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4 Missing Snowmobilers Found Alive In Grand County

By Matt Kroschel

GRAND COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - Four men who went missing while on a snowmobiling outing were found alive in a remote area of Grand County on Monday morning. The men had not been seen since Sunday morning.

CBS4 cameras were the only ones there as the snowmobilers were brought back to the trailhead where search and rescue crews were waiting.

"We go into some heavy valleys and creek beds and had to go up over the next ridge. It was a good ride," said snowmobiler James Healy.

Grand County Search and Rescue set up a command center in an Idelglen parking lot off County Road 4 in Grand Lake where they were using cell phone ping technology to aid in the search.
The men are considered experienced snowmobilers, according to searchers.

snowmobilers2
(credit: CBS)

"Got a little too thick in the trees and a little too dark and just had to stop for the night," said snowmobiler Kevin McCauley.

"We're alive," one of the men shouted as they came into sight at the command center just before 10 a.m. Monday.

According to John Sanderson, spokesman for Grand Lake Search and Rescue, after getting lost and as a winter storm hit, the men "did everything right." The group was prepared with a survival kit which allowed them to build a fire and a small emergency shelter.

They had to spend the night in the cold and snow outside Grand Lake near Rocky Mountain National Park.

Snowmobilers Rescued map
(credit: CBS)

It was snowing as the four men appeared near the trailhead. They had been in the backcountry known for deadly avalanches.

Matt Kroschel covers news throughout Colorado working from the CBS4 Mountain Newsroom. Send story ideas to mrkroschel@cbs.com and connect with him on Twitter @Matt_Kroschel.

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