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Rangers rescue ill, injured, fatigued hikers

Ranger Report

State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers had another busy week in the Adirondacks, rescuing numerous hikers who were ill, injured or fatigued.

This roundup does not include a two-day search for Floyd “Skip” Baker, 50, of Webster near Rochester, who was found dead in the East Branch of the AuSable River on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

Town of Keene

A group of hikers called for help from near the summit of Algonquin Peak on Monday, July 31. The group said members of the party were ill and dehydrated, but could not provide accurate GPS coordinates.

A forest ranger, summit steward and the Lake Colden Interior Outpost caretaker responded, and were provided with accurate coordinates by Essex County 911. The group was located shortly before noon, and one member of the party was taken via helicopter to Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake for treatment. The rest of the group hiked to their campsite at Marcy Dam.

Town of Colton

A 19-year-old man called for help on Aug. 3 when he became fatigued and unable to continue his hike on the Otter Brook Trail.

Three rangers responded and brought the man and his hiking companion back to the trailhead, where the hikers said they would seek medical attention on their own.

Town of Webb

An 82-year-old man was lightheaded near Nicks Lake campground when Herkimer County 911 requested ranger help on Thursday, Aug. 3.

Two rangers, along with local fire and EMS, responded and packaged the man in a litter for transport to a waiting ambulance.

Town of North Elba

Shortly after noon on Friday, Aug. 4, an assistant forest ranger radioed the DEC’s Ray Brook dispatch that she had come across a 34-year-old male from Queensbury who had been sick for more than 24 hours.

The assistant ranger provided the man with water and walked him to Marcy Dam, where a forest ranger met him with an all-terrain vehicle. The man was taken via ATV to Adirondak Loj, where he declined an ambulance ride and said he would seek medical treatment on his own.

Town of Webb

A 52-year-old woman suffered an injury while hiking Bald Mountain Friday, Aug. 4 and was unable to continue.

Rangers and local emergency medical and fire crews responded and carried the woman to a waiting ambulance for transport to a local hospital.

Town of North Elba

A 45-year-old woman suffered an injury near the Street and Nye mountain trail junction on Friday, Aug. 4. An assistant ranger received multiple reports of the injury, and the woman’s two hiking partners were able to help her down the trail.

Rangers responded and stabilized the injury, then carried her out with the help of her hiking partners. The woman declined medical attention and said she would seek medical care on her own.

Town of Keene

On Sunday, Aug. 6, Essex County 911 notified DEC dispatch of a 72-year-old man who suffered an injury while hiking Hurricane Mountain.

Rangers responded and located the man about a mile from the summit. The rangers evaluated and stabilized the injury, deciding to call in the State Police Aviation Unit for an airlift. The man was transported via helicopter to a local hospital for treatment.

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