“Christmas tree hunters” rescued from deep snow in Old Station

December 20, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

OLD STATION, Calif. — Deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Department were instrumental in helping to locate two vehicles and their occupants after their vehicles became stuck in deep snow late Saturday afternoon, Dec. 19.

The rescue happened on a Forest Service access road off Ash Pan Road in Old Station, according to officials.

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Shasta County Sheriff’s deputies and members of the Shasta County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team were alerted to the crisis around 4:18 p.m., after a stranded citizen called SHASCOM and reported their vehicle had become stuck in the snow, Shasta County Sheriff’s Sergeant K. Bodner reported after the incident.

The citizen told emergency dispatchers they had been searching for Christmas trees while traveling with another party whose vehicle was also stuck in the snow at their location, according to Bodner.

Based on the reported circumstances, Sheriff’s deputies along with volunteers from the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team were activated and responded to the area to assist the to stranded parties.

“While teams were attempting to locate the vehicles, one of the vehicles was able to get out of the snow and drive from the scene without assistance,” said Bodner.

The other vehicle and its occupants were eventually located by Search and Rescue team members and with assistance from a Sheriff’s “Snowcat” vehicle, they were assisted safely out of the snow.

No injuries were reported as a result of the rescue.

Bodner later used the opportunity to remind everyone who plans to make excursions into snowy areas about the dangers of venturing out into to forest without proper equipment and supplies.

“Remember to bring snow chains, have a 4×4 vehicle, carry adequate food and water, extra blankets, shovels, a charged phone with a phone charger,” Bodner advised; adding that those venturing into the forest “should have an overall travel plan that they have shared with others outside of their party.”

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Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.