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Naked and Afraid: Freezing in Argentina

Posted on 07/28/2014 by Elizabeth in Naked And Afraid and General News

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By Ashley Thompson

 

Tom, 36, a wilderness instructor from Santa Cruz (PSR 8.4) meets Lisa, 34, a New England pediatrician (PSR 6.8) in Argentina. They are dropped off on the eastern side of the Andes, at the coldest drop off in Naked and Afraid history, armed with a machete and fire starter. There has been a storm front bringing in 16 inches of rain within three days making the wettest and coldest conditions any contestants have had to endure. The weather is so poor crews can't get to the participants for two days near the end of their journey.

 

From the beginning Tom has proven that he is not here to be a good partner. He is insistent on arguing with every single suggestion Lisa has. Even after gashing himself with a tree on the first day he refuses help from his doctor partner. Is this going to get worse?

 

Over the next four days the temperature stays in the mid 50's and the constant shivering from Tom is burning calories he's not making up for, leaving him weaker. Lisa, however, is more prepared and she did so by living in 50 degree indoor weather in Boston for two weeks prior to the challenge. Can Tom make it? Maybe he can with shelter shingles... brilliant. Eucalyptus is pliable and oily so it should keep the water out.

 

Ever wonder why the camera guys can always find the living things that could be edible but the participants go hungry for 3 weeks? Ok, they eat grubs and worms... yummy. But at this point calories are calories right? 11g of protein and 120 each, equivalent of 2 eggs. Maybe Tom's fish traps and turkey noose will get them a little more a feast. But not without some warpaint, because you can't trap and hunt without painting yourself. Kinda smart, though, right? Hunters wear camo, might as well make your own when you're stark naked. Doesn't help you throw a spear, though.

 

On day 20 it's time to hike. In order to prepare for more rain they make a native american sled to carry shingles for a make-shift shelter. But they've got an uphill battle to find an overnight camp at the halfway mark. After that they still have a five mile trek to their extraction point. At their halfway mark they get stuck in a torrential downpour and the temps dip to freezing. By the end Tom has lost 30 pounds and his PSR dropped to 7.9. Lisa has lost 26 pounds and her PSR rose to 7.4. But they make it!

 

(Things I would've like to have seen this episode: the food they're apparently eating because they've made it the entire 21 days, how they're maintaining hydration... I understand they're cold and wet but are they just standing in the rain with their mouths open? Why haven't we watched them/or heard about them using body heat to keep warm? And an explanation of her back tattoo because I cannot for the life of me figure out what it is.)

 

Photo courtesy of Discovery


  


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