New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents in the Adirondacks. 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.
What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers.
Dutchess County
City of Beacon
Wilderness Rescue: On March 20th at 6 pm, Forest Ranger Cowart overheard State Parks Dispatch reporting a hiker with a lower leg injury on a hiking trail in Hudson Highlands State Park. The hiker became disoriented on the trail network while hiking with a group of 16 visiting the park. Ranger Cowart and State Parks staff hiked in and located the 25-year-old subject from New York City approximately one mile in. The Ranger provided medical care for a lower leg injury, and with the assistance of the group, the hiker walked out to the trailhead. The individual refused further medical care and the group returned home.
Warren County
Town of Warrensburg
Wilderness Rescue: On March 21st at 7:42 pm, DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Warren County 911 reporting a woman lost with her two horses on private property in the town of Warrensburg. The 22-year-old subject from Queensbury became lost when she left the trail to take a shortcut back to her starting point. At 9:16 pm, Forest Ranger Savarie advised dispatch that the woman and her horses were located and safely escorted back to their barn. Ranger Savarie was clear from the scene shortly afterward.
Washington County
Town of Fort Ann
Wilderness Rescue: On March 20th at 8:11 pm, DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for Forest Ranger assistance from Warren County 911 for a report of three 19-year-old hikers from Saratoga Springs lost on Buck Mountain in the Lake George Wild Forest. The reporting party stated the hikers had no light source and were cold. Forest Rangers St. Claire and Donegan responded to the trailhead and hiked into the woods, locating the lost group at 9:44 pm. The hikers were in good condition and able to hike out on their own. All parties involved were cleared of the incident at 10:15 pm.
Town of Salem
Wildland Fire: On March 21st at 3:28 pm, Forest Ranger Quinn responded to the town of Salem for a report of a brush fire. Fire crews had extinguished the fire by the time Ranger Quinn arrived, but after a brief investigation, the property owner was issued a ticket for setting forest lands on fire during the State’s residential brush burning ban. Ranger Quinn was clear of the scene by 4 pm. To reduce the number of spring brush fires, New York State’s residential brush burning ban is in effect through May 14th.
Yates County
Town of Italy
Wilderness Rescue: On March 20th at 4:20 pm, Forest Ranger Dormer was dispatched to a rescue in the High Tor Wildlife Management Area. A 20-year-old individual from Geneseo was hiking with friends and fell into the Parrish Gully. Ranger Dormer responded, along with DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officer Levanway and DEC Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation (BECI) Lt. Didion. Once on scene, the Naples Fire Department and the Ontario County Ropes Rescue Team quickly located the subject and hoisted him out to a waiting UTV. The subject was brought to a roadside ambulance but refused transport to a local hospital, and instead sought additional treatment on his own.
Be Prepared: Properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hiking Safety webpage.
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