Rescuer: Climber who amputated arm had no choice

USA Today ^

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP)

[martin_fierro]

That is one tough dude.

[Mears]

I can't imagine the courage it takes to do something like that.

[oldcomputerguy]

"I can't imagine the courage it takes to do something like that. "

When the alternative is death and the will to survive is strong, it makes many things possible.

[Wright is right!]

We certainly hope that when he goes on his next hike, he bothers to tell someone back at base where he's going - and takes along another buddy hiker. He will forever pay for not doing either this time around.

Yup he's brave. But he didn't have to be.

Michael

[Joe Hadenuf]

My kids were taught at a young age to never go out into the boonies on your own, as that's just inviting trouble.......

[Lee Heggy]

Right up there with Sir Douglas Mawson. Check him out if you want to know what real courage and toughness is.

[Huck]

Ditto. Powerful lesson for those of us with two arms and a yen for adventure. I was telling my wife the same two things you pointed out. The southwest is full of thrill seeker/ risk takers. Many die every year tempting fate in avalanche country, mountaineering in monsoon season, risking lightening strikes, exposure, etc.

[dead]

He's tough enough to be a Hemingway character.

Somebody from "A Farewell to Arms" for example.

[lsee]

Yup he's brave. But he didn't have to be.

Good point. I hope he lives to hike another day.

[Jeff Head]

This guy has a whole lot of grit.

Ralston was hiking Saturday when he became pinned by the boulder. He ran out of water on Tuesday and on Thursday morning, he decided that his survival required drastic action.

Using a pocketknife, Ralston cut off his right arm below the elbow and applied a tourniquet and administered first aid. He then rigged anchors, fixed a rope and rappelled 60 feet to the canyon floor ...

Ralston described ... what he had done and that he was "obviously tired." His only request was water.

The rescurers tried to keep Ralston awake for the 12-minute flight to the hospital in Moab, Utah, by talking to him. He walked into the emergency room on his own. He was flown later to the Grand Junction hospital.

[strela]

Coyote Ugly - The Wilderness Version

[Grampa Dave]

Incredible!

[photogirl]

ping

[Joe Brower]

You're terrible, dead! $;-)

He is indeed a hard individual -- you have to "hand" him that!

[headsonpikes]

Back in '73, I leased a cedar pole claim from a Canadian WWII vet with seven lemon-size exit wounds in his back from a machine-gunning in Italy.

Around 1970, he'd been operating a D6 Cat on a sidehill logging show, when he screwed up and had the machine roll over on him. Pinned underneath, and slowly being pressed into the muck below, he gave instructions to his faller/bucker rescuers on how to run the Cat, the winch, and the various controls to pull the dozer off him.

When I knew 'Wild Bill', he could still scramble around the bush like a d*mned sasquatch!

There are some very tough people in this world. And I'm glad!

They're an inspiration to us all.

[LibWhacker]

Ages ago my Dad lost a leg in a solo wilderness adventure. If you're going to the boonies, tell someone exactly where you're going and take a buddy and phone (or radio). It's fun to go by yourself, but can be risky!

[scott7278]

"Vetere said Ralston described to them what he had done..."

You mean they didn't notice? ;)

[flying Elvis]

Don't you mean, "A Farewell to Arm"?

[scott7278]

"We certainly hope that when he goes on his next hike, he bothers to tell someone back at base where he's going - and takes along another buddy hiker."

Yeah, because he'll have a lot of trouble if it happens again alone. He'll have to do a lot of tugging!