East Greenbush man dies in climbing accident

Posted at: 09/13/2013 9:48 AM | Updated at: 09/13/2013 5:55 PM
By: Dan Bazile

NEW SCOTLAND -- Ronald Czajkowski, 44, of East Greenbush, fell 120 feet to his death early Friday morning at Thatcher Park, according to police.
The Indian Ladder trail at Thacher State Park. 
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"He had a harness rope with him. It appears it was human error as far as attaching it to the anchor point on top of the cliff," said Captain John Layton, from the Albany County Sheriff's Department.

Layton said Czajkowski, who had very little experience climbing, came to the park just around sunrise. He said it appears the victim did not have the proper knot on the rope as he was trying to rappel off the cliff.

"He's only been climbing a few times. It's a new thing for him. It's only been over the last few weeks," Layton said.