Can we all just agree Bear Grylls is a giant tool?

I'd let Degree pay me handsomely to be a tool on their ad.

Yeah, the whole thing is faked and lame, but it doesn't prove he doesn't know how to climb (at all).

The toprope could very well be an insurance or otherwise financial issue (ie if he's a 5.9 face climber, not spend days there getting him ready to lead a 5.10 crack).

Bear's an entertainer, first and foremost. I don't think he strived for 100% authenticity. Plus the guy was in special forces. It's not like he's light. He was paid very well to go to lots of cool places and goof for the camera. Who wouldn't leap at that opportunity?

IMO, he has sold part of his soul to TV land to please the couch potato audience, and to make a few bucks, while he's looking all cute, and strong, but at least he does have some real life skills that are quite impressive, and does a lot of charity work for abused, and neglected children, and the disabled. That being said, his clothing line sucks; I bet he's designing some useless flammable shoes about now.

He's no tool; dude's a manufacturer.

Jsimpson and Fat Dad +1

GIGI you rock +9000 - for everyone else look at the forum called looking for flammable footwear.

Again- He gets paid to do what we only wish we could get paid to do. Fake, phony, tool who cares he makes more than us all and he drinks pee and takes chicks away from lame guys....

I actually worked with Bear Grylls as an assistant rigger on the "Arizona Sky Islands" episode which aired last year. In that episode, Bear can be seen using parachute cord to perform outrageous climbing manouvers in Cochise Stronghold and the Chiricahua mountains.

While I'm not at liberty to comment on the show's "authenticity" (and for my own part have never even seen the show, including the episode I worked on) I can say that I found Bear to be a very nice young man, and his British film crew was a riot. As others have noted, Bear--cheesy as many may find him--does have real-life bona fide tough guy credentials, even if they don't necessarily extend to sending splitter desert cracks.

I can also say that no fixed anchors were placed in the process of filming "Arizona Sky Islands."

I read his book, and appreciate his Special Forces background. But I lost all respect for him when on one of the only shows of his that I ever saw, the first two things he does when "lost" in a desert environment is start running during the day, and eating insects. Nothing will kill you faster than dehydration, and nothing accelerates dehydration like diarrhea or vomiting from eating sh:t (that you don't really need to eat).

Yeah, well Bear slept inside the carcass of a caribou. Or something. For warmth. How many of you can say you did that? :)

Yes

I just think it's pretty awesome his name is Bear

I've tried to watch "Survivorman" but it's just kind of boring. He also complains a lot about moving the camera, since of course he is alone. Bear is pretty entertaining. Too bad he just...
couldn't...
reach...
a...
contract with Discovery Channel.

Hey, I have an idea. Captain Kirk VS Wild! It's gold, Jerry!

BameR wrote:Fake, phony, tool who cares he makes more than us all and he drinks pee and takes chicks away from lame guys....

I don't see how he could be a tool...he's sponsored by deodorant...WITH ADRENALINE IN IT!

Dude jumped out of a plane to the ground... and lived! WTF?!? He hit the ground... from a freakin' plane!! And still skydives...

Ben.... Agreed

Keenan that video is priceless to bad its not in full HD slow motion.... LOL

Stitch- Nice Pic.... Was that the face you made when she talked about him or his accent?

BameR wrote:Was that the face you made when she talked about him or his accent?

No, I was all like

I just watched the video now. That dramatic music made it hard for me to hear the Bear. I loved the invisible belayer, too. He never steals your girl. No.

I bet he used that tiny yellow rope to do the whole face... except he ties into a black one... strange.

rofl.....

Stich wrote: No, I was all like

Damn Stich, you hawd!

Alex Quitiquit wrote: On to more pressing matters... What is the route called!!!!??????????

I wish I could get to that climb, but it looks like you need a helicopter.

mountainproject.com/v/rigor…

Oh, never mind, Its 3 minutes from the car.