Source: CVDaily Feed
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LOGAN — A family who’s vehicle broke down north of Hardware Ranch, were found by Cache County Search and Rescue teams Monday night.
Cache County Sheriff’s Lt. Doyle Peck said the family of six had been turkey hunting in the Elk Valley area, twelve-miles north of the ranch when their truck broke down.
The mother and father thought they knew where they were and began to try and hike out of the area towards Logan Canyon, US 89. They ran into deep snow and became disoriented.
“I really think that what happened was the father felt he was a lot closer than he really was,” said Peck. “In his mind, he was probably thinking that if we go towards Logan Canyon, a more populated, more cars, better chance of someone seeing us and picking us up, without realizing that he was actually much much farther away than he was.”
The family was able to find an area with cell phone coverage and called 911 around 8:30 p.m. Dispatch operators were able to ping their cell phone and get a GPS reading of approximately where they were.
Peck said five Search and Rescue teams were sent out from different locations in an effort to reach the family. One of the teams, who were sent out from sinks parking lot located the family at about 10:30 p.m.
The team members were on snowmobiles and were able to transport the family back to the sinks parking-lot.
Peck said the family was in good condition, but fairly cold having been out in the elements for about six hours.
“I believe that the parents were dressed not exactly for the conditions but they were better off than the kids,” said Peck. “From what I was told, the kids were pretty much wearing shorts and sandals. The mother put the baby underneath her shirt to keep him warm and they were actually doing pretty good. The dad and the boys were fairly cold.”
None of the family members suffered any serious injury. They were evaluated by medical personnel and transported back to the Logan area.
The family has been identified as Chris Kaae, his wife Natalie and their four children (ages 8, 6, 2 and 5-months old).