Ep 5. Home Again

In the 5th episode of the 11th season of Life Below Zero, titled Home Again, we follow the daily lives of several Alaskans as they navigate the harsh winter environment.

We first meet Glenn Villeneuve, who had gone to live alone in Chandalar, Alaska. Due to unfavorable weather conditions, he had been away from his home for several months, and now, he was coming back. This time, he had to brave the cold and snow to get back to his cabin. Upon his arrival, he finds his cabin covered in an enormous amount of snow, and it takes him several hours to dig his way inside.

The episode also follows Erik Salitan, who runs an outdoor guiding and survival training business. He is helping his clients learn how to survive in the wilderness. We see Erik helping his clients to set up a camping area and prepare food in the snow-covered environment.

Additionally, we see Sue Aikens, the owner and operator of the Kavik River Camp, who lives and works among the freezing temperatures at the edge of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We see her dealing with the sudden breakdown of her snowmobile, which she needs to travel around the vast terrain. She ends up relying on a team of dogs to help her get around instead.

Andy Bassich is also featured in this episode. He and his team of sled dogs are doing what they do best, pulling heavy equipment through the snow. The harsh winter conditions pose challenges such as broken equipment and frostbite, but Andy and his dogs continue to push through.

We also see Jessie Holmes, who lives in the wilderness and uses his skills to survive. In this episode, he is shown preparing and making traps to catch his food.

Finally, the episode also focuses on the Hailstone family tribe, who live a subsistence lifestyle near the Kavik River Camp. The Hailstones, together with their children, catch fish to survive in the freezing terrain. The episode shows how the family uses traditional techniques to fish in the icy water.

Throughout the entire episode, we see the struggles and challenges that these people face living in the Alaska wilderness during winter. We see how they rely on their own skills to survive in such extreme conditions. The episode is a fascinating and educational insight into the lives of people who choose to live life below zero.