Imagine dying of thirst in plain view of a giant body of water, and still staying positive, its got to be the biggest act of defiance against a mocking fate i've ever heard
@@kadipaige3486 Given the circumstances, my fear of dying would have made me jump off that cliff and risk dying from the fall instead of dehydration. Break my legs, my back, whatever. I'll drag myself with one arm to reach that river.
@@Trojanmachine69 it would have the opposite effect. Fear of death would compel you not to jump. 80 feet is fucking high up and vertigo would make it worse. Guaranteed you'd be more inclined to hope help will come save you than to think leaping off of a cliff onto rocks is a good idea
@@vangoghsseveredear i'd take my chances with a decent down the cliff. I have a friend that fell 100+ ft (he was repelling down a steel cable like a spy but lost his grip) ... He shattered all the bones in both his lower legs but he lived.
Inexcusable that the two divers would have been left at sea. As a former teacher, it's not that difficult to make sure you aren't leaving anyone on a field trip even with many more students. There should be double checks; would take about three minutes. Just ridiculous, and very sad.
I live in Australia and in Adelaide a class of receptions kids were on a field trip a 5 yr old boy was left in a MacDonald's while he was going to the toilet he came out to find his class had gone and b/c his nanna lived near that MacDonald's he decided to walk to his nannas house, his nanna was shocked to find her grandson knocking on her door like she said Thank god she was home, so she phone her daughter up telling her and the daughter phoned the school the class had returned by than and the school and teachers and didn't even notice he wasn't there, until that parent told them the school wrote letters to the parents and nanna apologizing saying it is being investigated but the parents and the nanna felt it wasn't been takin very seriously so they went to the news and it was on our local TV news.
I’m thinking a head count wasn’t taken and he assumed everyone was back. Then after finding out he left 2 people behind said I must have counted wrong.
@@truth_hunter Yeah, I was thinking the same. The excuse “I did the count wrong” is a bit sus in my opinion. Also, if so, isn’t it strange that the error wasn’t of one but TWO more people??? I don’t think it’s totally impossible to make such a coarse mistake, we’re still humans after all, but in this situation I feel it was more of a negligence than a counting type of error.
The fact that even in the end he made a sarcastic joke about his phone made my eyes teary cause it's the end of your life but still he has time to make people smile, what an amazing soul RIP Bryce
I cried too also he was 20! I'm just in my teens but he had his whole life ahead of him and that made me bawl but I'm glad he lived a good one R.I.P Bryce
@someperson1522 So sad he spent all that time in school, just to die while he was still a baby. Life is unfair sometimes but at least he accepted his fate like a true badass. That's one small consolation, IG.
"I feel like going into the wild is a calling we all feel. Some answer it and some die for it" this broke my heart. What a guy. Bryce you're one courageous young man! To stare death in the face yet still maintain that level of humility, you died an honourable human being. Rest In Peace, nomad.
He was a careless idiot is what he was. I'm all for empathy, but romanticizing terrible mistakes only helps perpetuate them. If he was such a great hiker and Eagle scout, failing to check in with Park ranger (let alone obtaining a proper permit and paying the fee that helps sustain the park) is pretty much a no-brainer.
@@sorayaalcyone2726 Well to be honest it’s depressing because the poor guy knew that it was over for him. “Some die for it”, referring to himself. It’s sad.
Yeah he seemed like a cool lad. Did not put the blame on anybody, he knew it was his decision to go out there and accepted his fate like a champ. He would've been a pretty cool friend to have.
Existence is a horror story. You just got focus on the happy beginning bit where everything is great and ignore the part where everyone is brutally murdered by a monster one by one.
What a sweet kid Bryce was. He left a message, obviously thinking of his family, so as to help them through their grief. "I don't know what the afterlife holds, but I just hope it has water." Oh, my goodness, what a wit! Rest peacefully, Bryce!
One could only hope to be as composed and clever in such a helpless scenario. Im sure there arent many people who can be at peace with their death in this case, but he truly seemed to have found it His parents should be proud for raising such a person.
the last guy was so heartbreaking. you can just tell from that note alone how much of a kindhearted, funny person he was, and it's incredible that he was able to keep that up even in the face of death.
Throughout my career I worked primarily caring for elderly people. I determined how you are young is how you wind up old barring a life altering stroke. If you are a funny, kind young person you will be as funny & kind when old. However, if you are a horse's arse when young....
I’ll believe the note he wrote was true when I see it for myself. I searched his story, found nothing about a note he wrote on his blackberry phone though
For some reason, the last story really got to me. What an amazing person Bryce was. At such a young age he was able to write something so beyond his years for his family. He knew he was going to die and left them something really beautiful. I think it would have helped them with their otherwise unbearable grief.
He definitely did the best job anyone could ever ask for in softening the blow of his own death to his family. Bryce was certainly a blessed soul who held his integrity to the very end and beyond.
@@kurtdowney1489 i have to disagree as a Parent. I know a lot of these teenage scouts who get way too confident after doing a little camping and hiking. This stuff is not the same and it really pisses me off that someone allowed him to go alone, unmarked, untraced to his certain death.
@Inspiration Artist Who was to blame if not Bryce (a capable adult), himself? Unfortunately, we can't always stop others from engaging in potential harmful behaviors, nor is it our responsibility to do so.
That POW is the epitome of bravery and mateship... to go to the execution spot, knowing what a risk he was taking, knowing he was going to be recaptured, purely to ensure there was a memorial for his fellow soldiers... what a man.
Tbh I'm certain him knowing he would be recaptured is what drove him to make the memorial. The thought of well if I'm gonna die I may as well do something meaning ful before I do kindof thought process. Plus I'm sure he loved those other prisoners. I'm sure he saw and endured torture with them.
@@cortezbaldur413 oh definitely he knew that and that would be a motivator for sure, but sooo many others would still use their time to try and escape, no matter how futile, or hide or something. He didn't allow fear to control his actions and he used the last of his freedom to honour others, which is what I admire. Meanwhile, fast forward to 2021 and the world is paralysed with fear of nothing! Imagine most of the modern pansies, hunkered down with their face nappies on in their own homes, doing what this man did in his situation?? Irrational fear owns them heart and soul, but this man did not let fear decide who he was. Respect.
Totally agree, they were absolutely all brave, but at that point, he's going to die either way. I'm amazed whomever it was had the presence of mind to even think about doing it.
My grandma actually knew the couple from the peace corp that were abandoned in the ocean. This hit her pretty hard, she said they were the sweetest people.
@@MooseKnuckleMike Is that supposed to be a threat? Typical deplorable acting deplorable. Biden is not just a better American than you, but a better human, too. But it doesn't sound like that's saying much.
I feel so strongly for the young man that died at the grand canyon. I was an East coast kid that fell in love with the wilds of Arizona and moved there to pursue adventure. It seemed every weekend was a new trail to hike or mountain to climb. One day I discovered a park just outside of Phoenix and I stopped to explore it. It's incredible that there can be these black diamond trails right in the city! But I lost the trail and didn't see anyone anywhere on this valley and I only had a 2 liter camelback of water with me as I took this unexpected hike. I nearly made the most amateur of mistakes and couldn't believe I could get so lost so close to the city. I kept traveling in the direction I was positive was the way back and after a couple hours finally heard people. I was in a completely different lot and had to ask for a ride back to my jeep. That heat is no joke and I made sure to notify family or friends whenever I traveled alone after that scare.
The mountains around Phoenix are amazingly beautiful!!! The first day I was out there, I went to Camelback mountain!!! I told everyone I was going to go find Gila monsters!!! Lol!!! After that I knew I had to let people know exactly where I was going because as beautiful it is, you can quickly tell it can be very dangerous to!!!
@@argentum3919 yes, there are Gila monsters & rattlesnakes!!! I didnt run into any though!!! There are a lot of cute animals to, like prairie dogs & little fast lizards, those I did get to see!!!
@@argentum3919 it wasnt the animals that made the hike dangerous though, its the heat, the rocks, cactus & other plants( 1 plant had thorns about 3 inches long) , climbing up & down those mountains can get rough!!! Very fun & beautiful as long as you are careful!!!
I was a student at NAU in 2008 when Bryce was also there. Left Flagstaff after graduation so I never heard about this until now. His last message was very touching and I will never forget Bryce for being brave with a good attitude even at the end of his life.
@The Man Delorean it's a college town, so there's lots of entry level work for college kids. But its definitely not Phoenix... but with a bit of searching you can find a good gig. The economy was good, cost of living is high depending on what area you want to live in. If you like forests, snow, outdoors and hiking the its for you
These are some horribly sad stories. And I gotta tell you John, my kids' Christmas gifts this year (which I have already purchased) were heavily influenced by your channel. They both love spending time in the outdoors -- camping, hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, snowboarding, mountain bike riding, and on and on -- and your stories have made me paranoid. So, they are both getting satellite phones, and I will be paying the subscription costs for the rest of my life. Rock on John!
Many of Mr. Ballen’s stories feel more tragic. But as a mother of three active boys, ages 19, 19 and 21, the story of Bryce really hit home. May he Rest In Peace!
Katie, I agree. These past few videos have left me feeling sadder than the previous. Instead of being excited about the next one, I’m kinda reluctant to view another 🥺. I hope Mr. B mixes them up with some inspiring ones!
Katie, same with me. I have three very active and ALWAYS "on the go" boys (oldest being 27, middle, 25 and youngest, 21). This last story hit SO CLOSE to "home" with me. It just broke my heart for Bryce and his family. I just don't believe I could go on living my life. I JUST told my youngest son yesterday that I didn't like him taking his boat to the river and going fishing ALONE.He laughed at me and said he actually PREFERRED to go alone so that he didn't have to worry about anyone throwing their line over his, or him having to rig up a rod and reel if they broke everything off, or he wouldn't have to take fish off of someone else's hook (pretty sure he was referring to his lil g.f. about ALL of that anyway!) LOL. But, in all seriousness, I told him it didn't matter what he had to do.....he could take one of his buddies or my husband (his dad) just as long as someone was with him. He argued that he knew that river forwards and backwards. I told him that I understood that, but THINGS HAPPEN and ACCIDENTS HAPPEN .....not to MENTION.....there are some MEAN FOLKS in this world, too! ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry. Prayers for Bryce's family and friends. My deepest, sincerest condolences. R.I.P. Bryce
Better educate those boys on some more safety. You can never have your children be too prepared!! Especially about alerting rangers and others about where they’re going. It’s so important
Too bad he took that first wrong turn. At least if he would have had a personal emergency transponder, he could have been rescued in a few hours. Hindsight is always 20/20. May he rest in peace.
That last story was sad but inspiring. For a 20 year old to show so much bravery in the face of death is amazing. Even keeping his sense of humor and appreciation for life in his final minutes is so admirable.
The boy scouts and eagle scouts I've known through the years have all had the tendency to overestimate their own capabilities. I imagine this can lead them into some difficult situations. Not to speak Ill of the dead but trusting ones senses over skilled navigation is a sure way to get yourself lost. I have spent a lot of time hiking and camping in backcountry and forests in places that are truly devoid of man made trails or markers I would carry multiple tools for navigation as backups and always defer to those over my own intuition.
The young man Bryce who died all alone sounds like he was a mature, nice young man. His family should be proud. His last words reflect his sense of humor and style. RIP Young Bryce
20 years old and died doing what he loved, he embraces his death like a champ, Rest in Heaven to Bryce and the other unfortunate people that passed away
I love how he had such a beautiful outlook on life up until his final moments. Between the charity work and that makes you wonder 1. What he could have accomplished if he'd lived longer and 2. How amazing it was to actually know him.
It sounds like he was nothing less than a great guy. What an end. I'm guessing everyone who hikes in the future will be given a mandatory becon to pinpoint where they are. Hiking in extremely hot weather is bad news when there's endless real estate. never do it alone.
Bryce's story really broke my heart. I am a mother of 3 boys, my middle baby is 6 years old, we have always said he'll be climbing mount everest or exploring the grand canyon some day because from the time he was 10 months old (he was climbing at 6 months, walking at 9) we had to stack baby gates all the way to our ceiling (one on top of another) because he could climb over or get through any child proofing or baby gates we had.. I have had nightmares of him getting hurt so many times & when you were describing Bryce sitting there waiting to die it was just too much. My son would be the same way, he is so light-hearted & has a sense of humor even in the worst situations. Sometimes as a mother I just wish I could hold them close & never let them go.... My heart breaks for Bryce's parents.
I would say just encourage your son and children to be smart. Bryce made several errors, one not advising park rangers and others or getting a hiking pass. He also went off trail to look at things and tbh he wasn't as experienced as he thought he was. I have the same fear (expecting mom here) but I realize I won't be able to stop my kids forever. And I'd rather them have the ability to make intelligent decisions than try to stop them and have no idea at all haha
There is such a magical bond between a mother and son. I feel the same way about my boy. Just hold on and never let go. I just have to remember that he carries me with him in his heart. Your boys are so blessed to have you for their mama 😊
@@gh00stie62 - When I was young, and stupid... I went snow skiing with 3 friends. I was having so much fun ! I ended up losing my friends. I was lost. I went off the trail, because I wanted to see why people were not allowed to go there. I ended up falling deep into snow, up to my waist !!!!!! I was stuck ! I remembered about my " imaginary friend " (when I was 3 years old). I asked my imaginary friend, if he could help me get un-stuck. My imaginary friend... instructed me to " pretend " as if I was on the beach, enjoying a fun sea wave, body surfing... I was instructed to " pretend " as if I was floating on the water, on my back... facing the sun. So I slowly... very slowly... inched my legs up, as if I was floating on the water, on my back. Then my imaginary friend told me to roll over, and continue rolling over... and I was instructed where to go so I could find my friends. My imaginary friend helped me become unstuck in the snow, and guided me to my friends. I have never gone snow skiing, never again. My " imaginary friend, " is an alien from outer space. He wants human-beings to stop destroying our planet, because our destruction of planet Earth... is affecting other life forms in the galaxy !!!!!!
Bryce sure was a very brave and thoughtful young man. He faced his end with grace, dignity and even a little humor. Wow, he was impressive. My heart breaks that his life was cut short.
@@ironpanther9409 There’s no such thing as death, the only thing that’s real is consciousness and Bryce simply transitioned into a different form like we all will. MUCH respect to that Bryce guy, though. The way he left is the mark of an old soul.
Legend. ..are you serious ..you sound like a flog...i swear if i was his mum i would have skitzed. ..he didn't register his walk with Ranger. ..deepest sympathy
@@GMPENO thanks. I try to learn something new every day. (Literally) This is cool stuff to know because here in the United States (California) I'm sure I don't know anyone that knows what those words mean and now I do. Pretty cool
@@aduckofsomesort if every person that didn't follow the rules was punished by death there would be no one left. And ultimately he paid the price. But he knew what was going to happen and he knew it was on him. Thank you hall monitor but I stand by what I said.
@@jaiymees2214 yep. 20 years old, knew he was gonna die. If it were me at 20, I probably would of been all sappy. I think those mature words probably eased a little pain of loss for his family.
Bryce's first mistake: deciding to go on this hike alone. Whenever a story starts with someone going to do something like this alone... it never ends well.
I used to go hiking in my younger days with my husband who was in the forces and a survival expert. My biggest worry was that he would injure himself and become immobile and I'd have to find my way back to civilisation to get help. I couldn't map read and had no sense of direction. It might be better making sure you don't hike alone, but don't hike with a partner who doesn't have a clue how to map read cos you may as well be hiking alone.
The first story, the soldier, not thinking of himself, but his comrades all murdered. Knowing he would be caught and die. He immortalized them, and himself.
A friend of mine suffered the same fate as Bryce in the Grand Canyon so this story affected me more than any of MrBallen’s other stories. RIP Andrew & Bryce
I did a search and found that most people do not use a locator beacon when hiking out. It tends to work well when one needs help from being unresponsive/incapacitated.
All these stories are sad but the last one hit me hard. I have a son of his age and can only imagine the horror that his parents went through. RIP all people in today's video
Man, 20 years old, KNOWING he's going to die, and he still has that positive of an attitude... if that's not an outlook on life to aspire towards, I don't know what is.
He was not a experienced hiker if you get turned around stop set up a camp and ration your water last thing you want to do is wander around looking for something that is not there. rest up the next morning if you are still confused go back the way you came.
@@knotsgaming3653 i wonder how far it would've been if he tried to jump for it with a running start it's 80 feet though so when you hit the water you'd have to slide but idk how many people know how to do that
I knew the Lonergans before they were married. I was friends with Ilene's mother. This was such a tragic event for the entire family and those of us who knew them and had to come to terms with what had happened to them. I will never forget this.
Man, I wish there was a channel where I could satisfy my thirst for the dark, strange and mysterious delivered in story format. Wait a motherf$#%ing minute...
Mr.Ballen knows how to make my day: 1. He Exists 2. He Made an amazing channel 3. He delivers the strange dark and mysterious in story format 4. He tends to give the like button a hard life, I'm surprised it didn't press charges already
I like how effortlessly he tells the stories. He doesn't seem to be reading from anything like he studied the stories and can just relay the info from the top of his head.💯💯💯
As a 13-year-old Life Scout, (almost Eagle) I can confidently say that I have never once learned to ditch my pack. Your pack contains your shelter, food, water, fire starting, everything you need to survive. If your pack is getting heavy, then take a break, but never leave your pack.
Best of luck in your scouting career. My grandfather was a Life Scout and his sons (my dad and uncle) made Eagle Scout. I wanted to be a boy scout, but as I am female, that wasn't an option when I was growing up. I read my Dad's old scouting manuals and thought it sounded like fun. Dad taught me to always leave a place as good or better than I found it and to be prepared (as well as many other things).
@@linabasilisk1955 Thank you for your kind words. I just came back from a scout camp. The principles of Scouting are what matter most. Teaching youth to be the leaders of tomorrow; raising better citizens, stuff like that. The experience and brotherhood are irreplaceable; however, it sounds like you had an amazing dad for trying to give you the Scouting experience.
It can be one of the most beautiful experiences as well. I almost died once and I excepted it was gonna happen and had a deep level of peace come over me. I didnt die but it was eye opening
Bryce's story hit me hard. My oldest son's father died when he was 20, as well. Very different circumstances but a young death nonetheless. His final message made me tear up and smile at the same time.
Young, random deaths are always the saddest, im sorry for your loss. Its also very strange to hear stuff like this, or to get the call from a friend telling you your other friend has died, I'm 20 and all i can imagine is it being me, another regular 20 year old experiencing death
@@greenflowers9167 Then what are you doing in the comments? When you first click on a video if you hate seeing comments like this? Unless I'm misunderstanding why you hate it
my father (USMC 1939) told me PH was no surprise. the US attacked japan summer of 1940. PH was retaliatory. my Grson's history prof, retired CIA confirmed this. FDR was a BS artist. history is written by the victors...
@@em1osmurf Japan had aligned itself with Germany. A country America was actively engaged in fighting. Of course America had made attacks on Japan duh. Japan before that point had already committed the atrocious of Nanjing. They weren't some innocent country sitting by being attacked by allied forces for no reason. They where actively fighting their own war in the shadows of what Germany was doing. They took advantage of all other countries eye's being on Germany and what Germany was doing. That is before aligning with Germany in 1940. An attack was expected from Japan. PH was just unexpected as noone in the government or military expected PH to ever be a target of an attack. Big reason the attack was as devastating. Many lacked protocols (because of the thought of impenetrable safety) lead to ignoring clear signs that this was making PH a perfect target. As Japan wanted to control the pacific. An PH and the fleets stationed there was something to be dealt with to do that.
@@em1osmurf And yes history is always written by the victors. Who always try to paint themselves in a better light. The exact way Japan did with Nanjing. The way America trys to sugar coat or validate the 2 Nuke bombings of mainland Japan. We're a F-d up species no matter where we are form or what our race is. An all government officials are bs artists that's their job
@@greenflowers9167 only a problem if you look at that part of your screen. I watch 100% of my UA-cam on mobile, so I know what your talking about. So again why are you looking at the comment section/ area of the screen. If you don't want to see comments. Its very easy to avoid even on mobile. 😆 But here's a suggestion if you can't avoid seeing that part of your screen in portrait mode. Rotate your phone, full-screen landscape shows nothing but the video no chance to see a single comment. Until you are ready. No more getting mad at a random persons comment because they got lucky to be in the preview comment section. Just like Magic I'd say.
I saw the movie Open Water about Tom and Eileen when it came out in theaters. It was one of the reasons why I developed an intense fear of deep ocean waters. Provided that the story is straight forward and that they actually were forgotten and died stranded in the ocean, I’m glad they had one another in those moments. But dying is still something every person has to do on their own and I can’t imagine either having to make the decision to commit suicide together or watching your partner die and knowing it’s going to be your turn very soon.
The tragic Bryce story is troublesome. The problem of course is that young Bryce made the classic error of hiking and camping solo in unfamiliar and desolate terrain. But, no one is going to tell a determined, confident, young, athletic, intelligent man or woman that they can’t go it alone.
@@maniacalmadness5419 I disagree. People can go out alone, but for the love of God, they need to make sure they are telling someone where they are going and have a personal locator beacon. They cost less than $100 and they work everywhere, there's no excuse not to have one if you want to hike alone in rugged terrain or remote areas.
@@Ebmoclas19 as much as I hiked, I have never heard of this Beacon locator. Too many things can happen when a person's alone. They could fall and hit their head then what? And just like the guy who was in Moab who got his arm caught between a rock had to end up chopping his own arm off. Too many tragic stories one death is too many. Yes many people go alone my son goes on solo backpacking trips. Honestly I think I'm going to get him one of those things you're talking about. However I didn't see any online for under $100. The cheapest one was $169 and one of the most popular ones cost around $250 oh, but that's a small price to pay if it's save someone's life. I'm glad you mentioned it. And your username Captain Dangerous? You sound like somebody who likes to take risks. Just saying.
As the momma of a handsome, adventurous 19 year old son, that last story was extremely hard for me to listen to!! Rip Bryce!!! I will certainly be keeping his friends and family in my thoughts and prayers!! I cannot even imagine what they went through!! As always I really love listening to all of your stories! You are a first class story teller!!! Thanks so very much!! Take care!!! ❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕
You’re one heck of a storyteller. I literally was holding my breath and on the edge of my seat, heart palpitating. That poor guy in the last story, he sure tried to save himself.
My grandpa was one of the Marines that was on Wake Island when the Japanese attacked. He became a P.O.W. and was sent to a camp off of the Island and was lucky to return home after the war.
My Father-N-Law was captured on Bataan and was in the Bataan Death March. The POW's were shipped to Japan to work the coal mines. Interesting enough, their transport ship was torpedoed by an American submarine but it failed to go off. After the war, he returned to America, got a job, married, had 2 children and bought a house. When I met his daughter in College, his wife objected to their daughter seeing me since I am Japanese American. My Father-N-Law told his wife, "My daughter can see whoever makes her happy!".
I love that every little detail that Mr Ballen chooses to include in the stories he talks about always end up being somewhat important later on. He never mentions anything more than what's necessary
Oh dont worry it will be. I just hope my death isn't someway stupid....say like I am sitting on the toilet and a plane crashes into my house. Everybody somehow survives but me.......So...Ballen uses my dead body on the crapper as a thumbnail.
The problem with most wilderness training is that it's for places like the East coast or midwest wilderness. Desert survival is completely different. The dry creek beds are usually just for storm runoff and may only have water once or twice a year. Definitely not during the summer months.
Those last two really hit me. That poor couple, needlessly abandoned due to pure negligence. And Bryce, who showed such courage and positivity in the face of a horrible and early death. It's saying something about how rugged an area is when an Eagle Scout ends up dying. As an experienced hiker myself, I'm not usually scared by these stories, but I can see how he would have ended up in that situation, although I'm really surprised he attempted it in July.
@@jynxbron2620 I know that, but if they have a wife/husband, brothers, sisters and other family members and friends... They'll never have any closure and if it's someone's child, then their parents will probably never be at peace same goes for the adults, most of the time if you're tourtured or outright just die under normal circumstances you'll be found but some of these people's bodies are never found
This is the first time I’ve seen your video within 5 minutes of it being posted. This is the best gift to find after getting off a long shift of work. Mr.Ballen, you have made my weekend already!
even for a boat tour where our drops are swimmable to shore, we always had at least 3 people each double counting. you have to really mess up to miscount
Seriously, that mistake could have been easily avoided. Take a head count, have the other crew members do their own count and report their numbers to the captain. Also, simply asking everyone “does anybody see that anyone is missing? Do you know of anyone who was with us when we left and is not in the boat now?” Nothing wrong with that. We used to do these multi-layered head counts in the Army when we were returning some something.
Same- that story is incredibly frustrating to me… when I worked on a live-aboard, we also used to have a board with everyone’s name on it to check them off when they got back after each dive,- and then we would walk around about 30 minutes after each dive ended to check everyone off a second time to make sure each person was doing ok (mostly as a precaution for decompression issues bc most of our dive sites were fairly deep)
They should know the numbers and names of people riding with them. As they get on a name call and before leaving a name call and if each individual don't answer to their name we don't leave.
My grandfather was a marine and used to tell me bedtimes stories, in graphic detail, about Pearl Harbor and his other experiences. He never understood why I didn’t sleep well....
You are the best storyteller. Your quick pace and lack of rambling is so appreciated! I love Dave Politis but he could learn from you. That Eagle Scout story is a real heartbreaker. Thanks
The last words my grandmother spoke to me before she passed hours later. "Love you." It was all she could get out because the cancer had ravaged her whole body including her vocal chords. Be well grandma.
I always get excited when a notification pops up for the strange dark and mysterious delivered in story format. Much love to you! You are my absolute favorite
Four minutes up and already over five thousand views! Mr. Ballen. Thank you for your service. Military and here as well! A serviceman with a knack for informational stories. Bravo.
Awww ! poor Bryce. I have the utmost respect for the southwest deserts, having run out of water due to a leaking canteen and barely making it back to camp. Dehydration creeps up silently and quickly, and often you don't recognize the danger until its well advance and you physically can barely move.... it happened to me
I watched every video on this channel 8 months ago after subbing the month before Now gotta wait for new stuff Probably should've saved some but good luck with that lmao 🤣😂
There is this peace you feel when you're sitting in nature. As a hunter, I've sat in many fields waiting for ungulates, surrounded by trees with the wind blowing. I've had the thought go through my head that "If I die now, from a random aneurism, I'd be okay with it". Your regrets all fall away.
I've become more risk adverse as a result of these videos. Rather than living for the moment, I now live for a better tomorrow and take care in my descisions. Thanks Mr Ballin :)
I live in Queensland Australia and a lot of tourists think shark attacks are very common but really they are extremely rare and that couple was just extremely unlucky. Rest In Peace
The fact that Bryce didn’t even seem to care that he was going to die tells me he probably knew it was a possibility before he started that hike. Dude was incredibly based
Dude was a dummy just like myself and everyone else at that age. We all do stupid stuff at that age for sure but you gotta tell people and or authorities what you're doing and where you're gonna be. I have a reckless story from when I was that age involving snowboarding in my underwear as a prank. I only survived because I told someone the details and I was found.
Ya know, I do not understand how people are able to divert their attention while listening to any of Ballen’s stories in order to find the “secret.” I am far too transfixed and eventually in shock for most of the stories to even ATTEMPT looking for the “secret”
I’m with you. I don’t want to miss anything, so I listen intensely to every word Mr. Ballen says. Even when people give the time stamp, and what they saw, I’ve gone back to look for whatever they’ve identified, and I can’t find it. I give up! Sooo, I’ll keep on keeping on listening closely instead of looking for Easter eggs. It’s not worth missing part of these great stories. Thank you for your service @Mr.Ballen, and for giving us these great stories. Please don’t ever stop telling them! ♥️ You are truly a national treasure.
Doge Dog at 12:46
Doge to the moon!!!!!
Good job! :o
Bro I remember seeing this comment before it got pinned 😂
gosh dang it that was a good one. I didn't fine it ://
Aye
Imagine dying of thirst in plain view of a giant body of water, and still staying positive, its got to be the biggest act of defiance against a mocking fate i've ever heard
I hope he's got a camelback with infinite water in heaven.
I’m surprised he didn’t at least try to make it down that cliff
@@kadipaige3486 Given the circumstances, my fear of dying would have made me jump off that cliff and risk dying from the fall instead of dehydration. Break my legs, my back, whatever. I'll drag myself with one arm to reach that river.
@@Trojanmachine69 it would have the opposite effect. Fear of death would compel you not to jump. 80 feet is fucking high up and vertigo would make it worse. Guaranteed you'd be more inclined to hope help will come save you than to think leaping off of a cliff onto rocks is a good idea
@@vangoghsseveredear i'd take my chances with a decent down the cliff. I have a friend that fell 100+ ft (he was repelling down a steel cable like a spy but lost his grip) ... He shattered all the bones in both his lower legs but he lived.
Inexcusable that the two divers would have been left at sea. As a former teacher, it's not that difficult to make sure you aren't leaving anyone on a field trip even with many more students. There should be double checks; would take about three minutes. Just ridiculous, and very sad.
Exactly. A roll call doesn't take much longer than a headcount, and you can't count one person twice.
Inexcusable?? He should be in prison for gross negligence
I live in Australia and in Adelaide a class of receptions kids were on a field trip a 5 yr old boy was left in a MacDonald's while he was going to the toilet he came out to find his class had gone and b/c his nanna lived near that MacDonald's he decided to walk to his nannas house, his nanna was shocked to find her grandson knocking on her door like she said Thank god she was home, so she phone her daughter up telling her and the daughter phoned the school the class had returned by than and the school and teachers and didn't even notice he wasn't there, until that parent told them the school wrote letters to the parents and nanna apologizing saying it is being investigated but the parents and the nanna felt it wasn't been takin very seriously so they went to the news and it was on our local TV news.
I’m thinking a head count wasn’t taken and he assumed everyone was back. Then after finding out he left 2 people behind said I must have counted wrong.
@@truth_hunter Yeah, I was thinking the same. The excuse “I did the count wrong” is a bit sus in my opinion. Also, if so, isn’t it strange that the error wasn’t of one but TWO more people??? I don’t think it’s totally impossible to make such a coarse mistake, we’re still humans after all, but in this situation I feel it was more of a negligence than a counting type of error.
The fact that even in the end he made a sarcastic joke about his phone made my eyes teary cause it's the end of your life but still he has time to make people smile, what an amazing soul RIP Bryce
Probably wanted his parents not to think he suffered. To believe he was in good nature and accepting of his fate. That he left peacefully
I cried too also he was 20! I'm just in my teens but he had his whole life ahead of him and that made me bawl but I'm glad he lived a good one R.I.P Bryce
@M U but brave and a cool lad
@Cortez Baldur
Bryce was thinking about the feelings of his family even while staring Death in the face. What a guy!
@someperson1522
So sad he spent all that time in school, just to die while he was still a baby.
Life is unfair sometimes but at least he accepted his fate like a true badass. That's one small consolation, IG.
"I feel like going into the wild is a calling we all feel. Some answer it and some die for it" this broke my heart. What a guy. Bryce you're one courageous young man! To stare death in the face yet still maintain that level of humility, you died an honourable human being. Rest In Peace, nomad.
Really breaks my heart 🥺🥺🥺
and that his words would be heard by millions later ..
He was a careless idiot is what he was. I'm all for empathy, but romanticizing terrible mistakes only helps perpetuate them. If he was such a great hiker and Eagle scout, failing to check in with Park ranger (let alone obtaining a proper permit and paying the fee that helps sustain the park) is pretty much a no-brainer.
@@LJ3783 you may need an X-ray because i don’t believe you have a heart!
🙏🏼
"I feel like going into the wild is something we all feel. Some answer it, some die for it." this literally make me tear up
Me too
Always go prepared, always mark your path as you go
Same here.
Why? Not trying to be a bitch, just curious
@@sorayaalcyone2726 Well to be honest it’s depressing because the poor guy knew that it was over for him. “Some die for it”, referring to himself. It’s sad.
I feel like Bryce was super brave in accepting his fate, the way he wrote his deathnote.
He died doing what he loved, extremely brave for someone so young.
I think I would also write a brave n he to my family
Yeah he seemed like a cool lad. Did not put the blame on anybody, he knew it was his decision to go out there and accepted his fate like a champ. He would've been a pretty cool friend to have.
I agree, he was kind of philosophical about it
Agreed. Extremely brave and a lot older and mature than his 20 years.
The fact that he makes videos every week makes me slightly terrified of the number of horror stories in existence.
Agreed
These are the ones recorded at that lol.
That's a good point.
@@nolantudor9811 OMG IKRRR
Existence is a horror story. You just got focus on the happy beginning bit where everything is great and ignore the part where everyone is brutally murdered by a monster one by one.
What a sweet kid Bryce was. He left a message, obviously thinking of his family, so as to help them through their grief. "I don't know what the afterlife holds, but I just hope it has water." Oh, my goodness, what a wit! Rest peacefully, Bryce!
One could only hope to be as composed and clever in such a helpless scenario. Im sure there arent many people who can be at peace with their death in this case, but he truly seemed to have found it
His parents should be proud for raising such a person.
“I don’t know what the afterlife has for me i just hope they have water”
I can only hope to be so positive and welcoming when my time comes
Can’t be a suicide! There’s a reason drug overdose victims are found with a needle sticking out of their arm after they’ve been found deceased!
@John O'Neill What are trying to say?
@@Orlanzepol123 I don't even think he knows, I'm unsure what the hell that has to do with ANYTHING. It's like... Huh🤦🏽♀️
@Heather Bonelli “ I don’t even think he knows “ 😂 Either he replied to the wrong comment or he’s just really wack. 😂
So near to water, yet so far. He did all the right things to try and get down to that river :(
the last guy was so heartbreaking. you can just tell from that note alone how much of a kindhearted, funny person he was, and it's incredible that he was able to keep that up even in the face of death.
Yeah quite a brave young man. Think I would just be bitter tbh. RIP Bryce.
Throughout my career I worked primarily caring for elderly people. I determined how you are young is how you wind up old barring a life altering stroke. If you are a funny, kind young person you will be as funny & kind when old. However, if you are a horse's arse when young....
Yeah even tho he was recklessly jumping down hills only way he survived was to jump and breaks his legs then crawl to the river and drank it..
I’ll believe the note he wrote was true when I see it for myself. I searched his story, found nothing about a note he wrote on his blackberry phone though
Bryce was an idiot. July in Arizona. Alone, unprepared yeah humorous person huh.
You know the last story’s gonna be interesting when it is more than half of the video
Interesting but pretty sad 😢
I see u are too apart of "TheTalentlessWriter" army
Bu
Haha yesss I love it
More than half even. I’m excited.
For some reason, the last story really got to me. What an amazing person Bryce was. At such a young age he was able to write something so beyond his years for his family. He knew he was going to die and left them something really beautiful. I think it would have helped them with their otherwise unbearable grief.
I agree as a parent
He definitely did the best job anyone could ever ask for in softening the blow of his own death to his family. Bryce was certainly a blessed soul who held his integrity to the very end and beyond.
No.
@@kurtdowney1489 i have to disagree as a Parent. I know a lot of these teenage scouts who get way too confident after doing a little camping and hiking. This stuff is not the same and it really pisses me off that someone allowed him to go alone, unmarked, untraced to his certain death.
@Inspiration Artist
Who was to blame if not Bryce (a capable adult), himself?
Unfortunately, we can't always stop others from engaging in potential harmful behaviors, nor is it our responsibility to do so.
The fact that he was completely stuck, dying of dehydration... Staring at the river he can't get to... Is horrific.
Still he seemed at peace with dying, as per his last message
😂😂😂😂
That POW is the epitome of bravery and mateship... to go to the execution spot, knowing what a risk he was taking, knowing he was going to be recaptured, purely to ensure there was a memorial for his fellow soldiers... what a man.
Tbh I'm certain him knowing he would be recaptured is what drove him to make the memorial. The thought of well if I'm gonna die I may as well do something meaning ful before I do kindof thought process. Plus I'm sure he loved those other prisoners. I'm sure he saw and endured torture with them.
@@cortezbaldur413 oh definitely he knew that and that would be a motivator for sure, but sooo many others would still use their time to try and escape, no matter how futile, or hide or something. He didn't allow fear to control his actions and he used the last of his freedom to honour others, which is what I admire.
Meanwhile, fast forward to 2021 and the world is paralysed with fear of nothing! Imagine most of the modern pansies, hunkered down with their face nappies on in their own homes, doing what this man did in his situation?? Irrational fear owns them heart and soul, but this man did not let fear decide who he was. Respect.
@@kayhollings1777 👍👍 Well said! I totally agree.
Totally agree, they were absolutely all brave, but at that point, he's going to die either way. I'm amazed whomever it was had the presence of mind to even think about doing it.
@@sorayaalcyone2726 That was back in the day when Americans loved their country, AND men were MEN, not SJW pussies.
My great grandfather was one of the 98 murdered on Wake Island. RIP 🥀
@@tw1stedgrav1ty7 🧢
So sad...sorry for the loss of your Grandpa😔❤
@@tw1stedgrav1ty7 capping
RIP
💔💔
My grandma actually knew the couple from the peace corp that were abandoned in the ocean. This hit her pretty hard, she said they were the sweetest people.
peace be with your grandma. also love the username 🤣🤣
A little late (rewatching Mr Ballen videos), but my biggest condolences to your grandmother
@@niallhoranstolemyvirginity7714 as in niall horan s/ assaulted you?
Biden is a better American than you'll ever be.
@@MooseKnuckleMike Is that supposed to be a threat? Typical deplorable acting deplorable. Biden is not just a better American than you, but a better human, too. But it doesn't sound like that's saying much.
Who randomly found this channel one day and cannot stop watching
Yep I’m all caught up now lol
✋🏾
Ify it’s a addiction now😐
Im binging😂
Yesterday. 💃🏻
I feel so strongly for the young man that died at the grand canyon. I was an East coast kid that fell in love with the wilds of Arizona and moved there to pursue adventure. It seemed every weekend was a new trail to hike or mountain to climb. One day I discovered a park just outside of Phoenix and I stopped to explore it. It's incredible that there can be these black diamond trails right in the city! But I lost the trail and didn't see anyone anywhere on this valley and I only had a 2 liter camelback of water with me as I took this unexpected hike. I nearly made the most amateur of mistakes and couldn't believe I could get so lost so close to the city. I kept traveling in the direction I was positive was the way back and after a couple hours finally heard people. I was in a completely different lot and had to ask for a ride back to my jeep. That heat is no joke and I made sure to notify family or friends whenever I traveled alone after that scare.
The mountains around Phoenix are amazingly beautiful!!! The first day I was out there, I went to Camelback mountain!!! I told everyone I was going to go find Gila monsters!!! Lol!!! After that I knew I had to let people know exactly where I was going because as beautiful it is, you can quickly tell it can be very dangerous to!!!
@@stevenmeatsandwich49
Are there dangerous animals there?
@@argentum3919 yes, there are Gila monsters & rattlesnakes!!! I didnt run into any though!!! There are a lot of cute animals to, like prairie dogs & little fast lizards, those I did get to see!!!
@@argentum3919 it wasnt the animals that made the hike dangerous though, its the heat, the rocks, cactus & other plants( 1 plant had thorns about 3 inches long) , climbing up & down those mountains can get rough!!! Very fun & beautiful as long as you are careful!!!
Glad you made it back!
I was a student at NAU in 2008 when Bryce was also there. Left Flagstaff after graduation so I never heard about this until now. His last message was very touching and I will never forget Bryce for being brave with a good attitude even at the end of his life.
You didn’t know what happened to him till now?
@@Gypsygypsy they graduated so it’s likely they didn’t know
What was your major, I went to nau at the same time
@The Man Delorean it's a college town, so there's lots of entry level work for college kids. But its definitely not Phoenix... but with a bit of searching you can find a good gig. The economy was good, cost of living is high depending on what area you want to live in. If you like forests, snow, outdoors and hiking the its for you
These are some horribly sad stories. And I gotta tell you John, my kids' Christmas gifts this year (which I have already purchased) were heavily influenced by your channel. They both love spending time in the outdoors -- camping, hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, snowboarding, mountain bike riding, and on and on -- and your stories have made me paranoid. So, they are both getting satellite phones, and I will be paying the subscription costs for the rest of my life. Rock on John!
He knew what was coming and he accepted it with dignity. RIP Bryce
Many of Mr. Ballen’s stories feel more tragic. But as a mother of three active boys, ages 19, 19 and 21, the story of Bryce really hit home. May he Rest In Peace!
Katie, I agree. These past few videos have left me feeling sadder than the previous. Instead of being excited about the next one, I’m kinda reluctant to view another 🥺.
I hope Mr. B mixes them up with some inspiring ones!
Katie, same with me. I have three very active and ALWAYS "on the go" boys (oldest being 27, middle, 25 and youngest, 21).
This last story hit SO CLOSE to "home" with me. It just broke my heart for Bryce and his family. I just don't believe I could go on living my life.
I JUST told my youngest son yesterday that I didn't like him taking his boat to the river and going fishing ALONE.He laughed at me and said he actually PREFERRED to go alone so that he didn't have to worry about anyone throwing their line over his, or him having to rig up a rod and reel if they broke everything off, or he wouldn't have to take fish off of someone else's hook (pretty sure he was referring to his lil g.f. about ALL of that anyway!) LOL. But, in all seriousness, I told him it didn't matter what he had to do.....he could take one of his buddies or my husband (his dad) just as long as someone was with him. He argued that he knew that river forwards and backwards. I told him that I understood that, but THINGS HAPPEN and ACCIDENTS HAPPEN .....not to MENTION.....there are some MEAN FOLKS in this world, too! ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry.
Prayers for Bryce's family and friends. My deepest, sincerest condolences.
R.I.P. Bryce
@@kellyganey5032 - I have 3 sons too, 16, 20 and 24... this story about Bryce, really hit home, I couldn't bare to lose one of my boys...
Better educate those boys on some more safety. You can never have your children be too prepared!! Especially about alerting rangers and others about where they’re going. It’s so important
Too bad he took that first wrong turn.
At least if he would have had a personal emergency transponder, he could have been rescued in a few hours.
Hindsight is always 20/20.
May he rest in peace.
"He didn't know what the afterlife held for him he just hoped they had water" this made me cry.. 😢 RIP brave Bryce.
It made me laugh, he was truly a unique individual and it's really unfortunate this happened to him.
Agreed 💯
@@dustingaethje1332 of course it made you laugh lmao. That’s why ya boy is getting passed over for Connor hahahahaha
I've never had a mix of sadness and happiness slapped in my face so hard, I was not expecting that at all.
“I feel like going into the wild is a calling we all feel. Some answer it, and some die for it.” - RIP Bryce
Wish you had packed 100 or 200 feet of paracord. RIP Bryce.
😂😂😂😂
@@DiamondCake2 😂🕊️
That last story was sad but inspiring. For a 20 year old to show so much bravery in the face of death is amazing. Even keeping his sense of humor and appreciation for life in his final minutes is so admirable.
Wow, Bryce did everything he’d been taught would save him. That is so sad, and his final words were incredibly brave. Amazing story.
Ironic
The boy scouts and eagle scouts I've known through the years have all had the tendency to overestimate their own capabilities. I imagine this can lead them into some difficult situations. Not to speak Ill of the dead but trusting ones senses over skilled navigation is a sure way to get yourself lost. I have spent a lot of time hiking and camping in backcountry and forests in places that are truly devoid of man made trails or markers I would carry multiple tools for navigation as backups and always defer to those over my own intuition.
Except NOT to hike the canyon in July.
NO one should ever do that
Bryce definitely didn't everything he was supposed to do. He should have let someone know, but I see where you are coming from.
everything except common sense...
The young man Bryce who died all alone sounds like he was a mature, nice young man. His family should be proud. His last words reflect his sense of humor and style. RIP Young Bryce
@wolemai thirst and hunger, heat and cold can and will affect your thinking and decision making
@@balzaak4803 how about the decision making before going on the hike?
@wolemai Yes he did. But jeez, you are extremely negative. Everyone makes mistakes, or has poor judgement at times.
@@nh5264 id say that was a little more then poor judgement
@@nh5264 more than poor judgement, more like sheer stupidity. Why keep going when you see a desert before you? Turn tf around.
20 years old and died doing what he loved, he embraces his death like a champ, Rest in Heaven to Bryce and the other unfortunate people that passed away
😂😂😂😂
I love how he had such a beautiful outlook on life up until his final moments. Between the charity work and that makes you wonder 1. What he could have accomplished if he'd lived longer and 2. How amazing it was to actually know him.
It sounds like he was nothing less than a great guy. What an end. I'm guessing everyone who hikes in the future will be given a mandatory becon to pinpoint where they are. Hiking in extremely hot weather is bad news when there's endless real estate. never do it alone.
Bryce's story really broke my heart. I am a mother of 3 boys, my middle baby is 6 years old, we have always said he'll be climbing mount everest or exploring the grand canyon some day because from the time he was 10 months old (he was climbing at 6 months, walking at 9) we had to stack baby gates all the way to our ceiling (one on top of another) because he could climb over or get through any child proofing or baby gates we had.. I have had nightmares of him getting hurt so many times & when you were describing Bryce sitting there waiting to die it was just too much. My son would be the same way, he is so light-hearted & has a sense of humor even in the worst situations. Sometimes as a mother I just wish I could hold them close & never let them go.... My heart breaks for Bryce's parents.
I would say just encourage your son and children to be smart. Bryce made several errors, one not advising park rangers and others or getting a hiking pass. He also went off trail to look at things and tbh he wasn't as experienced as he thought he was.
I have the same fear (expecting mom here) but I realize I won't be able to stop my kids forever. And I'd rather them have the ability to make intelligent decisions than try to stop them and have no idea at all haha
There is such a magical bond between a mother and son. I feel the same way about my boy. Just hold on and never let go. I just have to remember that he carries me with him in his heart. Your boys are so blessed to have you for their mama 😊
@@gh00stie62 - When I was young, and stupid... I went snow skiing with 3 friends. I was having so much fun !
I ended up losing my friends. I was lost. I went off the trail, because I wanted to see why people were not
allowed to go there. I ended up falling deep into snow, up to my waist !!!!!! I was stuck ! I remembered about my
" imaginary friend " (when I was 3 years old). I asked my imaginary friend, if he could help me get un-stuck.
My imaginary friend...
instructed me to " pretend "
as if I was on the beach, enjoying a fun sea wave, body surfing...
I was instructed to " pretend " as if I was floating on the water, on my back... facing the sun.
So I slowly... very slowly...
inched my legs up, as if I was floating on the water, on my back.
Then my imaginary friend
told me to roll over, and continue rolling over...
and I was instructed where to go
so I could find my friends.
My imaginary friend
helped me become unstuck in the snow,
and guided me to my friends.
I have never gone snow skiing, never again.
My " imaginary friend, "
is an alien from outer space.
He wants human-beings
to stop destroying our planet,
because our destruction of planet Earth...
is affecting other life forms in the galaxy !!!!!!
Bryce sure was a very brave and thoughtful young man. He faced his end with grace, dignity and even a little humor. Wow, he was impressive. My heart breaks that his life was cut short.
Reminds me of Chris McCandless, the guy who died in Alaska.
@@kevincampbell9526 thought the same exact thing
@@ironpanther9409 There’s no such thing as death, the only thing that’s real is consciousness and Bryce simply transitioned into a different form like we all will. MUCH respect to that Bryce guy, though. The way he left is the mark of an old soul.
Bryce my man, you’re a bloody legend mate. Such courage and humility. Your parents raised a great young man. Rest in power King. Peace
Legend. ..are you serious ..you sound like a flog...i swear if i was his mum i would have skitzed. ..he didn't register his walk with Ranger. ..deepest sympathy
@@georgiaskrepetos6705 flog ?
I'm actually being serious..
What does "flog" mean ?
What is onya? Oath ? I like learning new words/meanings on here from people.
I'm not bull shitting
@@GMPENO thanks. I try to learn something new every day. (Literally)
This is cool stuff to know because here in the United States (California) I'm sure I don't know anyone that knows what those words mean and now I do.
Pretty cool
@@Johnny2Bags47 Sweet bruva,
All the best 👍.
Take care.
Bryce was much more mature than his age. His final words said a lot about him.
@@aduckofsomesort if every person that didn't follow the rules was punished by death there would be no one left. And ultimately he paid the price. But he knew what was going to happen and he knew it was on him. Thank you hall monitor but I stand by what I said.
@@jaiymees2214 As you should. Well said!!
@@jaiymees2214 yep. 20 years old, knew he was gonna die. If it were me at 20, I probably would of been all sappy. I think those mature words probably eased a little pain of loss for his family.
@@jaiymees2214 hall monitor 😂 too true.
It take serious mental strength to face the end at your own unwilling hand with grace and peace. Poor guy. 😞
Very wise young man.
Bryce's first mistake: deciding to go on this hike alone. Whenever a story starts with someone going to do something like this alone... it never ends well.
I used to go hiking in my younger days with my husband who was in the forces and a survival expert. My biggest worry was that he would injure himself and become immobile and I'd have to find my way back to civilisation to get help. I couldn't map read and had no sense of direction.
It might be better making sure you don't hike alone, but don't hike with a partner who doesn't have a clue how to map read cos you may as well be hiking alone.
wouldnt have made a difference... 2 people would have died.
@Nick Flores It wouldn't happen if you go on a 'misadventure ', in the first place!🤔
2nd was going somewhere he couldn't get back up
It’s very cocky ...
The first story, the soldier, not thinking of himself, but his comrades all murdered. Knowing he would be caught and die. He immortalized them, and himself.
Dude was 20 and had the peace, wisdom, and perspective of an 80 year old monk
A friend of mine suffered the same fate as Bryce in the Grand Canyon so this story affected me more than any of MrBallen’s other stories. RIP Andrew & Bryce
Amen
I hope everything gets better for you. Much love ❤️
I did a search and found that most people do not use a locator beacon when hiking out. It tends to work well when one needs help from being unresponsive/incapacitated.
RIP andrew and bryce 🙏
I'm sorry for your friend and your heartache.
This guys a LEGEND in telling these stories
Yes he is!
He's a story teller, not a reader.
@@keithblount229 fixed 👍
The men, the myths, the legends.. in story format.
You edited your comment now it's not hearted
All these stories are sad but the last one hit me hard. I have a son of his age and can only imagine the horror that his parents went through.
RIP all people in today's video
Man, 20 years old, KNOWING he's going to die, and he still has that positive of an attitude... if that's not an outlook on life to aspire towards, I don't know what is.
That adventurous naievety got him killed
Atleast he had a pretty place to pass, overlooking the Colorado River , some kindof sad irony in that story.
He was not a experienced hiker if you get turned around stop set up a camp and ration your water last thing you want to do is wander around looking for something that is not there. rest up the next morning if you are still confused go back the way you came.
@@knotsgaming3653 i wonder how far it would've been if he tried to jump for it with a running start it's 80 feet though so when you hit the water you'd have to slide but idk how many people know how to do that
His story was so touching.
The amount of bravery Bryce had was insane to me the guy can’t even drink n he looked at death n smiled at it wat a savage
Today we've all been blessed by another mrballen video.
Yes sir
Thanks for watching!!!!
Yes
Yes we have! Highlights of my days! This man has a special gift!
I knew the Lonergans before they were married. I was friends with Ilene's mother. This was such a tragic event for the entire family and those of us who knew them and had to come to terms with what had happened to them. I will never forget this.
Didn’t they make a movie about them I believe it was open water
@@acecool72 Yes and it's horrific especially the ending
The skipper of the boat was to blame. Pure incompetence. And a jury of Aussies found him not guilty. Ridiculous!
sure you where
My condolences to you 💞💞💞
Man, I wish there was a channel where I could satisfy my thirst for the dark, strange and mysterious delivered in story format.
Wait a motherf$#%ing minute...
Be careful what you wish to satisfy. One day you might be in one of these stories.
Kmsl..right
Mr.Ballen knows how to make my day:
1. He Exists
2. He Made an amazing channel
3. He delivers the strange dark and mysterious in story format
4. He tends to give the like button a hard life, I'm surprised it didn't press charges already
The like button is supremely masochistic and is actually in a stable relationship with our favorite SEAL turned UA-camr.
And it seems like he has gorgeous hair.
My man has a flannel game like nobody else, one can only imagine anyway.
I like how effortlessly he tells the stories. He doesn't seem to be reading from anything like he studied the stories and can just relay the info from the top of his head.💯💯💯
Very much agree
He cuts the video every few words.
It's recorded so he can stop and start again 😊
I like that also. It's amazing
@Human Peeing 😊
As a 13-year-old Life Scout, (almost Eagle) I can confidently say that I have never once learned to ditch my pack. Your pack contains your shelter, food, water, fire starting, everything you need to survive. If your pack is getting heavy, then take a break, but never leave your pack.
Best of luck in your scouting career. My grandfather was a Life Scout and his sons (my dad and uncle) made Eagle Scout. I wanted to be a boy scout, but as I am female, that wasn't an option when I was growing up. I read my Dad's old scouting manuals and thought it sounded like fun. Dad taught me to always leave a place as good or better than I found it and to be prepared (as well as many other things).
@@linabasilisk1955 Thank you for your kind words. I just came back from a scout camp. The principles of Scouting are what matter most. Teaching youth to be the leaders of tomorrow; raising better citizens, stuff like that. The experience and brotherhood are irreplaceable; however, it sounds like you had an amazing dad for trying to give you the Scouting experience.
@@Fricker112 I think he's amazing, but I may be biased on the subject.
@@linabasilisk1955 maybe just a little bias lol
Knowing you're going to die but can't do anything about it must be one of the worst feelings in the world
U mean the worst
Unless you can use that time to entertain yourself by trolling in the final note.
It can be one of the most beautiful experiences as well. I almost died once and I excepted it was gonna happen and had a deep level of peace come over me. I didnt die but it was eye opening
I think it actually is the absolute worst feeling in the world.
Well I guess it depends, if you are going to die in the hands of a criminal for sure it has to be something horrible. But a slow gentil death...
Bryce's story hit me hard. My oldest son's father died when he was 20, as well. Very different circumstances but a young death nonetheless. His final message made me tear up and smile at the same time.
so sorry for your loss RIP Bryce
Young, random deaths are always the saddest, im sorry for your loss.
Its also very strange to hear stuff like this, or to get the call from a friend telling you your other friend has died, I'm 20 and all i can imagine is it being me, another regular 20 year old experiencing death
That first story hurt. That man carved out a head stone for him and his buddies . that's intense . God bless our POW'S
@@greenflowers9167 Then what are you doing in the comments? When you first click on a video if you hate seeing comments like this? Unless I'm misunderstanding why you hate it
my father (USMC 1939) told me PH was no surprise. the US attacked japan summer of 1940. PH was retaliatory. my Grson's history prof, retired CIA confirmed this. FDR was a BS artist. history is written by the victors...
@@em1osmurf Japan had aligned itself with Germany. A country America was actively engaged in fighting.
Of course America had made attacks on Japan duh. Japan before that point had already committed the atrocious of Nanjing. They weren't some innocent country sitting by being attacked by allied forces for no reason. They where actively fighting their own war in the shadows of what Germany was doing. They took advantage of all other countries eye's being on Germany and what Germany was doing. That is before aligning with Germany in 1940.
An attack was expected from Japan. PH was just unexpected as noone in the government or military expected PH to ever be a target of an attack. Big reason the attack was as devastating. Many lacked protocols (because of the thought of impenetrable safety) lead to ignoring clear signs that this was making PH a perfect target. As Japan wanted to control the pacific. An PH and the fleets stationed there was something to be dealt with to do that.
@@em1osmurf And yes history is always written by the victors. Who always try to paint themselves in a better light. The exact way Japan did with Nanjing. The way America trys to sugar coat or validate the 2 Nuke bombings of mainland Japan.
We're a F-d up species no matter where we are form or what our race is.
An all government officials are bs artists that's their job
@@greenflowers9167 only a problem if you look at that part of your screen. I watch 100% of my UA-cam on mobile, so I know what your talking about.
So again why are you looking at the comment section/ area of the screen. If you don't want to see comments. Its very easy to avoid even on mobile. 😆
But here's a suggestion if you can't avoid seeing that part of your screen in portrait mode. Rotate your phone, full-screen landscape shows nothing but the video no chance to see a single comment. Until you are ready. No more getting mad at a random persons comment because they got lucky to be in the preview comment section. Just like Magic I'd say.
Bryce's message about all having a call to the wild is so true! I feel it and a pull to the ocean every single day
If they had a Nobel Prize for storytelling, then MrBallen deserves it.
So interesting 🤔
Hell yeah 🥶🥶🥶
King von to
Like a Pulitzer?
He makes history his story.
It’s called the “surprise valley” because you’re surprised you’re still alive. That’s my theory.
Anyway-
Lol
😂
Appreciate your work guy, as do many of us. Thank you for the interesting and well done content.
LOL
I love seeing one of my favorite youtubers comment on my other favorite UA-camrs channel
I just discovered Mr. Ballen today and I’m addicted. It’s like Mark Twain telling scary stories; such eloquence. And the flannels!
Go to bed earlier 😀 when I start watching I can't stop
He's delightful and can really tell a story!!
I saw the movie Open Water about Tom and Eileen when it came out in theaters. It was one of the reasons why I developed an intense fear of deep ocean waters. Provided that the story is straight forward and that they actually were forgotten and died stranded in the ocean, I’m glad they had one another in those moments. But dying is still something every person has to do on their own and I can’t imagine either having to make the decision to commit suicide together or watching your partner die and knowing it’s going to be your turn very soon.
Yeah, story 2 seems too familiar exactly because its been brought to cinema as Open Water, correct.
I find it difficult to believe no-one noticed Tom and Eileen weren't back on the boat
They noticed. Way too late.
There was a lawsuit - his second in command didn’t do a proper head count. They were very nonchalant.
I believe the movie open water was about them
@@kimclark6696 hope they won that lawsuit
@@elavke5441 Nope
I told my grandma about you and she cant stop watching your videos lol, much love for keeping my grandma happy ❤️
Ya mine loves the 411 mystery videos
My grandma cant get enough of the bigfoot stories
@michael, the best🤛🏽🤛🏽☝🏽
The tragic Bryce story is troublesome. The problem of course is that young Bryce made the classic error of hiking and camping solo in unfamiliar and desolate terrain. But, no one is going to tell a determined, confident, young, athletic, intelligent man or woman that they can’t go it alone.
Yes you are correct. People should never go out hiking alone in rugged terrain.
@@maniacalmadness5419 I disagree. People can go out alone, but for the love of God, they need to make sure they are telling someone where they are going and have a personal locator beacon. They cost less than $100 and they work everywhere, there's no excuse not to have one if you want to hike alone in rugged terrain or remote areas.
Lacking common sense will be most peoples downfall
@@Ebmoclas19
I understand your rationale or set of reasons. Yet, “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” (Murphy’s Law)
@@Ebmoclas19 as much as I hiked, I have never heard of this Beacon locator. Too many things can happen when a person's alone. They could fall and hit their head then what? And just like the guy who was in Moab who got his arm caught between a rock had to end up chopping his own arm off. Too many tragic stories one death is too many. Yes many people go alone my son goes on solo backpacking trips. Honestly I think I'm going to get him one of those things you're talking about. However I didn't see any online for under $100. The cheapest one was $169 and one of the most popular ones cost around $250 oh, but that's a small price to pay if it's save someone's life. I'm glad you mentioned it. And your username Captain Dangerous? You sound like somebody who likes to take risks. Just saying.
As the momma of a handsome, adventurous 19 year old son, that last story was extremely hard for me to listen to!! Rip Bryce!!! I will certainly be keeping his friends and family in my thoughts and prayers!! I cannot even imagine what they went through!! As always I really love listening to all of your stories! You are a first class story teller!!! Thanks so very much!! Take care!!! ❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕❤️💕
You’re one heck of a storyteller. I literally was holding my breath and on the edge of my seat, heart palpitating. That poor guy in the last story, he sure tried to save himself.
You can hold your breath for 17 min? Damn
Fr ^ take a breather my guy 😐
My grandpa was one of the Marines that was on Wake Island when the Japanese attacked. He became a P.O.W. and was sent to a camp off of the Island and was lucky to return home after the war.
I’m glad your grandpa returned home- my great grandpa was one of the POW’s murdered at the 98 rock
My Father-N-Law was captured on Bataan and was in the Bataan Death March. The POW's were shipped to Japan to work the coal mines. Interesting enough, their transport ship was torpedoed by an American submarine but it failed to go off. After the war, he returned to America, got a job, married, had 2 children and bought a house. When I met his daughter in College, his wife objected to their daughter seeing me since I am Japanese American. My Father-N-Law told his wife, "My daughter can see whoever makes her happy!".
I’m glad he came back hone
@@rickuyeda4818 that man's a real champ.
Wow I'm glad , hopefully he's happy
Love the new series mrballen. Won't say more, can't risk giving any spoilers!
same here love it! so happy its a real new series!
Let’s go! Negus! *The good ending*
Love this series
@@AdamStarr816 bb
@@AdamStarr816 nbnnnnnnoon
I love that every little detail that Mr Ballen chooses to include in the stories he talks about always end up being somewhat important later on. He never mentions anything more than what's necessary
No one tells a story like Mr Ballen. Always welcome this notification 👍🇮🇲❤️
True
Hi
From California, Yes indeed he is purrrfect and he also has that voice that goes well with every story he tells
Oh look mrballen uploaded. I wonder, will it be strange, dark or mysterious today 🤔
Thank you Tracey!!!!
Who will NEVER, EVER scuba dive solely because of Mr. Ballen’s scuba dive stories?!? 🥺🥺🥺
Me!!😂
I won’t...... but because of the sharks 🦈
Me
I would never. Imagine getting stuck somehow or lost and drown..
Not me!!!
I’m so thankful I came to this channel late. Now I have the privilege of binge watching these until anxiety is overflowing out of my ears.
You are so lucky...I've watched them all so now I wait for notifications
have fun! ive been binging for the past 2 weeks
That is the BEST until you finish them and you have your first night without mr ballen 🥺
If you're prone to anxiety best not watch the John Jones cave story, I did 6mths ago & still can't get it out of my head :(
You’re lucky now but just wait, you’ll be as addicted as the rest of us, waiting for the next upload notification to get your next fix lol.
Bryce ! What a guy he was. His family should be proud . Such a great loss, but his personality and how he faced death is extraodinary
If I ever die due to strange, dark and/or mysterious circumstances...I want my story read by Mr.Ballen!!!
S A M E
Oh dont worry it will be. I just hope my death isn't someway stupid....say like I am sitting on the toilet and a plane crashes into my house. Everybody somehow survives but me.......So...Ballen uses my dead body on the crapper as a thumbnail.
@@brandontn6919 that's like oddly specific
@@HAHA-dq3ij I'm a freelance writer.....would you expect anything different? Lmao
Omg 😳 me too if that happens, but I hope it doesn’t and we are safe lol
The secret to this episode is to love life while you have it, to live it to it's fullest, and to love as deeply as you can while you're here.
"Going into the wild is a feeling we all feel, some answer it, some die for it." - Bryce
The problem with most wilderness training is that it's for places like the East coast or midwest wilderness. Desert survival is completely different. The dry creek beds are usually just for storm runoff and may only have water once or twice a year. Definitely not during the summer months.
I cried real tears about Bryce. His mother. 😞 I can only imagine the pain.
Same...i have a 20 year old son
All I can picture is my 20 yr old lifeguard son. So, so sad! They are not invincible!
Third story totally made me cry . RIP to all who passed in these stories. Hope they are happy in heaven.
The Strange, Dark and Mysterious has never been told better
They should always be delivered in story format
Haha thanks man!!!
@@MrBallen thank you for making 2021 a better year for us.
Those last two really hit me. That poor couple, needlessly abandoned due to pure negligence. And Bryce, who showed such courage and positivity in the face of a horrible and early death. It's saying something about how rugged an area is when an Eagle Scout ends up dying. As an experienced hiker myself, I'm not usually scared by these stories, but I can see how he would have ended up in that situation, although I'm really surprised he attempted it in July.
People dying is always sad... But when their bodies are never found it's even worse
How is it even worse? Dying is already worse. Torturing is worser
@@jynxbron2620 I know that, but if they have a wife/husband, brothers, sisters and other family members and friends... They'll never have any closure and if it's someone's child, then their parents will probably never be at peace same goes for the adults, most of the time if you're tourtured or outright just die under normal circumstances you'll be found but some of these people's bodies are never found
Imagine dying your body is found plot twist your alive
Why is dying ALWAYS sad ~ when more than half of the world claims to be Christian and believes in heaven?
@@viviansmith5060 so that means you can't miss your loved ones?
This is the only guy that I know that can make 20 minutes seem like 5
Straight up
My misses says I can make 2min feel like 5 minutes no lie
@@joannemarc9121 pathetic lmao
Literally make a movie already 😭
Truth!!
This is the first time I’ve seen your video within 5 minutes of it being posted. This is the best gift to find after getting off a long shift of work. Mr.Ballen, you have made my weekend already!
I’m so hooked on his videos, he does a great job! Something about how he tells the stories draws me in!
Omg! Bryce’s story is heartbreaking. Imagine being trapped like that? Able to see the river and not get to it.
I'm so sorry for the loss of Bryces family. He seemed like an awfully nice and adventurous kid.
even for a boat tour where our drops are swimmable to shore, we always had at least 3 people each double counting. you have to really mess up to miscount
Seriously, that mistake could have been easily avoided.
Take a head count, have the other crew members do their own count and report their numbers to the captain. Also, simply asking everyone “does anybody see that anyone is missing? Do you know of anyone who was with us when we left and is not in the boat now?” Nothing wrong with that. We used to do these multi-layered head counts in the Army when we were returning some something.
Same- that story is incredibly frustrating to me… when I worked on a live-aboard, we also used to have a board with everyone’s name on it to check them off when they got back after each dive,- and then we would walk around about 30 minutes after each dive ended to check everyone off a second time to make sure each person was doing ok (mostly as a precaution for decompression issues bc most of our dive sites were fairly deep)
They should know the numbers and names of people riding with them. As they get on a name call and before leaving a name call and if each individual don't answer to their name we don't leave.
What's crazy is a jury of Aussies found the skipper not guilty of negligence. He'd do time for manslaughter if it was in the US.
I’m so hooked on this channel. I play it at work a lot . I should be focusing on work , but these stories help me a lot .
My grandfather was a marine and used to tell me bedtimes stories, in graphic detail, about Pearl Harbor and his other experiences. He never understood why I didn’t sleep well....
😂🤣😂
I’m sorry but this is funny Jax. 🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣
You are the best storyteller. Your quick pace and lack of rambling is so appreciated! I love Dave Politis but he could learn from you. That Eagle Scout story is a real heartbreaker. Thanks
The last words my grandmother spoke to me before she passed hours later. "Love you." It was all she could get out because the cancer had ravaged her whole body including her vocal chords. Be well grandma.
she seems like she was a sweet old lady. God bless her soul.
So sorry for the loss of you beloved GRANDMA
**hugs** ❤
Oh gosh I’m so sorry for your loss my friend
@I drink your milkshake ua-cam.com/users/shortsBmc9NFfhx74?feature=share
his last message was so well written and composed considering his circumstances. And heart wrenching at only 20 years old 🥺
I always get excited when a notification pops up for the strange dark and mysterious delivered in story format. Much love to you! You are my absolute favorite
mrballen is definitely a top-tier storyteller, he always makes it so interesting and i dont know how
Four minutes up and already over five thousand views! Mr. Ballen. Thank you for your service. Military and here as well! A serviceman with a knack for informational stories. Bravo.
Awww ! poor Bryce. I have the utmost respect for the southwest deserts, having run out of water due to a leaking canteen and barely making it back to camp. Dehydration creeps up silently and quickly, and often you don't recognize the danger until its well advance and you physically can barely move.... it happened to me
Who else has become so addicted to this channel that you are burning through the videos afraid that you will run out soon and go through withdrawals??
Thats why we turn on our notifications!!✌💙
I watched every video on this channel 8 months ago after subbing the month before
Now gotta wait for new stuff
Probably should've saved some but good luck with that lmao 🤣😂
Burned thru them all a few times now😂
I know i am. Lol
probably all 2,320,000 of us
There is this peace you feel when you're sitting in nature. As a hunter, I've sat in many fields waiting for ungulates, surrounded by trees with the wind blowing. I've had the thought go through my head that "If I die now, from a random aneurism, I'd be okay with it". Your regrets all fall away.
Bryce’s story was heartbreaking. I can’t imagine how scared he must have felt x
I've become more risk adverse as a result of these videos. Rather than living for the moment, I now live for a better tomorrow and take care in my descisions. Thanks Mr Ballin :)
I live in Queensland Australia and a lot of tourists think shark attacks are very common but really they are extremely rare and that couple was just extremely unlucky. Rest In Peace
The way Bryce faced death is truly inspiring. Thanks for sharing that story.
The fact that Bryce didn’t even seem to care that he was going to die tells me he probably knew it was a possibility before he started that hike. Dude was incredibly based
Dude was a dummy just like myself and everyone else at that age. We all do stupid stuff at that age for sure but you gotta tell people and or authorities what you're doing and where you're gonna be. I have a reckless story from when I was that age involving snowboarding in my underwear as a prank. I only survived because I told someone the details and I was found.
Ya know, I do not understand how people are able to divert their attention while listening to any of Ballen’s stories in order to find the “secret.” I am far too transfixed and eventually in shock for most of the stories to even ATTEMPT looking for the “secret”
I’m with you. I don’t want to miss anything, so I listen intensely to every word Mr. Ballen says. Even when people give the time stamp, and what they saw, I’ve gone back to look for whatever they’ve identified, and I can’t find it. I give up! Sooo, I’ll keep on keeping on listening closely instead of looking for Easter eggs. It’s not worth missing part of these great stories. Thank you for your service @Mr.Ballen, and for giving us these great stories. Please don’t ever stop telling them! ♥️ You are truly a national treasure.