Miracle on the Mountain

Continuing the search was dangerous for the rescuers. Wind gusts were whipping falling snow at 20 miles an hour. The snow was blinding. The rescuers kept their flashlights and headlamps focused on the ground. The tracks seemed to lead into a forest of towering pine trees and huge boulders about seven miles from where the search started. They found Jacob's fire pit but no Jacob.

Jean's glimmer of hope faded when she found out that the search had been called off for the night.

Jim and Jean talked about going to Vail that night. But they were too tired to drive, and their nerves were shot. Jim searched travel Web sites for flights to Denver, but no more were leaving that night. Jim bought two tickets for an 8:30 a.m. flight on United Airlines on Monday, and Jean started packing.

The blizzard pounded Holy Cross Sunday night, dumping more snow on top of what had fallen Saturday. Jacob knew he had to set up camp. He searched for dry wood to start a fire. Finding burnable wood was impossible; the melted snow had soaked everything. Jacob tried to light a fire, but the little fluid left in the Bic wouldn't spark the wet wood. Without a fire and in soaking clothes, Jacob knew he was in for a long night.

He slipped off his blue jeans, thermal underwear, socks and shoes. They were too wet to wear and would surely freeze during the night. His thermal undershirt had stayed dry. He stripped it off and wore it over his legs. He pulled on his fleece and bundled up in his raincoat.

Jacob knew he was in the right valley. He could see the opening at the top of the pass where he and Josh had camped. He was certain it was the right way out. But it was getting dark, and heavy snow was falling. It was too late for him to hit the trail.

At nightfall, Jacob took shelter under a massive pine tree. Nearly three feet of needles had gathered under the tree. Jacob knew he couldn't leave his skin exposed to the cold. His skin would be frostbitten, and he'd face amputation. Instinct took over. Jacob sat cross-legged and tucked his feet under his knees and thighs. He buried his legs up to his knees in the needles. He didn't realize that what he was doing was a survival technique; a chemical reaction between the needles and the soil produces heat.

Jacob also knew if he fell asleep, he'd freeze to death. He rocked back and forth, stretched every 20 minutes and massaged his thighs and legs to keep his blood pumping.

Staying awake was a struggle, especially when Jacob saw Josh sitting next to him under the pine tree.

"I got the car running," Josh said. "Subway is just down the street."

Jacob couldn't believe what he was seeing. He was alone. But his brother wouldn't go away.

"Put the heat on my feet," Jacob said.

Jacob sat with the apparition under the pine tree and waited for the sun to come up.

By sunup, Jacob's shoes were ice blocks. His socks, jeans and thermal underwear were also frozen. Jacob had no choice but to slip on his frozen sneakers. He ditched the rest and continued wearing his thermal shirt as pants.

Jacob had no idea that anyone was looking for him. He heard no helicopters, dogs or airplanes.

He decided to climb up again toward Half Moon Pass. If he could find the path, his Jeep would be just a couple of miles away. He knew if he could make it there, he could drive to the hospital.

But Jacob still wasn't sure he was headed in the right direction. Trees blocked his view, and his string of bad luck rattled his certainty.

Jacob's gloved hands were now wet and numb. His feet had also gone numb in his iced shoes; it was as if they weren't there at all. Without feeling in his feet, Jacob took a few spills and slid down a steep incline. He spent most of his climb up Half Moon Pass on his hands and knees, grabbing onto trees and pulling himself up. He set small objectives — spot a tree, then make a goal of crawling to it. Trees blocked his view. He couldn't see what was coming.

Three hours into the climb, he stopped under a tree to rest. He took off his shoes. His feet had turned a purplish-green. He had to keep going, or he'd lose his feet. He slipped his shoes back on immediately.

An hour later, he reached the campsite that the brothers had used before their ascent. Rescue workers had left freeze-dried food there in case Jacob returned. But the heavy snow had buried it, and Jacob didn't see it.