The Last Alaskans

[sodfather]

I'm watching this show and got me thinking, what if I had or any of us would do if we had to truly survive off the land. Only eat what you can kill or grow.  I know myself think I'd die the first 6 months or less. I don't see any sushi bar or Yelling Goat from the footage I've seen. I call myself heck we all call each other hunters. But let me ask, how do you think you would do? 

[grampy]

I have no doubt, that when I was younger, I could have pulled it off. But now? I wouldn't make it through the first winter. 

[Buckmaster7600]

This timing is funny because yesterday after dropping some trout filets off to my 98yr old neighbor he was telling me about a book he is reading about a trapper from the Yukon and then went into stories on how he spent winters in the ADK's trapping after WW2. I could sit and listen to him for days if I had time.

Onto your question I'm sure I could do it but it certainly wouldn't be enjoyable for me. I enjoy going into my tent camp for a couple weeks at a time but after about a week I start missing electricity and running water.


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[GreeneHunter]

Nice for a week or two , after that I'd be home again .... in a hurry !

[Doc]

So when these people become frail, doddering, old, crippled people, exactly what do they do to continue living.

Edited January 30, 2018 by Doc

[Doewhacker]

All of those folks live back near town part of the year and live out there during trapping and hunting season. 

I don’t think I could be that far out. I would need to be able to drive to get supplies and medical care. 

[Robhuntandfish]

it is said 90% of people in the US would die in the first year without electricity.   

I would make it only cause I would be so pissed that my beer was warm!  

[Bionic]

My FAVORITE tv show. 

Edited January 30, 2018 by Bionic

[bugsNbows]

I kinda liked Bob Harte. Unfortunately, he passed last year.

[Daveboone]

My wife and I love the show. I read Heimo's (sic?)book years ago, and can really appreciate where he came from. My wife has asked me many times why I never tried to live like that. Reality and dreams splat in life. When I was younger I had the strength and endurance, but was delusional about my ability. Would've been dead in a month.

Now I have the knowledge, but don't have the strength or endurance, would be dead in a month.

That said, under carefully planned location and situation, I would still love to be alone in an appropriate wilderness setting....but certainly not arctic Alaska! 

Doc asked what happens when you become old and feeble...it is clearly shown over several seasons with one elderly gentleman who spent his life in the bush (Bob, if I remember correctly?) One year he has to leave for civilization after being unable to get a moose for meat, then is unable to care for his trapline, eventually dies in town of cancer. It was very sad to watch his decline.

[Bionic]

25 minutes ago, bugsNbows said:

I kinda liked Bob Harte. Unfortunately, he passed last year.

Actually Glen is Life below zero, haha.  Yes Bob Harte was my favorite as well.  

[Pygmy]

1 hour ago, Bionic said:

My FAVORITE tv show. 

That show and " Life Below Zero" are the only reality shows I'll watch...

 

" Alaskan Bush People" if so hokey it makes me PUKE  !

[Dom]

3 minutes ago, Pygmy said:

That show and " Life Below Zero" are the only reality shows I'll watch...

 

" Alaskan Bush People" if so hokey it makes me PUKE  !

Them Bush people are only camping if they really lived like they do on the show more animals would be killed and the ladies would have a garden the sons are jerks and the Dad is to lazy

[First-light]

Pretty tough to do. I just walked 7 miles yesterday out east hunting and everything hurts. Younger yes as you learn to make things easier for yourself when old age sets in. BTW I love that show.

 

[ny hunter]

I know I could not handle the cold anymore...,

[Dom]

If I had to I would.I would just need afew basics to start a hand saw ax a knife a pot for cooking 1 cup some twine and a wool blanket nd afew clothes.The only modern thing I would miss is my radio.

[Robhuntandfish]

why do i feel like Biz would become Negan and we would all be working for him...........

Edited January 30, 2018 by Robhuntandfish

[WNYBuckHunter]

If things came to a point where there was no longer electricity, etc I would be heading south first and foremost. I would not be wanting to deal with cold and snow like we get here in NY. I think I could survive for a while, but it would be better to try and have a group, as doing everything on your own would be incredibly tough. Gathering water, hunting and fishing for meat, youd have to have a garden of some sort, maintaining shelter, etc.

[Dom]

13 minutes ago, WNYBuckHunter said:

If things came to a point where there was no longer electricity, etc I would be heading south first and foremost. I would not be wanting to deal with cold and snow like we get here in NY. I think I could survive for a while, but it would be better to try and have a group, as doing everything on your own would be incredibly tough. Gathering water, hunting and fishing for meat, youd have to have a garden of some sort, maintaining shelter, etc.

How far south?Georgia would be my choice.

[WNYBuckHunter]

8 minutes ago, Dom said:

How far south?Georgia would be my choice.

Id say Tennessee or South Carolina, maybe North Georgia. I dont want to get into swamps.

[airedale]

11 hours ago, sodfather said:

Only eat what you can kill or grow.

Growing up a country boy my whole life has been lived growing an accumulation and acquiring the skills of self sufficiency. Working on farms as a boy and later owning my own small farm has taught me how to grow food crops and animal husbandry. I learned at an early age how to fish, hunt and trap and do it well. I can long term preserve any food I produce several different ways. 

I also know how to maintain and use the equipment needed in those skills proficiently.  I have enough decent carpentry and mechanical knowledge to get me by most of the time. My home is set up to operate for long periods of time without power, I can cook, heat the place and keep lights on with no problem. 

So to the OP's question of being able to survive and eat only what I could kill or grow off my land the answer would be yes. Would I want to live that way permanently? NO!

Al

Edited January 30, 2018 by airedale

[chas0218]

1 hour ago, Dom said:

Them Bush people are only camping if they really lived like they do on the show more animals would be killed and the ladies would have a garden the sons are jerks and the Dad is to lazy

It's a joke of a show.

I could do it and enjoy living off the land and would like to cut all ties to the grid. I would be one of the few cabins with running water, electric and heat not just from a wood stove. To do it right I would need a lump sum of cash close to 1 million. Buy the property and set aside taxes for my lifetime, build a sustainable cabin and then live off the land for the rest of my life. Only thing I would need is a couple reliable freezers and fridges. 

Edited January 30, 2018 by chas0218

[stubborn1VT]

For them it's not so much a survival situation.  They spend their entire year preparing for winter, and have years of experience.  It would  be normal for any of us, if we grew up in it.  I sometimes wonder how the time commitment of hunting, gathering, and growing food would compare to that of a full time job.  I imagine it wouldn't be so different than running a farm.  

Like Airedale, I grew up doing many things that would help me be self sufficient.  I suspect that it would be awfully inconvenient, but not necessarily life threatening.  The one thing that would be important for me, would be to pick the right day/time/weather for each task.  I would need to get the most out of my efforts, and know when to conserve my energy and when to get after it.

[Bionic]

1 hour ago, Pygmy said:

That show and " Life Below Zero" are the only reality shows I'll watch...

 

" Alaskan Bush People" if so hokey it makes me PUKE  !

I completely agree.  Bush people seems extremely fake to me, too many material items magically appear, and its rarely discussed how said items were obtained.  

Alaska the last frontier REEEAAALLLY annoys me.

[The_Real_TCIII]

11 hours ago, sodfather said:

I'm watching this show and got me thinking, what if I had or any of us would do if we had to truly survive off the land. Only eat what you can kill or grow.  I know myself think I'd die the first 6 months or less. I don't see any sushi bar or Yelling Goat from the footage I've seen. I call myself heck we all call each other hunters. But let me ask, how do you think you would do? 

Id curl up in an old bus and die like that kid from the Krakauer book