Almanack Contributor NYS DEC

Town of Watson
Lewis County
Mountain Bike Accident: On Aug. 8 at 3:30 p.m., Forest Ranger Evans responded to a call for a mountain biker who suffered a concussion on the Otter Creek Horse Trail approximately one-half mile from the trailhead. When Ranger Evans reached the 54-year-old from Pennsylvania, the subject was complaining of injuries to his knees and elbows and had no memory of what happened.

The subject’s party indicated that he had hit a maple syrup line causing his ejection from the bike. Ranger Evans provided first aid and did a spinal assessment. Ranger Hanno, ECO Jarecki, and Martinsburg Fire helped transport the subject to a Lewis County Search and Rescue ambulance. Resources were clear at 5 p.m.

» Continue Reading.

Town of Indian Lake
Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 28 at 8 p.m., Forest Rangers Miller, Nally, and Thompson responded to a report of a hiker lost on OK Slip Falls. Cell phone coordinates put the 37-year-old from Corinth near Whortleberry Pond, approximately two miles west of OK Slip Falls. After checking the trail register and confirming he was planning to hike OK Slip Falls, Rangers started searching trails in that area.

Ranger Thompson found fresh tracks on a trail heading towards Whortleberry Pond. At 11 p.m. Rangers made voice contact with the hiker who took a wrong trail early in the hike and became turned around. When it was dark, he stopped, built a fire, and called for help. At 11:40 p.m., Rangers located the subject in good condition and walked with him to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 2:07 a.m.

» Continue Reading.

Town of Caroga
Fulton County
Wheeled Litter Training: On July 25, Forest Ranger Lieutenant Kerr and Rangers Nally and Thompson provided wheeled litter training at the Caroga Lake Volunteer Fire Department’s monthly meeting.

Rangers demonstrated how to package a patient into a litter and, with the use of Speculator Fire Department’s litter wheel, Rangers instructed attendees on its installation, use, and rescue application. Fire department members practiced using the wheel on uneven terrain and steep slopes while Rangers demonstrated simple litter belay techniques.

Caroga Lake Fire Department and surrounding mutual aid departments are frequently called upon to assist in wilderness search and rescues in Fulton and Hamilton counties. Continued training and becoming familiar with equipment helps keep personnel prepared for technical wilderness rescues and maintains critical interagency relationships for emergency response in the backcountry.

» Continue Reading.

Town of North Elba
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On July 20 at 7:15 a.m., Northern Frontier Camp of Indian Lake contacted Ray Brook Dispatch to report a 17-year-old camper having a seizure near the Flowed Lands Lake. The camper from Delaware was attempting to hike 22 High Peaks in approximately one week. Forest Rangers Evans and Martin responded with the Lake Colden caretaker.

The caretaker reached the subject at the Herbert Brook lean-to and brought them to the Lake Colden Outpost for possible aviation evacuation. At 10:38 a.m., New York State Police (NYSP) Aviation landed at Lake Colden where Rangers helped the subject into the helicopter, which brought the camper to the hospital for further treatment.

» Continue Reading.