Lost in the Wild

Danger and Survival in the North Woods

By: Cary J. Griffith

Narrated by: Roger Wayne

In the wilderness, one false step can make the difference between a delightful respite and a brush with death.

On a beautiful summer afternoon in 1998, Dan Stephens, a 22-year-old canoeist, was leading a trip deep into Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park. He stepped into a gap among cedar trees to look for the next portage - and did not return. More than four hours later, Dan awakened from a fall with a lump on his head and stumbled deeper into the woods, confused.

Three years later, Jason Rasmussen, a third-year medical student who loved the forest's solitude, walked alone into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on a crisp fall day. After a two-day trek into a remote area of the woods, he stepped away from his campsite and made a series of seemingly trivial mistakes that left him separated from his supplies, wet, and lost, as cold darkness fell.

Enduring days without food or shelter, these men faced the full harsh force of wilderness, the place that they had sought out for tranquil refuge from city life. Lost in the Wild takes listeners with them as they enter realms of pain, fear, and courage, as they suffer dizzying confusion and unending frustration, and as they overcome seemingly insurmountable hurdles in a race to survive.

©2006 Cary J. Griffith (P)2018 Tantor

What a great listen!

As one who lives in a rural, northern area and who hikes the wilderness often, this book intrigued me. What a treat! The story narrates the stories of two men and their journeys through the wilderness as they got unexpectedly lost in the very remote woods of northern Minnesota and Canada. I listened nearly the entire way through, stopping only to sleep. The stories were captivating, and it provided terrific info on what to do (and what NOT to do) if lost in the woods. The narrator did a great job with the stories, and each of the two men's tales were equally riveting. Their determination to survive was heart-wrenching. If you're a lover of the outdoors or of survival stories, I highly recommend!

Great account of two true survival stories.

It's well written and well read. Factual, yet. suspenseful. I think, it very well conveys the message of how little it takes to move from being in control of your situation to being highly vulnerable, or even helpless.

Two interesting (unrelated) accounts.

I cried when the lost hiker was found. A tough but powerful story. Two stories told in alternate chapters. I would have preferred to hear one story at a time, but in the end there are some interesting lessons that come out by having the side-by-side telling.
Some use of the Lord's name in vain, unfortunately.

Spellbinding

An incredible experience. Listening to the story of Dan and Jason's harrowing experience and what they had to endure was gut wrenching. The narrator was able to put me out there, with both Dan and Jason and kept me hanging on his every word. The emotional rollercoaster you go through while listening to these two mens stories was extreme. In a word, Spellbinding!

Great story but

I’m a religious Christian. The constant usage of slurs against God and Jesus Christ is very offensive! It’s totally unnecessary. Maybe change the slurs against another religion?

Excellent True Survival Story

A good reminder that even knowledgeable and experienced outdoorsman can get lost. Minnesota wilderness is no joke.

How the best of us get lost!!

I've hiked and been canoeing in these exact areas and it can be easy to get turned around. These two stories show how a very competent guide and a better than average hiker can be brought to an early demise by making a few minor errors. If you think that you are a competent hiker or outdoorsman you should read/listen to this book. They both made the same critical mistake thinking they could find their way out. When you are lost. STAY PUT!

Excellent book

It did not bother me the fact that there were two stories at the same time. You just have to pay attention at the beginning of the chapter which date it is (year). I go hiking very often and the trails are quite isolated. Took plenty of “not to do” notes. Good read. I recommend it, you won’t regret it.

Narrators do your homework

Really enjoyed this story. Narrator mispronounced many local names. Easy fix, just call a local establishment to get it right. Phonics does not always work. Kk

Incredible, powerful life-affirming

This book is a keeper! One to be enjoyed more than once. True, there are at times many detailed passages to work through. And yet there is no denying the payoff of brilliant storytelling throughout the book, particularly in its final chapters. There are many heart-pounding and anxious moments that keep the listener satisfyingly on edge. It is an easy listen, but also a powerful look into the human experience.