They make it look like what they are doing is something new. People lived off the elements for thousands of years, and still do all over the world. And most don't have modern equipment, like tractors, barges, motorboats, atvs, etc. Also, these people seem to be always having to get these machines up and running because they leave the machines out in the elements getting rusty and overgrown with weeds. They act like they are so clever and ingenious with these machines but they lack one basic thing: They don't take proper care of said equipment. Obviously none of these people have ever been in the military because if they had been, they would understand this rule. HEY KILCHERS...TAKE PROPER CARE OF YOUR MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT AND THEY WILL LAST A LONG LONG TIME! DUH! These people are embarrassing. No one is forcing you to live like this. Not impressed!

How many "cattle drives" and "hunting and fishing for survival" can Discovery milk from this show? I used to love this show due to the family dynamic. I loved the way the relationships between the Kilchers were not always flowery but that human emotions would erupt and then the family would work it out. But now it is just hard to watch the same themes play out every season. I think the biggest put-off for me is the narrating. I dislike the way that moments are made up to be more dramatic than they actually are (e.g., hunting for survival, the flare and how much "danger" the girls were in, the fake predator threats, etc). I do like Eivan's projects. I do like the Christmas gift making and giving. I like the idea of the homesteading lifestyle but don't act like these people don't have cell phones, a grocery store isn't nearby, other people don't live nearby, and please don't think your audience is a bunch of idiots (if you are filming someone, they are not in real danger because there is a cameraman right there with a communication device and don't forget about the rules and regulations about filming safety). Don't Bear Grylls me again Discovery.

Go to google earth and look up Kilcher road, Homer. Ak. You can then spot their houses. There is even a Kilcher tour on trip adviser They are less than an hour away from a safeway and Homer, Ak. a popular tourist town. They are rural, yes, but not at all cut off from the outside world. Maybe the grandfather was a pioneer but these people are not Their neighbors post this about them all the time if you bother to go look. I think that Life below Zero shows people who are really out on the edge. I first saw Sue Akins on Sarah Palins Alaska. Sha was introduced there as having The farthest out hunting camp of all and upper class alaskans knew about the place It was actually Sarah Palin who started the whole Alaske reality show craze. She was out to publicize Alaska and she did it. The Tanina river and the Brooks range are also pretty far out places so that show is more interesting. it all comes down to asking if you can put yourself it their place. Do you see yourself surviving independently out in the Alaskan wilderness? Good. Then you are hooked. I think i will limit it to taking a cruise to Alaska.

Might be a good satire, these folks have more equipment than most townships and villages in AK. I'm sorry to say, holding your thumb on top of a piece of firewood you are going to strike with an axe shows a real lack of common sense! I know several people in the lower 48 who would make a better show, and wouldn't have to plan special events to keep the camera crew happy, that is if the crew could handle the job! Almost every family in rural America back in the 50's had it worse than these folks. P.S. and yes, AXE is spelled AXE! And in order to post a review there must be a 10 lines of text!