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Never Alone: A Solo Arctic Survival Journey
Woniya Thibeault wasn't looking for an adventure of such magnitude, but when the opportunity to participate in Alone® Season 6 fell into her lap, she couldn't say no. Never Alone is the story of that journey.
Dropped into the Arctic wilderness—solo—as winter descended, Woniya intended not only to survive, but to thrive. With only a few tools and meager resources, she would need her survival skills, quick wits, and whole heart to make it through.
The skids scraped against the hard granite as the helicopter settled onto the barren peninsula. My fingers were shaking so badly from the adrenaline, it was hard to unbuckle my chest straps. Then, with one step down the ladder, I left the modern world and the rest of humanity behind.
I expected the land to be harsh and unforgiving, but I didn't expect that it would be so breathtaking.
Nor that I would fall instantly in love with it.
The northern wilderness kicked my butt repeatedly throughout the next three months, but each time it picked me back up, staggered me with its beauty, and showed me again how truly resilient I am.
My Arctic adventure could easily have been a grueling struggle, but by putting my trust in myself and the land, it instead became a beautiful journey to a deeper sense of connection and belonging.
In her debut memoir Never A Solo Arctic Survival Journey , Woniya shares how months of starving by herself in the Arctic wilderness brought more healing than suffering, and led to a deep sense of belonging and peace. Her story affirms the incredible strength of the human spirit and shows us that strength comes in many surprising forms. Never Alone's message is one of inspiration and learning to trust in ourselves and the land around us; embracing the wild and being wholly and beautifully human, flaws and all.
Never Alone will take you on an Arctic journey through challenges and triumphs, joys and heartbreaks, and leave you inspired and wanting more.
Dropped into the Arctic wilderness—solo—as winter descended, Woniya intended not only to survive, but to thrive. With only a few tools and meager resources, she would need her survival skills, quick wits, and whole heart to make it through.
The skids scraped against the hard granite as the helicopter settled onto the barren peninsula. My fingers were shaking so badly from the adrenaline, it was hard to unbuckle my chest straps. Then, with one step down the ladder, I left the modern world and the rest of humanity behind.
I expected the land to be harsh and unforgiving, but I didn't expect that it would be so breathtaking.
Nor that I would fall instantly in love with it.
The northern wilderness kicked my butt repeatedly throughout the next three months, but each time it picked me back up, staggered me with its beauty, and showed me again how truly resilient I am.
My Arctic adventure could easily have been a grueling struggle, but by putting my trust in myself and the land, it instead became a beautiful journey to a deeper sense of connection and belonging.
In her debut memoir Never A Solo Arctic Survival Journey , Woniya shares how months of starving by herself in the Arctic wilderness brought more healing than suffering, and led to a deep sense of belonging and peace. Her story affirms the incredible strength of the human spirit and shows us that strength comes in many surprising forms. Never Alone's message is one of inspiration and learning to trust in ourselves and the land around us; embracing the wild and being wholly and beautifully human, flaws and all.
Never Alone will take you on an Arctic journey through challenges and triumphs, joys and heartbreaks, and leave you inspired and wanting more.
368 pages, Paperback
Published June 9, 2023
13 people are currently reading
426 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 12, 2023
My husband and I are big fans of the Alone series which is one of the very few real “survival” shows that are truly just that. Participants are typically dropped in the wilderness of Alaska, British Columbia or, in this case, the arctic wilderness of Yellow Knife. They are allowed 10 items and no guns. They film themselves and are truly alone in the wilderness.
Bushwhacking has always been very interesting to me, but what is always the most fascinating is the psychological experience each endures and which most underestimate. Woniya had incredible skills, but it was her mental attitude that was amazing and her true appreciation for all of the wilds nature brought to her was satisfying to see.
She was on the show twice, once coming in 2nd place, and the second time coming in 1st place which had even harsher conditions. She was also the first female winner in the series and also holds the record for the longest a person has stayed alone in the wilderness on the program.
This book is her telling of her first experience and it did not disappoint. I loved all the details before she was dropped, her thought and mental thoughts as she stayed for weeks alone, surviving off of what Mother Nature brought to her and loving the beauty of the land until she was ready to tap out.
It’s a wonderful book and I respect her abilities and how she thinks and lives her life. I look forward to her next book chronicling her time when she lasted the longest in the Arctic.
Bushwhacking has always been very interesting to me, but what is always the most fascinating is the psychological experience each endures and which most underestimate. Woniya had incredible skills, but it was her mental attitude that was amazing and her true appreciation for all of the wilds nature brought to her was satisfying to see.
She was on the show twice, once coming in 2nd place, and the second time coming in 1st place which had even harsher conditions. She was also the first female winner in the series and also holds the record for the longest a person has stayed alone in the wilderness on the program.
This book is her telling of her first experience and it did not disappoint. I loved all the details before she was dropped, her thought and mental thoughts as she stayed for weeks alone, surviving off of what Mother Nature brought to her and loving the beauty of the land until she was ready to tap out.
It’s a wonderful book and I respect her abilities and how she thinks and lives her life. I look forward to her next book chronicling her time when she lasted the longest in the Arctic.
October 7, 2023
Couldn’t put this book down.
July 9, 2024
I have to thank my friend, Charity, for putting this on my radar. I don’t know if I ever would have found it otherwise and it’s my favorite book of this year and maybe last year too.
Woniya is quite the character but I found her to be so endearing and inspirational. Now watching season 6 of Alone so I can see it all in action. I looked forward to reading this book every night and found it all to be absolutely fascinating. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys nonfiction and books about survival!
Woniya is quite the character but I found her to be so endearing and inspirational. Now watching season 6 of Alone so I can see it all in action. I looked forward to reading this book every night and found it all to be absolutely fascinating. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys nonfiction and books about survival!
September 16, 2024
My wife and I are big fans of the Alone TV series though we missed episode six that Woniya participated. She "tapped out" after lasting 72 days and coming in second. Judging by the reviews her readers were primarily female?
I had felt a women would eventually win it, as long as she stayed healthy. They seemed to actually enjoy the experience and handle the solitude better than many men.
I liked woniya's introspective attitude, one of the tiring things I find about alone is the constant whining of some contestants.(Easy for me to say from my couch, with a cold beer and pretzels) I assume they know what they are getting into. But, it is reality TV, and a big part of the experience is dealing with the loneliness and missing family members.
I appreciated Woniyas grit and toughness and her respect for the land and wildlife. My only complaint was I thought she she was a bit over the top with her magical thinking, ascribing human qualities to inanimate objects like trees and bark-asking and getting permission to use them. She wanted to build a log cabin where she previously tented, but a small birch tree was in her way and refused her permission to cut it? She also ascribed magical qualities to a piece of metal she found, and utilized as a needle, and a sticker with a letter on it?
I was impressed with her salt buttons that served as seasoning and her giant sweater.
She is a good writer, I assume this is the only book she has written, she held my interest through-out.
I had felt a women would eventually win it, as long as she stayed healthy. They seemed to actually enjoy the experience and handle the solitude better than many men.
I liked woniya's introspective attitude, one of the tiring things I find about alone is the constant whining of some contestants.(Easy for me to say from my couch, with a cold beer and pretzels) I assume they know what they are getting into. But, it is reality TV, and a big part of the experience is dealing with the loneliness and missing family members.
I appreciated Woniyas grit and toughness and her respect for the land and wildlife. My only complaint was I thought she she was a bit over the top with her magical thinking, ascribing human qualities to inanimate objects like trees and bark-asking and getting permission to use them. She wanted to build a log cabin where she previously tented, but a small birch tree was in her way and refused her permission to cut it? She also ascribed magical qualities to a piece of metal she found, and utilized as a needle, and a sticker with a letter on it?
I was impressed with her salt buttons that served as seasoning and her giant sweater.
She is a good writer, I assume this is the only book she has written, she held my interest through-out.
December 29, 2024
What an amazing adventure! The author lives in the area where I live and shop. In fact I am hoping to get to see her around town one of these days. She is inspiring and courageous. I have wondered if she will be writing another book because from what I have read, she went on to win the Frozen Alone. A solid 5 stars book
February 27, 2024
Such a great story, it felt like I was there along side of Woniya.
October 1, 2024
Such a beautiful story!
May 18, 2024
A well-written, heartfelt book. Woniya Thibeaut is a wonderful descriptive writer, and her account of the more than two months she spent alone on her little peninsula just below the Arctic Circle is fascinating. Heartily recommended!
June 28, 2023
This book made me cry. A lot. Thank you Woniya for sharing the gift of your beautiful experience with the world.
Read
March 26, 2024was reading this so slowly that the library book expired and went to someone else and now I have to wait 3 weeks to get it back and finish it
left off on chapter 14 -- her life gives me a little bit of anxiety, atm
phew, I'm glad I kept on reading through the anxiety bits to get to the parts where she connects with nature when she is dropped by the Alone crew. what a resilient human! loved reading about her connection to nature, and how she is so thankful for every opportunity, positive or negative, that comes her way.
left off on chapter 14 -- her life gives me a little bit of anxiety, atm
phew, I'm glad I kept on reading through the anxiety bits to get to the parts where she connects with nature when she is dropped by the Alone crew. what a resilient human! loved reading about her connection to nature, and how she is so thankful for every opportunity, positive or negative, that comes her way.
September 9, 2023
This was a great book. I'm not into survivalist stuff, but this was not about that. This was about living in relationship with the land and honoring our ancestors and our connection to everything around us. It was about knowing in non-rational ways. It was deeply moving and affirming. Behind that, it is also an awesome story about surviving some pretty harsh stuff and just how incredible the human body and spirit are. Thanks Woniya for sharing this part of your life with us..
September 11, 2023
I loved this book. Her ability to paint the picture of the arctic was outstanding
August 14, 2023
My husband and I are lovers of the outdoors and camp as often as possible. Thus, when we discovered the Alone series (originally on the History Channel) we began to binge watch it. It’s one of the few “survival” series that doesn’t have a crew of cameramen standing around filming the participants. Instead, the participants film themselves, alone in the wilderness with limited resources.
When Alone Season 6 aired I immediately knew the woman named, Woniya Thibeault, was an exceptional person. Although extremely knowledgeable, it was her deep connection with nature that I identified with. She wasn’t out there to beat nature into submission. She was there to become a part of it. She lived 73 days in the Arctic with temperatures reaching minus forty degrees, living in a shelter she built, and eating only the foods she harvested or caught. And although physically she did suffer—mentally she thrived. I was impressed.
To me, her writing reminds people how connected we used to be with nature … how much our souls still need that connection with the natural world. She shows us that we can all learn and better understand how to make it a more important aspect of our daily lives—to build a reconnection with the natural world around us. I believe she will inspire you. Needless to say, I highly recommend the book!
When Alone Season 6 aired I immediately knew the woman named, Woniya Thibeault, was an exceptional person. Although extremely knowledgeable, it was her deep connection with nature that I identified with. She wasn’t out there to beat nature into submission. She was there to become a part of it. She lived 73 days in the Arctic with temperatures reaching minus forty degrees, living in a shelter she built, and eating only the foods she harvested or caught. And although physically she did suffer—mentally she thrived. I was impressed.
To me, her writing reminds people how connected we used to be with nature … how much our souls still need that connection with the natural world. She shows us that we can all learn and better understand how to make it a more important aspect of our daily lives—to build a reconnection with the natural world around us. I believe she will inspire you. Needless to say, I highly recommend the book!
August 29, 2023
A must read if you’re a fan of the History Channel’s Alone Series. Very interesting book about survival in the Arctic.
August 10, 2023
This book was… nutritious. Have much food for thought now.
I Loved reading more of Woniyas experience, and hearing more and more of how she connected to the land and herself while in the Arctic. Exactly what I craved when watching the show!
Thank you Woniya for writing, and sharing.
I Loved reading more of Woniyas experience, and hearing more and more of how she connected to the land and herself while in the Arctic. Exactly what I craved when watching the show!
Thank you Woniya for writing, and sharing.
August 21, 2023
This book is exactly what I expected and I whole-heartedly recommend it to fans of this show. Can't wait to read her next memoir.
June 5, 2023
Having been lucky enough to read a pre-release copy, I found Never Alone to be an enchanting piece of literature in a relatively new genre: survival naturalism, or as Woniya calls it, surthrival.
Early on, it's clear that this book is not simply about "toughing it out," which would have been apparent to anyone watching the author on Season 6 of Alone, though it sure was tough: the intensity level in these pages was often surprising to me. Note: this book is not for the faint of heart!
And yet there is an incredible freshness throughout, as if we are again and again seeing the natural world for the first time. Woniya calls on her ancestors to show us that we are always in the presence of our relations, be they animal, plant, mineral, or even the earth and sky themselves.
Ultimately, this book challenged me. It made me see food and comfort in a new light, having been forced to re-assess what abundance and scarcity really are, and what it means to have access to the conveniences of the modern world all the time. We all take so much for granted, and it seems to be human nature to think that if we were dropped in a difficult wild environment, we would feel so alone. Woniya manages to turn that expectation on its head in this wonderful ode to the natural world, the human spirit, and their intricate and interwoven deep relationship with each other.
As a fan of the naturalist and survivalist genres, I had a feeling I would like this book. Having read it, I cannot recommend it enough!
Early on, it's clear that this book is not simply about "toughing it out," which would have been apparent to anyone watching the author on Season 6 of Alone, though it sure was tough: the intensity level in these pages was often surprising to me. Note: this book is not for the faint of heart!
And yet there is an incredible freshness throughout, as if we are again and again seeing the natural world for the first time. Woniya calls on her ancestors to show us that we are always in the presence of our relations, be they animal, plant, mineral, or even the earth and sky themselves.
Ultimately, this book challenged me. It made me see food and comfort in a new light, having been forced to re-assess what abundance and scarcity really are, and what it means to have access to the conveniences of the modern world all the time. We all take so much for granted, and it seems to be human nature to think that if we were dropped in a difficult wild environment, we would feel so alone. Woniya manages to turn that expectation on its head in this wonderful ode to the natural world, the human spirit, and their intricate and interwoven deep relationship with each other.
As a fan of the naturalist and survivalist genres, I had a feeling I would like this book. Having read it, I cannot recommend it enough!
November 28, 2024
This book and the human that wrote it are so wonderful! So much so that I had to write an entire blog post summarizing the top five biggest takeaways from Woniya's journey. Check it out at the link below.
The 5 Most Potent Offerings In Never Alone By Woniya Thibeault
Here is an excerpt:
When most of us think about surviving out in the wild, we envision prioritizing the basics–water, shelter, food. If we’re thriving so well that we get all those boxes thoroughly checked, then maybe we’d progress to focusing on comfort, convenience, making life a little easier on ourselves. But that’s a big “if.” Most of the wilderness survival experts throughout all the seasons of “Alone” never make it past the stage of constructing a long-term shelter and generating a reliable supply of food.
Woniya’s approach was different. Yes, she was strategic about her shelter location and attempted multiple active and passive food procuring methods. But she also took time to notice the colors in the sunset. She kept note of the days of her stay that were prime numbers; in actuality it didn’t have any material significance, yet to her, she made it a thing. Rather, she allowed it to be a thing.
What to others would be a distraction, a waste of energy, is actually a source of energy for her.
Woniya herself even says in the book, “we can be nourished by a lot of things.”
The 5 Most Potent Offerings In Never Alone By Woniya Thibeault
Here is an excerpt:
When most of us think about surviving out in the wild, we envision prioritizing the basics–water, shelter, food. If we’re thriving so well that we get all those boxes thoroughly checked, then maybe we’d progress to focusing on comfort, convenience, making life a little easier on ourselves. But that’s a big “if.” Most of the wilderness survival experts throughout all the seasons of “Alone” never make it past the stage of constructing a long-term shelter and generating a reliable supply of food.
Woniya’s approach was different. Yes, she was strategic about her shelter location and attempted multiple active and passive food procuring methods. But she also took time to notice the colors in the sunset. She kept note of the days of her stay that were prime numbers; in actuality it didn’t have any material significance, yet to her, she made it a thing. Rather, she allowed it to be a thing.
What to others would be a distraction, a waste of energy, is actually a source of energy for her.
Woniya herself even says in the book, “we can be nourished by a lot of things.”
September 7, 2024
Season 11 of Alone just ended a couple weeks ago (congrats to the winner!) and then I came across this book. I watched the season Woniya was on so I thought it would be an interesting read to get a firsthand account of what it was like and what she experienced.
Woniya came in second place that season, lasting 72 days ... she "tapped out" on her 43rd birthday. This book tells of her survival over those 72 days and the things she had to do. She also gives us some background about herself and her beliefs and what took her to go on such an adventure. Throughout her 72 days, she always expressed gratitude to the wildlife, trees, plants, etc. that gave their lives so she could be there and respected the land and those who had been there before her. The last couple chapters were especially interesting as she talked about what it was like making the final decision to "tap out" and her recovery back to reality. She went on to return and win Alone: Frozen (whoever lasted 50 days won $500,000US).
Though the prize money is $500,000US, you'll never see me doing it but it's interesting to see what drives others to.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2024/09...
Woniya came in second place that season, lasting 72 days ... she "tapped out" on her 43rd birthday. This book tells of her survival over those 72 days and the things she had to do. She also gives us some background about herself and her beliefs and what took her to go on such an adventure. Throughout her 72 days, she always expressed gratitude to the wildlife, trees, plants, etc. that gave their lives so she could be there and respected the land and those who had been there before her. The last couple chapters were especially interesting as she talked about what it was like making the final decision to "tap out" and her recovery back to reality. She went on to return and win Alone: Frozen (whoever lasted 50 days won $500,000US).
Though the prize money is $500,000US, you'll never see me doing it but it's interesting to see what drives others to.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2024/09...
July 17, 2024
Profoundly beautiful and utterly fascinating.
The message of self love and oneness with
the wild/nature resonates with me.
Woniya’s heartfelt and honest sharing of her experience is both uplifting and well written.
I loved that among the survival skills she listed gratitude and staying positive. One you spiral into the negative place everything looks bleak. I was amazed that even when things went horribly wrong or disappoint loomed big she always found something to be grateful for or something beautiful to be in awe of. She also is unafraid to share some pretty personal trials that had me laughing while horrified as I could really just imagine it so clearly from her excellent descriptions. Things that make a good story to tell later but are absolutely horrible while you experience them.
The whole book is her gift to anyone that will accept it with open heart.💜
Thank you Woniya. I will be sharing this book with others
The message of self love and oneness with
the wild/nature resonates with me.
Woniya’s heartfelt and honest sharing of her experience is both uplifting and well written.
I loved that among the survival skills she listed gratitude and staying positive. One you spiral into the negative place everything looks bleak. I was amazed that even when things went horribly wrong or disappoint loomed big she always found something to be grateful for or something beautiful to be in awe of. She also is unafraid to share some pretty personal trials that had me laughing while horrified as I could really just imagine it so clearly from her excellent descriptions. Things that make a good story to tell later but are absolutely horrible while you experience them.
The whole book is her gift to anyone that will accept it with open heart.💜
Thank you Woniya. I will be sharing this book with others
June 26, 2024
Fantastic! I enjoyed the Audible version, which was narrated by the author. Her emotions during her experiences came through, and it made this a very personal retelling of an adventure of surthrival (not survival!) and self discovery. My job is making documents accessible to the visually impaired, and asking people to describe the materials in their reports is the most challenging aspect of my job. Imagine my absolute joy when she thoroughly described her photographs. What a thoughtful person to make this tale accessible to everyone. Plus, when I was feeling a little let-down because her story was over, I discovered that she added some bonus material at the end. It helped me ease may way out of the book. This was a stellar experience by a generous author. I wish I'd read it earlier.
March 26, 2024
So grateful that Thibeault put this down in words for us to read. Humble, honest, raw, profound. Her words and experiences resonated deeply with me, as a person who has longed for a deeper spiritual connection to the land and to nature. For us to realize a better world, I think we all need to integrate our understanding of ourselves as part of the natural world around us rather than separate from it and to become more spiritually open to the beings and land around us. Woniya’s approach to the wild honors humanity’s place as spiritually and physically part of nature rather than separate from it. I can’t wait to see more from her and I hope to take classes from her someday.
August 10, 2024
Written by a contestant on season 6 of “Alone”, this is a heartfelt exploration not only of her time in the Arctic but of herself and her relationship to the world.
I’ve always loved survival stories, real and fictional, and this scratches that itch very nicely. But it also fed parts of me that were hungry for reflective thought and examination of my world and my place in it. I don’t have any new answers but I know that I need to make more time for that kind of reflection in my own life.
Her final thoughts, on living and appreciating her body for what it has achieved and the strength it has, are definitely inspirational to me and comforting.
She’s an engaging writer, it’s written well and vividly and is a wonderful peek into the life of someone I admire tremendously.
I’ve always loved survival stories, real and fictional, and this scratches that itch very nicely. But it also fed parts of me that were hungry for reflective thought and examination of my world and my place in it. I don’t have any new answers but I know that I need to make more time for that kind of reflection in my own life.
Her final thoughts, on living and appreciating her body for what it has achieved and the strength it has, are definitely inspirational to me and comforting.
She’s an engaging writer, it’s written well and vividly and is a wonderful peek into the life of someone I admire tremendously.
February 14, 2024
couldn't stop reading --so stressful just to imagine her suffering and determination.
I've since read or viewed a couple of interviews, and she looks great and sounds cheerful, certainly not like someone who'd recently lost 1/3 of her body weight!
It doesn't mention the many weeks of almost intensive care and very gradual feeding regime Woniya required just to help her body adjust to not being starved and nearly frozen! I was also impressed with her beautiful strong teeth as I was imagining that her gums would have receded, and her teeth fallen out.
I hope to reread parts of the book.
I've since read or viewed a couple of interviews, and she looks great and sounds cheerful, certainly not like someone who'd recently lost 1/3 of her body weight!
It doesn't mention the many weeks of almost intensive care and very gradual feeding regime Woniya required just to help her body adjust to not being starved and nearly frozen! I was also impressed with her beautiful strong teeth as I was imagining that her gums would have receded, and her teeth fallen out.
I hope to reread parts of the book.
December 31, 2023
This was a book I could not put down. Not only was it really interesting to hear the story of her time in the arctic, she has many thought-provoking things to say about our connection to nature. I think she knows not everyone is going to choose to live in the way she does, but I think anyone who reads this will be positively influenced and challenged and inspired to get outside and look at everything a little bit differently than before.
January 1, 2024
Woniya is endlessly inspiring. Her account of her time in the wilderness, and life experience prior I found to be relatable and filled with stories I was honored to have a window into. Her time on Alone was conveyed with the perfect mix of spirit, ambition, appreciation for the land and animals, and ultimately listening to one’s inner voice, body, and the ancestors of her past. Absolutely cannot wait for the next book to be released.
December 20, 2023
I found this memoir of her time in the Arctic wilderness compelling and deeply moving. Her experience was a series of crises and victories around creating shelter and obtaining food in that environment. That she also had practices honoring her own spirit and the spirit of her ancestors speaks to her deep sense of belonging there.
February 20, 2025
Wow! What an amazing and touching true story. This non-fiction reads like the best fiction. I had to learn to savor the words, to take these beautiful lessons in small bites so as to get the most out of them. I'm so grateful for thus and so happy that people like Woniya Thibeault exist. Everyone should read this book.
August 5, 2025
I really enjoy watching Alone. Season 12 is about halfway through. I saw many references to this book and had the impression it would be a bit more about the workings of the show. Like lists of possible items participates can bring.
It did discuss the selection process which might explain the possible disconnect between what season 12 people expected vs where they went.
It did discuss the selection process which might explain the possible disconnect between what season 12 people expected vs where they went.
August 19, 2023
I read this on vacation, after listening to an interview w/ the author on public radio. Loved it! Good, descriptive writing that brought me into the Arctic setting, and as a woman, I found it an inspiration to be more adventurous. Thank you, Woniya, for writing this!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews