By Sydney Gelb
As the most daring reality show, Alone, has seen many fall prey to the elements. We asked Clay Hayes what compelled him to take on such a challenge.
Survival shows have continued to gain popularity with the fan bases of shows like Survivor and Naked and Afraid reaching millions. But the problem with these shows, viewers have noted, is their lack of authenticity. Queue Alone; the first survival show that truly leaves contestants to fend for themselves in remote locations across the globe.
The 8th season of Alone took its contestants to Chilko Lake, British Columbia where they faced some of the roughest elements - and predators - the show has ever encountered. After 74 days, Clay Hayes emerged victorious. TheThings spoke with Clay about his experience on Alone and the driving factor behind his hunger to be the sole survivor.
How Clay Hayes Became A Successful Hunter
One of the toughest aspects of surviving in Chilko Lake was accessibility to food. Scarcity and competition with wildlife - namely grizzlies - left contestants hungry from the jump. However, it was Clay who impressed viewers with his knack for hunting. So, how did Clay become such a keen hunter?
"I suppose I’ve always been a hunter. It’s something I’ve been drawn to for as long as I can remember...I grew up on a ranch in...rural Florida, where I could spend immeasurable time in the woods close to nature. Hunting provided a way to be intimately involved in the natural world around me. "
In a day and age where many find hunting to be a barbaric sport, Clay's intimacy with the hobby provides a beautiful perspective on life that he's been able to share with his children.
"The indirect and convoluted way our food and energy get to us can lead many to think they can escape the impacts they have. But that isn’t possible. Life feeds on life and I, for one, want my children to understand what it takes to live."
While that view may be polarizing to some, a cliché reference may entice readers to truly understand Clay's message: The Lion King's song "Circle of Life." That's right, even the most magical of Disney's songs aren't always as serene and pure as one might think.
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The truth is, the circle of life includes death, and that inevitability is not something to shy away from.
Clay On Why He Applied For 'Alone'
Despite hunting's dark undertones, for Clay, the sport has proven to be beautiful and, given his Alone experience, life changing. At that, what compelled him to apply for the show?
"From the first episode of Alone I ever saw, I knew that, if I were to be on a TV show, Alone would be it. It was also a once in a lifetime opportunity...I knew it would be the hardest thing I’d ever attempted and that, through that struggle, I might learn something about myself that I might not learn otherwise."
Some folks might sit on their couches watching the show and thinking "why would anyone do this?" Clay is here to prove that even the most audacious and fearful adventures have lessons hidden within them. Living life on the edge is full of rewards if you dare peer over the cliff.
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Clay's Advice For Future Survivalists
So, what advice does he have for other aspiring outdoorsman who might have the inkling to put their survival skills to the test? Reiterating his sentiment, Clay offered the following:
"Don’t be overwhelmed by how much there is to learn. Just get outside any way you can and spend time with nature."
The growing impact of technology and its ever-present being has the tendency cast a shadow over the beauty of the nature that surrounds us. Sometimes, just like Clay, you just have to look up.
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As for venturing off on a solo journey like Alone, we wanted to know what it might take to be as successful as Clay fighting against the elements.
"Perseverance. At it’s very core, surviving in the wilderness is no different than any other difficult challenge in life. You have to have the strength to not be deterred, to put your head down and grind away at the problems in front of you. One step at a time. That’s how mountains are climbed."
Keeping with the theme of classic childhood films, one can heed Clay's message by taking the lyrical genius of Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town's famous song "Put One Foot In Front Of The Other" at face value. Life is sat right in front of you - you just have to reach out and grab it.
Catch Clay's season of Alone, now streaming on Netflix.
