BAKER CITY — Crews from Baker and Union counties rescued a Baker County man in the snowbound Wallowa Mountains north of Halfway Monday, Oct. 25, the day after he was stranded by a blizzard while packing in supplies with horses for an elk-hunting trip.

Robert Derald Borders, 67, who lives near Baker City, did not need medical treatment, Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash said.

Borders, who had four horses, was able to use his satellite device, which works even when cell service is limited or nonexistent, as is the case in that remote part of the county, to send a text message to a friend late Oct. 24, McClay said.

The friend then called the Baker County Dispatch Center around noon Oct. 24. The text message also included Borders’ precise location, which aided rescuers, McClay said.

Around 2:30 p.m. Oct. 25, McClay said rescuers reached Borders, who had sent text messages to rescuers with his satellite device while they were en route. Although Borders’ use of the device was a help to rescuers, the weather on Sunday was a major hindrance.

A group of Baker County Search and Rescue team members started traveling to the location, which is in the Eagle Cap Wilderness several miles north of Cornucopia, in the Soldier Lake and Sugarloaf Mountain area.

McClay said rain was falling, snow was on the ground and powerful winds were toppling trees as rescuers traveled higher into the mountains.

They eventually had to retreat late Oct. 24, McClay said.

On Oct. 25, Baker County crews were joined by search and rescue members from Union County to resume the effort, McClay said. The Union County team members arrived at the Baker County Sheriff’s Office around 5 a.m., traveling from there to the mountains.

McClay said Borders apparently had left from the Cornucopia trailhead on Oct. 23.

The weather deteriorated on Oct. 24, and according to the text message the man sent to his friend, he was unable to get back to the trailhead and he needed help.

The first rifle elk season started Wednesday, Oct. 27.