10 Days Lost: California Hiker Survives Santa Cruz Mountains Against All Odds | E200

The CRUX: True Survival Stories

Bleav + Kaycee McIntosh + Julie Henningsen

Society & Culture, Halloween, Wilderness, True Crime, Nature, National, Crime, Documentary

4.0 • 606 Ratings

🗓️ 8 December 2025

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In June 2024, 34-year-old Lukas McClish set out for a three-hour hike near his California hometown and vanished for 10 days in the burn-scarred Santa Cruz Mountains, surviving on creek water drunk from his boot and wild berries while a mountain lion stalked him through the wilderness. This is the story of how an experienced hiker got lost less than a mile from home, the massive search that followed, and the simple survival strategy that kept him alive when rescue seemed impossible.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Out there, survival isn't about luck.
0:03.0	It's about being ready.
0:04.1	And for over 100 years, that's what Case Knives has stood for.
0:07.5	Built with legendary craftsmanship in Bradford, Pennsylvania,
0:11.2	these knives have been trusted by soldiers, explorers,
0:14.6	and everyday people who know capability matters.
0:17.8	This holiday season, give the gift of confidence.
0:20.8	Give the gift of case knives.
0:22.6	Find yours at caseknives.com.
0:28.7	Hello, survivalists. This is the Crux True Survival Story podcast.
0:39.0	I'm Casey McIntosh.
0:40.4	And I'm Julie Henningson.
0:44.0	And we are medical professionals with a passion for wilderness survival.
0:49.6	Join us as we explore real-life survival stories and the critical moments that determine their outcomes.
0:50.7	Buckle up.
0:51.7	Adventure awaits.
0:53.5	Let's dive into this week's story. So there you are, Casey,
0:58.3	crouched beside a waterfall in the Santa Cruz Mountains, filling your hiking boot with creek water.
1:04.6	It's your 10th morning doing this, your 10th morning of the same routine that's keeping you alive.
1:12.5	The leather in your boot is getting soft from the constant soaking, but it's all you have. No water bottle, no backpack, no food.
1:19.7	Just this boot, this water, and the wild berries you find between the waterfalls. You tilt your
1:26.0	head back and drink straight from the boot, the cold
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Bleav + Kaycee McIntosh + Julie Henningsen, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Bleav + Kaycee McIntosh + Julie Henningsen and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.