Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 3, Episode 7 - Yukon - full transcript

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I'M BEAR GRYLLS,

AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU
WHAT IT TAKES TO GET OUT ALIVE

FROM SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
PLACES ON EARTH.

WHOO!

I'VE GOT TO MAKE IT THROUGH
A WEEK OF CHALLENGES

IN THE SORT OF PLACES
WHERE YOU WOULDN'T LAST A DAY

WITHOUT THE RIGHT
SURVIVAL SKILLS.

THIS TIME, I'M GONNA BE
IN GOLD RUSH COUNTRY...

...IN CANADA'S
EXTREME NORTHWEST,

WHERE I'LL BE TACKLING
TREACHEROUS GLACIERS...

THIS IS NOT A NICE PLACE.



...SHOOTING
WHITE-WATER RAPIDS...

COLD.

...AND VENTURING DEEP
INTO THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH.

THERE'S NOT MUCH OXYGEN
DOWN HERE.

THIS COULD BE
MY TOUGHEST CHALLENGE YET.

FLYING OVER THE YUKON
IN NORTHWESTERN CANADA.

IT'S ONE OF THE REMOTEST
PLACES IN NORTH AMERICA,

WITH WINTER TEMPERATURES
OF -50 DEGREES

AND SUMMER SUNLIGHT
THAT LASTS 24 HOURS A DAY

AND BOASTS THE LARGEST
NONPOLAR ICE FIELD ON EARTH.

THIS PLACE IS HOME

TO THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS
IN ALL OF CANADA,

AND DOWN THERE ARE
TREACHEROUS GLACIERS,

RAGING WHITE-WATER RIVERS,



AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF SQUARE MILES

OF EXTREME WILDERNESS.

IT'S EARLY SUMMER IN THE YUKON.

TEMPERATURES VARY DRAMATICALLY,

AND, OF COURSE, THERE ARE BEARS
JUST COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION.

THIS IS GONNA BE NO PICNIC.

WE'RE FLYING AS HIGH
AS THE HELICOPTER CAN GO NOW.

THE AIR IS SO THIN.

WHEN THE PILOT GIVES ME THE NOD,
I'M OUT OF HERE.

I'M PARACHUTING IN
FROM 10,000 FOOT

WITH MINIMUM EQUIPMENT,

AND MY CAMERA CREW
IS COMING WITH ME.

I'M HURLING TOWARDS THE EARTH
AT TERMINAL VELOCITY,

OVER 120 MILES AN HOUR.

THERE ARE HIGH MOUNTAINS
ALL AROUND ME.

THEY'RE TOO DANGEROUS
TO LAND ON,

SO I'M LOOKING FOR A PLATEAU.

MAN, THAT'S COLD.

THERE'S A LOT OF SNOW.

THERE'S A LOT OF ICE
UP THERE ON THE MOUNTAINS.

AND, REALLY, I WANT TO BE
TAKING SOME OF THIS STUFF

OFF THIS PARACHUTE.

THINGS LIKE
ALL OF THESE RIGGING LINES

WILL BE USEFUL FOR ME.

PARACHUTE CORD IS STRONG ENOUGH
TO SUPPORT MY BODY WEIGHT

AND IS A POTENTIAL LIFESAVER
IN THE MOUNTAINS.

AND ALSO, ACTUALLY,
THIS DROGUE SHEET

I CAN USE, AS WELL.

OKAY, IT STARTS.

MY FIRST CHALLENGE
IS THIS WALL OF HIGH MOUNTAINS

THAT GUARD THE SOUTHERN
ENTRANCE TO THE YUKON.

A CENTURY AGO, 100,000
HOPEFUL GOLD PROSPECTORS

TRIED TO CROSS EAST OF HERE

IN THE START OF A MARATHON
500-MILE JOURNEY

TO THE KLONDIKE.

ON THE WAY,
THEY SUFFERED EXHAUSTION,

STARVATION, EXPOSURE,
AND BEAR ATTACK.

63 WERE KILLED
IN A SINGLE AVALANCHE.

HARD WORK IN THE SNOW.

IT'S ABOUT KNEE-DEEP.

WE DON'T WANT TO
HANG AROUND LONG HERE.

ALL OF THIS FACE
IS BEING BAKED IN THE SUN,

AND IT'S GONNA GET
MORE DANGEROUS.

LET'S KEEP MOVING.

ON THE SOUTH-FACING SLOPE,
THE RISK OF AVALANCHE IS HIGH.

TRAVERSING IT ISN'T GETTING ME
OUT OF THE DANGER ZONE.

I WANT TO GET OFF HERE
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,

AND THERE'S ONE
QUICK ROUTE DOWN.

IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE SLIPPY HERE,

BUT I RECKON I'LL BE ABLE
TO SLIDE AND GLISSADE THIS BIT.

BUT THE DANGER OF GLISSADING
IS YOUR RUNOFF.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT.

OTHERWISE, YOU CAN
VERY EASILY JUST END UP

GOING STRAIGHT OFF
THE END OF A CLIFF.

BUT THE ONE THING I WANT TO TRY

IS WHETHER I CAN JUST USE
THIS DROGUE PARACHUTE

OFF MY SKYDIVING CHUTE

AND TRY AND USE IT
LIKE AN AIR BRAKE.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE,

BUT THERE'S NO REASON
WHY IT SHOULDN'T WORK.

WORKS ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE.

LET'S TRY IT.

OKAY, HERE GOES.

I'M GATHERING PACE
ON THE WET, CRUSTY SNOW.

IF I CATCH MY FOOT
AT THIS SPEED,

MY ANKLE WILL SNAP LIKE A TWIG.

WELL, THE DROGUE
SLOWED ME DOWN QUITE NICELY,

BUT I STILL WENT FAST.

I'M OFF THAT DANGEROUS
SNOW FACE,

BUT AT THIS LATITUDE,
59 DEGREES NORTH,

THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE IS FILLED
WITH ICE FIELDS AND GLACIERS

BLOCKING YOUR PATH
WHEREVER YOU HEAD.

MAN, LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

JUST EXTRAORDINARILY BEAUTIFUL,

BUT ALSO AS WILD
AND A REMOTE PLACE

AS YOU'RE EVER GONNA SEE.

LOOK AT IT.

AND UP HERE'S ACTUALLY
THE BIGGEST NONPOLAR ICE CAP

IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

AND LOOKING AT THIS PLACE,

IT REALLY IS JUST VAST,

BUT ALSO QUITE INTIMIDATING,
YOU KNOW?

I CAN TELL, WITH THIS,

DOWN THERE
IS GONNA BE HARD WORK.

OKAY.

THE GLACIER IS MOVING
UP TO A FOOT A DAY.

THIS PRESSURE
ON THE MILLIONS OF TONS OF ICE

CREATES CRACKS AND CREVASSES
THAT ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

IT'S EXACTLY THIS SORT OF STUFF

THAT YOU WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR
ON GLACIERS,

WHERE THE SNOW IS.

AND WHEN YOU'RE ON ICE,
THIS IS GENERALLY PRETTY SOLID.

BUT IT'S THE SNOW THAT OFTEN
COVERS BIG CREVASSES.

YOU GET, OFTEN,
JUST A THIN COVERING,

ONLY A COUPLE OF INCHES THICK.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S UNDER IT.

THESE CREVASSES CAN BE
HUNDREDS OF FEET DEEP,

WITH SHEER ICE WALLS
THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO CLIMB.

LOOK, YOU CAN SEE
WHAT I MEAN HERE.

THIS IS A NARROW ONE.

AND LOOK.
THINK THIS IS GOOD TO STAND ON?

THAT'S JUST GONNA DROP AWAY
DOWN THERE.

AND THESE ONES YOU MIGHT THINK
ARE QUITE HARMLESS,

BUT, ACTUALLY,
IT'S THE NARROW ONES

ARE OFTEN MORE DANGEROUS.

YOU GO DOWN IT,
AND THEN YOU JUST GET WEDGED.

YOU KEEP SINKING,
GETTING SQUEEZED BY IT.

THEY ACTUALLY CALL THESE
"SQUEEZERS" FOR THAT REASON.

KNOWN OF RESCUERS
HAVING TO USE PNEUMATIC DRILLS

TO CUT PEOPLE OUT OF THE ICE.

NAVIGATING ACROSS A GLACIER
IS FRAUGHT WITH DANGER.

THE CRACKS IN THE ICE
ARE GETTING WIDER,

AND FINDING ANY ROUTE OFF HERE
IS GONNA BE TOUGH.

SEE HERE, WE'RE GOING
LOWER DOWN THE GLACIER.

THESE CREVASSES ARE REALLY
STARTING TO OPEN UP HERE.

AND REALLY, TO TRY
AND CONTINUE MY WAY

ALONG THESE SORT OF RIDGES
IN RUBBER SHOES

WOULD JUST BE LETHAL.

BUT I RECKON, IF I WORK OUT
A WAY OF SECURING MYSELF,

I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET MYSELF
DOWN INTO ONE OF THESE GULLIES.

LET'S TRY THAT.

ONCE I'M IN THE HEART
OF THE GLACIER,

THE ONLY WAY THROUGH MEANS
RISKING A TERRIFYING DROP.

THE BIT THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT
IS DOWN THERE.

[ GRUNTS ]

I'M IN THE CANADIAN NORTHWEST,

LOOKING FOR A ROUTE
OFF A GLACIER.

THERE'S NOTHING AROUND HERE
TO TIE A ROPE TO,

SO I'M MAKING A BOLLARD
BY DIGGING DOWN INTO THE ICE.

REALLY, YOU WANT TO BE
AT LEAST 8 INCHES DEEP

SO YOU'RE THROUGH
ALL THIS ROTTED, LOOSE ICE

DOWN TO WHERE
IT'S NICE AND STRONG.

THERE WE GO.
THAT'S THE BETTER STUFF.

I CAN USE JUST THE BLACK TAPE
FROM THIS DROGUE

AND DRAPE THAT
AROUND THE ICE BOLLARD.

OKAY.

AND THEN I'VE JUST PUT

FIVE STRANDS
OF THE PARA CORD TOGETHER.

WELL OVER ONE MAN'S WEIGHT.

IT'S GOT FIVE OF THESE.

THAT SHOULD BE OKAY FOR ME.

AND THEN,
JUST FOR A CLASSIC RAPPEL,

PULL IT BETWEEN YOUR LEGS,
OVER YOUR SHOULDERS,

AND THIS SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.

I JUST HOPE THIS THING HOLDS.

SEEMS GOOD.

OKAY.

IT'S INCREDIBLY TIGHT
DOWN HERE,

BUT I'M COMMITTED NOW
AND COMPLETELY ON MY OWN.

[ ICE RATTLING ]

YOU CAN HEAR ALL OF THE ICE
THAT I'M BRINGING DOWN

JUST DISAPPEARING.

IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT KNOWING
WHETHER THESE SORT OF THINGS

ARE JUST WEAK BRIDGES
OR WHETHER THEY'RE SOLID.

[ GRUNTS ]

THIS ICE HERE, LOOK AT IT.

IT'S COMPLETELY SEE-THROUGH.

AND THIS IS ALL THE OLD,
REALLY OLD BLUE ICE,

BUT THIS REALLY IS NOW DEEP

IN THE HEART OF THE --
IN THE HEART OF THE GLACIER.

QUITE A SCARY PLACE TO BE.

I'LL TRY AND MOVE MY WEIGHT
DOWN TO THIS BIT HERE.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO JUMP THIS BIT
AND JUST HOPE --

I HOPE THAT HOLDS.

THE BIT THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT
IS DOWN THERE.

SEE WHERE ALL THE LITTLE
ICE CUBES ARE DISAPPEARING?

THAT'S GONNA BE JUST GOING

INTO ONE OF THESE SUB-GLACIAL
TUNNELS OF RUNNING WATER.

YOU GO DOWN ONE OF THOSE,
YOU WILL NEVER COME OUT.

BUT THERE'S NO WAY
AROUND THE ICE CHASM.

I'VE GOT TO CLIMB OVER IT.

I'M NERVOUS, AND THIS IS
GONNA TAKE ALL MY STRENGTH.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

AND THAT'S A SHAFT
I DON'T WANT TO BE GOING DOWN.

AND YOU JUST SEE HOW SLIPPERY
THIS BLUE ICE IS.

IT'S JUST GONNA RUN ACROSS IT.

I NEED TO USE THIS SORT OF HOLD

AND TRY TO SWING MY LEG
UP TO THERE.

OKAY.

ONE...TWO...THREE.

AND THAT IS WHAT I'VE
GOT TO CRAWL OUT OF,

BUT THAT LOOKS VERY...

VERY TIGHT.

I'M GONNA TRY
AND SQUEEZE MY WAY UP,

BUT I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING

IF I CAN GET THROUGH
THAT TINY GAP

AND ESCAPE THIS ICE DUNGEON.

OKAY.

THERE'S ABOUT ONE INCH.

THERE'S ABOUT ONE INCH
OF HEAD ROOM HERE.

AND, REALLY, I'M RIGHT UNDER...

THE MAIN WEIGHT OF THIS NOW.

OKAY, JUST GOT TO WRIGGLE OUT.
WHOA!

[ PANTING ]

OKAY.

WELL, I'M OUT OF THAT HOLE.

JUST...

AND THAT'S WHAT LIES AHEAD.

LOOK AT THAT FOR A VIEW.

THE TUNNEL HAS LED ME OUT
ONTO THE BOTTOM OF THE GLACIER,

AND AHEAD OF ME,

I CAN SEE THE GLACIAL STREAM
LEADS INTO A LAKE.

MY NEXT CHALLENGE
IS TO GET SOME FOOD.

THERE HE IS. HE'S JAMMED
IN THESE SHALLOWS HERE.

I'M IN THE CANADIAN NORTHWEST,

AND I'M NOW DOWN
BELOW THE TREE LINE.

IT'S 15 DEGREES WARMER HERE,

AND IT'S TIME
TO FIND SOME FOOD.

YOU CAN SEE THIS DAM HERE.

THIS HAS ACTUALLY
BEEN MADE BY BEAVERS.

LOOK, YOU SEE THE TEETH MARKS
ON ALL OF THIS.

THESE THINGS CAN BE
ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE.

I THINK THE BIGGEST ONE
EVER SEEN

IS OVER HALF A MILE LONG,
ALL MADE BY BEAVERS.

THE BEAVERS HAVE ABANDONED
THIS DAM,

BUT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE IT
TO TRAP SOMETHING.

ACTUALLY, LOOK.

THAT'S QUITE A NICE,
NATURAL KIND OF CHANNEL HERE.

AND I WILL BE ABLE TO USE THAT
AND THE DAM THEY'VE MADE

AND SEE
IF I CAN CATCH SOME FISH.

INSPIRED BY THE BEAVERS,

I'M GONNA EXTEND THE DAM AND
CREATE AN IMPROVISED FISH TRAP.

I'M TRYING TO SHAPE THIS
A BIT LIKE A FUNNEL

SO IT'S NICE AND EASY FOR ME
TO CORRAL THE FISH IN.

BUT ONCE THEY'RE HERE,

THEN IT'S HARDER FOR THEM
TO FIND THE EXIT AGAIN.

THERE SHOULD BE PIKE, GRAYLING,
AND TROUT IN THIS LAKE,

AND I'M HOPING TO SPOOK
A FEW OF THEM INTO MY TRAP

AND THEN CLOSE THE OPENING.

AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.

ALREADY, SEVERAL SUCKERFISH
HAVE STRAYED IN.

THEY'RE NOT MONSTERS, BUT
THERE'S A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM.

SEE, THERE ARE AT LEAST
FIVE OR SIX IN THERE NOW.

NOW ALL I'VE GOT TO DO
IS GET THEM OUT.

THERE HE IS,
JAMMED IN THESE SHALLOWS HERE.

IT'S A BASIC
BUT ANCIENT METHOD.

HITTING THE WATER HARD
CREATES SHOCK WAVES

THAT SHOULD STUN THE FISH.

CAUGHT ONE -- A LITTLE GRAYLING.

KIND OF HOPED
FOR MORE THAN THAT,

BUT THAT'S GONNA BE DINNER.

BUT BEFORE I CAN EAT,

I NEED TO FIND
A PLACE TO MAKE CAMP.

THERE'S ACTUALLY QUITE A NICE
FALLEN TREE TRUNK HERE,

AND THIS MIGHT NOT BE
A BAD PLACE

JUST TO TRY AND MAKE A SHELTER.

AND, YOU KNOW,
WHEREVER POSSIBLE,

YOU WANT TO USE
WHAT NATURE'S GIVEN YOU.

IF YOU'VE GOT THIS, USE IT.

AND THE GOOD THING
ABOUT MAKING A TREE HOUSE,

IT MEANS I'M GONNA BE
OFF THE GROUND FOR ANY BEARS.

AND, YEAH, 15 FOOT UP HERE,

MY SCENT'S GONNA BE
MUCH HARDER TO PICK UP.

AND EVERYTHING I'M GONNA NEED
IS RIGHT HERE.

CROSS POLES FIRST.

WHAT'S HARD
WITH JUST A SMALL KNIFE

IS BREAKING
A BIG PIECE OF WOOD LIKE THIS.

YOU GET THE FORK OF A TREE
AND USE IT LIKE A VICE,

AND THEN IT SNAPS
NICE AND EASILY.

THE BEST THING
I CAN USE FOR TWINE

ARE THESE SPRUCE ROOTS.

THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS
IS THAT THEY'RE THIN

AND THEY CAN BE, LIKE,
SOMETIMES 20 FOOT LONG.

THERE WE GO.

SPRUCE ROOT
IS SMALL IN DIAMETER,

BUT LIKE ROPE, IT'S FLEXIBLE,
DURABLE, AND VERY STRONG.

IF YOU JUST SPLIT THESE,

YOU CAN DOUBLE
THE AMOUNT OF TWINE YOU GET,

AND IT'S ALSO GONNA MAKE IT
EVEN EASIER TO TIE.

THIS IS GONNA HELP ME
WITH MY FIRST JOB --

BUILDING A LADDER TO GET ME
UP AND DOWN FROM MY SHELTER.

OKAY, NOW I'VE GOT A LADDER IN.

I'LL START PLACING SOME
OF THESE POLES AS A PLATFORM.

COTTONWOOD AND SPRUCE
ARE STRAIGHT AND STRONG --

PERFECT FOR A BED PLATFORM.

THEN WHAT I WANT TO DO
IS LACE SOME CROSS POLES,

AND THAT'S GONNA BE
MY SLEEPING PLATFORM.

AND I'M MAKING IT
ABOUT 3 1/2 FOOT WIDE

SO I DON'T FALL OFF
DURING THE NIGHT.

I CAN USE THE SOFTER TWIGS,
THEN, FOR BEDDING.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE
LAYING THESE SPRUCE BOUGHS

IS YOU DO IT
ALL IN ONE DIRECTION,

RATHER LIKE TILING A ROOF.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE
NICE AND SPRINGY,

AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET

ALL THESE POKY BITS OF BRANCH
STICKING INTO YOU.

BUT THIS IS QUITE NICE
AND COMFY NOW,

AND IT'S ALSO GONNA
INSULATE ME WELL.

MY CAMP BUILT,
IT'S NOW TIME TO EAT,

BUT WITH HUNGRY BEARS ABOUT,
I'M TAKING NO CHANCES.

REALLY, YOU WANT TO DO
ALL OF YOUR COOKING AND EATING

AT LEAST 100 YARDS
FROM YOUR CAMP.

I'VE ACTUALLY GOT ONE FRIEND,
HE WAS OUT MOOSE HUNTING,

AND HE DIDN'T DO THIS --
ATE HIS SUPPER JUST BY HIS TENT.

AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
BLACK BEAR CAME IN,

AND HE THOUGHT, "SCARE IT AWAY.
SHINE A TORCH IN ITS FACE."

BUT INSTEAD, THE BEAR
JUST RAN AT THE LIGHT,

AND THEY ONLY MANAGED TO SURVIVE

'CAUSE THE GUY MANAGED
TO SHOOT IT,

LITERALLY AS THE BEAR WAS
COMING THROUGH THE TENT FLAPS.

SEE THESE BEAR-CLAW MARKS
ALL THE WAY UP HERE,

AND WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THE
BEAR'S PROBABLY JUST COME ALONG,

HAD A SCRATCH, SHARPENED
ITS CLAWS, AND MOVED ON.

AND THEY DON'T LOOK PARTICULARLY
FRESH, BUT LOOK HOW HIGH IT.

THAT CAN'T BE
FAR OFF 10 FOOT UP THERE.

NOT A MILLION MILES AWAY
FROM HOW HIGH MY CAMP IS.

BEFORE I GET ONTO MY PLATFORM,

THERE'S ONE FINAL PRECAUTION
I'M GONNA TAKE.

AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO

BEFORE I BED DOWN FOR THE NIGHT

IS JUST CUT THESE RUNGS,

'CAUSE, ACTUALLY,

IF A BEAR WANTS TO GET ME
DOWN FROM UP HERE,

HE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO.

BUT LET'S NOT
MAKE IT EASY FOR HIM.

OKAY.

TRY AND GET SOME SLEEP.

BUT AT THIS LATITUDE,

WITH SUMMER SUNLIGHT
AROUND THE CLOCK,

THAT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY.

OH, IT'S ABOUT 11:30 AT NIGHT.

AND, YEAH, THIS IS REALLY
AS DARK AS IT GETS

WHEN YOU'RE THIS FAR NORTH.

AND THEY CALL THIS PLACE
THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN.

I CAN KIND OF SEE
WHAT THEY MEAN.

IT DOES MAKE TRYING TO SLEEP
REALLY HARD.

IT JUST FEELS LIKE
BASIC BROAD DAYLIGHT.

IN MY NEXT CHALLENGE,

I TRY AND MAKE PROGRESS
DOWN A RIVER

AND HIT SOME EXTREME
WHITE WATER.

I'M IN GOLD RUSH COUNTRY

IN THE EXTREME NORTHWEST
OF CANADA,

TRYING TO GET THROUGH
THE TOUGH FOREST TERRAIN.

MAN, CHECK THIS OUT.

WELL, FINDING THIS RIVER
IS GOOD NEWS.

AND IN A PLACE LIKE THIS,
WHERE THERE ARE SO FEW ROADS,

THESE RIVERS REALLY ARE
THE HIGHWAYS

THAT JUST CUT
THROUGH THE WILDERNESS.

BUT IT'S QUITE HIGH HERE.

BUT ALL OF THIS
LOOKS QUITE SOFT,

SO I'M GONNA CHECK THIS BIT OUT.

YEAH, THERE'S ALL
THIS LOOSE SHINGLE.

BUT YOU STILL WANT TO GET THIS,
THE SAND --

YOU WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

THE SCREE IS LOOSER
THAN I THOUGHT.

ROCKS THE SIZE OF MY HEAD
ARE FLYING PAST ME.

I NEED TO CHANGE DIRECTION
TO AVOID BEING TAKEN OUT.

IT'S HARD TO READ A SCREE SLOPE
FROM THE TOP,

AND THAT WAS DEFINITELY
HAIRIER THAN I'D IMAGINED.

IT WAS ACTUALLY A BIT FASTER
THAN I THOUGHT.

AND THAT NICE, SOFT SAND
AT THE TOP

TURNED JUST INTO ROCK
AND LITTLE PEBBLES,

AND I WAS JUST --
MAN, I WAS OFF.

A FEW BIG ZINGERS
CAME FLYING PAST MY HEAD.

TRYING TO KIND OF GET OUT
OF THE WAY OF THEM TO THE SIDE,

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS,
REALLY, I GOT A BIT LUCKY THEN.

UNTIL RECENTLY, RIVERS WERE
THE MAIN TRANSPORT ROUTES

THROUGH THIS PART OF CANADA.

THE GOLD RUSH PIONEERS

TRAVELED HUNDREDS OF MILES
ON HOMEMADE RAFTS

TO GET TO THE GOLD FIELDS,
BUT IT WAS DANGEROUS.

MANY LOST THEIR LIVES
IN THE TREACHEROUS RAPIDS.

NOW THESE RIVERS
ARE LITTLE USED,

BUT PEOPLE
STILL GET INTO TROUBLE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER,
A CANOE HAS BEEN LEFT.

I COULD USE IT
TO TRAVEL DOWNSTREAM,

BUT, FIRST,
I NEED TO CROSS THIS RIVER.

BUT IT'S SO DANGEROUS,

AND, REALLY, PEOPLE DIE
IN RIVERS LIKE THIS EVERY YEAR.

REALLY DECEPTIVELY
FAST-FLOWING, THAT.

MASSIVE AMOUNT OF FORCE
COMING THROUGH THE WATER.

I'M GONNA NEED SOME SUPPORT,

AND THIS LIVING COTTONWOOD
IS FLEXIBLE.

IT WON'T BREAK UNDER PRESSURE.

NOW, I WANT TO BE IN AND ACROSS
THIS RIVER AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.

UGH!
THAT'S SLIPPY.

THESE ROCKS ARE GREASY.

THE FORCE OF A RIVER RUNNING
AT CLOSE TO 10 MILES AN HOUR

IS ENORMOUS,

AND EVEN WITH THE WATER
JUST OVER MY KNEES,

IT'S PUSHING ME OFF MY FEET
ALL THE TIME.

I'M HALFWAY ACROSS,

BUT IT'S GETTING HARDER,
FASTER, AND DEEPER.

THIS IS GONNA BE THE DEEP BIT,
I CAN TELL.

YOU SEE, THE MAIN FORCE
OF THE WATER'S GOING HERE.

IT'S NOT THAT WIDE,

PROBABLY ABOUT 15,
MAYBE 20 FOOT.

BUT I'M GONNA HAVE TO CROSS.

OKAY.

THE FORCE OF THE RIVER
RIPS ME OFF MY FEET,

AND I'M STRUGGLING
NOT TO BE SWEPT DOWNSTREAM.

[ PANTING ]

OH, MAN!

LIKE I SAID, MORE POWERFUL
THAN YOU IMAGINE.

AND THAT'S ONLY THIGH DEEP,

AND THERE WAS NO WAY
I COULD FIGHT THAT.

THAT JUST TOOK ME.

OKAY, WE'RE ACROSS.

LET'S GO
AND CHECK THIS CANOE OUT.

THIS MODERN COMPOSITE CANOE

IS TOUGH ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND
ENORMOUS PRESSURES,

BUT IT'S BEEN BATTERED
BY THE FORCE OF THE WATER.

ALMOST AS IF IT'S BUCKLED HALF.

AND LOOK. THERE'S AT LEAST
ONE BIG, GAPING HOLE IN IT.

CAN'T GET IT OUT OF THE WATER.

LOGJAMS LIKE THIS
ARE DANGEROUS.

PEOPLE DROWN IN THEM,

TRAPPED UNDER TREES
BY FAST-FLOWING WATER.

SHE IS COMPLETELY
WEDGED IN HERE.

I'M NOT EVEN SURE, ACTUALLY,
IF I CAN GET THIS THING OUT.

HERE WE GO.
HERE WE GO.

[ GRUNTS ]

THE FORCE OF THE WATER

MAKES THE CANOE
FEEL 10 TIMES AS HEAVY,

AND IT'S A REAL STRUGGLE
TO PULL IT CLEAR.

OKAY.
ONE, TWO, THREE.

BUT IF I CAN PATCH IT UP,

I CAN MAKE REAL PROGRESS
DOWN THIS RIVER.

FIRST, I NEED TO MAKE
SOME NEW SUPPORT STRUTS

TO GIVE THE CANOE BACK
ITS SHAPE AND RIGIDITY.

OKAY, NOW I'VE GOT NEW STRUTS.

ALL I'M GONNA NEED IS SOMETHING
JUST TO REPAIR THIS HOLE.

AND THIS SPRUCE TREE
HAS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED.

ALL OF THIS RESIN SEEPS OUT

WHERE THE TREE HAS GOT DAMAGED.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THESE BRANCHES
IN THE WINTERTIME,

HEAVILY LADEN WITH SNOW,

AND THEY'LL OFTEN
CRACK AND BREAK.

AND THE TREE JUST OOZES THIS
AS A WAY OF HEALING ITSELF.

IT SEALS THE CRACK OVER,

AND THAT REALLY IS ALL I'M
TRYING TO DO WITH MY CANOE.

THERE YOU GO.
THERE'S PLENTY IN THERE.

LET'S GO MELT IT DOWN.

I'M HEATING THE RESIN
UNTIL IT MELTS.

THEN I'M GONNA THICKEN IT
TO MAKE A PASTE

TO USE AS A NATURAL SEALANT.

THEN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS GET
SOME OF THIS WHITE ASH.

AND THAT'S JUST GONNA
THICKEN IT UP.

YOU WANT IT TO GO
LIKE STODGY PEANUT BUTTER.

YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY,
THIS OLD WICKER SEATING

COULD ACT
AS REALLY GOOD FIBERGLASS

TO PUT UNDER -- UNDER THE SEAL.

LIKE THAT, AND ONE ON THE TOP.

OKAY.

THE MOLTEN RESIN HARDENS
AROUND THE WICKER FIBER

TO CREATE A WATERTIGHT SEAL.

OKAY, YOU LEAVE THAT NOW
TO SET...

AND THEN GO AND MAKE SOMETHING
THAT'S GONNA ACT AS A PADDLE.

GOOD SURVIVAL IS ABOUT

COMBINING WHAT YOU
CAN FIND AROUND YOU

WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.

AND THAT'S THE FRAME.

AND TO FINISH IT OFF,

I'M GONNA USE A DRY BAG
FROM MY RUCKSACK

TO WRAP AROUND IT
FOR A PADDLE BLADE.

JUST ABOUT READY TO GO NOW.

BEFORE I LAUNCH,
JUST GONNA PUT THIS RUCKSACK --

IT'S GOT SOME BIT
OF BUOYANCY IN IT --

PUT IT ON MY FRONT
RATHER THAN ON MY BACK.

AND AT LEAST IT MEANS,
IF I DO GO IN,

THIS IS GONNA KEEP ME FACING UP

AND FACING FEETFIRST DOWNSTREAM.

THESE OPEN
CANADIAN-STYLE CANOES

ARE A CHALLENGE
EVEN ON FLAT WATER,

SO THIS IS GONNA SERIOUSLY TEST
MY BALANCE AND MY REACTIONS.

THE SPEED OF THE CURRENT

IMMEDIATELY WHIPS ME
OFF DOWNSTREAM.

MY REPAIRS
SEEM TO BE HOLDING UP,

AND THERE'S NO WATER COMING IN,

BUT THERE'S A TOUGHER TEST
IN STORE JUST AROUND THE BEND.

THE WATER IS GETTING ROUGHER
BY THE MINUTE,

AND I'M STRUGGLING TO KEEP
THE CANOE FACING DOWNSTREAM.

IF IT TURNS SIDE-ON,

IT WILL FLIP OVER
IN AN INSTANT,

THROWING ME INTO THE ICY RIVER.

EVENTUALLY,
AS THE RAPIDS BUILD,

THE INEVITABLE HAPPENS.

IN THIS FREEZING GLACIAL WATER,

I'VE ONLY GOT A FEW MINUTES
BEFORE I DEVELOP HYPOTHERMIA.

WITHOUT MY CANOE,
I'M ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE

AND AT THE MERCY OF THE RIVER.

I'VE GOT TO GET OUT.

[ PANTING ]

COLD. COLD WATER.

AND I HUNG ON
FOR AS LONG AS I COULD.

THERE WAS NO WAY THAT CANOE WAS
GONNA STAY UPRIGHT IN THAT WAVE,

AND THAT'S LONG GONE.

I'VE MADE IT OUT OF THE RIVER,

BUT NEXT, I'M HEADING DEEP
INTO THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH.

QUARTZ.

AND THAT MEANS WHAT THEY WERE
MINING FOR IN HERE WAS GOLD.

I'M IN NORTHERN CANADA,

FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS
OF THE GOLD RUSH PIONEERS.

LIKE THEM,
I'VE CLIMBED MOUNTAINS

AND BATTLED MY WAY
DOWN DANGEROUS WHITE WATERS,

AND NOW I'M ABOUT TO ENTER
A DISUSED GOLD MINE.

MAN, LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

IT'S JUST BEEN
COMPLETELY TRASHED.

LOOK, IT'S LIKE THE WHOLE ROOF
JUST COLLAPSED.

YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER,
THIS PLACE IN THE WINTERTIME --

GET OVER 10 FOOT OF SNOW.

PROBABLY THE WEIGHT OF THAT
BROUGHT ALL OF THIS DOWN.

TEMPERATURES HERE DROP
BELOW -50 DEGREES,

MAKING IT ONE OF
THE COLDEST PLACES IN CANADA.

ANY STRUCTURE WILL SOON SUCCUMB

TO THE RAVAGES
OF THE CANADIAN WINTER.

I WANT TO GET DOWN
INTO THE MINE WORKINGS

TO SEE IF THERE'S
ANYTHING USEFUL LEFT BEHIND.

SEE THIS?

IN RUNS ALL THE WAY
INTO THE HILLSIDE.

I GUESS, CHECK THIS OUT --

I'M GONNA NEED
SOME SORT OF TORCH.

OLD MINES ARE DANGEROUS PLACES,
SO I'M NOT GOING IN THERE

WITHOUT SOMETHING
TO LIGHT MY WAY

AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT I
CAN FIND THAT WILL HELP ME.

THAT, I CAN USE.

HANG ON. BACK UP.

GET A LOAD OF THIS --

BURLAP SACKING.

THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS STUFF
IS THAT, WHEN THEY MAKE IT,

THEY ACTUALLY SOAK THIS
IN KEROSENE

AS A WAY TO STOP THE BUGS
EATING IT,

SO THAT IS GONNA BURN WELL.

THIS BURLAP SACKING
WOULD HAVE BEEN USED

TO CARRY FOODSTUFFS
LIKE COFFEE AND BEANS,

BUT I CAN USE IT
TO MAKE A FLAMING TORCH.

WRAPPED TIGHTLY
AROUND THESE SPRUCE BOUGHS,

IT WILL BURN BRIGHTER
AND FOR LONGER.

LET'S GO AND SEE
WHAT WE CAN FIND.

IT'S A DARK AND EERIE PLACE
DOWN HERE,

BUT I'M HOPING TO FIND
SOME MORE TOOLS

THAT CAN HELP ME SURVIVE.

ACTUALLY, LOOK.

QUARTZ.

AND THAT MEANS WHAT THEY WERE
MINING FOR IN HERE WAS GOLD.

MINERS RISKED THEIR LIVES

VENTURING DEEP
INTO THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH

IN SEARCH OF WEALTH.

LOOKS LIKE SOME SORT
OF MAIN -- MAIN SHAFT HERE.

YOU'VE GOT THE RAIL TRACKS
DOWN HERE.

BUT IT'S COLD, YOU KNOW?

OKAY, IT'S KIND OF SIX OF ONE,
HALF A DOZEN OF THE OTHER

WHICH WAY YOU'RE GONNA GO.

BUT EITHER WAY,
I WANT TO MARK IT --

MAKE A SIMPLE ARROW HERE.

THESE TUNNELS
ALL LOOK THE SAME,

SO IT'S VITAL
TO MARK THE JUNCTIONS

SO YOU CAN FIND YOUR WAY BACK
IF YOU NEED TO.

OKAY, LET'S GO THIS WAY.

LOOK AT ALL THESE
WOODEN SUPPORTS, AS WELL.

OKAY, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE
LEANING AGAINST THOSE.

YOU DON'T KNOW
HOW ROTTEN THESE ARE,

AND, ALSO,
WHAT THEY'RE HOLDING UP

IS BASICALLY THE MOUNTAIN.

HANG ON. LOOK.
THERE'S A HOLE HERE.

GOLD MINES OFTEN HAVE
MANY LEVELS,

WITH EXITS THAT MIGHT BRING YOU
OUT FURTHER DOWN THE MOUNTAIN,

AND THAT COULD LEAD
TO A TRACK OR AN ACCESS ROAD.

GRAB THE TORCH.

ACTUALLY, LOOK,
THERE'S MORE OF A LEDGE.

BUT LOOK, YOU SEE,
IT DROPS STRAIGHT DOWN THERE,

DOWN TO ANOTHER HOLE.

YOU SEE THAT?

I'M GONNA DROP IT DOWN.
YOU'LL SEE.

OKAY.

THE DEEPER I GO,
THE MORE NERVOUS I BECOME,

AND YOU CAN ALMOST FEEL
THE WEIGHT OF THE MOUNTAIN

ON TOP OF YOU.

DOWN ON THIS LOWER LEVEL,
THE LABYRINTH CONTINUES.

THERE'S A WHOLE NOTHER --
WHOLE NOTHER TUNNEL DOWN HERE.

BUT NOW I'M EVEN DEEPER
INTO THE MINE,

THERE'S A WHOLE NEW DANGER.

THERE'S NOT MUCH OXYGEN
DOWN HERE.

WE NEED TO BE GOING BACK.

I'VE VENTURED INTO THE DEPTHS
OF A GOLD MINE,

AND NOW,
HUNDREDS OF FEET UNDERGROUND,

I'M IN SEARCH OF A WAY OUT.

ALL OF THIS IS -- ALL OF THIS
IS ICE ON THE FLOOR.

WATCH OUT.
IT'S GONNA BE SLIPPY.

THE PRESENCE OF ICE
IS A GOOD SIGN.

THE TEMPERATURE IN THE MINE

REMAINS CONSTANT
AND ABOVE FREEZING

UNLESS COLDER AIR
BLOWS IN FROM OUTSIDE.

SO THIS MAY WELL INDICATE
THERE'S AN EXIT,

BUT I'VE GOT A PROBLEM.

DON'T DIE. DON'T DIE.
KEEP GOING.

MY TORCH HAS BEEN BURNING
FOR A LONG TIME,

AND NOW IT'S ABOUT TO GO OUT.

THAT'S WATER. LOOK.

THIS ISN'T A GOOD SIGN.

IT PROBABLY MEANS THAT
ANY LOWER SHAFTS ARE FLOODED.

[ GRUNTS ]
IT'S QUITE DEEP.

I'M LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT
ON THIS LEVEL,

AND THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE.

I'M GONNA KEEP THIS BURNING
WITH THE OXYGEN.

YOU CAN SEE,
IT'S ACTUALLY STRUGGLING.

IF THE OXYGEN CONTENT
IN THE AIR FALLS TO AROUND 16%,

THE TORCH WILL GO OUT.

AND IF IT DROPS ANY LOWER,

IT'S GONNA BE A STRUGGLE
TO BREATHE.

DON'T DIE. DON'T DIE.

[ GROANS ]

IT'S OUT,
AND NOW I'M IN DARKNESS.

HAVE YOU GOT THAT NIGHT VISION
ON THE CAMERA?

JUST TURN THAT ON.

USING INFRARED,
THE CAMERA CAN SEE ME,

BUT WITH MY TORCH EXTINGUISHED

AND ME SLIPPING
ON THE TREACHEROUS ICE FLOOR,

I'M COMPLETELY BLIND.

THIS IS NO TIME TO PANIC.

IT'LL BE ALL TOO EASY TO
TRIP HERE AND BREAK AN ANKLE --

OR WORSE, FALL DOWN A SHAFT.

NOW, THERE YOU GO.
YOU SEE THE PINPRICK OF LIGHT?

YOU SEE IT?
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE TUNNEL.

STRAIGHT OUT.

THAT'S GONNA BE OUR WAY OUT.

FINALLY, I CAN SEE DAYLIGHT.

I FEEL FRESH AIR
BLOWING ON MY FACE.

[ SIGHS ]

WHEW!

I'VE RARELY BEEN THAT GRATEFUL
TO FEEL THE SUN ON MY FACE.

I FOLLOWED IN THE FOOTSTEPS
OF THE GOLD RUSH PIONEERS

ACROSS MOUNTAINS,
DOWN RAGING WHITE-WATER RIVERS,

AND NOW THROUGH THE LABYRINTH
OF A GOLD MINE.

I MAY NOT HAVE FOUND GOLD,

BUT I CROSSED SOME OF THE MOST
DRAMATIC TERRAIN ON THE PLANET,

SURVIVED SOME
HEART-STOPPING CHALLENGES,

AND GROWN TO RESPECT
THIS AWE-INSPIRING LAND.

IF YOU LIVE SOMEWHERE
AS REMOTE AS THIS,

THAT'S HOW YOU GET AROUND,

AND IT'S HOW
I'M GETTING OUT OF HERE.