New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State locating and extracting lost, injured or distressed people and policing state lands.
This report of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers was prepared by DEC:
Town of Keene, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 24 at 10:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from an off-trail hiker near the summit of Mount Marcy. At 2:40 a.m., Forest Rangers Adams, Corey, and Foutch reached the 65-year-old from Brooklyn, provided food and water, and started heading back to Marcy Dam. At 9:45 a.m., they reached the Marcy Dam Outpost and rewarmed the subject. By 11:30 a.m., Rangers completed escorting the subject to the trailhead.
Town of Hunter, Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 26 at 2 p.m., six Forest Rangers responded to a call for a hiker with an ankle injury on Devil’s Path at Jimmy Dolan Notch between Indian Head and Twin Mountain in the Indian Head Wilderness Area.
At 4:30 p.m., Rangers, a Greene County Paramedic, and Hunter EMT reached the subject and determined it was an unstable ankle injury. Due to the terrain and location, Rangers requested a New York State Police (NYSP) helicopter for a hoist rescue.
NYSP Pilots Engle and Maycrink, Ranger Lieutenant Gullen, and Ranger Thompson flew to the location and executed a successful hoist. Hunter EMS transported the 29-year-old to the hospital. Resources were clear at 7:15 p.m. Video of the hoist rescue is available here.
Town of Alabama, Genesee County
Overdose Rescue: On Sept. 26 at 3 p.m., Forest Ranger Cordell located an incapacitated subject in a vehicle in the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area. There was drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Ranger Cordell administered one dose of Narcan to the subject. The subject regained consciousness and was further assisted by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Town of North Elba, Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 26 at 4 p.m., New York State Police requested Forest Ranger assistance with a search for two juveniles who ran off into the woods off of River Road. Rangers Martin and Quinn conducted a linear search following the subjects’ tracks. At 6:06 p.m., Rangers found the 12- and 15-year-olds unharmed.
Town of North Hudson, Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 27 at 12 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from two hikers lost off trail near the summit of Hough Mountain. At 6:30 a.m., Forest Rangers Donegan and Nahor reached the 20- and 21-year-olds. At 9:10 a.m., they made it back to the trailhead.
Town of Indian Lake, Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 27 at 11:45 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with a possible dislocated shoulder just below the summit of Snowy Mountain. At 1:45 p.m., Forest Rangers reached the 61-year-old, evaluated the injury, and walked the subject to the trailhead to be met by Hamilton County EMS. Resources were clear at 3:50 p.m.
Town or North Hudson, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 27 at 8 p.m., Forest Rangers Lewis and Martin responded to a call for an 18-year-old hiker vomiting at the summit of Beck-Horn Mountain. The hiker was with another 18-year-old with no reported injury or illness.
The pair from Wyoming County was prepared with headlamps with extra batteries, extra layers of clothes, and snack bars, but even the most prepared hikers can find themselves in need of rescue.
Ranger Martin contacted the hikers and advised them to slowly hike down to stay warm. At 12:25 a.m., Rangers reached the hikers, provided electrolytes and food, and escorted them to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 1:52 a.m.
Town of Santa Clara, Franklin County
Wildland Fire: On Sept. 28 at 1:20 p.m., a member of the public contacted Ray Brook dispatch about a campfire that turned into a ground fire along the shoreline of Follensby Clear Pond.
Forest Ranger R. Praczkajlo located the fire and determined it was five feet by five feet, and burning three feet deep into the ground. Ranger Praczkajlo suppressed the fire, The following day, it was declared out.
With the current warm and dry conditions, Rangers urge all New Yorkers to exercise extra caution before any outdoor burning.
Town of Johnsburg, Warren County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 28 at 1 p.m., the Warren County Sherriff’s Office requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a hiker lost approximately half a mile from the trailhead on Crane Mountain. At 2:30 p.m., Ranger Donegan used cell phone coordinates to locate the 61-year-old from Sand Lake and assisted them back to the trailhead.
Town of Harrietstown, Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 28 at 4:54 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for a hiker suffering from shortness of breath on Ampersand Mountain trail. At 6 p.m., Forest Rangers and paramedics reached the subject and provided water and electrolytes. They reached the trailhead at 6:54 p.m. and transferred care to EMS.
Town of Keene, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 28 at 9:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Essex County 911 reporting a hiker near the summit of Upper Wolfjaw Mountain having a hard time navigating their way out. At 2:05 a.m., Forest Rangers Lewis and Martin reached the subject at the summit. They escorted the subject back to the Garden trailhead and back to their vehicle. Resources were clear at 5 a.m.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photo of Devil’s Path hoist rescue provided by DEC.
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