New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State. 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 and engage in policing on New York State Lands.
What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers.
Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On Nov. 28 at 10:30 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received an SOS activation from a satellite device on the southeast shoreline of Little Tupper Lake. At 12:05 p.m., Forest Rangers Curcio, Nahor, and O’Connor located the 80-year-old subject who had overturned his canoe.
Rangers brought the subject to DEC’s Little Tupper Lake Headquarters at Mount Whitney and warmed him. Once warmed, the subject declined further medical attention. Resources were clear at 3:05 p.m.
Town of Hunter, Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On Nov. 30 at 3 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a parent concerned about their son hiking Indian Head. Forest Ranger Peterson spoke to the 18-year-old from Long Island on the phone and the hiker indicated he was on a snowy trail that had not been packed down and was tired, wet, and cold.
Ranger Peterson convinced the hiker to turn around and start heading back to the trailhead rather than attempting the summit. When Rangers Fox and Peterson successfully located the subject, his pants were frozen to his legs. Rangers treated the hiker for mild hypothermia and assisted him to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 5:35 p.m.
The subject was hiking without snowshoes despite up to three feet of snow in some spots and did not have winter hiking boots, a hat, gloves, or moisture-wicking layers. Hikers are reminded to check weather and trail conditions and to always be prepared with the proper equipment before heading out. More information about winter hiking safety essentials can be found on DEC’s website.
Town of North Elba, Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Nov. 30 at 4:55 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a subject reporting his wife and a friend had become lost while hiking Street and Nye mountains. Forest Rangers Curcio, Odell, and Ordway responded. At 6:06 p.m., Ranger Curcio reached the subjects and assisted them back to their vehicle. Resources were clear at 7:18 p.m.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
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