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Angels in the Wilderness: The True Story of One Woman's Survival Against All Odds
This book is a first-person account of a disaster on a solo hiking trip. Author Amy Racina was hiking in a remote part of King's Canyon National Park in California's Sierra mountains when she lost the trail. With no warning, she suddenly fell sixty feet, breaking both legs on the rocks below. She survived for four days and nights, battling pain, fear and exhaustion, pulling herself along with her hands and refusing to give up. She was miraculously saved, her calls heard by a man who was partially deaf. It describes her dramatic rescue as she was airlifted out, swinging helplessly from two straps, dangling fearfully beneath a helicopter high above the ravine where she had fallen. This is an amazing tale of despair, courage, and hope. It speaks of incredible strength and heartbreaking weakness as it details what one woman believed might be the last days of her life. It is a memory of the darkest of times and an affirmation of miracles.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2005
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181 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 24, 2016
Pros: I love reading about backpacking and everything associated with it. Reading this book made me pine for the mountains so very much. I also love reading tales of survival against all odds, and the determination and courage it takes to endure such a trauma.
Cons: I could not bring myself to like the author. She is a complete narcissist, and everything in her life revolves around how it affects her and how she can benefit from it. She expressed her value of nature and self-pursuit above people and relationships. That was a major turnoff.
The first half was much more gripping than the second half (most of which was comprised of painstaking details of her recovery and ethereal spiritual experiences). Overall, a good read, but not likely one I will pick up again.
Cons: I could not bring myself to like the author. She is a complete narcissist, and everything in her life revolves around how it affects her and how she can benefit from it. She expressed her value of nature and self-pursuit above people and relationships. That was a major turnoff.
The first half was much more gripping than the second half (most of which was comprised of painstaking details of her recovery and ethereal spiritual experiences). Overall, a good read, but not likely one I will pick up again.
June 11, 2012
Good on Amy for surviving her fall, lucky for her that she was rescued, lucky for her that she could afford a quick trip to Asia with a $300,000 medical bill hanging over her head, lucky for her that she wrote an account of her fall, rescue and rehabilitation and has made some money out of it. It was an ok read up to her rescue and the book should have ended then instead of making me wade and eventually skip through the excruciating hocus pocus mumbo jumbo pseudo Buddhist sentiment that went on and on....not so lucky for me that I wasted my time reading about an ultimately selfish woman!
October 2, 2011
It was a great book most of the volume and I really liked author's determination which helped her to survive. But the last third of the book was just some kind of a spiritual teaching - "it wasn't me who saved myself, it was some gods and goddesses, let's pray for this, amen" - boring no end.
April 25, 2021
This extraordinary tale is one of the very few wilderness survival epics. Most solo hikers who suffer severe injury off trail do not make it out. Their story is told, if at all, on tattered scraps of paper found on their body. Amy fell sixty feet onto granite. Both legs were broken. A hip and kneecap were fractured. She had open wounds. If you ever hike, read this story. If you have friends going through physical therapy, this book will give you some clue to what they are going through.
August 14, 2017
Wow, what a story. You'd think she'd learn from the first time. But she's out there again, alone, hiking by herself. This is something I would never do alone. So my hat's off to her. Very strong and courageous woman. Great read and great writing. Kept me engrossed.
August 17, 2023
I’m not sure why but I didn’t enjoy the book that much.
Perchance it had something to do that every other chapter was dreamy solo hike through idealism or a stark systematic event driven staying alive moment stay alive reality.
Perchance it had something to do that every other chapter was dreamy solo hike through idealism or a stark systematic event driven staying alive moment stay alive reality.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2023
An excellent story with wonderful messaging on living life. However, it’s a bit repetitive in its messaging. A good read for anyone who backpacks, or enjoys true survival stories, or is interested in how to keep the faith and stay positive facing life challenges. I enjoyed the book.
August 26, 2020
An amazing story of survival, the perils of hiking solo without proper preparation
October 27, 2009
Some stories are almost too incredible to believe. They read like fiction even though they are fact and inspire all who read them to look beyond themselves and find faith in a higher power.
Such is the story of Amy Racina, who has published her memoir, 'Angels in the Wilderness,' an account of her sixty-foot fall in the Sierra Nevada mountains and her subsequent struggle to survive and thrive after breaking both her legs.
The author relays how she lay in a remote area of Kings Canyon National Park at least 25 miles from the nearest trailhead believing she would die and fighting to stay alive for four days before she heard two toots of a whistle and was rescued by three people she refers to as her wilderness angels, Jake Van Akkeren, Leslie Bartholic and Walter Keiser.
Racina shares her belief that there was a greater design or purpose behind her rescue.
First, her three rescuers almost cancelled their trip because one of them was recently injured. When she learns this, she feels the touch of divine purpose, saying: "...these three have been sent to find me, guided by some force greater than any of us. It is not just chance that they are here now to pluck me out of this vast expanse of deserted wilderness. I don't believe in coincidence. I do believe in miracles."
Second, Jake, who hears her cry for help and is the first human contact she has in days, is actually hard of hearing, but was able to discern her call and perceive her need.
Third, she is told her rescuers would not have heard her if she would have stayed where she had fallen. She claims it was miraculous guidance that enabled her to drag herself to where she could be heard.
Fourth, when Walter goes for help he comes across a camp of vacationing firefighters, who are able to use their skills to assist Racina in her time of peril. "The willingness of those firefighters to respond made the difference between life and death for me," she acknowledges.
The timing was also incredible. According to the medical staff who treat her at the University Medical Center in Fresno, if Racina had been rescued one day later she could have lost her right leg and infection could have spread to her vital organs.
Having no health insurance, Racina was worried her medical bills would ruin her financially, but the miracle continued. Family members, friends and strangers came to her aid after she was released from the hospital, giving her a place to stay and paying for her home care treatments. Her physical therapists also donated their time to help her get back on her feet. But most importantly for her financial well-being, Racina was granted retroactive Medi-Cal for the month of August 2003. She was in the hospital from Aug. 8-30 of that year and consequently $289,000 of her $300,000 medical bill was paid by the California Department of Health Services.
"This seems to me the final miracle of my salvation," she says. "I am rescued from financial destruction. Surely the world is a hospitable place, if these kinds of miracles can happen, if people in hardship can receive help when they need it so desperately."
'Angels in the Wilderness' is an inspirational tale of one woman's miraculous recovery from a horrible accident. It will make you laugh, cry and appreciate the angels in your own life.
Such is the story of Amy Racina, who has published her memoir, 'Angels in the Wilderness,' an account of her sixty-foot fall in the Sierra Nevada mountains and her subsequent struggle to survive and thrive after breaking both her legs.
The author relays how she lay in a remote area of Kings Canyon National Park at least 25 miles from the nearest trailhead believing she would die and fighting to stay alive for four days before she heard two toots of a whistle and was rescued by three people she refers to as her wilderness angels, Jake Van Akkeren, Leslie Bartholic and Walter Keiser.
Racina shares her belief that there was a greater design or purpose behind her rescue.
First, her three rescuers almost cancelled their trip because one of them was recently injured. When she learns this, she feels the touch of divine purpose, saying: "...these three have been sent to find me, guided by some force greater than any of us. It is not just chance that they are here now to pluck me out of this vast expanse of deserted wilderness. I don't believe in coincidence. I do believe in miracles."
Second, Jake, who hears her cry for help and is the first human contact she has in days, is actually hard of hearing, but was able to discern her call and perceive her need.
Third, she is told her rescuers would not have heard her if she would have stayed where she had fallen. She claims it was miraculous guidance that enabled her to drag herself to where she could be heard.
Fourth, when Walter goes for help he comes across a camp of vacationing firefighters, who are able to use their skills to assist Racina in her time of peril. "The willingness of those firefighters to respond made the difference between life and death for me," she acknowledges.
The timing was also incredible. According to the medical staff who treat her at the University Medical Center in Fresno, if Racina had been rescued one day later she could have lost her right leg and infection could have spread to her vital organs.
Having no health insurance, Racina was worried her medical bills would ruin her financially, but the miracle continued. Family members, friends and strangers came to her aid after she was released from the hospital, giving her a place to stay and paying for her home care treatments. Her physical therapists also donated their time to help her get back on her feet. But most importantly for her financial well-being, Racina was granted retroactive Medi-Cal for the month of August 2003. She was in the hospital from Aug. 8-30 of that year and consequently $289,000 of her $300,000 medical bill was paid by the California Department of Health Services.
"This seems to me the final miracle of my salvation," she says. "I am rescued from financial destruction. Surely the world is a hospitable place, if these kinds of miracles can happen, if people in hardship can receive help when they need it so desperately."
'Angels in the Wilderness' is an inspirational tale of one woman's miraculous recovery from a horrible accident. It will make you laugh, cry and appreciate the angels in your own life.
April 6, 2016
I picked up this book because I broke my ankle on a backpacking trip last summer and thought reading about someone else's much worse ordeal and healing process would be interesting. Maybe it was the personal connection, but I really enjoyed the book. I agree with many of the posters that the first half of the book is more interesting and that the ending gets pretty preachy. I can see why she structured the book as she did and included the end because it's a very personal reaction to the process, but it did make for less interesting reading.
I enjoyed knowing what her background was before the trip that led to her accident, so I didn't find the skipping back and forth between that and the actual accident problematic like some readers. I think I wanted to know that she was experienced and prepared and it gave me a lot of respect for how she went through her injury, kept herself going and was rescued.
I enjoyed knowing what her background was before the trip that led to her accident, so I didn't find the skipping back and forth between that and the actual accident problematic like some readers. I think I wanted to know that she was experienced and prepared and it gave me a lot of respect for how she went through her injury, kept herself going and was rescued.
April 4, 2009
Amy Racina spent 4 days in the bottom of a ravine with two broken legs and a broken hip after falling 60 feet onto a granite slab during a solo hike in the remote Tehipite Valley in the Sierra Nevada. Through a series of miracles, she was rescued but not without unimaginable endurance and making the decision to try and move closer to a trail. The story of her recuperation is as amazing as the story of her fall and rescue. And she writes it beautifully! Talk about a testament to staying positive despite overwhelming odds!
January 16, 2016
Amy Racina falls sixty feet onto solid granite while hiking solo in the California's Sierra Nevada mountains. This is a first person account of her four days and nights surviving with two shattered legs,the people who rescued her and the ones who saved her.
The story is amazing but does get lost among her personal philosophies that she repeats every other page. Not a well written book either it lacks closer on those who helped her and way to many details. I still gave it four stars because it is a quick read and is a good guide for what not to do and to do for hikers.
The story is amazing but does get lost among her personal philosophies that she repeats every other page. Not a well written book either it lacks closer on those who helped her and way to many details. I still gave it four stars because it is a quick read and is a good guide for what not to do and to do for hikers.
May 5, 2016
A book for everyone who has thought about falling and falling hard.
I have done a fair amount of hiking, and read a fair amount of books on the subject. This is the only hiking disaster book that has good pacing. Not a ton of crazy flashbacks or history of the trail. So the disaster part is good, check.
What really makes the story is the recovery. The authors overwhelming uplifting nature and absolutely terrible scenarios allows one to have true perspective in to the human nature.
I have done a fair amount of hiking, and read a fair amount of books on the subject. This is the only hiking disaster book that has good pacing. Not a ton of crazy flashbacks or history of the trail. So the disaster part is good, check.
What really makes the story is the recovery. The authors overwhelming uplifting nature and absolutely terrible scenarios allows one to have true perspective in to the human nature.
August 25, 2009
Interesting narrative about a woman solo-hiker who falls into a 60-foot ravine well into a multi-day trek through the remote wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park. The narrative traces her rescue and her recovery. Perhaps a little too heavy with the how-I-overcame-against-all-odds message and tone.
May 9, 2017
Since I have read and talked about this book before...I will only say that I still give it 5 stars and that I enjoyed it just as much....if not more....the second time around. If you are an adventurer or reader of true life survival books this one should be on your to read list for sure! I promise you won't regret it!
March 20, 2012
I worried this would be preachy ("Angels" in the title) but it wasn't. The narrator isn't even religious. Spiritual, maybe. It's an amazing survival story about a solo female hiker in the remote Sierra mountains who fell, broke both legs, and dragged herself down a ravine over the course of several days to find help. Very good read.
May 9, 2012
As a backpacker I can relate to how easy it is to get lost in the beauty of a place and find yourself in trouble, perhaps even a life threatening situation. The book is about one incident, and thus a little slow going at times. But the story is moving and well written from the heart. An enjoyable and emotional read.
February 11, 2013
Parts of the book were a good adventure read. The last chapters were more of a self-help guide, and I skimmed those. She is truly amazing in her strength before, during, and after her experience. I just wanted to read about the survival story and not the cliché things that she learned from her experience.
November 15, 2016
Amy Racina does a fantastic job at transporting me into the ravine, and feeling the fall with her. As an avid solo hiker, who just lost a close friend to a tragic hiking accident, her story could not have come into my life at a better time.
While the writing often becomes repetitive, I recommend this book solely for its inspiration.
While the writing often becomes repetitive, I recommend this book solely for its inspiration.
April 28, 2014
A woman backpacker from the new age community of Sebastopol, CA, has an injury while alone in the middle of nowhere. This is a personal account of her plight, her reflections, and her recovery. The novice writer gives us a view of the hiking life.
July 3, 2016
I Love this book. Just finished hiking in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks so this book was especially captivating. Amy's chapter on Gratitude is excellent. Extremely well written, engaging and inspiring. Thrilled Amy's journey ended so well. Yay Amy!
March 11, 2013
Amy Racina fell 60 feet while solo hiking in the Sierra Nevadas. Her determination to stay alive and make her way home made for an interesting read.
March 3, 2014
Absolutely riveting! I devoured it as quickly as I could! Amazing story of survival.
August 17, 2009
Amy's adventure is truly inspiring!
March 30, 2014
Very good true story of a woman who was injured in the wilderness; nicely written.
April 6, 2017
Interesting story of survival in the wilderness. But...I was surprised by her reckless behavior, especially for an "experienced" hiker.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews