Rangers save 60-year-old hiker stuck on Adirondack cliff for seven hours
A Canadian climber triggered a satellite beacon after losing traction gear on Mount Colden, forcing rescuers to work through the night.
By Rosa Wojcik ·
State forest rangers pulled a 60-year-old Canadian hiker from an icy ledge in the Adirondack Mountains after he stood motionless for seven hours. The rescue operation concluded in the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 22, following a nighttime climb to the Mount Colden Trap Dike.
The man activated an emergency satellite beacon at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21. He had lost his crampons, which are traction spikes attached to winter boots, while crossing the slick terrain. Without this gear, the climber could not safely ascend or descend the steep face.
Rescue teams arrived at his location around 1 a.m. Forest Ranger Jenna Curcio described the physical risk of securing the man. She stated, "When I got out to him and was trying just to get him secured to me, the thought went through my mind: if we both slip before I have him clipped in and on my tether, he’s dead. He’s like, gone."
The Trap Dike route is classified as a fourth-class mountaineering climb. Officials noted that the path has claimed multiple lives over the years. Rangers advised outdoor enthusiasts to research routes thoroughly and carry appropriate gear before entering steep backcountry terrain.
