SAR activated near Olive Lake; party made it out safely

GRANITE, OR – According to a release from Sheriff McKinley, yesterday morning Search and Rescue with other resources were activated near Olive Lake. Find the full news release from Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley below:

(Press Release from Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley)

The Grant County Sheriff Office received notification on the morning of Thursday, May 26th from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center of an active Personal Locator Beacon that was activated near Olive Lake. Efforts to contact the party involved were fruitless. Sheriff’s Office personnel along with private citizens from Granite, the United States Forest Service Law Enforcement and Staff and Grant County Air Search members responded to the area.

Air search located a stuck vehicle east of Olive Lake on the 10 road, and it was attended to by Forest Service staff that accessed it from the Granite side. County units and the flight located no other stranded or stuck vehicles on the 10 road or vicinity of Olive Lake.

Heavy snowpack in the area is limiting access and the lake is not accessible by motor vehicles, as well as being nearly completely frozen over. Unheard of for this time of year. The original stuck party, who had been stuck overnight, had previously gotten unstuck with help of a pickup load of passersby. He then drove back to Central Oregon and finally called in.

Sheriff McKinley would like to remind everyone who plans on going to the woods this Memorial Weekend to be safe and let someone know your plans and where you are going.