×

Rangers help hikers with leg injuries

State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers transported two hikers with leg injuries this past week in the Adirondacks.

Town of Harrietstown

On Sept. 23 at 4:48 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook dispatch received a call from a man on Seward Mountain stating that a woman in his hiking group had suffered a leg injury with a large cut. Dispatch advised the man to hang up and dial 911 so coordinates could be obtained. The coordinates provided by Franklin County 911 confirmed the caller’s location a half-mile up Seward from the Ward Brook Truck Trail.

Forest Rangers Robert Zurek and James Giglinto responded, driving an ATV up the trail until they reached the herd path. From there, they located the woman and drove her back out to the trailhead by 8:16 p.m. The 63-year-old woman from Brant Lake opted to seek medical assistance on her own, and both rangers were cleared from the scene at 8:36 p.m.

Town of North Elba

On Sept. 28 at 8:28 p.m., Essex County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook dispatch from a man reporting a woman with an upper leg injury near Avalanche Camps. The caller stated that he had met another hiker running down the trail to get help for the woman.

Assistant Forest Ranger Ethan Engel started in the direction of the camps from the Marcy Dam outpost to evaluate the situation while Forest Rangers Robert Praczkajlo, Scott Sabo and David Russell responded to assist. At 9:09 p.m., Engel found the injured 55-year-old hiker from Carleton Place, Ontario, about a half-mile from the outpost. She was hobbling down with the assistance of other hikers. The injured woman made it to the outpost, where she was met by Praczkajlo and Sabo with a UTV. After having her leg splinted, the injured woman was driven out the Marcy Dam truck trail and returned to her vehicle, where she sought further medical treatment on her own. All units were clear of the scene by 11:19 p.m.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today