A man climbing in the popular West Trapps area of the Mohonk Preserve in Gardiner fell to his death on Sunday, August 19. According to Mohonk Preserve Communication Director Gretchen Reed, “At around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday … a climber experienced a fatal 160-foot fall to the base of a cliff in the West Trapps. Six preserve rangers responded to the scene, assisted by Gardiner Fire and Rescue and the New York State Police.”

Gardiner firefighters and park rangers responded to the scene, and were assisted by state police troopers. The name of the climber was not immediately released.

The Trapps is world-renowned among rock climbers, with a wide variety of trails up the cliff face. According to information found on rockclimbing.com, there are 491 different ways to ascend. This was the third climber to fall at Mohonk in the past two weeks; the other mishaps did result in injuries, but no deaths.