The Fire of the Zodiac

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The coastguard air station in sitka sent a helicopter, but the immediate plan was for roberts and three crew mates to peel toward shore in the ship's zodiac and track us down. Dave had found the flare in john's emergency kit, and now at two 20, with the zodiac under way, the coast guard asked him to fire it. He aimed straight up, then watched as the bright tracer rose and arced somewhere far behind him, deep in the woods. People who went into the back country alaska had a way of getting themselves into a different magnitude of trouble too. As roberts put it, when stuff happens in alaska, it's big

It was meant to mark the start of their lives out of college, but the adventure quickly turned into a nightmare. Beginning with what seemed to be a lucky whale sighting, three friends set out on a sea-kayaking trip through Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, watching out for bears, and having a good time, when tragedy struck.

In recounting the days preceding and following the accident, which seriously injured one of his friends, the Times journalist Jon Mooallem explains how he was forced to reckon with his fears. Detailing the incident’s surprising repercussions, he muses on the importance of overcoming one’s fears, and finding poetry in life’s darkest moments.

This story was written by Jon Mooallem. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.