Transcripts For KGO 2020 20170507 : vimarsana.com

This scared. I dont want to be alone anymore. That first night, you gave your will and testament. Driven to record a cell phone goodbye, a video diary for her loved ones. This is the first time youve ever listened to this . In case i dont, like, get found. Tonight, follow along as we retrace this horrifying journey. Surrounded by hundreds of square miles of wilderness, and you can see just how easy it is to get into trouble here. The near misses. Her father desperate back home. I was in the wrong place, the wrong place until finally, her life or at what point did you decide that you had to rescue yourself . Good evening thanks for joining us this saturday night. Im david muir and im elizabeth vargas. So many of us depend on our gps. What happens when that goes terribly wrong. Youre about to meet a College Student who tells us she thought she might end grave. Just take a moment to take it in. The grand reporter just take a moment to take it in. The grand canyon. A geological spectacle, 6 million years in the making. It is absolutely beautiful. And thats why its one of the seven wonders of the world. Reporter its no wonder 5 million tourists trek here every year, just to breathe in its pure serenity. They return home with pictures and souvenirs and sun burns, but nobody comes back with a story like Amber Van Hecke. I did do right things, even if i did make mistakes. And if i can just share those things that i did right with everyone, and if that even saves one life, then thats worth it, i think. Reporter her journey to the brink of death and back began a Thousands Miles ago. It was spring break at the university of north texas in nearby denton. And while so many students were off to do the beach and booze thing, amber had her own idea of fun. When people think spring break, theyre going off to cancun, theyre not going off the grid. I mean, your decision was to go basically into the wilderness. Yeah. Reporter why . I was in a sorority at my old school and i had my experience of the drinking and the partying, and i didnt like it. I didnt find it fun. Reporter the choice wasnt out of character. Amber had always been an outdoorsy, active type, a girl scout and a junior rotc, developing skills that will soon come in very handy. Amber was a student that had a lot of personal drive. She had a forceful attitude about selfimprovement. She was the one that tried the drill teams. She tried the color guard. Reporter that intrepid spirit fueled her decision to take this trip. Alone, by car, all the way there and back. Its pretty courageous of you. I dont know if id call it courageous. Its more of a stubborn, probably. Because i didnt want a let a lack of company stop me from finding adventure. Reporter amber comes from a tight knit family. In nearby plano she and her sister, kayleigh, raised by two loving parents dad, steven, an i. T. Guy. And mom,annette, who, among other things, was ambers girl scout troop leader. What kind of kid was amber growing up . Bouncy. Full of wit, full of rapier wit. Shes always been outgoing. And we were kind of two peas in a pod. And i would help her come back, and she would help me go forward and be a risk taker. Theres so many things that she said that were just so smart. Reporter whats that favorite word that you use . Fernweh. Reporter fernweh . Yes. Reporter whats that mean . Its a longing for places youve never been. Reporter but earlier this year, a pair of hard setbacks. Amber and a boyfriend endure a painful breakup. And then, her mom and dad do the same. I think that had definitely taken a mental toll on me. And that was part of what drove me, like, yeah, i need to get out of town for a minute or two. She would always ask me how i was doing. Always. Always trying to be strong for everyone. Yeah. I truly believe that she deserved a break and deserved this trip. Reporter how long had you been preparing for this trip . As far as actually actively getting supplies, i only started, like, the week of. But id been planning it for a while, because i wanted to figure out unique places at each of the states on my route to stop at. But i think the day before was when i actually went and got food for it. And got my seeds, nuts and dried fruit and some apples and my raman. Reporter before she hits the road in her trusty ford edge, amber announces her trip on facebook. Im so psyched for my spring break road trip. Im starting at Carlsbad Caverns in new mexico. From there im headed to the grand Canyon National park. And you actually posted on facebook, i said, hey, i have a seat or two if anybody wants to come with me. I did. But none of my friends could take off work or disappear, so. Reporter but amber does have one companion. One that will be a central character in this story. Her smartphone. Even, you know, girl scouts, junior rotc people, people who know how to navigate, we still rely on these things. Its convenience, really. Touch of your fingers, everything you need. Reporter aside from the standard google maps navigator, amber was also using a special app which enabled her dad back home in texas to keep track of her. Reporter and your phone would automatically ping back your location. It would send my approximate bearing, latitude, longitude as well as my speed. Reporter wow. March 11th, ambers first stop. The breathtaking Carlsbad Caverns of new mexico. A series of massive caves, one so big its called the chandelier ballroom. She posts this video on facebook. So, in the cave, were supposed to whisper, so its nice and cold down here. Reporter her sleeping arrangements on the road trip . An improvised bed on wheels. So, have you slept in this car before . Is this something you have already done . Yes, sir. I like to travel cheap. Yeah. So, instead of hotels ill sleep in my car. Have a nice bed setup back here. Reporter wow, this looks pretty comfy, actually. Back in texas, her dad, stephen, pings her phone to confirm her location. Where id gotten a gps for her, she was just west of albuquerque. Reporter and at 12 40 a. M. , amber sends a text saying shes bedding down for the night. Okay, baby, love you big, he writes. She replies, times two they dont know it yet, but this will be their final communication. The next days itinerary takes her 420 miles to the southern rim of the grand canyon. But before she gets there, she stops here. The ford needs gas. So, when you saw 2. 70 a gallon, you think thats a lot. Reporter so, amber only pumps in about a third of a tank. I was trying to, like, skimp here and there. Reporter right and every dollar counts, i mean, if you are driving a couple thousand miles, you want to make sure you buy the cheapest gas. Yes. Reporter its supposed to be a money saving measure that will soon prove extremely costly. How often did you think, if i just put 5 more dollars or half a tank instead of a third of a tank . A lot. A lot. Every day. And i could have spared myself a lot of grief. Reporter 119 hours of grief, to be precise. Oh, my god, wheres the road supposed to be . My heart just panics. Reporter and as youre about to see, all of it is documented diligently on ambers phone. Im really scared. Please help me. Reporter stay with us. We continue with more of 020 saturday. Reporter it is sunday, march 12th, day two of Amber Van Heckes Great American road trip. And her fernweh, that favorite term of hers for wanderlust, is in high gear. Where did you go next . To the grand canyon, actually. Reporter the grand canyon is on most americans bucket lists. And now, amber is fearlessly checking it off hers. And i assured my mom, shes okay. I have an undying, like, faith and trust in my sister that can take care of herself. Because my sisters strong. It didnt occur to me about getting lost in the desert. Because i have really decent navigation skills. Reporter along with those skills, shes also got a navigation app, the always reliable google maps to be precise. She types in the name of her next destination. The havasu falls trailhead, a remote spot in the grand canyon with aqua blue plunge pools so popular, it requires a reservation. Thats the trailhead . Yes. Reporter its in the middle of nothing. Yes. Reporter all right, lets go. It says 63 miles. And you only had 90 max on your tank. Uhhuh. We return with amber to this fateful spot. The place where, directed by her smartphone, amber turned off highway 64 and onto this dirt road. Google said to go on a road that i didnt see. And i went against my better instinct. I trusted google maps, which i shouldnt have. Reporter lets face it. Were all too dependent on our devices to get us places. And ambers not the first to discover that can nearly get you killed. Just ask donna cooper. Back in 2010, she, too, trusted her gps and followed it blindly during a trip through death valley. Nearly finding out for herself how one of the hottest places on earth got its name. It just kept saying, you know, go this distance and make a turn, make a uturn. Theres nothing there. We were out of gas. We were out of road. We were out of everything. Reporter 20 20s jay schadler saw how Navigational Technology can sometimes be dangerously outdated. Turn right on Golden Canyon road. Reporter i dont see a road. What we have here is a canyon wall. Oh, definitely. The road used to go at least a mile in here, but that washed out in 1976 in a flash flood, so, this road has not existed for 35 years. Reporter and a similar gps shortcoming is about to threaten ambers life, as well. After she makes that fateful turn off highway 64. Turn right. Turn right. Reporter so, were making a right. Its already a dirt road. And so you thought that this would be a blacktop road . I had thought so. And then when i got on it and it it seemed like a really reporter wow. Well takencareof gravel road. Reporter but it is a gravel road. Yes. Continue for 14 miles. Reporter so, were barely a mile off the road and were driving in empty space check that out. Even if you had a compass and a map, look around. You dont have known points. You dont have mountain peak, you cant do that out here. You dont have anything. Its rough. Reporter and so with night now falling, amber drives for another hour and a half. Farther and farther into the middle of nowhere, which is actually right in the middle of gary wilsons 1,200mile square ranch. One of the biggest in the west. Its happened to several other people, trying to get across this ranch. Google earth tells you that you can, but this ranch is actually closed. I couldnt really see very well. Just whatever my headlights lit up. Reporter and what her headlights lit up next spelt trouble. And then, about when i came to the fence and i was like, oh, there wasnt a road here. Thats when i was like, this is not good. Reporter what goes your through your mind when you hit that fence . Oh, my god, wheres the road supposed to be . Thats when i tried going into the gps app, and telling it to take me back, help me take me back, and it was like, sorry, you have no internet service, and my heart just panicked. Reporter and at what point do you start calling 911 . I called 911 as soon as i realized i didnt have the road anymore. Reporter as amber frantically dials 911, for a fleeting moment, a connection. I was in such a panicked state. When they said, what is the nature of your emergency, i just let out a sob and i said, please help me. And i heard it drop. And i just reporter its still tough for amber to recall. As her panic swells, her most Precious Resource dwindles. I was trying to watch my gas. Im like, come on, rubbing, like, petting my car, like, come on, baby, just a little further, we got to find a road. Reporter is that orange light blinking yet . Oh, it had been blinking. So, i was like, okay, im going to stop for the night, because im just wasting more gas and im digging into my reserve more and more as i drive on and panic. Reporter amber parks along the first manmade structure she finds, hoping this sign of civilization might mean possible rescue. And hoped for the best. Got in the back. I was like, im going to try and sleep. Reporter but instead, her mind races to the loved ones who have no idea where she is and who may never see her again. Who was the first person you started to think about . My dad. Throughout my life, hes been my rock, and thats when the thoughts of, like, maybe i should leave a message in case something happens. Thats when i made the first video. Reporter a video diary in total darkness. Her face not visible at all. Ive never really been, like, scared for my life before now. In case i dont, like, get found, i have a lot of things to say. Reporter it was basically a will and testament. I thought that it had the potential to be the beginning of the end. I love my family, mom, dad, kayleigh. I just want to go home. I dont even want to do this trip anymore. Im so scared. Reporter when we come back, amber hatches a plan. Shell move heaven and earth to save herself, praying for some help from above. Stay with us. Food. Water. Internet. We need it to live. But what we dont need are surprises, like extra monthly fees. I see you, fee, played by legendary actress anjelica huston. You got me, mark. We just want fast internet for one, simple rate. For all the streaming and the shopping and the newsing, but most of all. For the this. Internet for one everyday simple price and no extra monthly fees. Reporter monday, march 13th. As dawn breaks over the arizona horizon, Amber Van Hecke awakes inside a sprawling 1,200square mile prison of solitude. And continues the video diary of her ordeal. I just wish someone would drive by, or that someone would come looking for me. Reporter shes out of gas. She can keep her phone charged through the car battery but it has no cell service. So, amber is left terrifyingly unmoored from the two great anchors of modern life transportation and communication. Hopefully, it doesnt take too long to be found. Got other things i got to do. Reporter shes actually stranded on that vast cattle ranch. Ambers car sits in the shade of this empty, rusted tank, meant to hold water for the livestock. And look, this dirt road runs nearby. Usually we have a cowboy in this area, and he would have run onto this lady. Reporter but as rancher gary wilson explains, that cowboy will not be moseying by anytime soon. He was gone for about five days, and that just happened to be the time that she was out here. Just the timing was all wrong. Reporter back home in plano, ambers father stephen is late for work, and hes growing concerned that he hasnt heard from amber. Im surprised i still have my job actually, because i snapped at my boss that day, because i was worried about her. Reporter at 12 45, he pings amber on her locator app. There is no response. 15 minutes later, he calls her cell phone. There is no answer. Freaking out a little bit. Reporter but now, amber is determined to help herself. And remember, she has ten years of girl scout training and junior rotc honors. Now, its time to put that knowledge to use. Sure, she was scared. She was frightened. But that did not cause her to freeze. She did the things that she knew to do the best way she knew how to do them. And thats courage. Reporter there is one encouraging sign of human life, one hope flying overhead. Thats the passing of an occasional plane or helicopter. There were signs of civilization literally right above your head. Yes. Reporter what was that like . Intensely frustrating, because it was like, please see me. Please see me. I need some help now. Its not like were flying just looking for people out there, because we know theres no people out there. Reporter the airspace is used mostly by Tour Companies and commercial pilots for native american tribes. Daniel lyons, a local pilot, points out that even if amber were signaling an aircraft, shed be tough to see. The rocks dont change all that much, so, whats the point of looking out at the same rocks . A helicopter just flew by. I got out of my car and waved as frantically as i could, but i guess up there, its hard to notice small things on the ground. Reporter so amber makes some big things on the ground, pulling large rocks out of the dirt. She arranges them into a 20footlong plea for help. Shes picked a spot with darker earth hoping the contrast with the rocks will make her plea more visible from up high. She also makes a fire with the hopes that billows of dark smoke will alert planes flying by, but the smoke just isnt dark enough. For the life of me, i cant get anything here to burn black. It all just burns gray or not at all. Everything in the desert is too dry. Reporter but there is some good news. Ambers brought plenty of food and water. She just needs to ration them meticulously. Three bottles a day should last me for at least a week and a half. Reporter her moxie isnt running out either, but as the hours stretch out, she succumbs to moments of misery. You know, in movies, they always just show the rescue. They dont really show the panic parts in between, the fear. I just want to go home. In the moment, there were so many what ifs, like, what if i never get found . What if i get caught by an axe murderer out here in the desert and no one would ever find my body . Reporter yes, but the dark, and youre thinking skorp i dont knows and maybe snakes and coyotes. That had to be terrifying. Ive had an experience with a scorpion. It stung. I didnt like it. Reporter night descends again. So, too, does the thought that she may never make it home. Amber records this meditation on mortality. I feel like youre supposed to have more profound thoughts when you think youre going to die. I guess i should ask myself, did i make a difference in the world . I mean, i know i didnt. Im only 24. I havent done anything meaningful yet. I guess at this point, im just counting on my father constantly checking in for him to notice that somethings awry. Reporter did that young woman think that she was going to die . By tuesday, march 14th, stephen van hecke is legitimately worried. Hes gotten no calls, no texts, no word at all from his daughter. And when you still cant find her, the numbness sets in. Like youre dead inside. Reporter he holds out hope that shes just out of cell phone range while camping at the havasu falls. In reality, she is struggling through her third day alone in the desert. It gets freezing here at night, like really cold. I got to wrap myself in two blankets. Comforter and a jacket. But during the day its pretty warm. Reporter warm enough, in fact, to heat some of her ramen noodles on the car. The noodles somehow i dont know if it was warm enough to be considered cooked, but it was definitely al dente. Reporter very nice, yeah. Her plan . Just stay put until help arrives. Just stay alive. Just stay sane. So, what kind of things did you think about, just to make the time pass more quickly . I read a lot. And went through a lot of books. It could have been 12, it could have been more. Reporter she also made contact with some of the locals. These craters that pepper the lunarlike landscape are actually prairie dog burrows. Ive been watching the College Student<\/a> who tells us she thought she might end grave. Just take a moment to take it in. The grand reporter just take a moment to take it in. The grand canyon. A geological spectacle, 6 million years in the making. It is absolutely beautiful. And thats why its one of the seven wonders of the world. Reporter its no wonder 5 million tourists trek here every year, just to breathe in its pure serenity. They return home with pictures and souvenirs and sun burns, but nobody comes back with a story like Amber Van Hecke<\/a>. I did do right things, even if i did make mistakes. And if i can just share those things that i did right with everyone, and if that even saves one life, then thats worth it, i think. Reporter her journey to the brink of death and back began a Thousands Miles<\/a> ago. It was spring break at the university of north texas in nearby denton. And while so many students were off to do the beach and booze thing, amber had her own idea of fun. When people think spring break, theyre going off to cancun, theyre not going off the grid. I mean, your decision was to go basically into the wilderness. Yeah. Reporter why . I was in a sorority at my old school and i had my experience of the drinking and the partying, and i didnt like it. I didnt find it fun. Reporter the choice wasnt out of character. Amber had always been an outdoorsy, active type, a girl scout and a junior rotc, developing skills that will soon come in very handy. Amber was a student that had a lot of personal drive. She had a forceful attitude about selfimprovement. She was the one that tried the drill teams. She tried the color guard. Reporter that intrepid spirit fueled her decision to take this trip. Alone, by car, all the way there and back. Its pretty courageous of you. I dont know if id call it courageous. Its more of a stubborn, probably. Because i didnt want a let a lack of company stop me from finding adventure. Reporter amber comes from a tight knit family. In nearby plano she and her sister, kayleigh, raised by two loving parents dad, steven, an i. T. Guy. And mom,annette, who, among other things, was ambers girl scout troop leader. What kind of kid was amber growing up . Bouncy. Full of wit, full of rapier wit. Shes always been outgoing. And we were kind of two peas in a pod. And i would help her come back, and she would help me go forward and be a risk taker. Theres so many things that she said that were just so smart. Reporter whats that favorite word that you use . Fernweh. Reporter fernweh . Yes. Reporter whats that mean . Its a longing for places youve never been. Reporter but earlier this year, a pair of hard setbacks. Amber and a boyfriend endure a painful breakup. And then, her mom and dad do the same. I think that had definitely taken a mental toll on me. And that was part of what drove me, like, yeah, i need to get out of town for a minute or two. She would always ask me how i was doing. Always. Always trying to be strong for everyone. Yeah. I truly believe that she deserved a break and deserved this trip. Reporter how long had you been preparing for this trip . As far as actually actively getting supplies, i only started, like, the week of. But id been planning it for a while, because i wanted to figure out unique places at each of the states on my route to stop at. But i think the day before was when i actually went and got food for it. And got my seeds, nuts and dried fruit and some apples and my raman. Reporter before she hits the road in her trusty ford edge, amber announces her trip on facebook. Im so psyched for my spring break road trip. Im starting at Carlsbad Caverns<\/a> in new mexico. From there im headed to the grand Canyon National<\/a> park. And you actually posted on facebook, i said, hey, i have a seat or two if anybody wants to come with me. I did. But none of my friends could take off work or disappear, so. Reporter but amber does have one companion. One that will be a central character in this story. Her smartphone. Even, you know, girl scouts, junior rotc people, people who know how to navigate, we still rely on these things. Its convenience, really. Touch of your fingers, everything you need. Reporter aside from the standard google maps navigator, amber was also using a special app which enabled her dad back home in texas to keep track of her. Reporter and your phone would automatically ping back your location. It would send my approximate bearing, latitude, longitude as well as my speed. Reporter wow. March 11th, ambers first stop. The breathtaking Carlsbad Caverns<\/a> of new mexico. A series of massive caves, one so big its called the chandelier ballroom. She posts this video on facebook. So, in the cave, were supposed to whisper, so its nice and cold down here. Reporter her sleeping arrangements on the road trip . An improvised bed on wheels. So, have you slept in this car before . Is this something you have already done . Yes, sir. I like to travel cheap. Yeah. So, instead of hotels ill sleep in my car. Have a nice bed setup back here. Reporter wow, this looks pretty comfy, actually. Back in texas, her dad, stephen, pings her phone to confirm her location. Where id gotten a gps for her, she was just west of albuquerque. Reporter and at 12 40 a. M. , amber sends a text saying shes bedding down for the night. Okay, baby, love you big, he writes. She replies, times two they dont know it yet, but this will be their final communication. The next days itinerary takes her 420 miles to the southern rim of the grand canyon. But before she gets there, she stops here. The ford needs gas. So, when you saw 2. 70 a gallon, you think thats a lot. Reporter so, amber only pumps in about a third of a tank. I was trying to, like, skimp here and there. Reporter right and every dollar counts, i mean, if you are driving a couple thousand miles, you want to make sure you buy the cheapest gas. Yes. Reporter its supposed to be a money saving measure that will soon prove extremely costly. How often did you think, if i just put 5 more dollars or half a tank instead of a third of a tank . A lot. A lot. Every day. And i could have spared myself a lot of grief. Reporter 119 hours of grief, to be precise. Oh, my god, wheres the road supposed to be . My heart just panics. Reporter and as youre about to see, all of it is documented diligently on ambers phone. Im really scared. Please help me. Reporter stay with us. We continue with more of 020 saturday. Reporter it is sunday, march 12th, day two of Amber Van Hecke<\/a>s Great American<\/a> road trip. And her fernweh, that favorite term of hers for wanderlust, is in high gear. Where did you go next . To the grand canyon, actually. Reporter the grand canyon is on most americans bucket lists. And now, amber is fearlessly checking it off hers. And i assured my mom, shes okay. I have an undying, like, faith and trust in my sister that can take care of herself. Because my sisters strong. It didnt occur to me about getting lost in the desert. Because i have really decent navigation skills. Reporter along with those skills, shes also got a navigation app, the always reliable google maps to be precise. She types in the name of her next destination. The havasu falls trailhead, a remote spot in the grand canyon with aqua blue plunge pools so popular, it requires a reservation. Thats the trailhead . Yes. Reporter its in the middle of nothing. Yes. Reporter all right, lets go. It says 63 miles. And you only had 90 max on your tank. Uhhuh. We return with amber to this fateful spot. The place where, directed by her smartphone, amber turned off highway 64 and onto this dirt road. Google said to go on a road that i didnt see. And i went against my better instinct. I trusted google maps, which i shouldnt have. Reporter lets face it. Were all too dependent on our devices to get us places. And ambers not the first to discover that can nearly get you killed. Just ask donna cooper. Back in 2010, she, too, trusted her gps and followed it blindly during a trip through death valley. Nearly finding out for herself how one of the hottest places on earth got its name. It just kept saying, you know, go this distance and make a turn, make a uturn. Theres nothing there. We were out of gas. We were out of road. We were out of everything. Reporter 20 20s jay schadler saw how Navigational Technology<\/a> can sometimes be dangerously outdated. Turn right on Golden Canyon<\/a> road. Reporter i dont see a road. What we have here is a canyon wall. Oh, definitely. The road used to go at least a mile in here, but that washed out in 1976 in a flash flood, so, this road has not existed for 35 years. Reporter and a similar gps shortcoming is about to threaten ambers life, as well. After she makes that fateful turn off highway 64. Turn right. Turn right. Reporter so, were making a right. Its already a dirt road. And so you thought that this would be a blacktop road . I had thought so. And then when i got on it and it it seemed like a really reporter wow. Well takencareof gravel road. Reporter but it is a gravel road. Yes. Continue for 14 miles. Reporter so, were barely a mile off the road and were driving in empty space check that out. Even if you had a compass and a map, look around. You dont have known points. You dont have mountain peak, you cant do that out here. You dont have anything. Its rough. Reporter and so with night now falling, amber drives for another hour and a half. Farther and farther into the middle of nowhere, which is actually right in the middle of gary wilsons 1,200mile square ranch. One of the biggest in the west. Its happened to several other people, trying to get across this ranch. Google earth tells you that you can, but this ranch is actually closed. I couldnt really see very well. Just whatever my headlights lit up. Reporter and what her headlights lit up next spelt trouble. And then, about when i came to the fence and i was like, oh, there wasnt a road here. Thats when i was like, this is not good. Reporter what goes your through your mind when you hit that fence . Oh, my god, wheres the road supposed to be . Thats when i tried going into the gps app, and telling it to take me back, help me take me back, and it was like, sorry, you have no internet service, and my heart just panicked. Reporter and at what point do you start calling 911 . I called 911 as soon as i realized i didnt have the road anymore. Reporter as amber frantically dials 911, for a fleeting moment, a connection. I was in such a panicked state. When they said, what is the nature of your emergency, i just let out a sob and i said, please help me. And i heard it drop. And i just reporter its still tough for amber to recall. As her panic swells, her most Precious Resource<\/a> dwindles. I was trying to watch my gas. Im like, come on, rubbing, like, petting my car, like, come on, baby, just a little further, we got to find a road. Reporter is that orange light blinking yet . Oh, it had been blinking. So, i was like, okay, im going to stop for the night, because im just wasting more gas and im digging into my reserve more and more as i drive on and panic. Reporter amber parks along the first manmade structure she finds, hoping this sign of civilization might mean possible rescue. And hoped for the best. Got in the back. I was like, im going to try and sleep. Reporter but instead, her mind races to the loved ones who have no idea where she is and who may never see her again. Who was the first person you started to think about . My dad. Throughout my life, hes been my rock, and thats when the thoughts of, like, maybe i should leave a message in case something happens. Thats when i made the first video. Reporter a video diary in total darkness. Her face not visible at all. Ive never really been, like, scared for my life before now. In case i dont, like, get found, i have a lot of things to say. Reporter it was basically a will and testament. I thought that it had the potential to be the beginning of the end. I love my family, mom, dad, kayleigh. I just want to go home. I dont even want to do this trip anymore. Im so scared. Reporter when we come back, amber hatches a plan. Shell move heaven and earth to save herself, praying for some help from above. Stay with us. Food. Water. Internet. We need it to live. But what we dont need are surprises, like extra monthly fees. I see you, fee, played by legendary actress anjelica huston. You got me, mark. We just want fast internet for one, simple rate. For all the streaming and the shopping and the newsing, but most of all. For the this. Internet for one everyday simple price and no extra monthly fees. Reporter monday, march 13th. As dawn breaks over the arizona horizon, Amber Van Hecke<\/a> awakes inside a sprawling 1,200square mile prison of solitude. And continues the video diary of her ordeal. I just wish someone would drive by, or that someone would come looking for me. Reporter shes out of gas. She can keep her phone charged through the car battery but it has no cell service. So, amber is left terrifyingly unmoored from the two great anchors of modern life transportation and communication. Hopefully, it doesnt take too long to be found. Got other things i got to do. Reporter shes actually stranded on that vast cattle ranch. Ambers car sits in the shade of this empty, rusted tank, meant to hold water for the livestock. And look, this dirt road runs nearby. Usually we have a cowboy in this area, and he would have run onto this lady. Reporter but as rancher gary wilson explains, that cowboy will not be moseying by anytime soon. He was gone for about five days, and that just happened to be the time that she was out here. Just the timing was all wrong. Reporter back home in plano, ambers father stephen is late for work, and hes growing concerned that he hasnt heard from amber. Im surprised i still have my job actually, because i snapped at my boss that day, because i was worried about her. Reporter at 12 45, he pings amber on her locator app. There is no response. 15 minutes later, he calls her cell phone. There is no answer. Freaking out a little bit. Reporter but now, amber is determined to help herself. And remember, she has ten years of girl scout training and junior rotc honors. Now, its time to put that knowledge to use. Sure, she was scared. She was frightened. But that did not cause her to freeze. She did the things that she knew to do the best way she knew how to do them. And thats courage. Reporter there is one encouraging sign of human life, one hope flying overhead. Thats the passing of an occasional plane or helicopter. There were signs of civilization literally right above your head. Yes. Reporter what was that like . Intensely frustrating, because it was like, please see me. Please see me. I need some help now. Its not like were flying just looking for people out there, because we know theres no people out there. Reporter the airspace is used mostly by Tour Companies<\/a> and commercial pilots for native american tribes. Daniel lyons, a local pilot, points out that even if amber were signaling an aircraft, shed be tough to see. The rocks dont change all that much, so, whats the point of looking out at the same rocks . A helicopter just flew by. I got out of my car and waved as frantically as i could, but i guess up there, its hard to notice small things on the ground. Reporter so amber makes some big things on the ground, pulling large rocks out of the dirt. She arranges them into a 20footlong plea for help. Shes picked a spot with darker earth hoping the contrast with the rocks will make her plea more visible from up high. She also makes a fire with the hopes that billows of dark smoke will alert planes flying by, but the smoke just isnt dark enough. For the life of me, i cant get anything here to burn black. It all just burns gray or not at all. Everything in the desert is too dry. Reporter but there is some good news. Ambers brought plenty of food and water. She just needs to ration them meticulously. Three bottles a day should last me for at least a week and a half. Reporter her moxie isnt running out either, but as the hours stretch out, she succumbs to moments of misery. You know, in movies, they always just show the rescue. They dont really show the panic parts in between, the fear. I just want to go home. In the moment, there were so many what ifs, like, what if i never get found . What if i get caught by an axe murderer out here in the desert and no one would ever find my body . Reporter yes, but the dark, and youre thinking skorp i dont knows and maybe snakes and coyotes. That had to be terrifying. Ive had an experience with a scorpion. It stung. I didnt like it. Reporter night descends again. So, too, does the thought that she may never make it home. Amber records this meditation on mortality. I feel like youre supposed to have more profound thoughts when you think youre going to die. I guess i should ask myself, did i make a difference in the world . I mean, i know i didnt. Im only 24. I havent done anything meaningful yet. I guess at this point, im just counting on my father constantly checking in for him to notice that somethings awry. Reporter did that young woman think that she was going to die . By tuesday, march 14th, stephen van hecke is legitimately worried. Hes gotten no calls, no texts, no word at all from his daughter. And when you still cant find her, the numbness sets in. Like youre dead inside. Reporter he holds out hope that shes just out of cell phone range while camping at the havasu falls. In reality, she is struggling through her third day alone in the desert. It gets freezing here at night, like really cold. I got to wrap myself in two blankets. Comforter and a jacket. But during the day its pretty warm. Reporter warm enough, in fact, to heat some of her ramen noodles on the car. The noodles somehow i dont know if it was warm enough to be considered cooked, but it was definitely al dente. Reporter very nice, yeah. Her plan . Just stay put until help arrives. Just stay alive. Just stay sane. So, what kind of things did you think about, just to make the time pass more quickly . I read a lot. And went through a lot of books. It could have been 12, it could have been more. Reporter she also made contact with some of the locals. These craters that pepper the lunarlike landscape are actually prairie dog burrows. Ive been watching the Little Prairie<\/a> dogs that live around here because this place is riddled with prairie dog burrows. They are really cute. Ive got cows, prairie dogs and coyotes for company. And bugs. Reporter coming up, a sudden chance of a rescue roars by i tried to chase down a truck, but they didnt see me in their rearview. Reporter but leaves amber in the dust. Whether youre after supreme performance. Advanced intelligence. Or breathtaking style. Theres a cclass just for you. Decisions, decisions, decisions. The 2017 cclass sedan. Starting at 39,500. Mercedesbenz. The best or nothing. Yes, the fuel is complimentary for up to three years. Yes, it has an epaestimated range of 312 miles. Yes, you will probably have to answer lots of silly questions from strangers. Yes, this is a mindblowing marvel of technology. And, yes, you can buy it today because the future doesnt start next week, next month or next year. The future starts now. In the hydrogenfueled toyota mirai. Wow means you save 50 or more. There are three stages of wow. Denial. Is this price right . Acceptance. And boooyah. Wait for it. Boooyah has three os. Grocery outlet bargain market. Stop in right now and save on top name brand juices. Reporter its been three long days since Amber Van Hecke<\/a>s smartphone gave her some pretty dumb directions. Turn right. The 24yearold now finds herself at the crossroads of desperation and despair. Isolated near the grand canyon, shes out of gas and nearly out of time. Making matters worse, a series of near misses, as she tries to connect with someone, anyone. Its now wednesday, march 15th. Amber wakes up frustrated, with the situation and with herself. Been out here for 63 hours now. Something like that. I feel so dumb. Reporter back in texas, with her parents worried sick, dad begins an active hunt for his daughter. I posted in the private facebook. I said, look, my daughters missing. I need some people to try to find her, and this is the last place i saw her. Reporter the problem . Stephen references ambers last known location in new mexico, where her app pinged him back on saturday. And i was sending them to albuquerque. Reporter but basically, youre looking for your daughter. In the wrong place. This is awful. I hate it. I hate being helpless. Reporter another day slides off the calendar. But suddenly, the moment amber has been waiting for. Rescue appears to be an arms length away. A red truck kicking up a trail of dust heads toward her. There was that one day with that truck rumbling right past you and you hear that word again and you start shaking. Seeing that truck, i was like, someone close by, not in the air, but several hundred feet, they should see me. They are right here. Reporter how far was your car from the road when that truck passed . Id have say maybe seven feet. But the silo blocked me from their view, so its not their fault at all. Reporter sensing this could be her last chance at survival, the spring breaker springs into action. Barefoot. Car and tried to run them, not thinking about my feet, not thinking about anything else, because i was like, if this is where i get out, it doesnt matter. But i couldnt keep up. With how much dust and stuff there was kicked up there was no way they would see me. Reporter out sprinted by a pickup truck, the image of the barefoot millennial soon disappears into a cloud of dust. Another entry for the video diary. I just tried to chase down a truck, but they didnt see me in their rearview. Im okay. Reporter with nothing but time on her hands, amber begins to question her own choices. Afterwards, i was like, i should have just honked my horn, they would have heard that. There was so many things after the fact that i was like, i should have done this, i should have done this. And i just beat myself up about it. My feet are torn up, because i wasnt wearing shoes at the time. So, im going to have to rethink traveling east or west tomorrow. My car is officially out of gas, i tried driving a little bit and i backed it up to closer behind this thing but it wont go any further. Reporter frustrated, she builds a roadblock to prevent another vehicle from passing her by. Thats the incident that caused me to barricade the road. I built a little rock thing and put this head lamp i have and for when i do cave diving and that. I set it on strobe, put it on top. Reporter in the dark of night, the diary continues. Almost exactly 100 hours out here now. And all i can keep thinking is how much i want my daddy, and mom. I dont want to be alone anymore. Reporter what was the thing that you yearned for most as you were sitting there, day after day . A hug. I felt so alone and disconnected from everyone. All i really wanted was just to be hugged and held and comforted. Reporter but how much is she willing to risk to get that hug . Is she willing to leave the safety of her own vehicle . In a wellknown incident, recounted in the documentary wrong turn, the kim family got stranded in the oregon wilderness. James kim and his family disappeared while returning from a thanksgiving road trip to the northwest. Reporter after waiting for a rescue that never came, patriarch james kim left on foot to find help with disastrous consequences. He walked 16 miles before dying from hypothermia. Now amber faces the same question. At what point did you decide that you had to rescue yourself . By about the fourth day, i figured, there should have been at least a search out, but i hadnt seen anything, heard anything, and that truck helped me realize that if i was going to get out, i had to do it for me. Reporter the nearest gas station is 40 miles away. The nearest drink of water is a twodays walk. Surrounded by hundreds of square miles of wilderness and you can see just how easy it is to get into trouble here. Out of options, amber decides to make her move. The plan . To stay along the road and walk as far as she can, as fast as she can in search of a cell signal. But as luck would have it, while shes out on the road, the calvary shows up at her makeshift base camp to rescue her. Its a bit of a letdown. When you say okay we found her and nobody is there. Once again, amber is at the wrong place at the wrong time. When we return. Sweet cinnamonsugar on the outside, crazy on the inside. Crave those crazy squares. Sweet cinnamonsugar on the outside, crazy on the inside. Crave those crazy squares. Whatever it is that floats your boat. Or tickles your tastebuds. Or brightens your day. Even if youve never tried it before. Just know that. You can, in portland. You dont even want to know protection detergent alone doesnt kill bacteria but adding new lysol laundry sanitizer kills 99. 9 of bacteria with 0 bleach. Lysol. What it takes to protect. We continue with stranded and more of 20 20 saturday. Reporter it is the morning of friday, march 17th. While the rest of the country is celebrating st. Patricks day, Amber Van Hecke<\/a> decides to make her own luck. Woke up feeling hopeful today so, well see what happens. Reporter she abandons the safety of her immobilized car, and sets out in search of a cell phone signal. I didnt want to stray off too far in a direction that didnt follow a road, because i didnt want to not be able to find my way back. Reporter amber takes me back to the desolate spot where she wound up on her long desperate hike. But its amazing. You can see Flagstaff Mountain<\/a> so clearly from here. Thats actually why i chose to walk that way. Because flagstaff has cell towers on it, and i knew that. So, that would be the best bet. Reporter thats pretty smart. After hiking painful miles on injured feet, dialing 911 more than 70 times suddenly, like a ray of hope, a cell phone signal. At long last, amber makes contact. What did it feel like to finally get a signal and after five days, speak to a human . All i could think was desperation, more so than relief at that point. It was just mostly desperate to get out the right information, so that they could send someone. I started crying. And saying, please help me. Reporter she tells the operator shes somewhere between havasu park and the highway that goes into the southern rim visitor center. And shes like, in the grand canyon . I was like, no, maam, im in the desert. And ive been here for five days. And i dont what she was going to say after that, because it was gone. Reporter thats right, gone. The call, dropped. The lifeline goes dead. I was just heartbroken, i guess in that moment. Because i wasnt sure how search and rescue worked. I knew they needed information to find out where i was. I wasnt sure if they wouldnt send someone, if they didnt have enough information. And i wasnt sure where they would be looking, or if they would be looking in the right place. And i was wasting daylight. I was like, i need to get back to my car before dusk, because i dont want to abandon my shelter or the food and water that i have. And i decided to head back and try again the next day. We have a virtually unreadable 911 call, no location. A woman whos panicking. Reporter amber doesnt know it, but help is already on the way. Authorities scramble the Arizona Department<\/a> of Public Safety<\/a> rescue team. Pilot jonah nieves and paramedic edgar bissonette. The message we got from Coconino County<\/a> was that there was a female, who said that she was somewhere between havasupai and the south rim of the grand canyon. Shes been stranded for five days, please help. And then the call dropped. Here we go. Reporter amber had provided just enough information to point nieves and bissonnette in the right direction. Retracing their route, they show us how they spotted something not uncommon in the desert. The sun glinting off something shiny. And jonah looks in that direction and he says oh, i see a glare. Reporter but that glare is far from the search area. And they debate whether to detour miles out of their way. Finally choosing, on gut instinct, to take a closer look. Lets go check this glare out. It who knows . It might be what were looking for. Reporter it was a fateful decision. And right off the bat, jonah says, i see a help sign. And i look down and we see the, must have been 20, 30foot letters, word help written out of rocks on the ground next to the car. And were like, this has got to be it. Reporter they land the chopper. But theres nobody in sight. Its a bit of a letdown when you circle an area and say, okay, we found them, and nobodys here. So, okay, where are they . What happened to them . Reporter miles away, amber had seen the helicopter pass you see that helicopter tear over you and youre trying to wave to it and get attention and it keeps going. I ran to the top of the next hill, i was like, please see me. And then the helicopter was gone. I didnt know where it was. And so, i was crying while walking, which is the ugliest cry you can probably do. And just hoping they would come back. Reporter become at the car, amber wisely had left this message. In a nutshell it said, im not here. I walked east along the road to find cell phone signal, if youre reading this sign, please help me. And jonah said, lets go. So i went back into the helicopter, we loaded up and continued down the road from there. And then, i heard a chopper again. And thats when i saw the speck getting bigger. And we flew east. And im looking off to the left, jonahs got the road in front of him. And at that point, im scanning and jonah says, i got them. Eyes on. I look and i see someone jumping up and down in the road waving at us. And i was like theyre coming for me reporter thats a good feeling, isnt it . Yes. Yes. Next thing you know, im two feet from her, first thing comes out of my mouth was, did you call . Hes like, hi, did you call . And just sort of a joke, you know . And all i could answer with was, hi. And then sobbing, ugly sobbing. I was just like and holding onto him. And i feel so bad. Because i was just like, human contact reporter did he hug you back . Yes, he did. And then he was like, you know, put his arm around me and helped walk me towards the helicopter. Reporter the crew reassures amber shes going to be okay. I was like, i feel so dumb for getting stuck out here. And i said, well, you know, you did everything right, besides running out of gas. And if i had to get lost i wouldnt mind getting stranded with you, you know what youre doing. And im like, thank you. Reporter the helicopter flies amber straight to the hospital in flagstaff. There, she calls her parents. I cant even explain the relief of hearing her voice. I said, where are you . Im glad youre alive, what you are doing . Where are you at . She goes, im sorry, papa, and i was like, what are you doing apologizing for . Ive been worried sick about you. She goes, i thought you were hunting for me. I said, i was, in the wrong place. In the wrong place. Reporter what was your reunion like with your dad . He just held me while i cried and picked me up in a hug. It was nice. Reporter but sometimes just one hug isnt enough. Hey, papa. Reporter as we saw when we were interviewing amber and her dad arrived. Still ahead, one more reunion. Has crazy low prices. Do you know how we do it . How . Bargainomics say, if california has a bumper crop and produces too many oranges. Or a winemaker in sonoma suddenly has 1000 bottles too many. Weve got namebrand, topquality groceries priced 4070 off every day. Bargainomics. Thats our Business Model<\/a>. And our Business Model<\/a> is. Delicious. Grocery outlet bargain market food. Water. Internet. We need it to live. But what we dont need are surprises, like extra monthly fees. I see you, fee, played by legendary actress anjelica huston. You got me, mark. We just want fast internet for one, simple rate. For all the streaming and the shopping and the newsing, but most of all. For the this. Internet for one everyday simple price and no extra monthly fees. That incredible survival story. A woman stranded in the arizona desert for five days. This was 119 hours of terror. Reporter for five days, amber might as well have been on the dark side of the moon. But now, back on the grid, shes pretty easily recognized. I read about you reporter amber is still healing, both physically and emotionally. You still have on your Hospital Band<\/a> . Yeah, its a sentimental, weird thing i do. Previously, when ive had these, i dont take them off until im over whatever i went through. And im not over it, not yet. Reporter now, two weeks after she was found, a surprise for amber. We reunite her with two special guests. Edgar and jonah hi. How are you doing . Its good to see you guys. Edgar and i want to get you a little something, a small little gift. We want you to come back out to arizona, but we want you to do it on a full tank of gas this time, so, heres a gas card for you. Thank you. Ill make sure to fill up. Yeah reporter safely back at home with her friends and family, who she thought she might never see again, she makes a final video diary. This has been a whirlwind of emotions. But i feel like i have less anxiety now about the entire thing, which is good. I feel like its time for me lose the wristband. And i think thats the next step. There we go. All done. Reporter knowing what you know now, would you go on another solo road trip again . Eventually, i will. Im not going to let fear stop me from doing anything in this world. One very happy reunion. The takeaways, obviously spring for a full tank of gas. And the old school maps, the paper ones, they still work. Google did not respond to our requests for comment. A gps industry source previously told abc news, it is important for drivers to keep in mind that gps devices are to be used as navigational aides only, its still the responsibility of drivers to exercise common sense. Good advice. Thats our program tonight. Im elizabeth vargas. Im david muir from all of us here at 20 20 thanks for watching and have a good night. Happening now in france, a big election is just getting under way that could have sweet cinnamonsugar on the outside, crazy on the inside. Crave those crazy squares. Sweet cinnamonsugar on the outside, crazy on the inside. 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