Remember When Hank Williams Jr. Fell off a Mountain and Survived

Besides being known as the son of Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr.’s legacy extends far beyond his lineage and his music. That other factor is that he is one crazy son of a gun. The stories that Williams’ personality provides make the stuff Keith Richards did look like child’s play. Despite this reckless living, it seems Hank Williams Jr. just won’t be beaten.

One story in particular that makes Williams look invincible is when he fell off a mountain and survived. Yep, you heard that right, Williams fell over 500 feet from a snowy peak and lived to tell the tale. Here are the details about Williams’ death defying excursion and the intense recovery it entailed.

Hank Williams’ Jr & Ajax Peak

It was 1975, and Williams was in Montana after just finishing his album Hank Williams Jr. & Friends. Seemingly celebrating the hard work, Williams and his friend decided to hike Ajax Peak. A 10,000 ft mountain known for its steep faces and treacherous terrain. Williams being Williams, ignored these “warning signs” and went to hike the peak when it was covered in snow.

Following his tumble down the mountain’s ginormous face, a rescue team was called and began the extraction process. The rescue mission took six hours. Six men carried Williams to a helicopter where he was then taken to nearby Missoula Community Hospital. Once at the hospital, Williams underwent a seven-hour surgery with five different doctors operating on him.

The Aftermath

Williams clearly remembers the first two people he saw when he woke up—His godmother, June Carter Cash, and her husband, the one and only, Johnny Cash. Upon regaining consciousness Williams recalls that “June put a cross on me and told me it was all going to be OK. I never knew if I would sing again or not, talk again or not, let alone think about what I was going to look like,” he told Rolling Stone.

As we all know Williams was okay and he did continue to perform. However, he traveled down a long road of recovery before he was able to do so. Williams’ recovery lasted two years and consisted of 17 facial reconstructive surgeries, as well as him relearning how to talk and sing. The damage is now covered by his iconic glasses, and it’s as if the accident never happened. Country music stars truly aren’t built like they used to be, and Hank Williams Jr. is living proof of that fact.

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