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:

Essex County
Town of North Elba
High Peaks Wilderness
Injured hiker: On January 6, 2016 at 1:53 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance for a 21-year-old woman from State College, PA with a non-weight bearing lower leg injury above the Wright-Algonquin junction. An EMT on scene monitored the injury while DEC Forest Rangers responded to ADK Loj for a weather dependent aviation rescue. New York State Police Aviation responded but cancelled the hoist rescue due to high winds in the area. Four additional Forest Rangers traveled a mile by snowmobile and three miles on foot before reaching the group at 6:19 p.m. above MacIntre Falls. The hikers, who were members of a college outing club, were well prepared for back country emergencies and stabilized the woman’s injury while waiting for help. Forest Rangers packaged the woman into a rescue sled and slowly pulled her three miles to a waiting snowmobile which transported her the remaining distance to ADK Loj. The Lake Placid Ambulance Squad then transported her to Adirondack Medical Center – Lake Placid for treatment. The incident concluded at 9:40 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 Trail Information (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html) webpage for more information.