Recent NYS DEC Forest Ranger actions:

Town of Mayfield, Fulton County, River Search:

On March 21 at 3:40 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance with a potential search after a kayak was seen floating down the Kennyetto River. Forest Rangers Kerr, Morehouse, Nally, Scott, and Thompson were joined by New York State Police, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, and Mayfield Fire. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the kayak was retrieved.

The search concluded after Rangers determined the kayak had been tied to a tree and likely broke free after the ice melted.

Rangers search for kayak in the Town of Mayfield in Fulton County. DEC photo.

Town of Wilmington, Essex County, Avalanche Training:

On March 25, Forest Rangers Black, Curcio, and Martin participated in avalanche training at Whiteface Mountain. The National Ski Patrol avalanche class focused on safe travel, snowpack awareness, proper use of rescue equipment, and companion rescue. A final exercise involved the recovery of three “skiers” buried in an avalanche. Utilizing avalanche beacons, probes, and shovels, the students locate and dig out the skiers while safely working in an avalanche zone.

Rangers received an Avalanche 1 certificate from the National Ski Patrol at the completion of the course. For information about how backcountry users can prepare for potential avalanche conditions, visit DEC’s website.

Avalanche training – line search – Training done in the Town of Wilmington in Essex County. DEC photo.

Avalanche training – snowpack- Training done in the Town of Wilmington in Essex County. DEC photo.

Avalanche training – digging for a subject. Training done in the Town of Wilmington in Essex County. DEC photo.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages for more information.

If a person needs a Forest Ranger, whether it’s for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on state lands and easements, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. If a person needs urgent assistance, they can call 911. To contact a Forest Ranger for information about a specific location, the DEC website has phone numbers for every Ranger listed by region.