Peenie Wallie: Peter DeLeo's Autobiography

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August 30, 2007

Peter DeLeo's Autobiography - Survive!

Peter DeLeo crashed in the middle of the Sierra Nevadas in California on Nov 27th, 1994. The crash shattered his ankle and shoulder, broke several ribs, and caused him to lose sight in one eye for several days. He tore his eyelid open so he could see, and then started hiking out in the dead of winter, with nothing but the clothes on his back. No food. No compass. No shelter. No lighter or matches. 13 days later, after surviving a brutal two-day blizzard, he emerged from the frozen moutains alive. Peter DeLeo hiked 50 miles in 13 days with 16 broken bones and emerged not only alive, but without any serious frostbite.

I heard about the story because he's a friend of a friend. I'd heard the story over a campfire once before, but I didn't realize he'd published a book about his plight until recently. So, I ordered the book and I just finished reading it last night. I couldn't put it down. Read his book Survive!, if you get a chance. It's an incredible story.

Update: Here's the NTSB Probable Cause evaluation of the accident.

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