(Pinedale, Wyo. – August 27th, 2026) — The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office and Tip Top Search and Rescue are pleased to report that Shaun Mackelprang continues to recover well following his rescue from the Wind River Range yesterday.
(Pinedale, Wyo. – August 27th, 2026) — The Sublette County Sheriff’s Office and Tip Top Search and Rescue are pleased to report that Shaun Mackelprang continues to recover well following his rescue from the Wind River Range yesterday.
Currently, our priority is allowing Shaun the opportunity to rest and recover. Search and Rescue personnel will have an opportunity to debrief with him later, but the details of what Shaun experienced during his time in the backcountry are ultimately his story to tell, and we will respect his privacy as he recovers.
Following his rescue, Shaun provided the following statement of gratitude to those who searched for and ultimately brought him home:
“I cannot say enough about the dedicated men and women who worked to save my life. Their selfless desire to serve those who might otherwise be lost for good, stood as witness to the goodness of the human heart. I am so grateful to Tip Top Search and Rescue and the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office, they were ready and prepared to stand up in my time of need. It’s no easy task to put your life on the line for someone else, especially a stranger who had no place in your life. These men and women did so without a second thought.
May God bless them for their good deeds and compassion.”
— Shaun Mackelprang
Reflecting on the successful rescue and the efforts of everyone involved, Sheriff K.C. Lehr added:
“This was a miraculous recovery. Anyone with any experience in search and rescue will tell you the same.
This was more than just a local effort. It was a national one. It also shows the importance of why you sign the registry at every trailhead. The person we are searching for may not be you, but you may have had an interaction with the person we are looking for during your trek, which just may save their life.
I am so proud of our Tip Top Search and Rescue volunteers, the Sheriff’s Office employees who assisted, all those who were willing to offer resources and equipment, and those who provided information which led to bringing Shaun home. Alive.
I’m especially grateful to the following hikers. I’m only going to identify them by first name and the state they are from. They will know who they are, while still allowing us to respect their privacy:
Jeremy — Tennessee
Blake — Utah
Max — South Carolina
Mike — Ohio
Angelo — Washington
Sean — Vermont
Thomas and his dad — Wyoming
Noah — Colorado
Brandon — Idaho
Several of these people took the time to speak with Shaun, encountered him on the trail, or provided key information which allowed us to narrow our search window. Without this information, we would not have been successful.
Lastly, thank you to the Mackelprang family. You are a testament to what family, love, and faith truly should be about.
This was never our story to share. Shaun is a survivor who put himself in the best position to be rescued after a bad situation. I can speak for all of us and say, we are blessed to be a part of his story.”
This successful rescue brought together Tip Top Search and Rescue volunteers and helicopter pilots, Sublette County Sheriff’s Office personnel and the SCSO Drone Team, fellow hikers, and members of the public who provided critical information along the way.
On behalf of the Sublette County Sheriff’s Office and Tip Top Search and Rescue, we wish Shaun continued rest and recovery and thank everyone who played a role in bringing him home.
This will serve as our final scheduled update regarding this incident.
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Lieutenant Travis Bingham - Public Information Officer
Sublette County Sheriff’s Office
35 ½ Tyler Ave / PO Box 701
Pinedale, Wyoming 82941
Office: 307-367-5236
Cell: 307-360-7737