Your videos are so good that they actually distracted me from using for about a week and was able to get clean. I am now almost a year clean and your videos have distracted me and help me in so many ways. Thank you
Yeah man i was too having heavy withdrawal for a week, and no i didn't get clean cuz i just lost my bestfriend.... and broke up witj hirl who thought was love of my life... and now in a MONTH after the break up she already has a new one... eveyone says he's just a bandage cuz shes still contacting me w/out reason, drunk dialing and crying that she misses the old etc... but still on all this bullshit MrBallen had helped me use much MUCH less, and everyday tryin' to take less until i can stop... but yeah good for you my man! Hope Ballen made more videos, feels like there comes 1 for a week these days ;/ edit : i met a new girl, we we're together for 2 years, we lived together, had a dog and we were going to get engaged but... idk something happened, in both of our own lives we had too much going on and out of the blue she broke up with me... it came me as so big of a surprise that it broke my almost 1year of being clean and now im back to square one... feels like this world doesn't wanna give me happines...
If you walk off a trail on purpose it's not entirely smart but you can leave a trail of your own when it is snowing and starts dropping fast you can lose a trail within a hundred yards
@@leemcr1894 hahahaha so I didn't realize the person you were commenting to has the screen name "Lonely Sandwich", I thought you were calling him that lol it made me spit my drink out lol
One of my favorite I shouldn't be alive episodes. I still can't believe Gina and Brendon were on a paid trip and the person in charge just ignored the headcount being off by two.
Watched the episode recently. Cool to hear these stories from different perspectives. The videos he did for the father and son rafting trip and the boat wreck with the people stranded in a raft with sharks, both of those were I shouldn’t be alive episodes also. Also the South Park parody of I shouldn’t be alive is hilarious lol.
"This was going to be his first hike after retirement" - Never do anything immediately before or after retiring, that's when you are most vulnerable to plot death.
It's Crazy how many times that John was stopped and warned about moving forward, it's as if the universe itself tried to save him but sadly John never paid attention until it was too late
I actually believe that we are all warned in someway by our guardian angels or the Holy spirit..i know when i have a "gut feeling" about something i listen to it
My mother always used to tell me, if you get lost, stay where you are, it'll make it easier for you to be found. The other lessons here are: 1. Don't leave the trail, EVER (unless too dangerous to stay) 2. Always make sure you have a way of contacting people and vice versa.(even if it's just a pencil and paper) 3. Always make sure to take note of weather conditions and dress appropriately 4.Never go alone 5. No matter how smart or capable you think you are, you still are prone to making stupid decisions. 6. Take some bright strips of material or ribbons to tie to trees and bushes along your route so you can find your way back. 7. Let loved ones know where you are going, when you are going, when you hope to be back and when to call the authorities if you don't return in a reasonable amount of time.
@ OP #2 helped the first guy nil. How about just NOT doing dangerous hikes? A old german saying goes sorta like this- " He who seeks danger, will die in danger ( my english aint that good but i guess you get my drift). Stay safe and GOD BLESS Y'ALL 🕊💯
He didn't have the right gear, he refused to listen, and he shouldn't have gone alone. I get be super excited to go, but make sure you are prepared and absolutely everything. Nature is to be repsected.
@@dewaynebanks1397 Actually it's you who makes me cringe. Half an acre is definitely worth two humans' lives. It's not like they were at a place they could have set a real wildfire and endangered others. There can't even have been insects, let alone mammals. Otherwise they would have had food. Half an acre... honestly... are you a fruitarian or a dendrophile that you cry over half an acre trees?
Remember, all of the bodies on Mount Everest were once incredibly motivated people. Learn when to quit. While yes you can do everything, there's always a time and place for it
Or you can do what you want and need to do without ANYONE telling you that there are better and more tolerable places and times to do what it is you feel necessary to say or do. RIGHT!!?!!!.
Yeah I went hiking and there was a big flat edge on the top of this fell, and it was really windy and snowy up there and people up there were basically walking sideways. Me and my mum got a little way up and then noped out and walked back down, our friends carried on a bit and wanted to go up as they were more experienced but not long after they also turned around and came back. It's important when in nature to realise and respect its power no matter how experienced you are, or you could die
Those lucky pants just happen to be the pants he used to always wear and continued to wear. Just used that lucky experience as an excuse to keep wearing them. All his homies knew😂😂😂
i miss the days when i could binge watch MrBallen videos. now that i’m all caught up i have the same anticipation of waiting for the next episode as when i watch my favorite tv shows 😂😂
I was a park ranger at San Jacinto National Park when this event occurred, this retelling of the story is an accurate representation. I was on the trails warning hikers of the upcoming late season storm, and I was in contact with many of the hikers mentioned in this story, John included. RIP.
@@rickhenke2452 He probably jumped, thinking that the pool below might be deep enough to survive. Why not try it, when the alternative is death by starvation? We'll never know.
@@rickhenke2452 thanks for the additional info! Without knowing the topography it's hard to guess but I agree with the accidental cause. If John was found lying at the bottom of a sheer cliff, regardless of whether he fell or jumped I would expect multiple fractures. However, if the cliff wasn't a sheer drop, then perhaps John tried to descend to reach the water and made it most of the way down before falling from nearer the bottom. A complex tibial fracture is more consistent with a partially controlled fall in which he landed on one leg from a height of, say, ten or so feet. Obviously I don't know. I just enjoy investigating different types of medical mysteries.
I’m a tram operator, never expect the operator or guide to know you’re missing. A ton of people like to hike down. So if you don’t get on when you are supposed to, you are an assumed hiker. Just don’t expect all tram workers to rush or heard you back when it’s time to leave. Know the tram schedule and always always always know when the last tram going down is. And always check the weather 😉
If you're taking tourists who aren't dressed for the weather and you a snowstorm will hit, you'd just leave? Hope no one gets lost when you're the operator. Guess you won't have a guilty conscience!
@@wellthisisinteresting4912The operator still has a responsibility of at least informing someone that there are two people missing and not just assume they are alright. How fucking much must you hate other people to just say "he's not their parent"!? The amount of negligence here is insane and extremely heartless. As if he'd have to give up a lung to just let someone know, smh ...
@@wellthisisinteresting4912cops are also not everyone's parent but they do their best to make sure EVERY citizen is safe Someone in the government should do an investigation on you and the other 2 idiots. Yall seem like you got something to hide
This is actually good advice in general that I never thought about before… If you’re hiking somewhere, never go down a trail or ledge that you can’t get back up. You never know when you need to retrace your steps.
This story really "peaked" (sorry bad pun) my interest. I went on Google Earth and I think I was able to locate the area he died. Even on Google Earth it seems incredibly steep... let alone covered in 8 feet of snow, not knowing where the edge of the stream begins or ends. His only hope truly was to hike up and out of the canyon. Like his journal said, he injured himself and couldn't do it. The couple who owe their life to John's matches. I think they still maybe survive without the matches. 1. They had better weather than John, and everything wasn't covered in snow. 2. They had water. 3. They weren't injured, just in shock. Maybe after enough days and calming down, they retrace their steps and find a way up outta the canyon... or perhaps a traverse to skirt around the waterfall. Call me crazy but when I hear stories like this a part of me wants to see it firsthand. What makes it such a trap? I want to study it and circumnavigate it.
@@darrinsiberialove this detail and how sophisticated u analyzed this situation I 100% agree with the urge of wanting to go explore these places where ppl were “trapped” and look for possible survival methods not thought abt or just unexplored!
John Donovan's insistence on going on that ill-fated hike served the purpose of saving 2 people's lives exactly 1 year later . Isn't that amazing how good can come from utter despair and tragedy.
Think about it in a different way: it is only because he made peace with his fate and did not succumb to despair that he left his gear, including the matches that saved the couple. He could've wasted all of them and destroyed his camp in a fit of rage and desperation and they would be the ones lying face down in a creek...
@@DzinkyDzink He probably could not use them because it was really snowy when he was there. Seems like it was not as cold when the young couple arrived.
Without bad good does not exist ,without good bad doesint exist .not one without the other ...imagine a world without either ...would be pretty dull ...never feel good never bad ...
@@wickwickening3977, the Biblical version I recall someone saying , " there must,needs be evil in the world. As a believer, I see that even if a person doesn't know it God can make use of them to do good .
When you go hiking in places you’re unfamiliar, always, ALWAYS look backwards, see your trail and plan your route home. The trail out looks remarkably different from the trail out. Look back at every direction change or when you’ve moved past your last landmark. Never failed me. Been in the mountains my whole life and learned that one early on.
Good practice. For new hikers, It’s good to start with beginner trails that are wide and gravel/even paved or do trails that are heavily used each day. I did bits and pieces of the Appalachian trail growing up. Most parts of the trail are obvious but there’s some parts where you can easily end up on an animal trail if you’re not paying attention.
That's excellent advice for any hiker man especially those new to it. If people really want to be safe they can bring neon string or ribbon and tie a piece around a tree every 300 feet or so depending on how dense your surroundings are
@@vindiesel564 It's good advice, and usually the easier and better known trails can allow people to make new friends, so even someone starting alone doesn't end up the same way. Unfortunately, I've heard that the PCT isn't as populous as the Appalachian trail, and the Florida trail also seems to be one of those less-traveled paths. Not sure about what the other eight trails are like.
I know very little about hiking, but I think I have a winning formula nonetheless. Just imagine what John Donovan would do, then do exactly the opposite (compass, check; weather-appropriate clothing and kit, check; GPRS, well you get the picture).
Few of us will get as many warnings as John did before meeting our maker. I would’ve been absolutely furious with him had I known him. As for the other 2, I’m glad Brandon’s resourcefulness and determination paid off. Hopefully these stories will serve as a warning not to play fast and loose with life and death, especially if you’re not prepared for the consequences.
I wonder if he was neurodivergent. Because whatever he said to that mother and son upset her so much he lost an ally. It seems everyone he met had that same impression of him. That he thought he knew best and no one was going to convince him of anything different. Obviously you don't have to be neurodivergent to be like that. But based on everything we know about him I think there's a good possibility he really was neurodivergent in some way and completely lacked social skills. I personally love people like that. I value honesty over everything else. Loyalty is a close second. But I can definitely see how that would rub a lot of people the wrong way
John sounds like someone who was both incredibly wonderful, but also INTENSELY frustrating. That friend you wanna slap around for being the dumbest, densest human being alive, but also someone you could always count on to be honest with you.
Moral of the stories: 1. Don't be a jerk to strangers. 2. Never just wander into the woods, especially with no phone, water etc. You can easily get lost just a couple feet from the trail.
He was a social worker so he's trained how to handle people. If the woman was doing something wrong in his opinion, it was correct to maybe say something.
@@Aaron-is8yt some opinions are best keep to oneself regardless if it's right/wrong. Don't tell strangers that they're raising their child wrong (when you just met them in less than a day)
The first part of the story where John kept on hiking, but came across a couple of hikers who were leaving the mountain and warned John to not go due to the storm coming, kind of reminded about this story. The story where a person was stuck on top of their house and the water levels were continuing to rise. Many people who were leaving on boats urged the person to come with them to safety. However, the person refused claiming that "God would save them." Then time went on and form time to time peopel that were escaping were warning the person and urging them to come with them to safety. Each time the person continued to refuse claiming that god will come to save them. Then eventually the person drowns and dies. The person asks god why they weren't saved. God claims that each of the people on the boats that were escaping and the people urging the person to escape with them was each attempt/way of God in trying to save the person. However, the person refused, hence they drowned.
That story reminds me of the Parable of Goats and Sheep. Where God legit says "you do right by me by doing right by others, but those who do not to right by others do not do right by me" (paraphrased lol) 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
But this also reminds me of so many people now who refuse medical help, even for their children, because "God will heal!". But they fail to believe that God could be so powerful that je will gift other people with the knowledge on how to help. I'm not very religious, but if God does exist, I know he puts doctors in the right place at the right time. It's up to others to believe that God sent doctors to help. If they don't, then that's their bad.
Moral of the story: Never leave your cell phone at home to “focus on each other.” Just using a modicum of self control, and leaving the cell phone in your pocket, will suffice.
@@baileyerickson4065 The photos used in this video are unrelated (uncaptioned so could be stock or re-enactment). Also cameraphones back then weren't as high quality as the photos used in the video.
In a very very small way I know what this feels like. A friend and I were backpacking in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The day started fine but when we were about 5 miles or so in, it started to rain. We didn't pack in dry wood. Once we found a camp site we needed a fire bad. It was freezing. I hacked at the wood I did find with our hatchet and somehow after many attempts managed to get a fire going and then was able to keep it going. I still can't begin to imagine how horrifying this would have been for all parties.
I grew up near the Alps, the biggest mountain range in Europe. Though not a mountaineer by any stretch, I have been hiking and have been part of the community there. I can remember what the elders used to say: don't mess with chance and don't mess with the mountain itself. Everyone always respected those words almost religiously. You don't go unprepared, you don't go alone, you never leave the trail, you make sure somebody knows about your whereabouts and you find a way through refuges or a satellite phone to check in with those trusted people. Even with all these precautions hiking in the mountains is not risk free. Some just don't understand how quickly things can go to hell in so many ways. Anyway, great content! Wish you a great deal of success, and all the best.
His cause of death was stubborness. Its sad but my god, when people who live in the area and are experienced with the trail and the weather warn you to turn back....you turn back.
I think he wasnt meant to die that day and was given a lot of chance to save himself. But he ignored all of that thinking his luck will save him. What a shame
So glad to have heard his story. He didn’t know he was saving the lives of two people but he did. And they brought him home to his friends who loved him.
@@Pusfilth Comments sections are there to discuss the video, genius. You chose to venture into comments about a video before watching the video, then blame others for "spoiling you"? LOL. Not the brightest spark, are ya? Take some personal responsibility for your own stupid choices, friend!
Very very sad story about John who had a wonderful life ahead of him. I wish he would have made it. Excellent tale about being prepared and not going off the trail. Be safe.
@@EllesGhost13 But then you have to remember had he not been there or had been rescued his matches wouldn't be there which wouldn't have allowed Brandon to light the flames to get him and Gina help in being rescued. So John would live but then Brandon, and Gina could have very well lost there lives, and be lost to time much like how John was for the year of him going missing. But unlike John would have the sad point of not being given the luxury of being found or to document there situation to its conclusion.
John was a social worker. He lived his life helping others and loved hiking in nature. Even in death, he helped 2 people who would have shared his fate with his sacrifice.
@@jillianc7485 you didn't realise story telling was skill? How could you not have known this. It's one of the oldest skills there is. Enjoy it then old chap
@@bumbleofthefluff4418 well no, i was mostly exaggerating. i more so meant that i didn’t realize how great people can really be at a Tory telling- ballen is genuinely one of the best.
This is without a doubt the wildest story i have EVER heard. The amount of sheer coincidence is amazing. Not only was John considered lucky but his luck running out was the luck that they needed to survive.... Like holy fucking what even.
I’m so glad John found his hiking family. I’m sure the desire for acceptance/ inclusion was strong. And I am glad he found the ones who would choose to love him not just out of obligation
I don't know where you go hiking, but I just got back from a camping/hiking trip in the Rockies, and the three must-haves are water, food, and sunscreen -- very good sunscreen. Even though I slathered the stuff on, my poor arms and legs weren't used to the super-high elevation and super-direct sunlight. 😭
@@sluttymctits4496 hey I saw you in the reply section of a comment on I believe the video that was about the Bear Camp road where the Asian man basically died in the woods trying to look for a nearby gas station or something while his wife and two young daughters (one 4 yrs old and one 7 months old) were in the car. These were both stories were someone had to make a sacrifice to save others
Feel like John was just asking for something to go wrong like he had a death wish… Why you not only go on the hike when you know the whether is gonna be terrible, then as usual bring the bare minimum amount of gear other than camping stuff and not even have a cell phone and on top of that be alone for most of the trip, just a recipe for disaster.
Seeing comments about how people are so frustrated or mad with John, or even saying he had such a huge ego is weird to me. He was an orphan from a very young age. All his life he could only trust and depend on himself, no one else. So OF COURSE if someone told us, "Hey, it's not safe. Don't go." We'd probably thank them and turn around. But someone like John, who again, never learned to trust or depend on anyone but himself, might not listen. He had done this plenty of time before, and likely in other bad weather conditions, so he definitely felt confident in himself. But either way you put it, it's still a shame that he lost his life. It's amazing that 2 other lives were saved because of him, but that doesn't make his loss better. Just be kind y'all.
I've heard this story before, but the life and the detail in this telling makes all the difference. A shot of Whisky for a bold Irishman and a hats off to a lonely life ending by saving two. Thanks Mr. Ballen.
Whiskey, supposedly, kept a guy alive on the titanic...he stayed on the boat as long as he could, then was in the very cold water, for about less than an hour...so it's said...
@@zwan1886 there's a fine line between stubbornness and the determination to accomplish a personal goal. (Boomers got "alotta heart" so let's be respectable) P.s I once flopped out of bed to grab a reese's cup that rolled under my dresser. I could have easily "perished" but I had the determination to succeed 💪(the mini peanut butter cup had some pubes on it...but it was bomb)
Found one of your videos last night of a family going up a cliff. Had my anxiety up the whole entire time. I had to finish the story to able to go to sleep. Not only that but the way you tell the story is amazing !!!!
John’s funeral sounds so touching and loving. I’m glad he had friends like this. Hard life in the beginning, and at the end. At least, in between these horrible happenings, he was able to find friendship and a sense of self. RIP Mr. Donovan.
You missed a part. While stuck in that ravine, jotting in his notebook, John heard a voice in the dark distance. It asked, “Do you know how to get to Bell’s Canyon?”.
The thing that amazes me is that john had been an abandoned child who had suffered all of his life on his own and became a social worker to help more children like him and was a very good nature but due to his stubborn wish he made his last few moments of life alone .. RIP❤
There is a joke, I feel fits this story well. A man lives in a town, and a storm is coming. It starts to flood, so the city puts out news broadcast to evacuate. The man hears the broadcasts, and says, "I don't need to leave. God will protect me." The rain began, and a truck drove by, fleeing the storm, saw the man on his porch, and offered him a ride to high ground. The man said, "I don't need to leave. God will protect me." The waters continued to rise, and the man was forced to climb onto the awning of his house. A boat came by to save the man, but he said, "I don't need to leave. God will protect me." The waters grew higher, and the man went to the tip-top of his house, a helicopter came by to save him, and the man said, "I don't need to leave. God will protect me." After the flood had swept the man away, and he died. He stood before God, in heaven, and asked, "God, why did you not protect me?" And God answered, "I sent you a truck, a boat, and a helicopter."
I'm in my late 50's and have suffered from chronic insomnia my entire life. Discovering this channel has been a Godsend. I love listening to this amazing young man - this fabulous storyteller - late at night when I can't sleep. I am just loving this channel! Bless 💗
I also suffer with insomnia and I’m hooked on his videos. There’s just something about the way he tells his stories. I’ve heard of some of them, from other people, but nobody tells it quite like he does. ❤️
You must also listen to 'That Chapter'...…..an Irish guy named Mike(awesome accent) who tells equally great(maybe better) stories....but adds this very unique haunting music at times.....and pictures, video. Give him a try. Also late 50's but I work all night and would be quite bored w/o these guys.
I constantly see a reoccuring theme of people overestimating their abilities when it comes to the outdoors. I've come across people who were lost on local/smaller hiking trails that are considered "easy," and I've had to help get them back to the start because they were completely exhausted and/or out of food and water. Regardless of the trail, please remember to respect how dangerous nature can be, prepare, and try your best to stay on a marked trail (if there is one). And there is no shame in ever turning back.
My Dad & I misread a sign on a trail we hiked all the time & still hike to this day & got lost out there once! We ended up on the scouts trail (we wanted to do the longer trail bc I was a bit older at the time but still a child) & ended up WAY off from everything else & ran out of water before my dad finally said "Ok this can't be right" & we turned back. He had to stop at the gas station immediately after leaving so we could get water & Gatorade, I'm just glad we weren't REALLY lost bc even just that experience was enough for me 😬
I agree with you. I've turned back on a few hiking trails for various reasons one of which was having the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Other reasons include not feeling safe, too late in the day and didn't want to get stuck in the dark, weather, twisted ankle but never regretted turning back. In fact I think it saved my life at least once even though I really wanted to hike this mountain and knew I'd never have a chance to do this again. No regrets
Man. The fact that I will NEVER go hiking or skiing or camping is really being solidified for me the more I watch videos like this. RIP John. Thanks for the story MrBallen.
Wow what an absolutely wild story. The odds that they would have been there the exact day that John had left a message the year before makes it all the more surreal. Rest easy, John.
That was certainly my favorite detail in this story. How often does such thing happen! Poor Mr Donovan. He died because of his recklessness and stubbornness. But humans make mistakes. Im really glad the couples were saved
The odds of it being the exact day a year later is astounding.. just goes to show the universe fcuks with us in unforeseen ways. Or if there is a creator out there, the SOB got a pretty sick sense of humor 😂 Either way, the hubris of some people is truly troubling. What kinda person goes willingly alone into the frozen fray, with sparse provisioning and entirely inadequate gear, ignoring all the advice of experienced hikers... You'd think someone braving the harsh elements alone would be doubly cautious and plan meticulously. Perhaps John surviving that slide off the mountain gave him superman syndrome. In reality, you only get to roll the dice so many times before it comes up snake eyes.
Wow, I cried. This was so moving. I love how he made such wonderful friendships with his hiker friends and how he helped the couple without even knowing it.❤
Soo.. I just spent a few hours backing up and listening again and again while working, to find out who Virginia was and when she died in the story. I wasn't very focused so I just figured I missed it again and again.. until I heard MrBallen actually saying "Funeral for John in Virginia"..... not "John AND Virginia".... GAAAH :D
This man could literally tell a story about an ordinary day and make it interesting. His story telling skills are amazing. I’m so happy I found this channel I can’t stop watching!
No shit. He does this for a living, of course he’s going to research the best ways to speak and how to tell a story. I’m not sure why you people are so surprised, unless y’all don’t have a brain and don’t try to do what you do for a living the best way possible.
Imagine the feeling of looking back at the date and seeing it was a year ago and realizing that nobody had been to that spot for that long and someone in the same experience you had died there.
I remember this episode on I Shouldn't Be Alive, but they never mentioned who the hiker was or any info about him. This version is much better because he actually mentions Johns backstory as well.
Sounds like this guy was given opportunity after opportunity to save himself. Never think you’re stronger than Mother Nature, you will literally always be wrong.
@@elle_l808l I was getting super annoyed with this guy and then the same thought occurred to me that he just didn't care - he probably thought he had nothing to lose 😔.
@@janessafaye7671 they were all suicide missions from the very day he got caught on his underpants and was “lucky” he probably felt invincible didn’t use his matches though its crazy how its the same date so it was meant to be they find he items and use them
John Donovan is a legend that will never be forgotten. He is a hero and saved the lives of two young people just starting their lives. What a noble sacrifice. Rest in peace John.
Sorry but I must disagree with you. John had no idea that someone would find his camp in that ravine. He did NOT sacrifice himself to save others. Quite the contrary, his recklessness and stubbornness would have endangered searchers and/or rescuers had there been a search launched for him.
I used to see other hikers on the trail with all their specialized clothing and gear and snicker to myself about how all they need are a good pair of sneakers and comfortable clothing, and they were fools to waste their money on unnecessary things. Then I went on a day hike in the snow one day and barely got out alive. After that, I went online and pretty much bought *all* the gear.
I visited our only mountain top here in continental Portugal, and laughed at the thought of getting really warm clothing and footwear, after all, I come from a really cold and snowy country (my country of birth). I told my boyfriend to tell the taxi driver we would be out there the entire afternoon. Wearing only a light jacket and some dumb flat boots, I spent the whole (maybe two hours?) sliding on melted snow that turned into ice and shivering under the cold, humid strong wind. It was super sunny outside, but I was freezing and very uncomfortable. Never underestimate the importance of good quality gear and warm clothing. I lasted less than half of the time I had in mind and we were in a touristy area. Can't imagine getting lost or trapped in there overnight 😬😬
I mean I don't feel bad for people who are THAT careless, don't take proper precautions, and are that stubborn and arrogant that they can win a battle with nature and the elements. That's a major life lesson for ya... too much courage, not enough consideration, and way too much arrogance may get you killed someday.
@@LethalByChoice true. But ill bet he lived a more fulfilled life than you simply because he was a risk taker. We all die eventually and not always the way we hope.
@@LethalByChoice Man you guys are just determined to not feel sympathy for people. It doesn't matter if he was arrogant or made decisions that weren't all that smart, I don't see why he should fucking die because of it. If you one day decide to make a mistake that will cost you something important, I hope you heed your own words.
Love your stories, this one made me cry. My family and I go on hiking trips a lot. Love the nature and the time, but once we did start a hike late in the day, which we knew was bad and got caught in a rain storm. We made it out safely, but learned a lesson. Tomorrow would be my dad's 89th birthday and on his birthday January 25th, 6 year ago we buried him. Part of the reason this story got to me. Mr. Ballen thanks for what you do ❤
Three fully equipped hikers: hey there’s an insane snowstorm on the way! You should really leave! John: It’s alright. I have my lucky A d i d a s sweat pants and sketchers
I doubt he had "sneakers." Most ultralight hikers wear small shoes instead of hiking boots, sure, but they're usually like trail running shoes. Not sketchers lol.
@@miguelyt2415 right?!? His stories are absolutely crazy and very creepy!! At least he doesn’t say they “lit up a room” with every case lol! He’s one of my favorites though!!!
From the base of Palm Springs to the tram station, there is actually a trail called Cactus to Clouds. It's like a 20-mile one-way route and considered one of the most difficult hikes in the world. The way to get back to the parking lot in Palm Springs, you have to take the tram down. Regarding John, needless to say he was extremely reckless and ill-prepared. But what an incredible story that what he left behind ended up saving the lives of that couple.
One of my favorite books was written by Cheryl Strayed, who hiked the PCT solo in 1995, in a way to cope with her mother’s death. It’s called ‘Wild’. Very interesting read that kept me engaged the whole time. The movie is great too. Reece Witherspoon did a phenomenal job playing her.
I am a pretty experienced hiker/backpacker and have to admit I got lost in the same area. It's all rolling hills and mountain tops. With a lot of Large rock features and outcroppings. Very disorienting. The sensation you get when you realize, "I am lost in the wilderness, within a short distance of a trail, I just don't know what direction that trail is"... Fortunately, my experience resolved within an hour. But only because I just stopped. I just sat there for like 15 minutes and calmed down and tried again. Basically I discovered that adrenaline and what not, not so good, in a lost in the wilderness scenario. In that case you want your adrenalin to ware off so your brain can focus more on mental activity.
Amen, brothers. Had a similar experience in Wyoming. I hiked alone in unfamiliar territory and followed faulty directions of someone who should have known better. No distinguishing landmarks for orientation. I did not arrive at my expected destination. Stopped and had a think after the rush of adrenaline. Successfully used shadow movement to determine E-W, then a bit of dead reckoning. But first I had to stop, calm down and think. I should add that my preparation was poor-- no familiarization, no route planning, no topos, no compass, no food, no water, insufficient clothing-- because of extenuating and unavoidable circumstances.
@@WhiteTiger950 I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all... seems like all the people in this story could have taken the advice of TLC instead of running off into the mountains unprepared
I live in a mountainous area for a few years now. I have not found the time yet to pick up some mountain sports, but I pick up a lot of things from colleagues, etc. who have grown up here and who are accustomed to going into the mountains, be it by foot, ski, or mountain bike. There is even somebody who got a tour sponsored by Red Bull. Here is a short list of bits and pieces I've picked up: Never go alone, Plan ahead, Check the weather continuously, Do not go if the weather isn't stable, Be aware of your abilities and the difficulty of the trail, Wear proper clothing, Take additional clothing in a backpack to adapt to changing conditions (e.g. temperature changes or crampons if you need to walk over a glacier), Wear proper shoes, Wear a helmet if you expect to walk on very steep trail which also require some climbing, If you will have to walk on some small trails with the abyss right besides you, bring climbing gear to anker yourself to the safety lines which are bolted into the mountain, Know your equipment and be able to use it properly and effectively, Bring enough water to drink. That's basically the list. And if I know these basic things, then somebody who plans to be in the mountains for 6 months per year should definitely know this.
Y know this reminds me. I was once in a blizzard in the Sierra, I needed to get back to San Francisco for my job. And I did do it. But it took everything possible including a bit of luck. First I couldn't go down highway 80 the normal way, all roads were closed. Very bad storm (circa winter 2017 or 2018). So I had to go North on 89, and then convince the Cal Trans lady who was manning the road closure barricade that I was a local and just needed to go a few miles on Hwy 49, from Sierraville to Sierra City. But it was a lie, I wanted to take it all the way to Nevada City. Well she let us through, told us her boss was out there plowing and that we weren't allowed to get stuck because it'd be her ass. I assured her we'd be fine. I was taking a guy outta the mountains with me who needed to catch a flight outta SFO at 4 am... it was around 5 pm and getting dark. The snow flurries were so heavy we couldn't see anything. We were in a lifted 4x4 1997 Ford Explorer with decent but not great all terrain tires. Well if you look at highway 49 on Google Maps between Loganville and Union Flat Campground you'll see how the road just huges the mountain and off to our left was 2 - 300 foot down to the river canyon. My co pilot had his phone Google maps out and was navigating our turns because I couldn't see. I was going as slow as 3 mph only as fast as 10 mph... it seemed like we made it outta all the scary stuff when BAM!!!! we hit black ice and slide into the right side of the road a small drainage ditch. In the corner of my eye I see my co pilot fly into the room and slam into the ceiling. The whole front end buckaroos into the mountain and gets bounced back onto the road. Luckily the road is straight so I can ease it back to a stop. I had a front headlight out. Front fender smashed. Bumper smashed. Rear back passenger light house cracked open as well. It's still snowing. I get some rags I put some gloves on. I dry up all the exposed lines to the lights as best I can and I wrap them all in electrical tape so they don't short out. After surviving the pass, we made it to Downieville and grabbed some food and a beer and counted our blessings. We made it to the foothills and could drive faster now. Still. We didn't make it to Auburn (usually about 90 minutes from Truckee) until well past 11 pm! So nearly 6 hours drive. We finally made it to the East Bay around 2 am. Took a short nap. I got him to his flight. I made it to my job that Sunday morning at 8 am. Here's the moral of the story though. My job wasn't THAT important. I could've simply called them and said "sorry, snowed in. Can't make it." And the guy I gave a ride to? He would've missed his flight. Big deal. That's his problem not mine. But I was so determined always to make ends meet. And this time I got lucky and got out alive. But had the black ice spun my wheels to the left instead of right, or maybe I was just happened to have them point left at the time? We would've surely spun off the left shoulder hundreds of feet down into the canyon and most likely died or severely injured. Sometimes it's just not worth it to push through. Life is too short. But it's not so short that you gotta exploit every single damn day when mother nature is telling you to chill out!
I've gotten lost in semi-wilderness with the man who became my husband before. People lived there, but it was very undeveloped land with miles of nothing. It's crazy how easy it is to lose a trail, especially after dark. The only reason we were only lost for a night is i made sure to take a mental picture of the way the mountain looked from our friend's property. Great bonding experience lol.
Honestly for someone with no survival skills, starting a fire like that was a very smart idea. Also doubt you will see this, but your story telling/narration skills have come a long way. Nobody does it better with immersion and stuff. Didnt realize this was 40 mins long😂
Alfred Hitchcock aint got nothing on Mr Ballen. He truly is a master at building up suspense. I compare his stories to watching a new Soprano's episode back in the day. You just start watching & it feels like its only been on minutes & the creditsare already starting to roll!! You're absolutely right about being totally immersed in the story regardless of where you're actually listening to it. Its these amazing storytelling skills that seperate Mr Ballen from everyone else.
How can I possibly find the secret when I get so drawn into the story due to your vivid storytelling that I don’t see anything but what you are describing. I expect to see snow when I look outside or the gorge and creek. That’s when my senses return to normal!
Why is it that anyone you talk to that hikes says how lovely it is and any video you see shows how nice it is, but you always hear these stories about a horrible deaths they face and it just shows that my couch is honestly the safest place for me..
Yep. What is sad is that he was warned multiple times by different people but still kept going forward with his plan. I will never understand why people have a death wish.
I'll tell people where to find the best firewood when everything's wet. It's counter intuitive but the best firewood is in the creek. Look for white wood in the water. It can no longer hold any more and is dry. I've done this many times while hiking when everything else is wet.
Every life leaves a ripple behind...not all get to see it. Thanks for sharing these unsung unremarkable people, who's echo we still hear. And um don't go chasing waterfalls in strange mountains. ⚘❤🕊
I used to backpack alone in the mountains. Loved it. No compass, radio or anything else besides a knife, fishing gear, tarp, sleeping bag, lighter and some good books.
I've heard their story several times. This is the first time hearing details about John. He's been humanized. In other stories, he's almost a second thought.
@@fftheblueskys Sounds like that is a result of this woman Connie, who seems like she is REALLY trying to convince everyone John was a bad guy who she needed to get away from because "he questioned her parenting". I doubt he did, but even if that is true, you don't leave leave someone behind who is clearly having a hard time navigating because they made a few comments you didn't like. She killed that man, and should have been tried for manslaughter
They weren't saved because John died. They were saved because (forget his name) lit a huge forest fire. I guess you could say, fortunate that they found john's matches. But not because John died. To be honest, everyone in this story is a moron. You don't fuck with nature like that. Just wandering off into the woods with no supplies, thinking they're safe because there's a tram nearby? So crazy.
When he said it was from 2005 my heart dropped… that is an absolutely insane coincidence that his last note was written on the year before the exact day they ended up there
yeah imagine the nightmarish realisation that the note was one year old and they where doomed. i dont know whats worse. coming there first and realising that you would be better off killing yourself or finding a note from the guy that did that last time. sounds like a plot to a horror movie.
@@MartiMcfly-mf9pq if that’s true then “god” is a truly sick individual, to watch kind hearted John starve and suffer just so these two people could start a forest fire w his matches. Like a sick, twisted prank. If he had the ability to intervene and save the couple, where was he for John?
I just discovered this channel today, and I think I know WHY this speaker is so good... he is not reading a story or script... he is telling us these stories as if he was actually part of the story or a witness to the story, it comes from his memory as if he has told the story for years and years...
I have heard may of the stories you present on your channel before. However you tell it, it makes me feel like I’m sitting with my friends around a campfire. Thanks.
Critical rule after you get lost: When you get to that point of no return where proceeding means you wouldn’t be able go back, DO NOT proceed unless you have a map clearly showing you it’s the right way to go. Regardless of how nasty the prospect of going back looks, go back. You would rather camp out on the spot and start trekking back the following day.
Great advice and well worded so any dumb-ass can understand,,,,,,,,,,,,,,couldn’t resist😂😂😂. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but really,,,,,,,,😳 Great advice,I hope I can remember it when it’s needed,,,,,,,,really😂😂😂😳
Can we take a sec to appreciate Mr.Ballen's editing skills? Listen to how he inserts subtle sounds that accentuate words, moods, and surprise revelations. It really enhances his already remarkable gift of storytelling.
My #1 lesson from these hiking and diving tragedies is to always have some sort of line that physically leads you back to your trail or hole if you want to go off the beaten path.
20:51 Mr west
where?
Never would’ve seen that 😅 thank you
Pinned
Good eye!!!
Oh snap behind the tree! Good work man 👊🏼
Your videos are so good that they actually distracted me from using for about a week and was able to get clean. I am now almost a year clean and your videos have distracted me and help me in so many ways. Thank you
That's what I am trying to do well done xx
It's worth the hard work. Day by day we do recover
That is wonderful. Congratulations. I hope your journey continues positively.
This made me smile so hard!!!
Yeah man i was too having heavy withdrawal for a week, and no i didn't get clean cuz i just lost my bestfriend.... and broke up witj hirl who thought was love of my life... and now in a MONTH after the break up she already has a new one... eveyone says he's just a bandage cuz shes still contacting me w/out reason, drunk dialing and crying that she misses the old etc... but still on all this bullshit MrBallen had helped me use much MUCH less, and everyday tryin' to take less until i can stop... but yeah good for you my man! Hope Ballen made more videos, feels like there comes 1 for a week these days ;/ edit : i met a new girl, we we're together for 2 years, we lived together, had a dog and we were going to get engaged but... idk something happened, in both of our own lives we had too much going on and out of the blue she broke up with me... it came me as so big of a surprise that it broke my almost 1year of being clean and now im back to square one... feels like this world doesn't wanna give me happines...
Rules of Thumb:
1. Never leave the trail.
2. Never think you can win a battle with the elements, or nature.
3. When you do go into the wilderness, always assume you are going to die.
4. Trust your gut when you have no other choice.
5. Anytime you tell Nature to go f**k itself, it usually doesn't end well lol
2 great rules, Lonely sandwich.
However just because you only have 2 thumbs? You can have more than 2 rules of thumb... 😁
If you walk off a trail on purpose it's not entirely smart but you can leave a trail of your own when it is snowing and starts dropping fast you can lose a trail within a hundred yards
@@leemcr1894 hahahaha so I didn't realize the person you were commenting to has the screen name "Lonely Sandwich", I thought you were calling him that lol
it made me spit my drink out lol
John's infuriating stubbornness ended up saving two lives in exchange for his own. In my eyes he's an unintentional hero, may he rest in peace.
It’s like his luck was passed forward
Nah he was a prick
Real 😂
Muricans are dumb af
ponytail jumpscare
One of my favorite I shouldn't be alive episodes.
I still can't believe Gina and Brendon were on a paid trip and the person in charge just ignored the headcount being off by two.
I knew I've heard this story before!
Watched the episode recently. Cool to hear these stories from different perspectives. The videos he did for the father and son rafting trip and the boat wreck with the people stranded in a raft with sharks, both of those were I shouldn’t be alive episodes also. Also the South Park parody of I shouldn’t be alive is hilarious lol.
@@mafiaiifan3694yeah it’s called Home Alone.
It’s like that movie “open water” but hiking a mountain trail.
I’m happy someone else was like! Hey that’s from SHOULDNT BE ALIVE, as soon as he read that note I was like wait.
"This was going to be his first hike after retirement" - Never do anything immediately before or after retiring, that's when you are most vulnerable to plot death.
Lol
This lmao
lmao also never say "i got this one guys go on ahead"
This 🙌🏻 My neighbour died just before his retirement as he wanted to renovate his garage. The garage collapsed onto him and the wife found him 😔
I'll cheers to that
It's Crazy how many times that John was stopped and warned about moving forward, it's as if the universe itself tried to save him but sadly John never paid attention until it was too late
Maybe we all sometimes miss the obvious signals life gives us bcs we are too focused on other things 🤔😁
I actually believe that we are all warned in someway by our guardian angels or the Holy spirit..i know when i have a "gut feeling" about something i listen to it
@@dannyboy2750 Well it saved my life couple of times so there is something in it...
Ah yes Johm’s never listen
He was super duper lucky, he really was, just like what his friends' said
My mother always used to tell me, if you get lost, stay where you are, it'll make it easier for you to be found.
The other lessons here are:
1. Don't leave the trail, EVER (unless too dangerous to stay)
2. Always make sure you have a way of contacting people and vice versa.(even if it's just a pencil and paper)
3. Always make sure to take note of weather conditions and dress appropriately
4.Never go alone
5. No matter how smart or capable you think you are, you still are prone to making stupid decisions.
6. Take some bright strips of material or ribbons to tie to trees and bushes along your route so you can find your way back.
7. Let loved ones know where you are going, when you are going, when you hope to be back and when to call the authorities if you don't return in a reasonable amount of time.
@ OP #2 helped the first guy nil.
How about just NOT doing dangerous hikes? A old german saying goes sorta like this- " He who seeks danger, will die in danger ( my english aint that good but i guess you get my drift). Stay safe and GOD BLESS Y'ALL 🕊💯
@@berndmayer1765 my German grandmother used to say, “if you go looking for trouble, you’re sure to find it” something like that, right?
Lastly bring your phone
@@henrydupalco6391no cell service
Even if it's only your favorite UA-camr, tell someone where you're going, when you're going, and when you expect to be back
I feel like John is the definition of a reckless hiker. He knew about the storm and kept going like he had a death wish
Exactly dude was just asking for something bad to happen
He didn't have the right gear, he refused to listen, and he shouldn't have gone alone. I get be super excited to go, but make sure you are prepared and absolutely everything. Nature is to be repsected.
Not even a mule is that stubborn. I mean no disrespect to the dead.
a know-it-all with sneakers on. my favorite. poor guy. and also a dumbass.
@@ewoknrollduh.
I’m finishing a9-mile hike listening to this story. My tactic for never losing my way…staying on the treadmill.
Lmao
Step off the treadmill you'll be fine I promise
P u s s y @ eagleswingsec
🤣🤣🤣
🤣😂🤣
i like the dude's attitude at the end: "you think i'm trapped here with you nature? no no, youre trapped here with me"
[sets forest on fire]
Rorschac, is that you?
I'd do the same.
I cringed when he decided to set the forest on fire. I have mixed feelings about that desperate decision.
@@dewaynebanks1397 It'll grow back.
@@dewaynebanks1397 Actually it's you who makes me cringe. Half an acre is definitely worth two humans' lives. It's not like they were at a place they could have set a real wildfire and endangered others. There can't even have been insects, let alone mammals. Otherwise they would have had food.
Half an acre... honestly... are you a fruitarian or a dendrophile that you cry over half an acre trees?
Remember, all of the bodies on Mount Everest were once incredibly motivated people. Learn when to quit.
While yes you can do everything, there's always a time and place for it
Yup, know your limitations and always be prepared.
Or you can do what you want and need to do without ANYONE telling you that there are better and more tolerable places and times to do what it is you feel necessary to say or do. RIGHT!!?!!!.
Yeah I went hiking and there was a big flat edge on the top of this fell, and it was really windy and snowy up there and people up there were basically walking sideways. Me and my mum got a little way up and then noped out and walked back down, our friends carried on a bit and wanted to go up as they were more experienced but not long after they also turned around and came back. It's important when in nature to realise and respect its power no matter how experienced you are, or you could die
@@kennethhaughton4538 tf are you on about?
@@kennethhaughton4538 nature will lay your ass out whenever it pleases if you're dumb enough to ignore it's warnings
John: my hiking was all skill
John: slips down icy slope and his pants saves him
John: calls them his *lucky* pants
What is this tom-foolery?
Guy was very stupid. Rip smooth brain
At least he was aware enough to not call them his skill pants..
Skillful pants
Those lucky pants just happen to be the pants he used to always wear and continued to wear. Just used that lucky experience as an excuse to keep wearing them. All his homies knew😂😂😂
i miss the days when i could binge watch MrBallen videos. now that i’m all caught up i have the same anticipation of waiting for the next episode as when i watch my favorite tv shows 😂😂
Sameeeee 😂😂
SAMEEE
I can’t relate more🤣
IKRRR
Just do what I do, rewatch them all!
I was a park ranger at San Jacinto National Park when this event occurred, this retelling of the story is an accurate representation. I was on the trails warning hikers of the upcoming late season storm, and I was in contact with many of the hikers mentioned in this story, John included. RIP.
FYI John had a compound complex fracture in his right tibia it is assumed he accidentally fell to his death
@@rickhenke2452 He probably jumped, thinking that the pool below might be deep enough to survive.
Why not try it, when the alternative is death by starvation?
We'll never know.
That’s pretty cool. That you were there. Not that he fell to his death.
John gets his stories pretty straight.
@@rickhenke2452 thanks for the additional info! Without knowing the topography it's hard to guess but I agree with the accidental cause. If John was found lying at the bottom of a sheer cliff, regardless of whether he fell or jumped I would expect multiple fractures. However, if the cliff wasn't a sheer drop, then perhaps John tried to descend to reach the water and made it most of the way down before falling from nearer the bottom. A complex tibial fracture is more consistent with a partially controlled fall in which he landed on one leg from a height of, say, ten or so feet. Obviously I don't know. I just enjoy investigating different types of medical mysteries.
"John was dead set..." Pun intended.
I’m a tram operator, never expect the operator or guide to know you’re missing. A ton of people like to hike down. So if you don’t get on when you are supposed to, you are an assumed hiker. Just don’t expect all tram workers to rush or heard you back when it’s time to leave. Know the tram schedule and always always always know when the last tram going down is. And always check the weather 😉
If you're taking tourists who aren't dressed for the weather and you a snowstorm will hit, you'd just leave? Hope no one gets lost when you're the operator. Guess you won't have a guilty conscience!
@@elric101Adults are ultimately responsible for themselves. This operator is nobody’s parent and this is why schedules exist.
@@wellthisisinteresting4912The operator still has a responsibility of at least informing someone that there are two people missing and not just assume they are alright. How fucking much must you hate other people to just say "he's not their parent"!? The amount of negligence here is insane and extremely heartless. As if he'd have to give up a lung to just let someone know, smh ...
@@wellthisisinteresting4912cops are also not everyone's parent but they do their best to make sure EVERY citizen is safe
Someone in the government should do an investigation on you and the other 2 idiots. Yall seem like you got something to hide
@@bonjy3701 The fact still remains, adults are responsible for their own behavior. Save the virtue signaling.
This is actually good advice in general that I never thought about before… If you’re hiking somewhere, never go down a trail or ledge that you can’t get back up. You never know when you need to retrace your steps.
This story really "peaked" (sorry bad pun) my interest. I went on Google Earth and I think I was able to locate the area he died. Even on Google Earth it seems incredibly steep... let alone covered in 8 feet of snow, not knowing where the edge of the stream begins or ends. His only hope truly was to hike up and out of the canyon. Like his journal said, he injured himself and couldn't do it.
The couple who owe their life to John's matches. I think they still maybe survive without the matches. 1. They had better weather than John, and everything wasn't covered in snow. 2. They had water. 3. They weren't injured, just in shock. Maybe after enough days and calming down, they retrace their steps and find a way up outta the canyon... or perhaps a traverse to skirt around the waterfall.
Call me crazy but when I hear stories like this a part of me wants to see it firsthand. What makes it such a trap? I want to study it and circumnavigate it.
@@darrinsiberialove this detail and how sophisticated u analyzed this situation I 100% agree with the urge of wanting to go explore these places where ppl were “trapped” and look for possible survival methods not thought abt or just unexplored!
John Donovan's insistence on going on that ill-fated hike served the purpose of saving 2 people's lives exactly 1 year later .
Isn't that amazing how good can come from utter despair and tragedy.
Think about it in a different way: it is only because he made peace with his fate and did not succumb to despair that he left his gear, including the matches that saved the couple.
He could've wasted all of them and destroyed his camp in a fit of rage and desperation and they would be the ones lying face down in a creek...
@@DzinkyDzink He probably could not use them because it was really snowy when he was there. Seems like it was not as cold when the young couple arrived.
@@EmmaGodLovesTruth95 Make's Sense That's Probably Why They Survived All Those Nights
Without bad good does not exist ,without good bad doesint exist .not one without the other ...imagine a world without either ...would be pretty dull ...never feel good never bad ...
@@wickwickening3977, the Biblical version I recall someone saying , " there must,needs be evil in the world.
As a believer, I see that even if a person doesn't know it God can make use of them to do good .
When you go hiking in places you’re unfamiliar, always, ALWAYS look backwards, see your trail and plan your route home.
The trail out looks remarkably different from the trail out.
Look back at every direction change or when you’ve moved past your last landmark.
Never failed me. Been in the mountains my whole life and learned that one early on.
Good practice. For new hikers, It’s good to start with beginner trails that are wide and gravel/even paved or do trails that are heavily used each day. I did bits and pieces of the Appalachian trail growing up. Most parts of the trail are obvious but there’s some parts where you can easily end up on an animal trail if you’re not paying attention.
That's excellent advice for any hiker man especially those new to it. If people really want to be safe they can bring neon string or ribbon and tie a piece around a tree every 300 feet or so depending on how dense your surroundings are
How about just don’t go hiking alone.hike with someone who is familiar with the place
@@vindiesel564 It's good advice, and usually the easier and better known trails can allow people to make new friends, so even someone starting alone doesn't end up the same way.
Unfortunately, I've heard that the PCT isn't as populous as the Appalachian trail, and the Florida trail also seems to be one of those less-traveled paths. Not sure about what the other eight trails are like.
I know very little about hiking, but I think I have a winning formula nonetheless. Just imagine what John Donovan would do, then do exactly the opposite (compass, check; weather-appropriate clothing and kit, check; GPRS, well you get the picture).
Few of us will get as many warnings as John did before meeting our maker. I would’ve been absolutely furious with him had I known him.
As for the other 2, I’m glad Brandon’s resourcefulness and determination paid off. Hopefully these stories will serve as a warning not to play fast and loose with life and death, especially if you’re not prepared for the consequences.
Same……. I can’t stand people that hard-headed.. So I don’t feel as bad for him.
I wonder if he was neurodivergent. Because whatever he said to that mother and son upset her so much he lost an ally. It seems everyone he met had that same impression of him. That he thought he knew best and no one was going to convince him of anything different. Obviously you don't have to be neurodivergent to be like that. But based on everything we know about him I think there's a good possibility he really was neurodivergent in some way and completely lacked social skills. I personally love people like that. I value honesty over everything else. Loyalty is a close second. But I can definitely see how that would rub a lot of people the wrong way
It’s really good to hear that John was found and he is fondly remembered by friends. Great story telling I am absolutely hooked on this channel!
Welcome, Newbie.
John sounds like someone who was both incredibly wonderful, but also INTENSELY frustrating. That friend you wanna slap around for being the dumbest, densest human being alive, but also someone you could always count on to be honest with you.
Yeag
Hey that's me!
@Only The truth MY PR team has advised me to not laugh at that.
You’re talking about John from the story, not mrballen… right?
@@deathvideogame He is talking about John Ballen. It's obviously not John from the story.
Moral of the stories:
1. Don't be a jerk to strangers.
2. Never just wander into the woods, especially with no phone, water etc. You can easily get lost just a couple feet from the trail.
Your rule #1 will have me laughing all week. Good one man.
He was a social worker so he's trained how to handle people. If the woman was doing something wrong in his opinion, it was correct to maybe say something.
@@Aaron-is8yt some opinions are best keep to oneself regardless if it's right/wrong. Don't tell strangers that they're raising their child wrong (when you just met them in less than a day)
@@Aaron-is8yt He was a social worker so was a complete Arse!
I don’t think he was actually trying to be a jerk to those people. He was probably awkward, and they just weren’t friendly.
The first part of the story where John kept on hiking, but came across a couple of hikers who were leaving the mountain and warned John to not go due to the storm coming, kind of reminded about this story.
The story where a person was stuck on top of their house and the water levels were continuing to rise. Many people who were leaving on boats urged the person to come with them to safety. However, the person refused claiming that "God would save them." Then time went on and form time to time peopel that were escaping were warning the person and urging them to come with them to safety. Each time the person continued to refuse claiming that god will come to save them. Then eventually the person drowns and dies. The person asks god why they weren't saved. God claims that each of the people on the boats that were escaping and the people urging the person to escape with them was each attempt/way of God in trying to save the person. However, the person refused, hence they drowned.
Lol
That story reminds me of the Parable of Goats and Sheep. Where God legit says "you do right by me by doing right by others, but those who do not to right by others do not do right by me" (paraphrased lol)
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
But this also reminds me of so many people now who refuse medical help, even for their children, because "God will heal!". But they fail to believe that God could be so powerful that je will gift other people with the knowledge on how to help. I'm not very religious, but if God does exist, I know he puts doctors in the right place at the right time. It's up to others to believe that God sent doctors to help. If they don't, then that's their bad.
I love the way you describe the life of the characters in your stories - it turns them from nobody into somebody to connect to.
Yes! Best story teller ever ❤
The fact he went from panicking to calm to “imma set a fucking forest on fire” in so little time amazes me
RIGHT?! That was honestly a great idea he had. That girl should have stayed with him forever bc he saved their lives.
@@DiodeMom lol i was gonna say the same thing. i was crying by the end of this video but the fact that they broke up fuckin ruined it XD
@@kripul lol same! I was straight pissed off at her 😂
@@DiodeMom They both should've been more prepared. That is not a couple that survives together... Splitting was wise
@@iamwhoyousayiam6773 yeah honestly good point
Moral of the story: Never leave your cell phone at home to “focus on each other.” Just using a modicum of self control, and leaving the cell phone in your pocket, will suffice.
But they took pictures tho
@@baileyerickson4065 The photos used in this video are unrelated (uncaptioned so could be stock or re-enactment). Also cameraphones back then weren't as high quality as the photos used in the video.
@@nadiajenner5108 in the video he mentioned that they took pics of the waterfall before heading back to the station
@@amber2616 with a camera, not a phone
@@faeyarosethorne2716 which is what I thought of but it wasn't included in the items found with them, unless I somehow missed it in the video
In a very very small way I know what this feels like. A friend and I were backpacking in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The day started fine but when we were about 5 miles or so in, it started to rain. We didn't pack in dry wood. Once we found a camp site we needed a fire bad. It was freezing. I hacked at the wood I did find with our hatchet and somehow after many attempts managed to get a fire going and then was able to keep it going. I still can't begin to imagine how horrifying this would have been for all parties.
I grew up near the Alps, the biggest mountain range in Europe. Though not a mountaineer by any stretch, I have been hiking and have been part of the community there. I can remember what the elders used to say: don't mess with chance and don't mess with the mountain itself. Everyone always respected those words almost religiously. You don't go unprepared, you don't go alone, you never leave the trail, you make sure somebody knows about your whereabouts and you find a way through refuges or a satellite phone to check in with those trusted people. Even with all these precautions hiking in the mountains is not risk free. Some just don't understand how quickly things can go to hell in so many ways.
Anyway, great content! Wish you a great deal of success, and all the best.
His cause of death was stubborness. Its sad but my god, when people who live in the area and are experienced with the trail and the weather warn you to turn back....you turn back.
it’s*
What about searchers that die looking for idiots that person should be criminally liable but they pat them and say good yor alive
@RaXa Agreed!!
I think he wasnt meant to die that day and was given a lot of chance to save himself. But he ignored all of that thinking his luck will save him. What a shame
Very poor decision making, him and the young couple. The wilderness is scary as hell to me, so I don't understand it
So glad to have heard his story. He didn’t know he was saving the lives of two people but he did. And they brought him home to his friends who loved him.
Through his social work he probably saved more than we know
Thanks for spoiling the story
@@Pusfilth Why the hell would you go to the comments section, if you didn't wan't spoilers??
@@Pusfilth Comments sections are there to discuss the video, genius. You chose to venture into comments about a video before watching the video, then blame others for "spoiling you"? LOL. Not the brightest spark, are ya? Take some personal responsibility for your own stupid choices, friend!
@@Pusfilth It's like watching a film review before the actual film and then crying about not being surprised by the plot.
Mr B has reached 8 million subscribers! Congratulations John. The storyteller with substance.
Interesting, his wife's name is Amanda😅
@@rockybullshite927 why? lol a lot of people are called Amanda ? 🤷🏼♀️
@@EATMECOSIMTASTY why? It's a terrible name
Very very sad story about John who had a wonderful life ahead of him. I wish he would have made it. Excellent tale about being prepared and not going off the trail. Be safe.
His death was his own fault, if he listened he'd still be here hiking like he planned
@@EllesGhost13 But then you have to remember had he not been there or had been rescued his matches wouldn't be there which wouldn't have allowed Brandon to light the flames to get him and Gina help in being rescued. So John would live but then Brandon, and Gina could have very well lost there lives, and be lost to time much like how John was for the year of him going missing. But unlike John would have the sad point of not being given the luxury of being found or to document there situation to its conclusion.
John was a social worker. He lived his life helping others and loved hiking in nature. Even in death, he helped 2 people who would have shared his fate with his sacrifice.
This comment. This comment is all that needs to be said about John! Rest in peace John!
So, so true
That’s a beautiful thought and a great way to remember this man.
And was very dumb
R.i.p john wow what a good man even in the after life he helps when he can ..
I definitely cried at the end. You told this shit like a movie. The Story telling skills are crazy bro. Thank you.
how is it even possible for a person to be so great at storytelling!? i didn’t even realize that was a skill until i discovered this channel
@@jillianc7485 you didn't realise story telling was skill? How could you not have known this. It's one of the oldest skills there is. Enjoy it then old chap
@@bumbleofthefluff4418 well no, i was mostly exaggerating. i more so meant that i didn’t realize how great people can really be at a Tory telling- ballen is genuinely one of the best.
This story would make a great movie!
Watch the Show on youtube.Wonder!! Date from Hell Leaves young couple stranded 😇
This is without a doubt the wildest story i have EVER heard. The amount of sheer coincidence is amazing. Not only was John considered lucky but his luck running out was the luck that they needed to survive.... Like holy fucking what even.
I’m so glad John found his hiking family. I’m sure the desire for acceptance/ inclusion was strong. And I am glad he found the ones who would choose to love him not just out of obligation
Protip: if you have the option to jump down to a ravine where it would be impossible to climb back up again, don't jump down to the ravine.
What if you can see said ravine leads out to the road and your car is right there?
@@Couplescience you can also unintentionally walk in circles in wooded areas. These people in this story have absolutely no fucking clue.
I’m a hiker. These stories just emphasize to me how important it is to be prepared.
hope ur still alive
Like bring a lighter? Lol
Good luck dude! Stay prepared 😁
I don't know where you go hiking, but I just got back from a camping/hiking trip in the Rockies, and the three must-haves are water, food, and sunscreen -- very good sunscreen. Even though I slathered the stuff on, my poor arms and legs weren't used to the super-high elevation and super-direct sunlight. 😭
@@sluttymctits4496 hey I saw you in the reply section of a comment on I believe the video that was about the Bear Camp road where the Asian man basically died in the woods trying to look for a nearby gas station or something while his wife and two young daughters (one 4 yrs old and one 7 months old) were in the car. These were both stories were someone had to make a sacrifice to save others
Feel like John was just asking for something to go wrong like he had a death wish… Why you not only go on the hike when you know the whether is gonna be terrible, then as usual bring the bare minimum amount of gear other than camping stuff and not even have a cell phone and on top of that be alone for most of the trip, just a recipe for disaster.
Seeing comments about how people are so frustrated or mad with John, or even saying he had such a huge ego is weird to me. He was an orphan from a very young age. All his life he could only trust and depend on himself, no one else. So OF COURSE if someone told us, "Hey, it's not safe. Don't go." We'd probably thank them and turn around. But someone like John, who again, never learned to trust or depend on anyone but himself, might not listen. He had done this plenty of time before, and likely in other bad weather conditions, so he definitely felt confident in himself.
But either way you put it, it's still a shame that he lost his life. It's amazing that 2 other lives were saved because of him, but that doesn't make his loss better. Just be kind y'all.
I've heard this story before, but the life and the detail in this telling makes all the difference.
A shot of Whisky for a bold Irishman and a hats off to a lonely life ending by saving two.
Thanks Mr. Ballen.
Amen.
Thank you 🙏
@@MrBallen Amen.
Whiskey, supposedly, kept a guy alive on the titanic...he stayed on the boat as long as he could, then was in the very cold water, for about less than an hour...so it's said...
Amen to that! I like to think his spirit helped the others to escape. 🥺🙏🏽
Always like these
Everyone: "hey, the trail is dangerous AF and theres a huge snow storm on its way!"
John: "It's ok...I have sneakers"
And lucky pants.
typical stubborn boomer
@@zwan1886 fr
@@zwan1886 there's a fine line between stubbornness and the determination to accomplish a personal goal. (Boomers got "alotta heart" so let's be respectable)
P.s I once flopped out of bed to grab a reese's cup that rolled under my dresser. I could have easily "perished" but I had the determination to succeed 💪(the mini peanut butter cup had some pubes on it...but it was bomb)
@@cappy2282 Now....that's hilarious!!!
I am so glad you told us about him. So far, I had only seen and heard about the couple's story. Thank you for focusing on their savior.
Found one of your videos last night of a family going up a cliff. Had my anxiety up the whole entire time. I had to finish the story to able to go to sleep. Not only that but the way you tell the story is amazing !!!!
John’s funeral sounds so touching and loving. I’m glad he had friends like this. Hard life in the beginning, and at the end. At least, in between these horrible happenings, he was able to find friendship and a sense of self.
RIP Mr. Donovan.
Yeah, it was nice to see, that so many people showed up and cared for him so deeply!
I'm glad he had adventures in his life.
Don't forget that John is a great storyteller.
@WAFFEN COLLIDER - I’m unsure as to what you are referring?
You missed a part. While stuck in that ravine, jotting in his notebook, John heard a voice in the dark distance. It asked, “Do you know how to get to Bell’s Canyon?”.
Lmao
Ha haaaaaa
😂😂😂😂😂
😂😂
I hate you 🤣🤣🤣
Mom; "What are you doing? Why are you always watching that?" Me; "Cuz mom, I'm a fan of the strange dark and mysterious!"
The thing that amazes me is that john had been an abandoned child who had suffered all of his life on his own and became a social worker to help more children like him and was a very good nature but due to his stubborn wish he made his last few moments of life alone .. RIP❤
John’s luck tried to save him, He got so many warnings and a way out but he continued on his hike.
Right! He ignored his luck that time!!
There is a joke, I feel fits this story well.
A man lives in a town, and a storm is coming. It starts to flood, so the city puts out news broadcast to evacuate. The man hears the broadcasts, and says, "I don't need to leave. God will protect me." The rain began, and a truck drove by, fleeing the storm, saw the man on his porch, and offered him a ride to high ground. The man said, "I don't need to leave. God will protect me." The waters continued to rise, and the man was forced to climb onto the awning of his house. A boat came by to save the man, but he said, "I don't need to leave. God will protect me." The waters grew higher, and the man went to the tip-top of his house, a helicopter came by to save him, and the man said, "I don't need to leave. God will protect me." After the flood had swept the man away, and he died. He stood before God, in heaven, and asked, "God, why did you not protect me?" And God answered, "I sent you a truck, a boat, and a helicopter."
Yeah not having the self-awareness to change or adapt means he wasted the gifts given to him.
@@oddvoid that was deadly you did yourself proud god why didn’t you save me 😂😂😂👍☘️✌️
He pushed his luck so much that he saved those two peoples lives a year later...
I'm in my late 50's and have suffered from chronic insomnia my entire life. Discovering this channel has been a Godsend. I love listening to this amazing young man - this fabulous storyteller - late at night when I can't sleep. I am just loving this channel! Bless 💗
He is a wonderful story teller
Aw
Same here. Chronic insomnia is awful but I listen to this man and I'm fine.
I also suffer with insomnia and I’m hooked on his videos. There’s just something about the way he tells his stories. I’ve heard of some of them, from other people, but nobody tells it quite like he does. ❤️
You must also listen to 'That Chapter'...…..an Irish guy named Mike(awesome accent) who tells equally great(maybe better) stories....but adds this very unique haunting music at times.....and pictures, video. Give him a try.
Also late 50's but I work all night and would be quite bored w/o these guys.
I constantly see a reoccuring theme of people overestimating their abilities when it comes to the outdoors. I've come across people who were lost on local/smaller hiking trails that are considered "easy," and I've had to help get them back to the start because they were completely exhausted and/or out of food and water. Regardless of the trail, please remember to respect how dangerous nature can be, prepare, and try your best to stay on a marked trail (if there is one). And there is no shame in ever turning back.
My Dad & I misread a sign on a trail we hiked all the time & still hike to this day & got lost out there once! We ended up on the scouts trail (we wanted to do the longer trail bc I was a bit older at the time but still a child) & ended up WAY off from everything else & ran out of water before my dad finally said "Ok this can't be right" & we turned back. He had to stop at the gas station immediately after leaving so we could get water & Gatorade, I'm just glad we weren't REALLY lost bc even just that experience was enough for me 😬
I agree with you. I've turned back on a few hiking trails for various reasons one of which was having the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Other reasons include not feeling safe, too late in the day and didn't want to get stuck in the dark, weather, twisted ankle but never regretted turning back. In fact I think it saved my life at least once even though I really wanted to hike this mountain and knew I'd never have a chance to do this again. No regrets
Watching Mr Ballen is like listening to a friend tell some crazy story…. I’m alway 1000% invested!
You know things are bad when setting the forest on fire is literally the only good decision that's been taken in a 40min long Mrballen video.
As a California native I can say the accuracy of this statement chills my blood lol
Hahaha facts.
*almost every tale of survival in the Australian outback
The dude was throwing a Hail Mary for sure
Do u like
“John refused to spend any more money than he absolutely had to.”
“He drank lots of whiskey…” 🤔
this is me, but with brandy and beer xD
Yep as an ex addict myself this makes so much yet no sense
Wow what a crime
Priorities.
When one is an alcoholic money spent on "drink" is always a necessity.
Man. The fact that I will NEVER go hiking or skiing or camping is really being solidified for me the more I watch videos like this.
RIP John.
Thanks for the story MrBallen.
What’s the point of the tour guide doing a headcount at the end of each tour if they just dismiss it and say “they must’ve just left early”?
Wow what an absolutely wild story. The odds that they would have been there the exact day that John had left a message the year before makes it all the more surreal. Rest easy, John.
That's crazy!.. wow.. it's insane to think that. One EXACT year two more people would end up in his exact position and situation.
That was certainly my favorite detail in this story. How often does such thing happen!
Poor Mr Donovan. He died because of his recklessness and stubbornness. But humans make mistakes. Im really glad the couples were saved
Right? It's always interesting when things like that happen.
RIP John. You couldn't save yourself, but you did end up saving two others.
The odds of it being the exact day a year later is astounding.. just goes to show the universe fcuks with us in unforeseen ways. Or if there is a creator out there, the SOB got a pretty sick sense of humor 😂
Either way, the hubris of some people is truly troubling.
What kinda person goes willingly alone into the frozen fray, with sparse provisioning and entirely inadequate gear, ignoring all the advice of experienced hikers...
You'd think someone braving the harsh elements alone would be doubly cautious and plan meticulously.
Perhaps John surviving that slide off the mountain gave him superman syndrome.
In reality, you only get to roll the dice so many times before it comes up snake eyes.
John was their Guardian Angel...
You know it’s gonna be crazy when the story STARTS with them already stranded.
lmao true
Yeah this story threw us a sidewinder😝
Wow, I cried. This was so moving. I love how he made such wonderful friendships with his hiker friends and how he helped the couple without even knowing it.❤
Soo.. I just spent a few hours backing up and listening again and again while working, to find out who Virginia was and when she died in the story. I wasn't very focused so I just figured I missed it again and again.. until I heard MrBallen actually saying "Funeral for John in Virginia"..... not "John AND Virginia".... GAAAH :D
I do that all the time. I love it when a detail catches me, and all the sudden, I'm completely interested in the story.
It's the best.
It sounded that way..lol
This man could literally tell a story about an ordinary day and make it interesting. His story telling skills are amazing. I’m so happy I found this channel I can’t stop watching!
Yep. Me too.
No shit. He does this for a living, of course he’s going to research the best ways to speak and how to tell a story.
I’m not sure why you people are so surprised, unless y’all don’t have a brain and don’t try to do what you do for a living the best way possible.
@@dankone3 WOW! Someone needs a hug 🤗
@@ltbergstrum5782 yes please 🙄
The only problem is he doesn't have enough content. I could listen to him talk about fried bananas.
Imagine the feeling of looking back at the date and seeing it was a year ago and realizing that nobody had been to that spot for that long and someone in the same experience you had died there.
Literally a real life horror scenario
A heart sinking feeling for sure!
Only thing worse would be finding the body.
Marooned 😳
@@royslapped4463 Which they also did.
I remember this episode on I Shouldn't Be Alive, but they never mentioned who the hiker was or any info about him. This version is much better because he actually mentions Johns backstory as well.
Yes! I thought this story seemed familiar. I agree, Mr. Ballen gives more detail about John. On the episode it was mainly focused on the couple.
What a truly amazing story...
Sounds like this guy was given opportunity after opportunity to save himself. Never think you’re stronger than Mother Nature, you will literally always be wrong.
No one’s talking about it being his suicide mission
@@janessafaye7671 that's what I'm thinking 🤷🏽♀️ at some point John was clearly on a suicide mission. There's no reason to be that stubborn
@@elle_l808l I was getting super annoyed with this guy and then the same thought occurred to me that he just didn't care - he probably thought he had nothing to lose 😔.
@@janessafaye7671 they were all suicide missions from the very day he got caught on his underpants and was “lucky” he probably felt invincible didn’t use his matches though its crazy how its the same date so it was meant to be they find he items and use them
The man repeatedly ignored warnings som3 f3om professionals he deserved his fate. The other couple got lucky.
John Donovan is a legend that will never be forgotten. He is a hero and saved the lives of two young people just starting their lives. What a noble sacrifice. Rest in peace John.
Sorry but I must disagree with you. John had no idea that someone would find his camp in that ravine. He did NOT sacrifice himself to save others. Quite the contrary, his recklessness and stubbornness would have endangered searchers and/or rescuers had there been a search launched for him.
@@sirridesalot6652Exactly!!!!!! I don’t feel bad for John
@@sirridesalot6652Yep.
I used to see other hikers on the trail with all their specialized clothing and gear and snicker to myself about how all they need are a good pair of sneakers and comfortable clothing, and they were fools to waste their money on unnecessary things. Then I went on a day hike in the snow one day and barely got out alive. After that, I went online and pretty much bought *all* the gear.
I learn the same way lol, glad you lived to tell the tale
Best to be prepared
I'm just going to Machu Picchu still I'm so well prepared, I could technically get lost in the amazonas..........
I visited our only mountain top here in continental Portugal, and laughed at the thought of getting really warm clothing and footwear, after all, I come from a really cold and snowy country (my country of birth). I told my boyfriend to tell the taxi driver we would be out there the entire afternoon. Wearing only a light jacket and some dumb flat boots, I spent the whole (maybe two hours?) sliding on melted snow that turned into ice and shivering under the cold, humid strong wind. It was super sunny outside, but I was freezing and very uncomfortable. Never underestimate the importance of good quality gear and warm clothing. I lasted less than half of the time I had in mind and we were in a touristy area. Can't imagine getting lost or trapped in there overnight 😬😬
Oh gosh Rustin, you nearly ended up a story on here yourself. Glad you’re hear to tell us yourself!!!
the thought of john celebrating his 60th birthday alone, in a cave starving to death, knowing he was going to die anytime soon ... breaks my heart
he was careless learned the lesson hard way but i respect and love is courage, he was a legend but very careless that it cost him his life
I mean I don't feel bad for people who are THAT careless, don't take proper precautions, and are that stubborn and arrogant that they can win a battle with nature and the elements. That's a major life lesson for ya... too much courage, not enough consideration, and way too much arrogance may get you killed someday.
@@LethalByChoice true. But ill bet he lived a more fulfilled life than you simply because he was a risk taker. We all die eventually and not always the way we hope.
@@davidpierce9949 a very big difference between being careless and being a risk taker
@@LethalByChoice
Man you guys are just determined to not feel sympathy for people. It doesn't matter if he was arrogant or made decisions that weren't all that smart, I don't see why he should fucking die because of it. If you one day decide to make a mistake that will cost you something important, I hope you heed your own words.
Love your stories, this one made me cry. My family and I go on hiking trips a lot. Love the nature and the time, but once we did start a hike late in the day, which we knew was bad and got caught in a rain storm. We made it out safely, but learned a lesson.
Tomorrow would be my dad's 89th birthday and on his birthday January 25th, 6 year ago we buried him. Part of the reason this story got to me.
Mr. Ballen thanks for what you do ❤
I wanted to thank you for all of your stories! It’s something I always look forward to seeing daily.
Three fully equipped hikers: hey there’s an insane snowstorm on the way! You should really leave!
John: It’s alright. I have my lucky A d i d a s sweat pants and sketchers
He forgot the backwards hat
Iv seen retards in flipflops climbing on pretty high and hard to reach peaks. I'm not surprised by anything anymore.
I doubt he had "sneakers." Most ultralight hikers wear small shoes instead of hiking boots, sure, but they're usually like trail running shoes. Not sketchers lol.
omg LOOK! its the one..the only....sPoDeRmAn! 😍
😂
My life goal is now to make sure I’m not a “story” on this channel!! Even though I love ya Ballen!!!
Yeah..... Let's keep ourselves as audiences in this channel
@Cory Dinsmore I bet you’re fun at parties!!!!
🤣🤣🤣 EXACTLY!!!!
@@miguelyt2415 right?!? His stories are absolutely crazy and very creepy!! At least he doesn’t say they “lit up a room” with every case lol! He’s one of my favorites though!!!
@Cory Dinsmore Is a joke, not a dick, don't take it so hard.
From the base of Palm Springs to the tram station, there is actually a trail called Cactus to Clouds. It's like a 20-mile one-way route and considered one of the most difficult hikes in the world. The way to get back to the parking lot in Palm Springs, you have to take the tram down. Regarding John, needless to say he was extremely reckless and ill-prepared. But what an incredible story that what he left behind ended up saving the lives of that couple.
One of my favorite books was written by Cheryl Strayed, who hiked the PCT solo in 1995, in a way to cope with her mother’s death. It’s called ‘Wild’. Very interesting read that kept me engaged the whole time. The movie is great too. Reece Witherspoon did a phenomenal job playing her.
Love to read that book again
love the movie!
Loved that book, such a heartfelt portrayal of a life. Often thought about her quote "put yourself in the way of beauty" when feeling sad or lazy!
I am a pretty experienced hiker/backpacker and have to admit I got lost in the same area. It's all rolling hills and mountain tops. With a lot of Large rock features and outcroppings. Very disorienting. The sensation you get when you realize, "I am lost in the wilderness, within a short distance of a trail, I just don't know what direction that trail is"... Fortunately, my experience resolved within an hour. But only because I just stopped. I just sat there for like 15 minutes and calmed down and tried again. Basically I discovered that adrenaline and what not, not so good, in a lost in the wilderness scenario. In that case you want your adrenalin to ware off so your brain can focus more on mental activity.
The first and best step is to remain calm and don't panic
Amen, brothers. Had a similar experience in Wyoming. I hiked alone in unfamiliar territory and followed faulty directions of someone who should have known better. No distinguishing landmarks for orientation. I did not arrive at my expected destination. Stopped and had a think after the rush of adrenaline. Successfully used shadow movement to determine E-W, then a bit of dead reckoning. But first I had to stop, calm down and think.
I should add that my preparation was poor-- no familiarization, no route planning, no topos, no compass, no food, no water, insufficient clothing-- because of extenuating and unavoidable circumstances.
Great advice
Damn, mountains are scary. I cant imagine the desparation one must feel in a situation like that.
@@SBCBears you almost ended up like the fools in this story, luckily you went about it wisely. These people clearly didn't sadly.
Lesson of the story: don’t go chasing waterfalls
Stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to.
Lisa left eye Lopez rip!
@@WhiteTiger950 I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all... seems like all the people in this story could have taken the advice of TLC instead of running off into the mountains unprepared
Tune that
Aww! As soon as I thought it i started looking through the comments.
I live in a mountainous area for a few years now. I have not found the time yet to pick up some mountain sports, but I pick up a lot of things from colleagues, etc. who have grown up here and who are accustomed to going into the mountains, be it by foot, ski, or mountain bike. There is even somebody who got a tour sponsored by Red Bull. Here is a short list of bits and pieces I've picked up: Never go alone, Plan ahead, Check the weather continuously, Do not go if the weather isn't stable, Be aware of your abilities and the difficulty of the trail, Wear proper clothing, Take additional clothing in a backpack to adapt to changing conditions (e.g. temperature changes or crampons if you need to walk over a glacier), Wear proper shoes, Wear a helmet if you expect to walk on very steep trail which also require some climbing, If you will have to walk on some small trails with the abyss right besides you, bring climbing gear to anker yourself to the safety lines which are bolted into the mountain, Know your equipment and be able to use it properly and effectively, Bring enough water to drink. That's basically the list. And if I know these basic things, then somebody who plans to be in the mountains for 6 months per year should definitely know this.
Y know this reminds me. I was once in a blizzard in the Sierra, I needed to get back to San Francisco for my job. And I did do it. But it took everything possible including a bit of luck. First I couldn't go down highway 80 the normal way, all roads were closed. Very bad storm (circa winter 2017 or 2018). So I had to go North on 89, and then convince the Cal Trans lady who was manning the road closure barricade that I was a local and just needed to go a few miles on Hwy 49, from Sierraville to Sierra City. But it was a lie, I wanted to take it all the way to Nevada City. Well she let us through, told us her boss was out there plowing and that we weren't allowed to get stuck because it'd be her ass. I assured her we'd be fine. I was taking a guy outta the mountains with me who needed to catch a flight outta SFO at 4 am... it was around 5 pm and getting dark. The snow flurries were so heavy we couldn't see anything. We were in a lifted 4x4 1997 Ford Explorer with decent but not great all terrain tires. Well if you look at highway 49 on Google Maps between Loganville and Union Flat Campground you'll see how the road just huges the mountain and off to our left was 2 - 300 foot down to the river canyon. My co pilot had his phone Google maps out and was navigating our turns because I couldn't see. I was going as slow as 3 mph only as fast as 10 mph... it seemed like we made it outta all the scary stuff when BAM!!!! we hit black ice and slide into the right side of the road a small drainage ditch. In the corner of my eye I see my co pilot fly into the room and slam into the ceiling. The whole front end buckaroos into the mountain and gets bounced back onto the road. Luckily the road is straight so I can ease it back to a stop. I had a front headlight out. Front fender smashed. Bumper smashed. Rear back passenger light house cracked open as well. It's still snowing. I get some rags I put some gloves on. I dry up all the exposed lines to the lights as best I can and I wrap them all in electrical tape so they don't short out. After surviving the pass, we made it to Downieville and grabbed some food and a beer and counted our blessings. We made it to the foothills and could drive faster now. Still. We didn't make it to Auburn (usually about 90 minutes from Truckee) until well past 11 pm! So nearly 6 hours drive. We finally made it to the East Bay around 2 am. Took a short nap. I got him to his flight. I made it to my job that Sunday morning at 8 am.
Here's the moral of the story though. My job wasn't THAT important. I could've simply called them and said "sorry, snowed in. Can't make it." And the guy I gave a ride to? He would've missed his flight. Big deal. That's his problem not mine. But I was so determined always to make ends meet. And this time I got lucky and got out alive. But had the black ice spun my wheels to the left instead of right, or maybe I was just happened to have them point left at the time? We would've surely spun off the left shoulder hundreds of feet down into the canyon and most likely died or severely injured.
Sometimes it's just not worth it to push through. Life is too short. But it's not so short that you gotta exploit every single damn day when mother nature is telling you to chill out!
I've gotten lost in semi-wilderness with the man who became my husband before. People lived there, but it was very undeveloped land with miles of nothing. It's crazy how easy it is to lose a trail, especially after dark.
The only reason we were only lost for a night is i made sure to take a mental picture of the way the mountain looked from our friend's property. Great bonding experience lol.
Honestly for someone with no survival skills, starting a fire like that was a very smart idea.
Also doubt you will see this, but your story telling/narration skills have come a long way. Nobody does it better with immersion and stuff. Didnt realize this was 40 mins long😂
Youre one of my favorite cereals
Indeed.
@@mikeyhammerfoot2904 😂😂
Fruity pebbles for me🤪
Unless it creates a multi-state forest fire. I was actually thinking this is where this story is going.
Alfred Hitchcock aint got nothing on Mr Ballen. He truly is a master at building up suspense. I compare his stories to watching a new Soprano's episode back in the day. You just start watching & it feels like its only been on minutes & the creditsare already starting to roll!! You're absolutely right about being totally immersed in the story regardless of where you're actually listening to it. Its these amazing storytelling skills that seperate Mr Ballen from everyone else.
How can I possibly find the secret when I get so drawn into the story due to your vivid storytelling that I don’t see anything but what you are describing. I expect to see snow when I look outside or the gorge and creek. That’s when my senses return to normal!
Same. I always get so wrapped up and enthralled in the story I forget to watch for the "secret".
I’ve watched every video He’s put out and not once caught the secret or even remembered about it till the video is over.
I've never seen a secret... I don't know what to look for...
I start every video saying im going to find it... Then the story starts 🤦🏻
I don’t even watch the videos I just listen
Why is it that anyone you talk to that hikes says how lovely it is and any video you see shows how nice it is, but you always hear these stories about a horrible deaths they face and it just shows that my couch is honestly the safest place for me..
John escaped and cheated death several times.
Death took it personally.
It does seem at some point death was not having his reckless BS.
Under valued comment
What a way to sum it up. Its true
Yep. What is sad is that he was warned multiple times by different people but still kept going forward with his plan. I will never understand why people have a death wish.
You never cheat death; it simply won't be bothered with you at times.
I'll tell people where to find the best firewood when everything's wet. It's counter intuitive but the best firewood is in the creek. Look for white wood in the water. It can no longer hold any more and is dry. I've done this many times while hiking when everything else is wet.
That is seriously counter-intuitive!
Good advice. Thx!
hahahahaha
@@kevinkirschenheuter1479 it's not a joke. Ever picked up driftwood?
I had no idea. Thanks for the info.
Every life leaves a ripple behind...not all get to see it. Thanks for sharing these unsung unremarkable people, who's echo we still hear. And um don't go chasing waterfalls in strange mountains. ⚘❤🕊
I used to backpack alone in the mountains. Loved it. No compass, radio or anything else besides a knife, fishing gear, tarp, sleeping bag, lighter and some good books.
I've heard their story several times. This is the first time hearing details about John. He's been humanized. In other stories, he's almost a second thought.
that's cause he was a knucklehead
first time i heard about this couple and their story was on I Shouldnt Be Alive...
over a decade ago
@@fftheblueskys Sounds like that is a result of this woman Connie, who seems like she is REALLY trying to convince everyone John was a bad guy who she needed to get away from because "he questioned her parenting". I doubt he did, but even if that is true, you don't leave leave someone behind who is clearly having a hard time navigating because they made a few comments you didn't like. She killed that man, and should have been tried for manslaughter
stories like this where people are saved because of someone else’s death are bittersweet
Yeah, it almost seems unreal.
on the same day a year later no less, it was fate
@@TheRealTrucido Hell of a coincidence, definitely. I don’t know about fate though.
They weren't saved because John died. They were saved because (forget his name) lit a huge forest fire. I guess you could say, fortunate that they found john's matches. But not because John died. To be honest, everyone in this story is a moron. You don't fuck with nature like that. Just wandering off into the woods with no supplies, thinking they're safe because there's a tram nearby? So crazy.
@@urwholefamilydied Seriously. I thought that the whole time... what idiots.
I don’t cry easily, but this story really made me start tearing up. It’s such a sad yet beautiful story of how life is unpredictable.
My all time favorite video of his. Love your content and watch it all the time.
I love the fact John had managed to find a surrogate family that made me smile. Nobody should ever be lonely
Indeed
Indeed
Wut
So many older people are lonely. Even if family is nearby.
@@wendybutler1681 your right, but still nobody should be lonely
When he said it was from 2005 my heart dropped… that is an absolutely insane coincidence that his last note was written on the year before the exact day they ended up there
I feel like god had seen a purpose in Johns items and used it to help them
yeah imagine the nightmarish realisation that the note was one year old and they where doomed. i dont know whats worse. coming there first and realising that you would be better off killing yourself or finding a note from the guy that did that last time. sounds like a plot to a horror movie.
@@MartiMcfly-mf9pq please dont start this….
@@MartiMcfly-mf9pq if that’s true then “god” is a truly sick individual, to watch kind hearted John starve and suffer just so these two people could start a forest fire w his matches. Like a sick, twisted prank. If he had the ability to intervene and save the couple, where was he for John?
@@smears6039 John was a fool, his hubris and pride killed him, both of which are "sins."
Anyone else put Mr Ballen on while they're cleaning/cooking? Makes my house cleaner because I'm obsessed with listening to him 😂
Damn I feel really bad for John and how he died but I'm glad he was able to have the legacy of saving two peoples life posthumously
How's it even possible that a person can be this good at story telling.
Omg how is it possible that this is so Fkn cringe
@@buttnakedman5320 5 million people say otherwise
@@buttnakedman5320 omg how is it possible that you can watch this video while cringing
Good script
I just discovered this channel today, and I think I know WHY this speaker is so good... he is not reading a story or script... he is telling us these stories as if he was actually part of the story or a witness to the story, it comes from his memory as if he has told the story for years and years...
John had many opportunities to turn back and call it a day but he was hesitant to keep going sadly he perished in his journey Rest easy John
I have heard may of the stories you present on your channel before. However you tell it, it makes me feel like I’m sitting with my friends around a campfire. Thanks.
Critical rule after you get lost: When you get to that point of no return where proceeding means you wouldn’t be able go back, DO NOT proceed unless you have a map clearly showing you it’s the right way to go. Regardless of how nasty the prospect of going back looks, go back. You would rather camp out on the spot and start trekking back the following day.
Great advice and well worded so any dumb-ass can understand,,,,,,,,,,,,,,couldn’t resist😂😂😂. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but really,,,,,,,,😳 Great advice,I hope I can remember it when it’s needed,,,,,,,,really😂😂😂😳
Never be stubborn with nature. Never ever. It's not going to break before you do.
Sorry, but I don't bow down to nature. Nature bows down to me. Besides, I was never a fan of Star Trek
I was thinking the same thing
Either that or stay put as soon as you realize you’re lost and wait for help.
Can we take a sec to appreciate Mr.Ballen's editing skills? Listen to how he inserts subtle sounds that accentuate words, moods, and surprise revelations. It really enhances his already remarkable gift of storytelling.
and the “Air Quotes”
Doesn't he have an editor named Wes
So true
Also he knew about johns lucky pants
I think its his friend Wes? That edits. Could be wrong name
My #1 lesson from these hiking and diving tragedies is to always have some sort of line that physically leads you back to your trail or hole if you want to go off the beaten path.
GPS seems a lot more practical.
@@xy4489GPS while diving? also GPS doesn't always work on mountains/wilderness