RAY BROOK — Here is a roundup of calls and events New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers responded to and participated in recently in their duties to perform search and rescue incidents statewide.
Town of Newcomb, Essex County:
The 24th Basic School for Forest Rangers finished a 28-week academy training in Newcomb on the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Huntington Wildlife Forest campus.
After graduation, recruits will complete 12 weeks of field training in permanent regional assignments.
In these final weeks of the academy, recruits completed training in backcountry preparedness, wilderness first aid, crisis intervention and Officer wellness.
Academy activities finished with a shield ceremony and a “color run.”
The class organized the color run to commemorate a final run together while carrying their class flag bearing the names of Forest Rangers who have died in the line of duty, passed while engaged in Ranger-related activities or succumbed to suicide.
Academy staff and field Forest Rangers participated in the color run with the class.
Town of Harrietstown, Franklin County:
Ray Brook Dispatch requested Forest Ranger assistance in the search for a missing hunter Thursday, Nov. 21 at 10:35 a.m.
The 79-year-old from Lake Placid lost his way on the trail, at 11:24 a.m., Rangers Corey and Curcio located the subject and helped him back to the trailhead.
Resources were clear at 12:56 p.m.
Town of North Elba, Essex County:
On Nov. 23 at 6:38 p.m., while on patrol, Forest Ranger Foutch met a hiker who reported they had seen a hiker from Connecticut struggling to hike down Phelps Mountain due to a knee injury.
The injured hiker was being helped by his hiking party. Ranger Foutch responded with a UTV on the truck trail, reached the hiker, and gave him a ride to his vehicle.
The subject declined further medical assistance, resources were clear at 7:18 p.m.
Town of Keene, Essex County
Ray Brook Dispatch received a call that two hikers were overdue on Big Slide Mountain Sunday, Nov. 24 at midnight.
The caller, who was originally with the two overdue hikers but finished the hike before they did, went back out to find the 58 and 60-year-olds from New Jersey.
At 12:37 a.m., that hiker found the pair in good condition and hiked back down alone.
At 2:31 a.m., the hikers still had not returned. Forest Rangers Foutch and Lewis hiked in to find the missing duo.
Rangers found the two subjects, warmed them, and helped them back to their vehicle, resources were clear at 4:47 a.m.
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, 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.