meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Against The Odds

Lightning Strike on Half Dome | Survive the Night | 2

Against The Odds

Audible

History, Society & Culture, Atmos, Mike Corey, Cassie De Pecol, Dolby, Dolby Atmos

4.77.9K Ratings

🗓️ 31 March 2026

⏱️ 51 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

As the hikers slowly regain consciousness, they realize the worst has happened: they’ve been struck by lightning. By chance, a pair of EMTs finds their way to the summit in time to help. But they soon realize that if they don’t get the men off Half Dome and airlifted to a hospital fast, they won’t make it till morning. 

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Against the Odds ad-free right now.

0:05.3

Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

0:08.6

A listener note, Against the Odds uses dramatizations that are based on true events.

0:13.7

Some elements, including dialogue, may be invented, but everything is based on research.

0:31.6

Thank you. Everything is based on research. Adrian Esteban drags his wounded body along the floor of the granite cave on top of Halfdome.

0:32.6

His legs aren't working.

0:34.6

The only way to move is to prop himself up on his forearms and crawl.

0:42.3

His mind is spinning. His heart pounding. He looks around for his fellow hikers who sheltered here with him, but his vision is blurry.

0:51.3

Still, he knows they're there. He can hear their moans above the rumbles of thunder

0:56.5

and pounding of rain. The smell of something like burning sulfur fills his nose. It's just after

1:04.5

6.30 p.m. on Saturday, July 27th, 1985.

1:16.8

Seconds ago, Adrian and his friend Bob Frith were watching the storm from just outside this tiny cave.

1:18.3

They were on the king's chair, a slab of rock perched over the edge of a cliff, thousands

1:24.8

of feet above the valley floor.

1:31.3

Then Adrian turned to go back into the cave. And that's when everything exploded.

1:35.3

His body slammed into a rock wall, pinned there by some unseen force.

1:41.3

His arm sizzled, as if it had been shoved into a furnace the pain was

1:46.6

excruciating then he was released from the wall and fell into a heap on the

1:52.1

ground he tried to get up but couldn't move his legs he was sure he was dying

1:57.7

and he realized what had happened he cried out in terror and in pain

2:03.4

oh my god oh my god we've been struck by lightning now he blinks hard a few times and

2:11.6

the scene inside the cave starts to take shape against one one wall is Bruce Weiner.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Audible, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Audible and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.