View Full Version : The Alaska Experiment
Anyone watching this series? Its a pretty cool reality show on Tuesday nights about a bunch of people trying to survive in Alaska.
Panzer
Watched it today. Interesting, and much more "real" than those "survival" shows filmed in the tropics where you get booted by back stabbers. These folks have to stay together to survive. (Though they have someone shooting scenes with a camera).
i've been enjoying them very much. i always say "i loved to be the ones with the tent". my wife says "are you crazy". i wonder if any of them will end up like alexander supertramp.
i wonder if any of them will end up like alexander supertramp.
Its not even remotely the same thing. This is a TV show. Theyre obviously not going to let their "talent" die.
Whiskyjo
05-21-2008, 00:41
I have enjoyed watching the show.I know the disclaimer says there are behind the scene help if needed but the city slickers are getting a good taste of rustic Alaskan life.
taildragger
05-21-2008, 00:51
I enjoy the fact that what they are doing freaks them out, and I would kill to be in their shoes
warraghiyagey
05-21-2008, 01:04
Yayyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!! Another reality show, but with tents . . . and even more reverse-squinting. :):)
Toolshed
05-21-2008, 06:55
Sounds like the same lame announcer for Axe Men, Lobster men, Crab Men and whatever else the Discovery or history channel is running under the theme of dangerous jobs. I am tired of his voice.
I thought a reality show about Alaska was a great idea when Survivor first came out, until I realized the hotties would be covered in layers.
Is this the show that had three people hunting moose, that had never fired a gun?
If it is, I clicked it.
gold bond
05-21-2008, 08:52
I really like it. I have just started watching it in the last two weeks. I see where they are going to show it as a marathon next Thursday.
trailmomma4
05-21-2008, 09:00
I would kill to be in their shoes Ditto, Taildragger. I would love to do that. Alaska is BEAUTIFUL!!
doggiebag
05-21-2008, 09:01
It's good entertainment plus you can watch the first 4 episodes online:
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/alaska/alaska-week.html
I've enjoyed the series... except for the Wise family daughters whining about everything. "Salmon, again!!!". All the rest of every group, including their father, seem to be getting the most out of this experience.
doggiebag
05-21-2008, 09:33
I've enjoyed the series... except for the Wise family daughters whining about everything. "Salmon, again!!!". All the rest of every group, including their father, seem to be getting the most out of this experience.
That is so true. I have never seen a sadder state of affairs than how those 2 girls treat their pop so badly. I'm waiting for him to completely lose it on-camera. :D
No kidding. Those two girls need to get a whopping. Have they eaten all the peanut butter yet?
Pete Moss
05-21-2008, 13:56
Sounds like the same lame announcer for Axe Men, Lobster men, Crab Men and whatever else the Discovery or history channel is running under the theme of dangerous jobs. I am tired of his voice.
I thought a reality show about Alaska was a great idea when Survivor first came out, until I realized the hotties would be covered in layers.
How dare you slander the name of Mike Rowe!!!Hes the man!!!
taildragger
05-21-2008, 14:24
If there is one thing I've learned from this show, its that most people don't know squat about a gun. Those three kids trying to shoot a bison with a .22, come on...
Didn't "Alexeander Supertramp" kill a moose with a 22..
The good thing about a .22 is that you can easily carry a 500 round brick of ammo with you.
Still a Bison might be streatching it some. At least its not a charging Grizzly bear...
Panzer
Sounds like the same lame announcer for Axe Men, Lobster men, Crab Men and whatever else the Discovery or history channel is running under the theme of dangerous jobs. I am tired of his voice.
I thought a reality show about Alaska was a great idea when Survivor first came out, until I realized the hotties would be covered in layers.
mike rowe is a god! you will NOT take his name in vain i will sooner work a crab boat on the bearing sea ( i cannot swim and get seasick easily) than let anyone defile his proud legacy for showing it how it is
Didn't "Alexeander Supertramp" kill a moose with a 22..
The good thing about a .22 is that you can easily carry a 500 round brick of ammo with you.
Still a Bison might be streatching it some. At least its not a charging Grizzly bear...
Panzer
The show is a joke and also sad that ,they let him use a 22 to wound and not kill.
A 44 mag in AK is like bear spray a joke on grizz.So that is how much media for the fake show.The only handgun that can drop a grizz in one shot is a SW 500 and it better be a perfect shot and they cover 30 ft in 1.5 sec with head and body movement.
The show is a shame to the real AK.
taildragger
05-21-2008, 23:15
Actually, I think its just the trio of misfits that make the show anything of a joke. Otherwise I am somewhat entertained by it, in a non humor sort of way.
But they do like to emphasize that there is no one out there but themselves, never mind the camera crew and the survival specialists.
sofaking
05-22-2008, 00:15
alexander supertramp was a joke.
Bare Bear
05-22-2008, 06:17
"Reality" shows aren't.
Because I used to teach Wilderness Survival, I have had a lot of friends say I should go on one but my answer is always the same, "If they let me kill and eat the other contestents to survive, then I will try it." For some reason that kills the conversation. :)
taildragger
05-22-2008, 16:56
"Reality" shows aren't.
Because I used to teach Wilderness Survival, I have had a lot of friends say I should go on one but my answer is always the same, "If they let me kill and eat the other contestents to survive, then I will try it." For some reason that kills the conversation. :)
Easier than shooting a moose :eek:
On tonights episode they went mountain goat hunting and this time the guy had a .338 Winchester Magnum rifle with a scope. He got a goat too. For those of you who aren't familiar with that particular gun, it is considered a high power weapon.
One other interesting fact: they said that in Alaska moose kill and injurer more people that bear. I didn't know that. Still I think I'd rather be attacked by a moose that a bear. At least the moose isn't going to eat you. He's just gore and stomp you. :eek:
Panzer
If there is one thing I've learned from this show, its that most people don't know squat about a gun. Those three kids trying to shoot a bison with a .22, come on...
On tonights episode they explained that the .22 rifle was for small game like rabbits and squirrel. You may be better off hunting small game than big game as the small game is easier to find.
Anyway they didn't actually shoot at the bison. They just aimed at it and then let it run off. They never pulled the trigger. I think they were just excited and wanted to see what it looked like to aim a rifle at the bison.
Panzer
TattyBoBatty
05-23-2008, 09:07
Sounds like the same lame announcer for Axe Men, Lobster men, Crab Men and whatever else the Discovery or history channel is running under the theme of dangerous jobs. I am tired of his voice.
I thought a reality show about Alaska was a great idea when Survivor first came out, until I realized the hotties would be covered in layers.
Actually, just to clarify, it's not Mike Rowe that does the narration of The Alaska Experiment. It's the same voice over guy who did Ice Road Truckers, Thom Beers - he did the narration for Monster House and Monster Garage as well.
Discovery channel basically bounces between Mike Rowe and Thom (who is the creator of most of the above named shows).
Wow, I am way too nerdy about this. :eek:
the same guy do orange county choppers? both excelelnt voice over guys
Toolshed
05-23-2008, 12:27
I enjoy all those shows. I just ready for a change of announcer voice.
Can't they find someone new. For example Sexy Traffic on NJ 101.5 (Melissa Axelbridge maybe?)
She would start out in a low sexy voice "The backup on I-78 is sooooo mmmmmm..... long... There's a mmmm long line of cars at the entrance to the mmmm....... Holland tunnel...mmmmmm. If you are looking to cruise Get on I 95 South, the traffic is really ooooooooooooo fast and ooooo nonstop......with those mmmm big Tractor Tailers....ooooooooo......
They ended that about a year ago right before Craig Carton Left, but it was definitley the high point of my day.
So Rowe or Thom if you are reading this, we need sexy female voiceovers....please......
Is this the show that had three people hunting moose, that had never fired a gun?
If it is, I clicked it.
I think the premise of the show is to take ordinary people that don't know anything about survival or hunting or Alaska and put them in this situation to see how well they do.
Panzer
If this is the show, they didn't seem to be doing too well!
Hope things improve for them. I just thought they might have plinked a few cans before they tried to drop any animal, let alone a moose. I know, tv.
double d
05-24-2008, 01:37
Panzer1 is correct, the shows theme is a standard,"fish out of water"basis. I really like the show, especially the 40 mile hike that lasted a week. The people on the show have zero outdoor skills and again, that is what makes the show so much fun to watch, outside of the great state they film it in.
Hope things improve for them. I just thought they might have plinked a few cans before they tried to drop any animal, let alone a moose. I know, tv.
Actually they did try to zero in the guns. It looked like they fired just a few shots though. They were firing at paper plates and hitting them. I suppose that doesn't mean a whole lot. But at least they tried. And the one guy did kill a mountain goat with 2 shots. Both shots hit but the second one was the fatal one.
Panzer
I guess I just saw a snippet and was moving on...
Lot of weapon to have to pop a goat twice, but I was not there.
Bare Bear
05-24-2008, 08:06
It isn't always the caliber of the weapon but the caliber of the shooter, where you hit the target. I personally have seen people dropped with one .22 handgun round and another guy that survived 6 shots of .38 (he didn't even divorce her!).
TIDE-HSV
05-24-2008, 11:29
(he didn't even divorce her!)
That reminded me of an incident years ago. A client of mine lived directly across the street and he had been playing around. One day, he came home and his wife was waiting with her father, who had his gun ready. The father emptied the gun, hitting him with four. The guy went, jumped into his car and tried to drive himself to the ER (he was, BTW, a doctor himself). After about three blocks, he passed out. He was opening the door, so he slumped halfway out of the car, and was found by a good Samaritan, who drove him to the hospital, where they saved his life, nothing vital being hit, but he had lost a lot of blood. The wife's lawyer called the DA's office to explain how the killing occurred, and was told that the doc wasn't dead at all, whereupon the lawyer stated that neither he nor his client would have anything to say further. To shorten it down, this guy also forgave his wife and moved back in. He died not too much later from a heart attack. This was in the late 70s, and his wife is still alive, probably mean enough to live to 100. After his death, she approached me about representing her in handling his estate. I told her "no," partly because she'd already sued the first guy she'd hired to represent her, and partly because I was afraid of her...
I guess I just saw a snippet and was moving on...
Lot of weapon to have to pop a goat twice, but I was not there.
The first shot must have just grazed him. But after the second shot the goat fell about a thousand feet. And lost both antlers.
They also said that bears have learned to run toward the sound of gun fire expecting a free meal. So they took the meat as fast as they could, bagged it, and packed it out in an external frame pack. All the packs I've seen them use are big external frames.
Not too bad for people with no experience. Keep in mind that they had to climb 3000 feet up a mountain that is steeper that mount Everest. But they did have a hunting guide with them.
Panzer
John Klein
05-24-2008, 20:24
The first shot must have just grazed him. But after the second shot the goat fell about a thousand feet. And lost both antlers.
They also said that bears have learned to run toward the sound of gun fire expecting a free meal. So they took the meat as fast as they could, bagged it, and packed it out in an external frame pack. All the packs I've seen them use are big external frames.
Not too bad for people with no experience. Keep in mind that they had to climb 3000 feet up a mountain that is steeper that mount Everest. But they did have a hunting guide with them.
Panzer
They were using their high power rifles as trekking poles to climb that mountain. I did hear the guide comment that they never put a cartridge in the chamber until they are ready to shoot, but still...
They were using their high power rifles as trekking poles to climb that mountain. I did hear the guide comment that they never put a cartridge in the chamber until they are ready to shoot, but still...
He couldn't shoulder the weapon because he was wearing an full size backpack. So he had to carry the gun in his hands. The terrain was very steep it was very difficult. I don't think he was really putting any weight on the rifle but it did look like he was touching it to the ground a lot.
A lot of hunters don't put a round in the chamber until they are ready to shoot. I think it just depends on things like the terrain you are in.
Panzer
Panzer
Lost My Mind
05-25-2008, 00:23
I just finished watching the last episode and am really enjoying it. I know someone who auditioned for the show but didn't get selected. After watching, I think it's because he has too much experience as a hiker and a hunter. These four groups are really out of their comfort zones which makes it interesting to watch IMO.
In the last episode the father found a lump on his nut. He called a doctor who somehow convinced him not to worry about it. I don't know about you but if I found a lump on my nut the show would be over and I would be on the next bush plane home.
Panzer
Bulldawg
05-31-2008, 22:49
It's a pretty neat show for all the reasons mentioned previously. Skids and TS, this is the show I was telling you about last weekend on The Indian.
Cabin Fever
06-07-2008, 23:47
On the episode where they are getting picked up, I just heard one of the Wise girls say "I learned how to carry a 40 lb pack over 8 miles!" I couldn't help but laugh at that.
Odd Thomas
06-08-2008, 01:47
In the last episode the father found a lump on his nut. He called a doctor who somehow convinced him not to worry about it. I don't know about you but if I found a lump on my nut the show would be over and I would be on the next bush plane home.
Panzer
:p Same here, I take my nuts seriously!
On the episode where they are getting picked up, I just heard one of the Wise girls say "I learned how to carry a 40 lb pack over 8 miles!" I couldn't help but laugh at that.
I think the Wise family had it the easiest - plenty of salmon, a warm cabin, no long treks for water. But those girls complained the most of anyone!
doggiebag
06-08-2008, 09:19
I think the Wise family had it the easiest - plenty of salmon, a warm cabin, no long treks for water. But those girls complained the most of anyone!
Those girls were a couple of serious whackos ... but there was a serious change in their demeanor when they realized that their dad (who was the only one doing work in their camp) found a lump in his nutz (but that was probably some self-preservation reaction on their part). It was definitely good entertainment.
double d
06-08-2008, 10:54
The Wise family: great Dad, very goofy kids (they are young adults). What should have been the experience of a lifetime, the two sisters decided to fight over boot space and no mcdonalds for three months. They were/are a pain in the neck from the first show to the last. Otherwise, it was alot of fun to watch people cope with Alaska, what a cool show.
Homer&Marje
06-27-2008, 09:49
The show was good I thought, but then the 3 dummies with what 75lb packs! (i dont have room in my pack for 75lbs ) Anyways, they were the only ones doing really good about halfway through, they had food, wood and nothing else to do, so conspiracy theory, the producers told them to walk 40 miles with giant packs through the snow across a glacier to a 200 sq ft cabin to meet 2 people they didn't know. Ya they knew they were gonna fail, took em 8 days to get there No s^&%. Walking over Moranes with 75 lb packs hahahahah i wanted to die for them at one point. But seriously they were better off staying put
The producers were hoping that something would go wrong.
If someone got killed their ratings would go up.
Panzer
The show was good I thought, but then the 3 dummies with what 75lb packs!...
The packs by the way, were the old external frames. They can carry more that the new internal frames, can't they...
Panzer
Homer&Marje
06-27-2008, 10:06
some can, some cant. I have a 3200 cubic inch backpack and i went out one time with a 50+lb pack and that had all sorts of things hanging off of it, campfire grill, hatchet, bow saw, you know stupid stuff... so these guys must have seen some rocks they really liked and brought with them or their packs were just ginormous. How about it the first episode, when the Wise family showed up at the cabin... i almost died when i saw the father carrying a huge armload of firewood... 53 years of camping experience he said he has and he didn't learn the first lesson.!!! Dont carry firewood down the trail!!!! just wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
phenimore
06-27-2008, 10:27
i almost died when i saw the father carrying a huge armload of firewood... 53 years of camping experience he said he has and he didn't learn the first lesson.!!! Dont carry firewood down the trail!!!! just wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
huh?
I think they have done a pretty good job on the show. They only used the .22s for small game or protection, while a guide would come in and show they how to use the 33 properly for hunting larger game...
Whoever let them use the rifles as hiking sticks though... that killed me.
The show was good I thought, but then the 3 dummies with what 75lb packs! (i dont have room in my pack for 75lbs ) Anyways, they were the only ones doing really good about halfway through, they had food, wood and nothing else to do, so conspiracy theory, the producers told them to walk 40 miles with giant packs through the snow across a glacier to a 200 sq ft cabin to meet 2 people they didn't know. Ya they knew they were gonna fail, took em 8 days to get there No s^&%. Walking over Moranes with 75 lb packs hahahahah i wanted to die for them at one point. But seriously they were better off staying put
Didn't the 3 people who left to go on their "hike" have a fresh goat at their cabin too? What a waste of good goat meat...
I'd love to do that show though.
Didn't the 3 people who left to go on their "hike" have a fresh goat at their cabin too? What a waste of good goat meat...
I'd love to do that show though.
I think that's why their packs weighed so much - they carried the goat meat with them for food. Not exactly an ultralight meal.
Chance09
06-27-2008, 12:26
If there is one thing I've learned from this show, its that most people don't know squat about a gun. Those three kids trying to shoot a bison with a .22, come on...
I think there was two different groups of people with guns. One went hunting for small game with a 22 and the other was taken by an official guide (i believe they said to kill bison you have to have one) and had a more powerful rifle.
What i think is incredibly stupid about this show, altho i really do like it, is that the people surviving didn't think totake a gun in the first place. I mean come on now? Are you serious? Why the hell would you try and survive in Alaska without one? Not only for food but for self defense purposed too. A gun would be the first thing on my list of things to take.
Anyways i'm done ranting.
So does anyone know where you could go and live off the land in alaska? I've been wanting to do that for a while now and was thinking about it after my thru hike. I already have a gear list made up of everything i'd want/need :D I was debating heading in during early summer and building a log cabin. I have 4 or 5 friends willing to go and do it with me to help me get started.
Homer&Marje
06-27-2008, 15:22
It is actually illegal for a party of people to go into the Alaska wilderness without a gun from what I hear, and there were show producers with them that i'm sure had guns of some sort to start with. Its not as realitytv as survivor but there were loopholes everywhere, still looks cool to do and i even found an application for it online, i lost the link though cause i dont have a video cam and they need a 5 minute high quality dvd along with the ap... so google it and hope to see someone on it!!! happy alaska
....is that the people surviving didn't think totake a gun in the first place. I mean come on now? Are you serious? Why the hell would you try and survive in Alaska without one? Not only for food but for self defense purposed too. A gun would be the first thing on my list of things to take.I'm just guessing that the producers didn't allow them to have a high power rifle, otherwise they would have had one. Don't know that for sure, but its been my theory. Hunting laws can be complex and remember these people had no prior experience.
But they did let them have a .22 rifle. A very versatile gun for survival. Its at its best when used for small game which is more plentifully than big game.
Panzer
sheepdog
06-27-2008, 18:40
Actually they did try to zero in the guns. It looked like they fired just a few shots though. They were firing at paper plates and hitting them. I suppose that doesn't mean a whole lot. But at least they tried. And the one guy did kill a mountain goat with 2 shots. Both shots hit but the second one was the fatal one.
Panzer
Have you ever eaten mountain goat? Even the gravy is tough. We ended up canning the whole thing. A little pressure cooking did the trick.
the goat
06-27-2008, 20:40
Have you ever eaten mountain goat? Even the gravy is tough. We ended up canning the whole thing. A little pressure cooking did the trick.
the backstraps ain't bad though.
So does anyone know where you could go and live off the land in alaska? I've been wanting to do that for a while now and was thinking about it after my thru hike. I already have a gear list made up of everything i'd want/need :D I was debating heading in during early summer and building a log cabin. I have 4 or 5 friends willing to go and do it with me to help me get started.
I hear there's a bus out there somewhere... :D
I agree that the show had some downfalls...I just liked it cause I got to see part of the world that I've never been and would love to experience honestly.
Chance09
06-28-2008, 15:46
I hear there's a bus out there somewhere... :D
Cheers to that :D
I'm hellbent on living in alaska for at least a year tho. Most likely somewhere in the souther part where its not constantly under 32. I've been looking at land and it's relatively cheap. Bout a grand an acre in some areas. I found some lots that were ATV, snowshoe, or hiking access only about 700 yards from a river. All forested. Would love to go build a cabin there.
Would like to be able to hunt and just live off the land but that may not work out. I'm thinking that i may just have to try and get good with a bow so that people aren't attracted by the sound of a gunshot. I'm pretty vicious with a blowgun :D and i think i could take out small game with that.
I'm thinking that i may just have to try and get good with a bow so that people aren't attracted by the sound of a gunshot.
I wouldn't worry too much about people being attracted to the sound of a gun shot. They say that bears are attracted to the sound of a gun shot.
Panzer
Anyone watch the next season in Venezuela? Tried searching for a thread and didn't find one.
Available to watch on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Lost-World/dp/B004P3LSVI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318867153&sr=8-1