strange as three ballpoint pens. Stroud conquers each event
by making the items useful for his survival. Each episode is
entirely filmed by Stroud alone, who configures camera angles and sets up equipment to film himself demonstrating
survival techniques. He then must retrieve it all and keep
moving for the episode, all while carrying the some 50lb bag
of equipment on his back. He’s climbed mountains, survived
below freezing temperatures and desert weather, and has
taught many people a great deal through his work. Fans have
stated that they wouldn’t have made it through some of their
own situations if it weren’t for Les Stroud and his teachings
on Survivorman.
L
es Stroud is a “well-rounded survivalist,” an avid
outdoorsman, a filmmaker, a musician, a television
personality, and a writer. He is, among many other
things, known for his work on his television series Survivorman, which is broadcasted worldwide. It is the highest
rated repeat show on the Discovery Channel and he has
received various awards for the series, including nominations for six Canadian Gemini Awards. Stroud is the writer, producer, director, and camera crew for Survivorman.
Through all of this, he has successfully guided himself
through many survival scenarios with only background
knowledge and a few miscellaneous items to help get him
through each ordeal.
In the beginning of every episode, Stroud is presented
with a scenario in which one may have to survive out in
the remote wilderness, completely alone and unprepared,
until help arrives. He has been in situations exemplifying everything from plane crashes to canoeing accidents.
Within the first few minutes of the episode, Stroud gathers the items nearby that have survived the initial trauma of the incident. In one episode, he was left with diving
gear and a multi-tool, another left him with something as
58 Summer 2015 Adventure Outdoors
Besides the Discovery Channel, Stroud has been featured
on television programs across many other networks, such
as, City TV (Canadian channel), Outdoor Life Network, YTV,
and the Science Channel. In early 2014, he produced a special
called, Survivorman Bigfoot, which many people watched
whilst on the edge of their seats. He also featured his son on
a few episodes, titling those, Survivorman and Son. He has
worked on a variety of other series as well, such as, Surviving
Sharks, Surviving Alaska, 100 Days: Yukon, and Survive This. Stroud has made guest appearances on The
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The View, Piers
Morgan Tonite, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Late
Night with Jimmy Fallon. But, no matter what show
he appears on or produces, there’s no doubt that Les
Stroud is the “go-to guy” when it comes to survival
techniques.
As a musician, Les Stroud has drawn from nature and
his survival experiences to create several albums that
include solo work as well as collaborations. In 2007,
he collaborated with the Canadian rock band The
Northern Pikes to create the album, Les Stroud & The
Pikes: Long Walk Home. In that album, he infused wilderness inspirations with his ability to play the harmonica amazingly well in a bluesy-rock style, and his
music career took off from there. He has shared the
stage with many great artists in concerts, from Slash
and Alice Cooper, to Chicago, and the Roots. Today, he
still continues to write and record music, and doesn’t
go anywhere without his harmonica.
In 2009, he came out with the hit single, “I Am Canadian,” on his debut solo album titled simply, Les
Stroud. He also recorded a special edition CD/DVD
compilation titled, Les Stroud and The Campfire Kings:
Wonderful Things, where he created original works
that were not recorded over and over again to achieve