Just when you’ve thought you heard it all: five hikers from Florida who got lost in the High Peaks reportedly urinated on each other to keep warm.

The Albany Times Union first reported this tidbit earlier this week, and the state Department of Environmental Conservation confirms that this is what the hikers told forest rangers.

DEC spokesman David Winchell advises against this practice. “No matter what, getting wet in cool or cold weather hastens the loss of body heat,” he said.

Winchell said the hikers were woefully unprepared. They didn’t bring a map, compass, or other essential gear and seemed not to understand the difficulty of their expedition.

The five left Rocky Acres Inn in Schroon Lake about 10 a.m. last Thursday and drove to the Upper Works trailhead. They planned to hike to the Adirondack Mountain Reserve and around the Ausable Lakes and back.

That’s a crazy idea. There are no trails around the lakes. It’s about 12 miles to Lower Ausable Lake, passing by Panther Gorge. Once there you could sort of loop around Upper Ausable by climbing to the Colvin Range ridge, hiking over Blake Peak and Pinnacle, descending to Marcy Swamp, and following the trail back to Panther Gorge. The round-trip would be more than thirty miles, with strenuous climbing.

The inn called 911 when the five failed to return by 11 p.m. A state trooper located their car at Upper Works, and two forest rangers searched throughout the rainy night without success.

“The next morning six additional forest rangers joined the search, with two entering the High Peaks Wilderness from the north. At 10:05 am the group was located in the Calamity Brook area. They were wet and cold but otherwise healthy. After rehydrating and warming them up, Forest Rangers escorted them back to their vehicle,” DEC said in a news release.

 Click here to read Brian Nearing’s report in the Times Union.

Now we know spring is here: Ron Konowitz has stopped skiing.

Most skiers probably think last winter was a lousy one, but not for Ron Kon. He skied 161 days, all in the Adirondacks. That’s every day for more than five months.

Ron Konowitz ascends Mount Marcy on skis. Photo by Phil Brown.

“I had a good year,” Konowitz said today. “I definitely didn’t get into the backcountry as much as usual.”

Konowitz did a lot of his skiing at the state-run downhill center on Whiteface Mountain. “The snowmakers did an amazing job,” he said.

After Whiteface closed for the season, Konowitz would hike up the mountain and ski down the remaining snow. He made a final ski trip down Whiteface just last week.

He last skied Mount Marcy, the state’s highest summit, in early April.

A retired schoolteacher who lives in Keene, Konowitz is the only person who has skied all forty-six of the High Peaks. Or at least the only one to admit it.

This summer W.W. Norton plans to publish Classic Hikes of North America: 25 Breathtaking Treks in the United States and Canada. Judging by the publicity materials, it should be a magnificent-looking book, with detailed maps and more than two hundred color photos.

The hike closest to the Adirondacks is the Presidential Range Traverse in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The other eastern hikes are the Art Loeb Trail in North Carolina, the Sentiers International des Appalaches in Quebec, and the Long Range Traverse in Newfoundland.

The 224-page hardcover book was written by Peter Potterfield, the author of Classic Hikes of the World. It will sell for $39.95. Click here for more details.

With so many great hikes to choose from in the United States and Canada, perhaps Potterfield can be forgiven for ignoring our part of the world. But if you were to choose one hike from the Adirondacks, what would it be?

Notice to rock climbers: the state Department of Environmental Conservation has confirmed that peregrine falcons are nesting on Upper Washbowl Cliff near Chapel Pond and on the Nose on the main face of Poke-o-Moonshine Mountain. The nesting location of falcons on Moss Cliff in Wilmington Notch has not been determined.

Peregrine falcon

 To protect the nest sites, all climbing routes on Upper Washbowl, Moss Cliff , and Labor Day Wall and fifty-four routes on Poke-o will remain closed until further notice. Routes on Lower Washbowl and all other routes at Poke-o will reopen on Friday.

Following routes are the closed routes at Poke-o (the numbers are from the guidebook Adirondack Rock).

26  Garter

27  Varsity

28  Junior Varsity

29  The Snake

30  Roof of All Evil

31  Slime Line

32 Firing Line

33 Psychosis

34 Microwave

35 Creaking Wall

36  Blinded by Rainbows

37  Forget Bullet

38 Rattlesnake

39 Freedom Flight

40 Project

41  Remembering Youth

42 Sound System

43 Pillar

44 Autumn Flare

45 Katrina

46 Deuteronomy

47 Superstition Traverse

48 Spooks

49 The Howling

50 Salad Days

51 Climb Control To Major Bob

52 Pentecostal

53 Project

54 Verdon

55 Homecoming

56 Ukiah

57 Raindance

58 Libido

59 Snake Slide

60  Scorpion

63 Summer Break

64 Wild Blue

65 God’s Grace

66 Home Run Derby

67 Karmic Kickback

68 The FM

69 Nose Traverse

70 Sky Traverse

71 Silver Streak

72 Spectacular Rising Traverse

73 The Body Snatcher

75 The Snatch

76 Knights in Armor

77 Great Dihedral

78 Half Mile

79 Sea of Seams

80 C-Tips

81 Project

82 Mogster

Little brown bats were once the most widespread .bat species in New York State, but its population has declined about 90 percent since the discovery of white-nose syndrome in a cave south of Albany several years ago.

Little brown bats in hibernation. Photo by Larry Master.

Now there may be a bit of good news: the latest survey of caves in the Albany region detected an increase .in the number of little browns.

“While we remain cautiously optimistic of encouraging trends for some species seen more recently, it will likely take several years before we fully know how to interpret this,” said Kathleen Moser, assistant commissioner of natural resources for the state Department of Environmental Conservation. 

DEC’s full news release follows.

DEC REPORTS: 2012 WINTER BAT SURVEY RESULTS

The results of the winter survey of hibernating bats in New York are now available, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today.  This survey was a cooperative effort among state wildlife officials, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and numerous volunteers to monitor the effects of white-nose disease, a fungal infection that has devastated regional bat populations since it was first documented in New York in 2006.

The most encouraging observations came from surveys of the five hibernation caves in the greater Albany area where the disease was first discovered. Previous reports have suggested that little brown bat counts at these sites seem to be stabilizing in recent years. This year’s surveys saw substantial increases in little brown bats at three out of five of these caves. The largest and best documented of these sites saw an increase from 1,496 little brown bats in 2011 to 2,402 this year.  It is premature to conclude that population recovery is underway for this species, however, because of the small number of hibernation sites that have experienced increases and the fact that alternate explanations are plausible.  Bats are highly social animals and observed increases could be the result of consolidation of individuals from other hibernation sites, for example.

“While we remain cautiously optimistic of encouraging trends for some species seen more recently, it will likely take several years before we fully know how to interpret this,” said Kathleen Moser, DEC’s Assistant Commissioner of Natural Resources.  “DEC is assisting in national bat research and with those seeking solutions to the effects of the white nose disease.  As a preventative measure we can take now, we encourage the public who enter caves recreationally, to refrain from entering hibernation sites while bats are there.”

Based on this year’s survey, total observed declines in population attributed to the disease for tri-colored bats have been revised upward.  Prior to the arrival of white-nose disease in 2007, a total of 2,285 tri-colored bats were counted at 37 representative hibernation sites in the state.  Since that time, a total of 112 bats were observed during surveys of those same sites, suggesting a statewide decline of 95 percent for the species. Northern long-eared bats have also been affected with a 98 percent observed decline (18 individuals observed in 36 sites compared to a pre-disease total of 911 bats at the same sites).  Although neither bat was considered a threatened species prior to the arrival of white-nose disease, both species are now extremely rare in New York.

No surveys were performed this year for the federal and state endangered Indiana bat. Previous surveys indicate that losses for this species have totaled 71 percent statewide (15,650 individuals remaining, down from a high of 54,689).  The population status of Indiana bats in New York will be reassessed in 2013.

Records of small-footed bats, a rare species even prior to the disease, show only a relatively small decline of 13 percent.  This species is difficult to count due to its secretive habits when hibernating, but focused survey efforts this season have bolstered previous observations that the impact of the disease is far less severe for small-footed’s than for most other hibernating bats.

Prior to the arrival of white-nose disease, the little brown bat was the most common bat species in New York State and has been observed hibernating in more than 100 caves and mines here.  Statewide losses for the species attributed to white-nose disease remain at approximately 90 percent. For more information on white nose syndrome in New York, visit the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/45088.html.

The state acquired the lands outlined in yellow, 2,797 acres in all.

After years of negotiation and some controversy, the state has finalized an agreement that will allow more than two hundred hunting camps to remain on timberlands formerly owned by Champion International.

In 1998, the state entered an agreement with Champion to purchase 29,000 acres in the Adirondacks and preserve another 110,000 with conservation easements that allow public access.

Under the original agreement, the hunting camps on the easement lands were to be removed by 2014, but following an outcry, the state Department of Environmental Conservation renegotiated the agreement to permit them to stay. In return, the new landowner, Heartwood Forestland Fund, will give the state nearly 2,800 acres in the Deer River valley. The new agreement was signed this week.

“This is great news for the North Country. The tradition of hunting and hunting camps is an important part of our heritage,” Clifton Supervisor Robert Snider said in a DEC news release issued this morning.

The Adirondack Council also praised the deal. John Sheehan, the group’s spokesman, noted that later easement deals allowed hunting camps to remain in place. “Timber companies get more money from leasing the camps than they do cutting timber,” he said. “It helps to keep the forest intact.”

Environmentalists had raised concerns about the change in the agreement when DEC revealed its intentions in 2006.

Neil Woodworth, executive director of the Adirondack Mountain Club, said his biggest worry was that the hunting-club members would ride all-terrain vehicles on the easement lands. But under the renegotiated agreement, he said, recreational ATV use is prohibited (the hunters can use them in the spring to reach their camps).

David Gibson of Adirondack Wild criticized DEC for conducting the negotiations behind closed doors and failing to hold a public hearing. He also questions whether the public got a fair deal. For more of Gibson’s thoughts on the matter, click here.

The deal allows Heartwood to lease up to 220 hunting camps on the easement lands. There are 208 camps now, so Heartwood could construct another twelve. The camps have exclusive recreational rights to one-acre footprints around their buildings. The rest of the easement lands are open to the public for hunting, fishing, hiking, and other forms of recreation.

More than 2,100 of the 2,797 acres deeded to the state lie within the Adirondack Park and thus will become part of the Forest Preserve. The rest lies just outside the Blue Line and will be designated State Forest. DEC spokeswoman Lori Severino said these lands are now open to the public.

Click here to read DEC’s analysis of the change in the easement deal.

You know spring is here when the state Department of Environmental Conservation closes rock-climbing cliffs to safeguard the nesting sites of peregrine falcons. The following news release was received from DEC this afternoon.

Effective Monday April 2, 2012, the following Adirondack rock climbing routes will be closed to protect peregrine falcon nest sites.

 Moss Cliff – All routes closed

 Chapel Pond – All routes on Upper and Lower Washbowl Cliffs closed

Poke-o-Moonshine Mountain – All routes on the Main Face are closed except the following routes described on pages 39-45 of Adirondack Rock: A Rock Climber’s Guide:

 1.    Opposition

2.    Goat’s Foot on Rock

3.    High and Dry

4.    Bushmaster

5.    Big Buddha

6.    Bushido

7.    Bodacious

8.    Pearly Gates

9.    Kaibob

10.   Battle Creek

11.   Static Cling

12.   Certified Raw

13.   Air Male

14.   Son of a Mother

15.   Phase III

16.   Bastard

17.   Ladder

18.   Puppies on Edge

19.   Hang ‘Em High

20    Group Therapy

21.   Adonis

22.   Pandemonium

23.   Discord

24.   A Womb with a View

The state attorney general is again asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that demands that the disabled be allowed to fly to remote lakes in regions of the Adirondack Park classified as Wilderness, where motorized use is prohibited. Among the waterways targeted in the suit is Lake Lila, long a prime destination of canoeists and kayakers. 

Assistant Attorney General Susan Taylor argues, among other things, that the five men who filed the suit, though disabled, can access Wilderness Areas and many Adirondack lakes without a floatplane.

Lake Lila

But Lake Placid attorney Matthew Norfolk says his clients (who include Maynard Baker, the former supervisor of Warrensburg) are unable to visit on foot “truly wild lakes and ponds” in the backcountry.

Norfolk says there are 860 lakes and ponds in Wilderness Areas. The plaintiffs seek permission to fly to thirty-eight of them, those considered big enough to accommodate a floatplane. One of them is Lake Lila, the largest lake in the Adirondack Park totally surrounded by publicly owned Forest Preserve. With its several islands and wild setting, Lila is a popular destination of paddlers.

The other thirty-seven lakes are:

West Canada Lake Wilderness. West Lake, South Lake, Cedar Lakes, Whitney Lake, Mud Lake, Metcalf Lake, Horn Lake, Pillsbury Lake, Spruce Lake.

Pigeon Lake Wilderness. Shallow Lake, Lower Sister Lake, Queer Lake, Constable Pond, Terror Lake, Pigeon Lake, Cascade Lake.

Five Ponds Wilderness. Cage Lake, Salmon Lake, Negro Lake, Rock Lake, Lyon Lake, Witch Hopple Pond, Big Deer Pond, Clear Pond, Crooked Lake, Sand Lake.

Pepperbox Wilderness. Sunshine Pond.

Siamese Ponds Wilderness. Upper Siamese Pond, Lower Siamese Pond, Round Pond, Puffer Pond. 31

Blue Ridge Wilderness. Cascade Pond, Stephens Pond.

Silver Lake Wilderness. Silver Lake.

Pharaoh Lake Wilderness. Pharaoh Lake, Crane Pond.

High Peaks Wilderness. Round Pond.

 The plaintiffs filed the suit in U.S. District Court in August 2010, claiming that Wilderness regulations violate the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

 Click the links below to read the latest court filings from the plaintiffs and the state.

 AG motion

Norfolk response

In the wake of a series of high-profile search-and-rescues, the state Department of Environmental Conservation is urging backcountry travelers to be prepared. The following news release was issued this morning.

DEC ADVISES BACKCOUNTRY VISITORS TO BE PREPARED

 FOR WINTER CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE ADIRONDACKS

Snowshoes, Skis Strongly Recommended For All Trails

Visitors to the backcountry of the Adirondacks should be prepared and have proper clothing and equipment for snow, ice and cold the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) advised today.

“Now that snows have arrived in the Adirondacks, winter recreationist can take advantage of all that the Park has to offer,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “However, recreationist must be aware that winter can also present troublesome – even perilous – conditions to the unprepared. Visitors exploring the backcountry should dress for cold weather and use snowshoes and skis to navigate trails.”

Although there may be little snow in the Champlain Valley and the southeastern Adirondacks, there is significant snow cover throughout the rest of the Adirondacks. Also snow depths are greater in the higher elevations, up to a few feet deep on slopes of the highest mountains.

 Visitors to the Eastern High Peaks are required to use snowshoes or cross-country skis for their safety. It is strongly recommended that visitors to other parts of the Adirondacks do the same. Snowshoes or skis ease travel on snow and prevent “post holing”, which can cause sudden falls and result in injuries.  Ice crampons should be carried for use on icy mountaintops and other exposed areas. In addition, backcountry visitors should follow these safety guidelines:

•         Dress properly with layers of wool and fleece (NOT COTTON!) clothing: a wool or fleece hat, gloves or mittens, wind/rain resistant outer wear, and winter boots.

•         Carry a day pack with the following contents: Ice axe, plenty of food and water, extra clothing, map and compass, first-aid kit, flashlight/headlamp, sun glasses, sun-block protection, ensolite pads, stove and extra fuel, and bivy sack or space blankets.

•         Drink plenty of water — dehydration can lead to hypothermia and eat plenty of food to maintain energy levels and warmth.

•         Check weather before entering the woods – if the weather is poor, postpone your trip.

•         Be aware of weather conditions at all times – if the weather worsens, head out of the woods.

•         Know the terrain and your physical capabilities – it takes more time and energy to travel through snow.

•         Never travel alone and always inform someone of your intended route and return time.

 Avalanche Awareness

Snows have accumulated to sufficient depths on Adirondack Mountain slopes to create conditions conducive to avalanches. While avalanche danger increases during and immediately after major snowfalls, as well as during thaws, avalanches can occur in any situation where snow, slope and weather conditions combine to create the proper conditions. An avalanche, triggered by skiers, recently occurred on a slide on Wright Peak.

DEC reminds back country winter recreationists to take the following precautions when traveling in avalanche prone terrain:

• practice safe route finding and safe methods for traversing slopes;
• know avalanche rescue techniques;
• carry safety equipment (transceiver, probe, and shovel);
• know the terrain, weather and snow conditions; and
• Never travel alone and always inform someone of your intended route and return time.

Information on avalanche conditions and safety precautions is available on the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/950.html. 

Skiers and snowshoers are reminded that the Avalanche Pass Slide is closed to public recreation of any type during the winter.

Visit the DEC Adirondack Trail Information web page at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html to obtain the latest on trail conditions and use links for current weather and snow cover.

Recently, forest rangers have engaged in several high-profile search-and-rescues in the High Peaks Wilderness. Perhaps the one that got the most attention was the rescue of Steve Mastaitis, who spent the night in a snow hole on Mount Marcy. Three others were rescued the following weekend in the High Peaks Wilderness. Today, the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Region 5, which encompasses most of the Adirondack Park, released a report of this winter’s rescue searches. It does not recount the Mastaitis rescue, but you can read about that by clicking here. The DEC report follows verbatim. (Click here to read my thoughts on whether hikers should have to pay for their rescues.)

Essex County

Town of North Elba, High Peaks Wilderness Area On Monday, December 26, 2011, at approximately 11:40 pm, DEC Central Dispatch received a call reporting an overdue hiker on or near Mt. Colden. Ronnie Cusmano, 55, of Valhalla, NY, was hiking from the Upper Works Trailhead to Mt. Colden. He routinely used his personal locator device to notify his wife upon completion of his hikes. Mr. Cusmano*s wife had not heard from him and was concerned. A DEC Forest Ranger responded and began searching on the trails south of Mt. Colden. At approximately 3:30am the following morning, the Forest Ranger located Mr. Cusmano in good health at the Herbert Brook Lean-to along the path up Mount Marshall. Always inform someone of your itinerary and stick to it.

Town of Elizabethtown, Hurricane Mountain Wilderness On Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at approximately 8:52 pm, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a call reporting an overdue hiker on Hurricane Mountain. Clifford Reiter, 54, had started up Hurricane Mountain looking for his two adult sons who were overdue from hiking the mountain. Not aware that his sons had already exited the trail and signed out on the trail register, Mr. Reiter proceeded to search for them. Mr. Reiter*s wife became concerned due to the extreme cold temperatures and called for assistance. Meanwhile, the two sons went back up the trail to search for their father. A DEC Forest Ranger responded and located all three men in good conditions at 9:30 pm. Call DEC Forest Rangers at 518-891-0235 when you believe someone may be lost or injured in the backcountry.

Town of Newcomb, Camp Santanoni Historic Area On Saturday, January 14, 2012, at approximately 4:00 pm, while on routine state land patrol, a DEC Forest Ranger came upon an injured skier on the Newcomb Lake Road. Barbara Taylor, 58, of Long Lake, NY, had fallen and injured her shoulder and ankle. She was exhausted and needed assistance getting out. The Forest Ranger splinted her injured ankle and evacuated Ms. Taylor by rescue toboggan. At 5:30 pm Ms. Taylor was returned to the trailhead parking areas where she indicated she would seek further medical treatment on her own. Accidents can happen. Always carry a first aid kit and contact the DEC Forest Rangers at 518-891-0235 in backcountry emergencies.

Town of Keene, Giant Mountain Wilderness Area On Saturday, January 21, 2012, at approximately 1:36 pm, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a call reporting an injured hiker. Ruby Sulley, 58, of Keeseville, NY, was hiking between Hopkins and Giant Mountains, when she fell and suffered a leg injury near the Giant Mountain lean-to at 12:00p.m. Her hiking companions contacted Ray Brook Dispatch and two DEC Forest Rangers responded. Upon reaching Ms. Sulley, they assisted her as she continued to hike out. They reached the trailhead at 5:30 pm where Ms. Sulley indicated she would seek further medical attention on her own. Accidents can happen. Always carry a first aid kit and contact the DEC Forest Rangers at 518-891-0235 in backcountry emergencies.

Town of Keene, Eastern High Peaks Wilderness Area On Saturday, January 21, 2012, at approximately 2:18 pm, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a call reporting an injured hiker. Kevin Cox, 61, of Troy, NY, was snowshoeing with a group of eight when he twisted his knee near the summit of Lower Wolfjaw. State Police Aviation was unavailable due to potential for blowing snow; and snowmobiles were unable to be used due to lack of snow. Temperatures hovered near zero and below during the rescue. Members of the hiking party had been assisting Mr. Cox by “sliding” him down when he was unable to walk.

Seven DEC Forest Rangers responded from the Garden Trailhead in Keene Valley with a rescue sled and met the group at 6:50 pm, approximately 1/4 mile above the Wolfjaw lean-to. Mr. Cox was brought to the Garden parking area at approximately 11:10 pm and the group indicated they would transport Mr. Cox and obtain further medical attention. Dress properly with layers of wool and fleece (NOT COTTON!) clothing: a wool or fleece hat, gloves or mittens, wind/rain resistant outer wear, and winter boots.

Town of North Elba, High Peaks Wilderness Area On Saturday, February 25, 2012, at approximately 4:50 pm, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a cell phone call from Mike Jones, 42, of Andover, CT, that was transferred from Essex County 911. Mr. Jones reported that he had attempted to hike to the top of Algonquin Mountain on Friday afternoon when he was forced off the trail by high winds and snow. He had bushwhacked down a drainage area and spent the night in hole in the snow. In the morning he continued downhill until he encountered a trail marker and was able to obtain cell phone service. He had no idea where he was and stated he was wet and very cold. Mr. Jones also indicated that he was visiting the area by himself and had not told anyone of his plans to climb Algonquin Mountain, therefore nobody had, or could have, reported him missing.

DEC Dispatch worked with Essex County 911 to obtain Mr. Jone*s cell phone coordinates. It was determined that hes was on the Indian Pass Trail southwest of Rocky Falls approximately 2.5 miles from the trailhead at Adirondack Loj. Three Forest Rangers responded, snowmobiling part of the way down the trail and then skiing the remainder of the way. Deep fresh snow required the Forest Rangers to break trail while on skis. They reached Mr. Jones at 6:42 pm.

Mr. Jones had lost most of his gear and some of his clothing during the night. He appeared to be suffering from hypothermia and frostbite to his hands and feet. After feeding, clothing and warming him, the Forest Rangers helped walk him back to the snowmobile and then transported him by snowmobile to the South Meadow Road. He was transferred to the Lake Placid Rescue Squad at 8:37 pm and transported to Adirondack Medical Center in Lake Placid for further medical evaluation and treatment.

Never travel alone and always inform someone of your intended route and return time. Check weather before entering the woods. If the weather is poor, postpone your trip. Be aware of weather conditions at all times. If the weather worsens, head out of the woods. Be prepared to spend an unexpected night in the woods pack plenty of food and water, extra clothing, flashlight/headlamp, ensolite pads, stove and extra fuel, and bivy sack or space blanket.

Town of North Elba, High Peaks Wilderness Area On Saturday, February 25, 2012, at approximately 7:30 pm, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a call from the wife of Brian Sullivan, 62, of Brooklyn,NY, reporting him overdue. Mr. Sullivan had left from The Garden trailhead at 10:30 am and planned to ski to the Mt. VanHovenburg Ski Center at the Olympic Sports Complex via Johns Brook, the Klondike Notch Trail and the Mr. Van Trail.Staff from the ski center patrolled the nearby portions of the Mr. Van Trail but had not seen Mr. Sullivan.

Seven DEC Forest Rangers responded and began searching from the two ends of Mr. Sullivan’s planned route. A Forest Ranger on a snowmobile on the South Meadow Road heard shouting shortly before 9 pm. He stopped, turned off the snowmobile and took off his helmet allowing him to clearly hear Mr. Sullivan*s shouts from the other side of South Meadow Brook. The Forest Ranger directed Mr. Sullivan across the brook, met up with him and found that he was in good condition. He was transported by snowmobile to the Adirondack Loj and reunited with his family at 9:30 pm. Know your route, the terrain and your physical capabilities * remember it takes more time and energy to travel through snow than it does on bare ground. Check the DEC Adirondack Trail Information webpage at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html for information on the latest conditions, weather and trail closures and reroutes.

Town of Keene, High Peaks Wilderness Area On Saturday, February 25, 2012, at approximately 11:38 pm, DEC Central Dispatch received a call from the girlfriend of Matthew Bradley, 36, of Lee, MA, reporting him overdue. He had left from the Garden Trailhead on Saturday, planning to snowshoe to the summit of Mt. Marcy via Johns Brook and either the Phelps Trail or the Hopkins Trail. He then planned to continue to Adirondack Loj Trailhead via the VanHovenberg Trail.

Eleven Forest Rangers, including three Forest Rangers who had participated in the previous two searches, responded and searched through the night. DEC Central Dispatch had very limited and sporadic cell phone contact with Mr. Bradley because his cell phone battery was dying. Dispatchers were unable to get location information from him or obtain the coordinates of his cell phone. At 5 am Mr. Bradley was able to place a quick call from his cell phone and provide the coordinates from his GPS. Forest Rangers determined that he was off trail in a drainage area on the southwestern slopes of Table Top Mountain.

Forest Rangers reached Mr. Bradley at approximately 9:20 am. He had moderate hypothermia and possible frostbite. Forest Rangers provided him food and then escorted him to an open area for retrieval. Mr. Bradley was hoisted into a State Police Aviation Unit helicopter with a Forest Ranger operating the hoist and transported to the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake for further medical evaluation and treatment.

Know your route, the terrain and your physical capabilities * remember it takes more time and energy to travel through snow than it does on bare ground. Be prepared to spend an unexpected night in the woods pack plenty of food and water, extra clothing, flashlight/headlamp, ensolite pads, stove and extra fuel, and bivy sack or space blanket.

Franklin County

Town of Brighton, Private Land

On Friday, January 6, 2012, at approximately 3:40 pm, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a call from Franklin County 911 reporting two skiers lost on the trails at the Paul Smith*s College Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC). James Mort, 61 and Patricia Mort, 57, both of Red Hook, NY, had skied off the main trail system and were at a gazebo on the far side of a secondary trail system. They declined the option of following their tracks back to the main trail or out to the road and back to the VIC, due to exhaustion and lack of lights. One DEC Forest Ranger responded and located the couple. They were escorted out to the road and transported back to the VIC. Know your route, the terrain and your physical capabilities. Always carry a light, a map and a compass.

Hamilton County

Town of Lake Pleasant, Jessup River Wild Forest On Saturday, February 11, 2012, at approximately 2:00 pm, a DEC Forest Ranger was notified of an injured snowmobiler on the Perkins Clearing Easement Trail. Dave Gervald, 32, of Wayne, NJ, was traveling too fast for conditions, when he struck a tree and was ejected from his machine.

He suffered severe leg lacerations and also complained of back pain. Two DEC Forest Rangers and two DEC Environmental Conservation Officers responded along with Speculator Rescue, Hamilton County Sheriff, and New York State Police. Mr. Gervald was backboarded, packaged and transported by snowmobile 6 miles to the waiting ambulance. He was then transported to Mason-Latour Hospital in Gloversville for medical treatment. Know your abilities and travel at reasonable speeds when driving snowmobiles.

Always carry a first aid kit and contact the DEC Forest Rangers at 518-891-0235 in emergencies.

Town of Indian Lake, Blue Mountain Wild Forest On Saturday, February 18, 2012, Lars Jackson, 45, of Pelham Manor, NY, had hiked with a group of Boy Scouts to the top of Blue Mountain in the Town of Indian Lake Hamilton County when he went into cardiac arrest.

Hamilton County 911 contacted DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook at 1:40 pm to report the situation. They indicated that cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was being administered by members of Mr. Lars group.

DEC Forest Rangers, Blue Mountain Lake Rescue, Indian Lake Rescue, and Indian Lake Fire & Rescue responded to the incident. A DEC Forest Ranger arrived at 2:20 pm to observe that CPR had been continuing for approximately 1 hour. CPR continued while an automated external defibrillator was applied to no avail. CPR was discontinued at 2:27 pm.

The State Police and the Hamilton County Coroner*s Office were notified. Mr. Jackson was pronounced dead by the coroner. Contact the DEC Forest Rangers at 518-891-0235 in backcountry emergencies.

Town of Indian Lake, Blue Ridge Wilderness Area On Sunday, February 26, 2012, at approximately 3:36 pm, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a call from the Hamilton County Sheriff*s office, reporting lost hikers on the Cedar River Loop trail system. Irwin Nathonson, 64, and Julie Nathonson, 62, both of Diamond Point, NY, had not crossed the Cedar River Road and became lost. Three DEC Forest Rangers responded and each began searching on a different section of the trail system. At 4:53 pm the Mr. and Mrs. Nathonson were located in good health. They were transported out on snowmobiles and returned to their vehicle. Carry a map and compass and know how to use them.