| Show yF V 1 k t l RESCUED BY Search and Rescue are Joe and Pam Griffen son Jimmy daughter Stacey Ross and dog Charity The family joined the growing group of snow snow bound d lost or stuck people Sheriff Stewart warns If youre you're headed for the mountains go prepared Headed for the mountains Go prepared warns sheriff It becomes increasingly apparent that if Vernal weather reverted back to the usual winter for this area there would indeed be casualties in lost and snow-bound snow people On Un Dec 21 Clint Southam a Basin Flying Service pilot called Ron of the US U.S. Forest Service to notify him that while flying over the Trout Creek Park area he had spotted what appeared to be a stranded vehicle with some people near it relayed the message to Sheriff Arden Stewart who immediately organized a Search Rescue squad quad of two snowmobiles three 4 wheel 4 units and members Horace Dave Jave Coon George Calder Harold Pope Harold Cook Gook and Sheriff Stewart At 1030 am a.m. they had reached Davis Hollow on Taylor Mountain where they picked up Joe Griffen of Vernal who informed them that he and his family had been marooned since 3 pm p.m. the day before and he had decided to walk out Griffen said that after the blue van he was driving slipped off into the Trout Creek meadow members of the family had gone to the Trout Creek Ranger Station where they got a Coleman lantern and two sleeping bags enabling them to stay warm throughout the night Sheriff Stewart said the family had also built a fire alongside the van SEARCH Rescue pulled the vehicle from the snow found Griffen W his hi wife Pam a son Jimmy daughter Stacey Ross Ros and Charity the dog all in good condition and returned with them to Vernal Said the Sheriff They used good judgment in staying with their vehicle keeping warm and not trying to walk out during the night But if it or whenever anyone goes to the mountains or out-country out they should tell someone where they're going and when they plan to get back They should also take plenty of food clothing and matches Tire chains and tools shovel etc should be included in case they have to dig themselves out of a snow bankIt bank If It you do become lost or Stranded continued the Sheriff dont panic Stay with your vehicle Build a signal fire keep dry and warm and wait for help to come DEC 23 marked another teeth teeth chattering night spent inthe inthe in m the open when Danny Cook and David Anderson did not return from a coyote hunting expedition ex ex- ex- ex The young men had left Vernal about 7 pm p.m. the night before and were supposed to return around midnight When they didn't come home the family started a search on their own When efforts effort proved fruitless they called Sheriff Stewart at daylight who alerted Search Rescue and notified Jack Reynolds and Mike Adams tomake to tomake tomake make a search by air After an hour and one half flying time the vehicle and stranded passengers were spotted on Blue Mountain Pilot Reynolds circled the area several times anu U men ilea n he and Adams observed a Jeep approaching The belonging to Jerry Maynard a relative pulled the stranded pickup from a 4 toot snowbank and brought it and the young men back to Vernal |
