Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 5, Episode 4 - Georgia-Eastern Europe - 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.

WHOO!

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 ON
THE RUSSIAN FRONTIER,

HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS
OF GEORGIA, EASTERN EUROPE.

OKAY.
LET'S GO.

THIS IS A SMALL COUNTRY,
BUT WITH BIG TERRAIN.



WELL, I'M HALFWAY ACROSS.

TO SURVIVE HERE, I'M GONNA HAVE
TO THINK LIKE A SCAVENGER...

[ COUGHS ] THAT ACTUALLY
MAKES ME GAG, THAT.

...EKE OUT WHAT I CAN FIND,
WHEREVER I CAN FIND IT.

THIS IS A PART-DEVELOPED
CHICK FETUS.

[ CRUNCHING ]

I'LL BE PITTING MY WITS
AGAINST NATURE...

COME ON. WE CAN DO THIS.
WE'RE SO CLOSE NOW.

...TO SHOW YOU HOW TO SURVIVE

SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TERRAIN
ON EARTH.

HEADING FOR THE FRONTIER BORDER
BETWEEN RUSSIA AND GEORGIA.

AND IT'S A HELL OF A VOLATILE
PART OF THE WORLD.

BUT IT'S JUST DOMINATED
BY THESE HUGE MOUNTAINS.

ONLY YESTERDAY, THERE WAS
A FATAL AVALANCHE HERE.



YOU TAKE ON GEORGIA
AT YOUR OWN PERIL.

THE GREATER CAUCASUS RANGE
STRETCHES ALMOST 1,000 MILES,

FROM THE BLACK
TO THE CASPIAN SEA.

600 MILES OF THIS
MOUNTAIN RANGE IS IN GEORGIA.

IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS

SINCE IT BROKE AWAY
FROM THE FORMER SOVIET UNION,

BUT TENSIONS BETWEEN
THE TWO COUNTRIES REMAIN HIGH.

THE PILOT'S PRETTY NERVOUS
TO LAND

BECAUSE OF THE SNOW CONDITIONS.

SO HE'S GONNA GET ME
AS FAR AS HE CAN,

AND THEN IT'S DOWN TO ME.

THE HIGH MOUNTAINS IN SPRING
CAN BE LETHAL.

AS THE PACK MELTS
AND THEN REFREEZES,

THE CONSTANT CHANGE

MAKES THE THREAT OF AVALANCHE
A REAL DANGER.

BEAR, 10 SECONDS!

OKAY.
GOT TO GO.

THE PILOT CAN'T HOVER
OVER THE L.Z. FOR LONG.

THE PLAN IS FOR ME TO EXIT
THE BACK OF THE HELI

ON A SNOWMOBILE.

IT'S RISKY, BUT I CAN USE IT

TO GET ME OVER THE MOUNTAIN
QUICKLY,

BEFORE THE WEATHER TURNS.

IT'S DOWN
TO SPLIT-SECOND TIMING.

I'M DEPENDING
ON THE PILOT'S SKILLS.

WE'RE JUST ABOVE THE SNOW!
GO!

GOOD TO GO.

[ ENGINE REVS ]

THE HELI HAS DROPPED ME
CLOSE TO THE SUMMIT.

I NEED TO GET OVER THE RIDGE
AND INTO THE VALLEYS BEYOND.

IF A SNOWSTORM CATCHES YOU OUT
HERE, YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE.

WE NEED TO GET
INTO THE MOUNTAINS NOW.

THERE'S A LOT OF CLOUD COVER
COMING IN.

IN THESE CONDITIONS,

I'M HAVING TO PUSH
THE SNOWMOBILE TO ITS LIMITS.

BUT IT'S KEEPING ME
AHEAD OF THE WEATHER.

I'VE ALMOST MADE IT
TO THE RIDGE.

BUT UP HERE,
THE SNOW IS MUCH DEEPER.

AND THE SNOWMOBILE IS SINKING
UNDER ITS OWN WEIGHT.

AAH!

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

[ ENGINE STOPS ]

IT'S WEDGED RIGHT DOWN
IN THE DEEP SNOW, THAT.

[ GRUNTING ]

THING IS, ALL THE SNOW AT THE
MOMENT IS JUST LIKE PORRIDGE.

YEAH, I'M NOT GONNA SHIFT THIS.

[ GRUNTING ]

IT'S ONTO FOOT FROM HERE.

OKAY.

IT'S 3 DEGREES BELOW FREEZING
UP HERE,

AND IT'S ONLY GONNA GET COLDER
AS THE CLOUDS MOVE IN.

IF YOU CAN GET
TO THE HIGHER GROUND,

YOU CAN LOOK FOR A ROUTE
DOWN INTO THE VALLEYS BEYOND.

I'LL TRY AND REACH
THAT COVE UP THERE.

OKAY, LET'S KEEP MOVING.
COME ON.

LOOK.
SEE THE SUN?

IT'S LIKE A HALO EFFECT
AROUND IT.

AND THAT'S FORMED
BY THE STRATUS CLOUDS.

STRATUS IS OFTEN A SIGN
OF CHANGING CONDITIONS

AND AN ONCOMING
BAD-WEATHER FRONT.

AND LOOK.

SURE ENOUGH, IF YOU LOOK DOWN,

YOU SEE THE BUILDUP
OF ALL THAT CUMULUS CLOUD.

THAT'S THE BAD STUFF.

BUT OFTEN THE TIME LAG BETWEEN
THE STRATUS AND THE CUMULUS

CAN BE AS LITTLE AS FOUR HOURS,
YOU KNOW?

I KNOW THIS RANGE RUNS
FROM EAST TO WEST.

BUT WHERE I WANT TO HEAD --
SOUTHWEST,

DOWN OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS,
TOWARDS THE BLACK SEA.

IT'S GONNA BE THE BEST CHANCE
OF FINDING PEOPLE.

SO WE WANT TO GET MOVING.
COME ON.

OKAY. WE'RE DOWN THAT BIT.
BUT LOOK.

ACTUALLY, DOWN HERE, YOU SEE
ALL OF THIS AVALANCHE DEBRIS

WHERE AN AVALANCHE
HAS COME DOWN HERE,

SO IT'S A BAD PLACE
TO HANG AROUND.

GET MOVING.

THE WEATHER
HAS FINALLY CAUGHT UP WITH ME.

THE CLOUD COVER
HAS BLOTTED OUT THE HORIZON,

AND IT'S A TOTAL WHITEOUT.

IT'S VERY HARD TO GAUGE
YOUR DIRECTION, YOU KNOW?

CAN'T TELL WHETHER
THAT'S MOUNTAIN AHEAD OR CLOUD.

THAT'S THE DANGER

OF BEING CAUGHT IN THE MOUNTAINS
IN A WHITEOUT --

JUST LOSING ALL SENSE
OF YOUR BEARINGS.

AND I HEARD OF ONE SOLIDER
SKIING UP IN THE ARCTIC,

AND HE ACTUALLY THOUGHT
HE WAS STATIONARY.

HE WASN'T AWARE
HE WAS ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD.

AND HE DROPPED STRAIGHT OFF
THE EDGE OF A CORNICE.

SURVIVED IT, BUT HE WAS LUCKY.

BUT THAT'S HOW DISORIENTING
IT CAN BE IN A WHITEOUT.

REALLY CAREFUL HERE.

'CAUSE I CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE --
SEE WHAT THIS GOES OVER.

IN THE MOUNTAINS, YOU WANT TO
ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTIOUSNESS.

WHAT WE CAN DO IS JUST MAKE
A SNOW BOLLARD HERE, BIG SHAPE.

YOU WANT TO KEEP
A NICE SEMICIRCLE LIKE THAT,

ABOUT A FOOT DEEP.

I'M GONNA PUT MY ROPE INTO THIS
AS A BELAY

THAT I CAN THEN RAPPEL OFF.

IN SOFT SNOW,

YOUR BOLLARD NEEDS TO BE
AT LEAST 10 FEET ACROSS.

BUT IT WILL HOLD
MANY TIMES YOUR WEIGHT.

THEY'RE INCREDIBLY STRONG

AND HAVE BEEN USED
BY THE MILITARY FOR YEARS.

OKAY.
HERE WE GO.

I NEED TO KICK IN STEPS
INTO THE SNOW

AND USE THE FRICTION OF THE ROPE
AS I DESCEND.

OKAY. GET DOWN THE LAST BIT
OF THIS WITHOUT ANY ROPE.

IT'S QUITE PRECARIOUS, THIS BIT.

GOOD, POSITIVE STEPS.

CONTROL YOUR OWN DESCENT.

DON'T LET THE MOUNTAIN
CONTROL IT FOR YOU.

NEVER RUSH IN THE MOUNTAINS.

IT DOESN'T GET YOU DOWN
ANY QUICKER,

AT LEAST NOT IN A GOOD WAY.

OKAY.
THEN ACROSS TO UNDER HERE.

OKAY. THIS IS GOOD.
COME DOWN TO ME.

A ROCKY OUTCROP LIKE THIS
IS LIKE AN ISLAND OF SAFETY.

YOU CAN USE THEM
TO CATCH YOUR BREATH

AND ASSESS YOUR SITUATION.

OKAY. COOL.
REACH, REACH.

I GOT YOU.
LET'S GO. LET'S GO.

OKAY. LET'S JUST TAKE
A QUICK TWO MINUTES HERE.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG
DANGERS, ACTUALLY,

OF HIGH ALTITUDE IS JUST GETTING
REALLY DEHYDRATED.

YOU BURN UP SO MUCH FLUIDS HERE.

YOU'RE BREATHING HARD.
YOU'RE WORKING HARD.

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP DRINKING.

IT'S ALWAYS TEMPTING
JUST TO EAT SNOW.

BUT ACTUALLY, THAT CAN GIVE YOU
BLISTERS IN YOUR MOUTH.

IT'S JUST GONNA LOWER
YOUR CORE TEMPERATURE.

YOU'RE BETTER OFF
TRYING TO MELT SOME SNOW.

WHAT I CAN USE FOR FIRE

IS JUST A BIT OF THIS HEMP,
NATURAL-FIBER ROPE.

AND WHAT THEY DO
WHEN THEY MAKE THIS STUFF --

THEY ACTUALLY IMPREGNATE IT
WITH KEROSENE.

IT KEEPS ALL THE BUGS AWAY
FROM BITING THROUGH IT.

SO IT SHOULD TAKE A SPARK.

HERE WE GO.

GOT TO BE A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL

MELTING SNOW
DIRECTLY INTO A METAL CUP.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN --

IT'LL TEND TO JUST BURN
THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP

AND NOT ACTUALLY MELT THE ACTUAL
SNOW, CREATE A LITTLE GAP.

SO IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO PUT
A LITTLE DROP OF WATER IN THERE.

AND THAT WILL JUST HELP
GETTING THE SNOW STARTED.

YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL IT, BUT
YOUR BODY IS GETTING DEHYDRATED

JUST AS YOU WOULD
IN HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS.

ANY FLUID YOU CAN GET
INTO YOUR BODY IS A GOOD THING.

HERE YOU GO.
THIS IS MELTED NOW.

ACTUALLY, IT'S SURPRISING

HOW LITTLE WATER YOU GET
FROM A WHOLE MUG FULL OF SNOW.

THE REASON IS, SNOW HAS GOT
SO MUCH AIR AROUND IT.

THAT'S WHY
IT'S A GOOD INSULATOR.

BAD THING TO MELT IF YOU WANT
TO GET A LOT OF WATER,

BUT THIS IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE

OF HOW HARD IT IS
TO SURVIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF KIT
WITH YOU.

YOU JUST GOT TO
KEEP BEING RESOURCEFUL

AND THINKING OF A WAY
TO BE ABLE TO KEEP HYDRATED.

[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]

WELL, THAT'S NICE.

I'M ON THE SEARCH
FOR FOOD AND SHELTER.

AND THAT MEANS
GETTING ONTO THE LOWER SLOPES.

THIS IS THE SNOW LINE.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME
I'VE GOT SOLID GROUND UNDER ME.

AND THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

THAT MEANS WE'RE COMING OUT
OF THE MOUNTAINS.

THE SNOW LINE IS THE POINT

ABOVE WHICH SNOW AND ICE COVER
THE GROUND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

GET BELOW THAT

AND YOUR CHANCES OF SCAVENGING
FOOD AND RESOURCES

INCREASES MASSIVELY.

ACTUALLY,
A LOT OF ALL OF THIS IS BIRCH.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?
ALMOST LOST YOU THERE.

THEY'RE OFTEN THE FIRST TREES
YOU COME ACROSS

WHEN YOU COME OUT
OF THE MOUNTAINS.

AND THERE ARE
ALL THESE LITTLE SHAVINGS

YOU CAN JUST PULL OFF
IN YOUR HAND.

IT'S THIS STUFF THAT REALLY
TAKES A SPARK EASILY.

BIRCH BARK IS PACKED
WITH FLAMMABLE OILS.

POCKET THIS STUFF
WHENEVER YOU SEE IT.

WHEN COMING OFF
THE HIGH MOUNTAINS,

THESE ARE GOOD FRIENDS TO FIND.

KEEP GOING.

I'M BELOW THE TREE LINE NOW.

BUT AHEAD, THE WHOLE
MOUNTAINSIDE HAS FALLEN AWAY.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN -- YOU GET
AVALANCHE MOVING THROUGH.

IT JUST TAKES THE EDGE
OF ALL OF THE EARTH AWAY.

YOU GET CAUGHT IN THAT, IT'S
JUST GONNA RUN AWAY WITH YOU.

I WANT TO TRY AND JUST GET
DOWN HERE QUITE SHARP, ACTUALLY.

OKAY.

[ ROCK CLATTERING ]

QUITE NICE AND SOFT, THIS MUD.

GET MY HEELS WELL DUG INTO THIS.

I GUESS I'LL BE BRINGING DOWN
A LOAD OF ROCKS.

REALLY, I'M BETTER OFF
TRYING TO ZIGZAG ACROSS

SO I DON'T GET CAUGHT
IN THE PATH OF THE...

THAT'S THE TECHNIQUE, ANYWAY.

THING IS, IF YOU START TO GO
AND THEN CAN'T CONTROL IT,

ALL THE TECHNIQUES
IN THE WORLD IS NO GOOD.

IT'S THEN DOWN TO INSTINCT.

IF IN DOUBT,
GET DOWN ON YOUR BACKSIDE.

OKAY. DOWN.

MUDDY, BUT DOWN.

[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]

NATURE IS ALWAYS GONNA THROW
OBSTACLES IN YOUR PATH.

HOW YOU GET THROUGH THEM
IS DOWN TO YOU.

BUT REMEMBER,
YOU DON'T WIN PRIZES FOR STYLE.

NICE AND STEADY HERE.
STAY IN TIGHT TO THE FACE.

[ GRUNTS ]
THERE YOU GO.

RIGHT THERE IS THE RIVER,
DOWN IN THE VALLEY.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO
GET TO, DOWN THERE.

THIS IS LOOKING PRETTY SHEER
DOWN THIS BIT.

BUT I RECKON WE'LL USE THE ROPE

AND GET DOWN
TO THAT LEDGE HALFWAY.

THIS CLIFF IS TOO HIGH FOR
MY ROPE TO REACH ALL THE WAY.

BUT I CAN USE
A CLIMBING TECHNIQUE

CALLED MULTI-RAPPELLING.

I NEED TO MAKE SURE
MY ROPE IS RETRIEVABLE

AND THAT I'VE GOT GOOD
ANCHOR POINTS ON THE WAY DOWN.

REALLY, I WANT TO THREAD THIS
UP HIGH.

IT'S GONNA JUST MAKE IT EASIER
TO RETRIEVE.

GONNA BE A DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT
TO IT

RATHER THAN GOING OVER A LIP.

THE CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS
WERE FORMED

WHEN THE ARABIAN AND EUROPEAN
TECTONIC PLATES COLLIDED

MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO.

NICE AND STEADY THERE.

THE REGION IS SUBJECTED
TO POWERFUL EARTHQUAKES,

AND THIS MEANS THE ROCK FACES
CAN BE HIGHLY UNSTABLE.

WHOA.

[ ROCK CLATTERING ]

THE WHOLE MOUNTAIN IS LITERALLY
JUST CRUMBLING APART.

THERE'S A BIRD'S NEST.

THERE'S AN EGG IN IT AS WELL.

IF YOU WANT TO SURVIVE
OUT HERE,

YOU MUST THINK LIKE A SCAVENGER

AND NEVER PASS UP
ANY POTENTIAL FOOD SOURCE.

[ GRUNTS ]

JUST SMELL!
THAT EGG IS ROTTED!

THAT'S A VULTURE EGG.

THIS IS JUST TRULY...

PUTRID.

HAVE A LOOK AT THE COLOR
INSIDE HERE.

THE FACT THAT THERE'S NOT A BIRD
IN HERE -- SUSPICIOUS.

VULTURES, YOU KNOW, WOULDN'T
LEAVE THEIR EGGS LIKE THAT.

IF THEY HAD,
THIS IS GONNA BE SITTING AROUND.

THAT'S WHY IT'S ROTTED.

NORMALLY,
ANY BIRD EGG IS EDIBLE --

UNLESS IT STINKS LIKE THAT.

[ COUGHS ]

THAT ACTUALLY MAKES ME GAG,
THAT.

AND I DON'T OFTEN SAY THAT.

GOT TO GET BACK IN.

IT WAS WORTH A TRY.

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW
WHEN YOU MIGHT GET LUCKY.

LET'S RETHREAD IT
ONE MORE TIME.

AND THEN THAT'S GONNA TAKE ME
TO THE BOTTOM.

OKAY.
PULL THIS OTHER ONE THROUGH.

AT LEAST WE'RE DOWN
TO THE VALLEY FLOOR.

I'M IN GEORGIA,

HEADING INTO DENSE FOREST,

HOME TO WOLVES, BEARS, AND
SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TERRAIN

THIS FORMER SOVIET UNION
REPUBLIC HAS TO OFFER.

I'M NOW FIRMLY
IN THE WOODED BELT HERE.

OH, YEAH.
LOOK AT THESE MOUNTAINS.

THEY ARE STILL HUGE.

THE THING IS, YOU KNOW,
I LOOK AT THIS SORT OF PLACE,

AND WHAT I SEE IS JUST LIFE,
YOU KNOW?

THIS IS WHERE THE ANIMALS
ARE GONNA BE.

YOU GOT WATER.

YOU GOT PROTECTION AMONGST
THE TREES FROM THE WEATHER.

I LOOK AT IT, AND I KNOW
THAT I CAN SURVIVE HERE.

THIS IS A RICH HUNTING GROUND.
GOOD NEWS FOR ME.

BUT BAD NEWS IS THAT
I'M NOT THE ONLY PREDATOR HERE.

LOOK.

IT'S DEFINITELY
CARNIVORE POO, THIS.

THERE'S ONLY TWO CARNIVORES
IN THIS FOREST,

AND THAT'S BEAR AND WOLVES.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A BEAR.
LOOK.

YOU SEE THE TAPERED ENDS
TO THIS.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE
WHAT HE'S BEEN FEEDING OFF.

ALL OF THE HAIR --
PROBABLY SHEEP, MAYBE GOAT HAIR.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IT TELLS ME --

THERE'S DEFINITELY WOLVES
IN THIS AREA.

BUT THEY'RE GONNA BE SMARTER
THAN I AM.

YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE GONNA BE WATCHING ME

LONG BEFORE I'M GONNA SPOT THEM.

OKAY.
LET'S KEEP GOING.

EVEN THOUGH
WE'RE IN THE WOODS NOW,

THE TERRAIN HASN'T GOT
ANY EASIER.

THESE FOREST ARE DEFINED
BY ENDLESS, DEEP GORGES

WITH TREACHEROUS,
STEEP-SIDED VALLEYS.

GETTING MUCH STEEPER HERE.

ON TOP OF THAT,

THE FOREST IS CUT IN HALF
BY A FAST SNOWMELT RIVER

IN FULL TORRENT.

IF YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN
YOUR BEARING,

THAT'S A RIVER
YOU'VE GOT TO GET ACROSS.

TAKE YOUR TIME ON THIS.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE CERTAIN REALLY
OF THE FOOTING BEFORE YOU MOVE.

FOLLOW THIS BRANCH DOWN, OKAY?

A LOT OF WATER
PILING OVER THAT WATERFALL.

PRETTY SHEER DROP-OFF.
THAT IS A PROBLEM.

AND ALSO, IT'S JUST SLICK ROCK
GOING DOWN TO THAT.

I DON'T WANT TO END UP
IN THAT WHITE WATER.

IT'S ALSO GONNA BE
FREEZING COLD.

WE NEED TO FIND ANOTHER WAY
TO TRY AND GET ACROSS THERE.

ONLY LAST YEAR,
AN EXPERIENCED CLIMBER

WAS CROSSING A FAST MOUNTAIN
RIVER LIKE THIS IN GEORGIA.

HE LOST HIS FOOTING,

AND THE POWER OF THE WATER
PINNED HIM DOWN AGAINST A ROCK.

HE DIDN'T MAKE IT.

THESE RIVERS LOOK CROSSABLE,
BUT THEY PACK A PUNCH.

AND YOU'VE ALWAYS
GOT TO RESPECT THEM.

SOMETHING HANGING OVER THERE.

GET OVER HERE!

WHEN YOU'RE IN THE WILD,

YOU GET USED TO SEEING
ONLY NATURAL FORMS.

SO ANY MAN-MADE OBJECT WILL
STAND OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB.

PRETTY OLD-LOOKING
PULLEY SYSTEM AND BUCKET.

YOU KNOW, MOUNTAIN PEOPLE
OFTEN USED THIS SORT OF THING

TO FERRY SUPPLIES ACROSS.

SEE, THESE WIRES
ARE IN QUITE GOOD NICK.

SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME SORT
OF ZIP WIRE ACROSS HERE.

THIS OLD CABLE PULLEY
HAS QUITE A LOT OF GIVE IN IT,

WHICH MEANS THAT IT SAGS.

BUT I CAN USE THAT
TO MY ADVANTAGE.

GET RID OF THAT.

THE SAG SHOULD ARREST MY SLIDE.

WHAT I DON'T KNOW
IS HOW FAR I'LL GET.

AND ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW,
WITH A BIT OF ROPE LIKE THIS,

YOU CAN IMPROVISE A HARNESS
VERY EASILY.

JUST DO A TRIPLE BOWLINE IN IT,

AND THAT WILL ACT
AS TWO LEG LOOPS A CHEST LOOP.

A BOWLINE HARNESS LIKE THIS IS
OFTEN USED BY MOUNTAIN RESCUE

BECAUSE IT'S FAST
AND SIMPLE TO MAKE.

MAKE THE LOOP.

THE RABBIT COMES OUT
OF THE HOLE.

THAT'S HOW I ALWAYS REMEMBER IT.

AROUND THE TREE...

AND THEN BACK DOWN THE HOLE.

AND THEN YOU CAN LITERALLY
JUST STEP INTO THAT.

THIS ONE COMES OVER YOUR TOP.

AND THEN, FOR THIS BIT,
WE'LL JUST THREAD THAT THROUGH.

OKAY.

THE REST OF THIS,

WE'LL JUST BUNCH UP
AND PUT IN THE RUCKSACK.

THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO BE
DOING IN THIS SORT OF TERRAIN

IS CUTTING UP YOUR ROPE
TOO MUCH.

ONLY CUT IT IN A LAST RESORT,
WHEN YOU GOT NO OTHER CHOICE.

THIS IS GONNA GIVE ME
A FOOT STIRRUP.

AND THEN WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

OKAY.
LET'S GO.

THE FREE RIDE IS OVER.

THERE'S TOO MUCH SLACK
IN THE LINE,

AND I'M FIGHTING NOW
AGAINST MY OWN BODY WEIGHT.

WELL, I'M HALFWAY ACROSS.

THING IS,
I'M NOT AS FAR AS I'D HOPED.

JUST GONNA HAVE TO HAUL MYSELF
ALONG THIS WIRE THE LAST BIT.

[ GRUNTING ]

OKAY.
MADE IT ACROSS.

JUST.

THESE HILLS,
THEY'RE JUST RELENTLESS.

MAKING MY WAY

THROUGH DENSE WOODLAND,

LOOKING FOR A SAFE PLACE TO
MAKE A SHELTER FOR THE NIGHT.

BUT FINDING LEVEL GROUND
IN THIS MOUNTAINOUS FOREST

IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

THERE'S A BIT OF A LEDGE
UP HERE.

LOOK.

OH, SHOOT.
YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS WOULDN'T BE
A GOOD PLACE TO CAMP.

LOOK.

HUGE DEAD TREE.

PUFF OF WIND IN THE NIGHT
AND THAT GOES,

YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE DAYLIGHT.

AND BECAUSE IT'S A BEECH TREE,
THEY DON'T GIVE YOU ANY WARNING.

YOU DON'T GET THE "KKKKT!"

THEY GOT A VERY SHORT GRAIN,
SO WHEN THEY DROP,

IT'S JUST "BKKT!"

WE NEED TO KEEP HEADING HIGHER,
FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THERE'S ANOTHER HOLLOW BIT
UP HERE.

IT'S PROBABLY WHERE A WHOLE TREE
HAS BEEN JUST UPROOTED.

YOU ACTUALLY WOULDN'T WANT
A SHELTER IN THIS BIT.

IT'S GONNA BE A BIT
OF A WATER-CATCH OF AN AREA.

BUT UP ON THIS BIT,
IT'S QUITE LEVEL.

IT'S ABOUT THE ONLY BIT
OF LEVEL GROUND AROUND HERE.

ALSO, THERE'S NOTHING
ABOVE ME EITHER.

OKAY. BASE CAMP.

LET'S GET BUILDING.

FIRST YOU NEED TO BUILD
THE MAIN FRAME OF THE SHELTER.

AND FOR THAT,
YOU'LL NEED THE STRONGEST,

STRAIGHTEST BRANCHES
YOU CAN FIND.

THEN, USING NATURAL FORKS
AND CROOKS,

ARRANGE THEM TO FORM
A BASIC TENT SHAPE.

OKAY. AND THEN AGAINST THAT,
YOU CAN LAY LOADS OF THESE.

YOU THEN NEED TO BUILD A
LATTICEWORK OF SMALLER LENGTHS,

GRADUALLY ADDING
SMALLER AND SMALLER BRANCHES.

YOU CAN JUST PILE ON
THIS THINNER STUFF.

THAT IS KIND OF ALMOST READY
FOR THE LEAVES, REALLY.

YOU WANT TO JUST GATHER
BIG BUNDLES OF LEAVES.

START AT THE BASE.

JUST BEGIN TO BUILD IT UP.

I REALLY WANT IT TO BE A FOOT,
MAYBE 2 FOOT THICK.

THAT'S GONNA KEEP THE RAIN OFF
AND HELP INSULATE ME AS WELL.

I NEED TO MAKE A FIRE
FOR TONIGHT,

AND THERE'S NO SHORTAGE
OF DEADWOOD IN THIS FOREST.

GET SOME OF THIS BIRCH BARK OUT
AND JUST REALLY ROUGH IT UP.

AND THEN IT WILL TAKE THE SPARK.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT BIRCH BARK

IS IT WILL LIGHT
EVEN WHEN IT'S DAMP.

AND THAT'S ALL THE OILS
INSIDE IT.

BUILD UP A BIG BIRD'S NEST
WITH ALL THIS KINDLING

AND IT WILL DRY OUT AS WELL.

IT'S ALWAYS WORTH NURTURING
YOUR FIRE WHEN IT'S LITTLE.

AND IT WILL LOOK AFTER YOU
WHEN IT GETS BIG.

MY FIRE WILL KEEP ME WARM
AND SAFE.

WHENEVER YOU'RE CAMPING OUT,
YOU'RE GONNA BE VULNERABLE.

THE THING IS, I KNOW THERE ARE
WOLVES AND BEARS IN THIS AREA.

THERE'S A LOT OF MYTHOLOGY
AROUND WOLVES

AND PACKS OF WOLVES
ATTACKING HUMANS.

THE REALITY IS,

IF YOU SEE A WOLF IN THE WILD,
YOU'RE INCREDIBLY LUCKY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA
TAKE ANY CHANCES TONIGHT.

I'M GONNA MAKE
A REALLY SIMPLE TORCH,

SO IF I DO HEAR ANYTHING OR
ANYTHING COMES NEAR THIS CAMP,

I'VE GOT A WEAPON,
WHICH IS FIRE.

AND THAT IS ALWAYS GONNA DETER
PREDATORS.

JUST GET A BRANCH LIKE THIS.

THEN INTO THESE GAPS,

I'M JUST GONNA PUSH A LOT
OF THESE BIRCH-BARK SHAVINGS.

BUT I'M NOT GONNA LIGHT THIS
UNLESS I REALLY NEED TO.

A LEAST WITH THIS,

I KNOW I CAN INSTANTLY HAVE
A FLAMING TORCH IN MY HAND.

I JUST HEARD A NOISE OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA TAKE
ANY CHANCE WITH THIS.

I'M JUST GONNA GET
THIS TORCH FLAMING.

[ ANIMAL HOWLING IN DISTANCE ]

THERE YOU GO.
HEAR THAT?

[ HOWLING CONTINUES ]

I WAS ONCE SHOWN BY A WOODSMAN

HOW TO GET A RESPONSE
FROM WOLVES.

AND IF I CAN AT LEAST HEAR
A RESPONSE,

THEN AT LEAST I KNOW
WHAT I'M DEALING WITH.

[ HOWLS ]

[ HOWLS ]

[ HOWLS ]

[ ANIMAL HOWLING IN DISTANCE ]
OKAY. HEAR THAT?

THAT -- THAT SOUNDS
A VERY LONG WAY AWAY, THERE.

[ HOWLING CONTINUES ]

THERE YOU GO.
HEAR THAT?

GONNA TRY AND GET SOME SLEEP,

TRY AND SLOW THE HEART RATE
BACK DOWN AGAIN.

THE MORNING LIGHT
SIGNALS THE END

TO WHAT HAS BEEN A LONG,
RESTLESS NIGHT.

THE SHELTER WORKED WELL,
THAT FIRE.

TO BE HONEST, THOUGH, THE WEAK
LINK LAST NIGHT WAS IN MY MIND.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY FOUND IT HARD
JUST TO GET BACK TO SLEEP

AFTER HEARING THOSE NOISES.

THE FIRE GAVE ME
A SENSE OF SECURITY,

AND I'VE SPOTTED SOMETHING

THAT MEANS I CAN START ANOTHER
ONE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.

TINDER FUNGUS!

AND IT'S THIS SOFT,
SPONGY BIT IN THE MIDDLE.

WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS --

YOU PUT A SPARK TO IT,
IT WILL BURN AS AN EMBER,

AND IT WILL KEEP BURNING.

SO IT MEANS YOU CAN TRAVEL AND
ALWAYS HAVE FIRE NEAR AT HAND.

THE LAST THING I'M GONNA DO
BEFORE BREAKING CAMP

IS JUST USE A BIT
OF THIS TINDER FUNGUS.

AND ALL I NEED IS THAT.

AND THEN JUST PUT A BIT OF FIRE
TO IT.

THAT WILL THEN STAY LIT
ABSOLUTELY AGES.

AND WHEN PRIMITIVE MAN
DISCOVERED

THAT THEY COULD
EFFECTIVELY STORE FIRE

BY TAKING AN EMBER
IN THIS TINDER FUNGUS,

IT COMPLETELY CHANGED
THE WAY THAT THEY HUNTED.

YOU SEE, MEN, THEY COULD NOW
TRAVEL FURTHER AFIELD TO HUNT,

SAFE IN THE KNOWLEDGE

THAT THEY COULD ALWAYS HAVE FIRE
WHEN THEY NEEDED IT.

AND THAT'S JUST GONNA
SLOWLY SMOLDER AWAY.

ALL I NEED DO IS WRAP IT LOOSELY
IN SOME MOSS,

AND THEN I CAN TRAVEL WITH THAT.

OKAY.

LET'S GET ON THE MOVE.

THE STEEP UPLANDS

HAVE GIVEN WAY
TO FLATTER, MARSHIER GROUND.

BOGGY AS HELL.

WETLANDS HAVE A GREATER
DIVERSITY OF PLANT LIFE

AND PLACES TO SHELTER.

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BE
ON THE LOOKOUT

FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN USE.

ALL OF THIS IS HONEYSUCKLE.

THE LEAVES JUST THRIVE
OFF THIS WET, BOGGY AREA.

BUT THIS MAKES, ALSO,
GOOD TINDER.

AND, YOU KNOW,
EVEN IN A PLACE AS WET AS THIS,

IF YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,

YOU CAN FIND THINGS
THAT WILL HELP YOU.

PHEASANT.

THERE'S NO WAY
I'M GONNA CATCH HIM.

PHEASANTS
ARE GROUND-DWELLING BIRDS.

IT'S NESTING SEASON,

AND THIS THICK VEGETATION
IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO LOOK.

OH, HERE'S A NEST.

AND SOME EGGS AS WELL!

YOU CAN TELL
THEY'RE PHEASANT EGGS.

SMALL, KIND OF GREENISH.

BUT THAT IS GONNA BE GOOD
TO EAT.

YOU KNOW, I'VE STILL GOT THAT
TINDER-FUNGUS EMBER IN MY PACK.

I'M QUITE TEMPTED, ACTUALLY,
JUST TO BOIL THESE UP.

IT WOULD BE NICER THAN RAW.
I LOVE A BOILED EGG.

JUST NEED TO FIND
A BIT OF HIGH GROUND.

WELL, IT'S NOT EXACTLY
MOUNT EVEREST.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER GROUND.

AT LEAST IT'S OUT OF THE WATER.

OKAY.

AND THIS TINDER FUNGUS
IS STILL...

...BURNING,
AND JUST EVERY HOUR OR SO,

I'VE TAKEN IT OUT
AND GIVEN IT A LITTLE BLOW.

PUT THAT IN THE MIDDLE
OF ALL OF THIS HONEYSUCKLE.

AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL GO.

THEY SAY THERE'S NO SMOKE
WITHOUT FIRE.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

IT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE.

[ BLOWING ]

THERE WE GO.

LET'S FILL THIS UP
WITH SOME WATER.

YOU WOULDN'T DRINK
WATER THIS DIRTY,

BUT IT'S FINE
FOR BOILING THE EGGS IN.

OKAY. I'M A 3 1/2-MINUTE MAN
WHEN IT COMES TO BOILED EGGS.

THIS IS GONNA BE JUST WAY NICER
THAN HAVING RAW EGGS.

OH, HANG ON.

OH, NO.
LOOK.

THIS IS A PART-DEVELOPED
CHICK FETUS.

WELL, THAT WASN'T QUITE

THE NICE BOILED EGG
I WAS HOPING FOR.

BUT, YOU KNOW,
IN THE PHILIPPINES,

THIS SORT OF THING
IS A DELICACY.

IF YOU HAVEN'T EATEN FOR DAYS,

YOU CAN'T AFFORD
TO BE SQUEAMISH.

PROTEIN KEEPS YOU ALIVE.

OH, THAT WAS A LEG.
[ CRUNCHING ]

BUT SCAVENGERS
CAN'T BE CHOOSERS.

AT LEAST THERE'S A FEW MINUTES
JUST TO STOP, WARM UP,

GET SOME ENERGY IN.

THEN WE'RE BACK ON OUR WAY.

TO REACH THE COAST,

YOU MUST LEAVE
THIS RICH ECOSYSTEM BEHIND

AND HEAD OUT
DEEPER INTO THE MARSHES.

THE MOUNTAINS SEEM
A LONG WAY AWAY.

ALLUVIAL PLAINS LIKE THIS ARE
MADE OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

AS MINERALS AND SEDIMENT ARE
SWEPT DOWN BY HIGHLAND RIVERS

AND BECOME TRAPPED IN THESE
VAST, OPEN PLAINS AT THE COAST.

WAY BOGGIER AND WETTER NOW.

THE WATER IS GETTING DEEPER,

AND WALKING IN THESE REEDS
IS NOW ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

[ WATER SPLASHING ]

[ GRUNTS ]

[ GROANS ]

GETTING BEYOND FUNNY,
THESE HOLES NOW.

[ GRUNTS ]

OH, HANG ON.
LOST MY BOOT IN IT.

[ SPITS ]

OKAY. HANG ON.
I NEED MY BOOT.

WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE
WITHOUT THAT.

[ SPITS ]
GOT IT.

THAT'S WHY.
THE LACE BROKE.

PROGRESS THROUGH THIS SWAMP
HAS SLOWED TO A SNAIL'S PACE.

IT MIGHT BE A HAVEN FOR FROGS,

BUT IF I'M HONEST,
THEY CAN KEEP IT.

[ SPITTING ]

HANG ON.
THIS IS CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY.

THE RIVER'S JUST HERE.

IT'S JUST THERE IS NO BANK
TO IT.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

THOUGH WHAT THERE IS A LOT OF
ARE THESE REEDS.

LET'S JUST SEE IF THEY'RE...

NO, THESE ONES AREN'T HOLLOW.

YOU CAN'T BLOW THROUGH THESE.

THESE ARE LITTLE COMPARTMENTS
THAT ARE AIRTIGHT.

AND THAT MEANS THESE REEDS
ARE GONNA BE REALLY BUOYANT.

I'M JUST WONDERING WHETHER IT
MIGHT BE ACTUALLY MORE EFFICIENT

TO TRY AND BUILD A RAFT
OUT OF LOADS AND LOADS OF THESE

AND TRY AND FLOAT
DOWN THE RIVER.

TO BE HONEST, ANYTHING'S
GOT TO BE BETTER THAN THIS.

OKAY. COME ON.
LET'S COMMIT TO THIS.

LET'S GATHER A LOAD OF REEDS.

[ GRUNTS ]

REEDS FLOURISH
IN FRESHWATER MARSHES LIKE THIS

ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

FOR YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN USED
TO MAKE BOATS,

SOME CAPABLE OF TRAVELING
HUGE DISTANCES ACROSS OCEANS.

YOU KNOW, CIVILIZATIONS
HAVE USED REEDS LIKE THIS

FOR LITERALLY
THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

OKAY, WHAT I WANT TO DO
IS SPLIT THEM, TURN IT AROUND...

AND LOOK WHAT YOU END UP WITH.

THE THIN, TAPERED END HERE.

IT'S FATTER IN THE MIDDLE,
WHERE THE REEDS ARE THICKEST.

AND THEN IT TAPERS OFF HERE
AS WELL.

YOU KNOW,
AND LIKE EVERYTHING IN SURVIVAL,

IF YOU CAN USE NATURAL FORMS
OF THINGS,

IT'S GONNA HELP YOU SO MUCH.

A SHORT SECTION OF MY ROPE
CUT INTO STRIPS

WILL HOLD THE RAFT TOGETHER
NICELY.

THEN WHAT YOU'VE GOT
IS THIS BASIC SHAPE LIKE THIS.

I RECKON TWO OR THREE OF THESE

ARE GONNA GIVE ME EASY ENOUGH
STABILITY AND BUOYANCY

TO FLOAT ME DOWN THIS RIVER.

REED RAFTS ARE INCREDIBLY
DURABLE AND PRACTICAL.

AND ONCE YOU KNOW HOW, YOU CAN
BUILD ONE IN AN HOUR OR SO.

ONE, TWO.

THEN WE JUST FINISH OFF
THIS THIRD ONE.

I'M JUST TRYING TO ACCENTUATE
THIS TAPER AT THE END.

PULL IT UP.

THIS IS GONNA BE THE BOW.
[ GRUNTS ]

PULL THOSE TOGETHER.

AND THEN BIND THEM UP HERE.

THIS IS GONNA WORK GREAT.

ALL I NEED NOW IS A PADDLE.

SEE THERE?
WE'RE GONNA USE THIS.

OKAY. WE'RE SET TO GO.
COME ON.

IT'S INCREDIBLY HEAVY, BUT
I'M CONFIDENT IT WON'T SINK.

OKAY.

WE'RE FLOATING AND ON OUR WAY.

JUST SHOWS HOW BUOYANT
THESE REEDS ARE.

IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE DEEP,
THIS WATER.

TELL YOU WHAT --
IT'S A HELL OF A LOT EASIER

THAN DOING BATTLE
WITH ALL OF THOSE REEDS.

OKAY.
WE'RE ON OUR WAY.

I'M IN THE MIDDLE
OF A VAST WETLAND SWAMP

NEAR THE BLACK SEA COAST
OF GEORGIA, EASTERN EUROPE.

A CANOE MADE OF REEDS
ALLOWS YOU TO NAVIGATE

THESE OTHERWISE
IMPENETRABLE SWAMPS.

BUT AS THE LAND RISES
NEAR THE COAST,

PASSAGE BECOMES MUCH TOUGHER.

[ GRUNTS ]

THING'S ON HERE, AND THE SEA
IS JUST OVER THAT SANDBAR.

LET'S GO AND HAVE A LOOK.
COME ON.

THERE ARE TANKERS OUT THERE.

WE CAN GET THEIR ATTENTION.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE FIND
AT THE BEACH. COME ON.

THE BEACH IS FULL OF DEBRIS.

BUT ONE MAN'S TRASH
IS ANOTHER MAN'S TREASURE.

YOU COULD BUILD A SIGNAL FIRE,
BUT THOSE TANKERS ARE FAR OUT,

AND YOUR FIRE
COULD EASILY BE MISSED.

THE BLACK SEA IS ONE
OF THE BUSIEST SHIPPING LANES

IN THE WORLD.

AND WHERE THERE'S TANKERS,
YOU'LL OFTEN FIND A PORT.

IF YOU GET OUT THERE,

YOUR CHANCES OF RESCUE
IMPROVE DRAMATICALLY.

WE'LL NEED TO USE SOMETHING
TO HAUL THIS RAFT OVER.

WE'RE GONNA MAKE
A THREE-IN-ONE HOIST WITH THIS.

COME ON.

THE WATERLOGGED RAFT IS
FAR TOO HEAVY FOR ME TO CARRY.

BUT BY BUILDING A HOIST,

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRAG IT
ACROSS THE BEACH.

ALL I NEED
IS A GOOD ANCHOR POINT.

WHAT I CAN DO

IS JUST FILL MY RUCKSACK
FULL OF SAND AND THEN BURY IT.

AND THAT WILL BE MY DEADWEIGHT
THAT I CAN HAUL AGAINST.

JUST PULL OFF A LENGTH OF ROPE.

TWO BITS OF PLASTIC HOSING JUST
FROM THE TRASH ON THE BEACH.

FIT THOSE TOGETHER, AND THAT
WILL ACT JUST LIKE A ROLLER.

AND NOW YOU GOT TWO OF THOSE.

RUN A ROPE AROUND THAT.

AND THAT'S GONNA HELP
JUST REDUCE FRICTION.

OKAY.

THAT'S THE STRONG POINT.

NOW THIS RUNS OUT
TO THE DEAD ANCHOR.

EACH TIME YOU LOOP THE ROPE,

THE LOAD YOU HAVE TO PULL
IS REDUCED.

IT'S CALLED
MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE.

AND JUST THREAD IT
THROUGH THIS ROLLER.

THAT WILL ALMOST GIVE ME
THE PULLING POWER OF THREE MEN

INSTEAD OF JUST ME.

OKAY. COME ON, THEN.
WE CAN DO THIS.

[ GRUNTS ]

COME ON. WE CAN DO THIS.
WE'RE SO CLOSE NOW.

[ ROPE CREAKING ]

[ GRUNTING ]

COME ON. WE CAN DO THIS.
OKAY.

IT'S AT THE LIMIT,

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA
NEED TO SET THIS AGAIN

ANOTHER 10, 15 YARDS
RIGHT THAT WAY.

JUST DO IT IN LITTLE STAGES.

HEAVY OBJECTS CAN BE MOVED
IN THIS WAY.

A THREE-IN-ONE HAUL LINE
LIKE THIS

HAS BEEN DEPLOYED
IN COUNTLESS RESCUE SITUATIONS.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, A HIKER
FELL INTO A 75-FOOT RAVINE.

WITH NO OTHER ACCESS, RESCUERS
LOWERED AN EMERGENCY STRETCHER

AND WERE ABLE TO SAFELY HAUL
HIM OUT USING THIS SYSTEM.

THE SPEED WITH WHICH
THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HIM OUT

AND INTO HOSPITAL
SAVED HIS LIFE.

OKAY.
WELL, WE'VE REACHED THE SEA.

NOW IT'S JUST A QUESTION
OF TRYING TO GET OUT THERE.

THE SHIP I SPOTTED EARLIER
HAS MOVED ON NOW.

BUT IF YOU HUG THE COASTLINE,

YOU MAY COME ACROSS
MORE SIGNS OF SHIPPING.

KAYAKING IS ONE
OF THOSE THINGS --

YOU JUST WANT TO FIND
YOUR RHYTHM,

GET INTO THAT ZONE,
AND THEN YOU CAN KEEP GOING,

AND THE TIME PASSES
QUICKLY THERE.

WE USED TO DO SO MUCH
OF THIS SORT OF CANOEING

IN THE MILITARY, YOU KNOW --
JUST LONG-DISTANCE PADDLING.

TO BE HONEST, I KIND OF FORGET
JUST HOW HARD WORK IT IS.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

IT'S JUST A GRIND.

GETTING A LITTLE BIT CHOPPIER
HERE.

IT'S ACTUALLY SURPRISINGLY
STABLE, THIS CANOE.

THAT'S A PORT OVER THERE!

WE'RE ONLY ABOUT
A MILE AWAY AS WELL.

IF I CAN REACH THERE,
THEN IT'S JOB DONE.

THIS TINY COUNTRY PUNCHES
WAY ABOVE ITS WEIGHT.

IT'S A FORMIDABLE LANDSCAPE AND
SHOULD NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED.

AND ONE THING'S FOR SURE --

I WON'T BE ABLE TO LOOK AT
A BOILED EGG FOR QUITE A WHILE.

BUT FINALLY I CAN HEAD HOME
TO MY FAMILY,

AND THAT'S A WELCOME THOUGHT.

MADE IT!