Hiking might occasionally produce the ideal selfie for the record. At other moments, it becomes a tale of survival.
Journalist Alec Luhn’s solo trip in Norway’s Folgefonna National Park on July 31st took a different turn when he stumbled and fell down a mountain. The following six days were characterized by suffering, fortitude, and fast thinking. His ability to endure such harsh circumstances serves as the ideal reminder of the unadulterated human spirit and the extent one will go to in order to survive.
“I’m going to tear you a new one later, but for now, I really love you,” his wife stated after saving him.
Luhn, who writes for magazines including The Guardian, The Atlantic, and The New York Times, set out on a four-day journey, sometimes known as a trekking adventure, with the hopes of finding serenity and breathtaking views of the glaciers. When he was immobile and his left foot was stumbling aimlessly, his experience took an unexpected turn. People claim that the fall was the cause of this.
In addition to the fall, during the hike, his backpack ripped open, and his phone vanished.
When the climate journalist realized his abduction would go unreported until he was expected home, he found himself in a precarious predicament. With quick thinking, he made a temporary shelter out of a rain jacket and a tent pole. He ate peanuts and granola bars to stay energized. He had to drink his own urine to stay hydrated since his thirst became too great.
Rainfall on day three offered relief, but it also brought with it a chilly storm. He was licking his skin to remove the raindrops.
Despite having a damaged leg, an American journalist managed to survive for six days in the Norwegian mountains.
Alec Luhn, 38, survived for over a week by himself in the highlands. He drank rainfall, ate grass and moss, and even peed on his own urine to stay alive until help arrived.
Twitter: Whilepic | hAeWsCUNWj
August 22, 2025: Based & Viral (@ViralBased)
For him, family was the source of hope. He said in an interview with The Washington Post that being stranded on the mountain caused him to consider what he would regret if a chance journey ended his life.
He said, “Being stuck on that mountain allowed me to see what I would regret if I died.” I thought about my wife and my family a lot, and how ridiculous it was that I was here, perhaps dying, because I wanted to go on a fun hike around this glacier.
Journalist Veronika Silchenko, Luhn’s wife, called the police for assistance after he did not return on August 4. He was discovered by a Norwegian Red Cross team on August 6, two days later. He was tired, yet still conscious of his surroundings. He suffered some broken bones and frostbite, so they had to transfer him to the hospital via helicopter.
Alec Luhn, a hiker who was rescued after six days on a remote Norwegian hilltop with minimal food and water, is interviewed by CNN’s Anderson Cooper.image.twitter.com/Bd6fX0ocy9
August 22, 2025, Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360)
Luhn is currently recuperating in Norway and getting ready to go back to the United Kingdom to be with his wife. She will probably say some harsh things to him, but in the end, it’s about helping each other get through this difficult period.
Next up: A California man hiked through rushing water, and a small detail made his near-tragic event miraculous.
