Hiker Dies on Mount Marcy
A 21-year-old hiker from New Jersey died after slipping off a trail near the summit of Mount Marcy, New York's highest peak. The hiker survived the fall but succumbed to cold conditions before rescuers could arrive, highlighting winter mountain hiking risks. Separately, a 15-year-old Connecticut Boy Scout was successfully rescued from Mount Washington after an allergic reaction at the summit.
- The hiker on Mount Marcy, a 21-year-old woman, called 911 for help at 3:05 p.m. on Thursday, February 12th; a forest ranger reached her location near the summit at 9:51 p.m. - Rescue efforts were hampered by heavy cloud cover, which prevented a New York State Police helicopter from spotting the hiker. A ranger had to be dropped at the Marcy Dam Outpost and hike more than five miles and nearly 3,000 feet in elevation to reach the summit. - Temperatures in the area were in the teens with wind chills around zero degrees, and the snow depth at the nearby Lake Colden outpost was 49 inches. The alpine summit of Marcy is known for extreme winter weather, deep snow pockets known as "spruce traps," and low visibility. - The hiker's dog was found alive at the scene and was escorted down the mountain by the rescue team. Due to the poor weather, the hiker's body was recovered the following morning. - The rescue of the Boy Scout on Mount Washington involved a coordinated effort using a snowcat vehicle to ascend the Mount Washington Auto Road to the more than 6,000-foot summit. An employee of the State Park first moved the teen into a warm building while awaiting the rescue vehicle. - New York State Forest Rangers conduct over 300 search and rescue missions annually. Between 2012 and 2022, state rangers rescued more than 5,400 people across New York.
