Miracle on the Mountain — Mike Couillard

It was a cold yet breathtakingly beautiful day in January 1995 when Mike Couillard, a United States Air Force officer on assignment in Turkey, took his son Matthew skiing. As they rode the T-bar to the magnificent peaks of the 7,300-foot-high Kartalkaya Mountain, there was nothing to foretell the nightmare that was to come.It was the middle of the afternoon when they reached the top and, although it had started to snow, they still had time to ski. An experienced skier, Mike made note of his surroundings and kept the overhead line in sight as they glided downward. But suddenly the snow fell harder, visibility decreased, hidden rocks sent them plunging into the snow, and dense stands of pine trees forced them off the trail. Desperately, they looked for the lift line - or anything familiar - and saw nothing but white. They were lost.In the days that followed, Mike and his son desperately fought cold and hunger, while U.S. and Turkish teams were conducting a massive search and the story was making headlines throughout the world. But as hope for survival dwindled, their family and friends could do nothing but pray. Mike a Matt also asked for God's help, as Mike made the most difficult decision of his life - on that could mean death or salvation.