Six people were rescued in the Manti-La Sal National Forest near Geyser Pass trailhead after their vehicle became stuck in the snow.
Members from Grand County Search and Rescue (GCSAR), Grand County Sheriff’s Office and San Juan County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call on Thursday, Nov. 29, after dispatch received a call that there was a vehicle stuck in the snow about 3.7 miles past the trailhead at Geyser Pass.
It was determined that the conditions were too difficult to drive in past the trailhead, so the group sent GCSAR with the “track ranger” to assess the situation, a report from GCSAR said.
Six people visiting the area from Mexico were found stuck in the vehicle in the snow. Two people from the stuck vehicle reached the trailhead by foot, and the other four had remained with the vehicle.
GCSAR said it took 45 minutes to reach the stuck vehicle.
As conditions deteriorated in the cold, dark and blowing snow, GCSAR members Tom Shellenberger and Nadi Ardalan decided that the best course of action was to evacuate all four people at once instead of risking a second trip.
Although six occupants was pushing the limits of the track ranger, all six people were safely returned.
GCSAR said that as a reminder, it is not advisable to travel in the backcountry in a vehicle not designed to travel over snow in winter conditions.
For information on current winter conditions in the La Sal Mountains, visit www.utahavalanchecenter.org.
Vehicle found stuck in snow with six occupants
