How to (Not?) Win 37 Pieces of Flair via Helicopter Evacuation

Join Reid for a candid discussion titled **"How to (Not?) Win 37 Pieces of Flair via Helicopter Evacuation,"** where he recounts his harrowing experience on October 24, 2025. While hiking near Cheesebox Canyon in southwest Utah, Reid fell 43 feet, resulting in severe injuries including a shattered L3 vertebra and pelvis. This incident triggered a full-scale search-and-rescue response, leading to a helicopter evacuation to Grand Junction, Colorado, and an extensive eight-hour surgery involving two surgical teams to realign bone fragments and install 37 metal implants.

Reid, now on the path to recovery thanks to support from family, friends, and numerous strangers, will share not only the details of his accident and the subsequent rescue but also an analysis of the errors that led to the incident, with the hope of helping others avoid similar situations. Content warning: Although the talk is not graphic, it will include striking medical imaging of his injuries.

Reid, an HPC Architect at a national lab and leader of the award-winning open-source project Charliecloud, has a rich history of outdoor adventures, having embarked on countless hiking trips since childhood. He enjoys reading, cycling, tinkering, and spending time with his family and pets. Admission is free for both in-person and live-streamed attendance.