In another incident, a group of experienced hikers abandoned their novice companions.
Forest rangers in New York responded to two incidents of hikers in distress last week, with one hiker without a light becoming lost and another novice hiker with asthma who was abandoned by more experienced hiking companions.
On Saturday, November 15 at 8 p.m., forest rangers received a report of a lost hiker near Mount Mink near the summit of Slide Mountain Hollow in Hunter, New York.
The 53-year-old hiker from New Jersey reportedly became disoriented near the Mink Hollow lean-to and the hiker’s phone battery was dead.
Other hikers already at the lean-to called 911 to request ranger assistance in helping the hiker get back on the right trail.
A ranger responded and assisted the hiker out of the woods and then to Notch Lake. Resources were clear at 10:30 p.m.
Rangers suggest hikers bring light sources such as headlamps with extra batteries and not rely on phones for navigation and light. In the wilderness, cell phone batteries lose charge more quickly due topoor signal reception and temperature extremes.
In another incident, rangers received a call for a hiker having trouble breathing near the summit of Slide Mountain in Shandaken on Sunday, November 16 at noon.
Rangers made reached the 30-year-old hiker from New Jersey on a phone. The original group was eight hikers — four were reportedly experienced and left the novice hikers behind. The hiker who needed help had asthma but did not bring an inhaler.
Rangers told the group to stay where they were and wait for help. Approximately 15 minutes later, a ranger called the group again and the hiker was breathing much better.
Rangers and local fire personnel responded to the trailhead. At 2 p.m., rescuers found the hiker in good health. The subject refused further medical attention. Resources were clear at 4:30 p.m.
