‘Alone’ Season 11 Episode 7 Recap: Winter Is Coming

Alone is not for the faint of heart. On the 11th season of the History Channel reality series, contestants have been seriously tested by the tough conditions of the Canadian Arctic. Heading into episode 7, half of the original 10 survivalists have exited the competition, including Jake Messinger, who was medically evacuated in episode 6 because of a suspected bowel obstruction. And with winter fast approaching, the remaining five Alone Season 11 contestants have an even tougher journey ahead.

​​[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Alone Season 11 Episode 7.]

Isaiah taps out in ‘Alone’ Season 11 Episode 7

Episode 6 opens on day 23. Five people remain in the running for Alone ’s $500,000 prize: Isaiah Tuck, Timber Cleghorn, Dub Paetz, William Larkham Jr., and Sarah Poynter. But moments into the episode, that number shrinks to four.

Isaiah, a game warden from West Virginia, is experiencing some alarming symptoms including “crazy” chest pain. While he’s desperate to bring home the grand prize (he and his wife want to use the money for another round of IVF), he begins to wonder if he’s putting himself at risk by remaining in the wilderness. Fearing he might be damaging his heart, he decides to tap out.

“This place was magical, but I have to think of my family,” he says.

Grizzlies and wolves make an appearance

With winter looming, the remaining four Alone contestants are putting the finishing touches on their permanent shelters and fighting to get what food they can while the weather is still relatively good.

Timber might be in the best position to hold out the longest. He became the first Alone contestant in years to successfully take down big game when he shot a moose. Now, he’s tightening up his cozy log home with a thatched roof and completing some other tasks. But his plan is to soon ramp down his activity in order to conserve energy and hopefully outlast the competition.

Timber might have adequate food and shelter, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t still face risks. He cuts off a piece of thumbnail while working. It’s a minor injury, but “it could get infected so, so easy,” he points out. He treats it by covering the wound with pine sap. Timber also discovers evidence that grizzly bears and wolves are hanging around near his camp. His plan to keep the bears away? Marking his territory by peeing on a large stick, which will convince them he’s a large predator not to be messed with.

Dub also encounters some predators when he sees a pack of wolves on the opposite side of the river.

“I don’t know if I should be scared or not,” he says.

But Dub is mostly focused on the moose he’s spotted not far from his camp. It’s too late in the day for hunting, unfortunately, but he’s intent on taking it down if it remains in the area. If he succeeds, it could significantly change the competition, as both he and Timber would have a massive source of food that could help them survive for weeks. But even if he doesn’t get a moose, Dub thinks he can “win this thing, one pike at a time.”

William snares a rabbit

In episode 6, Sarah suffered a crisis of confidence as she struggled with fishing. But killing two grouse gave her a much-needed boost. This week, she forages some grass seeds, which she thinks she might be able to turn into a kind of bread. It’s not an entirely successful experiment, but she’s not giving up on the idea. However, after multiple failed attempts, she’s basically abandoned any hope of catching a fish. Instead, she works on crafting some snares that she hopes will trap a beaver. Catching something will be critical. She’s had the least protein so far of all the remaining contestants, putting her at a disadvantage.

William has had good luck with fishing so far, which is no big surprise, given that he’s a professional fisherman. But by day 23, he’s run out of food. He scavenges a few remaining rosehips, but his big win in this episode comes when he snares a rabbit.

“This is a real blessing,” he says. “Two good meals. Two fantastic meals.”

William eagerly chows down on the rabbit, eating the animal’s vitamin-rich brains and other organs. He saves part of the rabbit, along with a pike he caught, for a future meal. But he might not get a chance to enjoy it. Footage shows a sneaky critter raiding William’s food cache.

Frost arrives on day 29 and snow is on the horizon. Who’s best prepared for the big change in weather? We’ll get a better idea when the next episode of Alone airs Thursday, August 8 at 8 p.m. ET on History Channel.

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s YouTube channel .