Park Ranger Finds Campers in ‘Altered State’ After False Death Report

A New York forest ranger responded to a call of a deceased hiker last weekend, only to realize it was a major misunderstanding thanks to the party’s “altered mental state,” according to a news release from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

Around 9 a.m. local time on May 26, Forest Ranger Praczkajlo responded to a 911 call from two hikers claiming that the third member of their party had died on the Cascade Mountain, the 36th-tallest peak in the Adirondacks. When the two hikers, whose identities have not been released, encountered Praczkajlo, they admitted they had become lost on the “challenging route.”

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After a preliminary investigation, Prackajlo determined the two men were in an “altered mental state” due to ingesting “hallucinogenic mushrooms.” The ranger subsequently took the two men to a waiting ambulance, where they were checked out before being questioned by police.

The third member of their party was later found very much alive and “not injured,” though the precise chain of events which led their friends to believe they were dead is unknown. The third adventurer was accompanied by Praczkajlo back to their campsite, where they retrieved their belongings.

It’s unclear if the campers will face any charges stemming from the incident. This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.

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