Out Alive from Backpacker

Jan 24 2024 64 ep. 1.9k
Out Alive from Backpacker Podcast artwork

Raging rivers, hungry bears, huge avalanches—no matter how prepared you are, a walk in the woods can go from innocent to disastrous in the blink of an eye. Out Alive is a podcast series about real people who survived the unsurvivable. Each survivor takes you through what happened, from the packing mistakes to the missed signals to the plain bad luck, while experts and witnesses weigh in on how things went wrong.

  Society & Culture  Sports
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


Goodbye for Now

Jan 24 2024 1 mins  
After five years of gripping and educational survival tales, Out Alive is going on indefinite hiatus. Thank you to for listening and for your continued support. For more survival content, you can visit us at backpacker.com. Be safe out there.

A Rescue Gone Wrong

Dec 14 2023 23 mins  
In 1982, Mountain Rescue volunteer Joe Lentini’s life took a profound turn during a daring rescue mission gone wrong. Decades later, the impact of that fateful day continues to echo, not just in Joe’s life, but in lives of everyone involved.

The Toll of SAR

Dec 14 2023 27 mins  
While every SAR unit faces different circumstances based on terrain, weather, and how they work with their local law enforcement, it’s the unseen obstacles like time away from family, paperwork, and the emotional toll that underpin SAR operations across the country. Go behind the scenes with SAR workers to truly understand what it takes to answer the call when we’re in trouble.

Vertical Peril

Dec 14 2023 14 mins  
In the world of backcountry search and rescue, some environments require proficiency beyond the standard tactics. Yosemite Valley, where rock climbers come to test their mettle against the park’s towering granite walls, is one of those places. For many search and rescue workers, operating in Yosemite is a career-long goal. It’s because the men and women who make up YoSAR are su

How to Save a Life

Dec 14 2023 25 mins  
As one of the busiest and most elite Search and Rescue units in the country, Rocky Mountain Rescue operates amidst the rugged terrain of Colorado’s Front Range and the Rockies. What does it take to join such an exclusive squad? Hear firsthand why these volunteers commit countless hours to saving others.

In Death's Wake, He Decided to Survive

Oct 25 2023 27 mins  
In this gripping story of survival and heartache, David Cicotello finds himself stranded on a ledge after a tragic accident claims his brother's life. Alone, with dwindling supplies and the weight of despair, he embarks on a 6-day struggle for survival waiting for a rescue that seems uncertain.

Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant on Being Chased by an Elephant and Why She’ll Take Her Chances with Bears

Oct 11 2023 15 mins  
Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant, a large carnivore wildlife ecologist, recounts her heart-pounding survival story of being chased by a wild elephant. With unflinching honesty, Dr. Wynn-Grant reveals that the true dangers in her work often transcend the wild creatures she dedicates her life to. For more candid and thought-provoking conversations, don't miss Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant's own podcast, PBS

Fallen Into An Ice Cave

Sep 27 2023 24 mins  
Join us as we follow two friends, Dan and Jim, on their annual climbing trip in the stunning yet treacherous terrains of the Tetons. Their adventurous spirits are tested when a glissading misstep sends one plummeting 50 feet below the snow surface into a hidden ice cave. A special thanks to the Jenny Lake Park Rangers for their part in this rescue.

Are the Animals Sick of Us?

Sep 13 2023 13 mins  
In this episode of Out Alive we dive into a summer riddled with unsettling animal encounters worldwide. From cougars and bears on American soil to Orcas causing chaos off Portugal's shores, one question lingers: Are animals growing weary of us? To shed light on these events, we invite renowned bear biologist, Dr. Tom Smith, and his former student-turned-wildlife biologist and podca

Stabbed by a Trekking Pole

Aug 30 2023 32 mins  
In the rugged terrain of the Wind River Mountains, what begins as a routine ultramarathon training session for Gabe Joyes quickly escalates into a life-threatening ordeal. After a misstep leads him to inadvertently pierce himself with his trekking pole, Joyes finds himself isolated in a remote canyon. Now, he faces his most formidable test of endurance yet, as his wife Jenny and SA