Alone

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bowji john

Silver Trader
Not having seen the program (can’t access it) I’m making a number of assumptions (which are probably wrong) in making my selection of kit

1. Participants would be fairly static – i.e. set up permanent camp and forage and hunt over a few mile radius
2. Takes part in an area of relatively good access to food / water.
3. Event is over an extended period and a range of seasons - perhaps a year
4. Backpack not one of the 10 elements

I didn't find this straight forward but never the less a fun exercise

1. Knife – would like a mora sized knife and an axe but that choice represents two items so going for one heavy duty knife. Probably something chunky like an Esee 5 which is a compromise but will cope with a number of tasks (though none of them well).
2. Buck saw – 24” collapsible buck saw for processing shelter and fire wood
3. Tarp – Heavy duty rip stop canvas 6m by 5m. Provides a robust (if heavy) cover for a sizable shelter that will cope over a year or so in all weathers
4. Paracord – reel of 100 m. You can never have too much. It is surprising how quickly you use up a few meters of it
5. Monofilament line – 100 m of 35 Lb line (perhaps heavier)
6. Hooks – Pack of small high quality fish hooks - you can catch big fish with small hooks but not small fish with big hooks.
7. Steel water bottle – Nalgene. It would double as water carrier and cooking/eating pot
8. Ferrocerium rod
9. Winter sleeping bag – would go for hollowfibre rather than down filled as it is less vulnerable to damp
10. Luxury item – would go for one luxury item to cope with the psychological demands of living alone. My choice would be either:
• Young dog (terrier) as companion

Or - if that is not allowed

• Wind up portable radio
 

Philster

Settler
Jun 8, 2014
681
40
Poole, Dorset
Just watched the first episode, very enjoyable! I appreciate they edit this thing to make it "exciting" but it was good. Bears, wolves and cougars would certainly give you a dodgy nights sleep ;)
I bet they all wished they brought a copy of Mors Kochanski's "Northern Bushcraft" with them!

Look forward to watching the second episode - any bets on how long they will last? The guy was hoping to do 90 days?
 

Stevie777

Native
Jun 28, 2014
1,443
1
Strathclyde, Scotland
I would have made a raft with a shelter by now. I would live on the raft only coming ashore for water and fire..or i would make some sort of floating fire thingy only coming ashore for water. I know bears can swim, but not to clever with and eyefull of pepper spray or i would live up a tree with pointy sticks facing downwards or i wouldn't even bother applying for such madness.. :lmao:
 

Bishop

Full Member
Jan 25, 2014
1,717
691
Pencader
Just watched E2...interesting. Unusual Coracle though, but the idea was good. Anyone got any winners in mind yet?

Well... Brant & Mitch are strong contenders with obvious skills but Lucas has the heart IMHO to go the distance.

Disappointed that Chris tapped out, he looked like he'd strangle a bear on the first night and use it as a pillow.
 

Dave

Hill Dweller
Sep 17, 2003
6,019
9
Brigantia
Not wanting to be critical, as in that situation, everything seems to be tougher, and go slower than you anticipated, but after 3 days, I would have had the trot lines set and baited with insects, worms, And Ive seem them panning shots of gulls on rocks, and they have catapults.
 

GGTBod

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 28, 2014
3,209
26
1
Hmm, just comparing kit lists to what's in the show...

http://www.history.com/shows/alone/cast/mitch-mitchell

No tarps listed... but in episode 2 he makes a shelter with two tarps.

I've been chatting with Joe and Dustin who are on the show and they have said there were several things they were supplied with which are not part of the chosen kit, 2 of these things are tarps which the majority of each persons camera gear was wrapped in waiting for them at their drop off points, they were also supplied with a can of bear mace each, some of the players also took an extra tarp as one of their ten chosen items
 

Stevie777

Native
Jun 28, 2014
1,443
1
Strathclyde, Scotland
I've been chatting with Joe and Dustin who are on the show and they have said there were several things they were supplied with which are not part of the chosen kit, 2 of these things are tarps which the majority of each persons camera gear was wrapped in waiting for them at their drop off points, they were also supplied with a can of bear mace each, some of the players also took an extra tarp as one of their ten chosen items
ok, who won and how long did they last..Any Bear/cougar Casualties..? :lmao:
 

GGTBod

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 28, 2014
3,209
26
1
They are not allowed to say who won and can only talk about stuff that has already been aired
 

Everything Mac

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 30, 2009
3,112
83
36
Scotland
Ba, curse my slow rig internet. Waiting for the First episode to download so I can get it watched. Once I've seen it I'll jump back in with some more informed comments.

Interesting to see how familiar the kit choices have been. I liked that one of them has taken a Leather-man, I'd have been very tempted to do the same personally.

Andy
 

GGTBod

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 28, 2014
3,209
26
1
I think the kit choices were quite similar as they were all choosing from a list of 40 allowed items but they have not yet been allowed to divulge the full list of possibles, they also had to supply their own versions of each item they chose
 

cranmere

Settler
Mar 7, 2014
992
2
Somerset, England
Not wanting to be critical, as in that situation, everything seems to be tougher, and go slower than you anticipated, but after 3 days, I would have had the trot lines set and baited with insects, worms, And Ive seem them panning shots of gulls on rocks, and they have catapults.

That's all very well provided you have first sorted shelter and water since both of those are critical. Several of the castaways had serious trouble with water.

It does show up the progression though. The first few days are stabilising your situation to a survivable state. Then you start to have enough time to think about trapping and potentially for starting to build better facilities or maybe even to explore to find a better location. Longer term - I would guess around the 3 week mark - you should hopefully have food and water reasonably sorted and at that point if you're looking to stay long term then things like a really good shelter, making things like storage baskets etc become practical.
 

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