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 Hunter, Greene County
Dog Rescue: On July 16 at 11:38 a.m., Greene County requested Forest Ranger assistance with a dog that had fallen into a crevice on the Escarpment Trail. Rangers Welch and Dawson set up a rope and pully system. Ranger Dawson rappelled into the crevice.
Ranger Welch and an off-duty Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy helped pull the one-and-a-half-year-old Australian shepherd to safety. Learn more from the dog’s owner on DEC’s YouTube page.
Town of Inlet, Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On July 16 at 2 p.m., Herkimer County transferred a call to Ray Brook Dispatch from three hikers off trail on Black Bear Mountain. The 44-year-old and two teenagers from Pennsylvania followed blue paint on trees down the summit. Forest Rangers Miller and Nahor responded to the coordinates from the call, found the three subjects in good spirits, and assisted them back to their vehicle. Resources were clear at 4:30 p.m.
It is illegal to add paint to a trail. Responsible parties may face misdemeanor-level charges if caught.
Town of Brighton, Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 17 at 1:25 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about an elderly hiker who had fallen down an embankment. The 92-year-old from Saranac Lake was unable to walk on their own.
Forest Rangers Adams, and H. Praczkajlo, Paul Smiths Gabriels, and Saranac Lake Fire Departments reached the subject and assisted them down to the Black Pond trailhead. Saranac Lake Rescue transported the hiker to the hospital. Resources were clear at 2:10 p.m.
Town of Newcomb, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 17 at 5:40 p.m., Forest Rangers Ordway, Quinones, and Sabo responded to a call for an unprepared, lost hiker near Bradley Pond. Rangers removed blown-down trees to reach the 73-year-old. At 10:39 p.m., Rangers reached the hiker, rewarmed them, and provided food and drink. Once the hiker was feeling better, Rangers assisted them back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 5:25 a.m.
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 the risk of dehydration.
Town of Middlesex, Yates County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 18 at 8:30 a.m., Yates County 911 contacted Forest Ranger Dormer about an injured hiker at Clark’s Gully. The patient called 911 but dispatchers had difficulty understanding the caller, likely due to a head injury sustained overnight. At 9:50 a.m., Ranger Dormer reached the patient and worked with the Ontario County and Yates County ropes teams on a low-angle rope rescue.
At 11:56 a.m., rescuers made it out of the gully with the hiker, who was then transported to Canandaigua Emergency Ambulance to a waiting Mercy flight. Middlesex and Naples Fire Departments, Canandaigua Advanced Life Support, and the Yates County Sheriff all assisted in the rescue.
Town of Middletown, Delaware County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 18 at 4:32 p.m., Forest Rangers Commerford and Seeley responded to a call for an injured hiker on the Huckleberry Loop approximately two miles from the Hill Road trailhead in the Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest. The 69-year-old from White Plains had slipped on a wet rock and suffered an upper leg injury.
With the assistance of trekking poles, the hiker continued to walk down the loop. At 6:24 p.m., Ranger Seeley reached the subject and conducted a medical assessment. At 6:35 p.m., Ranger Commerford, Margaretville Fire, and Margaretville EMS reached Ranger Seeley and the subject. Rescuers used a wheeled litter to carry the subject to a Margaretville Fire UTV. At 8:40 p.m. for eventual transport to an area hospital.
Hamlet of Pine Bush, Ulster County
Wilderness Search: On July 20 at 2:50 p.m., Ulster County Dispatch contacted Forest Ranger Rusher about two parents and their six children dehydrated and potentially lost in the Shawangunk Ridge State Forest. Ranger Rusher joined New York State Police, Ulster County Fire Coordinator, and Burlingham, Cragsmoor, Ellenville, and Walker Valley Fire Departments in the search.
A 14-year-old member of the party made it to the Cox Road parking lot with three siblings. Then the mother and another child made it out. The father and the sixth child were lost on the other side of the mountain. At 4:10 p.m., Rangers Rusher and Schweider reached the final two hikers.
An Ellenville medic determined the father should be brought to the hospital due to lethargy and low blood sugar and brought them to the hospital. Resources were clear at 5 p.m.
Town of Keene, Essex County
Wilderness Search: On June 20 at 5:03 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the brother of a hiker who had last been heard from the night before on the summit of Mount Marcy. Forest Rangers searched into the overnight with negative results. The following morning at 6:35 a.m., an Assistant Forest Ranger Vaughn located the 22-year-old from Pennsylvania alive and well in a lean-to.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photo of dog rescue provided by DEC.
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