0:00:02 > 0:00:04'On today's Fierce Earth Special Edition,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07'it's my top ten most extreme moments ever.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08'The hottest...'
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Agh! Brutal.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14'..the coldest...' I can't handle it! Aggh!
0:00:14 > 0:00:16'..the fastest.'
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Plus, a brand-new challenge you won't have seen before,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22and I've saved the biggest and fiercest till last.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Three, two, one, exit.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30What happens when the ground shakes,
0:00:30 > 0:00:35the seas rise up and the air tears itself apart?
0:00:35 > 0:00:36The Fierce Earth team move in,
0:00:36 > 0:00:39taking on the most powerful forces on the planet.
0:00:56 > 0:00:57Get ready for Fierce Earth.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00The Earth and how to survive it.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07My name is Leo Houlding. I know all about life on the edge.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10I've climbed to the top of the world's highest mountain,
0:01:10 > 0:01:12frozen in the Antarctic,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15and parachuted off the planet's tallest cliffs.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19And then, things got REALLY tough.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Over the course of two series of Fierce Earth,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24I've taken on the very worst that our planet could throw at me.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Today, I'm looking back over my most extreme challenges,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30and I want you to come along for the ride.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Hup!
0:01:32 > 0:01:33Whoa!
0:01:33 > 0:01:35'The time I got stuck in...' Help...!
0:01:35 > 0:01:40'..in the Sahara Desert, climbing a sheer wall of ice in Canada,
0:01:40 > 0:01:43'and pushing it to the limit in Death Valley.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47'All this and more is in today's countdown of my top ten moments.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49'Will one of your favourites have made it in?'
0:01:50 > 0:01:52But that's not all.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55I've also saved up a very special challenge until last.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57One you won't have seen before.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59My number one challenge.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02It's big, it's scary and it's as fierce as it gets.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Wind conditions are good. We're ready to jump.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16But first, let's kick off my top ten in the hottest spot on the planet -
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Death Valley in the USA.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Temperatures here can hit 57 degrees Celsius.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Phenomenal heat that very nearly got the better of me.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Each year in Death Valley, runners come together to compete
0:02:32 > 0:02:35in one of the most extreme races on the planet...
0:02:35 > 0:02:38- CHEERING - ..the Badwater Ultramarathon.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39It gets so hot during the race,
0:02:39 > 0:02:41people can only stop their trainers from melting
0:02:41 > 0:02:44by running on the heat-reflecting white lines!
0:02:44 > 0:02:47I'm going to run a section of the race
0:02:47 > 0:02:50to find out what ferocious heat really feels like.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Normally, I find running boring. It's not extreme enough for me,
0:02:54 > 0:02:58but in Death Valley, it's going to be plenty extreme.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02What I'm doing today isn't just tough, it's dangerous.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06Exercising in this heat can put incredible strain on the body
0:03:06 > 0:03:08and I have the full support of the medical team.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13Do not force yourself to run in strong heat at home, ever.
0:03:13 > 0:03:14I'm ready to go!
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Three, two,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18one, zero!
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Mo Farah, eat your heart out!
0:03:20 > 0:03:22It's 44 degrees Celsius,
0:03:22 > 0:03:26hot enough to fry an egg on the roof of my support vehicle.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30I've only been running for five minutes and already I'm dehydrated.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36It's so hot and dry, your body loses water at an incredible rate
0:03:36 > 0:03:39and replacing it is difficult.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42It's really hard to drink,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44cos it makes you feel sick.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47It's like someone has a hairdryer on you.
0:03:47 > 0:03:53Perhaps running is more extreme than I gave it credit for. Brutal.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56'This is one of the toughest things I've done.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58'You're not just battling the heat,
0:03:58 > 0:04:03'you're forcing your body to move when all it wants to do is stop.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07'Just five kilometres from the start, there is a serious moment.'
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Ah, hang on a minute, Dr Maz, Dr Maz. He's stopped.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15'The fierce heat has taken its toll.'
0:04:15 > 0:04:18- How you doing? - I'm OK. Is there any ice?
0:04:18 > 0:04:21- Let's get some ice water.- I am on it.- I think he's exhausted.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26I'm giving it five minutes, and then it would be foolish to continue.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31Yeah, we'll see how far we've got. Right, then, I'm set.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39A scary moment, and I don't think I've ever felt that bad before.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42But I've never let anything beat me in the past,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44and I'm not going to now.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47I've run 8km in 48 minutes,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50and the finishing line is just 500 metres away.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Come on, you're almost there! This is the finishing line.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56CHEERING He's our hero.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00It's just relentless.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03It really feels like you're a chicken in an oven.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05But a chicken that's running in an oven.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08That's one of the toughest things I've done.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11Running is far more extreme than I gave it credit for.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Especially here in Death Valley.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Back in the UK, the heat is less of a problem
0:05:21 > 0:05:24and we're much more likely to be drenched in rain.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27Soggy scenes like this are a familiar sight.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31Storms often cause floods that strike fast and cost lives.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Challenge number nine put me in the middle
0:05:34 > 0:05:36of one of these raging torrents.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44I'm about to experience what it's like to be caught in a flash flood.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48Just 25 centimetres of water, barely up to your knees,
0:05:48 > 0:05:50is enough to knock you off your feet.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54Release the hounds! Agh!
0:05:54 > 0:05:58It's not too bad right now, but I can see it coming. Look at that.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02That's starting to feel heavy, it feels like you've got lead boots on.
0:06:02 > 0:06:06My heart is really beating fast. It's quite intense.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10'14 tonnes of water are flowing past me every second.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13'That's the equivalent weight of about nine buses.'
0:06:13 > 0:06:16It's not even at my knees yet and I can barely stand up.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Oh, my goodness, look at that. I'm going. I'm going.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21I can't stand up any more!
0:06:21 > 0:06:25HE YELLS
0:06:25 > 0:06:27I can't!
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Oh!
0:06:29 > 0:06:33'I stay upright for just one minute and 29 seconds.'
0:06:38 > 0:06:41'The power of this rushing water is sweeping me down the river.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44'If this is a pretend experience, it's scary enough.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46'I can't imagine what it would be like for real.'
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Quite tiring.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57You know, it's not the depth, it's the force of the water.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01You just... You know, you're fighting for your life in no time.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04It's dangerous. You need to treat it with respect
0:07:04 > 0:07:06and try and stay out the way.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14If you think the weather in the UK is fierce,
0:07:14 > 0:07:17wait until you see my number one challenge,
0:07:17 > 0:07:19when I experience the awesome power of a typhoon.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23But in some parts of the world,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26no rain can be as dangerous as too much rain.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29Droughts can turn whole forests into a tinderbox.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32If a fire starts, it can burn for days, weeks,
0:07:32 > 0:07:34or even months at a time.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39These wildfires destroy everything in their path. Unimaginable heat.
0:07:39 > 0:07:40Until I felt it for real.
0:07:45 > 0:07:47Challenge eight took me
0:07:47 > 0:07:50to the International Fire Training Centre in Darlington.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51It's the closest you can get
0:07:51 > 0:07:55to experiencing the terrifying heat of a wildfire.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57I'm about to find out what it's like
0:07:57 > 0:07:59to come face-to-face with this fierce element.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02I'm going into the belly of this beast.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05'The temperature is going to reach 800 degrees.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08'That's four times hotter than your oven at home.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12'It's essential that I have the right protective equipment.'
0:08:15 > 0:08:17OK, I'm about to find out what it's like
0:08:17 > 0:08:20to be in the centre of a wildfire. Here we go.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29GAS HISSES
0:08:33 > 0:08:37'The flames burned just 50 centimetres away from my head.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41'I feel scorching heat for 19 seconds.
0:08:41 > 0:08:42'The power of the fire is awesome.'
0:08:48 > 0:08:52Wow! Totally surreal, really hot.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54It doesn't feel real.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56It's the weirdest sensation, look at that.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59It's really hot.
0:08:59 > 0:09:05Argh. It's starting to burn, whoa, it's like a wall of heat. Boof!
0:09:06 > 0:09:10It's like being hit by a freight train of heat, oh!
0:09:11 > 0:09:14That was intense.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Terrifying, but really beautiful at the same time.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20I've never experienced anything like that before.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23This is a test environment and you do feel pretty safe
0:09:23 > 0:09:27with these guys, but it's so unusual being that close to a massive fire.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Not far beneath our feet, the Earth gets even hotter.
0:09:36 > 0:09:395,430 degrees Celsius.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Pretty much as hot as the surface of the sun.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46The results are awe-inspiring volcanoes and geysers.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48Challenge number seven saw me
0:09:48 > 0:09:50turning the power of the geyser on its head.
0:09:56 > 0:10:01Geysers are natural fountains that can shoot thousands of gallons
0:10:01 > 0:10:04of boiling water up to 60 metres into the air.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07The jetovator is part-geyser, part-jet ski,
0:10:07 > 0:10:12and uses high-powered jets of water to propel a rider
0:10:12 > 0:10:15over seven metres in the air at speeds approaching 25mph.
0:10:15 > 0:10:22It's the nearest thing you can get to riding the boiling Earth.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Hah! Ah, I'm proud of that. I thought it was going to be...
0:10:28 > 0:10:30This geezer is having trouble on the geyser!
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Oh, well, you can't be good at everything.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Time for me to try something I'm better at - climbing.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Mousetrap Zawn is a sea cliff on Anglesey in Wales.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52It's around 100 metres high -
0:10:52 > 0:10:55nearly as tall as two Nelson's Columns on top of each other.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58The incredible folds in the rock here
0:10:58 > 0:11:00were caused by the Earth's giant tectonic plates
0:11:00 > 0:11:02slowly pushing against each other.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05The same forces that cause earthquakes.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09I went climbing to see these amazing rock formations close up.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Remember, you should never try climbing on your own.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Even an expert like me has brought along a support team,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18specialist cameraman and a very special buddy
0:11:18 > 0:11:21who's no slouch at climbing himself - my dad.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27I'm the lead climber in the team.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31It's my job to set the route, clipping in safety ropes as I go.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34And the second climber, Dad, follows my path.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39We're climbing with our bare hands.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42The ropes are only to stop us falling too far if we slip.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44That's the idea, anyway.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49It was a thrill to get so close to such amazing folded rock.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53Crushed and raised by unimaginably powerful seismic forces.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58This dangerous, exhilarating climb took us well over three hours.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01A challenge worthy of a place in my top ten.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Before things get any tougher, let's have a quick recap.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Challenge ten had me feeling the heat in Death Valley.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17At nine, I was knocked over by a flash flood.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Eight, feeling the heat of a wildfire.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Seven, turning the power of a geyser on its head.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27Six, climbing up sheer, folded rock.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32'And still to come in the top half of my chart, fierce cold...'
0:12:32 > 0:12:34Aaah!
0:12:34 > 0:12:39'..fierce heat. Plus my brand-new, spectacular number one challenge.'
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Time for me to catch my breath for a moment.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48You don't have to go to extremes to experience our incredible planet.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Fierce Earth has also been Fun Earth.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54With all the planning in the world,
0:12:54 > 0:12:58it doesn't always work out the way you expect.
0:13:02 > 0:13:03Whoo!
0:13:10 > 0:13:11Agh!
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Not exactly the ride I was hoping for!
0:13:17 > 0:13:20Fierce Earth has allowed me to meet people having fun
0:13:20 > 0:13:23in extreme environments all over the world.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Challenge five took me into the mountains,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27where they've turned treacherous ice
0:13:27 > 0:13:30into the most thrilling winter sport of them all.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Switzerland, in the European Alps.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40This is where the sport of bobsleighing was born.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45St Moritz has one of the fastest bobsleigh tracks in the world,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48and I'm about to ride it.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51- I'm ready.- OK. Let's go! - Wey-hey!
0:13:55 > 0:13:57'Into the first corner.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59'At this speed, it's difficult to keep control.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07'I've covered 800 metres in just 15 seconds.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09'I'm just centimetres off the ground
0:14:09 > 0:14:12'and travelling faster than your parents' car on the motorway,
0:14:12 > 0:14:13'over 100 kilometres an hour.'
0:14:16 > 0:14:19My goodness, you come down so quick.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21That's so much fun. Can we do it again?
0:14:22 > 0:14:24So, that's the fun side of ice,
0:14:24 > 0:14:26but it can also be deadly.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29Mountain rescue teams regularly use their climbing skills
0:14:29 > 0:14:33to save people stuck on icy cliffs or trapped in crevasses.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37So, I went to Canada to take on my very own wall of ice.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43Today, this is my challenge.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45A 15-metre-high tower of ice.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Slippery, cold and dangerous,
0:14:47 > 0:14:49and I've got to get to the top.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52It's -25 degrees Celsius.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56This sheer wall of ice is covered with razor sharp icicles.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59It's a real challenge, like climbing on glass.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02This is one of the more difficult bits.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05You can see it's overhanging. There's a lot of daggers.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- SHATTERING ICE - Ugh!
0:15:12 > 0:15:16And your arms start to get tired cos you're hanging off them...
0:15:17 > 0:15:19..and your hands get really cold.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23'And with a surface as loose and brittle as this,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25'danger is never far away.'
0:15:25 > 0:15:28ICE SHATTERS
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Watch out for that!
0:15:33 > 0:15:35'That was at least ten kilograms of ice.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38'Big enough to knock me out if it had hit me in the face,
0:15:38 > 0:15:39'rather than my shoulder.'
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Pretty easy to give yourself
0:15:42 > 0:15:45a broken nose or a black eye doing this.
0:15:52 > 0:15:53'I've made it!'
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Yes! That was great fun.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59Thankfully, the Fierce Earth team set up a quick way down.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Sub-zero zipwire. Whoo-hoo!
0:16:01 > 0:16:03Whoo-hoo!
0:16:08 > 0:16:11We're not far from that brand-new number one challenge,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14but I'm keeping my cool for number three.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Blizzards can bring cities and even whole countries to a standstill,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20and wind chill can be deadly,
0:16:20 > 0:16:22making cold weather REALLY cold.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26So, to experience wind chill, I'm about to step into a blizzard,
0:16:26 > 0:16:28wearing just my undies.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35This room is a climatic wind tunnel.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40It's used to put cars through their paces
0:16:40 > 0:16:42in the nastiest weather imaginable.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50'Today, the cars are being given a day off, and I'm the test subject.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53'Unfortunately for me, the only way to show how wind chill works
0:16:53 > 0:16:56'is for me to brave this sub-zero lab,
0:16:56 > 0:16:58'wearing just one layer of clothing.'
0:16:58 > 0:17:00I'm going to roast(!)
0:17:00 > 0:17:03'Cold like this is dangerous, so I'll be monitored at all times,
0:17:03 > 0:17:06'including with a thermal imaging camera.' Brisk.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10'The guys start the fan at ten miles per hour.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13'That's a light breeze, but the effect is immediate.'
0:17:16 > 0:17:19It's like ten times worse immediately.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Oh!
0:17:22 > 0:17:24'And it's about to get much worse.'
0:17:24 > 0:17:28OK, the wind's going up to 20 miles an hour now, Leo.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31OK. That's like quite a noticeable wind.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Now my face is freezing.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37'It's now minus 15 degrees centigrade, and with the wind speed,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40'my body feels like it's minus 27 degrees.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43'And that's the same as the lowest temperature
0:17:43 > 0:17:44'ever recorded in Britain.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48'We haven't got long, so it's all or nothing
0:17:48 > 0:17:52'as we increase the winds to blizzard speed - 35 miles per hour.'
0:17:54 > 0:17:57'And, as a really nasty surprise, they turn on the snow.'
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Whoo!
0:17:59 > 0:18:02This is it, this is a proper blizzard!
0:18:02 > 0:18:0535-mile-an-hour wind, minus 15 air temperature!
0:18:05 > 0:18:08Combined with the wind chill,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11that's minus 40, and I'm in my undies!
0:18:11 > 0:18:14'Of course, you should never go out in temperatures like this
0:18:14 > 0:18:18'without proper clothes. You could get very ill very quickly.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21'I'm doing it for science and I've got a doctor with me.'
0:18:23 > 0:18:26Ah! That is cold! I can't handle it!
0:18:26 > 0:18:28Ah!
0:18:28 > 0:18:31'This blizzard was a fierce experience for me,
0:18:31 > 0:18:34'but it's part of everyday life for so many big cities,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37'like Toronto, Moscow and New York.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39'Apart from the underwear, that is.'
0:18:46 > 0:18:48I need warming up after that challenge,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52and a trip to the Sahara Desert will certainly do that.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55We've seen that heat is one of the fiercest environments on Earth,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58so it's no surprise it's made it into the top ten twice.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01But it's not just the power of the sun that can be dangerous.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Check this out.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Looks just like any other bit of this vast desert out here.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10But watch what happens when I poke it with a stick.
0:19:13 > 0:19:14You see that?
0:19:14 > 0:19:18Wobbles like jelly. That's because this isn't any ordinary sand.
0:19:18 > 0:19:19This is quicksand.
0:19:21 > 0:19:22I'm about to take the plunge.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24I'm going to jump into this quicksand.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27The challenge is, see if I can get out. Here we go.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Hup!
0:19:32 > 0:19:34'Quicksand is dangerous.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37'I've got a team of people in case I get into serious trouble.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40'Do not try this at home or on the beach.'
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Help.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47'It doesn't take long before I sink up to my chest.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50'The sand has a firm grip as I get pulled deeper
0:19:50 > 0:19:52'and deeper.'
0:19:52 > 0:19:55The more you wriggle,
0:19:55 > 0:19:57the more you sink into it.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00You might think that sinking in over your head
0:20:00 > 0:20:02is what kills you in the quicksand.
0:20:02 > 0:20:03But it's not.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07It's the sun that gets you out here in the baking-hot desert.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10If you were trapped for a long time, you'd die of dehydration.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17The trick is, don't panic and try not to fight it.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19If you fight it,
0:20:19 > 0:20:23it's quite scary and you feel like you're going to sink in.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27But if you just relax, it feels a little bit like you're swimming
0:20:27 > 0:20:29in a giant jelly or a blancmange.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33So, what you need to do... is kind of like swimming.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35Spread your weight out.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38The more surface area you've got, the less likely you are to sink.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41So, I can almost...
0:20:42 > 0:20:46..lie on top of it. OK...
0:20:46 > 0:20:49And then, you can almost push off...
0:20:51 > 0:20:52..the quicksand itself.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Here we go.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56HE GASPS
0:20:59 > 0:21:00Ah, yes.
0:21:13 > 0:21:14I made it.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18That is how you escape from quicksand. Whoo!
0:21:23 > 0:21:27Where do you go after that? Apart from a shower, of course.
0:21:27 > 0:21:28It's almost time to reveal
0:21:28 > 0:21:32my brand-new, number one ultimate challenge.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35But which is your favourite of my fiercest moments so far?
0:21:36 > 0:21:39Challenge ten, gasping for breath in Death Valley.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Nine, fighting to stay above water in a flash flood.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Eight, feeling the ferocious heat of a wildfire.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Seven, taking on the power of the geyser.
0:21:52 > 0:21:56Six, clinging to folded rock created by earthquakes.
0:21:56 > 0:22:02At five, sliding over ice at over 100 kilometres per hour.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06Four, scaling a razor-sharp wall of frozen water.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Three, braving a blizzard in my pants.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12And two, a narrow escape from quicksand.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16So far, you've seen nine tough challenges,
0:22:16 > 0:22:19taking on the worst that the fierce Earth can throw at me.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21But for this special show,
0:22:21 > 0:22:24I wanted to attempt one final challenge that would top them all.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27If you don't like heights, look away now.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Typhoons are dangerous tropical storms that, like hurricanes,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38cause devastation and destruction.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41The force needed to take roofs off buildings
0:22:41 > 0:22:43and uproot trees is incredible.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46It's difficult to imagine just what typhoon winds feel like,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49as this force of nature doesn't just happen anywhere.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52They are strong enough to sweep you off your feet
0:22:52 > 0:22:54and send you flying through the air.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56I've travelled to Monte Brento in Italy
0:22:56 > 0:23:00to experience first-hand the terrifying wind speeds of a typhoon.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03For this to work, I'm going to need a massive cliff,
0:23:03 > 0:23:05and this.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07I'm going to take to the skies and fly like a bird.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11I want to recreate the feeling of what it's like
0:23:11 > 0:23:13to be in the heart of a typhoon,
0:23:13 > 0:23:16flying at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour,
0:23:16 > 0:23:20and I'm going to do it with wingsuit BASE jumping.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Wingsuit BASE jumping's a serious business.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24It takes years to build up the skills,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27experience and confidence necessary to do it safely.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30I've done more than 400 skydives out of a plane
0:23:30 > 0:23:33to learn how to fly your body and to fly a parachute.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Today, we're taking it to another level.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41What we're about to do here is extremely dangerous.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45I'm going to jump off a cliff more than 700 metres high.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49But I wouldn't do it unless I thought it was totally safe.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52To make sure that it is totally safe,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54we've put together a team of experts
0:23:54 > 0:23:56to look after my safety and the crew's safety.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00This is Gary, a stunt coordinator and one of the best in the business.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Gary's here to make sure that the crew look after themselves
0:24:02 > 0:24:04on the top of this giant cliff,
0:24:04 > 0:24:08and make sure that we pull this off without any accidents.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Having all these lines everywhere, and people and equipment,
0:24:11 > 0:24:15in an unfamiliar environment, to me, that's the most dangerous part.
0:24:17 > 0:24:18He's also here to make sure
0:24:18 > 0:24:21that I do everything correctly with the BASE jump.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Although it's still up here,
0:24:23 > 0:24:26there may well be some winds down on the landing area,
0:24:26 > 0:24:27so we'll make a call.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31If it's too windy, we won't jump.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Obviously, safety's the most important thing on a job like this,
0:24:39 > 0:24:40but we are here to make a film,
0:24:40 > 0:24:43and a very important part of that film is this guy.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47My mate James. He is one of the best wingsuit pilots in the world,
0:24:47 > 0:24:49he's taught me a lot, and today,
0:24:49 > 0:24:52he's going to be flying aerial camera, which will be amazing.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56I've got my secret weapon, which is a camera helmet with two cameras,
0:24:56 > 0:25:00both HD. I've got a ring sight here which is like a sniper's target,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03and I have to keep this firmly pointed at Leo.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06Safe jump.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09'I'm almost ready, but once again, never try and copy this.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12'What I'm doing is seriously dangerous.'
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Wind conditions are good, we're ready to jump.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Cameras in position, all set.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Camera ready and set.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29STEADY HEARTBEATS
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Here we go, guys.
0:25:34 > 0:25:39Jumping in three, two, one, exit.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23- Whoo! - HE LAUGHS
0:26:23 > 0:26:25Whoo!
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Jump off the top, and for the first two or three seconds,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30you just kind of fall.
0:26:34 > 0:26:37And then, suddenly, the suit pressurises,
0:26:37 > 0:26:38and you go pfffff!
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Going like a rocket ship, you just start flying across the sky.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Then we started really going. James is right next to me...
0:26:51 > 0:26:52Totally soaring!
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Whoof, that felt pretty quick.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Turns out it was pretty quick.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04It took just 37 seconds to cover three-quarters of a mile,
0:27:04 > 0:27:06and I hit a top speed of 114 miles per hour.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10That's the equivalent of a Category 3 typhoon.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12Mission accomplished.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21So, that's it. I hope you've enjoyed my top ten fiercest moments.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23This show has taken me all around the world,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26and I feel really lucky to have seen some incredible sights.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29But no matter how spectacular my challenge is,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32the true star of the show is our planet,
0:27:32 > 0:27:35the incredible, the powerful, fierce Earth.