New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide.
Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, forest rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people statewide.
TOWN OF NORTH HUDSON, WILDERNESS RESCUE
On June 8 at 9:46 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Essex County about a 911 text for an ill hiker on the Lillian Brook trail in the Dix Mountain Wilderness.
At approximately 1:30 a.m., Rangers and a Paramedic from Schroon Lake EMS reached the 52-year-old from Potsdam. Rangers determined the hiker could not continue on their own. T
he Paramedic provided IV fluids, then Rangers carried the subject to the Elk Lake trailhead, where they were met by a Schroon Lake Ambulance.
Resources were clear at 5:40 a.m.
TOWN OF KEENE, WILDERNESS SEARCH AND RESCUES
On June 9 at 4:04 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a member of the Student Conservation Association about one of their members having a seizure while doing trail work in Avalanche Pass.
Forest Ranger Odell spoke to the trail crew’s supervisor, who said the 23-year-old from Pennsylvania had epilepsy that could be affected by exertion in the hot weather.
New York State Police Pilot Sgt. Beck flew rangers Bowler and Martin to the subject. They loaded the subject into the helicopter, and Beck flew them to Adirondack Medical Center.
Resources were clear at 6:11 p.m.
On June 10 at 10 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a notification from Garmin of an SOS activation for a medical emergency at the Wolf Jaw lean to.
At 11:45 p.m., rangers reached the 21-year-old hiker, who was dehydrated. Rangers provided food and hydration, which improved their condition.
Rangers assisted the subject out of the woods.
Resources were clear at 2:50 a.m.
On June 13 at 4:04 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for a hiker having difficulty breathing on Basin Mountain.
Forest Ranger Ezumah spoke to the reporting party and learned the patient has a history of cardiac events and currently had an irregular pulse.
New York State Police Pilot Engel flew rangers Ezumah and Shea to the subject’s coordinates.
Ezumah was inserted to the location, but the subject was no longer there. The 45-year-old’s hiking partner said they were moving toward Johns Brook Outpost.
At the same time, Ranger Odell was hiking into Johns Brook and, at 6:23 p.m., located the subject. Odell assisted the hiker to the Garden Parking lot where they were met by a family member.
Resources were clear at 7:01 p.m.
Also on June 13, at 5:23 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for a dehydrated hiker along the Feldspar Brook trail on Gray Peak.
Forest Ranger Odell spoke to the reporting party, who indicated the 32-year-old from Connecticut was vomiting any time they tried to move.
Engel picked up rangers Nahor and Quinn at the Lake Colden Outpost and dropped them off at Lake Tear of the Clouds.
Rangers located the subject and assisted them into the helicopter. Engel flew the subject to Marcy Field, where they were met by Keene EMS.
Resources were clear at 6:47 p.m.
Around the same time on June 13, at 5:49 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a pair of hikers lost near Putnam Brook.
Forest rangers Brand and Russell located the two hikers and escorted them out of the woods.
One of the hikers complained of back pain, but did not require medical attention.
Resources were clear at 8:22 p.m.
Rangers remind hikers to adhere to the 10 Hiking Essentials — dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hiking/hike-smart-ny — and bring at least 2 liters of water per person and foods that are high in protein and calories.