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 Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 20 at 2:35 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch alerted Forest Rangers to a hiker with an unstable leg injury on Mount Marcy. The 53-year-old from New Jersey was approximately half a mile from the summit, just below the tree line. New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation was called to assist. With Ranger Baldwin as the crew chief, NYSP Pilot Beck flew Ranger Corey to the scene. Ranger Baldwin lowered Ranger Corey to the patient. At 3:20 p.m., after Ranger Corey placed the hiker in a harness, Ranger Baldwin hoisted her into the helicopter. Ranger Corey hiked out with the subject’s hiking partner and reached the trailhead at 6:44 p.m.
Town of Inlet
Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 23 at 7:23 p.m., Forest Rangers Miller, Piersma, and Scott joined the Inlet and Webb Police Departments in the search for an overdue hiker. The 53-year-old from Marion was hiking to Cascade Lake. His wife reported him overdue. Crews searched the trails at Cascade Lake, Chain Pond, and Windfall Pond. At 10:30 p.m., Ranger Scott located the subject off trail of the Windfall Pond trail. The hiker was in good health. Once back at the trailhead, the hiker was reunited with his wife and was evaluated by Inlet EMS. Resources were clear at 12:09 a.m.
Town of North Hudson
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 23 at 9:41 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a locator beacon activated on the Slide Brook Herd Path near Macomb Mountain. Forest Rangers Foutch and Sabo responded and at 12:41 a.m., reached the 50-year-old from Pennsylvania. Rangers warmed the subject and helped him back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 3:47 a.m.
Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 24 at 1:27 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch alerted Forest Rangers about a call for an injured hiker on Mount Jo. Eight Rangers responded to help the 62-year-old from Niagara Falls. Rangers stabilized the hiker’s ankle injury and carried her out using a wheeled litter. Rangers reached the Adirondak Loj where a Lake Placid ambulance was waiting. Resources were clear at 3:50 p.m.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photo of Mount Marcy helicopter hoist rescue provided by DEC.
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