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 Recovery: On February 12 at 3:05 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call through Essex County 911 from a hiker with a dog who said they slipped off the trail near the summit of Mount Marcy and were unable to get back on the trail.
The initial response included six Forest Rangers on snowmobiles, one New York State Police Pilot, one Ranger Helicopter Crew Chief, one Ranger Helicopter rescuer, and one Ranger on a tracked utility task vehicle (UTV).
New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation responded for a possible hoist rescue. Due to the heavy cloud cover, the two Rangers in the helicopter could not see the missing hiker.
At 6:06 p.m., one of the Rangers in the helicopter was inserted into the Marcy Dam Outpost to search on the ground. At 9:51 p.m., a Ranger located the 21-year-old hiker from New Jersey deceased and weather conditions prevented removal from the mountain at that time.
Rangers also found the dog alive and hiked it out to safety. On the morning of February 13, NYSP Aviation inserted two Rangers to the site and recovered the hiker.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation offered its condolences to the family.
Town of North Elba, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On February 12 at 8:17 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch called Forest Ranger Ordway about a hiker who became lost while hiking Phelps and Tabletop mountains.
The hiker’s spouse said they last heard from the hiker at 4:30 p.m. when they were attempting to bushwhack back to the trail. The spouse provided coordinates based on a phone app.
Ray Brook Dispatch called the hiker and confirmed they were still lost off trail, but then the call dropped. At 9:41 p.m., Ranger Ordway found the hiker’s vehicle at Adirondak Loj.
At 9:47 p.m., the hiker called 911 and provided new coordinates. At 10:30 p.m., Rangers Hamm and O’Connell located the 65-year-old from Arkport, NY, in Steuben County.
Rangers transported the subject to their vehicle. After talking to the hiker, Rangers determined the subject lost the trail at the summit of Phelps Mountain and was unable to locate the trail using their phone, which died during a 911 call.
The hiker paced back and forth to maintain body temperature until Rangers arrived. Resources were clear at 12:09 a.m.
Rangers suggest hiking with a map and compass. While cell phones can be helpful, there are places in the High Peaks without cell service. Phone batteries also drain more quickly in the cold weather.
DEC’s website has information about the 10 Hiking Essentials and other details to hike safely.
Town of Keene, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On February 14 at 3:23 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the spouse of a hiker who was off trail on Haystack Mountain and getting cold.
Forest Rangers called the 51-year-old hiker and determined they were near the summit of Basin Mountain. Rangers talked the hiker back onto the trail.
At 7:10 p.m., Rangers Jansen and Jeffery met the hiker on the trail to ensure the hiker was safe and hiked with the subject back to the trailhead.
Town of Wilmington, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On February 15 at 3:19 p.m., Whiteface Mountain medical services contacted Forest Rangers and Whiteface Ski Patrol to assist three skiers who skied out of bounds into the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness.
Rangers made contact with the skiers and determined the three teenagers were uninjured but were stranded in deep snow on top of a cliff. Whiteface Mountain staff provided a ride in a snowcat for four Rangers.
At the same time, NYSP Aviation and one Ranger located the group and dropped off sleeping bags for warmth. At 6:07 p.m., Rangers located the skiers warm and in good health.
Rangers provided the skiers with snowshoes and headlamps and assisted them back to the resort.
Read more recent Forest Ranger Reports.
Photo of Whiteface rescue provided by DEC.
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