Death in the Catskills

I’m sure many of you have heard about the hiker who died following a snowstorm in the Catskills last weekend. He and his partner had weathered a night in a snow cave. The next morning, he left to get help but never made it. He was found dead on Blackhead Mountain a short distance from the temporary shelter. The Daily Mail, a local newspaper, published a fairly detailed account of the incident.

Blackhead Mountain is the peak in the distance on the far right. Photo from Wikipedia.
Blackhead Mountain is the peak in the distance on the far right. Photo from Wikipedia.

In a comment appended to an online Daily Freeman story, the daughter of the deceased hiker says the two men were experienced hikers and well equipped. She wrote, in part: “Yes, they did have snowshoes, cell phones, maps and even a compass. They were about an hour from the lean-to where some of their gear was stored, when they lost their way on Saturday. They did manage to get through to a 911 operator and made a snow shelter. By Sunday morning, they had lost mobility in their hands from the cold, and were physically unable to strap on the snow shoes.”

About Phil Brown

Phil Brown edited the Adirondack Explorer from 1999 until his retirement in 2018. He continues to explore the park and to write for the publication and website.

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