Two men in their 60s were found Wednesday morning after they were reported missing in the area of North Biglow Lake near the Hungry Horse Reservoir.
According to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, the men were reported missing in the early hours of Oct. 23, when they hadn’t made it back to their vehicle after splitting off from their hiking group to take a different route.
Search and rescue personnel were contacted at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, and a ground search was started by deputies from the Sheriff’s Office and North Valley Search and Rescue.
A rescue helicopter was deployed from Two Bear Aviation around 6 a.m. and was able to find the lost men with the help its night vision and infrared imaging capabilities.
The men, who were described as well prepared for such an event, built a fire to wait out the night after darkness fell. Once located, ground crews went in and brought the men out, where they were returned to their hiking party uninjured.