The Nizhoni Life: June 2014

I was talking to my father today and he reminded me that today is a 6-year anniversary not only since my little adventure but also for the Doty’s. It is the week my sister married the love of her life after I almost ruined the whole thing.

Six years ago I didn’t know I would have a story to tell others around a campfire or that I also use every single day to remind myself of my goals and passion for life. The story behind why I abandoned my career in management, the reason why I chose the college I did to educate myself in outdoor leadership, wilderness ethics, survival and psychology.

On June 12, 2008 Abby and I set off for an overnight 24-mile backpacking trip in Denali National Park, Alaska. We ended up hiking 40 miles out of our way in 7-days, not to mention we ran out of food, water, and ignited one of the largest search and rescue parties in Alaska. Did I mention this was all one week before my sister’s wedding?

With zero experience in backpacking, I thought where else in the world should I go to try this adventurous endeavor? I just got out of serious relationship and needed something new. This particular relationship was the hardest heartbreaks of all time in Erican history. So what better way to get over a break-up than a one-way ticket to Alaska! With nothing in my pocket but an over drafted bank account of negative $10, I set off for an Alaskan adventure with the mindset, “I’d do anything to get there.”

Here is where I met my dear friend, Abby from Gaylord, Minnesota. We both were looking for an epic adventure and sought employment for a wilderness lodge just outside Denali National Park. Our Alaskan dreams landed us housekeeping jobs.

On June 11^th after spending an 8-hour day making beds, scrubbing toilets, we discovered we had the same two days off by coincidence; June 12-13^th. We ran home to pack our bags, a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. As we went to catch the shuttle into Denali’s six million acres, I grabbed an extra Honey & Oats Nature Valley granola bar and stuffed it in my pocket – not knowing this would be our last to share for extra unplanned days.

Abby and I took off for a few small expeditions here and there prior to our most epic trip. We were great hiking partners, she was hilarious, always had something interesting and positive to say and we both were masters of punny jokes. She was a bit loud but was great for distracting the bears away and ate quicker and more than anyone I have ever met, also thinner than a twig.

As we hiked our first day on June 12^th, we didn’t realize anything out of the ordinary. I unfortunately started my period and also got sick. I got super nauseous and threw up all the calories I needed to get through day 1. This night Abby made me eat our extra pb&j sandwich before heading to sleep.

On day two I woke up feeling like a millions bucks so we packed up and planned on hiking out for our final 12 miles that will get us back to our dorm room. Here is where I believe we mistook a very large seasonal run off stream as a river we were supposed to follow to keep us on route. We followed it with confidence thinking perhaps we misinterpreted the rough Alaskan terrain in this part.

After hiking 11 hours, we made an emergency camp and tried to head out early the 3^rd day so we could make it to work on time. On Sunday, the next day, I was supposed to catch a flight from Fairbanks to Houston, Texas to help my sister prep for her wedding.

That Sunday also happened to be Father’s Day and my heart broke as we hiked 14 more hours. We did everything to stay positive while I knew I was missing my flight. I remember hanging on the side of a cliff with the raging seasonal runoff river under me wanting to let go at the exact time my plane was taking off and Abby yelling at me "it's going to be ok, we are going to make it," all kinds of rainbow positive shit got me through one of the toughest moments in my entire life. I could elaborate more on this moment but I cry every time I think about it. To this day, I look at this vulnerable moment and remember the strength the mind has over your entire life. From this point on, all things are possible not through Christ but myself and my own mind, strength and ability to want to live. Being positive is the key for survival; it is crazy how you can physically feel your body give into death.

We would often hear an aircraft overhead and run out screaming (sometimes clothed and sometimes not), signaling with a mirror and waving but no one saw us and we didn’t think anyone would even be looking for us anyway. I kept turning on my phone trying the 911 service, however no signals were picking up – I needed to inform my family I was going to be “a bit late” to the wedding rehearsal.

By day 4 we ran out of food and by then were rationing out that Honey & Oats Nature Valley granola bar I stuffed in my pocket last minute. Here we realized we were completely lost and not sure we would make it out alive. By day 5 I broke out the small notebook I had and ripped out a few sheets for Abby. We laid on our stomachs in my small Eureka tent as the rain poured and wrote quietly to our families. I just remember writing “I’m sorry” multiple times to my father, mother, and my sister. I am sorry I am so selfish for taking off on my own adventures, and “Alecia, I’m sorry for not being able to be there on your special day.” Trying desperately not to cry and lose any hydration I had I fell asleep and wasn’t sure I would ever wake up, or know if I even wanted to.

By day 6 and 7 we were completely drenched: our sleeping bags, tent and clothes, not to mention eaten alive by mosquitoes, completely cut up by bushwhacking through brush, dirty, wet, bruised, and beaten. We packed them up and headed west away from the river slurping out of nasty puddles on our hands and knees along the way to stay hydrated. As we hiked I saw in the distance strange looking clouds and threw off my bag to find my phone because if it appeared to be a structure and perhaps I’d have cell service. I turned on the phone and it sure enough we reached service. My phone went nuts with incoming voicemails and texts from random people. People I haven’t talked to in years from a job I worked at years ago. I thought I should probably call my mother, as I knew she was definitely worried.

She answered frantically, “Where are you?! Are you ok?” After I said yes she cut me off and said, “here talk to the ranger hurry! Apparently after my work reported us missing and flew both Abby and my parents to Denali. The Denali Rangers put together a search but since it’s a remote station, they called in rangers from Denali, Grand Teton, Mount Rainier, Yosemite, and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks.

After a brief conversation with the station rangers they had a helicopter already on the way to where they believed we were. Later that afternoon, they honed in and hugged us with tears in their eyes, as they were part of the search from day 1. The pilot mentioned to us, “now there’s been just a little bit of media, not much so if you see cameras, don’t be alarmed.” We thought that’s embarrassing maybe we made local news. As we landed there was a huge crowd, search dogs, both our families Abby’s mom and dad, my mom and dad, my sister and her fiancé Dennis. So happy to see them we ran and gave them huge hugs apologizing sheepishly. I didn’t know what was going on. We were handed giant deli sandwiches and I ate them quickly and a wonderful Snickers bar.

We were asked to do some interviews and in the midst of it all, sure why not. Little did we know it would be plastered on all news stations across the US waiting to hear we were alive and well.

We flew into Houston the next day, Friday June 20^th for a quick nap and rehearsal and my sister was married on schedule that Saturday.

Every year I get to reflect on how precious life is and how lucky we are. Not knowing much about backpacking, that quickly got me up to date to plan ahead and prepare for anything I do. Also gain more outdoor skills to pass on to others along with family and friends. Today I am thrilled to work at NOLS educating students on course and gear preparation. I work for an organization that is passionate on creating ethical leaders with a curriculum that upholds value not just in the wilderness but also in an office.

This year is the first I haven’t really thought much about the entire God aspect of it all. I usually feel guilty and terrible for being a bad Christian each year but this time around I am feeling great about life! I feel I am actually living and making the most of now and taking the time to learn and teach new skills. I have noticed over the past year I take time each evening to look at pictures of my family and watch videos of my niece that is growing up way too fast and still think I am selfish and need to find a middle of having them in my daily life. My family is the best. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family! I am sorry for the rude awakening it took to realize.

A father's day contribution -

This is a post from the Facebook page of CentralOnline.tv on my father:

Love hearing stories about how God is working in and through the individuals at our church. This is Johnny and here is his story.. "I would like to share the story of how greatly God has blessed my family. I recently heard a teacher of the Word say, " An interruption in life could be an invitation for God to use us for His glory!” Well over the past 5 years, my family has had our share of life's interruptions.In June 2008, our daughter Erica was lost in Denali National Park when she and a co-worker didn’t return as expected from an overnight hike— the weekend before our daughter Alecia's wedding; December 2010, my wife was in the hospital the week of Christmas to have open-heart surgery; December 2011, following a routine colonoscopy, my doctor found stage 3 colon cancer on my right side. I tested positive for Lynch Syndrome, a hereditary condition with an 82% chance of developing into colorectal cancer. I’ve had no signs of cancer since then, but I can still recall my doctor saying, "It’s not a question of if, but when the cancer comes back...Interruptions? We’ve had our share. But with God, we have overcome. Erica was safely found 6 days after her “overnight” hike, Alecia was married a week after, my wife's heart surgery was successful, and I continue to see my doctors for follow ups… so far, I'm the healthiest I’ve been in years! So yes, despite the "interruptions," God has amazingly used my family’s lives to show His glory.". Share your story at CentralOnline.tv. #shareyourstory #centralonline

While my family puts their faith in God, I know it's their thing but my family is my strength and support. My father is such a strong, smart man that I am lucky enough to just inherit his wit. He is a rock and has been a solid foundation for my family. He has been through a lot, has great experiences and high tolerance, is patience, and has taught me everything about business, life and most importantly, laughter and sense of humor. Since I was a kid he took the time to find the fascination of my rock collection, he was and still is my best buddy. I look up to this man and think of him daily. Thanks father for being the very best of the best!