Woman suffers hip injury on Cobble Lookout trail

Recent NYS DEC Forest Ranger actions:

Town of Newcomb
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Jan. 19 at 1 p.m., Forest Rangers Martin and Sabo responded to a personal locator beacon activated for an injury report half a mile from Camp Santanoni, approximately 4.5 miles from the trailhead. The hiker’s companions were keeping her warm while waiting for help to arrive. Rangers reached the 22-year-old hiker from Maine one-half hour later and stabilized the knee injury. With the help of the Newcomb Fire Department, Rangers transported the hiker back, where she declined further medical attention.

Town of Wilmington
Essex County
Wilderness Rescue: On Jan. 20 at 10:45 a.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for Ranger assistance for a 63-year-old with a hip injury. The hiker from Orangeburg was approximately three-quarters of a mile in on Cobble Lookout Trail. Forest Rangers Balerno, Black, Bode, Evans, and Lewis responded. At 11:37 a.m., Ranger Black reached the subject and assessed the injury. Rangers packaged the hiker and carried her out to Wilmington EMS who transported the subject to the hospital for treatment. Resources were clear at 1 p.m.

Village of Fort Ann
Washington County
Wilderness Recovery: On Jan. 20 at 5:36 p.m., Ray Brook Dispatch received a call for Ranger assistance from Washington County 911 after a hiker reported finding a body at the base of Shelving Rock Falls in the Lake George Wild Forest. Forest Rangers Laczko, St. Claire, Savarie, Donegan, and Kabrehl responded. At 6:44 p.m., Rangers located the subject approximately one-third of the way up the falls. Using technical rope rescue techniques, Rangers lowered the deceased subject from the ledge in a sled. From the ground, Rangers conducted a low-angle carry up the hill. Once out the woods, the subject was turned over to the county coroner. Resources were clear at 9:12 p.m. New York State Police (NYSP) identified the hiker as 55-year-old Timothy Gillen of Peekskill.

Town of Indian Lake
Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On Jan. 22, at 7:41 p.m., Forest Ranger Scott was on patrol and encountered a subject on the Newcomb-Blue Mountain Lake snowmobile trail with symptoms of a stroke. Ranger Scott transported the 73-year-old man from Indian Lake by snowmobile to Ranger headquarters on State Route 30. Blue Mountain Lake EMS provided further medical assistance. Resources were clear at 8:10 p.m.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages for more information.

If a person needs a Forest Ranger, whether it’s for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on state lands and easements, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. If a person needs urgent assistance, they can call 911. To contact a Forest Ranger for information about a specific location, the DEC website has phone numbers for every Ranger listed by region.