Survivorman/Man vs. Wild.

[Rick-SAR]

I wish he (Les) would show more what to do rather then "hype" the show. Tens of Thousands of kids throughout the US and Canada have been taught the Hug-A-Tree program (I forget what it is call in Canada). It teaches to "hug" a tree (stay put) and other easy survival skills.

When the kids that have seen this program are lost hear or see a aircraft they should lay down and form an X with their arms and lags (spread eagle). NOT WAVE as Les did.

Think about it if you are in a aircraft and looking down someone standing up you only see him from the top down (unless it is early or late in the day where shadows make him/her bigger). Waving is not a good way to signal the searcher. Waving at a helicopter is a signal for danger - don't land etc. There have been cases where a search helicopter has not responded to a subject waving thinking that he was a searcher.

In a major study in AZ some years ago test were done in mountains and deserts of AZ by the Air Force and SAR volunteers from southern AZ. In the test 60% of volunteers were standing and waving were spotted by the aircraft. 81% were spotted "lying spread eagle".

When your search from the air you look for something that is not natural to the terrain. Obviously if you see anything that is X shaped you are going to investigate it. By the way the pilots found more subject then observers.

I saw in the program he was using a gridded signal mirror. I think it would have been much more beneficial to use another type of reflector (compass mirror, knife blade, CD, etc.) Explaining that you hold the reflector close to your eye put your arm out and shine the sun spot on your thumb. Once you see the reflection on your thumb then you put your thumb (keeping the reflection on it) in line with the search aircraft.

Other simple survival tools the kids are taught is to always have a whistle with them when out in the woods - he also could have used it to signal the SAR team.

Rick-SAR
www.SearchAndRescueTraining.com

[red lake]

His new project is survivorman kids. There is a web site for it if you google it.

[klkak]

I saw in the program he was using a gridded signal mirror. I think it would have been much more beneficial to use another type of reflector (compass mirror, knife blade, CD, etc.) Explaining that you hold the reflector close to your eye put your arm out and shine the sun spot on your thumb. Once you see the reflection on your thumb then you put your thumb (keeping the reflection on it) in line with the search aircraft.

Other simple survival tools the kids are taught is to always have a whistle with them when out in the woods - he also could have used it to signal the SAR team.

Rick-SAR
www.SearchAndRescueTraining.com

In September of 2006, I broke my right leg very badly while moose hunting. I won't go into the details again. When the rescue helicopter arrived in the area it was a couple miles away from my location. I had with me as part of my survival gear a device called a "Laser flare" made by Great land lasers. As soon as the light hit the helicopter it turned and came straight to my position. When the crew got to me the pilot asked me what I signaled him with. I showed it to him. He was so impressed with it that he bought one the next day and has had it in his flight suit ever since.

[HOP]

Recently Les Stroud has announced that he will stop making survivorman and is moving on to other things.
He does have a book just out called Survive and I will try to find a copy soon.

[Rick-SAR]

I have not heard of the "Laser Flare" I did look it up on Google and see the range (at night) is about 10 miles - looks like a neat device.

There were test done with Army Signal devices in the 1800 that documented a 200 mile range. The test was done from one mountain top to another. However, my point was that "Les" on his show tries to show how to survive with what you have with you. Not many would have a gridded signal mirror, Laser Flare, smoke etc.

I carry a Mark 5 orange smoke flair with me, gridded signal mirror, whistle, etc. your two points are right on:

1. If it's in your kit and you don't know how to use it....It's useless.
2. If you can't reach your kit when you need it....Its useless.

Rick-SAR
www.SearchAndRescueTraining.com

[ADEPT]

well crap. I did like the show

[Sourdough]

well crap.


That is how I feel about all T.V. just so much used dog food.

[klkak]

I carry a gridded signal mirror along with pen-flares and the laser-flare. I have discovered that a good deal of the time when signaling needs to be done, the sun is not available. Especially here in Alaska. I change the battery in the laser-flare every 90 days unless I use it then I change them ASAP.

As for the two points in my signature: I believe in them so strongly that I apply them to everything I do.

[wareagle69]

hey kids we still have a new season to look forward to

[ledzeppie]

this makes me feel sad =(
now I'm stuck with man vs wild...("ok now you just repel down this 200 foot waterfall with a 3/4 inch thick vine")

[Gray Wolf]

I too always carry a gridded signal mirror along with pen-flares. It's called being prepared...
They take up such little room in your pack, that there is no reason not to carry them.

klkak, I believe the two points in your signature completely!

[Gray Wolf]

Les's new book, Survive!: Essential Skills and Tactics to Get You Out of Anywhere - Alive
$13.57

http://www.amazon.com/Survive-Essential-Skills-Tactics-Anywhere/dp/0061373516/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1226636829&sr=11-1

[BuckyBadger]

Man vs Wild wins in my book. Anyone who says Bear Grylls shows "suicidal behavior" doesn't know what they're saying. Bear is a very experienced climber, having climbed to the sumit of Mt. Everest and many other mountains. Whenever he does anything of the sort on the show, he says to never attempt it in a survival situation unless you're an expert and are aware of the risks involved. Bear delves into almost every aspect of survival, from first aid to finding food, keeping warm to building shelters, and much, much more. He explains how to avoid confrontation with dangerous animals, and in one episode he even talked about how to avoid kidnaping by local guerillas who have been known to do such. There have been episodes in every kind of place. Just to name a fraction of where I've seen him, I would say: Numerous locations in Africa including the Savanna and Namib, the Amazon, the Everglades, Patagonia, Alaska, Ireland, Mexico, South Dakota, Australia, and many others. As this show has been running for quite some time, there have been many other episodes. Think of anything about wilderness survival, and I can assure you, he's covered it on numerous occasions. All in all, my answer is yes. If I had to chose one program for people to watch to educate them on wilderness survival, it would be Man vs Wild, hands down.

[crashdive123]

Hey BuckyBadger - head on over to the introduction section and tell us a bit about yourself. Thanks.

[Foxman]

I trust both Bear and Les very much... But I enjoy Survivorman more because he's all alone in the wilderness with NOBODY to help him with anything. Plus he has to carry all of his camera equiptment around. Bear has a whole crew of people with him, whom could be supplying his with a sleeping bag, pillow, food, water, and anything else he might want to make it easier, and then hiding the evidence afterwards. I'm not saying he HAS done this... but I'm just saying that you know for sure with Les. Also, Bear seems to take more dangerous actions when facing poisonious animals or 100 foot high waterfalls, while Les trys the best he can to find at least one more route away from the danger.

[Sarge47]

I trust both Bear and Les very much... But I enjoy Survivorman more because he's all alone in the wilderness with NOBODY to help him with anything. Plus he has to carry all of his camera equiptment around. Bear has a whole crew of people with him, whom could be supplying his with a sleeping bag, pillow, food, water, and anything else he might want to make it easier, and then hiding the evidence afterwards. I'm not saying he HAS done this... but I'm just saying that you know for sure with Les. Also, Bear seems to take more dangerous actions when facing poisonious animals or 100 foot high waterfalls, while Les trys the best he can to find at least one more route away from the danger.
Bear teaches things that'll get you killed, like drinking urine straight from the bladder...that is bogus!:cool:

[italia]

I like both shows. I like Survivorman a little better though. They both don't stand a chance against Ray Mears' old shows though. Also i just watched Les Stroud's "Off The Grid". I loved it! http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7740441619915152822&hl=en

[rockymtnchief]

Bear seems to take more dangerous actions when facing poisonious animals or 100 foot high waterfalls, while Les trys the best he can to find at least one more route away from the danger.

I stopped watching Bear after he suggested you jump in the river and float yourself downstream to safety while in Montana. First of all, you could drown. If not, hypothermia will get you.

[doug1980]

Well considering it is T.V I take them both with a grain of salt. However I belive Survivorman to be a little more realistic and practical. Bear might have tons of training and experience but that isn't what the show should be about. I think Les tries to paint a realistic picture in that most people will have minimal to no experience. And the normal person won't scale a cliff or jump 40 feet into a river. Bear takes too many risks for the sake of making his show more entertaining, which doesn't help in a real survival situation.

[minuteman]

not sure what you mean by "have to basis" but Les from survivorman is the real deal and is quite knowledgeable about survival situations. Bear Grylls seems to be fairly knowledgeable but his camera crew often helps him out in survival situations and many things on his show are infact staged. If you don't want to be deceived then stick to survivorman.

[doug1980]

I just finished his book, only took two days of reading. Very informative, great book IMO.

[Stairman]

Les never seemed to be an expert to me.I have never learned anything from the show.His shelters were poor as well as his traps.I do enjoy the show however for the entertainment,Bear Grills seems to be more experienced at survival and I have learned a few things from him.But I wont be squeezing an elephant turdball into my mouth for its water content,nor do I eat reptiles or hard shelled insects raw.I do love his show.I know some disagree with my opinion of Les but I just think I could do better in these situations,minus the camera work.

[MCBushbaby]

I think this was a good time for him to stop. He's done pretty much every environment short of urban. Another season would just seem redundant unless they put some stupid twist on it (and you know they will for ratings!).

EDIT: What I would like to see is a 2-hour, or multi-part, session where Les faces off against Bear. Both dropped into the wilderness (same kind for both of them), different locations, and each has to film themselves (no film crew, Bears!). They have, say, 2 weeks to survive. First one to hit the emergency beacon loses. If both last, winner is whoever survived the best at the end. Put an end to Survivorman vs. MvW once and for friggen all!

[Stairman]

Bear would win and Les knows it.[IMO]

[sgtdraino]

Bear would win and Les knows it.[IMO]

That was without film crews, hotel rooms, and off-camera help, Stairman.

My money's on Les, by a lot.

Something I loved in Les's last episode: He went through all the various methods he's used in the past to start a fire, and said that this time he would use a different one. He then produced... his butane lighter! LOL!

Particularly ironic since you survival experts seem to favor a simple Bic as your primary firestarting tool.

[crashdive123]

Ironic??? Wouldn't simple (and reliable) be your best option in a stressful situation?

[MCBushbaby]

Strange, because I'm moving away from lighters. I ran one under the sink for a few seconds and couldn't dry it off enough to start again for at least 30 min. Did the same with a firesteel and it starts good as new

[sgtdraino]

What I would like to see is a 2-hour, or multi-part, session where Les faces off against Bear. Both dropped into the wilderness (same kind for both of them), different locations, and each has to film themselves (no film crew, Bears!). They have, say, 2 weeks to survive. First one to hit the emergency beacon loses. If both last, winner is whoever survived the best at the end. Put an end to Survivorman vs. MvW once and for friggen all!

What do we think? Who is the better survivor, Les or Bear?

[MCBushbaby]

Oh god, not another one of these threads. PLEASE! one is already stickied! I'm not playing.

*folding hands and turning away*

[nell67]

Pretty sure we did this before,pretty sure my vote stayed the same too.

[sgtdraino]

Ironic??? Wouldn't simple (and reliable) be your best option in a stressful situation?

Yes, that's why it's ironic. It took 23 episodes for Les to finally use the best firestarting option.

[sgtdraino]

Oh god, not another one of these threads. PLEASE! one is already stickied! I'm not playing.

*folding hands and turning away*

Ah, but this is the first one to actually incorporate a poll into it! :D

[crashdive123]

I'll never move away from a fire steel as they will work under any condition. As some of the pics I've posted reveal, when I travel into the bush I carry several options. Everyday, I carry a bic in my pocket (small kit in each vehicle with more options)....besides, I get funny looks when somebody asks for a light and I pull out the fire steel.

[crashdive123]

Yes, that's why it's ironic. It took 23 episodes for Les to finally use the best firestarting option.

Noooooow I get what you're saying. Guess he was just showing alternatives to what everybody already knew.

[wareagle69]

look above dude 50,000 veiws with 520 replies how about this who cares allan beauchamp will put both to shame

[RobertRogers]

Gotta love his expensive knife, though

http://www.survivaltopics.com/blog-images/bear-grylls-knife.jpg

[wareagle69]

Les never seemed to be an expert to me.I have never learned anything from the show.His shelters were poor as well as his traps.I do enjoy the show however for the entertainment,Bear Grills seems to be more experienced at survival and I have learned a few things from him.But I wont be squeezing an elephant turdball into my mouth for its water content,nor do I eat reptiles or hard shelled insects raw.I do love his show.I know some disagree with my opinion of Les but I just think I could do better in these situations,minus the camera work.

dude do your research, les has lived off the land with his wife for a year he has worked as a professional guide and survival insructor and trained with some of the best in thw world guys you probably have never heard of but are truley craftsman at what they do allan beauchamp and gino ferri to name two of many les has trained with imho he is the real deal can you prove the same about bear. you say you could do better than les? seriously dude what are your credentials for that mighty arroagant statement

[chiangmaimav]

There was a tragedy here awhile ago where 2 young tourists on jungle trek drowned. The guide told them not to go into the water as it was near rapids amd very strong current. They went anyway, and drowned. Afterwards the guide, who did not speak very good English, said they had told him "the guy on tv does it all the time." I don't know who they meant, but it shows you not to rely completely on what you see on tv.
I do not see any of these shows over here but back in US I loved to watch Survivorman, and I did once see him drink jungle water with no filtration or boiling or anything, which did make him sick. I stopped watching the Grylls show after the waterfall episode. I also was broke down on Natchez Trace in middle of night back in 1974. Would not care to do it again.

[tacticalguy]

I think Les is a better example. He doesn't go jumping off waterfalls or into rivers. He has a better example of survival. If you want to watch a show on survival watch him.

[Stairman]

dude do your research, les has lived off the land with his wife for a year he has worked as a professional guide and survival insructor and trained with some of the best in thw world guys you probably have never heard of but are truley craftsman at what they do allan beauchamp and gino ferri to name two of many les has trained with imho he is the real deal can you prove the same about bear. you say you could do better than les? seriously dude what are your credentials for that mighty arroagant statement

Not arroagence,If he's as good as you think he is then he sure is holding back alot of information on his show.A whole lot.Ive never saw him mop dew,build a warm shelter using natural fluff for insulation or build any useful deadfalls or snares.He starves half to death on every episode and freezes to death on every other show.Im not bashing Les,I love the show,but for its entertainment value and not for usefull information.

[christagious]

Survivorman is definitely more educational. While Man vs. Wild sometimes has some good tips, it's more of a "hey I'm such a bad***, look what I can do" kind of show.



The thing that bugs me is the fact that they never bring up stuff like, what to use in lieu of toilet paper.

I never even though of that when watching episodes, what are some good things to use? I forgot about the fact that nature calls even during survival.


.if they got in a fight against one another survivor man would beat him senseless and live of his corpse for weeks.

Although I think Les is better at survival, I have to disagree with you hear. I think Bear would win no problem in a fight, he has that elite SAS training.

[Stairman]

Toilet paper?lets see,smooth stones,soft yet pliable leaves[not poison ivy]soft bark,water,moss[smoke it first to kill redbugs]corn cobs[2 red ones and 1 white]start with a red one,then use the white one to see if you need the other red one......As far as Bear goes he could kick the snot out of Les.I cant believe the results of the poll either.

[Sarge47]

I saw Urban Survival too, i think. Wasn't that the one when he talked to the Katrina survivor? If so, that was very good. I also like Survivorman and Man vs. Wild. Know, I don't know much about nothing, but I do realize that most of the things Bear does on Man vs. Wild aren't neccesarily the right things to do but I do find it more entertaining than Survivorman.
...and Bear has a cuter Tush as well...right?:rolleyes: Let's all lift a glass of warm urine in honor of B.G. & his upcoming endorsements of Holiday Inn Express!:D

[klkak]

...and Bear has a cuter Tush as well...right?:rolleyes: Let's all lift a glass of warm urine in honor of B.G. & his upcoming endorsements of Holiday Inn Express!:D

He may have a cute tush but can he wear a twinky suit?

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Today is a survivalists education day, les stroud has every show he ever made (back to back!). it makes me itch to go and try an exercise in survival skills. I dont have 7 days, so i take it as i can get it. thanks to people like les , survival is even more a household name. What is your opinion about the
"teaching potential" of material like les stroud?

[red lake]

what channel?

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

what channel?

discovery channel

[larmus]

i like les he has some good ideas and teaches some but its no substitute for the real thing... i think its geared for the armchair survivalist, but dont get me wrong i really enjoy watching him survive, cause he goes into like a person who was just out for the day and ends up getting lost and he uses only that which he has on hand...

[red lake]

The intro in his new books says survival is not fun. It is not a camping trip. It is an emergency situation and you will likely have to endure pain, eat gross things and push yourself beyond your normal limits in order to survive. I think he does a good job showing this in his shows.

On the other note Discovery in Canada has a different schedule. Crap.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

He does show the rigors of surviving, he could show more edibles than he does and other things like working with pine pitch, birch bark,ect.. all can be done with conservation in mind,and without damaging trees or ecology

[Sarge47]

I like Les, dude plays a mean harp!:D He also demonstrates several Survival items like the Mag. block, fish trap, survival items stored in the butt of a .22 rifle, etc.. One thing that I thought a lot of this showed was that even with a rifle, knowledge, knife, whatever; there is no guarantee that you're going to find what you need to eat in the wilds. It's great "classroom" instruction, but doesn't do anything for "field" instruction. But then, no TV program can do that!:cool:

p.s.: The time he had the dog-sled teams you will notice that he never mentioned killing & eating the dogs.:eek:

Also, I now need to move this thread over to the "sticky" on the continuing dialouge between the two shows....sorry.

[crashdive123]

Here's my .o3. While I believe that Bear has an incredible amount of skills both physical and mental, I believe Les portrays a more realistic view of what it would be like in the situations on the shows.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

Here's my .o3. While I believe that Bear has an incredible amount of skills both physical and mental, I believe Les portrays a more realistic view of what it would be like in the situations on the shows.

I agree, he does portray realism , and also I think that mabe les uses some of the tools he makes to show that even the simplest person can make something that he needs to get food or a job done. I would like to see some of his expert hand crafts that he makes, that we dont get to see on the shows.

[larmus]

Here's my .o3. While I believe that Bear has an incredible amount of skills both physical and mental, I believe Les portrays a more realistic view of what it would be like in the situations on the shows.

finaly someone who thinks the same way, ive had arguments where the other person wouldnt even listen to the fact i said bear had better skills and had military training... some people just dont like to hear the truth...

[Sarge47]

finaly someone who thinks the same way, ive had arguments where the other person wouldnt even listen to the fact i said bear had better skills and had military training... some people just dont like to hear the truth...
..can be quite fickle at times. It has been brought to my attention that the SAS unit that B.G. belonged to was the equivalent to our "National Guard." BTW, does anyone know if Les has ever had any military training?:confused:

[klkak]

After graduating from Mimico High School in 1980, Stroud went on to complete the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario.

Stroud worked for several years at the Toronto-based music video channel MuchMusic, and as a songwriter for his band New Regime before a Temagami canoe trip sparked a career change. During this time he also worked as garbage collector for the City of Toronto.

In 1990 Stroud became a guide for Black Feather Wilderness Adventures leading canoe excursions into the Northern Ontario wilds. It was also during this time while on a survival course he met his wife, photographer Sue Jamison. They married in 1994 and together left for a year-long honeymoon in the remote Wabakimi area of Ontario which was to become the basis of the documentary Snowshoes and Solitude.

Afterwards, the couple moved to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories where Stroud was employed as an outdoor instructor to special needs individuals of aboriginal descent. Stroud and Jamison then settled in Huntsville, Ontario, and started the outdoor instructional outfit Wilderness Voice and the media company Wilderness Spirit Productions. Inspired by the popularity of the television show Survivor, Stroud pitched a more authentic version of the show to The Discovery Channel Canada.

Stroud produced two programs titled One Week in the Wilderness and Winter in the Wilderness for @discovery.ca in 2001. The success of these specials led to the development of his current show Survivorman which follows a similar format, leaving Stroud on his own, with minimal equipment, in the wilderness to film his survival experience.

Stroud has extensive experience with survival and primitive living skills, initially training with experts Gino Ferri and David Arama. He went on to study with many others including John "Prairie Wolf" McPherson.

Stroud has been an active participant in adventure racing and has competed at the Canadian championships.

[RichNH]

Hi all, I'm a brand new member here. Interesting reading some of the replies on this thread although I didn't read all of them. Personally I've watched one or two Man vs Wild shows and all the Les Stroud shows I can. I liked Survivorman so much my kids got me the first season for Christmas a year or two ago. :D

Personally, from what I saw in Man vs Wild, he's gonna get someone who doesn't know what he/she is doing killed one day. But that's just MHO.

Looking forward to learning from this site, ta ta!

Rich

[crashdive123]

I think a lot of folks are in agreement with you RichNH. How about heading over to the introduction section when you get a chance and tell us a bit about yourself. Thanks.

[RichNH]

Actually, I looked for an introduction section and didn't see one. Hmmmm, must be lost, anyone have any survival tips for being lost in a forum?

Rich

PS, someone mentioned about the episode Les did with the dog sled and said he didn't mention eating the dogs. Actually, I watched several of his episodes today and I heard him mention eating sled dogs in one of them, perhaps it wasn't the episode with the dog sled but I thought it was. I could be mistaken of course, I'm old enough to suffer from CRS on a regular basis...

[crashdive123]

Here you go Rich. http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14

[RichNH]

You know, it's amazing what can be accomplished with the up and down arrows.... After you told me that a thread did exist, I went looking it darn if it didn't take all of 30 seconds... Now I've come back here to eat some tasty crow... Oh well, not a very auspicious beginning...

[crashdive123]

Hey, crow seems to be a great survival food. I eat it all of the time.;)

[larmus]

mmmm... crow, ive had that once or twice...

[Sarge47]

Anybody notice all the votes for Les Stroud & only one for "Grylli Vanilli"? :D Hey bear, you actually have a fan! Maybe he'll even buy your $700 knife!:eek: No matter how hard I try, I still can't get that picture of Bear doing push-ups in the snow, bare-arsed nekked, out of my mind!:eek::cool:

[crashdive123]

Careful Sarge. Chiye Tank may send the Spirt Talkers to visit you.;)

[SARKY]

Can we just call a spade a spade? Bear is an adrenaline junkie and a fraud! The BBC has already outed him for staying in hotels when he claimed that he was sleeping in the bush. Also if you watch his show very closely you can see where events are sooo staged. The one show where he was in the rockies and used a rabbit stick to take out a rabbit, if you look closely you see that the rabbit is staked out. And yet we are subjected to frauds like bear and Jeraldo by the producers of these shows (Oh that's right Bear is one of the producers of his show)

[dougz]

I'm a little late to the conversation, but in my opinion Survivorman is the better series, and Les the superior survivor..

1. Les shows his triumphs and his failures..

2. Les survives for a week on his own (not for the couple hours he spends filming, whereupon he retreats to his hotel with his camera crew)..

3. Les came up with the idea first

(reading alot of yahoos claiming Les stole Bear's thunder)..

Man Vs Wild, Oct 27, 2006, Survivorman November 1st, 2004

4. Les is Canadian..

Case closed, in my opinion..

Edit:

One thing I can't stand is Les's annoying Shater-lite cadence when he's doing his opining monologues, etc..

If I'm going to sur'viiive in this barren wilderness, it's going to take every oooounce of strength to...

LOL

[Sarge47]

If I'm going to sur'viiive in this barren wilderness, it's going to take every oooounce of strength to...

LOL
Les does that to "sell" the series to the "armchair survival freaks". It creates suspense, drama, & ratings for Discovery Channel!:D

[dougz]

Don't get me wrong, it's a great show and I have nothing against even what he says during these segments..

I just wish he'd use his normal voice.. :)

[RichNH]

And when a jaguar shows up outside Les' camp he does the normal, rational thing. He runs for his LIFE!!! Now THAT's survival! LOLOLOL

[klkak]

If I remember correctly in one of Bear's episodes he took off running for his life in the middle of the night because he heard a sound in the brush. He didn't even know what it was.....just a sound. It could have been a coon, skunk, dear, etc..., Whatever it was he ran like a scared puppy. It appears that the British SAS trained killer is afraid of things that scurry in the ground litter at night.

[crashdive123]

If I remember correctly in one of Bear's episodes he took off running for his life in the middle of the night because he heard a sound in the brush. He didn't even know what it was.....just a sound. It could have been a coon, skunk, dear, etc..., Whatever it was he ran like a scared puppy. It appears that the British SAS trained killer is afraid of things that scurry in the ground litter at night.

It was probably the local Girl Scout Troop out foraging for mushrooms.

[tsitenha]

Bear was with the TA to which the SAS were attached to as a regiment, a slight difference. He tends to "bend" the facts.
Like my father served with an American Special Forces unit but was a Canadian soldier not an American Special Forces, they just needed his lets say... "expertise" He even got a citation from the Americans.

Klkak: if memory serves me it was a buddy dressed in a cartoonish suit a la Yogi Bear, seen picture of it. Ron Hood was on his first shows as an advisor but quickly disassociated himself.

[Ole WV Coot]

I was under the weather this weekend and stayed in the sack with the tv on watching a good ole Les marathon to help me sleep. I did wake up when Les and 2 guys went hunting somewhere in the temperate zone of either the US or Canada, don't remember which. 3 men, 3 bright red Honda quads back into the boonies, parked and went in 3 different directions. Les had a nice camo ground stand, another had a permanent tree stand, the other from the ground. Rained like crazy, Les ventured forth, didn't know where he was, used his universal signal 3 shots bang, bang 10sec delay then bang, an answering bang then a game of here I am, where are you, oh by the way his 3 well timed shots were fired into the underbrush, one way to find his friends, couldn't find their ATVs and Les' hand held GPS batteries were dead after only a full day?? No compass? Walked to a tree stand but didn't know what direction to the ATV? They did their survival bit, badly for over 7 days before being found by SAR. I left a lot out, but plenty of chuckles for someone like me in my kind of territory. I think he has a taste for snake, frogs and other fish bait. Guess inbreeding does that.

[RichNH]

Went shopping today and when I cam home I got my last Christmas present in the mail. Kids picked me up the second season of Survivorman.... YEA!!! :D

[MANABA]

Les is probably a better survivor. Not to say Bear isnt as good but they are filming at 2 different perspectives. Les has no crew for safety so he cant do all the high speed dangerous things Bear does. Bear appeals more to me on my military background side. But Les is my choice for a true survivorman. But lets face it both shows are set to get ratings and make money for networks and the hosts. Its a rough job but someones gotta do it. I dont know....its just TV.

[Gray Wolf]

Bear appeals more to me on my military background side.
As I've posted before, Bear is an accomplished mountaineer/climber, he was in the British Special Forces (for 3 years), he's in outstanding physical condition, passed the training tests for the French Foreign Legion (which is a truly great accomplishment) and is the youngest person to successfully climb Everest. BUT the show is dangerous!!!

[rockymtnchief]

BUT the show is dangerous!!!

I'll agree to that. As I've mentioned before, I saw the episode where he jumped into a Montana river and floated his way downstream to find civilization. He then casually walked to the road and got a lift. He failed to mention that Montana rivers are formed from snow run-off, mountain springs, or cold rains. 99% of people trying this same stunt would die from hypothermia unless it's in July or August.

[sniperfx]

bear is too commercialized. he also does very dangerous stunts that will get you killed. tries to paint a glamorous picture of a crappy reality....

[Gray Wolf]

Following allegations in 2006 that the show deceived viewers into believing that he was really stranded in the wild when he was not, Channel 4 temporarily suspended the show for a few weeks. Discovery aired re-edited episodes, removing elements that were considered too planned, with a fresh voice-over and a preceding announcement pointing out that some situations are 'presented to Bear to show the viewer how to survive'. Both Discovery and Channel 4 have continued to broadcast the program.

An adviser to the Man vs. Wild/Born Survivor series had claimed that Grylls had been staying at a California lodge while filming. A crossing of a deep crevasse was shown to be within sight of a road. Bear was shown taming 'wild' horses who had horseshoes on their hooves when the film was examined closely and which turned out to be ex-Ranch horses. Similarly, it was alleged that Grylls had stayed at a crew base-camp in the Costa Rican jungle, while giving viewers the impression that he was alone. Further, there have been several other incidents, including the impression Bear built a raft "in a matter of hours with no tools." According to the adviser, the raft was actually in part built by a show stunt consultant. This particular episode implied was filmed on a small south pacific island, which as Channel 4 revealed was actually a small peninsula in Hawaii, the scene of at least three Hollywood movie shoots. These allegations were confirmed by Channel 4, who argued that it was not a documentary, but a "how-to" guide to survival, implying that re-shot scenes were acceptable in that context. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Geronimo!]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UpSlpvb1is

This hillarious clip shows just how "wild" Bear's adventures are.

Les wins hands down.

[ATough]

Ya watch his behind the scenes footage, he uses ropes and harnesses. I dont really put much stock in what he says and does.

It is sad the Les isnt doing another season, but I respect and understand his reasons. Still I am going to miss seeing a new episode of his shows.

[ethan_shane1022]

I watch both of these shows and I have to tell you that they are both worth watching. How can any of you say bad things about Bear? It SHOWS him sleeping out in the wilderness at night! It shows him setting up camp on every show! You all think you know so much but I dare any of you to get out there and do what Bear does! He was a member of the British Special Forces for Christ sake! It is obvious he can do the things he shows and it's obvious he would be able to survive if he needed. You don't become a BSF if you can't do the things he is doing on his show. I mean, if it were you in his place and you had the choice to sleep in the wild or sleep in a hotel what would you do? Most of you people probably couldn't camp in an RV, much less out in the freezing cold on the ground! Quit living your lives for stupid reality t.v. shows. I stumbled on this forum because when I was watching the show today I saw a shirt on Les that I was curious about what it meant. This will be the first and last reply I ever post. I just got to reading some of the things you have posted here and I wanted to let you guys know how sad and pathetic you are for getting so upset over a guy not being as realistic as you would like. Plus, the things he's doing you wouldn't ever do yourself in a million years! It may be reality t.v., but hello! it's still t.v.!

[Pal334]

I am watching an episode of Survivorman that shows how he prepares for his adventures. Great examples on how to prepare. He visits local experts and gets "tutoring" on local conditons. Examples: What plants are edible, animal dangers, weather conditions and how to deal with them and much more of course. Not sure if it is new or old show, but is a good watch. Even someone with his skills needs a little help. Obviously this type of time to prepare prior to a specific calamity is not always available, but does remind one that general prepardness is essential for all skill levels.

[tsitenha]

to bad you can't stay and really learn.

[dougz]

This will be the first and last reply I ever post.

Don't let the door smack you in the *** on your way out..

%$#@* troll...

[dougz]

Yup, couldn't agree more..

There is no way you can know every region's specific dangers and tricks of the trade, and the first step in avoiding disaster is preparation..

[welderguy]

I watch both shows whe I can, i like them both. I persoanly wouldnt put my self in danger on purpose as they do but Hey if thats what they like doing, more power to them.

Now on the other hand , being trained survivors as they are why are they going off in the wilds with no preps, what happend to being prepaired , I understand they may lose there packs or main gear but what about a pocket kit, I dont do anything like they do and I carry a small one in my pocket , along with my multi tool, pocket knife, lighter, and firestarter kit.

[dougz]

what happend to being prepaired

If you watch more of the Survivorman show, you'll see Les spends a week or more with the natives or local survival experts before heading out..


I understand they may lose there packs or main gear but what about a pocket kit

Les often does have the bare essentials..

Sometimes even a gun, or an ax, which really WOULD be must haves in that particular region (the Arctic, etc)..

And he ALWAYS has a multi-tool on him..

[trax]

[QUOTE=ethan_shane1022;93864]..... Plus, the things he's doing you wouldn't ever do yourself in a million years! QUOTE]

well that's true, but that would be mostly because we're not retarded.

[crashdive123]

It's a shame that you won't stick around ethan_shane1022.......could be fun.

[trax]

ethan_wolfbait_shane?

[crashdive123]

That pretty well sums it up.

[MANABA]

:):(:confused:lets move on....both are good tv shows...its all a matter of opinion. By the way les has a youtube 6 part series about off the grid living fairly interesting. Anyhow can we move on now?...The debate is gettin worn out.:D

[crashdive123]

With almost 600 posts on the topic in about 23 months, sadly I fear that the answer will be no.:( Nice thought though.:D

[Tracker]

^^ well said

[Stairman]

Ethan will probably linger around like a bad fart.He may not post but he'll be looking to see how long we talk about him.

[crashdive123]

Well, when somebody takes a look at one thread (I'm betting he didn't read all that many posts in it) out of over 90,000 posts and assumes (that's right, I said assumes) he knows what this forum is about..........yeah good luck with your endeavors mate, hope you don't approach wilderness survival the same way.

[dougz]

both are good tv shows..

Aye, and that's your opinion.. :)

But by all means, let's everyone agree with manaba and move on.. ;)

I watched ONE Bear show where he leaps from a plane into a river in a US swamp for absolutely no good reason (WHY couldn't the plane slow down enough for him to get off normally, again? Obviously that's what the camera crew did)..

Then I watched him eat a few bites of 3 animals then toss them away..

That was the first and last Bear show I'll ever watch, besides the few U-tube clips that show him taming "wild" horses, etc..

[sgtdraino]

Ah, Bear and Les. The two gifts that keep on giving, but in entirely different ways! :D

I say let's not move on! This is fun! :D

[MANABA]

With almost 600 posts on the topic in about 23 months, sadly I fear that the answer will be no.:( Nice thought though.:D

well, thats fine.....obviously les wins....look at the polls. His off the grid thing makes me wanna buy land in Canada though. Bear is still a better show by ratings, probably why he gets another season. How about them Cowboys huh?

[tsitenha]

The unfortunate news Bear fell in the Antarctic while filming a show and is now in the UK (I think) for assessement and rehab (broken shoulder and such), I wish him well but it had to catch up with him.

[klkak]

Please allow me to reiterate.


It is good that the two shows have encouraged some folk to learn about survival. However. There are to many times on those programs where the techniques they use could kill you as apposed to saving you. Don't forget Bear is an accomplished mountaineer/climber. Trying to do some of his stunts without his skill is worse then a bad idea. For example, venturing into a glacial ice cave, climbing a waterfall or as Les did placing his camp on a river sandbar when its raining in the mountains above him. I would suggest viewing the programs as entertainment only and investing in some real world practical survival training.

[doug1980]

The unfortunate news Bear fell in the Antarctic while filming a show and is now in the UK (I think) for assessement and rehab (broken shoulder and such), I wish him well but it had to catch up with him.

Wonder if they'll air that show? Didn't he almost die in a rock climbing accident or mountain hike before he started the show? I watch both shows mainly for entertainment. I still think Les is more realistic with the scenarios though. And I liked his book, very informative.

[tsitenha]

Apparently the show was not for Discovery but an alternative fuel company. The weather was not good but chances were taken.....

[klkak]

The unfortunate news Bear fell in the Antarctic while filming a show and is now in the UK (I think) for assessement and rehab (broken shoulder and such), I wish him well but it had to catch up with him.

Good thing he had his crew with him....he might not have survived.:eek:

[tsitenha]

Klkak is right the shows are entertainment value, even this season (not yet aired in Kanata) shows some suspect firearm practices??? So as in all TV a grain (or two) of salt needs to be taken along with a good reality check.

[klkak]

Wonder if they'll air that show? Didn't he almost die in a rock climbing accident or mountain hike before he started the show? I watch both shows mainly for entertainment. I still think Les is more realistic with the scenarios though. And I liked his book, very informative.

Hey doug, you wanna get together and try out your new survival kit next week? You know like a winter camping trip...,

[tsitenha]

He would not have, definately, busted shoulder and all tissue damge was extensive. Also had a hard time evacuating him it took a few days because of weather problems. A very close brush with death. Maybe this will tone things down a bit if he comes back.

[klkak]

He would not have, definitely, busted shoulder and all tissue damage was extensive. Also had a hard time evacuating him it took a few days because of weather problems. A very close brush with death. Maybe this will tone things down a bit he he come back.

I don't know. He broke his back jumping out of an airplane or so he says and it ain't stopped him from doing that.

[doug1980]

Hey doug, you wanna get together and try out your new survival kit next week? You know like a winter camping trip...,

When were you thinking? I'm working 13 days straight, worked all this week, working all weekend, all next week and next Saturday. I'm off Sunday then back at it. We might be able to squeeze it in sometime.

[crashdive123]

Read a 5 question interview with Bear in the latest Outside Magazine. When asked about the gross stuff (eating poo) he implied that it was all for the ratings.

[klkak]

When were you thinking? I'm working 13 days straight, worked all this week, working all weekend, all next week and next Saturday. I'm off Sunday then back at it. We might be able to squeeze it in sometime.

Let me know when you have at least 2 days off in a row. Preferably when its above -0-.

[doug1980]

Let me know when you have at least 2 days off in a row. Preferably when its above -0-.

2 days off is easy enough, above 0 I'm not so sure of. :D

[klkak]

2 days off is easy enough, above 0 I'm not so sure of. :D

We should really do this. Take some good pictures to share with the folks here. I have a place in mind out at Knik.

[doug1980]

We should really do this. Take some good pictures to share with the folks here. I have a place in mind out at Knik.

I'm down for it. Maybe the weekend of the 24th we could. It sould be a little warmer. You wanna do an actual camping type trip but practice primitive ways to do things, set some snares and such?

[crashdive123]

Looking forward to the pics guys.

[klkak]

I'm down for it. Maybe the weekend of the 24th we could. It sould be a little warmer. You wanna do an actual camping type trip but practice primitive ways to do things, set some snares and such?

That sounds like a great idea.

[doug1980]

That sounds like a great idea.

I haven't been camping in years. It's gonna be so cold.:eek: But fun.

[welderguy]

If you watch more of the Survivorman show, you'll see Les spends a week or more with the natives or local survival experts before heading out..



Les often does have the bare essentials..

Sometimes even a gun, or an ax, which really WOULD be must haves in that particular region (the Arctic, etc)..

And he ALWAYS has a multi-tool on him..

the few episodes I have seen of both shows I cant remember either having more than a knife and sometimes a fire starter of some sort.

[sgtdraino]

Bear is still a better show by ratings, probably why he gets another season.

Neither show would have trouble getting another season. The only reason Survivorman is ending, is because Les has decided to retire. His last episode was pretty brutal, suffering from puking and diahrea the whole time. I think it might be the most miserable I've ever seen him.


the few episodes I have seen of both shows I cant remember either having more than a knife and sometimes a fire starter of some sort.

Les tries to base his scenarios on situations that ordinary people might find themselves in by accident, largely unprepared. Because hey, if you were totally prepared, then you probably wouldn't be in a survival situation. He does normally always have his multitool, though. His reasoning being that he always carries it on his belt, and thus would always have it with him. Good example for the rest of us, too.

[red lake]

Okay, I am watching Bear Grylls in Siberia ad he is truly an idiot.

I have never seen anybody so reckless in my life.

But I want to watch the whole episode.

[TDG]

I think Les Stroud is the better one, but I usually enjoy Man vs. Wild more. Bear Grylls is more sensational, a real TV personality.

[Sarge47]

Today I watched one of Les' "season 3" episodes where he was in the Sierra Nevada area working with the SAR. He was playing the "lost hiker" & their job was to find him. He had a tent, headlamp, some food, & a 1st aid kit. He used a couple of the items to start his fire. It was near the end of the program when he caught my attention with something that he said. He mentioned that, when in a survival situation, walk with caution; nevre run or move about carelessly. That's when I realized the difference between the two guys: Les is always looking or portraying a situation that has actually happened, or could actually happen. He's teaching on what can save your life.
Bear, on the other hand, is all about Bear! He runs around recklessly, showing things that can get people seriously hurt if they don't have his training, physique, or a near-by camera crew. :eek: I notice that Bear's series premier will start tomorrow night on Discovery. I don't know if I'll watch it or not...I'll at least try.:cool:

[endurance]

Yep, that Siberia episode of Man vs. Wild was rediculous. When he took off all his clothes to jump into freezing water, to get out in -20 air temperatures was pure stuntman and not someone trying to ensure their survival.

Les has earned my respect by his conservative approach. I also respect his desire to retire. He's not a young man and he's gone too many weeks alone and without food to be worth it, no matter how much they're paying him. No less the hassle of going back and forth all day to get the shots that are needed to put together an entire episode. Respect due, Les. You da' man!

[tsitenha]

There is a better more personal reason for Les to retire. I'll let it stand as is but it a good one.

[SurvivorMan002]

Despite my screenname being survivor man haha, i have been watching many episodes of SurvivorMan recently. Even tho i love to watch the Tv show,does anyone think that it might me setup. Sometimes it seems like it could be, even tho Les Stroud is always reminding us that he is all alone with nothing else than his multi-tool and his camera equipment. I would love to believe that its as real as he tells us, and I will continue to watch the show either way. But sometimes i cant help to think that more happens behind the cameras then we think. For those of you who watch this show i am not trying to put it down in ANY way because i love SurvivorMan just as much as the next guy....but just wanted opinions from other to see what they think as well.

[tsitenha]

After the initial set up, he is alone and that is what really kicks the snot out of him for the week, all that trudging back and forth.
He is really tough, so is Bear for all his fault Grylls is tough also.

[doug1980]

Well obviously the whole thing is setup, planned and researched. I really haven't noticed if Survivorman is setup, I do believe that Man vs Wild is all staged. He always happens upon a dead carcass or magically catches small game in his snares. I also believe he is very tough and deserves respect for serving his country. But he does things that could kill people. Les and Bear both have a responsibility to be aware that whatever they portray, someone will try to emulate or take as gospel. And in Bear's case I feel he doesn't think about how his actions could affect his viewers. The topic of wilderness survival shouldn't be viewed or portrayed as an action TV series, but more of an educational series. Just my opinion though.

[tsitenha]

Last year Bear had to admit that he was staged, his UK episodes are preceeded witha disclaimer. I saw the Siberian episode were he comes across an Elk still soft no rigor in it or freezing???

[ride_gnu]

Bear Grylls is staged 100%, says so online on discoverey website last time I checked. As for survivorman. I do not belive their is any staging. However as Les Stroud says, "I am here to film a survival show, not to survive, surviving just comes along with it."

[endurance]

The only thing I see as staged in Survivorman is the lack of how much study and research they show that he does before each filming. I have no doubt that he spends days and sometimes weeks pouring over maps, studying routes, becoming familiar with landmarks, learning from local guides about the local foods, hazards, and tricks. At the end of the season this year there was a bonus episode that lifted the veil on that and I'm sure some people saw that as a disappointment. However, I think it's completely unrealistic for anyone who's actually doing what he did for several seasons out to think they wouldn't do everything in their power to minimize the risks and hazards. Especially with the Northern Rockies episode, there's little doubt that in that heavy timber and steep terrain he could have easily broken an ankle and been in a valley so steep with such heavy tree cover that no sat phone could save him. He'd be an absolute idiot not to have a pre-planned route for an episode like that so he'd have a fighting chance of survival if he didn't check in at the end of the week.

Toward the end of the series I suspect he was probably using the product he endorses, the SPOT, with the tracking feature so his crew could track his progress in case of emergency, but is that really cheating? I think it's just common sense. I think it's common sense enough that I bought one myself last year as another layer of peace of mind.

[dougz]

I bought one of those SPOT things, too..

BEFORE I found out you have to pay a $100 US yearly subscription.. :(

[primeelite]

SurvivorMan is better to watch if you are trying to pick up a few tips to survive, and Bear is just entertainment because if someone really does everything he does they would die two or three times each episode. I like watching Bear but like many have said he seems to find random carcasses and plants that will help him. I have been out a lot and do not find as many full just killed animals, I think they do stage a lot of things on the show to make it more interesting.

[doug1980]

Watching Bear right now in his new episode, Belize. He always has to make a dramatic entrance. Lets see what all he does wrong or stupid in this one.

[Gray Wolf]

Just a re-post of the info I got from the stations and people involved...

Following allegations in 2006 that the show deceived viewers into believing that he was really stranded in the wild when he was not, Channel 4 temporarily suspended the show for a few weeks. Discovery aired re-edited episodes, removing elements that were considered too planned, with a fresh voice-over and a preceding announcement pointing out that some situations are 'presented to Bear to show the viewer how to survive'. Both Discovery and Channel 4 have continued to broadcast the program.

An adviser to the Man vs. Wild/Born Survivor series had claimed that Grylls had been staying at a California lodge while filming. A crossing of a deep crevasse was shown to be within sight of a road. Bear was shown taming 'wild' horses who had horseshoes on their hooves when the film was examined closely and which turned out to be ex-Ranch horses. Similarly, it was alleged that Grylls had stayed at a crew base-camp in the Costa Rican jungle, while giving viewers the impression that he was alone. Further, there have been several other incidents, including the impression Bear built a raft "in a matter of hours with no tools." According to the adviser, the raft was actually in part built by a show stunt consultant. This particular episode implied was filmed on a small south pacific island, which as Channel 4 revealed was actually a small peninsula in Hawaii, the scene of at least three Hollywood movie shoots. These allegations were confirmed by Channel 4, who argued that it was not a documentary, but a "how-to" guide to survival, implying that re-shot scenes were acceptable in that context. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[trax]

Ah jeez. Why doesn't somebody lock the two of them in a dark room with a sock full of sh*t each to beat on each other with and the one that manages to come out is the true survivor and that's the end of it once and for all.

[nell67]

Ah jeez. Why doesn't somebody lock the two of them in a dark room with a sock full of sh*t each to beat on each other with and the one that manages to come out is the true survivor and that's the end of it once and for all.

Mmmm,I guess Les really does win then,cuz Bear would be sitting there eating the sh*t out of his sock:eek:

[MCBushbaby]

Hmmm, I find that while Grylls is increasing the Darwin award nominee pool, he does have some interesting techniques. I just saw him the other day put socks over his boots to gain traction on glacier ice. Albeit I wouldn't be *ON* a glaciar without crampons in the first place, it's still a good idea if you find yourself on a slippery slope. So yes, Bear is wacky but he still teaches some good stuff... you just have to filter out the rest of the 90% bilk.

[crashdive123]

Hmmm, I find that while Grylls is increasing the Darwin award nominee pool, he does have some interesting techniques. I just saw him the other day put socks over his boots to gain traction on glacier ice. Albeit I wouldn't be *ON* a glaciar without crampons in the first place, it's still a good idea if you find yourself on a slippery slope. So yes, Bear is wacky but he still teaches some good stuff... you just have to filter out the rest of the 90% bilk.

I don't think too many would argue that Bear has some skills. The problem that most (at least me) have is that to the inexperienced viewer that doesn't know to filter out the BS, will go out and cause harm to themselves. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing in all cases.

[trax]

I feel my point was lost...I mean there' s 32 pages of this...

[sgtdraino]

I feel my point was lost...I mean there' s 32 pages of this...

I think you mean 33! :D

[crashdive123]

See that! It's your fault!


On a serious note (who would've thunk it)....those two shows, and others like them are probably what drive quite a few people to this site, so naturally there will be a lot of discussion on the shows.

[yukon55]

i like both the thing about bear is he shows you the army way of survival like you need to be always on the move and not stay in one spot for too long and move at night, and les shows how to use what you have at that time and just wait if have to move

[MCBushbaby]

Well Bear's philosophy is to get out while Les's is more along the lines of staying put and waiting for rescue... or if that's not possible, THEN navigating out. But Bear takes this to the extreme by rappelling off cliffs, crossing lava bridges (WTF!! Some kid might imitate this! WTF were they thinking), etc.

[trax]

i like both the thing about bear is he shows you the army way of survival like you need to be always on the move and not stay in one spot for too long and move at night, and les shows how to use what you have at that time and just wait if have to move

rather like the wolf mills episode of running around for no apparent reason?

[Ryleyboy]

This show is on at 7:00 on channel 411 on bell express view every day. just to let some of you know. the channel is called OLN i belive.

[Sourdough]

Channel 441....? That must be an "AM" Radio station right. But my radio only goes down to 500 AM.....do you have a special radio.....?

[flandersander]

nope. bell express view. Satelite tv. it is on outdoor life network, and so is man tracker, another favorite.

[trax]

Wonder whatever happened to that woman from the mantracker show, she quit coming around.

[Aurelius95]

I stopped watching Man vs. Wild last season. Too sensationalized and a bunch of doo-doo. However, before MvW was a show, Bear climbed Mt. Everest at 22 years of age! At the time, he was the youngest Briton to do so. His story recounts the events that took place in 1997, a year after the horrific accident that killed 8 (not sure the number, but many) climbers on Everest. It's a good read. After reading that book, I read Into Thin Air, which is a retelling of the 1996 climb.

While I don't care for his show, Bear Grylls has done some amazing things and I respect him for that.

Has anyone read Les Stroud's book? I just put in a request for it at the library, and I'll be anxious to give it a read.

[doug1980]

I stopped watching Man vs. Wild last season. Too sensationalized and a bunch of doo-doo. However, before MvW was a show, Bear climbed Mt. Everest at 22 years of age! At the time, he was the youngest Briton to do so. His story recounts the events that took place in 1997, a year after the horrific accident that killed 8 (not sure the number, but many) climbers on Everest. It's a good read. After reading that book, I read Into Thin Air, which is a retelling of the 1996 climb.

While I don't care for his show, Bear Grylls has done some amazing things and I respect him for that.

Has anyone read Les Stroud's book? I just put in a request for it at the library, and I'll be anxious to give it a read.

I just finished Les' book. I thought it was pretty good. Lots of good info.

[Swamp Shuck]

I really don't want to bust too many bubbles here but it takes money to climb Everest. I did it in my early thirties. If a person has money, is in halfway decent shape, and wants to go, they can. While yes, there is danger, it's not the feat we like to think it is. The mountain is mainly a garbage dump now and not as dangerous to climb as many other much smaller mountains. Climbing it doesn't make anyone a great survivor. It makes them rich enough to afford the oxygen supply to get up there.

shuck

[Sarge47]

I really don't want to bust too many bubbles here but it takes money to climb Everest. I did it in my early thirties. If a person has money, is in halfway decent shape, and wants to go, they can. While yes, there is danger, it's not the feat we like to think it is. The mountain is mainly a garbage dump now and not as dangerous to climb as many other much smaller mountains. Climbing it doesn't make anyone a great survivor. It makes them rich enough to afford the oxygen supply to get up there.

shuck
Well said! What's a permit cost to attempt to summit Everest from the same side as Jon Krakouer did today? last I heard it was 50-60 K!:eek:

[klkak]

The one mountain I'd like to climb is "Mt. Marcus Baker" In the Chugach range of Alaska. I've looked at it a thousand times and wondered what it would be like to look back from its peak.

[old soldier]

could this be true
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UpSlpvb1is&feature=related
I remember last fall on one of the main streanm media channels, they said he was sleeping in motels when he was supposed to be sleeping in the jungle

[sthomas]

Coincidentally the Jan 2009 Backpacker magazine has a piece covering this very topic.

http://www.backpacker.com/return_of_the_survivor_qa_with_steve_friedman/skills/12479


Survival shows like Man vs. Wild and Survivorman are endless sources of guilty-pleasure entertainment–but can they actually help the hapless endure the perils of wilderness? In "I Will Survive," (October 2008) writer Steve Friedman decided to find out. An outdoor novice, he entered the Oregon backwoods with his more experienced 16-year-old nephew Eddie, hoping to weather nature's onslaught using wisdom gleaned from from Bear Grylls, Les Stroud, and John Rambo.

You'll have to read the article to see what the writer's opinions were. This back-reference might give you a hint as to "who wins" though (heh).

In the Backpacker December 2008 issue there was a quiz question of;
Les Stroud is (blank) as cool as Bear Grylls.

The Backpacker magazine answer was "twice".

This thread is so long that I confess I have no time to read it. Maybe some day......

[KritterKeeper]

If you ask me Les is more practical. But hey.to each his own.

[Gasquagu]

Survivorman.

[QTpie]

bear is just a big damn fake
les is out there doing the real thing
my 2 cents

[Dennis K.]

Whatever your feelings about either guy, why don't you head on over to the Introduction page, and tell us a bit about yourself?

[wildography]

Bear Gryllis is an idiot and Man vs Wild is barely a survival show... its a drama show. He takes unnecessary risks; he makes things more difficult than they really are; and he misleads you about how to survive in the wild.

Survivorman is more realistic; however, he often makes VERY poor/inadequate shelters or chooses poor locations for shelters. He also, at times, seems to make amateurish mistakes intentionally... when he should be showing the best way to do a particular task. Overall, though, his show is far superior to Idiot vs Wild.

[crashdive123]

Well, now that you've told us all about them, how about heading over to the Introduction section and tell us about yourself. Thanks.

[wildography]

Well, now that you've told us all about them, how about heading over to the Introduction section and tell us about yourself. Thanks.

LOL... done deal! If you want to find more about me, just GOOGLE search my user name: wildography. Or, just ask!

[polishpunk]

i dont like how survivorman ended. i think it was good show. y wood he end it? he only got 3 seasons in i think, thats not that much. he got me into surviving.

[Stairman]

I think it was taking a toll on his body half starving every episode.Im wondering if the producers held him back from running a proper trapline.

[Sarge47]

i dont like how survivorman ended. i think it was good show. y wood he end it? he only got 3 seasons in i think, thats not that much. he got me into surviving.
Soooo, you're saying that prior to watching the show you were just planning on dying?:confused1:

[polishpunk]

no im saying that hes the reason i like to go hiking wenever i can. i still havnt gone out and survived off the land but i want to for the most part

[Sarge47]

no im saying that hes the reason i like to go hiking wenever i can. i still havnt gone out and survived off the land but i want to for the most partYa know, I don't know if you're Polish, or just a Numpty! Nobody in their right mind goes out & deliberately puts themselves in a life & death situation, & I don't believe that you will either since, on another thread, you tell us your running away from your girlfriend! Oh you're bad alright!:innocent::cool2:

[endurance]

Has anyone else watched the Man vs. Wild podcasts? His own podcast debunks any lingering though that he's anything but a stuntman in an outdoors environment. The size of the crew, the number of consultants, the safety measures they take on each sequence has nothing to do with survival in the wild. I used to despise the show, but since figuring out that it's just mindless entertainment, I've actually learned to enjoy it. He's no Survivorman, but once you stop making the comparison and just enjoy it for a stunt show, it's much more palatable.

[crashdive123]

While I agree with your assessment of the show, what bothers me is that they portray it as something it isn't. Bear is an extermely accomplished individual with skills. Unfortunately, to many that watch the show and do not realize that so much is staged - there is the potential for harm coming to those that try to mimick what they see.

[Gray Wolf]

Bear is an extremely accomplished individual with skills. Unfortunately, to many that watch the show and do not realize that so much is staged - there is the potential for harm coming to those that try to mimick what they see.

Now THAT'S QUALITY CONTROL! And GREAT Advice!!! :thumbup1:

[earlthegoat2]

Les has better technical real world survival skills. Bear is more entertaining I think though.

[Rick]

We'll see which show stays on the longest. That will determine who the survivalist is.:lol:

[evan2]

Yeah at the beginning of the man vs. wild show it says something about it being pretty fake( I forget what it says). I even read an article about him and his crew sleeping in a hotel during a survival week. But you do have to give it to him for eating a nut out of bear feces and drinking his own urine.

[Rick]

Oh, good Heavens, No. That's just crazy stuff. Drinking your own urine is just plain dangerous. Never do that. There is a whole thread on that on the forum. And wait until someone eats an acorn or something out of bear poop and contracts E. coli. If anything, he's getting worse.

[Sarge47]

Oh, good Heavens, No. That's just crazy stuff. Drinking your own urine is just plain dangerous. Never do that. There is a whole thread on that on the forum. And wait until someone eats an acorn or something out of bear poop and contracts E. coli. If anything, he's getting worse.That's why many of us intensely dislike M. v. W.; because he shows dangerous examples of what NOT to do.:cool2:

[evan2]

Oh, good Heavens, No. That's just crazy stuff. Drinking your own urine is just plain dangerous. Never do that. There is a whole thread on that on the forum. And wait until someone eats an acorn or something out of bear poop and contracts E. coli. If anything, he's getting worse.

Really? I mean what if it was absolutely necessary? I heard about people doing it in concentration camps, etc. Could you link me to that thread, please. I tried searching a few things but nothing came up at all. If you could go through the trouble it would be much appreciated.

[crashdive123]

Evan - here's a thread where it was discussed. http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/showthread.php?t=328&highlight=drinking+urine

[Sarge47]

Really? I mean what if it was absolutely necessary? I heard about people doing it in concentration camps, etc. Could you link me to that thread, please. I tried searching a few things but nothing came up at all. If you could go through the trouble it would be much appreciated.Evan, Bear Gryls probably isn't really drinking it. I'm a magician & we fool people into thinking we do all kinds of crazy crap! Check out the US Army Survival Manual on the home page pf this website! I believe it's chapter 6, it's the chapter on finding water.:cool2:

[SARKY]

Yeah at the beginning of the man vs. wild show it says something about it being pretty fake( I forget what it says). I even read an article about him and his crew sleeping in a hotel during a survival week. But you do have to give it to him for eating a nut out of bear feces and drinking his own urine.

So Bear is a turd burglar the ham burglar will be so happy that he doesn't have any competition

[hoosierarcher]

The information Bear Gryls provides is real and he is a better hunter/trapper/fisherman than Les at least they show more killing. Les, in fact most survival instructors claim eating is lowest on the hierarchy of needs. Howev er how often does Les complain about how hard it is to do everything he is doing(filming as well as surviving) with low blood sugar and an empty stomach. I know Les grew up hunting. But even on the one show he had a rifle with him he couldn't kill even a rabbit. On Man v Wild what the disclaimer says is that undeer the worst conditions Bear often doesn't spend the night out in the bush in the shelters he makes. But that was after the grizzly bear scare in Sierras when he was in a debris shelter. I think it was forced on him by the producers and insurance company. He was in The British Special Forces. Both have their good points. BUT I'd have to give Les the edge simply because he doesn't do the stuntman bit and take unacceptable risks to accomplish things.

[Tony uk]

The information Bear Gryls provides is real and he is a better hunter/trapper/fisherman than Les at least they show more killing. Les, in fact most survival instructors claim eating is lowest on the hierarchy of needs. Howev er how often does Les complain about how hard it is to do everything he is doing(filming as well as surviving) with low blood sugar and an empty stomach. I know Les grew up hunting. But even on the one show he had a rifle with him he couldn't kill even a rabbit. On Man v Wild what the disclaimer says is that undeer the worst conditions Bear often doesn't spend the night out in the bush in the shelters he makes. But that was after the grizzly bear scare in Sierras when he was in a debris shelter. I think it was forced on him by the producers and insurance company. He was in The British Special Forces. Both have their good points. BUT I'd have to give Les the edge simply because he doesn't do the stuntman bit and take unacceptable risks to accomplish things.

Just my thoughts, He was (at least im sure) a soldier is the TA SAS, while this is special forces, the soldiers do not recieve any alrge ammount of survival training, more of just an intraduction to combat survival. This would bring them into line with most of the british regular army. This is what led me to always belive that he is just useing this tag for advertiseing reasons, instead of a really reason why he claims to know survival skills.

source:- A mate of mine who currently serves in the armed forces.

[endurance]

Everytime I've seen Bear eating meat from anything larger than a rat it was something he "found" dead in the wild that he miraculously needs just 10 minutes later. I've been hiking for decades and can't remember the last time I came across something freshly dead that I'd be willing to eat from it. It's clearly staged.

I still enjoy it, but it's more as appreciation of his stunts than thinking I could actually learn something useful like I frequently did with Les.

[crashdive123]

Regardless of where you fall in the love em, hate em camp - the network is getting exactly what they want - people are always talking about it.

[lucznik]

The information Bear Gryls provides is real... On Man v Wild what the disclaimer says is that undeer the worst conditions Bear often doesn't spend the night out in the bush in the shelters he makes. But that was after the grizzly bear scare in Sierras when he was in a debris shelter. I think it was forced on him by the producers and insurance company. He was in The British Special Forces. Both have their good points. BUT I'd have to give Les the edge simply because he doesn't do the stuntman bit and take unacceptable risks to accomplish things.
This is not what the disclaimer states. There was no "grizzly bear scare" (see below), and Edward has only ever claimed that he was "forced by the producers" to wear a life vest while floating down a set of white-water rapids, after which incident he claims he subsequently insisted on doing all stunts without such gear and "on [his] own terms." Some of his "fishing" has been accomplished by planting farm-bred fish into pools for him to catch and many of the animals he has "hunted" were provided for him and staged to make it look like his hunting had been successful. As to the information being "real..." Well, you must have a different definition of the word "real" than I.



Man vs. Wild / Born Survivor has been criticized by outdoor enthusiasts for fabricating some of the situations Bear finds himself in. They contend that Bear misleads his viewers and gives the impression that he is alone in the wild, when this has never been the case. Critics allege that Bear rarely puts himself in excessive harm's way, and that he is occasionally assisted by members of the production crew if needed.

In 2006 it was revealed that Born Survivor misled viewers into believing that Grylls was stranded in the wild alone when he was not and Channel 4 temporarily suspended the show for a few weeks. Discovery and Channel 4 then aired reedited episodes, removing elements that were too planned, with a fresh voice-over and a preceding announcement pointing out that some situations are 'presented to Bear to show the viewer how to survive'. Discovery and Channel 4 have continued to broadcast the program.

Grylls was shown trying to ride "wild" horses that were clearly well brushed and appeared to have horseshoes. In another episode Bear claims to be crossing an unstable lava bridge, when in reality the area is part of a national park and is within some distance of a road. Similarly, it was revealed that Grylls stayed at a crew base-camp in the Costa Rican jungle, while giving viewers the impression that he was alone. There have been several other incidents, including the impression Grylls built a raft "in a matter of hours with no tools". According to the adviser, the raft was actually in part built by a show stunt consultant. This episode implied it was filmed on a small South Pacific island, which Channel 4 admitted was actually a peninsula in Hawaii, the scene of Hollywood movie shoots. These incidents were confirmed by Channel 4, who argued that it was not a documentary, but a "how-to" guide to survival, implying that staged scenes were acceptable in that context


In one episode filmed in California's Sierra Nevada mountains he was shown biting off the head of a snake for breakfast and boasting that he was living on 'just a water bottle, a cup and a flint for making fire'. Viewers were not told that he was actually spending some nights in the Pines Resort hotel at Bass Lake, where the rooms have Internet access and is advertised as 'a cosy getaway for families' complete with blueberry pancakes for breakfast.

In another episode when Grylls declared he was a 'real life Robinson Crusoe' stuck on a desert island, he was actually on an outlying part of the Hawaiian archipelago and retired to a motel at nightfall.

Mark Weinert, a survival consultant brought in for the programme, said one show also wrongly gave the impression that the adventurer built a Polynesian- style raft using only materials around him, including bamboo and palm leaves for a sail. Mr Weinert had in fact led a team that built the raft, which was then dismantled so that Grylls could be shown constructing it on camera.

In another episode, Grylls was filmed attempting to lasso 'wild' mustang in the Sierra Nevada, when the horses were actually tame and had been brought in by trailer from a nearby trekking station.

'If you really believe everything happens the way it is shown on TV, you are being a little bit naive,' Mr Weinert told the Sunday Times.



Grylls has stated numerous times on camera that he is not to receive any assistance unless his life is in danger. However, in July 2007 it was reported in the mainstream media that at least portions of some episodes were staged and that Bear did not always survive without help. One of the more serious allegations is that while Grylls claimed to be sleeping outdoors, he was allegedly sleeping in hotels (although on Jimmy Kimmel Live, before the accusations came out, Bear stated that only the cameramen were flown out at night). The Discovery Channel said that future airings would be edited to reflect such things.

Other reported instances of outside influence or staged situations include the following:

Grylls admitted wearing a flotation device in the pilot episode to ride down a river in a staged shot, citing safety reasons. He claimed that he was displeased with the decision, which came from Discovery producers, and has since been able to avoid the use of such devices.

The director of the Desert Island episode, Graham Strong, noted that a diver was at hand who checked for sharks while Bear was adrift (he did not spot the tigers, only reef sharks), and that “we” beat on the raft to scare the tiger sharks away. Also, in the Copper Canyon, Mexico episode, director Scott Tankard says that the local Indian tribe, the Rarámuri Indians, acted as their guides.

According to the survival consultant for the show’s Sierra Nevada and Desert Island episodes, Mark Wienart of Lifesong Adventures, the “wild” horses in the Sierra Nevada episode were shipped in for a choreographed feature.

The Desert Island raft was not made by Bear; it was made by a team of people over a week and a half, using rope, and was dissembled for Bear to put together on camera.

Crew members simulated molten lava by using smoke machines and hot coals. The smoke machines were used to simulate poisonous sulphur dioxide, though Grylls was not in fact facing real danger.

Grylls gives the impression of being lost when he is only a few yards from tourist locations and areas of relatively heavy traffic.
Hiring a man in a bear suit because they could not get a tame bear, running the show with a “script” (with scheduled scenes such as “Scene 10 - Grizzly Attacks Camp”), pretending that a snake found dead on the side of a road was alive, eating steak inside a badger skin, and hoisting Bear into a tree to make it look like his parachute “snagged”

[lucznik]

Don't know if this has been reported here yet but I found this on Backpacker Magazine's website: http://www.backpacker.com/blogs/daily_dirt/562


Survivorman Calls It Quits
Les stroud plans to end successful Discovery Channel show after forthcoming third season

Somewhere, perhaps in a four-star hotel while eating chocolate cherries and sipping champagne, Bear Grylls is breathing a sigh of relief: His primary media rival, Les Stroud of the Discovery Channel's popular Survivorman series, has announced he plans to hang up his cameras and end the show after the upcoming third season.

"It takes a lot out of me as I really do what I do for real, with no camera crew, no nights in hotels like others do, and it takes a toll on my body," Stroud told Reuters.

"You can only do seven days surviving without food a certain number of times a year. I'm pleased with what I have done, I've been copied around the world, but 25 times I've not eaten anything for a week while sleeping on rocks. I need to move on."

Sad news for TV survival junkies, to be sure, but all is not lost: Stroud plans to return with a series where he follows in the footsteps of famous explorers.

[sgtdraino]

Don't know if this has been reported here yet but I found this on Backpacker Magazine's website: http://www.backpacker.com/blogs/daily_dirt/562

Oh yeah. His final episode already aired, and Les looked really miserable the whole time. He had the squirts all that week.

[lucznik]

I picked up a copy of Men's Journal today at the grocery store because it has a feature article about Edward. The article is mostly fluff, trying to make Edward appear as "larger than life" as possible by listing some of his accomplishments - even ones that are under suspicion as being falsified - for example his claim to have "flown a motorized parasail as high as Everest's summit," a feat that cannot be validated because his altimeter mysteriously stopped working during the flight.

The article mentions that his program "reaches a million viewers in the United States," which seems kind of low to me. I would have expected it to be quite a bit higher. It also mentions that he is "tailed in the bush by a cameraman and sound engineer." Oddly though, it fails to mention the 6-9 other guys that are with him throughout his adventures - which can be seen on the "behind the scenes" exerpts available on Discovery Channels website. That seems like a strange ommision to me.

He talks briefly about the controversy surrounding his shows authenticity and states, "Since the controversy, if I ever have any safety protection, I now have to acknowledge it. I think it's crap always having to say it, so I am actually doing more free climbs." I actually agree with him that, under normal circumstances, he shouldh't have to mention safety gear everytime it's used. The problem is that it was his own choice to mislead viewers, not by simply not acknowledging safety precautions that were taken, but by literally trying to hide them so as to present an image that they were never used in the first place. Now he has to pay the price. Actually, if he (figuratively speaking) had done "more free climbs" from the beginning, it might never have become a problem.

I think the article sums up Edward quite well when it says "what's truly remarkable about Grylls isn't his 'bushcraft,' but the way he has used the series as a vehicle to take all these amazing trips. He has improvised an insanely great life for himself." I think they're right. Like him or hate him, you've got to admire the fact that the guy does for a (very well-paid) living the kinds of things most of us slave away every year at work to be able to afford to merely approximate during our brief "vacations."

[Sarge47]

Okay folks, at last count this thread had 689 posts & over 59,250 views! So here's the results in a nutshell!

Les good, Bear Bad! Bear drinks pee; eats poo! Les does not! Bear has a cute tush for a soldier...I mean that in a "nice" way! Les plays a "mean Harp!" Les takes lots of gear & carries all of his own camera gear while Bear only carries a canteen full of pee & a $700 autographed knife you can buy from Bailey's in England. His Cameraman, sound man, Key Grip, and stage hands carry a lot more...but Les doesn't need it 'cuz the Ramada Inn has everything!:innocent: Les shows you how to Survive while Bear shows you how to "fake it 'till you make it!" Finally the poll at the top of the page shows Les wins by 90% to 10%...even a cute tush couldn't save Grylli's hiney!:cool2:

[lucznik]

Les plays a "mean Harp!" Doesn't he play a harmonica? I think a harp would be a real b!+(# to try to pack around. They're heavy!!:D

[Sarge47]

Doesn't he play a harmonica? I think a harp would be a real b!+(# to try to pack around. They're heavy!!:D1st, I didn't say he took it along with him, just that he played one, however there is a difference between a harmonica & a "Blues Harp". Go down to your local music store owner & have them explain the difference to you!:innocent:

[crashdive123]

Ummmm, mouth harp.....yeah, harmonica

[lucznik]

1st, I didn't say he took it along with him, just that he played one, however there is a difference between a harmonica & a "Blues Harp". Go down to your local music store owner & have them explain the difference to you!:innocent: There isn't a "local" music store for more than 150 miles from me. I'll just take your word for it.

[Rick]

I usually play air harp. If you want something tough to pack along, try a Macy's Organ. Now, there's a BIG instrument.

Lucznik - The next block, 150 miles. It's all relative.

[Okwaho]

Bear Grylls knows just as much what he's doing as Les Stroud does. I like both shows for different reasons. Survivorman is more realistic and enjoying. Man vs. Wild is more educational and easier to understand. Both are great shows.

[Sarge47]

Bear Grylls knows just as much what he's doing as Les Stroud does. I like both shows for different reasons. Survivorman is more realistic and enjoying. Man vs. Wild is more educational and easier to understand. Both are great shows.So you think it's Ok to drink urine right out of the bladder? Hey, I've got a watch I want to sell you!:innocent:

[Rick]

Man vs. Wild is more educational and easier to understand.http://www.smileyhut.com/laughing/lol1.gif (http://www.smileyhut.com)http://www.smileyhut.com/laughing/rofl.gif (http://www.smileyhut.com)http://www.smileyhut.com/laughing/lolabove.gif (http://www.smileyhut.com/)

[wizardslovak]

i like to watch both but i think Les Strout is showing more "reall" stuff which can be used

[Kemperor]

I didn't read all of the replies on this thread, but you all should check out Les's book, "Survive!" It's a good read. Kind of left out what to do in a tornado, though, but I doubt he's had too much experience there.

[tennecedar]

Les Stroud to host a new survival show on cartoon network involving kids.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118001648.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i52a5818a20ffa0249cbb839152cb9e4a

[bindlestitch]

I'll take Ray Mears please.:D

[sgtdraino]

I didn't read all of the replies on this thread, but you all should check out Les's book, "Survive!" It's a good read. Kind of left out what to do in a tornado, though, but I doubt he's had too much experience there.

Well, it's tricky to locate a tornado that lasts for a whole seven days, so Les can do his thing. ;)

[Aurelius95]

Apparently, Will Ferrell is going to star on an episode of Man vs. Wild that airs in June. It coincides with the release of his movie "Land of the Lost".

http://tv.msn.com/man-vs-wid-ferrell/photo-gallery/feature/?gt1=28130

I have stopped watching Bear Grylls, but I will probably check out this episode!

[crashdive123]

Looks like another pee drinking party.

[KimmyHead]

Love Survivorman watch it everyday love to learn from his mistakes

[WillDeerborn]

I'm with everyone who likes Survivorman...I saw the one where Bear eats the "****berries" from a heap of bear offal. He shows all this extreme stuff that ain't necessary. Les is more down to earth and does everything practically...Bear Grylls is an idiot and I refuse to watch him...I think he's a dumbass...And you can quote me.

[Sarge47]

I'm with everyone who likes Survivorman...I saw the one where Bear eats the "****berries" from a heap of bear offal. He shows all this extreme stuff that ain't necessary. Les is more down to earth and does everything practically...Bear Grylls is an idiot and I refuse to watch him...I think he's a dumbass...And you can quote me.So why don't you mount up yer 'ole hoss & mosey on over to the intro section & tell us all about yerself?:cool2:

[mountain mama]

WillDeerborn, here's the link: http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14
We just like to know a lil' about those who care to grace us with their presence :D

[Schleprok]

Survivorman gets my vote, no question. But I agree, they don't show enough on basics. He does let you know that the crew will come back and clean up whatever mess was made. I enjoy the different scenarios they set up, which are helpful. Planecrash, motorcycle broke in the desert, etc. Plus the crew "gives" Les some items occassionally.

We can all pick up a tidbit or two, here or there on either show. Even Bear Grylls shows us what not to do, and how to recover if you do it anyway. Mostly they are good entertainment (like tv wrestling). Man vs Wild is more active. Survivorman can be boring to some, but in a survival situation the younguns need to know that the trap is usually empty, and that the deadfall may land on your hand when your trying to set it and haven't eaten in days, etc...

[oneraindog]

I'll take Ray Mears please.:D

ditto that one. ******* mears is cool. hes what bear and les wish they were with a touch of james bond. hes so smooth.

anyway i have to admit i was not able to make it through all 36 pages of this discussion (haha holy moly people) but i must say lesis may favorite of the two. ive read his book survive! and it was really good. it goes more in depth than the show can on some things like the psychology of survival and coping mechanisms etc. also his writting style is very conversational while still being informative. not to turn this into a book review but it just said a lot more about where hes coming from and that he has a sincere interest in peoples education.

bear just seams liek a show boater and he has the rugged good looks that makes for good TV celebrity.
i can name half a dozen guys making youtube videos that are probably just as wilderness capable but lack the charisma/cult of personality.

that my newbie opinion anyway :0

[sgtdraino]

What is a ray mears, and does it really know what it's doing? Never heard of it.

[crashdive123]

What is a ray mears, and does it really know what it's doing? Never heard of it.

Here ya go. http://www.raymears.com/

He also has quite a few videos posted on You Tube - they're worth checking out.

[beargryllsadvocate]

Man vs. Wild & Survivorman are 2 different shows and shouldn't be compared head-to-head, but they do have some similarities. However, they are both outstanding in representing survival skills. Bear has more technical climbing skills and more, but both TV hosts are very qualified and entertaining to watch. I do see more humor with BG- especially incorporating Will Ferrell in Men vs. Wild show-June 2 10pm EST.

Anyhow...

Bear Grylls fans and advocates....something I've been working on and it's still in the works. Website is dedicated to the personal stories of Bear Grylls Advocates (BGA)- ordinary people inspired by Bear Grylls to go the EXTRA mile to survive, live healthy, and become Extraordinary! Visit-

***************

Stay tuned.....

Mark

[Ken]

http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-signs100.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-signs036.gif

[Ken]

http://www.smileyshut.com/smileys/new/Disgusting/piss.gif (http://www.smileyshut.com)Bear Grylls

[crashdive123]

Hey beargryllsadvocate - I edited your post. You cannot post a link to your site in the body of your posts - Thanks in advance for understanding. Why not hike over to the introduction section and tell us a bit about yourself. Thanks. http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=14

[crashdive123]

Now, now Ken.....play nice till you get to know folks.

[BAKWOODS]

bear grylls is a tosser but you cant say hes not entertaining.
i havent seen survivorman but i have seen ray mears,he knows what he is doing but hes like watching paint dry.thats boring .at least you get a laugh out of bear.:clap:
he has got alot of guts though, flying a paraglider over everest.like to see ray mears or less stoud do that

[Mischief]

I am with Ken,must be the brotherhood of Quality

[rphillips1986]

I prefer Survivorman. He earned major brownie points with me in one eppisode when he said that because this is a TV show, with the cameras and the knowlage he will be rescued, he can't portray a lot of the phycological and emotional effects of the situations he is trying to immitate. He also has a real background in survival, having written books and taught classes prior to the show.

[jrock24]

My 6 y/o boy seen the commercial for Les' new show and got all excited. We made plans to watch it together this weekend when it plays.

[erunkiswldrnssurvival]

my daughter is too young to be interested, but i am going to watch it also.

[patriot]

i heard that bear had a stunt person do all of the survival stuff while he sat in a warm hotel room.

[endurance]

I'm still not a Bear fan, but you have to give the guy at least partial credit on this one:

TV Show Helps Utah Boy Survive Night Solo In Woods (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/23/ap/entertainment/main5105936.shtml)


(AP) When he realized he'd been separated from his family on a weekend hike in a northern Utah forest, 9-year-old Grayson Wynne's thoughts turned to television.

Grayson watches "Man vs. Wild" on the Discovery Channel every week with his brothers and his dad. On the show, host and adventurer Bear Grylls strands himself in the wilderness and then shows viewers how to survive the sticky situations.

That's where Grayson says he learned to leave clues behind to help searchers find him.

On Saturday, when he was scared and alone in the Ashley National Forest, Grayson started tearing up his yellow rain slicker, despite the intermittent downpours, and tying pieces to trees.

"I just used my hands," said Grayson, who was found safe Sunday after spending 18 hours lost in the forest. "I don't know how many times I tore the thing but quite a lot."

Grayson was among a party of about 15 family members that left Saturday from the Spirit Lake trailhead in Daggett County. The group stopped to tighten a saddle on a horse at some point, said Grayson's dad, Kynan Wynne. But Grayson didn't realize it and went ahead of the pack before diverting onto a smaller trail in the thick forest.

Although Kynan Wynne was concerned for his son's safety, he was also confident in the boy's resilience.

"Somewhere he got the idea that for multiple reasons, not just for people to find you, but to retrace your steps if you have to, to leave a trail," Kynan Wynne said.

Grayson created a small shelter overnight under a fallen tree. The next day, he decided to follow a creek in hopes of finding help.

"I (thought I) might find the lake, that there might be somebody at the lake," he said.

Grayson, who will start fourth grade in the fall, also left a couple of clues for searchers that he didn't mean to.

He dropped a granola bar wrapper about 300 yards off the main trail. Searchers also found a small footprint and a backpack about 400 yards from the wrapper.

"I was just being pretty stupid that I dropped the backpack," Grayson said. "I was just panicking too much."

When Grayson heard a helicopter overhead, he ran into a meadow and waved the last piece of his jacket. But two searchers on horseback saw him first.

"It was such a good feeling that I was going to be all right," said Grayson, who got back to normal Monday by playing in a Little League double-header.

When he was reunited with his father, Grayson's first words were "Happy Father's Day."

The Daggett County sheriff's office credited the searchers, volunteers and Grayson's common sense for the positive outcome.

"The thing that he recognized from the show, regardless of the circumstances you're in, you are capable of surviving," Kynan Wynne said.

I think that last line says it all. Just knowing you can endure great hardship makes a big difference in your likelihood of survival. That's why I love the book The Long Walk.:thumbup:

[Sarge47]

I've posted this in it's own thread. Let's just hope the kid didn't try to drink his own urine!:innocent:

[Grant H]

Bear Grylls= Survivorman Lite.

[Sarge47]

Bear Grylls= Survivorman Lite.
Grant, methinks you're gonna fit in quite well here! :online2long:

[Tundrascout]

I lost all interest in survivorman when he shot an episode on surviving an avalanche. The avalanche experts were trying to explain something to him and he cut them off on camera and began explaining the same thing to the camera - pretty much repeating them verbatim. Pretty rude in person I am sure.

I'm not a big fan of Will Ferrel, but the episode he was on with Bear was highly entertaining.

To me, both shows are entertainment with some ideas tossed in on survival tactics, but each situation warrants a re-evaluation of what is needed. (if you were just attacked by a bear, bleeding profusely despite your aid kit and probably going to die if you dont get attention quickly, it might make more sense to slide down the side of a mountain with a stick then to try to walk down.)

[sgtdraino]

I lost all interest in survivorman when he shot an episode on surviving an avalanche. The avalanche experts were trying to explain something to him and he cut them off on camera and began explaining the same thing to the camera - pretty much repeating them verbatim. Pretty rude in person I am sure.

??? I thought I'd seen every episode, and this doesn't ring any bells at all with me. Anybody else remember such a thing?

[tonester]

??? I thought I'd seen every episode, and this doesn't ring any bells at all with me. Anybody else remember such a thing?

yah will ferrel did a special with bear, it was called men vs wild. i think it was to promote ferrels new movie land of the lost. they just showed it again tonight.

[Jiujitman]

It is always funny to me that Bear just happens to find a Moose head laying in the snow, a dead camel for food and shelter, a dead sheep for food and shelter, there was something else dead he found but I forgot...Is this just a coincidence? Think not.

On another note, les did a show not too far from where I live. It was a show about swamp survival in the Altamaha river/swamps. He actually built a turtle trap, ate the turtle, killed a rattlesnake, ate the snake and then built a raft and paddled to safety. Finding your way out of those swamps in the Altamahe or Satilla can be SCARY (he was blindfolded when they dropped him off)! I got lost on the river one night with nothing but a paddle and a canoe-talk about scary!!

[KenB]

Every time I see that jack *** Bear I hope that Wild wins.

[rwc1969]

His new episode was on last night. "He?" "caught?" a Caribou and apparently gutted it without rupturing the ponch. Amazing! He then proceeded to drag it thru knee deep snow just to eventually dump it in the river. what a waste!

I saw the real Survivorman had a show on Cartoon network, but it may have been cancelled. Would sure like to see more real survival shows on air.

[Ken]

It is always funny to me that Bear just happens to find a Moose head laying in the snow, a dead camel for food and shelter, a dead sheep for food and shelter, there was something else dead he found but I forgot...

Here ya' go, Bear! Food and shelter........ :innocent:

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/image.php?u=725&dateline=1238551950 (http://www.wilderness-survival.net/forums/member.php?u=725)

[Rick]

Oh, look! My ban button is sitting under my chair. Oh, oh. Looks like the legs are about to give out under the strain!

[2dumb2kwit]

Oh, look! My ban button is sitting under my chair. Oh, oh. Looks like the legs are about to give out under the strain!

Yeah! Ban him! You don't have to take his abuse!:smash::sneaky2::innocent:

[Rick]

You know....game kinda has the taste of what it has been eating, so one of these should taste kinda like......Twinkies!

Even if you delete it, I can still read it. Now...who did you want banned?

[2dumb2kwit]

Even if you delete it, I can still read it. Now...who did you want banned?

Just because YOU can read it, doesn't mean that you can't play along! (Sheeez......how many lobsters did Ken send this guy?) :innocent:

[Ken]

Even if you delete it, I can still read it. Now...who did you want banned?

Rick, 2dumb just e-mailed this picture that he claims is you sitting on your chair. That's not you, is it? :innocent:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xXVbcmGg_dg/SUq6rIltzkI/AAAAAAAADFc/MaSh_fJ2zpM/s320/Fat-Guy-in-Chair.jpg

[finallyME]

I'm still not a Bear fan, but you have to give the guy at least partial credit on this one:

TV Show Helps Utah Boy Survive Night Solo In Woods (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/23/ap/entertainment/main5105936.shtml)


I think that last line says it all. Just knowing you can endure great hardship makes a big difference in your likelihood of survival. That's why I love the book The Long Walk.:thumbup:

That kid is another reason why you don't listen to Bear for advice on survival. The kid did almost everything wrong, and luckily was saved. He would have been saved much sooner had he followed the advice of Les. Sure, I like Bear for entertainment. In almost every episode he does something stupid. But, the problem is that other people think he is actually showing good technique. Of course, when they die, they can't tell the news that they learned it on Man vs Wild.

[finallyME]

I put this link on the pee thread. But it belongs here as well.

Bear Wiki (http://www.daughtersoftiresias.org/bearwiki/Special:Allpages)

Bad form with fire bow (http://www.daughtersoftiresias.org/bearwiki/Bear%27s_fire_bow_demonstration_was_faked.)

Fake rabbit kill (http://www.daughtersoftiresias.org/bearwiki/Domesticated_rabbit)

[hunter63]

I like them both, and if you see it on the TV it must be true, right?

Any way they both are making good coin doing something that most of us haven't gotten of the couch to do.

[HanoverDan]

What they teach is mostly the mind part of the survival world.

There are many good things that are in each of the programs but they really need to focus on a life situation.

I mean finding your way out. and teaching the kids to stay put and not move. Like we teach sit down and cry and yell and bang rocks together and hit sticks together. make noise.

they dont concentrate on the needs of temporary lost kids in the woods.

Long term survival is great its the ones that lose themselves in the woods just off a trail that need to be taugh.

Survival trainer for the Military for 2 years
SERE
Respect
Daniel

[HanoverDan]

I think and it is solely my opinion that bear is geared more to the military and for long term survival. Yeah most of the stuff is crazy. Made strickly for entertainment. In a long term survival, time is not the problem, it is your enemy, you will have plenty. Its the time that drives you nuts.
Survivor guy could be more to the point when it comes to surviving. These are set for longer times in the field and not geared to lifes instantaneous emergencies.

I think they should actually start helping the kids that get lost by showing what not to do.
Survival is learned, not overnight.
Respect
Daniel

[TangoFoxtrot]

Without a doubt Les. I think Bear has folded to the Hollywood mentality.

[Survival Guy 10]

i think Bear Grylls is an ok show but he is a big risk taker who down a mountain in a piece of crapp sled made of caribo hide then he dosent even take the hide with and he is in Siberia one of the coldest places in the world

[Rick]

Siberia? That must be next door to Teluride. I understand they have some nice hotels there.

[Larec]

I have seen both shows and i would say that for purely entertainment value then Bear's show wins. For edutainment value then Les's show wins.

I only watch these shows for entertainment, if i wanted to learn skills then i would join a survival course or study various books.

[red lake]

I am watching the show and he is traveling down a mountain river. Firstly it is stupid of him to jump into a river that is fed by melting snow..COLD.

He claims he is using his pack as a PFD, but as you see him in the river you can clearly see there is a PFD under his sweater.