On November 29 at 5:25 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch called Forest Ranger Horn about a subject lost near the summit of Samuel’s Point, a trailless peak in the Slide Mountain Wilderness. The 57-year-old from New York City was visiting a friend who lives near the base of the peak. The hiker bushwhacked almost to the summit before dark but became disoriented in the thick vegetation. The subject was relying on a cell phone for maps, but lost cellular connection. The subject used the satellite messenger feature on the phone to message a friend in New York City to call 911. Rangers Franceschina and Horn obtained coordinates and reached the subject at 7:45 p.m. The Rangers provided food and warm clothes and assisted the hiker out to the patrol vehicles by 9 p.m.
Rangers suggest planning for your hike before heading out, including checking the weather to know how snowy or icy it is. Snowshoes, crampons, or microspikes may be needed in addition to insulated boots.
Picture taken from Wittenberg Mountain. Samuel's Point is in the left-middle side of the photo
This hike does have a trail part way up the mountain, but requires good route finding. Then it is a bushwhack the rest of the way, along with mountain laurel to really slow you down.