Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 4, Episode 4 - Texas - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.
WHOO!

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

FROM SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
PLACES ON EARTH.

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

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

WITHOUT THE RIGHT
SURVIVAL SKILLS.

NOW, I'M IN ONE
OF THE LEAST KNOWN,

LEAST POPULATED REGIONS
OF AMERICA...

...LOCKING HORNS WITH DEEP
RAVINES AND HIDDEN CHASMS...

BAD, BAD PLACE!

...THE NORTHERN FRONTIER



OF THE MIGHTY CHIHUAHUAN
DESERT, WESTERN TEXAS.

THEY CALL THIS BIG COUNTRY.

[ SNAKE RATTLING ]
THERE'S NOTHING ON THIS.

AND YOU TAKE IT ON
ONLY IF YOU DARE.

Beneath me
is the Chihuahuan Desert,

and it's one of the largest
deserts in North America --

just vast --
but it's also empty.

There's hardly any habitation
there at all.

IT'S KNOWN SIMPLY
AS EL DESPOBLADO --

THE LAND OF NO PEOPLE.

800 MILES LONG
AND 250 MILES WIDE,

IT STRETCHES FROM ARIZONA
THROUGH TEXAS

AND DEEP INTO MEXICO.

THIS IS FRONTIER COUNTRY
AT ITS WILDEST.



And every year, people attempt
to cross that desert border

between Mexico and the U.S.,

but many don't make it.

If you don't respect this place,
it will kill you.

Okay, Bear, we're coming up
on 8,000 feet now.

You better get ready
to jump.

Good luck down there.
You're gonna need it.

SKYDIVING FROM A BIPLANE IS
ANYTHING BUT STRAIGHTFORWARD.

THE FASTEST AND SIMPLEST WAY

IS FOR THE PILOT
TO INVERT THE PLANE --

FLIP IT UPSIDE DOWN --
AND DROP ME OUT.

IT MIGHT BE STOMACH-CHURNING,

BUT IT'S
AN EFFECTIVE DEPLOYMENT.

THIS IS A FIRST FOR ME,

BUT IF I CATCH THE TAIL
ON EXIT,

IT'S GAME OVER.

MY MISSION IS TO SHOW YOU
HOW TO STAY ALIVE

LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE IT
BACK TO CIVILIZATION.

ALL I'M TAKING IS
A FEW BASIC SURVIVAL TOOLS,

AND MY CREW'S COMING WITH ME.

THERE'S THE PLANE OUT OF HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE HELL
I'M GONNA LAND.

THIS IS ONE
OF THE MOST SCORCHED REGIONS

OF NORTH AMERICA.

TEMPERATURES SOAR INTO
THE HUNDREDS FOR MONTHS ON END.

AND ALREADY FROM HERE, I CAN
FEEL THE HEAT OF THE DESERT.

THIS IS JUST GONNA BE A CASE
OF DODGE THE CACTI.

WHOO!

ON THE GROUND...

BUT STRAIGHT INTO ONE
OF THESE CACTUS.

WELL, LET'S GET THIS PARACHUTE
STOWED AND LEAVE IT HERE.

YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE WHO GET
LOST DO SO WITH NOTHING.

OKAY, LET'S GET MOVING.

THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT
IS BRUTALLY HOT AND BONE DRY.

MOST AREAS GET LESS THAN
ONE INCH OF RAIN A MONTH.

OUT HERE, STAYING HYDRATED

IS GOING TO BE
YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY VITAL

AND THE KEY TO SURVIVAL
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

BONES EVERYWHERE --

THAT'S AN OLD COYOTE.

HARSH PLACE.

ACTUALLY, IT MIGHT BE WORTH

TAKING A COUPLE OF THESE
WITH ME.

OLD COYOTE BONES LIKE THESE
HAVE A THOUSAND USES,

AND THEY'RE LIGHT TO CARRY.

SO, I'M GONNA HEAD
FOR THE HIGH GROUND UP THERE

AND THEN GET OUR BEARINGS,

GET A BIT OF THE LIE
OF THE LAND AROUND HERE.

GETTING TO HIGHER GROUND

WILL GIVE YOU AN UNDERSTANDING
OF THE LANDSCAPE

AND SHOW
WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST.

YOU SEE ON THE HORIZON THERE --

THOSE ARE
THE SIERRA RICA MOUNTAINS.

AND JUST SHORT OF THAT
IS THE RIO GRANDE --

SEPARATES MEXICO FROM THE U.S.,

ONE OF THE MOST PATROLLED
BORDERS IN THE WORLD.

IF YOU CAN REACH THAT,
YOU'RE GONNA FIND SOMEONE.

BUT, YEAH,
BETWEEN HERE AND THERE

IS JUST TERRAIN THAT SAYS,
"TAKE ME ON IF YOU DARE."

IN THIS ENVIRONMENT,

COVERING MILES IS PUNISHING.

BUT WITH THE RIGHT MIND-SET,

IT'S POSSIBLE TO GET OVER IT
QUICKLY AND EASILY.

PARKOUR IS A TECHNIQUE ADOPTED
BY THE FRENCH MILITARY.

YOU NEED SPEED, BALANCE,
AND MOMENTUM,

SHIFTING THE WEIGHT
OF YOUR BODY

AND TAKING
THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE.

GET THIS RIGHT,

AND IT'S AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF
COVERING ROUGH TERRAIN FAST.

AS IF THE DESERT
WASN'T HARSH ENOUGH,

JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE
LIES A LETHAL REMINDER

OF WHEN ALL THIS WAS RANCHLAND.

LOOK, YOU CAN SEE THESE STONES
JUST IN A CIRCLE LIKE THIS.

THAT'S A VERY,
VERY UNNATURAL SHAPE,

WHICH MEANS, MORE THAN LIKELY,

THIS IS A HUNTER'S TRAP
OF SOME SORT.

AND I'VE WORKED WITH HUNTERS
ALL AROUND THE WORLD,

AND THIS IS VERY TYPICAL
OF WHAT THEY'LL DO --

LEAVE THEM IN THIS SHAPE

NOT ONLY SO THEY
CAN FIND IT AGAIN

BUT ALSO AS A WARNING
TO OTHER PEOPLE

IF THEY'RE PASSING THIS WAY.

ACTUALLY, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN
JUST TRIGGER THIS.

OKAY, WATCH OUT.

WHAT HAPPENS IS AN ANIMAL
WILL COME ALONG

AND TREAD
IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS --

OH, GOD,
THAT'S GOT TO BE NASTY.

BIG TRAP, AS WELL.

THE TRAP IS TETHERED
TO A LENGTH OF ROPE.

FINDING SOMETHING LIKE THIS
COULD BE A REAL LIFESAVER.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF WEIGHT
TO CARRY,

BUT I'VE GOT THREADS
OF STRING FROM THIS,

GOOD STRONG ROPE IF WE NEED IT.

GOOD FIND.

MUCH OF THIS AREA IS MESA --

A FLAT PLATEAU
SHAPED OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS.

THEY TOWER
HIGH ABOVE THE DESERT FLOOR.

TO FIND WATER, YOU MUST HEAD
DOWN, FOLLOWING THE CANYONS.

LET'S TRY UP HERE.

BUT THIS ISN'T EASY TERRAIN,

AND YOU'RE FACED
WITH A TICKING-BOMB SCENARIO --

COVERING ENOUGH GROUND

BEFORE THE NEED FOR WATER
REACHES CRITICAL.

OH, IT'S NEVER EASY, IS IT?

IT MUST BE A GOOD 60 FOOT
STRAIGHT DOWN, THIS.

WELL, I DO WANT SOME WAY OF
GETTING OFF THIS HIGH GROUND.

FACED WITH A SITUATION
LIKE THIS,

YOU'VE GOT TWO CHOICES --
GO BACK OR FIND A WAY ACROSS.

OKAY, I'VE GOT AN IDEA.

AND WHAT I HAVE GOT IS THIS ROPE
AND THIS OLD TRAP.

BUT I KNOW FOR SURE

I'VE NOT GOT ENOUGH ROPE

TO REACH 60-PLUS FOOT
DOWN THERE.

BUT THERE IS PROBABLY ENOUGH

TO REACH ACROSS TO JUST
THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS GULLY,

AND THAT'S PROBABLY
ONLY ABOUT 30 FOOT.

I CAN IMPROVISE SOME SORT
OF THROWING DEVICE HERE,

LIKE A GRAPPLING HOOK,

OUT OF THIS,
AND GET IT ACROSS TO THAT.

GRAPPLING HOOKS WERE FIRST
INVENTED BY THE ROMANS.

THEIR SAILORS USED THEM
DURING SHIP-TO-SHIP BATTLES,

THROWN
INTO THE ENEMY'S RIGGING,

THAT DRAG THEM CLOSER
BEFORE BOARDING.

THERE WE GO.

NOW I'VE GOT TWO FOOT STIRRUPS
FROM THE TRAP.

I'M GONNA
JUST PUT THESE TOGETHER

AND THEN...

...SPLICE THEM THROUGH THAT.

THAT WILL MAKE, LIKE,

A PRETTY ROUGH-AND-READY,
RUDIMENTARY GRAPPLING HOOK.

GONNA SPLICE THEM LIKE THIS --
AN OLD NAVAL TECHNIQUE --

AND THE REASON IT'S GOOD

IS IT'S NOT ONLY STRONGER,
THE KNOTS.

IT ALSO USES UP LESS ROPE.

FINALLY, FOLLOW THE PATTERN
OF THE ROPE BACK ON ITSELF.

OKAY, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET
THIS THING ACROSS.

BUT THROWING A ROPE ACROSS
A 30-FOOT CANYON IS NEVER EASY.

[ SIGHS ]

TRULY TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE THROW.

THAT'S THE AIMER.
NEXT TIME I GET IT.

THE DANGER HERE IS THROWING
YOURSELF OVER THE EDGE,

ALONG WITH THE ROPE,

SO MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT
A STRONG FOOTING

AND KEEP YOUR FEET CLEAR
OF THE COILS.

BULL'S-EYE.

FEELS LIKE IT'S CAUGHT.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY AS GOOD
AS I'M GONNA GET.

LET'S BRING THIS BACK.
OKAY.

FACING TERRAIN LIKE THIS,

A ROPE IS TOO PRECIOUS
TO LEAVE BEHIND.

ONCE I GET ACROSS,
I WANT THIS BACK.

WHAT I'VE STILL GOT, THOUGH,
IS A CHAIN FROM THE TRAP,

AND THEN THIS BIT OF BONE,
AS WELL.

LET'S GET THIS AROUND HERE.

THREADING THE ROPE
THROUGH THE CHAIN

SHOULD STOP IT SNAGGING
WHEN I TRY TO RETRIEVE IT.

WELL, WHAT I DO
IS USE THIS BONE

TO GO STRAIGHT THROUGH
THE SPLICE OF BOTH STRANDS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE MIND-SET
YOU NEED TO BE IN.

YOU'VE GOT TO IMPROVISE.

NOW TO MAKE A CORD
FROM THE LEFTOVER ROPE.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE
THE RETRIEVABLE TRIGGER,

AND THEN ONCE I'M ACROSS
AND PAID ALL OF THIS STUFF OUT,

ONCE THIS PULLS OUT,

THAT'S GONNA RELEASE
AND COME THROUGH.

OKAY, LET'S GET THIS SET
AND GIVE IT A GO.

THE TYROLEAN TRAVERSE
IS A METHOD

USED BY CLIMBERS
AND MOUNTAIN TROOPS

TO GET FROM ONE HIGH POINT
TO ANOTHER.

WITH YOUR TORSO ABOVE THE ROPE,
LOOP ONE LEG OVER

AND ALLOW THE OTHER TO HANG
DOWN AND ACT AS BALANCE.

THE ROPE'S HOLDING SO FAR.

THIS IS GOOD.

IT'S DEFINITELY QUITE A SQUEEZE
ON THE OLD MEAT AND TWO VEG,

BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT

THIS IS A LONG,
LONG WAY DOWN, THIS.

THIS IS WORKING
QUITE NICELY,

BUT --
[ SNAP ]

AAH!

[ GRUNTS ]

BAD PLACE
FOR THE ANCHOR TO SLIP!

BAD, BAD PLACE!

I'M IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS
OF WESTERN TEXAS

IN THE BRUTAL
CHIHUAHUAN DESERT.

I'VE THROWN A ROPE
ACROSS A 30-FOOT CHASM,

BUT MY IMPROVISED
GRAPPLING HOOK

HAS SLIPPED ON THE LOOSE ROCK
AT JUST THE WRONG TIME.

[ SNAP ]
AAH!

[ GRUNTS ]

BAD PLACE
FOR THE ANCHOR TO SLIP!

BAD, BAD PLACE!

I WANT TO GET OFF THIS ROPE,
AND FAST.

THE ANCHOR HAS HELD,
BUT ONLY JUST.

LET'S TRY AND GET
THIS ROPE BACK.

OKAY.

I SHOULD BE ABLE
TO JUST PULL THIS STRING,

AND THAT BONE SHOULD POP OUT.

COOL.

NOW, THIS ROPE, THEN,
SHOULD BE FREE.

GOOD JOB.

PLAN A ROUTE DOWN FROM HERE.

LOOKS MUCH MORE
STRAIGHTFORWARD, ACTUALLY.

[ SCOFFS ]

BLOODY, BLOODY, BLOODY CACTUS.

I SPENT MY LIFE PICKING
RUDDY THINGS OUT OF MY LEG.

UGH.

ACTUALLY,
THIS ISN'T A BAD PLACE

TO TRY AND DIG
FOR A BIT OF WATER.

OFTEN, THESE RIVERBEDS
THAT LOOK DRY --

ONCE YOU GET DOWN
UNDER THE SURFACE OF IT,

YOU CAN OFTEN FIND MOISTURE.

YEAH, LOOK. SEE THAT,
JUST AN INCH OR SO DOWN?

OH, MAN, LOOK.

THAT FEELS
COOLER AND WETTER ALREADY.

COOLER AND WETTER,
BUT NOT WET ENOUGH TO DRINK.

AND THAT'S KIND OF AS GOOD
AS I'M GETTING.

OUT HERE, YOU NEED AT LEAST
A GALLON OF WATER A DAY

TO STAVE OFF DEHYDRATION.

WITHOUT IT, YOU BEGIN
TO FEEL DISORIENTATED,

SUFFERING HEADACHES
AND NAUSEA.

STRAIGHT TOWARDS US --
VULTURES.

PICK THEM OUT?

THESE BIRDS ARE NATURE'S
TRUE OPPORTUNISTS,

AND THEY COULD BE A REAL HELP
TO THE SURVIVOR.

THEY CAN LEAD YOU TO A FRESH
KILL, AND SO OFTEN,

THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY
OF SURVIVING

IS JUST TO BECOME
A SCAVENGER YOURSELF.

LET'S GET DOWN THERE.

AND LOOK AT THEM
ALL CIRCLING ABOVE.

AND THIS IS
WHAT THEY'RE AFTER --

THIS STINKING, ROTTEN
DEER CARCASS.

MAN, THAT HONKS.

BUT LOOK.
THIS IS JUST WAY GONE.

AND REALLY, YOU KNOW,

THERE'S NOTHING ON THIS
FOR ME TO EAT.

VULTURES HAVE

A HIGHER STOMACH-ACID CONTENT
THAN HUMANS

AND CAN TOLERATE
FAR MORE BACTERIA,

SO WHAT'S GOOD FOR THEM IS
DEFINITELY NOT GOOD FOR ME.

THESE ARID LANDS ARE HARSH
AND UNFORGIVING --

NATURE AT ITS MOST BRUTAL --

BUT WITH THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE,
YOU CAN FIND WATER HERE.

NOW, LOOK, STRAWBERRY PITAYA.

SEE THESE VERY DISTINCT,
RED TOPS TO THEM?

IF YOU CAN GET PAST THE SPIKES
AND THE SPINES,

THEY'RE GOOD TO KEEP HYDRATED.

WHAT YOU'VE GOT INSIDE
IS ALL OF THIS...

NICE FRUIT.

AND THAT'S TRULY GORGEOUS.

COULD BE WORTH

KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR MORE
OF THOSE, IF YOU SEE THEM.

AHEAD OF ME
LIES MY DEADLIEST CHALLENGE.

I COME FACE TO FACE WITH ONE OF
AMERICA'S MOST LETHAL SNAKES.

THERE'S NO WAY I CAN
JUST STICK A HAND IN THERE.

ONE BITE FROM THAT
CAN KILL A MAN.

WHOO!

I'M BATTLING THE DEEP RAVINES
AND CANYONS OF WESTERN TEXAS.

TO THE SOUTH
LIES THE MIGHTY RIO GRANDE,

ONE OF THE MOST MONITORED
FRONTIERS ON EARTH,

AND THAT'S YOUR BEST CHANCE
OF REACHING SAFETY.

STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP.

[ SNAKE RATTLING ]
YOU HEAR THAT?

THAT'S A RATTLESNAKE.

JUST FOLLOW ME, FOLLOW ME.

YEAH, LOOK UNDER HERE.

STRAIGHT UNDER THAT ROCK THERE.

YEAH, BUT THESE GUYS --
REALLY, THEY CAN BE REAL KILLERS

IF YOU STUMBLE ACROSS THESE
WITHOUT KNOWING.

AND THAT'S JUST THE SORT
OF PLACE RATTLESNAKES LIKE,

TUCKED UNDER THE ROCK,
OUT OF THIS HEAT OF THE SUN.

PEOPLE OFTEN THINK THAT SNAKES
LIKE THE SUN, BUT THEY DON'T.

IF HE COMES OUT
IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY,

THEY CAN DIE
IN JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS.

BUT IF WE CAN GET HIM OUT,
THAT WOULD MAKE A GOOD MEAL.

THERE'S NO WAY I CAN
JUST STICK A HAND IN THERE.

JUST TRY AND JUST KEEP HIM
IN THERE,

AND WE CAN GO MAKE SOME SORT
OF STICK TO GET HIM OUT.

OKAY. HE SHOULD BE QUITE HAPPY
WITH THAT.

JUST STAY THERE
FOR A FEW MINUTES.

OKAY, COME WITH ME. I KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED FOR THIS.

COME ON,
LET'S MAKE THIS QUICK.

WE JUST NEED A HOOK

AND THEN SOMETHING TO TIE IT
ALL TOGETHER WITH.

I'LL JUST USE THIS YUCCA --

GIVES YOU A NICE, LONG STRAND

OF MATERIAL YOU CAN USE
TO BIND WITH.

OKAY.

I FIRST LEARNED THIS TECHNIQUE

LIVING WITH THE SAN BUSHMAN
OF NAMIBIA.

NOW, IT'S GONNA BE
PRETTY MAKESHIFT,

BUT I HAVEN'T GOT LONG.

OKAY, THIS WILL DO.

A LITTLE BIT OF A HOOK
ON THAT,

ENOUGH LENGTH TO KEEP ME
AT DISTANCE FROM THE SNAKE.

OKAY.

AS SOON AS HE COMES OUT, HE IS
GONNA BE PISSED, ALL RIGHT,

SO LIGHT ON YOUR FEET,
AND JUST WATCH WHAT I'M DOING.

LET'S GET THE RUCKSACK
OUT OF THE WAY FIRST.

[ SNAKE RATTLING ]

THAT SOUND TELLS ME
THE RATTLER'S STILL IN THERE.

IT ALSO SAYS THAT IT'S READY
TO DEFEND ITSELF,

BUT ITS BEST DEFENSE
IS TO STAY IN THE CREVICE.

AND THIS IS WHY

THESE SNAKES LIKE
THESE SORT OF PLACES,

'CAUSE THEY'RE
VERY HARD TO GET OUT.

YOU START PUTTING YOUR HAND
INTO IT,

YOU'RE JUST GONNA GET BIT.

OKAY, LOOK, HERE WE GO.
OOH.

AND THAT VERY DISTINCT
DIAMOND HEAD --

AND THAT TELLS YOU

YOU'RE DEALING
WITH A KILLER OF A SNAKE.

IF HE GETS THOSE FANGS
INTO YOU,

HE'LL INJECT YOU
WITH THIS HEMOTOXIC VENOM.

BASICALLY, WHAT IT DOES IS STOP
YOUR BLOOD COAGULATING.

YOU END UP JUST VOMITING
AND POOING BLOOD.

THAT'S THE NASTIEST SORT
OF DEATH YOU CAN IMAGINE.

RIGHT, I'VE PULLED HIM OUT.
I'M GONNA TRY AND GET HIM.

EVEN WITH THE STICK,

I'VE GOT TO REMAIN FOCUSED
ON WHERE I'M STANDING.

YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR EYES
OFF THESE SNAKES FOR A MOMENT.

THEY CAN STRIKE UP TO 2/3
OF THEIR OWN BODY LENGTH.

PINNING IT DOWN
IMMOBILIZES THE SNAKE

JUST ENOUGH FOR ME
TO RISK GETTING IN CLOSE.

OKAY.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO BE REALLY
SURE IS TO HAVE ITS HEAD OFF.

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW
I'VE DECAPITATED IT,

I ALWAYS DOUBLE-CHECK.

OKAY.

AND EVEN AFTER HE'S DEAD,
YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL.

THE HEAD CAN STILL INJECT YOU,

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT
GOING INTO YOUR BLOODSTREAM.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TIMES
YOU DEAL WITH SNAKES,

YOU WOULDN'T BE HUMAN
IF YOUR HEART WASN'T RACING

WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH ONE
THAT'S AS LETHAL AS THIS.

IT'S GOOD PRACTICE

TO BURY THE HEAD OF A VENOMOUS
SNAKE BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

ON HIGH GROUND LIKE THIS,
AIMING FOR A DISTANT LANDMARK,

IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD
TO STAY ON COURSE

'CAUSE YOU'VE GOT
LINE OF SIGHT TO FOLLOW.

BUT WHEN YOU START TO THEN DIP
INTO THIS SORT OF LOWER GROUND,

IT'S MUCH HARDER
TO MAINTAIN YOUR DIRECTION.

A GOOD TECHNIQUE IS
JUST TO LOOK AT THE SHADOW --

LOOK AT THE ANGLE YOUR SHADOW'S
CAUSING ON YOUR BODY

AND THEN JUST MAINTAIN THAT
AND FOLLOW IT.

BUT BEAR IN MIND, THAT'S ONLY
REALLY GOOD OVER SHORT DISTANCES

'CAUSE, OBVIOUSLY,
YOUR SHADOW'S GONNA MOVE

ABOUT 15 DEGREES EVERY HOUR.

THIS DESERT IS UNRELENTING --

DRY, DUSTY TERRAIN
AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE --

BUT EVEN THE HARSHEST PLACES

COULD THROW UP
A WELCOME SURPRISE.

AND JUST CHECK THIS OUT.

LOOK, COMPLETELY HIDDEN
IN THE DESERT.

LOOK AT THIS --

ABOUT THE MOST WELCOME SIGHT
YOU CAN IMAGINE.

AND ALL OF THIS LUSH AND GREEN
IS LIKE THAT

'CAUSE THERE'S WATER
DOWN THERE.

THAT'S A GOOD THING TO FIND.

I FOUND WATER, BUT THE GOING
DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER.

I'M DEEP IN THE HEART

OF THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT,
WESTERN TEXAS,

AND I'VE REACHED AN ARROYO...

LOOK AT THIS.

...A SLASH OF GREEN VEGETATION
FED FROM SPRING WATER

EMERGING STRAIGHT
OUT OF THE VOLCANIC ROCK.

JUST UNBELIEVABLE
TO FIND WATER LIKE THIS,

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT,
WHEN IT'S SO HOT AND SO DRY.

FIRST THING I'M GONNA DO
IS JUST HAVE A DUNK IN IT.

OH.

THAT IS...

HEAVEN.

ALL OF THIS IS
JUST VOLCANIC SPRING WATER,

WHICH MEANS IT'S DRINKABLE.

AND IT'S SAID THAT A LOT OF THIS
WATER TAKES UP TO 1,000 YEARS

TO SEEP THROUGH ALL THE ROCK
AND COME OUT OF THIS.

LET ME GET MY BOTTLE TO FILL UP.

WHEN YOU FIND SOMETHING
LIKE THIS,

MAN, YOU'VE GOT
TO MAKE USE OF IT.

KIND OF A PRETTY IMPOSING
PLACE, EH?

LOGS AND DEBRIS
ARE LEFT PILED HIGH,

EVIDENCE OF THE POWER OF STORMS
THAT HIT THIS REGION.

IT MAKES PROGRESS
DOWN THIS ARROYO SLOW WORK.

ALL OF THIS IS THE REMAINS
OF FLASH FLOODS,

AND WHEN IT RAINS
HERE IN THIS VALLEY,

IN THIS GULLY,

ALL THAT WATER JUST GETS
RAMMED THROUGH HERE.

AND ALL TOO SOON, THERE'S
ANOTHER OBSTACLE IN MY PATH.

LET'S TAKE IT EASY
ON THIS STUFF.

HANG ON. ALL OF THIS IS
COMPLETELY OVERHANGING.

LET'S TRY AND FIND ANOTHER
WAY -- ANOTHER WAY AROUND.

SEE, IF WE CAN SOMEHOW
REACH THIS TREE -- HANG ON.

I'M ACTUALLY GONNA USE
THE GRAPPLING HOOK AGAIN.

SEE IF I CAN THROW THE HOOK

OVER SOME OF THOSE
TOP BRANCHES THERE.

OKAY, THAT'S GONNA BE GOOD.

LET'S GIVE THIS A QUICK CHECK.

OKAY, THAT'S COOL.

OKAY. BEEN A GOOD FRIEND TO ME,
THIS GRAPPLING HOOK.

LET'S USE IT ONE LAST TIME,

GET US DOWN TO THE WATER.

OKAY.

WANT TO TRY AND GET
DOWN TO THIS LOWER BIT.

KICK THESE OFF.

OKAY.

THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT
IF THIS IS GOING TO WORK,

AND THAT'S TO TRY IT.

UGH.

GOT IT.

OKAY, I'M GONNA TRY TO GET THIS
ACROSS TO YOU.

OH, GOD.

HANG ON.

NOT QUITE AS STRONG
AS I HOPED, THESE BRANCHES.

OKAY, YOU READY TO CATCH?

ONE, TWO, THREE.

NICE.

OKAY. GO FOR IT.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

GET YOUR FOOT ON HERE.
GET YOUR FOOT ON HERE.

OH. THAT'S IT,
AGAINST THE TREE.

OKAY. OKAY, LET'S GET
DOWN THIS THING.

THE THING IS
ALL OF THESE BRANCHES...

[ BRANCHES CRACKING ]

...ARE JUST GIVING WAY
LIKE THAT.

GOT TO GRIP RIGHT 'ROUND THIS
TRUNK LIKE A KOALA BEAR.

OH [BLEEP]

TRYING TO GRIP
AND JUST HAVE A QUICK BREATHER.

DEFINITELY WORKS
THE INNER THIGHS.

[ GRUNTS ]

SO OFTEN, THESE THINGS TURN
INTO MUCH MORE OF A MISSION

THAN YOU RECKON
WHEN YOU START.

IT'S VITAL TO KEEP MOVING,

BUT IT MEANS LEAVING
THIS DESERT OASIS BEHIND.

IT'S NOT LONG
BEFORE THE RIVER'S DRIED UP

AND IT'S BACK INTO THE FURNACE
HEAT OF THE DESERT AGAIN.

LOOK, ALL JUST PARCHED, DRY.

DESERT-SURVIVAL GUIDES DICTATE

THAT THE BEST WAY TO AVOID HEAT
AND DEHYDRATION

IS TO TRAVEL BY NIGHT.

BUT THIS ROUGH TERRAIN
IS SCARRED

BY DEEP, UNPREDICTABLE CHASMS.

IT'S NOT A RISK
I'M WILLING TO TAKE.

I'M GONNA FIND SOMEWHERE
TO MAKE CAMP.

LOOK, THERE'S
A WHOLE CAVE UP HERE.

CHECK THIS OUT.

THIS SORT OF PLACE
IS GONNA BE PERFECT.

STILL A FEW BONES AROUND,
BUT BY THE LOOK OF THESE --

YEAH, THESE ARE BRITTLE
AND WAY OLD.

THIS HASN'T BEEN USED
FOR A LONG TIME.

THE ONLY PLACE I'M VULNERABLE
FROM IS THE FRONT.

ACTUALLY MIGHT BE WORTH

TRYING TO BUILD
SOME SORT OF DEFENSE HERE.

THIS PART OF TEXAS IS HOME

TO A LARGE AND VERY ACTIVE
COUGAR POPULATION,

KNOWN LOCALLY
AS MOUNTAIN LION --

NOT A PREDATOR YOU'D WANT
TO BUMP INTO AT NIGHTTIME.

NOW, THIS STUFF IS GONNA ACT
AS A KICK-ASS BARRICADE.

LOOK AT THIS. IT'S CALLED
DEVIL'S WALKING STICK.

SEE THE SPINES ALONG THAT?

IT'S GONNA GO STRAIGHT
THROUGH YOUR FINGERS,

BUT IF YOU LOOK
DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF IT,

THERE ARE NO SPINES DOWN HERE,

WHICH MEANS I CAN MAKE MY
DEFENSE OUT OF LOADS OF THESE.

OKAY, THAT'LL DO ME.

I'M GONNA COLLECT
A FEW OF THESE

TO PLACE
ACROSS THE CAVE ENTRANCE.

OKAY, THAT WILL DO
FOR THIS BIT.

NOW, IF I MAKE A FIRE
IN THIS CORNER,

THAT'S GONNA PROTECT ME HERE,
AS WELL.

MY PLAN IS TO MAKE A FIRE
USING A METHOD

THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR AS LONG
AS MAN HAS BEEN MAKING FIRE --

THE HAND DRILL.

NO MATCHES, NO FLINTS,
JUST TWO BITS OF WOOD.

IT'S EVEN SMOOTHER ONCE YOU'VE
GOT THE BIGGER BITS OFF.

IT'S JUST TO USE
SOME OF THIS GRAVEL,

PUT IT IN YOUR SHIRT,

LAY THIS IN IT,

AND IT WORKS LIKE SANDPAPER.

OKAY, THAT'S THEN THE SPINDLE,
MADE NICE AND SMOOTH.

AND THEN, FOR THE BASE,

WE JUST USE THE END
OF THIS SOLTO.

MAKE A SMALL WELL IN THE BASE,
CALLED THE HEARTH,

THEN CARVE A NOTCH IN THE SIDE

TO ALLOW THE EMBERS
TO FALL OUT.

JUST GONNA USE
THIS BIT OF BONE, AS WELL,

AS AN EMBER PAN
TO PUT UNDERNEATH THIS HEARTH.

AND SO MUCH OF FIRE IS
ABOUT JUST GOOD PREPARATION.

PLAN IT WELL, AND HOPEFULLY
IT WILL WORK FIRST TIME.

OKAY, THAT'S
THE ROUGH SHAPE OF IT,

AND THEN WHAT YOU WANT IS JUST
A TINY, LITTLE PINCH OF SAND,

AND THAT'S GONNA ADD
A LITTLE BIT MORE FRICTION

WHEN YOU'RE SPINNING
THE SPINDLE.

THE KEY WITH THIS IS NOT TIRING
YOURSELF OUT TOO QUICKLY.

SLOWLY BUILD UP THAT HEAT,

AND THEN, AS THE SMOKE
STARTS TO APPEAR,

YOU CAN START TO SPEED IT
ALL UP A BIT.

AND THIS SMOKE IS
SUCH AN ENTICING SIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW
YOU'RE NEAR TO FIRE.

YOU'VE ALSO GOT TO WATCH OUT

YOU DON'T DRIP SWEAT
OFF YOUR NOSE

INTO YOUR EMBER PAN --

ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IF YOU'VE
GOT A BIG NOSE LIKE MINE.

AND WHAT YOU WANT
IS A CONTINUOUS PLUME OF SMOKE

COMING FROM THE EMBER PAN,

AND THEN YOU KNOW YOU GOT
THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE FIRE.

YEAH, COME ON.

OKAY, AND THEN WE'LL,
SUPER GENTLY WITH THIS,

JUST TIP THAT IN.

AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
IS TIP IT LIKE THIS

SO IT STAYS AS ONE EMBER.

THIS OLD BIRD'S NEST
MAKES PERFECT TINDER.

AND THEN PROTECT IT.

AND SORT OF IMAGINE
YOU'RE TRYING TO...

HOLD A BUTTERFLY --

NOT TOO TIGHT
THAT YOU'RE GONNA SMOTHER IT,

BUT NOT TOO LOOSE
THAT IT'S GONNA GET AWAY.

OKAY, THERE WE GO.

OH.

FIRE.

WHEW.

AND THAT'S SUCH A GOOD FEELING.

GETTING FIRE GOING
JUST FROM A HAND DRILL,

WITH NO MATCHES OR ANYTHING,

AND, YOU KNOW, THE ANSWER
TO SO MUCH OF SURVIVAL

IS ALL AROUND US.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SORT
OF THING FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

AND WE SURVIVE
IF WE LISTEN TO THEM.

MY FIRE GOING, I CAN SKIN
THIS SNAKE AND GET IT COOKED.

TAKE THE RATTLE OFF --

GIVE THAT HAS A PRESENT
TO MY LITTLE BOY --

AND THEN THE MEAT OF THIS

I'LL JUST ROAST ON...

A BIT OF THIS
DEVIL'S WALKING STICK.

GOOD THING ABOUT THIS --

BECAUSE OF ALL THE SPIKES,

IT'S GONNA GRIP TO IT
REALLY NICELY.

AND THEN THE GREEN WOOD
WON'T BURN.

THE SNAKE WILL COOK.
THAT'S SUPPER.

THERE'S STILL LIGHT TO COLLECT

SOME CREOSOTE BUSH
FOR A MATTRESS.

THEY SAY THAT
IN SURVIVAL TERMS,

A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP
IS AS GOOD AS A MEAL.

NOW I'VE GOT BOTH.

AND THIS IS GOOD STUFF
TO SLEEP ON,

NOT ONLY
'CAUSE THE BUGS HATE IT --

KEEPS THEM AWAY FROM ME --

BUT IT ALSO MASKS MY SMELL,

WHICH IS GONNA HELP ME

KEEP THE MOUNTAIN LIONS
AWAY FROM THIS CAVE.

OW.

WHY IS IT THAT EVERYTHING
AROUND HERE

IS EITHER SPIKY, SHARP,
OR OUT TO KILL YOU?

OKAY.

AND PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THAT SNAKES
TASTE LIKE CHICKEN.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

THESE DON'T.

IT'S MORE LIKE FLAME-GRILLED,
SINEWY BONE AND SKIN.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, STILL NIGHT.

IT'S AMAZING,
THE SILENCE OUT HERE.

BUT I DO NEED TO PEE,

SO I'M GONNA TRY AND AIM IT

THROUGH THE DEVIL'S
WALKING STICK.

OKAY.

[ SPLASHING ]

THAT'S BETTER.

AND THEY ALWAYS SAY SURVIVAL
ISN'T PRETTY.

I GUESS I KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN.

UGH, JUST TRY
AND GET SOME SLEEP.

I SPENT THE NIGHT IN A CAVE

DEEP IN THE CHIHUAHUAN DESERT,
WESTERN TEXAS.

WITH LITTLE OR NO RAINFALL
FOR MONTHS ON END,

STAYING HYDRATED IS THE MOST
CRITICAL ELEMENT TO SURVIVAL

IN THIS PARCHED REGION
IN NORTH AMERICA.

A LIZARD RESTING ON THE ROCKS

WILL PROVIDE A QUICK BURST OF
PROTEIN IF YOU CAN CATCH IT.

WHEW.

FAST LITTLE FELLA,

BUT, ACTUALLY, IF YOU JUST TAKE
THE HEAD OFF THAT

AND THEN SQUEEZE THE GUTS OUT,

THAT'S GONNA BE A GOOD
LITTLE MUNCH ON THE WAY.

THERE'S THE RIVER.

SEE THAT?

THE RIO GRANDE,
AND THE BORDER OF MEXICO.

AND THE BORDER-CONTROL GUYS
ARE GONNA BE ALL OVER THIS.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE CAMERAS
IN UNMANNED BALLOONS,

PATROLS GOING
UP AND DOWN THE RIVER.

IF YOU CAN REACH THAT,
YOU'RE GONNA GET FOUND.

THE RIVER IS
SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET BELOW,

BUT BY PUSHING MY BACK AND FEET
AGAINST EITHER SIDE,

I CAN USE THESE NARROW FISSURES
TO CHIMNEY-CLIMB MY WAY DOWN.

MY FEET ARE WEDGED
ON ABOUT ONE TOE'S WORTH

OF THIS LOOSE, CRUMBLING,
HORRIBLE STUFF.

I DON'T LIKE THIS FEELING
VERY MUCH.

BEAR, STOP COMPLAINING.
GET DOWN IT.

IT'S VITAL TO KEEP
YOUR MOVEMENTS NICE AND SLOW,

AND ALWAYS KEEP BODY PRESSURE
AGAINST THE ROCK FACE.

WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS

I JUST CAN'T SEE HOW BIG
A DROP IT IS UNDER ME,

WHETHER IT'S 20 FOOT OR 200 FOOT
DOWN THAT SHAFT.

IT'S DEFINITELY BEGINNING
TO WIDEN OUT, THOUGH.

OH, MAN, THAT'S BAD.
THAT'S BAD.

THAT'S JUST A SHEER OVERHANG
DROP DOWN THERE.

AND THAT IS NOT CLIMBABLE.

WE'VE GOT TO USE
THIS ROPE SOMEHOW.

WE'LL WORK OUT SOME WAY
OF ATTACHING THIS.

OH, YEAH.

I'M GONNA TRY AND IMPROVISE
SOME WAY OF MAKING,

LIKE, A NUT.

IT'S A CLIMBING TOOL
THAT JAMS INTO A ROCK

THAT YOU CAN ATTACH
A ROPE TO.

A NUMBER OF TIMES, I'VE FOUND
MYSELF IN A STICKY JAM.

YOU CAN JUST FEEL
YOUR MIND RACING,

AND LOADS OF MAD IDEAS
COME INTO IT.

AND EVENTUALLY, ONE OF THEM,
YOU THINK,

"HANG ON --
WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A TWEAK,

SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES
COULD WORK."

OKAY, LOOK.

THAT'S GONNA BE THE ACTUAL
CLIMBING NUT ITSELF.

AND ALL OF THAT
SHOULD TAKE MY WEIGHT.

[ ROCKS RATTLING ]

BIT OF A PRECARIOUS POSITION,
THIS ONE --

TRYING TO GET THIS NUT
INTO THIS CRACK.

YEAH,
THAT'S RELATIVELY SOLID.

AND THEN ALL I GOT TO DO IS
THREAD THE ROPE THROUGH THIS,

CLIMB DOWN ON THE ROPE,
AND RETRIEVE IT.

LET'S GET THE RUCKSACK.

OKAY, THREAD THAT THROUGH.

WHAT AT FIRST SEEMS
LIKE AN EASY SCRAMBLE DOWN

COULD QUICKLY TURN
INTO SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER

AND MUCH MORE DANGEROUS.

YOU ALWAYS NEED A WAY BACK UP.

OTHERWISE,
YOU GET RIMROCKED --

TRAPPED WITH NO WAY
UP OR DOWN --

AND YOU'RE LITERALLY STUCK

BETWEEN A ROCK
AND A HARD PLACE.

[ SPITS ]

UGH.

ALL RIGHT,
TRY AND GET THIS BACK.

UGH. OH, MAN ALIVE.

GET THIS STOWED,
AND GET MOVING AGAIN.

DOWN THE SHAFT OF DOOM.

LOOK AT THAT.

OKAY.

THIS IS GONNA BE JUST HEAVEN.

WHOO!

I'M GONNA WORK MY WAY
ALONG THE RIVER.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT,

BUT YOU'RE ALMOST CERTAINLY
BEING MONITORED.

YOU HAVE TO HOPE
THAT YOU TRIGGER THE SYSTEM

AND THE BORDER PATROL
COME TO INVESTIGATE.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

THAT'S THE SOUND
OF A SHERIFF'S PATROL CAR,

WHICH MEANS MY WAY
OUT OF HERE.

THIS DESERT HAS SUCKED ME IN,
CHEWED ME UP, AND SPAT ME OUT,

AND IF I'VE LEARNED ONE THING,
IT'S THIS --

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS.