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Show F)jf !' J XT' x '? ' i r ...m, , --r.. i '" " - 1 - viY-, . 'v ' Snowmohilers Rescue Sheep Trapped in Am. Fork Canyon AMERICAN FORK A group of snowmobile enthusiasts rescued a flock of sheep trapped in five feet of snow in Mineral Basin, American Fork canyon, on Sunday. Sun-day. A dozen sheep were sighted Saturday by a small group of riders in the Pittsburg Lake area. The snowmobilers noted the snow in the area was too deep for the sheep to find food or to move around,- and two of the flock had died from exposure. The animals had trampled a hole in the snow that was about eight or 10 feet in diameter, according to Ralph McDonald, a ranger with the U.S. Forest Service. The hole protected them from the cold somewhat, but it also held them prisoner, he said. . Snowmobilers William Devey, his son Darrell, John Swenson, Reed Swenson, Melvin Anderson, Gordon Lee and Or-ville Or-ville Gunther decided to mount 1 a rescue for the animals. Borrow Cargo Sleds They borrowed two cargo 1 sleds from the forest service, and others from neighbors and , friends and set out Sunday morning. Mr. Devey left on the 30-mile round trip at 7 a.m. and the others followed about two hours later. The men reported the sheep were so hungry that they had started to eat the wool from each other's backs. The sheep were hard to get out of their self made prison according to the forest ranger. "They appeared very reluctant to leave the hole," he said. Eventually, all of the animals were caught and hog-tied and placed on the cargo sleds behind the snowmobiles. Taken to Tibbie Fork The animals were brought to Tibbie Fork recreation area, and the owner, Kenneth Beck of American Fork, picked them up. Mr. Donald said the rescue was a real credit to the snowmobilers who donated their own time, money and equipment to help the animals. "It just goes to show that you don't get all vandalism with snowmobilers," Mr. McDonald remarked, "Snowmobilers are a pretty good crowd overall," he concluded. |