DENNING, N.Y. — Nine people who were hiking without flashlights or headlamps on the Peekamoose Trail prompted a multi-hour rescue effort by a state Department of Environmental Conservation ranger earlier this month, officials said.
The agency said in a news release that a forest ranger responded to the Peekamoose Trail at 7:05 p.m. Aug. 5, after the nine hikers, who were part of a larger group that started at the Denning Trailhead and planned to summit Peekamoose Mountain, became confused when they reached the summit and descended the trail that leads to the Peekamoose Road parking area instead of Denning.
The group did not have any maps, so the responding ranger reached them via cell phone and told them to continue descending, the release said. Authorities added that the ranger then met them on the trail and hiked them to his vehicle, where he drove the group to a YMCA to meet the rest of the group.
A shuttle was organized to get everyone back to the correct parking area, the release said. The last hikers reached the parking area at 10:05 p.m., authorities added.
Rangers reminded hikers to always bring a light source, maps and compasses and to know how to use them. For hiking safety tips, visit https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hiking/hike-smart-ny.