CHICO, Calif. (AP) - Authorities say a hiker rescued after being stranded in the snow for days in the Northern California wilderness would not have survived if he hadn't found a cabin and broken into it.

The Chico Enterprise Record reports that 27-year-old Robert Marmon was spotted by a Butte County sheriff's helicopter Monday afternoon near Philbrook Reservoir in the Lassen National Forest. He was secured to a rope and lifted out.

The Chico resident set off for a hike on Wednesday before getting caught in the snow. He told the Enterprise Record he spent three nights in his tent before finding the cabin on Saturday.

The cabin had a fireplace and firewood.

Incident Commander Lt. Dan Newman says using the cabin for shelter saved Newman's life.

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