Adirondack Base Camp header image

Entries Tagged as 'saratoga county'

Adirondack Forest Ranger Search and Rescue Highlights: 7/20-7/26/15

July 28th, 2015 · No Comments · Adirondack News

NYSDEC LogoNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people from the backcountry.

“DEC Forest Rangers’ knowledge of first aid, land navigation and technical rescue techniques are often critical to the success of their missions,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “Search and rescue missions often require Rangers to function in remote wilderness areas from rugged mountainous peaks to white-water rivers, and through vast forest areas from spruce-fir thicket to open hardwoods.”


Recent missions carried out by DEC Forest Rangers in the Adirondacks include:

Essex County
Town of North Elba – High Peaks Wilderness
Distressed hiker: On July 19, 2015 at 10:50 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker requesting assistance for her companion who was in distress near Marcy Dam after hiking Mt. Marshall. The 45-year-old woman from Baltimore, MD suddenly became ill. Ray Brook Dispatch texted the reporting party, who informed them that the pair were 10 minutes from the Yellow Trail in Algonquin, close to the Adirondack Loj. DEC Forest Rangers met the women on the trail and provided fluids to the woman in distress. The Rangers escorted her to the ADK Loj and put her into an ambulance, which took her to AMC Lake Placid for treatment. The incident concluded at 12:30 a.m. on July 20.

Town of Keene – Giant Mountain Wilderness
Injured hiker: On July 25, 2015 at 2:15 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a report of an injured hiker at the Junction of Roaring Brook Falls. The 39-year-old woman from Latham, NY was alert and making her way down the trail with the assistance of friends. DEC Forest Rangers responded to Giant Ridge Trailhead and encountered the group 1.25 miles up the trail. They evaluated the woman, administered first aid and escorted her out. She told them she would seek medical attention on her own. The incident concluded at 5:30 p.m.

Town of Keene – High Peaks Wilderness
Distressed hiker: On July 25, 2015 at 3:45 p.m., the Keene Valley Fire Department requested assistance from DEC Forest Rangers for a dehydrated woman at Rainbow Falls. Rangers and members of the Keene Valley Fire Department escorted the woman out through the Adirondack Mountain Reserve Property to a waiting Keene Valley Ambulance. The Ambulance transported her to Elizabethtown Hospital for treatment. The incident concluded at 4:30 p.m.

Town of North Elba – High Peaks Wilderness
Distressed hiker: On July 25, 2015 at 3:40 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the Wright Summit Steward reporting a 56-year-old female hiker from Paris, France in medical distress near the Wright and Algonquin Junction. The Wright Summit Steward conducted a medical assessment, while a DEC Forest Ranger headed to the scene. Once the Ranger arrived, they requested a helicopter and placed it on standby while they organized a hoist operator and advanced medical care. However, the woman’s condition improved after a short time and she managed to walk with assistance. An assistant Forest Ranger then transported her to her car where she declined any further medical treatment. The incident concluded at 7:00 p.m.

Town of North Elba – High Peaks Wilderness
Injured hiker: On July 26, 2015 at 5:35 p.m., the Marcy Dam Interior Outpost caretaker contacted DEC Ray Brook requesting assistance for an injured female hiker. The 26-year-old woman from Elkhart, IN fell in Avalanche Pass. A DEC Assistant Forest Ranger assisted her to Marcy Dam where another Ranger waited on a Utility-Terrain Vehicle. The DEC Ranger transported the woman to the Adirondack Loj at 6:53 p.m., where she declined further medical treatment.

Town of Chesterfield – Private Land
Lost minors: On July 21, 2015 at 8:25 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a home owner on Butternut Pond reporting his neighbor’s two teenage boys from Mont-Hillaire, QC, CA had been missing for the past six hours. At approximately 2:30 p.m. the teenagers went for a walk, but had not yet returned. DEC Forest Rangers and volunteers from the Keeseville Fire Department responded to the location. At 9:02 p.m., a responding Forest Rangers located the pair walking the road in good condition. The teens hiked around Butternut Pond and became lost on the network trails. They hiked approximately 12 miles before coming out onto State Route 9N in the Town of Chesterfield. The Ranger transported the teens back to their camp and to their parents without further incident. The incident concluded at 10:30 p.m.

Hamilton County
Town of Inlet – Moose River Plains Wild Forest
Lost hikers: On July 26, 2015 at 2:06 p.m., Herkimer County 911 contacted DEC Ray Brook Dispatch reporting two lost hikers on Black Bear Mountain. The 20-year-old women from Rome, NY were hiking on ski trail when they decided to head to the top. Two DEC Forest Rangers located the women at 3:57 p.m. after following GPS coordinates provided by 911. The Rangers then escorted the women out to the trailhead.

Herkimer County
Town of Webb – Fulton Chain Wild Forest
Injured hiker: On July 26, 2015 at 2:11 p.m., Herkimer County 911 contacted DEC Ray Brook Dispatch requesting assistance for a 70-year-old woman from Slingerlands, NY who sustained a leg injury while hiking Bald Mountain. Three DEC Forest Rangers and an Assistant Ranger responded with New York State Police, Town of Webb Police Department and Old Forge Rescue Squad to carry the hiker out. An ambulance met them at the trailhead and transported the woman to a hospital in the Utica area. The incident concluded at 4:22 p.m.

Saratoga County
Town of Hadley – Wilcox Lake Wild Forest
Injured hiker: On July 26, 2015 at 1:50 p.m., Warren County 911 contacted DEC Ray Brook Dispatch reporting a 42-year-old female hiker from Ballston Spa, NY with a lower leg injury on the Hadley Mountain fire tower trail. Two DEC Forest Rangers responded with the Hadley-Luzerne Rescue Squad and carried the hiker out to the trailhead. The rescue squad then transported her to Glens Falls Hospital. The incident concluded at 3:20 p.m.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hiking Safety and Adirondack Trail Information webpages for more information.

Tags: ·····

Adirondack Forest Ranger Search and Rescue Highlights: 4/13-4/19/15

April 21st, 2015 · No Comments · Adirondack News

NYSDEC LogoNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people from the backcountry.

“DEC Forest Rangers’ knowledge of first aid, land navigation and technical rescue techniques are often critical to the success of their missions,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “Search and rescue missions often require Rangers to function in remote wilderness areas from rugged mountainous peaks to white-water rivers, and through vast forest areas from spruce-fir thicket to open hardwoods.”

Recent missions carried out by DEC Forest Rangers in the Adirondacks include:

Essex County
Giant Mountain Wilderness – Town of Keene
Overdue Hiker: On April 13, 2015 at 12:20 p.m., New York State Police received a call from the Canadian Provincial Police reporting a 30-year-old man from Quebec, Canada had not returned from a hiking trip to Iroquois Mountain. He was expected to return home on Sunday, April 12. DEC Forest Rangers located the man’s vehicle at the Roaring Brook Falls Trailhead in the Town of Keene at 1:05 p.m. Additional DEC Forest Rangers searched trails surrounding the area. At 2:05 p.m. the man walked out of the woods on his own. No further response was required and the incident was closed.

Taylor Pond Wild Forest – Town of Chesterfield
Lost Hikers: On April 13, 2015 at 7:50 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from three women reporting they were lost on Poke-o-Moonshine Mountain. The women, a 20-year-old from Ballston Lake, 20-year-old from Clifton Park, and 21-year-old also from Clifton Park, had come down a trail and followed a gravel road to a dead end. They were not properly dressed, had little water and food, and no flashlights. Essex County 911 obtained GPS coordinates from their cell phone and relayed the coordinates to the responding DEC Forest Ranger. The Ranger located the women at 8:57 p.m. He transported them back to their vehicle and the incident concluded at 9:15 p.m.

Franklin County
St. Regis Mohawk Reservation – Town of Bombay
Missing Child: On April 18, 2015 at 5:45 p.m., Franklin County 911 contacted DEC Forest Rangers requesting assistance in the search for a missing 10-year-old girl from Hogansburg, NY, on the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation. Forest Rangers arrived to find a 20-person crew, including family members, New York State Police, K9 units and members of the local Fire Department, already searching the woods. DEC Forest Rangers established an Incident Command Post and coordinated with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police to search buildings on the south side of Route 37, east and west of where the girl was last seen. Tribal Police located the child in good health in a shed directly adjacent to her last known point.

Saratoga County
Private Land – Town of Corinth
Missing Individual: On April 18, 2015 at 3:00 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office requesting DEC Forest Ranger assistance in locating a missing 54-year-old woman from Corinth, NY. The woman’s husband last saw her at 11:30 a.m. and became concerned after he realized she did not bring the necessary treatment for her medical condition. DEC Forest Rangers responded and located the woman at 4:00 p.m. on nearby private property. The woman had followed a creek and found her way to State Route 9N. Corinth EMS transported her for assessment.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hiking Safety and Adirondack Trail Information webpages for more information.

Tags: ····

DEC Seeks Information From Owner of Dog That Bit Fire Tower Steward

June 19th, 2012 · No Comments · Adirondack News

Incident Occurred on Hadley Mountain on Friday, June 8

NYSDEC LogoThe NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking information about the status of the rabies vaccination from the owner of a dog that bit a Hadley Mountain Fire Tower Steward on Friday, June 8.

DEC hopes to confirm the dog is up to date on rabies vaccination to prevent the young man who was bitten from being required to get the full cycle of rabies treatment.

The incident, in which the steward was bit on the ring finger, occurred late in the morning. The dog was a black Labrador retriever mix who was accompanying a group of two males and a female estimated to be in their late 20s and early 30s. Some or all of the members of the group possibly lived in the Town of Luzerne.

Immediately after being bitten the steward left the scene of the incident to administer first aid. When he returned the group had left. The next day he went to the hospital and was required to receive five shots to begin the rabies treatment cycle.

DEC asks that the owner of the dog please contact the DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook at 518-897-1300 and confirm whether the dog it is up to date on its rabies vaccination. This may prevent the young man from having to continue rabies treatment.

Tags: ····