Alone with a Broken Leg: 72 Hours to Survive Widow Cairn

Alone with a Broken Leg: 72 Hours to Survive Widow Cairn Cold terror and quiet competence collide at twelve thousand four hundred feet: a solo climber broke her fibula, survived a night in low teens without a tent, and walked out two days later - but why did she leave her boots standing at the trailhead? Discover the split-second choices and precise preparations that turned a near-death into a rescue question. In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from the trailhead register to the rock overhang and the three days that followed, tracing every documented decision and outcome to understand how survival unfolded and what it teaches about planning under pressure. Person: Sherry Fitzgerald Date: May 9, 2019 Location: Widow Cairn, Crestwall Range Elevation: 12,400 feet Status: Rescued after 72 hours - She was 32 years old at the time of the incident. - She summited Widow Cairn at 11:40 AM on May 7 and ate half a peanut butter sandwich. - The storm she judged two to three hours out arrived in ninety minutes. - Her gear included a 15-degree sleeping bag, two energy bars, a wind-resistant lighter, an emergency space blanket, elastic bandage, athletic tape, trekking poles, and a small first-aid kit. - She reached a rock overhang by 9:00 PM with nighttime temperatures dropping toward the low teens Fahrenheit. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].