ELY— A local DNR conservation officer has been recognized for his efforts that led to the rescue of an individual trapped deep inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area last February. Sean Williams, a ten-year veteran, responded around 3 p.m. on Feb. 11, when a man used his cell phone to report he had become trapped in deep snow and windfall and was unable to free himself.
The man, a visitor to the area, had set out on snowshoes after a friend dropped him off by snowmobile at the Crab Portage. He had hoped to take advantage of a recent multi-day thaw, followed by a hard crust the morning of his trip, to complete a loop trip across Crab Lake, returning to Burntside Lake via Crab Creek.
For a time, said Williams, the individual made rapid progress using small snowshoes on the crusted snow. But as the day wore on, and temperatures rose, the conditions rapidly deteriorated as the man sunk deeper and deeper into the snow. In his first call to authorities, the man, who was not dressed or prepared for an overnight in the wilderness, reported he didn’t think he could make it out before nightfall. But later, as he was trying to traverse a boggy stretch, he fell through an area of windfall and became trapped by the snow and branches. Unable to free his feet from his snowshoe bindings, the man found himself trapped, which made the efforts of rescuers that much more critical. “He did the right thing by calling once he knew he wasn’t going to make it out,” said Williams.
Williams, who works frequently with the rescue squad, deployed his backcountry snowmobile to transport himself and a U.S. Forest Service employee and rescue squad member across the Crab Portage. From there, the pair continued on snowshoe, following the visitor’s tracks for about three miles, until they found him still trapped. Using a shovel, Williams and his fellow rescuer were eventually able to extricate the man from his snowshoes and free him. They stayed with him as the three of them made the return trip back to Burntside, using the trail that was now better packed. Even so, said Williams, the individual’s small snowshoes proved inadequate for the conditions. “He was still post-holing regularly,” said Williams.
Williams said the man likely would have been able to complete his planned route if the conditions had held, but he clearly was not prepared for the changing conditions he encountered on the trail nor was he equipped to spend the night.
Even with his rescue, it was about 6:40 p.m., after dark, by the time the three men reached Williams’ snowmobile. It was clear that without rescue, the trapped individual could well have died of exposure overnight.
Williams recently received a plaque recognizing his lifesaving efforts. A ceremony honoring his efforts may be held later this year. Williams said he was just happy he was in a position to help with the incident and he lauded the all-volunteer rescue squad for their continuing efforts. “They’re a great organization to work with,” he said.