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Hiker injured on Sugarloaf Mtn

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2018 12:58 am
by dave
All the trails in the Catskill Mountains have a significant cover of hard clear ice on them. In most areas, the ice is very thick. The trails are very dangerous right now. Today we got a report of an technical rescue by Twin Valley Rescue of an injured hiker who slipped on the ice and slide down the mountain. He had to be extracted from the mountain. More details to follow.

If you are hiking this weekend on the trails, you need crampons, and an ice axe to self arrest yourself. It is very dangerous right now. Don't be fooled by the lack of snow.

Update by the DEC (Jan 29, 2018) :
Town of Hunter in Greene County


Rescue: On Jan. 26 at approximately 3 p.m., DEC Central Dispatch was notified by Greene County 911 of an injured hiker on Sugarloaf Mountain in the town of Hunter. After making contact with the subject, Forest Rangers determined that the hiker and a companion were on the west side of Sugarloaf on the Devil's Path at around 2,850 feet in elevation. The caller reported that his friend had injured his ankle after sliding on the icy trail. The subject attempted to hike briefly, but was unable to continue. The hikers stated they were well equipped for the weather with winter camping gear and would be able to stay warm until Rangers arrived. Forest Rangers and emergency personnel responded to Mink Hollow Road trailhead. The Rangers and a Haines Falls volunteer firefighter hiked in to the subjects, reaching the injured hiker at about 5:20 p.m. Ranger Dawson administered wilderness first aid and splinted the injured left ankle. Trail conditions were extremely icy due to the recent freezing. Tannersville Fire Department staff staged an off-road utility vehicle at Mink Hollow notch. The patient was assisted down Sugarloaf to the UTV and transported out to the trailhead at 7:40 p.m. The subject was transported by his friend to Kingston Hospital for further treatment. Interviews with the subject determined that, although the subject was hiking with microspikes, he had lost grip on an ice flow and slid into a boulder, resulting in the injury.

Other information provided by EMS (Jan 29, 2018):
25 Volunteer Firemen,
2 paid EMS Agencies,
5 NYS Rangers
5 Hrs retrieving the subject