No Way Out: How an Injured Motorcyclist Survived the Idaho Wilderness | E188

No Way Out: How an Injured Motorcyclist Survived the Idaho Wilderness | E188

Join hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen on The Crux True Survival Story Podcast as they share the remarkable story of Zach DeMoss, a 24-year-old motorcyclist whose perfect afternoon ride along Idaho's Highway 12 turned into a desperate fight for survival.

In August 2024, a split-second decision to avoid a deer sent Zach airborne—launching him 40 feet through the air into the remote Idaho wilderness. What happened next would test the absolute limits of human endurance and willpower.

Separated from his motorcycle, facing catastrophic injuries, and trapped in one of the most isolated stretches of backcountry in the lower 48, Zach had to make an impossible choice: give in to overwhelming pain and despair, or find a way to survive against impossible odds.

This gripping episode explores the realities of wilderness trauma, the psychology of survival, and the thin line between life and death when you're truly alone. It's a story about resilience, determination, and why some people refuse to give up—even when giving up seems like the only option.

00:00 Welcome to the Crux True Survival Story Podcast

00:30 A Ride Through Idaho's Wilderness

01:04 The Crash: A Split-Second Decision

01:29 Zachary DeMoss: The Fight for Survival Begins

02:22 The Dangerous Beauty of Highway 12

07:03 The Physics of a Motorcycle Crash

13:52 Freddy the Hero Dog

15:15 Zach's Desperate Measures for Survival

17:40 The Search Efforts Begin

19:49 The Agonizing Waiting Game

21:57 The Agonizing Wait

23:09 The Search Begins

24:32 The Wilderness Challenge

25:31 Scaling Back the Search

25:52 A Friend's Determination

27:17 The Miraculous Discovery

30:19 The Rescue Operation

31:47 Zach's Recovery

35:44 Lessons Learned

38:18 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Primary Sources

Biker survives in Idaho wilderness for five days by drinking creek water after crash - CNN https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/24/us/zachary-demoss-found-idaho/index.html Detailed account of DeMoss's survival, rescue by Greg Common, and use of leather jacket for water collection

A month lost in the North Cascades without food or shelter: Hiker details improbable rescue - Cascadia Daily https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2024/sep/19/a-month-lost-in-the-north-cascades-without-food-or-shelter-hiker-details-improbable-rescue/ Background information on wilderness survival and search operations

Montana man survives in Idaho wilderness for five days after motorcycle crash - NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/injured-montana-man-survives-creek-water-5-days-motorcycle-crash-mount-rcna167935 Details on search efforts and DeMoss's survival methods

Missing Missoula area motorcyclist found alive in Idaho - KPAX https://www.kpax.com/news/missoula-county/search-continues-for-missoula-area-motorcyclist-reported-missing-in-idaho Timeline of official search operations and rescue coordination

Injured Montana man survives on creek water for 5 days after motorcycle crash on mountain - NBC Montana https://www.nbcmontana.com/news/local/injured-montana-man-survives-on-creek-water-for-5-days-after-motorcycle-crash-on-mountain Information on DeMoss's injuries and mother's statements

Montana motorcyclist missing for 5 days swerved to miss a deer - Cowboy State Daily https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/08/19/montana-motorcyclist-missing-for-5-days-swerved-to-miss-a-deer/ Details about riding companions' search efforts and decisions

Biker survives in Idaho wilderness for five days by drinking creek water after crash - Yahoo News https://www.yahoo.com/news/biker-survives-idaho-wilderness-five-194310043.html Greg Common's search efforts and discovery details

Missing Missoula biker found alive in Idaho - Montana Right Now https://www.montanarightnow.com/missoula/missoula-county-sheriff-looking-for-missing-man-last-contacted-in-kooskia-idaho-on-sunday/article_190f2978-5996-11ef-903d-8bbba8c64081.html Official law enforcement response and search coordination

Motorcyclist Zachary Demoss found alive after five days missing - Clearwater Tribune https://www.clearwatertribune.com/news/community_news/motorcyclist-zachary-demoss-found-alive-after-five-days-missing/article_d9b7adec-5fe7-11ef-83ca-9ffd42fd7f2e.html Details on crash location and rescue timeline

Additional Resources

Idaho County Sheriff's Office - Official statements and press releases regarding search operations

U.S. Border Patrol - Search and rescue coordination information

Providence St. Patrick Hospital, Missoula, MT - Medical treatment facility

Geographic and Route Information

Clearwater-Lochsa Scenic Byway (Highway 12) - Route description and characteristics Idaho Department of Transportation - Highway safety information

Wilderness Medicine Context

Wilderness First Aid and medical trauma information provided by Julie Henningsen, Headwaters Field Medicine


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Jaksot(191)

Welcome Julie Henningsen to The Crux Podcast

Welcome Julie Henningsen to The Crux Podcast

Hey guys! It's Kaycee, we are back making podcast episodes and are very excited! Today I am pleased to welcome my dear friend Julie to The Crux. She will be joining me most weeks in the recording of new episodes. In this episode we do a little intro into who Julie is, her interests, and how in the world she ended up on this podcast with me! Please be patient with our audio quality, we are remote recording and working through some kinks still. So excited to be back sharing stories of adventure with all of you fabulous listeners. Thanks for tuning in! xo Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Michelle Funk: A Small Child who Survived Under Unlikely Circumstances | E54

Michelle Funk: A Small Child who Survived Under Unlikely Circumstances | E54

The year was 1986, and Michelle Funk was only two-and-a-half years old when she drowned in an icy Utah stream. She was submerged for over and hour and was technically dead at the time of her rescue. The cold water had reduced her body temp to 66 degrees. Luckily, Michelle was able to make a nearly full recovery. Listen in to the harrowing story and lear a thing or two about cold water submersion and drowning.     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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John Colter's Run: John Colter Runs for his Life as Blackfeet Worriers Chase him on Foot | E53

John Colter's Run: John Colter Runs for his Life as Blackfeet Worriers Chase him on Foot | E53

Today I will be telling you the story of John Colter’s run. We are stepping into the past for this one, into the 1800s. John Colter was one of the first “mountain man” as he spent months alone in the wilderness. John was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1804-1806. Although he was a part of this memorable expedition, he is also remembered as the first European man to set foot into Yellowstone national park and to see the Tetons. In 1809 while trapping beavers on the Jefferson river, Colter and his friend John Potts were surrounded by several hundred Blackfeet Indians, and Colter was forced to run for his life. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Michael Packard: Inside the Mouth of a Whale | E52

Michael Packard: Inside the Mouth of a Whale | E52

Michael was a 56 yo commercial lobster diver who was diving off the coast of Massachusetts when he was swept unexpectedly into the mouth of a whale. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Andrew Gaskell: Into the Jungle to Find Himself only to Lose His Way | E51

Andrew Gaskell: Into the Jungle to Find Himself only to Lose His Way | E51

Andrew was a 25 yo Australian from Tazmania who was out searching for himself while traveling in Malaysia. He purposefully avoided the tourist areas and went to remote villages and “out of the way areas”. He was traveling in October 2016 in Gunung Muling national park when he intentionally left the common trails for a more interesting experience, breaking all the rules along the way, and subsequently became lost on purpose. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

14 Helmi 202221min

Autumn Veatch: Wilderness Survival Following Plane Crash in the Northern Cascades | E50

Autumn Veatch: Wilderness Survival Following Plane Crash in the Northern Cascades | E50

Autumn Veatch was 16 yo who was visiting her grandparents in Montana in the summer of 2015. Her grandparents had planned to fly her back home to W. Washington in their small aircraft. Later that day the plane would crash in the Northern Cascades, leaving her to fend for herself in the wilderness. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

7 Helmi 202221min

Donn Fendler: A 12 yo Boy Gets Lost on a Mountain in Maine in the Summer of 1939 | E49

Donn Fendler: A 12 yo Boy Gets Lost on a Mountain in Maine in the Summer of 1939 | E49

Today we will be covering the story that led to the book; Lost on a Mountain In Maine by survivor Donn Fendler with the help of an adult since he was 12 at the time. Donn got lost on Mt Katahdin in Maine when he headed down the trail by himself to find his father under poor weather conditions and walked off the path. He was underprepared and had to fight with everything he had to survive for nine days. His story gripped the nation, the equivalent of going viral in today’s terms. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

31 Tammi 202239min

Jeff Schock: Captain of the No Longer Floating St. Joseph | E48

Jeff Schock: Captain of the No Longer Floating St. Joseph | E48

On today's episode, Kaycee interviews Jeff Schock. Jeff is a fishmonger who spent all of his money and resources altering his new boat, St Joseph, to suit his needs for collecting and transporting fish in Alaska. On the trip to AK, Jeff and his crew ran into stormy weather and then realized that their power steering fluid had sprung a leak, leaving their steering wheel useless in 30 foot waves. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

24 Tammi 202239min

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