Man who vanished in the wilderness for a month shares how it ‘rejuvenated’ him

A man has shared his harrowing experience after going for a run with his dog and disappearing for an entire month.

On July 31, Robert Schock embarked on a run with his dog Freddie in North Cascades National Park, Washington, intending to run about 20 miles before returning home.

Dressed in just a pair of shorts, without a shirt, and carrying only a dog pan in his small backpack, the 39-year-old musician began his run but never made it back.

Schock recounted to PEOPLE that he intended to follow a specific trail, but after crossing the Chilliwack River, he found himself lost.

Due to previous wildfires, the landscape of certain parts of the park had changed, and the trail he aimed to follow was reportedly ‘no longer there’.

Without phone service, he couldn’t search for directions or contact anyone for assistance, and by the second day, his phone battery had died.

Furthermore, dressed only in shorts and lacking additional clothing, his backpack was his sole means of covering himself.

On the third day, the gravity of the situation became apparent, and Schock hoped Freddie might recall or sense the way back.

In an effort to survive, Schock settled in an area deserted by bears, consuming berries and a large mushroom ‘all day long’.

Schock mentioned he saw a helicopter overhead twice and attempted ‘screaming’ and ‘waving’, but it didn’t notice him.

Gradually, he noticed his health deteriorating, realizing he could barely manage a ‘scream for help’ and ‘was not doing very well’.

By August 30, Schock felt ‘close to death’ and sat naked by the riverbank.

“[I] knew I wasn’t going to make it through the night. So I was like, ‘I’m going to scream one last time.’ I said, ‘Help!’” He recounted.

Fortunately, his cries were heard.

Members of the Pacific Northwest Trail Association heard Schock’s screams, quickly supplied him with clothing, and stayed with him until he was airlifted to the hospital.

Schock spent a month in the hospital before heading back to Ohio with his dad and stepmom.

While he is ‘recovering pretty well’ and emerged relatively unscathed physically, aside from ‘some underlying joint pain’, Schock admits that the experience has ‘taken its toll’ on him mentally.

Reflecting on the ordeal, he stated: “I’ve aged several years because of it. Hopefully, I get those years back.

“[…] Never would I have dreamt that’s the experience I was headed towards when I was going out for a run. Never did I dream that this kind of survival could ever even be possible.”