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 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:
Essex County
Town of Keene
High Peaks Wilderness
Lost hiker: On August 2, 2016 at 4:30 p.m., Essex County 911 transferred a call to DEC Ray Brook Dispatch from a 37-year-old woman from Thetford, VT lost with her daughter on Rooster Comb. They took the wrong trail while descending the mountain. One DEC Forest Ranger responded to the 911 coordinates, located the pair at 6:07 p.m. in good health and escorted them back to the trailhead. The incident concluded at 6:45 p.m.
Town of Keene
High Peaks Wilderness
Lost hikers: On August 4, 2016 at 9:15 p.m., DEC Central Dispatch received a request for assistance for a 30-year-old woman and a 27-year-old woman both from Brooklyn, NY lost and not prepared for the conditions in the John's Brook Valley. The women advised they were on a trail and saw a sign to Basin Mountain. One DEC Forest Ranger redirected them back onto the correct trail by phone. Due to the hour of the call and safety reasons, the women decided to spend the night on the trail and Rangers would respond in the morning. The Rangers located the pair at 9:54 a.m. at John's Brook Loj. The Rangers escorted them through the John's Brook Valley and gave them a ride back to their vehicle at the Adirondack Mountain Reserve. The incident concluded at 12:15 p.m.
Town of Keene
High Peaks Wilderness
Distressed hiker: On August 5, 2016 at 4:22 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance from Essex County 911 for a 20-year-old man from Schroon Lake, NY in medical distress
between Big Slide and the Brothers. DEC Forest Rangers responded and reached the man at 7:00 p.m. They stabilized the man and escorted him through the John’s Brook Valley to an awaiting Keene Valley ambulance. The incident concluded at 9:00 p.m.
Town of Keene
High Peaks Wildness
Injured hiker: On August 5, 2016 at 4:28 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request from the Garden parking area attendant for a 19-year-old woman from Mahopac, NY with a lower-leg inquiry on the First Brothers Trail. DEC Forest Rangers responded and reached the woman at 6:45 p.m. Rangers stabilized the injury and escorted her down to the Garden parking area. She said she would seek medical attention on her own. The incident concluded at 8:30 p.m.
Town of Newcomb
High Peaks Wilderness
Distressed hiker: On August 7, 2016 at 10:15 a.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance via a radio transmission from the Lake Colden Outpost Caretaker for a 50-year-old man in medical distress at Nick's Lake Lean-to. An Assistant Forest Ranger and the Lake Colden Caretaker responded. One Forest Ranger was flown in by New York State Police Aviation. They stabilized the man and prepared him for transport out via helicopter. The helicopter flew the man to an area hospital for medical treatment. The incident concluded at 1:54 p.m.
Hamilton County
Town of Long Lake
Sargent Pond Wild Forest
Lost hikers: On August 3, 2016 at 4:56 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance from Hamilton County 911 for a 17-year-old girl from Pittsburgh, PA, a 21-year-old woman from Warner Robins, GA, and a 23-year-old woman from Caldwell, NJ lost on Castle Rock. DEC Forest Rangers responded, established voice contact and escorted the group back to the trailhead. The incident concluded at 6:55 p.m.
Lawrence County
Town of Clifton
Five Ponds
Distressed camper: On August 2, 2016 at 10:26 a.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office for a 47-year-old man from Santa Monica, CA in medical distress at a campsite on Lows Lake. DEC Forest Rangers and an Assistant Forest Ranger responded by boat from the Sabattis Boy Scout Reservation. They reached the man at 11:57 a.m. and prepared him for transport to an awaiting Long Lake Rescue Squad ambulance. He was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment. The incident concluded at 12:42 p.m.
Warren County
Town of Bolton
Lake George Wild Forest
Distressed hiker: On August 5, 2016 at 5:56 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance from Warren County 911 for a 44-year-old woman from Levittown, PA in medical distress on Tongue Mountain. DEC Forest Rangers responded along with the Bolton fire department and EMS. They escorted her out but she refused additional medical treatment. The incident concluded at 10:30 p.m.
Washington County
Town of Fort Ann
Lake George Wild Forest
Lost hikers: On August 5, 2016 at 2:30 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance for a 25-year-old woman and a 58-year-old woman, both from Cohoes, NY who became lost while descending Sleeping Beauty Mountain. The women advised that the trail markers had changed color and they believed they were on the wrong trail. One DEC Forest Ranger responded to Sleeping Beauty Mountain. Based on the caller’s descriptions of landmarks and surroundings, the Ranger was able to direct them to Daci Clearing. They reached Daci Clearing at 4:32 p.m. After a brief interview with the Ranger they were released. The incident concluded 4:45 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 Backcountry Information (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html) webpage for more information.
