Between August 3 and August 9, 2026, New York State Forest Rangers responded to a surge of backcountry rescues, many due to inadequate gear, poor navigation skills, and physical exhaustion. The following Forest Ranger reports show how unpreparedness and unpredictable events can turn a fun hike into an emergency. Use the links to navigate to stories about that geographical area.
Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On August 3 at 4:16 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a Garmin SOS reporting a hiker with an ankle injury at Pharaoh Lake in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness in the Town of Schroon, Essex County.
Due to their heavy backpack, the hiker needed Forest Ranger assistance. Rangers Donegan and Quinn reached the 50-year-old from Feura Bush, splinted their ankle, and used an ATV to transport them to the trailhead. The incident was clear at 8:03 p.m.
Cascade Mountain, Adirondack High Peaks
Wilderness Rescue: On August 3 at 9:40 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker who fell approximately 30 feet on Cascade Mountain in the Town of Keene, Essex County, and may have broken multiple ribs. Forest Rangers Ezumah, Foutch, Jeffery, and Quinn responded.
At 1:45 a.m., Rangers reached the 68-year-old from Ohio. The hiker complained of pain in their shoulder, ribs, and leg. Rangers administered first aid and provided warm clothes, food, and water. After rehydrating, Rangers slowly assisted the hiker to the trailhead.
They reached the hiker’s vehicle at 9:30 a.m. The subject said they would seek further medical attention on their own.
Kaaterskill Falls Trail, Greene County
Wilderness Rescue: On August 5 at 6:28 p.m., Forest Ranger Jackson responded to a call for a dehydrated and exhausted hiker on the Kaaterskill Falls trail in the Town of Hunter, Greene County. The 49-year-old from Schenectady had been hiking since Noon.
They planned to park at Laurel House but missed the turn and parked at the South Lake parking area. This made the hike to the observation deck much longer than expected.
Ranger Jackson provided water and electrolytes and slowly walked the subject to the Laurel House bridge and provided a courtesy ride to their vehicle. The incident was clear at 9:09 p.m.
Peekamoose Mountain, Ulster County
Wilderness Rescue: On August 5 at 7:05 p.m., Forest Ranger Horn responded to the Peekamoose trail in the Town of Denning, Ulster County, for nine subjects who were lost and didn’t have any flashlights or headlamps. The nine hikers were part of a larger group who started at the Denning trailhead and planned to summit Peekamoose Mountain, in the Slide Mountain Wilderness.
When they reached the summit, they became confused and descended the trail that leads to the Peekamooose Road parking area instead of Denning. The group was not equipped with any kind of map. Ranger Horn reached them via cell phone and told them to continue descending.
Ranger Horn met them on the trail and hiked them to his vehicle. The Ranger drove the group leader to the YMCA to meet the rest of the group and organized a shuttle to get them all back to the correct parking area. The last hikers reached the parking area at 10:05 p.m.
Rangers suggest bringing a light source, maps, and compasses and know how to use them. These are part of the Ten Hiking Essentials.
Big Indian Wilderness, Catskills
Wilderness Search: On August 6 at 4:40 p.m., Forest Rangers Grillo and Pries responded to a call for three lost hikers on Eagle Mountain in the Big Indian Wilderness in the Town of Shandaken, Ulster County.
After speaking to the caller, Ranger Grillo determined the original coordinates provided were incorrect and the subjects from Brooklyn were actually on Lone Mountain.
The Chaveirim Search and Rescue team also responded and located the hikers. Rangers and the Search and Rescue Team assisted the hikers back to the trailhead. The incident was clear at 8:30 p.m.
Santa Clara Tract, Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On August 7 at 4:44 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch called Forest Ranger Adams about a camper at Long Pond in the Town of Santa Clara, Franklin County, who injured themself with an axe. Ranger Adams spoke to the group of campers and determined the bleeding was under control.
Ranger Adams explained how to get to Floodwood Road and asked Ray Brook to dispatch the Saranac Lake Rescue Ambulance. At 5:15 p.m., Ranger Adams reached the group from New Jersey and applied gauze and pressure to the wound. At 5:30 p.m., the ambulance took the patient to the hospital.
Stissing Mountain Multiple Use Area, Dutchess County
Wilderness Search: On August 8 at 2 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch called Forest Ranger Grillo about two lost hikers on the Stissing Mountain Multiple Use Area in the Town of Stanfordville, Dutchess County.
The 51-year-old from Brooklyn and 55-year-old from Dobbs Ferry made it to the fire tower but ended up on the wrong trail going back. Their phones were running low on battery power and they didn’t have paper maps. They also ran out of water.
Ranger Grillo instructed them to hike back to the fire tower. Ranger Grillo met them there, provided electrolytes and water, and hiked them back to the parking lot. The incident was clear at 4:30 p.m.
Rangers suggest packing at least two liters of water per person and carrying more than you think you will need. Water is part of the Ten Hiking Essentials.
Adirondack High Peaks, Essex County
Wilderness Search: On August 9 at 11:20 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a report of an overdue hiking party, possibly attempting to summit Haystack, Basin, and Saddleback mountains in the Town of Keene, Essex County.
Rangers Jansen, Odell, Quinn, and Rooney responded. At last contact around 7 p.m., the hikers were heading down the Phelps trail on Haystack Mountain.
At 8 a.m., Rangers searching trails located the 51-year-old and 57-year-old from Florida in good health. Rangers hiked with them back to the Garden trailhead. The incident was clear at 9:45 a.m.
Giant Mountain, Adirondack High Peaks
Wilderness Search: On August 9 at 11:30 p.m., Forest Ranger Odell responded to a call for an overdue hiker on Giant Mountain in the Town of Keene, Essex County.
At 12:10 a.m., Ranger Odell located the 22-year-old from Rochester on the Ridge Trail, without an adequate light source. Ranger Odell hiked with them to the trailhead and then responded to the search on Haystack Mountain.
Read More Search and Rescue Reports
Photo of Cascade Mountain incident provided by DEC.
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