Between a Rock and a Hard Place

The narrator and central figure of Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Aron Ralston wrote and published the book in his late twenties, shortly after his experiences in Bluejohn Canyon.

The book provides an overview of his life to that point, drawing particular attention to how and why he became an outdoor enthusiast, and how he ended up in Bluejohn Canyon. When he was 12, his family moved to Englewood, Colorado, where he took up skiing, backpacking, and more. A 1990 trip to several national parks in Utah left a deep impression on him. Over the next few years, he continued to develop his expertise as a mountain climber and rafting guide, even as he graduated from high school and began college at Carnegie Mellon University, studying engineering and music. Ralston’s love of music, while secondary to his outdoor exploits, manifests in his recollections of attending concerts by his favorite touring bands, such as Phish, as well as his bringing a portable CD player with him on many of his trips.

After graduating, Ralston worked at Intel for several years. At the same time, he continued to pursue his outdoor recreational interests. Eventually, feeling that his job was too restrictive of his time, he quit and moved back to Colorado. In his explanatory email to his colleagues, he mentioned “boldness” as a worthwhile virtue, which is one of his defining characteristics. As a known risk-taker, Ralston’s most trying hour came, ironically, not during one of his solo winter climbs but rather in the relatively mild terrain of Utah’s Bluejohn Canyon, where his arm was stuck under a boulder for 127 hours until he cut it off, allowing him to make his way to safety.

Ralston’s character emerges through his detailed portrayal of his entrapment, including his thoughts and actions throughout the ordeal. He emerges as an intelligent, resourceful figure whose natural optimism is challenged and overcome, if only temporarily, by the challenges he faces; his in-depth, technical explanations of his varied and repeated attempts to break free hark back to his training as an engineer. Although he’s perhaps a more skilled technician than the average person, his vulnerability and openness make the book broadly accessible and relatable. The narrative concludes shortly after his return and recovery, highlighting his dedication. At that time, the media buzz surrounding his experiences was at its peak, and his book sold well.

In the years since, Ralston has appeared as a motivational speaker on numerous television programs and other settings; he even gave the commencement address at Carnegie Mellon in 2011. His central message includes growing through adversity, and he uses the boulder as a metaphor for the challenges that people face. In interviews, he has admitted that he struggled not to become overconfident following his miraculous escape, and he also has needed to find ways to build his self-esteem without seeking external validation through accomplishments. Today, he advocates for environmental causes as well as recreational opportunities for people with disabilities.