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 January 15 at 10:36 p.m., the mother of a 20-year-old backcounty skier called Ray Brook Dispatch to report that her son was injured and could not hike back from Mount Marcy in the Adirondack High Peaks to his vehicle at Adirondak Loj.
At 3:17 a.m., Lake Colden Caretaker Raudonis met the skier on the trail, re-hydrated him, and escorted him to the outpost. The skier was suffering from hip pain and cramping. He spent the night at the outpost and was able to walk out under his own power in the morning.
At 11:35 a.m., Rangers Lewis and Rooney met him near Marcy Dam and assisted him back to his vehicle. Resources were clear at 2:57 p.m.
Town of Denning, Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On January 16 at 1:30 p.m., while on routine patrol along the Phoenicia East Branch Trail in the Catskills, Forest Ranger Jeffery encountered a 33-year-old beginning a hike of Table Mountain.
Ranger Jeffery reported he expressed concern over the late start, but the hiker was confident in their ability, had the proper gear, and proceeded.
At 2:27 a.m., the hiker from Hopewell Junction sent an SOS from a satellite device with coordinates on Fisherman’s Path, which parallels the Neversink River. It’s a common trail-less exit route for many of the Catskill peaks.
Icy road conditions delayed Ranger response time. At 6:30 a.m., Rangers Franceschina and Jeffery located the hiker who was visibly suffering from rapidly progressing hypothermia after falling into the river and becoming fully submerged.
Rangers quickly changed the hiker into dry clothes, used a heated blanket, and provided hot liquids. After talking to the hiker, they learned the hiker changed plans and included Lone, Peekamoose, Table, and Rocky Mountains.
Rangers assisted the hiker to the trailhead and advised them to seek further medical attention if any swelling, blisters, or discoloration occurred. Resources were clear at 8:30 a.m.
Town of North Hudson, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On January 18 at 7:46 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a group of five hikers reporting one member of their party was ill and needed assistance back from Dix Range in the Adirondacks. Forest Rangers Jansen and H. Praczkajlo responded.
The ill hiker was extremely fatigued and Rangers transported them and their partner to their vehicle while the remaining hikers continued to the summit of Macomb Mountain. Resources were clear at 10:41 p.m.
Read About Other Recent Forest Ranger Missions
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