Several hikers were rescued in separate incidents in New York last week.
A hiker who had no map — but lots of confidence — had to be helped by New York forest rangers twice on Thursday, April 17, when he got lost twice on one hike.
According to New York Department of Environmental Conservation officials, a dispatcher contacted a forest ranger at 3:55 p.m. about a lost hiker on the Mink Hollow Trail of Sugarloaf Mountain in Greene County, New York.
The hiker had called the dispatcher after becoming lost. The dispatcher was able to guide the hiker back to the trail, but the dispatcher remained concerned about the hiker.
The forest ranger called the 61-year-old from New York City who told the ranger he was in good health and planned to continue hiking. When the ranger learned the hiker did not have a map and was unfamiliar with the area, the ranger suggested the hiker turn around and head back to his vehicle. The hiker refused and said he would call back if he got lost.
At 5:02 p.m., the hiker called the ranger to report he was lost again.
At 6 p.m., two forest rangers located the hiker and assisted him down the trail to his vehicle.
The rescue was one of several wilderness rescues conducted by New York forest rangers recently. The following are a list of other recent search and rescue incidents in New York.
Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 18 at 5:15 p.m., four Forest Rangers responded to a report of a hiker with an ankle injury in the area of the Devil’s Acre lean-to on Hunter Mountain. Rangers reached the 45-year-old from New Jersey at 8:30 p.m. Rangers and members of the Lexington and Prattsville Fire Departments used a wheeled litter over the icy terrain to return the hiker to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 3:45 a.m.
Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Search: On April 19 at 5 p.m., Forest Rangers Commerford, Fox, and Peterson responded to a call from a hiker reporting he was lost on the south side of Twin Mountain. Ray Brook Dispatch provided coordinates and rangers reached the 23-year-old from Brooklyn and assisted him back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 9:30 p.m.
Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 19 at 6:14 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from two hikers looking for assistance getting down from the top of Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway. The two 19-year-olds from Quebec were not prepared for the cold and rainy conditions on the trail. At 6:52 p.m., two forest rangers reached the hikers on the road. Their clothes were soaked through, and if further subjected to the cold, rangers said the pair would likely have suffered from hypothermia. Rangers provided warm clothes and transported the hikers to their vehicle. Resources were clear by 7:50 p.m.
Town of Newcomb
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On April 21 at 2 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from New York State Police about a GPS beacon initiated by a lost hiker. Coordinates placed the hiker off the Santanoni Express trail near the junction with the Bradley Pond trail. At 5:05 a.m., a forest ranger located the 36-year-old from Brockport and 41-year-old from Fairport and escorted the hikers back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 7:50 a.m.
Town of Webb
Herkimer County
Water Rescue: On April 13 at 2:40 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Herkimer County 911 about two kayakers on Stillwater Reservoir who were unable to paddle back to the boat launch due to strong winds. At 4:11 p.m., Forest Ranger Lee responded by boat, located the 42- and 55-year-olds from Herkimer, and transported the pair back to their vehicle.
