Members of the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office report the death of a Wappingers Falls woman as the result of a hiking accident on Saturday afternoon.
On December 21, at approximately 10:50 a.m., members from the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, along with multiple rescue squads and the New York State Forest Rangers, responded to the Mohonk Preserve, in the area of the Table Rocks trail head in the Town of Marbletown, for a fallen hiker.
Upon arrival, it was discovered that Margaret A. Fitzgerald, 71, had been hiking with a group about a mile and a half from the trailhead when she slipped on an icy slope and fell approximately 50 feet down a narrow crevice. The forest rangers rappelled down to reach her, however, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
In addition to the forest rangers, assistance was provided by the Marbletown Fire Department, High Falls Rescue Squad, Mobile Life Support Services and Mohonk Preserve staff.
Condolences to family and friends.
(corrections; participating in rescue effort was High Falls Fire, Mohonk Preserve Rangers, DEC Rangers, Mohonk Mountain House Safety and Security staff, Mobile Life and Marbletown First Aid Unit. Thanks to all for their hard work in difficult conditions)
Correction: New York State Forest Rangers assisted. It was Mohonk Preserve Climbing Rangers who rappelled into the crevice to provide assistance to the victim and who ran the scene to provide technical rope assistance .
This sad story reminds one of dedicated trained professionals normally out of the public eye who stand ready to rush to incidents taking place in nature and attempt search & rescue.
All hikers should take precautions as much as practically possible so these brave men and women do not put themselves in harm’s way needlessly.
Condolences to family and friends of the victim.