Plane that crashed in the Andes a long time ago

[GreginAlaska]

Do you guys remember the story about the plane that hit the mountains in the Andes a long time ago, the one where they ended up eating from some of the dead people? I just got a call from my wife, she is down at a convention in Dallas, she just had a talk with Nando Parrado (not sure if that is spelled right) one of the survivors. Check this; he told her that was the first time any of them had even seen snow or been in a place that cold. He was one of the people who walked out, he said he walked 80 miles in a tee shirt and jeans.
Holy Crickey!

 

[Snyd]

I remeber that. Saw something on tv about it not too long ago also. Man, talk about do or die extreme survival. Amazing that he made it. I think accounts like his and one of guys amputating thier own limbs shows how strong the "will to live" can be, and, what people can be capable of in dire circumstances. My hat's off to this man.

 

[cold zero]

chilean rugbyteam

chilean rugbyteam

nando was one of the 2 guys that walked out to safety and brought help back for the others.

tough guy.

 

[AlaskaHippie]

http://members.aol.com/porkinsr6/alive.html

good info

 

[GreginAlaska]

I remeber that. Saw something on tv about it not too long ago also. Man, talk about do or die extreme survival. Amazing that he made it. I think accounts like his and one of guys amputating thier own limbs shows how strong the "will to live" can be, and, what people can be capable of in dire circumstances. My hat's off to this man.

Did you see the special they did on the guy who cut off his own arm? That gave me the willys! Ya, some people have an amazing will to survive.

 

[AlleninAlaska]

Don't forget the Donner Party.

 

[GreginAlaska]

That Parrado guy wrote a book called "Miracle in the Andes" about the whole ordeal. My wife brought a copy back, they went through a lot more than that movie "Alive" showed they did. wow.

 

[6XLeech]

Worthwhile read...

Worthwhile read...

"Miracle in the Andes", which I passed on until my brother sent a copy this past winter. A unique description of a prolonged group survival situation, with valuable insights on basics of survival (nutrition, exercise), group dynamics, dealing with the unexpected (avalanche), styles of leadership and the value of conditioning if you want to spend a lot of time outdoors. Extraordinary story by Parado.

I put this book up there with "Endurance" and "Brutal Journey", agonizing at times to read, but full of new depths for grit, determination, perseverance. Good winter stuff.

 

[stompk]

Do you guys remember the story about the plane that hit the mountains in the Andes a long time ago, <snip>
Holy Crickey!

after I read this post a couple weeks back, I ordered the book "miracle in the Andes" off of Amazon.com.

wow! talk about grit and determination. it was eye opening.
as someone who tries to always be prepared, it was thought provoking. I tried to look at it from a "what would have been helpful to have with you in that situation" mentality, and it wasn't pretty.
they had fire starting materials, but no fuel (wood, etc) to burn. they were flying from a summer weather to a summer weather destination and didn't have warm clothes. i though to myself "a down coat packs small, if flying over something like that maybe it would be worth always having one in your suitcase" - but seriously, what are the odds? not to mention that (A) it wasn't necessarily their OWN suitcases they did find, and (B) you might just be providing a coat to only the strongest person there or at the least, pissing off everyone else by having it.

it definitely made me think. the REAL difference between those who survived and those who didn't is purely humungous amounts of determination and being tougher than nails. those who died basically (for the most part, injuries aside) just gave up. nothing you can BUY would have made the difference for these guys. thanks for posting this, or I would never have read that book.

oh, and as a side thought, if you knew you were going to be in this situation (everyone reading), what do you think would have been nice to have in the luggage ?

 

[Popo]

Satalite phone.

 

[kodiakrain]

Interesting

Interesting

I actually have thought about this often flying out of Kodiak and looking down, I believe it is a reality that if I am dressed for a business meeting I would really regret stepping out of crash in winter dressed in town clothes.

I have found myself actually packing super ltwt capilene or polypro pants and shirt in a pocket of my carryon, wouldn't plan on finding my own bags from the belly of the plane right? The satphone sounds best though these days.

I'm NOT a nervous flier at all, just know the reality of flying over AK,

The capilene stuff and sound thinking in the clutch to grab a Fleece Jacket before jamming myself into a Survival Suit absolutely saved my life in a Fishing Vessel sinking a few years back. Spent over ten hours in the water off the AK Penin in 20'+ seas in November and Had Not planned to be there.

Glad I was prepared for Alaska anyway with the right clothes, Plan to be a Survivor

 

[stompk]

<snip>

Glad I was prepared for Alaska anyway with the right clothes, Plan to be a Survivor

dang! yeah, good thinking. the sat phone idea SHOULD have been a no-brainer and yet it didn't even cross my mind. prob because i don't have one
gps would be nice too, and flares, although you prob couldn't get them on a plane. i wonder. . . . they've arrested people for pointing those laser pens are planes, so they must have noticed it. that seems like a light, cheap thing to carry. . . ?

 

[Ralph]

Makes me wonder, with all the regulations on items you can carry aboard aircraft now, what if any survival items do they pack in case of a similar accident?

I doubt the major airlines even have a plan for such conditions, let alone any preplanned survival items on the aircraft.

 

[RMK]

the Uraguayan Soccer Team

the Uraguayan Soccer Team

The first book on the Andes 1972 incident was called "Alive" by Paul Piers I believe. There was another one written called "Survive." Both were made in to movies. Alive being the more modern one with Ethan Hawke.

Parado's book is the newest, and the only one written by an actual survivor.

Reading any of those makes you question your own resolve. How far would you go?

 

[samsoniam]

Are sat phones location traceable like cell phones are?