KEENE VALLEY — New York state forest rangers guided a trio of unprepared snowshoers out out the High Peaks Wilderness last week.

On Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 5:37 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook dispatch was notified of three overdue snowshoers who left from the Garden parking area in Keene Valley to hike the Johns Brook Valley and had not returned. The hikers were from Albany and Topeka, Kansas. They did not have lights, overnight gear or appropriate clothing for anticipated zero-degree temperatures.

Forest Ranger Andrew Lewis responded to the location and confirmed the subjects’ vehicle was still at the trailhead. When interviewing family members, Lewis learned that one of the individuals has asthma and did not have her inhaler. Lewis retrieved the subject’s inhaler before responding to Johns Brook Lodge. Forest Rangers Hannah O’Connor and Jamison Martin also responded to the location with snowmobiles to extricate the snowshoers.

At 1:20 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, rangers and the three hikers were out of the woods and back at the trailhead.