Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 7, Episode 3 - Iceland: Fire and Ice - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.
WHOO!

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

FROM SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
PLACES ON EARTH.

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

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

WITHOUT THE RIGHT
SURVIVAL SKILLS.

NOW I'M IN ICELAND,
IN THE STARK INTERIOR

OF EUROPE'S
LEAST-POPULATED COUNTRY.

THE TWIN DANGERS HERE
ARE EXTREME HEAT...

GOD, IT'S HOT.

...AND EXTREME COLD.



IT'S GETTING PRETTY CRAZY NOW!

THE LANDSCAPE IS UNFORGIVING.

IT'S A NEVER-ENDING BATTLE
TO FIND ENOUGH FOOD.

THEY SUCK
WHEN IT COMES TO TASTE.

AND THE BARRIERS NATURE THROWS
YOUR WAY PUSH YOU TO THE LIMIT.

IT'S A DEAD END!

THIS SUPER TRUCK
HAS BEEN SPECIALLY ADAPTED

TO DEAL WITH LAVA FLOWS,
SNOW, AND ICE.

AND IT'S TAKING ME
TO A DROP-OFF POINT

HIGH ON AN ACTIVE VOLCANO.

ICELAND REALLY IS
A TICKING TIME BOMB.

SAT BANG
ON THE MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE,

IT'S GOT
OVER 130 VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS.

AND THE WEATHER HERE
IS JUST AS EXPLOSIVE.



FOR THE SURVIVOR, YOU'RE REALLY
FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS --

NOT ONLY EXTREME WEATHER,

BUT ALSO A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE
AND VOLCANIC ACTIVITY.

SO THAT MAKES ICELAND
ONE LETHAL COCKTAIL.

HUNDREDS OF FEET BELOW ME,

THE VOLCANO IS GEARING UP
FOR HER NEXT ERUPTION.

BUT YOU WOULDN'T THINK IT
FROM THE EXTREME COLD UP HERE.

WELL, YOU CAN TELL
WE'RE GETTING HIGHER.

VISIBILITY'S RIGHT DOWN.

THE SNOW'S KICKED IN.

I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE
HOW MUCH FURTHER

WE'RE GONNA GET IN THIS.

ANYONE CAN BUY A TRIP
INTO ICELAND'S RUGGED INTERIOR,

BUT WHAT DO YOU DO
IF IT ALL GOES WRONG,

LEAVING YOU STRANDED?

MY MISSION
IS TO SHOW YOU HOW TO SURVIVE

IN THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE.

[ RADIO CHATTER ]

WHOO!

AND THAT CAR'S OUT OF SIGHT!

THAT'S HOW BAD THE VISIBILITY IS

AND HOW STRONG THE WIND IS
UP HERE.

NOW, IN ICELAND, THE PREVAILING
WIND COMES FROM THE COAST.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE MOST LIKELY
TO FIND PEOPLE.

SO WHAT YOU DO IS HEAD DOWN,
KEEP THAT WIND INTO OUR FACE.

OKAY, THIS ONE
IS GONNA BE A MISSION.

WITHIN MINUTES, I'M HIT BY
A BITING 50-MILE-AN-HOUR GALE.

IT'S BELOW FREEZING HERE.

BUT WITH THE WIND CHILL, IT
FEELS LIKE 20 DEGREES COLDER.

A SQUALL LIKE THIS
CAN STOP YOU IN YOUR TRACKS.

APART FROM A ROPE FOR SAFETY,

I'VE NOTHING MORE
THAN YOU WOULD HAVE

IF YOUR ICELANDIC
FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE TRIP

ENDED IN DISASTER,

SO NO GOGGLES
AND NO INSULATED JACKET.

MY VISIBILITY IS REDUCED
TO ALMOST NOTHING.

MY BODY IS BEING DRAINED
OF PRECIOUS HEAT.

THIS IS GETTING
PRETTY CRAZY NOW!

HARDLY MAKING ANY PROGRESS
INTO THIS.

PROBABLY BEST TO TRY AND FIND
SOMEWHERE, BIT OF A SNOWBANK,

WHERE YOU DIG IN
AND GET OUT OF THIS WIND.

ICELAND'S WEATHER
IS IN CONSTANT TURMOIL.

THERE'S NO WAY OF KNOWING
WHEN IT WILL IMPROVE.

SO INSTEAD OF FIGHTING IT,

SAVE YOUR ENERGY
FOR WHEN YOU REALLY NEED IT.

DOESN'T HAVE TO BE VERY DEEP --

JUST DEEP ENOUGH TO GET MY BODY
OUT OF THIS WIND.

THESE CONDITIONS
SHOW HOW VITAL IT IS

TO GET TO LOWER,
LESS-EXPOSED GROUND,

WHERE IT'S EASIER TO FIND FOOD,
WATER, AND SHELTER.

YEAH, THAT WILL DO.
COME ON!

AND JUST SOMETHING AS SIMPLE
AS THIS COULD SAVE YOU.

I'M LYING ON FROZEN GROUND,

BUT NOW I'M OUT OF THE WIND
AND MUCH WARMER.

AND THAT IS REALLY
WHAT SURVIVAL IS ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT THINKING SMART
AND CHOOSING YOUR BATTLES.

YOU TRY AND TAKE ON
A SQUALL LIKE THAT,

YOU'RE MORE THAN LIKELY
GONNA LOSE.

SIT IT OUT, AND LET IT PASS.

[ WIND WHIPPING ]

SOON AS THE WORST
OF THE STORM PASSES,

IT'S TIME TO PICK YOURSELF UP,
DUST YOURSELF DOWN,

AND GET ON YOUR WAY AGAIN.

I'M TRAVELING
WITH THE WIND IN MY FACE,

AND IT JUST GOT COLDER.

ICELAND'S GLACIERS AND ICE CAPS

COVER MORE THAN
4,500 SQUARE MILES.

AND THE WIND'S BLOWING
STRAIGHT OFF ONE.

YOU'VE ALWAYS GOT TO BE CAREFUL
ON GLACIERS.

LOTS OF HIDDEN CREVASSES.

IT'S ALWAYS MADE MORE DIFFICULT
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE CRAMPONS.

IN THIS CASE, THERE'S A SIMPLE,
VERY EFFECTIVE SOLUTION.

PUT YOUR SOCKS
OUTSIDE YOUR BOOTS,

AND YOU'LL HAVE MUCH MORE GRIP
ON THE ICE.

IF YOU CAN, ROPE YOURSELF
TO A CLIMBING PARTNER.

[ WHISTLES ]

THAT WAY, IF ONE OF YOU
GOES INTO A CREVASSE,

THE OTHER SHOULD BE ABLE
TO HOLD HIM.

OKAY, BIG FELLA.
YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

ON EVEREST, MY LIFE WAS SAVED
BY ONE OF MY BEST BUDDIES,

WHO WAS ON THE END OF THE ROPE,
WHEN I WENT DOWN A CREVASSE.

AND THAT'S TAUGHT ME
A HEALTHY RESPECT FOR GLACIERS,

BIG, DEEP CREVASSES.

OKAY, KEEP THIS LINE
NICE AND TIGHT.

ONE OF US GOES DOWN,
WE DON'T WANT ANY SLACK ON IT.

A CREVASSE IS LIKE AN ICY TOMB.

AS YOU BREATHE OUT,
YOU SLIP FURTHER IN.

THEN AS YOU LOSE THE HEAT,

THE ICE FREEZES AROUND YOU,
SEALING YOUR FATE.

ALL THESE SORT OF HOLES.

YOU KNOW, IF THIS WAS COVERED
BY SNOW LIKE THAT,

YOU WOULDN'T SEE THAT HOLE
TILL YOU STOOD ON IT.

THIS LOOSE SNOW GIVES WAY,
AND YOU'RE GONE.

OKAY, THAT'S WHERE
YOU WANT TO BE HEADING.

JUST TO THE EDGE
OF THE GLACIER DOWN THERE.

TRY AND WORK OUR WAY
DOWN THIS STUFF.

[ GRUNTS ]

MY IMPROVISED CRAMPONS
ARE WORKING WELL.

MY PROGRESS ISN'T ELEGANT,

BUT IT'S GETTING ME
WHERE I WANT TO GO.

OKAY, THAT'S WHERE WE NEED
TO GET TO -- DOWN THERE.

WE'LL MAKE AN ICE BOLLARD
'ROUND THIS.

RIGHT. WE'LL GO OVER THAT.

WE'LL CUT A CHANNEL
TO RAPPEL OFF.

IF YOU'RE STRANDED
WITHOUT PROPER EQUIPMENT,

THIS IS THE NEXT-BEST THING.

GRAB BOTH STRANDS OF THE ROPE,
BETWEEN THE LEGS,

UP OVER THE SHOULDER.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CLIMBING
PARTNER TO SLOW YOUR DESCENT,

YOU CAN LOWER YOURSELF USING
YOUR BODY AS A FRICTION DEVICE.

AS LONG AS I KEEP
A FIRM HOLD ON THE ROPE,

I'M IN COMPLETE CONTROL
OF MY DESCENT.

WHOO!

ONCE DOWN, I SIMPLY PULL
ON THE ROPE TO RETRIEVE IT.

ON TERRAIN LIKE THIS,
I KNOW I'M GONNA NEED IT AGAIN.

OFF THE GLACIER.

GOT THE ROPE BACK.

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE
SOME BETTER PROGRESS NOW.

THE FOOD, WATER, AND SHELTER
THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO SURVIVAL

ALL LIE BELOW THE SNOW LINE.

GONNA PICK UP THE PACE
A BIT NOW.

BUT GETTING THERE BRINGS WITH
IT A FRESH SET OF DANGERS.

STEADY HERE.

IT LOOKS SIGNIFICANTLY WARMER
WHERE I'M HEADING,

AND NOT JUST BECAUSE
IT'S OUT OF THE WIND.

OKAY.

THERE YOU SEE ALL THAT STEAM
RISING OFF THIS.

WHOLE AREA IS GEOTHERMIC.

YOU KNOW, THE GLACIER'S
ONE SET OF DANGERS.

BUT THERE'S A WHOLE NEW SET
OF THEM.

OKAY, LET ME GO FIRST DOWN THIS.

OKAY, IT'S GOOD.

THAT'S THE STUFF YOU DON'T WANT
TO BE GOING INTO.

ICELAND SITS
ON A MASSIVE FAULT LINE

THAT STRETCHES ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO THE SOUTH ATLANTIC.

GEOLOGICALLY, IT'S ONE OF THE
MOST UNSTABLE PLACES ON EARTH.

THE VOLCANO
I'M WORKING MY WAY DOWN

IS ONE OF 130 IN THE COUNTRY.

MAN, CHECK THE STEAM
COMING OUT OF THIS.

OH!

BASICALLY, WHAT HAPPENS

IS THAT RAINWATER SEEPS DOWN
THROUGH THE ROCK,

HITS THE MAGMA,
GETS SUPERHEATED,

AND IS SHOT OUT
AS THIS FLAMING-HOT STEAM.

THAT'S HOW ICELAND CAN HEAT 90%
OF THEIR HOMES WITH GEOTHERMAL.

OH, GOD, IT'S HOT.

OKAY, FOLLOW ME.

STAY CLOSE, AND WATCH
WHERE YOU'RE TREADING.

OH, LOOK.
THE MUD'S ACTUALLY BOILING HERE.

AND THAT WOULD BE
A NASTY WAY TO GO.

[ BUBBLING ]
NEVER GET OUT OF THAT.

IT'S JUST TOO SLIPPY
ON THIS EDGE.

I'M IN A DEADLY CAULDRON
OF GEOTHERMIC ACTIVITY.

WHOA!

AND IF YOU'RE IN ANY DOUBT

WHETHER IT'S BOILING WATER,
CHECK THAT OUT.

IF YOU HAD ANY FOOD, YOU COULD
ACTUALLY COOK IT IN THAT.

BUT AT LEAST IT'S NICE AND WARM.

JUST FEEL THAT HEAT.

THE WATER SPEWED OUT HERE
IS RICH IN MINERALS,

WHICH FORM A THIN
AND BRITTLE CRUST.

SO I NEED TO PICK
MY WAY THROUGH CAREFULLY

TO AVOID BECOMING
A BOIL-IN-A-BAG BEAR.

THIS IS NO PLACE TO HANG ABOUT.

THERE'S NO FOOD, SHELTER,
OR DRINKING WATER.

YOUR BEST BET
IS TO GET TO LOWER GROUND

AND ULTIMATELY THE COAST.

THERE YOU SEE A RIVER AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE VALLEY HERE.

YOU KNOW, IN ICELAND,

GLACIAL RIVER'S GONNA
LEAD YOU TO THE COAST.

LET'S GET DOWN.

AS I APPROACH
THE VALLEY BOTTOM,

THE GRASS BECOMES VISIBLE.

THE GEOTHERMAL HEAT
FROM THE VOLCANO

HAS MELTED MOST OF THE SNOW.

THE EARTH MAY BE WARMER, BUT
THE AIR IS STILL BITINGLY COLD,

AND HYPOTHERMIA
IS A REAL THREAT.

AS YOU GET COLDER,

THE BRAIN IS FORCED TO WORK
BELOW OPTIMUM TEMPERATURE.

THERE'S JUST THIS CONTINUAL
COLD WIND AND DRIZZLE.

AND IT'S PRETTY DRAINING,
TO BE HONEST.

YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE
GOOD DECISIONS SUFFERS.

IN EXTREME CASES,

HYPOTHERMIA CAN LEAD TO COMA
AND ULTIMATELY DEATH.

LOOK -- YOU SEE THE BUBBLES
COMING UP THERE.

THAT'S BOILING,

BUT THIS BIT
IS GLACIAL AND FREEZING.

IT SOUNDS A BIT CRAZY,
BUT I'M JUST WONDERING

WHETHER I MIGHT
BE ABLE TO DIVERT

SOME OF THE COLD WATER
INTO HERE,

DIG IT OUT A BIT,

AND CREATE A NATURAL
KIND OF HOT TUB, REALLY.

EVEN THE EFFORT OF BUILDING
THIS HOT TUB IS WARMING ME UP.

I LOVE THINGS LIKE THIS,

JUST 'CAUSE I CAN SEE
THIS IS GONNA TOTALLY WORK.

ALL I'VE GOT TO DO IS PLUG A FEW
OF THESE LEAKS WITH SOME MOSS,

CREATE A BIT OF AN OUTFLOW
AT THIS END.

SO I'VE GOT WATER RUNNING IN,
RUNNING OUT.

AND THAT NOW IS A REALLY NICE
BATH TEMPERATURE.

AND SHOW ME A MAN
WHO DOESN'T LIKE A HOT BATH

WHEN THEY'RE COLD AND WET.

OKAY, LET'S DO THIS.

RIGHT.

INTO NATURE'S HOT TUB.

START OFF HERE WHERE IT'S COLD.

AND I INCH FORWARD.

THIS IS ACTUALLY WAY TOO COLD.

SO WHAT I CAN DO
IS DAM THIS BACK UP AGAIN,

STOP THE OUTFLOW,
AND THIS IS GONNA BUILD UP.

AND -- OH! YEAH.

WHOA! THAT BIT'S REALLY HOT.

YEAH, NOW THAT'S PLUGGED AGAIN,

I CAN JUST FEEL THIS BIT
GETTING NICE AND WARM.

AH!

AS LONG AS YOU DON'T SIT
ON THE BOILING-HOT VENT.

AH.

AH, MAN.

THAT IS ABSOLUTE HEAVEN.

PEOPLE HAVE OFTEN DIED

BECAUSE THEY'VE FAILED TO SPOT
THE ONSET OF HYPOTHERMIA.

IT'S GETTING
A LITTLE HOT AGAIN NOW.

IT'S SAFE TO SAY
NOW I'M WELL OUT OF DANGER.

I LOVE FACT THAT I CAN JUST
ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE

BY LETTING A BIT OF FLOW
OF COLD WATER BACK IN.

AND YOU CAN JUST COMPLETELY
SIT OUT A STORM LIKE THIS.

IT CAN BE MINUS-40 OUT THERE.

THE ONLY PERSON
WHO'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT

IS THE OLD MUGGINS IN HERE.

I'M REWARMED AND REJUVENATED.

AND THAT'S WHY
MOST OF THE BATTLE OF SURVIVAL

IS WON UP HERE.

THINK SMART,
AND KEEP YOUR MORALE UP.

THAT NATURAL BATH WENT WELL.

I THINK IF YOU CAN GET YOUR BODY
WARM AND THEN KEEP MOVING,

YOU'VE GOT A FIGHTING CHANCE
OF KEEPING THE COLD AWAY.

THERE'S NOTHING GEOTHERMIC
ABOUT THIS AREA.

GOT SNOW ON THE GROUND.

YOU KNOW, BACK UP THERE,
YOU GOT THE GEOTHERMAL HEAT

FROM THE GROUND
TO MELT THE SNOW.

DEFINITELY COLDER HERE.

AND THE WIND DOWN THE VALLEY.

TRY AND KEEP THE PACE UP,
KEEP MOVING.

THIS RIVER IS YOUR ROUTE
OUT OF THE HIGH GROUND.

IT ALSO PROVIDES A CONSTANT
SUPPLY OF DRINKING WATER.

YOU KNOW,
JUST 'CAUSE YOU'RE COLD AND WET

DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE NOT
GONNA GET DEHYDRATED.

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THE FLUIDS
GOING IN WHENEVER YOU CAN.

[ SLURPS ]

UP HERE, YOU CAN BE PRETTY SURE

THERE ARE NO ANIMALS
TO CONTAMINATE IT.

ABOUT AS PURE
AS YOU'RE EVER GONNA FIND.

OKAY, KEEP GOING.

FOLLOWING THE RIVER MEANS YOUR
FEET ARE CONSTANTLY SOAKED.

PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE DAMP
CAN BRING ON AN INFECTION

SOLDIERS IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR
CALLED TRENCH FOOT.

YOUR FLESH LITERALLY ROTS.

THAT'S THE FIRST TREES
I'VE SEEN IN ICELAND.

AND THAT MEANS
I CAN START A FIRE.

WOOD IS SCARCE HERE.

MUCH OF IT
HAS BEEN RIPPED OUT FOR FUEL

AND TO MAKE WAY FOR GRAZING, A
PROCESS STARTED BY THE VIKINGS.

I'M GONNA GET UP THIS BIT.

THAT LED TO EROSION
OF THE TOPSOIL,

SO VERY LITTLE GREW BACK.

IT'S WORTH MAKING THE MOST
OF WHAT YOU DO FIND.

LOOK. THERE'S A BIT OF A CAVE
OVER THE OTHER SIDE.

SEE THAT?

WANT TO GET ACROSS ON THAT.

FEW BRANCHES ON THE TOP
OF THE GULLY THERE, AS WELL.

LOOK.

FOR PEOPLE CAUGHT
IN SURVIVAL SITUATIONS,

THIS IS OFTEN
WHERE ACCIDENTS HAPPEN --

WHEN BODY AND MIND ARE SLUGGISH

BECAUSE THEY'RE TIRED,
WET, AND COLD.

JUST HOW MUCH OF IT IS LIVING

AND HOW MUCH OF THESE BRANCHES
ARE DEAD?

HOWEVER TIRED YOU ARE,
NEVER CUT CORNERS.

THAT ONE IS DEFINITELY DEAD.

AND LOOK.
IT'S A LONG WAY DOWN.

THIS ONE.
THAT LOOKS PRETTY LIVING.

IT'S GOT BUDS ON THE END,
YOU KNOW?

THIS NEEDS EVERY OUNCE
OF CONCENTRATION

AND A BIT OF LUCK.

OKAY, AND THIS IS A POINT THAT
I DON'T WANT A BRANCH TO BREAK.

OKAY, GOOD. I'M ACROSS.

WATCH OUT ON THIS LEDGE.

OH, HERE.
YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS.

COME ON. CHECK THIS OUT.

IT'S REALLY DEEP IN THIS CAVE.

AND IT'S GOOD,
NATURAL PROTECTION

FROM THE WEATHER IN HERE.

ABOUT THE ONLY DRY THING
I'VE SEEN ALL DAY.

OKAY, LET'S GET SOME FIREWOOD.
COME ON.

NOW, THIS WILL BE GREAT.
IT'S ALL SILVER BIRCH.

YOU GET THE BARK OFF THIS,
LITERALLY JUST PEEL IT OFF.

AND THE GREAT THING
ABOUT BIRCH BARK

IS IT'S GOT SO MANY OILS
PACKED INTO IT,

IT'LL TAKE A SPARK
EVEN WHEN IT'S SOAKING WET.

TRY AND FLUFF
ALL THIS BIRCH BARK UP

AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

AND THEN THAT SHOULD
TAKE A SPARK.

COME ON. TAKE.

THERE WE GO.

SO MANY TIMES
I'VE RELIED ON BIRCH BARK,

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS
FOR GETTING FIRES GOING

WHEN IT'S THIS WET.

AND THAT'S WHY I CAN NOW RELAX.

IT'S AMAZING.

AS SOON AS YOU SEE THAT FLAME,
INSTANTLY FEEL BETTER.

[ GRUNTS ]

NOW TO SORT OUT MY FEET.

IF LEFT UNTREATED, FUNGAL
INFECTIONS LIKE TRENCH FOOT

CAN LEAD TO GANGRENE
AND AMPUTATION.

DRYING THEM OUT IS A PRIORITY.

EVERYTHING'S STARTING TO STEAM.

IT'S A GOOD SIGN.

NOTHING BEATS A GOOD FIRE.

IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE
I'M WARMED THROUGH,

DRIED OFF,
AND GOT A BREW GOING.

LOOK.

HAVING A PEE, I SAW A WORM.

IT WAS COMING TO THE SURFACE.

I RECKON IS THERE'S ONE,
THERE'S GONNA BE MORE.

GONNA FIND A LOAD OF WORMS,
AND THAT IS GONNA BE SUPPER.

OKAY.

THIS WET WEATHER AND PEE

CAN HELP BRING THEM
TO THE SURFACE.

ANOTHER ONE.

THAT'LL DO.

LET'S GET THEM COOKED.

BOIL THOSE UP,

AND THAT WILL GET RID OF ANY
BACTERIA THAT'S INSIDE THEM --

ALWAYS A GOOD THING TO DO.

KIND OF ONE OF THOSE ONES
YOU DON'T KNOW

WHETHER TO HAVE THEM ONE
AT A TIME AND SAVOR THEM

OR TO HAVE THEM
ALL MUNCHED TOGETHER.

I THINK I'M GONNA GO
ONE AT A TIME.

THE ONLY THING GOING FOR THEM
IS THEY'RE WARM AND NUTRITIOUS.

BUT THEY SUCK
WHEN IT COMES TO TASTE.

IT'S ACTUALLY WORTH
JUST ONCE I'VE GOT A FIRE,

DOING A BIT OF PREPARATION
SO IF I NEED A FIRE LATER ON,

IT'S GONNA BE MUCH EASIER.

SO I'VE GOT
SOME GRASSES DRYING OUT.

THAT'S GONNA BE GOOD TINDER.

ONE OF THE THINGS
ICELANDIC PEOPLE USED TO DO

TO HELP THEM WITH FIRE IS MAKE
WHAT'S CALLED A CHAR CLOTH.

AND IT'S BASICALLY
A BIT OF NATURAL MATERIAL

THEY'D REALLY DRY OUT AND COOK
SO NO MOISTURE IN IT AT ALL.

AND THEREFORE
WHEN THEY PUT A SPARK TO IT,

IT WOULD GO INTO A REALLY GOOD,
LONG-LASTING EMBER.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN USE
ANYTHING FOR THAT --

A BIT OF COTTON.

AND ALL YOU NEED TO DO
IS STICK IT IN YOUR CUP.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY EMPTY.

PUT IT OVER THE FIRE.

STICK SOMETHING ON TOP OF IT
TO STARVE IT OF OXYGEN

SO IT DOESN'T BURST INTO FLAMES,

AND THEN JUST LEAVE IT
FOR A BIT.

ABOUT 20 MINUTES SHOULD DO IT.

OKAY. THEN SEE THAT BIT
OF CLOTH IS DARK.

THAT WILL TAKE A SPARK
VERY EASILY.

AND THERE YOU GO.

I'VE GOT A LONG-BURNING EMBER

THAT'S JUST GONNA
KEEP BURNING AWAY.

STICK THAT INTO DRY GRASS,
AND I HAVE FIRE.

NOW LOOK. A BIT OF OXYGEN,
IT'S GOING ON ITS OWN.

KEEP THAT NICE AND DRY
IN AN INSIDE POCKET.

IT MEANS WHEN I NEED IT,
I'VE GOT FIRE.

NOW TO CONSERVE ENERGY
FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD.

OKAY, JUST FOLLOW THIS DOWN.

I DON'T WANT
TO HANG AROUND LONG IN THIS.

SEE THIS GORGE?

THIS IS PRIME
FLASH-FLOOD TERRITORY.

THAT WATER LEVEL,
WHEN IT'S RAINING LIKE THIS,

CAN RISE VERY FAST.

WORK OUR WAY ALONG AND DOWN.
COME ON.

IN THIS NARROW,
STEEP-SIDED GORGE,

IF THERE WERE A FLOOD,
THE RIVER WOULD RISE

BEFORE YOU COULD CLIMB
TO SAFETY OR ANCHOR YOURSELF.

KEEP OUT OF IT
AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

THE WATER'S FLOWING
STRAIGHT OFF A GLACIER.

IT'S BARELY ABOVE FREEZING,

AND IT'S RAPIDLY DRAINING
THE HEAT FROM MY BODY.

DOES IT EVER STOP RAINING
IN THIS COUNTRY?

HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS,

THEY CAN GET OVER 15 FEET
OF SNOW AND RAIN IN A YEAR.

IT'S ALL TAKING THE LINE OF
LEAST RESISTANCE TO THE COAST,

AND FOLLOWING IT
IS A QUICK BUT RISKY OPTION.

WATERFALL.

OKAY, WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO RAPPEL OFF THIS.

TRY AND FIND AN ANCHOR POINT.

I'LL BE ABLE TO USE THIS. LOOK.

SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH ROPE,
I THINK, FOR THIS.

STARTING TO GET
VERY COLD RIGHT NOW.

THE TECHNIQUE IS THE SAME
AS I USED ON THE GLACIER.

PLACE A LOOP OF ROPE
OVER A BOLLARD.

THAT WAY,
ONCE I'M ON THE BOTTOM,

I CAN PULL ON ONE END
TO RETRIEVE IT.

GONNA BE STRONG ENOUGH THERE.

THEN BOTH STRANDS WRAPPED
AROUND MY BODY CREATE FRICTION.

THIS TECHNIQUE WORKS WELL
BUT REQUIRES NERVES OF STEEL.

THE GLACIER RAPPEL I DID
WAS DRY.

BACK THERE, I COULD GET
A GOOD GRIP ON THE ROPE.

HERE, THE FREEZING-COLD WATER

STINGS MY EYES
AND NUMBS MY HANDS.

KEEPING ANY SORT OF GRIP
ON THE LINE IS A NIGHTMARE.

AND SEEING SOLID FOOTHOLDS,
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

AND GET THE ROPE BACK.

IF YOU'RE GONNA
COMMIT YOURSELF LIKE THIS,

YOU NEED TO BE CONFIDENT THAT
YOU CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

THERE'S ONLY JUST ENOUGH
OF IT IN THAT.

GOT A LONG, LONG WAY.

BUT I'M BURNING UP ENERGY

JUST TO KEEP HYPOTHERMIA
AT BAY.

AND THOSE CALORIES
NEED TO BE REPLACED.

THE AVERAGE MAN
BURNS 2,500 CALORIES A DAY.

IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS,
YOU CAN DOUBLE THAT.

THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT

OF FUELING UP
WITH OVER 100 APPLES.

IF YOU'RE PUTTING
NEXT TO NOTHING IN,

YOU'VE GOT TO THINK

ABOUT THE MOST ENERGY-EFFICIENT
WAY OF MAKING PROGRESS.

YOU NEED TO BE
A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL

FOLLOWING RIVERS
LIKE THIS THROUGH GORGES.

YOU'VE GOT TO WEIGH OUT
THE ALTERNATIVES.

OUT THERE IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS,
CRAZY WINDS AND A LOT OF SNOW

ARE GONNA
BURN UP VALUABLE ENERGY.

THE PROBLEM
WITH A CAVE LIKE THIS

IS KNOWING WHETHER THERE'S
A WAY OUT AT THE OTHER END.

AS LONG AS YOU SEE A BIT
OF DAYLIGHT, LET'S FOLLOW THIS.

WELL, I'VE STILL GOT
THAT SHIMMER OF LIGHT.

YOU SEE IT STRAIGHT DOWN THERE.

LET'S GET DOWN TO THAT BIT.

TUNNELS LIKE THIS ARE CARVED
OUT BY GLACIAL MELTWATER.

I'M JUST FOLLOWING
WHERE IT LEADS.

RIVER THERE.

NO, IT'S A DEAD END.

KEEP GOING RIVER RIGHT.

AT THIS POINT, WITH A 30-FOOT
WATERFALL BLOCKING ANY RETREAT,

IT'S ALL ABOUT STEADY NERVES.

PANIC NOW, AND YOU MIGHT
NEVER MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.

IT'S OPENING RIGHT UP OUT THERE.

THAT'S WHAT I LOVE
ABOUT THE WILD.

YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA ENCOUNTER.

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP
THAT PIONEER SPIRIT,

BE PREPARED TO TAKE A FEW RISKS,

BUT ALSO BE ADAPTABLE
IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT.

BUT THIS IS GOOD.

IT'S TAKING ME
RIGHT THROUGH THE ROCK.

RIVERS CAN PRESENT
A REAL THREAT TO THE SURVIVOR.

BUT THEY CAN ALSO
BE YOUR BEST RESOURCE --

A GREAT SOURCE OF WATER
AND FOOD.

THERE ARE TROUT IN THESE RIVERS
ALL YEAR 'ROUND.

IF YOU CAN SPOT ONE UNDER
THE BANKS, THEY CAN BE CAUGHT,

EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE
A ROD AND LINE.

I'M TICKLING TROUT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A BLACK ART.

BUT PEOPLE OFTEN THINK IT IS.

YOU DON'T ACTUALLY
TICKLE THEM AT ALL.

YOU JUST BRING YOUR HAND IN
VERY GENTLY,

AND YOU'RE JUST SLOWLY SHIFTING
THE FISH IN TOWARDS THE BANK.

AND THEN WHEN
YOU GET IN CLOSE ENOUGH,

JUST PUSH THEM AGAINST THE BANK,
HOLD THEM, AND PULL THEM OUT.

AS A TROUT WORKS THE STREAM,
LOOKING FOR FOOD,

IT WILL HIDE
FROM ITS OWN PREDATORS

UNDER OVERHANGING BANKS
LIKE THIS.

AND THEN I GET HIM,
BRING HIM OUT NICE AND SLOWLY.

LOOK.

YOU JUST NEED PATIENCE.

BUT IN A RIVER LIKE THIS,
THAT'S GONNA BE FINE

JUST TO BITE THE HEAD OFF THAT
AND EAT IT RAW.

GET THE GUTS OUT.
GIVE IT A RINSE.

AND THAT'S FINE TO EAT.

THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANTED.

THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT
130 CALORIES IN THIS TROUT,

BUT EVERY LITTLE HELPS.

GOOD. OKAY.

KEEP NIBBLING THAT
ON THE WAY DOWN.

ICELAND IS CONSTANTLY
BEING RESHAPED.

IF IT'S NOT VOLCANOES
AND EARTHQUAKES,

IT'S EROSION AND THE EFFECTS
OF THE WEATHER

THAT KEEPS
TEARING THE EARTH APART.

LOOKS LIKE A HUGE ROCK FALL
OFF THE CANYON

HAS JUST COLLAPSED IN THERE.

AND THE RIVER SEEMS TO BE
RUNNING STRAIGHT UNDER IT.

LOOK.

YEAH,
THAT IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.

PROBLEM IS THE SIDE OF
THE CANYON LOOKING VERY STEEP.

LOOK.

THIS HUGE SCAR SHOWS WHERE
THE LAND JUST COLLAPSED.

THERE'S NO VEGETATION ON IT,

WHICH MEANS THERE'S NOTHING
TO BIND THE SOIL TOGETHER

AND CREATE HANDHOLDS.

THIS IS WHAT I MEAN. LOOK.
TRY GRABBING HOLD OF THAT.

USE IT TO...

...MAKE A COUPLE
OF LITTLE MINI AXES

THAT I CAN JUST
DRIVE INTO SOFT MOSS.

COUPLE OF THOSE IN,
PULL MYSELF UP.

OKAY.

SOMETIMES SURVIVAL
THROWS UP LIMITED OPTIONS.

BUT IF YOU DO
HAVE TO TAKE A RISK,

MAKE SURE YOU DO ALL YOU CAN
TO MINIMIZE THE DANGERS.

JUST USE THESE LIKE ICE AXES.

KICK IN WITH MY TOES,
DRIVING IN MY HANDS.

KEEP WORKING MY WAY
UP AND OUT OF THIS CANYON.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

YOU CAN REALLY LEARN
IN THE WILD.

JUST GIVE YOURSELF
THAT EXTRA 10% MARGIN OF ERROR.

YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW
WHEN SOMETHING YOU GRAB

IS JUST GONNA GIVE WAY,
LIKE ALL OF THIS STUFF.

OKAY, IT'S GOOD!

ABANDONING THE RIVER

MEANS NEEDING A NEW WAY
OF DIRECTION-FINDING.

BUT THAT MIGHT BE
EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

NOT MEANT TO RUN IN THIS STUFF.

THERE'S HIGH GROUND AHEAD.

IT SHOULD OFFER A VANTAGE POINT
TO GET YOUR BEARINGS.

THERE'S NO TERRAIN IN ICELAND
THAT'S EASY.

YOU'RE EITHER
ON GLACIERS OR CANYONS,

OR THIS SHORT BIRCH FOREST
LIKE THIS.

BUT THIS IS ABOUT AS HIGH
AS ANYTHING GROWS

JUST 'CAUSE IT'LL ALL
GET BATTERED BY THE WIND.

RIGHT NOW,
IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS.

THERE'S A BAD SMELL IN THE AIR.

SMELL SOMETHING
AROUND HERE, THOUGH.

DEFINITELY SOMETHING ROTTEN.

NOW, LOOK. CARCASS HERE.

YOU'VE GOT TO EXAMINE
EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR FOOD.

OH, YEAH, THAT'S AN ARCTIC FOX.

PRETTY STINKY, THOUGH.

THESE GUYS WERE ACTUALLY HERE
LONG BEFORE THE VIKINGS.

THE ARCTIC FOX ORIGINALLY CAME
FROM GREENLAND ON DRIFT ICE.

THERE'S A BIT OF BLOOD THERE.

THAT'S THE THING.

YOU GET INJURED OUT HERE,

THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ELEMENTS
ARE GONNA HAVE YOU.

YEAH, THERE'S NOTHING ON THERE
FOR US. COME ON.

NOW THE FINAL PUSH
TO HIGH GROUND.

AND AT LAST, A VIEW.

LOOK. YOU CAN SEE THE TERRAIN
MASSIVELY LEVELS OFF NOW.

HERE ON THE PLAINS,
THE RIVER MEANDERS TO THE SEA.

FOLLOWING EVERY TWIST AND TURN

WOULD TAKE YOU
MILES OUT OF YOUR WAY.

INSTEAD, TAKE A BEARING
ON THE COAST,

AND MOVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

TRYING TO FIND A GOOD POINT
TO GET ACROSS THE RIVER.

THIS WATER IS GONNA BE
FREEZING COLD.

PROBABLY AS GOOD A POINT
AS ANY HERE.

UNDER THE RAPIDS.

BUT YOU CAN GET
SWEPT OFF YOUR FEET

IN AS LITTLE AS JUST
6 INCHES OF WATER.

ONCE I'M STRIPPED OFF,
WE NEED TO MOVE, ALL RIGHT?

WE NEED TO GO FAST FOR THIS.

SO I'M PUTTING MY CLOTHES INTO
MY PACK TO KEEP THEM DRY,

NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.

TIME TO FACE THE MUSIC.

OKAY, LET'S GO.

WANT TO FACE UPSTREAM SO YOU CAN
SEE WHAT'S COMING TOWARDS YOU,

FACE THE FULL FORCE
OF THAT FLOW.

AND SHUFFLE YOUR FEET.

YOU WANT TO AVOID
CROSSING YOUR FEET OVER.

THAT'S WHEN THE FORCE OF THE
WATER HITS YOU AND TRIPS YOU.

WOW, THAT IS COLD.

I'M JUST HOPING IT DOESN'T
GET UP TO THE QUEEN'S BERRIES.

STINGING COLD ON THE LEGS,
THOUGH.

PHEW.

COLD LEGS,
BUT THEY'RE GONNA DRY.

I'VE WARM KIT ON.

IN A FEW MINUTES,
I'LL BE GOOD TO GO AGAIN.

I'M OUT OF THE RIVER
AND FACING A NEW OBSTACLE.

JUST CRAZY, THIS PLACE.

BENEATH THE MOSS

IS A LAVA FIELD FORMED
BY AN ANCIENT ERUPTION,

AND IT PRESENTS
A WHOLE NEW SET OF DANGERS.

JUST VERY, VERY EASY
TO LOSE YOUR BEARINGS ON THIS.

JUST ALL LOOKS THE SAME.

AND YOU NEED TO BE A BIT CAREFUL
WALKING ON THIS.

BUT IF YOU'RE COLD,

AS YOU WOULD BE
AFTER A RIVER CROSSING,

THAT CAN DULL YOUR INSTINCTS
AND MAKE MATTERS WAY WORSE.

YOU NEED TO GET WARM.

OKAY, ACTUALLY, WHAT WE MIGHT
BE ABLE TO DO WITH THIS...

IS USE THIS AS AN INSULATION.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S
BONE-DRY, REALLY LIGHT,

IT'S EXACTLY
HOW A DOWN JACKET WORKS.

LOTS OF LIGHT, NATURAL FIBERS
TRAPS POCKETS OF AIR.

IT'S THAT INSULATED AIR
THAT KEEPS YOU WARM.

AND THIS IS REALLY
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT SURVIVAL.

NOW, YOU DON'T NEED
TO HAVE ALL OF THE GEAR.

YOU JUST NEED THE WILL AND
THE DETERMINATION TO IMPROVISE,

BE A GENIUS,
AND COME UP WITH COOL WAYS

OF USING WHAT NATURE'S
ALREADY GIVEN YOU.

IT MIGHT NOT BE RAINING,
BUT IT IS STILL VERY COLD.

THERE'S A COLD WIND COMING OFF
THE GLACIER IN THE BACKGROUND.

NEAR THE GLACIER ITSELF,
KATABATIC WINDS OCCUR.

THE ICE COOLS THE AIR,

THEN THE DENSER COLD AIR
FLOWS DOWNHILL

UNDER THE FORCE OF GRAVITY.

IT'S AMAZING.
I CAN REALLY FEEL THAT WORKING.

CAN'T DO IT IN MY WAIST BELT,
THOUGH.

LET'S GO.

AND WHEN YOU'RE WARM,
YOU CAN MAKE CLEAR DECISIONS.

IF YOU CAN'T SEE
YOUR DESTINATION --

IN THIS CASE THE COAST --

KEEP YOUR STARTING POINT --
IN THIS CASE THE GLACIER --

DIRECTLY BEHIND YOU.

EVENTUALLY, THE LAVA FIELD
COMES TO AN END.

IN ITS PLACE,
BARE VOLCANIC SAND.

WELL, THAT'S THE SEA.

PRETTY WILD-LOOKING, AS WELL.

AND WE CAN'T GO
ANY FURTHER SOUTH THAN THIS.

THERE'S NO SIGN OF HABITATION.

TOWNS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

SO YOUR FINAL CHOICE
IS WHICH WAY TO GO.

WELL, MOST OF THE POPULATION
OF ICELAND IS IN THE SOUTHWEST.

SO WE NEED TO GO THIS WAY.
COME ON.

AND ONCE YOU'VE MADE
YOUR DECISION,

DON'T DWELL
ON WHETHER IT WAS RIGHT.

LOOK. SOME BIRDS
FEEDING OFF SOMETHING.

IF THERE'S FOOD FOR THEM,
THERE MIGHT BE FOOD FOR ME.

WHATEVER IT IS, LOOKS
BIG ENOUGH FOR ALL OF US.

I SMELL IT FROM HERE.

HUGE ROTTING CARCASS OF A WHALE.

WELL, ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE!

ONCE, A SPERM-WHALE CARCASS
LIKE THIS

WOULD HAVE BEEN A MASSIVE
BOUNTY FOR LOCAL PEOPLE.

IN FACT, THE ICELANDIC WORD,
"HVALREKI,"

MEANS BOTH BEACHED WHALE
AND JACKPOT.

ACTUALLY SEE
IT'S STARTED TO PUTREFY.

KIND OF SUNK INTO THE SAND.

IT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED
LANTERN OIL, BONES FOR TOOLS,

SKIN FOR CLOTHING AND BOAT
HULLS, AS WELL AS FOOD.

CHECK OUT THE SIZE OF THIS TAIL.

GOD.

WE'RE IN THE WORST PLACE HERE,
DOWNWIND OF IT.

JUST THE STENCH.

LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

NOW, NO WONDER I'M THE ONLY
PERSON AROUND HERE.

THE LIKELIHOOD OF ANYONE
FINDING YOU IS PRETTY REMOTE.

FACED WITH OVER 3,000 MILES
OF COASTLINE,

YOU JUST HAVE TO TRUST

YOUR INSTINCTS HAVE TAKEN YOU
THE RIGHT WAY.

BUT YOU SHOULD BE READY
TO SEIZE ANY OPPORTUNITY.

SEE THAT?

THAT'S A PLANE WRECK.

THIS PLANE WRECK
WILL BE A GODSEND --

A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN
GET IN OUT OF THE WIND

AND LIGHT A FIRE,

BOTH FOR WARMTH AND AS A SIGNAL
THAT OTHERS MIGHT SEE

LONG BEFORE YOU SEE THEM.

FORWARD PLANNING
CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE.

THERE'S NOTHING HERE
TO TAKE A SPARK,

BUT I DID MAKE THAT CHAR CLOTH
JUST FOR A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

TUCK THIS OUT OF THE WIND.

AND HOPEFULLY THIS SHOULD
GO WITH A SPARK.

NOW FOR THE TINDER, THE DRIED
GRASS I COLLECTED AT THE CAVE.

OKAY.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ] OKAY.

A FIRE LIKE THIS
MIGHT ATTRACT PEOPLE TO YOU.

BUT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS
KEEP AN EYE OUT

AND BE READY
TO GIVE A CLEAR SIGNAL

IF YOU SEE SIGNS OF LIFE.

THERE'S THE LAST
OF THE SETTING SUN OVER ICELAND.

AT LEAST I CONFIRMED
GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION --

WEST.

[ SIGHS ]

CRAZY DAY.

SO NICE TO HAVE SHELTER
FROM THAT WIND.

[ FIRE POPPING ]

I'M DEFINITELY NOT GONNA BE
LEAVING ICELAND WITH A SUNTAN.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

AS THE SUN SETS, MY FIRE WILL
BECOME MORE AND MORE VISIBLE

TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

GET THIS FIRE STOKED UP.

AND THE GATHERING DARKNESS
REVEALS A WELCOME SIGHT.

SUDDENLY, I CAN SEE
THE BEAM OF A LIGHTHOUSE.

CIVILIZATION IS RIGHT THERE
ON THE HORIZON.

WHOO!

ICELAND'S LETHAL COCKTAIL OF
VOLCANIC HEAT AND GLACIAL COLD

HAS TESTED ME.

ITS TERRAIN
HAS BEEN UNFORGIVING,

THE WEATHER UNRELENTING,

AND THE STARK ENVIRONMENT
HAS PRESENTED LITTLE FOOD.

BUT BY STICKING TO
THE MOST BASIC OF TECHNIQUES,

I'VE SHOWN YOU IT IS POSSIBLE
TO SURVIVE HERE.