A group of four friends was rescued after becoming stranded near the Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout Tower on Thursday.
At 8:17 a.m. on May 2, the Gallatin County Dispatch Center received a call from one of the hikers, who were all 19 years old and from Idaho. The group had hiked to the Lookout Tower, where they encountered deep snow and became fatigued. One of the women of the group had suffered a pulled muscle in her hip.
The group was dressed for the warmer weather of the Valley and were unprepared for spring’s treacherous hiking conditions in the mountains. They had minimal clothing and gear to protect themselves from the elements.
A Gallatin County Sheriff’s deputy and members of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue responded to the Rat Lake Trailhead to begin the rescue mission. Snowmobiles and a tracked four-wheeler were used to navigate the trail to the Lookout Tower. Search and Rescue members located the group of hikers at 11:24 a.m. They were transported to safety and did not need medical attention. Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin noted appreciation to the young man for calling for help before this situation became worse.
Photo courtesy of Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office
