He was trying to qualify for a pizza promised by a local business to anyone who could make it to a radio tower on Mount Elden, overlooking Flagstaff in Arizona. The elevation of the mountain is more than 9,000ft.

A Forest Service lookout at the tower provided shelter to the 30-year-old man, said Coconino County Sheriff's Commander Rex Gilliland. The man's identity was not made public.

The mountain had several inches of snow from a spring storm when authorities received a report of the man in trouble and asked the lookout to check for him, Mr Gilliland said.

The man was unaware of the forecast or disregarded it when he set out on Tuesday morning, Mr Gilliland added.

"Regardless of what this business offers ... the responsibility falls back to the individual to make good, sound decisions about what they're going to do."

The freezing temperature and snowfall on the mountain were clear signs that the hike would be dangerous, he said.

"It shouldn't have been a surprise."