On Tuesday, June 28, at approximately 10:47 AM, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a call reporting two lost individuals.

Bennett Sherry, 25, of Ogdensburg, NY and Jacob Tagg, 20, of Hammond, NY were dropped off 3 days prior at Henderson Lake to do a paddle and camping trip to Tupper Lake through the Cold River area.

During the trip their canoe capsized and all of their gear, including their shoes, was lost.

They attempted to walk out and at one point were able to briefly contact Mr. Sherry’s mother by cell phone.

They reported that they had not eaten in three days. Six DEC Forest Rangers responded and began hasty searches of all the surrounding trails.

Meanwhile, DEC Disptach contacted Verizon and, using the cell phone coordinates, were able to establish their general location.

At 3:09 PM, Mr. Sherry and Mr. Tagg came out of the woods on their own in Long Lake and called their families.

Forest Rangers interviewed the two men and learned they had spent the first 24 hours after the canoe capsized searching for the Northville Placid Trail.

Once they found the trail they walked south on it until the encountered a lean-to where they spent the night.

The next day they proceeded on the Northville-Placid Trail toward Long Lake and made the cell phone call to Mr. Sherry’s mother stating they were three hours from Long Lake.

After placing the phone call the two men continued down the trail until they were able to obtain a boat ride to Long Lake.

Due to unclear cell phone messages, Mr. Sherry’s parents were unsure of the conditions of the subjects or their exact location, only that they had been lost in the High Peaks Wilderness Area for two days.

Mr. Sherry and Mr. Tagg, despite their misfortunes, were not trying to seek assistance, only to report in to their family.

Don’t depend on electronic devices in the Adirondack backcountry. Have an escape plan if things go bad.

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Town of Indian Lake, Blue Mountain Wild Forest

On Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at approximately 1:21 PM, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a call reporting an injured hiker on Blue Mountain.

Edward Barry, 63, of Bronx, NY, was near the summit of Blue Mountain when he slipped and fell on a wet rock while wearing sneakers, injuring his right knee.

Two DEC Forest Rangers responded to the scene and responders from the Indian Lake and Blue Mountain Lake Fire Departments assisted them with the one-mile carryout.

Mr. Barry declined EMS transport at the trailhead at 4:30 PM and was being transported to the hospital in a private vehicle.

Wear proper footwear in the backcountry-boots or hiking shoes with proper soles and ankle support.

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Town of Lake Pleasant, private land

On Saturday, July 9, 2011 at approximately 4:20 PM, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a request from Hamilton County 911 to assist in locating a missing kayaker on Lake Pleasant.

Anthony Perez, 19 of Bronx, NY, was kayaking when he was witnessed going underwater.

Two DEC Forest Rangers responded with an airboat to assist the Sheriff’s office.

The State Police dive team, St. Johnsville dive team and two DEC Conservation Officers also assisted.

Search operations continued for 3 days with a total of nine DEC Forest Rangers working the search.

Aerial detection and sonar detection were used with negative results.

On July 11, 2011 a second Forest Ranger airboat was added to the search efforts.

On July 12, 2011 at approximately 12:00 PM, Mr. Perez’s body was found and recovered by the State Police dive team using sonar detection equipment.

Forest Rangers assisted with the removal of the body.

Always wear a properly fitted and secured personal flotation device when kayaking, canoeing or boating.

 

 

Town of Benson, Shaker Mountain

 

On Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at approximately 4:57 PM, DEC Dispatch in Ray Brook received a request for assistance in the search for three missing individuals on Cathead Mountain.

Paige Feenstra, 22, a 12-year-old female and an 11-month-old male, all of Franklin, TN, had been hiking with other family members when they decided to return to their vehicle.

When the rest of the hiking party returned to the vehicle and didn’t find the three, they called 911 for assistance.

Two DEC Forest Rangers, a DEC Environmental Conservation Officer and NY State Troopers responded and began searching surrounding trails and outlets.

At approximately 7:59 PM, Ms. Feenstra and the two children were located in good health in a residential backyard on Chartier Road.

The Cathead Mountain trailhead had been closed to the public for awhile so the trail was not well maintained.

Ms. Feenstra and the children lost the trail and wandered into a drainage that led them towards the road.

A resident heard the 11 month old child crying and located the three lost hikers behind her house.

Know the area you plan to hike and keep groups together.