Life Below Zero is a reality television show that prides itself on portraying what life is like up in the cold, Alaskan wilderness. The show follows several individuals and families who make their living in a part of the world where most people would never consider stepping foot in. The cast members battle the elements and the wildlife as they forge a life in the frozen tundra.
While Life Below Zero claims to be totally transparent with viewers, it seems that they are holding some facts about the show and the cast members back. Here are some interesting things that took place behind the scenes of Life Below Zero that weren't supposed to come to light.
16 Chip Hailstone Spent Some Time In The Clink
Chip Hailstone landed in some hot water back in 2012 for lying to law endorsements. His poor choice resulted in a fifteen-month jail sentence. Chip, of course, has his own spin on the events, saying that there is much more to the story of his sentencing, but none of that helped in reducing his sentence time.
15 Hailstone Also Might Have Exploited His Wife's Heritage
Chip Hailstone is not a native Inupiaq; thus, he has no rights to the land or anything on it. His wife and children, on the other hand, certainly do retain their rights. Many have criticized Chip for exploiting his native family members for the sake of the show.
14 Sue Aikens Sued For A Stunt Gone Wrong
Show star Sue Aikens tried to sue show producer Aaron Mellman. She claimed that Mellman put her in very dangerous situations on more than one occasion. One of the situations resulted in an injury to Sue. On top of the injury, Mellman refused to airlift Sue to a hospital.
13 The Show Might Be Heavily Scripted
The show, like many other reality television shows, has come under fire for being scripted. Much of what we see is organically occurring, but some is guided by writers and producers. These behind the scenes folk sometimes direct cast members in what they say and do.
12 Feeding Foxes Is A Law Breaking Action
According to Alaskan law, it is illegal for any human to go around feeding the wildlife. Sue Aikens, who notoriously marches to the beat of her own drum, has been known to ignore such laws. She has fed the little foxes around her camp on many occasions.
11 Batteries Are Kept Warm By Getting Taped To Human Bodies
Filming shows like this one sure have their fair share of setbacks and challenges. One of those challenges is keeping all the equipment running in below zero temperatures. One strategy that the crew has adopted is strapping items like camera batteries to their bodies and using their own heat to ward off freezing.
10 The Show Makes The Hailstones Look More Isolated Than They Truly Are
Life Below Zeromakes life at the Hailston cottage look very isolated. While they do live in Noorvik, Alaska, a town of only six hundred people, they aren't that far off the grid. Noorvik is only about sixty miles away from Kotzebue, which happens to be the largest town in Northwest Alaska.
9 Fans Weren't Thrilled Over Andy's Return
For Andy and his wife Kate, life in Alaska's isolation did nothing but cause problems in their union. It's reported that Andy was less than kind to his bride, and she eventually up and left him and the wilderness. Andy returned to the show, sans Kate, but not everyone was thrilled over his return.
8 Glen Lost It With A Camera Man
Not everyone who stars on this show can keep their cool. Glenn once became so agitated with a new cameraman in the field, that he chased him away in the middle of the night. Glenn admits to this encounter, saying that he could no longer tolerate the newbie.
7 Bear Encounters Have Happened
Even with every precaution put in place, the cast and crew sometimes find that they are not at the top of the Alaskan food chain. Wild animal encounters have happened, and more than one person has come nearly face-to-face with predators like Grizzly bears.
Related: 15 Things Even The Biggest Gold Rush Fans Don't Know About The Show
6 Creative Lavatory Alternatives Sometimes Get Used
When the Alaskan temperatures drop far below zero, creature comforts like functioning potties are no longer available to those filming the show. The cast and crew have been known to get pretty creative in the lavatory department, often using buckets of water in place of toilets.
5 Bumps, Bruises, And Broken Bones Are Common Occurrences
Living up in the most rugged extreme conditions that planet Earth has to offer can result in plenty of bumps and bruises. Those who appear on Life Below Zero have endured plenty of falls through ice, broken bones, and other varying injuries while filming the show.
Related: 20 Of The Strangest Facts About Alaskan Bush People
4 The Cameras Freeze Up Pretty Frequently
Trying to gather footage to compile an entire series in forty below temps is no easy feat. When the weather turns, the LCD screens on the cameras freeze up pretty quickly, causing the film crew to work fast and get every possible shot that they can.
3 The Show Cast Members Get Some Nasty Kickback From Locals
Not everyone is a huge fan of Life Below Zero, and many local Alaskans have voiced their complaints regarding the show. Some native Alaskans claim that the show over-exaggerates components of Alaskan life and veers too far from what actually takes place in the wilderness.
Related: Ice Road Truckers: 20 Facts Every Fan Keeps Ignoring
2 Amazon Actually Delivers To Certain Locations
When watching Life Below Zero, we see the cast members chopping their own wood, building their own structures, and foraging for food. What we don't see are the Amazon delivery packages arriving at their home. Amazon delivers to many towns in Alaska, including little Wiseman.
1 The Cast Members' Contracts Are Very Tight
Producers of this series have made sure that contracts are iron-clad. Sue Aikens found this out the hard way when she attempted to receive compensation for injuries that she sustained during filming. The minds behind the show made sure to write everything up so that they couldn't get sued by Sue.
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