MovieChat Forums > Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment (2009) Discussion > A slightly biased pespective

A slightly biased pespective

posted 14 years ago by akgypsy
3 replies | jump to latest

As an Alaskan woman, and one who has lived here for almost 30 years, I am not all that impressed with the group's trials. I understand they are city people from parts of the country that don't have these challenges, but there is a lot of preparation they could have made about how to survive in these conditions. They have many options in the area, even when not animal protein. There are edible plant foods, and dehydration is really more an issue than starvation. Hypothermia is also more of a concern. I have only seen two episodes, but they really don't have to suffer as much as they are, if they had researched a bit better before embarking on the journey.

Also, does anybody know what part of Alaska this is? The narrator reports on "the harsh Alaskan winter", but they are early in the season, and it hasn't yet gone lower than 8 degrees so far as I have seen. The harshest Alaskan winters happen later in the season and in parts of Alaska that reach temperatures as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit. These folks are in relatively mild winter conditions, for Alaska. The Midwest and the Eastern Seaboard often get as bad or worse conditions....

Still, it is a challenge for them, and not without risk, so I do respect them, it's just that from my perspective, it is a relatively tame show.

Not to rain on viewers' parade....

[–] dolsotbibimbap 14 years ago

Also, does anybody know what part of Alaska this is?

This is just going from the maps shown during the episodes. They started on the east side of Tsusena Butte. Towards the end of the series they camped along Otter Lake. I think it's the Otter Lake located within Denali National but I'm not positive. The train they hitched I ride on drops them off in Talkeeta.

I believe they were there in the month of September, 2008.

[–] tneb9405 13 years ago

Akgypsy,
I totally agree on the food bit. My husband and I lived in Alaska in both Anchorage and Fairbanks and we used to go hiking quite often. There are so many plants that are edible that they could have eaten. The only thing I can think of is they were unaware of what plants and berries were edible.
As for the time period, we guessed it had to be mid month September since the temps were so mild.

[–] Promontorium 12 years ago

You don't seem to get that the whole point is that they were relatively unprepared. The show says they received 3 days of survival training. I'm sure preparation would have made things easier, but that was the point. They weren't supposed to have a comfortable time.

The obligation for them to keep moving also really made it difficult for them to get ahead with anything.

You might like the follow up show Out of the Wild: Venezuela, there they have to eat all kinds of plants and insects. They get no gun, and although they are given a primitive bow, none of them can shoot it or hunt and they essentially never catch any meat but fish and reptiles.