New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents in the Adirondacks. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people from the Adirondack backcountry.

What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers in the Adirondacks.

Clinton County
Town of Black Brook
On Nov. 13 at 12:21 p.m. DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a subject who stated that he fell approximately 30 feet off a ledge while attempting to climb the Hairy Upper Lip Drip. The subject contacted Clinton County 911 to obtain his coordinates. The climber was complaining of back pain but was mobile. The climber and his companion were able to get down from the ridge, where they were met by two Forest Rangers. The subject was then transported by Ranger vehicle to the trailhead. The subject stated he would seek medical attention on his own. The incident concluded at 3:22 p.m.

Franklin County
Town of Brighton
On Nov. 15 at 2:23 p.m. DEC’s Ray Brook’s Dispatch received a direct call from a subject who was lost on St Regis Mountain. The subject was able to send GPS Coordinates from his phone and was directed to call Franklin County 911 to verify his coordinates. Forest Rangers utilized NYSP Aviation to locate the subject using the GPS coordinates provided by the subject. One NYSP member was inserted to the subject. The officer then assisted the subject to the trail to an awaiting Ranger who assisted them to the trailhead. The subject was not in need of medical attention and was released. The incident concluded at 5:12 p.m.

Hamilton County
Town of Indian Lake
On Nov. 24 at 6:20 p.m. DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a 49-year-old son and 87-year-old father who were overdue from a hunting trip on their property in Indian Lake. Four Forest Rangers responded and used gun shots to assist in locating the subjects. The subjects stated that they went further than they thought and the father started having issues with walking so they took a break and started a fire. The Rangers assisted the men to their home. The incident concluded at 9:16 p.m.

Essex County
Town of Keeseville
On Nov. 25 at 2:58 p.m. DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a despondent individual who told a family member he was in the Wickham Marsh on the second trail. Two Forest Rangers responded and began searching the immediate area for the subject. Meanwhile multiple police agencies began checking for the man at points of interest. The officers located the subject at a family member’s home, and he was then taken into custody by NYSP and escorted to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. All rangers were back in service at 6:42 p.m.

Be Prepared: Properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hiking Safety webpage and Adirondack Trail Information webpage for more information about where you intend to travel. The Adirondack Almanack reports weekly Outdoor Conditions each Thursday afternoon.