Upstate New York —
A weekend hiking trip took an unexpected turn for one New York City resident after he became lost on a trail in the Adirondacks—and made a puzzling decision that complicated his rescue.
The 29-year-old hiker, whose name has not been released, had set out solo for what was supposed to be a day hike on Saturday afternoon. He had reportedly told a friend he was heading to a popular trail near Lake Placid, but when he failed to return by nightfall, concerned relatives contacted local authorities.
New York State Forest Rangers launched a search early Sunday morning. Using cellphone pings and trailhead cameras, they were able to trace the hiker’s last known location to an offshoot path far from the main trail.
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However, instead of staying put—a key rule in survival situations—the hiker reportedly decided to keep moving deeper into the woods in hopes of finding a “shortcut” back to the parking lot. This decision ultimately led him further from help.
“He essentially doubled down on being lost,” said one of the rescuers. “He thought he was taking a more direct route, but he ended up miles off course.”
After nearly 24 hours in the wilderness, the hiker was finally located by a K-9 search team around noon on Sunday. Though dehydrated and cold, he was not seriously injured. He was treated on-site and later released.
Officials are reminding hikers to always carry proper supplies, stay on marked trails, and—if lost—remain in place to increase the chances of a quick rescue.
“This could’ve ended very differently,” said the Forest Ranger. “He’s lucky.”
