California man who survived 20 days in snowy wilderness says it was walk or die

"Investigators say Dailey, a resident of the California city of Selma, intended to return home that evening. But, in comments reported by KTLA, KFSN and CBS Los Angeles, he would later recall losing his bearings in his truck and ending up in a spot where off-road vehicles are needed to navigate. Dailey's pickup truck then broke down while he was at an elevation of more than 10,000ft, stranding him there with what he estimated to be about two weeks' worth of food and water."

"Rescue teams from several California counties began searching for Dailey when his family realized he did not make it home and reported to officials that he was missing. He took shelter in his truck, unsure whether he would live long enough for rescuers to find him. Dailey said he relied on his religious faith to sustain him in moments of doubt, particularly when he ran out of food."

Ron Dailey went missing in the Sierra National Forest after a solo hunting trip on October 13. He lost his bearings in his truck and ended up in terrain requiring off-road vehicles; his pickup then broke down above 10,000 ft, leaving him stranded with about two weeks of food and water. An intense snowstorm hit the first night, and he sheltered in his truck while rescue teams searched after his family reported him missing. When supplies dwindled, he relied on his religious faith and decided to walk out. After walking roughly a dozen miles, hunters encountered him on November 1 and took him to safety.

Read at www.theguardian.com