WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (WENY) -- Occasionally, a landslide interrupts a hiker’s plans to try to soak up some time with Mother Nature, and weather plays a big role in creating slippery situations. A landslide in Watkins Glen State Park left hikers trapped inside the Gorge Trail on Saturday night. 

“It’s very, very weather dependent,” Fred Bonn, the Regional Director of the Finger Lakes region for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, said. “This is about a 200-foot section of the gorge that came down in the park. Our crews were able to get in there early on Sunday." 

On Saturday night, around 8:15 p.m., the Watkins Glen Fire Department, Watkins Glen Park staff, park police, and Rope Access Team staff responded to reports of the hikers being trapper in the park, after a landslide on Lovers Lane Trail down to the Gorge Trail.  

Bonn said heavy rainfall can cause landslides to happen periodically and that is why it is important to have trained rescue teams on standby.  

“We have a really good communications protocol with all of our local agencies, first responders, Watkins Glen Fire Department, Schuyler County Sheriff’s Department...located right across the street from the park...and we do give permits to first responders to train at our facilities,” Bonn said.  

Bonn said the hikers from Saturday’s incident were not disobeying any park rules and wound up getting unlucky and fortunately, no one was hurt. But it is important to stay vigilant and follow park rules, no matter what you decide to hike, he added.  

“The gorge parks have some unique challenges to them so it’s really, really important that people obey park staff, the signage in the park...in order to stay safe,” he said.