In a dramatic story of survival, 55-year-old hunter Ron Dailey was found alive on November 1st after being missing for nearly three weeks in the snow-covered slopes of the Sierra National Forest in Fresno County.
What was supposed to be a day’s hunting trip turned into a faith-filled ordeal. According to The Guardian, Dailey left on October 13 for a solo outing, but his pickup truck broke down at an elevation over 10,000 feet, in terrain suited only for off-road vehicles. Stranded with approximately two weeks’ worth of food and water, he sheltered in his vehicle as a heavy snowstorm hit on his first night alone in the wilderness. He recalled thinking, “Oh man – I’m in trouble.”
In the stillness of the mountains, Dailey said he turned to his faith. “It was me and God every night,” he told CBS News. As the supplies dwindled and rescue remained uncertain, he came to a stark realization: “You either try to walk out or you’re going to sit here and die.”
With that resolve, Dailey embarked on a treacherous descent. He lost his phone, fell several times and had to stop every 20 to 100 yards because the thin air at high altitude made even each step a struggle. After walking roughly a dozen miles, he was encountered by a group of hunters who alerted authorities. He was air-lifted to a hospital in Clovis for treatment and is expected to recover fully.
Dailey’s wife, Glenda, echoed the belief in miracles when she wrote: “God still does miracles, and we have just been shown one.”
For the Catholic faithful, Dailey’s story resonates deeply: a man placed in extreme danger, trusting in Divine Providence, summoning courage to act when hope seemed thin, and ultimately being brought to safety. In his own words: “If it wasn’t for the Lord, I wouldn’t be here.”
As the community gives thanks for his rescue, the story is a powerful reminder of several truths: our human vulnerability, the sanctity of life, the need to call on God in moments of fear, and the duty we have to help our neighbours in their hour of need (see Mt 25: 35-40). Dailey’s journey through the wilderness can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual wilderness in which many find themselves — lost, weary, unsure of the path — and yet not abandoned.
In coming days, search teams plan to release more details about the rescue, and authorities continue to emphasise the importance of preparation and letting others know your route when heading into remote terrain. But for now, a grateful community and one man alive after nearly twenty days alone in the snow are giving thanks for a miracle of survival.
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