Forest rangers with the state Department of Environmental Conservation responded to a busy week of calls throughout the park, as peak foliage and pleasant weather have made it a popular time for outdoor recreation.

Rangers helped lost, injured and sick hikers, as well as extinguishing a wildland fire that had grown to about 25-square-feet near Follensby Clear Pond and assisting State Police in locating two teenagers who ran off into the woods along River Road near the village of Lake Placid.

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Stuck on Upper Wolf Jaw

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KEENE — Ray Brook dispatch received a call from Essex County 911 reporting a hiker near the summit of Upper Wolfjaw Mountain having a hard time navigating their way out at 9:50 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28. At 2:05 a.m., forest rangers Andrew Lewis and Jamison Martin reached the subject at the summit. They escorted the subject back to the Garden trailhead and back to their vehicle. Resources were clear at 5 a.m.

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Out of breath on Ampersand

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HARRIETSTOWN — Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for a hiker suffering from shortness of breath on Ampersand Mountain trail at 4:54 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. At 6 p.m., forest rangers and paramedics reached the subject and provided water and electrolytes. They reached the trailhead at 6:54 p.m. and transferred care to the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad. It was unclear what the subject’s post-rescue medical status was, or if further treatment was required.

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Fire at Follensby Clear Pond

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SANTA CLARA — A member of the public contacted Ray Brook dispatch about a campfire that turned into a ground fire along the shoreline of Follensby Clear Pond at 1:20 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28. Forest Ranger Robert Praczkajlo located the fire and determined it was five feet by five feet, and burning three feet deep into the ground. Praczkajlo suppressed the fire. The following day, it was declared out.

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Lost hiker helped back to trail

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JOHNSBURG — The Warren County Sheriff’s office requested forest ranger assistance with the search for a hiker lost approximately half a mile from the trailhead on Crane Mountain at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 38. At 2:30 p.m., Ranger Evan Donegan used cell phone coordinates to locate the 61-year-old from Sand Lake and assisted them back to the trailhead.

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Sick hiker assisted in Dix Range

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NORTH HUDSON — Forest rangers Andrew Lewis and Jamison Martin responded to a call for an 18-year-old hiker vomiting at Beck-Horn, a prominent rock feature near the summit of Dix Mountain at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. The hiker was with another 18-year-old with no reported injury or illness. The pair from Wyoming County were prepared with headlamps with extra batteries, extra layers of clothes and snack bars. The DEC reminds the public that even the most prepared hikers can find themselves in need of rescue. Martin contacted the hikers and advised them to slowly hike down to stay warm. At 12:25 a.m., forest rangers reached the hikers, provided electrolytes and food and escorted them to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 1:52 a.m.

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Snowy Mountain injury

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INDIAN LAKE — Ray Brook dispatch received a call about a hiker with a possible dislocated shoulder just below the summit of Snowy Mountain at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. At 1:45 p.m., forest rangers reached the 61-year-old, evaluated the injury and walked the subject to the trailhead to be met by Hamilton County EMS. Resources were clear at 3:50 p.m. It was unclear what the subject’s post-rescue medical status was, or if further treatment was required.

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Overnight search for lost hikers on Hough

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NORTH HUDSON — Ray Brook dispatch received a call from two hikers lost off trail near the summit of Hough Peak at midnight on Saturday, Sept. 27. At 6:30 a.m., forest rangers Evan Donegan and Evan Nahor reached the 20- and 21-year-olds. At 9:10 a.m., they made it back to the trailhead. Hough is a High Peak in the Dix Range, and is a rugged and remote mountain, about five miles from the nearest trailhead.

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Rangers find River Road runaways

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LAKE PLACID — State Police requested forest ranger assistance with a search for two juveniles who ran off into the woods off River Road at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26. Forest rangers Jamison Martin and Logan Quinn conducted a linear search following the subjects’ tracks. At 6:06 p.m., rangers found the 12- and 15-year-olds unharmed. It was unclear what led to the teenagers running into the woods.

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Lost Mount Marcy hiker found overnight

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KEENE — Ray Brook dispatch received a call from an off-trail hiker near the summit of Mount Marcy at 10:50 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24. At 2:40 a.m., Forest rangers Matthew Adams, David Corey and Charles Foutch reached the 65-year-old from Brooklyn, provided food and water and started heading back to Marcy Dam. At 9:45 a.m., they reached the Marcy Dam Outpost and rewarmed the subject. By 11:30 a.m., rangers completed escorting the subject to the trailhead. It was unclear what the subject’s post-rescue medical status was, or if further treatment was required.