It’s the time of year when warming spring temperatures at lower elevations can fool some hikers into thinking it’s like that in the mountains, too. That frequent mistake was the cause behind several rescues in New York last week.
Forest rangers in New York rescued several hikers who did not expect to encounter significant winter conditions in the Adirondacks and Catskills.
Rangers also rescued a hiker who passed out while drinking and a canoeist concerned about capsizing.
After several days of warm temperatures in the region, several hikers in New York were seemingly caught off guard last weekend by a cold front that brought snow to some areas of the region.
Those same conditions proved deadly in northern New England, where a hiker who was reportedly unprepared for cold, snowy conditions was found dead in New Hampshire. Additionally, a “severely hypothermic” hiker had to be rescued in Maine.
In North Hudson, New York, forest rangers received a report of a stranded hikers on the Lillian Brook Trail in the Dix Range at 7:01 p.m. on Saturday, April 18. Concerned family members reported the 61-year-old and 28-year-old got a little lost on their planned hike of Macomb, South Dix, Grace, and Hough mountains.
When rangers arrived, they found the subjects hiking out. The hikers said they had underestimated the snowy conditions and the time required for their hike.
Officials said the pair was unprepared for the darkness and didn’t have any headlamps. Rangers escorted the pair to their vehicles. Resources were clear at 10 p.m.
In Newcomb, New York, rangers received a call about two overdue hikers at 5:56 a.m. on Sunday, April 19.
The 23- and 24-year-olds from Cazenovia had reportedly planned to hike the Santoni Range. A friend found the pair’s vehicle in the parking area.
At 8:42 a.m., forest rangers located the hikers. They were reportedly cold and wet.
Rangers rewarmed the subjects and assisted them back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 9:27 a.m.
In Keene, New York, rangers received a call at 1:50 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 from two hikers worried about frostbite after getting their feet wet while crossing a creek on Mount Marcy.
At 4:22 p.m., two forest rangers reached the two 17-year-olds near the Phelps junction. Rangers assessed the teenagers from Connecticut and determined they had muscle soreness, but no frostbite, and could continue walking on their own.
Rangers escorted the pair out of the woods. Resources were clear at 6:41 p.m.
Officials with Herkimer County requested forest ranger assistance with a hiker who fainted at the top of the Bald Mountain fire tower at 3:37 p.m. on Saturday, April 18. Witnesses reported seeing the 36-year-old from Gouverneur drinking with another hiker.
When rangers arrived, the other hiker dumped out a bag in an apparent effort to hide something. With the possibility of drug use, rangers administered Narcan to the unconscious hiker. The patient remained unconscious.
Rangers worked with the Eagle Bay and Old Forge Fire Departments and Webb Police on multiple rope systems along the trail to get the hiker to an Old Forge Ambulance. The following day, the subject was awake and in stable condition.
In a sign of spring, rescues weren’t limited to the land last week. Rangers responded to a report of a canoeist stranded on Watch Island in Tupper Lake at 3:42 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.
The subject still had a canoe but was concerned about capsizing in the cold water again. The subject and their dog already capsized once.
Rangers used a motorboat to rescue the subject and the dog. Resources were clear at 6:52 p.m.
