Hiker injured on Wittenberg Mountain
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2021 10:15 pm
Town of Shandaken in Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 4 at 2:40 p.m., Forest Rangers Martin and Rusher received a call from Ulster County 911 reporting an injured 26-year-old hiker in the vicinity of Slide Mountain. Rangers made contact with the hiker who reported he had suffered a knee injury and couldn't hike out. The subject was at the summit of Wittenberg Mountain, approximately five miles and 3,000 vertical feet from the nearest trailhead. Forest Rangers Stratton and Rusher, along with a New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation and a Special Operations Response Team (SORT) Medic, were transported to the hiker's location. The responders were inserted to provide first aid and package the injured man for extrication, while Ranger Cowart and a SORT member assisted with the hoist in the helicopter. As the aviation plan was ongoing, Rangers Kreft and Martin secured resources for a potential carry-out in case the hoist mission was canceled. The hiker from Boston was successfully hoisted off the mountain and transported to the landing zone where an ambulance was staged. The hiker declined further medical treatment and responders were clear of the scene at 6:51 p.m. In addition to NYSP Aviation and SORT, assisting agencies included Phoenicia Fire Department, Woodstock Fire Department, Woodstock EMT, Shandaken EMT, and Catskill Mountain Search and Rescue.
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 4 at 2:40 p.m., Forest Rangers Martin and Rusher received a call from Ulster County 911 reporting an injured 26-year-old hiker in the vicinity of Slide Mountain. Rangers made contact with the hiker who reported he had suffered a knee injury and couldn't hike out. The subject was at the summit of Wittenberg Mountain, approximately five miles and 3,000 vertical feet from the nearest trailhead. Forest Rangers Stratton and Rusher, along with a New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation and a Special Operations Response Team (SORT) Medic, were transported to the hiker's location. The responders were inserted to provide first aid and package the injured man for extrication, while Ranger Cowart and a SORT member assisted with the hoist in the helicopter. As the aviation plan was ongoing, Rangers Kreft and Martin secured resources for a potential carry-out in case the hoist mission was canceled. The hiker from Boston was successfully hoisted off the mountain and transported to the landing zone where an ambulance was staged. The hiker declined further medical treatment and responders were clear of the scene at 6:51 p.m. In addition to NYSP Aviation and SORT, assisting agencies included Phoenicia Fire Department, Woodstock Fire Department, Woodstock EMT, Shandaken EMT, and Catskill Mountain Search and Rescue.