RescueOutcome: Rescued by SARMedical
Rescue — Valley Way Trail, Jul 15, 2026
·Valley Way Trail
a 59-year-old from Webster, NY
Christopher Kriesen, 59, of Webster, NY, hiked up Valley Way Trail and spent the night at Madison Spring Hut before deciding to descend due to feeling unwell. Despite eating and drinking, he suffered muscle weakness and was unable to continue, resorting to sliding down the trail on his behind. A nearby Conservation Officer transported him by ATV to the Appalachia Trailhead parking lot.
What we can learn
Kriesen had not hiked or done much strenuous activity in the past 5 years, which likely contributed to his fatigue and ultimate muscle failure.