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[ MOSQUITOS BUZZING ]
[ BUZZING CONTINUES ]
THIS IS INSANE.
[ GROANS ]
OH.
[ SIGHS ] MOSQUITOS, MOSQUITOS.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
TEMAGAMI, ONTARIO.
IT'S A NATURE LOVER'S PARADISE. I HAVE A COTTAGE HERE.
I'VE CANOED ALMOST EVERY RIVER AND LAKE WITHIN ITS BOUNDARIES.
THERE ARE COTTAGES DOTTED THROUGHOUT THE REMOTE LAKES,
AND THERE ARE LOGGING ROADS AND ACCESS ROADS
WINDING THROUGH THE RICH AND BEAUTIFUL FOREST.
SO, YOU WOULD THINK THAT SURVIVAL HERE WOULD BE EASY,
YET 98% OF PEOPLE WHO END UP LOST,
DO SO WITHIN A MILE OF THEIR OWN HOME OR COTTAGE.
IT'S NOT DIFFICULT TO GET TURNED AROUND
AND LOST FOREVER IN A FOREST AS THICK
AND DECEPTIVELY BEAUTIFUL AS THIS.
I'VE TAKEN MYSELF INTO THE MIDDLE
OF THIS WONDERFUL REGION TO ATTEMPT TO SURVIVE
IN THE WAYS OF MY ORIGINAL TEACHINGS --
SURVIVAL IN THE GREAT LAKES BOREAL FOREST CROSSOVER REGION.
YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD THINK WITH ALL OF THE PLACES
AROUND THE WORLD THAT I'VE SURVIVED IN --
DESERTS, JUNGLES, THE ARCTIC,
EVEN IN A LIFE RAFT ON THE OCEAN --
THAT SURVIVING OUT HERE IN NORTHERN ONTARIO,
MY OWN BACKYARD ESSENTIALLY,
WOULD BE A BIT OF A WALK IN THE PARK FOR ME.
WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
ALL RIGHT, BEFORE I DO TOO MUCH OR TRAVEL TOO FAR,
I WANT TO DO MY ZONE OF ASSESSMENT CHECK.
SO I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NORTHERN ONTARIO BUSH,
AND THE FIRST ZONE OF ASSESSMENT IS ZONE NUMBER ONE, IS MY BODY.
AND I'VE GOT THIS FOR CLOTHING. NOT MUCH ELSE THIS TIME.
I'VE GOT A BIT OF AN ARSENAL ON MY BELT HERE.
I'VE GOT A MULTI-TOOL WITH FLINT STRIKER,
I'VE GOT A BELT KNIFE,
AND I'VE GOT A NEW SAW BLADE THAT I WANT TO TRY OUT.
MY HARMONICA
[ PLAYS CHORD ]
SO ZONE OF ASSESSMENT NUMBER TWO
IS IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE MY BODY, WHICH IS MY BACKPACK.
NUMBER THREE IS WHAT'S FURTHER BEYOND.
AT THIS POINT, WHAT I KNOW I HAVE FURTHER BEYOND
IS A LOT OF TOPOGRAPHY. [ CHUCKLES ]
TREES, HILLS, PINE NEEDLES, AND MORE MOSQUITOS
THAN ANY HUMAN BEING COULD EVER COUNT.
[ SCOFFS ] THAT'S IT.
JUST ME AND THE NORTHERN ONTARIO BUSH.
THOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF FRESH WATER AROUND,
I'VE WALKED IN WITH A SMALL WATER BOTTLE,
JUST NOT MUCH ELSE.
HERE I DON'T FEEL LIKE THE DANGERS
ARE VERY MANY AT ALL.
OH, I KNOW PEOPLE REALLY WORRY ABOUT BEARS.
I'D BE MORE WORRIED
ABOUT A MOOSE IN THE RUTTING SEASON ANY TIME.
I'VE GOT TO BE REAL CAREFUL
I DON'T JUST TURN MYSELF AROUND IN CIRCLES.
TRY TO STAY WALKING
IN A RELATIVELY STRAIGHT LINE IF POSSIBLE,
AND ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO KIND OF GO AROUND
THE LEFT SIDE OF THIS TREE.
KEEP MOVING.
GO AROUND THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE NEXT TREE.
LEFT SIDE, RIGHT SIDE,
AND THAT CAN SOMETIMES HELP
TO KEEP ME GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE.
ANOTHER THING I CAN DO IS,
WHILE I WALK, I'VE GOT THE SUNLIGHT,
AND BY THE TIME OF THE DAY, I KNOW IT'S HIGH IN THE SKY.
IF I KEEP IT IN A CERTAIN SPOT ON THE SIDE OF MY HEAD
AND KEEP WALKING, KEEPING IT THERE,
THEN I'M GOING PRETTY STRAIGHT.
WHILE I WALK I'VE BEEN HOPING TO FIND MAYBE A STREAM
OR EVEN PUDDLES OF WATER, SOMETHING.
I MEAN, THIS IS NORTHERN ONTARIO.
THIS IS THE LAND OF FRESH WATER.
I'M FINDING NOTHING,
BUT THIS MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME, RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS ALL SPHAGNUM MOSS.
I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS HAS A NATURAL ANTISEPTIC IN IT,
AND THIS WILL BE MY TOILET PAPER FOR THE TIME OUT HERE.
IT'S ACTUALLY WHAT NATIVE CULTURES USED TO USE
AS PADDING FOR BABY DIAPERS.
MM.
AHH!
THAT'S A GOOD DRINK OF WATER,
AND THERE'S LOTS OF IT ALONG HERE,
SO I CAN QUENCH MY THIRST JUST BY SQUEEZING MOSS.
ONE-STOP SHOPPING --
MY TOILET PAPER AND MY BOTTLE OF WATER.
THIS PLANT HERE IS --
WELL, IT'S NOT MUCH IN TERMS OF BEING A WILD EDIBLE.
I CAN'T REALLY EAT IT,
BUT IT'S STILL GOOD KNOWLEDGE TO HAVE.
IT'S, UH, IT'S CALLED GOLDTHREAD,
BUT IT'S ALSO CALLED CANKERROOT.
YOU CAN CHEW ON THIS.
AND KEEP IT IN MY MOUTH, CHEW, CHEW, CHEW.
CHEW.
[ SPITS ]
NEVER SWALLOW. SPIT IT OUT.
AND THE ENZYMES OF THIS ROOT WORK ON THE CANKERS
AND HEAL THEM,
AND IT'S INCREDIBLE HOW WELL IT WORKS, ACTUALLY.
YOU SEE -- [ COUGHS ]
OH, MOSQUITO DOWN MY THROAT.
WHEN YOU'RE IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION,
SOMETIMES IT'S NOT A BAD INJURY THAT REALLY PUTS YOU DOWN,
IT'S SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS HAVING A MOUTHFUL OF ULCERS
OR A STOMACHACHE
OR JUST A SPRAIN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO, KNOWING A FEW MEDICINAL PLANTS LIKE THIS
CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION.
AH!
MOSQUITOS!
NOW, IF I CAN FIND A PLANT THAT WILL REPEL ALL THESE MOSQUITOS,
THAT'D BE HELPFUL.
SEARCHING FOR WILD EDIBLE PLANTS
IS A CONSTANT IN SURVIVAL,
BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
OR YOU RISK SICKNESS, EVEN DEATH.
SOMETIMES THE TIME OF YEAR DICTATES WHAT IT IS I CAN EAT.
THIS SHOULD BE A GOOD TIME OF YEAR FOR BERRIES,
BUT, AGAIN, IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION,
THE EMPHASIS IS ON SHOULD BE.
DOESN'T MEAN IT IS,
AND IT DOESN'T MEAN I'LL FIND THEM.
SOME BUNCHBERRIES HERE THAT ARE ALMOST STARTING TO GET RIPE.
IF I CAN FIND SOME RED ONES, I'VE GOT MYSELF A MEAL.
HEY, HEY, HEY.
OH, I THINK I FOUND MYSELF A FAST MEAL HERE.
THERE'S A PLANT CALLED WILD CUCUMBER.
ANOTHER PLANT CALLED STARFLOWER AND THEY'RE SIDE-BY-SIDE.
AND HERE THEY ARE. THERE'S SOME STARFLOWER,
BUT I THINK I MIGHT HAVE FOUND SOME WILD CUCUMBER.
AND IF I DID, THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING.
LET ME CHECK THIS OUT.
IT'S WILD CUCUMBER!
IT LOOKS LIKE I'VE GOT MYSELF A MEAL.
I'M REALLY CAREFULLY PEELING AWAY FROM THE TUBER.
THAT'S AWESOME.
OH! AND IT TASTES JUST LIKE IT.
OH, THAT'S GOOD.
MMM!
THERE'S FOUR OR FIVE MORE HERE.
MM, IT'S SWEET-TASTING.
THAT IS DELICIOUS.
MM.
HMM.
IT'S GOT TO BE WILD CUCUMBER.
BUT THERE'S A PLANT HERE THAT'S THE SAME PLANT
AND IT LOOKS LIKE A DIFFERENT GROWTH
AND I'M NOT CERTAIN ALL OF A SUDDEN.
I HAVEN'T SEEN, REALLY, EVER BEFORE
A FULL, MATURE WILD CUCUMBER, RIGHT?
JUST-IN-THE-BOOKS KIND OF THING.
BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE SEEN ONE IN THE WILD,
AND HERE I AM EATING ONE,
AND IT TASTES LIKE ONE, BUT THIS PART OF IT,
THE WAY IT LOOKS LIKE THIS, I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
SEE, HERE'S THE PART THAT I SAW,
BUT THEN, THERE'S THIS STEM THAT COMES UP AND THESE GUYS --
THERE'S PROBABLY A WILD-PLANT EXPERT LOOKING OUT THERE GOING,
"YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S WILD CUCUMBER.
EAT AWAY. IT'S AWESOME."
OR SOMEONE GOING, "NO, NO, NO.
"THAT'S THE POISONOUS SUCH AND SUCH.
DON'T TOUCH IT!"
BUT I JUST WENT FROM CERTAIN TO UNCERTAIN.
I HATE THAT FEELING.
WELL, I'VE EATEN IT NOW,
SO I WON'T EAT ANY MORE TILL I FIND OUT HOW I FEEL.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN, IF YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE,
OF MOBILE PROACTIVE SURVIVAL --
MOVING ON, LOOKING AROUND THE NEXT CORNER.
MAYBE I'LL FIND A CABIN, A VEHICLE, EVEN A ROAD.
STAYING PUT IN FOREST THIS THICK
JUST NEVER SEEMS LIKE THE RIGHT OPTION TO ME,
NOT IF I HAVE A CHOICE.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER WAY TO GET SOME WATER.
NO SPHAGNUM MOSS HERE, JUST THIS ***, ROTTEN WOOD.
I'M GONNA REACH INTO THE CENTER OF IT HERE.
IT'S ALL SOAKING WET,
AND THIS IS GOOD WATER TO DRINK.
I CAN JUST KEEP HYDRATING MYSELF AS I WALK THROUGH THE BUSH,
CONSTANTLY PUTTING LIQUID INTO MY BODY
BECAUSE IT'S HOT HERE.
THE MOSQUITOS ARE BAD, THE HEAT'S INTENSE,
THE HUMIDITY'S THICK,
BUT THERE'S NOT MUCH TO DRINK WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW,
SO THIS WILL DO IT.
AHH! GOOD, FRESH WATER.
I KEEP SEEING BLUEBERRIES HERE,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T SEE THEM IN SEASON YET.
ALL I SEE IS THE PLANT ITSELF.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT USEFUL,
BECAUSE I CAN ACTUALLY MAKE BLUEBERRY TEA
OUT OF THE LEAVES IF I FIND A WAY TO BOIL WATER.
SO OFTEN PEOPLE THINK, BOY, YOU CAN JUST FIND SOME BERRIES
AND LIVE OFF RASPBERRIES AND BLUEBERRIES.
"BOY, IF I WAS IN THAT AREA IN JULY OR AUGUST,
THAT'S WHAT I'D BE DOING."
YOU'VE GOT TO FIND THOSE BIG PATCHES
OF BLUEBERRIES AND RASPBERRIES,
AND THERE MIGHT BE MANY MILES IN BETWEEN THEM
SO IT'S BLUEBERRY TEA, I GUESS.
I HAVE TO ALWAYS, ALWAYS
THINK ABOUT GETTING MATERIAL FOR FIRE STARTING.
NOW, THIS IS GOOD BIRCH BARK.
THIS DEFINITELY FALLS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF
"GATHER IT WHILE I SEE IT."
I DON'T WANT TO GO ALL THE AROUND THE TREE
AND PULL OFF TOO MUCH AND GO TOO DEEP,
BECAUSE THAT ACTUALLY KILLS THE TREE,
BUT IN THIS CASE, I'M JUST TAKING
JUST THE DEAD STUFF THAT'S ON THE OUTSIDE.
THAT'S ALL.
THIS WAY I CAN GATHER THE BARK I NEED
AND FEEL LIKE I'M NOT DAMAGING THE FOREST AT THE SAME TIME.
I JUST KEEP GATHERING AS I GO,
AND HOPE THAT I DON'T START THROWING UP
BECAUSE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS WILD CUCUMBER
WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
OH, LOOK AT THIS.
SEE IT?
THIS IS WHEN I WISH I KNEW MORE ABOUT MUSHROOMS
BECAUSE IF THIS WAS EDIBLE,
WELL, THAT'S A NICE BULK OF FOOD THERE,
BUT I HAVE NO IDEA,
AND LEARNING MUSHROOMS IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
YOU HAVE TO BE SHOWN BY AN EXPERT.
YOU CAN'T DO IT WITH A BOOK AT ALL.
THE ONLY REAL MUSHROOM I KNOW THAT I'M CONFIDENT PICKING
IS THE SHAGGYMANE.
GROWS IN MY BACKYARD.
THE PROBLEM WITH EATING MUSHROOMS --
IF I EAT IT AND I'M WRONG, I COULD DIE.
VERY DANGEROUS.
TALKING ABOUT IT AND KNOWING IT ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
THIS IS WANDERING SURVIVAL --
PUSHING ONWARDS,
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT PLACE TO SPEND THE NIGHT.
THIS IS THE WAY IT NORMALLY GOES.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
I JUST FIND MYSELF IN THESE POCKETS
WHERE MOSQUITOS ARE INCREDIBLY INTENSE.
ONE INTERESTING PHENOMENON
THAT'S HAPPENED WITH ME AND MOSQUITOS,
IS THAT OVER THE YEARS OF DOING SURVIVAL AND GUIDING,
I'VE BEEN BITTEN SO MANY TIMES, AND I HAD TO REMAIN STOIC
BECAUSE MAYBE I WAS GUIDING TEENAGERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THEM PANICKING,
AND SO THE MOSQUITOS --
I'D HAVE SIX, SEVEN MOSQUITOS ON MY ARMS BITING ME.
THERE WE GO.
THEY WOULD JUST BITE AND FILL UP ON BLOOD.
THEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE AFTER A WHILE
THAT I WASN'T GETTING BITES ANYMORE.
I MEAN, NOTHING. NOT A SINGLE BUMP.
SO THIS GUY'S GONNA BITE ME.
HE'S FILLING UP WITH BLOOD RIGHT NOW.
NOTHING'S GOING TO BE THERE.
NOTHING TO ITCH, NOTHING TO SCRATCH.
SHE GOES ON TO MAKE MORE MOSQUITO BABIES.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
[ SIGHS ]
THERE SHE GOES, FAT WITH MY BLOOD.
IT'S NOT THAT THE MOSQUITOS DON'T DRIVE ME INSANE, THEY DO,
BUT JUST KNOWING I NO LONGER HAVE TO ENDURE
ITCHY WELTS ALL OVER MY BODY
IS AN INCREDIBLE PSYCHOLOGICAL COMFORT.
JUST STILL LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO SIT AND SLEEP THE NIGHT OUT.
I THINK I'VE MADE A DRASTIC ERROR.
I SHOULD'VE STARTED LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO BE A LOT EARLIER,
MAYBE EVEN BUILT A SHELTER,
BUT I'VE JUST BEEN GOING AND GOING.
IT'S TOO LATE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.
I'M JUST GOING TO FIND A PLACE TO SIT DOWN
'CAUSE I'M GETTING TOO TIRED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.
SURVIVING LIKE THIS IS KIND OF LIKE AN ADVENTURE RACE.
I JUST DON'T STOP. I KEEP GOING.
IT'S ACTUALLY SO MUCH CLOSER
TO ANY REAL LOST VICTIM'S REALITY
THAN BUILDING ELABORATE SHELTERS OR TRAPS.
[ SIGHS ] OH, GOD.
NOT GETTING MYSELF PREPARED FOR TONIGHT WAS JUST STUPID.
I JUST KEPT WALKING UNTIL I REALIZED
THAT I WAS WALKING INTO THE DARK.
I'VE GOT NO SHELTER.
THE MOSQUITOS ARE JUST TERRIBLE.
FIRST NIGHT OUT AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M GONNA SLEEP AT ALL.
OW!
WHAT THE HELL JUST BIT ME?
THAT HURT.
OH!
MOSQUITOS JUST DIDN'T SEEM THIS BAD DURING THE DAY.
THEY'RE INTENSE NOW.
UGH.
OH, GOD.
A FIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN SMART,
YET I SIMPLY OVERLOOKED MAKING ONE.
TOO BUSY PUSHING ON IN THE WARM WEATHER.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE RAIN.
THAT IS RAIN.
THERE'S RAIN COMING IN.
GREAT.
IT'S JUST SPRINKLING FOR THE MOMENT, SO --
OW! RIGHT IN MY EYE.
[ RAIN INTENSIFIES ]
I CAN HEAR THE STORM COMING.
THAT MAKES THESE MASSIVE PINE TREES
ARE LIKE LIGHTNING RODS.
IT'S HARD REALLY SITTING IN, YOU KNOW,
THE WORST POSSIBLE PLACE FOR LIGHTNING COMING THROUGH.
OUT IN THE RAIN, GETTING DRENCHED,
OR DRY HERE AND GETTING ELECTROCUTED.
THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SLEEP LIKE THIS.
LOST VICTIMS ARE MOTIVATED TO KEEP MOVING
BY MANY DIFFERENT THINGS --
FEAR, LONGING TO SEE THEIR FAMILY AGAIN,
EVEN EMBARRASSMENT.
WHATEVER IT TAKES, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO JUST KEEP MOVING.
WELL, IT ONLY RAINED A LITTLE BIT
OFF AND ON THROUGH THE NIGHT.
LOOKS LIKE ITS GONNA CLEAR UP HERE TODAY, TOO,
SO WHO KNOWS?
THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT RAINS AND THEN IT STOPS
AND THEN IT'S SUNNY
AND THEN IT RAINS AGAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS.
YOU GET EVERYTHING.
I'M JUST GONNA KEEP MOVING AND SEE WHAT I FIND.
[ PLAYING HARMONICA ]
YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS, I HAVE TRAVELED WITH A HARMONICA
AND I'VE PLAYED IT AT NIGHT TO BRING ME COMFORT
AND KEEP MY COMPANY, ESPECIALLY AROUND A FIRE.
BUT THE ACTUAL REAL USE THAT I HAVE PUT IT TO
IN ANY SURVIVAL SITUATION,
ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE TO GO THROUGH WOODS LIKE THIS,
IS TO PLAY WHILE I WALK.
BASICALLY, IT SCARES AWAY
ANYTHING THAT I DON'T WANT TO RUN INTO.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY THINKING BEARS,
THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE.
I DON'T REALLY WANT TO RUN INTO A BLACK BEAR.
99.9999 PERCENT OF THE TIME, IF I SEE ONE,
HE'S GOING TO BE RUNNING LIKE A SHOT -- OR SHE.
AND I'VE HAD THEM WHERE I'VE COME UPON A MOTHER,
AND THE CUBS RUN UP THE TREE AND THE MOTHER TAKES OFF
AND I'M STANDING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TREE LOOKING AT THE CUBS.
THAT'S USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS WITH A BLACK BEAR.
THAT SAID, I PLAY THIS HARMONICA WHILE I WALK
AND I DON'T HAVE TO TEST MY THEORY.
[ PLAYING HARMONICA ]
YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY THAT THERE'S AN OPENING UP THERE.
I CAN SEE THE WATER FROM HERE,
SO NOW I CAN BASE MY TRAVELS ON THE LAKE.
FOLLOW THE SHORE OR DO WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET OUT OF HERE.
YOU COME WITH ME.
SO HERE'S SOME BERRIES. IT'S A POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKE.
THIS IS THE CLINTONIA BOREALIS.
IT LOOKS SO MUCH LIKE BLUEBERRIES.
THE PLANT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE BLUEBERRIES AT ALL,
IF YOU KNOW WHAT A BLUEBERRY LOOKS LIKE,
BUT THE BERRIES DO.
AND IF YOU WERE CONFUSED,
AND I'VE SEEN PEOPLE THAT ARE, BY THIS PLANT,
YOU COULD TRY EATING IT, AND IT'S POISONOUS.
I BETTER GET MYSELF SET UP BEFORE IT GETS TOO DARK.
IT'S GONNA BE TOO LATE OTHERWISE.
[ PLAYING HARMONICA ]
[ SIGHS ] WOW, THIS IS THICK.
EVERY TIME I THINK I'M GOING THROUGH TO A CLEARING,
I, UH -- I'M NOT. [ CHUCKLES ]
[ PLAYING HARMONICA ]
THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT JUNGLES ARE THICK
AND FORESTS ARE WALKABLE.
YET SOMETIMES IT'S VERY MUCH THE OPPOSITE.
ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO.
THIS OVERHANG AND KNOWING THAT THE NORTHWEST WIND
IS COMING FROM IN BEHIND THIS ROCK,
THIS WILL DO THE TRICK TONIGHT.
MAYBE IF I PUT UP A FEW POLES,
GET A LITTLE FIRE GOING THIS TIME, AS WELL,
HELP KEEP THE MOSQUITOS AWAY.
ALL RIGHT, I GOT TO GET BUSY
BECAUSE BEFORE LONG, THAT SUN'S GONNA SET AGAIN.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY I LOVE HAVING A HANDSAW LIKE THIS.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, AN AXE IS GREAT, TOO.
I LOVE HAVING AN AXE, BUT AN AXE IS HEAVY TO CARRY.
OKAY, THAT'S ONE.
40 MORE.
YOU KNOW, THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND SHELTER BUILDING,
OR ONE OF THEM, IS TRY TO USE STUFF
THAT'S IN THE VICINITY TO MAKE YOUR SHELTER.
IT'S THE WAY IGLOOS ARE MADE, REALLY.
YOU THINK, OH, THEY PUT ALL THE BLOCKS ON TOP OF THE SNOW?
NO. THE BLOCKS ARE DUG OUT TO MAKE A BIG HOLE,
AND THAT'S HALF THE IGLOO RIGHT THERE.
THEN THE BLOCKS ARE PUT UP OVER TOP OF THAT HOLE.
YOU SCOOP OUT AND PUT ON TOP.
THAT'S SOME OF THE --
HOPEFULLY MOST OF THE GRUNT WORK DONE.
I'M GONNA GO UP BY THE ROCK AND TAKE STOCK
AND SEE WHAT I'VE GOT.
WELL, IT'S NOT MUCH.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE LAMEST SHELTERS I'VE EVER MADE,
BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HALF OF IT'S MADE FOR ME
BECAUSE OF THIS ROCK.
SO, REALLY, I THINK I'LL BE FINE HERE IF IT COMES ON TO RAIN.
AND BETTER THAN THAT,
THERE'LL BE SOME AIR MOVING HERE
TO HOPEFULLY KEEP THE MOSQUITOS DOWN.
THAT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR ME BECAUSE LAST NIGHT WAS BRUTAL.
ALL RIGHT. I WANT TO GET A FIRE GOING.
THIS IS VERY MUCH A LAND
FLOWING WITH FRESH, DRINKABLE WATER
WHICH THANKFULLY TAKES THAT NEED
OUT OF THE EQUATION OF SURVIVAL.
SO WITH WATER AND SHELTER LOOKED AFTER TONIGHT,
I WON'T SIT OUT IN THE DARK WITHOUT A FIRE GOING.
GETTING A FIRE GOING IS A LOT LIKE A COOKING SHOW.
YOU GOT TO HAVE ALL YOUR INGREDIENTS LAYED OUT.
ON THE BIRCH TREE, I FOUND THIS FUNGUS.
SEE THAT?
THIS STUFF CAN TAKE A SPARK.
I'M GOING TO HOPE THAT I CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN HERE.
I'VE NEVER BEEN SHOWN HOW TO DO THIS,
SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO,
BUT MY GUT SAYS CHEW IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
LOOK AT THAT. THAT'S AMAZING.
CAN'T BELIEVE HOW WELL THAT WORKS,
AND I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS GONNA WORK THIS WELL.
I'VE NEVER TRIED THIS STUFF BEFORE.
JUST GONNA TRY -- I'M JUST EXPERIMENTING.
LET'S TRY THIS.
LET'S TRY BREAKING A BIT OFF INTO THE CEDAR BARK,
SOME OF THE COALS.
[ LAUGHS ]
YES, YES, YES, YES, YES.
YES, YES, YES, YES, YES.
[ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT, YEAH. NOW WE'RE TALKIN'.
THIS STUFF IS FANTASTIC, THIS TINDER FUNGUS! WOW!
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'M GOING TO SAVE THIS TINDER FUNGUS
BECAUSE THAT'S JUST AWESOME.
THIS IS SOME OTHER BIRCH FUNGUS,
BUT THE BEAUTY OF THIS IS -- IT'S SAID, ANYWAY --
THAT THE SMOKE FROM THIS FUNGUS HELPS TO KEEP MOSQUITOS AWAY.
SO I'M JUST GONNA LET THIS GUY HOVER RIGHT THERE.
THIS IS GONNA BE A MUCH BETTER NIGHT THAN LAST NIGHT.
THE SMALL PLASTIC BOTTLE I'VE BEEN USING TO COLLECT WATER
CAN NOW BE PUT TO A SECOND IMPORTANT USE,
ONE THAT FOR MANY LOST VICTIMS, IF THEY KNEW THIS TECHNIQUE,
COULD SAVE THEIR LIFE.
WELL, LET'S TRY THIS.
I HAVE NO WIRE, NO STRING,
BUT I USUALLY, WHEN I GET OUT IN THE WILDERNESS,
MAKE IT SO THAT MY BELT IS ACTUALLY A ROPE.
I'VE DONE THAT FOR YEARS,
AND I CAN SAY THAT HAS COME IN HANDY
MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT.
HERE GOES NOTHING.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'M JUST GONNA PUT
SOME BLUEBERRY LEAVES IN THERE NOW.
GET THAT BACK ON THE FLAMES.
NOW WE WATCH WATER BOIL
[ LAUGHS ]
[ PLAYING HARMONICA ]
I'M SURVIVING IN THE CANADIAN NORTHERN FOREST,
WHERE FROM ONE HOUR TO THE NEXT,
I CAN COULD GO FROM A MANAGEABLE EXISTENCE
TO A HORRIFIC ENDURANCE TEST.
THIS MAY NOT LOOK IT,
AND IT MIGHT NOT FEEL IT IN A COUPLE HOURS,
BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S ACTUALLY COMFORTABLE.
JUST BY SIMPLY SETTING UP UNDER THIS ROCK,
THE WARMTH OF A FIRE, AND TO HAVE THE MOSQUITOS GONE,
AND THEN COMBINE THAT WITH HOT WATER
THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BOIL IN PLASTIC,
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
MM.
OH, MAN, THAT'S GOOD.
[ SIGHS ]
HAVING HARDLY SLEPT AT ALL IN A COUPLE OF DAYS,
THIS NIGHT'S GONNA HELP.
THE DANGER OF SETTLING INTO A PLACE
THAT IS KIND OF OKAY FOR SURVIVAL
IS THAT I CAN WAIT TOO LONG BEFORE I MAKE MY NEXT MOVE
AND MY ENERGY BECOMES DEPLETED TOO MUCH TO HEAD OUT,
SO I'M GOING TO KEEP MOVING.
[ PLAYING HARMONICA ]
IN THE COURSE OF MOVING ON,
I CAN MAKE THINGS MUCH WORSE FOR MYSELF, TOO.
EVERYTHING IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION
IS AN IMPORTANT JUDGMENT CALL.
UH. OKAY.
OH, BOY.
I SEE BEAR SCAT HERE,
AND THAT'S PRECISELY WHY I PLAY THE HARMONICA
WHILE I GO THROUGH.
[ PLAYING HARMONICA ]
I'M GONNA MAKE IT TO THE CLEARING.
I CAN SEE THE CLEARING AND WATER.
[ PLAYING HARMONICA ]
OW! AH!
OH, HEY, HEY, HEY.
THAT LOOKS GOOD.
I SEE WATER.
[ LAUGHS ]
I SEE FOOD!
NOW I SEE WHY I'M STARTING TO SEE
DIFFERENT SIGNS OF ANIMALS.
EVERYTHING COMES DOWN HERE TO FEED,
INCLUDING ME.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, MAN!
YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST FOUND.
I WOULDN'T EXPECT TO FIND THIS DOWN HERE,
AND I DID, AND THERE'S LOTS OF IT.
OH, I GOT TO SHOW YOU THIS.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE FINDS
WHEN IT COMES TO LOOKING FOR FOOD
IN THE NORTHERN FOREST LIKE THIS.
THIS IS CALLED CREEPING SNOWBERRY.
IT'S THESE TINY, LITTLE WHITE GUYS.
YOU JUST LIFT UP THE PLANT LIKE THIS TO EXPOSE THE BERRIES.
MMM!
OH, WHAT A SCORE!
SO, THIS IS MY FIRST LITTLE TREAT OF THE MARSH.
MY SECOND, BIGGER TREAT IS OUT THERE.
THE CATTAIL HAS TWO BENEFITS,
BOTH AS A FOOD SOURCE AND ALSO AS A FIRE STARTER.
IT GROWS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FILTER,
OF POLLUTION OR OTHERWISE CONTAMINATED WATER,
BUT THE BEST THING ABOUT IT FOR SURVIVAL
IS THAT IT USUALLY GROWS IN ABUNDANCE.
[ GRUNTS ]
THERE'S THE KIND OF CHUNK I'M LOOKING FOR, RIGHT THERE.
PEEL THE LAYERS AWAY...
AH, YEAH!
NOW WE'RE TALKIN'.
THIS ONE'S NICE AND TENDER.
ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO KEEP EATING MORE OF THESE CATTAILS
AND GET MYSELF FILLED UP.
THERE'S A LOT OF THEM, EASY TO GRAB --
MMM --
AND TASTY.
AND THIS IS SUPER CALORIE-EFFICIENT EATING
IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION --
IS BEING ABLE TO COME TO A PLACE LIKE THIS.
JUST PICK, EAT, PICK, EAT, PICK, EAT.
THE CREEPING SNOWBERRIES WERE JUST A HUGE BONUS.
ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA TAKE THE NEXT HOUR OR SO
AND JUST SIT HERE AND EAT,
AND THEN HEAD BACK THROUGH
AND SEE WHAT'S UP AROUND THE CORNER.
THIS IS JUST REALLY WEIRD.
I SEE SOMETHING ON THE GROUND, I BENT DOWN TO PICK IT UP...
ONE WILD BLUEBERRY.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY A BLUEBERRY.
AND THERE'S NOT A SINGLE BLUEBERRY PLANT AROUND ME.
SO JUST HERE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SWAMP,
[Laughing] THERE'S ONE WILD BLUEBERRY
LAYING ON THE GROUND.
HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?
I DON'T KNOW.
I GUESS MAYBE A BIRD HAD IT IN ITS BEAK
AND WAS FLYING OVERHEAD AND DROPPED IT,
DROPPED IT DOWN FOR ME.
OH...
OOH, SINKING IN.
AAH! [BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
DROPPED THE CAMERA IN.
THE ONE CAMERA THAT'S NOT WATERPROOF.
[ SIGHS ]
THAT'S WHAT I WANT.
THAT'S AN AMAZING FIRE STARTER.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION?
DO YOU TRY TO FIND SHELTER, FOOD, WATER?
NO.
WHAT YOU REALLY ARE ON THE SEARCH FOR
IS A WAY OUT -- RESCUE, SALVATION,
HUMAN ACTIVITY,
ANYTHING TO TAKE YOU OUT OF YOUR MISERY,
BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING ABOUT SURVIVING THAT ISN'T MISERABLE.
AFTER A WHILE YOU KNOW YOU COULD BE GETTING CLOSE TO SOMETHING
WHEN YOU START TO SEE SIGNS OF HUMANS.
LOOK AT THIS OLD JUNK LYING AROUND HERE.
I'M COMING UP TO THE EDGE OF THE SHORE HERE.
AGAIN, JUST LOOKING AROUND.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
IT IS. CHECK THIS OUT.
LOOK AT THAT.
UNBELIEVABLE.
NOW, I, MYSELF, HAVE STORED MORE THAN ONE CANOE IN MY LIFETIME.
MY FATHER AND I USED TO HIDE BOATS IN DIFFERENT PLACES,
OLD FISHING LAKES AND SPOTS THAT WERE OUR FAVORITES
AND I'VE PROBABLY COME ACROSS
AT LEAST FOUR, FIVE BOATS AND CANOES IN MY LIFETIME,
JUST TRAVELING AROUND, BEING IN THE BUSH.
IN WE GO.
NO MORE BUSH HIKING FOR ME.
I WONDER IF THERE'S A PADDLE, THOUGH.
UH, I DON'T SEE ONE.
I'M JUST GONNA ANGLE THIS
SO THAT I CAN HIDE FROM THE RAIN IF IT COMES IN.
THIS'LL BE A NICE SHELTERED SPOT.
YOU NEVER KNOW IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND,
A CABIN, A COTTAGE, A BIG CAVE OR --
OW! ROCK OVERHANG.
IN THIS CASE, A BIG OL' CANOE.
I DON'T HAVE A PADDLE.
REALLY TOUGH TO MAKE A PADDLE.
BUT WHAT I CAN MAKE IS A POLE.
IF YOU WANT TO RAIN NOW, YOU CAN.
WOULDN'T BOTHER ME.
WHENEVER I FIND SIGNS OF HUMAN ACTIVITY,
IT MAKES ME FEEL MORE UP.
THE ENERGY FROM THE FIND IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL BOOST,
AND MOTIVATES ME TO GET ACTIVE.
I THINK, STILL, ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS WITH TINDER
IS MIXING AND MATCHING
ALL THE DIFFERENT TINDERS TOGETHER.
BIRCH BARK, PINE NEEDLES, SOMETIMES CEDAR BARK,
BUT TO SET ALL OF THIS OFF, IT'S GONNA BE THE CATTAIL FLUFF.
TRICK TO THE CATTAIL
IS GETTING IT AS FLUFFY AS POSSIBLE.
THE FLUFFIER I CAN MAKE IT, THE BETTER,
THE MORE LIKELY IT WILL BE TO TAKE A SPARK.
[ LAUGHS ] LOOK AT THAT!
AND NOW, COME ON. CATCH, CATCH, CATCH.
THERE WE GO.
THE BIRCH BARK TAKES THE FLAME FROM THE CATTAIL.
THE CATTAIL'S ALREADY GONE OUT.
BIRCH BARK TAKES THE FLAME, PINE NEEDLES COME OVER TOP...
SO FAR TONIGHT, I'M GETTING LUCKY WITH THE MOSQUITOS.
THEY'RE NOT TOO BAD,
NOT YET.
AND THE RAIN'S HELD OFF.
THERE'S A PHENOMENON THAT HAPPENS HERE.
I CALL IT THE 10-MINUTE WARNING.
DEPENDING ON WHAT THE TEMPERATURE IS LIKE,
YOU GET A SITUATION WHERE YOU START TO HEAR
THIS HUM, THIS BUZZ IN THE DISTANCE.
IF THAT HAPPENS, LOOK OUT.
BECAUSE WITHIN ALMOST 10 MINUTES EXACTLY,
YOU'RE ABOUT TO BE SWARMED BY MOSQUITOS.
AND WHAT IT IS --
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE MOSQUITOS ARE ACTUALLY,
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL SITTING
ON THEIR LITTLE BRANCHES AND LEAVES AND BLADES OF GRASS
AND THEY ACTUALLY ARE WARMING UP THEIR BODY TEMPERATURE,
GETTING READY.
AND THEN THEY TAKE OFF ON THEIR HUNT FOR BLOOD,
AND WHEN YOU HEAR THAT 10-MINUTE WARNING,
IT'S GONNA BE A BAD NIGHT.
I HAVEN'T HEARD IT YET.
IF I'M GOING TO HEAR IT, IT'S GOING TO BE SOON.
[ MOSQUITOS BUZZING ]
OH, MAN, I CAN JUST HEAR THEM.
THE MOSQUITOS ARE BUZZING AND THEY'RE ECHOING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE,
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A MILLION BECAUSE OF THE CANOE.
OH! UGH!
[ BUZZING CONTINUES ]
THIS IS INSANE.
[ SIGHS ] MOSQUITOS, MOSQUITOS.
[ RAIN FALLING ]
[ THUNDER CRASHING ]
IT'S STILL RAINING.
IT RAINED PRETTY MUCH ALL NIGHT, AND I JUST TUCKED IN HERE.
THE GOOD NEWS WAS, WITH THE RAIN,
EVERY TIME IT WAS HARD, THE MOSQUITOS WOULD GO AWAY.
SO I WOULD HAD THIS TIME WHERE I WOULD SLEEP MORE
WHILE IT WAS RAINING BUT THEN WHEN IT STOPPED RAINING
THE MOSQUITOS WOULD COME IN AGAIN AND WAKE ME UP.
PRETTY INTENSE THIS MORNING.
SO AWESOME RAIN SHELTER, NOT SO GOOD FOR THE MOSQUITOS.
I GOT TO MAKE MY WAY OUT OF HERE,
FIGURE OUT HOW I CAN MANEUVER THIS CANOE IN THE WATER.
I'M GONNA NEED TO MAKE A POLE.
SO THE REASON WHY I WANT TO TAKE ALL THIS BARK OFF
AND MAKE THIS AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE,
BECAUSE IF I'M POLING IN RAPIDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT,
THEN I DON'T WANT TO BE SLICING MY HAND OPEN
ON POINTS AND THINGS STICKING OUT FROM THE WOOD.
I WANT THIS TO BE NICE AND SMOOTH.
IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO WORK WITH.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I LIKE MOBILE SURVIVAL SO MUCH
RATHER THAN JUST SITTING STILL
IS YOU END UP FINDING A LOT MORE THINGS
THAT CAN BE ADVANTAGES FOR YOUR VERY SURVIVAL.
AND THE THING IS, YOU'VE GOT TO START IT EARLY
BEFORE YOU START GETTING TIRED.
IN THIS CASE, COME UPON A CANOE,
THOSE TYPES OF FINDS ARE EVERYTHING
IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION
AND THEY DON'T HAPPEN WHEN YOU'RE SITTING STILL.
SO, THERE WE GO.
THERE'S MY POLE,
AND I'M SURE IT WILL DO THE TRICK.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO OF RAIN
AND FINALLY, I GET A BREAK IN THE WEATHER,
AND NOW IT'S POSSIBLE TO MOVE ON.
IT'S NICE THAT THERE'S
A BIG, LONG ROPE ON THIS THING, TOO.
LET'S SEE IF SHE FLOATS.
PERFECTLY.
FROM MY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS REGION,
I KNOW THAT IF I HEAD UPSTREAM I CAN MAKE IT TO A ROAD,
AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE HARDER PATH
TO MAKE IT TO SAFETY.
THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE
IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST DIRECTION TO TRAVEL.
HMM.
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO DO THIS,
TO BREAK ONE OF MY OWN MAJOR IMPORTANT RULES,
AND THAT IS I'M GOING TO GO IN THE WATER WITH MY BOOTS,
GET MY FEET WET.
SOMETIMES TO GET TO WHERE YOU HAVE TO GO,
YOU GOT TO BREAK THE RULES.
AND AWAY WE GO.
IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS
TO ALLOW MYSELF TO GET WET DURING SURVIVAL.
IF I CAN'T GET OUT TO SAFETY OR GET DRY BEFORE THE NIGHT,
THEN I RUN THE RISK OF CHILLING DOWN
TO THE POINT OF HYPOTHERMIA.
OH.
ALL RIGHT! BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL!
THE WHOLE TRICK TO POLING IS TO GET IN A RHYTHM,
AND THEN HAVE THE POLE KIND OF STAY UP
AGAINST THE BACK OF THE CANOE
AS YOU SHOVE IT INTO THE GROUND UNDERNEATH,
AND IT KEEPS YOU STRAIGHT.
WILDERNESS SURVIVAL TRAVEL MUST ALWAYS BE SLOW AND STEADY.
ONE SMALL SLIP ON A ROCK
AND A BROKEN OR BADLY STRAINED ANKLE CAN CAUSE DEATH.
ONE DUNKING IN THE WATER CAN LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA.
ONE TURN TO THE EAST
WHEN I SHOULD HAVE TURNED TO THE WEST
CAN CHANGE A ROUTE TO SAFETY TO A TRIP INTO HELL.
AND YET, ALL THE SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS
AND ALL THE TOUGH DECISIONS HAVE TO BE EMPLOYED
WHILE HAVING HAD LITTLE SLEEP OR FOOD,
WHICH ONLY SERVES TO REITERATE THE FACT
THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE QUICKLY
IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION.
FORTUNATELY, IN AN AREA LIKE THIS,
THE BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDS ME
SERVES TO CALM THE MIND AND SPIRIT,
MAKING SURVIVAL EVEN MORE POSSIBLE.
THERE'S A FLAT, STRAIGHT CLEARING RIGHT ACROSS UP THERE
THAT, TO ME, LOOKS LIKE A ROAD,
AND I KNOW THESE ROADS IN THIS AREA.
WALK MY WAY OUT TO THE HIGHWAY AND HOME.
[ SIGHS ]
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SEE -- THE ROAD.
THAT'S ENOUGH OF THIS POLING UP THE RIVER.
I'M GETTING OUT OF HERE.
EVEN ONLY A MILE FROM YOUR COTTAGE OR HOME,
YOU CAN QUICKLY FIND YOURSELF LOST AND ALONE.
THEN THE FIGHT TO SURVIVE BEGINS,
ALL THE WHILE YOU KNOW
THERE ARE ROADS AND BUILDINGS SOMEWHERE,
AND SO ONWARDS YOU PUSH,
SOMETIMES TOWARDS SAFETY, SOMETIMES INTO CERTAIN DEATH.
AND TOO OFTEN, ONLY MILES FROM YOUR OWN BED.
IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.
IT HAPPENED THIS YEAR,
AND IT'LL HAPPEN TO SOMEONE NEXT YEAR.
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR SURVIVAL WHEN IN THE WILDERNESS ALWAYS
SO IT DOESN'T EVER HAPPEN TO YOU.