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 Wilmington, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 12 at 9:27 p.m., Forest Rangers H. and R. Praczkajlo responded to a call for an overheated/exhausted hiker on Marble Mountain. At 11 p.m., Rangers reached the subject and helped the 27-year-old from Avon down the mountain.
Town of North Elba, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 13 at 5 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the spouse of an overdue 72-year-old hiker in the Sawtooth Mountain range. Forest Rangers searched into the night. At 2 a.m., Rangers located the subject from Connecticut and by 4:28 a.m., Rangers reunited the subject and their family at the Seward trailhead.
Town of Keene, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 13 at 3:15 p.m., a hiker called for help after taking an unexpected route from Cascade trailhead to Marcy Field over Blueberry Mountain. The 41-year-old from Massena was out of water and cramping. At 4:55 p.m., Forest Ranger H. Praczkajlo located the subject, rehydrated them, and helped them back on the Blueberry trail. At 7 p.m., they reached the subject’s vehicle at the trailhead.
DEC encourages hikers to bring plenty of food and water for their hike in case the hike lasts longer than expected. Proper preparation for a hike can reduce bouts of cramping and dehydration.
Town of Keene, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 13 at 10:50 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the friend of a hiker who said the hiker is frantic and in need of assistance. The 36-year-old from Webster was out of water and their phone was dying.
The hiker’s car was at Round Pond trailhead, but the phone’s coordinates placed them coming down the Bouquet Forks Trail. At 12:20 a.m., Forest Ranger Lewis reached the subject, rehydrated them, and assisted them down the trail and reunited them with the caller.
Town of Windham, Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 15 at 5:45 p.m., Greene County 911 requested Forest Ranger assistance with a hiker with an unstable ankle injury approximately two miles up the trail of Black Dome Mountain. At 9 p.m., Rangers reached the 68-year-old from Oneonta. Rangers successfully packaged the hiker and carried them out to the trailhead by 1 a.m.
Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County
Wildland Fire: On Aug. 15 at 6:52 p.m., Forest Ranger Miller discovered a wildland fire on Big Island in Raquette Lake. By 11 p.m., Ranger Miller had the 0.1-acre fire, caused by a campfire, under control. DEC encourages campers to never leave a campfire unattended and make sure it is cold to the touch after it’s extinguished.
Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County
Wildland Fire: On Aug. 17 at 4 p.m., Forest Ranger Miller responded to a call for a brush fire on the side of Deerland Road. It was caused by a campfire that spread to the woods. Upon arrival, the Long Lake Fire Department already had the fire under control, and Ranger Miller assisted with managing on hot spots to ensure the fire was extinguished.
Town of Waverly, Franklin County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 16 at 10:30 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiking group reporting they were off trail on Azure Mountain and didn’t know how to get back. At 11:50 p.m., Forest Ranger Rooney located the hikers, aged 37, 15, and 10, and assisted them back to the trailhead. While the subjects lost their way, they did have water, headlamps, and extra layers of clothing, which sustained them for the longer-than-expected hike.
Town of Bethel, Sullivan County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 17 at 11:15 p.m., White Lake Fire Department requested Forest Ranger assistance with a search for a missing hiker on Boy Scout property. The 21-year-old called 911 to report they were lost and their cell phone battery was dying. They did have water, a whistle, and extra layers of clothing. Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office launched a drone to assist in the search.
Rangers Franke and Schweider conducted linear searches with White Lake Fire Department. At 12:30 a.m., Ranger Schweider and the White Lake Fire Department made voice contact with the subject from Brooklyn. They reached the subject 15 minutes later, provided electrolytes, and transported the subject to the command post for EMS evaluation. Resources were clear at 2 a.m.
Town of Ticonderoga, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug.18 at 3:30 p.m., Essex County 911 reported an injured hiker to Ray Brook Dispatch. The report indicated the 21-year-old from Rocky Point suffered a head injury after falling from a cliff by Rock Pond near Putnam Pond.
At 5:50 p.m., Forest Ranger Quinn located the subject and determined they fell 20-30 feet down the slope towards the water. The hiker suffered multiple lacerations but showed no signs or symptoms of a head injury. After assessing for any spinal injury, Ranger Quinn walked out with the subject and then took them by boat to the Putnam Boat Launch to meet family.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photo of Black Dome Mountain rescue provided by DEC.
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