04x01 - Divide and Conquer

[bunniefuu]

This is gonna be
an incredible challenge.

We're gonna be dropped off
in separate locations,

and one of us has to find the other.

Ready to go!

I've got to wait on my brother.

Hopefully he'll be here soon.

Please come tomorrow.

I don't know where I'm going,
how long I'm gonna be out here.

All I have is a compass bearing.

It's a needle in a haystack;
Can I even make it to base camp?

Dad!

No way.

Everything around you is

telling you that you need to go home.

Please leave me alone!

If you don't work as a team
it's game over.

I can't hold this whole thing up.

Just hold it still.

$500,000 would be life changing.

I know.

I feel like the life
is sucked out of me.

He's coming. He sees me.

That's it.

I'm dropped off.

I'm alone.

Completely and utterly,
entirely alone.

Whew.

Huh.

My wife Brooke has to set up camp.

I'm supposed to find her.

I've got a compass
and a bearing, that's it.

I'm gonna take this compass
and this heading

and it looks like
straight that direction

and just keep walking.

I don't know the distance.
I don't know the time frame.

It might be a mile,
it might be 20 miles.

I don't know. There's no trail.

It's not really a hike at all.

It's put 50, 60 pounds
on your back and slog.

There's gonna be overnights in places

where you're technically lost
in large predator country

and it's gonna be really difficult.

I just want to find Brooke,
and we can do this together.

Brooke and I have been
married 18 years.

We have two kids,
and we live in two places.

Right now we're in Michigan,

but most of the time
you can find us in Alaska.

Let's get to the other side.

Going out on this challenge
is right up our alley.

We've always thought about just
dropping really deep off grid.

Really just ditch society
for a while.

Got the hide off.

It's a beautiful hide.

Brooke and I both lived way
outside the box.

We've lived in a 12 x 12 cabin

for 2 1/2 years in northern Alaska.

We spent eight months together
in the Aleutian Islands

one year in big predator
country completely alone.

We've roughed it.

We just feel like
we have all the skills:

Hunting, and fishing, and trapping,

and we've done
it the hard way most of our life

so this isn't that much of a stretch.

I think if you're stuck out
there with the wrong person

it would just be hell on Earth,
but if you're stuck out there

with the right person,
with the right priorities,

the right mind-set I think
it's gonna be a big benefit.

We're playing as a team
and just gonna do all we can.

Bye!

I have a real strong suspicion that

I'm on one side of the land

and Brooke is on the other,

and it's gonna be
a murderously long hike

from my side to her side

'cause I know darn well
she's that direction.

All right. I got to go find my wife.

Wherever the heck she is.

Putting my bear spray on right now.

Hopefully that chopper
scared away some of the...

Some of the bears
and the wolves and the cougars.

I'll just have to keep
my head on a swivel.

It... it's definitely gonna be

a little bit sketchy
walking through this stuff.

That's where I'm headed, 100 degrees.

I just want to find Josh,

and I don't know how many days
that's gonna take.

From the helicopter it looked like

this would be a sweet spot to start.

Easy to walk through,
I'm not in the thick forest,

but man this is so thick.

This is insane.

It's hard to walk through
without falling,

especially with 70 pounds
of gear on your back.

It's a pretty intense.

I'm from Illinois.
I'm not used to dense forest.

I come from the prairie state

so this is... this is
a whole new world to me.

My younger brother Josh and I

have a blacksmith
shop up in northern Illinois.

This is just kind of an example
of some of the knives we make.

This is actually
one of the same models.

I think an advantage
we have is that our brotherhood

is also really strong friendship

and I think that's gonna
help us push forward.

We consider ourselves equipped
to survive in the wilderness,

because primitive skills
are the base of our skill set.

Whenever we have free time we go out,

and we try to camp
as much as possible.

But even if we're just going on a day

hike we try to learn at least
one new thing.

We're doing this to challenge
ourselves mentally,

and physically, and emotionally.

But I think it's gonna
strengthen our relationship,

and we're gonna be stronger
and closer together as brothers.

All right, there we go.

Being separated for the first

hopefully not more
than a couple weeks

there's definitely a lot of risks.

All of our training coming up

to this point has all been together.

Working on fire together,
working on shelter together,

playing off of each other's skills.

So that's gonna be tough.

Snow is really starting
to come down right now,

pretty heavy flakes.

This is the opportunity
of a lifetime.

The money is huge.
I mean, this is a chance for us

to expand our blacksmith shop
and really work on our business.

Oh, man.

Salal, this plant is called salal.

It covers everywhere, and when
they grow it branch here

and then the other branch
comes around

and twists around the top.

So when I'm walking through

and I try to push
the branches out of my way

more are being pulled
in front of my face.

It's very, very tough
to hike through salal.

This is the most intense hike
I have ever had to do.

An environment like this
especially is very unforgiving.

Getting to my brother
is definitely not gonna be

an easy task.

I hope he's not in a place like this.

This is tough.

Definitely alone.

Oh, man, I'm nervous

but I'm excited at the same time.

All right, it's time
to get up into the woods

and get camp set up. There's my hat.

The damn helicopter blew it off.

So I'm gonna head into the
woods, make some noise,

scout out the area a little bit

and come back down and grab my stuff

and get the shelter set up.

Oh, God, this pack is heavy.

I can only imagine what the hikers

are going through right now.

My brother Brad is hiking.

I feel confident that he has
what it takes to find me,

and I think
he's pretty confident in me

being able to set up a solid shelter.

All right, just found
freshwater on the beach.

I'm assuming it's freshwater.
It's right here.

In my hike up I'm gonna take
a look at that water source.

Into the woods I go.

Freedom!

Wow, I see.

Oh, I just want to explore.

This is so, so cool.

I'm just gonna take a quick,

overall arching stroll of my
general area and see what I got.

I got to get a shelter set up
for Dave and I.

I have to feel like
I'm secure for the night.

Oh, my gosh.

I'm so excited.

Oh, thank you, Lord.

We got water.

See? Look up there.

Some orange mushrooms up ahead.

Oh, yeah.

Those are definitely Chanterelles.

Awesome.

Pick some of these better ones,
go good with dinner tonight.

I really want to get a fire.

Maybe I should go looks
for some pitch.

So Dave is doing the hike
and I will set up camp.

It's a bummer to be honest not
to start this thing together.

I mean, Dave and I, we have this
unspoken division of labor

that usually just takes over.

Each of us will gravitate
to the thing

that just comes naturally to us

without even really talking about it.

I've got to set my mind on being
alone and starting alone.

It's not gonna be easy,

but I have a really upbeat outlook.

M very positive,
so I like a challenge.

Oh, yeah, there's some I can
take right there.

That's good.

Real sticky fuel for the fire.

Just went and found some leaves
so I can harvest this

without getting my hands
completely gunky.

Oh yeah, look at that.

It's a good haul,
I got some awesome pitch.

Got some Chanterelles,

I think there's good resources here.

I'm gonna check out
the beach a little bit.

I've got to get my pack.

Left it right down there by the tide.

How dumb would that be?

Let my pack go in high tide

and I couldn't get it.

All right, guys,
I want to show you my...

I want to show you beach.

Holy crap. I see a wolf.

A wolf on the beach
coming towards me.

He's coming.

He sees me.

We're eye-to-eye.

Holy crap.

Where'd he go?

Oh, there he is.

Coming towards me.

He sees me.

Oh.

He's coming to me.

Hey.

Hey.

Shoo.

Please keep going.

My heart's beating.

So he went up and just
don't know where he went.

Stand up a little.

Kind of bet he would circle
back around behind me

just to check things out, you know?

I don't want to be surprised.

It just gets your
heart... your heart beating.

Wolf, up close and personal.

Living in Alaska all these years
it gets ingrained in you

that there is always something
out there that can k*ll you.

Cougars, bears, and wolves
are all going to be present,

and we're here

with no protection
other than bear spray,

and I've got to wrap my head
around the fact

that I'm gonna be out here alone

for an unknown amount of time
until Dave gets to me.

Wow, okay, get to work.

Hello!

Whooey!

I'm in a swamp.

Oh, yeah.

This is not fun trudging through
this.

Rugged as hell, and I mean rugged.

My son is miles and miles away.

I definitely want to get to him fast

but we both agreed
take your time, don't get hurt.

You've got to set the pace.

Take a look at this down here.

It's all water, and marsh, and swamp.

Up on this side comes up hard.

Over here it comes up hard.

So just gonna keep trucking it.

I'm a hunter, adventurer,
adrenaline junky;

To put it, and this
is the ultimate challenge.

It's my first pile
of bear crap right there.

This is the best route
for me to take though.

I've got to scoot.

I got to get some distance here.

Holy.

Let me see what I got.

Get up around this.

This is thick.

Ouch.

I cannot stop thinking about Logan.

I think he's gonna do fine.

I know he will.
It's just that's my son.

That's a primordial feeling

any mother or father
would always have.

I'm out here
with my 19-year-old son Logan.

He is a methodical thinker
when it comes to problems,

and he's very good at it;
He's very smart.

He's a pretty well-rounded young man.

I'm pretty proud of him.

My dad is very experienced.
He's been in the military.

He's a super tough, go-get them guy

and just hunting
and going out in the woods

and doing all this stuff.

I'm a little more methodical.

I like to think about things a lot

and think about the situation,

but together I feel like
we're a good combination.

For me this is the ultimate
bonding experience.

This is a chance
to see my son transition

to what I consider a man.

I'm doing this because
I want to test myself,

test my abilities,
and push myself mentally

and physically as far as I can go.

I think we have what
it takes to do this,

because we have the right mind-set;

We have the right attitude.

Attitude is everything.

See you! Later! Booyakka!

Booyakka!

This is going to be
a pinnacle point in my life

as a father and a man.

I see an opening up this way.

The sun's hitting
in there pretty good.

We got to keep going.

Jumped through the forest.

Here it's just
more salal plants of course

and I see in front of me
some turkey tail mushrooms.

As you can see they look
like turkey tails

and they have a white underbody,

and you can actually count how
old they are by those ridges.

They're a decomposing mushroom,

so they'll grow on decomposing logs

like you see over here.

A little bit more sun
than some other mushrooms,

so it's probably
why it's near the coast,

but I'm gonna grab a few of these

to put in my tea later.

Good find.

My bearing brings me this way,

try to find my way back to Shannon

and I don't know how long
that's gonna be.

I was in the military
for nearly 10 years.

My navigation skills are very good.

That's part of the reasons
why I wanted to be the hiker.

My brother Shannon's
gonna do the shelter,

and the gill net and the
fishing line all by himself.

More salal.

Fields of it everywhere.

Vancouver Island's
just a floating piece of salal.

It's one giant bush.

These branches, they grow...
They grow horizontally,

so you're pushing aside some,

and it's just wrapping
around your legs.

Barely see where my feet
are going, and I'm soaked.

Hope you're having
an easier time, Shannon.

What the is this?

It's a big-a*s bear trail.

I'm taking this.

You, salal.

I'm a little nervous.

These bears have been down
this thing all the time.

This trail is definitely well-used,

so I'm trying to take it slow,

make sure I don't sneak up
on anything.

What the was that?

The was that?

I can't... I can't see anything,
of course.

I mean, I've just got
to keep going, you know?

What's up, bear?

I'm in your neck of woods.

I guess I'm just
letting them know I'm here.

I don't have a string in my bow.

I don't think I can take him out.

Not right now.

Don't eat me.

The hills
and the mountains don't stop.

And every time I find
a flay area, it's soaking wet.

My clothes are soaked.

Every square inch is wet.

And you see all these
little water droplets?

All over the place.

Tons of them.

And every time I walk through,

the water transfers onto me.

There are a lot of water droplets.

I'm a... I'm a little bit nervous

I won't find a dry place
to sleep tonight.

My number one goal
is stopping early in the day

so I have enough time to get shelter.

Oh, this is ridiculous.

Everything is wet and overgrown.

I mean, this has potential.

All right, I've got a spot.

I'm just gonna have to deal with it.

This isn't what I want.

It's wet; It's uneven.

But I'm a little bit
more sheltered from the wind

and the rain
than I was on the outside.

My biggest challenge is going to be

setting up a warm shelter
every single day.

I'm going into this with the mind-set

of being out here for the long run,

so I need to make sure
that I really conserve energy.

I've got the shelter kind of set up,

and I should've picked a better spot.

I just realized there's a...
There's a deadfall right here,

a widow-maker, and
with these winds the way

they are, I need to either

take that thing down or move my camp.

I'm gonna see if I can
take it down real fast.

I'm gonna go about this
as safely as possible.

This is a new environment for me.

This is a new environment
for my brother.

I can't wait to find him,

and once we're together
we're gonna be a lot stronger.

I know it.

Whoo! Timber!

Been hiking now for a couple hours

trying to find a place
to set up camp,

but this place is so thick,

I haven't been able
to see one decent place.

So I'm gonna have to keep looking.

About an hour away
from the beach right now.

Just got to keep looking.

Stepping into an environment
like this is very intimidating.

Everything's taller than you,
everything's bigger than you.

Even being able to walk
straight's impossible

in an area like this.

Man, just hiking through this
area, this place is crazy thick.

Hopefully after I get shelter made,

find water and find a food source

everything should be fairly smooth

but it's super hard

even just to hike 10 feet in here.

Just got my foot wedged
underneath a log.

Pretty sure I just messed
my ankle up.

Just got my foot wedged
underneath a log.

Definitely just hurt my ankle.

This place is so rotten.

I don't think
it's broken, but it kills.

Son of a b*tch.

All right.

My supplies are sitting on the beach.

I have to find my way back down
to the beach somehow

with... I hope it's not broken...

I think a sprained ankle...
But this hurts like hell.

I'm a little disoriented in here.

I don't really know
exactly where I am.

I think the beach is that way.

Um... I'm not sure.

This is probably the most
painful thing I've ever done,

trying to hike
in the worst terrain possible

with a sprained ankle.

Hasn't even been a day.

Been a few hours.

This is ridiculous.

I don't know how anyone
would walk through this.

Hopefully my dad is doing all right.

I mean, he's going through
this thing right now,

and he actually has
to hike through it

a lot farther than I do.

Hopefully he can find me,
and I don't know

how you'd find anyone out here,
but I know I have faith in him.

He knows what he's doing.

Hopefully I can find
a spot pretty soon.

There's no flat ground anywhere.

Everything is just on a hill.

This is pretty treacherous terrain.

Everything's soaking wet.

I made it into this little gulley.

I'm following a little game
trail here.

That looks like bears
go through there pretty often.

This is so ridiculous.

What did I sign up for?

There's, like, not even a
five-foot space

of clearing anywhere.

Ohh.

This is stupid.

There's a tree right here angled.

Looks like a little flat spot
behind it right here.

This looks about as good
as it's gonna get for now.

It's getting too dark.

I got to get a tarp up

so I can at least be out
of the rain for the night.

I definitely wish my dad was here.

This terrain is way harder
than I thought it would be.

Back at home he's normally the one

to try to make some sort of plan.

When things get really bad, it
really hits you pretty fast

that I am... I am completely alone.

All right,

that's home for now.

Not a very good start.

I know my dad's expecting
a way better camp spot.

Hopefully I can get some sleep.

Tomorrow morning, get a fresh start.

Right now after hiking
all the way down here,

I don't...

I can't see a way of me
hiking back up into there

and trying to find a flat spot,

which I've been looking for hours,

and I haven't found one.

Something as stupid and as minor

as twisting an ankle

can just change your whole mind-set.

Part of me really wants to do this.

A huge part of me
really wants to do this,

but I don't think mentally I can.

Never thought I'd be the guy
to tap out on the first day.

Part of me wants to stay, you know,

this ultimate journey has
only just begun.

For it to end so quickly,

letting my brother down,

my family...

I... I think I'm done.

I'm sorry, I know I've only been here

a couple hours,
but I don't think I can do this.

I think my brother
is gonna be really upset.

I think he's gonna be disappointed.

I don't think he'll say
any of that to me,

'cause I know
he wouldn't want to put me down

while I'm already coming down,

but I know he's... he's been
looking forward to this

for a long time.

I hear a helicopter right now.

I don't know
how far we're spaced out.

I know it's pretty far.

We're in the middle
of nowhere out here,

so it'd be kind of weird to hear

someone else flying a helicopter.

I think it might be the team.

What's going on, guys?

Hey, Brad.

Is Josh okay?

Josh is... has taken himself

out of the competition.

Has he?

He sustained a ankle injury.

Is he okay?

He's okay.

That's definitely tough to hear.

I'm glad he's okay,
but I was definitely in this

for the long run, so it's tough.

It's disappointing to... to be
leaving so early.

I definitely had high hopes
for this place

and a lot of plans
to do great things here.

I think my brother's feeling
a bit guilty,

but it could've happened to me.

I mean, it is what it is.

I'm happy that my brother's okay.

That's all that matters.

Hey, check it out. Here's a newt.

Hey, buddy.

What are you doing?

That's awesome.

Let's be buddies, okay?

So I've got to wait for David
to get back from the hike.

While he's doing that
I've need to set up camp.

Can use these two cedars as my...

As my base, my post.

Put a... put a log here,

secure the back
and have it come out like this.

I know I have to have a good,

strong shelter
for my own peace of mind.

Being alone in the woods is not
something I look forward to.

So with that in mind, shelter
is my number one priority.

My weakness is definitely
my pace, though.

And all of these things
you feel like you have to do

in a very quick amount of time,

because there's storms,
and there's weather,

and there's things happening.

You need to get something to drink,

you need to get a fire,

and I have to remember,

don't tackle
everything the very first day

and slow down.

Yay, I have eagles for neighbors.

Hello.

I'm making this kind of large,

but Dave's gonna be here.

I don't know when.

I want that dear man to have a place

to lay down his head
and get comfortable

without working for a day or so.

He's going to be
absolutely exhausted.

I hope he's doing good, feels safe;

He's got a decent little tarp set up.

I mean, he obviously
can't do anything like this.

So you feel really
vulnerable like that.

I worked my butt off today,
and it so paid off.

I have, like, a mansion.

A debris shelter mansion.

It's just cozy in here, you know?

I can actually stand up in here.

Starting to feel pretty homey.

Day one, huge success.

It's quite a day. Long day, long day.

Thinking about Logan a lot here.

I'm all alone, and he's all alone.

But we're in it together.

I know he's probably a little
overwhelmed with the terrain

and the weather for sure.

He might come upon a bear,
or a cougar, or a wolf,

but he's a very
strong-willed young man,

and I know he's gonna
thrive out here.

Yeah, carry on again tomorrow.

Cheerio.

I hear noises.

Think I can hear something
pretty close.

It's probably a bear.

Hey, bear.

Sounds like it's getting closer.

Hey, bear!

This is just a horrible spot.

And this, like, isn't even a shelter.

Like, doesn't feel safe.

Oh, I really don't like this.

I don't know if they're still close.

Ah.

I remembered I still have
my... my rations with me.

They're still in my bag with me here.

I had to set up shelter so fast,

I honestly kind of forgot about it.

So dumb.

Bear can probably smell it.

This is not good.

Definitely hear them
getting pretty close.

Hey, bear.

Please leave me alone.

Shannon!

This is the roughest
forest in the world.

Pretty nasty, huh?

Where is my husband?
I'm sure she's worried.

Maybe she's right over there.

There's no question that a journey

like this changes you forever.

I see grouse up ahead.
I'm gonna try to k*ll it.

Thank God, you're alive. I'm alive.

I got something walking
around behind me back here.

A river of water suddenly appears...

Wow.

We are on the verge of being flooded.

I'm starting to lose the point
of what we're doing here.

Check my gill net.
Yeah! Fish, fish, fish.

I hope it doesn't come to fisticuffs.

We're just having
a misunderstanding here.

I know, and you're raising
your voice and...

Sam, Sam...

Experiencing a lot of pain,
we'll have to evacuate you.

If it is a cougar;
Let's go baby! Come on!