The History Channel’s Alone season 12 ends after the series’ shortest period of time in the wild. Episode 10 shows the three remaining participants battling a lack of food in South Africa’s Great Karoo desert. The weather hasn’t been as difficult to manage as previous seasons, and even the water supply seemed easier to access in season 12 than in most seasons. It’s basically the food supply and the participants’ mental states that whittled the number of survivalists down to just three, only 27 days into the adventure.
The following is a recap of the season 12 finale, which means there are spoilers—including the name of the winner.
Katie Rydge: Age 45, Emerald Beach, AUS
Day 27, 3:08pm – Katie makes a huge mistake and creates a noise that scares away the kudu. That puts an end to her chances of getting protein today.
She’s still living off acacia but just can’t get any protein. Katie is tired, and her body is regretting all the plant food. However, she’s not giving up yet. She confesses she feels like this experience has been “a big, fat death quest.” Indigenous people have traditions that bring individuals close to death, according to The History Channel. Katie thinks a better name would be “commitment quest.” She believes Alone is teaching her what she needs to stop putting energy into to free herself to move forward.
Day 28, 10:26am – Katie dreamed about buying steak and decides to head out on a walk. She’s lost 31 pounds and is exhausted. Plant food no longer tastes good to her, and she needs more protein in her diet. She returns to her shelter and sits outside, contemplating things. She’s decided she needs to let go of expectations to move ahead.
Katie officially taps out. The country is besting her, and she doesn’t want to wind up hurting herself. It’s time to start a new chapter. She enjoyed her days in the competition and calls the experience a quest for her real truth. Katie thanks the land for what it taught her.
Kelsey Loper: Age 35, Winnett, Montana
Day 29, 8:43am – It’s 28 degrees and Kelsey’s water bucket has frozen over. Her circulation is worse and she’s getting skinnier, but she wants to tough it out. Kelsey takes off on her walk, joking about passing out and the Alone medical staff having to rescue her. She’s eaten all of her jerky, and the catfish aren’t biting. Right now, she’s not worried about her weight loss.
She spots three bushbucks and that lifts her spirits. The sun feels good as she says winning would allow her to rescue more animals. Baboons wander by in the distance when she sits on her favorite rock. This area helps her get mentally strong, which she needs to stay in the competition. She’ll suck it up and remain on Alone until there comes a time when she’s sure she can’t make it another hour.
Day 33, 10:13am – Her pace has really slowed since day one and she admits to being exhausted after just five minutes.
11:03am – Her heart and breathing are concerning her, and she’s feeling a weight on her chest. THC confirms shortness of breath can be due to malnutrition. She’s down 27 pounds since the first day of Alone season 12.
12:23pm – Her legs are jelly and she’s constantly winded. It’s possible she’s reached the point where she can’t hike anymore. She strips and lies down in the sun, thinking about her job as a vet tech. She tells clients who wonder when to euthanize their pets to mark down the good and bad days. When the bad outnumbers the good, it’s probably time.
She wants to walk out of Alone on her own two feet. Kelsey knows she doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone and taps out—determined to go out on a good day. She tells the safety crew about her health concerns and desire to tap on a good day.
People doubted her, and she confesses she doubted herself, but she’s happy with what she’s experienced in South Africa. She’s the first female contestant to shoot a big game animal and thinks she’s represented women well. Kelsey’s no longer an underdog; she’s a force to be reckoned with.
Nathan Olsen: Age 52, Buhl, Idaho
Day 28, 7:12am – Nathan’s rock house is looking sturdy and comfortable. The roof is covered in clay, and he’s placed horns above his door. He woke up and cooked buffalo thorn fruits to make coffee. His thoughts are about his wife, and he admits he’s rarely doing nothing in his head. He’s working on training himself to not think about anything, noting it’s a healthy thing for his brain.
While the coffee is boiling, he works on the shelter’s interior. He wants a 10’ bed—the full length of his shelter. Leftover stone and sand are right outside and will be used to fill his bed. He takes a break and drinks his coffee, and THC describes its flavor as sweet. Nathan misses his wife and kids but is enjoying his Alone time. He just needs more calories to thrive.
Day 30, 7:47am – There’s nothing on Nathan’s lines and he’s officially out of food. He thought he’d do better fishing, but he can’t cast out because his hooks will snag on something underground.
Nathan burned 22,000 calories building his rock house and he needs food soon. He heads out to harvest prickly pear, although he wants to return to hunting. Unfortunately, the big game are on the top of nearby hills and that takes a lot of calories. Instead, he’s forced to stay close to his shelter.
Back at his house, he roasts his prickly pear while thinking about one of his 10 children. He can’t wait to get home and hear about Isaiah’s summer adventures. Isaiah is closest in age to Porter, who passed away, and they did everything together.
The prickly pear isn’t great but at least it’s a few calories’ worth of food.
Day 32, 3:37pm – Nathan drinks more coffee and considers how strong of a mind you need to win Alone. He recalls a lesson he learned from his mom about not giving up and how experiencing difficult times makes you the person you are.
6:43pm – He returns to the water to check his lines. Nathan’s lost almost 20 pounds since day one and feels a lack of energy. He admits he hasn’t figured out the calorie puzzle.
9:13pm – He runs back to the water after hearing splashing. A 4’ long catfish is on the line, and it should be worth about 10,000 calories. (It weighs 50 pounds.) Nathan doesn’t mind that he’s forced to make two trips to get all his stuff back to his shelter.
Day 34, 8:13am – Nathan doesn’t know it when he wakes up but he’s now the last contestant standing on season 12. One of his daughters asked him to do one thing for her, and he writes “Fort No Regrats” on his shelter—spelling it the way she told him to. (He added the “Fort” part to the name.)
He thinks the time has flown by and he’s looking forward to just slowing down now and enjoying his days on Alone. He’s preparing to cook the fish head when he gets a message that the crew is heading his way for a med check.
THC shows Nathan’s son, Isaiah, on the boat heading toward his dad’s camp. The team checks Nathan’s vitals as Isaiah waits out of sight. Nathan tells the medical staff that he’s doing great and isn’t feeling any difficulties. All he needs to do is build a door for his shelter. He reveals he’s only taking part on Alone and remaining in the competition because he has the support of his kids.
As he’s talking, Isaiah quietly approaches from behind. “What about your kids?” asks Isaiah, smiling. Nathan’s shocked and overcome with emotion, grabbing Isaiah up in a huge hug. They exchange I love yous as Nathan cries. Isaiah’s also wiping away tears as Nathan gives him a tour of his house. “Unbelievable, but totally believable at the same time,” says Isaiah, looking around his dad’s rock house.
They enjoy catfish head together by the river as Nathan feels an immense sense of relief. They toast with catfish cheek. Money is just the cherry on top of this experience for Nathan. He got to behave like a kid again during these 34 days.
He’s taking away from this that the deep joy we have in our lives is our relationships with other people. His love for his family has deepened because of this experience.
Season 12 ends with a dedication to season two winner David Brooks McIntyre, who passed away on November 22, 2024.
- Alone Season 11 Episode 12 Finale Recap: A Winner Emerges After 84 Days
- Alone Season 12 Episode 1 “The Land of Great Thirst” Recap
- Alone Season 12 Episode 2 “Best Laid Plans” Recap
- Alone Season 12 Episode 3 “Thirst Trap” Recap
- Alone Season 12 Episode 4 “Finding a Foothold” Recap
- Alone Season 12 Episode 5 “The Tempest” Recap
- Alone Season 12 Episode 6 “Purpose” Recap
- Alone Season 12 Episode 7 “Echoes of Emptiness” Recap
- Alone Season 12 Episode 8 “Weak Spot” Recap
- Alone Season 12 Episode 9 “The Promised Land” Recap
This post was last modified on August 21, 2025 3:23 pm