Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 2, Episode 5 - Patagonia - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.
WHOO!

AND I'M GONNA SEEK OUT SOME
OF THE MOST EXTREME CHALLENGES

IN THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES
ON EARTH,

WHERE HAVING
THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS

CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

WHOO!

I'M IN PATAGONIA,

ONE OF THE REMOTEST,
WILDEST PLACES ON THE PLANET.

SEE THAT?
AVALANCHE.

THIS ANCIENT AND LEGENDARY LAND

HAS SOME OF THE COLDEST
TEMPERATURES ON EARTH



AND FURIOUS WINDS
THAT CAN BLAST

AT UP TO 150 MILES AN HOUR.

I'VE STARTED DIGGING
JUST IN TIME.

IT'S A DESOLATE LANDSCAPE
CARVED BY ICE AND FIRE.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE
FOR HUMANS TO BE.

BEING STRANDED HERE FORCES YOU
TO PUSH YOURSELF HARDER...

THAT'S A DROP!

...AND FURTHER...

I'M JUST NOT GONNA
MAKE IT ACROSS.

...THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.
WHOO!

ONLY THE TOUGHEST CAN SURVIVE
THIS EXTREME WILDERNESS.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU
WHAT IT TAKES TO STAY ALIVE

AT THE FURTHEST ENDS
OF THE WORLD.

I'VE COME HERE TO EXPLORE ONE OF
THE WILDEST, WINDIEST PLACES



ON THE FACE OF OUR PLANET --
PATAGONIA.

I'M ABOUT TO PARACHUTE INTO
THE PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD,

A SUB-ZERO WONDERLAND

STRADDLING
THE SOUTHERN ANDES MOUNTAINS.

IT'S THE THIRD LARGEST AREA
OF CONTINENTAL ICE

AFTER ANTARCTICA AND GREENLAND,

ABOUT AS FAR FROM CIVILIZATION
AS YOU CAN GET.

IT'S NOT SOMEWHERE
YOU'D WANT TO BE LOST.

THAT'S WHERE I'M BEING
DROPPED -- DOWN THERE --

RIGHT IN THE HEART OF ONE OF THE
WORLD'S TOUGHEST WILDERNESSES.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT,

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
ANYONE HAS ATTEMPTED

TO PARACHUTE ONTO
THE PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD.

THE WEATHER
HAS TO BE PERFECT --

NO WIND AND CLEAR SKIES --
AND MY TIMING MUST BE SPOT-ON.

THE TINIEST ERROR,

AND I COULD BE BLOWN
MILES FROM MY LANDING ZONE

INTO THE FROZEN WASTELAND.

I'VE MADE IT, BUT ONLY JUST.

THE TEMPERATURE
IS WAY BELOW FREEZING,

AND THERE'S NOTHING
BUT SNOW AND ICE

AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.

MAN ALIVE.

MY EARS ARE JUST, LIKE, BURNING.

I CAN'T FEEL MY FINGERS AT ALL.

OKAY.
I NEED TO GET THIS STASHED.

AND I NEED TO GET MOVING
AND GET THAT BLOOD GOING AGAIN.

I'VE GOT
SOME BASIC SURVIVAL GEAR

AND A FEW LITTLE SURPRISES,
AND MY CREW IS COMING WITH ME.

BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO
HANG AROUND UP HERE.

YOU'RE SO EXPOSED AT THE MERCY
OF ELEMENTS WHICH CAN KILL.

BENEATH ME,
THE ICE FIELD IS A MILE DEEP,

AND IT SPRAWLS
A CHILLY 8,000 SQUARE MILES.

AND IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW,
HARD TO DESCRIBE.

BUT IF YOU IMAGINE ANTARCTICA

AND THE HIMALAYAS
ROLLED INTO ONE,

YOU'D BE GETTING
SOMEWHERE CLOSE.

YOU WON'T FIND FOOD.

YOU CAN'T MAKE FIRE.

YOUR ONLY CHANCE OF SURVIVAL
IS TO HEAD DOWN.

JUST KEEP ON GOING.

DON'T STOP.

EARLY 19th-CENTURY EXPLORERS
CAME HERE

IN SEARCH OF A MYSTERIOUS
SMOKING PEAK

GLARING ABOVE THE SNOWS.

THE LOCAL MAPUCHE INDIANS
CALLED IT "CHALTéN,"

OR "SMOKING MOUNTAIN,"

A SILENT SENTINEL
KNOWN TODAY AS MOUNT FITZ ROY,

ITS SUMMIT OFTEN SHROUDED
BY MIST.

IT WAS FIRST CLIMBED IN 1952

AND STANDS IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE ICE FIELD

ON THE BORDER
BETWEEN CHILE AND ARGENTINA.

STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL,
BUT DON'T BE FOOLED.

THIS IS A FROZEN DEATH ZONE.

SEE THAT COMING
STRAIGHT OFF THE MOUNTAIN?

AVALANCHE. AND THIS IS WHY
THIS AREA IS SO DANGEROUS.

YOU DON'T WANT TO
HANG AROUND HERE, GUYS.

THAT WHOLE SLAB JUST DROPPED.
LET'S KEEP MOVING.

AVALANCHES CAN RACE DOWN
AT 200 MILES AN HOUR,

SWEEPING ALL BEFORE THEM
IN A DEATHLY EMBRACE.

YOU HAVEN'T GOT A HOPE.

AND THEN THERE ARE CREVASSES.

AND EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THIS
LOOKS JUST BEAUTIFUL,

IT'S ACTUALLY RIDDLED
WITH DANGERS.

IF LOOK UP STRAIGHT AHEAD,
SEE ALL OF THOSE CREVASSES?

AND WHAT THOSE ARE
ARE BASICALLY GIANT TEARS

IN THE ICE, IN THE GLACIER.

AND WHERE THE GLACIER IS MOVING,
UNDER TENSION IT RIPS,

AND IT CREATES
THESE HUGE CHASMS.

AND IT'S SO EASY
TO DROP INTO ONE OF THOSE.

AND THEN YOU'RE TRAPPED.

IN THE WINTER,
SNOW FILLS THESE CRACKS,

AND YOU JUST CAN'T SEE
WHAT'S SOLID AND WHAT'S NOT.

THERE YOU GO.
LOOK DOWN THERE.

YOU WALK OVER THIS,
NOT KNOW ABOUT IT,

THIS IS A BIT WIDER,
YOU'LL GO STRAIGHT DOWN IT.

GUYS, I WANT US ROPED UP HERE.

I HATE CREVASSES.

I WAS ALMOST KILLED IN ONE
ON THE WAY DOWN

FROM MY FIRST RECONNAISSANCE
CLIMB ON EVEREST.

AT 19,000 FEET,
THE ICE CRACKED,

AND THE GROUND DISAPPEARED
BENEATH ME.

I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS

AND CAME TO
SWINGING ON THE END OF A ROPE.

THAT ROPE AND MY TEAMMATES
SAVED MY LIFE.

BUT EVEN ROPED TOGETHER,

CROSSING THE ICE IS LIKE
TAP-DANCING IN A MINEFIELD.

OKAY.
I'M OUT, I'M OUT, I'M OUT.

HOLY SMOKE.

COME AND HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.

THERE YOU GO.
SEE DOWN THAT?

THAT IS WHY WE'RE ROPED.

OH, GOD.

AND THAT IS ONE LONG WAY DOWN.

YOU'D NEVER WANT TO FIND
YOURSELF STUCK IN ONE OF THESE.

AND THIS IS QUITE A BIG ONE.

COME AND HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.
I'VE GOT YOU.

THAT'S IT.

NICE AND STEADY.

WHEN I CAME OUT ALIVE
FROM EVEREST,

I VOWED NEVER TO SET FOOT
IN A CREVASSE AGAIN,

BUT I'M GONNA BREAK THAT VOW

TO SHOW YOU HOW TO GET OUT
OF ONE OF THESE ALIVE.

AND THIS IS REALLY LIKE BEING

IN A VERY FRIGHTENING
DEEP FREEZE.

LOOK AT THAT DROP BELOW.

THE SHEER ICE WALLS
ARE AS HARD AS POLISHED MARBLE.

THERE'S NOTHING BUT AN EERIE
AND DEAFENING SILENCE.

I'VE REALLY NOTICED THAT COLD.

YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE OUT OF THE SUNLIGHT,

AND YOU'RE IN A DEEP, DARK,
MENACING PLACE.

GET TRAPPED DOWN HERE,

AND YOU'D SOON BECOME
PART OF THE SCENERY.

AND GUIDES IN THE ALPS
TALK ABOUT,

WHEN THEY GO TO RECOVER CORPSES
FROM CREVASSES,

OFTEN HAVING TO USE,
LITERALLY, PNEUMATIC DRILLS

TO DRILL A BODY OUT OF THE ICE.

THEY'RE JUST FROZEN SOLID
IN THIS STUFF.

AND THIS, FOR ME, BRINGS BACK
PRETTY NASTY MEMORIES.

AND IF I'M HONEST, I'M NOT
100% COMFORTABLE DOWN HERE.

IT'S SO DEEP, AND
THERE'S NOTHING TO GRAB ON TO.

WITHOUT A ROPE, THERE'S NO WAY
YOU'D GET OUT ALIVE.

LOOK AT MY BOOT ON THIS ICE.

YOU'RE JUST COMPLETELY SCREWED.

YOU REALLY ARE.

AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU'D WEDGE
YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS.

THERE'S NO GRIP.

THIS STUFF IS JUST SOLID.

I'M IN
THE PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD,

DEEP IN THE HEART
OF A CREVASSE.

IT'S JUST LIKE THE ONE

THAT SO NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE
IN THE HIMALAYAS.

THERE IS SOMETHING JUST SINISTER
ABOUT THESE PLACES.

I'VE BEEN IN A LOT
OF TIGHT SPOTS BEFORE,

BUT THERE ARE FEW
THAT MAKE ME THIS SCARED.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE
FOR HUMANS TO BE

OR TO HANG AROUND IN,
AND I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

AND THE WAY I CAN DO THAT
IS JUST TO USE A PRUSIK.

AND ALL THIS IS IS A SIMPLE LOOP

THAT HAS SAVED
SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND ALL YOU DO IS WRAP IT AROUND
A FEW TIMES LIKE THAT.

PUT THIS END THROUGH IT.

AND THEN WHAT YOU THEN NEED TO
DO IS GET YOUR FOOT INTO THAT...

...AND STAND UP.

AND THEN ONCE YOU'RE UP HERE,
YOU SLIDE THAT UP.

THE SOONER YOU'RE OUT OF
THIS FROZEN HELL, THE BETTER.

BUT DON'T THINK CRAWLING BACK
ONTO THE ICE FIELD

MEANS INSTANT SALVATION.

THE WEATHER HERE IS NOTORIOUSLY
FICKLE AND NOTORIOUSLY SAVAGE.

THE ICE FIELD GETS
ABOUT 30 FOOT OF SNOW A YEAR

BLOWN IN
BY VICIOUS SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS

FROM THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.

CONDITIONS DON'T GET
MUCH WORSE THAN THIS,

EVEN AT THE SOUTH POLE.

IT'S A WILD PLACE

WHERE THE NORMAL RULES OF
SURVIVAL GO OUT OF THE WINDOW.

THERE'S A FAMOUS STORY
OF A PLANE CRASH IN THE ANDES

JUST NORTH OF PATAGONIA
IN THE '70s.

AND ON BOARD WERE A LOAD
OF RUGBY PLAYERS FROM URUGUAY.

AND SOMEHOW,
50 PEOPLE MANAGED TO SURVIVE

THE INITIAL IMPACT OF THE CRASH,

AND THEY DID
JUST THE RIGHT THING.

THEY SHELTERED
IN THE WRECKAGE OF THE PLANE,

BUILT THEMSELVES A SNOW WALL.

AND IF THEY HADN'T DONE THAT,

THEY WOULD HAVE ALL DIED
THAT FIRST NIGHT --

YOU KNOW, TEMPERATURES
AS LOW AS -30 DEGREES.

BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL
OVER TWO MONTHS LATER

THAT THEY WERE RESCUED.

AND THOSE THAT SURVIVED
ONLY DID SO

BECAUSE THEY HAD RESORTED
TO CANNIBALISM.

AND IN CONDITIONS LIKE THIS,
YOU CAN SEE THAT, REALLY,

THAT WAS THEIR ONLY CHANCE
OF STAYING ALIVE.

IF YOU'RE CAUGHT IN A BLIZZARD,

FINDING SHELTER HAS TO BE
YOUR ONE AND ONLY PRIORITY.

THIS WHOLE MOUNTAINSIDE
IS JUST SO FEATURELESS.

THERE'S JUST
NO NATURAL SHELTER HERE.

BUT WHAT I HAVE GOT IS JUST TONS
AND TONS OF SNOW UNDER MY FEET,

AND SNOW
IS A REALLY GOOD INSULATOR.

WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS JUST MAKE
A REALLY SIMPLE SNOW CAVE.

UNLESS YOU GET OUT OF THE WIND,
YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.

LOOSE DRIFT SNOW OFTEN
BUILDS UP ON THE LEE SLOPES,

AND THIS MAKES IT EASY
TO DIG DOWN AND BURROW IN.

EVEN IF IT IS
HALFWAY UP A MOUNTAIN

IN THE FREEZING WIND AND SNOW,

THERE'S SOMETHING
QUIETLY SATISFYING...

ABOUT MAKING...

A SNOW CAVE.

OR AS MY LITTLE BOY
WOULD SAY, "DEN."

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE --
THESE MOUNTAINS CAN KILL.

EVEN THE BEST-PREPARED
ARE CAUGHT OUT.

A FEW YEARS AGO,

A CHILEAN ARMY BATTALION
ON EXERCISE NEAR HERE

WAS CAUGHT UNAWARES
IN A BLIZZARD.

IN ONE NIGHT,
25 CONSCRIPTS FROZE TO DEATH.

IT LOOKS LIKE I'VE STARTED
DIGGING JUST IN TIME.

THE WIND'S BACK AGAIN.

AND THE WEATHER HERE
JUST CHANGES,

LITERALLY,
LIKE MINUTE TO MINUTE.

THERE'S A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE
FROM DOWN HERE TO UP HERE.

I'M COMPRESSING THE SNOW INTO
BLOCKS TO SEAL THE ENTRANCE.

IT'S STILL GONNA BE COLD,

BUT IT WILL KEEP
THOSE RELENTLESS WINDS AT BAY.

I'M MAKING REALLY GOOD PROGRESS
NOW ON THIS.

I'VE BEEN GOING PROBABLY 10,
15 MINUTES,

BUT I'VE STILL GOT
A BIT OF DAYLIGHT.

AND REALLY, I JUST WANT TO
KEEP GOING WITH IT

SO I CAN ACTUALLY SLEEP PROPERLY
INSIDE THIS THING

AND STAY THE WHOLE NIGHT
COMFORTABLY.

AND BELIEVE ME,
THESE SNOW HOLES WORK.

IN 1996,
12 MOUNTAINEERS WERE TRAPPED

ON THE NORTHERN PATAGONIAN
ICE FIELD IN A BLIZZARD.

14 DAYS LATER,
THEY WERE FOUND ALIVE

THANKS TO BURROWING
INTO THE SNOW.

IT'S TAKEN ME ABOUT AN HOUR
AND A HALF TO FINISH THIS CAVE.

YEAH.

NOT A BAD JOB,
EVEN THOUGH I SAY IT MYSELF.

BUT BEFORE YOU HOLE UP
FOR THE NIGHT,

BE EXTRA CAREFUL ABOUT
ANSWERING THE CALL OF NATURE.

ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS

WITNESSED A CLIMBER ON EVEREST
GET OUT OF HER TENT

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
TO HAVE A PEE.

AND SHE ONLY HAD
HER INNER BOOTS ON,

AND SHE ACTUALLY THEN SLIPPED,

AND SHE FELL 5,000 FOOT
TO HER DEATH.

AND THAT'S WHY CLIMBERS
ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE A PEE BOTTLE.

BUT I HAVEN'T GOT A PEE BOTTLE,

BUT I HAVE GOT MY WATER BOTTLE,
AND IT'S EMPTY NOW,

AND I NEED TO PEE,
SO I CAN JUST USE THAT.

AND WHAT IT'S GONNA DO,
AT LEAST, IS KEEP ME WARM,

RATHER THAN JUST WASTING
THE PEE.

I'M GONNA PUT THIS ON HERE...

...AND THEN JUST PEE INTO THIS.

AND I HAD A TERRIBLE
EXPERIENCE ONCE, CLIMBING,

DOING THIS IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT,

AND THE PEE BOTTLE
SLIPPED OUT OF MY HAND,

AND I HAD A SLEEPING BAG FULL
OF A LITER OF PEE

FOR THE NEXT WEEK.

IT WAS REALLY BAD.

IT JUST STANK.

SO SINCE THEN,
I'M ALWAYS REALLY CAREFUL.

PUT THE LID ON THAT.

TUCK THAT DOWN MY JACKET,

AND HOPEFULLY,
THAT WILL KEEP ME WARM.

BUT I'M QUITE SNUG IN HERE,

AND I'M JUST REALLY HOPING
FOR A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.

I'M OUT OF THE STORM
FOR THE NIGHT,

BUT WHO KNOWS
WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING?

I'VE BEEN BATTERED BY BLIZZARDS

AND I'VE SPENT THE NIGHT
SHELTERING IN A SNOW HOLE,

BUT NOW THERE'S
AN UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS.

WOW.
WHAT A VIEW.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE WORST
OF THE STORM HAS PASSED.

IT'S STILL QUITE WINDY.

IT'S AMAZING THE DIFFERENCE
IN THERE, THOUGH.

AND ACTUALLY,
IT WASN'T A BAD NIGHT.

A LITTLE BIT BUMPY
IN THE MATTRESS DEPARTMENT

AND STILL QUITE COLD.

BUT THIS REALLY CHEERS ME UP.

IT FEELS LIKE ONE OF THOSE TIMES
WHERE THE MOUNTAINS

REALLY GIVE YOU STRENGTH
RATHER THAN SAP IT FROM YOU.

BEAUTIFUL.

BUT YOU CAN'T COUNT ON ANYTHING
IN PATAGONIA,

AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE
THE WEATHER CLOSES IN AGAIN.

AFTER A NIGHT SLEEPING ON THE
ICE, I NEED TO WARM UP A BIT.

THE LAST THING YOU MIGHT EXPECT
OUT HERE IS DEHYDRATION,

BUT IT'S AS LETHAL IN THE COLD
AS IT IS IN THE HEAT.

YOU CAN LOSE UP TO TWO LITERS
OF FLUID IN JUST AN HOUR.

IF YOU DON'T REPLACE
THAT LOST WATER,

YOU WOULDN'T LAST
MORE THAN A FEW DAYS.

THE THING IS,

THERE'S NOT EXACTLY A LOT OF
NICE RUNNING STREAMS UP HERE.

IT'S JUST MASSES OF SNOW.

BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO RESIST
THE TEMPTATION

TO START EATING FRESH SNOW.

AND THIS IS A MISTAKE
SOME OF THE SURVIVORS

FROM THE ANDES PLANE CRASH MADE.

THEY WOULD START EATING IT
JUST LIKE THIS.

AND WHAT IT DID
WAS BURN THEIR LIPS

AND GIVE THEM ULCERS
AND BLISTERS INSIDE THEIR MOUTH

AND ALSO REALLY LOWER
THEIR BODY CORE TEMPERATURE.

SO INSTEAD,
JUST GET YOUR WATER BOTTLE

AND JUST STUFF IT FULL OF SNOW.

PRESS IT ALL IN THERE.

AND WHEN THAT'S FULL,
STUFF IT UP YOUR JUMPER --

JUST BETWEEN THE LAYERS,
NOT NEXT TO YOUR SKIN.

AND THEN AS YOU MOVE,
THAT'S GONNA SLOWLY MELT.

BUT, GUYS,
THIS WIND IS PICKING UP,

AND IT'S STARTED SNOWING AGAIN.

I NEED TO GET GOING BEFORE
I LOSE THE FEELING IN MY FINGER.

I KNOW FROM BITTER EXPERIENCE

THAT ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL
HAZARDS ON THE MOUNTAIN

IS FROSTBITE.

THE BITING COLD FREEZES
THE PLASMA IN YOUR CELLS,

WHICH THEN BURST, CAUSING
AGONIZING, GIANT RED BLISTERS.

AND EVENTUALLY, OVER A FEW
MONTHS, THEY'LL TURN BLACK.

AND THEY'LL EITHER NEED TO BE
AMPUTATED, OR THEY'LL FALL OFF.

AND ACTUALLY,
I'VE GOT ONE FRIEND

WHOSE FINGER FELL OFF
ON THE SQUASH COURT.

AND I'VE GOT ANOTHER FRIEND

WHO HAD TO HACKSAW THROUGH
HIS OWN FINGER.

HE SAID HE GOT CHEESED OFF.

HE KEPT STUBBING IT,
THE DEAD END OF IT,

SO HE JUST HACKSAWED IT OFF.

THE FIRST STAGE OF FROSTBITE
IS FROSTNIP,

AND THAT CAN HAPPEN
IN JUST 60 SECONDS.

I'VE HAD FROSTNIP MYSELF
ON MY CHEEK AND MY HANDS,

AND IT'S VERY PAINFUL.

AND WHAT HAPPENS,
ONCE YOU'VE HAD IT,

YOUR RESISTANCE TO THE COLD
AFTER IT IS MUCH LESS.

THAT'S WHY I GET SUCH COLD HANDS
NOWADAYS.

BUT THE DISCIPLINE IS ALWAYS

JUST TO KEEP WIGGLING
YOUR FINGERS,

WIGGLING YOUR TOES
AND ALSO YOUR FACE.

ONCE FROSTBITTEN,
NOTHING REPAIRS ITSELF.

THE DAMAGED CELLS
WILL NEVER GROW BACK AGAIN.

BLIZZARDS LIKE THIS
CAN MEAN TOTAL WHITEOUT.

IT'S ALL TOO EASY
TO LOSE ANY SENSE OF DIRECTION

AND EVEN EASIER TO STUMBLE
INTO THE PATH OF AN AVALANCHE.

GUYS, YOU NEED TO BE
A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL HERE,

'CAUSE, REALLY, ALL OF THIS FACE

IS PRETTY CLASSIC
AVALANCHE TERRITORY.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT
ALL THIS FRESH SNOWFALL,

WE'VE GOT A STEEP SLOPE,
HIGH WINDS,

AND ALSO, WE'VE GOT THE TRIGGER,
WHICH IS US.

AVALANCHES CLAIM THE LIVES
OF OVER 200 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR,

AND THEY'VE OFTEN
TRIGGERED THEM THEMSELVES.

I RECKON IF I CAN JUST GET UP
ONTO THIS RIDGE

THROUGH THIS DEEP SNOW,
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD SPOT

TO ACTUALLY SEE IF I CAN TRIGGER
JUST A LITTLE AVALANCHE

AND SHOW YOU HOW DANGEROUS
THESE CONDITIONS ARE.

IT'S A RISKY THING TO DO,

BUT IT'LL PROVE JUST HOW SWIFT
AND LETHAL THEY ARE.

ALL OF THIS RIDGE, REALLY,
HERE IS RIPE FOR AVALANCHE.

IT'S IN THE LEE SLOPE.

DEEP, SOFT SNOW.

I RECKON THIS CORNICE,
WITH A BIT OF HELP, WILL GO.

AND WHEN ONE BIT GOES,
THE REST SHOULD THUNDER DOWN.

TO ANCHOR MY ROPE, I'M BURYING
MY PACK IN THE SNOW.

AND THAT, THEN,
IS GONNA HOLD REALLY SOLID.

NOW THAT'S SECURE, I'M GONNA
RAPPEL OVER THE RIDGE,

CREATING CHANNELS IN THE SNOW.

WOW.
YOU SEE HOW DEEP THIS IS?

THIS SHOULD LOOSEN
THE SNOW PACK ENOUGH

TO PROVOKE A MINI-AVALANCHE.

AND I'M USING A MINI-CAMERA

TO SHOW YOU WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO BE BURIED ALIVE.

OKAY. LET'S SEE
IF THIS IS GONNA TRIGGER.

LOOKS LIKE
MY MINI-AVALANCHE IS WORKING.

WHERE'S THE CAMERA GONE?

IN SECONDS, IT'S BURIED.

IF THIS WAS YOU,

YOUR ONLY CHANCE AT GETTING OUT
ALIVE IS TO BE FOUND QUICKLY.

BUT THAT'S EASIER SAID
THAN DONE.

JUST SIX INCHES OF SNOW,

AND YOU CAN'T EVEN MOVE
YOUR EYELIDS,

NEVER MIND OPEN YOUR MOUTH
TO CALL FOR HELP.

AFTER HALF AN HOUR,

YOUR CHANCE OF GETTING OUT
ALIVE IS A MERE 30%.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT FOUND
IN TWO HOURS, YOU'RE DEAD.

AFTER 45 MINUTES,
I FINALLY FIND THE CAMERA.

YOU ALIVE?

MY MINI-AVALANCHE
WAS JUST A FEW FEET OF SNOW.

IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
THAT'S 1,000 FEET OF AVALANCHE,

TONS AND TONS OF SNOW,
AND THE WHOLE THING GONE.

THAT'S HOW DANGEROUS
THESE THINGS ARE,

BUT ALSO HOW DIFFICULT IT IS
TO FIND PEOPLE.

GONNA GET OUT OF HERE.

FRIENDS THAT I CLIMB WITH
OFTEN TEASE ME

THAT I'VE ALWAYS GOT POCKETFULS
OF NIBBLES OR CANDIES

JUST TO SUCK ON.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN A PLACE THIS
BARREN WITH SO LITTLE TO EAT,

YOU KNOW, THERE'S ACTUALLY
SOME SCIENCE TO THIS.

AND IF YOU JUST HAVE
A LITTLE MINT LIKE THIS

AND JUST HAVE
A LITTLE SUCK OF IT,

JUST FOR LIKE 10 SECONDS,

WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES
IS TRIGGERS YOUR BRAIN

TO THINK
THAT YOU'RE GETTING FOOD,

AND THEN IT RELEASES
VITAL ENERGY

AND GIVES YOU A REAL BOOST.

I DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND
ON THE MOUNTAIN.

WITH THE WEATHER
YET AGAIN WORSENING,

I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE,
AND FAST.

WHOO!

I'M BEING POUNDED BY A BLIZZARD

ON A FREEZING MOUNTAIN
IN PATAGONIA.

AND IN SNOW LIKE THIS, IF YOU
NEED TO GET OFF A MOUNTAIN FAST,

YOU CAN USE WHAT'S CALLED
THE PLUNGE STEP.

AND ALL YOU DO IS TAKE NICE,
LONG STRIDES,

SWING YOUR LEGS OUT,
AND SINK DOWN ON YOUR HEEL,

AND IT'S A VERY EFFICIENT
WAY OF MOVING.

AND WHAT HAPPENS, THE MOMENTUM
BEGINS TO TAKE OVER,

AND THE FASTER YOU GO,
THE MORE FUN IT IS!

AND AT LAST,
THE WEATHER'S ON MY SIDE.

REALLY, WHEN THE SUN
IS OUT LIKE THIS,

THE PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD
IS JUST BREATHTAKING.

I'D ALWAYS WANTED TO EXPLORE
THIS HARSH MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS,

AND, BOY, HAS IT LIVED UP
TO EXPECTATIONS.

WHOO!

STUNNING IT MIGHT BE,

BUT THIS IS A DANGEROUS BEAUTY
BATTERED BY EXTREME ELEMENTS.

BUT MY NEXT CHALLENGE AWAITS
ME -- THE SUBALPINE FOREST.

I JUST NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE
IN ONE PIECE.

GUYS, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE'VE GOT STILL WINDS,
CLIFF FACE.

THIS IS FLYABLE, SO LET'S DO IT.

AS EVERY SCOUT KNOWS,
YOU'VE GOT TO BE PREPARED.

MY BACKUP PLAN
TO GET OFF THESE MOUNTAINS

IS ONE OF THE SMALLEST
PARAGLIDERS IN THE WORLD.

OKAY.
WE'RE SET.

AND I ALWAYS SAY YOU'VE GOT
TWO WAYS OFF THE MOUNTAIN.

THERE'S A SLOW, LONG WAY,
OR THERE'S A FAST, QUICK WAY,

AND I KNOW WHICH I PREFER.

HERE WE GO.

WHOO!

I LOVE PATAGONIA!

TAKING OFF THE MOUNTAINSIDE --
LOVELY.

LANDING IN THE BEECH FOREST --
NOT SO GOOD.

THE FOREST
OF SOUTHERN PATAGONIA

IS LIKE SOMETHING
OUT OF A GOTHIC NIGHTMARE --

DENSE, IMPENETRABLE, AND SO
EASY TO GET UTTERLY LOST.

AND TRY TO HACK YOUR WAY
THROUGH THIS STUFF.

YOU JUST GET SHREDDED,

'CAUSE LOOK HOW SHARP
ALL OF THAT STUFF IS.

AND IT'S LIKE YOU PUSH ONE BIT,

AND ANOTHER BIT
SNAKES BACK IN YOUR FACE.

AND EVERYTHING IS JUST CLAWING
AT YOUR LEGS AS WELL.

IT'S SO HARD
JUST KEEPING YOUR DIRECTION

JUST 'CAUSE IT'S A MASS
OF THORNS, BRANCHES,

AND THAT'S ALL YOU CAN SEE.

THERE'S NO WAY
YOU WANT TO HANG AROUND HERE.

YOU JUST HAVE TO STRUGGLE
THROUGH THE WIND-STUNTED BEECH

UNTIL YOU CAN LITERALLY
SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES.

THE TREES ARE THINNING
A BIT NOW.

I'VE MADE IT TO A CLEARING

ONLY TO COME FACE-TO-FACE
WITH AN EVEN WORSE OBSTACLE.

THIS ISN'T LOOKING SO CLEVER.

THERE'S NO GOING BACK,
AND I CAN'T WASTE TIME.

I'VE JUST GOT TO GO THROUGH IT.

THE PEAT BOGS OF PATAGONIA ARE
A LETHAL, REEKING COMBINATION

OF ROTTING VEGETATION
AND FREEZING-COLD WATER --

AN EVIL CONCOCTION.

GUYS, THIS ABSOLUTELY STINKS.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ALL OF THIS IS.

BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T LOOK
VERY NICE.

FOR THE MOMENT,
I'M KNEE-DEEP IN IT.

LET'S JUST GET ACROSS THIS.

THIS IS GRIM --

BITTERLY COLD, GNAWING AWAY
AT EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY.

THIS IS JUST LIKE A GIANT,
MUD-AND-ICE SLUSH PUPPIE.

MY FEET ARE NOW SOAKING WET
AND FULL OF MUD.

LET'S JUST GET THROUGH THIS.

GETTING WET IS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST DANGERS IN PATAGONIA.

IF MY CORE TEMPERATURE DROPS
JUST A FEW DEGREES,

I COULD GET HYPOTHERMIA.

MY SENSES WILL START
SLOWING DOWN, MY LIMBS NUMB.

ALL TOO SOON,
I COULD FALL UNCONSCIOUS.

I WOULDN'T STAND A CHANCE
IN THIS UNFORGIVING TERRAIN.

IT JUST FEELS
LIKE IT'S OUT TO GET YOU.

IT'S EXHAUSTING,
BUT YOU MUST BATTLE ON,

GET OUT, AND GET WARM AND DRY
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

AND AT LAST, I'M THROUGH.

IT'S KIND OF TIME FOR FINDING
SOME FOOD AND MAKING FIRE.

ALL I'M GONNA USE JUST FOR
TINDER IS ALL OF THIS STUFF.

IT'S CALLED BARBA DE VIEJO,

WHICH LITERALLY MEANS
"OLD MAN'S BEARD."

AND YOU CAN SEE WHY. LOOK.
IT'S REALLY KIND OF WISPY.

BUT THE REASON
IT'S GOOD FOR TINDER

IS THAT IT GROWS ON THESE TREES

AND THEREFORE IS OFF
ALL OF THE NASTY, WET GROUND,

AND IT SHOULD TAKE A SPARK
PRETTY WELL.

LUCKY FOR ME
AND MY SOAKING-WET BODY,

BARBA DE VIEJO LIVES UP TO
ITS REPUTATION AS GREAT TINDER.

OKAY.
WE'VE GOT FIRE.

AND THIS IS SUCH
A NICE STAGE TO GET TO,

WHEN YOU'VE GOT
THAT INITIAL SPARK

AND THEN IT'S BEGINNING TO CATCH
AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN BUSINESS.

AND IT NEVER FAILS
TO MAKE ME SMILE.

IT'S JUST THE MORALE BOOSTER
I NEED TO FORAGE FOR FOOD.

THERE'S A BIT OF A POND HERE.

IT'S NOT A BAD PLACE
TO HAVE A LOOK.

AND OUT HERE,
YOU CAN'T BE FUSSY.

THAT'S ALL JUST POND WEED,

AND IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT LIKE,
KIND OF, WATERCRESS,

BUT YOU CAN EAT THIS.

IT DOESN'T TASTE VERY GOOD,
BUT YOU CAN EAT IT.

IT TASTES LIKE...

SALAD THAT SOMEBODY'S PUT
A LOT OF MOSQUITO REPELLENT ON.

UGH.

BUT YOU MUST GRAB WHAT YOU CAN,

ESPECIALLY AS
THERE'S PRECIOUS LITTLE FOOD.

PATAGONIAN WINTERS
LAST FIVE MONTHS,

AND I'M HERE
RIGHT AT ITS BITTER END.

I FOUND A COUPLE OF THESE
LITTLE BEETLE LARVAE.

OH, LOOK.

ALSO EARTHWORM AS WELL.

BUT THIS LITTLE BEETLE LARVAE --
WHERE'S THE OTHER ONE?

OH, NO.
WHERE DID I DROP HIM?

OH, WELL.
I'VE GOT ONE.

AND REALLY,
PATAGONIA THIS TIME OF YEAR,

THIS IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS YOU GET
FOR EATING.

NOT GONNA GIVE A LOT OF ENERGY,

BUT IF YOU SCRABBLE AROUND LONG
ENOUGH IN ALL THIS DEAD WOOD,

YOU'LL FIND THOSE SORT OF THINGS

AND ALSO THESE
SORT OF EARTHWORMS.

MAKE HIM A LITTLE CLEAN.

TASTES LIKE MUD AND MUCUS.

AND IT ALWAYS FEELS LIKE
WHENEVER I EAT THESE THINGS,

THE LAST THING
THEY DO IN REVENGE

IS GO TO THE LOO IN MY MOUTH.

IT ALWAYS TASTES LIKE THAT.

POND WEED, BEETLE LARVAE,
AND WORMS --

HARDLY A FEAST,
BUT BETTER THAN NOTHING

TO FUEL YOUR BID
TO GET OUT OF HERE ALIVE.

I'M IN THE DENSE SUBALPINE
BEECH FOREST OF PATAGONIA.

45 MILES WIDE, IT'S INCREDIBLY
EASY TO GET LOST HERE.

THESE FORESTS CAN BE
JUST SO DISORIENTATING.

ITS UNRELENTING MONOTONY
MAKES NAVIGATION A NIGHTMARE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN
THERE'S NO HORIZON TO FOLLOW.

AND IT'S JUST TREES AND TREES
AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE.

IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION,

YOUR ONLY WAY OUT ALIVE
IS TO GO DOWNHILL.

FOLLOWING A STREAM
IS A CLASSIC TECHNIQUE,

NOT THAT'S IT'S ALWAYS EASY
TO FIND ONE.

YOU'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP
YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU.

SOUND IS JUST REVERBERATING
AROUND THE TREES.

BUT I THINK --
I THINK IT'S OVER THIS WAY.

HERE WE GO!
GOT IT!

OKAY. ALL WE GOT TO DO NOW
IS FOLLOW THIS.

FOR EVERY 300 FEET OF ALTITUDE
YOU DESCEND,

THE TEMPERATURE'S GOING TO RISE
BY TWO DEGREES,

SO YOU'RE NOT JUST WALKING
YOUR WAY OUT OF TROUBLE,

YOU'RE ALSO REDUCING
THE RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA.

AND NATURE'S LARDER
GETS BETTER.

HEY, LOOK AT THESE.

THESE ARE LITTLE CHAURA BERRIES.

AND THEY'RE DELICIOUS.

KIND OF JUST TASTES LIKE --
A BIT LIKE SOUR APPLES.

AND THE MAPUCHE INDIANS
USED TO LIVE IN THESE FORESTS.

THEY USED TO LOVE THESE.

AND THEY'D EVEN FERMENT THEM

AND MAKE, LIKE, A MAPUCHE HOOCH
OUT OF THEM.

OKAY.
LET'S KEEP GOING.

THE PROBLEM
WITH FOLLOWING A STREAM

IS THAT YOU NEVER QUITE KNOW
WHERE YOU'LL END UP.

AND THIS IDEA
OF FOLLOWING THE STREAM EARLIER

WAS SUCH A GOOD PLAN.

IT IS NOW LOOKING
A LITTLE LESS BRIGHT,

AND I'M HOPING THAT
IS NOT WHAT I THINK IT IS.

WHOA!

COME HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.

THAT'S A DROP!

WAH!

AND THAT MUST BE ABOUT 150 FOOT
STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.

YOU GO OVER THAT,
IT'S GOOD NIGHT.

I SUPPOSE THE OPTIONS ARE

EITHER JUST TO HEAD
ALL THE WAY BACK UPSTREAM...

OR MAYBE TRY AND FIND A ROUTE
AROUND SOME OF THESE CLIFFS.

BUT LOOK. EVEN THESE
ARE LOOKING PRETTY SHEER.

BUT I RECKON WITH A ROPE,
THIS IS DOABLE,

AND THAT'S JUST
THE SORT OF THING I LOVE.

THE ROPE'S READY.
HERE WE GO.

RAPPELLING DOWN THIS CLIFF
IS GONNA SAVE ME HOURS,

BUT I'VE GOT TO GET
MY LINE OF DESCENT RIGHT.

GET IT WRONG,
OR IF THE WIND PICKS UP,

I COULD SWING RIGHT INTO
THE PATH OF THE WATERFALL

WHERE I'D BE PUMMELED TO DEATH

BY HUNDREDS OF TONS
OF ICE-COLD WATER.

QUITE A DROP DOWN HERE.

WELL, THAT'S THE WAY TO GET DOWN
A BIG WATERFALL LIKE THAT.

FOLLOWING THE STREAM
HAS PAID OFF.

I'M OFF THE MOUNTAIN,
AND I'M IN THE VALLEY.

IT LOOKS LIKE
A BIT OF A NEST UP THERE.

ALREADY THERE ARE
MORE WELCOME SIGNS OF LIFE.

YEAH, THAT COULD BE A WOODPECKER
NEST OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IF I CAN FIND SOME,

EGGS ARE A GREAT SOURCE OF
PROTEIN, VITAMINS, AND FAT --

ONE OF THE BEST POSSIBLE
SURVIVAL FOODS.

WELL, THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE.

ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S
SOME FUNGUS IN THAT TREE.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER.

SEE THOSE?

LLAO LLAO WAS A SURVIVAL STAPLE

FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
OF PATAGONIA, WHO SWORE BY IT.

THE SETTLERS CALLED IT
PANDE INDIO -- "INDIAN BREAD."

THEY LOOK A BIT
LIKE SHRIVELED GOLF BALLS.

AND I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED
WHAT IT TASTES LIKE.

AND THE ANSWER IS LIKE A KIND OF
SOFT, PRETTY TASTELESS...

SLIGHTLY OLD MUSHROOM.

AND THERE'S NOT A LOT
OF ENERGY IN THIS,

BUT IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING.

LOOKS A BIT LIKE KIND OF
MELTED CHEESE IN THE MIDDLE.

WISH IT WAS.

I'VE SURVIVED THE ICE FIELDS

AND MADE IT THROUGH
THE BEECH FOREST OF PATAGONIA.

BUT THERE'S ONE FINAL OBSTACLE
IN MY PATH,

AND I'M GONNA TRY AND CROSS IT.

I'M ABOUT TO FACE
MY MOST DANGEROUS CHALLENGE YET

IN PATAGONIA.

REALLY, IF YOU NEEDED TO CROSS
THIS LAKE,

THE SURVIVAL MANUAL
WOULD SAY "GO AROUND,"

'CAUSE YOU DO NOT WANT TO MESS
WITH GLACIAL,

FREEZING-COLD WATER LIKE THIS.

THE ONLY THING IS,

THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF
DRIFTWOOD ALL ALONG THIS SHORE.

AND PART OF ME FEELS IT'S
KIND OF IRRESISTIBLE JUST TO SEE

WHETHER I MIGHT BE ABLE TO BUILD
A RAFT TO CROSS THIS.

I CAN USE MY PARACHUTE CORD
TO LASH THE DRIFTWOOD TOGETHER.

WHAT YOU NEED IS A COUPLE OF
THESE GOOD, LONG, STURDY TRUNKS,

AND THEN SOME CROSS BRACES,

AND THEN JUST LAY LOGS AND
BRANCHES ALONG THE TOP OF IT.

AND THEN HAVE A COUPLE
OF UPRIGHTS LIKE THIS.

USE A BIT OF THIS
PARACHUTE CANOPY.

AND IF THE WIND PICKED UP,
YOU COULD MAKE YOURSELF

A PRETTY SIMPLE
AND NOT HALF-DECENT SAIL RAFT.

A RAFT LIKE THIS WOULD TAKE YOU
ABOUT THREE HOURS TO MAKE.

IF IT FAILS ME, I COULD END UP
IN THE FREEZING LAKE,

AND THAT'S WHERE YOU NEED
A BACKUP PLAN.

SO I'VE GOT A FIRE GOING

IN CASE I NEED TO GET WARM
AND DRY IN A HURRY.

GET THIS BABY IN.

AND PEOPLE DO COME UNSTUCK.

I'VE HEARD
OF THREE LOCAL GUIDES

WHO WERE KILLED NEAR HERE
AFTER THEIR RAFT FLIPPED OVER.

THEY WERE ALL STRONG SWIMMERS.

IT WAS THE EXTREME COLD
THAT KILLED THEM.

IT'S LIKE THROWING YOURSELF
IN AN ICEBOX.

OKAY.
WE'RE AFLOAT.

PRETTY LOW IN THE WATER,
BUT I AM AFLOAT.

AND WHAT'S TYPICAL IS,
IN PATAGONIA,

PROBABLY ONE OF
THE WINDIEST PLACES ON EARTH,

AND WHEN I WANT IT
FOR MY SAIL...

...IT'S AS STILL A DAY
AS YOU WILL EVER COME ACROSS.

BUT THIS WATER
IS BARELY ABOVE FREEZING.

THE THING IS,
THIS RAFT IS FLOATING

ABOUT SIX INCHES
UNDER THE WATER.

THIS IS NOT IDEAL.

MY BOOTS ARE BEGINNING
TO FILL UP WITH WATER,

AND IT IS ICY-COLD.

IT'S LIKE HAVING YOUR FOOT
IN AN ICE BUCKET.

I'M BEGINNING TO DOUBT WHETHER
THE RAFT'S GONNA HOLD UP,

AND I'M GETTING COLDER FAST.

THIS IS GONNA TAKE ME AN HOUR,
AT LEAST, TO CROSS AT THIS RATE.

ALREADY, MY LEGS ARE GOING
QUITE NUMB, TO BE HONEST.

BUT, YOU KNOW, GUYS,
IT'S CRAZY CARRYING ON IN THIS.

I'M JUST NOT GONNA MAKE IT
ACROSS.

LET'S TRY AND PADDLE THIS BACK
A BIT.

AAH.

MY LEG'S JUST COME THROUGH
ONE OF THE THINGS.

OKAY.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO SWIM THIS.

IT'S GONNA TAKE ME 20 MINUTES
TO GET THIS RAFT BACK,

AND THAT'S 20 MINUTES AT THE
MOMENT THAT I JUST DON'T HAVE.

MY LEGS, REALLY --

THEY'RE STARTING TO JUST, LIKE,
REAL PINS AND NEEDLES.

BUT, REALLY, THIS JACKET
AND THIS TOP IS MY SALVATION.

I'VE GOT TO KEEP THIS DRY
AND THEN JUST SWIM FOR IT.

I GAVE IT A GOOD GO,

BUT SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW
WHEN TO JUST COUNT YOUR LOSSES.

OKAY.

[ SPITS ]
YUH!

IT IS ICY!

AAH!

[ SPITS ]

AND YOU JUST FEEL, SLOWLY...

...DIFFERENT PARTS OF YOUR BODY
STINGING AND GOING NUMB,

AND THIS IS VERY LOW DOWN
THE LIST OF FUN THINGS TO DO.

AH!
GOD, THAT'S COLD!

WELL, I'VE LOST THAT RAFT.

THAT'S STILL OUT THERE,
BUT AT LEAST I GOT THIS FIRE.

BUT I NEED TO GET
THESE WET CLOTHES OFF.

YOU KNOW,
THE COLD CAN BE SO DANGEROUS

JUST BECAUSE IT NUMBS ALL
YOUR FEELING AND YOUR STRENGTH,

AND EVEN THE SIMPLEST OF THINGS
BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD TO DO IT
IN A BIT OF A RUSH,

AT LEAST THESE,
THANK GOD, ARE DRY.

AH.

AND THAT IS CERTAINLY
MUCH BETTER.

RESIST THE TEMPTATION
TO FRANTICALLY RUB

YOUR ARMS AND LEGS
TO STIMULATE CIRCULATION.

IT WILL DRAW WARM BLOOD AWAY
FROM YOUR HEART

AND VITAL ORGANS.

I JUST HOPE
IT DOESN'T START SNOWING AGAIN.

IF COLD BLOOD
FROM THE EXTREMITIES

RUSHES BACK TO YOUR CORE,

YOU COULD DIE FROM SOMETHING
CALLED "AFTERDROP."

INSTEAD, WARM YOURSELF SLOWLY

SO YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE
GRADUALLY GETS BACK TO NORMAL.

AND, REALLY,
THE MORAL OF THIS STORY

IS, IF YOU'RE GONNA BUILD A RAFT

AND TRY AND CROSS
ALMOST-FREEZING LAKES,

YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE
A BACKUP PLAN.

OTHERWISE, THIS LANDSCAPE
AND TERRAIN IS VERY UNFORGIVING.

AH, I'M JUST BEGINNING TO FEEL
MY TOES AGAIN.

THE ICE FIELDS
AND BEECH FOREST OF PATAGONIA

PRESENT UNIQUE CHALLENGES,
AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES

WHEN I'VE WONDERED
IF I'VE MET MY MATCH HERE,

WHETHER THE FORCE OF NATURE

IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH
FOR HUMAN SURVIVAL.

TO BE HONEST, EXPERIENCING
THE HARSH PATAGONIAN ELEMENTS

HAS BEEN VERY HUMBLING,

AND I'M JUST RELIEVED WE MADE
IT OUT OF THERE IN ONE PIECE.