DRYDEN, N.Y. — Two cross-country skiers were found safe following a 9-hour search in Tompkins County.
At around 3 p.m. Saturday, New York State Police were dispatched to Hammond Hill Road in the town of Dryden for a report of two missing people.
Troopers learned that three women were cross-country skiing when two members of the group became separated along the trails of Hammond Hill State Forest Park in the town of Dryden.
Other agencies were called in to aid state police in the search efforts. The Dryden Fire and Rescue team responded with a tracked UTV vehicle, an ATV, and two snowmobiles, according Dryden Deputy Fire Chief Mark Bell.
A field command post was set up at the recreation area parking lot, with a main command center and resource staging area at the Dryden Fire Department. Coordinated searches were conducted of ski trails and seasonal roads in the state forest and surrounding areas.
Nine hours later, the two women were found safe by a volunteer firefighter who was familiar with the area near Harford Road in the town of Caroline, just south of the state forest. Both women were evaluated by Dryden EMS and reunited with their friend, police said.
"They were wet, tired, and mildly hypothermic, but refused further medical treatment," Chief Bell said.
The search effort officially concluded at around 2 a.m. The following agencies assisted state police in the search:
Cortlandville Fire Dept.
Cortland County Search Team
Cortland County Sheriff's Office
Dryden Ambulance
Enfield Fire Dept.
Freeville Fire Dept.
Groton Fire Dept.
McLean Fire Dept.
Moravia Fire Dept.
New York State Police
NYS Dept. Environmental Conservation
NYS Parks Police
Tioga County Search Team
Tompkins County Dept. Of Emergency Response
Tompkins County Search Team
Tompkins County Sheriff's Office
Trumansburg Fire Dept.
