A 60-year-old Canadian hiker is alive thanks to one piece of gear and one very disciplined decision. He was climbing the Mount Colden Trap Dike in New York’s Adirondacks on October 21 when he lost his crampons on an icy ledge, leaving him unable to move safely in either direction. Instead of risking a fall, he stayed in the exact same spot and activated his emergency satellite beacon around 6:30 p.m.
Forest rangers climbed through the night and reached him around 1 a.m., seven hours after his call for help. One ranger, Jenna Curcio, put the stakes in plain terms: a slip before he was secured to a tether could have been fatal. The Trap Dike is rated a fourth-class mountaineering climb and has claimed multiple lives over the years, which is why rangers emphasize researching routes and carrying proper equipment.
For Suncoast residents, the takeaway travels south with us. We don’t face icy ledges, but heat, rip currents, and backcountry trails here demand the same preparation and the same humble decision to stay put when moving is dangerous. A satellite beacon costs less than most phones, and it works where cell service doesn’t.
Do you carry an emergency beacon or satellite messenger when you’re out on the water or on the trail? Tell us on our Facebook page.
