Where Is Erik Salitan Now? The Truth About Why He Left Life Below Zero

Living in a land where the temperature can drop to -60°F isn’t for the faint of heart. For years, the National Geographic series Life Below Zero captivated millions by following the lives of hunters surviving in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness. While the show’s cast has become iconic, one of its original and most memorable stars, Erik Salitan, has been a distant memory for fans since 2016. So, why did he vanish from one of TV’s most acclaimed reality series?

Wiki/Bio Facts

Fact	Description
Full name	Erik Salitan
Date of birth	February 9, 1984
Age	41
Place of birth	New York City, USA
Zodiac sign	Aquarius
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Caucasian
Gender	Male
Sexuality	Straight
Marital status	Married
Education	Finger Lakes Community College (high school), University of Alaska Fairbanks (graduated with a bachelor’s degree in applied science)
Occupation	Hunting guide, pilot, registered guide, businessman, former reality TV personality
Net worth	Estimated over $450,000
Famous for	Appearing on the National Geographic show “Life Below Zero” with his wife Martha Mae Salitan
Current residence	Wiseman, Alaska
Skills	Hunting, fishing, trapping, flying planes, surviving in harsh conditions
Hobbies	Exploring nature, spending time with family and friends
Wife	Martha Mae Salitan (fishing operator and businesswoman)
Son	Lucas Salitan
Marriage proposal	Erik proposed to Martha by attaching an engagement ring to the end of a fishing rod during a fly fishing trip
Businesses	Bushwhack Alaska Guiding & Outfitting (a hunting tour company), and Talarik Creek Lodge
Reason for leaving “Life Below Zero”	Erik and Martha decided to focus on their family and businesses after appearing on the show for four seasons
Social media presence	None (Erik prefers to keep a low profile and does not have any official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)

From Rural New York to the Last Frontier

Erik Salitan’s journey to Alaska began not with a grand plan, but with a youthful desire for adventure and a disdain for rules. Born on February 9, 1984, in rural upstate New York, he grew up in the Finger Lakes region with a deep passion for hunting and fishing. As a child, he was “obsessive” about the outdoors. After his dream of becoming a major league baseball player didn’t pan out, he decided at the age of 11 that his new goal was to be a professional hunter, though he didn’t fully understand what that entailed.

This passion led him to make a dramatic move. The day he graduated from high school at Finger Lakes Community College, Erik packed up a beat-up Toyota pickup and drove from New York to Alaska, a state he saw as “the last frontier” with “unlimited outdoor opportunity.” He was drawn to the idea of a place with few rules, a stark contrast to the structured life he was leaving behind. This long drive was an adventure in itself, with Erik recounting seeing caribou and grizzly bears for the first time, an experience that solidified his choice.

Upon his arrival, he didn’t immediately move to the remote wilderness. He settled in Fairbanks, where he enrolled at the University of Alaska Fairbanks to study wildlife biology, with a focus on mammalogy and large predators. To support himself, he worked a series of unusual jobs, including driving a taxi and working at a funeral home at night.

A Reality TV Career is Born

After a youthful and somewhat rebellious phase in Fairbanks, Erik Salitan made a life-altering decision to embrace the remote wilderness of Alaska. At the age of 19, following a brief trapping stint in the Brooks Range, he chose to stay in the bush rather than return to city life. This pivotal moment set the stage for his subsistence-based lifestyle. He then began working as an assistant guide to gain experience and earn his license. During this time, he met Martha Mae Salitan, a native of Iliamna, and their relationship blossomed.

In the years that followed, the couple’s shared passion for the outdoors led them to build a life together in a secluded cabin in Wiseman, Alaska. They relied on hunting, trapping, and fishing to survive, living a “hand-to-mouth” existence that became the foundation for Erik’s expertise. His dedication paid off when he earned his registered guide-outfitter license in 2008, becoming one of the state’s youngest licensed guides. He then established his own company, Bushwhack Alaska Guiding and Outfitting.

In 2013, the producers of Life Below Zero approached Erik and Martha. Their authentic, off-the-grid life in Wiseman was a natural fit for the series, which aimed to document the lives of those surviving in extreme cold. The show depicted their daily struggles and triumphs, from hunting caribou to running their business. Erik and Martha appeared on the series for three years, from 2013 to 2016, before leaving to focus on their family and businesses.

The Truth About Why He Left Life Below Zero

After leaving Life Below Zero in 2016, Erik Salitan’s life changed in profound ways. He and his wife, Martha, made a significant decision to leave their remote life in Wiseman, Alaska, and move to the more populated community of Iliamna, a move driven by their desire to provide their children with access to a public school and a more stable home. Based on an exclusive interview from April 2025, they revealed the truth about their time on the show and what their lives look like today.

Why He Walked Away From the Show

Erik and Martha were surprisingly candid about their experience on the reality show. As Erik stated in the interview, he considered filming Life Below Zero to be his “least favorite job,” even when compared to his most unusual past work, such as driving a taxi or working in a funeral home. He found the constant presence of the film crew to be an intrusive and demanding “grind.” Martha echoed this sentiment, describing the experience as “incredibly daunting” and intrusive.

A key factor that allowed them to leave was that they were not financially dependent on the show. Unlike what they perceived to be the case with some of the other cast members, Erik’s successful guiding and lodge business provided the majority of their income. This financial independence gave them the freedom to walk away from a job they found to be both physically and emotionally draining.

What Happened to Him Next

Since leaving the show, Erik has shifted his focus from running a business to spending more time with his family. He has transitioned to a new phase of his career as a semi-retired guide. As of the interview, the couple had sold their original lodge in the Brooks Range five years ago, in 2020. Over the following years, they operated two different lodges in southwestern Alaska.

Then, in early 2024, they sold all their lodges and their well-known guiding company, Bushwhack Alaska Guiding and Outfitting. The buyers were Kip Folks, the co-founder of Under Armour, and his partner, Tim Winslow, a long-time employee and close friend. This transaction allows Erik to continue working with clients as a licensed guide, but without the immense stress and responsibility of business ownership. He says he now works “in conjunction” with the new owners, enabling him to spend more time with his family.

A Life Built on Subsistence and Family

Erik and Martha are raising their three sons: Lucas (15), Sterling (about to turn 5), and Victor (a little over 1). For them, the subsistence lifestyle is no longer about just survival; it’s a deep-rooted value they are passing on to their children. Erik continues to hunt, fish, and trap, providing his family with moose and sheep meat, and his oldest son, Lucas, is already proficient in trapping. In a testament to his skills, Lucas was recently recognized by a local native corporation for carrying on traditional ways.

The family is not planning to leave Iliamna. They are so committed to the community that they are currently building a new home, solidifying their roots. While they love their life, they are also open to the possibility of traveling internationally with their children to give them a broader perspective of the world.

Addressing a Past Controversy

While Erik maintains a very private life, a past incident regarding his professional guiding license is a matter of public record. In 2016, he faced a disciplinary hearing related to a 2012 hunt. He was fined $750 for failing to ensure a safe route for clients. However, other accusations against him were not proven. This incident, while public, did not seem to impact his career or his personal decision to leave the show for the reasons he stated.

Physical Traits

Physical trait	Description
Height	About 5 feet 9 inches
Weight	About 80 kilograms
Hair color	Dark brown
Eye color	Brown
Skin tone	Light with freckles
Body type	Average build
Facial features	Oval face, straight nose, thin lips, prominent eyebrows
Clothing style	Casual and practical, often wears jackets, hats, gloves, boots, and sunglasses
Accessories	Sometimes wears a watch, a necklace, or a ring
Tattoos	None visible
Scars	None visible
Piercings	None visible
Distinguishing marks	None visible
Posture	Straight and confident
Gestures	Often uses his hands to point or gesture when talking or instructing