Ep 1. Mountains

Hostile Planet is a six-part nature documentary series that explores the world's most extreme environments. Narrated by Bear Grylls, the series takes viewers on a journey to discover the incredible adaptations and survival mechanisms of some of our planet's most fascinating creatures.

In season one, episode one, titled "Mountains," the focus is on the world's highest and harshest terrains. Spanning almost every continent on Earth, mountains are home to an incredible array of animals, each facing unique challenges and obstacles in their quest for survival.

The episode begins in the High Himalayas, home to the elusive snow leopard. These rugged, solitary predators are incredibly adept at navigating the steep, icy terrain. But as the snow melts, they must venture down into the valleys to find prey, putting them at risk of human conflict.

Next, the camera takes us to the Andes in South America, where vicuñas - a type of wild camelid - graze at dizzying altitudes of over 14,000 feet. With little shelter and extreme temperature swings, they have evolved a remarkable ability to regulate their body heat, allowing them to survive in one of the most extreme environments on Earth.

Moving on to the Rocky Mountains in North America, we meet the mountain goat, a sure-footed climber that can scale sheer rock faces with ease. But even these expert mountaineers are not immune to the harsh realities of life at high altitude. As winter approaches, they must move down to lower elevations in search of food - a perilous descent that can lead to injury or death.

The episode then takes us to the Alps in Europe, where ibex - another species of mountain goat - face a unique challenge. In order to access the best grazing grounds, they must cross high-altitude ridges and snowfields, putting them at risk of avalanches and falls. But despite the danger, they have evolved incredible adaptations, such as special hooves that grip onto ice and snow, allowing them to make the climb.

Next, we travel to the Highlands of Scotland, where golden eagles rule the skies. One of the largest birds of prey on the planet, these majestic creatures have evolved incredible eyesight and agility, making them formidable hunters. But with a shrinking habitat and increased human pressure, their future is uncertain.

Finally, we journey to the Rocky Mountains' forested slopes, where we meet the grizzly bear. Considered to be one of North America's most iconic animals, this formidable predator has been known to take down elk and bison - animals several times their size. But with human encroachment on their territory, their habitat is shrinking, and conflicts with humans are increasingly common.

Throughout this breathtaking episode, we see that mountains may be beautiful, but they are also one of the most hostile environments on Earth, demanding incredible adaptations from the animals that call them home. Hostile Planet's "Mountains" is a stunning look at the incredible feats of survival that have allowed these creatures to thrive in the harshest of conditions.