Survival

Case History

When my ordeal began, I was 22 years old. I had come to Nepal from Australia 5 weeks before to do my senior year elective for medical school and to hike in the Himalaya. Several months before leaving home, I had become engaged. At home, in addition to studying, I trained as many as 10 hours per week in various sports, especially karate (in which I had competed at an international level).

At the suggestion of local physicians, I spent the first 2 weeks hiking and climbed to an elevation of 3000 meters. After working for about a month at the main government hospital. I headed north from the Kathmandu Valley on another short trek. Trekking on these popular routes means hiking from one rustic lodge to the next: Therefore, one need only carry the bare minimum of food and equipment.

On 22 December 1991, I was hiking with a man whom I had met 2 days before. We were attempting to cross a 4400-meter pass when a blizzard swept in and caused us to lose our trail. We discussed but could not agree on the safest course of action: I chose to turn back, whereas the other man continued climbing.

With the mountain trail covered in snow, I followed a creek in the hope that it would lead down to the village that was on my map. The snow deepened, and the creek only led me to a precipitous waterfall. I slept under an overhang, then spent the next day slogging through snow; at one point, I fell into water. That night, sheltered by a narrow rock ledge, I consumed the last of my food: two chocolate bars. I wrote to my fiancee and to my family, apologizing for my …