81-year-old Jerry Jouret survived on croissants, candy, and biscotti after a wicked snowstorm left him stranded alone for nearly a week on a desolate California highway.
Jouret had attempted to drive from his mountain house in Big Pine, California to his family home in Gardnerville, Nevada on February 24, trying to reach his destination before an epic impending snowstorm hit.
Accidentally veering onto a smaller road, Jouret's SUV became stuck near Gilbert Pass. Temperatures in the area dropped from the mid-30s into the teens overnight.
Wearing a windbreaker and with only a light quilt and a hotel bath towel to keep him warm, Jouret was quite ill-prepared for the severe weather conditions. To survive the days-long storm, the mathematician and former NASA employee ate the few snacks he had in his car and rolled down his window occasionally to eat snow.
Jouret stayed with his car and conserved his vehicle's gas and battery by only starting the vehicle periodically to warm up. But midway through the third day, his car battery died while he was rolling the window back up, leaving it open a few inches for the remainder of his ordeal.
On February 28, Inyo County Search and Rescue finally received a missing-person call, and sprung into action as soon as the raging winter storm allowed.
On March 2, a cell phone ping identified by a California Highway Patrol team narrowed the search. Then a helicopter crew was able to locate Jouret, and saved him.
"Within a short period of time, they identified a vehicle partially buried in snow," the sheriff's office said. "The CHP crew loaded the person onboard and transported him directly to Bishop Airport for transport to medical care…The subject was discharged from the hospital later that evening."
The hearty old fellow was only in the hospital for a few hours and showed no signs of hypothermia, his grandson, Christian, said, adding that "the nurses were in shock at how well his vitals were."
"If someone gets trapped, don't give up hope," said Christian. "Some of us thought he was a goner. Never give up hoping. The human body is amazing for what it can endure."
It also can't hurt to always keep some pastries and candy in your car. 😊
