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Adirondack Forest Ranger Search and Rescue Highlights: 8/3 – 8/9/15

August 12th, 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 Acting DEC Commissioner Marc Gerstman. “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 Jay
Lost Biker: On August 9, 2015 at 5:02 p.m., Essex County 911 transferred a call to DEC Ray Brook Dispatch from a 42-year-old male biker from St. Basile Le Grande, Quebec, lost and injured somewhere off Jay Mountain Road in the Jay Mountain Wilderness. Two DEC Forest Rangers responded to the Seventy Mountain area of the Jay Mountain Wilderness. DEC Dispatch advised the biker to shout so he could be located. Forest Rangers located him at 7:05 p.m. He reported he was biking in Elizabethtown with his brother whose bike had a mechanical failure. The man planned to bike back to the private campground in Wilmington where they were staying so that he could return with a car, but the GPS directions he followed got him lost. Forest Rangers transported the man back to the campground in Wilmington at 8:30 p.m.

Franklin County
Town of Franklin – Taylor Pond Wild Forest/Easement Lands
Lost kayaker: On August 9, 2015 at 7:44 a.m., DEC Central Dispatch received a call reporting a 40-year-old male kayaker from Ballston Spa, NY, became lost while paddling on Union Falls Pond. The female caller reported that she received a text from the kayaker at 6:30 p.m. on August 8, indicating he was lost. At 9:30 p.m. she received a second text from the man saying he was on Franklin Falls Flow where he planned to spend the night as he did not have a flashlight or map. She called for help after not receiving any further communication. Four DEC Forest Rangers, a DEC Assistant Forest Ranger, a DEC Backcountry Steward and New York State Police began a search but could not find the kayaker after an extensive search of the waterway and woods along the shore. At 11:56 a.m. the kayaker called Franklin County 911 and they obtained coordinates for his location. Searchers followed those coordinates and located the kayaker at 12:17 p.m. on the east shore of Union Falls Pond. Forest Rangers evaluated his health before transporting him by boat back to his vehicle at 1 p.m.

Hamilton County
Town of Indian Lake – West Canada Lakes Wilderness
Overdue hikers: On August 9, 2015 at 12:30 a.m., DEC Central Dispatch received a call reporting a 26-year-old man and 24-year-old woman from West Islip, NY, were one day overdue while hiking in the West Canada Lakes. Three DEC Forest Rangers responded and located the pair’s vehicle at the Pillsbury Mountain Trailhead. The Rangers searched the trails leading from the trailhead and eventually located the pair in good condition near Sampson Lake. The hikers reported that while hiking on the Northville Placid Trail on the first day they mistakenly turned off onto the West Canada Lakes Trail toward the Moose River Plains. They encountered another hiker who advised them they were heading in the wrong direction, so they turned around and hiked back to Brook Trout Lake where they spent the night. They continued hiking on the second day and made it to Sampson Lake where they spent a second night. The Forest Rangers escorted them back to the trailhead, arriving at their vehicle at 9:00 a.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.

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Adirondack Forest Ranger Search and Rescue Highlights: 7/27- 8/3/15

August 6th, 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
Injured hiker: On July 29, 2015 at 5:02 p.m., DEC Central Dispatch received a request for assistance for an injured 23-year-old female hiker from Chicago, IL, located one mile from Indian Falls on the Marcy trail. DEC Forest Rangers reached the woman at 5:21 p.m. and requested a hoist. Additional Forest Rangers responded to the Lake Placid Airport for pick up. They hoisted the woman out near Indian Falls and a helicopter transported her to AMC Saranac Lake for treatment. The incident concluded at 8:30 p.m.

Town of Lewis – Giant Mountain Wilderness
Injured hiker: On July 30, 2015 at 4:46 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance for an injured 32-year-old female hiker from Washington, DC, located one mile in on the Rocky Peak Ridge Trail on Giant Mountain. The injured hiker and her hiking companions administered basic first aid and continued walking. DEC Forest Rangers reached the party at 6:00 p.m. and assisted the woman out to the trailhead at 6:36 p.m. The woman and her companions followed a Forest Ranger to Elizabethtown Hospital where she sought treatment. The incident concluded at 7:00 p.m.

Town of Lewis – Giant Mountain Wilderness
Lost hikers: On July 31, 2015 at 9:25 p.m., a passing motorist contacted DEC Ray Brook Dispatch reporting two girls at the Roaring Brook Trailhead off Route 73 had become separated from three other members of their hiking party. The three other members included a 53-year-old man from Hilton, NY, a 46-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl, both from Kendall, NY, who were last seen on the Roaring Brook Trail. DEC Forest Rangers responded to the area and made voice contact with the missing hikers at 11:20 p.m. They located them, in good condition, at 11:30 p.m. The Rangers escorted the three hikers down the Roaring Brook Falls Trail and reunited them with the rest of their party. The incident concluded at 1:24 a.m. on August 1.

Town of Keene – High Peaks Wilderness
Distressed hiker: On August 1, 2015 at 8:44 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch overheard traffic on the radio from John’s Brook Loj reporting a 22-year-old man from Deruyter, NY in medical distress at the facility. DEC Forest Rangers responded to the Garden in John’s Brook Valley and entered the Southside Trail on ATVs. Rangers reached the man at 12:20 a.m. on August 2. They evaluated and treated him before loading him into a litter and transporting him out by ATV to Lockwood Field. Rangers transported the man to a Keene Valley Ambulance, which took him to Elizabethtown Hospital for treatment. The incident concluded at 3:20 a.m.

St. Lawrence County
Town of Clifton – Cranberry Lake Wild Forest
Distressed camper: On July 31, 2015 at 2:10 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance for a 59-year-old man from Staten Island, NY in medical distress on the Cranberry Lake 50 Trail. DEC Forest Rangers responded by boat and located the man at site #10. They transported him to a nearby DEC maintenance facility where a Cranberry Lake Ambulance took him to a nearby hospital for treatment. The incident concluded at 3:15 p.m.

Washington County
Town of Fort Ann – Lake George Wild Forest
Stranded hikers: On July 30, 2015 at 9:41 p.m., DEC Central Dispatch received a request for assistance for two hikers stranded at the summit of Buck Mountain. The 20-year-old woman from Corinth, NY and the 20-year-old man from Lake Luzerne, NY set out for a hike at 5 p.m. from Pilot Knob and reached the summit near dusk. As darkness fell they headed back down, but had difficulty locating the trail. The pair turned around and re-summited the mountain to call for assistance. DEC Forest Rangers responded and located the pair at 1:24 a.m. on July 31. Rangers escorted them out to Shelving Rock Road where New York State Police gave them a ride back to their vehicle at Pilot Knob. The incident concluded at 2:49 a.m.

Town of Dresden – Lake George Wild Forest
Lost hiker: On August 2, 2015 at 6:20 p.m., Washington County 911 contacted DEC Ray Brook Dispatch regarding a lost 19-year-old female hiker from Huletts Landing, NY on Spruce Mountain. Vermont State Police relayed the information about the hiker to Washington County 911. The woman had reached the summit and lost the trail while descending. DEC Forest Rangers responded. Her family located her in good health at approximately 8:20 p.m. and walked her out to the trailhead where a Forest Ranger waited. The incident concluded at 9:00 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.

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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.

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