hi Ed - i absolutly loved the program..the best tv in a long while..i thought you were very honest about how you felt at any particular time and (as i,s said before) very few people will ever know how it feels to be so totaly alone and so totaly dependant on your own skills to look after yourself..and of corse - the ever present danger of an accident and a bear attack..
it is such a shame it was cut short cos of the lack of food..next time take some 'lembas bread'
hats of to you Ed..can't wait for your next adventure

ohhh i just read the notes from the last live chat...some interesting stuff there...the Ididirod (sp) idea sounds AMAZIN (i met a guy in Alaska who takes part and his father was a famous participant..i wish i could remember his name) and time spent with native people of the north..maybe living their lifestyles...

Hi Ed,

Excellent show! I think your critics are way off base and I am certain that they themselves would have given up far sooner than you did. I have one question for you:

Why didn't you build a better shelter if you knew you were going to be there for such a length of time?

Creating a comfortable shelter is not only practical, it is important psychologically. It gives you a sense of "home" which can greatly reduce your sense of aloneness and deperation which are natural responses in a survival situation such as yours.
Again, great job and I hope to see more from you in the future.

Brian Klein
Deadwood, SD

I was hoping the show would become more watchable, but an hour of walking, crying and going crazy, punctuated with a minute here and there of "this is perfect" before resuming crying was just too tedious to watch. My questions would have been ; why did you not bring protein with you (beans, nuts, dried meat) why did'nt you spend more time fishing? Seems that in a life or death situation, spending the most time possible getting protein would be key. Did you do enough research on edible plants? Sorry, Ed, it was a good idea for a show, but the result was pretty sad.

Ed, you mentioned you brought some Jack London stories with you. Did anything in those stories help or inspire you to build better shelters or modify anything else you did?

Ed, having to go back to your most basic instincts in order to survive, did you seek any spirituality in order to keep yourself sane or was there some kind of "a-ha" moment in which you were no longer just animal trying to survive?

liked the show in the beginning. looks like the woods got the best of you. Did you see anything weird out there? The noises and just the thought of something walking around made me feel weird.

Ed, how much sunlight were you getting per day? I imagine the Yukon in July must have had tons only a few hours of darkness per night.

Wow. That caribou is an incredible swimmer.

ed - you have good handwriting!

I second that Leeann -- good handwriting!

The show is good, but... how bout more action clips. I appreciate the 'insite' clips, but it would be nice to see you actually doing something. For instance, maybe show more 'clips' of the process of how you built your 'lean to', making a fire, catching fish, etc. More clips of you actually fishing/hunting/gathering, with commentary about what game or edible plants in the area.
The show never explains your game plan, ie., why you move and/or stay in one spot. (Other than, looking for salmon)
Ok, we get it, that you miss people too much. I take it, you never did a short trial run of, maybe 1 week or so.
Photagraphy was outstanding!!!
And yes, the blubbering is a little much, but you don't explain, (other than you miss people), what it is you are actually feeling, ie comforts of home, having to work so hard for your existence, what?)
I will continue to watch the show, however.

Ed how did you feel about the "final product" of the show with your clips edited and put to music?

Ed, why did you choose a hammock instead of a tent?

I see where Ed gets his eyebrows...

how far away was the closest town or people for that matter?

Ed,
I respect your decision to take on this difficult challenge. I'm intrigued with your psychological reactions. Has the psychologist given any information on what you could have done differently? What is your personality type generally? Introvert/Extrovert? I'm supporting a friend's plan to live 9 months alone in an Alaskan wilderness cabin and any advice would be appreciated.
Wil

Did you want to break down and kill the moose for food?

Ed, absolutly love your show. Kudo's for surviving 50 days. Best tv show in a long time.

Al

ed, when you got off the bush plane, did you leave your nads on it and grab a V-JJ instead? Quit your whining and crying like a lil Bee Atch. Buck up lil sista, Man-Up!!!!! Rescue plane....scheeeech, give me a brake. Go home wimp

Go take up tennis Ed.... Everytime I switch to nat geo channel, you're crying like a baby....
Get a grip man!!'. I've been in the bush and have turned my anxieties into positive action.

Cmon nat geo.... Ed is a joke!!!!!

Ed,
How did you feel waving to your rescuers? After your return home were you able to recreate your "happy place" that you focused on during your meditation? Now that your back in civilization, do you miss Bruce?

Ed, Did you have any training before hand about what would happen if you were isolated from people for so long? Thousands of years ago tribes would shun a person and not see them or speak to them if they broke the rules, and the person would feel like they had died. How much did you know about this before you started?

Ed, why did you cry and leave early, i would have loved to have been out there in your place.

Ed, don't you dare go back feeling like you've let yourself or others down..... there are VERY FEW people that could have made it as long as you did. Congrats! my hat's off to you, and I don't even wear one.... :)

Will you watch Cast Away with new eyes? I wonder if Tom Hanks will watch this and re-consider his performance.

I think my 5 yr nephew cries less than you, seriously. you spent more time crying to the camera than fishing. you could have shot a duck or a moose, oh right, they aren't in season. so when is porcupine season?????? i think you should have watched a few seasons of Man vs Wild and learned a few things before trying this. oh wait a sec the shows almost over and you are safe, with the camera, and crying again and complaining about civilization. you should never go into the woods by yourself again, or learn how to fish.
cheers!

Ed - I am so glad you went home. As I watched my father prepare for the end of his life, all he cared about were his loved ones - friends and family - how wonderful to find out while you have time to live what is truly important in life......man is not a solitary being.

Wow! You did fantastic! I was alone on the Appalachian Trail for four days and I got so lonesome, I had to quit. I can't even imagine 50 days. Way to go for following your dreams! You could have made it if you could have killed some ducks or a moose!!!!! I walked along the trail crying one time. The wild opens you up. I really enjoyed the show!

I know why you've been crying alot....cuz you're a sissy. YOU ONLY LEARNED THAT YOU CAN'T CUT IT. Does your girlfriend need a man in her life? See Al's comment above, maybe you two can hook up and have a jag fest. Go back to the UK and hide out loser...oh yeah and don't forget to turn on your night light.

Ed - how did you keep your camera charged for 50 days? Also, how did you post on Twitter from the wilderness? My wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed your documentation and we admire and commend you for your bravery.

How bout a spin-off... Bruce the moose? LOL

what a loser. they shoulda called the program 'weeping in the wild'. i'm sorry i wasted my time watching it, i thought the crying might cease at some point and something interesting might happen, but i was wrong!

i really liked this show. great job ed! keep up the good work and ignore those negative people. it's easy to say 'i could do that' when they aren't actually out there. and maybe they would have - but you can't predict the psychological stress!

How many adventures do you think you are going to do, and how many do you want to do?

i'm hungry now.

Ed i think you are a wonderful human being and felt so blessed to have been able to watch this i have felt lonlyness and it is the worst feeling. It was so touching to hear you speak of your girlfriend and family. God Bless you good job and cant wait to see your next production

dude, i would have turned off those cameras and blowed a couple of those ducks slam out of the water, im sure there wasnt a game warden with in 100 miles and if you were starving to death and crying like a infant child they might have even shot the moose for you. get a grip and stay at home and catch your fish in a super market

bear grylls ... who obviously Very capable, has a couple of camera people with him and is only out for a few days at a time ... it's a different experience entirely ... ed could have called his show "Neurohormones Gone Wild" ... it was just the starvation that got to ed, that's all

Eentrekin, the most I've ever seen Bear Grylls do on his show is one overnighter with a camera crew in a tent nearby.

I'm not sure if we'll ever be able to get a "true" account of what it's like to be alone in the wild - on film anyway. If you do all the filming yourself, you're adding a huge burden and making the process harder than usual. If you have a camera crew, you're not alone.

Love the show Ed!

First of all dude, I think you are doing awesome, I know I wouldnt be able to do that. I was wondering, that jacket that you are wearing, where did you get it? It was green some kind of writing on it. MY

where did you get the hammock who makes it?

Hey doll, How are you doing? Are you doing ok? I wouldnt to let you know that you can do anything you put your mind too and that you have to be strong. Also, I wanted to know, where you got that green coat from, the green one with writing on the sleeves, where did you get it, my husband and I were watching your show and i feel for you. if you please get back to me, that would be awesome, Evelyn Nalls email me when you can. thank you

Ed what did you in the hotel after rescue?

To all who complain about the crying, have some respect. Yes I will agree it got to be redundant, but c'mon he was ALONE for 50 days. He didn't get lost or was a victim of a plane crash. He forced himself to stay there for a long period of time. The notion makes me cringe. Forcing yourself to do things is much different than having situations forced upon you. -- From a fellow outdoorsman in the northwoods of WI, great job der hey!

man, ed, you have issues that you need to deal with before you even think of going into the bush again. take an eagle scout with you next time. or a girl scout. she can wipe your tears for you when you make yourself cry by pulling out pictures of your girlfriend. OH, nice eye brows Ed! by the way i survived 67 days in the colorodo rockies, no contact, no phone, no pictures, and no tears just a shotgun, rifle and camping gear and a playboy mag.to help keep me focused. i ate well i shot deer, wild boar, mountain goat, rabbit. actually gained a little weight in the mountains. i loved it i didnt want to come back to civilization but had to pay the bills. i plan on doing it again well see ya later. and dry it up for pete sake.

When did you shave?

Ed Next time get a Bible much better

xbox360:
????? deer, wild boar, mountain goat and rabbit ... in 67 days, enough meat for a family of 4 for 6 months ... what game management unit(s) was that? ... all animals taken lawfully? ... what elevations were the goat and boar taken at? ... it may be true, but i have my doubts ... ed brought back several hours of film ... either way, i'm glad you enjoyed your time in the rockies and hope you have more fun there in the future ...

I insist, a Bible

Just watched Code Red. I wish the show focused more on the solitude challenge instead of survival. There are several shows on survival. There are hardly any shows on solitude.

I was super interested in this show. I have done many solo backpacks. The longest trip with no contact with people was one month. I am not a social person though. The first show I saw that Ed was a very social person. When I saw that he was crying by the third day, I thought he was in the danger zone. My first trip in the woods alone was terrifying. I took an escape route so I only did 40 miles instead of the planned 70 miles.

I was wondering if the survival experts Ed spoke to for six days were concerned about how he was going to get enough calories. You need a regular source of fat to survive in the wilderness. The large game animals and even the ducks were off limits. These animals are the only sources of fat up there, except salmon. The survival experts should have told him to increase his survival rations. If he brought nuts, lard or oil, and whatever Ed hunted could have made it 90 days.

On Twitter, Ed said he brought 4.5 KG of rice.
thecaloriecounter.com said that 200 grams of rice has 700 calories.
So, 4.5 KG has 15,750 calories.
50 days of rice rations out at 315 calories a day.
90 days of rice rations out at 175 calories a day.
For a base calorie intake of 1000 calories a day, you need to bring 30 KG of rice for 90 days.

Christopher McCandless brought 10 pounds of rice. 4.5 KG. is 9.92 pounds. It is ironic that Ed brought the same amount of rice as
Christopher.

The psychologist Dr. Cynthia McVey's quote, "But it may be helpful for him to spend regular time, perhaps at the beginning and end of his day, thinking of others" is disastrous advice for being alone in the wilderness. Has Dr. McVey every spent time in the wilderness alone or anytime alone? I doubt it. In one of Ed's videos, he said that the psychologist recommended going to a "happy place" in your mind surrounded by friends, family, and girlfriend. Focusing on others is a recipe for losing control of your emotions. Need to push the people out of your mind and focus on the present moment. This is a way to become part of the environment. You become just another animal in the woods. Bringing pictures of your family and a letter from your girlfriend is a recipe for disaster.

I am sorry, but Ed was just Christopher McCandless with gps and a rescue team. At least, Christopher McCandless had the advantage in the fact he spent two years on the road travelling by himself. Christopher spent three months alone rafting the Colorado River into Mexico. I think Christopher enjoyed his time and achieved his goal of becoming one with the wilderness until he ran into problem of crossing the river. I always thought my dislike for people was a weakness. This show changed what I thought was a weakness into a strength. Most people cannot spend three days by themselves without serious problems. It was not fun watching someone have a psychological breakdown on TV.

hats off to you Ed, fantastic show. your a very brave man, most would not have made the first month. but moreover it was very interested to go with you on your journey, even only through the tv.
i watch all the survivor shows, this had my attention more than ever. i know you struggled terribly but thank you for sharing this adventure. i know you have more journeys planned, just hope you have the opportunity to take us along again! take care.

Emotional breakdowns - it seems that "alone" in the wild is not for Ed. Although Ed may be a skilled/avid hiker and has spent time alone, he clearly does not have what it takes to survive, mentally. 50 plus days is admirable, but less emotional pampering - and more doing may have been better survival self-advice. Makes the rest of us real survivors wish you would have found a better representative.

I could barely watch this. Was this show about survival or how an unstable man cracks in an isolated situation? Unbelievable. I'd much rather see Les Stroud or a person who can take it.

Back to the drawing board, NatGeo.

After this "alone" fiasco,i really believe the rimors about natgeo "survival experts"! bear gryllis sleeps in motels,campers, tents and les stroun ,in the episode in utah...had a camera mans shadow show up in the film while he was "alone and filming himself"!! E D Wardle though topped both with his crybaby actions and no common sense attitude. I hope nobody takes these three jokers seriously and tries any of their "stunts"!
As for ED....I challenge him to spend a week in my back-yard in a tent,all supplies including food and water and a television will be furnished....My bet is he'll be crying like a spinster at a homecoming dance in a day!!
I sincerely hope we've seen the last of this loser and that his psychiatrist doesn't get harmed while treating him!!!
NATGEO....YOU'RE A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Having done a similar trip myself to the wilderness I can appreciate the extra weight you carried both physically and mentally by bringing the cameras along. At first I was turned off by your crying but then I realized that on my own trip I did not have the burden of talking on camera. Having to constantly speak to the camera meant that you also had to constantly think about home. That added dimension is a burden that would be a severe psychological hardship to anyone (Even to those tough guys who have complained about it on these comment pages) On my own trip I was able to keep my mind occupied purely on survival without being forced to think about the outside world. You did not have the option to only think of yourself. You did a great job and I look forward to seeing whatever future efforts you come up with. Thank you also for having the courage to show your true reactions to the solitude and isolation. I bet NASA will study your tapes to help them prepare for future trips to mars.

I dont understand why you abandoned the canoe so early. It seems to me a canoe is essential to moving about and finding fish in that boreal forest it is very difficult to travel on foot even a short distance. With the canoe you could have accessed far more area for food. The lakes looked very large impossible to fish effectively from shore. With a canoe you could have fished deeper water. With the limits placed on what you could kill and eat fish seemed like your only real option.