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.

Essex County

Town of Keene
Rescue: On June 17 at 2:06 pm, DEC Dispatch received a call from the High Peaks Information Center reporting a 17-year-old women from Lake Placid who had suffered a non-weight bearing injury to her ankle. Forest Ranger Jim Giglinto responded and located the hiker 1.5 miles from the trailhead. The women’s injury was assessed and stabilized. The subject was then assisted back down to the trailhead with the assistance of her hiking partner and the Ranger. The subject sought medical assistance on her own and the incident concluded 4:03 pm.

Hamilton County

Town of Inlet
Search: On June 15 at 3:30 pm, Herkimer County 911 contacted DEC Dispatch requesting Forest Ranger assistance with a 24-year-old Cicero woman who became disoriented while hiking Black Bear Mountain. Forest Rangers Greg Hoag and Gary Miller responded to the Moose River Plains Wild Forest and headed to coordinates obtained from the woman’s phone. At 5:40 pm, the subject walked out at Eighth Lake Campground. Forest Ranger Bob Coscomb responded to transport the subject back to her vehicle and no injuries were reported.

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.