All language subtitles for Kingdoms of the Sky Series 1of3 The Rockies 1080p

NARRATOR: THE ROCKIES,

ONE OF THE WORLD'S
GREATEST MOUNTAIN RANGES.

STRETCHING FOR 3,000 MILES,

THEY ARE THE SPINE
OF NORTH AMERICA.

SURVIVAL IN
THIS UNTAMED WILDERNESS

REQUIRES SOMETHING EXCEPTIONAL,

BUT FOR THOSE
THAT CONQUER THIS WORLD,

THE PRIZE IS FREEDOM.

THEY ARE THE MOUNTAINS
WHERE SEASONS CAN CHANGE

IN MERE HOURS.

IN THIS HIGH LAND OF EXTREMES,

TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

SOME SEIZE THEIR MOMENT
IN THE WINTER,

TACKLING IT HEAD-ON.

OTHERS MAKE THEIR STAND
IN THE ROARING HEAT OF SUMMER.

IN THE ROCKIES,

THE ONE CONSTANT IS CHANGE,

AND SURVIVAL IS
NEVER CERTAIN.

ACROSS THE PLANET, THE STRUGGLE
TO SURVIVE CONTINUES

IN GREAT MOUNTAIN RANGES

THAT TOUCH THE SKIES...

HOSTILE, UNFORGIVING WORLDS

THAT PUSH LIFE TO ITS LIMITS,

WHERE A FEW
EXTRAORDINARY ANIMALS

AND REMARKABLE PEOPLE
DARE TO LIVE

IN THE HIGHEST PLACES ON EARTH.

NARRATOR: THE ROCKIES RUN
THE LENGTH OF NORTH AMERICA.

THEY RISE UP IN THE SOUTHWEST
AND TRAVEL NORTH

THROUGH COLORADO,
WYOMING, IDAHO, MONTANA,

THEN UP INTO CANADA, ALL THE WAY

TO THE FROZEN EDGE
OF THE YUKON.

LAID HORIZONTALLY,
THEY WOULD STRETCH

FROM NEW YORK TO CALIFORNIA.

SO MANY MOUNTAINS
THAT SOME DON'T EVEN HAVE NAMES.

THIS IS A WORLD WHERE,
EVEN TODAY,

THERE ARE UNEXPLORED STRETCHES
OF WILDERNESS.

ELK HERDS ROAM THE PEAKS,

GRIZZLIES RAISE THEIR YOUNG...

AND BISON RUN FREE.

THIS IS THE LAST GREAT SANCTUARY

OF THE ICONIC ANIMALS
OF NORTH AMERICA.

IT'S WINTER, ONLY TEN DEGREES.

THE DAYS ARE GETTING SHORT.

THE PERFECT TIME
FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENT

TO SHAKE THE ROCKIES.

WYOMING.

THIS IS BIGHORN SHEEP
TERRITORY,

NORMALLY CALM AND TRANQUIL.

BUT TODAY, A SCENT IS
IN THE AIR...

[SNORTING]

AND IT'S TURNING
THE MALES INTO WARRIORS.

IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENT
IN THEIR YEAR.

IN FACT, ALL THE MALES ARE
PICKING UP THE SCENT...

DRAWING IT UP INTO THE ROOF
OF THEIR MOUTHS...

ANALYZING THE SMELL.

THE FEMALES PRODUCE
THIS PERFUME ONLY

WHEN THEY'RE IN HEAT,

AND THAT'S JUST FOR TWO DAYS;

NOT A CHANCE
ANY SELF-RESPECTING,

RED-BLOODED RAM WANTS TO MISS...

BUT TO GET TO MATE,

THEY FIRST HAVE TO FIGHT
THE OTHER MALES.

IT BEGINS WITH PUSHING
AND SHOVING...

BUT QUICKLY GOES BELOW
THE BELT...

GOADING EACH OTHER,

SEEING WHO'S THE STRONGEST,

WHO'S UP FOR IT.

THIS IS THEIR ONE CHANCE IN
THE WHOLE YEAR TO FIND A MATE.

THEY'VE GOT TO TAKE IT.

THE HORNS ALONE CAN WEIGH
30 POUNDS...

AS MUCH AS THE REST
OF THEIR BONES.

IT'S THE BIGGEST RUMBLE
IN THE ROCKIES.

IT ECHOES FOR MILES
AROUND THE MOUNTAINS.

[CLAPPING SOUNDS ECHO]

CLASHING HORNS...

WITH 8 TIMES THE FORCE

THAT WOULD FRACTURE
A HUMAN SKULL.

OTHER CREATURES
WOULD GET BRAIN DAMAGE...

BUT BIGHORNS HAVE A DOUBLE LAYER
OF BONE IN THEIR SKULLS

TO ABSORB THE IMPACT.

THICK TENDONS JOIN
THE SKULL TO THE SPINE

TO HELP RECOIL
AND PREVENT WHIPLASH.

THE LOSERS ARE LEFT
WITH A SORE HEAD.

THEY'LL HAVE TO WAIT
A WHOLE YEAR

FOR ANOTHER CHANCE TO MATE.

THE VICTORS GET THE FEMALES.

THEY HAVE SEIZED
THEIR CHANCE AND WON,

AND CHOOSING THAT PERFECT MOMENT
IS THE SECRET

TO SUCCESS EVERYWHERE
IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

AND THAT'S FOR ONE
SIMPLE REASON:

THE WEATHER CHANGES QUICKER
HERE THAN IN ANY

OF THE OTHER GREAT
MOUNTAIN RANGES.

THE GREATEST DAILY
TEMPERATURE SWING IN THE WORLD

WAS RECORDED IN THE ROCKIES,

A 100-DEGREE CHANGE
IN JUST 24 HOURS.

BUT THE SEASONAL SWING
IS EVEN BIGGER.

THE SUMMERS ARE
SCORCHING AND DRY.

EVERY YEAR, 700,000 ACRES
GO UP IN SMOKE.

TEMPERATURES CAN SOAR
UP TO 110 DEGREES.

IN THE WINTER,
THE AVALANCHES RIP DOWN

AT 80 MILES PER HOUR.

THERE'S 100,000 EVERY YEAR.

TEMPERATURES CAN PLUMMET
TO MINUS 40,

COLD ENOUGH TO FREEZE
THE MERCURY IN A THERMOMETER.

EACH DAY BRINGS
DIFFERENT EXTREMES

AND CHALLENGES IN THESE
EVER-CHANGING ROCKIES.

[WIND HOWLING]

BY MID-WINTER,
THE WORLD IS FROZEN SOLID.

WATER VAPOR CRYSTALLIZED
BY THE FROZEN AIR

FORMS DIAMOND DUST.

AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,

THERE ARE 16 HOURS OF NIGHT.

THIS DARKNESS BECOMES A STAGE

FOR AN INCREDIBLE SPECTACLE.

AS PARTICLES FROM THE SUN HIT
THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE,

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
ILLUMINATE THE ROCKIES.

BUT THIS QUIET BEAUTY
IS DECEPTIVE.

THE WEATHER CAN BE BRUTAL.

FREEZING WINDS CAN REACH
200 MILES PER HOUR.

IT CAN SNOW 6 FEET IN A DAY.

FOR MOST, IT IS A TIME
OF HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING.

BUT HERE IN THE FAR NORTH
OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES,

IT'S THE PERFECT MOMENT
FOR ONE ANIMAL

THAT HAS MASTERED
WINTER SURVIVAL...

THE WOLVERINE.

MOST PEOPLE SPEND
A LIFETIME HERE

AND NEVER EVEN GLIMPSE ONE.

HE FEEDS ON THE FROZEN CARCASSES

OF ANIMALS KILLED BY WINTER...

AND PRESERVED
IN NATURE'S FREEZER.

HIS NOSE CAN DETECT FOOD
BURIED 20 FEET DEEP.

OTHER ANIMALS FOLLOW HIS TRAIL,

HOPING THEY CAN STEAL A MEAL.

BUT FROZEN CARCASSES ARE
FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

EACH DAY, HE MUST SCOUR
THE MOUNTAINS FOR ANY SCRAPS.

HIS DETERMINATION PAYS OFF.

FROZEN CARCASSES ARE
AS HARD AS IRON,

BUT HIS SPECIALLY ADAPTED TEETH
EASILY TEAR THEM OPEN.

[DISTANT BIRD SQUAWKING]

BUT THE RAVENS SOUND
THE DINNER BELL...

AND IT SUMMONS
THE MOUNTAINS' TOP PREDATOR.

[DISTANT WOLF HOWLING]

THE WOLVERINE HAS TO ACT FAST.

A HUNGRY WOLF PACK
COULD KILL HIM.

MEAL IN HAND,
HE DISCREETLY MAKES HIS EXIT.

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG FOR WOLVES
TO DEVOUR A CARCASS.

NOW, WITH THE SCAVENGERS
OCCUPIED,

THE WOLVERINE IS FREE
TO SEIZE ANOTHER MOMENT,

FIND ANOTHER MEAL, UNDISTURBED.

HIS PERSISTENCE IS
THE SECRET TO SURVIVING

THESE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WINTERS.

[DISTANT BIRD SCREECHING]

SEIZING OPPORTUNITIES IS CRUCIAL

FOR ALL CREATURES
THAT LIVE IN THE ROCKIES,

AND THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE
OF ONE UNIQUE ANIMAL...

US.

THE MOUNTAINS CALL TO US,

BUT WE ARE NOT BUILT TO LIVE
ABOVE THE CLOUDS.

WE, MOST OF ALL,

MUST GAUGE THE CONDITIONS
PERFECTLY.

FOR THOSE WITH BOTH THE COURAGE
AND THE JUDGMENT,

THE PRIZE IS THE FREEDOM
OF THESE MOUNTAINS.

DESPITE THE DANGERS,
FOR SOME PEOPLE

THE DRAW OF THE ROCKIES
IS SO STRONG,

THEY NEED TO GO FURTHER
AND HIGHER.

WOMAN: I MEAN, ALL MOUNTAINS
HAVE A MOODINESS

TO THEM, HAVE A PERSONALITY,
BUT THE ROCKIES,

ROCKIES MIGHT TAKE THE CAKE.

NARRATOR: HILAREE O'NEILL IS
A PROFESSIONAL MOUNTAINEER

AND SKIER.

SHE'S CLIMBED EVEREST

AND LED EXPEDITIONS
TO MOUNTAINS AROUND THE WORLD

FOR 15 YEARS.

BUT COLORADO IN THE
SOUTHERN ROCKIES IS HER HOME.

HILAREE: IT'S NOT
FOR THE BEGINNER.

THEY'RE STEEP MOUNTAINS,
THEY'RE RUGGED.

IT KEEPS YOU ON YOUR TOES.

I THINK I COULD SPEND
TEN LIFETIMES HERE

AND PROBABLY NOT DO EVERYTHING
I WOULD LIKE TO DO

IN THESE MOUNTAINS.

NARRATOR: THERE IS ONE MOUNTAIN
IN PARTICULAR SHE WANTS

TO CLIMB, AND NOW, LATE WINTER,

IS THE PERFECT MOMENT TO DO IT.

IN THE HEART
OF THE SAN JUAN RANGE,

MOUNT SNEFFELS IS
THE HIGHEST PEAK FOR MILES.

AT JUST 20 MILLION YEARS OLD,

IT'S ONE OF
THE YOUNGEST MOUNTAINS

IN THE ROCKIES
AND STILL GROWING FAST.

AT OVER 14,000 FEET HIGH,

THE AIR'S 40% THINNER
AT THE SUMMIT,

AND THE WINDS CAN BLOW
OVER 100 MILES PER HOUR...

BUT HILAREE IS
DETERMINED TO ATTEMPT IT.

HILAREE: I MEAN,
THERE'S, YOU KNOW,

LOTS OF CATCHPHRASES
ABOUT THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS,

AND THE ONE THAT ALWAYS KIND OF
STICKS IN MY HEAD IS,

YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T
LIKE THE WEATHER,

WAIT 5 MINUTES
AND IT'LL CHANGE.

FOR ME, IT MAKES ME WANT TO GO
OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS

EVERY DAY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
GOING TO BE DIFFERENT EVERY DAY.

AND SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES I THINK
THE MOUNTAINS AROUND HERE ARE

WARM AND WELCOMING, AND
OTHER TIMES YOU'RE LIKE, "GOD,

"I JUST HOPE THEY LET ME GO
AND LET ME OUT OF THEIR GRASP

AND I CAN GO HOME."

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

NARRATOR: IT'S A 3,000-FOOT
CLIMB TO THE SUMMIT,

WITH THE AIR GETTING THINNER
AND THE SNOW GETTING DEEPER.

HILAREE: I OFTEN FEEL FRIGHTENED
WHEN I'M UP HERE.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING
TO FEEL FEAR

BECAUSE THAT MEANS YOU'RE
PUSHING YOURSELF A LITTLE BIT

AND THAT MAKES YOU FEEL
ALIVE AND...

YEAH, I WOULD TAKE THAT ANY DAY.

NARRATOR: THERE'S NO TIME
TO REST AT THE SUMMIT.

THE DESCENT IS EVEN
MORE CHALLENGING.

FIRST, SHE HAS TO RAPPEL DOWN
TO THE START OF THE GULLY.

[WIND HOWLING]

EVERY MINUTE,
THE WIND IS PICKING UP.

AND FOR HILAREE, THERE
IS ONLY ONE WAY DOWN.

THIS STEEP GULLY IS
CALLED THE SNAKE,

AND IN THESE CONDITIONS,
IT IS PARTICULARLY TREACHEROUS.

GULLIES LIKE THIS ARE
PRONE TO AVALANCHES,

AND HILAREE'S DESCENT
IS MAKING THE SNOW

INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE.

ONE WRONG MOVE,

AND IT WOULD ALL BE OVER.

HILAREE: OH, BOY.

NARRATOR: BUT THERE IS
NO TURNING BACK NOW.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

NARRATOR: SHE IS FINALLY FREE
FROM THE CLUTCHES OF THE GULLY.

HILAREE: WHOO!

NARRATOR: HILAREE FLIES
AT 50 MILES PER HOUR

DOWN THE MOUNTAIN,

HER INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE
OF THE ROCKIES KEEPING HER SAFE.

HILAREE: WHOO!

WHEN I GO AND DO SOMETHING NEW
IN THESE MOUNTAINS,

IT FEELS PIONEERING
IN A MODERN WAY,

AND I THINK THAT IS
A LOT OF THE SPIRIT

OF THE PEOPLE THAT STILL LIVE
AROUND THESE MOUNTAINS.

NARRATOR: THE ROCKIES HAVE
ALWAYS ATTRACTED PIONEERS.

THOUSANDS FLOCKED HERE
IN THE 1800S.

SOME MADE FORTUNES;

FOR OTHERS,
THEIR TIMING WAS WRONG.

MINING TOWNS ABANDONED AFTER
THE GOLD AND SILVER RAN OUT.

HALF A MILLION MINES ARE
SCATTERED ACROSS THE WEST.

EARLY MARCH,

AND THE LAST SNOW
OF WINTER FALLS

ON AN ABANDONED HOMESTEAD
IN MONTANA...

THE BUILDINGS RECLAIMED
BY NATURE.

THESE MULE DEER HAVE BEEN
FORCED DOWN

FROM THE MOUNTAIN SLOPE
TO SHELTER HERE.

IT'S THE LAST PLACE LEFT
WITH ANY GRASS TO EAT.

BUT THEY'RE NERVOUS,

AND RIGHTLY SO.

SOMETHING HERE IS VERY WRONG.

THE ABANDONED BARNS
ARE LITTERED

WITH CORPSES OF OTHER DEER.

A PREDATOR IS CLOSE BY...

[BIRDS SQUAWKING]

ONE WHO KEEPS COMING BACK.

BUT THE MULE DEER FACE
A TERRIBLE CHOICE.

IF THEY GO BACK
TO THE MOUNTAINTOPS,

THEY'LL STARVE.

IF THEY STAY HERE,

THEY MAY BE EATEN.

DURING THE DAYLIGHT,
THEY'RE SAFE.

BUT AS NIGHT FALLS...

[WOOD CREAKS]

THE RANCH BECOMES THE REALM
OF A PHANTOM KILLER.

UNDER THE CLOAK OF DARKNESS,

CATCHING SIGHT
OF THIS SILENT PREDATOR

IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

[CLATTERING SOUND]

[DISTANT BIRD SCREECHES]

IN SOME NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHS,

THIS IS A CREATURE
OF THE UNDERWORLD...

[LOW SNARL]

A HARBINGER OF DEATH.

THE MOUNTAIN LION.

SO STRONG, SHE CAN DRAG A KILL

SEVERAL TIMES
HER OWN BODY WEIGHT

IN HER JAWS.

SHE USES THESE BUILDINGS
TO HIDE HER KILLS

FROM THE PRYING EYES
OF OTHER ANIMALS,

SO SHE CAN FEED
UNNOTICED, UNDISTURBED.

FOR SUCH A POWERFUL ANIMAL,
SHE IS SURPRISINGLY SILENT

AND LIGHT ON HER FEET.

HUGE PAWS AND A LONG TAIL
FOR BALANCE

MAKE HER THE BEST
AMBUSH PREDATOR IN THE ROCKIES.

THIS DEER IS ENOUGH FOOD
TO LAST FOR A WEEK.

SHE'LL RETURN NIGHT AFTER NIGHT

TO FEED IN PEACE.

IN SILENCE, SHE SLIPS
INTO THE DARK.

THE REST OF THE HERD IS SAFE,

UNTIL THE NEXT NIGHT.

[CRICKETS CHIRPING,
WIND HOWLING]

IT'S THE END OF MARCH.

ACROSS THE ROCKIES,

BILLIONS OF TONS OF WATER

HAS BEEN LOCKED UP
ALL WINTER AS SNOW AND ICE,

IN HUGE GLACIERS,

IN FROZEN LAKES.

BUT TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME
THIS YEAR,

THE SUN IS IN THE SKY
FOR MORE THAN 12 HOURS...

AND AT LAST,
SPRING HAS ARRIVED.

THE MOUNTAINS ARE WAKING UP,

AND THE WATER BEGINS TO FLOW.

3,000 WATERFALLS APPEAR
ACROSS THE ROCKIES.

HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS
OF GALLONS

FLOW DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS.

A THOUSAND FROZEN LAKES
ARE UNLOCKED

AND FILLED WITH MELTWATER.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

THE ROCKIES NOURISH
900 MILLION ACRES

ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.

AS THE MOUNTAINS
BURST INTO BLOOM,

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THOSE WHO CAN SEIZE THEM.

[BISON GRUNTING]

AND WITH THIS GLUT OF FOOD

COMES NEW BEGINNINGS.

WHAT WAS A DESOLATE LANDSCAPE
JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS AGO

IS NOW CROWDED WITH LIFE.

BUT ALL THE ANIMALS ARE
MULTIPLYING IN NUMBER.

[ELK BUGLES]

THE PREDATOR POPULATIONS
ARE ALSO BOOMING.

COYOTE,

BLACK BEAR.

EVERYONE'S HUNGRY.

EVERYONE IS LOOKING
TO RESTOCK AND REPLENISH

AFTER THE BARREN WINTER.

[CHIRPING]

IN THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS
OF WYOMING,

AN ELK CALF HAS JUST BEEN BORN.

THE TIMING OF HER BIRTH
WAS IMPECCABLE:

ANY EARLIER, THE FROSTS
WOULD HAVE KILLED HER;

ANY LATER, SHE WOULD MISS
THE SPRING GRASS.

BUT IT'S ALSO
THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME,

WHEN HUNGRY PREDATORS
ARE ALL AROUND.

AS A NEWBORN,

HER LEGS ARE TOO WEAK
TO HOLD HER WEIGHT.

THE CALF CAN'T RUN
TO SAVE HERSELF.

WITH PREDATORS ALWAYS A THREAT,

THE CALF HAS TO HIDE.

[SNORTS]

HER MOTHER HAS
A STRONG SCENT,

A BEACON TO PREDATORS.

AS NIGHT FALLS, THE ONLY WAY
TO PROTECT HER BABY

IS TO LEAVE HER.

THE FIRST NIGHT OF HER LIFE
MIGHT BE HER LAST.

[DISTANT HOWLING AND YAPPING]

WOLVES,

COYOTE,

EVEN COUGARS.

ON THAT FIRST NIGHT,
THE SOUNDS OF HUNTING

ARE ALL AROUND HER.

INSTINCTIVELY, SHE KNOWS
TO STAY PERFECTLY STILL.

[OWL HOOTING]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

DAWN IS A LONG TIME COMING...

BUT THE FIRST DAYLIGHT
TELLS THE TALE.

THE CALF HAS SURVIVED THE NIGHT.

BUT MORNING DOESN'T
GUARANTEE SAFETY.

THERE IS A THREAT
THAT STALKS THESE CALVES,

EVEN BY DAYLIGHT.

DURING THE SPRING,
1/3 OF ALL NEWBORN CALVES

ARE KILLED
BY ONE UNIQUE PREDATOR.

THIS GRIZZLY BEAR HAS JUST
COME OUT OF HIBERNATION

AND IS DESPERATE TO EAT.

THE GRIZZLY'S SENSE OF SMELL
IS 2,000 TIMES BETTER

THAN A HUMAN.

BUT THIS CALF HAS A TRICK
TO AVOID BEING SNIFFED OUT.

CLEANED BY HER MOTHER,
SHE HAS ALMOST NO SCENT,

SO THE BEAR'S NOSE IS NO USE.

BUT GRIZZLIES ARE SMART
AND HAVE OTHER TACTICS.

SHE KNOWS, JUST AT
THIS TIME OF YEAR,

NEWBORNS ARE HIDDEN
IN THE SCRUB.

SHE METHODICALLY COMBS
THROUGH THE MEADOW.

A PANICKED NEWBORN
MAY TRY TO RUN.

THE BABY MUST STAY
ABSOLUTELY STILL.

[BEAR SNORTING]

THE BEAR AMBLES AWAY,

UNAWARE OF THE MEAL
THAT WAS UNDER HER NOSE.

THE MOTHER RETURNS
TO HER CALF.

EVEN AFTER ONLY ONE DAY,

HER LEGS ARE GROWING STRONGER.

HER MOTHER LEADS HER BACK
TOWARDS THE MOUNTAINS

AND THE SAFETY OF THE HERD.

IN THE ROCKIES, SOMETIMES
THE BRAVEST ANIMALS

COME IN THE SMALLEST SIZES.

[ELK BUGLES]

IT'S LATE SPRING...

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

AND THE SUN HEATS
THE MOUNTAIN ROCKS...

WHICH WARMS THE SURROUNDING AIR,
MAKING WINDS

WHICH ARE FORCED UP
THE VALLEY SIDES.

IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE TO BE...

A BIRD.

MAN: I DREAMED ABOUT FLYING
WHEN I WAS A KID.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD A FASCINATION
AND A CURIOSITY

WITH THE FREEDOM
THAT BIRDS HAVE.

NARRATOR: JEFF SHAPIRO
LIVES IN THE HEART

OF THE MONTANA ROCKIES.

THESE CLIFFS OF
THE BITTERROOT MOUNTAINS

ARE JUST A SHORT RIDE
AWAY FROM HIS HOME,

HIS FAMILY,

AND HIS FALCON.

JEFF: SO THIS IS
MY HUNTING PARTNER, SIRIUS.

HE'S A HALF GYR,
HALF PEREGRINE TIERCEL.

HE'S A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD.

HE'S ALSO PART
OF THE FAMILY.

HE'S BECOME QUITE TAME

AND DOESN'T MIND
THE DOGS OR THE CATS

AND CERTAINLY LIKES
TO SIT IN THE HOUSE

AND WATCH THE WORLD GO BY,
AND WHEN WE FLY,

HE COMMANDS THE SKY
FOR HOURS AT A TIME.

I STILL WATCH HIM FLY

A LITTLE BIT SORT OF ALMOST
HALF PROUD PARENT,

HALF ENVY.

NARRATOR: EVERY OTHER DAY
IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER,

HE CLIMBS INTO THE MOUNTAINS.

JEFF: I'VE ALWAYS WANTED
TO BE IN PLACES THAT WERE BIGGER

THAN ME, TO SHOW ME
HOW INSIGNIFICANT I AM.

YOU COULD SPEND
A LIFETIME IN THE ROCKIES

AND NOT SEE ANOTHER PERSON.

THEY JUST GO ON FOR MILES
AND MILES AND MILES,

AND THAT GIVES ME A FEELING
LIKE THERE'S STILL ADVENTURE.

NARRATOR: THE CONDITIONS
HAVE TO BE JUST PERFECT.

JEFF: I TRY AND PAY ATTENTION
TO WHAT THE BIRDS ARE DOING.

[DISTANT BIRD CHIRPING]

I TRY AND PAY ATTENTION
TO HOW THE LEAVES

ON THE TREES ARE MOVING.

IT ALL GIVES ME INFORMATION
THAT WILL HELP ME STAY SAFE.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
FACTORS IS TIMING.

THE MOMENT YOU CHOOSE IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENT

OF YOUR LIFE
BECAUSE I'VE COMMITTED.

NARRATOR: THE VALLEY FLOOR IS
3,000 FEET BELOW.

[JEFF EXHALES SHARPLY]

JEFF: 3...2...1.

SEE YA.

THE FIRST TIME
I STEPPED OFF THE GROUND

AND ESCAPED FROM GRAVITY...

THAT SENSE OF SPEED,

AND YOU'RE CONNECTED
TO THE MOUNTAIN,

YOU'RE CONNECTED TO THE TERRAIN.

I GUESS IT COULD BE DESCRIBED
AS, LIKE, PURE JOY.

[AIR WHOOSHES]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

NARRATOR:
HARSH SUMMER HAS ARRIVED,

AND THE MOUNTAINS ARE NOW BARE.

THROUGHOUT THE ROCKIES,
THE MELTING SNOW

HAS CREATED TEMPORARY PONDS
IN THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS.

THEY ARE FULL OF LIFE.

BUT IN THE HEAT OF
THE SUMMER SUN,

THEY WON'T LAST LONG.

IN PONDS LIKE THIS,

YOUNG SALAMANDERS ARE GROWING.

JUST 3 INCHES LONG,

THEY'RE THE BIGGEST BEASTS
IN A TINY KINGDOM

WHICH WILL SOON DRY UP
AND DISAPPEAR.

THE MANES AROUND
THEIR HEADS ARE GILLS,

THE FEATHERY FRONDS SOAKING UP
THE OXYGEN FROM THE WATER.

THEIR SMALL MOUTHS ARE JUST BIG
ENOUGH TO SWALLOW THEIR LUNCH,

BUT WITH MICROSCOPIC TEETH,

EATING IS A SLOW PROCESS.

AT FIRST, ALL IS WELL.

THE DAYS ARE LONG,
THE WEATHER WARM,

BUT MOMENTS LIKE THIS
ARE FLEETING IN THE ROCKIES.

AS THE SUMMER HEATS UP,
THE WATER IN THE POND GOES DOWN.

THE SALAMANDERS START GETTING

JUST A LITTLE
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.

AS THE POND DRIES UP,

SO DOES THE SALAMANDERS'
FOOD SUPPLY...

[THUNDER]

AND THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST
SALAMANDER IN THE POND.

HE'S TRANSFORMING
INTO SOMETHING MORE...

MENACING.

HIS MOUTH HAS GROWN WIDER.

HE HAS GROWN HUNDREDS OF NEW,
LONG, NEEDLE-SHARP TEETH

TO STOP HIS VICTIMS
FROM WRIGGLING AWAY.

THE OTHER SALAMANDERS MAY BE
HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

BUT THEY ARE STARTING
TO LOOK QUITE TASTY.

HE HAS TRANSFORMED
INTO A CANNIBAL.

HE'S HAVING HIS FAMILY
FOR DINNER.

[BIRD CHIRPING]

THE MOUNTAIN SUNSHINE CAUSES
THE PONDS TO SHRINK MORE.

THERE'S NO ESCAPE
FROM BIG BROTHER.

BUT THE FIGHT'S NOT OVER.

THE OTHER SALAMANDERS ALSO START
TO TURN INTO CANNIBALS.

IT'S EAT OR BE EATEN.

EVENTUALLY, IN THIS POND,

THERE IS JUST A SINGLE,

VERY PLUMP SALAMANDER.

EVERYONE ELSE HAS
MYSTERIOUSLY...DISAPPEARED.

BUT IT'S AN EMPTY VICTORY.

THE MOUNTAIN SUN IS TURNING
THE POND INTO A PUDDLE.

EVENTUALLY IT WILL
DRY OUT COMPLETELY,

AND HE TOO WOULD DIE,

EXCEPT HE HAS ANOTHER,
EVEN GREATER TRICK

UP HIS SLEEVE.

THOSE GILLS HAVE DISAPPEARED.

THEY HAVE BEEN REABSORBED
INTO HIS BODY.

HE HAS GROWN A PAIR OF LUNGS.

AS THE MOUNTAIN SUN DRIES UP
THE VERY LAST OF THE PUDDLE...

THIS MAGICIAN STEPS OUT

AND FILLS HIS NEW LUNGS
WITH THE WARM MOUNTAIN AIR...

THE ULTIMATE TRANSFORMER.

MIDSUMMER.

BUT EVEN NOW, AUTUMN
IS AROUND THE CORNER...

AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING TO MAKE
THE MOST OF NATURE'S GOLD RUSH.

EVERYONE HAS TO SEIZE
THE MOMENT...

AND NO ONE IS BETTER
AT IT THAN THIS CREATURE...

A RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD.

THEY WEIGH LESS THAN A PENNY,

AND WITH A PULSE RATE
OF A THOUSAND BEATS PER MINUTE,

NO HEART BEATS FASTER.

IN SUMMER, THEY LIVE AT
THE NORTHERNMOST PART OF

THE ROCKIES,
USING THE LONG DAYS

TO RAISE THEIR FAMILY.

THESE TINY NEWBORNS ARE
THE SIZE OF A SUGAR CUBE,

IN A NEST SO LIGHT, IT'S HELD
TOGETHER WITH SPIDER SILK.

THEIR BUSY MOTHER FEEDS THEM
60 TIMES A DAY

ON A MIX OF REGURGITATED NECTAR

AND INSECTS--

HUMMINGBIRD ROCKET FUEL.

SHE CAN RAISE A WHOLE FAMILY

IN JUST 18 DAYS.

SOON THERE'S ONLY
ONE CHICK LEFT...

AND SHE'S RELUCTANT
TO FLY THE NEST.

SHE'S STILL GETTING USED
TO THE BIG, WIDE WORLD,

BUT THE BIGGEST MOMENT
OF HER LIFE IS ABOUT TO START.

THE FLOWERS HERE ARE DYING,

AND SHE MUST FLY SOUTH
IN SEARCH OF FOOD.

SHE FLIES 3,000 MILES

FROM THE CANADIAN NORTH,

DOWN THE LENGTH OF THE ROCKIES,

AND EVENTUALLY TO MEXICO.

LESS THAN A MONTH OLD,

TOTALLY ON HER OWN...

SHE MUST RACE DOWN
THE ROCKIES TO CATCH

THE BLOSSOMING FLOWERS,

A JOURNEY THAT WILL
TAKE HER 3 MONTHS.

SHE CROSSES THE BORDER
FROM CANADA TO THE U.S.

AND THEN FLIES OVER 5 STATES,

OVER MOUNTAIN LAKES,
OVER GREAT PEAKS...

AND DOWN THROUGH
HUGE MOUNTAIN PASSES.

SHE HAS A BRAIN THE SIZE
OF A GRAIN OF RICE,

BUT SOMEHOW SHE KNOWS
EXACTLY WHERE TO GO.

AT THE SOUTHERN END
OF THE ROCKIES,

THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS
OF COLORADO HAVE A BRIEF MOMENT

WHEN EVERY FLOWER
IS FULL OF NECTAR.

[BEE BUZZING]

IT'S HUMMINGBIRD HEAVEN,

AND SHE HAS ARRIVED
AT THE PERFECT TIME.

HERE, SHE HAS
A PIT STOP TO REFUEL,

BUT NOT A MOMENT TO RELAX.

SHE'S OFF AGAIN, FURTHER SOUTH,

CHASING THE SUN.

THE TINY HERO OF THE ROCKIES,

WITH THE MOST EPIC
JOURNEY OF ALL.

SUMMER IS ALL TOO BRIEF
IN THE ROCKIES.

NEARLY AS SOON AS IT ARRIVES,
IT DISAPPEARS.

THE HOT SUMMER NIGHTS
BEGIN TO LENGTHEN,

AND ALL THE STARS PUT ON
A SPECTACULAR SHOW.

HIGH ABOVE,
THE MILKY WAY DRIFTS BY.

[PEOPLE SCREAMING]

DOWN BELOW, THE PEOPLE
OF THE ROCKIES

CELEBRATE THE END OF SUMMER
IN COUNTY FAIRS.

THE FIRST FROSTS
WILL SOON BE HERE.

FOR MOST, THIS IS
A TIME TO RELAX,

BUT NOT FOR EVERYBODY.

OLIVER PAKOOTAS IS ABOUT TO FACE

THE TOUGHEST RACE
IN THE ROCKIES.

MONTHS OF PRACTICE HAVE LED
TO THIS ONE MOMENT

IN THE HEART OF MONTANA.

[CROWD CHEERING]

THE INDIAN RELAY,

A ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONTEST
OF BRAVERY

AND SPLIT-SECOND TIMING.

EACH RIDER MUST COMPLETE
3 LAPS OF THE TRACK.

AT THE END OF EACH LAP,
THEY MUST JUMP FROM ONE HORSE

TO ANOTHER,

AND IT'S ALL DONE BAREBACK.

IT'S A NATIVE AMERICAN
COMPETITION

DATING BACK AT LEAST 200 YEARS.

DIFFERENT TRIBES COMPETE
FOR THE HONORS,

AND THE WINNER IS THE FIRST
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

MAN: KEEP HIM GOING,
KEEP HIM GOING.

PUSH HIM ON AND MAKE HIM WORK.

GIVE HIM THE WORK.
HOLY COW.

HA HA!
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD, HUH?

NARRATOR: JUDGING THE PERFECT
MOMENT TO JUMP BAREBACK

ONTO THE HORSE TAKES OLIVER
MONTHS OF TRAINING.

THERE'S A TEAM OF 4 INVOLVED,
ALL FAMILY.

BROTHER WINFRED HOLDS
THE HORSES IN THE RACE.

SO DOES HIS FATHER JOHN.

FATHER-IN-LAW KERRY IS
THE TRAINER.

OLIVER IS THE JOCKEY.

KERRY: YOU ALWAYS REPRESENT
WHERE YOU COME FROM,

AND THAT'S WHERE
GRIZZLY MOUNTAIN COMES FROM.

IT'S THE BIGGEST MOUNTAIN
ON OUR RESERVATION.

SO WHEN I REPRESENT
MY HOME PEOPLE,

SO WHEN I GO ON THE ROAD,
I LET PEOPLE KNOW

THAT THIS IS WHERE I COME FROM.

THIS IS MY MOUNTAIN,
THIS IS OUR MOUNTAIN,

MY FAMILY'S MOUNTAIN.

IN ALL THE YEARS
SINCE I'VE EVER BEEN A KID,

WE'VE ALWAYS HAD HORSES,
AND THEY'RE LIKE BROTHERS

AND SISTERS TO US.

NARRATOR: THESE HORSES NEED
RIGOROUS TRAINING,

AND THAT MEANS GETTING DEEP
INTO THE MOUNTAINS.

OLIVER: I LIKE TO TAKE THEM
IN THE MOUNTAINS.

AND IT'S JUST YOU
AND THE HORSE, YOU KNOW,

AND YOU ALMOST BECOME ONE.

AND THAT'S HOW IT FEELS, TOO.

IT'S LIKE THEIR LEGS
BECOME MY LEGS.

YOU KNOW, A BIRD COULD FLY UP
OR A COYOTE COULD RUN BY

OR SOMETHING, AND THEN,
ONCE THEY GET USED TO THAT,

THEN I KNOW THEY'RE READY
TO GO DO SOME RELAY RACING.

AND WE DEVELOP A TRUST
WITH EACH OTHER OUT THERE

WITH THEM THAT YOU CAN'T GET
ON A RACETRACK.

NARRATOR: THE INDIAN RELAY
IS THE OLDEST SPORT

IN THE ROCKIES...

AND GREW FROM THE LIFE
OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.

[HORSE BREATHING HEAVILY]

KERRY: THE HORSE WAS
SO IMPORTANT TO US

WHEN THEY WERE OUT HUNTING
AND GATHERING, AND EVEN WHEN YOU

WENT OUT TO CHASE
YOUR BUFFALO, I'M SURE YOU HAD

TO HAVE A SECOND HORSE
OR A THIRD HORSE.

NARRATOR: THE FAMILY HAS
DEVELOPED SPECIAL WAYS

TO PREPARE THEIR HORSES.

THEIR LOCAL MOUNTAINS HAVE
A SALT LAKE

THAT COOLS THE HORSES'
ACHING MUSCLES

AND HEALS ANY CUTS.

[HORSE NICKERS]

OLIVER BURNS MOUNTAIN SAGE
IN A CEREMONY

TO PROTECT HORSE
AND RIDER FROM INJURY.

OLIVER: YOU'RE PUTTING
A SHIELD OVER YOUR HORSES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE
REALLY BELIEVE IN IT,

BUT I BELIEVE IN IT.

THAT'S HOW COME WE'RE HERE,
IS BECAUSE OUR ANCESTORS

DID THE SAME THING.

MAN AND WOMAN:
♪ ...THE LAND OF THE FREE

♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE

NARRATOR: IT'S THE DAY
OF OLIVER'S BIG RACE.

[RING ANNOUNCER SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY OVER P.A.]

[CROWD CHEERING]

NARRATOR: IN THE SHADOW
OF THE MOUNTAINS,

THE EVENING STARTS
WITH A WILD RODEO.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

BUT EVERYONE IS WAITING
FOR THE MAIN EVENT,

THE INDIAN RELAY.

[RING ANNOUNCER SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY OVER P.A.]

OLIVER: WHEN I WALK OUT ONTO
THE TRACK, YOU ALMOST--

I GUESS I'D CALL IT GETTING
INTO A WARRIOR MODE.

NOTHING ELSE MATTERS
IN THE WORLD.

[HORSE WHINNIES]

WHEN YOU'RE BAREBACK,
HORSES CAN FEEL YOUR HEARTBEAT.

SO IF I'M STAYING CALM,
YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW

THERE AIN'T NOTHING
TO WORRY ABOUT.

[HEART BEATING]

NARRATOR: OLIVER IS PRIMED.

THE OTHER HORSE IS READY.

HIS MOMENT HAS COME.

[CROWD CHEERING AND WHISTLING]

OLIVER: YOU ALMOST GET
THIS SENSE OF INVINCIBILITY.

ALL THAT MATTERS IS
THAT NEXT 3 MINUTES...

[HORSE WHINNIES]

ALMOST LIKE YOU'RE GOING
TO GO INTO BATTLE.

[HORSE WHINNIES]

[CROWD CHEERING]

NARRATOR: OLIVER IS FIRST
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

A ROCKY MOUNTAIN
TRADITION PASSED DOWN

THROUGH SO MANY GENERATIONS,

ALL PLAYED OUT
IN JUST ONE MOMENT

AND TIMED TO PERFECTION.

[CHEERING FADES]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

OLIVER IS BACK IN THE LAND
BELONGING TO HIS TRIBE.

THERE ARE ONLY
A FEW LAST MOMENTS

TO TAKE HIS HORSE
INTO THE MOUNTAINS

BEFORE THE FIRST FLURRIES
OF SNOW BEGIN TO FALL.

SUDDENLY, AS IF WITH
THE FLICK OF A SWITCH,

AUTUMN IS HERE.

THE NIGHTS ARE DRAWING IN,

CLOAKING THE ROCKIES

IN 14 LONG HOURS
OF DARKNESS EACH DAY.

FROM HERE ON IN,
THE TEMPERATURE WILL DROP DAILY.

THE WATER THAT GAVE WAY
TO SO MUCH LIFE

WILL FREEZE AGAIN.

AS LIFE GETS HARSHER...

THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL
GETS TOUGHER.

[SNORTS]

BUT THAT WILL NOT STOP THOSE
WHO CALL THESE MOUNTAINS HOME.

THOSE WITH THE KNOW-HOW

WILL SEIZE THEIR MOMENT
ONCE AGAIN

AND THRIVE IN THESE
EVER-CHANGING ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

- [NARRATOR] NEXT TIME,
ON KINGDOMS OF THE SKY.

EXPLORE THE EARTH'S
HIGHEST MOUNTAIN RANGE,

ONE THAT SOARS THOUSANDS
OF FEET ABOVE THE GROUND,

AND STRETCHES EVEN WIDER,

TO DISCOVER A DIVERSE TAPESTRY

OF LUSH LANDSCAPES WITHIN,

AND THE RICH CULTURES THAT HAVE

CALLED THESE PEAKS
HOME FOR CENTURIES.

COME CONQUER THE THIN
AIR OF THE HIMALAYA,

NEXT TIME, ON
KINGDOMS OF THE SKY.

"KINGDOMS OF THE SKY"

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