i'm really scared. please help me. >> did that young woman think that she was going to die? >> tonight, the "20/20" exclusive. >> you feel ready for this? >> an amazing store roif survival. >> that incredible survival story. >> lost in the grand canyon. >> 119 hours of terror. >> a college student alone on a spring break road trip. led astray by google maps. >> turn right. >> lost for days in the hot arizona desert. >> i remember screaming a lot, "please come back. please help me." >> no gas, no cell service, and no one to talk to, except prairie dogs and herself. >> i don't think i've ever been this scared. i don't want to be alone anymore. >> that first night, you gave your will and testament.

>> driven to record a cell phone good-bye, a video diary for her loved ones. >> this is the first time you've ever listened to this? >> in case i don't, 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. >> until finally, her life or death decision. >> at what point did you decide that you had to rescue yourself? >> good evening, and welcome to "20/20" this saturday, i'm elizabeth vargas. >> and i'm david muir. as we come on the air tonight, thousands of students are in the middle of spring break, and most college students do come back with quite a story. >> but it's unlikely few of them will have a starry ory as the o

you're about to hear from a woman who said she followed google maps and paid a terrible price. telling us, i ended up stranded in the place i thought might be my grave. here's matt gutman. >> 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 that's why it's one of the seven wonders of the world. >> reporter: it's no wonder 5 million tourists trek here every year, just to breathe in its pure serenity. they return home with pictures and souvenirs and sunburns, 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 that's worth it, i think. >> reporter: her journey to the brink of death and back began

three weeks and a thousand miles ago. it was spring break at the university of north texas in 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, they're going off to cancun, they're 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 didn't like it. i didn't find it fun. >> reporter: the choice wasn't 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 self-improvement. 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. it's pretty courageous of you. >> i don't know if i'd call it courageous. it's more of a stubborn, probably. because i didn't want a let a lack of company stop me from finding adventure. >> reporter: amber comes from a tight knit family. she and her sister, kayleigh, raised by two loving parents -- dad, steven, an i.t. guy. and mom, annette, who, among other things, was amber's girl scout troop leader. what kind of kid was amber growing up? >> bouncy. full of wit, full of rapier wit. >> she's 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. >> there's so many things that she said that were just so smart. >> reporter: what's that favorite word that you use? >> fernweh. >> reporter: fernweh? >> yes. >> reporter: what's that mean? >> it's -- a longing for places you've 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 and emotional 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. so -- >> she would always ask me how i was doing. >> always. always trying to be strong for everyone. i truly believed 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 i'd 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. seeds, nuts and dried fruit and my ramen. >> reporter: before she hits the road in her trusty ford edge, amber announces her trip on facebook. "i'm so psyched for my spring break road trip.

i'm starting at carlsbad caverns in new mexico. from there, i'm headed to the grand cannon 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. >> it's 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. >> head northeast, then turn right. >> reporter: march 11th, amber's

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, we're supposed to whisper, so -- it's 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. so -- >> reporter: yeah. >> instead of hotels, i'll 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 i'd gotten a gps for her, she was just west of albuquerque. >> reporter: and at 12:40 a.m., amber sends a text saying she's bedding down for the night. "okay, baby, love you big," he writes. she replies, "times two!"

they don't know it yet, but this will be their final communication. the next day's 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 -- >> that's 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're driving a couple thousand miles, you want to make sure you buy the cheapest gas. >> yes. >> reporter: it's 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, where's the road supposed to be?

my heart just panics. >> reporter: and as you're about to see, all of it is documented diligently on amber's phone. >> i'm really scared. please help me. >> reporter: stay with us. fa. she's a world-class swimmer who's stared down the best in her sport. but for both of them, the most challenging opponent was... pe blood clots in my lung. it was really scary. a dvt in my leg. i had to learn all i could to help protect myself. my doctor and i choose xarelto® xarelto®... to help keep me protected. xarelto® is a latest-generation blood thinner... ...that's proven to treat and reduce the risk of dvt and pe blood clots from happening again. in clinical studies, almost 98% of patients on xarelto® did not experience another dvt or pe. here's how xarelto works. xarelto® works differently. warfarin interferes with at least six blood-clotting factors. xarelto® is selective... ...targeting just one critical factor, interacting with less of your body's natural

blood-clotting function. don't stop taking xarelto® without talking to your doctor as this may increase risk of blood clots. while taking, you may bruise more easily, or take longer for bleeding to stop. it may increase your risk of bleeding if you take certain medicines. xarelto® can cause serious, and in rare cases, fatal bleeding. get help right away for unexpected bleeding, unusual bruising, or tingling. if you've had spinal anesthesia, watch for back pain or any nerve or muscle-related signs or symptoms. do not take xarelto® if you have an artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding. tell your doctor before all planned medical or dental procedures and before starting xarelto® about any conditions, such as kidney, liver, or bleeding problems. you've got to learn all you can... ...to help protect yourself from dvt and pe blood clots. talk to your doctor about xarelto®. there's more to know. righbreakfast sandwichesese delifor just $4.ld's mix and match the bacon, egg & cheese mcgriddles, the sausage mcmuffin with egg, or bacon, egg & cheese biscuit. a deal that will make your morning routine, a little better. breakfast at mcdonald's ep your family active?

get to kohl's where under armour for the entire family is 25% off! and get kohl's cash for you! take 25% off select under armour tees, shorts, shoes and more! under armour for your family - kohl's cash for you! only at kohl's! we're ready for you. ♪ introducing new elvive protein recharge leave-in conditioner. in just one use, leave your hair with 97% less breakage. because you're worth it.

"20/20" continues. >> reporter: it is sunday, march 12th, day two of amber vanhecke's 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, she's okay. i have an undying, like, faith and trust in my sister that can take care of herself. because my sister's strong. >> it didn't occur to me about getting lost in the desert. because i have really decent navigation skills. >> reporter: along with those skills, she's 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. that's the trailhead? >> yep. >> reporter: it's in the middle of nothing. >> yes. >> reporter: all right, let's go. it says 63 miles. and you only had 90 max on your tank. we returned 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 didn't see. and i went against my better instinct. i trusted google maps, which i shouldn't have. >> reporter: let's face it. we're all too dependent on our devices to get us places. and amber's not the first to discover that can nearly get you killed. >> drive .8 miles to dirt road. >> reporter: 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. >> recalculating. >> it just kept saying, you know, go this distance and take a turn. make a u-turn. >> turn left on old ghost road. >> there's nothing there. we were out of gas. we were out of road. we were out of everything. >> reporter: "20/20's" jay schadler saw how navigational technology can sometimes be dangerously outdated. >> turn right on golden canyon road. >> reporter: i don't see a road. what we have here is a canyon wall. >> oh, definitely. i mean, 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 amber's life, as well. after she makes that fateful turn off highway 64. >> turn right. turn right.

>> reporter: so, we're making a right. it's 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 taken-care-of gravel road. >> reporter: but it is a gravel road. >> yes. >> continue for 14 miles. >> reporter: so, we're barely a mile off the road and we're driving in empty space -- check that out. >> even if you had a compass and a map, look around. you don't have known points. mountain peak, mountain peak -- you can't even do that out here. you don't have anything. it's 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 wilson's 1,200-square mile ranch. one of the biggest in the west. >> it's 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 couldn't 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 wasn't a road here. that's when i was like, this is not good. >> reporter: what goes your through your mind when you hit that fence? >> oh, my god, where's the road supposed to be? that's 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 didn't 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: it's still tough for amber to recall. as her panic swells, her most precious resource dwindles. >> i was trying to watch my gas. i'm 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, i'm going to stop for the night, because i'm just wasting more gas and i'm 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, i'm 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, he's been my rock, and that's when the thoughts of, like, maybe i should leave a message in case something happens. that's when i made the first video. >> reporter: a video diary in total darkness. her face not visible at all. >> i've never really been, like, scared for my life before now. in case i don't, 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 don't even want to do this trip anymore. i'm so scared. >> reporter: when we come back, amber hatches a plan. she'll move heaven and earth to save herself, praying for some help from above. stay with us.

mitzi: psoriatic arthritis tries to get in my way? watch me. ( ♪ ) mike: i've tried lots of things for my joint pain. now? watch me. ( ♪ ) joni: think i'd give up showing these guys how it's done? please. real people with active psoriatic arthritis are changing the way they fight it. they're moving forward with cosentyx. it's a different kind of targeted biologic. it's proven to help people find less joint pain and clearer skin. don't use if you are allergic to cosentyx. before starting cosentyx you should be checked for tuberculosis. an increased risk of infections and lowered ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms of an infection. or if you have received a vaccine, or plan to. if you have inflammatory bowel disease tell your doctor if symptoms develop or worsen. serious allergic reactions may occur. mitzi: with less joint pain, watch me. for less joint pain and clearer skin, ask your rheumatologist about cosentyx.

ask your rheumatologist you may be at increased risk for pneumococcal pneumonia, that can take you out of the game for weeks, even if you're healthy. pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that in severe cases can lead to hospitalization. it may hit quickly, without warning, causing you to miss out on the things you enjoy most. prevnar 13® is not a treatment for pneumococcal pneumonia... it's a vaccine you can get to help protect against it. prevnar 13® is approved for adults to help prevent infections from 13 strains of the bacteria that cause pneumococcal pneumonia. you should not receive prevnar 13® if you have had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients. if you have a weakened immune system, you may have a lower response to the vaccine. the most common side effects were pain,

redness and swelling at the injection site, limited arm movement, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, less appetite, vomiting, fever, chills, and rash. help protect yourself against pneumococcal pneumonia. ask your doctor or pharmacist about prevnar 13®. in terms of treating 3 days is really fast. now the dentist is going to be able to provide that to their patients. sensodyne rapid relief in my opinion is a game changer. it's going to let the dentist offer their patient sensitivity relief in 3 days. it has a formulation that lays down a barrier of protection against sensitivity. within 3 days, say over the course of a weekend you're going to start feeling significant results. to say that it works in 3 days really is a big deal.

>> reporter: monday, march 13th. as dawn breaks over the arizona horizon, amber vanhecke awakes

inside a sprawling 1,200-square 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: she's 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 doesn't take too long to be found. got other things i got to do. >> reporter: she's actually stranded on that vast cattle ranch. amber's 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, amber's father stephen is late for work, and he's growing concerned that he hasn't heard from amber. >> i'm 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, it's 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 that's courage. >> reporter: there is one encouraging sign of human life, one hope flying overhead. that's 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." >> it's not like we're flying just looking for people out there, because we know there's 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, she'd be tough to see. >> the rocks don't change all that much, so, what's 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, it's 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 20-foot-long plea for help. she's 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 isn't dark enough. >> for the life of me, i can't 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. amber's 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 isn't 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 don't 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? you know? >> reporter: yes, but the dark, and you're thinking scorpions and maybe snakes and coyotes -- that must have been terrifying. >> i've had an experience with a scorpion. i don't wish to repeat it. it stung. i didn't 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 you're supposed to have more profound thoughts when you think you're going to die. i guess maybe i should ask

myself, did i make a difference in the world? i mean, i know i didn't. i'm only 24. i haven't done anything meaningful yet. i guess at this point, i'm just counting on my father constantly checking in for him to notice that something's awry. >> reporter: did that young woman think that she was going to die? by tuesday, march 14th, stephen vanhecke is legitimately worried. he's gotten no calls, no texts, no word at all from his daughter. >> and when you still can't find her, the numbness sets in. like you're dead inside. >> reporter: he holds out hope that she's 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 it's pretty

warm. >> reporter: warm enough, in fact, to heat some of her ramen noodles on the car. the noodles somehow -- >> i don't 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? sitting out here. >> 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 lunar-like landscape are actually prairie dog burrows. >> i've been watching the little prairie dogs that live around here, because this place is riddled with prairie dog burrows. they're just really cute. i've got cows, prairie dogs and coyotes for company. and bugs. >> reporter: coming up, a sudden

chance of a rescue roars by -- >> started to chase down a truck, but they didn't see me in their rear view. >> reporter: but leaves amber in the dust. and then i learn type 2 diabetes puts me at greater risk for heart attack or stroke. can one medicine help treat both blood sugar and cardiovascular risk? i asked my doctor. he told me about non-insulin victoza®. victoza® is not only proven to lower a1c and blood sugar, but for people with type 2 diabetes treating their cardiovascular disease, victoza® is also approved to lower the risk of major cv events such as heart attack, stroke, or death. and while not for weight loss, victoza® may help you lose some weight. (announcer) victoza® is not for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. do not take victoza® if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you are allergic to victoza® or any of its ingredients.

stop taking victoza® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck or symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as rash, swelling, difficulty breathing, or swallowing. serious side effects may happen, including pancreatitis. so stop taking victoza® and call your doctor right away if you have severe pain in your stomach area. tell your doctor your medical history. gallbladder problems have happened in some people. tell your doctor right away if you get symptoms. taking victoza® with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, indigestion, and constipation. side effects can lead to dehydration, which may cause kidney problems. change the course of your treatment. ask your doctor about victoza®.

♪ ♪ get high speed internet from at&t. $30 per month. no extra monthly fees. more for your thing. that's our thing. visit att.com/internet.

♪ ♪ my husband is probably going to think i'm crazy. he thinks i'm going to see my sister! ♪ ♪ sometimes the confidence to be spontaneous starts with financial stability. once i heard it i was shocked. i just thought, i have to go get it! ♪ ♪ it's our tree! ♪ ♪ see how a personalized financial strategy and access to j.p. morgan investment expertise can help you. chase. make more of what's yours.

>> reporter: it's been three long days since amber vanhecke's smartphone gave her some pretty dumb directions. the 24-year-old now finds herself at the crossroads of desperation and despair. isolated near the grand canyon, she's out of gas and nearly out of time. making matters worse, a series of near misses, as she tries to connect with someone, anyone. it's 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 daughter's missing. i need some people to try to find her, and this is the last place i saw her." >> reporter: the problem? stephen references amber's last known location in new mexico, where her app pinged him back on saturday. >> and i was sending them to albuquerque. >> reporter: but basically, you're 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 arm's 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? >> i'd have say maybe seven feet. but the silo blocked me from their view, so it's not their fault at all. >> reporter: sensing this could be her last chance at survival, the spring breaker springs into action. barefoot. >> i immediately jumped out of my car and tried to run after them, not thinking about my feet, not thinking about anything else, because i was like, if this is where i get out, it doesn't matter. but i couldn't keep up. and with how much dust and stuff there was kicked up, there was no way they could see me. >> reporter: out sprinted by a pick-up 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 didn't see me in

their rearview. i'm 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, like, so many things after the fact that i was like, i should have done this, i should have done that. and i just beat myself up about it. my feet are torn up, because i wasn't wearing shoes at the time. so, i'm 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 won't go any further. >> reporter: frustrated, she builds a roadblock to prevent another vehicle from passing her by. >> that's the incident that

caused me to barricade the road. i built a little rock thing and put this head lamp i have and 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 don't 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 well-known 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 hadn't 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 two-days 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 she's out on the road, the calvary shows up at her makeshift base camp to rescue her. >> it's a bit of a letdown. you say, okay, we found them, and nobody's there. >> reporter: once again, amber is in the wrong place at the wrong time. when we return. oh, manatees. aka "the sea cow"" oh! there's one. manatees in novelty ts? surprising. what's "come at me bro?" it's something you say to a friend. what's not surprising? how much money matt saved by switching to geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. is back at olive garden. starting at $11.99. all the helpings you want

of all the classics you love. because the best things in life should be never ending. hurry in, it ends soon, at olive garden. the red one is more haribogooder to me cos it tastes like berries. they're really squishy. and then i'm gonna fly it in to my mouth. ♪ kids and grown ups love it ♪o ♪ the happy world of haribo ♪ before discovering nexium 24hr to treat her frequent heartburn, lucy could only imagine enjoying a slice of pizza. now it's as easy as pie. nexium 24hr stops acid before it starts for all-day, all-night protection. can you imagine 24 hours without heartburn?

you want "streaming all you your favorite showsy. on the fastest internet" easy. you want "internet that helps you save on mobile" easy. you want "the best wifi you can pause with a tap." see? easy. time for bed. you want xfinity because it makes your life... simple. easy. awesome. get started with xfinity internet for $40 a month for 2 full years when you sign up for tv. plus, get 3x the speed of at&t and directv. click, call or visit a store today. ♪ ♪ (vo) you can pass down a subaru forester. but you get to keep the memories. love. it's what makes a subaru, a subaru. (avo) get 0% apr financing on all new 2018 subaru forester models. now through april 2nd.

>> reporter: it is the morning of friday, march 17th. while the rest of the country is celebrating st. patrick's day, amber vanhecke decides to make her own luck. >> woke up feeling hopeful today, so, we'll see what happens. >> reporter: she abandons the safety of her immobilized car, and sets out in search of a cell

phone signal. >> i didn't want to stray off too far in a direction that didn't follow a road, because i didn't want to not be able to find my way back. >> reporter: amber takes me back to that desolate spot where she wound up on her long, desperate hike. but it's amazing. you can see flagstaff mountain so clearly from here. >> that's actually why i chose to walk that way. because flagstaff has towers on it, and i knew that. so, that would be the best bet. >> reporter: that's 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 she's somewhere between havasu park and the highway that goes into the southern rim visitor center. >> and she's like, "in the grand canyon?" i was like, "no, ma'am, i'm in the desert. and i've been here for five days." and i don't what she was going to say after that, because it was gone. >> reporter: that's right, gone. the call, dropped. the lifeline goes dead. >> i was just heartbroken, i guess, in that moment, because i wasn't sure how search and rescue worked. i knew they needed information to find out where i was. i wasn't sure if they wouldn't send someone, if they didn't have enough information. and i wasn't 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 don't 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 who's panicking. >> reporter: amber doesn't know it, but help is already on the way. authorities scramble the arizona department of public safety rescue team.

pilot jonah nieves and paramedic edgar bissonette. >> the message we got from coconino county was that there was a female, who said that she was somewhere between havasupai and the south rim of the grand canyon. she's 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. >> let's go check this glare out. it -- who knows? it might be what we're 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, 30-foot letters, word "help" written out of rocks on the ground next to the car. and we're like, this has got to be it. >> reporter: they land the chopper. but there's nobody in sight. >> it's a bit of a letdown when you circle an area and say, okay, we found them, and nobody's here. so, okay, where are they? what happened to them? >> reporter: miles away, amber had seen the helicopter pass overhead without noticing her. you see that helicopter tear over you and you're 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 didn't 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: back at the car, amber wisely had left this message. >> in a nutshell it said, "i'm

not here. i walked east along the road to find cell phone signal, if you're reading this sign, please help me." and jonah said, "let's 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 that's when i saw the speck getting bigger. >> and we flew east. and i'm looking off to the left, jonah's got the road in front of him. and at that point, i'm 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 -- they're coming for me! >> reporter: that's a good feeling, isn't it? >> yes. yes.

>> next thing you know, i'm two feet from her, first thing comes out of my mouth was, "did you call?" >> he's 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 she's 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 wouldn't mind getting stranded with you, you know what you're doing. >> and i'm like, thank you. >> reporter: the helicopter flies amber straight to the hospital in flagstaff. there, she calls her parents. >> i can't even explain the

relief of hearing her voice. >> i said, where are you? i'm glad you're alive, what you are doing? where are you at? she goes, i'm sorry, papa, and i was like, what are you doing apologizing for? i've 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 isn't enough. >> hey, papa. >> reporter: as we saw when we were interviewing amber and her dad arrived.

still ahead, one more reunion. ♪yeah ♪and i just wanna tell you right now that i♪ ♪i believe, i really do believe that♪ ♪something's got a hold on me, yeah♪ ♪oh, it must be love ♪oh, something's got a hold on me right now, child♪ ♪oh, it must be love ♪let me tell you now, oh it must be love♪ which is nice because i'veken tengot better things to do.ne, i've got seven cards. i've got eleven. i have four cards.

mcdonald's buttermilk crispy tenders. they're not grandma's, but she's ok with that. timethis weekend at kohl'ser? take an extra 15% off or an extra 20% off - when you spend $100 or more! update your cookware! new towels - just $10.19! and an air fryer - only $103.99 plus get kohl's cash! a spring refresh for your home - kohl's cash for you! kohl's! ♪ ♪ i can do more to lower my a1c. because my body can still make its own insulin. and i take trulicity once a week to activate my body to release it, like it's supposed to. trulicity is not insulin. it comes in a once-weekly, truly easy-to-use pen. the pen where you don't have to see or handle a needle. and it works 24/7. trulicity is a once-weekly injectable medicine to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes when used with diet and exercise. it should not be the first medicine to treat diabetes, or for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. do not take trulicity if you have a personal

or family history of medullary thyroid cancer, if you have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you're allergic to trulicity. stop trulicity and call your doctor right away if you have a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or symptoms like itching, rash, or trouble breathing. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. taking trulicity with a sulfonylurea or insulin increases your risk for low blood sugar. common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, and indigestion. some side effects can lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. to help lower my a1c i choose trulicity to activate my within. ask your doctor if once-weekly trulicity is right for you. ♪ ♪

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, she's pretty easily recognized. >> i read about you! >> reporter: amber is still healing, both physically and emotionally. you still have on your hospital band? >> yeah, it's a sentimental, weird thing i do. previously, when i've had these, i don't take them off until i'm over whatever i went through. and i'm not over it, not yet. >> reporter: now, two weeks later, a surprise for amber. we reunite her with two special guests. >> edgar and jonah! hi! >> how are you doing? >> good to see you. >> it's 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, here's a gas card for you. >> thank you. i'll make sure to fill up. >> 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 it's time for me lose the wristband. and -- i think that's 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. i'm not going to let fear stop me from doing anything in this world. >> one very happy reunion.

and amber tells us that she took a year off from school, but she's going to return, then plans to go to grad school. right now, she's training for a marathon. >> pretty impressive. google maps did not respond to our request for comment, but a gps industry source told abc news, gps devices are to be used as navigational aids only. it is the responsibility of drivers to exercise common sense. essentially, you're on your own. and that's our program for tonight. thanks so much for watching. i'm elizabeth vargas. >> and i'm david muir. from all of us at "20/20" and abc news, thanks for watching tonight. good night. a rallying cry heard across