Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 7, Episode 4 - Red Rock Country - 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 WILDS
OF SOUTHERN UTAH,
WHERE I'LL BE TACKLING
TREACHEROUS CANYONS...
...CLIMBING DOWN
DIZZYING ROCK FEATURES...
IT'S GETTING
A LITTLE TRICKY HERE!
...AND PURSUING
THE FASTEST OF PREY.
THIS IS GONNA BE
ONE CRAZY RED ROCK RIDE.
Man: COPY THAT. WE'RE PROBABLY
ABOUT A MINUTE OUT.
RIGHT SIDE LOOKS GOOD.
THIS IS SOUTHERN UTAH,
KNOWN AS RED ROCK COUNTRY,
AFTER THE EPIC LANDSCAPE
OF THE COLORADO PLATEAU.
WITH AN AVERAGE ELEVATION
OF OVER 6,000 FEET,
IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST STATES
IN THE U.S.
IT'S ON THE WIRE.
Man:
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
SOUTHERN UTAH'S TOUGH TERRAIN --
ENDLESS SLOT CANYONS,
HARD-ROCK PINNACLES,
AND HUNDREDS OF SQUARE MILES
OF ARID DESERT.
IT'S HIGH, DRY, AND HOSTILE.
ADVISE ON OUR ALTITUDE.
UP HERE, MOUNTAIN LIONS
AND BLACK BEARS ROAM,
AND LOWER DOWN,
DEADLY RATTLERS,
LIKE THE MOJAVE GREEN,
ONE OF THE MOST
VENOMOUS SNAKES IN THE U.S.
THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THE LAST
GREAT U.S. WILDERNESSES
TO BE EXPLORED AND MAPPED.
IT WAS BANDIT COUNTRY
AND A HIDING PLACE FOR THE LIKES
OF BUTCH CASSIDY
AND THE SUNDANCE KID.
IT WAS THE WILD WEST
AT ITS WILDEST.
HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THESE CONDITIONS --
WE CAN'T GO WITH PLAN "A."
MY PLAN WAS TO PARACHUTE IN,
BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM --
A POWERFUL CROSSWIND
THAT COULD BLOW ME OFF COURSE
AND ONTO HARD ROCK.
BUT I'VE COME UP
WITH A PLAN "B."
STANDBY FOR FURTHER
INSTRUCTIONS.
I'M GONNA TRY SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.
THIS IS GONNA REQUIRE PINPOINT
ACCURACY FROM THE PILOT
AND SPLIT-SECOND TIMING FROM ME
TO GET IT RIGHT.
OKAY, LET'S DO IT, GUYS.
LET'S GIVE IT A GO.
OKAY.
WE'VE LOCATED A STRETCH
OF LEVEL GROUND.
WE'RE GOING IN.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT --
LET'S CHECK IT OUT
AND THEN TAKE IT AROUND.
ALL RIGHT.
THE PILOT WILL BRING
THE PLANE DOWN
AS LOW AND SLOW AS IT WILL GO,
AND THEN I'M GONNA
LOWER MYSELF OUT.
THE PLANE ISN'T GONNA STOP.
AS SOON AS I'M CONFIDENT,
I'M GONNA GO FOR IT,
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE --
THIS IS DANGEROUS.
I'M AT THE MERCY
OF THE FURIOUS PROP WASH
FROM THE PLANE'S ENGINES
AND TERRIFYINGLY CLOSE
TO THE THUNDERING REAR WHEEL.
BUT I'M DOWN AND IN ONE PIECE.
SMOKING TROUSERS!
OH, FAIR TO SAY THAT I'VE GOT
ONE RED-HOT BACKSIDE!
JUST GOT COMPLETELY SHREDDED.
OKAY, LET'S GET GOING.
I'VE LANDED HIGH ON
THE MIGHTY COLORADO PLATEAU,
WHICH COVERS LARGE PARTS
OF UTAH, ARIZONA,
COLORADO, AND NEW MEXICO.
TO THE SOUTH
LIES THE GRAND CANYON
AND, IN BETWEEN, SOME OF THE
WILDEST TERRAIN IN THE U.S.
WOW, WHAT A VISTA.
IT'S A LONG WAY DOWN THERE.
IT'S JUST A CRAZY LANDSCAPE.
WHAT YOU GET IS THIS MIX
OF HARD AND SOFT ROCK,
AND IT CREATES ALL THESE
TOTEM-POLE-LIKE PINNACLES.
THESE ROCK HOODOOS
CAN BE 10 STORIES HIGH
AND DANGEROUSLY UNSTABLE.
SEE THAT SLOPE OVER THERE
WITH ALL THE SNOW ON IT?
PROBABLY GONNA BE NORTH-FACING,
SEES THE LEAST SUN,
WHICH MEANS NORTH
IS GONNA BE OVER HERE.
I'VE GOT MY BEARINGS,
AND NOW I'M HEADING SOUTH
TO LOSE ALTITUDE.
UP HERE IS COLD WITH LOW OXYGEN
AND LOW HUMIDITY.
THIS CAN QUICKLY LEAD
TO FATIGUE, THIRST,
AND, AT NIGHT, HYPOTHERMIA.
THAT'S NOT OUR WAY.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
OKAY, THIS IS A BIT MORE
PRECARIOUS THAN I THOUGHT.
IT'S TIGHTLY PACKED.
I'M GONNA GET SOMETHING
JUST TO HELP ME GO DOWN THIS.
EVEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS
CAN HELP YOU --
JUST GIVES YOU SOME LEVERAGE
TO PUSH YOUR BODY OUT
FROM THE SLOPE.
TEMPTATION IS -- WHEN IT GETS
STEEP AND YOU GET SCARED,
YOU TUCK IN,
AND THAT'S WHEN YOUR FEET
DROP OUT FROM UNDER YOU.
YOU WANT TO BE OUT
FROM THE SLOPE,
PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON IT,
AND DESCEND LIKE THIS.
IT'S JUST AN ALPINE TECHNIQUE
THEY USE ON STEEP SNOW AND ICE.
TO BE HONEST,
THIS IS PRETTY SIMILAR.
OKAY, COME ON.
THIS TECHNIQUE
REQUIRES CONFIDENCE
AND A LITTLE PRACTICE,
BUT ULTIMATELY,
IT'S EFFICIENT AND FAST.
YEAH, IT'S MUCH BETTER
ON THE RIDGES HERE.
IT'S SOFTER.
DOWN IN THE GULLIES,
THAT'S ALL REALLY COMPACTED.
LET'S GET GOING DOWN THIS.
AT THIS SPEED,
I'M SOON DOWN TO THE NEXT
SECTION OF THE DESCENT.
NOW THERE'S LOOSE SCREE
UNDERFOOT.
KEEP ZIGZAGGING ACROSS THIS.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE BRINGING
A WHOLE LOT OF ROCKS
ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.
FOLLOW MY LINE.
AN ANGLED DESCENT
REDUCES THE CHANCE OF INJURY
FROM DISLODGED ROCKS.
LOOK -- THAT'S THE LAST
OF THESE SPIRES,
AND THEN WE'RE OUT OF THEM.
GET DOWN TO THE TREES.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA FIND
FOOD AND WATER.
PINE FOREST LIKE THIS
IS CLASSIC BEAR TERRITORY.
I'VE GOT TO PROCEED
WITH CAUTION.
BUT IT'S ALSO A RICH
HUNTING GROUND,
A PLACE FULL OF RESOURCES
WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED
TO SURVIVE.
LITTLE BITS OF PINE RESIN.
SHOULD BE MORE.
YEAH, LOOK -- THERE'S MORE
UP HIGHER THERE.
IF THE BRANCHES ARE BROKEN OFF,
THEN THE TREE WILL OOZE
THAT RESIN.
TRY AND GET UP TO THAT.
IN WINTER, THIS AREA CAN SEE
UP TO 15 FEET OF SNOW,
LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE
TO THE LOWER BRANCHES
OF THESE PINES.
TAKE A BIT OF THAT,
AND THAT'S GONNA HELP
WITH FIRE-LIGHTING.
THERE'S LOADS OF OTHER THINGS
YOU CAN USE PINE RESIN FOR.
IT ACTS AS A GLUE,
EVEN TO SEAL WOUNDS.
OKAY, THAT'LL DO.
LET'S KEEP GOING.
LOWER DOWN,
THE PINE FOREST GIVES WAY
TO PARCHED-EARTH TERRITORY
AND, WITH IT,
ITS OWN ANIMAL DANGERS.
THERE ARE MOUNTAIN LIONS
IN THIS AREA,
AND ONE OF THE DANGERS
OF THEM --
THEY'RE VERY BRIGHT,
BUT THEY'RE ALSO
OPPORTUNISTIC HUNTERS.
MOUNTAIN LIONS, OR COUGARS,
ARE STALK-AND-AMBUSH PREDATORS.
ALMOST INVARIABLY,
WHENEVER THERE HAVE BEEN ATTACKS
ON HUMANS,
THE LIONS APPROACH FROM BEHIND
AND COMPLETELY
WITHOUT WARNING,
HAVING TRACKED THEM.
EVEN THIS SORT OF TERRAIN
IS CLASSIC
FOR MOUNTAIN-LION ATTACK,
WHERE THEY CAN DROP DOWN,
USE THAT BODY WEIGHT TO PIN YOU,
GO FOR YOUR THROAT.
AND GOOD LITTLE TIP --
IF YOU'VE GOT DARK GLASSES ON,
STICK THEM ON THE BACK
OF YOUR HEAD,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEN
YOU'VE GOT EYES
IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD,
AND THAT'S GONNA HELP
DETER THEM.
BUT YOUR MOST IMMEDIATE
PROBLEM HERE
IS A LACK OF COLLECTIBLE WATER.
YEAH, IT'S ALL BONE-DRY, THIS.
LOOK AT IT.
IT'S A MIX OF CLAY AND SAND
THAT'S BEEN MADE WET BY THE RAIN
AND THEN DRIED OUT,
EXPANDED, AND JUST CRACKED.
BUT IF WE'RE GONNA FIND WATER,
IT'S GONNA BE DOWN.
THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE,
AND THIS DRY SHALE
MAKES FOR A SPEEDY DESCENT.
BUT ON TERRAIN LIKE THIS,
THERE'S A DANGER OF PICKING UP
JUST TOO MUCH SPEED.
AAH!
WHOA!
[ GRUNTS ]
I'M IN SOUTHERN UTAH,
SUSPENDED 100 FEET ABOVE
A NARROW ROCK CANYON.
GOT MY FOOT ON HERE.
LITTLE HELP.
WHOO!
OH, I HATE THAT FEELING.
MAN ALIVE.
OKAY, LET ME COME BACK HERE.
THAT'S THE DANGER OF LOOSE SAND
ON HARD ROCK.
LET'S FIND A WAY DOWN.
I SPOTTED A STREAM
IN THE CANYON BELOW.
NOW I'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY
DOWN TO COLLECT WATER.
NOW, THAT'S ALL
JUST SHEER DOWN THERE.
MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK OUR WAY
DOWN THIS BIT.
IT IS QUITE COMMITTING, THOUGH.
IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE BOTTOM,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S ALL LOOSE
LIKE THIS.
AT FIRST,
THINGS DON'T LOOK PROMISING.
THAT REALLY IS A FUNNEL OF DOOM
DOWN THERE.
LOOK.
THE ROCK IS BRITTLE
AND TREACHEROUS UNDERFOOT,
WHICH MEANS
THERE'S A REAL DANGER
OF SLIPPING
CLEAN OFF THIS FACE.
WHOA.
IT'S AN AWKWARD LITTLE BIT
TO GET AROUND.
JUST OUT OF COMFORTABLE REACH.
BAD CONSEQUENCES
OF FALLING HERE, AS WELL.
IT'S NOW OR NEVER.
HERE IT GOES.
ONE STEP CLOSER,
AND THIS LEDGE IS EXPOSED,
LYING 100 FEET
ABOVE THE CANYON FLOOR.
LOOK AT MY FEET
AND DON'T LOOK DOWN.
SO I'M ACTUALLY CLIMBING DOWN.
DON'T HAVE TO RUSH IT.
TAKE YOUR TIME,
BE CONFIDENT WITH EACH STEP.
AND FINALLY,
SOME REWARD FOR MY EFFORTS.
CAN SHIMMY DOWN
BEHIND THIS SLATE.
THERE'S A WHOLE GAP DOWN HERE.
BUT THIS DESCENT
HAS STILL GOT A WAY TO GO.
THIS ROCK RAMP
LIES AT 45 DEGREES,
AND IT'S COVERED IN DUST,
MAKING IT AS SLIPPERY AS ICE.
[ COUGHS ]
CHIPPING AWAY DOWN THERE.
I'VE GOT TO PUSH AGAINST
THE ROCK WITH ALL MY FORCE
TO GET ANY SORT OF TRACTION.
JAM A FOOT ON EACH WALL
AND JUST PUSH
LIKE OPPOSING FORCES.
JUST SLOWLY WEDGE MY WAY DOWN.
I'M ALMOST DOING A SPLIT.
I'M MAKING PROGRESS,
BUT THIS ROCK FACE
DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER.
PRETTY VERTICAL, THIS NEXT BIT.
ONE FOOT WEDGED IN HERE,
HAND WEDGED IN THE CRACK,
AND JUST SLOWLY
EDGE MY WAY DOWN THIS.
JUST A FEW MORE FEET
AND ONE LAST HANDHOLD,
AND I'M DOWN.
WHOO! OKAY, DOWN.
[ SIGHS ]
NOW TO COLLECT WHAT I CAME FOR.
OH, MAN. A LOT OF THIS WATER
IS REALLY SILTY.
LOOK AT THE COLOR OF THAT.
TRY AND DRINK THAT STRAIGHT OFF.
THAT SILT AND SEDIMENT
CAN EASILY MAKE YOU SICK,
AND THAT'S JUST GONNA
DEHYDRATE YOU FURTHER.
A SIMPLE WAY OF GETTING RID
OF THE SEDIMENT
IS JUST TO FILTER IT.
CAN USE ANYTHING FOR THAT --
A T-SHIRT, HAT.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT THAT,
EVEN YOUR SOCK.
[ GRUNTS ]
ANY WATER-PERMEABLE FABRIC
WILL ACT LIKE A SIEVE
BY REMOVING PARTICLES
FROM THE LIQUID.
BUT IDEALLY,
EVEN FILTERED WATER
SHOULD BE BOILED
BEFORE DRINKING.
THAT'S COMING OUT
NICE AND CLEAR NOW.
PROBABLY NOT GONNA MAKE IT
SMELL VERY NICE, THOUGH.
OKAY, SOCK ON, AND THEN
WE'RE ON OUR WAY AGAIN.
I'M FOLLOWING
THE WATER DOWNSTREAM
TO LOSE ALTITUDE AND HOPEFULLY
FIND A LARGER WATERCOURSE.
I'VE NOT ONLY GOT WATER
DOWN HERE,
I'VE ALSO GOT SOME SHADE,
WHICH IS NICE.
OUT OF THAT BEATING SUN.
AND IT'S ALSO PRETTY EASYGOING.
MAKE SOME GOOD PROGRESS.
BUT NARROW WATER-CARVED
CANYONS LIKE THIS
HOLD POTENTIAL DANGERS, TOO.
FLASH FLOODS CAUSED
BY RAINFALL UPSTREAM
CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME
AND WITHOUT WARNING.
AND THERE WERE 12 TOURISTS
WHO WERE CAUGHT IN A FLASH FLOOD
IN ONE OF THESE SLOT CANYONS
IN SOUTHERN UTAH.
AND IT HADN'T EVEN BEEN RAINING,
AND THEY WERE DOWN IN THERE.
AND THE FIRST THING THEY KNEW,
THEY JUST GOT HIT BY THIS WALL
OF BROWN WATER
FULL OF BOULDERS AND LOGS.
AND 11 OF THE 12 WERE KILLED.
THE LESSON IS --
NEVER GET COMPLACENT.
JUST 'CAUSE YOU HAVEN'T
SEEN RAIN
DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T BE HIT
BY FLASH FLOOD.
RAIN UPSTREAM WILL FLOW
STRAIGHT DOWN THROUGH HERE,
AND THAT'S A CONCERN.
THE CANYON IS NARROWING,
AND THE WALLS
ARE GETTING STEEPER.
NOW, THIS IS THE SORT OF PLACE
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT
IN A FLASH FLOOD.
YOU TRULY HAVE NO
ESCAPE ROUTE UP THESE.
KEEP MOVING A BIT FASTER.
GOING DOWNSTREAM ISN'T WORKING.
THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS WAYS OUT,
AND THE CANYON'S
GETTING DEEPER.
SO I'M CHANGING DIRECTION
AND HEADING UP
A SMALL SIDE CANYON.
NOW I'M BATTLING GRAVITY
AND THE FLOW OF WATER,
AND IT'S CONSIDERABLY
HARDER WORK.
THERE'S NO WAY
I'M GONNA GET UP THIS BIT.
KEEP MOVING UP.
BUT I'M GAINING HEIGHT,
AND THE CANYON WALLS
ARE GETTING LOWER.
THIS IS A POSSIBLE WAY OUT.
JUST A BIT AWKWARD AROUND THERE.
THIS WET ROCK
IS SUPER-SLIPPERY,
AND THERE ARE NO GOOD HOLDS.
AND SO YOU USE YOUR KNEES
TO SPLIT THEM
AND USE THAT TO PRY YOUR WAY UP.
AND FINALLY,
I'M OUT OF THAT HOLE.
THAT'S THE EXIT TO THE CANYONS.
SAFE TO SAY WE FOUND WATER.
NOW I'M MOVING THROUGH MIXED
FOREST AND HIGH CHAPARRAL.
LOOK -- THERE'S
A LITTLE PLANTAIN.
SEE THIS GUY?
THE PLANTAGO HERB HAS
ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES.
THIS STUFF BECAME KNOWN
BY NATIVE AMERICANS
AS "WHITE MAN'S FOOTPRINTS,"
'CAUSE IT GROWS IN THIS
COMPACTED, SUN-BAKED GROUND,
AND THEY'D OFTEN FIND IT
IN THE TRAIL
WHERE THE WAGONS WOULD LEAVE
AS THE PIONEERS HEADED WEST.
BUT GOOD PLANT TO TAKE WITH YOU.
MORE THAN 60,000
MORMON PIONEERS
MADE THE ARDUOUS JOURNEY
WEST TO UTAH
IN THE MID-19th CENTURY.
THE REMAINS OF AN OLD CABIN.
SOME FOUNDED LARGE SETTLEMENTS.
OTHERS CARVED OUT
SOLITARY HOMESTEADS
IN UTAH'S VAST WILDERNESS.
WOW, CHECK THIS OUT
THROUGH HERE. LOOK.
PROBABLY AN OLD PIONEER'S HUT.
BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
ANYONE'S LIVED HERE
FOR A LONG TIME.
THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO
MAKING THIS.
AND IT'S ALL DONE
WITH HAND-TOOLS.
YOU CAN TELL. LOOK.
SEE THE AX?
CHIPPING MARKS.
YOU COME ACROSS A PLACE
LIKE THIS,
THERE'S SO MUCH HERE
FOR THE SURVIVOR.
EVEN AN OLD BIT OF BARBED WIRE
LIKE THAT.
MASS OF THINGS
YOU CAN USE THAT FOR.
WITH A BIT OF WORK,
THIS WILL MAKE
A GOOD OVERNIGHT SHELTER.
BUT BEFORE THAT,
THERE'S FOOD TO CONSIDER.
THIS CABIN WOULD HAVE BEEN
BUILT NEAR A WATER SOURCE,
A PRIORITY FOR ANY SETTLER.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE
A GOOD PLACE
TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING TO EAT.
GOOD LITTLE LAKE HERE.
AND THIS IS GONNA BE PERFECT
FOR A BIT OF FISHING.
PROBABLY SPRING-FED.
MORE THAN LIKELY
GONNA HAVE FISH IN THIS.
TROUT, BASS, AND BLUEGILL
ARE NATIVE TO THIS AREA.
ACTUALLY, LOOK -- THERE'S LOTS
OF WILLOW ALL ALONG HERE,
WHICH GIVES ME AN IDEA OF HOW
TO MAKE A SIMPLE FISH TRAP
THAT I CAN LEAVE SO I DON'T HAVE
TO SIT FISHING MYSELF FOR HOURS.
OKAY, LET'S USE THIS.
WILLOW IS GREAT FOR FISHING.
IT'S LONG AND VERY FLEXIBLE,
BENDY, LIKE A FISHING ROD.
AND WILLOWS ARE GENERALLY FOUND
GROWING CLOSE TO WATER.
NOW, THAT'S GONNA MAKE A REALLY
SIMPLE TRIGGER MECHANISM...
FOR THE FISHING ROD
SO I CAN LEAVE IT.
IT'S GONNA BE UNDER TENSION
UNTIL ANYTHING TAKES THE BAIT.
THE TRIGGER REQUIRES
TWO SHORT WOODEN ARMS
WITH NOTCHES CARVED INTO THEM.
IT'S FIDDLY WORK
AND NEEDS PATIENCE.
AND THAT NOTCH, THE TRIGGER,
FITS IN LIKE THAT.
IT CAN GO UNDER TENSION
UNTIL ANYTHING RELEASES IT.
FOR FISHING LINE,
I CAN USE THE INNER STRAND
FROM MY PARACORD,
SOMETHING I ALWAYS
CARRY WITH ME.
IT'LL PULL OUT NICE AND EASY,
AND THAT MAKES
PERFECT FISHING LINE.
AND THEN FOR THE HOOK,
I'VE GOT THIS LITTLE BIT
OF BARBED WIRE.
I FOUND THAT BY THE CABIN.
AND THAT'LL DO THE JOB NICELY.
AND NOW FOR THE DELICATE PART
OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
THAT FITS UNDER THERE.
AND THAT'S THEN UNDER TENSION.
I'VE ATTACHED A FISHING WIRE
TO THAT END, CAST IT OUT.
ANYTHING CATCHES IT,
DISLODGES THIS.
AND THAT THEN PULLS THE HOOK
INTO THE FISH'S MOUTH,
AND IT'S CAUGHT.
GONNA FIND SOME BAIT,
AND THEN WE'LL SET THAT
AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
LAKE AND RIVERBANKS
ARE OFTEN TEEMING WITH LIFE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HAD TO GET TO HIS HEAD QUICKLY.
OTHERWISE,
THEY END UP BITING YOU.
BUT A LITTLE GARTER SNAKE
JUST SWIMMING
THROUGH THE WATER THERE.
JUST SPOTTED HIM.
SO THERE'S SNAKE IN HERE.
THERE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE
FISH, AS WELL.
BUT THAT IS GONNA BE
AT LEAST SOME DINNER.
THE SNAKE GUTS
MAKE PERFECT FISHING BAIT.
THE LINE'S SET.
NOW TO HEAD BACK TO BASE
AND SORT UP BEDDING
FOR THE NIGHT AHEAD.
REALLY, I WANT TO MAKE MYSELF
SOME SORT OF BED
THAT'S OFF THE GROUND.
ONE OF THE DANGERS OF ALL CABINS
LIKE THIS --
IT'S GONNA BE A MAGNET
FOR SNAKES,
ESPECIALLY UNDER ALL
OF THESE FLOORBOARDS.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR THE SAME THING AS ME --
WARMTH AND SHELTER.
AND WITH A COUPLE OF THESE,
I CAN GET MYSELF OFF THE GROUND.
THE FLOORBOARDS WILL MAKE
FOR A SOLID,
IF NONE-TOO-COMFORTABLE,
BED PLATFORM.
THAT'S GONNA BE
WIDE ENOUGH THERE.
YOU CAN JAM ONE END
INTO THE WALL,
AND I FOUND JUST THE THING
TO SUSPEND THE OTHER.
ACTUALLY,
THAT'S GOT A NOOSE ON THE END.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A LASSO, THAT.
EVEN WITH THE RESOURCES
CLOSE AT HAND,
THIS IS STILL A TRICKY BUILD.
ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU NEED
MORE THAN TWO HANDS.
LET'S GET THAT IN.
BUT THIS IS A QUICKLY ASSEMBLY.
A LITTLE CRUDE, PERHAPS,
BUT EFFECTIVE.
OKAY, SO THAT'S A GOOD
BED PLATFORM OFF THE GROUND.
MAYBE FILL IN SOME
OF THESE GAPS, AS WELL,
KEEP ANY RAINWATER OFF ME.
ANOTHER HITCH IN THAT TO MAKE
SURE THIS BED DOESN'T COLLAPSE.
AND WITH BED
AND SHELTER SORTED,
IT'S BACK TO THE FISH TRAP
I SET TWO HOURS AGO.
IT HAS TRIGGERED.
WITH A LINE THAT'S QUITE SLACK,
IT MIGHT JUST HAVE BEEN
THE WIND.
WE CAN RESET IT,
GIVE IT ANOTHER GO.
OH, HANG ON.
OH, NO, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING.
I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SLACK
IN THE WIND,
BUT ACTUALLY, IT WAS CAUGHT
AROUND ALL THOSE REEDS.
AND THAT'S A LITTLE BASS FISH.
AND THAT'S A GREAT CATCH.
THAT MEANS I'VE GOT A SNAKE
AND SOME FISH.
SO TONIGHT, I EAT.
BUT FIRST, I NEED FIRE.
AND THEN WE'LL USE
THIS OLD TROUGH AS A FIREBASE
BUT ALSO AS A BIT
OF A WIND GUARD.
BREAK UP SOME OF THIS PINE RESIN
INTO THIS TINDER BUNDLE.
THE WOOD IS DRY AND QUICKLY
TAKES A SPARK.
THERE WE GO.
YOU WANT TO SMOTHER IT.
NICE, DRY BRUSH ON TOP OF IT.
LET IT BUILD UP THOSE THREE
ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS
OF A FIRE --
OXYGEN, HEAT, AND FUEL.
[ BLOWS ]
WE CAN JUST PUT
AS A FRYING PAN ON THERE.
WHILE THE FOOD IS COOKING,
A CHANCE TO PUT THE FINAL
TOUCHES TO MY CAMP.
GET A LOAD OF THIS STUFF
AS BEDDING.
THESE GRASSES WILL PROVIDE
WARMTH AND A DEGREE OF COMFORT.
JUST GONNA GIVE ME A COUPLE
OF INCHES OF INSULATION
TO SLEEP ON.
THAT WILL DO.
OKAY, THESE ARE GONNA
BE DONE NOW.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE
GETTING IT OFF, THOUGH.
A ROASTING-HOT PAN
AND NICELY COOKED FISH.
AND THAT JUST LOOKS INCREDIBLE.
GOOD NUTRITION, GOOD PROTEIN,
LOTS OF GOOD FATS AND MINERALS
AND VITAMINS IN THAT.
REALLY GOOD-SIZE MEAL, THIS.
I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE THERE
TO CATCH IT.
FRESH FOOD
AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS --
THERE'S SIMPLY NOTHING BETTER.
YOU CAN SEE WHY SOMEBODY
A LONG TIME AGO
DECIDED TO STAY HERE
AND TRY TO MAKE A LIFE
IN THIS INCREDIBLE LANDSCAPE.
IN THE WILD WEST DAYS,
SOUTHERN UTAH --
A LOT OF IT WAS BANDIT COUNTRY,
WHICH MEANT OUTLAWS WOULD USE
THESE SORT OF PLACES
TO HIDE AWAY FOR MONTHS,
SOMETIMES EVEN YEARS.
BUT TO DO THAT,
THEY NEEDED INCREDIBLE SKILLS
TO BE ABLE TO LIVE OFF THE LAND.
BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM
AND THE SURVIVOR
IS THAT THEIR GOAL
IS TO STAY HIDDEN.
THE SURVIVOR'S GOAL IS TO STAY
ALIVE LONG ENOUGH TO BE FOUND.
I'VE JUST SPENT A NIGHT
IN THE WILDS OF SOUTHERN UTAH.
BREAKFAST IS A SMALL GARTER
SNAKE I CAUGHT AT THE LAKE.
IT'S A GOOD WAY OF COOKING HIM.
REALLY KILLS ANY BACTERIA.
IT'S BEEN BUBBLING AWAY
FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES.
THAT'S GOOD TO EAT NOW.
BUT SNAKE IS AN ACQUIRED TASTE
AT THE BEST OF TIMES.
SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT SNAKE
TASTES LIKE CHICKEN.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT SORT
OF CHICKEN THEY'RE EATING.
IT'S BONY, SINEWY,
AND NOT VERY LIKE CHICKEN.
TIME TO GET MOVING.
AN ISOLATED CABIN IS ONE THING,
BUT MOST OF THE POPULATION
IN THIS REGION
LIVE AT LOWER ALTITUDES,
SO THE BEST CHANCE OF FINDING
PEOPLE IS TO HEAD DOWN.
BUT THAT'S EASIER SAID THAN
DONE IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.
CAREFUL ON THIS EDGE.
ALL OF THIS IS HORRIBLE.
IT BREAKS UP.
I WANT TO FIND A WAY
OFF THIS HIGH, WINDY RIDGE,
BUT I'VE ONLY GOT THE LASSO
ROPE I FOUND AT THE CABIN.
THERE'S A LITTLE LEDGE
DOWN HERE.
SEE THAT?
ABOUT 40 FOOT DOWN.
I'VE PROBABLY GOT
ENOUGH ROPE, ACTUALLY,
TO REACH THAT LEDGE
WITH THE LASSO.
OTHERWISE, IT'S GONNA BE
PROBABLY ABOUT 150 FOOT
TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS,
WHICH I DEFINITELY
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR.
SO I CAN RETRIEVE MY LASSO
ROPE FROM THE BOTTOM,
A BIT OF SIMPLE INGENUITY.
SHORT LITTLE BIT OF WOOD
LIKE THAT.
AROUND THE NOOSE OF THE LASSO.
AND AS LONG AS THERE'S TENSION
ON THE ROPE RUNNING DOWN...
THAT'S GONNA STAY THERE.
TIME TO PUT THIS TO THE TEST.
HERE'S THE AWKWARD BIT.
IT'S A VERY EXPOSED PART
AND A VERY LONG WAY DOWN.
FIRST, THERE'S A DIFFICULT
OVERHANG TO NEGOTIATE.
AND THIS MAKES GETTING
INTO POSITION VERY AWKWARD.
GONNA NEED MY RIGHT HAND
TO HOLD ON TO THE ROCK
AND THE LEFT HAND ON THIS ROPE.
MAYBE JUST WRAP MY LEG...
A COUPLE OF TIMES AROUND THAT.
JUST GONNA GIVE IT
THAT BIT MORE FRICTION.
I'M STARTING TO MAKE
SOME PROGRESS,
BUT THIS IS A CHALLENGE
IN DESCENT.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
THERE'S A POWERFUL CROSSWIND.
IT'S GETTING
A LITTLE TRICKY HERE,
JUST 'CAUSE IT'S STEEPER!
YOU DON'T WANT TO EVEN
CONTEMPLATE A FALL HERE.
I'M ALMOST THERE, BUT THERE'S
ONE FINAL CHALLENGE --
MY ROPE'S RUNNING OUT.
AND IT REACHES -- JUST.
I'M ON THE LEDGE.
JUST NEED TO GET
THIS LASSO BACK,
TRY AND FLICK THIS THING
SO IT POPS UP.
THE ROPE IS JAMMED.
BUT WITH A FINAL WHIPCRACK,
IT'S AWAY.
[ GRUNTS ]
THAT WORKED NICELY.
BUT I ONLY JUST REACHED.
SHOULD BE ABLE
TO SHUFFLE ALONG THIS NOW.
OFF THE ROPE,
THIS LEDGE FEELS SO PRECARIOUS,
AND IT'S OVER 100 FEET
TO THE BOTTOM.
THIS BRITTLE LAYERED ROCK FACE
IS STILL STEEP
AND REQUIRES GREAT CAUTION.
GONNA KEEP REALLY LOW
CENTER OF GRAVITY,
USE ALL OF YOUR PALMS
OF YOUR HAND,
SOLES OF YOUR FEET AS GRIP.
THIS TECHNIQUE IS ALL ABOUT
KEEPING THE MAXIMUM POINTS OF
CONTACT FOR MAXIMUM FRICTION.
IT DOESN'T LOOK ELEGANT,
BUT IT CAN GUARANTEE
A SAFE DESCENT,
AND IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS,
THAT'S ALL THAT COUNTS.
IT'S A GOOD CLIMB DOWN --
COMMITTING BUT GOOD.
NOW THE HARD ROCK GIVES WAY
TO SOFT SAND.
THIS IS MUCH EASIER GOING,
AND I CAN MAKE
SOME FAST PROGRESS.
TEMPERATURES IN
THIS HIGH-ALTITUDE DESERT
CAN BREAK 100 DEGREES.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S COOLER,
BUT IN THIS TERRITORY,
WATER IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE,
AND A FEW MILES OF THIS
WILL BURN THROUGH SUPPLIES.
SO I'M ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR PLACES
WHERE RAINWATER MIGHT COLLECT.
AND THIS RED SLOT CANYON
IS IDEAL.
IT'S BEEN FORMED BY THE WEAR
OF SEDIMENT-FILLED WATER
RUSHING THROUGH THE SOFT
SOUTHERN UTAH SANDSTONE.
AROUND HERE, IT'S THE HIGHEST
CONCENTRATION OF SLOT CANYONS
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
WOW!
THESE BOULDERS HAVE OBVIOUSLY
COME DOWN AND GOT LODGED THERE.
JUST ABSOLUTELY WEDGED!
BUT ACTUALLY, THIS IS
A CLASSIC SORT OF TERRAIN.
THERE WAS A CLIMBER A FEW YEARS
BACK GOING THROUGH,
AND A BOULDER FELL,
DISLODGED AS HE WAS RAPPELLING
AND ACTUALLY TRAPPED HIS ARM --
BAM -- PINNED IT.
HE WAS STUCK IN THIS CANYON
LIKE THIS FOR FIVE DAYS.
AND THAT MUST HAVE BEEN
A TRULY HORRENDOUS SITUATION
TO HAVE BEEN FACED WITH.
ARON RALSTON HAD TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO DIE OF DEHYDRATION
OR TAKE DRASTIC ACTION
TO FREE HIMSELF.
BUT EVENTUALLY...
HE PROVED HIMSELF A SURVIVOR,
GOT HIS BLUNT PENKNIFE,
HACKED ALL THE WAY
THROUGH HIS ARM,
THROUGH HIS BONE,
THROUGH THE NERVES,
AND MADE IT OUT ALIVE.
AND THAT'S CALLED
THE SPIRIT OF SURVIVAL.
I'M IN SOUTHERN UTAH
MAKING MY WAY THROUGH
A NARROW SLOT CANYON.
LOOK -- THERE'S WATER
ON THE ROCK HERE.
MOISTURE COMING DOWN, A SEEP.
[ SLURPING ]
THIS IS RAINWATER DRIPPING
THROUGH THE ROCK FROM ABOVE.
THAT'S NICE.
COLLECTING IT WOULD TAKE HOURS.
INSTEAD, I TAKE
A USEFUL HYDRATION BOOST,
THEN GET ON MY WAY AGAIN.
OOH, I'VE GOT A RABBIT!
I SPOTTED A RABBIT AHEAD.
THIS IS WORTH A CHASE.
HE'S FASTER THAN ME
AND QUICKLY OUT OF SIGHT,
BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE DIRECTION
HE CAN GO,
AND IF HE HITS AN OBSTACLE,
I'LL HAVE HIM CORNERED.
BUT NO JOY.
THE CANYON'S OPENED UP,
AND HE'S ESCAPED.
HE'S GONE.
AT LEAST HE SHOWED ME A WAY
OUT OF THAT SLOT CANYON.
[ BREATHING DEEPLY ]
NOW I'VE ENTERED
ARID SCRUB DESERT.
THIS IS A HARSH LANDSCAPE,
BUT EVEN HERE, THERE ARE
SOME USEFUL NATURAL RESOURCES.
THERE ARE LOTS OF
THESE BUSHES AROUND HERE,
AND THIS IS MORMON TEA.
AND WHAT NATIVE AMERICANS
AND MORMON SETTLERS WOULD DO
IS COLLECT THIS AND THEN
BOIL IT UP TO MAKE TEA,
AND THAT WOULD HELP
WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS
SUCH AS HAY FEVER, ASTHMA.
JUST TAKE SOME OF THIS.
EARLY SETTLERS IN SOUTHERN UTAH
ARRIVED IN AN UNMAPPED
TERRITORY WITH FEW TRAILS.
IN THIS WILDERNESS,
THE BEST GEOGRAPHICAL SIGNPOSTS
WERE OFTEN THE RIVERS.
ALWAYS GUARANTEE
IF YOU FOLLOW THIS,
YOU WILL EVENTUALLY FIND PEOPLE.
OKAY, WE JUST NEED
TO GET DOWN TO IT.
LET'S GO THIS WAY.
WHAT A FEELING.
AND ALMOST ALL OF
THE RIVERS HERE
ARE GONNA RUN DOWN
AND MEET THE MIGHTY COLORADO,
AND THAT JUST CUTS ITS WAY
ACROSS THE WILD WEST.
A TRIBUTARY LIKE THIS SHOULD
EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A TOWN.
THE MAJORITY OF SETTLEMENTS
IN THIS DESERT
HAD TO BE BUILT CLOSE
TO WATERCOURSES
IF THEY WERE TO STAND
ANY CHANCE
OF SURVIVING AND PROSPERING.
RIVERS PROVIDED FOOD,
WATER FOR HUMANS AND LIVESTOCK,
AND IRRIGATION,
AND WERE USED AS AN IMPORTANT
ROUTE OF COMMUNICATION
THROUGH HOSTILE TERRITORY.
YOU SEE THE RIVER'S
RUNNING MUCH FASTER HERE.
ALL THIS WHITE WATER
AND, LIKE, FLOOD DEBRIS,
AS WELL,
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER.
THE GOOD PART OF THAT
IS IT MEANS WE'RE LOSING
ALTITUDE AND MAKING PROGRESS.
BUT PROGRESS
IS NEVER GUARANTEED
DOWN TIGHT CANYONS LIKE THIS.
A NIGHTMARE, THIS.
THIS CANYON WALL JUTS OUT
INTO THE RIVER,
AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
THERE'S A WAY OVER IT
OR AROUND IT.
AND THIS IS GONNA BE A HARD ONE
TO GET AROUND.
TERRIBLE PACE OF WATER
COMING DOWN THIS.
IT'S A NO-GO.
GETTING AROUND THE CANYON WALL
LOOKS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS.
I'M GONNA HEAD BACK UPSTREAM
AND TRY TO LOCATE
A SAFER CROSSING POINT.
GONNA BE ABLE TO USE THESE
SERIES OF BOULDERS HERE,
GET ACROSS.
LET'S TRY THIS ONE.
THERE'S A FALLEN TREE
ACROSS TO A LARGE ROCK.
IT LOOKS PROMISING.
YEAH, THIS COULD WORK.
AS LONG AS THE DEADFALL
STAYS IN PLACE,
I CAN GET ACROSS
TO THE MIDDLE ONE.
I'M GONNA GIVE THIS A TRY
AND HOPE THAT THIS TREE
WILL HOLD FIRM.
IT'S A PRECARIOUS SPOT
WITH NO PROTECTION.
FALL IN HERE AND I'LL BE
DRAGGED DOWNSTREAM FAST.
WELL, WE'VE DONE
THE FIRST STONE.
TRY AND GET TO THIS ONE NOW
AND THEN ACROSS.
THERE'S NO SAFE JUMP
ACROSS TO THE CENTER ROCK,
SO I'M TAKING
THE LONG WAY AROUND.
LITTLE BIT PRECARIOUS,
THIS BIT.
PROGRESS IS SLOW, BUT INCH
BY INCH, I'M GETTING THERE.
OKAY.
THAT'S THE SECOND ONE.
NOW TO SEE IF THERE'S A ROUTE
TO CROSS TO THE FAR BANK.
I WAS KIND OF HOPING THERE WOULD
BE A FEW LITTLE BOULDERS
SO I COULD HOP ACROSS.
GOT SO CLOSE,
BUT I CAN'T DO IT HERE.
THERE'S NO-GO, NO-GO.
STRIKE TWO.
NO WAY ACROSS.
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
MY PLAN NOW IS TO HEAD BACK
TO THE SPOT
WHERE THE CLIFF BLOCKS MY PATH,
THEN ATTEMPT TO GET AROUND IT
THROUGH THE WATER AND CONTINUE
DOWNSTREAM ON THE BANK.
BUT NOW THERE'S
AN ADDED OBSTRUCTION.
AND THE FIRST THING IS
TO GET RID OF THIS.
BEFORE BRAVING WHITE WATER
LIKE THIS,
I WANT TO SHIFT THIS DRIFTWOOD
OUT OF THE WAY.
THE LAST THING I WANT
IS TO GET SNAGGED
OR PINNED AGAINST IT.
THE AMAZING FORCE OF THE WATER
RIPS THE TREE AWAY
AND UNDER THE OVERHANGING ROCK.
MIGHT BE A BIT OF
HOLD-YOUR-BREATH TIME
AROUND THERE.
TO MAKE SURE
I'M NOT SWEPT AWAY,
I'M GONNA USE MY TRUSTY LASSO
AND TIE IT OFF
TO A SOLID ANCHOR POINT.
PUT A CONSTRICTOR KNOT
AROUND THIS.
THIS IS ONE KNOT I DO NOT
WANT TO COME UNDONE.
THE CONSTRICTOR KNOT IS
AN EFFECTIVE BINDING KNOT
THAT'S SIMPLE AND SECURE.
ABSOLUTELY LOCKED ON ITSELF.
THAT WON'T COME UNDONE.
I'D TRUST MY LIFE TO THAT ONE
EVERY TIME.
NOW TO PUT IT TO THE TEST IN
THIS VERY FAST-FLOWING WATER.
OKAY, ONCE I'M AROUND,
I'M GONNA GIVE TWO STRONG TUGS.
THAT MEANS IT'S GOOD
AND YOU FOLLOW.
THE LASSO HERE IS A LIFELINE.
AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
THROUGH WATERS LIKE THESE
RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
I'M HOLDING MYSELF
OUT OF THE MAIN STREAM
FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
POWERFUL FLOW IN HERE.
BECAUSE WHEN THE FULL FORCE OF
THE WATER CATCHES ME, I'M GONE.
THAT'S THE SIGNAL.
NOW IT'S THE CAMERAMAN'S TURN.
PRETTY HORRIBLE FEELING
WHEN YOU'RE UNDER THE WATER,
WAITING TO POP UP.
WE'RE AROUND THAT CANYON CORNER.
AND WE'LL GET MOVING AGAIN.
GOOD JOB, THOUGH,
REALLY COMMITTING.
IT'S MUCH EASIER GOING NOW,
AND THE CANYON IS WIDENING OUT.
LOOK -- THAT'S HORSE POOP.
HORSES ARE A VALUABLE RESOURCE
IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD,
SO THEY'RE RARELY LEFT
TO RUN WILD.
WHERE THERE ARE HORSES,
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
OF FINDING PEOPLE.
LOOK -- ALL OF THESE
ARE HOOFPRINTS, HORSES.
REALLY DISTINCT, AND THEY'RE ALL
THE WAY ALONG HERE.
BUT BECAUSE THE SAND
IS CHURNED UP, IT'S DARKER.
THAT MEANS THERE'S STILL
MOISTURE IN IT,
WHICH MEANS THESE ARE
QUITE FRESH PRINTS.
I'M GONNA FOLLOW THESE TRACKS.
SO I WANT TO TRY AND KEEP
THE HOOF MARKS
BETWEEN ME AND THE SUN.
THAT WAY, THEY CAST A SHADOW
AND THEY'RE EASY TO FOLLOW.
TRACKING IS ONE OF
THE GREAT TRADITIONAL ARTS
OF THE WILD WEST.
PICK UP THE PACE A BIT.
USING THESE SKILLS,
NATIVE AMERICANS
CROSS GREAT WILDERNESSES...
TELL ME THAT ISN'T FRESH.
IT SMELLS FRESH.
...LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENTS
TRACKED DOWN FLEEING OUTLAWS,
AND THE ODD LONE SURVIVOR HAS
MADE IT BACK TO CIVILIZATION.
LOOK UP ON THE CLIFF-TOP.
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT OURSELVES
A REAL COWBOY.
COME ON.
IT'S THE END
OF MY UTAH ADVENTURE.
I SURVIVED THE CHALLENGES
OF THE CANYONLANDS
AND RED ROCK COUNTRY,
AND NOW I'M HEADING HOME.
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 WILDS
OF SOUTHERN UTAH,
WHERE I'LL BE TACKLING
TREACHEROUS CANYONS...
...CLIMBING DOWN
DIZZYING ROCK FEATURES...
IT'S GETTING
A LITTLE TRICKY HERE!
...AND PURSUING
THE FASTEST OF PREY.
THIS IS GONNA BE
ONE CRAZY RED ROCK RIDE.
Man: COPY THAT. WE'RE PROBABLY
ABOUT A MINUTE OUT.
RIGHT SIDE LOOKS GOOD.
THIS IS SOUTHERN UTAH,
KNOWN AS RED ROCK COUNTRY,
AFTER THE EPIC LANDSCAPE
OF THE COLORADO PLATEAU.
WITH AN AVERAGE ELEVATION
OF OVER 6,000 FEET,
IT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST STATES
IN THE U.S.
IT'S ON THE WIRE.
Man:
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
SOUTHERN UTAH'S TOUGH TERRAIN --
ENDLESS SLOT CANYONS,
HARD-ROCK PINNACLES,
AND HUNDREDS OF SQUARE MILES
OF ARID DESERT.
IT'S HIGH, DRY, AND HOSTILE.
ADVISE ON OUR ALTITUDE.
UP HERE, MOUNTAIN LIONS
AND BLACK BEARS ROAM,
AND LOWER DOWN,
DEADLY RATTLERS,
LIKE THE MOJAVE GREEN,
ONE OF THE MOST
VENOMOUS SNAKES IN THE U.S.
THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THE LAST
GREAT U.S. WILDERNESSES
TO BE EXPLORED AND MAPPED.
IT WAS BANDIT COUNTRY
AND A HIDING PLACE FOR THE LIKES
OF BUTCH CASSIDY
AND THE SUNDANCE KID.
IT WAS THE WILD WEST
AT ITS WILDEST.
HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THESE CONDITIONS --
WE CAN'T GO WITH PLAN "A."
MY PLAN WAS TO PARACHUTE IN,
BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM --
A POWERFUL CROSSWIND
THAT COULD BLOW ME OFF COURSE
AND ONTO HARD ROCK.
BUT I'VE COME UP
WITH A PLAN "B."
STANDBY FOR FURTHER
INSTRUCTIONS.
I'M GONNA TRY SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.
THIS IS GONNA REQUIRE PINPOINT
ACCURACY FROM THE PILOT
AND SPLIT-SECOND TIMING FROM ME
TO GET IT RIGHT.
OKAY, LET'S DO IT, GUYS.
LET'S GIVE IT A GO.
OKAY.
WE'VE LOCATED A STRETCH
OF LEVEL GROUND.
WE'RE GOING IN.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT --
LET'S CHECK IT OUT
AND THEN TAKE IT AROUND.
ALL RIGHT.
THE PILOT WILL BRING
THE PLANE DOWN
AS LOW AND SLOW AS IT WILL GO,
AND THEN I'M GONNA
LOWER MYSELF OUT.
THE PLANE ISN'T GONNA STOP.
AS SOON AS I'M CONFIDENT,
I'M GONNA GO FOR IT,
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE --
THIS IS DANGEROUS.
I'M AT THE MERCY
OF THE FURIOUS PROP WASH
FROM THE PLANE'S ENGINES
AND TERRIFYINGLY CLOSE
TO THE THUNDERING REAR WHEEL.
BUT I'M DOWN AND IN ONE PIECE.
SMOKING TROUSERS!
OH, FAIR TO SAY THAT I'VE GOT
ONE RED-HOT BACKSIDE!
JUST GOT COMPLETELY SHREDDED.
OKAY, LET'S GET GOING.
I'VE LANDED HIGH ON
THE MIGHTY COLORADO PLATEAU,
WHICH COVERS LARGE PARTS
OF UTAH, ARIZONA,
COLORADO, AND NEW MEXICO.
TO THE SOUTH
LIES THE GRAND CANYON
AND, IN BETWEEN, SOME OF THE
WILDEST TERRAIN IN THE U.S.
WOW, WHAT A VISTA.
IT'S A LONG WAY DOWN THERE.
IT'S JUST A CRAZY LANDSCAPE.
WHAT YOU GET IS THIS MIX
OF HARD AND SOFT ROCK,
AND IT CREATES ALL THESE
TOTEM-POLE-LIKE PINNACLES.
THESE ROCK HOODOOS
CAN BE 10 STORIES HIGH
AND DANGEROUSLY UNSTABLE.
SEE THAT SLOPE OVER THERE
WITH ALL THE SNOW ON IT?
PROBABLY GONNA BE NORTH-FACING,
SEES THE LEAST SUN,
WHICH MEANS NORTH
IS GONNA BE OVER HERE.
I'VE GOT MY BEARINGS,
AND NOW I'M HEADING SOUTH
TO LOSE ALTITUDE.
UP HERE IS COLD WITH LOW OXYGEN
AND LOW HUMIDITY.
THIS CAN QUICKLY LEAD
TO FATIGUE, THIRST,
AND, AT NIGHT, HYPOTHERMIA.
THAT'S NOT OUR WAY.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
OKAY, THIS IS A BIT MORE
PRECARIOUS THAN I THOUGHT.
IT'S TIGHTLY PACKED.
I'M GONNA GET SOMETHING
JUST TO HELP ME GO DOWN THIS.
EVEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS
CAN HELP YOU --
JUST GIVES YOU SOME LEVERAGE
TO PUSH YOUR BODY OUT
FROM THE SLOPE.
TEMPTATION IS -- WHEN IT GETS
STEEP AND YOU GET SCARED,
YOU TUCK IN,
AND THAT'S WHEN YOUR FEET
DROP OUT FROM UNDER YOU.
YOU WANT TO BE OUT
FROM THE SLOPE,
PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON IT,
AND DESCEND LIKE THIS.
IT'S JUST AN ALPINE TECHNIQUE
THEY USE ON STEEP SNOW AND ICE.
TO BE HONEST,
THIS IS PRETTY SIMILAR.
OKAY, COME ON.
THIS TECHNIQUE
REQUIRES CONFIDENCE
AND A LITTLE PRACTICE,
BUT ULTIMATELY,
IT'S EFFICIENT AND FAST.
YEAH, IT'S MUCH BETTER
ON THE RIDGES HERE.
IT'S SOFTER.
DOWN IN THE GULLIES,
THAT'S ALL REALLY COMPACTED.
LET'S GET GOING DOWN THIS.
AT THIS SPEED,
I'M SOON DOWN TO THE NEXT
SECTION OF THE DESCENT.
NOW THERE'S LOOSE SCREE
UNDERFOOT.
KEEP ZIGZAGGING ACROSS THIS.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE BRINGING
A WHOLE LOT OF ROCKS
ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.
FOLLOW MY LINE.
AN ANGLED DESCENT
REDUCES THE CHANCE OF INJURY
FROM DISLODGED ROCKS.
LOOK -- THAT'S THE LAST
OF THESE SPIRES,
AND THEN WE'RE OUT OF THEM.
GET DOWN TO THE TREES.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA FIND
FOOD AND WATER.
PINE FOREST LIKE THIS
IS CLASSIC BEAR TERRITORY.
I'VE GOT TO PROCEED
WITH CAUTION.
BUT IT'S ALSO A RICH
HUNTING GROUND,
A PLACE FULL OF RESOURCES
WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED
TO SURVIVE.
LITTLE BITS OF PINE RESIN.
SHOULD BE MORE.
YEAH, LOOK -- THERE'S MORE
UP HIGHER THERE.
IF THE BRANCHES ARE BROKEN OFF,
THEN THE TREE WILL OOZE
THAT RESIN.
TRY AND GET UP TO THAT.
IN WINTER, THIS AREA CAN SEE
UP TO 15 FEET OF SNOW,
LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE
TO THE LOWER BRANCHES
OF THESE PINES.
TAKE A BIT OF THAT,
AND THAT'S GONNA HELP
WITH FIRE-LIGHTING.
THERE'S LOADS OF OTHER THINGS
YOU CAN USE PINE RESIN FOR.
IT ACTS AS A GLUE,
EVEN TO SEAL WOUNDS.
OKAY, THAT'LL DO.
LET'S KEEP GOING.
LOWER DOWN,
THE PINE FOREST GIVES WAY
TO PARCHED-EARTH TERRITORY
AND, WITH IT,
ITS OWN ANIMAL DANGERS.
THERE ARE MOUNTAIN LIONS
IN THIS AREA,
AND ONE OF THE DANGERS
OF THEM --
THEY'RE VERY BRIGHT,
BUT THEY'RE ALSO
OPPORTUNISTIC HUNTERS.
MOUNTAIN LIONS, OR COUGARS,
ARE STALK-AND-AMBUSH PREDATORS.
ALMOST INVARIABLY,
WHENEVER THERE HAVE BEEN ATTACKS
ON HUMANS,
THE LIONS APPROACH FROM BEHIND
AND COMPLETELY
WITHOUT WARNING,
HAVING TRACKED THEM.
EVEN THIS SORT OF TERRAIN
IS CLASSIC
FOR MOUNTAIN-LION ATTACK,
WHERE THEY CAN DROP DOWN,
USE THAT BODY WEIGHT TO PIN YOU,
GO FOR YOUR THROAT.
AND GOOD LITTLE TIP --
IF YOU'VE GOT DARK GLASSES ON,
STICK THEM ON THE BACK
OF YOUR HEAD,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEN
YOU'VE GOT EYES
IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD,
AND THAT'S GONNA HELP
DETER THEM.
BUT YOUR MOST IMMEDIATE
PROBLEM HERE
IS A LACK OF COLLECTIBLE WATER.
YEAH, IT'S ALL BONE-DRY, THIS.
LOOK AT IT.
IT'S A MIX OF CLAY AND SAND
THAT'S BEEN MADE WET BY THE RAIN
AND THEN DRIED OUT,
EXPANDED, AND JUST CRACKED.
BUT IF WE'RE GONNA FIND WATER,
IT'S GONNA BE DOWN.
THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE,
AND THIS DRY SHALE
MAKES FOR A SPEEDY DESCENT.
BUT ON TERRAIN LIKE THIS,
THERE'S A DANGER OF PICKING UP
JUST TOO MUCH SPEED.
AAH!
WHOA!
[ GRUNTS ]
I'M IN SOUTHERN UTAH,
SUSPENDED 100 FEET ABOVE
A NARROW ROCK CANYON.
GOT MY FOOT ON HERE.
LITTLE HELP.
WHOO!
OH, I HATE THAT FEELING.
MAN ALIVE.
OKAY, LET ME COME BACK HERE.
THAT'S THE DANGER OF LOOSE SAND
ON HARD ROCK.
LET'S FIND A WAY DOWN.
I SPOTTED A STREAM
IN THE CANYON BELOW.
NOW I'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY
DOWN TO COLLECT WATER.
NOW, THAT'S ALL
JUST SHEER DOWN THERE.
MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK OUR WAY
DOWN THIS BIT.
IT IS QUITE COMMITTING, THOUGH.
IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE BOTTOM,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S ALL LOOSE
LIKE THIS.
AT FIRST,
THINGS DON'T LOOK PROMISING.
THAT REALLY IS A FUNNEL OF DOOM
DOWN THERE.
LOOK.
THE ROCK IS BRITTLE
AND TREACHEROUS UNDERFOOT,
WHICH MEANS
THERE'S A REAL DANGER
OF SLIPPING
CLEAN OFF THIS FACE.
WHOA.
IT'S AN AWKWARD LITTLE BIT
TO GET AROUND.
JUST OUT OF COMFORTABLE REACH.
BAD CONSEQUENCES
OF FALLING HERE, AS WELL.
IT'S NOW OR NEVER.
HERE IT GOES.
ONE STEP CLOSER,
AND THIS LEDGE IS EXPOSED,
LYING 100 FEET
ABOVE THE CANYON FLOOR.
LOOK AT MY FEET
AND DON'T LOOK DOWN.
SO I'M ACTUALLY CLIMBING DOWN.
DON'T HAVE TO RUSH IT.
TAKE YOUR TIME,
BE CONFIDENT WITH EACH STEP.
AND FINALLY,
SOME REWARD FOR MY EFFORTS.
CAN SHIMMY DOWN
BEHIND THIS SLATE.
THERE'S A WHOLE GAP DOWN HERE.
BUT THIS DESCENT
HAS STILL GOT A WAY TO GO.
THIS ROCK RAMP
LIES AT 45 DEGREES,
AND IT'S COVERED IN DUST,
MAKING IT AS SLIPPERY AS ICE.
[ COUGHS ]
CHIPPING AWAY DOWN THERE.
I'VE GOT TO PUSH AGAINST
THE ROCK WITH ALL MY FORCE
TO GET ANY SORT OF TRACTION.
JAM A FOOT ON EACH WALL
AND JUST PUSH
LIKE OPPOSING FORCES.
JUST SLOWLY WEDGE MY WAY DOWN.
I'M ALMOST DOING A SPLIT.
I'M MAKING PROGRESS,
BUT THIS ROCK FACE
DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER.
PRETTY VERTICAL, THIS NEXT BIT.
ONE FOOT WEDGED IN HERE,
HAND WEDGED IN THE CRACK,
AND JUST SLOWLY
EDGE MY WAY DOWN THIS.
JUST A FEW MORE FEET
AND ONE LAST HANDHOLD,
AND I'M DOWN.
WHOO! OKAY, DOWN.
[ SIGHS ]
NOW TO COLLECT WHAT I CAME FOR.
OH, MAN. A LOT OF THIS WATER
IS REALLY SILTY.
LOOK AT THE COLOR OF THAT.
TRY AND DRINK THAT STRAIGHT OFF.
THAT SILT AND SEDIMENT
CAN EASILY MAKE YOU SICK,
AND THAT'S JUST GONNA
DEHYDRATE YOU FURTHER.
A SIMPLE WAY OF GETTING RID
OF THE SEDIMENT
IS JUST TO FILTER IT.
CAN USE ANYTHING FOR THAT --
A T-SHIRT, HAT.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT THAT,
EVEN YOUR SOCK.
[ GRUNTS ]
ANY WATER-PERMEABLE FABRIC
WILL ACT LIKE A SIEVE
BY REMOVING PARTICLES
FROM THE LIQUID.
BUT IDEALLY,
EVEN FILTERED WATER
SHOULD BE BOILED
BEFORE DRINKING.
THAT'S COMING OUT
NICE AND CLEAR NOW.
PROBABLY NOT GONNA MAKE IT
SMELL VERY NICE, THOUGH.
OKAY, SOCK ON, AND THEN
WE'RE ON OUR WAY AGAIN.
I'M FOLLOWING
THE WATER DOWNSTREAM
TO LOSE ALTITUDE AND HOPEFULLY
FIND A LARGER WATERCOURSE.
I'VE NOT ONLY GOT WATER
DOWN HERE,
I'VE ALSO GOT SOME SHADE,
WHICH IS NICE.
OUT OF THAT BEATING SUN.
AND IT'S ALSO PRETTY EASYGOING.
MAKE SOME GOOD PROGRESS.
BUT NARROW WATER-CARVED
CANYONS LIKE THIS
HOLD POTENTIAL DANGERS, TOO.
FLASH FLOODS CAUSED
BY RAINFALL UPSTREAM
CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME
AND WITHOUT WARNING.
AND THERE WERE 12 TOURISTS
WHO WERE CAUGHT IN A FLASH FLOOD
IN ONE OF THESE SLOT CANYONS
IN SOUTHERN UTAH.
AND IT HADN'T EVEN BEEN RAINING,
AND THEY WERE DOWN IN THERE.
AND THE FIRST THING THEY KNEW,
THEY JUST GOT HIT BY THIS WALL
OF BROWN WATER
FULL OF BOULDERS AND LOGS.
AND 11 OF THE 12 WERE KILLED.
THE LESSON IS --
NEVER GET COMPLACENT.
JUST 'CAUSE YOU HAVEN'T
SEEN RAIN
DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T BE HIT
BY FLASH FLOOD.
RAIN UPSTREAM WILL FLOW
STRAIGHT DOWN THROUGH HERE,
AND THAT'S A CONCERN.
THE CANYON IS NARROWING,
AND THE WALLS
ARE GETTING STEEPER.
NOW, THIS IS THE SORT OF PLACE
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT
IN A FLASH FLOOD.
YOU TRULY HAVE NO
ESCAPE ROUTE UP THESE.
KEEP MOVING A BIT FASTER.
GOING DOWNSTREAM ISN'T WORKING.
THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS WAYS OUT,
AND THE CANYON'S
GETTING DEEPER.
SO I'M CHANGING DIRECTION
AND HEADING UP
A SMALL SIDE CANYON.
NOW I'M BATTLING GRAVITY
AND THE FLOW OF WATER,
AND IT'S CONSIDERABLY
HARDER WORK.
THERE'S NO WAY
I'M GONNA GET UP THIS BIT.
KEEP MOVING UP.
BUT I'M GAINING HEIGHT,
AND THE CANYON WALLS
ARE GETTING LOWER.
THIS IS A POSSIBLE WAY OUT.
JUST A BIT AWKWARD AROUND THERE.
THIS WET ROCK
IS SUPER-SLIPPERY,
AND THERE ARE NO GOOD HOLDS.
AND SO YOU USE YOUR KNEES
TO SPLIT THEM
AND USE THAT TO PRY YOUR WAY UP.
AND FINALLY,
I'M OUT OF THAT HOLE.
THAT'S THE EXIT TO THE CANYONS.
SAFE TO SAY WE FOUND WATER.
NOW I'M MOVING THROUGH MIXED
FOREST AND HIGH CHAPARRAL.
LOOK -- THERE'S
A LITTLE PLANTAIN.
SEE THIS GUY?
THE PLANTAGO HERB HAS
ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES.
THIS STUFF BECAME KNOWN
BY NATIVE AMERICANS
AS "WHITE MAN'S FOOTPRINTS,"
'CAUSE IT GROWS IN THIS
COMPACTED, SUN-BAKED GROUND,
AND THEY'D OFTEN FIND IT
IN THE TRAIL
WHERE THE WAGONS WOULD LEAVE
AS THE PIONEERS HEADED WEST.
BUT GOOD PLANT TO TAKE WITH YOU.
MORE THAN 60,000
MORMON PIONEERS
MADE THE ARDUOUS JOURNEY
WEST TO UTAH
IN THE MID-19th CENTURY.
THE REMAINS OF AN OLD CABIN.
SOME FOUNDED LARGE SETTLEMENTS.
OTHERS CARVED OUT
SOLITARY HOMESTEADS
IN UTAH'S VAST WILDERNESS.
WOW, CHECK THIS OUT
THROUGH HERE. LOOK.
PROBABLY AN OLD PIONEER'S HUT.
BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
ANYONE'S LIVED HERE
FOR A LONG TIME.
THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO
MAKING THIS.
AND IT'S ALL DONE
WITH HAND-TOOLS.
YOU CAN TELL. LOOK.
SEE THE AX?
CHIPPING MARKS.
YOU COME ACROSS A PLACE
LIKE THIS,
THERE'S SO MUCH HERE
FOR THE SURVIVOR.
EVEN AN OLD BIT OF BARBED WIRE
LIKE THAT.
MASS OF THINGS
YOU CAN USE THAT FOR.
WITH A BIT OF WORK,
THIS WILL MAKE
A GOOD OVERNIGHT SHELTER.
BUT BEFORE THAT,
THERE'S FOOD TO CONSIDER.
THIS CABIN WOULD HAVE BEEN
BUILT NEAR A WATER SOURCE,
A PRIORITY FOR ANY SETTLER.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE
A GOOD PLACE
TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING TO EAT.
GOOD LITTLE LAKE HERE.
AND THIS IS GONNA BE PERFECT
FOR A BIT OF FISHING.
PROBABLY SPRING-FED.
MORE THAN LIKELY
GONNA HAVE FISH IN THIS.
TROUT, BASS, AND BLUEGILL
ARE NATIVE TO THIS AREA.
ACTUALLY, LOOK -- THERE'S LOTS
OF WILLOW ALL ALONG HERE,
WHICH GIVES ME AN IDEA OF HOW
TO MAKE A SIMPLE FISH TRAP
THAT I CAN LEAVE SO I DON'T HAVE
TO SIT FISHING MYSELF FOR HOURS.
OKAY, LET'S USE THIS.
WILLOW IS GREAT FOR FISHING.
IT'S LONG AND VERY FLEXIBLE,
BENDY, LIKE A FISHING ROD.
AND WILLOWS ARE GENERALLY FOUND
GROWING CLOSE TO WATER.
NOW, THAT'S GONNA MAKE A REALLY
SIMPLE TRIGGER MECHANISM...
FOR THE FISHING ROD
SO I CAN LEAVE IT.
IT'S GONNA BE UNDER TENSION
UNTIL ANYTHING TAKES THE BAIT.
THE TRIGGER REQUIRES
TWO SHORT WOODEN ARMS
WITH NOTCHES CARVED INTO THEM.
IT'S FIDDLY WORK
AND NEEDS PATIENCE.
AND THAT NOTCH, THE TRIGGER,
FITS IN LIKE THAT.
IT CAN GO UNDER TENSION
UNTIL ANYTHING RELEASES IT.
FOR FISHING LINE,
I CAN USE THE INNER STRAND
FROM MY PARACORD,
SOMETHING I ALWAYS
CARRY WITH ME.
IT'LL PULL OUT NICE AND EASY,
AND THAT MAKES
PERFECT FISHING LINE.
AND THEN FOR THE HOOK,
I'VE GOT THIS LITTLE BIT
OF BARBED WIRE.
I FOUND THAT BY THE CABIN.
AND THAT'LL DO THE JOB NICELY.
AND NOW FOR THE DELICATE PART
OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
THAT FITS UNDER THERE.
AND THAT'S THEN UNDER TENSION.
I'VE ATTACHED A FISHING WIRE
TO THAT END, CAST IT OUT.
ANYTHING CATCHES IT,
DISLODGES THIS.
AND THAT THEN PULLS THE HOOK
INTO THE FISH'S MOUTH,
AND IT'S CAUGHT.
GONNA FIND SOME BAIT,
AND THEN WE'LL SET THAT
AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
LAKE AND RIVERBANKS
ARE OFTEN TEEMING WITH LIFE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HAD TO GET TO HIS HEAD QUICKLY.
OTHERWISE,
THEY END UP BITING YOU.
BUT A LITTLE GARTER SNAKE
JUST SWIMMING
THROUGH THE WATER THERE.
JUST SPOTTED HIM.
SO THERE'S SNAKE IN HERE.
THERE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE
FISH, AS WELL.
BUT THAT IS GONNA BE
AT LEAST SOME DINNER.
THE SNAKE GUTS
MAKE PERFECT FISHING BAIT.
THE LINE'S SET.
NOW TO HEAD BACK TO BASE
AND SORT UP BEDDING
FOR THE NIGHT AHEAD.
REALLY, I WANT TO MAKE MYSELF
SOME SORT OF BED
THAT'S OFF THE GROUND.
ONE OF THE DANGERS OF ALL CABINS
LIKE THIS --
IT'S GONNA BE A MAGNET
FOR SNAKES,
ESPECIALLY UNDER ALL
OF THESE FLOORBOARDS.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING
FOR THE SAME THING AS ME --
WARMTH AND SHELTER.
AND WITH A COUPLE OF THESE,
I CAN GET MYSELF OFF THE GROUND.
THE FLOORBOARDS WILL MAKE
FOR A SOLID,
IF NONE-TOO-COMFORTABLE,
BED PLATFORM.
THAT'S GONNA BE
WIDE ENOUGH THERE.
YOU CAN JAM ONE END
INTO THE WALL,
AND I FOUND JUST THE THING
TO SUSPEND THE OTHER.
ACTUALLY,
THAT'S GOT A NOOSE ON THE END.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A LASSO, THAT.
EVEN WITH THE RESOURCES
CLOSE AT HAND,
THIS IS STILL A TRICKY BUILD.
ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU NEED
MORE THAN TWO HANDS.
LET'S GET THAT IN.
BUT THIS IS A QUICKLY ASSEMBLY.
A LITTLE CRUDE, PERHAPS,
BUT EFFECTIVE.
OKAY, SO THAT'S A GOOD
BED PLATFORM OFF THE GROUND.
MAYBE FILL IN SOME
OF THESE GAPS, AS WELL,
KEEP ANY RAINWATER OFF ME.
ANOTHER HITCH IN THAT TO MAKE
SURE THIS BED DOESN'T COLLAPSE.
AND WITH BED
AND SHELTER SORTED,
IT'S BACK TO THE FISH TRAP
I SET TWO HOURS AGO.
IT HAS TRIGGERED.
WITH A LINE THAT'S QUITE SLACK,
IT MIGHT JUST HAVE BEEN
THE WIND.
WE CAN RESET IT,
GIVE IT ANOTHER GO.
OH, HANG ON.
OH, NO, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING.
I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SLACK
IN THE WIND,
BUT ACTUALLY, IT WAS CAUGHT
AROUND ALL THOSE REEDS.
AND THAT'S A LITTLE BASS FISH.
AND THAT'S A GREAT CATCH.
THAT MEANS I'VE GOT A SNAKE
AND SOME FISH.
SO TONIGHT, I EAT.
BUT FIRST, I NEED FIRE.
AND THEN WE'LL USE
THIS OLD TROUGH AS A FIREBASE
BUT ALSO AS A BIT
OF A WIND GUARD.
BREAK UP SOME OF THIS PINE RESIN
INTO THIS TINDER BUNDLE.
THE WOOD IS DRY AND QUICKLY
TAKES A SPARK.
THERE WE GO.
YOU WANT TO SMOTHER IT.
NICE, DRY BRUSH ON TOP OF IT.
LET IT BUILD UP THOSE THREE
ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS
OF A FIRE --
OXYGEN, HEAT, AND FUEL.
[ BLOWS ]
WE CAN JUST PUT
AS A FRYING PAN ON THERE.
WHILE THE FOOD IS COOKING,
A CHANCE TO PUT THE FINAL
TOUCHES TO MY CAMP.
GET A LOAD OF THIS STUFF
AS BEDDING.
THESE GRASSES WILL PROVIDE
WARMTH AND A DEGREE OF COMFORT.
JUST GONNA GIVE ME A COUPLE
OF INCHES OF INSULATION
TO SLEEP ON.
THAT WILL DO.
OKAY, THESE ARE GONNA
BE DONE NOW.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE
GETTING IT OFF, THOUGH.
A ROASTING-HOT PAN
AND NICELY COOKED FISH.
AND THAT JUST LOOKS INCREDIBLE.
GOOD NUTRITION, GOOD PROTEIN,
LOTS OF GOOD FATS AND MINERALS
AND VITAMINS IN THAT.
REALLY GOOD-SIZE MEAL, THIS.
I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE THERE
TO CATCH IT.
FRESH FOOD
AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS --
THERE'S SIMPLY NOTHING BETTER.
YOU CAN SEE WHY SOMEBODY
A LONG TIME AGO
DECIDED TO STAY HERE
AND TRY TO MAKE A LIFE
IN THIS INCREDIBLE LANDSCAPE.
IN THE WILD WEST DAYS,
SOUTHERN UTAH --
A LOT OF IT WAS BANDIT COUNTRY,
WHICH MEANT OUTLAWS WOULD USE
THESE SORT OF PLACES
TO HIDE AWAY FOR MONTHS,
SOMETIMES EVEN YEARS.
BUT TO DO THAT,
THEY NEEDED INCREDIBLE SKILLS
TO BE ABLE TO LIVE OFF THE LAND.
BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM
AND THE SURVIVOR
IS THAT THEIR GOAL
IS TO STAY HIDDEN.
THE SURVIVOR'S GOAL IS TO STAY
ALIVE LONG ENOUGH TO BE FOUND.
I'VE JUST SPENT A NIGHT
IN THE WILDS OF SOUTHERN UTAH.
BREAKFAST IS A SMALL GARTER
SNAKE I CAUGHT AT THE LAKE.
IT'S A GOOD WAY OF COOKING HIM.
REALLY KILLS ANY BACTERIA.
IT'S BEEN BUBBLING AWAY
FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES.
THAT'S GOOD TO EAT NOW.
BUT SNAKE IS AN ACQUIRED TASTE
AT THE BEST OF TIMES.
SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT SNAKE
TASTES LIKE CHICKEN.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT SORT
OF CHICKEN THEY'RE EATING.
IT'S BONY, SINEWY,
AND NOT VERY LIKE CHICKEN.
TIME TO GET MOVING.
AN ISOLATED CABIN IS ONE THING,
BUT MOST OF THE POPULATION
IN THIS REGION
LIVE AT LOWER ALTITUDES,
SO THE BEST CHANCE OF FINDING
PEOPLE IS TO HEAD DOWN.
BUT THAT'S EASIER SAID THAN
DONE IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.
CAREFUL ON THIS EDGE.
ALL OF THIS IS HORRIBLE.
IT BREAKS UP.
I WANT TO FIND A WAY
OFF THIS HIGH, WINDY RIDGE,
BUT I'VE ONLY GOT THE LASSO
ROPE I FOUND AT THE CABIN.
THERE'S A LITTLE LEDGE
DOWN HERE.
SEE THAT?
ABOUT 40 FOOT DOWN.
I'VE PROBABLY GOT
ENOUGH ROPE, ACTUALLY,
TO REACH THAT LEDGE
WITH THE LASSO.
OTHERWISE, IT'S GONNA BE
PROBABLY ABOUT 150 FOOT
TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS,
WHICH I DEFINITELY
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR.
SO I CAN RETRIEVE MY LASSO
ROPE FROM THE BOTTOM,
A BIT OF SIMPLE INGENUITY.
SHORT LITTLE BIT OF WOOD
LIKE THAT.
AROUND THE NOOSE OF THE LASSO.
AND AS LONG AS THERE'S TENSION
ON THE ROPE RUNNING DOWN...
THAT'S GONNA STAY THERE.
TIME TO PUT THIS TO THE TEST.
HERE'S THE AWKWARD BIT.
IT'S A VERY EXPOSED PART
AND A VERY LONG WAY DOWN.
FIRST, THERE'S A DIFFICULT
OVERHANG TO NEGOTIATE.
AND THIS MAKES GETTING
INTO POSITION VERY AWKWARD.
GONNA NEED MY RIGHT HAND
TO HOLD ON TO THE ROCK
AND THE LEFT HAND ON THIS ROPE.
MAYBE JUST WRAP MY LEG...
A COUPLE OF TIMES AROUND THAT.
JUST GONNA GIVE IT
THAT BIT MORE FRICTION.
I'M STARTING TO MAKE
SOME PROGRESS,
BUT THIS IS A CHALLENGE
IN DESCENT.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,
THERE'S A POWERFUL CROSSWIND.
IT'S GETTING
A LITTLE TRICKY HERE,
JUST 'CAUSE IT'S STEEPER!
YOU DON'T WANT TO EVEN
CONTEMPLATE A FALL HERE.
I'M ALMOST THERE, BUT THERE'S
ONE FINAL CHALLENGE --
MY ROPE'S RUNNING OUT.
AND IT REACHES -- JUST.
I'M ON THE LEDGE.
JUST NEED TO GET
THIS LASSO BACK,
TRY AND FLICK THIS THING
SO IT POPS UP.
THE ROPE IS JAMMED.
BUT WITH A FINAL WHIPCRACK,
IT'S AWAY.
[ GRUNTS ]
THAT WORKED NICELY.
BUT I ONLY JUST REACHED.
SHOULD BE ABLE
TO SHUFFLE ALONG THIS NOW.
OFF THE ROPE,
THIS LEDGE FEELS SO PRECARIOUS,
AND IT'S OVER 100 FEET
TO THE BOTTOM.
THIS BRITTLE LAYERED ROCK FACE
IS STILL STEEP
AND REQUIRES GREAT CAUTION.
GONNA KEEP REALLY LOW
CENTER OF GRAVITY,
USE ALL OF YOUR PALMS
OF YOUR HAND,
SOLES OF YOUR FEET AS GRIP.
THIS TECHNIQUE IS ALL ABOUT
KEEPING THE MAXIMUM POINTS OF
CONTACT FOR MAXIMUM FRICTION.
IT DOESN'T LOOK ELEGANT,
BUT IT CAN GUARANTEE
A SAFE DESCENT,
AND IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS,
THAT'S ALL THAT COUNTS.
IT'S A GOOD CLIMB DOWN --
COMMITTING BUT GOOD.
NOW THE HARD ROCK GIVES WAY
TO SOFT SAND.
THIS IS MUCH EASIER GOING,
AND I CAN MAKE
SOME FAST PROGRESS.
TEMPERATURES IN
THIS HIGH-ALTITUDE DESERT
CAN BREAK 100 DEGREES.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S COOLER,
BUT IN THIS TERRITORY,
WATER IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE,
AND A FEW MILES OF THIS
WILL BURN THROUGH SUPPLIES.
SO I'M ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR PLACES
WHERE RAINWATER MIGHT COLLECT.
AND THIS RED SLOT CANYON
IS IDEAL.
IT'S BEEN FORMED BY THE WEAR
OF SEDIMENT-FILLED WATER
RUSHING THROUGH THE SOFT
SOUTHERN UTAH SANDSTONE.
AROUND HERE, IT'S THE HIGHEST
CONCENTRATION OF SLOT CANYONS
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
WOW!
THESE BOULDERS HAVE OBVIOUSLY
COME DOWN AND GOT LODGED THERE.
JUST ABSOLUTELY WEDGED!
BUT ACTUALLY, THIS IS
A CLASSIC SORT OF TERRAIN.
THERE WAS A CLIMBER A FEW YEARS
BACK GOING THROUGH,
AND A BOULDER FELL,
DISLODGED AS HE WAS RAPPELLING
AND ACTUALLY TRAPPED HIS ARM --
BAM -- PINNED IT.
HE WAS STUCK IN THIS CANYON
LIKE THIS FOR FIVE DAYS.
AND THAT MUST HAVE BEEN
A TRULY HORRENDOUS SITUATION
TO HAVE BEEN FACED WITH.
ARON RALSTON HAD TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO DIE OF DEHYDRATION
OR TAKE DRASTIC ACTION
TO FREE HIMSELF.
BUT EVENTUALLY...
HE PROVED HIMSELF A SURVIVOR,
GOT HIS BLUNT PENKNIFE,
HACKED ALL THE WAY
THROUGH HIS ARM,
THROUGH HIS BONE,
THROUGH THE NERVES,
AND MADE IT OUT ALIVE.
AND THAT'S CALLED
THE SPIRIT OF SURVIVAL.
I'M IN SOUTHERN UTAH
MAKING MY WAY THROUGH
A NARROW SLOT CANYON.
LOOK -- THERE'S WATER
ON THE ROCK HERE.
MOISTURE COMING DOWN, A SEEP.
[ SLURPING ]
THIS IS RAINWATER DRIPPING
THROUGH THE ROCK FROM ABOVE.
THAT'S NICE.
COLLECTING IT WOULD TAKE HOURS.
INSTEAD, I TAKE
A USEFUL HYDRATION BOOST,
THEN GET ON MY WAY AGAIN.
OOH, I'VE GOT A RABBIT!
I SPOTTED A RABBIT AHEAD.
THIS IS WORTH A CHASE.
HE'S FASTER THAN ME
AND QUICKLY OUT OF SIGHT,
BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE DIRECTION
HE CAN GO,
AND IF HE HITS AN OBSTACLE,
I'LL HAVE HIM CORNERED.
BUT NO JOY.
THE CANYON'S OPENED UP,
AND HE'S ESCAPED.
HE'S GONE.
AT LEAST HE SHOWED ME A WAY
OUT OF THAT SLOT CANYON.
[ BREATHING DEEPLY ]
NOW I'VE ENTERED
ARID SCRUB DESERT.
THIS IS A HARSH LANDSCAPE,
BUT EVEN HERE, THERE ARE
SOME USEFUL NATURAL RESOURCES.
THERE ARE LOTS OF
THESE BUSHES AROUND HERE,
AND THIS IS MORMON TEA.
AND WHAT NATIVE AMERICANS
AND MORMON SETTLERS WOULD DO
IS COLLECT THIS AND THEN
BOIL IT UP TO MAKE TEA,
AND THAT WOULD HELP
WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS
SUCH AS HAY FEVER, ASTHMA.
JUST TAKE SOME OF THIS.
EARLY SETTLERS IN SOUTHERN UTAH
ARRIVED IN AN UNMAPPED
TERRITORY WITH FEW TRAILS.
IN THIS WILDERNESS,
THE BEST GEOGRAPHICAL SIGNPOSTS
WERE OFTEN THE RIVERS.
ALWAYS GUARANTEE
IF YOU FOLLOW THIS,
YOU WILL EVENTUALLY FIND PEOPLE.
OKAY, WE JUST NEED
TO GET DOWN TO IT.
LET'S GO THIS WAY.
WHAT A FEELING.
AND ALMOST ALL OF
THE RIVERS HERE
ARE GONNA RUN DOWN
AND MEET THE MIGHTY COLORADO,
AND THAT JUST CUTS ITS WAY
ACROSS THE WILD WEST.
A TRIBUTARY LIKE THIS SHOULD
EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A TOWN.
THE MAJORITY OF SETTLEMENTS
IN THIS DESERT
HAD TO BE BUILT CLOSE
TO WATERCOURSES
IF THEY WERE TO STAND
ANY CHANCE
OF SURVIVING AND PROSPERING.
RIVERS PROVIDED FOOD,
WATER FOR HUMANS AND LIVESTOCK,
AND IRRIGATION,
AND WERE USED AS AN IMPORTANT
ROUTE OF COMMUNICATION
THROUGH HOSTILE TERRITORY.
YOU SEE THE RIVER'S
RUNNING MUCH FASTER HERE.
ALL THIS WHITE WATER
AND, LIKE, FLOOD DEBRIS,
AS WELL,
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER.
THE GOOD PART OF THAT
IS IT MEANS WE'RE LOSING
ALTITUDE AND MAKING PROGRESS.
BUT PROGRESS
IS NEVER GUARANTEED
DOWN TIGHT CANYONS LIKE THIS.
A NIGHTMARE, THIS.
THIS CANYON WALL JUTS OUT
INTO THE RIVER,
AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
THERE'S A WAY OVER IT
OR AROUND IT.
AND THIS IS GONNA BE A HARD ONE
TO GET AROUND.
TERRIBLE PACE OF WATER
COMING DOWN THIS.
IT'S A NO-GO.
GETTING AROUND THE CANYON WALL
LOOKS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS.
I'M GONNA HEAD BACK UPSTREAM
AND TRY TO LOCATE
A SAFER CROSSING POINT.
GONNA BE ABLE TO USE THESE
SERIES OF BOULDERS HERE,
GET ACROSS.
LET'S TRY THIS ONE.
THERE'S A FALLEN TREE
ACROSS TO A LARGE ROCK.
IT LOOKS PROMISING.
YEAH, THIS COULD WORK.
AS LONG AS THE DEADFALL
STAYS IN PLACE,
I CAN GET ACROSS
TO THE MIDDLE ONE.
I'M GONNA GIVE THIS A TRY
AND HOPE THAT THIS TREE
WILL HOLD FIRM.
IT'S A PRECARIOUS SPOT
WITH NO PROTECTION.
FALL IN HERE AND I'LL BE
DRAGGED DOWNSTREAM FAST.
WELL, WE'VE DONE
THE FIRST STONE.
TRY AND GET TO THIS ONE NOW
AND THEN ACROSS.
THERE'S NO SAFE JUMP
ACROSS TO THE CENTER ROCK,
SO I'M TAKING
THE LONG WAY AROUND.
LITTLE BIT PRECARIOUS,
THIS BIT.
PROGRESS IS SLOW, BUT INCH
BY INCH, I'M GETTING THERE.
OKAY.
THAT'S THE SECOND ONE.
NOW TO SEE IF THERE'S A ROUTE
TO CROSS TO THE FAR BANK.
I WAS KIND OF HOPING THERE WOULD
BE A FEW LITTLE BOULDERS
SO I COULD HOP ACROSS.
GOT SO CLOSE,
BUT I CAN'T DO IT HERE.
THERE'S NO-GO, NO-GO.
STRIKE TWO.
NO WAY ACROSS.
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
MY PLAN NOW IS TO HEAD BACK
TO THE SPOT
WHERE THE CLIFF BLOCKS MY PATH,
THEN ATTEMPT TO GET AROUND IT
THROUGH THE WATER AND CONTINUE
DOWNSTREAM ON THE BANK.
BUT NOW THERE'S
AN ADDED OBSTRUCTION.
AND THE FIRST THING IS
TO GET RID OF THIS.
BEFORE BRAVING WHITE WATER
LIKE THIS,
I WANT TO SHIFT THIS DRIFTWOOD
OUT OF THE WAY.
THE LAST THING I WANT
IS TO GET SNAGGED
OR PINNED AGAINST IT.
THE AMAZING FORCE OF THE WATER
RIPS THE TREE AWAY
AND UNDER THE OVERHANGING ROCK.
MIGHT BE A BIT OF
HOLD-YOUR-BREATH TIME
AROUND THERE.
TO MAKE SURE
I'M NOT SWEPT AWAY,
I'M GONNA USE MY TRUSTY LASSO
AND TIE IT OFF
TO A SOLID ANCHOR POINT.
PUT A CONSTRICTOR KNOT
AROUND THIS.
THIS IS ONE KNOT I DO NOT
WANT TO COME UNDONE.
THE CONSTRICTOR KNOT IS
AN EFFECTIVE BINDING KNOT
THAT'S SIMPLE AND SECURE.
ABSOLUTELY LOCKED ON ITSELF.
THAT WON'T COME UNDONE.
I'D TRUST MY LIFE TO THAT ONE
EVERY TIME.
NOW TO PUT IT TO THE TEST IN
THIS VERY FAST-FLOWING WATER.
OKAY, ONCE I'M AROUND,
I'M GONNA GIVE TWO STRONG TUGS.
THAT MEANS IT'S GOOD
AND YOU FOLLOW.
THE LASSO HERE IS A LIFELINE.
AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
THROUGH WATERS LIKE THESE
RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
I'M HOLDING MYSELF
OUT OF THE MAIN STREAM
FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
POWERFUL FLOW IN HERE.
BECAUSE WHEN THE FULL FORCE OF
THE WATER CATCHES ME, I'M GONE.
THAT'S THE SIGNAL.
NOW IT'S THE CAMERAMAN'S TURN.
PRETTY HORRIBLE FEELING
WHEN YOU'RE UNDER THE WATER,
WAITING TO POP UP.
WE'RE AROUND THAT CANYON CORNER.
AND WE'LL GET MOVING AGAIN.
GOOD JOB, THOUGH,
REALLY COMMITTING.
IT'S MUCH EASIER GOING NOW,
AND THE CANYON IS WIDENING OUT.
LOOK -- THAT'S HORSE POOP.
HORSES ARE A VALUABLE RESOURCE
IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD,
SO THEY'RE RARELY LEFT
TO RUN WILD.
WHERE THERE ARE HORSES,
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
OF FINDING PEOPLE.
LOOK -- ALL OF THESE
ARE HOOFPRINTS, HORSES.
REALLY DISTINCT, AND THEY'RE ALL
THE WAY ALONG HERE.
BUT BECAUSE THE SAND
IS CHURNED UP, IT'S DARKER.
THAT MEANS THERE'S STILL
MOISTURE IN IT,
WHICH MEANS THESE ARE
QUITE FRESH PRINTS.
I'M GONNA FOLLOW THESE TRACKS.
SO I WANT TO TRY AND KEEP
THE HOOF MARKS
BETWEEN ME AND THE SUN.
THAT WAY, THEY CAST A SHADOW
AND THEY'RE EASY TO FOLLOW.
TRACKING IS ONE OF
THE GREAT TRADITIONAL ARTS
OF THE WILD WEST.
PICK UP THE PACE A BIT.
USING THESE SKILLS,
NATIVE AMERICANS
CROSS GREAT WILDERNESSES...
TELL ME THAT ISN'T FRESH.
IT SMELLS FRESH.
...LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENTS
TRACKED DOWN FLEEING OUTLAWS,
AND THE ODD LONE SURVIVOR HAS
MADE IT BACK TO CIVILIZATION.
LOOK UP ON THE CLIFF-TOP.
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT OURSELVES
A REAL COWBOY.
COME ON.
IT'S THE END
OF MY UTAH ADVENTURE.
I SURVIVED THE CHALLENGES
OF THE CANYONLANDS
AND RED ROCK COUNTRY,
AND NOW I'M HEADING HOME.