Four snowmobilers from North Dakota were rescued Sunday after becoming stranded near Island Park, according to a press release issued by Fremont County Search and Rescue.
At about 5:30 p.m., Fremont County Search and Rescue’s senior and junior members responded to Yale Creek Road west of Island Park after Fremont County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 911 call from the snowmobilers, who were stuck and unsure of their location.
The stranded individuals told the dispatcher that they had a fire going and that nobody was injured. The coordinates from the 911 call placed the snowmobilers between two and three miles north of Yale Kilgore Road.
Blizzard conditions hampered rescue efforts of the first search team sent to locate the snowmobilers. The team estimated it was a quarter mile from the snowmobilers, but dangerous winter conditions kept the team from advancing.
The search team rendezvoused with the backup search team equipped with snowshoes. The search teams headed to where they had previously smelled smoke, where the weather conditions improved.
Once the two teams combined, three members with showshoes walked into a drainage, where they located the four snowmobilers at 10:07 p.m. The decision was made to leave the stuck and broken-down snowmobiles behind.
With help from Fremont County Search and Rescue, the four snowmobilers were able to get back to their cabin.
Fremont County Search and Rescue encourages those traveling into the backcountry to be extremely cautious and be equipped with necessary equipment and survival gear. It’s also suggested to plan ahead and make others aware of destinations and return times.
