Forest rangers with the state Department of Environmental Conservation responded to a handful of calls throughout the Adirondacks in late October. One was for a lost hunter who was found less than an hour after rangers were called in to assist. The other three were for hikers who were either lost, injured or both. Fortunately, none of the searches and rescues appeared to require additional medical attention once the hikers were back at the trailhead.

–

Lost hunter in northwestern Adirondacks

–

HOPKINTON — New York State Police requested forest ranger assistance locating a missing hunter at 10:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. The hunter was with a nephew on private land when they became separated. Rangers joined State Police and the Parishville Volunteer Fire Department in the search. At 11:14 p.m., family and other members of the hunting party located the 71-year-old from Norfolk.

–

Cold, wet and hurting in the Sewards

–

HARRIETSTOWN — Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about three hikers between Seward and Donaldson mountains requesting assistance at an unspecified time on Saturday, Oct. 25. The hikers said they were cold, wet and did not have any dry layers with them. One hiker was also experiencing leg cramping. Forest Rangers Hannah Praczkajlo, Robert Praczkajlo and Paul Quinones located the hikers from Buffalo and assisted them to their vehicles. Resources were clear at 10:23 p.m.

Rangers suggest hiking with the 10 hiking essentials, including moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics that keep your skin dry and help regulate your body temperature in both cold and warm weather. They also suggest avoiding cotton clothing because it holds moisture.

–

Family split in the Wolfjaws

–

KEENE — On Oct. 21 at 7:28 p.m., Forest Ranger Andrew Lewis responded to a call about separated hikers in the Wolfjaw mountains. The DEC did not specify if it was Upper Wolfjaw Mountain or Lower Wolfjaw Mountain, though the mountains are near each other and share a trail for most of the ascent before diverging near a col between their two summits. Two hikers made it back to the trailhead at the Adirondack Mountain Reserve, but their parents did not. At 9:35 p.m., Lewis located the 50- and 53-year-olds from Delaware and escorted them to their children. Resources were clear at 11:30 p.m.

–

Lost and stuck on Esther

–

WILMINGTON — Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about a lost hiker on Esther Mountain at 7:34 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20. Forest Ranger Hannah Praczkajlo made contact with the 76-year-old from Rochester who explained they were cold and wet and only had 7% charge left on a cellphone. Praczkajlo started hiking in and advised the hiker to continue hiking on the trail to stay warm. At 8:25 p.m., the hiker called to report that part of a tree was blocking the trail and they could not navigate around it. At 9:17 p.m., Praczkajlo reached the hiker, provided warm clothes, hand warmers and a headlamp. Praczkajlo assisted the hiker down the Marble Mountain trail to the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center trailhead. Resources were clear at 12:09 a.m.

Esther Mountain is named after Esther McComb, who at age 15, made the first recorded ascent in 1839. The story goes that she had been attempting to climb Whiteface, got lost and instead ended up atop the peak that now bestows her name.