BEND, Ore. (AP) — The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office has rescued four stuck snowmobilers near a Central Oregon lake who faced whiteout conditions and no way home.
The rescues on Friday afternoon near Todd Lake west of Bend happened after the snowmobilers, operating in two groups, became disoriented. Heavy, blowing snow covered trails and created deep snow drifts.
The sheriff’s office says both groups of snowmobilers were worried they couldn’t get out of the back country without help.
U.S. Forest Service personnel came across one group while doing routine trail maintenance and were assisted by the sheriff’s office. The maintenance has since been cancelled until conditions improve.
