Search underway for group missing outside Randle since last night

Update: 3:22 p.m.

They were just found stuck in the snow on the 21 Road, by personnel from state Department of Fish and Wildlife.

All are fine, according to sheriff’s Cmdr. Steve Aust.

They are working to get them unstuck, Aust said.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

A group of as many as six individuals are the subject of a search outside Randle today.

Victoria House, 21, and Jason Toups went with some friends last night to play in the snow and haven’t returned home, House’s mother Bobbie Howell Dalton said this afternoon.

The sheriff’s office has set up a command post at the Randle fire hall, according to Lewis County Fire District 14 Chief Jeff Jaques.

“Some young folks went out to play in the snow last night and haven’t been seen since,” Jaques said.

Dalton said she called 911 about 10 a.m. when she realized her daughter missed a morning appointment.

All six are from Morton, Dalton said.

“My daughter’s three months pregnant and recovering from a broken ankle, so we’re kind of doubly worried about it,” she said.

Dalton said she has been told one of them texted a friend about 11:10 p.m. last night and said they were headed out the 23 Road to the Orr Creek Snow Park in the Cispus area south of Randle.

She believes they are driving in two trucks, she said.

She said she was told Lewis County Search and Rescue was out looking for them.

Lewis County sheriff’s Cmdr. Steve Aust said this afternoon a formal search had not been set up as they didn’t know for sure where the group had been headed.

Friends were out looking for them though, he said.

A deputy was headed out to Walupt Lake about 3 p.m. after learning they had been spotted there, Aust said.

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13 Responses to “Search underway for group missing outside Randle since last night”

  1. George says:

    Bill S, I did a web search for the Orr Creek Sno-Park. The STATE website says ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about vehicles not being permitted on the roads to get to this park. I find it kind of hard to believe that they would not permit vehicles to get up there, considering the fact that you would have to get a vehicle up there in the first place to unload your snowmobile… unless you are parking your vehicle somewhere on the side of the road and using your snowmobiles on the roads. If you are, I’m sure there are a few law enforcement types who would love to speak with you.

    Here is the state website for this particular park (http://www.parks.wa.gov/winter/trails/?TrailType=motorized&Region=5&Park=30). I beg you to find where on there that it says “NO VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED TO GO THERE”. Good luck with that.

    Victoria, I’m glad that you and your friends made it through this ordeal, and that you were all able to come home safe and sound.

  2. Victoria says:

    I appreciate that but it gets old hearing we should told someone.. well we dis. noone knows what it was like up there. The feeling is hard to describe and i don’t wish that upon anyone.

  3. bustybabe says:

    We should be thanking God this group was found safe and sound,not ragging them on anything.

  4. Amanda says:

    Victoria – no one knows the true story except you kids that were out there so don’t worry about what other people are saying. The good news is that you are all okay, the trucks are okay and maybe “they” will put up what appears to be missing signage.

  5. Victoria says:

    We did tell someone where we were going. there are no posted signs coming from orr creek on 21 road.

  6. Jessica says:

    Most importantly lesson learned and everyone is at home with their children especially since the weather has made a turn for the worse.

  7. Jessica says:

    It sounds like these individuals actions lead to a lot of worry and distress for many… It is commonsense for most but not all to inform at least one person where you are going especially in these weather conditions or at least prepare for these winter measures… If there is signage or gates stating access is not allowed then why wouldn’t they be given a ticket? Asking these young adults to take responsibility for their actions doesn’t mean that compassion isn’t given. On the bright side, it is always beautiful to see something so horrifying come together and everyone end up safe and at home with their family. I just hope that this group think twice or at least adequately prepare because next time they may not be so lucky.

  8. Victoria says:

    Bill. we were watching signs the whole way up and if you can go up there and tellcme where a sign is saying no motor vehicles let me know. second we were not found by anyone that would even have a “rescue cost” the boys whom were walking for 4 miles ran into a dog sled and some snowmobilers.. You don’t know is or any of our families so don’t jump to saying negative things about us like we wouldn’t be able to pay a ticket. 4 mothers and 2 fathers were stuck in the snow for 18 hours you think criticism is what we all need?

  9. Bill S says:

    George, there are signs saying no motor vehicles after December 1. Also snowmobiles are the only legal motorized vehicles on these roads and in this area after that. No other vehicles are legal on the 21 road between the Packwood and Orr Creek snow parks.

    Also the snow was not real deep but there is still 4 feet or so and when they punch through the hard pack it’s hard to get unstuck if they are not prepared.

    The state spends part of our gas tax and snowmobile registration for grooming and these yo-yos come out with their 4x4s and put huge ruts down the middle of it. I’ve seen plenty of them stuck out there.

    I’m glad they didn’t freeze to death but think that they should be ticketed and sent a bill for rescue costs, not that they would or could pay it probably.

  10. George says:

    Bill S, if the roads are closed to all except snowmobiles, hikers, and dogsleds, then there would be gates across the road to prevent cars and trucks from driving there, along with all sorts of signs saying as much. Are there? I’ve never seen them…

    Just because you have a snowmobile doesn’t mean that you can legally operate it on county or state roads. Not unless there is specific signage telling you that it is legal. And if the road is not legally closed by the state, county, or local municipality, then where is the nuisance?

    Should these people be given tickets for driving on a road that is not closed? Of course not… but they SHOULD be told that if they are going to be doing something like this in the future, they might want to make sure to tell someone where they are going to be.

    try having a little compassion, and be thankful that these people were found safe and well. And remember, the roads do NOT belong to just you and your snowmobiles.

  11. Bill S says:

    They should give the yoyos a ticket for driving on the 21 road after December 1. And also charge them for the rescue costs.

    Other than the 23 road to the Orr Creek snowpark, the roads are closed to all but snowmobiles, hikers, and dogsleds.

    Each year we see people trying to get up to Walupt Lake in their jeeps and 4x4s on the hard packed snow from grooming and snowmobiling. It’s illegal and it’s a genuine nuisance trying to avoid their ruts on snowmobiles. And yes we pay fees for snowmobiling. I just paid $90.00 to register 2 snowmobiles and their trailer for the year.

    It’s totally irresponsible to take family members not prepared for overnight up there. And believe me it get’s very cold out there after sundown.

  12. Free Air says:

    Just another great example of why you should tell someone where your going, with whom and for how long. Lots of time gets spent just trying to fingure out where in the heck someone “may” have gone.

  13. jennifer says:

    thanks to a community full of great people! we had a family support center set up in the First Church of God in morton. Lots of people were concerned. thanks everyone!!