Survival

“Natural selection may explain the survival of the fittest, but it cannot explain the arrival of the fittest.”

Imagine that you’ve just been set free from an oppressive concentration camp. You’ve been ruthlessly worked and have seen friends and loved ones die in the process. How would you react to your freedom?

It’s a safe bet that Viktor Frankl responded differently.

When Jon Smalldridge went to bed on Saturday night, October 25, 2003, he was aware of the wildfires burning 15 miles away in San Diego. However, he wasn’t aware the fires could spread so quickly. When the flames and smoke woke him just a few hours later, he knew he had to move quickly to survive.

Sadly, many others didn’t quite see the urgency.

The Eastern Erg is an infamous stretch of the Sahara Desert that has claimed its fair share of parched victims, both animal and human. The sweltering temperature can easily rise past 120° during the day so it’s definitely not a place to venture without plenty of water.

Just ask Lag Lag.