Lost hikers survived on berries and frog legs until rescuers found them in Montana

A wrong turn on a short trek led a pair of hikers miles off course, into the Montana wilderness with little besides their wits to keep them alive, rescuers say.

The hikers were part of a group of four traveling together in early September, according to Two Bear Air Rescue, a search-and-rescue organization based in Kalispell. At some point, the two split off from the others and became lost.

“They were unprepared to stay the night in the wilderness,” Two Bear said in a Facebook post. “And their only survival gear was a lighter.”

The hikers owned a satellite communication device, which would have increased their odds of rescue tremendously if they hadn’t left it behind, believing they wouldn’t need it on such a short outing.

Instead, they spent two nights in the cold, foraging huckleberries, eating frog legs skewered on sticks and cooked by the flame of a small fire, rescuers said.

A Two Bear helicopter spotted them at the edge of a dense treeline early in the morning on Wednesday, Sept. 7, and they were rescued. The hikers wave at the helicopter, blinding white figures revealed by infrared, photos show.

They were on the border between Montana and Idaho, rescuers said, far from where they meant to go.

“Whether it’s weather, bear or terrain — Montana is wild! Bring your layers, bear spray and a reliable form of communication,” Two Bear said in the post, adding that it’s a good idea to pack a lighter and satellite phone, as well. And maybe some seasoning.

“Pro tip — bring salt for those frog legs!”

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