Aron Ralston visits Aspen, Colo. Ralston will be the keynote speaker in March for a fundraiser for the Chattanooga Red Cross. (AP File Photo/E Pablo Kosmicki)Aron Ralston found himself trapped under a boulder seven years ago in a canyon outside Moab, Utah.
Equipped with a video camera and a dull knife, he documented cutting off his arm to escape.
Ralston is scheduled to visit Chattanooga in March to recount his experience.
“He’s going to talk about choices you have to make in life,” said Claudia Moore, spokeswoman for the Greater Chattanooga Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.
A movie documenting Ralston’s escape, “127 Hours,” starring James Franco, came out in November and has garnered three Golden Globe nominations, including Best Actor (Drama) and Best Screenplay.
Ralston also wrote a book — “127 Hours: Between a Rock and Hard Place” — on the experience.
He is the featured speaker at the fourth annual Red Cross Hometown Heroes luncheon March 30. The event makes people aware of heroes in the Chattanooga area and helps raise money for the Red Cross, Moore said.
“We hope having him here will help us get some sponsorship,” she said.
Ralston’s ordeal began when he went out into the desert without telling anyone where he was going. As he traveled through a canyon, a boulder fell on his arm. He was pinned by the rock for five days until he amputated the arm with a pocketknife.
IF YOU GO What: Fourth annual Red Cross Hometown Heroes luncheonWhere: Chattanooga Convention CenterWhen: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 30Cost: Tables $1,000 for eight, other packages can be found at chattanoogaredcross.org/heroes; individual ticket sales will be proposed at a later date.TO NOMINATEThe Chattanooga Red Cross is looking for nominations for those considered a hometown hero. Applications can be downloaded at www.chattanoogaredcross.org.heroes. Deadline for submitting is March 1.
Chad Wykle, a board member for the Southeastern Climbers Coalition, said it is a fairly big deal for Ralston to be talking about his experience in Chattanooga.
“He’s got a pretty big story,” Wykle said.
There aren’t many people in the outdoor community who do not know about Ralston, he said.
“As far as him being an icon for the outdoor community?” Wykle asked. “Sure, he is.”
Luis Rodriguez, owner of Tennessee Bouldering Authority, a climbing gym in St. Elmo, said Monday the public should learn about the conditions climbers find themselves in.
“We’re constantly putting ourselves at risk,” he said.
Contact Cliff Hightower at chightower@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/CliffHightower.