Our Heroes Have Warts. Who Knew?

Many of the awards in literature and journalism are named for men and women with warts. That is not surprising. We are all imperfect and so were they.

Joseph Pulitzer, for whom the prestigious Pulitzer Prize is named, perhaps journalism’s top recognition - is ironically, with William Randolph Hearst, the “Father of Fake News.” Their brand of “yellow journalism” spurred war and led to death and destruction.

Alfred Nobel, the namesake of literature’s top prize, made his fortune making it easier for folks to blow up both things and one another.

John Newbery,  the so-called “Father of Children’s Literature” and for whom the American Library Association’s highest children’s literature award is named, was literally a “snake oil salesman.” Newbery made his fortune selling something called “Dr. Robert Jame’s Fever Powder,” a concoction that claimed to cure the gout, rheumatism, scrofula, scurvy, leprosy, and distemper in cattle. Ironically, the powder, which was simply a mix of calcium phosphate and antimony, was a contributing factor in the death of “Miss Goody Two Shoes” author Oliver Goldsmith in 1774. Turns out antimony is a toxic substance. Oops.

Outside of the field of literature, warts abound. Washington and Jefferson owned slaves. Andrew Jackson advocated the wholesale displacement of native Americans. Woodrow Wilson was a segregationist. Babe Ruth was a drunk and womanizer.  Not to mention Mark Twain and the racist language in “Huckleberry Finn.” Twain has an annual humorist award named for him that is aired on PBS. The list goes on.

None of those substantial and obvious warts have caused society to remove their names from our towns, cities, states, monuments or awards. Nor should it. We get it. You can honor the whole of a person, warts and all, without condoning what caused the warts to appear in the first place. Good for us. We are that smart. We are that understanding and forgiving.

So it was more than a little disturbing to learn that the American Library Association, in a fit of political correctness, voted in late June to remove the name of Laura Ingalls Wilder from it’s “Children’s Literature Legacy Award.” It was an honor that had been bestowed on her in 1954 and continued every year thereafter. She didn’t ask or lobby for it. They just did it and she graciously accepted. The Wilder award is bestowed annually on an author or illustrator “whose books have made a lasting contribution to children’s literature.” It would be hard to argue that Mrs. Wilder has not done that.

The ALA board said the reason for the change was that Mrs. Wilder’s works “reflect dated cultural attitudes toward Indigenous people and people of color that contradict modern acceptance, celebration, and understanding of diverse communities.” Show me a person who was born more than 150 years ago, and I will show you “dated cultural attitudes.” Please.

The original naming of the award was appropriate. To say that Mrs. Wilder’s “Little House” books are beloved and enjoyed by millions of young people AND adults is like saying kids like ice cream. Spanning nearly a century now, the books have sold over 60 million copies in more than 100 countries.

Let’s look at the real reason Mrs. Wilder was singled out in what we already know is a pretty sorted field of notables for whom awards are named. It is because somebody wrote a book. A good book. It won a Pulitzer. Caroline Fraser’s “Prairie Fires” is excellent. I read it. I recommend it. It is the most comprehensive and exhaustive biography on Mrs. Wilder and her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. ever written. And as any biography about the pair should do, it details the warts. With no makeup.

You didn’t need a new book to tell you that Laura Ingalls Wilder harbored disturbing prejudicial views - particularly, but not exclusively, toward native Americans. All you had to do was read the books. The first one, “Little House on the Prairie” was published in 1935, nearly 20 years before they decided to name the award for her. But it is also true, if a librarian bothered to research it, that outside of the third book - the one that the television show took as the name for the series - “Little House on the Prairie” - native Americans barely merit a mention in the other eight.

But that is not the point. The award was named for Mrs. Wilder because she brought millions of young people into the world of reading. Her works made book lovers out of generations of Americans. They still do. It was then and is now an appropriate designation.

Instead of seizing this “teaching moment,” as presumably “librarians” are taught to do, the ALA Board voted instead to hide it. Poof. It’s gone. “Whew. We never have to talk about THAT again.”

Wouldn’t it have been better to explain Mrs. Wilder’s prejudices, which were born of the very real horrors and fears of 19th century settler-native American conflict? Imagine the opportunity to reach thousands of young people engrossed in her writings to explain how biases are birthed and, unfortunately, nurtured.

Wouldn’t it have been better to name a new award for one or more of the many fine native American authors and poets? Sherman Alexie, Leslie Marmon Silko, and N Scott Momaday, winner of both the Pulitizer Prize and the National Medals of Art, come to mind to name just a few. And perhaps if his second, third, fourth and fifth novels are anything like his stunning debut in “There, There,” Tommy Orange might merit an award. The “Tommy Orange Award” has a ring to it.

After announcing the Wilder name change, the ALA Board said it would now ”examine our other awards and let us know if there are others that require further review.” The “Geisel Award” named for Dr. Seuss author Ted Geisel was specifically targeted. Please don’t. Leave it alone. Create new awards. Explain the current ones. Teach.

I do not personally know any of the members of the ALA Board, but they must be pretty amazing to be the “first stone casters.” Presumably they are without warts.

Sometimes you win, Sometimes you lose ...

And some games get rained out. But you dress for every game.

Ok. So it is not possible for me to have been more wrong about my predictions for Alone Show Season 5. I had Carleigh Fairchild winning the whole thing.

I forgot to factor in freak accidents and fish hooks. But as Sam Larson tweeted at me later: Carleigh was a good choice. "Carleigh is a beast," Sam said. She was just the wrong choice. I hope they let her come back again for a third try. And Carleigh did finish third in this online web poll taken before the show: https://www.offgridweb.com/survival/poll-alone-season-5-who-will-survive-longest/

So now I have to revise my predictions. I am not sure I learned anything from the first episode that would inform or change my thinking (except now I am certain Carleigh will not win). We definitely do not know anything new about Larry Roberts and Brooke Whipple as they did not even make an appearance in the first episode. Alone Show fandom will not be happy if they are not featured prominently tonight and in coming weeks. They are definitely favorites.

Another fan favorite - Nicole Apelian WAS on the first episode a lot. She was back to her old ways of chasing down strange, terrifying creatures in a foreign  land. My reaction to strange noises in the wilderness would be to build a large fire and cower behind it, probably with an ax. (Yes, that's right, it would be one of my 10 items. I am not going into the wilderness without an ax. I did not even sleep in my Boy Scout summer camp tent without an ax underneath my pillow.)

Here are my updated predictions:

Larry Roberts 88 Days (Winner)

Jesse Bosdell 80 Days

Brooke Whipple 72 Days

Dave Nessia 60 Days

Nicole Apelian 45 Days

Sam Larson 43 Days

Randy Champagne 40 Days

Britt Ahart 38 Days

Brad Richardson 15 Days

Carleigh Fairchild (Tapped Out Day 6)

Alone Show Season Five Predictions

History Channel’s Alone Show returns on Thursday in a later time slot (10pm Eastern) with Season 5 and an all-star cast. Here is my assessment of the 10 contestants and my predictions on how long they will last. I give my pick for the winner as well.

I also include which season they participated in, how long they lasted, each contestants “10 Items” as well as twitter handles for those who are on twitter. The descriptions are those included on the History Channel’s webpage.

Sam Larson

Twitter: @samexplores

Season One/55 Days

Age: 25

Lincoln, NE

Wilderness Skills Instructor

Sam Larson is an author and outdoor educator from Lincoln, Nebraska. As an educator, Sam teaches wilderness living classes on everything from animal processing to canoeing.  Since his 55 days on season one of Alone, Sam has added two new members to his family. His son, born shortly after his return from Vancouver Island, is now a 2 year-old that enjoys exploring the woods just as much as his dad. His daughter was born just days before he left for Mongolia. In his free time Sam enjoys writing and spending time with his family. His goal is to learn the ways of this Mongolian wilderness with an open mind, pursuing whatever it may teach him.

Here are the ten items Sam selected to bring on his survival journey to Mongolia:

1. Saw

2. Axe

3. Pot (the kind you cook with!)

4. Ferro rod

5. Multitool

6. Food Ration

7. Food Ration

8. Sleeping bag

Paracord

10. Trapping wire

My Prediction: Look for early signs in weeks one and two and that will tell you how long Sam will last. If he tries to get away with a flapping tarp for a shelter in what is to be a brutal Mongolian winter, he will not last. I think bring both an axe and a saw is an indication he learned his lesson and I predict Sam will last six weeks or so and be the third or fourth contestant to leave. His 10 items include TWO food rations, one of only two contestants to do that, and NO fishing equipment and NO bow and arrow. Foraging (not one of his strengths in Season One and trapping will be his only means of acquiring food).

Nicole Apelian

Twitter: @NicoleApelian

Season Two/57 days

Age: 48

Raymond, WA

Wilderness Living Skills Instructor

Nicole’s passions range from living and teaching wilderness living skills (fire, water, shelter, trapping, foraging, etc.) to prepping/emergency preparedness to her deep knowledge of medicinal plants and herbal medicine. Nicole grew up in Massachusetts and connected with nature at an early age. Her first exposure to true wilderness living however, began while working as a field biologist in Botswana in the mid 90s. Following a job as a game warden with the US Peace Corps, she began tracking and researching lions in Southern Africa and immediately fell in love with the African landscapes and the San Bushmen’s way of life. Already having a Master’s degree in biology, she later completed her doctorate while working with the San Bushmen. After developing strong relationships within the tribe, Nicole learned many of the primitive skills and ways she practices and teaches today.

At home in the Pacific Northwest, she makes her own herbal medicines from local plants as part of her healthy living strategy after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2000. This diagnosis changed her lifestyle and eating habits, but didn’t deter her from becoming one of the founders and primary guides of her own tracking and wildlife safari company, as well as being an adjunct professor at Prescott College. There, she brings her passion for nature connection, indigenous knowledge, ethnobotany and research to her graduate students.

Nicole also thrives as a personal wellness and life coach helping people develop personalized holistic life plans, especially as related to autoimmune issues, and has her own herbal medicinal apothecary line. She teaches workshops on her land in Oregon and Washington, and also travels to teach skills across the globe. She will miss her home, but will gain strength from thinking about her two sons back in the Pacific NW.

After spending 57 days on Vancouver Island during Season 2, Nicole is excited to test her skills living off the land in this challenging foreign environment. She is grateful for all her mentors and supporters and is sure to channel them when facing the many challenges that await her in the wilds of Mongolia.

Here are the ten items Nicole selected to bring on her survival journey to Mongolia:

1. Knife

2. Saw

3. Sleeping bag

4. Ferro rod

5. Multitool

6. Pot

7. Fishing line and hooks

8. Gill net

9. Trapping wire

10. Food ration

My Prediction: I think the novelty has worn off for Nicole and while she is one of the more capable survivalists, her “salmon luck” is about to “run” out. I think she stays out in the Mongolian wilderness for a respectable 45 days, but then calls it quits having proved everything she needs to prove. I hope I am wrong though, as she is one of my favorites.

Randy Champagne

No Twitter account that I could find.

Season Two/21 Days

Age: 31

Boulder, UT

Wilderness Skills Instructor

Randy Champagne hails from Boulder Utah in the summer and Flagstaff, Arizona in the winter.  He has been instructing at the Boulder Outdoor Survival School for 9 years.  He teaches wilderness living skills, primitive skills, and modern survival but really enjoys teaching and learning how to live with the land with only stone age tools.  He specializes in hunting and trapping with primitive methods and believes his time spent learning these principles and how to connect with the land will help him to be successful on season 5 in Mongolia.

After spending 21 days in living off the land on Vancouver Island, his greatest challenge was lack of food and companionship.  He knows moving forward into season 5 he will have to persevere through all hardships whether that is lack of food, lack of companionship, or extreme weather conditions in order to stay in the field for an extended period of time.

Here are the ten items Randy selected to bring on his survival journey to Mongolia:

1. Knife

2. Axe

3. Sleeping bag

4. Cooking pot

5. Bow and arrows

6. Trapping wire

7. Fishing line and hooks

8. Ferro rod and striker

9. Saw

10. Food ration

My Prediction: Not sure why Randy signed up. He only lasted three weeks in Season Two and was not one of the better survivalists. He is young and healthy, however. So I give Randy just short of Nicole’s 45 days and have him tapping out in 40 days.

Larry Roberts

Twitter: @Maninthestix

Season Two/64 Days

Age: 47

Rush City, MN

Electrician

Larry Roberts was a participant on Season 2, filmed on Vancouver Island. He was the runner up on his season, lasting 64 days. After his adventure, he returned to his wife of 28 years and his two grown children. Larry continues to work as an electrician in the Minneapolis area. In his spare, time he teaches at a well-known survival school, as well as teaching classes on his own. Larry also continues to increase his knowledge base by attending skills gatherings and taking as many other classes as possible.

He feels his time on Alone made him a stronger person, tested his limits, and made him appreciate the small things in life. Larry also feels he is very blessed to have met, and made close friends, with many of the participants of all the seasons of Alone. He’s been overwhelmed and very appreciative of the support of so many who watched his journey on Vancouver Island.  Larry is hoping to again push the limits of his survival knowledge, his endurance and his mental toughness on this season. He is also prepared to push past his former breaking point that made him tap on season 2.

Here are the ten items Larry selected to bring on his survival journey to Mongolia:

1. Knife

2. Sleeping bag

3. Pot

4. Ferro rod

5. Paracord

6. Saw

7. Fishing line and hooks

8. Trapping wire

9. Food ration

10. Food ration

My Prediction: Larry is the other contestant (with Sam Larson) with two helpings of food rations, Larry apparently does not think the mice will be in season in Mongolia this time of year and wants to hedge his bet. Larry is a strong contender intent on both fishing and trapping. I predict he will go far, but once again will be the bridesmaid rather than the bride. I say a unbelievable 88 days, but a second-place finish.

Britt Ahart

Twitter: @BrittIsAlone

Season Three/35 Days

Age: 42

Mantua, OH 

Accountant

Britt’s returning for Season 5 of Alone, and more determined than ever before. After his experience of 35 days in Patagonia for Season 3, he realized the experience was like nothing he had ever experienced. He emerged at the end a completely changed person and was more in touch with himself physically, mentally and spiritually than ever before. Baptized by fire, he had successes and failures that pushed him to learn, practice and expand his skills and knowledge. In Patagonia, Britt feels that he fought with nature. This season, he plans to co-exist with it. He’s a new man coming to Mongolia, and he plans to reach the finish line.

Here are the ten items Britt selected to bring on his survival journey to Mongolia:

1. Knife

2. Multitool

3. Paracord

4. Fishing line and hooks

5. Pot

6. Ferro Rod

7. Sleeping Bag

8. Bow and arrows

9. Folding saw

10. Trapping wire

My Prediction: Britt did not take food rations so if you are looking for an early tapper, he might be the one. He is solely relying on his fishing, trapping and archery skills. I will point out that if you exclude mice, there have been fewer mammals captured on Alone Show than there have been seasons. Mongolia might be different, but bows and arrows have not been great food producers. Britt did last 35 days in Patagonia. I give him just a few more this time around and a bottom five finish.

Carleigh Fairchild

No Twitter Account

Season Three/Medically evacuated on day 86 

Age: 30

Anchorage, Alaska

Carpenter

Carleigh Fairchild is an adventurer at heart. She has studied survival skills since she was a teenager, as well as NIASZIIH Healing over the last few years.  She was thrilled to test her skills and survive as long as she possibly could on Season 3, where she displayed a strong repertoire of skills and knowledge in shelter building, fire making, edible plants, and establishing a connection with the land. Those skills helped her survive for 86 days in the wilds of Patagonia.

She struggled with catching fish and keeping up her weight which ultimately led to her extraction. Leaving Patagonia, Carleigh felt so thankful for everything and everyone in her life, and there was a realness in living that she had never felt before. She’s thankful for a second chance, and hopes to hunt and gather enough food so that she can sustain herself for the long haul.

Here are the ten items Carleigh selected to bring on her survival journey to Mongolia:

1. Paracord

2. Saw

3. Sleeping bag

4. Pot

5. Ferro rod

6. Canteen

7. Fishing line and hooks

8. Bow and arrows

9. Knife

10. Food ration

My Prediction: She’s young. She lives in Alaska. She did not voluntarily leave last time. Carleigh is my predicted winner. Plus she is fun to watch. A little goofy with amazing survival skills. Carleigh is one of only two contestants to bring a canteen. Do not underestimate both the physical AND psychological impact of a ready supply of drinking and cooking water. It is one thing to purify it. It is another to store it and I do not expect a bunch of plastics to be washing ashore in Mongolia as it did in Vancouver Island. Carleigh wins on day 88 or 89 when they come to tell her she won, but is fearful they are pulling her from the game again.

Dave Nessia

No Twitter Account

Season Three/73 Days

(History does not list his age or occupation on the website, but he is 49 and is a “Bushcraft Teacher” whatever that is.)

Dave’s 73-day experience on Season 3 of Alone in Patagonia opened him to some life enhancing truths—if you have the courage, life does not have to continue in the direction you are going, and life has much more spice when you open yourself to living. With this in mind, Dave quit his job of six years as a bushcraft instructor, moved into his truck, and searched for new ways to learn and experience the world. This involved consulting for the television and fly fishing. Dave’s hope in Mongolia is to build a strong spiritual connection with the land and to learn what it takes to co-exist in this ecosystem.

Here are the ten items Dave selected to bring on his survival journey to Mongolia:

1. Axe

2. Sleeping bag

3. Pot

4. Ferro rod

5. Fishing line and hooks

6. Bow and arrows

7. Gill net

8. Trapping wire

9. Knife

Food ration

My Prediction: Dave is the ONLY contestant to double, triple and quadruple down on food gathering taking fishing gear, bow and arrows, trapping wire, a food ration AND a gill net. That is half of his 10 items. If there is food to be had out there in Mongolia, Dave will at least be equipped to get it. But he has left himself short in the comfort department and will have to rely on an axe and knife for both firewood and shelter. That will be hard.  His pot will have to serve multiple uses and he has NO rope. I think he gets into the top five on tenacity and grit alone, but leaves when it starts getting real cold and firewood gathering becomes a real chore. Let’s say 60 days.

Jesse Bosdell

No Twitter Account

Season Four/5 Days

Age: 32

Skowhegan, ME 

Retired Green Beret

Since last season Jesse’s been attending college for bio-medical engineering at the University of Maine, while settling down and building a life around his organic garden and livestock farm.

He’s worked as a wood working finisher during the summer, while also performing in leading roles at the Lakewood Theatre in his hometown of Skowhegan.

Keeping active by hiking and camping in national parks across New England, he’s also been hunting and survival camping on family and friend’s property throughout Maine. He’s become a sponge for new survival tricks and hopes to showcase his new talents on the upcoming season in Mongolia.

A fan of taking on new challenges, Jesse, along with his younger brother, has taken up bee keeping with hopes of making mead. Jesse builds his own bee hives by hand and has grown the hives from 12,000 bees to 30,000 bees. He’s excited to try this grand adventure again, but this time on his own. Jesse’s fully confident he can do better than last season now that he’s solely relying on himself.

Here are the ten items Jesse selected to bring on his survival journey to Mongolia:

1. Sleeping bag

2. Knife

3. Ferro rod

4. Food ration

5. Canteen

6. Pot

7. Bow and arrows

8. Fishing line and hooks

9. Saw

10. Axe

My Prediction: Who knows? We barely got to know Jesse last season before he had to leave because his brother got hurt trying to hike to him. He is young, only 32. He is Green Beret. He is in shape. But on the other hand he is big and will need to consume a lot of food to keep his energy up. He is bring all the right things, including both a saw and an axe as well as fishing and bow and arrow. I am having a tough time with this one. He could go right away or he could win it all. So forced to guess: I say he finishes third at 80 days.

Brad Richardson

No Twitter Account 

Season Four/1 Day

Age: 24

Fox Lake, IL 

Blacksmith

Since season 4, Brad has remained an avid outdoorsman, spending most of his free time practicing primitive skills throughout the Midwest and lower sections of the boreal forest. Learning the ways of his forefathers, Brad’s grown very comfortable in a wilderness setting. Along with his love for the outdoors he is also a blacksmith. Through the company he runs with his siblings, Brad hand-forges knives and tools. When he’s not busy forging and camping, he creates educational bushcraft and blacksmithing videos.

Here are the ten items Brad selected to bring on his survival journey to Mongolia:

1. Axe

2. Saw

3. Knife

4. Trapping wire

5. Fishing line and hooks

6. Bow and arrows

7. Sleeping bag

8. Ferro rod

9. Frying pan

10. Food Ration

My Prediction: That is not a typo - Brad was out there for one day. Didn’t even miss a meal. His brother Josh tapped out after spraining his ankle. If it was my brother, he had better have a bone protruding from his leg to tap out on the first day. But it is what it is. Brad is the only contestant to bring a frying pan. He is hoping to cure bacon from the wild boar he hunts with his bow and arrows, I guess. He is young so he has that going for him (or against him maybe) and he does not have formal survival training. I think he goes home early again bring further shame on the Richardson family back in Illinois. I am going to have him go first again, but last a couple of weeks. Let’s give him 15 days.

Brooke Whipple

No Twitter Account

Season Four/49 days with her husband Dave

Age: 46

Fox, AK / Reed City, MI

Outdoor Educator

Spending her winters in Reed City, Michigan and her summers in Fox, Alaska, Brooke Whipple is a light-hearted, adventurer and explorer. She has spent a lifetime chasing wilderness endeavors and is passionate about sharing her enthusiasm for the outdoors. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Outdoor/Adventure Recreation Management and has taught thousands of youth and adults the joy of outdoor exploration.

She is the mother of two awesome children, Belle, 14, and Mickey, 12.  Brooke has been married to her husband, Dave, for 19 years and it was with him that she endured 49 days on Vancouver Island on Alone Season 4.

Brooke is looking forward to this new challenge in Mongolia and hopes to surpass her previous stay on Vancouver Island.

Here are the ten items Brooke selected to bring on her survival journey to Mongolia:

1. Axe

2. Saw

3. Sleeping bag

4. Fishing line and hooks

5. Ferro rod

6. Multitool

7. Pot

8. Bow and arrows

9. Food ration

10. Trapping wire

My Prediction: Brooke is a fan favorite. Twitter loves her. A wilderness shelter builder that would put Pa from Little House on the Prairie to shame, Brooke will not lack for comfort. She has an axe, a saw and a multi-tool, so we might see a Mongolian Taj Mahal out there. Food? She is ready to trap, fish and shoot so we shall see. Brooke has the skills, but it is entirely different being out there alone than with your husband. She has two kids at home in addition to her husband I think she winds up missing them too much to stay out there. I predict a fourth place finish at 72 days.

Summary of My Predictions

Carleigh Fairchild 88 Days (Winner)

Larry Roberts 88 Days

Jesse Bosdell 80 Days

Brooke Whipple 72 Days

Dave Nessia 60 Days

Nicole Apelian 45 Days

Sam Larson 43 Days

Randy Champagne 40 Days

Britt Ahart 38 Days

Brad Richardson 15 Days

Alone Show Things to Know:

Medical checks are weekly at the start, according to the producers, and as frequently as every 3 days when the contestants are alone for 50 days or more. The contestants are prohibited from talking about anything other than their medical condition and, of course, responding to questions about their health.

Here’s the full description from History about this new season:

“Second chances don’t come often, but this season on “Alone” it’s all about redemption as former participants of HISTORY’s hit nonfiction survival series return in season five premiering Thursday, June 14 at 10PM ET/PT. Dropped off in Northern Mongolia, the most remote location yet, the ten survivalists will be separated by miles and endure brutal, subzero temperatures, deadly predators and punishing isolation, as they push themselves once more to their limits.

After coming up short in their respective seasons, these men and women have even greater motivations and well-planned strategies for survival. They must build their own shelters, hunt their own food, and overcome numerous deadly obstacles—such as the venomous Siberian Pit Viper and feral wolves—if they want to be the last person standing. With ten survival tools each, enough camera gear to self-document their experiences and a cash prize of $500,000 on the line, season five will bring higher stakes, impressive levels of ingenuity and a greater desire to succeed than ever before. No camera crew. No gimmicks. ‘Alone’ is the utmost test of human will and fierce determination to overcome the elements. This season, who will have the strength to endure the longest and win the ultimate prize?”