Two lost hikers who reportedly had no headlamps, lacked cold-weather gear, and became wet from a stream crossing had to be rescued by forest rangers in New York Sunday night.
According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, rangers received a report of two lost hikers on the Giant Ledge Trail in Shadaken, New York at 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, December 21.
Officials said the wind chill temperature at the time was zero degrees. One of the hikers was wearing jeans and uninsulated boots. The other was wearing cotton athletic pants and running sneakers.
Officials said the hikers did not have traction devices for their footwear or headlamps to hike in the dark.
On their descent, the hikers reportedly got lost in the low-light conditions and ended up roughly a quarter-mile west of the trail.
The hikers attempted bushwacking from their location directly toward where they thought the parking area was, which forced them to cross two small streams, resulting in wet and cold feet.
They texted 911 that they were lost, which gave dispatchers their coordinates.
Two forest rangers hiked up the icy trail and eventually saw the hikers’ tracks leading off trail.
At 7:15 p.m., rangers reached the 36- and 38-year-old hikers from Congers.
Rangers provided hot tea, headlamps, and dry socks before leading the hikers back to the trailhead.
Rangers reportedly educated the hikers on winter hiking safety. Resources were clear at 8:30 p.m.
