Rangers Rescue Hikers During Hudson Valley Heat Wave

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — As high temperatures in the area reached 90 or above June 18-23, Forest Rangers were called out twice to rescue distressed hikers.

On Breakneck Ridge in Putnam County, Forest Rangers Joseph Pries and Aubrey Russo responded to a call at 2:45 p.m. June 21 about a hiker going in and out of consciousness on the trail. Rangers and staff from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation hiked up to the coordinates provided by Putnam County Dispatch.

At 4 p.m., rescue crews reached the 18-year-old from Holbrook and provided food, water, and electrolytes. The crew used a wheeled litter to get the subject down the mountain. A Putnam County paramedic examined the hiker and an ambulance transported her to a hospital for further assistance.

On June 22 at 4:30 p.m., a group of five hikers called Sullivan County 911 to report they were lost in Roosa Gap State Forest and couldn’t find their way back to the Cox Road trailhead. At 6:30 p.m., Forest Ranger John Rusher reached the group, roughly 2.5 miles from the trailhead.

The group from Queens thought the Long Path was a one-mile loop. They had not prepared to be outside in the extremely hot weather, and brought only one bottle of water for each person, rangers said.

One member of the party was dizzy and nauseated due to heat exhaustion. Rusher provided food, water, and electrolytes to everyone in the group so they could continue hiking down.

At 8:10 p.m., Summitville Fire Department hiked in with additional water for the group. At 8:45 p.m., the group reached the trailhead and were checked out by EMS.

Rangers ask everyone to be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC's Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages for more information.