On May 24th at 9:00am Forest Ranger Praczkajlo responded to a 911 call for a reportedly deceased hiker on Cascade Mountain in New York’s Adirondack Mountains.
A ranger was dispatched and found the hikers in an “altered mental state.” It was later determined the pair had ingested hallucinogenic mushrooms and were under the influence of the psychoactive substance.
The ranger escorted the two tripping hikers to a waiting ambulance and they were transferred to a hospital. The hiker who they reported dead later called and was indeed very much alive.
New York Department of Environmental Conservation Press Release:
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On May 24 at 9 a.m., Forest Ranger Praczkajlo responded to a call for a reportedly deceased hiker on Cascade Mountain. Two hikers had called 911 to report the third member of their hiking party had died. When the hikers encountered the Cascade Summit Steward, the pair also advised that they were lost. The steward determined the hikers were in an altered mental state. The third member of their party called and was not injured. Ranger Praczkajlo escorted the two hikers, who had ingested hallucinogenic mushrooms, to a waiting ambulance and New York State Police unit. Ranger Praczkajlo escorted the third hiker back to their campsite.
