On May 7, 2016, a man fell hundreds of feet down a mountainside, and ended up in a treacherous spot in North Carolina's most rugged place. This is the story of a rescue that took hours and a recovery that took months, one that shows how unforgiving the wilderness can be, even for experienced hikers.

Music in this episode:

• Closing Song: Baby's Got The Blues, by H.C. McEntire, courtesy of Merge Records (Durham, North Carolina)

Special Thanks: Burke County Emergency Communications Center

Watch Shug's video.