He had to walk out over the mountains and suffered extreme frostbite .
In the winter of 1857 -- 58 , he was nearly frozen to death in the mountains of California , where he was the sole survivor of a silver - mining party .
survivor had to walk out over the mountains and suffered extreme frostbite .
In the winter of 1857 -- 58 , he was nearly frozen to death in the mountains of California , where he was the sole survivor of a silver - mining party .