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 North Elba
Wilderness Rescue: On February 1st at 10:24 am, DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance for a 26-year-old female from Hagaman with a possible right leg fracture near the summit of Scarface Mountain. Six Forest Rangers took snowmobiles in to Scarface as far as possible and then hiked the rest of the way before reaching the injured hiker at 12 pm, just below the summit. The Rangers evaluated the hiker and packaged her for carry-out down the trail. The Rangers reached the snowmobiles at 1:30 pm and transported the woman back to the trailhead. She declined medical transport and advised she would be transported via personal vehicle to Saranac Lake for treatment. The incident concluded at 2:10 pm.

Herkimer County

Town of Webb
Wilderness Rescue: On January 30th at 12:41 pm, the town of Webb Police Chief contacted DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch reporting a snowmobile accident at the intersection of Stillwater and Big Moose Road in the Stillwater Reservoir area. A 48-year-old male from Cross Junction, Virginia, complained of injuries to his lower extremities. Forest Ranger Brandon Poulton arrived at the scene and assisted Lewis County Search and Rescue with packaging the snowmobiler. The man was carried to a waiting vehicle, which transported him to a helicopter at Stillwater Headquarters. The snowmobiler was flown to a hospital in Syracuse for treatment. The incident concluded at 2:20 pm.

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.