Family calls for help when stuck on Middle Saranac

Recent DEC Forest Ranger actions:

Town of Harrietstown
Franklin County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 5 at 3:24 p.m., DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a man reporting that he was stranded with his wife and two granddaughters (10 and 16 years old) on the shore of Middle Saranac Lake. He stated that the wind was too strong to paddle back the way they came. The caller estimated that the group was about a quarter of a mile north of the outlet of Middle and Lower Saranac lakes. Forest Ranger DiCintio responded to assist with the help of DEC Operations staff. Two boats were deployed to the stranded canoeists’ location, one to transport the group of four and the other to tow their canoe and two kayaks. At 6:13 p.m., Ranger DiCintio advised that the group from Cincinnati, Ohio, had been dropped off at the South Creek boat launch where their vehicle was located.

Town of Indian Lake
Hamilton County
Wilderness Rescue: On Aug. 8 at 5:40 p.m., Hamilton County 911 transferred a call to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch reporting a hiker on Snowy Mountain who was having trouble breathing and unable to hike back out. Coordinates placed the 29-year-old hiker from Herkimer near the top of the mountain. Forest Ranger Lt. Ganswindt requested Rangers Milano and Scott to head in and assess the situation as the hiker’s condition was reportedly deteriorating. New York State Police Aviation was put on standby and Forest Rangers Thompson, Kerr, and Nally were requested to be available for a possible carry out. At 7:45 p.m., Rangers were with the hiker who was reportedly feeling better and able to slowly start back down the mountain. At 11:59 p.m., they were out of the woods and the hiker was evaluated by Indian Lake EMS.

Town of Clifton
St Lawrence County
Wilderness Search: On Aug. 9 at 12:20 p.m., while patrolling the Cranberry Lake Campground, a 34-year-old man from Port Jefferson flagged down Forest Ranger Baldwin reporting his 10-year-old son had been missing for an hour. Ranger Baldwin immediately radioed the campground entrance booth to close and lock the gates. Ranger Baldwin organized the campground staff to begin a systematic search of all campground loops, bathrooms, and the beach and playground areas. Forest Ranger Lt. Murphy contacted the St. Lawrence County 911 Center to have Cranberry Lake Fire Department respond with their boat and dive team and then contacted New York State Police to have investigators and a K-9 bloodhound dog team respond to assist. At 12:45 p.m., searchers located the boy in another area of the campground, uninjured.