Hacking the Wild (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - Escape from Death Valley - full transcript

Quitmeyer: DEATH VALLEY,

WHERE THE HOT SUN
IS THE MOST DOMINANT PREDATOR.

IT'S LIKE SITTING RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OVEN.

TO SURVIVE IN THIS
HELLSCAPE... OH, GOD.

...I'LL ONLY DEPEND ON THE TECH
I CARRY IN MY BACKPACK.

I DON'T HAVE ANY FOOD,
ANY WATER.

IF I CAN HACK THIS DESERT,

I MIGHT STAY ALIVE
LONG ENOUGH TO PROVE

SOME NEW METHODS OF SURVIVAL.

THE EARTH WILL QUAKE
BENEATH MY SCIENCE!

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...

WHOA!

...AS I HACK MY WAY
BACK TO CIVILIZATION.



WHOO!

THIS IS "HACKING THE WILD."

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

ON THE EASTERN EDGE
OF CALIFORNIA'S DESERT REGION

IS A 5,000-SQUARE-MILE
HELLISH LANDSCAPE

KNOWN AS DEATH VALLEY,

HOME TO THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE
EVER RECORDED ON THE PLANET,

A BRAIN-MELTING 134 DEGREES.

IT WAS HERE THAT THREE HIKERS

WERE MISGUIDED
BY THEIR GPS UNIT

AND STRANDED
FOR THREE DAYS.

ON THE BRINK OF DEATH, A RESCUE
HELICOPTER SAVED THEIR LIVES.

AND NOW I'M HEADING
TO THE SAME PLACE.

MY GOAL IS TO SURVIVE

IN THIS PUNISHING TERRAIN
FOR FOUR DAYS,

RELYING ONLY ON
THE SIMPLE TECH IN MY BACKPACK

AS THE TOOL
TO GET ME OUT ALIVE.

BEFORE I TAKE ON DEATH VALLEY,

I WANT TO MEET
WITH JESSIE KREBS.

SHE WAS A SURVIVAL SPECIALIST
IN THE AIR FORCE

AND KNOWS THE DANGERS
OF THIS INFAMOUS DESERT

BETTER THAN ANYONE.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BE
WORRIED ABOUT OUT HERE?

USUALLY IT'S EXPOSURE
AND DEHYDRATION

ARE THE MAIN THINGS
THAT KILL PEOPLE HERE.

YOU HAVEN'T REALLY HAD
ANY DESERT EXPERIENCE AT ALL?

- NO.
- OKAY.

WELL, HMM, MAYBE WE SHOULD
GO TAKE A LOOK AROUND...

YEAH.

...SO WE COULD SHOW YOU
SOME MORE SPECIFICS.

JUST BE CAREFUL WITH SOME
OF THE WATER SOURCES OUT HERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MINES.

IF IT DOESN'T HAVE
INSECTS IN IT,

IT COULD BE CONTAMINATED,

ALL RIGHT?
- GOT YOU.

SO YOU COULD BE
DRINKING CYANIDE WATER.

Quitmeyer:
WHAT CAN I EAT?

COYOTE, RABBIT,
RATTLESNAKE, BIRDS.

I'M KIND OF VEGETARIAN.

- REALLY?
- YEAH.

I'LL EAT SOME INSECTS, SO...
- OKAY.

WE'VE GOT SOME INSECTS
OUT HERE.

- COOL.
- NOT SO TASTY, BUT...

OKAY, WELL, AT LEAST
SOMETHING TO CHEW ON.

YEAH. MAKE SURE SIX LEGS
OR LESS ON THE INSECTS...

- OKAY.
- ...AS A GENERAL RULE.

Quitmeyer: MY GOAL IS TO KIND
OF TRAVEL OUT WITH,

YOU KNOW, THE KIND
OF TECHNOLOGY SOMEONE

WHO MIGHT GET LOST MIGHT
JUST HAPPEN TO HAVE ON THEM.

EVERYTHING I NEED TO SURVIVE,
I CARRY IN MY BACKPACK.

INSIDE, I HAVE SOME
EVERYDAY ELECTRONICS,

THE KIND MOST OF US
TRAVEL WITH...

A LAPTOP, A CELLPHONE
AND A TABLET.

THEN, I HAVE MY STANDARD
ELECTRONICS KIT

WITH A SOLAR PANEL,
A HOBBY MOTOR AND SENSORS.

I'M ALSO EQUIPPED WITH THINGS

ANYONE MIGHT BRING
INTO THE DESERT.

WITH ALL OF THIS,

I WANT TO PROVE
SOME NEW METHODS OF SURVIVAL.

- YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH.
- YEAH.

SO TRYING TO WASTE ENERGY
AND CALORIES BY HIKING AROUND

AND WASTING WATER OUT HERE
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT,

TOO, BAD IDEA.
- OKAY.

FIND A GOOD PLACE THAT'S GOT
A GOOD SHELTER SPOT,

THAT'S GOT HOPEFULLY
A WATER SOURCE,

A GOOD SIGNALING
SITE, RIGHT?

WHAT'S A CHARACTERISTIC
OF A GOOD SIGNAL?

- ANYTHING SHINY.
- UH-HUH.

LIKE MIRRORS, WATCH FACES,
ANYTHING LIKE THAT,

I'D BE DANGLING IT
ALL OVER THE PLACE.

IF I WERE HERE RIGHT NOW,

I'D BE TRYING TO GET UP
SOME PLACE HIGH,

SO I'D BE TRYING
TO BRING RESCUE TO ME.

DEFINITELY NOT HIKE OUT.

IF IT'S GETTING REALLY COLD
AND YOU'RE STARTING

TO REALLY SHIVER BADLY OUT HERE,
WHICH YOU CAN AT NIGHT...

YEAH.

...A FIRE CAN BE
REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU,

AND TO KEEP ANIMALS AWAY, TOO,
IF YOU'RE THREATENED BY THOSE.

SO WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING
ON STARTING A FIRE WITH?

I DON'T REALLY KNOW YET.

GOOD LUCK, MAN.

I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO GIVE
TO YOU BEFORE I HEAD OUT.

I'VE RIGGED THIS UP SO YOU CAN
JUST PRESS THIS BUTTON

AND IT'LL PULL UP
A MAP OF EXACTLY

WHERE I'M AT SO YOU CAN...

SNAZZY!
OH, I FEEL BETTER ABOUT THAT.

- OKAY, GOOD.
- AWESOME.

YEAH, I'M GLAD AT LEAST,

YOU KNOW, IF I DO SEE
YOU STOP OR SOMETHING,

I CAN ALERT SOMEBODY
AND THEY CAN GET OUT HERE

AND HOPEFULLY
GET YOU.

THERE'S NO SHADE.

THERE'S NO BUSH HIGHER
THAN MY KNEECAP.

ANY OF THE PLANTS
OUT HERE ARE SHARP,

DRY AND TRYING
TO INFLICT PAIN ON YOU.

THAT SUN GETS EVEN
A LITTLE BIT HIGHER UP,

I'M GOING TO BE
BAKING OUT HERE.

OLD VEHICLE TRACKS
CRISSCROSS THE LANDSCAPE,

BUT THEY'RE NO CLUE
TO CIVILIZATION.

OUT HERE,
IN THE BAKING SAND,

SOME OF THESE TRACKS
CAN BE DECADES OLD.

FOLLOWING A TRACK

THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD
NOWHERE

WOULD BE A HUGE GAMBLE
THAT I'M NOT WILLING TO TAKE.

JESSIE TOLD ME JUST TO STAY
IN A PLACE, HUNKER DOWN

AND DO WHAT I CAN
TO KEEP MYSELF GOING.

BUT I DON'T THINK
IT COULD BE HERE.

BUT UP ON THE MOUNTAINS,
THERE'S SHADE.

IF I CAN GET IN THOSE GAPS

AND ACTUALLY HAVE SOME KIND
OF SHELTER FROM THE SUN,

THAT'S GOING TO DO ME
A LOT OF GOOD.

MY PLAN IS TO HEAD

TO THE NEAREST MOUNTAIN RANGE
FOR WATER AND SHADE.

FROM THERE, I'LL HIKE
TO ONE OF THE PEAKS

AND USE THAT VANTAGE POINT
TO SURVEY THE LANDSCAPE

TO LOOK FOR A ROUTE
OUT OF HERE.

BIGGEST PROBLEM IS,
I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT

HOW THE HELL
I'M GOING TO MAKE IT OUT HERE.

I'VE BEEN OUT HERE
FOR LESS THAN AN HOUR,

AND I'M ALREADY FEELING
THE DESERT'S GRIP.

MY BODY TEMPERATURE
IS SKYROCKETING.

MY HEAD IS THROBBING.

IF I GET HEATSTROKE,
I COULD LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS

AND PASS OUT
ON THE DESERT FLOOR.

THIS THING MAKES
A PRETTY GREAT COVER.

IT BLOCKS OUT THAT SUN,

REFLECTS AWAY THAT
HEAT QUITE NICELY.

YEAH, I NEED TO BE ABLE TO
KEEP MY VISION AND KEEP MOBILE.

HEY, BUDDY.

HOW ARE YOU
SURVIVING OUT HERE?

SOME DESERT INSECTS'
EXOSKELETONS

PROTECT THEM FROM THE SUN.

MAYBE I CAN MAKE
SOMETHING CLOSE.

WHAT I'M THINKING IS...
BIG HAT.

MAKE A NICE POCKET OF SHADE

ALL AROUND MY BODY
WHILE I'M MOVING.

LOOKS LIKE A WEIRD KITE
ON MY HEAD.

IT'S GETTING HOTTER
AND HOTTER OUT HERE.

IF IT STARTS BREAKING 100,
110, I GOT TO SHUT IT DOWN

BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GET
JUST TOO DANGEROUS FOR ME

TO BE MOVING AT ALL.

I NEED TO GET OFF
THIS DESERT FLOOR,

BUT THE HOTTER IT GETS,

THE CLOSER I GET
TO DEHYDRATION.

IF I'M GOING TO RISK MOVING,

I HAVE TO MONITOR
THE TEMPERATURE.

GOT THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR.

I CAN HOOK IT UP
TO THE MICROCONTROLLER.

A NIFTY LITTLE DISPLAY.
I CAN PUT SOME TEXT THERE.

LIGHTS ARE NICE,
BUT IT'D BE GOOD

TO HAVE SOME OTHER WAY
OF ALERTING MYSELF.

ONCE I START THE LONG WALK,

I COULD LOSE FOCUS AND FORGET
TO CHECK THE TEMPERATURE.

GOT A COUPLE SPEAKERS
OUT OF THERE.

I NEED A WARNING SYSTEM
THAT WILL DEMAND MY ATTENTION.

AND THEN I HAVE SOME
VISUAL DISPLAYS FOR MYSELF.

IF IT'S IN THE 70s, I HAVE IT
BEING GREEN, KEEP GOING.

IF IT'S IN THE 80s,
IT'S GETTING YELLOW.

90s AND UP,
IT STARTS TURNING RED.

THAT'S MY WARNING, LIKE,
THINGS ARE GETTING REALLY HOT.

I NEED TO START SLOWING DOWN.
AND IF IT'S ABOVE 100,

THE SPEAKER GOES ON,
LET'S OUT A BIG ALERT.

I GOT TO SHUT IT DOWN,

WAIT FOR THE HEAT TO START
DYING OUT AS THE DAY GOES ON.

IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY
COMFORTABLE NOW.

MY BODY TEMPERATURE
HAS ALREADY RISEN

BY SEVERAL VITAL DEGREES,
BUT IT'S STILL EARLY.

THOSE MOUNTAINS LOOK
LIKE THEY'VE BEEN

IN THE SAME POSITION
ALL DAY LONG.

I'VE ALREADY COVERED
ABOUT HALF THE DISTANCE

TO THE NEAREST MOUNTAIN.

MY GUESS IS THAT IT'S STILL
ANOTHER 5 TO 10 MILES AWAY.

THE ONLY THING I KNOW
FOR SURE IS THAT IT'S SHADY.

AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL HAVE
FOOD AND WATER.

YOU CAN JUST FEEL
YOUR FLESH BURNING,

ANYTHING THAT'S NOT COVERED UP.

IT'S ALREADY 98 DEGREES OUT,
AND IT'S JUST BEEN GOING UP.

I CAN FEEL ALL THIS HEAT
REFLECTING OFF THIS SALT

THAT'S ALL AROUND ME.

LIKE SITTING RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OVEN.

UNBEARABLE.

IF I DIDN'T HAVE THIS HAT,

MY BRAIN WOULD
ALREADY BE COOKING.

[ ALARM BEEPS ]

OH, GEEZ!

WHEW.

TURN THAT OFF REAL QUICK.

JUST HUNKER DOWN.

TRY TO COOL OFF.

IT'S ROUGH OUT HERE.

IT'S JUST HEAT, HEAT, HEAT.

DEATH VALLEY... [ ALARM BEEPS ]

...WANTS TO KILL ME.

Quitmeyer: I'VE ONLY MANAGED
TO SURVIVE FOUR HOURS

IN DEATH VALLEY'S
RELENTLESS SUNLIGHT.

I NEED TO GET TO THE NEAREST
MOUNTAIN RANGE TO FIND SHADE.

EVEN WHEN I'M MOVING,
THERE'S NOT A BREEZE.

IT'D BE NICE TO GET
A LITTLE MORE AIRFLOW.

I'M GOING TO BREAK OUT
THE FAN FROM MY LAPTOP

AND RIG IT
TO BLOW IN MY FACE.

I USUALLY HAVE
JUST A REAL SIMPLE

LIGHTWEIGHT SOLAR PANEL
ON ME.

AND WHEN YOU'RE IN A PLACE
WITH THIS MUCH SUN,

WHEW, YOU CAN GET
A LOT OF POWER.

MY MOUTH'S ALREADY
STARTING TO FEEL SO DRY.

I'M NOT EVEN SWEATING.

I FEEL LIKE I'M NOT SWEATING
BECAUSE THERE'S NO LIQUID.

LACK OF SWEAT IS ONE OF THE
SIGNS OF POTENTIAL HEATSTROKE.

SO I GOT TO FINISH
THIS UP... QUICKLY.

WOW.

I'M TRYING TO SURVIVE
OUT HERE FOR FOUR DAYS,

AND ALL I HAVE WITH ME

ARE THE EVERYDAY
ELECTRONICS IN MY BACKPACK.

THE FAN ALREADY FEELS
SO MUCH BETTER.

IT'S BLASTING RIGHT
ON MY FOREHEAD.

IT'S REALLY CRANKING WELL.

MY IMMEDIATE PLAN IS TO GET OFF
THIS DRY LAKE BED

AND FIND WATER,

SHADE AND SHELTER
IN THE NEAREST MOUNTAIN.

FROM THERE, I'LL CLIMB A PEAK
AND SEE IF I CAN SPOT

ANY SIGNS OF CIVILIZATION,

OR A WAY OUT OF HERE.

Krebs: ANDY'S BEEN MOVING
AROUND QUITE A BIT.

HE COULD BE IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE
IF HE HASN'T FOUND WATER YET.

AND HE'S STARTED
TO MOVE UPHILL NOW,

WHICH IS GOING TO BE
REALLY INTENSE

AND INCREASE DEHYDRATION FASTER.

Quitmeyer: IT'S SUCH A RELIEF
TO BE OFF THAT DRY LAKE BED.

THIS HAT IS A REAL LIFESAVER.

THE WIND'S REALLY PICKING UP.
IT'S STARTING TO GET AWKWARD.

IT'S JUST LIKE SITTING
UNDER A BLOW DRYER.

FOOTING'S AWFUL.

THE MOUNTAIN
IS SLIGHTLY COOLER,

BUT IT'S PRESENTING PROBLEMS
OF ITS OWN.

MY SHADE HAT IS STARTING
TO BECOME A LIABILITY

IN THIS WINDY STEEP TERRAIN.

I THINK I CAN HUNKER DOWN
IN HERE OUT OF THE SUN.

WHEW.
I NEED TO TAKE A BREAK.

WITH THE SUN AT THIS ANGLE,
IF I'M GOING TO REACH SHADE,

I HAVE TO GET UP
AND OVER THIS RIDGE LINE.

THIS WIND IS JUST COMING BY

AND JUST STRIPPING ME OF
ANY KIND OF HUMIDITY, WETNESS.

I GOT TO FIND
SOMETHING TO DRINK.

IT'S TOO RISKY
WEARING THE SHADE HAT.

ONE STRONG GUST OF WIND
COULD CATCH ME

AND TOSS ME
RIGHT INTO THESE SHARP ROCKS.

IF I DON'T FIND SOMETHING
TO DRINK SOON,

DEHYDRATION
WILL SET IN QUICKLY.

THAT'S LOOKING GOOD.

THERE'S SOME ACTUAL
GREEN DOWN THERE.

ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF
AS TO WHY THAT WOULD BE THERE

IF THERE'S SOME WATER
FLOWING THROUGH RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S A LONG WAY DOWN, THOUGH.

DESERT SURVIVALISTS
RECOMMEND AT LEAST

A GALLON OF WATER A DAY.

TODAY, I HAVEN'T EVEN
COME CLOSE TO THAT.

FOUND THIS POOL.

IT'S SO PERFECT AND CLEAR.

AS MUCH AS I JUST WANT
TO JUMP IN THERE

AND SOAK UP ALL THAT WATER,

THERE'S NO INSECTS,
THERE'S NO FISH.

THERE'S NOTHING.

THAT'S A HUGE WARNING SIGN
FOR ME IN THESE AREAS.

THERE'S ALL THIS MINING.

THE SOIL'S PROBABLY LEECHING ALL
KINDS OF POISON, SOME CYANIDE.

IT COULD BE DEADLY.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TRAP.

PROSPECTORS IN THE 1800s
SCOURED THESE MOUNTAINS

IN SEARCH
OF THEIR FORTUNE IN GOLD.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY LEFT
A BIG ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT.

EVEN WITH THE TECH
IN MY BACKPACK,

THERE'S NO WAY
I CAN QUICKLY HACK TOGETHER

A DEVICE
TO PURIFY POISONED WATER.

I'LL HAVE TO FIND
ANOTHER SOURCE.

SOME KIND OF A HOLE
UP IN THE SIDE OF THAT.

OH, IT'S A BIG HOLE
AND A CAVE THERE.

MIGHT BE AN ABANDONED MINE.

OH.

THERE'S A BUNCH
OF BONES DOWN HERE.

THERE'S SOME BIG PREDATORS
AROUND HERE.

THESE WERE BROUGHT HERE.

OF COURSE,
ALL THE PILES OF BONES

ARE MAKING ME A LITTLE NERVOUS
ABOUT GOING UP IN THERE.

HELLO?

DOESN'T SEEM LIKE
ANYTHING'S BACK THERE.

SCORE... AN OLD LIGHTER.

NO MOUNTAIN LIONS,
BUT I FOUND AN OLD LIGHTER.

THIS CAVE WILL BE AN EXCELLENT
SHELTER FOR THE NIGHT,

BUT MY BIGGEST NEED
RIGHT NOW IS FOOD AND WATER.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED.

A BIG PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS!

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

I CAN EAT IT,
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY,

GET SOME GOOD LIQUID
INSIDE OF ME.

TO RELEASE THE WATER
FROM THE CACTUS,

I NEED TO HEAT IT.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT
HOW TO GET A FIRE GOING

WITH JUST A BROKEN LIGHTER.

I GOT AN IDEA.

I FOUND A DISCARDED LIGHTER.

DIDN'T HAVE ANY FUEL,

BUT I DON'T NEED BUTANE
TO CREATE A FIRE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

GOT A SPARK MACHINE.

FOUND A BUNCH
OF THIS FLUFFY STUFF.

IT REALLY POOFS OUT NICE.

I JUST HOPE IT'S FLAMMABLE.
I ALSO FOUND A WASP NEST.

IT'S BASICALLY
JUST PAPER, RIGHT?

WHOA!
THAT STUFF BURNS AWESOME!

IT'S STARTING TO SMOKE.

THERE'S SOME FIRE.

YEAH.

IT STILL NEEDS TO COOK
A BIT BEFORE I CAN EAT IT.

LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING
CLOSE TO ANY KIND OF LIQUID

I'VE HAD ALL DAY.
IT'S AMAZING.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

EVERY DROP OF WATER WILL
HELP ME FIGHT OFF DEHYDRATION.

MMM.

IT'S LIKE MAKING OUT
WITH A JELLYFISH.

DEATH VALLEY IS AN AREA
OF HARSH EXTREMES.

THE TEMPERATURE CAN GO
FROM TRIPLE-DIGIT HEAT

TO FREEZING OVERNIGHT.

I'VE GOT TO KEEP MY FIRE
STOKED ALL NIGHT

IF I'M GOING TO GET ANY REST.

YEAH.

I JUST TOOK THE THERMOMETER
THAT I BUILT AROUND MY NECK,

AND I PROGRAMMED IT
KIND OF REVERSE-WAY.

IT USED TO BE
WHEN IT GOT TOO HOT.

BUT NOW I'M MAKING IT SO THAT,

WHEN THIS FIRE GETS TOO COLD,

IT'LL SEND A LITTLE AUDIO
ALERT TO ME.

I TOOK THE FAN FROM THE HAT.

I RIGGED IT UP
TO THE SAME CIRCUIT

THAT THE SPEAKER'S ON.

IF THE FIRE STARTS TO DIE DOWN
WHILE I'M SLEEPING,

THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WILL
TELL THE FAN

TO TURN ON AND BELLOW THE FIRE.

AND THEN AN ALARM WILL SOUND,

TELLING ME TO GET UP
AND TOSS ON MORE WOOD.

IF I MOVE THE SENSOR, LIKE,
AWAY FROM THE FIRE...

[ ALARM BEEPS ]

...AND IT GETS A LITTLE COLDER,

SEE, THIS ALARM
STARTS GOING OFF.

BUT THE FAN STARTS GOING,
BLOWING INTO IT LIKE A BELLOWS.

I'M DEHYDRATED.

I'VE ONLY TAKEN IN A THIRD
OF THE WATER I NEED,

AND I'VE MADE CAMP ON THE
HOTTEST SIDE OF THIS MOUNTAIN.

IT'S KIND OF SCARY TO THINK
ABOUT KEEPING GOING.

TOMORROW'S GOING TO SUCK.

I KIND OF FEEL LIKE MY ONLY
CHOICE IS TO KEEP GOING UP.

THAT SEEMS LIKE
AN AWFUL IDEA.

SO THAT'S GOT ME WORRIED.

I'VE GOT TO GET SOME REST.

THIS ISN'T A CAVE.

THIS IS THE MOUTH OF HELL.

IT'S JUST HEAT, HEAT, HEAT.

Quitmeyer: MY PLAN IS TO CLIMB
OUT OF THE NARROW VALLEY I'M IN

AND ONTO A NEARBY PEAK

SO I CAN LOOK FOR CLEAR SIGNS
OF CIVILIZATION

AND A POSSIBLE WAY OUT.

THIS IS COOL.
IS THIS A MINE?

IS THIS, LIKE, THE ACTUAL MINE?

OH.

THOSE BEAMS ARE PRETTY
SHATTERED IN THERE.

THAT'S MORE OF
A READY-TO-COLLAPSE DEATH TRAP.

THERE'S LITTLE CHANCE
OF FINDING DRINKABLE WATER

IN AN OLD MINESHAFT.

I'D SWAP ANY GOLD FOR A GLASS
OF ICE-COLD WATER RIGHT NOW.

SOMETHING UP THERE.

A WILD DONKEY MEANS
THERE'S WATER SOMEWHERE NEARBY.

IF YOU CAN SEE ONE NICE
ANIMAL TRACK

IN A SPOT WHERE IT HITS
ANOTHER ANIMAL TRACK

AND THEN KEEPS GOING,

THAT V-SHAPE
USUALLY LEADS TO SOME WATER,

SOME GOOD RESOURCES
FOR THE ANIMAL

BECAUSE YOU HAVE
DIFFERENT ANIMALS

ALL CONVERGING
TO THE SAME SPOT.

IF I CAN SEE EVIDENCE OF THAT
SOMEWHERE AROUND THESE HILLS,

THAT'D BE REALLY GOOD FOR ME.

CLIMBING UP AND DOWN
THESE RIDGES

LOOKING FOR DONKEY
TRAILS COULD TAKE HOURS,

AND I'M FAR TOO EXHAUSTED.

I'VE NOTICED AS THE DAY
GOES ON AROUND HERE,

THE WIND DOES REALLY PICK UP.

I'M GOING TO SEE
IF I CAN GET A KITE,

GET ME A BETTER VIEW
OF WHAT'S AROUND HERE.

I'M USING A LITTLE BIT
OF THIS EMERGENCY BLANKET SCRAPS

THAT ARE LEFT OVER.

I JUST HAVE A LITTLE PHONE
WITH A CAMERA ON IT.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO ATTACH
THAT TO THIS KITE,

USE THAT AS A AERIAL
PHOTOGRAPHY MACHINE,

GIVE MYSELF A BETTER PERSPECTIVE
OF WHAT'S AROUND HERE,

SEE IF THOSE DONKEYS KNOW
SOMETHING I DON'T.

I'M HOPING TO FIND
A GENERAL DIRECTION

OF WHERE THE DONKEY TRAIL
LEADS.

THAT'S MY BEST BET FOR FINDING
A RELIABLE WATER SOURCE.

IT REALLY GOT UP THERE.

AND THE CAMERA WAS ACTUALLY
ABLE TO HOLD STABLE ENOUGH,

I COULD REALLY SEE
THIS WHOLE VALLEY.

I'M NOT REALLY SEEING ANYTHING.
A BUNCH OF DONKEY TRAILS.

THERE'S ONE THAT LOOKS
PRETTY WELL WORN,

SO MAYBE I'LL GO CHECK

AND SEE WHERE THOSE BURROS
ARE GETTING THEIR WATER.

IT'S NOT A SURE BET,

BUT ABOUT A HALF A MILE
OR SO DOWNHILL

IS THE MOST LIKELY
MAIN DONKEY TRAIL.

THERE'S A BUNCH OF DUNG,

SOME HOOFPRINTS
ALONG THIS TRAIL.

IF THEY'RE MAKING IT
THROUGH HERE,

THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME WATER,
SOMETHING SOMEWHERE.

IT'S GETTING
REALLY GREEN IN HERE.

ALL THE MOISTURE
IN THIS AREA MUST BE

WHAT'S MAKING
EVERYTHING SO GREEN.

OH, GOD.
LOOK AT THAT.

SOMETHING TORE THIS THING
RIGHT UP.

THERE'S ACTUALLY
STRAIGHT-UP MUD HERE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW WET THIS IS.

THERE'S WATER HERE.

THIS IS...
THIS IS AMAZING.

A-HA.

INSIDE ALL THIS WET MUD,

THERE'S A COUPLE BUGS IN HERE.

ANIMALS AND INSECTS
ARE A GOOD SIGN

THAT THE WATER
IS RELATIVELY FREE

OF POISONOUS MINING CHEMICALS.

OH, GOT A BIG ONE!

I GOT A BIG MAMA WITH
A BUNCH OF EGGS ON HER BACK.

INSECTS ARE LIKE PROTEIN GOLD
WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE WILD.

THE WATER'S STILL PRETTY DIRTY.

I KNOW EXACTLY HOW I'M GOING
TO MAKE IT DRINKABLE.

WITH ALL THIS DONKEY
DUNG AROUND,

I'M WORRIED ABOUT VIRUSES
AND BACTERIA.

BOILING THE WATER
FOR A FEW MINUTES

WILL SOLVE THAT PROBLEM,

BUT FIRST, I HAVE
TO GET RID OF THE MUD.

CACTUS IS A KNOWN FLOCCULANT.

THAT GEL IN THERE CAUSES
PARTICLES OF WATER

TO KIND OF STICK TOGETHER,
PRECIPITATE DOWN.

AND THEN MIX IT AROUND.

IT SHOULD HELP CLEAR UP
THAT WATER BY BRINGING

ALL THE GROSS SEDIMENT
TO THE BOTTOM.

IT'S STILL NOT GOING
TO BE SAFE TO DRINK.

THERE'S A DONKEY
CORPSE RIGHT THERE.

SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THE WATER

THAT'S BEEN SOMEWHAT FILTERED
BY THE CACTUS JUICE

AND THEN BOIL IT.

AND MOST THE HEAVY SEDIMENTS
COME DOWN TO THE BOTTOM,

POUR THIS INTO THE CACTUS,

LEAVING ALL THAT
SEDIMENT BEHIND.

GET SOMETHING HERE
TO HOLD THE CACTUS UPRIGHT.

THIS DONKEY'S JAWBONE WORKS

AS A REALLY GREAT HOLDER
FOR THE CACTUS PART.

IT SHOULD BOIL OUT,
KILL ANY BACTERIA

THAT'S IN THERE
THAT COULD HURT ME.

OKAY.

BEEN PRETTY WELL BOILED.

NICE CACTUS TEA.

THIS VALLEY CAUGHT
THE HEAT THIS MORNING.

NOW THE SUN IS DROPPING
AND THE SAME THERMAL SYSTEM

IS SUCKING THE HEAT OUT
WITH EVERY SECOND.

I HAVE TO FIND SHELTER SOON.

OTHERWISE, I WON'T BE
DYING OF HEATSTROKE.

I'LL BE DYING OF EXPOSURE
TO THE COLD.

Quitmeyer: THE COLD, ARID
DEATH VALLEY AIR

IS CHILLING ME TO THE BONE.

I NEED TO FIND SHELTER.

LOOK AT THIS.

SOME MORE MINING
EQUIPMENT OR SOMETHING.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE
WHAT IT EVEN IS.

THERE'S SOME
DIFFERENT-COLORED ROCK, TOO.

MAYBE THAT'S WHERE
THE MAIN MINING CAMP IS?

THERE'S SO MUCH
BUILDING MATERIAL.

Krebs: LOOKS LIKE ANDY
HAS STOPPED FOR THE NIGHT.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GET DOWN
IN THE 40s TONIGHT,

AND, ESPECIALLY WITH AS HOT
AS IT WAS TODAY,

THAT'S GOING TO FEEL
REALLY COLD TO HIM.

SO I REALLY HOPE
HE'S MANAGED TO GET A SHELTER

AND HOPEFULLY A FIRE, TOO.

FIRST THING I WANT TO DO
IS JUST FIGURE OUT

WHAT MY SHELTER'S GOING TO BE.

THIS RIGHT HERE WOULD MAKE
A PRETTY GOOD PLATFORM

FOR SLEEPING ON IF I COULD...

WOW.

I MIGHT GET TO SLEEP
ON A BED TONIGHT.

AH!
THIS IS GOING TO BE NICE.

EVERY NIGHT OUT HERE,
I'M STILL AMAZED

BY HOW COLD IT CAN GET
ONCE THE SUN GOES DOWN.

MAYBE EVEN USE
SOME OF THESE PIPES AND TUBES.

I'M GOING TO RUN THESE
TWO PIPES UNDER MY BED

AND LEAVE THE ENDS
STICKING OUT FAR ENOUGH

SO THAT THE FIRE CAN HEAT THEM.

ONCE THE PIPES GET HOT,

HEAT WILL RADIATE
THROUGH THEM AND WARM MY BED.

THAT WAS A REALLY TOUGH DAY.

WENT THROUGH A LOT AND EXERTED

PROBABLY MORE ENERGY
THAN I SHOULD HAVE,

BUT I'VE GOT
A REALLY GOOD SHELTER,

HEAT SOURCE FOR THE NIGHT.

SO NOW I CAN PUT
MY FOCUS ON FOOD.

GOT THIS NICE GRUB
TO START WITH.

STRING HIM ON THIS WIRE.

IT HEATS UP REALLY HOT

WHEN YOU PUT AN ELECTRICAL
CURRENT THROUGH IT,

CAN COOK THEM
FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

BEAUTIFUL BUG-KABOB HERE,
GRUB, PILL BUGS, WATER BUGS.

TOUCH THIS,
IT SHOULD HEAT UP.

THE SHORTER THE LENGTH
OF THE WIRE,

THE HOTTER IT'LL GET

BECAUSE I'M PASSING A LOT
MORE ELECTRICITY THROUGH IT.

THEN, I'M GOING TO TOSS THEM
IN THIS CACTUS,

MAKE THE WHOLE THING
A LITTLE MORE PALATABLE.

PACK MY CACTUS WITH PROTEIN.

IT'S LOOKING GOOD.

I MEAN, HONESTLY,
IT KIND OF LOOKS

A LITTLE BIT
LIKE AN ALIEN FINGER,

BUT RIGHT NOW I'M STARVING.

ANY EXTRA CALORIES
WILL HELP REFUEL MY BODY.

THE BUGS MIXING WITH IT

KIND OF ROUND OUT THE FLAVOR
OF THE CACTUS,

LIKE A CITRUSY TOFU ALMOST.

I'M ON THE CLOSEST RIDGE
TO THE DRY LAKE BED.

TOMORROW, I WANT TO HIKE UP
TO THE TOP OF THIS MOUNTAIN

AND SEE IF I CAN SPOT
ANY SIGNS OF CIVILIZATION

ON THE OTHER SIDE,
AND A POSSIBLE WAY OUT.

IT'S NOT EVEN DIRT ANYMORE.

IT'S JUST ROCK,
AND IT'S ALL RADIATING... HEAT.

I'M DOUBTING MY ABILITY

TO SURVIVE OUT HERE
MUCH LONGER.

THERE'S NO ESCAPE.

ALL I CAN SEE IS MILES AND
MILES OF ROCK AND ARID VALLEY.

Quitmeyer:
EVERY MINUTE THAT GOES BY,

THE SUN'S GETTING HOTTER
OUT HERE.

EVERYTHING'S RADIATING HEAT.

I'M, LIKE, WALKING
THROUGH A PIZZA OVEN.

Quitmeyer: AFTER THREE DAYS
IN DEATH VALLEY,

I NEED TO RETHINK
MY ESCAPE PLAN.

THE MOUNTAIN I'M ON IS

JUST THE BEGINNING
OF A SERIES OF MOUNTAINS.

AND FROM ITS PEAK, I DIDN'T SEE
ANY SIGNS OF CIVILIZATION,

ROADS OR A WAY OUT.

MY ONLY OPTION
IS TO HIKE THE TWO MILES

BACK DOWN INTO THE CANYON
INTO THE LARGE MINE

I'M USING AS A SHELTER.

Krebs:
HE'S REALLY BEEN MOVING A LOT.

I'M HOPING HE'S TAKING TO HEART

WHAT I WAS TELLING HIM
ABOUT STAYING STILL

WHEN HE HAS
ALL OF HIS NEEDS MET.

BUT ONE OF HIS NEEDS
IS SIGNALING,

AND NONE OF THE THREE METHODS

I TALKED ABOUT WITH HIM
IS GOING TO WORK,

THAT I CAN SEE,
DOWN IN A CANYON.

THERE'S MORE STUFF OVER HERE.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT ALL THIS
IS, BUT IT'S PRETTY OLD.

[ CLANGING ]

MAKES A GOOD, LOUD SOUND.

IF ANYONE WAS AROUND
FOR... A WHILE,

MAYBE THEY COULD HEAR THAT.

I COULD SMACK IT REALLY GOOD.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A GUNSHOT.

JUST FLYING AROUND
WHAT'S IN MY CAMP.

THAT STRUCTURE IS KIND
OF SCARY-LOOKING, THOUGH.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH
I CAN TRUST IT.

THIS IS AN OLD MINING CART
WITH A SLIDE ON THERE.

THAT'S SURPRISINGLY
SMOOTH-SPINNING.

HMM.

PULLEYS, LEVERS,
HEAVY THINGS, SIGNALS,

EARTH, MINING, ALL THIS ROCK.

I FEEL LIKE
SOMETHING'S ALMOST THERE.

THE ONLY WAY I'M GOING
TO GET OUT OF HERE

IS TO SIGNAL MY WAY OUT.

THERE'S THREE TYPES
OF SIGNALS...

ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION,

PYROTECHNIC OR GROUND TO AIR.

I THINK THERE MIGHT BE
A FOURTH KIND OF SIGNAL...

ANDY TO THE EARTH.

I THINK I'M GOING TO BUILD
AN EARTHQUAKE MACHINE.

I'M IN DEATH VALLEY.

THERE'S EARTHQUAKE SENSORS
ALL AROUND HERE.

IF I CAN HIT THAT BEDROCK,

IT'S GOING TO SEND SOME PULSE

THAT THESE MACHINES
COULD PICK UP.

THE THING IS, I JUST HAVE TO
MAKE THAT PULSE BIZARRE ENOUGH,

OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY ENOUGH

TO MAKE THOSE
SCIENTISTS CURIOUS.

MY PLAN IS TO USE
THE PARTS FROM THE MINE

TO CREATE A SERIES
OF THREE IMPACTS

AT THE TOP OF EACH HOUR

LASTING EXACTLY
5 MINUTES AND 5 SECONDS.

THE FIRST SERIES WILL BE SHORT,

THE SECOND LONG
AND THE THIRD SHORT AGAIN,

A CLASSIC S.O.S. SIGNAL.

THE DURATION OF EACH EVENT

MUST LAST
5 MINUTES AND 5 SECONDS.

505 LOOKS LIKE S.O.S.,

AND IF A SCIENTIST
DOES NOTICE MY MESSAGE,

THEY CAN TRIANGULATE
MY POSITION AND SEND HELP.

IT'S DAY 4.

MY PLAN WAS TO GET OUT TODAY,

BUT I'M ONLY JUST NOW
BUILDING MY EARTHQUAKE SIGNAL.

THE FIRST THING I'LL NEED TO DO
IS FIND THE PIECES

I NEED TO MAKE ROOM
FOR THIS BUILD.

ASSEMBLING THIS CONTRAPTION
IS DANGEROUS.

I'M RELYING ON OLD WIRE,
RUSTY CABLES AND BEAMS

THAT MAY NO LONGER
BE STRUCTURALLY SOUND.

I'LL HAVE TO USE
EXTREME CAUTION

AS I SUSPEND THESE
BATTERING RAMS OFF THE GROUND.

STRIKING BEDROCK IS CRITICAL

BECAUSE THE SOLID-ROCK WALL

WILL AMPLIFY THE SIGNAL
MUCH FURTHER THAN DIRT.

IT'S TOO HEAVY.

IT'S JUST BENDING THE PIPE.

PREVIOUS ONE WAS TOO WEAK,

SO I'VE DOUBLED MY LOAD
WITH REINFORCING PIPES.

GAH!

I CAN FEEL THE GROUND
ACTUALLY MOVING FROM OVER HERE.

THE EARTH WILL QUAKE
BENEATH MY SCIENCE!

WE HAVE AN EARTHQUAKE MACHINE!

I GOT TO MAKE THREE SIGNALS
IN REALLY QUICK SUCCESSION.

I GOT THAT THING.

I GOT THIS REALLY HEAVY WHEEL

THAT I CAN LEVER DOWN

AND COME SMASHING
INTO THE ROCK THERE.

AND I GOT ANOTHER BATTERING RAM
OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE.

ONLY THING REALLY REMAINING
IS SOME KIND OF MECHANISM

THAT I CAN TRIGGER THEM QUICKLY

SO I CAN HAVE
THE BOOM, BOOM, BOOM

IN A SOMEWHAT QUICK SUCCESSION.

I GOT THIS WIRE UP AROUND
THE BATTERING RAM OVER HERE.

SO WHILE I'M ALL THE WAY
OVER THERE MANNING

THE OTHER BATTERING RAMS
AND THE BIG WHEEL,

I CAN JUST HIT A PIN.

AND IT'S GOING TO SLIDE OUT
AND...

[ CLATTERING ]

AW, IT BROKE RIGHT OFF.

THIS WAS ONE
OF MY BATTERING RAMS

TO GO AGAINST THE BEDROCK.

THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST
ONE THAT I TRIGGERED.

I NEED THREE OF THESE TO DO
THE BUMP, BUMP, BUMP, S.O.S.

I'M NEVER GETTING THAT THING
BACK UP THERE AGAIN.

I'LL NEVER BE ABLE
TO GET THAT BACK UP THERE.

Quitmeyer: I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
OUT OF THIS DESERT TODAY,

BUT NOW MY S.O.S. SIGNAL
IS BROKEN.

I'M DOWN TO TWO,
BUT I NEED THREE RAMS

FOR MY EARTHQUAKE MACHINE
TO WORK.

IT'LL TAKE MORE EFFORT,

BUT I'LL JUST HAVE TO FIRE
THE HEAVIEST PIN TWICE.

OKAY, THAT STILL WORKS.
I'M IN ACTION.

I JUST CAN'T HAVE
ANYTHING ELSE FAIL ON ME.

THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE
I'LL HAVE

IS GETTING SOMEONE
TO NOTICE MY SIGNAL

SINCE THE GOVERNMENT'S
EARTHQUAKE SENSORS

ARE PROGRAMMED TO FILTER OUT
EVENTS THAT AREN'T EARTHQUAKES.

I'VE REPROGRAMMED
MY TEMPERATURE WARNING,

FIRE-PIT SENSOR JUST TO BE
A REAL SIMPLE TIMER.

LET'S SEE IF IT WORKS.

TWO, ONE... PERFECT.

IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE,
BUT IT MIGHT SAVE ME.

I'M NEARING THE TOP OF THE HOUR,

SO MY TIMER SHOULD BE
GOING OFF ANY SECOND NOW.

ONCE I SEE THAT YELLOW,
I GOT TO GET READY.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR...

OKAY.

OKAY, THAT'S RESET.

I'M STILL WITHIN
MY 5 MINUTES, 5 SECONDS.

IT'S GOING TO BE
THE LONG SIGNAL FOR THE O.

NOW I'VE GOT TO HURRY UP
AND RESET,

MAKE SURE I CATCH THE VERY
PRECISE QUICK SIGNAL AT THE END.

SO I'VE GOT ANOTHER HOUR
TO REST.

IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY
LONG NIGHT OF DOING THIS.

I'LL DO THIS EVERY HOUR ON THE
HOUR THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT

IF MY BODY CAN KEEP
GOING THAT LONG.

RUNNING THESE EARTHQUAKE
MESSAGES ALL NIGHT.

I'VE MANAGED TO HIT ALL THE
SEQUENCES CONSISTENTLY SO FAR,

RIGHT ON THE DOT,
5 MINUTES, 5 SECONDS,

GETTING THE S.O.S. PATTERN
REAL GOOD IN THERE.

THIS BIG, HEAVY WHEEL,
THAT BIG BATTERING RAM,

THEY'RE REALLY SHAKING
THE GROUND.

[ CLANGING ]

IF THEY DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE
BY NOW, THEY NEVER WILL.

IT'S DAY 5.

I'VE MISSED MY GOAL OF
GETTING OUT OF HERE IN 4 DAYS.

SO FAR,
MY SEISMIC ALERT SYSTEM

HAS NOT ATTRACTED ANYONE
TO COME TO MY RESCUE.

THERE'S ONE MORE IDEA
I COULD TRY.

THIS MICROCONTROLLER,
IT GOES UP TO 8 MEGAHERTZ,

SO, IN THEORY,
I COULD MAKE SOME KIND OF,

LIKE, RADIO SIGNAL,

HAVE, LIKE, A TINY A.M. RADIO.

WELL, ACTUALLY,
I HAVE ALL THIS METAL HERE.

I COULD HOOK THAT UP TO IT
AND HAVE A REALLY BIG ANTENNA.

BUT, AGAIN,
THAT'S A REALLY BIG LONG SHOT.

I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE
ENOUGH POWER.

[ HORN HONKS ]

OH, MY GOD!
THERE'S A CAR!

HEY! HEY! HEY!

THERE'S A CAR DOWN
BELOW THAT RIDGE.

IT'S, LIKE, A BIG, WHITE TRUCK.

I'M A BIT BUMMED TO LEARN
THAT MY RESCUE VEHICLE

WASN'T A CARLOAD
OF EARTHQUAKE SCIENTISTS,

BUT I'M GLAD THAT JESSIE
WAS WORRIED ABOUT ME ENOUGH

TO SEND SOMEONE OUT TO FIND ME.

STILL, SHE LOVED MY WACKY IDEA.

I BUILT A EARTHQUAKE
MACHINE, SO...

- EARTHQUAKE MACHINE?
- YEAH.

AND I JUST RIGGED UP
THIS THING

THAT WAS JUST SMASHING
ON THE GROUND

AND SENDING,
LIKE, S.O.S. MESSAGES

OUT AND...
- THROUGH THE GROUND?

THROUGH THE GROUND BECAUSE
IT HIT RIGHT ON THE BEDROCK!

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, THOUGH,
MAN. THAT'S COOL.

I WAS TRYING TO THINK
OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

IT'S GOOD THINKING.