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 North Elba
High Peaks Wilderness
Distressed hiker: On August 10, 2016 at 6:55 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance for a 58-year-old man from Tampa, FL in medical distress on Algonquin. DEC Forest Rangers responded and assisted the man down the trail. However, due to exhaustion, he could not continue just below McIntyre Falls. As the man rested and continued being hydrated, a carry out team made their way in. They packaged and carried him to McIntyre Brook to a waiting Utility Terrain Vehicle. The UTV then transported him to the trailhead where his hiking party waited. He said he would seek medical attention with the assistance of his companions. The incident concluded on August 11 at 2:30 a.m.
Town of Keene
Dix Mountain Wilderness
Distressed hikers: On August 11, 2016 at 4:37 p.m., Essex County 911 contacted DEC Ray Brook Dispatch requesting assistance for a 24-year-old man from Albany, NY and a 24-year-old man from Brooklyn, NY in medical distress on Dial Mountain. A DEC Forest Ranger responded, stabilized the hikers and escorted them out to the trail head. The incident concluded at 8:45 p.m.
Hamilton County
Town of Benson
Silver Lake Wilderness
Distressed hiker: On August 8, 2016 at 5:37 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance for a 56-year-old woman from Endicott, NY in medical distress on the Northville-Placid trail. DEC Forest Rangers responded and picked up the woman by Ranger Patrol vehicle for transport back to the trailhead. She refused additional medical treatment. The incident concluded at 9:30 p.m.
Herkimer County
Town of Salisbury
Private Land
Lost hiker: On August 10, 2016 at 6:33 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance from Herkimer County 911 for a 58-year-old man from Salisbury, NY lost in the Christian Lake area. He had not been seen for over four hours. DEC Forest Rangers, along with New York State Police and the State Police K-9 unit responded. By 3:00 a.m. the man still had not been located and Rangers requested additional resources. New York State Police Aviation searched by air. Forest Rangers performing a Type 1 search located the man at 2:42 p.m. on August 11. He was weak but uninjured. They escorted him out to a waiting Stratford-Salisbury rescue squad ambulance which transported him to a local area hospital. The Herkimer County Sheriff’s Office and family members assisted in the search.
Lawrence County
Town of Clifton
Cranberry Lake Wild Forest
Distressed hikers: On August 13, 2016 at 11:45 a.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a radio transmission from an Assistant Forest Ranger requesting assistance for a 56-year-old man from Hastings, NY in medical distress on Bear Mountain in the Cranberry Lake campground. The Cranberry Lake fire department and EMS responded to the area. DEC Forest Rangers arrived on scene to find EMS already assisting the man. Fire department personnel and DEC Forest Rangers packaged and carried him out to an ambulance at the trailhead. The ambulance transported him to an area hospital for medical treatment. The incident concluded at 1:15 p.m.
Washington County
Town of Fort Ann
Lake George Wild Forest
Lost hikers: On August 11, 2016 at 2:39 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call requesting assistance from Washington County 911 for a 47-year-old man and 15-year-old girl, both from Bay Shore, NY lost on Buck Mountain. Based on their descriptions of their surroundings a DEC Forest Ranger hiked in to their location and assisted them down the trail to Lake George. Another Forest Ranger picked up the pair via boat and brought them to shore where they were then escorted by Ranger Patrol vehicle back to the trailhead. The incident concluded at 5:28 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.
