Genre Reality competition Original language(s) English No. of episodes 37 (list of episodes) | Country of origin United States No. of seasons 3 | |
Executive producer(s) Brian Catalina
Kristina Wood
John Magennis
Claire Kosloff
Victoria Levy
Peter Goest | ||
Ultimate Survival Alaska was an American television reality competition series produced by Brian Catalina Productions that premiered on the National Geographic Channel on May 12, 2013. The series was executive produced by Brian Catalina, Kristina Wood, John Magennis, Claire Kosloff, Victoria Levy, and Peter Goest.
Contents
Ultimate Survival Alaska focused on survivalist men and women who were dropped off in the Alaskan wilderness where they compete with each other in various wilderness races. The survivalists were dropped off by aircraft in the Alaskan wilderness where they compete in races through Alaska's unpredictable weather, barren landscapes, and hostile predators. The series was cancelled after season 3.
Season 1 (2013)
In the first season, 10 episodes document the survivalists' experiences at specific location points during the 3,000-mile (4,800 km) race. The main goal in each episode is to survive using minimal gear, and to reach a certain destination point within 72 hours.
Cast
Season 2 (2013/14)
The second season had 13 episodes and focused on four teams of survivalists with different areas of expertise: woodsmen, mountaineers, military veterans, and endurance athletes. Each team had the task of reaching an extraction point faster than the other teams. There were multiple drop off and extraction points with different terrain for each leg of the contest. In Season 2, the time limit to reach the end of each leg was reduced down to 60 hours.
Teams
The contestants were divided into four teams of three.
Teams
For season 3 the series remains with the format of four teams of three. Italicized contestants are returning contestants from previous seasons.
Critical reception
David Hinckley of the Daily News gave the second season a satisfactory review, saying "things do look consistently harsh and cold, which should satisfy most people who would watch a show about Alaska. The only thing that really looks warm is that big old bear in the brown coat, and he doesn’t look like he’s interested in sharing any of the insulation."
Controversy
The show has been accused by critics of being staged. Craig Medred of Alaska Dispatch called the series "the most unreal of reality shows. National Geographic Channel has taken fictional reality, or real fiction, or whatever you call this 21st-century blend of true and phony, to places the founders of the National Geographic Society could never imagine."