Alone Season 8 — Chilko Lake, British Columbia
Episode 2: Open Season
Aired June 10, 2021 — season context, cast standings and the gear decisions behind the week.
What this episode covers
Contestants adjust to the demanding alpine terrain, working to fish and forage while establishing sustainable routines. Tim Madsen struggles with anxiety and chest pains early on, a strain that proves difficult to overcome.
Season 8 started with 10 participants, 10 of whom have recorded day counts in our dataset. Clay Hayes took the season at 74 days.
Episode breakdown
Left with anxiety and chest pains
Contestants still in the field after this episode: 9 of 10.
Who was out there
Clay HayesKendrick, Idaho, United States74 days · Winner
10 items: Sleeping bag, Pot, Axe, Saw…
Biko WrightOtis, Oregon, United States73 days · Tapped out
10 items: Pot, Sleeping bag, Ferro rod, Multitool…
Theresa Emmerich KamperExeter, England, United Kingdom69 days · Medical pull
10 items: Sleeping bag, Pot, Knife, Saw…
Colter BarnesInian Islands, Alaska, United States67 days · Medical pull
10 items: Sleeping bag, Pot, Axe, Saw…
Rose Anna MooreWellsboro, Pennsylvania, United States37 days · Medical pull
10 items: Bow and arrows, Sleeping bag, Multitool, Fishing line and hooks…
Nate WeberEast Jordan, Michigan, United States24 days · Tapped out
10 items: Sleeping bag, Ferro rod, Knife, Saw…
Matt CorradinoSt. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands22 days · Tapped out
10 items: Sleeping bag, Ferro rod, Knife, Saw…
Michelle FinnCherryfield, Maine, United States21 days · Tapped out
10 items: Sleeping bag, Pot, Ferro Rod, Multitool…
Jordon BellOak Ridge, Tennessee, United States19 days · Tapped out
10 items: Sleeping bag, Ferro rod, Pot, Axe…
Tim MadsenLaramie, Wyoming, United States6 days · Medical pull
10 items: Sleeping bag, Pot, Ferro rod, Bow and arrows…
Keep going
Explore more Alone coverage
- About the showFormat, rules, prize, medical checks & FAQ.
- ContestantsEvery contestant, every season — searchable.
- Gear on AloneApproved 10-item categories & real-world picks.
- Seasons indexLocations, air years, winners for every season.
- LocationsEvery filming region and what makes it brutal.
- Seasons & Locations hubEvery season matched to its location, gear list & winner.
- 10-Item BuilderPick your 10 with live Alone rule enforcement.
- Alone Clothes BuilderBuild a legal Alone clothing layer set.
- Expedition Gear BuilderPlan a full layered system for your own trip.
- Winner kitsThe exact 10 items every winner brought.
- Clothes that winLayering patterns of finalists & winners.
- Approved gear listThe full official 10-item approved list.
- Winners' gearEvery winner's kit compared side-by-side.
- Alone Loadout IndexOpen, citable dataset of every winner's 10 items — free CSV.
- Season 13 hubWorld Championship cast, gear tracker & episode recaps.
- Every season & episodeAir dates, cast and breakdowns for all 13 seasons.
- Contestant DatasetEvery season, contestant, item & outcome — CSV + JSON.
- Contender quizCould you survive? Take the 5-minute quiz.
- Show rulesThe 10-item rule, medical checks, tap-out & prize.
- Gear by seasonComplete kit breakdowns for every season.
- 10-Item Builder (open)Non-Alone version — no rule enforcement.
- Readiness leaderboardSee how your quiz score stacks up.
The gear behind what you just read
Ranked lists for the exact categories that decide a season.
- Best Fixed-Blade KnivesFull-tang and stick-tang blades that earn their place around a working camp.See the ranking
- Top 10 Bushcraft & Camping AxesFrom belt hatchets to full felling axes — the working range for camp and shelter craft.See the ranking
- Top 10 Tents & Tarps for CampingShelters from bombproof mountain tents to traditional canvas wall tents.See the ranking
- Top 10 Three-Season Sleeping BagsDown and synthetic bags that cover the honest 20°F–40°F working range.See the ranking
- Top 10 Merino Wool Base LayersNext-to-skin wool that works in real cold, real heat, and days between washes.See the ranking
- Top 10 Winter JacketsDown parkas, synthetic belay pieces, and heavy wool coats for real cold.See the ranking