A 32-year-old Lebanon, New Hampshire woman was rescued from the side of Vroman's Nose Sunday evening after grasping a tree for about two hours.
The woman, who has not been identified, fell off a cliff about three-quarters of the way up the Town of Fulton landmark, according to Middleburgh Fire Chief Mike Devlin.
The woman was on the west or green trail (the one most commonly used), when she looked over the edge of a cliff and apparently lost her footing or balance and plunged "straight down" about 25 feet and hit a tree around 4pm, Chief Devlin said.
A partner hiking with the woman called 911 and contacted county dispatchers.
The ledge was the "next shelf up" from the sign-in book on the trail, Chief Devlin noted.
The tree held the woman up, the Chief added. She held on, head down, with "her legs wrapped around the tree" at an angle of about 80 degrees.
First assistant Chef Jerry Wayman established a command structure at about 4:12pm. He called for backup from the County Search and Rescue Team.
Members of the Sheriff's Office, State Police, MEVAC, Scho-Wright, and Rural Metro responded along with members of the Schoharie and Conesville fire departments.
The Middleburgh Fire Department high-angle "ropes team" made up of Brian Devlin, John Shaw Jr., and Jeremy Gordon set up the rescue equipment and rescued the woman at about 6:30pm.
The victim was taken to a trail and then taken by Conesville ambulance to a Life Net helicopter. She was flown to Albany Medical.
She was listed in critical condition with a serious back and left wrist injury, according to Sheriff Desmond.
The Sheriff was impressed by the work of the volunteers.
"It was really a professional job by a bunch of great volunteers."
It was the first rescue on the trails this year, according to Chief Devlin.
"It's a beautiful place, but you have to be careful."
The county Search and Rescue Team backed up the fire department, he noted. The state team was not available.