At the crux of every survival story is a pivotal decision point.

The choices we make when the stakes are high can mean the difference between salvation and struggle,

misery and hope, life and death. When it comes to dire situations in the back country,

the options can be imperfect and the time in which to weigh them is often short.

In today's episode, we witness the fast decision making of three separate survivors

all at the heart of one historic and catastrophic flash flood. On August 16th, 2008,

heavy rainfall caused flood water to tear through the havesuit by reservation of the Grand Canyon.

More than 450 hikers, campers and villagers were evacuated.

The flood would permanently alter the landscape of havesuit by as well as the lives of all those

who were caught in its fury. 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 Albinese 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 ropes 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.

Half a Sucanian, a tributary of the Colorado River, is home to picturesque waterfalls

and cerillian swimming holes, a large campground, and the village of Supai, a remote community

that's been home to the havesuit by tribe for centuries. The regions, other worldly waters,

and red sandstone walls draw up to 40,000 visitors every year.

Havesuit by is a sacred place. This is Nathan, a photographer and guide who's explored every

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