New 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
Split Rock Mountain Wild Forest, Town of Westport
Lost Hunter: On December 12, 2014 at 11:30 a.m., a 49-year-old male from Panton, VT contacted Essex County 911 advising he had become lost while hunting on Split Rock Mountain in the Town of Westport. His coordinates were obtained from his cell phone, and Forest Rangers responded. Voice contact was established at 2:20 p.m. and Rangers located the hiker at 2:30 p.m. in good health. Rangers escorted him back to his vehicle at 3:30 p.m.

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