# Climber amputates arm then hikes to safety! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 2, 2003, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581 "2003-05-02T06:37:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581/41 "2003-05-08T21:55:21Z")
[Another update](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&ncid=514&e=6&u=/ap/20030508/ap_on_re_us/climber_amputation) as Ralston held a press conference to describe his ordeal. He actually snapped his arm bones before he began cutting. ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581/42 "2003-05-09T02:24:31Z")
Ralston lost his wallet “It’s the one that says _Bad Ass Motherf_cker on it\*” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581/43 "2003-05-09T03:10:10Z")
He was in a remote area of a remote area, I’ve spent a lot of time in the slickrock country - it’s no joke and a lot of people get in real trouble out there. It’s a minimum $500 tow for a stuck vehicle from Moab, Canyonlands Nat. Park is divided roughly into three major areas - the Needles, Island in the Sky, and the Maze, tri-sected by the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers. As the crow flies, there are parts that are only a few miles apart, but require driving some ~ 200 miles; “Ya can’t get there from here” applies. Not to belittle his fortitude and stamina, but the guy fucked up pretty severely by A. Going solo (I’ve done it many, many times there. No, it isn’t very smart, and his ordeal has given me pause) and not telling anyone his itinerary, and not bringing a radio, cell-phone (yes they work there) or other signaling device, such as a pen-flare or whatever. A similar fate could have befallen myself, so it’s difficult to troubleshoot this guy, but yikes. It won’t stop him - he’ll get a prosthetic carabiner or figure eight installed on what’s left of his arm and continue climbing, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581/44 "2003-05-09T05:36:42Z")
Well I haven’t tried this. But what you’re supposed to do is put a tourniquet on above where you’re going to cut and try to arrange yourself so that most of the blood runs out, then tighten it. Leave it on awhile until the limb goes numb. Then get out your pocket knife. If you’ve already broken the bone, good. If not, you will have to do the amputation at a joint. When it’s good and numb, start sawing. It won’t hurt that much. Yep, that’s what they say. Everybody in Colorado knows this, of course. Or you could freeze to death, or die of dehydration. With those as distinct possibilities the situation may seem different. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581/45 "2003-05-09T16:10:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cicada2003 \* > **Well I haven’t tried this.** I think we could have guessed this by the accurate typing of your message. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581/46 "2003-05-09T16:44:17Z")
My manager told me the story of this dude today. Do the words big, brass and cojones mean anything to anyone else but me? Hooooly sheeyite. Kinda cool that the boss brought it up because it spawned a bunch of stories about people who got hurt in unusual ways or ordinary situations. Por ejemplo: My boss had a friend who had been drinking and tried to be cool on his motorcycle by popping a wheelie out of the bar’s parking lot. He flew over the handlebars and landed with his lower teeth on the edge of a curb. Unfortunately, his momentum carried him well past the curb, ripping off his lower jaw in the process. Happy Friday, everyone! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leifsmama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a698b9/32.png) [@Leifsmama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leifsmama)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581/47 "2003-05-09T16:44:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cicada2003 \* > \*\* Everybody in Colorado knows this, of course. > \*\* Of course. You have to take wilderness survival classes to move into the state. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581/48 "2003-05-09T16:58:10Z")
The boss also said that in the interview he saw, the guy said that he knew on Tuesday that he would have to cut off his arm. Then he figured out that it would be easier if his bones were broken so he twisted his arm in such a way to break first one, then the other bone in his forearm. Badass Hall of Fame, definitely. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581/49 "2003-05-09T17:05:24Z")
I feel like buying him a consolation gift… like some wallpaper or something. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581/50 "2003-05-09T17:57:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*I feel like buying him a consolation gift… like some wallpaper or something. \*\* Killer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581/51 "2003-05-09T21:10:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*I feel like buying him a consolation gift… like some wallpaper or something. \*\* No gloves, please. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/climber-amputates-arm-then-hikes-to-safety/172581.md?page=2)