Hikers Rescued

“Schenectady hikers rescued from High Peaks


Last updated: 2:19 p.m., Thursday, January 18, 2007

KEENE -- A hiker injured in the Adirondack High Peaks spent the night with his rescuers on a frigid mountain trail before a helicopter lifted him out to a hospital Wednesday morning, New York state forest rangers said today.


Temperatures dipped to 23 degrees below zero during the ordeal, rangers said.

Peter Buccinna, 32, suffered a double fracture to his thigh when he fell trying to reach a fellow hiker 45-year-old Brian Merriam who had been knocked unconscious when he slipped and fell down a rock slab Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The two Schenectady men were hiking on a trail between Gothics and Saddlewood* mountains with Merriam's teenage son and one of the boy's friends when Merriam lost his footing, rangers said.

With Buccinna injured and unable to walk, the teens couldn't get cell phone reception to call for help, so they hiked down and found a phone to call 911 at about 6 p.m., Ranger Jim Giglinto said.

In the meantime, three New York City firefighters on a day hike heard the emergency whistles the boys were using and found Merriam, who had regained consciousness, and Buccinna. Merriam and one of the firefighters headed down the trail while the other two stayed with Buccinna.

The 911 call set in motion a rescue party that eventually included six rangers and two Keene Valley volunteer firefighters who brought sleeping bags, camp stoves and food to care for Buccinna until a state police helicopter could be launched, Giglinto said.

The injured hikers were taken to Adirondack Medical Center, where Merriam was released after treatment for a concussion and cuts. Buccinna was transferred to Albany Medical Center, according to hospital spokesman Joe Riccio.

* LZ edit, that should read Saddleback”

“Wow, those guys really kicked it into gear!”

“The two Schenectady men were hiking on a trail between Gothics and Saddlewood* mountains

Someone fell off the rock slab there? I'm shocked, I tell ya!

Glad to hear they are ok ~ and lucky, from the sounds of it. :)”

“As a child I cracked a femur in just one place and it was No Fun at All. A double fracture... yikes.”

“I remember when some bonehead slid on the rock slab descending Gothics towards Saddlewood Mountain.”

“I'm wondering if it happened on the upper slabs (above the cables) or lower on the Ore Bed Brook Trail where the ladders are washed out.

Anyway I'm glad the hikers didn't end up on the obituary page of the paper.”

“another reason not to hike solo.”

“This is definitely a feel-good story.

(1) Dad brought teen-aged son with him into the woods.

(2) No one (as far as this story goes) did anything stupid to precipitate the problem.

(3) Good decisions were made during the crisis.

(4) They had emergency whistles.

(5) FDNY was involved in the rescue.

All leading to....

(6) A happy conclusion.

Yep, a feel-good story.
last edited: 1/19/07 12:20:25 PM”

“when you look at it like that. . . i guess you are RIGHT! :o)”

“What Fritz said.”