The Man The Mountain Couldn't Kill  The Man The Mountain
Couldn't Kill »Play Video SEATTLE - Dan Witkowski knew this day
would come.  He knew he'd hear that sound of his boots snapping
into his ski bindings again. He knew he'd see his skis pointed
down a run and feel the downhill thrill.  He knew this day would
come, but he came so close to losing it forever.  It was New
Year's Eve 2003 when Dan, an experienced skier, made a decision
that nearly cost him his life. It was what skiers call a
"bluebird" day -- clear, cold and a lot of fresh powder.  Dan
rode to the top of Alpental and went out into the backcountry
alone.  He never thought he'd get lost, but on his second run he
did. Dan spent hours wandering through the snow, looking for a
way out.  "It was super cold the first night and I remember just
shivering so hard," he said.  Searchers began looking for him,
and the hours of searching slowly turned into days. Then a
snowstorm hit, followed by brutally cold weather.  By the third
night, Dan had lost his gl