Two stuck snowmobilers rescued near Kwohl Butte

Two Eugene residents riding a snowmobile got stuck in deep snow and were rescued Sunday night near Kwohl Butte, south of Mount Bachelor, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

Around 7:45 p.m., Jeffrey Roos, 46, called 911 dispatchers to report his snowmobile was stuck near Kwohl Butte, according to sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Myers, assistant search and rescue coordinator.

Roos said he was riding with Sara Lang, 18, when their snowmobile got stuck. He said he was riding in the area with another snowmobiler, but the two became separated earlier in the day.

Two Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteers and a deputy responded to Edison Butte Sno-Park and the volunteers then traveled about five miles in a tracked side-by-side to reach the stranded pair., Myers said.

While the volunteers were en route, Roos called to report Lang was starting to get cold. They were reached shortly before 11 p.m., warmed and helped out of the backcountry.

The rescued pair did not require medical attention, the deputy said.

“The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind people traveling in the backcountry to be prepared for the unexpected and to carry necessary essentials to spend the night, if needed,” Myers said in a news release. “Snowmobiler riders should always carry a shovel, avalanche beacon and avalanche probe.”