Original subtitles

THAT IS THE ALASKAN PART OF WHO WE ARE. YOU JUST DON'T QUIT.

WHOA! WATCH OUT, WATCH OUT!

WE GOT A PROBLEM HERE, BRO!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY GEICO.

Narrator: PREVIOUSLY ON "ALASKA: THE LAST FRONTIER"...

Otto: HOLY CRAP!

Narrator: ...THE KILCHERS BANDED TOGETHER

TO TACKLE THE MOST MASSIVE MISSION OF THE YEAR...

Otto: DAMN.

STOP, EIVIN!

Otto: WE HAVE TO BE SO CAREFUL.

SOMEBODY COULD DIE.

-HOLY! -HOLY CRAP!

Narrator: ...ATZ SR.'S DAUGHTER JEWEL

RETURNED TO HER ALASKAN ROOTS...

AKAKY, HELP ME NOW.

Jewel: I DON'T LIKE YOU IN THERE WITH THAT BULL, DAD.

HYAH!

Narrator: ...AND A PERILOUS THREAT

DROVE JANE AND ATZ LEE EVEN FURTHER APART.

BEAR'S COMING. 6 FEET, 5 FEET, 4 FEET...

YOU'RE DEAD.

[ GUN CLICKS ] OW!

THEN THE GUN BIT ME, SO GETTING OUT OF HERE.

Narrator: NOW, THE KILCHERS STEP OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE

AND INTO THE LINE OF FIRE.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Atz: WHOA! [BLEEP] DAMN [BLEEP]

ATZ LEE CONTINUES HIS CABIN ALONE.

[ SIGHS ] ROLL OFF OF THERE.

[BLEEP]

THIS IS MORE WORK THAN I MAY BE ABLE TO HANDLE.

Narrator: AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD,

A HELICOPTER IS CALLED IN TO AID IN A DANGEROUS MISSION.

THIS IS A HIGHLY CRITICAL MANEUVER WE'RE DOING HERE.

Otto: WOW!

WHOA! OH, MY GOSH.

Atz: ♪ SOMETIMES IT'S BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS ♪

♪ ON ALASKA'S LAST FRONTIER ♪

♪ BUT LIFE IS SIMPLE, LIFE IS GOOD ♪

♪ WHEN YOU'RE LIVIN' LIKE YOU SHOULD ♪

♪ HEY, HEY ♪

♪ SOMETIMES IT'S STRUGGLE, STRIFE ♪

Jewel: ♪ FATHERS, SONS, BROTHERS, WIVES ♪

Both: ♪ BUT WE'RE MAKIN' OUR WAY ♪

♪ AND YES, WE'LL STAY ♪

♪ RIGHT HERE ♪

♪ ON ALASKA'S LAST FRONTIER ♪

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: 80 YEARS AGO,

WHEN YULE KILCHER LEFT HIS HOME IN SWITZERLAND

TO TAME THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS,

HE KNEW THAT TO SURVIVE THE NEW FRONTIER,

HE HAD TO TAKE RISKS AND GO BEYOND WHAT WAS FAMILIAR.

WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER LEFT EUROPE,

THEY WERE TAKING A HUGE RISK, A HUGE GAMBLE.

YOU EITHER STAY THE SAME AND STAGNATE,

YOU GO DOWNHILL, AND THAT AIN'T GOOD.

OR YOU TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN LIFE TO GROW.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LIFT IT UP!

I KNOW! I'M A LITTLE BIT AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.

I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN.

Otto: WHEN YOU'RE ON THE EDGE, YOU'RE LEARNING.

THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY PLACE YOU'RE LEARNING.

-DAD! -PULL BACK!

PULL BACK! -I DON'T...

SOMETIMES JUST BEING TOSSED INTO THE FIRE

IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN.

EVE: Oh, I see her.

[ GUNSHOT ] OH [BLEEP]

Eve: [ Voice breaking ] MY WORST FEAR WAS WOUNDING IT,

AND IT NOT DYING RIGHT AWAY.

NEVER DONE THIS. IT'S JUST A LITTLE FREAKY.

HOLY...

THERE COMES A TIME WHEN YOU GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

AND SOMETIMES, TO GET TO A NEW PLACE,

YOU GOT TO GOT THROUGH SOME HARDSHIPS.

THAT'S THE WAY IT IS IN LIFE.

Narrator: WITH SUMMER WINDING DOWN,

OTTO AND WIFE CHARLOTTE

DISCOVER A THREAT TO THEIR WINTER FOOD SUPPLY

THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ACTION.

Charlotte: I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'VE GOT TO MOVE THIS HIGH TUNNEL.

I KNOW.

Otto: WE HAVE TO MOVE THE HIGH TUNNEL NOW

BECAUSE THE WATER SITUATION ON THE HOMESTEAD

HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE.

WATER'S ALWAYS BEEN ABUNDANT HERE.

BUT NOW, WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, THE RIVERS ARE GOING DOWN.

THE GLACIERS ARE GOING DOWN.

NOW, WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE SOME WATER PROBLEMS.

OH, YOU'VE GOT SOME REALLY NICE APPLES COMING IN.

OH, I KNOW. I GOT TONS OF APPLES.

A HIGH TUNNEL IS A GARDEN COVER

TO PROTECT FROM THE EARLY SPRING FREEZES

AND THE LATE FALL FREEZES.

I WOULD PUT HAVING A HIGH TUNNEL

RIGHT UP THERE WITH HAVING ANIMALS TO EAT.

I'VE WATCHED YOU SPOT-WATERING.

IT JUST HASN'T BEEN WORKING.

EVERYTHING GROWS SO MUCH FASTER AND BETTER

IN THE HIGH TUNNEL.

AND SO I GROW A LOT OF MY VEGETABLES IN THERE,

AND I ALSO HAVE FRUIT TREES.

SO WHERE DO YOU WANT TO MOVE IT?

I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE IT OVER CLOSER TO EIVIN AND EVE'S.

THAT LITTLE SPRING HAS NEVER RUN OUT OF WATER.

YEAH. EVEN LAST YEAR,

IT DIDN'T RUN OUT OF WATER.

Otto: THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG PROJECT.

AND WE REALLY NEED TO PULL EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

I ASKED SHANE, EIVIN, AND LEVI FOR HELP.

Levi: MY NAME IS LEVI KILCHER.

I'M OTTO'S OLDEST SON AND EIVIN'S OLDER BROTHER.

I'VE BEEN LIVING IN COLORADO FOR THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

I CAME BACK TO THE FARM FOR THE CATTLE DRIVE,

AND I'M UP HERE TO HELP MY DAD OUT.

Otto: HI, EIVIN. HEY, LEVI.

HEY, DAD.

MY DAD HAS CALLED ME OVER

ON ANOTHER ONE OF HIS EMERGENCIES.

AND HE JUST EXPECTS PEOPLE

TO JUST DROP EVERYTHING ELSE THEY'RE DOING AND COME TO HELP HIM.

I'M KIND OF GETTING OVER IT.

EVE'S NOT REALLY THAT HAPPY

THAT I'M OVER HERE HELPING WITH THIS AT ALL.

IT'S MORE A PRIORITY FOR ME TO KEEP MY FAMILY RUNNING

AND EVERYTHING I NEED TO DO IN HELPING EVE.

WELL, WE'VE COME TO THE POINT

WHERE WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS HIGH TUNNEL.

WATER SHORTAGES AND...

ALL RIGHT, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN?

TAKE IT APART OR WHAT? FLY IT OUT.

LIKE, MOUNT AN ENGINE ON IT?

HELICOPTER. [ CHUCKLES ]

YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

THIS IS ANOTHER WACKY OTTO PLAN.

Otto: I CALLED A FRIEND OF MINE

WHO OWED ME SOME HELICOPTER TIME.

I'VE DONE HIM A BUNCH OF FAVORS OVER THE YEARS.

NOW, HE'S REPAYING THE FAVOR.

HE SAID HE HAD TIME, BUT IT HAD TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.

IF WE CAN'T FLY THIS OUT OF HERE,

I'VE GOT TO TAKE A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS TO DISASSEMBLE IT.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE WITHOUT THE ABILITY

TO GROW THINGS THIS SUMMER.

WELL, IF YOU'RE GONNA TRY

TO PICK UP THIS ENTIRE HIGH TUNNEL --

I MEAN, THIS MUST WEIGHT 5,000 POUNDS OR SOMETHING,

ALL THE METAL IN THIS.

HE SAID IT'LL PICK 2,200 POUNDS.

MAX?

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

OH, BOY. HERE WE GO AGAIN.

IT'S DEFINITELY A HIGH-RISK, HIGH-REWARD OPERATION.

IT'S GONNA SAVE A LOT OF LABOR

IF IT ALL GOES SMOOTHLY WITH THE CHOPPER.

BUT IF THINGS GO SOUTH, THEY'LL GO SOUTH QUICK.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S DOABLE. I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

I'D LIKE TO KEEP IT IN TWO PIECES, IF POSSIBLE.

IT MIGHT HAVE TO BE IN THREE.

Charlotte: WE'RE GONNA MOVE IT WITH A HELICOPTER.

I'M KIND OF SKEPTICAL.

IT JUST SEEMS REALLY, REALLY CRAZY TO ME.

I JUST DON'T LIKE THINKING ABOUT BEING UNDER A HELICOPTER.

THAT'S NOT MY COMFORT ZONE.

I'VE NEVER WORKED WITH HELICOPTERS.

AND, TO ME, IT JUST SEEMS SUPER SCARY.

Eivin: IT SOUNDS CRAZY.

IT IS CRAZY.

LET'S DO IT.

Eivin: EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A CRAZY DEAL,

IT'S GONNA SAVE DAYS AND DAYS OF WORK.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ALL ABOUT BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY RIGHT NOW.

FIRST JOB IS ONE THING -- WE GOT TO TAKE THE COVERS OFF.

-LET'S GET TO IT. -YEAH.

Narrator: 33 MILES AWAY,

AT THE SITE OF HIS NEW HOMESTEAD CABIN,

ATZ LEE, LEFT ALONE,

DECIDES TO TEST THE LIMITS OF HIS RECOVERY.

OH.

Atz Lee: NOW THAT JANE'S GONE, I'M ON MY OWN.

[ GUN CLICKS ]

OW! OH.

Jane: I GOT PINCHED BY A GUN,

AND I'M CONSTANTLY WORRIED ABOUT BEARS.

SO GETTING OUT OF HERE.

[ GRUNTS ]

Atz Lee: SHE'S NOT NECESSARILY GONNA WANT TO MOVE OUT HERE.

SO I NEED TO GET USED TO BEING OUT HERE ALONE.

AT THIS POINT, ON THE CABIN,

I HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO GO, STILL.

THE FOUNDATION'S DONE, LUCKILY,

ALL THE WOOD IS MILLED -- THAT'S GREAT.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF ASSEMBLING IT NOW.

Atz Lee: YEAH.

THERE.

[ GRUNTS ]

OH, YEAH.

OHH! MM.

[ GRUNTING ]

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REALLY DO WORK BY MYSELF YET.

WHEN YOU LAY IN BED FOR 4 MONTHS AND DON'T USE YOUR MUSCLES,

IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET THOSE MUSCLES BACK.

RIGHT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE

THIS IS ALL MY ARM'S EVER GONNA BE ABLE TO DO.

ONE, TWO, THREE, LIFT.

YEP. OKAY.

[ GRUNTS ]

WITH THE ACCIDENT AND RECOVERY AND WHATNOT,

I KIND OF WANT TO JUST TEST MYSELF,

GET OUT THERE, AND SEE WHAT I CAN ACCOMPLISH.

I'VE BUILT LOG CABINS BEFORE.

NOT SINCE THE ACCIDENT --

BUT, IN THEORY, I STILL KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

LOGS MIGHT BE A LITTLE HEAVIER FOR ME NOW,

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'LL SLOW ME DOWN.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME

BECAUSE IT'S JUST A WAY TO PROVE TO MYSELF

THAT I'M STILL CAPABLE, I'M STILL ABLE.

HYAH.

GET ON THE HOUSE. HYAH, GO ON.

[ CHAIN SAW WHIRRING ]

OKAY.

NOW THAT THE REST OF THE HELP IS GONE

AND IT'S JUST ME ON MY OWN,

THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY TIME THAT I CAN TRULY UNDERSTAND

WHERE I'M AT WITH MY RECOVERY.

FIRST SCREW.

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 800 TO 1,000 MORE TO GO.

WHENEVER I THINK I'M BACK TO 100%,

I'LL GO TO LIFT SOMETHING REALLY HEAVY

AND REALIZE, "MAN, THIS THING'S REALLY HEAVY."

OH, GOD.

MM.

THERE'S A FRUSTRATION OF KNOWING

THAT IT'S NOT GOING AS FAST AS I SHOULD BE ABLE TO.

IT'S HARDER THAN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL EVEN SEE THE END OF THIS PROJECT.

OHH!

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

[ GROANS, GRUNTS ]

♪♪

Narrator: BECAUSE OF THE WARMING EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE,

THE KILCHERS MUST MOVE THE HIGH TUNNEL,

A CRITICAL SOURCE OF WINTER FOOD,

ACROSS THE HOMESTEAD

AND CLOSER TO A RELIABLE WATER SOURCE

BY HELICOPTER.

BECAUSE THE CHOPPER ONLY HAS

A SMALL WINDOW OF TIME AVAILABLE,

THE KILCHERS MUST ACT FAST.

WE NEEDED TO GET A BUNCH OF EXTRA HELP

TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

SO WE CALLED IN MY SON, TORREY.

Eivin: THAT WAS A HECK OF A LOT EASIER THAN PUTTING IT ON!

Otto: [ LAUGHS ]

Otto: BEFORE THE PILOT GETS HERE,

WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MUCH THIS WHOLE HIGH TUNNEL WEIGHS

AND GET THE INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF THE HIGH TUNNEL

DOWN TO A WEIGHT THAT THE HELICOPTER COULD ACTUALLY PICK.

Levi: HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU CALCULATED THIS, NOW?

TOO MANY, SON.

ENOUGH TIMES TO GET CONFUSED?

THIS HELICOPTER IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO PICK 2,200 POUNDS.

AND I ESTIMATED THE HIGH TUNNEL TO WEIGH 6,000 POUNDS.

Otto: I DON'T WANT TO OVERLOAD THE HELICOPTER.

SHOULD WE JUST GO INTO FOUR PIECES?

Eivin: YEAH. LET'S CUT THIS THING.

JUST TO PLAY IT SAFE,

WE'RE CUTTING IT INTO FOUR PIECES.

Narrator: OTTO'S PLAN TO MOVE THE HIGH TUNNEL

REQUIRES THE HELICOPTER

TO LIFT EACH OF THE FOUR PIECES, ONE BY ONE,

TO A NEW PREPARED LOCATION,

CLOSE TO A RELIABLE WATER SOURCE

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOMESTEAD.

YOU REALLY GOT TO WATCH YOUR PANT LEG!

I'VE LIT ON FIRE BEFORE.

SO IT'S PRETTY EXCITING WORKING WITH MY BRO.

WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER,

I WAS SORT OF THE ONE WHO WAS MORE IN CHARGE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HE'S BEEN AROUND THE FARM

MORE THAN I HAVE LATELY.

I LET HIM TAKE THE LEAD.

I THINK WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

GETTING ABOUT TIME

FOR THE HELICOPTER TO SHOW UP, I THINK.

Levi: MY DAD'S SET HIS GOALS PRETTY HIGH HERE

WITH MAKING THIS WHOLE THING HAPPEN PRETTY QUICK.

I KNOW HE'S UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE.

Otto: YOU DONE?

ALL SIX CUTS. WOW.

WE NEED TO PRE-RIG EVERYTHING THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.

SEE, THIS IS WAY LONGER.

WHY DO THEY NEED TO MATCH?

GOT TO CARRY THE SAME AMOUNT OF WEIGHT.

I JUST THINK YOU'RE NITPICKING IT TO DEATH.

I AM.

RIGGING IS HOW YOU ATTACH LINES TO SOMETHING

SO THAT YOU CAN LIFT THINGS.

SO THESE ARE GONNA BE THE PICK POINTS

FOR THE HELICOPTER.

WE'RE RIGGING THESE UP.

THE POINT IS, IS THAT IT'S GONNA SLIDE UP HERE

WHEN THE CHOPPER GRABS ON TO IT,

AND LIFT FROM RIGHT UNDER THERE.

I'M REALLY UNFAMILIAR WITH

WORKING WITH A HELICOPTER OVERHEAD.

IT MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS.

YOU KNOW, IF THIS THING IS TOO HEAVY,

IT CAN MAKE A HELICOPTER CRASH.

THERE'S SOME REAL BAD ENDINGS TO THIS STORY.

Otto: OH, WOW.

COOL.

Torrey: HEY, THERE IT IS!

Charlotte: OH, MY GOSH.

HERE IT COMES.

LOOK AT THE HELICOPTER!

Eivin: SO AWESOME, AND IT'S SO COOL.

Otto: IT'S ALMOST THAT MOMENT OF TRUTH

WHEN IT EITHER FLIES OR NOT FLIES.

WOW.

OH, CRAP. T-MINUS 20 SECONDS IS COMING RIGHT NOW.

-WOW! -GOD.

Atz: TODAY, BONNIE AND I ARE TRAINING A LITTLE FOAL.

READY? Atz: YEAH.

[ GUNSHOT ] WHOA!

TO GET A HORSE USED TO FIREARMS,

THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT.

[ GUNSHOT, HORSE WHINNIES ]

Otto: THE HELICOPTER STARTED ROCKING UP TOP.

-WHOA! -OH, MY GOD!

Narrator: AT THE HOMESTEAD, A LACK OF WATER,

CAUSED BY THE INCREASED EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE,

HAS DRIVEN OTTO TO DESPERATE MEASURES.

NICE.

Otto: WE'RE MOVING THE HIGH TUNNEL WITH A HELICOPTER.

THIS IS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND HIGHLY CRITICAL MANEUVER

WE'RE DOING HERE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS REAL COMMON TO HOMESTEADING.

IN ALASKA, HELICOPTERS ARE INCREDIBLY IN-DEMAND.

WHEN THERE'S A HELICOPTER AVAILABLE,

YOU NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

IT'S GOT TO HAPPEN NOW.

WHOA.

HE'S HERE. Eivin: YEAH.

IT'S GO-TIME, MAN. [ LAUGHS ]

THE HELICOPTER TEAM CONSISTS OF TWO PEOPLE --

MATT, ON THE GROUND, AND DAVE, THE HELICOPTER PILOT.

-HOW ARE YOU GUYS? -HEY. DOING GOOD.

SO THE HELICOPTER THAT WE'RE USING TODAY

HAS A USEFUL LOAD OF ABOUT 2,000 POUNDS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS YOU HAVE

IS THAT LOAD COMING BACK DOWN ON TOP OF SOMEBODY.

-YOU GOT YOUR RIGGING? -YEP.

Matt: WE'LL PULL IT OUT AND HOOK IT UP AND...

I'M GONNA HAVE ABOUT A 125-FOOT LINE.

PLUS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE 40-FOOT CABLES.

SO WE DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE THE STRENGTH TO LIFT THIS THING.

Otto: AND THAT'S YOUR AUTOMATIC RELEASE.

Dave: SO THAT'S GONNA HOOK THERE, YEP.

AND I HAVE THE ABILITY TO OPEN THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.

Dave: WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE ABILITY IN THE HELICOPTER --

WE HAVE A SWITCH THAT WE CAN RELEASE.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO DROP THE LINE

AND ANYTHING WE HAVE ON THAT.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA ENDANGER

EITHER MYSELF OR THE HELICOPTER,

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUNCH THAT THING OFF.

Dave: WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL GO AHEAD AND FIRE UP.

I'M GONNA LET THESE GUYS SEE YOU OFF.

I'M GONNA GO OVER AND GET EVERYBODY READY AT THE PICK POINT.

Matt: OKAY.

Eivin: MY DAD CHOSE ME TO GO TO THE LANDING SITE

BECAUSE I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH HELICOPTERS.

I USED TO WORK FOR ALASKA DIVISION OF FORESTRY.

AND I DID A LOT OF HELICOPTER WORK

FLYING SLING LOADS, CARGO LOADS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

DAVE: Radio test. One, two radio test.

EIVIN: I hear you.

ROGER THAT. HE'S ON HIS WAY.

LOOK AT THE HELICOPTER!

-WHOO-HOO! -OH, MY GOSH.

Charlotte: WORKING WITH A HELICOPTER ON THE HOMESTEAD,

THE WHOLE THING IS SO PRECARIOUS AND CRAZY.

IT'S JUST DRIVING ME NUTS. I'M REALLY NERVOUS.

Otto: EVERYBODY, ONE LAST BIT OF INSTRUCTIONS.

HE'S ON HIS WAY.

MAKE SURE, AS HE TIGHTENS UP,

THAT THIS CAN SLIDE UP.

DON'T LET IT GET JAMMED UP.

Eivin: LOOKS GOOD. LOOKS GOOD.

Otto: IF THE HELICOPTER GETS UP THERE

AND CAN'T PICK IT UP,

HE'S GOT AN ELECTRONIC RELEASE.

AND WHATEVER HE'S GOT UNDER HIM

IS GONNA BE SACRIFICED FOR HIMSELF.

Otto: WHAT THE HELL?

Narrator: AS EVE'S FAMILY GROWS,

IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER TO STOCK ENOUGH FOOD

TO FEED THEM THROUGH THE WINTER.

SO SHE TURNS TO FRIEND TELA FOR HELP.

Eve: I ACTUALLY HAVE NO EXPERIENCE IN SET NETTING.

AND SO I'M SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE TELA HELPING ME.

PRETTY MUCH JUST SET YOUR NET OUT,

ANCHOR IT OUT ON BOTH ENDS,

AND THE TIDE COMES IN. IT LIFTS YOUR NET UP.

THE FISH SWIM IN, THE TIDE GOES OUT.

YOU TAKE THE FISH OUT.

SO THE TIDES ARE GONNA GET UP TO, LIKE, 19, 20.

SO THAT'S 5 FEET HIGHER.

YEAH. SO, LIKE, EYE HEIGHT.

THE SILVER SALMON RUN IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

AND WE REALLY DON'T HAVE, ACTUALLY,

HARDLY ANY FISH IN OUR FREEZER AT THE MOMENT.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CATCH SOME FISH.

EIVIN ISN'T AVAILABLE TO HELP.

SO I GOT TELA,

WHO'S REALLY EXPERIENCED WITH SET NETTING.

I'D SAY FROM HERE DOWN...

YEAH. ...'CAUSE THE NETS ARE LONG.

THE NEAT THING ABOUT SET NETTING

IS IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE KILCHER FAMILY HAS DONE

AS LONG AS THEY'VE BEEN ON THE HOMESTEAD.

YULE AND HIS CHILDREN AND RUTH SET-NETTED AT THIS VERY SPOT.

SO JUST PULLING IT UP LIKE THIS.

Tela: WE JUST HAVE TO LAY THE NET OUT,

GET IT IN ON THE LOW TIDE

SO THAT, AS THE WATER FLOODS, AS THE TIDE COMES IN,

THE FISH CAN HIT THE NET.

WHEN THE TIDE GOES OUT, YOU CAN PICK THE FISH,

TAKE 'EM HOME, AND STICK 'EM IN YOUR FREEZER.

OKAY. LET'S GET THE ANCHORS OUT.

Eve: YOU REALLY WANT YOUR NET TO STAY IN PLACE.

ALL HELL'S GONNA BREAK LOOSE IF THAT NET BREAKS LOOSE.

SO YOU GOT TO HAVE YOUR NET, LIKE, SUPER SECURE.

Tela: YEAH, LET'S TIE IT AND THEN PULL THIS.

YEAH.

Eve: SO WE NEED TO TIE THE LEAD LINE

SO IT STAYS DOWN AWAY FROM THE FLOAT LINE,

THE BUOYS THAT ARE GONNA BE FLOATING.

YOU DON'T WANT YOUR NET TO SANDWICH TOGETHER.

WHEN THE TIDE COMES IN, YOU WANT IT TO SEPARATE OUT

SO IT'S THIS WALL THAT THE FISH SWIM INTO.

Tela: SO, LIKE, I'M JUST SPREADING IT

AND PULLING OUT ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE...

YEAH.

...IT'S GONNA BE A TANGLY MESS.

Eve: OH, YEAH. THAT'S NOT BAD.

IT'S NOT HEAVIER THAN THAT NONSENSICAL ANCHOR.

SO THE NET'S SET.

IT'S JUST WAITING NOW

AND HOPING THAT THERE'S A BUNCH OF FISH.

I FEEL LIKE SUCH A BADASS FISHERWOMAN.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: BACK AT THE HOMESTEAD, THE HELICOPTER HAS ARRIVED.

AND THE KILCHERS BEGIN A DANGEROUS MANEUVER

THAT THEY'VE NEVER ATTEMPTED BEFORE.

IT'S ALMOST THAT MOMENT OF TRUTH

WHEN IT EITHER FLIES OR NOT FLIES.

Otto: COME ON!

EIVIN: All right. Looks good.

Otto: NEED TO BE READY TO GRAB A HOOK.

Charlotte: OKAY.

Matt: SO ONCE THE PILOT'S IN THE AIR,

HE DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THE BEST VISUAL ADVANTAGE POINT.

SO FOR ME TO BE ON THE GROUND

AND HAVE THAT 360 VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE CREWS AND PEOPLE,

IT REALLY HELPS THE PILOT OUT.

Otto: GO!

Charlotte: WHOA!

-[ GRUNTS ] -HERE IT GOES. HERE IT GOES.

Matt: THANK YOU.

Charlotte: THIS IS TANGLED UP!

IT'S TANGLED! IT'S TANGLED UP!

ON THIS HELICOPTER, WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A LOAD CELL.

IT'S ACTUALLY A WEIGHING SYSTEM BUILT INTO THE HOOK.

AND I'LL SEE HOW MUCH THIS THING APPROXIMATELY WEIGHS.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A GAUGE THAT TELLS US

HOW MUCH TORQUE WE'RE PULLING FROM THE ENGINE.

SO WE'RE ONLY ALLOWED UP TO 100% TORQUE.

Otto: HOLD IT DOWN TILL HE PICKS IT UP.

IT WAS LIKE STANDING IN THE EYE OF A HURRICANE.

THE WIND WAS BLOWING.

IT'S HARD TO SEE, HARD TO HEAR.

Matt: ALL RIGHT, DAVE. BRING HER UP.

DAVE: Okay. Sounds good.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS YOU HAVE

IS THAT LOAD COMING BACK DOWN ON TOP OF SOMEBODY.

Charlotte: SHOULD WE GET ON THE OTHER SIDE?

Otto: WHAT THE HELL?

Otto: WE'RE HOLDING ON TO IT REALLY FIRMLY,

AND THE HELICOPTER STARTED ROCKING UP TOP.

WHOA!

Matt: YOU'RE CLEAR TO GO WHENEVER YOU WANT.

WOW.

THE WORST THING THAT CAN GO WRONG

IS WE CAUSE THE HELICOPTER TO CRASH.

Charlotte: OH, GOD.

THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY

THE WORST NIGHTMARE IN THE WORLD.

-WHOA. -WHAT DOES HE WANT TO DO?

OH, MY GOD!

♪♪

Narrator: AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY,

ATZ SR. AND WIFE BONNIE

PREPARE TO TAKE A NEWBORN FOAL

ON HIS FIRST JOURNEY OUT INTO THE WORLD

AND FAR FROM HIS COMFORT ZONE.

Atz: LET ME GET A HALTER ON THIS LITTLE GUY.

Atz: TODAY, BONNIE AND I ARE TRAINING A LITTLE FOAL.

SO THAT'LL GO IN HIS NOSE,

AND THEN THE STRAP WILL GO OVER HIS NECK.

IF YOU DON'T TRAIN A HORSE AT ALL,

THEN YOU CAN'T USE HIM, AND HE'S NOT A USEFUL TOOL.

THEN YOU JUST HAVE A PET RUNNING AROUND THE YARD,

AND YOU'RE FEEDING IT.

OKAY.

I'M GONNA TAKE HIM TO THE HAY PILE.

FIRST, I'M GONNA HAVE THE FOAL

GET USED TO ME TOUCHING ITS BODY.

Bonnie: IT'S OKAY, GIRL. IT'S OKAY.

TAKING THE FOAL AWAY FROM ITS MOTHER WAS NERVE-RACKING

BECAUSE THE MOTHER GOES CRAZY.

IT'S OKAY, GIRL. IT'S OKAY. [ HORSE WHINNIES ]

IT'S OKAY, GIRL. BABY'S OKAY.

IT'S OKAY, GIRL.

Atz: THIS FOAL IS A DAY OLD.

BUT THE MARE IS NERVOUS.

SHE'S HAD THE FOAL TO HERSELF FOR A DAY,

AND SO HER INSTINCTS ARE PROTECT.

"THERE'S SOMEONE GONNA HARM MY FOAL."

IT'S OKAY. OKAY.

SHE'S FINE AS LONG AS THE BABY'S CLOSE BY.

WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO OUT INTO THE REAL WORLD NOW.

AND SHE HAS BUCKED ME OFF ONE TIME.

SHE DOESN'T DO THAT WELL IN THE WATER.

AND WHEN I HOBBLED HER AND SHOT THAT GUN...

[ GUNSHOT, HORSE WHINNIES ]

...SHE TOTALLY WENT CRAZY.

SO I WANT THE BABY TO DO BETTER.

HEADING OUT -- HEADING OUT INTO REALITY.

HE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GOT COMING.

[ SMACKS LIPS ] COME ON.

FIRST THING I'M GONNA DO

IS GO THROUGH THIS BOG HERE, OKAY?

FIRST, WE'VE GOT TO TRAIN HER.

NOPE.

IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT HERE,

THE SITUATION THAT'LL CAUSE A HORSE THE MOST TROUBLE

IS BOGS AND WATER.

IF A HORSE STAYS CALM IN THE BOG,

IT GETS THROUGH IT.

IF IT'S SHAKING AND QUIVERING, WHAT HAPPENS?

IT JUST GOES DOWN.

COME ON.

STEADY, NOW.

[ HORSE WHINNIES ]

DON'T FREAK OUT.

JUST STAY IN HERE. YOU'RE FINE.

YOU'RE FINE. COME ON.

[ HORSE SNORTS ]

SEE? SHE'S CALLING HIM.

LIKE, "COME ON. COME ON. COME ON."

HOPEFULLY, IF HE SEES HIS MOTHER DOING IT,

HE'LL THINK, "NO BIG DEAL.

MOM'S DOING IT. I CAN DO IT, TOO."

Bonnie: COME ON.

OH, HE'S COMING.

NOW, YOU CAN JUST STAY THERE FOR NOW, OKAY?

I'M GONNA GO AND COME BACK, GO AND COME BACK.

SO JUST HANG THERE FOR A MINUTE.

YOU CAN SEE HOW HE JUST DOESN'T LIKE IT,

SO I JUST GOT TO GET HIM USED TO IT.

HELL, THE MOM DON'T LIKE IT.

OH.

[ LAUGHS ] THAT WAS A GOOD ONE.

ALL RIGHT.

Bonnie: HE'S DOING REALLY GOOD.

Atz: DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT AT FIRST.

GOT BETTER AND BETTER AT IT. YEAH.

HE NOW KNOWS WHAT A BOG IS, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND HE KNOWS HE'S NOT GONNA DIE.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT, BUDDY.

THIS FOAL IS GONNA ENCOUNTER SITUATIONS

AND SEE THINGS IT'S NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

THIS WHOLE DAY WILL BE JUST TRIAL AND ERROR.

Narrator: BACK AT THE HOMESTEAD,

THE KILCHERS' ATTEMPT TO MOVE THE HIGH TUNNEL BY HELICOPTER

HAS TAKEN A SUDDEN TURN.

ONCE WE HOOKED UP, WE WERE ALL FULL OF EXCITEMENT.

AND WE'RE REALLY READY FOR THIS THING TO FLY.

WE WERE HOLDING ON TO IT REALLY FIRMLY,

AND THE HELICOPTER STARTED ROCKING UP TOP.

Otto: WHOA!

YOU'RE CLEAR TO GO WHENEVER YOU WANT.

Charlotte: OH, MY GOD.

WHOA!

Eivin: HE COULDN'T PICK IT. HE DROPPED HIS LINE.

WOW.

Otto: MAN, WHEN THAT THING DIDN'T PICK UP,

MY HEART JUST SUNK.

HE POPPED HIS EMERGENCY RELEASE AND FLEW AWAY.

IT WAS LIKE, "WHAT HAPPENED?

WHAT WENT WRONG?"

YOU GONNA SET DOWN AND LAND?

YEAH, I THINK SO. I'LL FORMULATE A GAME PLAN HERE.

SOUNDS GOOD.

Dave: I HAVE A GAUGE THAT TELLS ME

HOW MUCH TORQUE I'M PULLING WITH THE ENGINE.

SO ONCE THAT THING HITS 100%

AND IF THAT THING DOESN'T START COMING OFF THE GROUND AND GOING,

THEN THAT'S ALL WE HAVE.

-WOW. -DID HE SAY IT'S TOO HEAVY?

UNFORTUNATELY, THE FIRST ONE'S THE TOUGHEST

'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE THE MOST FUEL LOAD

AND WEIGH THE MOST.

JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO HEAVY FOR THE FIRST ATTEMPT.

-IT'S THIS FRONT BAR. -HOW MUCH TOO HEAVY?

I DON'T KNOW.

Otto: MY MIND JUST RACED THROUGH ALL THE POSSIBILITIES.

CUT ANOTHER CHUNK OFF OF IT.

DO THIS. DO THAT.

AND THEN I REALIZED

THAT I HAD BOLTED THOSE END PIPES ON.

THEY WEREN'T REALLY WELDED AT ALL.

THAT WAS THE OBVIOUS SOLUTION.

I CAN GET RID OF 300 UGLY POUNDS RIGHT HERE.

Otto: I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID WRONG.

MAYBE THERE'S DIRT IN THESE PIPES,

THE PIPES ARE THICKER THAN I THOUGHT.

I GOT NO IDEA.

IT'S LIKE, "OKAY, RALLY.

GET THE TOOLS. GET THIS. GET THAT.

MAKE THIS HAPPEN."

EVERYBODY IS SCRAMBLING.

I THINK WE CAN DROP THAT PIPE OFF THE END.

THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE A GOOD TEAM FOR.

YOU RUN OUT OF BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS,

YOU GOT TO USE YOUR BRAINS AND YOUR BRAWN.

Levi: NOW WE'RE JUST DROPPING AS MUCH WEIGHT AS WE CAN

AS QUICK AS WE CAN 'CAUSE THIS CHOPPER,

HE'S ONLY GONNA BE AROUND FOR SO LONG.

AND WE GOT TO GET THIS DONE.

WHOA, EIVIN!

Charlotte: THAT WHOLE JUST SEEMS SUPER DANGEROUS.

I'M WORRIED THAT THE HELICOPTER COULD CRASH.

I'M WORRIED THAT PEOPLE ON THE GROUND COULD GET HURT.

-HE'S ON HIS WAY. -ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO.

Matt: ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE CLEAR TO GO WHENEVER YOU WANT.

Otto: IF IT DOESN'T FLY,

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING MORE WE COULD DO

TO MAKE THINGS LIGHTER.

Otto: OKAY.

OKAY, HERE HE GOES. LOOK OUT.

Matt: ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD, DAVE.

Levi: ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOOD.

-GO! -NICE!

DAVE: All right. Very good.

Otto: WOW.

-HOW CRAZY IS THAT? -WOW, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

-YES, IT IS. -WOW.

Otto: [ LAUGHS ]

OH, YEAH!

THAT LOOKS SO BIZARRE.

[ LAUGHS ]

SEEING THIS FIRST SECTION FINALLY FLY AWAY

AND GET SMALLER AND SMALLER AND JUST...

A REAL RELIEF.

Eivin: THERE IT IS! IT'S FLYIN'!

Eivin: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

IS TO WATCH THAT GIANT THING IN THE AIR

AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS STAYING OUT OF THE WAY.

UNTIL IT'S DOWN ON THE GROUND, YOU CAN STILL BE HURT.

Levi: HE'S GOT IT!

ONE DOWN. LET'S DO THE NEXT ONE.

THE NEXT PICK IS ONE OF THE CENTER SECTIONS.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE CENTER SECTION

HAS ABOUT TWO MORE ARCHES IN IT.

SO IT COULD BE A WAY HEAVIER LOAD

THAN THE FIRST SECTION.

THIS NEXT ONE'S GONNA BE HEAVIER!

Matt: YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

[ GROANS ]

CAN I BE THE MAN I USED TO BE BEFORE THE FALL?

[ BLEEP ] ROLL OFF OF THERE.

THIS IS A LOT MORE WORK THAN I MAY BE ABLE TO HANDLE.

Eivin: YEP. IT'S 180 DEGREES WRONG.

WE LOWERED THE THIRD SECTION DOWN

180 DEGREES IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

WE COULD REALLY BE IN TROUBLE.

SON OF A BITCH.

Narrator: FOR ATZ LEE,

LIKE HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER BEFORE HIM,

THE HEART OF HOMESTEADING

IS ABOUT TAKING RISKS AND PUSHING LIMITS.

Atz Lee: BUILDING A CABIN IS ASKING A LOT,

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE I CAN ACHIEVE.

BEFORE THE ACCIDENT,

I'D DO STUFF LIKE THIS JUST FOR PURE ENJOYMENT.

DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS

NOW HAS BECOME MORE OF A CHALLENGE,

LIKE I'VE GOT TO PROVE IT TO MYSELF.

YOU'RE KIDDING ME.

CAN I BE THE MAN I USED TO BE BEFORE THE FALL?

HAVING TO PUT ALL THE WALLS UP AND THE ROOF ON

BEFORE SNOW FLIES,

IF I'M GONNA BE LIVING OUT HERE FOR THE WINTER,

I'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

YEAH.

EVERY ROUND I GO UP IS JUST A LITTLE BIT HARDER.

[BLEEP] ROLL OFF OF THERE.

[BLEEP] DAMN IT.

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUST THROW 'EM UP THERE.

GRAB ONE END OF IT, SWING IT OVER,

SET IT ON THE HOUSE.

GRAB THE OTHER END, SET IT ON THE HOUSE.

IT SOUNDS PRETTY SIMPLE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT, IN THE PAST,

I EASILY WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO.

[ GROANS ]

OH.

[ GRUNTS ]

OKAY. AY.

I GOT A LOT OF HARDWARE IN ME NOW.

YOU KNOW, I GOT SCREWS AND METAL PLATES.

AND WHEN I GO TO PICK UP A LOG,

IT GRINDS INTO THOSE PIECES OF HARDWARE, MAN.

AND IT'S SHARPSHOOTING PAIN.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

MY RANGE OF MOTION IN MY LEFT ARM'S GETTING BETTER.

BUT THERE'S A POINT WHERE

I CAN'T GO A LOT HIGHER WITH MY ARM.

AND THAT POINT IS RIGHT THE POINT

THAT I HAVE TO GO 6 INCHES HIGHER WITH A HUGE HEAVY LOG.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

EACH LOG I PUT ON THERE, I REALIZE,

"MAN, THIS IS A LOT MORE WORK THAN I MAY BE ABLE TO HANDLE."

[ GRUNTS, EXHALES DEEPLY ]

I CAN'T DO AS MUCH ALONE

AS I'D HOPED I'D BEEN ABLE TO DO.

I CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA.

I'M THE ONE THAT HAD THIS VISION.

I HAD THIS DREAM.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, ATZ LEE?

HOW FAR ARE YOU GONNA PUSH YOURSELF

BEFORE YOU GET HURT HERE?

AND NOW IT'S TO THE POINT

TO WHERE I KIND OF AM REALIZING I NEED HELP.

YEAH.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY ADULT LIFE,

THAT'S A PRETTY SCARY PLACE TO BE.

I HAVE TO CALL IT QUITS.

[ GROANS ]

♪♪

Narrator: ON KILCHER BEACH,

AFTER WAITING OUT THE TIDE CYCLE,

EVE AND FRIEND TELA, JOINED BY THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN,

PREPARE TO CHECK THE NET.

EVE IS COUNTING ON THIS PROTEIN

TO FEED HER GROWING FAMILY THROUGHOUT THE WINTER.

Eve: SO AS THE TIDE STARTS TO TRICKLE OUT,

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE BUOYS.

IF THEY DIP UNDER, THERE MIGHT BE A FISH IN THERE.

BUT WE WERE NOT SEEING A LOT HAPPENING WITH THE BUOYS,

WHICH MEANS IT DEFINITELY ISN'T LOADED DOWN WITH FISH.

AND I JUST HOPE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING.

Eve: I SURE HOPE SO.

I THINK I SEE ONE.

YEAH! Tela: OH.

WE GOT ONE!

OH, TWO FISH!

OH, FOUR FISH.

YEAH, DO YOU WANT TO HELP BRING IT OVER?

Eve: THIS IS A SILVER, YEAH.

FISH ON. Tela: THAT'S A SILVER.

-WHOA! -YAY! WE GOT ONE.

Eve: WHEN YOU'RE AN ALASKAN RESIDENT,

YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SUBSISTENCE FISHING.

Tela: AWESOME.

IT ALLOWS THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE YEAR-ROUND

TO LIVE OFF THE LAND.

WHOO! LOOKIT.

OH, IT'S SO PRETTY AND SLIMY.

OH, DON'T WIPE IT -- [ CHUCKLES ]

WASH IT OFF IN A PUDDLE

INSTEAD OF WIPING IT ON YOUR SHIRT.

OKAY, IS THAT ONE GILLED YET?

THAT LETS THE BLOOD COME OUT, AND THEN IT ALSO KILLS 'EM.

Eve: MY KIDS ARE STILL REALLY YOUNG.

BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A SKILL

I DEFINITELY WANT TO PASS ON TO THEM SO THAT,

IF THEY DECIDE TO LIVE THIS LIFESTYLE IN ALASKA,

THEY HAVE THE SKILLS TO DO IT.

Eve: WHEN YOU SUBSISTENCE FISH,

YOU HAVE TO CUT THE TAILS OFF

SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW THESE FISH ARE NOT FOR SALE,

THEY'RE ONLY FOR SUBSISTENCE.

-WHOA, GO FOR THE... -YEAH! WHOO-HOO!

YOU DID IT. YOU CUT IT.

IN THE PAST, EIVIN HAS TAKEN ON

MORE OF THE ROLE OF THE HUNTER AND THE FISHER,

AND I HAVE BEEN THE GATHERER

AND THE GROWER OF ALL THE VEGETABLES.

-OKAY. -WHOA.

-WHOA. -LOOK AT ITS MOUTH.

-SHOULD WE EAT IT? -YEAH.

-DOES IT LOOK DELICIOUS? YEAH.

THIS YEAR, I AM PROBABLY GOING TO PROVIDE

HALF OF THE PROTEIN OR MORE

THAT WE'LL BE EATING THIS WINTER.

THE TONGUE IN THE -- IN IT.

YOU CAN SEE THE TONGUE IN THERE, HUH?

WE HAD 20 FISH, WHICH WAS AWESOME.

WE'VE GOT OUR FREEZERS FULL FOR THE WINTER,

AND WE DID IT OURSELVES.

Narrator: AT THE HOMESTEAD,

IN AN URGENT ATTEMPT TO SAVE THE HIGH TUNNEL GARDEN

FROM A WATER SHORTAGE CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE,

OTTO HAS ENLISTED THE HELP OF A HELICOPTER

TO MOVE IT TO A NEW LOCATION.

IT'S TAKING THE SECOND PIECE UP!

HERE IT GOES!

Otto: THE NEXT PICK IS ONE OF THE CENTER SECTIONS.

EVERY PIECE IS PROBABLY GONNA BE DIFFERENT.

AND JUST 'CAUSE IT PICKS ONE,

IT WILL NOT MEAN IT'S GONNA PICK THE SECOND ONE.

PLEASE! PLEASE!

Matt: ALL RIGHT, DAVE, BRING IT UP.

DAVE: Okay.

OH, MY GOD.

THAT CENTER SECTION BARELY TOOK OFF.

OH, MY GOSH.

PLEASE, PLEASE BE OKAY.

Otto: WOW!

OH, IF HE HAS TO DROP THAT...

Eivin: HE'S HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THIS ONE.

IT'S HEAVIER.

-LOOKING HEAVY. -HE'S BARELY PICKING IT?

BARELY PICKING IT, BUT HE'S GOT IT.

WOW!

Eivin: YEAH, OKAY. WE'RE READY FOR YOU.

HOPEFULLY HE DOESN'T HAVE TO PUNCH IT OFF.

OKAY, WE'RE READY. -Okay.

Eivin: BEING ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE HELICOPTER,

IT'S A STRESSFUL SITUATION.

YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING WRONG.

MATT: What are you thinking? DAVE: Yeah, if that's --

That's the the same weight as the other one?

Almost identical.

IT'S LIKE TRYING TO BALANCE A PENCIL ON YOUR FINGERTIP,

EXCEPT FOR UPSIDE DOWN.

THE LOAD UNDERNEATH US

CAN SWING AROUND AND MOVE AROUND.

-HERE HE GOES. -THIRD SECTION.

August: COME ON.

Dave: A LOT OF FINESSE ON THE CONTROLS.

YOU GOT A GROUND CREW DOWN THERE

THAT YOU GOT TO BE WORRIED ABOUT

AND MAKE SURE YOU KEEP EVERYTHING STEADY

SO YOU'RE NOT ENDANGERING ANYONE.

Otto: WOW!

HOLY WOW.

WOW!

THAT IS JUST AMAZING!

THIS SAVED A TON OF TIME

BY PICKING IT UP WITH THE HELICOPTER.

AND IT WAS LIKE, "YES! THIS IS WORKING!"

OH. UH, YEAH.

THAT ONE IS -- IS 180 DEGREES WRONG.

OH, MAN.

THE THIRD PIECE IS BACKWARDS.

DANG IT.

YEP. IT'S 180 DEGREES WRONG.

WE HAD LOWERED THE THIRD SECTION DOWN

180 DEGREES IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

WE COULD REALLY BE IN TROUBLE.

SON OF A BITCH.

I THINK WE CAN FILLET NOW. WE CAN FILLET!

MM-HMM.

I HAVE ALWAYS HAD EIVIN FILLET THE SALMON.

I KIND OF HAVE A VAGUE IDEA HOW TO DO IT.

CUT HERE AT AN ANGLE,

MAKING SURE YOU DON'T RUN INTO THE FIN BONE.

BUT, FOR SOME REASON,

FILLETING A SLIMY SALMON IS REALLY DIFFICULT.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT. [ LAUGHS ] THANK YOU.

MM-HMM. WE WOKE UP AT 6:00 A.M.

AND YOU HAVE A BABY ON YOUR BACK.

I KNOW.

IT'S REALLY GOOD FOR ME

TO GET OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE.

I THINK I'VE FILLETED SALMON, LIKE, TWICE IN MY LIFE.

OH, GEEZ.

THIS FILLET IS GONNA BE MASSACRED.

DEFINITELY A SKILL I PROBABLY SHOULD GET BETTER AT.

[ BABY BABBLES ] [ CHUCKLES ]

[ BABBLES ]

BUT ALSO ONE I THINK I'M GONNA GENERALLY LET EIVIN DO.

[ LAUGHS ]

IT'S JUST, LIKE, NOT EASY.

WE CAN WASH THIS TOGETHER.

TICKLED IT. YOU TICKLED IT?

AWESOME. THANKS FOR THE HELP.

Narrator: AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY,

ATZ SR. AND BONNIE COMPLETE THE FINAL

AND MOST RISKY PART OF THE YOUNG FOAL'S TRAINING.

Atz: OUR GOAL IS TO GET DOWN TO THE BEACH

TO GIVE HIM SOME GOOD WATER EXPERIENCE.

Bonnie: OH, WATCH OUT!

OH, OH, UH-OH.

OH, WOW. OH.

Atz: HE WAS A LITTLE TOO CONFIDENT THERE

AND JUMPED RIGHT OFF.

I HOPE HE'S ALL -- DIDN'T HURT HIS LEG.

YOU OKAY, BUDDY. HMM?

Atz: DIDN'T BREAK A LEG.

DIDN'T INJURE A HOOF ON THE ROCKS.

WHEW.

AT LEAST HE AIN'T LIMPING OR ANYTHING.

HE'S LEARNING GOOD. HE'S GOT COURAGE.

HE'S NOT AFRAID OF JUMPING OFF BANKS.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND,

HE ALSO HAS TO LEARN HIS CAPABILITIES

AND TO BE CAUTIOUS.

WHAT'S IT TIME FOR, BONNIE?

PISTOL SHOOTING?

PISTOL SHOOTING!

I DON'T LIKE THAT ONE 'CAUSE...

I KNOW, BUT WE GOT TO DO IT.

SHE HATES IT. SO...

Atz: MY HORSE IS STILL A LITTLE SKITTERISH AROUND FIREARMS.

[ GUNSHOT, HORSE WHINNIES ]

SO TO GET A HORSE USED TO FIREARMS,

THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT.

CAN BE A POTENTIALLY LIFESAVING SITUATION.

SO I'M GONNA FACE HIM AWAY FROM HER

SO HE CAN'T SEE HER.

AND I'M GONNA HOLD HIM

AND HAVE BONNIE SHOOT OFF A FEW ROUNDS WITH THE 911

AND GET HIM USED TO THAT SOUND SO HE WON'T FREAK OUT SOMEDAY.

READY? YES, I'M READY.

[ GUNSHOT ] WHOA.

[ HORSE WHINNYING ]

[ GUNSHOT ] DOING GOOD.

STIFF ARM. Bonnie: HOW'S SHE DOING?

Atz: HIS MOM IS NERVOUS, RUNNING AROUND...

BUT I'M HOLDING HIM, AND HE'S DOING GREAT.

OKAY, GOOD.

COME OVER HERE.

JUST LET HIM SMELL A LITTLE BIT OF THE PISTOL, PLEASE.

OKAY.

OKAY. THAT'S GOOD.

NEXT, WE'RE TAKING THIS BABY SWIMMING OUT HERE IN THE BAY.

SHE'S EVEN SCARED OF THE WAVES.

YEAH. [ SMOOCHES ]

Atz: A HORSE WILL SWIM ON THEIR OWN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TEACH A HORSE HOW TO SWIM.

IT'S MORE JUST TEACHING THEM NOT TO BE AFRAID IN THE WATER,

TO STAY CALM.

[ SMOOCHES ]

THIS COLT'S A DAY OLD.

YOU GOT WAVES COMING AT 'EM.

THEY'RE LIKE, "OH, THAT'S A LITTLE SCARY."

[ LAUGHS ] OH, MAN.

HERE WE GO, BUDDY.

AND THEN, "WHOA, IT'S GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER.

BUT I GOT TO FOLLOW MOM."

Bonnie: WATCH HIM.

Atz: [ SMOOCHES ] ATZ, WATCH HIM.

[ SMOOCHES ] THAT'S FAR ENOUGH!

Bonnie: I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED

'CAUSE IT WAS GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER,

AND I WASN'T POSITIVE

THAT ATZ WAS WATCHING HOW DEEP IT WAS GETTING.

THAT'S FAR ENOUGH, ATZ!

Atz: HE LEARNED WELL, HANDLED IT WELL.

SO I'M EXCITED.

Atz: ISN'T THAT AMAZING?

FIRST, HE WAS LIKE,

"OH, MY GOD. I GOT TO JUMP OVER THIS."

YEAH.

IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING AND FUN

TO TEACH SOMEONE SOMETHING BRAND-NEW,

TAKE 'EM TO A BRAND-NEW PLACE.

GOOD JOB.

HE'S BEEN BAPTIZED IN THE KACHEMAK BAY!

YEAH. YEAH, REALLY.

IT WAS A GREAT DAY.

[ SMOOCHES ]

[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]

Narrator: BACK ON THE HOMESTEAD,

THE KILCHERS ARE ON THE VERGE

OF COMPLETING THE HIGH TUNNEL MOVE.

BUT WITH BIG RISKS AND UNFAMILIAR EQUIPMENT

COMES NEW CHALLENGES.

THAT ONE IS 180 DEGREES WRONG.

DANG IT. THE EASIEST THING TO DO

WOULD BE TO PICK IT UP AND SPIN IT.

BUT WE GOT ANOTHER PIECE COMING IN.

WHEN THE THIRD PIECE CAME OVER HERE AND GOT SET DOWN,

WE WERE TRYING TO JUST GET IT DOWN.

WHEN THE HELICOPTER FLEW AWAY,

I REALIZED THAT WAS IT ROTATED

180 DEGREES IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

DAVE, WE'RE GONNA SET THIS ONE DOWN

A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THE SOUTH.

OKAY.

IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT THAT IT ALL GETS

PUT BACK TOGETHER IN THE SAME WAY

THAT IT WAS TAKEN APART.

OTHERWISE, NOTHING'S GONNA LINE UP.

SO I HAD TO HAVE HIM SET THE FOURTH PIECE

FAR ENOUGH AWAY.

LEVI AND I UNHOOKED IT.

WE RIGGED UP THE THIRD PIECE, FLIPPED IT AROUND.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TUG-OF-WAR.

Eivin: THAT'S GREAT, DAVE!

GOT THE FOURTH PIECE RIGGED BACK UP.

SET IT IN PLACE, AND WE WERE GOOD TO GO.

THANK YOU, DAVE!

-Okay. -ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. WE DID IT! GOOD WORK!

SUCCESSFUL MISSION. NOBODY GOT HURT.

YES! HIGH TUNNEL GOT MOVED.

ANOTHER ONE OF DAD'S CRAZY PLANS WORKED OUT.

Eivin: THIS SAVED A TON OF TIME

BY PICKING IT UP WITH THE HELICOPTER.

I THINK I CAN DEFINITELY GET BACK TO MY LIFE

NOW THAT MY DAD'S EMERGENCIES ARE OVER WITH.

INSTANT HIGH TUNNEL!

HEY, HERE IT IS!

[ LAUGHTER ]

OH, MY GOSH. GOOD WORK, YOU GUYS.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, CHARLOTTE?

NO!

IT WAS A JOYFUL MOMENT

TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE HAD SHED THE PROBLEMS

AND WE COULD START ANEW IN A NEW SPOT

RIGHT NEAR A GOOD SOURCE OF WATER.

WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO START GROWING FOOD AGAIN.

Otto: PRETTY EXCITING. THIS IS REAL EXCITING.

IF MY DAD HAD BEEN ALIVE TO WATCH THIS,

HE WOULD'VE BEEN TOTALLY AMAZED.

WE'RE PIONEERS. WE'RE ADVENTURERS.

AND WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING, BUT WE LEARN.

RUNNING OUT OF WATER THIS YEAR WAS A REAL WAKE-UP CALL.

IT'S BEEN A DRY, DRY SUMMER.

AND NOW, WITH CLIMATE CHANGE,

WE COULD HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS NEXT SUMMER.

WE NEED A HELICOPTER ON THE HOMESTEAD ALL THE TIME.

[ LAUGHS ]

JOB WELL-DONE. YEAH.

Narrator: NEXT WEEK,

IT'S A VERY SPECIAL KILCHER CHRISTMAS.

I'M READY FOR CHRISTMAS. LOOKS PRETTY AWESOME.

WOW.

WE GOT THE WHITE RABBIT GIFT EXCHANGE.

-WHOA. -OH, MY GOSH!

Otto: THAT'S WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT.

I LOVE YOU GUYS.

Otto: MERRY CHRISTMAS.