SAR deployed after reports of overdue motorists who were later found in good condition
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Friday, February 12th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
BAKER COUNTY – (Release from Baker County Sheriff’s Office) The Baker County Search and Rescue Team was deployed in the early morning hours of February 11th to a report of an overdue motorist believed to be in the Halfway area. Relatives notified Baker County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch that two females were driving back to Enterprise from Emmett, Idaho during the afternoon of February 10th and had not arrived. Law enforcement personnel attempted to pinpoint their cellphone location but were unsuccessful. At approximately 4:26 a.m., a deputy located a set of tire tracks on Forest Service Road 39.
A Baker County Search and Rescue member and the deputy deployed a tracked side-by-side to search this section of road. Wallowa County Search and Rescue also launched a two-man snowmobile team to aid in the search. At approximately 7:51 a.m., the two females were located by the Baker County Search and Rescue Team as they were attempting to walk out after their vehicle became stuck. Both were in good condition and did not require medical attention.
This incident marks the second rescue on this road since late November. As a reminder, Forest Service Road 39 is closed to passenger cars and trucks during the winter months and is only groomed for tracked snow vehicles.
