Which ESEE would have worked for Ralston?

threatx3

threatx3

Joined
Dec 30, 2010
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I was watching that documentary on Ralston last night on NBC. For those that don't know, he was the guy that got trapped in a Utah Canyon and had to cut his own arm off.

Quick summary is that he dulled his cheap multi tool trying to chip away at the rock to free his stuck arm and then eventually came to the realization that he would have to self amputate to get out. It's a pretty amazing story and the whole time I was just thinking if he'd had an ESEE it would have taken him a lot less time to cut through his arm. I was thinking a serrated 3 or an Izula for the close in work.

I hate pulling slivers out of my fingers so I can't imagine what it would take to amputate your own arm. One thing is for sure...he is a true survivor.
 
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Hell, an Izula would have been %1000 better than that crappy a#$ multi tool he had. I used to have one of those cheapies before I got my Leatherman's. The blade was HORRIBLE. I honestly cant imagine it cutting through ANYTHING let alone a human arm. That dude is one tough SOB.
 
Which ESEE would have worked?

Honestly the AH-1 would have been superior to what he had, I think.

What would have worked best? I think there is only one choice if you want to remove limbs quickly.
 
could have been alot worse then just a crappy multi tool. just think of the pain if he only had a spoon
 
I don’t think an ESEE would have been better than any other sharp knife. Truly unfortunate situation that I don’t take lightly.
 
adaman04 said:
I don’t think an ESEE would have been better than any other sharp knife. Truly unfortunate situation that I don’t take lightly.
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I didn't mean for this situation to be taken lightly. I was actually intrigued by the story. I'm reading Deep Survival right now and was just thinking about his will to survive given his circumstances. It was also interesting to hear what he talked about at his darkest moments through the video he made.

When you think about it, rarely do you get to see how a human reacts under such stressful circumstances when they feel death is imminent.

The only reason I bring up the ESEE angle is during the documentary all I could think about what which of my ESEE knives would I have taken with me on a hike like that...I'm thinking that day would have been my Izula.
 
threatx3 said:
I didn't mean for this situation to be taken lightly. I was actually intrigued by the story. I'm reading Deep Survival right now and was just thinking about his will to survive given his circumstances. It was also interesting to hear what he talked about at his darkest moments through the video he made.

When you think about it, rarely do you get to see how a human reacts under such stressful circumstances when they feel death is imminent.

The only reason I bring up the ESEE angle is during the documentary all I could think about what which of my ESEE knives would I have taken with me on a hike like that...I'm thinking that day would have been my Izula.
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Didn't mean for the comment to be directed at you. I've read on this story a lot and getting to the mental state that I'm getting ready to cut my arm off takes guts. A lot of people would have just stayed there and died.
 
adaman04 said:
A lot of people would have just stayed there and died.
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I can't say for certain that I'm not one of them. I like to think I'd have the fortitude to whack my own arm off to save my life, but I'll never be certain unless you wedge my arm under a rock in some forgotten slot canyon and leave me there. It's not sacrificing a limb for my life that leaves me uncertain. Not much contest there. But doing it myself is a whole 'nother animal.
 
Carolina River Rat said:
I can't say for certain that I'm not one of them. I like to think I'd have the fortitude to whack my own arm off to save my life, but I'll never be certain unless you wedge my arm under a rock in some forgotten slot canyon and leave me there. It's not sacrificing a limb for my life that leaves me uncertain. Not much contest there. But doing it myself is a whole 'nother animal.
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I agree CRR. In the back of my mind I'd be thinking "Well if I hang on just a little longer, someone might find me" or worse yet "What if I cut my arm off and walk over the hill and there is the rescue crew?" :eek:
 
I had a hard enough time trying to give my self an IV.

There must have been so many things running through his head. I do think that if I hadn't told anyone where I would be...I would have figured no-one was coming to the rescue. It was actually interesting to hear that the bone breaking didn't seem to cause him much pain. But hearing your own bone snap and echo through the canyon must be terrifying.
 
Great documentary from a real guy who had the nerve to do it and survive. My son and I watched it and when it got to the bad knife part he asked me "which one of your ESEE's would you have had with you ?" He's learning !! :D
 
I remember reading about this it seems close to 5 or so years back. While yeah, there are better knives for that kind of task, I've never picked up a blade going, "if I have to self amputate I'd want..." That's such an extreme situation and what that man did was amazing. He was in a horrible situation. He used the tools which he had. He accomplished what needed to be done. He survived.

God bless,
Adam
 
I'd like to think that after that much time had gone by, that he had already lost a lot of the feeling in his hand and wrist before the amputation.

And, I would want a 4 or 6 with serrations.
 
I do alot of my own wound repair, stitches, cuts, broken fingers, stuff like that. Cutting off your own arm is real. Not 23 stitches real, but real real. Not sure if I could have done it.

Plus, think about it, your arm is pinned under a rock, you're not gonna be sitting there thinking clearly. If you can't pull your arm out, even if it meant leving behind some hefty skin deposits on said rock, you're hurting. Bad.

I would almost guess your pain receptors would be almost overloaded or in lock down already. Still, taking off an apendage on purpose, by your own hand, would have to be the utmost, final and last decision to make.

He's tougher than I am, but I'm not sure I would do in that situation.

To answer the OP, ESEE5, he might have freed himself with it, or at least been able to make longer cuts quicker.

Damn. Rough to think about.

Moose
 
That guy is hardcore. He would have got that arm off with his own teeth if he had too.
 
First the guy made a VERY stupid decision putting himself in that situation in the manner he did. Canyoneering by yourself is just a huge no no. And he even admits it. First chipping away rock i would prefer the mil knives with the glass breaker. Personally a sharp SAK with two blades and a saw would have worked better for the arm removal. And if my arm had of been crushed under an 800 lb boulder i would not have waited that long before doing the deed. Nothing would bring back a limb at that point and postponing could weaken you to the point you would still die trying to get out.
 
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