Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston
review by Cathi Cannon

I didn’t know much about Aron Ralston when I started this book, or much about adventure sports out west for that matter. However, the illustrative words Ralston used from page one to describe his bike through the sunbaked desert outside Moab drew me in. Living in the southeast for my entire life and not venturing too far for my own adventures, I’ve never experienced these barren badlands; nor have I attempted climbing any of Colorado’s infamous fourtneeners or tried navigating the twisting canyons of Utah (although I did have a recent incident in a gorge in Tennessee…). By the time I finished the 350+ pages of this book, I felt I had experienced so much more.

Ralson’s tragic accident occurred on Day 1 of his trek through Blue John Canyon in Canyonlands National Park, ending on Day 6 with the self-amputation of his right hand. During these six days, readers stick it out with Ralston, through the nearly hypothermic desert nights and through the painful rationing of his 22 ounces of water. We are with him through times of unreal clarity and expected bouts with insanity. Interspersed with the repetition of his daily challenges, we learn more about Ralston’s past, how he grew from a pre-teen terrified of moving to the west, to a college freshman climbing his first fourteener, to his goal of a winter solo ascent of all 59 of Colorado’s fourteeners. He takes us on many expeditions, where we share his exhilarations as well as his fears.

I won’t give away any of his stories, as they are definitely worth the read themselves, but rather mention an underlying mission the book surely has: to remind us all to be prepared. There are things we all know we should do as outdoor adventure athletes, but sometimes take for granted. Ralston’s original intent was to spend a day in the canyon, an outing well within his abilities. Although he broke a cardinal rule by not leaving behind a detailed itinerary, he included a knife in his pack at the last moment, an act that would later save his life. He thought clearly in rationing his food and water, prolonging his life, and was resourceful in the utilization of his remaining supplies (coiled rope=seat, camelbak insulation=tourniquet, bike shorts chamois=bandage).

One of my favorite parts of the book were the quotes and excerpts Ralston began each chapter with. All were inspiring and thought provoking, many reinforcing why I do the crazy things I do. I’ll end with a favorite, one that suggests why Ralston continues his quest to reach greater heights even today.

People say that we’re searching for the meaning of life. I don’t think that’s it at all. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances within our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive. — Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth

http://www.aralston.com/