Rocks crumbled beneath my feet as I firmly held onto the rough edges of the mountain.

The slope was so steep I had to dig my fingers into the rock to keep me from sliding back.

I could feel my breath disappearing in the cold air as I pushed myself higher. I had been climbing for what felt like hours or maybe even days. My hands were numb, my legs exhausted, and I had no idea how much longer I could keep going.

To make matters worse, the snowfall grew heavier with each passing minute, making ...