Marcus Mazzaferri – Stranded in a frozen forest

So many survival stories start with someone on the trip of a lifetime, sailing around the world or climbing the highest peaks, but for Marcus, it was the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. This enormous hiking path runs for 2,659 miles and passes through 7 national parks and 25 national forests, it also changes in height from just above sea level to elevations of 13,153 feet in the Sierra Nevada.

(Marcus Mazzaferri enjoying a huge meal after his ordeal)

Marcus’s story takes place around 1000 miles into his hike when he was passing through Yosemite National Park, an area covered with steep mountains and flowing green valleys. Its beauty makes it one of the most popular national parks in the US but its steep-sided valleys and river systems also make it a dangerous place to get lost and cut off.

On June 5, 2017, Marcus was hiking through Yosemite when he came to a river blocking his path, and knowing there wasn’t going to be a bridge for miles, he decided to try and wade through. After stepping into the cold waters he realized the hard stone bottom presented no danger of him sinking in, so he waded out until the waters came up to his waist.

Halfway through his crossing, he stepped onto a loose rock and lost his balance, being quickly taken by the strong river current. He fought to get to the side but his large 60-pound backpack was weighing him down, and he was quickly being taken towards a small waterfall. With no other option, he ditched his pack in the water and using his last bit of strength, managed to make it safely to the bank.

He was out of immediate danger but now found himself in the middle of a forest with no food or equipment, and he even lost his glasses and cell phone in the river. Waiting for help wouldn’t work because no one knew where he was and there wouldn’t be anyone who noticed he was missing, so he decided to try and make it to a small isolated hut he spent the previous night in.

(Yosemite National Park)

The hut was 15 miles away but with no other option, he started to walk, making it almost halfway before darkness fell. His plan was to follow his tracks back to the hut and hope it didn’t snow again before he could make it, but for now, he would have to spend the night where he was and try to pick up the trail the next day.

The temperature went below freezing that night and he could only sit down and rest for a few minutes before having to do some kind of exercise to keep warm. As soon as the sun came up he started following his footprints again, losing the trail more than once but out of pure luck, always managed to stumble across them again.

A few hours into the day, the sun had melted away his footprints and there was now no way of knowing which was the right direction. He knew he must be within a mile or two of the hut but had no idea which way to go, knowing the wrong direction would lead him further into the wilderness with no food and wet clothes.

Then he heard something in the distance, the faint rumble of heavy vehicles and the classic reversing beep often found on heavy machinery. He knew they probably weren’t going to be there for long, and there was a large snow-covered plain and a river in between them, but it was the only option to not be stranded out here.

He ran across the plain and jumped into the river, using all his strength and the adrenaline rush he got from the thought of rescue to help him make it across. He made his way to the nearest bulldozer and explained his situation to the driver, who gave him a ride several miles to the Yosemite rangers station where he spent the night. Because he didn’t have any injuries and just needed warming up, he didn’t spend any time in the hospital but was now left with nothing but the clothes he was wearing. He ended up calling some friends who drove for 11 hours to give him a lift back home.