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.
Essex County
Town of North Elba
Wilderness Rescue: On February 27th at 3:15 pm, Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance with a lost hiker in the vicinity of Mount Marcy, the 51-year-old from New Jersey lost the trail due to snow cover. Coordinates placed the hiker near the Hopkins Junction. Rangers Evans and O’Connor made phone contact with the hiker and guided him back towards the Van Hoevenberg trail. Ranger Evans reached the hiker near Marcy Dam. The subject was approaching hypothermic conditions. Ranger Evans brought the subject back to his vehicle and no further medical care was required. Resources were clear at 8 pm.
Town of Schroon
Wilderness Recovery: On March 4th at 2:15 am, Essex County requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a missing person suspected of falling through the ice while snowmobiling on Schroon Lake earlier in the evening. Rangers responded in an airboat. The snow and wind slowed the response. At 8:47 am, the 71-year-old from Schenectady was found deceased. Rangers transported the body to shore and turned the deceased over to Schroon Lake Rescue. The case was turned over to New York State Police investigators.
Rensselaer County
Town of Pittstown
Illegal Target Shooting Followed by Accident: On February 27th at 6 pm, Forest Ranger Jackson investigated illegal target shooting in Pittstown State Forest. Ranger Jackson determined a party was illegally shooting at targets on trees. The Ranger issued tickets for damaging the trees and left the scene. Approximately 10 minutes after the group left the forest, their truck slid on the ice and snow into a steep drainage. No one in the truck was injured. Three hours later, the subjects called Ranger Jackson for help. He called a tow truck, but because of the conditions and the location, the tow truck was unable to pull the truck out. The Ranger waited with the party until they arranged safe transport and DEC resources were clear by 10 pm. The truck was removed later in the week.
Lewis County
Town of Lowville
Wilderness Recovery: On March 2nd at 9 am, Lowville Police requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a missing subject last seen three days earlier. Six Rangers joined three Sheriff’s deputies, and two members of the Lowville Police Department in the search. At 2:45 pm, tree crews working in the area reported seeing a body in Mill Creek. Rangers responded and found the deceased 67-year-old from Lowville. Rangers removed the man’s body using a litter and rope system.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
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