Living off the grid is not for everyone but for those who are brave enough to build their lives in remote areas, the rewards can be incredible. For example, they might just find themselves as the stars of a reality TV show, just like those on Life Below Zero.
Since it began in 2013, Life Below Zero has captivated audiences by following the lives of those who choose to live and work in Alaska's toughest areas.
But just how accurate is the show? We know that most of the places have WiFi and roads and that even Amazon delivers (by plane) to Wiseman, Alaska, so just how remote are the filming locations really?
Of course, some of the dangers can't be exaggerated - the cold can be deadly and there is always the possibility of a wild animal attack...
Today, we're going behind-the-scenes of Life Below Zero to see just what it takes to make this hit reality TV show.
15 Some Fans Feel Chip Hailstone Exploits His Wife's Inupiaq Heritage
As he is not a native Inupiaq, Chip Hailstone is not allowed to legally hunt on the land. But his wife and children are allowed to hunt and gather, which led some fans to think he was exploiting his wife's heritage for the sake of the show. Needless to say, he's never been a fan favorite.
14 Sue Aikens Sued The Show After A Stunt Went Wrong
Fan-favorite Sue Aikens filed a lawsuit against the show after she was injured performing a stunt at the producers' insistence. She claimed that they forced her to drive her snowmachine across an icy river at a dangerous speed, which resulted in her being thrown from the vehicle and suffering serious injuries.
13 Some Parts Of The Show Are Scripted
While the show is not meant to be scripted, the producers do sometimes ask the reality stars to perform certain actions or say certain things for the camera. It can be difficult to film something in just one shot, especially in cold and dangerous conditions so there is a little scripting and planning required.
12 When Sue Feeds The Foxes She's Actually Breaking The Law
Alaska State law specifically says it is illegal to feed or leave food out for the wildlife, but Sue Aikens does it anyway. She's often been seen on the show leaving food out for the foxes that surround her camp, in the hopes of luring them closer. Sweet, but still against the law.
11 The Film Crew Keeps Batteries Warm By Strapping Them To Their Bodies
Extremely cold temperatures wreak havoc on batteries, something the crew of Life Below Zero quickly discovered. According to showrunner Joseph Litzinger, they sometimes have to change their camera batteries every 15 minutes just to keep filming. They've learned to keep the spare batteries strapped to their bodies to keep them warm. Smart!
10 The Kavik River Camp Is An Expensive Glamour Camping Destination
Life Below Zero mainly shows Sue Aiken all alone in her tent in the middle of nowhere, but the Kavik River Camp isn't as lonely as we're led to believe. It's a high-end camping destination for those who love hunting, fishing or hiking and there's wifi, phones, and even souvenirs.
9 The Hailstones Aren't As Isolated As The Show Leads Us To Believe
The Hailstone family lives in Noorvik, a settlement with a population of only around 600, but they are not as isolated as the show would like us to believe. Noorvik is only 42 miles from Kotzebue, which is the biggest city in Northwest Alaska. And while roads can be impassable by car, travel by snowmobile or boat is usually possible.
8 Fans Threatened To Boycott The Show If Andy Remained On It
After watching Andy lash out in anger again and again at his wife Kate, fans were pleased when she finally decided to leave him. But when the next season of Life Below Zero aired they couldn't believe their eyes - Andy was back on the show, as if nothing had happened.
7 Glenn Villeneuve Once Chased A Cameraman Away In The Middle Of The Night
Glenn Villeneuve once got so annoyed with a new cameraman that he chased him away in the middle of the night. "It got to the point where one night, up on a mountain in the dark, I could tolerate him no longer. I told him where to go. A helicopter was sent to whisk him away," he said.
6 Crew Members Have Suffered Broken Bones And Close Calls With Bears
According to showrunner Joseph Litzinger, it's not all fun and games behind-the-scenes of Life Below Zero. "We have had a few instances of frostbite and many broken bones; close calls with bears and other predators; and situations where crew members have fallen through icy rivers and off moving boats," he revealed.
5 The Film Crew Uses Buckets When It's Too Cold For The Outhouse
The crew members of Life Below Zero have to give up plenty of creature comforts to film in freezing conditions - they sometimes can't even use a toilet! When temperatures plummet it can become too cold to use outhouses so crew members need to make use of a bucket instead.
4 Native Alaskans Aren't Impressed With The Show
While Life Below Zero does provide a fairly accurate representation of what it's like to live remotely off the grid, not everyone is a fan of the show. Some native Alaskans feel that reality shows like this one exaggerate and extort their lifestyle just to try and get higher ratings.
3 Life Below Zero Is Just One Of Many Reality Shows Being Filmed In Alaska
People are intrigued by folks who live off the grid and over the last few years, TV show producers have been cashing in on this fascination. Alaska, with its wide-open spaces, challenging terrain, and freezing temperatures has become a favorite location for reality shows like Life Below Zero, Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers, and many many more.
2 Some Alaskans Are Paid To Live In Remote Areas
Have you ever wondered how people living in those tiny remote villages manage to earn money? Well some of them are paid simply for living there! Natives who live in remote villages can receive money from the Alaska Native Lands Claims Act and of course, there are also some jobs even in the most remote villages.
1 Camera Screens Often Freeze In Extreme Cold, Making Filming Difficult
Filming in freezing conditions is no easy task and according to the showrunner sometimes the crew just has to hope for the best. "There are times where it’s so cold that the LCD screens on the cameras freeze and the crew has to just take their best guess on what footage they are getting," he said.