Hiker waits 7 hours on icy ledge before Adirondack rescue

A 60-year-old hiker from Canada spent seven hours standing on a frozen mountain ledge before rescuers reached him in the Adirondacks.

The incident began on Wednesday, Oct. 21, as the man traversed the Mount Colden Trap Dike. Around 6:30 p.m., he activated an emergency satellite beacon. He had lost his crampons, which are traction spikes attached to winter boots. Without the gear, he could not safely move up or down the steep ice.

Rangers arrived at the scene near 1 a.m. to secure the climber. Forest Ranger Jenna Curcio described the danger of the rescue. “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.

Officials noted that the Trap Dike route is classified as a fourth-class mountaineering climb. The path has claimed multiple lives over the years. Rangers advised outdoor enthusiasts to research routes thoroughly and carry appropriate gear before entering steep backcountry terrain.