Leisurely Traveler with Check-in System

Chapter 376 - 182: The Equipment Chosen by Li Younan [Second Update!]

This reality show, it’s ultimately just an entertainment-focused commercial program, at least for now has not been broadcast by official media, but it has gained considerable spread on Douyin. Besides Douyin, platforms like Bilibili are also the same.

It is well-known that platforms like Bilibili have purchased the survival video copyrights of Bear Grylls, which naturally has the soil for these kinds of videos, so although Douyin acquired the rights for this season of Alone in the Wilderness, the attention first heated up from other websites.

For the vast majority of people who haven’t been following Li Younan, the first thing they learned was that there is a Chinese person—not a Chinese-American, but a real Chinese person—participating in this show.

Everyone started to learn more about Li Younan, either out of curiosity, or to see if this compatriot can bring glory to the nation, or even to find out if a Chinese person would struggle in such a wild setting.

Subsequently, these people discovered that he is a blogger on Douyin, so they downloaded the video platforms one by one to watch his videos.

Naturally, during this process, quite a few other media entities emerged to catch the wave, editing clips of Li Younan’s videos or seriously discussing how far he can go in this show.

This wave of exposure brought Li Younan tens of thousands of followers on Douyin, but of course, the actual attention far exceeds this number, as most people are merely getting to know him without hitting the follow button.

For the flow of users from other video websites, it was an unexpected surprise for Douyin.

Existing users are like a cake that’s already made, how their flow is divided depends entirely on Douyin’s algorithm and even human intent, but these external users are actual incremental users, they are making their cake bigger.

We are already in the era of existing users, the cost of increasing users is ever higher, with no cost-effectiveness. Just participating in Alone in the Wilderness has brought so many incremental users, this is an excellent case that deserves to be written into the operation report.

And after this wave of hype, Li Younan’s fans started to be active on various video platforms, adding to the push from some objective or praise-laden media, even before the first episode aired, almost turning Li Younan into a star.

Everything has two sides, whether it’s from the motive to catch the wave counterintuitively or based on their professional judgment, there are indeed skeptical voices online, thinking that the current grand momentum may not be a good thing for Li Younan. True wilderness survival isn’t that easy, especially in an overseas environment.

A blogger said in a video, "Don’t be overly optimistic, although Li Younan indeed showed some wilderness survival skills, this time their competition location is at Chilco Lake, Canada. People may not be familiar with it; it’s a typical high-altitude cold climate with many wild animals, quite different from the domestic environment. The higher the praise, the harder the fall, suggest everyone to watch and wait first. After all, not even the first episode has aired yet!"

...

At this moment, Li Younan and the others have already arrived at the competition location, situated in Beishi Columbia, Canada, and started the final preparations before the match at the camp.

The program group will provide a set of standard equipment, which includes clothes and personal essentials, specifically high hunting boots, waterproof winter boots, t-shirts, wool sweaters, wool socks, sunglasses, and a block of solid salt that can last for a long time, and so on.

This set of equipment is very familiar to mountaineering enthusiasts. Apart from hunting-related items, these are all must-haves for mountaineers, so Li Younan is not unfamiliar with these supplies. In his view, the program group provided quality and quite complete equipment, and if it were for hiking across, this set of equipment would be more than enough.

Next is choosing 10 specific items from certain equipment. Li Younan looked at the list and it can be roughly divided into 6 categories.

The first category is shelter and bedding, this category must be chosen, at least a multi-season sleeping bag and a 12×12 meters waterproof tarpaulin should be selected, as for other climbing ropes, parachute cord, hammock, sleeping mats that can be temporarily ignored.

Next is cooking supplies, in the cooking supplies, Li Younan selected a pot with a lid and a flint.

Among them, flint is naturally a must-have item, which can ignore humidity and produce sparks in any situation.

In the wild, having fire is essential, the so-called friction fire starting, for wilderness survival, it consumes considerable energy.

While a pot with a lid can be used for many things.

Personal hygiene supplies are not very necessary.

In the standard equipment provided by the program group, there’s already a toothbrush, and for face-washing, you just need clean water, as for optional supplies there’s soap, dental floss, shower gel, razors, towels, etc. These absurd supplies, using a precious equipment choice slot, it’s unlikely to choose these hygiene products.

Next is important hunting tools, Li Younan naturally chose the 300-yard fishing line and bow set. Apart from bows and fishing lines, in the reserve equipment, there are also nets, forage bags, slingshots, and traps. For Li Younan, one bow is enough.

The next category, Li Younan directly chose to ignore.

That’s food, not to mention the food is only two pounds, basically can’t satisfy hunger, wasting an equipment slot is really not worth it.

And at this point, he chose 6 pieces of equipment, a multi-season sleeping bag, a 12×12-meter waterproof tarp, a large pot, a flint, a bow and fishing line.

Next is the tool category, the hunting knife was naturally the first choice, for Li Younan, one hunting knife can complete many important tasks, a whetstone is not very necessary, there are many minerals in the wild that can be made into a whetstone.

Then there’s an axe and a saw, these two pieces are key items for Li Younan to display his woodworking skills.

After counting like this, there’s still one piece of equipment lacking.

Li Younan glanced at the equipment list once more; to be honest, at this point, he didn’t have any particular needs.

Adding more equipment would just be icing on the cake.

After some thought, he focused on the shelter and bedding categories. If nothing else, should he get another sleeping pad to improve his sleeping experience?

But in reality, it’s not all that significant; there are plenty of ways in the wild to substitute for a sleeping pad.

While thinking, Li Younan suddenly noticed the discarded generator in the corner of the camp from last night.

To provide power to the camp, there were two generators here. Last night, one of them broke down; the repairman opened it up to check and disassembled all the parts, confirming it couldn’t be fixed. The parts were still lying there.

Li Younan asked the staff, "Do I have to choose equipment from the list? I mean, can I take that thing with me?"

The staff and other contestants followed the direction Li Younan pointed, seeing that he gestured towards the roll of copper wire inside the generator motor.

Initially, the other contestants were concerned that Li Younan might choose some equipment that would disrupt the fairness of the game, but when they saw him pointing at copper wire, they became a bit puzzled.

They couldn’t think of what use such a roll of copper wire would have in the wild.

Apart from adding extra weight, perhaps it might be more robust for tying things, but compared to paracord, the scenarios for its use seem quite limited.

The staff asked in confusion, "What do you want this thing for?"

Li Younan shrugged his shoulders, "It might come in handy."

Upon hearing Li Younan’s request, the person in charge stepped forward to negotiate: "Think it over; the equipment we provide is meant to be better suited for the outdoor environment. As for this copper wire, honestly, I can’t think of a use for it, but if you’re sure you want to take it, I don’t think it will break any fairness, so we can agree, but are you sure?"

Li Younan nodded decisively.

So, Li Younan’s last piece of equipment was this rather hefty roll of copper wire.

This copper wire might not be useful, but if it turns out to be, it just might help him last until the final day.

Besides the above equipment, the production team also provided them with filming equipment, a satellite phone, and bear repellent kits.

Filming equipment includes wearable sports cameras and stationary cameras. The satellite phone is a specialized model with only call functionality able to contact only the production team, featuring super-long battery life and extra loud volume, capable of lasting several days even with continuous calls. All equipment is powered by a foldable solar panel.

The solar panel isn’t large, only about the size of four A4 papers when unfolded, yet it’s more than sufficient to power these devices. If the solar panel were to break, there’s a pocket-sized hand-crank generator for emergencies.

With all equipment ready, they’re about to officially start the first day of Alone in the Wilderness.

Meanwhile, each contestant’s personal introduction has been completed and posted on the show’s official website.

Li Younan’s tag is a travel blogger from China, proficient in survival skills like archery and fishing, with mountaineering experience, which is relatively straightforward. However, unlike his high popularity back home, he hasn’t gained much attention abroad.

It’s mid-June.

The shores of Chilco Lake have just entered summer, with the distant mountain slopes still not fully free of snow.

The weather now, with daytime temperatures barely over 20 degrees Celsius.

Very cool.

At night, temperatures would plummet to single digits.

If everything goes smoothly, some of them would stay here until winter.

It’s a morning.

Li Younan was dropped off at the starting point, taking a deep breath of fresh air.

Next, The Leisurely Life of Li Younan: Alone in the Wilderness officially begins.