Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 20 at 2:35 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch alerted Forest Rangers to a hiker with an unstable leg injury on Mount Marcy. The 53-year-old from New Jersey was approximately half a mile from the summit, just below the tree line. New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation was called to assist. With Ranger Baldwin as the crew chief, NYSP Pilot Beck flew Ranger Corey to the scene. Ranger Baldwin lowered Ranger Corey to the patient.

At 3:20 p.m., after Ranger Corey placed the hiker in a harness, Ranger Baldwin hoisted her into the helicopter. Ranger Corey hiked out with the subject’s hiking partner and reached the trailhead at 6:44 p.m.

Marcy hoist rescue. NYS DEC photo.

Town of Northampton
Fulton County
Public Outreach: On Sept. 21, Forest Ranger Lieutenant Kerr and Rangers Hamm, Nally, and Thompson spoke to children about the duties and responsibilities of Forest Rangers. The children visited three interactive stations at DEC’s Northampton Beach Campground. Ranger Thompson showed off the ranger airboat and the equipment used in search and rescue operations. Ranger Nally focused on wildfires, displayed different hand tools, and then let the children spray water pumps Rangers deploy during wildland fire suppression efforts. Ranger Hamm spoke about the Rangers’ role as law enforcement officers and how to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.

Ranger Hamm discusses law enforcement. NYS DEC photo.

Ranger Thompson with a ranger airboat. NYS DEC photo.

Ranger Nally shows children how to use a water pump. NYS DEC photo.

Town of Inlet
Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 23 at 7:23 p.m., Forest Rangers Miller, Piersma, and Scott joined the Inlet and Webb Police Departments in the search for an overdue hiker. The 53-year-old from Marion was hiking to Cascade Lake. His wife reported him overdue. Crews searched the trails at Cascade Lake, Chain Pond, and Windfall Pond. At 10:30 p.m., Ranger Scott located the subject off trail of the Windfall Pond trail. The hiker was in good health. Once back at the trailhead, the hiker was reunited with his wife and was evaluated by Inlet EMS. Resources were clear at 12:09 a.m.

Town of North Hudson
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Sept. 23 at 9:41 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a locator beacon activated on the Slide Brook Herd Path near Macomb Mountain. Forest Rangers Foutch and Sabo responded and at 12:41 a.m., reached the 50-year-old from Pennsylvania. Rangers warmed the subject and helped him back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 3:47 a.m.

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Sept. 24 at 1:27 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch alerted Forest Rangers about a call for an injured hiker on Mount Jo. Eight Rangers responded to help the 62-year-old from Niagara Falls. Rangers stabilized the hiker’s ankle injury and carried her out using a wheeled litter. Rangers reached the Adirondak Loj where a Lake Placid ambulance was waiting. Resources were clear at 3:50 p.m.

Mount Jo rescue. 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.