A helicopter located four hikers today, about 12 hours after they were scheduled to return home from a weekend of skiing and snowshoeing in Whitehorse.

The group left on the trip Saturday at around noon.

They were due back at their car Sunday night to make the drive home, RCMP Sgt. Don Rogers said early this afternoon.

"They were supposed to call a friend when they arrived, and that friend didn't hear from them, and the RCMP were called,” said the police spokesman.

The group was spotted this afternoon suffering only frostbite.

It is unclear how close they were to their car.

Police had not spoken to the group in time for this afternoon's press deadline to find out exactly where they spent the night.

They were believed to have provisions with them during the trip, but Rogers said it was unclear if they were prepared for extreme cold.

Last night's temperature dropped to -39 degrees Celsius in Whitehorse, and colder in outlying areas.

Rogers said the group left clear information with friends as to the route they were planning to travel.

The police did not release the group's travel route to prevent the public from coming out to interfere with the search.

The quartet's ages and experience levels were not known before press time.