Searchers were trying to find him ever since he was separated from his father near Castle Peak on Monday morning during a snow storm. Finkelstein and his father were headed to a cabin in the Tahoe National Forest near Donner Summit. Finkelstein's father was able to get back to their car and he called authorities around 5 p.m. after his son failed to show up.
Sheriff's Capt. Jeff Pettitt said search and rescue volunteers scoured the area on foot all night, despite the freezing temperatures and snowfall. The weather, however, was not allowing for search efforts by air.
Officials say Finkelstein is an experienced snowboarder and was dressed for the elements, but did not have food and water with him.
He survived overnight by using his snowboard and debris to build a shelter. Finkelstein wandered around on his snowboard until he found a residence near Soda Springs on Tuesday evening.
The sheriff's department says he has some superficial frostbite, but he should be OK.
