In your journal entry, you should explain:

~Your thoughts behind being determined to amputate yourself.

~How you felt after freeing yourself of the rock.

~Your condition while struggling to escape.

Base your journal entry on what you have read in the passage. Be careful to use your own words.

Begin your journal entry, "It was a really..."

Write between 11⁄2 and 2 sides, allowing for the size of your handwriting. Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer, and up to 5 marks for the quality of your writing. 

Write a Journal entry of your whole experience
Consider the points
- your expression when you encountered the boulder 
-the difficulties you faced
Begin with "DAY 1"

Base your article on what you have read in Passage A. Address all three bullet points. Be careful to use your own words. 

Write between 1½ and 2 sides, allowing for the size of your handwriting.
Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer, and up to 5 marks for the quality of your writing. 

 

 

I left the canyon and once I saw a helicopter hovering above me, I felt more alive than I had in the past six days. There, I knew that it was possible, that the chain of events could not have occurred solely due to happenstance. I didn’t just happen to be in the right place at the right time. Perhaps it was my tired body that had restricted my ability to speak or maybe it was the overflow of emotions that left me speechless (in the literal sense). Whatever the cause, words cannot describe how happy I am to know that I was given another chance and that I can finally sleep in peace and comfort. More importantly, however, I will finally be able to see my family!
 
 

I was often thinking about them during the six days in the canyon, I thought about how they’d find out if I had died or if they even would and what that must feel. I thought about the flurry of overwhelming emotions they must be feeling, too many…all at once. The guilt of it all put a heavy weight on me, growing heavier each day until it became more painful than the physical agony I felt between two rocks. Six days of solitude makes you think about a lot. Negative things mostly, but my will to survive overpowered the damaging thoughts. 

 

I strategized mostly on rationing the few liters of water in my bottle and the painless ways I can execute my escape given the limited tools. I had a large knife that was too blunt to cut through my entire arm in a few swings; I had another utility knife, sharp enough to slice my arm but small enough to do so painlessly. Details so gruesome I can’t explain, but once I amputated my arm, I thought only about the next hurdle.

 

To me, the entire experience was an obstacle, a trial and a vehicle to test my strength spiritually. It’s hard to understand, maybe I never will get to the point of complete comprehension, but I believe it’s more than what it seems. To discontinue my passion would be a waste of the knowledge I’ve gained in those six days. It might seem crazy but adventuring and taking risks is a large part of who I am and what I’ve become, to stop my endeavors would be a bigger loss than whatever I lost down in the canyon.

Aaron Ralston, a 27 year old mountain sports enthusiast from Colorado was taken by surprise when a 500kg rock smashed his hand between a canyon wall, leaving him pinned there for six days in the heat. Ralston struggled for six days in desperation trying to free himself from the calamity ahead as he knew he would be surely face death if measures weren't taken quickly, as he was left with the final option to amputate his arm off. Ralston’s situation was extremely unfortunate as he had forgotten to inform anyone about his whereabouts because his plans with his fellow cyclers had been cancelled so he had decided to head out alone, forgetting to informing anyone about where he was going. Ralston had cycled up a long mountain path, then left his bike there to walk down the Blue John Canyon when he was ambushed by a huge rock which had trapped his hand against the canyon wall. 

Ralston struggled desperately trying to free himself from the heavy boulder, only to be left disappointed and dehydrated. Ralston knew he had to do something quickly in order to survive as no one knew where he was and help wasn't going to reach him quick. Ralston waited three long days before deciding that no one was going to come in time to help him and he would face death if the necessary action wasn't taken. He decided he needed to amputate his arm off if he wanted to live, the mere thought of the act was terrifying as anything could go wrong and for Ralston to cut of his own arm was a challenge itself. Luckily, he had a small multi tool knife with two blades; a large and small one, which he could use  and straps that could be used to make a tourniquet to stop himself from bleeding to death. Ralston initially tried to use the large blade to try and amputate his arm off, only to realise it was very blunt and couldn't cut through his skin. The next day, he had tried with the small blade and managed to cut through his skin making a small hole in his arm, only to realise that the knife wasn't strong enough to cut through his bones.

However, on the fifth day Ralston didn't expect to survive the night but he had woken up at dawn with a burst of energy ready to free himself. Ralston had used the force of the rock to break his bones and then using the multi tool kit knife he successfully amputated his arm off, Ralston used the straps he had to tie around his arm to stop him from bleeding to death. Ralston's fight hadn't been complete yet as he had yet to descend down a 20m drop in the canyon with only a rope and one ar, and then walk back 10km to his car. Fortunately for Aaron's luck, the moment Ralston finished descending the canyon and into the open desert, the rescue helicopter was flying over head, ready to fly him to the safety of the hospital. 

All the doctors in the hospital were completely impressed by Ralston as he had bravely walked in by himself after going through such a tough experience for six days. The doctors commented on the amputation explaining that "It's a perfect example of someone improvising in a dire situation"

Ralston's story has inspired many as his will to stay alive and take the required measures to survive was commendable, deeming him as a hero and a warrior. Ralston believes that his experience has a spiritual aspect to it as well and not only the challenge which he rose towards. In a news conference Ralston said, "I may never fully understand the spiritual aspects of what I experienced, but I will try. The source of the power I felt was the thoughts and prayers of many people, most of whom I never know.”

Just because my partners couldn't come did not mean that i would miss out such an opportunity. So i decided to go for it. I was enjoying myself  until something very horrible happened.  When what seemed to be around 500 kg  came crashing down towards me i was completely baffled, resulting in my hand getting stuck.

Day 2 ( June 3 2011 )

After a sleepless night i began thinking about how this whole thing seemed like such a good idea until i encountered that boulder. The impact of it was too much to handle. What made the situation worse was me realising that no one from my family or friends knew that i was out here in such a helpless situation. Now all i can do is think about how i will break free.

Day 3( June 4 2011 )

Well , i'm really starting to regret coming here as clearly it was a stupid idea. Last night was dreadful as it was very cold and i could not get any sleep.. Supplies  are limited and i'm about to run out of water so i am actually considering doing something very painful... I am thinking of cutting my arm because at this point, i cannot figure any other way out 

of  freeing myself from this nightmare.

Day 4 

All i have with me is a pocket multi tool knife that consists of a large and small blade. I tried using the larger blade but it turns out that its too blunt to do anything other than putting a scratch on my skin. I thought of using  the shorter blade but i think i am going to wait a day or two to plan what i will do after succeeding in this painful procedure.

Day 5

It turns out that this blade does actually have the sharpness i require to cut through. So i tried it and guess what?, it cut through my skin. But unfortunately, its not going to get me anywhere if i'm planning on breaking the bone. So i thought of waiting and thinking about what i could do.

Day 6

I had had enough of this nonsense. I am going to focus all my energy on one point and just cut through. Success!, then i managed to break myself free and patch up the bleeding.

The moment i got out of the canyon, i could not be happier upon seeing a rescue helicopter right above me. I managed to get its attention and it rescued me. Wow, i sure have a lot of explaining to do when i get back home.

As any good climber would do, he started to panic. He realised by then that he had forgotten to contact anyone before leaving, which made him into a sorry state of despair. Ralston tried everything he could to move the massive boulder off of his decimated hand, on the other hand his arm strength alone could not even budge the half-ton rock. The distressed man was left with nothing but disappointment. Not losing hope that his friends would notice he’s missing, Ralston waited three long, whole days all while dealing with the subconscious nagging at the back of his mind; he would have to move now or die. A thought struck him. However the idea itself was as gruesome as perishing in the canyon. He would have to cut his hand off to survive. Ralston took out his trusty multitool and examined the blades; he had a large and a small one. He made a makeshift tourniquet to stop his blood from gushing out, and tried to cut with the large blade, even though the blade was too blunt. Instead of cutting through, it barely even grazed his skin. On the following day, he tried cutting with the smaller one, moreover was successful in making a deep crevice in his hand, however the tiny blade could not cut through his bones.

On the fifth day he had almost given up, nevertheless Ralston was still surprised to find he could even get up from his peaceful slumber. He felt renewed and tried thinking of a way to cut through his bones, and came to the conclusion of shattering it with a sharp rock. He chipped away at his bones till they broke off and sawed through what remains of his arm using the knife. He tightened his tourniquet to stop the blood from spurting out and slowly descended the rest of the path down, with only a rope and an arm to use. He would then have to walk back 10km to reach his car. By sheer luck, the moment Ralston finished descending the canyon and into the open desert, a rescue helicopter was flying overhead, ready to fly him to the nearest hospital. 
Ralston’s story inspired millions of individuals and reminded hikers, climbers and adventurers everywhere of the dangers of exploring uncivilised land without a companion. The story of Aron Ralston will be remembered throughout the world as a story of survival and the sheer determination of an individual when it comes down to the line.

Shao