Lost hiker rescued from NY's highest peak | News

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) - A 58-year-old Saratoga Springs man is recovering after a frigid night on New York's highest peak.          

Dave Winchell of the Department of Environmental Conservation says forest rangers found Stephen Mastaitis near the top of Mount Marcy at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Mastaitis was hoisted into a hovering helicopter and flown to Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake, where he was admitted.          

Winchell says Mastaitis was conscious but cold after an overnight wind chill of 20 below. He was separated from companions Monday afternoon when snow and high winds caused whiteout conditions.          

His companions talked to a volunteer assistant ranger, who contacted DEC dispatchers. They called Mastaitis and determined his location through his cell phone.          

Winchell says 20 rangers and two state police helicopters were used in the search and rescue.

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