My new survival phrase! It means to do something fool hardy/moronic or just plain stupid, perhaps in an effort to show off to the babes. <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> So have you ever done one? I did. Among others, I tried to ride my new mountain bike acrossa river. Then I was pulled hundreeds of feet downstream. I'll not do that again. Fortunatly I wore a life jacket, so mabe it doesn't count.

You also pull an Aron Ralston when you show off your battle scars on TV but wine away when someone makes an example of you for the good of others. <img src="images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I havent done that yet, and don't plan on it.

Yea, sorry to say it does count. Wearing a PFD (life jacket) is not a guarantee you will not drown, become injured or suffer hypothermia. A PFD, like many survival items increase your chances of surviving an accident or stupid action, but does not eliminate the hazard.

In the last 4 days we have responded to 3 different potential rescues, all of which were preventable.

In the first we responded to an injured person, who was hiking around rocks, did not have the appropriate footwear and suffered an ankle injury. I realize even if he was wearing a sturdy hiking boot he may have become injured, but he increased his chances of becoming injured, by not preparing for his hike.

The second was for canoeist in distress. We have been receiving a fair amount of rainfall this spring and most of the streams and rivers are up considerably. Many of the waterways have small craft advisories, warning not to enter. A kyaker and canoeist (they did have on PFDs - thank God) decided they would test the warning, the canoeist ran into trouble, fortunately for him, he eventually made it to the river bank without injury. But, we ended up having a number of rescue boats, swiftwater technicians and firefighters in and around the water looking for him, all of which were at risk. He was lucky, as there was a considerable amount of debris (logs, branches, tires, etc.) and many strainers where he could have become trapped.

The third was last night, to assist the Sheriff's Department with an individual who was fleeing pursuit and ran up a ladder between two tanks to about 85 feet. Eventually, they talked him down, without further intervention.

In each case, the actions of the individuals put themselves and others in harm's way, not to say life is risk free or that we should nor pursue outdoor activities, but simply we should use common sense and be Equipped to Survive. Pete

Well, as I said, I learned my lesson. <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I did have someone else there just incase I got in over my head. Our best guess is that the PFD was more trouble than good, and cause the drag. The river was only a foot deep. Have you ever tried getting a bike upright while your being dragged? Not easy. I should have just let go and stood up, but I was afraid of loosing my new bike.

He may not have the hang time of TMac or the always-exciting 15-foot off-the-backboard jumper that Duncan uses as his main arsenal. In fact, it would probably be tough for him to even get the ball to the rim, let alone try to cross someone over or drain a game-saving 3-pointer.

Why?

Well because this guy doesn't need to play ball to show how much of a man he really is. I am of course speaking of Aron Ralston, my choice for MVP and also honorary recipient of "Biggest Badass EVER award," a title that, though not handed out yearly, certainly carries the weight of a Grammy, Oscar, Noble Prize and Wendy's Employee of the Month combined.

OK, so who is Aron Ralston, and why does he deserve such an honor?

Well, Mr. Ralston is a 27-year-old hiker from Colorado who found himself in a pretty tight spot last week, literally. While hiking somewhere in Utah, he slipped and fell and became pinned to the ground by a massive boulder. The boulder, which landed directly on his arm, didn't exactly tickle and neither did what he was about to do.

Aron's ordeal began last Saturday, which was the first day he was -- literally -- caught between a rock and hard place. By Tuesday, he was out of water and by Thursday, the situation was looking pretty hopeless. This is when Ralston made the choice that defines just how much of a man one can be.

He realized that the only way to free himself and save his slowly escaping life would be to somehow get his arm out from underneath the rock. So, he did what most people would never, ever do in their wildest nightmare -- he reached into his backpack, pulled out his trusty Swiss Army knife and amputated his arm from below the elbow.

As if that wasn't enough, this guy's next trick was to rappel down the side of a canyon and walked himself out of the forest. Rescuers spotted him as he was strolling calmly along a trail, a bloody stump wrapped in a tourniquet where his arm was before. He didn't bleed to death, he didn't go directly into shock, he just figured out what he had to do to survive his ordeal and then he did it.

Now, I know that this story sounds like something out of a bad Stallone flick, but believe me kids, this guy is as real as the arm stuck under a rock some coyote has been trying to get to for a few days now. I talk a lot about guys making clutch plays and being tough and strong. But honestly, I don't care what your name is, you've got nothing on Aron Ralston.

This guy, despite and because of having one arm, could be the toughest man in the history of Western civilization. He could have probably kicked John Wayne's ass any day of the week and twice on Sunday. He also now owns the greatest drinking story ever, not to mention the most hideous scar to prove just how much of a badass he really is.

Personally, I couldn't even imagine having to make that type of choice. I don't even like shaving more than once a week, let alone lopping off my own arm with a pocketknife. That sort of situation is so completely insane it would take the kind of rational decision-making that about 99.9% of the world just doesn't have.

I probably would have just curled up in the fetal position the best I could, laid there and died like a dog. But not this man, not the baddest man alive. What can you say about this guy?

I think the phrase "tough as nails" might need to be updated somewhat, because it certainly doesn't fit this situation.

"Tough as Ralston" -- now that has more of a ring to it.


Brian Gjurgevich is a sports writer for The Daily Barometer. He can be reached at [email]baro.sports@studentmedia.orst.edu.[/email]



http://barometer.orst.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/05/06/3eb7e5b60f2cd

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Our social heros reflect a rather distorted value system. Mr Ralston amputated his own arm. The intrinsic value of this experience is A. his life B. an example of what can happen when even the experienced and knowledgeable "get stupid" as pilot's call it. As a society , are we to A. emulate the man and put ourselves in harm's way, hoping we have the physical courage to perform similar acts or B. evaluate what he did wrong and avoid the same laissez faire hubris? Those are the parameters of this lesson and value to society. His lawsuit and adulation as a "bad ass" reflect a value system cheaper and duller than the multitool he used.

The wilderness is an unpredictable and unforgiving place. No matter what preparations or education we have "Things" can still happen that are widely beyond our control. Mr. Ralston certainly deserves our respect for his courage and strength. Given the tools he had in hand when he found himself in that situation and the fact of no-one knowing where or how long he was expected to be, he did what was necessary and he has earned his life in the bargain (and some noteriety tho some of it may not be welcome). In most of North America and certainly in the area where Mr. Ralston was climbing help is much less than a day away if you have the ability to call it. Leaving an agenda with planned route and schedule is very helpful in preparing for the eventuallity that you might need help but it is a personal choice on the loss of privacy and freedom and some feel that the additional risk is acceptable. Having a signalling device such as a PLB, Ham radio (and license) or cell phone is extremely helpful in summoning help when needed and allows us to maintain our privacy and freedom but it is added weight and some may feel that the additional risk is acceptable in order to keep the pack weight down. When asked by someone or when in a position of authority on how to reduce risk the wise counselor will suggest filing an agenda with concerned third parties and carrying many and the best signalling devices. To suggest otherwise is to invite liability.

A PLB, Ham radio, Cell phone, mirror, whistle, or match could have provided the needed signalling ability and I don't know which Mr. Ralston had with him (tho I am sure he didn't have the opportunity of having a PLB since they were only made legal by the FCC after Mr. Ralston's sad event took place). The likely utility of the above devices is probably in the order listed. In days gone by, the only options were mirror, whistle and match. Those tools will be usefull if someone is looking for you and knows where your are generally but in a wilderness situation they are limited. And who wants to be beholden to tell someone where you are going all the time. What if you change your mind and want to stay an extra day or go a different path?

The difference between having a stump and having an expensive reconstructive surgery and a usefull arm with a bunch of titanium pins in it is simply a matter of the inability to signal for help. My step father had his hand crushed in some industrial machinery and because of prompt medical attention he was able to have a usable tho deformed hand for the rest of his life. Mr. Ralston needn't have suffered any worse than that and wouldn't have had he been able to summon needed help at his time of need. Mr. Ralston certainly cannot be blamed for a boulder choosing that moment to roll down on top of him and certainly deserves respect for his courage in dealing with his situation - in his situation he had no other choices. But to suggest that the outcome might have been different had he had some decent signalling gear and to use his story to highlight the usefullness of that signalling gear is a very reasonable thing to do and may indeed save the arms, if not lives, of others. His situation was defined not only by being pinned by a boulder but also by the fact that others did not know that he was in need and he had no way of letting them know. A SAR member with a stout pry-bar or perhaps even a walking staff placed appropriately may have been able to free the appendage and he and could have been brought by medivac helo to a trauma center for limb saving surgery. Mr. Ralston would have lost his opportunity for the spot-light, never had people using his name in vain, earned a medical bill that might bankrupt him but would have saved not only his life but also his arm and probably his climbing career as well.