Forest rangers from the State Department of Environmental Conservation sprang into action last week in response to distress calls involving injured hikers and a lost child across the Wilmington, Keene Valley, and Lake Placid areas.
One incident involved a 48-year-old hiker from Camillus who sustained an injured wrist, prompting a call to Ray Brook dispatch from an Adirondack Mountain Club employee at 5:09 p.m. last Sunday. Forest ranger Robert Praczkajlo swiftly located the hiker, situated 2.2 miles from the Heart Lake Information Center, and successfully escorted her back to the trailhead by 5:40 p.m.
Another distress call concerned an 11-year-old hiker from Webster who became separated from a hiking group while descending Whiteface Mountain at 6:20 p.m. on the same Sunday. Forest ranger Andrew Lewis mobilized a team of five rangers to assist. By 7:15 p.m., ranger Praczkajlo located the child and safely reunited him with his hiking party.
In a separate incident, Ray Brook dispatch received a call at 5:25 p.m. on Saturday reporting an injured hiker approximately half a mile from Upper Wolfjaw Mountain. Forest rangers Praczkajlo and Hannah O’Connor, accompanied by New York State Police aviation, promptly responded. Ranger O’Connor skillfully harnessed the injured hiker, facilitating their safe extraction via helicopter to the nearest hospital for medical attention.
Additionally, forest rangers were summoned to aid a hiker at Rainbow Falls who had sustained head injuries from a falling rock at 2:25 p.m. on May 20. Upon reaching the injured hiker, forest rangers promptly administered first aid to stem bleeding before transporting him to the Adirondack Mountain Reserve trailhead. From there, the hiker proceeded to seek further medical attention independently.
The swift and coordinated responses by the forest rangers underscore their dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of outdoor enthusiasts traversing the Adirondack region’s rugged terrain.