1 00:00:05,918 --> 00:00:08,008 NARRATOR: On this episode of "Ice Road Truckers"-- 2 00:00:08,138 --> 00:00:09,879 a brutal, arctic storm-- 3 00:00:10,010 --> 00:00:11,011 It looks awful! 4 00:00:11,141 --> 00:00:13,013 It looks like it's slippery. 5 00:00:13,143 --> 00:00:14,971 NARRATOR: --creates havoc on the ice road. 6 00:00:15,102 --> 00:00:17,017 Spinning like a son of a bitch. 7 00:00:17,147 --> 00:00:18,627 NARRATOR: Monster snow drifts. 8 00:00:18,757 --> 00:00:19,410 Oh, wow. 9 00:00:19,541 --> 00:00:20,759 Look at this [bleep]. 10 00:00:20,890 --> 00:00:22,370 Man-- holy cow! 11 00:00:22,544 --> 00:00:24,937 NARRATOR: And terrifying whiteouts. 12 00:00:25,068 --> 00:00:27,723 Something devastating can happen, for sure. 13 00:00:27,853 --> 00:00:29,899 Hi, ho, hi, ho. 14 00:00:30,030 --> 00:00:31,031 Into the blow we go. 15 00:00:31,161 --> 00:00:33,294 [dramatic music] 16 00:00:33,424 --> 00:00:34,991 Lord, give us a hand. 17 00:00:37,689 --> 00:00:45,523 NARRATOR: At the top of theworld, there's a job only a few 18 00:00:45,654 --> 00:00:48,135 would dare. 19 00:00:48,265 --> 00:00:49,832 [horn honking] 20 00:00:49,962 --> 00:00:52,617 Just when you thought extreme trucking couldn't get more 21 00:00:52,748 --> 00:00:57,057 dangerous, ice road truckers take on Alaska. 22 00:00:57,231 --> 00:01:00,060 [dramatic music] 23 00:01:05,326 --> 00:01:08,416 [theme music] 24 00:01:33,963 --> 00:01:37,662 NARRATOR: Seven weeks into this season, Carlile 25 00:01:37,793 --> 00:01:41,101 has delivered nearly half of the 2,000 loads needed 26 00:01:41,231 --> 00:01:43,755 at the oilfields. 27 00:01:43,886 --> 00:01:47,759 But with only five weeks left, a series of powerful storms 28 00:01:47,890 --> 00:01:52,677 are rolling in, threatening their progress. 29 00:01:52,808 --> 00:01:56,464 One determined trucker isn't about to let bad weather stop 30 00:01:56,594 --> 00:01:58,118 her from reaching her goals. 31 00:02:00,207 --> 00:02:04,385 NARRATOR: It's 7:00 AM at the Carlile yard in Fairbanks. 32 00:02:04,559 --> 00:02:06,561 I don't know where to hook it. [LAUGHS] 33 00:02:06,691 --> 00:02:10,130 NARRATOR: And Lisa Kelly is preparing to hit the Dalton 34 00:02:10,260 --> 00:02:13,002 with another massive load. 35 00:02:13,133 --> 00:02:14,699 Are these rig mats? 36 00:02:14,830 --> 00:02:16,701 Oh, my gosh. 37 00:02:16,832 --> 00:02:19,139 This one's going to be pretty heavy. 38 00:02:19,269 --> 00:02:22,664 NARRATOR: Rig mats are 5,000-pound platforms used 39 00:02:22,794 --> 00:02:26,668 to protect the Arctic tundrafrom the crushing weight of oil 40 00:02:26,798 --> 00:02:28,104 rigs. 41 00:02:28,235 --> 00:02:31,151 I have some rig mats, and a big metal frame thing, 42 00:02:31,281 --> 00:02:35,155 and a pickup truck on board. 43 00:02:35,285 --> 00:02:37,766 All that on the back of the trailer and this on the front? 44 00:02:37,940 --> 00:02:40,812 [muttering] Gonna be a fun trip. 45 00:02:40,943 --> 00:02:42,510 [LAUGHS] 46 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:45,730 NARRATOR: This is Lisa's third oversized load of the season. 47 00:02:45,861 --> 00:02:49,473 She's already hauled a 42,000-pound load of truck 48 00:02:49,604 --> 00:02:55,262 tires and 80 feet of pipe across the Arctic Ocean. 49 00:02:55,392 --> 00:02:57,916 Now, she's got another chance to prove 50 00:02:58,047 --> 00:02:59,962 she's got what it takes to become 51 00:03:00,092 --> 00:03:03,183 Carlile's first female driver in heavy haul. 52 00:03:03,313 --> 00:03:06,142 [music playing] 53 00:03:18,198 --> 00:03:19,242 Going to Prudhoe Bay. 54 00:03:19,373 --> 00:03:24,204 And I am nine wide. 55 00:03:24,334 --> 00:03:28,208 So I got my oversized signs and blinking light on, and-- 56 00:03:28,338 --> 00:03:30,166 little flags and-- 57 00:03:30,297 --> 00:03:32,212 I mean, it looks like it's way tail-heavy, 58 00:03:32,342 --> 00:03:34,214 but it's, like, perfectly even. 59 00:03:34,344 --> 00:03:38,566 Like, give or take 40 pounds. 60 00:03:38,696 --> 00:03:41,960 NARRATOR: Transporting this giant load for 500 miles 61 00:03:42,091 --> 00:03:44,963 is a challenge under the best of circumstances. 62 00:03:45,137 --> 00:03:48,967 But today's forecast is callingfor major storm conditions 63 00:03:49,098 --> 00:03:50,578 up ahead. 64 00:03:50,708 --> 00:03:52,232 LISA: I don't know a whole lot about the oncoming storm. 65 00:03:52,362 --> 00:03:55,235 I'll know more when I get to Coldfoot, when we sit 66 00:03:55,365 --> 00:03:58,238 around gossip central table and find out 67 00:03:58,368 --> 00:04:00,762 what's going on up north. 68 00:04:00,892 --> 00:04:04,244 We're gonna fight weather, we're gonna fight night time-- 69 00:04:04,418 --> 00:04:06,246 and we're gonna get there. 70 00:04:06,376 --> 00:04:09,249 [dramatic music] 71 00:04:12,121 --> 00:04:15,385 NARRATOR: Back in Fairbanks, meteorologist Mike Richmond 72 00:04:15,559 --> 00:04:18,780 is tracking the region's approaching storm. 73 00:04:18,910 --> 00:04:20,260 Fairbanks is right here. 74 00:04:20,390 --> 00:04:23,132 And the Dalton Highway starts near Livengood, um-- 75 00:04:23,263 --> 00:04:26,222 right here, and moves north up to Prudhoe Bay there. 76 00:04:26,353 --> 00:04:27,789 We broke our daily snowfall record. 77 00:04:27,919 --> 00:04:30,008 So far, we've had seven inches at the airport. 78 00:04:30,139 --> 00:04:31,923 And we're going to get another three to four-- 79 00:04:32,054 --> 00:04:34,056 maybe even more than that overnight tonight, 80 00:04:34,186 --> 00:04:35,927 and a couple more inches tomorrow. 81 00:04:36,058 --> 00:04:38,234 Today is one of those days where everything 82 00:04:38,365 --> 00:04:41,281 that can happen with winter weather is-- is occurring. 83 00:04:44,545 --> 00:04:51,203 NARRATOR: 244 miles north in themountains of the Brooks Range, 84 00:04:51,378 --> 00:04:54,076 DOT avalanche specialist Reid Bahnson 85 00:04:54,206 --> 00:04:59,299 prepares for another day of blasting before the new storm 86 00:04:59,429 --> 00:05:02,302 brings more deadly slides. 87 00:05:02,432 --> 00:05:05,087 We brought six rounds along. 88 00:05:05,217 --> 00:05:09,221 There are three of these pathswhich are relatively dangerous. 89 00:05:09,352 --> 00:05:11,746 They have a lot of vertical descent 90 00:05:11,876 --> 00:05:14,879 that can hit the road at about 70 or 80 miles an hour. 91 00:05:15,010 --> 00:05:17,882 It can certainly knock trucks off the road. 92 00:05:18,013 --> 00:05:22,322 So the focus is to get those paths cleaned out today. 93 00:05:22,496 --> 00:05:24,324 Slide path 12. 94 00:05:24,454 --> 00:05:25,803 [whistles] Hey! 95 00:05:25,934 --> 00:05:29,590 If it comes big, I jump in, and I take the truck 96 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:30,982 and go that way. 97 00:05:31,113 --> 00:05:32,549 So don't put anything in the way, 98 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:34,334 because I'm going to run over it. 99 00:05:34,464 --> 00:05:37,337 NARRATOR: Reid's goal is to aim for the sweet spot-- 100 00:05:37,467 --> 00:05:42,864 the beginning of the slide zone, 3,500 feet away. 101 00:05:42,994 --> 00:05:45,954 Clamps down, bolts are good. 102 00:05:46,084 --> 00:05:48,696 This is a zero failure mission here. 103 00:05:48,826 --> 00:05:53,353 We close the breach, pull the safety, turn 104 00:05:53,483 --> 00:05:54,397 the firing handle-- 105 00:05:54,528 --> 00:05:57,357 breach sounded good. 106 00:05:57,531 --> 00:05:59,663 Clear the front! 107 00:05:59,794 --> 00:06:00,447 All clear. 108 00:06:00,577 --> 00:06:01,361 Ready to load! 109 00:06:01,491 --> 00:06:05,365 HE, shot 112. 110 00:06:05,495 --> 00:06:08,106 Fire! 111 00:06:08,237 --> 00:06:10,457 [blast] 112 00:06:11,806 --> 00:06:16,376 NARRATOR: While Reid clears the pass, 113 00:06:16,506 --> 00:06:19,335 truckers in Coldfoot-- halfway between Fairbanks 114 00:06:19,466 --> 00:06:21,642 and Deadhorse-- are just receiving news 115 00:06:21,772 --> 00:06:23,034 about the impending storm. 116 00:06:23,165 --> 00:06:24,732 This is the updated weather report for you. 117 00:06:24,862 --> 00:06:25,950 Thanks, Chad. 118 00:06:26,081 --> 00:06:27,387 Yeah. CHAD: Doesn't look too good. 119 00:06:27,517 --> 00:06:28,823 I don't know that I want to read it, but thanks. 120 00:06:28,997 --> 00:06:30,433 CHAD: [LAUGHING] Yeah, I'm sure you don't! 121 00:06:30,564 --> 00:06:31,869 Uh, visibility is down to zero. 122 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,395 Chains are required on the hills and passes. 123 00:06:35,525 --> 00:06:38,049 Travel is not advised at this time. 124 00:06:38,180 --> 00:06:41,270 [dramatic music] 125 00:06:42,837 --> 00:06:46,406 NARRATOR: After Tim Freeman got his truck out of the shop 126 00:06:46,536 --> 00:06:47,755 yesterday-- 127 00:06:47,885 --> 00:06:50,235 They figured out it was the engine speed sensor. 128 00:06:50,366 --> 00:06:52,412 They got that put in for me overnight. 129 00:06:52,542 --> 00:06:56,416 NARRATOR: --he and George Spearsbattled 30 mile per hour winds 130 00:06:56,546 --> 00:06:57,591 just to make it to Coldfoot. 131 00:07:05,903 --> 00:07:09,298 NARRATOR: Now, worried about putting his rookie protege 132 00:07:09,429 --> 00:07:13,389 in harm's way, George puts in acall to consult with dispatch. 133 00:07:15,957 --> 00:07:17,219 Good morning. Carlile. 134 00:07:17,349 --> 00:07:18,655 Hello, Lane? LANE [OVER PHONE]: Georgie. 135 00:07:18,786 --> 00:07:20,091 Hey, yeah. 136 00:07:20,222 --> 00:07:21,441 It's me, George, in Coldfoot. - How are you? 137 00:07:21,571 --> 00:07:22,833 Well, we're still going north. 138 00:07:22,964 --> 00:07:24,792 And they say it's a phase 3 blow up there. 139 00:07:24,922 --> 00:07:27,447 And they said they thought it was supposed to lay down 140 00:07:27,577 --> 00:07:28,970 a little bit at 9 o'clock tonight. 141 00:07:29,100 --> 00:07:30,885 We'll probably go ahead and, uh-- 142 00:07:31,015 --> 00:07:31,712 send you up there. 143 00:07:31,842 --> 00:07:32,495 OK. 144 00:07:32,626 --> 00:07:33,583 Thanks, Lane. 145 00:07:33,714 --> 00:07:34,454 Bye. 146 00:07:34,584 --> 00:07:36,543 Bye. 147 00:07:36,717 --> 00:07:40,982 NARRATOR: Tim and George realizethey could be driving straight 148 00:07:41,112 --> 00:07:42,462 into the eye of a storm. 149 00:07:42,592 --> 00:07:44,942 But they also know there's no money 150 00:07:45,073 --> 00:07:47,292 to be made sitting around Coldfoot. 151 00:07:47,423 --> 00:07:48,729 When some trucks aren't moving, 152 00:07:48,859 --> 00:07:50,731 then obviously they're not generating any revenue. 153 00:07:50,861 --> 00:07:53,081 The driver's not making any money. 154 00:07:53,211 --> 00:07:54,474 So we're going to go ahead and go. 155 00:07:54,604 --> 00:07:56,171 We're tired of sitting in Coldfoot. 156 00:07:56,301 --> 00:07:59,000 So-- we'll just take the consequences and head north. 157 00:07:59,130 --> 00:08:02,264 [dramatic music] 158 00:08:12,579 --> 00:08:17,192 NARRATOR: Up ahead, Tim and George face the deadly duo-- 159 00:08:17,322 --> 00:08:21,631 the ice slope called "the shelf" and then, 160 00:08:21,762 --> 00:08:23,764 4,700-foot Atigun Pass. 161 00:08:23,894 --> 00:08:26,549 [music continues] 162 00:08:31,032 --> 00:08:32,512 Oh, just fine. 163 00:08:36,472 --> 00:08:39,736 We got a set of three railers on. 164 00:08:39,867 --> 00:08:41,521 Everything's looking good. 165 00:08:44,393 --> 00:08:47,701 Shouldn't have no problem going up over the pass. 166 00:08:47,831 --> 00:08:52,096 I don't get worried about it until the road starts blowing. 167 00:08:52,227 --> 00:08:55,012 NARRATOR: 240 miles up the ice road-- 168 00:08:55,143 --> 00:08:58,625 at 4,000 feet and climbing-- 169 00:08:58,755 --> 00:09:01,105 George Spears and rookie Tim Freeman 170 00:09:01,236 --> 00:09:04,979 are running against the weather,hoping to make it to Deadhorse 171 00:09:05,109 --> 00:09:07,372 before the storm hits again. 172 00:09:07,503 --> 00:09:09,679 Southbound-- where we just [inaudible] all the 70-mile 173 00:09:09,810 --> 00:09:11,246 flats. 174 00:09:11,376 --> 00:09:12,552 When he come through there, he couldn't see a thing. 175 00:09:12,682 --> 00:09:15,250 Uh-- blowing all the way into Prudhoe. 176 00:09:25,652 --> 00:09:27,567 I hear that. 177 00:09:27,697 --> 00:09:30,134 Uh, he said it was a son of a bitch. 178 00:09:30,265 --> 00:09:31,005 But, uh-- you know. 179 00:09:31,135 --> 00:09:32,180 It might be cleaned up. 180 00:09:32,310 --> 00:09:33,747 Might hit a window of opportunity 181 00:09:33,877 --> 00:09:35,966 to get through there by the time we get up there, so-- 182 00:09:36,097 --> 00:09:39,056 that's what we're hoping for. 183 00:09:39,187 --> 00:09:42,930 NARRATOR: As they move north, there's more bad signs 184 00:09:43,060 --> 00:09:44,584 of dangerous weather ahead. 185 00:10:00,687 --> 00:10:03,603 NARRATOR: With weather growing worse by the mile-- 186 00:10:05,256 --> 00:10:08,999 NARRATOR: --George pulls over to get word from southbounders 187 00:10:09,130 --> 00:10:11,175 who've just been through it. 188 00:10:11,306 --> 00:10:13,830 See-- there's a bunch oftrucks sitting down there right 189 00:10:13,961 --> 00:10:14,614 now. 190 00:10:14,744 --> 00:10:15,963 Yeah. 10-4. 191 00:10:16,093 --> 00:10:17,617 Let's do that. 192 00:10:17,747 --> 00:10:22,056 [inaudible] Looks like there's plenty of [bleep] [inaudible] 193 00:10:22,230 --> 00:10:25,625 I've been stuck in the drift at 66 mile for the last two 194 00:10:25,755 --> 00:10:26,582 hours. 195 00:10:26,713 --> 00:10:28,149 You're still blowing up there? 196 00:10:28,279 --> 00:10:30,412 Still blowing a little bit there from [inaudible] over 197 00:10:30,542 --> 00:10:32,066 [inaudible]. 198 00:10:32,196 --> 00:10:34,416 But it is starting to lay down. 199 00:10:34,546 --> 00:10:36,636 I would say right now, George, is your window. 200 00:10:36,766 --> 00:10:39,639 And the window is going toclose not very long after this. 201 00:10:39,769 --> 00:10:42,685 Well, we can get on up to there, then. 202 00:10:42,816 --> 00:10:43,512 That's it. 203 00:10:43,643 --> 00:10:45,166 Give her hell. 204 00:10:45,296 --> 00:10:49,213 NARRATOR: George decides to makea run for it before the Dalton 205 00:10:49,344 --> 00:10:50,737 is totally shut down. 206 00:10:50,867 --> 00:10:53,130 Jim Bob and them told us that if we're going to go, 207 00:10:53,261 --> 00:10:55,045 this is our window of opportunity. 208 00:10:55,176 --> 00:10:56,438 So we're going for it. 209 00:10:56,612 --> 00:10:58,440 Hi, ho, hi, ho. 210 00:10:58,570 --> 00:10:59,833 Into the blow we go. 211 00:10:59,963 --> 00:11:02,749 [dramatic music] 212 00:11:06,753 --> 00:11:10,974 NARRATOR: 170 miles north in Deadhorse, Hugh Rowland 213 00:11:11,105 --> 00:11:14,021 is getting ready to head south with his fifth load 214 00:11:14,151 --> 00:11:16,414 of the season. 215 00:11:16,545 --> 00:11:20,331 I gotta go over to the otheryard and grab a-- a van to haul 216 00:11:20,462 --> 00:11:21,332 back. 217 00:11:21,463 --> 00:11:23,552 Get going down to Coldfoot. 218 00:11:23,683 --> 00:11:26,686 NARRATOR: On his last trip, Hugh hauled 50,000 219 00:11:26,816 --> 00:11:28,688 pounds of drill pipe north. 220 00:11:28,862 --> 00:11:31,865 Today's back haul is dramatically lighter, 221 00:11:31,995 --> 00:11:34,694 but exponentially more dangerous. 222 00:11:34,824 --> 00:11:37,392 He's got nine tons of drilling waste-- 223 00:11:37,522 --> 00:11:41,570 a hazardous load that could devastate the Arctic tundra if 224 00:11:41,701 --> 00:11:42,702 spilled. 225 00:11:42,832 --> 00:11:44,791 Have to put air into the trailer. 226 00:11:44,921 --> 00:11:46,706 I'm going to crank up the dollies. 227 00:11:46,836 --> 00:11:47,445 Ugh. 228 00:11:47,576 --> 00:11:48,620 Come on, you bitch. 229 00:11:48,751 --> 00:11:52,842 And then, everything's good to go. 230 00:11:52,973 --> 00:11:53,713 OK. 231 00:11:53,843 --> 00:11:55,715 I got my van here, and d-- 232 00:11:55,845 --> 00:11:58,674 find out where-- where Philbilly is here. 233 00:11:58,805 --> 00:12:00,023 And see how he's making out. 234 00:12:00,154 --> 00:12:02,199 NARRATOR: Still a newcomer to the Dalton, Hugh 235 00:12:02,373 --> 00:12:06,813 will again be guided by Carlilesafety supervisor Phil Kromm. 236 00:12:06,943 --> 00:12:08,162 All right. 237 00:12:08,292 --> 00:12:10,251 We're all fueled up and about half froze, so-- 238 00:12:10,381 --> 00:12:11,643 let's get back-- - Yeah. 239 00:12:11,774 --> 00:12:13,210 That wind is [bleep] chilly up here today. 240 00:12:13,341 --> 00:12:14,211 Yeah. 241 00:12:14,342 --> 00:12:15,082 Go right through you. 242 00:12:15,212 --> 00:12:16,083 OK! 243 00:12:16,213 --> 00:12:16,779 Lead the way! 244 00:12:16,910 --> 00:12:20,478 Lead the way, man. 245 00:12:20,609 --> 00:12:22,742 [music playing] 246 00:12:22,872 --> 00:12:23,830 We're heading back. 247 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:25,483 We're just going around the airport 248 00:12:25,614 --> 00:12:27,007 now, turning and burning. 249 00:12:27,137 --> 00:12:29,749 And, uh-- gonna go back to Coldfoot. 250 00:12:29,879 --> 00:12:31,489 This morning, the road was good. 251 00:12:31,620 --> 00:12:32,926 It was pretty good this morning. 252 00:12:33,056 --> 00:12:35,798 And now-- later on in the afternoon-- it is, uh-- 253 00:12:35,972 --> 00:12:37,844 slicker than snot on a chicken's lip. 254 00:12:37,974 --> 00:12:39,759 NARRATOR: Any trouble on the road today 255 00:12:39,889 --> 00:12:43,458 could cost Hugh his lead on Alex Debogorski. 256 00:12:43,588 --> 00:12:47,767 He's still two loads up and wants to keep it that way. 257 00:12:47,897 --> 00:12:51,118 That's been his strategy since their rivalry began, 258 00:12:51,248 --> 00:12:53,163 more than a decade ago. 259 00:12:53,294 --> 00:12:54,643 I always lied to him. 260 00:12:54,774 --> 00:12:56,036 I always told him I had less loads than what I had. 261 00:12:56,166 --> 00:12:59,343 Then-- at the end of the year, he was always-- 262 00:12:59,474 --> 00:13:00,910 he's was always choked up at me. 263 00:13:01,041 --> 00:13:03,478 Because he always thought he was keeping up, 264 00:13:03,608 --> 00:13:05,697 and I was always ahead of him. 265 00:13:05,828 --> 00:13:07,787 [laughs] 266 00:13:07,917 --> 00:13:09,876 NARRATOR: 80 miles down the road, 267 00:13:10,050 --> 00:13:14,271 storm clouds begin to roll in, bringing warmer temperatures 268 00:13:14,402 --> 00:13:16,273 and slicker ice. 269 00:13:16,404 --> 00:13:19,537 When we just came off, it was slicker than hell. 270 00:13:26,980 --> 00:13:28,895 HUGH [OVER CB]: Yeah, that's what I was thinking. 271 00:13:29,025 --> 00:13:32,812 May the ice [inaudible] [inaudible] slippery. 272 00:13:32,942 --> 00:13:34,944 How you doing back there, Hugh? 273 00:13:44,214 --> 00:13:45,041 Yeah. 274 00:13:45,172 --> 00:13:47,739 Well, damn it-- just be careful. 275 00:13:47,870 --> 00:13:50,830 10-4. 276 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:52,396 Locked the guard on the gas pedal. 277 00:13:52,527 --> 00:13:54,834 With no sudden turns on the way up, we'll be all right. 278 00:14:00,361 --> 00:14:02,058 I've seen more of the side of the trailer 279 00:14:02,189 --> 00:14:05,018 today than I have the [bleep] front end there. 280 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,633 Jesus, this is even icier [bleep].. 281 00:14:11,763 --> 00:14:14,984 That curve is slippery. 282 00:14:15,115 --> 00:14:16,551 Yeah. 283 00:14:16,725 --> 00:14:18,509 I know I'm not gonna makesudden moves on any turns today. 284 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:22,165 NARRATOR: With the treacherous Atigun Pass just 100 miles 285 00:14:22,296 --> 00:14:25,038 ahead, Hugh takes his lead from Phil. 286 00:14:25,168 --> 00:14:28,345 Well, if he can make her, I can make her. 287 00:14:28,476 --> 00:14:31,609 [LAUGHS] 288 00:14:31,740 --> 00:14:37,789 NARRATOR: 350 miles south, Lisais on the ice-covered Taps-- 289 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:41,445 a daunting 56-mile stretch of twisted hills 290 00:14:41,576 --> 00:14:42,707 and terrifying curves. 291 00:14:47,625 --> 00:14:48,931 Oh, boy. 292 00:14:49,105 --> 00:14:49,889 Don't hit your brakes. 293 00:14:50,019 --> 00:14:52,892 Just keep it coming. 294 00:14:53,022 --> 00:14:55,155 NARRATOR: Hauling an oversized load 295 00:14:55,285 --> 00:14:58,332 makes sharing this stretch especially dangerous. 296 00:15:00,856 --> 00:15:04,555 I'd rather some trucker dust me out than hit their brakes 297 00:15:04,686 --> 00:15:06,601 coming at me too fast. 298 00:15:06,731 --> 00:15:09,604 Because if you hit your brakes, there's a good chance 299 00:15:09,734 --> 00:15:12,215 your trailer is going to slide around and take me out. 300 00:15:12,346 --> 00:15:14,914 I'd rather them than just dust me out at full speed 301 00:15:15,044 --> 00:15:17,438 than kill me. 302 00:15:17,568 --> 00:15:20,310 [dramatic music] 303 00:15:22,138 --> 00:15:24,793 NARRATOR: Today's slick roads are not 304 00:15:24,924 --> 00:15:26,838 making this trip any easier. 305 00:15:26,969 --> 00:15:27,927 How's the roads? 306 00:15:28,057 --> 00:15:29,929 How's the weather here? 307 00:15:30,059 --> 00:15:31,931 Oh, it's just like you see it. 308 00:15:32,061 --> 00:15:34,934 [inaudible] 309 00:15:35,064 --> 00:15:36,631 It's raining. 310 00:15:36,761 --> 00:15:40,026 NARRATOR: As Lisa approaches the road's next white-knuckle 311 00:15:40,156 --> 00:15:43,072 challenge-- the set of verticalhills called the "Roller 312 00:15:43,203 --> 00:15:48,469 Coaster"-- she decides to err on the side of caution. 313 00:15:48,599 --> 00:15:51,951 I am chaining up because it was highly recommended to me. 314 00:15:52,081 --> 00:15:55,084 [music playing] 315 00:16:05,094 --> 00:16:07,879 [beeping] 316 00:16:10,665 --> 00:16:13,581 If you make them too tight, they hurt the tires. 317 00:16:13,711 --> 00:16:15,670 If you make them too loose, you break links. 318 00:16:21,502 --> 00:16:22,633 There we go. 319 00:16:22,764 --> 00:16:24,287 It's probably as tight as I can get them. 320 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,989 [dramatic music] 321 00:16:30,163 --> 00:16:30,990 Northbound "Roller Coaster." 322 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:34,210 [music continues] 323 00:16:37,083 --> 00:16:39,911 They made it all slippery. 324 00:16:40,042 --> 00:16:42,784 If we make it up this, we'regoing to have a good day today. 325 00:16:46,092 --> 00:16:50,661 NARRATOR: Lisa tops the first hill-- 326 00:16:50,792 --> 00:16:53,403 and then, guns it down the other side. 327 00:16:53,534 --> 00:16:57,320 You don't usually hit the bottom of hills going fast. 328 00:16:57,451 --> 00:17:00,236 Usually, you just ease off them. 329 00:17:00,367 --> 00:17:03,631 But this one-- we don't go slow off of it, 330 00:17:03,805 --> 00:17:07,026 because we gotta run for the other side. 331 00:17:07,156 --> 00:17:10,855 NARRATOR: On the next ride up, she has just one chance 332 00:17:10,986 --> 00:17:12,118 to hit the right gear. 333 00:17:12,248 --> 00:17:13,684 And here's where it will always get me. 334 00:17:13,815 --> 00:17:16,644 [dramatic music] 335 00:17:24,956 --> 00:17:25,609 Hoo! 336 00:17:25,740 --> 00:17:27,350 Got that done. 337 00:17:27,481 --> 00:17:30,571 [LAUGHS] Took a minute, but I got her. 338 00:17:33,704 --> 00:17:35,054 We made it! 339 00:17:35,184 --> 00:17:36,577 We made it to the top. 340 00:17:39,449 --> 00:17:43,062 I'm thinking we're gonna be in Prudhoe around-- 341 00:17:43,192 --> 00:17:47,327 if we're making decent time-- 342 00:17:47,457 --> 00:17:49,851 I'm going to shoot for late and go for one o'clock 343 00:17:49,981 --> 00:17:51,505 in the morning. 344 00:17:51,635 --> 00:17:53,985 NARRATOR: Lisa is optimistic about making it to Prudhoe Bay 345 00:17:54,116 --> 00:17:57,902 tonight, even with dark storm clouds on the horizon. 346 00:17:58,033 --> 00:17:59,078 It looks awful! 347 00:17:59,208 --> 00:18:01,254 It looks like it's slippery. 348 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:07,086 There is a good chance Mother Nature will 349 00:18:07,216 --> 00:18:08,565 barf all over this road. 350 00:18:12,743 --> 00:18:16,921 NARRATOR: 100 miles outside of Deadhorse, Alex Debogorski 351 00:18:17,052 --> 00:18:21,100 trails his convoy partner,Jack McCann, as they head south 352 00:18:21,230 --> 00:18:23,798 for Fairbanks. 353 00:18:23,928 --> 00:18:27,758 Well, we just finished my, uh, third trip to Prudhoe Bay. 354 00:18:27,889 --> 00:18:30,152 Things look a little more familiar. 355 00:18:30,283 --> 00:18:33,112 I'm taking an empty van back. 356 00:18:33,242 --> 00:18:35,026 The road is pretty, uh-- 357 00:18:35,157 --> 00:18:36,332 slippery today. 358 00:18:36,463 --> 00:18:38,291 If I'm not careful, a guy could easily, uh, 359 00:18:38,421 --> 00:18:39,466 jackknife or something. 360 00:18:39,596 --> 00:18:42,338 Because it is-- it is that slick. 361 00:18:42,512 --> 00:18:44,601 NARRATOR: With an empty trailer, Alex 362 00:18:44,732 --> 00:18:48,127 has little weight to give him traction on the ice. 363 00:18:48,257 --> 00:18:51,130 The back of it has no weight, so it tends to slip around. 364 00:18:51,260 --> 00:18:53,132 And, uh-- the truck tends to slip a little more, too. 365 00:18:53,262 --> 00:18:56,744 Because there's nothing really holding the tires down tight 366 00:18:56,874 --> 00:18:58,398 to the ice. 367 00:18:58,528 --> 00:19:00,617 Some of this section from Prudhoe Bay 368 00:19:00,748 --> 00:19:03,098 south, you have to tiptoe over them. 369 00:19:03,229 --> 00:19:05,144 You can't be turning the steering wheel too quick 370 00:19:05,274 --> 00:19:06,623 or hitting the brakes. 371 00:19:06,754 --> 00:19:08,669 Or else, a guy will go in a snowbank, for sure. 372 00:19:11,237 --> 00:19:12,151 It's a challenging road. 373 00:19:12,281 --> 00:19:13,413 It's, uh-- you know, it changes. 374 00:19:13,543 --> 00:19:15,023 I mean-- every trip, it changes. 375 00:19:15,154 --> 00:19:16,546 You know? 376 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:18,157 Because it's either melting, or freezing, or-- you know. 377 00:19:18,287 --> 00:19:20,550 It's one day the snow starts to melt, 378 00:19:20,681 --> 00:19:22,639 next day new snow falls on it. 379 00:19:22,770 --> 00:19:24,598 One day, you have traction in a certain place. 380 00:19:24,728 --> 00:19:27,166 Next day, it's slippery, and you don't have traction. 381 00:19:31,126 --> 00:19:32,388 NARRATOR: Up ahead-- 382 00:19:32,519 --> 00:19:36,262 Alex's first big challenge, "Oil Spill Hill." 383 00:19:36,392 --> 00:19:40,135 Southbound, it's a slick, 2-mileslope straight to the bottom. 384 00:19:40,266 --> 00:19:42,659 You know, there's a pretty steep incline 385 00:19:42,790 --> 00:19:44,183 on the curve at the bottom. 386 00:19:44,313 --> 00:19:46,707 You know, 35 or 40 mile an hour corner at the bottom. 387 00:19:46,837 --> 00:19:48,622 So that if you start to slide, you're really 388 00:19:48,796 --> 00:19:51,190 going to be doing some pretty hard praying by the time 389 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:52,582 you hit the bottom. 390 00:19:52,713 --> 00:19:56,195 NARRATOR: Just as Alex begins the descent, 391 00:19:56,325 --> 00:19:59,198 he loses all traction. 392 00:19:59,328 --> 00:20:01,374 Boy, is that slippery right there. 393 00:20:01,504 --> 00:20:02,201 Hoo. 394 00:20:02,331 --> 00:20:05,204 [dramatic music] 395 00:20:07,293 --> 00:20:08,685 I'm spinning out downhill. 396 00:20:08,816 --> 00:20:10,209 I can't believe it. 397 00:20:14,778 --> 00:20:18,782 NARRATOR: 95 miles south of Deadhorse-- on the steep, 398 00:20:18,913 --> 00:20:22,264 narrow slope called "Oil Spill Hill"-- 399 00:20:22,438 --> 00:20:25,267 Alex is spinning out. 400 00:20:25,398 --> 00:20:27,051 Come on, baby. 401 00:20:30,185 --> 00:20:31,273 Doesn't like it. 402 00:20:31,404 --> 00:20:33,014 It kicked her a couple times. 403 00:20:38,976 --> 00:20:43,242 NARRATOR: Every time Alex brakes, he loses traction. 404 00:20:43,372 --> 00:20:45,244 Boy, is that slippery right there. 405 00:20:45,374 --> 00:20:46,245 Hoo. 406 00:20:46,375 --> 00:20:47,246 Spinning on downhill. 407 00:20:47,376 --> 00:20:48,508 I can't believe it. 408 00:20:48,638 --> 00:20:50,336 NARRATOR: His convoy partner, Jack McCann, 409 00:20:50,466 --> 00:20:54,253 knows that the problem is made worse by Alex's empty trailer. 410 00:21:11,139 --> 00:21:12,445 Yeah. 411 00:21:12,575 --> 00:21:13,489 If my wife was here, I could put her in the back. 412 00:21:13,620 --> 00:21:14,273 That would be good. 413 00:21:14,403 --> 00:21:17,014 [dramatic music] 414 00:21:17,145 --> 00:21:20,409 NARRATOR: Alex downshifts until he feels his wheels bite 415 00:21:20,540 --> 00:21:21,367 into the ice. 416 00:21:21,497 --> 00:21:24,283 [music continues] 417 00:21:29,244 --> 00:21:30,941 JACK [OVER CB]: Did you get over? 418 00:21:31,072 --> 00:21:32,639 Yeah. 419 00:21:32,769 --> 00:21:34,554 I was even spinning coming overthe top, like coming downhill. 420 00:21:34,684 --> 00:21:36,556 It was ice. 421 00:21:36,686 --> 00:21:39,602 Couldn't get it to grab at all. 422 00:21:39,733 --> 00:21:41,256 I kept going slower and slower. 423 00:21:41,387 --> 00:21:43,519 Had to keep taking my foot off the throttle, you know? 424 00:21:43,650 --> 00:21:45,042 Had to keep slowing the wheels down, 425 00:21:45,173 --> 00:21:46,653 because it kept wanting to spin. 426 00:21:46,783 --> 00:21:49,656 And spinning-- when you're spinning, you're not gaining. 427 00:21:49,786 --> 00:21:51,222 You start losing. 428 00:21:51,353 --> 00:21:55,270 So it's better to keep backing off and backing off. 429 00:21:55,401 --> 00:21:58,708 NARRATOR: Alex keeps his speed to a minimum. 430 00:21:58,839 --> 00:22:03,322 He still has 200 miles to reach Coldfoot tonight. 431 00:22:03,496 --> 00:22:07,238 And with bad weather ahead, he wants to make it there 432 00:22:07,369 --> 00:22:08,327 in one piece. 433 00:22:08,457 --> 00:22:10,720 Getting pretty foggy here. 434 00:22:10,851 --> 00:22:15,246 Seems like things got worse. 435 00:22:15,377 --> 00:22:18,337 NARRATOR: 200 miles south of Alex, 436 00:22:18,467 --> 00:22:22,341 Lisa Kelly is racing north, hoping to beat the storm. 437 00:22:22,471 --> 00:22:24,430 We had a couple drifts back on Finger, 438 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,347 so that's kind of a-- a previewof what's to come on places 439 00:22:28,477 --> 00:22:31,480 with no mountains and trees. 440 00:22:31,611 --> 00:22:34,918 I thi-- would prefer to hit the storm in the daylight 441 00:22:35,049 --> 00:22:36,572 than at night. 442 00:22:36,746 --> 00:22:38,226 That's why we must drive faster. 443 00:22:41,272 --> 00:22:43,362 NARRATOR: Lisa's next challenge-- 444 00:22:43,492 --> 00:22:44,798 the "Beaver Slide"-- 445 00:22:44,928 --> 00:22:48,367 a treacherous, 2-mile downhill slope. 446 00:22:48,497 --> 00:22:51,544 Once a trucker starts down "Beaver Slide," 447 00:22:51,674 --> 00:22:53,981 there's no turning back. 448 00:22:54,111 --> 00:22:57,288 It's drifting a little bit right now. 449 00:22:57,419 --> 00:22:58,812 Starting to drift across the roads. 450 00:22:58,942 --> 00:23:01,205 NARRATOR: Drifting snow on top of the ice 451 00:23:01,336 --> 00:23:04,600 is making the hill extremely dangerous to navigate. 452 00:23:04,731 --> 00:23:05,514 We're slipping. 453 00:23:09,475 --> 00:23:13,392 So we're gonna slide all the way down the "Beaver Slide." 454 00:23:13,522 --> 00:23:16,438 NARRATOR: Lisa pumps her brakes, but she can only 455 00:23:16,569 --> 00:23:18,397 apply so much pressure. 456 00:23:18,527 --> 00:23:20,399 You can't just hit your brakes. 457 00:23:20,529 --> 00:23:23,445 Because the chances of it, like,locking up and swinging out 458 00:23:23,576 --> 00:23:25,708 sideways on you-- 459 00:23:25,839 --> 00:23:27,318 you could slip easy. 460 00:23:27,449 --> 00:23:28,929 You-- you just can't ride your brakes 461 00:23:29,059 --> 00:23:31,410 all the way down and just smokethem until they're on fire. 462 00:23:31,540 --> 00:23:32,846 Because then, you won't have brakes 463 00:23:32,976 --> 00:23:34,500 for the rest of the trip. 464 00:23:34,630 --> 00:23:37,198 NARRATOR: Halfway down, she starts to dangerously pick up 465 00:23:37,328 --> 00:23:38,939 speed. 466 00:23:39,069 --> 00:23:41,158 We could get going really fast. 467 00:23:46,033 --> 00:23:48,862 Now, I'm gonna try and rein this thing in. 468 00:23:48,992 --> 00:23:52,082 [dramatic music] 469 00:23:57,653 --> 00:24:00,961 NARRATOR: Lisa has no choice but to ride it out 470 00:24:01,091 --> 00:24:02,092 to the bottom of the hill. 471 00:24:02,223 --> 00:24:05,356 [music continues] 472 00:24:12,668 --> 00:24:14,496 Here we go. 473 00:24:14,627 --> 00:24:16,455 Turn the Jake down to 2. 474 00:24:16,629 --> 00:24:19,066 Run my fan and dropped a gear or two. 475 00:24:19,196 --> 00:24:20,459 We're not slipping anywhere. 476 00:24:20,589 --> 00:24:22,461 NARRATOR: So far, Lisa's on schedule 477 00:24:22,591 --> 00:24:24,419 to make it to Prudhoe Bay tonight. 478 00:24:24,550 --> 00:24:27,378 I'm excited to get to Prudhoe, but I've 479 00:24:27,509 --> 00:24:32,471 gotta face weather, and snow, and storms that are coming in. 480 00:24:32,601 --> 00:24:35,474 But I'm going to weather it all,then go straight to Prudhoe. 481 00:24:35,604 --> 00:24:37,084 It's a whole goal. 482 00:24:41,567 --> 00:24:45,962 NARRATOR: Just north of Atigun Pass, Hugh and Phil 483 00:24:46,093 --> 00:24:48,182 are moving south into the edge of the storm. 484 00:24:48,312 --> 00:24:54,101 [dramatic music] 485 00:24:58,888 --> 00:25:00,194 Yeah. 486 00:25:00,324 --> 00:25:01,848 We're getting, uh-- some pretty thick fog here. 487 00:25:01,978 --> 00:25:06,505 You can pretty much cut herwith a knife up here right now. 488 00:25:06,635 --> 00:25:10,465 Something devastating can happen, for sure. 489 00:25:10,596 --> 00:25:13,599 Fog is just as bad as the [bleep] snowstorm. 490 00:25:13,729 --> 00:25:17,777 NARRATOR: Ice fog forms when extremely cold air suddenly 491 00:25:17,907 --> 00:25:19,387 hits a warm front. 492 00:25:19,518 --> 00:25:22,521 Tiny ice particles crystallize into a layer so thick, 493 00:25:22,695 --> 00:25:25,785 it's sometimes called "the white death." 494 00:25:25,915 --> 00:25:28,527 [horn honking] 495 00:25:28,657 --> 00:25:31,530 You can't see the-- the curves, the ditches, uh-- 496 00:25:31,660 --> 00:25:33,836 lots of [bleep] can happen there. 497 00:25:33,967 --> 00:25:36,360 Not only that, but you've got oncoming traffic that 498 00:25:36,491 --> 00:25:38,014 can't-- that's in the same boat you are. 499 00:25:38,145 --> 00:25:40,843 [dramatic music] 500 00:25:42,628 --> 00:25:43,933 [beep] 501 00:25:44,064 --> 00:25:45,544 PHIL [OVER CB]: Got three big ones coming at you. 502 00:25:45,674 --> 00:25:47,937 If you're, uh, in the fog, uh-- 503 00:25:48,068 --> 00:25:50,679 everybody better be calling outwhere they are, as one truck 504 00:25:50,810 --> 00:25:52,246 to another. 505 00:25:52,376 --> 00:25:54,553 NARRATOR: Hugh knows the protocol for driving in fog. 506 00:25:54,683 --> 00:25:59,514 What worries him are the truckers who don't-- 507 00:25:59,688 --> 00:26:01,951 the ones who cause deadly accidents. 508 00:26:04,954 --> 00:26:08,741 NARRATOR: Suddenly, a driver behind Hugh wants to pass-- 509 00:26:08,871 --> 00:26:11,570 a risky maneuver in these conditions. 510 00:26:17,053 --> 00:26:19,316 Yeah. 511 00:26:19,447 --> 00:26:20,579 It's clear. Isn't it, Phil? 512 00:26:20,709 --> 00:26:21,405 PHIL [OVER CB]: Yes. 513 00:26:21,536 --> 00:26:23,582 Yes, it's clear. 514 00:26:23,712 --> 00:26:25,105 Yeah. 515 00:26:25,235 --> 00:26:26,976 You can, uh-- if you want to go around me, go ahead. 516 00:26:30,066 --> 00:26:33,592 NARRATOR: The passing truck steers into the oncoming lane. 517 00:26:37,247 --> 00:26:39,075 Yeah. Phil's got her clear up there. 518 00:26:39,206 --> 00:26:40,250 Go ahead. 519 00:26:40,381 --> 00:26:41,338 NARRATOR: But the driver hesitates 520 00:26:41,469 --> 00:26:42,601 as he starts to pass-- 521 00:26:42,731 --> 00:26:44,603 a potentially fatal mistake. 522 00:26:44,733 --> 00:26:47,127 Don't be such a pansy and get at her. 523 00:26:47,257 --> 00:26:48,084 [bleep] 524 00:26:48,215 --> 00:26:51,087 [dramatic music] 525 00:26:56,658 --> 00:26:59,269 NARRATOR: Suddenly, Phil spots a snowplow 526 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,054 heading in the opposite direction, 527 00:27:01,184 --> 00:27:02,621 right for the passing truck. 528 00:27:11,717 --> 00:27:12,979 [dramatic music] 529 00:27:13,109 --> 00:27:15,764 [horn honking] 530 00:27:17,070 --> 00:27:21,683 NARRATOR: In a thick ice fog on the north slope, 531 00:27:21,814 --> 00:27:24,643 a truck is trying to pass Hugh Rowland. 532 00:27:29,473 --> 00:27:31,345 [dramatic music] 533 00:27:31,475 --> 00:27:33,652 NARRATOR: And up ahead, a snow plow 534 00:27:33,782 --> 00:27:36,306 is heading straight for them. 535 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:39,353 [horn honking] 536 00:27:39,483 --> 00:27:42,573 [music continues] 537 00:27:50,843 --> 00:27:53,672 [horn honking] 538 00:27:53,802 --> 00:27:55,195 Get over! 539 00:27:55,325 --> 00:27:58,154 [dramatic music] 540 00:28:00,548 --> 00:28:04,595 NARRATOR: The truck clears the oncoming lane, just seconds 541 00:28:04,726 --> 00:28:06,728 before a head-on collision. 542 00:28:11,298 --> 00:28:14,170 [horn honking] 543 00:28:16,303 --> 00:28:17,608 See? 544 00:28:17,739 --> 00:28:19,349 You don't wanna get over [bleep] anxious in, uh-- 545 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:20,699 when the fog is thick like that. 546 00:28:26,139 --> 00:28:28,707 He was halfway by, and then he got scared 547 00:28:28,837 --> 00:28:29,795 and started backing off. 548 00:28:29,925 --> 00:28:31,100 That's just prolonging the agony. 549 00:28:31,231 --> 00:28:32,711 [bleep] 550 00:28:32,841 --> 00:28:34,190 If you're going to dosomething, make a [bleep] move. 551 00:28:34,321 --> 00:28:36,715 Once you're committed to[bleep] do it, don't back down. 552 00:28:42,808 --> 00:28:45,724 NARRATOR: 75 miles south, Lisa Kelly 553 00:28:45,854 --> 00:28:48,814 is closing in on the Dalton's midway point. 554 00:28:48,944 --> 00:28:53,166 We're 15 minutes away from Coldfoot. 555 00:28:53,296 --> 00:28:55,429 That's our information station. 556 00:28:55,559 --> 00:28:58,737 We can sit down and check the load, 557 00:28:58,867 --> 00:29:04,220 check the road conditions, grab something to eat, 558 00:29:04,351 --> 00:29:05,613 and hit the road! 559 00:29:05,744 --> 00:29:07,746 I'm confident we're going to hit the road. 560 00:29:07,876 --> 00:29:11,010 We're not staying. 561 00:29:11,140 --> 00:29:12,751 [wind whistling] 562 00:29:12,881 --> 00:29:17,581 NARRATOR: With the winter storm gaining strength, 563 00:29:17,756 --> 00:29:20,149 Lisa's hoping to make it over Atigun Pass 564 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:25,067 before it's closed to northbound trucks. 565 00:29:25,198 --> 00:29:27,678 But as she pulls into Coldfoot, Lisa 566 00:29:27,809 --> 00:29:30,290 realizes she's hit the end of the road. 567 00:29:30,420 --> 00:29:31,378 Oh, my gosh. 568 00:29:31,508 --> 00:29:32,248 Oh! 569 00:29:32,379 --> 00:29:34,773 Look how bad this is. 570 00:29:34,903 --> 00:29:37,776 As you can see, Coldfoot is packed full. 571 00:29:37,906 --> 00:29:40,779 And that would be a huge, gigantic hint that-- 572 00:29:40,909 --> 00:29:42,781 it's only five o'clock at night-- 573 00:29:42,911 --> 00:29:46,436 that the roads are closed. 574 00:29:46,567 --> 00:29:49,396 So we're closed down. 575 00:29:49,570 --> 00:29:50,440 [sighing] 576 00:29:50,571 --> 00:29:53,356 [wind whistling] 577 00:29:59,145 --> 00:30:01,930 NARRATOR: 80 miles up the road, there's 578 00:30:02,061 --> 00:30:04,803 no turning back for Hugh and Phil. 579 00:30:04,933 --> 00:30:10,460 They're southbound in the stormas they approach Atigun Pass. 580 00:30:10,591 --> 00:30:11,940 Whoa, look at the pass. 581 00:30:12,071 --> 00:30:14,638 [bleep] 582 00:30:14,769 --> 00:30:17,772 Look like, to me, they've got about two to three inches 583 00:30:17,903 --> 00:30:20,775 of snow up there. 584 00:30:20,906 --> 00:30:23,082 NARRATOR: They've got to make it over Atigun 585 00:30:23,256 --> 00:30:27,347 and down to Coldfoot before theroad is completely undriveable. 586 00:30:30,437 --> 00:30:31,786 [crunching and creaking] 587 00:30:31,917 --> 00:30:32,743 Oh [bleep]. 588 00:30:32,874 --> 00:30:35,834 [dramatic music] 589 00:30:38,749 --> 00:30:39,925 She's not this [inaudible]. 590 00:30:40,055 --> 00:30:42,144 That's for [bleep] damn sure. 591 00:30:42,275 --> 00:30:43,842 [inaudible] 592 00:30:43,972 --> 00:30:46,888 [dramatic music] 593 00:30:53,634 --> 00:30:54,287 Jesus. 594 00:30:54,417 --> 00:30:55,941 This is even icier. 595 00:30:56,115 --> 00:30:56,811 [bleep] 596 00:30:56,942 --> 00:30:59,770 [music continues] 597 00:30:59,901 --> 00:31:00,946 Whoa. 598 00:31:01,076 --> 00:31:05,167 [LAUGHS] Still spinning. 599 00:31:07,996 --> 00:31:10,956 [dramatic music] 600 00:31:13,959 --> 00:31:15,699 Lots of spinning going on today. 601 00:31:18,528 --> 00:31:21,836 NARRATOR: Battling 30-mile-per-hour winds, 602 00:31:21,967 --> 00:31:24,883 Hugh and Phil finally reach the summit. 603 00:31:25,013 --> 00:31:27,886 But they get troubling news about what's ahead. 604 00:31:34,980 --> 00:31:36,503 We've got a guy spun out. 605 00:31:36,633 --> 00:31:38,897 They're gonna get him out of the way. 606 00:31:39,027 --> 00:31:41,029 The road's going to be blocked. 607 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:44,424 NARRATOR: With no room to pass until the wreck is cleared-- 608 00:31:47,557 --> 00:31:56,349 NARRATOR: --Hugh and Phil are stuck at 4,700 feet. 609 00:31:56,479 --> 00:31:58,917 As they pull over, Phil decides to make 610 00:31:59,047 --> 00:32:01,093 the best of the situation. 611 00:32:01,223 --> 00:32:02,921 All right. Get your ass out of the truck. 612 00:32:03,095 --> 00:32:04,357 I got something to show you. 613 00:32:04,487 --> 00:32:06,837 OK. 614 00:32:06,968 --> 00:32:09,101 This is normal for us up here. 615 00:32:09,231 --> 00:32:12,234 We are going to make dinner on top of Atigun Pass. 616 00:32:12,365 --> 00:32:13,366 Right on. 617 00:32:13,496 --> 00:32:14,758 I've got a big old chunk of caribou 618 00:32:14,889 --> 00:32:16,369 and some fresh vegetables. 619 00:32:16,499 --> 00:32:18,849 We'll throw it all on the grilland just burn the piss out 620 00:32:18,980 --> 00:32:19,807 of it. - Sounds good. 621 00:32:19,938 --> 00:32:22,375 [music playing] 622 00:32:22,505 --> 00:32:23,158 There it goes. 623 00:32:28,337 --> 00:32:29,860 Been marinating for two days. 624 00:32:29,991 --> 00:32:31,166 Should be good now. 625 00:32:31,297 --> 00:32:33,952 Some asparagus, a yellow squash, a zucchini, 626 00:32:34,082 --> 00:32:36,650 and an onion. 627 00:32:36,824 --> 00:32:39,087 It won't take that long. 628 00:32:39,218 --> 00:32:42,177 As long as everybody likes a little blood in their meat. 629 00:32:42,308 --> 00:32:45,833 NARRATOR: For most people, a barbecue in minus 20 630 00:32:45,964 --> 00:32:47,487 might seem strange. 631 00:32:47,617 --> 00:32:51,404 But for the man they call thePolar Bear, he's right at home. 632 00:32:51,534 --> 00:32:52,840 Yeah. 633 00:32:52,971 --> 00:32:54,450 Hugh's definitely becoming part of the Dalton gang. 634 00:32:54,581 --> 00:32:55,234 Definitely. 635 00:32:55,364 --> 00:32:56,322 Good. 636 00:32:56,452 --> 00:32:57,801 Don't have to get my six guns out. 637 00:32:57,932 --> 00:32:59,890 Yeah! 638 00:33:00,021 --> 00:33:02,981 It's about time to eat, and it won't stay hot for very long. 639 00:33:03,111 --> 00:33:06,158 [music playing] 640 00:33:08,508 --> 00:33:11,424 Hell of a good job there, Philbilly. 641 00:33:11,554 --> 00:33:12,903 Pretty good? 642 00:33:13,034 --> 00:33:14,557 Yep. 643 00:33:14,688 --> 00:33:18,083 NARRATOR: An hour later, the wreck 644 00:33:18,213 --> 00:33:19,998 is pulled to the side of the road. 645 00:33:20,128 --> 00:33:21,347 And traffic can now pass. 646 00:33:26,091 --> 00:33:27,266 All right. We're on the way. 647 00:33:27,396 --> 00:33:28,006 10-4. 648 00:33:28,136 --> 00:33:30,008 We're on our way. 649 00:33:30,138 --> 00:33:33,011 [music playing] 650 00:33:35,100 --> 00:33:36,623 Ah. 651 00:33:36,753 --> 00:33:39,756 It's one of these guys that liketo blow by you all the time. 652 00:33:44,544 --> 00:33:46,894 I was going to ask Phil why these guard rails were so 653 00:33:47,025 --> 00:33:47,721 banged up. 654 00:33:47,851 --> 00:33:48,548 Now, I know. 655 00:33:48,678 --> 00:33:50,115 [LAUGHS] 656 00:33:50,245 --> 00:33:53,596 NARRATOR: Once Hugh and Phil are safely off the pass, 657 00:33:53,727 --> 00:33:59,167 they make a run for Coldfoot-- just 75 miles ahead. 658 00:33:59,298 --> 00:34:02,040 100 miles north of Hugh, Tim and George 659 00:34:02,170 --> 00:34:06,131 are racing to Deadhorse before the next wave of bad weather 660 00:34:06,261 --> 00:34:08,046 closes the road. 661 00:34:08,176 --> 00:34:12,354 Bill, I can't believe this weather. 662 00:34:12,485 --> 00:34:15,053 We're running for the Ice Cut right now. 663 00:34:15,227 --> 00:34:16,750 Hopefully, we get up-- up through there 664 00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:18,752 and, uh, make it on down to 62 mile 665 00:34:18,882 --> 00:34:21,885 before we gotta worry about any plows. 666 00:34:22,016 --> 00:34:25,106 NARRATOR: Ice Cut is a dangerously slick and narrow 667 00:34:25,237 --> 00:34:26,542 passage. 668 00:34:26,673 --> 00:34:29,328 And to top it requires both speed and precision 669 00:34:29,458 --> 00:34:32,505 behind the wheel. 670 00:34:32,635 --> 00:34:34,028 OK, man. 671 00:34:34,159 --> 00:34:36,204 Here's the cut. 672 00:34:36,335 --> 00:34:38,685 This is [bleep] slick here. 673 00:34:38,815 --> 00:34:39,468 Woo. 674 00:34:43,864 --> 00:34:47,215 Wind blows around, and the road polishes up like glass. 675 00:34:47,346 --> 00:34:49,174 That's why it gets so slick up here. 676 00:34:49,348 --> 00:34:52,481 [dramatic music] 677 00:35:13,241 --> 00:35:14,112 Yeah, Georgie. 678 00:35:14,242 --> 00:35:15,287 No problem. 679 00:35:15,417 --> 00:35:19,552 Spun a little bit, but collared it. 680 00:35:19,682 --> 00:35:21,771 NARRATOR: With Ice Cut behind them, 681 00:35:21,945 --> 00:35:27,125 they descend onto the open tundra, where the brutal winds 682 00:35:27,255 --> 00:35:29,083 start to blow. 683 00:35:29,214 --> 00:35:35,481 I guess it's blowing prettyhard all the way to 30 mile in. 684 00:35:35,611 --> 00:35:37,352 So we're going to try and-- try and beat 685 00:35:37,483 --> 00:35:39,702 it-- beat the road closing up. 686 00:35:39,833 --> 00:35:43,402 [inaudible],, they said they were filling in now. 687 00:35:46,318 --> 00:35:47,232 Yeah. 688 00:35:47,362 --> 00:35:49,886 We better get after it, George! 689 00:35:50,017 --> 00:35:50,887 You betcha. 690 00:35:51,018 --> 00:35:53,847 [dramatic music] 691 00:35:59,244 --> 00:36:02,160 15 below and blowing snow. 692 00:36:05,685 --> 00:36:08,818 My left arm's getting kinda sore from holding this wheel 693 00:36:08,949 --> 00:36:10,255 to the left. 694 00:36:10,385 --> 00:36:12,170 Uh-- the wind's blowing pretty hard to our right, 695 00:36:12,300 --> 00:36:14,476 hitting the side of this van trailer. 696 00:36:14,607 --> 00:36:16,217 Sitting like a sail. 697 00:36:16,348 --> 00:36:20,178 If I let go of the wheel, shejust heads right for the ditch. 698 00:36:20,308 --> 00:36:23,181 [wind howling] 699 00:36:31,537 --> 00:36:33,191 OK, Georgie. 700 00:36:33,321 --> 00:36:34,148 No sweat. 701 00:36:39,284 --> 00:36:40,198 All righty. 702 00:36:40,328 --> 00:36:41,199 I appreciate that. 703 00:36:41,329 --> 00:36:44,202 [dramatic music] 704 00:36:47,074 --> 00:36:49,119 NARRATOR: The storm grows worse. 705 00:36:51,861 --> 00:36:55,952 And deep snow drifts begin to pile up on the road. 706 00:36:56,083 --> 00:37:01,219 Well, here's the drifts they've been telling us about. 707 00:37:01,349 --> 00:37:04,309 NARRATOR: Driving on ice through several feet of snow 708 00:37:04,483 --> 00:37:07,094 can easily throw a trucker off course 709 00:37:07,225 --> 00:37:09,879 and cause them to suddenly spin out of control. 710 00:37:19,106 --> 00:37:21,239 NARRATOR: They call it drift slamming. 711 00:37:26,331 --> 00:37:29,247 And if Tim and George are going to make it to Deadhorse 712 00:37:29,377 --> 00:37:33,120 tonight, they'll have to blast through 20 miles of snow 713 00:37:33,251 --> 00:37:33,947 to get there. 714 00:37:36,776 --> 00:37:37,646 Oh, wow. 715 00:37:37,777 --> 00:37:39,169 Look at this [bleep], man! 716 00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:40,083 Holy cow! 717 00:37:44,566 --> 00:37:49,702 NARRATOR: Still 100 miles from Coldfoot, Alex Debogorski 718 00:37:49,832 --> 00:37:53,271 and Jack McCann are southbound in the storm. 719 00:37:53,401 --> 00:37:54,620 Jack's got a load. 720 00:37:54,750 --> 00:37:57,187 I'm empty-- got an empty van. 721 00:37:57,318 --> 00:38:01,888 Just trying to keep-- keep the truck from spinning. 722 00:38:02,018 --> 00:38:05,239 NARRATOR: While others have been advised not to travel, 723 00:38:05,370 --> 00:38:09,287 those already on the road have no choice but to push through. 724 00:38:09,461 --> 00:38:13,508 Just keep-- try to keep the greasy side down and the shiny 725 00:38:13,639 --> 00:38:14,292 side up. 726 00:38:18,644 --> 00:38:21,951 NARRATOR: As night falls, they approach the most feared 727 00:38:22,082 --> 00:38:23,301 stretch of the road-- 728 00:38:23,431 --> 00:38:26,173 4,700-foot Atigun Pass. 729 00:38:26,304 --> 00:38:26,913 OK. 730 00:38:27,043 --> 00:38:28,480 I'm going over Atigun. 731 00:38:28,610 --> 00:38:31,309 It'll be the first time I've gone over it in the dark. 732 00:38:31,439 --> 00:38:33,311 It's better in the dark, because then you 733 00:38:33,441 --> 00:38:34,877 can't see over the side. 734 00:38:35,008 --> 00:38:38,925 [LAUGHS] You can only see what's in front of you. 735 00:38:39,055 --> 00:38:43,190 Nothing to scare you until everything goes to heck. 736 00:38:43,364 --> 00:38:48,238 We're gonna put chains on, one axle, and, uh-- 737 00:38:48,369 --> 00:38:51,241 give her a shot. 738 00:38:51,372 --> 00:38:55,333 NARRATOR: Although Alex has 27 years of trucking experience, 739 00:38:55,463 --> 00:38:59,380 he's not a pro with chains, because he rarely uses them 740 00:38:59,511 --> 00:39:02,862 on the Canadian ice roads. 741 00:39:02,992 --> 00:39:06,909 Don't have-- there's not much room to get under here. 742 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:09,390 Need long, skinny arms. 743 00:39:09,521 --> 00:39:12,437 NARRATOR: 10 minutes later, his partner Jack 744 00:39:12,567 --> 00:39:16,354 is chained and ready to go. 745 00:39:16,528 --> 00:39:17,964 Gonna roll this thing ahead now. 746 00:39:18,094 --> 00:39:21,359 NARRATOR: But Alex doesn't have his first set on. 747 00:39:30,455 --> 00:39:33,675 Stay there. 748 00:39:33,806 --> 00:39:34,894 I lost my backup lights. 749 00:39:35,024 --> 00:39:36,199 I'll have to backup a little bit. 750 00:39:36,330 --> 00:39:39,028 Oh, I lost my damn chain! 751 00:39:39,159 --> 00:39:41,204 NARRATOR: As the weather grows worse, 752 00:39:41,335 --> 00:39:44,382 Alex continues to fumble with his chains. 753 00:39:44,512 --> 00:39:47,385 And Jack's patience begins to wear thin. 754 00:40:09,972 --> 00:40:14,412 NARRATOR: Jack becomes so frustrated with Alex, 755 00:40:14,542 --> 00:40:17,937 he takes off without him. 756 00:40:18,067 --> 00:40:20,418 If that'll work. 757 00:40:20,548 --> 00:40:24,422 NARRATOR: Leaving Alex to make the drive over Atigun alone. 758 00:40:24,596 --> 00:40:27,250 [dramatic music] 759 00:40:33,561 --> 00:40:34,432 OK. 760 00:40:38,087 --> 00:40:39,045 Lord, give us a hand. 761 00:40:39,175 --> 00:40:43,005 Make sure we don't mess it up. 762 00:40:43,136 --> 00:40:46,052 [wind howling] 763 00:40:47,314 --> 00:40:50,317 NARRATOR: Alex slowly creeps up the pass. 764 00:40:50,448 --> 00:40:51,536 Yep. 765 00:40:51,666 --> 00:40:55,104 She's gonna be slow, driving in the dark. 766 00:40:55,278 --> 00:40:57,150 This looks quite a bit snowier here, eh? 767 00:40:57,280 --> 00:40:58,630 Looks pretty white, wouldn't you say? 768 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:02,895 This is what's been causing the problem here today. 769 00:41:03,025 --> 00:41:04,462 Sure can't see too much here. 770 00:41:04,592 --> 00:41:06,855 Just all white and kind of foggy. 771 00:41:06,986 --> 00:41:09,292 White and froggy. 772 00:41:09,423 --> 00:41:11,469 NARRATOR: One wrong turn in this whiteout 773 00:41:11,599 --> 00:41:14,210 could send Alex tumbling thousands of feet 774 00:41:14,341 --> 00:41:15,124 down the mountainside. 775 00:41:15,255 --> 00:41:17,953 [wind howling] 776 00:41:18,084 --> 00:41:21,217 [dramatic music] 777 00:41:29,095 --> 00:41:30,313 Oh, that's slippery. 778 00:41:33,316 --> 00:41:37,016 Right now, I got no traction at all. 779 00:41:37,146 --> 00:41:40,454 NARRATOR: Alex pushes through the storm. 780 00:41:40,585 --> 00:41:42,500 Damn! 781 00:41:42,630 --> 00:41:45,328 NARRATOR: He's only got 70 miles to go 782 00:41:45,459 --> 00:41:46,504 to reach Coldfoot tonight. 783 00:41:50,595 --> 00:41:55,687 20 miles from Deadhorse, high winds have reduced visibility 784 00:41:55,817 --> 00:41:58,472 to almost zero. 785 00:41:58,603 --> 00:42:01,519 Giant snow drifts are overtaking the road. 786 00:42:04,826 --> 00:42:08,351 And Tim and George are battling to make it to safety 787 00:42:08,482 --> 00:42:11,311 without going over the edge. 788 00:42:11,441 --> 00:42:14,706 Timmy-- how you making her back there? 789 00:42:14,836 --> 00:42:15,837 Just dandy, George. 790 00:42:15,968 --> 00:42:16,621 Just dandy. 791 00:42:16,751 --> 00:42:19,537 [dramatic music] 792 00:42:22,583 --> 00:42:25,543 Going a lot better than it was back-- back down the road 793 00:42:25,673 --> 00:42:26,544 a ways. 794 00:42:29,503 --> 00:42:30,939 We've gone 480 miles. 795 00:42:31,070 --> 00:42:35,465 The last 10 are gonna be the ones that, uh, bother us. 796 00:42:35,640 --> 00:42:38,556 But-- I'm bound and determined to get up there today. 797 00:42:46,433 --> 00:42:50,568 Looks like we got us a convoy. 798 00:42:50,698 --> 00:42:53,571 I'll bet 10 minutes after we come through them heavy drifts 799 00:42:53,701 --> 00:42:55,877 there, nobody else will be able to get through there. 800 00:42:56,008 --> 00:42:58,706 [dramatic music] 801 00:43:02,623 --> 00:43:11,240 NARRATOR: After 10 long miles of slamming massive drifts, 802 00:43:11,414 --> 00:43:13,025 Deadhorse is finally in sight. 803 00:43:13,155 --> 00:43:14,330 GEORGE [OVER CB]: Tim! 804 00:43:14,461 --> 00:43:17,899 I can see over there to the warehouse. 805 00:43:18,030 --> 00:43:20,380 Oh, yeah. 806 00:43:20,510 --> 00:43:22,687 We're in Deadhorse, Prudhoe Bay right now. 807 00:43:22,817 --> 00:43:23,644 Just rolling into town. 808 00:43:23,775 --> 00:43:27,996 So, uh-- we made her, anyways. 809 00:43:28,127 --> 00:43:29,694 [horn honking] 810 00:43:29,824 --> 00:43:33,611 NARRATOR: As week 6 of the ice road season comes to a close, 811 00:43:33,741 --> 00:43:37,832 Jack Jessee leads the dash for the cash with 10 loads. 812 00:43:37,963 --> 00:43:41,662 Tim Freeman has only completed four trips on the Dalton. 813 00:43:41,836 --> 00:43:46,711 But he's quickly earning hisstripes as an ice road trucker. 814 00:43:46,841 --> 00:43:48,364 Here we are! 815 00:43:48,495 --> 00:43:50,236 We're at the stop sign at the end of the Dalton highway-- 816 00:43:50,366 --> 00:43:52,020 the north end, the good end to be at. 817 00:43:55,633 --> 00:43:58,636 NARRATOR: 240 miles south, Alex Debogorski 818 00:43:58,766 --> 00:44:01,639 has cleared Atigun Pass and is finally 819 00:44:01,769 --> 00:44:03,597 reaching the end of his day. 820 00:44:03,728 --> 00:44:06,992 Well, we finally got to Coldfoot. 821 00:44:07,122 --> 00:44:09,647 I survived, eh? 822 00:44:09,777 --> 00:44:12,562 NARRATOR: After three long hours in the storm, 823 00:44:12,693 --> 00:44:16,697 Alex is one road weary ice road trucker. 824 00:44:16,871 --> 00:44:20,658 But he made it safely through his first solo voyage 825 00:44:20,788 --> 00:44:21,746 on the Dalton. 826 00:44:21,876 --> 00:44:23,704 Uh, it's 3 o'clock in the morning. 827 00:44:23,835 --> 00:44:26,664 It's, uh-- I'm looking forward to sleeping. 828 00:44:26,794 --> 00:44:30,406 So I guess this is it for the night. 829 00:44:30,537 --> 00:44:31,407 I'm going to bed. 830 00:44:31,538 --> 00:44:34,672 [music playing]