A hiker from New York City died after falling 80 to 100 feet from the top of Roaring Brook Falls in St. Huberts on Saturday afternoon.
State Police identified the victim as Joann N. Restko, 37, of Staten Island. Troopers said Restko, who was hiking with a friend, slipped while taking photos.
State forest rangers got an emergency call about 12:40 p.m. They found Restko lying face down in a pool of water, already dead. An autopsy concluded she died from multiple injuries suffered in the fall.
Restko was carried to the trailhead on Route 73 and taken from there to the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake. Essex County Coroner Francis Whitelaw ruled the death was accidental.
The New York Daily News reported that Restko was an EMS lieutenant for the New York City Fire Department.
Hikers often stop at Roaring Brook Falls, which offers a stellar view of the Great Range, on their way to the summit of Giant Mountain. It also is a popular destination for rock climbing and ice climbing. Several people have died over the years after slipping at the top or while scrambling unroped beside the falls. This past March, a 12-year-old boy died at the base of the falls when he was struck by a falling boulder.
Roaring Brook Falls is visible to motorists driving on Route 73 between Chapel Pond and St. Huberts.
Photo by Phil Brown: Roaring Brook Falls seen from Route 73.
Each day another sad event to remind us how vulnerable we all are.
Sad