Creek Stewart/Fat Guys in the Woods

Yes, it was quite a departure in style relative to Season 1. With a destination target, you just have to get there... that is along the same lines as some of the other survival shows with the destination being "rescue" or civilization.

It would appear that this season will be at varied locations rather than "Smokey Mts". It was also clear that the Season 1 shows were not in the National Park since they thanked TDEC in the credits. So, it likely was a "national forest" or game management area.
 
This is probably the only "survival" show I can still watch. I like it a lot.

And the last episode was about knives :D
 
This past episode was one of the two that I worked as a production manager and guide on. I was impressed that the guys were able to keep at it all week on very minimal food and sleep. This show is legit. And the crew goes through a lot, too. This is just checking that turtle trap. And this happened for three days until they caught one. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1435851638.666007.jpg
 
fishshooter said:
This past episode was one of the two that I worked as a production manager and guide on. I was impressed that the guys were able to keep at it all week on very minimal food and sleep. This show is legit. And the crew goes through a lot, too. This is just checking that turtle trap. And this happened for three days until they caught one. View attachment 557589
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I can attest to the amazing crew and all they go through. The camera guys were constantly getting shanked by cacti to get great shots on our episode.

I'm really enjoying the season thus far. Loving all the different episodes.
 
Randy, you did fine. I just put myself in your place and take a step back and look at myself. We're not polished actors.
 
22-rimfire said:
Randy, you did fine. I just put myself in your place and take a step back and look at myself. We're not polished actors.
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Agreed! Thought you did great out there! It's one of the only shows that's actually fun to watch and has some our brothers on it, bonus. Thanks for being so accessible about it!
 
During this week's show Creek has the idea of using two boards, 5 tampons (taken apart), some wood ash, and .....that's about it to make fire. Worked over and over again. I liked the concept and it certainly didn't appear to be as much work as a bow. I feel sure Creek practiced this method prior to the filming, so he knew it would work. Fire cigar? I believe that was what he called it.

Something I have wondered.... Randy, do you guys get paid to be on the show? I am not asking for an amount, just if they did anything beyond provide transportation to the survival site and so forth.
 
22-rimfire said:
During this week's show Creek has the idea of using two boards, 5 tampons (taken apart), some wood ash, and .....that's about it to make fire. Worked over and over again. I liked the concept and it certainly didn't appear to be as much work as a bow. I feel sure Creek practiced this method prior to the filming, so he knew it would work. Fire cigar? I believe that was what he called it.
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Haven't watched any episodes. From your description, that is the Rudiger Roll form of friction fire.

This simple friction fire technique is also known as the Fire Roll aka Wool Skating aka Fire Skating. As far as anyone can tell so far this technique was first posted on the internet to this thread on 12/23/2007 in posts #11 and #13. http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/2770/Fire-by-all-possible-ways Post #11 cites German TV. Post #13 cites this vid posted to YouTube by Rene "Baca" Ponya on 02/16/2008 of a German TV clip that aired in 2007. http://youtube.com/watch?v=kJswRUbYYH0*

Rudiger Nehberg, a German survival instructor, is universally credited with spreading this technique. There is a story that people in concentration camps used this method. BoggySwampBeast credits Gullrica with naming it the Fire Roll. BoggySwampBeast and Edu Gordo seem to be the current masters of this technique having the most vids using the most materials.

While it may or may not be documented to have been connected to any primitive cultures, the Rudiger Roll has been amply documented to easily make an ember on the spot with a variety of natural materials gathered in situ using only paleo tools.
 
Rudiger Fire Rolls have been documented being made in situ with primitive or no tools by several people on many occasions in many environments. Much like bow drill, hand drill, flint and pyrite, etc. The old "go into the woods with nothing" scenario. So far I have been successful with cotton balls and the fibers from the stems of milkweed. Bit of a knack to boarding it and to the amount of pressure needed. Too much and it falls apart, too little and it takes too long to get an ember. Much like learning bow and hand drill.

Here is David West rolling Rudiger Fire Rolls on a variety of surfaces. Vertically on a tree trunk, on a stump, using two split branches, etc.
David West: "Ten Ways to roll Fire Rolls"
http://youtu.be/zAifYhNCRV4

A couple of classics from BoggyCreekBeast.
BoggyCreekBeast: "Fire Roll Friction Fire (Rudiger Roll) Part 1"
http://youtu.be/Fv1Q2xh4IIs

BoggyCreekBeast: "The Fire Roll Part 21: No Tools or Ash"
http://youtu.be/n54at86f5wc

A couple from Edu Gordo,
Edu Gordo: "Fire Roll XI Cattail"
http://youtu.be/ZMskFHTBWqU

Edu Gordo: "Fire with Cotton and Ashes" - November 15th 2013
http://youtu.be/OeKalt1gwWo

This is a clip from a German tv show that aired December 2007 and Rene uploaded to YouTube on February 16 2008. This is the earliest video on the internet of the Rudiger Fire Roll that I have found so far. The PaleoPlanet thread I shared a link to in my previous post in this thread is the earliest mention of the Rudiger Fire Roll on the internet that I have found so far.
Rene "Baca" Ponya: "Survival Expert Rudiger Nehberg Lesson" - Rudiger Fire Roll from 00:49 through 1:15.
http://youtu.be/kJswRUbYYH0

Anyhow, I prefer Percussion Fire to Friction Fire as a day to day go to. Vastly less effort and much greater certainty of success in my experience. This link is Paul from Jungle Craft with an excellent article and video showing just a tiny fraction of what can be done with F&S in primitive/survival situations. I've been doing the same things with F&S for years here in the Upper MidWest.

Paul from Jungle Craft: "Advanced Flint and Steel"
http://www.junglecraft.com.my/index.php/advanced-flint-and-steel/
 
Watched most of the Eastern KY episode that aired last night. Creek called it the cave area of KY which I assume is NE KY. The cave they used looked a lot lit an mine opening however, but it could have been natural. Anyone know what part of KY for sure?
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
"That depends, how do you feel about being a cuddle bunny for 3 big guys?"

Almost laughed tea out my nose on that one. :)
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Haha. Glad you enjoyed it.

22-rimfire said:
Randy, you did fine. I just put myself in your place and take a step back and look at myself. We're not polished actors.
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Thanks. And that's very true, I'm definitely not a polished actor. lol

B34NS said:
Agreed! Thought you did great out there! It's one of the only shows that's actually fun to watch and has some our brothers on it, bonus. Thanks for being so accessible about it!
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Thanks a ton man. Means a lot to me.

I am very open to talk about my experience. I would share a link to my facebook page in order to stay in touch/answer questions more quickly but I don't want to violate any rules.

22-rimfire said:
Something I have wondered.... Randy, do you guys get paid to be on the show? I am not asking for an amount, just if they did anything beyond provide transportation to the survival site and so forth.
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Yes. They paid us (not as much as you might think ;)). I will say we were taken care of pretty well. The crew was amazing.
 
Thanks Randy for the insight on the show and I appreciate your responding.

Added: Since no body has posted on this thread since this post, I thought I'd add a few comments. Watched what I think is the last of Season 2 Fat Guys shows last night. They were in the KY Red River Gorge. The Red River Gorge is a very snaky place. But of course, they were there prior to the snakes coming out. The show really impresses me. Creek chooses a different fire making method for each show. This last show had the guys climbing down a 200 foot cliff which are common in the gorge. He then had them disable an arm/hand by putting a sling on each. This forces them to work together more. The was the first episode that the guys couldn't get a fire going (bow method) on their solo one-day effort at the end of the week.

The show that followed was a summary show. This show impressed me too. It showed them (I assume in KY) trying to corner and kill a wild hog. I must have missed that part in the regular show?? So, we had two shows in the swamps (FL), two in the Senora Desert (SW US), one in MI on the island, and two in KY ("cave country" which is over around Mammoth Cave area and the Red River Gorge just East of there). Have I missed any?

What separates this show from the other survival shows? No heroics, except of course the repelling down the cliff in KY. Basic stuff... shelter building, water acquisition, fire making, and food gathering. The cutting of the 2 liter plastic bottle was a great idea for cordage. I liked his using the vertical logs to make a nice stable place for a cooking pot. I really like the shelters that Creek and company do. They actually almost look comfortable. Add some plastic sheeting beneath the hemlock branches and you really have a nice pretty water resistant shelter. Pretty much the kind of shelter I would want to build if I were going to spend a week or more in the woods without a tent or my own shelter. I hope they decide to do another season with Creek. He is a very likable guy. I think he needs to think about his scripting a bit, but his comments are "him" and off the cuff.

I wasn't aware that one of the participants got sick and they had to take him to a hospital.
 
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Of all the "survival" shows on now this is one of my favorites. No drama, just some skills and a bit of fun. I might gain some weight :cool: and apply for next season.
 
22-rimfire said:
Added: Since no body has posted on this thread since this post, I thought I'd add a few comments. Watched what I think is the last of Season 2 Fat Guys shows last night. They were in the KY Red River Gorge. The Red River Gorge is a very snaky place. But of course, they were there prior to the snakes coming out. The show really impresses me. Creek chooses a different fire making method for each show. This last show had the guys climbing down a 200 foot cliff which are common in the gorge. He then had them disable an arm/hand by putting a sling on each. This forces them to work together more. The was the first episode that the guys couldn't get a fire going (bow method) on their solo one-day effort at the end of the week.
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I know first hand what it's like not to get fire. We didn't have it on the first night and almost didn't on the last "solo" night as well.

22-rimfire said:
The show that followed was a summary show. This show impressed me too. It showed them (I assume in KY) trying to corner and kill a wild hog. I must have missed that part in the regular show?? So, we had two shows in the swamps (FL), two in the Senora Desert (SW US), one in MI on the island, and two in KY ("cave country" which is over around Mammoth Cave area and the Red River Gorge just East of there). Have I missed any?
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The episode with the boar was the finale from season one. The entirety of season one was in the smoky mountains.

You're almost spot on with season 2. All 4 locations had 2 episodes each.

22-rimfire said:
What separates this show from the other survival shows? No heroics, except of course the repelling down the cliff in KY. Basic stuff... shelter building, water acquisition, fire making, and food gathering. The cutting of the 2 liter plastic bottle was a great idea for cordage. I liked his using the vertical logs to make a nice stable place for a cooking pot. I really like the shelters that Creek and company do. They actually almost look comfortable. Add some plastic sheeting beneath the hemlock branches and you really have a nice pretty water resistant shelter. Pretty much the kind of shelter I would want to build if I were going to spend a week or more in the woods without a tent or my own shelter. I hope they decide to do another season with Creek. He is a very likable guy. I think he needs to think about his scripting a bit, but his comments are "him" and off the cuff.
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There is no scripting. A lot of time when you see the OTF's (on the fly interviews) where it's one person it's just 1 camera guy and 1 producer asking questions. They just had us answer in our own words without prompting. What you see from Creek is pretty much him.

He actually got frustrated with Evan a few times on ours. It was hilarious. lol. He is VERY passionate about people and survival skills. Evan is VERY passionate about his work. They are a great team though and get along very well. The "Creek hawk" came out quite a bit the week we filmed though. Hahaha.

22-rimfire said:
I wasn't aware that one of the participants got sick and they had to take him to a hospital.
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That was Johnny Frisbie from season one.

LG&M said:
Of all the "survival" shows on now this is one of my favorites. No drama, just some skills and a bit of fun. I might gain some weight :cool: and apply for next season.
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I agree. No drama at all. As a matter of fact the fellas and I have been in constant contact since filming. Even Creek has stayed in touch. It was definitely an experience I won't soon forget.
 
I continue to enjoy the show, and it's great to hear from some of the participants. Here's to (hopefully) another season! :)
 
I recently started watching this series. Really enjoy it. Basic skills, sense of humor and I can relate to the inexperienced guys.
 
Heh, I've been watching this show since the second episode when I stumbled across it flipping channels. All this time I thought I was the only person who liked it. Never met Creek Stewart but he comes off as genuine on camera.
 
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