Baltimore native Gabe Ortis shares experience as castaway on new 'Survivor' season

Overcoming challenges and building connections

Baltimore native Gabe Ortis has always been a fan of the CBS reality competition show "Survivor." He’s been so charmed by the show that he auditioned every year for the past six years. This year, he was finally cast for the 44th season.

Ortis said he’s always been drawn to the show’s social experiment aspect. On "Survivor," a group of strangers are marooned on a remote island and must compete in challenges for food, shelter, and fire. The contestants are also voted off one by one until only one person remains and is crowned the "Sole Survivor."

Ortis said he was excited to see how he would react to this high-pressure situation. “I wanted to see if I could push myself, if I could survive in the wild, and if I could make it to the end," he said.

The challenges of being a castaway

Ortis quickly learned that "Survivor" is much more difficult than it looks on TV. The contestants are constantly hungry, tired, and wet. They also have to deal with the elements, including extreme heat, rain, and wind.

One of the biggest challenges was the lack of food. The contestants were given a limited amount of rice and beans, and they had to supplement their diet by catching fish and foraging for fruit. Ortis said he lost 20 pounds during his time on the island.

Another challenge was the social aspect of the game. The contestants are forced to live in close quarters with each other, and they must constantly compete for food, shelter, and fire. This can lead to a lot of tension and conflict.

Building connections and overcoming challenges

Despite the challenges, Ortis said he also had a lot of positive experiences on "Survivor." He made some lifelong friends, and he learned a lot about himself.

He said the most important thing he learned is perseverance. “I learned never to give up, no matter how difficult things get.”

Ortis said he is proud of the way he represented Baltimore on "Survivor." He said he hopes his story will inspire others to never give up on their dreams.