Man plans year off the grid on uninhabited Alaska island

You’ve probably thought you could do it – live alone with yourself. Maybe you’ve even thought you could be a “mountain man,” living in the wilderness, surviving by catching game, unconnected in an internet-less world, with only a few basic tools.

Could you do it for a year?

Charles Baird will. He won’t be totally alone, though, he’s bringing along his dog, Wilson.

He plans to live out 365 days on a remote Alaskan island. “The only thing that would make me quit would probably be a broken leg, maybe a compound fracture. If I get mauled by bear – I’m going to get some help there,” Baird told 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ron & Don Show.

Baird, a writer, and his dog will get dropped off on May 27, with only a few items: Lumber, tools, and basic food.

Baird said he will have the ability to upload to the internet, but he will not have the ability to download any information. That’s how he’ll update his Facebook page. “From my perspective, I will be completely isolated.”

For food, there is water to fish. But, in winter, when the snow drifts creep up, making it more difficult to get from camp to shore, Baird will have traps to catch small game. He’ll also be armed with a .22 rifle and handgun, along with a couple thousand rounds in ammunition.

Baird prepared for his mission with more than a few “Man Vs. Wild” marathon TV sessions though. Baird went through survival school 20 years ago when he attended the Air Force Academy. More recently he’s gone through two civilian survival schools. “But I wouldn’t even describe it as a survival situation,” Baird said. “It’s more of a homesteading situation. I’m going to have a little garden and build a house and that kind of thing, but I’m bringing basic supplies.”

You can follow Baird’s adventure when you Like his Facebook page.