Alone Season 2

That's one thing I've noticed about most if not all participants (from season 1 and 2 so far). They discard the fish heads. Fish heads have lots of nutritional value. I pick Jose (from what little they've shown of him thus far), Mike (Barbara being his biggest weakness), Nicole, Justin and Randy in that order, as the top five. I would move Randy further up the line if he still had his ferro rod. However, he's doing great without it.
 
Would we consider the discarding of fish heads and entrails a cultural aversion? I've not yet seen participants scavenging insect larvae which are very high in nutrition. Are they not present? One would think they would be abundant with all that dampness and rotting timber? Kudos though to the guy who ate his mouse with relish.
 
I mentioned that I had missed Tracy Wilson's tapout. I found her explanation of what happened. It was a major injury a few days before which required surgery upon her return.
 
Would we consider the discarding of fish heads and entrails a cultural aversion? I've not yet seen participants scavenging insect larvae which are very high in nutrition. Are they not present? One would think they would be abundant with all that dampness and rotting timber? Kudos though to the guy who ate his mouse with relish.

The cultural aversion theory may be spot on as I come from another culture. I learned from watching my dad who grew up poor and an orphan at 2-3 years old -- passed on from family to family to work the fields and ranches since the age of 4 -- enjoying his fish heads more than the fish itself. It was in fact a delicacy for him. He enjoyed every part of it - eyes, tongue and all. And later as I grew into adulthood I often eat both fish heads when my wife buys a whole fish for each. Also, it's what makes the tastiest fish soups. And so where I come from, discarding fish heads is a sin! :)

Come to think of it, I remember Nicole saying that (her son said?) in some cultures there's a belief that by eating the fish eyes one is able to see underwater. And that she was going to eat them for her son.
 
As I am re-watching this week's episode I had a question. No one listed a headlamp on the 10 items but it appears some or all have headlamps. What up with that?
 
I'd have to guess the fish heads getting tossed just due to the "this is how I've always fished" along with the issue of preservation. If the catch is a decent sized salmon they'll be eating as much as they can of the choice cut.

The native practice was of course to smoke or sundry fish but they had a tribe so the division of labour and and wildlife issues are easier to deal with. I'd guess none of the contestants want a bunch of dried fish around their camp advertising dinner here.

As for grubs etc. they might have ate them. The reality is the ocean had such a rich supply of food they didn't need to. Add in the plants and berries and the deer in the area and you have a pretty decent diet. But once again you've got that whole society of some gathering clams, some picking the berries, others hunting, others tending the fire, and so on. When you're one person you can't go in all directions.
 
As I am re-watching this week's episode I had a question. No one listed a headlamp on the 10 items but it appears some or all have headlamps. What up with that?

We were given one headlamp each. We used them to work with our cameras at night, but a headlamp is a headlamp. (Dave McIntyre)
 
We were given one headlamp each. We used them to work with our cameras at night, but a headlamp is a headlamp. (Dave McIntyre)

Thanks Dave! That makes sense for the filming. That is a handy extra to have.
Nice fish stew BTW.
 
Did the one participant who caught the large salmon make use of the head and viscera, or were they discarded?

If you're referring to Nicole, it looks like she took the head back with her. They didn't show her cooking it though, at least not that I noticed.

She mentioned eating the eyes. I would assume she's smart enough to stew it and get additional nutrients as well. She's been impressive so far.
 
As I am re-watching this week's episode I had a question. No one listed a headlamp on the 10 items but it appears some or all have headlamps. What up with that?

It might have already been linked in this thread earlier, I'm not sure. However, here's the full gear list of items they were allowed to take. This includes the list they could choose 10 items from, and the additional "freebies" if you will.
 
We were given one headlamp each. We used them to work with our cameras at night, but a headlamp is a headlamp. (Dave McIntyre)

What were the rules regarding eating rations? It's the one item everyone brought, but never see an appearance on the show.
 
What were the rules regarding eating rations? It's the one item everyone brought, but never see an appearance on the show.

And participants are saying they are hungry. It would make sense they ration it out but also wise to start eating it right away so you are strong enough for all the other survival tasks (fishing, shelter building, wood gathering...).
 
If you're referring to Nicole, it looks like she took the head back with her. They didn't show her cooking it though, at least not that I noticed.

She mentioned eating the eyes. I would assume she's smart enough to stew it and get additional nutrients as well. She's been impressive so far.

I'm thinking she took it with her only because she said she'd eat the eyes for her son. :D That was one huge salmon. Plenty of fish, especially for one slender lady.


Pict (Dave McIntyre), What kind of knife did you take with you?

Sorry I didn't pick you in my top five to win, buddy, but you looked so miserable... ...except when you caught your first fish! Smart of you to prepare it the way you did. You looked very satisfied. I know it's over for everyone on Alone but good luck anyway! Hope you make me eat my words!
 
Pict (Dave McIntyre), What kind of knife did you take with you?
He brought a special custom from Abe Elias (Diving Sparrow Knifeworks). I only know because I'm a big fan of Abe's work as well and also because he's answered that question a few times on this thread already :)

Pict, I am curious though about your axe. From the few glimpses I got watching the show it looks like a 19 or 24 inch Velvicut Hudson Bay?
 
Also, I believe this was mentioned before, but there is an article on The Truth About Knives that details each particular knife that the participants brought: http://www.thetruthaboutknives.com/2016/04/the-knives-of-historys-alone-season-2/#comment-19463

There is an ongoing discussion there too and Dave and Nicole have chimed in as well. This was just posted 6 days ago from Nicole:

Dr. Nicole Apelian
6 days ago
Just saw this thread and thought I’d comment on my kukri-style knife. My dear friend Ron Macy – yakibaforge@gmail.com – custom-made it for me. I went down to his workshop in Southern Oregon and we worked out the design – it’s not a classic kukri but a bit of a blend between a kukri and a bolo style knife. It’s 5160 carbon steel and a workhorse. I’d bring the same knife again (it’s still the survival knife I use in the woods…I also have a custom bushcraft knife I use for daily use that is always on my belt). The knife is very forward heavy and great for batoning wood. Its shape also allows me to use it as a draw knife and it has a pointed end for just-in-case needed protection and for gutting. Squared-off spine for the ferro rod srike and toward the handle it is edged for finer work. I had to ask a lot from one knife and this one delivered. I also really like the sheath design – I can quickly draw the knife out and it doesn’t bounce on my leg with the side-draw design.

Alone_S2_Nicole_Apelian_Bio-knife-600x302.png
 
And participants are saying they are hungry. It would make sense they ration it out but also wise to start eating it right away so you are strong enough for all the other survival tasks (fishing, shelter building, wood gathering...).

That's what I was curious about. Maybe just the way the producers cut it on the editing floor.
 
Watching people starve or eat half cooked fish or slugs? Interesting.

Watching someone eat packaged food/rations? Boring.
 
Not much to say about this episode. Didn't really like Randy's shelter, very flimsy looking and could come down in the storm. Nicole's is much better, just should have some of those vertical poles holding the tarp down.

Nicole cutting on her thighs and knees, very bad practise.

Justin's workout routine, well, I get the idea of keeping active, but that is a huge waste of energy. He'll get an even better workout from chopping wood.

Glad to see Dave got a fish and that his luck is turning around. I think that since the money is so important to him there is a more realistic survival situation, as in the comments about not reaching for the sat. phone. This could be increasing stress levels. Don't take this as a critique, but I was surprised by the water-boiling method since the loss of water before, and the nearly catastrophic injury. Why not get the pot flat (with a rock if concerned about efficiency on the bottom) and build the fire around it? It is clear that as fire burns through the fuel the foundation for the pot becomes lost.

Quite disappointed that they have left the editing-style from the first couple of episodes behind. Instead they are using very short clips and the cheap commercial-climax trick.

The storm looks pretty bad and would be much more difficult than most realise to cope with. I suspect we'll see someone tap in the next episode due to a difficulty in the storm.
 
Nicole's shelter looks tight and well made with the exception of the tarp. It has already been mentioned that it needs to be weighted down. When the winds come she may lose it or at the very least she is going to lose heat.

I don't understand Randy's large three sided shelter. Not only was it flimsy it was larger than necessary and the open front will not protect from the wind. He could have easily with the same materials made a tight triangular shelter with a small opening at one of the corners for entry and fire.

What is Justin eating? I would think that instead of working out he would be building a shelter, stocking up on wood and foraging.

It is pretty obvious from this and last season that the ocean is going to provide the most food and easily foraged materials.
 
I'm thinking Nicole or Jose will win. Haven't seen a lot of Jose maybe next episode well see more. Nicole is doing great nice shelter. Has a good fishing place. Good attitude. Looks like she knows what she's doing has experience, knowledge and is having fun so far. The guy exercising is he the same guy swinging from the tree? Got a feeling he won't last
 
Back
Top