Hikers get lost, lose keys during ‘debilitating high’ in the Catskills
On August 29 at 5 p.m., New York State Forest Rangers received a 911 satellite text via Ulster County from a hiker reporting a group of four was lost near Giant Ledge in the Slide Mountain Wilderness in Ulster County. The original caller admitted the group had consumed mushrooms and one of them was experiencing a “debilitating high.”
At 6:45 p.m., forest rangers located the group of hikers and assisted the subjects to the trailhead where they were evaluated by Shandaken Ambulance.
“Somewhere along the way,” according to rangers, “the hikers also lost their car keys.” Rangers then provided a courtesy ride to the subjects’ rental lodging. The following day, one of the rangers “hiked back up and found a sling bag with the keys under a log in tall ferns.”
Rangers remind outdoor enthusiasts to be sure to properly prepare and plan before taking a hike. Visit DEC's Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages for more information.
If a person needs a Forest Ranger, whether it's for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on state lands and easements, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. If a person needs urgent assistance, they can call 911. To contact a Forest Ranger for information about a specific location, the DEC website has phone numbers for every Ranger listed by region.
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