Article on dude who sawed off his hand.

[jon]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/sports/othersports/01ralston.html?hp

 

Didn't realize he wrote a book. Sounds like it has been a profitable experience for him. Kidding.

[Frenchy]

this story is still bouncing around?

[DirtyHarry]

I'm suprised he doesn't have a sponsorship deal from Leatherman.

[billcoe]

I'm suprised he doesn't have a sponsorship deal from Leatherman.

 

He had a Chinese knock off, might have kept the hand as the Leatherman would have successfully ground down or chewed up the rock (it was only sandstone) instead of being a weakassed piece of shit that failed when he needed it most. I read part of this book in Victors house while waiting for him to get off work in Yosemite and it was pretty good.

[CollinWoods]

I heard it was a pretty good book. That would be pretty intense to have to cut off your own hand ... If his hand was numb from loss of circulation i wonder how much it hurt.

[TRbetaFlash]

The one thing I learned from a situation like this is that if you are suffering through something, you have a better chance of getting through it if you think of something good happening in the future. It means if you have to cut off your hand, you just sit there and think of all the cool things you will be able to do with your new hook after you're done. When I'm suffering on some deathmarch in the middle of the woods, I just think about chilling out in town with my buddies.

[jordansahls]

I heard it was a pretty good book. That would be pretty intense to have to cut off your own hand ... If his hand was numb from loss of circulation i wonder how much it hurt.

 

Its interesting, in the book he talks about cutting around the tissue and muscle, and that didn't hurt much because it was dead, but when he had to cut the nerves, that part was excruciating. He passed out every time he tried to sever them, I think it took him a few tries.

[Hugh Conway]

The one thing I learned from a situation like this

 

I learned that no story is to stupid in America to produce an empire out of.

[Jim]

I received the book as a gift. It needed a good editor. Poorly written, horrible use of the language. The guy is more-or-less an idiot, not a risk-taker. He almost got himself killed on numerous occassions that would have made the Darwin files if not for dumb luck. Ironically the slot canyon incident was really a freak accident.

 

$37k for corporate speeches. People will throw money at anything. Another 15 minutes.

[DirtyHarry]

The guy is more-or-less an idiot, not a risk-taker. He almost got himself killed on numerous occassions that would have made the Darwin files if not for dumb luck.

 

One could argue that the same thing could be said about Joe Simpson. When Simpson nearly got himself killed in a variety of preventable mishaps before the crawl for life incident, it was probably from British bullheadedness and optimism, rather than stupidity. Simpson's redeamable qualities, of course, are that he is a good writer and he's not from Colorado.

[olyclimber]

with life, we risk death. daily.

[DirtyHarry]

A faint heart never fucked a pig.

[danhelmstadter]

i read his book a couple years ago, good read with a frightening grotesque account of his time in the slot.

 

Jim - I didn't get the impression he was an idiot. Seemed like he learned about the mountains without a teacher, and got lucky a number of times, I remmember admireing his passion.

 

Edited April 10, 2009 by danhelmstadter

[Hugh Conway]

The guy is more-or-less an idiot, not a risk-taker. He almost got himself killed on numerous occassions that would have made the Darwin files if not for dumb luck.

 

One could argue that the same thing could be said about Joe Simpson. When Simpson nearly got himself killed in a variety of preventable mishaps before the crawl for life incident, it was probably from British bullheadedness and optimism, rather than stupidity. Simpson's redeamable qualities, of course, are that he is a good writer and he's not from Colorado.

 

People do make the same argument made about Joe Simpson.

 

it's interesting to note that simpson seems to have enduring popularity in the outdoor community (good storytelling) and Ralston's major popularity is with the "general public"

[Rainierwon]

Neither is an idiot, just out doing what we love best. You can't explain this to the "general public" until this became a "general public" story. We have all gone and looked over the edge and it seems nowdays if we slipped it becomes breaking news. Have met both (I got that Joe thought that it was the real deal) and its not like either is someone that sees a sport thats cool and they jump off the couch to buy stuff at REI on their way out, aka an idiot. Armchair 2020 hindsight should be taken with a grain of salt, how many times I wonder getting caught how I'd do something differently with hindsight.....

RWon

[G-spotter]

We have all gone and looked over the edge

 

Yes. Once I was at Smith Rocks and Juniper Junction WAS OUT OF HUCKLEBERRY ICE CREAM.

[DirtyHarry]

That's fucked up man. I am truly sorry.

[Hugh Conway]

That's fucked up man. I am truly sorry.

 

that Dru's so fat he can't see his feet?