Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 1, Episode 4 - Alaskan Mountain Range - full transcript

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>> MY NAME IS BEAR GRYLLS.

I'VE SERVED WITH THE

BRITISH SPECIAL FORCES, I'VE

CLIMBED TO THE SUMMIT OF

EVEREST, AND CROSSED THE FROZEN

OCEANS OF THE ARCTIC.

NOW I'M GONNA SHOW HOW TO

SURVIVE ONE OF THE MOST

TREACHEROUS LANDSCAPES ON

EARTH -- ALASKA.

OVER A MILLION TOURISTS COME



HERE EVERY YEAR, AND OVER 500 GO

MISSING.

I'M GONNA SHOW THE SKILLS NEEDED

TO STAY ALIVE.

WHOA!

THIS IS THE COAST OF ALASKA,

JUST BELOW THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.

ITS EXTRAORDINARY LANDSCAPE IS

MADE UP OF ENDLESS COASTLINE,

DEEP FORESTS, AND HUGE GLACIERS.

I'M GOING TO MOUNT CHUGACH IN

ALASKA.

IT'S WHERE MOUNTAINEERS, HIKERS,

AND SKIERS COME TO ENJOY THE



WILDERNESS.

BUT WITH THE THRILL COMES

DANGER, AND EVERY YEAR, OVER 20

PEOPLE DIE.

I'M GONNA SHOW HOW TO SURVIVE

IN A WILDERNESS LIKE THIS.

ANY MOMENT NOW, THE PILOT IS

GONNA DROP ME ONTO THE TOP OF

ONE OF THESE MOUNTAINS.

>> WE GOT ABOUT 400 FEET TO

TOUCHDOWN.

100 FEET.

50 FEET.

>> IF NEEDED, I'LL GET SOME HELP

FROM LOCAL EXPERTS, AND THE

CAMERA CREW WILL FOLLOW MY

JOURNEY.

17 OF THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS IN

THE U.S. ARE HERE IN ALASKA.

IT'S EVERY EXTREME SKIER'S IDEA

OF HEAVEN.

WITH SO FEW PEOPLE AND SO MUCH

SPACE, THIS IS ONE OF AMERICA'S

TRUE WILDERNESSES.

JUST BEAUTIFUL!

BEING OUT IN THESE MOUNTAINS --

AMAZING.

THE BIGGEST THREAT TO SKIERS IS

AVALANCHE.

THEY KILL AROUND 40 PEOPLE EVERY

YEAR IN NORTH AMERICA.

ONE WRONG TURN, AND THE WHOLE

MOUNTAINSIDE COULD COME CRASHING

DOWN ON YOU.

YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO AVOID

THEM.

THE KEY WITH AVALANCHES IS TO

READ THE SNOW.

AND YOU CAN USE THE SKI POLE IN

FRONT OF YOU JUST TO TEST IT TO

SEE WHETHER IT'S COMPACTED OR

WHETHER IT'S IN LAYERS.

AND WHAT YOU WANT IS, WHEN YOU

PUSH IT IN, IT'S NICE AND

CONSISTENT.

BUT IF YOU PUSH IT DOWN, AND IT,

LIKE, SUDDENLY DROPS A LITTLE

BIT, IT'S A SIGN IT'S IN LAYERS,

AND THAT'S THE DANGEROUS STUFF.

AVALANCHES ARE OFTEN TRIGGERED

BY INEXPERIENCED SKIERS AND

SNOWBOARDERS WHO COME TO ENJOY

THE 40 FOOT OF VIRGIN SNOW WHICH

CAN OFTEN FALL HERE.

IN EARLY 2006, A SNOWBOARDER

FROM ANCHORAGE TRIGGERED A

200-FOOT-WIDE AVALANCHE ON A

SLOPE JUST LIKE THIS.

HIS BODY WAS EVENTUALLY

RECOVERED THREE MONTHS LATER.

HE'D FALLEN 1,600 FEET.

I'VE SKIED ABOUT 5,000 FEET, AND

AT LAST, I'M LEAVING THE HIGH

SNOW FACES BEHIND.

THERE IS SO MUCH ROCK, AND IT'S

BECOMING IMPOSSIBLE TO SKI ANY

FURTHER.

ALL THESE SKIS WOULD DO IS SLOW

YOU DOWN.

YOU'D BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT

THEM.

BELOW ME IS A GLACIER --

LITERALLY, A RIVER OF ICE, AND,

LIKE A RIVER, THIS GLACIER FLOWS

DOWNHILL.

I'M GONNA FOLLOW THIS RIDGE.

IT'S NOT EASY, AND THE

TEMPERATURE IS DROPPING FAST.

TEMPERATURES HERE IN ALASKA CAN

REACH AS LOW AS MINUS-60

DEGREES, AND FROSTBITE IS ALWAYS

A DANGER IN THE MOUNTAINS.

AND THE BITS TO WATCH OUT FOR

ARE YOUR EXTREMITIES -- YOUR

HANDS, YOUR FEET, YOUR FACE.

AND THE SIGNS THAT YOU ARE

GETTING IT IS THAT YOUR SKIN

GOES THIS WAXY-RED COLOR AND

EVENTUALLY BLACK.

AND I'VE SEEN VERY SEVERE

FROSTBITE ON CLIMBERS ON

EVEREST, AND IT'S A REALLY

HORRIBLE, PAINFUL THING.

THIS RIDGE HAS LED TO A

NORTH-FACING SLOPE.

THIS GETS LESS SUNLIGHT, SO IT'S

STILL COVERED IN SNOW.

[ SIGHS ]

THIS WEATHER IS NOT LOOKING SO

GOOD.

GETTING CAUGHT OUT IN BAD

WEATHER CAN BE FATAL, SO YOU

NEED TO GET DOWN FAST.

BUT THIS SLOPE IS OVER 300 FOOT.

I COULD DOWN-CLIMB, BUT IT WOULD

TAKE HOURS.

INSTEAD, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A

TECHNIQUE THAT MOUNTAINEERS CALL

A GLISSADE.

AS YOU SLIDE DOWN, YOU SLOW

YOURSELF BY DIGGING IN YOUR ICE

AX.

I DON'T HAVE AN ICE AX, SO I'M

BREAKING A SKI STICK IN HALF

INSTEAD.

YOU REALLY SEE THIS CLOUD NOW

MOVING IN.

I CAN HARDLY EVEN SEE THE BOTTOM

OF THIS GLISSADE, AND I'M PRETTY

NERVOUS ABOUT DOING THIS.

THIS TECHNIQUE IS RISKY, BUT, IN

AN EMERGENCY, IT CAN SAVE YOUR

LIFE.

IF YOU DON'T APPLY ENOUGH

PRESSURE, YOU'LL FALL TOO FAST.

BUT PUSH IN TOO HARD, AND THE

STICK CAN GET RIPPED RIGHT OUT

OF YOUR HAND.

AAH!

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

THAT WAS FAST.

I'VE DONE A FEW GLISSADES

BEFORE, BUT NEVER ANYTHING THAT

STEEP AND THAT LONG.

AND I RECKON I HIT 50 MILES AN

HOUR ON THAT, AND THAT'S LIKE

SPEEDING.

WHEW!

WHEW.

I'VE REACHED THE GLACIER, AND

THERE ARE OVER 100,000 OF THESE

IN ALASKA.

THEY FORM THE LARGEST RESERVOIR

OF FRESHWATER ON EARTH.

BUT THE BAD NEWS IS THEY'RE FULL

OF CREVASSES -- DEEP VALLEYS OF

ICE OFTEN COVERED BY LAYERS OF

SNOW.

AND THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO TRAVEL

IS TO BE ROPED AND IN PAIRS.

UGH.

THERE'S SOLID GROUND RUNNING

ALONGSIDE THE GLACIER, BUT

KEEPING MY FOOTING IN THESE SKI

BOOTS IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

[ WATER RUSHING ]

OH, LOOK.

I SEE THE END OF THE GLACIER.

AND, YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY

WHERE IT COMES OUT, AND THAT'S

JUST SUCH A RELIEF.

I'M NEARLY OFF THE SNOW AND ICE,

BUT THE GLACIER STILL HAS ONE

FINAL STING IN ITS TAIL -- A

SHEER CLIFF.

THIS IS LITERALLY NOW THE BOTTOM

OF THE GLACIER, AND THIS MORAINE

IS JUST DROPPING OFF IN THIS

LIKE 40-FOOT WATERFALL.

AND THERE'S NO WAY, IN THESE

BOOTS AND WITHOUT ROPES, I'M

GONNA MAKE IT DOWN THIS, AND

I NEED ANOTHER PLAN.

>> I'VE BEEN DROPPED INTO THE

REMOTE, ICY MOUNTAINS OF ALASKA,

AND NOW I HAVE TO GET OFF THIS

GLACIER.

BUT MY WAY DOWN IS BLOCKED BY A

40-FOOT WATERFALL, BUT THERE'S

ANOTHER WAY.

THERE'S AN ICE TUNNEL INTO THE

GLACIER.

THIS IS FORMED BY MELTWATER

STREAMS WHICH RUN UNDER THE ICE.

BUT THIS ONE COULD LEAD ME OUT.

ICE TUNNELS ARE EXTREMELY

UNSTABLE PLACES, AND GLACIERS

CAN MOVE UP TO 60 FEET A DAY.

BEFORE YOU GO IN, CHECK THE ICE

IS SOLID.

THERE COULD BE OVER 200 FEET OF

ICE ABOVE ME, AND AT ANY MOMENT,

IT COULD COME CRASHING DOWN.

ONLY DO THIS AS A LAST RESORT.

[ WATER RUNNING ]

I'M FINDING IT QUITE

CLAUSTROPHOBIC IN THIS PLACE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN COME,

JUST SEE AROUND, BUT THIS IS NOT

A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

AND I WAS ALMOST KILLED ON A

GLACIER LIKE THIS ON EVEREST,

WHERE I HAD A CREVASSE GIVE WAY

UNDER MY FEET.

AND [SIGHS] IT'S NOT BRINGING

BACK GREAT MEMORIES, BEING IN

HERE.

I JUST WANT TO GET OUT NOW.

AND THE FURTHER YOU GO IN, THE

HARDER IT IS TO GO BACK.

THEN, I SEE DAYLIGHT AHEAD.

IT'S MY WAY OUT.

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO RELIEVED.

AND, FINALLY, I'M OFF THE

GLACIER.

IT'S JUST SO GOOD TO BE OUT OF

THAT GLACIER AND JUST HAVE SOME

OPEN SPACE.

BUT THE BEST NEWS OF ALL IS THAT

I'M GONNA GET THESE RUDDY BOOTS

OFF.

AND...

AH.

THAT IS SO NICE.

AND I'M GOING TO KEEP THESE

INNERS.

THEY'RE NOT IDEAL TO WALK IN,

BUT I'M GOING TO NEED SOMETHING

TO PROTECT MY FEET IN THE

TOUGHER TERRAIN THAT'S GONNA BE

AHEAD NOW.

HERE, OFF THE MOUNTAIN, THERE

SHOULD BE FOOD AND SHELTER.

WHOA.

I WAS GETTING DIVE-BOMBED BY

THESE SEA GULLS, AND THAT'S

A SIGN THAT I'VE PROBABLY WALKED

THROUGH AN AREA THAT THEY'RE

NESTING.

AND THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO

PROTECT THEIR EGGS.

WHAT I'M GOING TO TRY AND DO IS

SEE IF I CAN FIND ONE OF THEIR

NESTS AND ACTUALLY FIND MAYBE

SOME EGGS TO EAT.

IT'S JUNE -- PRIME NESTING

SEASON -- AND THESE NESTS COULD

HAVE TWO OR THREE EGGS, EACH ONE

PACKED WITH PROTEIN, VITAMINS,

AND MINERALS.

WHOA.

I'VE SCOURED ALL OVER THESE

BANKS, AND I JUST CAN'T FIND

WHAT THESE GUYS ARE PROTECTING.

THE LANDSCAPE IS BEGINNING TO

OPEN UP, AND I CAN SEE THE TREE

LINE AHEAD.

BUT NOW IT'S STARTING TO RAIN.

BUT AT LEAST, FINALLY, I'M

ALMOST IN THE FOREST.

THIS IS GOOD NEWS.

I'M JUST SEEING NOW THE CLOUDS

CLEARING.

I CAN SEE A THICK FOREST DOWN

THERE, BUT ALSO WHAT LOOKS LIKE

A DEEP GORGE.

AND THERE MIGHT WELL BE A RIVER

AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT, AND

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO BE HEADING

FOR.

I CAN ONLY SEE A COUPLE OF FEET

AHEAD OF ME NOW, AND IT'S

STRANGELY CLAUSTROPHOBIC.

I KNOW THIS IS BEAR COUNTRY.

BOTH BLACK AND BROWN BEARS LIVE

HERE.

BROWN BEARS CAN WEIGH UP TO

1,100 POUNDS, GROW TO 9 FEET

TALL, AND CAN TEAR A MAN APART.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHERE THE

BEAR HERE HAS BEEN SCRATCHING

ALONG THE TREE, AND THIS IS WHAT

THEY DO.

THEY'LL COME ALONG, THEY'LL

SCRATCH, THEN THEY'LL RUB THEIR

BACK AGAINST IT, AND YOU CAN SEE

ACTUALLY WHERE THE BEAR'S FUR IS

THERE.

AND THIS IS ALL PART OF IT JUST

MARKING ITS TERRITORY.

A HIKER WAS RECENTLY KILLED

HERE.

WHEN RANGERS FOUND THE REMAINS

OF HIS BODY, THEY DISCOVERED

BEAR BLOOD AT THE SCENE AND

EMPTY GUN SHELLS.

YO, BEAR!

THE HIKER HAD FIRED TWO SHOTS AT

THE BEAR, BUT THAT WAS NOT

ENOUGH TO STOP THE ATTACK.

BUT BIG GROUPS RARELY GET

ATTACKED, FOR ONE SIMPLE

REASON -- LOTS OF PEOPLE MEANS

LOTS OF NOISE, AND THAT WARNS

OFF THE BEAR.

IT'S WHEN YOU'RE ALONE THAT

YOU'RE VULNERABLE.

BEARS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS

WHEN THEY'RE SURPRISED.

AND, ACTUALLY, MOST ATTACKS

HAPPEN ON HUNTERS JUST BECAUSE

THEY'RE ALWAYS SNEAKING AROUND,

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY

IMPORTANT, WHEN YOU'RE ON YOUR

OWN, TO KEEP MAKING LOTS OF

NOISE AND LET THESE BEARS KNOW

THAT YOU'RE HERE.

AND IT MIGHT SOUND A BIT WEIRD,

BUT I'M DOING A LOT OF WANDERING

AROUND AT THE MOMENT GOING, "YO,

BEAR," JUST TRYING TO KEEP THEM

AWAY.

YO, BEAR!

YO, BEAR!

YO, BEAR!

HOWEVER MUCH NOISE I MAKE, I

STILL FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

THIS IS BEAR CRAP.

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU

CAN SEE IN THIS POO LITTLE SEEDS

FROM BERRIES.

AND THAT MEANS THERE ARE GONNA

BE BERRIES SOMEWHERE AROUND

NEARBY.

THE BAD NEWS IS IT MEANS THERE'S

A BEAR AROUND SOMEWHERE.

THIS IS ONLY ABOUT A DAY OLD.

THIS UNDERGROWTH IS VICIOUS.

EVERY STEP HURTS.

THIS IS ALL DEVIL'S CLUB, WHICH

MUST BE THE SPIKIEST, THORNIEST

PLANT I'VE EVER COME ACROSS.

JUST LOOK, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE

SPIKES, ALL ALONG THE STEM, ALL

THE WAY DOWN THE STALK.

ALL THE LEAVES, AS WELL, JUST

COVERED IN IT.

AND WHEN THE FLOWERS COME OUT,

EVEN THEY HAVE SPIKES ON IT.

AND THE ROOTS.

AND IT'S JUST HELL TO WALK

THROUGH.

BUT, FOR ALASKAN NATIVES, THIS

IS ONE OF THE MOST REVERED

MEDICINAL PLANTS, JUST FULL OF

LOADS OF GOOD THINGS, LOTS OF

GINSENG.

BUT, TO WALK THROUGH, IT IS NOT

GOOD.

IT'S CLAIMED THAT GINSENG

INCREASES YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR

STAMINA.

A STREAM HAS MADE A CLEARING

THROUGH THE DEVIL'S CLUB.

THIS SHOULD LEAD TO A RIVER AND

A WAY THROUGH THE FOREST.

IT MEANS I CAN MOVE FAST NOW.

BUT THIS WILDERNESS IS SO

UNPREDICTABLE.

AFTER SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS,

THERE'S A MAJOR OBSTACLE -- A

HUGE WATERFALL.

THERE'S A CHOICE -- GO DOWN THIS

OR GO BACK INTO THE DEVIL'S

CLUB -- AND NEITHER OPTION FEELS

LIKE A GOOD ONE.

>> I'M IN THE ALASKAN FOREST.

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING A STREAM,

BUT THERE'S AN OBSTACLE -- THIS

WATERFALL.

IT'S OVER 200 FOOT AND, EVEN

WITH A SAFETY LINE, IT'S RISKY.

BUT I'M AN EXPERIENCED CLIMBER.

I'M GONNA SHOW HOW TO GET DOWN

IT.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, WHEN

YOU START DOWN HERE, IS TO TAKE

YOUR TIME.

AND SO MANY ACCIDENTS HAPPEN,

CLIMBING, AS THE ADRENALINE GETS

GOING AND YOU RUSH IT.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, YOU CAN GET

IT RIGHT A THOUSAND TIMES.

YOU ONLY NEED ONE MISTAKE FOR IT

TO ALL GO WRONG.

THESE ROCKS ARE INCREDIBLY

SLIPPERY, AND IT'S EASY TO MAKE

MISTAKES.

TO MAKE IT DOWN, I'LL NEED TO

FOLLOW SOME BASIC CLIMBING

RULES.

LET YOUR LEGS TAKE THE PRESSURE.

SO MANY PEOPLE TRY AND ALWAYS

CLIMB WITH THEIR ARMS, AND YOUR

ARMS GIVE OUT.

YOUR LEGS ARE MUCH, MUCH

STRONGER.

AND JUST USE YOUR ARMS TO STEADY

YOU AND TO BALANCE YOU.

THERE'S LOADS OF LOOSE ROCKS, SO

I HAVE TO TEST EVERY HANDHOLD.

THE FORCE OF THE WATER NOW,

ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN, IS MAKING IT

MUCH HARDER.

IT'S LIKE TRYING TO DOWN-CLIMB

WHILST GIVING SOMEONE A

PIGGYBACK.

OKAY.

THE FINAL BIT IS ALMOST

VERTICAL.

THIS FREEZING GLACIER WATER IS A

TORRENT, AND IT'S PUSHING ME

DOWN HARD, AND THE COLD IS

MAKING IT MUCH WORSE.

[ GASPS ]

[ SIGHS ]

[ GRUNTING ]

THIS WATER IS JUST SO COLD, AND

MY HANDS WERE GETTING SO NUMB UP

THERE, I COULD HARDLY HOLD ON.

BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, LOOKING

BACK UP THERE, THAT IS MUCH

STEEPER THAN I EVER THOUGHT IT

WAS GONNA BE WHEN I STARTED

DOWN IT.

WHEW.

IT'S LIGHT NEARLY 24 HOURS A DAY

HERE IN THE SUMMER, AND IT'S

EASY TO LOSE TRACK OF TIME.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A

REST WHEN YOU NEED TO.

WITH SOAKING-WET CLOTHES, YOU'LL

NEED A FIRE TO DRY THEM OUT.

AND IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION,

THERE'S NOTHING BETTER FOR

MORALE THAN A FIRE.

THERE ARE NEARLY 6 MILLION ACRES

OF FOREST IN ALASKA, AND MUCH OF

IT IS COVERED IN SPRUCE AND

ALDER, BOTH OF WHICH ARE GREAT

FOR BUILDING SHELTERS.

TO BUILD A SHELTER, I'M GONNA

NEED LIKE 10 OR SO OF THESE

ALDER SAPLINGS.

AND THE BEST WAY OF CUTTING

THESE IS TO BEND IT OVER UNTIL

YOU SEE THE STRESS OUT OF IT.

AND THEN, WHEN THOSE FIBERS ARE

UNDER STRESS, YOU CAN JUST SHEAR

IT WITH A KNIFE, AND IT WILL CUT

THROUGH.

THAT'S FINE.

YOU CAN RECOGNIZE AN ALDER BY

THE LEAVES.

THEY'RE SERRATED, AND THEY GROW

ALTERNATELY UP THE STEM.

AND I'M USING THIS SPRUCE FOR

THE ROOF.

I'M MAKING WHAT'S CALLED A

HALF-DOME SHELTER.

IT'S SIMPLE AND IT'S FAST.

TO WATERPROOF IT, YOU START AT

THE BOTTOM, THEN MOVE UP,

PUTTING ONE LAYER ON TOP OF THE

ONE BELOW.

AND THEN I NEED FIRE.

I ALWAYS CARRY A FLINT TO LIGHT

A FIRE.

NORMALLY, THIS WILLOW DOWN MAKES

EXCELLENT KINDLING.

BUT IT'S DAMP, SO LIGHTING THIS

FIRE IS GOING TO BE A STRUGGLE.

AH.

AND THAT'S USED UP HALF OF IT --

THE FIRST FAILED ATTEMPT.

BLACK BEARS KILL FEWER PEOPLE

THAN GRIZZLIES, BUT, IN 90% OF

THEIR ATTACKS, THEY LITERALLY

STALK HUMANS AS PREY.

MANY LOCALS CARRY A GUN.

PEOPLE OFTEN THINK THAT GRIZZLY

BEARS ARE THE REALLY DANGEROUS

ONES, BUT, IN THIS PART OF

ALASKA, THE MOST DANGEROUS BEARS

ARE ACTUALLY THE BLACK BEARS.

AND IF ONE APPROACHES YOU,

DEPENDING ON WHICH IT IS, YOU

NEED TO REACT DIFFERENTLY.

IF IT'S A BROWN BEAR, THE

CHANCES ARE IT'S A TERRITORIAL

ISSUE, AND THE BEST THING YOU

CAN DO IS JUST BE SUBMISSIVE AND

BACK OFF.

IF IT'S A BLACK BEAR, THE

CHANCES ARE IT'S AFTER YOU.

AND IN THAT CASE, YOU'RE GONNA

HAVE NO CHOICE APART FROM TO

FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE.

YOUR BODY HAS AN INTERNAL CLOCK

WHICH MAKES YOU SLEEP WHEN ITS

DARK AND WAKE WHEN IT'S LIGHT.

SO, IN A PLACE LIKE THIS, WHERE

IT'S ONLY DARK FOR FOUR HOURS, A

FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP IS ALWAYS

GONNA BE HARD.

>> IT'S NOW 5:00 A.M., AND IT'S

ALREADY LIGHT.

I'M AWAKE AND A LITTLE CRANKY.

IT'S STILL RAINING.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

AND I'M GETTING A BIT CHEESED

OFF.

BUT I THINK THAT'S ALL RIGHT

WHEN YOU'VE BEEN WET ALL NIGHT.

I THINK YOU'RE ALLOWED TO BE A

BIT CHEESED OFF.

I'M GOING TO CARRY ON, FOLLOWING

THE SAME STREAM THAT I FOLLOWED

YESTERDAY.

I'VE SEEN A RIVER AT THE BOTTOM

OF THE VALLEY, AND THAT'S WHERE

I NEED TO GET TO.

BUT FOLLOWING THE RIVER IS NOT

EASY.

LOTS OF SMALLER STREAMS FLOW

INTO IT, SO I'M CONSTANTLY

FORCED TO CROSS THEM.

AW, I'M SO COLD.

[ CHUCKLES ]

FAST. FAST-FLOWING, THIS.

AND THESE GLACIAL RIVERS ARE

DECEPTIVELY FAST AND COLD.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO STAY

FACING UPSTREAM SO YOU CAN FIGHT

AGAINST THE FLOW.

AFTER SEVERAL MILES, THE RIVER

WIDENS.

THE COAST SHOULD BE NEAR.

AH.

AT LAST, THE SEA.

I'VE COME OUT INTO ONE OF THE

MANY SMALL INLETS THAT DOT THE

ALASKAN COASTLINE.

YOUR BEST CHANCE OF BEING PICKED

UP WILL BE TO BE SPOTTED BY

ONE OF THE MANY SMALL FISHING

BOATS THAT FISH THIS AREA.

HEY, LOOK AT THIS. LOOK.

IT'S A DEAD SALMON.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER ONE OVER

THERE.

THIS IS GREAT NEWS.

IT MEANS THE SALMON ARE USING

THIS TO RUN UPSTREAM.

AND THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.

THEY'LL RETURN FROM OFTEN LIKE

UP TO 200 MILES OUT TO SEA.

THEY'LL FIND THE EXACT SAME

RIVER THAT THEY WERE BORN, EVEN

THE SAME TRIBUTARY, RETURN TO

IT, LAY THEIR EGGS, AND THEN

THEY'LL DIE.

THE RIVER IS PACKED WITH KING

AND PINK SALMON.

I HAVEN'T GOT A FISHING LINE

WITH ME, SO I NEED TO FIND

ANOTHER WAY OF CATCHING ONE.

I'M MAKING A SPEAR OUT OF WOOD.

HERE'S A TREE WHERE THE BRANCHES

FORK OUT IN A "V," ABOUT 4 FOOT

ALONG THE MAIN STEM.

THE FIRST STEP IS TO CLEAR ALL

THE OTHER SHOOTS AND THEN BREAK

OFF THE TWO BRANCHES AND CUT

THEM INTO SHARP POINTS.

THESE WILL PUNCTURE THE TOUGH

SKIN OF THE FISH AND KEEP IT

PINNED DOWN WHILE I GRAB IT WITH

MY HANDS.

THERE MUST BE A THOUSAND SALMON

IN THIS POOL DOWN HERE, BUT IT'S

TOO DEEP FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO

SPEAR ONE.

BUT I RECKON, IF I CAN SPOOK

THEM AND DRIVE THEM UP INTO

SHALLOWS, THEN I'LL HAVE A GOOD

CHANCE.

MY TACTIC IS WORKING.

THE FISH ARE GOING JUST WHERE

I NEED THEM.

I CAN SEE JUST LOADS AND LOADS

OF THEM THERE, AND THEY'RE IN

ABOUT 6 INCHES OF WATER.

AND THE KEY IS JUST FOR ME TO

APPROACH FROM DOWNSTREAM VERY

STEADILY.

ONE OF THE SALMON'S MAIN

PREDATORS ARE EAGLES, WHICH

SWOOP IN FROM ABOVE, SO THE FISH

ARE HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO SHADOWS.

IF THEY SEE MINE, THEY'LL BE

OFF.

I'M WAITING FOR THE PERFECT

OPPORTUNITY.

AS I STAND MOTIONLESS, THE FISH

START TO COME CLOSER.

BUT THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO BE JUST

OUT OF MY REACH.

AND THEY SAY, THE KEY FOR

FISHING IS PATIENCE.

I'M PROBABLY THE LEAST PATIENT

PERSON YOU'LL EVER MEET.

NOW I'M GONNA TAKE A MORE

AGGRESSIVE APPROACH.

THROWING THE SPEAR AROUND GETS

ME NOWHERE, AND MY IMPATIENCE

FINALLY GETS THE BETTER OF ME.

WHOA!

[ SCOFFS ]

I HAD IT.

IT WAS LIKE -- THAT WAS SO

CLOSE.

I GIVE UP.

BUT ONE OF THE CREW HAS MORE

LUCK.

YOU CAN EAT THESE THINGS

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE RIVER LIKE

THAT.

[ CHUCKLES ]

MMM.

THAT IS, LIKE, THE FRESHEST

ALASKAN SALMON YOU CAN POSSIBLY

HAVE.

I'VE ALWAYS LIKED SUSHI, AND

IN THE LOCAL EYAK COMMUNITIES,

THE ANNUAL FISH RUNS WERE THE

PRIMARY FOOD SOURCE FOR THE

ENTIRE YEAR.

FISH ARE PACKED FULL OF PROTEIN.

AND THE SCALES ARE SMALL ON A

SALMON, SO YOU CAN EAT THE SKIN,

AS WELL, AS IT CONTAINS HIGH

LEVELS OF FAT -- JUST WHAT MY

BODY NEEDS TO KEEP MOVING.

I'M GONNA TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF

THIS FEAST.

I MIGHT BE OUT OF THE FOREST,

BUT I KNOW THAT I'M STILL

SURROUNDED BY BEARS.

THEY COME DOWN HERE TO FISH.

HEY, LOOK AT THIS. LOOK.

THIS IS WHY YOU'VE GOT TO BE

SO CAREFUL AROUND HERE.

LOOK, YOU CAN SEE WHERE A BEAR

HAS OBVIOUSLY COME DOWN AND

PLONKED HIS FAT BACKSIDE DOWN

HERE AND STARTED TO FEAST ON

THIS SALMON.

BUT, AMAZING, YOU ACTUALLY

SEE -- LOOK -- THE IMPRINT OF

WHERE HE'S BEEN.

AND, ACTUALLY, YOU CAN SEE THE

BIT THAT IT'S EATEN IS ALL THE

BELLY FAT AND THE EGGS AND THE

GUTS.

THAT'S THE MOST FAT- AND

PROTEIN-RICH.

AND THEN IT JUST LEAVES THE REST

OF IT.

BUT THIS IS WHY YOU'VE GOT TO BE

SO CAREFUL OUT HERE.

IF YOU KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR,

THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF BERRIES

AND PLANTS YOU CAN EAT WITH YOUR

FISH.

THIS IS ESKIMO POTATO -- THIS

PLANT HERE.

IF I PULL THIS UP...

AND GET TO THE ROOT OF IT, THIS

IS ALL EDIBLE.

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S ALL A

BIT STRINGY.

AND THE BEST WAY, REALLY, IS TO,

YOU KNOW, ROAST THIS ON A FIRE,

BUT YOU CAN EAT THIS RAW.

IT'S A BIT MUDDY, BUT A REALLY,

REALLY GOOD FOOD SOURCE, AND

MANY PEOPLE SAY IT'S THE MOST

VALUABLE FOOD SOURCE IN ALL OF

ALASKA.

THESE ROOTS ARE FULL OF STARCH

AND CARBOHYDRATE.

IT'S HARDLY A GOURMET DINNER,

BUT IT'LL KEEP ME GOING A LITTLE

LONGER.

IT'S BEEN A TOUGH DAY.

CAVES ARE READY-MADE SHELTERS

BUT ARE OFTEN ALREADY OCCUPIED

BY WILDLIFE, INCLUDING BEARS.

THIS ONE IS SO SHALLOW THAT I

KNOW IT'S SAFE AND IT'S A

PERFECT PLACE TO STOP.

THE HIGH WALLS MEAN THAT NOTHING

CAN SNEAK UP ON ME FROM BEHIND.

[ SIGHS ]

BUT ALASKA STILL HAS SO MUCH TO

THROW AT ME.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

WHOA.

[ GASPING ]

UGH.

>> NOW I'M ON THE COAST HERE IN

ALASKA, THERE'S AN ABUNDANCE OF

FOOD, ESPECIALLY ON THE BEACH

AT LOW TIDE.

THIS ROCK HERE IS JUST COVERED

IN THESE MUSSELS, AND IT'S A

GREAT SOURCE OF FOOD.

I'M GOING TO GET A LOAD OF THIS

AND THEN COOK IT UP LATER.

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW,

PART OF THE STAPLE DIET OF A LOT

OF LOCAL ALASKAN TRIBES.

SHELLFISH SHOULD ALWAYS BE

COOKED PROPERLY FIRST, SO I NEED

FIRE.

OLD-MAN'S-BEARD GROWS ON THE

BRANCHES OF TREES, AND IT BURNS

EASILY, BUT I NEED TO FIND WOOD,

AS WELL.

YEAH, THIS IS SORT OF DEAD WOOD

THAT I WANT.

WOOD THAT'S DEAD ON THE GROUND

IS OFTEN COVERED IN MOSS AND IS

REALLY DAMP, BUT THIS IS GREAT

BECAUSE IT'S OFF THE GROUND AND

IT'S DRY.

AND IT SHOULD CRACK.

AND A GOOD WAY OF TELLING IF

WOOD IS GOOD FOR BURNING IS IF

YOU HEAR THAT CRACK.

SORT OF SOUNDS LIKE THE CRACKLE

WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY BURNING ON A

FIRE, AND THAT'S A GOOD SIGN

IT'S GOOD WOOD FOR BURNING.

WITH NO PAN TO COOK THEM IN,

I'VE SURROUNDED THE MUSSELS WITH

TWO LAYERS OF SEAWEED.

THIS EFFECTIVELY, LIKE, STEAMS

THEM.

AND THIS SHOULD TAKE ABOUT 10

MINUTES TO COOK.

WHEN YOU'RE COLLECTING THEM, TAP

THE MUSSELS.

IF THEY DON'T CLOSE, THEY'RE

ALREADY DEAD, SO LEAVE THEM.

BUT ONCE COOKED, THEY SHOULD BE

OPEN.

WOW, THOSE REALLY ARE GOOD.

OH!

OW.

[ BLOWING SHARPLY ]

DOWN HERE ON THE COAST, I CAN

SHOW YOU HOW TO GET YOURSELF

SEEN BY ANY PASSING BOATS.

I'VE GOT SUCH GOOD VISIBILITY

ALL THE WAY OUT INTO SEA HERE.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH, WHILE

I AM HERE, GETTING A SIGNAL FIRE

GOING.

AND ALL I'M DOING IS BUILDING

THIS BACK UP AGAIN.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO PUT ON TOP

OF IT A LOAD OF EVERGREEN

BRANCHES, AND THESE WILL SMOKE.

AND...

IF ANYONE IS PASSING...

THEY MIGHT WELL SEE THIS.

IT'S VITAL TO CREATE WHITE SMOKE

TO CONTRAST WITH THE DARK

BACKGROUND OF THE TREES BEHIND

ME.

BUT NATURE IS CONSPIRING AGAINST

ME.

YOU NOTICE HERE, THE SMOKE'S NOT

RISING VERY WELL INTO THE AIR.

IT ACTUALLY LOOKS AS IF IT'S,

LIKE, GETTING PUSHED DOWN, AND

THAT'S A SIGN THAT LOW PRESSURE

MIGHT WELL BE ON ITS WAY.

SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEAUTIFUL

BLUE SKIES AT THE MOMENT, IT

MIGHT WELL BE GETTING MUCH

WORSE.

BETTER KEEP MOVING.

BUT IT'S TOUGH GOING.

THE SHORELINE CONSTANTLY SWELLS

IN AND OUT OF THESE DEEP BAYS.

BUT OVER ON THE BANK ARE SOME

BUILDINGS.

THEY LOOK LIKE A FISHING LODGE.

HUH?

BUT THE PATHS ARE OVERGROWN, AND

THE BUILDING IS A SHAMBLES.

ALASKA HAS A HISTORY OF BOOM AND

BUSTS.

THE COASTLINE IS LITTERED WITH

DISUSED GOLD MINES, TINNING

FACTORIES, AND, FROM WHAT I CAN

SEE, OLD LODGES.

I'M SURE, AT ONE TIME, THIS

PLACE WOULD HAVE BEEN BUSTLING

WITH TREKKERS, BUT TODAY IT'S

DESERTED.

HERE, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

THIS IS A VIEW YOU WANT TO BUILD

YOUR HOUSE LOOKING AT.

LOOK AT THAT.

JUST BEAUTIFUL OVER THE

MOUNTAINS OF THE GLACIER.

AMAZING.

AND A BEAUTIFUL GLACIER LIKE

THIS COULD PROVIDE YOUR WAY OUT

OF HERE.

THESE COASTAL GLACIERS ARE

NOTORIOUS TOURIST HOT SPOTS, AND

THERE MIGHT WELL BE A BOAT

THERE.

BUT IT LOOKS MILES AWAY.

THIS IS GREAT. LOOK.

LITTLE BOATS ARE OFTEN USED BY

THESE LODGES, AND, AS A LAST

RESORT, YOU SHOULD USE ONE.

I JUST NEED A PADDLE, AND THIS

SPADE WILL DO THE JOB.

IF YOU TAKE A BOAT FROM THE

SHORELINE, YOU CAN NEVER BE

ABSOLUTELY SURE IT'S WATERTIGHT.

NEXT, I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENS

IF YOUR BOAT BEGINS TO TAKE ON

WATER IN THIS ICY SEA.

>> I'M IN A BASIC SKIFF, AND I'M

SLOWLY WORKING MY WAY ALONG THE

COASTLINE.

ON FOOT, IT WOULD TAKE YOU DAYS

TO WALK AROUND THESE ENDLESS

CRAGGY INLETS.

BUT BOATS CAN OFTEN BE A RISK,

AND, IN A MOMENT, I'LL SHOW YOU

WHAT CAN HAPPEN.

THERE'S A STORY OF A FATHER AND

HIS TEENAGE KIDS WHO RAN AGROUND

IN A WINTER STORM.

AND THEY WAITED 10 DAYS FOR

RESCUE, BUT IT NEVER CAME.

AND THE FATHER THEN MADE A VERY

DIFFICULT DECISION TO LEAVE HIS

TEENAGE GIRLS WHILST HIM AND HIS

SON WENT OFF TO LOOK FOR HELP.

AND THEY EVENTUALLY FOUND AN OLD

LOG CABIN, BUT THERE WAS NO

SIGNS OF LIFE.

AND A STORM THEN CAME IN, AND IT

WAS SIX DAYS BEFORE THE WEATHER

BROKE.

AND HE ASSUMED HIS DAUGHTERS

WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

BUT WHEN IT DID BREAK, THEY

FOUND AN OLD SKIFF, MANAGED TO

REPAIR IT, AND USED THAT TO GET

BACK TO HIS DAUGHTERS, WHO

AMAZINGLY WERE STILL ALIVE.

AND THEN, A DAY LATER, THEY WERE

ALL RESCUED.

I'VE ENTERED A BAY FULL OF

SEA ICE, AND, AS I GO ON, THE

ICE THICKENS.

SOON, ICE BLOCKS ARE ALL AROUND

ME.

THEY MAY LOOK MAGNIFICENT, BUT

THEY CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO

EVEN A LARGE BOAT.

AND, IN 1989, THE EXXON VALDEZ,

A 33,000-TON OIL TANKER, WENT

AGROUND IN ALASKA WHILE TRYING

TO AVOID ICEBERGS JUST LIKE

THESE.

JUST AMAZING, THIS PLACE.

I'LL TELL YOU, OUT OF ALL THE

PLACES I'VE BEEN, I DON'T THINK

I'VE EVER SEEN A LANDSCAPE SO

EXTRAORDINARY -- JUST THOUSANDS

OF THESE LITTLE ICEBERGS JUST

FLOATING AROUND.

AND ALL OF THESE WOULD HAVE JUST

PEELED OFF THESE GLACIERS THAT

ARE TUMBLING DOWN INTO THE SEA.

AND SOME OF THESE BITS OF ICE,

THEY CAN BE UP TO 5,000 YEARS

OLD.

AND IT'S JUST AN AMAZING

LANDSCAPE TO BE IN.

YOU CAN ONLY EVER SEE THE TIP

OF AN ICEBERG, AS 90% IS

SUBMERGED.

AS ICE MELTS FASTER WHEN IT

COMES INTO CONTACT WITH WATER,

EVENTUALLY THE BERGS BECOME

TOP-HEAVY AND ROLL, OFTEN

VIOLENTLY.

ALL THIS ICE IS BEGINNING TO

CLOSE IN A BIT NOW, AND IT'S SO

DISORIENTATING TRYING TO WORK

OUT WHERE YOU ARE, JUST BECAUSE

ALL OF THESE THINGS MOVE WITH

THE CURRENT, AND WHAT LOOKS LIKE

A GAP ONE MINUTE THEN SUDDENLY,

LIKE, CLOSES UP IN FRONT OF YOU.

IT'S JUST SO HARD TO GET THROUGH

THIS STUFF.

IT'S LIKE ROCK.

[ SIGHS ]

YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH DAMAGE

THESE THINGS CAN DO.

AND IF YOUR BOAT TAKES IN

WATER...

I NEED TO GET TO THE LAND.

DO YOU SEE THAT SPIT OF LAND --

ALL THAT GRAVEL THERE?

THAT'S WHERE I NEED TO GO.

THE CAMERA CREW ARE IN

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.

I AM NOT.

MY ONLY OPTION IS TO SWIM FOR

IT.

THIS THING IS JUST GOING NOW.

BUT, FIRST, I'VE GOT TO TAKE

SOME CLOTHES OFF, OR THEY'RE

GONNA REALLY WEIGH ME DOWN.

...BEFORE IT COMPLETELY GOES.

DON'T SINK YET.

DON'T SINK YET.

IT'S JUST THAT TINY LITTLE BIT

OF BUOYANCY KEEPING IT UP.

THIS THING IS ON ITS LAST LEGS.

JUST THAT BUOYANCY IN THE BOW.

WHOA!

[ GASPING ]

OH, MAN.

THE SHOCK OF HITTING THIS WATER

MAKES ME GASP, AND THE DANGER IS

SUCKING IN A BIG LUNGFUL OF AIR

AND WATER, AND THAT'S HOW PEOPLE

DROWN.

[ GASPING ]

MY HEART RATE HAS GONE THROUGH

THE ROOF, AND I'M BEGINNING TO

HYPERVENTILATE.

IN SOME PEOPLE, THIS CAN INDUCE

A HEART ATTACK.

[ GASPING ]

OH, MAN.

[ GASPING ]

I'VE GOT TO GET THIS COTTON OFF.

COTTON LITERALLY SUCKS THE HEAT

OUT OF YOUR BODY.

IT'S A KILLER WHEN WET.

IF YOU GET SOAKED IN A COTTON

T-SHIRT AND PAIR OF JEANS IN

CONDITIONS LIKE THIS, YOU NEED

TO GET THEM OFF FAST.

YOU'LL SURVIVE LONGER NAKED.

AND THIS STUFF IS ALL GLACIER

WATER.

AND SEAWATER FREEZES AT A MUCH

LOWER TEMPERATURE THAN NORMAL

WATER, SO, EFFECTIVELY, THAT'S

LIKE COLDER THAN ICE.

MY FINGERS AND TOES ARE SO NUMB.

I NEED TO GET THE BLOOD FLOWING

BACK.

MY JACKET HAS STAYED DRY IN THE

BACKPACK, AND THIS WILL WARM ME

UP.

THE GLACIAL BAY OPENS UP INTO

THE SEA.

I CAN JUST SEE FOR MILES, ALL

THE WAY UP AND DOWN THE

COASTLINE HERE.

AND I'M JUST GONNA TAKE STOCK

AND TRY AND WARM UP A BIT ON

SOME OF THESE ROCKS...

AND NOT MOVE ANYWHERE UNTIL I

JUST GET DRY AND PROPERLY WARM.

THIS WILL BE A PERFECT SPOT TO

WAIT.

FISHING BOATS, AS WELL AS

TOURIST BOATS, OFTEN SAIL INTO

THESE INLETS, AND IT'S NOT HARD

TO SEE WHY PEOPLE COME.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

[ SEA GULLS CRYING ]

I'M HEADING OFF FURTHER DOWN THE

BEACH TO SEE WHAT I CAN FIND.

AND A BOAT HAS BEEN SENT TO PICK

ME UP.

HEY, LOOK, LOOK!

HEY!

WHOO!

AND I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING I

CAN TO ATTRACT THEIR ATTENTION.

THEY'VE SEEN ME.

THIS HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE

JOURNEY FROM HARSH MOUNTAIN

PEAKS TO THESE ICY SEAS.

ALASKA IS A PLACE WHERE WE CAN

TRULY COME CLOSE TO NATURE, AND

THAT, FOR ME, IS ITS REAL MAGIC.