I'M BEAR GRYLLS,
AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT IT TAKES TO GET OUT ALIVE
FROM SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH.
WHOO!
I'VE GOT TO MAKE IT THROUGH A WEEK OF CHALLENGES
IN THE SORT OF PLACES WHERE YOU WOULDN'T LAST A DAY
WITHOUT THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS.
THIS TIME, I'M GONNA BE IN GOLD RUSH COUNTRY...
...IN CANADA'S EXTREME NORTHWEST,
WHERE I'LL BE TACKLING TREACHEROUS GLACIERS...
THIS IS NOT A NICE PLACE.
...SHOOTING WHITE-WATER RAPIDS...
COLD.
...AND VENTURING DEEP INTO THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH.
THERE'S NOT MUCH OXYGEN DOWN HERE.
THIS COULD BE MY TOUGHEST CHALLENGE YET.
FLYING OVER THE YUKON IN NORTHWESTERN CANADA.
IT'S ONE OF THE REMOTEST PLACES IN NORTH AMERICA,
WITH WINTER TEMPERATURES OF -50 DEGREES
AND SUMMER SUNLIGHT THAT LASTS 24 HOURS A DAY
AND BOASTS THE LARGEST NONPOLAR ICE FIELD ON EARTH.
THIS PLACE IS HOME
TO THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS IN ALL OF CANADA,
AND DOWN THERE ARE TREACHEROUS GLACIERS,
RAGING WHITE-WATER RIVERS,
AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SQUARE MILES
OF EXTREME WILDERNESS.
IT'S EARLY SUMMER IN THE YUKON.
TEMPERATURES VARY DRAMATICALLY,
AND, OF COURSE, THERE ARE BEARS JUST COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION.
THIS IS GONNA BE NO PICNIC.
WE'RE FLYING AS HIGH AS THE HELICOPTER CAN GO NOW.
THE AIR IS SO THIN.
WHEN THE PILOT GIVES ME THE NOD, I'M OUT OF HERE.
I'M PARACHUTING IN FROM 10,000 FOOT
WITH MINIMUM EQUIPMENT,
AND MY CAMERA CREW IS COMING WITH ME.
I'M HURLING TOWARDS THE EARTH AT TERMINAL VELOCITY,
OVER 120 MILES AN HOUR.
THERE ARE HIGH MOUNTAINS ALL AROUND ME.
THEY'RE TOO DANGEROUS TO LAND ON,
SO I'M LOOKING FOR A PLATEAU.
MAN, THAT'S COLD.
THERE'S A LOT OF SNOW.
THERE'S A LOT OF ICE UP THERE ON THE MOUNTAINS.
AND, REALLY, I WANT TO BE TAKING SOME OF THIS STUFF
OFF THIS PARACHUTE.
THINGS LIKE ALL OF THESE RIGGING LINES
WILL BE USEFUL FOR ME.
PARACHUTE CORD IS STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT MY BODY WEIGHT
AND IS A POTENTIAL LIFESAVER IN THE MOUNTAINS.
AND ALSO, ACTUALLY, THIS DROGUE SHEET
I CAN USE, AS WELL.
OKAY, IT STARTS.
MY FIRST CHALLENGE IS THIS WALL OF HIGH MOUNTAINS
THAT GUARD THE SOUTHERN ENTRANCE TO THE YUKON.
A CENTURY AGO, 100,000 HOPEFUL GOLD PROSPECTORS
TRIED TO CROSS EAST OF HERE
IN THE START OF A MARATHON 500-MILE JOURNEY
TO THE KLONDIKE.
ON THE WAY, THEY SUFFERED EXHAUSTION,
STARVATION, EXPOSURE, AND BEAR ATTACK.
63 WERE KILLED IN A SINGLE AVALANCHE.
HARD WORK IN THE SNOW.
IT'S ABOUT KNEE-DEEP.
WE DON'T WANT TO HANG AROUND LONG HERE.
ALL OF THIS FACE IS BEING BAKED IN THE SUN,
AND IT'S GONNA GET MORE DANGEROUS.
LET'S KEEP MOVING.
ON THE SOUTH-FACING SLOPE, THE RISK OF AVALANCHE IS HIGH.
TRAVERSING IT ISN'T GETTING ME OUT OF THE DANGER ZONE.
I WANT TO GET OFF HERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,
AND THERE'S ONE QUICK ROUTE DOWN.
IT'S ACTUALLY QUITE SLIPPY HERE,
BUT I RECKON I'LL BE ABLE TO SLIDE AND GLISSADE THIS BIT.
BUT THE DANGER OF GLISSADING IS YOUR RUNOFF.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
OTHERWISE, YOU CAN VERY EASILY JUST END UP
GOING STRAIGHT OFF THE END OF A CLIFF.
BUT THE ONE THING I WANT TO TRY
IS WHETHER I CAN JUST USE THIS DROGUE PARACHUTE
OFF MY SKYDIVING CHUTE
AND TRY AND USE IT LIKE AN AIR BRAKE.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE,
BUT THERE'S NO REASON WHY IT SHOULDN'T WORK.
WORKS ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE.
LET'S TRY IT.
OKAY, HERE GOES.
I'M GATHERING PACE ON THE WET, CRUSTY SNOW.
IF I CATCH MY FOOT AT THIS SPEED,
MY ANKLE WILL SNAP LIKE A TWIG.
WELL, THE DROGUE SLOWED ME DOWN QUITE NICELY,
BUT I STILL WENT FAST.
I'M OFF THAT DANGEROUS SNOW FACE,
BUT AT THIS LATITUDE, 59 DEGREES NORTH,
THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE IS FILLED WITH ICE FIELDS AND GLACIERS
BLOCKING YOUR PATH WHEREVER YOU HEAD.
MAN, LOOK AT THIS PLACE.
JUST EXTRAORDINARILY BEAUTIFUL,
BUT ALSO AS WILD AND A REMOTE PLACE
AS YOU'RE EVER GONNA SEE.
LOOK AT IT.
AND UP HERE'S ACTUALLY THE BIGGEST NONPOLAR ICE CAP
IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
AND LOOKING AT THIS PLACE,
IT REALLY IS JUST VAST,
BUT ALSO QUITE INTIMIDATING, YOU KNOW?
I CAN TELL, WITH THIS,
DOWN THERE IS GONNA BE HARD WORK.
OKAY.
THE GLACIER IS MOVING UP TO A FOOT A DAY.
THIS PRESSURE ON THE MILLIONS OF TONS OF ICE
CREATES CRACKS AND CREVASSES THAT ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING.
IT'S EXACTLY THIS SORT OF STUFF
THAT YOU WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR ON GLACIERS,
WHERE THE SNOW IS.
AND WHEN YOU'RE ON ICE, THIS IS GENERALLY PRETTY SOLID.
BUT IT'S THE SNOW THAT OFTEN COVERS BIG CREVASSES.
YOU GET, OFTEN, JUST A THIN COVERING,
ONLY A COUPLE OF INCHES THICK.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S UNDER IT.
THESE CREVASSES CAN BE HUNDREDS OF FEET DEEP,
WITH SHEER ICE WALLS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO CLIMB.
LOOK, YOU CAN SEE WHAT I MEAN HERE.
THIS IS A NARROW ONE.
AND LOOK. THINK THIS IS GOOD TO STAND ON?
THAT'S JUST GONNA DROP AWAY DOWN THERE.
AND THESE ONES YOU MIGHT THINK ARE QUITE HARMLESS,
BUT, ACTUALLY, IT'S THE NARROW ONES
ARE OFTEN MORE DANGEROUS.
YOU GO DOWN IT, AND THEN YOU JUST GET WEDGED.
YOU KEEP SINKING, GETTING SQUEEZED BY IT.
THEY ACTUALLY CALL THESE "SQUEEZERS" FOR THAT REASON.
KNOWN OF RESCUERS HAVING TO USE PNEUMATIC DRILLS
TO CUT PEOPLE OUT OF THE ICE.
NAVIGATING ACROSS A GLACIER IS FRAUGHT WITH DANGER.
THE CRACKS IN THE ICE ARE GETTING WIDER,
AND FINDING ANY ROUTE OFF HERE IS GONNA BE TOUGH.
SEE HERE, WE'RE GOING LOWER DOWN THE GLACIER.
THESE CREVASSES ARE REALLY STARTING TO OPEN UP HERE.
AND REALLY, TO TRY AND CONTINUE MY WAY
ALONG THESE SORT OF RIDGES IN RUBBER SHOES
WOULD JUST BE LETHAL.
BUT I RECKON, IF I WORK OUT A WAY OF SECURING MYSELF,
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET MYSELF DOWN INTO ONE OF THESE GULLIES.
LET'S TRY THAT.
ONCE I'M IN THE HEART OF THE GLACIER,
THE ONLY WAY THROUGH MEANS RISKING A TERRIFYING DROP.
THE BIT THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS DOWN THERE.
( GRUNTS )
I'M IN THE CANADIAN NORTHWEST,
LOOKING FOR A ROUTE OFF A GLACIER.
THERE'S NOTHING AROUND HERE TO TIE A ROPE TO,
SO I'M MAKING A BOLLARD BY DIGGING DOWN INTO THE ICE.
REALLY, YOU WANT TO BE AT LEAST 8 INCHES DEEP
SO YOU'RE THROUGH ALL THIS ROTTED, LOOSE ICE
DOWN TO WHERE IT'S NICE AND STRONG.
THERE WE GO. THAT'S THE BETTER STUFF.
I CAN USE JUST THE BLACK TAPE FROM THIS DROGUE
AND DRAPE THAT AROUND THE ICE BOLLARD.
OKAY.
AND THEN I'VE JUST PUT
FIVE STRANDS OF THE PARA CORD TOGETHER.
WELL OVER ONE MAN'S WEIGHT.
IT'S GOT FIVE OF THESE.
THAT SHOULD BE OKAY FOR ME.
AND THEN, JUST FOR A CLASSIC RAPPEL,
PULL IT BETWEEN YOUR LEGS, OVER YOUR SHOULDERS,
AND THIS SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.
I JUST HOPE THIS THING HOLDS.
SEEMS GOOD.
OKAY.
IT'S INCREDIBLY TIGHT DOWN HERE,
BUT I'M COMMITTED NOW AND COMPLETELY ON MY OWN.
( ICE RATTLING )
YOU CAN HEAR ALL OF THE ICE THAT I'M BRINGING DOWN
JUST DISAPPEARING.
IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT KNOWING WHETHER THESE SORT OF THINGS
ARE JUST WEAK BRIDGES OR WHETHER THEY'RE SOLID.
( GRUNTS )
THIS ICE HERE, LOOK AT IT.
IT'S COMPLETELY SEE-THROUGH.
AND THIS IS ALL THE OLD, REALLY OLD BLUE ICE,
BUT THIS REALLY IS NOW DEEP
IN THE HEART OF THE -- IN THE HEART OF THE GLACIER.
QUITE A SCARY PLACE TO BE.
I'LL TRY AND MOVE MY WEIGHT DOWN TO THIS BIT HERE.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO JUMP THIS BIT AND JUST HOPE --
I HOPE THAT HOLDS.
THE BIT THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS DOWN THERE.
SEE WHERE ALL THE LITTLE ICE CUBES ARE DISAPPEARING?
THAT'S GONNA BE JUST GOING
INTO ONE OF THESE SUB-GLACIAL TUNNELS OF RUNNING WATER.
YOU GO DOWN ONE OF THOSE, YOU WILL NEVER COME OUT.
BUT THERE'S NO WAY AROUND THE ICE CHASM.
I'VE GOT TO CLIMB OVER IT.
I'M NERVOUS, AND THIS IS GONNA TAKE ALL MY STRENGTH.
( BREATHING HEAVILY )
AND THAT'S A SHAFT I DON'T WANT TO BE GOING DOWN.
AND YOU JUST SEE HOW SLIPPERY THIS BLUE ICE IS.
IT'S JUST GONNA RUN ACROSS IT.
I NEED TO USE THIS SORT OF HOLD
AND TRY TO SWING MY LEG UP TO THERE.
OKAY.
ONE...TWO...THREE.
AND THAT IS WHAT I'VE GOT TO CRAWL OUT OF,
BUT THAT LOOKS VERY...
VERY TIGHT.
I'M GONNA TRY AND SQUEEZE MY WAY UP,
BUT I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING
IF I CAN GET THROUGH THAT TINY GAP
AND ESCAPE THIS ICE DUNGEON.
OKAY.
THERE'S ABOUT ONE INCH.
THERE'S ABOUT ONE INCH OF HEAD ROOM HERE.
AND, REALLY, I'M RIGHT UNDER...
THE MAIN WEIGHT OF THIS NOW.
OKAY, JUST GOT TO WRIGGLE OUT. WHOA!
( PANTING )
OKAY.
WELL, I'M OUT OF THAT HOLE.
JUST...
AND THAT'S WHAT LIES AHEAD.
LOOK AT THAT FOR A VIEW.
THE TUNNEL HAS LED ME OUT ONTO THE BOTTOM OF THE GLACIER,
AND AHEAD OF ME,
I CAN SEE THE GLACIAL STREAM LEADS INTO A LAKE.
MY NEXT CHALLENGE IS TO GET SOME FOOD.
THERE HE IS. HE'S JAMMED IN THESE SHALLOWS HERE.
I'M IN THE CANADIAN NORTHWEST,
AND I'M NOW DOWN BELOW THE TREE LINE.
IT'S 15 DEGREES WARMER HERE,
AND IT'S TIME TO FIND SOME FOOD.
YOU CAN SEE THIS DAM HERE.
THIS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN MADE BY BEAVERS.
LOOK, YOU SEE THE TEETH MARKS ON ALL OF THIS.
THESE THINGS CAN BE ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE.
I THINK THE BIGGEST ONE EVER SEEN
IS OVER HALF A MILE LONG, ALL MADE BY BEAVERS.
THE BEAVERS HAVE ABANDONED THIS DAM,
BUT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE IT TO TRAP SOMETHING.
ACTUALLY, LOOK.
THAT'S QUITE A NICE, NATURAL KIND OF CHANNEL HERE.
AND I WILL BE ABLE TO USE THAT AND THE DAM THEY'VE MADE
AND SEE IF I CAN CATCH SOME FISH.
INSPIRED BY THE BEAVERS,
I'M GONNA EXTEND THE DAM AND CREATE AN IMPROVISED FISH TRAP.
I'M TRYING TO SHAPE THIS A BIT LIKE A FUNNEL
SO IT'S NICE AND EASY FOR ME TO CORRAL THE FISH IN.
BUT ONCE THEY'RE HERE,
THEN IT'S HARDER FOR THEM TO FIND THE EXIT AGAIN.
THERE SHOULD BE PIKE, GRAYLING, AND TROUT IN THIS LAKE,
AND I'M HOPING TO SPOOK A FEW OF THEM INTO MY TRAP
AND THEN CLOSE THE OPENING.
AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.
ALREADY, SEVERAL SUCKERFISH HAVE STRAYED IN.
THEY'RE NOT MONSTERS, BUT THERE'S A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM.
SEE, THERE ARE AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX IN THERE NOW.
NOW ALL I'VE GOT TO DO IS GET THEM OUT.
THERE HE IS, JAMMED IN THESE SHALLOWS HERE.
IT'S A BASIC BUT ANCIENT METHOD.
HITTING THE WATER HARD CREATES SHOCK WAVES
THAT SHOULD STUN THE FISH.
CAUGHT ONE -- A LITTLE GRAYLING.
KIND OF HOPED FOR MORE THAN THAT,
BUT THAT'S GONNA BE DINNER.
BUT BEFORE I CAN EAT,
I NEED TO FIND A PLACE TO MAKE CAMP.
THERE'S ACTUALLY QUITE A NICE FALLEN TREE TRUNK HERE,
AND THIS MIGHT NOT BE A BAD PLACE
JUST TO TRY AND MAKE A SHELTER.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER POSSIBLE,
YOU WANT TO USE WHAT NATURE'S GIVEN YOU.
IF YOU'VE GOT THIS, USE IT.
AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT MAKING A TREE HOUSE,
IT MEANS I'M GONNA BE OFF THE GROUND FOR ANY BEARS.
AND, YEAH, 15 FOOT UP HERE,
MY SCENT'S GONNA BE MUCH HARDER TO PICK UP.
AND EVERYTHING I'M GONNA NEED IS RIGHT HERE.
CROSS POLES FIRST.
WHAT'S HARD WITH JUST A SMALL KNIFE
IS BREAKING A BIG PIECE OF WOOD LIKE THIS.
YOU GET THE FORK OF A TREE AND USE IT LIKE A VICE,
AND THEN IT SNAPS NICE AND EASILY.
THE BEST THING I CAN USE FOR TWINE
ARE THESE SPRUCE ROOTS.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT THEY'RE THIN
AND THEY CAN BE, LIKE, SOMETIMES 20 FOOT LONG.
THERE WE GO.
SPRUCE ROOT IS SMALL IN DIAMETER,
BUT LIKE ROPE, IT'S FLEXIBLE, DURABLE, AND VERY STRONG.
IF YOU JUST SPLIT THESE,
YOU CAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF TWINE YOU GET,
AND IT'S ALSO GONNA MAKE IT EVEN EASIER TO TIE.
THIS IS GONNA HELP ME WITH MY FIRST JOB --
BUILDING A LADDER TO GET ME UP AND DOWN FROM MY SHELTER.
OKAY, NOW I'VE GOT A LADDER IN.
I'LL START PLACING SOME OF THESE POLES AS A PLATFORM.
COTTONWOOD AND SPRUCE ARE STRAIGHT AND STRONG --
PERFECT FOR A BED PLATFORM.
THEN WHAT I WANT TO DO IS LACE SOME CROSS POLES,
AND THAT'S GONNA BE MY SLEEPING PLATFORM.
AND I'M MAKING IT ABOUT 3 1/2 FOOT WIDE
SO I DON'T FALL OFF DURING THE NIGHT.
I CAN USE THE SOFTER TWIGS, THEN, FOR BEDDING.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE LAYING THESE SPRUCE BOUGHS
IS YOU DO IT ALL IN ONE DIRECTION,
RATHER LIKE TILING A ROOF.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE NICE AND SPRINGY,
AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET
ALL THESE POKY BITS OF BRANCH STICKING INTO YOU.
BUT THIS IS QUITE NICE AND COMFY NOW,
AND IT'S ALSO GONNA INSULATE ME WELL.
MY CAMP BUILT, IT'S NOW TIME TO EAT,
BUT WITH HUNGRY BEARS ABOUT, I'M TAKING NO CHANCES.
REALLY, YOU WANT TO DO ALL OF YOUR COOKING AND EATING
AT LEAST 100 YARDS FROM YOUR CAMP.
I'VE ACTUALLY GOT ONE FRIEND, HE WAS OUT MOOSE HUNTING,
AND HE DIDN'T DO THIS -- ATE HIS SUPPER JUST BY HIS TENT.
AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, BLACK BEAR CAME IN,
AND HE THOUGHT, "SCARE IT AWAY. SHINE A TORCH IN ITS FACE."
BUT INSTEAD, THE BEAR JUST RAN AT THE LIGHT,
AND THEY ONLY MANAGED TO SURVIVE
'CAUSE THE GUY MANAGED TO SHOOT IT,
LITERALLY AS THE BEAR WAS COMING THROUGH THE TENT FLAPS.
SEE THESE BEAR-CLAW MARKS ALL THE WAY UP HERE,
AND WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THE BEAR'S PROBABLY JUST COME ALONG,
HAD A SCRATCH, SHARPENED ITS CLAWS, AND MOVED ON.
AND THEY DON'T LOOK PARTICULARLY FRESH, BUT LOOK HOW HIGH IT.
THAT CAN'T BE FAR OFF 10 FOOT UP THERE.
NOT A MILLION MILES AWAY FROM HOW HIGH MY CAMP IS.
BEFORE I GET ONTO MY PLATFORM,
THERE'S ONE FINAL PRECAUTION I'M GONNA TAKE.
AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO
BEFORE I BED DOWN FOR THE NIGHT
IS JUST CUT THESE RUNGS,
'CAUSE, ACTUALLY,
IF A BEAR WANTS TO GET ME DOWN FROM UP HERE,
HE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO.
BUT LET'S NOT MAKE IT EASY FOR HIM.
OKAY.
TRY AND GET SOME SLEEP.
BUT AT THIS LATITUDE,
WITH SUMMER SUNLIGHT AROUND THE CLOCK,
THAT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY.
OH, IT'S ABOUT 11:30 AT NIGHT.
AND, YEAH, THIS IS REALLY AS DARK AS IT GETS
WHEN YOU'RE THIS FAR NORTH.
AND THEY CALL THIS PLACE THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN.
I CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT THEY MEAN.
IT DOES MAKE TRYING TO SLEEP REALLY HARD.
IT JUST FEELS LIKE BASIC BROAD DAYLIGHT.
IN MY NEXT CHALLENGE,
I TRY AND MAKE PROGRESS DOWN A RIVER
AND HIT SOME EXTREME WHITE WATER.
I'M IN GOLD RUSH COUNTRY
IN THE EXTREME NORTHWEST OF CANADA,
TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE TOUGH FOREST TERRAIN.
MAN, CHECK THIS OUT.
WELL, FINDING THIS RIVER IS GOOD NEWS.
AND IN A PLACE LIKE THIS, WHERE THERE ARE SO FEW ROADS,
THESE RIVERS REALLY ARE THE HIGHWAYS
THAT JUST CUT THROUGH THE WILDERNESS.
BUT IT'S QUITE HIGH HERE.
BUT ALL OF THIS LOOKS QUITE SOFT,
SO I'M GONNA CHECK THIS BIT OUT.
YEAH, THERE'S ALL THIS LOOSE SHINGLE.
BUT YOU STILL WANT TO GET THIS, THE SAND --
YOU WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.
THE SCREE IS LOOSER THAN I THOUGHT.
ROCKS THE SIZE OF MY HEAD ARE FLYING PAST ME.
I NEED TO CHANGE DIRECTION TO AVOID BEING TAKEN OUT.
IT'S HARD TO READ A SCREE SLOPE FROM THE TOP,
AND THAT WAS DEFINITELY HAIRIER THAN I'D IMAGINED.
IT WAS ACTUALLY A BIT FASTER THAN I THOUGHT.
AND THAT NICE, SOFT SAND AT THE TOP
TURNED JUST INTO ROCK AND LITTLE PEBBLES,
AND I WAS JUST -- MAN, I WAS OFF.
A FEW BIG ZINGERS CAME FLYING PAST MY HEAD.
TRYING TO KIND OF GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THEM TO THE SIDE,
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, REALLY, I GOT A BIT LUCKY THEN.
UNTIL RECENTLY, RIVERS WERE THE MAIN TRANSPORT ROUTES
THROUGH THIS PART OF CANADA.
THE GOLD RUSH PIONEERS
TRAVELED HUNDREDS OF MILES ON HOMEMADE RAFTS
TO GET TO THE GOLD FIELDS, BUT IT WAS DANGEROUS.
MANY LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE TREACHEROUS RAPIDS.
NOW THESE RIVERS ARE LITTLE USED,
BUT PEOPLE STILL GET INTO TROUBLE.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, A CANOE HAS BEEN LEFT.
I COULD USE IT TO TRAVEL DOWNSTREAM,
BUT, FIRST, I NEED TO CROSS THIS RIVER.
BUT IT'S SO DANGEROUS,
AND, REALLY, PEOPLE DIE IN RIVERS LIKE THIS EVERY YEAR.
REALLY DECEPTIVELY FAST-FLOWING, THAT.
MASSIVE AMOUNT OF FORCE COMING THROUGH THE WATER.
I'M GONNA NEED SOME SUPPORT,
AND THIS LIVING COTTONWOOD IS FLEXIBLE.
IT WON'T BREAK UNDER PRESSURE.
NOW, I WANT TO BE IN AND ACROSS THIS RIVER AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.
UGH! THAT'S SLIPPY.
THESE ROCKS ARE GREASY.
THE FORCE OF A RIVER RUNNING AT CLOSE TO 10 MILES AN HOUR
IS ENORMOUS,
AND EVEN WITH THE WATER JUST OVER MY KNEES,
IT'S PUSHING ME OFF MY FEET ALL THE TIME.
I'M HALFWAY ACROSS,
BUT IT'S GETTING HARDER, FASTER, AND DEEPER.
THIS IS GONNA BE THE DEEP BIT, I CAN TELL.
YOU SEE, THE MAIN FORCE OF THE WATER'S GOING HERE.
IT'S NOT THAT WIDE,
PROBABLY ABOUT 15, MAYBE 20 FOOT.
BUT I'M GONNA HAVE TO CROSS.
OKAY.
THE FORCE OF THE RIVER RIPS ME OFF MY FEET,
AND I'M STRUGGLING NOT TO BE SWEPT DOWNSTREAM.
( PANTING )
OH, MAN!
LIKE I SAID, MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU IMAGINE.
AND THAT'S ONLY THIGH DEEP,
AND THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD FIGHT THAT.
THAT JUST TOOK ME.
OKAY, WE'RE ACROSS.
LET'S GO AND CHECK THIS CANOE OUT.
THIS MODERN COMPOSITE CANOE
IS TOUGH ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND ENORMOUS PRESSURES,
BUT IT'S BEEN BATTERED BY THE FORCE OF THE WATER.
ALMOST AS IF IT'S BUCKLED HALF.
AND LOOK. THERE'S AT LEAST ONE BIG, GAPING HOLE IN IT.
CAN'T GET IT OUT OF THE WATER.
LOGJAMS LIKE THIS ARE DANGEROUS.
PEOPLE DROWN IN THEM,
TRAPPED UNDER TREES BY FAST-FLOWING WATER.
SHE IS COMPLETELY WEDGED IN HERE.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE, ACTUALLY, IF I CAN GET THIS THING OUT.
HERE WE GO. HERE WE GO.
( GRUNTS )
THE FORCE OF THE WATER
MAKES THE CANOE FEEL 10 TIMES AS HEAVY,
AND IT'S A REAL STRUGGLE TO PULL IT CLEAR.
OKAY. ONE, TWO, THREE.
BUT IF I CAN PATCH IT UP,
I CAN MAKE REAL PROGRESS DOWN THIS RIVER.
FIRST, I NEED TO MAKE SOME NEW SUPPORT STRUTS
TO GIVE THE CANOE BACK ITS SHAPE AND RIGIDITY.
OKAY, NOW I'VE GOT NEW STRUTS.
ALL I'M GONNA NEED IS SOMETHING JUST TO REPAIR THIS HOLE.
AND THIS SPRUCE TREE HAS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED.
ALL OF THIS RESIN SEEPS OUT
WHERE THE TREE HAS GOT DAMAGED.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THESE BRANCHES IN THE WINTERTIME,
HEAVILY LADEN WITH SNOW,
AND THEY'LL OFTEN CRACK AND BREAK.
AND THE TREE JUST OOZES THIS AS A WAY OF HEALING ITSELF.
IT SEALS THE CRACK OVER,
AND THAT REALLY IS ALL I'M TRYING TO DO WITH MY CANOE.
THERE YOU GO. THERE'S PLENTY IN THERE.
LET'S GO MELT IT DOWN.
I'M HEATING THE RESIN UNTIL IT MELTS.
THEN I'M GONNA THICKEN IT TO MAKE A PASTE
TO USE AS A NATURAL SEALANT.
THEN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS GET SOME OF THIS WHITE ASH.
AND THAT'S JUST GONNA THICKEN IT UP.
YOU WANT IT TO GO LIKE STODGY PEANUT BUTTER.
YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, THIS OLD WICKER SEATING
COULD ACT AS REALLY GOOD FIBERGLASS
TO PUT UNDER -- UNDER THE SEAL.
LIKE THAT, AND ONE ON THE TOP.
OKAY.
THE MOLTEN RESIN HARDENS AROUND THE WICKER FIBER
TO CREATE A WATERTIGHT SEAL.
OKAY, YOU LEAVE THAT NOW TO SET...
AND THEN GO AND MAKE SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA ACT AS A PADDLE.
GOOD SURVIVAL IS ABOUT
COMBINING WHAT YOU CAN FIND AROUND YOU
WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.
AND THAT'S THE FRAME.
AND TO FINISH IT OFF,
I'M GONNA USE A DRY BAG FROM MY RUCKSACK
TO WRAP AROUND IT FOR A PADDLE BLADE.
JUST ABOUT READY TO GO NOW.
BEFORE I LAUNCH, JUST GONNA PUT THIS RUCKSACK --
IT'S GOT SOME BIT OF BUOYANCY IN IT --
PUT IT ON MY FRONT RATHER THAN ON MY BACK.
AND AT LEAST IT MEANS, IF I DO GO IN,
THIS IS GONNA KEEP ME FACING UP
AND FACING FEETFIRST DOWNSTREAM.
THESE OPEN CANADIAN-STYLE CANOES
ARE A CHALLENGE EVEN ON FLAT WATER,
SO THIS IS GONNA SERIOUSLY TEST MY BALANCE AND MY REACTIONS.
THE SPEED OF THE CURRENT
IMMEDIATELY WHIPS ME OFF DOWNSTREAM.
MY REPAIRS SEEM TO BE HOLDING UP,
AND THERE'S NO WATER COMING IN,
BUT THERE'S A TOUGHER TEST IN STORE JUST AROUND THE BEND.
THE WATER IS GETTING ROUGHER BY THE MINUTE,
AND I'M STRUGGLING TO KEEP THE CANOE FACING DOWNSTREAM.
IF IT TURNS SIDE-ON,
IT WILL FLIP OVER IN AN INSTANT,
THROWING ME INTO THE ICY RIVER.
EVENTUALLY, AS THE RAPIDS BUILD,
THE INEVITABLE HAPPENS.
IN THIS FREEZING GLACIAL WATER,
I'VE ONLY GOT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE I DEVELOP HYPOTHERMIA.
WITHOUT MY CANOE, I'M ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE
AND AT THE MERCY OF THE RIVER.
I'VE GOT TO GET OUT.
( PANTING )
COLD. COLD WATER.
AND I HUNG ON FOR AS LONG AS I COULD.
THERE WAS NO WAY THAT CANOE WAS GONNA STAY UPRIGHT IN THAT WAVE,
AND THAT'S LONG GONE.
I'VE MADE IT OUT OF THE RIVER,
BUT NEXT, I'M HEADING DEEP INTO THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH.
QUARTZ.
AND THAT MEANS WHAT THEY WERE MINING FOR IN HERE WAS GOLD.
I'M IN NORTHERN CANADA,
FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE GOLD RUSH PIONEERS.
LIKE THEM, I'VE CLIMBED MOUNTAINS
AND BATTLED MY WAY DOWN DANGEROUS WHITE WATERS,
AND NOW I'M ABOUT TO ENTER A DISUSED GOLD MINE.
MAN, LOOK AT THIS PLACE.
IT'S JUST BEEN COMPLETELY TRASHED.
LOOK, IT'S LIKE THE WHOLE ROOF JUST COLLAPSED.
YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER, THIS PLACE IN THE WINTERTIME --
GET OVER 10 FOOT OF SNOW.
PROBABLY THE WEIGHT OF THAT BROUGHT ALL OF THIS DOWN.
TEMPERATURES HERE DROP BELOW -50 DEGREES,
MAKING IT ONE OF THE COLDEST PLACES IN CANADA.
ANY STRUCTURE WILL SOON SUCCUMB
TO THE RAVAGES OF THE CANADIAN WINTER.
I WANT TO GET DOWN INTO THE MINE WORKINGS
TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING USEFUL LEFT BEHIND.
SEE THIS?
IN RUNS ALL THE WAY INTO THE HILLSIDE.
I GUESS, CHECK THIS OUT --
I'M GONNA NEED SOME SORT OF TORCH.
OLD MINES ARE DANGEROUS PLACES, SO I'M NOT GOING IN THERE
WITHOUT SOMETHING TO LIGHT MY WAY
AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT I CAN FIND THAT WILL HELP ME.
THAT, ICANUSE.
HANG ON. BACK UP.
GET A LOAD OF THIS --
BURLAP SACKING.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS STUFF IS THAT, WHEN THEY MAKE IT,
THEY ACTUALLY SOAK THIS IN KEROSENE
AS A WAY TO STOP THE BUGS EATING IT,
SO THAT IS GONNA BURN WELL.
THIS BURLAP SACKING WOULD HAVE BEEN USED
TO CARRY FOODSTUFFS LIKE COFFEE AND BEANS,
BUT I CAN USE IT TO MAKE A FLAMING TORCH.
WRAPPED TIGHTLY AROUND THESE SPRUCE BOUGHS,
IT WILL BURN BRIGHTER AND FOR LONGER.
LET'S GO AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND.
IT'S A DARK AND EERIE PLACE DOWN HERE,
BUT I'M HOPING TO FIND SOME MORE TOOLS
THAT CAN HELP ME SURVIVE.
ACTUALLY, LOOK.
QUARTZ.
AND THAT MEANS WHAT THEY WERE MINING FOR IN HERE WAS GOLD.
MINERS RISKED THEIR LIVES
VENTURING DEEP INTO THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH
IN SEARCH OF WEALTH.
LOOKS LIKE SOME SORT OF MAIN -- MAIN SHAFT HERE.
YOU'VE GOT THE RAIL TRACKS DOWN HERE.
BUT IT'S COLD, YOU KNOW?
OKAY, IT'S KIND OF SIX OF ONE, HALF A DOZEN OF THE OTHER
WHICH WAY YOU'RE GONNA GO.
BUT EITHER WAY, I WANT TO MARK IT --
MAKE A SIMPLE ARROW HERE.
THESE TUNNELS ALL LOOK THE SAME,
SO IT'S VITAL TO MARK THE JUNCTIONS
SO YOU CAN FIND YOUR WAY BACK IF YOU NEED TO.
OKAY, LET'S GO THIS WAY.
LOOK AT ALL THESE WOODEN SUPPORTS, AS WELL.
OKAY, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE LEANING AGAINST THOSE.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW ROTTEN THESE ARE,
AND, ALSO, WHAT THEY'RE HOLDING UP
IS BASICALLY THE MOUNTAIN.
HANG ON. LOOK. THERE'S A HOLE HERE.
GOLD MINES OFTEN HAVE MANY LEVELS,
WITH EXITS THAT MIGHT BRING YOU OUT FURTHER DOWN THE MOUNTAIN,
AND THAT COULD LEAD TO A TRACK OR AN ACCESS ROAD.
GRAB THE TORCH.
ACTUALLY, LOOK, THERE'S MORE OF A LEDGE.
BUT LOOK, YOU SEE, IT DROPS STRAIGHT DOWN THERE,
DOWN TO ANOTHER HOLE.
YOU SEE THAT?
I'M GONNA DROP IT DOWN. YOU'LL SEE.
OKAY.
THE DEEPER I GO, THE MORE NERVOUS I BECOME,
AND YOU CAN ALMOST FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THE MOUNTAIN
ON TOP OF YOU.
DOWN ON THIS LOWER LEVEL, THE LABYRINTH CONTINUES.
THERE'S A WHOLE NOTHER -- WHOLE NOTHER TUNNEL DOWN HERE.
BUT NOW I'M EVEN DEEPER INTO THE MINE,
THERE'S A WHOLE NEW DANGER.
THERE'S NOT MUCH OXYGEN DOWN HERE.
WE NEED TO BE GOING BACK.
I'VE VENTURED INTO THE DEPTHS OF A GOLD MINE,
AND NOW, HUNDREDS OF FEET UNDERGROUND,
I'M IN SEARCH OF A WAY OUT.
ALL OF THIS IS -- ALL OF THIS IS ICE ON THE FLOOR.
WATCH OUT. IT'S GONNA BE SLIPPY.
THE PRESENCE OF ICE IS A GOOD SIGN.
THE TEMPERATURE IN THE MINE
REMAINS CONSTANT AND ABOVE FREEZING
UNLESS COLDER AIR BLOWS IN FROM OUTSIDE.
SO THIS MAY WELL INDICATE THERE'S AN EXIT,
BUT I'VE GOT A PROBLEM.
DON'T DIE. DON'T DIE. KEEP GOING.
MY TORCH HAS BEEN BURNING FOR A LONG TIME,
AND NOW IT'S ABOUT TO GO OUT.
THAT'S WATER. LOOK.
THIS ISN'T A GOOD SIGN.
IT PROBABLY MEANS THAT ANY LOWER SHAFTS ARE FLOODED.
( GRUNTS ) IT'S QUITE DEEP.
I'M LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT ON THIS LEVEL,
AND THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE.
I'M GONNA KEEP THIS BURNING WITH THE OXYGEN.
YOU CAN SEE, IT'S ACTUALLY STRUGGLING.
IF THE OXYGEN CONTENT IN THE AIR FALLS TO AROUND 16%,
THE TORCH WILL GO OUT.
AND IF IT DROPS ANY LOWER,
IT'S GONNA BE A STRUGGLE TO BREATHE.
DON'T DIE. DON'T DIE.
IT'S OUT, AND NOW I'M IN DARKNESS.
HAVE YOU GOT THAT NIGHT VISION ON THE CAMERA?
JUST TURN THAT ON.
USING INFRARED, THE CAMERA CAN SEE ME,
BUT WITH MY TORCH EXTINGUISHED
AND ME SLIPPING ON THE TREACHEROUS ICE FLOOR,
I'M COMPLETELY BLIND.
THIS IS NO TIME TO PANIC.
IT'LL BE ALL TOO EASY TO TRIP HERE AND BREAK AN ANKLE --
OR WORSE, FALL DOWN A SHAFT.
NOW, THERE YOU GO. YOU SEE THE PINPRICK OF LIGHT?
YOU SEE IT? STRAIGHT OUT OF THE TUNNEL.
STRAIGHT OUT.
THAT'S GONNA BE OUR WAY OUT.
FINALLY, I CAN SEE DAYLIGHT.
I FEEL FRESH AIR BLOWING ON MY FACE.
( SIGHS )
WHEW!
I'VE RARELY BEEN THAT GRATEFUL TO FEEL THE SUN ON MY FACE.
I FOLLOWED IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE GOLD RUSH PIONEERS
ACROSS MOUNTAINS, DOWN RAGING WHITE-WATER RIVERS,
AND NOW THROUGH THE LABYRINTH OF A GOLD MINE.
I MAY NOT HAVE FOUND GOLD,
BUT I CROSSED SOME OF THE MOST DRAMATIC TERRAIN ON THE PLANET,
SURVIVED SOME HEART-STOPPING CHALLENGES,
AND GROWN TO RESPECT THIS AWE-INSPIRING LAND.
IF YOU LIVE SOMEWHERE AS REMOTE AS THIS,
THAT'S HOW YOU GET AROUND,
AND IT'S HOW I'M GETTING OUT OF HERE.