How One Woman Survived in the Jungle, Alone and Stranded, for 17 Days

For Amanda Eller, a three-hour hike turned into the worst 17 days of her life. In fact, they would’ve been the last 17 days of her life had it not been for her resourceful skills and a timely rescue.

So why, after her ordeal, was she left apologizing to the world?

She Just Wanted to Connect With Nature

Amanda Eller hadn’t been to the Makawao Forest Reserve in Maui in several months. In fact, she rarely visited the reserve.

But on May 8, 2019, she went on a hike there, not realizing she might not make it out alive…

It Was Supposed to Be a 3-Mile Hike

Eller assumed she’d go on a 3-mile hike and then come back in a few hours. In fact, she felt so safe that she even left her cellphone and wallet in her car.

The reason behind her logic was simple: She didn’t want anything distracting her run through nature…

She Suddenly Felt Ill

The 35-year-old yoga instructor/physical therapist tried jogging for a bit, but then decided to just walk. Halfway through her journey, she sat down to meditate, but that’s when she felt disoriented and lost her way.

She Was Lost in the Woods

Eller had no idea how to get back to her car. At that point, she started to panic. A part of her even wanted to give up. Fortunately, she had an epiphany and she realized she needed to cool down and gather her thoughts.

But first, she had to figure out how to get back to civilization.