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SNOWVILLE — A 38-year-old hunter stranded Wednesday night dug himself a snow cave to protect himself from below freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions, police said.
Trevor Valentine, a Weber County resident, was in “very serious” condition after rescue crews searching for the overdue hunter were able to locate him Thursday morning near Wildcat Mountain located southwest of Snowville, according to Box Elder County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Dale Ward.
Ward said Valentine left to go hunting around noon Wednesday in western Box Elder County. Six hours later, he texted his wife informing her that he had gotten stuck and instructed her to meet him on state Route 30 between Kelton and Curlew junctions.
Valentine’s wife had contact with him until about 9 p.m. and Valentine was reported missing at about 11:20 p.m. A search and rescue team approached Wildcat Mountain, where it was believed he was at, but the effort was hindered by blizzard conditions and drifting snow, Ward said.
Once snow and wind subsided Thursday morning, crews were able to expand their search using snowmobiles. Valentine was located at about 10 a.m. Ward said Valentine was able to survive by digging a snow cave.
Valentine was eventually transported by medical helicopter to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray in “very serious” condition once conditions were good enough for the helicopter to land near the area the hunter was located, Ward said.
According to KSL Weather, the area received close to a foot of snow Wednesday night. Snowville, the closest area with a recorded temperature, fell to 6 degrees overnight. Ward said the wind chill temperatures were well below zero.
