surviving Alaskan wilderness

If climbing, take your time. Let your legs take a lot of pressure, instead of arms, which will tire out much more quickly.

If trouble with grizzly, grab a stick and try to poke it in the eyes.

Alaskan devilclub plants are spiky and hard to get through, but are great sources of ginseng.

Follow stream down to river. When crossing streams, face upstream against the flow.

In Alaska, coastline is best place to find help.

If no fishing line, can make spear from tree. A Y-shaped spear end is nice...can use to hold down fish while reach down to pick it up. Key to being successful in fishing is patience. Watch out for fishing bears.

Salmon skin is thin and not with many scales...very good source of fat.

Caves are good shelters, but might already have occupants...be careful.

Shellfish available on rocks at low tide: must be cooked before eating, though.

Good wood for burning is wood that cracks audibly when breaking.

If on coastline, make signal fire for boats. Evergreen branches will smoke profusely, making a visible white smoke background against the dark background of trees.

...to be continued, when I finish the episode...

Man vs. Wild: savannah survival

In Africa, not Georgia, that is!

Things I learned:

1. Lions: can't outrun them...stand tall, wave arms, clap, etc. to try to bluff them away.
2. Rhinos: Stand ground till last second and dive away. Run for cover.
3. Elephants: can't see well, so run fast and make sharp turns out of their paths.
4. Hippos: the most dangerous animals. Never get in the water with them. Best bet for crossing is in running, shallow water.
5. Puff adders: Hard to see, though can hear them, and very poisonous when happened upon.

Good to travel in water when in ravines and denser forests...leopards may be around.

Follow water UPstream...to often in the savannah, water flows downhill and then disappears abruptly into an aquifer. Go upstream to find the source, where civilization often will be.

The blackjack plant makes a good mosquito repellant when burned.

Elephant dung is a source of liquid when squeezed.

Viable meat is meat that vultures are hanging around: they eat only fresh meat. No bad smell, no maggots.

Don't drink stagnant water. Not worth the risk of debilitating parasites, etc. Animal trails lead to drinkable water.

Aloe is a good topical treatment of cuts and burns.