Hiker Dies After Losing Trail on Mount Marcy

A 21-year-old hiker from New Jersey died last week after becoming lost near the summit of Mount Marcy, New York’s highest peak. The incident occurred on Thursday, and the hiker’s body was recovered on Friday morning by State Police.

Details of the Incident

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), the hiker called 911 at 3:05 p.m. On Thursday, reporting that she had slipped off the trail and was unable to return. She was hiking with her dog at the time. North Country Public Radio and Fox News both reported on the incident.

Forest Rangers responded to the call, attempting to locate the hiker via snowmobile, UTV, and State Police helicopter. Although, heavy cloud cover hampered aerial search efforts. A ranger was lowered from a helicopter to the Marcy Dam Outpost around 6:06 p.m. And began a ground search.

The hiker was found deceased at 9:51 p.m. Her dog was found alive and safely led off the mountain by rangers. Due to weather conditions, the hiker’s body could not be transported off the mountain until Friday morning, when a State Police helicopter was used for recovery.

Mount Marcy Information

Mount Marcy stands at 5,343 feet in elevation, and the trail to the summit is approximately 7.4 miles long. NCPR reported the details.

NYSDEC Statement

The NYSDEC has offered its condolences to the hiker’s family. No further information regarding the hiker’s identity has been released.