History Channel: Alone

[Bigfeet]

SHTF. I agree that I would enjoy watching someone who could thrive. I would like to see how each person would set up their camp, the exact method they used to start a fire, get clean water, get food, etc. But, it seems the producers think a larger audience would be more interested in how much everyone misses their home lives (regardless of how real that may be for anyone, but that is the focus in less than a week?), than the minutia of survival.

 

[SHTF]

Yep but I think they are sticking true to the title of the show which is Alone. I Bet they filmed the show without a name in mind till they started seeing the attitudes and scenes and that is what brought on the name. But thats just a guess. =-). Some of the guys on the show are well known bushcrafters from BCUSA. Like Joe who lost his firestarter. If there is one thing you keep attached to you at all times its your way to make fire. I was so bummed to see him exit like that.

 

[realunlucky]

No one has shown any commitment yet. You can survive 3/4 days with minor discomfort if you have water. First sign of trouble tapout and call mommy.

 

[KMD]

SHTF, I don't know what survivor shows you think are real?
Les Shroud has been proven to be a phony. At least his Canyonlands episode has proven to be a sham, by several locals. Evidence here:

http://backcountrypost.com/threads/ticaboo-creek-aka-survivorman-is-a-fake.2818/

Just sayin' if that one episode was proven completely bogus, how is anyone to take the other episodes?
And now he's chasing bigfoot???

I know alot of people eat that kinda shit up, but figured people on these kinda sites could see that "Alone" is a SHAM.
Look at that 'patsy' they picked for LEO. Ties right into current push of mainstream media to paint LEOs as turds/phonies/liars/pussies. Only a producer could write a better script, LMAO!!! You think they didn't hand pick that cop and LITERALLY throw him to the bears???

I'm not LEO, but still resent how cops are being portrayed on TV and the news. Glad to see that some others here can see the show for what it is...orchestrated bullshit.

Experiencing reality does not a TV require...

 

[SHTF]

SHTF, I don't know what survivor shows you think are real?
Les Shroud has been proven to be a phony. At least his Canyonlands episode has proven to be a sham, by several locals. Evidence here:

http://backcountrypost.com/threads/ticaboo-creek-aka-survivorman-is-a-fake.2818/

Just sayin' if that one episode was proven completely bogus, how is anyone to take the other episodes?
And now he's chasing bigfoot???

I know alot of people eat that kinda shit up, but figured people on these kinda sites could see that "Alone" is a SHAM.
Look at that 'patsy' they picked for LEO. Ties right into current push of mainstream media to paint LEOs as turds/phonies/liars/pussies. Only a producer could write a better script, LMAO!!! You think they didn't hand pick that cop and LITERALLY throw him to the bears???

I'm not LEO, but still resent how cops are being portrayed on TV and the news. Glad to see that some others here can see the show for what it is...orchestrated bullshit.

Experiencing reality does not a TV require...

KMD, Didnt say any are real. I dont believe any are. They are staged and setup. But watching people being successful also help many people out there learn from them. Thats all I was stating. Sorry if you felt I was implying they were.

 

[ChrisS]

http://www.history.com/shows/alone/articles/want-to-be-on-alone

Easy $500k for you guys.

There is a thread on BCUSA where at least three of the participants have discussed some of the show (they are prevented from talking about all of it). The thread is closed now because of a lot of people talking shit about how easy it would be. Sam, in particular said that the biggest issue is not knowing ... when you're leaving. He said it was like being asked to run a marathon, film yourself, and keep running until someone at some point in the future tells you to stop. And the weather is miserable. And you're hungry. And you're thirsty. Being on that island during the rainy season has just got to be shitty all around. I was stationed at McChord and spent a few days out in that drizzle, but none of the participants are from the PNW, so they're all unfamiliar with the environment.

This isn't reality is true, and it is a TV show. If it were reality, they would certainly be able to move to find something better, but they're restricted by rules and prevented from doing some things. Going out on a 10-day hunt by yourself can be difficult with modern equipment and being able to move camp as needed, but you also know that you're done on day 10 (or taking a break on day 5 to grab a cheeseburger, fries and a shower).

As for the predators ... well, it's different growing up with them and not growing up with them - especially kitties. Not being scared of them is a skill that you can't teach yourself without experience. While every black bear I've seen has shown me his ass as soon as he was aware of my presence, I know they're not all like that. I've never seen a cat in the wild and not sure I ever want to. I've no interest in fighting a Cuisinart hand to hand. I don't blame guys unfamiliar with bears, cougars, and wolves to be a bit freaked out by them.

 

[Mike7]

What I don't understand, is why guys who are really upset by the predators/bear trails, lack of camp sites, etc. and not having a gun, don't make a raised sleeping platform shelter? They have axes, saws, paracord, and 40 lb fishing line. I am not a bush crafter, but even I could figure that one out I would hope when properly motivated by a problem bear. I wonder if the guy who didn't have his fire rod on a lanyard and lost it, is wishing he would have picked a water filter (if that was and option) or if he would have tapped out anyway? I would have chosen a water filter likely if that was an option, just to give me the ability for instant water in a wet environment like that without any calorie expenditure, and allow easier travel away from camp for hunting, etc. I would think you could live quite a while with the items they have, without a fire.

I don't doubt that a portion of the show is real just from my interactions with people in today's society. Your average person really doesn't realize that there is a big difference watching Cody Lundin make things look easy on a 2 day survival show, when you are not the one actually out there trying to function sleep deprived, hungry, and thirsty. Have some of these guys never been in the military or at least a little stressed/uncomfortable before?

 

[bourbon]

Yep but I think they are sticking true to the title of the show which is Alone. I Bet they filmed the show without a name in mind till they started seeing the attitudes and scenes and that is what brought on the name. But thats just a guess. =-). Some of the guys on the show are well known bushcrafters from BCUSA. Like Joe who lost his firestarter. If there is one thing you keep attached to you at all times its your way to make fire. I was so bummed to see him exit like that.

Which is sort of the basis of my previous post. As has been stated and everyone agrees on there has to be a level of drama for the masses to be engaged with what this is ... a television show meant to acquire viewers and maintain those viewers in order to have commercials presented to them. As such there had to be a price at which some of these guys agreed to be paid to lose. Sure losing your ability to make fire means the likely hood of his winning was over, but it just all came across as scripted.

 

[tipsntails7]

http://www.history.com/shows/alone/articles/want-to-be-on-alone

Easy $500k for you guys.

There is a thread on BCUSA where at least three of the participants have discussed some of the show (they are prevented from talking about all of it). The thread is closed now because of a lot of people talking shit about how easy it would be. Sam, in particular said that the biggest issue is not knowing ... when you're leaving. He said it was like being asked to run a marathon, film yourself, and keep running until someone at some point in the future tells you to stop. And the weather is miserable. And you're hungry. And you're thirsty. Being on that island during the rainy season has just got to be shitty all around. I was stationed at McChord and spent a few days out in that drizzle, but none of the participants are from the PNW, so they're all unfamiliar with the environment.

This isn't reality is true, and it is a TV show. If it were reality, they would certainly be able to move to find something better, but they're restricted by rules and prevented from doing some things. Going out on a 10-day hunt by yourself can be difficult with modern equipment and being able to move camp as needed, but you also know that you're done on day 10 (or taking a break on day 5 to grab a cheeseburger, fries and a shower).

As for the predators ... well, it's different growing up with them and not growing up with them - especially kitties. Not being scared of them is a skill that you can't teach yourself without experience. While every black bear I've seen has shown me his ass as soon as he was aware of my presence, I know they're not all like that. I've never seen a cat in the wild and not sure I ever want to. I've no interest in fighting a Cuisinart hand to hand. I don't blame guys unfamiliar with bears, cougars, and wolves to be a bit freaked out by them.

While I agree with a lot of this some of those dudes need to nut up. The predators is one thing and I'm never going to make fun of someone who is afraid of predators(even when it's unwarranted) especially guys that have never been around them. Some guys are not built to be ok with stuff like that, that's fine. The only problem I have is guys who write books about it or claim to be experts or do this stuff all the time failed to do the most basic thing in any type of survival situation, keep your emotions under control.

As far as not knowing when your leaving, my personal feeling would be to set a goal. If you can last 30 days I bet you win this thing hands down. That would be my goal at least.

Its easy to arm chair quarterback this but if you cannot be away from your wife for 2 days I'm not sure what to tell you.

 

[orionsbrother]

"Its easy to arm chair quarterback this but if you cannot be away from your wife for 2 days I'm not sure what to tell you."

I didn't watch the episodes start to finish. I was back and forth, but I didn't hear concerns about hypothermia or the enduring effects of not having eaten for 27 hours. I heard "This extended time away from my family makes me philosophical and filled with angst." and "The bear's gonna eat me! I don't wanna be food!"

I wonder how much they can range and roam?

 

[ChrisS]

I know that these guys were on the island for at least a week if not more prior to being dropped off. So it's not like they're gone from their family for 24 hours. I travel a lot for work and hate the down time with nothing really to do. Would much rather be with the family. Also that time before being dropped off was spent learning how to use the cameras and going over safety and animals. I'm sure the producers used that time to tell a bunch of guys who have never been to this place about how dangerous it was going to be and bears and wolves and cougars, etc etc. That kind of thing can play on your mind. And they have to talk to the camera about something. Bet it can get therapeutic real quick.

This is really a mental challenge more than anything. There's only one reason to stay, a 10% chance $500k and whole pile of reasons to talk yourself out of staying. And they give them a nice shiny get out of jail free card, "go on, use it."

 

[KMD]

I won't delude myself into thinking their adventure as being "easy". What the participants have to endure is very real.

Just sayin' that the entire premise of the show is fabricated by a production crew. Hand picked participants, hand picked locations, it just all reeks of "phony". What can be learned from that false premise, other than how to survive on a TV show where your destiny has already been pre-determined by a production staff?

Heck, the OTC unit we hunt in CO has a ~10% archery success rate. If I had the same odds for a crack at a smooth $500K, damn straight I'd be settlin' in for the long haul. And I bet a ton of fellas (and a few gals) here would simply kick azz in that environment, given a REAL situation.

Whoever these "bushcraft" guys are that have already flunked at the most basic survival challenges, seems like the old adage applies: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach"...

 

[Bigfeet]

So, watched last night. Mitch got a fish in his net. The caption said it was a Coho salmon but I'm fairly certain it was a Chum (Dog) salmon. Not 100% sure on that, I've never fished for salmon nor been in that country, but maybe someone who knows for sure could confirm.

 

[Jazzdog]

does anyone know how big their "area's" are?

 

[Stid2677]

So, watched last night. Mitch got a fish in his net. The caption said it was a Coho salmon but I'm fairly certain it was a Chum (Dog) salmon. Not 100% sure on that, I've never fished for salmon nor been in that country, but maybe someone who knows for sure could confirm.

Yep,, that was a spawned out chum,, I Coho would be fire engine red in spawn colors. Silvers/Coho are the last salmon to run, they run late Sep early Oct. Chum run in late July early Aug. You can tell it is not that late or there would be snow.

Like this.

 

[Poser]

does anyone know how big their "area's" are?

Not sure, but with a 50 lbs suitcase of camera gear to tote around, they sure aren't going to practically venture very far.

 

[Bigfeet]

Figured it was a Chum.
Annoying when these 'wilderness' programs don't know what animals they show. Reminds me of the new Les Stroud (Survivorman) show on Bigfoot. He set up treats (apples I think, and other things), and tried to video those overnight. The first night he shows a small animal go in front of the camera, and calls it a Pika. Wasn't a Pika, it was a Bushy-tailed Wood Rat (Pack Rat). Next night a bunch of treats disappear, and he gets very poor footage of what happens to them. Pretty clear it was Pack Rats grabbing the stuff. Yet, it turned out to be a significant mystery! If these shows don't know what critters are out there, to me, it makes them pretty suspect.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

For you guys that solo hunt, what are your thoughts, are there any advantages for someone like you all? I don't know if I have the stones to solo hunt for 7-10 days. Too much of a pansy I guess. I could sit here and say that they need to grow a pair but unless you are in the competition you might not know how you would react, especially if you are close with your family or spook easily. I was surprised to see the guy that lost his ferro rod just quit. He still had a fire going. But like I said, it is easy to Monday morning quarterback.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

Pretty sad to see the LEO only make it one night because of the bears...

Bears don't respond to voice commands...and his sidearm is at home. Pegged him when I saw him run from the bears in the trees. LOL

 

[tipsntails7]

Bears don't respond to voice commands...and his sidearm is at home. Pegged him when I saw him run from the bears in the trees. LOL

Considering the Bear was a mom with a cub, I'd be making my way out of that situation as well.