Fremont County searchers rescue two snowmobilers stranded on ice

Fremont County Search and Rescue was called to the Island Park Reservoir around 9 p.m. Thursday after a call was placed that two people were stranded on ice.

A 32-year-old male and a 24-year-old female from Idaho Falls were riding a snowmobile in the area of Buttermilk Loop Road, north of Lakeside Lodge.

According to Fremont County search and rescue, the two were riding along the south shoreline of Island Park Reservoir inlet when the ice broke and their snowmobile sank.

The two were able to make it back to the bank, where they called the Sheriff’s office for help.

Two Fremont County Search and Rescue members along with two Fremont County deputies responded to the bank east of their location and worked their way west.

However, the searchers called in a second search team after cornices hanging over the south bank gave away during the rescue.

One search member made it within 25 yards of the stranded individuals. However, he wasn’t able to go any further due to the danger of the snow under his sled sliding into the reservoir.

The two people stranded were told to walk along the trees staying back from the bank.

They were able to reach the search team and were shuttled back to base where Island Park EMS was waiting.

Fremont County Search and Rescue said the Island Park Reservoir is not safe for snowmobile travel, all because the warm weather has made the ice very thin in many place.