Timber! If you can’t get enough Gold rush or Deadliest Captureyou are lucky Discovery Channel brings you The Last Junglers. A new series focusing on the real-life world of lumberjacks, teams who risk life and limb for a big payday. Cameras follow these loggers as they venture into the remote wilderness armed only with axes and handsaws to fell trees that can be worth up to $70,000 each.

At the same time, sustainability is also important to them by locating older and weaker trees. With the idea that a regenerative forest is a healthy forest, foresters will plant three more trees for every tree harvested. This fascinating look takes viewers into one of the most dangerous jobs where crews brave the elements every day.

At the center of the series Jared Douglas, owner and operator of Cypress Creek Logger, risks everything to harvest the greatest timber in the world. In this high-risk industry, a single misstep can cost tens of thousands of dollars or even death. Douglas bought out his business partner. The master logger must make a $1.1 million profit or risk losing his home and his Campbell River, BC-based company.

Here Douglas takes us under the tree of learning to tell us what viewers can expect.

Faller Chris Hersics poses for a photo next to a massive Western Red Cedar. (Discovery Channel)

What was your reaction when the idea of ​​the exhibition came to your mind?

Jared Douglas: I was really excited. We have the perfect platform for the show. Honestly, probably everyone I’ve shown around my workplace over the last 15 years has been like, “Dude, you need a show.” It finally happened. The crew and I were excited to show the world what we do and support our industry. We kind of laugh at other logging programs because we do crazier and more dangerous things. We were excited to throw it out there.

How would you describe your journey this season? Seems like a high risk situation.

Everything we do is big. Big trucks, big equipment and big trees. It requires a lot of technical skill. There were moments this season where you could see I was really stressed and there were cameras there for that. I risked everything. You’ll have to tune in to see how this goes. It was quite difficult to uncover this point in my life.

You really get an appreciation for what you’re doing and the real danger involved. Have you suffered any serious injuries over the years?

I can say that I have been in a few bad car accidents. I lost the tip of my finger. I was a little shaken. I managed to become the boss, but a few of my men had some pretty terrible accidents. We don’t like to talk about them too much, but it’s a dangerous industry. Everyone who walks out that door knows what they’ve signed up for and is proud to do it. We are doing the best we can, following safety rules and hoping everyone gets home safe.

I saw some sort of medical emergency coming up in a future episode. Is there anything you can tell us about this?

I think there was a water rescue at one of our work sites. Stay tuned for that.

You are a father and husband who disappeared for months. How is it for you to show the sacrifice you and others have made?

We work in extremely remote areas. The guys are going camping. They spend more time with their colleagues than with their families in the camp. They come and do a long shift. They become tired and grumpy. All this. While doing the most dangerous job in the world, they are trying to provide for their families far from home. We always say you should keep your head on a swivel and make sure your head is in the game. There are times when being away from family is difficult. It’s a tough industry but I think we do it really well. I hope we can show this to the world. People will learn how we live in these remote areas.

Wanting to take advantage of the large trees, Owner Jared Douglas decides to move the floating camp to a new location. (Discovery Channel)

How would you describe the living situation? You actually live on water.

This is true. There is something we call a floating hotel. An old barge from the 1950s, built to transport goods along the coast. We almost built a hotel on it. They have diesel generators producing power, there’s a satellite for the internet so the guys can communicate and live there. They have a small room of their own. I like to call it “Aqua-traz”.

I know your motivation is the big payday, but you also claim to do a lot in terms of keeping the forest healthy. You might see a trailer and wonder, “Why are you tearing down these old trees?” What can you say to the audience? You’re destroying our environment.”

There’s definitely a big misconception that we’re destroying forests there. This impressed us a lot because we believe we are the number one environmentalist. If it weren’t for the roads we built, many people wouldn’t even be able to reach these forests. We removed fire-threatening trees. Everyone has seen the forest fire problems we are experiencing. We kind of manage the forest. We manage the forest better in BC than anywhere else in the world. We have very strict policies. We can only extract a certain amount. We need the support of First Nations. I’m excited for the world to see our side of the story because we loggers feel like there’s a smear campaign against this industry. We want to highlight this sector. Great. It’s green and renewable, so it all grows back.

Owner Jared Douglas surveys the pileup as a goose causes trouble loading a logging barge. (Discovery Channel)

What were the biggest challenges you faced this season?

I prolonged my operations considerably. I was starting new things, gambling a lot. We experienced equipment failure. This is normal. I always say twisted steel and sexiness. Common things loggers encounter. They face problems with the elements, bushes and equipment. It’s a unique business with unique people. There are a lot of challenges we face this season, so you’ll have to see if I sink or swim.

What would you like to tell the audience about the characters we will meet this season?

I think that’s why people say I need my own show because of the characters I use. I always say this is my circus and these are my monkeys. The two woodworking foremen featured in the show are Ross and Dave. They are great characters and larger than life. They enjoy what they do. I have to shout at Glenn, or as we call him, Grandpa, or Graybush. He’s a superstar operator. He makes us all laugh, even when we’re having a bad day when it’s raining and the machines are broken. We have Candice keeping us safe. This is tough work for the crew. We have a lot of good people with full character. I have a motto in our camp that we are all here because we are not here. This is the truth.

Is there any drama at camp with these personalities?

It is known that it happened, but I don’t know what was caught on camera. We have a close-knit team that is in love with each other. We are a family. I’m not sure if what we’re doing is dramatic enough that we need other things. I wasn’t there during the entire shoot, but maybe. I was upset too. I’m warming up. This is a high-risk business, so you have to imagine 55 people in a small building. Imagine what this is like.

Are you ready for the Discovery Channel fandom that will emerge if the series is successful?

I’m much better with a chainsaw than a computer. I’ll take it as it comes. I’m sure there will be people who don’t like what we do, but I invite those people to look at our side of the story. I believe this is a great show and whatever comes will definitely happen. I think it will make a great contribution to the industry.

The Last Junglers premieres, November 15 at 9/8c, Discovery Channel