Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 12 at 2:30 p.m., Ulster County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance for an injured hiker on Overlook Mountain in the area of Echo Lake. Rangers called the hiker's daughter and learned the 78-year-old from France was unable to walk or even sit up. Rangers Franceschina and Martin joined Woodstock Fire and a Woodstock Paramedic and found the subject at 4 p.m. The paramedic suspected the subject had a fractured pelvis. New York State Police Aviation Pilots Leeder and Celestine were called in to help perform a hoist rescue. Rangers, Fire Department personnel, and the Catskill Center Steward located and carried the patient to a site 300 feet uphill that would work as a hoist location. Ranger Cowart lowered Ranger Rusher who helped package the subject. At 5:15 p.m., Ranger Cowart successfully hoisted the hiker into the helicopter, and they flew to the hospital.
