American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 152 The Championship! Choosing Ten Pieces of Equipment (Multiple Images, 6k Files, Requesting Monthly Tickets!)
(This chapter is a must-read for wilderness adventurers!)
Early October signals the approaching start of Alaska's long winter.

Life in the woodland has entered a peaceful yet fulfilling family rhythm.

That afternoon, Lin Yu'an was with Ailiya, playing with two crawling children in the warm living room.

Ethan and Olivia were already crawling, full of curiosity about the world. They chased Whiskey and Honey's wagging tails on the carpet, giggling from time to time.

Suddenly, the laptop connected to the Starlink network emitted a crisp email notification tone.

Lin Yu'an glanced at the sender and raised an eyebrow slightly.

The sender was Mark, the executive producer of the Wilderness Solitary series.

The email subject was simple, containing only one sentence: "Lin, you have one month left. You can start preparing now."

"The attached file contains detailed rules. Please take a look. Give me a reply as soon as possible, don't keep me waiting too long."

"—Your old friend, Mark."

After reading the email, Lin Yu'an revealed a smile full of fighting spirit.

Lin Yu'an opened the PDF attachment titled "Wilderness Solitary Life: The Frozen Throne Contestant Equipment and Safety Agreement".

He projected the document onto the huge TV in the living room, and he and Arya studied it carefully together.

[Summary of Core Rules for Warcraft III: Solitary Survival of the Wilderness - The Frozen Throne]

I. Participants must bring their own equipment.
"In this championship, all contestants must provide their own clothing and 10 survival tools. The production team will conduct a rigorous inspection, measurement, and de-branding process on all self-provided equipment before departure to ensure fairness."

Appendix 1: Standardized Clothing Procurement List
Category 1: Outerwear (3 items in total)
Heavy-duty parka x 1 piece: The exterior must be made of fully waterproof seam-sealed fabric, and the filling must be goose down with a fill power of no less than 800 or equivalent synthetic fiber cotton. The applicable temperature rating is below -40°C.

Waterproof rain jacket x 1 piece: Must be made of three-layer taped fabric.

Waterproof waterproof rain pants x 1 piece: Requirements as above.

Category 2: Intermediate insulation layer (2 pieces in total)
Fleece or wool sweater x 1 piece: must be a heavy-duty size weighing no less than 400 grams.

Long-sleeved thermal top x 1 piece: material limited to wool or equivalent polypropylene fiber.

Category 3: Inner layer (5 pieces in total)
Long-sleeved thermal underwear x 2 pieces: one medium weight and one lightweight weight.

Thermal long underwear x 2: Same specifications as above.

T-shirt x 1 piece: Wool or quick-drying material only, pure cotton is strictly prohibited.

Category 4: Trousers (2 pairs)
Outdoor trousers x 2: one limited to heavy-duty canvas or Cordura abrasion-resistant fabric, and the other limited to four-way stretch softshell fabric.

Category 5: Shoes and socks (6 pairs in total)
One pair of high-top waterproof hiking boots.

One pair of polar cold-weather boots: Must have a removable inner liner and be suitable for temperatures below -50°C.

4 pairs of wool socks: wool content must be no less than 80%.

Category 6: Accessories (4 items in total)
One warm winter hat.

1 hat with a brim.

One neck scarf or multi-functional headscarf.

Two pairs of gloves: one pair of thick, warm, and windproof gloves, and one pair of flexible and durable work gloves.

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Appendix II: List of 10 Optional Survival Tools Approved

On the screen, a huge list divided into five categories took up the entire television screen.

Category 1: Shelters
1. Waterproof tarpaulin: limited to 1 piece, with a size not exceeding 3.6 meters x 3.6 meters.

2. Ground cover/small waterproof tarpaulin: limited to 1 piece, with a size not exceeding 3 meters x 3 meters.

3. Sleeping bag: 1 only, applicable temperature rating must be above -40 degrees Celsius, and total weight must not exceed 7 catties.

4. Sleeping mat: 1 per person, non-inflatable, material limited to closed-cell foam.

5. Hammock: Limited to 1, standard size.

Category 2: Cutting tools
1. Axe: Limited to 1 axe, with a total length not exceeding 75 cm and a weight not exceeding 2 catties.

2. Saw: Only 1 saw is allowed, and the blade length must not exceed 60 cm.

3. Survival knife: Limited to 1 knife, blade length must not exceed 30 cm, and it must not be double-edged.

4. Multi-tool: Limited to 1, must be a commercially available standard model.

5. Large machete: Limited to 1, blade length must not exceed 45 cm.

6. Carpentry chisel: 1 piece only, standard size.

Category 3: Fire starters and cooking utensils

1. Flint and steel set: Limited to 1 set, the magnesium rod must not exceed 20 cm in length.

2. Waterproof matches: limited to 1 box, with a maximum quantity of 200 matches.

3. Lighters: Limited to 2, standard size disposable lighters.

4. Metal pot: limited to 1, with a lid, and the volume shall not exceed 2 liters.

5. Small frying pan: 1 only, with a diameter not exceeding 25 cm.

Category 4: Hunting and Fishing

1. Longbow or recurve bow: limited to 1 bow, with bowstring tension not exceeding 27 kg.

2. Matching arrows: limited to 9, standard hunting arrowheads.

3. Slingshot: 1 slingshot, with 30 standard steel balls and 1 set of spare rubber bands.

4. Tripping wire: limited to 1 roll, with a total length not exceeding 270 meters.

5. Barbed net: Limited to 1 piece, with a size not exceeding 3.6 meters x 1.2 meters.

6. Fishing kit: Limited to 1 set, including fishing line with a total length not exceeding 270 meters and 25 barbless hooks.

Category 5: Other/Auxiliary
1. Paracord: Limited to 1 bundle, with a total length not exceeding 90 meters.

2. Climbing rope: 1 rope only, with a total length not exceeding 10 meters.

3. Solid rations: limited to 1 serving, with a total weight not exceeding 2 jin (1 catties).

4. Seasonings: limited to 1 serving, such as 1 jin of salt or 1 jin of sugar.

5. Whetstone: 1 piece only, standard size.

6. Candles: Limited to 2.

7. Shovel/Entrenching tool: 1 per person, folding type.

8. One book: limited to one book, not related to survival skills.

9. Mosquito net/head net: 1 per unit.

10. Adhesive tape: 1 roll only, standard size.

11. Iron wire: limited to 1 roll, 30 meters.

12. Sewing needle and thread kit: 1 per kit.

13. Scottish auger: 1.5 meters maximum.

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II. Equipment provided by the program team
"To ensure the absolute safety of all contestants, the following [safety and emergency equipment] will be provided by the production team. Contestants are strictly prohibited from carrying or modifying their own equipment. This equipment is strictly prohibited from being used for any survival activities except in emergencies."

Hiking backpack x1 set: Large capacity backpack.

Wild Animal Defense Kit x ​​1 set: Bear spray, flare gun (with flare and noise grenades).

One personal first aid kit: contains 37 medical supplies listed in the inventory.

Emergency Communications and Positioning x 1 set: Satellite phone, Personal Positioning Beacon (PLB).

Shooting and recording equipment x 1 set: HD action camera, spare battery, memory card, etc.

Other emergency supplies x 3: whistle, signal mirror, waterproof notebook and pencil.

Looking at the densely packed and restrictive list, Arya felt immense pressure.

She pointed at the screen and said, "My God, this is so difficult! Among the cutting tools, an axe, a saw, and a knife are almost essential, which makes up three of them."

"We also need to bring flint and steel and a pot to start a fire and boil water, which is another item. That already uses up five slots!"

“In a damp and cold place like Labrador, a high-quality sleeping bag is crucial for survival, and this is another spot available.”

"To get food, you need at least one of the following: fishing line, hook, or tripwire. That leaves only three spots! Waterproof cloth, rope, whetstone, bow and arrow... there aren't enough to go around!"

This is the greatest charm of "Living Alone in the Wilderness"—it tests more than just the contestants' wilderness survival skills.

Furthermore, before setting off, based on their understanding of the target environment, the contestants made strategic choices regarding their plans.

Arya was struggling with this difficult choice, but she noticed that Lin Yu'an was just looking at the list calmly, with no sign of difficulty in his eyes, but rather a gleam of excitement.

He walked up to the television and said to Arya, "Darling, the requirements for the equipment this time are more precise and stricter."

"Look, dear."

He first pointed to the option 【Seasoning: 1 pound of salt】.

"The first time I was at Lake Chirco, I brought salt to replenish electrolytes, but this time, on the Labrador coastline, the situation was completely different."

"The sea is my inexhaustible salt mine. I only need to use my metal pot to repeatedly boil and evaporate the seawater to easily obtain high-quality sea salt."

Then Lin Yu'an's finger landed on the two options: [Fishing Set] and [Tripwire].

"Labrador's coastline and inland rivers and lakes are extremely rich in fishery resources. This 270-meter fishing line and 25 hooks can not only be used for hand fishing, but I can also use them to make longline fishing, setting multiple hooks at once for passive fishing."

"As for tripwire, I can choose annealed steel tripwire, which is extremely soft and allows me to make the most sensitive snares to reliably capture snowshoe hares and grouse. It is my most reliable source of protein on land."

"This time, because the release is in early winter, the time is very tight, so I didn't plan to hunt large prey from the beginning. I will focus on obtaining food from small animals."

"Moreover, I have a feeling that the area chosen by the production team this time won't have a large game resource. So, my food strategy this time is to use fishing in the water and traps on land, combining active and passive approaches."

"Therefore, my choice is simple."

Lin Yu'an picked up a pen and wrote down his final decision in his notebook:
1. Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering MF -40°C
2. Saw: Agwa Canyon Boreal 24 frame saw

3. Survival Knife: Ace No. 6

4. Metal cookware: MSR Seagull 1.9L stainless steel pot

5. Magnesium Rod: Light My Fire (Military Version)

6. Axe: Granforth Scandinavian Forest Axe
7. Fishing kit: 270 meters of 8-strand Dyneema PE braided line, 25 different sizes of Gamma Katz octopus hooks.

8. Waterproof Fabric: Aqua Quest, 3.6x3.6 meter heavy-duty waterproof fabric
9. Tripping wire: Professional grade 22 annealed steel wire

10. Recurve Bow and Arrow Set: Samick Sage Traditional Recurve Bow + 9 Carbon Arrows (with replaceable G5 Hunting Arrows)
After selecting the equipment, he looked at Arya and said, "Honey, you'll probably have to take care of the baby by yourself for the next few days."

"I need to go to Fairbanks to buy all the equipment."

"No problem, go ahead. Make sure you choose the best equipment, don't worry about the price." Arya gave him a supportive hug.

The next morning, Lin Yu'an drove his Ford Expedition SUV and set off for Fairbanks.

His first stop after arriving in Fairbanks was a large chain outdoor store where he purchased basic clothing and high-top waterproof boots.

Then we arrived at an Arc'teryx flagship store located in a high-end commercial area in the city center, with a very stylish interior design.

He walked into the store and said directly to the manager, "I need your most senior equipment consultant. I have a very long shopping list."

In the VIP reception room, Lin Yu'an took out the costume purchase list from the production team.

The equipment consultant was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties and had a lot of experience.

He looked at the extremely stringent requirements on the list and nodded: "Sir, your requirements are very professional. To meet all these conditions, only our brand's top-of-the-line Alpha and Beta series can do it, and this set is quite expensive."

As Lin Yu'an spoke, he took out a black card with a special code from his wallet and handed it over: "Please verify my identity first."

The manager took the card, entered the code into the computer system, and the information that popped up on the screen instantly made his expression become extremely respectful.

He immediately stood up and respectfully returned the card to him: "I'm very sorry, I didn't know it was you. You are our highest-level brand ambassador, and all your equipment will be provided by us free of charge."

Over the next hour, Lin Yu'an, like a general inspecting his troops, meticulously added one powerful suit of armor after another to his expedition list.

"I want a heavy parka, the kind from LEAF, the kind that's -50 degrees Celsius."

"Windproof jacket and pants, Alpha SV series, in the latest Storm Grey color."

"In addition to the shoes on the list, I also need a pair of your Acrux AR hiking boots as a backup."

"Okay, Mr. Lin, all the items will be packed for you shortly, and we will notify you when it's time to pick them up."

Having solved the clothing problem, Lin Yu'an then went to Fairbanks' largest professional fishing and hunting supplies store.

He did not choose those flashy "collaboration" or "masterpiece" designs.

Instead, they chose brands that had been proven countless times by professional guides and veteran hunters to be the most durable and reliable.

“An axe. I need a Scandinavian Forest axe from Graves. The back of the axe must be hardened, the kind that can be used as a hammer.”

"A saw, a Boreal 24 frame saw from Agwa Canyon, and two spare saw blades."

"Survival knife, Ace's No. 6 knife, made of 1095 high carbon steel, the one with the K sheath."

"The gillnets and fishing kits must meet the highest regulatory standards, the line must be the best Dyneema braided line, and the hooks must be Gamakatsu."

……

When Lin Yu'an loaded all the brand-new, top-of-the-line equipment he had purchased into his Ford Conqueror and returned to the Wood Forest, Aria was already waiting at the door.

Together, they spread out a huge moisture-proof cloth on the floor and took out these "comrades-in-arms" that would accompany Lin Yu'an for fifty days, one by one, for a final sorting.

Arya used stickers to completely cover the "Fossil Bird" logo, as required by the production team for "de-branding".

Lin Yu'an, meanwhile, used a top-grade Japanese whetstone to sharpen his Ace Survival Knife and Granforth Forest Axe to an unparalleled edge, the blades gleaming with a chilling light under the lamp.

He packed all his equipment into the standard mountaineering backpacks provided by the production team, categorizing them accordingly.

Looking at the backpack filled with top-tier equipment, the worry in Arya's eyes was finally replaced by complete relief.

She knew that her man was ready to go to war again.

This time, he will face the challenge of the frozen throne with the demeanor of an absolute king!

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As November approaches, Lin Yu-an's participation in the main team filming tasks of this season of "Life Below Zero" has come to a successful conclusion.

Executive producer Richard Prost personally flew from Los Angeles to the cold Fairbanks to meet with Lin Yu-an.

They will conduct their final project review of the quarter and visit Lin Yu-an's log cabin and the town of Wiesman.

Beside the warm fireplace in Lin Yu'an's wooden cabin, Richard looked at the man in front of him, who was even more capable and composed than he had been six months ago, and his face was full of undisguised admiration.

“Lin, I must say, you exceeded my expectations.” Richard swirled the whiskey in his hand, the ice cubes clinking together.

"I've seen all the footage David sent back, it's fantastic! Absolutely fantastic!"

David added, his tone brimming with the excitement of being a director: "Yes, Richard, especially about building log cabins and helping each other in the neighborhood."

"That collaborative scene is something I've never seen in all my years of filming reality shows! It's real, powerful, and full of humanity's shared struggle against nature!"

Richard nodded: “You have not only accomplished all the goals we initially set—integrating into the community and building a home—you have done even more.”

"You've built genuine friendships with the locals and conducted community-shared hunts, perfectly embodying the spirit of mutual assistance in Alaska."

"You even...you even managed to grow fresh vegetables in that godforsaken place!"

He leaned forward, his tone becoming more excited: "Do you know what this means? We originally just wanted to make a hardcore survival story."

"But you have given us a grander narrative composed of multiple elements about home, community, and unity!"

"This has transcended the typical reality show; it's a true documentary about how humans help each other in extreme environments!"

"I just did what I was supposed to do, and I also owe a lot to the help of my neighbors," Lin Yu'an replied calmly.

“No, you’ve done far more than that.” Richard shook his head.

"Our post-production team has edited a standalone, three-episode special of the Woodland for you."

"We have a feeling that when it airs next February, you and your family will be the brightest stars in the entire series!"

Richard's emotions gradually calmed down, and he then talked about the subsequent cooperation.

"Lin, our team has finished filming. The next winter will mainly focus on documenting your family's daily life under the polar night."

"We won't send a filming team for this part; the cost would be too high."

"We will provide you with more professional handheld cameras and drones suitable for use in low-temperature environments, so you can record it yourself."

He added, "If you capture high-quality footage that we deem valuable, such as hunting or aurora outbursts, we will still provide additional bonuses for that footage, as per the previous agreement."

“As for the next season,” Richard’s eyes became sincere.

"It's too early to talk about contract renewal now. Everything depends on the market response after the broadcast next year. You know, we have a total of eight families."

"If the audience response is extremely enthusiastic and your ratings are far ahead, then a higher-paying, longer-term contract will be offered to you immediately."

"But if the response is lukewarm, we may have to consider renewing our contracts with a pay cut, or... finding a new family. That's business, you know."

Lin Yu'an nodded. He had expected this and didn't care. Even if he couldn't participate in the next season, the friendship he gained from this land would not change.

After her meeting with Richard, Lin Yu'an's life finally slowed down for the first time.

But his communication devices were busier than ever before.

In particular, Lao Mao from Bilibili bombarded Lin Yu'an's inbox with emails and WeChat messages almost daily.

"Brother! My dear brother! My good brother! It's been more than half a year! If you don't update soon, my Bilibili account will be overgrown with weeds!"

"My fans are sending me private messages every day asking if I've been eaten by a bear!"

"Footage! Footage! Anything is fine with me! Even footage of you driving a loader digging through the dirt will do!"

Lin Yu'an looked at these messages urging him to update, feeling both amused and exasperated.

He communicated with the "Life Below Zero" program team again, and their attitude was very clear.

They hope that Lin Yu-an can keep all the core content filmed in Alaska a secret before the show officially airs in February next year, so as not to affect the ratings of the premiere.

He explained the situation in detail during a video call with Lao Mao.

"Brother An, I understand." The old cat on the other end of the video call was not disappointed at all, but instead slapped his thigh excitedly.

"This is great! Absolutely great! What's this called? This is called scarcity marketing! They're holding back a big move, ready to unleash a devastating bombshell!"

"Brother An, listen to me."

"Once the program airs in the US next February, we'll act simultaneously!"

"We'll re-edit and add music to all your footage of building a house, and we'll make a documentary that's several hours long!"

"The title will be 'I Build a Wooden House in the Far North'!"

"This time, we're not just releasing it on Bilibili! We're launching it simultaneously on all platforms! YouTube, TikTok international version... we're doing a global launch!"

"By leveraging the popularity of the established program 'Zero Degrees,' coupled with your unique and hardcore content, this will absolutely ignite video platforms worldwide!"

"What we're going to do is a truly global strategy! Then, you won't just be 'Uncle' on Bilibili, but 'Uncle' all over the world!"

Listening to Lao Mao's passionate blueprint, Lin Yu'an's interest was also ignited; this was indeed an excellent opportunity.

Lin Yu'an sent the materials to Lao Mao via encrypted cloud storage, and told him to keep the contents confidential and not to leak them in advance, otherwise everyone would be in legal trouble.

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(It's in today's bestseller selection, so I'll be updating with about 2.5 words~~~)

(I can practically beg for monthly votes while standing up!!)
(End of this chapter)