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Nevada family burned tyre to stay warm before rescue from sub-zero mountains Nevada family burned tyre to stay warm before rescue from sub-zero mountains
(about 1 hour later)
A desperate search for a couple and four children missing for two days in the below-zero cold of Nevada's rugged mountains turned to jubilation as rescuers guided in part by mobile phone signals found the family alive and well on Tuesday, huddled around a fire near their overturned vehicle.A desperate search for a couple and four children missing for two days in the below-zero cold of Nevada's rugged mountains turned to jubilation as rescuers guided in part by mobile phone signals found the family alive and well on Tuesday, huddled around a fire near their overturned vehicle.
"It's a miracle. It really is," Pershing county sheriff Richard Machado said outside the hospital, where all six were resting comfortably with not even so much as a case of frostbite."It's a miracle. It really is," Pershing county sheriff Richard Machado said outside the hospital, where all six were resting comfortably with not even so much as a case of frostbite.
"This is better than I could ever have imagined," said Dr Douglas Vacek. "With the temperatures we've seen the last couple of nights, I've been very, very, very worried.""This is better than I could ever have imagined," said Dr Douglas Vacek. "With the temperatures we've seen the last couple of nights, I've been very, very, very worried."
The family had survived by huddling together, heating up rocks and burning their overturned Jeep's spare tyre for warmth.The family had survived by huddling together, heating up rocks and burning their overturned Jeep's spare tyre for warmth.
About 200 people had searched by land and air after the six failed to return on Sunday from a trip to play in the snow near their hometown of Lovelock in Nevada's high desert about 100 miles north-east of Reno.About 200 people had searched by land and air after the six failed to return on Sunday from a trip to play in the snow near their hometown of Lovelock in Nevada's high desert about 100 miles north-east of Reno.
"They stayed together and that was the key that allowed them to live through this experience. You don't see that that often in search and rescue," said Paul Burke, search-and-rescue co-ordinator for the state. "They did some pretty inventive things, heating up rocks and things. Staying together, that was a big deal.""They stayed together and that was the key that allowed them to live through this experience. You don't see that that often in search and rescue," said Paul Burke, search-and-rescue co-ordinator for the state. "They did some pretty inventive things, heating up rocks and things. Staying together, that was a big deal."
Rescuers started scouring the wilderness on Sunday night in search of James Glanton, 34, his girlfriend Christina McIntee, 25, their two children, Evan and Chloe Glanton, and Shelby Fitzpatrick and Tate McIntee, a niece and nephew of McIntee. The children were aged between three and 10.Rescuers started scouring the wilderness on Sunday night in search of James Glanton, 34, his girlfriend Christina McIntee, 25, their two children, Evan and Chloe Glanton, and Shelby Fitzpatrick and Tate McIntee, a niece and nephew of McIntee. The children were aged between three and 10.
Then on Monday, Chris Montes and his fellow volunteer rescuers saw what looked to be children's footprints in the snow. When they saw tyre tracks leading into the remote canyon, they raced ahead until they could make out the overturned Jeep they were searching for in the frigid backcountry.Then on Monday, Chris Montes and his fellow volunteer rescuers saw what looked to be children's footprints in the snow. When they saw tyre tracks leading into the remote canyon, they raced ahead until they could make out the overturned Jeep they were searching for in the frigid backcountry.
Montes said he did not know who was more relieved, the rescuers or the rescued. He said the family stayed in the upside-down vehicle for shelter, burning the spare tyre to keep warm. Montes said he did not know who was more relieved, the rescuers or the rescued. He said the family had stayed in the upside-down vehicle for shelter, burning the spare tyre to keep warm.
"I think everybody was thinking the worst for a little bit," Montes said. "But it's a small tight-knit community and everybody in town was out there looking for them."I think everybody was thinking the worst for a little bit," Montes said. "But it's a small tight-knit community and everybody in town was out there looking for them.
"They just said that they knew somebody was going to find them.""They just said that they knew somebody was going to find them."
The situation became dire as time passed without any sight of the missing party, the temperature plummeting to minus 26C (minus 16 F) on Monday and minus 23C (minus 10F) on Tuesday. The situation became dire as time passed without any sight of the missing party, the temperature plummeting to -26C (-16F) on Monday and -23C (-10F) on Tuesday.
"Everybody was worried about the sub-zero temperatures," said Patty Bianchi, chief executive officer of Pershing general hospital."Everybody was worried about the sub-zero temperatures," said Patty Bianchi, chief executive officer of Pershing general hospital.
"Their father kept them alive and well," she said. "Everybody is in good shape. There was no frost bite. They are stable. They suffered a little exposure and dehydration, but that is all." "Their father kept them alive and well," she said. "Everybody is in good shape. There was no frostbite. They are stable. They suffered a little exposure and dehydration, but that is all."
News of the rescue drew instant reaction. "Very glad to hear the missing family in Lovelock has been found and they are safe!" The Nevada governor, Brian Sandoval, tweeted. "Thank you to all who worked so tirelessly to find them!" News of the rescue drew instant reaction. "Very glad to hear the missing family in Lovelock has been found and they are safe!" the Nevada governor, Brian Sandoval, tweeted. "Thank you to all who worked so tirelessly to find them!"
The Seven Troughs area is named after a series of seven parallel canyons below Seven Trough Peak – elevation 7,474ft (2,278 metres) – in the Kamma Mountains stretching north across the Pershing-Humboldt county line. It is about 20 milessouth-east of Black Rock Desert, where the annual Burning Man counterculture festival is held. The Seven Troughs area is named after a series of seven parallel canyons below Seven Trough Peak – elevation 2,278 metres (7,474ft) – in the Kamma mountains stretching north across the Pershing-Humboldt county line. It is about 20 milessouth-east of Black Rock Desert, where the annual Burning Man counterculture festival is held.
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