Stranded Snowmobiler Rescued in Eastern Sierra County

SIERRA COUNTY — On March 1, 2025, the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office successfully located and rescued a snowmobiler who became stranded after getting separated from his riding partner and inadvertently riding deep into a narrow canyon northeast of Bonta Saddle.

After the snowmobiler was reported missing, Sierra County Search and Rescue (SAR) quickly mobilized. Upon receiving a 911 text message via Apple satellite communication that provided the missing person’s GPS location, Sierra County SAR hastily deployed a team. The team navigated the rugged terrain and located the stranded individual. SAR personnel assisted him in hiking out to a safer location, where he was transported via snowmobile to an awaiting snowcat. From there, he was taken back to his vehicle at the Little Truckee Summit OHV staging area.

To ensure all necessary resources were available, Sierra County SAR requested mutual aid from Nevada County Search and Rescue and Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue. These teams provided additional SAR personnel, search management, and critical snowcat and snowmobile support.

Sierra County extends a heartfelt thank you to Nevada County Search and Rescue for their assistance with search management, SAR personnel, and snowcat support, as well as Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue for providing skilled snowmobilers and skiers. This mission highlights the strength of regional collaboration and the dedication of volunteer SAR members who risk challenging conditions to save lives.