Original subtitles

♪♪

Narrator: McCARTHY, ALASKA -- A HISTORIC FRONTIER TOWN...

...HOME OF THE MAVERICKS...

-NICE. ...AND RABBLE-ROUSERS...

[ GUNSHOT ]

THAT'S HOW WE MAKE A VIEW AROUND HERE.

Narrator: ...WHO JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE ROAD

FOR A LIFE OF FREEDOM.

Jeremy: HERE IN McCARTHY,

WE'VE MADE A KIND OF LITTLE UNIVERSE OF OUR OWN.

FALLING!

YOU HAVE TO BE STRONG TO SURVIVE.

YEAH, BABY!

AND MORE THAN JUST A LITTLE CRAZY.

WHOO! I LOVE McCARTHY.

THIS IS MY HOME!

Narrator: NOW...THE TOWN RACES

TO SAVE ONE OF THEIR OWN FROM WINTER'S GRIP.

Rosenbaum: OH, MY GOD. LOOK AT ALL THAT SMOKE.

HOLY [BLEEP]

Narrator: AND LOCALS NIGHT AT THE GOLDEN SALOON...

BRINGS THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW ERA TO McCARTHY.

-WHOO! -HEY, EVERYBODY!

WE GOT OUR FIRST TOURISTS GOING TO THE MINE!

-WHOO! -GLAD YOU GUYS MADE IT.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

OKAY. ARE WE READY?

-WE'RE READY. -WE ARE READY.

YEAH, BABY.

HEY, BOYS. COME HERE A SEC.

LIAM, GET YOUR HEAD DOWN.

LOOK STRAIGHT DOWN THE TOP OF THAT BOARD.

SO YOUR EYES ARE RIGHT AT THAT LEVEL.

'KAY. CAN YOU SEE HOW FLAT THAT IS?

YEAH.

THAT MEANS WE'VE SET EVERYTHING UP RIGHT.

EVERYTHING'S WORKING RIGHT.

THAT IS A PERFECTLY STRAIGHT CUT.

HOMESTEADING IS A PROCESS, BY DEFINITION.

SO IT'S EXTREMELY EMPOWERING

TO BE AT THE POINT

WHERE I HAVE MY OWN LUMBER MILL.

AND I CAN MILL ALL MY OWN WOOD.

I CAN SELL IT. I CAN BUILD WITH IT.

I GOT A BARN TO BUILD. I GOT A HOUSE TO FINISH.

I GOT SO MANY PROJECTS.

OKAY. SO I'M GONNA LOCK THIS IN.

AND WE'LL DO OUR SECOND CUT.

BECAUSE OUR FAMILY'S GROWING,

NOT ONLY THE HUMAN BEINGS

BUT THE CRITTERS THAT WE LIVE WITH,

WE NEED MORE REAL ESTATE TO DO WHAT WE DO.

THIS MILL, THIS LUMBER BUSINESS

CAN LEAD TOWARDS THE EXPANSION OF OUR FARM.

AND THE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO US IS FOR SALE.

AND WE WANT TO BUY IT.

Jeremy: OKAY, BOYS. COME ON OVER.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THIS --

THIS ONE PIECE OF WOOD IS WORTH.

OKAY? SO THIS IS 9 FEET LONG.

'KAY? -'KAY.

AND IT IS EXACTLY 5.5 INCHES BY 5 3/8,

WHICH MEANS IT'S EXACTLY A 6-BY-6

AS YOU WOULD BUY IN THE LUMBER YARD.

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THIS WOULD COST IN ANCHORAGE?

UH, I DON'T KNOW. THEY MIGHT CHARGE $10.

IF -- IF -- IF WE PULLED INTO THE LUMBER YARD IN ANCHORAGE,

THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $35 FOR THIS BOARD, $35.

IN ANCHORAGE, OUT HERE, IT'S WORTH EVEN MORE.

Narrator: IN THE BUSH,

STRAIGHTEDGED LUMBER IS TOUGH TO FIND.

AND THE NEAREST LUMBER YARD

IS 300 MILES AWAY IN ANCHORAGE.

WITH HIS OWN SAWMILL,

JEREMY CAN PRODUCE THIS PROFITABLE COMMODITY

TO SELL TO ANYONE IN McCARTHY.

NOW, JUST IMAGINE A FULL DAY

OF MILLING, MOVING AT SPEED.

IMAGINE HOW MANY OF THESE I COULD MAKE IN A DAY.

Jeremy: I DIDN'T PUT A STOPWATCH TO IT TODAY.

BUT I'LL BETCHA DOLLARS TO DOUGHNUTS,

I COULD PUT OUT A $40 PIECE OF WOOD EVERY 20 MINUTES.

THIS IS A PHENOMENAL TOOL.

AND I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T DO IT SOONER.

THIS IS SUCH A CASH COW.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS STOCKPILE

A HUGE DECK OF LARGE TREES.

TURN THAT INTO CASH TO BUY THE PROPERTY.

'KAY. BUT YOU -- REMEMBER,

YOU ALSO GOT TO CARVE OUT ENOUGH LUMBER TO BUILD MY FORT.

UM, I GET LUMBER TO SELL TO BUY OUR LAND,

WHICH YOU GUYS WILL INHERIT.

YOU GUYS GET LUMBER TO BUILD YOUR FORT.

IS THAT A TEAM EFFORT OR WHAT? -YEAH!

♪♪

OKAY. I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE GOT IN THIS HEATING SYSTEM LAST YEAR

FOR DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BUILDING.

AH, THERE YOU ARE. HEY, PETE.

SO I THINK THE HEATING SYSTEM'S LEAKING.

NO WAY. REALLY? [BLEEP]

Narrator: IN DOWNTOWN McCARTHY, BUSINESSMAN NEIL DARISH

IS MAKING FINAL PREPARATIONS

BEFORE HE SELLS OFF ONE OF HIS MOST VALUABLE ASSETS.

I NEVER FEARED THIS DAY BECAUSE I NEVER IMAGINED IT.

I NEVER IMAGINED THE DAY THAT I WOULD LOSE THE LODGE.

Narrator: NEIL'S SELLING HIS STAKE

IN THE HISTORIC McCARTHY LODGE

TO HIS BUSINESS PARTNER, DON WOLCOTT,

TO COVER HIS COST-OVERRUNS ON THEIR LUXURY HOTEL PROJECT.

I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH HOW MUCH CONSTRUCTION

WAS DONE AT THE HOTEL SITE.

YOU HAVE THE ASSETS.

AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE.

THE ASSETS NEED TO BE CONVERTED INTO CASH,

SO WE CAN GO AHEAD WITH THE NEW PROJECT.

Darish: IN ALL OUR McCARTHY PROJECTS,

THE RESTAURANTS, THE SALOON AND THE STORES HERE,

WE'RE 50/50 PARTNERS.

IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR 10 YEARS.

BUT THESE NEW PROJECTS, THE MOTHERLODE MINE

AND NOW THIS 100-ROOM HOTEL, IT'S A BIT DIFFERENT.

I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

IT'S GONNA TAKE TO MATCH DON'S FUNDS.

I'M EARNING MY OWNERSHIP MAKING

THE DECISIONS DAY-TO-DAY AND RUNNING THIS PLACE.

BUT BECAUSE HE HAS MORE CASH IN IT,

HE DOES GET AN ADVANTAGE OVER ME.

Narrator: WITH WORK FALLING BEHIND ON NEIL'S WATCH,

DON HAS COME TO PUT THINGS BACK ON SCHEDULE.

Wolcott: IT'S A 100-KILOWATT ARMY-SURPLUS GENERATOR.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST GENERATOR WE HAVE.

AND I'M THINKING WE SHOULD USE IT ON THE NEW HOTEL.

CONSTRUCTION'S STARTING.

WE NEED THE POWER. IT'S CALLED PROGRESS.

THE BALL'S GOT TO KEEP GOING WHETHER NEIL'S READY OR NOT.

Narrator: McCARTHY HAS A LONG HISTORY

OF DRAWING OUTSIDE INVESTORS AND OPPORTUNISTS

LOOKING TO MAKE A FORTUNE ON THE FRONTIER.

IN THE SUMMER OF 1900,

TWO PROSPECTORS STRUCK COPPER ON BONANZA MOUNTAIN.

AND WITHIN A FEW YEARS,

A GROUP OF WEALTHY NEW YORK ROBBER BARONS,

INCLUDING J.P. MORGAN AND DANIEL GUGGENHEIM,

HAD COME TOGETHER TO CREATE THE ALASKAN SYNDICATE,

TO DEVELOP THE KENNECOTT MINE AND RAILROAD SYSTEM.

THEIR PROFITS TOTALED OVER $100,000 MILLION.

BUT BY 1938, THE MINE RAN DRY.

AND THE MONEYED EAST COASTERS ABANDONED KENNECOTT OVERNIGHT.

Wolcott: NEIL'S SENSITIVE.

HE THINKS I'M TRYING TO MUSCLE HIM OUT,

UH, OF THE LODGE.

BUT I'M JUST SIMPLY POINTING OUT THE REALITIES.

SO HE WANTS TO PLAY IN A GAME

THAT HE JUST DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PLAY IN.

ALL RIGHT. I GOT TO SEE IF I CAN FIGURE THIS OUT.

THIS IS NOT A FUN DAY.

I'LL GET THROUGH THIS, TOO.

♪♪

NOW THAT WE KNOW WE CAN DO IT, WHAT WE NEED TO DO

IS BRING IN LOGS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, BIG LOGS.

AND THEN WE'LL MILL. MILL, MILL, MILL.

-YEAH! -ALL RIGHT.

-AWESOME. -WE'LL GET BACK TO MILLING

AS SOON AS I GET BACK FROM LOGGING.

OKAY? -OKAY.

Narrator: JEREMY IS LOOKING TO MILL LOGS FROM TREES

THAT ARE TWICE THE SIZE OF THOSE BY HIS FARMSTEAD.

BUT FOR THE QUANTITY AND SIZE OF LUMBER JEREMY NEEDS,

HE WON'T BE ABLE TO GO IT ALONE.

MEOW. MROW. OH, POOR KITTEN.

YOU'VE BEEN THE ONLY ONE HOLDING DOWN THE FORT.

NO DOGS TO KEEP YOU COMPANY.

EVERYONE IN TOWN KNOWS JASON FOR A VERY SIMPLE REASON.

JASON LOBO HAS HIS OWN BRAND OF FUNCTIONAL CRAZY.

YOU JUST WANT SOMEONE TO SCRATCH THAT PLACE YOU CAN'T REACH.

THERE'S THE SPOT.

OH.

WHY DO YOU SAY "BON" TO A PIG?

'CAUSE PIGS ARE FRENCH!

BON! BON, BON, BON.

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

THAT IS THE QUESTION. YEAH.

HE NORMALLY WOULD FREAK PEOPLE OUT.

BUT IN McCARTHY, IT'S JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL.

BON, BON, BON.

BON.

BON, BON.

BON, BON, BON, BON.

THIS GUY'S STILL LEARNING HIS MANNERS.

Narrator: JASON HAS JUST RETURNED TO McCARTHY

AFTER A LONG-HAUL TRUCKING JOB OVER THE WINTER

KEPT HIM AWAY FROM HOME.

Jason: I FIRST GOT TO McCARTHY BY SHEER ACCIDENT,

LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

BUT YOU GET OUT HERE. AND YOU SEE THESE MOUNTAINS.

AND YOU'RE BLOWN AWAY.

NO RULES.

AND THERE'S NOT MUCH STRUCTURED SCHEDULE.

AND YOU CAN SET YOUR OWN PACE.

MAKES ME HAPPY.

Narrator: WHILE HE WAS AWAY TRUCKING,

JEREMY CHECKED ON HIS ANIMALS.

SO TODAY, JASON'S RETURNING THE FAVOR,

HELPING HIS NEIGHBOR FULFILL HIS FIRST LUMBER ORDER.

Jason: ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE IF THIS STARTS.

THERE'S A GOOD START.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

THIS IS FANTASTIC. WHOO-HOO.

DAY'S GETTING BETTER AS WE GO.

Narrator: ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE KELLER FARMSTEAD,

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A HALF-DOZEN WHITE SPRUCE TREES

TO FILL NEIL'S ORDER FOR 20 8-BY-8s.

LOOKS LIKE THERE'S JEREMY. THIS MUST BE THE SPOT.

-MONSIEUR LOBO! -HEY.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD TREES BACK IN THERE.

THEY'RE NOT AS CLOSE, UH, TO THE ROAD AS I'D LIKE.

BUT...

-WELL, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. -YEAH.

UH, UH, I LIKE -- WHA-- WHAT'S THIS

WITH THE HAY BALES? IS THAT DEAD WEIGHT?

WELL, THIS IS MY SEAT.

-THAT'S A UNIQUE SEAT. -YEAH.

WELL, THE BEARS DON'T CHEW ON A HAY BALE.

RIGHT ON. WELL, YEAH. IT'S -- IF --

IF WE GOT SOME TREES BACK THERE, LET'S CUT 'EM DOWN.

WELL, LET'S WALK BACK AND CHECK IT OUT.

Jeremy: ALL BIG TREES ARE HIGH-RISK.

AND THEY ARE ALL HIGH-REWARD.

THE PRIMARY DANGER WITH FELLING A BIG TREE

IS IT -- IT WEIGHS A LOT.

WHEN THIS THING COMES DOWN,

IT'S GOING TO DO DAMAGE.

THAT I LIKE TO KEEP IT VERY TEXTBOOK.

YOU TAKE A BITE OUT OF THE FRONT...

...WHICH STARTS WITH A FLAT CUT

AND THEN COMES IN WITH AN ANGLED CUT.

AND TAKE A WEDGE SHAPE.

AND THEN YOUR BACK CUTS START

ABOUT 2 OR 3 INCHES ABOVE YOUR FLAT CUT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO COME IN AT THE SAME PLACE OF YOUR FIRST CUT

BECAUSE THAT TAKES AWAY YOUR ABILITY TO STEER.

FALLING!

[ CHAIN SAW REVVING ]

[JASON LAUGHING ]

Narrator: THE MEN WILL LIMB THE BRANCHES OFF

THE FRESHLY CUT TREE

USING THE EXCESS BRUSH TO CREATE A FIRE

TO KEEP THEM WARM WHILE THEY WORK.

Jason: I'LL JUST BOY SCOUT THIS UP.

SO WHERE'S THIS LUMBER GOING TO?

WELL, THE FIRST LOAD I'M GONNA MILL UP,

UH, I'M DELIVERING TO NEIL AND --

AND QUITE -- QUITE QUICK.

-DANCE WITH DEVIL, HUH? -HEY.

WHEN YOU'RE SELLING YOUR LABOR,

YOU MAY AS WELL BE ON YOUR BACK.

IT'S ALL PROSTITUTION AT THAT POINT.

SO...'CAUSE...

YOU ALWAYS DANCE WITH THE DEVIL, JASON.

AREN'T -- AREN'T YOU GOING, HAULING TRUCK RIGHT NOW?

UH-HUH.

GOT TO MAKE MONEY.

YEAH.

Jeremy: ANOTHER ONE.

THAT'LL MAKE AN 8-BY-8.

MIGHT EVEN GET A 10-BY-10 OUT OF IT.

Narrator: THIS 60-FOOT TREE WOULD YIELD ENOUGH LUMBER

TO FILL HALF OF JEREMY'S ORDER FOR NEIL.

Jeremy: BUT THIS IS POTENTIALLY

A LITTLE BIT OF A DANGEROUS TREE.

SOME OF THESE TREES WEIGH MULTIPLE TONS.

AND WHEN THERE'S TENSIONS LOCKED,

ESPECIALLY IN A SPIRAL TWIST AT THE BASE,

WHEN YOU CUT INTO IT, THEY CAN SNAP.

THEY CAN TWIST. THEY CAN JUMP.

THEY CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN'T PREDICT.

IF IT KICKS WRONG, IT'S GONNA BE WALKING TOWARDS YOU.

WHEN YOU CHOP A TREE DOWN, YOU ONLY HAVE A MOMENT TO REACT.

BAD NEWS IS, ONCE THAT MOMENT PASSES, YOU'RE [BLEEP]

BECAUSE OF THE DANGER,

I DON'T WANT TO CUT THAT TREE DOWN.

AND I DON'T WANT TO WALK AWAY

BECAUSE IT'S WORTH A LOT OF MONEY.

Rosenbaum: LOOK AT ALL THAT SMOKE. IT'S GOT TO BE MARK.

HOLY [BLEEP] MARK!

Jeremy: NO TRAIL APPARENT, TRAPS HIDDEN EVERYWHERE.

Jason: IF IT KICKS WRONG,

IT'S GOING TO BE WALKING TOWARDS YOU.

Narrator: IN THE BACKWOODS OF McCARTHY,

JEREMY AND JASON ARE ATTEMPTING

TO CUT DOWN A 2,500-POUND WHITE SPRUCE,

TOWERING OVER 60 FEET TALL.

BUT A TWISTED TRUNK MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT

WHICH DIRECTION THE TREE WILL FALL.

Jeremy: IT WILL, FORTUNATELY, GIVE YOU A SPLIT-SECOND WARNING.

IT'LL -- IT'LL GO CRACK, CRACK, CRACK, CRACK,

BANG RIGHT BEFORE IT HITS YOU IN THE HEAD.

[ CRACKING ]

ALMOST THERE. HERE WE GO.

Narrator: OLD TREES ARE MORE LIKELY TO CONTAIN ROTTEN WOOD,

WHICH CAN CAUSE THE TREE TO SPLIT UNPREDICTABLY.

Jeremy: FALLING.

-GOOD JOB, JEREMY. -HEY, THANK YOU, SIR.

YA, DARLING!

WHEN YOU'RE CUTTING FIREWOOD, IT'S NO BIG DEAL.

YOU CAN CUT SMALL ROUNDS.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE MAKING LUMBER,

YOU GOT TO LEAVE 'EM AT LEAST 8 FEET LONG.

AND I LEAVE 'EM IN 10s

BECAUSE 10 FEET LONG WOULD BE

A STANDARD PIECE OF WOOD

FOR THE KIND OF LUMBER THAT NEIL IS USING.

YEAH. WELL, THAT'S FINE FOR THESE TOPS.

BUT FOR THE REST OF THE TREE, WE'RE GONNA USE --

START USING MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE.

OKAY. I'LL MOVE THIS, UH, DOWN TO THE ROAD.

WHY DON'T YOU GET SET UP?

Jason: I'M INTO MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE.

AND IN THIS SITUATION, I WANT TO BUILD A GIN POLE.

Narrator: A STAPLE OF CONSTRUCTION IN THE ALASKAN BUSH,

A GIN POLE IS A PULLEY SYSTEM

THAT ALLOWS A SINGLE PERSON TO LIFT HEAVY LOADS

WITHOUT USING A CRANE.

SEE, I CAN EITHER, UH, PULL MY BACK OUT

AND BE LAID UP FOR WEEKS

OR JUST TAKE AN EXTRA 5 MINUTES...

USING YOUR BRAINS.

Jeremy: YOU'RE ALMOST THERE, LOBO!

YEAH.

Jeremy: JASON IS DEFINITELY THE MAD SCIENTIST OF THE WOODS.

I COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED A BETTER PARTNER TO GO LOGGING.

IT'S TIME TO START MAKING MY OWN LUMBER.

♪♪

Rosenbaum: WHEN IT'S 30-BELOW OUT,

YOU CAN STOKE THE FIRE ALL YOU WANT AT NIGHT.

BUT CHANCES ARE, WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING,

IT'S GONNA BE FREEZING OR CLOSE TO IT IN THE HOUSE.

AND I DON'T MIND THAT.

THAT'S JUST THE WAY I LIVE.

BUT IT'S GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY.

Narrator: 12 MILES OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN McCARTHY,

JENNY ROSENBAUM PREPARES FOR BIG CHANGES

AFTER SOME UNEXPECTED NEWS.

Green: IF IT FIZZES, THERE'S A BABY ON THE WAY.

JENNY, THAT'S FIZZING BIG TIME. YOU'RE GONNA BE MOM.

-THAT'S EXCITING. -WHAT, UH...

ALL RIGHT. GETTING ALL SET?

YEAH!

Narrator: WITH A NEW BABY ARRIVING IN JUST 6 MONTHS,

JENNY'S GOING ICE FISHING TO STOCK UP

WHILE SHE STILL CAN.

I AM READY.

I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I THINK I NEED, ANYWAY.

YOU ARE LOADED. ALL RIGHT.

HER BOYFRIEND, CALEB ARONSON,

IS MAKING SOME MONEY ON A CARPENTRY JOB TODAY.

ALL RIGHT. I SHOULD BE HERE WHEN YOU GET BACK.

-AWESOME. -TAKE CARE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL CHANGES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN

BEFORE I BECOME A -- A FATHER.

BEFORE THE BABY ARRIVES, WE HAVE TO BUILD A BETTER CABIN.

THE CURRENT CABIN ISN'T ENOUGH SPACE FOR A FAMILY.

AND WE WANT TO ADD ON, SO...

Narrator: BUT JENNY WON'T RISK FROZEN RIVERS ALONE.

SHE'LL MEET UP WITH HER OLD PAL, MARK WACHT,

AS SHE MAKES HER WAY TOWARD WILLOW CREEK.

Rosenbaum: BEING PREGNANT, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THE LABOR.

I'M NERVOUS ABOUT GETTING TIRED MORE EASILY.

BUT TO HAVE MARK MAKE THE TRIP WITH ME

IS GONNA MAKE ME FEEL SAFER.

AND JUST THE TRIP WILL GO A LOT MORE SMOOTHLY.

'KAY. I GOT YOUR GUYS' NEXT BOARD HERE.

BUT LOOK WHAT I DID.

I DIDN'T CUT THIS QUITE HIGH ENOUGH.

AND I COULD'VE CUT

AN ENTIRE 1-BY HERE, WE COULD'VE SOLD TO NEIL.

I MEAN, THAT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A $6

OR $7 PIECE OF LUMBER THERE.

Narrator: WITH THE LOGS HE HARVESTED WITH JASON LOBO,

JEREMY IS MILLING HIS FIRST ORDER

FOR BUSINESSMAN NEIL DARISH.

Jeremy: THE FIRST ORDER I DID FOR NEIL WAS A COUPLE 8-BY-8s,

A FEW 6-BY-6s

AND SOME 2-BY-8s FOR 200 BUCKS.

THIS ORDER IS GONNA GET US ONE STEP CLOSER

TO BUYING THE LAND

THAT WE NEED TO GROW OUR FARMSTEAD.

Liam: LOOKS LIKE WE'RE DONE.

'KAY, BOYS. IT'S -- IT'S TIME TO HEAD HOME.

UH, LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A BIG STORM ROLLING IN.

I WA-- I WANT YOU TO HELP ME MOVE THIS

LAST BIT OF LUMBER TO THE SLED.

OKAY?

I GOT TO GET THIS LOAD TOGETHER AND GET IT TO NEIL TODAY.

SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET INTO TOWN

BEFORE THIS STORM HITS.

Narrator: RACING TO STAY AHEAD OF THE WEATHER,

JEREMY TAKES THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE TO TOWN,

A STRAIGHT SHOT DOWN THE FROZEN KENNECOTT RIVER.

BUT THE STORM HAS ROLLED IN, HIDING THE PATH.

Jeremy: CONDITIONS HAVE TOTALLY CHANGED.

THE STORM, THE TRAIL'S BLOWN IN.

I GOT HUGE SHELF ICE.

THERE'S TRAPS HIDDEN EVERYWHERE.

AND THERE'S NO TRAIL APPARENT.

YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS JUST ME, I'D JUST BLAST RIGHT ACROSS --

RIGHT OVER THERE. IT DOESN'T LOOK TOO BAD.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT 500 OR 600 POUNDS OF LUMBER IN MY SLED.

AND -- AND I GOT A 45-YEAR-OLD SNOW MACHINE.

Narrator: A FRESH SNOWFALL HAS HIDDEN FAULTS IN THE ICE SHELF

AND ROCK-LIKE ICE CHUNKS LITTERING THE TRAIL.

JUST INCHES BELOW THE THIN ICE RUSHES THE FRIGID RIVER.

Jeremy: SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SURE

THAT I NAVIGATE THESE ICE CHUNKS SUCCESSFULLY.

[BLEEP]

THINGS ARE NOT GOING MY WAY TODAY.

NORMALLY, WHEN YOU'RE CROSSING ROUGH TERRAIN,

LIKE THE ICE CHUNKS IN THE --

IN THIS RIVER, YOU GOT TO KEEP MOVING.

INERTIA IS YOUR FRIEND.

BUT I GOT SUCKED OFF

THIS ICE SHELF INTO A CAVITY.

AND SOME OF THE LUMBER SHOOK LOOSE.

UGH!

YEP. THAT WASN'T VERY BRIGHT.

AH.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE CAREFUL CROSSING RIVERS AROUND HERE

BECAUSE THE RIVERS CHANGE.

Narrator: OVER 100 YEARS AGO,

BEFORE THE SPREAD OF THE U.S. HIGHWAY SYSTEM,

FROZEN RIVERS WERE THE STATE'S PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION ROUTES,

OFTEN PROVIDING THE CLEAREST PATH

FROM ONE TOWN TO ANOTHER.

IN McCARTHY, THAT TRADITION CONTINUES.

BUT RIVER TRAVEL PRESENTS UNIQUE DANGERS.

IF A RIDER FALLS THROUGH THE THIN ICE

INTO THE RUSHING RIVER BELOW,

FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL BRING

ABOUT HYPOTHERMIA ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

OH, MOTHER OF [BLEEP]

THE CONDITIONS ARE -- THE CONDITIONS JUST SUCK.

I GOT IN A HURRY. AND LOOK WHERE THAT GOT ME.

IF I'M GONNA GET IT THERE, I NEED TO SLOW IT DOWN

AND APPROACH IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

Narrator: FORCED DOWNRIVER BY JAGGED ICE CHUNKS

AND DETERIORATING RIVER CONDITIONS,

JEREMY NEEDS TO FIND A PATH STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT

THE WEIGHT OF BOTH HIS SNOW MACHINE AND CARGO.

Jeremy: ALMOST ALL OF OUR RIVERS ARE GRADED RIVERS,

WHICH MEANS THE CHANNELS CHANGE CONSTANTLY.

DEPTHS CHANGE. CURRENTS CHANGE.

AND OFTEN, THIS IS HAPPENING UNDERNEATH ICE.

IN FACT, WE HAVE, BASICALLY,

A MOONSCAPE OF EXTREMELY THICK AND JAGGED ICE.

AND IT CAN GIVE WAY TO THIN ICE WITHOUT YOU KNOWING ABOUT IT.

SO YOU -- YOU NEED TO MANEUVER THROUGH THE HUGE ICE CHUNKS,

WHICH NOT ONLY HIDES WHERE THE WATER IS.

IT MAKES IT JUST VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT ALL.

YOU'RE WELCOME. BYE-BYE.

UM, SO THIS IS ONLY GONNA TAKE A SEC.

THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS I WANT TO DO.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO, WE HAVE TO GET THIS PLACE

COMPLETELY AT ITS BEST.

I'VE GOT SOME REAL IMPORTANT GUESTS COMING IN.

THEY'RE, UH, THE VERY FIRST TOURISTS

I HAVE COMING UP TO THE MINE.

OH! WELL, THAT'S EXCITING. OKAY.

-YEAH, THAT'S VERY COOL. -ALL RIGHT.

SINCE I DON'T HAVE THE LODGE ANYMORE,

I DON'T HAVE A REVENUE STREAM.

BEST THING I COULD COME UP WITH

IS A REALLY HIGH-PRICED MOTHERLODE TOUR.

PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO GO.

AND I'VE GOT THE PERFECT COUPLE TO BE FIRST.

AND THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT DOWN 5,000 BUCKS TO DO IT.

THESE ARE BIG-TIME PEOPLE

THAT ARE GONNA SET THE STAGE

FOR ALL THE VELOCITY OF GETTING THAT TRIP GOING

AND GETTING THE WORD OUT.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS PLACE IS REALLY TIDY.

OKAY.

Darish: NO MATTER WHAT, EVERYTHING LOOKS PERFECT.

OKAY.

Rosenbaum: HERE'S THE SPOT.

Narrator: JUST OUTSIDE OF McCARTHY,

JENNY ROSENBAUM HAS REACHED THE RENDEZVOUS POINT

WHERE SHE'LL MEET UP WITH MARK WACHT

TO GO ON THEIR ICE-FISHING TRIP.

Rosenbaum: MARK AND I PLANNED ON LEAVING OUR RESPECTIVE PLACES

AT THE SAME TIME THIS MORNING.

AND THIS IS ABOUT THE HALFWAY POINT.

I EXPECTED HIM TO BE HERE WELL BEFORE ME.

THERE'S NO REASON HE SHOULDN'T BE HERE RIGHT NOW.

[BLEEP]

I'M GONNA HEAD OUT, SEE IF I CAN FIND HIM.

Narrator: TRAVELING THROUGH A SYSTEM

OF INTERCONNECTED STREAMS,

MARK AND JENNY HAD PLANNED ON MEETING

AT THE OPENING OF THE KENNECOTT RIVER.

JENNY NOW HAS TO TRAVEL BACK UP MARK'S RIVER SYSTEM.

Rosenbaum: RIGHT NOW, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS MARK.

FOR HIM TO NOT SHOW UP, UH,

SOMETHING DEFINITELY COULD BE WRONG.

HUH. WOW.

THIS ISN'T GOOD.

MAIN CHANNEL'S BREAKING UP.

ICE IS CAVING IN.

THIS IS DANGEROUS TO BE OUT HERE.

OH, MY GOD.

LOOK AT ALL THAT SMOKE.

IT'S GOT TO BE MARK.

HOLY [BLEEP]

MARK!

MARK!

MARK! -WHOA! WHOA!

DUDE!

WHERE'D YOU COME FROM? WHAT THE...

I REALLY CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING IN HERE.

THERE'S A RIVER IN MY EAR!

WHAT THE [BLEEP] HAPPENED? ARE YOU OKAY?

I FELL -- I KIND OF FELL THROUGH THE ICE A LITTLE BIT.

I WAS JUST CRUISING ALONG.

THERE WAS WHITE LIGHT. I COULDN'T SEE WHERE I WAS.

AND IT JUST COLLAPSED UNDERNEATH ME.

THIS THING MUST WEIGH A TON.

DID YOU HURT YOURSELF? -NO, NO. I'M OKAY.

BUT I THINK THE SKIS BROKE OUT.

OR THE TRAILING ARM BROKE OFF.

SO WHAT WERE YOU JUST DOING?

OH. YOU WERE LOOKING AT YOUR SKIES.

I JUST HAD TO CHECK OUT THE TRAILING ARM.

AND IT'S CAUGHT UNDER THE ICE.

Wacht: THAT'S EVERYBODY'S FEAR. YOU'RE CRUISING DOWN THE RIVER.

AND IT JUST DROPS OUT AROUND YOU.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE WATER.

COULDN'T BACK MY SNOW MACHINE OUT BECAUSE THE SKI'S BROKEN.

IT WAS SNAGGING IN THERE.

BROKE THROUGH HERE JUST A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO.

YOU BEEN HERE A COUPLE OF HOURS? -YEAH.

ENOUGH TO GET THE FIRE GOING, NUMBER ONE,

FOR A SIGNAL BUT NUMBER TWO, TO KEEP WARM.

REMEMBER HOW I WAS SAYING

HOW THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE RIVER?

WELL, UH, THIS IS WHY. -YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA GET IT OUT OF HERE.

WELL, I GOT A COME-ALONG AND SOME STRAPS.

I GOT AN ICE SCREW WE CAN PUT IN THERE.

GRAB YOUR COME-ALONG.

MAYBE WE CAN GET THIS THING MOVING.

-OH, YEAH. PERFECT. -ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET IT MOVING.

Rosenbaum: HIS MACHINE'S ONLY FALLEN

THROUGH THE FIRST LAYER OF THE ICE SHELL.

IF IT BREAKS THROUGH THE SECOND LAYER,

IT'S GONNA BE IN THE WATER.

AND IT'S GONNA CHANGE THE ENTIRE TENOR OF THIS RESCUE.

ALL RIGHT.

I THINK I GOT THIS SKI STRAIGHT ENOUGH.

Rosenbaum: OKAY. I'M GONNA START BREAKING UP

THIS BIG CHUNK HERE.

EASY THERE, PREGNANT GIRL.

-HOW'S IT DOING? -IT'S MOVING.

THAT'S ABOUT IT.

PERFECT.

OH [BLEEP] LOOK AT THAT.

SO THAT SKI'S JUST FLOATING FREE.

YEP. YEP.

IF WE CAN GET A STICK,

WE CAN TIE THE FRONT OF THESE TOGETHER

ABOUT AS STRAIGHT AS WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT.

RIGHT. RIGHT.

AND THEN I CAN JUST STEER WITH ONE SKI,

MAYBE, TILL I GET HOME. I JUST GOT TO BE CAREFUL.

THE WEATHER'S COMING IN, FOR SURE.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

Wacht: THE TRAILING ARM IS WHAT HOLDS

THE TWO SKIS TOGETHER TO STEER THEM.

SO WITHOUT THE TRAILING ARMS,

BOTH SKIS WON'T GO IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

SO YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO FIND SOME WAY

TO GET 'EM LOCKED TOGETHER.

OR ELSE, YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH SCREWED.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD START.

THINK THAT WILL WORK?

WELL, YEAH, IF WE TAKE IT EASY.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

THERE YOU GO.

WHOA! NICE.

YEAH! YEAH.

WELL, IT HELD UP OKAY.

-HECK YEAH. -YEAH.

SOME FINE BACKCOUNTRY WORK, HUH?

LET'S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE BEFORE IT GETS DARK.

Rosenbaum: SO MUCH FOR THE ICE FISHING.

YOU REALLY NEVER CAN PREDICT WHAT'S GONNA GO WRONG

OR HAPPEN OUT HERE IN McCARTHY.

BUT PART OF BEING IN THIS COMMUNITY

IS THAT WE LIKE TO HELP AND TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.

AND TODAY, HELPING MARK, IN THIS SITUATION,

KIND OF REALLY HITS HOME FOR ME IN THAT WAY.

BRINGING A CHILD INTO THE WORLD MEANS THAT I'M RESPONSIBLE

FOR SOMEONE ELSE BESIDES MY OWN LIFE.

AND IF THERE ARE MOMENTS WHERE I HAVE A HARD TIME,

I KNOW THAT THE COMMUNITY IS GONNA STEP UP FOR ME,

JUST LIKE I STEPPED UP FOR MARK.

Jeremy: HEY, NEIL. YOU HERE?

Narrator: SAFELY IN DOWNTOWN McCARTHY,

JEREMY IS READY TO SELL HIS FIRST LOAD OF LUMBER

TO AN UNLIKELY CLIENT.

HEY, NEIL?

HEY, MR. DARISH?

♪ DON'T CRY FOR ME ♪

♪ I'VE DONE SO... ♪

-HOW YA DOING? -I GOT YOUR FIRST LOAD OF WOOD.

-NICE! -I TOLD YA I'D HAVE IT TODAY.

AND HERE I AM!

COOL. WHY DON'T YA HAVE SOME COFFEE?

ALL RIGHT.

BLACK'S GOOD.

THANKS.

THERE YA GO. THIS OUGHT TO DO IT.

AND THERE'S PLENTY MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

I'M SURE YOU'RE GONNA BE HAPPY. -ALL RIGHT.

Jeremy: NEIL AND I GO BACK A LONG WAYS.

HE AND I HAVE BEEN GOOD FRIENDS AT TIMES.

THE REASON WHY NEIL AND I WERE CLOSE IN THE PAST IS

BECAUSE HE COULD SEE THE --

THE MAGIC IN THIS PLACE.

HE COULD SEE THAT IT WAS A DELICATE BALANCE

AND THAT, UH, IF YOU PISS IN THE WELL TOO MANY TIMES,

THE WATER'S UNDRINKABLE.

WELL, SINCE IT'S LOCALS NIGHT,

LET ME BUY YOU THE FIRST ROUND.

BUT I THINK HE SAW DOLLAR SIGNS. YOU KNOW,

I -- I -- I THINK HE SAW

HIS OWN AMBITIONS ABOVE A HIGHER CALLING.

HERE'S TO A BRIGHTER DAY.

OKAY? -CHEERS, MAN.

Narrator: AS THE STORM CLEARS...

...McCARTHY GATHERS FOR AN ANNUAL END-OF-WINTER TRADITION.

IT'S LOCALS NIGHT AT THE GOLDEN SALOON.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

-WHOO! -YA-HOO!

-SHOTS FOR EVERYBODY! -THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING 'BOUT.

-WHOO! -THIS ONE'S ON JEREMY.

Narrator: ON LOCALS NIGHT, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER

FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL SEASON

TO CELEBRATE THE SURVIVAL OF ANOTHER WINTER.

HEY, RAY, LEIGH-ANNE, HOW YA DOING?

YOU MADE IT! HEY, RAY.

YOU WANT A BEER?

-I THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER ASK. -OH.

Y'ALL AIN'T RUNNING OUT OF BEER, ARE YA?

-NO, SIR. -EXCUSE ME.

PARDON ME. PARDON ME. PARDON ME.

CHEERS.

LOCALS NIGHT IS JUST A FUN NIGHT.

THE ENERGY'S HIGH.

IT'S A TIME FOR EVERYBODY TO CATCH UP,

COMING OUT OF WINTER.

IT'S A TIME FOR THE TOWN TO COME TOGETHER.

-CHEERS. -WHOO!

-WHOO! -WHOO!

Darish: BUT ALSO, IT'S REALLY HARD

KNOWING IT'S MY LAST NIGHT AS OWNER OF THE LODGE.

HEY, NEIL.

IT'S ALSO A NIGHT WHEN YOU FIND OUT WHAT EVERYBODY'S UP TO.

JENNY BEING PREGNANT.

JEREMY'S SAWMILL IS NEWS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND IT'S KIND OF A WAY TO GET TO SEE YOUR NEIGHBORS.

IT'S OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

CHEERS, BRO. -CHEERS.

SO, PETE, WONDERING IF YOU'RE REGRETTING

LOSING YOUR MILL TO JEREMY.

Machado: NO!

IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

IT MADE ME WHAT I WANTED. I DID WHAT I DID

AND PASSED IT ON. -I'M HAPPY FOR YA.

JUST KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR FINGERS.

ALL RIGHT.

Darish: HEY, DON.

-HEY, EVERYBODY. -THIS IS DON.

THIS IS MY PARTNER UP AT THE MOTHERLODE.

DON, THIS IS JEREMY.

HE'S WORKING FOR US NOW.

I WANT TO GO ON AN ADVENTURE.

MY YOUNGEST SON, LIAM, HE'S AN INTERESTING KID.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY SECRETS OUT HERE.

YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF 'EM?

NO.

Jeremy: AND AS WE -- AS WE WATCHED HIM DEVELOP,

HE HAS, UH, AN ADVANCED SENSE OF HUMOR.

Liam: SOMETIMES, I GET A LITTLE HOMESICK

WHERE I'M SICK OF BEING HOME.

[ LAUGHTER ]

HOW DOES HE COME UP WITH THIS STUFF?

GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE, TOO, ANY GUESSES?

AUSTRALIA? AUSTRALIA?

I'M MOVING TO AUSTRALIA.

IT'S, LIKE, ONCE A DAY, WE'RE JUST --

WE'RE LIKE, "OH, MY GOD."

I ACTUALLY AM RIDICULOUSLY CUTE.

-HEY, DON! -HEY, EVERYBODY.

-DON! GOOD TO SEE YA. -ALL RIGHT.

HOW YA DOING THERE? GOOD TO SEE YA.

HEY THERE. HOW YA DOING?

YOU ARE THE REASON THAT DON IS SO FRIENDLY TODAY.

JEREMY'S THE GUY WE'RE GETTING THE TIMBER FROM.

AND IT'S LETTING US GET THROUGH TO THE MINE FASTER.

OKAY. GOOD.

Jeremy: I KNOW WHAT DON'S ABOUT. I KNOW WHAT HE IS.

HE'S THE MAN WITH THE MONEY. BUT IF HE'S POURING MONEY

INTO NEIL'S PROJECT OF THE MOTHERLODE,

HE'S GOT TO BE JUST AS DELUSIONAL AS NEIL IS.

AND SO, DON, ARE YOU GONNA -- YOU GONNA LET HIM KEEP,

YOU KNOW, HAVING HIS CHILDISH DREAM HERE?

A FEW -- FEW MONTHS LONGER? -A FEW MONTHS LONGER.

-FEW MONTHS LONGER? -FEW MONTHS LONGER.

I MEAN, THI-- THIS ISN'T LINCOLN LOGS.

NO. NO, I HEAR YA.

BUT YOU'RE GONNA KEEP LETTING HIM PLAY.

WE'RE GONNA -- HE'S GONNA PLAY.

WE'RE GONNA LET HIM PLAY. -LET ME ASK YOU THIS...

COCKAMAMY SCHEME, YOU'RE SELLING TIMBERS

TO THIS SO-CALLED SCHEME!

LET ME ASK YOU...

TO PUT MONEY IN YOUR OWN POCKET OUT OF THIS!

Wolcott: WE'RE GONNA SUPPORT IT.

YEAH. IT'S -- IT'S -- IT'S A GOOD PROJECT.

Wacht: ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS GETTING WAY TOO SERIOUS IN HERE.

SOMEBODY HIT THAT BELL FOR ME.

WHOO!

IT'S ABOUT TIME.

YO!

HOW'S IT GOING?

-OH, GOING GOOD. -WELCOME BACK.

-YEAH. IT'S GOOD TO BE... -YOU AROUND FOR A BIT?

UH, YOU'RE CALEB? NICE, PLEASURE.

WELCOME TO MOTHERHOOD.

YEAH. WELL, I'M -- I'M NOT THERE YET.

BUT I'M GETTING THERE.

-YEAH. -NICE.

-HE'S CRAZY! -BUT, YEAH.

A LITTLE BIT CRAZY!

Darish: OH, HEY. GLAD YOU GUYS MADE IT.

COME ON IN.

HEY, EVERYBODY.

WE GOT OUR FIRST TOURISTS GOING TO THE MINE!

Man: WHOO!

Darish: THERE'S MORE THAN ONE COUPLE

THAT WANTED TO BE THE FIRST UP THERE.

BUT THE REASON I CHOSE CHRIS AND BEVERLY

IS 'CAUSE THEY HAVE A LONG ALASKAN HISTORY.

THEY BOTH ARE IN THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN ANCHORAGE.

AND THEIR DAUGHTER WAS MISS ALASKA.

-HI. I'M JEREMY. -I'M BEVERLY.

-NICE TO MEET YOU, BEVERLY. -NICE TO MEET YOU.

-WELCOME. -AND CHRIS.

-CHRIS, NICE TO MEET YOU. -YEAH.

Darish: McCARTHY WELCOMES EVERYBODY,

EVEN PEOPLE THAT SEEM OUT OF PLACE.

AND THEY'RE AS WELCOME TO THE BAR.

A TRIP UP TO THE MOTHERLODE'S A MEMORY

THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET. -YEAH.

WELL, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

-YEAH. -ESPECIALLY IF IT GOES SIDEWAYS.

HAVE YOU HEARD HOW DANGEROUS IT IS?

I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT SAFETY. IT'S GONNA BE FINE.

I WILL SAY THIS.

YOU ARE THE VERY FIRST PEOPLE

WE'RE BRINGING UP THERE.

-OH, WOW. -SO THERE IS RISK.

AND YOU KNOW THAT.

Jeremy: THAT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU'RE THE GUINEA PIG.

WE STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO TO MAKE IT

A FULLY DEVELOPED TOUR.

BUT EVENTUALLY, IT WILL BE.

Jeremy: NEIL'S GOT TOURISTS GOING UP TO THE MOTHERLODE MINE?

I W-- I WAS JUST UP THERE.

ALL RIGHT? AND THERE WAS -- THERE'S NO WAY.

IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF ROTTEN TIMBERS.

THERE'S NO WAY HE'S GONNA PULL THIS OFF.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY THEY'RE HERE.

BUT IT'S HAPPENING.

[ BELL RINGS ]

HELL YEAH! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

THESE ARE THE FIRST TOURISTS I'VE SEEN COMING --

COMING TO SEE THE MINE.

THAT MEANS THE MINE IS WORKING.

THAT MEANS THE MONEY IS STILL FLOWING.

THAT MEANS HE HAS A CHANCE OF HAVING TOURISTS

BY THE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS UP THERE.

IF HE SUCCEEDS, McCARTHY IS DEAD.

IT'S GONE.

READY FOR ANOTHER ADVENTURE WITH GARY GREEN.

Rosenbaum: HEAR THAT?

GOT LUMBER, I GOT SQUIRREL.

ONE-STOP SHOPPING.

WE'RE READY TO GO.

Jeremy: WOW. YOU THINK THAT'S BEAR, GARY?

Green: AND LOOK RIGHT HERE, BEAR FOOTPRINT.

A LITTLE LOWER THERE. -OH, I GOT IT.

YOU GOT HIM? GOT HIM?

Jeremy: WHOA!

HEY! HEY, ARE YOU OKAY?

I'M REAL EXCITED YOU GUYS MADE THIS TRIP.

-OH! OH. OH. UGH. -[BLEEP]

NEIL, THE WHOLE WAY

YOU'RE RUNNING THE MANAGEMENT ON THIS,

IT'S NOT WORKING FOR ME.