-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
I'M BEAR GRYLLS,
AND I'M GONNA SEEK OUT SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME CHALLENGES
IN THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH,
WHERE HAVING THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS
CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
WHOO!
I'M IN PATAGONIA,
ONE OF THE REMOTEST, WILDEST PLACES ON THE PLANET.
SEE THAT? AVALANCHE.
THIS ANCIENT AND LEGENDARY LAND
HAS SOME OF THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES ON EARTH
AND FURIOUS WINDS
THAT CAN BLAST AT UP TO 150 MILES AN HOUR.
I'VE STARTED DIGGING JUST IN TIME.
IT'S A DESOLATE LANDSCAPE CARVED BY ICE AND FIRE.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR HUMANS TO BE.
BEING STRANDED HERE FORCES YOU TO PUSH YOURSELF HARDER...
THAT'S A DROP!
...AND FURTHER...
I'M JUST NOT GONNA MAKE IT ACROSS.
...THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.
WHOO!
ONLY THE TOUGHEST CAN SURVIVE THIS EXTREME WILDERNESS.
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT IT TAKES
TO STAY ALIVE AT THE FURTHEST ENDS OF THE WORLD.
I'VE COME HERE TO EXPLORE
ONE OF THE WILDEST, WINDIEST PLACES
ON THE FACE OF OUR PLANET -- PATAGONIA.
I'M ABOUT TO PARACHUTE INTO THE PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD,
A SUB-ZERO WONDERLAND
STRADDLING THE SOUTHERN ANDES MOUNTAINS.
IT'S THE THIRD LARGEST AREA OF CONTINENTAL ICE
AFTER ANTARCTICA AND GREENLAND --
ABOUT AS FAR FROM CIVILIZATION AS YOU CAN GET.
IT'S NOT SOMEWHERE YOU'D WANT TO BE LOST.
THAT'S WHERE I'M BEING DROPPED --
DOWN THERE --
RIGHT IN THE HEART OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST WILDERNESSES.
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT,
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANYONE HAS ATTEMPTED
TO PARACHUTE ONTO THE PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD.
THE WEATHER HAS TO BE PERFECT --
NO WIND AND CLEAR SKIES -- AND MY TIMING MUST BE SPOT-ON.
THE TINIEST ERROR,
AND I COULD BE BLOWN MILES FROM MY LANDING ZONE
INTO THE FROZEN WASTELAND.
I'VE MADE IT, BUT ONLY JUST.
THE TEMPERATURE IS WAY BELOW FREEZING,
AND THERE'S NOTHING BUT SNOW AND ICE
AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE.
MAN ALIVE.
MY EARS ARE JUST, LIKE, BURNING.
I CAN'T FEEL MY FINGERS AT ALL.
OKAY, I NEED TO GET THIS STASHED,
AND I NEED TO GET MOVING AND GET THE BLOOD GOING AGAIN.
I'VE GOT SOME BASIC SURVIVAL GEAR
AND A FEW LITTLE SURPRISES,
AND MY CREW IS COMING WITH ME.
BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND UP HERE.
YOU'RE SO EXPOSED AT THE MERCY OF ELEMENTS WHICH CAN KILL.
BENEATH ME, THE ICE FIELD IS A MILE DEEP,
AND IT SPRAWLS A CHILLY 8,000 SQUARE MILES.
AND IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, HARD TO DESCRIBE,
BUT IF YOU IMAGINE ANTARCTICA
AND THE HIMALAYAS ROLLED INTO ONE,
YOU'D BE GETTING SOMEWHERE CLOSE.
YOU WON'T FIND FOOD. YOU CAN'T MAKE FIRE.
YOUR ONLY CHANCE OF SURVIVAL IS TO HEAD DOWN.
JUST KEEP ON GOING.
DON'T STOP.
EARLY-19th-CENTURY EXPLORERS CAME HERE
IN SEARCH OF A MYSTERIOUS SMOKING PEAK
GLARING ABOVE THE SNOWS.
THE LOCAL MAPUCHE INDIANS CALLED IT "CHALTEN,"
OR "SMOKING MOUNTAIN,"
A SILENT SENTINEL KNOWN TODAY AS MOUNT FITZ ROY,
ITS SUMMIT OFTEN SHROUDED BY MIST.
IT WAS FIRST CLIMBED IN 1952
AND STANDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ICE FIELD
ON THE BORDER BETWEEN CHILE AND ARGENTINA.
STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL, BUT DON'T BE FOOLED.
THIS IS A FROZEN DEATH ZONE.
[ RUMBLING ]
SEE THAT COMING STRAIGHT OFF THE MOUNTAIN?
AVALANCHE.
AND THIS IS WHY THIS AREA IS SO DANGEROUS.
YOU DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND HERE, GUYS.
THAT WHOLE SLAB JUST DROPPED. LET'S KEEP MOVING.
AVALANCHES CAN RACE DOWN AT 200 MILES AN HOUR,
SWEEPING ALL BEFORE THEM IN A DEATHLY EMBRACE.
YOU HAVEN'T GOT A HOPE.
AND THEN THERE ARE CREVASSES.
AND EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THIS LOOKS JUST BEAUTIFUL,
IT'S ACTUALLY RIDDLED WITH DANGERS.
IF LOOK UP STRAIGHT AHEAD, SEE ALL OF THOSE CREVASSES?
AND WHAT THOSE ARE ARE BASICALLY GIANT TEARS
IN THE ICE, IN THE GLACIER.
AND WHERE THE GLACIER IS MOVING, UNDER TENSION IT RIPS,
AND IT CREATES THESE HUGE CHASMS.
AND IT'S SO EASY TO DROP INTO ONE OF THOSE.
AND THEN YOU'RE TRAPPED.
IN THE WINTER, SNOW FILLS THESE CRACKS,
AND YOU JUST CAN'T SEE WHAT'S SOLID AND WHAT'S NOT.
THERE YOU GO. LOOK DOWN THERE.
YOU WALK OVER THIS, NOT KNOW ABOUT IT,
THIS IS A BIT WIDER, YOU'LL GO STRAIGHT DOWN IT.
GUYS, I WANT US ROPED UP HERE.
I HATE CREVASSES.
I WAS ALMOST KILLED IN ONE ON THE WAY DOWN
FROM MY FIRST RECONNAISSANCE CLIMB ON EVEREST.
AT 19,000 FEET, THE ICE CRACKED,
AND THE GROUND DISAPPEARED BENEATH ME.
I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS
AND CAME TO SWINGING ON THE END OF A ROPE.
THAT ROPE AND MY TEAMMATES SAVED MY LIFE.
BUT EVEN ROPED TOGETHER,
CROSSING THE ICE IS LIKE TAP-DANCING IN A MINEFIELD.
OKAY. I'M OUT, I'M OUT, I'M OUT.
HOLY SMOKE.
COME AND HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.
THERE YOU GO. SEE DOWN THAT?
THAT IS WHY WE'RE ROPED.
OH, GOD.
AND THAT IS...
ONE LONG WAY DOWN.
YOU'D NEVER WANT TO FIND YOURSELF STUCK IN ONE OF THESE.
AND THIS IS QUITE A BIG ONE.
COME AND HAVE A LOOK AT THIS. I'VE GOT YOU.
THAT'S IT.
NICE AND STEADY.
WHEN I CAME OUT ALIVE FROM EVEREST,
I VOWED NEVER TO SET FOOT IN A CREVASSE AGAIN,
BUT I'M GONNA BREAK THAT VOW
TO SHOW YOU HOW TO GET OUT OF ONE OF THESE ALIVE.
[ GRUNTS ]
AND THIS IS REALLY LIKE BEING
IN A VERY FRIGHTENING DEEP FREEZE.
LOOK AT THAT DROP BELOW.
THE SHEER ICE WALLS ARE AS HARD AS POLISHED MARBLE.
THERE'S NOTHING BUT AN EERIE AND DEAFENING SILENCE.
I'VE REALLY NOTICED THAT COLD.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE OUT OF THE SUNLIGHT,
AND YOU'RE IN A DEEP, DARK, MENACING PLACE.
GET TRAPPED DOWN HERE,
AND YOU'D SOON BECOME PART OF THE SCENERY.
AND GUIDES IN THE ALPS TALK ABOUT,
WHEN THEY GO TO RECOVER CORPSES FROM CREVASSES,
OFTEN HAVING TO USE, LITERALLY, PNEUMATIC DRILLS
TO DRILL A BODY OUT OF THE ICE.
THEY'RE JUST FROZEN SOLID IN THIS STUFF.
AND THIS, FOR ME, BRINGS BACK PRETTY NASTY MEMORIES.
AND IF I'M HONEST, I'M NOT 100% COMFORTABLE DOWN HERE.
IT'S SO DEEP, AND THERE'S NOTHING TO GRAB ON TO.
WITHOUT A ROPE, THERE'S NO WAY YOU'D GET OUT ALIVE.
LOOK AT MY BOOT ON THIS ICE.
YOU'RE JUST COMPLETELY SCREWED. YOU REALLY ARE.
AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU'D WEDGE YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS.
THERE'S NO GRIP. THIS STUFF IS JUST SOLID.
I'M IN THE PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD,
DEEP IN THE HEART OF A CREVASSE.
IT'S JUST LIKE THE ONE
THAT SO NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE IN THE HIMALAYAS.
THERE IS SOMETHING JUST... SINISTER ABOUT THESE PLACES.
I'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF TIGHT SPOTS BEFORE,
BUT THERE ARE FEW THAT MAKE ME THIS SCARED.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ] THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE
FOR HUMANS TO BE OR TO HANG AROUND IN,
AND I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
AND THE WAY I CAN DO THAT IS JUST TO USE A PRUSIK.
AND ALL THIS IS IS A SIMPLE LOOP
THAT HAS SAVED SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES.
AND ALL YOUR DO IS WRAP IT AROUND A FEW TIMES LIKE THAT,
PUT THIS END THROUGH IT...
AND THEN... WHAT YOU THEN NEED TO DO
IS GET YOUR FOOT INTO THAT...
AND STAND UP.
[ GRUNTS ]
AND THEN ONCE YOU'RE UP HERE, YOU SLIDE THAT UP.
THE SOONER YOU'RE OUT OF THIS FROZEN HELL, THE BETTER.
BUT DON'T THINK CRAWLING BACK ONTO THE ICE FIELD
MEANS INSTANT SALVATION.
THE WEATHER HERE IS NOTORIOUSLY FICKLE AND NOTORIOUSLY SAVAGE.
[ WIND HOWLING ]
THE ICE FIELD GETS ABOUT 30 FOOT OF SNOW A YEAR
BLOWN IN BY VICIOUS SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS
FROM THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.
CONDITIONS DON'T GET MUCH WORSE THAN THIS,
EVEN AT THE SOUTH POLE.
IT'S A WILD PLACE
WHERE THE NORMAL RULES OF SURVIVAL GO OUT OF THE WINDOW.
THERE'S A FAMOUS STORY OF A PLANE CRASH IN THE ANDES
JUST NORTH OF PATAGONIA IN THE '70s,
AND ON BOARD WERE A LOAD OF RUGBY PLAYERS FROM URUGUAY.
AND SOMEHOW, 50 PEOPLE MANAGED TO SURVIVE
THE INITIAL IMPACT OF THE CRASH,
AND THEY DID JUST THE RIGHT THING.
THEY SHELTERED IN THE WRECKAGE OF THE PLANE,
BUILT THEMSELVES A SNOW WALL.
AND IF THEY HADN'T DONE THAT,
THEY WOULD HAVE ALL DIED THAT FIRST NIGHT --
YOU KNOW, TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS MINUS 30 DEGREES.
BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL OVER TWO MONTHS LATER
THAT THEY WERE RESCUED.
AND THOSE THAT SURVIVED ONLY DID SO
BECAUSE THEY HAD RESORTED TO CANNIBALISM.
AND IN CONDITIONS LIKE THIS, YOU CAN SEE THAT, REALLY,
THAT WAS THEIR ONLY CHANCE OF STAYING ALIVE.
IF YOU'RE CAUGHT IN A BLIZZARD,
FINDING SHELTER HAS TO BE YOUR ONE AND ONLY PRIORITY.
THIS WHOLE MOUNTAINSIDE IS JUST SO FEATURELESS.
THERE'S JUST NO NATURAL SHELTER HERE.
BUT WHAT I HAVE GOT
IS JUST TONS AND TONS OF SNOW UNDER MY FEET,
AND SNOW IS A REALLY GOOD INSULATOR.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS JUST MAKE A REALLY SIMPLE SNOW CAVE.
UNLESS YOU GET OUT OF THE WIND, YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.
LOOSE DRIFT SNOW OFTEN BUILDS UP ON THE LEE SLOPES,
AND THIS MAKES IT EASY TO DIG DOWN AND BURROW IN.
EVEN IF IT IS HALFWAY UP A MOUNTAIN...
IN THE FREEZING WIND AND SNOW,
THERE'S SOMETHING QUIETLY SATISFYING...
ABOUT MAKING...
A SNOW CAVE.
OR AS MY LITTLE BOY WOULD SAY, "DEN."
[ LAUGHS ]
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE -- THESE MOUNTAINS CAN KILL.
EVEN THE BEST-PREPARED ARE CAUGHT OUT.
A FEW YEARS AGO,
A CHILEAN ARMY BATTALION ON EXERCISE NEAR HERE
WAS CAUGHT UNAWARES IN A BLIZZARD.
IN ONE NIGHT, 25 CONSCRIPTS FROZE TO DEATH.
IT LOOKS LIKE I'VE STARTED DIGGING JUST IN TIME.
THE WIND'S BACK AGAIN.
AND THE WEATHER HERE JUST CHANGES,
LITERALLY, LIKE MINUTE TO MINUTE.
AND THERE'S A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE FROM DOWN HERE...
TO UP HERE.
I'M COMPRESSING THE SNOW INTO BLOCKS TO SEAL THE ENTRANCE.
IT'S STILL GONNA BE COLD,
BUT IT WILL KEEP THOSE RELENTLESS WINDS AT BAY.
I'M MAKING REALLY GOOD PROGRESS NOW.
I'VE BEEN GOING PROBABLY 10, 15 MINUTES,
BUT I'VE STILL GOT A BIT OF DAYLIGHT.
AND REALLY, I JUST WANT TO KEEP GOING WITH IT
SO I CAN ACTUALLY SLEEP PROPERLY INSIDE THIS THING
AND STAY THE WHOLE NIGHT COMFORTABLY.
AND BELIEVE ME, THESE SNOW HOLES WORK.
IN 1996, 12 MOUNTAINEERS WERE TRAPPED
ON THE NORTHERN PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD IN A BLIZZARD.
14 DAYS LATER, THEY WERE FOUND ALIVE
THANKS TO BURROWING INTO THE SNOW.
IT'S TAKEN ME ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF TO FINISH THIS CAVE.
[ SIGHS ]
NOT A BAD JOB, EVEN THOUGH I SAY IT MYSELF.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
BUT BEFORE YOU HOLE UP FOR THE NIGHT,
BE EXTRA CAREFUL ABOUT ANSWERING THE CALL OF NATURE.
ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS WITNESSED A CLIMBER ON EVEREST
GET OUT OF HER TENT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
TO HAVE A PEE.
AND SHE ONLY HAD HER INNER BOOTS ON,
AND SHE ACTUALLY THEN SLIPPED,
AND SHE FELL 5,000 FOOT TO HER DEATH.
AND THAT'S WHY CLIMBERS ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE A PEE BOTTLE.
BUT I HAVEN'T GOT A PEE BOTTLE,
BUT I HAVE GOT MY WATER BOTTLE, AND IT'S EMPTY NOW,
AND I NEED TO PEE, SO I CAN JUST USE THAT.
AND WHAT IT'S GONNA DO, AT LEAST, IS KEEP ME WARM,
RATHER THAN JUST WASTING THE PEE.
I'M GONNA PUT THIS ON HERE...
[ ZIPPER OPENS ]
...AND THEN JUST PEE INTO THIS.
[ URINATING ]
AND I HAD A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE ONCE, CLIMBING,
DOING THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
AND THE PEE BOTTLE SLIPPED OUT OF MY HAND,
AND I HAD A SLEEPING BAG FULL OF A LITER OF PEE
FOR THE NEXT WEEK.
IT WAS REALLY BAD. IT JUST STANK.
SO SINCE THEN, I'M ALWAYS REALLY CAREFUL.
NOW I'M GONNA PUT THE LID ON THAT.
TUCK THAT DOWN MY JACKET,
AND HOPEFULLY, THAT WILL KEEP ME WARM.
BUT I'M QUITE SNUG IN HERE,
AND I'M JUST REALLY HOPING FOR A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.
I'M OUT OF THE STORM FOR THE NIGHT,
BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING?
I'VE BEEN BATTERED BY BLIZZARDS,
AND I'VE SPENT THE NIGHT SHELTERING IN A SNOW HOLE,
BUT NOW, THERE'S AN UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS.
WOW. WHAT A VIEW.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE WORST OF THE STORM HAS PASSED.
IT'S STILL QUITE WINDY.
IT'S AMAZING THE DIFFERENCE IN THERE, THOUGH.
AND ACTUALLY, IT WASN'T A BAD NIGHT --
A LITTLE BIT BUMPY IN THE MATTRESS DEPARTMENT...
AND STILL QUITE COLD.
BUT THIS REALLY CHEERS ME UP.
IT FEELS LIKE ONE OF THOSE TIMES
WHERE THE MOUNTAINS REALLY GIVE YOU STRENGTH
RATHER THAN SAP IT FROM YOU.
BEAUTIFUL.
BUT YOU CAN'T COUNT ON ANYTHING IN PATAGONIA,
AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE THE WEATHER CLOSES IN AGAIN.
AFTER A NIGHT SLEEPING ON THE ICE,
I NEED TO WARM UP A BIT.
THE LAST THING YOU MIGHT EXPECT OUT HERE IS DEHYDRATION,
BUT IT'S AS LETHAL IN THE COLD AS IT IS IN THE HEAT.
YOU CAN LOSE UP TO TWO LITERS OF FLUID IN JUST AN HOUR.
IF YOU DON'T REPLACE THAT LOST WATER,
YOU WOULDN'T LAST MORE THAN A FEW DAYS.
THE THING IS,
THERE'S NOT EXACTLY A LOT OF NICE RUNNING STREAMS UP HERE.
IT'S JUST MASSES OF SNOW.
BUT YOU REALLY NEED TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION
TO START EATING FRESH SNOW.
AND THIS IS A MISTAKE
SOME OF THE SURVIVORS FROM THE ANDES PLANE CRASH MADE.
THEY WOULD START EATING IT, JUST LIKE THIS.
AND WHAT IT DID WAS BURN THEIR LIPS
AND GIVE THEM ULCERS AND BLISTERS INSIDE THEIR MOUTH
AND ALSO REALLY LOWER THEIR BODY-CORE TEMPERATURE.
SO INSTEAD, JUST GET YOUR WATER BOTTLE
AND JUST STUFF IT FULL OF SNOW.
PRESS IT ALL IN THERE.
AND WHEN THAT'S FULL, STUFF IT UP YOUR JUMPER --
JUST BETWEEN THE LAYERS, NOT NEXT TO YOUR SKIN.
AND THEN AS YOU MOVE, THAT'S GONNA SLOWLY MELT.
BUT, GUYS, THIS WIND IS PICKING UP,
AND IT'S STARTED SNOWING AGAIN.
I NEED TO GET GOING BEFORE I LOSE THE FEELING IN MY FINGER.
I KNOW FROM BITTER EXPERIENCE
THAT ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL HAZARDS ON THE MOUNTAIN
IS FROSTBITE.
THE BITING COLD FREEZES THE PLASMA IN YOUR CELLS,
WHICH THEN BURST,
CAUSING AGONIZING, GIANT RED BLISTERS.
AND EVENTUALLY, OVER A FEW MONTHS,
THEY'LL TURN BLACK.
AND THEY'LL EITHER NEED TO BE AMPUTATED
OR THEY'LL FALL OFF.
AND ACTUALLY, I'VE GOT ONE FRIEND
WHOSE FINGER FELL OFF ON THE SQUASH COURT.
I'VE GOT ANOTHER FRIEND
WHO HAD TO HACKSAW THROUGH HIS OWN FINGER.
HE SAID HE GOT CHEESED OFF.
HE KEPT STUBBING IT, THE DEAD END OF IT,
SO HE JUST HACKSAWED IT OFF.
THE FIRST STAGE OF FROSTBITE IS FROSTNIP,
AND THAT CAN HAPPEN IN JUST 60 SECONDS.
I'VE HAD FROSTNIP MYSELF ON MY CHEEK AND MY HANDS,
AND IT'S VERY PAINFUL.
AND WHAT HAPPENS, ONCE YOU'VE HAD IT,
YOUR RESISTANCE TO THE COLD AFTER IT IS MUCH LESS.
THAT'S WHY I GET SUCH COLD HANDS NOWADAYS.
BUT THE DISCIPLINE IS ALWAYS
JUST TO KEEP WIGGLING YOUR FINGERS,
WIGGLING YOUR TOES AND ALSO YOUR FACE.
ONCE FROSTBITTEN, NOTHING REPAIRS ITSELF.
THE DAMAGED CELLS WILL NEVER GROW BACK AGAIN.
BLIZZARDS LIKE THIS CAN MEAN TOTAL WHITEOUT.
IT'S ALL TOO EASY TO LOSE ANY SENSE OF DIRECTION
AND EVEN EASIER TO STUMBLE INTO THE PATH OF AN AVALANCHE.
GUYS, YOU NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT CAREFUL HERE,
'CAUSE REALLY, ALL OF THIS FACE
IS PRETTY CLASSIC AVALANCHE TERRITORY.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT ALL THIS FRESH SNOWFALL,
WE'VE GOT A STEEP SLOPE, HIGH WINDS,
AND ALSO, WE'VE GOT THE TRIGGER, WHICH IS US.
AVALANCHES CLAIM THE LIVES OF OVER 200 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR,
AND THEY'VE OFTEN TRIGGERED THEM THEMSELVES.
I RECKON IF I CAN JUST GET UP ONTO THIS RIDGE
THROUGH THIS DEEP SNOW, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD SPOT
TO ACTUALLY SEE IF I CAN TRIGGER JUST A LITTLE AVALANCHE
AND SHOW YOU HOW DANGEROUS THESE CONDITIONS ARE.
IT'S A RISKY THING TO DO,
BUT IT'LL PROVE JUST HOW SWIFT AND LETHAL THEY ARE.
ALL OF THIS RIDGE, REALLY, HERE IS RIPE FOR AVALANCHE.
IT'S IN THE LEE SLOPE.
DEEP, SOFT SNOW.
I RECKON THIS CORNICE, WITH A BIT OF HELP, WILL GO.
AND WHEN ONE BIT GOES, THE REST SHOULD THUNDER DOWN.
TO ANCHOR MY ROPE,
I'M BURYING MY PACK IN THE SNOW.
AND THAT, THEN, IS GONNA HOLD REALLY SOLID.
NOW THAT'S SECURE, I'M GONNA RAPPEL OVER THE RIDGE,
CREATING CHANNELS IN THE SNOW.
WOW. YOU SEE HOW DEEP THIS IS?
THIS SHOULD LOOSEN THE SNOW PACK ENOUGH
TO PROVOKE A MINI-AVALANCHE.
AND I'M USING A MINICAMERA
TO SHOW YOU WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE BURIED ALIVE.
OKAY. LET'S SEE IF THIS IS GONNA TRIGGER.
LOOKS LIKE MY MINI-AVALANCHE IS WORKING.
WHERE'S THE CAMERA GONE?
IN SECONDS, IT'S BURIED.
IF THIS WAS YOU,
YOUR ONLY CHANCE AT GETTING OUT ALIVE IS TO BE FOUND QUICKLY.
BUT THAT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
JUST SIX INCHES OF SNOW,
AND YOU CAN'T EVEN MOVE YOUR EYELIDS,
NEVER MIND OPEN YOUR MOUTH TO CALL FOR HELP.
AFTER HALF AN HOUR,
YOUR CHANCE OF GETTING OUT ALIVE IS A MERE 30%.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT FOUND IN TWO HOURS, YOU'RE DEAD.
AFTER 45 MINUTES, I FINALLY FIND THE CAMERA.
YOU ALIVE?
MY MINI-AVALANCHE WAS JUST A FEW FEET OF SNOW.
IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT'S 1,000 FEET OF AVALANCHE,
TONS AND TONS OF SNOW, AND THE WHOLE THING GONE.
THAT'S HOW DANGEROUS THESE THINGS ARE,
BUT ALSO HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FIND PEOPLE.
I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.
I HAVE FRIENDS THAT I CLIMB WITH OFTEN TEASE ME
THAT I'VE GOT A POCKET FULL OF NIBBLES AND CANDIES
JUST TO SUCK ON, BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN A PLACE THIS BARREN
WITH SO LITTLE TO EAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ACTUALLY
SOME SCIENCE TO THIS.
AND IF YOU JUST HAVE A LITTLE, LIKE THIS,
JUST HAVE A LITTLE SUCK OF IT JUST FOR, LIKE, 10 SECONDS.
WHAT IT ACTUALLY DOES, IT TRIGGERS YOUR BRAIN TO THINK
THAT YOU'RE GETTING FOOD AND THEN IT RELEASES
VITAL ENERGY AND GIVES YOU A REAL BOOST.
I DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND ON THE MOUNTAIN.
WITH THE WEATHER AGAIN WORSENING,
I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE AND FAST.
WHOO!
I'M BEING POUNDED BY A BLIZZARD
ON A FREEZING MOUNTAIN IN PATAGONIA.
AND IN SNOW LIKE THIS, IF YOU NEED TO GET OFF A MOUNTAIN FAST,
YOU CAN USE WHAT'S CALLED THE PLUNGE STEP.
AND ALL YOU DO IS TAKE NICE, LONG STRIDES,
SWING YOUR LEGS OUT, AND SINK DOWN ON YOUR HEEL,
AND IT'S A VERY EFFICIENT WAY OF MOVING.
AND WHAT HAPPENS, THE MOMENTUM BEGINS TO TAKE OVER,
AND THE FASTER YOU GO, THE MORE FUN IT IS!
AND AT LAST, THE WEATHER'S ON MY SIDE.
REALLY, WHEN THE SUN IS OUT LIKE THIS,
THE PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD IS JUST BREATHTAKING.
I'D ALWAYS WANTED TO EXPLORE THIS HARSH MOUNTAIN WILDERNESS,
AND, BOY, HAS IT LIVED UP TO EXPECTATIONS.
WHOO!
STUNNING IT MIGHT BE,
BUT THIS IS A DANGEROUS BEAUTY, BATTERED BY EXTREME ELEMENTS.
BUT MY NEXT CHALLENGE AWAITS ME --
THE SUBALPINE FOREST.
I JUST NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE IN ONE PIECE.
GUYS, YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE'VE GOT STILL WINDS, CLIFF FACE.
THIS IS FLYABLE, SO LET'S DO IT.
AS EVERY SCOUT KNOWS, YOU'VE GOT TO BE PREPARED.
MY BACKUP PLAN TO GET OFF THESE MOUNTAINS
IS ONE OF THE SMALLEST PARAGLIDERS IN THE WORLD.
OKAY. WE'RE SET.
AND I ALWAYS SAY YOU'VE GOT TWO WAYS OFF THE MOUNTAIN.
THERE'S A SLOW, LONG WAY, OR THERE'S A FAST, QUICK WAY,
AND I KNOW WHICH I PREFER.
HERE WE GO.
WHOO!
I LOVE PATAGONIA!
TAKING OFF THE MOUNTAINSIDE -- LOVELY.
LANDING IN THE BEECH FOREST -- NOT SO GOOD.
[ GRUNTS ]
THE FOREST OF SOUTHERN PATAGONIA
IS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A GOTHIC NIGHTMARE --
DENSE, IMPENETRABLE,
AND SO EASY TO GET UTTERLY LOST.
AND TRY TO HACK YOUR WAY THROUGH THIS STUFF.
YOU JUST GET SHREDDED,
'CAUSE LOOK HOW SHARP ALL OF THAT STUFF IS.
AND IT'S LIKE YOU PUSH ONE BIT,
AND ANOTHER BIT SNAKES BACK IN YOUR FACE.
AND EVERYTHING IS JUST CLAWING AT YOUR LEGS, AS WELL.
IT'S SO HARD JUST KEEPING YOUR DIRECTION
JUST 'CAUSE IT'S A MASS OF THORNS, BRANCHES,
AND THAT'S ALL YOU CAN SEE.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU WANT TO HANG AROUND HERE.
YOU JUST HAVE TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THE WIND-STUNTED BEECH
UNTIL YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES.
THE TREES ARE THINNING A BIT NOW.
I'VE MADE IT TO A CLEARING
ONLY TO COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH AN EVEN WORSE OBSTACLE.
THIS ISN'T LOOKING SO CLEVER.
THERE'S NO GOING BACK, AND I CAN'T WASTE TIME.
I'VE JUST GOT TO GO THROUGH IT.
THE MACHIN PEAT BOGS OF PATAGONIA
ARE A LETHAL, REEKING COMBINATION
OF ROTTING VEGETATION AND FREEZING-COLD WATER --
AN EVIL CONCOCTION.
GUYS, THIS ABSOLUTELY STINKS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL OF THIS IS...
BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T LOOK VERY NICE.
FOR THE MOMENT, I'M KNEE-DEEP IN IT.
LET'S JUST GET ACROSS THIS.
THIS IS GRIM --
BITTERLY COLD, GNAWING AWAY AT EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY.
THIS IS JUST LIKE A GIANT MUD-AND-ICE SLUSH PUPPIE.
MY FEET ARE NOW SOAKING WET AND FULL OF MUD.
LET'S JUST GET THROUGH THIS.
GETTING WET IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DANGERS IN PATAGONIA.
IF MY CORE TEMPERATURE DROPS JUST A FEW DEGREES,
I COULD GET HYPOTHERMIA.
MY SENSES WILL START SLOWING DOWN, MY LIMBS NUMB.
ALL TOO SOON, I COULD FALL UNCONSCIOUS.
I WOULDN'T STAND A CHANCE IN THIS UNFORGIVING TERRAIN.
IT JUST FEELS LIKE IT'S OUT TO GET YOU.
IT'S EXHAUSTING, BUT YOU MUST BATTLE ON,
GET OUT, AND GET WARM AND DRY AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
AND AT LAST, I'M THROUGH.
IT'S KIND OF TIME FOR FINDING SOME FOOD...
AND MAKING A FIRE.
ALL I'M GONNA USE JUST FOR TINDER IS ALL OF THIS STUFF.
IT'S CALLED "BARBA DE VIEJO,"
WHICH LITERALLY MEANS "OLD MAN'S BEARD."
AND YOU CAN SEE WHY. LOOK. IT'S REALLY KIND OF WISPY.
BUT THE REASON IT'S GOOD FOR TINDER
IS THAT IT GROWS ON THESE TREES
AND THEREFORE IS OFF ALL OF THE NASTY, WET GROUND,
AND IT SHOULD TAKE A SPARK PRETTY WELL.
LUCKY FOR ME AND MY SOAKING-WET BODY,
BARBA DE VIEJO LIVES UP TO ITS REPUTATION AS GREAT TINDER.
OKAY. WE'VE GOT FIRE.
AND THIS IS SUCH A NICE STAGE TO GET TO,
WHEN YOU'VE GOT THAT INITIAL SPARK
AND THEN IT'S BEGINNING TO CATCH
AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN BUSINESS.
AND IT NEVER FAILS TO MAKE ME SMILE.
IT'S JUST THE MORALE BOOSTER I NEED TO FORAGE FOR FOOD.
THERE'S A BIT OF A POND HERE.
IT'S NOT A BAD PLACE TO HAVE A LOOK.
AND OUT HERE, YOU CAN'T BE FUSSY.
THAT'S ALL JUST POND WEED,
AND IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT LIKE, KIND OF, WATERCRESS,
BUT YOU CAN EAT THIS.
IT DOESN'T TASTE VERY GOOD, BUT YOU CAN EAT IT.
IT TASTES LIKE...
SALAD THAT SOMEBODY'S PUT A LOT OF MOSQUITO REPELLENT ON.
UGH.
BUT YOU MUST GRAB WHAT YOU CAN,
ESPECIALLY AS THERE'S PRECIOUS LITTLE FOOD.
PATAGONIAN WINTERS LAST FIVE MONTHS,
AND I'M HERE RIGHT AT ITS BITTER END.
I FOUND A COUPLE OF THESE LITTLE BEETLE LARVAE.
OH, LOOK.
ALSO...EARTHWORM AS WELL.
BUT THIS LITTLE BEETLE LARVAE -- WHERE'S THE OTHER ONE?
OH, NO. I DROPPED HIM.
OH, WELL. I'VE GOT ONE.
AND REALLY, PATAGONIA THIS TIME OF YEAR,
THIS IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS YOU GET FOR EATING.
NOT GONNA GIVE A LOT OF ENERGY,
BUT IF YOU SCRABBLE AROUND LONG ENOUGH IN THIS DEAD WOOD,
YOU'LL FIND THOSE SORT OF THINGS
AND ALSO THESE SORT OF EARTHWORMS.
GIVE HIM A LITTLE CLEAN.
TASTES LIKE MUD AND MUCUS.
[ SPITS ]
AND IT ALWAYS FEELS LIKE WHENEVER I EAT THESE THINGS,
THE LAST THING THEY DO IN REVENGE
IS GO TO THE LOO IN MY MOUTH.
THEY ALWAYS TASTE LIKE THAT.
POND WEED, BEETLE LARVAE, AND WORMS --
HARDLY A FEAST, BUT BETTER THAN NOTHING
TO FUEL YOUR BID TO GET OUT OF HERE ALIVE.
I'M IN THE DENSE SUBALPINE BEECH FOREST OF PATAGONIA.
45 MILES WIDE,
IT'S INCREDIBLY EASY TO GET LOST HERE.
THESE FORESTS CAN BE JUST SO DISORIENTATING.
ITS UNRELENTING MONOTONY MAKES NAVIGATION A NIGHTMARE.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S NO HORIZON TO FOLLOW.
IT'S JUST TREES AND TREES AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE.
IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION,
YOUR ONLY WAY OUT ALIVE IS TO GO DOWNHILL.
FOLLOWING A STREAM IS A CLASSIC TECHNIQUE,
NOT THAT'S IT'S ALWAYS EASY TO FIND ONE.
YOU'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP YOUR WITS ABOUT YOU.
SOUND IS JUST REVERBERATING AROUND THE TREES.
I THINK IT'S OVER THIS WAY.
HERE WE GO! GOT IT!
OKAY. ALL WE GOT TO DO NOW IS FOLLOW THIS.
FOR EVERY 300 FEET OF ALTITUDE YOU DESCEND,
THE TEMPERATURE'S GOING TO RISE BY TWO DEGREES,
SO YOU'RE NOT JUST WALKING YOUR WAY OUT OF TROUBLE,
YOU'RE ALSO REDUCING THE RISK OF HYPOTHERMIA.
AND NATURE'S LARDER GETS BETTER.
HEY, LOOK AT THESE.
THESE ARE LITTLE CHAURA BERRIES.
AND THEY'RE DELICIOUS.
KIND OF JUST TASTES LIKE -- A BIT LIKE SOUR APPLES.
AND THE MAPUCHE INDIANS USED TO LIVE IN THESE FORESTS.
THEY USED TO LOVE THESE.
AND THEY'D EVEN FERMENT THEM
AND MAKE, LIKE, A MAPUCHE HOOCH OUT OF THEM.
OKAY. LET'S KEEP GOING.
THE PROBLEM WITH FOLLOWING A STREAM
IS YOU NEVER QUITE KNOW WHERE YOU'LL END UP.
AND THIS IDEA OF FOLLOWING THE STREAM EARLIER
WAS SUCH A GOOD PLAN.
IT IS NOW LOOKING A LITTLE LESS BRIGHT,
AND I'M HOPING THAT IS NOT WHAT I THINK IT IS.
WHOA! COME HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.
THAT'S A DROP!
WAH!
AND THAT MUST BE ABOUT 150 FOOT STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.
YOU GO OVER THAT, IT'S GOOD NIGHT.
I SUPPOSE THE OPTIONS ARE
EITHER JUST TO HEAD ALL THE WAY BACK UPSTREAM...
OR MAYBE TRY TO FIND A ROUTE AROUND SOME OF THESE CLIFFS.
BUT LOOK -- EVEN THESE ARE LOOKING PRETTY SHEER.
BUT I RECKON WITH A ROPE, THIS IS DOABLE,
AND THAT'S JUST THE SORT OF THING I LOVE.
THE ROPE'S READY. HERE WE GO.
RAPPELLING DOWN THIS CLIFF IS GONNA SAVE ME HOURS,
BUT I'VE GOT TO GET MY LINE OF DESCENT RIGHT.
GET IT WRONG, OR IF THE WIND PICKS UP,
I COULD SWING RIGHT INTO THE PATH OF THE WATERFALL
WHERE I'D BE PUMMELED TO DEATH
BY HUNDREDS OF TONS OF ICE-COLD WATER.
LOOK!
QUITE A DROP DOWN HERE.
WELL, THAT'S THE WAY TO GET DOWN A BIG WATERFALL LIKE THAT.
FOLLOWING THE STREAM HAS PAID OFF.
I'M OFF THE MOUNTAIN, AND I'M IN THE VALLEY.
IT LOOKS LIKE A BIT OF A NEST UP THERE.
ALREADY THERE ARE MORE WELCOME SIGNS OF LIFE.
YEAH, THAT COULD BE A WOODPECKER NEST OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IF I CAN FIND SOME,
EGGS ARE A GREAT SOURCE OF PROTEIN, VITAMINS, AND FAT --
ONE OF THE BEST POSSIBLE SURVIVAL FOODS.
WELL, THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE.
ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOME FUNGUS IN THAT TREE.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER. SEE THOSE?
LLAO LLAO WAS A SURVIVAL STAPLE
FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF PATAGONIA, WHO SWORE BY IT.
THE SETTLERS CALLED IT "PAN DE INDIO" --
"INDIAN BREAD."
THEY LOOK A BIT LIKE SHRIVELED GOLF BALLS.
AND I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED WHAT IT TASTES LIKE.
AND THE ANSWER IS LIKE A KIND OF...
SOFT, PRETTY TASTELESS...
SLIGHTLY OLD MUSHROOM.
AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ENERGY IN THIS,
BUT BETTER THAN NOTHING.
LOOKS A BIT LIKE KIND OF MELTED CHEESE IN THE MIDDLE.
WISH IT WAS.
I'VE SURVIVED THE ICE FIELDS
AND MADE IT THROUGH THE BEECH FOREST OF PATAGONIA.
BUT THERE'S ONE FINAL OBSTACLE IN MY PATH,
AND I'M GONNA TRY AND CROSS IT.
I'M ABOUT TO FACE MY MOST DANGEROUS CHALLENGE YET
IN PATAGONIA.
REALLY, IF YOU NEEDED TO CROSS THIS LAKE,
THE SURVIVAL MANUAL WOULD SAY "GO AROUND,"
'CAUSE YOU DO NOT WANT TO MESS WITH GLACIAL,
FREEZING-COLD WATER LIKE THIS.
THE ONLY THING IS,
THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF DRIFTWOOD ALL ALONG THIS SHORE.
AND PART OF ME FEELS IT'S KIND OF IRRESISTIBLE
JUST TO SEE WHETHER I MIGHT BE ABLE TO BUILD A RAFT
TO CROSS THIS.
I CAN USE MY PARACHUTE CORD TO LASH THE DRIFTWOOD TOGETHER.
WHAT YOU NEED IS A COUPLE OF THESE GOOD, LONG, STURDY TRUNKS,
AND THEN SOME CROSS BRACES,
AND THEN JUST LAY LOGS AND BRANCHES ALONG THE TOP OF IT.
AND THEN HAVE A COUPLE OF UPRIGHTS, LIKE THIS.
USE A BIT OF THIS PARACHUTE CANOPY.
AND IF THE WIND PICKED UP, YOU COULD MAKE YOURSELF
A PRETTY SIMPLE, AND NOT HALF DECENT, SAIL RAFT.
A RAFT LIKE THIS WOULD TAKE YOU ABOUT THREE HOURS TO MAKE.
IF IT FAILS ME, I COULD END UP IN THE FREEZING LAKE,
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU NEED A BACKUP PLAN.
SO I'VE GOT A FIRE GOING
IN CASE I NEED TO GET WARM AND DRY IN A HURRY.
GET THIS BABY IN.
AND PEOPLE DO COME UNSTUCK.
I'VE HEARD OF THREE LOCAL GUIDES
WHO WERE KILLED NEAR HERE AFTER THEIR RAFT FLIPPED OVER.
THEY WERE ALL STRONG SWIMMERS.
IT WAS THE EXTREME COLD THAT KILLED THEM.
IT'S LIKE THROWING YOURSELF IN AN ICEBOX.
OKAY. WE'RE AFLOAT.
PRETTY LOW IN THE WATER, BUT I AM AFLOAT.
AND WHAT'S TYPICAL IS IN PATAGONIA,
PROBABLY ONE OF THE WINDIEST PLACES ON EARTH,
AND WHEN I WANT IT FOR MY SAIL...
IT'S AS STILL A DAY AS YOU WILL EVER COME ACROSS.
BUT THIS WATER IS BARELY ABOVE FREEZING.
THE THING IS, THIS RAFT IS FLOATING
ABOUT SIX INCHES UNDER THE WATER.
THIS IS NOT IDEAL.
MY BOOTS ARE BEGINNING TO FILL UP WITH WATER,
AND IT IS ICY-COLD.
IT'S LIKE HAVING YOUR FOOT IN AN ICE BUCKET.
I'M BEGINNING TO DOUBT WHETHER THE RAFT'S GONNA HOLD UP,
AND I'M GETTING COLDER FAST.
THIS IS GONNA TAKE ME AN HOUR, AT LEAST,
TO CROSS AT THIS RATE.
ALREADY, MY LEGS ARE GOING QUITE NUMB, TO BE HONEST.
BUT, YOU KNOW, GUYS, IT'S CRAZY CARRYING ON IN THIS.
I'M JUST NOT GONNA MAKE IT ACROSS.
LET'S TRY AND PADDLE THIS BACK A BIT.
AAH.
MY LEG'S JUST COME THROUGH ONE OF THE THINGS.
OKAY. I'M GONNA HAVE TO SWIM THIS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE ME 20 MINUTES TO GET THIS RAFT BACK,
AND THAT'S 20 MINUTES AT THE MOMENT THAT I JUST DON'T HAVE.
MY LEGS, REALLY --
THEY'RE STARTING TO JUST, LIKE, REAL PINS AND NEEDLES.
BUT REALLY, THIS JACKET AND THIS TOP
IS MY SALVATION.
I'VE GOT TO KEEP THIS DRY AND THEN JUST SWIM FOR IT.
GIVE IT A GOOD GO,
BUT SOMETIMES, YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO JUST COUNT YOUR LOSSES.
OKAY.
[ SPITS ] UGH!
IT IS ICY!
AAH!
[ SPITS ]
AND YOU JUST FEEL, SLOWLY...
DIFFERENT PARTS OF YOUR BODY STINGING AND GOING NUMB,
AND THIS IS VERY LOW DOWN THE LIST OF FUN THINGS TO DO.
AH! GOD, THAT'S COLD!
WELL, I'VE LOST THAT RAFT.
THAT'S STILL OUT THERE, BUT AT LEAST I GOT THIS FAR.
BUT I NEED TO GET THESE WET CLOTHES OFF.
YOU KNOW, THE COLD CAN BE SO DANGEROUS
JUST BECAUSE IT NUMBS ALL YOUR FEELING AND YOUR STRENGTH,
AND EVEN THE SIMPLEST OF THINGS BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD TO DO IT IN A BIT OF A RUSH,
AT LEAST THESE, THANK GOD, ARE DRY.
AHH!
AND THAT IS CERTAINLY... MUCH BETTER.
RESIST THE TEMPTATION
TO FRANTICALLY RUB YOUR ARMS AND LEGS
TO STIMULATE CIRCULATION.
IT WILL DRAW WARM BLOOD AWAY FROM YOUR HEART
AND VITAL ORGANS.
I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T START SNOWING AGAIN.
IF COLD BLOOD FROM THE EXTREMITIES
RUSHES BACK TO YOUR CORE,
YOU COULD DIE FROM SOMETHING CALLED "AFTERDROP."
INSTEAD, WARM YOURSELF SLOWLY
SO YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE GRADUALLY GETS BACK TO NORMAL.
AND REALLY, THE MORAL OF THIS STORY
IS IF YOU'RE GONNA BUILD A RAFT
AND TRY AND CROSS ALMOST-FREEZING LAKES,
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A BACKUP PLAN.
OTHERWISE, THIS LANDSCAPE AND TERRAIN IS VERY UNFORGIVING.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
AH, I'M JUST BEGINNING TO FEEL MY TOES AGAIN.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
THE ICE FIELDS AND BEECH FOREST OF PATAGONIA
PRESENT UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES
WHEN I'VE WONDERED IF I'VE MET MY MATCH HERE.
WHETHER THE FORCE OF NATURE IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH FOR HUMAN SURVIVAL.
TO BE HONEST, EXPERIENCING THE HARSH PATAGONIAN ELEMENTS
HAS BEEN REALLY HUMBLING AND I'M JUST RELIEVED
WE MADE IT OUT OF THERE IN ONE PIECE.