Hikers and Bikers Rescued Monday From Mystic Lake Area

Montana's drastic weather changes found several people stranded and unprepared for sudden, snowy conditions in the Mystic Lake Cabin area on Monday, requiring a Search and Rescue team.

According to the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office:

• There were two different parties that joined together for the Search and Rescue team
• On Monday, May 7th, at 3pm, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue responded to a report of four individuals stranded at the Mystic Lake Cabin in the Custer Gallatin National Forest.
• Two mountain bikers had planned an overnight mountain bike trip from Hyalite Canyon to Sourdough Canyon.
• The weather took an abrupt turn, dropping from a high of 87 degrees on September 6th to a high of 58 degrees on September 7th and higher elevations began to see snow in the late afternoon.
• The mountain bikers came upon a separate party of three hikers near the area of Mystic Lake Cabin.
• The hikers were also unprepared for such a drastic shift in weather.
• The group decided to stay put and make a fire, while one of the bicyclists rode to the Sourdough trail head to call for help.
• Search and Rescue volunteers and the Forest Service District Ranger reached the stranded party by vehicle.
• SAR members found the party and transported them to the Sourdough trail head where AMR Paramedics assessed their condition.
• All members were medically cleared and allowed to returned home.

Sheriff Gootkin would like to remind everyone of the potential for rapidly changing weather conditions in Gallatin County as fall arrives.

Please be sure to wear appropriate clothing and footwear, pack necessary provisions, and be prepared to stay out longer than expected when venturing out into our beautiful backcountry.