At the start of the journey, the contestants face the first signs of bears and wolves, and race to put up shelters and light fires before the sun sets, leaving them in the pitch-black night with only the sounds of the wilderness for company.

Finding food becomes crucial as extreme hunger kicks in. Fishing the Mackenzie River is far from easy, which leaves some competitors increasingly desperate. For one first-time fisher, who has had severe anxiety and panic attacks in the past, the constant trial and error becomes a mental and physical battle. Another competitor faces a hard choice when their net catches something unexpected.