted Ray Brook Dispatch about a hiker experiencing symptoms of dehydration.
At 7:35 p.m., two rangers reached the 52-year-old from Yonkers. At 8:05 p.m., they made it to the trailhead where Lake Placid EMS then transported the patient to the hospital.
On Sunday, October 12 at 12:25 p.m., rangers received a call from a hiker reporting their parent lost consciousness and then came to on the Big Slide Trail in Keene Valley. Rangers learned the 56-year-old from New Jersey was diabetic.
A ranger met the pair on the trail and assisted them back to the trailhead. The hiker refused further medical care.
On Sunday, October 12 at 2:40 p.m., forest rangers and local police and fire crews responded to Good Luck Cliff in Arietta for a hiker with a possible broken ankle.
Rangers reached the 35-year-old from Staten Island, splinted the injured ankle, and assisted the hiker back to the trailhead. Speculator EMS transported the patient to the hospital.
On Sunday, October 12 at 2:32 p.m., a group of hikers stopped to see a historic stone building while hiking from South Lake Day Use Area to Kaaterskill Falls. While looking, a 27-year-old from East Patchogue fell and sustained a significant ankle injury.
Forest rangers located the subject on the yellow-marked trail near the building. They splinted the ankle and got the patient to a forest ranger’s truck to drive to the South Lake Road trailhead.
Hunter ambulance transported the patient to the hospital. Resources were clear at 4 p.m.
