A pair of motorists stranded in the mountainous Ochoco National Forest in Oregon were rescued after they walked 3 miles in harsh weather to get a cellular signal.
The two people, neither of whom were identified by authorities, had headed into a remote area of the forest on Tuesday, Crook County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue said in a release posted to Facebook.
Their Subaru Impreza, however, developed transmission problems, according to KTVZ-TV, stranding them overnight.
On Wednesday, they walked 3 miles in search of cellphone coverage, eventually finding a spot and relaying their coordinates.
The rescued motorists were wearing shorts, Crook County Emergency Manager Andy Pearson told public television station KOPB-TV, and were “wet, cold and dehydrated” upon rescue, Crook County SAR wrote.
The pair had gone into a canyon for a day trip and a cookout, Mr. Pearson told KOPB-TV. He added that had they not made the 3-mile trek, they may not have been found for days, as they had not been reported missing.
The two were found, Mr. Pearson told KOPB-TV, only because they had provided precise coordinates and then stayed in place. They were found “right where they said they’d be,” Mr. Pearson told KTVZ-TV.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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