Original subtitles

My name is Bear Grylls.

I served in the British Special Forces,

climbed Everest

and crossed the seas frozen Arctic.

Now, I'm in Iceland. A land of great glaciers and volcanoes.

Are you really windy here.

Every year, tourists in 1000 need to be rescued.

I'll show what it takes to survive here.

I take off the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik

on the southwest coast, where most of the 300,000 Icelanders live.

This island is right in the middle the Arctic Circle

between the United States and Europe.

It is more or less the size of the state of Kentucky,

but has only one main road, that follows the coast and covers the entire island.

Most of the country is a huge field of ice.

This place has a beauty strange.

But it is also a place merciless.

The first settlers of Iceland were the Vikings,

who came from Norway, to over a thousand years.

They knew how to survive this extreme climate.

People come here to experience its unique geology.

It is called the land of fire and ice.

Fire because it is one of the countries most volcanically active of the world.

And ice for more than 3280 km2 are glaciers.

On average, 3 people per day are redeemed

glaciers and the huge volcanic plains.

The glaciers are under me

and they constitute one of the places more difficult to survive,

and that's why I'll start my trip here.

All I have is a knife a canteen and a flint.

A film crew will accompany me.

I am 1200 meters, a glacier, one of the highest points and ice cream.

This place is totally uninhabited.

We are in the middle of winter. At this point, is 9 ? C.

But in a few hours, can reach the dangerous negative 23.

I'm trying to recover some sensation in the fingers.

My goal is to go down warmer areas near the coast.

Ai will have more chances of finding a road to Reykjavik in the southwest.

One of the simplest to see where is the north and south,

when we are in the northern hemisphere, just use our clock and the sun.

All you need do is point the hour for the sun.

Are now three in the afternoon. I point this pointer to the sun,

and between that point and the 12 hours is the South

I go to the southwest. So I have to go over there.

Since Iceland is in the middle of the North Atlantic

your time can change at any time.

And storms may arise, literally in minutes.

When the sun was landed

but now, I'm in the middle a windy snowstorm.

One of the greatest dangers of these glaciers, circumstances

is hypothermia.

Can build up very quickly. Just the temperature drops a few degrees

and all our temperature body will feel.

We began to tremble, to speak slowly and have difficulty thinking.

I've had hypothermia before and is quite scary.

Homeless, I can only survive a few hours,

in conditions like these.

But as fast as it appeared, the storm disappears,

giving me a quick chance review my coordinates.

What I found here was this ice cave.

And this may well serve ...

... to have some protection.

The problem is this pile of snow up there,

And how am I going through this and then get down there.

Is a drop of 4 m there down.

And the bosses suspended may give up easily.

Perhaps the best way to do this is through this mountain of snow

and be careful. Can you see that fall?

It may well be a chasm below that.

We have to be very careful to do this without the "snow shoes"

or without a pick or a rope.

We have to be very safe each hole we put the feet.

I'm going to get there.

I have spent the most complicated. Now just slide to the cave.

And I love this part.

This is much bigger than I thought. Just look.

And indeed, this is not a cave.

It is a tunnel. It has an outlet at the back.

But these caves are formed when the water melts the glaciers,

and as the water is warmer than ice

creates as it tunnels beneath the glaciers.

And when they get bigger create this kind of thing.

We should not be ... stay long here.

You see that? It also has ice blue.

It is a kind of older ice but is also more dangerous,

since it is more susceptible to leave.

The blue ice is not hard to iron. But it is as brittle as glass.

As glaciers are in constant motion,

the collapse are common.

In fact you can see ... If we follow here,

you can see that there is cracked.

And imagine what it can do to fall upon you.

Last year, a climber was in a cave like this.

When a wall of 150 tonnes fell.

He had no chance survive.

I was hoping to be a place to take shelter.

But it is not. Will act as a wind tunnel.

I need to think of something else and get out quickly.

Once it gets dark, the storm begins to approach again.

I have a few minutes, before it reaches me.

We have to keep moving. We have to get out of here fast.

The temperature is already 23 in the negative.

No sign of shelter, and this storm is getting worse.

I have only half an hour until dark.

I'm in a glacier, Iceland.

A snowstorm is approaching, and already getting dark.

and I need a shelter, quickly.

Is 12 degrees below zero but with winds of 80 kph

seems to be much colder.

But the wind can not only be against me also can be my ally.

What happens is that when the wind blows on these slopes,

if you look at there ...

... causes a lot of snow accumulate on the side of the slope

the opposite side of the wind. And I can use this to dig snow

and create a snow cave.

A few years ago, the driver of a snowplow

separated from their friends, during a snowstorm.

He managed to survive 48 hours before being rescued,

it protected from the wind making a snow cave.

This is certainly much more difficult without any kind of man.

But this snow is very loose and gradually come down,

blocks like this, I'll save them for block the entrance.

I'm doing it calmly.

If I let the sweat freeze in my body,

hypothermia appear twice faster.

Well, I'm protected from the wind.

And it took me ... ... a good 20 minutes,

just to dig this small area snow and loose.

But now, I need to do is dig a small hole down here.

And the reason for doing this, is for the cold air goes down.

I do not want this cold air is around me.

Instead, I want him to go down for what is called "cold well".

What I want to do now block is part of this entry here.

I'm tempted to cover up through the entrance

so that the wind does not enter. But it can be fatal.

What I did here was just put some of the blocks up here.

And this will be consistent. I left here a ventilation hole

to put my hand.

The wind is blowing strong. This will give me good coverage.

But I have to make sure I can put my hand here

keeping the vent hole. Otherwise, we can choke here.

Staying hydrated helps keep the body warm.

Eating snow is tempting,

but this would only further lower my body temperature.

So I'll melt the snow, slowly during the night

with my body heat.

They are three in the morning.

But I'm a bit worried because my hands and my feet the

are beginning getting very numb.

And this is a true mental battle. Continue ...

... continue to rub them and not give up.

It's just one less night's sleep.

It is morning. And my top priority ...

... is out of this glacier.

I can not run the risk of being caught in another storm, here.

Is definitely less windy than yesterday.

But it is windy

but actually, I can see the sun there and this is a good sign.

But in Iceland, the sun does not rises in the east and sets in the west.

It is, southeast and southwest.

Therefore, there is southeast ... the sun was just born now ...

... which means that Southwest is out there and that's where I go.

Glaciers are filled these ice cliffs.

And they can be dangerous.

All this snow here what is often called "rotten snow.

Which means that falls, accumulates and then back to freezing.

We get a hard layer, which is great for walking.

Well I can stick my feet and have an excellent grip.

But the danger of glaciers, are the cracks.

What we usually see in the cracks, is a thin layer of compacted snow,

we call "bridge of snow."

And we can see there that that collapsed is why they are so dangerous.

We do not know when we are on top of a

or what is underneath.

Some of them may have 30 meters deep,

cliffs close just below us.

That is why we have to take as much care keeping us on the slopes of ravines.

If you fall into a crevasse, may be impossible to come back out.

And no chance to leave, a death slow is all that awaits them.

And this is the final part glacier.

When I looked at the glaciers as monsters live.

They move, change direction, grow ...

... and often get angry.

But I'll follow my path.

I am now 900 meters altitude and the temperature is about to freeze.

Finally, there seems an easier path to the southwest.

But suddenly, there is a deep river blocking my way.

All that water, is melted glacier water.

Will be very cold even.

But I must try to follow my way in this direction

because I need to go to the southwest.

But I have to do everything to avoid it down there.

So I have to see a way attempting to cross it.

But there may be a solution the other side of river.

I can see some steam coming out of those slopes on that side.

And that means geothermal pools. Hot water.

So jump into this water is a risk that I run.

But it is a big risk.

If diving in cold water, and with the cold wind,

I get less than 20 minutes to get those hot pools

before losing consciousness.

I'm not getting down here for So I have no choice but to jump.

But it is deep enough.

The water is transparent and I can see to the bottom.

But it is high. This should be a jump of 9 meters

and I know that water is glacial. Will be extremely cold.

And so I dropped it, will be a time bomb

between hypothermia and get those pools.

I'm in Iceland going south

for what I hope to be a city and my salvation.

But a deep glacial river, is blocking my way.

My only option is jumping.

The cold water caused enter my body into shock.

I am also losing heat quickly

and it makes be weaker every second that passes.

I only have about 15 minutes so that my body temperature

back to normal.

My only hope is to reach the geothermal pools.

But they are more than 1km away.

There is very cold.

My hands and my legs were just numb.

And I know I have to continue moving each

until those pools.

The cooling air is literally my body.

I think I'll have to start running. I'm getting very cold.

In case of extreme cold, my body protects the brain and the heart

taking the blood circulation the hands and feet.

And that makes it run, even more complicated.

A hot pool.

But look. You can see ...

See? Are bubbling

I mean that is boiling And do not think ...

... not think I'll get there.

I am feeling that my arms and legs are starting to thaw.

I'm running out of time.

Now, to think quickly.

Can see that water? It's coming from that muddy pool.

And what I'm doing this is barring watercourse.

to create a small pool where you can enter.

It is OK with reasonable temperature.

I have to go quickly. And if not these clothes get wet

my body goes into shock.

With this wind, it is expected to dry in a few hours.

But at least during this time ...

... I stay in this hot pool,

frozen and not die.

Blessed volcanoes.

And it's amazing ... look at the snow around me

and know that there are three minutes ago was not far from hypothermia,

and now is almost like being at home.

Only a bit more muddy.

After I warm up, and the clothes almost dry,

it's time to go.

Iceland has many areas Geothermal

and 99% of homes are heated by natural hot springs.

The water comes from underground rivers, heated by volcanic magma.

Careful to walk around

it is common areas of soft mud,

where the mud is actually boiling, boiling.

And every year, many tourists get stuck in it

burns and are extremely serious.

The way to test the ground it is tread very carefully,

pull down with the boots and see if the mud is soft or not.

And hit lightly, also it often seems hollow.

This means that there is a crust above, with the boiling mud underneath.

You can see here. See?

There's a hole here that goes down there.

And if I set foot in this part here, would probably yield.

Let's move this part here.

And this is a very delicate area. I boiling pools on both sides.

The temperature here is around 4 degrees.

Therefore, herbs, moss and lichen can grow here.

Since the days of the Vikings sheep that roam freely around here

grazing on this vegetation.

And this also gives me something to eat.

All this here ... Look.

You see this? Is "reindeer moss".

It is excellent, I have found it. I say that is because reindeer moss ...

Look. Is white and looks a bit like branches.

In fact, it looks like ... Looks like the horns of reindeer.

But in fact, can even eat it.

Not much nutritional value but what will make

me is filling the stomach and avoid feeling hungry.

And that's what the Vikings used to use.

Survive it is to take the most of every opportunity.

And before long, to me that might arise.

This is a real find.

Probably, this rock fell. Stuck here and died.

But most of the Icelandic sheep, winter,

huddle, although there some who wander around.

And this is obviously one of them. But it is long since dead.

The eyes are still there that mean spent fewer days

since he died.

What Iceland has good is that it is so cold

meat lasts longer.

And look. Can see this excellent meat.

Since I took this bit. Now I can start cutting ...

... meat and separate it all this skin.

And I also cut a good portion of this fat.

The fat should be kept whenever possible.

The oils can be useful in many situations of survival,

such as emergency food and make fire.

Icelanders eat almost anything in sheep.

Since the testes, heart, the liver and even the eyes.

In fact, I'll take this.

The eyeballs of sheep are extremely nutritious.

They have a high value proteins and are rich in vitamin A and D.

They are usually the first thing to rot.

But this cold, these are still good.

I immerse the eye there in the geothermal pool.

I also put the meat, since the water is boiling,

and then, all this be good to eat.

I could eat raw meat. But it is more difficult to digest,

and indeed until you can retreat in energy.

So cook the meat each occasion.

You can see here, where the water is boiling.

And all I need to do is to take my laces,

and if I make here a small loop tip,

so ...

... and if I stick these pieces of meat,

I can make them go through here ...

... and then just this last part.

What am I going to do is pass the braid by the loop ...

... and this is so ready to be immersed in boiling water.

And look. It instantly brown.

Just to see how hot it is.

And while the meat is cooking one end of the shoelace,

I grab the other end and through this eye.

And this can be eaten raw.

I'll just dive into it here to eliminate any bacteria.

A brief cooking in boiling water ...

... and this eye is good to eat.

Heaven.

It's like chewing cartilage filled with a cold goo.

Ten minutes of cooking, and my main course should be ready.

Let's see if ... ... if it is ready.

This is as good as any meat served in a restaurant,

cooked with water eruption.

Now with a full stomach, it's time to walk again.

Already I can feel the wind changing.

And the Icelanders have a saying: "If you do not like the weather,

wait 5 minutes, and will be much, much worse. "

I'm in the middle of nature, Iceland.

I'm going to the southwest, to Reykjavik,

but now there is a huge river to cross.

He got up another storm with winds of 80 km / h

and the temperature dropped up to 26 degrees below zero.

It is very windy here. But I have to cross this river,

somehow.

This is not the narrowest but is less deep,

and I can use that to my advantage. You can see those rocks

that create a barrier in the water, and I I use it to go from rock to rock

and then leave. But this water will be cold,

especially with the wind blowing.

Therefore, I make the necessary that my clothes,

especially the top, stay dry.

Wet clothes in these circumstances are fatal.

So I will keep them dry covering them with my raincoat.

I turn against the current, so I enter the water.

It is easier to maintain balance. I can not slip here.

Well, I went through. And all these clothes actually ...

was surprisingly dry.

And just as they usually do the army ...

... if we complain of cold then force us to do some of these.

With a dozen of these, we are hot again.

Ok I'm walking.

After 50 minutes, storm disappeared

as fast as it came.

I can see a forest, distance.

In Iceland, the soil infertile, wind and temperature

means that the trees are few and distant from each other.

But when we find them, they are excellent

both to make shelters, as for wildlife.

Look at this here. These are grouse feathers.

See? All of it.

And grouse are a species of partridge. But this is what they have.

A kind of fluff winter.

and this is how they camouflage themselves snow.

This is good news for me. If grouse around,

can take that one.

The grouse are known as "Laying the snow" in the United States

because of its feathers winter

and feed on fruit and seeds under the trees.

This is what I'm looking for.

This is like a nature trail by where you will grouse.

All you need to do is to use one of my shoelaces,

I'll make a knot simple,

that will give me this little tie.

Now, tie this tip around the tree,

and put it here on that side ...

... and this opened side. And the idea is ...

the Red ... come here, go through this, stuck here and grabbed the tree.

I set up several traps and hope that one has something in the morning.

My next priority is to find a shelter and make a fire.

I will do a traditional shelter used by the Vikings.

What I'm doing is a mattress and fluffy.

Then I'll build the walls with stones, shaped coffin

to retain the heat.

This part built higher so you can put branches on top.

And these arms are a kind natural arch here

which means that I put them on top.

This gives me enough space to lie

and now I put some moss up here.

Should be waterproof.

Now I'm looking for fuel for a fire and warm.

There are here many of birch and that is where I'm looking for.

You can see that they are birch because of the silvery branches

this time of year, in winter. All the leaves have fallen.

But it is the leaves that are below I'm looking for.

And they will be good to burn in my fire.

I need a lot of wood to keep me warm at night.

I will create something like a barrier stones around to protect it,

continuing to feed the fire.

Is the first time since I dropped that glacier

I can feel some heat in my hands.

That's good!

Here is a beautiful room ...

Bear ... to a full sleep.

I just hope it does not rain.

Anyway ... ... need sleep.

So far, I resisted all what Iceland has arranged for me.

But the deadly lava tubes can be an adversary to time.

It turned out much more difficult.

I spent a very cold night, viking in my shelter.

Last night rode pitfalls

and I hope you had luck.

Well, at least the sun is up.

And last night, was quite windy.

I spent half the night, trying to keep the fire burning

because it was burning more faster than I was expecting.

So I put it to burn! and then I see my traps.

Last night mounted traps for grouse.

A kind of partridge, existing in Iceland.

No. Nothing.

Nothing here.

But not surprised.

My experience is that if you want to really get something

must mount several of these.

But survival has a lot to do to keep trying

and have the energy to do such things

even when we are tired and no longer want to try.

But the trap No. 2, 'm lucky.

Grouse is the first to get it.

Already caught partridges before. But never grouse.

And this is excellent news.

I'll take it to the camp.

I need not pluck it. There is a faster way.

Just cut the head and wings and remove the skin from the breast.

If we pull, all this skin will leave.

And then, just put your hands here and take the guts ...

... throughout this part ... ... and then just take the skin.

I can not wait to eat it.

The ptarmigan is a Christmas meal popular in Iceland.

But I will not wait that long. This should be ready in 15 minutes.

Just look. All this dark meat.

It has a strong flavor.

But it will also give me some energy and calories.

And now, need both.

I'm still heading to the southwest.

Not long until I get one of the old lava fields,

covering 10% of the territory.

Formed from volcanic volcanic

when the washes and solidifies,

and can be treacherous places to cross.

We see all this lava field covered with this moss.

And this makes the crossing annoyingly slow.

Also, careful

because it is difficult to see on that the moss is growing.

If there is a hole or a crack or a hard rock.

It would be very easy twisting an ankle here.

Look here. Look.

You see these holes. That's what I'm talking about.

The last volcanic eruption was in 2004.

But some of these fields are old. Some with more than 7000 years.

And they have a special place Icelandic folklore.

The existence of elves and dwarfs is well rooted in Icelandic culture.

And word has it, 50% of Icelanders still believe in elves and dwarves.

It is believed that some live in rocks, and that some are good

while others are bad.

I hope they are good that are looking at me.

This ancient lava field this genre is full of caves.

Indeed, in fact, this is an old lava tube.

And this is where, at times, a huge outpouring of lava

went here. And what happened is that after passing

formed these types of tunnels.

But what I am having difficulties Now I left the glacier,

is to find water to drink. And all this lava field ...

... the translation of the Icelandic, literally means "without water".

But my best guess is in there,

and see if I can find some leaks down, fresh water.

First of all, even before thinking of entering,

I have to do a kind torch.

Not see anything.

Can I make a torch with branches and the fat that kept the dead sheep.

Let's put this here, not to get wind.

The water of the caves is filtered through the rock.

Therefore, it can be much more pure than snow out here

which can be full of bacteria.

What I need now is some fabric of my shirt.

I got some of this fat sheep.

I wrap it in back ... so ...

... get this piece of shirt and hold it around.

Now I'm going to fire and it will soon start to burn.

I will try to light it.

Ok, let's.

Must be very careful because all this is very fragile.

And sharp.

That's why I need my gloves here.

Iceland has on average 33 earthquakes per day.

And any one of them, can bring down this tube.

I have to be quick.

What I'm looking for is a good source of water.

This is getting lower What I do not like.

Look. It is because of this.

Look. Can you see?

The whole top, fell.

This is not a good time the torch to discard.

If it fall apart I have serious problems

Look. We can see all that collapsed.

And that's why these places are so dangerous.

I want to find water and get out of here as soon as possible.

I'm in a lava tube in Iceland for water.

But my torch, fading away quickly.

There's a little infiltration down the rock.

This is good to drink.

Yes, it is best that I get here.

That's good!

Now, I filled the flask.

Let's see if we get out before this fire goes out.

Do the rest of the way without light is not what I wanted ...

And look. Deleted.

Am forced to make the last 200 meters ...

... in the dark.

But ultimately I can get to the exit of the tunnel.

I'm at the end of the lava fields.

But I still need all the energy

to cross the vast plains, front of me.

When I'm getting me away ...

comes a wind with gusts of 80 km per hour.

And this wind came up so suddenly out of nowhere ...

half hour ago. And this is causing floor ...

... is almost impossible.

This is windy ...

This should be blowing about 90 km / hour.

And what does ...

... is to get all the sand, reaching her face.

And look. If I try to resist the wind ...

Just to see how strong it is.

Come down here.

This is actually a hole made by cattle

this desert of volcanic sand.

Give me a chance protect me from the wind.

And look ... This should not be deeper than 60cm,

And I wonder.

The wind is still blowing over my head.

It was a lucky find it.

Give me the chance to stay here, wait a little ...

... and see if this wind will pass.

I take this opportunity to lie here and rest.

But storms like this are known to last for weeks.

Therefore, I must go.

I'm in that Icelanders call of "sandur.

It lies 160 km to the coast and can be dangerous.

This whole area here is now only a vast plain of black sand.

And it's a dangerous combination between loose sand and water.

And in the past, was known for swallowing literally, people and horses.

And this place has really something sinister.

But the way to go through this is set to target the highest points

and be careful with the parties are deeper than most wetlands.

And if you're on top of one of these, have to go back and go to a high point.

Otherwise, I can be buried to the waist in quicksand.

In the past, not Icelandic mariners were aware of the deadly dangers

these dunes black and many died to reach the coast.

I do not know if they can see the horizon, after the black sand ...

can see some towers. It's a bit hard to see with the sun

but it is certainly power lines

and I just hope that there, is a road.

is certainly a coastal motorway

and hence, can I get a ride to Reykjavik.

And this is the end of my trip.

And indeed, the winter Iceland ...

... the land of fire and ice ...

... showed me the mother nature in its crudest form.

And winds were extremely strong and extremely low temperatures.

and took me to my limit