A tense overnight search operation unfolded deep inside Harriman State Park on Sunday night after a 20-year-old bochur became lost for hours while attempting to hike to a remote shelter for an overnight camping trip, prompting a large-scale response from Chaverim of Rockland’s highly trained search and rescue teams.
Sources tell Monsey Scoop that the bochur left from yeshiva at approximately 5:45 p.m. after printing out a hiking route from a computer before making his way to the park. His plan was simple: complete an approximately one-hour hike to a shelter where he intended to spend the night.
But somewhere along the winding and heavily wooded trail system, the bochur apparently took a wrong turn.
As darkness quickly swallowed the mountain terrain, the hiker found himself alone, disoriented, and unable to locate the shelter or retrace his steps. With no smartphone, no GPS device, and no way to share his exact location, the situation rapidly escalated into a dangerous search deep within one of New York’s largest state parks.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., the frightened hiker called Chaverim Of Rockland’s emergency hotline reporting that he was lost somewhere in the park.
What followed was an intense and highly coordinated rescue effort.
With virtually no technology available to track the bochur, Chaverim’s search and rescue teams had to rely solely on clues gathered during phone conversations with the hiker. Volunteers painstakingly worked through trail colors, elevation changes, nearby landmarks, and even the direction of the sun before sunset in an attempt to narrow down his location.
One key detail dramatically shifted the search.
The hiker recalled passing through a rock scramble area, information that immediately helped rescuers identify several high-probability zones deep within the vast wilderness. Multiple Chaverim search teams were rapidly deployed into the dark forest terrain, navigating difficult trails and remote areas throughout the night.
The bochur had begun going into panic mode as the hours dragged on and temperatures dropped, realizing he was completely alone in unfamiliar woods with no clear route to safety. He no longer wanted to remain overnight after understanding he could not find his intended destination.
Bechasdei Hashem, after an extensive search operation, one of the Chaverim teams successfully located the bochur and safely escorted him out of the woods to safety.
New York State Park Police also responded and assisted throughout the rescue operation.
Boruch Hashem it ended safely. Huge respect to Chaverim and all the volunteers who went out into the woods at night to bring him home safely.
No smart phone but he was able to call at ten pm… from what, a Kosher phone? Why did he wait so long after nightfall to call for help? Pride?? There are many important questions to be asked here, but most importantly, why would the Bochur not have realised that this was an impulsive and foolhardy thing to attempt in the first place? Stories like these make one wonder if Yeshivas shouldn’t put an emphasis on real-world life skills, practicality and common sense. Not long ago in Israel two brothers drowned at a beach in Netanya and every year brings its own tales of such tragic and preventable losses. Centuries ago, Torah scholars were well-rounded adults with many skills and much worldly knowledge. This time, the young man was saved Baruch Hashem, but perhaps it’s time for some serious, systemic, life-saving reconsiderations.
First off if you ever went hiking you would know if you go up on a peak there’s usually phone service. Also if you want to write a book you should get an editor and publisher you shouldn’t write this on a news site. Thank you for your attention to this matter!