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 Oct. 1 at 4 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for a hiker with an unstable ankle injury on the Cascade Mountain trail. Four Forest Rangers responded.
At 6:27 p.m., Ranger Rooney located the 32-year-old from Long Island, assessed the injury, and splinted the hiker’s ankle. Shortly after starting back down the trail, the hiker tripped on a rock and couldn’t continue.
New York State Police (NYSP) Pilot Engel and Ranger Curcio performed a successful hoist rescue and transferred the patient to Lake Placid EMS for transportation to the hospital. Resources were clear at 7:10 p.m.
Town of Shandaken, Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 2 at 11:45 a.m., Ulster County 911 received a call from a hiking party reporting one hiker persistently vomiting at the summit of Wittenberg Mountain in the Catskills.
Four Rangers and EMS met the 17-year-old on the trail, assessed the hiker’s condition, provided nourishment, and escorted them one mile to the trailhead. The hiker refused further medical treatment. Resources were clear at 3 p.m.
Town of North Elba, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 2 at 6 p.m., Forest Rangers Martin and Ordway responded to a call for a hiker with a leg injury approximately 0.75 miles from the trailhead on Haystack Mountain in the Adirondack High Peaks.
The 77-year-old was with another hiker trying to help get back to the trailhead, but the 77-year-old kept falling. Rangers assisted the hiker back to the trailhead and then to the hospital. Resources were clear at 8:25 p.m.
Town of Keene, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 2 at 8:55 p.m., a hiker texted 911 to request assistance due to exhaustion. The 32-year-old from Allegany was out of water and falling frequently due to dizziness.
At 11:15 p.m., the hiker made it to the Johns Brook outpost where they waited for Forest Rangers Corey and Rooney. Rangers provided basic first aid and nourishment and brought them back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 12:45 a.m.
Town of Windham, Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 3 at 4 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call reporting a hiker with severe cramping who could not continue down from the summit of Black Dome Mountain.
Forest Rangers Fox and Peterson hiked to the subject and provided electrolytes and food. After some rest and rehydration, the 29-year-old from New Jersey was able to walk again. Rangers assisted the subject to Big Hollow Road trailhead. Resources were clear at 9 p.m.
Town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 4 at 10 a.m., Dutchess County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance with a hiker vomiting excessively from alcohol consumption at Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Area.
Ranger Russo responded with Pleasant Valley Fire and EMS. They located the subject at a campsite with three other individuals and transported the patient to an ambulance in the parking area. Resources were clear at 12 p.m.
Village of Hancock, Delaware County
Wilderness Search: On Oct. 4 at 7:50 p.m. Delaware County requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for a missing 90-year-old with early signs of dementia. The subject was last seen at 3 p.m.
Rangers joined search crews from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Delaware County Tech Team, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and the Cooks Falls, Downsville, East Branch, Hancock, Roscoe Rockland, and Trout Creek Fire Departments.
At 9 a.m. a search group found the subject in a ravine on Dry Brook Ridge Road. The subject was conscious and alert but dehydrated.
Town of Clifton, St. Lawrence County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 4 at 8 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a report of a lost hiker off the Cranberry Lake 50 trail. Rangers Benzel and Shea responded to the provided coordinates off of Dead Creek trail. The hiker did not have a light source.
At 12:05 a.m., Rangers located the 51-year-old from Feura Bush in good health and assisted them back to their vehicle.
Town of Windham, Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 5 at 1:15 p.m., Forest Rangers Commerford, Fox, and Peterson responded to a call for a hiker with an ankle injury on the Escarpment Trail in the Catskills. An off-duty EMT who was hiking in the area provided medical care before Rangers arrived.
At 3:45 p.m. Rangers met the 83-year-old from Massachusetts at the Elm Ridge lean-to and provided first aid. Hensonville Fire Department transported the patient from the lean-to to the Peck Road trailhead where the hiker was checked out by Windham Ambulance. Resources were clear at 4:45 p.m.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photo of Delaware County rescue provided by DEC.
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