TOWN OF NORTH EAST – Two people suffered injuries while hiking on Quarry Hill Trail in the Rudd Pond Area of Taconic State Park on Tuesday. The male hiker sustained a head injury and was transported to Albany Medical Center after a technical rescue brought him to safety.
The Millerton Fire Department responded to a call of an injured female hiker at the Quarry Hill trailhead just before 2:00 pm on May 14. The report also advised that a male hiker was further up the mountain trail with a head injury and he may have fallen into a stream.
The Millerton Fire Department assessed the situation and requested the Northwest Rope Rescue Team to assist in rescuing the injured male. The specially-trained rescue team is comprised of firefighters from several fire departments from both sides of the New York-Connecticut border, including the Amenia Fire Company in Dutchess County.
The team, mobilized resources, including specialized Amenia Fire Company apparatus, and responded to the trail along with rescuers from the Copake Fire Department, Ancram Fire Department, Pine Plains Fire Department, JH Ketcham Fire Department, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, New York State Forest Rangers, Northern Dutchess EMS, and Life Star Medivac.
The male was located at 2:31 pm in what Amenia Fire Company spokesman Aaron Howard described as “treacherous terrain” and the head injury was confirmed. The rescue teams safely reached the man and stabilized him in preparation for a low-angle rope rescue.
It took more than two hours to get the hiker stabilized and down the trail before he was able to be transported to Albany Medical Center for further treatment.
Millerton Fire Chief Jason Watson called the incident “A technical rescue that required the teamwork of several agencies spanning three counties and two states which resulted in a positive outcome for the injured hikers.”
“We are immensely proud of the collaborative effort displayed by the Amenia Fire Company and our partners in the Northwest Rope Rescue Team,” said Amenia Fire Chief Christopher Howard. “This successful operation exemplifies our commitment to excellence in emergency response and underscores the importance of continuous training and preparedness.”
