3 stranded snow bikers build snow cave before rescue
A trio of local snow bikers who got lost, then were stranded overnight near the Bridge Creek Trail west of Bend built a snow cave to wait for rescuers who arrived early Sunday, authorities said.
Around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Joe Treinen, 38, of Bend, called Deschutes County dispatchers to report he and two friends, Brian Leahy, 61, also of Bend, and Brandon Steele, 26, of Redmond, were riding their motorized snow bikes when they became lost somewhere below Trail 8, said sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Myers, assistant search and rescue coordinator.
Treinen was sent a photo of a map and told the dispatcher they would try to ride out, Myers said.
About an hour later, he called again to report they only made it about 100 to 300 yards from their earlier position in extremely difficult terrain due to recent heavy snowfall, the deputy said. They also reported the batteries on their cellphones were getting low without a way to charge them.
After another hour trying to get out without success, it was determined they would stay in place, as night was falling, and Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteers would respond to walk them out.
The men were able to make a snow cave to get out of the elements, Myer said, though they did not have a way to start a fire.
A total of 11 SAR volunteers snowmobiled into the area, then used snowshoes to travel about 1 1/2 miles to the snow bikers, arriving around 1 a.m. Sunday, Myers said.
The three snow bikers were provided snowshoes and walked with the volunteers back to the trail, where they were given a ride back to Dutchman Flat Sno-Park, arriving around 4 a.m. to be reunited with family and friends.
Myers said they were unhurt and required no medical treatment or evaluation.
“The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to encourage those traveling into the backcountry to have maps and/or GPS to help prevent entering into restricted and/or closed areas,” Myers said in a news release.
“We also encourage those individuals to have adequate supplies and be prepared to stay the night outdoors, if the need arises,” he added.
