In our meticulous preparations for an ascent, we become experts at navigating technical

terrain, armed with the proper gear and skills we've honed over years of practice.

On the descent though, when the skies are clear and the trailhead is beckoning, it's tempting

to believe we've bested the challenge we came for.

The mountain stands indifferent to our triumph, not caring which way we're going, and it's

during these moments of high spirits and lowered guards that we might find ourselves

spaced with a climb we never even saw coming.

I made a decision to survive in that survival mode, the idea of dying wasn't in my head.

I knew immediately it was the worst case scenario, I was in a fight for my life situation.

Whenever you walk out on these trails, you're in their house.

I'm Louisa Almanese and you're listening to Out-Alive by Backpacker.

In each episode of this podcast, we'll bring you real stories of real people who survived

the unsurvivable.

I saw the rope sift through the rappel ring and I couldn't do anything.

Learn what went wrong, what went right, and how you can escape if the worst case scenario

happens to you.

There is no way we would find anybody alive.

So I'm Dan Wanker and I live in Atlanta.

Jim and I became friends when we both lived in the state of Washington.

We both lived in the Yakima area.

I'm Jim Zangerman and I'm a family physician in Washington state and I have become good friends

through our hiking adventures.

...