On Monday, January 31, 2022, at 8:58 pm, a caller reported receiving an urgent text message from a friend who was snowmobiling near West Yellowstone. The snowmobiler was hopelessly stuck, alone, and had minimal cellphone battery. The caller contacted the West Yellowstone Police Department Dispatch Center and provided a GPS location included with the text for help.

Volunteers from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone responded to the location 9.77 miles west of West Yellowstone.

Volunteers were able to quickly get into the immediate area of the stuck snowmobiler, however the steep timbered terrain made it difficult to traverse into the canyon. The skilled riders were able to make contact with the snowmobiler, provide assistance, and escort to safety.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to encourage snowmobilers to ride with a partner and to call for help as early as possible. Survival equipment should include food, water, a means to start a fire and a battery pack to charge any fading communication devices.