All language subtitles for alaska-the.last.frontier.s06e01.hdtv.x264-w4f[ettv]_track3_eng

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.