Snowmobiler Rescued Near Marshall Lake

SEELEY LAKE – Seeley-Swan Search and Rescue volunteers responded to a call near Marshall Lake Thursday evening, March 1. A snowmobiler was reportedly pinned beneath his snowmobile in a small creek. The 60-year-old injured man from Frenchtown, Mont. was extracted by volunteers with the help of Two Bear Air and was taken to St. Patrick's Hospital via Life Flight.

Two snowmobilers were riding near Marshall Lake Thursday evening. One of the riders jumped a 12-15 foot boulder and crash-landed in a rocky creek bottom. His snowmobile landed on top of him in a small creek south, southwest of Marshall Lake. He was injured and partially in the water.

His friend tried to pull him out but was unable to move the sled or his friend. He rode out to the Westside trailhead to call for help.

SSSAR was mobilized just after 6 p.m. Thursday night. Four riders from Cody, Wyo. volunteered to ride back in with the friend to try and get the injured rider out of the creek.

"We weren't there yet," said Incident Commander Missoula County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Robert Parcell. "I told them that was fine but when you do be sure you are able to send at least a couple people back out to act as guides for the SSSAR team."

SSSAR volunteer Shawn Ellinghouse rode in ahead of the SSSAR team in to gather intel. Life Flight and the Seeley Lake Fire Department volunteers also responded.

When Life Flight arrived they checked out a potential helispot on the east end of Marshall Lake. However they were unable to land. They returned to Missoula to get another pilot and landed at the Seeley Lake Airport.

The riders from Cody, Wyo. were able to pull the injured snowmobiler most of the way out of the creek. Ellinghouse suggested Two Bear Air, a rescue helicopter stationed in Flathead County. He did not believe they could bring the injured snowmobiler out by snowmobile due to the trail conditions and potential back, pelvis and leg injuries.

Once the SSSAR team, including Seeley Lake Fire Department Interim Chief and paramedic Michael Greer, arrived on scene they were able to pull the man all the way out of the creek. They placed him on a backboard and into the rescue toboggan.

Once Two Bear Air arrived on scene just after 8:30 p.m. they sent a technician down to the scene via longline. The SSSAR volunteers helped to package the injured man using a backboard and canvas extraction bag. The patient and the technician were hoisted back into the helicopter with the longline.

Two Bear Air transferred the patient to Life Flight at the Seeley Lake Airport. He was then flown to St. Patrick's Hospital and is recovering from his injuries. All the volunteers were off the scene by 10:30 p.m.

"They all did a really good job," said Parcell.

Parcell said it is really nice to have civilians willing to assist when necessary. "The guys from Cody really stepped up to the plate and were able to get in there early. I think they averted more hypothermia and more shock than there would have been had they not be able to go in early."

Parcell recommends riding in groups of at least three, "this is a perfect example of why that is important."

"When you are out there having fun in the woods be careful because things happen," said Parcell. "Be careful, know your area and recon the area before you use it for pleasure riding. "

It is the responsibility of the rider to remove the destroyed sled.