Canadian hiker rescued after seven hours on icy Mount Colden ledge
Rangers secured the 60-year-old climber at 1 a.m. after he lost his traction gear on a fourth-class route in the Adirondacks.
By Alexei Petit ·
A 60-year-old hiker from Canada was pulled to safety on the Mount Colden Trap Dike early Wednesday morning after being stranded for seven hours. State forest rangers said the man stood in the same position on an icy ledge from 6:30 p.m. Tuesday until 1 a.m. Wednesday when rescue teams arrived.
The incident began when the climber lost his crampons while crossing the exposed section. Crampons are metal spikes attached to boots that provide grip on ice and rock. Without this traction gear, the hiker could not move safely upward or downward. He activated an emergency satellite beacon to alert officials to his location.
Forest Ranger Jenna Curcio described the tension of the extraction. She said that when she approached to attach a safety tether, she worried that if both she and the hiker slipped before he was secured, he would fall. The rescue team worked through the night to stabilize the climber on the difficult terrain.
Officials noted that the Trap Dike is a demanding route classified as a fourth-class mountaineering climb. The path has resulted in multiple fatalities over the years, a history that underscores the risks of the backcountry. The hiker was recovered from the icy ledge without further reported injury.
The rescue occurred on Oct. 21 in the Adirondack Mountains near Keene, N.Y. Rangers are now advising hikers to study route difficulty ratings and carry appropriate winter gear before attempting steep trails. The hiker was transported to a lower elevation for further care following the extraction.
Source: WHPM-LD
