Town of Inlet
Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On March 17 at 1:25 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for a missing snowmobiler last seen the previous night in the Moose River Plains. Ten Forest Rangers started clearing trails from Cedar River Flow toward Inlet, and from Long Lake and Newcomb toward Indian Lake.

After clearing these trails, Rangers moved on to the Seventh Lake Mountain Trail, working with Inlet and Webb Police. Approximately two and a half miles from the Seventh Lake boat launch, Ranger Miller found footprints and spots in the snow where the subject had sat down.

At 7:45 p.m., Ranger Miller reached the 61-year-old from Plattekill. The subject was able to get to his feet and get on Ranger Miller’s snowmobile. At 9:30 p.m., they reached EMS at the boat launch. Rangers recovered the subject’s snowmobile. Resources were clear at 10:20 p.m.

Snowmobile found in Inlet. NYS DEC photo.

Ranger Miller with snowmobiler in Inlet. NYS DEC photo.

Town of Westport
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On March 18 at 8:45 p.m., Forest Rangers Lewis and Praczkajlo responded to a report of a lost snowmobiler near Nichols Pond. A 41-year-old from Saddlebrook was riding off trail, left his snowmobile, and tried hiking out using the trails. At 10:18 p.m., Rangers found the snowmobiler and returned him to his group.

Town of Indian Lake
Hamilton County
Snowmobile Accident: On March 19 at 11:10 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance after a snowmobile accident between Ranger Headquarters at Moose River Plains and Indian Lake. Ranger Lieutenant Kerr and Rangers Caswell, Geyer, and Snye responded with Indian Lake Fire. Rangers reached the 53-year-old from Greenwich before noon and assessed their injuries. Rangers packaged the subject and transported him down the trail to Cedar River Road. An Indian Lake Ambulance then took the patient to the hospital. Resources were clear at 1:33 p.m.

Snowmobile accident in Indian Lake. NYS DEC photo.

Snowmobile accident in Indian Lake. NYS 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.