did anyone see this on Dateline NBC last Friday? [Archive] - T4T Forums

2plankerider

09-15-2004, 12:13 PM

i remember hearing about it when it happened, but to hear the play by play as it happened was pretty intense. he had a video camera that he would speak into from time to time about all that was going on....they played the audio portion of it, but did not show images:eek:
http://outside.away.com/outside/features/200409/aron_ralston_1.html
another fine example of survival and putting mind over matter

a :beer: for Aron! (left handed of course) :D hmmmmmm wonder if he has a beer drinking apparatus he can attach to his prosthesis?

DMC

09-15-2004, 12:16 PM

a :beer: for Aron! (left handed of course) :D hmmmmmm wonder if he has a beer drinking apparatus he can attach to his prosthesis?

A beer for a guy that goes alone into the back coutry without letting people where he's going and when to expect him back??? No way!

Sorry - but - this guy may have made some great Phish recordings but he's NO hero in my book...

Affix Snow

09-15-2004, 12:24 PM

Its amazing he is alive.
One must applaud his will to live.

One should also make sure someone knows where you are going, if going alone.

09-15-2004, 12:27 PM

I started reading it... then it wanted me to register... then my boss wanted me to to some work... so - I didn't read it all but I think I've heard the story before.

If serves as a lesson to anyone to leave your itenerary with another person who is NOT going with you, then it's a good thing. Even if you're not alone, you should let SOMEONE know where your off to and when to start worrying about you.

(I'm goint to the cafeteria now... I should be back in less than an hour)

M@

Bannick

09-15-2004, 12:47 PM

I watched it and it made me really really angry. Totally irresponsible. I could not believe putting my friends and family through that. I think I yelled at him on the tv a couple of times even. My mum freaks out about my outdoor pursuits when she hears about stuff like this. Did I mention how angry I am :mad: :mad: :mad:?

DMC

09-15-2004, 12:50 PM

Bannick

09-15-2004, 01:11 PM

Don't even get me started about how he defied his friends advice and got stuck up to his neck in an avalanche skiing in a "red zone"...
Ya I thought I wouldn't mention that one. It really frustrates me when people are just down right arrogant.

Huckasaurass

09-15-2004, 01:21 PM

This guy made a mistake and it dearly cost him.

I just wanted to make the point that this guy was a VERY experienced mountianeer...he was not a novice that just decided to go hiking alone. I agree that you should NEVER go into a situation like this without letting somone know your plans, but it was an oversight, he obviously didn't intend on this happeneing.

As for the avalanche zone...read a book call In the Path of an Avalanche by Vivian Bowers...you'll see that these "heli" tours and even super experienced backcoutry skiers go into severe avalanche territory all the time...its a risk you take. The above book really opened my eyes to the power of an avalanche and how little ANYONE knows about them...

Man I LOVE debate...

Matt

Bannick

09-15-2004, 01:28 PM

Experienced or not he went without telling anyone. It doesn't matter that the severity of the injury would proly have meant amputation anyway.

Avalaches are totally unpredictable but going with knowledge on your side helps. A red zone or a closed posting is just that. Don't go. The patrolers at Baker will walk the lift lines in the morning after big dumps when the back country or even some inbounds areas are unstable even to look at and warn people not to go "it is closed...you will die simple and we probably won't find your body till the summer".

Tommy T

09-15-2004, 01:37 PM

There are worse things than dying -- like not living because of media-fanned flames of fear.

There are worse things than going alone-- like not going or going with jerks.

Tommy T.

elwood

09-15-2004, 01:56 PM

A beer for a guy that goes alone into the back coutry without letting people where he's going and when to expect him back??? No way!

Sorry - but - this guy may have made some great Phish recordings but he's NO hero in my book...

He's more of a String Cheese head anyway.

09-15-2004, 02:49 PM

Great explorers have opened the path for us all...
There is no safe thought or deed, we are not safe and we cannot be safe. We might be safer, but every breath we take is a risk, whether we like it or not.

Every newborn, takes the risk because it has to to survive. I'm pretty sure the result is painful, what with all the crying.

I'm with Tommy on this. What kind of life will it be without risk.

Figures with all the solo climbing that would leave me a minimum of 72 hours from assistance even with telling folks where I am going. If I got in trouble on Saturday and wasn't missed until Wednesday......

Huckasaurass

09-15-2004, 02:50 PM

There are worse things than dying -- like not living because of media-fanned flames of fear.

There are worse things than going alone-- like not going or going with jerks.

Tommy T.

I knew I liked you for some reason TOMMY.....

Matt

Bannick

09-15-2004, 02:57 PM

well well well.....so in an effort to blow off some steam due to a situation this morning here at work I decide to go for a walk at lunch to visit our local co-operative outdoor gear concern, Mountain Equipment Co-op (like REI but not as good maybe). I walk in and head up the stairs and low and behold who do I literally run into on the stair landing being interviewed for "Book TV" but your friend and Datelines...Aron Ralston himself. I kid you not. Sweet seet irony.

So delemna...do I confront, ignore or suckepunch??? What to do, what to do. I instantly have to step back a bit becuase who is doing the interview but one of my clients and who is doing the camera work but an old friend. So I first choose to igonre, continue up the stairs to the 2nd floor and go about my business.

I proceed to look at new "approach shoes", jackets, paddling books all the while shooting seering glances towards him from the 2nd floor balcony above. With purpose I walked around the upper railing "browsing the product", circling like a turkey vulture above. "Bring back memories Aron?" I thought to myself.

Finally my moment....the interview done, my client and friend leave, I start down the stairs. Holding my head high I move stealthly around the few people mingling around the stair landing where Aron is standing. I catch his eye, walk towards him as if to make a connection. He looks at me, and I at him. I fake a pause as if to engage in conversation and as I slip past him I look him once again in the eye and say..."My mum says hello.". I continue down the stairs out the door, never looking back.

My day has turned around. :D

2plankerider

09-15-2004, 04:16 PM

WHOOOOOA.... don't get me wrong. what he did was abosutely :doh:

as far as NOT telling anyone. He paid the price for that for sure. What captivated me was how as a human you get to a point where you have no option but to hack off a limb.... that is just effed up to me. :eek:

being stupid doesn't make him a hero, but how he survived his stupidity is a pretty wild story...

09-15-2004, 04:22 PM

Aron Ralston himself. I kid you not. Sweet seet irony.
That's really the most coincedental thing I've heard today!

M@

BladeGirl

09-15-2004, 04:46 PM

On another note, as a femme I have to say, that picture of him on the first page is totally beefcake! ;)

-K
"I like 'em big and stupid"
Julie Brown

skicdave

09-15-2004, 05:17 PM

Quite the story!... and talk about co-incidence Bannick!

Never did find the end of it.. I gather he ripped his arm off.. then what?

PS. Good reason to always carry :ducttape: into the wilds!!

Affix Snow

09-15-2004, 05:23 PM

On another note, as a femme I have to say, that picture of him on the first page is totally beefcake! ;)

-K
"I like 'em big and stupid"
Julie Brown

exposed t-bone beefcake....get it? T-bone. "beef" cake. exposed. "t-bone." sorry bad joke :) Im going to hell.

Sorry BG. :)

PWDR8S

09-15-2004, 05:33 PM

I'm with Tommy on this. Yet Aron's neglecting to advise anyone... I mean anyone, of the general area and time frame doesn't help make him a hero by any stretch. I feel for the others who love and care for him. Personal will and strength is always found within and one can achieve amazing things in the face of disaster. If he chooses not to advise anyone, that is his perogative.... just don't expect sympathy form me.

Fortunately, I have not had the misfortune to need rescueing in the wild. My friends and contacts I use know of my habits and preferences.... such as, if no contact within 2 days after intended return, check the weather. If bad, send in the search, if ok wait a day. I set these rules and they work for me depending upon where I go. Sometimes treks into the jungles of Peru take almost a week longer than planned and that is taken into account and handled accordingly.

On another note, I've been in 2 avalanches and they weren't in posted zones and were definately my being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Imagine being thrown into a cement mixer while it's churning. Trees can be friend or foe in an avalanche depending on how you hit them.

PWDR8S

09-15-2004, 05:37 PM

exposed t-bone beefcake....get it? T-bone. "beef" cake. exposed. "t-bone." sorry bad joke :) Im going to hell.

Sorry BG. :)

Ohhhhh MAN! Harsh imagery! Rude, crude, and socially unacceptable.... I LIKE IT! http://www.timefortuckerman.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Yes.... ducttape should be mandatory equipment!

elwood

09-15-2004, 06:55 PM

On another note, as a femme I have to say, that picture of him on the first page is totally beefcake! ;)

-K
"I like 'em big and stupid"
Julie Brown

Beefcake? With those puny arms? He's a girlieman. :)

DMC

09-15-2004, 09:54 PM

I knew I liked you for some reason TOMMY.....

Matt

Jeeze - what a suck up...

;)

DMC

09-15-2004, 10:01 PM

There are worse things than dying -- like not living because of media-fanned flames of fear.

There are worse things than going alone-- like not going or going with jerks.

Tommy T.

I guess I approach this from my experience level which obviously isn't close to yours... And I'm being totally serious..

I'm a relative newbie to serious back country, who doesn't like to take too much risk. I tell people I'm leaving and when I'm returning even in the Catskills..

My apologies to the experienced back country people that are used to these types of risks..

I still would never think of it...

DMC

09-15-2004, 10:03 PM

On another note, I've been in 2 avalanches and they weren't in posted zones and were definately my being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Did people warn you not to go???

And do you brag about it now?

kmrnskier

09-16-2004, 12:31 AM

There are worse things than going alone-- like not going or going with jerks.

Tommy T.

SOOOOOOOO true!!

gwest

09-16-2004, 02:34 AM

..you'll see that these "heli" tours and even super experienced backcoutry skiers go into severe avalanche territory all the time...its a risk you take.

I disagree with this statement. It is NOT a risk you take. I would say that Heli tours would not bring clients into a high avalanche danger area, and super experienced people definitely do not put themselves in that kind of danger. In warren miller movies people are setting off avalanches all the time, however, most of them are super strong skiers who have a decent shot at skiing out of a slide. Also, they're on steep enough terrain that the chance of a major avalanche is very low, most are just sluff avalanches. Skiing in a high avy danger area is just stupid. Experienced bc skiers want to live to ski another day, and will not ski in high avalanche danger conditions. You run a big enough risk of encountering an avalanche in low or moderate danger.

Huckasaurass

09-16-2004, 08:30 AM

I guess I approach this from my experience level which obviously isn't close to yours... And I'm being totally serious..

I'm a relative newbie to serious back country, who doesn't like to take too much risk. I tell people I'm leaving and when I'm returning even in the Catskills..

My apologies to the experienced back country people that are used to these types of risks..

I still would never think of it...

I am not a suck up....HA HA HA
;)

I did want to say something I negelected to say yesterday though.

This guy was an experienced climber, I think it said he climbed 50 14,000ft mountians in CO...SOLO!!!! Obviously those times someone knew his whereabouts.

I also think that ever if he had told someone where he was going they wouldnt have found him for a couple days and the arm would still be GONE...Finding him in general even if you knew where the trailhead was would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. It was just an accident and a horrible one at that, I admire his will to survive and the guts it mustve taken to cut his own arm off.

I know i'd have probably died..

Matt

elwood

09-16-2004, 08:45 AM

I admire his will to survive and the guts it mustve taken to cut his own arm off.

I know i'd have probably died..

Matt

That's BS. If any one of us were in that position I think we would have done the same thing. It didn't take an enormous amount of courage to cut his arm off. He was scared ****less that he was going to die! The human will to survive is a lot more powerful than you give credit. All I know is there is only ONE body part I have that I would NEVER consider lopping off...

Justin

09-16-2004, 08:59 AM

All I know is there is only ONE body part I have that I would NEVER consider lopping off...

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to elwood again.

Huckasaurass

09-16-2004, 09:09 AM

That's BS. If any one of us were in that position I think we would have done the same thing. It didn't take an enormous amount of courage to cut his arm off. He was scared ****less that he was going to die! The human will to survive is a lot more powerful than you give credit. All I know is there is only ONE body part I have that I would NEVER consider lopping off...

Well if we're thinking of the smae body part...I wouldnt either...and ummm I hope it never gets stuck anywhere either....

Matt

elwood

09-16-2004, 09:12 AM

Well if we're thinking of the smae body part...I wouldnt either...and ummm I hope it never gets stuck anywhere either....

Matt

This thread is going downhill in 5...4...3...2...

Just be careful where you stick it!

Huckasaurass

09-16-2004, 09:16 AM

This thread is going downhill in 5...4...3...2...

Just be careful where you stick it!

I almost added one place I wouldnt mind having it stuck but thought better as there are ladies who frequent this board....

Matt

DMC

09-16-2004, 09:30 AM

In my humblest - newbie opinion...
Ralston was not prepared for anything to go wrong..

He was ****y and he paid...

Huckasaurass

09-16-2004, 09:32 AM

In my humblest - newbie opinion...
Ralston was not prepared for anything to go wrong..

He was ****y and he paid...

How could you be prepared for that EVER? I mean...it couldve happened to anyone...and again...even if he told someone where he'd be....he'd still have gotten into the accident and still have lost the arm....

That's my humblest "newbie" opinion....

Matt.

DMC

09-16-2004, 09:38 AM

Oh - I don't know....
A cell phone - a radio - extra food and water - a wistle - a signal flair...
A plan....

Huckasaurass

09-16-2004, 09:42 AM

Oh - I don't know....
A cell phone - a radio - extra food and water - a wistle - a signal flair...
A plan....

I think the cell phone is a moot point...maybe the radio..and ceritanly a whistle...but agian this guy was experienced in high mountian climbing, this was basic canyoning...accidents happen....

Oh and I dont for a minute think this guy is a hero just think the story is great, and I agree that you should never go out alone without letting someone know where you're going to be...he obviously regrets that more that we will ever know and admits his mistake...he paid.....no doubt...

Matt

DMC

09-16-2004, 09:47 AM

I think the cell phone is a moot point...maybe the radio..and ceritanly a whistle...but agian this guy was experienced in high mountian climbing, this was basic canyoning...accidents happen....

Oh and I dont for a minute think this guy is a hero just think the story is great, and I agree that you should never go out alone without letting someone know where you're going to be...he obviously regrets that more that we will ever know and admits his mistake...he paid.....no doubt...

Matt

Fine... Accidents happen...

Huckasaurass

09-16-2004, 09:55 AM

Fine... Accidents happen...

Ha I win....Kidding....

I do agree with you that he was stupid...just so you know....

Matt

DMC

09-16-2004, 09:57 AM

Cool... We agree...

You win... I'm coolwith that...

Huckasaurass

09-16-2004, 09:58 AM

Cool... We agree...

You win... I'm coolwith that...

Its certianly not a win.....we all have our beliefs and opinions...I just think mine are the best...DUH....

Hey I am as inexperienced in the backcoutry, if not more so than you....so I know i'd be wearing a friggin homing beacon, just in case something happened....

Matt.

DMC

09-16-2004, 10:00 AM

Cool... You opinions are best!
I'm cool with that too...

elwood

09-16-2004, 10:09 AM

I hate how being an idiot gets you national attention and a seat on the couch on the Leno show.

Huckasaurass

09-16-2004, 10:11 AM

I hate how being an idiot gets you national attention and a seat on the couch on the Leno show.

He certianly doesnt deserve to be commebded for his actions, it is a good story.....but LENO? cmon...I bet OAFRAH is next?

HA OAFrah.....

man I kill me.

Matt

Affix Snow

09-16-2004, 10:39 AM

Beefcake? With those puny arms? He's a girlieman. :)

:D agreed.

Justin

09-16-2004, 10:45 AM

I hate how being an idiot gets you national attention and a seat on the couch on the Leno show.

International even...

http://www.examiner.ie/breaking/2004/09/13/story166372.html

2plankerider

09-16-2004, 10:49 AM

I hate how being an idiot gets you national attention and a seat on the couch on the Leno show.

sad, but so true...

again, i DO beleive he is "DUMB DUMB DUMB" as Aron himself kept reiterating these words into the camera that he had with him during his ordeal.Doesn't make him a hero, NO WAY.
it was the whole play by play thing that Dateline did that captivated me. being stuck without sleep for 90 plus hours in standing position, dozing in and out of reality, losing 40 pounds, drinking your own urine, running out of food, little clothing and cold nights only to realize you have no other option but to cut your hand off with a DULL imitation leatherman. oh yeah, had to break his bones first, because he knew the knife couldn't do it. Then walk out back through the canyon for miles and miles, only to have to rappel down a few hundred feet and then hike back up 800 vertical feet to your car. Oh yeah, and lose 25% of your blood ta boot!
to me, an amazing story....

DMC

09-16-2004, 12:31 PM

I wouldnt want him on a trip with me...

But then again - maybe I'm the jerk that Tommy was referring to - so Aron probably wouldnt want me either...

elwood

09-16-2004, 02:35 PM

F*&king Jerk! ;)

DMC

09-16-2004, 02:37 PM

F*&king Jerk! ;)
Guilty as charged!!! ;)

09-16-2004, 02:38 PM

Everybody's a jerk to somebody.

Kinda like - when you see a .. um... a "Very Beautiful Woman"... you can be sure that somewhere there is some guy whose sick of her hsit.

M@

DMC

09-16-2004, 02:53 PM

Everybody's a jerk to somebody.

Kinda like - when you see a .. um... a "Very Beautiful Woman"... you can be sure that somewhere there is some guy whose sick of her hsit.

M@
I get called a jerk a lot... Mainly because I tend to be outspoken...
As many of you already know.... ;)

Huckasaurass

09-16-2004, 02:56 PM

I get called a jerk a lot... Mainly because I tend to be outspoken...
As many of you already know.... ;)

Jerks RULE....and trust me i've been called way worse due to my "outspokenness"

Matt

DMC

09-16-2004, 03:04 PM

Jerks RULE....and trust me i've been called way worse due to my "outspokenness"

Matt
Once again - you win!!!

Good job!!

Huckasaurass

09-16-2004, 03:06 PM

Once again - you win!!!

Good job!!

OK Winning and JERKS rule.....

Nice

So when does the Huntah bc start?

Matt

PWDR8S

09-16-2004, 03:53 PM

Wow... I missed a lot of this thread.... go away for a little while and the world whizzes by. :cool:

Did people warn you not to go???

And do you brag about it now?Nope... nobody warned me and I do not brag about it. Few people know of my experiences unless it is relevant to a situation or conversation. It is a sobering experience where it forces one to enjoy every breath one takes. If it sounded like bragging, that was not my intent. I mentioned it because you can survive the bad situations and still enjoy the BC. This character and others are trying to maximise their proverbial 15 minutes of fame for some ego driven purpose. Since then (well... as of 3 years ago) I have taught avalanche avoidance courses. It is an interesting science in slide predicting.

It is easier now than ever to turn around than to push onwards and risk everything.

09-16-2004, 04:19 PM

Funny, I feel better about pushing on when I am alone. My feet don't get cold often and I rarely don't have extra supplies....
When there's more than me to consider, including SAR, then I'll turn back when companions are looking shakey or have doubts. I hate it, but I will turn back then. And then, ASAP, I will go right back and knock off that objective solo. I am on borrowed time already*...I am loathe to waste it....

* Bum knee, Arthritis, bad back, cars running me over, beat to pulp by different gangs, fifty foot ledge falls**...apparently I don't just roll over and die...always looking for expe partners with durability and emotional stability.

** Finished the pitch, but surrendered the lead after that.

PWDR8S

09-16-2004, 04:30 PM