New York State Forest Rangers had another busy week with dangerous rescue operations in the Adirondacks, Catskills, and elsewhere. Including a dog that went over the edge at Fawn’s Leap Falls; an unconscious hiker at Kaaterskill Falls; several hikers with lower leg injuries; and more.
Mount Marcy, Adirondack High Peaks
Wilderness Rescue: On July 7 at 1 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a hiker who suffered a broken arm on Mount Marcy in the Town of Keene, Essex County. New York State Police pilot Beck flew Forest Rangers Rooney and Sabo to the hiker’s location.
Ranger Sabo lowered Ranger Rooney onto the mountain. Ranger Rooney splinted the subject’s arm and harnessed them for extraction. Ranger Sabo hoisted the 61-year-old from Nyack into the helicopter and pilot Beck flew them to the hospital.
Ranger Rooney hiked out with the remaining members of the subject’s party. Resources were clear at 8 p.m.
Upper Wolfjaw Mountain, Adirondack High Peaks
Wilderness Rescue: On July 8 at 11:30 a.m., Forest Ranger Rooney responded to a call for a hiker with a shoulder injury approximately half a mile from the summit of Upper Wolfjaw Mountain in the Town of Keene, Essex County.
The hiker indicated a friend was helping on a steep step and pulled the arm and felt their shoulder pop out. The hiker and their party continued hiking to Johns Brook Lodge.
Rangers Ezumah and Rooney met the hiker there, treated the shoulder injury, and put the arm in a sling. Rangers escorted the hiking party to the trailhead. The hiker indicated they would seek medical attention on their own. Resources were clear at 3:45 p.m.
Fawn’s Leap Falls, Catskills Park
Rescue: On July 8 at 7 p.m., Greene County requested Forest Ranger assistance with a swimmer and a dog stranded below Fawn’s Leap Falls of Kaaterskill Creek in the Town of Hunter, Greene County.
The dog went over the edge and was stuck on the other side of the stream. A 29-year-old from Poughkeepsie tried to rescue the dog but also got stuck.
Rangers Horn and Jackson assisted the Ulster County Sheriff’s Dive/Swift Water Rescue Team, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, the Athens and Hudson Fire Departments, and Twin Cloves Technical Rope Rescue Team with a high-angle rope rescue.
Rangers provided a personal flotation device to the swimmer as a rescuer was lowered to attach a harness to the swimmer and the dog. Rescuers raised the swimmer and dog to the top of Fawn’s Leap, where they were assisted across a calmer section of the stream. Resources were clear at 9:15 p.m.
This occurred in a restricted area with warning signage. DEC reminds hikers to follow signs and avoid dangerous locations.
Ciaiola Conservation Area, Putnam County
Wilderness Search: On July 10 at 3:25 p.m., Putnam County 911 received a call for two people lost at the Michael Ciaiola Conservation Area in the Town of Patterson, Putnam County. Forest Ranger Pries responded to coordinates provided by New York State Police, located the subjects, and escorted them back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 4:10 p.m.
Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness, Herkimer County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 11 at 10:45 a.m., Forest Rangers Piersma and Waligory responded to a call for a hiker with an ankle injury at the Middle Settlement lean-to in the Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness in the Town of Webb, Herkimer County.
At 1 p.m., Ranger Waligory reached the 20-year-old from Rhode Island, splinted the ankle, and provided hiking poles. At 2:45 p.m., Ranger Piersma and members of the Old Forge Fire Department arrived with a wheeled litter to transport the subject to their vehicle.
The patient decided to seek medical attention on their own. Resources were clear at 4 p.m.
Indian Falls, Adirondack High Peaks
Wilderness Rescue: On July 11, at 8:07 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for a hiker with an ankle injury near Indian Falls on the Van Ho trail in the Town of North Elba, Essex County.
Forest Ranger Foutch made contact with the hiking party, who said they were going to continue to Marcy Dam. Ranger Foutch met them at Marcy Dam, assessed the injury, and provided a ride to their vehicles.
The 19-year-old from New Jersey decided to seek medical attention on their own. Resources were clear at 9:55 p.m.
Phoenicia Park, Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 12 at 4:44 p.m., Forest Rangers Horn and Martin responded to a call for a hiker who fell, twisted their leg, and hit their head on a rock approximately a quarter mile up the Tanbark Trail in the Town of Shandaken, Ulster County.
Rangers joined the Phoenicia Fire Department and Shandaken EMS to package the patient and carry them to the road. Shandaken EMS transported them to the hospital. Resources were clear at 6:15 p.m.
Kaaterskill Falls, Catskills Park
Wilderness Rescue: On July 12 at 7:10 p.m., Greene County requested Forest Ranger assistance for a report of an unconscious subject at Kaaterskill Falls in the Town of Hunter, Greene County.
Rangers responded with Twin Cloves Technical Rope Rescue Team, Hunter Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Deputies, Greene County Paramedics, and multiple fire departments.
When rescuers arrived, the patient was conscious after suffering a diabetic emergency. Rescuers carried the subject to the trailhead. A Hunter ambulance transported them to the hospital. Resources were clear at 9:45 p.m.
Read more about recent backcountry rescues.
Photo of Kaaterskill Falls rescue provided by DEC.
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