On February 23, 2026, at approximately 6:15 p.m., the Albany County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an overdue snowmobiler in the Widow Maker / Medicine Bow Peak area. Deputies learned the individual had gone riding alone from the Green Rock Picnic Area earlier that day. A concerned witness later discovered a snowmobile stuck near Widow Maker Peak with no rider present and footprints leading away from the machine and reported the situation after realizing the rider was overdue.

Deputies worked to gather all available information, including pinging the individual’s cellphone, which showed a location in Carbon County, Wyoming. Due to the circumstances, ACSO activated the Albany County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue and Intermountain Flight & Ambulance Services. The snowmobiler was located near the area where the machine had been found and transported to Ivinson Memorial Hospital, where they were treated for hypothermia and exhaustion.

We are grateful to the witness who spoke up and to the deputies, search and rescue volunteers, medical crews, and Laramie/Albany County Records and Communications who worked together to bring this person home safely. This incident is a reminder of how quickly conditions can change in the back country. Please avoid riding alone, let someone know your plans, and carry emergency equipment such as fire-starting tools, satellite-based SOS or emergency locator devices, and/or get a FRS/GMRS capable radio and program it to the 307 channel as these preparations can save lives.

For information on the Be307Aware channel: https://hls.wyo.gov/307