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 Aug. 6 at 10:40 a.m., off-duty Forest Ranger Adams came across a hiker who had fallen and dislocated their shoulder on Saddleback Mountain. New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation was approved. Ranger Lieutenant Kerr served as hoist operator on the helicopter and lowered a NYSP medic to splint the subject’s shoulder and prepare the 30-year-old from Quebec for a hoist.
Lt. Kerr successfully hoisted the subject into the helicopter. Pilots Betts and Drindak flew them to the hospital. Resources were clear at 12:30 p.m. Video of the hoist rescue is available for download here.
Town of Brighton, Franklin County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 6 at 7:46 p.m., New York State Police (NYSP) requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a missing 79-year-old with dementia. Eight Rangers worked with NYSP units using drones, a blood hound, and local fire departments.
The overnight search yielded negative results. The following morning, 21 Rangers, nine fire departments, five NYSP units, NYSP Aviation, six members of Search and Rescue of the Northern Adirondacks, and DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement joined the efforts. At 10:55 a.m., Forest Ranger Nahor located the subject in good physical health other than minor scrapes.
Town of Keene, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 7 at 1:13 p.m., Forest Ranger Curcio received a call from an 18-year-old hiker 50 yards off the summit of Mount Marcy complaining of fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, and vomiting.
The hiker from New Jersey had also run out of water, which the summit steward provided. Once rehydrated, the teenager told Ranger Curcio they could hike the Van Hoevenberg trail on their own.
While hiking in, Ranger Curcio continued checking in on the subject. At 5 p.m., Rangers met the group one mile above Indian Falls. The hiker was moving well, but Rangers provided electrolytes and food out of an abundance of caution and escorted the group to Marcy Dam and then to the Adirondak Loj.
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 Lawrence, St. Lawrence County
Wildland Fire: On Aug. 7 at 2 p.m., St. Lawrence County requested Forest Ranger assistance with a wildland fire. A landowner was burning brush when it escaped containment and burned down two outbuildings near their camp. The fire burned one tenth of an acre before local fire departments extinguished the flames. Rangers worked on hot spots, and on Aug. 11, declared the fire out.
Village of Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 8 at 10:40 a.m., Forest Ranger Russo received a call from a subject reporting her friend, a 70-year-old from Colorado, had become disoriented on the Freedom Trail in Dutchess County. Ranger Pries was in the area, found the caller, and the two hiked the Freedom trail.
After reaching the end of the State land boundary, Ranger Pries called out the missing subject’s name and they answered. Ranger Pries guided the pair back to the trail and assisted them to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 1:45 p.m.
Town of Hunter, Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 8 at 2:43 p.m., Greene County 911 reached out to Forest Ranger Fox about a hiker at Kaaterskill Falls trail suffering from heat exhaustion. At 5:06 p.m., Ranger Commerford and Assistant Forest Rangers (AFRs) Massa and Zeleznik reached the 62-year-old from New Jersey. The subject was complaining of weakness, dizziness, and exhaustion, and was also a diabetic.
Rangers provided electrolytes and food, which enabled the hiker to continue the hike out. At 5:14 p.m., they started walking with the subject and their hiking group when Rangers were met by a Greene County Paramedic and Tannersville Fire Department. At 5:25 p.m., everyone exited the woods and the patient was turned over to Hunter EMS.
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. DEC also encourages checking the forecast before an adventure and if it’s too hot, consider hiking a different day.
Town of Shandaken, Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 9 at 3:40 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a 62-year-old hiker experiencing weakness and persistent vomiting on Wittenberg Mountain. Despite showing signs of fatigue at 1 p.m., the hiker and their son continued to the summit of the mountain.
After hiking back down half a mile, the hiker from New Jersey could no longer continue. Due to the remote location, New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation was approved. Rangers Fox and Stratton and a NYSP medic were lowered down to the patient. NYSP successfully hoisted the subject and brought them back to the Catskill Interpretive Center.
Town of Santa Clara, Franklin County
Wildland Fire: On Aug. 10 at 6:52 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a wildland fire near Little Long Pond in the St. Regis Canoe Area. Forest Rangers Corey and Ordway responded. By 12:24 a.m., Rangers brought the fire under control.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photo of Little Long Lake wildfire provided by DEC.
Source link
