


In Ollestad’s 2009 memoir, “Crazy for the Storm: A Memoir of Survival,” he details the harrowing events that occurred on that fateful day in February of 1979. But the two never made it to the competition. was always an adventurous kid, so much so that his father, Norman Ollestad Sr., planned to take him to a skiing event in his Cessna when his son was 11. For his bravery, Baalsrud was awarded the St. Eventually, a group of native Scandinavians transported Baalsrud to neutral Sweden using sled and reindeer. Later, he was forced to amputate nine of his toes in order to prevent the spread of gangrene. Although he had some assistance from Norwegian Patriots, resources were limited, and Baalsrud was eventually forced to operate on his legs using a pocket knife. While his fellow soldiers were all captured, Baalsrud managed to evade capture for two months, but let’s be clear: It was no picnic.ĭuring these two months, Baalsrud suffered from extreme frostbite and snow blindness. The morning after, their fishing boat was destroyed by the Germans, leaving the crew to swim ashore in Arctic waters. He and a group of soldiers successfully destroyed a German air control tower on the evening of March 29, 1943. Norwegian World War II soldier Jan Sigurd Baalsrud found himself in quite the predicament during the German invasion of Norway. Using a multi-tool, Ralston amputated his forearm in just under an hour.
A survival story free#
After waking up with an epiphany, he realized that he could self-amputate his arm in order to free himself from the rock. On the fifth day, he was so resolved to death that he carved his name, date of birth, and presumed date of death into the sandstone wall and videotaped his goodbyes. Ralston slowly consumed all of the food and water he had brought along on his journey but was eventually forced to drink his own urine. Since Ralston had been hiking alone and had no way to call for help, he was stuck there for five days. His memoir, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” tells the story of how Ralston found himself alone, descending a slot canyon, when an 800-pound boulder smashed his left hand and pinned it to the wall. If you’re preparing to embark on an adventure yourself, make sure that you’re well-prepared for any scenario with proper gear, including camping and water filters, and plenty of food and shelter.ĭoes the title “172 Hours” ring a bell? It might-because it was the title of a film detailing outdoorsman Aron Ralston’s canyoneering accident in Canyonlands National Park in 2003. These five stories detail a few of the most frightening and life-altering encounters with nature, whether it is on the face of Everest or in the open ocean. Maybe it has something to do with the fierce, distinctly human ability to adapt to anything, or the reminder that the Earth can be a gruesome yet abundant place, but wilderness survival stories are always some of the most gripping.
