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The 10 contestants on Season 12 Alone

Into the Wild with Dug North: Alone Season 12 Contestant, Survivalist, and Cache Cap Fan

When you’re dropped into the South African wilderness with nothing but your grit and ten survival items, every ounce—and every decision—counts. 

 

That’s the challenge Dug North took on in Season 12 of Alone.

 

We have been very fortunate to have several friends who have participated on the very popular and authentic television show.

Here's a quick list of buddies and the Wazoo gear we've spotted them with:

• Alan Kay (Season 1 Winner) - Cache Belt + Adventure Kit, Bushcraft Necklace
• Larry Roberts (Season 2 Runner Up) - Cache Belt + Adventure Kit, Cache Cap
• Nicole Apelian (Season 2, Season 5) - Bushcraft Necklace + Foraging Bandana Co-designer!
• Justin Vititoe (Season 2) - Bushcraft Necklace
• Tracy Wilson (Season 2) - Bushcraft Necklace; Tracy was a dear friend and has since passed
• Zachary Fowler - (Season 3, Winner) - Cache Belt + Adventure Kit, Viking Whestone Necklace, Spark Necklace Cache Cap
• Carleigh Fairchild (Season 3 Runner-Up, Season 5) - Cache Cap
• Britt Ahart (Season 3, Season 5 Runner-Up) - Cache Belt, Symbology Shirt, Spark Necklace
• Jordan Jonas (Season 6 Winner) - Foraging BandaNet
• Teimojin Tan (Season 9) - Cache Belt + Adventure Kit, Cache Beanie
• Karie Lee Knoke (Season 9 Runner-Up) - Bushcraft Necklace
• Jessie Krebs (Seaon 9) - Spark Necklace
• Dug North (Season 12) - Cache Cap

However, the exciting thing is that this is only the second time our gear has been actually featured ON the show!

The first was Teimojin Tan wearing our Cache Beanie in Season 9.

We get asked all the time, "Why isn't your gear on [ Alone / Naked and Afraid / Survivor ]... It would be perfect?!"

And while we feel the same way, as much of our gear was specifically designed for this kind of minimalistic, extreme worst-case scenario, the truth is, in many cases...

Using Wazoo products on a TV show would be cheating.

I'm sure, if they could, many more participants would take Wazoo on these reality television survival shows; however, much of our gear is "against the rules." 

But Dug is clever!

Because it’s classified as apparel, the Cache Cap didn’t count against Dug’s strict 10 item limit, yet it gave him critical survival utility—from shielding him from the South African sun to securely storing fishing hooks when no container was allowed (more on this in the interview below).

Photo:  Kielyn Marrone

At the publishing of this blog, we are only a few episodes into Season 12, and from the opening introduction drop-off scenes onward, Dug can be seen sporting his Cache Cap, and it makes us so proud!

Dug North being dropped off at his remote location in South Africa

We were honored to have this excuse to interview Dug after his return, where he shares insights on his preparation, mentality, and gear selection.

Below is the full, unedited Q&A that Dug was so kind to provide.

The Full Interview with Dug North

Background:

Can you tell us a bit about your background—what experiences or skills do you feel best prepare you for this challenge?

"My background is kind of diverse and possibly confusing to those who only know me for outdoor stuff."

My background is kind of diverse and possibly confusing to those who only know me for outdoor stuff. I find a lot of things interesting and when I decide to pursue them, I tend to do so pretty intensely. There are a few elements of my background that helped a lot with this challenge. First, I have always been pretty comfortable outdoors and I have had a couple of jobs that were entirely outdoors. Next, I have always found survival books fascinating, so I have been reading those for decades. I also studied anthropology and archeology in college, which exposed me to a lot of different cultures and ways of living in different environments. Finally, I have always loved making things with my hands. That’s useful when you have to make or make-do in a survival scenario.

How did your life before Alone—professionally or personally—shape your survival mindset?

Back in 2020, I started going on solo camping trips, taking only clothing and ten items from the ALONE item list. Doing this gives you a sense for how time and labor intensive most activities really are. When you add filming to the equation, you learn that it’s hard to get much accomplished beyond meeting your most critical and immediate needs. I think this leads to a “keep it simple” mindset.

Were there specific books, mentors, or past experiences that most influenced your approach to wilderness living?

I took four wilderness skills courses with Josh Enyart (aka The Gray Bearded Green Beret). His curriculum, teaching style, and book are laser-focused on skills, knowledge, and gear that has been proven to work well. These courses provided me with a solid foundation for operating in the wild.

"However, in a survival situation a solution doesn’t need to be clever -- it needs to work."

I’ve also taken three courses with Keilyn Marrone from Season 7 of ALONE. Kie spent 80 days surviving alone in the arctic. She knows first hand what the experience is truly about. Two of the courses were week-long survival experiences that simulated the conditions on ALONE. This training helps you put the pieces together and learn where you might be likely to run into challenges that are particular to you. For example, I learned that I am prone to expect too much of myself in terms of demonstrating creativity. However, in a survival situation a solution doesn’t need to be clever -- it needs to work.

How did you mentally and physically train in the months leading up to filming?

I tried to take a comprehensive approach to my preparation. Physically, I put on about 30 to 40 pounds. While doing that I practiced rucking (hiking in the woods with a weighted backpack) and gradually increased the load that I was carrying. I wanted to be sure that I could handle my additional body weight.

On the mental side, I spoke to some people I trust who have been on the show and tried to take their advice. I did a fair amount of journaling to try to get clear on my motives, goals, core values, and possible outcomes. I also found a therapist to speak with about the upcoming experience. It’s hard to overstate how valuable all of this proved to be.

Alone Experience:

Was there any specific skill you wish you had practiced more?

I chose to bring fishing line and hooks as one of my ten items. I have practiced handline fishing and making simple lures many times over the years. The fishing line we were allowed to take was a lot heavier than what I have used in the past. I assumed it would behave the same as the lighter line I have used previously. The heavier line tangled and didn’t hold a knot in the same way. This led to some frustration. I wish I had practiced using the heavier fishing line!

"I wish I had practiced unlearning my habit..."

I spent several years in my twenties working as an archaeologist. During that time, I developed a habit of scanning the ground for features and artifacts. Though I haven’t worked as an archaeologist for 30 years, I walk with my eyes glued to the ground. I wish I had practiced unlearning my habit of looking for artifacts on the ground.

Tools & Gear:

If you're a curious gear nerd check out the official approved and prohibited list from the show:

COMPLETE Alone TV Show Season 12 Approved & Prohibited Gear List

Alone allows for pre-approved selection of specific items like clothing, apparel, and personal effects.

There is also the selection of 10 "special" gear items, which comprise of pieces such as shelter materials, fishing equipment, or cutting tools, which participants must thoughtfully narrow down. They spark a lot of debate as sometimes they have resulted in being makers-or-breakers.

Dug's "10 Items"

1. Pot

2. Canteen

3. Leatherman

4. Tarp

5. Ferro Rod

6. Fishing Gear

7. Shovel

8. Bow

9. Salt

10. Blanket

Were there any items you brought that were surprisingly useful, or not useful at all?

"This proved to be a lifesaver."

I had never owned a sun shirt. As kind of an afterthought, I bought a camouflage one with a hood. This proved to be a lifesaver. The radiation from the sun in the South African desert isn’t dispersed by moisture in the air (because there isn’t any). That shirt kept me from totally frying in the intense sunlight.

We were allowed two shirts. The other shirt was a long sleeve “safari” type of shirt. I’m not sure I ever wore it out there. The temps went from very hot to very cold and back again. That long sleeve cotton shirt just didn’t get used.

"Whenever possible, I chose gear that I know well and trust. The Cache Cap falls into that category"

How did you approach selecting your limited gear? What items gave you the most fret?

Whenever possible, I chose gear that I know well and trust. The Cache Cap falls into that category. I don't think I ever got it on camera, but the bill pocket was a secure place to put my fishing hooks. This was really helpful because we are not allowed to bring containers specifically for the hooks.

I tried to focus on gear that I have experience with. I didn’t want to get out there and be surprised by a piece of gear that wasn’t up to the hard use that I was going to give it.

Next, I tried to select items that were multi-use, could be modified, or provided raw material that could be used in various ways.

I also tried to lean toward items that emphasized food procurement (e.g. fishing gear, bow and arrow) or saved calories (e.g. blanket, tarp, ferro rod).

My core items have been largely set for several years. I had to make some changes based on the new environment. First, the canteen. Second, salt. So two things need to go. Those things were probably a pemmican ration, a saw, or paracord.

If you would have to reduce it to only 3 items, what would it had been?

"...I consider it to be worth several items."

Steel water bottle - This was invaluable for treating water and being able to carry it with me.

Multitool - This contains so many tools, I consider it to be worth several items.

Ferro rod - I love friction fire, but my tests found the local woods to be VERY difficult to use. Given the need to constantly purify water, having a ferro rod made that task much easier.

What piece of gear earned its place every single day?

The pot, water bottle, leatherman, and ferro rod earned their place every day.

Generally speaking, what gear do you think is over-rated in the bushcraft, survival, and every day carry communities?

In the bushcraft community, I don’t understand really big survival knives. Beyond that, I don’t understand the trend on social media to “test” them with outright abuse. Learn to use a reasonably sized fixed blade knife and treat it with respect.

Generally speaking, what gear do you think is under-rated in the bushcraft, survival, and every day carry communities?

I see a lot of survival kits online (DIY and commercial) that don’t include anything to purify water. Bad water can totally ruin you. It’s not hard to include a metal container or a plastic bag with water purification tablets. Larger survival kits can include something like a Life Straw or Sawyer Mini.

Alone Experience Reflections:

What did being on Alone teach you about yourself?

Starting in childhood, I developed a habit of motivating myself with some rather harsh self-talk. While this strategy has worked to a degree, it has come at a cost. Having a ruthless, judgemental voice in my head has been stressful, limiting, and detrimental to my overall mental wellbeing. I have been doing it for so long, I didn’t realize that it isn’t the only way to get things done.

"It’s unfortunate that I didn’t discover this until my 50s, but better late than never!"

While alone in South Africa, I found that I can be kind to myself and still perform well -- perhaps even better. It’s unfortunate that I didn’t discover this until my 50s, but better late than never!

Did being alone shift your perspective on anything bigger—life, people, modern society?

There are a handful of traits that we developed as we were becoming the distinct genus homo: the use of fire, tool making and use, hypersociability, language, abstract thought, and culture. In the past, academics have pointed to each of these things in turn as the trait that makes us human. In fact, it is the synergistic combination of all of these things. The components don't simply add their individual contributions, but rather they enhance and amplify each other's effects.

What would you recommend every outdoorsperson know how to do—before they ever think about something like ALONE?

That “Grand Strategy” of yours may not be all that realistic.

Try going on wilderness trips with a good selection of clothing and ten items from the Alone list. Limited amounts of food -- if you choose to take it -- should also count as an item. Boil all your water. Once you’ve tried this a couple times, do it again and try to film at least 8 hours of your activity every day. This will show you how much time, energy, and attention everything really requires. It is easy to take things for granted when you are at home, surrounded by loved ones, well-rested, safe, clean, hydrated, fed, and with every resource at your disposal. That “Grand Strategy” of yours may not be all that realistic.

Looking back, is there anything you would’ve packed differently or done another way?

Second sun shirt, lighter more wicking socks

Has your perspective on everyday life changed since returning?

My experience made it crystal clear that most of us are living lives that are far removed from what our genus has done for more than a million years.

We don’t spend much time outside. We don’t find our food in the wild; We take clean water very much for granted. We don’t make things with our hands; Most of us don’t spend time benefiting from and contributing to tight little communities of people. We don’t revere our elders as repositories of crucial knowledge. We have abandoned tradition for novelty.

"It’s no wonder that many of us feel stressed out, unfulfilled, sick, and entirely unsure of our place in the world."

It’s no wonder that many of us feel stressed out, unfulfilled, sick, and entirely unsure of our place in the world. I am convinced that if we make changes to align better with our ancient past, we will feel better and do better.

Any other wisdom, advice, or insights that you’d like to share?

"As a viewer, you can’t know the full context of anything a participant may or may not do. Please don’t be too quick to judge."

ALONE is an amazing show. It is very authentic and that is part of what makes it so compelling. Keep in mind that participants are out there for days, weeks, or months. Of that time, they record only a part -- perhaps 8 hours of each day. Of the hundreds of hours that a participant records, the broadcast will show probably less than an hour of their entire experience. What you see on TV is a tiny audiovisual slice of a demanding 24/7 physical and mental experience. As a viewer, you can’t know the full context of anything a participant may or may not do. Please don’t be too quick to judge.

Keep tabs on Dug:

At the publishing of this blog, Season 12 is just getting started and Dug (and his Cache Cap) are fairing very well!

To follow along, watch the History Channel as they release new episodes.

Apologies, but the author of this blog, Dustin (Wazoo Co-Founder), cannot be more helpful as to the ways to catch the show, as he has not owned a television in his adult life, and rarely watches shows or movies.

Dug is very active on his social media and his website, where he shares all kinds of tips regarding bushcraft, survival, everyday carry, and many more topics that interest this My Side of the Mountain MacGyver meets James Bond polyglot.  

• Website: dugnorth.com

• Youtube: youtube.com/user/dugnorth

• Instagram: instagram.com/dug.north

• Facebook: facebook.com/dugnorth 

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@dug.north

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Final Thoughts: From Dug’s Journey to Yours

Dug’s story isn’t just about surviving—it’s about rediscovering what it means to thrive. We’re honored he trusted Wazoo gear along the way and even more honored to share his words with you. Thanks, Dug.

👉 Want to try the hat that earned a spot in Dug’s gear list?
Grab your own Cache Cap here and start building your own Wild Capability—one pocket at a time.