Real Survival Stories – "Falling Into a Mountain: Pulverising Impact" (Feb 12, 2026)

Episode Theme

In this gripping episode, host John Hopkins recounts the astonishing true survival story of Professor John All, a mountaineer and environmental scientist who, while conducting glacial research in the remote Himalayas, falls 70 feet into a concealed crevasse. Against seemingly insurmountable odds—severely injured, alone, and stranded at 20,000ft—John must attempt a perilous self-rescue. The episode delves into the psychological and physical ordeal, the chain of events preceding the accident, and how this life-altering experience would forever reshape John's life and outlook.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Context: Science, Tragedy, and Purpose on Everest

• Mountaineering and Research: John leads a research team to the Himalayan region, aiming to gather snow samples and study glacier melt—a crucial mission for understanding climate change’s effects ([08:00–15:25]).
• Tragedy at Everest Base Camp: Before John’s accident, a devastating avalanche kills 16 Sherpas—several known to John—casting a shadow over the expedition ([09:11–11:36]).
  • Quote: “We spent that whole day digging bodies out and helicoptering bodies down... trying to figure out who's alive and dead.” – John All ([09:11])
• Redoubled Purpose: Rather than abandon their work, John frames the research as honoring those lost. For him, expeditions must mean more than personal achievement ([11:25–13:47]):
  • Quote: “At the end of the day, climbing is a selfish pursuit... For me personally, it just needed to mean more.” – John All ([13:27])

2. The Accident: A Routine Morning Turns Deadly

• Setting Up Camp: The team moves to Mt. Himlung, racing against the start of the monsoon ([12:33–16:24]).
• Critical Decision: Delayed acclimatization leaves John alone at high camp as colleagues return lower for recovery ([16:57]).
• The Fall: On a bright May morning, John steps out for some snow, unaware of a “tiger trap”—a hidden crevasse under fresh snow ([18:36–19:54]).
  • Quote: “There was just this one hidden crevasse... It was kind of like a tiger trap. There was no way to know it was there...” – John All ([19:54])
• Descent into the Abyss: John plummets 70ft, his instinctual attempt to arrest the fall with an ice axe fails, resulting in a devastating injury ([23:58–24:11]).
  • Quote: “My reaction, like I'd always thought, well, if I fall in a crevasse... you're gonna like, catch yourself.” – John All ([23:58])
  • Quote: “Instead, the sudden jolt of resistance snaps his arm and yanks the bone from its socket.” – Narrator ([24:11])

3. Survival Inside the Glacier

• Assessing the Situation: John finds himself atop an unstable ice block, suspended above a bottomless chasm—broken arm, bleeding, underdressed for severe cold, and utterly alone ([03:31–05:29, 26:38]).
  • Quote: “I'm just laying there on my side... then I feel the agony. But then it's also like, whoa, wait, I'm alive.” – John All ([03:31], [24:55])
• Impossibility of Rescue: No satellite phone on hand. Survival overnight in these conditions is impossible ([25:10–26:38]).
• Problem-Solving in Crisis: He uses his ever-present field video camera to document and analyze the predicament—an act both habitual and, in this context, a test of his resolve ([28:37–29:38]).
  • Quote: “The video was nice because it was me talking myself through what I was doing... I was thinking it through it every time I would stop.” – John All ([34:53])

4. The Escape: Sheer Will and Ingenuity

• The Climb: John spots a possible escape route: an area where the crevasse narrows and ice blocks create precarious stepping stones. He must free-solo sideways and upward, one-armed, over a bottomless void ([29:38–38:21]).
  • Quote: “I'm on my front points, so I'm on two pieces of metal on my feet and one hand and that's all that's holding me up from a hundred meter fall.” – John All ([32:53])
• Psychological Battle: Thoughts of his family, especially his mother, push him onward when fear threatens to overwhelm ([33:38]).
  • Quote: “If I fall in here, they're never going to find my body. ... I just couldn't do that to her.” – John All ([33:38])
• Mechanical Focus: To avoid panic, John channels focus into one move at a time, likening his mindset to a computer ([36:08]).
• Setbacks and Final Push: Near the top, exhausted and shaking, he finds the snow too loose to anchor anything. With one final, desperate leap he claws his way over the edge ([40:01–41:29]).
  • Quote: “I'm just gonna have to jump for it. And so I just push off...and try and like, sink it as deep as I can.” – John All ([41:15])
  • Breakthrough: He crawls clear, collapses, then drags himself to the tent ([42:01–42:50]).

5. Aftermath: Rescue and Recovery

• Calling for Help via Facebook: Too injured to use his satellite messenger for emergency calls, he posts on Facebook via inReach, sparking a global rescue ([44:07]).
  • Quote: “I just posted it on Facebook...if anybody sees this, we could really [use] helpful...for rescue...” – John All ([44:07])
• Excruciating Wait: John spends a frigid, pain-filled night unsure if help will arrive ([45:55–48:06]).
  • Quote: “Longest night of my life. Unquestionably.” – John All ([46:20])
• Rescue and Evacuation: Sherpas and helicopter crew drag him to safety. He endures a rough ride, first on a thermarest sled then by air, down to Kathmandu ([49:01–49:48]).
• Hospitalization & Pain: John has 15 broken bones but refuses surgery until home, prioritizing reunion with loved ones ([50:01]).
• Emotional Fallout: John's physical injuries heal, but the experience brings unexpected loss: his girlfriend leaves him during his recovery ([51:42]).
  • Quote: “...She fairly quickly broke up with me and moved on...That was probably the hardest emotional part...” – John All ([51:42])

6. Life After the Fall: Meaning, Motivation, and Perspective

• A Changed Outlook: Surviving the near-death experience transforms John's boundaries and focus ([52:12]):
  • Quote: “...Before this moment, life had always been this vast ocean of possibility...and suddenly, way off in the distance, I saw a horizon...” – John All ([52:12])
• Dedication to Science and Sharing: He moves to Washington, founds the Mountain Environments Research Institute, and uses his story to raise awareness on climate change ([52:38–53:22]).
• Enduring Optimism and Grit: John credits his optimism and lifelong ‘fight’ as essential to surviving. He views perseverance as a defining trait ([53:55]).
  • Quote: “It's one of the reasons I climbed out is I'm eternally optimistic…all my life I've had to fight to become what I was. And having to fight that whole time really, I think, help[ed] build the obstinance to keep fighting.” – John All ([53:55])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On trauma and motivation:
  “What I felt at least was Ashman sacrificed for this greater good. And for us just to walk away would tarnish the sacrifice he made.” – John All ([11:25])
• On miracles and disbelief:
  “But then it's also like, whoa, wait, I'm alive.” – John All ([03:31], [24:55])
• On fear and determination:
  “If I fall in here, they're never going to find my body. ...I just couldn't do that to her.” – John All ([33:38])
• On perseverance:
  “It's one of the reasons I climbed out is I'm eternally optimistic. ...I had to fight for every bit of strength...Having to fight that whole time really, I think, help[ed] build the obstinance to keep fighting.” – John All ([53:55])
• On the aftermath of survival:
  “It was probably the hardest emotional part of the entire thing.” – John All ([51:42])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Accident & Initial Plight: [02:02–06:48]
• Survivor’s Mindset & Motivation: [13:27–15:51], [52:12–53:55]
• The Fall and Immediate Aftermath: [19:54–25:10]
• Escape Attempt: [29:38–41:29]
• Crawling to Safety & Rescue: [42:01–49:48]
• Hospital and Emotional Recovery: [50:01–52:01]
• Lasting Lessons and Legacy: [52:12–54:41]

Tone & Storytelling Style

• The episode is detailed, suspenseful, and deeply human, blending technical explanation with visceral descriptions of pain, fear, and hope. John's voice is humble, self-analytical, and keeps gravitating toward meaning—never losing sight of the bigger questions at play. The narration remains empathetic, rich in sensory detail, and expertly balances fact with emotion.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Resonates

John All’s story is not just about beating the odds; it’s a lesson in preparation, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of meaning in the face of danger. His harrowing ordeal, recounted in real time as both lived experience and self-analysis, offers a raw, unfiltered look into what it takes to survive when everything is stacked against you. This is an episode that lingers long after the final, hopeful words echo out.

Next Episode Preview: An entirely different survival scenario as journalist Rob Roth finds himself reporting a small fire that spirals into the Oakland firestorm of 1991.