Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment

My brother in-law told me about some show that it was "right up (my) alley" a couple of weeks ago, so I figured I would take his word for it and check it out. I'm glad I did! I ended up finishing the complete (and only) season of Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment within a week.

Out of the Wild starts with 9 random individuals from various walks of life - all intent on surviving the Alaskan wilderness for 30 days or more, and on nothing but what they can find along the way for food. The purpose of the "experiment" is to see how many can make it through without pinging their SPOT locator beacon. If someone gives up, than he or she simply hits the button, and a helicopter picks him or her up. After that, it's to civilization, easy meals, and the warmth and comfort of being home.

During the very first episode you learn that the group went through basic survival training before starting the trip, but they don't specify what that training really consisted of. You do find out that they learned how to make Yukon packs, but it's apparent that they didn't learn about how to be selective when choosing what to carry and what to leave behind. Before starting the first leg of their trip, they are given a bunch of supplies to go through for their various needs while on the trail. They foolishly decide to bring everything "just in case" (interesting that this folly was never mentioned by the narrator or any of the participants) they end up needing it. I mean they even brought a thirty pound cast-iron dutch oven!!! May not be the smartest bunch of people, but still entertaining nonetheless.

The group is given maps to find each destination to hike towards throughout their trip, and each destination has a different form of shelter for them to stay in. Sometimes it is a decent cabin with additional supplies and a stove, and other times it is little more than a little rock wall they tie their tarps to in order to keep the wind and rain out. Sometimes their spirits are lifted as they see that they have a decent bed to sleep in, and other times it is too much for one or two of them to handle, and they end up pinging their beacons.

There were several intriguing parts of this show, but I'll only name a few for the sake of not having to write a complete novel:

• During the very first episode the group foolishly decides to take a "short-cut" by hiking over a high hill-top instead of following the trail found on the map, and which suggests walking through the valley. 50+ pounds in each Yukon pack + several out-of-shape individuals = a nice start to the series.
• It was interesting to me to see the lack of know-how that the members of this group had. I thought that it would be interesting to throw a seasoned backpacker in the group to help them survive, but realized that the producers probably thought this would make things too simple.
• The main focus on the show is really how difficult it is for the group to find enough to eat, but it does get annoying when the narrator repeats dozens of times how many calories they have been able to digest by eating squirrels and birds, yet they each need thousands of calories more than what they have found. Personally, I think the show would have been more entertaining if the group had started on their trek at least a month earlier than they did instead of waiting until the very end of Fall - at which point everything starts to die, and wildlife seems to vanish.
• It seemed that the cameras were quite selective with what they did and did not show. Not once did you see what the group was forced to go through each time they had to use the bathroom - they never even MENTIONED having to go to the bathroom during the 30+ days they are in the wilderness! Going to the bathroom would have been an especially big deal for the girls as two in particular didn't seem to be very comfortable in the outdoors. The cameras also failed to show how difficult it was to collect water and to purify it. I seriously wondered if the producers of the show provided the water in order to keep anyone from dying...
• Whatever survival training they received seemed to be very limited. They were able to spot berries from a mile away, yet passed over all sorts of insects, worms, and several other plants they could have eaten. In reality, they were so focused on meat for protein that they didn't think about the lack of vitamins they had. Survival 101 - meat is not enough when trying to survive for a long length of time. Without eating the proper vitamins and minerals, your energy will never be replenished,

For the most part, I really enjoyed this show, but I can see why there has only been one season. Without enough success (such as finally killing big game in order to eat well), the audience loses interest. It's interesting to see the group suffer after repeated failed attempts to catch fish, snare small game, and find large game, but this sad story can only loop so many times before the viewer becomes frustrated. I was impressed that the individuals of the group got along as well as they did, but it would have been nice to see someone who was really educated to take control and be a hero in this impossible situation. By the end of the series you get the sense that the group is only trying to hike out of the situation, and have forgotten about trying to survive - not to mention enjoying themselves. I was surprised how many times they chose to collect wood or play house instead of searching for food. Instead, they give one or two the responsibility to find food while the rest do other random things.

One of the most profound moments that stuck out to me in this series actually occurred during the second episode. The one guy who has any experience in the outdoors (a fly-fishing guide) becomes annoyed when the group was willing to stop repeatedly when one member continuously stops to catch his breath. I asked myself if I would have done the same thing. If one individual is threatening the whole group's safety by stopping continually, all the while the daylight continues to diminish and the stopping point is still miles away, would I tell the group to leave him behind? Would I pull him to the side and tell him to ping his beacon for the sake of the rest of the group? Or would I, myself, ping my locator beacon and leave the group to fend for itself? Ironically enough, both the experienced outdoorsman AND the slow-poke ping their beacons and get taken out on a helicopter.

I don't think I would recommend this show to anyone who doesn't find enjoyment in watching a group of average-Joes struggling to navigate and survive in the wilderness. I personally enjoyed everything about the show, but can understand why it didn't make it past the first season.