Are Jake Herak and Rich Lewis related?

Short answer – Jake Herak and Rich Lewis are not related. 

Introduction

With energy bills rising, inflation spiraling out of control, grocery prices going up, and standards of living slipping, more and more people are choosing to go “off grid” and attempt to live in the wilderness and become self-sufficient.

Human beings are fascinated with the idea of being self-sufficient, which is part of the reason why survivalists such as Bear Grylls, Les Stroud, Ray Mears, and Ed Stafford have become so popular.

Add to this the fact that TV channels, such as National Geographic and The History Channel, keep producing shows about surviving in the wilderness, and it’s easy to see why History Channel’s Mountain Men TV show has become so popular.

Mountain Men, in particular, is a huge hit due largely to the selection of quirky and eccentric characters the show has seen over the years.

With 11 seasons behind it, the show has seen some very lively characters in the past, with Jake Herak and Rich Lewis, in particular, getting a lot of attention and proving to be real hits with viewers.

Because they share somewhat of a resemblance and because they’re both from the same show, both Rich Lewis and Jake Herak are often thought to be related.

So, is Jake Herak related to Rich Lewis? Let’s find out.

What is Mountain Men?

Mountain Men is a very popular US reality TV show broadcast primarily on The History Channel, with 11 seasons behind it.

The show sees people from all over the US, residing in some of the most remote and rugged parts of the country, often in mountainous terrain, learn how to survive in the wilderness while also earning a living in the process.

Each ‘Mountain Man’ shows how he lives, survives, and earns a living while living in the wilderness, while also sharing a series of tips and tricks to help viewers who are watching at home.

Rich Lewis first appeared in season 2 and departed the show in season 6.

Jake Herak, however, first appeared in season 7 and, as of this writing, is currently still a member of the show, having last appeared in season 11.

From bear hunting and logging, to fur trapping and game hunting, Mountain Men showcases the harsh, and often brutal reality of rural, mountainous living in the USA.

Who is Jake Herak?

Jake Herak is a man who loves the great outdoors.

Some people who enjoy being outdoors go on a little hike, or spend the day fishing before heading home to their homes, equipped with running water, electricity, and various other gadgets.

Jake’s idea of being outdoors, however, is surviving in the harshest of conditions in the wilderness.

Jake is a member of Mountain Men, joining the cast in season 7, showing viewers that he can survive in the mountains of Montana, in the harshest of conditions.

He also brought in newer, younger viewers as, despite his thick beard, he is still a young man.

Jake is a hunting guide and regularly teaches people all about hunting.

He looks at how to fish, how to catch bigger game, and how to set traps.

He primarily hunts mountain lions, which is a big focal point of the show.

Native to Montana, Jake is a Montana mountain man through and through, which no doubt helped him land a role on the show.

Jake has resided in Montana all of his life, residing in the Tobacco Root Mountains. and he has absolutely no intentions of leaving, particularly now he is an established member of the Mountain Man crew.

Because of the fact that Jake loves to connect with his fans, he has proved to be a real fan favorite on the show.

Jake looks somewhat like Rich Lewis, despite being younger, and so some have speculated that Jake is, in fact, the younger brother of Rich Lewis, or even his son.

Is this true?

We’ll find out shortly.

Who is Rich Lewis?

Rich Lewis is a former member of the Mountain Men cast, having appeared on the show from seasons 2 up until season 6.

Lewis is a mountain lion hunter who resided in Montana, this time in the Ruby Valley, along with his wife, Diane.

Mountain lions are very dangerous animals, so of course, seeing Rich hunting these beasts on the TV made for some very compelling and suspenseful viewing.

Rich would track the animals with a group of hounds, even losing one, named Roxie, to a mountain lion.

Rich was another favorite on the show, with fans enjoying his laid-back, no-nonsense approach to mountain living.

As well as hunting mountain lions, he would also hunt elk for food, while also logging and prepping for winter life in the harsh mountains of Ruby Valley.

After proclaiming that he was getting ‘too old for this,’ Rich departed the show in season 6 and did not return for season 7.

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Is Jake Herak related to Rich Lewis?

After Rich decided to leave the show in season 6, he was replaced by a new Mountain Man, a man named Jake Herak.

Jake, too was a Montana native, and he too primarily hunted mountain lions.

Not only that, but he had the look of a grizzled hunter just like Rich, complete with a thick bushy beard, despite being much younger.

Because of their somewhat similar appearances, their luscious manly beards, the fact they’re both from Montana, the fact they both appear on the same show, and the fact that they both hunt mountain lions, people often speculated that the two were related.

So, is Jake Herak related to Rich Lewis?

Well, not that we’re aware of.

Jake is NOT thought to be related to Rich, he isn’t his son, brother, nephew, or anything else.

In fact, the two have probably not even met.

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