New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State locating and extracting lost, injured or distressed people and policing state lands.
This report of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers was prepared by DEC:
Town of Woodstock, Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On Nov. 4 at 12:30 p.m., Ulster County Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance for a hiker with a leg injury on Phoenicia-Mt. Tobias Wild Forest. GPS coordinates placed the hiker on a steep section of the long path just south of Warner Creek.
Rangers Franceschina, Jeffery, and Rusher responded with Woodstock Fire and EMS. At 2:30 p.m., Ranger Rusher reached the 57-year-old hiker from Stony Point and stabilized the injured leg with a splint. Due to the cold weather and lack of movement, the patient was also shivering.
Ranger Rusher provided layers of clothing and worked with the rest of the hiking party to start a fire. Woodstock EMS provided additional care including pain relief. Rangers used a wheeled litter to extricate the patient across Warner Creek. Rescuers made it out to a Shandaken Ambulance at 6 p.m.
Town of Richland, Oswego County
Wilderness Search: On Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance from an Environmental Conservation Police Officer (ECO) to join a search for a missing hunter. A 77-year-old hunter became turned around in a swamp and called 911 for assistance, but the phone died during the call.
New York State Police and the Oswego County Sherriff’s Department joined Rangers and ECOs in the search. At 7 p.m., the Oswego County Sherriff’s Department drone pilot located a heat source, which was the hunter. Rescuers walked the hunter out of the area and resources were clear 8:05 p.m.
Town of Canadice, Ontario County
Wilderness Search: On Nov. 6 at 4:50 p.m., Forest Rangers Dormer and Raffaldi-Smith responded to a call for a hiker separated from a hiking partner on Rob’s Trail at Hemlock-Canadice State Forest. At 5:55 p.m., Forest Rangers located the 71-year-old and reunited the pair.
Town of Bleeker, Fulton County
Wilderness Search: On Nov. 7 at 8:15 p.m., Forest Rangers Caswell and Hamm responded to a report of a missing hunter. Ray Brook Dispatch provided Rangers with coordinates approximately half a mile from the trailhead.
At 10:30 p.m., Ranger Caswell located the 53-year-old from Wallkill in good health. The hunter had a headlamp, GPS, and cell phone, but did not know how to use the GPS device to navigate.
Town of North Elba, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Nov. 8 at 12:45 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker with an unstable leg injury at the intersections of Algonquin and Iroquois Mountain trails approximately six miles from the nearest trailhead.
New York State Police Aviation was conducting training at the time and Pilot Hogan responded to assist. Forest Ranger Rooney harnessed the 20-year-old from Ontario and Ranger H. Praczkajlo successfully hoisted the patient into the helicopter.
Ranger Praczkajlo transferred care to Lake Placid EMS at the Lake Placid Airport. Resources were clear at 4:10 p.m. Video of the hoist rescue is available here.
Town of Warrensburg, Warren County
Wilderness Rescue: On Nov. 8 at 4:30 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hunter with a heart condition who overexerted themselves while dragging a deer down the trail.
Forest Ranger Clute and Environmental Conservation Police Officer (ECO) Newell responded. When they arrived, Warrensburg Fire and EMS were already with the 73-year-old from Queensbury. Ranger Clute and ECO Newell assisted first responders to get the subject to an awaiting ambulance at the trailhead. Resources were clear at 6 p.m.
Town of North Elba, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Nov. 8 at 7 p.m., Forest Rangers responded to a report of a group of lost hikers on the Indian Pass Trail. The hikers texted 911 and coordinates placed them near Indian Pass Brook. At 9:35 p.m., Rangers located the hikers in good health, but they were cold and wet due to the weather conditions. Rangers escorted the group back to the trailhead and resources were clear at 11:03 p.m.
During this time of year, Rangers encourage hikers to prepare for the weather not only at the trailhead, but also at the peak. There is already snow on some of the Adirondack High Peaks.
Town of Webb, Herkimer County
Wilderness Search: On Nov. 8 at 7:20 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a missing hunter from a water-access-only camp off Twitchell Lake. Last contact with the 64-year-old was six hours earlier. Four Forest Rangers searched overnight with negative results.
The following morning, 11 Rangers searched surrounding trails and drainages. At 9:42 a.m., they found the subject in good health. The team escorted the subject back to their camp and reunited them with family. Resources were clear at 12:39 p.m.
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