Survivorman's feet vs. The Jungle

[K Williams]

I think Survivorman's feet would have held up better if he wore some jungle boots instead of those thick leather hiking boots.

 

[DaleW]

I think I could find footgear that would be more comfortable and better suited to the constant wet. BAckpackinglight.com did a pretty good study of how hiking shoes dry and compared several models. What didn't work was waterproof shoes as they didn't dry out once they were soaked. Those with breathable mesh worked the best.

You can go too far. I have a pair of Salomon Amphibians designed for use in the water and they dry fast, but aren't very comfortable for long miles.

The fungus is coming from the environment, so drying your feet and shoes and using some sort of anti-fungal treatment is the only way to beat it with modern methods. Using the smoke method from the show doesn't look like it would do any harm, although I wonder if it is just the drying that helps. Make the note to include anti-fungal treatments in your PSK when traveling in environments like that.

 

[bpetty]

Don't get rid of the fungus - it's good for extra nutrition, as you just scrape it off your toes and eat it.

 

[foxyrick]

:barf: :barf: :barf:

 

[shotgunner11]

Yea, he could have worn better boots but really, in the context of the show, an under-educated tourist in that situation would very likely make that same mistake.

I'm not saying that was his intention, but it was a good thing for him to go through on the show, lets people know how to deal with it.

And, toe jam and foot fungus are indeed, both really tasty on toast.

 

[Thomas Linton]

And, toe jam and foot fungus are indeed, both really tasty on toast.

Only on rye.

 

[Vorpal Blade]

Yea, he could have worn better boots but really, in the context of the show, an under-educated tourist in that situation would very likely make that same mistake.

Good point. Many would have worn what they were ordinarily accustomed to. As I looked at his boots, I kept thinking 'nylon mesh would have been so much more suited to that soggy environment'.

Many epicures consider foot fungus as a tasty gourmet snack.

 

[MG_Saldivar]

Many epicures consider foot fungus as a tasty gourmet snack.

Um, let's not give Ed Grylls any ideas.

 

[Bill Siegle]

Not that it is a fun idea but with fungus a growing he could also use his own urine as a wash to kill a lot of that infection. Use everything ya got with ya I like the show for what it is and try not to pick the show apart for being too unreal but I really didn't like his idea of "I'm lost. Let's float and go to the hut I know is downstream". Kinda unreal to me that the "average lost tourist" would know where and old tribal hut was located only a couple hundred yards off the river.

 

[storl]

I am guessing he wore the boots with snakes and other biting critters in mind. Every travel and survival book I have ever read about traveling to the rain forest or jungle says to wear sturdy boots and pants to keep biting insects out and to keep snakes from biting your feet.

Reminds me of a story this museum curator used to tell me when I was a kid. He went on a scientific expedition to one of those types of places and was trudging along a trail when his guide went white and asked him if he was OK. He said that he was fine, asked why, and the guide pointed at his foot. He had a coral snake attached to his boot by its fangs.

Don't know if it was a true story or not, but seems like a good reason to wear my thick leather boots in an area like that.

 

[storl]

Kinda unreal to me that the "average lost tourist" would know where and old tribal hut was located only a couple hundred yards off the river.

I agree. The was definitely one of the weaker, if not the weakest Survivormans I have seen. He didn't really have to do anything, and definitely was not lost. That situation would probably suck by any stretch of the imagination (I couldn't handle that many insects), but I expect more out of the show.

 

[Vorpal Blade]

I like the show for what it is and try not to pick the show apart for being too unreal but I really didn't like his idea of "I'm lost. Let's float and go to the hut I know is downstream". Kinda unreal to me that the "average lost tourist" would know where and old tribal hut was located only a couple hundred yards off the river.

You are right. It is almost inconceivable that a tourist, lost in the rainforest, would know just where to find an abandoned shelter. And the fact that Stroud knew its location is inconsistent with the show's original scenario.

But, it seemed to me, Stroud had to make a choice: Whether to abort the filming prematurely because of camera failure or continue with contingency plan B; Withdrawing to the prearranged shelter. I felt he could have explained this more fully in just a sentence or two.

From the new location, I thought Stroud was still able to sucessfully depict conditions in the area and attempt various survival techniques. Stroud compromised in order to complete the show.

 

[shotgunner11]

I agree. The was definitely one of the weaker, if not the weakest Survivormans I have seen. He didn't really have to do anything, and definitely was not lost. That situation would probably suck by any stretch of the imagination (I couldn't handle that many insects), but I expect more out of the show.

I read a story someplace online and he was quoted as saying that he wasn't real happy with the episode either.

He said he was very unprepared for how harsh the conditions were.

Guess he should have talked to Randall and Perin before going.

 

[MG_Saldivar]

...I felt he could have explained this more fully in just a sentence or two.

From the new location, I thought Stroud was still able to sucessfully depict conditions in the area and attempt various survival techniques. Stroud compromised in order to complete the show.

I agree, and I'm glad he didn't pull an Eddie: "Blimey, here's a dead zebra nobody on my production team planted and it's hardly rotten! *munch, munch*"

 

[TDahlgren]

I read a story someplace online and he was quoted as saying that he wasn't real happy with the episode either.

He said he was very unprepared for how harsh the conditions were.

Any chance of finding the link to that article. I'd really like to hear his thoughts.

Watching the show it's obvious that he has prepped himself for each environment (duh.) I suspect this prep involves not just gaining the standard knowledge set for the environment but also includes alot of pre-visualization of just how each week will procede.

I say this because his demeanor normally seems relatively calm for someone under such significant stress. He also seems to anticipate his needs and the environmental demands quite well. Not surprising if you have mentally walked yourself through the situation in advance.

The Ecuador episode was interesting for alot of reasons but especially because he seemed to be so far off of his own game plan. In a sense this made it much closer to a real survival situation - where you have found yourself 'off the map' mentally if not also physically. This (even aside from the equipment failures) must have made it much harder for him to focus on producing a viewable product and maybe that is the source of some of his dissatisfaction.

As far as footwear goes it seems a pair of closed toe Tevas or similar quick drying shoes would have been a better option.

 

[Vorpal Blade]

He said he was very unprepared for how harsh the conditions were.

Yes, he seemed unprepared. I'm glad he said it first because it is too easy to make that observation from the comfort of an armchair.

I guess if he knew more beforehand, he would have made better provision for the care of his feet, as one example.

But, we were treated to a show with a level of self honesty not often seen in the media. His lack of anticipation is instructive in itself. Very little that he did worked properly. His physical discomfort is real, not contrived.

If he did not expose himself to real hardships, we could not witness real difficulties. If the show were directed and produced conventionally, survival would look easy.

 

[shotgunner11]

Any chance of finding the link to that article. I'd really like to hear his thoughts.QUOTE]


Sorry, I looked all over before I posted and couldn't find the story.

He made an appearance at the aquarium near my house during Sharkweek and I chatted with him about the new season, he may have mentioned it then. He was a really nice guy by the way, not a hint of the "I'm famous and your bothering me" type of thing even though he was quite rushed by the staff.

 

[mrostov]

Don't get rid of the fungus - it's good for extra nutrition, as you just scrape it off your toes and eat it.

Might work best if you just scrape it off of your toes into your scrambled eggs in the morning for flavor, like a truffle.

 

[Bufford]

Barefoot is the way to go through tropical jungles. Footware of anykind gets wet and stays wet, leading to open sores on feet. If shoes or boots are available, I would only use them briefly for walking on difficult ground- like heavy thorn bushes, and then remove them to prevent foot rot.

I wish I could remember the name of the scientist who traveled throughout Africa to study wildlife, and elephants in particular just a couple years ago. The only clothing he wore was his underware, and he travelled hundreds of miles in barefeet and just his briefs. He stated that was the only way to survive the hot moist jungle, because everything just wants to rot, and then the body rots along with the coverings.

 

[Gerberblades]

Its tough to avoid fungus even if you have the right boots. I spent 10 days working 16 hour days in 100 deg. ("dry") heat and I got a foot fungus that lasted 6 months. Even with foot powder, fresh socks and goretex lining the constant humidity turned those Danner boots into a pair of petri dishes. I had to empathize with Les sitting there trying to smoke the fungus out of his feet.

I didn't know quite what to make out of the jaguar stuff, whether it was thrown in there to create some drama or what. They are definitely on the top of the food chain. The few that live in Arizona seem to be avoiding humans but I'll bet they like beef.

GB