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Entries Tagged as 'snowmobile'

Adirondack Forest Ranger Search And Rescue Highlights: 3/2-3/8/15

March 10th, 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
High Peaks Wilderness – Town of Keene
Injured hiker: On March 8, 2015 at 12:40 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the hiking companion of an injured man on Lower Wolfjaw. The 32-year-old Schenectady man slipped while descending the mountain, resulting in an injury to his ankle that left him unable to walk. DEC Forest Rangers responded and reached the injured man at 4:11 p.m. They put a splint around his ankle and transported him to the Lower Wolfjaw lean-to at approximately 7:00 p.m. to meet additional DEC Forest Rangers on snowmobiles. The Rangers placed the injured man on a litter and towed him by snowmobile through the south side of John’s Brook to Smith Way. At Smith Way, Keene Valley Fire and Rescue Ambulance met the party and transported the injured man to Elizabethtown Hospital for treatment at 9:16 p.m. The incident concluded at 10:20 p.m. Fifteen DEC Forest Rangers assisted in the rescue.

Franklin County
Saranac Lakes Wild Forest – Town of Harrieststown
Lost snowshoer: On March 7, 2015 at 8:00 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a snowshoer reporting he was lost on a trail near Saranac Inn. The 27-year-old man from Saranac Lake, NY did not have a map or compass. He found his way to the railroad tracks but could not determine which direction led back to his vehicle. One DEC Forest Ranger responded via snowmobile, locating the lost man and returning him to his vehicle at 9:10 p.m. in good condition.

St. Lawrence County
Grass River Conservation Easement – Town of Colton
Injured snowmobiler: On March 7, 2015 at 10:00 p.m., Franklin County 911 informed DEC Ray Brook Dispatch of a snowmobile accident in the Town of Colton, St. Lawrence County. The accident happened on the 7A trail about 6 miles south of the snowplow turnaround on Massawepie Rd. One DEC Forest Ranger and the Tupper Lake Rescue Squad responded. A 49-year-old man from Flanders, NY was with two friends headed to the Long Lake area when his snowmobile veered off the west side of the trail, traveled down an 8-foot embankment and hit a small spruce tree. A member of the Tupper Lake Rescue Squad was on scene tending to the injured man when a DEC Forest Ranger arrived. They placed him on a backboard and covered him with blankets and heat pads. A trail groomer responded to the scene to evacuate the man, who was brought to an awaiting ambulance in the Town of Conifer at about 2 a.m. and then transported to Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake. Crews cleared the incident by 2:30 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: 2/23-3/1/15

March 3rd, 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

High Peaks Wilderness – Town of North Elba
Injured hiker: On March 1, 2015 at 12:34 p.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about an injured hiker on Cliff Mountain. A 20-year-old woman from North Grandby, CT fell and slid approximately 25 feet before hitting a tree. A DEC Forest Ranger and the Lake Colden Outpost Interior Caretaker responded. They reached the hiker at 2:15 p.m. and brought her to the Lake Colden Outpost to warm up. At 3:43 p.m., additional Rangers and NYSP Aviation prepared and removed the injured woman by helicopter. She was transported to Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake for treatment. The incident concluded at 4:15 p.m.

High Peaks Wilderness – Town of North Elba
Injured skier: On March 1, 2015 at 4:22 p.m., after clearing a previous search, two DEC Forest Rangers encountered an injured skier south of Marcy Dam. They determined the 30-year-old woman from New Hartford, NY could not travel out on her own. The Rangers brought her out via snowmobile and took her to ADK Loj where she said she would seek medical attention on her own. The incident concluded at 5:45 p.m.

Herkimer County

Independence River Wild Forest – Town of Webb
Injured snowmobiler: On February 27, 2015 at 11:23 a.m., DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received word of a snowmobile accident on Trail #1. The rider, a 48-year-old man from Paramus, NJ was having shoulder and lower leg pain. Big Moose EMS responded to the scene. They transported the man to the trailhead where he was taken by ambulance to the Lewis County Medical Center.

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: 1/12-01/18/15

January 22nd, 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:

Hamilton County

Town of Indian Lake
Injured Hiker: DEC Dispatch received a call from Hamilton County 911 at 3:00 p.m. on January 17 advising of an injured Boy Scout hiking on the Blue Mountain hiking trail. The Boy Scout Group secured the 17-year-old boy and began bringing him down the mountain. DEC Forest Rangers and the Blue Mountain Fire Department located the group on the trail at 4:57 p.m., and placed the injured boy in a Stokes Litter, brought him down Blue Mountain to a waiting Blue Mountain Lake Ambulance Squad at the trailhead. He was transported to Adirondack Health in Saranac Lake for treatment. The incident concluded at 6:15 p.m.

Town of Indian Lake
Injured Snowmobiler: DEC Forest Rangers responded to a snowmobile accident in the Moose River Plains area on January 19 at 1:44 p.m. A member of a snowmobile party called DEC Ray Brook Dispatch, informing them that a 30-year-old man from Hamilton, NJ, struck a tree while riding a snowmobile trail. Indian Lake Fire & Rescue Department also responded. Responders, including Indian Lake Fire & Rescue Department, reached the injured man at 2:30 p.m. and administered first aid. Crews brought him out to the nearest trailhead by rescue toboggan behind a snowmobile. The Indian Lake Ambulance Squad transported him to Glens Falls Hospital for treatment. The incident concluded at 3:44 p.m.

Lewis County

Town of Watson
Injured Snowmobiler: On January 17 at 12:30 p.m. a caller notified DEC Ray Brook Dispatch about a snowmobile accident three miles east from the intersection of McCarty Road and Stillwater Road. Three DEC Forest Rangers and Lewis County Search and Rescue responded to the location. They discovered an injured 45-year-old female from Clifton Park, NY who they assessed and stabilized for transport via rescue toboggan behind a snowmobile to a waiting ambulance at the intersection of Stillwater Road and Number 4 Road. The injured snowmobiler was taken by ambulance to a helicopter and then flown to Syracuse Hospital for treatment at 3:30 p.m. Town of Webb Police Department snowmobile patrol assisted in the rescue.

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

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