Forest rangers with the state Department of Environmental Conservation responded to assist lost and injured hikers throughout the Adirondack Park over the past week. Ranger recruits also participated in training at the 24th Basic School for Forest Rangers in Newcomb.

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Forest Ranger Academy

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The 24th Basic School for Forest Rangers completed week 13 of training at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Huntington Forest Campus in Newcomb.

The recruits completed wildland fire training focused on wildfire pumps, intermediate fire behavior, a squad boss course and began helicopter operations training.

On Aug. 13, the academy class and staff remembered past Assistant Director Colonel Cornell with a hike up to the summit of Goodnow Mountain at dawn and a simulated carry-out rescue. The hike provided a moment to pay tribute to Cornell’s contributions to the forest rangers and New York state.

After the morning hike, the group held a discussion on the importance of self care and looking out for fellow team members in need.

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Ankle injury

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On Aug. 13 at 10:55 a.m., a hiker at Panther Gorge made an S.O.S. call seeking assistance with an ankle injury.

A New York State Police aviation pilot responded. Forest Ranger Hannah O’Connor was lowered down from the helicopter by Ranger Jeffrey Balerno and located the 20-year-old injured subject from Montreal. Ranger O’Connor harnessed the subject who then was hoisted into the helicopter and flown to the hospital. Resources were clear at 2:30 p.m.

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Leg injury

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On Aug 13 at 12:15 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker with a leg injury on Gothics Mountain.

The Johns Brook caretaker hiked in and splinted the subject’s leg. After refueling from an earlier rescue, A New York State Police aviation pilot assisted with the rescue.

Forest Ranger Jacob Jansen harnessed the 67-year-old from Rochester and Ranger O’Connor hoisted them into the helicopter for transport to the hospital. Resources were clear at 4:25 p.m.

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Rocky Mountain assist

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On Aug. 13 at 1:12 p.m., forest rangers and the Inlet Fire Department responded to a call for a hiker with an ankle injury halfway up the trail on Rocky Mountain. Rangers Dylan McCartney, Evan Nahor and Christopher Pelrah reached the 51-year-old from Brooklyn and assisted her off the mountain to a waiting ambulance. Resources were clear at 2:20 p.m.

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Disoriented hiker

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On Aug. 13 at 5:20 p.m., a summer camp group hiking Crane Mountain called for help when they came across a subject who seemed disoriented and unable to continue hiking.

Forest Rangers Chelsea Geyer, Peter Morehouse and Arthur Perryman reached the 52-year-old from Amsterdam and determined she had an ankle injury and was in significant pain.

Rangers helped the hiker back to the trailhead where she declined further assistance. Resources were clear at 7:05 p.m.

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Lost the trail

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On Aug. 13 at 6:15 p.m., two hikers called for help after losing the trail on Whiteface Mountain.

Forest Ranger Robert Praczkajlo spoke to the hikers on the phone and guided them down stream. Rangers Nicole DuChene and Praczkajlo took a boat across Lake Placid and hiked into the Sunrise Notch drainage to meet the hikers from Quebec, approximately one mile from the trail.

Rangers helped the subjects back to the Lake Placid boat launch and gave them a courtesy ride to their vehicle. Resources were clear at 8:31 p.m.

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Out of food, exhausted

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On Aug. 13 at 7:40 p.m., a hiker called for help from the top of Pharaoh Mountain reporting they were unable to find the trail to Crane Pond.

Forest Ranger Matthew Savarie attempted to direct the 56-year-old from Michigan over the phone. The subject could not locate the trail and was now out of food and exhausted. Rangers Logan Quinn and Savarie reached the hiker, provided food and water, and walked him to the trailhead at Crane Pond.

Resources were clear at 12:45 a.m.

Knowing how to use a map and compass is an important part of hiking. While apps can be helpful, phones lose battery power quickly in the wilderness. Know before you go. Learn more about safe hiking tips on DEC’s website.

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Stuck on a bridge

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On Aug. 14 at 11:45 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a woman reporting that her son had gotten his leg stuck through a bridge going to Rock Pond in the Whitney Wilderness.

At 3:25 p.m., Forest Rangers Matthew Adams and Nahor located the 30-year-old from Quebec on the Burn Road trail bridge. Rangers cut the wood and freed the subject before escorting the hiker and his companion back to their campsite. Resources were clear at 4:59 p.m.

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Gothics rescue

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On Aug. 17 at 2:34 p.m., Forest Rangers DuChene and Michael Holdridge responded to a call for a hiker with a lower leg injury on Gothics Mountain.

Rangers reached the 27-year-old from Vermont and wrapped her ankle. The rangers provided hiking poles and brought crutches to help the subject walk three miles down the steep and rocky terrain to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 11 p.m.

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No compass, headlamps

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On Aug. 17 at 6:30 p.m., two hikers called for assistance finding the path back down Seward Mountain. The hikers didn’t have a compass or headlamps.

Forest Rangers Jansen and Nahor reached the two hikers in their 40s from Horseheads and helped them to the Ward Brook lean-to. Resources were clear at 2:14 a.m.

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Injured dog

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On Aug. 17 at 7:26 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the owner of a German Shepherd that was unable to continue walking down the Algonquin trail.

While forest rangers are not required to rescue dogs, rangers responded to the call for help. Rangers had a special dog carrier they let the owner use so they could make it back to the Adirondak Loj trailhead. Resources were clear at 3:30 a.m. Video of the owner walking out with his dog is available to download.

When planning a hike with a dog, consider hikes that match the dog’s ability. Not every dog is suited for or fit enough to go on every hike. If hikers are unable to carry the dog for the full hike, they may want to reconsider bringing the dog.

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Overcome with sickness

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On Aug. 17 at 8:45 p.m., Essex County received a 911 text from two hikers on Sawteeth Mountain. The 54-year-old from Plattsburgh was vomiting, weak, and having trouble walking.

Forest Rangers Charles Kabrehl and Quinn reached the two hikers and helped them back to the AMR parking area. Resources were clear at 12:25 a.m.

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Lost hikers

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On Aug. 18 at 3:30 p.m., Forest Ranger Savarie responded to Hoffman Notch Wilderness for a call about two lost hikers and their dog. Ranger Savarie located the group from New Hampshire and escorted them back to the trail and their vehicle. Resources were clear at 7:30 p.m.

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Lost on the loop

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On Aug. 18 at 6:04 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from lost hikers on the Mount Van Hoevenberg Porter Loop after descending Porter Mountain.

Forest rangers attempted to talk the group out over the phone without success. Rangers O’Connor and Praczkajlo located the hikers, both in their 20s, from Niagara Falls and helped them back to the Cascade trailhead. Resources were clear at 7:50 p.m.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages for more information.

If a person needs a Forest Ranger, whether it’s for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on state lands and easements, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. If a person needs urgent assistance, they can call 911.