University of Montana student from Minnesota missing since Sunday is found safe

A 21-year-old Twin Cities man attending the University of Montana, missing since Sunday, has reported in to family that he is safe.

August "Gus" Kramer, of Mahtomedi, resurfaced from a fishing outing and called his father Tuesday afternoon, according to Missoula searcher Randi Maedche.

"He said his car broke down," Maedche said. "He got [cellphone] service and called his father."

The Missoula County Sheriff's Office, having heard from the student's mother, added in a statement later Tuesday that Kramer was picked up by a passer-by. Kramer tried fixing his vehicle and ended up sleeping there two nights. "He had some granola bars and Cliff Bars to eat and did have a water supply," the Sheriff's Office said, reminding outdoor recreationalists to be prepared for anything.

The last known indication of August "Gus" Kramer's whereabouts had been a debit card transaction Sunday afternoon at a McDonald's in Lolo, Mont., about 10 miles south of campus on the western edge of the state.

Kramer, a Mahtomedi High School graduate and an experienced outdoorsman, told his college roommate he was going fishing, the Sheriff's Office added.

A senior studying forestry, Kramer was driving his 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser when he left.

Before Kramer resurfaced, an uncle, Bill Souder had confidence that his nephew would be fine.

"Gus, he's a big, strong kid, an athlete," said Souder, who lives in the Twin Cities. "He's grown up in the outdoors and is an avid hunter and fisherman."

There have been two other recent disappearances in the valley. George A. Baumann, 56, of Stewartville, Mont., left home late last month to cut firewood. The search for him has been suspended. Ryan Silsby, 25, of Missoula, headed to Blodgett Canyon in mid-August, and his body was found in a climbing area Sunday.

Pavalone said people getting lost in that part of Montana is all too common because "it is such a vast area and people go into it for recreation, fishing, hiking and snowmobiling."