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.

“DEC Forest Rangers’ knowledge of first aid, land navigation and technical rescue techniques are often critical to the success of their missions,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “Search and rescue missions often require Rangers to function in remote wilderness areas from rugged mountainous peaks to white-water rivers, and through vast forest areas from spruce-fir thicket to open hardwoods.”

Recent missions carried out by DEC Forest Rangers in the Adirondacks include: 

Essex County

High Peaks Wilderness, Town of North Elba

Lost Hikers: On December 27, 2014 at 4:17 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a 45-year-old female from Saranac Lake, NY, advising that she and her hiking partner, a 33-year-old female from Massena, NY had lost the trail while descending Scarface Mountain.  Essex County 911 obtained their coordinates. Two DEC Forest Rangers responded. The hikers were located in good condition and escorted back to their vehicle at 6:40 p.m. without further incident.   

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) web for more information.