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-Essent...636829&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!

[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?do...15152822&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.