49 Days in the Wilderness: The Unyielding Strength of Rita Chretien

A wrong turn, a stranded van, and an extraordinary tale of a Canadian's survival, faith, and resilience in the Nevada Mountains

Jan 28, 2025

Imagine you’ve packed up your van for a trip from Penticton, British Columbia, down to Las Vegas, Nevada for a little winter getaway. You’re excited, maybe a bit tired, but you trust the new GPS on your dashboard to get you there.

That was exactly where Rita and Albert Chretien found themselves in March 2011. They were a hardworking Canadian couple who wanted to attend a trade show in Las Vegas. Little did they know, a wrong turn caused by their GPS would change their lives forever.

Rita and Albert started their journey on major highways, but somewhere in northern Oregon, their GPS sent them onto smaller roads.

At first, it seemed like a quiet shortcut. Before long, though, those roads became gravel, then turned to dirt. Eventually, they wound into the rugged Jarbidge Mountains in northeastern Nevada. Snow still covered the land, and it was bitterly cold at night. If you’ve ever travelled through remote areas in winter, you know how quickly a road can disappear beneath mud or snow. That’s exactly what happened.

On March 19, they got stuck on a remote logging road in Elko County.

Mud and snow trapped their van, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t free it. For three days, they worked together to try to dig the tires out but were unsuccessful. Unfortunately, they were also well beyond the range of cell service and nobody knew where they were.

After three days, Albert decided he had to go for help on foot.

Think about how hard that would be. He knew leaving his wife behind was risky, but there seemed to be no other choice. On March 22, he gathered a few supplies, gave Rita one last hug, and trudged away into the cold. That was the last time Rita ever saw him.

Suddenly, Rita was all alone.

There she was in a stranded Chevy Astro van, far from the main highway, with no phone signal and only a tiny stash of food: a bit of trail mix, some hard candy, and fish oil pills. She also had a Bible, a few books, and a notebook. Many people would have panicked right then, but Rita stayed calm. She prayed, she wrote in her journal, and she thought about her family.

From the very start, she decided to ration her food.

Each day, she allowed herself a tablespoon or so of trail mix. When that ran out, she switched to one piece of candy and a single fish oil pill per day. It’s hard to imagine living off so little, but her careful approach was one of the reasons she survived as long as she did.

She also needed to find water.

Being in the mountains had one benefit: there was snow all around. The same snow that trapped Rita and Albert would now be vital in keeping her alive. Every other day, she walked a little distance from the van, scooped up snow in a container, and melted it back inside the van to drink. It was gritty with sand, but that didn’t matter. She said it actually tasted sweet, probably because it kept her alive.

Each day, Rita battled not only hunger and thirst but also loneliness.

She told herself that Albert might find help soon and that a rescue team would appear at any moment. But as the days stretched on, she had to face the cold truth: she might not be found for a long time. She prayed more. She wrote down her thoughts, hoping that if she didn’t make it, someone would at least know what happened.

Each day, Rita kept her mind busy and used only the energy needed to get water and write in her journal.

Otherewise she stayed put in the van, bundled in layers of clothing and sheltered from the wind and some of the winter weather. However, the car ran out of gas and the battery died after the first few days so it wasn’t a very warm shelter. Rita used pages from an old phone book to insulate the van’s windows which helped keep some of the drafts out. She also was unable to start a fire to generate any heat.

Days, turned into weeks, and Rita waited for Albert or help to return while doing what she could to persevere.

For 7 weeks, Rita Chretien clung to life in her van. Far longer than anyone would expect a person to stay alive in those conditions. Rita counted every day by reminding herself to eat her small ration of candy and to melt enough snow for drinking water. At night, she huddled up with blankets, praying for warmth.

She lost about 30 pounds during those 49 days.

By the final week, she felt so weak that even gathering snow left her dizzy. One day, after returning with water, she could barely crawl back into the van. In her journal, she expressed fears that she might die before anyone found her. But her faith kept her going. Whenever she felt panic rising, she prayed for guidance and asked for just enough strength to make it another day.

On May 6, 2011—49 days after getting stuck—Rita heard a strange sound.

It was an ATV engine. At first, she thought she was dreaming. She’d nearly given up hope and had prepared her mind for the end. But this sound was real. A group of hunters on ATVs, out looking for elk antlers, had taken a different route than usual—and they stumbled upon her van. When they found her, she was weak, but she was alive and able to speak.

The hunters gave her a bit of food and water. Realizing she was too frail to ride out with them, they rushed back for help.

Soon, a rescue helicopter arrived. Rita was airlifted to a hospital in Idaho, where doctors were amazed that she had survived on so little. They monitored her closely as she started to regain strength with careful meals. Within days, her family came to see her, overwhelmed with gratitude that she was still alive.

Sadly, Albert never returned.

Despite large-scale searches by volunteers, law enforcement, and aerial surveillance, he remained missing for over a year. In October 2012, hunters discovered his remains in northern Elko County, about 11 kilometres from where the van was found. It’s believed that he died from exposure while trying to find help.

After her rescue, Rita went home to Penticton.

She reopened the family excavating business, determined to carry on what she and Albert had built together. She even drove the same van again, a sign of her resilience and practical spirit. She spoke in interviews and on faith-based programs, explaining how her faith gave her hope in those darkest moments. She also reminded people how crucial it is to prepare when travelling in remote areas.

Today, Rita’s story stands as a powerful reminder of how resourcefulness, patience, and faith can keep a person alive, even when the odds seem impossible.

She relied on tiny portions of food, made the best use of melted snow, and kept her spirits up by reading the Bible and writing in her journal. Above all, she never lost sight of her belief that each new day could bring the chance of being rescued.

If you ever find yourself wondering whether you could last in such a situation, remember Rita’s calm, step-by-step approach.

She didn’t panic. She rationed what little she had, found a way to stay warm, and nourished her mind and soul along the way. That’s a lesson in human survival. It also reminds us that while technology like GPS can be helpful, it’s no substitute for proper planning, telling people where you’re going, and packing the right gear.

Rita Chretien’s experience shows us that there’s always a reason to hold on.

Even in the face of tragedy—losing her husband and enduring unimaginable loneliness—she emerged with a deeper gratitude for life and the people she loves. May we remember Albert who bravely tried to find help, refusing to give up. And may Rita’s story encourage you to be prepared, stay hopeful, and cherish each day you’re given.

What Do You Think About Rita Chretien’s Story?

Have you heard of this extraordinary tale of survival before?

Or have you experienced anything remotely close to this harrowing story? What do you do to make sure your prepared for long road trips? Do you think you’d survive 49 days stranded in your vehicle in the winter?

Take a sec. to type a comment and share your thoughts and stories. As always, I look forward to reading them all.

Thanks a bunch for reading this story. It’s a pleasure to share Canadian stories like this with you.

Have a rad rest of your day!