Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 5, Episode 6 - Extreme Desert - full transcript

Bear's crew does their best to kill him as they simulate some perilous situations in the Mojave Desert including a sand storm and a flash flood. Barely perturbed, Bear goes looking for some scorpions, rattlesnakes and coyotes to play with before an invigorating rock climb.

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.
WHOO!

I GO TO SOME OF THE MOST
DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH

TO SHOW YOU WHAT IT TAKES
TO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.

I'VE TRAVELED THE GLOBE,
FACING CHALLENGES

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

WITHOUT THE RIGHT
SURVIVAL SKILLS.

NOW I'M IN THE MOJAVE DESERT,

ONE OF THE HOTTEST PLACES
ON EARTH.

THIS TIME, WE'RE BRINGING
THE WORST OF THE WILD TO ME

SO I CAN SHOW YOU
HOW TO SURVIVE

THE MOST EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS.



MY TEAM WILL BE GIVING
MOTHER NATURE A HELPING HAND

TO MAKE SURE CONDITIONS
ARE AS BAD AS THEY CAN GET.

I'M GONNA EXPERIENCE THE BRUTE
FORCE OF A FLASH FLOOD...

SHOW YOU THAT YOUR REACTIONS
ARE NO MATCH

FOR THE DEADLY RATTLESNAKE...

SEE THAT?
WHAP! LIKE LIGHTNING.

...AND TAKE ON A MASSIVE
MAN-MADE SANDSTORM HEAD ON.

IT'S READING 99 MILES AN HOUR.

MAN: What's your altitude at
right now?

JUST PASSED 25,000.
Copy that.

I'M IN THE DESERT
TO PUT MY BODY TO THE TEST

IN ONE OF THE HARSHEST
ENVIRONMENTS ON THE PLANET.

FIRST, I FACE A FREE FALL
FOR 30,000 FEET --

THE HIGHEST JUMP
I'VE EVER DONE.



DOWN ON THE DESERT FLOOR,

TEMPERATURES SOAR
INTO THE HUNDREDS,

BUT UP HERE,
IT'S MIND-NUMBINGLY COLD.

OKAY, WE'RE DOWN
TO MINUS-33 ALREADY.

IT'S COLDER THAN I EXPECTED,

AND WE'VE STILL GOT A LOT
OF CLIMBING TO DO.

OKAY, WE HAVE
ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO ALTITUDE.

10 MINUTES TO ALTITUDE.

THE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
AS WE CLIMB IS GETTING SO LOW

THAT WITHOUT ANY AIR SUPPLY,

I'D BE UNCONSCIOUS
WITHIN 20 SECONDS.

I HAVE TO BREATHE 100% OXYGEN

TO AVOID GETTING NITROGEN
BUBBLES IN MY BLOODSTREAM,

WHICH COULD BE FATAL.

LAST TIME
I WAS UP AT 30,000 FEET

WAS ON THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST.

JUMPING AT THIS ALTITUDE

IS A TECHNIQUE USED BY SPECIAL
FORCES FOR COVERT INSERTIONS.

MIMICKING THE FLIGHT PATH
OF COMMERCIAL JETS

IS AN EFFECTIVE CONCEALMENT

AND DEPLOYS TROOPS FAST
WITHOUT DETECTION.

IT'S KNOWN AS HIGH-ALTITUDE-
LOW OPENING, OR HALO.

I'VE GOT T-MINUS TWO.
TWO MINUTES TO JUMP.

THE TEMPERATURE HAS PLUMMETED
TO MINUS-40.

EXIT THE PLANE
WITHOUT MY GOGGLES,

AND MY EYES WOULD FREEZE
INSTANTLY.

DOWN ON THE DESERT FLOOR,
IT'S OVER 100.

I'M ABOUT TO PUT MYSELF
THROUGH A TEMPERATURE CHANGE

OF 140 DEGREES
IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES.

I'M WIRED UP SO THAT MY TEAM
CAN MEASURE MY BODY STATS

ON MY DESCENT.

OKAY, LET'S GO.

IN SIX SECONDS,
I HIT TERMINAL VELOCITY.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
TO FALL ANY FASTER.

WOW!

AND BECAUSE THE AIR IS THINNER
AT THIS ALTITUDE,

I'M FALLING AT JUST UNDER 200
MILES AN HOUR.

WE'RE IN HALO FREE FALL!

JUST AMAZING.

OKAY, ALTITUDE CHECK.

26,000 FEET AND FALLING FAST.

HALO WORKS
BECAUSE OF SEVERAL FACTORS --

HIGH DOWNWARD VELOCITY

AND MINIMAL METAL
AND FORWARD AIR SPEED,

WHICH ALL SERVE
TO DEFEAT THE RADAR...

WOW! JUST AMAZING!

...MAKING A SOLDIER'S ENTRY
VIRTUALLY UNDETECTED.

6,000.

GETTING READY TO DEPLOY.

5, 4½. WE'RE WAVING OFF.
WAVING OFF.

AND HERE WE GO.

AS THE CHUTE DEPLOYS,
MY SPEED RAPIDLY REDUCES

TO 22 MILES AN HOUR,

AND MY BODY PULLS 5 G's.

WHOO!

JUST NEED TO GET MY BEARING.

ALREADY NOW I CAN FEEL THE HEAT

RADIATING
FROM THE DESERT FLOOR.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

OKAY.

OKAY, COMING IN FAST,
THE FIRST DOWNWARD LEG.

AND THEN I'M GONNA TURN INTO
THE WIND FOR THE FINAL APPROACH.

OKAY, WANT A NICE, STRONG FLARE
FOR LANDING.

AND WE'RE ON THE GROUND.

WHEW!

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

GOOD JOB.

THE TEMPERATURE DOWN HERE
IS ALMOST 102 DEGREES.

IT'S TIME TO GET THIS FLIGHT
GEAR OFF AND GET GOING.

I NEED TO RENDEZVOUS
WITH THE GROUND CREW

AT MY NEXT LOCATION.

UGH!

I'M ON THE GROUND [CHUCKLES]
AND ALIVE.

THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD START
AFTER A HALO JUMP.

WOW, WHAT A --
WHAT A BUZZ, THOUGH.

JUST VERY, VERY COLD HANDS.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING
I DON'T OFTEN SAY

IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT.

THE MOJAVE IS ONE OF
THE HOTTEST, MOST ARID PLACES

ON EARTH.

BUT WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT
TO ANOTHER LEVEL

AND MAKE CONDITIONS
AS BAD AS THEY CAN GET

TO SHOW YOU HOW TO SURVIVE
WHEN MOTHER NATURE GETS NASTY.

[ MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY
OVER RADIO ]

WHEN IT GETS ROUGH OUT HERE,

JUST KEEPING YOURSELF ALIVE
WILL BECOME YOUR MAIN GOAL.

I'M GONNA PUT MYSELF
IN THE DIRECT PATH

OF ONE OF THE MOST FEARSOME
FEATURES OF THE DESERT,

AND ONE
THAT ALL TRAVELERS DREAD --

THE SANDSTORM.

SANDSTORMS ARE ONE
OF NATURE'S MOST UNPREDICTABLE

AND VIOLENT PHENOMENA.

YOU KNOW, THEY CAN BE MILES WIDE
AND MILES HIGH,

AND THEY TRAVEL
AT 120 MILES AN HOUR.

THE GROUND CREW MAKE THEIR WAY
TO A VAST, EMPTY PLAIN.

OPEN EXPANSES LIKE THIS

ARE IDEAL BREEDING GROUNDS
FOR SANDSTORMS,

AS WINDS CAN WHIP UP
UNOBSTRUCTED

ACROSS THE DESERT FLOOR.

WE'RE GONNA USE
FOUR MASSIVE WIND MACHINES

TO BASICALLY GENERATE
OUR OWN SANDSTORM

AND SHOW WHAT A TERRIFYING PLACE
IT CAN BE TO BE TRAPPED INSIDE.

THIS IS GONNA BE AN ADVENTURE.

2-0-2.

Copy that.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION
OVER RADIO ]

He's running fine
and dandy.

I KNOW HOW TOUGH DESERTS CAN BE
TO SURVIVE IN

AT THE BEST OF TIMES,

AND I'VE BEEN CAUGHT ON THE
EDGE OF A SANDSTORM BEFORE,

AND THEY CAN BE TERRIFYING.

A POWERFUL SANDSTORM CAN MOVE

MILLIONS OF TONS OF SAND
AT A TIME,

CARRYING IT
FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES.

THEY OCCUR
WHEN CONVECTION CURRENTS

CREATED BY THE INTENSE HEAT

WHIP ACROSS THE DESERT SURFACE,

CAUSING SAND AND DUST
TO BECOME AIRBORNE.

THEY CAN LAST FOR DAYS,

COVERING EVERYTHING
IN THEIR PATH

IN A FINE LAYER
OF SUFFOCATING DUST.

THERE'S ONLY A LIGHT BREEZE
HERE, BUT NOT FOR LONG.

WE'RE ABOUT TO CREATE
OUR OWN PERFECT STORM.

I MEAN, THESE ARE SERIOUSLY
INDUSTRIAL WIND MACHINES.

YOU GOT 40 HORSEPOWER --

DRIVE UP WINDS
UP TO 100 MILES AN HOUR

AND BASICALLY CREATE A MASSIVE
HURRICANE-FORCE SANDSTORM

HEADING STRAIGHT FOR ME.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS
I'M NERVOUS ABOUT,

YOU KNOW, FOR SURE.

YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA GET
SAND-BLASTED

BY A HURRICANE-FORCE SANDSTORM,

AND, YOU KNOW,
I GUESS I'M CONCERNED

ABOUT JUST GETTING
COMPLETELY SHREDDED.

ALSO, IT'S SUPER EASY
TO SUFFOCATE IN THOSE THINGS,

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE
JUST GETTING THAT AMOUNT
OF SAND BLASTED OVER YOU.

BUT ALSO MY EYES -- YOU KNOW,

I HAD QUITE A LOT
OF SUN AND WIND DAMAGE.

LAST TIME I SAW THE EYE SURGEON,
HE BASICALLY SAID,

"CHANGE YOUR JOB

AND KEEP OUT OF THE WIND
AND KEEP OUT OF THE SUN."

SO I'M KIND OF HOPING, YOU KNOW,

MAYBE HE'S NOT GONNA
WATCH THIS ONE.

BUT IT WILL BE GOOD.

WE'LL GET IN THERE, DO IT,
AND WE'LL GET OUT.

YOU KNOW, BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT,

SANDSTORMS ARE
AN INTIMIDATING THING,

AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU NEED
TO TAKE SUPER SERIOUSLY.

[ WHIRRING ]

REMEMBER, THREE CLEAR,
REPEATED SIGNALS FROM ME --

THAT MEANS STOP IT.

THAT MEANS
I'M GETTING KILLED IN THERE.

ALL RIGHT, GIVE ME FIVE.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THAT WITH
JUST SOME BASIC KNOWLEDGE,

YOU CAN SURVIVE THIS.

JUST STICK CLOSE TO ME
WHEN IT HITS US.

YEAH, WE'RE SET!

MAN: Okay,
start the engine.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

THE FANS FIRE UP,
AND WITHIN SECONDS,

A CHOKING DUST-FILLED CLOUD
STARTS TO FORM.

THAT'S A SIGHT

THAT EVERY DESERT TRAVELER
PRAYS HE'LL NEVER SEE --

SANDSTORM COMING
RIGHT TOWARDS YOU.

BUT WHAT YOU CAN'T DO
IS OUTRUN IT.

THESE THINGS CAN BE MILES WIDE,
TRAVELING AT 100 MILES AN HOUR.

SO, YOU'VE GOT TO STOP,
THINK CLEARLY,

AND THE BIGGEST DANGER
IS SUFFOCATION AND BLINDNESS.

IF YOU'RE EVER UNLUCKY ENOUGH

TO FIND YOURSELF
IN THIS SITUATION,

TRY NOT TO PANIC.

COVER YOUR AIRWAYS
AS BEST YOU CAN.

COTTON FABRICS LIKE A T-SHIRT
WILL ACT AS A BASIC FILTER.

IT WON'T BE PERFECT,

BUT IF IT'S ALL YOU'VE GOT,
IT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING.

LET'S GET GOING.
LET'S GET INTO IT. COME ON.

AAH!

THE GRIT-FILLED CLOUD
IS PROPELLED TOWARDS ME

AT HURRICANE-FORCE SPEEDS.

WHAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO
IN THIS SORT OF SITUATION

IS TRY AND WALK THROUGH IT.

THESE THINGS CAN LAST FOR HOURS,

AND YOU'LL JUST END UP
GETTING LOST AND EXHAUSTED.

YOU'VE JUST GOT TO GET
YOUR BACK TO THE WIND,

HUNKER DOWN,
AND PROTECT YOUR AIRWAYS.

YOU'RE WAY BETTER OFF
BEING DOWN HERE.

YOU'RE GONNA GET THE BIGGER
SAND PARTICLES LOWER DOWN.

HIGHER UP IS THE FINE STUFF,

AND IT'S THE FINE STUFF
THAT'S GONNA MAKE YOU SUFFOCATE.

STAY LOW.

WIND SPEED AS POWERFUL AS THIS

BRINGS WITH IT
WIND-BORNE DEBRIS,

AND WITH VISIBILITY REDUCED
TO ALMOST ZERO,

YOU'RE IN REAL DANGER
OF BEING HIT.

FINDING SOME SORT OF SHELTER
IS GONNA MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE

TO YOUR ABILITY
TO ENDURE A SANDSTORM.

GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A CAR
STICKING OUT. LET'S GO.

A ROCKY OUTCROP WILL MAKE
AN IDEAL PLACE TO HOLE UP,

BUT IF THAT ISN'T POSSIBLE,
THEN YOU'VE GOT TO ADAPT

TO WHATEVER YOU CAN FIND
TO YOUR ADVANTAGE,

EVEN THE WRECKAGE
FROM AN OLD CAR.

IT MAY NOT LOOK PRETTY,
BUT IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE.

INSTANTLY, IT'S BETTER.

OUT OF THE WIND
AND OUT OF THAT SAND-BLASTING.

AND CHECK THIS OUT.

IT'S READING 99 MILES AN HOUR.

BUT DOWN HERE, IT'S DOWN TO 37.

THAT IS A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE,

AND JUST THIS
CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE.

THEN YOU'VE JUST GOT TO SIT
AND WAIT IT OUT.

IT'S JUST A BATTLE BETWEEN
YOUR ENDURANCE AND THE WILD.

BUT THE REALITY IS

IF IT KEEPS GOING
AND KEEPS GOING,

THE DESERT'S GONNA WIN.

THERE MUST BE NOTHING
MORE TERRIFYING

THAN BEING CAUGHT
IN A STORM LIKE THIS.

THESE THINGS CAN KEEP BLOWING
FOR DAYS.

BEING UNDER HERE IS DEFINITELY
GONNA EXTEND YOUR SURVIVAL TIME,

BUT THE REALITY IS,

IF IT KEEPS GOING,
THE DESERT'S GONNA WIN.

EVENTUALLY, EVEN
THE MOST VIOLENT SANDSTORM

WILL BLOW ITSELF OUT
OR SIMPLY MOVE ON OVER YOU.

THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO
IS MAKE SURE YOU SURVIVE

UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.

[ COUGHING ]

THAT'S WHY [SPITS] I HATE SAND.

[ SPITS ]

UGH!

GOD, THAT WOULD BE TERRIFYING,
BEING IN THAT HOUR AFTER HOUR,

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT CAN
HAPPEN WITH SANDSTORMS.

THESE THINGS CAN GO ON FOR DAYS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT
PROTECTING YOUR AIRWAYS.

IF YOU LOSE A FEW LAYERS OF SKIN
AND IT HURTS FOR A WHILE,

THAT'S ONE THING,

BUT AT LEAST YOU'RE ALIVE.

[ Sighing ] OH, MAN.

PBHT! CUP OF TEA.

NOW I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO
SURVIVE A CATASTROPHIC EVENT

WHICH CLAIMS ON AVERAGE OVER
100 AMERICAN LIVES EVERY YEAR.

WE'RE GONNA RE-CREATE

ONE OF THE DESERT'S MOST LETHAL
WEAPONS IN ITS ARSENAL,

THE FLASH FLOOD,

AND SHOW YOU WHAT CAN HAPPEN

IF YOU PITCH YOUR CAMP
IN THE WRONG PLACE.

ONE DANGER YOU DON'T EXPECT
IN THE DESERT IS WATER,

AND THAT'S WHY FLASH FLOODS
CAN BE SO LETHAL.

YEAH, YOU CAN HAVE BEAUTIFUL,
CLEAR SKIES LIKE THIS,

NO SIGN OF RAIN,
BUT YOU STILL GET HIT BY ONE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE A STORM
50 MILES AWAY,

AND THE FIRST YOU'RE GONNA KNOW
ABOUT A FLASH FLOOD

IS HEARING THAT ROAR
LIKE A JET ENGINE

AND THEN -- BAM! --
GET HIT BY THE WATER.

NOW, YOU MIGHT LOOK AT
A RIVERBED LIKE THIS AND THINK,

"NOT BAD A PLACE TO SET UP CAMP.

THERE'S SOME SHADE FROM THE SUN.
IT'S COOL. FLAT SURFACE."

BUT YOU'D BE DEAD WRONG.

THIS IS A RIVERBED,
FOR ONE REASON --

'CAUSE WATER RUNS DOWN HERE.

I'VE SPENT A LOT OF MY LIFE

PICKING CAMPSITES
AWAY FROM RIVERBEDS,

TRYING TO AVOID FLASH FLOODS.

AND THIS TIME, I'M GONNA SHOW
YOU THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES

OF MAKING A BAD DECISION.

OKAY, SET THIS ABOUT HERE.

DESERT FLASH FLOODS
ARE ESPECIALLY LETHAL.

HUGE STORMS CAN DUMP MASSIVE
AMOUNTS OF RAIN IN A FEW HOURS,

AND BECAUSE THE DESERT FLOOR
IS BAKED ROCK-HARD,

THE DELUGE OF WATER
SIMPLY RUNS STRAIGHT OFF IT.

A RAINSTORM IN THE HIGH MESA

CAN SEND A WALL
OF ROCK-STIRRING WATER

ONTO AN UNSUSPECTING CAMP

WITH NO WARNING.

[ HORN HONKS ]

THE TEAM SET ABOUT CONSTRUCTING
OUR OWN FLASH FLOOD.

THEY'VE CALLED IN
THREE MASSIVE CONTAINERS,

WHICH WILL BE FILLED WITH
OVER 24,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

THE PLAN IS TO OPEN UP
THE CONTAINER DOOR

JUST UPSTREAM
FROM WHERE I WILL BE CAMPED.

ONCE THE DOORS ARE RELEASED,

3,000 CUBIC FEET OF WATER
WILL BE SENT DOWN THE GULLY

IN A FEW SECONDS

RIGHT ON TOP OF ME.

YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE FLASH FLOODS
SERIOUSLY.

AND JUST 'CAUSE
YOU'RE IN A DESERT

WHERE YOU'RE NOT SEEING WATER
OR EVEN SEEING RAIN

DOESN'T MEAN THAT FLASH FLOODS
ARE NOT A DANGER.

ONLY RECENTLY,
16 PEOPLE WERE KILLED

IN THE UNITED STATES
BY ONE FLASH FLOOD --

AND THEY RECKON ABOUT 6 INCHES
OF WATER.

THAT'S ENOUGH TO TAKE A MAN
OFF THEIR FEET,

AND 2 FOOT OF WATER
WILL MOVE A WHOLE S.U.V.

THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT MORE
THAN TWO FOOT OF WATER IN HERE,

AND WE'VE GOT THREE OF THEM.

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE
FLASH FLOODS.

OKAY, GUYS, THIS IS SET.
READY TO GO.

80% OF FLASH FLOODS
OCCUR LATER IN THE EVENING,

JUST WHEN YOU'RE LIKELY
TO BE ASLEEP AND IN YOUR CAMP.

NATE, ROSS, YOU'RE MY EMERGENCY
BACKUP FOR THIS, ALL RIGHT?

BIG DANGER FOR ME IS
WHEN THAT WATER GETS RELEASED,

LITTLE ROCKS LIKE THIS GETTING
THROWN VERY FAST DOWN HERE.

YOU GET HIT BY THAT,
YOU'RE IN TROUBLE, ALL RIGHT?

SO, NATE, LET'S HAVE YOU HERE,
ROSS FURTHER DOWN.

IF I START TO REALLY TUMBLE
AND GO, STOP IT, ALL RIGHT?

OKAY.

JUST SET THIS CAMERA GOING,
AS WELL.

MAN:
Hit the lights.

Man, how you doing tonight?
You good?

YEAH, HAPPY.

WELL, SORT OF, WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT
TO BE HIT BY A FLASH FLOOD.

JUST CURL UP IN A BALL
AND WAIT FOR THE IMPACT.

NOT SURE WHETHER IT'S WORSE

KNOWING WHEN IT'S GONNA COME
OR NOT.

OKAY, GUYS, I'M SET.

CONTAINER ONE.

AS EACH DOOR IS OPENED,

IT DUMPS MORE AND MORE WATER
DOWN THE NARROW GULLY.

CONTAINER TWO.

CONTAINER THREE.

ALL THREE RELEASED, 90 TONS
OF WATER SURGE TOWARDS MY TENT.

THE FORCE OF THE WATER

INSTANTLY RIPS OUT
THE TENT PEGS

AND LAUNCHES ME AND THE TENT
DOWN THE RIVERBED.

IN SECONDS, THE TENT IS SWEPT
100 FEET DOWN THE GULLY.

ONLY THEN CAN THE SAFETY TEAM
JUMP IN.

BEAR!
YOU ALL RIGHT, BEAR?

OKAY, I'M GOOD.

[ SPITTING ]

I'M GOOD.

I'M OKAY, BUT THAT WAS CLOSER
THAN I WOULD HAVE WANTED.

IT DID HIT
WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF FORCE.

YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A FEW CLOSE
CALLS BEFORE WITH WHITE WATER,

AND IT'S GIVEN ME A HEALTHY
RESPECT FOR THE POWER OF IT.

AND I'VE ACTUALLY GOT A FRIEND
WHO HAD TO FISH OUT FROM A RIVER

THE BODIES OF A MOTHER
AND HER TWO KIDS,

AND THEY'D BEEN HIT BY A BIG
FLASH FLOOD IN THEIR S.U.V.,

AND THE VEHICLE HAD ACTUALLY
BEEN TAKEN 30 MILES DOWNSTREAM.

CHOOSE YOUR OVERNIGHT SPOT
CAREFULLY,

ALWAYS HAVE AN ESCAPE ROUTE
PLANNED,

AND LEARN
TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS

OF WHERE WATER HAS FLOWED.

PITCH YOUR CAMP UP
OUT OF A RIVERBED

AND NEVER IN IT,
EVEN IF IT'S BONE-DRY.

KIND OF A SOBER REMINDER,
ISN'T IT?

DON'T CAMP IN RIVERBEDS.

THE MOST DEADLY ANIMAL IN
THIS DESERT IS A RATTLESNAKE,

AND WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO FIND OUT
JUST WHAT MAKES THEM SO DEADLY.

WE'RE HEADING STRAIGHT
FOR PRIME RATTLESNAKE COUNTRY,

AND WE'RE BRINGING WITH US SOME
HIGHLY SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT.

YOU ONLY HAVE TO ASK THE PEOPLE
OUT HERE ON THE LAND

HOW SERIOUSLY THEY TAKE
THE THREAT OF RATTLESNAKES.

THE REASON THEY'RE SO DEADLY

IS THE SPEED IN WHICH
THEY CAN INJECT THEIR VENOM.

THEIR STRIKE IS FASTER
THAN THE HUMAN EYE.

THE WESTERN DIAMONDBACK IS
A REALLY AGGRESSIVE ANIMAL

AND BECOMES ANGERED QUICKLY.

THEIR TRADEMARK RATTLE
IS A WARNING TO OTHERS

THAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO STRIKE
OR IF THEY FEEL THREATENED.

NORMALLY,
THE CREW ARE USED TO WORKING

WITH THESE PRETTY SMALL CAMERAS,

BUT THIS TIME,
WE'VE GOT THIS SPECIALIST ONE,

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE
WANT TO TRY AND RECORD THE SPEED

THAT A RATTLESNAKE STRIKES AT.

IT'S UNBELIEVABLY FAST.

YOU KNOW, THE TIME FROM THE
STRIKE TO BITE AND THEN RECOIL

CAN BE UNDER HALF A SECOND,

AND THAT'S FASTER
THAN THE HUMAN EYE CAN SEE.

SO, THIS IS GONNA HELP US.

BEFORE I START SHOWING YOU

JUST HOW FAST
THESE SNAKES CAN STRIKE,

JUST GONNA STICK THESE SNAKE
BOOTS ON AND ALSO THESE CHAPS.

IF I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING
OVER THE YEARS,

IT'S A HEALTHY RESPECT
FOR SNAKES.

OKAY, WE'RE SET.

[ RATTLING ]

OKAY, WE'VE GOT A WESTERN
DIAMONDBACK RATTLESNAKE HERE.

AND THESE GUYS KILL MORE PEOPLE
IN THE U.S.

THAN ANY OTHER SNAKES.

[ RATTLING CONTINUES ]
AND YOU HEAR THAT RATTLE?

THAT'S JUST TELLING ME
TO BACK AWAY -- HE'S MAD.

BUT THEY'LL INJECT
A HEMOTOXIC VENOM

THAT WILL LITERALLY
TURN YOUR MUSCLES INTO SOUP.

BUT LOOK -- WATCH HOW FAST HIS
STRIKE IS AGAINST MY BOOT HERE.

STRIKES OFTEN OCCUR

WHEN UNSUSPECTING HIKERS
STEP ON A RATTLESNAKE

OR DISTURB IT
IN A CLUMP OF VEGETATION.

SEE THAT?
WHAP! LIKE LIGHTNING.

IF I HADN'T GOT SNAKE BOOTS ON,

I'D NOW HAVE A TICKING TIME BOMB
TO THE GRAVE

UNLESS I GOT MEDICAL HELP
VERY FAST.

FILMED AT 1,500 FRAMES
A SECOND, YOU CAN SEE

THAT ONCE THE SNAKE HAS
MADE THE DECISION TO STRIKE,

THE HEAD REARS,
THE FANGS ARE UNSHEATHED,

AND EVEN BEFORE
STRIKING MY BOOT,

THOSE FANGS ARE DELIVERING
THEIR LETHAL DOSE OF VENOM.

IF THAT STRIKE HAD HIT FLESH,
I'D NOW BE IN BIG TROUBLE.

THE SENSATION IS SAID TO BE

LIKE TWO HOT HYPODERMIC NEEDLES
PUNCTURING THE SKIN,

INSTANTLY FOLLOWED
BY EXCRUCIATING PAIN

AND SPONTANEOUS BLEEDING

FROM WHERE THE FANGS
HAVE PENETRATED.

AND THOUGH MY REACTIONS
ARE FAST,

THEY'RE NO MATCH
FOR THIS RATTLER.

FROM DECISION MADE
AND BACK AGAIN,

THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKES
JUST UNDER HALF A SECOND.

BUT IN THAT TIME,

THE BRAIN HAS JUST RECEIVED THE
MESSAGE THAT YOU'RE IN DANGER,

AND IT'S ANOTHER FULL SECOND
BEFORE YOU CAN REACT.

WITHOUT THE RIGHT PROTECTION,
IT WOULD BE TOO LATE.

OKAY, I NEED YOU GUYS
TO STAND BACK A BIT,

AND WE'RE GONNA RELEASE HIM

AND LET HIM GO
BACK TO THE DESERT.

BUT DON'T LET THIS STOP YOU
ENJOYING THE DESERT.

JUST USE CAUTION IF YOU'RE
OUT HIKING IN BACKCOUNTRY

AND KEEP TO THE TRAILS,

WEAR A GOOD PAIR OF BOOTS
AND TROUSERS,

AND SCAN THE GROUND
JUST AHEAD OF YOU.

IF YOU DO COME
ACROSS A RATTLESNAKE,

TRY TO KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE
AND LEAVE IT WELL ALONE.

MOST BITES OCCUR WHEN THEY'RE
BEING HANDLED OR HARASSED.

NIGHTFALL BRINGS NEW CHALLENGES
FOR THE SURVIVOR.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
THINK SMART

TO OUTWIT THE DESERT'S
MOST OPPORTUNISTIC SCAVENGER,

THE COYOTE.

NOW, REALLY,
ANYWHERE AROUND HERE WILL DO.

JUST WANT TO KEEP YOUR FOOD
AWAY FROM YOUR CAMP

AND OFF THE GROUND.

AND JUST 'CAUSE
YOU'RE SLEEPING IN THE DESERT

DOESN'T MEAN THAT OTHER ANIMALS
AND PREDATORS ARE.

AND OUT HERE,
YOU'RE GETTING LOADS OF COYOTES,

AND THEY'RE SCAVENGERS,

AND THEY'RE SMART.

THEY'VE GOT A GOOD SENSE
OF SMELL,

SO IF YOU'VE GOT A SETUP
WITH FOOD,

THEY'RE GONNA SNIFF IT OUT.

SO, LOOK,
SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE THIS --

THREE STICKS INTO A TRIPOD --

AND THEN YOU CAN HANG ANY
SURPLUS FOOD UP OUT OF THE WAY.

AND I'VE GOT TWO INFRARED
MOTION-SENSOR CAMERAS HERE.

AND WHAT I'M GONNA DO
IS SET THESE UP

AND SEE IF ANYTHING'S GONNA TRY
AND COME AND GET THIS.

OKAY, LET'S LEAVE THAT LOT SET.
COME ON.

YOU SHOULD AIM
TO KEEP YOUR RATIONS

AT LEAST 50 FEET
FROM WHERE YOU'RE SLEEPING.

IT MAY SEEM A HASSLE,

BUT THERE ARE BIGGER PREDATORS
OUT THERE THAN THE COYOTE,

LIKE THE MOUNTAIN LION.

THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO
IS ATTRACT THEM TO YOUR CAMP.

I RECKON
OUT OF ALL OF THE ENVIRONMENTS,

THE DESERT IS PROBABLY
MY FAVORITE ONE

TO SPEND THE NIGHT OUT IN.

YOU KNOW,
IT'S NOT POURING DOWN WITH RAIN.

IT'S PRETTY UNLIKELY.

NICE AND COOL.

YOU ALSO GET THESE AMAZING,
CLEAR SKIES AT NIGHT.

BUT WHAT YOU'VE ALSO
GOT TO UNDERSTAND --

IF YOU'RE GONNA SLEEP
OUT IN THE DESERT,

YOU'RE GONNA SHARE YOUR CAMPSITE
WITH A LOAD OF CRITTERS.

AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME,
YOU CAN TAKE THE TORCH.

IT'S NOT ONLY GOT
THE WHITE LIGHT,

IT'S ALSO GOT
THIS U.V. BLACKLIGHT.

I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU,
YOU USE THAT TO LOOK AROUND,

WE'RE GONNA FIND A LOAD
OF THINGS.

WHAT THIS U.V. BLACK LIGHT DOES

IS REFLECT THE KERATIN IN THE
EXOSKELETON OF ANY SCORPIONS.

NOW, THEY REALLY GLOW UP.
YOU'LL SEE THEM.

THERE WE GO.
YOU SEE THAT GLOWING?

THAT'S A DESERT HAIRY SCORPION,
THAT.

THEY'RE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON
SCORPIONS IN THESE DESERTS.

I'M GONNA PUT SOME GLOVES ON.

THEY DON'T REALLY GIVE YOU
A DEADLY STING,

BUT IF YOU'RE TOO SUSCEPTIBLE

TO STINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT
AS I AM --

I HAD IT BEFORE IN MEXICO,
A BEE STING --

YOU'VE GOT A REAL DANGER OF
GOING INTO ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK,

SO IT'S WORTH
JUST WEARING A GLOVE.

AND LOOK, YOU CAN JUST SEE

THE WAY HIS EXOSKELETON
SHINES OUT THERE.

THAT REALLY GLOWS UP BRIGHT.

AND THAT'S THE STINGER ON
THE END THERE --

TIP OF HIS TAIL.

BUT THE REALLY NASTY SCORPIONS
ARE ACTUALLY THE SMALLER ONES,

THE BARK SCORPIONS,

AND THERE ARE JUST LOADS
AND LOADS OF THOSE AROUND.

COME ON,
LET'S GO FIND SOME OF THOSE.

OH, LOOK,
THAT'S A BARK SCORPION.

IT'S PROBABLY A THIRD OF THE
SIZE OF THAT DESERT HAIRY ONE,

BUT THIS GUY'S WAY MORE POTENT.

IF YOU GET STUNG
BY ONE OF THESE GUYS,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE 72 HOURS
OF JUST EXCRUCIATING PAIN,

KIND OF LIKE BEING TASERED.

SCIENTISTS TODAY
STILL DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND

HOW SUCH A SMALL STINGER
AND THE SMALL AMOUNT OF VENOM

CAN BE THAT POTENT.

JUST 'CAUSE THEY'RE SMALL,
DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THEM.

THESE ARE THE ONES
TO WATCH OUT FOR.

YEAH, AND WHAT ARE WE,
15, 20 FOOT FROM THE CAMP?

AND WE'RE SEEING THESE.

LOOK, HERE'S ANOTHER ONE HERE.
LOOK.

YOU KNOW, IT IS REALITY.

IF YOU'RE GONNA SLEEP OUT HERE,
YOU'RE GONNA BE NEAR SCORPIONS,

AND THEY'RE GONNA LIKE NICE,
WARM PLACES,

LITTLE CREVICES
THEY CAN GET UNDER,

WHETHER THAT'S YOUR BODY
OR A ROLL MAT,

AND THE KEY IS
TO STAY NEAR YOUR FIRE.

SCORPIONS
AREN'T GONNA LIKE FIRE,

AND THAT'S YOUR PROTECTION.

NOW I WANT TO SEE IF THE CAMERA
TRAPS I SET UP LAST NIGHT

HAVE PICKED UP ANY ACTIVITY
AROUND MY FOOD STASH.

SO, I'VE GOT THE FOOTAGE BACK

FROM THESE
MOTION-SENSOR CAMERAS.

LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.

IT'S BEEN TRIGGERED A FEW TIMES.

LET'S WATCH THIS ONE.

ACTUALLY, LOOK.
THERE YOU GO.

VISITORS.

THAT'S A COYOTE
HAVING A SNIFF AROUND.

HE CAN SMELL THE FOOD,

BUT HE CAN'T REACH IT.

ACTUALLY, HANG ON.

HE'S HAVING A PEE ON MY STICK,
AS WELL.

HA!

NOW, THE THING IS, THESE COYOTES
ARE SMART SCAVENGERS,

AND AS A SURVIVOR,
YOUR JOB IS TO OUTSMART THEM,

WHICH, IN THIS CASE,
HAS WORKED WELL.

WE'VE STILL GOT THE FOOD.

ALL THE ANIMALS
I'VE ENCOUNTERED

ARE ADAPTED
TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

OUT HERE
IN SEARING TEMPERATURES,

WE ARE NOT, BUT WE'RE SMARTER.

THE DEADLIEST THREAT TO YOU
IN THE DESERT

ISN'T A RATTLER
OR A BARK SCORPION --

IT'S THE LACK OF WATER,

AND KNOWING HOW TO FIND IT
WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE.

EVERY HOUR OUT HERE
IS PUNISHING.

USING STATE-OF-THE-ART
TELEMETRY,

I'M GONNA MEASURE
MY VITAL SIGNS

AS I GO ON THE SEARCH
FOR WATER.

OKAY, THIS IS ABOUT 4 PINTS
OF WATER HERE.

BUT IN THE DESERT,
IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY,

JUST WALKING -- NOT RUNNING,
NOT WORKING THAT HARD --

YOU'RE GONNA BURN UP
AT LEAST THAT.

SO I'M GONNA GO OUT
FOR ABOUT AN HOUR,

SEE WHAT WATER I CAN FIND.

WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN MAKE UP
THE DIFFERENCE.

MY BODY'S CORE TEMPERATURE
IS REGULATED

BY A SET OF MECHANISMS
THAT FIRE INTO ACTION

THE MOMENT YOU HAVE TO OPERATE
IN EXTREME CONDITIONS.

DESERT SURVIVAL IS SO TOUGH.

IT'S JUST A CONSTANT BATTLE

BETWEEN TRYING TO SOURCE AS MUCH
WATER AS YOU'RE LOSING OUT HERE.

BY PRODUCING SWEAT,
MY BODY IS ABLE

TO COOL MY SKIN TEMPERATURE
THROUGH EVAPORATION.

MY HEART BEATS FASTER AND
SENDS BLOOD TO THE EXTREMITIES

TO REGULATE
MY CORE TEMPERATURE.

NOW, EVEN THOUGH IT'S SO HOT
AND WE'RE WALKING AROUND,

I'M NOT REALLY SWEATING
THAT MUCH,

'CAUSE AS SOON AS I SWEAT,
THIS WIND JUST DRIES IT.

SO, THEN WHAT HAPPENS --
YOUR BODY SWEATS SOME MORE,

AND THAT'S WHY YOU START
TO LOSE SO MUCH FLUIDS.

OKAY, LET'S DIG A STILL HERE.
GET THE SHOVEL IN.

WE'LL MAKE JUST A SIMPLE
SOLAR STILL.

WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS LINE
THE BOTTOM OF THIS WITH PLASTIC.

YOU'VE ALSO GOT TO BEAR IN MIND

THAT YOU USE A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF ENERGY TO DIG THAT PIT.

IT ALSO REQUIRES YOU
TO HAVE AT LEAST SOMETHING

THAT CAN IMPROVISE
AS PLASTIC SHEETING,

WHETHER IT'S A JACKET
OR WHATEVER.

I'M JUST GONNA PEE INTO THIS.

IF I COLLECT THE PEE
IN THE BOTTOM LIKE THIS,

COVER IT WITH PLASTIC,
THAT'S GONNA GET HOT IN THERE.

THE PEE IS GONNA EVAPORATE,

AND THAT WATER THEN
IS GONNA BE DRINKABLE.

LET'S WEIGHT THIS PLASTIC DOWN
WITH SOME SAND,

AND THEN WE'LL JUST PUT
A FEW STONES IN THE MIDDLE.

SO AS THE PEE EVAPORATES, IT'S
GONNA DRIP DOWN INTO THE CUP.

OKAY, SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN FIND.

YOU CAN IMPROVISE A SOLAR STILL

FROM DISCARDED PLASTIC
OR EVEN YOUR JACKET.

LET'S GET UP INTO THOSE CANYONS.

ROCKY GULLIES WILL GIVE YOU
YOUR BEST CHANCE

OF FINDING WATER, WHICH WILL
HAVE COLLECTED IN RUNOFF POOLS

OR BEEN PROTECTED
FROM EVAPORATION

UNDER THE SHADE OF ROCKS.

ACTUALLY, THAT'S PROBABLY
QUITE A GOOD PLACE

TO FIND WATER DOWN HERE.

[ GRUNTS ]

NATURAL FUNNEL FOR ALL
THE RAINWATER DOWN THE ROCK

TO COLLECT DOWN HERE.

AND ACTUALLY, UNDER HERE
IS GONNA BE THE MOST SHADE.

THE WATER'S GONNA LAST
THE LONGEST.

LET'S HAVE A GOOD DIG DOWN
UNDER THIS.

THE SAND TRAPS RAIN RUNOFF,

AND BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS
IN THE SHADE,

IT DOESN'T EVAPORATE
AS QUICKLY.

YEAH, SEE?
ALL OF THIS IS REALLY DAMP SAND.

THE CHALLENGE, THOUGH,

IS ALWAYS EXTRACTING THE WATER
OUT OF THE SAND.

[ GRUNTING ]

OKAY, LET'S GATHER ALL THIS UP.

AND THEN JUST TWIST IT.

THERE WE GO.

WE'RE GETTING SOME DRIPS
OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THAT NOW.

[ GRUNTING ]

WELL, IT'S NOT MUCH,
BUT IT'S SOMETHING.

EVEN A FEW DROPS OF SANDY WATER
IS PRECIOUS OUT HERE.

KNOWING WHERE TO FIND IT
IS SOMETHING YOU CAN ONLY LEARN

WITH EXPERIENCE AND PATIENCE.

ONCE YOU'VE ATTUNED YOURSELF,

YOU CAN HEAD
STRAIGHT FOR PLACES

THAT GIVE YOU THE BEST CHANCE
OF FINDING WATER.

OKAY, LET'S KEEP MOVING ON.

NOW I'M HEADING BACK
TO THE SOLAR STILL I MADE

TO SEE IF I CAN COLLECT
ANY MORE WATER THERE.

YEAH, YOU CAN SEE
THE EVAPORATION TAKING PLACE

ON THE UNDERSIDE
OF THE PLASTIC HERE.

OKAY, REALLY ABOUT HALF AN INCH
OF WATER IN THERE.

YEAH, AND REALLY, IT'S NOT MUCH.

AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT STILLS

IS THAT ONCE
YOU'VE DUG THEM ONCE,

YOU CAN KEEP REUSING THEM.

AND AS LONG AS YOU'VE GOT
ENOUGH PLASTIC,

YOU CAN ACTUALLY THEN
DIG MULTIPLE STILLS,

AND THAT'S HOW YOU START
TO GET ENOUGH WATER

TO HAVE AT LEAST A CHANCE
OF SURVIVING OUT HERE.

OKAY, LET'S GET BACK
AND SEE HOW MUCH WE GOT HERE.

MY CORE TEMPERATURE HAS RISEN
TO JUST BELOW 101 DEGREES.

IF I DEHYDRATE FURTHER,

MY BODY'S ABILITY TO SWEAT
WILL REDUCE.

AFTER THAT,
IT'S A CHAIN REACTION.

MY CORE TEMPERATURE WILL RISE
FAST INTO THE DANGER ZONE,

AND IF IT GOES ABOVE 104,
IT CAN BE FATAL.

SO, LOOK, BETWEEN
ALL THESE TECHNIQUES

I'VE USED TO COLLECT WATER,

THIS IS HOW MUCH
I'VE MANAGED TO GATHER.

OKAY, SO, YOU CAN SEE THERE
HOW MUCH I'VE COLLECTED.

AND BEAR IN MIND,
I HAD TO WORK A BIT FOR THAT.

HAD TO BE INGENIOUS,

AND THAT'S HOW MUCH
I'VE ENDED UP WITH.

BUT THAT'S HOW MUCH I USED UP --

PROBABLY TWICE THE AMOUNT
I MANAGED TO GATHER.

AND THAT IS WHY
DESERT SURVIVAL IS SO HARD.

THE STARK TRUTH IS THAT
YOUR SURVIVAL IN THE DESERT

IS DOMINATED BY THE CONSTANT
SEARCH FOR WATER.

KNOWING WHERE TO FIND IT
CAN PROLONG YOUR SURVIVAL.

YOUR PRIORITY EVERY SINGLE DAY
IS TO FIND AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

AND GET YOURSELF BACK
TO SAFETY.

SOONER OR LATER IN THE WILD,

YOU'RE GONNA COME ACROSS BIG,
NATURAL OBSTACLES,

WHETHER IT'S RIVERS,
WATERFALLS, OR CLIFFS,

AND YOUR SURVIVAL
MIGHT WELL DEPEND

ON YOUR ABILITY
TO GET ACROSS IT.

WE'RE NOW HEADING TO SOME
OF THE MOST FORMIDABLE CLIMBING

IN ALL OF AMERICA.

THIS MASSIVE SANDSTONE RANGE

WAS FORMED
MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO.

AS SEDIMENT LITHIFIED

AND TONS OF MUD AND MINERALS
COMPACTED OVER MILLENNIA,

THE ANCIENT OCEAN FLOOR
TURNED TO FOREST

AND THEN TO DESERT,

GIVING THE ROCKS
THEIR DISTINCTIVE BANDING.

THE PRESENCE OF WATER
AND ANIMALS

HAS ATTRACTED MAN
TO THESE MOUNTAINS

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

TODAY, IT'S A MAGNET
FOR CLIMBERS AND TREKKERS.

BUT IN THIS SORT
OF ENVIRONMENT,

WITHOUT THE RIGHT PREPARATION,

IT'S ALL TOO EASY
TO GET INTO TROUBLE FAST.

OOH, THIS IS ACTUALLY SOME OF
THE MOST SPECTACULAR CLIMBING.

WHEN YOU START GETTING AMONGST
IT, IT'S PRETTY INTIMIDATING.

IT'S THE WHOLE THING OF RUBBING
NOSES WITH THE ROCK FACE.

WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO IT,
YOU CAN START TO PICK OUT LINES.

YOU KNOW, LIKE EVEN THIS
SORT OF SEAM RUNNING UP HERE

IS CLIMBABLE.

OKAY, LET'S GET PREPPED.

THE CLIMB I'M GONNA UNDERTAKE
IS AN ALMOST SHEER FACE.

THIS SHOULD ONLY BE ATTEMPTED
BY EXPERIENCED CLIMBERS.

OKAY, LET'S SET UP A WAY
OF TRYING TO CLIMB UP THIS.

THE MOJAVE IS NOT A PLACE
FOR THE FAINTHEARTED.

EVERY YEAR,
PEOPLE COME OUT HERE

UNPREPARED
FOR THE SEVERE CONDITIONS.

IF YOU GET STRANDED,

DEHYDRATION AND HEAT STROKE
WILL FOLLOW.

IT'S EARLY MORNING,

AND THE TEMPERATURE
IS AROUND 100 DEGREES.

AS I CLIMB AND THE SUN RISES,
THAT TEMPERATURE WILL ROCKET.

WORSE STILL, THESE RED ROCKS
REFLECT HEAT BACK OUT,

AND IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS
10 DEGREES HOTTER ON THE FACE.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA PUT
A HEART MONITOR ON YOU TODAY.

THE TEAM WILL BE
COLLECTING DATA REMOTELY

THROUGH A DEVICE
ATTACHED TO MY CHEST,

WHICH WILL RECORD MY HEART
RATE, SKIN TEMPERATURE,

AND HOW MANY CALORIES
I'M BURNING EVERY MINUTE.

HEAT AND EXHAUSTION ARE
THE MAIN FACTORS TO CONSIDER

WHEN TAKING ON A CLIMB LIKE
THIS IN THE MOJAVE,

AND KEEPING
YOUR ENERGY LEVELS HIGH

AND MAKING SURE YOU'RE HYDRATED
IS ESSENTIAL.

OKAY, WE'RE SET.

IF YOU'RE SOLO CLIMBING,

THE POINTS OF PROTECTION
YOU PLACE IN THE SEAM

ARE YOUR LIFELINE.

YOU'RE NOT ATTACHED
TO ANY SAFETY LINE ABOVE.

BUT REMEMBER, IF YOU DO
COME AWAY FROM THE FACE,

YOU'LL FALL
TWICE THE DISTANCE --

FIRST TO YOUR LAST ANCHOR,

AND THEN THE SAME DISTANCE
AGAIN FROM THAT POINT,

IF THE ANCHOR HOLDS.

SUDDENLY GETTING
A BIT STEEPER UP HERE.

THE SEAM HAS RUN OUT NOW.

IT'S JUST ME AND THE ROCK FACE.

HALFWAY THROUGH THE CLIMB,
I NOW HAVE TWO CHALLENGES --

FINDING SUITABLE CRACKS
TO PLACE MY PROTECTION...

OKAY, THAT'S GOOD.

...AND DEALING
WITH THE MUSCLE FATIGUE

THAT IS BUILDING IN MY ARMS
AND LEGS.

GET A LOT OF LACTIC-ACID BUILDUP
WHEN YOU'RE CLIMBING,

JUST 'CAUSE YOUR ARM, FOREARM
MUSCLES ARE ALWAYS WORKING HARD.

BUT ACTUALLY, GOOD CLIMBING
IS USING YOUR LEGS

RATHER THAN YOUR ARM POWER.

HERE'S A GOOD IDEA
WHEN YOU CAN, AS WELL,

TO KEEP YOUR ARMS
BELOW YOUR SHOULDER HEIGHT.

WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU START CLIMBING

AND YOUR HAND'S ALWAYS UP HERE

IS THAT BLOOD'S
ALWAYS DRAINING OUT OF IT

AND YOU'RE GONNA GET
THAT LACTIC BUILDUP --

LACTIC-ACID BUILDUP FASTER.

THE FURTHER I CLIMB, THE MORE
MY MUSCLES BECOME FATIGUED.

IT'S A CONDITION WHERE
THE MUSCLE'S PERFORMANCE

IS REDUCED.

MY BODY RAPIDLY STARTS
TO BURN THROUGH CALORIES,

AND I CAN FEEL THE PAIN START
TO RISE IN MY ARMS AND LEGS.

RESTING ON THE CLIMB
IS ESSENTIAL.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

OKAY, WITH THAT PROTECTION IN -
ARM BURN!

OKAY, WE'RE ALMOST
OUT OF THIS NOW.

SOMETIMES, I JUST WISH
I WAS ONE OF THESE PEOPLE

WHO NEVER MINDED HEIGHTS.

YOU'RE ON A HIGH,
EXPOSED ROCK FACE,

AND IT'S PROBABLY --
PROBABLY 300 OR 400 FOOT

DOWN TO THE VALLEY BOTTOM THERE,

AND YOU JUST NEED TO GET IT
RIGHT ALWAYS.

[ GRUNTING ]

IF YOU'RE SURVIVING
IN THE WILD,

YOU'RE CONSTANTLY FACED
WITH STARK CHOICES,

AND THEY DON'T COME
MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS.

ARE YOU GONNA GO AROUND
AN OBSTACLE OR OVER IT?

AND THOSE ARE DECISIONS
ONLY YOU CAN MAKE.

[ GRUNTS ]

OKAY.

THAT'S THE TOP.

HEART RATE'S STILL HIGH,
BUT NOW IT'S NOT FROM FEAR.

NOW IT'S JUST FROM ELATION.

WHEW! GOOD CLIMB.

LET'S FINISH THIS.

DESERTS CAN BE
SUCH DANGEROUS PLACES,

AND IF YOU COME UNPREPARED,
THEY WILL SPIT YOU OUT.

THE MOJAVE HAS BEEN
AN UNFORGIVING TEST FOR ME,

BUT I WOULDN'T HAVE IT
ANY OTHER WAY.

YAHOO!