WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A backcountry snowboarder was rescued after having to spend the night in the snow.

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office says that the 34-year-old snowboarder was separated from his partner on New Year’s Day. Mount Baker Ski Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine support later found the snowboarder in a drainage area.

Realizing that a ground rescue would be too dangerous as the sun set, Customs and Border Protection airdropped overnight supplies including food, water, shelter and a radio to the snowboarder so he could survive the night.

Whatcom County Search and Rescue was able to reach the skier 14 hours after he was initially reported overdue. They reached him around 5 p.m. and returned him safely around 10 p.m.