Mountain Men Former Cast: What Happened to Them? (2025 Update)
With Season 14 of the History Channel’s Mountain Men premiering on September 3, 2025 at 8/7c, excitement is higher than ever. This milestone season will deliver new challenges and survival stories, but it is also historic for another reason: it marks the final season for legendary trapper Tom Oar, the last original cast member still standing since the show’s 2012 debut. After more than a decade of showcasing life in Montana’s Yaak River Valley, Tom is ready to step back at age 81, closing out a chapter that has defined the spirit of the series.
Season 14 also ushers in new faces, including Chance and Soraya Painter, who are venturing into the Alaskan wilderness with their young family, bringing a fresh perspective to the survival saga. But as fans gear up for new adventures, many can’t help but reflect on the unforgettable personalities who paved the way—cons like Eustace Conway, who built a legacy in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Rich Lewis, known for his mountain lion tracking in Montana. Some retired, others quietly stepped away, and a few passed away.
From trappers in Alaska to ranchers in Wyoming and survivalists in Idaho, each of these individuals shaped the show’s legacy. As the series enters a new era, the question lingers: what happened to the former cast members of Mountain Men?
Table of Contents
Eustace Conway (Season 1-12, 2012-2023)
Eustace Conway, often described as a real-life Thoreau, was one of the most magnetic personalities on Mountain Men. He retired after Season 12, officially ending his long run on the series. For decades, Conway has lived deliberately at Turtle Island Preserve in North Carolina, a 1,000-acre wilderness classroom he founded in 1987 to teach primitive living and sustainable skills.
On the show, Conway was admired for his authenticity—tanning hides, crafting tools, and building cabins with his own hands. The History Channel highlighted memorable moments like his fight to keep Turtle Island financially afloat, his battle with predators in his henhouse, and his ingenious backwoods builds such as a massive firepit. These episodes showcased not just survival, but a philosophy of resilience and tradition.
Outside of television, Conway’s work remains highly active. At Turtle Island, he organizes hands-on workshops that range from forestry and timber harvesting to hide tanning, knife making, and natural building. His social media updates from 2024 and 2025 show him personally leading sessions where participants learn to manage forests responsibly, build shelters, and cook meals over wood fires while staying in rustic housing. He also offers school programs, inviting groups of children to experience blacksmithing, horse care, fire-by-friction, and other outdoor education skills. In March 2025, he announced bookings for school field trips into 2026, highlighting his long-term commitment to education.
Beyond Turtle Island, Conway has developed rental properties in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Boone, North Carolina. Restored cabins such as “The Red Fox” have been turned into signature Airbnb retreats where guests enjoy sweeping mountain views. In August and September 2024, he promoted these homes on social media as places to decompress, connect with nature, and experience the landscape he has cherished. He has also used his platform to recruit skilled workers for projects, emphasizing carpentry, homesteading experience, and reliability.
Widely referred to as “The Last American Man,” his retirement from the series marked the end of his televised appearances, but his workshops, educational programs, and retreat rentals demonstrate that his approach to sustainable and traditional living is still thriving and accessible to the public.
Rich Lewis (Seasons 2–6, 2013–2017)
Rich Lewis, famously nicknamed the “Lion Hunter,” became a fan favorite for his fearless tracking of mountain lions in Montana’s Ruby Valley. Introduced in Season 2, he was often shown with his loyal pack of hounds, scouring the valley to protect neighbors and livestock from predators. Episode guides highlight some of Lewis’s most dramatic moments. In Season 2, he and his pack were locked in a tense pursuit of the infamous lion called “Three-Toes,” a storyline that spanned episodes as he tracked the predator across the Ruby Valley. Another standout moment came in the episode “Ticking Clock,” where a cougar hunt unexpectedly turned into a dangerous bear encounter, underscoring the unpredictable hazards he faced. In Season 3’s “Closest Calls,” Rich was shown scaling perilous ground when his dogs chased a mountain lion into a cave, forcing him into a risky confrontation and reminding viewers of the constant danger behind each hunt. Beyond the lion chases, Lewis was also shown repairing storm-damaged fences, trudging through deep snow to locate lost dogs, and working tirelessly to keep his hounds healthy and fed through harsh Montana winters. His final season, Season 6 in 2017, featured storylines that further tested his endurance. In the episode “Breakage”, what began as a routine training exercise with his dogs quickly escalated into a live battle when the pack encountered an unexpected predator. Later in “Stand Your Ground”, Rich embarked on a marathon lion hunt, pushing himself and his hounds through treacherous terrain in a dramatic showcase of both skill and stamina. These episodes highlighted not only the dangers he continued to face but also underscored why he ultimately felt it was time to step away from the series.
After six seasons, Lewis chose to leave the series. His exit was not due to production conflict but his own decision, as he explained that the physical demands of lion hunting combined with age made it increasingly difficult to continue. He acknowledged that he was “getting too old” for the dangers of chasing mountain lions through rugged terrain, and stepping back was a practical necessity.
In the years following his departure, Rich has lived a quieter life in Montana with his wife, Diane. The couple is reported to own property near Sheridan, where they continue a simple, self‑sufficient lifestyle away from the spotlight. Although little is publicly known about his daily routine, he has not returned to Mountain Men or hinted at making a comeback. Over the years, Rich has not maintained any social media presence, but fans have occasionally spotted him in Montana and shared their encounters online. In 2019, one fan met him unexpectedly at a Walmart and described spending time chatting with him when few others recognized who he was. In 2022, a journalist posted about meeting him in the Montana mountains, noting that he lived simply and off the grid with his own independent systems for heating and power. More recently, in February 2025, fans have posted photos of meeting him at local shops and community events, describing how much it meant to meet the man they had watched hunt lions and protect ranches on television. These sightings confirm that while Rich avoids publicity, he still lives in Montana and continues to be recognized as one of the show’s most memorable figures.
George Michaud (Season 2, 2013)
George Michaud appeared only in Season 2 of Mountain Men, but his lifestyle and skills made a strong impression. A fur trapper from Idaho, Michaud lived in a handcrafted tepee and spent his days running a dog sled through the rugged Tetons and along the Snake River. His knowledge of Native American hunting techniques set him apart, and he even revived a traditional trapping strategy known as the “promontory peg,” which had nearly disappeared from use. Episodes such as “End of the Line” and “Thin Ice” showed him battling harsh weather, navigating treacherous terrain on foot, and relying on his dogs to survive in isolation.
In later years, Michaud confirmed his appearance through personal posts. In 2020, he mentioned friends spotting him in reruns of the episode where his dog Ty chewed up his tepee, proof that his brief storyline remained memorable enough to resurface years later. His updates since then offer rare insight into life after the show. In June 2021, he revealed that chronic back and leg pain had started to slow him down while setting beaver traps, and doctors later diagnosed sciatic nerve issues that required steroid shots and physical therapy.
That same year he posted a heartfelt tribute to his longtime partner Edith, who had passed away in 2017. He shared photos of their life together—from an image of them at Rabbit Stick in 1996 to one of Edith in her later years—describing the heartbreak of losing her while also expressing gratitude that she was no longer suffering. These posts gave fans a deeply personal glimpse into his private life, underscoring how central Edith was to his story.
Michaud has also reflected on the eight years he and Edith spent at 8,500 feet on the Continental Divide, where they endured –50°F to –60°F winters, hurricane‑force winds, and months cut off from the outside world. He called it the best period of his life, when they melted snow for water, survived without electricity, and truly learned winter survival. He also recounted earlier chapters, such as living in Colorado before moving to Wyoming to work with dog sled tours, where he trapped fur and lived on game like antelope, elk, rabbits, ducks, grouse, and beaver. Even as age and health slowed him down, he continued teaching traditional practices like brain tanning, reminding followers how tough the work is for newcomers.
While George Michaud never returned to Mountain Men beyond Season 2, his posts provide a timeline that answers lingering questions about his later life: he faced health struggles, mourned the death of his partner, and reflected proudly on years of extreme survival. Today, he continues to live quietly in Idaho, still committed to the old ways and remembered by fans as one of the most authentic figures ever to appear on the series.through personal posts. In 2020, he referenced friend recognizing him in the episode where his dog Ty chewed up his tepee, noting another episode would air the following night. This shows that his storyline, though limited to a single season, remained memorable enough to be rerun years later and still spark recognition from viewers.
Charlie Tucker
Charlie Tucker, a seasoned logger and fur trapper from northern Maine, became a familiar face during Seasons 2–3 (2013–2014) of Mountain Men. Before cameras arrived, Charlie had spent more than 25 years as a logger in the North Maine Woods. He later transitioned into a fully off‑grid life in a hand‑built log cabin, living by trapping, hunting, and his own resourcefulness.
On the show, audiences followed him as he rebuilt trap lines after a shoulder injury, navigated frozen lakes, and demonstrated the grind of wilderness survival. Season 3 provided especially vivid moments. In one segment, Charlie constructed an improvised latrine and snow shelter, noting that he often worked without blueprints and relied on instinct. He pointed out that such a structure could double as an emergency shelter—showing how survival often meant making one task serve two purposes. Another episode depicted the painstaking work of flushing and stretching beaver pelts. Charlie explained how every trapper had a technique, but he emphasized that removing all fat and grease and avoiding overstretching meant thicker, more valuable furs. Watching him tack hides to large plywood patterns gave insight into the economic side of trapping: in his words, the finished pelts looked like “dollar bills” on a board.
Episode 11 of Season 3 highlighted the constant dangers of travel in the Maine wilderness. To cross the frozen Machias River, Charlie used his chisel to test ice hidden under snow, listening for cracks and feeling for weak spots. Knowing his sled weighed 150 pounds, he carefully sent it across first before risking his own weight. The scene illustrated the judgment calls that separated safe passage from disaster.
After leaving Mountain Men, and following the exhausting labor and constant risks shown during his Season 3 appearances, Charlie chose to step away from television and return to private life. His homestead, nicknamed Camp Tucker‑Inn, became a small local landmark where he sometimes welcomed visitors, sharing tea and stories about his years in the North Woods. Maine papers noted his involvement in community forestry programs and his reputation as a storyteller who valued the old ways. In June 2020, Tucker joined fellow trapper Billy “Bog” Thompson for a three‑part interview on Jeremiah Wood’s Trapping Today podcast—Episodes 133 (June 7), 134 (June 14), and 135 (June 20). In these long‑form conversations, he spoke about open‑water beaver seasons, marten and fisher cycles, lure tactics, and how the show portrayed his trapline. He also reflected on stepping back from personal trapping, saying the returns no longer justified killing animals, though he continued to help friends with beaver work and planned to target marten and fisher selectively. Tucker reminisced about a standout season when he and a partner caught 70 marten in just seven days—one of the best runs of his career—and discussed how changes in Maine’s forests and rising raptor populations were reshaping conditions for small game. He noted the impact of increased raptor numbers on small game and voiced caution about the future of marten in heavily cut forests, though he believed fisher and lynx would continue to thrive.
For those wondering what happened to him after leaving the series, the 2020 podcast interviews and local reporting provide a clear record of Charlie’s activities. He reduced his own trapping, assisted friends with beaver work, and spoke about selective plans for marten and fisher. He also raised concerns about how changes in Maine’s forests and predator populations affect small game. Tucker is on record telling producers, “I hate when you don’t have reality,” a remark consistent with his choice to step away from television. His departure after Season 3 was voluntary, and available sources describe him continuing an off‑grid lifestyle in northern Maine, participating in community forestry, and not returning to media projects.
Kyle Bell
Kyle Bell and his son Ben appeared in Seasons 3–4 (2014–2015) of Mountain Men, based in New Mexico’s Cimarron Valley. Their storyline highlighted ranch life, father‑son survival lessons, and the challenges of managing a 45,000‑acre property. Viewers saw Kyle teaching Ben to track and hunt, guiding cattle through rugged terrain, and even attempting to break a wild colt—moments that emphasized both the unpredictability of the land and the importance of passing down skills to the next generation. In one dramatic episode, they worked together to save a herd of bison from a dangerous winter storm, underscoring the constant tension between ranching and survival in the high country.
After Season 4, Kyle and Ben stepped away from the show. In April 2016, they appeared at SLC Preppercon, where they promoted a venture called Survival Sense. Kyle explained that the project was built around teaching “common sense survival skills” that people knew 150 years ago but many have forgotten. Through the website SurvivalSense.net and related videos, he demonstrated basics like fire‑building and shelter construction in a family‑friendly way, noting that the goal was free public education in practical outdoor skills. While the project later went inactive, it showed the Bells’ commitment to sharing knowledge beyond television.
In the years after leaving TV, Kyle remained active in New Mexico as an outfitter and guide. Alongside his wife, LeVonne, he runs Folsom Outfitters, offering hunts and backcountry adventures in the Cimarron Valley. Outdoor host Jimmy Sites has frequently highlighted Kyle’s work, posting photos and episodes between 2017 and 2019 that featured Kyle leading mule deer hunts, telling stories from his years in the mountains, and occasionally appearing with his son Ben. These appearances confirmed that even after television, Kyle continued guiding and teaching. In 2022, Sites noted that Kyle had been part of his outdoor films long before Mountain Men, evidence of his long‑standing role in the guiding and outdoor media world.
For those wondering what happened to Kyle Bell, he chose to step away from television but not from the wilderness life he practiced. He continues to live and work in New Mexico, remembered on Mountain Men for bringing one of the most genuine father‑son survival storylines to the series and for carrying on that lifestyle off‑camera through guiding, teaching, and outfitting.
Morgan Beasley and Margaret Stern
Morgan Beasley joined in Season 4 (2015), showcasing his Alaskan homesteading life, and remained until Season 8 (2019). Margaret Stern, his partner in Alaska, appeared from Seasons 6–8. On the show, Morgan was often seen trekking across Alaska’s rugged terrain with his sled dogs, hauling supplies over vast distances, and using his bush‑flying skills to access their remote base. Margaret, a trained botanist and wilderness expert, contributed by tending gardens, preserving food, and helping build and maintain their cabin, showing the essential balance of skills needed to survive Alaska’s unforgiving winters. Together, they portrayed the realities of true subsistence living—hunting, trapping, and managing a homestead deep in the Alaska Range.
After leaving the series in 2019, Morgan Beasley and Margaret Stern shifted their focus to Apricity Alaska, their wilderness homestead located roughly 150–165 miles from the nearest road and accessible only by bush plane. From 2015 through June 2022, they co-managed the homestead, gradually developing it from its early construction into a functioning off-grid destination. During this period, they offered seasonal pack trips with Icelandic horses, guided expeditions into the Alaska Range, and rustic backcountry lodging for visitors seeking an authentic wilderness experience.
In December 2020, Morgan confirmed that he would not return to Mountain Men. Around that time, he launched a limited-run video project called Alaska Range Homestead, distributed on Vimeo and Patreon, where he documented bush-plane logistics, subsistence practices, and homestead routines. The series was short-lived, and Morgan soon returned his full attention to managing Apricity.
By June 2022, Margaret Stern decided to pursue other opportunities elsewhere in Alaska, marking her departure from Apricity. She has since focused on environmental advocacy and community outreach, serving as the Program and Communications Director for the Susitna River Coalition in Talkeetna. In that role, she works to protect salmon habitats and wild lands threatened by proposed projects like the Susitna-Watana Dam and West Susitna Access Road. She also appeared on conservation podcasts, such as Wet Fly Swing in October 2022.
In 2024 and 2025, Stern expanded her work into guiding and ecology-based expeditions. In January 2025, she shared updates from a 75‑mile desert backpacking and plant survey trip in Saguaro National Park, Arizona, where she documented unique desert biotic communities. In May 2025, she traveled internationally, joining a horseback expedition through Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, describing it as an unforgettable wilderness experience. By July 2025, she was back in Alaska, guiding a seven-day trek through the Talkeetna Mountains for Denali Trekking, where her group encountered tundra, wetlands, and even spotted wolves. These recent activities show that Stern remains actively engaged in guiding, ecology, and wilderness education both in Alaska and abroad.
Since Margaret’s departure, Morgan has continued to operate the homestead on his own, overseeing logistics, guest accommodations, and subsistence work. Apricity Alaska remains active today as a seasonal wilderness destination, with occasional updates posted on its Instagram account (@ak_homestead) and Morgan’s YouTube channel, though new uploads are rare. For those wondering what happened to Morgan Beasley after Mountain Men, he continues to live and work off-grid in Alaska, running the homestead he built from scratch and carrying on the lifestyle that defined his years on the show.
Jason Hawk
Jason Hawk (June 1975 – January 28, 2025) was a blacksmith and bladesmith who joined Mountain Men in Season 5 and went on to appear in 49 episodes through Season 9 (2015–2019). On the series, he became recognized for forging knives in his Ozark workshop, smelting local ore to produce his first blade from Ozark steel, and building an outdoor forge to expand his craft. His episodes also followed his life with wife Mary and their children, showing how the family endured harsh Arkansas winters without electricity or running water, hunted and foraged for food, and adapted to a historic log homestead near the White River. His storylines combined traditional craftsmanship with the challenges of family survival, presenting him as a skilled artisan and provider who embraced frontier-style living.
Jason’s time on the show ended as he faced serious health struggles. In January 2021, Mary launched a GoFundMe campaign revealing that Jason had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor after a year of unexplained pain. At first, the cancer was advanced but isolated, and doctors prescribed weeks of intensive chemotherapy and radiation followed by stronger chemotherapy with the hope of eventual surgery. Mary explained that their contract with Mountain Men was not renewed, leaving the family without television income at the same time medical bills began to mount. Fans and the outdoor community responded with donations that helped sustain them through the first phases of treatment.
Despite undergoing surgery and months of aggressive therapy, Jason’s condition later worsened. In July 2024, Mary shared that he had been hospitalized at Mercy Hospital in Fort Smith, Arkansas, after losing nearly 20 pounds from vomiting and dehydration. Tests revealed the cancer had returned, with tumors and scar tissue encasing his lower intestine. Surgeons performed a bypass to restore digestion, but scans also showed suspicious growths in his lungs and abdomen. With the family between health insurance providers, the expenses fell entirely out of pocket, and Mary again turned to public support as they navigated both medical and financial challenges.
By January 2025, Mary confirmed that Jason’s cancer had spread to his lungs, liver, abdomen, and lymph nodes. He was no longer eligible for genetic treatments and chose to remain at home under hospice care. Though largely confined to bed and chair, he continued to visit his knife shop when possible and relied on weekly hospice visits for pain management. Mary described the final months as heartbreaking but noted the family’s gratitude for the prayers and support that helped carry them through. Jason passed away peacefully on January 28, 2025, at the age of 49, surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his wife Mary Fricchione and their children Kamui, River, and Madeline. Jason’s legacy endures through Outlaw Forge Works, the blades and tools he created, and the skills he shared with craft and survivalist communities. Remembered as both a craftsman and a family man, he left behind a record of resilience and artistry that resonated with audiences on Mountain Men and beyond.
Preston Roberts
Preston James Roberts (July 17, 1957 – July 24, 2017) was a co‑founder of Turtle Island Preserve and a central figure on Mountain Men. He first appeared in Season 1 (2012) alongside his close friend Eustace Conway. On Mountain Men, Roberts was often shown working side by side with Eustace Conway at Turtle Island Preserve, tackling projects vital to day‑to‑day survival. Together they repaired aging cabins, built water systems, felled trees, and taught primitive skills to visitors. One memorable example came in Season 3, Episode 4, when the pair laid the foundation for a 2,400‑square‑foot lumber building. Without heavy machinery, they moved 400‑pound locust beams by hand and set them onto foundation stones—an impressive display of traditional Appalachian craftsmanship. These moments highlighted Roberts as both a problem solver and a mentor, making him central to many of the preserve’s most enduring storylines.
In early July 2017, while still teaching at Turtle Island’s summer camp, Preston was diagnosed with an inoperable liver tumor. Just three weeks later, he passed away peacefully on July 24, 2017, at the age of 60, surrounded by his wife Kathleen and loved ones. His death was addressed in Season 7 of the series, where Eustace openly grieved the loss of his longtime friend.
Preston’s passing remains one of the most significant losses in the show’s history. To honor his memory, Turtle Island Preserve created the Preston Roberts Memorial Scholarship, partly funded by auctions of his handcrafted knives, to support young people learning wilderness skills. Viewers often search for “What happened to Preston Roberts on Mountain Men?”—and the answer is that he was active on the series until shortly before his passing. His influence continues through Turtle Island Preserve, the scholarship program, and the lasting impact he left on the show’s community.
Brent Jameson
Brent Jameson made his debut in Season 6, appearing in six episodes in 2017. Born in Alaska, he returned at age 33 to reclaim his roots after years of city life in Seattle, Los Angeles, and Nashville. His storyline opened at Point Gustavus in the Alexander Archipelago, where he set out to establish a permanent homestead on a 10‑acre plot of family land. Jameson described Southeast Alaska as the only place that ever felt like home and sold off his city possessions to fully commit to this new life. A carpenter by trade, he relied on both his bush upbringing and purchased supplies from the Lower 48 to build shelter before winter set in. Viewers watched him camp in a canvas tent, cook on pine boughs, and race to construct a cabin while braving freezing conditions. He also risked dangerous crossings in a small skiff to collect salt‑cured driftwood from nearby islands, explaining how the tides and currents of Glacier Bay created both opportunity and peril.
Despite his determination, Jameson did not return in subsequent seasons after Season 6. Since leaving the show, no new updates about his life have surfaced publicly, and he has remained out of the spotlight, leaving fans to wonder how his Alaskan homestead project unfolded.
Josh Kirk
Josh Kirk appeared on Mountain Men from Seasons 9–11, where he became known for raising and protecting a herd of about 400 bison in Wyoming’s Wind River Range. His on‑screen highlights included defending newborn calves from wolves, salvaging parts from bison killed by predators, and creating a water supply system for his growing herd. He also demonstrated traditional skills such as blacksmithing and brain‑tanning, reflecting his philosophy that survival meant more than just staying alive—it was about maintaining heritage skills and living in balance with the land.
In interviews, Kirk explained that his lifestyle was not made‑for‑TV but simply his reality, shaped by a backwoods upbringing in Georgia within an Amish‑Mennonite community. He described himself as having gone to the “school of the woods,” learning survival through practice and perseverance. On the show, viewers also saw him pan for gold, build infrastructure for his ranch, and manage the daily risks of Wyoming’s extreme weather and predator threats.
By 2023, Kirk confirmed he would not be returning to Mountain Men. Instead, he turned his focus toward conservation work, bison ranch management, and teaching through wilderness apprenticeship programs designed to pass down mountain man skills to the next generation. He continues to ranch and guide in Wyoming, occasionally featuring in hunting and outdoor publications, and shares glimpses of his off‑grid lifestyle through social media. Today, Josh remains deeply involved in preserving both the land and the frontier traditions that defined his time on the series.
Martha Tansy
Martha Tansy, a survivalist and former U.S. Army Vehicle Recovery Team NCO, appeared in Seasons 10–11 (2021–2022) of Mountain Men. Based in south‑central Alaska with her daughter Elli, she was portrayed as the designated hunter for a local Athabascan community, responsible for harvesting the subsistence meat that sustained them. Her on‑screen storylines highlighted both her resilience and her ability to repair vehicles, hunt large game, and pass on traditional knowledge to her daughter.
Before joining the show, Martha built a reputation as a skilled mechanic and off‑road racer, competing in events such as the Baja 1000, King of the Hammers, and Rebelle Rally. Her Army background as a recovery mechanic gave her the expertise to repair equipment in the field, while her racing experience taught her how to improvise under pressure. These skills translated directly to her time on Mountain Men, where she balanced technical know‑how with subsistence hunting. Elli, too, became part of the story—she was featured tanning hides and even joining caribou hunts by age seven.
Martha’s final stretch on the series concluded in Season 11 (2022). One of her most memorable appearances came in Episode 10, when she and Elli recovered from one of the worst storms they had experienced in Alaska. With roads destroyed and trees down, they tested their newly built truck outfitted with a 16,500‑pound winch. The episode showed Martha teaching Elli to install and operate the winch, using the moment as a lesson in mechanics and survival while they cleared their only road to town. She made her final appearance two episodes later, in Season 11, Episode 12.
After wrapping Season 11 in 2022, Martha stayed in the Hatcher Pass area of south‑central Alaska and continued running a subsistence program that supplies meat to elders and families in need. In a July 2023 American Outdoor News interview, she explained that in a typical year she harvests 6–12 moose and caribou, butchers and packages them at a remote base camp, and uses solar‑powered freezers before volunteers collect the meat at the trailhead for delivery. She maintains a list of requests from local elders—such as ribs or heart—and coordinates drop‑offs when she regains cell service. She also described frequent backcountry assists, helping stranded or broken‑down travelers, and managing bear encounters around meat caches.
Martha continues teaching mechanics and field repair to her daughter Elli, while also practicing traditional hide tanning methods (both dry‑scrape and wet‑scrape with brain tanning). Elli began hunting young and harvested her first caribou at about age 6–7. Organized off‑road racing paused during the COVID‑19 pandemic, which kept them in the woods; during that time, Martha and industry partners built Elli’s first custom truck with support from companies like Keystone Automotive (TrailFX, WARN/Factor 55, Fabtech, Fab Fours). By 2023, Martha consolidated her outreach under the name Spirit‑Led Adventures, blending survival education with ministry‑driven service.
Health Challenges and Community Support (2024–2025)
Building on the themes she shared in her 2023 American Outdoor News interview—of resilience, service, and faith—Martha’s journey took a difficult turn in 2024 and 2025 when health challenges became her greatest survival test yet. In April 2024, she was injured after a driver ran a red light and broadsided her jeep. Though she walked away, she suffered a concussion and other injuries that left her unable to work and without a vehicle. A fundraiser called “Tansy’s Recovery” was launched to help her replace her jeep and manage expenses during recovery.
Later that year, in October 2024, her health struggles deepened. A second campaign—“Martha Tansy Medical Fundraiser”—was organized by her friend Michele Morikawa. Updates explained that Martha and Elli had returned from Denver’s National Jewish Hospital, where she underwent critical procedures. The fundraiser revealed how her condition had worsened to the point of requiring multiple surgeries, wheelchair use, and specialized care, with a goal of $20,000 to cover treatment, travel, and daily living needs.
By January 2025, Michele reported that Martha was preparing another trip to Denver for further diagnostics and surgery prep. Throughout, the updates highlighted Martha’s gratitude for the outpouring of prayers, donations, and encouragement that allowed her to keep moving forward.
As of 2025, Martha’s journey embodies both resilience and vulnerability. Once celebrated on Mountain Men for hauling moose through Alaskan storms and teaching Elli survival skills, she now faces her toughest battle in the realm of health. Yet, just as she once served her community through subsistence hunting, mechanical expertise, and ministry, that same community has rallied behind her. Through faith, determination, and collective support, Martha continues to fight—proving that her story is far from over.
Harry & Kidd Youren
Harry and Kidd Youren, multi‑generation ranchers from Idaho, joined Mountain Men in Season 8 (2019) and remained until Season 12 (2023). Across those five seasons, they became central figures in the later storylines, consistently demonstrating the skills of working ranchers and professional outfitters. Their time on the show was marked by high‑stakes challenges that highlighted both their family’s six‑generation ranching heritage and their ability to adapt in remote country.
In Season 8, viewers saw the Yourens rescue horses threatened by a wolf pack, a sequence that underlined their role as protectors of livestock in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Episode 10, “All or Nothing,” documented Kidd navigating dangerous rapids on the Boise River in a drift boat while scouting untouched meadows for summer grazing—a calculated risk taken to expand their ranching opportunities. That same season, the brothers tracked a black bear in the Boise River cliffs with their dogs. When the bear struck one of their hounds, they were forced to put it down, turning a dangerous encounter into food and resources while removing a threat to their future cattle.
In Season 9, the brothers were shown preparing their first herd of cattle and ran into major challenges with broken fencing and a water source blocked by newly arrived beavers. They first tried to dig out the dams by hand but eventually resorted to controlled explosives to clear a six‑foot‑high beaver dam, restoring irrigation water to their pastures. The season also included an ATV accident that underscored the constant hazards of backcountry work. Later, in Season 11, they undertook a demanding navigation of the Snake River to deliver a scow boat, further showcasing their skill in handling Idaho’s waterways.
These sequences made clear why the Yourens stood out: they represented the continuation of a six‑generation Idaho ranching legacy while showing national audiences the real work of outfitting and ranch management in extreme conditions. Their authenticity set them apart among the cast.
After leaving the show following Season 12, Harry and Kidd turned their attention back to their family businesses, Youren Outfitters and Youren Hunting, which specialize in guided hunts in Idaho’s wilderness. Public listings up to 2025 confirm that the outfitting services remain active, with prices such as $2,400 for a 5‑day bear hunt with bait, $2,500 for a 5‑day bear hunt with hounds, and $4,500 for a 6‑day cougar hunt. Other sources list day rates of $250–350, with extended weeklong packages ranging from $3,500–6,500, plus trophy fees between $500–1,000 depending on the game. While their official Facebook page last updated in 2020 and Instagram in 2021, outfitter directories still advertise current packages, suggesting the brothers continue to operate their guiding business, albeit with a lower public profile. This continuation directly reflects the expertise viewers saw on Mountain Men and shows how their lifestyle remains tied to the backcountry.
Answering the key question of their time on the show: Harry and Kidd Youren appeared from 2019 to 2023, with highlights including wolf pack rescues, whitewater navigation, a black bear confrontation, an ATV accident, and a scow boat delivery. Since leaving, they have continued their long tradition of outfitting and ranching, keeping the Youren family legacy alive in the Sawtooth backcountry.
Aron & Jennifer Toland
Aron and Jennifer (Jen) Toland are Canadian homesteaders who, in 2016, purchased and revitalized an abandoned fishing lodge at Eliguk Lake in British Columbia’s remote interior. With Aron’s mechanical background and Jen’s skills as a chef and forager, the couple committed to a demanding off-grid lifestyle that revolves around self-sufficiency, hospitality, and coexistence with wildlife.
They joined Mountain Men in Season 12 (2023), premiering August 24 in the episode “Unbreakable.” Their debut introduced viewers to the realities of running the Eliguk Outpost far from the nearest road. In Episode 1, Aron was shown hauling supplies over 20 miles of rugged off-road terrain, clearing fallen trees, and loading gear onto a barge to cross the lake. Later in the season, the couple faced record snowfall, wolf activity near their homestead, and the constant challenge of sustaining their off-grid lodge. In Episode 8, “Backcountry Battle,” they were shown milling lumber and rebuilding their cabin roof, further demonstrating the resilience required to survive at Eliguk Lake. These sequences highlighted not only the logistics of living miles from modern infrastructure but also the adaptability and grit that define their lifestyle.
After their short run on Mountain Men, the Tolands have continued to live and work at Eliguk Outpost in British Columbia. Updates from their off-grid blog, Eliguk Journal, confirm activity as recently as August 2025, showing that they are still tending greenhouses, processing fish, and hosting visitors at the lodge they purchased in 2016.
Jennifer also shared photos on Instagram in August 2024 of smoking freshly caught rainbow trout, while their Facebook page, Eliguk Lake Lodge, remains a hub for connecting with guests. Aron continues to handle mechanical repairs and heavy backcountry tasks, while Jen focuses on food preparation, foraging, and guest hospitality. In addition, through their blog they now offer memberships and online courses about transitioning to off-grid life, with tiered options for individuals and couples announced in 2024.
Their story directly answers the common question “What happened to Aron and Jennifer Toland after Mountain Men?”—as of 2025, they remain committed to the Eliguk Outpost, demonstrating the same resilience and independence viewers saw on the show. Although they have not returned to the series since Season 12, their life at Eliguk Lake continues to reflect the pioneering spirit that earned them a place in the Mountain Men cast.
Ray Livingston
Ray Livingston is a seasoned survivalist, hunter, and former search-and-rescue K9 handler. He joined Mountain Men in Season 12 (2023), where his modern-day survival expertise added a new dimension to the cast. His on-screen highlights included showcasing his predator management skills and outdoor preparedness, backed by his role as a brand ambassador for Big Horn Armory and their Model 90 “Reaper” rifle.
Though his time on the series was brief—limited to Season 12—Livingston left an impression for blending traditional survival methods with tactical experience. Since exiting the show, he has continued to engage with the outdoor community through wildlife management work with Apex Wildlife Solutions and maintains an active online presence, including Instagram under @ray_living_with_predators. While he has not returned to television as of 2025, he remains active as a survivalist and predator-control advocate, answering the common question of “What happened to Ray Livingston after Mountain Men?” by continuing his wilderness work off-screen.
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