VAIL, Colo.—A Missouri hiker found alive after spending two snowy nights in the mountains said Tuesday he was just happy to be alive.
Jacob Gately, 23, of Lee’s Summit was rescued Monday from the Holy Cross Wilderness.
“I wasn’t going to let the mountain have me,” he said Tuesday from a wheelchair during a news conference at Vail Valley Medical Center. “I’m just happy to be alive.”
He and his 24-year-old brother, Josh, were coming down from the summit of the 14,005-foot Mount of the Holy Cross when they became separated Saturday.
Jacob Gately was found two days later suffering from mild hypothermia, fatigue, an electrolyte imbalance and minor frostbite on his feet.
“His frostbite is fairly superficial, and it’s unlikely he’ll lose any significant amount of tissue,” Dr. Chip Woodland said Tuesday. “It’s fairly amazing that he didn’t have more significant tissue damage.”
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Information from: Vail Daily,
