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trUst — I Know… Pops

A True Story · Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana · 1973

An Unforgettable Mountain Tale

In the summer of 1973, two families set off on horseback into the remote Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana. Sixteen miles from the nearest road, with no phone, no radio, and no way out but the trail they rode in on, a cherished backcountry vacation suddenly became a matter of life and death as lightning struck.

Four-year-old Tommy McMahon suffers a catastrophic fall. Deep in the wilderness, truly off the grid, his father, Dr. Jack McMahon Sr., does the unthinkable: uses a Swiss Army knife to save his son’s life, while the rest of the family fights through the dark Montana night to signal for help.

Sounds unbelievable? Well, it’s a story the McMahons lived.

Intervention Beyond Survival

trUst begins years before that August night when two strangers who met by chance on the banks of the Blackfoot River in 1967. Dr. McMahon, a surgeon struggling to land his first trout, and Dick Fryhover, a legend on those waters, struck up a friendship that would grow into something rare.

It was the strength of that trust they built over years of campfires and wilderness trips that made the impossible possible on the night Tommy fell.

The “U” in trUst is capitalized for a reason. It stands for you, the most important person any of us must learn to trust. That message is embedded deep into every page of this book, carried inside a story you will not soon forget.

A Heartfelt Story To Be Remembered for Generations

This book exists because a daughter gave her father a leather-bound notebook and one simple wish: Tell your story, so one day I can share it with my own kids.

What followed proves what is possible when we prioritize unity over ego, and learn to trust trust itself even when all the odds are stacked against us. Whether you are a parent, an adventurer, or a teammate, this story is for anyone who has ever been pushed to their absolute limit and refuses to give up.

You already have everything you need to win. This book shows you how to use it.

Built on Truth

The story behind the story

Praise

Stories that inspire and uplift

“What an inspirational story about tragedy to triumph! The fight against time, and survival had me on the edge of my chair. trUst.”

Adam Vinatieri

NFL Hall of Famer & All-Time Leading Scorer

“In a world where trUst and loyalty is everything, one father faces the ultimate challenge — saving his son’s life. A gripping emotional journey of friendship, sacrifice, and unwavering love.”

Chuck Pagano

Former Head Coach, Indianapolis Colts

“trUst I Know… Pops is a breathtaking, heart-cracking story of one family’s journey through trauma and into the light. Thrilling, tender, and ultimately triumphant.”

Phill Lewis

Actor & Director