Surviorman, Season 2, Ep1: Kalahari

M

MG_Saldivar

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Just caught the premiere of Season 2... Random initial impressions:

o Les was toting a Leatherman Charge (I'm pretty sure I saw a guthook on the serrated blade when he was cutting up the vinyl seat of the pickup)

o I liked how he demonstrated alternate means of collecting moisture (urine still, leaves wrapped in plastic, roots of plants)

o He seemed quite pointed about "DON'T drink urine" (;))

o I pretty much don't want to get lost in the Kalahari anytime soon :eek:
 
Lots of good stuff, man he looked like he felt like crap, head cold in 140 degree heat has got to suck. I thought the egg was grosser than the scorpions, at least he cooks his food though. Chris
 
Echoing what runningboar said, it was very evident that the heat was taking a severe toll on Les. I would have stayed with the vehicle.
 
The dehydration was pretty accurate. One thing that isn't correctly depicted in the movies is the debilitating effects. You can't just tough it out. The first symptom (for me, anyway) is a headache, followed by dizziness, then lack of strength. The three of them together is almost paralyzing, and it becomes difficult to think and focus.

I'm in the desert southwest and have worked and played when it was up to 122 F. I worked in Lake Havasu City for a summer job, between semesters at ASU, on a pipeline crew. At the end of the 12 hr day, with no shade within a mile, there was simply nothing left and that was with all the cold water you could drink. It was 122 F 5 days in a row, and in the trench in full sun probably over 130F. Working in Phoenix where it was only about 112 F was almost easy by comparison.

I used to take a summer hike once or twice a year just for the solitude, since there would be no one for 25 or 30 miles. Once I took someone with me who didn't bring enough water (had one canteen of water, one of beer) so I had to give him a lot of mine. I got the headache and dizziness, but reached the truck with still a little strength. The moral is take more than you will need- you can always pour it out... If it's over 110 F being in good shape will help, but the effects become debilitating very quickly, not just real thirsty and sweaty like in the movies.:eek:

At the beginning of the show I wondered how he was going to travel any distance to safety on foot. To his credit, he just hung out for the whole show and survived which was the prudent thing to do in my opinion.:) Regards, ss.
 
I've always liked Les and it's honestly amazing how all the detractors are now praising him since Bear came along.:D This was a good show and just the look on his face when he was sitting there stewing in a head cold and heat exhaustion was amazing. I think it's both the best and worst episode. The best because it depicts reality, the fact that he basically was done and said I'm goin' home. And, the worst because it showed how paralizing mother nature can be no matter what your efforts. A dose of humility. Also, the fact that he tore apart a perfectly good Yota. Gotta tell my friend not to watch. His dream car.:eek:
 
I am pretty sure he is going straight to hell for taking apart a Land Cruiser. That is one of those things you shouldnt do.
 
Actually, he vandalized only soft parts if I recall correctly. I suspect the crew just fixed it and drove it out:D? ss.
 
Relax guys, I think those vehicles (and a ton of other neat ones) are still available overseas. Big Brother won't allow them in the US market.
 
Les is the man, and i cant wait for the next episode. He just seems like a guy i would like to have a few beers with and talk about some of our adventures.
 
The Kalahari show has to be his best yet because you could clearly see he was just not playing a role (i.e. acting). He almost gave up. Nature is unforgiving and that show more than any of the others I've seen illustrate just how powerful nature is. When have you seen the star just lay in the shade all day long. After the heat exhaustion experience, he was taking no chances. He truly was trying to survive.

The urine thing was great as were the solar stills. Bear, hope you enjoy drinking that crap.

I have experienced heat exhaustion and was well on my way to a heat stroke. I fainted while standing in line at a fast food place in South America after spending a couple days snorkling. Not fun. I spent two days in a hotel room while on vacation to get over that experience.
 
22-rimfire said:
The urine thing was great as were the solar stills. Bear, hope you enjoy drinking that crap.

I was glad that Les just extracted the water from his urine instead of drinking it straight like Bear Grylls. According to the SAS Survival Handbook you should never drink urine. Plus, it seemed as if Bear actually enjoyed drinking his pee and was excited about "saving some for later". Gross.. and unhealthy! Les really did appear to be suffering. Now that's entertainment!! All in all, I would have to say that this was one of the best episodes yet.:thumbup: I'm looking forward to the rest of the new season. -DT

From SAS Survival Handbook:

Warning !
-----------------------
URINE and SEA WATER

Never drink either - Never! But both can produce drinking water
if distilled - and sea water will provide you with a residue of salt.
Click to expand...
 
I missed this one, I am packing for the big move and didn't watch...sounds like I missed a good one. When I was in the Army, we did alot of NBC training (Nulear, Biological, Chemical) which invovles getting into your MOP suit..basically a neoprene and charcoal suit covered in BDU material. While training for this type of event is important..it really sucks. The suit is extremely hot..while training in July while stationed in TX, I was running around with my M-60 and full battle rattle....for over 2 hours...I can tell you, while standing in the decontamination line..I blacked out. I was told that I simple fell over like a sack of potatoes. And I was not alone...most if not all the soldiers present were "cheating", by removing thier Gasmask and drinking from thier canteens..hell, just trying to breath! I remember none of it, I woke under a tree with an IV in, and felt like I was in Ice water...My skin was crawling and I had the worse headache of my life..my skin was red and hot to the touch, but I felt cold...these are not good symtoms to have, we trained alot on preventing heat exaution and stroke..I believe to this day, that if that was a real world mission, that most if not all of my unit would have perished. Over 50% of the guys from my platoon were in the shade and hurting..the other 50% were on thier way out, but many had been in the fromt of the line getting out of thier suits about one half hour before the rest. It was 102 degrees in the shade, and the suit can raise yor body temp by 20 degrees IIRC. The moral of the story is, that if a fit well hydrated soldier can fall out after 2 hours of extreme heat...that after a couple of days..without the "suit" you can be in world of hurt quickly. It is dificult to judge your own condition once you are tired. Whenever in the outdoors, knowing what heat stroke looks like, and all the symtoms, being as careful as you can, and staying hydrated...is very important. This was an extreme training exercise, carrying all the gear, and running around playing GI Joe, wearing the suit..this is not what you would experience in the wild on a hike...but the result could be the same after a longer duration of time.
Gene
 
straitshot said:
The dehydration was pretty accurate. One thing that isn't correctly depicted in the movies is the debilitating effects. You can't just tough it out. The first symptom (for me, anyway) is a headache, followed by dizziness, then lack of strength. The three of them together is almost paralyzing, and it becomes difficult to think and focus.

I'm in the desert southwest and have worked and played when it was up to 122 F. I worked in Lake Havasu City for a summer job, between semesters at ASU, on a pipeline crew. At the end of the 12 hr day, with no shade within a mile, there was simply nothing left and that was with all the cold water you could drink. It was 122 F 5 days in a row, and in the trench in full sun probably over 130F. Working in Phoenix where it was only about 112 F was almost easy by comparison.

I used to take a summer hike once or twice a year just for the solitude, since there would be no one for 25 or 30 miles. Once I took someone with me who didn't bring enough water (had one canteen of water, one of beer) so I had to give him a lot of mine. I got the headache and dizziness, but reached the truck with still a little strength. The moral is take more than you will need- you can always pour it out... If it's over 110 F being in good shape will help, but the effects become debilitating very quickly, not just real thirsty and sweaty like in the movies.:eek:

At the beginning of the show I wondered how he was going to travel any distance to safety on foot. To his credit, he just hung out for the whole show and survived which was the prudent thing to do in my opinion.:) Regards, ss.
Click to expand...

I've been to the fringe of the Kalahari Desert west of Mafeking and it doesn't have much over parts of Arizona, except perhaps the sheer immensity of the place. One of my old So. African colleagues from that area came over here on vacation and told me that downtown Las Vegas in summer was the hottest place he had ever been. And Lake Havasu is even hotter! I missed the show on tv but I know from experience that there are times when its best to hunker down and wait for someone to find you.

GB
 
If you haven't read DUNE, gunknifenut, I highly recommend it. It's a classic.

For those of us interested in the outdoors, there's a lot of discussion of desert survival (although I admit many problems are 'solved' with magical technology) and also much talk about ecological balance and related matters.

PS - Whereabouts are you located? I grew up in Brownsville and lived in Austin and Pflugerville for about 14 years before moving here to Colorado.
 
I caught about half of it, and I must admit it was like a breath of fresh air. Real information!
 
MG_Saldivar said:
If you haven't read DUNE, gunknifenut, I highly recommend it. It's a classic.

For those of us interested in the outdoors, there's a lot of discussion of desert survival (although I admit many problems are 'solved' with magical technology) and also much talk about ecological balance and related matters.

PS - Whereabouts are you located? I grew up in Brownsville and lived in Austin and Pflugerville for about 14 years before moving here to Colorado.
Click to expand...

I read it, It was good, I used to read like it was going out of style...my new toddler is making sure I do nothing but chase her and jump around like a clown...I don't mind, but its funny...I used to think I was soo cooool, now I look in the mirror..I am a dad. I'm balding, fatning, and I have luggage under my eyes form my daily adventures...It is worth it, If you don't have kids, you just can't understand...it really is worth every minute. Sorry, once I start on my superdaddy routine, it just keeps going.
I live in south Austin, but I am currently packing and heading for central MA. I should be up there by the end of next week. I grew up there, and finally am ready to go home...Austin is filling up to fast for my blood. I am also looking forward to some WOODS...some deep piney woods...hills, rivers, swamps, marshes...good stuff.
 
I did like that he seemed to take a dig at Bear with the urine still!!

One of his best episodes yet - my wife's favorite because he acted human..
 
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