Town of North Hudson
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 22 at 9 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance in the Dix Range with the search for a 58-year-old from Singapore last heard from on June 19 at approximately 8 p.m. The hiker was communicating with his wife in Singapore while in New York for a week, but when she did not hear from him, she called for help.

Rangers found the subject’s rental car in the Elk Lake parking lot at 9:30 a.m. The subject signed in at the trail register but did not sign out. Rangers Lewis and Martin set up a search plan with the expectation the subject was off-trail. Nine additional Rangers joined the search along with New York State Police Aviation. At 2:50 p.m., Ranger Scott located the subject in a swampy area.

The subject’s pants were tattered, boots falling apart, and his face covered in bug bites after having stayed in the swamp for days. Ranger Scott assisted the subject out of the swamp. He was evaluated by Schroon Lake EMS and released. Resources were clear at 5:50 p.m.

Wilderness search in Dix Range. DEC photo.

Town of Hadley
Saratoga County
Swift Water Rescue Training: On June 17, Forest Rangers led an American Canoe Association (ACA) swift water rescue Level Four workshop on the Sacandaga River in Hadley. Eight ACA-qualified Ranger instructors and a Ranger drone pilot worked with 44 guides from 10 different companies. Ranger instructors helped the guides through six stations including whitewater swimming, Go-Rescue techniques, and rope work. Drone video of the training can be found on DEC’s website.

Swift water rescue training. DEC photos.

Village of Tupper Lake
Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On June 22 at 12 p.m., Forest Ranger Lieutenant Burns, Rangers Balerno and Curcio, and Assistant Forest Ranger Gonsalves responded to a report of an injured hiker at Coney Mountain. Ranger Balerno reached the 17-year-old from Naples, New York, before 1 p.m., and determined the subject had dislocated an ankle. A Tupper Lake EMT splinted the ankle before helping Rangers and a school group carry them down to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 3:15 p.m.

Coney Mountain rescue. DEC photo.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Recovery: On June 25 at 11:11 a.m., Forest Rangers responded to a report of CPR in progress on a 44-year-old hiker approximately one mile and a half from the Cascade Mountain trailhead. Two hikers found the unresponsive hiker from Latham and two medical students arrived and began CPR. At 11:45 a.m., a physician arrived and determined the subject was deceased. DEC Bureau of Environmental Crimes (BECI) Investigator Panipinto and New York State Police (NYSP) responded. Seven Forest Rangers and two Assistant Forest Rangers assisted with the recovery effort and requested NYSP Aviation support due to the difficult terrain. At 4:30 p.m., with Ranger Balerno serving as hoist operator, the subject was hoisted into the helicopter before being turned over to the Essex County Coroner.

Town of Fine
St. Lawrence County
Forest Ranger Academy: The Division of Forest Protection’s 23rd Basic School for Forest Rangers is underway at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Ranger School campus in Wanakena. Ranger recruits recently received 34 hours of wildland firefighter and wildland fire training. Upon graduation, recruits will be assigned to patrol public lands across the state.

Wildland firefighter training. DEC photos.

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.