17-year-old Olivia Rose Belfiglio fell to her death Friday afternoon while hiking with friends in the Devil's Kitchen in Hunter. It's the second fatality in just over a month in the area.
Authorities said none of the hikers was wearing proper footwear to maneuver through the rocky, steep terrain, and police told the Times Herald-Record that Belfiglio was wearing flip-flops when she lost her footing.
Lt. Darryl Kittle, a state forest ranger, said the mountain does not have marked trails where the teens were hiking. The area is popular among ice climbers, but authorities tell even the pros to hire a knowledgeable guide.
"There's numerous drop-offs, ledges and caverns that go right through there," Kittle said. "It's not an area that's conducive for hiking."
Belfiglio is the daughter of Ulster County legislator Carl Belfiglio, R-Port Ewen. The Kingston Daily Freeman has a long story on the outpouring of grief her death has caused in the community.
