Reinvigorated by the discovery of a British Columbia woman who had been missing since mid-March, searchers are once again scouring the remote Nevada wilderness for signs of her husband, Albert Chretien.
Hunters discovered 56-year-old Rita Chretien with the couple's van on Friday, on a remote logging road in Elko County, northeastern Nevada.
"It's absolutely incredible," said Lorraine Chretien-Hoving, who is Albert's sister. "It came as a total surprise; we believe it's a miracle."
Rita Chretien, who kept a journal of her experience in case she didn't make it out alive, survived her 48-day ordeal by eating snow and rationing the small amount of food the couple had on hand.
In an interview with CTV.ca, British Columbia RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said knowing the location of the couple's van will serve to focus this latest hunt.
"Owyhee County are coordinating a ground search effort this morning with resources on the ground," Moskaluk said, adding that inclement weather is hampering efforts to search from the air.
"It's a totally different search than what we had weeks ago because we now have the vehicle," he said, describing how search teams accompanied by rescue dogs will use the van as the starting point to trace Albert Chretien's steps.
The couple had been missing since they left their home in Penticton, B.C., and hit the highway for Las Vegas on March 19.
They were last seen in surveillance video captured at a food mart in Baker City, Oregon.
The couple, who own a commercial excavation business and were headed to a trade show, apparently took a wrong turn sometime later and ended up stranded on the logging road.
Three days after their van became stuck in the mud, 59-year-old Albert Chretien left to find help. He has not been seen since.
His sister believes that Albert was simply doing what he could to help his wife and get them back to civilization.
"I think he would be concerned about Rita's safety," said Lorraine Chretien, adding that Albert likely realized that food was scarce. "It's like him to go get help and see what he could do for Rita."
The couple's family reported them missing on March 30, when they failed to return from their trip as planned.
She was discovered by a group of people riding ATVs in the area.
Moskaluk said it's "amazing" that Rita is faring so well, "considering that she existed essentially on water with some small amount of trail mix that they had with them."
Chretien is currently at a hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho, where she is recovering.
Although she reportedly lost between 30 pounds, Rita Chretien is said to be on her feet and walking around the St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Centre in Twin Falls.
A hospital representative said Saturday she had eaten a small meal and was doing well.
Rita is expected to be hospitalized for a couple of days, Moskaluk said, after which she is eager to return to B.C.
"They want to get home as soon as conveniently possible -- and when she's well enough -- but there's no word on when that's taking place."
