Utah Hunters Survive Freezing Cold Night In Nevada Desert

JACKPOT, Nevada – Two Weber County hunters were grateful to be alive and with their loved ones after they were stranded overnight near the Utah-Nevada state line in subfreezing temperatures.

Close friends Lee Peters and Chad Strain said they were rabbit hunting in northeast Nevada when Strain’s truck got stuck on a snowbank.

The duo said they usually head out overprepared — but not this time.

“Between me and him and not having everything that we should have had, (we) got stuck and couldn’t get out,” Strain said.

“We were really trying to do everything we could to try and stay positive,” Peters said.

They tried to get out for seven hours but ended up starting a fire and camping by the side of the road.

“Almost mind-numbing cold,” Strain said.

Meanwhile, their wives knew something was wrong when the hunters failed to return home Sunday.

“They always make an effort to check in with us,” said Cassiea Strain. “That’s who we are. We’re one big family here.”

Friends and family organized a search party. After many hours, it was those friends and family members who found the hunters.

“I got the text that said they found them and my heart dropped,” said Robin Peters. “I was almost dreading the next one because I didn’t know if it would say they were alive or dead.”

Although they were only gone a couple of days, both Lee Peters and Chad Strain said everything means just that much more after being faced with the thought of never coming home.

“Things like this kind of put that back in perspective,” Peters said.

“I would say (it) throws a dollar value off of any necessities that can help you out in something like that,” Strain said.

The hunters said they plan to purchase a satellite phone for their next trip and their families were planning to hold a belated Super Bowl party this week.