The Alaskan Experiment
May 31, 2008|Comments (none)
There’s a show on the Discovery Channel, The Alaska Experiment, that Josh and I have really enjoyed. The show is about several groups of strangers who are dropped off in a remote area of Alaska to navigate their way to their cabins. Keep in mind that these are urbanites/suburbanites who have never been more than a few miles from a Quickie Mart. They, like most Americans, think that surviving is staying in a motel that only has basic cable.
The cabins are stocked with a firearm, axe, saw, flour, sugar, salt, canning equipment, a cook stove, and other basics. The participants are followed by medics and camera crews. They are visited by hunting experts before winter sets in and go on hunting trips for goats and moose. They also fish for salmon and have the option of canning it. At any time, they can bail and say, “Give me a hotel room with a hot shower, microwave, and minibar.”
We couldn’t believe how well-stocked the cabins were and then several of the people still complained. One group was a father and two daughters. The father was terrific and somehow managed not to snap while his two spoiled whiny daughters complained incessantly about EVERYTHING. Interestingly, their family had the best cabin and the best location.
We decided that we would probably fare quite well in such a situation. Josh could certainly act as the perfect guide through the wilderness. I can’t think of a better partner for that particular marathon event. So we wouldn’t get lost. I can make sourdough starter and then keep us supplied with bread. I can also can up anything that is thrown at me — so we wouldn’t have to worry about that. Josh can hunt and track with amazing skill — so we wouldn’t starve. With the lard from his kills and the ashes from the wood fires - I could even make soap. And yet, there is always that fear factor because everything is harder in the Alaskan wilderness. One mile might as well be twenty and the weather changes are rapid. The dangers are ever-present and even the most experienced wilderness expert could fail.
Knowing that many people watching the show would want to know if they could hack it, The Discovery Channel created a quiz which tells you if you would become an ice sculpture or if you would make it. Would you? Take the test. Could you survive?
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