Rangers rescue Canadian hiker stranded for seven hours on Mount Colden
The 60-year-old man was found standing on an icy ledge after losing his crampons during a winter climb in the Adirondacks.
By Lorenzo Marshall ·
A 60-year-old man from Canada stood motionless on a frozen rock face in the Adirondack Mountains for seven hours before rescue crews secured him. The incident occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 21, along the Mount Colden Trap Dike, a route known for its steep and icy conditions.
The hiker activated an emergency satellite beacon at approximately 6:30 p.m. after his crampons, which provide traction for winter boots, came loose. Without the spikes to grip the ice, he could not safely ascend or descend the ledge. He remained in the exact same position until rescue teams arrived.
Rangers reached the climber around 1 a.m. the following morning. Forest Ranger Jenna Curcio described the danger of attaching him to her safety line. “When I got out to him and was trying just to get him secured to me, the thought went through my mind: if we both slip before I have him clipped in and on my tether, he’s dead. He’s like, gone,” Curcio said.
The Trap Dike is classified as a fourth-class mountaineering climb. State forest rangers noted that the route has claimed multiple lives over the years. The hiker was extracted from the ledge and treated for his ordeal.
Officials advised hikers to study routes thoroughly and carry appropriate equipment before entering steep backcountry terrain. The rescue highlighted the specific risks of winter climbing on the Trap Dike, where traction failures can leave climbers stranded for extended periods.
The man was 60 years old and a Canadian citizen. He had been on the ledge for seven hours when the first rangers arrived. The rescue operation took place in the Adirondack Mountains near Keene, N.Y.
Source: KMOV
