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Ongoing wildland fire near Piseco Lake
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ARIETTA — Two civilians contacted Ray Brook dispatch about a wildland fire in the Piseco Lake area at 4:45 p.m. on Sunday. One of the civilians, a DEC employee, flew a drone to get an exact location of the fire. Ten rangers, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Speculator Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Lake Pleasant, Piseco and Speculator volunteer fire departments responded to the 37-acre fire. Fire crews are still working to contain the fire as of press time Wednesday evening.
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Lost without light on Cranberry 50
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CRANBERRY LAKE — Ray Brook dispatch received a report of a lost hiker off the Cranberry 50 trail at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Forest rangers Will Benzel and Nathan Shea responded to the provided coordinates off of the Dead Creek trail. The hiker did not have a light source. At 12:05 a.m., rangers located the 51-year-old from Feura Bush in good health and assisted them back to their vehicle. Rangers suggest bringing the 10 Hiking Essentials when venturing into the wilderness. While a phone can be helpful for navigation and light, batteries die quickly, so a headlamp and map are suggested. That list can be found at tinyurl.com/4rvvee72.
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Exhausted hiker helped to trailhead in Johns Brook Valley
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KEENE — A hiker texted 911 to request assistance due to exhaustion at 8:55 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2. The 32-year-old from Allegany was out of water and falling frequently due to dizziness. At 11:15 p.m., the hiker made it to the Johns Brook Interior Outpost, where they waited for forest rangers David Corey and Allison Rooney. Rangers provided basic first aid and nourishment and brought them back to the trailhead. Resources were clear at 12:45 a.m. It was unclear if the subject required further medical attention. The DEC did not state what the hiker’s route or location was prior to the text to 911.
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Haystack Mountain leg injury
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NORTH ELBA — Forest rangers Jamison Martin and Joseph Ordway responded to a call for a hiker with a leg injury approximately three-quarters of a mile from the trailhead on Haystack Mountain at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2. The 77-year-old was with another hiker trying to help get back to the trailhead, but the 77-year-old kept falling. Rangers assisted the hiker back to the trailhead and then to the hospital. Resources were clear at 8:25 p.m. This injury occurred on the trail to Haystack Mountain in the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness, not to be confused with Mount Haystack, which is a High Peak, the third-tallest mountain in the state at 4,960 feet and located in the town of Keene.
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Fire extinguished, camp saved
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NEWCOMB — Forest Ranger Scott Sabo, Jr. and Newcomb Volunteer Fire Department responded to a ground fire on Woody’s Road at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The 0.2-acre fire was threatening a seasonal camp. Fire crews protected the camp and contained the fire. After finding hotspots for the next few days, on Sunday, Forest Ranger Mark Brand declared the fire out.
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Hiker trips on rock after initial injury on Cascade, flown out
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KEENE — Ray Brook dispatch received a call for a hiker with an unstable ankle injury on the Cascade Mountain trail at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1. Four forest rangers responded. At 6:27 p.m., Forest Ranger Allison Rooney located the 32-year-old from Long Island, assessed the injury and splinted the hiker’s ankle. Shortly after starting back down the trail, the hiker tripped on a rock and couldn’t continue. State Police Pilot Paul Engel, Jr. and Forest Ranger Jenna Curcio performed a successful hoist rescue and transferred the patient to Lake Placid Volunteer Ambulance Service for transportation to the hospital. Resources were clear at 7:10 p.m.
