At more than 6,000 feet, Coppell High School geometry teacher Philip Smith learned a lesson.

“My first mistake was going alone,” Smith said.

When Smith reached the trailhead of Vesper Peak in Washington, at about 4,000 feet elevation, a life-altering event was just around the corner.

“When I was almost to the top, it started to get snowy, and I decided to keep going,” Smith said. “That was my next mistake because I didn’t have the gear. I was going around the other side when I slipped on ice. I was sliding down for about 10 feet, scratching and clawing, trying to stop, but I couldn’t.”

Subsequently, Smith suffered a leg injury when it was caught in a tree before tumbling head over heels down the mountain, landing on a pile of rocks.

“I was gushing from my head and my hands, with bruises on my arms, and my ankle had ligament damage,” Smith said. “I slithered down the mountain and ended up getting to the trail, but I probably had another two hours or so down the mountain.”

Smith attempted to drive himself to the hospital, however during the tumble, his phone and wallet were lost in the snow. As a result, he had little direction to the nearest hospital without a navigation system.

“I headed back to my little cabin in Washington, woke my dad up, got his phone and navigated to a hospital,” Smith said. “The doctors ended up deciding I needed emergency surgery on my abdominal wall from the puncture I had; I was bleeding out. They said it would’ve taken another day for me to bleed out or die.”

After successful abdominal wall surgery, Smith reached out to other family members, not wanting them to worry, realizing how close he came to death.

“There was no way for me to stop,” Smith said. “This silence came over me whenever I had that thought of just giving up and accepting it.”

Smith’s recovery became an unbearable experience, and it took a two-week recovery until he felt comfortable hiking again in his orthopedic boot. However, filled with impatience and eagerness to get back to his normal life, he resumed teaching shortly after.

“I was so shocked,” Coppell sophomore Brynna Lyon said “He came back so quickly from injury and returned right after to teach. He’s very capable in his teaching ability, coming in early to make sure his students understand the material. It’s not just for his class average, but because he wants us to succeed.”

Nathan Smith, Smith’s brother, supports him and admires his courage in facing challenges. Just off California State Route 1, Philip Smith sensed a hidden gem nearby. After hiking and exploring, they discovered Salmon Creek Falls, a waterfall that pours into a pool.

Nathan Smith has a connection to nature, understanding the mix between boundaries and warnings combined with breathtaking views.

“Nature and all its beauty humbles us, both in absorbing its beauty and in reminding us of our fragility and mortality,” Nathan Smith said. “I have always preached caution and respect for the outdoors; always stay on established trails unless you have the equipment for an extended time in nature, and make sure people know where you are. When Philip started getting into climbing and hiking, I said the same to him, hoping he’d embrace the same mentality.”

During Smith’s climbing in the cold weather, his mother’s phone rang, and a look of devastation surfaced on her face that told Nathan enough.

“I was at home with my mom when I heard,” Nathan Smith said. “He reached out to her first, and I could tell from her reaction that something serious happened. That conversation with her and seeing her initial reaction is something I don’t think I’ll ever forget.”

The Smith brothers have an emotional bond especially evident during the snowy peak incident.

“Philip got so incredibly lucky that day and so did all of our family,” Nathan Smith said. “I can’t imagine a life without him, and I look forward to many more years and decades with him.”

Nathan Smith admires his brother’s ability to see potential in people that others can’t.

“Philip’s ability to create opportunities for others to express themselves creatively and intellectually is incredible,” Nathan Smith said. “His drive and commitment to teaching and helping students is something I wish I had in more teachers when I was in college. His caring nature brings my family and I so much joy.”

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