NYS Forest Rangers told the press Tuesday that on July 11 at 7:40 p.m., a call came in to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch from the father of a man who was camping long-term on state land in the Hoffman Notch Wilderness Area, in violation of the law.

Rangers said the 36-year-old male from Crown Point was communicating with his father over the course of several weeks but the father stated that he had not heard from the son in some time and that he had missed the last two supply drops. Worried about his son’s well-being, he requested Forest Rangers do a welfare check based on his last known location.

On July 12, Forest Ranger Lt. Brian Dubay with Forest Ranger Marie Arnold attempted to locate the man while Forest Ranger Jamison Martin remained in Schroon Lake to provide communication assistance. They said that after several hours of searching the location described by the father, the father was brought in to lead the Rangers to the correct location.

At 3:20 p.m., the missing man was located near Hedgehog Hill in good condition. He was led out by Forest Rangers and released. Enforcement actions are pending Rangers say.