Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 7, Episode 2 - New Zealand South Island - 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 ON
NEW ZEALAND'S SOUTH ISLAND,

WHERE I'LL TAKE ON EVERYTHING

THE COUNTRY'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN
RANGE HAS TO THROW AT ME...

WE'RE STILL
BANG IN THAT DANGER ZONE.

...ENGINEER A WAY
ACROSS AN IMPASSIBLE CANYON...



HERE SHE GOES!

...AND PUSH MYSELF
TO THE LIMIT...

STARTING TO GET QUITE COLD
IN THIS RIVER NOW.

...TO SHOW YOU
HOW TO SURVIVE...

MORE LIKE SNOT.

...IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
AND TOUGHEST ENVIRONMENTS

ON THE PLANET.

OH, JEEPERS!

[ RADIO CHATTER ]

WE'RE ON THE SOUTH ISLAND
OF NEW ZEALAND

ON A TRAINING MISSION
WITH THE AIR FORCE.

WE'RE HEADING FOR THE COUNTRY'S
LARGEST MOUNTAIN RANGE --

THE SOUTHERN ALPS.

IT'S A PLACE I'VE WANTED
TO GO TO FOR A LONG TIME.



AND THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO
GET THERE THAN ON THIS PLANE --

THE HERCULES C-130,

ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT OF ALL TIME.

IT'S DESIGNED
FOR TACTICAL OPERATIONS

AND USED
TO TAKE TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT

INTO DIFFICULT TERRAIN.

WE'RE HEADING FOR AN AREA

THAT'S ABOUT AS WILD AND REMOTE
AS YOU'RE EVER GONNA GET,

AND ACCESS HERE IS VERY HARD.

BUT FOR THE TIME BEING,
I'M IN THE HANDS OF THE BEST.

I'M WITH 20 SQUADRON.

THESE GUYS FLY MISSIONS

TO INHOSPITABLE PLACES
ALL OVER THE WORLD.

JUST SPECTACULAR, ISN'T IT?

UNBELIEVABLE LANDSCAPE.

THE SOUTH ISLAND
IS THE SIZE OF MICHIGAN

WITH JUST A FRACTION
OF THE POPULATION.

THE TERRAIN CHANGES
FROM GLACIAL MOUNTAINS

TO FOREST

TO COASTAL SWAMP

IN JUST
A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MILES.

IT'S UNPREDICTABLE
AND TREACHEROUS --

THE PERFECT PLACE FOR
A LOW-LEVEL TACTICAL INSERTION.

SPECIAL FORCES USE THESE PLANES
TO INSERT TROOPS AT LOW LEVEL.

I'VE DONE IT BEFORE.

AT LOW LEVEL, YOU REDUCE
YOUR MARGIN FOR ERROR.

GO!

THE BEST WAY OUT OF HERE
IS THE SAME WAY I GOT IN --

THROUGH THE TAILGATE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

[ BEEPS ]

LET'S GO!

MY LANDING ZONE
IS DIRECTLY BELOW ME.

AT 2,000 FEET, I POP MY CHUTE.

I'VE GOT A LIMITED WINDOW
BEFORE I TOUCH DOWN,

BUT ENOUGH TIME TO ASSESS THE
TERRAIN AND GET MY BEARINGS.

THAT WILL HELP WITH NAVIGATION
ONCE I'M ON THE GROUND.

I'M DOWN IN ONE PIECE.
NOW THE REAL CHALLENGE BEGINS.

WOW, NOT A LOT OF TIME BETWEEN
EXITING THAT PLANE AND LANDING.

ONE OF THE DANGERS
OF LOW-LEVEL JUMPS --

IF YOU HAVE A MALFUNCTION, YOU
JUST GOT NO TIME TO SORT IT OUT.

BUT THEY WERE PINPOINT ACCURATE
WITH THE LANDING.

IT'S ABOUT THE ONLY CLEAR AREA
AROUND HERE.

WE STAYED OUT OF THE TREES.
THIS IS GOOD.

OKAY, LET'S CUT UP
A BIT OF THIS CANOPY.

THERE'S LOADS ON A PARACHUTE
I CAN USE.

LOOKING AT THE TERRAIN,
IT WON'T BE EASY GOING.

I'LL NEED
ALL THE HELP I CAN GET.

AND THE SILK IN THE CANOPY
IS WINDPROOF.

IT'S ALWAYS GOOD
IN THE MOUNTAINS.

COULD USE THAT, ACTUALLY,
AS A SLEEPING BAG.

JUST GET ALL THIS STUFF
STOWED AWAY.

SEE THE DIRECTION
WE WANT TO HEAD IN.

STRAIGHT UP TO THE MOUNTAINS.

THE CLOSEST ROUTE TO REACH
THE COAST IS GONNA BE WEST,

AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO CROSS
THOSE MOUNTAINS.

WITH 75% OF THE POPULATION
LIVING NEAR THE COAST,

THAT'S YOUR BEST BET.

JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO CROSS
THE MOUNTAINS

DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN

YOU WANT TO GO
VERTICALLY STRAIGHT UP.

NOW, THAT'S PROBABLY
THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE,

BUT IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE
QUICKER GOING THIS WAY.

NO ROUTE WILL BE EASY,

BUT MAKING GOOD DECISIONS
FROM THE OUTSET

WILL GIVE YOU
THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

I'M PUSHING INTO THE TREE LINE

TO SKIRT THE CORNERS
OF THE PATH.

IT'LL SAVE TIME AND ENERGY.

UNDER THIS DENSE FOLIAGE,
THE UNDERGROWTH IS SPARSE,

AND I'M MAKING GOOD HEADWAY.

BUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
I'M STOPPED IN MY TRACKS.

THIS IS WHY YOU NEVER
GET COMPLACENT IN THE MOUNTAINS.

THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER OBSTACLE,

AND OFTEN
WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT.

JUST GOT TO GET DOWN TO THIS,
TRY AND GET UP AND ACROSS.

RAVINES LIKE THIS ARE A FEATURE
OF THIS GLACIATED TERRAIN.

TO CONTINUE TOWARDS THE COAST,

YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT OVER
TO THE OPPOSITE BANK.

WE NEED TO GO FURTHER DOWN
TO FIND A WAY UP THIS.

FOR NOW,
THE WATER LEVELS ARE LOW,

BUT IN A REGION THAT SEES
60 FOOT OF RAINFALL IN A YEAR,

FLASH FLOODS ARE A REAL THREAT.

I'M NOT GONNA GET UP THAT,
YOU KNOW?

TRY AND WORK A WAY DOWN THIS.
GOT TO FIND ANOTHER WAY ACROSS.

THE WET, MOSS-COVERED ROCKS
OFFER LITTLE GRIP.

SEE, THIS
IS GETTING QUITE SLIPPY.

I'LL TRY AND COME BACK UP --
TRY AND GO DOWN THAT WAY, OKAY?

IT'S A CLOSE CALL.

NOT QUITE THE WAY
I WANTED TO GET DOWN,

BUT IT'S QUITE DEEP HERE!

JUST SLIDE DOWN THE WAY I CAME!

A FALL LIKE THAT
COULD BE SERIOUS.

YOU'VE JUST GOT TO LEARN
FROM YOUR MISTAKES

AND MAKE SURE
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

THERE'S A WHOLE TUNNEL
UNDER THE ROCK HERE.

AND THIS HAS GOT TO BE
ALL FORMED

JUST BY THE POWER OF THE WATER.

THEY SAY IT'S ALWAYS RAINING
SOMEWHERE IN NEW ZEALAND,

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS
CLASSIC FLASH-FLOOD DANGER.

IT'S RAINING HIGHER UP,
AND AS FAR AS YOU KNOW,

THIS WHOLE PLACE COULD JUST
GET RAMMED BY ALL THAT WATER.

WANT TO MOVE THROUGH THIS
PRETTY SHARPLY.

DON'T HEAD INTO
SOMETHING LIKE THIS

WITHOUT CHECKING
FOR OBSTRUCTIONS.

IF IT'S CLEAR, MOVE FAST.

WATER LEVELS CAN CHANGE IN NO
TIME, WITH DEVASTATING IMPACT.

AND NOT FAR FROM HERE, A FLASH
FLOOD COST A WOMAN HER LIFE.

DRAGGED DOWNSTREAM,
IT WAS A YEAR

BEFORE RESCUE TEAMS
DISCOVERED HER PELVIS AND FEMUR

TRAPPED BETWEEN BOULDERS.

AS IF THAT'S NOT REASON ENOUGH

TO FIND A WAY
OUT OF HERE QUICKLY,

THE WATER LEVEL
IS ONLY ABOUT 55 DEGREES.

SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR ANY POTENTIAL ESCAPE ROUTE.

TRY AND GET UP THIS WAY.

THIS ISN'T LOOKING PROMISING.

THESE SHEER WALLS
ARE TOO DANGEROUS TO CLIMB.

WELL, THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
LET'S TRY FURTHER DOWN.

IT MIGHT BE MY MIND
PLAYING TRICKS ON ME,

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE
WATER LEVELS ARE RISING.

I DON'T WANT
TO HANG AROUND IN HERE.

I NEED TO KEEP MOVING.

BUT THIS IS NEITHER THE TIME
OR THE PLACE TO RUSH THINGS.

THAT IS ANOTHER BIG DROP-OFF
DOWN HERE.

THAT'S WAY TOO HIGH TO JUMP.

IF I CAN GET LOWER,
A JUMP MIGHT BE POSSIBLE.

BUT I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE
HOW SLIPPERY THESE ROCKS ARE.

I'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL.

WE'RE RUNNING
OUT OF OPTIONS HERE.

IT'S ABOUT AS LOW AS I CAN GET.

THERE'S NO ALTERNATIVE.
I'M GONNA JUMP FROM HERE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU HIT A ROCK
AND BREAK YOUR LEGS,

YOU CAN DROWN SO EASILY.

BUT THIS WATER IS CRYSTAL CLEAR.

AND ALSO, THE ACTUAL WHITEWATER
ITSELF IS VERY CONTAINED.

IT'S LIKE A FUNNEL
RUNNING STRAIGHT DOWN,

WHICH MEANS
IT'S PROBABLY RUNNING DEEP.

IF YOU HAVE LEVEL ROCKS
UNDER THERE,

YOU GET A BIG SPLAY
OF WHITEWATER.

YEAH, I'M CONFIDENT
TO JUMP THIS.

HOWEVER SURE YOU ARE,
A LEAP THIS HIGH IS NEVER EASY.

OH, JEEPERS!

IT NEEDS TO BE PERFECT.

AND IN MY NEXT CHALLENGE,

CROSSING THIS RAVINE
WILL CALL ON ALL MY INGENUITY.

HERE SHE GOES!

I'M IN NEW ZEALAND'S
SOUTH ISLAND,

IN THE MIDDLE OF A COMPLEX
SERIES OF WATERFALLS.

I'VE REACHED
A POINT OF NO RETURN,

AND I'VE GOT TO
MAKE A TOUGH CALL.

YEAH, I'M CONFIDENT
TO JUMP THIS.

IT NEEDS TO BE PERFECT.

IF YOU HIT THE AERATED CENTER,
YOU'LL SINK LIKE A STONE.

OH, JEEPERS!

EASY DEEP ENOUGH.

DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE
TO HITTING THE BOTTOM THERE.

LET'S KEEP MOVING DOWN.

THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE,
AND ONLY ONE WAY TO GO.

STEADY HERE.

NOW, THIS IS
A WHOLE NOTHER BALL GAME.

A FULL 80 FOOT DOWN
INTO SHALLOW WATER.

SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO KNOW
YOUR LIMITS.

IF YOU GET INJURED IN THE WILD,

IT CAN HAVE
MASSIVE CONSEQUENCES.

MY DAD ALWAYS USED TO SAY TO ME,

"IF THERE'S DOUBT,
THEN THERE'S NO DOUBT."

JUST BACK UP,
FIND ANOTHER WAY BACK OR ACROSS.

I'VE PUSHED MY LUCK IN HERE.
I'M GONNA TAKE MY DAD'S ADVICE.

I'LL HEAD BACK UPSTREAM
ON DRY LAND

AND TRY TO FIND
ANOTHER WAY ACROSS.

GONNA CHECK THESE TWO TREES OUT.

SEE THOSE LONG, THIN ONES?

THAT MIGHT WELL WORK.
COME ON.

MOUNTAIN BEECH
HAVE SHALLOW ROOTS,

PERFECT FOR
WHAT I PLAN TO DO WITH THEM.

THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO GET
TO -- JUST ACROSS THIS STREAM.

WHAT'S DIFFICULT, THOUGH,

IS THIS FIRST 20 OR 30 FOOT
OF THIS

IS JUST TOO STEEP TO CLIMB UP.

BUT NOW, THESE
ARE LONG ENOUGH AND THIN ENOUGH.

IF I CAN GET THEM
TO TOPPLE OVER,

THEY'LL TAKE ME
HIGHER UP THAT BANK.

SEE, THE WHOLE ROOT SYSTEM,

WITH A BIT OF ENCOURAGEMENT,
WOULD ACTUALLY GO.

NOW, I MIGHT BE ABLE
TO JUST BUILD SOME --

BUILD SOME RUNGS BETWEEN THIS.

NOW, THIS IS ALL THE STUFF
THAT I LOVE ABOUT SURVIVAL --

THINKING UP INGENIOUS WAYS
TO SOLVE PROBLEMS.

BEST WAY OF SECURING THIS --
TIMBER HITCH.

MAKE A LOOP...

A FEW TURNS...

...THEN PUT THAT 'ROUND
THE RUNG AND THE TRUNK

AND FEED IT BACK
THROUGH ITSELF.

AND THEN JUST TAKE A FEW WRAPS
AROUND THE TREE,

AND THAT WILL BITE DOWN
ON ITSELF.

AND THEN JUST TUCK IT IN THERE.

OKAY, THIS IS GONNA HELP IT GO
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AS WELL.

THE TREES ARE LEANING
TOWARDS THE BANK.

THEY COULD FALL THE WRONG WAY.

BUT THIS WEDGE
SHOULD STOP THAT HAPPENING.

THE PLAN SEEMS TO BE
COMING TOGETHER.

BUT I'M ALL TOO AWARE
THAT TWO SMALL TREES

ARE ALL THAT STAND
BETWEEN ME AND A 50-FOOT DROP.

THIS IS WHAT INDIGENOUS
JUNGLE FIGHTERS WOULD OFTEN DO.

THEY'D MAKE RUNGS
BETWEEN THE TREES

TO GET THEM UP INTO THE CANOPY
TO MAKE LOOKOUT STATIONS.

IN THEORY, MY BODY WEIGHT

SHOULD BE ENOUGH
TO UPROOT THESE TREES.

THEY'LL FALL OVER THE RAVINE

AND HIGH ENOUGH
UP THE OPPOSITE BANK

TO GET ME OUT THE OTHER SIDE.

OKAY, MOMENT OF TRUTH ON THIS --

WHETHER THIS THING
ACTUALLY WORKS.

IN PRACTICE, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE
AS IT SEEMED ON THE GROUND.

COME ON, YOU BRUTE.
OVER YOU GO.

HERE SHE GOES!

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

IT WORKED!

THERE'S A BIG PART OF ME
THAT WHEN I WAS ON THE TOP

WAS THINKING,
"WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING?"

BUT THAT WORKED PERFECTLY.

IF IT HADN'T, IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN A LONG WAY TO FALL.

THAT'S SUCH A GOOD FEELING.
OKAY, GO ON.

THE RAVINE IS BEHIND ME,

BUT I KNOW OTHER OBSTACLES
AWAIT UP AHEAD.

THIS UNDULATING TERRAIN

HAS BEEN SHAPED
BY HUGE TECTONIC FORCES,

LEAVING RIVERS
CRISSCROSSING THE MOUNTAINS.

REALLY, YOU NEED TO BE
SO CAREFUL IN RIVERS LIKE THIS.

A DECEPTIVELY FAST FLOW.

SO MANY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS,

WHEN THEY FIRST CAME TO
NEW ZEALAND, DROWNED IN RIVERS

JUST UNDERESTIMATING
THE POWER OF THEM.

IT BECAME KNOWN
AS THE NEW ZEALAND DEATH.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL
WITH THESE RIVERS.

LET'S FIND A BETTER WAY ACROSS.

MORE THAN 30 FEET OF RAIN
FALLS HERE ANNUALLY,

AND CURRENTS ARE UNPREDICTABLE,

SO YOU NEED TO CHOSE
YOUR CROSSING POINT CAREFULLY.

IT'S ALL WILLOW.

THEY DON'T LIKE
HAVING THEIR ROOTS SUBMERGED

IN WATER LIKE THIS.

PROBABLY MEANS THIS RIVER'S
IN FULL FLOOD NOW.

YEAH, THIS
WOULD NORMALLY BE DRY.

THE SOIL ON THIS RIVERBANK
IS NUTRIENT-RICH.

LOTS OF USEFUL PLANTS
FLOURISH HERE.

THERE'S A SERIOUS AMOUNT
OF ROSE HIP AROUND HERE.

ALL OF THESE. LOOK.

ROSE HIP CONTAINS

OVER EIGHT TIMES MORE VITAMIN C
THAN AN ORANGE.

AND THEY ACTUALLY
USED TO MAKE THIS INTO A SYRUP

AND GIVE IT TO SOLDIERS
IN THE TRENCHES IN THE WORLD WAR

AS A WAY TO STOP THEM
FROM GETTING SCURVY.

YOU CAN'T JUST EAT THESE
LIKE THIS.

IF YOU LOOK INSIDE, THEY'VE
ACTUALLY GOT THESE LITTLE PITS.

GOT LOADS OF LITTLE HAIRS
ON THEM.

YOU EAT THAT, IT'S REALLY
GONNA IRRITATE YOUR THROAT.

OKAY.

THE SEEDS CAN IRRITATE
THE STOMACH, TOO.

PREPARATION IS THE KEY.

THERE'S A LINE ACROSS THE RIVER.

YOU CAN SEE THAT. LOOK.

THERE'S A METAL CRADLE
ON IT, AS WELL.

LET'S GO AND CHECK IT OUT.

THESE CABLEWAYS HAVE BEEN USED
FOR OVER 200 YEARS,

BUT THIS ONE HASN'T BEEN
CROSSED OVER IN A LONG TIME.

PRETTY SOLID.

THIS IS WHAT A LOT OF MINERS
AND EARLY SETTLERS

WOULD HAVE USED
TO CROSS THESE RIVERS

WITHOUT HAVING TO BRAVE
THESE SORT OF CURRENTS.

THIS IS GONNA TAKE MY WEIGHT.

GET THOSE RINGS.
THAT WOULD HELP.

OKAY, HOLD ON.
STAY THERE.

EVEN WITH MY GLOVES ON, THE
WIRE'S CUTTING INTO MY HANDS.

BUT WITH THE RINGS,

I'LL RIG SOMETHING UP
TO TAKE THE STRAIN.

OKAY, WE'RE GONNA USE THESE.
THESE ARE RIGGING LINES.

WE'LL MAKE SOME STIRRUPS
OFF THEM.

THE BRIDLES
FROM MY PARACHUTE HARNESS

ARE PERFECT FOR THE JOB.

NOW WITH MY FEET
TAKING THE STRAIN,

THIS CROSSING
IS MUCH MORE ACHIEVABLE.

AND THERE'S
AN OLD SCOTTISH CUSTOM

THAT SAYS
BEFORE YOU CROSS A BRIDGE,

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS
SAY A PRAYER --

A PRAYER TO THANK THE PERSON
WHO BUILT THE BRIDGE,

AND A PRAYER FOR THE PERSON
WHO'S ABOUT TO CROSS IT.

THAT FEELS APPROPRIATE
RIGHT NOW.

OKAY.

GOOD TO GO.

RIGHT. HERE WE GO.

BY SHIFTING MY WEIGHT
FROM FOOT TO FOOT,

I CAN MOVE MY WAY
ALONG THE WIRE.

IT IS A BIT PRECARIOUS,
BUT IT'S WORKING.

THE FURTHER I GET OUT,
THE MORE TIRED I GET

AND THE LESS CHANCE I HAVE
OF ESCAPING THE RIVER

IF I DO FALL IN.

IT REALLY IS THE ULTIMATE
NUTCRACKER THERE.

AT LEAST IT'LL TAKE
SOME OF THE WEIGHT OFF MY HANDS.

I CAN REST.

I'VE REACHED THE BASKET.

NOW TO SEE IF I CAN USE IT TO
GET THE REST OF THE WAY ACROSS.

MAD PLACE.

OKAY, NOW
TO GET THIS BASKET ACROSS.

[ GROANS ]
THIS ISN'T GONNA BUDGE.

THIS CROSSING HAS BEEN
MUCH HARDER THAN I IMAGINED,

BUT IT'S ABOUT TO GET
A LOT HARDER.

[ PANTING ]

HOLD ON.
THIS IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

I'M IN NEW ZEALAND,

STRANDED HALFWAY ACROSS
A RIVER IN FULL FLOOD.

I'M STUCK HIGH AND DRY.

OKAY, NOW
TO GET THIS BASKET ACROSS.

[ GROANS ]
THIS ISN'T GONNA BUDGE.

I CAN'T MOVE THE RINGS
THAT I'VE USED FOR MY SLING

PAST THE BASKET.

MIGHT JUST HAVE TO HANG
AND SHIMMY THE LAST LITTLE BIT.

THIS SWIRLING EDDY IS PROBABLY

THE WORST PART OF THE RIVER
TO BE HANGING OVER,

BUT I'VE GOT TO GO FOR IT.

[ PANTING ]

HOLD ON.
THIS IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

HAVE A REST.

VERY HARD TO GRIP.

GOING THE LAST FEW FEET.

ARMS RUNNING OUT OF PUFF
ON THAT.

A LITTLE FOREARM BURN.

GOOD JOB THERE.

THIS MOUNTAIN RANGE IS CALLED
THE SOUTHERN ALPS.

THEY ONLY EMERGED
IN THE LAST 5 MILLION YEARS,

WHICH MAKES THEM VERY YOUNG.

BUT THEY RISE
TO MORE THAN 12,000 FEET.

THEY'RE A NATURAL BARRIER
BETWEEN ME AND THE WEST COAST.

YOU CAN SEE
THE CLOUDS AND THE WIND

LICKING ACROSS
THE PINNACLES THERE.

WE'RE ON A LATITUDE
OF ABOUT 45 DEGREES HERE.

BANG SMACK IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE ROARING 40s,

AND THEY'RE NOTORIOUS FOR THEIR
STRONG WINDS, STRONG WESTERLIES.

AND THESE MOUNTAINS
TAKE THE FULL FORCE OF THAT.

COLD FRONTS AND CYCLONES
CAN QUICKLY BLOW IN,

AND THE TEMPERATURE
CAN PLUNGE 60 DEGREES

IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.

GETTING OVER THE RIDGELINE
AND OFF THE MOUNTAIN QUICKLY

IS PARAMOUNT.

LET'S GET UP TO THE RIDGE.

THE SOUTHERN ALPS
ARE STILL GROWING

ABOUT A THIRD OF AN INCH
EVERY YEAR.

THE HARSH WEATHER FROM THE WEST

IS WEARING THEM DOWN
AT THE SAME RATE,

AND THAT MAKES THEM
ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING.

OH, IT'S NEVER EASY, IS IT?

NOW, THIS IS
CLASSIC SORT OF TERRAIN,

WHERE IT STARTS OFF
QUITE MANAGEABLE,

BUT VERY EASILY, YOU CAN
GET YOURSELF INTO TERRAIN

WHERE YOU CAN'T GO UP OR DOWN.

IT'S CALLED GETTING RIMROCKED,

AND THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE
CLIMBING IN NEW ZEALAND.

IT'S PROBABLY WORTH TRYING
TO IMPROVISE SOME SORT OF ROPE

WHILE WE'RE IN GOOD POSITION
UP HERE.

TRY TO DO SOMETHING
WITH THAT PARACHUTE.

LET'S GET OUT OF THIS WIND.
COME ON.

OH, THAT'S BETTER DOWN HERE.

YOU GET THESE CRAZY THINGS
CALLED WEATHER BOMBS,

AND IT'S BASICALLY
WHEN ALL THAT COLD AIR

COMES UP FROM ANTARCTICA.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING
BETWEEN HERE AND ANTARCTICA.

THE AIR COMES UP
AND MEETS THE WARM WESTERLIES

AND JUST CREATES
THESE WILD CYCLES OF WIND.

THAT'S WHY I NEED TO MINIMIZE
THE TIME I SPEND HERE.

I KIND OF ENVISIONED
USING THIS PARACHUTE

AS, LIKE,
A WINDPROOF OR SOMETHING,

BUT ACTUALLY, IT COULD BE
MORE USE HERE AS A ROPE.

THAT'S THE MOUNTAINS FOR YOU.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE FLEXIBLE.

IT'S A CASE OF
"ADAPT TO SURVIVE."

TAKE A GOOD, LONG STRAND OF IT
LIKE THIS,

PUT A LOOP IN THE END.

AND THEN JUST TWIST IT.

IT'S SIMPLE MECHANICS.

PLATING THE NYLON
WILL MAKE THE ROPE STRONGER.

TAKE AN ARM LENGTH OF IT,
BRING IT TOGETHER.

YOU'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO IT.

IT STARTS TO TWIST ON ITSELF,
AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE END.

AND IT'S WORKED
ON MULTIPLE STRANDS,

AND THE MORE STRANDS
LIKE THIS YOU HAVE,

THE STRONGER IT'S GONNA BE.

THAT'S GETTING
PRETTY GOOD THERE.

GET THIS STOWED, AND GET MOVING.

I'M LOOKING FOR A ROUTE DOWN,

BUT THERE'S NO SIMPLE WAY
OFF THIS RIDGELINE.

LOOKING PRETTY UGLY
DOWN THIS WAY.

THAT'S JUST SHEER.

THERE'S NO POINT
IN LAUNCHING OFF

UNLESS I KNOW
I CAN REACH THE GROUND.

THIS IS LOOKING A LITTLE BETTER.

STILL PRETTY SHEER,

BUT I RECKON MY ROPE
WILL REACH THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

NEED TO FIND A DECENT ANCHOR.

THE THING IS, ALL OF THIS STUFF.
LOOK. IT'S ALL SO CRUMBLY.

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER
WE TIE OFF TO IS BOMBPROOF.

THIS LEAD, FLAKY ROCK
IS RECRYSTALLIZED MUDSTONE.

IT'S CALLED SCHIST.

IDEALLY, THOUGH,
I'D DOUBLE UP THIS ROPE

SO I CAN THEN
MAKE IT RETRIEVABLE

SO I'D BE ABLE
TO PULL IT THROUGH.

THE THING IS, I'M GONNA NEED
THE WHOLE LENGTH OF IT,

REALLY, TO GET DOWN HERE.

BUT I'M GONNA NEED TO IMPROVISE
SOME SORT OF HARNESS.

TO DO THAT, I'LL MEASURE
FOUR LENGTHS OF CORD

AND THEN
TIE A SIMPLE OVERHAND KNOT.

AND THEN
WHAT YOU'RE LEFT WITH --

TWO ENDS
WITH TWO LOOPS IN EACH END.

USE THAT CUTAWAY HANDLE
FROM THE PARACHUTE,

SO I'M ACTUALLY GONNA BELAY OFF.

STEP INTO THE LEG LOOPS

AND PULL THE OTHERS
OVER YOUR SHOULDERS,

AND YOU'VE GOT
A GOOD IMPROVISED HARNESS.

OKAY.

IT'S ALWAYS WORTH,
WHEN YOU'VE GOT IMPROVISED ROPE,

IMPROVISED HARNESS,
AND AN IMPROVISED BELAY DEVICE,

JUST HAVE A LITTLE DOUBLE-CHECK
OF EVERYTHING.

I'M TIED OFF SECURELY
AND READY TO GO.

WHEN YOU'RE
MORE THAN 70 FOOT UP,

YOUR DESCENT
NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED.

THE HARNESS IS HOLDING FIRM,

BUT I'M NOT
FEELING CONFIDENT UP HERE.

JUST AWARE OF THE ROPE RUNNING
OVER A LOT OF THESE SHARP ROCKS.

DON'T WANT TO BE BOUNCING AROUND
TOO MUCH ON THIS.

NICE AND STEADY.

WITH SO MUCH LOOSE ROCK AROUND,

THERE'S NOWHERE FOR ME TO HIDE
IF ANY OF IT COMES MY WAY.

THIS IS ALL HORRIBLE.

SITUATIONS LIKE THIS
CAN BE KILLERS,

AND I'M
RIGHT IN THE FIRING LINE.

ALL RIGHT!

GET ONE OF THOSE ON YOUR HEAD,
AND IT'S LIGHTS OUT.

COME ON.
WE NEED TO GET YOU DOWN HERE.

THEN WE'LL GO TOGETHER.

OTHERWISE IT'S GONNA BRING SO
MANY ROCKS ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

GO DOWN AT THE SAME LEVEL.

THE REASON
LOOSE ROCKS ARE SO DANGEROUS

IS THAT IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING

COMES DOWN ON TOP OF YOU,
KNOCK YOU OUT,

YOU THEN STOP HOLDING YOUR ROPE

AND JUST DROP
STRAIGHT OFF THE END OF IT.

[ GRUNTING ]

AND THIS PARACHUTE'S
JUST JAMMED IN THIS RING,

AND WE'RE STILL
BANG IN THAT DANGER ZONE.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

GET THIS ROPE DONE.

I'M RELIEVED
TO ESCAPE IN ONE PIECE.

NEXT UP, I'M ON THE HUNT FOR
FOOD IN A SATURATED RAINFOREST.

OH! POSSUM!

I'M IN NEW ZEALAND'S
SOUTH ISLAND,

WHERE I'VE PUSHED MY LUCK
IN A WATERY RAVINE...

CATAPULTED MYSELF
OVER A STEEP GORGE...

HERE SHE GOES!

...AND RAPPELLED
FROM A CRUMBLING RIDGELINE

IN THE COUNTRY'S
HIGHEST MOUNTAIN RANGE.

ALL RIGHT!

AND NOW I'M IN ONE OF
THE WETTEST PLACES ON EARTH.

NEARLY 400 INCHES OF RAIN
FALL HERE ANNUALLY.

MY CLOTHES ARE SOAKING.
I WANT TO WARM UP.

THAT MEANS FINDING SHELTER.

WHEN IT'S RAINING THIS MUCH,
SIMPLICITY REALLY MATTERS.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT
ANYTHING TOO COMPLICATED.

I'LL LOOK FOR A NATURAL HOLLOW
OR DEADFALL.

THAT WON'T BE HARD TO FIND
AROUND HERE.

THE GROUND IN THIS RAINFOREST
IS SO WET,

EVEN THE BIGGEST TREES
CAN BE UPROOTED.

LOOK. THIS MIGHT WORK.

IT'S FALLEN,

BUT THE TRUNK'S FIRMLY WEDGED
AGAINST A NEARBY TREE.

THE PROBLEM IS SO MUCH
OF THE GROUND IS LIKE THIS --

SATURATED WITH WATER.

ALL OF THIS --
A BIT SPONGIER AND A BIT HIGHER.

IT'S GONNA
KEEP ME OUT OF THAT WATER.

AND I'VE GOT NICE COVERAGE
ABOVE HERE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY BASIC,

BUT MAYBE USE SOME FERNS
TO MAKE SOME ROOFING

TO KEEP THE WORST OF THE RAIN
OUT OF HERE, AS WELL.

LET'S TRY THAT.

TREE FERNS
ARE INCREDIBLY USEFUL.

THE FRONDS
HELP KEEP THE WATER OUT,

AND THE DEAD LEAVES
MAKE GOOD TINDER.

AND THEIR ROOTS
ARE A GREAT FOOD SOURCE.

ALL I NEED NOW
IS A ROOF RAFTER.

AND THIS CAN THEN JAM IN THERE,

AND THAT'S
JUST GONNA GIVE SOMETHING

FOR ME TO JAM THE FERN ENDS INTO
TO SUPPORT THEM.

QUICK, EASY,
AND VERY EFFECTIVE.

THERE'S A NICE LAYERING
TO THAT NOW.

HAVE A LOOK INSIDE.

OH, YEAH. ACTUALLY, IT'S
QUITE NICE AND COZY IN HERE.

PROTECTED FROM THE RAIN
AND OUT OF THE WATER.

THE ONLY THING THAT COULD
MAKE THIS A BIT MORE HOMEY

IS IF WE GET A FIRE GOING.

OKAY, LET'S DO IT.

I'M SURROUNDED BY WOOD,
BUT IN WATERLOGGED FOREST,

FINDING ANYTHING DRY
IS A REAL CHALLENGE.

I'M TRYING TO GET DEAD WOOD
THAT'S HANGING IN THE TREES

THAT HASN'T BEEN SAT,
SOAKING IN WATER.

AND EVEN THOUGH
IT'S WET ON THE OUTSIDE,

ON THE INSIDE,
THAT'S NICE AND DRY.

AND I'VE GOT A LOAD
OF THOSE DRIED FERN FRONDS

THAT I CAN USE AS TINDER,
JUST TO GET THE FIRE GOING.

THIS IS ALWAYS
A DIFFICULT STAGE WITH FIRE,

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S RAINING.

ONCE IT STARTS TO GENERATE HEAT,
IT ALL BECOMES EASIER.

WHILE THE KINDLING CATCHES,

I USE THE HEAT
TO DRY BIGGER BRANCHES.

GOT TO BE CAREFUL
NOT TO SMOTHER IT, THOUGH.

A NICE CRISSCROSS FRAME,

KINDLING KEEPS
ALL THE OXYGEN GOING IN.

AND THE RAIN IS STILL OFF THERE,
WHICH IS GOOD.

MY FIRE'S ALIGHT, BUT I'LL NEED

BIGGER BITS OF DEADWOOD
TO KEEP IT GOING.

IN THIS WET, SOAKING PLACE,

YOU HAVE TO FOCUS
ON STAYING WARM AND DRY.

STAY THERE.

OH! POSSUM!

SEE HIM? STAY THERE.

THERE ARE AROUND 30 MILLION

OF THESE SMALL MAMMALS
IN NEW ZEALAND.

I'VE ONLY GOT
A STICK AS A WEAPON,

BUT IF I CAN CATCH THIS,
IT'LL MAKE A GREAT MEAL.

GOT HIM!

JUST GOT HIM.

WHEN HE WAS
GOING INTO THAT HOLE.

LOOK. SEE THAT?
THAT'S WHERE HE SHOT INTO.

YOU CAN JUST SEE
THE BACK OF HIM.

WELL, THESE GUYS ARE REALLY
CONSIDERED PESTS IN NEW ZEALAND.

YOU KNOW, THEY
DESTROY THE FOREST, KILL BIRDS.

GOOD. NOW, WHERE'D I
DROP ALL THAT FIREWOOD?

WHEN YOU'RE BURNING
MORE THAN 3,000 CALORIES A DAY,

A MEAL THIS SIZE IS A BONUS.

NORMALLY, YOU'D WANT
TO SKIN AND PREPARE ANY FOOD

AWAY FROM YOUR CAMP,

BUT THERE'S ALMOST NO PREDATORS
HERE THAT I NEED TO WORRY ABOUT.

GUTS OUT.

POSSUMS CAN CARRY DISEASES
LIKE TUBERCULOSIS,

SO IT NEEDS TO BE
COOKED THROUGH.

JUST LAY IT ON LIKE THIS,
AND COOK IT WITH THE SKIN.

IT'S FUNNY, WHEN YOU
SIT AND WATCH SOMETHING COOK,

IT'S ALWAYS GONNA TASTE BETTER
IN THE END.

YOU JUST
GET HUNGRIER AND HUNGRIER.

BUT HAVING FOOD ON THE FIRE
IS GREAT FOR MORALE.

OKAY, IT SHOULD BE DONE.

OH, A VERY STRONG TASTE.

KIND OF REMINDS ME OF RAT MEAT,

AND THAT'S NOT GREAT.

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

AND FOR THAT, I'M GRATEFUL.

I'M BATTERED, BRUISED,
AND SOAKED TO THE SKIN,

BUT IT'S NOT ALL BAD
IN MY RUDIMENTARY SHELTER.

HOWEVER HELLISH A PLACE
YOU'RE IN,

AND I'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF THEM,

THERE'S ALWAYS
SOMETHING YOU CAN DO

TO MAKE YOURSELF
A BIT MORE COMFORTABLE.

YOU MIGHT NOT MAKE IT LIKE HOME,

BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY
MAKE IT FEEL A BIT MORE HOMEY.

AND, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW,

I'M SHELTERED, I'M WARM,
AND I'VE HAD SOMETHING TO EAT.

AND, YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M PRETTY HAPPY.

BUT NOW I HAVE TO
FACE THE ELEMENTS ONCE AGAIN.

THE INCESSANT RAIN
IS BAD NEWS FOR ME,

BUT IT'S HELPED THIS FOREST
TO THRIVE

FOR MORE THAN 80 MILLION YEARS.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY TEEMING
WITH LIFE, AND THAT MEANS FOOD.

AND THAT'S A HUHU GRUB.
HE'S BIG AND COMPLETELY EDIBLE.

I'M DEEP IN THE FOREST
IN NEW ZEALAND,

IN SEARCH OF SOMETHING
TO GET MY TEETH INTO.

ROTTING WOOD LIKE THIS IS ALWAYS
GOOD TO LOOK FOR GRUBS.

THE LARVAE FROM NEW ZEALAND'S
LARGEST NATIVE BEETLE,

THE HUHU,
FEEDS OFF THE DECAYING WOOD.

AND THESE GUYS WILL GO IN
ABSOLUTELY TINY,

THEN LIVE IN THERE
FOR UP TO TWO YEARS,

JUST STEADILY FEEDING AWAY.

THERE HE IS.
AND THAT'S A HUHU GRUB.

HE'S BIG AND COMPLETELY EDIBLE.

YOU JUST WANT TO TAKE OFF
THE HEAD...

...WHICH YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT,

BUT ALL OF THIS IS FINE.

IT'S A REAL MAORI DELICACY.

THEY SAY
IT TASTES LIKE PEANUT BUTTER.

I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER
ON MY TOAST,

BUT I WOULDN'T PUT THIS ON IT.

[ SPITS ]
MORE LIKE SNOT.

BUT THEY'VE GOT
A HIGH FAT CONTENT,

SO THEY'RE THE PERFECT
FAST FOOD TO KEEP YOU GOING.

OKAY.

THERE'S NO SHORTAGE
OF ROTTING WOOD,

AND THAT MEANS NO SHORTAGE
OF FOOD IF YOU LIKE GRUBS.

SO THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE HERE

IS FINDING A WAY
TO THE WEST COAST.

YOU CAN TELL
IT RAINS IN NEW ZEALAND.

JUST SOLID WATERFALLS LIKE THIS
THE WHOLE WAY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

THE STREAM WILL RUN TO A RIVER,

AND ON THIS SIDE
OF THE MOUNTAINS,

THEY ALL WIND THEIR WAY WEST.

SO THAT'S
WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR.

WELL, THERE'S A RIVER.

BUT THIS IS ONLY EVER
GONNA LEAD ONE WAY --

DOWNHILL AND TO THE COAST.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL
HOW FAR THE COAST IS FROM HERE.

FOR NOW, IT'S PROBABLY BEST TO
FOLLOW THE COURSE OF THE RIVER.

BUT I CAN'T MAKE THAT CALL

UNTIL I SEE
THE LAY OF THE LAND.

OKAY.
NEXT PHASE BEGINS.

SEE, IT'S GONNA BE HARD
TO FOLLOW THE RIVERBANKS.

IT'S JUST SHEER CLIFFS
ON BOTH SIDES THERE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S
A NICE, GENTLE FLOW TO THIS.

MIGHT BE WORTH MAKING
SOME SORT OF FLOTATION DEVICE

AND JUST DRIFTING DOWN
AND BREAKING OUT ONTO A BANK

WHEN WE FIND ONE.

IT'S A CALCULATED RISK.

YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT'S AROUND THE CORNER

OR WHERE YOU'LL
BE ABLE TO GET OUT.

THESE WILL BE GOOD. ALL
THE DEAD STEMS FROM THESE FERNS.

THE GOOD THING ABOUT THESE --

ALL THE FERNS ABOVE
KEPT THESE PRETTY DRY.

THESE ARE GONNA MAKE
GOOD BUOYANCY.

AND THE REMAINS
OF THE PARACHUTE WILL MAKE

A FAIL-SAFE WATERPROOF CASING
TO PUT THEM IN.

THE GOOD THING
ABOUT USING PARACHUTE MATERIAL

IS ZERO POROSITY.

THAT MEANS IT WILL KEEP WATER
OUT AND TRAP AIR INSIDE,

CREATING EXTRA BUOYANCY.

AS WE GOT USED TO
IN THE MILITARY,

WE'D USE OUR PONCHOS
TO WRAP UP EVERYTHING.

BACKPACK, THEN TIE IT, SEAL,

AND USE THAT AS FLOTATION
TO CROSS LAKES OR RIVERS.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE
NICE AND BUOYANT.

THE ONE THING I DON'T WANT
TO PUT IN THERE, THOUGH,

IS MY KNIFE.

GONNA KEEP THAT OUT,
STRAPPED TO ME.

THAT'S MY SAFETY IN THE RIVER
IF WE GET SNAGGED IN ANYTHING.

YOUR KNIFE IS YOUR
PRIMARY MEANS OF SURVIVAL.

YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT.

I MIGHT BE IN THE RAINFOREST,

BUT THIS WATER COMES
STRAIGHT FROM A GLACIER.

IT'S LESS THAN 50 DEGREES --

COLD ENOUGH TO RENDER YOU
UNCONSCIOUS WITHIN AN HOUR.

THERE'S LOADS OF BUOYANCY
IN THIS, AT LEAST.

PUSH OUT INTO THE FLOW.

I CAN'T. GO ON WITH IT.

BE WITH ME IN THE MAIN FLOW.

JUST STICK TOGETHER
IN THIS RIVER.

JUST GET DOWNSTREAM
AND FIND A PLACE

WHERE WE WON'T
DROP DEAD ON THE BANKS.

YOU NEED TO STAY ALERT
IN RIVERS.

THERE'S POTENTIAL DANGER
AROUND EVERY BEND.

THE RAPIDS AHEAD THERE.

YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR FEET UP

IF YOU GO THROUGH THESE,
ALL RIGHT?

IF YOU GLIDE ON YOUR BACK
WITH YOUR LEGS FORWARD

AND USE THE CURRENT
TO HELP STEER,

YOU CAN AVOID
HIDDEN ROCKS AND STOPPERS.

THOSE CAN BE A DEATH SENTENCE.

KEEP AWAY
FROM THE UNDERCUT LEDGES.

IF YOU CAN'T,
FEND OFF THE ROCKS

AND HOPE YOU'RE
SPAT OUT THE OTHER SIDE.

WHOO! DIDN'T LIKE
THAT UNDERCUT BIT.

I'M THROUGH THE RAPIDS,
BUT NOT OUT OF TROUBLE YET.

THERE'S STILL NO BANKS TO BE
ABLE TO GET OUT AND WALK ON.

LOOK AT THIS. LOOK.

STILL SHEER WALLS ON BOTH SIDES.

I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER

IF GETTING IN THIS RIVER
WAS SUCH A GOOD IDEA.

HYPOTHERMIA WILL SET IN

25 TIMES QUICKER HERE
THAN ON LAND.

WE GOT TO GET OUT SOON HERE.
GETTING REALLY COLD IN HERE NOW.

I'M IN A FREEZING
GLACIER-FED RIVER

ON THE WEST COAST
OF NEW ZEALAND.

I'VE GOT TO GET OUT SOON HERE.
GETTING REALLY COLD IN HERE NOW.

I KNEW THE RISKS BEFORE I GOT
IN HERE, AND I'M WELL-PREPARED.

BETTER AT KEEPING WARM JUST TO
HOLD YOUR BUOYANCY CLOSE TO YOU.

TRY AND PRESERVE YOUR CORE HEAT.

KEEPING YOUR LEGS AND ARMS
CLOSE TO YOUR STOMACH

WILL HELP SLOW THE HEAT LOSS.

LOOK. THERE'S A BANK OVER THERE.
WE CAN GET OUT.

MY GAMBLE'S PAID OFF.

AND THAT IS A VERY WELCOME SIGHT
TO SEE, THAT BANK.

BUT THE COLD WATER'S
TAKING ITS TOLL.

EARLY SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA
ARE PLAIN TO SEE.

I BET MY LIPS ARE REALLY BLUE.

THAT'S THE STAGE I KNOW
I'M GETTING REALLY COLD.

IT'S NOT FAR,

BUT MOST DROWNINGS ARE
WITHIN A FEW FEET OF SAFETY.

EVERY STROKE IS A STRUGGLE.

I THOUGHT THAT CANYON
WAS JUST NEVER GONNA END.

CAN'T FEEL MY FINGERS WELL
AT ALL.

WARM THEM UP,
THEN WE CAN GET PACKED OUT.

VERY, VERY RELIEVED.
SEE SOME CLEAR GROUND.

I NEED TO GET ON THE MOVE,

GET MY HEART RATE UP,
AND THE BLOOD PUMPING.

LET'S GO.

AS YOU FOLLOW THE RIVERBANK
WEST TOWARDS THE COAST,

YOU HIT TIDAL FLOOD PLAINS,

AND THAT MEANS
YOU'RE SOON INTO SWAMP.

THERE'S NO ESCAPING WATER HERE.
IT'S ENERGY-SAPPING.

AT TIMES LIKE THESE,
YOU GOT TO DIG DEEP

AND KEEP A POSITIVE
MENTAL ATTITUDE.

[ SPITS ]

WATER'S BEGINNING TO TASTE
A BIT SALTIER.

BRACKISH.

MEANS WE'RE
GETTING CLOSER TO THE SEA.

LET'S KEEP GOING.
COME ON.

AFTER DAYS OF BEING
SOAKED THROUGH, I'M FLAGGING.

EVEN A 1-DEGREE DROP
IN YOUR CORE BODY TEMPERATURE

CAN MEAN YOU BURN
FIVE TIMES MORE ENERGY.

I NEED A BOOST, AND I'VE SEEN
SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP ME.

THERE'S A CABBAGE TREE.

[ GRUNTING ]

STRIP ALL THESE LEAVES OFF.

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT,
YOU GET THE HEART OF IT,

AND THAT'S WHAT'S EDIBLE.

GIVE ME CARBOHYDRATE,

GIVE ME A BIT OF ENERGY --
IN A SWAMP LIKE THIS, YOU NEED.

TASTES A LITTLE BIT LIKE
RAW CABBAGE, UNSURPRISINGLY.

FIGHTING MY WAY THROUGH HERE

IS HARD WORK
AND DISORIENTATING.

I NEED TO FIND A MARKER
TO GET MY BEARINGS.

LOOK.

SEE THOSE TREES?

SEE THE ONE LEANING TOWARDS US?

THAT FAR SIDE
HAS BEEN STRIPPED BARE

BY THE FORCE OF THE WEATHER
COMING FROM THE SEA.

THAT MEANS WEST,
AND THE COAST IS THAT WAY.

SO HARD
TO MAINTAIN YOUR DIRECTION.

IN A SWAMP LIKE THIS, LITTLE
MARKERS LIKE THAT REALLY HELP.

LET'S KEEP GOING.
COME ON.

THE WEATHER'S CLOSING IN,
AND THIS RAIN IS RELENTLESS.

BUT THE COAST
IS A WELCOME SIGHT.

HEAR THE SURF FROM HERE.

COME ON, LET'S GET DOWN.

I'M ON MY LAST LEGS,
BUT I'VE MADE IT IN ONE PIECE.

WELL, THAT'S THE COAST,
AND IT'S PRETTY BLEAK.

AND THIS IS AS FAR WEST
AS I CAN GO.

NEXT STOP THAT WAY IS ARGENTINA.

THAT'S ALMOST
HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD.

OKAY. LEFT OR RIGHT
ON THE COAST?

LAST TIME I WENT LEFT,
I WAS WRONG.

LET'S GO THIS WAY.

THERE'S ONLY ONE WORD
FOR NEW ZEALAND -- EPIC.

THE DIVERSITY HERE HAS BEEN
THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE,

AND I'VE BEEN TESTED
TO MY BREAKING POINT.

BUT THE END
IS FINALLY IN SIGHT.

THERE'S A HUT.

DO YOU SEE THE OUTLINE
OF TWO CHIMNEYS?

SEE THAT?

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MY END
IN NEW ZEALAND.

PRETTY SPECTACULAR, BUT HARD.

BOY, DOES IT RAIN A LOT.

OKAY, LET'S GET TO THAT HUT.