Overdue horseback riders OK

A search for two overdue horseback riders on the Spotted Bear Ranger District turned out well Sunday when the two met up with searchers.

A man, 52, and a youth, 17, left for a day ride Saturday from the South Creek Trailhead. They were expected to come out at the Upper Twin Trailhead at about 7 p.m.

They didn’t return as planned, and family members reported them missing at just after 8 a.m. Sunday.

Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said personnel from county search and rescue, North Valley Search and Rescue and an airplane were sent out to search.

The teenager has diabetes, which raised concerns about him, Curry said.

It turned out that the two “took a trail that was not the correct one, and it was in an area that was difficult to traverse to get through,” Curry said, adding that it took them much of Saturday and Sunday morning to find their way out.

“They were able to make their way back to the trail and find their way out to where they were found search-and-rescue personnel,” Curry said. That was at around noon Sunday.

The teenager ended up being flown to Kalispell Regional Medical Center by ALERT helicopter, “mostly for dehydration reasons,” Curry said.