Random Behind Scenes Facts About NatGeo's Life Below Zero (14 items)

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  (#10) People Are Actually Paid To Live in Alaska

  If you've ever watched shows like Life Below Zero and wondered how these people make any money, you should know that they may be paid by the state (other than, of course, their income from the show — which is likely nothing at which to scoff). Natives who live in remote villages receive money from the Alaska Native Lands Claims Act. Native corporations under the Act dole out dividends and stocks to those who are 1/8 Native; some of these corporations are in oil-heavy areas with a lot of income. 

  Alaskans — not just natives — also get paid to live in Alaska, thanks to interest from North Slope oil revenue. That being said, there are still jobs, and Native corporations will often pay outsiders to come to Alaska for jobs like teaching. There's money to be had in some parts of the wildnerness... you just have to be able to survive to get it.
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  (#3) The Hailstones Don't Live All That Remotely

  Noorvik, Alaska may only have a population of around 600, but it's not cut off from civilization. It's only 42 miles from Kotzebue, the biggest city in Northwest Alaska, with a population of over 3,000. Folks in Noorvik often do hunt and fish in order to live, but plenty others may work for the local school district or government. 

  Yes, that's right, Noorvik is an incorporated city and has its own school district. Iriqtaq Hailstone, the daughter of Life Below Zero stars Chip and Agnes Hailstone, played many sports during high school, and the local paper has written about her and her sister Mary. Noorvik, just like many other communities, has plenty of sports teams for kids with tournaments and competitions. Iriqtaq said that while she sometimes had to miss a practice due to the show's filming schedule, but that it usually wasn't a problem. 

  The one very remote thing about Noorvik is that you can't get to it by road... at all. If you've got a boat, plane, or snow machine, then you can get to Noorvik. Otherwise, you're out of luck!
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  (#1) One Former Cast Member Sued The Show

  Sue Aikens, arguably the star of Life Below Zero, sued the production company thanks to one producer, Aaron Mellman. Aikens said that Mellman forced her to do dangerous things, like take off her face mask in frigid conditions or drive a snowmobile over a frozen river. When she had a snowmobile accident, Mellman wouldn't let the safety crew airlift her to a hospital; instead, they drove her and then airlifted her for better TV. One cameraman even said that Mellman told everyone they'd be fired if they helped Aikens to the plane.

  However, because of the legal disclaimers Aikens signed, it's likely that this will be a difficult legal battle. Mellman allegedly also drank Sue Aikens's whiskey. 
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  (#13) A Survival Guide Claims Alaskan Reality Shows Are Pretty Real

  Rob Gower, a guide for Alaska Mountaineering School, has worked with National Geographic on Life Without Zero, among other Alaskan reality shows. Gower says that in Life Below Zero, the cast members are living their lives per usual, and that his job is to make sure the crew remains safe in the extreme conditions. 

  For other reality shows, Gower says that he gets to the location weeks ahead of time to scout out appropriate routes and places to film. He also said that the guides aren't allowed to help the cast at all, even with basic things. Gower said, "We're just not letting them die, basically."
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  (#14) Alaska Is Overrun With Reality TV

  At least 60 different shows set in Alaska have been on the air in the last 10 years — a pretty high number. After all, the population size doesn't match the vast size of the state. Locals seem to feel like the industry is a mixed bag. Alaskan Bush People, not surprisingly, has drawn criticisms for presenting a reductive view of Alaskan natives, many of whom actually don't live in the bush. Edge of Alaska didn't thrill the locals, either, as the small town of McCarthy was presented as seedy, to say the least. 

  Even state tourism officials can't say that the boost they've received from Alaska's reality-show fame is entirely worth it. That doesn't stop television networks from scoping out the next big thing, though. One bakery owner reported meeting with six production teams who apparently wanted a show that she called "Ace of Cakes meets Bear Grylls."

  That being said, the type of reality show networks want is changing, as true-crime documentaries and serial docu-dramas become more and more popular. Perhaps that will lead to a more authentic portrayal of the state, but needless to say, there's still plenty of Alaska left to show on TV. 
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  (#6) It's Not Below Zero Everywhere, All The Time

  Yes, of course it's cold in Alaska. But the summers are in the 60s and 70s — sometimes even the 80s. And winter isn't as bad as you probably think. Anchorage is warmer in the winter than Chicago, and the southeast part of the state is also pretty warm. In places like Fairbanks, further from the ocean, it can indeed get below zero, sometimes negative 30. The dry cold, however, means that -30 isn't as bad as it seems. Temperature in Alaska varies quickly, though, and a short drive can give you climate whiplash. 

  Parts of Alaska do see well over 100 inches of snow, but Anchorage has the same yearly snowfall as Burlington, Vermont. 

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