NARRATOR: IN SOME EARTH'S NATURAL WONDERS, HUMAN BEINGS PUSH THEMSELVES TO THEIR ABSOLUTE LIMITS IN ORDER TO SURVIVE.

HIGH IN THE SANDSTONE MOUNTAINS OF ETHIOPIA, A MOTHER FACES A TREACHEROUS CLIMB TOWARDS THE HEAVENS TO GIVE HER NEW BABY THE BEST CHANCE IN LIFE.

ON A REMOTE ISLAND IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC, A MAN TEMPTS DEATH TO CARRY ON A TRADITION BUILT ON A RARE DELICACY.

AHH!

AND IN ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST RIVER BASINS, A WOMAN SEEKS OUT UNEXPLODED BOMBS AS SHE HELPS HER COUNTRY RECOVER FROM THE LEGACY OF WAR.

[BIRDS CALLING] IN EACH OF THESE PLACES, PEOPLE FIND WAYS TO ENDURE AND EVEN THRIVE AGAINST ALL ODDS.

THESE NATURAL WONDERS ENCOMPASS AN INCREDIBLE VARIETY OF LANDSCAPES, LUSH, TROPICAL FORESTS, SPECTACULAR ISLANDS, SOARING MOUNTAIN RANGES, AND FROZEN POLAR WORLDS.

BUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THESE PLACES HOME, SURVIVAL REQUIRES SKILL, INGENUITY, AND BRAVERY.

[SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE] THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

NARRATOR: ETHIOPIA.

IN THE HIGHLANDS, THE TIGRAY REGION IS HOME TO THE GHERALTA MOUNTAINS.

AT OVER 6,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, THESE GEOLOGICAL GIANTS ARE THE LAST SURVIVORS OF AN IMMENSE SANDSTONE PLATEAU THAT STOOD HERE AROUND 25 MILLION YEARS AGO.

THIS NATURAL WONDER TOWERS OVER THE BARREN LANDS OF THE PLAIN BELOW.

AND IN ITS SHADOW LIES THE VILLAGE OF DEBRE SELAM.

BABY DAWIT IS THE NEWEST ARRIVAL, MUCH TO HIS FATHER'S DELIGHT.

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] NARRATOR: DAWIT'S PARENTS ARE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT IF THEIR SON IS TO FLOURISH IN LIFE, HE MUST BE BAPTIZED.

NARRATOR: BUT BAPTISM IN THE GHERALTA MOUNTAINS INVOLVES FACING A GREAT RISK.

DAWIT'S PARENTS ARE TAKING HIM TO A CHURCH CALLED ABUNA YEMATA GUH.

THIS CHURCH, CARVED DEEP INTO THE MOUNTAIN FACE, IS ALMOST 1,300 FEET ABOVE THE VALLEY FLOOR.

IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING CLOSER TO GOD, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO GET THERE IS TO CLIMB.

NARRATOR: TRADITION HAS IT THAT BOYS MUST BE BAPTIZED ON THE FORTIETH DAY AFTER THEY ARE BORN.

AND FOR DAWIT, THAT DAY IS TOMORROW.

FOLLOWING A DIFFICULT BIRTH JUST OVER 5 WEEKS AGO, IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH CLIMB FOR DAWIT'S MOTHER NGISTI.

[CLANGING] NARRATOR: IT'S THE MORNING OF THE BAPTISM.

AT 9 A.M., THE FAMILY SET OUT.

IT WILL TAKE THEM SEVERAL HOURS TO REACH THE CHURCH.

THE FIRST SECTION IS A TOUGH 60-FOOT CLIMB.

THERE ARE ONLY TINY INDENTATIONS IN THE SMOOTH ROCK FACE TO SERVE AS HAND AND FOOT HOLDS.

A SLIP HERE COULD BE FATAL.

NARRATOR: THEY'VE BEEN CLIMBING FOR ALMOST AN HOUR.

NARRATOR: IT'S BEEN AN EXHAUSTING MORNING, BUT DAWIT AND HIS FAMILY EVENTUALLY REACH THE BAPTISM CHAPEL JUST BELOW THE CHURCH.

[SINGING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE] [DAWIT CRYING] NARRATOR: DAWIT'S PARENTS BELIEVE HE IS NOW UNDER GOD'S PROTECTION, BUT STILL, THEY NEED TO TAKE HIM TO HIS FIRST MASS.

[SINGING CONTINUES] THIS IS A VITAL AND NECESSARY STEP IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE DAY'S RITUALS, BUT REACHING THE CHURCH INVOLVES ONE LAST ACT OF FAITH AND AN EVEN MORE TREACHEROUS PASSAGE.

[BELLS CLANGING] [MEN SINGING] NARRATOR: ONCE THE SERVICE IS OVER, DAWIT AND HIS PARENTS MUST MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO THE VILLAGE.

[DAWIT CRYING] NARRATOR: IN MANY OF EARTH'S NATURAL WONDERS, PEOPLE BELIEVE ENLISTING THE HELP OF A HIGHER POWER IS CRUCIAL TO THEIR CHANCES OF SURVIVAL...

EVEN IF IT MEANS RISKING THEIR LIVES IN ORDER TO GET THAT HELP.

BUT IN OTHER WONDERS, PEOPLE FACE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH EVERY DAY FOR A VERY DIFFERENT REASON-- TO MAKE THEIR HOMES SAFE.

THE MEKONG BASIN, SOUTHEAST ASIA.

A SPRAWLING NATURAL WONDER CROSSING 6 COUNTRIES.

THIS VAST RIVER NETWORK CARRIES NUTRIENT-RICH SEDIMENTS OVER A 300,000 SQUARE MILE AREA.

ONE COUNTRY OCCUPIES MORE OF THE MEKONG BASIN THAN ANY OTHER-- LAOS.

LAOS IS ONE OF THE MOST FERTILE PLACES ON EARTH, PART OF ASIA'S RICE BOWL.

BUT FARMING HERE CAN BE FRAUGHT WITH DANGER.

[THUNDER] NARRATOR: 35-YEAR-OLD LUMNGEN WAS A CHILD WHEN HER FATHER WAS INJURED BY AN EXPLODING BOMB AND REMEMBERS HEARING HIS SCREAMS.

NARRATOR: LAOS IS LITTERED WITH AROUND 80 MILLION UNEXPLODED BOMBS DROPPED BY THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.

EVERY YEAR, 300 PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED BY THEM.

NARRATOR: DESPITE THE DANGER, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION STILL FARM THE LAND.

BUT LUMNGEN HAS CHOSEN A VERY DIFFERENT PATH.

SHE IS IN CHARGE OF A BOMB CLEARANCE TEAM FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CHARITY.

THE LAND LUMNGEN IS CLEARING TODAY IS GOING TO BE USED FOR A NEW SCHOOL, BUT FIRST, THE TEAM MUST MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE.

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] NARRATOR: THEIR METAL DETECTORS MUST SCAN EVERY INCH.

[METAL DETECTOR BEEPING] IT'S PAINSTAKING WORK.

TWO HOURS INTO THE SHIFT, ONE OF THE TEAM FINDS SOMETHING.

NARRATOR: A SINGLE U.S.

CLUSTER BOMB CONTAINED UP TO 600 OF THESE SMALL EXPLOSIVE DEVICES.

ANY ONE COULD KILL OR MAIM.

IT'S TOO DANGEROUS TO MOVE THE BOMB, SO LUMNGEN AND THE TEAM MUST DESTROY IT HERE WITH A CONTROLLED EXPLOSION.

NARRATOR: LUMNGEN'S COLLEAGUE MUST CAREFULLY PLACE AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE ON THE DEVICE.

[SHOUTING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE] NARRATOR: IT'S TAKEN THE TEAM HOURS TO FIND AND MAKE SAFE ONE SMALL BOMB.

AND IT COULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS MORE TO CLEAR THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA.

NEXT MORNING, AN EMERGENCY CALL'S COME IN FROM A VILLAGE 50 MILES AWAY.

THEY THINK THEY'VE FOUND A LARGE AMERICAN BOMB.

LUMNGEN JOINS THE BOMB DISPOSAL TEAM AS THEY HEAD OUT TO INVESTIGATE.

THE TEAM MUST GET THERE FAST.

IN POVERTY-STRICKEN LAOS, BOMBS ARE OFTEN SOLD FOR SCRAP METAL.

[MAN SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE OVER RADIO] NARRATOR: IT'S A HUGE 500-POUND BOMB.

DESPITE ITS AGE, ONE FALSE MOVE COULD STILL TRIGGER A MASSIVE EXPLOSION.

THEY MUST REMOVE THE FUSE IN ORDER TO DISARM IT.

NARRATOR: A BOMB THIS SIZE PACKED WITH EXPLOSIVES HAS TO BE TAKEN, WHEN POSSIBLE, TO A SPECIAL SITE FOR A CONTROLLED DETONATION.

THEY NEED TO MOVE IT THERE BY ROAD.

ANY DETONATIONS TAKE PLACE AT 3 P.M.

SO LOCALS KNOW TO STEER CLEAR.

IT'S NOW 2:50.

THEY MUST HURRY.

[RADIO CHATTER] THE DEEP SAND PIT SHOULD ABSORB THE BOMB'S BLAST WAVE.

NARRATOR: BEFORE THEY DETONATE IT, THE TEAM NEED TO MOVE AT LEAST HALF A MILE AWAY TO BE SAFE FROM FLYING SHRAPNEL.

AT THE STROKE OF 3 P.M... 3... 3... 2...1.

2...1.

ZERO.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] NARRATOR: LUMNGEN CHOOSES TO RISK HER LIFE TO HELP MAKE HER COUNTRY SAFE.

BUT IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, PEOPLE STILL RELY ON NATURAL LANDSCAPES NOT DEFILED BY HUMAN HISTORY.

THE AMAZON RAINFOREST.

AT OVER TWO MILLION SQUARE MILES, IT'S THE LARGEST RAINFOREST IN THE WORLD.

THIS VAST NATURAL WONDER IS KNOWN AS THE LUNGS OF THE PLANET.

WITHIN THIS HUGE AREA LIES THE BRAZILIAN MATO GROSSO, A REGION CRISSCROSSED BY RIVERS AND DOTTED WITH LAKES.

THESE WATERWAYS ARE HOME TO A UNIQUE ARRAY OF AQUATIC LIFE.

THEY'RE ALSO VITAL FOR THE SURVIVAL OF THE DOZENS OF INDIGENOUS GROUPS WHO STILL INHABIT THE RAINFOREST.

ONE OF THESE IS THE KAMAYURÁ, A COMMUNITY OF JUST OVER 500 PEOPLE.

THEIRS IS A WORLD DOMINATED BY SPIRITS.

THEY BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER TO SURVIVE, THESE SPIRITS MUST BE KEPT HAPPY.

NARRATOR: LIKE HIS FATHER BEFORE HIM, PERRI IS A SHAMAN, AN INDIVIDUAL FROM THE COMMUNITY WHOSE ROLE IS TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SPIRIT WORLD.

AND ONE OF HIS RESPONSIBILITIES IS TO PLACATE THE SPIRITS WITH FESTIVALS AND OFFERINGS.

IN TWO DAYS' TIME, PERRI WILL BE IN CHARGE OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FESTIVALS OF THE YEAR.

IT'S INTENDED TO APPEASE A BIRD SPIRIT-- THE PAPAGAYO.

IF THE RITUAL IS A SUCCESS, THE KAMAYURÁ BELIEVE THIS SPIRIT WILL HELP PROTECT THEM IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

FAIL, AND THE SPIRIT MAY TURN AGAINST THEM, 'CAUSING THEM TO BECOME ILL. PERRI IS ORGANIZING A MASSIVE FISHING TRIP.

THE FISH THEY CATCH WILL BE FED TO WARRIORS WHO MUST KEEP DANCING ALL DAY IN ORDER TO SATISFY THE SPIRIT.

NARRATOR: IT'S THE DAY OF THE FISHING EXPEDITION, AND THE WHOLE VILLAGE WILL BE INVOLVED.

PERRI AND SOME OF THE OTHER MEN STRETCH NETS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE LAKE.

THEY MOVE FORWARD, FORCING THE FISH TOWARDS THE SHALLOW END WHERE THE REST OF THE VILLAGE ARE WAITING.

IT LOOKS CALM, BUT JUST BELOW THE SURFACE IS A WORLD OF FEROCIOUS WILDLIFE-- ELECTRIC EELS, PIRANHA, AND CAIMAN.

WHOO!

NARRATOR: PERRI SUDDENLY SPOTS AN ENORMOUS ELECTRIC EEL.

IT COULD DELIVER A 600-VOLT SHOCK, ENOUGH TO HURT AN ADULT OR SERIOUSLY INJURE A CHILD.

PERRI'S USING A ROPE TO INSULATE HIMSELF AGAINST ELECTRIC SHOCK AS HE HAULS THE EEL OUT.

NARRATOR: BUT ALL OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS WONDER ISN'T JUST USEFUL IN KEEPING THEM SAFE.

IT ALSO GIVES THEM A SECRET WEAPON THAT WILL HELP WITH THE CATCH-- THE TIMBÓ VINE.

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] NARRATOR: PERRI'S FATHER BLESSES IT.

[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] NARRATOR: THE TIMBÓ VINE CONTAINS A POWERFUL TOXIN.

BEATING IT RELEASES CHEMICALS INTO THE WATER THAT POISON THE FISH.

NARRATOR: ONCE THE TIMBÓ STARTS TO WORK, HELPLESS FISH WILL FLOAT TO THE SURFACE.

SURE ENOUGH, ALL ACROSS THE LAKE, FISH START BOBBING UP.

IN LESS THAN AN HOUR, THEY'VE CAUGHT HUNDREDS OF FISH AND NO ONE'S BEEN INJURED.

ALL THE FISH MUST NOW BE TAKEN BACK TO THE VILLAGE AND SMOKED, READY FOR THE CEREMONY TOMORROW.

TODAY, THE WARRIORS MUST DANCE LONG AND HARD IF THEY'RE TO PLEASE THE BIRD SPIRIT.

[WARRIORS CHANTING] THE LONGER AND MORE ENERGETICALLY THEY DANCE, THE HAPPIER THE SPIRIT WILL BE.

IT'S IMPORTANT THE DANCERS SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT AND ENDURANCE TO THE SPIRIT.

AND IT'S UP TO PERRI AND HIS FAMILY TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ENOUGH FISH TO EAT SO THEY HAVE THE ENERGY TO KEEP GOING ALL DAY.

[WARRIORS CHANTING] NARRATOR: WELL FED, THE WARRIORS DANCE FOR OVER 8 HOURS.

[WARRIORS CHANTING] PERRI HAS DONE ALL HE CAN TO MAKE THE FESTIVAL A SUCCESS AND GUARANTEE THE WELL-BEING OF THE VILLAGE FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

PEOPLE IN MANY OF THE WORLD'S MOST EXTREME NATURAL WONDERS BELIEVE THAT THEIR BEST CHANCE LIES WITH A HIGHER POWER, BUT IN ONE WONDER, PEOPLE PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR NOTHING MORE THAN A TRADITIONAL DELICACY.

HALFWAY BETWEEN NORWAY AND ICELAND LIE THE FAROE ISLANDS... ONE OF NORTHERN EUROPE'S MOST DRAMATIC NATURAL WONDERS.

CONSISTING OF 18 ISLANDS, THE FAROES WERE FORMED FROM LAYERS OF BASALT LAVA.

THESE BARE AND ROCKY OUTCROPS WERE ONCE JOINED TOGETHER, PART OF A VAST SINGLE PLATEAU.

BUT 50 MILLION YEARS OF EROSION HAS CARVED OUT THESE JAGGED FORMS.

THEY'RE POPULATED BY PEOPLES PRIMARILY OF NORSE DECENT.

ONE OF THE SMALLEST ISLANDS IS SKUVOY.

MEASURING 4 SQUARE MILES, IT'S HOME TO JUST 32 PEOPLE, INCLUDING TOWN MAYOR HARRY JENSEN.

NARRATOR: SKUVOY IS RENOWNED FOR AN ANCIENT TRADITION.

ON JUST ONE DAY A YEAR, THE MEN OF THIS ISLAND SCALE THE CLIFFS TO COLLECT A MUCH-PRIZED DELICACY... FULMAR EGGS.

IN THE PAST, THESE EGGS WERE AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF FOOD FOR THE ISLANDERS, HELPING THEM TO SURVIVE HERE.

THE TRADITION LIVES ON AND PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN BINDING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

NARRATOR: HARRY IS THE MAIN ORGANIZER OF THIS YEAR'S EGG COLLECTION.

HE'S TAKEN PART SINCE HIS TEENS AND IS ONE OF THE ISLAND'S MOST EXPERIENCED CLIMBERS.

NARRATOR: THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A CLIFF FACE WITH PLENTY OF NESTING BIRDS.

NARRATOR: THERE'S ONLY A 6-DAY WINDOW ONCE A YEAR TO MAKE THIS CLIMB.

THE FULMARS ALL LAY AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME.

AFTER 6 DAYS, EMBRYOS FORM, AND THEN THE EGGS CAN'T BE EATEN.

BUT THE WEATHER'S BEEN BAD THIS YEAR, AND TOMORROW LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE THEIR LAST CHANCE.

NARRATOR: THE NEXT MORNING, CONDITIONS ARE LOOKING POOR.

NARRATOR: HARRY DECIDES THE CLIMB WILL GO AHEAD.

IT'S 10 A.M.

THE WIND IS PICKING UP.

THEY NEED TO START OUT BEFORE IT GETS ANY WORSE.

5 PEOPLE ARE CLIMBING TODAY, AMONG THEM, SEVERAL YOUNGER CLIMBERS, SOME OF WHOM ARE ATTEMPTING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

NARRATOR: IT'S OVER 200 FEET DOWN TO THE FIRST LEDGE.

ONCE THERE, THEY MUST REMOVE THEIR SAFETY HARNESSES BEFORE THEY CAN SEARCH FOR EGGS.

IT'S HARRY'S TURN.

[HUMMING] NARRATOR: AT 57, THIS MIGHT BE HIS LAST CLIMB, AND HE'S DETERMINED TO TACKLE ONE OF THE ISLAND'S MOST CHALLENGING DESCENTS.

HALT!

NARRATOR: HE'S AIMING FOR A LEDGE OVER 500 FEET DOWN WHERE THERE SHOULD BE PLENTY OF NESTING BIRDS.

NARRATOR: DESPITE MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, HARRY'S STRUGGLING TO CONTROL HIS DESCENT.

HARRY: AHH!

[SPEAKS FAROESE] NARRATOR: HALFWAY DOWN, HE PASSES THE FIRST LEDGE.

AND THE FULMARS DON'T WELCOME THE INTRUSION.

THEY SPRAY FOUL-SMELLING VOMIT OVER ANYONE THREATENING THEIR NESTS.

NARRATOR: HARRY'S NEARLY DOWN TO THE LOWEST LEDGE.

AHH!

STOP.

NARRATOR: ONCE DOWN ON THE LEDGE, HARRY STILL NEEDS TO WATCH HIS STEP.

THE WEATHER'S GETTING EVEN WORSE.

VISIBILITY IS NOW DANGEROUSLY LOW.

TIME HAS RUN OUT.

BUT HEAVING HARRY BACK UP ISN'T EASY.

THE WET ROPE IS HEAVY, AND IT'S CATCHING ON THE LEDGES.

NARRATOR: THERE ARE NOW 10 PEOPLE PULLING ON THE ROPE.

NARRATOR: THEY'VE HARVESTED NEARLY 240 EGGS TO SHARE BETWEEN THEM.

THEY'LL BE COOKED AND EATEN OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, RELISHED AS A RARE TREAT.

NARRATOR: FOR THE TIME BEING AT LEAST, THIS DEATH-DEFYING ANNUAL EGG HARVEST SEEMS SET TO CONTINUE.

IN MANY NATURAL WONDERS AROUND THE WORLD, PEOPLE DO WHATEVER THEY THINK THEY MUST IN ORDER TO SURVIVE AND MAINTAIN THEIR WAY OF LIFE.

BUT IN OTHER PLACES, PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO THE WONDERS SIMPLY FOR PLEASURE.

THE ALPS, ONE OF EUROPE'S GREATEST NATURAL WONDERS.

THE MOUNTAIN RANGE RUNS FOR 750 MILES AND SPANS 11 COUNTRIES.

ALONG ITS LENGTH, THERE ARE MORE THAN 80 PEAKS, MEASURING 13,000 FEET OR ABOVE, INCLUDING THE FAMOUS MATTERHORN IN SWITZERLAND.

THIS PYRAMID-SHAPED PEAK IS A MAGNET TO SKIERS, CLIMBERS, AND HIKERS.

MORE THAN A MILLION VISITORS POUR INTO THE REGION EVERY YEAR.

BUT THE LURE OF THE MOUNTAIN HAS A PRICE.

MANY PEOPLE ARE INJURED, SOME EVEN KILLED ON ITS SLOPES.

MAN: THE MOUNTAINS, WHEN YOU KNOW HOW TO READ THEIR SIGNS, IT'S A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.

WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR ENVIRONMENT, IT'S DANGEROUS.

NARRATOR: ROBBIE ANDENMATTEN IS A HELICOPTER RESCUE PILOT FOR AIR ZERMATT.

HE'S ON HIGH ALERT.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES OF THE SUMMER.

IT'S A SWISS NATIONAL HOLIDAY AND THOUSANDS OF VISITORS ARE FLOCKING TO THE AREA.

ANDENMATTEN: THE MATTERHORN IS A VERY PHYSICAL MOUNTAIN.

IT IS EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT CONDITIONS AND WITHIN HALF A DAY CAN CHANGE ENTIRELY.

NARRATOR: ROBBIE'S ONE OF 11 PILOTS RESPONSIBLE FOR PATROLLING A 780-SQUARE MILE AREA AROUND THE MATTERHORN.

[TELEPHONE RINGS] [PING] NARRATOR: IT'S 12:30, AND ROBBIE'S ALREADY ON HIS FIFTH EMERGENCY CALL OUT OF THE DAY.

A HIKER HAS HAD A HEART ATTACK 8,000 FEET UP NEAR THE MATTERHORN.

ROBBIE MUST GET THE DOCTOR AND PARAMEDIC TO HIM FAST.

NARRATOR: ROBBIE AND THE TEAM RESPOND TO MORE THAN 1,600 EMERGENCY CALLS A YEAR.

ANDENMATTEN: IN THE MOUNTAINS, IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO FLY BECAUSE OF THE WIND OR BECAUSE OF THE VISIBILITY, THE FOG, THE WEATHER.

SHOULD I FLY CLOSE TO THIS MOUNTAIN WITH THESE FEED WIND, WITH THIS VISIBILITY, YES OR NO?

THAT'S THE DECISION-MAKING.

THAT'S THE TOUGH THING.

NARRATOR: ROBBIE'S FOUND THE PATIENT.

NOW HE NEEDS TO GET THE MEDICS ON THE GROUND.

BUT THE TERRAIN'S TOO STEEP FOR HIM TO LAND.

NARRATOR: HE HOVERS AS CLOSE AS HE CAN SO THE DOCTOR AND THE PARAMEDIC CAN JUMP OUT.

A STRONG GUST OF WIND COULD POTENTIALLY BRING HIM DOWN.

[MEN SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] NARRATOR: AS THE TEAM TRY TO HELP THE PATIENT, ROBBIE FLIES TO MORE EVEN GROUND AND WAITS.

NARRATOR: IT'S THE VERY WORST OF OUTCOMES... SOMETHING ROBBIE AND HIS TEAM CONSTANTLY FACE IN THESE MOUNTAINS.

CONDITIONS CAN CHANGE SO FAST HERE, EVEN EXPERIENCED CLIMBERS CAN GET INTO TROUBLE.

ANDENMATTEN: FOR ME, IT'S VERY HARD.

IN MY CAREER, I HAD TO GET PEOPLE I KNOW-- MOUNTAIN GUIDES, SEVERAL MOUNTAIN GUIDES, WHICH GOT KILLED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS HERE.

AND SO, IT'S HARD TO-- HARD TO GET OVER, THAT'S FOR SURE.

NARRATOR: BUT ON THE BUSIEST WEEK OF THE SUMMER, THERE'S NO TIME FOR ROBBIE TO REST AND REFLECT.

IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE HE'S RESPONDING TO ANOTHER CALL FOR HELP.

TWO YOUNG CLIMBERS HAVE LOST THEIR WAY HIKING DOWN A STEEP MOUNTAIN PASS AND ARE TRAPPED.

ANDENMATTEN: WHEN I'M GOING TO RESCUE, I'M FOCUSING ON THE PATIENT SIGHT, GETTING THE DOCTOR TO THE PATIENT.

I REALLY PUSH THE LIMITS.

NARRATOR: THEY'VE REACHED THE AREA WHERE THE STRANDED WOMEN WERE LAST SEEN.

ALL ALONG THE SIDES OF THE VALLEY ARE NEAR VERTICAL CLIFFS OVER A THOUSAND FEET HIGH.

THEY'RE A WELL-KNOWN DANGER SPOT FOR INEXPERIENCED HIKERS.

NARRATOR: THEY'VE FOUND THE WOMEN, BUT THERE'S NOWHERE TO LAND SO THE DOCTOR WILL HAVE TO BE WINCHED DOWN.

DOCTOR: AND PLEASE DON'T MOVE.

DON'T MOVE.

NARRATOR: IT'S NOT EASY FOR ROBBIE TO HOVER BECAUSE OF THE STRONG WINDS IN THIS AREA.

DOCTOR: BE CAREFUL.

BE CAREFUL OF THIS.

DON'T MOVE.

WOMAN: OK. COMPUTER: 100 FEET.

NARRATOR: THE WOMEN ARE SHAKEN, BUT THEY AREN'T HURT.

DURING THIS WEEK, ROBBIE AND THE AIR ZERMATT TEAM DEALT WITH OVER 50 EMERGENCY CALLS, SAVING COUNTLESS LIVES IN THIS MOUNTAINOUS WONDER.

FORMED OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS, OUR NATURAL WONDERS ARE THE MOST SPECTACULAR PLACES ON EARTH.

THEY ARE ALSO THE MOST EXTREME PLACES IN THE WORLD TO LIVE.

BUT HUMAN BEINGS HAVE PROVED SUFFICIENTLY SKILLFUL AND ADAPTABLE TO SURVIVE IN NEARLY EVERY ONE OF THEM.

[LAUGHTER] IN FACT, FOR ALL THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING IN THESE PLACES, WE HAVE FOUND WAYS TO THRIVE IN THEM.

NARRATOR: THE "EARTH'S NATURAL WONDERS" TEAM HAD A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO FILM AN ETHIOPIAN BAPTISM.

BUT IT WOULD HAPPEN JUST ONCE, SO THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR ERROR.

BEFORE THE SHOOT, THE TEAM NEEDED TO RECCE THE CLIMB AND WORK OUT JUST HOW THEY WERE GOING TO FILM THE FAMILY ON THE DAY.

TAKE A FEW MINUTES.

WE OUGHT TO JUST SETTLE DOWN.

I'LL JUST GET EVERYBODY INTO A HARNESS OF SOME SORT.

NARRATOR: IT WAS DOWN TO ROPE SAFETY EXPERT TIM FOGG TO FIND A WAY FOR THE CREW TO FILM THE 1,200 FOOT CLIMB AND STAY SAFE.

THEY NEEDED A WHOLE ARRAY OF CLIMBING GEAR TO GET THEM UP THE MOUNTAIN.

FOGG: THING WE SHOULD DO JUST SAFETY WISE IS NOT STAND UNDERNEATH THE CLIMB BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY DOES FALL OFF IT, IT'LL BE LIKE... NARRATOR: ANNE SOMMERFIELD WAS THE DIRECTOR.

SOMMERFIELD: I'M JUST SO IMPRESSED THAT OUR MOM AND BABY DO THIS WITHOUT ANY ROPES OR ANY SAFETY NET.

IT'S JUST--YEAH.

IT'S QUITE GOOD TO HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

NARRATOR: FOOT AND HAND HOLDS HAVE BEEN WORN DOWN OVER TIME.

IT WAS HARD TO GET A GOOD GRIP.

YEAH, I THINK EVERYBODY ELSE MADE IT LOOK LIKE LIGHT WORK, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY...

IT'S A BIT NERVE-RACKING.

FOGG: GOOD.

AND THEN YOU MOVE... MY KNEES ARE SHAKING.

IT'S A JOB WELL DONE.

THANK YOU.

BRILLIANT JOB.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GLAD THAT BIT'S DONE.

NARRATOR: BUT THERE WAS STILL A LONG WAY TO THE TOP.

ONCE THERE, THEY HAD TO CROSS THE TREACHEROUS LEDGE LEADING TO THE CHURCH.

SO IT'S ABOUT A 200-METER DROP, AND THE PATH IS ONLY ABOUT THAT WIDE.

I'M STILL NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

NARRATOR: IN FIERCE WINDS, IT WAS A NERVE-RACKING WALK ALONG THE NARROW LEDGE.

WITH TIM'S HELP, THE WHOLE TEAM MADE IT SAFELY TO THE ENTRANCE AND HAD A FIRST CHANCE TO SEE INSIDE THE CHURCH.

FOGG: IT'S FABULOUS.

YEAH, IT'S QUITE A MOVING PLACE, REALLY.

NARRATOR: RECCE OVER, THE TIME WERE FULLY AWARE OF THE CHALLENGE STILL AHEAD.

SOMMERFIELD: IN A COUPLE OF DAYS WHEN WE DO THIS WITH MOM AND BABY AND FAMILY, WE ONLY GET ONE CRACK AT IT BECAUSE FOR US, IT'S GOT TO BE ONE TAKE.

NARRATOR: THE DAY OF THE BAPTISM.

SOMMERFIELD: WE'RE GOING UP.

TODAY IS THE DAY WE SEE IF ALL THE PRACTICE AND ALL THE PLANNING PAYS OFF.

I THINK IT WILL.

NARRATOR: WITH SO MUCH OF THE ACTION TAKING PLACE ON THE CLIFF FACE, IT WAS UP TO DRONE OPERATOR PETER KEITH TO CAPTURE ALL THE AERIAL WIDE SHOTS.

THIS IS QUITE AN EXCITING MOMENT.

THE FAMILY ARE JUST BELOW.

I CAN SEE PETER.

HE'S GOT THE DRONE OUT AND HE'S GONNA CAPTURE SOME OF THAT WALK.

COME ON, MUM AND BABY.

THERE THEY ARE.

THERE'S MUM AND MUM'S MUM, GRANNY, WITH BABY ON THE BACK.

NARRATOR: BUT THE CREW HAD A PROBLEM.

NARRATOR: THE DRONE WAS RUNNING OUT OF BATTERY.

ANNE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER TO TRY AND PERSUADE THE FAMILY TO WAIT... [DRONE BUZZING] YEAH, LET'S HOLD THEM.

KEITH: OK, I'M GONNA BRING THE DRONE BACK.

GET READY.

HOLD ON, SHE'S GOING, SHE'S GOING, SHE'S GOING.

USE THAT.

STAY WITH IT, STAY WITH IT.

USE THAT.

BUT IT'S FINE.

NO, IT'S FINE.

NARRATOR: BUT THE DECISION WAS TAKEN OUT OF HER HANDS.

PETER HAD TO GET WHAT HE COULD.

WHEN THE DAD IS UP, THEN THEY STOP.

NARRATOR: WITH JUST MOMENTS OF LIFE LEFT IN HIS BATTERY, PETER MANAGED TO CAPTURE SOME AMAZING FIRST IMAGES AT THE CLIFF CLIMB.

STAGE ONE DONE.

YES.

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS.

[BELLS CLANGING] NARRATOR: NEXT, THE CREW HAD TO FILM IN THE TINY BAPTISM CHAPEL.

[WHISPERING] SO WE'VE GOT ALISTAIR INSIDE GETTING SOME SHOTS OF THE BAPTISM.

ABOVE WE'VE GOT PETER FLYING THE DRONE, SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE FALLEN TO HIDE UNDER SOME SHADOWS SO WE'RE NOT IN THE SHOT.

NARRATOR: WITH BABY DAWIT BAPTIZED, IT WAS ON TO THE CHURCH.

[MEN SINGING] NOW WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND HAVE JUST THE TWO MOTHERS COMING OUT ALONG THE LEDGE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA TRY AND DO.

[LAUGHS] NARRATOR: THE TEAM'S PLANNING PAID OFF.

THEY MANAGED TO CAPTURE THIS UNIQUE CELEBRATION FROM BOTH GROUND AND AIR.

IT WAS GOOD.

IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

GUESS WHAT.

WE GOT IT.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "EARTH'S NATURAL WONDERS" THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

"EARTH'S NATURAL WONDERS" LIFE AT THE EXTREMES IS AVAILABLE ON DVD AND BLU-RAY.

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