(Albany County, WY) – On Monday, February 23rd around 6:15 p.m. the Albany County Sheriff’s Office received a report about an overdue snowmobiler. The individual was riding in the popular “Widow Maker” area around Medicine Bow Peak, west of Centennial. Deputies were told that individual had gone riding solo originating at the Green River Picnic Area.
Shortly after the initial overdue report, authorities were contacted by a concerned citizen who had discovered an abandoned snowmobile that had become stuck. The individual told Deputies there was no rider present but there were footprints leading away from the machine.
A release from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office explained, “deputies worked to gather all available information, including pinging the individual’s cellphone, which showed a location in Carbon County, Wyoming. Due to the circumstances, ACSO activated the Albany County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue and Intermountain Flight & Ambulance Services. The snowmobiler was located near the area where the machine had been found and transported to Ivinson Memorial Hospital, where they were treated for hypothermia and exhaustion.”
The Sheriff’s Office expressed their gratefulness to the Good Samaritan that spoke up about noticing the snowmobile, the search and rescue volunteers, medical crews, Laramie/Albany County Records and Communications folks who helped to work bring the rider home safely.
They also pleaded, “please avoid riding alone, let someone know your plans, and carry emergency equipment such as fire-starting tools, satellite-based SOS or emergency locator devices, and/or get a FRS/GMRS capable radio and program it to the 307 channel as these preparations can save lives.”
For information on the Be307Aware channel: https://hls.wyo.gov/307