Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:20,167 --> 00:00:21,733
[Andy Bassich]
I don't wanna just sit in a cabin
2
00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:23,733
when I get old and look out the window.
3
00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:25,900
I wanna be able to get out,
and continue doing the things
4
00:00:25,967 --> 00:00:28,400
that I love to do out here all the time.
5
00:00:28,467 --> 00:00:31,033
My goal in my life is to die here.
6
00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,433
[narrator] Few have chosen a life
of freedom in the Alaskan wilderness,
7
00:00:36,500 --> 00:00:39,867
and even fewer have remained on that path,
and prospered.
8
00:00:39,933 --> 00:00:42,033
[Andy] If you don't like being tired
at the end of the day,
9
00:00:42,100 --> 00:00:43,467
you don't belong out here.
10
00:00:43,933 --> 00:00:45,300
[narrator] For Andy Bassich,
11
00:00:45,367 --> 00:00:49,233
it's a constant battle against
Mother Nature's wrath to carve out a life
12
00:00:49,300 --> 00:00:50,600
on his own terms.
13
00:00:50,967 --> 00:00:53,000
[Andy] There's one thing I'll say
about this country out here,
14
00:00:53,067 --> 00:00:54,600
there's no guarantees to anything.
15
00:00:56,267 --> 00:00:57,800
[narrator] The knowledge
and skills to survive
16
00:00:57,867 --> 00:01:00,133
can only be gained
through trial and error.
17
00:01:00,867 --> 00:01:03,833
And everything can be lost
with one false step.
18
00:01:04,100 --> 00:01:05,333
Oh, shit! [grunts]
19
00:01:06,733 --> 00:01:08,600
[Andy] When you're on your own,
you're really on your own.
20
00:01:08,667 --> 00:01:10,300
One mistake can kill you out here.
21
00:01:11,767 --> 00:01:13,767
[theme music playing]
22
00:01:37,533 --> 00:01:38,900
[Andy] My name's Andy Bassich.
23
00:01:38,967 --> 00:01:40,333
I live on the Yukon River
24
00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,267
about 15 miles downriver
from Eagle, Alaska.
25
00:01:44,567 --> 00:01:46,367
I think the most important
thing in my life
26
00:01:46,433 --> 00:01:48,033
is independence and freedom.
27
00:01:48,867 --> 00:01:51,133
Erm, there's very few places left
in the world
28
00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,400
where you can go live,
and carve out a life for yourself,
29
00:01:54,467 --> 00:01:56,167
and do it on your own terms.
30
00:01:56,933 --> 00:01:59,467
And this is one place
that you can still do that.
31
00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,200
I grew up near Washington, DC,
32
00:02:03,367 --> 00:02:05,633
and when I was young,
about eight years old,
33
00:02:05,700 --> 00:02:08,933
I realised that I really enjoyed
being out in the woods,
34
00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,300
and started teaching myself
35
00:02:11,367 --> 00:02:13,567
some of the basic skills
at a very young age,
36
00:02:13,633 --> 00:02:17,600
so that I could someday, hopefully,
live out in the wilderness environment.
37
00:02:18,367 --> 00:02:20,700
I have, er, three other siblings.
38
00:02:20,767 --> 00:02:21,933
We're all very different.
39
00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,600
I'm the only one
that lives this kind of a lifestyle.
40
00:02:24,667 --> 00:02:27,167
I guess you'd say
I'm kind of the black sheep of the family.
41
00:02:27,933 --> 00:02:30,100
When I was 22 years old,
42
00:02:30,167 --> 00:02:33,300
something inside of me
told me I'd need to go north,
43
00:02:33,367 --> 00:02:36,067
and something kept drawing me to Alaska.
44
00:02:36,833 --> 00:02:40,767
And when I landed here at Calico
for the first time with a three-dog team,
45
00:02:40,833 --> 00:02:43,600
and sat on the bank,
I felt like I was at home.
46
00:02:43,700 --> 00:02:46,600
And fortunately for me, I was able to
47
00:02:46,667 --> 00:02:50,433
turn that feeling into the dream
of everything that I have here right now.
48
00:02:50,500 --> 00:02:51,867
[dogs howling]
49
00:02:55,067 --> 00:02:56,833
[narrator] To maintain
a subsistence lifestyle
50
00:02:56,900 --> 00:02:59,367
with his sled dogs in the Alaskan bush,
51
00:02:59,433 --> 00:03:01,100
Andy Bassich must utilise
52
00:03:01,167 --> 00:03:03,400
and contend
with one of the Arctic's largest
53
00:03:03,467 --> 00:03:05,400
and most powerful forces...
54
00:03:05,500 --> 00:03:06,733
The Yukon River.
55
00:03:09,033 --> 00:03:12,367
[Andy] It's fascinating to watch
the workings of Mother Nature
56
00:03:12,467 --> 00:03:14,433
on this massive river throughout the year.
57
00:03:16,067 --> 00:03:18,033
When you live out here,
you don't have roads.
58
00:03:18,567 --> 00:03:21,533
In Alaska,
most of the rivers are the highways,
59
00:03:21,733 --> 00:03:24,000
and we live along an Interstate.
60
00:03:41,767 --> 00:03:43,167
[dog howls]
61
00:03:43,233 --> 00:03:45,967
What do you guys think?
Tea, you wanna go to Eagle today?
62
00:03:46,767 --> 00:03:49,167
Hey, Tea. Hi, girl.
63
00:03:49,267 --> 00:03:50,467
[whining]
64
00:03:50,533 --> 00:03:52,500
Tea, you wanna go to Eagle?
Hey, Rem, you guarding her?
65
00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:56,300
[narrator] Each year, the freeze-up
of the Yukon River blocks Andy's pathways
66
00:03:56,433 --> 00:03:58,600
to vital supplies in the nearest town.
67
00:03:59,133 --> 00:04:03,500
To open up access, he must cut a new trail
through the dangerous ice.
68
00:04:03,867 --> 00:04:06,000
-Hey, Fergie boy.
-[whining]
69
00:04:06,167 --> 00:04:08,267
You ready to go up to Eagle? Huh?
70
00:04:08,333 --> 00:04:10,633
He looks so excited. Yay!
71
00:04:11,533 --> 00:04:13,900
-Yay! Yay!
-[dogs whining]
72
00:04:16,300 --> 00:04:19,533
-We're going up to Eagle today. Let's go.
-[dogs barking]
73
00:04:19,967 --> 00:04:21,167
Hup, hup.
74
00:04:23,833 --> 00:04:25,467
Atta boy, straight ahead.
75
00:04:27,300 --> 00:04:28,433
[howling]
76
00:04:29,167 --> 00:04:32,333
[clicking tongue] Atta boy!
77
00:04:35,133 --> 00:04:38,067
Come on, let's go. Up, up. Atta boy!
78
00:04:39,700 --> 00:04:41,667
Good, perfect. All right.
79
00:04:42,100 --> 00:04:44,200
Everybody stay.
80
00:04:44,267 --> 00:04:45,433
Everybody stay.
81
00:04:47,367 --> 00:04:49,067
Time to make some trail, you guys.
82
00:04:49,967 --> 00:04:50,967
[whining]
83
00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,800
You can see right here
there's a bunch of hollow ice under here,
84
00:04:58,867 --> 00:05:00,933
and I'm definitely gonna
have to get this broke down.
85
00:05:06,700 --> 00:05:09,300
Jumble ice proposes
a couple of different problems.
86
00:05:09,367 --> 00:05:10,800
It's very easy to hurt a dog
87
00:05:10,867 --> 00:05:12,700
when you're going through
rough jumble ice,
88
00:05:12,767 --> 00:05:16,000
and I'm really concerned about
taking care of my dogs,
89
00:05:16,100 --> 00:05:19,200
'cause they are my workforce, they are...
90
00:05:19,567 --> 00:05:21,467
They are everything to me
in the wintertime.
91
00:05:21,533 --> 00:05:25,067
Making sure they don't get hurt
is critically important to me.
92
00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:28,833
[exhales]
93
00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:32,233
[breathing deeply]
94
00:05:35,700 --> 00:05:38,600
[exhales] All that work
and I can still see home.
95
00:05:39,233 --> 00:05:41,367
[laughs] Man!
96
00:05:41,700 --> 00:05:43,700
Sometimes it feels endless out here.
97
00:05:44,467 --> 00:05:46,267
-I think the boys wanna go.
-[all whining]
98
00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:50,800
I'll try and go nice and slow
through this.
99
00:05:51,533 --> 00:05:52,700
Everybody stay.
100
00:05:54,033 --> 00:05:57,333
Okay, let's go to Eagle. Come on, boys!
Hup, hup!
101
00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,300
[urging dogs]
102
00:05:59,667 --> 00:06:03,100
[tutting] Go, go, go, straight ahead.
103
00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,233
Come on, boys. Atta boys. Pack it out.
104
00:06:08,233 --> 00:06:09,900
Put a trail in, you guys.
105
00:06:10,567 --> 00:06:13,967
That's my boys. Easy, easy, easy.
106
00:06:14,267 --> 00:06:18,267
Watch the crack, watch the crack.
Easy, easy.
107
00:06:18,833 --> 00:06:22,133
Okay, everybody move. Move. Good job.
108
00:06:22,933 --> 00:06:25,467
Yay! Good boy!
109
00:06:26,167 --> 00:06:28,067
You guys are trail-breaking machines.
110
00:06:29,533 --> 00:06:31,900
I should have a pretty good trail.
111
00:06:31,967 --> 00:06:35,367
I mean, I think I just went through
the worst of it right now.
112
00:06:35,433 --> 00:06:38,933
And I know that people up in Eagle
probably have some trail in up there,
113
00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,000
so as soon as I connect up
with their trail, I should have
114
00:06:42,133 --> 00:06:44,133
fairly decent trail into town.
115
00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:45,833
So, I'm going to Eagle.
116
00:06:45,933 --> 00:06:49,467
Tent up, let's go boys!
Hup, hup! Yeah, let's go.
117
00:06:52,033 --> 00:06:54,500
Playing chess with Mother Nature
you're always a pawn,
118
00:06:54,633 --> 00:06:56,900
and you're usually the first one
taken off the board.
119
00:06:56,967 --> 00:06:59,500
If you're lucky
you make it to maybe knighthood.
120
00:06:59,567 --> 00:07:02,367
Playing against Mother Nature
you're never the king or the queen.
121
00:07:06,567 --> 00:07:08,533
I'm gonna drill a hole
through the Yukon River ice
122
00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,600
so I can test the thickness of the ice
right now.
123
00:07:13,533 --> 00:07:16,333
I can tell a lot about
what's gonna happen at break-up
124
00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:17,867
by observing ice conditions.
125
00:07:18,367 --> 00:07:20,867
[narrator] During break-up,
rising spring temperatures
126
00:07:20,933 --> 00:07:23,533
cause the snow in the
surrounding mountains to melt.
127
00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,433
The water runs downhill
into the Yukon River,
128
00:07:26,500 --> 00:07:29,833
shifting the ice, and bringing
the threat of flooding to the area.
129
00:07:30,967 --> 00:07:32,600
[drill whirring]
130
00:07:34,533 --> 00:07:35,900
Son of a bitch!
131
00:07:37,300 --> 00:07:42,033
Well, I'm guessing, right now,
the ice thickness right here is still
132
00:07:42,167 --> 00:07:44,900
close to five feet thick,
and that's really bad.
133
00:07:44,967 --> 00:07:48,200
[narrator] If Andy does not
fully prepare for the potential damage,
134
00:07:48,267 --> 00:07:52,267
he risks losing his home,
his sled dogs, and his life.
135
00:07:53,767 --> 00:07:57,667
[Andy] 2009, when we had our major
break-up that destroyed our home,
136
00:07:57,733 --> 00:08:01,267
that's how thick the ice was
a week before break-up.
137
00:08:01,933 --> 00:08:03,833
The ice crushed everything.
138
00:08:03,900 --> 00:08:06,633
Big pieces of ice,
the size of city blocks.
139
00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:11,167
Trees were getting ripped out,
the log cabins went floating by...
140
00:08:11,233 --> 00:08:13,067
It was like flushing a toilet.
141
00:08:13,667 --> 00:08:16,367
The ice wiped out our entire homestead.
142
00:08:16,433 --> 00:08:19,633
I'd put ten years into this place,
and lost almost all that work,
143
00:08:19,700 --> 00:08:21,867
and I don't know what would happen
if I lost it again.
144
00:08:24,367 --> 00:08:27,167
If this break-up happens the way
I think it might happen,
145
00:08:27,333 --> 00:08:30,333
then where I'm standing might be covered
with ten or 15 feet of ice
146
00:08:30,767 --> 00:08:32,967
which will totally destroy this fish rack.
147
00:08:33,500 --> 00:08:36,067
What I'm gonna try and do here
is pull it up the hill
148
00:08:36,133 --> 00:08:37,967
to where our house and dogs are at.
149
00:08:41,533 --> 00:08:45,567
I've got probably close to 1,600 fish
on the rack right now.
150
00:08:45,867 --> 00:08:47,800
And that's our summer's dog food.
151
00:08:47,967 --> 00:08:50,467
And that's worth couple thousand dollars.
152
00:08:51,367 --> 00:08:54,233
Without the fish
I couldn't afford to have these dogs.
153
00:08:56,267 --> 00:08:57,933
All right, I think that's good enough.
154
00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,033
As long as I got that,
my dogs are in good shape for the year.
155
00:09:01,133 --> 00:09:03,033
[all howling]
156
00:09:03,100 --> 00:09:06,133
We're planning for the worst.
Then after that it's just a matter
157
00:09:06,200 --> 00:09:08,067
of what Mother Nature decides to do to us.
158
00:09:15,367 --> 00:09:17,600
Here we go, come here. Come here, To.
159
00:09:19,567 --> 00:09:22,667
One of the last things I wanna do
is to put some eye bolts
160
00:09:22,733 --> 00:09:25,233
through the beams supporting my house,
161
00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:27,767
and then tie those off
to the base of trees.
162
00:09:30,300 --> 00:09:34,800
In the flood in 2009, every building
on our property floated and moved.
163
00:09:34,867 --> 00:09:37,700
Some of them moved 75 to 80 feet away.
164
00:09:37,767 --> 00:09:40,833
What I'm a little nervous about is that
if all these buildings start floating
165
00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:43,233
they're gonna end up going back out
with the water.
166
00:09:43,633 --> 00:09:46,300
This rope here is weighted for five tons.
167
00:09:46,633 --> 00:09:49,267
If the whole house was floating
I'd be able to pull it with this rope.
168
00:09:49,933 --> 00:09:53,967
We're not governed by other people
very much, or society in general.
169
00:09:54,033 --> 00:09:57,733
We're pretty much governed by what
Mother Nature does for us
170
00:09:57,800 --> 00:09:59,467
or doesn't do for us.
171
00:09:59,533 --> 00:10:02,067
That's what our world revolves around.
172
00:10:02,300 --> 00:10:03,700
So the house is secure.
173
00:10:04,267 --> 00:10:08,533
I'm praying that I'm so wrong right now
on what's gonna happen.
174
00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:10,467
Probably go to sleep tonight
with the window open
175
00:10:10,533 --> 00:10:13,867
so I can listen and hear
if something starts happening.
176
00:10:13,933 --> 00:10:15,633
We're coming down to the wire.
177
00:10:25,033 --> 00:10:27,633
The ice, it looks like
it's just starting to break up.
178
00:10:27,733 --> 00:10:29,000
[ice crackling]
179
00:10:29,100 --> 00:10:30,500
Oh, crap.
180
00:10:31,267 --> 00:10:33,333
You could hear the ice
cracking and popping.
181
00:10:34,333 --> 00:10:37,867
Just gonna have to wait and see
what Mother Nature throws at us now.
182
00:10:43,167 --> 00:10:45,333
I'm scared shitless
of this river break-up.
183
00:10:47,100 --> 00:10:51,233
I've invested 25 years of my life here,
and I don't wanna leave.
184
00:10:57,833 --> 00:11:02,033
So, the river's moving really good
out in the main channel right now. Er...
185
00:11:03,133 --> 00:11:07,667
I'm looking out there, and I can see it
moving probably ten or 12 miles an hour.
186
00:11:08,867 --> 00:11:11,567
Water came up about five feet
in less than a minute here
187
00:11:11,633 --> 00:11:15,033
when it breached upriver
about maybe 200 yards.
188
00:11:15,867 --> 00:11:19,467
So, er, there's a lot of water piling up
back behind this. I hope...
189
00:11:19,533 --> 00:11:20,800
I hope it keeps moving.
190
00:11:28,033 --> 00:11:30,900
I just came up on my roof
'cause that's my best vantage point.
191
00:11:32,100 --> 00:11:34,000
I'm seeing open water starting to show up,
192
00:11:34,067 --> 00:11:37,733
and I'm seeing the ice thinning out
in the main channel.
193
00:11:37,833 --> 00:11:40,833
So, I think the first
big push has gone through right now,
194
00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:43,600
and, er, that's exactly
what I'd like to see.
195
00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:45,767
And it looks like I made it through
196
00:11:45,867 --> 00:11:49,367
probably one of the worst break-ups
that could have happened in this area
197
00:11:49,433 --> 00:11:52,500
unscathed, so, good start to the spring.
198
00:11:52,733 --> 00:11:55,400
Even 30 years of living out
along the river
199
00:11:55,467 --> 00:11:58,233
just goes to show you,
you never know what's gonna happen.
200
00:11:59,167 --> 00:12:02,367
One of the biggest challenges
of living out in remote Alaska
201
00:12:02,433 --> 00:12:04,433
is trying to figure out a way
to make a living.
202
00:12:04,667 --> 00:12:07,067
Living out in the bush, you can live on
203
00:12:07,300 --> 00:12:10,167
pretty much all the resources
that are out here,
204
00:12:10,233 --> 00:12:14,467
but even 100 years ago, people needed
money or needed something to barter with.
205
00:12:14,533 --> 00:12:18,200
The first five, six years I lived
in Eagle, I would go out and trap
206
00:12:18,267 --> 00:12:21,400
with my seven dogs in the wintertime,
and then in the summertime
207
00:12:21,467 --> 00:12:23,767
I'd come into town and do carpentry work.
208
00:12:24,067 --> 00:12:27,300
And pretty much started learning
the skills I needed to live out here.
209
00:12:27,933 --> 00:12:31,000
After that, I started teaching people
how to dog-mush.
210
00:12:31,067 --> 00:12:32,233
I would do that in the winters,
211
00:12:32,300 --> 00:12:34,767
and then I would work
on the Yukon River in the summers,
212
00:12:34,833 --> 00:12:36,300
being a captain on a boat.
213
00:12:36,367 --> 00:12:39,400
And I did that for 20 years,
and it worked really well.
214
00:12:39,533 --> 00:12:40,767
I'm totally self-taught.
215
00:12:40,867 --> 00:12:45,567
I've never gone to school for anything.
I've never really had any close mentors
216
00:12:45,633 --> 00:12:48,500
to teach me things,
I just kinda figure it out as I go.
217
00:12:49,700 --> 00:12:51,767
[narrator] Surviving in
the Alaskan wilderness
218
00:12:51,833 --> 00:12:55,833
requires a deep knowledge of the land
and resources.
219
00:12:55,900 --> 00:12:59,500
For Andy Bassich,
using that knowledge to earn an income
220
00:12:59,567 --> 00:13:02,700
is crucial to his ability
to thrive along the Yukon River.
221
00:13:04,067 --> 00:13:05,600
[Andy] You know, the only way
you live subsistence
222
00:13:05,667 --> 00:13:08,167
is working off of renewable resources.
223
00:13:09,900 --> 00:13:12,633
So far, I haven't figured out
how to get the gasoline,
224
00:13:12,767 --> 00:13:15,467
and oil, and all these other things
as renewable resources.
225
00:13:16,567 --> 00:13:18,500
You gotta make cash to make it happen.
226
00:13:22,133 --> 00:13:23,133
[dogs barking]
227
00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,567
[Andy speaking]
228
00:13:30,367 --> 00:13:31,467
[narrator] In the spring,
229
00:13:31,533 --> 00:13:35,533
bears roam the Alaskan forest
in search of food after hibernation.
230
00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,333
A bear has entered Andy's camp,
231
00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:40,367
and harvesting its meat
and raw materials is critical.
232
00:13:40,467 --> 00:13:42,167
[Andy]
Early in the springtime up here,
233
00:13:42,233 --> 00:13:43,667
bears are our early meat.
234
00:13:44,033 --> 00:13:46,633
It's the first fresh meat
that we see after a long winter.
235
00:13:46,700 --> 00:13:48,367
He's gonna be fucking dinner tonight.
236
00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:50,633
See him in the woods there.
237
00:13:51,300 --> 00:13:52,567
[gunshot]
238
00:13:54,133 --> 00:13:55,133
[cocks gun]
239
00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:00,900
[gunshot]
240
00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,933
Bad day for the bear, good day for me.
241
00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,033
This should be some really good eating.
242
00:14:08,367 --> 00:14:10,100
Start getting him butchered up here.
243
00:14:14,900 --> 00:14:16,200
I learned a long time ago
244
00:14:16,267 --> 00:14:19,600
that when something presents itself
as an opportunity,
245
00:14:21,233 --> 00:14:24,167
if you pass it up thinking,
"Oh, I'll go get the next one,"
246
00:14:24,233 --> 00:14:25,733
the next one never comes.
247
00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,833
This bear presented himself
as an opportunity,
248
00:14:28,900 --> 00:14:30,567
and I took advantage of it,
249
00:14:30,633 --> 00:14:33,100
and it's gonna be
a big payoff in the long run.
250
00:14:34,467 --> 00:14:36,067
What'd I shoot, three rounds?
251
00:14:36,833 --> 00:14:42,500
So, this bear cost me about $1.50 for
80 to 100 pounds of meat off this bear,
252
00:14:42,567 --> 00:14:45,533
so that's pretty good economics.
253
00:14:47,500 --> 00:14:49,433
You can't buy a cup of coffee for that.
254
00:14:51,033 --> 00:14:54,467
And I can tan this hide up,
and if I want, I can sell this hide,
255
00:14:54,533 --> 00:14:56,733
or I can trade with somebody
for this hide,
256
00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:58,300
so there's barter value in it.
257
00:14:59,433 --> 00:15:03,800
The claws will be made into jewellery,
the main canine teeth will be pulled,
258
00:15:03,867 --> 00:15:05,967
and I'll be making jewellery out of those.
259
00:15:06,767 --> 00:15:08,367
When I'm all done, the only thing that
260
00:15:08,467 --> 00:15:10,667
goes to waste on this whole animal
is the blood.
261
00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:15,233
Here's all the gut fat, and it's really
the sweet fat for rendering.
262
00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:17,367
Out in this country, we crave fat.
263
00:15:17,867 --> 00:15:20,233
[scoffs] In cities,
people want a fat-free diet.
264
00:15:20,300 --> 00:15:21,867
But out here, fat is energy.
265
00:15:22,900 --> 00:15:25,633
Got the, er, lungs...
266
00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:28,633
The heart right here.
267
00:15:29,633 --> 00:15:31,533
This heart will be good eating.
268
00:15:31,733 --> 00:15:34,333
I'm not gonna be able to hunt moose
until late August.
269
00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,633
So, it's a good start on the summer
to have some fresh meat here.
270
00:15:43,033 --> 00:15:44,733
There's no nine-to-five jobs out here.
271
00:15:45,433 --> 00:15:46,867
If you wanna live out in the bush
272
00:15:46,933 --> 00:15:48,967
you gotta be self-motivated,
and self-employed.
273
00:15:54,833 --> 00:15:56,367
[dogs barking]
274
00:16:00,067 --> 00:16:01,900
There's a lot on my shoulders right now.
275
00:16:01,967 --> 00:16:04,733
I've got a lot of fish to hang
in the next five or ten days,
276
00:16:04,833 --> 00:16:06,933
and no matter what
Mother Nature throws at you
277
00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,500
you gotta get out there and do it
when it's time to do it.
278
00:16:09,567 --> 00:16:12,800
[narrator] In the fall,
Andy uses a device called a fish wheel,
279
00:16:12,900 --> 00:16:15,967
to harvest salmon
as they swim upriver to spawn.
280
00:16:16,067 --> 00:16:19,667
Relying on commercial food is costly
and unsustainable.
281
00:16:19,733 --> 00:16:21,633
So, the catch is crucial
to feeding himself
282
00:16:21,700 --> 00:16:23,867
and his sled dogs for the year ahead.
283
00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:27,833
Looks like the boxes are overflowing.
284
00:16:28,267 --> 00:16:30,800
Fish are flopping out. [laughs]
285
00:16:32,700 --> 00:16:35,033
Welcome to my world.
286
00:16:37,167 --> 00:16:40,933
[Andy] Living out in remote areas,
you rely on natural resources,
287
00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:45,000
and fishing for chum salmon is probably
the most important thing we do every year.
288
00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,567
It feeds our dogs for 365 days.
289
00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:54,367
A day or two ago, we just fed out
the last stick of fish to the dogs,
290
00:16:54,433 --> 00:16:58,767
so right now the total focus in my mind
is getting slimy with fish.
291
00:17:00,167 --> 00:17:04,867
So, how's this for putting fish on ice
right outta the water, huh?
292
00:17:05,067 --> 00:17:08,733
[laughs] The Seattle fish market's
got nothing on me.
293
00:17:09,567 --> 00:17:12,700
So, there's 360 fish in the boat.
294
00:17:12,767 --> 00:17:15,700
That'll be a good start.
It's time to go cut fish.
295
00:17:16,633 --> 00:17:19,333
All this has costed me
is ten gallons of fuel,
296
00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:21,633
and a bunch of labour,
and a bunch of calories.
297
00:17:21,700 --> 00:17:24,533
I love providing for myself and my dogs,
298
00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:26,867
it's the best job
of the whole year for me.
299
00:17:29,967 --> 00:17:31,033
[dogs whining]
300
00:17:31,100 --> 00:17:33,633
-What do you think, Prance?
-[dogs howling]
301
00:17:33,733 --> 00:17:36,367
Everybody's gonna get fish tonight.
Oh, boy!
302
00:17:37,700 --> 00:17:41,333
These fish are critically important to us.
We live on a limited budget out here,
303
00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:45,600
and we can't afford to feed
our entire kennel commercial dog food.
304
00:17:45,667 --> 00:17:51,467
So, putting up fish for the dogs saves us
$4,000 to $6,000 a year in dry dog food.
305
00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,733
It's like a symphony of slurping up
when it's like this.
306
00:17:57,833 --> 00:17:59,100
Killigan? Can you sit?
307
00:18:00,500 --> 00:18:03,000
You're a good sitter!
There you go, fat boy.
308
00:18:07,700 --> 00:18:08,833
[dog whining]
309
00:18:12,300 --> 00:18:14,400
Before I'd moved out to Alaska,
310
00:18:14,467 --> 00:18:18,033
I held on to the notion
that a job was security.
311
00:18:18,133 --> 00:18:23,767
But security out here is not a job,
it's skills and resources.
312
00:18:23,933 --> 00:18:26,100
I think people are becoming
very disconnected
313
00:18:26,167 --> 00:18:28,400
from living in this environment.
314
00:18:28,467 --> 00:18:31,300
Very few people have
broad ranges of skills now.
315
00:18:31,367 --> 00:18:33,367
Very few people know
how to get their food,
316
00:18:33,933 --> 00:18:35,967
or how to take care
of their basic needs in life
317
00:18:36,033 --> 00:18:37,900
which are food, shelter and clothing.
318
00:18:38,033 --> 00:18:42,367
And if you don't have the ability to do
those three things for yourself,
319
00:18:42,433 --> 00:18:45,333
you're not very well prepared
no matter how much money you have,
320
00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:46,900
anywhere in this world.
321
00:18:49,700 --> 00:18:51,567
[narrator] To feed himself year round,
322
00:18:51,633 --> 00:18:54,767
Andy Bassich relies on the wildlife
along the Yukon River.
323
00:18:55,667 --> 00:18:57,633
But animal behaviour is unpredictable,
324
00:18:58,700 --> 00:19:01,600
and taking advantage of opportunities
is key to his survival.
325
00:19:03,333 --> 00:19:06,800
[Andy] This land pretty much provides
us with everything we need to live here.
326
00:19:06,867 --> 00:19:09,633
Our food, our heat, our shelter.
327
00:19:10,067 --> 00:19:12,933
It's just up to us to go get it,
and make it happen.
328
00:19:17,633 --> 00:19:18,633
[geese honking]
329
00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:23,067
Putting up your meat out here
330
00:19:23,133 --> 00:19:26,267
is probably the most important thing
you can do for the year.
331
00:19:26,333 --> 00:19:31,100
Caribou, bear, and moose
are our primary source of protein.
332
00:19:31,167 --> 00:19:33,400
So the best thing that could
happen to me right now
333
00:19:33,467 --> 00:19:34,700
would be to get a moose real quick,
334
00:19:34,767 --> 00:19:38,933
but hunting for moose is sometimes
the most frustrating thing to do up here.
335
00:19:39,133 --> 00:19:42,567
Moose are not highly populated,
336
00:19:42,633 --> 00:19:44,767
so you gotta work hard
to get a moose here.
337
00:19:48,500 --> 00:19:50,633
I'm definitely seeing
some moose tracks here.
338
00:19:50,733 --> 00:19:54,500
It looks like a cow and a calf. So where
there's cows, there's gonna be a bull.
339
00:19:55,533 --> 00:19:58,600
I'm going to do some calling for a moose
right now by scraping,
340
00:19:58,667 --> 00:20:02,500
and I'll be imitating what it sounds like
when a moose is rubbing its antlers
341
00:20:02,567 --> 00:20:03,800
to clean the velvet off.
342
00:20:11,467 --> 00:20:13,033
A young bull just came out.
343
00:20:13,867 --> 00:20:16,200
He's a little too far away
for a clear shot.
344
00:20:16,300 --> 00:20:19,867
Moose have great hearing,
so silence is absolutely necessary
345
00:20:19,933 --> 00:20:21,433
when you're stalking a moose.
346
00:20:35,367 --> 00:20:37,467
[whispering] It's really,
really wet down there.
347
00:20:37,533 --> 00:20:40,733
I'm hoping I can call him
out of that wet, boggy area,
348
00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,433
'cause that'll be a pain in the butt
to shoot him right there.
349
00:20:46,267 --> 00:20:48,000
[mimics moose call]
350
00:20:50,667 --> 00:20:52,567
It's getting a little bit dark.
351
00:20:52,633 --> 00:20:55,033
I've got a good clear shot at him
but he's in water.
352
00:20:55,100 --> 00:20:56,800
I'd really rather not shoot him right now,
353
00:20:56,933 --> 00:20:59,267
but I'm not going to be able to wait
too much longer.
354
00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:03,300
[gunshot]
355
00:21:13,433 --> 00:21:15,600
[sighs] Should have fucking waited
a little longer.
356
00:21:16,867 --> 00:21:19,167
This moose is going to be
a pain in the ass to get out.
357
00:21:19,233 --> 00:21:22,800
He's three feet in the water,
and 30 yards out into a slew.
358
00:21:22,867 --> 00:21:26,400
But, er, he's down. And that's good.
359
00:21:26,467 --> 00:21:28,567
So I'm gonna get him butchered up.
360
00:21:28,833 --> 00:21:33,333
I love living a lifestyle where everything
that I need to live is out here.
361
00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:34,800
I like to use what the land has to offer.
362
00:21:35,267 --> 00:21:37,900
That's what makes it all worthwhile.
That's my payoff.
363
00:21:39,333 --> 00:21:41,167
Atta boys, let's go! Hup, hup, hup!
364
00:21:45,267 --> 00:21:49,500
A rifle to me is a tool,
and it's a tool to go harvest protein,
365
00:21:49,567 --> 00:21:51,833
and to feed myself,
and to be self-reliant.
366
00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,133
[gunshot]
367
00:22:01,633 --> 00:22:04,600
We've had a very early snowfall this year,
368
00:22:04,700 --> 00:22:08,167
and everything's frozen down,
everything's buried under the snow.
369
00:22:08,767 --> 00:22:11,167
I would've liked to have harvested
a little bit more meat,
370
00:22:11,233 --> 00:22:13,433
before winter sets in completely.
371
00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,400
Today, what's on the agenda
is to go get couple beavers.
372
00:22:18,367 --> 00:22:20,133
[narrator] Andy is stalking
the nearby lakes
373
00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:22,733
along the Yukon River
in search of a beaver.
374
00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:25,433
An animal that, when harvested,
will provide vital meat
375
00:22:25,500 --> 00:22:27,600
and fur for the coming winter months.
376
00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:31,867
[Andy] Hunting beaver's
a little bit different than hunting
377
00:22:31,933 --> 00:22:34,567
a lot of hooved animals.
378
00:22:34,633 --> 00:22:37,167
Beavers have a pretty good sense of smell.
379
00:22:37,433 --> 00:22:41,300
They tend to come out in the early
mornings and late evenings, so, er,
380
00:22:41,367 --> 00:22:44,100
I don't know if they'll be out right now.
381
00:22:45,533 --> 00:22:47,300
It's a beaver chew.
382
00:22:47,367 --> 00:22:50,267
You can see there's quite a few
chews around here.
383
00:23:10,167 --> 00:23:12,567
[whispering] Think I gotta let him get
a little closer to the shoreline
384
00:23:12,633 --> 00:23:15,300
before I take a shot,
so he's not too far out.
385
00:23:24,567 --> 00:23:25,633
[gunshot]
386
00:23:27,867 --> 00:23:31,667
Don't sink, don't sink,
don't sink, don't sink.
387
00:23:31,733 --> 00:23:33,433
Oh, you son of a bitch.
388
00:23:36,633 --> 00:23:39,500
So far, I've never lost a beaver
hunting them this way.
389
00:23:39,567 --> 00:23:42,000
I don't want this to be the first.
390
00:23:42,067 --> 00:23:44,800
Gonna see if I can't cast out a few times
391
00:23:45,867 --> 00:23:48,133
and hopefully, snag him.
392
00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:50,333
I'll probably end up
snagging a damn branch.
393
00:23:54,567 --> 00:23:57,067
I can't stand losing game when I shoot it.
394
00:24:00,567 --> 00:24:01,733
This drives me nuts.
395
00:24:02,633 --> 00:24:04,067
It sucks.
396
00:24:08,467 --> 00:24:11,100
Fishing for beavers. That's a first.
397
00:24:13,433 --> 00:24:15,867
Hmm. There's some bubbles
coming up right there.
398
00:24:19,567 --> 00:24:21,933
This is like a one-in-a-million chance.
399
00:24:24,067 --> 00:24:25,467
[reeling in]
400
00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:32,833
I think I got it. There we go. I got him.
401
00:24:34,067 --> 00:24:37,900
Son of a bitch.
Oh, was I ever fucking lucky or what?
402
00:24:40,133 --> 00:24:43,200
Oh, yeah. Nice.
403
00:24:43,267 --> 00:24:46,767
Weighs a good 40, 50 pounds, anyway.
Forty pounds.
404
00:24:47,967 --> 00:24:49,367
[grunts]
405
00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,333
I'm headed back to hacienda.
406
00:24:53,900 --> 00:24:57,667
Life has changed
living out in the bush dramatically
407
00:24:57,733 --> 00:25:03,300
since technology has given us
satellite Internet, satellite telephones.
408
00:25:03,500 --> 00:25:07,667
You know, when I first moved out
into this country 25, 30 years ago,
409
00:25:07,733 --> 00:25:09,633
there were no... Even radios.
410
00:25:09,700 --> 00:25:14,033
People either lined a canoe,
drove a dog team,
411
00:25:14,133 --> 00:25:17,200
or wrote a letter and handed it off
to the person going by.
412
00:25:17,267 --> 00:25:20,333
And you waited for two weeks or a month
for your answer.
413
00:25:22,133 --> 00:25:25,833
I'm not opposed to technology.
I utilise it wherever I can,
414
00:25:25,900 --> 00:25:27,667
but I try and balance it in my life.
415
00:25:28,133 --> 00:25:30,667
I have a lot of tools
and a lot of equipment here,
416
00:25:30,733 --> 00:25:33,467
and, erm, that's because
I want to get a lot of work done.
417
00:25:33,733 --> 00:25:36,100
And if you're gonna work by yourself
you need aid,
418
00:25:36,167 --> 00:25:40,900
so I rely on the technology
of machinery and tools to help me.
419
00:25:40,967 --> 00:25:43,967
A lot of people working together
can get a lot done.
420
00:25:44,033 --> 00:25:45,800
But there's not a lot
of people around here.
421
00:25:45,867 --> 00:25:46,867
[howling]
422
00:25:50,567 --> 00:25:52,067
[narrator] For Andy Bassich,
423
00:25:52,133 --> 00:25:56,167
living alone in the wild requires
ingenuity to solve problems that arise.
424
00:25:57,633 --> 00:26:00,267
He must draw upon
his knowledge of traditional methods,
425
00:26:00,333 --> 00:26:03,233
and modern technology
to maintain his livelihood.
426
00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,533
[Andy] Living this lifestyle,
you kinda become a jack of all trades.
427
00:26:06,633 --> 00:26:10,200
I love inventing things,
I love creating new ideas,
428
00:26:10,267 --> 00:26:13,033
and creating new things with those ideas.
429
00:26:13,833 --> 00:26:16,600
And this lifestyle allows me to do that.
430
00:26:20,233 --> 00:26:22,400
I'm gonna have to go
and replenish this today.
431
00:26:22,467 --> 00:26:24,533
I'm starting to get low on wood.
432
00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:27,200
I'm pumping a lot of wood
into my stoves right now.
433
00:26:27,267 --> 00:26:29,967
As much as I'd like to hunker down
at 50 below zero,
434
00:26:30,067 --> 00:26:31,667
that's not gonna be the case today.
435
00:26:31,733 --> 00:26:34,867
There's always work to do,
and I've gotta get wood today.
436
00:26:37,033 --> 00:26:39,167
[narrator] To heat his camp
in dark winter,
437
00:26:39,233 --> 00:26:41,900
Andy must cut down trees
in the surrounding forest
438
00:26:41,967 --> 00:26:44,100
and replenish his wood supply.
439
00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:48,133
But below freezing temperatures
make relying on technology difficult.
440
00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:51,167
[dogs howling, barking]
441
00:26:52,333 --> 00:26:54,033
I'm gonna take both chainsaws out,
442
00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:56,600
and hope that I can get
one out of two to work today.
443
00:26:57,300 --> 00:26:58,900
Come on, boys! Let's go.
444
00:26:58,967 --> 00:27:03,567
I have about four loads with the dogs
to equal one load with the snow machine.
445
00:27:03,633 --> 00:27:06,000
Takes a lot more time to go out
and use the dogs,
446
00:27:06,067 --> 00:27:08,500
but I know I'm not gonna have to
fight breakdowns.
447
00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,367
Only thing I got to worry about
with the dogs is they're well fed,
448
00:27:11,433 --> 00:27:13,200
they're well hydrated,
and they're in good shape.
449
00:27:15,067 --> 00:27:16,467
Go!
450
00:27:17,500 --> 00:27:19,867
Down! Turn right.
Let's go! Hup, hup!
451
00:27:20,633 --> 00:27:22,000
-[dog barking]
-Yeah, buddy.
452
00:27:22,100 --> 00:27:23,233
All right.
453
00:27:23,300 --> 00:27:24,433
Good job!
454
00:27:27,533 --> 00:27:30,233
Get that thing warmed up inside the house.
455
00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:35,533
They don't really like
these temperatures very much.
456
00:27:38,433 --> 00:27:40,800
I got another saw.
I think I'm gonna try that one.
457
00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:46,600
So...
458
00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,367
It still doesn't wanna really turn over.
459
00:27:50,433 --> 00:27:52,833
I don't think they're gonna start.
460
00:27:52,900 --> 00:27:55,633
Looks like it's time to build
a quick fire,
461
00:27:55,700 --> 00:27:57,500
and try and get
a little bit of warmth to them.
462
00:28:01,167 --> 00:28:03,700
Probably the single best
skill to learn up here,
463
00:28:03,767 --> 00:28:05,167
building a fire quick.
464
00:28:08,300 --> 00:28:10,400
Birch bark catchin' really good.
465
00:28:10,467 --> 00:28:12,267
Best fire-starter in nature.
466
00:28:13,367 --> 00:28:14,667
And it burns even if it's wet.
467
00:28:16,033 --> 00:28:19,067
People been living up in this country
with far less than we have now.
468
00:28:19,133 --> 00:28:21,700
When you didn't have the benefits
of some of this machinery,
469
00:28:21,767 --> 00:28:24,267
you didn't have
lightweight warm clothes...
470
00:28:24,767 --> 00:28:27,100
We're pretty spoiled nowadays
living out here
471
00:28:27,167 --> 00:28:29,633
compared to what people
used to have to put up with.
472
00:28:29,967 --> 00:28:32,900
The main thing I think I need to get
is these precoils...
473
00:28:32,967 --> 00:28:34,067
Need to warm up.
474
00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,967
I'll see if I can warm these up
without burning them up.
475
00:28:38,033 --> 00:28:41,133
Fire, man's best friend
up here in the north.
476
00:28:45,733 --> 00:28:48,233
All right.
I'm getting a little bit of heat on these.
477
00:28:48,300 --> 00:28:49,600
I'm gonna try.
478
00:28:49,667 --> 00:28:51,267
Think I'll try this big one first.
479
00:28:51,333 --> 00:28:53,767
It felt like it's pulling
a little bit better.
480
00:28:54,867 --> 00:28:56,067
-[whirring]
-Yeah, baby!
481
00:28:58,033 --> 00:28:59,033
Yes!
482
00:29:00,500 --> 00:29:02,933
You can't have high expectations
when it's cold like this,
483
00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:04,933
you just get out,
try and get what you can done,
484
00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:06,000
and be happy with that.
485
00:29:07,067 --> 00:29:08,567
[grunts] I think that's it.
486
00:29:11,033 --> 00:29:14,300
The last thing you wanna do is fall
on that hard ice out there.
487
00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:15,967
That's how you really get messed up.
488
00:29:16,033 --> 00:29:18,267
I'd rather just let go.
I can rebuild a sled.
489
00:29:18,367 --> 00:29:19,933
I can't rebuild an Andy.
490
00:29:25,533 --> 00:29:26,733
[narrator] In dark winter,
491
00:29:26,800 --> 00:29:30,067
Andy relies on his dog sled
to gather vital resources.
492
00:29:31,167 --> 00:29:34,500
But any additional weight on his sled
could strain the framework,
493
00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,033
and make for a dangerous trek on the ice.
494
00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:42,500
[Andy] This is like a giant sail
out on that lake ice.
495
00:29:44,100 --> 00:29:46,767
[muttering] What the hell?
496
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:49,900
What the hell is going on here?
497
00:29:51,100 --> 00:29:52,100
[groans]
498
00:29:54,433 --> 00:29:55,700
God dang it!
499
00:29:56,867 --> 00:29:58,700
Ah, looks like my ties broke.
500
00:29:58,767 --> 00:30:01,333
Looks like my plastic even broke
right here too,
501
00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:04,300
and it's broken on both sides,
so this thing comes apart
502
00:30:04,367 --> 00:30:06,567
I could fall off
and smack my head on this ice.
503
00:30:06,633 --> 00:30:08,000
You just don't want to take chances.
504
00:30:10,133 --> 00:30:13,167
[sighs] I think if I take the weight out
of this sled I'm gonna be okay.
505
00:30:13,233 --> 00:30:15,667
I like everything's about efficiency.
506
00:30:16,567 --> 00:30:17,733
Bush economics.
507
00:30:19,467 --> 00:30:20,933
And shit happens.
508
00:30:21,467 --> 00:30:23,333
Oh, shit. Here's another place it broke.
509
00:30:24,500 --> 00:30:25,900
It's broke under here too.
510
00:30:27,167 --> 00:30:29,800
Basically, I'm gonna
have to rebuild this whole sled.
511
00:30:30,167 --> 00:30:33,700
[sighing] All right. If that's the case,
then better get it home and get on it.
512
00:30:33,767 --> 00:30:34,833
Let's go!
513
00:30:43,700 --> 00:30:44,833
I like this sled.
514
00:30:44,900 --> 00:30:47,833
I've done a lot of miles with it,
and I've hauled a lot of wood with it,
515
00:30:47,900 --> 00:30:50,233
and it's one of my favourite little sleds
to run around.
516
00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:51,800
It's kind of my little Corvette.
517
00:30:52,467 --> 00:30:53,733
So I wanna keep using it.
518
00:30:56,267 --> 00:31:00,867
That was the guilty culprit.
That's definitely needed replacing.
519
00:31:06,867 --> 00:31:08,367
[whirring]
520
00:31:08,433 --> 00:31:11,433
This is probably the hardest part
of the whole process,
521
00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:14,167
is cutting the big piece
of this plastic by yourself.
522
00:31:14,267 --> 00:31:16,300
It's like trying to cut a giant noodle.
523
00:31:18,100 --> 00:31:22,233
I didn't want to screw that up 'cause
that's about a $350 piece of plastic.
524
00:31:22,300 --> 00:31:23,300
[laughs]
525
00:31:24,133 --> 00:31:27,933
It is the most important part.
It's the foundation.
526
00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:29,667
It's like the foundation of a house,
you know?
527
00:31:29,733 --> 00:31:32,400
If you have a lousy foundation
you don't have much of a house.
528
00:31:34,967 --> 00:31:37,567
There's nothing like running a new sled,
psychologically...
529
00:31:37,633 --> 00:31:39,133
[grunts] It's, you know, your...
530
00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:42,733
Just put a bunch of work, and time,
and effort into something, that's always,
531
00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:44,000
always a big deal.
532
00:31:44,733 --> 00:31:46,000
One more screw.
533
00:31:46,067 --> 00:31:48,633
I love making a mess.
I always hate cleaning them up.
534
00:31:50,567 --> 00:31:53,367
All right, I got her done.
It's time to take her out,
535
00:31:54,333 --> 00:31:56,000
and see how she tracks,
and go get some wood,
536
00:31:56,067 --> 00:31:57,233
and run some dogs.
537
00:31:58,400 --> 00:31:59,500
Hi!
538
00:32:04,900 --> 00:32:06,700
When I came out here,
539
00:32:06,767 --> 00:32:09,400
I made the decision,
and it was a very conscious decision
540
00:32:09,467 --> 00:32:12,700
that I didn't ever wanna
risk anybody else's life
541
00:32:12,767 --> 00:32:15,033
to come save me if I screwed up.
542
00:32:15,367 --> 00:32:18,767
Even when I was out on trapline,
hundreds of miles from anything, really,
543
00:32:18,833 --> 00:32:23,933
I figured, if I get hurt out on trapline,
if I can't deal with it myself...
544
00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:26,167
Hey, that's life, you know?
545
00:32:26,267 --> 00:32:29,100
My mother has come to visit me,
and she's in her 80s now.
546
00:32:29,167 --> 00:32:31,367
And I don't know
if she'll ever come again,
547
00:32:31,433 --> 00:32:33,467
which kind of saddens me.
548
00:32:33,533 --> 00:32:36,467
And the reason for that is that, erm,
549
00:32:36,533 --> 00:32:39,500
she is worried about
how far away she is from a hospital.
550
00:32:39,967 --> 00:32:43,233
When I get older, if I'm not healthy,
then I'll have to make that decision then.
551
00:32:43,300 --> 00:32:45,000
"Is it worth it to me to leave here?
552
00:32:45,700 --> 00:32:48,367
Or is it worth it for me
to just live my life out here,
553
00:32:48,433 --> 00:32:50,267
and take whatever comes my way?"
554
00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:59,200
[narrator] Life in the unforgiving Arctic
has forced Andy to learn
555
00:32:59,300 --> 00:33:00,767
through success and failure.
556
00:33:02,867 --> 00:33:04,933
Without preparation
for the changing seasons
557
00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,500
and unexpected dangers that lie ahead,
558
00:33:07,567 --> 00:33:09,467
everything he's built is at risk.
559
00:33:10,233 --> 00:33:11,667
[Andy] Son of a bitch!
560
00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:13,833
I live out here alone.
561
00:33:13,900 --> 00:33:17,467
So, if I get myself into deep shit,
I gotta get myself out of deep shit.
562
00:33:18,567 --> 00:33:22,400
That ability to be self-reliant,
and self-sustaining,
563
00:33:22,467 --> 00:33:24,600
that's what motivated me to come out here.
564
00:33:28,167 --> 00:33:30,567
All right. Let this project begin.
565
00:33:30,667 --> 00:33:32,733
I don't know if I'm going to have
any more good days.
566
00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:37,200
[narrator] A fierce storm stopped Andy
from winterising his new cabin.
567
00:33:38,933 --> 00:33:41,800
Too wet. That ain't working.
568
00:33:42,933 --> 00:33:46,500
[narrator] But a break in the weather
allows him to continue to work.
569
00:33:46,567 --> 00:33:49,267
And with winter looming,
each day is critical.
570
00:33:49,867 --> 00:33:51,300
[Andy] Finally got a clear day.
571
00:33:51,367 --> 00:33:53,000
So I'm gonna go like hell and try and get
572
00:33:53,067 --> 00:33:56,367
as much sanding done today
as I possibly can.
573
00:33:56,467 --> 00:34:00,100
I have very little time right now
to get this house winterised,
574
00:34:00,167 --> 00:34:01,667
and ready for the snow to fly.
575
00:34:01,733 --> 00:34:04,700
Sanding is the part
that takes the most time,
576
00:34:04,767 --> 00:34:08,867
and is by far, the most critical thing
of this whole process.
577
00:34:08,933 --> 00:34:12,200
I have to get this place sanded
before I can get it stained.
578
00:34:13,967 --> 00:34:16,200
I don't have full-blown
scaffolding around.
579
00:34:16,267 --> 00:34:18,933
Quite frankly, I'd have a hard time
putting it up by myself.
580
00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:20,433
It's generally a two-man job.
581
00:34:22,300 --> 00:34:24,833
I have to keep things light,
I have to keep it mobile,
582
00:34:24,900 --> 00:34:26,433
I have to be able to do it by myself,
583
00:34:26,500 --> 00:34:28,667
and I wanna be able to do it
fairly quickly.
584
00:34:35,533 --> 00:34:39,333
An injury out here is a lot different
than an injury in town.
585
00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:41,867
There's no 911, there's no ambulance.
586
00:34:41,933 --> 00:34:43,767
There's nobody to come in
with a back board.
587
00:34:53,067 --> 00:34:54,833
This isn't gonna fucking work at all!
588
00:34:56,067 --> 00:34:57,933
When winter hits, everything stops.
589
00:35:00,767 --> 00:35:03,467
You didn't get it done,
you wait another year to get it done.
590
00:35:03,633 --> 00:35:05,567
There's a ticking clock
going off in my head.
591
00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:09,167
Shortcuts are seldom shortcuts.
592
00:35:11,933 --> 00:35:13,033
Lesson learned.
593
00:35:15,300 --> 00:35:19,100
It feels good to get some stain on it,
and get this place closed in.
594
00:35:19,167 --> 00:35:22,533
I'm really worried about
weather getting between these walls.
595
00:35:25,267 --> 00:35:27,533
The house is sanded, and it's stained.
596
00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:28,667
Done.
597
00:35:28,733 --> 00:35:29,867
I'm not getting any younger.
598
00:35:31,100 --> 00:35:33,867
So, every summer
is probably going to be pretty full for me
599
00:35:33,933 --> 00:35:37,467
for the next year or two,
until I get this house completed.
600
00:35:43,900 --> 00:35:47,000
I always say the best way
to learn something is to screw up.
601
00:35:47,533 --> 00:35:49,433
You'll remember that lesson really well.
602
00:35:58,300 --> 00:36:00,833
I've got some steel up in Eagle
I've gotta bring down.
603
00:36:00,900 --> 00:36:02,633
I've gotta haul fuel down here.
604
00:36:02,700 --> 00:36:07,000
But I've got a major ice flow
that has broken off,
605
00:36:07,067 --> 00:36:09,933
and changed where my trail
that I had been using all winter is.
606
00:36:10,933 --> 00:36:13,767
[narrator] Warming temperatures have
caused a large piece of river ice
607
00:36:13,833 --> 00:36:17,333
to suddenly break off,
blocking Andy's trail to Eagle.
608
00:36:19,533 --> 00:36:21,667
He must cut a bypass trail,
609
00:36:21,733 --> 00:36:24,600
and pick up vital supplies
before his access to town
610
00:36:24,667 --> 00:36:26,700
is cut off for the next several weeks.
611
00:36:28,167 --> 00:36:31,133
[Andy] I'm trying to create
a little bit of a trench.
612
00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:32,967
So, if the sled starts sliding down
613
00:36:33,033 --> 00:36:35,800
it's got something to come up
against to stop right here.
614
00:36:36,333 --> 00:36:38,300
It's kind of like
a little luge-run right now,
615
00:36:38,367 --> 00:36:40,900
so as long as I'm in that
I'm not worried about sliding out
616
00:36:40,967 --> 00:36:42,400
and on to that thin ice.
617
00:36:53,300 --> 00:36:55,733
I was trying to get
all these supplies loaded up.
618
00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:59,000
I'm gonna be hauling back, probably,
about 1,000 pounds of material,
619
00:36:59,100 --> 00:37:00,900
and fuel, so we'll see.
620
00:37:00,967 --> 00:37:02,767
Every day's an adventure on the Yukon.
621
00:37:11,267 --> 00:37:12,867
We're running out of good trail.
622
00:37:13,333 --> 00:37:15,433
I'm gonna have to be really cautious.
623
00:37:15,500 --> 00:37:18,233
If I go off the edge,
I'm gonna lose 800 pounds,
624
00:37:18,300 --> 00:37:19,733
right into a deep part of the river.
625
00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:23,100
Oh, shit.
626
00:37:23,167 --> 00:37:24,167
[groans]
627
00:37:27,167 --> 00:37:29,667
Oh, don't you dare go in there.
628
00:37:31,133 --> 00:37:32,600
Oh... Shit.
629
00:37:32,667 --> 00:37:34,567
This could all go to hell really quick.
630
00:37:34,633 --> 00:37:36,133
Oh... Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
631
00:37:40,533 --> 00:37:42,533
Atta boy, stay in there.
632
00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:44,200
Oh-ho.
633
00:37:44,267 --> 00:37:47,767
[whoops] Boy, that was a close call.
634
00:37:47,833 --> 00:37:49,067
[chuckles]
635
00:37:53,133 --> 00:37:57,233
Good learning lessons for me.
I really picked up a few new clues,
636
00:37:57,300 --> 00:38:00,200
to look at the ice
and decide whether it's safe or not.
637
00:38:00,900 --> 00:38:04,233
Every time you go out here,
you learn something new, good or bad.
638
00:38:04,300 --> 00:38:07,200
That's life on the Yukon, man. [laughs]
639
00:38:14,767 --> 00:38:18,067
When I first came here, this was raw land.
640
00:38:18,133 --> 00:38:21,367
There was nothing but spruce trees
this far apart everywhere.
641
00:38:22,333 --> 00:38:25,100
And it took me,
probably, four or five hours
642
00:38:25,167 --> 00:38:28,667
just to cut a trail from the river
up to where I set up a wall tent,
643
00:38:29,267 --> 00:38:31,400
and then clear a little bit of a dog lot.
644
00:38:31,867 --> 00:38:34,200
So everything has been from...
645
00:38:35,300 --> 00:38:39,533
From the very beginning, from scratch,
and it's been a lot of work, a lot of...
646
00:38:39,767 --> 00:38:43,100
I... I call it "calories".
I put a lot of calories into this place.
647
00:38:43,733 --> 00:38:46,567
Do I mind the hard physical work?
Not really.
648
00:38:46,667 --> 00:38:49,533
Everything that I do out here is something
I get jazzed about,
649
00:38:49,600 --> 00:38:52,033
whether it's hunting meat,
putting fish up,
650
00:38:52,100 --> 00:38:54,633
milling wood, running the dogs...
651
00:38:54,700 --> 00:38:56,267
And every time I do something,
652
00:38:56,333 --> 00:38:58,067
it reaffirms
that I'm doing the right thing
653
00:38:58,133 --> 00:38:59,900
living out here the way I live.
654
00:38:59,967 --> 00:39:03,000
I'm glad I listened to my heart
when I was a 20-year-old kid,
655
00:39:03,067 --> 00:39:06,867
and decided to come out here,
and make a life for myself out here
656
00:39:06,933 --> 00:39:08,600
'cause it's been a good ride.
657
00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:15,133
Hup, go, hup, hup!
658
00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:19,100
The freedoms that you get
from this lifestyle is the independence
659
00:39:19,167 --> 00:39:22,800
to pursue your life in any manner
which you want to pursue it.
660
00:39:23,633 --> 00:39:25,300
And I believe very few people
have that freedom
661
00:39:25,367 --> 00:39:27,167
anywhere in the world any more.
662
00:39:27,267 --> 00:39:29,067
I don't want to depend on anybody
663
00:39:29,133 --> 00:39:32,267
or anything for living my life
in any manner.
664
00:39:32,333 --> 00:39:36,367
That independence and that confidence
in being able to take care of myself
665
00:39:36,433 --> 00:39:39,700
is probably one of the strongest
motivators for me.
666
00:39:40,567 --> 00:39:44,500
When I moved out to Eagle, Alaska,
there was a whole network of young people
667
00:39:44,567 --> 00:39:46,400
in their 20s and 30s living out here.
668
00:39:46,467 --> 00:39:47,833
And they're all gone.
669
00:39:48,500 --> 00:39:51,167
We're a dying breed.
We're an endangered species.
670
00:39:57,567 --> 00:39:59,500
Straight ahead, let's go!
Come, come, come!
671
00:40:00,067 --> 00:40:02,400
These dogs work really hard
all winter long.
672
00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:06,400
And this is kind of playtime for 'em,
but it's also educational for 'em.
673
00:40:06,867 --> 00:40:10,400
I depend on my dogs 100%.
674
00:40:10,467 --> 00:40:12,833
Dogs are my life here.
675
00:40:13,200 --> 00:40:16,033
And I depend on them
for safe transportation,
676
00:40:16,100 --> 00:40:17,733
to haul the firewood, to haul the water.
677
00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:19,300
They're great companions.
678
00:40:19,367 --> 00:40:20,400
Yeah... [laughs]
679
00:40:20,467 --> 00:40:23,533
I can't ever think of a time
I won't live out in the bush without dogs.
680
00:40:23,600 --> 00:40:27,033
You sure make it hard to paddle though,
with you right in my face like this.
681
00:40:27,467 --> 00:40:29,333
Am I happy living here? Absolutely.
682
00:40:29,633 --> 00:40:32,867
But, you know, I think about
getting older all the time,
683
00:40:32,933 --> 00:40:34,867
because I can't work the way I used to.
684
00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:37,467
I think about
how hard I'm working all the time,
685
00:40:37,533 --> 00:40:38,967
and I know I can't keep it up.
686
00:40:39,533 --> 00:40:41,167
So, that weighs very heavy on my mind.
687
00:40:42,033 --> 00:40:46,600
But this is a place that I have
a really strong spiritual connection to.
688
00:40:47,333 --> 00:40:50,067
And it's not gonna be easy
to get me to leave here.
689
00:40:50,167 --> 00:40:52,500
So, I think the important thing is,
690
00:40:52,567 --> 00:40:53,867
is thinking and planning
691
00:40:53,933 --> 00:40:56,100
where do you want to be
in four or five years.
692
00:40:59,533 --> 00:41:03,900
Where I'm hoping to be in ten years,
I want my life to be comfortable.
693
00:41:04,300 --> 00:41:07,000
I want to get to the point
where I don't have big building projects,
694
00:41:07,067 --> 00:41:09,200
and all this heavy stuff
to move all the time.
695
00:41:09,267 --> 00:41:10,833
That's what I'm working towards now.
696
00:41:10,900 --> 00:41:13,867
I'm working towards setting myself up,
697
00:41:13,933 --> 00:41:18,167
so that when I get into
my later years in life, as they call it,
698
00:41:18,233 --> 00:41:19,500
life's still comfortable,
699
00:41:19,567 --> 00:41:22,567
and I don't have to work too hard
to make that happen.
700
00:41:23,300 --> 00:41:27,067
Before I die, I want a cabin
that I can walk around with bare feet,
701
00:41:27,133 --> 00:41:29,600
at 50 below zero
and feel totally comfortable.
702
00:41:29,667 --> 00:41:30,933
That's my goal.
703
00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:34,900
And if I can have that,
life's pretty darn good out here.
704
00:41:45,333 --> 00:41:48,100
[panting] Time to throw
this baby on the fire.
705
00:41:49,767 --> 00:41:53,333
It's a good day when you can come home
with 350 pounds of meat.
706
00:41:53,400 --> 00:41:55,900
You learn to love the feeling
at the end of the day
707
00:41:55,967 --> 00:41:58,333
when you're tired and you're hungry,
708
00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:00,367
and you're cold and you're wet,
709
00:42:00,433 --> 00:42:03,300
to realise that,
"Hey, man, I got something done today."
710
00:42:03,367 --> 00:42:06,600
-[door creaking]
-Oh, yeah!
711
00:42:07,033 --> 00:42:10,300
Taking the time to go do all of this
is a lot of hard work.
712
00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:13,867
But Confucius once said
that a man who loves his work
713
00:42:13,933 --> 00:42:15,367
never works a day in his life.
714
00:42:16,100 --> 00:42:17,833
And that's kind of the way my life is.
715
00:42:18,300 --> 00:42:21,167
I love doing what I do.
It's a lot of hard work,
716
00:42:21,267 --> 00:42:22,867
but it doesn't feel like work.
717
00:42:24,167 --> 00:42:25,767
Worth it. [chomping]
718
00:42:26,533 --> 00:42:27,800
Oh, my God.
719
00:42:28,233 --> 00:42:29,400
Yeah!
720
00:42:31,133 --> 00:42:36,133
This was worth 120 miles,
and two days' work.
721
00:42:36,200 --> 00:42:40,433
Good sustenance, good life, good night.
722
00:42:40,733 --> 00:42:41,733
[wind howling]
60483
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.