Family rescued after night in the wild

A family traveling from Maryland to Trout Creek averted a potential disaster after following their vehicle’s navigation system into rough terrain last week.

The navigation system was guiding them on the shortest route between Kalispell and Trout Creek, which took them over the Bay Horse Pass by McGinnis Meadows Thursday afternoon. Atrocious conditions caused the family’s vehicle to become stuck in the muddy roads, forcing the family to spend the night lost in the wild.

United States Forest Service law enforcement officer Debbie Lepo heard the call about the missing family and remembered a similar incident from the recent past. She followed the path of the people stuck before and found the family safe and sound. 

Lepo notified dispatch of their location and local volunteers from David Thompson Search and Rescue mobilized to retrieve the family and their vehicle. Nobody was injured during the episode.

Lincoln County Sheriff Roby Bowe said it’s imperative for people, especially those unfamiliar with the area, to double-check the routes offered by their electronic devices.

“You can’t rely on the GPS,” he said. “You need to look at a road map, especially when going into unfamiliar territory. You need to always be aware of your surroundings. Just be careful out there.”