Original subtitles

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

-HA HA HA! -WHOO-HOO!

-OH! -WHOA!

YOU'RE GONNA BURN DOWN THE FRICKING HOUSE!

Narrator: FOUR GENERATIONS OF THE KILCHER FAMILY

HAVE SURVIVED IN THE BRUTAL ALASKAN WILDERNESS

FOR OVER 75 YEARS.

LIFE OUT HERE IS ALWAYS A GAMBLE.

-WHOA. -AM I GONNA BE ABLE

TO GET ENOUGH FOOD TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS NEXT SEASON?

IT'S A BUCK.

DAMN IT.

-[ GRUNTS ] -OTTO!

IT'S KIND OF DO OR DIE.

OH!

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GONNA BE YOUR LAST DAY.

Woman: 911, WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY?

[ MONITORS BEEPING ]

ATZ. IT'S JUST HARD THAT --

KNOWING THAT ATZ'S HURT -- THAT HE MIGHT DIE OR SOMETHING.

IT'S JUST TERRIBLE.

Atz Lee: IT'S DEFINITELY A LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY.

IT'S LIKE YOU HAVE TO THINK TO TELL YOUR THUMB

AND FINGERS WHAT TO DO.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE NEXT YEAR'S GONNA BRING.

Narrator: THIS SEASON, THE KILCHER WAY OF LIFE

IS AT RISK LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

OUR WEATHER HAS JUST BECOME MORE ERRATIC.

-WHOA. -MORE HIGH WINDS.

Woman: THIS IS BRUTAL.

MORE RAIN.

THE STORM IS A-COMING.

WHOA.

IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE UNDER ATTACK.

Man: A 7.1-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE

HAS STRUCK THE KENAI PENINSULA.

EARTHQUAKES, WINDS, KIND OF ALMOST BIBLICAL.

Narrator: THE FAMILY STRUGGLES TO HEAL THE HOMESTEAD

AND THEMSELVES.

THIS IS SOME SERIOUS PHYSICAL THERAPY.

Atz Lee: MY MISSION IS TO COMPLETE THIS CABIN,

BUT THE PAIN IS SO INTENSE THAT IT SHUTS ME DOWN.

UGH.

Charlotte: OTTO NEEDS TO HAVE SURGERY.

LOVE YOU, SWEETIE.

Otto: THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

AHH.

I MIGHT NOT COME BACK.

-DAD! -OH, AUGUST.

-WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. -OH, WATCH OUT, WATCH OUT.

COMING DOWN. LOOK OUT.

CONSTRUCTOR, WE'RE DEAD IN THE WATER.

THIS LIFESTYLE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

-WATCH IT. -WHOA.

Atz Lee: YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE PRESSURE.

I'M EITHER GONNA PUNCH SOMEBODY IN THE FACE

OR SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET KILLED.

-WE'RE MOVING, OTTO. -REALLY PISSES ME OFF.

'CAUSE IT'S A MATTER OF SURVIVAL.

FIRE. NICE.

WE'RE GONNA DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

Jane: OH, PLEASE. IS SHE OKAY?

-KEEP MOVING. -HOLY MOLY.

-WHOO. -YEAH.

Narrator: AND AFTER A DECADE AWAY MAKING MUSIC

AND STARTING A FAMILY OF HER OWN,

THE PRODIGAL DAUGHTER RETURNS.

[ YODELS ]

Atz: JEWEL WAS RAISED HERE IN ALASKA.

[ YODELING ]

-HI, JEWEL. -HI, OPA.

I'M SO GLAD YOU CAME ALL THE WAY.

I'M GLAD TO BE HOME.

♪ 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 ♪

♪ FATHERS, SONS, BROTHERS, WIVES ♪

♪ BUT WE'RE MAKIN' OUR WAY ♪

♪ YES, WE'LL STAY ♪

♪ RIGHT HERE ♪

♪ ON ALASKA'S LAST FRONTIER ♪

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Man: AT 1:34 A.M., ALASKA LOCAL TIME,

A 7.1-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRUCK THE KENAI PENINSULA,

FOLLOWED BY SEVERAL SIZABLE AFTERSHOCKS.

RESIDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT MUDSLIDES

AND ROAD COLLAPSES ALL ALONG THE COAST.

Otto: SUDDENLY, WE HEAR THIS CRACKING AND THIS CREAKING.

SO I -- I BOLT UP IN BED.

IN A FLASH, I'M THINKING, "OKAY.

THIS IS THE REAL DEAL HERE."

EIVIN AND I GRABBED THE KIDS AND RAN OUT OF THE HOUSE.

Eivin: IT'S HAPPENING EVERYWHERE.

IT'S ALL AROUND YOU. SO REALLY,

IT'S A VERY HELPLESS FEELING TO BE STUCK IN AN EARTHQUAKE.

Charlotte: WHOA! OTTO!

OTTO!

EVERY TIME IT'D START SHAKING, I'D GET TERRIFIED

'CAUSE OF THE TRAUMA OF '64.

Otto: PEOPLE DIED IN THAT '64 QUAKE.

THE GROUND JUST SHOOK LIKE CRAZY.

YOU KNOW, THE GROUND SHOOK AND SHOOK AND SHOOK.

AND THERE WAS, UH, YOU KNOW,

NOT COMMUNICATIONS LIKE THERE IS TODAY.

IT TOOK BOATS IN KODIAK AND BIG FISHING BOATS

AND PUT 'EM RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN.

AND -- AND WE LIVE OUR LIFE

KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW,

DISASTER'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

Narrator: OVER HALF A CENTURY AGO,

YULE KILCHER HELPED HIS FAMILY

SURVIVE THE EARTHQUAKE OF 1964.

AND TODAY, HIS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

ARE STILL FIGHTING THE MIGHTY FORCES OF MOTHER NATURE,

WHICH REMAIN THE KILCHERS' BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

HOLY MOLY. LOOK AT THAT.

Otto: RIGHT AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE,

THE WIND BLEW LIKE HELL.

SO SUDDENLY WE GET 100-MILE-AN-HOUR WIND.

IT BLOWS THE ROOF OFF THE HAY BARN.

SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE UNDER ATTACK.

HOLY MOLY.

THE WHOLE DAMN MOUNTAINSIDE COME DOWN THERE, HUH?

CARVED A DAMN CANYON.

THIS WINTER'S BEEN NO WINTER.

IT -- IT'S HARDLY SNOWED THIS WINTER.

THIS IS WORSE THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

THE RIVERS ARE GOING DOWN.

THE GLACIERS ARE GOING DOWN.

OH, MAN. LOOK AT THAT. I MEAN, IT'S...

IS THERE NOTHING COMING OUT?

NOTHING IS HAPPENING.

THERE'S JUST LIKE AN INCH IN HERE.

I LIKE TO THINK I AM A MAN OF A LOT OF RESILIENCE.

BUT IT WEARS YOU DOWN.

Atz: THERE'S NOT MUCH GAME AROUND THE HOMESTEAD ANYMORE.

YOU GOT TO GO FURTHER AND FURTHER OUT.

Narrator: RECENTLY, ALASKA HAS BECOME

EVEN MORE UNPREDICTABLE.

UNUSUALLY WARM WINTERS, SPORADIC WILDFIRES

AND NOW EARTHQUAKES HAVE EVERYONE ON HIGH ALERT.

Otto: WE'VE BEEN SPENDING ALL WINTER GUARDING OURSELVES

AGAINST WHATEVER MOTHER NATURE'S THROWING AT US.

Narrator: THE 7.1-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE

HAS SEVERELY DAMAGED ACCESS TO THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD,

INCLUDING THEIR ALL-IMPORTANT KILCHER BEACH ROAD.

WITHOUT IT, THE KILCHERS ARE COMPLETELY CUT OFF

FROM VITAL HUNTING AND GRAZING LANDS.

Otto: THE HILLSIDE CAME OFF IN AN EARTHQUAKE.

BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE RAIN REALLY,

REALLY, YOU KNOW,

GAVE IT THE SECOND PUNCH FOR THE KNOCK-OUT.

AND THE TWO THINGS COMBINED TOGETHER BASICALLY SHOOK DOWN

EVERY LAST LITTLE BIT THAT WAS GONNA COME DOWN.

IF WE DON'T GET THESE ROADS OPEN

AND WE GET ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE

OR THERE'S AN ACCIDENT OF SOME SORT,

WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET OUR PEOPLE

OUT TO SAFETY OR TO MEDICAL.

THIS ROAD IS A LIFELINE.

AND IT NEEDS TO BE IN AS GOOD A STATE

AS POSSIBLE AT ALL TIMES.

I GOT EIVIN AND CHARLOTTE AND AUGUST

THAT ARE GONNA HELP ME WITH FIXING THIS ROAD.

UNTIL THAT'S CLEARED OFF, WE CAN'T GO GET COAL.

WE CAN'T GO FISHING.

WE'RE NOT DOING A CATTLE DRIVE.

SO THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HOLY COW.

I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS TO GO BY HERE AT ALL.

LOST A BIG CHUNK OF THE ROAD, HERE, IS WHAT WE LOST.

-LOOKING AT THE CRACKS... -OH, MY GOD.

-...IT GOES ON DOWN THERE. -LOOK AT THERE.

LIKE THAT WHOLE SECTION LOOKS LIKE

IT'S ABOUT TO GO AWAY, TOO.

Eivin: BASICALLY, ABOUT HALF THE ROAD

JUST FELL AWAY AND COLLAPSED DOWN INTO THE CANYON.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, A BUNCH OF MUD SLID DOWN

FROM UP ABOVE AND JUST COVERED WHAT ROAD WAS LEFT.

IT'S JUST A TOTAL MESS.

I'M GONNA START 'DOZING RIGHT HERE

AND TRY TO FILL THIS HOLE UP.

OKAY.

Narrator: FIXING THE BEACH ROAD INCLUDES

PACKING IN NEW DIRT TO FILL IN THE HOLES

CAUSED BY THE LANDSLIDES.

THEN, THEY MUST CLEAR THE MUD

AND DEBRIS THAT IS BLOCKING THE PATH TO THE BEACH.

Otto: OUT THERE, LOOKING AT SOMETHING,

YOU COULD BE ON AN OVERHANG THAT JUST GOT WEAKENED.

SO, UM, YOU BETTER BE CAREFUL.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOWN WITH IT, GONE, BURIED, DONE, FINISHED,

BURIED AND DEAD IN ONE SHOT.

Narrator: TWO MILES AWAY,

AT HIS CABIN ON THE HOMESTEAD, ATZ SR.

MAKES ADVANCED PREPARATIONS FOR A VERY SPECIAL VISITOR.

WELL, MY DAUGHTER, JEWEL, IS COMING TO TOWN.

AND, UH, IT'S BEEN PROBABLY 6 OR 7 YEARS

SINCE JEWEL'S BEEN HERE.

JEWEL WAS RAISED HERE IN ALASKA.

JEWEL AND I SPEND A LOT OF YEARS SINGING TOGETHER

IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT VENUES.

[ YODELING ]

LEFT WHEN SHE WAS PRETTY YOUNG

AND MADE IT BIG IN THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD.

HEY, GUYS. HOW ARE YA'?

♪ RIGHT HERE ON ALASKA, THE LAST FRONTIER ♪

SHE'S BRINGING ALONG MY LITTLE GRANDSON, CASE.

HE'S 5 YEARS OLD.

AND HE'S COMING TO ALASKA FOR THE FIRST TIME.

OBVIOUSLY, I WANT HIM TO BE EXCITED ABOUT VISITING.

SO I'M SKETCHING OUT A LITTLE TOWN.

CASE'S TOWN.

HE CAN HELP ME BUILD SOME TRAILS,

USE SOME HAND TOOLS, BUILD A LITTLE BRIDGE,

SHOW HIM A LITTLE PIECE OF THE WILDERNESS

WHERE I WAS RAISED AND WHERE HIS MOM WAS RAISED.

EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT COMING UP FOR A LITTLE WHILE,

I STILL WANTED TO HAVE THIS PLANNED OUT.

BUT TODAY I GOT TO GO HELP MY SON, ATZ LEE,

FIND HIS HOMESTEAD OUT IN THE WILDERNESS.

SO WE'RE GONNA BUILD HIS CABIN.

SO I GOT TO GET GOING ON THIS NEXT ADVENTURE.

Narrator: ACROSS THE HOMESTEAD,

ATZ LEE HAS BIG PLANS

TO RECOVER FROM HIS NEAR-FATAL FALL.

Jane: HOW LONG ARE YOU LEAVING FOR?

BECAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO HERE.

I'M COMING HOME AS QUICK AS I CAN.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE SNOW'S STARTING TO MELT.

AND I GOT TO GET STUFF GOING AND GET PREPPED

'CAUSE I BASICALLY HAVE 3 MONTHS TO BUILD A CABIN,

GET A SPRING BOX, GET A GARDEN IN.

Atz Lee: I'M HEADING OUT TO, UH, MY NEW PIECE OF PROPERTY

THAT I FINALLY ACQUIRED AFTER MANY TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.

GOING OUT WITH MY DAD AND, UH,

GONNA MEET UP WITH JOHN COILA.

SO YOU'RE GONNA BE NEAR JOHN COILA'S?

YEAH. JOHN'S GOT TRACTORS.

JOHN'S GOT MACHINERY. JOHN'S GOT TOOLS.

HE'S WILLING TO HELP ME OUT.

MY NEIGHBOR, JOHN COILA SHOWED ME

THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY LAST YEAR BEFORE MY ACCIDENT.

HE'S HELPED ME THROUGH THE WINTER, KIND OF WORKING

ON HIS GUEST CABIN.

BUT HE'S GONNA FINISH THAT OFF ON HIS OWN NOW

'CAUSE SUMMER'S APPROACHING.

AND I GOT TO LOT OF WORK TO DO ON THIS NEW HOUSE SITE.

I'M GOING WITH MY DAD. -ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE NOT TRAVELING ALONE.

I KNOW MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS KNOW

THAT IT MUST BE BAD INSIDE OF MY HEAD

AND INSIDE OF MY BODY FOR ME

TO HAVE TO GO AND LEAVE THE FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE GOING.

AND I SEE THAT YOU NEED TO GO. BUT, UM, LIKE, HELLO.

WHAT ABOUT ME?

I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO HERE.

I KNOW IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO YOU, BABY.

BUT WHEN YOU GO OUT ON 5-DAY FISHING TRIPS, JANE,

GUESS WHO HAS TO TAKE CARE OF THE ANIMALS

AND THE WHOLE HOMESTEAD AND EVERYTHING.

ME.

AND GUESS WHO WORRIES ABOUT YOU FALLING OFF A BOAT

AND NEVER BEING SEEN AGAIN.

ME. BUT IT'S YOUR PASSION.

IT'S WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO.

BUT MY PASSION IS HOMESTEADING, RIGHT?

LAST WINTER, I WENT OUT TO THE, UH, HUNTER'S CABIN.

AND THAT SANCTUARY IS DESTROYED.

TRASHED.

IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN A BEAR.

YOU DON'T WANT TO COME BACK TO A SCENE LIKE THAT EVER AGAIN.

WELL, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW LONG YOU'RE GOING OUT FOR.

AND THAT'S DISTURBING.

NOW YOU'RE JUST GETTING A LITTLE SASSY.

AND I DON'T NEED THAT.

Jane: I DON'T REALLY KNOW

HOW LONG HE'S GOING OUT FOR 'CAUSE HE'S NOT REALLY

TELLING ME HOW LONG HE'S GOING OUT FOR.

BUT I GUESS A DREAM'S A DREAM.

AND IT'S HIS PASSION. IT'S HIS PASSION.

AND HE'S JUST GOT TO GO FIGURE IT OUT FOR A WHILE.

I KNOW YOU DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND.

BUT I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT THROWING POTS AND PANS AT ME.

AND THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME.

I'LL TRY TO HURRY HOME. OKAY?

Jane: LAST YEAR...

MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE.

...WE WERE RENEWING VOWS.

THIS YEAR, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DISTANCE

BETWEEN ATZ LEE AND I, LIKE, LITERALLY, DISTANCE.

-I'LL MISS YOU. -YOU BETTER.

I'LL MISS YOU EVERY DAY.

Atz Lee: AS NERVOUS AS SHE IS, IT'S HARD TO TELL HER

I'LL BE BACK TUESDAY

BECAUSE I COULD GET STUCK OUT THERE FOR A WEEK.

IT COULD BE TWO WEEKS. IT COULD BE THREE WEEKS.

BUT, UM, LIKE SAILOR'S WIVES,

I GUESS, THEY JUST KIND OF HAD TO KISS THEIR HUSBANDS GOODBYE

AND WATCH THE SHIP PULL OUT OF PORT

AND HOPE THAT THEY MADE IT HOME ALIVE.

Narrator: COMING UP...

Eve: OUR ROOT CELLAR IS IN THE BASEMENT.

WE HAVE TONS OF FOOD TO LAST US A LONG TIME.

OH, NO.

OH, MAN.

AUGUST, DO YOU FEEL SECURE THERE?

OH, AUGUST!

Narrator: A MASSIVE LANDSLIDE

HAS MADE KILCHER BEACH ROAD IMPASSABLE.

IF OTTO, HIS WIFE, CHARLOTTE,

AND SONS, EIVIN AND AUGUST,

ARE UNABLE TO QUICKLY CLEAR THE BLOCKAGE,

THEY RISK REMAINING CUT OFF

FROM FOOD SOURCES AND EMERGENCY HELP.

SO, UH, AUGUST, DO YOU MIND GRABBING THESE

OTHER ONES OUT OF HERE QUICKLY?

TAKE THE LITTLE CHAINSAW WITH YOU.

I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD BOTH GO UP.

YEAH.

I'M PRETTY WORRIED ABOUT OTTO PUSHING HIMSELF TOO HARD.

AND THEN, ON TOP OF THAT, I DON'T FEEL LIKE

IT'S A VERY SAFE SITUATION WE'RE GOING INTO.

THIS IS REALLY BAD UP HERE WITH THE GROUND

JUST SLIPPING AWAY, HERE.

OH, MY GOD. THIS IS SO SCARY.

I JUST WISH WE HAD A ROPE.

I THINK A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I POINT OUT

ARE COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS TO THEM.

THEY FEEL REALLY SECURE DOING WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING.

AND I THINK IT PROBABLY SURPRISES THEM

THAT I'M THINKING THEY'RE DOING ANYTHING DANGEROUS

BECAUSE ALMOST EVERYTHING THEY DO LOOKS SUPER DANGEROUS TO ME.

-TA-DA. -OH, GOD.

I -- MY HEART IS JUST LIKE... I --

I DON'T THINK I CAN HANDLE THIS.

I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY IF MOM'S WORRYING.

HEY, WHEN I GET DOWN HERE,

CAN YOU PLEASE HAND ME THE CHAINSAW?

YEAH. AND BE CAREFUL, SWEETIE.

YEAH. YOU KNOW IT.

OKAY. YOU READY?

OH, MAN.

OH, AUGUST!

YEAH?

OH, MY GOD.

YOU OKAY?

YEAH. I'M FINE.

-WHAT HAPPENED? -LOST FOOTING A LITTLE BIT.

August: WHEN I WAS REACHING FOR THE CHAINSAW,

MOST OF MY FOOTING WASN'T VERY SECURE.

AND SO I SLID.

COULD WE PLEASE JUST STOP?

I -- I'M HAVING A HEART ATTACK HERE.

DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT WAS FOR ME TO WATCH YOU DO THAT?

I CAN'T WATCH ANOTHER ONE. I SHOULD EITHER...

I NEED TO GO AWAY.

Otto: IT WAS, UH, GOOD TO SEE

HOW HE JUST MAINTAINED HIS FOOTING.

AND IT DIDN'T REALLY SEEM TO PHASE HIM.

IT WORRIED THE HECK OUT OF HIS MOTHER.

BUT THAT'S WHAT MOTHERS ARE FOR.

IT'S LIKE THE ROAD OR MY KID.

I'D RATHER HAVE A KID.

Charlotte: AUGUST IS LEAVING US PRETTY SOON.

HE'S GOING TO BE GOING OFF TO COLLEGE.

AND THE IDEA OF HIM BEING GONE IS KIND OF SHOCKING.

YOU KNOW, YOUR BROTHER'S DOING REALLY GOOD UP THERE,

DON'T YOU THINK? -YEAH.

Eve: ALL RIGHT.

Narrator: A FEW MILES AWAY,

AFTER BEING SHAKEN TO THEIR CORE, EIVIN'S WIFE,

EVE, ALONG WITH 9-MONTH-OLD, SPARROW,

AND 2 1/2-YEAR-OLD, FINDLAY,

CHECKS IN ON A VITAL SOURCE OF PROTEIN.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO FEED THE CHICKENS.

AND THEN WE CAN MAKE A SNOWMAN.

THIS EARTHQUAKE WAS VERY SCARY. NO ONE'S HURT.

BUT SOMETHING ABOUT HAVING KIDS

MAKES YOU FEEL YOUR MORTALITY A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WE HAVE TO LURE THE CHICKENS OUT.

THEY DON'T WANT TO COME OUT.

CHICK, CHICK, CHICK, CHICKS.

IT'S A BIG EARTHQUAKE. BUT I HAVE GRAIN FOR YOU.

SHH. -WHAT'S THAT?

THAT'S YUMMY GRAIN.

THIS IS YUMMY GRAIN.

ANIMALS ARE REALLY SENSITIVE TO EARTHQUAKES.

THEY OFTEN FEEL 'EM BEFORE WE ACTUALLY FEEL THEM.

AND THEY DON'T LAY MANY EGGS.

THE CHICKENS ARE DEFINITELY NOT THAT HAPPY.

THEY DON'T WANT TO COME OUT. THEY'RE KIND OF FREAKED OUT.

[ BABBLES ]

YOU KNOW, THE EARTHQUAKE MADE A LANDSLIDE,

BLOCKED THE ROAD.

OH, NICE.

SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT DADDY'S DOING RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: NEARLY 30 MILES AWAY

FROM THE QUAKE-RAVAGED HOMESTEAD, ATZ SR.

ACCOMPANIES HIS SON, ATZ LEE, ON HIS LONG,

PAINFUL JOURNEY TO HIS NEW HOMESTEAD SITE.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME HE'LL PUSH HIS BODY

AND MIND TO THE LIMIT

SINCE HIS TRAUMATIC BRUSH WITH DEATH

BARELY 6 MONTHS AGO.

WHEN THAT EARTHQUAKE HIT, IT JUST TRIGGERED MY PTSD.

AND I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE STAYED

ON THE HOMESTEAD AND HELPED OUT MORE.

BUT, MAN, THAT EARTHQUAKE WAS A 7.1.

INSIDE OF MY BODY, IT WAS LIKE A 9.4, MAN.

AND I JUST HAD TO GET OUT OF TOWN.

THE HOUSE SITE IS A REALLY GOOD PIECE OF PROPERTY,

BOUNTIFUL AMOUNT OF WATER. IT'S GOT SHELTER.

IT'S GOT A LOT OF TIMBERS ON IT FOR BUILDING

AND A FLAT SPOT FOR THE GARDEN.

SO IT'S JUST KIND OF THE SHANGRI-LA

OF REAL ESTATE FOR ME.

Atz: I SEE THIS VERY SIMPLY. IT'S FUEL FOR HIS SOUL.

GETTING OUT THERE, DOING WHAT VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN DO ANYMORE,

WHICH IS START FROM SCRATCH AND BUILD UP A PLACE,

BUILD UP A HOMESTEAD.

HERE IN ALASKA,

YOU'VE REALLY GOT TO DEAL WITH THE SEASONS.

AND RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A GOOD LAYER OF FROZEN SNOW.

AND SO WE CAN GET IN TO WHERE WE'RE GOING.

TWO OR THREE, MAYBE FOUR WEEKS TOPS FROM NOW,

SWAMPS TURN INTO LAKES.

THEN, YOU GOT TO WAIT FOR ALL THAT TO DRY UP

BEFORE YOU CAN TAKE IN A FOUR WHEELER.

SO WE BETTER GO NOW.

-TREE DOWN. -OH, MAN.

THAT COULD BE THE FIRST OF MANY.

Atz Lee: SHOULD WE GO ON FOOT?

SCOPE IT OUT?

-I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. -OKAY.

I'LL GO IN SNOW SHOES.

Atz Lee: AS WE KIND OF GO FARTHER AND FARTHER OUT

IN THE WILDERNESS, WE'RE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

IT'S JUST ALL THAT MORE REMOTE.

YOU'RE ALL THAT FARTHER

FROM ANY KIND OF EXTRA HELP AT ALL.

I MEAN, YOU ARE HOURS AND HOURS AWAY FROM ANY OF

THE CLOSEST MEDICAL ATTENTION.

SO NOW THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING NOISE WITH OUR MACHINES,

LET'S KEEP OUR EYES AND EARS OPEN FOR BEARS, HUH?

AND YOU GOT A RIFLE?

YEP. YEP.

NOW WE'RE GONNA GO IN ON SNOW SHOES,

FIGURE OUT A PATH WHERE THE SNOW MACHINES ARE GONNA GO

AND THEN COME BACK AND GET THE SNOW MACHINE.

Narrator: BACK ON THE HOMESTEAD,

KNOWING THAT DANGEROUS AFTERSHOCKS

COULD OCCUR AT ANY MOMENT,

EVE MOVES QUICKLY TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF HER FAMILY.

Eve: THESE BUCKETS ARE SEALED.

SO NO WATER CAN GET IN THEM.

AND THIS DEFINITELY MAKES ME FEEL

LIKE I'M DOING SOMETHING TO MAKE MY FAMILY

A LITTLE SAFER IN CASE

WE JUST HAVE TO GRAB THE KIDS

AND RUN OUT OF THE HOUSE.

DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE A FIRST AID KIT,

EIVIN'S EPIPEN, A MULTITOOL, GUN.

THIS WAS A REALLY BIG WAKE-UP CALL.

IT'S NOT JUST EIVIN AND I ANYMORE.

AND SO WE KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE AT LEAST

NEED 48 HOURS' WORTH OF GEAR AND FOOD.

I'M GONNA GO GET SOME OF OUR CANNED GOODS.

AND THAT SHOULD BE IT.

OUR ROOT CELLAR IS IN THE BASEMENT.

IT'S BEHIND A HIDDEN DOOR.

WE HAVE TONS OF FOOD TO LAST US A LONG TIME.

OH, NO.

Narrator: A MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE JOLTED THE HOMESTEAD,

PROMPTING EVE TO PROTECT HER FAMILY IN CASE

MOTHER NATURE ATTACKS AGAIN.

Eve: OUR ROOT CELLAR IS IN THE BASEMENT.

IT'S BEHIND A HIDDEN DOOR.

WE HAVE TONS OF FOOD TO LAST US A LONG TIME.

OH, NO.

WHEN I OPENED MY ROOT CELLAR, I WAS DEVASTATED.

GOD, ALL MY WORK.

A WHOLE BUNCH OF MY CANNED GOODS WERE ON THE FLOOR.

EVERY JAR IS WORTH HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF LABOR.

IT TAKES SO MUCH WORK TO CAN ALL THAT FOOD.

Eivin: I TRY TO TAKE A BREAK FROM WORKING ON THE ROAD.

AND THIS KIND OF CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE.

HOLY COW.

Eve: IT'S SUCH A MESS.

ALL OF EVE'S TIME IN THE SUMMER,

SHE PUTS INTO PRESERVING FOOD.

AND, UM, IT'S WHAT WE LIVE OFF OF ALL WINTER LONG.

JUST HAND ME A COUPLE CANS OF SALMON AND MAYBE...

YEAH. SOME OF THESE DIDN'T BREAK.

WE GOT TO FIX THIS.

THIS IS NOT GOOD, HON.

I -- I'LL JUST HAVE TO BUILD SOME TYPE OF DOORS

OR MORE SHELVES OR...

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS, ALSO, THAT I NEED TO TEND TO AT HOME.

SO I'M DEFINITELY FEELING

PULLED IN TWO DIRECTIONS RIGHT NOW.

THIS EARTHQUAKE HAS JUST TORN OUR WHOLE WORLD APART.

AND WITH TWO KIDS,

IT HAS DEFINITELY DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF WORK

THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

Narrator: ACROSS THE HOMESTEAD, SHANE AND WIFE, KELLI,

EMERGE TO DETERMINE

WHAT DAMAGING EFFECT MOTHER NATURE'S RECENT ONSLAUGHT

HAS HAD ON THEIR FUTURE DREAM HOME.

Shane: IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE, YOU KNOW,

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE JOB OF BUILDING THE HOUSE

KEEPS LOOMING LARGER AND LARGER

THE DEEPER I GET INTO IT.

IT'S A -- IT'S A NIGHTMARE.

YOU'RE GETTING CLOSE.

-WHOA. -WHOA.

Shane: KELLI'S HEALTH IS OUR MOTIVATION

FOR GETTING DONE QUICKLY.

LAST YEAR, IT JUST WAS HARD TO GET EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

I'VE GOT TO JUST GET A RUNNING START THIS YEAR

SO I DON'T HAVE A REPEAT.

AN EARTHQUAKE AND A WIND STORM

AND JUST EVERYTHING SETS YOU BACK.

IT'S HARD TO STAY POSITIVE, YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, IT'S -- IT'S LOOSENED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TOP.

WELL, WE'VE HAD RAIN, SNOW, FLOODS, EARTHQUAKES,

HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS.

I WAS REALLY AFRAID THAT, EVEN THOUGH EVERYTHING

WAS STILL STANDING, IT MIGHT'VE SHIFTED SOME.

IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE WET. IS IT STARTING TO MOLD?

THE RAIN CAME IN.

AND THEN, THE RAIN JUST SOAKED THAT HAY,

WHICH, YOU KNOW, MEANS IT DOESN'T DO

AS GOOD OF A JOB INSULATING.

AND IF WATER GETS DOWN UNDERNEATH OF THE FOUNDATION

AND THEN FREEZES, IT CAN LIFT THE GROUND UP TO A FOOT.

I SEE SOME BIG DROPS.

Kelli: SO IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS, NOW,

SINCE I GOT DIAGNOSED, UH, WITH MS.

THE SETBACKS WITH THE WEATHER, THE EARTHQUAKES, UM,

EVERYTHING WE'VE DEALT WITH THIS YEAR,

IT'S BEEN JUST SUPER FRUSTRATING.

Shane: I -- I -- I JUST WANT THIS TO BE POSITIVE.

I WANT THIS TO BE A GIFT FOR KELLI,

YOU KNOW, AND TO BE AN AFFIRMATION OF LIFE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT COIN IS THAT SHE'S SICK.

SHE COULD GET SICKER.

AND I JUST HAVE TO GET THIS DONE FASTER.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S IT.

Narrator: NEARLY 33 MILES AWAY,

ATZ LEE AND HIS FATHER, ATZ SR.,

CONTINUE THE TREACHEROUS TREK

TOWARD ATZ LEE'S NEW HOME SITE,

NO SMALL TASK FOR SOMEONE RECOVERING FROM A BROKEN BODY.

THIS IS SOME SERIOUS, OH, PHYSICAL THERAPY.

Atz Lee: YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF TIME IN THE HOSPITAL

AND, UH, RECOVERING AT HOME THAT I WAS STUCK IN A BED.

AND I JUST COULDN'T HELP BUT KEEP THINKING

ABOUT THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.

OH, GOD.

SHOULD KIND OF POP OUT OF THIS FOREST HERE,

PRETTY SOON... -OKAY.

...AND THEN IT KIND OF OPENS UP TO A LITTLE CLEARING.

AND IT'S NOT MUCH FARTHER.

IT'S JUST OVER THIS HILL, HERE.

YEAH.

Atz: I STILL SEE SIGNS OF WEAKNESS.

AND, UH, HE'S NOT GONNA SAY EVERY TIME HE'S HURTING.

BUT HE'S HEALING, BEING CLOSER IN TOUCH WITH THE WILDERNESS.

AND I'M HAPPY TO BE, UH, BE A PART OF IT.

HERE WE GO, SIR. CHECK IT OUT.

WHAT'D YOU DO, BRING A BULLDOZER IN HERE?

NO. IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT,

THIS IS LIKE A NATURAL FLAT SPOT.

MAN, OH, MAN.

SMELLS LIKE A GARDEN TO ME. -YEAH.

-WE CAN SEE THE BAY THERE... -OH, YEAH.

...JUST A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW. BUT THE MOUNTAINS,

YOU KNOW, BIG MOUNTAIN VIEW HERE.

SAW US A GOOD BLACK BEAR OUT HERE.

THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD HUNTING. -YEAH. YEAH.

THIS GARDEN'S GONNA GET MORNING SUN.

YES.

Atz Lee: GETTING OUT HERE AND DOING THIS WITH MY DAD,

IT'S WORTH EVERY MINUTE OF IT BECAUSE, IN THE END,

WHEN YOU'RE LAYING ON YOUR DEATH BED,

YOU'RE GONNA LOOK BACK AND GO, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY.

AND I WOULDN'T TRADE IT IN FOR ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD."

WHERE'S THAT BEAUTIFUL, UH,

SPRING YOU WERE TELLING ME ABOUT?

-YOU GETTING THIRSTY? -HUH?

-YOU GETTING THIRSTY? -YEAH.

IT DON'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS.

HUH? -LOOK AT THAT, LIKE A GEM.

WHAT'S UNBELIEVABLE IS THE WATER

HAS GOT NO RUST IN IT, NO ALGAE.

Atz Lee: THE WATER HERE IS WATER

THAT DOESN'T EXIST IN A LOT OF PLACES

ANYMORE, YOU KNOW. IT'S SWEET.

AND IT'S ONLY ABOUT

15 FEET BELOW WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE BUILDING.

SO IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY EASY TO GET THE WATER

PUMPED UP TO THE HOUSE.

PUSHKEY IS A PLANT THAT, IN THE FALL, DRIES UP

AND TURNS INTO KIND OF A BAMBOO-LIKE REED.

AND YOU CAN BREAK IT OFF, USE IT FOR A STRAW.

IT'S A FUN LITTLE TRICK.

AND IT BEATS THE HELL OUT OF BENDING OVER.

CHEERS. HERE'S TO THE GOOD STUFF.

MY GRANDFATHER, WHEN HE WAS PASSING,

UH, I WENT DOWN TO HIS OLD SPRING

AND BROUGHT IN A JUG OF WATER

AND GAVE HIM A DRINK OF THIS WATER.

AND HE SNAPPED OUT OF IT

AND JUST LOOKED STRAIGHT INTO MY EYES AND SAID,

"THAT'S MY SPRING WATER, ISN'T IT, BOY?"

I MEAN, HE JUST, YOU KNOW,

THAT WATER MEANT EVERYTHING TO HIM.

UGH. -MAN.

I MEAN, DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT?

Narrator: BACK ON THE HOMESTEAD BEACH ROAD,

OTTO, HIS WIFE, CHARLOTTE,

AND THEIR SON AUGUST ARE A MAN DOWN

WHILE EIVIN DEALS WITH QUAKE DAMAGE AT HOME.

BEING SHORTHANDED PUTS AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN

ON THE FAMILY,

WHO ARE HOPING TO RESTORE ACCESS TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

IS THERE ANYTHING WE MISSED?

Otto: WE MANAGED TO CUT DOWN ALL THE ALDERS ON THE HILL,

KIND OF GIVE THIS HILLSIDE A HAIR CUT

TO STAVE OFF FUTURE LANDSLIDES.

THE TREES THAT WE CUT DOWN,

WE'RE GONNA BE SAVING THAT FOR FIREWOOD.

OTTO, I SAW YOU MOVING SOME BIG LOGS DOWN THERE.

Otto: YEAH.

I'M USED TO MOVING BIG WOOD. -I KNOW YOU ARE.

BUT YOU GOT A HERNIA THESE DAYS.

YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL.

CALL THE BOY.

SO FAR, MY HERNIA'S HAD TO TAKE BACKSEAT AGAIN FOR A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IT'S A SERIOUS CONCERN.

I WENT TO THE DOCTOR WHO SAID

I SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE IT OPERATED ON THEN.

OTTO, IF YOUR HERNIA GETS STRANGULATED,

YOU'LL PROBABLY BE DEAD IN 24 TO 48 HOURS.

WHOA.

OKAY. THANKS FOR THE REMINDER.

IT'S EASY TO GET CARRIED AWAY

WHEN I'M IN THE MIDST OF THIS STUFF.

I KNOW.

I'VE BEEN PUTTING OFF SURGERY,

A LOT OF IT BECAUSE I'M EXTREMELY BUSY

AND I JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN I'M GONNA HAVE

2, 3 WEEKS WHERE I, OTTO KILCHER,

ISN'T GONNA BE BUSY DOING SOMETHING.

NOW, THAT'S A HERNIA.

OTTO, PLEASE.

I KNOW YOU'RE USED TO DOING ALL THIS STUFF.

-YES, DEAR. -BUT YOU GOT TO WATCH IT.

I'M ONLY LOOKING OUT FOR YOU. DON'T "YES, DEAR" ME.

Charlotte: OTTO, DON'T PICK THAT ONE UP.

OR LET ME HELP YOU, ANYWAY.

OTTO. -IT'S A DEAD ONE.

-INCOMING. -YEAH. GO AHEAD.

Otto: YOU KNOW, I'VE GROWN UP PRETTY ROUGH AND TUMBLE.

IN THIS FRONTIER LIFE, IT'S A MATTER OF SURVIVAL.

YOU HAVE TO DISREGARD PAIN SOMETIMES TO KEEP GOING FORWARD.

Charlotte: OTTO, WATCH IT.

WHOA.

OTTO, DID YOU FALL?!

NO. I'M JUST GOING DOWN.

HOLY MOLY.

Eivin: MY DAD IS DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, OLDER.

I CAN SEE IT. BUT HE DOES SO MUCH

ON THE HOMESTEAD THAT IT'S...

I THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF HE'S NOT AROUND ANYMORE...

SOME DAY, THAT'S GONNA TO BE THE CASE.

AND, UM, IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO MOVE ON.

Narrator: THE AFTERMATH OF THE QUAKE

HAS EIVIN PULLED IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS.

THIS FORCES HIM TO ABANDON THE ROAD CLEARING

IN ORDER TO SAFEGUARD HIS FAMILY'S FOOD SUPPLY

BEFORE ANY POTENTIAL AFTERSHOCKS.

Eivin: THERE'S A LOT ON MY PLATE, AND, YOU KNOW,

IF I REALLY STOP TO THINK ABOUT IT,

IT CAN DEFINITELY STRESS ME OUT,

AND SOMETIMES IT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT,

BUT BECAUSE OF THIS EARTHQUAKE, IT WAS DEFINITELY THE EYE-OPENER

FOR ME THAT I CAN'T PUT THIS OFF ANYMORE.

I'M USING PLYWOOD, AND THIS KIND OF DOES TWO PURPOSES.

IT MAKES MORE STORAGE,

BUT IT ALSO MAKES THIS ROOM STRONGER

BECAUSE THAT'S ALL EARTH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THESE WALLS.

IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE, THESE BASEMENT WALLS,

HERE, BECAUSE IT'S LESS LIKELY TO BREAK THEM

AND SHOVE THEM IN WITH ALL THIS PLYWOOD SCREWED IN HERE GOOD.

THE ROOT CELLAR IS THE CULMINATION

OF THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF WORK.

YOU START FROM, LIKE, GOING ACROSS THE BAY,

CATCHING THE FISH, CUTTING THE FISH UP,

SMOKING THE FISH, CANNING THE FISH.

I MEAN, THERE'S HUNDREDS OF HOURS

JUST THERE IN THE FISH ALONE,

AND THAT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT ALL THE VEGETABLES

THAT EVE HAS PRESERVED.

THAT IS GONNA WORK SO MUCH BETTER!

-OH, MY GOD! -LOOK, YOU GET TWO NEW SHELVES.

Eve: DESPITE THE EARTHQUAKE BEING OVER,

WE NEED TO DO THINGS

TO BE READY FOR THE NEXT ONE

BECAUSE IT COULD BE BIGGER, AND IT COULD BE WORSE.

Narrator: 33 MILES AWAY,

ATZ LEE AND HIS FATHER, ATZ SR.,

HAVE RETRIEVED THEIR SUPPLIES

TO BEGIN BUILDING THE NEW HOMESTEAD.

THE PLAN IS FOR THE PROJECT

TO HELP ATZ LEE RECOVER FROM HIS ACCIDENT,

BUT THERE'S A LONG ROAD AHEAD.

WE MADE IT.

Atz: SO WE FINALLY GET UP OUR SNOW MACHINES

TO THE HOMESTEAD SITE,

AND NOW FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO

IS SET UP A PERMANENT SHELTER.

[ GRUNTS ]

Atz Lee: WHEN I FELL OFF THE CLIFF,

IT CAN BE PRETTY HARD TO RECOVER FROM A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE.

WONDERING IF I COULD EVER USE MY ARM AGAIN,

IF I'D EVER WALK AGAIN.

Atz: MOST EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR

WITH A TENT MADE OUT OF STRONG, THIN FABRIC.

A WALL TENT IS MADE OUT OF REALLY HEAVY CANVAS.

IT HOLDS HEAT BETTER.

Atz Lee: STEP ONE'S GONNA BE DIGGING OUT THE SNOW

AND GETTING A GOOD LEVEL PAD.

SOMETIME LONG AGO MY GRANDFATHER MADE IT

TO A PIECE OF LAND ON THE HOMESTEAD.

AND I BET YOU ANYTHING THE FIRST TOOL

HE USED WAS A SHOVEL.

WE'RE DIGGING OUT THE HOLE IN THE SNOW FOR THE WALL TENT,

AND, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I'M THINKING TO MYSELF,

"WE'RE GONNA BE SLEEPING ON THE SNOW,"

AND IT -- IT GETS COLD,

SO I JUST THOUGHT, "YOU KNOW WHAT?"

SPRUCE BOUGHS IS SOMETHING THEY PICKED UP ALONG THE WAY.

IT'S A GOOD INSULATIVE.

YOU JUST GO OUT AND CUT A BUNCH OF BRANCHES.

YOU PUT THEM DOWN ON THE GROUND.

NOW INSTEAD OF SLEEPING ON THE SNOW,

YOU'RE SLEEPING ON TOP OF SOME SPRUCE BOUGHS.

OH, I'LL JUST BE RIGHT HERE. -I'LL GO GET US --

OH, GOD, I SHOULDN'T HAVE LAID DOWN.

I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET BACK UP.

IF YOU NEED TO REST, YOU REST.

PHYSICAL THERAPY, GOT TO KEEP GOING.

CAN'T STOP.

ALL I CAN DO IS JUST KIND OF TRY TO FACE EACH DAY

ONE DAY AT A TIME.

HARD TO FIND TALL, DEAD, STRAIGHT POLES,

SO WE GOT TO FIND TALL, SKINNY GREEN ONES.

Atz Lee: ME AND ATZ FIGURED WE NEED ABOUT EIGHT POLES

FOR THE FRAME OF THE WALL TENT,

SO WE WENT OUT TO GET SOME BIG POLES.

I'M STILL KIND OF FINDING MY STAMINA AND THE REALIZATION

THAT I'M NOT THE SAME MAN I WAS LAST YEAR.

THE DOCTORS WERE -- WERE RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THEY SAID, "GIVE YOURSELF A YEAR,"

AND IT'S, UH, BEEN ABOUT HALF OF THAT.

Narrator: BACK ON KILCHER BEACH ROAD,

OTTO, CHARLOTTE, EIVIN AND AUGUST RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK

TO CLEAR THE ROAD BEFORE NIGHTFALL.

Eivin: IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL

TO HAVE MORE HANDS ON THE HOMESTEAD,

SO SOMETIMES I DO MISS ATZ LEE'S HELP,

BUT, UM, THIS CABIN FOR ATZ LEE IS KIND OF A LARGE PART

TO HIS RECOVERY FROM HIS ACCIDENT.

OH!

WHAT'D YOU DO?

LANDED RIGHT ON MY FOOT.

I WAS AIMING FOR AUGUST'S FOOT, SORRY.

CHARLOTTE!

THERE'S SOME MORE!

WELL, COME GET IT!

Charlotte: WHEN OTTO FEELS LIKE PEOPLE AROUND HIM

DON'T HAVE THE SAME FOCUS,

HE STARTS GETTING IRRITATED.

Otto: WHAT THE HELL'S THE BOAT DOING

ON THE FRICKING BEACH?!

WHERE'S THE BULL? -RIGHT HERE!

WELL, DANG, GET OFF OF THE ROAD.

YOU GOT TO BE ON THIS SIDE OF THEM!

OTTO, THAT'S JUST WAY TOO FREAKY.

OTTO!

SHUT UP!

Charlotte: HE MIGHT'VE GOTTEN THE FEELING

THAT WE HAD SLOWED DOWN

BECAUSE I WAS GETTING CAUTIOUS AND STANDING BACK.

SO IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO BE IRRITATED.

LET'S JUST MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

OTTO, I CAN'T TELL WHAT YOU'RE GETTING MAD AT!

YOU'RE TELLING HIM TO GO.

I JUST FEEL LIKE WE AIN'T HAPPENING HERE.

EVERYBODY'S MOVING SLOWLY!

WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT. YOU TELL HIM TO GO,

SO HE'S GOING, THEN YOU'RE YELLING.

I JUST WANT TO KEEP THINGS MOVING.

WE'RE MOVING, OTTO!

OKAY.

Otto: I WAS ANNOYED BECAUSE WE WEREN'T MOVING QUICKLY.

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO COMPENSATE BY WORKING HARDER MYSELF

BECAUSE WE GOT TO FINISH THIS TODAY.

IT'S LIKE WE JUST HAVE TO GET IT DONE.

REALLY PISSES ME OFF.

Narrator: 33 MILES FROM THE BATTERED KILCHER HOMESTEAD,

ATZ LEE IS ON A JOURNEY TO HEAL.

HE'S FORGING A NEW HOMESTEAD

WITH THE HELP OF HIS FATHER, ATZ SR.

A DREAM THAT WON'T COME EASY.

-YOU GOT THE POLE THERE? -YEP.

Atz Lee: LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, WHEN I FELL OFF

THE CLIFF THAT DAY, MORE THAN ANYTHING I THOUGHT,

"YOU KNOW WHAT? MY LIFE'S JUST BEEN TAKEN AWAY."

OKAY.

THAT'S WHEN I JUST THOUGHT,

"HOLY CRAP, YOU KNOW, THIS IS HAPPENING.

THIS IS IT."

OH, GOD. YOU GONNA BE OKAY UNDER THERE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I WAS IN THERE WITH A LOG POLE

CRAWLING UNDERNEATH OF THE CANVAS.

I GOT SOME ISSUES, STILL, ABOUT CLAUSTROPHOBIA,

BEING UNDERNEATH OF A TENT, TRAPPED, FEELING HELPLESS,

ABANDONED IN THE DARK, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

OKAY.

I WAS HAPPY TO GET BACK OUT OF THAT TENT,

BUT, UH, NOW YOU HAVE A HEAVY LOG

THAT YOU'RE LIFTING AS WELL

AS THE WEIGHT OF THIS MASSIVE CANVAS TENT.

MY RANGE OF MOTION ON MY LEFT ARM ISN'T VERY GOOD AT ALL.

YOU KNOW, I CAN'T GET UP VERY HIGH STILL YET.

I'M SURE ME AND ATZ WILL BARELY BE ABLE TO WALK TOMORROW,

BUT AT LEAST WE'RE GETTING THE JOB DONE.

Atz: IS YOUR SHOULDER AS TIRED AS MINE?

Atz Lee: I CAN BARELY WALK.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LITTLE VOICE IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD

THAT WONDERS IF I BIT OFF MORE THAN I COULD CHEW,

BUT BY THE TIME THIS CABIN IS DONE,

IF I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH IT,

I KNOW THAT IT'S JUST GONNA MAKE ME

A BETTER PERSON ALL THE SAME.

I'M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE NAP.

HAVE A GOOD SLEEP, SIR.

Narrator: BACK ON THE HOMESTEAD,

OTTO, HIS WIFE, CHARLOTTE,

AND SONS EIVIN AND AUGUST BEGIN THE FINAL PUSH

TO CLEAR THEIR VITAL HOMESTEAD BEACH ROAD.

LET'S JUST MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

WE'RE MOVING, OTTO!

OKAY.

Eivin: I DEFINITELY HAVE A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR CHARLOTTE

WHEN MY DAD IS GETTING GRUMPY.

IT'S REALLY NOT HER FAULT. SHE'S NOT A MIND READER.

SHE CAN'T UNDERSTAND

WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE MY DAD'S HEAD,

AND I THINK SOMETIMES HE EXPECTS EVERYBODY

TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WANT TO THROW THE JACKET HERE?

ONCE HE GOT GROUCHY, AUGUST AND I TOOK A LOAD OF WOOD

AND, UH, GOT AWAY FOR A FEW MINUTES.

Otto: TRYING TO STAY CALM.

I'M TRYING TO BE POLITE AND NOT SNAP AT CHARLOTTE.

SOMETIMES OVER THE DIN OF A --

A MACHINERY, I'M JUST TALKING LOUD,

AND MY WIFE THINKS I'M YELLING.

I TRIED TO CONVINCE HER OF THAT, BUT SHE DON'T GET IT.

SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT I WAS JUST TALKING LOUD.

SHE REALLY THINKS I WAS YELLING,

BUT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY SHE UNDERSTANDS.

JUST A MOMENT OF, UH, WORKER DYSPLASIA, YOU KNOW.

AH, IT'S OKAY. MOMENTS HAPPEN.

I'M SO HAPPY TO HAVE CHARLOTTE AND AUGUST HELPING.

MAN, WHERE'S THE CREW?

Charlotte: SO THEN IT SEEMED LIKE, WHEN WE CAME BACK,

HE HAD CHILLED, AND HE WAS IN A BETTER MOOD.

CAN YOU COME DOWN SO I CAN YELL AT YOU?

OH, NO. I'M BUSY.

[ LAUGHTER ]

MAYBE HE DIDN'T LIKE BEING WITHOUT US.

MAYBE HE MISSED US AND THOUGHT,

"OOH, I BETTER BE NICE IF I WANT TO KEEP THEM AROUND."

GOOD JOB, HUH?

MEANIE.

NOW YOU'RE REALLY A MEANIE.

Eivin: WE SOLVED THIS PROBLEM HERE TODAY.

WE CLEARED THE ROADS.

WE CAN GET BY, BUT I FEEL SPREAD THIN.

I'M NOT GETTING A LOT OF SLEEP, AND, YOU KNOW,

IF I REALLY STOP TO THINK ABOUT IT,

IT CAN DEFINITELY STRESS ME OUT.

BUT YOU FOCUS ON WHAT THE TASK IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU,

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE RIGHT NOW,

AND YOU TRY TO GET IT DONE AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

Atz: THE BEAUTY OF THIS OPPORTUNITY

I'M HAVING WITH MY SON

IS WHAT WE'RE DOING KIND OF FORCES HIM TO STAY ACTIVE

AND USE HIS BODY TOWARDS A WONDERFUL GOAL

OF BUILDING A CABIN JUST LIKE HIS GRANDDAD DID.

Jane: THERE WAS JUST A LOT.

LIKE, WINTER WAS SO CRAZY WITH WEATHER,

AND THEN THERE'S ATZ LEE TRYING TO DO HIS CABIN DREAM.

IT'S ALL, LIKE, TOO MUCH.

AND I REALLY THINK WE JUST NEED TO, LIKE, BATTEN DOWN AT HOME,

SO I CAN SEE, UM, SOME CONFLICT

WITH ATZ LEE AND I COMING THIS WAY.

LET'S PACK UP AND GET OUT OF HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

Otto: WITH EVERYTHING MOTHER NATURE IS THROWING AT US,

THE HOMESTEAD'S BEEN INJURED.

IT'S BEEN, UH, DEVASTATING. WE'VE BEEN -- WE'VE BEEN HURT.

EARTHQUAKES, WINDS, IT'S JUST,

UH, KIND OF ALMOST BIBLICAL.

Narrator: IN ALASKA,

SHELTER IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

Otto: ALASKA IS JUST BRUTAL.

FIND SHELTER OR YOU FREEZE TO DEATH.

Atz Lee: HYPOTHERMIA IS A -- A HUGE DANGER AND RISK.

THIS IS SERIOUS LIFE OR DEATH STUFF.

OH, GOD.

SHELTER IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.

Otto: IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS

AND PUTTING YOURSELF IN THE BEST SITUATION

FOR LONG-TERM SURVIVAL.

YOU -- YOU'RE BUILDING A HOUSE TO STAY WARM AND SURVIVE.

Eivin: WE'RE ALWAYS BUILDING ANOTHER STRUCTURE

TO KEEP ANIMALS IN OR STORE HAY OR EQUIPMENT OR TOOLS.

SOMETHING BREAKS, YOU GOT TO FIX IT.

WHOA.

SO IT'S JUST A CONSTANT CHALLENGE

AND RACE AGAINST MOTHER NATURE.

Atz: MY DAD BUILT A LOG HOUSE. I BUILT A LOG HOUSE.

NOW ATZ LEE'S BUILDING HIS.

Atz Lee: YOU'RE NOT GONNA SURVIVE IF YOU DON'T HAVE SHELTER.

THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF EVERY PIONEER'S JOURNEY.

Narrator: AT THE OLD KILCHER HOMESTEAD BARN,

OTTO, HIS WIFE, CHARLOTTE, AND SISTER-IN-LAW BONNIE

FACE A SHELTER IN DESPERATE NEED OF REPAIR.

Otto: RIGHT AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE,

SUDDENLY, WE GET A 100-MILE-AN-HOUR WIND,

AND IT BLOWS THE ROOF OFF THE HAY BARN.

IT SEEMS ALMOST LIKE NATURE IS WORKING AGAINST US.

Narrator: THE WIND-TORN HAY BARN HOUSES AND PROTECTS

ALL OF THE FOOD FOR THE KILCHER'S HORSES.

I THINK WE GOT TO JUST PULL THE TARPS,

SEE HOW BAD THE HAY IS AND SORT THROUGH IT.

Charlotte: FOR OTTO AND I, THIS IS THE FIRST PRIORITY

BECAUSE THIS WAS A STACK OF REALLY GOOD HAY

THAT WE FEED THE HORSES.

IF THIS HAY IS LOST,

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANOTHER OPTION.

GOT A LITTLE MOLD HERE.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS WORRIED ABOUT.

THIS IS STILL FEEDABLE TO A COW,

BUT IT AIN'T FEEDABLE TO A HORSE.

Otto: COWS CAN EAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING,

BUT HORSES HAVE DRY SINUSES.

MOLDY HAY, IT GETS IN THEIR LUNGS.

THEY GET LUNG DISEASES. THEY GET PNEUMONIA.

THEY GET VERY SICK IF THEY EAT MOLDY HAY.

OUR SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON HEALTHY HORSES.

THEY'RE THE ORIGINAL FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE.

WE NEED THEM FOR HUNTING.

WE NEED THEM FOR THE ROUND-UPS.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO FEED THE HORSE

THE BEST POSSIBLE HAY ALL THE TIME

AND THAT THE HORSE IS IN THE BEST POSSIBLE CONDITION.

SO, EVERY DAY WE'RE NOT PUTTING A ROOF ON THERE

AND LETTING THAT HAY DRY OUT AND BREATHE IS A BAD DAY.

HI, JANE! -HELLO.

Otto: THANKS FOR COMING, JANE.

TO BE HONEST, I'M NOT IN THE BEST HEADSPACE

BECAUSE ATZ LEE IS GONE AT THE CABIN SITE.

I DON'T WANT HIM GONE.

I HEARD IT WAS A GIRL CREW, SO...

AND YOU GOT A HERNIA AND YOU CAN'T LIFT MUCH, SO...

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR IS THE HEAVY LIFTING.

I'LL DO IT! I'LL DO IT, I'M HERE, I'M GAME.

Otto: I'VE HAD THIS HERNIA FOR PROBABLY 15 YEARS.

OH, MAN, UGH.

I JUST BEEN KIND OF MUSCLING THROUGH IT.

OHH!

OH, HONEY, STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP.

DOC SAYER PUSHED THE HERNIA BACK IN.

WE DECIDED THAT I COULD GET BY A LITTLE LONGER.

BUT YOUR LIFE IS AT STAKE.

HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR.

NOT VERY DAMN MUCH LONGER.

BUT TODAY, I'VE GOT ALL THE GALS TO DO MY HEAVY LIFTING FOR ME.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I BUILT THIS HERE IN 1971,

WE JUST HAD OLD METAL STRAPS.

YOU CAN SEE OLD FUNKY METAL STRAPS HERE AND THERE.

YOU BUILT IT IN '71?

I BUILT IT IN '71

WITH A COUPLE OF HIPPIE FRIENDS OF MINE.

-WELL... -AND DAD SAW IT,

AND HE SAID, "IT WON'T LAST A YEAR."

[ LAUGHTER ]

THAT'S HILARIOUS.

Otto: I WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER 19

WHEN I BUILT THAT HAY BARN.

AND, UM, IT'S STILL STANDING.

AND SO IT WOULD BE A TRAVESTY TO ME

IF THAT LEGACY OF SOMETHING THAT I CARED ABOUT

AND BUILT WERE REMOVED, ERASED.

IT WOULD BE LIKE ERASING A PART OF ME.

HEY, LOOKIT. THAT'S JUST FULL OF HOLES.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT JUST RIPPED EVERY NAIL OUT OF IT.

WE'RE HOPING TO STACK THE HAY SO IT'S SAFER FOR US,

AND THEN ALSO STACK IT IN A WAY THAT, UH,

WE CAN EXPOSE THE WETTEST BALES

TO THE OUTSIDE AIR AND --

AND START THE DRYING PROCESS NOW.

I GOT TO TAKE A FEW BALES OUT THAT ARE HIGHER UP HERE.

WE'VE GOT TO CHECK THIS STACK OUT,

MAKE SURE IT'S STABLE...

YOU CAN STACK THAT DOWN THERE.

...AND CAN SUPPORT OUR WEIGHT IF WE'RE WALKING AROUND ON IT.

WHOA, LOOK OUT, JANE!

JANE, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, IT'S COMING DOWN!

JANE!

OH, MY GOD.

THE HAY BALES ARE HUGE, COULD HURT YOU.

THERE, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED, RIGHT, OTTO?

-OH, YEAH! -THAT WAS WICKED.

Otto: JUST WHAT I WANTED, MORE TO DO.

Jane: IF I EVER DO ANYTHING WITH OTTO,

I SHOULD KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE DANGEROUS.

I FORGET A LOT OF THE TIMES, AND THEN I'M SO EASILY REMINDED.

Otto: I GOT TO GO GET LUMBER,

AND THEN MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN GO GATHER UP TIN

THAT'S BLOWN ALL OVER THE MEADOWS.

-OKAY. -I'M WORRIED ABOUT MY HAY.

THE WEATHER CAN CHANGE HERE REALLY FAST, REALLY BRUTAL.

AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE GET THIS DONE.

Jane: WHEN THE ROOF BLEW OFF, IT BLEW OFF IN PIECES.

THAT THING BLEW EVERYWHERE!

THERE'S ONE RIGHT HERE.

SO THE FIRST THING WE HAD TO DO IS GO COLLECT ALL THAT TIN.

-HOW'S IT GOING? -AY, YA, YA!

-IT'S A LOT OF WORK. -HOLY MOLY.

Otto: LOOKS LIKE WE CAN'T RECYCLE ANY OF THIS OLD TIN.

IT WAS RECYCLED ALREADY ONCE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO LOOKING IN SOME JUNK PILE,

SEE WHAT I CAN FIND.

Narrator: 33 MILES AWAY,

IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE KACHEMAK BAY,

ATZ LEE AND HIS FATHER, ATZ,

ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF ATZ LEE'S NEW CABIN.

-BEAUTIFUL DAY. -BEAUTIFUL DAY, MAN.

Atz Lee: LET'S GO MAKE SOME BOARDS.

THE PROCESS IS A MAJOR UNDERTAKING

SINCE HIS NEAR-DEATH FALL 6 MONTHS AGO.

Atz Lee: ME AND MY DAD HAVE A LOT OF WORK

TO DO THIS SUMMER, BUT, UH, FIRST THING'S FIRST.

WE'RE GONNA NEED SOME WOOD IN THE FORM OF BOARDS,

AND, UH, THE ONLY PLACE

I KNOW HOW TO GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED

IS AT MY NEIGHBOR JOHN COILA'S.

HE'S GOT A SAWMILL. HE'S GOT THE TOOLS.

SO ME AND MY DAD HEADING OUT THIS MORNING

TO GO OVER TO JOHN COILA'S AND KIND OF

GET RE-EDUCATED WITH THE SAWMILL,

DRAG IN SOME LOGS AND, UH, GET SOME WOOD

SO THAT WE GOT SOME ACTUAL BOARDS

ON SITE FOR THE NEW HOMESTEAD.

Atz: I'M NOT SO MUCH BUILDING A CABIN

AS I'M HELPING MY SON REBUILD HIS BODY AND --

AND HIS SOUL AND HIS PSYCHE AFTER HIS ACCIDENT.

JANE'S HAD A HARD TIME WITH ME BEING GONE,

DOESN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT

OF WHAT I'M DOING, YOU KNOW.

I MISS HER A LOT, AND MY HEART'S LONGING FOR HER TO GET OUT HERE,

BUT IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF WANTING TO DO IT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO DO, YOU KNOW,

JUST FOR MY OWN PEACE OF MIND AND FOR MY WELL-BEING.

-WHAT A FINE DAY, YOU KNOW? -ALL RIGHT.

WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION OF WHAT LENGTHWISE.

WHAT LENGTHS DO YOU NEED FOR THE FLOOR OF YOUR CABIN?

FLOORS, UH, THE CABIN'S GONNA BE 12 BY 16.

OKAY.

WIDTHWISE, IS -- AS BIG WE CAN MAKE.

WHATEVER THEY MAKE, WHATEVER THE LOG IS.

LET'S GO FIND US A TREE AND GET A LOG, OKAY?

OKAY.

MAGIC!

COME ON, RUSSELL, WE'RE GOING LOGGING.

Atz Lee: I'M GONNA NEED A LOT OF LUMBER.

I NEED LUMBER FOR OUTHOUSES,

FOR CHICKEN COOPS, FOR FENCES,

FOR GATES, FOR DOORS,

FOR ROOFING, FOR FLOORS.

I MEAN, I NEED A LOT OF LUMBER.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK

ABOUT THESE TWO WE HAVE RIGHT HERE?

GETTING ONE OF THOSE, GET THE --

GET THE FRONT ONE OUT FIRST AND BRING IT OUT UP HERE?

WHAT DO THOSE LOOK LIKE TO YOU, HUH?

THEY LOOK LIKE BOARDS.

THEY ARE BOARDS.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME TO GET MY PHYSICAL

AND MENTAL STRENGTH BACK UP

BECAUSE IT WAS DEFINITELY HARD RECOVERING FROM THE ACCIDENT,

WONDERING IF I COULD EVER USE MY ARM AGAIN,

IF I'D EVER WALK AGAIN.

NOW I'M KIND OF GETTING TO THAT POINT WHERE

I'M STRONG ENOUGH TO WANT TO CHALLENGE MYSELF.

Atz: SINCE HIS ACCIDENT, I SEE STILL SIGNS OF WEAKNESS.

IT'S ONLY BEEN 6 MONTHS. THAT'S NOT A LOT OF TIME.

I GOT TO BE WATCHING HIM AND SEEING

WHEN I CAN JUMP IN AND HELP OUT.

-TIMBER! -WHOA!

John: PERFECT!

Narrator: THIS SEASON ON "ALASKA: THE LAST FRONTIER"...

...HARDSHIP ON THE HOMESTEAD

FORCES THE KILCHERS INTO UNCHARTED TERRITORY.

IT'LL BE THE FIRST CATTLE DRIVE WITHOUT ME.

WE GOT A PROBLEM HERE, BRO!

Jane: IN THE HISTORY OF THE KILCHERS,

WE'VE NEVER HAD TWO GIRLS RANGE RIDE ALONE.

THERE'S A BEAR. RIGHT THERE.

WHEN YOU'RE SPREAD THIN,

THERE'S ALWAYS THE POTENTIAL FOR SOMETHING TO GO WRONG.

Man: ALMOST THERE!

-HOLY... -WHOA!

Jane: OH, MY GOSH!

Otto: IF A COW IS NOT STANDING UP, IT'LL DIE WITHIN HOURS.

Charlotte: OTTO!

Narrator: THE FAMILY MUST VENTURE FAR FROM HOME

TO PRESERVE THEIR WAY OF LIFE.

IT'S DANGEROUS STUFF.

-WHOA! -WATCH OUT, WATCH OUT!

Eve: YOU'RE AT WAR WITH NATURE.

OH, MY GOSH!

Eivin: YOU GOT TO HAVE THAT WILL TO SURVIVE.

-HO! -YEAH!

[ GASPS ]

WHERE'S THE GUN? GET THE GUN!

OH, MY GOD!

YEAH!

Narrator: AND, AFTER YEARS AWAY,

A FATHER'S DAUGHTER RETURNS.

I GREW UP WORKING CATTLE WITH MY DAD.

GO TO THE RIGHT! -YEP.

Jewel: I'M JUST REALLY GLAD TO BE BACK.

THERE WE GO. -CLOSE THE GATES.

BEAUTIFUL. -WHOO!

Narrator: ON THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD,

EIVIN HAS AN URGENT PROBLEM ON HIS HANDS.

THIS LOOKS A LITTLE BIT IFFY AROUND HERE.

YOU GOT SOME SLIDES COMING DOWN,

STUFF'S BREAKING LOOSE UP THERE

AND JUST A BIG SOUPY MESS HERE.

Narrator: AFTER CLEARING A LANDSLIDE OFF THE BEACH ROAD,

RECENT RAINS HAVE CAUSED ANOTHER LANDSLIDE.

THIS TIME ON KILCHER ROAD,

A VITAL LIFELINE TO TOWN AND MEDICAL CARE.

IT'S A NICE DAY, BUT REALLY ISN'T

WHAT I WANT TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW.

KILCHER ROAD IS THE LIFELINE TO THE HOMESTEAD, YOU KNOW.

IF WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY ON THE HOMESTEAD,

IF SOMEBODY GETS INJURED, THAT'S HOW WE GET THEM OUT.

IF WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRADE FOR SOMETHING,

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES,

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED

THAT WE CAN'T GET RIGHT THERE ON THE LAND.

I MEAN, IT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH EVERY PART OF OUR --

OUR DAILY USE. SOMEONE'S USING THAT ROAD.

SO IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THAT ROAD STAY OPEN.

MY GRANDFATHER BUILT THE ORIGINAL ROAD

AND BACK THEN, WHEN HE BUILT IT,

IT WASN'T REALLY MUCH MORE THAN A HORSE TRAIL,

AND, UH, IT'S BEEN GROWING AND GROWING

OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS.

I WOULD CALL IT A PRETTY GOOD ROAD NOW,

BUT I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY SCARE

THE PISS OUT OF SOME PEOPLE.

BECAUSE WE HAD ONE LANDSLIDE,

I WAS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT WORRIED

ABOUT A BIG CHUNK OF THE ROAD GOING OUT FROM UNDER ME.

WHOA-OH. WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

MY ENTIRE LIFE, I'VE BEEN AFRAID OF GOING OVER

THAT CANYON EDGE IN A CAR,

AND IT WOULD ONLY BE WORSE

TO GO OVER THE EDGE OF IT IN AN EXCAVATOR,

HAVE THAT THING ROLL DOWN INTO THE CANYON,

SOMETHING THAT YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T EVEN SURVIVE.

DON'T WANT TO TIP OVER THAT EDGE.

THAT'S A BIG ONE.

THAT ROAD, IT DEFINITELY IS --

IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE HAVE,

AND WE GOT TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALWAYS THERE.

ALL RIGHT. I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT GOOD ENOUGH FOR NOW.

I FEEL LIKE IF I STARTED, LIKE,

PULLING STUFF DOWN FROM UP ABOVE,

I WOULD JUST MAKE A LARGER MESS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING RIGHT NOW IS TO GET

THE ROAD CLEARED UP

AND THEN PARK THE EXCAVATOR CLOSE BY IN CASE

SOMETHING ELSE COMES DOWN THE HILL.

IT'S HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH MORE IS GONNA COME DOWN.

AT THIS POINT, WE CAN GET BY IN AN EMERGENCY.

Narrator: ACROSS THE HOMESTEAD,

GALE-FORCE WINDS HAVE RIPPED THE ROOF OFF

OF THE OLD KILCHER HAY BARN.

OTTO, CHARLOTTE, JANE AND BONNIE MUST REPAIR THE SHELTER

OR RISK LOSING THEIR VITAL FEED FOR THE HORSES.

Otto: THE FIRST THING WE'VE GOT TO DO,

BEFORE WE PUT THIS ROOF ON,

IS MAKE THE STRUCTURE CAPABLE OF HANDLING A ROOF.

WOW, RICKETY, OLD HAY BARN.

WE'VE GOT TO GET IT STRAIGHTENED UP, SQUARED UP,

AND THAT'S GONNA REQUIRE STRAPS PULLING THE -- THE WALLS SQUARE.

OH, DARN IT, OKAY.

I'M GLAD THERE WAS NO BIG NAIL STICKING UP.

HOW ABOUT NOW, GUYS? IS IT MOVING AT ALL?

Charlotte: IT'S MOVING!

OH, YEAH, THE -- THE LADDER JUST FELL DOWN A LITTLE.

YOU'RE GETTING THERE.

OKAY, WELL, I'D SAY IT'S ABOUT VERTICULAR, WOULDN'T YOU?

YEAH!

JANE, CAN YOU HOLD THAT POST OVER THERE?

NOW WE'RE GONNA LIFT THIS END UP.

OKAY.

WE'VE GOT A FEW THINGS TO PREPARE UNDERNEATH, STILL.

I HAVE TO SECURE A COUPLE OF THE VERTICALS.

AND DRIVE THAT OLD GRADER IRON INTO THE GROUND ALL THE WAY.

THAT'S A LITTLE HAMMER FOR A BIG NAIL.

I HEARD SOME COMMOTION.

-AUGUST! -HEY, AUGUST!

YOUR DAD'S WORKING ON HIS SECOND HERNIA.

YOU'RE JUST IN TIME FOR THE HEAVY LIFTING, SON, THANK YOU.

-COME HERE! -THIS IS HEAVY.

Charlotte: PUSH THAT UP TO JANE. YEAH.

Otto: AUGUST IS GETTING READY TO GO TO COLLEGE THIS YEAR,

BUT, UH, IT'S ALWAYS A BLESSING

WHEN HE CAN HELP.

Otto: THE WIND'S STARTING TO COME UP PRETTY HARD UP HERE,

SO THE MORE WE CAN GET DONE IN THE NEXT LITTLE WHILE,

THE BETTER.

WHEN THE WIND STARTED BLOWING,

I REALIZED THAT SOME OF THESE RAFTERS

NEED TO BE TIED DOWN TO --

TO THE VERTICAL POSTS.

I'M GONNA MAKE MY OWN HURRICANE STRAPS

AND THEN PUT A NEW ROOF ON.

IN THIS CASE, RECYCLE AN OLD FUEL DRUM

AND MAKE MY OWN HURRICANE STRAPS.

Charlotte: LUCKILY, OTTO IS REALLY GOOD

AT FIGURING OUT ALTERNATIVES TO FIXING A SITUATION.

IF HE DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT PART,

HE CAN PRETTY MUCH BUILD THE RIGHT PART OUT OF ANYTHING.

MAN, THAT'S CRAZY AMAZING.

SO I'M JUST GONNA BEND THESE AROUND UP THERE.

GOD, I'M GLAD I MADE 'EM AS LONG AS I DID.

WHAT THIS HAS GOT TO DO

IS BE ABLE TO HOLD THIS ROOF DOWN

IN, UH, HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS.

WHICH WE HAVE A LOT OF HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS UP HERE.

BUT WE DON'T CALL THEM HURRICANES UP HERE.

WE JUST CALL THEM ANOTHER WINDY DAY.

OKAY, NOW, JUMP UP AND DOWN OUT HERE, SEE IF IT'S STRONGER.

Charlotte: NO WAY!

-COME ON! -ARE YOU SERIOUS?

WE GOT TO TEST OUR WORK, SO JUMP UP AND DOWN.

SEE THERE?

Charlotte: I REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

TO GET THIS ROOF ON THE BARN AS FAST AS WE CAN,

BUT I FEEL LIKE OTTO'S REALLY KIND OF

PUSHING IT HERE WITH SAFETY.

YIKES, THIS WIND IS REALLY SOMETHING. AIN'T IT?

YEAH, I'M NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE IN THIS WIND, DAD.

LOOK, YOU CAN ALWAYS FALL ON THE HAY.

JUST ALWAYS LOOK FOR A PLACE TO FALL TO.

THEN THAT FREES YOU UP FROM FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE.

NOW WE'LL JUST DO ANOTHER ONE RIGHT HERE.

THE WIND IS REALLY PICKING UP!

YOU GUYS NEED TO GET OFF THE ROOF BEFORE YOU GET HURT!

-YEAH. -OKAY.

Otto: SOON AS WE GET THIS ONE MORE BOARD OUT.

Jane: YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO QUIT, OTTO.

Charlotte: WELL, HURRY IT UP!

I AM HURRYING UP.

I'M AFRAID IT'S ALL GONNA JUST BLOW AWAY.

BUT, AUGUST, WAIT -- WAIT. OH, LOOK OUT.

-NO, AUGUST, NOT THAT WAY. -SORRY, DAD.

-YOU OKAY? -YEAH.

FORTUNATELY, IT WAS JUST RIGHT BELOW THE HAY.

HOW COME YOU GUYS KEEP SAYING YOU'RE COMING DOWN,

AND THEN YOU... -WE'RE COMING DOWN RIGHT NOW!

HERE COMES A HAMMER.

OH!

OTTO'S GOT A HERNIA, AND HIS DOCTOR GAVE HIM,

LIKE, EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS OF WHAT NOT TO DO,

AND I'M ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY SURE

HE'S GONNA BREAK EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE RULES.

-OKAY, AUGUST. -YEAH.

LET'S GO START GETTING READY TO PUT TIN ON THE ROOF.

-YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! -I DON'T THINK SO.

-IT'S WAY TOO WINDY! -WHAT?

-IT'S TOO WINDY, OTTO. -OTTO!

I THINK WE NEED TO CALL IT OFF. IT'S KICKING UP LIKE CRAZY.

WHAT, I GOT A MUTINY HERE?

I THINK SO.

OKAY, WELL, LET'S PICK EVERYTHING UP AND PUT IT AWAY.

SO, YOU GUYS WANT TO START PUTTING THOSE STRAPS AWAY

AND STUFF IN CASE IT SNOWS OR WHO KNOWS WHAT?

LET'S GO!

Narrator: 33 MILES AWAY, ATZ LEE, HIS FATHER, ATZ,

AND NEIGHBOR JOHN COILA HARVEST

A MASSIVE TREE FOR LUMBER FOR ATZ LEE'S NEW HOMESTEAD.

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP BEFORE THE MILLING PROCESS.

BUT, LIKE ALL THINGS IN ALASKA,

MOTHER NATURE SETS THE TIMELINE.

BRINGING IN TREES IN THE WINTER

BEFORE THE SNOW MELTS IS PRETTY CRUCIAL.

THE SNOW'S REALLY GOOD FOR MOVING LOGS AROUND ON TOP OF

'CAUSE IT MAKES FOR, UH, YOU KNOW,

A SMOOTHER SURFACE WITH LESS FRICTION THAN DIRT.

THE SNOW'S MELTING FAST.

EVERY SINGLE DAY WE HAVE TO GET TWO DAYS

OF WORK DONE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WHOA.

WHAT I WAS THINKING, BACK UP AND GRAB IT

WITH THE SNOW MACHINE AND TAKE IT THAT WAY.

YOU'RE GONNA BACK IN HERE WITH THE SNOW MACHINE?

YEAH, I CAN GET IN HERE WITH THE SNOW MACHINE.

ONCE WE GOT IT LIMBED UP, PRETTY MUCH, YOU KNOW,

IT WAS ALL OVER BUT THE CRYING.

DON'T DIG IN.

YEAH, PULL DOWN ON THEM SKIS.

I'LL TURN IT THAT WAY.

READY? READY?

-WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. -IT'S COMING DOWN. LOOK OUT.

WATCH OUT, WATCH OUT. IT'S GOING.

Narrator: 33 MILES FROM THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD,

ATZ LEE, HIS FATHER, ATZ, AND NEIGHBOR JOHN COILA

GATHER LUMBER FOR ATZ LEE'S NEW SHELTER.

MOVING TREES BEFORE THE SNOW MELTS

IS CRUCIAL SINCE IT PROVIDES

A SMOOTH SURFACE OVER RUGGED TERRAIN.

Atz Lee: JOHN WAS ABLE TO KIND OF MANEUVER THE SNOW MACHINE

OVER THE TOP OF SOME OTHER TREES

AND GET IT AS CLOSE AS WE COULD.

YEP.

Atz: WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. IT'S COMING DOWN.

LOOK OUT.

WATCH OUT. WATCH OUT. WATCH OUT.

OH, MAN. THERE WAS A TREE LEANING.

THE TRUNK WAS OFF THE GROUND.

THE BRANCHES WERE CAUGHT IN THE TREE.

SO IT'S BASICALLY HANGING.

WHEN HE CAME THROUGH WITH THE SNOW MACHINE,

HIS SKI ACTUALLY HIT THAT TREE.

AND IT DID END UP GOING DOWN, AND WE HAD TO JUMP.

PRAISE THE LORD, HALLELUJAH.

John: GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT, SON.

JOHN HAS A HANDY LITTLE GO-DEVIL,

TWO SNOW MACHINE SKIS WITH A CROSS PIECE

THAT HE CAN PUT THE LOG ON

AND THEN PULLING IT TO THE SAWMILL.

ALL I GOT TO DO IS GET IT MOVING.

AND THEN ALL I GOT TO DO AFTER THAT IS KEEP IT MOVING.

John: I WANT TO GET IT TO ROLL A LITTLE BIT WHEN I TAKE OFF,

RATHER THAN A STRAIGHT PULL.

WELL, GENTLEMEN, WISH ME LUCK.

I'M GONNA GO THIS WAY PRETTY DAMN QUICK.

AT THAT POINT, YOU GOT TO JUST HOOK ONTO IT

AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

WATCH OUT.

GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO.

WHAT THE HECK?

Atz Lee: IT -- IT FOLLOWED YOUR TRACK.

Atz Lee: UNFORTUNATELY, THAT TREE JUST DUG DOWN INTO THE SNOW

AND JUST STOPPED THAT SNOW MACHINE DEAD IN ITS TRACKS.

CAN WE LIFT IT OUT OF THERE?

WE'LL SEE. MAYBE ALL THREE OF US.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

OH, THAT WORKED SO WELL.

AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING RIGHT NOW,

WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THIS CABIN DONE TILL ABOUT 2020.

SO I GOT TO PICK UP THE PACE.

Narrator: BACK ON THE HOMESTEAD, ATZ LEE'S WIFE, JANE,

TAKES SHELTER FROM THE WIND WITH BONNIE AND EVE.

Jane: I'M GONNA GO FROM THE OPPOSITE

OF WORKING WITH DANGEROUS OTTO

TO SUPER SAFE BONNIE IN BONNIE'S GREENHOUSE,

INSIDE, SAFE.

AND COME BACK WHEN THE WIND'S DIED DOWN.

Bonnie: THE WIND GOT A LITTLE CRAZY

WHEN WE WERE WORKING WITH OTTO

TO PUT THE ROOF BACK ON THE HAY BARN.

SO WE TOOK A BREAK AND GO DO SOME PLANTING IN MY GREENHOUSE.

Eve: BONNIE WANTED MY HELP WITH HER GREENHOUSE

BECAUSE I'VE DONE A LOT OF GARDENING.

I HAVE A HIGH TUNNEL. I BROUGHT SEEDS.

AND I THOUGHT WE COULD JUST DO THE EARLY STUFF.

LET'S DO A WHOLE TRAY OF TOMATOES.

DOES THAT SOUND GOOD? -YEAH.

Eve: THE BOYS ARE ALL BUSY AND AWAY.

AWAY IS CORRECT.

HONEY-DO LIST IS ABOUT 8 PAGES LONG.

-AH. -AND NOTHING'S GETTING DONE.

I'M JUST PRIORITIZING WHAT I CAN DO.

BUT I'M PRETTY STRESSED OUT.

I'M NOT CRAZY ABOUT THIS CABIN BUILD.

WHAT ATZ LEE'S DOING IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO HIM.

BUT IT'S NOT IMPORTANT TO ME UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT I STILL, UM, SUPPORT HIM

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO EVEN

IF YOU'RE NOT CRAZY ABOUT ALL THE IDEAS,

LIKE, YOUR LOVED ONE HAS.

BUT IT'S DRIVING ME NUTS.

I DEFINITELY DON'T LIKE HAVING EIVIN GONE AT ALL,

ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE HAVE KIDS.

IT'S JUST TOO OVERWHELMING.

JANE HAS A HARD TIME WITH ATZ LEE BEING

OUT THERE AND IS FRUSTRATED

BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T THINK SHE'LL EVER LIVE OUT THERE.

AND SO I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO SURMISE

ABOUT THE DYNAMICS OF THAT.

WELL, THE CHORES STRESSED ME OUT.

BUT IT'S ALSO JUST BEING ALONE.

-YEAH. -AND I DON'T DRINK ALONE.

SO I CAN'T USE DRINKING TO COPE.

CAN'T COME OVER AND RAID YOUR MEAD CLOSET.

OH, YEAH, I HEAR YOU.

I CAN'T TELL IF THESE ARE SEEDS OR DIRT ANYMORE.

Jane: I DON'T THINK ATZ REALIZES HOW STRESSED OUT I AM FOR SURE

BECAUSE I THINK THIS WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING

IF HE KNEW HOW UPSET I WAS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW FOR ME

TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO HIM.

SO I JUST HAVE TO, LIKE, KEEP GOING.

WELL, ATZ IS REALLY FUNNY.

SO I'M USED TO LAUGHING ALL THE TIME.

SO WHEN HE'S GONE, IT'S LIKE, "WAH, WAH, WAH."

I KNOW. YEAH.

I'M NOT A COMEDIAN. I'M, LIKE, THE LAUGHER.

OH. THAT'S FUNNY. I'M THE LAUGHER.

BUT I THINK OF YOU AS THE COMEDIAN, JANE.

-NO. -YOU'RE MY COMEDIAN.

I DON'T MAKE ATZ LAUGH. I MAKE HIM ROLL HIS EYES.

THANK YOU, EVE. -YOU'RE WELCOME.

I'LL PUT THAT IN MY POCKET.

ALL RIGHTY. ALMOST DONE.

Jane: I HATE BEING ALONE. I WANT HIM HERE.

AND I DIDN'T REALLY SIGN ON FOR THIS.

I THOUGHT THAT'S WHY I GOT MARRIED.

SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT'S KIND OF UP IN THE AIR.

Narrator: OVER 33 MILES AWAY, ATZ LEE, HIS FATHER, ATZ,

AND NEIGHBOR JOHN COILA

ARE BANKING ON A BIT OF HOMESTEADER INGENUITY

TO MOVE MASSIVE LOGS TOWARD THE BUILD SITE.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.

OH, THAT WORKED SO WELL.

Atz Lee: NOW, THERE'S NOTHING THAT THREE GUYS

COULD DO TO PICK THAT THING UP.

JOHN HAD A PRETTY COOL LITTLE,

UH, GO-DEVIL WITH SOME SKIS ON IT

THAT YOU COULD PUT THE LOG UP ON TOP OF.

BUT YOU HAVE TO GET IT TO THAT GO-DEVIL TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WE COULD PUT A LEVER HERE

AND USE THAT FOR A FULCRUM WHERE WE CAN GET UNDERNEATH IT.

GET SOME FULCRUMS, GET SOME BARS AND LEVERS.

USE OTHER LOGS. -LET'S TRY THAT.

Atz: PRY POLES TO GET THE LOG OUT OF THE SNOW.

PUT LITTLE LOGS UNDERNEATH FOR ROLLERS AND SLIDERS

AND JUST KIND OF FIGURE IT OUT.

GONNA GIVE IT A LITTLE MORE HERE, SON.

THERE YOU GO. -READY?

TWO, THREE, GO UP.

WATCH YOUR LEG, JOHN. WATCH YOUR LEG.

Atz Lee: ONCE WE GET THIS LOG MOVING,

WE AIN'T STOPPING BECAUSE, UH,

YOU GOT TO USE THAT MOMENTUM TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

WATCH OUT. HERE HE GOES.

GO, GO, GO, GO, GO. COME ON, BABY.

COME ON. COME ON.

HE'S ROLLING.

HE TOOK OFF. TREE STARTS MOVING, MAN.

I JUMP ON MY MACHINE. MY DAD JUMPS ON HIS.

AND I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN TO TRY TO CATCH UP WITH HIM.

Atz: ATZ LEE AND I ARE BEHIND ON OUR SNOW MACHINES.

JOHN IS COOKING AHEAD.

AND HE DID KEEP ON DRIVING

AND GOING AROUND A CURVE PULLING A LONG LOG.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

Narrator: HIGH IN THE FROZEN MOUNTAINS

ABOVE THE HEAD OF THE BAY,

ATZ LEE, HIS FATHER, ATZ, AND NEIGHBOR JOHN COILA

TAKE A DANGEROUS PATH

BACK TO THE SAWMILL IN A RACE AGAINST THE SETTING SUN.

ATZ LEE AND I ARE BEHIND ON OUR SNOW MACHINES.

JOHN IS COOKING AHEAD.

Atz Lee: WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

I START YELLING AND SCREAMING.

BUT JOHN'S JUST FOCUSED ON GETTING DOWN TO THE MILL.

WHOA, WHOA.

ONCE JOHN KIND OF TURNED AROUND, LOOKED BACK,

HEARD ME SCREAMING, HE STOPPED.

READY, SET, GO.

GO.

[ GRUNTS ]

I STILL GOT BOLT IN MY HIPS.

CERTAIN KIND OF MOVEMENTS ARE WORSE THAN OTHER.

AND THAT KIND OF TWISTED SIDEWAYS OVER ROUGH TERRAIN.

IT WAS A GOOD DEAL OF PAIN.

IT PROVED TO BE A BIT MORE THAN MY HIP COULD HANDLE.

THERE IT IS. THAT'LL STRAIGHTEN OUT.

AND THEN, AT THAT POINT, WE'RE JUST LIKE,

"MAN, LET'S GET THIS LOG DOWN TO THE MILL."

RIGHT ON.

THERE'S ONE.

I DON'T WANT TO BE A SPOILER,

BUT THAT MIGHT BE THE LAST LOG I CAN DO TODAY.

MY HIP'S HURTING PRETTY GOOD NOW.

IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP AND COME BACK TOMORROW.

WE GOT A DATE WITH THE WALL TENT.

I GOT TO GO CRAWL IN THERE AND LAY DOWN.

Narrator: BACK ON THE HOMESTEAD,

WITH THE SEVERE WINDS LIABLE TO RETURN AT ANY MOMENT,

OTTO, CHARLOTTE,

BONNIE AND JANE RESUME

THEIR REPAIR MISSION ON THE HAY BARN,

THE INDISPENSABLE STRUCTURE

THAT SAFEGUARDS THEIR HORSES' FOOD SUPPLY.

Otto: I'M MEASURING THE ROOF AS BONNIE AND JANE

ARE LAYING THE TIN OUT ON THE GROUND.

OKAY, THAT'S ABOUT 24 FEET RIGHT THERE, GUYS.

WE HAVE TO GET IN THE MIDDLE DOWN HERE.

I THINK THE WIND'S STARTING TO BLOW.

AND IT'S GONNA BLOW THAT TIN ALL OVER HELL.

OH, BOY.

SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET CUT.

WE BETTER GO HELP.

THE TIN'S BLOWING AROUND REALLY BADLY.

AND IF THAT TIN IS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR

AND IT STABS YOU IN THE THROAT OR IN YOUR FEMORAL ARTERY,

YOU'RE DEAD IN 4 OR 5 MINUTES.

GEEZ LOUISE.

YOU TEND TO WATCH OUT FOR THE BIG, BAD THINGS.

BUT THE LITTLE THINGS CAN GET YA.

I GUESS WE'RE READY TO SEND SOME TIN UP.

CHARLOTTE, YOU GOT IT?

Jane: YOU JUST WANT ME TO GUIDE IT WITH YOU?

HERE, YOU PULL.

I'M EXPECTING PEOPLE TO KIND OF BE WORKING FASTER.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS.

OKAY, WELL, JUST STAY WHERE YOU ARE, THEN, JANE.

CAN I JUST HELP GUIDE IT? LIKE...

WELL, YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO BE ABLE

TO WALK ON THESE BOARDS AT LEAST.

Jane: I'M DEFINITELY AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY AN ISSUE FOR ME.

OF COURSE IT'S NOT AN ISSUE FOR ANYBODY ELSE

BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.

-YOU'LL HAVE TO LIFT IT UP. -I KNOW.

A LITTLE BIT AFRAID OF HEIGHTS.

I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN. -OKAY.

THE TOP OF THAT HAY BARN IS PRETTY --

IT'S PRETTY TALL, ENOUGH TO, LIKE,

FREAK ME OUT WHERE I'D, LIKE, FREEZE LIKE A RABBIT.

LIKE, COME GET THE EXCAVATOR TO GET ME DOWN.

OKAY, ARE YOU READY TO HAUL SOME MORE UP?

YEAH.

Otto: PEOPLE START FEELING EDGY.

YOU'RE RESPONDING TO ONE CRISIS

AFTER ANOTHER AND START BARKING AT EACH OTHER.

AND A BIG OL' EARTHQUAKE ALL COLLIDE AT THE SAME TIME.

IT CAN BE TOUGH.

HOLD ON, IT'S -- THIS ONE'S REALLY SHARP.

IT'S GOT... -JANE, STOP. STOP. STOP.

EVERYBODY, STOP. JANE, MOVE OVER A SLOT.

YOU'RE GONNA GET CUT.

OKAY, NOW, PICK UP, BONNIE. JANE, YOU CAN HELP AGAIN.

BUT JUST DON'T -- DON'T BE RIGHT --

I JUST THOUGHT, IF BONNIE SHOVED ALL OF A SUDDEN,

I JUST SAW PICTURES OF THAT GOING THROUGH YOUR THROAT.

Otto: THIS HAY BARN WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT,

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT FOR THE HOMESTEAD,

FOR MY DAD, FOR THE ANIMALS.

AND, YOU KNOW,

WE NEED TO PRESERVE THAT IMPORTANCE.

AAH!

PUSH THE BOTTOM OVER.

-TOWARD YOU? -OH, I SAY --

I DIDN'T SAY PULL, I SAID PUSH.

DON'T HAVE TO GET RUDE.

DON'T PULL ON IT TILL I GET IT UP IN THE AIR, OKAY?

NO WIND UP THERE SO WE COULD PUT THE TIN ON ACTUALLY.

AND, UH, WE GOT TO USE THIS WEATHER WHILE WE CAN.

SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE, "DON'T LOLLYGAG.

LET'S JUST KIND OF KEEP IT ROLLING."

Narrator: OUT IN THE BACKCOUNTRY,

ATZ LEE AND HIS FATHER, ATZ,

ARE FINALLY READY TO BEGIN THE MILLING PROCESS

AFTER SPENDING THE PREVIOUS DAY EXTRACTING A STUBBORN LOG.

Atz Lee: TODAY ME AND MY DAD ARE GOING TO, UH,

CUT SOME LUMBER OUT ON COILA'S SAWMILL.

THERE THEY ARE.

WHAT, NO YODELING TODAY?

[ YODELING ]

YEAH, OKAY, NOW --

NOW I'M FEELING GOOD ABOUT ALL OF IT.

Atz Lee: I'VE RAN THE SAWMILL A FEW TIMES WITH HIM NOW,

UH, IN THE PAST.

BUT MY DAD HAS YET TO RUN THIS, UH,

TYPE OF BAND SAWMILL THAT JOHN HAS.

I NEED A COUPLE THOUSAND BOARDS FOR MY NEW HOMESTEAD SITE.

I TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE FACT

THAT I'VE GOT THIS MASSIVE TASK OR THE FACT

THAT I ALMOST DIED OR THE FACT THAT I'M NOT 100%.

I'M TRYING TO BLOCK THAT STUFF OUT OF MY HEAD.

IT STARTS TODAY. IT STARTS RIGHT NOW.

BY THE END OF THE DAY, WE'LL HAVE A NICE STACK OF LUMBER.

John: ONE OF THE GREATEST CRIMES ON THE MILL

THAT YOU CAN EVER COMMIT,

YOU SHOULD NEVER STAND IN FRONT OF IT AND START IT.

YOU SHOULD COME BACK HERE TO START IT.

THAT BAND CUT A LEG OFF OR AN ARM OFF OR ANYTHING OFF.

AND ESPECIALLY IN ICY CONDITIONS, YOU SLIP AND FALL...

-MM-HMM. -...YOU'VE LOST THAT BODY PART.

-GOT IT. -YEAH.

OKAY, I'M JUST GETTING USED TO MINE AGAIN.

-YEAH, YEAH. -YEAH.

YOU KNOW THE EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND.

Atz Lee: I'M NOT THE FIRST PERSON

TO FALL OFF A CLIFF AND SURVIVE.

BUT I AM THE FIRST PERSON TO FALL OFF A CLIFF,

SURVIVE AND THEN HEAD OUT UNDER A YEAR LATER

AND TAKE ON SUCH AN ENDEAVOR.

John: PRETTY NICE BOARDS.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO RUN DOWN

AND CHECK THE FIRE HERE REAL QUICK.

AND I'M GONNA LET YOU GUYS CONTINUE ON HERE.

YOU CAN EVEN START THE NEXT LOG, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.

OKAY. AND IF YOU HEAR A LOUD EXPLOSION,

AND WE'RE NOT HERE WHEN YOU GET BACK,

DON'T TRY TO FIND US.

-OKAY. -TOO MANY PARTS AND PIECES.

OH, MY GOD, WE'RE ON OUR OWN NOW, SON.

Atz: HAD IT BEEN UP TO ME,

I'D HAVE HAD JOHN GIVE ME SOME MORE TUTORING.

ATZ LEE FELT LIKE HE KIND OF HAD ENOUGH

AND HE COULD FIGURE IT ON HIS OWN.

Atz Lee: COMING OUT HERE, FOR ME,

IS, YOU KNOW, REHABILITATION.

IT'S GETTING ME PHYSICAL THERAPY.

IT'S GETTING ME OUTDOORS. IT'S GETTING ME ACTIVE.

AND THIS IS GROUND ZERO.

I MEAN, THIS IS THE BIRTHING OF A BRAND-NEW HOMESTEAD.

IT'S DANGEROUS TO RUN THE MILL.

SO YOU'RE TRYING TO STAY AWARE OF THE SAWMILL ITSELF

AND MAKE SURE NOTHING'S GOING WRONG OR BACKFIRING ON YOU.

SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION.

FOR SOME REASON, WHEN I WAS MILLING,

I JUST NOTICED I WAS STARTING TO GET REALLY TENSE,

KIND OF GETTING SHAKY, KIND OF GETTING NAUSEOUS,

NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I THINK, UH... SO HERE'S THAT ONE.

IT'S DOING IT ON THAT ONE, TOO.

SO... -YOU KNOW WHAT,

FROM WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM JOHN,

THIS THING'S ABOUT TO BREAK. -OKAY.

IT'S STARTING TO MAKE

SOME INCONSISTENT DEPTH OF LUMBER.

I'VE RUN IT ENOUGH WITH JOHN TO KNOW

THAT WHEN THE BAND SAW STARTS GETTING WARPED

AND DULL, IT'S GONNA BREAK.

THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL A BROKEN BAND.

LOUD NOISES, SNAPS, THINGS GOING OFF AROUND ME, I JUST, I...

YOU KNOW, I'M AFFECTED DIFFERENT NOW FROM THE ACCIDENT.

I'M TOO NERVOUS TO LET IT GO THERE.

I WAS WAITING FOR IT TO BREAK.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S ALL I COULD FOCUS ON.

TRIGGERED SOMETHING INSIDE OF ME.

AND, UH, JUST HAD --

STARTED HAVING MASSIVE FLASHBACKS,

HITTING THE ROCKS AND THAT FEELING OF HELPLESSNESS

AND THE DARK,

BROKEN, CAN'T GET UP,

CAN'T MOVE, COULD DIE,

MIGHT NOT SEE THE KIDS AGAIN, MIGHT NOT SEE MY WIFE AGAIN.

ALL THAT STUFF STARTED FLOODING IN AT THE SAME TIME.

AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS STOP.

ALL I HAD TO DO WAS WALK AWAY FROM THE MILL.

BUT I WAS FROZEN. I WAS IN IT.

UM, IT WAS JUST KIND OF A STRANGE SPOT TO BE IN.

AND TOLD MY DAD, I SAID, "I JUST -- I GOT TO STOP."

I CAN'T -- YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO CUT THE LAST BOARD.

I CAN'T DO IT."

ANTICIPATION IS KILLING ME EVERY PASS.

YOU JUST, I -- IT'S, LIKE, MAKING ME NAUSEOUS

WITH PT-- IT'S JUST LIKE, "BLEH."

Atz: ATZ LEE IS HEALING HIS BODY AND HIS SPIRIT AT THE SAME TIME.

THE GREAT THING IS THAT HE RECOGNIZED WHAT WAS GOING ON.

HE SAID, "HEY, DAD, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE IT?"

AND, UH, HE WAS ABLE TO TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.

Atz: EVEN IF I PHYSICALLY RECOVER,

WILL I EVER MENTALLY RECOVER FROM THIS ACCIDENT?

I MEAN, THE TRAUMA THAT'S STILL PLAGUEING ME,

IT'S A HURDLE FOR ME

THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH.

AND ALL I CAN DO IS

JUST KIND OF TRY TO FACE EACH DAY ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Atz: HO!

NOW THAT JANE IS MISSING ME AT HOME,

HAVING ME OFF THE HOMESTEAD LEAVES MORE WORK

FOR HER TO DO WHILE I'M GONE.

DON'T PUSH IT IN YET. YOU'RE NOT UNDER BOTH OF 'EM.

Otto: YOU GOT AN ANGLE. YOU GOT WIND.

YOU GOT DANGER.

THE STORM IS A-COMING.

Otto: GOT THIS GOOSE ONCE FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER.

PRETTY GOOSEY, YEAH. PRETTY GOOSEY.

BUT THERE WAS AN INSTANT BOND.

WELL, WE GOT THE GOOSE FOR COMPANY.

THE GOOSE FIGURED OUT THAT IF IT COULD KIND OF

INGRATIATE ITSELF TO ME,

THEN IT COULD PROBABLY AVOID THE THANKSGIVING HATCHET.

AND SO IT DID.

IT'S BREATHING HEAVY ON MY WINDOW, GETTING EXCITED.

WE GOT THIS RELATIONSHIP.

THE HIERARCHY OF THINGS THAT I LOVE ON THE HOMESTEAD,

THE GOOSE IS PRETTY FAR UP THERE.

IF IT WASN'T FOR THE FACT

THAT IT NEEDS TO CRAP ON MY DOORMAT,

IT'D BE, LIKE, AT THE TIP OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

OF MY LOVE WITH AN ANIMAL.

IT GOES EVERYWHERE I GO.

OUR RELATIONSHIP, IT'S STILL PLATONIC.

I THINK IT'LL PROBABLY STAY THAT WAY.

AH, YOU'RE COMING TO VISIT ME, AIN'T YA.

YEAH, HOW 'BOUT THAT.

Narrator: ON THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD,

WITH A WINTER STORM THREATENING TO ARRIVE AT ANY MINUTE,

OTTO AND CHARLOTTE, ALONG WITH BONNIE AND JANE,

RUSH TO SAVE THE OLD HOMESTEAD HAY BARN.

Otto: EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND, THE WEATHER'S CHANGING OUR MIND.

RIGHT NOW IT SNOWED.

THERE'S NOTHING SLIPPIER THAN A TIN ROOF IN A SNOWSTORM.

YOU GOT AN ANGLE. YOU GOT SNOW.

YOU GOT WIND.

YOU GOT DANGER.

-YOU READY? -YES, MA'AM.

WELL, IT'S AMAZING HOW NERVOUS I GET

WHEN I'M NOT SURE WHERE I'M GONNA STEP NEXT.

OKAY, IT'S GOING UNDER NOW.

DON'T PUSH IT IN YET 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT UNDER.

-HUH? -YOU'RE NOT UNDER BOTH OF 'EM.

OH, I SEE.

Jane: ATZ HAS BEEN GONE. HE'S BEEN GONE TOO LONG.

I'M STRESSED OUT. AND I'M BURNT OUT.

I'M USED TO ATZ BEING THERE.

AND I'M USED TO, LIKE, YOU KNOW, HIM HELPING, TOO.

-HEY, AUGUST. -YOU WANT ME UP THERE?

DEFINITELY WANT YOU UP HERE.

THE STORM IS A-COMING.

JUST A SECOND, BONNIE.

OKAY, I'VE GOT IT. MORE, MORE.

NOW IT'S CONTACTING THE ROOF.

YOU GUYS ARE CLEAR.

GOOD NEWS IS WE'VE ALMOST GOT THE HAY COVERED UP.

Otto: HEY, WE'RE GETTING THERE, GUYS. COME ON.

-YOU READY? -PULL.

THIS IS WHERE IT GETS DANGEROUS,

WHEN WE'RE STARTING TO GET NEAR THE END.

THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE LAST PIECE.

WE'RE GONNA BEAT THE WEATHER.

-WE HAVE A HAY BARN. -I KNOW. YAHOO.

Otto: THERE'S A ROOF ON IT AGAIN.

I KNOW. THAT'S AMAZING.

AFTER ALL THE WORK GETTING THIS SHELTER DONE,

WE'RE KIND OF DUG OUT FROM EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE.

BUT WE GOT THE "CRISIS HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY DOS" OUT OF THE WAY.

AND NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE "GOT TO DOS."

LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

Narrator: DEEP IN THE FOOTHILLS ABOVE KACHEMAK BAY,

ATZ LEE AND HIS FATHER, ATZ,

PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE FIRST STACK OF LUMBER

FOR ATZ LEE'S NEW SHELTER.

WENT TO PULL THE FIRST LOAD OF LUMBER DOWN

TO THE NEW HOUSE SITE.

AND IT'S PRETTY EXCITING.

COME ON.

Atz: IT'S EXCITING FOR ME.

AND THEN IT'S EXCITING FOR ME TO WATCH THE EXCITEMENT IN HIM

AS THIS DREAM IS STARTING TO UNFOLD.

WELL, THAT WAS A LOT OF WORK FOR A PILE OF BOARDS.

-YEP. -WE'VE GOT ABOUT 10 OBSTACLES

WE OVERCAME RIGHT THERE.

WELL, WHERE ARE WE THINKING OF STACKING THIS STUFF?

I SAW A PERFECT PLACE

RIGHT -- RIGHT OVER HERE UNDER THIS TREE.

WE'RE GONNA BUILD RIGHT UP THERE.

SO THIS'LL JUST WORK FOR NOW

TILL WE GET SOMETHING CLEARED UP THERE, HUH?

YEAH.

WE GOT THE CABIN SITE LOCATION SOLIDIFIED

WHERE WE WANT IT, FIRST COUPLE OF LOGS ON LOCATION.

FOLKS MIGHT THINK I'M CRAZY.

BUT, MAN, I FEEL LIKE I'M ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

CLEARING NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE AND THE WIDENING FOR THE VIEW.

OKAY. DROP 'EM, LIMB 'EM,

BUCK 'EM, STACK 'EM.

WE'RE IN A UNIQUE SITUATION WHERE IT'S LIKE,

"YOU KNOW WHAT? I WANT A NICER VIEW.

WE'RE GONNA CUT DOWN THESE TREES...

HO!

...WIDEN OUT OUR VIEW AND,

UH, BURN A BIG OL' BRUSH FIRE WHILE WE'RE DOING IT.

YEAH, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SURVIVE IN THE BACKCOUNTRY

IF YOU DON'T HAVE SHELTER.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S WINTER RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW,

THE CRUNCH TIME IS ON TO GET A HOMESTEAD BUILT IN A SUMMER

TO WHERE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SHELTER,

GARDEN, FOOD, WATER, EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED.

YOU GOT TO START NOW. WAY TO GO TODAY.

-LOOKING GOOD. -CAN'T QUITE WALK NORMAL.

BUT... -YEAH.

ATZ LEE HAVING HAD HIS ACCIDENT, IT --

IT'S A BIT OF A WILD CARD IN THAT, UH,

WE'RE NOT SURE HOW'S HE GONNA HOLD UP.

Atz Lee: TO KNOW THAT JANE IS MISSING ME AT HOME,

IT'S BEEN HARD FOR HER, I THINK, YOU KNOW.

HAVING ME OFF THE HOMESTEAD LEAVES,

UH, MORE WORK FOR HER TO DO WHILE I'M GONE.

BUT JANE'S STRONG-WILLED. I'M STRONG-WILLED.

WE BOTH ARE PRETTY SET IN OUR WAYS

AT WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

SO THE OPTIONS THERE BASICALLY ARE TO,

YOU KNOW, ACCEPT EACH OTHER AS YOU ARE OR TO MOVE ON.

Narrator: TENSIONS RISE FOR OTTO AND CHARLOTTE.

Charlotte: OTTO, I CAN'T MAKE IT GO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL.

STEP ASIDE.

ATZ LEE ATTEMPTS A RISKY TRANSPORT MISSION.

Atz Lee: I PUSH MYSELF TOO HARD, I CAN GET HURT.

DON'T PUSH MYSELF HARD ENOUGH, I'LL GIVE UP.

OH, GOD!

Narrator: AND JANE AND EVE ARE LEFT DEAD IN THE WATER.

[ MOTOR SPUTTERING ]

IT IS NOT STARTING, JANE.