As McClish told it, the 34-year-old outdoors enthusiast from Boulder Creek, California, lost his bearings after beginning his hike the morning of 11 June. He had not informed anyone else of his plans, so it would not be until the afternoon of Thursday, 20 June, that the unkempt-looking hiker was found at the bottom of a remote canyon and rescued.

McClish spent much of the interim going up and down canyons, sitting by waterfalls and using his boot to collect water to drink and keep himself hydrated. He also sustained himself by collecting and eating berries, he said.

At one point, McClish said to KSBW, a mountain lion began following him – but the creature kept its distance and showed no interest in harming him. He said he would sleep on a bed of wet leaves, intermittently yell for help and think of what he would do to provide himself his next meal.

  • @BorgDrone
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    364 days ago

    He also sustained himself by collecting and eating berries, he said.

    Wow, that’s so smart; sustaining himself by eating food.

    • @qqq@programming.dev
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      fedilink
      134 days ago

      I’m pretty convinced from watching every season of alone that catabolysis was likely the main factor rather than eating berries.

      • I wouldn’t call Chris McCandless a “survivalist.” Heck one of the Alaskan truckers that picked him up and dropped him off told him he was gonna die.