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.
Town of Horicon
Warren County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 11 at 11:22 a.m., Forest Rangers Donegan and Perryman responded to a call for an injured hiker on Stevens Mountain. Rangers reached the 53-year-old from Cortlandt Manor, treated their shoulder injury, and helped them out of the woods. The Rangers and hiker reached Camp Reed at 2:44 p.m.
Town of Shandaken
Ulster County
Wilderness Search: On July 12 at 6:30 p.m., Central Dispatch called Forest Ranger Horn about a lost hiker in the Slide Mountain Wilderness. Cell phone coordinates placed the 26-year-old from West Islip near the summit of Wittenberg Mountain. Ranger Horn spoke to the subject via phone and determined that due to their lack of experience and proper gear, the hiker should wait there for Ranger assistance. Rangers Horn and Sweeney reached the subject at 10:45 p.m., provided gear, food and water, and began escorting him toward the trailhead. Resources were clear at 2 a.m.
Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 12 at 6 p.m., Forest Rangers Dawson and Jackson responded to Hunter Mountain for a report of a hiker with a leg injury. The 41-year-old from Scotia indicated she could not put any weight on the leg and used a walking stick to make it out to her car. The subject called Ranger Lt. Pachan to alert Rangers she was out of the woods, but in a lot of pain. Rangers Dawson and Jackson provided medical care and the hiker drove herself to urgent care. Resources were clear at 9:07 p.m.
Town of Shawangunk
Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 15 at 3:30 p.m., Forest Rangers were notified about an injured hiker in Shawangunk Ridge State Forest. Bloomington, Cragsmoor, Summitville, and Walker Valley fire departments also responded. Volunteer firefighters determined the 60-year-old from Ithaca had an unstable leg injury. Firefighters drove three-quarters of a mile into the woods. Rangers and firefighters then hiked the final three-quarters of a mile to reach the subject, splinted their leg, and packaged her into a litter for a carry-out. Mamakating EMS transported the subject to the hospital. Resources were clear at 6:40 p.m.
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