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 Schroon, Essex County
Wilderness Recovery: On February 24 at 3 p.m., nine Forest Rangers joined NYSP in searching for a missing hiker. The 51-year-old from the state of Florida failed to check out of his lodging that morning.
The hiker was last seen on February 19 and mentioned going snowshoeing on Crane Mountain in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness. At 7:32 p.m., Forest Rangers located them deceased at the Oxshoe Pond lean-to. Rangers transported them to the Essex County Coroner at the Crane Pond Road trailhead.
The Oxshoe Pond lean-to is closed to the public until further notice. NYSP determined the manner of death was suicide. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation offers its condolences to the hiker’s family.
If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance, help is available. Call or text 988 for New York State’s free 24-hour hotline. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
Read more about this incident.
Town of North Hudson, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On February 25 at 8:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from an individual reporting her spouse overdue in the Dix Range. The hiker planned a two-day hike and started the previous day. The last contact was 7:15 a.m., approximately six miles from the planned ending point.
The 58-year-old from Mechanicville stated they were tired and moving slowly. At 9:50 p.m., Forest Rangers located the hiker’s vehicle at the Elk Lake trailhead. Seven Rangers searched throughout the night with negative results.
On February 26, more than 20 Rangers were deployed and NYSP Aviation conducted aerial searches and inserted Rangers to higher elevations. At 2:55 p.m., a Ranger search crew located the subject off the Lillian Brook trail. The hiker exhibited symptoms of mild hypothermia and frostbite.
At 4:20 p.m., Ranger R. Praczkajlo successfully hoisted the subject into the helicopter. NYSP Pilot Engel flew them to Lake Placid Airport where they met Lake Placid Emergency Medical Services. A video of the hoist rescue is available here.
Hamlet of Raquette Lake, Hamilton County
Stranded Snowmobiler: On February 26 at 3:43 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call regarding a stranded snowmobiler on Raquette Lake. At 6:14 a.m., Ranger Scott located the 47-year-old from Brooklyn on the shoreline of the lake and assisted them back to their vehicle. The subject was ice fishing when the snowmobile failed. The owner returned during daylight hours to remove the snowmobile.
Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County
Snowmobile Accident: On February 27 at 5:15 p.m., two Forest Rangers responded to a call for a snowmobiler through the ice on Forked Lake. Other riders in the group pulled the 60-year-old from Hammondsport out of the water, but the snowmobiler needed further assistance. Rangers Milano and Miller brought the subject to a Ranger truck to be warmed. Emergency Medical Services assessed the subject, who refused further medical care.
Read About Other Recent Forest Ranger Missions
Photo of Dix Range rescue provided by DEC.
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