NOME -- The Alaska Army National Guard used a helicopter to follow the tracks of a stranded snowmachiner before finding the man safe and sound outside of Nome.

Troopers first received word of the overdue snowmachiner at 7:20 p.m. Thursday, according to trooper reports. Michael Benchoff, 47, had failed to return to Nome from his mining claim about 80 miles away.

The next afternoon three guardsmen, a trooper and paramedic headed toward the claim, near Coffee Creek, in a Blackhawk helicopter.

"We picked up his trail immediately and were able to follow it for about 48 miles because his snowmachine tracks were the only ones in the snow," said Chief Warrant Officer Dave Stettenbenz.

The Blackhawk followed the tracks for about an hour before spotting a snowmachine alone on the trail, according to the National Guard. Benchoff had stayed overnight in a cabin roughly 100 yards away.

He was in good condition when he met rescuers outside, saying his snowmachine had broken down, according to troopers and the Guard.