One of my favorite shows is coming back for a third season. This Friday, November 9, Man vs. Wild will begin with an episode finding Bear in the Sahara. Man vs. Wild is a survival television series hosted by Bear Grylls, on the Discovery Channel.

In the show, Grylls both demonstrates and narrates techniques for wilderness survival. Throughout each episode, Bear also tells about successful and failed survivals in the area he is in. The program has shown him eating raw meat and live fish, staving off hypothermia after intentionally jumping in a frozen lake, and drinking the fluids of elephant feces and his own urine for hydration.

There have been claims that the show is completely scripted and that Bear actually stays at hotels rather than really rough it.

I say who cares. Even if Bear isn’t really roughing it, he still is squeezing elephant feces, and jumping in frozen lakes. This show appeals to me on two levels. Survival and Nature.

During college I became an avid backpacker. I had always enjoyed outdoors but I started sleeping outside and hiking 20+ miles in a day. Bear reminds me of those days I hope to go back to. He also makes me want to go with just a knife and water bottle. And see how I can cope.

Bear is an extreme survivalist. His techniques should only really be used in an extreme emergency. This is why I love it. Some survival programs teach stay still, survive techniques. Bear’s approach is, you ultimately have to get yourself out.

What do you think about Man vs. Wild? Have you seen any episodes? What is your favorite thing Bear ate?