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:
Hamilton County
Town of Indian Lake
Blue Ridge Wilderness
Lost hiker: On October 12 at 12:41 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a 66-year-old female and an 82-year-old male, both from Philadelphia, Pa., lost on Sawyer Mountain. A DEC Forest Ranger responded and drove down the road adjacent to the trailhead, using the vehicle’s siren in an attempt to attract the hikers to the road. The pair located the road and walked out to meet the Ranger. They were returned to their vehicle at 1:05 p.m.
Essex County
Town of Keene
Dix Mountain Wilderness
Injured hiker: On October 16 at 5 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a transferred call from Essex County 911 requesting assistance for a 20-year-old female from Rome who had sustained a lower-leg injury while descending Noonmark Mountain. DEC Forest Rangers responded, located the woman and stabilized her injury. Additional Forest Rangers were requested for assistance in carrying the injured woman out to the trailhead. She said she would seek medical attention on her own. The incident concluded at 8:17 p.m.
Lewis County
Town of Lyons Falls
Private Land
Injured paddler: On October 16 at 3:09 p.m., a DEC Forest Ranger received a call from Lewis County 911 requesting assistance for a woman who was injured and entrapped in her kayak near Knives Edge on the Moose River. The Forest Ranger responded along with the Lyons Falls Volunteer Fire Department and EMS and the Lewis County Sherriff’s office. The team used technical rope rescue techniques to rescue the stranded woman. She was evaluated, stabilized and carried out via litter to an awaiting ambulance. She was taken to an area hospital for additional medical treatment and the incident concluded at 4:32 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.
