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 Jay
Wildland Search: On May 30, the New York State Police initiated a search for a 51-year-old Nevada woman missing from a family residence in Jay. She was last seen walking nearby roads and was expected to elude first responders. Nine Forest Rangers were assigned to help find her on May 31. At 3 pm, State Police were informed the woman was at another residence. Once it was confirmed that she was located and in good health, the search was concluded.

Town of Keene
Eastern High Peaks Wilderness Search: On June 2 at 10 pm, Johns Brook Lodge reported to DEC Ray Brook Dispatch that two hikers that had planned a day hike to Haystack, Basin, and Saddleback mountains were overdue. The 53-year-old father and his 10-year-old daughter from Massachusetts were last seen by other hikers at 4:30 pm near Basin Mountain summit in good health but behind schedule. Assistant Forest Ranger Pat Odell responded from the lodge, found the pair at 11:45 pm, and escorted them back to Johns Brook by 2 am without need of further assistance.

Franklin County

Town of Harrietstown
Wilderness Wildfire: On June 2, a canoeist on Little Long Pond in St. Regis Canoe Area reported a small wildfire at one of the campsites. The fire was only accessible by canoe. A Forest Ranger and Assistant Forest Ranger (AFR) verified the report and controlled the fire to one acre. The following day, two Rangers and an AFR used backcountry fire pumps to maintain containment of the fire until further pumping or rains could extinguish it. The fire was caused by an unextinguished campfire abandoned days earlier.

Hamilton County

Town of Long Lake
Wildland Rescue: On May 31, a party of three women canoeing Bog Lake and Clear Pond in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area contacted DEC Ray Brook Dispatch to report that one member of their group was ill and unable to continue without assistance. Within 35 minutes, Forest Ranger Robert Zurek had found the group on the canoe carry between the lake and pond. He transported the group to their vehicle to seek medical attention without need of further assistance.

Washington County

Town of Fort Ann
Wilderness Rescue: On June 2, two Forest Rangers were notified of an injured hiker on Shelving Rock in Lake George Wild Forest. A 53-year-old Rochester woman had fallen, sustained a deep laceration to her leg, and could not self-evacuate. Within two hours of the call, Rangers and local emergency medical services had the woman at the roadside where she was treated by EMS.

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.