Book Review: Miracle in the Andes

 

Image Credit: Crown Publishing
A 2025 update of a book first published in 2006, describes the crash of a plane carrying the Uruguay national rugby team and the aftermath of the crash as the survivors struggles to stay alive high in the Andes Mountains. Written by one of the survivors, Nando Parrado, the book is a close examination of the mindset and desperation they faced while attempting to stay alive against great odds. 

 "Life is an anomaly here, and the mountains will tolerate that anomaly for only so long." - Parrado. In the adventurish spirit, I tend to avoid places where life is an anomaly, the path more traveled is generally sufficient for me. So let's see how I'd do in this situation!

Obstacle 1: The Plane Crash

Their plane hit a mountain in the Andes, severing the wings. 

Verdict: I'm probably dead.

 Rationale: The plane hit a mountain. The wings came off. Whether I tucked my knees, had my tray table in the upright position, secured my laptop - just can't see anything I could do that would impact this scenario in any way, pretty much just chance. The author was knocked unconscious during the crash and didn't remember any of it. If I get to choose, I'm taking that path. 

Obstacle 2: Night of Brutal Cold

Brutal meaning the 50s? Uncomfortable, but think I could survive it. Unfortunately, the book's description of an entirely frozen environment, frostbite, freezing to death,... sounds a bit colder than 50s? Well, at least I'd be prepared with my subzero sleeping bag, warmest camping gear, hand warmers! Wait, I'd only have the clothes I boarded the flight with?

Verdict: Definitely dead.

Obstacle 3: Cannibalism

The survivors run out of food and realize they must eat the dead to survive as they are on a glacier with no other plant or animal life. Technically a spoiler, I suppose, but given that it was a plane crash in the Andes, some cannibalism just seemed inevitable? I'm sure the passengers thought the same thing even as they were taking off, eying up who would be tastiest.

Verdict: Well, someone is presumably dead? 

Obstacle 4: Buried in an Avalanche

Most of the scenarios are so far from anything I could even imagine happening, it is difficult to apply logic, how life or death would even come into play. Basically the same as if someone asked me how I'd do fighting elves on the moon, just tough to process a logical response.   

Verdict: Dead. Again. 

Obstacle 5: The Climb Out

Starting at the crash site which was on a 12,000 foot glacier, Parrado and one other passenger had to climb over a 17,000 foot peak to make it out. Through snow and ice, without gear, and having been starving for weeks with only human flesh as food. 

Verdict: I'd make it! In someone else's stomach, having died and been eaten long ago.  

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