New York State Forest Rangers fairly regularly execute technical rope and helicopter extractions on the notoriously steep and exposed Trap Dike on Mount Colden in the Adirondack High Peaks. This past week they did it twice.
The Trap Dike is a semi-technical couloir and open slide featuring wet rock, loose scree, a 40-foot waterfall crux, and significant vertical exposure. The most dangerous segment is a 40-foot waterfall area.
Rescue incidents there often involve climbers or hikers who become stranded, stuck, or injured due to wet, slippery rock conditions and a lack of technical gear or mountaineering experience.
In 2023 a climber fell 25 feet onto a ledge and another 15 feet below it requiring Forest Rangers to execute multi-pitch rope lowerings to safely move the patient down the rock face in a rescue litter. You can read about that here.
In the most recent incident a State Police helicopter attempted to fly straight to the stranded climbers but high winds prevented a direct helicopter rescue. Instead they delivered Rangers and equipment to the shore of Lake Colden.
Rescuers then climbed up the Trap Dike to reach the stranded and rappelled with them back down.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
Read More About Trap Dike Rescues
Photo of the most recent Trap Dike rescue provided by DEC.
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