Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 1, Episode 11 - Iceland - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.

I'VE SERVED WITH
BRITISH SPECIAL FORCES.

I'VE CLIMBED
TO THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST

AND CROSSED THE FROZEN OCEANS
OF THE ARCTIC.

NOW I'M IN ICELAND, A LAND
OF HUGE GLACIERS AND VOLCANOES.

IT'S REALLY BLOWING HERE!

EVERY YEAR, A THOUSAND TOURISTS
NEED TO BE RESCUED.

I'M GONNA SHOW THE SKILLS
NEEDED TO SURVIVE HERE.

I'M FLYING OUT OF ICELAND'S
CAPITAL, REYKJAVíK...

ON THE SOUTHWEST COAST,

WHERE MOST
OF THE 300,000 PEOPLE LIVE.



THE ISLAND LIES
JUST ON THE ARCTIC CIRCLE,

IN BETWEEN THE U.S. AND EUROPE.

IT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF KENTUCKY

BUT ONLY HAS ONE MAIN ROAD

THAT FOLLOWS THE COAST
ALL AROUND THE ISLAND.

MOST OF THE COUNTRY IS JUST
A BARREN, FROZEN WASTELAND.

THIS PLACE HAS
A STRANGE BEAUTY ABOUT IT,

BUT IT'S ALSO UNFORGIVING
DOWN THERE.

ICELAND'S ORIGINAL SETTLERS
WERE THE VIKINGS,

WHO CAME FROM NORWAY
OVER A THOUSAND YEARS AGO.

THEY KNEW HOW TO SURVIVE
THESE HARSH CLIMATES.

PEOPLE COME HERE TO EXPERIENCE
A UNIQUE GEOLOGY.

IT'S CALLED
THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE.

FIRE BECAUSE ONE OF THE MOST
VOLCANIC COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD,



AND ICE BECAUSE OVER 2,000
SQUARE MILES OF IT ARE GLACIERS.

ON AVERAGE, THREE PEOPLE A DAY
ARE RESCUED

FROM THE FREEZING GLACIERS
AND HUGE VOLCANIC PLAINS.

THE GLACIER IS
DIRECTLY UNDER ME,

AND THOSE PLACES ARE ONE OF
THE TOUGHEST PLACES TO SURVIVE.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU
HOW YOU CAN SURVIVE

IN THIS
INHOSPITABLE WILDERNESS.

I'LL BE GETTING SOME ASSISTANCE

FROM LOCAL EXPERTS
IF NEEDED,

AND A CAMERA CREW
WILL FOLLOW ME.

AT 4,000 FEET, I'M ON A GLACIER

ON ONE OF ICELAND'S HIGHEST
AND COLDEST POINTS.

MAN, THIS PLACE IS BLEAK.

I'M HERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER.

JUST NOW,
IT'S 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,

BUT IN A FEW HOURS,

IT CAN GET DOWN
TO A DEADLY MINUS 10.

GET SOME FEELING
BACK IN MY HANDS AGAIN.

MY GOAL IS TO SHOW

HOW YOU COULD SURVIVE
IN THIS WASTELAND

IF YOU JUST KNOW HOW.

ONE OF THE SIMPLEST WAYS
OF FINDING OUT NORTH OR SOUTH

WHEN YOU'RE
IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

IS JUST TO USE YOUR WATCH
AND THE SUN.

AND ALL I NEED TO DO IS POINT
THE HOUR HAND AT THE SUN.

SO IF IT'S 3:00 NOW,
I POINT THAT AT THE SUN,

AND THEN HALFWAY BETWEEN THERE
AND 12:00 IS SOUTH.

AS ICELAND IS IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC,

ITS WEATHER CAN CHANGE
SO QUICKLY,

AND STORMS CAN ROLL IN
LITERALLY IN MINUTES.

WHEN I LANDED, IT WAS SUNNY,

BUT NOW I'M IN THE MIDDLE
OF A FULL-BLOWN BLIZZARD.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST DANGERS
UP HERE ON THESE GLACIERS

IN CONDITIONS LIKE THIS
IS HYPOTHERMIA.

AND IT CAN SET IN VERY QUICKLY.

JUST A DROP
OF A COUPLE OF DEGREES

IN YOUR CORE BODY TEMPERATURE
WILL BRING IT ON.

AND YOU START SHIVERING,
YOU START TO SLUR YOUR WORDS,

LOSE YOUR ABILITY
TO THINK STRAIGHT.

AND I'VE HAD IT BEFORE,
AND IT'S VERY FRIGHTENING.

WITHOUT SHELTER,

YOU'D ONLY SURVIVE A MATTER OF
HOURS IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS.

BUT AS QUICKLY AS IT CAME,
THE STORM LIFTS,

AND IT GIVES ME A BRIEF CHANCE
TO GET MY BEARINGS.

WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE
IS AN ICE CAVE,

AND CAVES
CAN GIVE YOU PROTECTION.

THE PROBLEM IS THIS CORNICE
ALL THE WAY UP HERE

AND HOW I'M GONNA GET

OVER THIS LIP
AND DOWN TO THERE.

IT'S A 60-FOOT DROP
TO THE BOTTOM,

AND THE OVERHANGING LEDGES
CAN COLLAPSE EASILY.

PROBABLY MY BEST WAY
OF DOING THIS

IS JUST TO TRAVERSE
ALONG THIS SNOW BANK.

AND I NEED TO BE CAREFUL.

AS YOU SEE DOWN THERE,
IT LOOKS LIKE A LIP.

IT MIGHT WELL BE A CLIFF
DROPPING STRAIGHT OFF THAT.

YOU GOT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL
DOING THIS

WITHOUT CRAMPONS
AND WITHOUT AN ICE AX OR ROPE.

IT JUST MEANS YOU'VE GOT TO BE
REALLY CERTAIN

OF EVERY FOOTHOLD THAT YOU TAKE.

OKAY.
START INCHING ACROSS.

WHEW!

THE TEAM IS STANDING BY
IN CASE I SLIP,

BUT EVEN SO,
I'VE GOT TO BE SO CAREFUL HERE.

OKAY, I'M OUT OF THE NASTY BIT
OF THIS NOW.

IT'S JUST THE LAST LITTLE CHUTE
DOWN INTO THE CAVE.

I LOVE THESE BITS.

THIS ISN'T A CAVE.

IT'S ACTUALLY A FUNNEL.
IT'S OPEN IN THE BOTTOM.

BUT THESE --
THESE THINGS ARE FULL.

WHAT HAPPENS -- MOUNTAIN WATER
COMES DOWN THE GLACIER,

AND BECAUSE THE WATER
IS WARMER THAN THE ICE,

IT CREATES THESE, LIKE, TUNNELS
RUNNING UNDER THE GLACIER.

WHEN THEY GET BIGGER,

THEY GROW
INTO THIS SORT OF THING.

YOU DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND --
HANG AROUND IN THIS.

SEE A LOT OF THAT?
IT'S BLUE ICE, AS WELL.

THAT'S THE OLDEST SORT OF ICE
AND ALSO THE MOST DANGEROUS.

IT'S MOST LIKELY TO CRACK.

BLUE ICE IS AS HARD AS STEEL,

BUT IT'S ALSO
AS BRITTLE AS GLASS.

AND BECAUSE THE GLACIER'S
CONSTANTLY MOVING,

COLLAPSES ARE COMMON.

IF YOU FOLLOW THIS UP,

YOU CAN SEE A BIT OF IT
WHERE IT'S FLAKED OFF.

AND YOU IMAGINE
WHAT THAT'S GONNA DO

IF THAT DROPPED ON TOP OF YOU.

LAST YEAR, A CLIMBER WAS
IN AN ICE CAVE JUST LIKE THIS,

AND A 150-TON SLAB SHEARED OFF.

HE STOOD NO CHANCE
OF SURVIVING.

I WAS HOPING THIS WAS GONNA BE
A GOOD PLACE TO SHELTER,

BUT IT'S JUST GONNA ACT LIKE
A WIND FUNNEL.

I NEED TO THINK AGAIN
AND GET OUT OF HERE PRETTY FAST.

AS IT GROWS DARKER, A STORM
ONCE AGAIN IS MOVING IN.

I'VE GOT MINUTES
BEFORE IT'S GOING TO HIT ME.

LET'S KEEP MOVING.
I'VE GOT TO GET OFF THIS THING.

ALREADY TEMPERATURES ARE
MINUS 10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

THERE'S NO SIGN OF SHELTER,

AND THIS STORM
IS GETTING WORSE.

THERE'S PROBABLY JUST
30 MINUTES OF DAYLIGHT LEFT.

I'M ON A GLACIER IN ICELAND.

A BLIZZARD HAS COME IN,

AND IF YOU WERE HERE, YOU'D
NEED TO FIND SHELTER FAST.

IT'S MINUS 10 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT,

BUT WINDS OF 50 MILES AN HOUR
MAKE IT MUCH COLDER.

BUT THE WIND'S NOT ONLY
MY ENEMY.

IT CAN ALSO BE MY FRIEND.

WHEN THE WIND BLOWS
OVER THESE SORT OF RIDGES,

IF YOU LOOK UP HERE,

IT BUILDS UP A LOAD OF SNOW
ON THE LEEWARD SIDE OF IT,

THE SIDE OUT OF THE WIND.

I CAN USE THAT SNOW TO DIG INTO

AND CREATE A LITTLE SNOW CAVE.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,

A SNOWMOBILER GOT SEPARATED
FROM HIS FRIENDS

DURING A BLIZZARD.

HE MANAGED TO STAY ALIVE FOR
48 HOURS BEFORE RESCUE CAME,

BECAUSE HE GOT OUT OF THE WIND
BY DIGGING HIMSELF A SNOW HOLE.

THIS IS DEFINITELY HARDER WORK
WITHOUT ANY FORM OF SHOVEL.

BUT ALL OF THE SNOW
IS QUITE NICE AND LOOSE.

AND THE BITS THAT ARE COMING
OUT -- BLOCKS LIKE THIS --

I'M GONNA KEEP
SO I CAN USE THOSE

TO THEN DAM UP THE ENTRANCE
IN THE END.

YOU SHOULD
KEEP YOUR PACE STEADY.

IF YOU ALLOW SWEAT
TO FREEZE ON YOUR BODY,

HYPOTHERMIA WILL COME ON
TWICE AS FAST.

A SNOW HOLE LIKE THIS
WOULD KEEP YOU OUT OF THE WIND.

THE NEXT THING I NEED TO DO

IS DIG A LITTLE BIT
OF A PIT DOWN.

THE REASON I DO THAT
IS THAT COLD AIR SINKS,

SO I DON'T WANT THIS COLD AIR
AROUND ME.

I WANT IT TO GO DOWN

INTO WHAT THEY CALL
A COLD WELL DOWN HERE.

ALL I WANT TO DO NOW

IS JUST BLOCK UP
A BIT OF THIS ENTRANCE HERE.

IT'S TEMPTING
TO SEAL THE ENTRANCE COMPLETELY

TO KEEP THE WIND OUT,
BUT THAT CAN BE LETHAL.

WHAT I'VE DONE HERE IS JUST PUT
SOME OF THE BLOCKS OVER THE TOP,

AND THIS WILL CONSOLIDATE DOWN,

LEFT A BIT
OF A VENTILATION HOLE.

I CAN PUT MY HAND OUT HERE.

AND IT'S BLOWING HARD.
IT'S SNOWING.

THIS WILL GIVE IT
A LIGHT COVERING,

BUT I NEED TO MAKE SURE TO KEEP
PUTTING MY HAND THROUGH

TO KEEP THAT VENTILATION HOLE.

OTHERWISE, YOU CAN SUFFOCATE
IN THESE THINGS.

STAYING HYDRATED
HELPS KEEP YOUR BODY WARM.

IT'S TEMPTING TO EAT THE SNOW,
BUT THAT WOULD JUST COOL

MY CORE BODY TEMPERATURE DOWN
EVEN MORE.

SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

IS MELT THE SNOW
WITH YOUR BODY HEAT.

AS SOON AS YOU SEE
A BREAK IN THE WEATHER,

YOU NEED
TO GET OFF THE GLACIER FAST.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT
IN ANOTHER STORM UP HERE.

IT'S DEFINITELY LESS WINDY
THAN IT WAS YESTERDAY.

IT'S STILL PRETTY WINDY,

BUT, ACTUALLY,
I SEE THE SUN OVER THERE,

WHICH IS A GOOD SIGN.

YOU'LL NEED TO FIND YOUR WAY,
AND YOU CAN USE THE SUN.

BUT IN ICELAND,

THE SUN DOESN'T RISE IN THE EAST
AND SET IN THE WEST.

IT'S MORE LIKE SOUTHEAST
AND SOUTHWEST.

SO, IF THAT'S SOUTHEAST NOW
AND THE SUN HAS JUST COME UP,

IT MEANS SOUTHWEST
IS OVER THERE.

GLACIERS ARE FULL
OF THESE ICE GULLIES,

AND THEY CAN BE DANGEROUS.

ALL OF THIS SNOW HERE,

THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED
ROTTEN SNOW,

WHICH MEANS IT'S FALLEN,
IT'S THAWED,

AND THEN IT'S REFROZEN,
SO YOU GET THIS CRUST,

WHICH IS REALLY GOOD
FOR WALKING ON.

I CAN JUST DIG MY FEET IN
AND GET REALLY GOOD HOLDS IN IT.

BUT THE DANGER ON GLACIERS
ARE CREVASSES.

WHAT YOU OFTEN GET
WITH CREVASSES

IS A THIN COVERING
OF COMPACTED SNOW.

IT'S CALLED A SNOW BRIDGE.

YOU CAN SEE THERE
JUST WHERE ONE HAS COLLAPSED.

AND THIS IS WHY THEY'RE
SO DANGEROUS.

YOU DON'T KNOW
WHEN YOU'RE ON ONE,

AND YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S UNDER YOU, AS WELL.

THESE COULD BE
SOMETIMES HUNDREDS OF FEET DEEP,

JUST NARROW CHASMS
UNDERNEATH YOU.

I'VE JUST GOT TO BE
ULTRA CAREFUL

TO STICK TO THE SIDE
OF THESE GULLIES.

IF YOU FALL INTO A CREVASSE,

THEY CAN BE IMPOSSIBLE
TO GET OUT OF.

AND WITH NO CHANCE OF ESCAPE,

A SLOW DEATH
IS ALL THAT AWAITS YOU.

AND THIS REALLY IS
THE VERY END OF THE GLACIER.

YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS
THOUGHT OF GLACIERS

AS LIKE LIVING BEASTS, YOU KNOW?

THEY MOVE. THEY SHIFT.
THEY GROAN.

AND OFTEN, THEY'RE ANGRY.

I'M NOW AT 3,000 FOOT,

AND THE TEMPERATURE
IS JUST ABOVE FREEZING.

EVEN WHEN YOU GET
OFF THE GLACIER,

YOU CAN STILL COME ACROSS

HAZARDS WHICH WILL BLOCK
YOUR ROUTE,

LIKE THIS --
A DEEP GLACIAL RIVER.

ALL OF THAT WATER
IS GLACIAL MELTWATER.

IT'S GOT TO BE FREEZING,
FREEZING COLD.

YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING YOU CAN
TO AVOID BEING IN THAT,

SO I NEED TO THINK OF SOME WAY
OF TRYING TO GET ACROSS THIS.

BUT THERE MAY BE A SOLUTION
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER.

I CAN SEE SOME STEAM
COMING FROM SOME VENTS

ON THE HILLSIDE OVER THERE.

THAT MEANS GEOTHERMIC HOT POOLS,
WARM WATER.

THEREFORE,
JUMPING INTO THIS GLACIAL WATER

IS A RISK I CAN TAKE.

BUT IT WOULD BE
A RACE AGAINST TIME.

YOU'D NEED TO GET TO THOSE
HOT POOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE

BEFORE THE FREEZING WATER
AND COLD WIND GETS YOU FIRST.

TO BE ABLE
TO CLIMB DOWN THIS --

AND, REALLY, I'VE GOT NO CHOICE
APART FROM JUST JUMPING IT.

BUT IT'S EASILY DEEP ENOUGH.
THE WATER'S CRYSTAL CLEAR.

I CAN SEE ALL THE WAY
TO THE BOTTOM.

BUT IT IS HIGH.

THIS IS PROBABLY
ABOUT A 30-FOOT JUMP.

AND I JUST KNOW
THAT WATER IS GLACIAL.

IT'S GONNA BE FREEZING.

AS SOON AS I GO INTO IT,

IT'S GONNA BE
A TICKING TIME BOMB

BETWEEN HYPOTHERMIA
AND REACHING THOSE POOLS.

I'M IN ICELAND,

TACKLING THE DANGERS
YOU'D COME ACROSS

IF YOU GOT STRANDED HERE.

BUT A DEEP GLACIAL RIVER
IS BLOCKING MY ROUTE.

MY ONLY OPTION IS TO JUMP.

OKAY.

WHEW!

THE FREEZING WATER HAS SENT
MY BODY INTO SHOCK.

I'M ALSO RAPIDLY LOSING HEAT,

AND THAT'S MAKING ME WEAKER
BY THE SECOND.

NOW I'VE GOT TO GET
TO THE HOT GEOTHERMAL POOLS

TO GET MY BODY TEMPERATURE
BACK TO NORMAL.

AND THAT IS JUST BITING COLD.

GOD! MY HANDS,
MY LEGS JUST FEEL NUMB.

AND I JUST KNOW I JUST GOT
TO KEEP EVERY LIMB MOVING

UNTIL I REACH THOSE POOLS.

WHERE'S MY HOOD?

THE AIR IS LITERALLY
REFRIGERATING MY BODY.

OKAY.

IN EXTREME COLD, MY BODY ACTS
TO PROTECT THE BRAIN AND HEART

BY DRAINING BLOOD AWAY
FROM MY HANDS AND FEET,

AND THAT MAKES RUNNING
EVEN HARDER.

THERE'S A HOT POOL,
BUT LOOK AT THIS.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE --
SEE THAT?

IT'S BUBBLING.
THAT IS A BOILING TEMPERATURE.

AND THERE'S NO WAY --

THERE'S NO WAY
I'M GETTING INTO THAT.

I'M FEELING MY ARMS AND LEGS
BEGINNING TO SHUT DOWN.

I NEED TO THINK QUICKLY NOW.

YOU SEE THIS STREAM.

THIS IS RUNNING
OUT OF THAT HOT MUD POOL.

ANYWAY...

ALL I'M DOING HERE IS DAMMING UP
THIS BIT OF THE STREAM

AND THEN HOPEFULLY CREATE

A BIT OF A POOL
FOR ME TO GET IN.

YEAH, THAT'S KIND OF
A MANAGEABLE TEMPERATURE.

I'VE GOT TO GET IN FAST,

AND IF I DON'T GET
THESE WET CLOTHES OFF,

MY BODY WILL GO INTO SHOCK.

IN THIS WIND,

THEY SHOULD HOPEFULLY DRY
IN MAYBE A COUPLE OF HOURS.

BUT AT LEAST
DURING THAT TIME -- AH --

I CAN LIE IN THIS HOT POOL

AND NOT FREEZE TO DEATH.

GOD.

THANK GOD FOR VOLCANOES.

HERE IN THE HOT WATER,

YOU'D QUICKLY REGAIN
YOUR BODY HEAT.

NOW IT'S KIND OF ALMOST
LIKE BEING AT HOME,

APART FROM A BIT MUDDIER.

AFTER WARMING UP
AND WITH MY CLOTHES NEARLY DRY,

IT'S TIME TO GET GOING.

ICELAND HAS
MANY GEOTHERMAL AREAS,

AND OVER 90% OF HOMES

ARE FUELED
BY NATURALLY HEATED WATER.

THIS COMES
FROM UNDERGROUND RIVERS

BEING HEATED
BY VOLCANIC MAGMA.

I NEED TO BE CAREFUL
WITH WHERE I'M TREADING HERE,

'CAUSE WHAT YOU OFTEN GET
ARE THESE SOFT AREAS OF MUD,

WHERE ACTUALLY THE MUD
IS AT BOILING POINT,

REALLY FROTHING AWAY.

AND EVERY YEAR,
THERE WILL BE SEVERAL TOURISTS

WHO WILL GET STUCK IN THIS STUFF
AND GET REALLY BADLY BURNED.

THE WAY JUST TO TEST THE GROUND

IS JUST TO STEP REALLY GINGERLY

AND JUST PUSH WITH YOUR BOOT,

SEE WHERE THE MUD
IS SOFT OR NOT,

AND ALSO JUST TO TAP IT,
AS WELL,

'CAUSE OFTEN IT WILL FEEL,
LIKE, HOLLOW.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU'VE
GOT THIS CRUST OVER THE TOP

WITH THE MUD THEN BOILING
UNDERNEATH IT.

AND, SEE, EVEN HERE --
THIS IS WHAT I MEAN.

THERE YOU'VE GOT
A HOLE STRAIGHT DOWN.

IF I TROD ON THAT,
THIS WOULD PROBABLY GIVE WAY.

SO WE'LL STEP OVER THIS BIT.

AND THIS IS A KIND OF
PRETTY NASTY AREA HERE.

I'VE GOT A BOILING POOL
ON BOTH SIDES.

TEMPERATURES HERE ARE
ABOUT 40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,

SO IT'S WARM ENOUGH FOR EDIBLE
GRASSES, MOSS, AND LICHEN.

SINCE VIKING TIMES,

SHEEP HAVE ROAMED FREE,
GRAZING HERE.

AND SOME OF THESE GRASSES,
LIKE THIS REINDEER MOSS,

YOU COULD EAT, TOO.

I CAN TELL IT'S REINDEER MOSS.
LOOK, IT'S KIND OF WHITE.

LOOK A LITTLE BIT
LIKE LITTLE BRANCHES.

ACTUALLY THEY LOOK QUITE LIKE --

QUITE LIKE REINDEER ANTLERS,
AS WELL.

BUT YOU CAN ACTUALLY EAT THIS.

AND IT'S NOT GONNA GIVE ME
MUCH NUTRITIONAL VALUE,

BUT WHAT IT WILL DO
IS FILL UP MY STOMACH

AND STOP ME FEELING SO HUNGRY.

AND THIS IS WHAT THE VIKINGS
USED TO USE IT FOR.

SURVIVAL IS ALL ABOUT MAKING
THE MOST OF OPPORTUNITY.

MOST ICELANDIC SHEEP ARE TAKEN
INSIDE IN THE WINTERTIME.

BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS A FEW
THAT DON'T GET ROUNDED UP.

A LOCAL FARMER HAS LEFT ME
A DEAD SHEEP

SO I COULD SHOW YOU
WHAT TO DO.

HE HASN'T BEEN DEAD
THAT LONG.

HIS EYEBALLS ARE STILL THERE,

WHICH MEANS HE'S PROBABLY ONLY
A FEW DAYS SINCE HE'S DIED.

YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THIS.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY NICE MEAT.

AND NOW I'VE GOT THIS SPLIT OFF.

I CAN JUST BEGIN TO CUT THE MEAT

AWAY FROM ALL THE SKIN.

AND NOW IT'S GONNA CUT A NICE
STRIP OF THIS FAT, AS WELL.

FAT SHOULD BE STORED
WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

THE OILS CAN BE USED
IN MANY SURVIVAL SITUATIONS,

LIKE EMERGENCY FOOD OR FIRE.

ICELANDERS EAT ALMOST
EVERY PART OF A SHEEP --

EVERYTHING FROM TESTICLES,
HEART, LIVER,

EVEN THE EYEBALLS.

ACTUALLY,
I WANT TO TAKE THIS OUT.

SHEEP EYEBALLS
ARE EXTREMELY NUTRITIOUS.

THEY ARE HIGH IN PROTEIN

AND RICH
IN VITAMIN "A" AND "D."

USUALLY, THEY ARE
THE FIRST THINGS TO ROT.

BUT IN THIS COLD WEATHER,
THESE ARE STILL GOOD.

THE EYEBALL -- GIVE THEM A DUNK
IN THE GEOTHERMAL,

COOK THE MEAT IN THERE, AS WELL,
'CAUSE IT'S BOILING.

AND THEN ALL OF THIS IS GONNA BE
GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT.

I COULD EAT THE MEAT RAW,
BUT IT'S HARDER TO DIGEST

AND CAN ACTUALLY TAKE ENERGY
AWAY FROM THE BODY.

SO COOK MEAT WHENEVER YOU CAN.

YOU CAN SEE HERE,
WHERE ALL THE WATER'S BOILING.

ALL I NEED TO DO
IS TAKE MY SHOELACE OFF...

...AND PUT A LITTLE LOOP
IN THE END HERE...

LIKE THAT.

AND IF I GO STRAIGHT THROUGH
THESE BITS OF MEAT...

...I CAN THEN
THREAD THIS THROUGH.

AND THEN JUST THIS LAST BIT.

WHAT I'M GONNA DO,
LOOP IT THROUGH ITSELF...

AND THAT, THEN, IS READY
TO GO INTO THE BOILING WATER.

LOOK. INSTANTLY, YOU CAN SEE IT
TURNING BROWN THERE.

THAT'S HOW HOT THIS WATER IS.

AND WHILE THE MEAT'S COOKING
AT ONE END OF THE SHOELACE,

I CAN TAKE THE OTHER END OF IT

AND JUST THREAD IT
THROUGH THIS EYEBALL.

THESE ARE REALLY OKAY
TO EAT RAW.

I'M JUST GONNA DIP IT IN HERE

JUST TO GET
ANY SORT OF BACTERIA OFF IT.

GIVE IT A QUICK BLAST
IN THE BOILING WATER,

AND THEN...

...THIS EYEBALL
IS GONNA BE OKAY TO EAT.

GOD, IT'S LIKE CHEWING GRISTLE

FULL OF COLD GLOOP.

UGH!

10 MINUTES OF COOKING TIME,

AND MY MAIN COURSE
SHOULD BE DONE.

LET'S SEE --
SEE IF THIS IS READY.

OH.

THAT IS LIKE JUST THE BEST LAMB
YOU GET IN A RESTAURANT --

COOKED IN VOLCANIC,
BOILING WATER.

ALREADY I CAN FEEL
THE WIND CHANGING.

AND THE ICELANDERS
HAVE A SAYING --

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WEATHER,
JUST WAIT FIVE MINUTES,

AND IT WILL GET
A LOT, LOT WORSE.

I'M IN THE WILDERNESS
IN ICELAND.

HERE, THERE ARE HUGE
FREEZING RIVERS LIKE THIS.

AND ANOTHER STORM WITH
50-MILE-AN-HOUR ARCTIC WINDS

HAS WHIPPED UP,
AND THE TEMPERATURE

HAS PLUMMETED
TO MINUS 15 DEGREES.

IT'S REALLY BLOWING HERE,

BUT I'VE GOT TO GET ACROSS
THIS RIVER SOMEHOW.

AND THIS ISN'T
THE NARROWEST PART,

BUT IT IS THE SHALLOWEST BIT
OF THE RIVER.

AND I CAN USE THIS
TO MY ADVANTAGE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE ROCKS IN IT

CREATING LIKE THESE EDDIES
OF SLACK WATER BEHIND THEM.

I CAN USE THAT TO GO FROM ONE
TO THE NEXT AND THEN OUT.

BUT THIS WATER
IS GOING TO BE FREEZING COLD,

ESPECIALLY THE WINDCHILL FACTOR.

SO I'VE GOT TO DO
EVERYTHING I CAN

TO MAKE SURE MY CLOTHES,
ESPECIALLY MY TOP HALF,

STAY DRY.

SOAKING-WET CLOTHES IN THESE
CONDITIONS ARE LETHAL.

SO I'M KEEPING MY CLOTHES DRY

BY WRAPPING THEM
IN MY WATERPROOF JACKET.

I'M FACING UPSTREAM
INTO THE WATER.

IT'S EASIER TO KEEP MY BALANCE.

I CAN'T AFFORD TO SLIP HERE.

WELL, I'M ACROSS,
AND ALL OF THESE CLOTHES

HAVE ACTUALLY STAYED
AMAZINGLY DRY IN THERE.

AND THEN WHAT THEY
USED TO SAY IN THE ARMY --

IF WE EVER COMPLAINED
OF BEING COLD,

THEY'D MAKE US DO 5 OF THESE...

AND 10 OF THESE...

AND YOU'RE WARM AGAIN.

THE STORM HAS BLOWN OVER,

AND I'VE SPOTTED A FOREST
IN THE DISTANCE.

IN ICELAND, THE POOR SOIL,
WIND, AND TEMPERATURE

MEANS THAT TREES
ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

BUT WHEN YOU DO FIND THEM,

THEY'RE IDEAL FOR BOTH SHELTER
AND WILDLIFE.

HEY. THIS IS
PTARMIGAN FEATHERS HERE.

SEE THIS?
ALL OF THIS.

AND PTARMIGAN'S LIKE
A TYPE OF GROUSE,

BUT THIS IS WHY THEY HAVE
THIS WHITE WINTER PLUMAGE.

WHAT IT DOES -- IT CAMOUFLAGES
THEM WELL WITH THE SNOW.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR ME
IF THERE ARE PTARMIGANS AROUND.

I MIGHT WELL BE ABLE TO GET ONE.

PTARMIGAN ARE KNOWN
AS SNOW CHICKENS IN THE U.S.

BECAUSE OF THEIR
WINTER PLUMAGE.

AND THEY FEED ON BERRIES
AND SEEDS BENEATH THE TREES.

THIS IS -- THIS IS KIND OF
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR HERE.

LOOK, A BIT OF A NATURAL --

A NATURAL CHANNEL WHERE
PTARMIGANS MIGHT WELL PASS.

SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
IS USE YOUR SHOELACES.

JUST TIE THIS END

IN A REALLY SIMPLE
LITTLE OVERHAND KNOT

THAT GIVES ME A LITTLE LOOP,

AND THEN TIE THIS END
AROUND THE TREE.

AND THEN JUST SET
THIS ONE IN THAT SIDE...

...AND DRAPE THAT OVER HERE.

AND THE IDEA IS,
PTARMIGAN COMES ALONG,

GOES THROUGH THIS.

THEY'LL GET SNARED IN THAT
AND STUCK TO THE TREE.

I'M GONNA SET SEVERAL TRAPS

AND HOPE THAT ONE
WILL PAY OFF BY MORNING.

YOUR NEXT PRIORITY
WILL BE TO FIND SHELTER

AND BUILD A FIRE.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO MAKE
A TRADITIONAL SHELTER

LIKE THE ONES
USED BY THE VIKINGS.

WHAT I'M DOING HERE

IS JUST MAKING A NICE,
SPRINGY MATTRESS.

THEN I'LL BUILD UP THE WALLS
WITH ROCKS

IN THE SHAPE OF A COFFIN
TO TRAP HEAT INSIDE.

THIS BIT OF THE WALL
I'VE BUILT UP HIGHER

SO I CAN THEN PUT SOME BRANCHES
OVER THE TOP OF THIS.

AND THESE DEAD BRANCHES

HAVE, LIKE, A NATURAL BOW
TO THEM THERE,

WHICH MEANS I CAN JUST
DRAPE THEM OVER THE TOP.

AND THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM
UNDER HERE FOR ME TO LIE.

I JUST NEED TO PUT SOME MOSS
ON THE TOP OF IT HERE.

THIS SHOULD BE WATERPROOF.

NOW I'M ON THE LOOKOUT FOR FUEL
FOR A NICE WARM FIRE.

THERE ARE LOADS OF THESE
BIRCH TREES AROUND HERE,

AND THESE ARE
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.

I CAN TELL THEY'RE BIRCH

JUST 'CAUSE OF THE WAY
THEY'RE SILVER-LIMBED.

THIS TIME OF YEAR IN THE WINTER,
ALL THE LEAVES HAVE FALLEN OFF.

BUT IT'S THE LEAVES
UNDERNEATH THEM THAT I'M AFTER.

AND THESE ARE GONNA MAKE
GOOD TINDER FOR MY FIRE.

I'M GOING TO NEED LOADS OF WOOD
TO KEEP ME WARM.

I'M JUST BUILDING UP LIKE A WALL
OF ROCKS AROUND IT, AS WELL,

JUST TO PROTECT IT,

AND THEN KEEP BUILDING IT UP.

I CAN JUST FEEL
REALLY NICE WARMTH IN MY HANDS.

IT'S NICE.

SO FAR, I'VE SHOWN YOU
HOW TO COPE

WITH EVERYTHING ICELAND
MIGHT THROW AT YOU...

BUT ITS DEADLY LAVA TUNNELS

MIGHT BE ONE THING
TOO MANY.

THIS HAS JUST GOT
AN AWFUL LOT HARDER.

LAST NIGHT, I LAY TRAPS
FOR PTARMIGAN,

A TYPE OF GROUSE
FOUND IN ICELAND,

AND I'M HOPING I GET LUCKY.

SO, I WANT TO BUILD THIS UP
AND THEN GO AND CHECK MY TRAPS.

NO. NOTHING.

NOTHING IN THIS.

YOU KNOW,
IT'S NO GREAT SURPRISE.

MY PAST EXPERIENCE SAYS,

REALISTICALLY,
TO GET THINGS IN SNARES,

I NEED TO SET
A REALLY GOOD NUMBER OF THESE.

BUT SO MUCH OF SURVIVAL
IS JUST ABOUT KEEP TRYING

AND HAVING THE ENERGY
TO MAKE THESE SORT OF THINGS

EVEN WHEN YOU'RE TIRED AND YOU
DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE IT.

IF YOU'D MANAGED
TO TRAP A PTARMIGAN,

THIS IS WHAT YOU'D DO WITH IT.

I DON'T NEED TO PLUCK THIS.
THERE'S A FASTER WAY.

I JUST CUT THE HEAD
AND WINGS OFF

AND PEEL THE SKIN
AT THE BREAST BACK.

ALL THE SKIN WILL COME OFF.

AND THEN JUST GET MY HANDS IN

AND PULL ALL OF ITS GUTS
ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BACK...

AND PEEL ALL OF THIS BACK.

I CAN'T WAIT TO EAT THIS.

THE PTARMIGAN IS A POPULAR
CHRISTMAS DISH IN ICELAND,

BUT I'M NOT WAITING THAT LONG.

THIS ONE'S GONNA BE READY
IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES.

MMM. LOOK AT THAT --
ALL THAT DARK MEAT.

QUITE STRONG.

HERE'S AN ANGELICA PLANT.

THERE ARE VERY SPECIAL PLANTS
IN ICELAND.

THEY ACTUALLY GROW WILD
ALL OVER THE PLACE.

BUT YOU CAN RECOGNIZE THESE
IN THE SUMMERTIME.

ALL OF THIS GREEN,

AND THEY HAVE THESE
WHITE FLOWERS ON THE TOP.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY,
IN THE WINTERTIME, IT'S BARE,

BUT YOU CAN SEE
ITS VERY DISTINCT SHAPE.

BUT WHAT I'M AFTER
IS THE ROOT.

AND, ACTUALLY, ALL OF THESE
ROOTS ARE EDIBLE FOR FOOD

IF I SCRAPE AWAY
A BIT OF THE SAND HERE...

...TO GET TO THE INSIDE
OF THE ROOT THERE.

THIS IS ALL EDIBLE,

AND, ACTUALLY,
IT'S GONNA MAKE MY MOUTH

ALSO A LITTLE BIT NUMB

BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY
A LOCAL ANESTHETIC, AS WELL.

BUT IT'S GOOD FOR ME.

IT'S GONNA BOOST
MY IMMUNE SYSTEM, THIS STUFF.

AND, ACTUALLY,
IT'S ALSO ANTIBACTERIAL,

SO WHAT I CAN ALSO DO
IS TAKE A BIT OF IT...

...TAKE A BIT OF IT AND, LIKE,
CLEAN MY TEETH WITH IT,

WHICH IS ALWAYS NICE
WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE WILD

WITH NO TOOTHBRUSH.

WHEN YOU'RE STRANDED
IN THE WILD,

IT'S STILL IMPORTANT
TO TRY AND LOOK AFTER YOURSELF.

HERE IS ONE
OF THE MANY ANCIENT LAVA FIELDS

THAT COVERS
OVER 10% OF ICELAND.

THEY'RE FORMED
BY VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

WHEN THE MOLTEN ROCK COOLS
AND SOLIDIFIES,

AND THEY CAN BE TREACHEROUS
TO CROSS.

SEE HERE,

ALL OF THIS LAVA FIELD
IS JUST COVERED IN THIS MOSS.

AND IT'S JUST MAKING CROSSING IT
REALLY SLOW, SLOW WORK.

ALSO, I NEED TO BE CAREFUL,

JUST 'CAUSE IT'S HARD TO TELL
WHAT THE MOSS IS GROWING OVER,

WHETHER IT'S, LIKE, A HOLLOW
OR GAP OR SOLID ROCK.

I MEAN, JUST TOO EASY
TO TWIST AN ANKLE IN THIS STUFF.

YEAH, LOOK AT THIS.
LOOK.

SEE, ALL OF THESE LITTLE HOLES.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

THE LAST VOLCANIC ERUPTION
WAS IN 2004,

BUT SOME OF THESE LAVA FIELDS
ARE ANCIENT,

MORE THAN 7,000 YEARS OLD,

AND THEY HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE
IN ICELANDIC FOLKLORE.

THE IDEA OF ELVES AND TROLLS

IS REALLY EMBEDDED
IN ICELANDIC CULTURE.

AND THEY SAY
ABOUT 50% OF ICELANDERS

STILL TODAY BELIEVE
IN ELVES AND TROLLS,

AND THEY'RE MEANT TO LIVE
IN THE ROCKS.

AND SOME ARE MEANT TO BE GOOD,

AND SOME ARE MEANT
TO BE MORE MISCHIEVOUS.

I HOPE IT'S THE GOOD ONES
LOOKING AFTER ME OUT HERE.

THIS LAVA FIELD HERE IS JUST
FULL OF THESE SORT OF CAVES,

AND, ACTUALLY, WHAT THIS IS

IS ACTUALLY AN OLD LAVA TUNNEL.

AND THIS IS WHERE, ORIGINALLY,
FLOWING MOLTEN, RED-HOT LAVA

WOULD HAVE BEEN
RACING THROUGH THIS.

AND WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN THAT'S GONE --

IT LEAVES BEHIND
THESE SORT OF TUBES.

BUT HERE, OFF THE GLACIER,
FRESH WATER IS SCARCE.

AND, YOU KNOW,
ALL OF THIS LAVA FIELD --

THE EXACT TRANSLATION
INTO ICELANDIC

IS LITERALLY "NO WATER."

BUY MY BEST CHANCE
IS TO GET IN THERE

AND SEE IF I CAN FIND
SOME SEEPS COMING THROUGH --

THROUGH THE WALLS --
OF FRESH WATER.

FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE I EVEN
THINK ABOUT GETTING IN THERE,

I'VE GOT TO MAKE
SOME SORT OF TORCH.

YEAH, IT'S PITCH BLACK.

I CAN MAKE A TORCH
OUT OF SOME TWIGS

AND THE FAT I SAVED
FROM THE DEAD SHEEP.

GET DOWN HERE, OUT OF THE WIND.

CAVE WATER IS FILTERED
THROUGH THE ROCK,

SO IT WILL BE A LOT PURER
THAN THE OUTLYING SNOW,

WHICH CAN BE FULL OF BACTERIA.

OKAY, NOW, WHAT I NEED

IS JUST A BIT OF THE MATERIAL
FROM MY T-SHIRT.

I'VE GOT
SOME OF THIS SHEEP'S FAT,

WRAP THIS 'ROUND, LIKE SO.

TAKE THIS BIT OF T-SHIRT

AND THEN TIE THAT 'ROUND IT.

NOW, IF I CAN JUST GET
A LITTLE FIRE GOING,

THAT FAT WILL BURN
REALLY BRIGHT.

TRY AND GET THIS GOING.

OKAY. IT'S GOING.

I NEED TO BE REALLY CAREFUL,

'CAUSE ALL OF THIS IS FRAGILE --
OW! -- AND SHARP.

SO I'M GONNA NEED
MY GLOVES IN HERE.

ICELAND HAS, ON AVERAGE,
33 EARTHQUAKES A DAY,

AND ANY ONE OF THOSE
COULD COLLAPSE THIS TUBE.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE QUICK.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS JUST
A GOOD SOURCE OF DRIPPING WATER.

THIS ROOF'S JUST GETTING
LOWER AND LOWER NOW,

WHICH I DON'T LIKE.

ALL OF THIS PART OF THE CEILING
HERE HAS JUST COLLAPSED.

IT'S A BAD TIME
FOR THE TORCH TO COME APART.

IF THIS GOES OUT,
I'M IN REAL TROUBLE.

I CAN LET YOU JUST SEE --
ALL OF THIS STUFF HERE

IS WHERE IT'S COLLAPSED,

AND THIS IS WHY THESE PLACES
ARE SO DANGEROUS.

I WANT TO GET WATER
AND GET OUT OF HERE

AS QUICK AS I CAN.

I'M IN A LAVA TUBE IN ICELAND
SEARCHING FOR WATER,

BUT MY TORCH IS DYING FAST.

THERE'S A LITTLE SEEP OF WATER
COMING THROUGH THE ROCK HERE,

AND THIS IS GOOD ENOUGH
TO DRINK.

YEAH, THAT'S AS GOOD AS I'M
GONNA GET 'ROUND HERE.

AHH. IT'S NICE.

I NOW HAVE A FULL WATER BOTTLE.

JUST WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS
LAVA TUBE BEFORE THIS FIRE DIES.

DO THE REST OF THIS IN THE DARK
IF THIS GOES OUT.

THAT IS NOT WHAT I WANT --
LOOK, IT'S GONE.

OH, NO.

I'M FORCED TO DO THE LAST
200 YARDS IN DARKNESS.

BUT AT LAST, I'VE MADE IT
TO THE CAVE EXIT.

I'M AT THE EDGE
OF THE LAVA FIELDS,

BUT I'LL STILL NEED
ALL MY ENERGY

TO CROSS THE VAST PLAINS
THAT STRETCH IN FRONT OF ME.

AND THEN A 50-MILE-AN-HOUR WIND
CLOSES IN.

AND IT'S JUST LIKE MAKING
PROGRESS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

THIS IS PROBABLY GUSTING...

THIS IS PROBABLY GUSTING
50, 60 MILES AN HOUR.

AND WHAT IT DOES
IS JUST WHIP UP --

WHIP UP THE SAND

AND BLAST IT INTO YOUR FACE,
ALL THE PEBBLES.

AND IF I TRY
TO LEAN INTO THIS WIND...

...THAT'S HOW STRONG IT IS.

GET DOWN HERE.

THIS IS --
THIS IS ACTUALLY A KETTLE HOLE

IN THIS BLACK SAND DESERT.

THIS GIVES ME A CHANCE
TO GET OUT OF THE WIND.

LOOK, YOU NOTICE, JUST LIKE
2 FOOT UNDER THE SURFACE,

AND ALREADY I CAN HEAR
MYSELF THINK AGAIN.

THE WIND IS STILL SCREAMING,
SCREAMING OVER MY HEAD HERE.

THIS IS A BRILLIANT FIND.

GIVE US A CHANCE
TO MAYBE SIT HERE, WAIT A WHILE,

AND SEE IF THIS WIND
IS GONNA EASE UP.

IT'S GOOD TO TAKE A REST.

BUT STORMS HERE
CAN LAST FOR WEEKS,

SO IT'S BETTER TO KEEP GOING.

I'M ON WHAT ICELANDERS
CALL THE SANDUR.

IT STRETCHES FOR OVER A HUNDRED
MILES DOWN TO THE COAST

AND CAN BE TREACHEROUS.

ALL OF THIS AREA HERE

IS JUST NOW VAST,
BLACK SAND PLAIN,

AND IT'S A DANGEROUS COMBINATION
OF LOOSE SAND AND WATER.

AND IT'S BEEN KNOWN IN THE PAST

LITERALLY TO SWALLOW UP
MEN AND HORSES.

AND THERE IS SOMETHING EERIE
ABOUT THIS PLACE.

BUT THE WAY TO CROSS THIS

IS JUST TO AIM ALWAYS
FOR THE HIGHER GROUND.

WATCH OUT
FOR THE SHALLOWER DEPRESSIONS

THAT ARE GONNA BE BOGGIER.

AND IF YOU DO FIND YOURSELF
IN THOSE,

YOU GOT TO BACK AWAY AND GO
'ROUND TO THE HIGHER GROUND.

OTHERWISE,
YOU COULD FIND YOURSELF

WAIST DEEP IN QUICKSAND.

IN THE PAST,
ICELANDIC SAILORS WERE UNAWARE

OF THE DEADLY HAZARDS
OF THE BLACK SANDS,

AND MANY PERISHED
WHILST COMING ASHORE.

AND, REALLY, YOU KNOW,
WINTER IN ICELAND --

THIS LAND OF FIRE AND ICE --

HAS JUST SHOWN ME MOTHER NATURE
AT HER MOST RAW.

AND IT'S BEEN
EXTREME HIGH WINDS

AND EXTREME LOW TEMPERATURES.

AND, REALLY,
IT'S PUSHED ME TO MY LIMITS.