HUNTER — Wilderness Recovery: On June 20 at 6:45 p.m., DEC Forest Rangers and local emergency services responded to a call regarding an injured hiker on the Kaaterskill Falls Access trail in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest. Rangers Dawson and Fox located the 70-year-old hiker from Illinois with serious fall-related injuries at the location. Responders provided medical care at the scene, extricated the subject to the trailhead, and attempted to stabilize the subject for transport to a hospital via helicopter. However, the hiker succumbed to the severe level of injury and was declared deceased at the trailhead. 

DEC sends our condolences to the hiker’s family and thanks the first responders for their efforts.