Forest Rangers with the state Department of Environmental Conservation maintained a busy response volume the past couple of weeks, assisting hikers who had become lost, fatigued, injured or a combination thereof, in addition to putting out a pair of wildfires. Both of which formed from campfires, as abnormally dry conditions have persisted across the Adirondacks, heightening the wildland fire risk regionally.

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Ranger responds to cliff fall

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TICONDEROGA — Essex County 911 reported an injured hiker to Ray Brook Dispatch at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 18. The report indicated the 21-year-old from Rocky Point suffered a head injury after falling from a cliff by Rock Pond near Putnam Pond. At 5:50 p.m., Forest Ranger Logan Quinn located the subject and determined they fell 20 to 30 feet down the slope towards the water. The hiker suffered multiple lacerations but showed no signs or symptoms of a head injury. After assessing for any spinal injury, Quinn walked out with the subject and then took them by boat to the Putnam Boat Launch to meet the family. It was unclear if the subject required further medical attention.

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Ranger assists Long Lake VFD extinguishing campfire

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LONG LAKE — Forest Ranger Gary Miller responded to a call for a brush fire on the side of Deerland Road at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 17. It was caused by a campfire that spread to the woods. Upon arrival, the Long Lake Fire Department already had the fire under control, and Ranger Miller assisted with managing hot spots to ensure the fire was extinguished.

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Lost, but prepared, hikers helped back to the trailhead

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WAVERLY — Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiking group reporting they were off trail on Azure Mountain and didn’t know how to get back at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16. At 11:50 p.m., Forest Ranger Allison Rooney located the hikers, aged 37, 15 and 10, and assisted them back to the trailhead. While the subjects lost their way, they did have water, headlamps and extra layers of clothing, which sustained them for the longer-than-expected hike.

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Ranger finds, quells wildfire on Raquette Lake island

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RAQUETTE LAKE — Forest Ranger Gary Miller discovered a wildland fire on Big Island in Raquette Lake at 6:52 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 15. By 11 p.m., Miller had the 0.1-acre fire, caused by a campfire, under control. DEC encourages campers to never leave a campfire unattended and make sure it is cold to the touch after it’s extinguished.

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Frantic hiker helped out of Dix Range

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KEENE — Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a friend of a hiker who said the hiker is frantic and in need of assistance at 10:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13. The 36-year-old from Webster was out of water and their phone was dying. The hiker’s car was at the Round Pond trailhead, but the phone’s coordinates placed them coming down the Bouquet Forks trail. At 12:20 a.m., Forest Ranger Andrew Lewis reached the subject, rehydrated them and assisted them down the trail and reunited them with the caller.

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Dehydration on Cascade’s ‘back side’

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KEENE — A hiker called for help after taking an unexpected route from Cascade trailhead to Marcy Field over Blueberry Mountain at 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13. The 41-year-old from Massena was out of water and cramping. At 4:55 p.m., Forest Ranger Hannah Praczkajlo located the subject, rehydrated them and helped them back on the Blueberry trail. At 7 p.m., they reached the subject’s vehicle at the trailhead. The DEC encourages hikers to bring plenty of food and water for their hike in case the hike lasts longer than expected. Proper preparation for a hike can reduce bouts of cramping and dehydration.

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Overnight search in the Sawtooth mountains

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NORTH ELBA — Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from the spouse of an overdue 72-year-old hiker in the Sawtooth Mountain range at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13. Forest rangers searched into the night. At 2 a.m., Rangers located the subject from Connecticut and by 4:28 a.m., rangers reunited the subject and their family at the Seward trailhead in the town of Harrietstown.

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Marble Mountain exhaustion

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WILMINGTON — Forest Rangers Hannah and Robert Praczkajlo responded to a call for an overheated and exhausted hiker on Marble Mountain at 9:27 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12. At 11 p.m., the rangers reached the subject and helped the 27-year-old from Avon down the mountain. It was unclear if further medical attention was required.