Chapter 15 "A Date with Destiny" Summary and Analysis

Ralston fashions a sling from the empty backpack after wrapping his arm in a sack and yellow webbing. He takes the necessities, including the empty water reservoir, the bottle of urine, the video camera, and the knife. He takes photos of his severed hand before heading out of the canyon. It is approximately 11:30 a.m. on May 1, 2003.

Ralston heads through the canyon until he reaches the Big Drop rappel. He is exposed to the sun for the first time in six days, which causes some light-headedness. The sun exposure also accelerates the dehydration process. As Ralston prepares for the descent, he spots a shallow pool of water.

After clipping himself into the anchor, Ralston untangles the remaining 170 feet of rope. He slides the rope over the edge of the drop and...