Town of Indian Lake
Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 9 at 11:20 a.m., Forest Rangers responded to a call for a hiker with an injured ankle approximately 1.4 miles in on the Watch Hill Trail. Rangers reached the 69-year-old from Gansevoort in less than an hour. With the help of Indian Lake Rescue, Rangers provided care and packaged the subject to carry her to the beach. From there, Ranger Miller transported the subject by boat to the Indian Lake Islands Campground. Indian Lake EMS drove the patient to the hospital at 2:20 p.m.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 9 at 12:40 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance for a hiker who fell approximately 40 feet off the highest waterfall in the Trap Dike on Mount Colden. Eleven Rangers responded with the help of New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation, who made multiple flights to deliver Rangers to the base of the Trap Dike. At 1:50 p.m., the Mount Colden and Marcy Dam caretakers reached the 23-year-old from Canada who had suffered significant head, rib, hip, and leg injuries. Rangers set up a multi-pitch, steep-angle rope rescue. After safely packaging the subject into a litter, Rangers and other rescuers successfully lowered the patient down to the base of the Trap Dike and carried him to the NYSP helicopter on the edge of Avalanche Lake. The patient was flown to the hospital at 5:45 p.m.

Ranger Foutch describes the rescue in a video available on DEC’s YouTube page. The Trap Dike is a Class Four climb and should only be attempted by those with the proper experience and equipment.

Trap Dike rescue

Trap Dike rescue

Town of Long Lake
Hamilton County
Water Rescue: On Aug. 11 at 6:51 a.m., Forest Ranger Miller responded to a call for an injured canoeist on Raquette Lake. The 61-year-old from Gardiner hurt his leg and couldn’t make it safely back to shore. Ranger Miller located the canoeist and escorted him back to shore using the Ranger boat before providing a courtesy ride to subject’s vehicle. Resources were clear at 9:17 a.m.

Town of Newcomb
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 11 at 12:32 p.m., while on foot patrol, Assistant Forest Ranger (AFR) Raudonis encountered a hiker with an unstable lower leg injury. AFR Raudonis splinted the ankle before Forest Rangers started walking the 49-year-old from Connecticut toward the Lake Colden Outpost. At 4:14 p.m., New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation was called in to help transport the hiker. At 4:41 p.m., NYSP Pilot Kneer reached the subject at the Lake Colden Outpost where Rangers loaded her into the helicopter to be flown to the hospital.

Village of Saranac Lake
Essex County
Training: On Aug. 11, Forest Rangers Adams and Rooney taught a flatwater rescue class to Search and Rescue of Northern Adirondacks (SARNAK) on Lake Colby. Rangers led the training for 11 SARNAK members preparing for the Adirondack Canoe Classic, commonly known as the “90 Miler.” The three-day event from Old Forge to Saranac Lake starts on Sept. 8. SARNAK is an invaluable resource that helps Rangers on many rescues in the High Peaks.