The Alaska Experiment - a Survival Show You'll Actually Want to Watch

In The Alaska Experiment, a new show on the Discovery Channel, four groups of people are left in the Alaskan wilderness to see how well they can survive the elements. Since it's premier in April, 2008, the show has created quite a fan base.

The show is set-up similar to Survivor, but it's much more believable, and the scenery is breathtaking. It's a nice change from the usual tropical, beach backdrop that normally accompanies such television shows. In fact, the beautiful Alaskan wilderness can steal the spotlight at times - it's a sight many don't get the opportunity to view often, which makes it the perfect site for this down-to-earth reality show.

The volunteers on the show range in age, body type, professions, and experience. The four groups are divided into camps, titled Camp Flower Lake, Hawkins Glacier, Camp Back Bay, and Riou Point. The camps are set at different locations, and everyday each volunteer must engage in some kind of activity in order to survive. Sometimes, walking is the hardest part. The conditions in which they are forced to work create problems a viewer might not expect.

The idea behind the show is that not everyone involved will be able to survive the cold. Even the camera crew has to be up for the challenge - filming in the Alaskan bush has been likened to trying to film on Mount Everest. Because the temperatures easily dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, both the participants and the equipment had to be prepared. It's for these reasons that the show has gained respect from its fan base; it actually requires common sense to be a participant, and the raw elements shine through in each episode.

So even though each and every person involved in the show were given homing devices called EPIRBS, whiteouts and disorientation were common problems. Another worry was bears - believe it or not, it was a serious worry for the cast and crew. For every time a group traveled a certain distance beyond their camp, they had to be accompanied by an expert who carried a firearm weapon as a precaution. In short: the danger in Alaska was real, which is why it's so entertaining!

For viewers who enjoy Survivor, but want a little bit more bite, The Alaska Experiment is for you. Try starting out with the first episode in the series, titled "Into the Wilds", followed by "What Did We Get Ourselves Into?"

If you want a quick taste as to what the show is all about, try watching the episode called "Hunt or Be Hunted", as it's a good demonstration of the volunteers, and what the show is really all about.

The Alaska Experiment is also extremely interactive. If you're the type of viewer who likes to connect with other fans, or enjoy reading what the cast and crew are thinking, Discovery Channel makes it easy on their website. The Alaska Experiment homepage features diaries, forums, and behind the scenes information. After watching each of the episodes, one feels like they know each and every one of the volunteers, because it can be extremely emotional. For more information, visit the Discovery Channel website, at http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/alaska/alaska-week.html