New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State. 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.
Clinton County
Town of Saranac
Wilderness Rescue: On November 3rd at 10:53 pm, Forest Ranger Russell responded with New York State Police (NYSP) in the search for an overdue hunter. The 57-year-old from Dannemora was known to hunt on State land in the town of Saranac. At 12:12 am, NYSP located the subject approximately one mile into the woods. The subject had a dislocated hip. Ranger Russell helped transport the subject to Saranac EMS. Resources were clear at 1:46 am.
Ulster County
Town of Wawarsing
Wilderness Rescue: On November 5th at 12:50 pm, Forest Rangers Franke, Jahn, and Kreft responded to a report of a hiker with an ankle injury approximately one mile into the red trail in Shawangunk Ridge State Forest. Rangers and Cragsmoor Fire took a fire department UTV as far up as terrain allowed. The 57-year-old from Stony Brook could not put any weight on her ankle. Rangers splinted the injury, carried the hiker to the UTV, and helped her out of the woods. Ellenville Volunteer Ambulance examined the hiker at the trailhead and she declined further medical treatment. Resources were clear at 3:30 pm.
Warren County
Town of Lake George
Wilderness Rescue: On November 5th at 5:52 pm, Forest Ranger Donegan responded to a 911 call from two subjects hiking down Prospect Mountain. The hikers were fatigued and concerned about hiking down in the dark, because they didn’t have any light sources. At 7:15 pm, Ranger Donegan located the subjects and assisted them to the trailhead. Hikers are reminded that after turning the clocks back last weekend, it gets darker earlier. Hikers should always have flashlights or headlamps, even if they do not plan to hike at night.
Town of Bolton
Wilderness Search: On November 5th at 6:15 pm, Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for two subjects hiking the Tongue Mountain Range on Lake George. While hiking down the first peak, the hikers from Clifton Park couldn’t continue due to darkness. The pair did not have lights and their cellphone batteries were dying. Rangers Donegan and Quinn responded to Montcalm Point via boat and then searched for the subjects on foot. At 8:38 pm, Rangers found the subjects, brought the hikers to the boat, and transported them back to the Clay Meadows trailhead parking area. Resources were clear at 10:15 pm. Hikers are reminded that after turning the clocks back last weekend, it gets darker earlier. Hikers should always have flashlights or headlamps, even if they do not plan to hike at night.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
It is high time to start charging rescue expenses to hikers who are irresponsible enough not to have a light source besides their cell phones. Maybe there should be signs to this effect at at least popular trailheads. There’s certainly been lots of educational outreach about this. Enough already!