On Tuesday, March 11 at about 5:45 pm, New York State Forest Ranger Patrick Dormer responded to a report of two stranded hikers at Conklin Gully in High Tor Wildlife Management Area in Yates County, NY. Mud, erosion, and high-water flows made it difficult for the pair from Manchester and Farmington to return the way they had hiked in.
The Ontario County High Angle Rope Team and the Yates County Rope Team worked with Ranger Dormer and fire departments from Benton, Bristol, Canandaigua, Cheshire, Dundee, Farmington, Honeoye, Middlesex, and Naples to set up a high angle rope system to extract the hikers.
Rescuers rappelled down, secured the subjects, and brought them up 200 feet before the temperature dropped and darkness set in. Neither subject was injured, but both were evaluated by Naples Ambulance. Resources were clear at 8:30 pm. You can watch a video of the rescue here.
On Saturday, March 15 at about 6:35 pm, Ray Brook Dispatch transferred a call to Forest Ranger Hannah O’Connor from two hikers on Whiteface Landingin the town of North Elba, Essex County, complaining of loss of feeling in their feet.
Ranger O’Connor advised the hikers to continue moving one-half mile toward Lake Placid. Rangers O’Connor and Robert Praczkajlo met the hikers there, provided feet warmers, and assisted them back to their vehicle.
The 22-year-olds from Oswego and Martville were wearing cotton socks and post-holing as they walked without snowshoes, leading to cold feet.
Hikers should avoid wearing cotton clothing because it absorbs moisture and can advance frostbite. Also, use snowshoes and gaiters to prevent snow from getting into boots.
Read about past Forest Ranger missions here.
Photo of rope rescue at Conklin Gully in High Tor WMA provided by DEC.
Source link
