Trap Dike near Mount Colden in New York's Adirondacks. (NYDEC Photo)
Trap Dike near Mount Colden in New York's Adirondacks. (NYDEC Photo)

Technical Rope Rescue Needed for Stranded Hikers

Rescuers in New York rappelled down a steep rockface to rescue two hikers stranded near New York’s Trap Dike near Mount Colden on Saturday, October 12.

Rangers received a report of the two stranded hikers at 3:15 p.m. The hikers were reportedly no longer able to move in any direction due to the steep and wet conditions.

A ranger rappels down a steep cliff to reach stranded hikers. (NYDEC Photo)
A ranger rappels down a steep cliff to reach stranded hikers. (NYDEC Photo)

A state police aviation pilot was called in to fly three forest rangers to the location to perform a technical rope rescue. It was too wet and unsafe to rescue the pair from below, so rangers climbed to the top of the dike and rappelled down to the subjects.

Rangers reached the 42-year-old and 43-year-old from Quebec at 5:30 p.m. and lowered the pair to the trap dike. Rangers warmed and fed the hikers, took the pair across the lake by boat, and hiked them to Marcy Dam.

The subjects reached their vehicles at the trailhead at 2:45 a.m.