It’s already a tradition for the Discovery Channel to produce many action-packed shows for tough, common folk. Some examples such as “Deadliest Catch” and “Gold Rush” have been successful for over a decade, so it’s unsurprising that “The Last Woodsmen” created the same high expectations as those other shows when it premiered in late 2024.
Centered on the highly experienced lumberjack boss Jared Douglas and his crew, “The Last Woodsmen” brings an unseen and exclusive insight into the logging industry, including the risks and financial challenges they face, as they make a living with one of the more dangerous professions in the world.
So what’s going on with “The Last Woodsmen”? What secrets and surprises did the show bring during its first season? What about its main star and the audience reception it got? Keep with us to find out!
What Happened To “The Last Woodsmen”?
Premiered in November 2024, “The Last Woodsmen” centers around Cypress Creek Logging’s operations, as its owner tries to keep the company afloat while harvesting timber for a profit. While the company is based around Campbell River, Canada, its operations along the British Columbian coast started in 1979, when the show’s main star Jared Douglas wasn’t the owner yet.
As the network stated, the show’s goal is to showcase the reality of the logging business, as the people involved in it risk not only money, but their lives too, given how complicated the industry is. The show didn’t come out of nowhere, though: Jared told TV Insider that the idea to create “The Last Woodsmen” had been brought to him several times in the previous15 years by other people who were awed by all the hard work that his job entailed.
It’s unclear how exactly Jared was contacted by Discovery to make his job the focus of the TV show, but he admitted that the possibility of ‘showing the world’ more about the logging industry and clearing up the misconceptions about it was an exciting chance. On top of that, Jared also proudly affirmed that “The Last Woodsmen” is much more action-packed and risky than other lumberjack-centered TV shows around.
Lumberjacks Risk Their Lives to Cut Down 'Massive' Trees Worth $70K in 'The Last Woodsmen': See the Trailer (Exclusive) https://t.co/EpVVm2D52x
— People (@people) October 17, 2024
Who Is Jared Douglas?
As the owner of Cypress Creek Logging, Jared Douglas inevitably takes most of the attention when it comes to “The Last Woodsmen”. Because of that, it’s unsurprising that audiences want to know more about him, how he became the boss, and how long his journey has been in the highly dangerous business of logging.
Jared joined the logging business in 2001, when he and his brother were fired from an auto part shop they worked in over a disagreement with their then-boss. The incident resulted in Jared becoming a lumberjack operation’s chokerman, who is the worker in charge of preparing the cables around the logs before these are sent for hauling.
Despite his humble beginnings, Jared found his niche and passion in the logging business. In 2007 he purchased his first piece of machinery, growing his operation in such a way that he and his business partner were eventually able to afford to purchase Cypress Creek Logging, which had existed since 1979. As the audience of “The Last Woodsmen” gets to know from the show’s beginning, Jared is dealing with the financial consequences of buying out his business partner while trying to make over $1 million in profit during the logging season.
Job aside, Jared is a committed husband and father, who enjoys going on fishing trips with his family, as he proudly shows on his social media.
Who Else Is In The Show?
The main cast of Discovery’s “The Last Woodsmen” is made up of some incredibly hard-working and resourceful people. For one there’s Ross, who is Cypress Creek Logging’s woods supervisor and operator. Similar to Jared, Ross has been in the logging business since his teens, and has grown to become one of the best in his area of expertise.
Then there’s Dave, who alongside Ross, was described by Jared as ‘larger-than-life’ due to how well he complements the team. Another big star is Glenn, also known as Graybush, who is an operator, s well as the moodlifter of the crew.
Another important crew member is Kandace, the crew’s safety operator. Though her current job at Cypress Creek Logging consists of her making sure that the operation is safe for everyone, she has had other jobs in the operation such as excavator operator and log barging. As seen during the first season’s trailer, Kandance heightened the tension by revealing that she had to tell some dreaded news to the family of someone who suffered an accident while filming.
While there’s no denying that the job is stressful and too many things are at risk, Jared confirmed to TV Insider that his Cypress Creek Logging crew is ‘tight-knit and like family’.
The Dangers Of The Job
If there’s something that “The Last Woodmen” has taught us so far, it’s that logging is a more dangerous job than normally expected. As seen in one episode, chainsaw operators usually have just a couple of seconds to get to safety once a tree begins falling to the forest floor.
One of the most shocking revelations about the life-or-death nature of logging came from Jim, who in one show’s episode recalled having to hide in a hole in the forest floor to escape the giant tree which almost fell over him due to a miscalculation.
Jim isn’t the only one with a terrifying story about the job, as Jared Douglas himself revealed to TV Insider that he’s been through a couple of close calls in the operation, including losing part of his finger. However, Jared affirms that his crew members have had it harder than him by suffering some ‘horrific accidents’ on the job, but admits that everyone is aware of the dangers before they set foot on the operation.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=546551867958593
Whether these accidents could have been prevented or not isn’t the main concern, as many people wonder why this business is so worthy. The answer is money, as one cut-tree-turned-timber could make the company as much as $70,000, making it quite a profitable business.
Audience Reception
Even though “The Last Woodsmen” isn’t the first show out there about lumberjacks and logging, that doesn’t mean that everyone welcomed the show with open arms. The comments about the show on some official entertainment platforms are mixed, with some people praising the work that the Cypress Creek Logging’s crew does, while others are deeply concerned about the environment and the ethics of the business.
Similar comments could be found in articles about the show and YouTube, but Jared Douglas himself expected these opinions to come. As he affirmed in a TV Insider interview, he was aware that many people wouldn’t approve of logging, but he decided to take on the challenge to show his business on TV, not only because he wanted positive exposure for the industry, but also because he wanted people to know the loggers’ side of the discussion.
Though it’s still unclear if “The Last Woodsmen” will be renewed for a second season, there’s no denying that the slight controversy about the show has caught the attention of many people, and therefore probably their continued interest.
