SEELEY LAKE – Seeley-Swan Search and Rescue responded to two calls for “lost” snowmobilers this past weekend. Both were found before they had to spend the night in the sub-zero temperatures. Missoula County Sheriff’s Deputy Sergeant Bob Parcell said both were separated from their group, so when they got stuck, they were unable to get themselves out.
On Friday, March 1 around 3 p.m. a snowmobiler from Spokane, Wash. called 9-1-1 reporting he was lost. He had been snowmobiling with a large group in the north fork of the Placid Creek area and got stuck.
SAR had GPS coordinates of his location and a location from his phone, however, Parcell said that from past experience, GPS information is unreliable in the area.
SAR volunteers split up into two groups so they didn’t miss him while federal law enforcement officer Tyler Robinson ran the search from the trailhead. Volunteers also connected with his group and were able to return to the area where they were riding.
The rider was found just before 5:30 p.m. He had no injuries and Parcell said he was glad to be reunited with his group.
Saturday, March 2 an experienced local rider took two of his friends from out of state snowmobiling. Around 3:30 p.m. they started back toward the West Side Trailhead from Lake Dinah. The local decided to take an alternate route but told his friends to take the main route and he would catch up with them.
The two out-of-towners arrived at the warming hut and waited for the Seeley Lake local for three hours before calling SAR. By this time it was dark and temperatures were closing on zero degrees.
Parcell said the local rider tried to come across a flat creek bottom. When the sled sank, he tried to power his way out but dug a hole instead. The local walked out to the Lake Elsina trail hoping to flag someone down as they were riding out but no one came down. He started walking towards the warming hut to stay warm.
While SAR was mobilizing, local expert Curtis Friede rode up with the two out-of-towners to help figure out where they left their friend. Once Friede arrived at the warming hut, the local was there and had started a fire.
“He was really tired and really worn out from coming down with no snowshoes or anything,” said Parcell. “He knew how to get there and made it to the warming hut.”
Instead of waiting until morning when temperatures were expected to be around -20, Parcell said Friede and a few of his friends rode up and recovered the machine in two hours. SAR waited to make sure they were all out of the woods before heading in.
“Curtis did us a favor and he is really good about it,” said Parcell.
While everything turned out well, Parcell said if the groups would have stuck together neither incident would have occurred.
“If you are going to go up with a party, stay with your party,” said Parcell. “You can mess around all you want but be in sight of each other and don’t leave them.”
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