Rescue Victim Disputes Article - Thanks Rescuers

SEELEY LAKE - The story “Snowmobiler Rescued Near Marshall Lake” that ran in the Pathfinder’s March 8 issue about my snowmobile wreck near Marshall Lake March 1 has a lot of things wrong.

My riding partner Dave McDonald, also from Frenchtown, did get me out from under snowmobile by himself. He drug me up the creek and got me out of the water by putting me under a big boulder (pictured with the story) on top of a rock and ice. Then he gave me stuff to start fire with and he rode out to get help.

At the trailhead he called search and rescue and then came back with the riders from Sheridan, Wyo. Dave stayed with me and sent riders back to lead search and rescue back. If it was not for Dave and all people involved it would have been worse.

I did not jump off a boulder. I was trying to cross the creek where the Marshall Lake Road crosses the creek and the culvert had been removed.

Dave went through before me and made a good track. I gave it too much gas and ended up upside down in creek with my snowmobile on top of me.

I don’t understand why culverts are removed. When culverts are removed it limits access for firefighters during the fire season and makes it difficult for winter recreation.

My three sons returned with Dave the next morning and retrieved my snowmobile. It never lost any fuel and the engine was never in the water. Once they got it flipped over, it started on the second pull and they rode it out. The only damage was a cracked windshield.

I would like to thank Seeley-Swan Search and Rescue, Two Bear Air and every one involved. They did a phenomenal job.

 

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