Viola Liu and Ryan Barrett were found stranded in the snow during a helicopter search of a remote part of Lake County on Saturday, January 23, 2010. Courtesy photos.

UPPER LAKE – A Fremont couple reported missing this past week after leaving for a camping trip have been discovered alive in a remote part of Lake County, stuck in the snow.

Ryan Barrett and Viola Liu, both 31, and their three dogs were located near their Toyota Tacoma pickup truck with the help of a privately hired helicopter late Saturday afternoon, according to family members.

Details of their specific location weren't immediately available, although family members had indicated the search was going to take place in the Upper Lake area, near where the couple had purchased gas on Jan. 16. Barrett's uncle, Richard Jenkins, was reportedly flying with the helicopter crew.

Genevieve Glassy, Barrett's stepmother, said the couple had crossed a road that washed out as a result of recent storms.

Shortly after 4:30 p.m., the helicopter with the couple and their dogs was en route to Lampson Airport outside of Lakeport, according to radio reports.

Glassy said Barrett had called his younger brother to say that he was OK but that he had to go, because his cell battery was running out. In the last several days, family and friends had worried because both Barrett's and Liu's cell phones had only gone to voice mail.

Lake County News will post updates on the story as they become available.

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