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Original poster

Win the Wilderness: Alaska

54 replies

bugbhaer · 27/01/2020 18:55

Anyone watching?

Interesting concept, lots of interesting dynamics between the different people.

I'd love to know more about how Duane and Rena live. What resources do they have? What don't they have? What's a typical day like? What's a typical year? What's the bathroom look like?

OP posts:
Standrewsschool · 27/01/2020 19:27

I was half watching it last night (whilst browsing on iPad). Quite enjoyed it.

whippetwoman · 27/01/2020 22:03

I was quite intrigued/horrified by this! Why only British couples? Who would want to do this to themselves?

ToEarlyForDecorations · 27/01/2020 22:05

How do they generate electricity ? How do they get their water and get rid of their waste water ?

megletthesecond · 27/01/2020 22:07

We need to watch this. The dc's saw the trailer and were wondering about bears.

Sleeveen · 27/01/2020 22:07

I saw most of this last night. I also had lots of unanswered questions. How did Duane get and choose his land in the first place? Was there/is there a ‘claim’ system whereby some land is allocated to people who agree to live on and cultivate land? How did he meet Reena when he was 100 miles from the nearest road?

But my big question was — why not seek successors among rural fellow-Alaskans, who know the terrain, wildlife, and are more likely to have the required wilderness skills and a realistic vision for the future of the land? Why foreigners, specifically foreigners who are from a country with no wilderness, no dangerous wildlife and only very small amounts of forest?

Sleeveen · 27/01/2020 22:09

It made me wonder about whether there were complicated local feuds, and whether there was a reason Duane and Reena didn’t want to leave their homestead to Alaskans? Or whether there’s some big problem with it that would be obvious to more local people?

whippetwoman · 27/01/2020 22:19

There’s a good review in The Guardian. The whole concept is mind boggling.

IntermittentParps · 28/01/2020 10:32

Sleeveen, he claimed it under the Homestead Act www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/homestead-act

I haven't watched this yet but what strikes me is that all the couples are white and straight.

Sleeveen · 28/01/2020 12:15

I knew that historically there had been a Homesteading Act chiefly because of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Pa's blurry sense of the boundaries of native American lands but that essay says it ended (even in Alaska, where it went on a decade after the rest of the country) in 1986, and I thought Duane only began to live on the land in 1987?

Yes, the whiteness and straightness struck me too, though I still felt the chief oddity was 'importing' couples from a country on a different continent with a very different climate, landscape, wildlife etc. But perhaps the remote homestead is simply not very appealing to Alaskans, and they needed to appeal to foreigners who would be charmed by the challenge?

IntermittentParps · 28/01/2020 12:18

I read a review that said he got it through the Homesteading Act. Although they could be wrong, I guess.

I'd guess the different climate, landscape, wildlife etc is probably designed to add to the challenge and jeopardy –fish-out-of-water stuff.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 28/01/2020 23:13

I haven't watched this yet but what strikes me is that all the couples are white and straight

This was my first thought too- I wonder if that was purposeful or just coincidental.

BobbyBlueCat · 29/01/2020 08:17

I enjoyed it. But had so many questions!

*How are Brits going to be allowed to just move to the USA. What VISAs are they going to get for that? I'm pretty sure the 'lifestyle bloggers' aren't going to get a working VISA based on that job. Most of them are going to have to give up their careers (RAF, midwife etc) which will prevent them relocating for work.

*The two farmers (who seem nice). Is he genuinly going to leave the farm that he was born on and worked on for 50+ years to do this? Just give that all up? That makes me sad. Same as the RAF guy. He's giving up an amazing career with a force that supports it's family log after they retire, giving up a great pension etc to live with no income in the mountains? If they win and it doesn't work out then he's going to end up back in the UK with no career, no pension and no idea what to do with his life.

*Why choose Brits to go over. I'm sure there are a ton of people in that country that would love to do that.

*They only have the chance to invite and meet properly three more couples. So after that first couple went up, if the owners had decided they weren't the right fit and told them they were going home and then thought the exact same about the next two couples then it's the last couple of nobody. But then what if they meet that couple and REALLY don't like them. Will nobody get the house? Or will they have to give their home to a couple that they don't actually like that much?

Also, I've a feeling this house will end up on AirBnB or up for sale months after any of these couples take it over.

Original poster
bugbhaer · 29/01/2020 08:51

Yes, you've made me realise it's all a bit too disingenuous. I think I'd rather watch a programme about Duane and Rena living there.

OP posts:
TeacupDrama · 29/01/2020 09:40

It did say their children weren't interested, they probably know too much of what it's really like especially in winter when cut off for weeks, the whole premise seems a bit false but it's kind of interesting

Original poster
bugbhaer · 29/01/2020 14:57

I suspect that they don’t live there all year round.

OP posts:
Samcro · 29/01/2020 15:04

i assume they are being paid by the british tv show.
we enjoyed it, but it has left a lot unanswered so far.

Standrewsschool · 02/02/2020 21:38

interesting programme tonight.

TeacupDrama · 03/02/2020 08:42

I like the people but it's fair, the couple that went to Ose tonight are quite frankly not remotely suitable, he has a family farm with two sons not ready to take over possibly for years.

I admire her refusal to give in to MS but she can't afford medical bills with a condition that will get worse and could usbe forced to sell for bills not many years from now but they are a great team.

The current occupiers both look as if have mobility problems so not really sure how they are coping the rest of the time,

Obviously set up programmes annoy me

Standrewsschool · 03/02/2020 11:44

Before the MS admission, I thought they would probably win - experience, attitude etc. However, the mS instantly changed that. Possibly, they think living in that environment would help her, but it’ll be physically demanding, and what happens when she falls ill.

TeacupDrama · 03/02/2020 12:59

YES I think any medical emergency could bankrupt them I imagine medical insurance is already higher if there is seen as increased risk due to needing an air ambulance or such like

how prepared any of the couples are to live off grid 345 days a year I don't know is it truly 100 miles to the nearest road though? or are there forest tracks for quadbike style vehicle much closer do you really need either a plane or to walk out I know plane is easiest but he seems to have a quadbike on site or can they get supplies by boat
just so many unanswered questions, I sort of want to find out the truth regarding Duane and Rena, I don't mean they are getting too old to manage the homestead that's obvious but why not sell it don't they need to sell to buy another place more accessible or will fee from BBC enable house buying ?
what was their income stream before what did they used to do to earn money OK maybe they didn't need huge amounts but you need cash to buy fuel for quad, clothes food supplies even bullets for your gun!

jrb123 · 03/02/2020 17:17

@TeacupDrama great points and great questions. I'm sure the BBC must be paying them a fair whack to take part in the show (and will the BBC purchase the property from them?) It's really gripping entertainment, as long as you suspend disbelief about getting US visas, etc. The couples are all likable so far, which helps a lot. None of your Apprentice-type idiots here. I can't wait to see who wins!

TeacupDrama · 03/02/2020 18:09

I can't imagine apprentice style posturing would work in wilderness the " I give 125% 24/7" types; anyway most of them don't possess even sensible shoes. I think survival depends on a great personal awareness of what you can and can't do and what is realistically achievable and what your weaknesses are DH is a carpenter / furniture restorer and regularly says "something is only as strong as it's weakest point"
I love watching it but personally I couldn't deal with the off grid not seeing people, like I love watching the tiny house off grid programmes but in reality I like my space and my books ( all 1200 of them)

Original poster
bugbhaer · 03/02/2020 19:06

I was wondering how they got the quads up there.

Like other posters I wish the programme was a bit more transparent about the true situation.

OP posts:
Bigoldwimp · 09/02/2020 22:53

Great couples. I think the retired couple are the ones that seem to want it most , but will they give it to an older couple I’m not sure ? Personally I think the prize
Is a penance, but I live in a suburban terrace with Ocado deliveries and converse trainers so I’m not really the target market. Wink The drone footage is amazing and I’m glad they are not all drinking their wee, how very bbc of them

TeacupDrama · 11/02/2020 09:51

Mm I wonder Tina has doubts obviously very fit and enthusiastic but what if she wants kids, not that I don't think you can have kids there but it could be lonely, I would envisage someone living there maybe May to October but moving to town for winter

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