A Cheyenne woman was found dead Tuesday morning after spending three days in the Snowy Mountain Range in Albany County.
According to a release from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, the woman and her husband, both 46 years old, and their 18-year-old son were snowmobiling west of the Green Rock parking area off Highway 130 on Saturday, January 16, when one of the three snowmobiles became inoperable. Because of high winds and ground blizzards, the family prepared for the night by building a snow cave and starting a fire.
On Sunday morning, the father heard another snowmobile in the area and used one of the remaining snowmobiles in an attempt to gain assistance. That snowmobile became submerged in a body of water, and the father took the last remaining snowmobile in an attempt to find help. The last snowmobile’s handlebars broke, rendering it inoperable.
Separated from his family, the man built another snow cave and spent Sunday night by himself. On Monday morning, the father was located by search teams. All rescue teams were sent to the general area where the father was found, but eventually major ground blizzards prevented further search efforts.
The search resumed at sunrise Tuesday morning. Search teams found the son at approximately 8 a.m., and it was determined that the mother died from exposure.
The son was airlifted to Ivinson Memorial Hospital for treatment. Albany County Undersheriff DeBree said the son was hypothermic and had frostbite. He has been transported to a Colorado area hospital for further care.
The Albany County Sheriff’s Office has not released the names of those involved.