Skier survives 4 nights in snow
2004-01-05 18:20
Seattle - A 25-year-old skier missing for four days and four freezing nights in the central Cascade Mountains was found alive after rescuers spotted his fresh tracks by helicopter.
"It's unbelievable - four tough nights in the teens (minus 7 to minus 12 Celsius) with no food, no water, just normal ski gear and a helmet," said King County Sheriff's Lieutenant Jim Fuda.
Dan Witkowski was "lucid and talking", Fuda said on Sunday night.
He told Fuda that he got turned around while skiing Wednesday, so decided to head downhill in hopes of finding his way out.
So for four days, he kept moving, resting in the dips of snow surrounding tree trunks to get out of the wind. He told Fuda his longest break was two hours.
"He's whupped," Fuda said.
Witkowski was listed in critical condition on Sunday night at Harbourview Medical Centre, a nursing supervisor said. She could not provide any more information.
Scores of people had been looking for the Ellensburg resident since he was reported missing on Thursday. Witkowski had failed to meet up with friends on New Year's Eve and his car was found parked at the Alpental ski area in Snoqualmie Pass, off Interstate 90 about 64km east of Seattle.
About 30cm of snow fell in the area on Saturday, and searchers feared that if they didn't find him in the clear daylight on Sunday, they might not find him at all. A bad storm was expected on Monday.
- SAPA