Hiker Trapped on Icy Ledge for Seven Hours After Losing Boot Spikes

A 60-year-old Canadian hiker stood motionless on a freezing rock face for seven hours before rangers extracted him on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The ordeal occurred along the Mount Colden Trap Dike in the Adirondack Mountains.

State forest rangers reported that the man triggered an emergency satellite beacon at approximately 6:30 p.m. He had lost his crampons, which are traction spikes attached to winter boots, while crossing an icy section. Without the spikes, the climber could not safely ascend or descend the slope.

Rescue personnel arrived on the scene around 1 a.m. to begin the extraction. Forest Ranger Jenna Curcio described the physical risk involved in securing the hiker. “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,” she said.

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