A hiker from New Jersey was found dead on a trail in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, police said Tuesday.
Linhu Jin, a 54-year-old man from Palisades Park, N.J., was discovered unresponsive on April 24 on a trail on West Kill Mountain, New York state police said in a press release.
Jin was found by a group of hikers on Devil’s Path Trail, cops said. The path is considered one of the toughest in the tristate area.
In addition to state police, New York State Forest Rangers, the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the Lexington Fire Company all responded to the scene, but Jin was pronounced dead on the mountain, according to authorities. Foul play is not suspected in his death.
Devil’s Path is described by many as the toughest hike in the Catskills. It extends for 22 miles and includes more than 8,000 feet of elevation gain across several peaks.
The climbing website Mountain Hiking describes it as “one of the most difficult and notorious hikes on the East Coast — bring your A-game.”
“The Devil’s Path is a serious hiking challenge,” the accompanying article reads. “It’s tough. It’s technical. In summer, there’s no water. In the coldest months, some sections require winter mountaineering gear.”
West Kill Mountain sits at the western end of the trail. Jin’s cause of death remains under investigation.
