There are beautiful and inviting mountain ranges all around us in the Capital Region. Many hikers chose to enjoy them during the spring and summer months, but there are many that love to hike in the winter too. If you are one of them, here are some tips so you can prepare for the worst case scenario. Last year a young couple, who were avid hikers, went missing for thirty six hours while hiking in the Adirondacks. They set out to do a day hike, he was experienced and she was a moderate hiker. The weather took a turn and they veered off course. She credited her boyfriend for keeping her warm and alive.

New York DEC Forest Rangers, who rescued the young couple, are urging all hikers to be ready for anything, pack accordingly and be prepared. There is a complete checklist to make sure you are completely ready for your hike before, during and after.

So far this year, the DEC Forest Rangers have completed over 300 search and rescue missions.

‘Fresh and Healthy’ is sponsored by Ellis Medicine. Every week on Thursday mornings, visit their Facebook page to find their companion post to this series to get more information on the best ways to stay healthy from the experts.

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