Aron Ralston: the man who was trapped 127 hours inside Bluejohn Canyon, Utah.
On April 28th, 2003, 28 year old Aron Ralston would face 5 excruciating days that 99% of us would not be able to handle emotionally as well as psychologically. It would all begin when he decided to go on a solo trip to explore the caverns of Bluejohn Canyon, Utah. While making his way inside one of the caverns, the unthinkable happens to him. While climbing down, he slips and falls down with a 800 pound boulder, trapping his right arm against the wall. Stuck 30 meters below surface level, as well as in the middle of nowhere, with very little food or water, Aron was basically left here to die.
He would face multiple challenges when it came to his health. His hand had no circulation, so it was starting to deteriorate, his food + water would only be enough to last him a couple of days if he rationed it out properly, and finally hyperthermia – due to the cold temperatures in the caverns at night. Miracualsy, he would somehow manage to hold off until the fifth day, when he recalls he was struck with a vision + epiphany on the same day. He distinctly remembers seeing himself with a three year old boy, thinking that the boy was his future son. This gave him the hope and motivation that there was still a future life for him.
During this he would also come to the realization that in order to break free from the boulder, he would have to break his own arm, and cut it off as well with a dull pocket knife that he had. It was an absolute medical miracle he made it out after completing this procedure on his own. Once he finally broke out, his journey was only half way finished. He still had to make his way out of the cavern, rappel down a 65 foot drop and hike 7 miles to safety. Along the way he would eventually make contact with other hikers, and ask them for help. A safety chopper would be called in to quickly transport Aron to the nearest hospital.
After this, the silver-lining for Aron was that he became an overnight celebrity. He would be featured on every American talk show there is, as well as being featured on magazines such as GQ and Vanity Fair. 7 years later a movie would be made about his experience – 127 Hours, starring James Franco as Aron Ralston.
You would also think that after such a traumatizing and life-changing event, it would make you want to quit and not do this anymore… Well that wasn’t the case with Aron. he would continue to carry on adventuring and climbing different mountains around the world as well as appearing on different survival shows. Currently Aron continues on his life as a public speaker on his experience and as an environmental advocate for disabled people to experience nature for themselves, and not be limited by their circumstances.
