One thing the show definitely points out is the proprietary knowledge and experience required to get by in a given environment. Having grown up playing in that kind of environment, I would be at much greater advantage than the group they inserted. But I have relatively little experience in a swamp or an arid desert environment, so would struggle much like most of these guys have here.

Loneliness seems to be a big problem for these guys. The psychology of survival is often more important than the physicality for the vast majority of us. Funny how many people would struggle terribly with loneliness like this, while others seem to thrive in it. Dick Proeneke didn't seem to have much trouble with loneliness. I wonder how he would've fared on this challenge?

With an axe and a saw in that environment, I'd have built a friggin nature fortess the first three days in. Generally speaking, humans are not prey for black bear or mountain lion, unless they do stupid things, like cleaning, cooking and eating fish where you sleep. Set up a few trip line whackers and you can deter any of those predators fairly easily while you sleep.