Two stranded snowmobilers were rescued from the Bingham County backcountry on Saturday night during severe winter weather conditions.
According to a news release from the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, one of the snowmobiles used by the adult male snowmobilers had broken down and they had become disoriented in the cold and falling snow southeast of Firth.
The two stranded individuals, both from Idaho Falls, were able to contact the county's 911 center around 4:45 p.m. Saturday to report their situation and with the help of emergency dispatchers their location was established.
The two snowmobilers were stranded in an area that was about three miles south of Sellers Creek Road and four miles west of Blackfoot Reservoir Road.
A sheriff's office sergeant was able to contact the stranded snowmobilers by phone as well and get more information about their situation.
Bingham County Search and Rescue was mobilized around 5 p.m. Saturday to rescue the two individuals.
Search and Rescue personnel were warned to be cautious during this rescue because of the wintry conditions.
The Search and Rescue team deployed its tracked side by side and snowmobiles for the rescue operation.
Search and Rescue personnel had to traverse difficult terrain at night and endure frigid and snowy conditions to get to the stranded snowmobilers, both of whom were cold but not otherwise injured when located.
The rescue was successful with the stranded snowmobilers extricated from the backcountry and able to head home by around 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude in its news release for the Search and Rescue team's members who braved severe winter weather conditions to locate and bring the stranded individuals to safety.