Survive!

There are those times in life—thankfully rare—when we get up in the morning, the sun is shining in a near cloudless sky, and everything seems right in the world (at least in our little corner). We embark on the day with delightful ambition, looking forward to all it has in store. Then suddenly an unseen, unexpected wind shear sends us crashing to the ground. Now what?

Such was Peter Deleo’s experience on November 27, 1994. He and a couple friends took off in a single-engine plane flying over the Sierra Nevada range in California on a photo expedition. Conditions were nearly perfect for their outing, and their flight path took them into some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Each of the three was having the time of his life, in his own way—one friend, shooting photographs, another taking video, and Peter flying his beloved plane.

Then the wind shear, the loss of 3000 feet in altitude, the looming mountainside closing in faster than the plane can gain altitude, the tree tops slashing against the wings and underside of the plane, and the somber sound of his friend’s voice, “Am I going to die?” Moments later, silence. The mauled plane rests on a mountainside amid giant sequoias, huge boulders, and imposing cliffs.

Coming out of the fog of unconsciousness, Peter realizes all three have survived the impact, but all are badly injured. With broken ribs, a crushed ankle, and a few lesser injuries, he is in the best shape and their only hope for survival. Quickly the three reach the decision: Peter will attempt to hike down the mountain to find help. The trek will take him thirteen days to cover forty-five miles as the crow flies.

Survive! is Peter’s first-person narrative of his incredible journey. As he wends his way through waist-high snow and fights against seemingly insurmountable odds, the reader eagerly seeks to turn the page—what will be the next obstacle, setback, unexpected surprise? Instinctively he knows Peter makes it or the book wouldn’t exist, but one is often left to wonder how!

I thoroughly enjoyed journeying with the author, though from the comfort of my family room sofa. I certainly marveled at Deleo’s resourcefulness, determination, and grit. More, his earnest longing to get help for his friends left on the mountainside outstripped his own will to live and fueled the driving force compelling him forward despite his own suffering. When he finally arrived in civilization, a woman asked, “You survived in the mountains for twelve days? What kept you going?” Deleo replied, “I needed to stay alive to get help for my two friends.”

Taking in the entire ordeal, one could flesh out some reasons for Peter to be grateful that parallel those of Robinson Crusoe. As he looked back on his survival trek, he could identify several things to be thankful for:

• A cave to shelter him from the bitter cold at night
• Sun to dry his cold, wet clothes
• Edible plants
• Melted ice and snow to drink
• A hot spring that gave warmth and provided an environment for insects to live, which became food and nourishment
• An abandoned cabin that gave temporary shelter
• Someone who finally stopped to give him a ride
• A host of compassionate people who did everything they could to help him 
• A tireless search and rescue team that returned to the mountain in an effort to find his friends

All of this led me to ponder just how quickly life can change, and how important it is that I respond to the challenges in a positive, selfless way. Further, I need to learn how better to follow Paul’s exhortation in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “…give thanks in all circumstances.” Even when limping through a four-foot snow drift.