Hacking the Wild (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Deadly Glacier - full transcript

Quitmeyer: THE GLACIERS
OF ALASKA'S HIGHLANDS

ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY
DEVOID OF LIFE.

THERE'S NOTHING HERE.

DYING OF THIRST.

I DON'T USE
TRADITIONAL SURVIVAL GEAR.

AH, IT ACTUALLY WORKED.

I ONLY RELY
ON THE EVERYDAY TECH

I CARRY IN MY BACKPACK
TO SURVIVE.

WHOO!

IF I CAN HACK
THIS FRIGID LANDSCAPE...

THERE'S NO WAY OUT OF HERE.



I MIGHT STAY ALIVE
LONG ENOUGH...

[ GRUNTS ]

...TO PROVE SOME NEW METHODS
OF SURVIVAL.

I GOT A CRAZY IDEA.

OH, WHAT THE HELL
AM I DOING?

SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES HAVEN'T
CHANGED IN THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

FOOD, WATER, SHELTER...
WE STILL USE

THE SAME TECHNIQUES
AS CAVEMEN.

IT'S TIME FOR AN UPGRADE.

FORGET TRADITIONAL
SURVIVAL GEAR.

THERE WE GO.

ARMED WITH THE SIMPLE
TECHNOLOGY IN MY BACKPACK,

I'LL TRANSFORM GADGETS
WE USE EVERY DAY

INTO AMAZING TOOLS
FOR SURVIVAL.



LET'S BUILD A FIRE.

THIS IS MY MISSION.

AND I'M GOING TO STAKE
MY LIFE ON IT.

I'LL TAKE ON SOME OF THE MOST
DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH...

AS I HACK MY WAY BACK
TO CIVILIZATION.

WHOO!

THIS IS...

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

GLACIERS ARE POWERFUL
RIVERS OF ICE

THAT RIP APART MOUNTAINS
AS THEY MOVE DOWNHILL.

LAST YEAR, TWO SKIERS
WERE TRAPPED BY A STORM HERE

BARELY SURVIVING THE FIVE DAYS

IT TOOK RESCUERS
TO FIND THEM...

[ GRUNTS, SIGHS ]

AND NOW I'M HEADING TO
THE SAME REGION OF ALASKA

TO SURVIVE WITH TECH
AS MY TOOL.

MY GOAL IS TO NAVIGATE THROUGH
A GLACIER'S MAZE OF ICE

TO LOWER GROUND
WHERE I'LL HAVE MY BEST CHANCE

OF FINDING A RIVER WHICH COULD
LEAD TO RESCUE OR CIVILIZATION.

SINCE I'M NOT USING TRADITIONAL
MOUNTAINEERING GEAR,

I NEED TO MEET WITH GLACIER
SURVIVALIST KELLIE NIGHTLINGER.

SHE HAS COUNTLESS HOURS
OF SOLO EXPEDITIONS

AND IS AN EXPERT IN SURVIVING
SUBFREEZING CONDITIONS.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW
YOU CAN EXIST OUT HERE.

THESE CONDITIONS
COULD BE BRUTAL, YOU KNOW?

THINGS CAN CHANGE
BY A MOMENT.

TEMPERATURES CAN PLUMMET
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

YEAH.

YOU HAVE DONE THIS KIND
OF THING BEFORE, RIGHT?

- YEAH, BUT NEVER...
- NEVER BEEN LIKE THIS?

- ...IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.
- REALLY?

YEAH.

THAT'S ALARMING.

COME WITH ME
FOR A MINUTE.

ALL RIGHT.

SLIPPERY OUT HERE, ISN'T IT?
YEAH.

SO HOW YOU GONNA
BE ABLE TO HOLD ON?

I'M NOT TOO SURE.

IT'S REALLY IS JUST
ALL ICE HERE, RIGHT?

IT'S ALL ICE.

YOU'RE VERY LIABLE
TO SLIP AND FALL

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY WAY
TO HOLD ON TO ANYTHING.

YEAH.

TAKE A LOOK OUT THERE,
WHAT DO YOU SEE?

THERE'S A WHOLE
BUNCH OF SNOW.

WHAT ABOUT DANGERS?

I MEAN I GUESS THERE'S
THESE LITTLE CRACKS, BUT...

LITTLE CRACKS?
YEAH.

SO, THAT'S A CREVASSE.

OKAY.

AND THAT LITTLE CRACK
THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING

COULD GO DOWN
HUNDREDS OF FEET

AND NOT TO MENTION THIS SNOW

COULD BE HIDING THE FACT

THERE MIGHT NOT BE
ANY ICE UNDERNEATH THERE.

WHAT YOU THINK IS SOLID ICE
RIGHT HERE MIGHT BE

JUST ENOUGH OF AN OVERHANG
OF A CRUSTY SNOW

AND YOU TAKE A STEP ON IT,
AND DOWN YOU GO,

AND THEN YOU'VE
NO SUPPORT SYSTEM,

NO WAY TO GET OUT OF HERE.

SNOW BRIDGES ARE ONE OF THE
BIGGEST DANGERS ON GLACIERS.

AS SNOW FALLS, IT CAN BUILD UP

AND COMPLETELY HIDE
A DEEP CREVASSE

WHICH COULD LEAD
TO ENTRAPMENT AT BEST

AND A DEATH FALL AT WORST.

HOW YOU GONNA
CROSS THAT CREVASSE

IF IT'S TOO WIDE?

DO YOU HAVE, LIKE,
CRAMPONS?

NO, I GOT A HIKING STICK.

YOU HAVE GOT A HIKING STICK?

YEAH. I GOT SOME BOOTS.

DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU'RE
REALLY THAT PREPARED.

I MEAN, WHAT ELSE DO
YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACK?

EVERYTHING I'LL NEED TO SURVIVE
IS IN MY BACKPACK.

INSIDE, I HAVE SOME
EVERYDAY ELECTRONICS,

THE KIND MOST
OF US TRAVEL WITH.

I ALSO HAVE AN ELECTRONICS KIT
WITH SOME HAND TOOLS,

LASERS, AND SOME SERVOS,

PLUS A SMALL CHEMISTRY SET

WITH A COUPLE OF
TEMPERATURE CONTROL UNITS.

I'M ALSO EQUIPPED WITH THINGS

ANYONE MIGHT BRING
ON TO A GLACIER.

WITH ALL OF THIS,

I HOPE TO PROVE SOME NEW
METHODS OF SURVIVAL.

HOW ARE YOU GONNA
SURVIVE OUT HERE?

GOT A LAPTOP.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW THAT
STUFF IS GONNA WORK OUT HERE

IN THIS KIND OF COLD
ENVIRONMENT.

OF COURSE, YOU HAVE YOU KNOW,
THE HYPOTHERMIC CONDITIONS,

AND AT NIGHT,
IT'S GONNA BE VERY COLD.

KNOWING THE REGION
I'M HEADING INTO,

KELLIE INSISTS THAT I TAKE
AN EMERGENCY AIR BAG.

IT'S A PIECE OF AVALANCHE
SAFETY EQUIPMENT.

IT'S GOT ARTIFICIAL LUNGS
THAT WILL INFLATE

AND IT WILL CAUSE YOU
TO SHOOT TOWARDS THE SURFACE.

SO, THIS IS LIKE
A SNOW LIFE PRESERVER?

IT IS.

I'VE ACTUALLY GOT
SOMETHING FOR YOU.

MADE A LITTLE BUTTON ON THERE
THAT WILL OPEN UP AN APP

AND SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHERE I AM
WHILE I'M GOING THROUGH THIS.

THIS I THINK IS GONNA BE ONE
OF THE MOST EXTREME CHALLENGES

I'VE EVER HAD.

OH, IT WILL
CHALLENGE YOU.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

BECAUSE OF GRAVITY'S PULL,

GLACIERS LIKE THIS ONE
FLOW DOWNHILL.

SO AT LEAST I KNOW
WHICH DIRECTION I NEED TO HEAD,

BUT WITHOUT
THE PROPER EQUIPMENT,

ALMOST EVERY STEP
IS A DEATH WISH.

THIS SUCKS.

MY PLAN IS TO PICK MY WAY
ACROSS THE GLACIER

TO ITS NEAREST EDGE
WHERE I MAY FIND SOLID GROUND,

LIFE SAVING RESOURCES,
AND A WAY OUT.

IT'S MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE
I HAVE EVER TAKEN ON,

SO I JUST GOT TO KEEP MOVING,
KEEP WARM.

OH [BLEEP] GOD.

THE FOOTING HERE
IS TERRIFYING.

THE FEW ROCKS THAT EXIST
ARE COVERED IN SNOW AND ICE.

THE STEEP RIDGE LINES
ARE THE EASIEST TO WALK ON,

BUT PUT ME AT A GREATER RISK
OF SLIPPING

AND FALLING INTO A CREVASSE.

OH, LOOK AT IT GO.

IT'S GETTING HARD TO SEE
ANYTHING I'M EVEN WALKING ON.

[ GRUNTS ]

OH, GOD. OH, GEE!

I'M A SLIP AWAY FROM FALLING
DOWN A 100-FOOT ICE CHUTE.

I MAY MAKE A SHELTER

DOWN IN THIS FLAT AREA,

TRY TO USE SOME OF THIS.

SOME KIND OF SHELTER
FROM THIS WIND.

I ALREADY FEEL MY AMBIENT
BODY HEAT

STARTING TO MAKE THIS
A MUCH MORE HOSPITABLE PLACE.

I SPENT THIS WHOLE DAY
SLIPPING AND SLIDING

ACROSS THIS DAMN GLACIER.

I'M A BIT WORRIED.

THERE IS NO WAY I'M GONNA
GET ACROSS THIS

IF I DON'T GET ANY TRACTION.

CRAMPONS ARE JUST
BIG SHARP SPIKES

THAT CAN STICK OUT OF YOUR FEET.

I NEED SOMETHING STRONG ENOUGH

AND SHARP ENOUGH,
I CAN BUILD MY OWN.

LAPTOPS GOT A METAL PART ON TOP

BUT JUST A BUNCH
OF PLASTIC ON THE BOTTOM

BUT I THINK ONE WILL FIT
BOTH FEET WITH ONE TOP,

JUST TURN IT RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE,

IT'S GONNA TURN INTO
SOME REALLY WICKED

LOOKING SPIKES AND FANGS.

LET ME GET SOME KIND
OF TRACTION ON HERE.

IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING.

THESE CRAMPONS SEEM TO BE
DIGGING INTO THE ICE.

THE TRUE TEST WILL BE TOMORROW.

MY GOAL IS JUST GET OFF
THIS GLACIER AS SOON AS I CAN.

IT'S JUST A DEATH TRAP
STAYING ON TOP OF IT,

BUT I HAVE MORE
PRESSING CONCERNS.

WITH THE SUNDOWN,

IT'S GETTING COLDER
WITH EACH PASSING MINUTE.

I'M TRYING TO WARM UP THIS AREA.

MIXING A BIT OF THIS
SEDIMENT WITH SNOW,

I'LL BE SEALING
SOME OF THESE GAPS.

GOT TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY
TO GENERATE SOME HEAT IN HERE.

I'VE GOT THIS BLANKET HERE
WHICH ISN'T REALLY DOING MUCH,

TO HELP ME KEEP WARM
AND SURVIVE.

SO, I COMBINE THIS WITH JUST
A BIT

OF THIS CAN
OF JELLY DENATURED ALCOHOL

MAYBE I COULD PROLONG
HOW LONG IT GOES FOR.

THE GROUND IS MOSTLY
ICE AND SNOW

AND ANY FIRE I BUILD WILL BE
SITTING IN A PUDDLE OF WATER

WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES.

THAT GIVES ME ONE
OPTION... RAISE THE FIRE.

NOW ALL I NEED IS SOMETHING
TO LIGHT IT WITH.

CAN GET A SPARK
FROM THIS BATTERY.

SO, THEY HAVE CIRCUITRY
TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T ACTUALLY,

YOU KNOW, CATCH YOURSELF ON FIRE
WITH YOUR LAPTOP,

BUT IF YOU CRACK INTO IT,

YOU CAN GET TO THE RAW
LiPo BATTERY CELLS.

TWO OF THESE CELLS
SHOULD BE ENOUGH,

ESPECIALLY IF I'VE SOME
OF THIS REALLY THIN WIRE.

IF YOU PASS A CURRENT THROUGH
IT, IT HEATS UP A LOT.

AT THESE SUB-FREEZING
TEMPERATURES,

A CHANGE OF JUST 10 DEGREES CAN
SAP 50% OF A BATTERY'S OUTPUT.

SO, THESE BATTERIES MIGHT BE
USELESS OR EVEN DEAD.

COME ON. CATCH.

OH [BLEEP]

I'VE GOT ONE LAST SHOT.

I'LL TRY MY FOUR
REMAINING BATTERIES.

THEY'LL DOUBLE THE VOLTAGE.

YEAH, OKAY.

[ SIGHS ]

THIS IS REALLY NICE.

THIS IS ONE OF
THE FIRST TIMES TODAY

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACTUALLY
KIND OF FEEL MY FINGERS

AND STARTING TO FILL UP
MY LITTLE COVE.

FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING,
I GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE,

I GOTTA MAKE MY WAY
DOWN TO FIND FOOD,

BETTER SHELTER,
THERE IS NOTHING HERE.

THIS GLACIER OFFERS NOTHING
MORE THAN A COLD PLACE TO DIE.

[ WIND WHISTLING ]

♪♪

Quitmeyer: MY WHOLE BODY
IS PRETTY MUCH NUMB.

UNEVEN SURFACE, I CAME
IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.

KEPT TRYING TO MOVE
THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT,

BUT MY JOINTS FEEL CREAKY
AND HARD.

IT'S LIKE ALL THE TEMPERATURE'S
JUST BEEN SUCKED OUT OF ME.

I SHOULD START MOVING,
BUT IT'S HARD TO EVEN SIT UP.

I'VE TO GET MOVING
FOR TWO REASONS...

ONE, TO GENERATE BODY HEAT,

AND, TWO,
TO GET OFF THIS GLACIER,

BECAUSE I'M HUNGRY

AND FOOD DOESN'T GROW
ON GIANT ICE CUBES.

MY LAPTOP CRAMPONS ARE MY ONLY
HOPE OF GETTING OFF THIS THING.

IF THIS HACK WORKS,
I'LL BE ABLE TO PROVE

A DIFFERENT FORM
OF SURVIVAL TECH.

LET'S GET OFF THIS GLACIER.

I'LL HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS
WITH EACH STEP

SINCE FALLEN SNOW CAN
BUILD UP OVER A CREVASSE

MAKING IT COMPLETELY HIDDEN
UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.

THERE'S A DEFINITE DEATH CHASM.

THESE CRAMPONS ARE ACTUALLY
WORKING OKAY SO FAR.

I KNOW I GOTTA
GET OFF THIS GLACIER

AS SOON AS I CAN
AND I CAN SEE THE EDGE,

IT'S JUST RIGHT THERE
WITH SOME TREES

RIGHT ALONG THE LINE OF IT

BUT BETWEEN ME
AND OFF THIS GLACIER

IS A LOT OF CREVASSES.

THERE ARE HOLES ALL OVER
THAT I CAN'T EVEN SEE,

I GOTTA SOMEHOW MAKE IT ACROSS.

Nightlinger: GLACIERS ARE
VERY DANGEROUS AT THEIR BEST.

IT HAS ME VERY CONCERNED.

HE HAS NO CRAMPONS,
NO SHELTER,

NO ICE PICKS,
NO EXPERIENCE,

AND HE IS UP THERE WITH NO FOOD,
NO WATER

TRYING TO GET ACROSS THIS THING.

IT'S FRIGID COLD TEMPERATURES,

THE WEATHER CONDITIONS
UP THERE ARE TERRIBLE,

THAT'S GONNA HIDE
ALL OF THE DANGERS,

INCLUDING THE CREVASSES,
AND ONCE HE FALLS IN,

THERE'S NO WAY OUT.

[BLEEP]

OH, FREAKING CRAMPON.

IT'S SO COLD OUT HERE,

THE ALUMINUM'S GOTTEN
REALLY BRITTLE.

OH, GEEZ.

OH, WHOA [BLEEP]

OH THAT'S DOWN THERE.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ GRUNTING ]

[BLEEP]

STUPID.

I CAN'T MOVE ANYWHERE HERE,

EVERYTHING'S JUST
THIS STUPID ICE,

IF I CAN'T HAVE SOMETHING
ON MY FEET,

MAYBE I CAN AT LEAST JUST
GET SOME KIND OF HAND GRIP

SO THEN WHEN I'M DIVING LIKE
THIS I CAN HAVE SOMETHING

THAT GIVES ME
A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A GRIP.

I WAS THINKING MAYBE SOME PARTS
OF THE CIRCUIT BOARD WOULD WORK.

THEY'RE STILL
A LITTLE BIT SLIPPERY.

THE GLOVES HAVE THIS LITTLE
STRAP, BUT IT'S ON THE BACK,

I THINK I CAN FLIP THEM
AROUND BACKWARDS.

[ CHUCKLES ]

IT ACTUALLY WORKED.

WHOO-HOO!

GETTING
OFF THE LIFELESS GLACIER

GIVES ME A CERTAIN
SENSE OF RELIEF,

BUT IT ALSO SAPPED
MOST OF MY ENERGY.

I NEED FOOD SOON BECAUSE I'M
AT A SERIOUS CALORIE DEFICIT.

TRYING TO LOOK FOR BETTER PLACES

TO TRY TO SCROUNGE UP
SOMETHING TO EAT,

MAYBE HUNT
FOR SOME BUGS OR GRUBS.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
OF LICHEN OVER HERE,

BUT NOT EVEN MUCH OF THAT.

MY CHANCES ARE
LOOKING PRETTY LOW.

MY PLAN IS TO MOVE
ALONGSIDE THE GLACIER'S EDGE

AND INTO ONE
OF THE MANY VALLEYS

WHERE HOPEFULLY
I'LL FIND RESOURCES,

THEN I'LL HEAD BACK
TO THE GLACIER'S EDGE

WHERE I MAY FIND
A RIVER AND A WAY OUT.

ALL RIGHT,
LOOK AT THAT WATERFALL,

I'M SO THIRSTY, I'M GONNA TRY
TO GRAB SOME OF THAT WATER.

IT'S GONNA BE THE FRESHEST
WATER I EVER HAD.

DRINKING GLACIER WATER
IS A PRETTY LOW RISK

EVEN WITHOUT FILTERING IT
FOR BACTERIA.

PROS DEFINITELY
OUTWEIGH THE CONS.

I'M DYING OF THIRST,

BUT I CAN'T LET MYSELF
DRINK TOO MUCH OF THIS.

THIS IS JUST GONNA FREEZE ME.

I HAVE TO DRINK SLOWLY
OR I RISK

DROPPING MY CORE TEMPERATURE,

A DEADLY MISTAKE.

THAT WATERFALL'S MAKING
EVERYTHING REALLY DAMP HERE,

SO EVERYTHING'S FROZEN OVER.

IF I DON'T GET MOVING PAST
THIS I AM GONNA END UP

LIKE THOSE PLANT
POPSICLES UP THERE.

I THINK I CAN MAKE IT UP
OVER THAT RIDGE.

RIDGE HOPPING MEANS HIKING
BACK THROUGH THE SNOW LINE,

BUT AT LEAST
I WON'T BE WET AND FROZEN.

I HAD TO GO UP AND OVER
A BUNCH OF RIDGES.

WHAT'S NICE IS DOWN THERE,

THERE'S ACTUALLY TREES
AND STUFF STARTING TO POP UP.

IT'S DOWN A REALLY STEEP RIDGE
ACROSS A LITTLE RIVER.

I'VE GOT MY HAND CRAMPONS
FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD,

THESE ROBO GLOVES
ARE GONNA HELP ME

UP AND OVER THESE ICY RIDGES

AND I'M HOPING THEY'LL LET ME
DO A KIND OF CONTROLLED DESCENT

AS I TRY TO GET DOWN
THIS JUST ICE CLIFF.

JUST DIG THAT IN. YEAH.

WHOO! WHOO!

WHOO!

WHOO!

WHOO! WHOO!

YEAH!

THANK YOU ROBO GLOVES.

I'M TOTALLY LOST.

EVERY TIME I DESCEND A MOUNTAIN
TOP, I LOSE MY BEARINGS,

AND THE BRIGHT ALASKAN SUN

IS STARTING TO PRESENT
PROBLEMS OF ITS OWN.

I CAN'T REALLY LOOK ANYWHERE.

EVERYTHING'S WHITE, ALL AROUND
ME, EVEN IN THIS SHADOW RIDGE,

IT'S BLINDING.

I NEED A WAY TO PROTECT MY EYES
FROM SNOW BLINDNESS,

EVEN IN SHADOW, THE SUNLIGHT
IS LITERALLY BURNING MY CORNEAS.

IT'S GIVING ME
A HORRIBLE HEADACHE.

WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING?
[ GROANS ]

I MAY BE ABLE TO REPURPOSE
PART OF MY LAPTOP SCREEN

AND KILL TWO BIRDS
WITH ONE STONE.

THE NEAT THING ABOUT THESE
IS THEY ARE ACTUALLY POLARIZED.

AND THE SKY IS POLARIZED
BY THE SUN TO WHEREVER IT IS

SO YOU CAN USE IT AS A COMPASS.

THE SKY IS A BUNCH
OF POLARIZED LINES

THAT ALWAYS POINT
DIRECTLY TO THE SUN

THAT WE CAN'T SEE,

BUT IF YOU HOLD
A POLARIZING SHEET IN FRONT IT,

WHEN IT GOES DARK
THAT'S THE ANGLE

THAT POINTS DIRECTLY TO THE SUN.

THESE THING WILL GIVE ME
SOME DECENT FRAMES.

SO, IF I ORIENT SOME OF THIS
POLARIZING SHEET

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTIONS,

I CAN MAKE A COMPASS WITH IT.

SINCE I'M SO HIGH UP,
I KNOW THE SUN'S ALWAYS SOUTH,

SO WHEREVER I'M LOOKING,

I HAVE A BEARING
THAT POINTS DIRECTLY SOUTH

EVEN IF THE SUN'S BEHIND
A MOUNTAIN LIKE THIS,

IT'S CLOUDY, IT'S SNOWING,

I NEED A KIND OF ROSETTE,

THESE POLARIZING LAYERS

WHERE THERE ARE ALL SLIGHTLY
ANGLED OFF FROM EACH OTHER.

I THINK ONE EYEBALL
WITH A COMPASS IS GOOD ENOUGH,

THE OTHER ONE
I'M JUST GONNA MAKE SUNGLASSES.

THE COMPASS IS WORKING PERFECT.
BOOM!

SHELTER AND FOOD
ARE MY PRIORITIES.

I HAVE TO KEEP MY BODY HEAT UP

TO FIGHT BACK
AGAINST HYPOTHERMIA,

OR I WON'T LIVE
THROUGH THE NIGHT.

Quitmeyer: THESE GLASSES
ARE A REAL LIFESAVER

NOW THAT I'M IN THE OPEN LIGHT.

THEY'RE CUTTING THROUGH ALL THE
GLARE AND KEEPING ME ON TRACK.

MY COMPASS SUNGLASSES
ARE PREVENTING SNOW BLINDNESS

ALLOWING ME TO TRAVEL DOWN
THE BRIGHT RIDGE LINE

INTO A LOWER ELEVATION IN
SEARCH OF FOOD AND A WAY OUT.

SNOW COMING DOWN.

OH, GOD.

GETTING ALL OVER ME,
PIECE OF CRAP.

OH, GEEZ.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

I JUST GOT TO KEEP
WORKING MY WAY DOWN,

I THINK THERE'S A MEADOW
CLEARING DOWN THERE.

LOOK FOR SOME FOOD.

OH, MISERABLE.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ SIGHS ]

THIS SUCKS.

SO HUNGRY.

THERE'S SOME LICHEN UP THERE.

TASTES LIKE COFFEE SWEETENER
AND DIRT.

IT'S NOT BAD.

I MADE IT OFF THE GLACIER

AND I'M HIKING PARALLEL
TO ITS EDGE.

I'M USING MY COMPASS SUNGLASSES
TO KEEP ORIENTED

AS I MOVE ALONG
THE VARIOUS VALLEYS

AND HOPEFULLY FIND A RIVER

THAT COULD LEAD TO
CIVILIZATION.

Nightlinger:
I CAN SEE ANDY STOPPED.

I'M ASSUMING HE'S MAKING FIRE.

IT'S FRIGID COLD,
WET TEMPERATURES,

CHANGING WEATHER.

IT'S GONNA BE
A TREMENDOUS EFFORT

FOR HIM TO KEEP FIRE GOING.

I'M NOT SURE HOW HE'S
GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT.

ALL THIS DRY GRASS,
IT'S LOOKING PROMISING,

TRY TO GET A REALLY GOOD FIRE
GOING ON TONIGHT.

I GOTTA GET SHELTER,

MAYBE I CAN SNUGGLE
INTO SOME OF THESE TREES.

YOU CAN SEE THE TREE ITSELF
IS KIND OF INSULATING THIS AREA,

MELTING SOME OF THE SNOW
AROUND IT,

IT'S A GOOD SIGN.

MY BODY IS BURNING CALORIES

JUST TO KEEP MY CORE
TEMPERATURE FROM GOING TOO LOW.

NOT ENOUGH FOOD MEANS AN
INCREASED RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA,

AND THE LICHEN
JUST ISN'T CUTTING IT.

I WOULD BE REALLY NICE
IF I CAN FIND SOME INSECTS

OR GRUBS OR SOMETHING.

YEAH, IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY WARM

DOWN WHERE THIS LOG
WAS DECAYING.

NO GRUBS THOUGH.

THIS WOULD BE A GOOD SPOT
FOR MY BED.

NO FOOD, BUT AT LEAST I CAN
PUT TOGETHER A SIMPLE SHELTER

THAT WILL KEEP THE WIND OFF
OF ME AND HELP ME RETAIN HEAT.

I'LL USE LIMBS AND AS MUCH GRASS
AS I CAN GATHER

TO CREATE SOME INSULATION
FROM THE COLD GROUND.

I WENT AND GATHERED
ALL MY SUPPLIES

BEFORE THE SUN
STARTED REALLY GOING DOWN.

NOW I'M JUST BUILDING
OUT THE REST OF THE CAMP,

A BUNCH OF TINY DRY CONES

THAT WILL BE REALLY GOOD
FOR GETTING THAT FIRE GOING.

I'M THINKING I HAD
THAT NICE DIVOT

WHERE THAT LOG WAS
THAT I PULLED OUT.

IT WAS REAL WARM DOWN
IN THE EARTH,

BUT ALSO IF I MAKE A FIRE
DOWN HERE,

YOU GOT A GOOD FIRE PIT
HOLDING MY COALS IN

AND CAN KIND OF PUMP
THE HEAT UP.

THEN EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW,
THE FIRE DIES DOWN A BIT,

THE COALS CAN BE
KIND OF MOUNDED IN HERE,

AND THAT HEAT WILL STILL
SMOLDER UP TO ME.

I AM STILL HOPING
TO COME ACROSS SOME GRUBS

BECAUSE I'M STARVING.

I'M GONNA GRAB
SOME OF THESE ROCKS,

LAY ACROSS IT, GET MY BED
RIGHT ON TOP OF THAT HEAT.

WITH MY FIRE BEING
SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL,

THE HEAT WILL RISE UP
THROUGH MY EARTH DUCT

RIGHT UNDER MY BED.

THESE STICKS ARE GOING TO BE
MY FIRST LAYER

OF INSULATION FROM THE GROUND

AND THEY ARE GONNA LET THE HEAT
CHANNEL UP THROUGH HERE.

I'VE GOT MY JELLIED ALCOHOL
AND MY BATTERY LIGHTER,

SO FLAME'S NOT A PROBLEM.

SO, NICE TO ACTUALLY
BE AROUND A PLACE

WHERE THERE'S THINGS THAT BURN.

THERE WE GO.

HEAT STARTING TO WORK ITS WAY
UP IN MY CHANNEL.

I CAN FEEL IT A BIT.

BUT IT'S NOT GOING THAT MUCH,

I YANKED THIS LITTLE FAN
OUT OF MY LAPTOP.

MAYBE I CAN USE THIS FAN.

I CAN START JUST PUMPING
THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE

DIRECTLY UP UNDERNEATH MY BED

INSTEAD OF LETTING IT JUST KIND
OF DRIFT THERE ON ITS OWN,

I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT
OF A CRAZY IDEA.

I'M GONNA TRY TO USE THE HEAT

TO POWER THE FAN ITSELF
LIKE A FIRE POWERED FAN.

I CAN INSTALL IT DOWN HERE

I CAN JUST PUMP THE HEAT UP
INTO MY BED FOR ME.

THIS IS A PELTIER JUNCTION,

A DEVICE THAT CAN CREATE
SMALL AMOUNTS OF ELECTRICITY.

THEY'RE COMMONLY FOUND
IN APPLIANCES

LIKE MINI REFRIGERATORS

OR PORTABLE
AIR CONDITION UNITS.

THE KEY IS TO CREATE
A TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL...

ONE SIDE IS COLD,
THE OTHER SIDE HOT.

THIS CAUSES ELECTRONS TO MOVE

AND THAT MOVEMENT
WILL CREATE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY

TO POWER MY LAPTOP FAN

AND FORCE WARM AIR
UP THE EARTH DUCT

AND UNDER MY SHELTER.

IF YOU HEAT UP ONE SIDE WHILE
YOU COOL DOWN THE OTHER SIDE,

THAT TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE

WILL ACTUALLY
GENERATE ELECTRICITY.

YOU ARE NOT GONNA GET A TON,

BUT IT WILL DEFINITELY BE ENOUGH
TO START MOVING SOMETHING

LIKE THIS FAN AND JUST GET
THIS AIR VENTILATING

UP INTO MY LITTLE SHELTER.

ONE OF THESE SIDES
I'M GONNA PUT SOME ICE ON,

KEEP IT REALLY COLD,

THE OTHER SIDE I'M GONNA
PUT RIGHT ON THE FIRE.

WHEN I INSTALL IT,

I JUST PUT ONE SIDE
FACING THE FIRE

AND THE OTHER SIDE DIRECTLY
AGAINST THE PERMAFROST

AND DIRECTING THE PELTIERS
RIGHT IN FRONT OF IT.

IT'S GETTING THIS FAN
SPINING PRETTY GOOD.

I AM GONNA JUST HANG IT
ON THE EDGE OF MY HEAT TUNNEL

AND IT'LL HELP PUMP
SOME OF THAT AIR

UNDERNEATH ME
WHILE I'M SLEEPING.

I CAN FEEL THE HEAT
RISING UP BELOW ME,

AS WELL AS GETTING KIND OF
REFLECTED OFF THE SIDES.

I ADDED SOME WIND BREAKS UP HERE

SO I'M STARTING TO GET
A BREEZE AROUND THAT PART,

AND THE BACK I FILLED IN
WITH A BUNCH OF BRUSH,

SO IT'S PRETTY STILL.

I'VE A RELIABLE SHELTER, BUT MY
SEARCH FOR FOOD WAS A FAIL.

I CAN GET BY WITHOUT FOOD,
BUT NOT WITHOUT WATER.

IT'S ACTUALLY STARTING
TO WARM UP IN HERE.

I JUST GOT TO WAIT FOR THAT SNOW
TO MELT A BIT,

SOME FRESH WATER FOR DINNER.

ANOTHER BONUS WITH THE FIRE
IS THAT BOILING WATER KILLS OFF

ANY BACTERIA IN THE SNOW.

[ AIRPLANE RUMBLES IN DISTANCE ]

I HEAR AN AIRPLANE.

THAT MEANS EITHER I'M HEADING
TOWARDS A SETTLEMENT

OR I'M NEAR A FLIGHT PATH
FOR OIL WORKERS OR HUNTERS.

SOUNDS LIKE IT'S SUPER HIGH,
I WISH I HAD A WAY TO SIGNAL.

PROBABLY DON'T EVEN NOTICE
MY LITTLE FIRE AT ALL.

UNFORTUNATELY,
THE VALLEY I'M IN,

THE TERRAIN IS PUSHING ME
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

TOMORROW, I HATE TO SAY IT,

BUT I'M GONNA HAVE TO MOVE
BACK TOWARDS THE GLACIER

AND FOLLOW IT DOWN.

I'M GAMBLING THE GLACIER
WILL LEAD ME OUT OF HERE.

IF I'M WRONG, I'LL BE STUCK
IN A FROZEN LANDSCAPE

WITH NONE OF THE RESOURCES
I NEED TO STAY ALIVE.

♪♪

FOLLOWING THIS CREEK DOWN,

IT FROZE,
FREEZING RAIN LAST NIGHT,

COVERED EVERYTHING
IN JUST A SHEET OF ICE,

HEADING BACK TOWARDS
THAT GLACIER,

CHECKING MY BEARINGS.

AGAINST THE SKY, THE SKY
IS ENTIRELY GRAYED OUT.

CAN'T REALLY REMEMBER
WHERE THE SUN IS,

BUT LUCKILY MY POLARIZATION'S
TELL ME IT'S RIGHT OVER THERE.

I'M JUST COMING RIGHT AROUND
TO THE GLACIER.

THERE'S BIG ANIMAL POOP
EVERYWHERE.

THIS IS SOME KIND OF SPOT WHERE
LOTS OF ANIMALS ARE VISITING,

LOTS OF ANIMALS
THAT ARE A LOT BIGGER THAN I AM.

I GOTTA WATCH MYSELF OUT HERE.

OH, MAN.

[ AIRPLANE RUMBLING
IN DISTANCE ]

THERE'S A BUSH PILOT
SOMEWHERE IN THE DISTANCE.

THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME
TO QUICKLY CONTACT THEM,

AND UNFORTUNATELY THE TERRAIN

IS FORCING ME
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION,

SO I'M MAKING MY WAY
BACK TO THE GLACIER.

FROM THERE, I WILL TRY
TO FIND ANOTHER VALLEY

THAT DROPS TO A LOWER ELEVATION

AND HOPEFULLY A RIVER WHICH
COULD LEAD TO CIVILIZATION.

IT'S A RISKY MOVE, BUT IN
A LAND SO VAST AND ENDLESS,

I HAVE TO HAVE
A RELIABLE LANDMARK

TO AVOID GETTING LOST.

ANDY IS MAKING SLOW MOVEMENT.

MAKES ME FEEL A LITTLE BETTER.

AT THE BOTTOM OF GLACIERS,
YOU COULD FIND WATER.

PINE NEEDLE TEA
HAS NO CALORIES,

BUT IT'S A GREAT BRAIN HACK.

THE FLAVOR MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU HAVE FOOD IN YOUR STOMACH.

I'M BARELY MOVING FROM WHEN
I STARTED THIS MORNING

JUST 'CAUSE EVERYTHING'S FROZEN,

I'M DECENTLY HYDRATED
AT THIS POINT,

MOSTLY JUST MAKING MY TEAS

SO THAT I CAN GET SOME WARMTH
FROM THE FIRE INSIDE ME.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF I COULD
CARRY THE FIRE INSIDE ME

THE WHOLE TIME
WHILE I'M JUST HIKING AROUND.

IF I CAN GET
SOME OF THESE COALS,

I CAN ALSO HAVE THEM
SMOLDERING INSIDE THE CUP,

INSIDE ME,

SO KEEP GOING IF THERE'S
A WAY TO...

IF I COULD CARRY THE FIRE
WITH ME,

THAT WOULD SOLVE
SO MANY OF MY PROBLEMS.

BUT IF I JUST HAVE
THIS BUCKET OF FIRE

INSIDE MY COAT,
IT'LL KEEP ME WARM,

BUT I'LL PROBABLY JUST SMOKE OUT
AND BURN TO DEATH.

SO, I NEED A CHIMNEY.

THE CD-ROM DRIVE FROM THE LAPTOP
HAS A PERFECT LITTLE HOLE.

THERE'S THIS COOL
BREATHER TUBE.

I GUESS IF YOU ARE
STUCK UNDER AN AVALANCHE

YOU CAN OFFLOAD
YOUR CO2 ELSEWHERE,

SO YOU DON'T SUFFOCATE YOURSELF,

SO I TOOK MY CUP,
SOME OF THESE COALS,

THIS TUBE FROM THE AVALANCHE BAG

AND A CHUNK OF MY HIKING POLE,

AND I MADE LIKE
A PORTABLE CAMP FIRE.

BY PLACING THE HOT COALS
IN MY STAINLESS-STEEL MUG,

I'M ABLE TO CIRCULATE
THE HEAT THEY PRODUCE AROUND

MY UPPER BODY
VIA THE BREATHING TUBE.

IF I CAN FEED THIS UP
THROUGH MY COAT,

ALL THE WARMTH CAN FUNNEL UP
ALL AROUND ME

AND ABLE TO KEEP GOING
WITHOUT HAVING TO STOP

AND CREATE ANOTHER FIRE
OVER AND OVER.

IT'S ALREADY FEELING
NICE AND COZY INSIDE.

♪♪

I SEE A BIT OF THAT GLACIER
BACK THERE,

THAT'S GOOD, I'M STILL FOLLOWING
THE SAME VALLEY

LOOKS LIKE IT'S KIND
OF ENDING, TOO.

I CAN PROBABLY JUST SNAKE AROUND
THAT FRONT LEFT PART OF IT,

AND I'M OUT OF HERE.

OH, I'M HAPPY TO BE DONE
WITH THIS PLACE.

I'M GETTING OUT.

IT'S REAL NICE TO FINALLY
BE IN A SPOT

WHERE I CAN JUST
MOVE FREELY, TOO.

IF I CAN GET TO THE END
OF THE GLACIER

AND AN EVEN LOWER ELEVATION,

IT WILL BE MY BEST CHANCE
AT FINDING CIVILIZATION.

MY HEATER'S KEEPING ME
ACTUALLY PRETTY TOASTY.

IT'S GOOD 'CAUSE I HAVE
BEEN SLOWING DOWN,

I STILL HAVEN'T HAD
ANYTHING REALLY TO EAT.

OH, NO.

NO!

OH, I'M SCREWED.
IT'S JUST GLACIER EVERYWHERE.

I'M TRAPPED.

[ WIND WHISTLING ]

I'M TRAPPED BY
THE CRUMBLING GLACIER'S EDGE

AND STEEP MOUNTAINS.

I'M BACKED INTO A CORNER
WITH TWO BAD OPTIONS.

I CAN TURN AROUND AND FIND
A ROUTE BACK ON TO THE GLACIER,

OR DOUBLE DOWN ON HOPING
THAT I'M CLOSE ENOUGH

TO A FLIGHT ROUTE THAT I CAN
SIGNAL SOMEONE TO COME TO ME.

♪♪

I DON'T HAVE ANY WOOD
TO BUILD A SIGNAL FIRE,

BUT WHAT I DO HAVE
IS A GLACIER.

NOW, ALASKA'S SO BIG,

PEOPLE USE LITTLE BUSH PLANES
ALMOST LIKE, YOU KNOW,

THEY USE CARS
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY

AND THOSE PLANES ALSO,

THEY'RE ALWAYS FLYING
UNDERNEATH THE CLOUDS.

THEY'RE NOT LIKE
BIG COMMERCIAL PLANES

JUST WAY UP THERE.

IF I CAN MAKE MYSELF KNOWN,

MAYBE I CAN FLAG ONE OF THEM
DOWN, WORK ON GETTING OUT.

SO I JUST GOT TO GIVE THEM
A LIGHT SHOW.

THIS LIGHT IS MY HEAD LAMP.

WHEN IT'S HELD RIGHT UP TO THESE
ICEBERGS OFF THIS GLACIER,

IT BOUNCES AROUND A LOT
INSIDE THAT,

IT REFRACTS AND IT CAUSES
THE WHOLE THING TO GLOW.

IT SHOULD BE A REALLY
BIG BUBBLE OF LIGHT

THAT ANYONE'S GONNA NOTICE,

BUT I GOT TO MAKE THIS
AS EYE CATCHING AND, YOU KNOW,

THERE'S NO WAY TO IGNORE THIS

IF YOU JUST HAPPEN
TO BE GOING BY IN YOUR PLANE.

WHAT ELSE CAN I ADD
TO MY LIGHT SHOW?

THE LASERS!

YEAH.

OOH!

THOSE REALLY BOUNCE AROUND
THOSE ICEBERGS WELL.

I CAN GET THIS MOVING, TOO,

THAT WILL MAKE IT
EVEN MORE EYE CATCHING.

I'M GOING TO ATTACH A LASER

ON TOP OF A SMALL MOTOR
FROM MY LAPTOP

SO THE LASER WILL SPIN,

ILLUMINATING AS MUCH ICE
AS POSSIBLE.

YEAH.

I HAVE A BUNCH
OF THESE CHEMICALS

THAT I USE
WHEN I'M IN THE FIELD.

I CAN ACTUALLY DRAW
ON THIS POWDER

SINCE IT'S SENSITIVE
TO THE U.V. AND THIS LASER.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS TO PAINT
A WHOLE BIG GLOWING BILLBOARD,

THIS POWDER IS NOT JUST
GONNA STICK TO THE ROCK.

YEAH, MIGHT HAVE JUST ENOUGH
OF THIS JELLY ALCOHOL IN THERE

TO MIX WITH THE POWDER
AND MAKE KIND OF A PAINT.

I'LL PAINT A LARGE "X"
ON THIS ROCK'S FACE,

A SYMBOL FOR DISTRESS
THAT ANY PILOT WILL RECOGNIZE.

I'VE GOT THIS LASER.

WHEN I HIT THIS "X," IT SHOULD
CHARGE UP AND GET REALLY BRIGHT.

OH YEAH, THIS POWDER
IS ACTUALLY JUST FLUORESCENT,

IT'S NOT PHOSPHORESCENT
AND LIKE THE GLOW POWDER,

BUT IT LIGHTS UP REALLY BRIGHT

WHENEVER ANY KIND OF UV
LIGHT HITS IT.

I'LL HIT THE POWDER WITH
THE HEADLAMP SET TO STROBE MODE

TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE
EYE CATCHING.

[ Chuckling ] YEAH!

YEAH! YEAH!

WHOA!

THIS IS STUNNING.

I GOT THE ICEBERG RAVE
GOING ON THERE,

THIS EERIE SPINNING LASER,

AND OF COURSE,
THE GIANT GLOWING SKULL,

IT'S KIND OF TERRIFYING

STANDING BACK
AND LOOKING AT IT ALL,

BUT IT SHOULD BE
QUITE EYE CATCHING

TO ANYONE WHO HAPPENS
TO PASS BY ME.

I AM JUST GONNA TRY TO COZY UP

UNDERNEATH MY BIG LIGHT
SHOW HERE

AND TRY TO GET SOME REST.

FIRST, WALKED UP
ON THIS GLACIER,

AND I WAS KIND OF MESMERIZED
BY THE BEAUTY.

AND THERE'S NO WAY OUT OF HERE.

I CAN'T JUST WALK OUT OF HERE.

I HOPE I CAN MAKE IT
THROUGH THE NIGHT.

IT'S BEEN DAYS
SINCE I'VE HAD ANYTHING TO EAT.

I AM EXHAUSTED
AND WON'T GET MUCH SLEEP

SINCE I'LL HAVE TO MOVE AROUND
THROUGH THE NIGHT

TO TRY TO FIGHT OFF
HYPOTHERMIA.

I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION
THIS DANGEROUS.

♪♪

MY GOAL WAS TO HIKE OUT
TO CIVILIZATION

OR FIND RESCUE
WITHIN FOUR DAYS,

BUT NOW I'M STUCK.

NO ONE SAW MY LIGHT SIGNAL.

FREEZING TO DEATH.

I'M DOUBTING MY ABILITY
TO SURVIVE HERE MUCH LONGER.

I HAVEN'T MOVED FROM THE EDGE
OF THE GLACIER IN 24 HOURS.

MY ONLY HOPE IS THAT KELLIE
NOTICES AND SENDS HELP.

Nightlinger:
THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN

REALLY CHALLENGING FOR ME,
WATCHING,

SITTING BACK AND WAITING

AND HOPING THAT ANDY
IS GONNA SURVIVE THIS.

I'M SO WORRIED.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE LET HIM GO.

Quitmeyer: JUST SHIVERING A LOT,

BUT NOT REALLY ABLE TO
STRETCH OR FLEX MY BODY

IN MORE THAN JUST KIND OF
JITTERY MOTIONS.

[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING
IN DISTANCE ]

[ GASPS ]
I SEE A HELICOPTER.

IN A LANDSCAPE THIS VAST,

I'M ONLY A TINY DOT
TO THE HELICOPTER.

THE PILOT WILL NEVER SPOT ME
WITHOUT SOME TYPE OF SIGNAL.

I'VE PRECIOUS FEW SECONDS
TO PUT TOGETHER

A MAKESHIFT SIGNAL TORCH
BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE AREA.

I NEED TO GET ONE MORE FIRE
OUT OF MY LAPTOP BATTERY.

COME ON, CATCH. LIGHT.

WHOA!
I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

HERE!
RIGHT HERE!

COME HERE!

COME BACK! COME BACK!

I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT
THEY'LL MAKE ONE MORE PASS.

THERE WE GO.

HERE!

RIGHT HERE!

HERE!

LOOKING DOWN AT THE TERRAIN,

I CAN'T BELIEVE
THE DISTANCE I COVERED.

THE HELICOPTER PILOT
TOLD ME KELLIE WAS WORRIED

AND SENT OUT
A SEARCH HELICOPTER.

THIS GLACIER HAS BEEN
MY BIGGEST TEST EVER.

I'M HAPPY TO BE OUT OF THERE,

BUT BUMMED I DIDN'T
DO IT ON MY OWN.

GLACIERS ARE HARD.

OH, YEAH, OH.

YOU DOING ALL RIGHT?

I WAS REALLY WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.

I'M JUST GLAD THAT YOU MANAGED
TO FIND ME IN ALL OF THIS.

THANKS.

WHAT IS THAT?

YOU KNOW, IT WAS
SO BRIGHT THERE,

I WANTED TO MAKE
SOME KIND OF GOGGLES FOR,

YOU KNOW, GETTING
BLINDED BY ALL THE SNOW

THAT'S JUST SURROUNDING ME,
ALL THE ICE,

JUST REFLECTING...
I COULDN'T EVEN SEE AT ALL.

BUT I NOTICED THE LAPTOP SCREEN
ACTUALLY HAD A POLARIZING FILTER

BUILT INTO IT, SO I TURNED IT
INTO BASICALLY A LITTLE COMPASS.

THAT'S GENIUS.

I TOOK SOME OF THESE
CIRCUIT BOARDS

AND I MADE KIND OF
HAND CRAMPONS,

JUST LETTING ME LIKE
DIG INTO THE ICE.

WOW.
THEN I WAS JUST, "RAAH!"

LIKE AN ICE AXE
GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN.

SO, THOSE REALLY
SAVED YOUR LIFE?

THEY DID.
I'M GLAD YOU FOUND ME.

I'M GLAD YOU MADE IT.