2nd missing snowmobiler found alive on Northern Peninsula

The second of two men who had been reported missing on Friday while on a snowmobile trip in a remote part of northern Newfoundland has been found alive.

He was discovered by search crews Monday afternoon, one day after a fellow missing riderwas also found alive.

The two men had become separated from a larger group who had been riding on Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula, a popular backwoods destination for winter adventurers.

Police say the 68-year-old man was picked up by a helicopter and taken tohospitalin Corner Brook.

That's where the other man, Stan Rice, is still recovering as of Monday afternoon.

Group of friends knew the area well

Rice, 64, from Mount Pearl,was located by a search crew in a helicopter on Sunday and taken to hospital for treatment, his wife said.

"He's very emotional," Ruth Rice told CBC's St. John's Morning Show, before the other man was found."He wants to get out of that bed and go with the rest of his buddies to find [his friend]."

Everybody is doing everything they can and we're really hoping for a positive outcome today.- Cpl. Elizabeth Lodge

Rice was one of a group of five snowmobilers out riding between Jackson's Arm and Harbour Deep on the Northern Peninsula.

"Those are places that those boysSki-Dooa lot. They know their trails, they know the area, they're good five buddies, they stick together," said Ruth Rice.

On Friday afternoon, Rice and the 68-year-old man were reported missing from their group.

The ensuing search efforts includedRCMP, fire and emergency services, the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, and friends of the missing men.

'Really hoping for a positive outcome'

Officers with the nearest RCMP detachment started the day with a positive mindset, despite long hours spent searching the wilderness.

"It's been a few long days here and we're pushing forward," said Cpl. Elizabeth Lodge of Deer Lake RCMPon Monday morning."This is an active search and we're really pushing to find him today and ...everybody is doing everything they can and we're really hoping for a positive outcome today."

Lodge said a Cormorant helicopter remained in the air searching overnight into Monday, and a Universal Helicopter and Provincial Airlines plane joined the search early Monday morning.

The various search teams were all geared up and ready to go before sunrise Monday.

Conditionschange fastin the area, Lodge said, and backcountry conditions can be very different from conditions in Jackson's Arm.

"Hearing stories yesterday from locals saying that in a matter of minutes you can not see the person in front of you, and those conditions can change very rapidly," she said."Our crews that were in yesterday had some areas where they had to stop with zero visibility, so it's been challenging."

Lodge said the men are experienced snowmobilers who have survivalskills and know what to do if they get lost, adding that Rice was able to provide them with the GPS tracker co-ordinates of his snowmobile, as well as the rough location where he and his friend were separated.

It's not yet known where the second man was found, or how far he was from the place Rice was discovered.

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