Kentwood Man Survives 66 Days In The Wilderness, Wins $500,000

David McIntyre, 50, is no stranger to the wilderness. He taught survival training in Brazil, and often tested his mettle in the woods of his native Pennsylvania.

The Kentwood resident recently outlasted 10 other contestants on the History Channel reality series 'Alone', owing his win to mental toughness.

Ten people entered the Vancouver Island wilderness in Canada, armed only with what they could fit in a small backpack. The rules were simple: you are left alone, away from everyone else. You must record your adventures with the camera you are given. Once a week, you will be checked medically to see if you are healthy enough to continue. You can 'tap out' at any time by calling in on the satellite phone you were given. You have no idea who is still in or out of the game. The last one left standing wins.

McIntyre won the second season of the History Channel version of 'Survivor', by lasting 66 days in the wilderness.

"You have total freedom to do anything you want, but really you only want to do two things, you wanna get a meal and go to bed," McIntyre recently told FOX 17 News. "I was out there 66 days alone, surviving with a full time job as a wilderness photographer," he added. "There was no way I was tapping out of this."

McIntyre credits his faith and his family for helping him to survive the ordeal, although his experience as a survival expert certainly didn't hurt.

McIntyre probably logs long hours alone as a writer, having penned the popular post-apocalyptic series 'The Fall' prior to his time on 'Alone'.

And what did David pack in his backpack before setting out on his adventure? These ten items:

1. Stainless steel knife
2. Ferro rod
3. 2 quart pot
4. 270 yards of 50 lb test fishing line, 30 yards of 100 lb test line, 25 circle hooks
5. Straight-blade folding saw
6. 2 lb ax
7. 0° rated sleeping bag
8. Bivy bag with US Army-issue Gore-Tex cover
9. Gill net
10. Emergency rations

In the final episode, it seemed like David had a better grip on his emotions near the end than the other final contestant, Larry Roberts from Rush Lake, MN. Driven by the fact that the money would help his kids go to college drove David to hang on in the end.

You can watch his series clinching win on the last episode of season two of 'Alone' here, and contrast how he looked at the end of two months alone in the wilderness here. It's worth the watch, if only you go to the next to the last tab to see when his wife delivers him the news that he's won.

The 'Alone' reunion show airs this Thursday night at 9pm on The History Channel.