DEC Rangers Hoist Hiker and Energetic Dog from Giant Mountain

Forest Rangers located a 47-year-old hiker and their dog on Giant Mountain after lake-effect snow squalls created deep drifts and reduced visibility, authorities report. The rescue highlights the particular risks winter weather poses to hikers and trail dogs, and underscores the value of rapid response and basic backcountry preparation.

The incident occurred on Jan. 22 and ended with the hiker and dog being found by DEC Forest Rangers. The Week in Review account supplying the detail does not name the Ranger crew or provide additional medical details, but it lists the weather conditions - lake-effect squalls, deep drifts, and poor visibility - as central to the response. For owners who bring energetic dogs onto winter trails, the episode is a reminder that a playful pup can rapidly complicate route-finding and that winter storms can change conditions in minutes.

Commissioner Basil Seggos praised the Rangers’ role in public safety and resource protection, noting their broad skill set: "world-class outdoor recreational opportunities, DEC's Forest Rangers are on the front lines to help visitors get outside responsibly and get home safely," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "Each day, these highly trained first responders are protecting irreplaceable natural resources and utilizing their expert knowledge of wildland fire suppression, wilderness first aid, land navigation, law enforcement, and technical rescue techniques to successfully execute critical missions, for DEC and our countless local, state, and national partners."

The Giant Mountain rescue is one of several recent operations that show how varied backcountry incidents can be. In a high-profile August hoist on Giant Mountain’s Ridge trail, New York State Police Aviation Pilot Sergeant Beck inserted Forest Ranger Curcio by helicopter; Ranger Rooney stabilized a 33-year-old subject from Vermont and Ranger Baldwin completed the hoist that flew the injured hiker to the hospital. That Aug. 24 operation began with a 3:50 p.m. call and cleared at 5:20 p.m. Other patrols have ranged from disoriented hikers at Bald Peak who were escorted out after cramps and panic attacks, to an 18-year-old at Overlook Mountain who ran out of food and water, to enforcement actions when roughly 60 campers on Giant’s Ledge exceeded group-size rules and received tickets.

Those incidents contain practical lessons for Hyperenergetic Dogs readers. Several rescues involved dead or exhausted electronics, lack of lights, or simple unpreparedness; Rangers supplied headlamps, splinted injuries, and carried out long escorts to trailheads. The DEC message is consistent: be prepared. Visit DEC’s Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages for planning guidance, and follow wilderness camping rules - campsites must be at least 150 feet from roads, trails, or water, and groups of 10 or more or stays longer than three nights require a permit.

If you hike with a high-energy dog, plan for winter-specific gear and contingencies: extra food and water for you and your dog, reliable light sources and spare batteries, a charged phone and backup power, clear identification for your dog, and a conservative turnaround time before weather closes in. The Giant Mountain rescue reinforces that preparation and respect for conditions make the difference between a day hike and an emergency response; expect winter storms, pack accordingly, and give Rangers the best chance to help if things go wrong.