(#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.
(#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.
(#15) Native Alaskans Take Issue With A Lot Of Alaska Reality Shows
Other than Deadliest Catch, it looks like most Alaskans aren't fans of the many reality shows that plague the state. Alaska is often portrayed as so remote that it's stuck in another century, or that the people who live there are backwoods rednecks. A cast member from Ultimate Survival Alaska claimed that if you go off the road, "you're putting your foot on ground that has never been walked before by any human being."
Not only does that sound a little ridiculous, it actually is ridiculous. The state has been mapped and is managed by state troopers, and other than protected land, it's pretty likely that you're going to see someone's house or yard. Most of Alaskans, in fact, live in urban areas, not the bush (two-thirds of the population live in Fairbanks, Juneau, or Anchorage). Yet that hasn't stopped networks from exploiting the wilderness; MTV has even created a show called Slednecks. Just by the name, that sounds like one that Alaskans won't be fans of.
(#2) The Kavik River Camp Is Basically A Glamper's Paradise
Sue Aikens may live by herself in a tent, but she's not nearly as isolated as Life Below Zero claims she is. The Kavik River Camp is exactly that — a camp, or at the very least, "glamping" or glamour camping. The camp features wifi, phones, and "all services you'd expect to find in a big city." You can even buy Kavik River Camp apparel and souvenirs.
At a cost of $350 per night, Aikens is doing pretty well for herself, especially after her fame at the hands of National Geographic. She can accept credit card payments, coordinate tours and travel, and otherwise help guests experience the Arctic. Though she's presented as being very isolated in the off-season, the Kavik River Camp is open year-round.
(#9) Chip Hailstone Is Heading To Jail After A Weird Legal Battle
Chip Hailstone has been fighting the courts for some time now. In 2012, he was convicted of perjury and lying to a police officer. Though Chip appealed the conviction, he was sentenced to 15 months in jail in July 2017. So, if you've watched the show and wondered why Agnes and the kids were on their own, there's your answer.
The story surrounding Chip's conviction is, however, a little strange. First, Chip asked for a restraining order against a state trooper, saying that his daughter had reached towards the trooper and he put her in a hold. That incident, according to Chip, made him and his family fearful. Secondly, Chip claimed that a neighbor aimed a gun at his family. Who knows what the real story is, but Chip was convicted for perjury for both of those statements.
(#8) One Thing Is Definitely Real: Andy Is A Jerk
National Geographic hasn't shied away from portraying Andy and Kate's turbulent marriage or Andy's anger/control issues. Andy and Kate divorced and she left the show, but fans were shocked to see that Andy was back. Many of them took to Facebook to bemoan NatGeo's decision, and the network did respond...but only to say that “We ask that viewers keep their discussions based on the content of the show, not on speculations about the offscreen personal lives of the cast. Thank you.”
Well, alright then. It doesn't seem like fans' concerns are unfounded, though. One episode showed Andy hitting Kate with a rock and then berating her for it, and Kate posted on Facebook that she suffered from PTSD shortly after it was announced that Andy would be back on the show. However, Kate will be writing a book about emotional abuse in hopes that she can help other women. We'll see if National Geographic listens to its fans and removes Andy from Life Below Zero.
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About This Tool
Life Below Zero is a documentary about the living of people in the coldest area of Alaska, launched by the National Geographic Channel. Alaska has the most extreme cold living environment in the world. In winter, the local temperature can even reach minus 62 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, people will freeze to death in a few minutes, and there are also large carnivores such as brown bears.
A group of people with long traditions lives in such a cruel and unforgiving land, they are the bravest and strongest Alaskans. People need to do their best to prepare for the challenge of survival, filming a documentary in such a cold area is not simple. Here the random tool will show more behind the scenes about the great documentary Life Below Zero.
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