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Croton Man Dies in Adirondacks Hike

A Binghamton University senior, 22 year old Matthew Potel, died helping a friend cross a steep ravine on an Adirondack hike on Mount Colden.  Potel fell 25 feet through the Essex County gorge, the 11th tallest in New York. The hikers were on an organized camping and hiking trip, and Potel was the leader.

Matthew Potel was an experienced outdoorsman and climber, and co-president of the Binghamton University Outdoors Club.

At a particularly challenging section of the hike, Potel stopped to help one hiker cross the ravine, but as he turned to assist another student, he lost his own footing and fell backwards into the ravine.  NY State police responded to the accident, but did not release any further details.

The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation indicated that the hikers were climbing an area known as the Trap Dyke, which is a steep and difficult portion of the trail and that some hikers choose to use harnesses and ropes to cross the ravine.

The college has grief counselors on hand for students affected by this tragedy.

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