LOCALadk Magazine

48 Spring 2015 LOCALadk Magazine snow. The training is mentally and physically demanding. Afterwards, situations are debriefed and feedback is given. The idea is to train like it's real, so when it's real, it feels like training. Hoist Operator and Crew Chief Jeff Balerno hangs from the side of the helicopter and lowers a hook for a waiting trainee. Balerno has been a DEC Forest Ranger for 16 years and a hoist operator for 12. In the state, he is one of 24 certified hoist operators and has directed 30 hoists. On a hoist, his job is to be a second pair of eyes for the pilot. "We're fortunate to have great pilots and a great relationship with the State Police aviation unit," Balerno comments. During a hoist he's harnessed in by an adjustable daisy chain and watches for birds, trees, and cliffs, while the helicopter is turning and banking. The turbulence of a helicopter is not for everyone. "The winds are rocking and you're in an uncontrolled environment in which you can drop 20 feet. It's dynamic," he says with a large grin. Clearly, it is for him and he loves his job. This is a common theme throughout the day—a deep love for helping others in a time of crisis. "We encourage people to use the backcountry," comments Regional Forest Ranger Captain John Streif, a Paul Smith's Alumni from Rochester. "And we're the safety net." Streif has been a Ranger 20 years and captain for 13. Throughout his career, he has seen many rescues via air and foot. He accredits the impressive safety record of rescues to the amount of hours put into training for them—and then he knocks on wood. An accident happens in a blink of an eye. The car that runs a red light, the patch of ice you hit, or the cliff you slide down—a good day can go to a bad one in seconds. In these moments of crisis, every minute counts. If you live in the northern Adirondacks, you're in good hands. The best of the best are on call and ready. The call comes in. The pagers go off. Lights switch on and covers are pulled back. Boots laced, packs grabbed, and feet hit the pavement. The Bell 430 helicopter is pulled from the hanger. Throughout the whirl of activity, no movement is chaotic. Everyone knows their role and executes it with fierce steadiness. Think of them as super heroes—Ironman, Hulk, and Captain America. They have their own franchises and unique super power, though every now and then they are called together in an epic rescue mission. It's a balance of communication and coordination that they've honed over decades of experience. After the training, a DEC ranger mingles with a NYS Police Pilot and paramedic from Life Flight. They sip coffee, rewarm their fingers, and swap stories about past rescue missions. Outside the temperature dips, and one after another, they drive away. Some go home, while others return to the office. Wherever they journey—they never fully unpack their gear.

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