By Daily Press staff
In July 2003, solo ultralight backpacker Amy Racina set out on a trip of a lifetime — a challenging 170-mile loop in Kings Canyon National Park. Near the end of her journey, while traveling off-trail across a ravine in remote Tehipite Valley, she fell 60 feet, shattering both legs.
She will share the story of her miraculous rescue and recovery, as she reads from her book, “Angels in the Wilderness.” Come learn how she survived four days and nights, alone in the backcountry and severely injured, and how the near-death experience shaped her life.
“Angels in the Wilderness” is the story of how Racina survived and nights, dragging herself along with her hands, how she was rescued by three distant hikers who miraculously heard her calls for help, and was airlifted out just hours before death. The memoir tells of her profound healing journey, how she recovered, then learned to walk once more, and returned to her beloved mountains with her backpack less than two years later.
The discussion with the author is on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. at REI in Santa Monica. Meet the candidates
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 30, 2006. Read the original PDF.