The Peru Gazette

Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 20 at 7:34 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a lost hiker on Ester Mountain. Forest Ranger H. Praczkajlo made contact with the 76-year-old from Rochester who explained they were cold and wet and only had seven percent charge left on a cell phone. Ranger Praczkajlo started hiking in and advised the hiker to continue hiking on the trail to stay warm. At 8:25 p.m., the hiker called to report part of a tree was blocking the trail and they could not navigate around it. At 9:17 p.m., Ranger Praczkajlo reached the hiker, provided warm clothes, hand warmers, and a headlamp, and assisted the hiker down the Marble Mountain trail to the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center trailhead. Resources were clear at 12:09 a.m.

Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Search: On Oct. 21 at 7:28 p.m., Forest Ranger Lewis responded to a call about separated hikers on Wolfjaw Mountain. Two hikers made it back to the Adirondack Mountain Reserve, but their parents did not. At 9:35 p.m., Ranger Lewis located the 50- and 53-year-old from Delaware and escorted them to their children. Resources were clear at 11:30 p.m.

Town of Harrietstown
Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 25, Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about three hikers between Seward and Donaldson Mountains requesting assistance because they were cold, wet, and did not have any dry layers with them. One hiker was also experiencing leg cramping. Forest Rangers H. Praczkajlo, R. Praczkajlo, and Quinones located the hikers from Buffalo and assisted them to their vehicles. Resources were clear at 10:23 p.m.

Rangers suggest hiking with the 10 hiking essentials, including moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics that keep your skin dry and help regulate your body temperature in both cold and warm weather. They also suggest avoiding cotton clothing because it holds moisture.

Town of Hopkinton
St Lawrence County
Wilderness Search: On Oct. 25 at 10:15 p.m., New York State Police (NYSP) requested Forest Ranger assistance locating a missing hunter. The hunter was with a nephew on private land when they became separated. Rangers joined NYSP and the Parishville Fire Department in the search. At 11:14 p.m., family and other members of the hunting party located the 71-year-old from Norfolk.