Mark Wathke and Kristine Wathke, a Wisconsin couple who were missing for nearly a week after a visit to Yellowstone National Park, were found safe on the Beartooth Highway, where their car had been stuck for nearly a week.
Park County, Wyo., sheriff’s spokesman Lance Mathess says Troy Barnett, owner of the K Bar Z Guest Ranch, heard about the missing couple and went looking for them on his snowmobile. He found them at about 8:30 a.m. Monday and took them back to the guest ranch.
Mathess says Mark and Kristine Wathke of Cornell, Wis., were cold and hungry, but otherwise OK.
They were last seen leaving the northeast entrance of Yellowstone at 4 p.m. Tuesday. They had hotel reservations in Miles City that night, but never arrived.
Mathess says they either didn’t see or ignored signs that said the Beartooth Highway was closed due to the weather.
Sheriff Scott Steward praised Mr. Barnett for his selfless concern for the couple. “Residents in this area often volunteer their time and resources to assist in rescue operations, said Sheriff Steward in a statement. “Mr. Barnett’s actions in this instance possibly saved this couple from serious harm. I commend him for his unselfishness.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
