West End volunteers help rescue family from Hub Lake

The Anglen Family from Athol, Idaho is an adventurous clan, and a couple of weeks ago they started their sixth backpacking trip of the summer in Northwest Montana.

It was a hard hike being very steep with lots of downfall to climb over and under and around, but they made it and set up camp. Jen and Jesse with their children then went to explore an old mine before dinner, but on the way back Jen slipped and the family adventure took a different turn.

“I heard a crack and the pain was immediate and excruciating. I went down hollering like a crazy woman,” she said. “Jesse goes off to find a suitable crutch, slips and badly jams possibly breaking his toe on rocks. So now we are two adults down. I have one bar of [cellular] service, so I text a friend that would know what to do.”

Around 6:30 p.m., the West End Fire Department in DeBorgia received a call from Search and Rescue in Idaho that a family of 13 (two parents, four children, five goats and two dogs) were in trouble and asking for help. They were told that one parent had an injured foot and the other had a sprained, or possibly a broken ankle and they were at Hub Lake.

Hub Lake is in the Lolo National Forest 5 miles up a steep and narrow hiking path and unattainable with motorized vehicles so this was going to require a rescue by foot and horses.

The volunteers consisted of West End Fire Chief, Frank Magee; Randy Friley, Captain; Donna Richter, EMT; and Randy and Mary Bridges. Aaron and Stephanie Todd, managers of the Black Diamond Guest Ranch in DeBorgia volunteered six horses when Magee called and then reality set in — none of the volunteers had ridden a horse in 10-40 years and none of them were familiar with the trail system.

At 11 p.m., Tom Heacock in St. Regis was called with a plea to help the volunteers as he’s as tough of a cowboy as they come, and he agreed to help with an amended plan. Heacock and Jeff Stanek, another experienced rider, would traverse the trail leading another horse. Once they arrived at the campsite, Stanek would walk back with the children and critters and Heacock would put the parents on the horses and bring them down the trail. But "change and adapt" was recognized by all if this didn’t work.

At 7 a.m. the next morning the volunteers met at the DeBorgia firehouse. Heacock and Stanek picked up two horses from the Black Diamond plus Heacock’s horse and everyone rendezvoused at the Ward Creek off ramp on I-90 east and proceeded to the trail head leading to Hub Lake.

The West End crew setup the base station at the trail head while the two cowboys and three horses headed up the trail. Two hours later Heacock radioed back that the trail is completely blocked with downed trees and they would have to tie off the horses and walk the last mile to the campsite.

An hour later he radioed back that the family was found, which was exciting news for everyone. Jen shares the next chapter.

“The trail up and out of the lake is a steep climb and Tom often must support me. The splint is amazing and holds my ankle solid. Back at camp Jesse and Jeff pack up the animals and kids and head out to meet up with Tom and myself where Tom had left the horses.”

About a mile and a half down the trail they came across a big tangle with five giant trees that fell over the path. Maneuvering through the logjam, the lead horse slips on a log and starts to roll down the embankment. Heacock pulled on the lead and the horse corrected itself and got back up on the trail but now with a 6-inch gash in his hind leg. Examined and concluded it wasn’t critical, the journey out continues. And then, a severe thunderstorm hit. The rain drenched everyone in seconds followed by hail, some as big as quarters, reported Jen.

The rain was coming so hard and the hail so thick that the trail was covered in water and ice. But three hours after the cowboys introduced themselves to the Anglen Family, Heacock and Jen emerged from the trail. Jen had a severely sprained ankle and was quickly taken into the Quick Response Unit for assessment. 45 minutes later, Stanek, Jesse, five pack-goats, two soaking wet dogs and Chloe 13, Noah 12, Lilly 11, and Jonah 9 join everyone at the base camp.

“I knew my prayers were all answered,” beamed Jen. “This trip was an extreme adventure in so many ways. We’re so thankful for the huge team of volunteers that made the trek out possible. We couldn’t have done it alone. For everyone that was involved, we thank you again. We’ll always remember you guys.”

Frank Magee is the chairman of the Board of Trustees for the West End Volunteer Fire and Rescue. He took over as the fire chief a few weeks ago as he was unanimously elected by the volunteer firefighters.

Magee made this complicated rescue work by going outside the department for knowledgeable individuals who could help and provide the needed resources.

“This is what volunteers do to help keep the community strong and safe,” he shared. “We don’t always have adventures like this but when we do it makes the volunteering worth it, especially when everyone returns home safely.”

Magee also stressed the importance of volunteering for local fire departments and offers anyone who has an interest in becoming a part of the West End Fire & Rescue Department to call him at (208) 651-7700.