On Thursday evening, Chaverim of Rockland received a call to their hotline from a hiker who said he was hiking with five children, ages 9 to 17, in the wooded trails near Monsey. The group, visiting from the Five Towns, had gone hiking earlier in the day but called for guidance on how to exit the trail using a paper map.
Initially, the caller stated that they did not require assistance and were only seeking directions. However, with sunset approaching and visibility quickly diminishing, Chaverim’s SAR coordinators advised the group to remain in place and await help, as darkness in the woods sets in well before official nightfall.
About 20 minutes later, the hikers called back, admitting they were unsure of their location. Although they had cell reception, they could only identify the color of the trail they were on—not its name or direction. As night fell and temperatures dropped below 50°F, it became clear that the group had become disoriented while trying to find their way out and lacked proper clothing for the cold.
Recognizing the growing risk, Chaverim of Rockland’s trained Search and Rescue teams quickly mobilized and assembled four teams to begin a coordinated operation. The initial call came in shortly after 6:00 p.m., and volunteers immediately launched a search through difficult terrain in near darkness and dropping temperatures. After more than three hours of active searching, one of the teams successfully located the group and safely guided them out of the woods at around 10:00 p.m. Baruch Hashem, all six individuals were found unharmed.
