These survival shows are great etc yet they leave out one detail.
Fear !
....the stars have a safety backup, people with them or very near them who know right where they are at. Fear of not knowing where you or help is . Fear, Cold , Hunger etc will make ya real stupid. Dumber than a Democrat !
The skills are great video yet must be practiced. Ever try and use just a fire steel to make fire ? It is tough. The shows give folks false sense of security . Boy Scouts who spend an afternoon building fires have better experience that some grown adults.
I attended all the US & NATO survival schools in the military including some contractor schools like Tom Browns. Each was lacking the mental aspect that kills.....fear. It can’t be taught, it has to be experienced. Hard to do so on video or in a class ....skills practiced and information collected thru education in such events as classes and excursions...........
Gadgets will get ya hurt. Skills and minimal reliable tools that can be ON YOU 24/7 when away from home need to be exercised in the cold, in the heat , wind, rain, dark and day with each hand in case you had an injury.
Hope ole Bear is Ok !.....LOL !
Just my 2 cents.....:o)
Stroud has help within reach but that help may be hours away. He was in the Amazon jungle and was pretty spooked by a jaguar stalking him. Basically he ran for the nearest village. He said bears don’t bother him but big cats are unpredictable.
It was just such a scam. Now if he was SAS then he's one tough SOB and is just a good showman with a nice resume. The survivor man seems to be more "real".
Whoever made the comment about "fear" and survival are speaking the truth. Water, fire and shelter.. then food...
I've done a little stuff "outdoors" but had nice little cheats, like magnifying glass, compass, knives and good gear.
There are those who would say that I'm an authority on the subject.
I suppose I'd have to say that all stupidity that one lives thru is redeemable so long as it's stupidity that emanates from the brain rather than from elsewhere.
I think Les Stroud is very worth watching. I encourage my kids to watch it and to learn from it. Not so much for this or that technique, but for the survival, “I’ll get through this” mindset. In Stroud’s case, that is 7 days with no outside help, no food, no matches etc in terrains from desert to jungle to arctic.
The other guy Bear Grill is just a showoff surrounded by a camera crew.
I watch his show plus Les Strouds - Surviorman. Les is much more geared to what is needed to watch. Bear takes risks with all his camera men about and leads one to believe that (meaning the less survivor type people)a normal, unequipped person can do this.
NOT!!!
Given your training, out of curiosity, what 24/7 "minimal reliable tools" would you recommend? Could you please provide name and brand and why/purpose for each "tool" needed? The information would be greatly appreciated