Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 1, Episode 8 - European Alps - 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 IN THE FRENCH ALPS.

120 MILLION PEOPLE VISIT THESE

MOUNTAINS EVERY YEAR.

AND EACH YEAR, HUNDREDS OF

SKIERS, CLIMBERS, AND HIKERS GET



LOST OR INJURED.

DOZENS ARE KILLED.

IF YOU'RE IN TROUBLE, I'M GONNA

SHOW THE SKILLS NEEDED TO

SURVIVE.

[ GRUNTING ]

I'M FLYING OVER THE FRENCH ALPS.

IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST TOURIST

DESTINATIONS ANYWHERE FOR

HIKERS, CLIMBERS, AND SKIERS.

IT MAY LOOK BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT'S

A PLACE WHERE EVEN THE MOST

EXPERIENCED MOUNTAIN GOER CAN

GET INTO SERIOUS TROUBLE.



THE ALPS CAN BE A DANGEROUSLY

HOSTILE WORLD.

THIS YEAR ALONE, OVER 80

TOURISTS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES

IN AVALANCHES, AND EVERY SEASON,

DOZENS OF CLIMBERS ARE KILLED.

I'M GONNA SHOW HOW TO SURVIVE

HERE.

IF NEEDED, I'LL BE RECEIVING

SOME HELP FROM LOCAL EXPERTS,

AND A FILM CREW WILL FOLLOW ME.

[ GRUNTING ]

[ PANTING ]

I'M GONNA SHOW HOW TO GET OFF

THIS MOUNTAIN AS QUICKLY AS

POSSIBLE.

I'M KEEPING MY PARACHUTE, AND

YOU SHOULD HOLD ON TO ANY ROPE

OR CORD YOU HAVE, AS IT COULD BE

USEFUL.

THE CHALLENGE IS THIS GLACIER IS

RIDDLED WITH CREVASSES, HUGE

CRACKS IN THE ICE HIDDEN BY

SNOW.

THESE CAN BE UP 200 FEET DEEP.

SEE THIS WALL OF ICE HERE.

THIS TELLS ME THAT I'M RIGHT ON

A GLACIER UP HERE.

I GUESS THE HEIGHT IS MAYBE

ANYTHING UP TO 10,000 FEET AND

RIGHT AT THE TOP OF A GLACIER.

AND THIS WHOLE THING IS JUST

SLOWLY MOVING, CAUSING THESE

SORT OF CREVASSES, AND ALL THESE

CREVASSES ARE ARE JUST RUPTURES

IN THE GLACIER WHERE IT'S

SPLITTING AND CRACKING ITS WAY

SLOWLY THROUGH THIS VALLEY.

BUT IN SOME WAYS, I WAS PRETTY

LUCKY.

THIS IS A RELATIVELY SMALL ONE.

BUT AS I GET LOWER DOWN THIS

GLACIER, THEY'RE GONNA GET AN

AWFUL LOT BIGGER.

[ SIGHS ]

A FRENCH HIKER FELL INTO A

CREVASSE NEAR HERE THREE YEARS

AGO.

HE WAS ROPED TO HIS TWO

COMPANIONS, SO HE DRAGGED THEM

TO THEIR DEATHS AS WELL.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO AVOID

THAT.

WHAT I'VE GOT HERE ARE MY

PARACHUTE RIGGING LINES, AND

WHAT I'VE DONE IS ACTUALLY CUT

THESE RIGGING LINES OFF THE

CHUTE, AND I'M TRYING TO WEAVE A

ROPE HERE.

EVERY COUPLE OF FEET, I GET A

BIG BUNCH OF IT, TURN IT OVER,

AND MAKE A KNOT LIKE THIS.

AND THE IDEA OF DOING THIS IS

THIS IS A TECHNIQUE THAT ALPINE

GUIDES HAVE BEEN USING RECENTLY

AS A WAY OF SELF-ARRESTING YOU

IF YOU TAKE A FALL.

BUT THE IDEA WITH THIS -- IF

I'VE GOT A LONG LINE OF KNOTTED

ROPE, AS I WALK ALONG, IT CAN

BOBBLE ALONG BEHIND ME.

BUT IF I GO DOWN A CREVASSE,

THAT FORCE WILL RIP DOWN INTO

THE SNOW, AND, HOPEFULLY, THESE

KNOTS WILL BITE.

THE METHOD IS SIMPLE.

IF HAVE YOU A BACKPACK, FILL IT

WITH SNOW AND DRAG IT BEHIND

YOU.

IF YOU FALL, THE WEIGHT SHOULD

MAKE THE KNOTS BITE INTO THE

SNOW AND BREAK YOUR FALL.

THIS IS DANGEROUS.

SO I'M ALSO USING A BACKUP

SAFETY LINE, AND YOU SHOULD ONLY

DO THIS IF YOU HAVE NO OTHER

OPTION.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ SCREAMS ]

AND THOSE KNOTS HAVE JUST BITTEN

INTO THE ICE.

I CAN SEE THE FIRST KNOT JAMMING

IT.

GETTING OUT IS TOUGH.

I'M GONNA USE A SPECIAL LOOP OF

ROPE CALLED A PRUSIK.

I'VE JUST GOT TO SOMEHOW GET

BACK OVER THIS, BUT THERE'S NO

WAY I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO PULL

MYSELF UP THIS STRING.

BUT WHAT I CAN DO IS TRY AND USE

WHAT'S KNOWN AS A PRUSIK LOOP,

AND I'VE GOT SOME SPARE CORDS

THAT I'VE STASHED EARLIER.

IF I MADE WHAT'S CALLED A PRUSIK

LOOP, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO WRAP

THIS AROUND HIGHER UP.

AND IF I WRAP IT AROUND FIVE OR

SIX TIMES, GET THE LOOP, AND I

CAN PUT MY FOOT INTO THIS, AND

THIS SHOULD BITE NOW.

OKAY.

AND THIS PRUSIK'S JUST GIVEN ME

ENOUGH HEIGHT TO LET ME...

THAT'S ALLOWED ME NOW TO REACH

THIS KNOT, AND I SHOULD BE ABLE

TO PULL MYSELF UP THE LAST BIT.

HERE WE GO.

[ GRUNTING ]

[ GRUNTS LOUDLY ]

[ PANTING ]

THESE KNOTS HAVE REALLY HELD ME

WELL.

THAT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST

THINGS, PHYSICALLY...

YOU CAN DO.

TO AVOID THE GLACIERS, AIM FOR A

RIDGE.

FROM THERE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO

SEE THE BEST WAY DOWN.

IT'S LATE AFTERNOON NOW.

THE SUN HAS SOFTENED THE SNOW,

AND IT'S MAKING IT MUCH HARDER

TO WALK.

ANYONE WHO'S NOT ACCLIMATIZED

SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR SIGNS OF

ALTITUDE SICKNESS --

BREATHLESSNESS AND A HEADACHE.

I'VE BEEN THERE, AND I CAN TELL

YOU IT'S HORRIBLE.

AND WADING THROUGH SNOW LIKE

THIS IS PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTING,

AND IT LITERALLY SAPS YOUR

STRENGTH.

>> I'M IN THE FRENCH ALPS,

PART OF THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN

RANGE IN EUROPE.

I'M PUTTING MYSELF IN THE

POSITION OF ONE OF THE HUNDREDS

OF HIKERS, CLIMBERS, OR SKIERS

THAT GET LOST HERE EVERY YEAR.

BUT GETTING ANYWHERE IN THIS

SNOW IS DIFFICULT, AND THIS

YEAR'S RECORD-BREAKING SNOWFALL,

OVER 20 FEET, IS MAKING THINGS

MUCH HARDER.

IT'S LIKE WADING THROUGH SUGAR.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ GRUNTS ]

PHYSICALLY DEMANDING.

THESE MOUNTAINS ARE, ESPECIALLY

AT THIS ALTITUDE, AND I'M JUST

NOT AS -- YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AS

FIT AS WHEN I WAS CLIMBING SO

MUCH, AND...

[ SIGHS ]

I'D REALLY MURDER A CUP OF TEA.

[ CHUCKLES ]

BUT ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU KEEP AN

EYE ON THE WEATHER.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE

OVER THERE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE

THERE'S SOME BAD WEATHER COMING

IN, AND ONE OF THE BEST BITS

OF ADVICE THAT'S EVER GIVEN BY A

WEATHER EXPERT WAS THAT CLOUDS

OFTEN BEHAVE LIKE THEY LOOK.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF THEY LOOK

MENACING, THEY'RE OFTEN ARE

MENACING, AND IF THEY LOOK QUITE

BENIGN, IT'S OFTEN, YOU KNOW,

THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA BE.

BUT THAT LOOKS PRETTY NASTY.

IT'S COVERING A LOT OF THOSE

UPPER SUMMITS, AND IT'S HEADING

THIS WAY.

THE WEATHER IS CLOSING IN NOW,

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A

SNOWSTORM ON ITS WAY.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO MAKE A

SHELTER.

OKAY, WHAT I'M TRY GONNA AND DO

HERE IS MAKE A SNOW CAVE INTO

THIS SLOPE, AND THIS IS A PRETTY

GOOD PLACE TO TRY AND DO THIS.

IT'S ON A LEE-FACING SLOPE,

WHICH MEANS IT'S OUT OF THE

WIND.

IT SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE

SHELTERED, BUT ALSO IT'S MUCH

EASIER DIGGING INTO A SLOPE THAN

TRYING TO DIG INTO THE FLAT.

MY BIG CHALLENGE IS THAT I

OBVIOUSLY HAVEN'T GOT A SHOVEL,

WHICH WOULD MAKE DIGGING THIS

MUCH EASIER, BUT WHAT I CAN DO

IS TRY AND PULL OUT FROM INSIDE

THE PARACHUTE THE BACK

PROTECTOR -- THAT LITTLE STRIP

OF PLASTIC.

HERE WE GO.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GREAT, BUT

IT'S CERTAINLY BETTER THAN

NOTHING.

AND THIS WILL...BE MUCH EASIER

TO DIG IN THAN USING MY HANDS.

WHEN THE SUN DROPS, THERE'S A

REAL RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA, AND

THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS

TO KEEP WALKING AND SWEAT.

WHEN THAT SWEAT EVAPORATES, YOUR

BODY WILL COOL TO A DANGEROUSLY

LOW TEMPERATURE.

RIGHT NOW I'VE DUG, ACTUALLY,

INTO THIS BANK A BIT.

I'M NOW GONNA TRY AND CREATE,

LIKE, A BIT OF A PLATFORM HERE

AND GET RID OF THE SNOW, AND

THIS IS GONNA BE, LIKE, A BED

PLATFORM, AND THE IDEA OF THIS

IS THAT THE COLD AIR WILL THEN

SINK INTO WHAT I'M SITTING IN,

WHICH IS LIKE A COLD WELL, AND

I'LL BE ABLE TO CREATE UNDER

HERE A NICE SLEEPING PLATFORM,

AND THAT'S THE THEORY OF IT.

BUT THEN ALWAYS SAY TRY AND MAKE

A SNOW CAVE ABOUT THREE TIMES

THE SIZE OF YOUR BODY, NOT TOO

BIG, OTHERWISE YOU'RE GONNA BE

WASTING ANY HEAT YOU CAN

GENERATE.

ANY SMALLER, AND WHAT HAPPENS IS

THE SNOW COMPACTS.

IT ACTUALLY SHRINKS, SO YOU'LL

END UP THEN IN A MUCH WORSE

SITUATION, BURIED ALIVE.

SO YOU WANT ABOUT THREE TIMES

YOUR OWN BODY SIZE.

AND THE LAST THING I'M GONNA DO

IS JUST TRY AND SMOOTH OFF THE

ROOF, AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU

DON'T DO THIS, AS YOUR BODY

CREATES HEAT, THE LITTLE

PINNACLES WILL START TO DRIP ON

YOU, AND THE LAST THING YOU WANT

WHEN YOU'RE JUST GETTING WARM IS

HAVE A LEAKING ROOF.

FOUR SNOW BOARDERS WERE TRAPPED

ON THE MOUNTAIN NOT FAR FROM

HERE IN A SNOWSTORM THREE YEARS

AGO.

THEY BUILT A MAKESHIFT SHELTER

LIKE THIS AND SURVIVED FOR FOUR

DAYS BEFORE BEING RESCUED.

YOU NEED SOMETHING TO LIE ON.

YOU LOSE 75% OF YOUR BODY HEAT

THROUGH THE GROUND.

USE ANYTHING YOU HAVE FOR THIS,

A BACKPACK OR ANY SPARE CLOTHING

YOU MIGHT HAVE.

THE OTHER VITAL THING IS WATER.

THEY SAY WITH DEHYDRATION, IF

YOU'RE THIRSTY, YOU'RE ALREADY

DEHYDRATED.

THE DIFFICULTY IS THERE'S JUST

NO RUNNING WATER UP HERE, AND

THE ONLY WAY I'VE EVER BEEN ABLE

TO DO THIS IS JUST WHEN I'M

WALKING ALONG, KEEP JUST

STUFFING SNOW INTO MY WATER

BOTTLE LIKE THIS AND THEN JUST

STUFF IT UP MY JACKET, WHERE

IT'S NICE AND WARM, AND LET THAT

MELT BIT BY BIT.

IT GIVES ME SOME FLUIDS.

MY NEXT CHALLENGE IS TO TRY AND

FIND FOOD IN THIS BARREN

LANDSCAPE.

>> I'M IN THE FRENCH ALPS

PUTTING MYSELF IN THE POSITION

OF A LOST CLIMBER OR SKIER.

I'VE SHOWN HOW TO MAKE A SHELTER

IN THE SNOW TO SEE OUT AN ALPINE

STORM, AND ONCE YOU'VE GOT

PROTECTION FROM THE WEATHER AND

WATER TO DRINK, YOUR NEXT

PRIORITY HAS TO BE FOOD.

AND I TELL YOU, THIS MUST BE ONE

OF THE WORST AND HARDEST PLACES

IN THE WORLD TO FIND FOOD.

THERE ARE NO ANIMALS THAT ARE

RUNNING AROUND UP HERE.

REALLY IS JUST A BARREN,

BARREN, ENVIRONMENT.

THE ONLY CHANCE YOU'D REALLY

HAVE OF GETTING FOOD IS MAYBE TO

CATCH A CROW OR ROOK, WHICH ARE

SOME NATURAL SCAVENGERS, AND

THEY COME UP THIS HIGH, BUT

REALLY, WITHOUT ANY SORT OF

BAIT, THAT'S GONNA BE NEARLY

IMPOSSIBLE.

AND MY BEST BET IS TO HEAD DOWN

OFF THIS GLACIER, GET BACK DOWN

INTO THE VALLEYS WHERE THERE'S

LUSH VEGETATION AND MUCH MORE

FOOD.

BUT HOW DO I KNOW WHICH WAY TO

GO?

AND A REALLY SIMPLE WAY OF

WORKING OUT YOUR DIRECTION WHEN

YOU'RE LOST IN THE MOUNTAINS IS

JUST TO USE YOUR WATCH AND THE

SUN.

AND ALL I DO, IF I TAKE MY WATCH

OFF...

I JUST POINT THE HOUR HAND AT

THE SUN, AND THEN I BISECT THE

LINE BETWEEN THE HOUR HAND AND

12:00, AND THAT WILL GIVE ME A

NORTH-SOUTH LINE.

SO, IF I KNOW THAT'S SOUTH, I

WANT TO BE HEADING OFF THE

GLACIER SORT OF NORTHEAST OVER

THERE.

SO, THAT'S THE PLAN.

THE TREE LINE IS DOWN THERE, AND

IN THE FOREST, THERE'LL BE

BERRIES AND ANIMALS TO EAT.

THERE ARE ALSO MOUNTAIN LAKES,

AND YOU MIGHT WELL HAVE TO CROSS

ONE.

PEOPLE DIE ON LAKES LIKE THESE

EVERY YEAR.

I'M GONNA SHOW HOW TO SURVIVE

SUCH A LIFE-THREATENING FALL.

FIRST, I'M LIGHTING A FIRE.

THEN IT'S OUT ON TO THE ICE.

WHENEVER I'M OUT WALKING ON A

FROZEN LAKE LIKE THIS, I'M

ALWAYS GOING THROUGH THE

SCENARIO OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF

THE ICE GAVE WAY UNDERNEATH ME.

AND IF YOU DID GO THROUGH THE

ICE OF A FROZEN LAKE, THAT IS

SERIOUSLY A LIFE-THREATENING

HAZARD OUT HERE.

AND ONLY RECENTLY, A 28-YEAR-OLD

BOSTON GUY WAS SWEPT BY AN

AVALANCHE INTO FREEZING WATER.

HE WAS SWEPT BY THE AVALANCHE

THROUGH AN 8-INCH-THICK LAYER OF

ICE ON A LAKE JUST LIKE THIS.

AND THE ONLY REAL WAY TO SHOW

YOU THE TECHNIQUE FOR DOING THIS

IS TO DO IT MYSELF...FOR REAL.

AND IF YOU LOOK BEHIND ME HERE,

WE'VE GOT AN AREA OF CLEAR ICE,

AND I SUSPECT THIS IS GONNA BE

MUCH WEAKER, AND IF I TRY AND

STAND ON IT, THERE'S EVERY

CHANCE I'LL GO STRAIGHT THROUGH

THAT.

BUT THIS IS ALWAYS THE REALLY

HORRIBLE BIT, GETTING INTO A

FROZEN LAKE CONSCIOUSLY.

AND I KNOW THAT AS SOON AS I GET

IN THAT WATER, YOUR WHOLE WORLD

JUST GETS TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN.

SO HERE GOES.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

[ COUGHS ]

[ SPUTTERS ]

WHOO, IT'S COLD!

OKAY, THE FIRST THING I'VE GOT

TO DO IS TRY AND GET SOME

SEMBLANCE OF CONTROL BACK AGAIN

AND FIGHT THE SENSE OF SHOCK.

AND THE WAY I DO THIS IS TO TRY

AND CONTROL MY BREATHING AND

KEEP CALM, BUT THAT'S EASIER...

EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

BUT THE THREE MAIN DANGERS IN

THIS WATER -- FIRST OF ALL, WHAT

THEY CALL THE GASP REFLEX, WHICH

IS, WHEN YOU INITIALLY GO IN,

YOU JUST GASP 'CAUSE OF THE

SHOCK.

YOU BREATHE IN WATER INTO YOUR

LUNGS, AND YOU DROWN.

THE SECOND DANGER IS CARDIAC

ARREST JUST FROM THE SHOCK OF

THE WATER, AND THE THIRD MAIN

DANGER IS THE MOST DANGEROUS.

THIS IS WHAT KILLS MOST PEOPLE,

AND IT'S JUST A NUMBING

SENSATION.

THE COLD SLOWS YOUR MOVEMENT,

SAPS ALL YOUR STRENGTH, YOUR

COORDINATION, AND YOU JUST DON'T

HAVE THE STRENGTH TO CRAWL OUT

AGAIN.

THE FINAL THING I'VE GOT TO

REMEMBER IS TO GO OUT THIS WAY,

THE WAY I WENT IN, BECAUSE SURE

AS HELL THE ONLY PLACE I KNOW

THE ICE IS STRONG ENOUGH IS THE

WAY I'VE COME FROM.

HERE GOES.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

MAKE LIKE A SEAL.

KEEP A LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY NOT

TO BREAK THE ICE, AND WHEN I'M A

SAFE DISTANCE AWAY, GET UP.

NOW YOU HAVE TO GET DRY AS

QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WHAT I CAN DO IS USE SOME OF

THIS SNOW, AND EVEN THOUGH IT

LOOKS COMPLETELY CRAZY, IT'S A

REALLY GOOD WAY JUST TO ABSORB

SOME OF THE MOISTURE OFF MY

BODY.

AND THEN JUST TRY TO GET SOME

BLOOD GOING.

COME ON.

I'VE GOT TO GET THIS FIRE GOING

NOW.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS THING'S

GONE OUT.

COME ON.

FIRE.

OKAY, NOW THIS FIRE'S GOING.

I'VE JUST GOT TO GET THESE

CLOTHES DRY...

AND THEN GET BACK ON THE MOVE

AGAIN.

FOR EVERY 1,000 FEET THAT I

DESCEND, THE TEMPERATURE WILL

RISE BY 3½ DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

I'M NOW AT THE TREE LINE, AND

HERE'S WHERE YOU'RE MOST LIKELY

TO FIND FOOD AND SHELTER.

BUT THESE MOUNTAINS HAVEN'T

FINISHED WITH ME BY ANY MEANS.

AAH!

>> I'VE PUT MYSELF IN THE

POSITION OF A STRANDED HIKER

IN THE FRENCH ALPS TO SHOW HOW

TO SURVIVE HERE.

I'M AT THE TREE LINE.

NOW FOR SOME FOOD.

AND HERE'S AN ANT'S NEST.

WHILE YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY EAT

THESE ANTS WHEN THEY ARE ALIVE,

'CAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF FORMIC

ACID IN THEM, IF YOU CAN GET TO

THE LARVAE THAT'S OFTEN INSIDE,

THOSE EGGS ARE REALLY

NUTRITIOUS AND GREAT FOR BAIT.

I THINK IT MIGHT BE EARLY ON IN

THE SEASON TO ACTUALLY GET AT

THE EGGS, BUT THERE IS A REALLY

GOOD LITTLE TRICK FOR SEPARATING

THE ANTS FROM THE LARVAE.

WHAT YOU DO IS YOU GET, LIKE, A

TARP -- I HAVEN'T GOT THAT, BUT

I CAN USE MY JACKET -- CREATE A

BIT OF A BOWL, MAKE A BIT OF

SHADOW ON IT, AND WHEN I BREAK

THIS OPEN AND HAVE A LOOK

INSIDE, I CAN SEE IF THERE ARE

SOME EGGS.

AND, OH, GOD, LOOK.

THERE'S NO EGGS, JUST A BILLION,

BILLION FORMIC-ACID-FILLED ANTS,

BUT NO EGGS.

BUT WHAT I COULD HAVE DONE IS

JUST THROW THEM ALL INTO HERE,

AND THEN THE ANTS TRY AND

PROTECT THE LARVAE, AND THEY

PICK UP THE LEGS, THROW THEM

INTO THE SHADE, AND YOU CAN

LITERALLY THEN SCOOP OUT THE

LARVAE AND SEPARATE THEM FROM

THE ANTS AND EATEN THEM.

BUT NOT THIS TIME.

AND THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF

SURVIVAL, IS THAT YOU WIN

SOME -- GOD, IT STINKS -- YOU

LOSE SOME, BUT YOU JUST GOT TO

KEEP, KEEP TRYING.

YOU MUST TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY

TO EAT.

THESE TENDER PINE ROOTS DON'T

LOOK MUCH, BUT THEY HAVE A

TEXTURE LIKE CELERY AND CONTAIN

VITAL CALORIES.

I'VE ALSO FOUND SOME SPRING BUDS

ON ANOTHER PINE TREE.

THERE'S NOT MUCH ENERGY IN THESE

EITHER.

A HANDFUL WILL GIVE ME FEWER

CALORIES THAN JUST A CORNER OF

CHOCOLATE.

BUT IF NOTHING ELSE, THEY GIVE

ME SOMETHING TO NIBBLE ON AS I

WALK.

NOW A REAL CHALLENGE -- AN

ENORMOUS GORGE WITH A 100-FOOT

DROP.

MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS USE ROPE

BRIDGES FOR TRAINING EXERCISES.

WE'VE GOT ONE HERE SO I CAN SHOW

YOU HOW TO MAKE USE OF IT.

YOU'LL HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER

THE BRIDGE IS SAFE, AND I'M

USING A SAFETY LINE BECAUSE ONE

SLIP UP HERE COULD BE FATAL.

THEY LOOK A BIT OLD AND TATTY,

BUT THESE THINGS ARE PROBABLY

PRETTY STRONG.

AND WITH SOME OF MY PARA CORD

LOOPED OVER THIS, AND THEN

USING, JUST USING SOME PARACHUTE

STUFF TO TAKE THE FRICTION ON MY

HANDS, THERE'S NO REASON WHY I

SHOULDN'T TRY AND SHIMMY MY WAY

ACROSS THIS.

AND IT SHOULD HOLD ME.

OKAY.

I'M GONNA USE WHAT CLIMBERS CALL

A TYROLEAN TRAVERSE, WHERE YOU

PULL YOURSELF ALONG, STAYING ON

TOP OF THE ROPES.

[ GRUNTING ]

BUT IT'S NOT THAT EASY.

AH!

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

WHOA!

AHH!

AT LAST, MY FEET ARE BACK ON

SOLID GROUND.

THESE MOUNTAINS ARE ALSO

NOTORIOUS FOR THEIR AVALANCHES,

WHICH WREAK HAVOC ON AN

ALL-TOO-REGULAR BASIS.

MOVING THROUGH THE FOREST, THEN

SUDDENLY, I'M OUT INTO DAYLIGHT,

AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY.

THIS WHOLE AREA OF FOREST HAS

JUST BEEN SMASHED BY AN

AVALANCHE, AND THIS HAS TO BE

ONE OF THE MOST AWESOME THINGS I

HAVE EVER SEEN.

JUST THE POWER OF NATURE HITTING

AND JUST STRIPPING ALL OF THIS

BARK OFF THE TREES AND JUST

SPLINTERING IT ALL.

AND THE POWER OF THIS AVALANCHE

WOULD JUST KILL EVERYTHING IN

ITS PATH.

THIS AVALANCHE PROBABLY HIT THE

FOREST JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS

AGO.

IT WOULD HAVE MOVED UP TO 150

MILES AN HOUR.

100,000 TONS OF SNOW BREAKING

TREE TRUNKS AS IF THEY WERE

TWIGS.

PEOPLE SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING

OFF PEAKS HAVE SET OFF RECORD

NUMBER OF AVALANCHES IN THE ALPS

THIS YEAR.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT I'M ACTUALLY

WALKING ON HERE.

THIS IS ALL THE PINE, AND THE

EARTH IS ACTUALLY ON TOP OF THE

SNOW, AND THIS STUFF HITTING

WOULD JUST BE LIKE CONCRETE,

SPLINTERING ALL THESE TREES.

LOOK AT THIS.

JUST RIPPING THEM APART.

AND BASICALLY THIS IS ALL THAT'S

LEFT OF AN ENTIRE PINE FOREST.

AMAZING.

BUT AN AVALANCHE MAY GIVE YOU

THE CHANCE TO FIND SOMETHING TO

EAT.

IF YOU DO COME ACROSS A DEAD

ANIMAL LIKE A SHAMWAR, A

MOUNTAIN GOAT, MAKE SURE YOU

TAKE A CLOSE LOOK.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE GUTS OF THIS

HERE.

THIS IS ALL ROTTING AWAY.

OH, LOOK, THERE YOU GO.

UNDER THIS STUFF, THERE ARE SOME

MAGGOTS FEEDING OFF THIS.

AND EVEN THOUGH I DON'T WANT TO

GO NEAR THE FLESH OF THIS, THESE

MAGGOTS ARE LIVING AND THESE ARE

GOOD PROTEIN AND REALLY GOOD

ENERGY, MASSIVE CALORIES.

THE WAY TO EAT THESE IS YOU

BITE OFF THE HEAD, 'CAUSE THAT'S

THE REALLY DISGUSTING BIT.

IN FACT, THE WHOLE MAGGOT IS

PRETTY DISGUSTING.

BUT THEN YOU JUST EAT THE BODY.

BUT I WANT TO BE TAKING A BIT OF

THESE NOW.

A FEW FOR BAIT AND A FEW FOR

FOOD.

NOW I'M GOING TO USE MY MAGGOTS

AS BAIT TO FIND SOMETHING MORE

SUBSTANTIAL TO EAT.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS WHAT TO DO

WITH THEM.

>> I'M IN THE FRENCH ALPS.

[ GRUNTING ]

I'VE GOT SOME MAGGOTS, WHICH YOU

CAN ALSO USE AS BAIT FOR FOOD.

SO NOW A CHANCE TO USE THOSE

FROZEN LAKES TO YOUR ADVANTAGE,

FOR WHERE THERE'S A LAKE THERE'S

OFTEN FISH.

I AM DEFINITELY ON A FROZEN

LAKE, AND YOU CAN JUST TELL, AS

IT'S WET, REALLY SLUSHY.

YOU CAN SEE, IT'S JUST A FEW

DIGS DOWN, AND I'M INTO WATER

HERE.

AND THIS IS PROBABLY ICE.

IT'S ONLY PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR

INCHES THICK.

AND I'VE GOT TO BE REALLY

CAREFUL ON THIS STUFF.

BUT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF

EFFORT, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DIG

A DECENT ENOUGH HOLE HERE, GET

THROUGH TO THE SLUSH AND THEN

THROUGH THOSE FEW INCHES OF ICE.

AND WHAT I WANT TO DO IS PUT OUT

A NIGHT LINE WITH SOME HOOKS AND

WITH A BIT OF MY PARA CORD AND

TRY AND CATCH A COUPLE OF FISH.

THAT'S THE PLAN.

ALL RIGHT.

I'VE GOT A NICE-SIZED HOLE HERE,

ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE

WATER.

AND THAT SHOULD DO.

AND WHAT I'M GOING TO DO NOW IS

I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A

WEIGHT FROM JUST A ROCK, AND

THEN I'VE MADE A LITTLE BIT OF

THREAD OUT OF THE PARA CORD AS A

LINE, AND THEN JUST PUT SOME

MAKESHIFT HOOKS ALONG HERE,

WHICH I MADE FROM A BIT OF THE

WIRE FROM MY PARACHUTE HARNESS.

AND I'M PUTTING THESE MAGGOTS ON

THESE HOOKS, AND I'M HOPING THAT

THESE TROUT IN HERE ARE GONNA BE

PRETTY INQUISITIVE AT THE END OF

A LONG WINTER.

AND THE IDEA ALSO OF PUTTING

HOOKS ALL THE WAY ALONG THIS

LINE IS TO TRY AND GET TO FISH

AT ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE

LAKE.

BUT LIKE ALL THINGS, IT'S A BIT

MAKESHIFT.

BUT THE ESSENCE OF SURVIVAL IS

JUST KEEP TRYING, KEEP TRYING.

ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF THAT'S

GONNA HELP YOU AND GIVE YOU

FOOD.

AND THE LAST THING I NEED TO DO

NOW IS USE SOME OF THESE SPRUCE

BRANCHES AND STUFF THESE RIGHT

DOWN INTO THE HOLE.

AND THE IDEA OF THIS IS THAT

THIS, HOPEFULLY, STOPS THE HOLE

FREEZING OVER.

THIS IS WHERE MOST PEOPLE GET

THIS WRONG, IS THAT THEY GO TO

ALL THE EFFORT TO MAKE THEIR

LINES, THEIR HOOKS GET THROUGH

THE ICE -- THEY MIGHT EVEN CATCH

SOME FISH, BUT WHEN THEY COME TO

GET IT, THEIR HOLE'S FROZEN

OVER.

DON'T WAIT AROUND TO SEE IF THE

FISH BITE.

IN SURVIVAL SITUATIONS, YOU

SHOULDN'T JUST RELY ON ONE

SOURCE OF FOOD.

I'VE JUST BEEN WATCHING A PAIR

OF GOLDEN EAGLES CIRCLING ABOVE

ME.

IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL

SIGHT.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THEY ARE

NOT JUST CIRCLING FOR FUN.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR FOOD, AND

I'M PRETTY CERTAIN WHAT THEY ARE

AFTER IS THE OWNER OF THESE

PRINTS.

I'VE JUST COME ACROSS THESE, AND

THESE ARE PROBABLY, I THINK, FOX

PRINTS.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE WHOLE PAW

AND ACTUALLY THE CLAW MARKS IN

THERE.

I FOLLOW THE FOX'S TRACKS.

THEN, I SEE HIM.

I'M HOPING THAT HE'S HUNTING

RABBITS.

IF HE GETS ONE, MY PLAN IS TO

CHASE HIM OFF THE KILL AND TAKE

THE MEAT MYSELF.

[ RUSTLING ]

BUT HE'S HEARD ME.

THERE WILL BE NO RABBIT FOR

DINNER TONIGHT, AND I DIDN'T

CATCH ANY TROUT, EITHER, BUT IF

YOU'RE LUCKIER THAN ME, MY

ADVICE IS JUST GET STUCK IN.

THERE'S NO WAY I CAN MAKE A FIRE

ON THIS AND COOK IT, BUT THESE

TROUTS ARE JUST FINE TO EAT RAW.

AND IF I GET MY FINGER IN HIS

GILLS HERE AND BITE INTO THIS,

AND AS SOON AS I BITE INTO IT,

IT'S GONNA BREAK ITS SPINAL CORD

AND WILL KILL IT.

[ GRUNTING ]

THAT IS SO GOOD.

I'M HEADING BACK TO THE TREE

LINE SO I CAN SHOW THE BEST SPOT

TO BUILD A SHELTER AND GET A

FIRE GOING.

THIS IS OLD MAN'S BEARD, A

CLIMBING PLANT WHICH ATTACHES

ITSELF TO TREES.

AND THIS MAKES GREAT TINDER FOR

A FIRE, AND I WANT TO BE

COLLECTING SOME OF THIS.

WHAT IT DOES, SINCE IT'S SO DRY

AND BRISTLE, IT CATCHES A SPARK

REALLY EASILY.

SO, TAKE SOME OF THAT.

KEEP THAT FOR LATER, DRY IT OFF

IN MY POCKET.

YEAH, LOOK -- HERE YOU GO.

THIS STUFF IS COOL.

IT'S CALLED SPHAGNUM, SPHAGNUM

MOSS IS WHAT THIS IS, AND IT CAN

ACT AS AN ANTISEPTIC.

IF YOU GET A CUT, YOU WIPE THE

WOUND WITH IT, AND IT WILL CLEAN

IT.

NOW YOU'D WANT TO FIND THE RIGHT

PLACE TO BUILD YOUR SHELTER.

WHAT MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE

WHEN YOU'RE MAKING SHELTERS IN

THESE VALLEYS IS TO TRY AND PICK

THESE SOUTH-FACING SLOPES, AND

BECAUSE THEY SEE MORE OF THE

SUN, IT MEANS THE TREES AND THE

ROCKS RETAIN MORE OF THEIR

WARMTH.

OKAY, I CAN EASY MAKE A SHELTER

TUCKED UNDER THIS LITTLE SPRUCE

TREE HERE, REALLY WITH A MINIMUM

OF EFFORT.

ALL I'VE GOT TO DO IS TAKE THIS

RUCKSACK PARACHUTE OFF.

ALL I'VE GOT TO DO IS CLEAR A

BIT OF A PLATFORM, CLEAR THIS

SNOW AWAY, BREAK OFF SOME OF

THESE BRANCHES, AND INSULATE THE

BOTTOM WITH A LOAD OF PINE AND

PUT SOME MORE SPRUCE BRANCHES

ABOVE AGAIN TO INSULATE ME FROM

ABOVE, AND THIS WILL MAKE A

PERFECTLY GOOD SHELTER.

IT'S EASY TO CUT AND THREAD THE

SUPPLE PINE BRANCHES TO MAKE A

SHELTER TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE

WORST OF THE WEATHER.

[ GRUNTS ]

AND NOW IT'S TIME TO MAKE A

FIRE, BUT DON'T LEAVE IT TOO

LATE.

OUT HERE, YOU SHOULD ALLOW

PLENTY OF TIME TO DO THIS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT

MAKING A FIRE, ESPECIALLY WHEN

YOU'RE COLD AND YOU'RE TIRED AT

THE END OF A DAY IS PREPARATION.

IT'S NO GOOD SPENDING A LOT OF

EFFORT TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF

TINDER GOING AND THEN REALIZE

THAT YOU'VE GOT NO KINDLING TO

FUEL THAT FIRE.

SO WHAT I'VE GOT HERE IS A

REALLY GOOD BASE FOR IT OF QUITE

DAMP WORD THAT'S GONNA SUPPORT

IT, ALSO LET SOME AIR GET TO IT.

I'VE GOT A BANK OF SNOW 'ROUND

HERE THAT'S GONNA ACT AS A

REFLECTOR AND REFLECT THE HEAT

BACK TO ME.

I'VE GOT MY TINDER, SOME

KINDLING, AND SOME BIGGER WOOD.

AND THE FIRST THING I NEED TO DO

IS TRY AND GET SOME OF THIS

TINDER GOING, AND THE WAY I'M

GONNA DO THAT -- I'VE GOT JUST A

STRIKER AND A FLINT, AND I

ALWAYS CARRY THIS WITH ME --

OBVIOUSLY NOT WHEN I'M AT HOME,

'CAUSE THAT WOULD JUST BE WEIRD.

BUT WHENEVER I'M OUTSIDE, THIS

IS THE ONE THING I ALWAYS HAVE

HANGING 'ROUND MY NECK.

THAT MEANS WHATEVER THE

SITUATION, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO

GET A FIRE GOING...

OR SO THE THEORY GOES.

AND THIS IS THE CRITICAL TIME.

THEY ALWAYS SAY, IF YOU INVEST

THE EFFORT EARLY ON IN A FIRE,

THAT'S THE TIME THAT REALLY,

REALLY MATTERS.

NOW TO MAKE SOME DRINKING WATER.

WHAT I CAN DO NOW IS A LITTLE

TRICK, WHAT THEY CALL FINNISH

MARSHMALLOWS, AND IF I JUST GET

A BIT OF WOOD LIKE THIS AND THEN

GRAB A BIT OF SNOW.

JAM THAT ONTO THE END OF A BIT

OF STICK.

STICK IT INTO THIS.

WHOOPS.

GET ON THERE.

STAY ON, YOU BRUTE, AND PUT THIS

UNDERNEATH IT, AND THE HEAT OF

THE FIRE WILL SLOWLY MELT THAT.

IT WILL DRIP INTO THE CUP, AND

WHILE I'M RELAXING, I SHOULD

HAVE A GLASS OF WATER IN THE

NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE.

I CAN NOW BOIL SOME WATER FOR A

CUP OF SPRUCE TEA.

IT TASTES GOOD AND WILL GIVE YOU

VALUABLE VITAMIN C, UP TO EIGHT

TIMES MORE THAN ORANGE JUICE.

BUT IT'S NOT ALL OVER, AND

TRUDGING THROUGH THE SOFT SNOW

MAKES PROGRESS PAINFULLY SLOW.

BUT THERE IS ONE POSSIBLE

SOLUTION -- TO TRY AND MAKE A

PAIR OF SNOW SHOES.

>> I'M IN THE FRENCH ALPS.

I'M AMONGST THE TREES ON THE

LOWER SLOPES, AND HERE, THE

DANGERS ARE MORE HIDDEN.

FIRST VIEW ACROSS THE VALLEY FOR

A WHILE.

IT'S JUST BEEN BURIED IN THIS

DENSE, DENSE WOOD.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

I'M JUST PRAYING IT'S GOING TO

STOP RAINING, BECAUSE IT'S

MAKING IT BLOODY HORRIBLE.

THERE IS, THOUGH, ONE THING I

CAN DO -- TO TRY AND GET A VIEW

ABOVE THE TREES.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

BUT THERE'S NOTHING AROUND.

THERE'S NOTHING FOR IT BUT JUST

TO KEEP MOVING DOWN.

BUT THE FURTHER YOU DESCEND, THE

WARMER IT GETS, AND THE SNOW

BECOMES SOFTER, AND IT MAKES

WALKING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

[ GRUNTS ]

BUT THERE'S A SURVIVAL TRICK

THAT MAKES TRAVELING A LOT

EASIER.

I'M GONNA SHOW HOW TO MAKE A

PAIR OF SNOW SHOES.

I'VE GOT THESE YOUNG SAPLINGS

HERE THAT I'VE CUT.

AND IF I TAKE ONE OF THESE, I

SHOULD BE ABLE TO, HOPEFULLY,

BEND THIS ALL THE WAY 'ROUND,

TRY AND DO IT WITHOUT IT

SNAPPING.

AND THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY BE THE

SHOE.

I'LL TAKE THESE ONES OFF.

AND THAT'S MY FRAME NOW HERE.

AND WHAT I NEED TO DO IS PUT A

COUPLE OF CROSSBEAMS IN AND THEN

JUST INTERWEAVE IT WITH MY

PARACHUTE RIGGING LINES AND THEN

ATTACH MY BOOT TO IT.

AND THAT WILL BE READY TO GO,

AND IT'S GONNA MAKE A HUGE

DIFFERENCE.

IT'S NOT THE PRETTIEST JOB.

[ Chuckling ] AND IT'S COVERED

NOW IN BLOOD.

BUT IT'S GONNA DO.

SNOW SHOES WILL SPREAD THE

WEIGHT OF YOUR BODY ACROSS A

LARGER AREA OF THE SNOW, GIVING

YOU A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF

STAYING ON TOP OF THE CRUST AND

NOT SINKING IN.

THIS SNOWSHOE IS ALMOST FINISHED

NOW.

I'VE FINISHED THE CROSS BRACING.

I'VE REINFORCED IT WITH ANOTHER

BIT OF SAPLING AROUND THE

OUTSIDE.

ALL I NEED NOW IS JUST TO

MEASURE UP WHERE MY FEET ARE

GOING TO GO.

ONE THERE AND THAT ONE BACK

HERE.

OKAY, MARK THAT ONE.

THESE ARE THREADED ON.

I'LL TIE MY BOOT IN.

AND THEN ROBERT'S YOUR FATHER'S

BROTHER.

OR BOB'S YOUR UNCLE.

AND THIS IS GONNA MAKE SNOW

TRAVEL A LOAD EASIER FOR ME.

NOW TO TRY THEM OUT.

AND THE SNOW SHOES ARE WORKING.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S STILL TIRING,

IT'S DEFINITELY LESS TIRING THAN

THE THIGH-DEEP SNOW I WAS TRYING

TO DEAL WITH BEFORE.

IT JUST MEANS I STAY ON THE

SURFACE OF THE SNOW.

I KNOW AS SOON AS I TAKE IT OFF,

'CAUSE I'VE TRIED A COUPLE OF

TIMES, I SINK STRAIGHT BACK DOWN

AGAIN.

IT'S BEEN A GRUELING JOURNEY --

COLD, OFTEN WET.

BUT IF I'VE LEARNED ONE THING,

THEN IT'S THIS -- THESE

MOUNTAINS MAY LOOK BEAUTIFUL AND

BE THE PERFECT PLACE FOR A

HOLIDAY, BUT THEY CAN BE

TREACHEROUS, AND THEY DEMAND

THE UTMOST RESPECT.