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Entries from October 26th, 2012

Hurricane Sandy – Backcountry Notice

October 26th, 2012 · No Comments · Adirondack News

The National Weather Service is predicting that Hurricane Sandy will impact the Adirondacks with strong winds & heavy rains early next week.

All hunters, hikers and campers should be
out of the woods by dark on Sunday, October 28.

The DEC Fish Creek Campground will close Sunday night. All reservations for next week have been canceled.

Those planning hunt, hike, camp, boat or paddle on the lands and waters of the Adirondacks next week should pay close attention to weather reports.

Nobody should be in the backcountry
or on the waters when the storm hits.

Outdoor recreationists should stay out of the backcountry and off the waters until after the storm has passed and DEC has determined the resulting damages.

DEC will provide information regarding blowdown and flooding that may make the backcountry unsafe to access on the DEC web site.

See the DEC website for current information on preparation, damage and response to the aftermath related to Hurricane Sandy at http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/76659.html.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

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State Police & DEC Forest Rangers Ask Hunters Assistance in Locating Colin Gillis

October 24th, 2012 · No Comments · Adirondack News

Hunters and others bushwhacking in the woods in the town of Piercefield in St. Lawrence County and the town of Tupper Lake in Franklin County are asked to look for and report signs of Colin Gillis, New York State Police and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers requested today.
Missing Child - Colin Gillis
Colin Gillis, 18, of Tupper Lake, NY was last seen on March 10, 2012, walking on State Route 3 between the communities of Tupper Lake and Piercefield. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 170 pounds.

Mr. Gillis was last seen wearing a white American Eagle v-neck shirt with black stripes and short sleeves, blue Levi boot cut jeans, and red Nike Air high top sneakers. He may also have been wearing a reversible black or red L.L. Bean coat and carrying and orange and black day pack.
Gillis Jacket and Day Pack

Hunters have been helpful in the past locating and reporting signs of lost or missing persons in the woods. Leaves are off the trees and shrubs at this time of year, hunters seek game in areas that most people do not enter and hunters are keen observers as they hunt.

Hunters or anyone else that find any items that Mr. Gillis may have been wearing or carrying are asked to contact State Police at 518-897-2000 or the DEC Dispatch at 518-897-1300.

In March, DEC Forest Rangers, State Police, local emergency response agencies and the area search and rescue teams, assisted by hundreds of volunteers from the community spent seven days searching more than 2000 acres of lands, miles of the Raquette River and both Raquette Pond and Piercefield Flow. Volunteers alone expended more than 1000 person days or approximately 10,000 hours actively searching for Mr. Gillis.

State Police still have an open missing person investigation seeking Gillis. The DEC Forest Rangers search for him is in a limited continuous status. Under the limited continuous search local Forest Rangers, search and rescue teams and others continue to conduct spot searches and training exercises in the area, and periodic over-flights of helicopters will search the lands and waters in the area.

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Hantavirus Notice

October 23rd, 2012 · No Comments · News

NYSDEC LogoThe NYS Department of Health and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed the presence of Hanta Virus antibodies in a man from Suffolk County, NY. It is possible that the man contracted Hanta Virus from mice in Uphill lean-to in the Eastern High Peaks.

Although hanta virus is extremely rare, and has never been recorded in the Adirondacks, DEC will be checking lean-tos in the area and removing food and other garbage from in, under and around the lean-tos.

Campers and hikers can help to avoid attracting nuisance wildlife, including mice, squirrels, martens and bears, by following these housekeeping practices:

  • Cook away from your campsite
  • Plan portions to avoid leftovers
  • Keep food in storage containers except when cooking or eating
  • Be neat and clean while cooking and eating
  • Clean up your hands, clothing and dishware immediately after eating
  • Never leave food unattended
  • Use bear resistant food canisters year-round to store food, garbage and toiletries.
  • Carry out all garbage

See the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hanta Virus web page for more information: http://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/

(via NYSDEC)

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