We often wonder what would happen if we were forced to confront a life-or-death survival situation. Questions like how would I react, what first steps would I take, and how long could I make it run through our minds. It’s an interesting and sometimes frustrating thought exercise, with no way to fully test our survival theories without diving headfirst into dangerous circumstances. However, there’s an alternative way to explore these ideas from the safety and comfort of our homes.
History Channel’s popular TV series Alone mitigates the risk and gives the audience valuable insights by pitting some of the world’s top survival experts against the elements for as long as they’re able. The title of the show is fitting, since each contestant must try to stay alive for as long as they can completely by themselves — a true worst-case scenario.
It’s easy for viewers to relax with all of life’s modern amenities and armchair quarterback what’s happening on the screen, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that isn’t shown or discussed. We wanted to discover deeper insights into what the contestants are up against, and interviewed four former Alone contestants who were willing to share the wisdom of their experiences.
Britt Ahart
What seasons of Alone did you participate in?
I participated in seasons 3, 5, and Alone: The Skills Challenge.
If you had to start your survival learning journey over from square one, what are the top five skills you’d focus on, and in what order?
The order I would learn would likely be fire, foraging, traps, shelter, and water. That’s basically how it started for me.
Let’s say you’re tasked with surviving for one month in the woods using only the gear you can carry on your body/back. You have an unlimited budget. Starting with the type and size of pack, what’s your loadout for the perfect long-term wilderness survival ruck?
One month in the woods with an unlimited budget?
