Update on Search for Hiker Missing in East Rosebud Creek
By Denise Rivette
Red Lodge Fire Rescue announced on social media today that Monday’s search for the hiker who was swept down East Rosebud Creek at Rimrock Lake did not yield any sign of the young man. Members of the ground search crew scanned the creek with binoculars, utilizing ropes to access some areas that could not be visualized from the trail. In addition, the drone team flew over the creek for several hours, focusing on areas where someone might get caught in the rocks, logs, and eddies as well as capturing video for later analysis. Search teams did not go into the backcountry today, but the search will resume Wednesday morning.
The video above was posted on Red Lodge Fire Rescue’s social media and shows the creek starting at Rimrock Lake and cascading several hundred yards downstream. As can be seen, the rushing water is unforgiving should one slip in, and the significant white water makes detecting anything below the water’s surface extremely difficult.
Sheriff Josh McQuillan would like to remind people that crossing streams at any time can be dangerous, and crossing East Rosebud Creek on the Beaten Trail at the base of Rimrock Lake without a bridge is extremely dangerous and strongly discouraged, especially during high water periods such as we are seeing now.
The Carbon County Sheriff's Office and Red Lodge Fire Rescue are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Carbon County Sheriff's Office at 406-446-1234.
Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.