Fremont Rescue

January 2006 Searches

January 7, 2006                                               Two Top

One snowmobiler became separated from his party of five, in a thermal hole.

January 10, 2006                                             Island Park

Fremont Rescue responded to an injury accident, when a snowmobiler had hit a tree, near the outlet in Island Park.

January 15, 2006                                             Hell Roaring Canyon

Avalanche conditions, at high elevations in the back country, worried Fremont County Search and Rescue members when they were called out for an injured individual in Hell Roaring Canyon north of Reas Peak in Island Park where he was riding with four other riders from Rigby, Idaho. 

Initially, Island Park Ambulance was called out to assist an individual involved in a snow machine accident.  After speaking with the party, the ambulance realized they needed assistance from Fremont County Search and Rescue to access the area.  With slick roads, blowing and drifting snow making some roads almost impassable for rescue members to respond, and back country avalanche conditions a concern, 17 Search and Rescue members responded to assist the ambulance transport the injured individual out of the area where he was injured.  An Island Park Ambulance crewmember accompanied rescue members to locate and bring out the injured. . The party, using their head, built a fire to keep the individual warm. Because of rough terrain and concerns over the nature of the individual’s injuries, Air Idaho, from Idaho Falls was dispatched to airlift the individual to the hospital.   Fortunately, for the injured individual, wind speeds were minimal and the cloud ceiling was high enough for Air Idaho to respond and land on the mountain. With the assistance of Air Idaho’s crew, the injured individual was transported approximately ½ mile by sled to the helicopter. The other individuals from the party returned with Search and Rescue members to the Willow Creek parking area, west of Island Park.  All other members of the snowmobile party and Search and Rescue members were in good condition.  Over 7 hours later and well into early morning, all rescue members had returned home safely. 

January 28 & 29, 2006

“Here We Go Again!!!”  If they could, Fremont County Search and Rescue may well call this a weekend nightmare.  They encountered 6 incidents involving welfare checks, searching for lost individuals, and assisting citizens become mobile again after unlucky encounters with bottomless January snows.  Saturday’s heavy snowfall, slick roads, freezing rain poor visibility, and considerable and high avalanche conditions in the high country added to the nightmare.

 Search /   #1

At 6:30 p.m. search and rescue members were paged out to locate a gentleman that had become separated from his snowmobile party after the large snowmobile group had traveled much of the Island Park area throughout the day. On their jaunt from Lakeside Lodge via Green Canyon to the A Bar, the gentleman somehow became separated from the party, not arriving at their designated destination with the rest of his crowd. Search members searched starting from a variety of locations trying to come across the individual or any tracks indicating where the individual could have taken a wrong turn, as he was not familiar with this particular part of the trail.  Members found it necessary to follow tracks across Island Park Reservoir where they noticed several “green” areas on the slushy lake.

Numerous individuals from the party eventually went to their cabin in the Shotgun area while the search was still in progress.  They were given telephone numbers and instructions to call if the missing individual showed up at the cabin.  When they arrived at the cabin, they found the missing individual at the cabin where he had been for quite some time.  The search ended with no incident.  During the search, Search and Rescue Commander, Brett Mackert, received information regarding two additional individuals not returning home as scheduled. Fortunately, the individual from this current search was located just as the vehicle for the next search was located.

Search /  #2

             Approximately 9:00 p.m. Search and Rescue commander, Brett Mackert, received information that two individuals from the Blackfoot, Rockland area had failed to return home as scheduled, their families unable to reach them by cell phone. The family last heard from the two gentlemen about 9:00 a.m. that morning when they telephoned to say they were leaving Elk Creek Station heading to the Willow Creek parking lot for a fun day in the snow. By 8:00 p.m., family members began to worry as they were usually off the mountain before dark and on their way home. Because another search was already in progress, two search and rescue members left Lake Side Lodge in an attempt to locate their vehicle at the Willow Creek parking lot.  The vehicle was indeed there, buried by the day’s snowfall.   Fortunately just as the vehicle was located, the individual from the previous search was found freeing up Search and Rescue members to respond to the new search...

            Yale Kilgore Road conditions were unfavorable due to the amount of snow that had fallen during the day, so rescue efforts were based from the Blue Creek parking lot.   Rescue members headed up Willow Creek on snow machines in an effort to locate the individuals’ tracks or smell or see a fire.  They had been advised the two had provisions to take care of themselves in case of emergency.  Shortly before midnight rescue members realized they were not able to continue until after daylight because of extremely deep new fallen snow (up to 4 feet in places), visibility conditions, and concern of putting themselves in danger.  Tough riding, total blackouts as they tried to traverse the new snow, potentially high – Extreme avalanche conditions, and getting their snow machines hung up were influential factors in their decision. On their return to base camp they searched other areas in hopes of locating the individuals or their tracks with no success.

            Arrangements had been made through Fremont County Road and Bridge to bring a groomer to base by daybreak to assist with the search.  At daylight, search members and the groomer resumed the search, again tackling Mother Nature’s elements.  Additional arrangements were made by Brett to fly a chopper or fixed wing to assist, but the window was not to be had.  Inversions made the capability of flying over the mountains from the valley impossible.

            Clark County Search and Rescue assisted in the search since some of the search area was located in their county.  Their rescue members searched until 6:00 a.m.  They resumed their part of the search around 10:00 a.m. 

            Around 1:00 information was received that the individuals had been located walking out through the deep snow out of Keg Springs area.  A kind snow mobile rider loaned them a snow machine, and they rode to base camp.  The groomer operator, working his way to the area, asked if they needed to get in to get warm.  They just wanted to get home.  They united with the rest of their family shortly after.  They had spent a miserable night in one of Mother Natures finest.  During what started out to be a fun winter ride, bad weather set in, they became disoriented, eventually finding themselves in a canyon they could not get out of, and consequently spending the night there.  They were fine, but tired and ready to go home.

Rescue / #3

“Here we go again!!!”  Just as the search for the lost individuals in Keg Springs was wrapping up, Brett Mackert received a new call about a separated husband and wife near the old Island Park Gravel Pit.  They had cell phone contact with each other, but were incapable of assisting or reaching each other because both machines were buried in the snow.  Rescue members rode to their location, helped the individuals free their machines, and united them.  Because of heavy deep snows, buried machines are buried!  Both were fine, just frustrated and embarrassed.

Also assisted with:

During the search for the two lost individuals from the Willow Creek parking lot, Search and Rescue members also assisted with three other incidents. 

1.      1.      Welfare check for two individuals from Utah staying in a cabin in the Rancho McCrea area.  Snow was deep, road conditions poor.  Everyone was fine.

2.      2.      Assisted a stranded female, her small child, and a dog that found themselves and their vehicle hung up in the snow at the junction of US 20 and the Yale Kilgore Road on their way to join a friend. Rescue members were able to locate the friend and unite them

3.      3.      Assisted a Fremont County deputy.

A reminder to anyone traveling backcountry areas whether skiing, snowmobiling or hiking:   

Remember the time of year, exercising all backcountry cautions.  Take necessary equipment and survival gear when venturing into the backcountry.  If you have a GPS and cell phone, be sure to take them with you, but do not rely on them entirely for a safe rescue if you find yourself in trouble or stranded.  Avalanche Transceivers and equipment, knowing what the avalanche conditions are, and knowing skills to save lives are a must for everyone entering backcountry riding or traveling.  Plan ahead.  Make sure you know the area you are heading into before heading into it.  If you find yourself in trouble, stop, take a look around you, and do not go any farther.  The farther you go the more complicated and dangerous it is to get yourself to safety, also making rescue efforts more difficult and dangerous. Make mental notes in relation to any physical features or landmarks that would assist in your rescue.  Make a plan, stick to your plan, narrow the riding area, and most of all let someone know WHERE you are planning to go!

            To check avalanche conditions, here are three sites to look at. 

http://www.islandparksnow.net

http://www.mtavalanche.com/current

http://www.jhavalanche.org/scripts/avalanche.php?action=forecast&area=teton