Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Additional Between a Rock and a Hard Place Information

It started out as a simple hike in the Utah canyonlands on a warm Saturday afternoon. For Aron Ralston, a twenty-seven-year-old mountaineer and outdoorsman, a walk into the remote Blue John Canyon was a chance to get a break from a winter of solo climbing Colorado's highest and toughest peaks. He'd earned this weekend vacation, and though he met two charming women along the way, by early afternoon he finally found himself in his element: alone, with just the beauty of the natural world all around him.

It was 2:41 P.M. Eight miles from his truck, in a deep and narrow slot canyon, Aron was climbing down off a wedged boulder when the rock suddenly, and terrifyingly, came loose. Before he could get out of the way, the falling stone pinned his right hand and wrist against the canyon wall.

And so began six days of hell for Aron Ralston. With scant water and little food, no jacket for the painfully cold nights, and the terrible knowledge that he'd told no one where he was headed, he found himself facing a lingering death -- trapped by an 800-pound boulder 100 feet down in the bottom of a canyon. As he eliminated his escape options one by one through the days, Aron faced the full horror of his predicament: By the time any possible search and rescue effort would begin, he'd most probably have died of dehydration, if a flash flood didn't drown him before that.

What does one do in the face of almost certain death? Using the video camera from his pack, Aron began recording his grateful good-byes to his family and friends all over the country, thinking back over a life filled with adventure, and documenting a last will and testament with the hope that someone would find it. (For their part, his family and friends had instigated a major search for Aron, the amazing details of which are also documented here for the first time.) The knowledge of their love kept Aron Ralston alive, until a divine inspiration on Thursday morning solved the riddle of the boulder. Aron then committed the most extreme act imaginable to save himself.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place -- a brilliantly written, funny, honest, inspiring, and downright astonishing report from the line where death meets life -- will surely take its place in the annals of classic adventure stories.

What Customers Say About Between a Rock and a Hard Place:

Read it. He continues to climb to this day. Get it. The book arrived quickly and in great condition. Be amazed. Amazing story of ultimate survival. If you haven't ever read this book.YOU MUST. Heard his story live on NPR and blew me away.

In the written version, he jumps back and forth between his current situation (stuck in Blue John canyon, his hand trapped under the boulder) and recalling past adventures. He is so detailed about his past experiences (including Blue John), but then spends very little time explaining his recouperation, adjusting to life with only one hand and how this has affected him in his current life.

Aran narrates it and his innate sense of humor and positive attitude are ever present throughout his telling of the story. The audio version concentrates more on the Blue John accident.

Aran Ralston writes beautifully. But, I found it a bit annoying.

I prefer the audio version over the written. I read the book and am just finishing up with the audio version.

I understand he is doing this to establish the fact that he had a tendency to take on dangerous challenges, often doing these things solo, and that was how he wound up in that terrible perdicerment.

I couldn't put it down. Aron Ralston is a wonderful writer. His description of his life-altering events can make you feel things you'll never experience, both positive and negative.

What a total narcissist. It didn't help that I also saw him on the show 60 minutes. Hate to admit it and not to sound racist, but Caucasian people never learn from their near death experiences with nature - they just get right back to what ever stupid thing they're doing. I really wanted to be inspired with this book, but after plodding through it, it just made me totally disgusted with Aron. Total disregard for all the mistakes he's made and continues to do the same stupid things over and over again.

Reading about the experience (when he finally gets to it) left me awestruck.CON:The writing is narcissistic, pretentious drivel. PRO:An inspiring story of courage and survival.