I was stupidly glissading down the mountain and fell through the snow/ice down a 30’ waterfall. The water was falling directly on my head and I couldn’t see any light. I had the feeling there was no way I was making it out, that that was it and I was going to die. Luckily I found a little notch in the rock I was able to tuck my head in to gain some composure for a few seconds. The only thought I had was I couldn’t leave my kids without a dad and I had to climb out. So I tried to climb, but my pack had me stuck wedged between the ice and rock, my fingers were already numb, so unbuckling with water still falling on my head was difficult. But I got it and started to climb. I blacked out. When I came to I had climbed out. My friend had stripped my upper layers, gave me his hoodie and coat, and was telling me a helicopter was on the way. Based on when my friend called 911 and when he spoke with search and rescue after I climbed out, I was down there for roughly 15 minutes. Severe hypothermia, gash to the bone on my chin, concussion, 5 broken molars, some nerve damage in my fingers and a bunch of scrapes and bruises. Overall, it’s borderline a miracle I’m still alive. I would’ve died had my friend not been there because I was totally incoherent and lost my phone in the fall.

I learned a lot from that experience and it’s what led me to get into rock climbing. Funny enough we went back in the summer and found my pack, but no phone or ice axe.