New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers responded to multiple backcountry incidents from August 18th through August 22nd. These included lost and injured hikers, stranded and injured boaters, an injured cliff jumper and more.
Wilderness Rescue: On August 18 at 1:42 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch connected Forest Ranger Ezumah with a caller worried about their friend who made suicidal statements during a camping trip along the Boquet River. Rangers Ezumah and Odell proceeded to the camping group’s coordinates.
When Rangers reached the 21-year-old from New Hampshire, they convinced them to hike back to the trailhead, New York State Police transported the subject to the hospital. The incident was clear at 6 p.m. If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance, help is available. Call or text 988 for New York State’s free 24-hour hotline. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
Town of Inlet, Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On August 18 at 7:35 p.m., the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office requested Forest Ranger assistance for a group of hikers lost on Black Bear Mountain. The four hikers ended up on Bug Lake Trail and needed help finding their way back to the Black Bear Mountain trailhead. Ranger Hanno located the subjects, escorted them out of the woods, and gave them a courtesy ride to their vehicle. The incident was clear at 9:23 p.m.
Wilderness Rescue: On August 18 at 9 p.m., Essex County received a 911 text from a hiker uninjured but stranded near the junction of the Big Slide and Brothers trails in the Adirondack High Peaks. The 14-year-old’s father stated the hiker needed assistance back to the trailhead. At 1:30 a.m., Forest Rangers Ezumah and Foutch located the hiker from Ballston Spa and provided food, water, and a headlamp. They escorted the subject to their father who was waiting at the trailhead. The incident was clear at 5:35 a.m.
Town of Broome, Schoharie County
Water Rescue: On August 19 at 1:09 p.m., Schoharie County 911 received a call about a boater stuck in vegetation on Vlaie Pond at the Franklinton Vlaie Wildlife Management Area approximately 150 feet from shore. The boat’s motor seized up from the weeds.
Forest Ranger France put on swift water gear, waded into the water, and assisted the 68-year-old from Broome with a throw rope. With the assistance of Schoharie County Sheriff’s Deputies, New York State Police, and Livingston Fire Department, Ranger France pulled the subject to shore.
Ranger France went back to the boat and paddled out of the weeds and transported the boater to the boat launch. The incident was clear at 2:10 p.m.
Water Rescue: On August 21 at 2:45 p.m., Forest Ranger Vaile responded to a call for an injured cliff jumper at Salmon River Falls. Ranger Vaille assisted the Oswego County Ropes Rescue Team, DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers, New York State Police, Oswego County Sheriff’s Deputies, and the Orwell and Ringgold Fire Departments.
They used a high angle rope rescue to get the 21-year-old from Fort Drum out of the water. Once extracted, Mercy Flight flew the patient to the hospital. The incident was clear at 3:15 p.m.
Rescue: On August 22 at 3 p.m., Assistant Forest Ranger (AFR) Wolff encountered a camper with severe hip pain at the Stillwater Reservoir Boat Launch. The 71-year-old from Auburn was setting up a campsite and tripped on a root, landing on their hip.
The subject crawled to their boat and managed to make it back to the launch. AFR Wolff provided ice but discovered the camper could not move their leg at all. At 4:30 p.m., Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance arrived. Ranger Maxwell and AFR Wolff helped get the patient off the boat and into the ambulance. The incident was clear at 5 p.m.
Wilderness Rescue: On August 22 at 4 p.m., Forest Rangers Maxwell, Quinn, Stone, and Waligory responded to a call for a hiker with an unstable ankle injury approximately halfway up the Bald Mountain trail. Old Forge Fire Department arrived first and packaged the 67-year-old from Texas.
Rangers assisted firefighters, Old Forge EMS, and Inlet Police with the carryout to an Old Forge Ambulance. The incident was clear at 6:15 p.m.
Read more recent Forest Ranger Reports.
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