Hikers Rescued After Being Trapped For 3 Hours In Hook Mountain State Park

UPPER NYACK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Hikers had to be rescued in a Rockland County park Monday afternoon after getting trapped on a ledge.

It was the same state park where a hiker had to be rescued just a week ago, after being entangled in a tree for hours.

As CBS2's Valerie Castro reported, the hikers on Monday were stuck for almost three hours after Nyack Fire Chief Vince Reid said they climbed off trail, and then could not get down from the rock face, at Hook Mountain State Park.

Chopper 2 was over the scene when the rescue operation was happening. The Nyack Fire Department deployed its high-angle rescue team and lowered a firefighter down to the two women – who were stuck about 250 feet off the ground.

The man who was with the women had climbed down by himself earlier and had made the call for help.

CBS2 was there when the second woman was helped down to safety, but Chief Reid said the group could have been in real trouble.

"I'm great…. I'm fine," the woman said after the rescue. "I just want to get some blankets, thank you."

Reid said the ordeal could have been prevented.

"They're not heeding the warning. I mean, it's simple -- stay on path, enjoy nature. It's when you go off-path things like this happen," he said. "It's not as bad as last week when the gentleman was injured and he actually fell. You know, they got lucky."

On Monday of last week, a man hiking in the very same area had to be rescued after he slid and fell into a tree and onto a ledge. He was carried down after three hours with injuries to his leg and hip.

In this case, the man and two women appeared to be just fine.

Reid said the group was not dressed for any kind of hiking or climbing. All three will be issued tickets for not staying on a park trail.

Park rangers emphasized that there are signs posted warning people that going off trail is prohibited.