Missing hiker found safe in Saratoga Spa State Park

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SARATOGA SPRINGS — A man called 911 Monday morning and told dispatchers he was lost in Saratoga Spa State Park and had been there overnight, according to Saratoga Springs Police Sgt. Shane Crooks.

“He was out and became disoriented,” Crooks said Monday morning on Driscoll Road, where several officers, New York State Park Police and personnel from the Saratoga Springs Fire Department and Saratoga Emergency Medical Services organized the man’s rescue.

The hiker, identified as Thomas D. Hummel, 66, of Canandaigua, has been staying at a local hotel and became lost while walking in the state park Sunday afternoon. He spent the night alone in the woods.

Hummel was located using GPS coordinates from his cell phone — information that was plugged into a computerized imaging and mapping program at the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department.

A helicopter was mobilized at around 10:30 a.m. when the man was found safe, though fatigued. However, because he was located in a swampy area near the Kaydeross Creek, emergency personnel were trying to establish how to reach him.

He was eventually brought across the creek and out of the woods shortly after noon.



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SARATOGA SPRINGS — A man called 911 Monday morning and told dispatchers he was lost in Saratoga Spa State Park and had been there overnight, according to Saratoga Springs Police Sgt. Shane Crooks.

“He was out and became disoriented,” Crooks said Monday morning on Driscoll Road, where several officers, New York State Park Police and personnel from the Saratoga Springs Fire Department and Saratoga Emergency Medical Services organized the man’s rescue.

The hiker, identified as Thomas D. Hummel, 66, of Canandaigua, has been staying at a local hotel and became lost while walking in the state park Sunday afternoon. He spent the night alone in the woods.

Hummel was located using GPS coordinates from his cell phone — information that was plugged into a computerized imaging and mapping program at the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department.

A helicopter was mobilized at around 10:30 a.m. when the man was found safe, though fatigued. However, because he was located in a swampy area near the Kaydeross Creek, emergency personnel were trying to establish how to reach him.

He was eventually brought across the creek and out of the woods shortly after noon.



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Comments

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of saratogian.com.

kevin33 wrote on Apr 11, 2011 12:04 PM:

" really...he couldnt find his was out of the woods from there? or hear the road? "

cm wrote on Apr 11, 2011 1:01 PM:

" The location where he was found isn't even remotely "in Saratoga Spa State Park", according to the map. "

gaterhater wrote on Apr 11, 2011 1:20 PM:

" I think this story speaks for itself, disoriented and lost from there..... uh ok route 9 is right in front of you "

Brad wrote on Apr 11, 2011 7:00 PM:

" I spoke to someone who was there and the hiker was found about two miles from Rt 9 on the other side of a large creek with NO shoes on and suffering from shock. Maybe you know-it alls should get the facts BEFORE you blog!

Better yet if you get lost out there don't call anyone! ps-I have kayaked back there and it is as rough as it gets with brush and swamp, "

Mocha Latte wrote on Apr 11, 2011 7:07 PM:

" Brad
Always the drama-queen.
If he couldn't hear the traffic on Rt 9 then he must be deaf.
Why didn't he have shoes on? Weird story. "

samm wrote on Apr 11, 2011 8:21 PM:

" How about just being thankful this story ended well. "

Brad wrote on Apr 11, 2011 8:38 PM:

" Moche Latte, I am not a drama queen. I gave you the facts I was told. Not sure why he did not have his shoes on and not sure why he was disoriented. I have been back there kayaking and you hear nothing as the woods are very dense! (Like your head)

I also do know that the last two individuals that came up missing in this city were found dead! The lady was found not far from there.

I also know that the hiker here was in shock and I'm sure if he could have hear RT 9 he WOULD have walked out. I challenge you to go out there, it is near where the Kaydeross Creek and the Geyser Brook intersect and tell me what you hear! Probably your heartbeat! There also has been numerous bear sightings and packs of coyotes back there. "

Brad wrote on Apr 11, 2011 8:57 PM:

" Most "normal" people would have been happythat he was found alive. "

rickrolled wrote on Apr 11, 2011 11:38 PM:

" I also heard that Big Foot and Godzilla have been sighted back there! "

Brad wrote on Apr 12, 2011 12:28 AM:

" This guy had a near death experience and the last two people missing in this city were found dead. Even with all that we still have people making jokes and not looking at reality here. If this was your relative out there lost would this be funny? NO

We should be saying, thank God he's alive and kudo's to the cops and firemen who rescued this guy after getting him thru rough terrain, "

medac143 wrote on Apr 12, 2011 8:32 AM:

" OK... does it really matter "how" he got there and "why" he couldn't get himself out.... All that really matters is that he was "found"! I beleive what should be said is "great job" to EVERYONE who was involved in his rescue. "

spacity4life wrote on Apr 12, 2011 9:27 AM:

" Brad, These kids don't know what there talking about. I know these woods like the back of my hand and it's tough to navigate even being here for 20 years.
Don't even entertain the idiots. "

Brad wrote on Apr 12, 2011 9:49 AM:

" spacity, i agree! Have a good day. Brad "

bronson wrote on Apr 12, 2011 10:20 AM:

" Help, 911! I'm lost! I'm somewhere in Congress Park! "

Crestite wrote on Apr 12, 2011 10:39 AM:

" Ten years ago this man's body would have been found sometime midsummer. We should be thankful that the technology we take for granted can also save a life. Too bad there are still too few cell towers in isolated areas of NY state.
Kudos to the rescuers on this one "

CityTaxpayer wrote on Apr 12, 2011 10:50 AM:

" No wonder our elected officials can't add two plus two, read above and you'll see what we have to pick from. "

Frodo wrote on Apr 12, 2011 11:43 AM:

" Seriously? You're going to turn this into a "success story" for DPS?

I agree that it's a good thing this moron was found alive. Tragedy averted. But he completely wasted OUR City's resources!

The guy had a cell phone on him, but instead of using it at sunset, or at any time during the night, he sleeps outside apparently shoeless and THEN calls for help the next morning???

The 911 operator should have said, "put your shoes on, turn around, and walk the other way. In about 40 minutes you'll run into a major highway. Turn left and go home." "

crestite wrote on Apr 12, 2011 1:09 PM:

" Frodo and other negative comments - how do you this man doesn't a medical condition such as diabetes or early stages alzhiemers? Perhaps he was just too afraid to call prior to when he did. It seems you think no one should ever call 911. Heck, someone calls about an intruder, the operator can just say "shoot the suspect". Someone reports a murder, the operator can say - "Well the victim must have done something to make himself a target, so have a nice day".

I think the gentleman in this case did the right thing, although he waited far too long, and I think the responders deserve a pat on the back for successfully rescuing someone who clearly needed assistance. "

insidious wrote on Apr 12, 2011 1:18 PM:

" This string of comments has gone from "nice job" to insulting. So, to all rhe pompous anonymous commenters who are cynical and doltish on this situation and end result, let's appreciate one point: THERE IS MORE TO THIS STORY THAN HAS BEEN RELEASED.

So, if all you Monday morning quarterbacks & self proclaimed safety experts, do your homework before commenting. I made 1 phone call to someone "in the know", and got more than this ditty offers. Or better yet, why don't we (the end consumer) ask the reporters of the Saratogian to do a more diligent job in questioning the facts & dig deeper than the surface. "

ecoo wrote on Apr 12, 2011 1:48 PM:

" i wonder what he was smoking ? "

Maci_Girl wrote on Apr 12, 2011 1:56 PM:

" Help me, I'm lost in a section of the park and I can see and hear what sounds like a major highway. I took my shoes off for some reason and I'm not sure why I slept outside and didn't decide to use my cellphone sooner and call for help instead of waiting until the next day and I'm in shock because I'm an idiot. Oops silly me "

rocketroger43 wrote on Apr 12, 2011 3:35 PM:

" 1) Ever stepped into mud that was a foot or two deep? (I have) You can pull your foot out, but the shoes... the mud doesn't give them up as easy.

2) Ever had hypothermia? (I have not)Disorientation (so the medical journals tell us) comes with it... think about the kid who they found drowned in the creek after the skidmore party...

Maybe this guy made a bad decision at some point, and maybe he didn't. I'd be willing to bet that if only those who have never made a mistake worse than his potential lapse in judgement could comment, there would be none here.

Glad he is OK, and glad i live in a country where those who know little more than their opinion have the right to speak it. "

adkkman wrote on Apr 12, 2011 3:47 PM:

" I was told by a long time resident that the land between Leonard Rd and Driscoll, that is technically State Park, near where this guy got lost is a former Chemical Dump with lotsa 55 gal secrets, nobody wants uncovered. It's State Park, yet fenced off. It always seemed to be the best way for trucks to get from Grande Park to the Northway, but the old timers always hush it up. "

Kyle Bork wrote on Apr 12, 2011 4:29 PM:

" This guy has the early stages of dementia and Alzheimers. All of you idiots who commented on his poor decisions should now feel like the morons you are. "

Mocha Latte wrote on Apr 12, 2011 7:42 PM:

" Hey Bork, Brad, and you other people who claim to have "inside information."

Did you ever stop to think that these comments were made, based on the written, printed, documented information that was released by the Saratogian?

Maybe you "insiders" should let the rest of us know about your worldly information, instead of picking on us for commenting on what was printed, and available to us "Know-nothings?" "

Kyle Bork wrote on Apr 12, 2011 8:58 PM:

" Or maybe you could just stop with your know it all comments. If you are commenting on articles in the Saratogian under the assumption that it is accurate and true, you have bigger problems than I thought. Moron "

Kyle Bork wrote on Apr 12, 2011 9:04 PM:

" And also Mocha Latte, I wouldn't take issue with you if you weren't such an arrogant old bag. A guy gets lost in the woods and you read 5 sentences in the Saratogian, and all of a sudden you are an expert on public safety, rescue efforts, and you condemn the guy for not being able to find his way back to the road. I guess your right. I'm wrong. My apology "

rocketroger43 wrote on Apr 13, 2011 8:18 AM:

" They don't have to print in the Saratogian that you can have your boots sucked off in the mud... not everyone goes hiking in the park in laced up combat boots... some people just irresponsibly go out in some Merrells.... (yes I’m being sarcastic).

If you don't understand why someone would do something, focus first on the part where "you don't understand".... and then try to figure out "why someone would do something". "

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