Missing snowmobiler found safe at Wildhorse Reservoir

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999 | 9:28 a.m.

An Elko County sheriff's search team found Brent Johnson on Sunday, a day after he had become stranded when his snowmobile ran out of gas.

Johnson, 20, had been snowmobiling with two friends on the frozen reservoir and was last seen about 1:30 p.m. Saturday when he told friends he was going to take one more run across the lake.

He was reported missing later that afternoon when he didn't return.

Sheriff Neil Harris said deputies arrived at the marina area about 6 p.m. and conducted a preliminary investigation that turned up no clues to Johnson's whereabouts.

The search resumed at 6 a.m. Sunday but was hampered by a storm.

"The visibility was so bad you couldn't see 25 feet," Harris said. "You couldn't tell north from south without a compass."

Searchers from the sheriff's department, the Nevada Division of Wildlife and volunteers from the Wildhorse area joined efforts in the blizzard conditions.

Harris led one group that included Johnson's father, Carl Johnson, Sheriff's Lt. Bill Cunningham and Elko Police Chief Clair Morris, the former undersheriff, who had been recruited to assist.

Harris said Brent Johnson was not that familiar with the area. "He knew there were cabins in there but he didn't know where he was. He followed the fence line."

Harris said his team located Johnson at about 11:45 a.m. Sunday in an abandoned cabin where he had taken refuge from the snow and winds. Johnson managed to keep a small fire going through the night to keep warm.

"I've never searched in conditions that bad, ever," Harris said, adding 60 mph winds and blowing snow forced the search teams to "regroup" earlier that morning after they had become disoriented.

"Because it ended well, we hope it gets the point across that you don't ride alone," Harris said. "Things break down and when they do you're stuck out there without transportation back."