Wilderness Rescue: On Jan. 24 at 11:41 a.m., Greene County requested Forest Ranger assistance to rescue an injured ice climber at Buttermilk Falls. After the fall, the climber lowered himself down four more pitches when he encountered a group of ice climbers who called for help. The climbers provided care for his unstable ankle and wrist injuries until Rangers reached the 35-year-old from New Paltz at 1:15 p.m. Due to the remote and technical terrain, Rangers called New York State Police (NYSP) Pilots Leeder and Plitsch for a hoist rescue. Rangers packaged the subject in a harness so Ranger Cowart could hoist them into the helicopter. At 4:30 p.m., the NYSP helicopter arrived at the landing zone where the subject was transferred to Hunter Ambulance. Haines Falls Volunteer Fire Department and Greene County Paramedics also assisted.
This is Buttermilk Falls in the Kaaterskill Clove. It is 549' tall with 9 drops. In the summer months the ravine is quite difficult and dangerous. In the Winter, the walls are stable and safer to move around on.
The climber was climbing solo without ropes and did not have a cell phone. DEC encourages climbing in a group so a member of the group can get help in the event of an accident.
