Four hikers from New Jersey and their dog were rescued the evening of March 20 after becoming lost on Blackhead Mountain in Windham, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. One member of the group reported feeling woozy, and all four hikers were cold and wet when rescuers reached them. Members of Hensonville Hose Company located the group on the Escarpment Trail and began assisting them down the mountain before Forest Rangers Richard Commerford and Dylan Fox met them with dry clothing, headlamps, food and water. The hikers reached the Big Hollow Trailhead at about 10:30 p.m. and declined further care from Windham Ambulance.
Jeff Wernick, a public information officer for the DEC, said forest rangers are typically the lead agency in backcountry rescues, though local responders may arrive first when they are closer to the scene. “As far as forest rangers are the lead agency generally in wilderness rescues,” Wernick said. “Now in this case, the fire department was closer. So they went in there, as the Rangers were still responding.” He said that once rangers arrived, “they took over the incident,” providing clothing, lights, food and water and helping the group the rest of the way out. Wernick added that in more serious rescues, rangers are generally the responders equipped and trained to manage injuries and carry-outs in remote terrain. The hikers did not respond to requests for comment.
