The CRUX: True Survival Stories

On a snowy Black Friday in November 2024, a 22-year-old experienced hiker from Quebec set out alone to climb one of the most remote peaks in New York's Adirondack Mountains—a challenging 18-mile journey he expected to complete in a single day. When he didn't return as planned, what followed was one of the most extensive search operations in Adirondack history, involving dozens of elite forest rangers battling brutal winter conditions for over a week. This is the story of Leo Dufour, a university student studying to become a teacher who had already conquered 32 of the legendary 46 High Peaks, and the extraordinary efforts to find him in a wilderness that doesn't always give up its secrets. It's a reminder that even the most prepared among us are never more than one wrong turn away from the unforgiving power of the mountains.

00:00 Introduction to Disaster Strikes

00:42 Leo Dufour's Quest in the Adirondacks

03:00 The Challenge of Allen Mountain

07:09 The Search and Rescue Efforts

12:47 The Aftermath and Lessons Learned

24:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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References:

"New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Statement on Recovery of Missing Canadian Hiker Leo DuFour." DEC Press Release, May 10, 2025.

"Update: State Police seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing hiker in the town of Newcomb." NYS Police Press Release, December 2024.

Lynch, Mike. "Remains of missing Canadian hiker found." Adirondack Explorer, May 2025.

Lynch, Mike. "Missing hiker: What we know so far, as search enters 5th day." Adirondack Explorer, January 22, 2025.

Lynch, Mike. "Search for Canadian hiker shifts to recovery." Adirondack Explorer, March 28, 2025.

"DEC: Body of missing hiker Leo DuFour found May 10 off Mt. Allen Mountain trail." The Adirondack Almanack, May 12, 2025.

"Due to treacherous conditions, search for Leo DuFour transitioned to recovery mission." The Adirondack Almanack, December 10, 2024.

"Extensive search underway in the Adirondacks for missing Canadian hiker." NCPR News, December 4, 2024.

"Rangers had to divert resources during Allen Mt. search to rescue solo searcher." NCPR News, December 10, 2024.

"DEC: No signs of missing hiker Thursday." Adirondack Daily Enterprise, December 5, 2024.

"Hikers find body of missing person on Allen Mountain." My NBC5, May 2025.

"Body of Missing Hiker Is Found 5 Months After He Vanished in the Adirondacks." The New York Times, May 29, 2025.

The Globe and Mail (Canada): "U.S. authorities find body of missing Quebec hiker in New York state's Adirondacks." May 11, 2025.

Advnture: Clarke, Julia. "Body of 22-year-old Canadian hiker found 5 months after vanishing on snowy Adirondacks mountain." May 2025.

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In this unflinching episode of the Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen delve into one of history's most harrowing survival stories. On October 13, 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 slammed into the Andes Mountains, leaving 33 survivors stranded at 12,000 feet in subzero temperatures. For 72 days, they battled avalanches, frostbite, and starvation. When their meager supplies ran out, they faced an unthinkable decision: consume the dead or die themselves. This episode chronicles the psychological torment, the impossible moral choices, and the superhuman trek of two survivors who walked ten days through the frozen mountains to find rescue. A raw testament to human resilience and the terrifying price of survival.

00:00 Welcome and Housekeeping

01:25 Introducing the Podcast

01:48 Setting the Scene: The Andes Flight Disaster

02:08 The Crash

03:11 Immediate Aftermath

04:05 Struggle for Survival

15:55 The Search is Called Off

18:16 Facing the Unthinkable

20:06 The Grim Reality of Survival

21:01 A Desperate Decision

23:35 The Psychological Toll

25:44 Avalanche Strikes Again

27:18 A Daring Escape Plan

28:38 Journey Through the Mountains

35:36 Rescue and Aftermath

39:22 Legacy of Survival

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Check out our website! www.thecruxsurvival.com
REFERENCES

Primary Sources:

Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read (1974)

Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home by Nando Parrado (2006)

Out of the Silence: After the Crash by Eduardo Strauch (2019)

Technical Documentation:

Official Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 accident investigation reports

Medical journals documenting survivors' conditions upon rescue

Geographic surveys of crash site location

Aviation records and flight data

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When a routine test flight goes catastrophically wrong, Army Air Forces Lieutenant Leon Crane parachutes into the Alaskan wilderness in the dead of winter—alone, with no survival gear, and temperatures at 40 below zero. The city kid from Philadelphia has never spent a night outdoors in his life. What follows is one of the most remarkable survival stories of World War II: 84 days in the Arctic, a 120-mile trek through brutal terrain, and a series of decisions that meant the difference between life and death. This is the story almost nobody knows about—the man who refused to die on a frozen mountain.

Time Stamps:
00:00 Escape Ads with Patreon

00:46 Introduction to Crux True Survival Stories

01:10 Leon Crane's Harrowing Fall

02:48 The Crash and Immediate Aftermath

03:48 The Struggle for Survival Begins

04:19 The Fateful Flight Details

06:12 The Plane's Descent and Crash

09:48 Crane's First Night in the Wilderness

14:14 Days of Waiting and Desperation

17:38 The Decision to Move

20:38 Finding the Trapper's Cabin

23:27 Recovery and Reflection

26:10 Surviving the Wilderness: Rationing and Isolation

28:04 A Glimmer of Hope: Discovering the Map

30:06 The Desperate Journey Begins

31:09 Battling the Elements: Falling Through the Ice

34:11 Miraculous Rescue: Finding Shelter

35:58 The Final Struggle: Marching Towards Survival

38:05 The Unbelievable Reunion

42:34 Aftermath and Legacy

47:25 Lessons from Leon Crane's Survival

48:03 Closing Thoughts and Acknowledgements

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Email us! [email protected]

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Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

REFERENCES

Wikipedia - Leon Crane

Military.com - "How This Airman Survived 3 Months in the Alaskan Wilderness After a World War II Plane Crash"

Anchorage Daily News - "Lost in the wilderness for 81 days: The tortuous tale of Leon Crane's first Christmas in Alaska" by David Reamer

Adventure Journal - "Leon Crane Survived a Terrifying Plane Crash, Then 80 Days Alone in an Alaskan Winter"

Air & Space Forces Magazine - "Valor: Alone in the Arctic" (April 1997)

Heroes, Heroines, and History - "A WWII Pilot's Incredible Survival Story in Alaska's Frozen Wilderness" by Mary Dodge Allen

National Park Service - Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve documentation

Murphy, Brian. 81 Days Below Zero: The Incredible Survival Story of a World War II Pilot in Alaska's Frozen Wilderness

Valor Friday - This ain't Hell military history blog

Amazon.com - 81 Days Below Zero book listing and reviews

Hachette Book Group / Da Capo Press - 81 Days Below Zero publisher information

Goodreads - 81 Days Below Zero reviews and ratings

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In this episode of 'Disaster Strikes' on the Crux podcast, host Julie Henningsen delves into the harrowing story of David Sharp, a dedicated mountaineer whose third attempt to summit Mount Everest ended in tragedy. On May 15, 2006, Sharp was found unresponsive at 27,890 feet, seated next to the landmark known as Green Boots Cave. Despite attempts to help from several climbers, Sharp ultimately did not survive. The episode explores the decisions and conditions that led to this tragic outcome, the ethical dilemmas facing fellow climbers, and the broader implications for high-altitude mountaineering. Henningsen also contrasts Sharp's fate with the miraculous survival of Lincoln Hall, another climber left for dead but who managed to survive under similar conditions. The episode serves as a poignant reminder of the perils of mountaineering.

00:00 Introduction to Disaster Strikes
00:59 The Tragic Encounter on Everest

03:34 David Sharp's Background and Climbing History

06:25 The Final Attempt and Its Challenges

07:13 The Controversial Basic Package

14:33 The Deadly Climb of 2006

16:37 Green Boots and the Final Resting Place

19:12 David Sharp's Final Hours

19:54 Turkish Climbers' Dilemma

21:50 Controversy and Confusion

22:44 Efforts to Save Sharp

24:35 The Aftermath and Public Outcry

27:29 Lincoln Hall's Miraculous Survival

31:53 Comparing Sharp and Hall

34:20 Legacy and Reflection

35:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

References

David Sharp (mountaineer) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Sharp_(mountaineer)

Lincoln Hall (climber) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Hall_(climber)

Green Boots - Ultimate Kilimanjaro
https://www.ultimatekilimanjaro.com/green-boots-on-mount-everest-who-was-he-how-did-he-die/

"Dying For Everest" (2007)
New Zealand TV3 Documentary featuring interviews with climbers and expedition leaders

"Everest: Beyond the Limit" (2006-2009)
Discovery Channel series featuring Russell Brice's Himex expeditions, Season 1 includes David Sharp incident

"Dead Lucky: Life After Death on Mount Everest" by Lincoln Hall (2007)

"Dark Summit: The True Story of Everest's Most Controversial Season" by Nick Heil (2008)

"Over the Top" - Outside Online (August 15, 2006)
https://www.outsideonline.com/1909966/over-top

"The Tragic Death of David Sharp" - Eight Summits
https://eightsummits.com/bills-articles/the-tragic-death-of-david-sharp/

"Lincoln Hall Rescue" - SummitClimb
https://www.summitclimb.com/news/mef/lincoln-hall-rescue

Alan Arnette - Everest Coverage
https://www.alanarnette.com

"Mortality on Mount Everest, 1921-2006: descriptive study"
British Medical Journal (PMC2602730)

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In this episode of the Crux True Survival Stories Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen recount the extraordinary tale of Kevin DePaolo, a 26-year-old adventurer from New York who finds himself pinned under a massive boulder in the Eastern California desert. Struggling with excruciating pain and the imminent threat of bleeding out, DePaolo's survival hinges on the quick thinking of his friend Josh Nelson, a network of rescue teams, and a daring nighttime helicopter extraction. Through a detailed narrative, listeners will experience the intense moments of fear, desperation, and incredible teamwork that ultimately saved Kevin's life. This episode not only highlights the importance of emergency preparedness but also underscores the power of friendship and human resilience in the face of life-threatening challenges.

00:00 Introduction
00:42 Meet the Hosts

01:09 Setting the Scene

01:41 The Accident Strikes

03:22 Immediate Aftermath and First Aid

05:42 Rescue Efforts Begin

12:22 Search and Rescue Team Mobilizes

16:44 Nighttime Rescue Operation

26:02 Medical Treatment and Recovery

27:14 Reflection and Gratitude

30:25 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Listen AD FREE: Support our podcast at patreaon: http://patreon.com/TheCruxTrueSurvivalPodcast

Email us! [email protected]

Visit us at thecruxsurvival.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecruxpodcast/

Get schooled by Julie in outdoor wilderness medicine! https://www.headwatersfieldmedicine.com/

 
Sources

1. SF Gate - "'I'm going to die': Hiker recounts harrowing rescue in California mountains"

URL: https://www.sfgate.com/california-news/article/california-hiker-rescue-inyo-mountains-boulder-18560172.php

Date: December 18, 2023

Details: Interview with Kevin DePalo and his mother Ann, comprehensive account

2. SF Chronicle - "A daring rescue to save an injured hiker in the California wilderness"

URL: https://www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/article/california-mountains-rock-18549703.php

Date: December 17, 2023

Details: Detailed rescue operation, named SAR members (Tim, Matt, Dan, Isaac), technical details of pulley system

3. Reader's Digest - "Between a Rock and a Hard Place"

URL: https://www.readersdigest.in/true-stories/story-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-127875

Date: January 20, 2025

Details: Most comprehensive narrative, confirms Corporal Victor Lawson as SAR coordinator, detailed timeline

4. KMPH/KSEE (Fresno) - "Hiker crushed by boulder recovering at Fresno hospital"

URL: https://kmph.com/news/local/hiker-crushed-by-boulder-recovering-at-fresno-hospital-inyo-sar-search-rescue

Date: December 18, 2023

Details: Video interview with DePalo at Community Regional Medical Center

5. ABC30 (Fresno) - "A daring rescue to save an injured hiker in the California wilderness"

URL: https://abc30.com/videoClip/hiker-hiking-rescue-survival/14738335/

Date: April 30, 2024

Details: Follow-up story with Navy rescue details, HM2 Matthew Rector identified as medical tech

6. New York Times/Spokesman-Review - "Hiker pinned under boulder for 10 hours: 'I'm going to die up here'"

URL: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/dec/16/hiker-pinned-under-boulder-for-10-hours-im-going-t/

Date: December 16, 2023

Details: First major interview with DePalo

7. Active NorCal - "'I'm Going to Die Up Here': Hiker Recounts Harrowing 10-Hours Trapped"

URL: https://www.activenorcal.com/im-going-to-die-up-here-hiker-recounts-harrowing-10-hours-trapped-under-a-boulder-in-inyo-mountains/

Date: December 19, 2023

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