Season Two Bios: Now With 300% More Women!

[Quilt Fairy]

From the History Channel website. Also includes each person's 10 items.

 

http://www.history.com/shows/alone/cast

[rainsmom]

300%! There are three women this time. 

[Quilt Fairy]

Yeah, I caught that too late. I've asked cooksdelight to up the ante.

[walnutqueen]

cooksdelight isn't a Moderator anymore.

[cooksdelight]

LOL, Send a message to the report center, someone will fix it.

Me, I am in Chapel Hill hoping my beloved Tar Heels take it all tonight. I will be at the Dean Smith Center with Scooby-Doo and his lucky bandana. Since he started wearing it, they have been killing it!! :)

[Fosca]

The first thing I'd bring, as a woman in this show, is enough birth control pills to ensure no menstruating.  At least until my weight got low enough to stop my periods "naturally".  Bleeding in that wilderness with the bears and cougars doesn't sound like a good idea.

 

That said, I'm not sure some of these people quite know what they're getting into.  I don't think they'll need sleeping bags that go to -20 on Vancouver (assuming that's Fahrenheit), and one guy is bringing a canvas and flannel bag?  Um, no.  Only one is bringing a bivy bag, which would be one of the first things I'd pick.  And they're not giving them ferro rods as part of the standard kit?  That's just wrong.  Or is everyone bringing a spare?  After that one guy last season, that might not be a bad idea.

 

My money (for what it's worth at this point) is on Mary Kate Green.  She grew up in the wilderness (though a much dryer wilderness than Vancouver) with bears and cougars and wolves and now lives in Homer.  If she can deal with the wet and the damp (and of course the mental challenge, which is bigger than the physical one), I think she has a pretty good chance.

 

Yes, I have this show on my calendar.  And I just reminded my mom about it as well.  Must-see TV!

[Quilt Fairy]

OK, reported my own post to the mods so hopefully that will get corrected. I should not attempt to do things in the wee small hours of the morning, I guess.

 

That said, I'm not sure some of these people quite know what they're getting into.  I don't think they'll need sleeping bags that go to -20 on Vancouver (assuming that's Fahrenheit), and one guy is bringing a canvas and flannel bag?  Um, no.  Only one is bringing a bivy bag, which would be one of the first things I'd pick.  And they're not giving them ferro rods as part of the standard kit?  That's just wrong.  Or is everyone bringing a spare?  After that one guy last season, that might not be a bad idea

.

I think all of them have a ferro rod listed, so they are apparently not given anything as "standard". Other than the unique problems facing a menstruating woman in the wilderness, I must admit that the sleeping bags have me baffled. Going by the equipment lists on each individual bio, there are something like 5 different kinds listed, with various temperature ratings and types of insulation. Are they really offered that much variety for each item? I also noticed that only one or 2 listed a tarp of any kind where last year almost everyone included one or 2 types of tarps.

[SRTouch]

I think all of them have a ferro rod listed, so they are apparently not given anything as "standard". Other than the unique problems facing a menstruating woman in the wilderness, I must admit that the sleeping bags have me baffled. Going by the equipment lists on each individual bio, there are something like 5 different kinds listed, with various temperature ratings and types of insulation. Are they really offered that much variety for each item? I also noticed that only one or 2 listed a tarp of any kind where last year almost everyone included one or 2 types of tarps.

The gear the various people picked is sure interesting. History had a page where they listed both the common gear everyone was given, and the list they could choose their additional 10 items - but it looks like they've either removed it or moved it, the address now comes back "page not found". Just from memory, I seem to remember everyone received at least two tarps (a 20x20 and 10x10). Several people snatched up additional tarps, a smart move in a temperate rainforest. IIRC Sam used a tarp to create a catchment system for his water supply (while others were looking for fresh water, or calling it quits after drinking brackish water Edited April 10, 2016 by SRTouch

[Liberty]

... I think the fact that he teaches survival will make him stick it out, if for no other reason to keep people paying him to learn survival techniques. Since this contest has such a mental component, it can't help but provide additional motivation when a contestant's livelihood could be impacted by their performance. Mike is another contestant in that group, someone who teaches survival, but with a military background....

 

 

I hope these two (and others) do not use this as a commercial as others have done on survival shows, although that seems to be an increasing element of reality TV.  I feel exploited as a viewer when a participant is trying to sell me something or promote a service.

Edited April 4, 2016 by Liberty

[ClareWalks]

Nicole's background and currently living in the PNW are huge advantages. I predict she will make it far. I am also struck by how many of these contestants brought emergency rations, or even two slots of emergency rations. Smart, if you have confidence in your bushcraft skills. Hunger knocked a few people out last time, or at least made them suffer more. 

[Quilt Fairy]

The gear the various people picked is sure interesting. History had a page where they listed both the common gear everyone was given, and the list they could choose their additional 10 items - but it looks like they've either removed it or moved it, the address now comes back "page not found". Just from memory, I seem to remember everyone received at least two tarps (a 2020 and 10x10). Several people snatched up additional tarps, a smart move in a temperate rainforest. IIRC Sam used a tarp to create a catchment system for his water supply (while others were looking for fresh water, or calling it quits after drinking brackish water). Last time a couple people took slingshots, and three or four took archery gear - this time just one guy has bow and arrows.

I don't think there was any "common gear" everyone was given, that was the whole point of the 10 items. They were allowed to bring their own clothes but there were very specific specifications about that as well. IIRC (why the hell did they have to take down the S1 list?) there were 2 or 3 different styles of tarps available and everyone took at least one and a few people took 2. However, what did happen that we didn't find out about until later was that some people snagged the tarp covering the camera gear as they were delivered to their camping spot. Sam in particular had at least 3 tarps in the end, one a bright blue one that no one else had and he used to catch rainwater.  I'm pretty sure Alan said he did that as well. Also, Lucas was apparently out scavenging his area (we never saw this)  and found an abandoned camp of some kind and got a coffee pot, some wooden crates and other stuff. None of these things were against the rules in season 1, we'll see what happens in season 2.

 

ETA: I just reread your original post and I think you may have been saying the same thing I did about the tarps in a slightly different way. Sorry for any confusion.

 

I hope these two (and others) do not use this as a commercial as others have done on survival shows, although that seems to be an increasing element of reality TV.  I feel exploited as a viewer when a participant is trying to sell me something or promote a service

There were several people who taught survival last season, and other than an interview in the local paper at the time I certainly haven't heard of any of them since. (Heck, we couldn't even get Alan to answer some questions for us.) Several of them even lived off the grid and didn't own a TV.  And just think about it: self-promoting people aren't the ones who go on a reality show where you're going to be alone for up to a year, even if it is filmed.

Edited April 10, 2016 by Quilt Fairy

[riverheightsnancy]

 

There were several people who taught survival last season, and other than an interview in the local paper at the time I certainly haven't heard of any of them since. (Heck, we couldn't even get Alan to answer some questions for us.) Several of them even lived off the grid and didn't own a TV.  And just think about it: self-promoting people aren't the ones who go on a reality show where you're going to be alone for up to a year, even if it is filmed.

Agree. Quite a few of these guys are in the business and/or have Facebook pages or videos of how to do these techniques. Some of them want to get into this business as well. I remember reading last year that several of these guys were outright recruited or people in their circle of survivalists were all recruited for the show BECAUSE of their background. Most of the early tap-outs were people who dabbled in this (like regular camping) and were out of their depth immediately. The guys who really do it, lasted longer (IMO). I remember Mitch talking about it and he also has a survival school. Mitch has a long video on YouTube going through each and every item that he brought with him on Alone and his thinking behind it and how he intended to use it. A few were very expensive and specialized for a certain task or specific environment. 

Regarding the new group, one guy looks so much like Ron Howard (as an adult) it is all I can think about when I see his picture. Hope the ladies do well. 

[Quilt Fairy]

I would like to give everyone a heads up about season 2. Even though the advertised premier date is April 21st, my DVR is picking up an episode tomorrow, April 14th.

It's listed as S02E01, but IIRC History kind of played fast and loose with episode numbers last season, especially after they knew they had a hit and wanted to milk it. Anyhow, the title of the episode is "Alone-Making the Cut", which leads me to believe that it's more like S02E00, and they will actually introduce us to the contestants this time.