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:

Greene County
Town of Hunter
Indian Head Wilderness
Injured Hiker: On April 29, 2016, at 5:21 p.m., Greene County 911 received a call requesting assistance for an injured hiker on the eastern section of the devils path trail.  A 34-year-old woman from Philadelphia sustained a lower leg injury while descending the western side of Sugarloaf Mountain with a group of eight people.  Three DEC Forest Rangers along with the Tannersville Rescue Squad, Tannersville Fire Department, Haines Falls Fire Department, Hunter Fire Department, Hunter Ambulance Squad and Hunter Police Department responded.  Members of the hiking group stabilized and wrapped the woman’s ankle and began to help her walk down the trail.  The Rangers met the group on Sugarloaf Mountain and reassessed the injury.  They helped her further down the trail and then packaged and carried her out in a litter the remaining distance to Mink Hollow Road.  EMS evaluated the woman and transported her to a local hospital for further treatment.

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.