GREENOUGH – Tuesday, Aug. 7 a 20-year-old Greenough man was found after missing since Sunday. Except being hungry and tired, he was not injured. He was cited for driving behind a locked gate with his motorcycle and driving with a suspended drivers license.
According to Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Bob Parcell, the 20-year-old went out for a ride Sunday night on his large dirt bike on Nine-mile Prairie Road. His parents realized he hadn’t returned on Monday and starting looking for him. They found where he went around a gate and they found the motorcycle about seven miles up the Nine Mile Prairie Road. It was out of gas. They also found where he started a fire but they were unable to locate him.
Seeley-Swan Search and Rescue was mobilized Monday night around 8 p.m. They also had Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks join the search.
“We were worried and concerned about his welfare first. That was our number one concern,” said Parcell. “Then beyond that was what was going on behind the gate.”
After being unable to locate him Monday night, three pilots with SSSAR flew the area with fixed wing aircraft Tuesday morning. Two Bear Air, rescue helicopter out of Whitefish, also joined the search.
Parcell said 12 SSSAR volunteers and additional agency employees joined the search on the ground covering all access points to the area.
“We kind of boxed him in so there was no way he could get by us,” said Parcell.
The 20-year-old walked out to the gate he had gone around on Sunday and was found after 11:30 a.m.
“He was hungry, tired and very happy to be out of there,” said Parcell. “He said he got sick and was apparently debilitated for a while. While he lives in the [Blanchard Creek area], he was going the opposite way he needed to go [to get home].”
Parcell reminded recreationist that gates are there for a reason and are intended to keep motor vehicles out of them. He also said everyone should to be prepared to spend the night out, especially if they are going to be out by themselves.
“Take the common sense approach. We kept wondering why he didn’t back track,” said Parcell. “He was able to make a fire but he didn’t have much else with him.”
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