Karie Lee Knoke: Living the Dream Beyond the Grid

Sometimes, a dream blooms quietly, tucked away inside us, waiting for the right moment to break free. For Karie Lee Knoke, finalist of Alone Season 9, that dream was simple and wild: to live close to the land, to truly belong to nature. Raised among the green spaces north of Seattle, her earliest adventures involved tree forts, candy-store bike rides, and family backpacking trips that rooted a deep love for the wild.

Years later, after walking away from a successful career in computer science, she found herself building a new life—one where she traded the hum of traffic for the whisper of wind in the pines. Living off-grid in a 30-foot yurt in Sandpoint, Idaho, founding the Sacred Cedars Wilderness School, and mastering survival skills that few ever dare to learn, Keri Leigh carved out a life shaped by intention, resilience, and heart.

In this heartfelt conversation, we follow Karie Lee’s extraordinary journey: from suburban childhood dreams to surviving 75 grueling days alone in the raw wilderness of Labrador, Canada. Along the way, she shares why living from the heart matters, how energy medicine helped her through storms and solitude, and why every dream—no matter how wild—deserves to be followed.

This isn’t just an interview. It’s a campfire story for the soul. A reminder that sometimes, doing the “crazy” thing is exactly what life is asking of us.

Watch The Episode With Karie Lee Knoke

Listen To The Episode With Karie Lee Knoke

Key Episode Takeaways

  • Follow Your Passion – Even when it feels impractical or misunderstood, it’s the key to authentic living.
  • Wilderness Wisdom – Nature isn’t just a backdrop; it’s an active partner in self-discovery and healing.
  • Energy Matters – Keeping energy balanced, mentally and physically, is critical for survival and resilience.
  • Gratitude is a Survival Tool – Practicing gratitude turned Keri Leigh’s toughest days into moments of strength and hope.
  • Dreams Have No Expiration – At 57, Karie Lee proved it’s never too late to live the dream you’ve carried since childhood.

Memorable Quotes

  • “Just do your dream and you’re going to find the right place.” – Karie Lee Knoke
  • “When you live from the heart, the universe backs you up.” – Karie Lee Knoke
  • “Stay focused. Stay grateful. Life becomes easy when you fall in love with what you’re doing.” – Karie Lee Knoke

Facts

  • Sandpoint, Idaho – Where Karie Lee built her off-grid yurt home and wilderness school.
  • Labrador, Canada – Host to Alone Season 9, featuring extreme cold, rain, and polar bear risks.
  • Sacred Cedars Wilderness School – Teaching primitive skills, wilderness survival, and sacred living.
  • Energy Medicine – Healing practices based on balancing the body’s energetic systems.
  • My Side of the Mountain – The childhood book that inspired Keri Leigh’s lifelong dream of wilderness living.

Ideas

  • Follow your heart, even if it means changing friendships or walking an unfamiliar path.
  • Spend uninterrupted time in nature to reconnect with your true self.
  • Practice daily gratitude — it’s one of the most powerful survival skills there is.
  • Support the dreams of others whenever you can — collective dreams build collective strength.
  • Believe: even the craziest dreams are waiting for you to take the first step.

Call to Adventure: Follow your heart. No matter how impractical, no matter how misunderstood — your dream is yours for a reason. Start today, one small brave step at a time.

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Pay It Forward: Support scholarships, wilderness schools, or youth outdoor programs. Helping even one young adventurer reconnect with nature changes the world for the better.

References & Recommendations

Before You Go

Before you go, don’t forget — every week, new tales of adventure are waiting.

Whether you’re chasing your own dreams or simply seeking a spark of inspiration, Adventure Diaries is your place to reconnect with the wild heart of life.

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