Original subtitles

>> OH, MAN.

I CAN'T SEE.

>> ON THIS EPISODE

OF ICE ROAD TRUCKERS...

>> ALL THE GUYS THAT I FOLLOW

AROUND, THEY BRAG ABOUT HOW

SLOW THEY ARE.

>> THE RIVALRY BETWEEN HUGH AND

ALEX CONTINUES TO RAGE.

>> ALEX IS SO [bleep] FAR BEHIND

HE THINKS HE'S AHEAD.

[laughs]

>> ATIGUN PASS CLAIMS ITS NEXT

VICTIM.

AND A DEADLY ICE FOG--

ZERO VISIBILITY.

>> WOW.

>> AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD...

[honks horn]

>> THERE'S A JOB ONLY A FEW

WOULD DARE.

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT EXTREME

TRUCKING COULDN'T GET MORE

DANGEROUS...

ICE ROAD TRUCKERS TAKE ON

ALASKA.

[Aerosmith's Livin' on the Edge]

>> * LIVIN' ON THE EDGE

>> narrator: THESE ARE THE

TRUCKERS WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING

ON THIN ICE.

>> * LIVIN' ON THE EDGE

* YOU CAN'T HELP YOURSELF

* YOU CAN'T HELP YOURSELF

* LIVIN' ON THE EDGE

* YOU CAN'T HELP YOURSELF

* FROM FALLING

* LIVIN' ON THE EDGE

* YEAH, YEAH

>> IT'S TWO MONTHS INTO THE ICE

ROAD SEASON.

AND THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION IS OUT IN FORCE,

TRYING TO KEEP THE ROAD TO THE

OIL FIELDS OPEN--

ESPECIALLY THROUGH ATIGUN PASS.

>> WELL, WE'RE KEEPING THE ROAD

OPEN SO THE TRUCKS CAN GET BACK

AND FORTH TO PRUDHOE BAY.

>> BUT NOW, RECORD SNOWFALL AND

HIGH WINDS ARE MAKING ATIGUN

SLICKER AND MORE DEADLY THAN

EVER.

>> THIS YEAR HAS BEEN EXTREME.

WE'VE HAD 12 STORMS WHICH HAVE

RUN UP THE BERING SEACOAST.

THESE LAST FEW DAYS WE HAD WINDS

IN EXCESS OF 70 MILES AN HOUR.

IT MAKES IT REALLY SMOOTH AND

REALLY SLIPPERY.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE TRUCKS

REALLY START HAVING PROBLEMS

WITH IT.

[distant screaming]

[crashing]

[beeping]

>> STRAIGHTEN 'EM UP.

OKAY, NO.

BACK A LITTLE.

THERE YOU GO.

COME ON IN.

>> FIRST UP TODAY IN THE

CARLILE YARD IS HEAVY HAUL ACE

JACK JESSEE.

HE'S ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT TO

LOAD TWO MULTI-PURPOSE STORAGE

TANKS, EACH WEIGHING 46,000

POUNDS--THE EQUIVALENT OF 15

AVERAGE-SIZED CARS.

>> OKAY.

TILT BACK SOME.

>> AND THE TWO TANKS MUST BE IN

DEADHORSE TONIGHT.

>> OKAY. COME ON IN.

HEY, HOLD UP RIGHT THERE.

>> HANG ON A SEC.

JUST HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.

>> JACK ENLISTS THE HELP OF HIS

FRIEND AND HEAVY HAUL EXPERT

CAREY HALL.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE JOKING

AROUND, YOU KNOW.

CALLING ME "THE KING OF HEAVY

HAUL" AND STUFF.

AND "CAREY HALL, HEAVY HAUL."

AND...YOU KNOW.

I MOVE A LOT OF BIG, HEAVY

STUFF.

>> I'VE DONE CONVOYS WITH CAREY

BEFORE.

I ENJOY WORKING WITH CAREY.

SOMETIMES WE JOKE AROUND ON THE

RADIO A LITTLE BIT.

HE PLAYS ALONG REALLY GOOD.

YOU GET HIM, AND HE'LL END UP

GETTING YOU RIGHT BACK WITH

SOMETHING, SO...

IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO RUN WITH

CAREY.

STRAIGHTEN YOUR WHEELS UP.

THE OTHER WAY.

NO, DON'T STOP.

>> THEY USE TWO FORKLIFTS TO

CAREFULLY RAISE THE FIRST TANK

SO THE FLATBED CAN SLIDE

UNDERNEATH.

>> WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

SLOW DOWN.

>> MAINTAINING THE RIGHT BALANCE

IS CRITICAL.

[beeping]

[creaking]

>> OH! BACK THE OTHER WAY.

HOLY [bleep].

>> JACK'S ASSIGNMENT MAY BE OVER

BEFORE IT'S EVEN BEGUN.

[beeping]

>> IN THE GARAGE, ALEX IS

PREPPING HIS TRUCK FOR THE NEXT

RUN.

>> GO UP HERE.

I NEED MY OWN TOOLS IN CASE THE

TRUCK, UH, HAS--IT, YOU KNOW,

SOME MINOR PROBLEMS THAT I, UH--

THAT NEED FIXING.

OKAY, SO I GOT METRIC AND

STANDARD.

LET'S TAKE THESE TWO HERE.

>> BUT BEFORE HE CAN GET A

LOAD...

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> MORNING, ALEX.

HOW WE DOING?

>> PRETTY GOOD, THANKS.

>> HE'S DUE FOR A REPORT CARD--

AN ASSESSMENT OF HIS PERFORMANCE

SO FAR THIS SEASON.

>> THEY CAN DOWNLOAD THE

COMPUTER ON THE TRUCK.

SO AFTER SO MANY TRIPS THEY

DOWNLOAD YOUR COMPUTER TO SEE

HOW YOU'RE DRIVING THE TRUCK--

WHETHER YOU'RE WRECKING THE

TRUCK OR NOT.

>> SINCE HE'S STILL NEW TO

CARLILE, HIS DRIVING IS UNDER

CLOSE SCRUTINY.

>> AVERAGE DRIVING SPEED--THEY

WANT 38 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR.

ON THE HAUL ROAD I GOT 39.9.

SO I KNOW THAT ONE'S GOOD.

>> IF DRIVERS STRAY OVER THE

SPEED LIMIT AT CARLILE, THEY

WILL BE SUSPENDED.

>> THE EXCITEMENT IS STARTING

THIS MORNING ALREADY.

>> ALEX GETS HIS LOAD--

27,000 POUNDS OF CONSTRUCTION

SUPPLIES.

>> WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT--SEE,

THAT'S--THAT'S A LITTLE LOOSE.

>> EVEN THOUGH THIS IS ALEX'S

FOURTH TRIP ON THE ICE, HE MUST

STILL TRAVEL WITH AN EXPERIENCED

HAUL ROAD DRIVER.

BUT ALEX'S LAST INSTRUCTOR LEFT

HIM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

TODAY, ALEX HAS BEEN ASSIGNED

SOMEONE NEW.

>> I'M FOLLOWING A FELLOW BY THE

NAME OF RON.

HE'S A HEAVY HAUL GUY, I GUESS.

>> BUT RON IS NOWHERE IN SIGHT.

>> I DON'T LIKE WAITING, NO.

I THINK I'LL GO IN AND GET

ANOTHER CUP OF COFFEE.

HOW'S IT GOING?

>> GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

>> GOOD, THANKS.

ALEX DEBOGORSKI'S MY NAME.

>> RON DUBBS.

>> PLEASED TO MEET YOU.

>> GOOD TO MEET YOU.

>> WE'RE RUNNING A LITTLE BIT

LATE, SO...

>> YEAH--UH, YEAH.

TIM WAS GONNA CALL ME THIS

MORNING AND HE NEVER DID.

WE'RE GON--WE'RE GETTING HER

GOING NOW.

>> ARE YOU A HOT-RODDER OR?

>> NO, NO.

IT'LL BE A NICE, CASUAL TRIP.

>> TIME IS MONEY ON THE ICE

ROADS, AND THE LATE START HAS

ALREADY COST ALEX A FEW HUNDRED

BUCKS.

>> SO FINALLY, TWO HOURS LATER,

WE'RE READY TO GO.

NORTHBOUND AGAIN.

MY FRIEND RON, WHOM I'M

FOLLOWING--

HE TOLD ME HE WAS A SLOW DRIVER,

SO AT LEAST HE'S NOT LYING,

ANYWAY.

[laughing]

>> ALEX IS ONLY ONE RUN BEHIND

RIVAL HUGH ROWLAND.

AND AT THIS RATE, HE'LL NEVER

CATCH UP.

>> SEE, NOW WHAT THEY SHOULD DO

IS THEY SHOULD PUT HUGHIE BEHIND

THESE GUYS.

THEY SHOULD GET HUGHIE TO RUN

WITH JACK AND RON AND--

JUST TO TEST HUGHIE'S STRESS

LEVEL.

SEE HOW PATIENT HE IS.

>> EVER SINCE THEY ARRIVED IN

ALASKA...

>> SHE'S READY TO GO.

>> THE TWO HAVE BEEN IN AN

ALL-OUT BATTLE FOR HAUL ROAD

DOMINANCE.

[honks horn]

>> [laughs]

>> I GOTTA KEEP WORKING ON THIS

VIRTUE OF PATIENCE.

I'M COMPETITIVE.

I LIKE TO HAUL MORE LOADS THAN

HUGHIE.

BUT I KEEP MY EYE OUT FOR AN

OPPORTUNITY.

IF THE OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS

ITSELF AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL

GOOD AND THERE'S A CHANCE TO GET

BY HIM--DARN RIGHT, I'LL GET BY

HIM.

JUST SO I CAN GET HIM TO HUFF

AND PUFF A LITTLE MORE.

[laughs]

[continues laughing]

>> FOR HEAVY HAULERS JACK JESSEE

AND CAREY HALL, THINGS HAVE

GOTTEN OFF TO A SHAKY START.

>> SLOW DOWN.

>> JACK, GET OUT OF THE WAY.

>> OH! LOOK OUT.

>> THEIR 46,000 POUND LOAD JUST

SLIPPED FROM THE FORKLIFT...

AND SLAMMED INTO THE GROUND.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS THING

PICKS, IT PUSHES HIM.

OKAY.

>> LUCKILY, THE $150,000 TANK

IS UNDAMAGED.

BUT THEY NEED A NEW APPROACH TO

LOADING IT.

>> I'M GONNA PUT THAT UNDER

THERE SO WE CAN GET UNDER IT

RIGHT.

>> BY PLACING PLANKS OF WOOD

UNDERNEATH THE TANK, THEY CAN

MAINTAIN A BETTER BALANCE WITH

THE FORKLIFTS.

>> OKAY, PICK IT UP.

[beeping]

OKAY, YOU'RE GOOD.

YEAH, WE'LL GET THIS THING UP,

JUST GIVE HER A LITTLE WIGGLE,

AND SEE...

MAKE SURE SHE SITS THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> OKAY?

WHOA!

WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT BACK UP A

LITTLE BIT.

COME ON IN.

GONNA PICK UP A LITTLEIT.

NICE AND EASY.

OKAY, RIGHT THERE.

>> WHILE THE TANK HANGS IN THE

BALANCE...

THEY SLIDE A FLATBED

UNDERNEATH...

AND LOWER THE TANK SUCCESSFULLY.

[beeping]

BUT THE 16-FOOT-TALL LOAD IS

AT HIGH RISK FOR ROLLING OFF THE

TRAILER.

GETTING THE STRAPS TIGHT IS

CRITICAL.

>> WE'LL DO TWO IN THE BACK AND

TWO IN THE MIDDLE, AND THEN TWO

MORE RIGHT HERE IN THE FRONT SO

IT DOESN'T DO ANY WIGGLING.

>> THE SECOND TANK IS LOADED

WITHOUT TROUBLE.

BUT BEFORE THEY HIT THE ROAD,

JACK'S GOT A MESSAGE FOR HIS

DRIVING PARTNER.

>> JACK WAS STANDING ON THE STEP

RIGHT HERE.

AND HE'S PUTTING THIS TAPE ON

THE MIRROR, AND I

SAW HIM, SO I JUST LET HIM DO

IT.

AND HE THOUGHT HE GOT AWAY WITH

IT.

SO I--I OWE HIM RIGHT NOW.

I--I WILL GET HIM.

I'VE GOT THESE BIG UNDERWEAR.

HUGE.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA PUT 'EM ON

THE BACK OF THE TANK.

[radio crackles]

>> WE READY TO GO NOW?

>> I THINK SO.

I'M GOOD.

>> AS THE CONVOY GETS UNDER WAY,

CAREY IS HAVING THE LAST LAUGH.

>> I THINK THOSE ARE PROBABLY

THE LARGEST PAIR OF UNDERWEAR

I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE IN MY

LIFE.

WHEN IT COMES TO PRACTICAL JOKES

OUT HERE ON THE ROAD, YOU DON'T

WANT TO MESS WITH BIG DADDY,

'CAUSE HE'LL GET YOU BACK.

[laughter]

>> UP NORTH IN DEADHORSE...

LISA KELLY IS LEAVING FOR THE

500 MILE TREK SOUTH WITH A STACK

OF FLATBED TRAILERS.

>> WE'RE IN PRUDHOE.

IT TOOK ME 34 OFF.

AND WE'RE HEADING BACK TO

FAIRBANKS WITH THIS DECK SET

HERE.

IT'S SO FREEZING COLD IN HERE.

>> THIS MORNING, THE ALASKAN

WINTER IS TAKING ITS TOLL ON

LISA AND HER TRUCK.

>> OOF.

MY TRUCK IS COLD AND DOESN'T

WANT TO WORK RIGHT NOW.

EVERYTHING'S JUST COLD ON IT.

AND THE TRAILER.

>> EXTREME TEMPERATURES CAUSE

FLUIDS IN THE TRUCK TO FREEZE,

INCLUDING GREASE IN THE STEERING

COLUMN.

>> I ALWAYS SPLIT ALL MY LOW-END

GEARS, 'CAUSE IF I DON'T, IT'LL

JUST GO BLEH.

[chuckles]

SO IT'S LIKE, "COME ON, BABY,

YOU CAN DO IT.

WE'LL WARM UP."

>> THIS IS LISA'S NINTH LOAD OF

THE SEASON.

THREE OF THEM HAVE BEEN HEAVY

HAUL--HER ULTIMATE GOAL ON THIS

ROAD.

>> I'D LIKE TO GET RIGHT BACK

AND BACK OUT AGAIN AND GET UP

HERE.

I CALLED MY DISPATCH FROM HERE

AND HE SAID, "OKAY, I'LL TRY TO

HAVE SOMETHING OUT AND READY

JUST TO HOOK RIGHT UP TO YOU."

IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 11:00 OR

12:00 WHEN WE MAKE IT INTO

FAIRBANKS.

>> LISA'S EAGER TO KEEP TURNING

AND BURNING--

NO MATTER HOW DANGEROUS THE ROAD

GETS.

>> MY FIRST RIDE UP HERE, I WAS

LIKE, "EH, WHATEVER.

THIS ROAD AIN'T THAT BAD.

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

I THINK THEY JUST SAY ALL THIS

STUFF TO SCARE YOU."

AND THEN THE MORE YOU DRIVE IT,

THE MORE YOU SEE THE GLOWS,

THE HILLS, TRUCKS OFF IN THE

DITCH...

THERE'S TWO KIND OF PEOPLE ON

THE ROAD: THE ONES THAT HAVE

BEEN IN THE DITCH AND THE ONES

THAT ARE GONNA GO IN THE DITCH.

[chuckles]

SOUTHBOUND ATIGUN.

>> LISA'S NEXT CHALLENGE--

THE DEADLY ATIGUN PASS.

>> ATIGUN'S NOT THE STEEPEST

GRADE ON THE ROAD, BUT IT IS

THE LONGEST.

>> FOUR LONG MILES OF ICY

TWISTS AND TURNS.

>> IT'S TRICKY 'CAUSE IT'S

WINDY.

THERE'S AVALANCHES 'CAUSE IT'S

A MOUNTAIN.

WE'RE CLIMBING UP AND OVER A

MOUNTAIN RANGE.

>> AND TODAY'S SUNSHINE HAS MADE

THE ROAD ESPECIALLY SLICK.

>> YEAH, GO AHEAD.

>> A NORTHBOUND TRUCK IS

SLIPPING ON THE ICE.

>> WHAT THE HELL?

>> ON THE DALTON, NORTHBOUNDERS

HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.

>> OH, MAN.

>> THE DRIVER MOVES INTO LISA'S

LANE TO GAIN TRACTION.

AND SHE IS NOW FORCED INTO THE

OPPOSITE LANE...

>> I CAN'T SEE.

I DON'T WANT TO GO IN THAT

DITCH.

>> ...HER TIRES JUST INCHES FROM

THE CLIFF'S EDGE.

>> THE SCAREDEST I'VE EVER BEEN

SO FAR ON THIS ROAD.

[horn blasts]

[horn blasts]

THE TRUCK PASSES WITH JUST

INCHES TO SPARE.

>> YOU WANT ME TO STAY IN THIS

LANE FOR THE NEXT GUY HERE?

>> OH, YOU CAN ASK HIM.

HE'S COMING UP THE HILL BEHIND

THERE.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

WE'LL JUST HANG OUT IN THIS LANE

THEN.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED IS THAT THE

TRACTION WAS BETTER IN MY LANE

FOR THE GUYS CLIMBING THE HILL.

AND I DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT

TRACTION NEAR AS MUCH AS THE

GUYS CLIMBING LOADED.

AND I'M EMPTY COMING DOWN.

AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE

SNOW IN THEIR LANE, SO WE JUST

SWAPPED LANES SO THAT THEY HAD

THE GOOD TRACTION GOING UP.

>> 80 MILES SOUTH OF LISA, ALEX

DEBOGORSKI AND RON DUBBS ARE

NEARING COLDFOOT.

>> * ETERNAL GOD

* WHEN I IN AWESOME WONDER

* CONSIDER ALL THE WORLD

* THY HANDS HAVE MADE

THIS LITTLE BIT OF SCENERY KIND

OF BRINGS OUT THE MIND YOU'VE

GOT.

[chuckles]

>> AS HE PUSHES FORWARD, ALEX

REALIZES TRUCKERS AREN'T THE

ONLY ONES ON THE ROAD TODAY.

>> WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?

HOLY MACKEREL.

WHAT THE HECK?

>> ALASKAN MOOSE CAN WEIGH UP TO

2,000 POUNDS AND POSE A HUGE

THREAT TO UNSUSPECTING DRIVERS.

>> WOW.

THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION.

[laughs]

GIVE A GUY A RUDE AWAKENING.

* THEN SINGS MY SOUL

* ETERNAL GOD TO THEE

* HOW GREAT THOU ART

* HOW GREAT THOU ART

[chuckles]

[horn blasts]

>> UP AHEAD IN COLDFOOT, ALEX

RUNS INTO HIS RIVAL HUGH

ROWLAND.

>> WHAT THE [bleep]'S GOING ON?

>> GUESS I'M ON MY FIFTH LOAD.

HOW MANY ARE YOU ON?

>> I WENT BY THERE TEN TIMES NOW

OVER THE PASS.

>> TEN TIMES?

FIVE ONE WAY AND FIVE THE OTHER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SO I'M CATCHING UP TO YOU.

ARE YOU CONCERNED?

>> NOT A BIT.

[laughter]

>> THEY DECIDED THAT WE HAVE TWO

DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRIVING, EH?

SO THEY TRY TO MATCH US UP TO

THESE FELLOWS WHO ARE

FOLLOWING--THEY DRIVE LIKE WE

DO.

SO THEY GOT YOU WITH THE GUYS

THAT ARE FAST.

THEY GOT ME WITH THE GUYS THAT

ARE DYING.

[laughter]

YOU COMING IN OR WHAT?

>> NOPE.

>> WE'RE GONNA KEEP ON GOING?

>> WE'RE THIS CLOSE NOW.

NO USE IN [bleep] STOPPING NOW.

>> OH, YEAH.

WELL, WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

>> WE'LL SEE YA.

>> HUGH'S BEEN ASSIGNED A LOAD

THAT WAS LEFT IN COLDFOOT DURING

THE LAST STORM.

BUT WHILE HE WAITS TO HOOK UP

THE TRAILER, ALEX GETS A HEAD

START.

>> YEAH, I RUN INTO HUGH THERE,

AND HE'S JUST COMPLETED HIS

FIFTH LOAD, AND I'M JUST

STARTING MY FIFTH LOAD, SO HE'S

BASICALLY ONE LOAD AHEAD OF ME

NOW.

HE'S STILL TRAVELING WITH PHIL,

AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER

GETTING OUT OF THEIR TRUCKS.

I ENJOY B.S.-ING WITH EVERYBODY

AND TELLING STORIES, BUT THE

TROUBLE IS IT REALLY CUTS INTO

MY DRIVING TIME, SO IF I STAY

IN THE TRUCK, YOU KNOW, AND...

JUST CONTINUE, HAUL ANOTHER

LOAD, CATCH UP TO HUGHIE, AND,

YOU KNOW, I DO LIKE--I REALLY

LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PASS HIM

BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MUCH IT

BOTHERS HIM.

HE DOES NOT LIKE GETTING PASSED.

>> AT MILE 74 OF THE ICE ROAD...

>> WE'RE GONNA RUN INTO THE

ROLLER COASTER.

>> HEAVY HAULERS JACK JESSEE AND

CAREY HALL ARE APPROACHING THE

ROLLER COASTER.

A DEATH-DEFYING SET OF HILLS,

IT REQUIRES TOP SPEEDS TO CLEAR

THEM.

>> MY TRUCK ONLY GOES 55 MILES

AN HOUR.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA HIT IT

AT AT THE BOTTOM.

ALL I'M CONCERNED IS CAREY

DOESN'T RUN ME OVER BACK THERE.

HIS TRUCK'LL ACTUALLY HIT THE

BOTTOM A LITTLE FASTER THAN

MINE.

>> I GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT I GET

ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF SPEED

THAT HE DOES, AND, THAT WAY, I

WON'T CATCH HIM GOING UP THE

OTHER SIDE.

>> MY TRUCK'S NOW PULLING HIM.

BUT IF HE'S GOT MORE MOMENTUM

AT THE BOTTOM THAN I DO, THAT

COULD REALLY GIVE YOU SOME

PROBLEMS.

>> JACK CLEARS THE TOP OF THE

ROLLER COASTER.

BUT ON THE WAY DOWN CAREY STARTS

GAINING ON HIM.

>> COME ON. PICK IT UP, JACK.

COME ON, JACK.

PICK IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

[horn beeps]

>> UGH.

>> JACK TRIES TO PICK UP SPEED.

>> DAMN IT, JACK, GET OUT OF

THE WAY.

>> AT A CRITICAL MOMENT, JACK

FINDS THE RIGHT GEAR AND STARTS

TO PULL AWAY FROM CAREY.

>> THERE WE GO.

[sighs]

>> I KNOW WHY--WHAT'S HOLDING

HIM BACK.

IT'S THAT EXTRA OVER-SIZED

PAIR OF UNDERWEAR HE GOT ON THE

BACK OF HIS LOAD.

JACK.

>> YEAH.

>> REALLY?

YEAH, WE CAN STOP RIGHT OVER

HERE AND CHECK IT OUT.

EVERYTHING'S LOOKING GOOD.

DO YOU WANT A SANDWICH?

NOTHING LOOSENED UP.

>> A LITTLE WIDE?

[laughs]

YEAH.

[laughs]

SURE THING.

>> 244 MILES UP THE ICE ROAD...

[horn honks]

IT'S ALEX'S TURN TO FACE THE

DEADLY ATIGUN PASS.

>> ATIGUN PASS, THAT'S THE

BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

IT'S THE NUMBER ONE CHALLENGE,

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, ON THE

TRIP HERE.

GETTING OVER THE DARN THING.

THERE'S ALWAYS POTENTIAL FOR A

PROBLEM.

GONNA HAVE TO CONCENTRATE A

LITTLE--A LITTLE MORE.

IF YOU'RE GONNA DO ANY SHIFTING,

IT BETTER MAKE THE SHIFT.

WHAT WORRIES ONE ABOUT THIS PART

IS IF WE--IS LOSING TRACTION

AND SLIDING DOWN A HILL.

THE PUCKER FACTOR GOES UP...

WHEN WE'RE GOING OVER.

>> SUDDENLY ANOTHER TRUCK TRIES

TO PASS ON A DANGEROUS CORNER.

>> HOLY MACKEREL.

THIS GUY--LOOK AT THIS GUY.

HE'S PASSING ME.

THIS IS--THIS IS HOW YOU [bleep]

THINGS UP, YOU COME IN AT THE

SWITCHBACK AND PASSING.

>> YEAH.

WHAT WERE YOU--

>> [bleep].

HE'S WAY HEAVIER THAN I AM.

HE'S GOING TO [bleep] ME UP.

DAMN.

I HAVE NO [bleep] IDEA WHAT THE

HELL'S THE MATTER WITH HIM.

HE'S GOT A REALLY HEAVY LOAD.

I MEAN, ANY BRAINS, YOU CAN SEE

I'M LIGHT.

[horn blasts]

LUCKY I'M IN THE RIGHT GEAR HERE

THAT I CAN KIND OF IDLE BACK.

I ACTUALLY THINK I CAN PROBABLY

CLIMB THE HILL FASTER THAN HIM.

>> THE TRUCK IN FRONT IS NOW A

DANGEROUS HAZARD.

IF IT STOPS SUDDENLY OR SPINS

OUT, ALEX HAS NOWHERE TO GO.

>> MAYBE HE FIGURES I DON'T KNOW

WHAT I'M DOING OR I DON'T KNOW

WHAT HE THINKS.

HE'S SUPER DUCK.

I'M SURE HE FEELS A LITTLE

FOOLISH BECAUSE HE FIGURES HE'S

GONNA JUST ROAR BY AND JUST

DISAPPEAR INTO THE SUNSET.

AND IT'S ALL HE CAN DO TO STAY

AHEAD OF ME NOW.

NOT BAD.

I'M PUSHING THIS TANKER UP THE

HILL NOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THESE GUYS ARE,

I'M NEW HERE, SO, I MEAN, I'M

NOT--I'M HAPPY.

IT'S FINE.

I CAN HANDLE IT RIGHT HERE.

IT'S FOOLISH. TOTAL FOOLISHNESS.

>> 40 MILES SOUTH OF ALEX...

[horn honks]

IT'S NOW HUGH ROWLAND AND

PHIL KROM'S TURN TO MAKE THE

DANGEROUS ASCENT.

>> I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET A

HOLD OF ALEX.

>> UH, WELL, IT DOESN'T SOUND

LIKE WE'LL CATCH UP TO HIM.

>> HUGH IS ONE LOAD AHEAD OF

ALEX IN THE DASH FOR CASH, BUT

ON THIS RUN HE'S GETTING LEFT

IN THE DUST.

>> YEAH, SHE'S STRAPPED DOWN

PRETTY GOOD.

YEAH, THERE AIN'T MUCH ON HERE.

THERE'S ONLY 12,000 POUNDS ON

HERE.

>> PULLING OVER TO CHAIN UP WILL

PUT HUGH EVEN FURTHER BEHIND HIS

RIVAL.

>> I JUST GOT--I JUST GOT PIPE

FITTINGS.

I ONLY GOT 12,000 POUNDS ON.

I'M JUST GONNA HELP...

PHIL BILLY CHAIN UP.

>> HUGH IS CARRYING A LOAD SO

LIGHT, HE DOESN'T THINK HE NEEDS

CHAINS.

>> [bleep].

>> YEAH, NO, I'M GOOD.

I ONLY GOT 12,000 POUNDS ON.

YEAH.

>> I THINK IT'S TOO LIGHT--WE

GOT SEVERAL IN FRONT OF US.

>> I MEAN, THAT'S--I'M NOT EVEN

SLIPPING AROUND.

THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GO.

>> GIVE ME A PRETTY GOOD HEAD

START BEFORE YOU START UP.

>> WHAT HUGH DOESN'T KNOW IS

THAT TODAY THE PASS IS EXTREMELY

SLICK.

A FEW HUNDRED FEET UP AHEAD,

A TANKER TRAVELING WITH NO

CHAINS SUDDENLY LOST TRACTION

AND CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL.

NOW THE WRECK IS BLOCKING THE

ROAD.

[beep]

>> YEP, GO AHEAD.

>> SO I'LL CATCH UP TO YOU HERE

IN A MINUTE.

>> DID THEY SAY WHAT, UH...

THEY COULDN'T GET THE TRUCK OFF

THE--I HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT--

>> THEY CAN'T GET IT OFF THE

GUARDRAIL.

IT'S STUCK ON IT.

THEY'RE STEEL POSTS DRIVEN INTO

THE GROUND.

THEY'RE NOT WOODEN-POST

GUARDRAILS.

>> OH. WELL, THAT [bleep] SUCKS,

DOESN'T IT?

[dramatic music]

*

>> AT 4,000 FEET...

ALL TRAFFIC HAS COME TO A

STANDSTILL, COSTING THEM ALL

PRECIOUS TIME AND MONEY...

AND POSSIBLY ENDING HUGH'S LEAD

IN THE DASH FOR THE CASH.

>> ON THE TREACHEROUS ATIGUN

PASS...

SEVERELY SLICK CONDITIONS HAVE

CAUSED AN OIL TANKER WITH NO

CHAINS TO SPIN OUT AND CRASH

INTO THE GUARDRAIL.

AFTER TWO HOURS, THE ROAD

FINALLY REOPENS.

>> I'M GOOD TO GO, HEY, PHIL?

>> HUGH AND PHIL CAN START

MOVING NORTH AGAIN TO DEADHORSE.

>> HE BEAT HER UP PRETTY BAD

DOWN THERE.

>> YEAH, AND...

>> LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.

QUITE A LITTLE WINDSTORM LAST

NIGHT.

ABOUT 2 INCHES OF SNOW AND A

WINDSTORM, SO...IT KINDA MADE A

MESS OF THINGS.

>> AS HUGH INCHES UP THE PASS,

THE ROAD CONDITIONS ARE MUCH

WORSE THAN HE EXPECTED.

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PASS, HE

DECIDED NOT TO CHAIN UP.

>> NOW HE'S SPINNING OUT.

>> [Bleep].

SHE'S PRETTY [bleep] SLIPPERY.

>> 10-4.

UH-OH.

COME ON, GET UP THERE.

JUST [bleep] ALL OVER THE PLACE.

ANYBODY THAT SAYS THIS AIN'T AN

ICE ROAD, THEY'RE FULL OF

[bleep].

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

I JUST COME UP OVER THE PASS

HERE.

I SPUN MOST OF THE WAY TO THE

[laughing] TOP.

THAT WAS MY CALL WITH NO CHAINS.

BUT I MADE HER.

125 MILES TO GO.

[honking horn]

>> AFTER A LONG DAY ON THE ROAD,

ALEX AND CONVOY PARTNER RON

DOBBS REACH THE OUTSKIRTS OF

DEADHORSE.

>> ABOUT 500 MILES LATER, THIS

IS IT.

I ALMOST FINISHED MY FIFTH TRIP.

IF I WAS DRIVIN' IT BY MYSELF,

YOU KNOW, I'D PROBABLY DRIVE

A LITTLE QUICKER.

WELL, HERE WE ARE, PRUDHOE BAY.

A SUCCESSFUL TRIP.

>> AS SOON AS ALEX DROPS HIS

LOAD, HE AND RON ARE ASSIGNED

BACKHAULS TO COLDFOOT.

>> FLATBEDS USUALLY ALONG THIS

ROW OVER HERE AND VANS ARE

USUALLY ALONG THIS ROW.

JUST FIND OUT WHICH ONE'S YOURS

AND GET HEADING SOUTH.

>> THAT'S GOOD, GREAT.

AND NOW WE'RE SOUTHBOUND WITH

A LOAD.

>> BACK ON THE ROAD, ALEX IS

WELL AHEAD OF HUGH AND ON TRACK

TO MATCH HIS SIX LOADS.

I GUESS WE'LL SEE.

>> BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF OIL

IN 1968, PRUDHOE BAY EMERGED

AS THE CENTER FOR ANOTHER

NATURAL RESOURCE...

WHALES.

FROM THE MID-19TH CENTURY, LOCAL

NATIVES ESTABLISHED A VAST

COMMERCIAL WHALING INDUSTRY

HERE.

>> IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT,

REALLY, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OIL

RUSHES TO THE NORTH SLOPE.

THE FIRST WAS FOR OIL FROM THE

WHALES, AND THE SECOND WAS OIL

FROM THE GROUND.

WHALE OIL IN THE EARLY DAYS,

A LARGE PART OF IT IS FOR

CORSETS AND FOR--YOU KNOW,

BECAUSE THIS WAS BEFORE

PLASTIC--BUT IT WAS ALSO USED

FOR LIGHTING.

AND THIS IS ALL BEFORE

PETROLEUM.

>> AND THE MILES ARE JUST GONNA

GO AWAY, SLOW BUT SURE.

>> AFTER A SERIES OF DELAYS,

HUGH AND PHIL ARE NEXT TO PULL

INTO PRUDHOE BAY.

>> HUGH WANTS TO TURN AND BURN

TO STAY AHEAD OF ALEX.

AND ALEX IS SO [bleep] FAR

BEHIND, HE THINKS HE'S AHEAD.

[laughing]

[clunk]

>> HE'S UNLOADED AND RELOADED

IN RECORD TIME.

BUT LEAD DRIVER PHIL ISN'T SO

ANXIOUS TO GET GOING.

>> YOU GETTING ANTSY OR WHAT?

>> NOPE.

>> YOU'RE SITTING THERE WITH

YOUR SEATBELT ON JUST FEELING

SAFE?

>> I JUST PUT IT ON.

>> WELL, I WONDER HOW FAR THOSE

GUYS ARE BEHIND US.

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS IF THEY GOT

AWAY.

>> I GOTTA DO SOME THINGS NOW...

>> WELL, YOU GOTTA DO WHAT YOU

GOTTA DO, MAN.

THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.

>> OKAY. I'LL BE RIGHT OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> HUGH MUST WAIT UNTIL PHIL IS

READY TO GO.

FOR NOW, THE POLAR BEAR IS AT A

STANDSTILL.

>> [Bleep] DAMN IT!

>> AS THE SUN SETS...

LISA BEGINS HER FINAL STRETCH

DOWN THE DALTON.

SHE'S STILL GOT 190 MILES TO GO

TO REACH FAIRBANKS.

>> WE'LL BE GETTING INTO

FAIRBANKS ABOUT...MIDNIGHT.

AND I'M GONNA HAVE A LOAD READY

AND WAITING FOR ME WHEN I GET

THERE.

WE'LL SEE HOW TIRED I AM.

I'M GONNA BE TIRED.

>> BUT ONE OF THE ROAD'S WORST

TROUBLE SPOTS IS UP AHEAD--

THE BEAVER SLIDE.

FOR SOUTH BOUNDERS, IT'S 2 MILES

STRAIGHT UPHILL.

>> MY BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE

BEAVER SLIDE--A LOT OF PEOPLE

HAVE BEEN SPINNING ON IT AND

SLICKING UP THE ROAD SO THE NEXT

GUY COMES UP BEHIND HIM AND

SPINS ON HIS SPIN MARKS.

WHOA...

>> HALFWAY UP, SHE BEGINS TO

SPIN.

>> REALLY SLIPPERY.

HOLY CRAP.

FEEL THAT?

IT'S SLIPPING.

HOLY CRAP.

>> LISA GEARS DOWN...

AND SLOWLY, SHE INCHES HER WAY

TO THE TOP.

>> THAT WAS KIND OF SLIPPERY IN

THE CAB THERE.

DID YOU FEEL THAT?

JUST TRYING TO GET TO THE TOP,

IT WAS LIKE...

>> AFTER 500 MILES AND 15 HOURS

ON THE ROAD, LISA REACHES

FAIRBANKS.

>> LISA, YOU ON THERE?

>> YES, SIR.

>> WHERE YOU BE AT?

>> PULLING IN TO THE FOX SCALES

RIGHT NOW.

I'M EXHAUSTED TIRED.

I JUST WANNA LIKE STOP.

BUT NOT YET.

I'D LIKE TO GET TWO MORE IN THIS

WEEK, SO I'M GONNA GO TO BED

AND TURN AROUND AND GO BACK

TOMORROW, DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> 330 MILES UP THE ICE ROAD,

HEAVY HAULERS JACK JESSEE AND

CAREY HALL ARE GUNNING FOR

DEADHORSE.

>> IT IS LATE, MAN.

>> THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN AT IT

FOR TEN GRUELING HOURS, AND THEY

MUST DELIVER THEIR LOADS

TONIGHT.

REGULATIONS ALLOW THEM TO DRIVE

FOR 16 HOURS WITHOUT A BREAK.

JACK'S CONVINCED HE CAN MAKE THE

LAST 80 MILES IN TWO HOURS.

BUT FIRST, HE'S GOTTA BEAT

FATIGUE.

GOING ON!

>> UP AHEAD, THE WEATHER BEGINS

TO CHANGE.

>> ICE FOGS FORM WHEN EXTREMELY

COLD AIR SUDDENLY HITS A WARM

FRONT.

TINY ICE PARTICLES CRYSTALLIZE

INTO A LAYER SO THICK IT'S

SOMETIMES CALLED THE WHITE

DEATH.

[horn honking]

THE FOG GROWS THICKER BY THE

MINUTE.

VISIBILITY DROPS TO JUST 6 FEET.

>> WOW.

>> AFTER 15 LONG HOURS...

JACK AND CAREY PUSH THROUGH TO

THE FINISH LINE.

>> THE GIANT TANKS HAVE SURVIVED

THE 500-MILE JOURNEY UP THE

DALTON AND ARE DELIVERED ON

TIME.

>> TWO MONTHS INTO ALASKA'S ICE

ROAD SEASON, HEAVY HAUL ACE

JACK JESSEE IS STILL LEADING THE

PACK, HAVING HAULED MORE THAN

TWICE AS MANY LOADS AS THE

ROOKIES.

BUT THE NIGHT ISN'T OVER YET.

ROOKIE TIM FREEMAN AND GEORGE

SPEARS ARE SOUTHBOUND, JUST 100

MILES FROM FAIRBANKS...

AND RUNNING STRAIGHT INTO A

BLINDING WHITEOUT.

>> YEAH. HOW WE DOING?

>> YEAH.

>> THE WINDS ARE GUSTING AT 50

MILES PER HOUR.

VISIBILITY IS NEAR ZERO.

BUT THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO

PUSH THROUGH.

>> YOU KNOW HOW SHE LOOKS HERE,

CAREY.

[wind rushing]

>> OH, BOY.

JUST A HORRENDOUS STORM.

IT'S HARD TO SEE THE ROAD UNTIL

YOU GET UP HERE TOWARD THE

GUARDRAIL.

[horn blares]

OH, MY GOD!

Captioning by CaptionMax