Missing couple found safe in Iron County

A Nevada couple missing for several days in the wintry backcountry near Cedar Breaks National Monument have been found alive.

The Iron County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Randall and Vicki Wendt were spotted by a search helicopter about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, about a mile from where their truck was discovered.

"They have been reported alert, conscious, mobile and in good shape," said Iron County sheriff's deputy Aaron Pallesen.

The couple was taken to a Cedar City hospital to be evaluated by doctors.

The pair went snowmobiling on Sunday in the Duck Creek area. The couple's truck was spotted Tuesday afternoon at the junction of state Routes 14 and 148. The couple had last been seen on Sunday, he said. The Wendts, who are in their 50s, are described by neighbors in Overton, Nev., as experienced snowmobilers.

"People in Overton say they are strictly day-trippers," Pallesen said. "They have never stayed overnight snowmobiling."

Authorities feared the couple was unprepared for the elements, where storms have ravaged the area in recent days. More than a foot of snow has fallen in the Cedar City area since Monday.

"They were in really deep powder," Pallesen said. "Maybe their snowmobiles got stuck."

Searchers looked for the couple until 10 p.m. Tuesday, and the effort resumed about 8 a.m. Wednesday. Law enforcement and searchers from Iron, Kane and Garfield counties were called in to help search. The Utah Department of Public Safety lent its helicopter to the search effort, and the Civil Air Patrol put up airplanes, Pallesen said.

E-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com