1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,500
This program is intended for mature audience only.
2
00:00:01,500 --> 00:00:04,000
Some scenes may contain graphic content, language
and nudity which may not be suitable for all audience.
3
00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:05,000
Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
4
00:00:06,772 --> 00:00:08,573
It's our most ancient skill.
5
00:00:08,573 --> 00:00:13,512
Without it, survival
would just not be possible.
6
00:00:13,512 --> 00:00:15,615
I have created fire!
7
00:00:15,615 --> 00:00:16,999
-- Captions by vitac --
www.Vitac.Com
8
00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:18,226
captions paid for by
discovery communications
9
00:00:18,696 --> 00:00:21,694
ONE MAN
10
00:00:21,843 --> 00:00:24,749
ALONE
11
00:00:24,750 --> 00:00:27,354
NO FOOD
12
00:00:27,355 --> 00:00:29,573
NO T.V. CREW
13
00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:35,000
- Synced and corrected by Graveurexterne -
14
00:00:54,513 --> 00:00:57,675
Survivorman
Secrets of Survival: Fire
15
00:00:58,524 --> 00:01:00,460
What's the number-one thing
to take with you
16
00:01:00,460 --> 00:01:02,728
into a survival situation --
the number-one item?
17
00:01:02,728 --> 00:01:05,831
For me,
it's a way to get a fire going.
18
00:01:05,831 --> 00:01:10,069
I can cook my food,
boil my water, signal rescuers,
19
00:01:10,069 --> 00:01:13,439
stay warm, and at night,
keep the fear away.
20
00:01:13,438 --> 00:01:16,174
Everything else
can be dealt with.
21
00:01:16,174 --> 00:01:17,442
If I can get a fire going,
22
00:01:17,442 --> 00:01:19,811
especially if I don't have
matches or a lighter,
23
00:01:19,811 --> 00:01:22,314
that can be the difference
between life and death.
24
00:01:22,314 --> 00:01:24,384
These are my top five ways
25
00:01:24,384 --> 00:01:26,418
of making fire
in a survival situation,
26
00:01:26,418 --> 00:01:29,521
based on years of being
out there without the advantage
27
00:01:29,522 --> 00:01:31,323
of having a lighter
or box full of matches.
28
00:01:31,322 --> 00:01:33,458
Each one, for me,
is better than the last,
29
00:01:33,459 --> 00:01:34,960
and I'll tell you why.
30
00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:36,462
Before we begin the countdown,
31
00:01:36,462 --> 00:01:37,695
let's take a look
at a few other
32
00:01:37,695 --> 00:01:40,066
important aspects of fire
during survival,
33
00:01:40,066 --> 00:01:41,634
and throughout this hour,
34
00:01:41,634 --> 00:01:43,837
I'll share with you
the secrets of fire making.
35
00:01:47,540 --> 00:01:51,109
If I am able
to get a fire going,
36
00:01:51,109 --> 00:01:54,246
I'm going to need to be able
to travel with it.
37
00:01:54,246 --> 00:01:56,281
I'm just working
on a fire bundle.
38
00:01:56,281 --> 00:01:58,817
Carrying your fire
from one location to another
39
00:01:58,817 --> 00:02:00,887
sounds at first
like a daunting task,
40
00:02:00,887 --> 00:02:02,555
yet in any survival situation,
41
00:02:02,555 --> 00:02:04,724
being able to have fire
is so vital
42
00:02:04,724 --> 00:02:06,959
that I'll protect it
like it's another person
43
00:02:06,959 --> 00:02:09,027
just as in need
of staying alive as I am.
44
00:02:09,027 --> 00:02:10,528
The principles are easy.
45
00:02:10,528 --> 00:02:13,332
Start small on the inside
and gradually work your way out
46
00:02:13,332 --> 00:02:15,200
with the material
getting coarser.
47
00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,602
The secret is the constant
adjusting of the binding
48
00:02:17,603 --> 00:02:19,572
so that
it neither blows into flame
49
00:02:19,572 --> 00:02:21,774
nor snuffs out while you hike.
50
00:02:21,774 --> 00:02:23,308
If I take a coconut,
51
00:02:23,308 --> 00:02:25,644
and there's tons
of all this coconut fiber.
52
00:02:25,644 --> 00:02:27,012
This stuff is really good.
53
00:02:27,012 --> 00:02:29,247
It'll hold an ember,
and fill up the cup.
54
00:02:29,247 --> 00:02:33,585
And simply find myself a coal
and put in there.
55
00:02:33,586 --> 00:02:34,821
And all I have to do
56
00:02:34,820 --> 00:02:37,722
is just keep that
sort of smoldering while I walk.
57
00:02:37,723 --> 00:02:39,358
I grabbed some vinyl
from the truck
58
00:02:39,358 --> 00:02:41,393
to use to wrap around it.
59
00:02:41,393 --> 00:02:42,762
I just got to tie it up.
60
00:02:45,965 --> 00:02:50,135
Create a little hole there
and shove in
61
00:02:50,135 --> 00:02:56,308
all the rest of my fine, fine,
fine shredded bark.
62
00:02:58,743 --> 00:03:01,514
Instead of doing
sort of traditional fire bundle,
63
00:03:01,514 --> 00:03:04,417
I might as well make use
of the tin can.
64
00:03:04,417 --> 00:03:06,618
Some cow dung.
65
00:03:06,618 --> 00:03:10,156
And I've got myself
a modern twist on a fire bundle.
66
00:03:10,156 --> 00:03:11,456
It's smoking well.
67
00:03:11,456 --> 00:03:13,126
Hopefully, it'll last the trip.
68
00:03:15,461 --> 00:03:17,362
Worked absolutely perfectly.
69
00:03:17,362 --> 00:03:19,799
If it flamed up,
I kind of snuffed it out a bit,
70
00:03:19,799 --> 00:03:23,201
and now all I have to do
is add some twigs and some grass
71
00:03:23,201 --> 00:03:25,938
and blow it into flame,
and I'm in business.
72
00:03:25,938 --> 00:03:27,138
[ Blows ]
73
00:03:27,139 --> 00:03:28,307
Worked like a charm.
74
00:03:28,306 --> 00:03:29,375
One big fat cigar.
75
00:03:29,375 --> 00:03:30,776
I was almost getting ready
to leave,
76
00:03:30,776 --> 00:03:31,944
and I was trying to think,
77
00:03:31,943 --> 00:03:33,344
"okay, how am I gonna carry
the fire now?"
78
00:03:33,344 --> 00:03:35,181
And then all of a sudden,
it occurred to me.
79
00:03:35,181 --> 00:03:36,314
Hang on a second.
80
00:03:36,314 --> 00:03:39,384
I still have
three of these babies left.
81
00:03:39,384 --> 00:03:41,787
My friend in survival,
david holladay,
82
00:03:41,788 --> 00:03:44,990
said to me one day, "why don't
you just carry a cigar?
83
00:03:44,990 --> 00:03:48,061
It is, after all,
a ready-made fire bundle."
84
00:03:48,061 --> 00:03:49,061
There we go.
85
00:03:49,061 --> 00:03:50,362
Instant fire carrier.
86
00:03:50,362 --> 00:03:52,230
I've got
two more of these cigars,
87
00:03:52,230 --> 00:03:54,332
and I'm sure
if I just sort of hold them
88
00:03:54,332 --> 00:03:57,002
and let the wind work on them,
with any luck at all,
89
00:03:57,002 --> 00:04:02,206
that'll last me through to
wherever it is I end up tonight.
90
00:04:02,206 --> 00:04:04,709
Trying to build a shelter
that has a fire inside
91
00:04:04,710 --> 00:04:07,012
is extremely difficult,
yet if I can do it,
92
00:04:07,012 --> 00:04:08,213
it's a huge advantage.
93
00:04:08,213 --> 00:04:09,146
I stay warm through the night,
94
00:04:09,146 --> 00:04:10,248
I feel protected.
95
00:04:10,248 --> 00:04:14,353
That little flame
is really exciting.
96
00:04:14,353 --> 00:04:16,722
But it's very hard
to make it safe,
97
00:04:16,721 --> 00:04:18,490
and I always run the risk
98
00:04:18,490 --> 00:04:22,060
of actually burning down
my shelter in the process.
99
00:04:22,060 --> 00:04:26,131
First time in my life,
my shelter caught fire.
100
00:04:26,130 --> 00:04:27,399
You should've seen it.
101
00:04:27,399 --> 00:04:29,634
It was a big ball of flame
in the sky.
102
00:04:29,634 --> 00:04:32,070
If carrying a fire
sounds difficult
103
00:04:32,071 --> 00:04:33,673
but proves not to be so,
104
00:04:33,673 --> 00:04:36,341
well, having a fire
inside your shelter
105
00:04:36,341 --> 00:04:38,676
is just as difficult
as it sounds.
106
00:04:38,677 --> 00:04:40,746
The secret is to build
a long and low fire
107
00:04:40,745 --> 00:04:42,147
along the length of your body.
108
00:04:42,148 --> 00:04:43,549
It can be tedious to maintain,
109
00:04:43,548 --> 00:04:46,117
but if it works,
it's a life saver.
110
00:04:46,117 --> 00:04:51,723
The fire did not go to where
the plastic was on the roof.
111
00:04:51,723 --> 00:04:52,858
It was over in the fire area
112
00:04:52,858 --> 00:04:54,627
where the flames
were supposed to lick up,
113
00:04:54,627 --> 00:04:56,795
but I guess
they just kept drying out
114
00:04:56,795 --> 00:04:58,896
and drying out
the wood up above it,
115
00:04:58,896 --> 00:05:01,199
and I let the flames
get too high.
116
00:05:01,199 --> 00:05:03,467
Wow.
117
00:05:03,468 --> 00:05:05,771
Even inside a car,
118
00:05:05,771 --> 00:05:08,007
there are ways to add
just a little bit of heat.
119
00:05:10,877 --> 00:05:12,944
There we go.
120
00:05:12,944 --> 00:05:15,848
One-candle heat.
121
00:05:15,848 --> 00:05:18,084
Let's hope it's enough
to take the edge
122
00:05:18,084 --> 00:05:20,619
off of the cold inside this car.
123
00:05:20,619 --> 00:05:23,556
I'm not a believer
in small survival fires.
124
00:05:23,555 --> 00:05:26,891
I want to have the biggest fire,
the hottest fire.
125
00:05:26,891 --> 00:05:29,060
I want my rescuers to be able
to zero in on it.
126
00:05:29,060 --> 00:05:33,598
For me, a survival fire
is a safe one but a big one.
127
00:05:33,598 --> 00:05:35,168
Whoo-hoo!
128
00:05:35,168 --> 00:05:37,002
Oh, tell me
that wasn't a thing of beauty.
129
00:05:37,002 --> 00:05:40,204
I love it when a plan works out.
130
00:05:40,204 --> 00:05:43,308
One secret that I like
to believe is my very own
131
00:05:43,309 --> 00:05:45,477
is the concept
of covering my fire
132
00:05:45,476 --> 00:05:48,646
with big rotting logs
before heavy rain comes.
133
00:05:48,646 --> 00:05:50,016
It creates an oven-like fire
134
00:05:50,016 --> 00:05:52,151
that will still be going
when the rain stops.
135
00:05:52,151 --> 00:05:54,287
Once I get a fire big enough
like this,
136
00:05:54,286 --> 00:05:56,888
I can use punky wood
and burn it, as well.
137
00:05:59,992 --> 00:06:00,826
See, that's the key.
138
00:06:00,826 --> 00:06:01,826
If you've got a big fire,
139
00:06:01,826 --> 00:06:03,396
those coals will still be there
140
00:06:03,396 --> 00:06:05,931
when you come back
after a reconnaissance mission
141
00:06:05,930 --> 00:06:08,533
or gathering wild edibles
or getting more firewood,
142
00:06:08,533 --> 00:06:09,901
and if it starts to rain
143
00:06:09,901 --> 00:06:12,003
and you put over
some big punky logs
144
00:06:12,004 --> 00:06:13,504
and you protect that fire,
145
00:06:13,504 --> 00:06:15,841
it'll keep going until
long after the rain has stopped.
146
00:06:15,841 --> 00:06:18,009
[ Grunts ]
147
00:06:18,009 --> 00:06:20,312
I'm in here somewhere.
148
00:06:20,312 --> 00:06:24,383
Just a couple of big punky logs
laid overtop of my fire,
149
00:06:24,382 --> 00:06:27,686
and just let to smolder and burn
underneath,
150
00:06:27,687 --> 00:06:29,855
and pouring rain --
it just poured on me,
151
00:06:29,855 --> 00:06:32,190
torrential downpour
with thunder and lighting
152
00:06:32,190 --> 00:06:34,225
for about an hour and a half
straight.
153
00:06:34,225 --> 00:06:36,728
And my fire's still going.
154
00:06:36,728 --> 00:06:38,730
The beauty of a big fire is
155
00:06:38,730 --> 00:06:40,432
that it can be seen
from the sky,
156
00:06:40,432 --> 00:06:42,902
and that makes it a powerful
way to signal for help.
157
00:06:42,901 --> 00:06:45,837
It hasn't been all that often
when I've needed to get
158
00:06:45,838 --> 00:06:48,841
a signal fire going
while filming "survivorman,"
159
00:06:48,841 --> 00:06:50,576
but there have been
a few occasions
160
00:06:50,576 --> 00:06:53,746
where getting noticed from afar
was everything.
161
00:06:53,745 --> 00:06:56,014
A signal fire
that you can keep burning
162
00:06:56,014 --> 00:06:57,515
all hours of the day and night
163
00:06:57,516 --> 00:06:59,652
would be extremely difficult
to maintain.
164
00:06:59,651 --> 00:07:01,653
Remember,
the point is to go home,
165
00:07:01,653 --> 00:07:04,021
so signaling methods
are vital to survival.
166
00:07:04,021 --> 00:07:06,625
The secret is to be able
to light the fire
167
00:07:06,625 --> 00:07:08,659
within seconds
of your potential rescuers
168
00:07:08,660 --> 00:07:09,962
in the sky showing up.
169
00:07:09,961 --> 00:07:12,129
Let's set up
a spot in the open here.
170
00:07:12,129 --> 00:07:13,298
We get a fire going.
171
00:07:13,298 --> 00:07:15,033
We can cook up the bird,
and it'll be a signal,
172
00:07:15,033 --> 00:07:16,634
hopefully, for the plane
at the same time.
173
00:07:16,634 --> 00:07:18,971
A chopper.
Hopefully, it'll come back.
174
00:07:18,971 --> 00:07:22,108
He was following us overtop.
It's right overtop of us.
175
00:07:22,108 --> 00:07:25,009
Make sure we don't burn
those other trees.
176
00:07:25,009 --> 00:07:26,411
Got smoke going.
Chopper in the air.
177
00:07:26,411 --> 00:07:29,348
If we can keep the fire going --
just the sticks underneath,
178
00:07:29,348 --> 00:07:32,384
some evergreen boughs, but when
we throw on that sphagnum moss,
179
00:07:32,384 --> 00:07:33,919
it really makes a lot of smoke.
180
00:07:33,918 --> 00:07:35,319
Sooner or later,
they got to see the smoke.
181
00:07:35,319 --> 00:07:37,557
And smoke is the key.
182
00:07:37,557 --> 00:07:39,358
Nice dry wood
won't give you that.
183
00:07:39,358 --> 00:07:40,891
It's got to be something damp,
184
00:07:40,891 --> 00:07:43,295
but not so much so
that you put the fire out.
185
00:07:43,295 --> 00:07:46,131
The secret is to have a strong,
hot flame underneath
186
00:07:46,130 --> 00:07:48,733
topped by anything
that will give lots of smoke,
187
00:07:48,733 --> 00:07:52,103
from rubber and plastic
to evergreen boughs and moss.
188
00:07:52,103 --> 00:07:54,538
Whatever it takes,
but be prepared.
189
00:07:54,538 --> 00:07:57,142
It'll be frantic no matter
how ready you think you are.
190
00:07:57,142 --> 00:08:00,712
Now that is
some great search and rescue.
191
00:08:00,713 --> 00:08:01,980
Unbelievable.
192
00:08:03,214 --> 00:08:05,216
Here now from the year 2000
193
00:08:05,216 --> 00:08:07,620
is my very first attempt
at a signal fire.
194
00:08:07,620 --> 00:08:09,922
I've taken the spruce roots,
195
00:08:09,922 --> 00:08:14,393
and I've tied around from pull
to pull and back up to pull.
196
00:08:14,392 --> 00:08:16,661
Tied up at the top,
and for strength,
197
00:08:16,661 --> 00:08:18,763
and then I've done,
like, a lacing
198
00:08:18,764 --> 00:08:21,432
with some more spruce roots
across the bottom
199
00:08:21,432 --> 00:08:24,468
to create,
like, mesh on the bottom
200
00:08:24,468 --> 00:08:25,670
and also on the sides
201
00:08:25,670 --> 00:08:27,906
so that stuff doesn't blow out
of the sides.
202
00:08:27,906 --> 00:08:31,242
I'll do the same
across the front once I'm done.
203
00:08:31,242 --> 00:08:33,278
But the next stage, basically,
204
00:08:33,278 --> 00:08:36,615
is to get all my birch bark
and all of my tinder
205
00:08:36,615 --> 00:08:37,816
and stuff like that
206
00:08:37,816 --> 00:08:40,152
and to shove it in there
and get it all in there
207
00:08:40,152 --> 00:08:42,687
with lots dangling
down at the bottom
208
00:08:42,687 --> 00:08:44,322
so that it's ready to go.
209
00:08:44,322 --> 00:08:48,026
Transporting fire,
putting it inside a shelter,
210
00:08:48,027 --> 00:08:49,661
using it to signal a rescuer.
211
00:08:49,660 --> 00:08:52,396
There are as many uses
for fire during survival
212
00:08:52,397 --> 00:08:54,400
as there are
places to get lost.
213
00:08:54,399 --> 00:08:57,369
As a skill itself,
the ability to get a fire going
214
00:08:57,369 --> 00:08:59,739
anywhere at any time
is quite possibly
215
00:08:59,739 --> 00:09:02,807
the most important skill
you can learn.
216
00:09:02,807 --> 00:09:04,976
Think I'm rescued.
217
00:09:04,976 --> 00:09:07,413
Can you set up a tarp
and get a big fire going
218
00:09:07,413 --> 00:09:09,815
after three or four days
of solid rain?
219
00:09:09,815 --> 00:09:11,651
If you can't, start practicing.
220
00:09:11,650 --> 00:09:14,885
Triangle tripod formation held
up really well in the storm.
221
00:09:14,885 --> 00:09:16,355
It was blown on all night.
222
00:09:16,355 --> 00:09:18,057
Thought it was gonna blow over,
223
00:09:18,057 --> 00:09:20,158
but it's stood straight
and strong.
224
00:09:20,158 --> 00:09:22,561
The boughs helped
to shed the rain,
225
00:09:22,561 --> 00:09:26,165
so the birch bark wasn't so wet,
and I couldn't get this.
226
00:09:26,164 --> 00:09:29,367
What are my top methods
for getting a fire going?
227
00:09:29,368 --> 00:09:31,703
Well, short of having a lighter
or a box of matches,
228
00:09:31,702 --> 00:09:35,374
I've discovered dozens of ways
to keep myself warm and safe.
229
00:09:35,374 --> 00:09:37,075
I've placed them
in an order that,
230
00:09:37,075 --> 00:09:38,444
for my personal skill level,
231
00:09:38,443 --> 00:09:40,545
goes from the most difficult --
my number five --
232
00:09:40,546 --> 00:09:42,980
to the most assured --
my number one.
233
00:09:42,980 --> 00:09:45,850
These are my top-five methods
of fire starting
234
00:09:45,850 --> 00:09:47,818
during a survival ordeal.
235
00:09:47,818 --> 00:09:51,823
Stay with me
while I create fire.
236
00:10:00,341 --> 00:10:03,977
[ Blowing ]
237
00:10:04,216 --> 00:10:05,947
Yeah, baby.
238
00:10:06,105 --> 00:10:09,609
The number-five method
for fire starting in survival --
239
00:10:09,608 --> 00:10:12,310
the hand drill
and vine friction.
240
00:10:12,310 --> 00:10:14,446
This is not going to be easy.
241
00:10:14,447 --> 00:10:17,650
Fire by friction
can be really tough.
242
00:10:19,586 --> 00:10:20,786
Here we go.
243
00:10:20,785 --> 00:10:22,887
Some vine.
244
00:10:22,888 --> 00:10:24,290
But in the jungle,
245
00:10:24,289 --> 00:10:27,592
it's amazing
that it's even possible at all.
246
00:10:27,592 --> 00:10:30,630
This method is one of the
oldest forms of fire making.
247
00:10:32,698 --> 00:10:33,765
Not so good.
248
00:10:33,765 --> 00:10:35,934
All right.
Let's try this again.
249
00:10:35,934 --> 00:10:36,969
Come on, baby.
250
00:10:36,970 --> 00:10:38,738
Don't break on me this time.
251
00:10:38,737 --> 00:10:42,275
I can make a coal this way
in a matter of seconds,
252
00:10:42,275 --> 00:10:44,309
but each day is different
than the last,
253
00:10:44,309 --> 00:10:46,645
and if every little component
is not just right,
254
00:10:46,645 --> 00:10:49,448
I run out of strength,
materials, and patience.
255
00:10:49,448 --> 00:10:54,385
Well, I have gotten fire using
this vine method out here.
256
00:10:54,385 --> 00:10:55,554
Just not today.
257
00:10:58,223 --> 00:11:01,459
When I was with the hewa
in papua new guinea,
258
00:11:01,459 --> 00:11:03,428
I was able to have
much greater success
259
00:11:03,428 --> 00:11:05,231
with their guidance.
260
00:11:06,465 --> 00:11:08,033
There he goes.
Look at that.
261
00:11:08,033 --> 00:11:10,537
Even in a rainy place,
a dry vine rubbed quickly
262
00:11:10,536 --> 00:11:13,071
against a small,
dry piece of wood
263
00:11:13,072 --> 00:11:15,808
will still create
enough heat to burn.
264
00:11:15,808 --> 00:11:18,010
The tough part
is remembering to breathe
265
00:11:18,010 --> 00:11:19,578
in this hunched-over position.
266
00:11:24,348 --> 00:11:26,084
[ Speaks native language ]
267
00:11:26,084 --> 00:11:28,153
[ Chuckling ] Hey.
268
00:11:33,125 --> 00:11:36,761
So, with these guys,
matches are premium
269
00:11:36,761 --> 00:11:39,097
when someone like I come
into the village.
270
00:11:39,097 --> 00:11:40,532
Leave the matches, that's cool,
271
00:11:40,533 --> 00:11:42,568
but sooner or later,
those matches run out,
272
00:11:42,568 --> 00:11:44,636
and they all,
even the young ones,
273
00:11:44,636 --> 00:11:46,005
have got to know how to do this.
274
00:11:46,005 --> 00:11:47,905
From the wet jungle,
we go to the desert.
275
00:11:47,905 --> 00:11:51,109
First I'm gonna give
a good effort to get fire going
276
00:11:51,110 --> 00:11:54,914
by using the traditional method
of this area -- the hand drill.
277
00:11:54,914 --> 00:11:56,115
I found this spindle
278
00:11:56,115 --> 00:11:58,551
just while I was down getting
the carrizo cane.
279
00:11:58,550 --> 00:12:01,986
It's a piece of seep-willow,
and the baseboard that I'm using
280
00:12:01,986 --> 00:12:04,423
is one of the ribs
of the saguaro cactus,
281
00:12:04,423 --> 00:12:05,658
all dead and dried out,
282
00:12:05,658 --> 00:12:07,760
and I've just sort of
whittled it down
283
00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:10,062
to be the right shape
for me to work with here.
284
00:12:10,062 --> 00:12:11,197
The other thing I did
285
00:12:11,197 --> 00:12:13,066
was make this fire lay over here
ready to go.
286
00:12:13,066 --> 00:12:14,767
Just a stick
stuck in the ground,
287
00:12:14,766 --> 00:12:17,335
and then all the other --
the heavier wood put on top.
288
00:12:17,336 --> 00:12:20,105
That way, when your grass
goes underneath to light up,
289
00:12:20,105 --> 00:12:21,674
the heavy wood doesn't crush it
290
00:12:21,674 --> 00:12:24,610
and you can get a nice, good
aerated fire to get it going.
291
00:12:24,610 --> 00:12:26,779
Now, to do this right,
292
00:12:26,779 --> 00:12:30,750
first I had to just find
the right place,
293
00:12:30,750 --> 00:12:33,219
and then once I've got
the spindle settling
294
00:12:33,218 --> 00:12:35,653
on the baseboard,
I cut out a little notch,
295
00:12:35,654 --> 00:12:39,057
and that'll give a place for all
the hot dust to fall down into.
296
00:12:39,057 --> 00:12:40,359
And what I was showing
297
00:12:40,358 --> 00:12:42,728
was to try and keep
this motion going --
298
00:12:42,728 --> 00:12:45,397
to do the kind of
the itsy, bitsy spider move.
299
00:12:45,398 --> 00:12:48,601
You practice that for a while
to get the motion right
300
00:12:48,601 --> 00:12:52,138
of what it is you want to do
while you make this thing spin.
301
00:12:52,138 --> 00:12:54,873
Fire by friction
is all about the feel.
302
00:12:54,872 --> 00:12:57,642
With that said,
until you get that feel,
303
00:12:57,643 --> 00:13:00,678
it can be very physical
and exhausting.
304
00:13:00,678 --> 00:13:03,783
The secret is to breathe
and try to relax.
305
00:13:06,218 --> 00:13:07,452
When you're spinning
really hard,
306
00:13:07,452 --> 00:13:09,053
if you're just spinning
in one spot like this
307
00:13:09,053 --> 00:13:10,521
and you're just doing
little short ones,
308
00:13:10,521 --> 00:13:11,924
it's a lot tougher
to get it going,
309
00:13:11,924 --> 00:13:13,925
so that's the motion I want to
try and keep happening.
310
00:13:13,925 --> 00:13:16,961
And the last thing is,
as you can see,
311
00:13:16,962 --> 00:13:19,497
I've been practicing --
from these blister marks,
312
00:13:19,497 --> 00:13:21,799
it's really easy to get blisters
doing this,
313
00:13:21,799 --> 00:13:24,002
and so as soon
as you're sort of stopped,
314
00:13:24,002 --> 00:13:26,538
you smack your hands together
really hard --
315
00:13:26,539 --> 00:13:27,905
so hard that it hurts --
316
00:13:27,905 --> 00:13:30,375
but that rushes the blood
back into the skin
317
00:13:30,375 --> 00:13:33,444
and helps any way to prevent
the blisters from coming on.
318
00:13:33,444 --> 00:13:36,214
Let's give this a try.
319
00:13:36,215 --> 00:13:39,885
The combination of all the
physical and technical aspects
320
00:13:39,885 --> 00:13:42,355
of getting this to work
is mind boggling.
321
00:13:42,355 --> 00:13:44,757
First, the wood has to be
perfectly dry.
322
00:13:44,756 --> 00:13:46,424
It has to be
the right type of wood
323
00:13:46,424 --> 00:13:48,226
for both the spindle
and the baseboard.
324
00:13:48,226 --> 00:13:49,895
Even the air
can't be too humid,
325
00:13:49,895 --> 00:13:52,296
or the wood will soak up
the moisture like a sponge
326
00:13:52,297 --> 00:13:53,666
and be unusable.
327
00:13:53,665 --> 00:13:55,700
The size of the notch cut
most be just right.
328
00:13:55,701 --> 00:13:58,704
Too big and the dust won't pack
together into a hot ember,
329
00:13:58,703 --> 00:14:01,673
and too small and it won't have
enough room to form.
330
00:14:01,673 --> 00:14:03,976
I have to keep the spindle
perfectly straight
331
00:14:03,976 --> 00:14:06,378
and maintain a downward
pressure the whole time
332
00:14:06,377 --> 00:14:08,212
without it slipping
out of my hands
333
00:14:08,212 --> 00:14:09,981
or out of the base
at the bottom.
334
00:14:09,981 --> 00:14:12,250
While doing that, I have to
keep it spinning constantly
335
00:14:12,250 --> 00:14:13,452
to create enough heat.
336
00:14:13,452 --> 00:14:14,886
Each time I stop spinning,
337
00:14:14,886 --> 00:14:17,555
the area of friction
between the two pieces of wood
338
00:14:17,555 --> 00:14:18,924
cools down a fraction.
339
00:14:18,924 --> 00:14:21,427
And remember,
all I'm really trying to do
340
00:14:21,427 --> 00:14:23,596
is make a delicate little pile
of hot wood dust
341
00:14:23,596 --> 00:14:26,765
that ignites on its own
into a little ember.
342
00:14:26,765 --> 00:14:29,068
[ Blowing ]
343
00:14:33,773 --> 00:14:35,606
Yeah, baby.
344
00:14:35,606 --> 00:14:37,743
[ Laughs ]
345
00:14:37,744 --> 00:14:39,912
Ooh, doesn't that look good?
346
00:14:39,911 --> 00:14:41,713
Whoo!
347
00:14:41,713 --> 00:14:44,382
It's gonna be a warm night,
and it's gonna keep
348
00:14:44,382 --> 00:14:46,785
the peccaries and the
mountain lions away from me.
349
00:14:46,785 --> 00:14:49,755
In the kalahari desert,
350
00:14:49,755 --> 00:14:52,624
I had the chance to survive
with the san bushmen.
351
00:14:52,624 --> 00:14:55,427
Thought to be the genetic line
direct from the first humans,
352
00:14:55,427 --> 00:14:57,229
it only goes to follow
353
00:14:57,228 --> 00:14:59,230
that the hand-drill method
of fire starting
354
00:14:59,231 --> 00:15:02,601
originated with them
and is still in use today.
355
00:15:02,601 --> 00:15:05,038
In our modern world, children
learn fast about things
356
00:15:05,038 --> 00:15:07,974
like how to take the bus
to school or ride a bike.
357
00:15:07,973 --> 00:15:11,510
In places like this, they learn
how to make fire from the land.
358
00:15:11,510 --> 00:15:13,712
The elders' method
of using a hand drill
359
00:15:13,712 --> 00:15:15,914
is what my own method
was mirrored from,
360
00:15:15,914 --> 00:15:17,348
but notice the difference.
361
00:15:17,348 --> 00:15:19,318
There's a smoothness
in his skill
362
00:15:19,318 --> 00:15:21,987
that comes from a life
of making fires this way,
363
00:15:21,987 --> 00:15:24,255
yet just like it was for me
in arizona,
364
00:15:24,255 --> 00:15:27,293
the details are the same
on the other side of the world.
365
00:15:27,293 --> 00:15:30,028
The delicate balance
must be struck
366
00:15:30,028 --> 00:15:31,930
if hot wood dust
is to be ground out
367
00:15:31,929 --> 00:15:34,099
from the friction
this man is giving to it.
368
00:15:36,601 --> 00:15:39,704
All he has now
is a pile of smoldering dust,
369
00:15:39,704 --> 00:15:42,240
and the secret here
is to remember
370
00:15:42,241 --> 00:15:43,943
that you don't yet have a fire.
371
00:15:43,943 --> 00:15:46,444
The job is not done
until you can walk away
372
00:15:46,444 --> 00:15:49,414
and get larger pieces of wood
to add to the flames.
373
00:15:49,414 --> 00:15:51,683
I would guess
that the first fires
374
00:15:51,683 --> 00:15:53,618
were simply collected
after lightning strikes.
375
00:15:53,619 --> 00:15:57,255
The hand drill is
when we took charge of fire
376
00:15:57,255 --> 00:15:59,225
and made it work for us.
377
00:15:59,225 --> 00:16:00,493
We were, I am sure,
378
00:16:00,492 --> 00:16:02,895
too impatient
to wait for lightning.
379
00:16:02,895 --> 00:16:05,364
Whoever first figured
this method out
380
00:16:05,364 --> 00:16:07,700
held the secret to fire,
381
00:16:07,699 --> 00:16:11,303
and from there,
we became a civilized species.
382
00:16:11,303 --> 00:16:14,539
That's the way I do it, too.
383
00:16:14,539 --> 00:16:17,175
Yeah.
384
00:16:17,175 --> 00:16:21,012
It's funny how fire-starting
methods around the world
385
00:16:21,013 --> 00:16:25,150
seem to have evolved
in the same manner.
386
00:16:25,150 --> 00:16:28,788
Thousands and thousands
of kilometers apart,
387
00:16:28,788 --> 00:16:32,224
yet still, pretty much,
tribes everywhere
388
00:16:32,223 --> 00:16:36,327
learn to start fire
the very same way --
389
00:16:36,327 --> 00:16:37,862
they're rubbing some sticks
together.
390
00:16:37,862 --> 00:16:39,263
The hand drill, to me,
391
00:16:39,264 --> 00:16:42,034
is such a beautiful and organic
way to get a fire going,
392
00:16:42,034 --> 00:16:45,804
but up next, fire starting
isn't always pretty.
393
00:16:50,576 --> 00:16:52,845
If you look around you
in a survival situation,
394
00:16:52,845 --> 00:16:54,914
you'll quickly learn
that just about anything
395
00:16:54,915 --> 00:16:56,483
can be used to ignite a fire.
396
00:16:56,483 --> 00:16:59,453
There's matches inside,
so that's not a problem.
397
00:16:59,452 --> 00:17:04,657
But still, just to conserve,
and some of this old duct tape,
398
00:17:04,657 --> 00:17:07,159
I'm gonna use that
to light the fire.
399
00:17:07,159 --> 00:17:10,397
Combine modern technology
with wood,
400
00:17:10,397 --> 00:17:13,501
and you have yourself
a quick survival fire.
401
00:17:18,472 --> 00:17:21,975
One thing about duct tape,
it's good fire starter.
402
00:17:21,975 --> 00:17:25,411
The number-four method
in fire starting for survival --
403
00:17:25,411 --> 00:17:27,213
using man-made tinders.
404
00:17:27,214 --> 00:17:29,782
Potassium permanganate,
an antiseptic.
405
00:17:29,782 --> 00:17:32,551
Glycerin for diarrhea.
406
00:17:32,551 --> 00:17:34,120
Watch what happens
when you put them both together.
407
00:17:43,830 --> 00:17:45,933
The chemical makeup
of everything
408
00:17:45,933 --> 00:17:49,002
from duct tape to liquid soap
can be highly flammable.
409
00:17:49,002 --> 00:17:52,106
That's what happens when you put
the two of them together.
410
00:17:52,106 --> 00:17:55,308
There we go.
411
00:17:55,308 --> 00:17:59,213
Now I'm gonna put these corn
chips in, believe it or not.
412
00:18:01,481 --> 00:18:06,753
All that effort and a couple
of corn chips was worth it.
413
00:18:06,753 --> 00:18:08,988
Duct tape, glycerin,
and corn chips
414
00:18:08,988 --> 00:18:11,890
were not meant to make fire,
but they sure work.
415
00:18:11,890 --> 00:18:16,361
I'll show you what I mean
about those corn chips.
416
00:18:16,361 --> 00:18:19,265
Look. See that?
417
00:18:21,368 --> 00:18:25,038
And it holds its flame
just like a little tiny candle.
418
00:18:25,038 --> 00:18:27,474
So, if you don't have
much tinder
419
00:18:27,474 --> 00:18:31,511
and you happen to have some corn
chips in your pocket like I did,
420
00:18:31,511 --> 00:18:34,715
then it's a great way
to help get your fire going.
421
00:18:34,715 --> 00:18:36,050
I like to go into the stores
422
00:18:36,050 --> 00:18:38,151
and grab those
last-minute survival items.
423
00:18:38,150 --> 00:18:40,486
You know, it just says
"general survival" aisle.
424
00:18:40,486 --> 00:18:42,088
And just to test them out.
425
00:18:42,088 --> 00:18:44,992
So, I grabbed some stuff
that is some kind of --
426
00:18:44,992 --> 00:18:46,627
well, they call it fire dust.
427
00:18:46,627 --> 00:18:48,161
We'll see what that's like.
428
00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:52,565
To go with it,
I've got one match.
429
00:18:52,565 --> 00:18:53,933
The secret to using
430
00:18:53,934 --> 00:18:56,904
store-bought emergency
fire-starting tinder
431
00:18:56,904 --> 00:18:59,273
is actually knowing
the down side,
432
00:18:59,273 --> 00:19:01,273
and that is
that for most of them,
433
00:19:01,273 --> 00:19:03,409
you still need a flame
to begin with.
434
00:19:03,409 --> 00:19:05,579
They won't ignite
on just a spark.
435
00:19:05,579 --> 00:19:08,315
That said, once you can
light them with a flame,
436
00:19:08,314 --> 00:19:11,083
they maintain it long enough
to build up your fire
437
00:19:11,083 --> 00:19:12,552
and help to keep it going.
438
00:19:17,523 --> 00:19:18,859
All right.
439
00:19:18,859 --> 00:19:22,728
So far so good with this dust.
440
00:19:22,728 --> 00:19:24,163
And that's what I like to see.
441
00:19:24,164 --> 00:19:25,465
We have fire, folks.
442
00:19:25,465 --> 00:19:28,268
Using chemicals
intended for fire starting
443
00:19:28,267 --> 00:19:29,635
bought from the camping store
444
00:19:29,636 --> 00:19:31,839
or just figuring out
what materials around you
445
00:19:31,839 --> 00:19:34,907
contain flammable chemicals
can save you a lot of effort
446
00:19:34,907 --> 00:19:36,443
searching in the forest
for tinders.
447
00:19:36,443 --> 00:19:39,646
Some simple hand sanitizer
and a spark.
448
00:19:39,646 --> 00:19:40,848
And we've got fire.
449
00:19:40,848 --> 00:19:43,517
Petroleum jelly.
450
00:19:43,516 --> 00:19:46,619
And mixed in with the cotton.
451
00:19:46,619 --> 00:19:49,156
Take a flint sparker here.
452
00:19:52,059 --> 00:19:53,327
See that?
453
00:19:53,327 --> 00:19:57,964
Cotton takes the flame real well
and holds it.
454
00:19:57,964 --> 00:20:01,467
Birch bark comes in.
455
00:20:01,467 --> 00:20:04,304
And I've got myself
a very fast fire.
456
00:20:04,304 --> 00:20:08,274
So, I've got a piece
of this cotton,
457
00:20:08,274 --> 00:20:09,609
and there was some toilet paper,
458
00:20:09,609 --> 00:20:11,110
but the way
I'm gonna make them last
459
00:20:11,110 --> 00:20:13,146
is I've got some lip balm.
460
00:20:13,146 --> 00:20:16,616
So, I'm gonna utilize
this wax...
461
00:20:16,616 --> 00:20:17,951
In both places --
462
00:20:17,951 --> 00:20:20,353
I'm gonna put it on the cotton
from the first-aid kit
463
00:20:20,352 --> 00:20:21,888
and on the toilet paper.
464
00:20:21,888 --> 00:20:24,257
And that should really hold
the flame.
465
00:20:25,859 --> 00:20:28,662
The one-match fire
you do not want to miss.
466
00:20:28,661 --> 00:20:30,129
It's got to take.
467
00:20:30,129 --> 00:20:32,131
Whether toilet paper,
cotton balls,
468
00:20:32,131 --> 00:20:33,932
or the ends of q-tips,
469
00:20:33,933 --> 00:20:37,503
cotton and wax combined
is often my go-to fire starter.
470
00:20:37,503 --> 00:20:39,439
Success.
471
00:20:43,076 --> 00:20:45,712
Let's find out if this works.
472
00:20:45,712 --> 00:20:48,381
If it does,
I can heat up some water.
473
00:20:48,380 --> 00:20:50,083
On this occasion in norway,
474
00:20:50,083 --> 00:20:53,219
I tried some chemical pellets
meant for survival.
475
00:20:53,219 --> 00:20:55,087
The fumes
were toxic and horrible,
476
00:20:55,088 --> 00:20:56,990
but the heat and speed
of the fire
477
00:20:56,990 --> 00:20:58,959
was undeniably advantageous.
478
00:21:01,261 --> 00:21:05,733
Even this little flame, as
chemical as it is, feels great.
479
00:21:05,733 --> 00:21:08,167
[ Sighs ]
480
00:21:08,167 --> 00:21:10,736
I like
this little survival stove.
481
00:21:10,736 --> 00:21:12,805
It's getting a thumbs up
in my book, I think.
482
00:21:14,507 --> 00:21:17,609
Whereas the hand drill
requires a great deal of skill,
483
00:21:17,609 --> 00:21:19,513
and using
chemical fire starters means
484
00:21:19,513 --> 00:21:21,115
you needed to have brought them
in with you,
485
00:21:21,115 --> 00:21:25,418
these next two methods quickly
became favorites of mine
486
00:21:25,417 --> 00:21:28,187
because they connected me
emotionally and physically
487
00:21:28,187 --> 00:21:30,991
to the mountain men of old.
488
00:21:41,489 --> 00:21:42,970
A spark.
489
00:21:42,971 --> 00:21:44,806
Sometimes all you have
is a spark.
490
00:21:44,805 --> 00:21:47,107
But if you have something
to catch that spark,
491
00:21:47,108 --> 00:21:50,211
you can make a quick fire
and continue to survive.
492
00:21:50,211 --> 00:21:53,247
Pioneers had rock and steel,
but we bettered that
493
00:21:53,246 --> 00:21:56,582
with the addition of magnesium.
494
00:21:56,582 --> 00:22:00,620
The number-three method
in fire starting for survival --
495
00:22:00,620 --> 00:22:03,792
flint strikers
and rock and steel.
496
00:22:03,792 --> 00:22:07,127
Every time I come out and try
survival in a new location,
497
00:22:07,127 --> 00:22:10,230
I like to test
some kind of survival item
498
00:22:10,230 --> 00:22:12,399
just to see how it works.
499
00:22:12,398 --> 00:22:15,101
This time around, I'm gonna try
this little item --
500
00:22:15,101 --> 00:22:17,804
magnesium flint stick.
501
00:22:17,804 --> 00:22:21,374
What I want to do
is shave off this magnesium.
502
00:22:21,375 --> 00:22:23,176
I need to make a little pile.
503
00:22:23,176 --> 00:22:24,646
Got to be real patient.
504
00:22:24,646 --> 00:22:26,580
Drop a lighter or a pack
of matches in the water
505
00:22:26,580 --> 00:22:27,747
and you're out of luck.
506
00:22:27,747 --> 00:22:29,816
Drop this striker in the water,
507
00:22:29,817 --> 00:22:33,354
and with a wipe of your shirt,
it'll still work just as well.
508
00:22:36,523 --> 00:22:37,858
Well, that's not a bad pile.
509
00:22:37,858 --> 00:22:39,327
We'll see.
510
00:22:39,327 --> 00:22:41,463
I just don't know.
511
00:22:43,397 --> 00:22:45,465
Magnesium.
512
00:22:45,465 --> 00:22:49,069
Some flint strikers come only
with the sparker, no magnesium.
513
00:22:49,069 --> 00:22:50,638
There we go. There we go.
514
00:22:50,638 --> 00:22:51,705
Okay. Okay. Okay.
515
00:22:51,705 --> 00:22:52,807
Burn, baby, burn.
516
00:22:52,807 --> 00:22:54,642
The secret
to this kind of striker
517
00:22:54,641 --> 00:22:56,244
with the magnesium bar attached
518
00:22:56,244 --> 00:22:57,578
is that you don't need to find
any tinder
519
00:22:57,578 --> 00:22:59,079
to catch the spark.
520
00:22:59,079 --> 00:23:03,150
That little magnesium stick is
definitely a winner in my book.
521
00:23:03,150 --> 00:23:04,918
[ Chuckling ] Hey.
522
00:23:04,918 --> 00:23:07,554
If the sparking device doesn't
have magnesium attached,
523
00:23:07,554 --> 00:23:09,356
that's still okay,
'cause there are
524
00:23:09,357 --> 00:23:11,826
often many different types
of fluffy tinders around
525
00:23:11,826 --> 00:23:13,795
like cattails or milkweed.
526
00:23:13,794 --> 00:23:16,563
But if you're carrying bullets,
as most hunters would,
527
00:23:16,563 --> 00:23:19,233
then your gunpowder will take
a spark quite nicely.
528
00:23:19,233 --> 00:23:21,368
And by the way,
more hunters are caught
529
00:23:21,368 --> 00:23:23,003
in survival situations
every year
530
00:23:23,003 --> 00:23:24,905
than all the other types
of wilderness travelers
531
00:23:24,905 --> 00:23:26,040
combined.
532
00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:28,209
Shotgun shell.
Basic striker here.
533
00:23:28,208 --> 00:23:29,943
Beautiful, strong spark.
534
00:23:29,944 --> 00:23:31,177
Got gunpowder from the shell.
535
00:23:31,177 --> 00:23:32,280
Let's give it a shot here.
536
00:23:35,215 --> 00:23:37,217
Here we go. There we go.
There we go! Hey!
537
00:23:37,217 --> 00:23:38,451
Bingo!
538
00:23:38,452 --> 00:23:40,989
The thing
about getting a fire going,
539
00:23:40,988 --> 00:23:43,556
you've really got to seek out
dry tinder,
540
00:23:43,557 --> 00:23:46,160
dry brush and twigs,
and you can find it.
541
00:23:46,159 --> 00:23:47,829
Even if it's been raining
all week,
542
00:23:47,829 --> 00:23:50,397
you can find it underneath logs,
underneath rock overhangs,
543
00:23:50,397 --> 00:23:51,765
and take your time.
544
00:23:51,765 --> 00:23:54,567
If you take a long time
to get all of this dry tinder,
545
00:23:54,568 --> 00:23:56,036
you will get a fire going.
546
00:23:56,035 --> 00:23:57,671
This time, I'm gonna use,
547
00:23:57,671 --> 00:24:00,473
basically,
the traditional pioneer method.
548
00:24:00,474 --> 00:24:02,643
They didn't have their packs
of matches or lighters
549
00:24:02,642 --> 00:24:03,643
to carry around.
550
00:24:03,644 --> 00:24:06,513
What they did have was steel --
551
00:24:06,513 --> 00:24:10,350
something
with a high carbon element --
552
00:24:10,350 --> 00:24:14,321
and rock,
and let's not get into
553
00:24:14,321 --> 00:24:16,823
what different kinds of rocks
you can spark with.
554
00:24:16,823 --> 00:24:19,192
If you're lost,
just find a rock that'll spark
555
00:24:19,193 --> 00:24:21,328
if you happen to be lucky enough
to have
556
00:24:21,328 --> 00:24:25,699
some steel with
a high carbon element in it.
557
00:24:25,698 --> 00:24:26,767
Ow.
558
00:24:26,767 --> 00:24:28,735
Haven't done this in a while.
[ Blows ]
559
00:24:28,735 --> 00:24:30,103
Last thing you need is a way.
560
00:24:30,103 --> 00:24:32,238
What's happening here
is you're coming down
561
00:24:32,238 --> 00:24:34,407
and shaving off
tiny little slivers of metal,
562
00:24:34,407 --> 00:24:36,243
and they're shooting away
melting --
563
00:24:36,243 --> 00:24:38,779
melted -- and they need
something to land on.
564
00:24:38,779 --> 00:24:41,815
So what you need is something
to catch that little spark
565
00:24:41,814 --> 00:24:43,016
and then hold a glow.
566
00:24:43,016 --> 00:24:45,652
So, you try to get the spark
to land on it.
567
00:24:45,653 --> 00:24:48,188
Just like the wood you might
use in fire by friction,
568
00:24:48,187 --> 00:24:50,557
even the humidity in the air
can affect how well
569
00:24:50,558 --> 00:24:52,460
this charred cloth
will take a spark,
570
00:24:52,459 --> 00:24:55,461
and in this clip,
I'm in far northern ontario,
571
00:24:55,462 --> 00:24:56,930
and the nighttime temperatures
are dipping
572
00:24:56,929 --> 00:24:58,599
40 degrees below zero.
573
00:24:58,599 --> 00:25:00,001
Not a good start.
574
00:25:00,001 --> 00:25:02,202
So this fire was vital
to my survival.
575
00:25:02,202 --> 00:25:04,538
The cloth is 100% cotton
that's been put
576
00:25:04,538 --> 00:25:07,107
inside a closed metal can
and charred through.
577
00:25:07,107 --> 00:25:08,910
Any natural fiber can work,
578
00:25:08,909 --> 00:25:11,778
but my secret is using
blue-jeans cotton.
579
00:25:11,779 --> 00:25:14,615
Oh, boy.
580
00:25:14,615 --> 00:25:18,286
Lots of good sparks,
but the cloth isn't holding it.
581
00:25:18,285 --> 00:25:19,953
That's not a good sign.
582
00:25:19,954 --> 00:25:21,688
Remember "jeremiah johnson"?
583
00:25:21,688 --> 00:25:25,525
Robert redford sat there in the
bush trying to get a fire going.
584
00:25:25,525 --> 00:25:27,728
This is exactly the method
he was using.
585
00:25:27,728 --> 00:25:29,729
Another secret to this
is the feel.
586
00:25:29,730 --> 00:25:32,466
A smooth striking method
will be far more effective
587
00:25:32,465 --> 00:25:33,500
than hard hitting.
588
00:25:33,500 --> 00:25:34,801
Got her.
589
00:25:34,801 --> 00:25:36,204
All right.
590
00:25:36,204 --> 00:25:39,239
What I've got now is
this piece of charred cloth
591
00:25:39,238 --> 00:25:41,475
is just holding
a little ember --
592
00:25:41,475 --> 00:25:42,509
a little glow.
593
00:25:42,509 --> 00:25:45,246
I think you might be able
to see that.
594
00:25:45,245 --> 00:25:48,948
That gives me some time
to put it in my tinder bundle,
595
00:25:48,948 --> 00:25:51,785
which is this collection
of dried grass
596
00:25:51,785 --> 00:25:53,753
and spanish moss, cedar bark
597
00:25:53,753 --> 00:25:56,290
that's been
all schmucked up there
598
00:25:56,290 --> 00:25:58,826
and sort of broken up and that.
599
00:25:58,826 --> 00:26:02,630
And try to make yourself
a little furnace here.
600
00:26:06,067 --> 00:26:07,968
Keeping any breeze at my back
601
00:26:07,967 --> 00:26:10,137
and my hands
underneath the heat,
602
00:26:10,137 --> 00:26:11,938
I blow up and into the bundle.
603
00:26:11,938 --> 00:26:14,307
[ Coughs ]
604
00:26:14,308 --> 00:26:16,144
Whoo. Close.
605
00:26:16,144 --> 00:26:19,847
Make sure you got
all your other tinder ready,
606
00:26:19,847 --> 00:26:25,219
and of course, birch bark
is a perfect tinder --
607
00:26:25,218 --> 00:26:26,352
full of oils.
608
00:26:26,352 --> 00:26:28,288
Even when it's soaking wet,
it'll burn well.
609
00:26:31,492 --> 00:26:33,027
[ Grunts ]
610
00:26:33,026 --> 00:26:35,128
Oh.
611
00:26:37,798 --> 00:26:39,434
And you're in business.
612
00:26:39,434 --> 00:26:41,335
"Now, why should you bother
613
00:26:41,334 --> 00:26:45,238
carrying a piece of rock
and steel," you might ask?
614
00:26:45,238 --> 00:26:47,273
If you found a way
to get a spark like that,
615
00:26:47,273 --> 00:26:49,776
you can extend the life
of your lighter and your matches
616
00:26:49,776 --> 00:26:52,545
and not even have to use them,
and that may matter a great deal
617
00:26:52,545 --> 00:26:54,914
if all you have is a handful
of three or four matches
618
00:26:54,915 --> 00:26:56,917
on your person.
619
00:26:56,917 --> 00:26:58,318
Hand drills and steel strikers
620
00:26:58,318 --> 00:27:00,288
are somewhat romantic methods
for fire starting,
621
00:27:00,288 --> 00:27:02,455
and man-made emergency tinder
622
00:27:02,455 --> 00:27:04,491
is
a very effective improvement,
623
00:27:04,492 --> 00:27:07,396
but up next, anything goes.
624
00:27:11,367 --> 00:27:15,835
Over the years, getting a fire
going in a survival situation,
625
00:27:15,836 --> 00:27:19,640
whether it's raining or dry,
hot or cold,
626
00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:22,142
became somewhat of
a personal challenge for me.
627
00:27:22,142 --> 00:27:24,680
There were a lot of times
that I would head out,
628
00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:26,847
and I would know
what I was going to do.
629
00:27:26,847 --> 00:27:29,550
I knew I was going to do
a fire bow or a hand drill
630
00:27:29,551 --> 00:27:31,586
because I was
in a certain situation.
631
00:27:31,585 --> 00:27:33,453
But there are
a lot of other times
632
00:27:33,453 --> 00:27:35,522
where I just took it
as it came at me.
633
00:27:35,523 --> 00:27:37,959
I had no idea how I was gonna
get my fire going
634
00:27:37,959 --> 00:27:41,763
or how I was gonna make use
of whatever was available to me.
635
00:27:41,763 --> 00:27:44,466
The number-two method in fire
starting for survival --
636
00:27:44,466 --> 00:27:45,934
anything goes.
637
00:27:45,933 --> 00:27:49,805
I have started fires by hitting
rock and steel together...
638
00:27:54,307 --> 00:27:56,411
Oh, that's beautiful.
639
00:27:56,411 --> 00:27:58,913
...spinning a piece of wood
with my hand...
640
00:28:02,450 --> 00:28:04,117
Gasoline and a spark...
641
00:28:04,117 --> 00:28:06,287
I don't like playing
with gasoline.
642
00:28:06,287 --> 00:28:08,055
Okay.
643
00:28:09,958 --> 00:28:10,992
Yeah.
644
00:28:10,991 --> 00:28:12,959
Hey!
645
00:28:12,959 --> 00:28:14,161
[ Laughs ]
646
00:28:14,161 --> 00:28:15,129
Whoo!
647
00:28:15,129 --> 00:28:15,997
...batteries...
648
00:28:15,997 --> 00:28:17,231
A little 12-volt battery.
649
00:28:17,231 --> 00:28:18,498
Steel wool.
650
00:28:18,498 --> 00:28:20,535
Touch it to this terminal here.
651
00:28:22,670 --> 00:28:24,205
[ Chuckling ] Oh.
652
00:28:24,205 --> 00:28:25,140
...flashlight.
653
00:28:25,140 --> 00:28:29,378
What I need to do
is break the bulb
654
00:28:29,378 --> 00:28:32,280
without breaking the filament
inside the bulb.
655
00:28:32,279 --> 00:28:34,248
There's the bulb in there.
656
00:28:34,248 --> 00:28:35,916
All I got to do is turn it on.
657
00:28:35,917 --> 00:28:38,453
Yeah.
658
00:28:38,452 --> 00:28:41,888
Even started a fire using
chocolate and a can.
659
00:28:41,889 --> 00:28:43,257
Just a little bit of chocolate.
660
00:28:43,257 --> 00:28:47,127
And apparently, I can take
the chocolate, polish up --
661
00:28:47,128 --> 00:28:48,996
with the wax
that's in the chocolate --
662
00:28:48,996 --> 00:28:50,565
polish up
the bottom of this can.
663
00:28:54,469 --> 00:28:57,139
The idea is the concave nature
of the bottom of the can
664
00:28:57,139 --> 00:29:00,375
should focus a beam of sunlight
into the tinder
665
00:29:00,374 --> 00:29:04,011
and start it up just like you
would use a magnifying glass.
666
00:29:12,019 --> 00:29:14,187
Hard to do.
667
00:29:14,188 --> 00:29:17,592
There's light there,
668
00:29:17,592 --> 00:29:23,498
and it's just coming back
onto the grass right there.
669
00:29:23,498 --> 00:29:25,232
For years,
people have been sending me
670
00:29:25,232 --> 00:29:26,733
their ideas on survival,
671
00:29:26,734 --> 00:29:29,871
and fire starting is always
at the top of the list.
672
00:29:32,606 --> 00:29:33,908
[ Blowing ]
673
00:29:36,110 --> 00:29:37,145
Amazing.
674
00:29:37,144 --> 00:29:39,146
[ Chuckling ]
Absolutely amazing.
675
00:29:39,146 --> 00:29:42,983
I really didn't think
I had a hope in anywhere
676
00:29:42,984 --> 00:29:45,453
of getting a fire going
with a piece of chocolate,
677
00:29:45,452 --> 00:29:48,522
some sand,
and the bottom of a pop can.
678
00:29:48,523 --> 00:29:53,695
You can make a fire
with that lighter without fluid.
679
00:29:53,694 --> 00:29:57,231
First I'm gonna sacrifice one
of these pieces of tissue.
680
00:29:57,231 --> 00:30:00,267
And what I want to do
is just first
681
00:30:00,267 --> 00:30:02,571
just take it and roll it up.
682
00:30:02,571 --> 00:30:06,174
Need a little bit
of a sort of funnel --
683
00:30:06,173 --> 00:30:09,076
funnel-like opening.
684
00:30:09,076 --> 00:30:11,546
The next thing that I want to do
685
00:30:11,546 --> 00:30:15,616
is turn to my socks here
686
00:30:15,616 --> 00:30:19,753
and pull off
a good wad of sock lint.
687
00:30:19,754 --> 00:30:22,190
Just try to get, oh,
I don't know,
688
00:30:22,190 --> 00:30:24,625
maybe a dime-sized amount
of lint.
689
00:30:24,625 --> 00:30:29,631
Just put the fluff in this
top end of the tissue paper,
690
00:30:29,631 --> 00:30:32,333
and we have the makings
691
00:30:32,333 --> 00:30:35,937
of what I'm going to call
a prison match.
692
00:30:35,937 --> 00:30:38,072
This is how people often get
a fire going
693
00:30:38,072 --> 00:30:40,342
even just to light
their cigarettes in prison
694
00:30:40,342 --> 00:30:41,709
when they ran out of fluid,
695
00:30:41,709 --> 00:30:43,710
since lighters are
at a premium there.
696
00:30:43,710 --> 00:30:45,680
Don't ask me how I know that.
697
00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:47,649
No flame.
698
00:30:51,419 --> 00:30:53,054
[ Laughs ]
699
00:30:53,054 --> 00:30:54,488
Success.
700
00:30:54,488 --> 00:30:57,225
Right off the bat.
The first one, too.
701
00:30:57,225 --> 00:31:00,195
Nice. Nice. Nice.
702
00:31:00,194 --> 00:31:01,762
Yeah.
703
00:31:12,841 --> 00:31:14,409
See if I can get a fire going.
704
00:31:16,244 --> 00:31:19,113
Gonna harvest the power
from the batteries --
705
00:31:19,113 --> 00:31:21,082
three double as --
to see if I can make fire.
706
00:31:21,082 --> 00:31:23,050
That's where the bulb would go.
707
00:31:23,049 --> 00:31:24,585
And I'm gonna just take
the wires
708
00:31:24,585 --> 00:31:25,953
right off of this piece here.
709
00:31:25,953 --> 00:31:29,257
Theoretically, I should be able
to attach those two wires
710
00:31:29,257 --> 00:31:32,026
and perhaps create
a hot enough bit of wire
711
00:31:32,026 --> 00:31:34,461
to make fire with some cotton.
712
00:31:34,461 --> 00:31:36,097
So, we're gonna give this
a shot.
713
00:31:37,265 --> 00:31:40,502
One piece of cotton batting
down on the pile.
714
00:31:40,501 --> 00:31:42,503
Here comes a lucky battery.
715
00:31:42,504 --> 00:31:44,606
Not sure
if that's gonna work or not.
716
00:31:44,605 --> 00:31:46,940
That's really hot.
717
00:31:46,940 --> 00:31:48,576
Got me some smoke.
718
00:31:50,444 --> 00:31:51,445
And let that sit.
719
00:31:51,446 --> 00:31:52,880
It's very hot.
720
00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:54,015
[ Grunts ]
721
00:31:57,684 --> 00:31:59,186
But I can't believe it works.
722
00:31:59,187 --> 00:32:01,589
An l.E.D. Flashlight,
taking the back off,
723
00:32:01,588 --> 00:32:03,623
attaching the wires
to each other,
724
00:32:03,623 --> 00:32:07,362
and then simply turning it on,
and it was hot enough
725
00:32:07,362 --> 00:32:09,631
to get that cotton batting
to ignite.
726
00:32:09,631 --> 00:32:14,067
It's fire time, and I've
only got one paper match.
727
00:32:14,067 --> 00:32:16,304
If I'm very, very careful,
728
00:32:16,304 --> 00:32:19,140
I can split it
right down the center,
729
00:32:19,140 --> 00:32:20,976
turn it into two matches.
730
00:32:20,976 --> 00:32:22,209
Okay.
731
00:32:22,209 --> 00:32:23,344
Here we go.
732
00:32:23,344 --> 00:32:27,649
One match has now become two.
733
00:32:27,649 --> 00:32:29,984
The whole point
of these crazy methods
734
00:32:29,984 --> 00:32:31,419
is to extend your ability
735
00:32:31,419 --> 00:32:33,754
to get a fire going
as often as needed
736
00:32:33,754 --> 00:32:37,725
without using up your matches
or lighter fluid.
737
00:32:37,725 --> 00:32:40,061
I'm gonna try something new
for getting a fire going.
738
00:32:40,061 --> 00:32:43,130
I've got all the stuffing
from the coconut tree.
739
00:32:43,130 --> 00:32:44,866
Add a bit of gasoline.
740
00:32:46,867 --> 00:32:48,001
There we go.
741
00:32:48,001 --> 00:32:51,371
This is a rescue tube --
diver's rescue tube.
742
00:32:51,372 --> 00:32:55,276
And usually, things kept in it
are items like matches,
743
00:32:55,276 --> 00:32:58,680
lighters, and often,
in my case anyway,
744
00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:01,181
I have flares.
745
00:33:01,181 --> 00:33:03,383
These things
tend to shoot really far.
746
00:33:03,383 --> 00:33:05,719
Wish me luck, folks.
Here we go.
747
00:33:05,719 --> 00:33:07,087
This is potentially
748
00:33:07,087 --> 00:33:09,289
a dangerous method
for starting a fire,
749
00:33:09,289 --> 00:33:11,925
but it does illustrate
just how important fire is
750
00:33:11,926 --> 00:33:13,894
in a survival situation.
751
00:33:13,893 --> 00:33:17,965
Whatever it takes,
you got to have a fire.
752
00:33:17,966 --> 00:33:20,901
What happened there was
there's my flare.
753
00:33:20,901 --> 00:33:23,071
See, you just pull down
on this lever,
754
00:33:23,071 --> 00:33:24,738
and boom, you shoot the flare.
755
00:33:24,738 --> 00:33:27,240
And normally it goes flying
up into the sky,
756
00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:30,610
so I just had everything closed
in there with the rock up top.
757
00:33:30,611 --> 00:33:32,314
Shoot that right into it.
758
00:33:36,084 --> 00:33:38,753
Come on, baby, burn.
Here we go.
759
00:33:38,753 --> 00:33:40,021
That's what I like to see.
760
00:33:40,020 --> 00:33:41,454
And I'll bet you that would work
761
00:33:41,455 --> 00:33:43,124
whether there was gasoline
or not,
762
00:33:43,123 --> 00:33:45,058
so it's a good thing to know.
763
00:33:45,058 --> 00:33:48,762
Flare, big bundle of dry tinder,
protect it with a rock,
764
00:33:48,763 --> 00:33:51,132
and you've got yourself
a good fire.
765
00:33:51,132 --> 00:33:55,803
So, I've got dried wood,
dry grass,
766
00:33:55,803 --> 00:33:57,839
and little arctic flowers
that have already gone to seed,
767
00:33:57,838 --> 00:33:58,972
so they're fluffy.
768
00:33:58,972 --> 00:34:00,807
Sounds to me
like the makings of a fire.
769
00:34:00,807 --> 00:34:03,577
I had often heard
that it was possible
770
00:34:03,577 --> 00:34:06,147
to remove the projectile
from a bullet
771
00:34:06,147 --> 00:34:08,216
and fire the powder
still left in the shell
772
00:34:08,216 --> 00:34:10,518
into dry tinder to make fire.
773
00:34:10,518 --> 00:34:13,087
The original pioneers did use
their flintlock rifles
774
00:34:13,087 --> 00:34:16,324
to start their fires,
but not quite this way.
775
00:34:16,323 --> 00:34:18,392
It proved to be
easier said than done,
776
00:34:18,393 --> 00:34:20,328
and here in the high arctic,
it took several tries
777
00:34:20,328 --> 00:34:21,663
before I finally noticed
778
00:34:21,663 --> 00:34:24,498
a tiny glowing bit
of tinder fluff
779
00:34:24,498 --> 00:34:27,667
waiting to be coaxed
into a flame.
780
00:34:27,667 --> 00:34:28,669
Ooh.
781
00:34:28,669 --> 00:34:30,138
Hang on. Hang on. Hang on.
782
00:34:36,678 --> 00:34:39,614
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Yes. Yes.
783
00:34:39,614 --> 00:34:42,183
Oh, man.
784
00:34:42,183 --> 00:34:43,951
Hey, there we go.
785
00:34:43,951 --> 00:34:46,988
100% cotton.
So, my bandana's 100% cotton.
786
00:34:46,988 --> 00:34:51,292
That's a really good thing
'cause I'm gonna make use of it.
787
00:34:52,960 --> 00:34:56,331
Just use enough
so I can still wear it.
788
00:34:56,330 --> 00:34:59,265
What I want to do
is I want to rough it up,
789
00:34:59,265 --> 00:35:02,870
break up the fibers so that it's
somehow kind of fluffy.
790
00:35:02,870 --> 00:35:05,272
I've looked
around the desert here,
791
00:35:05,272 --> 00:35:07,975
and I'm just not seeing
anything fluffy.
792
00:35:07,975 --> 00:35:11,812
Lots of pointy and prickly
and stabby things,
793
00:35:11,812 --> 00:35:14,482
but nothing fluffy.
794
00:35:14,482 --> 00:35:15,483
There we go.
795
00:35:15,482 --> 00:35:17,852
Just breaking up
these fibers nicely
796
00:35:17,852 --> 00:35:20,587
so I can pull them apart
with my fingers.
797
00:35:22,823 --> 00:35:24,392
I'll start off
with this small piece --
798
00:35:24,392 --> 00:35:25,393
see if I can do it.
799
00:35:28,395 --> 00:35:30,531
Hopefully, that'll do the trick.
800
00:35:30,531 --> 00:35:33,935
Let's keep all this small stuff
right there ready.
801
00:35:33,935 --> 00:35:35,703
Shove the cigar in.
802
00:35:35,703 --> 00:35:37,638
Blow.
803
00:35:37,638 --> 00:35:39,073
And I think
the beauty of this is
804
00:35:39,073 --> 00:35:41,509
I might be able to actually blow
from the end of the cigar --
805
00:35:41,509 --> 00:35:44,646
from the non-lit end --
to make this work.
806
00:35:44,645 --> 00:35:47,314
[ Blows ]
807
00:35:47,314 --> 00:35:49,183
Hmm.
808
00:35:49,183 --> 00:35:50,785
This is gonna be tricky.
809
00:35:50,785 --> 00:35:52,420
Here in mexico, it turned out
810
00:35:52,419 --> 00:35:55,322
that the only piece of
non-synthetic material I had
811
00:35:55,323 --> 00:35:58,491
was my bandana,
but it was worth the sacrifice.
812
00:35:58,491 --> 00:36:01,328
And that's the secret
about anything goes...
813
00:36:01,328 --> 00:36:02,729
[ Chuckles ]
814
00:36:02,730 --> 00:36:05,400
...being ready to sacrifice
something to make fire.
815
00:36:05,399 --> 00:36:06,401
I got fire.
816
00:36:06,401 --> 00:36:09,002
Up next
is my number-one method,
817
00:36:09,002 --> 00:36:10,671
and it wasn't easy deciding.
818
00:36:10,671 --> 00:36:12,006
I had to go with a way
819
00:36:12,006 --> 00:36:14,542
that I myself could pull off
fairly easily
820
00:36:14,542 --> 00:36:17,045
and a way that didn't require
having anything more
821
00:36:17,044 --> 00:36:19,346
than what the surrounding
landscape provided,
822
00:36:19,346 --> 00:36:21,681
and the bonus
to my chosen method
823
00:36:21,681 --> 00:36:24,017
is that the act
of doing it alone
824
00:36:24,018 --> 00:36:25,419
would always warm me up,
825
00:36:25,419 --> 00:36:27,821
even before I got the flames
of fire.
826
00:36:32,261 --> 00:36:35,230
And the number-one method
in fire starting for survival --
827
00:36:35,230 --> 00:36:38,400
my personal favorite --
the fire bow.
828
00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:40,235
In the year 2001,
829
00:36:40,235 --> 00:36:43,171
though I'd been successful with
a fire bow 1,000 times before,
830
00:36:43,170 --> 00:36:45,741
it was here in northern ontario
where, for the first time,
831
00:36:45,741 --> 00:36:48,243
getting this fire going
really mattered to my survival.
832
00:36:48,243 --> 00:36:49,645
You know what?
833
00:36:49,645 --> 00:36:55,016
I'm getting smoke, but my notch
is not close enough to the hole.
834
00:36:55,016 --> 00:36:56,851
The dust
is just scattering around.
835
00:36:56,851 --> 00:36:58,219
The temperatures had soared
836
00:36:58,219 --> 00:37:00,121
during a record-breaking
heat wave,
837
00:37:00,121 --> 00:37:02,824
and I'd been dropped off alone
for the first time ever
838
00:37:02,824 --> 00:37:04,225
to film myself surviving.
839
00:37:04,226 --> 00:37:07,930
I was nervous on all levels,
and nothing was working.
840
00:37:07,929 --> 00:37:10,965
Even my bootlaces on the bow
were not performing as usual.
841
00:37:12,900 --> 00:37:14,034
Aw.
842
00:37:14,034 --> 00:37:15,437
My bootlace is broken.
843
00:37:17,938 --> 00:37:22,978
I've doubled the bootlace
to hopefully make it stronger.
844
00:37:25,246 --> 00:37:29,451
Boy, this is one of the toughest
I've ever had to do.
845
00:37:29,451 --> 00:37:33,322
And you know, I've done hundreds
of these fires.
846
00:37:33,322 --> 00:37:35,424
But this setup is not optimum.
847
00:37:35,424 --> 00:37:37,525
It's not working for me
for some reason.
848
00:37:37,525 --> 00:37:40,728
The bugs were bad
and there was not much to eat,
849
00:37:40,728 --> 00:37:42,630
but still, I had to get fire.
850
00:37:42,630 --> 00:37:44,632
This area was prone
to big storms,
851
00:37:44,632 --> 00:37:47,636
and it wouldn't be long before
another one came in on me.
852
00:37:47,636 --> 00:37:50,471
The days were long,
so I had plenty of daylight,
853
00:37:50,471 --> 00:37:52,540
but time
was still running away,
854
00:37:52,540 --> 00:37:54,809
and many hours passed
working hard at it
855
00:37:54,810 --> 00:37:56,811
under the scorching sun.
856
00:38:02,250 --> 00:38:04,487
Oh, god.
857
00:38:04,487 --> 00:38:06,789
So close.
858
00:38:06,788 --> 00:38:08,623
[ Panting ]
859
00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:14,463
With cedar from trees
close to the shore of the lake
860
00:38:14,462 --> 00:38:16,165
as my bottom baseboard piece,
861
00:38:16,165 --> 00:38:18,467
I used poplar wood
for the spindle.
862
00:38:18,467 --> 00:38:21,036
I started using my bootlaces
for the bow,
863
00:38:21,036 --> 00:38:22,738
but they kept breaking on me
864
00:38:22,737 --> 00:38:25,907
as I continued trying
different combinations of wood.
865
00:38:25,907 --> 00:38:27,643
And every time I stopped,
866
00:38:27,643 --> 00:38:30,579
I focused my eyes on the dust
I'd created,
867
00:38:30,578 --> 00:38:34,615
hoping to see a little wisp
of smoke, but nothing.
868
00:38:34,616 --> 00:38:38,387
If I don't get it this time,
I got to take a break.
869
00:38:42,958 --> 00:38:45,860
[ Sighs ]
String broke.
870
00:38:45,860 --> 00:38:49,031
Down to one string.
871
00:38:54,335 --> 00:38:56,705
You can see here,
out of desperation,
872
00:38:56,705 --> 00:38:58,406
that I move my right hand up
873
00:38:58,406 --> 00:39:00,743
and how tightly
I'm holding the bow.
874
00:39:00,743 --> 00:39:02,277
I'm moving my hand up the bow
875
00:39:02,277 --> 00:39:04,179
to keep the string
from loosening
876
00:39:04,179 --> 00:39:06,447
and it's not working.
877
00:39:06,447 --> 00:39:07,782
[ Panting ]
878
00:39:11,319 --> 00:39:13,755
After five hours of attempts,
879
00:39:13,755 --> 00:39:18,426
I'd broken all my bootlaces
and I had to start all over.
880
00:39:22,130 --> 00:39:25,000
This time, I'd cut off
the bottom end of my shirt
881
00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:26,368
and twisted it together
882
00:39:26,368 --> 00:39:28,670
into a string
I could use on the bow.
883
00:39:28,670 --> 00:39:31,273
Piece on the top that I used
to push it all down
884
00:39:31,272 --> 00:39:32,906
is called the bearing block.
885
00:39:32,906 --> 00:39:35,743
In this case,
it was just any piece of wood
886
00:39:35,743 --> 00:39:38,046
that would fit
in my palm nicely.
887
00:39:46,922 --> 00:39:49,690
Oh, man.
888
00:39:49,690 --> 00:39:54,295
By the time I had finally got
the dust hot enough to ignite,
889
00:39:54,295 --> 00:39:58,000
I'd spent
nearly 11 hours on it.
890
00:40:07,543 --> 00:40:09,744
[ Blowing ]
891
00:40:09,743 --> 00:40:12,680
It's very important here
that I don't jump up...
892
00:40:16,284 --> 00:40:18,219
...'cause I could
kick everything flying.
893
00:40:18,219 --> 00:40:20,955
It's very tender.
894
00:40:20,956 --> 00:40:22,490
Okay.
895
00:40:22,489 --> 00:40:23,657
All right.
896
00:40:23,657 --> 00:40:24,926
I got to be really gentle.
897
00:40:24,927 --> 00:40:28,363
11 hours of effort
and 7 days of survival
898
00:40:28,362 --> 00:40:31,734
were riding on this tiny
and fragile little ember
899
00:40:31,734 --> 00:40:33,735
formed from the hot wood dust.
900
00:40:37,973 --> 00:40:39,507
[ Laughs ]
901
00:40:39,507 --> 00:40:42,176
Not a very optimistic
beginning, I know,
902
00:40:42,177 --> 00:40:43,912
but over the next 10 years,
903
00:40:43,911 --> 00:40:46,714
I'd have a chance to attempt it
again and again
904
00:40:46,714 --> 00:40:48,082
in places like mexico,
905
00:40:48,083 --> 00:40:50,985
costa rica,
and northern ontario.
906
00:40:50,985 --> 00:40:53,956
I've never had so much trouble
getting a fire going.
907
00:40:53,956 --> 00:40:56,492
Oh, yeah.
908
00:40:56,491 --> 00:40:58,293
Whoo!
909
00:41:00,127 --> 00:41:03,897
Got my fire bow, which is
just a bow and this bootlace.
910
00:41:03,897 --> 00:41:09,470
And a spindle --
straight and dead and dry --
911
00:41:09,471 --> 00:41:11,907
and then to push it all down,
I've got this bearing block.
912
00:41:11,906 --> 00:41:13,841
I can put the spindle
right up in here,
913
00:41:13,842 --> 00:41:15,844
and I think I'll be able
to hold it down.
914
00:41:15,844 --> 00:41:17,679
It'll be my bearing block,
basically.
915
00:41:17,679 --> 00:41:21,783
Put a little hole in here
to start off.
916
00:41:21,784 --> 00:41:24,987
Can see the edge out there.
917
00:41:24,987 --> 00:41:28,889
And hopefully, that little notch
there will give it a place --
918
00:41:28,889 --> 00:41:31,058
all the ash -- a place to fall.
919
00:41:31,058 --> 00:41:34,361
Let's give this a shot.
920
00:41:34,362 --> 00:41:35,531
Wish me luck.
921
00:41:35,531 --> 00:41:37,099
I've always preferred
to go barefoot,
922
00:41:37,098 --> 00:41:39,900
even in the snow,
when I attempt the fire bow.
923
00:41:39,900 --> 00:41:42,236
I find that I get a good feel
for the baseboard
924
00:41:42,237 --> 00:41:43,238
underneath my foot
925
00:41:43,237 --> 00:41:44,672
and that I can manipulate it
926
00:41:44,672 --> 00:41:46,841
and move it around a little
if I need to.
927
00:41:46,842 --> 00:41:49,410
I always found that keeping
my big hiking boots on
928
00:41:49,409 --> 00:41:51,513
added the risk of knocking
the setup flying
929
00:41:51,513 --> 00:41:52,947
when I lift my foot off,
930
00:41:52,947 --> 00:41:55,417
and thereby destroying
the little ember I was creating
931
00:41:55,417 --> 00:41:57,217
in the first place.
932
00:41:57,217 --> 00:41:59,621
And I come off it real careful.
933
00:42:04,025 --> 00:42:05,493
Here we go.
934
00:42:08,096 --> 00:42:10,431
Transfer.
935
00:42:17,404 --> 00:42:20,208
When I first began filming
survival,
936
00:42:20,208 --> 00:42:24,344
it took me over 11 hours to
create fire using the fire bow.
937
00:42:24,344 --> 00:42:27,748
I was now able to make it all
happen in just a few minutes.
938
00:42:27,748 --> 00:42:29,716
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
939
00:42:29,717 --> 00:42:32,054
[ Laughs ]
940
00:42:32,054 --> 00:42:34,423
There we go.
941
00:42:34,422 --> 00:42:37,458
Whoo!
Touch and go.
942
00:42:37,458 --> 00:42:39,627
Whoo!
943
00:42:39,627 --> 00:42:42,230
Yeah. That is sweet.
944
00:42:44,632 --> 00:42:47,268
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
945
00:42:48,770 --> 00:42:51,672
And that's how it's done.
946
00:42:51,672 --> 00:42:54,342
Having a fire changes
almost everything
947
00:42:54,342 --> 00:42:55,944
in a survival situation.
948
00:42:55,944 --> 00:42:57,813
It creates
psychological comfort,
949
00:42:57,813 --> 00:43:00,048
cooks your food,
keeps you warm,
950
00:43:00,047 --> 00:43:02,316
keeps away predators,
signals rescuers,
951
00:43:02,317 --> 00:43:04,719
boils water,
making it safe to drink.
952
00:43:04,719 --> 00:43:07,154
It can even be used
to make tools,
953
00:43:07,154 --> 00:43:08,522
so it follows that one of
954
00:43:08,522 --> 00:43:09,957
the most important
survival skills you can have
955
00:43:09,958 --> 00:43:11,793
is the ability to create fire.
956
00:43:11,793 --> 00:43:16,298
But not only create it, move
it, manipulate it, contain it,
957
00:43:16,297 --> 00:43:18,466
and maintain it
over a long period of time.
958
00:43:18,467 --> 00:43:22,104
These were my top five methods,
but truth be told,
959
00:43:22,103 --> 00:43:23,770
I'd rather head out
into the wilderness
960
00:43:23,770 --> 00:43:27,341
with a lighter
and a box of matches any day.
961
00:43:27,500 --> 00:43:30,492
- Synced and corrected by Graveurexterne -