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Tripping hikers mistakenly report a companion’s death on Cascade Mountain

Cascade Mountain, in the High Peaks Wilderness Area, is in the state Forest Preserve. (News photo — Andy Flynn)

LAKE PLACID (AP) — Two hikers called 911 to report a third member of their party had died, but it turned out they had taken hallucinogenic mushrooms and were mistaken, officials said Wednesday, May 28.

Forest Ranger Rob Praczkajlo responded to a call at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 24 about a hiker who had reportedly died on Cascade Mountain, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said in a news release.

The two hikers who called 911 also told a steward on the mountain’s summit that they were lost. The steward “determined the hikers were in an altered mental state,” according to the DEC.

The supposedly dead person called and was not injured.

The ranger escorted the two hikers down to a waiting ambulance and a New York State Police unit, which took them to a hospital, and escorted the third hiker back to their campsite, officials said.