I love survival shows. Les Stroud, the OG Survivalist was one of the first tv hosts who stranded himself in remote locations with only his camera and minimal survival gear. He was the show that made me obsessed. Survivorman. I’m not sure what was more appealing – the insane situations he put himself in or the MacGyver factor. Stroud taught viewers how to survive in the wilderness using every thing from trash to trees.
Since Stroud’s groundbreaking show, many copycats have popped up. Bear Grylls, to Naive and afraidWe are now more fascinated by wilderness survival.
It’s hard to qualify our growing obsession with survival entertainment, but the answer may be found in one show, a stand-out from The History Channel called All by Yourself.
All by YourselfThis survival series borrows heavily from Stroud’s originals, but raises the stakes and increases the difficulty. There are higher stakes and a longer struggle. One hundred and eleven trained survivalists will be dropped off in remote parts of the rough wilderness. Season to season the location can change and it has been Alaska, British Columbia, Mongolia and more. The contestants are allowed to bring up to ten items. They also receive filming equipment and an emergency kit. A radio is used for communication with Base Camp. (Producers conduct regular medical screenings on the contestants, as well as arranging drop-off areas for batteries and other filming supplies. Finalists are awarded a cash prize and hefty cash prizes. A season can last for up to 100 days.
MacGyver’s aspect is also fascinating. This is truly amazing to witness these folks use their limited knowledge and tools to make shelters, build fires, hunt, and fish. It’s especially fun when some contestants are able to move from surviving to thriving, and make projects to help bide their time.
A woman took extra time to rebuild the fireplace from her shelter. She ended up making a magnificent piece that people will want to recreate in their own homes. One man built a deck out of tree bark while another constructed a dice set. After being so successful at finding food, the man making the cards built an entire village, complete with a smoking room, card tables, chairs and laundry lines. His shelter was perhaps one of the sturdiest in the show’s history. With many weeks remaining before a winner was announced, he tapped out quickly. It was too much.
This is the main attraction of this show. We get to be there for the raw survival. It’s exciting when you can experience the thrill of survival without the pain of survival. It’s not just the inventiveness of contestants that makes it so fascinating, but also the unique glimpse into the human spirit.
As you observe each survivalist settle into their wilderness lifestyle, you will see that while the body is something you can work with, the mind is what is truly the enemy. Some contestants have to quit due to their declining health as the season progresses. They choose to quit because it is too much.
Except for occasional medical check-ups, they remain completely isolated. They can only talk about their own health. Torture and punishment can be used to isolate them in total isolation. The survivalists may be willing to take on the challenge, but there is always a time when the punishment or torture becomes too much.
You can hide from bears and other creatures, but you can’t hide from yourself. The modern American is surrounded by sound. We have phones, televisions, music, cities, school events, concerts, traffic, alarm clocks…there is audial input from every corner of our lives. The initial peace and excitement of an adventure is gone. All by YourselfThe only thing left for participants is their thoughts. The days are getting shorter as autumn turns into winter. It is difficult to find the time to do work and it can be exhausting to wait for daylight to return.
Even introverted cast members will eventually long for their family. It is surprising how expressive and emotional the men become when they’ve been separated from their wives for a while. Men feel the need to spend time with their spouses and promise never again to give up on their relationship. It’s sweet, but it is also a poignant reminder that we are built for companionship, and while committed partnership has its challenges, it is right and it is good. It’s sustenance. The realization that their life is meaningful comes to all of the participants, who are married men. It can be very lonely and futile to live alone for long periods of time.
The women, of course, have similar emotional revelations but they don’t seem to be as intense. This can be attributed to differences in gender. The majority of women are more conscious about their emotions and the attachments to family members. The struggle for most women is mostly physical. As they have to deal with the extreme conditions without help, it becomes a lot more difficult. They find it difficult to transport firewood, keep warm and maintain their toes. Even though the women have a better mental capacity, I would venture to guess that their bodies will not be able to endure the final stretch.
It’s an interesting dichotomy. This entire program is an excellent study in human nature.
How does a man cope when his purpose is lost and he’s forced to survive off the land alone? Many contestants will testify that the mind is your biggest enemy. To be able to manage the mind in isolation and help the body survive, you need to have an exceptional will.
The tap out button is available, too. These people must not only deal with loneliness but also with the possibility that they can end their suffering with a push of a button. You could call the base camp team to be taken immediately to safety and given hot food, clean clothing, and an opportunity for a shower. It is not just a matter of safety. All by YourselfIt is not only a lesson in survival but also a lesson in character. You must be able to choose to endure discomfort and not suffer. This takes a tremendous amount of self-denial.
All by YourselfThis is more than a survival program. It’s a gritty look at what makes us all tick. This makes it possible to ask ourselves questions.
Can I live alone in the wilderness for three months? What would you do to build your shelter? How would I feed myself? What would I eat? Do I speak a lot to God or little? Do I want to be a Wilson or a La? Castaway? Would I finally be able to say things to myself that I’ve really needed to admit out loud? Would I be able to see the truth? Which would you prefer?
Many questions are asked, so each contestant has to answer them all. Cameras in hand as they battle for survival.
All by YourselfThis reality series is worth watching. The nine seasons are spread out across various platforms, so it’s best to do a search to find out which ones are where, but if you want to start most recently and work backwards, the most recent complete season has just been released to Netflix. Most episodes can be found on History Channel’s website.
If I’ve learned anything from this latest season, it’s that the mind is a scary thing…but so are bears.
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