A runner wearing only shorts and a windbreaker who got lost in snowy conditions was found alive today by a California search and rescue team, nearly 48 hours after he disappeared.

Robert Root, 55, was running with seven other people in rugged terrain in a remote part of Placer County, about 60 miles northeast of Sacramento, Calif.

"The running group Sunday was split between slow runners and fast runners," Dena Erwin from the Placer County Sheriff's Department told ABC News today. "[Root] was initially running with the slower group and when his group stopped for a moment, Root decided to run ahead to join the faster group."

That was the last time Root was seen.

Hours later, the other runners realized Root was missing and began to sweep the rugged trail before calling authorities. The Placer County Sheriff's Department utilized about three dozen searchers and a helicopter Sunday, and continued through the night, lighting signal fires to attract Root.

Root was a member of the running club Shadowcase and his fellow runners were involved in the search for him, posting regular updates on its Facebook page.

The Placer County Sherriff's Department did not immediately respond to questions about Root's health conditions when he was rescued.