Recent DEC Forest Ranger Rescues
Town of Newcomb – Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 2 at 3 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received notification from the Mount Marcy Summit Steward of a sick hiker in the Flowed Lands lean-to. The hiker was part of a group and was last seen at 10 a.m. The sick hiker was reported to have been left with two others while the remaining portion of the group hiked Mount Marcy. At 6:58 p.m., Lake Colden Caretaker Kelly and Assistant Fire Ranger Adams started walking the 18-year-old hiker from Pennsylvania out of the woods. Forest Rangers were on standby with a wheeled litter at the trailhead in case the rescue became a carryout. At 9:20 p.m., rescuers and the hiker were out of the woods and clear of the scene.
Town of Keene – Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 2 at 3:05 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from passing hikers that there was a woman with a possible broken ankle about a mile in from the parking lot. Forest Rangers Lewis and Mecus responded to evaluate the injured hiker. At 3:45 p.m., Ranger Mecus arrived on the scene, splinted the injury, and began walking the 63-year-old hiker from Ohio out of the woods. At 6 p.m., Ranger Mecus and the hiker arrived back at the trailhead where the hiker indicated she would seek medical attention on her own.
Town of Waverly – Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 2 at 3:50 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a 73-year-old hiker reporting she had fallen on Azure Mountain in the Debar Mountain Wild Forest. The hiker from Fairport said her hip hurt and she was unable to stand. Forest Rangers Milano and DiCintio responded. With the help of the Saint Regis Fire Department, the Rangers returned the hiker back to the trailhead where she received additional medical attention. All units were cleared at 5:39 p.m.
Town of North Elba – Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 3 at 7:33 p.m., Forest Ranger Lewis advised DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch that while patrolling Marcy Dam in the High Peaks Wilderness Area, he happened upon a group with an injured hiker. The hiker sustained a non-weight-bearing ankle injury. Ranger Lewis assisted with carrying the eight-year-old from Massachusetts back to the parking lot. At 9 p.m., the hiker and his group were back at the Adirondak Loj parking lot where they advised they would see further medical assistance on their own.
Town of North Elba – Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 4 at 12:15 am., DEC Central Dispatch received a report of a hiker on the KIondike Trail needing assistance due to a knee injury. At 3:30 a.m., Forest Ranger Quinn located the 33-year-old hiker from Saranac Lake and provided first aid for the injury. Forest Rangers Milano, Arnold, DiCintio, and Curcio responded to help with the carryout. At 11 a.m., the hiker was back at the trailhead and declined further medical attention.
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 (833-697-7264). 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.
Posted: August 10th, 2021 under Adirondack Region News, Environmental News, Law Enforcement News, Northern NY News, State Government News.