In early December, Flathead County Search and Rescue added a new piece of equipment to their fleet: a new and improved SNOWbulance.  

The enclosed snowmobile trailer, with heat, lights, and room for a patient to be treated on the ride out of the backcountry, will replace a sled trailer donated to the organization in 1993.

SAR director Al Benitez noted that most snowmobile injuries that require their assistance are broken necks, backs and legs. The SNOWbulance will provide more comfort than its predecessor, which had significantly less suspension and was not entirely enclosed or heated.  

“You don’t want to cause more injury on the way out. So, it’s not just a matter of comfort, it’s a matter of making sure you're not hurting somebody getting them the 10, 15 miles back to the road,” SAR president Anthony Palmiotti said.  

Retrieving injured recreationalists, whether hunting, skiing, or snowmobiling in snowy backcountry, should be much easier with the SNOWbulance. When helicopters with Two Bear Air are unable to fly or the recovered person is unable to ride on the back of a snowmobile, SAR has it as an option.  

Palmiotti estimated SAR has two to three calls a winter to recover backcountry recreators. “You don’t want to use it a lot, but when you need it, you need it,” he said.  

There is no charge for SAR services in Flathead County, so costs are not recovered. The organization is volunteer-run.  While operational funds for SAR are obtained through the Sheriff’s department, big ticket purchases sometimes require additional funding. 

The SNOWbulance was purchased for $12,000, raised through fundraising and a $2,500 grant from the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund. The Giving Fund supports local organizations by granting over $100,000 to projects including youth education, development, housing affordability and food affordability. The 2025 grant cycle will open in February.  

“I think [SAR] really aligns with a lot of stuff we look at; a lot of our employees volunteer... but also a big factor is supporting organizations with the tools they need to do their job,” Weyerhaeuser Plant Manager Kyle Cram said.  

SAR also recently received a $4,900 grant from Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Round Up for Safety program for the purchase of a new sonar system for underwater searches.  

“The community is very lucky,” Palmiotti said. SAR hoped the SNOWbulance purchase would last the department another 20 to 30 years.  

    An interior view of Flathead County Search and Rescue's new SNOWbulance. (Avery Howe/Bigfork Eagle)