2 hikers rescued from Appalachian Trail

Jan. 27—Two hikers from New York were rescued on the Appalachian Trail Tuesday night after encountering dangerous conditions.

Jacob Haisley, 36, of Red Hook and Wayne Gage, 70, of Schenactady were planning on hiking a 15-mile portion of the trail that included Mount Abraham, Spaulding Mountain and Sugarloaf Mountain, according to Mark Latti, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

After beginning their hike around 8 a.m., they quickly encountered deep snow and only made it half the distance before nightfall. Although they found shelter at the Spaulding Mountain lean-to, the hikers had no food, water or proper equipment to spend the night. With temperatures dropping to the single digits, they called 911 around 5:45 p.m., Latti said.

Haisley was advised to stay in the lean-to and start a fire while three wardens ascended the mountain by snowmobile and snowshoe.

"Poor planning, coupled with poor decisions, stranded these hikers in very dangerous conditions," Game Warden Kyle Hladik said. "They were very fortunate we were able to get to them quickly."

After it was determined they could hike out, the wardens accompanied Haisley and Gage back to base, arriving at 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, Latti said.

Neither hiker required medical attention.