Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 1, Episode 12 - Mexico - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.

I'VE SERVED WITH THE BRITISH
SPECIAL FORCES,

I'VE CLIMBED TO THE SUMMIT
OF EVEREST,

AND CROSSED THE FROZEN WATERS
OF THE ARCTIC.

NOW I'M IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S
LARGEST CANYON SYSTEMS,

COPPER CANYON, MEXICO.

IT'S A MECCA FOR HIKERS
AND CLIMBERS,

BUT HUNDREDS GET LOST
EVERY YEAR.

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

I'M ENTERING MEXICO'S
COPPER CANYON,

300 MILES SOUTH
OF THE U.S. BORDER.



THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF DEEP,
TWISTING CANYONS

THAT CUT THROUGH A DESERT
THE SIZE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AND IT'S FOUR TIMES LARGER
AND A THOUSAND FEET DEEPER

THAN THE GRAND CANYON!

THIS PLACE IS WILD!

THE LANDSCAPE HAS REMAINED
UNTOUCHED FOR CENTURIES --

THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME HERE.

AND IT'S FAST BECOMING ONE
OF MEXICO'S HIKING HOT SPOTS.

LAST YEAR,
HALF A MILLION PEOPLE VISITED.

BUT PARTS OF THE CANYONS
ARE SO REMOTE

THAT THEY ARE STILL UNMAPPED.

WITHOUT A GUIDE, GETTING LOST
IS ALMOST GUARANTEED.

I'M GONNA PUT MYSELF INTO
THE POSITION OF A LOST TOURIST

TO SHOW YOU HOW TO SURVIVE
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.



THERE'S LITTLE SIGN
OF LIFE HERE,

MAKING STARVATION
AND DEHYDRATION

A BIG THREAT
TO ANYONE STRANDED.

THERE'S NO WAY I'M GONNA
BE ABLE TO LAND

IN THE VALLEYS DOWN THERE.

IT'S JUST TOO STEEP.

THE ONLY PLACE THEY CAN DROP ME
IS RIGHT ON THE TOP.

WE'RE OVER 9,500 FEET UP --

ALMOST AT THE LIMIT OF WHERE
THIS SINGLE-ENGINE HELICOPTER

CAN HOVER SAFELY.

I'M GONNA USE A TECHNIQUE
I LEARNED

FROM THE SPECIAL FORCES,
AND IT'S CALLED "THE DUST OFF."

THE PILOT COMES IN FAST

AND TOUCHES DOWN
JUST FOR A SECOND

WHILST HOVERING AT FULL POWER.

ESTAMOS A 100 PIES.

AHORA ESTAMOS A 50 PIES.

I'LL BE RECEIVING SOME HELP
IF NEEDED

FROM LOCAL EXPERTS
ALONG THE WAY.

AND A FILM CREW WILL FOLLOW ME.

OKAY, GO!

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

OH, IT JUST FEELS LIKE --

IT FEELS LIKE THE TOP
OF THE WORLD.

JUST BREATHTAKING.

[ SNIFFLES ]

BUT IT'S ALSO JUST HUGE,

AND IT MAKES ME FEEL
PRETTY SMALL HERE.

ANYONE TRYING TO WORK THEIR WAY
THROUGH THIS LANDSCAPE

FACES A MASSIVE CHALLENGE.

I CAN SEE OVER 25 MILES,

AND THERE IS NO SIGN
OF HUMAN ACTIVITY.

FIRST, LET ME SHOW YOU
HOW TO GET YOUR BEARINGS.

IF YOU LOOK OVER HERE

YOU CAN SEE THE CONTRAST
IN THE CANYONS.

WHERE A LOT OF THESE FACES HERE
HAVE A LOT MORE VEGETATION

THAN DOWN HERE,
WHERE IT'S A LOT DRYER --

LOOKS A LOT MORE PARCHED.

AND WHAT IT MEANS, IT MEANS ALL
OF THOSE FACES ARE NORTH-FACING.

THEY RECEIVE LESS SUN
AND THEREFORE MORE MOISTURE.

SO NORTH IS THIS WAY.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THE
CHIHUAHUA PACIFIC RAILWAY LINE

LIES TO THE WEST OF ME,

AND THIS RUNS ALL THE WAY
THROUGH THE COPPER CANYON

FOR ABOUT 400 MILES
FROM THE NORTH TO THE SOUTH.

IT'S 75 DEGREES RIGHT NOW,

BUT AT 9,500 FEET,
AS SOON AS THE SUN GOES DOWN,

IT WILL GET
DRAMATICALLY COLDER.

THE ONE THING ABOUT
THIS ENVIRONMENT HERE

IS THAT THE DAYS ARE REALLY HOT,

AND THEN I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE,
AT THIS ALTITUDE,

THE NIGHTS ARE GONNA GET
VERY COLD.

AND IT'S THAT CONTRAST THAT
MAKES THIS PLACE DANGEROUS.

YOU NEED TO DESCEND FAST.

UP HERE, TEMPERATURES
WILL PLUMMET TO 15 DEGREES.

AT THE BOTTOM, THOUGH,
IT WILL BE 40 DEGREES WARMER.

BUT THAT'S OVER
A VERTICAL MILE AWAY.

EVEN IF YOU FOUND
A DIRECT ROUTE DOWN,

IT WILL STILL TAKE HOURS
TO REACH.

BUT FINDING A ROUTE DOWN
JUST LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE.

BEING THIS CLOSE TO THE EDGE
IS THE ONLY WAY

TO FIND A WAY DOWN HERE,
IF THERE IS ONE.

BUT IT IS DANGEROUS.

I'M LOOKING FOR WHAT CLIMBERS
CALL A LINE OF WEAKNESS --

WHERE THE ROCK'S BEEN ERODED.

THESE OFTEN GIVE YOU
A ROUTE DOWN.

BUT THERE'S NO WAY DOWN HERE.

THIS JAGGED LANDSCAPE
IS UNFORGIVING.

IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE ANYTHING
SURVIVING UP HERE.

BUT AMAZINGLY,
THERE ARE SIGNS OF LIFE.

LOOK, SEE THIS ANIMAL POO?

AND, LOOK, YOU SEE
WHAT'S IN IT THERE.

A BIT OF SEED, LOTS OF HAIR,
EVEN A BIT OF BONE.

AND THAT TELLS ME
IT'S AN OMNIVORE.

ACTUALLY THESE TAPERED ENDS
ALSO SAY

THIS IS MORE THAN LIKELY
GONNA BE COYOTE POO.

AND THE IMPORTANT THING
ABOUT THIS

IS THAT THESE DOGS
CAN REACH UP HERE.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO LIVE UP HERE.

THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH FOOD
OR WATER --

IT MEANS THEY MUST HAVE
EASY ACCESS UP AND DOWN.

THE PROBLEM IS IT COULD BE
A LONG WAY AWAY.

COYOTES HAVE A TERRITORY
OF OVER 10 SQUARE MILES

AND CAN RUN AT UP
TO 40 MILES AN HOUR.

IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE
TO GET DOWN HERE.

THERE ARE LIKE THESE SERIES
OF ONE, TWO, THREE LEDGES,

AND IT IS HIGH,

AND THE RISK IS JUST NOT KNOWING
WHAT'S, YOU KNOW, FURTHER DOWN.

BUT AS LONG AS YOU'VE GOT
A WAY UP ALWAYS,

IT'S A RISK THAT'S WORTH TAKING
TO GET OFF HERE.

BUT YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL.

A CLIMBER RECENTLY FELL HERE,

WHILST DOWNCLIMBING A SHEER
FACE JUST LIKE THIS ONE.

HE DROPPED 30 FOOT
ONTO JAGGED ROCKS

AND WAS LEFT WITH A SERIES
OF SPLINTERED VERTEBRAE.

BUT HE WAS LUCKY.
HE WAS RESCUED AND SURVIVED.

THIS IS WHY DOWNCLIMBING'S
ALWAYS MORE DANGEROUS,

JUST BECAUSE TO SEE YOUR WAY,
YOU HAVE TO LEAN OUT

AND TRY AND FIND
YOUR FOOTHOLDS...

WHICH ON THIS FACE
ARE PRETTY THIN.

FROM ABOVE, IT'S ALSO MUCH
HARDER TO PLAN YOUR ROUTE,

AND IT'S EASY
TO GET RIMROCKED --

WHERE YOU GET STUCK
IN A POSITION

WHERE YOU CAN'T GO UP OR DOWN.

THE KEY IS TO MAKE SURE YOU'VE
GOT AN ESCAPE ROUTE BACK UP

IF YOU CAN'T DESCEND
ANY FURTHER.

I'M DOWN OFF THIS FIRST LEDGE,

THAT'S WHERE I'VE COME FROM,
AND THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING.

FURTHER DOWN, THE OVERHANG
BECOMES MORE EXTREME.

IT'S EVEN HARDER NOW
TO SEE WHERE I'M GOING.

AND THIS IS NEVER A NICE
POSITION, AS A CLIMBER,

TO FIND YOURSELF IN --

LOWERING YOURSELF ON YOUR
STOMACH OFF A ROCK FACE

WHEN YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW
WHAT'S DOWN BELOW.

UGH.

BAD PLACE TO SIT ON A CACTUS
ON THIS LEDGE.

OW!

NOW I'M ON THE BOTTOM LEDGE,

I CAN SEE IT'S STEEP --
TOO STEEP.

YEAH, LOOK AT THAT DOWN THERE.

THERE'S NO WAY -- THERE'S NO WAY
I'LL CLIMB...DOWN THAT ONE.

THERE'S A 50-FOOT DROP
IN FRONT OF ME,

AND THERE'S NO WAY DOWN.

I'M 9,500 FEET UP
IN COPPER CANYON, MEXICO.

I'M ON A LEDGE,
AND THERE'S NO WAY DOWN.

OKAY.

[ GRUNTS ]

ON MY RIGHT-HAND SIDE,
THERE'S ANOTHER ROUTE DOWN.

BUT TO GET TO IT,

I'LL HAVE TO CROSS
A DEEP GULLY.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN MAKE
THIS LEAP ACROSS THERE.

OKAY.

IT'S 8 FOOT WIDE
AND I'VE GOT NO RUN-UP.

HERE WE GO.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

[ PANTING ]

OKAY.

WELL, I'M OFF THE TOP OF THAT,
I'M ACROSS THIS GULLY,

AND, LOOK, ALL OF THIS
NOW LOOKS QUITE MANAGEABLE.

ON A CLIMB LIKE THAT,

IT WOULD BE EASY
TO RIP YOUR CLOTHES,

AND THAT'D BE BAD NEWS
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS,

WHERE YOU NEED
ALL THE PROTECTION YOU CAN

FROM THE FREEZING NIGHTS.

BUT THE AGAVE PLANT
OFFERS A SOLUTION --

NATURE'S OWN NEEDLE AND THREAD.

WHAT I NEED TO DO IS GET
ONE OF THESE CENTER ONES

AND TRY AND GET
MY MOUTH AROUND IT

WITHOUT GETTING PRICKED
IN THE LEG.

AND THEN YOU JUST
BITE IT OFF THERE.

THE SPIKE'S ATTACHED TO FIBERS

THAT RUN
THE LENGTH OF THE LEAF,

AND THESE FORM THE THREAD.

AND HERE IT COMES.

ONCE IT STARTS TO GO,

IT BECOMES A BIT EASIER
TO PULL THE THREAD OUT.

AND NOW LOOK AT THAT.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT,
LIKE, A NEEDLE

AND A REALLY LONG BIT OF THREAD.

THERE'S ONE WAY TO TEST IT --

TO DELIBERATELY SLICE OPEN
MY TOP.

I HOPE IT WORKS.

THERE YOU GO.

WE'LL TRY AND SEW IT UP WITH
THIS AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

THE LARGER THE LEAF,
THE LONGER THE THREAD.

BUT YOU'LL NEED TO THIN OUT
THE SPIKE A BIT

WITH YOUR KNIFE FIRST.

AND JUST DO ONE FINAL STITCH
THROUGH HERE,

AND BACK ON ITSELF.

AND THAT'S MAYBE NOT
THE NEATEST JOB IN THE WORLD,

BUT IT'S GONNA DO THE JOB.

AND I'VE GOT A FRIEND WHO
USED THIS ON HIS PAIR OF JEANS,

AND IT ACTUALLY LASTED, HE SAID,
FOR FOUR YEARS,

BEING WASHED AND EVERYTHING.

SO IT SHOWS IT DOES WORK AND
IT IS TOUGH AND IT IS DURABLE.

I'M NOW AT 7,000 FEET,

AND FOR EVERY 1,000 FEET
I DROP,

THE TEMPERATURE WILL RISE
3 1/2 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,

ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT BE TEMPTING
TO GO ON,

BE CAREFUL
YOU DON'T RUN OUT OF TIME.

THERE'S A GOOD TIP THAT I KNOW
FOR WORKING OUT

JUST HOW MUCH DAYLIGHT IS LEFT.

AND WHAT YOU DO IS YOU MEASURE
THE DISTANCE FROM THE SUN

DOWN TO THE HORIZON.

THE TECHNIQUE FOR DOING IT
IS IF YOU PUT YOUR HAND UP,

YOU PUT THE SUN JUST ABOVE
YOUR FINGERS,

AND THEN EACH FINGER DOWN
TO THE HORIZON IS 15 MINUTES.

SO A HAND -- FOUR FINGERS --
ONE HOUR THAT, DOWN, TWO HOURS.

SO I'VE GOT ABOUT TWO HOURS
OF DAYLIGHT LEFT,

40 MILLION YEARS AGO,

MASSES OF VOLCANIC ASH AND LAVA
WERE DEPOSITED HERE.

THE FLOWING LAVA CUT
DEEP FISSURES IN THE LAND

TO FORM THE CANYONS.

THE BASE OF VOLCANIC CLIFFS
ARE OFTEN RIDDLED WITH CAVES,

AND FINDING ONE IS
YOUR BEST CHANCE OF SHELTER.

BUT I NEED TO BE CAREFUL
WHERE I PUT MY HANDS HERE.

THERE'S FALLEN ROCKS
EVERYWHERE,

AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE
SCORPIONS AND TARANTULAS LIVE.

OH, HERE'S ONE.
HERE WE GO.

LOOK AT THIS. SEE THIS?
TIGER SCORPION.

AND THESE ARE QUITE COMMON
AROUND HERE.

LOOK, HE'S PRETTY CHEESED OFF.

BUT HE'S A PREDATOR.

HE WILL LIVE OFF OTHER BUGS
AND INSECTS.

AND, LOOK, AS SOON AS I PUT
A STICK THERE, HE'LL STRIKE.

LOOK, HE'S TRYING TO GET TO IT.

BUT ACTUALLY,
THESE ARE GOOD PROTEIN.

YOU CAN EAT THESE.

THEY'RE NOT MEANT TO TASTE
VERY NICE.

BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO, ACTUALLY,

IS JUST CUT OFF HIS STINGER,
WHICH IS THIS BIT HERE.

SEE THAT BALL,
LIKE A BALL OF VENOM

WITH A LITTLE STINGER
ON THE END OF IT.

I'LL PIN HIM DOWN
AND THEN JUST TAKE THAT OFF.

HERE YOU GO, YOU SEE HIM THERE.

AH, BUT THAT'S ALL GOOD TO EAT.

[ CRUNCHES ]

OHH, TASTES LIKE KIND OF CHEESE
THAT'S BEEN SITTING AROUND

FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS...

...BUT WORSE.

FIVE SPECIES OF SCORPIONS
LIVE IN THE CANYONS,

AND ALL OF THEM STING.

THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE NUMBNESS,
A TIGHTENING OF THE THROAT,

AND SHARP PAINS.

WITHOUT MEDICATION,
THEY CAN BE DEADLY.

LOOK AT THIS CAVE --

THE PERFECT PLACE IF YOU HAD TO
SPEND THE NIGHT HERE.

I FEEL MILES FROM ANYWHERE,

BUT I CAN SEE THAT SOMEONE
HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE ME.

JUST LOOK AT THE ROOF OF THIS --

COVERED IN ALL OF THIS, LIKE,
SOOT FROM LOADS OF FIRES.

AND YOU'VE GOT A SHELF.

LOOK, YOU SEE THIS,
LIKE, HOLE --

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY MAN-MADE.

IT'S NO SURPRISE TO FIND SIGNS
OF HUMAN ACTIVITY HERE.

THE AZTECS ONCE USED
THESE CAVES,

BUT FOR THE LAST 400 YEARS,

THEY'VE BEEN HOME
TO THE RARAMURI INDIANS.

THEY STILL LIVE HERE TODAY.

THESE NOMADIC PEOPLE
MOVE FROM CAVE TO CAVE

AS THEY TRAVEL THE CANYONS.

IF YOU'RE LUCKY,
YOU MAY FIND SOMETHING USEFUL

THAT'S BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

LOOK AT THAT --
A BIT OF WIRE.

AND IT MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH,

BUT ACTUALLY THERE ARE LOADS
OF DIFFERENT THINGS

I COULD USE THAT FOR.

SO THAT'S GOOD FOR ME.
I'M GONNA KEEP HOLD OF THIS.

THE CHARCOAL ON THE CAVE ROOF

SHOWS THAT MANY FIRES
HAVE BEEN LIT HERE BEFORE,

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED.

IT'LL KEEP OUT
THE FREEZING NIGHT AIR.

YOU MIGHT NOT ALWAYS
BE LUCKY ENOUGH

TO HAVE A FLINT STRIKER
WITH YOU,

SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS USE
THIS YUCCA TO MAKE A FIRE SAW.

AND A FIRE SAW IS JUST
A FRICTION FIRE,

AND THIS YUCCA IS REALLY GOOD
FOR THIS,

BECAUSE IT'S LIGHT
AND IT'S REALLY DRY WOOD.

AND ALL I NEED TO DO

IS BREAK IT HERE...

THEN REMOVE THE BASE AND START
TO SPLIT THE WOOD INTO STRIPS.

CUT OUT 2 PIECES
ABOUT 12 INCHES LONG.

THE SOTOL PLANT GROWS
ALL OVER THESE SLOPES,

AND THE LEAVES MAKE
EXCELLENT CORDAGE.

AND I JUST GET THIS LITTLE BIT
OF TINDER --

A LITTLE BIT OF DRIED GRASS,

PUT IT AGAINST ONE PIECE
OF THE YUCCA.

BIT OF STONE ON ONE SIDE
AND THE SAME ON THE OTHER,

SO THERE CAN BE AN AIR FLOW

BETWEEN THE TWO BITS OF WOOD.

AND PRESS THAT AGAINST ITSELF
SO IT'S LIKE THAT,

AND THEN JUST BIND THAT.

WRAP ONE END TIGHT,

DO THE SAME THING
AT THE OTHER END,

AND THE JOB IS DONE.

AND THEN THAT'S THE BOTTOM BIT
OF THE FIRE SAW BUILT.

AND THEN ALL I DID WITH THIS
WAS, AGAIN,

JUST PEEL IT AWAY
FROM THE MAIN BRANCH,

AND THAT THEN ACTS AS A FIRE SAW
THAT I ACTUALLY DRIVE WITH

TO CREATE THE FRICTION.

NOW TO PUT IT TO THE TEST.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO THIS

SO THE BASE OF THIS
ISN'T GONNA WOBBLE.

HERE WE GO.
THIS IS PRETTY SOLID THERE NOW.

AND I JUST TAKE THE FIRE SAW

AND START TO MOVE IT ALONG HERE.

GREAT THING ABOUT USING YUCCA --

IT'S GOT THE LOWEST
IGNITION TEMPERATURE

OF ANY OF THE WOODS AROUND HERE,

WHICH MAKES IT IDEAL FOR TRYING
TO MAKE A BIT OF AN EMBER.

AND THAT'S ALL I NEED --

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN EMBER

TO DROP BETWEEN THESE TWO BITS
OF WOOD

INTO THAT TINDER.

NOW I BETTER SHUT UP,
STOP TALKING, AND GET SAWING.

AND, YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.

AND ONCE YOU'VE GOT
TO THIS STAGE,

THIS EMBER IS ACTUALLY
GONNA KEEP BURNING,

SO THE TIME PRESSURE COMES OFF,

AND THEN I JUST POKE IT
THROUGH THE BOTTOM THERE,

TIP IT INTO THERE.

ONCE THE EMBER'S SURROUNDED

BY A GOOD BUNDLE
OF DRIED GRASS,

IT LITERALLY
GOES UP IN FLAMES.

THERE WE GO.

WHOA!

OKAY, WE'VE GOT FIRE.

SO MUCH OF THIS CANYON LAND HERE
IS JUST SO REMOTE,

AND, FOR ME, JUST SITTING HERE
WITH A FIRE GOING

AND A VIEW LIKE THIS,
REALLY IT JUST FEELS --

JUST FEELS LIKE
A REAL PRIVILEGE, YOU KNOW?

BUT I KNOW WORKING YOUR WAY
THROUGH THIS KIND OF LANDSCAPE

IS ALWAYS CHALLENGING.

I'M IN COPPER CANYON, MEXICO,

I WANT
TO GET TO THE CANYON BOTTOM

I SHOULD FIND WATER THERE.

BUT FIRST I'M GONNA MAKE
A BASIC COMPASS

FROM A LEAF
AND A PIECE OF WIRE.

AND ALL I NEED TO DO HERE

IS FILL THIS UP, THEN,

WITH A LITTLE BIT OF WATER.

NOW TO PREPARE THE WIRE.

AND I REALLY WANT TO RUB IT
LIKE THIS IN MY HAIR.

AND THE IDEA OF THIS IS
IT MAGNETIZES THE BIT OF WIRE,

AND THEN WHEN I PUT IT IN,
IT WILL SWING 'ROUND

AND POINT
TOWARDS MAGNETIC NORTH,

GIVING ME THAT NORTH-SOUTH LINE.

AND THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH.

AND THEN WHAT I DO
IS PUT THE LEAF IN...

AND DROP THAT ON TOP.

AND, YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.
THERE YOU GO.

GETTING IT TO SWING 'ROUND.

FREELY SUSPENDED METAL
THAT'S BEEN MAGNETIZED

WILL ALWAYS POINT
TO MAGNETIC NORTH.

THERE YOU GO.

AND THAT'S NOW COME STEADY,

AND THAT'S GIVING ME A GOOD,
RELIABLE NORTH-SOUTH LINE.

NOW, I KNOW THE SUN ROSE
SOMEWHERE OVER THERE

'CAUSE I DIDN'T SEE IT,
SO THAT'S EAST.

SO WEST IS SOMEWHERE OVER THERE.

AND THIS NORTH-SOUTH LINE
MEANS I'M DEFINITELY HEADING

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
ON MY WESTWARD TRACK.

SO, I'M GONNA KEEP
THIS LITTLE BIT OF WIRE,

GET RID OF THE LEAF,
DRINK THE WATER...

[ SLURPS ]

...AND THEN I'M OUT OF HERE.

THE RARAMURI ORIGINALLY
FLED HERE

TO ESCAPE THE SPANISH
CONQUISTADORS.

THE DIFFICULT TERRAIN MADE IT
THE PERFECT PLACE TO HIDE.

OVER CENTURIES, THEY'VE LEARNED
HOW TO NAVIGATE THEIR WAY

THROUGH THIS TWISTING MAZE
OF CANYONS.

THEIR ANCIENT TRAILS
ARE EVERYWHERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE
ON THAT SCREE SLOPE OVER THERE.

THERE'S A LITTLE TRAIL,

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S SNAKING
ITS WAY 'ROUND

AND THEN DOWN INTO THIS GULLY.

MANY OF THESE TRAILS HAVEN'T
BEEN USED FOR YEARS.

THERE WAS A SCHOOL GROUP
ACTUALLY OUT HERE RECENTLY

WHO WERE FOLLOWING ONE OF THESE
TRAILS DOWN INTO THE CANYONS.

AND SOME OF THE GIRLS GOT
SEPARATED FROM THE GROUP,

END UP FOLLOWING
THE WRONG TRAIL DOWN.

AND BY THE TIME THE TEACHER
NOTICED THEY WERE MISSING,

THEY WERE LOST.

AND THE GIRLS WERE DRESSED
JUST IN SHORTS AND A T-SHIRT,

AND THE NIGHT OUT HERE
CAN GET BELOW FREEZING.

AND THEY MOUNTED A MASSIVE
SEARCH-AND-RESCUE OPERATION,

AND EVENTUALLY A DAY LATER
THEY DID FIND THEM ALIVE.

THOSE SCHOOLGIRLS WERE LUCKY.

AH, LOOK.

THIS TRAIL HAS BROUGHT ME DOWN
OVER HALF A VERTICAL MILE,

AND IT'S LED ME TO A RIVER.

BUT IT THEN COMES
TO AN ABRUPT STOP

AT THE TOP OF A SHEER CLIFF.

LET'S HAVE A LITTLE LOOK
DOWN HERE.

YEAH, I RECKON
I CAN GET DOWN THIS.

IT'S GONNA BE
A LITTLE BIT TIGHT.

THERE'S LOOSE ROCK EVERYWHERE.

IT'S VITAL TO TEST
EVERY BOULDER

BEFORE YOU GO BELOW THEM.

THAT'S WHY WE GOT TO WATCH
OUR FOOTING, GUYS.

THE SLOPE'S STEEP,
ABOUT 60 DEGREES,

AND IT'D BE EASY TO SLIP.

AFTER A 100-FOOT SCRAMBLE,
I'M DOWN.

AH, THIS IS PERFECT.

LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S LIKE A LITTLE SLICE
OF HEAVEN.

AND THERE'S NO GETTING AWAY
FROM IT.

THAT TERRAIN UP THERE
IS JUST TOUGH.

ALL OF THAT LOOSE VOLCANIC ROCK.

AND IT'S ALSO MUCH COLDER --
THIS IS WARM DOWN HERE.

AND I'VE GOT THE SUN
AND SOME WATER.

AND I'M GONNA JUST
TAKE MY SOCKS OFF.

[ GRUNTS ]

AND TAKE FIVE MINUTES.

[ GROANS LIGHTLY ]

I MAY BE AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE CANYON,

BUT MY NEXT CHALLENGE
IS A WATERFALL.

I'M IN MEXICO,

HEADING FOR
THE EL CHEPE RAILWAY LINE,

WHICH RUNS THROUGH
COPPER CANYON

SOMEWHERE TO THE WEST.

AND NOW I'VE REACHED A RIVER,
I'VE ENDLESS SUPPLY OF WATER.

THE ONLY THING ABOUT THIS CANYON

IS THAT I'M COMPLETELY
JUST HEMMED IN

BY THESE WALLS ON ALL SIDES.

AND AT THE MOMENT,
WHICHEVER WAY THE CANYON GOES,

I'VE GOT TO GO, AS WELL.

AND AT THE MOMENT,
IT IS GOING WEST.

THAT'S FINE FOR NOW.

WHOA!

THAT'S A WATERFALL.

THERE'S NO WAY I'M GONNA BE ABLE
TO DOWNCLIMB --

DOWNCLIMB THAT.

YOU SEE THOSE TREES?

JUST THERE AGAINST THE CLIFF?

I MIGHT WELL BE ABLE TO CLIMB
DOWN THE EDGE OF THOSE,

THROUGH THE TREE.

LET'S HAVE A LOOK.

I RECKON THIS IS --
THIS IS DOABLE HERE.

AND I CAN SEE WHERE THE TREE
RUNS ALL THE WAY DOWN THE CLIFF.

THESE CYPRESS TREES ARE GREAT
TO CLIMB IN

JUST BECAUSE THEIR ROOT SYSTEMS
ARE REALLY STRONG.

THEY GROW OUT AND THEY, LIKE,
CLING INTO THE ROCK FACE.

SO I'M GONNA GIVE THIS A GO.

I TELL YOU WHAT -- THERE'S QUITE
A HEALTHY DROP STRAIGHT DOWN.

IT'S OVER 60 FOOT
TO THE BOTTOM.

A FALL HERE WOULD BE SERIOUS,

SO YOU MUST CHECK
EACH AND EVERY STEP

BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR FULL WEIGHT
ON THE TREE.

AND WHAT I WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR
IS DEAD BRANCHES.

LOOK AT THIS. WHOA!

LIVE CYPRESS BRANCHES WILL HAVE
A HEALTHY COVERING OF BARK

AND A GLOSSY SHEEN TO THEM.

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE

IS THAT THIS CAVE
IS, LIKE, BECOMING OVERHANGING,

AND SUDDENLY
I'M A BIT MORE AWARE

OF JUST THE EXPOSURE BENEATH IT.

THE SUN CAN'T GET IN HERE
BELOW THE OVERHANG,

AND THIS COULD REALLY HELP ME.

NONE OF THE BRANCHES ARE GROWING
AT THE BACK AGAINST THE CLIFF.

THEY'RE ALL GROWING OUT
TOWARDS THE SUN,

WHICH MEANS I CAN CLIMB DOWN
MUCH EASIER.

AND AS I DESCEND,

THE BRANCHES BECOME THICKER
AND THE TREE MORE STABLE.

NOW I CAN MOVE FAST.

WELL, I'M DOWN.

AND THAT WAS FUN.

AND LOOK AT THAT FOR A VIEW.

BEYOND THE WATERFALL,
THE CANYON WALLS BECOME SHEER.

THERE'S NO WAY OUT.
THIS WOULD BE BAD NEWS FOR YOU.

ALMOST 40 INCHES OF RAIN
COULD FALL IN A DAY HERE.

WITHIN MINUTES,
THE STEEP CANYON SIDES

CHANNEL THIS MASS OF WATER
STRAIGHT INTO THE RIVER.

SO FLASH FLOOD'S A REAL THREAT.

THIS BUSH HERE SHOWS JUST HOW
HIGH THE WATER LEVEL CAN REACH.

AND I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU CAN SEE THAT,

BUT ALL OF THIS IS BENT OVER
JUST BY THE FORCE OF THE WATER.

THIS MUST BE 10, MAYBE 15 FOOT
ABOVE WHERE IT IS NOW.

JUST IMAGINE THIS CANYON --
IF YOU LOOK DOWN THERE,

ALL OF THESE ROCKS
WOULD BE UNDERWATER.

THIS WOULD JUST BE
A RAGING TORRENT,

CLIFFS ON EITHER SIDE,

AND, LITERALLY, THIS PLACE
WOULD BE A DEATHTRAP.

EVEN IF IT'S CLEAR
WHERE YOU ARE,

30 MILES AWAY, THE RAIN
COULD BE POURING DOWN.

A 15-FOOT WALL OF WATER
FULL OF BOULDERS AND TREES

WILL THUNDER DOWNSTREAM
AT 60 MILES AN HOUR

AND WILL HIT
WITH LITTLE WARNING.

AND THE FIRST
YOU'RE GONNA KNOW ABOUT IT

IS YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A DISTANT
RUMBLE LIKE A JET ENGINE,

AND THEN IT'S GONNA HIT YOU.

AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY A GUY
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO

WHO WAS FISHING NEARBY HERE,

AND HE WAS WITH HIS SON
AND WITH HIS NIECE.

AND HE KNEW THIS AREA
REALLY WELL,

BUT A FLASH FLOOD CAME AND HIT,
AND IT TOOK THEM.

AND HE MANAGED TO TURN
AND REACH, GRAB HIS SON.

BY THE TIME HE TURNED AROUND
AGAIN, HIS NIECE WAS GONE,

AND SHE WAS NEVER SEEN AGAIN.

AND THAT'S HOW DANGEROUS
THESE SORT OF CANYONS CAN BE

WITH FLASH FLOODS.

IF YOU'RE TRAVELING DOWNSTREAM,

YOU WON'T SEE
THE WALL OF WATER COMING.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP LISTENING
ALL THE TIME.

AND IF YOU FEEL THE EARTH
START TO TREMBLE,

HEAD FOR HIGH GROUND
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO MANY OF THESE WALLS HERE
OF THE CANYONS

HAVE JUST BEEN COMPLETELY SHEER
AND UNCLIMBABLE.

BUT LOOK. YOU SEE THE GAP
IN THE RIDGE UP THERE --

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA SEE
WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.

JUST 'CAUSE THE RIVER
THAT I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING HERE

HAS BEEN GREAT --
IT'S BEEN HEADING WEST,

BUT, LOOK, IT'S SUDDENLY NOW
SKIRTED 'ROUND TO THE SOUTH,

WHICH IS NOT WHERE I WANT TO GO.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT'S UP HERE.

[ GRUNTS ]

WOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS WHY
THIS PLACE IS JUST SUCH A MAZE.

LOOK, IT'S JUST SUDDENLY
A WHOLE NEW CANYON HERE.

AND, LOOK,
YOU SEE THE RIVER THERE

ACTUALLY IS SKIRTING 'ROUND
AND IS HEADING WESTERLY.

SO THIS CANYON IS MUCH BETTER
FOR ME.

OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO
ON THIS ONE.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
ELEMENTS OF SURVIVAL

IS STAYING ALERT AND MAKING
THE MOST OF OPPORTUNITIES.

THAT GAP IN THE RIDGE
WOULD SAVE YOU DAYS OF WALKING

AND KEEP YOU
ON A WESTERLY COURSE.

BUT THERE ARE
ANY NUMBER OF CHALLENGES

IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

WHOO!

I'M IN COPPER CANYON, MEXICO.

I'VE DROPPED OVER A VERTICAL
MILE INTO THE CANYON BOTTOM.

I HAVE WATER NOW,
AND IT'S WARMER.

BUT THE GROUND IS STREWN
WITH HUGE BOULDERS.

THIS IS TOUGH TERRAIN.

BUT NOW I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A
WAY OF CATCHING FISH OUT HERE.

SOME TROUT HAVE BEEN PLACED
JUST DOWNSTREAM.

THERE YOU GO, SEE THEM?
JUST DOWN THERE?

OKAY, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS

JUST SEE IF I CAN DAM THIS
LITTLE BIT OF STREAM LOWER DOWN

AND ALSO THEN UPSTREAM,

AND SEE IF I CAN GET --
GET THIS THING.

THE DAMS WILL STOP
THE FISH ESCAPING,

BUT ALWAYS BUILD
THE LOWER ONE FIRST.

THEY'LL FIND IT HARDER
TO SPOT YOU.

AND IT NEEDS TO SPAN
RIGHT ACROSS THE WATER FLOW.

LET'S GO AND DO
THE SAME UPSTREAM

AND THEN SEE IF I GET THEM.

STAY OUT OF SIGHT
AS YOU MOVE UPSTREAM,

AND ONCE YOUR NEXT DAM
IS BUILT,

YOU'RE READY TO GO FISHING.

WHAT I WANT TO TRY AND DO HERE

IS COME DIRECTLY DOWNSTREAM
OF WHERE THEY ARE,

WHICH IS JUST THERE,

AND THEY HAVE A BLIND SPOT
JUST BEHIND THEM,

AND THEN COME UP AND TRY AND GET
THEM WITH THIS STICK.

AND THE GOOD THING
ABOUT DOING IT LIKE THIS

IS THAT EVEN IF I MISS,

THE SHOCK WAVES OF THAT IMPACT
WILL CONCUSS THEM.

HERE THEY ARE.

OKAY.

SOME SALTWATER FISH
ARE POISONOUS,

BUT ALL FRESHWATER FISH
ARE SAFE TO EAT.

ANYTHING OVER THREE INCHES
SHOULD BE GUTTED,

BECAUSE THEY SPOIL THE FISH
AND MAKE IT TASTE HORRID.

FINALLY, ONCE THE HEAD
AND TAIL ARE REMOVED,

WASH THE FISH TO CLEAN OUT
THE STOMACH CAVITY.

AND THAT IS GOOD TO EAT
JUST LIKE THIS --

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE RIVER.

FISH CONTAINS HIGH LEVELS
OF PROTEIN,

WHICH HELPS REPAIR
MUSCLE TISSUE,

AND IT ALSO BOOSTS
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.

MMM.

I LOVE SUSHI.

I DON'T LIKE BONES.

I'M AIMING
FOR THE EL CHEPE RAILWAY LINE,

WHICH RUNS NORTH TO SOUTH
THROUGH COPPER CANYON.

IT'S JUST ANOTHER
OF THESE CAVES.

AND LOOK AT THE ROOF UP HERE.

YOU CAN JUST SEE
IT CAKED WITH CHARCOAL.

AND LOOK OVER HERE.
THERE'S A DRAWING.

LOOK, YOU SEE THIS?

THIS LOOKS LIKE -- PROBABLY
A RAILWAY LINE, LIKE A --

PROBABLY A MULE OR A DONKEY.

LOOK, EVEN A PERSON, AS IF
THEY'RE KIND OF WORKING ON IT.

AND THIS IS MORE THAN LIKELY
GONNA BE REFERRING

TO THE EL CHEPE RAILWAY LINE.

TO BUILD A RAILWAY LINE
THROUGH THESE CANYONS

WAS A REMARKABLE FEAT
OF ENGINEERING.

IT RUNS FOR 400 MILES,

CROSSES 36 BRIDGES
AND 87 TUNNELS.

OPENED IN 1961, IT HAD TAKEN
OVER 100 YEARS TO BUILD.

HEY, CAN YOU SEE THAT DROPOFF?

THERE'S A SERIES
OF WATERFALLS AHEAD

AND A LOT OF WHITE WATER.

AND REALLY, WATERFALLS
IN THE WILD JUST CAN BE KILLERS,

AND YOU WANT TO AVOID THEM,
REALLY, AT ALL COSTS.

THE DANGER, THOUGH,
IS JUST HIDDEN ROCKS,

NOT SEEING WHAT'S IN
ALL THAT WHITE WATER,

ALL THAT TURBULENCE,
AND NOT KNOWING HOW DEEP IT IS.

I COULD CLIMB MY WAY
AROUND THIS WATERFALL,

BUT I'M GONNA JUMP
STRAIGHT OFF THE TOP

TO SHOW YOU THE SAFEST
TECHNIQUE.

THE DROP IS OVER 25 FOOT HIGH.

YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THE
WATER'S DEEPER THAN 12 FOOT,

OR YOU'LL HIT THE BOTTOM.

YOU'LL NEED A DEPTH GAUGE.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE STRING,
NATURE HAS THE ANSWER --

YUCCA LEAVES.

ALL I DO IS BITE INTO IT.

ONE...

TWO.

GRAB THIN END TO THIN END,

RIGHT OVER LEFT,
LEFT OVER RIGHT.

THIS PROCESS IS FAST,

AND WITH
A LITTLE HELP FROM THE CREW,

I'VE MADE
ALMOST 50 FOOT OF ROPE.

THE NEXT STEP IS TO SMOOTH
THE EDGES OF THE ROCK

SO IT DOESN'T CUT
THE YUCCA LEAF,

THEN SECURE IT
WITH A HITCH KNOT.

AND THAT THEN IS READY TO GO.

HERE, I'VE GOT THE ROCK
AND THIS LENGTH OF CORD.

IF I DROP THIS IN,
WHEN IT'S ON THE BOTTOM,

I'LL KNOW HOW DEEP IT IS HERE.

OKAY, IT'S ON THE BOTTOM NOW,

AND EVERY ARM LENGTH I PULL BACK
WILL BE ABOUT THREE FEET,

WILL TELL ME HOW DEEP IT IS.

WHEN I SEE THE ROCK,
I KNOW THAT'S THE DEPTH.

ONE.

TWO.

THREE.

FOUR.

FIVE.

OKAY, THAT'S 5 ARM LENGTHS
FOR ABOUT 15 FOOT,

WHICH IS FINE TO JUMP.

YOU KNOW, I'VE MADE
THE MISTAKE BEFORE

OF DOING A BIG SEA-CLIFF JUMP
AND REALLY INJURING MYSELF,

BRUISING ALL THE WAY
DOWN MY LEGS.

AND IT'S A MISTAKE
I'LL ONLY MAKE ONCE.

SO I WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT.

I'M GONNA JUMP
WITH MY FEET TOGETHER

AND BEYOND THAT WHITE STUFF.

SO HERE GOES.

WHOO!

THE WATER'S CLOSE TO FREEZING,
AND THE CURRENT'S RAGING,

BUT THE WAY OUT
IS TO CORKSCREW.

IT'S THE BEST TECHNIQUE

FOR GETTING OUT
OF STRONG CURRENTS.

[ GRUNTS ]

THAT WAS QUITE BRACING.

BUT IT WORKED,
AND I DIDN'T HIT THE BOTTOM.

BUT I'M DRENCHED, AND I'M COLD.

I NEED TO GET A FIRE GOING.

AS MY CLOTHES DRY, I'M GONNA
SHOW YOU HOW TO SET UP CAMP.

WHEN THERE ARE NO CAVES AROUND,

THE RARAMURI USE SMOKE BLANKETS
TO KEEP WARM.

WHAT I'M GONNA DO HERE IS JUST
BUILD A SECOND FIRE OVER HERE

FROM THE EMBERS OF THIS ONE.

AND THE IDEA IS, YOU COULD,
IF YOU NEEDED TO,

SLEEP IN BETWEEN THESE FIRES.

THESE CYPRESS BRANCHES
WILL BE COMFY TO LIE ON.

DIG A TRENCH BETWEEN THE FIRES
TO PUT THEM IN.

THIS WILL STOP YOU ROLLING OUT
INTO THE FLAMES.

AND THEN INTO THAT...

YOU HAVE TO PUT ALL
OF THIS CYPRESS.

THAT'S GONNA BE NICE
AND INSULATED TO LIE ON.

THEN SURROUND THEM WITH STONES

TO STOP THE CYPRESS
CATCHING FIRE.

OKAY, GIVE IT A TEST.

AH.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE
IN THAT RIVER

AND THEN WITHIN 20 MINUTES,
BE REALLY WARM.

AH, THIS IS HEAVEN.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

I'M IN MEXICO,

AND I'M NOW DEEP
INTO THE COPPER CANYON.

I'M HEADING WEST TOWARDS
THE EL CHEPE RAILWAY LINE.

BUT MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS CHECK
YOUR BEARINGS.

ONE WAY OF WORKING OUT YOUR
DIRECTION IN THESE CANYONS

IS JUST USE THE SUN
AND ITS SHADOW.

AND IN THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE,

THE SUN WILL ALWAYS TRAVEL
ACROSS THE SOUTHERN SKY,

WHICH MEANS THE SHADOWS
WILL NEVER FACE SOUTH.

SO IF I LOOK AT THAT FACE
OVER THERE,

YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THAT
IS IN SHADE,

WHICH MEANS THAT NORTH MUST BE
SOMEWHERE IN THIS SKY HERE,

WHICH MEANS, ALSO, THE WEST MUST
BE SOMEWHERE IN THIS DIRECTION.

AND THAT'S THE WAY I'M HEADING.

I'M ON MY WESTERLY COURSE

TOWARDS THE EL CHEPE
RAILWAY LINE,

BUT GRADUALLY, THE CANYON BENDS
TO THE NORTH -- THE WRONG WAY.

TO KEEP GOING WEST, YOU'LL NEED
TO GET OUT OF THIS CANYON,

AND TO DO THAT,
YOU'VE GOT TO GET UP THERE.

BUT THOSE WALLS ARE VERTICAL.

A FAMILY RECENTLY GOT STUCK
IN A CANYON,

AND ON THEIR SECOND DAY,
THEY SPOTTED A SMALL VILLAGE

JUST OVER THE CANYON RIM.

BUT THEY COULDN'T REACH IT

BECAUSE NONE OF THEM
COULD CLIMB.

EVENTUALLY THEY STUMBLED ACROSS
AN ANIMAL TRAIL AND GOT OUT.

THEY'D BEEN IN THERE
FOR FIVE DAYS.

I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU CAN SEE THAT,

BUT IT'S LIKE A CRACK
IN THE ROCK WHERE THE SHADOW IS.

BUT IT'S KIND OF HARD TO TELL
FROM DOWN HERE.

BUT MY DAD ALWAYS USED TO SAY
WHEN WE WERE CLIMBING,

"YOU CAN NEVER TELL
HOW STEEP SOMETHING IS

UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY RUB NOSES
WITH IT."

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

THIS DEEP CUT IS THE RESULT
OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS

OF WATER EROSION.

IT'S A WEAK POINT IN THE ROCK.

CLIMBERS OFTEN LOOK FOR THESE,

AS THEY CAN BE A WAY UP
AN OTHERWISE IMPENETRABLE FACE.

YEAH, LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE BIT
OF A CHIMNEY CLIMB UP.

I JUST NEED TO GET PAST
THIS FIRST BIG BOULDER HERE.

CHIMNEY CLIMBS ARE WHERE A ROCK
FACE HAS TWO OPPOSING WALLS,

AND TO CLIMB THEM
TAKES A LOT OF PRACTICE.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

WEDGE YOURSELF IN AND THEN
PLACE ONE FOOT ON EACH WALL,

AND USE THOSE
TO PUSH YOURSELF UP.

CLIMBING LIKE THIS
IS ALL ABOUT BALANCE

AND JUST USING OPPOSING FORCES.

SO [GRUNTS]

ONE FOOT ON ONE WALL
AND ONE ON THE OTHER,

AND THEN USE MY LEG STRENGTH
TO LIFT ME UP

AND MY ARMS JUST TO BALANCE.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

AH.

I'M GETTING QUITE
HIGH UP THIS NOW...

BUT WE'RE ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY.

I'M JUST GONNA TAKE A SECOND
TO REST.

BUT I'M IN A GOOD POSITION HERE.

I'VE GOT MY LEGS TAKING
ALL OF MY WEIGHT,

AND ACTUALLY I DON'T EVEN
NEED MY HANDS.

AND IT JUST GIVES ME A CHANCE
TO GET THE BLOOD BACK,

GET MY BREATH BACK.

AND I'M GOING TO DO
THIS LAST LITTLE BIT.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

[ GRUNTS ]

AND, ALSO, UP HERE, IT'S NOW
GETTING REALLY WET AND SLIPPY,

SO I JUST NEED TO WATCH
WHERE I'M PUTTING MY FEET.

I CAN SEE DAYLIGHT AT THE TOP.
THERE'S A SMALL GAP.

IT'S MY ONLY WAY OUT,

BUT IT'S GONNA BE
A TIGHT SQUEEZE.

[ GRUNTING ]

WHOO! I'M THROUGH!

I'M OUT OF THAT HOLE...

AND OUT OF THIS CANYON.

LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S JUST SPECTACULAR.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

I'M JUST GONNA TAKE TWO MINUTES
TO GET MY BREATH BACK

AND ENJOY THIS.

I'VE COME DOWN STEEP MOUNTAINS

AND THROUGH
TREACHEROUS CANYONS,

AND NOW I FIND MYSELF
IN THE MIDDLE

OF LUSH PINE FOREST.

I CAN REALLY START
TO MOVE FAST NOW,

BUT EVEN MY PACE IS NOTHING
COMPARED TO THE RARAMURI.

THEY'RE KNOWN
AS THE RUNNING PEOPLE,

AND THEY CAN TRAVEL OVER
100 MILES WITHOUT STOPPING.

AND JOURNEYS
THAT TAKE THEM HOURS

WOULD TAKE ANYBODY ELSE DAYS.

ONE OF THE WAY
THAT THE RARAMURI HUNT

IS JUST TO CHASE ANIMALS
OVER VAST DISTANCES,

AND THIS EVEN WORKS WITH DEER.

THEY'D JUST RUN AND THEN RUN

TILL EVENTUALLY THE ANIMAL
WOULD TIRE AND WOULD SLOW DOWN,

AND THE RARAMURI
WOULD BE CLOSE ENOUGH

TO BE ABLE TO STONE IT
AND KILL IT.

AND JUST IMAGINE THE SORT OF
STAMINA INVOLVED TO DO THAT.

YOU STAND NO CHANCE
OF OUTRUNNING A DEER,

SO IF YOU WANT TO EAT,

YOU'LL NEED TO FIND SOMETHING
THAT MAY NOT BE AS TASTY,

BUT IS A LOT EASIER TO CATCH.

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED
BEETLE LARVAE?

THIS IS JUST THE SORT OF PLACE
THEY LIKE --

UNDERNEATH THESE
SORT OF OAK SCRUBS,

AND WHAT HAPPENS,
ALL THE LEAVES FALL OFF,

AND THIS PROVIDES GOOD
INSULATION FOR THESE LARVAE.

BUT I CAN TELL
THIS IS A BEETLE LARVA

JUST 'CAUSE THE SHAPE
OF ITS HEAD.

IT WILL HAVE THE SAME HEAD
WHEN IT'S AN ADULT.

AND ALSO ITS PINCERS,
YOU CAN SEE THERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT WILL USE
TO EAT THE LEAVES.

BUT YOU CAN SEE HERE
ALL THIS BROWN GUNK, AS WELL.

AND THIS IS WHAT
IT'S BEEN EATING.

BUT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY EDIBLE,
GOOD PROTEIN.

LOOKS PRETTY HORRIBLE,

WILL PROBABLY TASTE
PRETTY HORRIBLE.

BUT IT'S WORTH HAVING.

OH, GOD.

I GOT AN EXPLOSION OF GOO
IN MY MOUTH.

BUT IT ACTUALLY TASTED
LIKE DIRT,

AND, ALSO, A BIT OAKY,

IT'S GETTING DARK NOW,

BUT ALWAYS
KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR PEOPLE.

THE SIDE OF THE HILL THERE --
SOME PEOPLE.

AND THOSE ARE RARAMURI.

I CAN TELL THAT FROM THEIR
BRIGHTLY COLORED CLOTHING.

IT MIGHT NOT BE A RAILWAY TRACK,
BUT IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.

COPPER CANYON IS A VAST
AND INTIMIDATING WILDERNESS

TO BE LOST IN,

AND IT LEAVES ME
WITH A SENSE OF AWE

AT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEARNED
TO LIVE AND SURVIVE HERE

AND CALL IT THEIR HOME.