Backcountry
On Christmas day an 18-year-old male got lost after riding around Whitefish Mountain, eventually finding himself alone in out-of-bounds terrain off the backside of Big Mountain. After the rider was discovered to be missing, both the North Valley and Flathead County Search and Rescue were deployed, scouring the frontside, backside, and out-of-bounds terrain. Eventually, rescuers spotted footprints that led three miles ending up at a survival hut built specifically for this purpose. At 8:40 p.m. the rider was finally rescued “cold, hungry, and very tired from his long walk,” according to North Valley Search and Rescue.
The survival hut is publicly available and maintained by the non-profit Flathead Snowmobile Association. Volunteers for the organization rebuilt the hut in 1980 after the previous building had been vandalized and burned. The hut is always stocked with firewood, a stove, and a toilet supplied by the U.S. forest service. Snowmobilers regularly utilize the cabin as a pit stop to warm and eat before continuing their ventures. It is also common practice for users to leave sustainable foods and water in the shack for potential people in need.
The snowboarder found and utilized the supplies of the shack, lighting a fire to keep warm as he waited for help. North Valley Search and Rescue commended his decision of “hunkering down and waiting for help to arrive,” advising people to follow his lead in the future. After being found, the rider was extricated from the backcountry and handed off to Whitefish Ski Patrol atop Big Mountain at 10 p.m., before being reunited with his family.
Successful stories utilizing survival huts are a great reminder of the dangers of the backcountry, as well as the potential we have of providing measures to mitigate catastrophes in that terrain. Amanda Berlinger, the president of Flathead Snowmobile Association, talked to Explore Big Sky about the situation. She commented that “anecdotally there’s been more than a handful of individuals who have taken shelter in the cabin overnight.” Whether it is a true life or death situation in unknown terrain, a snowmobiler wanting warmth, or even someone knowledgeable of their whereabouts, but trapped in unsafe conditions, huts like this continuously prove advantageous.
News of people lost in the mountains is harrowing, but successful rescues offer immense relief to all who follow them—especially those directly involved. Nonprofit organizations such as the Flathead Snowmobile Association, along with other groups dedicated to backcountry safety and prevention, provide essential support to those in dire circumstances. Survival huts like this one are designed to have minimal impact on the surrounding wilderness, functioning as small simple shelters without electricity. Beyond the efforts of these organizations, individuals who use the hut and contribute supplies for future occupants help sustain a cycle of goodwill that may ultimately save lives. While the backcountry is inherently dangerous, a united community committed to supporting one another can significantly reduce the risk of catastrophic outcomes.
