MovieChat Forums > Survivorman (2005) Discussion > Liking the latest season

Liking the latest season

posted 8 years ago by terrencepatrix
13 replies | jump to latest

I like how he's almost antagonizing the armchair critics and the other fake survival shows. What he's doing is making sure people understand that even with all the knowledge in the world, or how many survival shows you watch, real survival is freaking HARD. We see these people do all these crazy stunts and adventures but the truth is when your average person gets lost or stranded they don't know what to do and can easily end up dead even though you might only be a single mile from a busy road.

It's like a big middle finger to all the people who criticize and ask why he doesn't go climbing up rock faces, swim across ice cold rivers, or tackle boars with just a knife. It's because that crap isn't survival...it's all stuff that can take an average lost person and get them killed quick. I'm never going in to the woods without a flint stick now though I'll tell you what.

[–] xpmule 8 years ago

agreed and i liked the jabs at the other well known guy.

Also notice in Transylvania he sets down beside him his whistle and flint striker.
Then later he says he lost his whistle.. and..

Later he claims he is too tired and cranky to use his flint striker
and pulls out some matches LOL

My largest 70L Backpack has a rape whistle perma-attached the shoulder strap :)
Although i tried it after i was getting harassed by bears out camping
and i learned it barely made any noise at all !
Like it was almost broken it was so quiet..
Glad i didn't reach for it in an emergency hahha

Test your gear ahead of time !

[–] Arbuckle_T_Boone 8 years ago

Agreed.

I really like how he's changed things up and actually brings some basic supplies with him. It's not much but even a garbage bag can make a big difference in a survival situation and it's not like it takes up any space or adds extra weight.

The Oregon episode and the story about that family showed how difficult survival can be and why it's imperative to always carry a pack even if its just a day hike.

I'm never going in to the woods without a flint stick now though I'll tell you what.

I suggest a magnesium flint stick. You might not need the magnesium but it's better to have it and not use it then...

[–] YWMcB 8 years ago

What's special about the magnesium?

[–] terrencepatrix 8 years ago

Magnesium sparks at ridiculous temperatures, you're essentially striking off very small flakes of molten metal. So you scrape a fine dust off the magnesium rod, strike sparks in to it, the dust ignites at a crazy hot temperature which will get your tinder to catch. I know the basics of it but I haven't ever tried it out even though I have one.

[–] rickathedj 8 years ago

I've got one and used it successfully a couple times when I was demonstrating it to a group of Boy Scouts. What takes practice is "aiming" the spark. A lot of people try holding the flint stationary and striking it with the knife. Its easier to hold the knife stationary and draw back on the flint.

The saga of getting my first novel on Kindle
http://ricksmidnightquill.blogspot.com/

[–] xpmule 8 years ago

I found a story about how a fan went into the woods where Less films a lot
..and died.
The guy went during winter i think and brought all kinds of stuff
but no shelter like a tent.. he died of hypothermia.
Story at Backpackers.com

So people this ain't a joke !

I've been there too out there trying to stay warm late at night as summer was over.
I tell ya it REALLY pisses you off BIG TIME
when you have to wear 3 pairs of long johns plus jeans
and two shirts and a sweater and maybe a jacket too plus gloves and took.
and 2 pairs of sox all inside a massive heavy weight sleeping bag.
off the ground in an air bed + another sleeping bag.. and STILL freezing
THEN
Hearing the rustle of plastic or twigs breaking and having to unzip the tent
to let out all the warmer air to investigate what could be the wind or a mouse
or that bear that keeps coming back clawing at your tent.

One time i lost it and snapped hardcore and ran out.. in a rage
i already had a 500lb bear picking at my tent the night or two before
but i just snapped.. ran out started hurling stuff around roaring like an animal.
when i went out i found nothing.
I heard a pine cone hit the ground probably. LOL
The thing is your on edge and it wears you down.. especially when it hits freezing.

It ain't no game.. it's life or death.

[–] AlexWard 8 years ago

Part of your problem. Never use an air mattress when it's cold. Air is a piss-poor insulator. You'd have been much better off on a layer of branches or leaves.

Oderint Dum Metuant

[–] terrencepatrix 8 years ago

I actually have a magnesium stick in an emergency pack we keep at the house. I keep meaning to beef it up though, it needs a reliable simple bic lighter and a good roll or two of duct tape. It's not a camping pack, more like a disaster pack with two weeks worth of food, water, space blankets, plastic bags and a simple first-aid kit (which I also need to beef up). Simple things you don't think about until it's too late, that's why I like this current season, he's tackling the little things that make survival easier.

[–] Arbuckle_T_Boone 8 years ago

Simple things you don't think about until it's too late, that's why I like this current season, he's tackling the little things that make survival easier.

The new season is excellent. I love the old seasons as well but he was always limited by what was in the area and whatever the scenario he was in allowed.

I do hope he tries out some other survival foods instead of the jerky. There are tons of one step meals that just need water to cook that I would like to hear his opinion on and whether they are worth carrying.

I keep meaning to beef it up though, it needs a reliable simple bic lighter and a good roll or two of duct tape. It's not a camping pack, more like a disaster pack with two weeks worth of food, water, space blankets, plastic bags and a simple first-aid kit (which I also need to beef up).

Just a suggestion but I carry a bag of small zip-ties in my pack. They can be used to help throw up a quick shelter or attach items to your pack. I haven't ever tried but I bet they could be used to attach a splint for a broken finger. You can get package of a hundred for less than 5 dollars and they don't add any weight to the pack.

[–] xpmule 8 years ago

Pack weight is a good point !
Easy to forget until your sitting there packing it last minute
with a big pile of stuff then last minute omitting things.

Need a tent ? that is gonna weigh you down.
Food or Water ? big weight cost.

And large backpacks only carry so much.

I had grabbed some zip ties too when i went out last but didn't use them.
I did bring a bunch of twist-ties from various retail packaging i collected.
And those came in super handy a lot.

I'd say for supplies.. bring tarps !
You can get them cheap at dollar stores and having more than one is mega useful.
Plus they don't weigh much usually either.
And Les has it right.. i seen him with garbage bag's on TV and made sure
i brought a lot of them.. again they were handy big time !
I even made a rain catch with one of them ..got the idea from the show :)

I brought all kinds of stuff aiming to get my stuff all in one pack.
Like i seen Les on TV had the same dollar store blue plastic containers
i have sitting beside me and i know he bought them at Dollarama in Canada LOL
Point being is in the same store during summer season they sell a shovel..
A super small folding shovel that is handy.. $3
It folds into a compact little case and has a pick side and a compass too.

About compasses though... check that they actually work !
I returned one that did not before i went out.
I had a couple of them that all pointed in different directions.
Away from any potential magnetic things etc.

That same dollar store had a folding chair that i just had to buy too.
It was soooo small and worked LOL
When your out for a while you would kill for a back rest or chair of some kind.
Trees don't always make good back rests LOL

Oh and bring Ziplok bags ;)

[–] Arbuckle_T_Boone 8 years ago

I'd say for supplies.. bring tarps !
You can get them cheap at dollar stores and having more than one is mega useful.
Plus they don't weigh much usually either.
And Les has it right.. i seen him with garbage bag's on TV and made sure
i brought a lot of them.. again they were handy big time !
I even made a rain catch with one of them ..got the idea from the show :)

Tarps and garbage bags make great shelter material and I carry both of them in my gear. Orange garbage bags are the best because you can use them for signaling. They are also great as ponchos and as you mentioned a rain catch. Don't forget they can even be used for their intended purpose, to store your garbage .

That same dollar store had a folding chair that i just had to buy too.
It was soooo small and worked LOL
When your out for a while you would kill for a back rest or chair of some kind.
Trees don't always make good back rests LOL

Thanks for the tip. The next time I'm out I might have to try making a garbage bag chair out of leaves and pine needles and see how that works.

Oh and bring Ziplok bags ;)

Always do. In addition to the few empties that I bring I pack all of small items in them just to keep things dry. I also have one with a few Vaseline soaked cotton balls for fire starting and one that I keep condiments(salt, pepper ,ketchup, mustard, sugar) in that I collect from fast food places.

[–] Isopod 8 years ago

I bought a cheap folding trowel/pick with an inbuilt compass too and like you said the compass is useless, it's all over the place. It's like it isn't properly magnetized and gets jammed in random positions. Definitely important to check that sort of thing.

The wire twist ties are good, you can buy a small roll of the stuff from garden supply shops and cut whatever length you need as you need it, I sometimes toss a roll in, very handy around camp, but I don't waste the weight/space if I'm planning to do long hard hikes.

[–] Isopod 8 years ago

I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a whole lot of survival advice in the Patagonia episode, he mentions a few edible plants early on, then talks about basic safety stuff like knowing your limitations, being prepared and paying attention to the weather. These cautionary tales and general tips on how to avoid getting into a life threatening situation are useful. It just isn't what I was hoping for, no improvised tools or shelters, just Les on a long hike with poorly fitted shoes.

It's good advice to have though, definitely more important than how to build emergency shelters and fire.
There were a couple of times when I was in my teens before I became interested in the survival/preparation side of things where I almost got stranded in dense rainforest at night with almost no gear.
But lesson learned. Carry a survival kit with a wind up torch and space blanket, let people know what area you're hiking in and when you'll be back and don't take risks with the weather.