As host of “Man vs. Wild,” Bear Grylls has become the Discovery Channel’s premier ambassador of outdoor danger. Here, he scales back his usual adventures to take a hike in Franklin Canyon Park in the Santa Monica Mountains, just north of the wilds of Beverly Hills. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Grylls pauses in Franklin Canyon to make a point about the wilderness. One lesson: Trails often lead to water. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Grylls strips bark from a felled tree in Franklin Canyon, hoping to find larvae. “It’s all about patience. My worst quality!” he says after giving up the hunt. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)