140(F) in the desert.
Supplies:
1 Ostrich egg
20 Liters of Water
1 Can of Coffee
1 jar of peanut butter
1 jar of jelly
2 buckets
Diesel Desert Vehicle and (all is components)
1 Multi-tool

What would you suggest to Les to do differently to survive the Seven days in the Kalahari?

Suggestion: Water

For the sake of a storyline, the running out of diesel was ok. Living in a desert myself, most of the vehicles I’ve seen broken down are due to overheating/blowing a radiator hose or a flat without a spare. But, okay I’ll play along with list of odds ‘n ends.

I’d have been peeing in the bucket and used the glass windows from my truck to distill water; using the glass on some of the plants and tubers if necessary.

Rather than polishing the bottom of the soda can, there should have been plenty of power still left in the battery. It was ok that he was demonstrating a new way to start fire for the show.

The truck mirrors would have been used for signaling for help.

The license plates makes good digging tools and other things.

How’s that for just a start?

In spite of questionable feasibility due to limited tools, it would have been cool to see him ride out of there on a self-built wheeled vehicle scrounged from parts.

[quote]In spite of questionable feasibility due to limited tools,[/quote]


you'd be surprised... I carry a leatherman with me at all times. Les said he couldn't take apart the truck with just a Leatherman But I have done many repairs on trucks (some major) with just a leatherman. (it takes forever and its not easy but it can be done)Les could have taken off the hood to help with shelter or at least a wind brake or sled for gear.

That could've been pretty cool...watching Les carve down the sandy hills on the hood of the truck.

We slide down the dunes on cardboard or old snow disks. I couldn't tell if he had a plastic bedliner in the back of that truck... they work too in a pinch.

THe heat was limiting his activity so I can't blame him or not working on the truck much.

Got two questions - why not catch the birds in a net made of his shirt, and why (in other episode) did he let the pig go? Birds and pigs are better than bugs...

man this guy doesent even survive, he even said im out of water and my camp is only 2 and a half miles from here. i mean what kind of survival is that????????????

2 1/2 miles away?? I'm going by memory only so I can't remember how far he said. But even 2.5 miles would be a fearsome stretch in that heat without water, with symtoms of dehydration, on set of heat exhaustion, no means to cool your core tempature, lack of food energy, sleep deprived, Plus a 50 pound pack on your back. If he does'nt know how to survive then how did he make it out of Kalahari? Obviously he did survive he's not dead!

Here's something that might bear thinking about. Humans may have to be adapted to be able to survive in some places. I'm an american mongrel, my family's been in the states forever. My wife, on the other hand, is pure Scandinavian; Icelandic, Norweigian, and Swedish. When we work outside together in the heat, I have to make sure that she doesn't stay out as long as I do or it is heatstroke for sure.

She doesn't sweat as much, she has the fair skin and burns more than tans. It would be interesting to know what Les' heritage is, and maybe that (besides being less familiar with the heat) is why he seems to have much more trouble with hot environments.

Good point. Heat does'nt effect me as some people I can work out in it all day long, I have Native American ancestry. Now my step-son is very light skinned and blonde and can't handle it. You may be on to something Nurkurool.