I used to TiVo this show, and eventually just kind of got fed up of his poor survival advice. I'll admit, alot of his advice is good, like where to find water, don't eat mushrooms, how to make a snow cave etc. nearly every show he makes a decision that is risky, to the point where if he failed he'd be dead.
Here's 2 examples.
One: In the Scottish highland episode he chooses to 'scoot' across a fallen log that is bridging a very deep canyon and a swift river. He even admits that its dangerous and briefly outlines the potential consequences, mainly death/drowning. Then he does it anyway, and when the otherside doesn't pay out like he wanted he just shrugs and follows the river like he planned before the crossing.
Example 2:
In the Moab episode he enters a slot canyon and when it dead ends, he stems up about 40 feet to get out. Stemming is climbing by wedging limbs on opposing walls to gain height. Most people cannot do this manuever well and it becomes dangerous. even done well it's tiring. In a true survival situation, this could be fatal. Who advocates taking unnecessary risks like that?? I lost alot of respect for his skill right then.
I don't know if its TV sensationalism, or if he's so 'hard and fit' that he forgets what normal average people are capable of, or not capable of as the case may be.
Les Stroud is really the extreme other side of the spectrum, in fact he's kind of a weenie most times, but he gets it. The need to make it out safely vastly outweighs the cool-guy tactics that may net a fortunate gain. It's all about taking as few risks as possible and ensuring your own survival by avoiding things with dire consequences.
