Recent NYS DEC Forest Ranger actions:
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 6 at 10:11 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker who reporter another hiker with an ankle injury on Giant Mountain in the Giant Mountain Wilderness Area. The caller stated that the injured hiker was less than a half-mile up the trail. Forest Rangers Lewis, Curcio, Martin, and Sabo responded to assist. Ranger Lewis made contact with New York State Police Trooper Mendelsohn, who was flagged down and was with the 54-year-old hiker from Saratoga Springs about three-tenths of a mile in on the trail. While Ranger Lewis hiked in, Rangers Martin and Sabo retrieved a litter and backpack carriers from the Keene Valley Fire Department and brought them to the injured hiker’s location. Rangers stabilized the injury and packaged her in the litter for carry out. Once out of the woods, the hiker declined additional medical treatment. Resources were clear of the scene at 12:11 a.m.
Town of Clifton
St. Lawrence County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 7 at 2 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the wife of a sick kayaker on Cranberry Lake. The caller reported that her husband was suffering from the effects of possible food poisoning. Director Solan and Forest Ranger Benzel responded via boat. At 3:12 p.m., Director Solan and Ranger Benzel assisted the 61-year-old from Long Island with his belongings and gave him and his companions a courtesy ride off the water and back to their vehicle. At 4:14 p.m., the group was back at the dock where Rangers rehydrated the kayaker.
Town of Caroga
Fulton County
Wilderness Search: On Oct. 9 at 7:18 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch was notified by Fulton County 911 about a 34-year-old woman and her two-year-old daughter lost on Kane Mountain in the Shaker Mountain Wild Forest. The hiker reportedly went up an old, closed trail and was on the way down when it got dark. Ranger Thompson located the two hikers and assisted them back to their car by 8:30 p.m.
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Town of Webb
Herkimer County
Boater Rescue: On Oct 9 at 8:06 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch was contacted by Big Moose Fire Department requesting Forest Ranger assistance with a stranded boat on the Stillwater Reservoir in Independence River Wild Forest. The two boaters from Oriskany were reportedly in good health but stranded north of Beaver River. Rangers Lee and Hanno, along with a Webb Police Officer, took a boat approximately seven miles down the reservoir toward Beaver River Station. At 10 p.m., the stranded boat was spotted near shoals in the boat channel. The two boaters were unfamiliar with the reservoir and were having trouble navigating the boat using only a cell phone flashlight. They were able to follow the rescue boat back to the boat launch area by 11:30 p.m.
Town of Mooers
Clinton County
Wilderness Search: On Oct. 10 at 9 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Plattsburgh Police Department requesting assistance with a 60-year-old hiker from Albany lost near the Gulf Unique Area. Ranger Black responded along with the New York State Police (NYSP) and NYSP K9. Troopers conducted a search of the trail with the K9. Ranger Black, with the assistance of a local landowner, located the hiker at 11:30 p.m. The hiker was in good condition and escorted out of the woods at 11:59 p.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, 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.
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