Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 6, Episode 1 - Arizona Sky Islands - 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.

THIS TIME,
I'M IN THE ARIZONA DESERT

WHERE I'LL BE TAKING ON
ITS PARCHED LANDSCAPE...

SKIMMING THE CHOKING SANDS...

I'M USING THE POWER OF THE WIND!

...AVOIDING
ITS DEADLY INHABITANTS...



IT'S A RATTLESNAKE.
LET'S LEAVE HIM.

LET'S KEEP FOLLOWING.

...FACING ALL THE CHALLENGES
IT CAN THROW AT ME HEAD-ON.

WHOA. [ GRUNTS ]

ARIZONA MIGHT FEEL LIKE
THE BACKYARD OF AMERICA,

BUT DON'T BE DECEIVED.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT IS THIS
HUGE 100,000 SQUARE-MILE DESERT.

GET LOST HERE,
AND YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE.

THE U.S. ARMED FORCES STORE
THOUSANDS OF UNUSED AIRCRAFT

FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY
HERE.

THE DESERT AIR IS SO DRY THAT
IT DRAMATICALLY SLOWS RUSTING.

BUT WHAT'S GOOD FOR METAL IS
REALLY BAD FOR THE HUMAN BODY,

AND I'M HEADING RIGHT INTO
THE HEART OF THIS FURNACE.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLY DRY
DESERT ENVIRONMENT DOWN HERE,



WHICH MEANS IN THE DAY,
IT GETS SUPERHOT,

AND THEN IN THE NIGHT,
VERY, VERY COLD.

THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE
RECORDED IN ARIZONA

PEAKED AT 128 DEGREES.

AND THE LOWEST? MINUS 40.

GET LOST
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK HERE

AND YOU MIGHT NEVER BE FOUND.

EVERY YEAR, PEOPLE GET LOST OUT
HERE, AND HUNDREDS ACTUALLY DIE.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THIS PLACE.

THE SCORCHING DESERT GENERATES
STRONG THERMAL UP-CURRENTS,

BUT I CAN USE THESE
TO REACH THE GROUND

IN A TOTALLY NEW WAY.

THIS TIME, I'M NOT JUST
GONNA BE SKYDIVING IN.

I'M ACTUALLY GONNA BE
USING A WINGSUIT,

WHICH GIVES ME
A HUGE AMOUNT OF LIFT,

WHICH MEANS I CAN LITERALLY
FLY LIKE A BIRD

AND TARGET MY LANDING ZONE.

BUT I'VE ONLY EVER USED

THESE ONE-MAN FLYING SUITS
ONCE BEFORE,

SO THIS IS A JUMP
I'VE GOT TO GET RIGHT.

Pilot: ARE WE GO?
Man: NO, NOT YET.

STEADY NOW. HOVER.

GET A WINGSUIT EXIT WRONG,

AND THERE'S A CHANCE
OF HITTING THE ROTOR BLADES.

RATHER THAN DROPPING STRAIGHT
DOWN LIKE A NORMAL SKYDIVER,

THE WINGSUIT TRANSFORMS ME
INTO A HIGH-SPEED GLIDER

CAPABLE OF REACHING
OVER 100 MILES AN HOUR,

AND THAT ENABLES ME TO TRAVEL
MILES FROM THE HELICOPTER,

DEEP INTO THE REMOTE TERRAIN.

GET THIS THING UNDER CONTROL
IN THE WIND.

WHOA.

AND THAT IS AS CLOSE
TO FLYING LIKE A BIRD

AS YOU'RE EVER GONNA GET.

JUST AMAZING.

WHOO!

MAN, JUST THE HEAT IS THE FIRST
THING THAT HITS YOU HERE.

IT'S LIKE LANDING IN AN OVEN --
A VERY DRY OVEN.

NORMALLY,
IF YOU'RE LOST IN THE DESERT

AND SOMEONE KNOWS
YOU'RE OUT THERE,

YOUR BEST BET
IS TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE

AND DRAW AS MUCH ATTENTION
TO YOUR POSITION AS POSSIBLE

SO YOU CAN BE SEEN EASILY
FROM THE AIR.

THIS MIGHT NOT LOOK MUCH
ON THE GROUND,

BUT THIS IS ALL ABOUT
BEING SPOTTED FROM THE AIR.

AND WHAT YOU DON'T SEE
IN NATURE VERY OFTEN

IS DEAD-STRAIGHT LINES.

A LARGE TRIANGLE

IS THE INTERNATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED DISTRESS SIGN.

AND AGAIN, IF YOU'VE GOT
SOMETHING BRIGHTLY COLORED,

LIKE A PARACHUTE, USE IT.

LAY IT OUT ON THE GROUND.

IT'LL GIVE YOU MORE CHANCE
OF BEING SPOTTED FROM THE AIR.

ANYTHING YOU CAN TAKE
FROM THE PARACHUTE

THAT'S GONNA HELP YOU,
YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU.

ULTIMATELY,
IF NOBODY'S LOOKING FOR YOU,

IT'S GONNA COME DOWN TO YOU
TO GET YOURSELF OUT OF HERE,

AND THAT MEANS ON YOUR OWN FEET.

BUT LOOK -- IF YOU LOOK
AT THIS SORT OF TERRAIN,

YOU'LL SEE ALL OF THESE
SKY ISLANDS,

WHICH ARE THESE SMALL POCKETS
OF MINI MOUNTAIN RANGES.

IF YOU CAN REACH ONE OF THOSE,

IT WILL BE UP TO
25 DEGREES COOLER,

AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
MORE CHANCE

OF FINDING FOOD AND WATER,
AS WELL.

OKAY.

GONNA LEAVE THIS ARROW
JUST AS A MARKER,

SO THAT IF SOMEBODY
FINDS THE PARACHUTE,

THEY'RE GONNA KNOW
WHICH WAY YOU'VE GONE.

OKAY, COME ON.

TEMPERATURES DROP
AROUND 3 1/2 DEGREES

EVERY 1,000 FEET YOU CLIMB,

WHICH MAKES ANY NEARBY MOUNTAIN
A GOOD GOAL.

BUT IN THESE TEMPERATURES, IF
YOU DON'T FIND WATER QUICKLY,

DEHYDRATION WILL SET IN.

ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND
THE SURVIVAL RULE OF THREE.

YOU CAN LIVE FOR THREE MINUTES
WITHOUT AIR,

THREE DAYS WITHOUT WATER,
AND THREE WEEKS WITHOUT FOOD.

WHEN YOU'RE IN A DESERT
THIS HOT,

THAT THREE DAYS WITHOUT WATER
GETS REDUCED MASSIVELY.

YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE WATER
YOUR PRIORITY OUT HERE.

GREENERY DOESN'T ALWAYS
MEAN WATER.

DESERT VEGETATION IS SO GOOD

AT SUCKING EVEN THE SMALLEST
AMOUNT OF MOISTURE

FROM THE GROUND,

IT CAN LEAVE
VIRTUALLY NOTHING BEHIND.

THE FURTHER YOU CAN GET
BELOW THE SURFACE,

THE BETTER YOUR CHANCES
OF FINDING WATER.

THIS IS QUITE DEEP DOWN HERE.
STEADY ON THE EDGE.

ALL THIS IS VERY LOOSE.

YOU SEE, SLOT CANYON
RUNS ALL THE WAY HERE.

OFTEN QUITE GOOD PLACES
TO LOOK FOR WATER, THOUGH,

JUST 'CAUSE THEY SEE
SO LITTLE SUN,

ANY WATER IS GONNA EVAPORATE
THAT MUCH SLOWER.

OKAY, LET'S TRY AND GET DOWN
INTO THIS, SEE IF WE FIND ANY.

ARIZONA IS SCATTERED WITH SLOT
CANYONS AND ABANDONED MINES.

INSIDE TEMPERATURES CAN BE
MORE THAN 10 DEGREES COOLER --

A GOOD WAY TO ESCAPE
THE HEAT OF THE DAY.

BUT THEY CAN ALSO
BE PRONE TO FLASH FLOODS

SO YOU ALWAYS NEED
A QUICK WAY OUT.

MIGHT BE INTERESTING
TO TRY AND GET OUT OF.

I WAS DOING FOR SOME WATER.

BIT OF CHARCOAL, AS WELL,
IS ALWAYS WORTH TAKING --

LOADS YOU CAN USE THAT FOR.

THE INTENSELY DRY AIR HERE

MEANS LIGHTNING STRIKES
OFTEN START BUSH FIRES,

SO CHARCOAL IS PRETTY COMMON
TO FIND.

BUT WATER --
THAT'S ANOTHER MATTER ENTIRELY.

OH, THIS IS ALL
ABSOLUTELY BONE DRY, THAT.

SHOWS HOW HARD IT IS
TO GET WATER IN THE DESERT.

THERE'S NOTHING DOWN HERE.
COME ON. LET'S GET OUT.

[ GRUNTS ]

LOOKS LIKE A BIG, DRY WASH.

THESE, THOUGH, CAN BE
A REAL OASIS OF LIFE,

MORE LIKELY TO FIND WATER
AND FOOD HERE.

ACTUALLY, LOOK --

YOU CAN SEE THE LINE
WHERE A RIVER WILL RUN.

LET'S GET DOWN TO THIS. COME ON.

YOU SEE HOW BAKED DRY
ALL OF THIS GROUND IS.

LOOK, YOU CAN SEE IT ALL LOOKS
A LITTLE BIT LIKE CHOCOLATE.

THAT MEANS THERE'S PROBABLY
STILL SOME MOISTURE

IN THAT, THOUGH.

WANT TO FIND
THE LOWEST BIT OF GROUND,

AND ALSO BITS IN THE SHADE.

THAT'S GONNA BE YOUR BEST CHANCE
OF THEN FINDING WATER.

CLAY RETAINS WATER AROUND
100 TIMES BETTER THAN SAND,

AND THESE GRASSES
ARE A GOOD INDICATION

THAT SOME FORM OF WATER
ISN'T FAR AWAY.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN

IS THAT THE SUN WILL BAKE
ALL OF THE SURFACE SAND.

BUT AS SOON
AS YOU GET DOWN A BIT,

SUDDENLY BECOMES COOLER
AND MORE MOISTURE-FILLED.

LOOK, YOU CAN SEE
HOW DAMP THAT IS.

THE CHALLENGE, THOUGH,

IS ALWAYS GETTING THE MOISTURE
OUT OF THE SAND

SO YOU CAN DRINK IT.

ONE WAY IS JUST
TO USE YOUR SOCK.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS FILL
YOUR SOCK FULL OF THE WET SAND,

AND THEN YOU CAN
WRING THAT OUT.

JUST FORCE ALL THE SAND
DOWN THE END

AND JUST TWIST IT.

YOU CAN SUCK IT...

THROUGH THE SOCK.

LOOK, THERE YOU GO.
SEE IT DRIPPING OFF?

HAS A CERTAIN FLAVOR TO IT,
ESPECIALLY THROUGH THESE SOCKS.

ONCE IT GETS
OVER 100 DEGREES,

YOU NEED TO DRINK TWO PINTS
OF WATER AN HOUR.

OUT HERE, THAT'S NOT EASY.

I'M IN THE SCORCHING
ARIZONA DESERT.

AHEAD OF ME
ARE THE SKY ISLAND MOUNTAINS

AND UP THERE IT'S COOLER,

AND THERE'S A BETTER CHANCE
OF FINDING WATER.

BUT THERE'S A PARCHED
DRY LAKE BED

I'M GONNA HAVE TO CROSS FIRST.

OVER THE YEARS, THIS DESERT
HAS SWALLOWED COUNTLESS HIKERS

WITHOUT TRACE.

IT'S A DANGEROUS AND DEADLY
PLACE TO GET YOURSELF LOST.

IN A BROWN,
FEATURELESS PLACE LIKE THIS,

ANYTHING BRIGHTLY COLORED
IS INSTANTLY VISIBLE.

IT'S A WRECKAGE OF A DUNE BUGGY
OR SOMETHING.

ACTUALLY, THAT'S A WING.

IT'S ALL PARTS
FROM AN ULTRALIGHT.

SOME OF THIS
JUST MIGHT BE USEFUL.

EVEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

LOOK, THAT'S PRETTY SHINY.

PROBABLY POLISH UP NICELY
AS A SIGNAL MIRROR.

THE SUN COMES UP,
YOU SPOT AN AIRCRAFT,

AND USE THAT TO SIGNAL WITH.

YEAH, THERE YOU GO -- PROPELLER.

IT'S WELL-KNOWN
THAT DRUG TRAFFICKERS

TRY AND CROSS
FROM THE MEXICAN BORDER

USING LIGHT AIRCRAFT
AND ULTRALIGHT.

THIS ONE'S COME TO A STICKY END.

JUST WONDERING WHETHER, THOUGH,

WITH THIS WIND
AND THESE WHEELS --

LOOK HERE'S SOME MORE
WHEELS HERE...

...AND MY RESERVE PARACHUTE,
AS WELL,

I JUST MIGHT BE ABLE TO...

...IMPROVISE SOMETHING

TO GET ME ACROSS HERE

WAY FASTER
THAN I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO WALK.

ONE MAN'S JUNK
IS ANOTHER MAN'S TREASURE.

OKAY,
LET'S GET THIS PARACHUTE OUT

AND SEE IF THIS IS GONNA FLY.

THE TRUTH IS, I HAVE NO IDEA
WHETHER THIS IS GONNA WORK.

IN THE DESERT,
YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT TO BALANCE

THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY YOU USE
AGAINST ANY POSSIBLE BENEFIT.

BUT SOMETIMES,
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE RISKS.

IT'S DEFINITELY STRONG,
THE WIND.

I NEED THE BUGGY!

I NEED THE BUGGY!!

THINGS DON'T ALWAYS WORK OUT
THE WAY YOU HOPE.

BUT BEING RESOURCEFUL
AND ADAPTING

IS SO OFTEN
THE KEY TO SURVIVAL.

HUGE AMOUNT OF POWER IN THIS.

OKAY.

WHOA.

WITH THE SUN REFLECTING
OFF THE DRY LAKE,

TEMPERATURES HERE CAN RISE
TO OVER 100 DEGREES,

SO YOU WANT TO
GET OUT OF HERE FAST.

WHOA. [ SPITS ]

WE'RE OFF! WHOO!

WELL,
IT'S A BIT OF A JURY-RIG,

BUT ITS WORKING!

AND SURVIVAL IS ALL ABOUT
EFFICIENCY.

TRYING TO CROSS THIS LAKE
ON FOOT

IS GONNA BURN UP WAY MORE ENERGY
AND DEHYDRATE YOU WAY MORE

THAN USING
THE POWER OF THE WIND.

AND, REALLY,
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE END GOAL.

YOU'VE JUST
GOT TO KEEP IMPROVISING,

AND NOT EVERYTHING'S
GONNA WORK,

BUT YOU'VE JUST
GOT TO KEEP TRYING.

AS THIS BUGGY RACES ME
OVER THE DRY LAKE BED,

THE WIND FROM MY FORWARD
MOVEMENT HELPS COOL ME DOWN.

BUT IN THE DESERT, THINGS
RARELY GO ACCORDING TO PLAN.

WHOA!

I'M IN ARIZONA,
WHERE I'VE TIED TOGETHER

BITS OF A WRECKED
ULTRALIGHT AIRCRAFT

TO GET ME ACROSS
THIS DRY LAKE BED.

BUT THE DESERT NEVER
LETS YOU OUT WITHOUT A FIGHT.

[ GROANS ]

THAT DIDN'T QUITE
GO ACCORDING TO PLAN.

OW!

BENT ALL OF THIS AXLE,
AS WELL.

BUT IT'S GOT ME
MOST OF THE WAY ACROSS THIS.

KIND OF LIKE HITCHING
A FREE RIDE WITH THE WIND.

BACK ON FOOT FOR THE LAST BIT.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
DEFINITELY WORTH IT.

OKAY, LET'S GET THIS PARACHUTE,
GET IT STOWED, AND GET MOVING.

HANG ON.
LOOK -- THERE'S A SCORPION HERE.

IT'S A DESERT HAIRY.

BUT THESE
ARE PRETTY AGGRESSIVE SCORPIONS,

THAT'S THE STINGER YOU WANT TO
WATCH OUT FOR ON THE END THERE.

LET'S JUST TAKE THAT OFF.

OKAY.

DOUBLE CHECK
I'VE TAKEN THE STINGER OFF

BEFORE PICKING IT UP.

YOU CAN SEE HIM REACHING FOR ME.

OW, OW. LET GO, LET GO.
THIS IS WHAT THEY DO --

YOU TRY AND PICK THEM UP,
THEY GRAB YOU.

YOU THEN LET GO AND GO "OW,"

AND THEN WHAP!

THEY'LL TRY AND HIT YOU.

BUT HE'S GOT
HIS STINGER OFF NOW.

SO HE CAN'T DO ME TOO MUCH HARM,

BUT IT'S A GOOD BIT
OF NUTRITION,

BIT OF FLUIDS, AS WELL.

JUST WANT
TO BITE THE PINCERS FIRST.

SO MUCH OF SURVIVAL
DEPENDS ON BEING PREPARED

TO DO WHAT
YOU WOULDN'T NORMALLY DO

AND THAT CAN MAKE
ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

THE HUMAN BODY CAN GO
THREE WEEKS WITHOUT FOOD,

BUT IN THE DESERT,

YOU WON'T LAST MORE THAN
THREE DAYS WITHOUT WATER.

FINDING IT
IS YOUR TOP PRIORITY.

IN THESE ROCKY AREAS, YOU'RE
MUCH MORE LIKELY TO FIND WATER.

SPRINGS AND STREAMS ARE OFTEN
FORCED UP TO THE SURFACE

THROUGH GEOLOGICAL FAULT LINES.

THIS IS LOOKING WAY MORE
PROMISING FOR FINDING WATER.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE
A BLACK MARK HERE.

THAT'S A WATER MARK.

YOU DON'T GET THAT IF IT'S
ONLY AN OCCASIONAL RAINFALL.

YOU NEED A GOOD AMOUNT OF WATER
TO LEAVE THAT.

AND LOOK -- FLASH FLOOD DEBRIS.

THIS REGULARLY SEES WATER.
LET'S FOLLOW THIS.

[ RATTLE ]
HEARD A RATTLE. LOOK.

STEADY, STEADY.

COME AROUND HERE.
JUST UNDER THE BUSH.

LOOK, THERE'S A RATTLESNAKE.

[ RATTLING ]
OH.

STAY THERE, STAY THERE,
STAY THERE.

HE'S GONNA LIKE IT 'ROUND HERE.

LOTS OF PREY.

PROBABLY FIND MICE AND VERMIN
DOWN HERE LOOKING FOR WATER.

THAT'S WHAT
HE'LL BE FEEDING OFF.

OKAY, LET'S JUST LEAVE HIM.
COME ON.

WITH SIGNS OF WATER NEARBY,

I'M GONNA
LEAVE THIS SNAKE IN PEACE.

I'VE GOT BIGGER PRIORITIES.

WATER.

ALL COLLECTED IN THIS POOL.

STAGNANT, BUT THAT'S GONNA BE
FRESH WATER.

LET'S GET DOWN TO THERE.

FEW THINGS IN LIFE
ARE SO WONDERFUL

AS FINDING FRESH WATER
IN THE DESERT.

SPRINGS LIKE THIS,
EVEN STAGNANT ONES,

CAN SUPPORT LIFE
FOR MANY MILES AROUND.

GET RID OF THIS.
I NEED A DUNKING.

AHH.

[ SPITS ]

FILTHY AND STINKING,
BUT UNDENIABLY LOVELY.

DRINKING TAINTED WATER
CAN MAKE YOU SICK,

GIVE YOU DIARRHEA,
DEHYDRATE YOU EVEN MORE.

BUT THERE ARE WAYS
YOU CAN FILTER IT.

OKAY, TRY AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE
SOME OF THIS WATER DRINKABLE.

MAYBE USE THIS BIT OF TUBING
FROM THAT ULTRALIGHT,

MAKE AN IMPROVISED
FILTRATION STICK.

THIS IS WHAT DOWNED PILOTS
WILL HAVE

AS PART OF THEIR SURVIVAL PACK

SO THEY CAN DRINK
BEHIND ENEMY LINES.

BUT JUST SOMETHING LIKE THAT --

ALL I NEED IS THEN...
A BIT OF GRASS,

AND THAT'S GONNA BE
THE FIRST LAYER OF THE FILTER.

AND THEN A BIT
OF THAT CHARCOAL THAT I GOT.

AND CHARCOAL
IS A GREAT FILTER --

FILTER OUT A LOT OF THE BACTERIA
AND NASTIES.

AND, REALLY,
YOU CAN DRINK FROM THAT.

MAYBE JUST PUT YOUR SLEEVE OVER
THE END AS ANOTHER BARRIER.

SPITTING OUT
THE FIRST FEW MOUTHFULS

HELPS CLEAR THE FILTER

OF ANY LOOSE BITS OF GRASS
AND CHARCOAL.

AND THEN, REALLY,
YOU CAN JUST DRINK.

AH, IT'S GOOD.

I'M GONNA FILL UP MY BOTTLE,
AS WELL.

WELL, REHYDRATED, RESUPPLIED,

COOLER, AND MORALE
RIGHT BACK UP THERE.

OKAY. LET'S GET GOING AGAIN.

THE ARIZONA MOUNTAINS
ARE COOLER

THAN THE SURROUNDING DESERT,

BUT THIS TOUGH TERRAIN
IS NO EASY OPTION.

THE MOUNTAINS LOOK
A WHOLE LOAD MORE IMPOSING

WHEN YOU GET UP CLOSE.

QUITE FORMIDABLE.

NEED TO PICK
A GOOD ROUTE UP THERE.

THESE MOUNTAINS ARE SO RUGGED

THAT THEY WERE USED
AS STRONGHOLDS

BY APACHE WARRIORS GERONIMO AND
COCHISE IN THE 19th CENTURY.

CLIMBING INTO THEM IS GONNA BE
A SERIOUS CHALLENGE.

IT'S DEFINITELY
GETTING STEEPER NOW.

THE CRUMBLING ROCK
MAKES CLIMBING DANGEROUS,

BUT SCALING THIS MOUNTAIN,

USING SOME METAL TUBING
FROM THE ULTRALIGHT

TO EXTEND MY REACH,

WILL GET ME
UP OUT OF THE DESERT

AND TO THE COOLER LAND ABOVE.

BUT THE HIGHER I GET,
THE STEEPER THE ROCK BECOMES.

IT'S ALL JUST
SO HORRIBLE AND LOOSE.

LOOK EVEN THIS.

THIS WHOLE THING'S ABOUT TO GO.
LOOK.

REALLY, I NEED TO TRY AND GET
ACROSS THIS BIT OF THE FACE,

TRY AND GO UP
THE SHOULDER THERE.

WITH NO RELIABLE HANDHOLDS
AHEAD,

I'M GONNA TACKLE
THE SHEER ROCK FACE

USING A PRECARIOUS CLIMBING
TECHNIQUE CALLED A PENDULUM.

I'M USING SOME OF THE CORD
FROM MY RESERVE PARACHUTE

AS A ROPE TO SWING OUT.

BUT WITH A HUGE DROP
LIKE THIS BELOW,

RELYING ON IT FEELS LIKE
A RISKY STRATEGY.

OKAY, THAT'S SECURE
AROUND THAT.

AND THEN I'M BRINGING THESE
TOGETHER.

THAT MEANS WHEN
I FINISH WITH THEM,

I JUST PUT ONE STRAND,
AND IT WILL RUN THROUGH.

OKAY, BUT THAT IS GONNA BE
WAY STRONGER

THAN TRYING TO TRUST ALL THOSE
FLAKY BITS OF ROCK.

I RECKON THIS CAN
GET ME 'ROUND THOSE.

I JUST NEED THE CONFIDENCE
TO GO.

OKAY, COME ON, COME ON, COME ON.

AAH!

USING THIS TECHNIQUE
SEVERAL TIMES IN SUCCESSION,

I CAN MAKE MY WAY SIDEWAYS
ACROSS THESE VERTICAL FACES.

BUT THERE'S A REAL DANGER

THE PARACORD COULD FRAY
ON THESE ROUGH ROCKS AND BREAK.

AND THE MORE TIMES
YOU USE THE SAME CORD,

THE GREATER THE DANGER.

OKAY.

WHOA!

OKAY, GOT IT!

WHOO!

UP AND OUT
OF THE HEAT OF THE DESERT.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

IT'S AMAZING HOW SOMETHING
SO SPECTACULAR

CAN ALSO BE SO HARSH.

THERE'S A BIT OF A BREEZE
UP HERE,

WHICH IS NICE.

DEFINITELY COOLER. OKAY.

I MAY BE UP OUT OF THE DESERT,

BUT THE MOUNTAINS
ARE GONNA THROW

AN EVEN BIGGER
SET OF CHALLENGES AT ME.

[ GRUNTING ]

AAH!

I'VE ESCAPED THE SCORCHING HEAT
OF THE ARIZONA DESERT

BY CLIMBING UP INTO
THE SKY ISLAND MOUNTAINS.

UP HERE,
THERE'S PLENTY OF WATER,

AND FINDING IT IS NO LONGER
YOUR MAIN CHALLENGE.

BEING UP THIS HIGH, THOUGH,

THERE'S A WHOLE NEW SERIES
OF CHALLENGES,

BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITIES.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOOD,
WATER, AND SHELTER.

AS YOU CLIMB, THE TERRAIN
CAN CHANGE DRAMATICALLY.

IN A MATTER OF HOURS,

YOU CAN PASS THROUGH
SIX DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS,

FROM THE BLISTERING DESERT
TO SUB-ALPINE FOREST.

WHEN NIGHT FALLS,
THE TEMPERATURE WILL PLUMMET.

BUT A FIRE AND SOME FOOD

WILL ALWAYS HELP YOU
THROUGH THE NIGHT.

ONE WAY OF STARTING A FIRE,

IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT
A FIRE STEEL OR MATCHES,

IS TO JUST IMPROVISE
A FIRE PISTON.

AND YOU CAN DO THAT
JUST WITH TWO BITS OF TUBES.

I'VE TAKEN THIS
OFF THAT ULTRALIGHT.

THEY FIT NICELY TOGETHER
TO CREATE AN AIRTIGHT SEAL.

AND THE PRINCIPLE WORKS ON
COMPRESSED AIR CREATING HEAT

IN THE SAME WAY WHEN YOU PUT
YOUR FINGER OVER A BICYCLE PUMP

COMES AWAY REALLY HOT.

GET A BIT OF CHARCOAL.

FORCE THAT INTO THE END,

AND THAT'S THE BIT THAT'S GONNA
TAKE THE EMBER.

WITH THE OTHER END
OF TUBE SEALED,

THE FIRE PISTON IS NOW READY.

YOU NEED TO GIVE THIS
A GOOD WHACK,

REALLY GENERATE THAT COMPRESSED
AIR AND HEAT.

PULL IT OUT,
AND YOU'LL HAVE AN EMBER.

TRY THAT ONCE MORE.

GRAB A BIT OF TINDER,

GIVE IT A BLOW.

YOU CAN SEE THAT GLOWING NOW.

THE FIRE-PISTON TECHNIQUE

WAS DEVELOPED IN THE JUNGLES
OF SOUTHEAST ASIA,

WHERE THEY USE PIECES OF BAMBOO
OR HOLLOWED OUT BONE.

AND GENTLY TRY AND NURTURE IT...
INTO LIFE.

OKAY.

WHOA.

WOW. ONCE THAT GOES,
IT GOES.

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE
NOT TO SMILE

WHEN YOU GET A FIRE GOING
LIKE THAT,

ESPECIALLY AS WHEN
YOU'RE GETTING HIGHER,

IT'S GETTING COLDER,
AND FIRE IS REALLY GONNA MATTER.

IT'S SUCH A GOOD FEELING.

[ CHUCKLES ]

WITH A FIRE STOKED, FINDING
FOOD IS THE NEXT PRIORITY.

WITH JAGUAR AND MOUNTAIN LIONS
IN THESE FORESTS,

I'M NOT THE ONLY ANIMAL
OUT HUNTING.

THERE YOU GO. UNDER HERE.

MOUNTAIN LIONS OFTEN LEAVE
PART OF THEIR KILL HIDDEN.

THIS IS A PECCARY,
A LOCAL SPECIES OF WILD PIG.

THAT'S ALL THAT IS LEFT...

OF THAT.

THERE'S STILL MEAT ON THAT
TO EAT.

LET'S TAKE THAT
BACK TO THE FIRE.

BUT THIS REGION IS ALSO
HOME TO OTHER PREDATORS

APART FROM JUST BIG CATS.

THERE'S BEAR POO.

YOU'RE GONNA GET BLACK BEARS
IN THESE WOODS.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE ACORNS
ITS BEEN FEEDING OFF.

SEE ALL OF THAT?

THE THING IS, BLACK BEARS
AREN'T ONLY HERBIVORES.

THEY'RE ALSO OPPORTUNISTIC.

IF THEY SMELL MEAT,
THEY'LL TAKE IT.

THIS DOES KIND OF COMPROMISE
THIS AS A CAMPSITE,

IF I'M GONNA BE
COOKING AND EATING THIS.

MEANS IT'S GONNA BE
A BAD PLACE TO CAMP, AS WELL.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT?

LET'S JUST GET TO THE FIRE,
HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT,

AND WE'LL MAKE A PLAN
FROM THERE.

JUST ACTUALLY GONNA PUT THIS
STRAIGHT ON THE FIRE LIKE THIS.

BURN ALL THE HAIR OFF,
COOK THE MEAT IN THE SKIN.

YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF MEAT
ON THAT STILL.

MEANS AT LEAST I'VE GOT FOOD
THIS EVENING.

COOKING THIS HELPS YOUR BODY

TO DIGEST AND ABSORB
ITS NUTRIENTS.

IT ALSO PROVIDES WARMTH
AND RAISES MORALE.

IT'S A BIT CHARRED
ON THE OUTSIDE,

BUT ON THE INSIDE...

THIS IS GONNA BE
NICELY COOKED.

ACTUALLY, A BIT OF THE
SHOULDER MEAT IS WELL-COOKED.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

BUT IT'S WARM,
AND IT'S NUTRITIOUS.

FILLING MY RESERVE PARACHUTE
WITH GRASSES AND PINE NEEDLES

WILL PROTECT ME FROM THE WORST
OF THE COMING NIGHT'S COLD.

LIKE MAKING
A GIANT SAUSAGE OF IT.

IF YOU'RE ON THE GROUND,

IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO INSULATE
YOURSELF FROM BELOW THAN ABOVE

AS THE EARTH WILL SUCK WARMTH
FROM YOU FASTER THAN THE AIR.

BUT WHERE I'M GOING,
THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM.

OKAY, LET'S GO.

WHEN YOU'RE ASLEEP,

YOU'RE AT YOUR MOST VULNERABLE
TO BEARS AND MOUNTAIN LIONS

THAT ROAM HERE.

LOOK, THIS IS GONNA WORK.

BUT BEING COMPLETELY
OUT OF THEIR REACH

MEANS YOU CAN SLEEP
RELATIVELY SAFELY.

YEAH, YOU'RE NOT GONNA WANT
TO FALL OUT OF IT,

BUT IT'S GONNA BE GOOD,

AND I'VE GOT SOMEWHERE NICE
TO SUSPEND IT FROM, AS WELL.

I'M USING THE REMAINS
OF THE PARACHUTE

TO MAKE WHAT'S KNOWN
AS AS A HANGING BIVOUAC.

CLIMBERS OFTEN USE THESE WHEN
THEY'RE HALFWAY UP A MOUNTAIN.

CLIMB DOWN INTO THIS.

[ GRUNTING ]

OKAY.

WELL, ITS SNUG...

BUT, MAN, WHAT A VIEW.
LOOK AT THAT.

WHOO.

I CHALLENGE ANY MOUNTAIN LION
OR BEAR TO GET ME IN THIS THING.

IT'S FUNNY --
IF YOU FORGET FOR A SECOND

THAT YOU'RE 50 FEET SUSPENDED
UP A SHEER ROCK FACE,

ITS ACTUALLY QUITE NICE AND COSY
IN HERE.

PINE NEEDLES ARE NICE.

I CAN GET REALLY WELL WRAPPED UP
IN THIS STUFF.

BUT THEN, YOU KNOW,

HANGING BIVOUACS DO ALSO
KIND OF MESS WITH YOUR MIND.

FIVE MINUTES AGO,
HAD SOME PEBBLES FALL DOWN,

LAND ON THE TOP OF IT.

I KEPT THINKING, "IS THAT
MY ANCHOR POINT GIVING WAY?"

AND THEN YOU KIND OF REALIZE,

LOOK, YOU'VE JUST GOT TO KIND OF
NOT WORRY ABOUT THAT

AND REALIZE IT'S A MENTAL GAME
AND THAT YOU NEED SLEEP,

AND YOU'VE GOT TO REST

AND JUST KIND OF PUT ALL THAT
ASIDE AND TRY AND SLEEP.

AND ALSO REMEMBER
IF YOU NEED A PEE,

YOU CAN'T GO WANDERING OUTSIDE.

YOU'RE IN A LITTLE THING HANGING
UP A VERY HIGH ROCK FACE.

ONCE YOU'RE OVER THAT,
IT'S ALL FINE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

OKAY, TURN THIS OFF.

THIS TOUGH,
MOUNTAINOUS REGION OF ARIZONA

IS COVERED
BY RAZOR-SHARP THORNS,

WHERE EVERY BUSH AND TREE
SEEMS LIKE ITS AGAINST YOU.

VERY HARD, BONE DRY,
AND SPIKY BITS OF BRANCH

THAT JUST NAIL YOU IN THE SHINS.

JUST GONNA STOP
AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

OTHERWISE, I'M GOING TO END UP
WITH NO SKIN ON MY SHINS.

YEAH, EVEN A BIT OF BARK
LIKE THIS --

USE THAT AS AN IMPROVISED
SHIN PAD.

LET'S BREAK IT DOWN.

I'VE BEEN OUT IN THE WILDS
WITH SO MANY PEOPLE,

AND SOMETHING STARTS TO NIGGLE,

THEY JUST KIND OF TRY
AND TOUGH IT OUT AND PUSH ON,

WHEN, ACTUALLY, THEY'D BE
WAY BETTER OFF JUST STOPPING

AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

LOOK EVEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS --
COVER MY CHINS,

AND WILL JUST STOP THEM
GETTING ABSOLUTELY SHREDDED.

OKAY, THAT'S GONNA HELP.
OKAY, LET'S GET BACK INTO IT!

WOW, THAT'S WAY BETTER.
NOW WE'LL MAKE SOME PROGRESS.

THIS TERRAIN
IS SO HARD TO TRAVEL THROUGH

THAT THE GREAT APACHE WARRIORS
GERONIMO AND COCHISE

SUCCESSFULLY HELD OUT HERE
AGAINST THE U.S. CAVALRY

FOR MANY YEARS.

WOW, JUST AN INCREDIBLE VIEW.

ALL THE WAY
THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS

DOWN TO THE DESERT PLAINS.

ACTUALLY BE A GOOD PLACE TO
SIGNAL FROM, FROM UP HERE.

WHAT YOU HAVE IS
A MASSIVE VISIBILITY RANGE,

360 DEGREES,

THAT YOU DON'T HAVE WHEN YOU'RE
DOWN AMONGST ALL THE SCRUB.

SOMEWHERE LIKE UP HERE IS YOUR
BEST CHANCE OF BEING SPOTTED

BY LIGHT AIRCRAFT
OR EVEN PEOPLE.

IF YOU CAN SIGNAL IN SOME WAY,

EVEN LIKE THAT BIT OF METAL
FROM THAT ULTRALIGHT...

...AND GET ANYTHING THAT CAN
POLISH UP NICE AND SHINY

THAT WILL REFLECT THE SUN.

IF YOU PUT YOUR FINGER
UP IN A "V,"

REFLECT THE SUN ON
THE BACK OF YOUR HAND,

PUT YOUR TARGET IN THE CENTER
OF THAT "V,"

AND THEN FLASH IT.

THE FLASH
FROM A GOOD SIGNAL MIRROR

CAN BE SEEN 50 MILES AWAY.

BUT ANYTHING REFLECTIVE
WILL WORK.

SOMEONE WAS EVEN RESCUED ONCE

USING NOTHING MORE THAN THE
HOLOGRAM ON THEIR CREDIT CARD.

IF NO ONE SEES YOUR SIGNAL,
YOU'LL NEED TO MOVE ON...

AND AHEAD OF ME
IS YET ANOTHER ROCKY BARRIER.

LET'S GET UP THIS BIT.

IT'S NOT LOOKING
PARTICULARLY BRILLIANT.

YEAH, NOT THAT WAY.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

THIS IS GONNA BE
OUR BEST OPTION.

COME ON AND CHECK THIS OUT.

IT'S A BIT OF A CRAZY ONE.

RATHER THAN TRY
TO GO OVER ALL OF THIS,

IT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE
WAY EASIER TO USE THIS HOLE

TO TRY AND GET A LINE FROM HERE

STRAIGHT ACROSS
TO THOSE PINNACLES,

SHIN ACROSS IT, AND THEN GO
STRAIGHT OVER THE OTHER SIDE.

OKAY, LET'S JUST TIE A LOAD OF
STRANDS OF PARACHUTE CORD...

AROUND A ROCK.

LOADS OF STRENGTH IN THAT.

IF I GET THIS ACROSS,
IT WILL EASILY HOLD MY WEIGHT.

I JUST NEED IT TO LODGE IN A BIT
OF A NOOK OR CRANNY OVER THERE.

[ GRUNTS ]

AHH.

BUT THIS TECHNIQUE
JUST ISN'T WORKING,

AND THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED
TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

JUST BLINKING AWKWARD ANGLE
TO THROW FROM.

I CAN'T GET ANY SWING TO IT.

JUST WONDERING
WHETHER I'LL MAYBE

USE SOME OF THAT WILLOW
WE PASSED,

MAKE SOMETHING JUST
TO SHOOT THIS ACROSS, ACTUALLY.

MIGHT BE EASIER.
OKAY, STAY HERE.

AN APACHE-STYLE BOW
COULD BE MY SOLUTION.

OKAY, SEE IF WE CAN
MAKE THIS WORK NOW.

I'VE REACHED A SHEER ROCK FACE

THAT'S LOOKING IMPOSSIBLE
TO CLIMB OVER.

YEAH, NOT THAT WAY.

A SMALL HOLE LOOKS LIKE IT
COULD OFFER ME A WAY THROUGH.

IF I CAN GET MY PARACORD
LODGED INTO THE ROCKS BEYOND,

I CAN CLIMB ACROSS IT.

JUST WONDERING
WHETHER I'LL MAYBE

USE SOME OF THAT WILLOW
WE PASSED,

MAKE SOMETHING JUST
TO SHOOT THIS ACROSS, ACTUALLY.

MIGHT BE EASIER.

WILLOW IS A GREAT BUSH TOOL.

IT CAN INDICATE WHERE WATER IS

AND CONTAINS SALICYLIC ACID,

THE BASIC INGREDIENT
OF ASPIRIN.

BUT WHAT I WANT IT FOR RIGHT
NOW IS ITS FLEXIBILITY.

YOU OFTEN GET WILLOW

GROWING DOWN NEAR WATER
IN CREEKS LIKE THIS.

IT'S GREAT
FOR MAKING BOWS OR SNARES

JUST 'CAUSE IT'S SPRINGY
AND FLEXIBLE, STRONG.

ALSO, IT GROWS
NICE AND STRAIGHT,

SO YOU CAN GET LENGTHS LIKE THAT
VERY EASILY.

AND ALL I NEED DO
IS PUT THESE TOGETHER.

BINDING SEVERAL BRANCHES
TOGETHER

INCREASES THEIR STRENGTH WHILST
KEEPING THEIR FLEXIBILITY.

LET'S PUT A JAMMING KNOT
IN THIS.

WHAT YOU DO, LITTLE FIGURE OF
EIGHT IN THE END, TWICE 'ROUND,

AND THEN YOU JUST

TAKE ONE OVERHAND KNOT
'ROUND ITSELF.

YOU CAN THEN REALLY...

TIGHTEN THAT UP NICELY
ON ITSELF.

JUST CUT THAT OFF THERE.

YOU CAN STRING A BOW LIKE THIS
BY BENDING IT

AND THEN SLIPPING THE CORD
BETWEEN TWO OF THE BRANCHES

AND TYING IT OFF.

IT LOOKS BASIC,
BUT THIS TYPE OF BOW

WAS USED TO DEVASTATING EFFECT
BY THE APACHE

FOR BOTH HUNTING
AND IN BATTLE.

OKAY, THAT WILL DO.

LET'S GO.

OKAY, SEE IF WE CAN
MAKE THIS WORK NOW.

OKAY, LET'S GIVE THIS A GO.

NO.

JUST FELL SHORT.

BUT GETTING ACCURACY
WITH A BOW LIKE THIS

TAKES A LOT OF PRACTICE...

LOTS AND LOTS OF PRACTICE.

BANG.

THIS IS PROVING
ONE OF THOSE ONES

WHERE YOU JUST NEED
A BIT OF PATIENCE.

OKAY, ONE, TWO, THREE.

BANG.

I'VE GOT IT!

I'M NOT EVEN GONNA TELL YOU HOW
MANY ATTEMPTS THAT HAS TAKEN.

IT'S CAUGHT, AS WELL.

OKAY, WE JUST NEED
TO TENSION THIS RIGHT UP.

LEAN OVER HERE.

USING THE ULTRALIGHT TUBING
AS A SIMPLE ANCHOR,

THE LINE SHOULD HOLD ME.

MOMENT OF TRUTH TIME ON THIS.

TIGHT.

TRY AND SEND THIS ACROSS.

[ GRUNTING ]

[ SPITS ]

[ SPITS ]

CROSS.

THAT WORKED NICELY!

OKAY, TIME TO GET DOWN.

COME ON,
LET'S GET DOWN TO THESE HILLS

ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE ROCK FACE,

THE LAND AHEAD
LOOKS TO OPEN UP.

BUT WITH DARKNESS FALLING FAST

AND THE PROSPECT OF ANOTHER
FREEZING NIGHT AHEAD,

I WANT TO GET THROUGH
THESE MOUNTAINS

AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

OKAY, LET'S GET ON AND UP THIS.

GOT TO BE A BIT CAREFUL, THOUGH.

REAL ANKLE-SNAPPING TERRAIN,
ALL OF THIS.

JUST GO STEADY.

CHECK THAT OUT.

LAST BIT
OF DYING LIGHT OF THE DAY

GUIDING US DOWN TO CIVILIZATION.

AND THAT'S WHAT I CALL
A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.

FOR THE SURVIVOR,

THAT'S A FEELING
THAT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE.

OKAY, LET'S GET DOWN THERE
BEFORE IT'S DARK.

COME ON.

BUT IF YOUR LIFE
ISN'T IN DANGER,

PLEASE RESPECT ALL THE PLANTS
AND ANIMALS YOU FIND.

REMEMBER, THE GREATEST DANGER

MOST OF THE REST OF THE WORLD
FACES IS MANKIND.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO...