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:

Hamilton County
Town of Indian Lake
Siamese Ponds Wilderness
Lost hiker: On April 24, 2016 at 7:23 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for assistance for a lost hiker on the Clear Pond Trail. A 35-year-old woman from Warrensburg, NY had been lost for approximately two hours. Two DEC Forest Rangers responded and arrived on scene at 7:55 p.m.  They hiked in and began yelling for the woman in an attempt to establish contact. They located her at 9:42 p.m. in good condition. After putting the fire out the woman had built to stay warm, Rangers escorted her back to the trailhead and reunited her with her companion. The incident concluded at 11:45 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.