Four hikers were rescued in New York’s Catskill Mountains last week after getting lost while under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
On Thursday, August 29, at approximately 5 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a 911 satellite text from a hiker in Ulster County reporting that the group was lost near Giant Ledge in the Slide Mountain Wilderness.
The caller told dispatchers that the group had consumed mushrooms and that one individual was experiencing a ‘debilitating high.’
At 6:45 p.m., New York State Forest Rangers Franceschina, Jeffery, and Martin located the hikers with assistance from the Pine Hill Fire Department.
The group was later helped down the trail and escorted to the trailhead, where they were evaluated by Shandaken Ambulance.
According to the DEC, one of the hikers had to be physically assisted by two rangers while being escorted out of the woods.
In addition to their disoriented state, the group also lost their car keys during the incident. Rangers provided a courtesy ride to the hikers’ rental lodging.
The following day, Ranger Martin returned to the area and located a sling bag containing the missing keys under a log in tall ferns.
Four hikers were rescued in New York’s Catskill Mountains last week after getting lost while under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms. Pictured: Forest Rangers located the group of hikers and assisted the subjects to the trailhead
On August 29, the Ray Brook Dispatch received a 911 satellite text from a hiker in Ulster County reporting that the group was lost near Giant Ledge in the Slide Mountain Wilderness (pictured)
The caller told dispatchers that the group had consumed mushrooms and that one individual was experiencing a ‘debilitating high.’ Pictured: Dried hallucinogenic magic mushrooms
The Slide Mountain Wilderness, located roughly 20 miles west of Woodstock, includes steep trails, cliffs, and elevations reaching up to 2,600 feet, according to the DEC.
In a statement, James McCartney, president of the Police Benevolent Association of New York State, noted the difficult terrain where the hikers were found and commended the responders for their work.
‘This level of dedication, at the start of a busy Labor Day weekend, is representative of the commitment shared by our Forest Ranger members,’ McCartney said.
Psilocybin mushrooms – also known as ‘magic mushrooms’ – are a hallucinogenic substance that can cause users to experience altered perception, confusion, and disorientation, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
The DEC has conducted 139 search and rescue operations so far in 2025, following 362 missions in all of 2024.
