Climber falls at Mohonk Preserve, marking third accident in two weeks

A climber fell in the West Trapps Area of the Mohonk Preserve Sunday afternoon, suffering unknown injuries, according to Gretchen Reed, a spokeswoman for the preserve. Reed could not immediately identify the climber or the extent of injuries, and could not say how far the climber fell. It was unclear if the fall was fatal, as first responders were still on the scene.

The Ulster County 911 Dispatch Center said the Gardiner Fire Department along with park rangers from the preserve responded to the fall around 12:33 p.m. Sunday.

The fall is the third in two weeks in the West Trapps section of the 8,000 acre nature preserve in the Shawangunk Mountains.

A hiker fell in an area along the cliffs in the West Trapps area of Mohonk Preserve on Saturday, Aug. 11, and was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Reed said that man, who was not identified, fell late in the afternoon on Aug. 11, but she did not know how far he fell and could not provide further info about him.

On Sunday, Aug. 5, a Brooklyn climber was injured at the preserve after losing his grip and falling approximately 25 feet onto a rock ledge.

At about 11 a.m. Aug. 5, state police assisted rangers at the preserve who climbed to where Zach Towle, 22, landed near the Carriage Trail at the Trapps. He was found on a ledge a couple of hundred feet above the ground and was conscious and alert, with injuries to his left arm and ribs, police said. Police said Towle was unable to chalk his hands adequately because of the extreme heat that day, causing him to lose his grip and fall.

Towle was taken to the Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie for evaluation.