I'M BEAR GRYLLS.
I'VE SERVED WITH THE BRITISH SPECIAL FORCES,
I'VE CLIMBED TO THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST,
AND CROSSED THE FROZEN OCEANS OF THE ARCTIC.
NOW I'M AUSTRALIA'S OUTBACK -- A VAST WILDERNESS.
5 MILLION VISITORS COME HERE EVERY YEAR
TO SEE THESE RUGGED LANDS.
HUNDREDS NEED RESCUING.
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU THE SKILLS NEEDED TO SURVIVE OUT HERE.
I'M FLYING OVER WESTERN AUSTRALIA
IN A REGION CALLED THE KIMBERLEY.
IT'S AN AREA THE SIZE OF CALIFORNIA,
YET ONLY 30,000 PEOPLE LIVE HERE,
AND MOST OF THOSE BY THE COAST.
THIS PLACE IS WILD.
THE OUTBACK HAS AN EXTREME CLIMATE.
FOR EIGHT MONTHS OF THE YEAR, IT NEVER RAINS,
AND IT CAN GET UP TO 130 DEGREES.
NOW IT'S THE WET SEASON, AND IT'S EVEN TOUGHER.
HUMIDITY IS OFTEN 100%,
WHICH MAKES THE TEMPERATURES FEEL EVEN MORE UNBEARABLE.
THE AUSSIES CALL IT THE SUICIDE SEASON.
OF THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HARD-CORE TOURISTS THAT COME
HERE EACH YEAR, THE HEAT, SNAKES, AND CYCLONES
CLAIM 40 LIVES.
THEY SAY THAT IF YOU GET LOST OUT HERE
WITH NO SURVIVAL SKILLS, THERE'S A 75% CHANCE YOU'LL DIE.
I'M GONNA PUT MYSELF IN THE POSITION OF A STRANDED TOURIST
TO SHOW SOME OF THE SKILLS NEEDED TO STAY ALIVE.
ALL I'VE GOT WITH ME IS A WATER BOTTLE AND A KNIFE.
A CAMERA CREW WILL FOLLOW ME.
WHEW!
IT IS SUDDENLY JUST SO HOT.
IT WAS QUITE NICE AND COOL IN THE BREEZE OF LIKE
100-MILE-AN-HOUR SLIPSTREAM.
BUT SUDDENLY YOU REALIZE IT IS VERY, VERY HOT.
AND IT'S ALSO JUST HUGE.
LOOK AT THIS.
FIRST, I NEED A DECENT VANTAGE POINT TO GET MY BEARINGS.
THE KIMBERLEY MAY BE THE SIZE OF CALIFORNIA,
BUT THIS AREA OF OUTBACK HAS ONLY ONE HIGHWAY ACROSS IT.
FOR MILLENNIA, THIS LAND HAS BEEN COMPLETELY UNDEVELOPED,
AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE
WERE AUSTRALIA'S FAMOUS BUSHMEN -- THE ABORIGINES.
IT IS THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
THAT I'LL USE AS I TRAVEL ACROSS
THIS WILD LANDSCAPE.
WOW! LOOK AT THAT.
WHOO!
THIS VAST LANDSCAPE IS TYPICAL OF THE OUTBACK
IN NORTH AUSTRALIA.
IT'S A MIXTURE OF HUGE SCRUB DESERTS, DRY RIVERBEDS,
AND RED SANDSTONE CLIFFS FULL OF DEEP GORGES.
THE FIRST THING I NEED TO DO IS JUST TO FIND MY BEARINGS,
BUT WHAT I DO KNOW
IS THAT THE ONE MAJOR HIGHWAY THROUGH HERE
RUNS TO THE SOUTH OF ME ABOUT 150 MILES AWAY.
BUT MUCH CLOSER AND TO THE NORTHWEST, I KNOW, ALSO,
THERE ARE A FEW OF SMALL TOWNS,
AND THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF DIRT TRACKS,
AND THAT'S PROBABLY MY BEST CHANCE OF GETTING OUT OF HERE.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, I'VE GOT TO WORK OUT WHICH WAY IS NORTHWEST,
AND WHAT I CAN DO IS USE THE SUN AND MY WATCH.
AND THE TECHNIQUE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
IS YOU POINT 12:00 AT THE SUN,
AND HALFWAY BETWEEN THERE AND THE HOUR HAND IS NORTH.
SO, THAT'S NORTH, AND THAT'S NORTHWEST.
SO I'M GOING TO HEAD NORTHWEST UNTIL I FIND A RIVER,
WHICH SHOULD LEAD ME DOWN TO THE COAST.
AS 80% OF PEOPLE LIVE BY THE COAST,
THAT'S PROBABLY MY BEST PLAN.
BUT BEFORE I HEAD OUT INTO THE GREAT OUTBACK,
I HAVE ONE MORE TRICK UP MY SLEEVE.
I'M GONNA SPREAD MY PARACHUTE OUT AS A MARKER
SO IT'S VISIBLE FROM THE AIR, AND I'LL LEAVE AN ARROW
POINTING THE DIRECTION I'VE GONE.
THIS LOOKS LIKE AN ALL RIGHT PLACE TO CLIMB DOWN.
THE ONLY THING IS CLIMBING LIKE THIS WHEN YOU'RE UNROPED,
AND YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN,
IS PROBABLY THE MOST UNFORGIVING THING YOU CAN DO,
AND IT JUST MEANS YOU'VE GOT TO GET EVERY SINGLE MOVE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
ONE GOOD TIP TO CONSERVE YOUR ENERGY WHEN YOU'RE CLIMBING,
IS TRY AND KEEP YOUR HANDS AND YOUR ARMS AT SHOULDER HEIGHT.
AS SOON AS THEY START GOING UP,
ALL THE BLOOD DRAINS OUT OF THEM,
AND YOU FATIGUE MUCH QUICKER.
BEEN GOING JUST LITERALLY FIVE MINUTES.
I'M JUST DRENCHED IN SWEAT ALREADY.
( EXHALES )
IT'S 150 FOOT TO THE BOTTOM,
BUT WITH ROCKS AS FLAKY AS THIS,
YOU'VE REALLY GOT TO WATCH YOUR FOOTING.
THERE WAS AN AMERICAN TOURIST OUT HERE IN 2005,
AND HE ACTUALLY SLIPPED AND THEN FELL
ABOUT 40 FOOT DOWN ROCK FACES NOT DISSIMILAR TO THIS.
BUT HE ACTUALLY SURVIVED, SURVIVED THAT FALL.
BUT THEN PROBABLY WHAT HE DID WAS PANIC,
AND IT'S THEN THAT HE SLIPPED, AND HE FELL,
AND THIS TIME HE WAS KILLED.
I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY HOT AT THE TOP OF THESE CLIFFS,
BUT WHAT I HAD UP THERE AT LEAST WAS, YOU KNOW,
A BIT OF A BREEZE.
BUT DOWN HERE, I TELL YOU, IT'S JUST BOILING, BOILING.
AND IT'S LIKE I'M NOW ENTERING THESE HOT PLAINS,
AND IT FEELS A BIT LIKE...
I'M OUT OF THE FURNACE BUT DEFINITELY ENTERING THE FIRE.
DOWN HERE, IT'S UNBEARABLY HUMID.
IT MAY LOOK GREEN AND LUSH, BUT IT ISN'T.
THE HUMIDITY IS 100%, WHICH MAKES THE TEMPERATURE FEEL MORE
LIKE 150 DEGREES.
GOD, THE SUN IS JUST SO POWERFUL.
THE DANGER OF HIGH HUMIDITY IS THAT MY SWEAT CAN NO LONGER
EVAPORATE AND COOL ME DOWN BECAUSE THE AIR IS ALREADY
FULLY SATURATED WITH MOISTURE.
THAT MAKES HEATSTROKE EVEN MORE LIKELY.
TEMPERATURES IN THE OUTBACK OF AUSTRALIA HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO
REACH UP TO 57 DEGREES CELSIUS.
THAT'S OVER 130 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLY HOT.
AND THE SEARCH-AND RESCUE GUYS SAY THAT IF SOMEONE IS DROPPED
INTO THE MIDDLE OF THAT WITH NOTHING -- NO WATER --
WITHIN THREE HOURS, THEY'D BE DEAD.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOU TO KEEP COOL IS YOUR HEAD.
I NEED A HAT TO REDUCE THE RISK OF OVERHEATING.
I COULD USE MY T-SHIRT,
BUT I NEED THAT TO KEEP THE SUN OFF MY BODY.
ALL I HAVE LEFT ARE MY BOXER SHORTS.
WATER ON, HAT ON, SOME SORT OF PROTECTION.
I'M READY TO GO.
AS MY HEAD IS THE MOST VULNERABLE PART OF MY BODY,
THE HAT WILL HELP KEEP ME COOLER,
BUT MY NEXT PROBLEM IS WATER.
I ONLY HAVE THE WATER I BROUGHT WITH ME,
AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO LAST A DAY.
I'M GOING TO NEED TO RESORT TO EXTREME MEASURES TO SURVIVE.
THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO DRINK MY OWN PEE.
I'VE BEEN DROPPED INTO THE KIMBERLEY IN NORTH AUSTRALIA.
I AM HEADING NORTHWEST TOWARDS THE COAST,
TRYING TO MAKE MY WAY BACK TO CIVILIZATION.
BUT NOW I'M GETTING LOW ON WATER.
AND THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS TO DRINK MY OWN PEE.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE,
AND I'M EXPECTING IT TO BE PRETTY HORRIBLE,
BUT I NEED TO KEEP THOSE FLUIDS GOING IN.
IT MAY SEEM DISGUSTING,
BUT YOUR OWN URINE IS SAFE TO DRINK.
AND IF I JUST PEED ON THE GROUND,
THAT'S ALL THOSE FLUIDS WASTED.
( GROANS )
( EXHALES SHARPLY )
GAH, THERE'S NO GETTING AWAY FROM IT.
THAT REALLY IS PRETTY HORRIBLE.
IT'S, LIKE, WARM,
AND IT'S SALTY AND NOT --
NOT MY FAVORITE.
BUT I'VE GOT ABOUT A QUARTER OF A BOTTLE NOW FOR LATER, AS WELL.
UGH!
URINE IS ACTUALLY 95% WATER, AND IT'S STERILE WHEN FRESH.
BUT DRINK IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER,
AS IT'S A BREEDING GROUND FOR BACTERIA.
THE PEOPLE WHO STAND THE BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVAL ARE THE ONES
PREPARED TO PUSH THE LIMITS.
IN 2006, THREE MEXICAN FISHERMEN WERE RESCUED
AFTER A 9-MONTH ORDEAL ADRIFT ON THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
THEY DRANK TURTLE BLOOD AND THEIR OWN URINE.
IT'S ONLY BECAUSE THEY WERE PREPARED
TO GO TO THESE EXTREMES
THAT THEY ARE ALIVE TODAY.
BUT URINE ALONE IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH IN THIS HEAT.
I NEED TO FIND A SOURCE OF WATER AS SOON AS I CAN.
JUST AT REST, I SHOULD BE DRINKING 2% OF MY BODY WEIGHT
IN WATER EVERY DAY.
THAT MEANS ABOUT 1 1/2 LITERS -- MINIMUM.
BUT IN THESE CONDITIONS, I'LL NEED THAT MUCH EVERY HOUR.
LOOK AT THE SCALE OF THIS.
THE COMBINATION OF SEARING HEAT AND HIGH HUMIDITY
ARE BEGINNING TO TAKE THEIR TOLL.
MY SWEAT CAN'T COOL ME DOWN,
AND ALL I'VE GOT TO DRINK IS MY OWN URINE.
IF YOU CAN'T FIND ENOUGH FLUIDS IN THIS HEAT,
YOU'LL DIE.
I'M WALKING THROUGH THESE BAOBAB TREES NOW,
AND THESE ARE REALLY TYPICAL
OF THIS WHOLE KIMBERLEY REGION,
BUT WHAT THEY DO FOR ME IS OFFER ME A LITTLE BIT
OF THIS PRECIOUS SHADE.
( EXHALES SHARPLY )
FINDING SHADE LIKE THIS CAN BE A LIFESAVER,
AS IT'S UP TO 30 DEGREES COOLER
WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF THE SUN.
THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO COPE BEST IN THIS ENVIRONMENT
ARE THE ABORIGINES.
ABORIGINALS HAVE A VERY DISTINCT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE LAND,
AND THEY DON'T SEE THEMSELVES AS OWNERS OF THE LAND --
RATHER THAT THE LAND OWNS THEM,
AS IF THEY'RE KIND OF CUSTODIANS OF IT.
AND IT'S THIS SORT OF RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IS SO
VITAL FOR STAYING ALIVE IN THIS SORT OF HARSH ENVIRONMENT.
AS THE AFTERNOON AND THE CLOUDS START TO ROLL IN,
THE SUN'S HEAT IS BEGINNING TO COOL OFF A LITTLE,
MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO GET MOVING.
BUT I STILL HAVE NO FRESH WATER.
( THUNDER RUMBLES )
HEAR THAT?
THUNDER.
IT'S AMAZING, YOU KNOW -- SUN.
I TELL YOU, IT'S GONNA BE RAIN WITHIN A FEW HOURS.
IT'S ALL MOVING THIS WAY.
OUT HERE IN THE WET SEASON, THE INTENSE HUMIDITY
AND THE TROPICAL CYCLONES CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN THUNDERSTORMS.
I'M GOING TO NEED TO COLLECT SOME TINDER NOW
WHILE IT'S STILL DRY IF I WANT TO HAVE A CAMPFIRE TONIGHT.
A LOT OF THE BUSHES AROUND HERE ARE THESE KAPOK BUSHES,
AND LOOK AND TELL THAT JUST FROM THESE LEAVES.
THEY'RE SOFT, THEY'RE FURRY,
AND THEY'RE KIND OF SHAPED LIKE A MAPLE LEAF, AS WELL.
BUT WHAT I AM AFTER IS THE SEED PODS THAT GROW ON THEM.
HERE YOU GO.
YEAH, LOOK.
PULL THIS DOWN.
AND LOOK. YOU SEE THESE ONES HERE?
HERE YOU GO. PULL THIS OFF.
AND JUST INSIDE,
THERE'S LIKE THIS COTTON WOOL,
BUT THIS STUFF IS GREAT FOR TINDER
FOR MAKING A FIRE.
SO I'M GONNA JUST COLLECT A FEW OF THESE,
AND THAT WILL REALLY HELP ME.
THE KAPOK SHELLS NOT ONLY
PROTECT THE SEEDS
BUT ALSO HELP KEEP THAT COTTON WOOL TINDER DRY.
THE NORTH OF AUSTRALIA IS ONE OF THE MOST
LIGHTNING-PRONE AREAS ON EARTH.
SOME STORMS HAVE PRODUCED OVER
1,500 LIGHTNING FLASHES
IN JUST A FEW HOURS.
YOU CAN SEE THOSE DARK CLOUDS AND OVER HERE THE BLUE STUFF
THAT HAS JUST MOVED,
AND THAT IS ALL HEADING MY WAY.
YEAH, I NEED TO GET OFF THIS ROCK NOW AND MAKE CAMP.
WITH STORMS COME RAIN,
AND IN THE KIMBERLEY, ALMOST THREE FOOT OF RAIN
HAS BEEN KNOWN TO FALL IN ONLY NINE HOURS,
AND THAT COULD LEAD TO TREACHEROUS FLASH FLOODS.
AND I FEEL THAT WIND BLOWING STRAIGHT TOWARDS ME,
AND YEAH, IT'S REALLY STARTING TO POUR NOW.
I NEED TO FIND A SHELTER OF SOME SORT.
AND ALL OF THIS WALL IS GOING TO OFFER ME SOME SORT OF PROTECTION,
AT LEAST FROM THE WIND AND THE RAIN FROM THAT SIDE.
AND IF I CAN BUILD SOME SORT OF A-FRAME TO PROTECT ME THIS SIDE,
AT LEAST I SHOULD GET SOME COVER.
THE BAD WEATHER IS ABOUT TO HIT ME.
I'VE GOT MINUTES UNTIL THE DELUGE BEGINS.
OKAY, WHAT I CAN DO HERE IS
BUILD A BIT OF A BED STRAIGHT ACROSS FROM HERE,
ONE BRACE HERE, ONE ONTO THIS LEDGE, AND THAT'S
GOING TO AT LEAST LIFT ME OFF THE GROUND.
AND, THE WORST THING YOU CAN DO WHEN IT'S A TORRENTIAL THUNDERSTORM
IS JUST BE ON THE GROUND BECAUSE ALL OF THIS CAN JUST TURN TO WATER.
SO, FIRST THING IS, I NEED A PLATFORM.
MY PLAN IS TO BUILD AN ABORIGINAL SHELTER.
THE ABORIGINES USE WHATEVER IS AT HAND TO DO THIS.
STICKS FOR THE FRAMEWORK, IVY FOR CORDAGE,
AND BUNCHES OF LEAVES MAKE PERFECT ROOFING AND BEDDING.
GOD, YOU HEAR THAT?
MAN, THIS IS GETTING CLOSER.
AS WELL, THERE'S LIGHTENING.
AND, THAT'S WHERE THE 100 PERCENT
HUMIDITY HAS GONE STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR
AND NOW IT IS POURING DOWN. AND, THIS IS THE WET SEASON--
KIMBERLY, NORTHERN AUSTRALIA.
THAT IS WHY I WAS BUILDING A BED.
THIS, FIVE MINUTES AGO, WAS COMPLETELY DRY AND LOOK,
IT'S NOW A FOOT OF WATER,
AND IF I JUST TRIED TO BUILD A SHELTER ON THE GROUND,
THAT'S WHAT I'D BE SLEEPING IN.
AND, YOU KNOW THE AMAZING THING IS
TOMORROW IT WILL BE ALL BONE DRY AGAIN BY LUNCHTIME.
( THUNDER RUMBLES )
AND LOOK AT THAT. YOU SEE THAT?
JUST POURING OFF THIS SANDY OUTCROP.
IT MIGHT WELL JUST STOP RAINING IN FIVE MINUTES' TIME,
AND ALL I HAVE HAD TO DRINK SO FAR TODAY IS PISS, URINE.
SO I WANT TO FILL THIS UP.
THIS IS JUST LIKE MANNA FROM HEAVEN.
WHOO!
THAT IS SO NICE.
COME ON, RAIN!
I'M HYDRATED.
AGAIN, I'VE EVEN HAD A BIT OF A WASH,
BUT I HAVE REALLY GOT TO GET THIS SHELTER FINISHED
BECAUSE IF I'M THIS WET WHEN IT GETS DARK,
I'M ALSO GOING TO GET REALLY COLD.
BUT AS THE STORM RAGES ON, MY CONCERN IS THE LIGHTNING.
IN AUSTRALIA, LIGHTNING STRIKES ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR TEN DEATHS A YEAR, AND THE STORM IS GETTING CLOSER.
I'M IN THE KIMBERLEY IN NORTH AUSTRALIA.
I'M CAUGHT IN A THUNDERSTORM,
AND NIGHT IS FALLING.
I NEED A SHELTER FAST.
THE RAIN MAY BE SLOWING DOWN,
BUT OUT HERE IN THE WET SEASON,
IT WILL DEFINITELY RAIN AGAIN.
I'M MAKING MY ROOF AT AN ANGLE TO HELP THE RAIN RUN OFF.
I'VE PUT UP A BASIC FRAME MADE FROM THIN BRANCHES,
AND I'M TYING IT ALL TOGETHER WITH VINES.
OKAY. NOW I JUST NEED AS MUCH GREEN FOLIAGE I CAN
JUST TO COVER THIS.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE MY WATERPROOFING.
I'M USING EUCALYPTUS LEAVES.
THEY ARE PLENTIFUL IN THE OUTBACK,
AND THEY MAKE EXCELLENT THATCH.
AND WHAT I CAN ALSO DO IS USE SOME OF THIS SMALLER,
SOFTER STUFF AS A BIT OF A SPRINGY MATTRESS.
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE THAN THAT.
ALL I NOW NEED IS A FIRE TO GET THESE CLOTHES DRY
BEFORE IT GETS DARK.
AND THE KAPOK TREE SHELLS HAVE KEPT MY TINDER DRY.
GOT TINDER, SOME KINDLING, AND SOME WOOD.
AND THEN WHAT I AM GOING TO USE TO LIGHT THE FIRE
IS THIS STRIKER AND THIS FLINT.
AND FLINT IS AN ANCIENT WAY OF LIGHTING FIRES.
ALL THIS IS, IS A MODERN WAY OF DOING IT.
AND I STRIKE THE STEEL ALONG THE FLINT LIKE THAT,
AND IT CREATES THAT SPARK.
AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS
IS THAT WILL EVEN GO WHEN IT IS SOAKING WET.
PUT THE FLINT RIGHT DOWN LOW,
AND AS I STRIKE IT, I AM BLASTING
ALL THAT SPARK STRAIGHT INTO IT,
AND LOOK -- FIRST TIME.
AND IT'S NOT SURPRISING.
THE SPARK GIVEN OFF BY THE FLINT
IS OVER 5,500 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
AND INCREDIBLY, IS BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN.
ALL I NEED TO DO NOW IS GENTLY COAX IT.
I THINK THE FEELING IS WHEN IT SUDDENLY RAINS IS IT BRINGS --
BRINGS OUT FRESH HOPE, YOU KNOW?
AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE TIMES WHERE IT IS JUST SO DRY
AND SO HOT.
YOU THINK, "HOW IS IT POSSIBLE JUST TO SUSTAIN LIFE HERE?"
AND THE ANSWER IS WHEN IT RAINS.
AND AUSTRALIA REALLY IS -- IT'S A PLACE OF EXTREMES.
YOU KNOW, WHEN IT IS HOT, IT IS ROASTING.
WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS,
AND WHEN IT'S BEAUTIFUL, IT REALLY IS SPECTACULAR.
FINALLY THE STORM PASSES,
AND I CAN TRY AND GET SOME MUCH NEEDED REST.
I'M GOING TO START EARLY TO HELP AVOID THE 125-DEGREE HEAT
AND HUMIDITY, BUT FIRST I HAVE SPOTTED BREAKFAST.
NOW, THIS IS A ROCK FIG TREE.
LOOK AT THAT. I CAN TELL THIS JUST BECAUSE IT
HAS THIS VERY DISTINCT GRAY BARK.
AND THEY OFTEN CLING TO THE SIDE OF JUST LITTLE CLIFFS,
JUST LIKE THIS.
AND ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEAVES,
THEY ARE OVAL-SHAPED AND ALSO THEY ARE FURRY,
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THAT FUR
STOPS THEM LOSING A LOT OF THEIR PRECIOUS MOISTURE.
PROBLEM IS, ALL THE FRUITS ARE UP THERE.
BUT CLIMBING UP TO GET THE FRUITS IS A RISK.
THIS SANDSTONE IS BRITTLE AND CAN BE GREASY WHEN IT IS WET.
SO I AM GOING TO USE THE ROOTS AS HANDHOLDS TO HELP ME.
THE ROOTS GO DEEP INTO THE CLIFF,
SO THEY SHOULD BE STRONG AND SAFE.
OKAY.
THESE ARE THE GUYS I AM AFTER.
THERE WE GO.
AND LET US PLUCK ONE OF THESE OFF.
ALL OF THIS FRUIT IS EDIBLE.
IT'S NOT RIPE, BUT IT'S EDIBLE.
AND IF YOU OPEN IT UP, SEE ALL OF THOSE FIG SEEDS INSIDE?
AND ALL OF THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD
VITAMIN C.
IT'S PRETTY TASTELESS.
IT'S LIKE KIND OF CHEWING ON CARDBOARD,
BUT I KNOW IT'S GOOD.
I WANT TO COLLECT A LOAD OF THESE,
STICK THEM IN MY POCKET.
AS MANY AS I CAN.
TWO MORE FOR LUCK.
WELL, I'VE GOT SOME FOOD, AT LEAST.
NAVIGATING ACROSS THIS VAST LANDSCAPE IS DIFFICULT
WITH SO FEW LANDMARKS TO HELP ME.
I'M HAVING TO RELY ON MY WATCH FOR NAVIGATION,
BUT THE ABORIGINES HAVE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT METHOD.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT ABORIGINALS ARE IN MANY WAYS
THE ULTIMATE SURVIVORS IN THE OUTBACK
IS THAT THEY USE THESE SONGS
THAT ARE PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION
AS A WAY OF NAVIGATING THROUGH THIS WILDERNESS.
AND WHAT THESE SONGS DO IS THEY ACT AS LIKE --
IT'S LIKE A SINGING MAP, YOU KNOW,
DIRECTING THEM BETWEEN HUNTING GROUNDS,
WATER HOLES AND GOOD PLACES TO SHELTER.
BUT I DON'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THAT SORT OF HISTORY.
INSTEAD, I HAVE JUST GOT TO RELY ON WHAT I KNOW.
AND THAT MEANS STICKING TO MY NORTHWEST BEARING
AND HOPING THAT I WILL EVENTUALLY FIND CIVILIZATION.
I'VE HAD LITTLE LUCK FINDING FOOD,
BUT AS THE DAY GOES ON, I'VE GOT TO LOOK HARDER.
I NEED ENERGY.
THERE'S A SPIDER THERE, A CRUCIFIX SPIDER,
AND THEY ARE CALLED THESE JUST FROM THE SHAPE,
WHERE THEY SIT IN THEIR PREY,
AND THAT CROSS-LIKE CRUCIFIX SHAPE,
AND THEN ALL THE WEB AROUND IT,
AND THE WEB THEY SPIN IS ACTUALLY AMAZING.
IT IS ACTUALLY 50 TIMES STRONGER THAN STEEL.
AND I WAS TAUGHT IN THE MILITARY,
YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE SPIDERS' WEBS TO HELP WITH WOUNDS.
AND WHAT YOU DO, YOU COLLECT IT ALL UP, BUNCH IT UP,
PUT IT IN THE WOUND, AND IT WILL HELP COAGULATE THE BLOOD.
IT ACTS AS LIKE A FIELD DRESSING.
BUT THIS SPIDER HERE, IT DOES HAVE SOME POISON IN IT,
BUT NOT ENOUGH REALLY TO HARM YOU.
IT MIGHT JUST GIVE A LITTLE NIP.
AND SO MUCH OF SURVIVAL IS ABOUT OPPORTUNISTIC HUNTING,
AND THIS IS EDIBLE.
HERE WE GO.
AND GRAB HIM HERE, SQUEEZE HIS HEAD,
AND THEN...PUT HIM IN.
UGH!
JUST TASTES OF KIND OF GUTS
AND PUS AND BRAIN.
SPIDERS AND OTHER INSECTS
ARE ALWAYS A GOOD SOURCE OF PROTEIN,
BUT IT'S NOT REALLY ENOUGH.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, LAST NIGHT'S RAINWATER
IS NOW GETTING LOW AGAIN.
SO I'M GOING TO CLIMB UP TO A VANTAGE POINT TO SEE
IF I CAN SPOT ANY SIGNS OF WATER.
BUT STILL, NOTHING.
ALL I CAN DO IS CARRY ON.
COMING OFF THESE HILLS IS NOT AS EASY AS I THOUGHT.
LOOK, I'VE JUST COME ACROSS THIS SHEER GORGE HERE,
AND THEY ARE ALL THE WAY UP THERE,
AND THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO CROSS THIS.
I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO GET DOWN.
AND THAT'S NOT THE ONLY DANGER I'LL FACE.
AHEAD ARE SNAKES AND, MOST DANGEROUS OF ALL,
AUSTRALIA'S LETHAL CROCODILES.
I'M TRAVELING THROUGH THE SEARING HEAT AND HUMIDITY
OF AUSTRALIA'S OUTBACK.
I'M HEADING NORTHWEST, TRYING TO GET TO THE COAST,
WHERE MOST PEOPLE LIVE,
BUT NOW I AM OUT OF WATER,
AND I'M STUCK AT THE TOP OF THIS SHEER 40-FOOT DROP.
THIS GORGE ISN'T LOOKING TOO GREAT.
AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH SOME SPECTACULAR LANDSCAPES
IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS,
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ONE MIGHT WELL
BE THE ONE THAT BEATS ME.
LET'S HAVE A LOOK.
YEAH, IT IS PROBABLY ABOUT --
PROBABLY ABOUT 40 FOOT DOWN HERE,
BUT ACTUALLY THIS TREE DOES NOT LOOK TOO BAD,
AND IF I COULD JUST REACH THAT MAIN TRUNK,
I MIGHT WELL BE ABLE TO JUST, LIKE, MONKEY DOWN IT.
AND ACTUALLY THERE WAS A HIKER A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
WHO GOT LOST, AND HE FOUND HIMSELF
AT THE TOP OF A GORGE LIKE THIS,
AND HIS ONLY WAY OUT WAS TO GO DOWN A TREE.
AND HE WENT FOR IT AND HE MANAGED IT AND HE GOT OUT,
BUT IT'S RISKY.
OKAY. I'VE JUST GOT TO GET MY LEG AROUND THIS TREE TRUNK.
WHAT I'VE GOT TO DO HERE IS REALLY GRIP JUST WITH MY THIGHS
AND LET THEM TAKE THE STRAIN AND JUST BALANCE WITH MY ARMS
AND TRY AND PROTECT MY FAMILY JEWELS.
WOW.
WHOA!
WOW!
WHOA!
OHHH.
WELL, I'M DOWN, AND THERE'S WATER, LOOK. AS WELL.
I NEED WATER,
BUT I CAN'T DRINK THIS WITHOUT KNOWING IT'S SAFE.
I HAVE TO FIND OUT WHERE IT HAS COME FROM FIRST.
IT WILL ONLY BE SAFE
IF IT COMES FROM AN UNDERGROUND SPRING.
WHAT I'VE GOT TO DO IS JUST KEEP FOLLOWING THE STREAM UP HERE
TO FIND WHERE IT STOPS.
YEAH, AND IT IS STILL GOING HERE.
AND, YEAH, LOOK, IT IS DRY UP THERE, AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.
WHEN IT RAINS, IT WILL POUR DOWN HERE.
WHEN IT IS DRY LIKE NOW,
YOU WILL SEE THIS LIKE NATURAL SPRING.
AND THIS -- YEAH, THIS IS THE SOURCE OF IT.
AND IF I DIG DOWN INTO THIS...
HOWEVER MUCH WATER I TAKE OUT,
IT'S JUST GOING TO KEEP REFILLING.
THIS SPRINGWATER HAS FILTERED
`THROUGH THE ROCKS
TO EMERGE AS CLEAN WATER.
THAT MEANS IT DOESN'T EVEN NEED TO BE BOILED.
OHHH.
AND WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IS THAT ALL THIS WATER JUST GETS
CLEANED NATURALLY AS IT FILTERS
THROUGH ALL THE ROCK AND THE SAND.
AND IT'S 100% SAFE, THIS STUFF, TO DRINK.
AND THE GREAT THING IS, HOWEVER MUCH OF IT THAT I DO DRINK,
THIS THING IS JUST GOING TO KEEP WELLING UP AND FILLING UP.
OKAY.
I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THIS WATER DOWNSTREAM.
THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT IT WILL LEAD TO A LARGER RIVER
AND THEN TO THE COAST AND PEOPLE.
WALKING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PART OF ABORIGINAL CULTURE,
AND FOR THEM IT'S ABOUT EXPERIENCING
THE LANDSCAPE AND LEARNING TO LIVE WITH NATURE.
AND FOR ME, I THINK, SO MANY OF MY EARLY CLIMBING EXPEDITIONS
WERE SIMILAR, YOU KNOW?
IT'S ABOUT PUSHING MY OWN BOUNDARIES AND, THROUGH THAT,
FINDING MY SENSE OF IDENTITY.
WOW! LOOK AT THAT!
WHOO!
THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN HOPING FOR -- RUNNING WATER.
AFTER THE HOT PLAINS, FINDING THIS WATER IS PURE JOY.
WHAA!
AND NOW I FEEL LIKE I'M ENTERING
A NEW PHASE IN MY JOURNEY.
OHH...
I JOKE NOT WHEN I SAY IT IS
SEARINGLY HOT HERE,
AND THIS WATER IS JUST GOD SENT.
OHHH.
OHH!
ABORIGINES BELIEVE THAT THE RAINBOW SERPENT MADE THE RIVERS
AS HE TRAVELED ACROSS THE LAND.
AND THAT SERPENT IS A SYMBOL FOR BOTH THE CREATIVE
AND DESTRUCTIVE FORCES OF NATURE.
THESE RIVER GORGES ARE TESTIMONY TO THAT POWER.
ALL AROUND ME ARE SIGNS OF FLASH FLOODS AND DEBRIS.
NOW IN THE WET SEASON, THE RISKS OF THESE FLOODS
ARE EVEN HIGHER.
WHERE THERE IS WATER, THERE IS LIFE,
AND NOT ALL OF IT IS FRIENDLY.
WHAA!
LOOK AT THIS!
HE COULD BE DANGEROUS, BUT HE COULD ALSO BE MY DINNER.
I'M IN THE BAKING HEAT OF THE KIMBERLEY
IN NORTH AUSTRALIA.
I'M FOLLOWING A RIVER DOWN TO CIVILIZATION,
BUT I HAVE ALSO JUST COME ACROSS A SNAKE.
AND WITH 3,000 SNAKEBITES A YEAR IN AUSTRALIA,
I'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL.
IT'S AN OLIVE PYTHON.
LET'S JUST GET HIM OUT OF HERE.
HERE WE ARE. YOU COME -- RIGHT, YOU COME.
WE JUST LEAVE HIS HEAD ON THE GROUND.
THEY ARE ALWAYS CALMEST WHEN THEY GOT THEIR HEAD
ON THE GROUND LIKE THAT, BUT THIS IS --
YEAH, THIS IS A PRETTY COMMON SNAKE IN AUSTRALIA.
AND HERE WE GO.
WE'LL JUST GET HIS HEAD.
YEAH, HE WILL PROBABLY LIVE OFF, LIKE, RODENTS, SKINKS,
EVEN OTHER -- ACTUALLY, OTHER SMALL SNAKES.
AND ONE THING THERE ARE NO SHORTAGE OF IN AUSTRALIA
ARE SNAKES.
IN FACT, I THINK IT IS SOMETHING LIKE 21 OF THE 25
MOST POISONOUS SNAKES IN THE WORLD
ARE ACTUALLY IN AUSTRALIA.
BUT LUCKILY THIS, FOR ME, IS A REAL FIND.
THIS ISN'T ONE OF THE POISONOUS ONES.
THIS IS ONE I CAN EAT.
AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO KEEP HIM ALIVE
UNTIL I'M READY TO EAT HIM, BUT THAT'S GREAT.
THAT'S THE PROTEIN I NEED.
AND HE'S DINNER.
IN THESE CONDITIONS,
FOOD WILL GO OFF WITHIN JUST HALF A DAY,
SO KEEPING IT ALIVE MAKES THE MOST SENSE.
IT'S GETTING LATE IN THE DAY NOW, AND I'VE GOT FOOD.
I'VE GOT WATER HERE.
AND IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT
FINDING SOME SHELTER.
BUT OVER THERE IT LOOKS LIKE A BIT OF A LEDGE.
I JUST NEED TO CROSS THIS RIVER WITH THIS GUY.
THE SNAKE SHOULDN'T MIND GETTING WET,
AS LONG AS I KEEP HIS HEAD OUT OF THE WATER.
THE ABORIGINES HAVE ALWAYS LIVED
IN HARMONY WITH THE LAND,
ONLY TAKING WHAT NATURE CAN MAINTAIN.
AND TODAY THEY'RE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA
ALLOWED TO KILL INDIGENOUS SPECIES.
THE ONE EXCEPTION IS WHEN YOU ARE IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION.
NOW I'VE GOT A SAFE PLACE TO REST, I CAN KILL MY DINNER.
AND THE EASIEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO SWING A SNAKE
THROUGH THE AIR,
SMASHING HIS HEAD AGAINST THE ROCKS.
IT'S QUICK AND IT'S PAINLESS.
AS IT IS SO HUMID, I DON'T NEED A SHELTER TONIGHT.
I'M GOING TO SLEEP ON THIS LEDGE UNDER THE STARS.
I'VE GUTTED AND I'VE SKINNED THE SNAKE
AND I'VE GOT IT COOKING JUST ON A LITTLE, LIKE A SKEWER.
AND I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO EAT THIS.
IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD PROTEIN, BUT I KNOW SNAKE.
THIS IS GOING TO TASTE DELICIOUS.
ALL SNAKES IN THE WORLD ARE EDIBLE,
BUT MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT EAT THE GUTS OR THE HEAD,
WHICH CONTAINS THE POISON SACKS.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO COOK THE MEAT THOROUGHLY
AS IT CAN CONTAIN TONGUE WORM.
THIS CAN CAUSE VOMITING AND IN THE WORST CASES, DEATH.
AND ACTUALLY THAT IS JUST DELICIOUS.
IT'S KIND OF...
DEFINITELY VERY CHICKENY, BUT GOOD.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY HOW THE ABORIGINALS WOULD HUNT.
YOU KNOW, THAT THEY TAKE WHAT THE LAND WOULD GIVE THEM
AND NO MORE.
AND IN A WAY IT'S BEEN THE SAME FOR ME, YOU KNOW?
CAME ACROSS THIS SNAKE,
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE JUST ENOUGH
TO KEEP GOING AND KEEP MOVING.
( THUNDER RUMBLES )
IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SLEEP AT THE MOMENT
JUST BECAUSE I AM STILL JUST POURING IN SWEAT.
IT'S SO HUMID.
BUT IT HAS JUST GIVEN ME TIME JUST TO SIT
AND LOOK AROUND AND LISTEN.
I CAN HEAR THE RIVER FLOWING.
THERE IS A DISTANT THUNDERSTORM,
SO I CAN HEAR THE ODD CRACK OF LIGHTNING OCCASIONALLY,
AND IT JUST GIVES ME THAT TIME
JUST TO GO ACTUALLY, "WOW, THIS IS SPECIAL."
AND IT'S JUST FOR ME A REAL PRIVILEGE TO BE IN SOMEWHERE
SO WILD BUT ALSO SO UNIQUE.
AND THAT, FOR ME, KEEPS MY SPIRITS GOING.
DAWN HAS BROKEN OVER THE OUTBACK IN NORTH AUSTRALIA.
AS SOON AS THE SUN COMES OVER THE HORIZON,
I CAN FEEL ITS WARMING RAYS.
THE TEMPERATURE IS ALREADY
90 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND RISING,
BUT AT LEAST I AM NEAR WATER.
IT'S TIME FOR AN EARLY-MORNING DIP.
WHOO!
OKAY.
PLAN TODAY IS JUST TO KEEP FOLLOWING THIS RIVER DOWNSTREAM.
AND IT'S THIS THAT I HOPE IS GOING TO LEAD ME TO PEOPLE.
BUT THE DANGER AS I HEAD DOWN -- THIS RIVER IS GOING TO GET
WIDER, BIGGER, AND ALSO, AS IT GETS CLOSER TO THE SEA,
CROCODILES AND ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS FOR ME
ARE THE SALTWATER ONES.
AS I GET NEARER TO THE COAST,
I START TO SEE THE CROCODILES.
SOME OF THESE ARE MAN-EATERS.
I'M FOLLOWING A RIVER DOWNSTREAM
THAT WILL HOPEFULLY TAKE ME TO CIVILIZATION.
BUT NOW I'M ENTERING CROCODILE TERRITORY.
AS I HEAD FURTHER DOWNSTREAM,
THE BANKS ARE WIDER AND THERE ARE FEWER ROCKS,
WHICH MAKES MY JOURNEY EASIER,
BUT AS THE LANDSCAPE CHANGES,
I AM FACED WITH NEW DANGERS.
EVERYTHING IS JUST CHANGING NOW.
LOOK, THE WEATHER IS GETTING WORSE.
THE WIND IS PICKING UP, BUT ALSO,
THIS RIVER IS REALLY WIDENING,
WHICH MEANS IT'S PRIME CROCODILE TERRITORY.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF CROCODILES IN AUSTRALIA.
SALTWATER CROCODILES ARE THE MAN-EATERS,
AND THEY TEND TO STAY NEAR THE COAST.
SO FAR I'M ONLY SEEING FRESHWATER ONES,
BUT EVEN THESE CAN ATTACK.
HEY, LOOK, LOOK, THERE YOU GO.
THERE IS FRESHWATER CROCODILE,
20 METERS AWAY.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET UP A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.
HE'S ONLY A SMALL ONE.
KEEP AN EYE OUT AROUND, AS WELL.
THERE YOU GO. LOOK, LOOK.
THESE FRESHWATER CROCS ARE FAST.
THEY CAN RUN UP TO TEN MILES AN HOUR IN SHORT BURSTS,
SO YOU HAVE GOT TO KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.
SEE, WHAT THEY LIKE HERE IS ALL THESE SHALLOW POOLS
THAT THEY'RE JUST BASKING IN.
WE HAVE GOT QUITE A LOT OF THESE POOLS AROUND US, GUYS.
LET'S JUST KEEP MOVING.
OKAY, THIS IS A MUCH SAFER DISTANCE TO BE.
WE'RE ABOUT 50 METERS BACK NOW FROM THE BANK,
AND WE NEED TO KEEP THAT DISTANCE
AND KEEP FOLLOWING THE RIVER THERE.
FRESHIES ARE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED BY THEIR LONG, THIN SNOUTS.
THERE'S ANOTHER. THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
FRESHIES TEND TO ATTACK IF CORNERED OR SURPRISED.
I NEVER WANT TO FIND MYSELF BETWEEN A CROC AND THE WATER.
HOWEVER, AS I MOVE DOWNSTREAM, I AM MORE LIKELY TO RUN INTO
SALTWATER CROCODILES, AND AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,
THEY OFTEN HEAD UPSTREAM,
AWAY FROM THEIR USUAL COASTAL HABITAT.
IT'S THEIR BREEDING SEASON,
AND THAT MAKES THEM EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE.
OH! SEE THAT? LOOK.
SALTWATER CROCODILE.
YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT IN THIS DISTANCE.
NOW, THESE GUYS ARE THE ONES YOU WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR.
IF HE TOOK ME, HE WOULD DRAG ME INTO THE WATER, DEATH ROLL,
AND THEN RIP ME APART,
AND THE CHANCES OF SURVIVING A SALTWATER CROCODILE ATTACK
IN DEEP WATER ARE ALMOST NIL.
AMAZING TO SEE SO CLOSE,
BUT THIS MEANS THERE ARE SALTIES HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO BE CLOSE TO THE RIVER.
I'M GOING TO MOVE BACK INLAND.
COME ON, THEN.
SALTIES HAVE BROAD, ROUND NOSES AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE
AUSTRALIA'S MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL.
THEY'RE CAPABLE OF BITING WITH A FORCE
OF ONE TON PER SQUARE INCH,
AND SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THAT'S EVEN STRONGER
THAN THE TYRANNOSAURUS REX.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 60 UNPROVOKED ATTACKS
IN AUSTRALIA EVERY YEAR.
CROCODILES VERY RARELY MISS THEIR TARGETS.
AND RECENTLY, THERE WAS A GUY CANOEING IN QUEENSLAND
AND A CROCODILE CAME UP UNDERNEATH HIM,
TURNED HIM OVER AND TOOK HIM.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE SALTWATER CROCODILES.
THEY'RE ONE OF OUR PLANET'S MOST RUTHLESS AND EFFICIENT KILLERS.
I'M STILL GOING TO FOLLOW THE RIVER TOWARDS THE COAST
AND CIVILIZATION,
BUT I HAVE TO AVOID THOSE SALTIES,
WHICH HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO LIVE UP TO 200 METERS AWAY
FROM THE RIVER'S EDGE.
THIS AREA, THOUGH, SHOULD BE SAFE,
BECAUSE I AM SEEING OTHER ANIMALS, LIKE THE BROLGA,
A TYPE OF CRANE, AND THE ICONIC WALLABY.
BUT IT'S JUST LIKE EVERYTHING AROUND HERE --
IT'S QUICKER THAN ME, IT'S SMARTER THAN ME.
JUST BETTER AT SURVIVING THAN ME.
AWAY FROM THE RIVER MEANS ONCE AGAIN
I'M AT THE MERCY OF THE SEARING HEAT,
AND I'M WITH A LIMITED SUPPLY OF WATER.
SIGNS OF CIVILIZATION DO NOT ALWAYS MEAN SAFETY, THOUGH,
AND FINDING THIS FENCE IS LITTLE COMFORT.
AUSTRALIA HAS SOME OF THE LONGEST FENCES IN THE WORLD.
ONE IS OVER 3,500 MILES LONG.
THAT IS 700 MILES WIDER THAN THE USA.
THE CONDITIONS HERE HAVE BEEN REALLY EXTREME,
AND IT'S AMAZING THAT ANYTHING MANAGES TO SURVIVE.
THOSE WHO DO, LIKE THE ABORIGINES,
HAVE LEARNED TO ADAPT
AND TO WORK WITH THIS UNFORGIVING WILDERNESS.
IT'S ONLY THEN CAN YOU HOPE TO SURVIVE
AUSTRALIA'S GREAT OUTBACK.
AND THIS MEANS THE END OF MY JOURNEY.
AND YOU CAN JUST SEE SOME BUILDINGS OVER THERE GLISTENING.
THAT'S PROBABLY A SMALL OUTBACK COMMUNITY,
BUT THAT IS MY TICKET HOME.
AND REALLY, I THINK WHAT I'VE LEARNED
IS THAT THE ABORIGINALS REALLY ARE
THE ULTIMATE OUTBACK DWELLERS,
BUT THEY'RE ALSO THE ULTIMATE GUARDIANS OF THE LAND.
AND IN SO MANY WAYS IT IS US THAT HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN
FROM THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS GREAT WILDERNESS.