TLDR: Port Protection Alaska followed residents of a roadless town on Prince of Wales Island for eight seasons on National Geographic. Gary Muehlberger and Litzi Botello have died, Mary Miller has left, and Sam Carlson and Curly Leach still live in town. Checked October 23, 2026.
Port Protection Alaska showed a town with no roads, little money and neighbors who depend on each other. It belonged to the same family of shows as Life Below Zero, though its cast lives hundreds of miles from that one.
Here is how the series started, who was in the cast and where each person stands today.
How the Series Started
National Geographic first aired Port Protection Alaska in summer 2015. According to Reality Blurred, that run lasted three seasons, and the show returned in February 2020 as Life Below Zero: Port Protection.
Executive producer Joseph Litzinger described the revival as a fresh take on the first season with an added Life Below Zero edge. The new version focused on who the residents are and why they live this way, rather than only how they survive.
Seasons at a Glance
TheTVDB counts eight seasons, with 94 regular episodes between 2015 and 2025. Moviefone lists 90 episodes, and Disney+ also lists eight seasons.
Season numbering differs between sources because of the gap and the rebrand, so check the network’s own guide before you cite a number.
The Original Seven
The 2020 revival began with seven central characters, about 15 percent of the town. NatGeo’s bios, as Reality Blurred summarized them, gave each a label.
Gary Muehlberger was the village elder, Mary Miller the city girl and Curly Leach the lumberjack. Sam Carlson was the engineer, his son Matt the prodigal son, Stuart Andrews the captain and David Squibb the minimalist.
The Town on Prince of Wales Island
Port Protection sits on the northern end of Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska, in a cove off Sumner Strait. No roads connect it to anywhere, per Alaska Explored, so people arrive by floatplane or boat.
Reality Blurred put the 2010 census count at 48 residents in less than five square miles. Later estimates range widely, from about 27 to about 60, because the town is small and many residents are seasonal.
The Wooden Wheel Trading Post is described as the center of daily life, and most residents rely on Starlink for connection.
Those Who Joined Later
Litzi Botello joined in the later seasons and became a fan favorite before her death in 2021. Her niece Veronica Arrants appears from season 6.
NatGeo’s cast listing also names Troy, Oliver, Breanna, Carl and Morgan, along with Veronica Arrants and Matt Carlson. A fan-run site adds a newer resident named Paul, who lives in a house called the Octagon.
The Deaths
Gary Muehlberger died in a house fire on March 17, 2021, at age 75. Litzi died on June 25, 2021, at age 62.
Who Left
Hans and Timbi Porter and Amanda Makar left after the second season, according to Reality Blurred. Hans runs the Port Protection Wilderness Lodge, and a National Geographic spokesperson said some residents moved away during the gap in filming.
Mary Miller left after season 7.
Who Is Still There
Sam Carlson and Curly Leach still live in town, and David Squibb is based in nearby Point Baker. Their updates are in our guide to Curly Leach, David Squibb and Stuart Andrews.
After the Cancellation
Producer Mickey Ramos told Reality Blurred the cast learned in October 2023 that the show would not return. She says Disney then cancelled the whole Life Below Zero franchise in 2025.
Ramos launched a YouTube channel called Alaska-Vibes on June 1, 2025, to keep telling stories from the town.
Port Protection Alaska Frequently Asked Questions
How many seasons did Port Protection Alaska have?
Disney+ and TheTVDB list eight seasons on National Geographic, though numbering differs by source.
Where is Port Protection, Alaska?
It is on the northern end of Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska and has no road access.
Which Port Protection cast members have died?
Gary Muehlberger died in a house fire in March 2021, and Litzi Botello died in June 2021.
Is Port Protection Alaska still on?
No new episodes air on National Geographic or Disney+, though Mickey Ramos posts new stories on her Alaska-Vibes channel.
