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 Webb, Herkimer County
Water Rescue: On April 13 at 2:40 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Herkimer County 911 about two kayakers on Stillwater Reservoir who were unable to paddle back to the boat launch due to strong winds.
At 4:11 p.m., Forest Ranger Lee responded by boat, located the 42- and 55-year-olds from Herkimer, and transported the pair back to their vehicle.
Town of Hunter, Greene County
Wilderness Search: On April 17 at 3:55 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch contacted Forest Ranger Peterson about a lost hiker on the Mink Hollow trail of Sugarloaf Mountain. The Dispatcher guided the hiker back to the trail but remained concerned.
Ranger Peterson called the 61-year-old from New York City who told the Ranger he was in good health and planned to continue hiking. When Ranger Peterson learned the subject did not have a map and was unfamiliar with the area, the Ranger suggested the hiker turn around and head back to his vehicle.
The hiker refused and said he would call back if he got lost. At 5:02 p.m., the hiker called Ranger Peterson to report he was lost again. At 6 p.m., Rangers Fox and Peterson located the subject and assisted him down the trail to his vehicle.
Town of Hunter, Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 18 at 5:15 p.m., four Forest Rangers responded to a report of a hiker with an ankle injury in the area of the Devil’s Acre lean-to on Hunter Mountain.
Rangers reached the 45-year-old from New Jersey at 8:30 p.m. Rangers and members of the Lexington and Prattsville Fire Departments used a wheeled litter over the icy terrain to return the hiker to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 3:45 a.m.
Town of Hunter, Greene County
Wilderness Search: On April 19 at 5 p.m., Forest Rangers Commerford, Fox, and Peterson responded to a call from a hiker reporting he was lost on the south side of Twin Mountain.
Ray Brook Dispatch provided coordinates and Rangers reached the 23-year-old from Brooklyn and assisted him back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 9:30 p.m.
Town of Wilmington, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On April 19 at 6:14 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from two hikers looking for assistance getting down from the top of Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway.
The two 19-year-olds from Quebec were not prepared for the cold and rainy conditions on the trail. At 6:52 p.m., Forest Rangers Curcio and Foutch reached the hikers on the road.
Their clothes were soaked through, and if further subjected to the cold, the pair would likely have suffered from hypothermia. Rangers provided warm clothes and transported the hikers to their vehicle. Resources were clear by 7:50 p.m.
Town of Newcomb, Essex County
Wilderness Search: On April 21 at 2 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from New York State Police about a GPS beacon initiated by a lost hiker. Coordinates placed the hiker off the Santanoni Express trail near the junction with the Bradley Pond trail in the Santanoni Range.
At 5:05 a.m., Forest Ranger Martin located the 36-year-old from Brockport and 41-year-old from Fairport and escorted the hikers back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 7:50 a.m.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photo of Hunter Mountain rescue provided by DEC.
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