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NARRATOR: On this episode
of Life Below Zero,
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00:00:08,733 --> 00:00:11,867
Alaskans prepare
for dark winter.
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If you don't like winter,
don't come to Alaska.
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00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,400
NARRATOR:
Glenn braves thin ice
for a new food source.
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Whoa.
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00:00:19,700 --> 00:00:21,567
NARRATOR: Andy races
to break a new trail.
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Hey, hey, hey, hey!
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Chip must build
an essential tool
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in time for dark winter.
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CHIP: Basically armouring up
a sled for heavy work.
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00:00:29,467 --> 00:00:32,200
And Sue tackles Alaska's
deadliest road.
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00:00:32,233 --> 00:00:34,000
SUE: I've got mountain passes
to go through
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that are notorious killers.
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00:00:54,067 --> 00:00:55,733
ANDY: You guys wanna
haul water today?
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Who's gonna get water?
Is Jack gonna get water?
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Today's the day of getting
a lot of chores done.
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So, first thing's first,
gotta go get some water
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out of the river.
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We've got a ton of water
flowing by our house,
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about a million gallons
an hour flowing (CHUCKLES)
by our house.
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I'm just gonna push
this sled down and
let the dogs run around
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-and hopefully
I can call them all in,
-(DOGS WHIMPERING)
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hook them up,
and bring the water back up.
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Let's go.
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Everybody come!
Everybody come!
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NARRATOR: Andy and Kate must
get water every fifth day
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for drinking and cleaning.
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With no indoor plumbing,
Andy must use the Yukon River
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as his water source.
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ANDY: Whoo!
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By far this is the most
dangerous time of year
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for me to do this chore.
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I'm always really nervous
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any time I go near
the edge of the river.
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The ice is hollow,
it doesn't take much
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00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:57,967
to collapse ice
when it's hollow.
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00:02:01,067 --> 00:02:03,167
Yeah, I've gone swimming
in the Yukon
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a number of times
in the winter.
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It's not fun.
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00:02:05,733 --> 00:02:08,533
When it's slushy ice
like this,
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as soon as you go
in it's like cement.
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It just closes up around you
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and there's not a damn thing
you can do.
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00:02:14,533 --> 00:02:17,500
I understand how people drown
on ice really quickly
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00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:19,967
now because of how cold it is
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00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:24,133
and how hard it is to
get out once you're in
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without some kind
of assistance.
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So I've learned
through experience
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00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,667
that when you're on your own
you're really on your own
out on the ice.
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And if it happens,
kiss your ass goodbye.
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It's a killer.
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It's a killer out here.
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Everybody come!
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Attaboys! All right!
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Hey, Coug, I'm gonna...
Whoa, whoa. It's okay.
I'm gonna put you in swing
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00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:54,533
so you don't have
to get close to that ice.
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-I know you don't like that.
-(BARKING)
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Everything I do
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I try and do
with my dogs around here.
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They're my buddies,
they're my tools,
they're my machinery.
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They pretty much
do it all for me.
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Most of all,
they're my best friends.
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I love these dogs.
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Okay. Hup, hup, hup.
Let's go!
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Attaboys!
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Up we go.
Hup, hup, hup, hup, hup.
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00:03:16,300 --> 00:03:18,167
Yeah! Let's go, boys!
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00:03:21,067 --> 00:03:22,767
CHIP: It makes
everything sweeter
when you can just go out
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and be reliant on yourself.
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00:03:24,933 --> 00:03:26,233
When you go out there,
and you come back,
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00:03:26,267 --> 00:03:28,100
time after time
and you make a living
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00:03:28,133 --> 00:03:30,867
and after a pile of years
goes by, you're still here.
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00:03:56,467 --> 00:03:57,700
No plane yet.
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00:03:59,867 --> 00:04:02,567
CHIP: I've got
some wood coming
to make stuff for sleds
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00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,467
because my old one
is beaten to death.
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So if I'm gonna get ready
for winter coming up here,
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I'm gonna need a sled.
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00:04:09,567 --> 00:04:11,667
Well, now we're just waiting
for the plane.
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When the plane
gets here we'll see
what we got for wood.
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00:04:13,667 --> 00:04:15,733
NARRATOR:
Chip and Agnes Hailstone
await the arrival
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00:04:15,767 --> 00:04:17,733
of a daily freight plane.
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00:04:17,767 --> 00:04:20,700
It carries valuable goods
from Kotzebue to Noorvik.
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00:04:22,267 --> 00:04:24,267
CHIP: Cargo planes
are never on time.
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00:04:24,300 --> 00:04:25,900
Another thing, too,
is that the weather
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is just turning to garbage,
total garbage.
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00:04:28,667 --> 00:04:29,800
So we're not quite sure
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00:04:29,833 --> 00:04:31,600
what we're gonna
be doing here soon.
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I didn't order any hickory
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00:04:33,167 --> 00:04:35,033
so we're not gonna
have no basket sled.
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00:04:35,067 --> 00:04:37,667
The only wood
that's coming off
of this order that I paid for
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is gonna be planks
and more planks.
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00:04:44,233 --> 00:04:46,300
I didn't think it would come
in this crappy weather.
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Hey there,
you got some wood for us?
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00:05:00,533 --> 00:05:02,067
Hey, Chip. Hey, Agnes.
How are you guys doing?
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00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:04,533
Good. Well, we're
just happy for the snow.
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00:05:04,567 --> 00:05:07,100
-Lucky we got in here
when we did.
-CHIP: Yep.
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00:05:07,133 --> 00:05:09,433
They're probably gonna
shut down the pass today.
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-Right on.
-MAN: Here's some wood, guys.
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-CHIP: Yep, thanks!
-Take care, guys.
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-Yep.
-MAN: See you.
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AGNES: (CHUCKLES) Bye.
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CHIP: It's just so cold that
I'm gonna call it a night.
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00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:27,667
I can't win the weather.
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00:05:27,700 --> 00:05:30,067
The wind's just too cold
to drive a nail
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through without
cracking it up.
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So there's tomorrow.
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I do indeed have tomorrow.
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(WHIRRING)
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Well, the first thing
I'm doing here is
I am taking a board
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and I'm going to
make it into runners
and I'm dividing it up.
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You can rely on these
to pull up
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to a thousand pounds total.
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They take quite a beating.
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00:06:01,100 --> 00:06:03,833
You're going through trails
and places that have no roads.
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00:06:03,867 --> 00:06:05,167
They're not smooth.
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00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:06,600
They're just bump,
after bump, after bump
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00:06:06,633 --> 00:06:08,567
for hundreds
and hundreds of miles.
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00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:10,600
I'm working on cross pieces.
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00:06:10,633 --> 00:06:12,200
So as soon as
I have my cross pieces done
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00:06:12,233 --> 00:06:13,533
and I've got seven of them,
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I'll start to inlet them.
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00:06:18,100 --> 00:06:19,833
You go around
on snow machines up here.
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00:06:19,867 --> 00:06:21,233
We go around on boats.
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00:06:21,267 --> 00:06:22,933
A lot of people seem to think
that snow machining
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00:06:22,967 --> 00:06:25,767
and boating is recreational,
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00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:27,033
and for us it's not.
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00:06:27,067 --> 00:06:29,000
It's a machine
that meets the conditions
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00:06:29,033 --> 00:06:31,400
that we have here
to be a utility vehicle.
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00:06:34,300 --> 00:06:36,100
That's a pretty
tight fit there.
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00:06:36,133 --> 00:06:37,667
So when it comes
to stuff like this,
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this here makes my ride
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00:06:39,367 --> 00:06:42,600
or my wife's ride
or my daughter's ride
into a pickup truck.
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00:06:42,633 --> 00:06:44,633
And nobody sells these kind.
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00:06:44,667 --> 00:06:46,133
I've got to build them myself.
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00:06:46,167 --> 00:06:48,667
And they're just
a good way to go.
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00:06:48,700 --> 00:06:50,367
I'm getting close
to being done.
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00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:52,400
The runners are done,
the cross pieces are done.
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00:06:52,433 --> 00:06:53,733
I'm getting the top end done.
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00:06:53,767 --> 00:06:56,433
It's all good.
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00:06:56,467 --> 00:06:58,267
GLENN:
A lot of my time out here
is spent just looking
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00:06:58,300 --> 00:06:59,800
around the mountains,
just watching
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00:06:59,833 --> 00:07:01,133
and then going up
on the mountains
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00:07:01,167 --> 00:07:03,133
looking down at the valley,
just seeing what's going on.
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00:07:03,167 --> 00:07:05,400
So often when I'm doing
one thing
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00:07:05,433 --> 00:07:07,433
another opportunity
presents itself.
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NARRATOR: Glenn Villeneuve
has lived off moose
for the past month.
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Needing to diversify his diet,
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he heads out
to the frozen lake
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00:07:30,667 --> 00:07:32,267
in search of fresh fish.
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00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,600
I can't see the ice
under the snow.
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00:07:41,633 --> 00:07:43,767
I don't know exactly
what it looks like,
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-how thick it is.
-(CREAKING)
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00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:49,900
Hear that?
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Whoa.
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It's deeper right there.
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00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,567
That ice is not very thick
right there.
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00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:04,833
I have to be careful
of thin ice,
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00:08:04,867 --> 00:08:06,600
and I have to watch out
for overflow.
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00:08:06,633 --> 00:08:09,933
If I get my feet wet
when it's this cold,
I could freeze my feet.
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00:08:11,167 --> 00:08:14,333
It's seven below zero.
That snow's insulating the ice
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00:08:14,367 --> 00:08:16,400
and the warmth of the water
underneath of it
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is keeping it from freezing
very thick.
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00:08:18,567 --> 00:08:20,167
That's good
for putting in holes.
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00:08:27,500 --> 00:08:29,700
Ice there is about
five inches thick.
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00:08:30,733 --> 00:08:31,833
That's good.
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00:08:31,867 --> 00:08:33,833
It's easy to get through
to put in the lines.
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00:08:33,867 --> 00:08:36,567
I can put in a lot of lines
when the ice is thin,
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00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:38,367
have a better chance
of catching fish.
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00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:42,267
This is the only time of year
I fish through the ice,
when the ice is thin.
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I'm trying to catch
burbot here.
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Burbot are a fish that feeds
on the bottom.
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I'm trying
to put the bait down
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right next to a bank here
where it drops off,
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where the burbot
may be swimming
along the edge.
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00:08:55,567 --> 00:08:57,567
So that's on the bottom
down there.
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00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,567
This cable is gonna
get frozen right in.
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00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,733
I'll come over
and chip it out tomorrow.
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00:09:06,767 --> 00:09:08,933
Got my first hole,
I'd like to make a lot more.
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00:09:09,533 --> 00:09:11,000
The more holes I put in,
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00:09:11,033 --> 00:09:13,300
the better chance I got
of catching some fish.
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00:09:35,300 --> 00:09:37,167
There, that's the last one.
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00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:38,533
That's good,
I got a good chance
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00:09:38,567 --> 00:09:40,500
of catching something
with all those holes out here.
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00:09:41,933 --> 00:09:43,000
I'm gonna
leave them overnight,
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00:09:43,033 --> 00:09:44,233
come back tomorrow
and check them.
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00:09:45,300 --> 00:09:46,967
Hopefully I'll have some fish.
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00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,600
SUE: A lot of people go remote
and they just go crazy.
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00:09:52,633 --> 00:09:54,333
For me, that tends
to happen more
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00:09:54,367 --> 00:09:57,533
if I go to town
and I stay far longer
than I had planned on,
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00:09:57,567 --> 00:09:59,000
or I can't get out.
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00:09:59,033 --> 00:10:00,567
I call it getting town flu.
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00:10:07,233 --> 00:10:08,700
SUE: All right.
Well, thank you.
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00:10:08,733 --> 00:10:10,000
MAN: Take care,
we'll see you, Susan.
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00:10:10,033 --> 00:10:11,800
NARRATOR: Sue Aikens
has spent several days
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00:10:11,833 --> 00:10:14,467
in Fairbanks recovering
from a foot procedure.
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00:10:14,500 --> 00:10:17,933
Fully healed,
she plans to go home to Kavik
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00:10:17,967 --> 00:10:20,633
but a massive blizzard
stands in her way.
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00:10:20,667 --> 00:10:22,100
SUE: Flight's been called.
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00:10:22,133 --> 00:10:23,500
Which means,
cancelled for the day,
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00:10:23,533 --> 00:10:25,000
they're not even gonna
keep trying.
201
00:10:25,033 --> 00:10:27,900
My brain is going, "Get home,
get home, get home."
202
00:10:27,933 --> 00:10:30,300
I got the gen running,
I got the fuel tanks.
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00:10:30,333 --> 00:10:33,333
I don't know if there's
animals running around.
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00:10:33,367 --> 00:10:34,967
I don't know what's going on.
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00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:37,533
NARRATOR:
With the possibility of
being stranded in town
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00:10:37,567 --> 00:10:38,900
for another week,
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00:10:38,933 --> 00:10:40,833
Sue's arranged
for a bush pilot
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00:10:40,867 --> 00:10:42,933
to fly her out of
Prudhoe Bay.
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00:10:42,967 --> 00:10:45,400
All she has to do
is get there.
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00:10:45,433 --> 00:10:46,933
SUE: I decided
to get a vehicle
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00:10:46,967 --> 00:10:49,400
and drive the 500 miles
up the haul road.
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00:10:49,433 --> 00:10:51,200
A lot of people
call it the ice road.
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00:10:51,233 --> 00:10:53,167
Five hundred mile
stretch of road
214
00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,467
that is just nothing
but ice, snow,
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00:10:56,500 --> 00:10:58,400
and some of the worst
conditions you've got.
216
00:11:01,233 --> 00:11:03,033
"This is the state of Alaska,
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00:11:03,067 --> 00:11:05,100
"travel advisory's
been updated.
218
00:11:05,133 --> 00:11:08,767
"Blizzard conditions,
high winds, gusts up to 50.
219
00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:10,167
"Blowing snow, drifting snow,
220
00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,633
"poor visibility,
less than 200 feet.
221
00:11:12,667 --> 00:11:14,267
"Travel is not recommended."
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00:11:14,300 --> 00:11:16,267
Well, they don't live where
I live, and I gotta get home.
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00:11:35,033 --> 00:11:38,000
Two days of dangerous driving,
it's on the list.
224
00:11:38,033 --> 00:11:41,400
I just gotta strap myself
in a seat and get it though.
225
00:11:41,433 --> 00:11:43,433
You know,
that's just part of who I am.
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00:11:43,467 --> 00:11:46,333
I cannot justify staying
another week or two
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00:11:46,367 --> 00:11:48,467
and just saying,
"Wow, it's pretty bad.
228
00:11:48,500 --> 00:11:50,833
"I guess I'm just gonna have
to take it in the shorts."
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00:11:50,867 --> 00:11:53,900
My way of thinking is,
"Wow, it's pretty bad.
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00:11:53,933 --> 00:11:57,600
"I better go tame that tiger,
get up the road
and get out home."
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00:11:57,633 --> 00:12:00,433
I am responsible for camp.
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00:12:00,467 --> 00:12:02,633
Camp repre...
If I have the camp
233
00:12:02,667 --> 00:12:05,333
and I have a business,
then I have a right to stay
234
00:12:05,367 --> 00:12:07,300
and live my life
where I wanna live it.
235
00:12:07,333 --> 00:12:11,433
If I lose that camp,
I can't afford to rebuild.
236
00:12:11,467 --> 00:12:14,533
I will lose that lifestyle
whether I want to or not.
237
00:12:21,467 --> 00:12:24,633
Looking further north,
as we approach,
238
00:12:24,667 --> 00:12:26,033
we go further up the road
239
00:12:26,067 --> 00:12:28,000
and we approach the brooks
240
00:12:28,033 --> 00:12:29,767
and the foothills
of the mountains.
241
00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,333
The closer we get,
you've got the fog
242
00:12:32,367 --> 00:12:35,567
and the storm that's blasting
the north slope,
243
00:12:36,167 --> 00:12:37,367
hanging out there.
244
00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:39,267
I mean, you're still hundreds
of miles away
245
00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:40,600
from where the real action is.
246
00:12:41,233 --> 00:12:43,733
But the storm systems
247
00:12:43,767 --> 00:12:46,967
fan out, filter out,
and find their own boundaries.
248
00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,000
-I'm going right
into the thick of it.
-(METAL CLANKS)
249
00:12:53,467 --> 00:12:54,833
Are you fucking kidding me?
250
00:12:59,467 --> 00:13:02,067
I was coming up
the pass and...
(IMITATES METAL CLANKING)
251
00:13:02,100 --> 00:13:03,700
I mean, it sounded
definitely metal
252
00:13:03,733 --> 00:13:05,700
and boom,
hit the undercarriage.
253
00:13:05,733 --> 00:13:07,300
And, oh, here's one.
254
00:13:08,300 --> 00:13:09,333
Let's see.
255
00:13:11,767 --> 00:13:13,500
I don't know what it is.
256
00:13:13,533 --> 00:13:15,000
That's got to be
the other half.
257
00:13:18,133 --> 00:13:19,767
Some kind of a...
258
00:13:22,267 --> 00:13:24,433
...joint or a fastener,
I don't know.
259
00:13:24,467 --> 00:13:26,800
Brakes or whatever,
I'm not quite sure.
260
00:13:27,867 --> 00:13:31,000
Came tumbling off and busted.
261
00:13:31,033 --> 00:13:34,133
So hopefully
it ain't important.
262
00:13:34,567 --> 00:13:35,567
We'll see.
263
00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:41,800
So I'm 170 miles
from the next destination
264
00:13:41,833 --> 00:13:44,367
that might be able
to help me out.
265
00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:47,467
And still good to go.
I'm gonna go slowly,
266
00:13:49,467 --> 00:13:52,800
make sure I'm not
gonna break down.
267
00:13:54,333 --> 00:13:56,800
Go forward,
make sure I got brakes.
268
00:13:58,567 --> 00:13:59,700
Yep.
269
00:14:04,067 --> 00:14:07,733
There's two theories,
go fast, get there quick
270
00:14:07,767 --> 00:14:09,600
before you have
another problem.
271
00:14:09,633 --> 00:14:13,467
Or go slow in case
you drop your drive train
272
00:14:13,500 --> 00:14:14,933
and have to make out
with the trees
273
00:14:14,967 --> 00:14:17,233
on the side of the road.
274
00:14:17,267 --> 00:14:20,967
Now, if my wheel passes me
on one of these sections
275
00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:24,733
then I know it probably
was a bad idea to progress.
276
00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:32,733
We are about 50, 60 miles
still from the storm.
277
00:14:32,767 --> 00:14:36,900
I much, much, much
wanted to be there
in the daytime so I could see.
278
00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,033
It enhances my comfort level.
279
00:14:40,067 --> 00:14:42,533
You know,
it's already darkening
280
00:14:43,100 --> 00:14:45,333
towards night time.
281
00:14:45,367 --> 00:14:48,167
And we're only 2:00-something
in the afternoon.
282
00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,400
So you've only,
you know, tiny little window.
283
00:14:51,433 --> 00:14:55,200
But the further north I go,
the tinier that window gets.
284
00:14:57,467 --> 00:15:02,133
You know, you're heading
into the long night of winter.
285
00:15:02,167 --> 00:15:04,300
Would have increased
my comfort level
286
00:15:04,333 --> 00:15:07,433
just to hit the creepy patch
287
00:15:07,467 --> 00:15:08,967
during the light.
288
00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:13,833
That way if I do miscalculate
and end up in the tundra,
289
00:15:13,867 --> 00:15:15,867
at least in my brain
somebody might pass
290
00:15:15,900 --> 00:15:17,067
and see me sitting there.
291
00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:21,567
GLENN: I live simple
and I live close to nature.
292
00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,067
I love nature,
I love the wilderness,
293
00:15:23,100 --> 00:15:24,767
that's why I live in Alaska.
294
00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:26,733
There's no place left
where you can do this.
295
00:15:36,933 --> 00:15:38,967
I got 15 hooks
out on the lake,
296
00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:40,933
good chance
I caught something.
297
00:15:40,967 --> 00:15:43,433
Here's the first hook,
I'm gonna check it.
298
00:15:43,467 --> 00:15:44,867
It's been in there
since yesterday.
299
00:15:44,900 --> 00:15:45,967
Hopefully I've got fish.
300
00:15:50,300 --> 00:15:51,833
The water
has refrozen overnight.
301
00:15:51,867 --> 00:15:55,067
The hook's down there on the
bottom with some bait on it.
302
00:15:55,100 --> 00:15:58,400
I've got to chip it out,
see if I got a fish.
303
00:16:10,700 --> 00:16:11,700
Nothing.
304
00:16:12,567 --> 00:16:14,033
Put it back down there.
305
00:16:16,733 --> 00:16:19,167
It's only been one night.
I'm just getting started.
306
00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,733
Can't be discouraged
just 'cause there's not
a fish on it.
307
00:16:21,767 --> 00:16:24,833
I'll put it back down in,
come check it again tomorrow.
308
00:16:25,667 --> 00:16:26,767
Onto the next hole.
309
00:16:35,533 --> 00:16:36,567
Nothing.
310
00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:38,833
That's the way it goes.
311
00:16:38,867 --> 00:16:42,167
Sometimes the fish are here
and sometimes they're not.
312
00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,200
It requires patience,
like a lot of things,
313
00:16:45,967 --> 00:16:47,000
the way I live.
314
00:16:47,033 --> 00:16:48,100
You have to be patient.
315
00:16:54,533 --> 00:16:55,533
Nothing.
316
00:17:00,233 --> 00:17:01,433
Nothing on that one.
317
00:17:04,700 --> 00:17:06,533
I might catch fish
and I might not.
318
00:17:06,567 --> 00:17:08,400
But I won't know
if I don't try.
319
00:17:19,967 --> 00:17:23,100
I haven't gotten any fish yet,
but that's not surprising.
320
00:17:23,133 --> 00:17:25,133
It takes a lot of patience
to find food out here,
321
00:17:25,167 --> 00:17:26,433
it's really hungry country.
322
00:17:30,500 --> 00:17:31,500
Nothing.
323
00:17:34,100 --> 00:17:35,567
This is the last hole.
324
00:17:38,733 --> 00:17:40,633
Nope, no fish.
325
00:17:40,667 --> 00:17:44,400
I have caught fish here
at this time of year before
so I'm still optimistic.
326
00:17:44,433 --> 00:17:45,700
I'll put it back in.
327
00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:48,767
I'm gonna leave
all of these in overnight.
328
00:17:51,533 --> 00:17:53,433
Come back
and check again tomorrow.
329
00:17:56,433 --> 00:17:57,867
ANDY: I think everybody
in this world
330
00:17:57,900 --> 00:17:59,800
is just trying to make life
a little better,
331
00:17:59,833 --> 00:18:01,267
or a little easier
for themselves,
332
00:18:01,300 --> 00:18:04,167
a little more comfortable,
and that's our goal too.
333
00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,300
We just do it
in a very different place
than most people do.
334
00:18:14,467 --> 00:18:15,767
Haw, haw.
335
00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,433
Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa. Whoa.
336
00:18:19,467 --> 00:18:22,500
Good! All right!
That was good.
337
00:18:22,533 --> 00:18:24,500
KATE: Andy's harnessing up
the dogs right now
338
00:18:24,533 --> 00:18:28,300
and we're gonna take this boat
that we left here this fall,
339
00:18:28,333 --> 00:18:32,833
slap the motor in the boat,
and get the dogs to pull it
back up to high ground.
340
00:18:32,867 --> 00:18:35,100
ANDY: My boat
is in jeopardy right now.
341
00:18:35,133 --> 00:18:36,867
Once the river level
starts to come up,
342
00:18:36,900 --> 00:18:39,567
if it overflows
and locks that boat in
343
00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:41,033
I'm pretty much gonna lose it.
344
00:18:41,067 --> 00:18:42,967
This is a pretty valuable
boat to me.
345
00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,333
This is my running
in the ice boat
346
00:18:45,367 --> 00:18:47,267
and my real
shallow water boat.
347
00:18:58,667 --> 00:19:01,400
The idea is to hook
these dogs up to this boat
348
00:19:01,433 --> 00:19:03,300
and have them drag it up.
349
00:19:03,333 --> 00:19:05,200
It's just another one of those
things with the dogs,
350
00:19:05,233 --> 00:19:06,800
the more exposure
you give them
351
00:19:06,833 --> 00:19:08,800
for doing different
types of chores,
352
00:19:08,833 --> 00:19:10,533
the more well-rounded
they are,
353
00:19:10,567 --> 00:19:11,867
the more well-rounded
they are
354
00:19:11,900 --> 00:19:12,967
the more things
you can do with them.
355
00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:14,400
Plus, it's good exercise.
356
00:19:14,433 --> 00:19:17,867
And how many people get
to pull boats out with dogs?
(LAUGHS)
357
00:19:17,900 --> 00:19:19,200
Get up here
and hold the dogs
358
00:19:19,233 --> 00:19:20,700
so that they don't
take off, please.
359
00:19:21,633 --> 00:19:22,700
Stay!
360
00:19:23,633 --> 00:19:25,167
I'm pretty good with snow here
361
00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,433
but as soon as
I make the turn,
362
00:19:27,467 --> 00:19:31,100
the wind's blown a lot
of the snow off the trail.
363
00:19:31,133 --> 00:19:34,833
When aluminium hits rocks,
it just stops dead.
364
00:19:34,867 --> 00:19:37,500
And it doesn't take much
of a rock to stop a boat
365
00:19:37,533 --> 00:19:39,033
or anything that's aluminium.
366
00:19:39,067 --> 00:19:41,167
They... It's like glue.
367
00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:42,867
Tighten up! Let's go!
368
00:19:42,900 --> 00:19:45,900
Let's go!
Hup, hup, hup, hup! Hup!
369
00:19:45,933 --> 00:19:47,667
Twenty-eight paw power
pulling the boat.
370
00:19:49,500 --> 00:19:50,800
Hup, hup!
371
00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:53,567
Hup, hup, hup, hup!
372
00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:54,900
Come on! Hup, hup, hup.
373
00:19:54,933 --> 00:19:56,400
Come on! Hup, hup, hup.
374
00:19:59,367 --> 00:20:01,367
-KATE: Come on! Let's go!
-(DOGS WHINING)
375
00:20:02,033 --> 00:20:03,467
(ANDY CHUCKLES)
376
00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:06,200
It's a wide boat,
I had it tipped up.
377
00:20:06,233 --> 00:20:08,833
It probably has ice under it,
which doesn't slide good.
378
00:20:10,100 --> 00:20:12,367
And we've got rock
and sand here.
379
00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,100
Not good combinations
for sliding something over.
380
00:20:15,133 --> 00:20:16,500
(BARKING)
381
00:20:16,533 --> 00:20:19,833
Let's go! Good, tighten up.
Hup, hup!
382
00:20:19,867 --> 00:20:22,300
Attaboys! Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Let's go!
383
00:20:22,333 --> 00:20:23,400
Hup, hup, hup.
384
00:20:23,433 --> 00:20:24,867
Hup, hup, hup.
385
00:20:24,900 --> 00:20:29,000
Attaboys! Attaboys! Let's go!
Hup, hup, hup, hup.
386
00:20:29,033 --> 00:20:31,067
Yeah! Good boys!
387
00:20:32,067 --> 00:20:33,067
Whoo-hoo!
388
00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:36,400
Bye!
389
00:20:36,833 --> 00:20:39,067
Whoa! Whoa!
390
00:20:39,100 --> 00:20:42,833
I had the option of using
more dogs to begin with,
391
00:20:42,867 --> 00:20:44,433
but there's no way
once they got it going
392
00:20:44,467 --> 00:20:45,800
I'd be able
to keep up with them.
393
00:20:47,033 --> 00:20:49,333
So it's kind of
a balance between
394
00:20:49,367 --> 00:20:53,300
having enough dog power
and having control.
395
00:20:53,333 --> 00:20:56,800
So, and this job's done
for the day.
396
00:20:56,833 --> 00:20:59,500
This job's done
for the season, actually.
397
00:20:59,533 --> 00:21:03,033
-Yay! Good boy, Cougy.
-Hey, Briggus! Briggus!
398
00:21:03,067 --> 00:21:06,267
Good boy, Cougy,
you like pets, don't you?
399
00:21:06,300 --> 00:21:09,700
SUE: Kavik, to everybody else
maybe it's just a location,
400
00:21:09,733 --> 00:21:12,767
it's a spot on the map,
it's a GPS coordinate.
401
00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:15,500
But I have
an emotional, visceral
402
00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,367
relationship with that place.
403
00:21:32,633 --> 00:21:36,767
One of the benefits of driving
this time of the day/night
404
00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:38,733
is most people
405
00:21:40,167 --> 00:21:42,367
would consider this foolhardy
406
00:21:43,833 --> 00:21:47,333
because your vision
is impaired,
407
00:21:47,367 --> 00:21:54,400
but I am battling less
oncoming traffic around me.
408
00:21:54,433 --> 00:21:57,167
For somebody who doesn't drive
but like once a decade,
409
00:21:58,100 --> 00:21:59,300
that's important to me.
410
00:21:59,333 --> 00:22:02,100
I kind of feel like I'm the
only person on the planet.
411
00:22:02,133 --> 00:22:05,533
But, yeah,
I'm still a long ways away
from the brunt of the storm
412
00:22:07,767 --> 00:22:09,367
but visibility is impaired.
413
00:22:11,633 --> 00:22:14,533
NARRATOR:
With a blizzard grounding
all flights out of Fairbanks,
414
00:22:14,567 --> 00:22:18,167
Sue has 48 hours to drive up
the deadly Dalton Highway
415
00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:21,700
to make the only available
flight back to Kavik.
416
00:22:29,300 --> 00:22:31,767
SUE: Kind of shimmying
a bit here.
417
00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:35,700
So we are now
approaching Coldfoot,
418
00:22:35,733 --> 00:22:38,167
which is sort of the
halfway mark up the haul road.
419
00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:39,500
Maybe a little bit more
than half.
420
00:22:41,233 --> 00:22:43,933
I need to get fuel.
It's the one gas station.
421
00:22:46,167 --> 00:22:49,033
You don't really wanna
park the car overnight
422
00:22:49,067 --> 00:22:51,467
if the temps are gonna
get real low
423
00:22:51,500 --> 00:22:55,967
and let that condensation
ice up in your tank.
424
00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,500
I made more than 50%
of the journey tonight.
425
00:22:58,533 --> 00:23:01,233
And I think the wise course
of action is fuel up,
426
00:23:01,267 --> 00:23:02,867
kip out for a few hours
427
00:23:02,900 --> 00:23:04,667
and then hit the road
as soon as it's light.
428
00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:07,667
There we go.
The rust princess has food.
429
00:23:10,133 --> 00:23:12,267
I still have no idea
430
00:23:12,300 --> 00:23:14,500
what the part was that
fell off of the vehicle.
431
00:23:14,533 --> 00:23:16,733
But everything seems to be
working all right
432
00:23:16,767 --> 00:23:18,767
so I'm gonna keep risking it.
433
00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:22,700
You know, until it goes
tits up, you're doing good.
434
00:23:22,733 --> 00:23:24,333
So that's where I'm at.
435
00:23:29,100 --> 00:23:30,967
GLENN: In the modern world,
people don't think about
436
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:32,800
being so patient
to get what they want
437
00:23:32,833 --> 00:23:34,267
because things come
a lot easier.
438
00:23:36,633 --> 00:23:38,700
Out here, things come
with more effort.
439
00:23:49,933 --> 00:23:51,900
(EXHALES)
440
00:23:51,933 --> 00:23:56,367
It's 17 below zero.
Typical for this time
of the year.
441
00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:58,367
I'm gonna go check
my fish lines.
442
00:23:59,567 --> 00:24:01,533
So far I haven't caught
any fish.
443
00:24:01,567 --> 00:24:03,300
I just have to keep looking.
444
00:24:05,733 --> 00:24:08,433
One thing about the way
I live out here is that
445
00:24:08,467 --> 00:24:10,933
it requires a lot of patience.
All of the hunting I do,
446
00:24:10,967 --> 00:24:12,000
the fishing, trapping,
447
00:24:12,033 --> 00:24:14,200
everything, requires
a lot of patience.
448
00:24:14,233 --> 00:24:17,967
It's not uncommon
to expend a lot of effort
449
00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,033
and not get
any immediate result.
450
00:24:20,067 --> 00:24:21,500
There have been years
when I've had
451
00:24:21,533 --> 00:24:24,333
lines out in this same area
at this time of year,
452
00:24:24,367 --> 00:24:27,600
same set up and caught fish.
This year I might not.
453
00:24:27,633 --> 00:24:29,533
You never know until you try.
454
00:24:32,533 --> 00:24:33,600
(GLENN SPEAKING)
455
00:24:42,333 --> 00:24:44,333
Yeah. Nothing.
456
00:24:44,367 --> 00:24:46,700
The life out here's spread
really thin over the land.
457
00:24:46,733 --> 00:24:51,500
It's really harsh country
and it can't support
a lot of life.
458
00:24:51,533 --> 00:24:53,367
It doesn't feel like
there's one on there.
459
00:24:59,167 --> 00:25:01,800
When I started
I just had a few inches
of ice,
460
00:25:01,833 --> 00:25:03,333
now it's a foot thick.
461
00:25:03,367 --> 00:25:05,167
That's a huge difference
when I'm chiselling
462
00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:06,933
with a hand chisel
through that ice.
463
00:25:06,967 --> 00:25:08,333
I'm expending
way more calories
464
00:25:08,367 --> 00:25:10,467
than I'm likely to gain
out here.
465
00:25:17,667 --> 00:25:18,800
This is the last hole.
466
00:25:21,067 --> 00:25:22,767
My last chance
to get a fish today.
467
00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:31,900
My last hook.
468
00:25:33,300 --> 00:25:37,167
Doesn't feel like
anything's on it. Nothing.
469
00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:38,900
I didn't catch a single fish.
470
00:25:40,867 --> 00:25:44,167
The ice fishing
is never spectacular out here
471
00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:45,967
but I have caught fish
at this time of year
472
00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,967
with the same technique
in the same area.
473
00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:50,667
Right now they're not biting
for whatever reason.
474
00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:51,800
I wouldn't know until I tried.
475
00:25:51,833 --> 00:25:53,833
But now that I've tried
for a couple of days
476
00:25:53,867 --> 00:25:55,567
and checked the lines
and got nothing,
477
00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:57,200
I'm not gonna
keep working at it
478
00:25:57,233 --> 00:25:58,433
because it's just
a waste of energy.
479
00:26:01,967 --> 00:26:04,733
I'm disappointed
I didn't catch any fish
480
00:26:04,767 --> 00:26:07,867
but that just goes
with the territory out here.
It's hungry country.
481
00:26:07,900 --> 00:26:09,533
Things don't always pay off.
482
00:26:09,567 --> 00:26:11,067
You gotta know when it's time
to cut your losses
483
00:26:11,100 --> 00:26:12,567
and move on
to the next project.
484
00:26:14,500 --> 00:26:15,800
CHIP: You're gonna work.
485
00:26:15,833 --> 00:26:18,100
You can do it
smiling or crying
but you're gonna work.
486
00:26:18,133 --> 00:26:21,600
So we put the
fun factor into it all
and I think it really helps.
487
00:26:35,133 --> 00:26:36,567
(WHIRRING)
488
00:26:41,733 --> 00:26:44,633
Well, what I've got here are
a couple sheets of plywood.
489
00:26:44,667 --> 00:26:47,200
The plywood is gonna get
nailed on the outside
490
00:26:47,233 --> 00:26:48,767
of this right here.
491
00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:50,700
NARRATOR:
With winter bearing down,
492
00:26:50,733 --> 00:26:53,967
Chip scrambles
to finish his freight sled.
493
00:26:54,000 --> 00:26:56,267
Basically armouring up a sled
for heavy work.
494
00:26:59,700 --> 00:27:01,233
Giving this thing
some protection because
495
00:27:01,267 --> 00:27:03,367
your sled, especially
if a real heavy weight,
496
00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:05,433
and we don't really have
a road up here that's clear...
497
00:27:05,467 --> 00:27:08,200
You're always hitting ice
and logs,
498
00:27:08,233 --> 00:27:10,733
and snow banks
and all kinds of crazy stuff.
499
00:27:10,767 --> 00:27:14,400
Just plain old, frozen
concrete hard ground.
500
00:27:14,433 --> 00:27:17,467
And this sheet of plywood
gives it some integrity
on the outside.
501
00:27:19,067 --> 00:27:20,767
A lot of times
I get a couple of years
out of a sled.
502
00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,367
It will be good for one year
and then I'll have a year
where it's repaired
503
00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:25,467
and then I'll just have a year
where I walk away from it.
504
00:27:31,700 --> 00:27:34,200
There's a division of labour
between men and women.
505
00:27:34,233 --> 00:27:35,733
I'm taking care
of the new freight sled
506
00:27:35,767 --> 00:27:38,667
and my wife is
making a sled bag
out of caribou skins.
507
00:27:38,700 --> 00:27:40,967
It will be windproof,
it will be warm
508
00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:43,433
and it will fit, because
she will make it custom fit.
509
00:27:43,467 --> 00:27:46,700
So right now we're just
threading all the needles
510
00:27:46,733 --> 00:27:50,433
that we're going to be using
since we have two thimbles
511
00:27:50,467 --> 00:27:52,067
and the girls are
looking for theirs.
512
00:27:52,100 --> 00:27:53,533
This is going to be the back.
513
00:27:54,467 --> 00:27:56,033
And it will hang over
like this.
514
00:27:56,067 --> 00:27:59,633
But it will be the other way.
The hair will be towards us.
515
00:27:59,667 --> 00:28:02,000
The more girls that sew
the faster we get done.
516
00:28:02,033 --> 00:28:04,033
It's kind of a large project.
517
00:28:04,067 --> 00:28:07,533
But it's a big skin so
it's not too many stitches.
518
00:28:09,933 --> 00:28:11,800
Carolyn, you know
to tie your knots
519
00:28:11,833 --> 00:28:13,767
every eight to
twelve stitches?
520
00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:16,000
No, but I'm checking it
on Qutan's.
521
00:28:16,033 --> 00:28:17,233
TING: There you go, Mary.
522
00:28:17,267 --> 00:28:19,967
-Oh, you can't thread it?
-MARY: Yeah, yeah. It, um...
523
00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,500
AGNES: It's real
important for these girls
524
00:28:21,533 --> 00:28:22,833
to learn how to sew.
525
00:28:22,867 --> 00:28:25,167
It was real important
that I learned to sew
526
00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:27,000
that I can pass this on
to my girls.
527
00:28:27,033 --> 00:28:28,767
And hopefully
they'll be able
528
00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:31,733
to pass it on
to their daughters.
529
00:28:31,767 --> 00:28:33,867
I always sew from
the top to the bottom.
530
00:28:33,900 --> 00:28:35,100
You always sew
from the bottom.
531
00:28:35,133 --> 00:28:36,800
-That's how I always sew.
-Like this, this, yeah?
532
00:28:36,833 --> 00:28:39,067
From the top to the bottom.
From the top to the bottom.
533
00:28:39,100 --> 00:28:40,867
-IDI: You guys
go to your hand?
-I always go like this.
534
00:28:40,900 --> 00:28:42,800
Yeah, I always go to my hand.
535
00:28:42,833 --> 00:28:46,300
It's good to know that
these girls can easily know
536
00:28:46,333 --> 00:28:48,600
what I'm trying to do
and then just jump right in
537
00:28:48,633 --> 00:28:51,133
and help me
work on a project
and just get it done.
538
00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:58,733
SUE: You're getting by in life
or you're living your life.
539
00:28:58,767 --> 00:29:00,900
I mean, what are you going
to be proactive about?
540
00:29:00,933 --> 00:29:04,233
A couch potato doesn't take
a lot of proactive energy
541
00:29:04,267 --> 00:29:07,333
but surviving in
100 degrees below zero does.
542
00:29:22,933 --> 00:29:25,167
Day two on the road.
Kipped out overnight.
543
00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,433
You know, I just...
The conditions on the road
544
00:29:27,467 --> 00:29:30,167
were such that going up
the pass and hitting that
545
00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,867
bad storm,
no road maintenance.
I wasn't into it.
546
00:29:33,900 --> 00:29:37,200
It was late. I needed to
get fuel, get a little rest.
547
00:29:38,467 --> 00:29:40,667
I've got some mountain passes
to go through
548
00:29:40,700 --> 00:29:43,100
that are just
notorious killers.
549
00:29:43,133 --> 00:29:45,633
NARRATOR: Sue is
halfway to Prudhoe Bay.
550
00:29:45,667 --> 00:29:48,967
Once there, she'll hook up
with a bush pilot
and fly to Kavik.
551
00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:53,233
But first, she must navigate
the deadliest section
of the Dalton Highway.
552
00:29:54,733 --> 00:29:57,200
Looks like he's gonna take
your freakin' head off.
553
00:29:57,233 --> 00:29:59,633
I'm looking at the road
and I'm thinking,
554
00:29:59,667 --> 00:30:01,633
"How the hell am I supposed
to tell what my side is
555
00:30:01,667 --> 00:30:04,467
"without getting sucked off
in the ditch?" Hey, buddy.
556
00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:10,733
The road, it's theoretically
two semi loads wide.
557
00:30:11,933 --> 00:30:13,867
I can't see that.
558
00:30:13,900 --> 00:30:16,467
There's a tendency
just to drive in the centre.
559
00:30:17,767 --> 00:30:19,167
So, like you see
that dude doing.
560
00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:20,700
He's driving down
the centre of the road.
561
00:30:20,733 --> 00:30:25,167
So you end up with like one
semi load and a bit wide.
562
00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:26,433
So when
another truck's coming,
563
00:30:26,467 --> 00:30:29,633
I've got to pull off
into the snowfield.
564
00:30:29,667 --> 00:30:31,000
And I know
there's a ditch there
565
00:30:31,033 --> 00:30:32,533
and I don't want to get
sucked into it.
566
00:30:32,567 --> 00:30:34,067
'Cause that's what happens,
is you go off,
567
00:30:34,100 --> 00:30:35,867
you hit the soft, and
you're just sucked right in.
568
00:30:38,867 --> 00:30:42,500
We are now officially
on the north slope of Alaska.
569
00:30:42,533 --> 00:30:46,633
This road way up ahead,
that's Atigun Pass.
570
00:30:47,667 --> 00:30:51,367
And it is one mean,
571
00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:52,867
dicey little section of road.
572
00:30:52,900 --> 00:30:56,133
It's just a thin road
chopped into the hill.
573
00:30:56,167 --> 00:30:59,033
But on one side or the other,
generally you've got a lot of
574
00:30:59,067 --> 00:31:01,567
thousand-foot drops.
575
00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:06,667
So, you know, they try to
plough it, but for me
576
00:31:06,700 --> 00:31:10,967
it's a little intimidating.
Yeah, it's a little sketchy.
577
00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:14,633
It's a little icy
through this portion.
578
00:31:14,667 --> 00:31:18,533
Is Susie scared
of much in life?
This is a little spooky.
579
00:31:24,333 --> 00:31:27,100
This is a serious stretch
of road, man.
580
00:31:27,133 --> 00:31:29,267
Yeah, you're not making me go
too far over the edge, pal,
581
00:31:29,300 --> 00:31:31,867
-we've got to share the road.
Are you fucking kidding me?
-(TRUCK HORN HONKING)
582
00:31:36,433 --> 00:31:38,800
Okay. What happened,
I tried pulling over
583
00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:43,433
and that soft shoulder
sucked me in.
584
00:31:43,467 --> 00:31:46,700
It's not very far over
on that shoulder and
you get sucked in.
585
00:31:47,767 --> 00:31:49,067
I know they have
the right of way
586
00:31:49,100 --> 00:31:51,133
but do they have to be
so big about it?
587
00:31:51,167 --> 00:31:53,733
You know, the trucks passing
do make me nervous.
588
00:31:53,767 --> 00:31:58,100
At Kavik, there's nothing
out there charging at me
589
00:31:58,133 --> 00:32:00,933
except things
that aren't very good. So...
590
00:32:00,967 --> 00:32:04,167
It's kind of nerve racking
having people come at you.
591
00:32:17,367 --> 00:32:20,167
Okay, if you didn't have
those reflectors there,
592
00:32:21,100 --> 00:32:23,700
you tell me how
you're finding the road.
593
00:32:23,733 --> 00:32:25,867
Fuck. Seriously?
594
00:32:25,900 --> 00:32:28,400
I can't tell where the edge
of the fucking road is.
595
00:32:31,933 --> 00:32:35,033
Talk about your comfort zone
going down to zero.
596
00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:39,000
Would be a hell of a time
for whatever part
597
00:32:39,033 --> 00:32:41,267
it was that fell off
to become necessary.
598
00:32:45,633 --> 00:32:47,267
(SUE SPEAKING)
599
00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:57,500
So I made my destina...
Well, I'm not at my final
destination yet.
600
00:32:58,333 --> 00:33:00,300
But I made it to Prudhoe.
601
00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:02,000
Um...
602
00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:06,500
Plan of action is to...
603
00:33:06,533 --> 00:33:09,833
Ermie hasn't pottied
in the last 150 miles
604
00:33:09,867 --> 00:33:11,600
so she needs
to do her business.
605
00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:15,533
Come on, Erms.
606
00:33:15,567 --> 00:33:17,567
My goal's been achieved
this far.
607
00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:20,000
I'm here. I'm safe.
I'm tired.
608
00:33:20,733 --> 00:33:22,967
Come on, get in.
609
00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:28,200
And it's time to get to bed.
610
00:33:28,233 --> 00:33:29,333
Kavik, next stop.
611
00:33:30,900 --> 00:33:33,533
CHIP: A long time ago,
possessions were
a burden, literally,
612
00:33:33,567 --> 00:33:35,200
because you carried
everything you owned.
613
00:33:35,233 --> 00:33:37,267
And if those folks could live
with everything they owned
614
00:33:37,300 --> 00:33:39,733
able to be on their back,
so can we.
615
00:33:39,767 --> 00:33:42,033
You can do so well
with so little, it's crazy.
616
00:33:49,667 --> 00:33:53,000
Right here I'm putting
on screws to tack this down.
617
00:33:53,033 --> 00:33:54,367
NARRATOR: Chip puts
the finishing touches
618
00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:56,067
on his new freight sled.
619
00:33:56,100 --> 00:33:59,000
Soon, the Hailstones will
use their sled to travel
620
00:33:59,033 --> 00:34:02,833
to distant places to hunt,
fish, and trade.
621
00:34:02,867 --> 00:34:04,800
We waited about three weeks
for the lumber.
622
00:34:04,833 --> 00:34:07,600
We ordered it and then it got
stored while we waited for
623
00:34:07,633 --> 00:34:09,933
availability in a cargo plane
for it to come.
624
00:34:09,967 --> 00:34:13,133
And then it finally did
show up after a couple of days
and we were pretty happy.
625
00:34:17,233 --> 00:34:18,767
Well, my runners
are on straight.
626
00:34:18,800 --> 00:34:20,733
My wife and me have been
working on the sleds,
627
00:34:20,767 --> 00:34:22,233
getting ready for dark winter
to come.
628
00:34:22,267 --> 00:34:25,533
And she's made
a caribou skin bag
that is specifically made
629
00:34:25,567 --> 00:34:28,733
for our basket sled
for the girls to travel in
safely and warmly.
630
00:34:28,767 --> 00:34:30,367
AGNES: Watch out, Qutan,
Irene, while we put this.
631
00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:31,533
QUTAN: That's for loads, that.
632
00:34:32,767 --> 00:34:34,467
AGNES: Ah, it almost
dried too much.
633
00:34:34,500 --> 00:34:36,667
TING: I sewed this side
so I get to sit in it.
634
00:34:37,867 --> 00:34:40,233
Wow, I really like it.
It's just right sled.
635
00:34:40,267 --> 00:34:42,900
It's not too big
and not too small.
636
00:34:42,933 --> 00:34:44,833
It's the exact same type
of sled I've built
637
00:34:44,867 --> 00:34:47,333
-for about 20 years
in a row now.
-(CHUCKLES)
638
00:34:47,367 --> 00:34:50,267
So, yeah. Same measurement,
same look.
639
00:34:50,300 --> 00:34:54,033
Same height. Same parts.
Same pattern. Same design.
640
00:34:54,067 --> 00:34:55,200
CAROL: Dad?
CHIP: I think I've
accomplished it
641
00:34:55,233 --> 00:34:57,600
one more time. If you want it,
you make it yourself
642
00:34:57,633 --> 00:35:00,000
or you wait
a long time to get it,
or you just do without.
643
00:35:05,433 --> 00:35:07,833
AGNES: It feels real good
to have the caribou pad
on the sled
644
00:35:07,867 --> 00:35:10,033
and the kids riding in it.
645
00:35:10,067 --> 00:35:11,967
Now they understand
what it was all about
646
00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:13,700
and what process we take
to make it.
647
00:35:15,767 --> 00:35:18,867
CHIP: Well, this has been
a pretty good fall.
It's a pretty normal fall.
648
00:35:18,900 --> 00:35:20,400
We got the projects
we usually take care of
649
00:35:20,433 --> 00:35:22,033
at this time of year
taken care of.
650
00:35:22,067 --> 00:35:25,100
Now, freeze up is almost over,
the ice is a foot thick
651
00:35:25,133 --> 00:35:26,500
and people can make it
to Kotzebue
652
00:35:26,533 --> 00:35:28,967
and make it to Selawik,
and make it to Kiana.
653
00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:31,533
We can go places.
So it's time to bust loose,
654
00:35:31,567 --> 00:35:33,233
we're not stuck
at home any more.
655
00:35:33,267 --> 00:35:34,833
Freeze up's just about done.
656
00:35:41,633 --> 00:35:43,567
ANDY: Everybody does it
different out here.
657
00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:46,333
Everybody's got to find
their own methodology,
658
00:35:46,367 --> 00:35:49,933
their own equilibrium, and
their own bush economics.
659
00:35:53,167 --> 00:35:54,167
(DOG BARKING)
660
00:35:57,200 --> 00:35:59,733
Hey, hey, hey. Come on.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
661
00:35:59,767 --> 00:36:03,467
Come on. Come on.
Who's gonna go for a run?
662
00:36:03,500 --> 00:36:05,567
Hey, buddy, do you
wanna go for a run?
663
00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:07,267
Let's go break some trail.
664
00:36:07,300 --> 00:36:09,233
The challenge for me
this time of year
665
00:36:09,267 --> 00:36:11,833
is getting the miles on the
dogs early in the season.
666
00:36:11,867 --> 00:36:14,067
My rule of thumb is dogs
aren't really in shape
667
00:36:14,100 --> 00:36:16,300
until you get to about
1,000 miles on them.
668
00:36:16,333 --> 00:36:18,800
I need to be able to run
15 or 20 miles a day
669
00:36:18,833 --> 00:36:21,067
to really start getting
the dogs in shape.
670
00:36:21,100 --> 00:36:22,133
Okay, let's go!
671
00:36:30,867 --> 00:36:33,800
Given the current condition
of the Yukon River,
672
00:36:33,833 --> 00:36:36,933
it's gonna be even more
important for me to get trails
673
00:36:36,967 --> 00:36:40,533
in new places where I can run.
674
00:36:40,567 --> 00:36:44,167
Nice and easy
down the hill, guys.
Nice and easy.
675
00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:46,667
Nice and easy.
Nice and easy.
676
00:36:46,700 --> 00:36:49,367
Attaboys. Nice and easy.
Good boys.
677
00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:52,833
This is kind
of an exploratory trip.
I have no idea how...
678
00:36:52,867 --> 00:36:54,567
What I'm gonna
run up against here.
679
00:36:56,467 --> 00:36:57,533
Oh, shit.
680
00:37:00,333 --> 00:37:04,333
Ah! Okay.
Straight ahead, boys.
681
00:37:04,367 --> 00:37:06,900
Whoa! All right, time
for some chain sawing.
682
00:37:07,667 --> 00:37:08,833
(CHAINSAW WHIRRING)
683
00:37:12,533 --> 00:37:15,233
The last thing I want
to do is get slapped
in the face or bust my sled.
684
00:37:15,267 --> 00:37:18,033
So I'm gonna do a little bit
of cutting here and clear
685
00:37:18,067 --> 00:37:19,600
some of this brush
out of the trail.
686
00:37:20,433 --> 00:37:22,933
A never-ending job out here.
687
00:37:22,967 --> 00:37:25,867
I like taking the time to cut
trails out and make them good.
688
00:37:26,633 --> 00:37:28,700
Everybody tries
to do their part
689
00:37:28,733 --> 00:37:30,633
locally to maintain trails.
690
00:37:30,667 --> 00:37:33,467
And this is close to home
and I'm gonna use it
691
00:37:33,500 --> 00:37:35,000
so I'm the one
who's got to cut it out.
692
00:37:37,367 --> 00:37:39,333
I think we're good
for a little bit here.
693
00:37:39,367 --> 00:37:40,667
(DOGS WHIMPERING)
694
00:37:40,700 --> 00:37:41,767
(BARKING)
695
00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:45,233
Hey! Hey!
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!
696
00:37:45,267 --> 00:37:47,033
Hey, hey, hey! Hey!
697
00:37:47,067 --> 00:37:48,467
Hey!
698
00:37:48,500 --> 00:37:50,867
All right, enough of that.
699
00:37:50,900 --> 00:37:54,233
I just had a little bit
of a tussle between
Cougaran and Shilling here.
700
00:37:54,267 --> 00:37:56,533
They're both brothers but
sometimes they just kind of
701
00:37:56,567 --> 00:37:58,900
bump into each other,
the other one gets pissed off
702
00:37:58,933 --> 00:38:00,867
and they get into
a little bit of a thing.
703
00:38:00,900 --> 00:38:03,067
Just a little bit of a tussle
between two brothers.
704
00:38:03,100 --> 00:38:06,633
They don't wanna
stand around in harness.
They wanna work.
705
00:38:11,533 --> 00:38:14,033
There's no better match in
this country than getting out
706
00:38:14,067 --> 00:38:17,033
and living out in the bush
and having good dogs with you.
707
00:38:17,833 --> 00:38:19,133
They're great companions.
708
00:38:19,167 --> 00:38:21,667
They just lift my heart
whenever I'm around them.
709
00:38:21,700 --> 00:38:23,000
They're always
wagging their tail
710
00:38:23,033 --> 00:38:24,467
and they're happy to see you.
711
00:38:24,500 --> 00:38:26,767
That just puts a smile
on my face.
712
00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:29,800
Attaboy.
Straight ahead. Good.
713
00:38:29,833 --> 00:38:31,700
Straight ahead.
Straight across.
714
00:38:31,733 --> 00:38:34,033
Haw, haw. Haw, haw.
715
00:38:34,067 --> 00:38:35,633
Haw, haw.
716
00:38:35,667 --> 00:38:36,667
Good.
717
00:38:37,933 --> 00:38:39,300
Whoa. Whoa.
718
00:38:42,567 --> 00:38:45,067
Well, I think I'm at
a dead end here.
719
00:38:45,100 --> 00:38:47,233
I'm really, really nervous
when I get on these rivers
720
00:38:47,267 --> 00:38:49,467
and I see this
open water like this.
721
00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:56,533
That's why I don't
wanna go here.
722
00:38:56,567 --> 00:38:59,700
This is dangerous stuff.
Some of this water is deep,
723
00:38:59,733 --> 00:39:02,633
some of it shallow,
but it's all fast.
724
00:39:02,667 --> 00:39:05,767
I'm out there by myself,
so something happens,
725
00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:07,467
I'm pretty much toast.
726
00:39:07,500 --> 00:39:09,700
There's nobody to come out
and help me out there.
727
00:39:09,733 --> 00:39:11,400
I don't think
I wanna continue on here.
728
00:39:11,433 --> 00:39:14,500
I think this is a...
It's not worth the risk.
729
00:39:14,533 --> 00:39:15,767
I don't wanna go here
with the dogs,
730
00:39:15,800 --> 00:39:18,600
I don't wanna come this way
with the snow machine later.
731
00:39:18,633 --> 00:39:21,300
I'm gonna have to wait for
some 20, 30 below temperatures
732
00:39:21,333 --> 00:39:23,533
to start getting
this all to freeze up
733
00:39:23,567 --> 00:39:26,100
before I think it's safe
to go in this area.
734
00:39:28,733 --> 00:39:31,167
Got a dead end, boys.
735
00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:34,000
You guys are all good dogs,
that was good trail-breaking.
736
00:39:34,033 --> 00:39:37,567
Hit a dead end, but it's
a good day's adventure.
737
00:39:37,600 --> 00:39:39,700
Dogs had a ball
breaking the trail out.
738
00:39:39,733 --> 00:39:41,300
It was good training for them.
739
00:39:41,333 --> 00:39:42,900
Hey! Let's go! Let's go!
740
00:39:42,933 --> 00:39:45,633
Any day you come back from
a good, fun dog mushing trip
741
00:39:45,667 --> 00:39:49,733
and all the dogs
are wagging their tails,
it's been a good day.
742
00:39:52,833 --> 00:39:55,433
SUE: I try to be a good person
every single day,
743
00:39:55,467 --> 00:39:57,500
I try to giggle
more than I cry
744
00:39:57,533 --> 00:40:00,067
and I have the inquisitiveness
of a 5-year-old.
745
00:40:00,100 --> 00:40:03,667
I see no reason
to graduate kindergarten.
I get snacks and naps.
746
00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:22,767
It's the last little leg.
It's the last leg and you get
747
00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:25,400
to go home and see
your little Slinky friend.
748
00:40:27,467 --> 00:40:29,467
The winds have died down
considerably
749
00:40:29,500 --> 00:40:31,400
so we're gonna go ahead
and make a stab at it,
750
00:40:31,433 --> 00:40:32,700
try to get into Kavik,
751
00:40:32,733 --> 00:40:34,700
see what is or isn't
happening out there,
752
00:40:34,733 --> 00:40:36,900
how it rode the storm.
If it's there.
753
00:40:36,933 --> 00:40:38,733
Hopefully I've got
a camp standing
754
00:40:38,767 --> 00:40:41,500
and there's just a few
erroneous things
that happened.
755
00:40:41,533 --> 00:40:42,967
You know, small problems.
756
00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:44,533
But I won't know
until I get there.
757
00:40:48,167 --> 00:40:50,267
NARRATOR: Treacherous
flying conditions in Fairbanks
758
00:40:50,300 --> 00:40:53,833
forced Sue to drive
500 miles to Prudhoe Bay.
759
00:40:53,867 --> 00:40:55,367
From here,
she'll embark on the
760
00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:57,333
last leg of the
journey to Kavik.
761
00:41:11,867 --> 00:41:12,933
Okay.
762
00:41:12,967 --> 00:41:14,100
SUE: A storm like this,
I mean,
763
00:41:14,133 --> 00:41:16,467
I could have all my
buildings gone, they're tents.
764
00:41:16,500 --> 00:41:20,200
The trailers will be there
but my tents, my shop,
my storage closet,
765
00:41:20,233 --> 00:41:22,900
the Twinkie, the dining hall,
that may be compromised.
766
00:41:22,933 --> 00:41:25,867
And landing is kind of
a goofy deal.
767
00:41:25,900 --> 00:41:27,567
I'm not there maintaining
the runway.
768
00:41:27,600 --> 00:41:30,467
When I can't maintain it,
I can't tell you how it is
for landing.
769
00:41:38,667 --> 00:41:39,667
(SUE SPEAKING)
770
00:41:45,133 --> 00:41:46,400
(BOB SPEAKING)
771
00:41:47,633 --> 00:41:48,633
(SUE SPEAKING)
772
00:42:00,533 --> 00:42:02,867
(SUE SPEAKING)
773
00:42:05,267 --> 00:42:06,267
SUE: Here, little Ermie.
774
00:42:08,567 --> 00:42:10,367
I think I lucked the hell out.
775
00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:13,000
I do have some drifting
and a lot of snow piled up,
776
00:42:13,033 --> 00:42:15,933
but my buildings are up and
that is first and foremost.
777
00:42:15,967 --> 00:42:18,667
Come on, Ermie!
Where are you?
778
00:42:18,700 --> 00:42:22,500
It's your home! You are home!
779
00:42:23,367 --> 00:42:24,833
It's good to be home.
780
00:42:24,867 --> 00:42:26,900
Just a lot of hecticness
that I'm not used to,
781
00:42:26,933 --> 00:42:30,067
just trying to get in.
It feels like I've been...
782
00:42:30,100 --> 00:42:33,400
Well, I have been trying
for the last friggin' week
to get in here.
783
00:42:34,467 --> 00:42:35,900
Definitely a stress ball.
784
00:42:36,700 --> 00:42:38,233
Way better here
than I thought.
785
00:42:38,267 --> 00:42:41,533
It must have just been at that
30-mile point right there.
786
00:42:42,800 --> 00:42:44,900
Just like it was driving up.
787
00:42:44,933 --> 00:42:47,900
I mean, it was beautiful
until you hit that
30-mile wall
788
00:42:47,933 --> 00:42:49,500
and then it was all hell.
789
00:42:49,533 --> 00:42:52,400
-Well, I'm going back into it.
-Well, fly safe.
790
00:42:52,433 --> 00:42:53,900
-See you later.
-All right, you big...
791
00:42:53,933 --> 00:42:58,067
Feels good to be home and now
I can get back to the business
792
00:42:58,100 --> 00:42:59,633
of being Kavik.
62587
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