Just before noon on Wednesday, a Sheriff's helicopter crew spotted a vehicle matching the description of the Toyota 4Runner belonging to Paula Beth James buried in snow in the Butte Meadows area, that's at the 4,300-foot elevation.
The chopper landed and a crew hiked to the vehicle 150 yards off the road on Skyway and found James alive inside the car.
A search and rescue team responded with a snowcat to bring her to waiting paramedics.
James was taken to the hospital and is currently in stable condition.