Town of Webb, Herkimer County
Wildland Search: At 5:38 p.m. on July 25, Ray Brook Dispatch was contacted by staff at DEC’s Nicks Lake Campground for a group of lost hikers. The 16 hikers included six adults and ten children ranging in age from 5 to17 years old. They had left Nick’s Lake for a day hike to Remsen Falls, an eight-mile round trip. Thirteen of the hikers were together but lost on the trail, while two of the children had gone ahead of the main group toward the Falls and could not be located. Six Forest Rangers and two Town of Webb police officers initially responded and set up a command post at the campground office. The initial caller was contacted via text by Dispatch to obtain coordinates. At approximately 9 p.m., Ranger Brandon Poulton located the group of 13 and walked them back to the campground. Ranger Howard Thomes and Webb Police Department Officer Trevor Tormey located an 11-year-old male and a 17-year-old female cold and wet from heavy rainfall but in good health at 10 p.m. The children had attempted to turn back during the hike but heavy blowdown forced them to continue to the Nelson Lake lean-to, turning their hike into approximately 10 miles.
