New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people from the backcountry.

“Across New York, DEC’s Forest Rangers’ are on the front lines helping people safely enjoy the great outdoors,” said Acting DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Their knowledge of first aid, land navigation and technical rescue techniques are critical to the success of their missions which take them from remote wilderness areas, with rugged mountainous peaks to white-water rivers, and throughout our vast forested areas statewide.”

Recent missions carried out by DEC Forest Rangers include:

Lawrence County
Town of Clifton
Cranberry Lake Wild Forest
Distressed hikers: On March 29, 2016 at 9:00 a.m., St. Lawrence County 911 contacted DEC Ray Brook Dispatch reporting a call for help from a hiking party in distress on the shore of Cranberry Lake.

After losing the call, 911 tried calling back with no success, but cell phone pings from the closest tower provided an approximate location.  Based on the cell tower location, DEC Forest Rangers immediately concentrated New York State Police Aviation search efforts on the eastern shore of Cranberry Lake.  They located the group at 11:53 a.m.  Forest Rangers responded by boat and transported the group to the Cranberry Lake Fire Department for evaluation.  An 18-year-old man from Syracuse, NY, 19-year-old man from Watertown, NY, and 19-year-old man from Carthage, NY had started to hike the "Cranberry Lake 50" the previous day.  They did not have a map, compass, or any navigational aids and their gear was not appropriate for winter/spring hiking or camping.   The group completed approximately 9 miles and set up camp for the night. By Tuesday morning, they realized they could not continue and called 911 for assistance.  No further medical treatment was needed.

Saratoga County
Town of Hadley
Wilcox Lake Wild Forest
Injury hiker: On April 2, 2016 at 1:24 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance from New York State Police Communication (NYSP COMSEC) for a 25-year-old man from Schenectady, NY with lower leg injury near the summit of Hadley Mountain. He was able to continue with the support of other hikers but he needed additional assistance.  DEC Forest Rangers responded and reached the injured man at 2:54 p.m. Forest Rangers escorted the man out to the trailhead and he told them that he would seek medical attention on his own.  The incident concluded at 3:12 p.m.

Essex County
Town of North Elba
High Peaks Wilderness
Injury hiker: On April 2, 2016 at 4:10 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance for a 49-year-old man from Toronto, Ontario with an injured arm near the summit of Mount Colden. He managed to walk with assistance of his hiking companions and they decided to continue down the trail to Lake Arnold.  One DEC Forest Ranger responded with a Utility-Terrain-Vehicle (UTV) as far as Marcy Dam and then hiked into Lake Arnold. He reached the injured man at 6:35 p.m. and provided basic First Aid. The Forest Ranger escorted him out to Marcy Dam where a UTV transported him to the trailhead.  From there, Ranger Patrol transported him to AMC Lake Placid for treatment at 8:30 p.m.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hiking Safety (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28708.html) and Adirondack Trail Information (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html) webpage for more information.