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. 12 at 1:26 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker who fell on the Cascade Trail and was unresponsive. Forest Ranger Lewis called the subject who explained he has a history of seizures. Ranger Lewis reached the 32-year-old from New Jersey by 2 p.m. and helped them to the trailhead. Resources were clear by 2:30 p.m.
Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 12 at 7:56 p.m., Forest Rangers Duchene, Lewis, and Praczkajlo responded to a call for two lost subjects on Hamlin Mountain. One of the hikers reported facial injuries from a significant fall. At 10:49 p.m., Rangers reached the two hikers and treated the 70-year-old from Olivebridge for a broken nose and arm and hand injuries. The hikers lost the trail on their way down from the summit and ended up in hazardous terrain.
Due to the darkness, the hiker fell and slid 30 feet down a rock slab and hit his face on a rock. His hiking partner found him bleeding and called for help. After treating the hiker’s injuries, Rangers provided head lamps and helped the pair out of the woods. The hikers drove themselves to the hospital. Resources were clear by 1 a.m.
Ranger DuChene and the two hikers explain their experience.
Town of Chesterfield
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 14 at 2:47 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with a broken collarbone and fractured arm on Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain. Local Fire and EMS provided care to the 17-year-old. Forest Rangers helped transport the patient to an ambulance at the trailhead. Resources were clear by 6:30 p.m.
Town of Indian Lake
Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 15 at 3:10 p.m., Forest Rangers Caswell and Scott responded to a report of a hiker with a possible hip injury on Snowy Mountain. Rangers joined Indian Lake and Speculator Fire and EMS to treat the 67-year-old from Gloversville. The hiker fell back and landed on her hip. Rescue crews stabilized the injury and loaded the subject into a wheeled litter. At 5:18 p.m., a Life Net helicopter met them at the trailhead and transported the patient to the hospital.
Town of Arietta
Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 15 at 7:48 p.m., Forest Rangers Caswell and Scott responded to a report of a hiker with a knee injury on the Northville Placid Trail, approximately two miles from the trailhead. Rangers reached the two hikers by 9 p.m., helped the injured 41-year-old from Pittsford, and assisted the pair back to the trailhead. The injured hiker sought further medical care on his own.
Hamlet of Lanesville
Greene County
Wilderness Recovery: On Sept. 16 at 8:50 a.m., a hiker complaining of chest discomfort and breathing issues collapsed on the Diamond Notch Trail in the Hunter-West Kill Wilderness. Members of the subject’s hiking party began CPR while another hiker called 911. Two nearby EMTs began assisting with CPR on the 50-year-old from New Jersey. The CPR was unsuccessful. Forest Rangers Allwine and Seeley assisted other first responders with carrying the subject to the trailhead where he was turned over to the coroner. New York State Police is the lead agency on the death investigation. Resources were clear at 1 p.m.
Read past Forest Ranger search and rescue reports here.
Photo of Snowy Mountain rescue provided by DEC.
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