Another week has gone by for us, but for those hanging tough on the A&E Networks' History survivalist show, Alone, it's been 50 days. Appleton resident, Zachary Fowler, is still in the running among six other contestants as they try to survive, all alone, in the Patagonia wilderness.

Pilot: We didn’t even get to see you once in this week’s episode! Were you bummed?

Zach: No, Dan got left out of two whole episodes before. I thought it was bound to happen.

Pilot: Callie got bitten by a Chilean recluse spider and used her herbal medicine knowledge to try and make a poultice. Did you have any of that kind of knowledge before you went to Patagonia?

Zach: Just the same as Callie; I knew where to find plantain and Old Man’s Beard. They grow all over the world and both are very antibiotic. I had to use it myself almost every day. I’d eat a leaf of plaintain every day for the vitamins and I’d chew it up and place it on my fingers because they were so dry and cracked because of the lack of fat in my diet. It would make it better for a few hours and I’d have to apply it twice a day for about 20 minutes.

Pilot: 50 days in, were you losing considerable weight like every one else?

Zach:  I was eating about one fish a day; I was doing pretty well with my fishing. At the same time, there’s not a lot of fat and calories in one fish, so my body was consuming all of its extra reserves quickly.

Pilot: On the last episode, you mentioned you had dyslexia and you’ve worked hard to overcome that. Can you elaborate?

Zach: The adversity I went through in school made me have to strive harder at things. I realized I was weak in the area of reading, but that much more gifted when it comes to working with my hands. I'm a maker, so I strive that work well with my niche. You know, I wouldn't try write a novel on literature. 

Pilot: Dan tapped out! We didn’t see that coming, did you?

Zach: It’s a long 50 days that people don’t see watching the show. I understand. I was missing my family something fierce by 50 days. But, at the same time, I was staying in Patagonia for them. Our yurt is wonderful, but we outgrew that over a year ago. So, as much as I missed them, they were my drive to stay out there. Dan didn’t seem to have that same drive. He was secure in that he’d done as much as he could and wanted to be with his family more.

Check out Zach’s latest DIY match-lighting slingshot video. Stay tuned to watch him in the History’s next episode of Alone, airing Thursday at 9 p.m.

Related stories:

• Alone Week 5: Zach versus Dan

• Alone Week 4: Zach fashions a Duck Hunter 3000 out of driftwood

• Alone Week 3: Things start to get serious for Zach

• Alone Week 2: Zach throws a shovel

• Appleton survivalist Zachary Fowler competes on new season of the History show 'Alone'

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com