For the second time in less than a week, multiple snowmobilers had to be rescued after becoming stranded in Fremont County’s backcountry.
The latest incident occurred at approximately 2 a.m. on Thursday when Fremont County Search and Rescue were notified of a report of six snowmobilers who were stranded and low on fuel at Thirsty Creek in Island Park.
According to police reports, three adults and three older teens had dropped down into the drainage and were trying to find their way out of the bottom. However, the steep, uneven, rocky terrain was strewn with brush, saplings and trees, which proved more of a challenge than their handsaw could handle.
When the first two responders arrived on the scene in the early morning hours, the snowmobilers said they had a fire going and were OK to spend the night.
A team of rescuers went out at daybreak and arrived at the scene, refueling the stranded snowmobilers’ sleds and helping lead them back toward the trail.
There were no reported injuries.
In an earlier rescue last Saturday, the Fremont County Search and Rescue responded to reports of two East Idaho men who got their snowmobiles stuck along Snow Creek Butte Trail east of Ashton.
The stranded men, a 20-year-old from Rigby and an 18-year-old from Rexburg, were later found by rescuers in good condition near Tear Drop Lake. They were then given a ride back to Warm River, where their vehicle was parked.
None of the names of the stranded snowmobilers from the two incidents were released.
