Two men in their 40s from Quebec were trying to climb Trap Dike on October 12 when they found themselves in a dangerous spot and unable to move in any direction.
Trap Dike is one of the most challenging climbs in the Adirondack High Peaks, consisting of steep rock climbs and vertical sections leading to the summit of Mount Colden. The wet weather that day made the climb even more difficult.
Trap Dike in the Adirondack High Peaks is a difficult climb requiring some mountaineering skills to navigate the steep, treacherous terrain.NYS DECEMBER
The New York State Police Air Force dispatched three Department of Environmental Protection foresters to conduct a rescue using technical ropes. It was too wet and dangerous to rescue the stranded climbers from below, so rangers instead climbed to the top of the causeway and rappelled down.
The rangers then lowered the two climbers to safety, warmed them up, gave them food, took them across Lake Colden and led them to Marcy Dam. The climbers finally reached the trailhead at 2:45 a.m. the next day.
The following reports are from DEC:
On October 12, a Cowart ranger pulled an injured hiker aboard a state police helicopter. A 78-year-old hiker from France was injured while hiking on Overlook Mountain.NYS DECEMBER
On October 12, a 78-year-old man from France was injured while hiking Overlook Mountain in the Echo Lake area. The person could not walk or even sit. Woodstock Paramedics suspected the hiker had a broken pelvis and called in a state police helicopter to perform a winch rescue. Emergency personnel moved the patient to a site 300 feet up the hill, and guards helped load him onto a lift. The patient was transported by plane to the hospital.
A 55-year-old from Au Sable Forks and a 70-year-old from Keeseville got lost while hiking in the Karkonosze Mountains on October 9. They last contacted their family at 8:40 p.m. Two rangers found the hikers about 1.7 miles from the trailhead and provided them with flashlights, warm clothing and water before helping the pair out of the woods.
Steve Featherstone photographs outdoors for The Post Standard, syracuse.com AND NYUP.com. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow all our outdoor content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors.