Michigan conservation officers lauded for helping in rescue of stranded snowmobiler

Lansing — Michigan conservation officers Cpl. Cole VanOosten and Justin Vinson responded on snowmobiles, from their residences, in whiteout storm conditions March 16 and helped deputies from the Luce County Sheriff’s Office rescue a stranded snowmobiler in remote northern Chippewa County.

Central Dispatch received calls and text messages from an individual who had said he was stranded near Snowmobile Trail 8UP in an open area by the Little Two Hearted River, west of Little Lake Harbor.

Deputies contacted DNR for help in finding and retrieving the 55-year-old Rexton man whose sled had become stuck in deep snow. The man had been out for a ride during the second day of a severe blizzard that had pounded the entire Upper Peninsula with brutal winds and heavy snowfall.

The conservation officers met-up with Deputy Tim Maskus and Undersheriff Mike Peters at the sheriff’s office in Newberry before they all continued north toward a staging area designated at the intersection of M-123 and County Road 500.

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Here, they joined conservation officers Alex French and Sgt. Calvin Smith. The six officers then headed their snowmobiles toward the callers’ last known location. At about 11:30 p.m., once arriving at the intersection of County Road 412 and 500, the officers located and followed footprints to the man’s location. He had taken shelter in a generator shed at a seasonal residence.

“Other than stating that his feet and hands were cold, the individual was found to be in good health and extremely happy to see the officers, stating several times that he thought he wasn’t going to make it,” Smith said. “The man was given a spare set of gloves, as his had become damp during the evening’s events.”

The man refused any medical treatment. He was given a ride back to the staging area where he warmed up in a patrol truck and later given a ride to his residence.

His sled was left at the rescue location to be removed later.

In a Facebook post, the Luce County Sheriff’s Office said it “would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the dispatchers at Chippewa County Central Dispatch for their assistance in this successful rescue.”