GALLATIN COUNTY, Mont. – On Monday, rescuers from Gallatin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue retrieved two men who had spent the night in single-digit temperatures after their vehicle became stuck in a remote part of Gallatin County.
According to a media release, the Meagher County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 7 a.m. Monday from a 19-year-old Gallatin Valley man who said he and a friend spent the night on 16 Mile Road—the furthest county road north in Gallatin County—after getting stuck.
Facing a road frequently impassable due to weather conditions in an area with no cell service, rescuers were able to reach the two men around 9:30 a.m. via snowmobiles and 4×4 trucks.
The two men were reportedly cold but not injured. They told rescuers they had started their drive around 3 p.m. Sunday and got stuck in a snowdrift when a winter storm hit, decreasing visibility.
They ran the motor overnight to stay warm, running out of gas at approximately 5 a.m. Monday. One of the men walked 3 to 4 miles until he found a high spot with enough cell service to make the 911 call.
In the media release, Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin emphasized that staying with your vehicle in winter increases your chances of survival. Sheriff Gootkin said in such situations, to “run the motor sparingly and be sure to keep the tail pipe clear of obstruction so carbon monoxide doesn’t build up in the cab.”
