Snowboarder recovering after 2 nights lost near Mt. Baker ski area

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — A snowboarder is recovering after getting lost and spending two nights in the backcountry near the Mt. Baker Ski Area during heavy snowfall.

The Bellingham Herald reports Washoe County authorities say 21-year-old Oliver Smith had gotten separated from a friend while snowboarding near the ski area's northern boundary Friday.

Smith's friend had made it back to the parking lot, where he waited for Smith to show up.

Search and rescue crews were called when Smith didn't return. Searchers looked for the snowboarder up until late Friday night, when the search was called off due to 14 inches of snowfall.

Crews returned Saturday and still found no sign of Smith.

It wasn't until Sunday morning that searchers discovered Smith, who had showed signs of hypothermia but suffered no serious injuries.