Culture
Jackson County Man to Appear on History Channel’s “Alone”
By: Jeremiah Shaver | Jackson County Times-Journal
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A Jackson County man will appear on The History Channel’s new television series entitled, ALONE, which challenges 10 people to survive in the harsh wilderness of Vancouver Island.
Among the 10 survivalists, who are completely separated from one another in a harsh, unforgiving terrain to hunt, build shelter and fend off big predators, is 32-year-old Josh Chavez, of Jackson.
Chavez, a Police Officer for the Wellston Police Department, considers himself a natural leader, and with his job, he’s given the chance to test those leadership skills on a daily basis.
When he’s not in uniform, he excels as an avid hunter, with bushcraft and survival skills developed through practice and a number of wilderness courses.
“Last man standing wins, that’s the bottom line,” stated Chavez. “This is a whole new level of survival and we are trying to film it. As far as the competition goes, I honestly think I have a shot at winning.”
Chavez added, “It’s the type of thing you see on the news, where a guy gets lost in the woods, but we are purposely doing it.”
Chavez’s passion for outdoor self-reliance started in childhood with hunting. He soon realized how closely bushcraft skills were tied to the sport and his interest took off from there.
For Chavez, braving the wild of Vancouver Island is about the greatest test of the skills he’s been crafting for years. Although his greatest fear is leaving his family behind (including a pregnant wife, his daughter and son) he has always been a person to look danger in the eyes and is eager to see if his training as a police officer and outdoorsman will be enough for him to survive in such a rugged natural environment.
Chavez explained, “One of the initial reasons that I even wanted to come, was because I wanted to show my son someday, that if he wants something that he needs to try for it.”
The 10-episode series places ten survivalists alone in the Vancouver Island wilderness with no camera crew, no team and no producers, on a single mission to stay alive. At stake is $500,000 awarded to the person who can last the longest.
The 10 people will be carrying only what they can fit in a backpack. They will face extreme isolation and psychological distress as they plunge into the unknown, self-documenting their experience.
The History Channel will premiere ALONE on Thursday, June 18, at 10 p.m. To see a sneak peek video of what the show is about, visit www.history.com/shows/alone or check out the video at www.timesjournal.com.