NYS Forest Rangers had a busy week responding to a wildfire and several outdoor recreationists in distress, including lost, injured and ill hikers, and a lost ATV rider. [Read more…] about Rangers Spend Busy Week Responding to Recreationists in Distress
Forest Ranger Reports
Rangers Recover Bodies at AuSable Chasm, Giant Mountain; Fight Fire & More
NYS Forest Rangers recovered the bodies of a 45-year-old hiker in the Giant Mountain Wilderness and a 60-year-old found in the water under the bridge at Ausable Chasm, in addition to responding to a wildfire in Long Lake and several other lost and injured Adirondack hikers. Three incidents occurred on a single day. [Read more…] about Rangers Recover Bodies at AuSable Chasm, Giant Mountain; Fight Fire & More
Rangers Respond to Wildfire, Gliders Crash, Injured Surveyor, Hikers
New York State Forest Rangers had a busy week responding to a variety of backcountry emergencies, including two gliders that crashed in Saratoga County, a wildfire at Henderson Lake in the Adirondacks, a surveyor with an injured leg in the Catskills, and more. [Read more…] about Rangers Respond to Wildfire, Gliders Crash, Injured Surveyor, Hikers
Forest Rangers Recover Hiker’s Body; Make Several Rescues
New York State Forest Rangers responded to several backcountry incidents between September 8th and the 12th, including the recovery of the body of a hiker who died on Rocky Mountain in the town of Inlet, a family of four lost off the trail to Algonquin Peak, several more hikers who were injured, ill, or ill-prepared in the Adirondack High Peaks, and an overturned kayaker Hamilton County. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Recover Hiker’s Body; Make Several Rescues
Overdue, Lost, Ill, Injured and Unprepared Hikers on Labor Day Weekend
New York State Forest Rangers responded to several incidents in the Adirondacks over Labor Day Weekend, including a campground disturbance, and several overdue, lost, injured and unprepared hikers. [Read more…] about Overdue, Lost, Ill, Injured and Unprepared Hikers on Labor Day Weekend
Rangers Report Multiple Rescues of Lost, Injured Hikers
The most recent New York State Forest Rangers Report includes efforts to rescue more than a half dozen hikers lost or with knee or lower leg injuries in the Adirondacks and Catskills. [Read more…] about Rangers Report Multiple Rescues of Lost, Injured Hikers
Search Continues For Moose River Plains Missing Man
Craig K. Streeter, a 73-year-old resident of Mahopac, NY, is currently the subject of an active multi-agency search after going missing while camping in the Moose River Plains in Hamilton County in the Adirondack Park. [Read more…] about Search Continues For Moose River Plains Missing Man
Forest Rangers Respond to Lost, Injured Outdoor Recreationists
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. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Respond to Lost, Injured Outdoor Recreationists
Rangers Kept Busy With Wildfire & Adirondack, Catskills Rescues
New York State Forest Rangers and local emergency crews responded to ten incidents involving a wildland fire and backcountry wilderness rescues over the past week. The wildfire occurred in the Town of Webb, where crews used an inflatable boat to transport supplies and extinguish an unattended campfire that spread to 100 square feet. [Read more…] about Rangers Kept Busy With Wildfire & Adirondack, Catskills Rescues
Backcountry Rescue Surge: Axe Injury, Cascade Fall, Lost Party of 9, Many Unprepared
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. [Read more…] about Backcountry Rescue Surge: Axe Injury, Cascade Fall, Lost Party of 9, Many Unprepared
Rangers Recover Body, Make Multiple Backcountry Rescues
New York State Forest Rangers recently participated in at least seven wilderness rescue missions across New York State, including on the Appalachian Trail and near Kaaterskill Falls; two hikers within an hour near Hurricane Mountain; and several in West Canada Lake Wilderness. [Read more…] about Rangers Recover Body, Make Multiple Backcountry Rescues
Campers Rescued from Violent Storm; Injured Cliff Jumper; Many More Rescues
New York State Forest Rangers spent a busy week rescuing numerous people from backcountry dangers, including: a 77-year-old rescued by helicopter in the Adirondack High Peaks; Lows Lake campers stranded by a violent storm; a teen medical emergency near Cranberry Lake; a capsized boat; an injured cliff jumper on the West Branch Ausable River which included a technical rope rescue; and dehydrated hikers and hikers with lower leg injuries in the Adirondacks and Catskills.
Be sure to eat before hiking and bring plenty of water and extra food that’s high in protein and calories. Read the Ten Hiking Essentials. [Read more…] about Campers Rescued from Violent Storm; Injured Cliff Jumper; Many More Rescues
Rangers Respond to Plane Crash, High Peaks Wildfire & Backcountry Rescues
New York State Forest Rangers had another busy week across the state responding to a plane crash near the Adirondack Rail Trail, several wilderness rescues, and wildfires in the Adirondack High Peaks and in Stony Creek. [Read more…] about Rangers Respond to Plane Crash, High Peaks Wildfire & Backcountry Rescues
Rangers Recover Paddler’s Body, Make Multiple Rescues July 4th Weekend
NYS Forest Rangers had a busy July 4th weekend in which they recovered the body of a paddler; rescued two people on an inflatable kayak from rapids they didn’t know existed on the Saranac River; assisted with an overturned sailboat on Lake Champlain; rescued someone from the rapids in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness; and two teens hiding from a black bear near Lake George. [Read more…] about Rangers Recover Paddler’s Body, Make Multiple Rescues July 4th Weekend
Forest Rangers Respond to Ill, Injured Adirondack, Catskills Hikers
NYS Forest Rangers recently responded to several search and rescue missions for injured and ill hikers in the Catskills and the Adirondacks. These included at least one hiker who was seriously dehydrated.
There is currently an extreme heat wave in New York State. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Respond to Ill, Injured Adirondack, Catskills Hikers
Rangers Recover Paddler’s Body; Respond to Overdue Hikers
Rainy weather last weekend kept many people from seeking outdoor recreation opportunities, but NY State Forest Rangers and State Police recovered the body of a paddler from an overturned canoe who could not swim in Wyoming County. They also responded to a call about a nine-year-old and an 11-year-old separated from their hiking group in the Adirondack High Peaks, and a 24-year-old overdue and unprepared hiker in the Johns Brook Valley. [Read more…] about Rangers Recover Paddler’s Body; Respond to Overdue Hikers
Rangers Fight Wildfires, Respond to Ill, Injured, Lost Hikers, Paddler
New York State Forest Rangers have seen a dramatic increase in missions with the advent of the summer hiking season. They recently responded to more than a half-dozen distressed recreationists in the Adirondacks, several of whom were poorly prepared, along with others in scattered other parts of the state. They also fought two wild land fires, one at a logging header. [Read more…] about Rangers Fight Wildfires, Respond to Ill, Injured, Lost Hikers, Paddler
Rangers Respond To Lost & Injured Hikers
New York State Forest Rangers recently responded to a lost hiker at Crane Mountain, a hiker with blisters on the Cranberry Lake 50 trail, and several hikers with injuries in the Adirondack High Peaks. [Read more…] about Rangers Respond To Lost & Injured Hikers
Forest Rangers Recover Body, Make Several Rescues of Lost, Injured, Unprepared
More hikers in the woods and nicer weather led to several NYS Forest Ranger missions to rescue injured, lost, or unprepared people in the backcountry of the Adirondacks, Catskills, and elsewhere around New York. They also recovered a man’s body in the Croghan Tract Conservation Easement in Lewis County. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Recover Body, Make Several Rescues of Lost, Injured, Unprepared
Climber Falls 30 Feet; 66-Acre Wildfire; Injured, Unprepared Hikers in Dix Range
New York State Forest Rangers recently responded to a 53-year-old Mohonk Preserve rock climber who fell 30 feet; a 66-acre wildfire started by debris burning in Franklin County; three hikers in distress in the Dix Range of the Adirondack High Peaks over just two days; and more. [Read more…] about Climber Falls 30 Feet; 66-Acre Wildfire; Injured, Unprepared Hikers in Dix Range