Survivalist Bear Grylls named as new chief scout

Guardian.co.uk ^ | 17 May 2009 | Ben Quinn

[driftdiver]

This one is the real deal - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpCkhqJs2tc

This shows his crew - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT6Bh3A0Fu0

[driftdiver]

Alligators in the everglades are very unlikely to bother you. I was down there kayaking and the guide said if we fell out and stuck our foot in its mouth we might get bit. Unless its mating season or someones been feeding them they rarely bother humans.

I’ve been diving in a spring fed river with a 9’ gator not more than 30 feet away. Water was crystal clear so it looked bigger.

[poindexters brother]

Man vs Wild is a study in activities that will get you killed in a real survival situation.

I do enjoy the show but I enjoy it as a “straw man” starting point for me to consider what *I* would do in such a situation.

I find that Bear is overly aggressive/foolhardy at times, typically choosing a reckless but speedy method of moving forward that would likely result in immediate death or in an injury followed by death in a real survival situation. Examples of this are as follows:

+ Climbing down the rock face/cliff in the Sierras

+ Floating down the near freezing river in the Sierras just prior to the sun going down

+ Jumping off the cliff into a pool of unknown depth in the Rockies in order to escape from a bear that he never heard or saw

+ Floating down the near-freezing river in the Rockies rather than hiking down through the forest

+ Climbing down the near-freezing waterfall in Alaska to avoid going through the thorny (and appropriately named) “Devils Club” plant

+ Climbing through a glacial ice cave of unknown stability and depth and without knowing *exactly* where it goes

+ Swimming across the lake in the Sierras rather than hiking around

+ Swimming *under* the log and debris dam in the Utah slot canyon

However, these stunts can be instructive if you just ask yourself what you would do as a reasonable alternative if you were faced with such a choice.

TM

[driftdiver]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xltg0iagMJY

Les Strouds ‘best story’ ever

[MaxMax]

(looking for bubbles indicating alligators)

What happened to Bubble? "Gah" Those cruel bastards!

[llevrok]

If you haven’t already, post 18 describes how he nearly cut off his fingers (2 of them). Doofus!

[ozarkgirl]

I’ve been diving in a spring fed river with a 9’ gator not more than 30 feet away.

Weren't you making fun of Bear for taking unnecessary risks? :)

[nomad]

I prefer Survivor Man,Les Stroud.He doesn`t take stupid chances with his life and at least he`ll cook his food and boil his water,if he can get a fire started.ANYONE who,by reckless machismo, encourages people to eat or drink uncooked food or water in the wild,given access to fire, is STUPID!

[nomad]

Some of his traps do work,but he at least makes a real attempt at surviving in the wild.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

True enough, he has had some success.

I like Les Stroud because he shows his failures as well as his successes and usually explains why it didn’t work or why it should have and just bad luck struck.

[poindexters brother]

Les Stroud *is* great. I was inspired by him to learn to make a “figure 4 deadfall trap” after watching his Utah desert episode.

What was briefly mentioned in the episode and turns out to be an important truth in real life is that by nature, these traps have a hair trigger and are heavy and you need to be careful when you set them or *you* will get injured.

Good to know before trying to construct one for the first time in the field!

[Lancey Howard]

Asking a favor here - - could you ping your survivalist ping list? I am interested to know if anyone is familiar with (or has taken courses at) the Tom Brown, Jr. tracker school.

I would greatly appreciate it.

FRegards,
LH

[appleseed]

Asking a favor here - - could you ping your survivalist ping list? I am interested to know if anyone is familiar with (or has taken courses at) the Tom Brown, Jr. tracker school.

I would greatly appreciate it

I'm not familiar with it. Maybe someone can help? My experience in this area comes from personal and professional dealings. I would also be interested in any info.

Self Reliant/Survivalist ping list

[whinecountry]

The survivalblog.com host might have more info. Don’t want to post his email, but it’s available at the site.

[Ramius]

I think you’re making an important point. Each of their shows has a completely different focus. Stroud is out actually doing survival, alone. He comes up with some practical tips for common problems that people have in the wild.

Bear’s show is more about “What if ___” sorts of scenarios. He’s not even trying to make it realistic, it’s not about that. It’s about setting up a sometimes bizarre what-if, and then demonstrating ways out of that problem. Sometimes he takes chances that he wouldn’t do if he were really alone... but they’re things that, if the situation is desperate enough, somebody might do.

I think they’re both interesting at times, though I can’t say I’ve seen very many of either one.

[hiredhand]

We’ve got two of Tom Brown’s books at the house. One on urban survival, and the other is on outdoor survival for kids. I thought the urban survival book was ESPECIALLY good. Squantos recommended it and I would have otherwise never read something like a book on “urban survival”.

[mad_as_he$$]

Don't forget drinking piss.

[mad_as_he$$]

Perfect.

[Lancey Howard]

Thanks!