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After Days of Sailing Without a Regular Route, Breakdowns at Sea and Crossings Between Abandoned Islands, Adventurers Document the Routine of a Man Who Has Lived for Years Isolated on Pagan, an Active Volcano in the Northern Mariana Islands, a Territory of the United States, Without Infrastructure, Public Services or Continuous Contact with Modern Society
Members of the Yes Theory channel traveled for several days to the island of Pagan in the Northern Mariana Islands, a territory of the United States, to document the life of Jordan, an isolated resident for years in an active volcano, revealing logistical challenges, natural risks, and the persistence of traditional ways of life.
An American Island Without Flights, Without a Port and Without Permanent Residents
Pagan is located at the northernmost tip of the Northern Mariana Islands archipelago, in an area with no regular connections by airplane, helicopter, or commercial vessel. Access depends solely on fishing boats and favorable weather conditions, making arrival uncertain and often unfeasible.
The Yes Theory team took more than two days to reach an intermediary island, where they were stranded after their vessel ran out of fuel at sea. Only after the arrival of another ship, which sailed for about 22 hours bringing supplies, was it possible to resume the journey.
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The difficulty of access helps explain why Pagan remains practically abandoned. After major volcanic eruptions, especially in 1981, the population was evacuated and never returned permanently, leaving behind houses, churches, public structures, and animals.
Since then, the island has been occupied only temporarily by public employees or researchers. During certain periods, it can become completely empty, reinforcing its status as one of the most isolated inhabited places under the jurisdiction of the United States.
Jordan, the Resident Who Stayed After the Evacuation
At the time of the adventurers’ arrival, only two people were on Pagan. One of them was Joe, a local administrative employee, who had been present since March for basic maintenance of the remaining structures. The other was Jordan, known as the “jungle boy.”
Jordan has lived on Pagan continuously for about five years. Before that, he spent approximately seven years isolated on another island in the region. He claims to have chosen to stay away from modern society because he considers life there simpler and free from external pressures.
Without a bank account, cell phone, or internet access, Jordan survives by fishing, hunting, foraging, and raising animals that have become feral after decades without human management. Occasional exchanges with visitors are used to obtain basic supplies.
According to him, the decision to live there is linked to the cultural heritage of the Chamorro people, an indigenous group that has inhabited the Mariana Islands for thousands of years. Jordan claims to have learned survival techniques from his grandfather and elders since childhood.
A Territory Shaped by Eruptions, Ashes, and Recent Lava
Pagan is an active volcano. The team recorded extensive fields of solidified lava and areas covered by ash from the last eruption, which occurred in 2021. The volcanic material, according to Jordan, fertilized the soil and accelerated the growth of vegetation.
The island features contrasting landscapes. In just a few kilometers, one can traverse beaches, open fields, areas of hardened lava, dense forests, and regions that resemble temperate forests, something unusual for tropical Pacific islands.
Jordan reported that, at certain times, it is possible to feel tremors in the ground and hear sounds coming from within the volcano. He claims to always be prepared for a possible evacuation, although he prefers to stay there.
The team walked barefoot along trails used by Jordan, passing formations created by ancient eruptions. In various places, the rugged terrain highlights how volcanic activity continues to be a central factor in the island’s dynamics.
Feral Animals and Constant Risks Outside the Tourist Route
After the evacuation in 1981, residents left behind cattle, cows, and pigs. Without human control, these animals have reproduced and become feral. Today, they roam freely on the island and represent one of the main risks to visitors.
During their hikes, the team encountered large bulls and wild boars on narrow trails. Jordan explained that these animals can attack if they feel threatened, and it is common for him to have to climb trees to avoid confrontations.
In addition to the animals, the absence of basic infrastructure increases the risks. There are no hospitals, paved roads, or regular communication with other islands. Any medical emergency depends on lengthy rescues that are highly conditioned by the weather.
Nonetheless, Jordan moves around the island barefoot, including in areas of sharp lava and dense forest. He claims to have learned since childhood to interpret the terrain and recognize signs of danger in the natural environment.
Remnants of World War II Scattered Throughout the Vegetation
Another central element of the expedition was the presence of structures from World War II. Pagan was part of the Japanese defensive system in the Pacific and was the stage for military occupation before the American retaking.
The team found bunkers, tunnels, cannons, downed planes, and ruins of prisons used during the conflict. According to Jordan, Chamorro indigenous people were forced to work in these structures during the Japanese occupation.
These remnants remain scattered across the island, many of them partially swallowed by vegetation or covered by volcanic ash. There is no signage, protection, or formal conservation of these historical sites.
The presence of these war remnants reinforces the unique character of Pagan, where layers of military history, indigenous culture, and natural forces coexist without constant institutional mediation.
Physical Isolation, but Absence of Declared Solitude
During their time together, Jordan claimed he does not feel lonely. He says he constantly finds companionship with animals and the landscape itself, and believes that his ancestors remain spiritually present in the nature around him.
This account contrasts with data cited by the adventurers during the expedition. According to them, in the United States, one in three people reports feeling lonely at least once a week, a number that exceeds 50 million individuals.
In 2023, according to information mentioned in the video, the U.S. Surgeon General classified loneliness as a public health issue, comparing its impact to the daily consumption of 15 cigarettes.
The experience on Pagan led the team to question the relationship between physical isolation and emotional well-being, highlighting that the constant presence of people does not necessarily prevent feelings of disconnection.
Subsistence Based on Trade, Fishing, and Ancestral Knowledge
Jordan’s personal economy does not involve a fixed salary. He claims to generate resources mainly through raising cattle, which are eventually traded for supplies when boats pass by the area.
In one of the negotiations mentioned, Jordan received about 100 dollars for an animal, a sum he claims to have saved for approximately two years before passing it on to relatives on another island.
His daily diet consists of fish, coconuts, wild fruits, and meat from animals captured on the island itself. Jordan also collects plants used as spices and natural medicines, learned from the elders.
This subsistence model, according to him, negates the need for constant money and reduces worries associated with bills, deadlines, and consumption, common in urban centers.
The Return and the Final Crossing Under Tropical Storm
After days on Pagan, the team began their return facing new difficulties. The journey, initially estimated to take about eight hours, ended up extending to approximately 18 hours due to the formation of a tropical storm.
The vessel faced rough seas and adverse conditions until reaching the final destination around four in the morning. The episode reinforced the unpredictability of travel in the region.
For the members of Yes Theory, the experience on Pagan represented one of the most complex projects ever undertaken by the channel, both from a logistical and human perspective.
The journey was recorded as part of a series dedicated to exploring rarely visible stories of the planet, prioritizing locations and people outside traditional media and tourism circuits.
An Abandoned Island that Exposes Limits of Modernity
The story of Pagan highlights the existence of territories officially belonging to modern powers but that remain on the margins of infrastructure, services, and continuous state presence.
Jordan’s presence on the island serves as a link between indigenous past, military history, and a present marked by institutional abandonment and the force of nature.
By documenting this reality, Yes Theory presented a rare portrayal of how traditions, isolation, and individual choices continue to shape lives in the 21st century.
The expedition raises questions about what is lost with the distancing from nature and traditional knowledge and how modern societies deal with territories considered peripheral.
Desculpe mas lem li o artigo.
Pra quê procurar alguém que, de sã consciência optou por viver isolado ?
Deixe o cara quieto !
É como uma árvore centenária que o editor fez questão de não dizer sua localização para preservar sua integridade.
Obrigado
Incrível essa reportagem! Amei saber q ainda existem pessoas q se amoldam à vida simples em contato coma natureza!