The Boonies

In today’s technology-driven world, few corners of the globe are not connected to the grid. But these places do exist, for people who are determined enough to seek them out.

On the edge of the world, even the most solitary people must rely on a few trusted allies to endure. For those who live outside of society, a little help can go a long way.

“Above the Grid” in Onion Creek, Washington, Doc and Jeanny Leverett depend on their garden to maintain a nutrient-rich diet. But after a black bear wreaks havoc on their plants, they are forced to find a new way to protect this crucial resource. “Beyond the Grid,” in the Clearwater Mountains of Idaho, Bear Claw relies on his horses to travel the ridgelines and transport essential resources to camp. When his packhorse, Idahe, suffers from symptoms of equine arthritis, he must quickly adapt to find a new way to haul the supplies he desperately needs. “Below the Grid,” in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Joe Ray prefers to spend his time underground – and he is always searching for ways to expand his underground world. Today, Joe searches for a new cave to explore, in hopes of finding new caverns to use and resources to utilize. “Outside the Grid,” on Beaver Island, Dan Burton must stockpile supplies– and out here, Dan doesn’t rely on a trip to the grocery store to provide for his family.

Life off the grid provides freedom, but that independence doesn’t come easy. Whether it’s finding food, stocking the medicine cabinet or battling the elements, life in the Boonies requires a daily dose of sweat and blood. “Below the Grid” in Arkansas, Joe Ray must work every week to provide the food he needs to survive. With his pantry running low, he prepares to hunt for wild game – and it looks like hog might be on the menu. “Above the Grid,” in the trees of Onion Creek, Washington, Doc and Jeanny Leverett rely on one another to remedy most problems that arise…including the kind of illness currently plaguing Doc. While he is quarantined in the tree house, Jeanny turns to her unique medicine cabinet – the woods around her. “Beyond the Grid” in Idaho, Bear Claw has lived high atop the ridgelines of the Clearwater Mountains for the past 10 years. Every year, to celebrate the anniversary of his arrival in the wilderness, Bear Claw embarks on a pack trip to the site of his very first camp. Per tradition, he is joined by Hans and Conan Ausmussen, the father and son mountain men who took him under their wing when he first arrived. “Outside the grid,” in the middle of Lake Michigan, a series of severe storms has punished the Beaver Island archipelago. Now, in the wake of the storm, Dan Burton must pick up the pieces – a job that will require lifting a fallen tree off of his truck.

The old adage known as “Murphy’s Law” says – anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. On the edge of civilization, that means always being prepared for the worst. Out here, far from the modern world, the forces of nature present dire challenges. “Outside the Grid,” during the onslaught of a severe drought, Bear Claw struggles to find water for his camp in the Clearwater Mountains of Idaho. “Below the Grid,” a small earthquake in the Ozarks transforms Joe Ray’s underground home, and now he must find a new path to daylight. “Above the Grid,” in Onion Creek, Washington, Doc and Jeanny Leverett grapple with wildfires burning dangerously close to their tree house. “Outside the Grid,” on remote Beaver Island, Dan Burton drops everything to search for a friend adrift somewhere on Lake Michigan.

On the edge of civilization, life is lived by the seasons. As autumn arrives, temperatures grow colder, and those outside the grid begin preparation for the toughest time of year. Out here, they must always be ready for what lies ahead. In his caves “Below the Grid”, Joe Ray does all he can to avoid the modern world. But today, he must make his annual visit to town to stockpile necessary winter resources. High “Above the Grid”, Doc and Jeanny Leverett prepare for darker days ahead, and indoor confinement for Jeanny due to an unusual medical condition. She has a rare allergy to the cold, and Doc plans special home improvements to keep her comfortable during the coming chill. “Beyond the Grid” in the mountains of Idaho, with temperatures beginning to cool, nomadic Bear Claw packs up his tent and heads for the protection of his winter camp. The long journey on horseback includes several stops along the way, as Bear Claw gathers supplies essential to his life on the trail. And “Outside the grid”, on an island in the middle of Lake Michigan, Dan Burton and his family rely on stockpiled food to make it through the frozen winter months. Now, Dan is on a mission to fill his freezer in any way he can.