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 North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 24 at 5:37 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with an unstable ankle injury on the Van Hovenberg trail just below the junction with Phelps Mountain. Forest Ranger Lewis served as incident commander, leading a team of seven Rangers on a carry-out mission. Rangers reached the 60-year-old from Auburn by 7 p.m., stabilized her ankle, and packaged her into a backpack carrier. Rangers carried the subject approximately one mile to Marcy Dam and then drove a UTV three miles to the intersection of South Meadows and Adirondack Loj Roads where she was met by her husband, who drove her to the hospital. Resources were clear by 9:30 p.m.
Wilderness Rescue: On July 26 at 2:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance for a hiker with a knee injury approximately 1.2 miles from the summit of Mount Marcy. Ranger Foutch contacted the 33-year-old from LaFayette. At 4:05 p.m., New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation was called. Ranger Sabo served as the hoist operator in the helicopter, while Ranger Evans served as the rescuer. At 5:27 p.m., NYSP Pilots Drindack and Kotronis and the Rangers successfully hoisted the subject and flew her to the hospital.
Town of Denning
Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 28 at 4:15 p.m., Forest Rangers Rusher and Quinones overheard radio traffic between the Blue Hole Stewards and Central Dispatch about a teenager possibly having a seizure at Peekamoose Blue Hole. Rangers arrived to find the 13-year-old from Hurley conscience and alert, but with blue lips, hands, and feet. The subject also hit her head on a rock when she passed out. The teen, accompanied by her father, was lethargic, lightheaded, and shivering due to dehydration and hypothermia. Rangers helped the teenager out of the water, and gave her dry clothes, snacks, and water. Neversink EMS transported the subject to the hospital. Resources were clear at 5:45 p.m.
Town of Hunter
Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 29 at 3:20 p.m., Assistant Forest Ranger (AFR) Staffa found an 18-year-old from New York City who had fallen on the Upper Falls Trail at Kaaterskill Falls while hiking with her family. AFR Staffa provided first aid and contacted Forest Ranger Dawson. AFR Staffa helped the subject down the trail to Ranger Dawson’s truck. Ranger Dawson drove the subject to the Scutt Road trailhead and provided further medical care before the teen’s family met them at the trailhead. The family advised they would seek further medical attention on their own. Resources were clear at 6 p.m.
Wilderness Rescue: On July 29 at 3:55 p.m., Forest Ranger Dawson responded to the Scutt Road trailhead for a report of a medical emergency. Ranger Dawson found a 27-year-old from New Jersey who had been stung by a bee and was having a severe allergic reaction. Ranger Dawson contacted Greene County Paramedics who provided epinephrine, which relieved all symptoms.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photo of rescue on Phelps Mountain provided by DEC.
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