I'M BEAR GRYLLS,
AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE
IN SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME AND DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH.
I'VE GOT TO LAST A WEEK OF CHALLENGES
IN THE SORT OF PLACES YOU WOULDN'T LAST A DAY
WITHOUT THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS.
NOW I'VE COME TO SIBERIA,
THE COLDEST PLACE ON THE PLANET,
WHERE TEMPERATURES CAN PLUMMET TO -90 FAHRENHEIT.
I'LL BE MEETING THE GUYS
WHO KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE OUT HERE
AND LEARNING SOME OF THEIR EXTREME TECHNIQUES --
HOW A DEAD YAK CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE...
EAT THINGS THAT WILL MAKE YOU GAG...
AND I'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY
THROUGH THE TREACHEROUS SAYAN MOUNTAINS.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
I'M FLYING ACROSS SOUTHERN SIBERIA --
5 MILLION SQUARE MILES OF BARREN WILDERNESS
WITH A REPUTATION AS BITTER AS ITS WEATHER.
THIS FROZEN LANDSCAPE
IS GONNA BE ONE OF MY TOUGHEST CHALLENGES YET.
IF YOU GET LOST IN SIBERIA,
YOUR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL ARE ALMOST ZERO.
THERE'S HARDLY ANYTHING TO EAT,
AND IT'S ONE OF THE COLDEST PLACES ON THE PLANET.
I'M BEING DROPPED INTO THE SAYAN MOUNTAINS --
A FORBIDDING RANGE OF TOWERING SNOW-COVERED PEAKS.
THEY STAND BETWEEN ME AND MY PICKUP POINT.
I'VE GOT A FEW BASIC SURVIVAL TOOLS IN MY PACK,
AND MY CAMERA CREW IS COMING WITH ME.
THE HELI'S HOVERING AT ABOUT 20 FOOT
ABOVE THE SUMMIT OF THE MOUNTAIN.
AND THERE'S A CORNICE STRAIGHT DOWN THERE.
THERE'S GONNA BE SOFT SNOW UNDER THAT.
OKAY. THIS IS IT.
WHOO!
AT THIS HEIGHT, GET IT WRONG
AND YOU'RE GONNA SHATTER YOUR LEGS OR SPINE.
WHOA!
I'VE GOT TO FIGHT TO KEEP MY BODY RELAXED AS I TUMBLE.
[ COUGHS ]
FAIR TO SAY I'VE LANDED.
I'M, UH -- LOOK AT THIS.
IT'S THE WORST COLD I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED --
BITING, BITTER, -20 OR MORE,
AND IT SAPS EVERY MORSEL OF ENERGY.
BUT GIVE IN TO IT, AND YOU'LL DIE.
THIS IS WHY THE VICIOUS RUSSIAN WINTER
DEFEATS WHATEVER STANDS IN ITS WAY.
THE COLD HERE IS JUST INTENSE.
IT FEELS LIKE IT'S JUST BITING INTO YOUR SKIN.
AND, YOU KNOW, JUST A BIT OF SNOT IN YOUR NOSE
JUST FREEZES, YOU KNOW?
AND HOW ANYBODY, ANYTHING CAN LIVE HERE
IS JUST EXTRAORDINARY.
EVEN THE AIR YOU BREATHE IS SUPERCHILLED.
AND ONCE YOU GET BELOW -40 FAHRENHEIT,
ICE CRYSTALS FORM IN YOUR LUNGS
AND YOU'LL START TO COUGH UP BLOOD.
FROSTBITTEN LUNGS ARE A DEATH SENTENCE.
SIBERIA IS ONE OF THE BLEAKEST, COLDEST PLACES I'VE EVER BEEN.
THE TEMPERATURE IS DEFINITELY MADE WORSE
BY THE SIGNIFICANT ALTITUDE,
BUT ALSO BY THIS WIND.
IT'S NOT VERY STRONG,
BUT IT'S ENOUGH JUST TO GET IN EVERYWHERE.
REALLY, MY PRIORITY NOW
NEEDS TO BE JUST TO GET DOWN INTO THE VALLEY.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A FROZEN CORPSE WITHIN 24 HOURS,
YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING.
THE FREEZING AIR SINKS TO THE VALLEY FLOOR,
BUT AT LEAST YOU GET SOME RESPITE
FROM THE MERCILESS WINDS.
SEE, THE SUN'S JUST COMING UP OVER THE MOUNTAINS.
AND IT'S ALSO TINGED WITH A LITTLE BIT OF RED,
WHICH, IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE,
OFTEN MEANS THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A BREAK,
A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER, OFTEN FOR THE WORSE.
AND THERE'S A SAYING THAT SAYS,
"RED SKY AT NIGHT, SHEPHERD'S DELIGHT.
RED SKY IN THE MORNING, SHEPHERD'S WARNING."
THE REASON FOR THAT IS ALL OF THAT RED
IS THE POLLEN AND THE DUST HELD UP IN THE HIGH PRESSURE.
SO, IF YOU SEE THAT IN THE MORNING,
IT MEANS THE HIGH PRESSURE'S ALREADY PAST YOU.
IF YOU SEE IT IN THE EVENING,
IT MEANS THE HIGH PRESSURE'S COMING TOWARDS YOU.
READING THE SKY CAN SHOW YOU THE DANGER OF THE WEATHER,
BUT THERE ARE HAZARDS ON THE GROUND, TOO.
SO MUCH OF COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN
IS JUST ABOUT BEING POSITIVE
AND THE CONFIDENCE JUST TO GO FOR IT.
YOU KNOW, ACCIDENTS OFTEN HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE TENTATIVE.
IT'S THEN THAT THEY SLIP.
YOU WANT TO CONTROL YOUR OWN DESCENT
RATHER THAN LET THE MOUNTAIN CONTROL IT FOR YOU.
WALKING THROUGH THE DEEP SNOW IS EXHAUSTING.
EVERY STEP IS LIKE WADING THROUGH TREACLE.
AND THEN THERE ARE SIBERIA'S DEADLY RIVERS.
ALMOST ALL OF THESE RIVERS IN SIBERIA IN WINTERTIME
ARE FROZEN OVER.
BUT WHAT YOU ALSO OFTEN GET
IS WATER RUNNING UNDERNEATH THE ICE.
AND IF YOU'RE QUIET, YOU CAN HEAR THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY CROSSING THESE RIVERS IS SO DANGEROUS.
IF YOU GO THROUGH THE ICE AND GET TAKEN AWAY UNDER IT,
YOU'LL NEVER COME OUT OF THAT.
BUT WHAT I CAN USE ARE JUST THESE BOULDERS.
THEY'RE COVERED IN SNOW, AND YOU CAN JUST HOP AND JUMP
FROM ONE TO THE OTHER TO GET ACROSS.
ONE SLIP ON THESE BOULDERS, AND YOU'RE GONNA GET INJURED,
OR YOU'RE GONNA CRASH THROUGH THE ICE
INTO THE FREEZING WATER.
AND, REALLY, THIS IS LIKE A GIANT GAME OF CHESS,
WHERE YOU NEED TO, LIKE, PLAN YOUR MOVES
AND TRUSTING THAT THEY ARE ROCK AND THEY'RE NOT ICE.
OW.
ONE MISTAKE OUT HERE,
AND YOU WOULDN'T STAND MUCH CHANCE OF SURVIVING.
THERE'S HARDLY A SOUL AROUND,
AND THERE'S ALMOST ZERO CHANCE OF RESCUE.
I CAN REALLY HEAR THE WATER RUNNING STRAIGHT UNDER HERE.
WHEW. OUT OF THAT MAZE.
OKAY, AND CARRY ON.
I'M ACROSS THE RIVER, AND I'M ON MY WAY.
IT'S EASY TO FORGET HOW MUCH YOU SWEAT
WHEN YOU'RE STRUGGLING IN THIS COLD.
IT MAKES YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE RISE,
AND THEN YOU PEE MORE.
LOSING THIS MUCH FLUID
MEANS YOU CAN QUICKLY GET DEHYDRATED.
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOUR BODY STARTS TO SHUT DOWN.
YOUR BRAIN SUFFERS, THEN YOUR KIDNEYS,
BEFORE YOUR HEART FINALLY STOPS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN
THAT ISN'T FROZEN SOLID.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY ENOUGH FORCE OF WATER RUNNING DOWN HERE
TO STOP IT FREEZING,
WHICH MEANS I CAN DRINK FROM THIS.
YOU REALLY WANT TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION JUST TO EAT SNOW.
IT CAN ACTUALLY BURN YOUR MOUTH AND GIVE YOU BLISTERS.
SO, WHEN YOU CAN FILL UP, DO SO.
BUT DON'T BE TEMPTED TO GULP THE WATER.
IT'LL QUICKLY DROP YOUR CORE TEMPERATURE,
PUTTING YOU IN DANGER OF SHOCK.
INSTEAD, JUST TAKE LITTLE SIPS
AND KEEP YOUR BOTTLE CLOSE TO YOUR CHEST
OR TUCKED WELL INSIDE YOUR RUCKSACK
TO STOP IT FREEZING.
BUT A RIVER IS MORE THAN JUST ABOUT WATER.
BURIED BENEATH THE SNOW ARE PLANTS THAT CAN HELP YOU.
LOOK. THIS IS ALL SPHAGNUM MOSS, THIS.
I'LL PULL THIS OFF AND GET A LOOK AT IT.
AND THIS HAS ACTUALLY GOT ANTISEPTIC PROPERTIES.
IT'S GOT IODINE IN IT.
SOLDIERS DURING THE WORLD WARS WOULD USE THIS.
WHAT THEY WOULD DO -- THEY'D GRAB IT, BIG WOUND,
STICK IT ON IT, AND THE ANTISEPTIC AND THE IODINE
WOULD HELP CLEAN IT AND HEAL IT.
THERE'S MASSES OF IT, SO I KEEP SEEING IT AROUND.
I'M IN SIBERIA IN ONE OF THE MOST DESOLATE
AND GODFORSAKEN PLACES ON EARTH.
TEMPERATURES HERE CAN PLUNGE TO -90 FAHRENHEIT.
IT'S THE COLDEST I'VE EVER BEEN.
BUT IT'S THE RIVERS I DREAD THE MOST.
IN THE WINTER, RIVERS FREEZE SOLID,
BUT THIS ONE IS MOVING SO QUICKLY,
THERE'S A FAST-FLOWING CHANNEL IN THE MIDDLE.
IT'S TOO WIDE TO JUMP, AND IF I MISS IT AND FALL IN,
I'LL BE OUT OF CONTROL AND AT THE MERCY OF THE ICY WATER.
IT'S A LONG WAY 'ROUND, TOO, SO I'M GONNA TRY AND SWIM IT.
BUT YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN SURVIVE
ONCE YOU GET TO THE OTHER SIDE.
IF YOU HAD TO CROSS A FAST-FLOWING RIVER LIKE THIS
IN THESE SORT OF CONDITIONS,
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO KEEP YOUR CLOTHES DRY.
IF YOU END UP IN THERE, EVEN IF YOU'RE OUT THE OTHER SIDE,
YOUR SOAKING-WET CLOTHES --
THEY'RE GONNA FREEZE AROUND YOU WITHIN MINUTES, AND YOU'LL DIE.
SO, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS STRIP ALL MY CLOTHES OFF,
STICK THEM IN THE RUCKSACK, THROW THEM ACROSS,
AND THEN SWIM FOR IT.
JUST A FEW SECONDS IN THIS WATER
WILL PUT YOUR BODY INTO SHOCK, AND YOU'LL SOON GO HYPOTHERMIC.
LITERALLY, MY TOES NOW ARE, LIKE, BEYOND COLD.
THEY'RE NOW NUMB.
THEY JUST FEEL LIKE BLOCKS OF ICE.
I KNOW THAT FEELING.
I'VE HAD FROSTBITE ON BIG MOUNTAINS BEFORE,
AND IT'S A VERY FRIGHTENING THING.
AND WHAT HAPPENS -- YOU JUST SENSE A BIG LOSS OF FEELING.
AND IT'S AT THAT STAGE THE TEMPTATION'S JUST TO DO NOTHING.
BUT THAT IS A DANGEROUS TIME. YOU'VE GOT TO REWARM THEM.
USE WHATEVER YOU CAN.
IF YOU'VE GOT A BUDDY,
STICK YOUR TOES UNDER SOMEONE'S ARMPITS,
DOWN THEIR PANTS, ANYTHING.
ALL I'VE GOT ARE MY FINGERS.
COME ON.
OKAY...
NOW MY FINGERS ARE BEGINNING TO SEIZE, AS WELL.
AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR FINGERS BEGIN TO GO,
YOU THEN JUST CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
CAN'T PUT BOOTS ON, CAN'T DO LACES UP,
CAN'T OPEN RUCKSACKS, CAN'T START FIRES.
YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVEMENT AND FEELING IN YOUR FINGERS.
IT IS ARCTIC COLD.
I CAN SEE YOUR HANDS THERE, LEE.
YOU GOT ICE JUST OVER YOUR FINGERS.
SHOW THE CAMERA THAT.
JUST KEEP MOVING YOUR FINGERS, ALL RIGHT?
MAKE IT A DISCIPLINE. JUST KEEP MOVING THEM.
WE'RE GONNA RUN.
AND IN FIVE MINUTES, WE'LL ALL FEEL HUMAN.
LET'S GO.
MY NEXT CHALLENGE
IS GRAPPLING WITH THE TREACHEROUS SAYAN MOUNTAINS.
GO FOR IT. GO, GO.
I'M IN SIBERIA IN WINTER,
SHOWING HOW TO STAY ALIVE IN THE COLDEST PLACE ON EARTH.
MY CHALLENGE NOW IS TO GET THROUGH
THE TREACHEROUS PEAKS OF THE SAYAN MOUNTAINS.
THESE RUSSIAN MOUNTAINS REALLY CAN BE KILLERS.
AND ALREADY THIS YEAR,
THREE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN AN AVALANCHE,
AND OTHER CLIMBERS AND TOURISTS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES.
YOU KNOW, YOU JUST CAN'T MESS WITH THIS PLACE.
MY WAY AHEAD IS NOW BARRED
BY A 100-FOOT VERTICAL ROCK FACE.
THE MIX OF ROCK, SNOW, AND ICE IS GONNA MAKE IT A TOUGH CLIMB.
THIS FOREST IS PROVING QUITE HARD WORK.
YOU SEE THIS, LIKE, SNOW AND ROCK GULLY
GOING ALL THE WAY UP THAT.
BUT IT LOOKS QUITE TECHNICAL,
SO I'M GONNA USE MY ICE AXE FOR THIS.
THE WAY TO CLIMB DIFFICULT ROCK FACES LIKE THIS
IS TO PLAN YOUR ROUTE CAREFULLY.
THE KEY WITH DOING THIS SORT OF THING
IS JUST NOT RUSHING IT, YOU KNOW?
MAKING SURE YOU'VE GOT GOOD HOLDS.
IF YOU LOOK, I PULL ALL OF THIS SNOW AWAY.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT I'M DEALING WITH.
OH, THAT'S NICE. THAT'S A GOOD HOLD.
GET IT WRONG, AND IT CAN BE FATAL.
WE'RE AT HALFWAY HERE.
GOT QUITE A NICE LITTLE LEDGE.
THIS, LIKE, BANK OF SNOW'S ACCUMULATED,
AND IT'S GIVEN ME A CHANCE JUST TO GET MY BREATH BACK,
TRY AND GET SOME FEELING BACK IN MY FINGERS.
THIS NEXT BIT IS LOOKING QUITE GNARLY.
[ COUGHS ]
ALL WE HAVE TO DO HERE IS JUST, LIKE, CHIMNEY UP THIS
AND USE MY BACKPACK TO LEAN AGAINST
AND THEN TO PUSH ME OUT.
EASE UP. THAT'S IT.
OKAY, NOW GO FOR IT. GO, GO.
THAT'S IT. GOT IT?
LAST LITTLE BIT JUST ACROSS HERE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE SAFE HERE.
COME ON, THEN. YOU ALL RIGHT?
NICE.
BRILLIANT! AND THAT WAS A GREAT CLIMB.
THERE'S A NICE LITTLE WEAKNESS IN THE ROCK
ALL THE WAY UP HERE THAT I USED,
AND I'M UP.
GOOD JOB, EH?
I'M AT THE TOP, AND I'M ON MY WAY.
SURVIVAL IN SIBERIA
WILL TEST ANYONE TO THE LIMITS OF ENDURANCE.
AND WHENEVER I'M STRUGGLING, I REMIND MYSELF OF THE STORY
OF A YOUNG GERMAN SOLDIER CAPTURED BY THE RUSSIANS
AT THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
DESPITE BEING INNOCENT,
HE WAS SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS HARD LABOR
DOWN A SIBERIAN LEAD MINE.
AND AFTER A YEAR DOWN THIS MINE,
WITH ONLY AN OUNCE OF STRENGTH LEFT IN HIS DYING BODY,
HE MANAGED TO ESCAPE.
AND THIS GUY WALKED HIS WAY
THROUGH THREE SIBERIAN BRUTAL WINTERS,
BUT HE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF BREAKING GOALS DOWN INTO MANAGEABLE SIZES
AND ABOUT THAT NEED
FOR JUST A SENSE OF PROGRESSION AND ACHIEVEMENT.
AND WHAT HE DID IS HE HAD 10 BULLETS IN HIS HAND,
AND EVERY THOUSAND STEPS, HE'D TRANSFER ONE,
AND ANOTHER THOUSAND STEPS, ANOTHER ONE.
AND HE'D JUST KEEP DOING THIS.
AND HE DID IT UNTIL HE LITERALLY WALKED HIS WAY OUT OF HELL.
WHENEVER I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING OUT HERE IN SIBERIA,
I JUST REMIND MYSELF OF WHAT HE WENT THROUGH
NIGHT AFTER NIGHT IN THESE SUB-ZERO, FREEZING TEMPERATURES,
NO FIRE, NO TENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT JUST REMINDS ME
OF THE LENGTHS THAT THE HUMAN SPIRIT CAN GO TO
WHEN THAT DESIRE FOR FREEDOM IS STRONG ENOUGH.
SURVIVAL IS AS MUCH ABOUT STRENGTH OF MIND
AS STRENGTH OF BODY.
IT'S ABOUT FINDING THAT FIRE WITHIN YOU.
CHECK THAT OUT -- UPSTREAM.
YOU SEE, IT'S AN OLD LINE UP ACROSS THE RIVER.
THIS IS PROBABLY PUT HERE BY HUNTERS,
AND THEY PROBABLY USE THIS AS A TYROLEAN TRAVERSE
TO HAUL THEIR SUPPLIES ACROSS
WHEN THIS RIVER, IN THE SUMMERTIME,
IS FULL AND SWOLLEN.
AND IT'S KIND OF IRRESISTIBLE
NOT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN WITH THIS.
I'M GONNA USE AN OLD COMMANDO TECHNIQUE TO GET ACROSS.
SOMETIMES YOU JUST GET TIRED AND LOSE YOUR BALANCE.
AND IF THAT HAPPENS, YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO GET BACK ON.
AND YOU WANT TO SWING YOUR LEG UP,
ELBOW OVER, ARM OVER,
LEG UP, AND THEN ON DOWN.
WHEW! AND THAT'S CALLED A REGAIN.
AND LIKE SO MANY THINGS,
THIS IS MORE ABOUT GOOD TECHNIQUE
THAN JUST BRUTE STRENGTH.
WHEW!
GOD, MY NUTS.
THAT'S MEANT TO BE DONE ON A NICE, THICK ROPE,
NOT A BLOOMING CHEESE WIRE.
UGH.
BUT THIS WIRE MEANS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE NEARBY.
THE TUVANS HAVE LIVED HERE FOR GENERATIONS,
AND THEY KNOW ALL THERE IS TO KNOW
ABOUT SURVIVING IN THIS BRUTAL ENVIRONMENT.
ALL OF THIS DOWN BELOW IS A SMALL TUVAN SETTLEMENT.
AND THESE GUYS REALLY ARE THE MASTERS OF STAYING ALIVE
IN THIS SORT OF SUB-ZERO CONDITIONS.
WHAT I WANT TO DO, THOUGH, IS FIND OUT
SOME OF THEIR SECRETS OF HOW THEY SURVIVE HERE.
NEXT, THE TUVANS SHOW ME
AN EXTREME SIDE OF SIBERIAN SURVIVAL.
I'M IN SIBERIA,
SURVIVING THE CHALLENGES OF THIS FROZEN WILDERNESS.
I'M ABOVE A TUVAN SETTLEMENT
AND WANT TO LEARN SOME LOCAL SURVIVAL KNOWLEDGE
FROM THESE COLD-CLIMATE EXPERTS.
FIRST OF ALL, I'VE GOT TO GET DOWN THIS CLIFF.
IT'S A 150-FOOT DROP.
I COULD TAKE THE LONG WAY AND WALK AROUND,
BUT I'M GONNA DO IT THE BEAR WAY -- FORWARD.
WHAT I'M USING HERE
IS A TECHNIQUE CALLED A FORWARD ABSEIL.
AND IT'S A COMMANDO TECHNIQUE
FOR BUILDING AND TESTING CONFIDENCE,
'CAUSE FACING DOWN IS SCARY.
SCARY...BUT FUN.
I CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT HOW THE TUVANS HAVE ADAPTED
TO SURVIVE DAY TO DAY IN THIS HOSTILE COLD.
HI.
HELLO.
OLJA. AND?
BEYA. BEYA. HI, BEYA.
OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS,
THE TUVANS HAVE HONED THEIR SURVIVAL SKILLS
TO SOMEHOW CARVE OUT AN EXISTENCE HERE.
HOME IS A YURT MADE OF BIRCH
AND COVERED WITH DEERSKIN OR CANVAS.
WITH A FIRE IN THE MIDDLE,
IT'S A PERFECT SHELTER FROM THE SAVAGE CONDITIONS.
REALLY IS JUST SUCH A REFUGE IN HERE.
IT'S SO WARM COMPARED TO OUTSIDE,
WHERE IT REALLY IS JUST FREEZING COLD.
BUT THIS IS THESE GUYS' PERMANENT HOME, YOU KNOW?
THEY'RE NOT NOMADIC. THEY LIVE HERE ALL THE TIME.
AND THIS IS SERAT, WHO'S THE ELDER OF THE FAMILY.
HE'S 84 YEARS OLD, 9 CHILDREN,
LOADS OF GRANDCHILDREN.
ALL OF THESE GUYS ARE DESCENDED FROM GENGHIS KHAN.
WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE MONGOLIAN BORDER HERE.
BUT I THINK THEY'RE GONNA GIVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT'S BREWING OVER THERE.
SERAT IS MAKING A KIND OF BLOOD SAUSAGE
FROM BOILED SHEEP'S INTESTINES AND BLOOD.
IT MAY NOT LOOK APPETIZING,
BUT THE TUVANS MAKE USE OF EVERY BIT OF AVAILABLE FOOD.
YOU KNOW, THEY BELIEVE IT'S REALLY BAD, BAD KARMA
TO WASTE ANYTHING.
THEY BELIEVE IT ANGERS THE SPIRITS.
SO, YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE GUTS, THE BLOOD, THE INTESTINES
THEY'RE COOKING AND THEY'LL EAT.
LET'S SEE WHAT IT TASTES LIKE.
IT REALLY IS KIND OF JUST STRONG AND SALTY AND THICK.
BUT THIS IS REALLY GOOD SURVIVAL FOOD --
REALLY CALORIFICALLY DENSE, LOADS OF ENERGY,
LOADS OF GOOD MINERALS AND VITAMINS.
AND, ACTUALLY, ONCE YOU GET PAST THE FIRST COUPLE OF BITES,
IT'S NOT TOO BAD.
AND THESE GUYS ARE WOLFING IT DOWN.
THANK YOU, SERAT.
THE TUVANS ARE YAK HERDERS,
AND SERAT WANTS TO SHOW ME HOW IMPORTANT YAKS ARE
TO THEIR SURVIVAL IN THIS BARREN LAND.
WHAT THESE GUYS HAVE DONE IS LASSO ONE OF THEM
THAT THEY'RE THEN GONNA SLAUGHTER,
AND IT'S A NECESSARY PART OF THEIR SURVIVAL.
AS THEIR LIVES DEPEND ON THEM,
THE TUVANS HAVE ENORMOUS RESPECT FOR THEIR ANIMALS,
AND THE KILL IS ACHIEVED IN THE MOST HUMANE WAY THAT THEY KNOW.
AND YOU SEE ALL OF THE BLOOD COMING OUT OF ITS JUGULAR THERE,
AND THAT REALLY, IN AN EMERGENCY SURVIVAL SITUATION,
IS FOOD AND LIFE.
OKAY. TIME TO GET TO BUSINESS WITH THIS.
THE YAK IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ANIMALS IN THESE PARTS,
RENOWNED FOR ITS IMMENSELY THICK COAT,
WHICH KEEPS IT WARM.
BUT YOU COULD USE IT, TOO, AS CLOTHING OR BEDDING.
STICK YOUR FINGER OVER THE END OF THE KNIFE
SO YOU DON'T PIERCE THE GUTS,
AND THEN JUST LET IT RUN UP ITS BELLY.
WHENEVER I'VE SKINNED ANIMALS BEFORE,
I'VE RARELY HAD TO DEAL WITH THE THREAT OF FROSTBITE, TOO.
AT -25 DEGREES, IT BECOMES ANOTHER JOB ALTOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, THE KNIFE IS JUST --
TOUCH THAT WITH YOUR BARE SKIN, IT WOULD JUST STICK TO IT.
AND IT REALLY BECOMES JUST A RACE AGAINST TIME...
BEFORE THIS CARCASS FREEZES AND I FREEZE.
THIS CARCASS WILL FREEZE SOLID IN 20 MINUTES,
AND IT FEELS LIKE I COULD GO THE SAME WAY.
THE TEMPERATURE HASN'T RISEN ABOVE -25 ALL DAY,
AND EVERY LITTLE EFFORT IS AN ORDEAL.
YOU KNOW, I'M ALREADY... [ COUGHS ]
...STARTING TO LOSE THE FEELING IN MY FINGERS.
THE CREW HAVE JUST TOLD ME, "HURRY UP!"
THAT'S THE NASTY SIDE,
BUT THAT IS THE WARM SIDE.
WHEW.
THAT IS GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
OKAY. NOW TO GUT HIM.
IT'S EXHAUSTING WORK, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP GOING.
THE REWARDS WILL BE WORTH THE EFFORT.
THAT'S AMAZING. LOOK.
THAT FAT HAS ALREADY CONGEALED ALMOST SOLID.
[ AIR HISSES ]
DON'T WANT TO EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT SMELLS LIKE.
UGH.
I'M AFTER THE MOST PROTEIN-RICH SURVIVAL FOOD
I CAN GET FROM THIS YAK.
JUST LIKE THE TUVANS, IT'S THE LIVER I WANT.
IT'S PACKED FULL OF NUTRIENTS.
THERE WE GO. THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER.
HERE WE GO.
BIT OF THE LIVER.
AND THIS HAS GOT LOADS OF GOOD IRON IN IT.
AND THE TUVANS ACTUALLY BELIEVE THIS CLEANSES THE BLOOD
AND ALSO LOWERS CHOLESTEROL.
BUT I'VE NEVER EATEN LIVER RAW BEFORE -- AND WARM.
OH.
WELL, IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING AT LEAST WARM,
BUT IT REALLY KIND OF PUTS YOU OFF
WHAT'S ESSENTIALLY DELICIOUS FOOD.
BUT SURVIVAL FOOD AT ITS BEST.
YOU KNOW, IT'S AN AWFUL LOT OF EFFORT TO GET TO THIS,
BUT THIS HAS GOT MASSES OF GOOD ENERGY.
BUT, REALLY, IT'S NOT QUITE MY CUP OF TEA.
RIGHT, THE LAST THING I WANT OFF THIS CARCASS, THOUGH,
IS ANOTHER THING THE TUVANS SAID THEY OFTEN EAT,
WHICH IS THE EYEBALL.
LOOKS JUST LIKE A GIANT MARBLE.
AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS GONNA TASTE LIKE.
UGH.
SHORT ANSWER OR LONG ANSWER?
SHORT -- AWFUL!
IT'S LIKE AN ERUPTION
OF JUST COLD, FLUID,
GRISTLE, BLOOD.
I'VE HAD IT WITH THIS YAK CARCASS.
I'M COLD. I FEEL LIKE THROWING UP.
I'M JUST GONNA GET MOVING NOW.
OKAY.
NOW THE TUVANS ARE GONNA HELP ME BUILD A SHELTER
WHERE I'LL SPEND THE NIGHT
IN THE ICY GRIP OF THE SIBERIAN WINTER.
I AM FREEZING, FREEZING COLD.
AND, REALLY, AT THE MOMENT,
THIS IS JUST BECOMING AN ENDURANCE EXERCISE.
I'M IN THE FROZEN HEART OF SIBERIA
WITH TUVAN YAK HERDERS.
BEFORE I HEAD OFF TO MY PICKUP POINT
IN THE TREACHEROUS SAYAN MOUNTAINS,
I'M FIRST GONNA LEARN ABOUT HOW THE TUVANS SURVIVE
IN ONE OF THE HARSHEST PLACES ON EARTH.
BEFORE WE GO HUNTING, SERAT'S GOT A LITTLE TIP HE'S GONNA DO
JUST TO KEEP THE WORST OF THE COLD AWAY FROM US.
AND WHAT HE'S GOT HERE IS A BOWL OF BOAR FAT.
SMEARING YOURSELF WITH ANIMAL FAT
IS AN ANCIENT SURVIVAL TECHNIQUE.
IT WILL PROTECT YOU AGAINST SOME OF THE WORST EFFECTS
OF THE BITING WIND, WHICH CAN FLAY YOUR SKIN IN MINUTES.
UGH.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AGO THIS BOAR WAS KILLED.
UGH.
BUT I HAVE A SNEAKING SUSPICION THE SMELL OF THIS
IS GONNA STAY WITH ME FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
BUT LET'S SEE IF IT WORKS AND KEEPS THE COLD OFF MY FACE.
UGH.
[ BARKING ]
TUVANS WILL HUNT, OFTEN ON HORSEBACK,
BUT ALSO WITH A PACK OF DOGS.
AND WHAT SERAT'S LOOKING FOR
ARE, LIKE, SQUIRRELS, HARES, WILD BOAR, DEER.
AND THEY USE THE DOGS TO FLUSH THEM OUT.
THESE GUYS REALLY ARE EXPERT HUNTERS.
THEY KNOW ALL OF THIS GROUND INTIMATELY.
BUT THEY'RE ALSO EXPERTS AT HUNTING VERY EFFICIENTLY,
USING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ENERGY FOR THE MAXIMUM RESULTS.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS HERE
IS TRACKING AND SETTING TRAPS FOR THEIR QUARRY.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
SERAT RECKONS THIS IS GONNA BE
A GOOD PLACE TO SET SOME OF HIS TRAPS.
HE'S SEEN A FEW TRACKS OF WHAT HE THINKS IS SABLE,
AND TOGETHER WE'LL SET THESE.
SABLE ARE GROUND-DWELLING MAMMALS
VERY SIMILAR TO AMERICAN MARTEN.
AND IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK,
THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM HERE IN THE SIBERIAN FORESTS.
GOOD FOR FOOD AND GOOD FOR FUR.
YOU CAN SEE HE'S JUST SET THIS SMALL IRON TRAP DOWN THERE.
AND YOU SEE WHAT HE'S DOING -- HE'S JUST COVERING IT
WITH A LOAD OF LEAVES AND, LIKE, JUST ROTTING WOOD.
AND THAT WILL MASK OUR SCENT. IT WILL ALSO HIDE THE TRAP.
SABLE ARE WARY CREATURES,
SO WE'LL NEED EVERY BIT OF CUNNING TO CATCH THEM.
IT'S NOT ABOUT SPORT. IT'S ABOUT SURVIVAL.
IT'S ABOUT SUBSISTENCE LIVING.
THEY NEED TO CATCH MEAT AND FOOD TO LIVE OFF.
THAT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD NOW.
HOW HE DOES THIS WITHOUT GLOVES ON
I DO NOT KNOW.
IT'S ABOUT -25 DEGREES HERE.
I'VE JUST GOT THIN GLOVES ON,
AND I CAN NO LONGER NOW FEEL THE TIPS OF MY FINGERS.
GOOD JOB. MM-HMM.
OKAY. YEAH.
IT'S AMAZING HOW THE TUVANS HAVE ADAPTED TO SURVIVING HER.
THE SKILLS NEEDED TO LIVE OFF THE LAND
HAVE BEEN PASSED DOWN FROM FATHER TO SON FOR GENERATIONS.
IT'S THESE SAME SKILLS THAT SERAT HAS PASSED ON
TO HIS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
FOR 84 YEARS OLD,
SERAT, IN MY BOOK, IS A BIT OF AN INSPIRATION.
AMAZING -- OUT HUNTING, WALKING LONG DISTANCES.
VERY CONTENT, VERY PEACEFUL, YOU KNOW,
AND ACTUALLY AMAZINGLY FIT STILL.
NOT EASY CONDITIONS TO DO ANYTHING HERE.
TUVAN HUNTING PARTIES
CAN COVER A LARGE AREA OF MANY SQUARE MILES.
THEY TRAVEL LIGHT, AND TO PROTECT THEM OVERNIGHT,
THEY PUT UP A SHELTER USING WHATEVER'S LYING AROUND.
HERE? YEAH?
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT HE'S GONNA DO,
BUT I CAN BET YOU IT'S TRIED AND TESTED.
AND I'M QUITE EXCITED ABOUT SEEING WHAT HE COMES UP WITH.
I'M REALLY, REALLY COLD NOW. THE SUN'S GONE DOWN.
I THOUGHT IT WAS COLD BEFORE,
BUT THIS IS LIKE A DIFFERENT LEAGUE.
SO, WHATEVER HE'S GONNA BUILD,
I JUST WANT TO DO IT QUICK, GET A FIRE GOING.
I'VE KNOWN EXTREME-LOW TEMPERATURES BEFORE ON EVEREST,
BUT IN THIS COLD, I'M REALLY STARTING TO SUFFER.
IT'S BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE.
AT THE MOMENT, THOUGH, IT LOOKS A BIT DRAFTY.
AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS INSULATING IT
WITH ALL OF THIS BRUSHWOOD
AND THEN WEIGHTING THAT DOWN WITH MORE OF THE LOGS.
BUT ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS QUITE NICELY INSULATED NOW.
WE JUST KEEP GOING WITH IT.
YOU'VE GOT TO COVER THE FLOOR
TO CONSERVE BODY HEAT WHEN YOU LIE DOWN.
THE TUVANS USE DRY GRASS AS BEDDING.
AND WE'VE BUILT UP QUITE A NICE MATTRESS
OF ALL OF THIS DRY GRASS, LIKE A FOOT THICK,
AND THAT WILL GIVE ME REALLY GOOD INSULATION.
THEN I'M BRINGING IN A BIG LOG
TO KEEP A FIRE GOING THROUGH THE NIGHT.
BURN IT.
THANKS.
SERAT AND HIS FAMILY ARE HEADING BACK TO THEIR YURT,
LEAVING ME TO FEND FOR MYSELF.
[ GROANS ]
WHOO-HOO!
GAH.
I CAN'T REMEMBER A TIME I WAS SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE FIRE.
MY FINGERS ARE ABSOLUTELY WRITHING.
I'M ACTUALLY QUITE LOOKING FORWARD
TO SPENDING THE NIGHT IN THIS TUVAN SHELTER.
IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, AND I'M HOPING
THAT I SHOULD STAY AT LEAST QUITE WELL INSULATED IN THERE.
BUT WE'LL SEE IN THE MORNING.
'CAUSE ONE THING'S FOR CERTAIN --
THESE SIBERIAN NIGHTS ARE LONG.
4:30 IN THE AFTERNOON, THE SUN GOES DOWN,
AND IT'S NOT UP AGAIN UNTIL ABOUT 8:30.
THAT'S A LONG TIME TO BE SHIVERING.
THIS IS GONNA BE
ONE OF THE LONGEST NIGHTS I'VE HAD FOR A WHILE.
I FEEL AS THOUGH SOMEONE'S LOCKED ME IN A DEEP FREEZE
AND CHUCKED AWAY THE KEY.
THE TEMPERATURE KEEPS DROPPING,
AND I CAN FEEL THE HEAT JUST DRAINING OUT OF MY BODY.
IN THIS SORT OF SITUATION,
PEOPLE HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP AND NEVER WOKEN UP AGAIN.
I AM FREEZING, FREEZING COLD.
AND I JUST LOOKED AT THE THERMOMETER ON THE CAMERA,
AND HAVE A LOOK, SEE WHAT IT'S READING.
IT'S SAYING -30 DEGREES.
AND, REALLY, AT THE MOMENT,
THIS IS JUST BECOMING AN ENDURANCE EXERCISE
TO KEEP MOVING MY TOES AND MY FINGERS.
JUST TRYING TO KEEP...
[ SIGHS ] ...KEEP THEM MOVING.
THIS IS NOT FUN. NO FUN.
I'VE NEVER WANTED TO SEE THE MORNING SO MUCH.
BUT THERE'S 16 HOURS OF ICY DARKNESS TO SURVIVE
BEFORE I CLIMB IN FOR SAYAN MOUNTAINS
TO MAKE MY PICKUP.
HELI'S DUE IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES,
AND I DO NOT WANT THEM TO MISS ME.
I'M IN THE SAYAN MOUNTAINS OF SIBERIA,
SHOWING HOW TO STAY ALIVE IN THIS GIANT FREEZER.
I SPENT THE NIGHT IN A TUVAN SHELTER,
WHERE THE TEMPERATURE WENT BELOW -30 DEGREES.
I'VE NEVER WANTED TO SEE THE MORNING SO MUCH.
NOW I'M UP, AND I'VE GOT TO COVER SOME GROUND
TO MEET UP WITH MY HELICOPTER.
AFTER 16 HOURS OF DARKNESS, QUITE A LONG NIGHT,
IT'S FINALLY DAYLIGHT.
AND I'M GONNA LEAVE THIS TUVAN CAMP HERE LIKE THIS.
YOU NEVER KNOW -- A HUNTER ONE DAY MIGHT USE THIS.
AFTER A FREEZING-COLD NIGHT,
I NEED TO GET MOVING AND GET WARM.
BUT I'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
NO ONE'S GONNA SEE ME FROM THE AIR IN THIS VALLEY.
REALLY, TO STAND ANY CHANCE OF BEING SPOTTED IN THESE FORESTS,
YOU NEED TO REACH HIGHER GROUND.
SO, WHAT I'M GONNA DO
IS TRY AND GET TO THE TOP OF THIS RIDGE UP THERE.
WALKING IN DEEP SNOW DRAINS EVERY OUNCE OF ENERGY.
OUT HERE, AS MUCH AS 4 FEET CAN FALL IN ONE DAY.
YOU'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP FOCUSED AND PLOD ON.
YOU REALLY NOTICE
JUST HOW HARD WORK IT IS WADING THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
YOU KNOW?
JUST A FEW HUNDRED METERS, AND YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK.
THERE'S BARELY ANYTHING TO EAT,
SO WHEN YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING,
YOU'VE GOT TO GO FOR IT.
YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY BADAN.
LOOK AT THIS -- THESE TWO LEAVES.
AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY EAT THESE.
NOT SO MUCH THE GREEN ONES 'CAUSE THEY'RE QUITE BITTER.
BUT THE BROWN ONES.
AND...YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT GONNA TASTE GREAT,
BUT THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT OF ENERGY.
BUT WHAT THESE WILL ALSO DO
IS HELP CURE, LIKE, STOMACH PROBLEMS.
SO, IF YOU'VE GOT, LIKE -- HERE YOU GO --
IF YOU'VE GOT, LIKE, DIARRHEA AND YOU EAT A LOAD OF THIS,
IT WILL BUNG YOU UP.
DON'T EAT TOO MUCH OF IT, THOUGH.
OTHERWISE, YOU'LL END UP CONSTIPATED.
I'VE GOT TO PUSH ON, THOUGH, TO MEET WITH THE HELI.
BUT CLIMBING THIS STEEP GROUND IS PROVING HARD WORK.
LOOK, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A BREAK IN THE CLIFFS THERE.
SEE THIS GULLY GOING UP?
AND I RECKON IF I CAN REACH THE TOP OF THAT ONTO THE RIDGE,
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO SIGNAL FROM.
CROSS THIS LOG, AND I'LL BE AT THE FOOT OF THE GULLY.
GO ON THAT LAST BURST OF ENERGY.
YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP PUSHING YOURSELF.
NEARLY THERE.
USE THE GRASS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
AND USE THESE BUSHES TO PULL YOUR WAY UP.
IT'S A STEEP SCRAMBLE, BUT I'M DEFINITELY MAKING PROGRESS.
IT'S GETTING NARROWER NOW.
LOOK, YOU CAN REALLY USE YOUR FOOT,
JAB IN THE SIDE, GIVE YOURSELF SOME GRIP.
CLIMBING STRAIGHT UP IS HARDER AND MORE DANGEROUS,
SO ZIGZAG INSTEAD.
OKAY, WE'RE UP. I CAN SEE THE TOP OF THE RIDGE.
THIS AREA'S LOOKING PRETTY CLEAR.
THIS IS ABOUT AS HIGH AS I CAN GET AROUND HERE.
THE HELI SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPOT ME.
THE WHOLE POINT OF A SIGNAL FIRE
IS TO GET AS MUCH SMOKE AS POSSIBLE
SO IT CAN BE SEEN FROM A LONG DISTANCE.
THE SMOKE ALSO HELPS ANY AIRCRAFT
GET AN IDEA OF THE WIND DIRECTION.
I WANT TO PILE ON AS MUCH OF THIS LIVING WOOD AS I CAN
SO IT'S GONNA SMOKE.
HELI'S DUE IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES,
AND I DO NOT WANT THEM TO MISS ME.
AND THEN I CAN HEAR THE ROTORS.
THERE YOU GO!
AND THEY'VE SPOTTED MY SMOKE SIGNAL.
THE CHALLENGES OF SIBERIA HAVE BEEN EXTREME,
BUT IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO MEET THE TUVANS
AND TO LEARN FROM THEM
JUST WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE OUT HERE.
IT'S DETERMINATION AND WILLPOWER THAT WILL
HELP YOU MAKE IT THROUGH THE COLDEST PLACE ON EARTH.
BUT I WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED IT FOR THE WORLD.
SEE YOU LATER!
WHOO-HOO!
WHOO!