Snow traps Waukesha County family of 19 in cabin for days

 

WAUKESHA COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Waukesha County family's holiday tradition turned into quite an ordeal.

The group goes up to Michigan's Upper Peninsula each year the weekend after Thanksgiving to stay in a cabin and get a Christmas tree.

Last Saturday, a huge snowfall trapped the 19 family members inside their cabin.

The cabin is six miles off the main road. It took a day and a half to get word to rescuers to come help them get out.

"We had some shortwave radios, three-way radios, someone said there's four snowplows and a sheriff and rescue people coming here, so that's how we got out," said Cheri, who was snowed in. "The snowplows came in and two snowplows of the four got stuck, and then a grater had to come in and pull the snowplows out. 

After they were rescued, the family was treated to a hot meal at a local tavern.