Former Memphian’s book saves woman’s life. Well, sort of.
Paul Gerald recently saved a woman’s life with his travel book. And no, she didn’t eat it to survive, or burn it to keep warm. The story is actually a bit stranger than that.
Last week, Carolyn Golden visited the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon because she had just read about it in 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Portland, written by Gerald. Hiking across a bridge that morning, she glanced down into the deep gorge and spotted 52-year-old Chris Kimball clinging to a rock. Kimball had tumbled into the river more than 18 hours before, and had pulled herself onto the rock, just 75 feet upstream of a high waterfall.
Unable to climb down into the river herself, Golden ran back to her car and called 911, and when rescuers arrived, she used one of the detailed maps in Gerald’s book to show them precisely where the injured woman could be found.
Gerald, a graduate of Memphis University School, previously worked in Memphis as a reporter for the Flyer before moving to Portland more than 10 years ago. 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles was published in 2001. Gerald continues to write food and travel columns for the Flyer.
For the whole story, go here.
To read Gerald’s Flyer stories, go here.