Four hikers were rescued in New York’s Catskill Mountains after getting lost “while experiencing a debilitating psychedelic mushroom high,” officials said.
The incident happened on August 29 near Giant Ledge in the Slide Mountain Wilderness, according to a press release from New York State Troopers and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
The group sent a text via satellite to Ray Brook Dispatch at around 5PM local time, reporting they were lost. They had taken shelter near Giant Ledge, described as an "interconnected trail hike ranging from 1,100 to 2,600 feet in elevation with several sheer cliffs and drops."
The caller later admitted that the group had “consumed mushrooms, and one of them was experiencing a debilitating high.”
Psilocybin mushrooms, often called magic mushrooms, contain a hallucinogenic compound that can trigger effects ranging from euphoria to hallucinations, per Medical News Today.
Eating Psilocybin, which is a Schedule I substance, can have a variety of effects, ranging from altered perception, confusion, and disorientation.
The experience varies significantly between individuals and can be influenced by factors such as a person’s mental state, personality, and immediate environment.
Per the outlet, a 2020 analysis discovered that higher doses of psilocybin increase the likelihood of negative experiences, while people with pre-existing mental health conditions may also face a greater risk.
Psychological distress is a potential adverse event after recreational use of psilocybin. This distress can take the form of extreme anxiety or short-term psychosis.
Forest Rangers located the hikers around 6:45 PM. They were assisted by the Pine Hill Fire Department and evaluated by the Shandaken Ambulance, the DEC said.
The hikers had lost their car keys during the trip, so rangers gave them a ride back to their rental lodging. The next day, Ranger Martin found the missing items under a log in tall ferns.
“This level of dedication, at the start of a busy Labor Day weekend, is representative of the commitment shared by our Forest Ranger members,” NYST spokesperson Geoff McCartney said. “The PBA of New York State is proud to highlight our Forest Rangers and all members’ continued dedication to public safety in the face of difficulty and danger.”
The DEC has conducted 139 search and rescue operations so far in 2025, following 362 missions in all of 2024.