Eric is a TRUE friend. I’m so thankful that he was there along with Jake and Emmett. I never would’ve made it out otherwise. And yes…. I’ll go backpacking with you again Eric….
Thank God Dan your ok...my whole back packing journey started with you...I'm not gonna lie and say i wasn't getting emotional watching this video...i was so scared for you...please take good care of yourself and REST..and your boys are all amazing that stuck with you...great team effort across the board...:)
Just finished your video of this Dan. An epic tale to be sure. I'm glad you're okay. Could not have asked for a better group to be with when trouble struck. Thank you Eric for taking us along!
[Hey there. Cross-posting this comment from Dan's channel here as well.] First, as have said the others, I'm really glad that Dan was able to get help and is on the way to recovery. Wonderful news there. So, mountain SAR guy and wilderness EMT here. Rhabdo is no joke and not actually as rare in these settings as some would lead you to believe. Oxygen deficit at altitude, high exertion over a sustained period, and dehydration are the key triggers as you discovered. I'm sorry if I didn't catch this in the video but one of the hallmarks of rhabdo is dark tea-colored urine, which is indicative of the spilling of the breakdown products. Not sure if Dan saw those symptoms or not. I guess the only takeaways I would offer in addition to the comments offered in the video are: 1) Pushing through non-transient chest pain in a remote setting is super-dangerous, especially if you're ascending as you're pushing. If you have persistent chest pain, stop and rest, and immediately consider calling for evacuation. 2) It seems there was hesitation to call SAR resources when things started getting dicey. I think I can speak for all of us in the SAR community that we'd MUCH rather get a call to help you get out safely while you're in a compromised but not critical state as opposed to you pushing yourself into critical and risking your life hoping it makes things easier for us. We'd much rather take your gear and help you with hydration, nutrition, and warmth as you slowly walk yourself out over several hours than see you for the first time when you're unconscious and circling the drain at the top. If we can get you safe and stable to the top, evac options are much more wide open than if you're unconscious, and the range of people who have the skills to care for you in that context is much narrower. 3) For as much backcountry activity as you guys do, I would take a formal Wilderness First Aid or (even better) Wilderness First Responder course from an outfit such as NOLS (disclosure: I'm a NOLS WEMT). There's a significant section in those courses on both rhabdo and altitude sickness (HACE and HAPE) and I think it would have been helpful to the group in this case. 4) Really good call with the Garmin InReach Mini. For you and for others watching, consider what you would have done without cell signal at the trailhead. The Garmin service is excellent, but consider also other options such as ham radio for the backcountry. For example, there's a open ham radio repeater in Jacob Lake, and three more in Kanab. The first one would certainly have been reachable and likely the other three as well. Again, really really glad Dan is feeling better and glad it turned out OK. Just food for thought above for those who might benefit from your experience.
@@mountainbirder9872 yeah that is messed up. They are national park rangers. I'm North Carolina State parks. Probably a power trip most likely. I've known a few National Park Rangers and they can be a holes. Just hope they drop it .
@@chrismoore600 my understanding is that he was fined $1,000 and now has a misdemeanor on his record. The NPS/prosecutor/judge tried to force him to never speak about this expedition (and give up his film) but instead he choose to plead guilty and accept the fine and blot to his record (which can prevent his from traveling in certain countries). Really horrific abuse of power.
I know it's a small detail in a much larger story but that 911 operator was so good. I've heard so many bad 911 calls, it's great to hear someone really wanting to help as much as possible. Thankful that Dan is ok!
Thank you Eric, Emmet, Jake, Ranger, plough driver, truck driver, and hospital staff for saving our son. No words can express how wonderful you all are. I know you were guided by the Lord.
He's such a good natured guy. One of things I really enjoy about watching Dan & Eric together is their humor and how they joke about themselves but are close friends that obviously care for each other too.
Thankfully, everyone will recover and are wiser for it. I found it beneficial to watch both channels. I had a couple of hiking adventures last year in remote corners of the world. So I purchased Global Rescue to go along with my Bivy Stick. You never know when, despite good planning, adversity might turn life threatening.
You should be thanked for the decisions you made to keep him moving to a spot he could be rescued from and thinking ahead to get his shelter up before he got there. What a scary situation for all. Thanks so much for sharing. All of us novices really appreciate this. We will all learn from this.
There are ranger stations and helicopter landing pads spaced throughout the bottom of the canyon. They were moving up through altitude and increasingly difficult terrain and unknown conditions in front of them. Everything about this is stupid. They are just counting on their viewers being novices and not seeing the many mistakes or how out of shape Dan clearly is.
Thank you for sharing. I think it’s so important that even experienced hikers can experience distress on the trail. Nobody is infallible. You guys seemed to remained calm and made good decisions You might save lives by sharing this important lesson. Thank god you , Dan the crew and first responders are ok.
A good example of why you choose your outdoor companions carefully - you never know when your life might be in their hands. Glad you were able to work through the complications and take care of Dan. Good folks looking out for each other is inspiring. I'd hike with you and your crew anytime.
sometimes when you're hiking.. getting emotional is often times a sign of low oxygen levels. meaning you're going faster and harder than you're capable of..... the signs of distress were showing early on this trip for you Dan.
Rhabdo is probably more known in the endurance/ultrarunning community, as it has sidelined some of the more high profile athletes. One thing I did see in Dan's video with the crew, was folks taking ibuprofen. This can exacerbate or put greater strain on the kidneys, as that is how the body metabolizes ibuprofen and can lead to rhabdo. Many ultraraces actually ban the usage of it for that reason. I would suggest reading more on that or talking to a medical professional, particularly for future outings that are very strenuous.
Likewise cold weather hydration is a not obvious thing. I forget to drink when it’s cold but it’s just as important because you still lose a lot of fluids through breath and sweat. This can contribute to Rhabdo risk too
Yes! I've worked in renal wards and ibuprofen is really rough on your kidneys if you have any kind of renal impairment, including rhabdo and dehydration. It can also cause gastric issues so if you're vomiting or experiencing acid reflux you should also avoid it. I wish this was more common knowledge outside the running & medical communities, as you don't have to be running marathons to develop rhabdomyolysis.
Having just hiked North Rim to Bright Angel in October, I cannot comprehend going at this time of the year with all the precautions and alerts about trail conditions. So glad Dan made it out ok but I don’t know if this was a good decision to do this. Sometimes the best decision is not to go and wait until the trail conditions get better. I appreciate the ranger that got down there to help and the obvious care and love from the hiking companions
A truly scary situation. Eric, you are something else. Your quick action and ability to stay calm and help others to do the same is amazing. I love watching both you and Dan interact on the videos. Thank you for sharing. My prayers are with you all.
great info. I spent 35 days hiking the Canyon in the winter of 94. We cross-country skied across the North Rim. It was wonderful but also scary. Ran low on food, our tent froze closed one night but a great experience. We did the Bass trail, so much further from help.
Eric, thanks for sharing this, and I'm thankful that you all were ultimately able to make it out safely. Thankful for the park rangers and for Jennifer the 911 dispatcher. We're blessed to live in country with people who stand ready to help whenever and wherever it's needed. You guys have so many great experiences that's it's easy to forget that there will be times when things don't go to plan. Great reminder that you have to consider all circumstances before heading out. Glad you kept a cool head throughout it all.
It’s hard to start realising you cannot do what you think you can in terms of distance/terrain. Here in Finland where we have extreme cold you have to realise that even a few km is going to take extreme effort due to the conditions. When I backpack I have now stopped setting any distance goals but instead make sure I’m prepared for sleeping just about anywhere and that I have more food than I need. For myself I’m not a fan of planned distance hikes and I don’t join others whose fitness levels may be different. It’s been a tough realisation that I cannot manage once what I used to do so I have to be easier on myself. Glad Dan is ok and well done to everyone involved in helping him.
My level of respect for you Eric has grown, thank you for keeping the situation on track and keeping Dan calm. I look to you guys for adventure and knowledge of backpacking so I may one day make my bucket list of the PCT. Stay safe and Hike on!
First and foremost, thank goodness Dan is okay. Second, thanks to all of you for sharing this experience with the backpacking community. It should be informative and eye-opening for all. I think you guys did an exceptional job in caring for Dan despite having limited medical training. That said, I also think this underscores the importance of obtaining some formal medical training if backcountry adventures is something you do often. It truly doesn't take that long to even get certified as an EMT - and the dividends are immeasurable. Again, thanks for sharing and wishing Dan a quick and full recovery.
Agreed. If you don't have time for (W)EMT (240-280 hours), then you can get WFR (80 hours) from a variety of outdoor schools. You won't learn as much as an EMT, obviously, but you'll be much more capable in an emergency situation than a typical person on the trail.
@@unvexis Well said, unvexis. Those are details I should have included. I consider the value of EMT training to be immeasurable; however, if outdoor, backcountry adventure is your passion, getting wilderness EMT training is the way to go. One point of clarification on my original post: I did not intent for my comments to be directed at anyone in particular - just in general.
@@beng3591 You can only be so prepared in the backcountry. Looks like they each brought a camera operator. They should consider WEMT/WFR training, but in the case of things like rhabdo, the only solution is rapid evacuation to definitive care, which is what they did anyway.
@@beng3591 Plus, they weren't as far out as most backcountry trips. They had good cellular service, and a ranger drove right up to their camp and hooked him up to an ECG. That's way better response time than you typically get. Whether they got lucky, or they knew risk was low, I can't say.
Dan is a great guy and lucky to have a buddy like you. Thanks for sharing, your training helped you get Dan to safety. Something as simple as comforting and reinforcing him that he would be ok and to relax, means a lot when someone is in distress.
Just watched Dan's video, which I almost didn't do after watching this one because seeing you guys in trouble was so distressing! Dan added some context though, so it was worth it. He mentioned the physical preparations he'd made, it's clear you planned and weren't just being foolhardy out there, some mistakes maybe. A few pretty harsh comments here berating you as if they never screwed up themselves. I'm just glad you all made it back and Dan is recovering. Best wishes to all of you.
I want to pass on a bit of advice I learned from Dixie of Homemade Wanderlust. I believe her words of wisdom are far beyond her years. Regarding a friend or a pet hiking with you who may not be in as good of condition, let the slowest person set the pace and decide when to stop and rest or stop for the night. I understand that our love and enthusiasm for the trail can perhaps still push the slower person to go beyond their capabilities. So I repeat often that the choices/ decisions to take an easier route, go slower, stop for the night or even turn back are their decisions to make. My dog can not tell me. But his tail wagging or drooping speaks volumes.
I agree with the concept of slower person setting the pace, but in this situation where the front person is breaking trail makes it harder to hike. And with Dan having problems when the snowshoes went on it is totally understandable for the stronger person to do the toughest part. Also sometimes the slower person in the front slows the pace even more and that is not good when they were needing to get to a camp spot to get things better. Good leadership Eric, you handled it well for what you had and it is easy for everyone to make different choices after the fact from the living room. I'd hike with you anytime Eric.
@@wandaesch7314 , I am not knocking Eric. Dan said he would hike with him and even do the route again in better weather and at a slower pace. Hindsight is always 20/20. I am a nurse and I am encouraging others to learn from this incident. As Dan stated, and I understand as a medical professional, his life was in peril. I know he and Eric have both learned from what happened. I know that with their love for one another it won’t happen again. No one is perfect and mistakes are made out of our love and enthusiasm for sport. I made a similar mistake when I was a kid. I talked a friend into swimming out to a pontoon on a lake that was a bit further than her abilities. She made it out to the pontoon okay. We had a blast climbing up the ladder and diving in over and over. But over time we grew hungry and tired. When it was time to swim back, she petered out at midpoint and panicked - wanted to go back. She began flailing. I spoke to her calmly and asked her to just lay still and float on her back. I gently towed her back to shore with my elbow under her chin. We both made it back safely. She called me a hero and thanked me for saving her. But I was ashamed. I begged her not to tell her parents or anyone. It was my fault she was in danger in the first place. Until now only a couple of people have heard this story. Now I am putting this out there for everyone. In the hopes someone may learn from my lesson too.
Thank you all for documenting and posting this. I have been watching Dan's content for a while and he is a good dude and a reasonably experienced hiker. To cover how things CAN go south sometimes and how to deal with it in a reasonable and calm way to address it is something every backpacker/backcountry hiker should see. You are a good friend and a great guide. Your ability to stay calm and address the situation could have even saved Dan's life. Dan's ability to deal with what happened and stay grounded was also key. Plus willingness to post this for others to see one of his worst times for what it was is quite admirable. Backcountry adventures are very real, and sometimes they get tougher than we expected. It is not always sunsets and good times (though those usually make it worth it). Glad that Dan is doing OK and that he had a good friend to help him through this. You all will have many more great adventures along the journey.
I really hope that everyone planning on hiking the PCT and CDT this year, 2023, will see this! It helps to realize the obstacles that will be faced in an extreme snow pack, and the dangers that our own bodies can offer in extreme stress. So glad you are all okay. Eric, you are a rock! Thank you!
Thank you all for sharing this! it's good to know that even really prepared and experienced hikers have close calls sometimes and it's good to have an example out of how to deal with things like this in a calm and effective way.
“You’re going to be OK. Don’t panic. Drink water.” You all did a great job, making a good assessment of the situation and getting Dan the help he needed as fast as possible!🎉
Thank you Eric for sharing. So thankful Dan is doing well. Your calmness and everyone pulling together to assist was great to see. Seeing you handle the good and the bad, is encouraging. I'm a beginner back packer and I have learned allot from you both. Being as prepared as much as possible and don't panic when the unexpected happens. So many lessons to learn here. Thanks again for sharing.
Love this man. Far to often we brave it out or whatever you want to call it, only to push to far and end up in big trouble. You went for safety first. It's always got to be safety first.
So glad that Dan is recovering!! I'm very grateful too for all the EMS, Ranger and snow removal help that was available to help you guys in your time of great need. Thanks too for each of you being good friends with Dan and helping him as you did. We can all learn from your experience; be safe out there everyone.
Thanks for the video. Great job by the GC Park Rangers. They are awesome! All of them. For GC novices out there… the Canyon is unforgiving. The R2R2R is no joke. R2R is difficult enough without snow - the effort required to reach the North rim in these conditions had to be insane (especially if you’re not 100% conditioned for an ultra marathon type endeavor). Kudos to Dan for finishing. Don’t be fooled by the R2R2R videos. Be prepared.
Sorry guys, but I cannot help but say, you know you should’ve turned around much, much sooner on the North Kaibab trail. I’ve completed a one-day Rim-River-Rim & hiked Rim-to-Rim 5 times in my life, and anyone who thinks hiking up to the North Rim, and pushing their way through regardless how bad conditions get, in winter, is merely looking for trouble. From watching you and Dan’s past videos, I thought yourself and Dan were way more trained in knowing when to back down, turn around, just give it up and head back. I’ve got to believe TH-cam, Likes, Subscribers, etc played a very very large role in the decision making for many outdoor enthusiasts, and for this video. I respect what you guys do, hiking & mountain climbing is in my blood also, and I love to video my adventures to share with loved ones & friends, but I have tucked my tail between my legs and turned around when I feel the direction I’m headed, and terrain, is beyond my skills, capabilities or comfort level. I was hoping at the end of the video you’d say, “This was a staged SAR training video and was shot in cooperation with the Grand Canyon rangers, EMS, 911 and on call doctors”, but nope, it seem you guys willingly placed yourselves in harms way. Congrats to the rangers, 911, EMS workers and Doctors (on the phone).
wow guys! thankfully this is a tale where everyone ends safe at home. eric, emmet, jake, y'all prioritized dan's health and safety in a dire moment patiently, calm and collected, and that is so immensely valuable. the rest of the community has something to learn here! cheers to ya
At the 10-12 minute mark, rhabdo was my #1 suspect for diagnosis. I'm glad everyone made it out okay and that you all made smart decisions driven by situational awareness and assessment rather than ego. This is how to be a good hiker, a good steward, and a good friend. Well done!
Great adventure! Thanks for sharing. In June 1995 I hiked the Bright Angel Trail from the South Rim to Plateau Point. As I remember it was 6.2 miles down. I took the whole day from about 7 AM to 7 PM taking lots of video and talking with whoever would take the time. I was 50 years old at the time and in good healthy condition. However, coming up out of the canyon was the most strenuous encounter I had ever experienced. I was stopping to rest about every 100 feet. I enjoyed it so much I did it again the next Summer in 1996. However this time I cut the trip a little shorter to turn around at Indian Garden.
Thank you both for post this content - very glad to see this wasn't fatal for Dan. As a Scoutmaster/HAT guide on a training plan with my crew for Philmont this summer, I'm definitely linking my scouts to your respective videos so they can see BOTH perspectives of this rescue. Too often the prep work is overly-focused on the gear loadouts, and not the skills that actually save lives... even in WFA-R courses they tend to cover CPR/bleeding/broken bones way more than equally serious internal complications like overexertion, cold-weather dehydration, and rhabdo.
Very relief that Dan will be Ok. Get well soon! Love what you do! Eric, my admiration for the way that you conducted yourself in the situation. All those years as a guide/training outdoors were a blessing! Take care out there!
Scary yes exactly right but what is scary is that you chose to hike past Phantom Ranch, a place with cabins beds, a place to eat and rest. You're very lucky that you had such a good friend and that you had cell phone service plus a GPS locator. This was a very close call.
so scary! your calm demeanor and quick action was commendable and probably saved your friend. glad that it turned out ok and Dan will be fine. happy trails to you both.
Very happy you guys made it out. Dan is a trooper and Kudos to you guys for escalating and getting him help as soon as you realized rest wasn’t helping.
THANK YOU ERIC !!!....Love the calmness...I watched both video's and you are awesome on so many levels...very proud of you !! and im also proud of everyone else that was there too of course...and hats off to the responders and the hospital staff...Dan is a great guy and this could have been a tragedy...NOW REST DAN !! Please..:) We love ya Dudely Dude !!! Dont rush back !!!
I really appreciate your openness and honesty sharing this experience. So glad it worked out as well as it did and that you guys made the best decisions possible when things went bad for Dan. You are a good and true friend!
Thanks so much. Had a scary situation myself this last August in a remote place where a fellow hiker almost tipped into heat stroke. Fortunately he was able to get himself out, but it was well after nightfall before we staggered back into base camp. Had his condition deteriorated further on the trail, we'd have lost him. This was a real wake-up call. Anybody can bonk, any time, given the right conditions. Even Tadej Pogacar!
So happy it turned out successfully for both of you and the team! Emotional to watch, I’ve followed you two for a long time so yes some tears were shed. God bless everyone who was a part of this.
Awesome job walking us through that. Great job by everyone involved. I don’t know how you stayed so calm throughout, but that was probably very comforting to Dan.
I haven’t seen all of this yet…. Finishing now but goes to show how BIG nature can be. I love how y’all respect nature for its entirety and I’m just very grateful all are ok and good
So glad Dan’s okay and he got the help he needed. You’re a good friend! I’ve had some elderly patients get rahbdo after falling in their homes laying helpless for extended periods of time until a friend or family member finds them. This is another way that rahbdo can happen. It’s just about the saddest thing to ever see and the best when they get better❤️
This is an amazing account of your trials through the Grand Canyon. Im so glad it has a happy ending. I wish Dan a thorough and speedy recovery. Great job to everyone involved in his rescue, awesome friends, dispatch, ranger and emergency crew. ❤️
Good work keeping a level head! Every backpacker needs a friend like you. Grateful Dan is recovering, and thank you both for sharing this story. I know the GC is intense, but I’ve started hiking by myself and if I do that it’s gonna be important that I don’t overextend myself.
Thank you Eric and Dan for being so open and frank about what happened, how you dealt with it and what it did with you guys emotionally. You are true friends. Your experience made me decide to follow a formally recognised wilderness first aid course, before we leave for the Via Alpina Red Course in France/Italy, next July, which we’ll do partially solo. We’ve been doing some pretty wild stuff in the last decades, without such training. It is not just about the practical skills you learn at a course, but also about keeping a clear head, weigh your alternatives and make wise decisions under duress. Your experience should be a wise lesson for all of us outdoor people.
Wow that is so scary, me and my friends had an issue like this last year when hiking for a weekend in 106 degrees temperature with little/no water because we misunderstood the trail maps, and I suffered heat stroke. Things like this happen and are unexpected and scary, if I didn't have other people with me and helping out, I wouldn't have made it either. A really good example of why hiking with good and trusted friends the best idea always!
Thanks Eric for sharing your part of the story. This was nerve racking. I have seen the video on Dan's channel too and i have to say man all of you were troopers, commited and really really good for keeping your composure. I am very thankfull that you all made it safe and that Dan is still around to tell his story. Thanks for sharing your terriffying experience. It is a good reminder that all hikers, guides and experienced outdoor lovers can be caught up in tricky situation like yours. ALso Eric, as a fellow guide myself, I have to say that I found you EXTREMELY reassuring with Dan ( good chance he still had his good spirit) and the way you have act and react during ( what I have seen ) these videos. You did very well with the emergency calls and the follow up of the team. In french we says:''guide un jour guide toujours'' Meaning that when you have been a guide, the knowledge you have acquiered is always somewhere inside you ready to be pull out to help others or yourself. Caring and helping on trail or in the wild, will always be a second nature and we will always see things that others often dont perceived at an early stage. Have some good rest all of you 🙂
Eric you are a hero. You remained calm, reassuring and composed under very stressful circumstances. You truly saved Dan’s life. What a great lesson for everyone to learn - Mother Nature always wins and we are vulnerable in those conditions
Both your video and Dan’s make it look like everyone acted admirably. Well done everyone in getting out of the situation and good luck to Dan recovering
I can second the difficulty of this hike! We hiked it about week after your incident (Feb 17-20, 2023) and those last 2-3 miles, though the snow up to North Rim were absolutely BRUTAL! we didn't have snow shoes 😬 and so we were postholing from the tunnel to the top, sometimes falling up to our waist. It was the hardest 2 or 3 miles of my life! I'm so glad Dan is okay 👍
so grateful it finished well for Dan, I watched it in one breath. Very sobering as well, not once while hiking, I got nauseous and vomiting because of exhaustion, warmest hugs to your whole team
I just came here from Dan’s channel. You earned a sub at the very least for your actions in making sure Dan got help. Thank you for sharing this story, and for everything you, Jake and Emmett did to get him out safely.
Eric! Thank goodness for your quick decision making! Knowing what to do in a situation like that and taking action likely saved Dan's life. Being prepared is definitely a lesson I will take away from this.
Hi Eric, I just watched your video. I have empathy for you guys. And I’m glad everything came out ok. That said, Dan is responsible for Dan. As someone who worked along with the national park service over a period of two decades, individuals need to be willing and able to communicate how they are really feeling. If they need to stop, they need to stop. I’m very grateful for the help and support you all received. That’s my opinion given with my limited knowledge of the situation. So, I’m not sure if you did something wrong or not. Things just happen and we have to do the best we can under the circumstances.
I hate to say that I “like“ this, but I think it’s important for folks to see this, as well as Dan’s own post. Key takeaways are to think carefully about your own conditioning, to evaluate soberly the challenges in any outdoor activities you are planning, and to know that “just pushing through” is not always the right call. Dan’s alive because he and his team recognized his need for help. Thanks so much for sharing this video.
That was a good and honest summary Eric. I'm so pleased that the decision to stop was made no later than it was. Great that you are all safe and that we have all learned from Dan's experience. Your video will be invaluable to all who watch it. Thankyou!
My prayers go out to Dan. I am glad everything worked out. Thanks that you were there and that the Ranger station was equipped with trained personnel. God bless. Stay safe.
Great job on handling the situation, really all of you (Emmett and Jake). Glad everything worked out okay and this is really an insightful video to help me when planning trips, distances, etc.
Obviously several lessons that everyone should literally take to heart from this experience. My takeaways: First is recognizing symptoms of health issues (any can potentially be serious in the backcountry), high exertion levels and debilitating exhaustion on the trail - which you guys did do. We all need to honestly assess how things are going, particularly when the going gets tough. Be honest with yourself first as well as keep a close eye on any partners. In Dan's case, making the tough decision to slow down but keep going to the trail head was the best of the bad options. Stopping along the trail would probably have meant even more delayed help and probably an airlift out. There is no perfect way to make this decision. Second is thinking ahead to keep options open as much as possible and to reasonably prepare for those options. Starting to think about getting help and setting up the tent are good examples here. Third is when to make the tough decision to call for help. Pride does often get in the way - some embarrassment and also not wanting to inconvenience others. Deciding to delay the request is frequently worse with much greater negative impact to others. The Rangers were likely very glad that they were called in this situation. Fourth is assessing route difficulties and the capabilities of each participant before hitting the trail. Backpacking is Type III 'fun' and is typically about pushing limits and setting challenging goals (miles per day, etc). I may start adding an assessment for "probability of success" with future trips. Tough trails that push the limits of just one participant should rank low. Or maybe assign "probability of fun" on the trail - to focus more on enjoying the trek instead of concentrating on achieving specific goals. Still a subjective assessment but at least give pause during planning.
I think Dan was physically breaking down when he stopped and made the comment about being emotional. Eric was totally relaxed and not out of breath; Dan was breathing heavy and replying in short statements to hide his over exertion. Just my opinion. I could be wrong. Eric, you’re an awesome adventure buddy and anyone who backpacks with you can consider themselves fortunate.
Eric is a TRUE friend. I’m so thankful that he was there along with Jake and Emmett. I never would’ve made it out otherwise. And yes…. I’ll go backpacking with you again Eric….
Dan man, thank you for making it through and sharing with us all this important lesson. Stay healthy!
I think we're all thankful!
Phew that’s a relief! So… you wanna climb Denali or something??
Thank God Dan your ok...my whole back packing journey started with you...I'm not gonna lie and say i wasn't getting emotional watching this video...i was so scared for you...please take good care of yourself and REST..and your boys are all amazing that stuck with you...great team effort across the board...:)
Just finished your video of this Dan. An epic tale to be sure. I'm glad you're okay. Could not have asked for a better group to be with when trouble struck. Thank you Eric for taking us along!
[Hey there. Cross-posting this comment from Dan's channel here as well.]
First, as have said the others, I'm really glad that Dan was able to get help and is on the way to recovery. Wonderful news there.
So, mountain SAR guy and wilderness EMT here. Rhabdo is no joke and not actually as rare in these settings as some would lead you to believe. Oxygen deficit at altitude, high exertion over a sustained period, and dehydration are the key triggers as you discovered. I'm sorry if I didn't catch this in the video but one of the hallmarks of rhabdo is dark tea-colored urine, which is indicative of the spilling of the breakdown products. Not sure if Dan saw those symptoms or not.
I guess the only takeaways I would offer in addition to the comments offered in the video are:
1) Pushing through non-transient chest pain in a remote setting is super-dangerous, especially if you're ascending as you're pushing. If you have persistent chest pain, stop and rest, and immediately consider calling for evacuation.
2) It seems there was hesitation to call SAR resources when things started getting dicey. I think I can speak for all of us in the SAR community that we'd MUCH rather get a call to help you get out safely while you're in a compromised but not critical state as opposed to you pushing yourself into critical and risking your life hoping it makes things easier for us. We'd much rather take your gear and help you with hydration, nutrition, and warmth as you slowly walk yourself out over several hours than see you for the first time when you're unconscious and circling the drain at the top. If we can get you safe and stable to the top, evac options are much more wide open than if you're unconscious, and the range of people who have the skills to care for you in that context is much narrower.
3) For as much backcountry activity as you guys do, I would take a formal Wilderness First Aid or (even better) Wilderness First Responder course from an outfit such as NOLS (disclosure: I'm a NOLS WEMT). There's a significant section in those courses on both rhabdo and altitude sickness (HACE and HAPE) and I think it would have been helpful to the group in this case.
4) Really good call with the Garmin InReach Mini. For you and for others watching, consider what you would have done without cell signal at the trailhead. The Garmin service is excellent, but consider also other options such as ham radio for the backcountry. For example, there's a open ham radio repeater in Jacob Lake, and three more in Kanab. The first one would certainly have been reachable and likely the other three as well.
Again, really really glad Dan is feeling better and glad it turned out OK. Just food for thought above for those who might benefit from your experience.
Just saw Dan's video I'm so happy he's ok. As a retired Park Ranger I'm proud of my fellow Rangers.
The whole team of rangers were incredible. Hats off to you!
Then why did they prosecute Eric Hansen??? 🤷♀️🤔
@@mountainbirder9872 yeah that is messed up. They are national park rangers. I'm North Carolina State parks. Probably a power trip most likely. I've known a few National Park Rangers and they can be a holes. Just hope they drop it .
@@chrismoore600 my understanding is that he was fined $1,000 and now has a misdemeanor on his record. The NPS/prosecutor/judge tried to force him to never speak about this expedition (and give up his film) but instead he choose to plead guilty and accept the fine and blot to his record (which can prevent his from traveling in certain countries). Really horrific abuse of power.
@@maryesther6513 your tax dollars at work.
I know it's a small detail in a much larger story but that 911 operator was so good. I've heard so many bad 911 calls, it's great to hear someone really wanting to help as much as possible. Thankful that Dan is ok!
Thank you Eric, Emmet, Jake, Ranger, plough driver, truck driver, and hospital staff for saving our son. No words can express how wonderful you all are. I know you were guided by the Lord.
Plow
I love how Dan keeps his sense of humor through the whole thing. Get well soon Dan!
Yeah, the guy can’t not joke around!
He can’t help himself.
He's such a good natured guy. One of things I really enjoy about watching Dan & Eric together is their humor and how they joke about themselves but are close friends that obviously care for each other too.
Thankfully, everyone will recover and are wiser for it. I found it beneficial to watch both channels. I had a couple of hiking adventures last year in remote corners of the world. So I purchased Global Rescue to go along with my Bivy Stick. You never know when, despite good planning, adversity might turn life threatening.
You should be thanked for the decisions you made to keep him moving to a spot he could be rescued from and thinking ahead to get his shelter up before he got there. What a scary situation for all. Thanks so much for sharing. All of us novices really appreciate this. We will all learn from this.
Scary. I'm imagining being on a hike with a loved one and having this happen. Yikes.
There are ranger stations and helicopter landing pads spaced throughout the bottom of the canyon. They were moving up through altitude and increasingly difficult terrain and unknown conditions in front of them. Everything about this is stupid. They are just counting on their viewers being novices and not seeing the many mistakes or how out of shape Dan clearly is.
Just watched Dan's video, everyone is so glad that you were there to take care of Dan and the others. Great work Eric, safe travels my friend.
Glad to see Dan is OK. Also, a big shout out to you, Eric for keeping calm in this stressful situation. A good learning experience to share.
Thank you for sharing. I think it’s so important that even experienced hikers can experience distress on the trail. Nobody is infallible. You guys seemed to remained calm and made good decisions You might save lives by sharing this important lesson. Thank god you , Dan the crew and first responders are ok.
You're using the term experienced loosely.
A good example of why you choose your outdoor companions carefully - you never know when your life might be in their hands. Glad you were able to work through the complications and take care of Dan. Good folks looking out for each other is inspiring. I'd hike with you and your crew anytime.
Glad to hear it Stephen!
sometimes when you're hiking.. getting emotional is often times a sign of low oxygen levels. meaning you're going faster and harder than you're capable of..... the signs of distress were showing early on this trip for you Dan.
Eric did such a good job calming Dan and keeping his cool in this situation even while talking to emergency services very impressed
Thanks Patrick!
Rhabdo is probably more known in the endurance/ultrarunning community, as it has sidelined some of the more high profile athletes. One thing I did see in Dan's video with the crew, was folks taking ibuprofen. This can exacerbate or put greater strain on the kidneys, as that is how the body metabolizes ibuprofen and can lead to rhabdo. Many ultraraces actually ban the usage of it for that reason. I would suggest reading more on that or talking to a medical professional, particularly for future outings that are very strenuous.
Likewise cold weather hydration is a not obvious thing. I forget to drink when it’s cold but it’s just as important because you still lose a lot of fluids through breath and sweat. This can contribute to Rhabdo risk too
Yes! I've worked in renal wards and ibuprofen is really rough on your kidneys if you have any kind of renal impairment, including rhabdo and dehydration. It can also cause gastric issues so if you're vomiting or experiencing acid reflux you should also avoid it.
I wish this was more common knowledge outside the running & medical communities, as you don't have to be running marathons to develop rhabdomyolysis.
They thought he was having a heart attack. When you hear hoofbeats you think horses, not zebras
Having just hiked North Rim to Bright Angel in October, I cannot comprehend going at this time of the year with all the precautions and alerts about trail conditions. So glad Dan made it out ok but I don’t know if this was a good decision to do this. Sometimes the best decision is not to go and wait until the trail conditions get better. I appreciate the ranger that got down there to help and the obvious care and love from the hiking companions
A truly scary situation. Eric, you are something else. Your quick action and ability to stay calm and help others to do the same is amazing. I love watching both you and Dan interact on the videos. Thank you for sharing. My prayers are with you all.
great info. I spent 35 days hiking the Canyon in the winter of 94. We cross-country skied across the North Rim. It was wonderful but also scary. Ran low on food, our tent froze closed one night but a great experience. We did the Bass trail, so much further from help.
Eric, thanks for sharing this, and I'm thankful that you all were ultimately able to make it out safely. Thankful for the park rangers and for Jennifer the 911 dispatcher. We're blessed to live in country with people who stand ready to help whenever and wherever it's needed.
You guys have so many great experiences that's it's easy to forget that there will be times when things don't go to plan. Great reminder that you have to consider all circumstances before heading out. Glad you kept a cool head throughout it all.
It’s hard to start realising you cannot do what you think you can in terms of distance/terrain. Here in Finland where we have extreme cold you have to realise that even a few km is going to take extreme effort due to the conditions. When I backpack I have now stopped setting any distance goals but instead make sure I’m prepared for sleeping just about anywhere and that I have more food than I need. For myself I’m not a fan of planned distance hikes and I don’t join others whose fitness levels may be different. It’s been a tough realisation that I cannot manage once what I used to do so I have to be easier on myself.
Glad Dan is ok and well done to everyone involved in helping him.
I applaud your planning and reasoning.
I’m just learning this in hiking and it’s made a difference so far.
My level of respect for you Eric has grown, thank you for keeping the situation on track and keeping Dan calm. I look to you guys for adventure and knowledge of backpacking so I may one day make my bucket list of the PCT. Stay safe and Hike on!
Thanks Timothy! The PCT is a great goal, go get it!
Thank you Eric, Jake and Emmett for getting Dan out to safety! This was a tough video to watch but grateful you shared it Eric.
First and foremost, thank goodness Dan is okay. Second, thanks to all of you for sharing this experience with the backpacking community. It should be informative and eye-opening for all. I think you guys did an exceptional job in caring for Dan despite having limited medical training. That said, I also think this underscores the importance of obtaining some formal medical training if backcountry adventures is something you do often. It truly doesn't take that long to even get certified as an EMT - and the dividends are immeasurable. Again, thanks for sharing and wishing Dan a quick and full recovery.
Agreed. If you don't have time for (W)EMT (240-280 hours), then you can get WFR (80 hours) from a variety of outdoor schools. You won't learn as much as an EMT, obviously, but you'll be much more capable in an emergency situation than a typical person on the trail.
@@unvexis Well said, unvexis. Those are details I should have included. I consider the value of EMT training to be immeasurable; however, if outdoor, backcountry adventure is your passion, getting wilderness EMT training is the way to go. One point of clarification on my original post: I did not intent for my comments to be directed at anyone in particular - just in general.
first thought watching this was why these guys are this far out so unprepared for an emergent situation. like aren't these guys supposed to be "pros"?
@@beng3591 You can only be so prepared in the backcountry. Looks like they each brought a camera operator. They should consider WEMT/WFR training, but in the case of things like rhabdo, the only solution is rapid evacuation to definitive care, which is what they did anyway.
@@beng3591 Plus, they weren't as far out as most backcountry trips. They had good cellular service, and a ranger drove right up to their camp and hooked him up to an ECG. That's way better response time than you typically get. Whether they got lucky, or they knew risk was low, I can't say.
You're a good man Eric! Lucky that Dan had you by his side during this.
Dan is a great guy and lucky to have a buddy like you. Thanks for sharing, your training helped you get Dan to safety. Something as simple as comforting and reinforcing him that he would be ok and to relax, means a lot when someone is in distress.
Wow! Thanks so much for being there! ❤
I felt your concern and fear, Eric. You're a good man and a good friend. Hike on.
Just watched Dan's video, which I almost didn't do after watching this one because seeing you guys in trouble was so distressing! Dan added some context though, so it was worth it. He mentioned the physical preparations he'd made, it's clear you planned and weren't just being foolhardy out there, some mistakes maybe. A few pretty harsh comments here berating you as if they never screwed up themselves. I'm just glad you all made it back and Dan is recovering. Best wishes to all of you.
Thank you for taking care of my little brother!! Thank you so much!! I love him so much!! Thank you Eric!! ❤❤
North rim: closed
Dan & friends: this is where we need to be
I want to pass on a bit of advice I learned from Dixie of Homemade Wanderlust. I believe her words of wisdom are far beyond her years. Regarding a friend or a pet hiking with you who may not be in as good of condition, let the slowest person set the pace and decide when to stop and rest or stop for the night. I understand that our love and enthusiasm for the trail can perhaps still push the slower person to go beyond their capabilities. So I repeat often that the choices/ decisions to take an easier route, go slower, stop for the night or even turn back are their decisions to make. My dog can not tell me. But his tail wagging or drooping speaks volumes.
Led trips with Colorado Mtn Club years ago. Slowest person always at front with strongest in the rear.
@@MrA1582000 makes good sense to me too!
That real good advice in any aspect of life! We are all stronger when a group works together
I agree with the concept of slower person setting the pace, but in this situation where the front person is breaking trail makes it harder to hike. And with Dan having problems when the snowshoes went on it is totally understandable for the stronger person to do the toughest part. Also sometimes the slower person in the front slows the pace even more and that is not good when they were needing to get to a camp spot to get things better. Good leadership Eric, you handled it well for what you had and it is easy for everyone to make different choices after the fact from the living room. I'd hike with you anytime Eric.
@@wandaesch7314 , I am not knocking Eric. Dan said he would hike with him and even do the route again in better weather and at a slower pace. Hindsight is always 20/20. I am a nurse and I am encouraging others to learn from this incident. As Dan stated, and I understand as a medical professional, his life was in peril. I know he and Eric have both learned from what happened. I know that with their love for one another it won’t happen again. No one is perfect and mistakes are made out of our love and enthusiasm for sport. I made a similar mistake when I was a kid. I talked a friend into swimming out to a pontoon on a lake that was a bit further than her abilities. She made it out to the pontoon okay. We had a blast climbing up the ladder and diving in over and over. But over time we grew hungry and tired. When it was time to swim back, she petered out at midpoint and panicked - wanted to go back. She began flailing. I spoke to her calmly and asked her to just lay still and float on her back. I gently towed her back to shore with my elbow under her chin. We both made it back safely. She called me a hero and thanked me for saving her. But I was ashamed. I begged her not to tell her parents or anyone. It was my fault she was in danger in the first place. Until now only a couple of people have heard this story. Now I am putting this out there for everyone. In the hopes someone may learn from my lesson too.
Thank you all for documenting and posting this. I have been watching Dan's content for a while and he is a good dude and a reasonably experienced hiker. To cover how things CAN go south sometimes and how to deal with it in a reasonable and calm way to address it is something every backpacker/backcountry hiker should see. You are a good friend and a great guide. Your ability to stay calm and address the situation could have even saved Dan's life. Dan's ability to deal with what happened and stay grounded was also key. Plus willingness to post this for others to see one of his worst times for what it was is quite admirable.
Backcountry adventures are very real, and sometimes they get tougher than we expected. It is not always sunsets and good times (though those usually make it worth it). Glad that Dan is doing OK and that he had a good friend to help him through this. You all will have many more great adventures along the journey.
I really hope that everyone planning on hiking the PCT and CDT this year, 2023, will see this! It helps to realize the obstacles that will be faced in an extreme snow pack, and the dangers that our own bodies can offer in extreme stress. So glad you are all okay. Eric, you are a rock! Thank you!
Wow, very informative and relevant for the outdoor audience. Thanks for sharing and thankful all turned out well!!
Thank you all for sharing this! it's good to know that even really prepared and experienced hikers have close calls sometimes and it's good to have an example out of how to deal with things like this in a calm and effective way.
Thank you. If you are out there long enough, you'll inevitably have some stuff go wrong.
I have been eagerly awaiting this video. Thanks so much for sharing the information. And glad that Dan is gonna be ok!
“You’re going to be OK. Don’t panic. Drink water.” You all did a great job, making a good assessment of the situation and getting Dan the help he needed as fast as possible!🎉
Thank God Dan is OK. He was lucky to have you with him. You did a great job taken care of him.
Thank you Eric for sharing. So thankful Dan is doing well. Your calmness and everyone pulling together to assist was great to see. Seeing you handle the good and the bad, is encouraging. I'm a beginner back packer and I have learned allot from you both. Being as prepared as much as possible and don't panic when the unexpected happens. So many lessons to learn here. Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks Renee, remaining calm and trying to keep the whole team calm is a major part of any backcountry rescue.
Love this man. Far to often we brave it out or whatever you want to call it, only to push to far and end up in big trouble. You went for safety first. It's always got to be safety first.
So glad that Dan is recovering!! I'm very grateful too for all the EMS, Ranger and snow removal help that was available to help you guys in your time of great need. Thanks too for each of you being good friends with Dan and helping him as you did. We can all learn from your experience; be safe out there everyone.
Thanks Eric for being a great friend and staying calm. Hope Dan is OK.
Thanks for the video. Great job by the GC Park Rangers. They are awesome! All of them.
For GC novices out there… the Canyon is unforgiving. The R2R2R is no joke. R2R is difficult enough without snow - the effort required to reach the North rim in these conditions had to be insane (especially if you’re not 100% conditioned for an ultra marathon type endeavor). Kudos to Dan for finishing.
Don’t be fooled by the R2R2R videos. Be prepared.
It's awesome Dan survived and great you were there to help. We hope he has a speedy recovery so he can be on to the next quest...
Sorry guys, but I cannot help but say, you know you should’ve turned around much, much sooner on the North Kaibab trail. I’ve completed a one-day Rim-River-Rim & hiked Rim-to-Rim 5 times in my life, and anyone who thinks hiking up to the North Rim, and pushing their way through regardless how bad conditions get, in winter, is merely looking for trouble. From watching you and Dan’s past videos, I thought yourself and Dan were way more trained in knowing when to back down, turn around, just give it up and head back. I’ve got to believe TH-cam, Likes, Subscribers, etc played a very very large role in the decision making for many outdoor enthusiasts, and for this video. I respect what you guys do, hiking & mountain climbing is in my blood also, and I love to video my adventures to share with loved ones & friends, but I have tucked my tail between my legs and turned around when I feel the direction I’m headed, and terrain, is beyond my skills, capabilities or comfort level. I was hoping at the end of the video you’d say, “This was a staged SAR training video and was shot in cooperation with the Grand Canyon rangers, EMS, 911 and on call doctors”, but nope, it seem you guys willingly placed yourselves in harms way. Congrats to the rangers, 911, EMS workers and Doctors (on the phone).
wow guys! thankfully this is a tale where everyone ends safe at home. eric, emmet, jake, y'all prioritized dan's health and safety in a dire moment patiently, calm and collected, and that is so immensely valuable. the rest of the community has something to learn here! cheers to ya
Wow glad you guys made it! I have been looking into this hike in the winter, just took it off my my list! You guys did a great job staying calm!
Hopefully Dan is all good. He's a lovely bloke
At the 10-12 minute mark, rhabdo was my #1 suspect for diagnosis. I'm glad everyone made it out okay and that you all made smart decisions driven by situational awareness and assessment rather than ego. This is how to be a good hiker, a good steward, and a good friend. Well done!
Great adventure! Thanks for sharing. In June 1995 I hiked the Bright Angel Trail from the South Rim to Plateau Point. As I remember it was 6.2 miles down. I took the whole day from about 7 AM to 7 PM taking lots of video and talking with whoever would take the time. I was 50 years old at the time and in good healthy condition. However, coming up out of the canyon was the most strenuous encounter I had ever experienced. I was stopping to rest about every 100 feet. I enjoyed it so much I did it again the next Summer in 1996. However this time I cut the trip a little shorter to turn around at Indian Garden.
Thank you both for post this content - very glad to see this wasn't fatal for Dan. As a Scoutmaster/HAT guide on a training plan with my crew for Philmont this summer, I'm definitely linking my scouts to your respective videos so they can see BOTH perspectives of this rescue. Too often the prep work is overly-focused on the gear loadouts, and not the skills that actually save lives... even in WFA-R courses they tend to cover CPR/bleeding/broken bones way more than equally serious internal complications like overexertion, cold-weather dehydration, and rhabdo.
Thanks for being a competent, level-headed friend to Dan and a good leader for the team.
I watched Dan's video too, but this one really highlighted the depth of the snow and the difficulty of the trail conditions. That was a monster hike.
Very relief that Dan will be Ok. Get well soon! Love what you do!
Eric, my admiration for the way that you conducted yourself in the situation. All those years as a guide/training outdoors were a blessing! Take care out there!
Scary yes exactly right but what is scary is that you chose to hike past Phantom Ranch, a place with cabins beds, a place to eat and rest.
You're very lucky that you had such a good friend and that you had cell phone service plus a GPS locator. This was a very close call.
Eric your expression on your face showed the friendship you have for Dan, Glad you were their, God Bless
so scary! your calm demeanor and quick action was commendable and probably saved your friend. glad that it turned out ok and Dan will be fine. happy trails to you both.
thank you!
Very happy you guys made it out. Dan is a trooper and
Kudos to you guys for escalating and getting him help as soon as you realized rest wasn’t helping.
THANK YOU ERIC !!!....Love the calmness...I watched both video's and you are awesome on so many levels...very proud of you !! and im also proud of everyone else that was there too of course...and hats off to the responders and the hospital staff...Dan is a great guy and this could have been a tragedy...NOW REST DAN !! Please..:) We love ya Dudely Dude !!! Dont rush back !!!
Thanks Todd, I appreciate that.
This is next level stuff. Mad respect for both of you.
I appreciate that.
Thanks for helping Dan. Glad you both made it out of there!
I really appreciate your openness and honesty sharing this experience. So glad it worked out as well as it did and that you guys made the best decisions possible when things went bad for Dan. You are a good and true friend!
Glad Dan is okay! Great story, and it was good to see how calm and professional everyone involved was
Eric I'm a new subscriber hats off to you. You stayed calm and professional. Outstanding job sir.
Thanks so much. Had a scary situation myself this last August in a remote place where a fellow hiker almost tipped into heat stroke. Fortunately he was able to get himself out, but it was well after nightfall before we staggered back into base camp. Had his condition deteriorated further on the trail, we'd have lost him. This was a real wake-up call. Anybody can bonk, any time, given the right conditions. Even Tadej Pogacar!
So happy it turned out successfully for both of you and the team! Emotional to watch, I’ve followed you two for a long time so yes some tears were shed. God bless everyone who was a part of this.
Great job Eric, Jake, and Emmett. Thanks for keeping Dan alive. Dan, I’m glad to see you’re still with us all.
Awesome job walking us through that. Great job by everyone involved. I don’t know how you stayed so calm throughout, but that was probably very comforting to Dan.
I haven’t seen all of this yet…. Finishing now but goes to show how BIG nature can be. I love how y’all respect nature for its entirety and I’m just very grateful all are ok and good
It's great to be with a group as solid as you guys all are, Dan is very lucky. Glad to hear Dan is doing better. Thanks for sharing the story.
So glad Dan’s okay and he got the help he needed. You’re a good friend! I’ve had some elderly patients get rahbdo after falling in their homes laying helpless for extended periods of time until a friend or family member finds them. This is another way that rahbdo can happen. It’s just about the saddest thing to ever see and the best when they get better❤️
This is an amazing account of your trials through the Grand Canyon. Im so glad it has a happy ending. I wish Dan a thorough and speedy recovery. Great job to everyone involved in his rescue, awesome friends, dispatch, ranger and emergency crew. ❤️
Good work keeping a level head! Every backpacker needs a friend like you. Grateful Dan is recovering, and thank you both for sharing this story. I know the GC is intense, but I’ve started hiking by myself and if I do that it’s gonna be important that I don’t overextend myself.
Thank you Eric and Dan for being so open and frank about what happened, how you dealt with it and what it did with you guys emotionally. You are true friends. Your experience made me decide to follow a formally recognised wilderness first aid course, before we leave for the Via Alpina Red Course in France/Italy, next July, which we’ll do partially solo. We’ve been doing some pretty wild stuff in the last decades, without such training. It is not just about the practical skills you learn at a course, but also about keeping a clear head, weigh your alternatives and make wise decisions under duress. Your experience should be a wise lesson for all of us outdoor people.
Thanks for being a supportive and mentally strong friend by Dan’a side. Just subscribed to your channel.
Wow that is so scary, me and my friends had an issue like this last year when hiking for a weekend in 106 degrees temperature with little/no water because we misunderstood the trail maps, and I suffered heat stroke. Things like this happen and are unexpected and scary, if I didn't have other people with me and helping out, I wouldn't have made it either. A really good example of why hiking with good and trusted friends the best idea always!
Thanks Eric for sharing your part of the story.
This was nerve racking.
I have seen the video on Dan's channel too and i have to say man all of you were troopers, commited and really really good for keeping your composure.
I am very thankfull that you all made it safe and that Dan is still around to tell his story.
Thanks for sharing your terriffying experience.
It is a good reminder that all hikers, guides and experienced outdoor lovers can be caught up in tricky situation like yours.
ALso Eric, as a fellow guide myself, I have to say that I found you EXTREMELY reassuring with Dan ( good chance he still had his good spirit) and the way you have act and react during ( what I have seen ) these videos.
You did very well with the emergency calls and the follow up of the team.
In french we says:''guide un jour guide toujours''
Meaning that when you have been a guide, the knowledge you have acquiered is always somewhere inside you ready to be pull out to help others or yourself.
Caring and helping on trail or in the wild, will always be a second nature and we will always see things that others often dont perceived at an early stage.
Have some good rest all of you 🙂
Eric you are a hero. You remained calm, reassuring and composed under very stressful circumstances. You truly saved Dan’s life. What a great lesson for everyone to learn - Mother Nature always wins and we are vulnerable in those conditions
Thanks Denise. Remaining calm in these situations is incredibly important.
wow, so so glad Dan was ok, heartbreaking, and so so so grateful you had a phone signal!!! wow you're both so amazing and beautiful!
Both your video and Dan’s make it look like everyone acted admirably. Well done everyone in getting out of the situation and good luck to Dan recovering
having watched both channels for a long time, i'm glad that you were there for Dan.
I can second the difficulty of this hike! We hiked it about week after your incident (Feb 17-20, 2023) and those last 2-3 miles, though the snow up to North Rim were absolutely BRUTAL! we didn't have snow shoes 😬 and so we were postholing from the tunnel to the top, sometimes falling up to our waist. It was the hardest 2 or 3 miles of my life! I'm so glad Dan is okay 👍
Woe. Glad your group made it too. How do people know that snow shoes are critical during certain times or the year (or always?).
Thanks for sharing this story. Great to be vulnerable with the dangers of hiking. Glad you were all able stay safe throughout.
You made me cry..so glad you are on the mend! Great job Eric!
You're a good friend and a real professional on the trail. I admire what you and the team did
so grateful it finished well for Dan, I watched it in one breath. Very sobering as well, not once while hiking, I got nauseous and vomiting because of exhaustion, warmest hugs to your whole team
Thanks for sharing. Not something I knew about, always learning
These were scary and serious events. Great that this went well in the end
I just came here from Dan’s channel. You earned a sub at the very least for your actions in making sure Dan got help. Thank you for sharing this story, and for everything you, Jake and Emmett did to get him out safely.
Thanks! I appreciate that.
I love watching both your channels. Take care and don't blame yourself. Things happen. Thank God everyone made it Home. Prayers for you all you guys
Eric! Thank goodness for your quick decision making! Knowing what to do in a situation like that and taking action likely saved Dan's life. Being prepared is definitely a lesson I will take away from this.
Hi Eric, I just watched your video. I have empathy for you guys. And I’m glad everything came out ok. That said, Dan is responsible for Dan. As someone who worked along with the national park service over a period of two decades, individuals need to be willing and able to communicate how they are really feeling. If they need to stop, they need to stop. I’m very grateful for the help and support you all received. That’s my opinion given with my limited knowledge of the situation. So, I’m not sure if you did something wrong or not. Things just happen and we have to do the best we can under the circumstances.
I hate to say that I “like“ this, but I think it’s important for folks to see this, as well as Dan’s own post. Key takeaways are to think carefully about your own conditioning, to evaluate soberly the challenges in any outdoor activities you are planning, and to know that “just pushing through” is not always the right call. Dan’s alive because he and his team recognized his need for help. Thanks so much for sharing this video.
I like how calm you were. If you would have panicked it would have scared him more.
Such an awesome team effort to get Dan out safely. Well done! Speedy recovery Dan.
That was a good and honest summary Eric. I'm so pleased that the decision to stop was made no later than it was. Great that you are all safe and that we have all learned from Dan's experience. Your video will be invaluable to all who watch it. Thankyou!
My prayers go out to Dan. I am glad everything worked out. Thanks that you were there and that the Ranger station was equipped with trained personnel. God bless. Stay safe.
You're a good person Eric. I am happy to be one of your subscribers.
Great job on handling the situation, really all of you (Emmett and Jake). Glad everything worked out okay and this is really an insightful video to help me when planning trips, distances, etc.
Obviously several lessons that everyone should literally take to heart from this experience. My takeaways:
First is recognizing symptoms of health issues (any can potentially be serious in the backcountry), high exertion levels and debilitating exhaustion on the trail - which you guys did do. We all need to honestly assess how things are going, particularly when the going gets tough. Be honest with yourself first as well as keep a close eye on any partners. In Dan's case, making the tough decision to slow down but keep going to the trail head was the best of the bad options. Stopping along the trail would probably have meant even more delayed help and probably an airlift out. There is no perfect way to make this decision.
Second is thinking ahead to keep options open as much as possible and to reasonably prepare for those options. Starting to think about getting help and setting up the tent are good examples here.
Third is when to make the tough decision to call for help. Pride does often get in the way - some embarrassment and also not wanting to inconvenience others. Deciding to delay the request is frequently worse with much greater negative impact to others. The Rangers were likely very glad that they were called in this situation.
Fourth is assessing route difficulties and the capabilities of each participant before hitting the trail. Backpacking is Type III 'fun' and is typically about pushing limits and setting challenging goals (miles per day, etc). I may start adding an assessment for "probability of success" with future trips. Tough trails that push the limits of just one participant should rank low. Or maybe assign "probability of fun" on the trail - to focus more on enjoying the trek instead of concentrating on achieving specific goals. Still a subjective assessment but at least give pause during planning.
I think Dan was physically breaking down when he stopped and made the comment about being emotional. Eric was totally relaxed and not out of breath; Dan was breathing heavy and replying in short statements to hide his over exertion. Just my opinion. I could be wrong. Eric, you’re an awesome adventure buddy and anyone who backpacks with you can consider themselves fortunate.
I’m glad your friend is okay. And you
+rangers helped him when he needed it. Hate when people die while hiking/climbing or diving. :)