A portion of the burned area from a fire caused by an unattended campfire near Spruce Lake in the town of Arietta, in western Hamilton County. Forest Rangers discovered the fire on Wednesday, Oct. 9, worked to suppress it and declared it extinguished on Friday, Oct. 11. Forest Rangers did not specify when this image was taken. (Provided photo — New York state Department of Environmental Conservation)

RAY BROOK — Forest Rangers with the state Department of Environmental Conservation responded to several calls in the Adirondacks recently, assisting injured, dehydrated and lost hikers — one group of which had been attempting a 50-mile hike. Rangers also put out a ground fire caused by an unattended campfire several miles from the nearest point of vehicle access.

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Cranberry Lake

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COLTON — Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiking party attempting the Cranberry Lake 50, a 50-mile circumnavigation of the lake at 6:24 p.m. on Oct. 19. One member of the party was suffering from dehydration. Forest Ranger Will Benzel spoke to the reporting party who indicated the 26-year-old from Connecticut was getting better with fluids and did not need Forest Ranger assistance until the morning. An hour later, the hiking party called again to advise the subject was getting worse. The hikers were approximately 1.6 miles east of Campsite 17 along the Otter Brook trail at the time of the call. At 10:32 p.m., Benzel, who was joined by Forest Ranger Stephen Ellis and members of the Cranberry Lake and Star Lake volunteer fire departments located and transported the subject back to Cranberry Lake via boat. At 11:41 p.m., an ambulance transported the subject to the hospital. No further information was provided.

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Coney Mountain

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TUPPER LAKE — Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about an overdue hiker on Coney Mountain at 7:36 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19. Forest Ranger Jenna Curcio verified the hiker’s vehicle was still in the parking area. Ranger Curcio hiked the mile-long trail to the summit but did not see the 69-year-old from Lake Clear. More Forest Rangers joined the search and located the subject off-trail but in good health. They helped her back to the trailhead and resources were clear at 12:18 a.m.

Hikers should alert a trusted person(s) of their route and expected arrival time — as this hiker appears to have — before venturing into the woods. That person(s) can then alert rescuers as soon as hikers are overdue. A quick response, especially in deteriorating conditions, can prevent tragedy.

Coney Mountain is part of the popular Tupper Lake Triad hiking challenge, which is organized by the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, based in Lake Placid. The mountain’s short trail and bald summit provide panoramic views of the western Adirondacks. The mountain’s trailhead is located along state Route 30, about 10 miles south of the village of Tupper Lake.

The mountain is a popular spot for stargazing, although if attempting any hike at night, people should be prepared with a headlamp, batteries with a full charge and extra batteries. An extra headlamp should also be considered when preparing. People should never rely on cellphones as a source of light while hiking at in the dark.

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Phelps Mountain

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NORTH ELBA — Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from Essex County 911 about a hiker with a back injury on Phelps Mountain at 5:03 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17. At 5:45 p.m., Forest Rangers reached the 68-year-old from the state of Washington. By 8:34 p.m., Rangers were back at the trailhead with the subject.

Phelps stands at 4,161 feet, making it the 32nd tallest peak in the state. Its summit provides views of many surrounding High Peaks and its relatively short mileage — compared to most of the High Peaks — makes it a popular hike. It is most commonly accessed from Heart Lake. The route is often rocky and becomes progressively steeper toward the summit, although the mountain is considered one of the easier High Peaks to hike.

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Spruce Lake

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ARIETTA — Forest Rangers Nicholas Caswell, Robert Hamm and Allison O’Connell discovered a ground fire along Spruce Lake while patrolling West Canada Lakes Wilderness at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Rangers said the fire was caused by an unattended campfire.

Rangers continued suppression efforts through the night and removed nearby hazards. Rangers patrolled the fire until Oct. 11 when they declared it out. Dry conditions, warm weather and ample fire fuel from recently fallen foliage created a heightened risk for brush fires throughout the Park.

Spruce Lake is located in western Hamilton County. The lake is located in the 168,920-acre West Canada Lake Wilderness Area, the second-largest wilderness preserve in the state. It includes some of the most remote lands in the Adirondacks, according to the DEC’s website. Spruce Lake is about 4.5 miles from the nearest trailhead, which could have made fire suppression efforts difficult, had rangers not caught the fire when it was small. Although rangers did not say how big the fire grew, the burned area appeared to be less than 100 square feet, based on provided photos from the DEC.

People should always be sure to properly extinguish their fire before abandoning the burn area. This includes thoroughly drowning the fire with water, then mixing the ashes with the soil, and adding more water while mixing. People should ensure that any partially burned sticks or logs do not have embers on or inside of them. The burn area should feel completely cool to the touch. If there are still elevated levels of heat, more water should be added. Finally, people should scan their entire campsite area for any embers or sparks that may have drifted from the fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

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Bear Den Mountain

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KEENE — Forest Ranger Hannah O’Connor responded to a call for a hiker with ankle and head injuries on Bear Den Mountain at 7:31 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. O’Connor reached the pair from Stephentown and Gansevoort and determined the injuries were minor, but that both hikers were dehydrated. O’Connor provided nourishment and assisted the pair back to their vehicle at 9:12 p.m. The DEC encourages hikers to make sure that they are hydrated and well-nourished before heading out for a hike. The DEC also encourages hikers to plan ahead and prepare, and bring extra food and water in case their hike takes longer than expected.