Ep 4. Best Laid Plans

As the fourth season of Mountain Men progresses, the stakes continue to get higher for the people who live in the remote reaches of the country. In episode four, titled "Best Laid Plans," viewers are taken on a journey with three different individuals and families as they attempt to navigate the challenges of subsistence living.

The first storyline follows Tom Oar, a 70-year-old man who has been living off the grid in Montana for over 30 years. Tom's focus this season has been preparing for winter, and in this episode, he sets out to build a smokehouse to preserve his meat. Along the way, he faces numerous challenges, from scavenging supplies to dealing with a temperamental mule. But with his wife Nancy by his side, Tom is determined to get the smokehouse built before the snows arrive.

The second storyline features Eustace Conway, a modern-day mountain man who lives in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Eustace has been featured in previous seasons of the show, and his passion for self-sufficiency is clear in every episode. In "Best Laid Plans," Eustace sets his sights on building a new animal pen that will house his growing livestock. He enlists the help of his friend Preston to saw the logs, but as the project unfolds, Eustace realizes that the pen may need to be bigger than he initially thought.

The final storyline centers around the Kidd family, who live in the far reaches of Alaska. The Kidds have been struggling to make ends meet all season, and in this episode, they face one of their biggest challenges yet: repairing their boat engine. Without a functioning boat, the Kidds are unable to catch fish or travel to town for supplies, so getting the engine up and running becomes a top priority. But with the nearest mechanic hundreds of miles away, the Kidds must rely on their own ingenuity to make the necessary repairs.

As always, Mountain Men delivers a mix of adventure, drama, and humor in this episode. Viewers get a glimpse into the day-to-day challenges faced by individuals who choose to live off the land, from dealing with stubborn animals to braving the elements. But what sets the show apart is the sense of community among the mountain men and women - even though they live far from civilization, they rely on each other for support and help when needed.

Overall, "Best Laid Plans" is a strong episode that highlights the resilience and determination of the people featured on the show. Whether it's Tom Oar battling a cantankerous mule or the Kidd family banding together to fix their boat engine, these are individuals who are willing to do whatever it takes to survive in the wild. And in a world that seems increasingly disconnected from nature, their stories are a reminder of the power of self-reliance and the rewards of living close to the land.