Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 1, Episode 6 - Sierra Nevada - full transcript

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 IN
THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS.

FIVE MILLION RAFTERS,
HIKERS, AND CLIMBERS

COME HERE EVERY YEAR,

AND EACH YEAR 200 END UP
IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THE SKILLS
YOU NEED TO SURVIVE.

I'M FLYING OVER THE VAST
SIERRA MOUNTAIN RANGE

IN CALIFORNIA --



400 MILES OF TOWERING PEAKS,

DEEP FORESTS,
AND SCORCHING LOWLANDS.

I'M ABOUT TO PUT MYSELF
INTO THE POSITION

OF SOMEONE STRANDED OUT THERE.

IF NEEDED, I'LL BE RECEIVING
SOME HELP FROM LOCAL EXPERTS,

AND A FILM CREW WILL FOLLOW ME.

WHEN PARACHUTING
OVER MOUNTAINS,

YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL.

THE AIR IS THINNER
AT SUCH HIGH ALTITUDES,

SO YOU'LL FALL MUCH FASTER
THAN NORMAL.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA, IF YOU CAN,

TO TRY TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF INJURY BY LANDING IN WATER.

THERE ARE SOME HIGH
ALPINE LAKES DOWN THERE,

AND THAT'S THE KIND OF PLACE
YOU'D NEED TO AIM FOR.



WHOO-HOO!

TO LAND ON THE MOUNTAIN FACES
RISKS SERIOUS INJURY,

BUT LANDING IN WATER WOULD GIVE
YOU A WHOLE DIFFERENT PROBLEM.

AT THIS HEIGHT,

IN WET CLOTHES THERE'S
A REAL RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA.

BUT WHICH IS THE BEST WAY DOWN?

THE SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAIN
FACE EAST AND WEST.

I MUST CHOOSE ONE DIRECTION.

I DON'T WANT TO GO EAST.

THAT WILL TAKE ME INTO THE HEAT
OF THE NEVADA DESERT.

SO I'M HEADING WEST.

AND WHILE THE SUN'S
DRYING ALL THIS STUFF OUT,

THIS IS A GOOD CHANCE

JUST TO TRY AND GET MY BEARINGS
A BIT OUT HERE.

AND ON A NICE DAY,
WITH THE SUN SHINING LIKE THIS,

A REALLY EASY WAY OF FINDING
NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST

IS JUST USING
A SHADOW-STICK METHOD.

AND ALL I NEED FOR THIS
IS ANY BIT OF THIS.

THIS WILL DO.

ALL I DO IS JAM THIS
INTO THE GROUND,

AND THIS CASTS
A NICE SHADOW THERE.

AND JUST MARK IT WHERE THE END
OF THE SHADOW IS.

THEN JUST LEAVE IT 15 MINUTES,
AND WHILE MY CLOTHES ARE DRYING,

I LET THAT SHADOW SLOWLY MOVE,
AND THEN I MARK THE NEXT POINT,

AND THIS WILL GIVE ME
AN EAST-WEST LINE THEN.

IT'S A REALLY SIMPLE WAY OF JUST
WORKING OUT YOUR DIRECTION.

THERE ARE ONLY HAVE SIX HOURS
OF DAYLIGHT LEFT,

AND A NIGHT AT THIS ALTITUDE
CAN KILL.

BUT FIRST, I'LL SHOW YOU
HOW TO COLLECT SOME WATER.

AND HAVING A SUPPLY
OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER

IS AN ABSOLUTE PRIORITY.

THE WATER HERE
LOOKS CRYSTAL-CLEAR,

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN
IT'S PURE.

THE WATER'S STAGNANT,

IDEAL GROWING CONDITIONS
FOR HARMFUL BACTERIA.

ONE OF MY OLDEST BUDDIES
FROM THE ARMY, I REMEMBER,

DRANK FROM A LAKE
JUST LIKE THIS,

AND HE ENDED UP WITH REALLY BAD
DIARRHEA AND VOMITING

FOR ABOUT A WEEK,
AND I DON'T WANT TO RISK THAT.

SO I'M GONNA FILL
MY WATER BOTTLE,

BUT I'M NOT GONNA DRINK FROM IT

UNTIL I GET A CHANCE
TO BOIL IT LATER ON.

BY NOW, MY MAKESHIFT SUNDIAL

SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME
WHICH WAY TO GO.

I CAN JUST SEE HOW THE SHADOW
NOW HAS MOVED 'ROUND,

AND THIS IS THE ORIGINAL MARKER.

SO, FIND ANOTHER STONE.

THAT'S WHERE IT ENDED UP NOW,
IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

SO THAT IS A PRETTY RELIABLE,
BUT ROUGH, EAST-WEST LINE.

THAT'S WEST.
NEVADA'S DESERT'S THE EAST.

I DON'T WANT TO GO THAT WAY.
WEST I'M GOING.

FIRST YOU'D NEED TO DECIDE
WHICH PART OF THE MOUNTAIN

IS EASIEST TO DESCEND.

THE WARM RAYS OF THE SUN
HAVE MADE THE SNOW UNSTABLE.

IF YOU HAVE TO CROSS
A FACE LIKE THIS,

IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE SURE

OF EACH FOOTHOLD YOU MAKE
IN THE SNOW.

IT'S SLIPPERY,

BUT SOMETIMES
YOU JUST GOT TO GO FOR IT.

A LOT OF THE ROCK AROUND HERE
IS THIS GRANITE.

AND WHAT YOU GET IN THIS GRANITE

ARE THESE DENTS
AND THESE DEPRESSIONS.

AND AT THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN
THERE ARE LOTS OF THUNDERSTORMS,

THEY COLLECT THIS RAINWATER.

AND THIS STUFF SHOULD BE OKAY.

WHAT I WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR,
THOUGH,

ARE THINGS LIKE ANIMAL CRAP
IN HERE.

THIS SORT OF THING IS --
CAN OFTEN LEAD TO GIARDIA,

AND THE LAST THING I NEED
IS ANY DIARRHEA.

AND THIS STUFF IS LOOKING
QUITE CLEAN AND SHOULD BE OKAY.

IT SEEMS BARREN UP HERE.

BUT IT'S ASTONISHING WHAT YOU
CAN FIND IN THESE MOUNTAINS.

IT'S SO EASY
JUST TO WALK OVER THESE ROCKS

AND NOT NOTICE THAT, ACTUALLY,

A LOT OF THEM
CAN BE REALLY USEFUL.

HERE WE GO -- THIS STUFF.

THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED
FOOL'S GOLD.

IT'S ACTUALLY PYRITE.

A LOT OF THE GOLD RUSH
OF THE LATE 1800s

TOOK PLACE AROUND HERE,

AND PEOPLE WOULD OFTEN MISTAKE
THIS STUFF FOR GOLD.

BUT IT'S NOT.
IT WAS NO USE TO THEM AT ALL.

BUT FOR ME, THIS COULD BE
REALLY USEFUL LATER ON.

NOW I'VE GOT HOLD
OF SOME OBSIDIAN TO SHOW YOU.

LOOK AT THAT --
BLACK AND SPARKLY.

IT LOOKS LIKE GLASS,
AND THAT MEANS IT'S OBSIDIAN.

AND THIS STUFF IS ACTUALLY
TRADED A LOT BY AMERICAN INDIANS

JUST TO MAKE TOOLS OUT OF,

AND IT'S ALSO WHAT THEY'D MAKE
THEIR ARROWHEADS.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLY SHARP.
IT'S STILL USED TODAY.

AND ACTUALLY THE SHARPEST BLADES
AND SCALPELS IN THE WORLD

ARE MADE OUT OF THIS STUFF,
AND I'M GONNA KEEP HOLD OF THIS.

IT'S GONNA BE USEFUL FOR ME
FOR CUTTING.

BUT KEEP A CAREFUL WATCH,

AS THE TERRAIN CAN CHANGE
VERY QUICKLY.

IT'S A 350-FOOT DROP
TO THE BOTTOM.

TO WALK AROUND
COULD TAKE HOURS --

TIME YOU MAY NOT HAVE.

REALLY, THE SAFE THING TO DO

WOULD BE TO TRY AND FIND
ANOTHER ROUTE AROUND.

AND THESE ARE
THUNDERSTORM CLOUDS.

AND YOU'RE MUCH, MUCH MORE
VULNERABLE AND EXPOSED

TO STORMS AND LIGHTNING

WHEN YOU'RE HIGHER UP
IN THE MOUNTAINS.

[ GRUNTS ]

I'M AN EXPERIENCED CLIMBER,

AND I'M GONNA TRY AND ATTEMPT
THIS WITHOUT ROPES

OR ANY OTHER MODERN
ROCK-CLIMBING AID.

AND HERE'S HOW YOU DO IT.

AND THE KEY WITH COMING DOWN

THIS SORT OF ROCK

IS ALWAYS KEEPING FRICTION
ON THE ROCK,

THROUGH YOUR FEET AND THROUGH
BOTH YOUR HANDS, IF YOU CAN.

AND YOU DON'T WANT
TO BE SLIDING.

YOU JUST WANT TO BE SHUFFLING
CAREFULLY DOWN IT.

WHEN IT GETS STEEP,

YOU WANT TO TURN OVER
ONTO YOUR STOMACH.

[ BREATHES HEAVILY ]

YOU SEE HOW CRUMBLY A LOT
OF THE EDGES OF THIS GETS,

AND THE REAL DANGER IS WHEN YOU
GET SAND AND GRAVEL ON THE TOP.

IT BECOMES SO SLIPPERY.

AND ALSO WATER --

WATER ON THIS GRANITE
TURNS IT INTO SLICK ROCK,

AND IF IT RAINS,
I'VE GOT TO BE OFF THIS THING.

A FEW YEARS AGO A TEENAGED
CLIMBER FROM MICHIGAN

SLIPPED ON A WET PATCH
OF SIMILAR ROCK

ON A NEARBY MOUNTAIN.

HE FELL AND BROKE HIS ANKLE.

ALONE AND UNABLE TO MOVE,

HE ENDURED 11 DAYS OF AGONY

BEFORE HE WAS RESCUED
BY HELICOPTER.

MANY CLIMBERS ARE NOT SO LUCKY,

AND PEOPLE DIE IN
THESE MOUNTAINS EVERY YEAR.

ONE OF THE REAL DANGERS
OF COMING DOWN ROCK LIKE THIS

IS JUST ALL THESE FALSE
HORIZONS.

AND IT'S SO HARD TO SEE
WHAT IS OVER THEM

UNTIL YOU'RE COMMITTED.

AND IT BECOMES VERY EASY TO
CLIMB YOURSELF INTO A SITUATION

WHERE YOU CAN'T GO UP OR DOWN.

YEAH, THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF RISK INVOLVED

IN DOING THIS SORT OF CLIMBING,

AND IT'S VERY EASY TO TWIST
OR INJURE YOUR ANKLE,

ESPECIALLY SLIDING DOWN
THESE SORT OF SLAB ROCKS.

BUT I'VE MADE IT
DOWN THE CLIFF,

AND I'VE REACHED THE TREE LINE.

IT'S TIME TO HAVE ANOTHER LOOK
FOR SOME WATER.

REMEMBER, YOU MUST MAKE SURE
IT'S FREE OF THE PARASITES

WHICH CAUSE DISEASES
LIKE DYSENTERY AND GIARDIA.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO MAKE
THE WATER IN THIS STREAM

SAFE TO DRINK.

IF YOU'RE REALLY DESPERATE

AND YOU'VE GOT NO WAY
OF BOILING THIS WATER,

ONE THING YOU CAN DO
TO FILTER IT

TO MAKE SURE THE WATER
YOU'RE DRINKING

DOESN'T HAVE THIS GIARDIA

IS TO DIG A LITTLE TRENCH JUST
ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE WATER.

AND IF I -- I'LL DIG HERE.

I'LL GET A STONE OUT.

AND THE IDEA OF THIS IS AS YOU
GET DOWN BELOW THAT WATER LEVEL,

WATER WILL SEEP THROUGH
THE GRAVEL AND THE SAND,

AND THAT GRAVEL AND SAND
WILL CLEAN IT.

AND THE WATER THAT COMES IN
IS BROWN AND MURKY,

BUT IT IS CLEAN.

AND THIS GIARDIA PARASITE
IS A REALLY NASTY ONE.

IT CAN GIVE YOU REALLY BAD
DIARRHEA AND VOMITING,

AND IT CAN PUT YOU OUT OF ACTION
FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS.

AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS A BIT
OF AN EFFORT DOING THIS,

IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH IT.

AND EVEN THOUGH THIS LOOKS QUITE
MUDDY AND DIRTY, WHICH IT IS,

AT LEAST I KNOW IT'S FILTERED.

AHH, THAT'S SO NICE.

MY NEXT CHALLENGE
IS LITERALLY STAYING AFLOAT

IN THE FAST-FLOWING WATER

AND TRYING AS BEST AS I CAN
TO NEGOTIATE THESE RAPIDS.

[ GRUNTS ]

I'M IN THE SIERRA NEVADA
MOUNTAIN RANGE IN CALIFORNIA --

400 MILES OF SOME
OF THE MOST RUGGED TERRAIN

IN NORTH AMERICA.

EVERY YEAR HUNDREDS OF VISITORS
GET LOST OR INJURED HERE.

SOME DIE.

I'VE PROBABLY TRAVELED
2,000 FEET DOWN NOW,

AND ONE OF THE FASTEST WAYS
DOWN ANY MOUNTAIN

IS TO FOLLOW A STREAM.

BUT YOU MUST BE CAREFUL.

MANY RIVERS IN THE SIERRAS

ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR WATERFALLS
AND STEEP CANYONS.

RIVERS ARE OFTEN THE KEY
FOR GETTING OUT OF TROUBLE.

THIS AREA WAS ONCE HOME
TO MANY NATIVE AMERICANS.

I'M USING SOME OF
THEIR SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES

TO TURN THIS DRIFTWOOD
INTO A RAFT.

BUILDING A RAFT TAKES TIME,

SO I'LL BE GETTING SOME HELP
FROM THE CREW.

WHEN IT GETS WATERLOGGED
IT'S GONNA GET HEAVIER,

BUT CERTAINLY FOR A WHILE
THIS SHOULD KEEP ME AFLOAT.

BUT THE MAIN THING WITH BUILDING
RAFTS, FROM MY EXPERIENCE,

IS TO KEEP THEM SIMPLE.

AND WHENEVER I TRY AND MAKE
A RAFT TOO COMPLICATED,

IT'S OFTEN FALLEN APART.

BUT THIS IS JUST GONNA
BE STURDY AND SIMPLE.

AND I'VE GOT FIVE OR SIX
OF THESE BIG, SOLID ONES

AND THEN A COUPLE
OF CROSS BRACES.

AND THE IDEA IS, THEN,
TO LASH ALL THIS TOGETHER,

BUT I NEED SOMETHING
TO LASH IT WITH.

WILD GRAPEVINES LIKE THIS GROW
ALL THE WAY ALONG THESE BANKS,

AND THIS STUFF
WOULD JUST BE IDEAL,

JUST 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY STRONG
AND REALLY FLEXIBLE.

[ GRUNTS ]

AND ALL OF THIS GRAPEVINE
IS EDIBLE.

EVEN THE LEAVES OF THIS

ARE PACKED FULL
OF GOOD NUTRIENTS.

AND THE WAY TO DO THIS
IS JUST TO --

ONCE YOU'VE MADE ALL THIS VINE
NICE AND FLEXIBLE,

JUST THEN DOUBLE IT ON ITSELF,

PUT THAT THROUGH IT...

AND TWIST IT A FEW TIMES.

THIS IS AN OLD
MONO INDIAN TECHNIQUE.

BASICALLY IT'S LIKE WEAVING.

AND YOU GET THE VINE
AND TURN IT ONCE,

TWIST IT,

AND THEN GRAB ONE END AND SLIP
THAT 'ROUND THE NEXT LOG,

AND THEN DO EXACTLY
THE SAME AGAIN.

AND THE GOOD THING
ABOUT DOING THIS --

AS THIS GETS WET,

ALL OF THESE HITCH KNOTS
WILL TIGHTEN ON THEMSELVES,

AND IT MAKES ALL THIS WEAVING,
HOPEFULLY, STRONG, FLEXIBLE,

BUT TIGHT, AND WILL HOLD
ALL THESE LOGS TOGETHER.

OKAY, TIME FOR ITS FIRST
OFFICIAL FIELD TEST.

AND IT'S KIND OF MORE OR LESS
HOLDING TOGETHER.

AND NOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO

IS JUST DO THE SAME
ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE,

PUT THIS LAST CROSS BRACE ON,

AND THEN I SHOULD BE
READY TO GO.

THESE WATERS ARE USED
FOR WHITE-WATER RAFTING,

BUT THEY CAN BE LETHAL.

ON A SINGLE RIVER
IN THESE MOUNTAINS,

THE LIVES OF 234 RAFTERS
HAVE BEEN LOST

IN THE LAST 30 YEARS.

THE RIVER IS MOVING
AT A GOOD PACE.

I'M COVERING FAR MORE DISTANCE

THAN I WOULD
HIKING ACROSS LAND.

TO BE SAFE, YOU SHOULD
ALWAYS PROCEED DOWNRIVER

WITH AN EASY ROUTE TO SHORE.

THAT'S EASIER SAID,
THOUGH, THAN DONE.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH A RAFT

IS THAT YOU HAVE NO WAY
OF STEERING.

ALL YOU CAN DO IS KICK YOUR
LEGS TO AVOID THE LARGER ROCKS.

AND THEN JUST HANG ON.

AND THESE SHALLOW BITS
ARE ALWAYS NASTY.

I'M GETTING BOUNCED
ON THE ROCKS,

AND MY KNEES ARE TAKING
A REAL POUNDING HERE.

IT'S BEGINNING TO GET MUCH
COLDER NOW IN THESE CANYONS

NOW THAT THE SUN'S DIPPED DOWN.

THE RIVER IS JUST SLOWLY
BUILDING UP SPEED...

WITH EVERY LITTLE TURN.

AND I CAN SEE THE RAPIDS
AHEAD HERE,

AND I JUST HOPE THIS THING
STAYS TOGETHER.

THESE RAPIDS APPEAR ENDLESS.

AS SOON AS I'M THROUGH ONE,

THERE'S ANOTHER
AND THEN ANOTHER,

AND THEY'RE GRADUALLY
GETTING WORSE.

AND HERE'S SOME MORE
RAPIDS HERE.

WE'RE TRYING TO AIM
FOR THIS TONGUE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER
I CAN HOLD ON.

I JUST HAVE TO STAY
ON THIS THING.

IF YOU END UP IN THE WATER
AND CAN'T GET BACK ON,

YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

I'VE BEEN RAFTING
IN THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS.

AND THE WATER IS FREEZING COLD.

IF YOU LOSE YOUR RAFT,

DON'T WASTE TIME
TRYING TO RECOVER IT.

YOUR PRIORITY IS TO GET OUT
OF THE WATER.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

I CAN USE THIS OVERHANG HERE
JUST AS A BIT OF SHELTER.

AND THEN I REALLY NEED
TO GET A FIRE GOING

AND GET WARM QUICKLY.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

GO ON. TAKE.

STRIKING A HARD ROCK
AGAINST MY PIECE OF FLINT,

I EVENTUALLY GET A FIRE GOING.

YEAH, IN LIKE 10 MINUTES

THE LIGHT IS JUST
COMPLETELY GONE,

AND YOU FEEL THIS COLD SUDDENLY
PENETRATE EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW,

WHEN THAT SUN GOES.

BUT WITH THIS FIRE,

I SHOULD BE ABLE
TO AT LEAST GET DRY

AND...

GET SOME WARMTH BACK.

PERHAPS NOW I CAN SNATCH
A FEW HOURS' SLEEP.

IT'S 5:00 IN THE MORNING,
DAWN IN THE SIERRAS,

400 MILES OF
BREATHTAKING MOUNTAINS

THAT RUN THROUGH CALIFORNIA.

I'M HEADING DOWN THE WESTERN
SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS.

BUT FIRST, BREAKFAST,

AND LIKE ANY TRUE ENGLISHMAN,
I LIKE A HOT CUP OF TEA.

I'VE BREWED THIS ONE
WITH PINE NEEDLES.

AT ALTITUDE,

THE BODY USES UP FAR MORE
LIQUID THAN AT SEA LEVEL,

SO YOU NEED TO DRINK
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

IF YOU'RE LOST AND DON'T HAVE
A CUP OR A WAY TO DRINK WATER,

YOU CAN STILL USE PINE NEEDLES
TO GET MOISTURE.

NORMALLY YOU'LL GET DEW
ON THE LEAVES,

AND THE SUN'S ONLY BEEN UP
UNDER AN HOUR,

AND ALREADY ALL OF THIS
IS JUST BONE-DRY.

NEEDLES ARE A GREAT
SOURCE OF MOISTURE

AND RETAIN AN ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF WATER.

THEY'RE ALSO A STRONG SOURCE
OF VITAMIN C --

AMAZINGLY, UP TO EIGHT TIMES
HIGHER THAN ORANGE JUICE.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING MORE
SUBSTANTIAL TO EAT.

PINE TREES CAN PROVIDE THAT,
TOO, BUT ONLY IF YOU CAN THROW.

OH! I HIT IT!

EVEN WHEN YOU HIT IT,
IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FALL.

AND THIS IS WHAT I WAS AFTER --

ONE OF THE YOUNG
SUGAR PINECONES.

IF YOU SPLIT THIS AND THEN PEEL
ONE OF THESE LEAVES OUT,

YOU GET TO THESE NUTS
IN THE MIDDLE.

AND THEY'RE PRETTY SMALL.

BUT THERE YOU GO.
SEE THAT LITTLE WHITE THING?

CONES THAT HAVE DROPPED
TO THE GROUND

HAVE USUALLY LOST
THEIR PINE NUTS.

SO YOU HAVE TO GET ONES
THAT ARE STILL IN THE TREES.

I'M NOT SURE THEY WERE WORTH
ALL THE EFFORT

OF FINDING ALL THOSE ROCKS
AND THROWING THEM.

I'VE BURNED UP MORE CALORIES

THAN I'M GETTING FROM THESE
LITTLE THINGS,

BUT THESE ARE REALLY GOOD
NUTRITION.

A LOT OF EFFORT
FOR NOT MUCH FOOD.

BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S AN EASIER
WAY OF GETTING FOOD,

AND THAT'S BY EATING
ANY INSECTS

YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON.

I MIGHT FIND SOME GRUBS

OR LITTLE BEETLES IN HERE.

BUT LOOK -- IT'S JUST
ALL SO CRUMBLY AND DRY,

AND THERE'S JUST NO SIGN OF --

THERE'S JUST NO SIGNS
OF ANYTHING HERE.

I NEED TO KEEP HEADING DOWN,

AND IT'S ALWAYS SO IMPORTANT
TO KEEP AN EYE

ON THE DIRECTION YOU'RE HEADING.

AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY
A TEENAGED GIRL SCOUT

WHO RECENTLY CAME OUT,
LOST HER BEARINGS,

AND SHE WAS LOST FOR TWO DAYS
IN THE END.

THE GIRL SCOUT,
JUST 15 YEARS OLD,

WAS FOUND NEAR HERE.

SHE HAD WANDERED FOR 10 MILES
OF FREEZING WINTER TEMPERATURES

BEFORE RESCUERS SPOTTED HER.

I KNOW THAT THE SUN
ROSE OVER THERE THIS MORNING,

IN THE EAST --
I WATCHED IT COME UP.

I NEED TO BE HEADING WEST,
BUT I DO NEED TO HEAD DOWNHILL.

BUT THE OPTIONS FOR FOOD
ARE PRETTY LIMITED OUT HERE,

AND I'M SURE
THAT WHATEVER I FIND

WON'T BE ON
ANY RESTAURANT MENU.

I'M IN THE SIERRA NEVADA
MOUNTAIN RANGE IN CALIFORNIA.

TO SURVIVE IN THE WILD, YOU
NEED TO EAT LITTLE AND OFTEN.

NOW, WHAT'S ON THE MENU?

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN FIND
THESE LITTLE WATER SNAKES.

PEOPLE ARE OFTEN SCARED
OF SNAKES,

THINK THEY'RE NASTY,
AGGRESSIVE REPTILES,

BUT THEY'RE NOT.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY SO SHY.

HERE WE GO.

THESE SNAKES OFTEN EXCRETE
A FOUL-SMELLING LIQUID

TO PROTECT THEMSELVES
AGAINST PREDATORS.

AND...THAT IS HIS LITTLE MOUTH.

AND AS LONG
AS I BITE OFF THE HEAD,

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO EAT
THE WHOLE BODY OF THIS.

HIS HEAD'S STILL MOVING.

IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL HERE,
BUT LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING.

THERE ARE PLANTS HERE
WHICH CAN KILL YOU

AND OTHERS WHICH CAN
SAVE YOUR LIFE.

THIS STUFF HERE
IS WHAT'S CALLED YARROW,

OR THE PLANT
OF A THOUSAND LEAVES.

BUT THIS IS REALLY GOOD
FOR HEALING WOUNDS.

IT ACTS AS LIKE AN ANTISEPTIC.

AND ALSO, IT'S HEMOSTATIC,

WHICH MEANS IT WILL HELP
THE BLOOD TO ACTUALLY CLOT.

AND THE STORY ACTUALLY GOES
THAT ACHILLES USED YARROW

ON HIS TROOPS AFTER THEY'D ALL
BEEN STABBED AND MASHED TO BITS.

BUT THEY'D USE THIS
TO HELP HEAL THE WOUNDS.

AND, ACTUALLY, LOOK OVER HERE,

WHILST WE'RE ON
AN ANCIENT-HISTORY THEME,

THIS IS HEMLOCK,
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT,

I THINK IT WAS SOCRATES
WAS POISONED ON --

POISONED HIMSELF ON HEMLOCK.

AND IF I JUST HAD
A BITE OF THAT,

SWALLOWED IT, AND DIGESTED IT,

THIS STUFF COULD KILL ME
IN UNDER AN HOUR.

AND SO, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
PUTTING THIS IN YOUR SOUP.

BUT IT'S LIKE NATURE ON ONE SIDE
GIVES YOU EVERYTHING TO HEAL YOU

AND THEN JUST LIKE A METER AWAY,
THIS HEMLOCK CAN KILL YOU.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER PLANTS HERE
WHICH YOU CAN SAFELY EAT.

AND THIS PLANT HERE
IS A BRODIAEA.

AND IT'S ALSO KNOWN
AS AN INDIAN POTATO.

AND THE MONO INDIANS
WOULD DIG AT THESE

TO GET AT THE ROOTS,

AND THEY HAVE THESE BULBS
ON THEM THAT --

THERE WE GO.

I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU CAN SEE THAT.

...THESE WHITE BULBS

THAT ARE A REALLY GOOD
STARCHY CARBOHYDRATE FOOD,

AND THIS GROUND
IS QUITE NICE AND SOFT

WHERE I CAN JUST DIG THIS OUT.

IF IT WAS TOUGHER, YOU COULD USE
A DIGGING STICK TO GET AT IT.

BUT IF I BREAK...THE BULB OFF,
YOU CAN SEE WHAT I MEAN.

AND IF I JUST PEEL THE DIRT
OFF IT,

YOU GET THIS REALLY NICE
WHITE...BULB UNDERNEATH.

AND THAT IS REALLY GOOD FOOD.

YOU'D NORMALLY COOK THIS,
BUT THIS IS GREAT RAW.

UM...IT KIND OF TASTES A BIT
LIKE RAW LETTUCE, YOU KNOW?

BUT IT'S REALLY ACTUALLY --
THESE ARE REALLY FILLING.

IF YOU HAD A FEW OF THESE,
FILL YOU UP,

AND IT'S GOOD
CARBOHYDRATE ENERGY.

COULD DO WITH A BIT
OF VINAIGRETTE ON IT.

BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA SURVIVE
OUT HERE,

YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW
TO MAKE A GOOD CAMP.

WITH SOME HELP FROM THE CREW,

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU
HOW TO BUILD A WICKI --

A TRADITIONAL
NATIVE-AMERICAN SHELTER.

I CAN JUST USE STRIPS
OF THIS DEAD FIR

AS...AS SECTIONS OF THE TRIFORM.

THAT WOULD BE FOR ONE.

AND THAT'S ABOUT EIGHT FOOT.
THAT WILL DO.

AND I'M GONNA HAVE ONE SIDE
OF IT SHORTER THAN THE OTHER,

BUT THAT STILL SHOULD DO.

THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD PLACE
TO BUILD THIS WICKIUP.

AND...THIS WILL DO.
IT'S PRETTY FLAT.

THE SLIGHT DEPRESSION HERE

IS GONNA STOP YOU
FROM ROLLING DOWNHILL.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT JUST
TO CHECK THAT YOU DON'T HAVE

ANY GAME TRAILS MOVING THROUGH
WHERE YOU WANT TO SLEEP,

AND ALSO NO RED ANTS.

FINAL THING I WANT TO CHECK FOR

IS HAVING A BIT
OF OPEN SKY ABOVE ME.

SO IF SEARCH AND RESCUE
IS LOOKING FOR YOU,

THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEE YOU.

AND I'M GONNA LAY THEM IN A WAY
SO I LEAVE A LITTLE GAP

THIS SIDE IS GONNA BE MY DOOR,
AND IT'S GONNA BE SOUTH FACING,

SO I'LL GET THE SUN
FROM THE SOUTHEAST

FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

AND IT SHOULD BE NICE AND WARM,
AS WELL.

MY NEXT CHALLENGE

IS TO USE A NATIVE-AMERICAN
THROWING STICK

TO SHOW YOU HOW TO GET
SOME REAL FOOD.

AND THAT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY.

WHOO-HOO!

I'M IN THE SIERRA NEVADA
MOUNTAINS IN CALIFORNIA

AND I'VE PUT MYSELF
IN THE POSITION

OF A STRANDED CLIMBER OR HIKER.

NOW FOR DINNER,
AND ENOUGH OF GRUBS AND SNAKES.

IT'S TIME TO GO FOR SOMETHING
HIGHER UP THE FOOD CHAIN.

THIS HERE IS PERFECT TERRAIN
FOR THE HUNTER.

IT'S THIS TRANSITION PHASE

WHERE THE TREES
GO INTO THE MEADOW.

AND ANIMALS LOVE THIS
'CAUSE THEY HAVE THE SHELTER,

THEY HAVE THE GRASSES
IN THE MEADOW,

AND THEY HAVE WATER
IN THE STREAMS.

AND, REALLY, I WANT TO TRY

AND SEE IF I CAN GET MYSELF
SOMETHING TO EAT.

THERE ARE GONNA BE LOADS
OF DEER AND RABBITS

AND SQUIRRELS AND GOPHER
AND MICE

AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS
IN THIS PART OF THE FOREST.

I'M GRINDING
THIS PIECE OF CEDAR

INTO AN INDIAN THROWING STICK.

NATIVE AMERICANS CHOOSE CEDAR

BECAUSE IT'S
ONE OF THE HARDEST WOODS

AND MAKES FOR A PERFECT WEAPON.

SMOOTHING IT DOWN LIKE THIS

WILL MAKE IT FAST
AND DEADLY IN THE AIR.

WE'RE READY FOR SOME PRACTICE.

A RABBIT OR SQUIRREL IS NOT IN
ANY GREAT DANGER AT THE MOMENT.

IF YOU'RE LUCKIER THAN ME
AND YOU'VE GOT A RABBIT,

YOU CAN START A FIRE
WITHOUT EVEN A FLINT.

USING A LOCAL TECHNIQUE,
WHICH SHALL BE SHOWN.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BRANCH
OF THIS ELDERBERRY,

THIS IS REALLY LONG AND THIN.

AND THIS ACTUALLY GIVES ME

A WHOLE NOTHER WAY
OF MAKING FIRE...

...WHICH I CAN USE LATER.

I'M JUST SCRAPING
THIS LAST LITTLE BIT OF SHAVINGS

OUT OF THE INNER BARK
OF THE CEDAR

SO I CAN ADD
TO THIS TINDER BUNDLE.

AND THIS IS A VITAL BIT
OF A FIRE.

I WANT TO REALLY BREAK THIS UP

AND GET IT REALLY LIGHT
AND FLUFFY.

AND IT'S THIS

THAT I'M EVENTUALLY GONNA TIP
THE EMBERS INTO HERE

TO TRY AND GET THE FLAME GOING.

BUT NOW THIS
IS THE MEAT OF IT --

TRYING TO GET THE EMBER
TO SPARK THIS.

AND ALL I'M USING IS
THIS LITTLE BRANCH

THAT I GOT OFF
THE ELDERBERRY BUSH

AND THIS LITTLE BIT
OF BASE WOOD.

AND THIS ALWAYS REQUIRES
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PATIENCE.

TO MAKE AN EMBER,

FRICTION MUST HEAT
THE ELDERBERRY BRANCH

TO 800 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

AND ONCE IT SMOKES LIKE THIS,

I NEED JUST TO KEEP IT GOING
FOR A COUPLE MORE GOES,

AND THEN I'LL HAVE A COAL.

YOU CAN SEE IT JUST COMING
OUT OF THE NOTCH THERE.

HERE WE GO. IT'S SMOKING.

NOW I'M GONNA PUT THAT
STRAIGHT INTO THE BUNDLE.

AND HERE WE GO.
GET THAT IN THERE.

WE'VE GOT HOLD OF A RABBIT,

SO I CAN SHOW YOU HOW
TO COOK IT IN THE WILD.

AND ALL WE NEED TO DO NOW --

'CAUSE THE NECK'S
ALREADY BROKEN,

THAT COMES AWAY
ALMOST IN ONE BIT.

BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT UNWELCOME
GUESTS CRASHING THE BARBECUE.

THIS IS BEGINNING TO COOK
AND SMELL REALLY GOOD NOW.

BUT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S
GONNA BE ABLE TO SMELL THIS.

AND LOCAL BLACK BEARS
IN THIS AREA

CAN SMELL THIS
UP TO 25 MILES AWAY.

AND I'VE ACTUALLY GOT A FRIEND

WHO WAS OUT CAMPING IN ONE
OF THESE YOSEMITE VALLEYS.

HE WENT TO SLEEP,

AND HE HAD AN APPLE
INSIDE HIS TROUSERS POCKET.

AND HE USED HIS TROUSERS
AS A PILLOW.

AND HE WOKE UP
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

WITH A BLACK BEAR RIPPING THE
TROUSERS OUT FROM UNDER HIS HEAD

JUST TO GET AT THE APPLE.

BUT HE WAS LUCKY.

BUT IT JUST SHOWS
HOW CAREFUL YOU'VE GOT TO BE

WHEN YOU'RE COOKING, PREPARING,

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY
GETTING RID

OF ANY EXCESS FOOD
THAT YOU DON'T USE

WHEN YOU GO TO SLEEP.

THIS LOOKS DONE NOW.

AND I'VE JUST BEEN SITTING HERE
DROOLING OVER THIS.

[ BLOWING ]

TIME TO TRY IT.

MMM.

WOW.

MMM.

IT JUST TASTES SO FRESH,

AND COOKED OVER THIS FIRE
IT'S JUST SO DELICIOUS,

LIKE STRAIGHT OFF A BARBECUE.

IT'S AN UNBELIEVABLY
BEAUTIFUL NIGHT,

AND YOU CAN SEE THE STARS
JUST SO CLEARLY.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE NORTH STAR
OVER THERE, THE POLARIS.

AND IT'S NOT
THE BRIGHTEST STAR,

BUT IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY
CONSTANT STARS IN THE SKY.

YOU CAN NAVIGATE BY IT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO MOVE,
AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO --

WHILE I CAN SEE IT,
I'M GONNA MARK IT

I'VE REACHED THE REGION
OF THE MOUNTAINS

KNOWN AS THE CHAPARRAL,

A SPANISH NAME FOR A HOT
AND ARID AREA OF SCRUBLAND

WHERE FEW ANIMALS CAN SURVIVE.

THIS IS THE MOST EXTREME REGION

OF THE WESTERN
SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS.

THIS LANDSCAPE IS ALSO HOME
TO DEADLY SCORPIONS

AND BITING, STINGING ANTS...

THOUGH THE ANTS
CAN MAKE A TASTY SNACK.

Grylls: AND THIS IS WHY

YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO GRAB THEM
BY THE HEAD.

IF YOU LOOK -- IF I LET IT
BITE MY TONGUE --

AAH --

OW --

IT BITES ON,

AND THAT'S WHY
YOU EAT THE OTHER END.

THE MOST DIFFICULT PART
IS CATCHING THEM.

YOU CAN SEE THE ABDOMEN THERE,
AND YOU CAN EAT THAT.

AND THAT'S KIND OF
REALLY TANGY AND SWEET,

BUT SURPRISINGLY QUITE GOOD.

AFTER A TASTY SNACK
OF CARPENTER ANTS, I PUSH ON.

I WANT TO MAKE QUICK PROGRESS

BEFORE THE HEAT OF THE DAY
REALLY KICKS IN.

BUT THIS HOT TERRAIN HAS
A NEW THREAT -- SNAKES.

THIS IS ALSO PRIME SNAKE COUNTRY
AROUND HERE,

AND YOU'LL GET RATTLESNAKES
AND BULL AND KING SNAKES.

BUT RATTLESNAKES ARE THE ONES

YOU REALLY WANT
TO WATCH OUT FOR.

ACTUALLY, THIS IS
JUST A PRIME PLACE FOR SNAKES,

ESPECIALLY IN THE HEAT
OF THE DAY.

WHEN IT'S HOT,
THEY WANT TO FIND SHADE

AND TUCK THEMSELVES UNDER HERE.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
WHEN YOU CROSS LOGS

ALWAYS TO STAND ON TOP OF IT
AND HAVE A LOOK

AT WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE,
AND THEN MOVE.

THIS TIME OF DAY IS VERY HOT,

AND HIKING THROUGH
THIS SCRUBLAND IS THIRSTY WORK.

IT WAS ONLY FIVE YEARS AGO

THAT A LONE HIKER
BECAME LOST NEAR HERE.

FOR NINE DAYS, THE SEARCH PARTY
LOOKED FOR HIM IN VAIN.

WHEN HE FINALLY STAGGERED OUT,

HE WAS SUFFERING
FROM SEVERE DEHYDRATION.

BUT THERE'S ONE PLANT OUT HERE
THAT COULD HAVE HELPED HIM.

AH, THIS SORT OF BUSH IS IDEAL.

I'M NOT GONNA GET A FEAST
OUT OF IT,

BUT IT'S A LITTLE
MANZANITA BUSH,

AND IT LITERALLY MEANS
"LITTLE APPLES,"

AND YOU CAN SEE THESE THINGS.

THE MONO INDIANS WOULD USE THESE
A LOT JUST AS DRIED FRUIT,

AND ALL YOU DO IS CHEW
THE OUTER BIT OF IT

AND THEN SPIT OUT THE HARD SEED.

BUT THESE ARE REALLY HIGH IN
VITAMIN C, AND THEY'RE GREAT,

AND THEY'LL
ALSO MAKE DRINKS OUT OF THIS.

THEY GET LOADS OF THESE BERRIES
AND CRUSH THEM UP,

ADD WATER,
AND STRAIN IT THROUGH A BASKET,

AND IT GIVES THIS
REALLY NICE, LEMONY DRINK.

THE BUSH IS ALSO GOOD
FOR SOMETHING ELSE --

CLEANING YOUR TEETH.

AND THE MANZANITA BUSH
WAS USED BY NATIVE AMERICANS

AS A FORM OF TOOTHBRUSH,

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING, TOO.

SO, THIS BUSH
CAN BE REALLY USEFUL.

IT'S NOT MUCH, BUT IT'S
ABOUT ONE OF THE FEW BUSHES

IN THIS SORT OF TERRAIN
THAT CAN BE A HELP.

BY MIDAFTERNOON,

THE HEAT FROM THE SUN
CAN BE OVERPOWERING.

IT SLOWS YOUR PROGRESS
THROUGH THE UNFORGIVING SCRUB,

BUT THE SCRUB
DOESN'T LAST FOREVER.

THAT IS AMAZING!

WHAH!

THAT'S A HUGE LAKE!

AHH!

OH.

OH, IT'S SO GOOD.

THE LAKE IS HALF A MILE ACROSS,

AND IF YOU HAVE TO SWIM THAT
DISTANCE, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU

HOW TO USE YOUR TROUSERS
TO KEEP YOU AFLOAT.

AND ALL I'VE GOT TO DO
WITH THESE

IS GRAB THE TROUSER LEGS
AND TIE A KNOT IN IT.

AND I USED TO DO THIS LOADS
WHEN I WAS A KID,

MAKING RAFTS AND STUFF
TO CROSS RIVERS.

BUT ALL YOU DO IS TIE
THESE KNOTS TO TRAP THE AIR,

AND THEN WHEN I SWING THEM
OVER MY HEAD INTO THE WATER,

THEY'LL ACT LIKE
A LITTLE LIFE JACKET.

MY MAKESHIFT LIFE JACKET
ISN'T THAT RELIABLE.

THERE'S ONLY ONE THING
YOU CAN DO --

TRY TO REFILL IT WITH AIR
WHILST TREADING WATER.

BUT IT'S NOT THAT EASY.

FINALLY I MAKE IT ACROSS.

THIS TERRAIN HAS BEEN
A REAL CHALLENGE.

JUST BECAUSE OF THE RANGE

OF DIFFERENT CONDITIONS
I'VE COME ACROSS,

EVERYTHING FROM
THE HIGH-ALTITUDE SNOW LINE

THROUGH TO THE BURNING HEAT.

IT'S MEANT THAT I'VE CONSTANTLY
HAD TO ADAPT THE TECHNIQUES

JUST TO SURVIVE.

AND SO MANY OF THE SKILLS
OF THE MONO INDIANS

HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL FOR ME
OUT HERE.

AND IT JUST SHOWS HOW
RESOURCEFUL THOSE GUYS HAD TO BE

TO SURVIVE
IN THIS SORT OF LANDSCAPE.

BUT I LEAVE THIS PLACE

WITH A WHOLE NEW RESPECT
FOR NATIVE AMERICANS

AND THEIR EXTRAORDINARY
SURVIVAL SKILLS.