PrintAlone in the West
The American West is a beautiful place, but there is danger lurking in its deceptively inviting wide-open spaces, as television’s famed “Survivorman” Les Stroud discovered in Survivorman: Alone in the American Wilderness, now available on DVD. Originally aired on The Science Channel, the Survivorman series starts each episode with Stroud being abandoned in a remote location, where he must survive alone for seven days without any provisions, tools, or supplies. There is no camera crew—Stroud films the adventure himself, carrying more than 50 pounds of camera gear on his back the entire time.
Survivorman: Alone in the American Wilderness includes four of Stroud’s most memorable adventures, three of which are set in the West. In “Canyonlands,” Stroud takes on Utah’s stunning red landscapes that were once home to the Anasazi and Paiute Indians. In “Colorado Rockies,” he recreates the hardships of 19th-century cowboys, as he takes two horses into the mountains and discovers the challenges of surviving for three. In “Sierra Nevada,” perhaps the toughest Survivorman episode yet, Stroud finds that even with all ofhis wits, stamina, and expertise, it’s still possible to get lost.
The DVD features three hours of intimidating yet beautiful scenery. After watching Stroud struggle with America’s natural wonders, don’t be surprised if you stick closer to the marked trails on your next nature hike.
Issue: June 2010
