Original subtitles

[ WIND WHISTLING ]

AH.

QUIET.

THAT WOLF IS HOWLING AWAY.

[ WOLF HOWLING IN DISTANCE ]

♪♪

THAT'S JUST ONE.

IT'S NOT A PACK.

[ WOLVES HOWLING IN DISTANCE ]

OH, NO, THERE'S MORE.

IT IS A PACK.

YOU SEE HIM UP THERE?

THAT'S A BLACK WOLF SITTING THERE.

OH, THERE HE GOES.

[ WOLVES CONTINUE HOWLING IN DISTANCE ]

NOW, THAT'S A TRUE WILDERNESS SOUND.

Heimo: THE ARCTIC REFUGE IS ROUGHLY THE SIZE

OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

YOU GO FOR HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF MILES

WITHOUT ROADS -- NOTHING.

OUR PERMITS ONLY GO UP

UNTIL THE DEATH OF OUR LAST CHILD.

WITHIN 100 YEARS, THERE'S GONNA BE NOBODY.

WE ARE THE LAST.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

♪♪

WE ARE THE LAST PEOPLE

THAT LIVE THE WAY ALASKANS LIVED

FOR SO LONG.

Heimo: THE REASON WE ARE OUT HERE

AT THE HARSHEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR

IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE TRAPPING SEASONS ARE,

AND THAT'S WHEN THE FUR IS PRIME.

Bob: EVERY YEAR, I COME BACK IN THE FALL TIME.

THE ONLY WAY TO GET OUT HERE IS BY BOAT OR BY PLANE.

ANTHAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT.

Tyler: IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN PARADISE, YOU GOT TO PAY THE PRICE.

THE PRICE IS THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD.

Charlie: YOU CAN'T GO TO THE STORE AND BUY SOMETHING

OR PULL OUT YOUR iPHONE AND GOOGLE IT.

SO MUCH OF YOUR LIFE IS JUST SPENT

GATHERING FROM THE LAND TO SURVIVE.

Bob: AN EXTREME FREEDOM...

TO DO ANYTHING I WANT, TO DREAM ANY WAY I WANT.

THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY.

IT'S WILD.

Heimo: MOM? OH, YOU WANT OATMEAL?

Edna: YEAH.

OATMEAL OR NO MEAL.

[ CHUCKLES ]

YEAH.

WE DON'T HAVE THE HONEY HERE.

-DARN! -YEAH.

OH, WELL. [ SIGHS ]

WHEN WE GET OUT HERE AROUND THE 1st OF AUGUST,

AND THEN I BREATHE THE AIR, IT SMELLS SO GOOD.

AND THEN IT'S COOL. IT'S A COOLNESS.

THEN I LOOK AROUND AT THE MOUNTAINS AND EVERYTHING.

I JUST FEEL... IT'S A FEELING OF RELIEF.

YOU KNOW, AND WE SPEND FOUR MONTHS IN TOWN,

BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY HOME.

HOME IS HERE.

SO YOU'RE GONNA GO HUNTING.

JUST GET READY FOR MEAT TODAY.

[ CHUCKLES ] REALLY?

-MIGHT AS WELL. -MM.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S CARIBOU SEASON.

WE TRY TO GET ALL THE MEAT

SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO HUNTING AND STUFF

WHEN WE'RE TRAPPING.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR YOUR MEAT.

IF I DON'T GET ONE TODAY...

-YEAH. -YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE COMES.

Heimo: WE RAISED FOUR GIRLS HERE.

♪♪

I TOLD THEM FOR YEARS WHEN THEY FIRST MOVED OUT,

I SAID, "THIS IS ALWAYS HOME."

I STILL TREAT THEM LIKE LITTLE GIRLS, ESPECIALLY KRIN.

SHE'S MY BABY, YOU KNOW? SHE'S THE YOUNGEST ONE.

WELL, THIS YEAR WAS A REALLY SPECIAL YEAR,

BECAUSE KRIN HAD HER FIRST BABY THIS YEAR.

IT WAS BORN ON MY BIRTHDAY,

AND SO THAT WAS REALLY SPECIAL.

AND KRIN'S COMING TO VISIT WITH THE BABY,

SO EDNA'S REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

I AM, TOO, BUT EDNA'S JUST ECSTATIC.

I GET SO EXCITED. I'M GONNA HUG UP THAT BABY.

YEAH, THAT WILL BE NICE.

WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GO TOO LATE.

-YEAH. -WE NEED MEAT.

WELL, KRIN WILL BE HAPPY WHEN SHE COMES HERE

AND THERE'S FRESH MEAT, YOU KNOW?

YEP.

TO KNOW THAT I CAN JUST GRAB MY GUN

AND GO OUT AND KILL A CARIBOU

AND PROVIDE FOOD FOR EDNA AND THE KIDS, I LOVE THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S SOMETHING UNIQUE. IT'S SOMETHING SPECIAL.

THERE'S ONLY A HANDFUL OF US LIVING LIKE THIS.

IT'S A SHAME.

TONIGHT -- TONIGHT, WE'LL HAVE FRESH MEAT, HOPEFULLY.

YOU TALK ABOUT IT. GO GET IT.

-GO DO IT? -[ CHUCKLES ]

WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

TO KEEP THIS LIFESTYLE GOING WITHIN THE FAMILY,

THAT'S WHAT -- I WANT THAT, YOU KNOW?

I HOPE I LIVE LONG ENOUGH

THAT I CAN HAVE ALL THE GRANDKIDS,

THAT THEY CAN GO OUT AND HUNT.

I'D LIKE TO HUNT WITH THEM, TOO.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO US.

IT'S THE NEW GENERATION HERE.

-ALL RIGHT, LOVE YOU. -LOVE YOU.

BE CAREFUL, NOW.

♪♪

Tyler: IT'S A BIG RIVER.

[ DOGS WHINING ]

QUIET.

THEY'RE EXCITED, HUH?

-YEAH. -NERVOUS, JUST LIKE ME.

THIS IS A BIG YEAR FOR US.

I'M GONNA BE TRYING TO TAKE THIS BOAT

250 MILES UP TO OUR CAMP.

THIS IS A VIRGIN RUN, YOU KNOW?

THIS IS ALL NEW, AND...

I MEAN, THE BARE, HONEST TRUTH

IS THAT I HAVE VERY LITTLE BOATING EXPERIENCE.

I JUST GOT THIS BOAT.

BUT I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO GET TO MY TRAP LINE ON MY OWN.

IT'S THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF DOING IT.

DO YOU WANT TO UNHOOK THAT CLIP? YEP.

Ashley: FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A DREAM THING

FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BOAT IN.

IT'S NOT CHEAP TO FLY.

IT'S EXPENSIVE EVERY YEAR,

AND WE ONLY HAVE, YOU KNOW,

FOUR MONTHS IN TOWN TO REALLY SCRAMBLE FOR THE MONEY

THAT IT COSTS TO CHARTER EVERYTHING BACK TO THE WOODS.

SO IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE GOAL.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA BACK HER IN.

-CLEAR BACK THERE? -YEAH, YOU'RE GOOD.

LET ME UNHOOK THAT CHAIN REAL QUICK, TYLER.

Tyler: DUSTIN'S MY CRAZY BROTHER.

HE'S TWO YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME.

AND...

WE'VE BEEN CLOSE SINCE,

YOU KNOW, HE CAME OUT OF THE WOMB.

YOU KNOW, HE HAS SORT OF A DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE

THAN ME, LIVING IN NEBRASKA.

BUT HE'S A GUY THAT I CAN COUNT ON, YOU KNOW,

AND HE'S A HARD WORKER.

SO I COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER PERSON TO BRING ALONG.

Dustin: KEEP GOING.

TYLER ASKED ME TO COME UP HERE.

WE'VE BEEN FISHING AND HUNTING AND TRAPPING

SINCE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LITTLE KIDS.

HE DOESN'T GET TO COME HOME VERY OFTEN,

SO A BIG, LONG BOAT RIDE WITH YOUR BROTHER IN ALASKA

SOUNDED AWESOME.

I AM JEALOUS. [ LAUGHS ]

I ACTUALLY AM PRETTY JEALOUS

THAT I CAN'T BE ALONG ON THE TRIP.

I'M GONNA WAIT FOR HIM TO GET UP THE RIVER,

AND THEN I'M GONNA FLY OUT WITH TWO DOGS.

THE TWO THAT I'M FLYING WITH REALLY HATE BOATS,

AND IT WOULD BE JUST KIND OF A RODEO

TO TRY THE BOAT OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

[ DOGS WHINING, HOWLING ]

CHILL, MAN.

GOOSE, GOOSE, GOOSE, GOOSE, WHOA. NO.

STAY HERE, GOOSE. GOOSE!

I'M GONNA TAKE 5 ADULT DOGS.

THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE CHAINED INTO THE BOAT,

'CAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM LOOSE, WALKING AROUND THE BOAT.

IT'S JUST TOO DANGEROUS.

Ashley: GET IN. YOU GET THE FRONT.

Tyler: THE WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO

IS THAT WE SWAMP THE BOAT SOMEHOW.

IF THAT HAPPENS, ALL THE DOGS ARE MOST LIKELY GONNA DIE.

I'M LOOSENING THEIR COLLARS AS WE GO.

Ashley: OKAY.

LIKE, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE BOAT,

THAT'S THEIR ONLY LUCK IS IF THEY CAN SLIP THEIR COLLARS.

[ DOG HOWLS ] SO THEY CAN, YOU KNOW --

THEY COULD EASILY SQUEEZE THEIR HEAD THROUGH IT.

IF YOU NEED TO, GET OUT OF IT.

WELL, I THINK WE'RE READY, DUSTIN.

A FOUR-DAY TRIP.

AND I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY BEEN ON ANY...

ANY OF THIS RIVER.

SO, NATURALLY, I'M A LITTLE BIT,

YOU KNOW, NERVOUS AND ANXIOUS.

HEY, TYLER, THERE'S SOME ROLAIDS HERE

-ON THE SHORE IF YOU NEED THEM. -[ CHUCKLES ]

I PROBABLY DO NEED THOSE.

I NEED ABOUT A CASE OF THOSE.

I WISH YOU COULD COME.

WELL, I STILL HAVE TO...

DO A WHOLE BUNCH OF ERRANDS, RUNNING AROUND TOWN.

YOU KNOW, I AM...THANKFUL

THAT YOU'RE SUCH A GOOD PARTNER

AND YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF ALL THAT STUFF.

OH, YOU'RE SWEET.

I LOVE YOU.

I'LL MISS YOU.

BE CAREFUL.

♪♪

I WILL.

HERE WE GO.

OFF INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER.

[ WOLVES HOWLING ]

THEY'RE CLOSE.

[ BABY CRYING ]

Krin: SINCE I'M THE LAST ONE,

I SHOULD CARRY ON THE LEGACY, I GUESS.

OH, COME ON. COME ON.

Charlie: THERE USED TO BE A LOT MORE

YOUNGER PEOPLE DOING THIS.

NOWADAYS, THERE'S NOBODY.

THIS LIFESTYLE'S KIND OF BECOMING LOST.

Heimo: AND THEY SHOULD PASS IT ON FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION,

BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

I MEAN, THE BEARS AND WOLVES ARE GONNA TAKE IT BACK.

Edna: RIGHT THERE. HIS EYES ARE GLOWING.

OH, LOOK, THERE'S TWO OF THEM.

-YOU READY? -MM-HMM.

[ HEARTBEAT ]

♪♪

Tyler: THAT'S IT.

HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

THERE'S A CURRENT THAT'S KIND OF FUNKY HERE.

WE'RE GONNA PARK THE BOAT AND CLIMB UP THE HILL THERE.

THERE'S A CARIBOU HORN RIGHT THERE, ITS SKULL.

IT DRIFTED IN THERE.

SO, SEE, IT SHOWS YOU THERE'S CARIBOU HERE.

I'M READY TO GO.

♪♪

WELL, THE CARIBOU, IT'S KIND OF A --

IT'S A MAJESTIC ANIMAL.

I MEAN, THEY MIGRATE FOR THOUSANDS OF MILES,

AND THERE ARE CERTAIN MOUNTAINS THAT THEY REALLY LIKE.

AND SO ONCE YOU'RE IN AN AREA FOR A WHILE,

THEN YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT, WHERE THE ANIMALS ARE,

OR MOST OF THEM.

THIS IS A GOOD, LITTLE CLIMB.

OH, THERE'S A CARIBOU RIGHT THERE, SKY-LINED OVER THERE.

OH, THERE'S FOUR OR FIVE OF THEM.

THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

BUT IF I WENT OVER THERE AFTER THEM,

THEY'D BE LONG GONE BY THAT TIME,

LONG GONE.

AND I'M JUST GONNA SIT HERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR,

AND I'VE GOT A GOOD FEELING THERE'LL BE MORE.

YEAH. THERE'LL BE MORE.

FIRST TIME I LOOKED OUT HERE WAS,

OH, 1974 OR 1975.

I WAS 20 YEARS OLD THEN. [ CHUCKLES ]

JUST A YOUNG KID.

NO WIFE, NO KIDS.

LIKE THE OLD SAYING GOES,

FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY-FREE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

NOW GRANDKIDS AND EVERYTHING -- WOW.

HOW LIFE CHANGES, YOU KNOW?

♪♪

OH, WHEN KRIN COMES OUT, THAT WILL BE NICE.

IT WILL BE REAL NICE, YEAH, HER AND THE BABY.

REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BABY.

THAT'S GOOD.

AND I SURE HOPE THE KID WANTS TO COME OUT HERE,

YOU KNOW, LEARN THIS LIFESTYLE.

♪♪

I REMEMBER TAKING, A LONG TIME AGO,

ME AND -- ME AND RHONDA AND KRIN WENT OUT.

AND IT WAS WARM. A LITTLE BREEZE.

JUST BEFORE THE LEAVES DROPPED --

ALL THE COLORS. THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL YELLOW,

RED, ORANGE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. JUST BEAUTIFUL.

AND THEN I SHOT A CARIBOU,

AND ME AND RHONDA AND KRIN, WE CARRIED IT BACK.

BUT IT WAS -- IT WAS A DAY WELL WORTH SPENT IN MY LIFE, BOY.

IT WAS ONE HELL OF A NICE DAY.

IF I COULD LIVE THAT DAY OVER,

I'D LIVE IT A MILLION TIMES OVER.

IT WAS SO WONDERFUL THAT DAY.

FOR SOME REASON, I ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT DAY.

[ CHARLIE SQUEAKING ]

[ WEASEL PURRING ]

THAT'S A LITTLE WEASEL.

SO, I KEEP MAKING THAT SQUEAKING SOUND,

AND HE THINKS IT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE A MOUSE.

SO HE KEEPS COMING BACK AND KIND OF CHECKING IT OUT

AND KIND OF...SIZING ME UP, SEE IF I WANT TO FIGHT HIM.

[ CHUCKLES ]

[ CONTINUES SQUEAKING ]

I THINK MY DAD PICKED A PRETTY AWESOME LOCATION

WHEN HE PICKED THIS SPOT.

YOU'RE THE KING OF THE CASTLE AS A LITTLE KID OUT HERE.

I MEAN, I GOT TO RUN AROUND THAT WHOLE DARN VALLEY.

AND THAT WAS MY PLAYGROUND GROWING UP,

WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

I JUST LOVE LOOKING BACK DOWN AT THE HOUSE,

AND YOU CAN SEE MOM AND DAD

AND THE DOGS JUST WALKING AROUND,

LOOKED LIKE A BUNCH OF ANTS DOWN THERE.

AND JUST KIND OF GETTING THAT BIRD'S-EYE VIEW

OF LIFE AT HOME.

MY DAD FIRST GOT OUT HERE IN 1978.

HE GREW UP IN NEW YORK CITY.

SO IT PROBABLY WAS A HARD TRANSITION.

IT WAS A VERY BRAVE MOVE FOR MY DAD.

HE BUILT A PLACE, AND THEN HE MET MY MOTHER

AND THEN HAD ME AND MY SISTER.

WE DIDN'T HAVE VIDEO GAMES OR TV TO WATCH.

YOU KNOW, MOM AND DAD SENT US OUTSIDE.

I GREW UP HUNTING AND TRAPPING AND GATHERING WOOD.

AND YOU LEARN ABOUT SURVIVAL AT A REALLY YOUNG AGE.

I MEAN, CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT

THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY LIVE IN IS...

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

♪♪

RIGHT NOW, I'M WORKING ON BUILDING MY OWN CABIN,

AND HOPEFULLY SOON WILL BE MOVING IN.

HAVING MY OWN CABIN IS, FOR ME, A BIG DEAL.

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT FREEDOM.

THE LIFESTYLE MY PARENTS LIVED,

THE HOUSE THAT MY DAD BUILT,

IT'S DEFINITELY INSPIRED ME

TO TRY TO FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS.

I'M GONNA HEAD BACK

AND TRY TO GET SOME WORK DONE ON THE CABIN.

-IT'S A BIG RIVER. -YEAH, IT IS.

Tyler: SO FAR, SO GOOD.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF HOURS BEHIND US.

AND...IT WOULD BE NICE

TO GET UP TO FORT YUKON TODAY.

THAT'S 70 MILES.

MY BROTHER AND I HAVE TAKEN CANOE JOURNEYS

AND STUFF TOGETHER BEFORE,

BUT NOTHING ON THIS SCALE.

YOU KNOW IT'S A FAR CRY FROM WHEN WE WERE LITTLE KIDS,

YOU KNOW, AND BUILDING LOG RAFTS ON OAK CREEK

BACK IN NEBRASKA, YOU KNOW,

AND LAUNCHING THEM THERE AND GOING FOR A FEW MILES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A KID'S TRIP.

Tyler: IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY BROAD, YOU KNOW?

IT'S HARD TO READ IT, MAN.

-WHERE ARE WE GONNA GO? -I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S AN ISLAND UP THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF ISLANDS ON THIS STRETCH OF THE YUKON.

YOU JUST HAVE TO KIND OF PICK A SIDE.

HELP ME WATCH FOR LOGS

AND WHATEVER KIND OF TRASH IS FLOATING.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DEBRIS AND STUFF

KIND OF BLOCKING THAT CHANNEL,

SO I'M GONNA STAY IN THE BIG CHANNEL.

BOATING IN ALASKA IS MORE DANGEROUS

BECAUSE THE WATER IS ALWAYS COLD.

AND YOU GET INTO WATER LIKE THAT,

YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE RIGHT AWAY.

AND THE SILTY RIVERS ARE PRETTY BAD,

BECAUSE THE SILT,

LIKE IN THE YUKON, WILL GET INTO YOUR CLOTHES,

AND IT WILL PULL YOU DOWN. IT WEIGHS YOU DOWN.

YOU CAN'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN.

[ CLANK, METAL SCRAPING ]

[ DOGS HOWLING ]

[ CLANK, METAL SCRAPING ]

Tyler: WE JUST BONKED THE BOTTOM.

QUIET! [ DOGS HOWLING ]

THIS IS SHALLOW.

[ DOGS CONTINUE HOWLING ]

WHAT DO YOU NEED? HOLD UP, HOLD UP.

[ METAL SCRAPING ]

DAMN IT.

MAN, WE JUST STOPPED.

OH. THIS IS NOT THE SIDE WE WANT TO BE ON.

NO. WE GOOD?

DUSTIN, PUSH -- GET UP IN FRONT.

[ DOGS CONTINUE HOWLING ]

HEY! HEY, STOP IT!

PUSH THE BOW THAT WAY.

WE GOT NO CHOICE. PUT THE BOW INTO THE CURRENT.

SEE IF YOU CAN SWING THE BOW DOWN.

PULL UP. WE NEED TO DO THAT MORE.

I JUST GOT INTO SOME SHALLOW WATER.

NOW I'M TRYING TO FIND A CHANNEL WE CAN FOLLOW

AND SEE IF WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE.

WERE'S THE DEEP WATER AT?

THIS BOAT TRIP IS KIND OF A TEST

TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN USE THE BOAT

TO GET INTO THE TRAP LINE,

TO JUST DEVELOP, YOU KNOW,

A LITTLE BIT MORE INDEPENDENCE AND...

YOU KNOW, BASICALLY, JUST GOING FURTHER

AND FURTHER INTO THIS LIFESTYLE.

Dustin: NOW YOU'RE GONNA GET INTO SOME LITTLE BIT DEEPER WATER.

I THINK YOU CAN FIRE IT UP, TYLER.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

KEEP CHECKING.

JUST KIND OF AFRAID TO HIT THE GAS AGAIN, YOU KNOW?

Dustin: TYLER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE ANXIOUS.

HE'S NERVOUS A LOT. HE THINKS -- HE THINKS A LOT.

YOU KNOW, HE'S A PHILOSOPHY MAJOR, SO...

SOMETIMES HE COMES DOWN ON HIMSELF

A LITTLE HARD FOR LITTLE MISTAKES.

Tyler: I HOPE.

♪♪

Charlie: THIS IS THE FIRST CABIN I'VE EVER BUILT.

I'M GETTING PRETTY CLOSE

TO PUTTING THE LAST LOG ON THE CABIN,

AND I DEFINITELY HOPE I GET IT DONE BY THE FIRST SNOW.

THAT'S THE GOAL.

I WON'T BE IN MOM AND DAD'S HOUSE ANYMORE,

SO THIS WILL BE THE FIRST SEASON LIVING ON MY OWN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY EXCITING.

SO, IT'S HARDER TO DO EVERYTHING IN THE WINTER.

I MEAN, YOU GOT THE SNOW AND COLD.

SO, YEAH, I'M JUST REALLY PUSHING HARD TO GET IT DONE.

FOR A ONE-MAN OPERATION,

THE HARDEST PART IS GETTING THE LOGS UP, I GUESS.

THERE'S MANY, MANY TONS WORTH OF LOGS

LIFTED UP ONTO THIS CABIN.

♪♪

SO, THIS IS PROBABLY THE --

MAYBE THE 80th LOG.

I GOT TO BE VERY CAREFUL HOW I PULL IT UP

AND PUT IT IN PLACE.

THESE COME-ALONGS ARE SO POWERFUL

IF YOU HAVE A HANG-UP ON THE WRONG SPOT.

I CAN TWIST OUT MY WALL. THAT COULD DO SOME DAMAGE.

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND YEAR WORKING ON IT, SO...

IT'S GONNA MEAN THE END OF A VERY, VERY LONG JOURNEY.

I MEAN, I LOOK AT THE HOUSE THAT MY DAD BUILT

WHEN HE FIRST GOT OUT HERE.

I ALWAYS WONDER, YOU KNOW,

WHAT DID HE THINK HIS LIFE WAS GONNA BE LIKE AND...

AND WHAT HE SAW IN HIS FUTURE.

UM...

I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT MY FUTURE IS GONNA HOLD, SO...

IT'LL BE EXCITING.

I SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

BY THE TIME THE SNOW HAS FALLEN OUT HERE,

I DEFINITELY WANT TO GET THIS CABIN FINISHED

SO I'LL BE MOVED IN,

HOPEFULLY GET A MOOSE,

YOU KNOW, AND JUST START GETTING READY FOR WINTER.

♪♪

THIS CABIN'S GONNA BE MY HOME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE DREAMED ABOUT

FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

THERE'S A --

OH, IT'S RIGHT THERE. RIGHT THERE IS A CARIBOU

IN THE TREES, RIGHT THERE.

OVER HERE. AND, LOOK, THERE'S MORE.

THERE'S TWO COWS AND A CALF.

AND THEY'RE JUST STANDING THERE.

BUT HOW LONG THEY'RE GONNA BE THERE, I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST GOT A FEELING THEY'RE GONNA MOVE.

DANG.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? LET'S JUST GO.

[ Whispering ] OKAY, WE GOT TO CROSS THIS OPENING,

AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF TREES.

GOT TO BE VERY QUIET NOW.

WATCH WHERE YOU STEP.

DON'T -- NO BRANCHES BREAKING.

[ WATER SPLASHING ]

Shh, shh, shh. QUIET.

HOT.

PUT MY -- MY BANDANA ON.

I SEE THE CARIBOU THERE.

DON'T MOVE.

[ GUNSHOT ]

♪♪

[ GUNSHOT ]

I GOT IT.

YEAH, THERE'S THE COW WITH THE CALF RIGHT THERE.

I SHOT THAT OTHER COW, THE LONE COW.

GOOD. WE GOT MEAT. [ CHUCKLES ]

OH, THERE. IT TRIED TO GET UP --

OH, HANG ON.

LET ME -- LET ME FINISH IT OFF.

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ SIGHS ]

OH, GOOD.

MEAT, MEAT, MEAT.

MAN, EDNA'S GONNA BE REALLY HAPPY.

[ BIRDS SQUAWKING ]

RAVENS.

THEY'RE QUICK.

HOW THEY KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

THEY JUST DO.

CARIBOU IS LIKE THE BEEF OF THE ARCTIC.

YOU KNOW, IT'S --

I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY CARIBOU, YOU KNOW,

AND IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT EATING-WISE.

IT IS FUN TO HUNT, YOU KNOW?

YEAH. I ADMIT, IT IS FUN.

BUT ONCE THAT TRIGGER'S PULLED

AND THAT ANIMAL GOES DOWN,

THE FUN'S GONE, MAN.

IT'S GONE.

THEN IT'S JUST SOLID WORK.

ONE KIDNEY! YES.

ONE KIDNEY.

THE TONGUE IS MY FAVORITE PART OF THE CARIBOU.

KIDNEYS ARE PRETTY HIGH ON THE LIST, TOO.

THE BRISKET.

STILL GOT TO CARRY THIS THING BACK.

YOU KNOW, ME AND EDNA GOT TO MAKE IT INTO DRIED MEAT.

IT IS A LOT OF WORK. WITH THIS LIFESTYLE,

FREEDOM IS NEVER CHEAP, I GUESS YOU'D SAY,

'CAUSE YOU GOT TO PAY FOR IT IN SOME WAY.

WHETHER IT'S FINANCIAL OR PHYSICAL,

YOU STILL GOT TO PAY FOR IT.

OH, MY BACK'S ACHING.

OHH!

TOMORROW, I'M GONNA SLEEP IN,

TILL 7:00.

[ BIRDS SQUAWKING ]

[ RATCHET CLINKING ]

I'M PRETTY PSYCHED.

THIS IS THE LAST LOG TO BE PULLED UP ON THIS WALL.

THIS IS GONNA BE A LARGE RIDGE POLE TO PUT UP.

PROBABLY CLOSE TO 800 POUNDS.

AFTER I PUT THIS RIDGE POLE IN,

IT'LL BE THE LAST LOG TO GO UP,

THEN I'LL BE FRAMING THE ROOF IN, YOU KNOW.

I STILL GOT TO PUT A FLOOR -- A FLOOR IN,

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, DOORS AND WINDOWS.

BUT THIS IS, YOU KNOW --

THE ACTUAL CABIN PART WILL BE FINISHED,

AND THAT'S MOST OF IT.

THAT'S MOST OF THE WORK.

GETTING PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING, YOU KNOW, LIVABLE.

♪♪

THAT SUPPORTING LOG'S SUPPORTING THE RIDGE POLE.

SO IT'S GOT A LOT OF WEIGHT ON IT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

SO I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TOO QUICKLY

AND STRESS IT MORE THAN IT NEEDS TO BE.

IT'D BE VERY EASY TO PUSH THIS OFF THE WALL.

AND I'VE DONE THAT BEFORE, THE OTHER LOG.

REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO IT WITH THIS ONE.

UM, MOOSE BURGERS,

SAUSAGE OR...

I DON'T KNOW. HOT DOGS IS MORE YOUR STYLE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

YEAH, THAT LOOKS KIND OF NICE FROM HERE.

WE'RE PULLING INTO A LITTLE...

GRAVEL BAR HERE THAT LOOKS KIND OF NICE FOR CAMPING.

Tyler: WE'VE HAD A FEW ROUGH -- HIT A FEW ROUGH SPOTS,

BUT WE'RE BASICALLY DONE

WITH 1/3 OF THE JOURNEY RIGHT NOW.

A COUPLE MORE DAYS, AND WE'LL BE THERE.

WE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT IT AS KIDS, YOU KNOW,

DOING SOME CRAZY ADVENTURE LIKE THIS,

BUT IT WAS ALWAYS JUST A DREAM.

TYLER'S THE ONE THAT DID THIS.

HE MADE IT HAPPEN, AND...

PRETTY PROUD OF HIM FOR DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

THANKS, MAN. [ LAUGHS ]

GET READY TO TRIM UP.

IT'S GONNA GET SHALLOW HERE IN JUST A SECOND.

[ DOGS HOWLING ]

SO, IT WAS A GOOD FIRST DAY.

WE GOT TURNED AROUND A COUPLE TIMES

AND SCRAPED BOTTOM QUITE A FEW,

BUT, I MEAN, I'M GLAD IT WASN'T A DISASTER.

YOU KNOW, THEN I WOULD BE DISCOURAGED

AND MIGHT NOT WANT TO KEEP DOING IT.

THE DOGS ARE HAPPY TO BE OFF.

YEAH.

LONG RIDE FOR THEM.

♪♪

THIS IS THE WAY TO TRAVEL, IF YOU CAN.

JUST MORE RELAXED, MORE...

MORE MEANINGFUL, IN A LOT OF WAYS.

YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING, HMM?

KNOW WHERE WE'RE HEADED?

BACK OUT TO THE WOODS?

♪♪

Edna: I ENJOY ALL THAT SKIPPING.

TRYING TO BEAT MY OLD RECORD.

[ LAUGHS ]

HEIMO WILL TELL ME WHAT TIME HE'S GONNA BE HOME.

SO I COME OUT HERE AND WAIT FOR HIM.

I WORRY ABOUT HIM WHEN HE'S NOT...

WHEN HE'S GONE.

HE MIGHT FALL DOWN, HURT HIS LEG.

A BEAR MIGHT GET HIM.

AND I HOPE HE'S GONNA BE HOME SOON.

WE HAVE A REAL STRONG BOND TOGETHER OUT HERE.

♪♪

Edna: OH. I HEARD THE BOAT MOTOR.

HE'S COMING.

YOU GOT ONE.

-[ GRUNTS ] -DID YOU?

YOU GOT ROCKS IN YOUR BACKPACK?

-WHAT'S THAT? -I WANT TO SEE.

YOU CAN'T. YOU CAN'T.

LET ME.

-NOTHING. -UH-HUH, NOTHING.

-DARN IT. -YEAH, RIGHT.

YOU GOT NO BLOOD ON YOUR CLOTHES.

OKAY, NOW I SEE.

-YOU FEEL IT NOW? -YEAH.

WELL, WE GOT MEAT. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

I WANT TO EAT TONGUE, OKAY?

I'M TIRED.

BUT I AIN'T GOT A WET ASS.

YOU WANT ME TO PUSH YOU AND GET WET ASS?

NO-O-O.

[ CHUCKLES ] NO.

OKAY.

THERE WE GO. THAT'S --

THAT'S AS FAR AS IT'S GONNA GO.

VERY TOP LOG.

AND THE FACT THAT I BUILT IT BY MYSELF

IS, TO ME, A BIG DEAL.

A CABIN IS A SHELTER.

IT'S A WAY TO GET OUT OF THE WEATHER.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED.

AND IT'S ALSO HOME.

AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

I AM PLENTY PLEASED WITH IT THUS FAR.

I'M QUITE CONFIDENT

THERE'LL BE A LOT OF HAPPY MEMORIES

IN THAT HOUSE.

Heimo: I GOT TO WASH THIS TONGUE.

Edna: YEAH.

GO RIGHT HERE. GO SLOW.

POUR IT SLOW.

THAT'S GOOD.

Heimo: THE TONGUE IS THE BEST PART OF THE CARIBOU.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I NORMALLY DON'T EVEN SHARE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING KRIN, FOR SURE, BIG TIME,

AND, OF COURSE, THE GRANDKID. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

IT'S THE NEW GENERATION HERE.

AND THIS WAY OF LIFE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN,

THIS WAY OF LIFE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US.

FIRST MEAT FOR THIS SEASON.

I HOPE THAT OUR FAMILY, SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE,

KEEPS GOING IN THIS LIFESTYLE.

FIND YOU A STICK.

HAVE A LITTLE COMPETITION.

STICK-BREAKING CONTEST? [ BOTH LAUGH ]

ME AND TYLER USED TO HAVE STICK-BREAKING COMPETITIONS

-WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER. -[ CHUCKLES ]

WE'D FIND A LOG JUST LIKE THIS.

SPEND HOURS TRYING TO SMACK THEM

UNTIL THEY BROKE.

[ LAUGHS ]

Tyler: BEING ABLE TO GO BACK OUT TO THE WOODS EVERY YEAR

IS REALLY GETTING INTO A TIME MACHINE

AND TRANSPORTING YOURSELF INTO THE PAST.

THIS IS LIKE A GRAND ADVENTURE, BASICALLY.

IT JUST KIND OF DRIVES ME.

Bob: OUT HERE, IT'S A VERY SAFE FEELING.

BUT THAT COULD CHANGE, IN A SECOND.

[ WHISTLES ]

THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE STUFF THAT YOU CAN'T PREDICT.

-YOU GOT THAT GUN? -YEAH.

MWAH. LOVE YOU.

Heimo: EITHER OUR FAMILY KEEPS THIS GOING,

OR ELSE THE PLACE WILL JUST ROT AWAY.

IT'S JUST NOT WHERE MY LIFE IS RIGHT NOW.

Bob: I NEED TO GET BACK TO MY CABIN.

I HAVEN'T SEEN IT FOR QUITE A WHILE.

HOLY [BLEEP] SOMEBODY'S BEEN IN HERE.