Aron Ralston: A Trip To Blue John Canyon

Would you be able to cut your own arm off with a dull knife to survive? Aron Ralston, an accomplished mountaineer, discovered that he had what it took to complete this gruesome task. Ralston decided to take a simple day trip to Blue John Canyon, Utah for some canyoneering in 2003. Unfortunately, the trip took a turn for the worst after an 800 pound boulder fell onto his right forearm, crushing and trapping him in the confined space. This trip was supposed to be a leisurely break from his usual grueling mountain climbing. His underestimation of the canyon was the reason behind him not informing anyone of this day trip into the wilderness. If he had informed someone Ralston would most likely still have both of his arms. Aron Ralston used perseverance, adaptability, and his problem solving skills to prove his status as a survivor. To begin with, Aron Ralston used perseverance to overcome a dire situation. Firstly, rationing supplies is a vital skill required to survive. For example, Alex Hannaford, a journalist for telegraph.co.uk, explained that Ralston had only one gallon water and two burritos for food, yet Ralston managed to …show more content…
Surviving a dangerous situation like he managed to takes perseverance. That is not a skill all people inherently have, but it can be forced out of them by hardship. Another important characteristic many survivors carry is the ability to adapt quickly. Ralston would not have lived without the strength to adapt to his situation. Humans are known to adapt well to different environments, but only survivors can handle the extremist of situations. Problems are a constantly occurring phenomenon that has plagued people for an extraordinary amount of time, so it is bizarre that not everybody is capable of good problem solving like Ralston and other problem solvers. “You'll never find your limits until you've gone too far.” –Aron