Recent Regional DEC Statewide Forest Ranger Highlights
Village of Saranac Lake – Harrietstown
Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 15 at 1:12 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a report of an overturned canoe in the Second Pond boat area on Lower Saranac Lake. One person was onshore and uncertain if her companion was still in the water or onshore looking for their dog. Forest Ranger Balerno and DEC Operations staff responded and confirmed the two subjects were out of the water looking for the dog. At 2:20 p.m., Forest Rangers Evans and Balerno located the couple from Oreland, Pennsylvania, and their dog, loaded the group onto a DEC boat, and returned them to their vehicle at the launch.
Town of Keene
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Oct. 15 at 3:30 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker advising that a member of their party injured their leg on Giant Mountain. The caller stated that they hiked down to get cell service and the injured party walked as far as they could. Forest Rangers LaPierre, Bode, and Mecus, along with Assistant Forest Ranger (AFR) Raudonis responded to the Roaring Brook Falls trailhead. At 4:55 p.m., AFR Raudonis advised that she was with the 62-year-old hiker from Cobleskill just above Roaring Brook Falls and they were making their way down the trail. The party was escorted back to the trailhead by AFR Raudonis and Ranger Mecus, where the hikers advised they would seek further medical treatment on their own.
Town of Inlet
Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On Oct. 17 at 7:13 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from retired Forest Ranger Lee reporting that a friend contacted him about her 69-year-old sister and her 56-year-old niece who were lost on a trail near his home. The original caller stated she last heard from her sister around 7 p.m., with the text message, “We’re lost.” Forest Ranger Milano responded, checking sites at the Limekiln Lake Campground with negative results. Ranger Milano, with the assistance of former Ranger Lee, began patrolling the nearby ski trail while Ranger Temple began a trail sweep at a loop near the hikers’ starting point. On Oct. 18 at 12:38 a.m., Ranger Milano advised that the hikers had been found; Ranger Temple responded to their location along with members of the Inlet Fire Department. Once out of the woods, the pair was given a ride home and the incident concluded at 2:02 a.m.
Town of Indian Lake
Hamilton County
Wilderness Search: On Oct. 18 at 6:35 p.m., Hamilton County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch reporting two lost hikers off the OK Slip Falls trail. Coordinates provided by 911 placed the hikers about a quarter-mile off the trail. Forest Ranger Kabrehl responded to assist. At 8:50 p.m., Ranger Kabrehl located the hikers and began escorting them out of the woods. At 9:40 p.m., Ranger Kabrehl and the two hikers were back to their vehicle.
Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hike Smart NY and Adirondack Backcountry Information webpage for more information.
Posted: October 21st, 2020 under Environmental News, Law Enforcement News, State Government News.
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