The allure of living off the grid in Alaska’s untamed wilderness has fascinated many, and for eight seasons, Marty Meierotto embodied this rugged lifestyle on the History Channel’s “Mountain Men.” Unlike other reality TV personalities, Marty’s genuine connection to the land and his life as a true mountain man struck a chord with viewers.
Marty’s journey into this way of life began in Northern Wisconsin. It was there that his father introduced him to trapping when he was just seven years old. The thrill of tracking animals and surviving in nature sparked a passion that would shape Marty’s entire future.
In 1985, at the age of 23, Marty and his brother Jeff set out for Alaska with dreams of living in one of the last great wildernesses. However, achieving this dream wasn’t easy. Financial challenges forced Marty to take on various jobs—ranging from construction work to logging and janitorial duties—before he could fully immerse himself in trapping.
### Why Did Marty Leave ‘Mountain Men’?
Marty’s exit from “Mountain Men” during Season 8 was particularly tough for fans who had followed his journey since the beginning. He became the second original cast member to leave after Tom Oar announced his retirement and move from Montana to Florida.
On the show, Marty explained that he decided it was time to step away because he no longer wanted cameras following him through every moment in the wild. His main reason? To spend more quality time with his then-13-year-old daughter Noah, who would be joining him on trapline expeditions during winter.
Reflecting on this choice, Marty said thoughtfully: “I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I believe it’s what’s best—for her sake and for our family.” He added: “I’ve been doing this my whole life but having cameras around constantly over these past eight years has been different. I’m glad we shared our story; hopefully people now have a better understanding of what life is really like out here.”
In another reflective moment, he noted: “At day’s end—I’m just a trapper. When you’re lying on your deathbed someday—you won’t be thinking about money or jobs—you’ll think about how you lived your life.”
### Life After ‘Mountain Men’: What Is Marty Up To Now?
Marty appeared in over 100 episodes before making his final appearance during Season 8’s fifth episode titled “Final Farewell,” which aired on July 11th, 2019. His decision to leave stemmed from an earnest desire—to return full-time into trapping—with hopes that Noah could experience firsthand what it means without any distractions or interruptions by television crews.
Although Noah had joined her father previously when she was younger—this new chapter marked something special—a chance for them both—to delve deeper into wilderness living without any outside interference whatsoever—and truly embrace their bond through shared experiences within nature itself.
Beyond stepping away from television—another significant change occurred—in July 2019—as Marty retired after dedicating more than three decades working with BLM Alaska Fire Service (Bureau Land Management). On July 30th—the day marking completion-of-his-final-mission—a surprise awaited him upon landing back at Fairbanks tarmac where friends along-with-wife gathered warmly welcoming-him-back-home—with laughter filling air—as even-he couldn’t resist chuckling while saying playfully: “This is so embarrassing.”