The Farmer’s Almanac recently predicted a not-so-fun season headed straight towards us. Actually, their projections show that not even Florida is safe against a particularly cold “season of shivers.” Still, while it’s only an inconvenience for most of us part of the year, some people find themselves living below zero much longer.
That’s what National Geographic explores in their series aptly titled “Life Below Zero.” The network’s TV schedule for the remainder of 2021 and the upcoming 2022 is jam-packed. Not only does it include more “Life Below Zero,” but it features a spin-off titled “Next Generation” as well. Tonight marks the drop of some of those new episodes and it’s about to go down… in temperature, that is.
The “Life Below Zero” Cast Shares Their Game Plan
A sneak peek of the new episodes breaks down what sub-zero living really looks like. Spoiler alert, it’s intense. The teaser video opens with a quote about emergency preparedness. The narrator notes that most people don’t plan for disasters and get smacked in the face with ’em instead. That just won’t cut it in the remote parts of Alaska.
The Scouts share a similar motto to the cast’s “prioritize, plan, and prepare.” Still, negative 60 degree days are next level. In the furthest corners of Alaska, every day is a battle to survive. This includes finding ways to heat yourself and feed yourself. Resources in the area are scarce, so snagging them is half the battle. The other half of the battle comes from making those resources last. Not to mention all the man-eating beasts lurking around. Bears get hungry too, you know…
The show follows a handful of resilient residents in the area, and they all do things a little differently than one another. Eric Salitan is a man who focuses on what he hunts and forages for subsistence. Then there are Chip and Agnes Hailstone. The duo makes a living by fishing and then bartering for supplies. Also of note, Andy and Kate Bassich utilize sled dogs to get around. It’s a different world out there.
You can catch all the action in their tweet:
Prioritize. Plan. Prepare.
— Life Below Zero (@LifeBelowZeroTV) September 28, 2021
New episodes of Life Below Zero and Next Generation air tonight starting at 8/7c on National Geographic. pic.twitter.com/nARjSj5vmj
How Bad Are Alaskan Winters, Really?
As seen with the cast of “Life Below Zero,” Alaska’s port cities don’t actually keep many residents. That’s because life there is a whole different beast. One port city in particular, Valdez, boasts some of the toughest conditions. In fact, it’s the snowiest place in the whole of the United States. They receive an average of over 300 inches of snow annually. Of that, up to four feet can fall in a single night. Whenever this happens (and it does happen– a lot) boats in the harbor sink from its weight. Despite all this, the kids’ schools rarely call “snow days.” It’s just a part of their lifestyle.
If you’re itching to pack your bags and try your hand at a different type of Outsider life, we’re not here to stop you. We’ll even tune in to watch… In the meantime, you can catch “Life Below Zero” on Tuesdays 8/7c.
