chapter 490

2/9/2018

Winter Rescue

always be prepared

This story I took from my Adirondack Backcountry Hikers Group on Facebook and  Adirondack Explorer web site. It is a gripping story which I can relate to because the first NYS DEC Ranger who got to the fallen hiker with a broken leg was Scott Van Laer who we met in Chapter 481 . He found the guy in the middle of the night and it took another 20 hours to get down to safety. He would easily have died without the help. The rescue supervisor of the 46 member rescue team (over 37 hours) was Ranger Robbi Mecus who gave an interesting FB live presentation a while ago. She is doing another this Sunday from our FB group.

The Saddleback Mountain site of rescue is very remote but accessed from the Keene Valley Garden parking and Johns Brook Trail that we took in the summer of 1973 . 

Rescue worker chose same snow shoes we just purchased.

Site of Feb 2018 rescue was just south of our 1973 pink route to Marcy. The rescue team had apparently taken the Chicken Coup Brook valley route directly to Bushnell Falls lean-to then to the Johns Brook Interior Outpost then to Keene Valley Garden parking lot.

This is the Slant Rock site on the Johns Brook Trail near the rescue. 

As we got up to where we could see mountain tops we shot a few pictures. I believe this is to the north away from the rescue site but you can imagine the rangers bushwhacking going though this terrain in the middle of the night in sub-freezing temperatures with 50 mph winds. You've got to admire the rangers dedication and perseverance.

Pete showing the effort going up the grade.

I should be able to identify these mountains but I might have to go to Google Earth.

They are so majestic looking and a little ominous with the storm that was later to come during our night campout.

It's good to look back to try to figure out where I've been. At the time we were just rushing through. It's also a very good learning experience to be aware of the dangers out there.

http://www.natgeomaps.com/trail-maps for some good online maps

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