The Project

The story of the 1984 Surviethon, the rules, and why we are going in to beat 31 days.

Historical context

The 1984 Surviethon

In August 1984, two Quebecers embarked on an unprecedented scientific and human undertaking. André-François Bourbeau, a survival specialist, and Jacques Montminy were dropped by helicopter into an isolated sector near the Pipmuacan Reservoir, approximately 200 km north of Chicoutimi.

The rules were absolute and verified: no means of making fire, no brought shelter, no tools (not even a knife), no food. Only the clothes worn at the moment of the drop.

Thirty-one days later, they emerged alive. The project, initiated through the Foundation of the University of Nature in Saint-Félicien, had a scientific aim: to document human physiology and behavior in extreme survival situations.

Bourbeau chronicled the experience in Surviethon : au gré de la nature (Éditions JCL, 1988), republished in 2011 as Le Surviethon : vingt-cinq ans plus tard. The feat remains one of the most extreme documented voluntary survival experiences ever undertaken.

Bourbeau and Montminy after 31 days of wilderness survival — summer 1984
31days · Summer 1984

Photo: Le Surviethon : 25 ans plus tard,
A.-F. Bourbeau & J. Montminy — Éd. JCL, 2011.
Reproduced for documentary purposes.

Important note

The record's status

Guinness World Records — The 1984 record was long associated with the Guinness World Records for the longest voluntary wilderness survival. Since then, Guinness has retired categories involving deprivation or long-term survival for safety reasons. It is no longer possible to submit applications in this category.

Our project is therefore framed as surpassing the historic 31-day record established in 1984, rigorously documented and verified, rather than as a Guinness certification attempt. What matters: the documentation's rigor, total transparency, and the scientific validity of the undertaking.

Verification will include: independent witnesses on the ground, live GPS tracking accessible to the public, continuous video recording, and a notarized record.

Surviethon 2.0

Our expedition

On August 1, 2027, Mike and Yann will be dropped by helicopter into an isolated sector of Quebec's boreal forest — the exact location will be disclosed at departure. Under the exact same rules as 1984: no fire, no brought shelter, no tools, no food.

The objective: survive more than 31 days, surpass the feat of Bourbeau and Montminy, and document this unique human and scientific experience for Quebec and the world.

The team will carry GPS tracking devices (Garmin inReach) providing real-time public access, and the expedition will be documented by a professional production team.

Legal framework — The expedition will be conducted in full compliance with Quebec laws and regulations, including applicable hunting, fishing, and trapping permits. All required authorizations will be obtained prior to the drop.
August 1984
The original Surviethon

Bourbeau and Montminy survive 31 days near Pipmuacan Reservoir, without fire, tools or food.

1988 / 2011
Book publication

Surviethon : au gré de la nature, then republished as Le Surviethon : 25 ans plus tard.

2026
Surviethon 2.0 project launch

Mike and Yann announce their intention to break the record, 42 years after the original feat.

August 1, 2027
Departure — Helicopter drop

Quebec boreal forest sector, exact location TBC. The expedition begins.

32+ days later
Record broken

Goal: remain beyond September 1, 2027 and surpass the historic 31 days.

The Rules · In Detail

Identical to 1984

🔥
No ignition tools

No brought ignition source — no lighter, no matches. Fire by friction using natural materials found on site is permitted and will be practised.

🏕
No shelter

No tent, no tarp, no prefabricated structure brought in. Shelters built exclusively from natural materials found on site.

🔪
No tools

No knife, no cutting tool, no manufactured instrument of any kind. Everything is done bare-handed or with what nature provides.

🍎
No food

No rations brought in, no hidden cache. Sustenance depends entirely on what the Quebec boreal forest offers at that time of year.

What is permitted: the clothes worn at the moment of the helicopter drop, and emergency communication/tracking devices required by authorities and independent observers for safety (Garmin inReach or equivalent, in read-only mode for the public).
The vision

Why take on this challenge

This is not merely about breaking a record. It is a demonstration of what a human being can accomplish with the right knowledge, mental preparation, and mastery of survival techniques. It is also a tribute to Bourbeau and Montminy, who blazed the trail 42 years ago.

As certified instructors at École Black Wolf Survival, Mike and Yann teach survival techniques to students every day. This expedition is the ultimate validation of what they teach — pushed to the absolute limit.

Meet the teamBecome a partner