State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers conducted seven search-and-rescue missions in the Adirondacks last week.

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Town of Indian Lake

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On Monday, July 20 at 6:28 p.m., Hamilton County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch reporting a 22-year-old female hiker from Oneonta on Blue Mountain with a non-weight-bearing injury to her lower leg. Coordinates provided by 911 placed the hiker about halfway down the mountain. Forest Rangers Scott, Miller, Lewis and Milano responded along with the Blue Mountain Fire Department.

At 8:05 p.m., the hiker was located and first aid was provided for her injury. She was then carried in a litter down the mountain to the trailhead, where she opted to seek further medical attention on her own.

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Town of Webb

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On Tuesday, July 21 at 1:37 p.m., Herkimer County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch about an injured 75-year-old female hiker from Tonawanda on the Moss Lake trail. While hiking the loop trail around Moss Lake, the hiker stepped down a bank and rolled her ankle. Forest Rangers McCartney and Hanno responded along with the Inlet Police Department, Inlet Volunteer Ambulance and the Eagle Bay Fire Department.

The hiker was packaged by emergency medical services and evacuated via all-terrain vehicle by the rangers. She was then transported to a local hospital for additional medical treatment.

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Town of Harrietstown

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On Tuesday, July 21 at 1:51 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from an injured hiker on Donaldson Mountain in the Western High Peaks Wilderness. The caller slid down a rock while descending and heard a snap in his ankle. During the initial contact, the caller indicated he would try to continue down the mountain on his own after splinting the injury.

At 4:30 p.m., Forest Ranger DiCintio contacted the hiker, who had only been able to descend halfway down the mountain and was requesting assistance. Rangers Burns and DiCintio responded with an ATV to Calkins Creek and hiked 1.5 miles to reach the subject. After re-splinting the injury, the 46-year-old from Lockport was assisted back to the ATV and brought out to Coreys Road at 9 p.m. for transport to a local hospital.

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Town of North Elba

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On Friday, July 24 at 12:45 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch was contacted about two 19-year-old hikers from Rye, New York, and Louisville, Kentucky, who were trapped on the western slope of the Trap Dike. Forest Rangers Burns, DiCintio, Mecus, and Praczkajlo responded with the help of the New York State Police Aviation Unit for a hoist rescue operation.

Burns and Climbing Specialist Crofoot flew from the Adirondack Regional Airport in Lake Clear to Lake Placid and picked up Rangers Mecus and Praczjaklo at 2:30 p.m. From there, the officers flew and lowered the rescue team to the Trap Dike to the hikers’ location high up on the slide. At 3:30 p.m., contact was made, and using a series of technical rope systems, the hikers were lowered to safety. At approximately 6:30 p.m., the rescue team was at the base of the Trap Dike along with the hikers, who were then able to walk out on their own.

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Town of Webb

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On Saturday, July 25 at 10 a.m., Forest Ranger Lt. Murphy was monitoring the parking area at the Bald Mountain Rondaxe trailhead, in the Fulton Chain Wild Forest, when he was approached by a hiker running down the trail. The hiker stated there was a 14-year-old male who needed medical assistance farther up the trail. Murphy notified Herkimer County 911, requesting Old Forge fire and emergency medical services to respond. Murphy located the injured hiker, with his mother, about a quarter of a mile up the trail and provided first aid.

Upon arrival, Old Forge fire and rescue provided additional medical treatment. The hiker, from Auburn, was put in a rescue litter, brought down to the trailhead, and transported by Old Forge rescue to a local hospital.

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Town of Indian Lake

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On Sunday, July 26 at 4:20 a.m., DEC’s Central Dispatch received a call from New York State Police Dispatch reporting a missing 75-year-old man. The call was made by the man’s son, who had last seen his father about three hours prior.

Rangers Scott and Temple made the initial response to the man’s last known location, and after a preliminary search of the area with negative results, additional rangers were requested to respond. Forest Rangers Lomnitzer, Arnold, DiCintio, Martin, Milano, Nally, Quinn, Thompson, and Praczkajlo responded to assist. After hours of searching, the man was located at 1:25 p.m. in good condition.

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Town of Fort Ann

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On Sunday, July 26 at 6:10 p.m., Warren and Washington County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch reporting a separated and lost hiker on Buck Mountain in the Lake George Wild Forest Area.

Forest Rangers Donegan and Poulton responded to the area of the hiker’s last known coordinates, and at 8:36 p.m., the 25-year-old woman from Antwerp was located. At 9:56 p.m., rangers and the lost hiker were back at the trailhead, where she was reunited with the rest of her party.