9 Hiker have summit disorientation on Peekamoose [Aug 5]
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2026 5:47 pm
Wilderness Rescue in Sundown, NY in Ulster County
On August 6, 2026, late in the day, nine hikers started from Denning PA and hiked to the summit of Peekamoose Mountain. Near sunset they had summit disorientation and started to hike down to Peekamoose Valley. Part way down they discovered that they may have made a mistake and called for help. NYS Rangers told them to hike the rest of the way down to the valley floor and they would meet them.
The hikers did not have a map, headlamp, or other necessary items with them.
The NYS Rangers shuttled them back to their cars in Denning.
View looking north from the summit of Peekamoose Mountain
DEC: Wilderness Rescue in the Town of Denning in Ulster County:
August 5 at 7:05 p.m., Forest Ranger Horn responded to the Peekamoose trail for nine subjects who were lost and didn't have any flashlights or headlamps. The nine hikers were part of a larger group who started at the Denning trailhead and planned to summit Peekamoose Mountain. When they reached the summit, they became confused and descended the trail that leads to the Peekamooose Road parking area instead of Denning. The group was not equipped with any kind of map. Ranger Horn reached them via cell phone and told them to continue descending. Ranger Horn met them on the trail and hiked them to his vehicle. The Ranger drove the group leader to the YMCA to meet the rest of the group and organized a shuttle to get them all back to the correct parking area. The last hikers reached the parking area at 10:05 p.m.
On August 6, 2026, late in the day, nine hikers started from Denning PA and hiked to the summit of Peekamoose Mountain. Near sunset they had summit disorientation and started to hike down to Peekamoose Valley. Part way down they discovered that they may have made a mistake and called for help. NYS Rangers told them to hike the rest of the way down to the valley floor and they would meet them.
The hikers did not have a map, headlamp, or other necessary items with them.
The NYS Rangers shuttled them back to their cars in Denning.
View looking north from the summit of Peekamoose Mountain
DEC: Wilderness Rescue in the Town of Denning in Ulster County:
August 5 at 7:05 p.m., Forest Ranger Horn responded to the Peekamoose trail for nine subjects who were lost and didn't have any flashlights or headlamps. The nine hikers were part of a larger group who started at the Denning trailhead and planned to summit Peekamoose Mountain. When they reached the summit, they became confused and descended the trail that leads to the Peekamooose Road parking area instead of Denning. The group was not equipped with any kind of map. Ranger Horn reached them via cell phone and told them to continue descending. Ranger Horn met them on the trail and hiked them to his vehicle. The Ranger drove the group leader to the YMCA to meet the rest of the group and organized a shuttle to get them all back to the correct parking area. The last hikers reached the parking area at 10:05 p.m.