Tyson Haynes Launched Off Cliff Beyond Lookout Pass, Crawled Miles to Safety

Tyson Haynes, a 32-year-old St. Maries man, crawled close to 2 miles to reach safety after a backcountry snowmobile crash beyond Lookout Pass that an initial report says launched him off a cliff. Haynes suffered a broken leg and a back injury and was taken to Kootenai Health after he and fellow rider Mike Gilmore reached their truck nearly four hours after the crash.

Haynes and Gilmore began moving through steep, wooded terrain in wet, cold conditions, traveling on all fours through deep snow, over downed trees and across streams as they made their way out. Haynes estimates he crawled close to 2 miles; by the time they reached their truck it was nearly 6 p.m., about four hours after they started, and they then sped to the emergency room at Kootenai Health, arriving in about 90 minutes.

Mike Gilmore stayed with Haynes through the trek, alternating between carrying or using his snowmobile to assist and keeping Haynes focused as the injured man slogged toward help. “I tried to keep his mind off the shock of how hurt he really was,” Gilmore said. “He would have done the same for me.” Haynes said he replayed the crash in his head and “has no doubt they made the right choice to get out on their own rather than going for help.”

Medical treatment at Kootenai Health included surgery on Haynes’s ankle; he spent two days in the hospital. His leg is in a cast and he will need to wear a back brace for some time, with back surgery remaining a possibility as doctors continue to evaluate his spine and recovery needs.

Backcountry rescue protocol and risks were raised by a local official named Wheelock, who cautioned that “aid is necessary because the extent of the injuries is unknown in such a scenario; it could make them worse as they try to make it to safety.” Wheelock added that “if the injured party was dry and could be left in a covered area, [the second party] with a working snowmobile [should] go for help” and noted that “rescue teams are trained to respond on short notice and knowing time is of the essence, have the capabilities to reach the backcountry quickly.” Wheelock’s agency affiliation was not provided.

Haynes returned home to St. Maries after his hospital stay; a photo shows him standing by his snowmobile at his residence. He described the day as one of compounded troubles, saying earlier that morning one of the semis from the garbage collection business he and his wife own burned and adding, “When it rains it pours, I’ll tell you what.” Reflecting on the emergency, Haynes said, “I knew come hell or high water I was going to get out of there as long as God let me... All I thought about was my wife and kids,” and he later added, “I’m surprised that my knees didn’t get frostbite. I’m just glad it wasn’t any worse. I’ll be able to heal from this.”