I'M BEAR GRYLLS. WHOO!
AND I'M GOING TO 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-HOO!
I'M IN PATAGONIA,
ONE OF THE REMOTEST AND WILDEST PLACES ON THE PLANET.
THIS IS PUMA KILL.
THIS ANCIENT AND LEGENDARY LAND
HAS SOME OF THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES
AND HIGHEST WINDS ON EARTH.
JUST, LIKE, SKIN-SHREDDING.
THIS IS A DESOLATE LANDSCAPE CARVED BY ICE AND FIRE.
IT'S ALSO DEADLY.
BEING STRANDED HERE FORCES YOU TO PUSH YOURSELF
HARDER AND FURTHER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.
MY HEAD IS JUST FREEZING.
ONLY THE TOUGHEST CAN SURVIVE IN THIS EXTREME WILDERNESS.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE LENGTHS YOU NEED TO GO TO
TO STAY ALIVE IN THE FURTHEST, WILDEST END OF THE EARTH.
I'VE COME HERE TO EXPLORE
ONE OF THE WILDEST, WINDIEST PLACES
ON THE FACE OF OUR PLANET -- PATAGONIA.
I'M HEADING FOR ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING SITES IN PATAGONIA --
THE PERITO MORENO GLACIER.
ADVANCING AT A RATE OF JUST OVER 6 FEET A DAY,
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW GLACIERS IN THE WORLD
THAT'S GETTING LONGER.
10 TIMES THE SIZE OF MANHATTAN, THIS ICE WILDERNESS,
CHILLED BY FREEZING PATAGONIAN WINDS,
IS ABOUT AS TOUGH AS IT GETS.
THIS IS THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH YOU'D WANT TO BE STRANDED.
I'M GOING TO TRY AND GET ACROSS THIS ICE MONSTER
AND SHOW YOU THE SKILLS YOU'D NEED TO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE,
AND MY CAMERA CREW IS COMING WITH ME.
DO YOU KNOW -- THE FIRST THING THAT'S HARD
IS JUST EVEN MOVING ON THIS.
IN BOOTS LIKE THIS ON THE ICE,
IT'S LIKE GOING UPHILL ON AN ICE RINK.
LOOK, WATCH THIS.
TRYING TO MOVE ACROSS A GLACIER WITHOUT CRAMPONS
IS PRETTY IMPOSSIBLE.
AND THAT'S JUST TRYING TO MOVE 20 FEET.
I'M GOING TO NEED ANOTHER PLAN
IF I'M GOING TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS ACROSS THIS.
OKAY. LET'S JUST THINK.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT CRAMPONS
AND THERE'S A GLACIER BETWEEN YOU AND SAFETY,
YOU'VE GOT TO IMPROVISE.
IF I GET MY BOOTS OFF AND THESE OFF --
I NEED TO TRY AND GET THEM OVER THE END OF THIS.
AND THE AIM, REALLY, IS FOR THESE SOCKS
TO GIVE MORE TRACTION THAN JUST THE RUBBER SOLE OF THESE BOOTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO WORK,
BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT.
OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO GIVE IT A TRY.
AND THAT'S -- THAT'S GREAT.
IT'S DEFINITELY GRIPPIER THAN JUST RUBBER SOLES.
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT?
A SIMPLE PAIR OF SOCKS GIVES ME JUST ENOUGH GRIP
TO KEEP MY FOOTING ON THIS ROCK-HARD ICE.
TEMPERATURES CAN EASILY DROP TO MINUS-4 FAHRENHEIT,
AND THE FIERCE WIND WHIPPING ACROSS THE GLACIER
CAN MAKE THAT FEEL LIKE MINUS 40.
YOU DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND UP HERE.
YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE MOMENT
IS I'M JUST GETTING ALL OF THESE, LIKE, PRESSURE RIDGES,
THESE WAVES OF ICE
WITH ALL OF THESE CREVASSES THE OTHER SIDE OF THEM,
AND IT'S MAKING KEEPING ANY SORT OF DIRECTION REALLY HARD.
TO GET SOME SPEED UP,
I'M GONNA DITCH MY SOCKS AND USE NORMAL CRAMPONS.
THE 870 SQUARE MILES OF ICE SPLITS AND CRACKS
AS IT BUCKLES AND TWISTS DOWNHILL.
CREVASSES THAT CAN SWALLOW YOU AND KILL YOU ARE EVERYWHERE.
IF I CAN'T GET OVER THEM, I JUST HAVE TO GO AROUND.
IT'S LIKE BEING STUCK IN A MAZE OF ICE.
REALLY, I WANT TO BE HEADING
MORE LIKE STRAIGHT OUT THERE.
YOU SEE, IT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT FLATTER.
IF I CAN REACH THAT,
THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE ME INTO THE MIDDLE OF IT.
BUT IT IS, YOU KNOW --
IT'S REALLY HARD KEEPING YOUR DIRECTION HERE
JUST 'CAUSE THERE ARE NO LANDMARKS
AND THE WHOLE PLACE IS CONSTANTLY MOVING AND SHIFTING.
CREVASSES AREN'T THE ONLY PROBLEM OUT HERE --
IN PATAGONIAN SPRING,
THE GLACIER IS CRISSCROSSED WITH MELTWATER.
A STREAM CAN DISAPPEAR WITHOUT WARNING,
CARVING A HUGE CAVERN UNDER THE ICE, CALLED A MOULIN.
IT'S A BLACK, WATERY, FREEZING GRAVEYARD.
THE GLACIER IS UP TO HALF A MILE DEEP,
AND I'M GOING DOWN THERE TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE
IN THIS ICY HELLHOLE.
IF YOU GO DOWN ONE OF THESE, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA COME BACK.
AND THIS REALLY IS AN EXTRAORDINARY PLACE
TO BE INSIDE.
AT ANY MINUTE, IT CAN FILL WITH FREEZING WATER.
WHO KNOWS WHERE THIS SHAFT OF DEATH MIGHT LEAD?
WE ACTUALLY HAD A GUY KILLED IN ONE OF THESE ICE TUBES
ON AN EXPEDITION IN THE HIMALAYAS.
AND HE JUST WAS WALKING ON A GLACIER, AND IT DROPPED.
HE WENT STRAIGHT DOWN ONE OF THESE CHUTES,
STRAIGHT INTO BLACK, AND HE WAS NEVER SEEN AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS, REALLY -- I JOKE NOT --
THESE CAN BE REAL KILLERS.
OKAY, I WANT TO TRY AND WORK MY WAY OUT,
BUT ALL OF THIS ICE IS LITERALLY --
IT IS BULLET-HARD.
WATER IS GUSHING DOWN THE SIDES OF THE MOULIN.
IT'S FREEZING ME AND SOAKING ME TO THE SKIN.
MY BOOTS ARE FILLING WITH ICY WATER.
I'VE GOT TO GET OUT NOW, AND I HAVE TO DO IT FAST.
MY ICE AXES ARE HARDLY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE.
AND THIS ICE IS JUST ROCK-HARD.
I NEED TO GET A GOOD GRIP AND HAUL MYSELF OUT.
IF I WASN'T ON A ROPE, I'D JUST VANISH INTO THE ABYSS.
GAH.
I'M GETTING REALLY, REALLY DRENCHED HERE.
I'VE HARDLY GOT ANY GRIP,
EVEN WITH CRAMPONS AND ICE AXES.
( BREATHING HEAVILY )
MY HEAD IS JUST FREEZING.
I'M ON THE PERITO MORENO GLACIER IN PATAGONIA.
I'M STRUGGLING TO GET OUT OF A MOULIN --
A FREEZING, WATERY TOMB OF ROCK-HARD ICE.
( BREATHING HEAVILY )
IT'S EXHAUSTING, PAINFUL, SLOW.
MY HANDS ARE FROZEN, I CAN'T FEEL MY FEET,
AND I CAN BARELY HOLD ON.
BUT I HAVE TO MAKE ONE LAST BIG PUSH TO GET OUT.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN I WAS LAST SO GRATEFUL
TO FEEL THE SUN ON MY FACE.
BECAUSE DEEP DOWN IN THAT HOLE, WHERE IT'S BLUE AND THEN BLACK,
IS NOT A NICE PLACE TO BE.
OKAY, OVER THIS LIP AND THEN AWAY.
I'M ESCAPING THE MOULIN,
BUT OUT HERE, FREEZING-COLD WET CLOTHES
CAN STILL KILL YOU.
JUST WANT TO GET THESE CRAMPONS OFF.
MY FINGERS ARE GOING NUMB.
AND IF I JUST LEFT MYSELF SOAKING WET UP HERE,
YOU KNOW, YOU GET HYPOTHERMIC ON A GLACIER LIKE THIS VERY FAST.
I WANT TO GET ALL OF THIS KIT OFF,
WRING IT OUT, PUT IT BACK ON,
AND THEN GET MOVING AND GET THAT BLOOD PUMPING
AND HOPE THAT I CAN GENERATE ENOUGH HEAT
TO GET THE CLOTHES DRY.
IF YOU GET COLD AND WET OUT HERE,
YOUR BODY LOSES HEAT THREE TIMES FASTER THAN IN THE DRY.
UNLESS YOU GET WARM, IT MEANS ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH.
THIS KIND OF JUST SUCKS.
A FUNDAMENTAL OF SURVIVAL --
IF YOU GET WET,
YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF YOUR WET CLOTHES
AND GET WARM AND DRY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO EXCUSE ME FOR THE NEXT 10 MINUTES
WHILE I JUST RUN UP IN HERE AND GET WARM.
AHH! THAT'S BETTER.
WHOO!
THERE'S NO SHELTER AND NOTHING TO EAT HERE.
I'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP MOVING...
...DEEPER INTO THE HEART OF THE GLACIER.
NOW I'M MORE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GLACIER.
YOU CAN SEE THE GOING'S MUCH SMOOTHER UNDERFOOT.
KIND OF LIKE A NICE HIGHWAY HERE.
BUT THERE ARE NO PIT STOPS ON THIS HIGHWAY.
SURVIVAL HERE IS A STRUGGLE FOR EVEN THE MOST WELL-EQUIPPED.
HEY, GUYS, COME AND CHECK THIS OUT.
IF YOU WANT TO MEET SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD AT SURVIVAL,
LOOK AT THIS FELLOW.
IT'S CALLED AN...
AND THESE ACTUALLY ARE REALLY RARE.
YOU'LL ONLY FIND THESE UP ON THIS PATAGONIA ICE FIELD.
IN FACT, THEY'RE THE ONLY THING LIVING UP HERE
ON THIS PATAGONIAN ICE FIELD.
IT'S SO RARE, IT'S ACTUALLY PROTECTED BY ARGENTINEAN LAW.
BUT IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION, YOU COULD EAT IT.
AND THEY'RE PERFECTLY ADAPTED TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT --
THESE SUBZERO TEMPERATURES, HIGH WINDS, AND THE ICE.
AMAZING. AND WHAT A NAME.
(UNSURED WORD)
WE'LL LEAVE IT.
I'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A PLACE
THAT IS SO INHOSPITABLE AND UNFORGIVING.
THE TEMPERATURE ON THE GLACIER CAN PLUNGE TO MINUS-40 DEGREES.
BUT THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF THE PERITO MORENO
MAKE NAVIGATION A REAL CHALLENGE.
SORRY, GUYS.
I'VE LED YOU ON A BIT OF A DUFF ROUTE HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO RETRACE MY STEPS.
I NEED TO GET A MOVE ON.
WHAT I COULD DO, ACTUALLY, IS JUST CUT, LIKE,
AN ICE BOLLARD AROUND THIS WITH MY ROPE.
I'LL JUST ABSEIL DOWN THIS.
THE SURVIVAL MANUAL SAYS GO AROUND AN OBSTACLE,
EVEN IF IT COSTS YOU TIME AND ENERGY.
BUT I CAN GO QUICKER IF I RAPPEL DOWN THE ICE WALL
AND GET ON MY WAY.
AND WHAT I'M DOING HERE IS JUST CUTTING A GROOVE
FOR THE ROPE TO FIT INTO.
THE ICE IS SO BRITTLE, IT CAN SHATTER LIKE GLASS.
I JUST NEED TO UNCOIL THE ROPE.
I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE BOLLARD IS WIDE ENOUGH
TO TAKE MY WEIGHT WITHOUT SPLITTING.
IF IT'S TOO THIN,
THE ROPE WILL SLICE THROUGH THE TOP LIKE CHEESE WIRE.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS PUT IT IN A CLASSIC ABSEIL.
JUST THROUGH THE LEGS, OVER THE HEAD,
AND THEN I'M GOOD TO GO.
EASE MYSELF 'ROUND...
AND DOWN WE GO.
THE BOLLARD IS HOLDING. I'M OVER THE ICE WALL.
AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT USING AN ICE BOLLARD
IS YOU CAN THEN PULL YOUR ROPE DOWN AFTER YOU.
AND JOB'S A GOOD 'UN!
THE SHATTERED ROCK AND GRIT ON THE EDGE OF THE GLACIER
COVERS THE ICE, BUT IT'S STILL TREACHEROUS.
THE GROUND IS LITERALLY OPENING UP IN FRONT OF ME.
BUT IT'S NOT A PLACE TO SHELTER.
ICE CAVES LIKE THIS ARE CAUSED BY FREEZING GLACIAL STREAMS
CARVING UNDERWATER CHANNELS THROUGH THE GLACIER.
OKAY, GUYS, JUST TAKE IT EASY IN HERE, EH?
THEY MIGHT LOOK INVITING, BUT THEY CAN BE DEATHTRAPS.
THE ICE IS CONSTANTLY SHIFTING,
AND AT ANY MINUTE IT COULD FILL WITH FREEZING WATER
OR SIMPLY COLLAPSE AND CRUSH YOU TO DEATH.
AND THESE ICE TUNNELS REALLY ARE --
THEY FEEL LIKE THE KIND OF BEATING HEART OF THE GLACIER.
IT'S AS IF THIS IS JUST LIKE A GIANT ARTERY
RUNNING STRAIGHT UNDER ALL OF THE ICE.
THE GLACIER MOVES AN AMAZING 6 FEET A DAY,
AND THE ICE IS UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE.
THIS IS REALLY QUITE AN UNCOMFORTABLE PLACE TO BE.
YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE
HOW MANY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF TONS OF ICE THERE ARE
DIRECTLY ABOVE MY HEAD HERE.
EVEN THE SMALLEST SHIFT IN THE ICE
COULD COLLAPSE THE ROOF AND CRUSH ME AT ANY MOMENT.
AND THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT THIS ICE CAVE
IS THAT I CAN AT LEAST FILL MY WATER BOTTLE
FROM ALL THE MELTING ICE.
BUT THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE.
THIS IS NOW RIGHT IN THE BELLY OF THE GLACIER.
I WANT THIS TO FILL UP AND GET OUT OF HERE FAST.
COME ON.
OKAY.
RIGHT. LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
THIS IS A MOST DANGEROUS TUNNEL, AS WELL.
WHEN YOU GET ALL OF THIS STUFF JUST DRIPPING,
IT MEANS THE ICE IS AT ITS MOST FRAGILE.
THIS PLACE REALLY IS BEAUTIFUL.
THE KIND OF PLACE YOU IMAGINE SUPERMAN WOULD LIVE.
BUT IT'S ALSO DEADLY.
THAT'S ONE PLACE I'M GLAD TO BE OUT OF.
I'VE SURVIVED THE CREVASSES AND ICE CAVES
OF THE MORENO GLACIER.
NOW MY NEXT CHALLENGE IN PATAGONIA
IS GONNA TAKE ME TO THE LIMIT OF MY STRENGTH.
AAH!
I'M ABOUT TO JUMP INTO THE SEMIARID DESERT
OF THE PATAGONIAN STEPPE
IN THE EASTERN RAIN SHADOW OF THE ANDES MOUNTAIN RANGE.
THE STEPPE GETS LESS RAINFALL THAN NEW MEXICO,
AND LOCALS SAY THE WIND IS SO RELENTLESS
THAT IT DRIVES MEN MAD.
THEY SAY THE PATAGONIAN STEPPE
REVEALS THE PERSON YOU REALLY ARE.
AND THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING --
RIGHT INTO THAT BARREN WILDERNESS.
THE PATAGONIAN STEPPE
IS SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN CALIFORNIA.
IT'S 188,000 SQUARE MILES OF LOW SCRUB.
THERE'S LITTLE TO EAT AND PRACTICALLY NO PROTECTION
FROM THE NOTORIOUS PATAGONIAN WIND.
IT WAS A HAIRY LANDING, BUT I'M SAFE ON THE GROUND.
AND THERE'S NO TIME TO HANG ABOUT.
BUT THE REASON IT'S SO HARD
IS THAT IT'S THAT DANGEROUS COMBINATION
OF THESE RELENTLESS WINDS, THE STRONG SUN,
AND THESE LOW TEMPERATURES.
AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE FEW PLACES
WHERE YOU CAN END UP GETTING SUNBURNT
AND HYPOTHERMIC AT THE SAME TIME.
THE WINTER LASTS FIVE MONTHS IN PATAGONIA.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE SUN OFTEN SHINES ON THE CLOUDLESS STEPPE,
IT WON'T GIVE YOU ANY WARMTH.
THE WIND CAN GUST UP TO 120 MILES AN HOUR --
ENOUGH TO DEMOLISH HOUSES AND BLOW YOU OFF YOUR FEET.
ANY WATER QUICKLY EVAPORATES
DUE TO THE RELENTLESS EFFECTS OF SUN AND WIND.
EVERYTHING IS SO DRY.
LOOK -- ALL OF THAT.
AND THE EARTH.
BONE DRY.
SO, REALLY, YOUR CHALLENGE HERE IS JUST TO FIND WATER.
FINDING WATER ON THE STEPPE IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.
TO SURVIVE HERE, YOU'VE GOT TO READ THE LAND.
IF YOU LOOK AT THESE HILLS,
ALL OF THEM LOOK LIKE THEY KIND OF COME TOGETHER
DOWN INTO THIS BOWL.
AND THEN AT THE CORNER OF IT,
YOU CAN SEE IT'S DARKER AND IT'S WETTER.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE YOUR BEST CHANCE
FOR GETTING SOMETHING TO DRINK.
TINY FRESHWATER SPRINGS ARE A LIFELINE OUT HERE.
THIS IS DEFINITELY A SPRING.
THIS PATAGONIAN OASIS IS A MAGNET FOR THE LOCAL WILDLIFE.
YOU SEE HOW MANY ANIMALS TRACKS THERE ARE AROUND THIS.
YEAH, LOOK AT ALL THESE.
THE ONLY THING IS,
ANIMALS DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST TABLE MANNERS.
AND WHERE THEY DRINK, THEY'LL ALSO PEE AND POO.
WHAT I WANT TO TRY AND DO IS JUST DIG A BIT OF A TRENCH
TO GET SOME OF THIS WATER FLOWING
AND TAKE THE CONTAMINATED STUFF AWAY.
AND, LOOK, IT'S STARTING TO RUN NOW.
YOU SEE?
AND THAT'S THE STUFF I WANT TO BE DRINKING.
AND IT'S EASY WHEN YOU'RE HUNTING FOR WATER
TO BE LULLED INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY,
THINKING IT'S THE CLEAR STUFF, YOU KNOW, LIKE THIS,
THAT IT'S THE GOOD STUFF TO DRINK --
WHEN, ACTUALLY, THE FRESHEST STUFF IS FOUND RIGHT HERE
'CAUSE IT'S COMING FRESH, STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND.
SO EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS DIRTY, YOU'RE BETTER OFF DRINKING THIS.
IT'S NOT A GREAT IDEA UNLESS YOU'RE DESPERATE.
THE AMOUNT OF ANIMAL DUNG HERE MEANS YOU COULD GET
ANY NUMBER OF PARASITIC OR BACTERIAL DISEASES,
BUT IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.
( SLURPING )
IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T WIN ANY PRIZES IN A RESTAURANT.
BUT AT LEAST, HOPEFULLY,
THE SPRING BIT OF IT ISN'T CONTAMINATED.
AND REALLY IT'S A LITTLE BIT LIKE
KIND OF DRINKING FROM A LOO BOWL, BUT...
BUT OUT ON THE STEPPE,
IT'S ABOUT AS GOOD AS YOU'RE GOING TO GET.
THE DISTANCES HERE ARE IMMENSE.
YOU'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP GOING
IN THE HOPE OF FINDING FOOD, WATER, AND SHELTER.
BUT THIS ARID WILDERNESS
CAN STILL THROW HUGE OBSTACLES IN YOUR WAY.
ALL OF THE STEPPE IS BASICALLY CRISSCROSSED.
THERE'S THIS SERIES OF ESCARPMENTS,
AND YOU CAN EITHER GO AROUND THEM OR YOU CAN GO OVER THEM.
AND THIS CLIFF FACE HERE JUST LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.
AND I LOVE TO CLIMB.
I'M JUST GONNA SEE IF I CAN MAKE IT UP AND OVER THIS ONE.
IT'S ABOUT 150 FOOT HIGH AND FULL OF CRACKS AND FISSURES.
IT'S A DREAM CLIMB, BUT A TOUGH ONE.
SOMETIMES YOU LOOK AT A CLIFF,
AND IT WILL JUST LOOK IMPENETRABLE.
BUT MY DAD ALWAYS USED TO TELL ME WHEN I WAS CLIMBING,
"YOU CAN NEVER TELL HOW STEEP SOMETHING IS
TILL YOU LITERALLY RUB NOSES WITH IT."
AND IT'S WHEN YOU GET UP CLOSE,
YOU CAN BEGIN TO SEE THE LINES OF WEAKNESS IN A ROCK FACE.
GOING AROUND THIS RIDGE COULD LITERALLY TAKE DAYS.
BUT IF YOU'VE GOT TO GET UP HERE, THIS IS HOW TO DO IT.
AND ALL I'M USING HERE IS A SLIGHT CRACK IN THE ROCK.
BEHIND, I'M TRYING TO
JUST JAM MY FIST IN AND KEEP THAT IN,
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M LEANING ON.
GET THE BLOOD BACK INTO THE OTHER ARM.
AND THEN WE GO.
REALLY, TO CLIMB EFFICIENTLY,
IT'S ALL ABOUT DISTRIBUTING YOUR WEIGHT
SO IT'S NOT ALL ON YOUR FINGERS OR ALL ON ONE FOOT --
JUST SPREADING IT EVENLY.
ON A LONG CLIMB LIKE THIS,
IT'S VITAL TO CONSERVE YOUR STRENGTH.
TAKE THINGS AT A STEADY PACE AND DON'T RUSH.
GET INTO POSITION AND THEN MAKE YOUR NEXT MOVE.
AAH.
REALLY, THIS IS WHAT THEY CALL THE CRUX OF THE CLIMB,
WHERE IT'S GONNA MAKE OR BREAK.
( PANTING )
IF YOU LOOK DOWN FROM HERE, THAT'S A GOOD-SIZE DROP.
WHEW.
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO JAM MY FOOT...
IN HERE.
AAH.
AHH.
QUITE A TOUGH CLIMB.
BUT FUN.
WHOO-HOO!
FOR MY NEXT CHALLENGE,
I'LL BE TRACKING WITH A PATAGONIAN GAUCHO.
WE'RE ON THE HUNT FOR THE MOST FEARED PREDATOR ON THE STEPPE.
THIS IS PUMA KILL.
I'M ON THE TRAIL OF PUMA WITH A LOCAL HUNTER.
THE GAUCHOS OF PATAGONIA
HAVE HERDED SHEEP AND CATTLE HERE FOR CENTURIES.
THESE ARGENTINEAN COWBOYS KNOW THE ART OF SURVIVAL
IN THIS LONELY WILDERNESS
AND ARE EXPERT HORSEMEN AND HUNTERS.
WHOA! WHOO.
AND THIS IS RAUL.
WE'RE HUNTING FOR PUMAS AT THE MOMENT.
( SPEAKING SPANISH )
JUST LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE
ANY TRACKS AROUND HERE BY THE WATER HOLE.
PUMAS ARE KILLING MACHINES, THE SIZE OF MOUNTAIN LIONS.
THEY CAN DESTROY WHOLE HERDS OF LIVESTOCK.
OKAY, HE DOESN'T SEE ANY AROUND HERE.
HE RECKONS IF WE HEAD OUT... ( SPEAKING SPANISH )
HEAD OUT THERE -- BETTER CHANCE.
PUMAS ARE A HUGE PROBLEM OUT HERE.
EVERY ONE HAS A BOUNTY ON ITS HEAD.
PRETTY BLEAK UP HERE...
WHEN IT STARTS RAINING -- WITH THE WIND AS WELL.
DOESN'T SEEM TO DETER RAUL, THOUGH.
HE'S DETERMINED TO FIND A PUMA.
AT THIS STAGE, I'LL BE JUST DETERMINED
TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO GET OUT OF THIS RAIN.
EVEN THOUGH THIS AREA IS PRACTICALLY A DESERT,
THE FICKLE PATAGONIA WEATHER
CAN CHANGE IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE WE SEE THE FIRST SIGNS OF PUMA.
THIS IS SORT OF THE DAMAGE THAT THE PUMAS DO TO LIVESTOCK.
SO IT MEANS WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
I WAS ASKING RAUL WHAT SOMEONE SHOULD DO
IF THEY'RE EVER ATTACKED BY A PUMA.
AND WHAT HE SAID IS,
YOUR BEST CHANCE IS TO TRY AND BLUFF IT AND STAND TALL
AND MAKE AS MUCH NOISE AS YOU CAN.
AND, BASICALLY, TRY TO SHOW THE PUMA
THAT YOU'RE STRONGER THAN THE PUMA IS!
LAST YEAR, A MAN FISHING IN THE NEARBY LAKE
WAS KILLED BY A PUMA.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GETTING
DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO OUR TARGET.
( SPEAKING SPANISH )
PUMA?
( SPEAKING SPANISH )
HE'S SAYING THIS IS DEFINITELY --
THIS IS DEFINITELY A PUMA KILL.
( SPEAKING SPANISH )
LOOK AT THE SKULL THERE OF A GUANACO --
IT'S LIKE A WILD LLAMA.
THIS IS WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT AND EATEN IT.
( SPEAKING SPANISH )
YEAH, HE SAID THIS IS A TYPICAL PLACE
A PUMA WILL BRING IT.
IT'S GOT A REALLY GOOD VIEW OUT OF THE HUNTING GROUND.
IT CAN BE OUT OF THE SUN, OUT OF THE WIND AND RAIN.
AND THIS IS JUST THE SORT OF PLACE A PUMA WOULD USE.
( SPEAKING SPANISH )
HE RECKONS THERE MIGHT
WELL BE A PUMA NOT FAR AWAY.
RAUL IS DEFINITELY ONTO SOMETHING.
HIS KNIFE IS POISED.
UNDER THE ROCK, WE COME FACE TO FACE
WITH THE DEADLY POWER OF THE PUMA -- A HALF-EATEN CALF.
LOOK AT THE NOSE ON THIS.
AND THAT'S WITH THEY DO. THEY TAKE THAT.
AND ALSO THAT GASH --
STRAIGHT FROM THE PUMA CLAW DOWN THERE.
AND THEN THE PUMA WILL ALSO EAT ALL OF THE SOFT ORGANS.
AND THAT'S REALLY TELLING HIM THIS IS DEFINITELY --
NO DOUBT -- THIS IS PUMA KILL.
SO I'M JUST A BIT CONCERNED THAT THIS IS VERY, VERY FRESH.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PUMA KILLS AND BONES AROUND HERE.
IT'S NOT KIND OF A GOOD PLACE JUST TO BE HANGING ABOUT
IF THERE ARE PUMAS.
RAUL WON'T LET ANY PART OF THIS PUMA KILL GO TO WASTE.
HE'LL USE THE SKIN FOR SADDLES AND BRIDLES.
WE'VE ONLY BEEN HERE ABOUT 20 SECONDS --
HE'S ALREADY SKINNING IT.
( SPEAKING SPANISH )
SÃ­, SÃ­, SÃ­, SÃ­.
JUST ASKING IF YOU COULD EAT THIS MEAT RAW,
STRAIGHT OFF THE CARCASS.
SLIGHTLY WORRYINGLY, HE SAID, "YES."
( SPEAKING SPANISH )
GRACIAS.
( Laughing ) WELL, THAT QUESTION BACKFIRED.
GRACIAS, RAUL.
IT'S BLOOMING TOUGH, THIS ONE.
CAN'T EVEN GET IT DOWN.
GONE. ( SPITS )
( SPEAKING SPANISH )
NO, NO, NO.
NO, GRACIAS.
NO, HE DOESN'T WANT ANY!
OH, GREAT!
( SPEAKING SPANISH )
HE'S SAYING IT'S BETTER WHEN IT'S COOKED.
YEAH.
THANKS.
RIGHT, LET'S GET THE MEAT OFF THIS, THE SKIN OFF IT,
AND GET DOWN OFF THIS HILLSIDE.
I'VE SEEN CLOSE UP THE DAMAGE THAT A PUMA CAN DO.
NEXT, I'M GOING TO SPEND A FREEZING NIGHT
OUT ON THE STEPPE.
I CAN TELL TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE COLD.
I'M CROSSING THE WILD EXPANSE OF THE PATAGONIAN STEPPE.
EUROPEAN SETTLERS CAME HERE IN IN THE 19th CENTURY
TO FARM SHEEP AND CATTLE.
BUT THERE'S SO LITTLE TO SUSTAIN LIFE HERE
THAT HUGE AREAS SEE NO PEOPLE AT ALL.
PEOPLE OFTEN, ON FLAT GROUND,
WILL UNDERESTIMATE DISTANCES BY ABOUT THREEFOLD,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE VERY FEW LANDMARKS
TO JUDGE THE DISTANCE.
BUT WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM PATAGONIA,
FROM EXPERIENCE, IS YOU CAN MULTIPLY THAT AGAIN.
THE WHOLE PLACE IS SO HUGE.
YOU LOOK AT THE LAKE OVER HERE.
THAT LOOKS, WHAT, 5, 10 MINUTES' WALK AT THE MOST.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU, IT'S GONNA TAKE ME 45 MINUTES.
THERE'S A STORY OF THREE WELSH SETTLERS
WHO FOUND OUT JUST HOW UNFORGIVING THIS PLACE CAN BE.
THEY STRAYED FROM A PATH AND DIED OF THIRST.
THEIR BLEACHED BONES WERE FOUND YEARS LATER,
JUST YARDS FROM A STREAM.
AND AT NIGHT, THE CLOUDLESS SKY MEANS TEMPERATURES PLUMMET
TO MINUS-15 DEGREES.
I CAN TELL TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE COLD.
SO, REALLY, MY PRIORITY
IS JUST TO GET SOME SHELTER FROM THE WIND
AND THEN COLLECT A LOAD OF FIREWOOD
SO I CAN MAKE A FIRE AND KEEP MYSELF WARM.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE CAMP, THE GOLDEN RULE IS,
DO IT BEFORE IT GETS DARK.
THIS IS ABOUT THE BIGGEST BOULDER AROUND HERE,
AND IT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR ME TO SHELTER --
NICELY PROTECTED FROM THE WIND.
GOT A LOAD OF WOOD.
AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS BOULDER HERE
IS THAT, LOOK, IT'S COVERED IN IT --
OLD-MAN'S-BEARD.
AND ALL OF THIS IS BONE-DRY.
THIS MOSS ONLY GROWS WHERE THE AIR IS PURE,
AND IT'S BEEN USED AS TINDER ON THE STEPPE FOR CENTURIES.
THE TEHUELCHE INDIANS, CONQUISTADORES,
AND EUROPEAN SETTLERS ALL USED IT TO MAKE FIRE,
AND IT WORKS BRILLIANTLY.
WHILE I WAS OUT GATHERING A LOT OF THAT WOOD,
ONE THING I DID NOTICE WAS A LOT OF ANIMAL TRACKS,
AND ESPECIALLY HARES'.
IF I CAN MAKE SNARES FROM MY PARACHUTE LINES,
I'VE GOT A CHANCE AT CATCHING SOME FOOD.
AND ALL I NEED TO DO IS MAKE A BITE IN ONE END --
JUST A REALLY SIMPLE OVERHAND KNOT --
THAT GIVES YOU THAT REALLY NICE, SIMPLE LITTLE LOOP.
THEN I JUST THREAD THE OTHER END THROUGH THAT.
WHEN IT COMES UNDER PRESSURE, IT TIGHTENS ON ITSELF.
OKAY, I'VE GOT A GOOD NUMBER OF THESE SNARES NOW.
TAKE THOSE, THE KNIFE,
AND I'M ALSO GOING TO TAKE ONE OF THESE
AND JUST SMEAR THE SCENT OF THE COW PAT
ALL THE WAY OVER MY HANDS.
AND WHAT THIS WILL DO IS HOPEFULLY MASK MY SCENT.
SO WHEN I'M LAYING THE SNARES,
ALL ANY ANIMAL'S GOING TO SMELL IS COW PAT AND NOT HUMAN.
TRYING TO TRAP ANYTHING IS ALWAYS A TRICKY BUSINESS.
IT TAKES TIME, PATIENCE,
AND YOU'RE QUITE LIKELY TO END UP GOING HUNGRY.
I'M TRYING TO GET THE ODDS IN MY FAVOR, THOUGH,
BY LAYING AS MANY TRAPS AS POSSIBLE.
YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT'S GOT A NATURAL TRACK TO IT
THAT THEY USE REGULARLY,
BUT ALSO YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT ACTS AS A CHOKE POINT --
THEY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE.
THEY HAVE TO GET FUNNELED THROUGH A GAP.
AND THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS JUST TIE IT REALLY WELL
AROUND THE BASE OF ONE OF THESE BUSHES.
AND THEN WHAT I NEED IS JUST A COUPLE OF LITTLE BRANCHES
TO ACT AS SUPPORTS FOR THE NOOSE.
YOU WANT THIS TO BE ABOUT A HAND'S HEIGHT
OFF THE GROUND AND ABOUT A FIST WIDTH.
AND THEN, HOPEFULLY, A HARE THAT WILL USE THIS RUN,
COME ALONG, HEAD THROUGH THIS,
AND THEN JUST GET SNAGGED.
THE SUN IS SETTING AND THE LIGHT FADING,
BUT I KNOW FROM BITTER EXPERIENCE
THAT THE ODDS ARE AGAINST ME GETTING HARE
FOR BREAKFAST TOMORROW.
I'VE GOT THE ONLY SHELTER FOR MILES.
AND WITH MY FIRE TO KEEP ME WARM,
IT'S TIME TO SETTLE IN FOR A NIGHT ON THE STEPPE.
I THINK THE MAGIC OF PLACES LIKE THIS
IS THAT EVERYTHING SLOWS DOWN
AND LIFE BECOMES MUCH MORE RAW.
AND THOSE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU GOING IN LIFE
SUDDENLY BECOME MUCH MORE PROMINENT.
AND FOR ME, CERTAINLY, THAT'S --
MY CHRISTIAN FAITH IS A BIG PART OF THAT,
AND IT HELPS ME THROUGH SO MANY DIFFICULT
AND OFTEN QUITE LONELY TIMES.
AND FOR ME, THAT'S MY BACKBONE, I THINK.
I'VE SPEND THE NIGHT SHELTERING UNDER A BOULDER
ON THE PATAGONIAN STEPPE.
LAST NIGHT WAS 2 DEGREES BELOW FREEZING,
AND NOW I REALLY NEED TO GET WARM.
MY DAD ALWAYS USED TO SAY,
"ONCE A YEAR, TRY AND WATCH THE SUNRISE."
WE DIDN'T ALWAYS MANAGE. BUT THAT'S JUST WONDERFUL.
AND WHAT I'VE GOT HERE IS JUST WHAT'S CALLED PARAMELA.
AND THIS ONLY GROWS HERE ON THE STEPPE.
AND IT KIND OF LOOKS A BIT LIKE A MINI FERN.
BUT IT'S REALLY STICKY,
AND THAT'S WHY YOU CAN TELL IT'S PARAMELA.
BUT THE LOCALS WILL USE THIS AS A REALLY GOOD COLD REMEDY.
AND WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS JUST USE IT TO MAKE A CUP OF TEA.
WHOA! MAN, THAT -- IT'S HOT.
I WANT TO GET GOING AND SEE IF I'VE GOT A HARE.
THIS WOULD BE LIKE CHRISTMAS MORNING.
I'M REALLY HOPING THERE'S GONNA BE A NICE PRESENT
IN ONE OF THESE SNARES.
BUT THIS TIME IT SEEMS THE HARES HAVE OUTSMARTED ME.
NO LUCK WITH THIS ONE, EITHER.
ALTHOUGH, LOOK -- YOU CAN SEE HARE DROPPINGS NEARBY,
WHICH MEANS THEY OBVIOUSLY DO USE THIS RUN.
BUT JUST NOT LAST NIGHT.
IT LOOKS LIKE I'M NOT HAVING HARE FOR BREAKFAST.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY.
WITH LITTLE OR NO FOOD ON THE STEPPE,
SURVIVING OUT HERE IS A HUGE CHALLENGE.
I'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.
I'M ON THE PATAGONIAN STEPPE,
WHERE THE VICIOUS WINDS FLAY YOUR SKIN
AND THE SUN FRIES YOU.
I'M AT THE MERCY OF THE ELEMENTS
MORE THAN I'VE EVER FELT BEFORE.
JUST LIKE SKIN-SHREDDING -- THIS WIND.
EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF SHELTER HERE IS A GODSEND.
I'LL JUST TAKE TWO MINUTES.
IT'S JUST NICE TO GET OUT OF THAT WIND.
AND THIS CALAFATE BUSH
IS REALLY THE ONLY THING THAT GROWS HERE
THAT'S GOING TO OFFER YOU ANY SORT OF PROTECTION.
IN FACT, GAUCHOS STILL TODAY WILL SLEEP UNDER THESE BUSHES
AS A FORM OF SHELTER.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY EAT THE LITTLE FLOWERS OFF THIS.
IN SUMMERTIME, THIS WHOLE BUSH
WOULD JUST BE COVERED IN BERRIES.
BUT AT THE MOMENT, IT'S PRETTY SCANT PICKINGS.
JUST A LITTLE FLOWER.
GOING TO GIVE A BIT OF MOISTURE
AND PROBABLY ABOUT 1 1/2 CALORIES.
BUT 1 1/2 QUITE TASTY CALORIES.
THE STEPPE IS CROSSED WITH STREAMS OF GLACIAL MELTWATER.
THE BEST BET IS TO AIM DOWN FOR THE VALLEYS --
THE FAST WAY OR THE BEAR WAY.
WHOO-HOO!
THAT'S HOW TO GET DOWN THE SCREE SLOPE.
THESE STREAMS CARRY RAIN AND SNOWMELT FROM THE HIGH STEPPE
INTO THE VALLEYS BELOW.
( SLURPING )
THAT'S NICE.
BEST OF ALL, THE WATER IS CLEAN AND PURE.
REALLY, FINDING A RIVER LIKE THIS THROUGH THE STEPPE
IS JUST LIKE STRIKING GOLD.
IF YOU FOLLOW THE STREAMBED,
YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO FIND FOOD, AS WELL.
I'M GOING TO KEEP FORAGING ALONG THE VALLEY FLOOR
FOR ANYTHING I CAN FIND.
HERE WE GO.
I THINK THESE ARE LITTLE MACACHIN SHOOTS,
AND THEY'RE PRETTY WEENY.
LOOK. SEE IF YOU CAN SEE THIS.
IF YOU DIG DOWN, YOU'LL GET THIS LITTLE BULB ON THE END.
BUMMER IS, IS THAT IT'S SPRING,
AND THEY'RE ONLY JUST STARTING TO GROW.
BY SUMMERTIME, THESE WOULD BE LIKE SMALL POTATOES.
BUT AT THE MOMENT, I'M NOT HOLDING OUT MUCH HOPE
FOR A HUGE FEAST.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH,
BUT MACACHIN IS PACKED WITH MOISTURE AND CARBOHYDRATE.
YOU NEED TO HAVE THE STEADY HANDS OF A SURGEON
TO AVOID CUTTING INTO THE ROOTS OF THESE.
LOOK AT THIS.
IT'S ALWAYS A BIT OF A LOTTERY,
WHETHER YOU GET A TINY, LITTLE ONE OR ONE LIKE THIS.
AND THAT'S DELICIOUS.
IT'S NOT EXACTLY A FEAST.
BUT IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR,
YOU CAN FIND FOOD HERE.
ONE OF THE KEYS OF SURVIVAL IS TO KEEP WATER CLOSE BY.
IF YOU CAN FIND A STREAM AND FOLLOW IT,
YOU'VE GOT A GOOD CHANCE OF FINDING PEOPLE.
PATAGONIA HAS PUSHED ME TO MY LIMITS.
I'VE ENDURED SNOW AND ICE, WIND AND SUN.
BUT IT'S LEFT A DEEP IMPRESSION ON ME.
THIS IS THE SAME PLACE, THIS SHORELINE,
THE INDIANS WOULD HAVE ROAMED ACROSS
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS --
AND ALSO THAT THOSE EARLY EXPLORERS LIKE DARWIN
WOULD HAVE SEEN.
AND REALLY, FOR ME, THERE'S SOMETHING --
THERE'S SOMETHING VERY MOVING
JUST ABOUT THIS WHOLE ANCIENT AND SUCH UNCHANGED LAND.