hiking

A man who amputated his own arm to save his life is in fair condition today.

27 year old Aron Ralston was climbing in Utah's canyonlands when his arm became pinned under an 800 to 1,000 pound boulder. When he realized he was out of water and food, he cut off his right arm just below the elbow with a pocket knife to escape, and to survive.

After he amputated his arm, Ralston then rappelled down a canyon wall and hiked along side a stream. He was found Thursday by rescuers who were out looking for him, since he hadn't shown up for work in four days.

A spokesman at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction says surgeons have cleaned Ralston's wound and stabilized the tissue, so they may operate to close the wound on Monday. The family says there is no
opportunity for reattachment of the severed arm. But, doctors expect Ralston to make a full recovery.

Ralston is from Aspen, Colorado and worked at a mountaineering store
there. Those who know him say he is a very experienced outdoorsman.