Kicking out again, moving along, I found some larger tufts of grass and a slightly deeper ledge. With supreme effort, I managed to lift myself up onto my elbows and fall facedown into the deep powdery snow at the water’s edge. Snow thrust into my mouth and up my nostrils, making me cough and almost lose my grip. Closing my eyes, head down, I gave myself one final push on my arms and collapsed on my side into a drift.
