The Way Out

A True Story of Survival in the Heart of the Rockies

De: Devon O'Neil

Narrado por: Roger Wayne

“On par with Into the Wild... Fast-paced, yet thoughtful and empathetic, all the way to its devastating conclusion, this psychological thriller will haunt me whenever I step off the pavement into the woods. I couldn’t stop reading it, and I can’t stop thinking about it.” — Bill Gifford, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Outlive

A harrowing, never-before-told story of life and death in the Colorado mountains—thirty hours that changed lives forever and forced a reckoning about the cost of adventure.

“You wanna ski a lap?”

Fifteen-year-old Cole Walters-Schaler couldn't resist. This was why they’d come to the backcountry, after all—three fathers and four teenage children together for a bonding alpine getaway outside Salida, Colorado, in January 2017.

Within minutes, Cole and Brett Beasley, a longtime Forest Service ranger and expert outdoorsman in his mid-forties, had pushed off from their cabin, expecting to be gone for a half hour or so. But an unforgiving blizzard transformed their quick jaunt into a thirty-hour ordeal that would end in tragedy, as the community raced to find them.

The Way Out is the story of those ensuing hours and their aftermath—an almost unbelievable event that shook a tight-knit mountain community and raised difficult questions about life and death, guilt and redemption, and the pursuit of adventure. Why, when we know that the wilderness can kill, can’t we stay away? When the unthinkable happens, how does a community forgive the survivors? And how do the survivors forgive themselves?

Drawing on firsthand interviews with those closest to the tragedy, including the key eyewitness, and written with the gripping intensity of classics such as Into Thin Air and Touching the Void, O’Neil recreates that fateful day. The Way Out is a thoughtful investigation of the allure of the mountains and the aftermath of trauma, and an unforgettable look at life at its very edge.

The story of a tragedy told with thoughtfulness and kindness.

I appreciate that the author gave a voice to Brett who gave so much to others during his life. He can’t speak any longer, but I feel as if I’ve known him through this book. His story and the story of those who knew him was told beautifully with tenderness.

Engrossing true story of a tragedy and survival.

From the first pages, The Way Out grabbed me and did not let go. Devon O’Neil manages to turn a real backcountry tragedy into a deeply human story that reads with the urgency of a thriller but the sensitivity of a seasoned journalist.

What stood out most to me was how thoughtfully the book grapples with the allure and the cost of mountain adventure. O’Neil never sensationalizes what happened; instead, he asks hard questions about risk, responsibility, guilt, forgiveness, and how people find a way forward after the unthinkable. The research is meticulous, but it’s the empathy for everyone involved—survivors, families, rescuers, and community members—that makes this story unforgettable.

As someone who spends time in the mountains, I found the lessons here sobering and invaluable. Days after finishing it, I’m still thinking about these people, this storm, and the thin line between adventure and tragedy.

Five stars without hesitation—powerful, compassionate, and highly recommended to anyone who loves the mountains or powerful narrative nonfiction

Well structured main story and background quilted together.

Incredible story. I am always interested in stories like this from my own backyard, and take these important experiences and strength to heart.

Great lessons for the outdoor enthusiast

Having bunked at Uncle Bud's cabin before, it's definitely a great place to let down your guard, which is the premier takeaway from this story, to always be prepared even in what might seem to be a routine or limited backcountry outing. And that lesson is explored expertly by Devon O Neil. He also explores the aftermath of the grief for loved ones left behind, which was perhaps the most stark reminder for those who engage in what can sometimes to be called self-interested, or even selfsih, outdoor pursuits. As a father of two, and one who loves getting into the Colorado backcountry myself, usually solo, this hit home quite a bit, and was a welcome and necessary introspective addition to this story. Any Colorado father could have been Brett,. and yet it reminds us that, in these outdoor pursuits, a little forethought matters, the right gear matters, beta matters, a map matters, the weather forecast matters, and informing those we love matters. This is yet another reminder of how to prepare for when it all goes wrong that will follow me into the backcountry from now on.

The descriptions and emotions of this story.

I could not put this down. It it a fantastic read, no matter what genre you like.