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Stranded on the snowmobile trail

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ALTONA — Ray Brook dispatch received a call about two stranded vehicles on a snowmobile trail off Rock Road at 7:56 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21. At 10:31 p.m., Forest Rangers Odell and Russell freed one of the two vehicles. The second posed no threat to snowmobilers. Rangers contacted the local snowmobile club to coordinate the removal of the second vehicle with the vehicle’s owner.

A stranded pickup truck is seen in snowy conditions in the town of Altona on Saturday, Feb. 21. (Provided photo — New York state Department of Environmental Conservation)

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NJ man dies in southern Adirondacks snowmobile crash

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CAROGA — State Police requested forest ranger assistance with a snowmobile crash on private land at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20. One ranger, State Police and the Caroga Volunteer Fire Department attempted lifesaving measures and brought the unresponsive subject, who was later identified by State Police as Stephen J. Banks, 54, of Cream Ridge, New Jersey, to a Fulton County Emergency Management vehicle for transport to Nathan Littauer Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. State Police said Banks was snowmobiling on a trail about 0.5 miles behind 253 county Route 111. State Police said he failed to negotiate a curve in the trail and struck a tree.

Stuck on Stony

Lonesome Road

CROWN POINT — Two forest rangers responded to the scene of two vehicles stuck on the Stony Lonesome Road seasonal snowmobile trail at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19. Rangers provided a courtesy ride to the operator and made arrangements with a tow company to remove the vehicles in daylight the next day. On Feb. 20 at 11:30 a.m., a tow company removed the vehicles.

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Hiker experiencing heart issues helped off Whiteface

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WILMINGTON — Forest rangers responded to a call for a hiker experiencing cardiac issues while hiking Whiteface Mountain between Lookout and Marble mountains at 5:10 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15. At 6:53 p.m., rangers David Corey and Robert Praczkajlo reached the hiker and assisted the 68-year-old to the trailhead where they transferred care to Wilmington EMS. Resources were clear at 8 p.m. No further information was provided on the hiker’s post-rescue medical status.

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Out of bounds, stranded on cliff at Whiteface

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WILMINGTON — Whiteface Mountain medical services contacted forest rangers and Whiteface ski patrol to assist three skiers who skied out of bounds into the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness at 3:19 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15. Rangers made contact with the skiers and determined the three teenagers were uninjured but were stranded in deep snow on top of a cliff.

Whiteface Mountain staff provided a ride in a snowcat for four rangers. At the same time, State Police Aviation and one ranger in the helicopter located the group and dropped off sleeping bags for warmth. At 6:07 p.m., forest rangers located the skiers warm and in good health. Rangers provided the skiers with snowshoes and headlamps and assisted them back to the resort.

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Off-trail and cold between Haystack and Basin

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KEENE — Ray Brook dispatch received a call from the spouse of a hiker who was off trail on Mount Haystack and getting cold at 3:23 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14. Forest rangers called the 51-year-old hiker and determined they were near the summit of Basin Mountain. Rangers talked the hiker back onto the trail. At 7:10 p.m., Rangers Jacob Jansen and Nathan Jeffery met the hiker on the trail to ensure that they were safe and hiked with the subject back to the trailhead.

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Rangers rescue lost hiker on Phelps at night

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NORTH ELBA — Ray Brook dispatch called Forest Ranger Joseph Ordway about a hiker who became lost while hiking Phelps and Tabletop mountains at 8:17 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12. The hiker’s spouse said they last heard from the hiker at 4:30 p.m., when they were attempting to bushwhack back to the trail. The spouse provided coordinates based on a phone app. Ray Brook dispatch called the hiker and confirmed they were still lost off trail, but then the call dropped. At 9:41 p.m., Ordway found the hiker’s vehicle at the Adirondak Loj parking area. At 9:47 p.m., the hiker called 911 and provided new coordinates.

At 10:30 p.m., rangers Robert Hamm and Allison O’Connell located the 65-year-old, who lives in Arkport. Rangers transported the subject to their vehicle. After talking to the hiker, rangers determined the subject lost the trail at the summit of Phelps Mountain and was unable to locate the trail using their phone, which died during a 911 call. The hiker paced back and forth to maintain body temperature until rangers arrived. Resources were clear at 12:09 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 13.

Forest rangers suggest hiking with a map and compass. While cell phones can be helpful, there are places in the High Peaks without cell service. Phone batteries also drain more quickly in the cold weather.

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Dead hiker recovered near Mount Marcy summit

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KEENE — Ray Brook dispatch received a call through Essex County 911 from a hiker with a dog who said they slipped off the trail near the summit of Mount Marcy and were unable to get back on the trail at 3:05 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12. The hiker, who died on the mountain, was later identified by State Police as Brianna L. Mohr, 21, of Brick, New Jersey.

The initial response included six forest rangers on snowmobiles, one State Police helicopter pilot, one forest ranger helicopter crew chief, one forest ranger helicopter rescuer, and one ranger on a tracked utility task vehicle (UTV). Forest rangers on the ground responded by snowmobile and UTV while the State Police and forest ranger helicopter team responded for a possible hoist rescue.

Due to the heavy cloud cover, the two rangers in the helicopter could not see the missing hiker. At 6:06 p.m., one of the rangers in the helicopter was inserted into the Marcy Dam Outpost to search on the ground. At 9:51 p.m., a forest ranger located the 21-year-old hiker from New Jersey deceased at an elevation of 5,202 feet. Rangers also found the dog alive and hiked it out to safety. On the early morning of Friday, Feb. 13, State Police aviation inserted two forest rangers to the site and recovered the hiker and transferred the hiker’s body to the Essex County Coroner.

More information about the recovery is available at tinyurl.com/yw98s83j. The DEC wrote that it offers its condolences to the family.