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Rangers rescue lost, injured hikers

Forest rangers rescued multiple lost or injured hikers — including one 8 year old kid — throughout the Adirondack Park this month.

Hikers in need of help can reach forest rangers at 1-833-697-7264.

Sick hiker seeks assistance

On Aug. 2 at 3 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook dispatch received notification from the Mount Marcy summit steward of a sick hiker in the Flowed Lands lean-to. The hiker was part of a group and was last seen at 10 a.m. The sick hiker was reported to have been left with two others while the remaining portion of the group hiked Mount Marcy. At 6:58 p.m., the Lake Colden caretaker and an assistant forest ranger started walking the 18-year-old hiker from Pennsylvania out of the woods. Forest rangers were on standby with a wheeled litter at the trailhead in case the rescue became a carryout. At 9:20 p.m., rescuers and the hiker were out of the woods and clear of the scene.

Injured hiker helped to car

On Aug. 2 at 3:05 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from passing hikers that there was a woman with a possible broken ankle about a mile in from the parking lot. Forest rangers Andrew Lewis and Robbi Mecus responded to evaluate the injured hiker. At 3:45 p.m., Mecus arrived on the scene, splinted the injury, and began walking the 63-year-old hiker from Ohio out of the woods. At 6 p.m., Mecus and the hiker arrived back at the trailhead where the hiker indicated she would seek medical attention on her own.

Hiker rescued on Azure

On Aug. 2 at 3:50 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a 73-year-old hiker reporting she had fallen on Azure Mountain in the Debar Mountain Wild Forest. The hiker from Fairport said her hip hurt and she was unable to stand. Forest rangers Melissa Milano and Chris DiCintio responded. With the help of the Saint Regis Volunteer Fire Department, the rangers returned the hiker back to the trailhead where she received additional medical attention. All units were cleared at 5:39 p.m.

Ranger helps carry kid to safety

On Aug. 3 at 7:33 p.m., Forest ranger Andrew Lewis advised DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch that while patrolling Marcy Dam in the High Peaks Wilderness Area, he happened upon a group with an injured hiker. The hiker sustained a non-weight-bearing ankle injury. Lewis assisted with carrying the 8-year-old from Massachusetts back to the parking lot. At 9 p.m., the hiker and his group were back at the Adirondak Loj parking lot where they advised they would see further medical assistance on their own.

Rangers carry hiker to trailhead

On Aug. 4 at 12:15 am., DEC Central Dispatch received a report of a hiker on the KIondike Trail needing assistance due to a knee injury. At 3:30 a.m., Forest ranger Logan Quinn located the 33-year-old hiker from Saranac Lake and provided first aid for the injury. Forest rangers Melissa Milano, Marie Arnold, Chris DiCintio and Jenna Curcio responded to help with the carryout. At 11 a.m., the hiker was back at the trailhead and declined further medical attention.

Rangers locate lost hikers

On Aug. 7 at 7 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Herkimer County 911 requesting forest ranger assistance to locate two lost hikers. Call coordinates placed the hikers in a swamp north of the Limekiln Campground. Forest rangers Jason Scott and Dylan McCartney responded to the campground, and at 8:55 p.m., Scott located the 55-year-old and 63-year-old hikers from Herkimer and Mohawk approximately half a mile north of the campground. The ranger proceeded to walk the women out, and at 10:47 p.m., the group was back at the campground and clear of the scene.

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