1 00:00:06,103 --> 00:00:08,206 NARRATOR: On this episode of "Ice Road Truckers," 2 00:00:08,344 --> 00:00:10,689 a total whiteout on the Dalton. 3 00:00:10,827 --> 00:00:11,620 [bleep]. 4 00:00:11,758 --> 00:00:13,000 I couldn't see nothing there. 5 00:00:16,620 --> 00:00:21,103 NARRATOR: Alex's 35,000 pound load breaks free. 6 00:00:21,241 --> 00:00:22,379 [bleep] 7 00:00:22,517 --> 00:00:25,137 Just worried about everything falling off. 8 00:00:25,275 --> 00:00:27,275 NARRATOR: And Lisa takes one more trip 9 00:00:27,413 --> 00:00:29,310 over the Arctic Ocean. 10 00:00:29,448 --> 00:00:31,068 LISA KELLY: We're officially on the ice. 11 00:00:31,206 --> 00:00:32,931 We're officially on the ocean. 12 00:00:38,241 --> 00:00:45,172 NARRATOR: At the top of the world, there's a job only a few 13 00:00:45,310 --> 00:00:46,000 would dare. 14 00:00:49,137 --> 00:00:52,137 Just when you thought extreme trucking couldn't get more 15 00:00:52,275 --> 00:00:57,000 dangerous, ice road truckers take on Alaska. 16 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,379 It's 5:00 AM in the Carlile yards, 17 00:01:40,517 --> 00:01:43,034 and with less than three weeks left in the season, 18 00:01:43,172 --> 00:01:46,793 Dalton ace Jack Jessee arrives to prep his 16th load. 19 00:01:54,413 --> 00:01:57,241 But this morning, he's on a special mission 20 00:01:57,379 --> 00:02:00,068 to haul a load of drag reducing agent, 21 00:02:00,206 --> 00:02:04,931 or DRA, a chemical used to help crude oil flow smoothly 22 00:02:05,068 --> 00:02:08,275 through the Trans Alaskan Pipeline. 23 00:02:08,413 --> 00:02:12,103 And the tanker has to make it 250 miles north in less 24 00:02:12,241 --> 00:02:12,965 than seven hours. 25 00:02:16,724 --> 00:02:19,482 JACK JESSEE: They gotta have this particular load of DRA 26 00:02:19,620 --> 00:02:23,413 up at the injection site, they want it there by noon. 27 00:02:23,551 --> 00:02:25,344 NARRATOR: If it doesn't get there on time, 28 00:02:25,482 --> 00:02:28,413 the oil flowing south could come to a halt. 29 00:02:28,551 --> 00:02:30,344 JACK JESSEE: It's a temperature-sensitive load, 30 00:02:30,482 --> 00:02:31,862 actually. 31 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,827 We've had it inside for a couple days trying to warm it back up. 32 00:02:34,965 --> 00:02:37,310 This stuff actually does pump at-- 33 00:02:37,448 --> 00:02:40,000 at, you know, some pretty cold temperatures, 34 00:02:40,137 --> 00:02:43,551 but it pumps a whole lot easier when it's warm. 35 00:02:43,689 --> 00:02:46,137 So we gotta get an early morning start. 36 00:02:46,275 --> 00:02:47,793 Get up there as quick as we can. 37 00:02:54,793 --> 00:03:00,103 NARRATOR: As the sun rises over the Alaskan wilderness, 38 00:03:00,241 --> 00:03:05,655 Jack pushes ahead over the ice, driving one of the most 39 00:03:05,793 --> 00:03:08,896 challenging rigs of the season. 40 00:03:09,034 --> 00:03:10,896 These insulated tankers, they kinda look 41 00:03:11,034 --> 00:03:13,310 like bananas, so we call them banana tankers. 42 00:03:13,448 --> 00:03:15,896 It's just got a bottom drain system. 43 00:03:16,034 --> 00:03:17,551 And there's no compartments in it, 44 00:03:17,689 --> 00:03:20,517 so it's just one great big giant tank. 45 00:03:20,655 --> 00:03:23,931 NARRATOR: These liquid loads are also called live loads 46 00:03:24,068 --> 00:03:27,034 because the cargo is constantly moving. 47 00:03:27,172 --> 00:03:29,137 JACK JESSEE: Only being about 3/4 full, 48 00:03:29,275 --> 00:03:32,413 it's got about a foot and a half of empty space up in there 49 00:03:32,551 --> 00:03:38,482 that lets this material slosh back and forth. 50 00:03:38,620 --> 00:03:41,862 NARRATOR: When changing gears or driving up and down hills, 51 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,862 the liquid sloshes violently around the tank, 52 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,448 and can easily throw a trucker off course. 53 00:03:52,965 --> 00:03:54,275 Oh, did you feel that? 54 00:03:54,413 --> 00:03:55,172 Boom! 55 00:03:55,310 --> 00:03:56,310 Well, you'll have to hold on. 56 00:03:56,448 --> 00:03:57,862 This is gonna be a bumpy ride today. 57 00:04:02,896 --> 00:04:04,965 With the product in the tank back there getting 58 00:04:05,103 --> 00:04:07,034 thrown to the back of the truck when I change gears. 59 00:04:10,586 --> 00:04:13,034 It does it most of the big hills when you're going up. 60 00:04:13,172 --> 00:04:15,793 That's when you get most of the slosh going back. 61 00:04:21,034 --> 00:04:23,000 NARRATOR: Hauling a live load on ice 62 00:04:23,137 --> 00:04:25,103 is especially dangerous on the uphill. 63 00:04:25,241 --> 00:04:26,482 JACK JESSEE: Here it can actually 64 00:04:26,620 --> 00:04:28,586 spin you out going up the hill. 65 00:04:28,724 --> 00:04:32,482 When you change gears, then the fluid comes forward. 66 00:04:32,620 --> 00:04:34,793 You change your gear, throttle into it, 67 00:04:34,931 --> 00:04:37,137 and the fluid goes back. 68 00:04:37,275 --> 00:04:39,896 The truck's trying to pull, and then the product 69 00:04:40,034 --> 00:04:42,551 is holding you back. 70 00:04:42,689 --> 00:04:47,241 NARRATOR: Up ahead, Jack faces the steepest set of hills 71 00:04:47,379 --> 00:04:50,586 on the Dalton, the deadly drop-off known as the roller 72 00:04:50,724 --> 00:04:51,413 coaster. 73 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,551 Got the roller coaster coming up, 74 00:05:00,689 --> 00:05:02,931 so we're going to drop down in it. 75 00:05:03,068 --> 00:05:04,344 And the way this stuff's surging, 76 00:05:04,482 --> 00:05:07,827 it won't hurt to get my fingers crossed here. 77 00:05:07,965 --> 00:05:10,620 NARRATOR: As Jack descends down the first hill, 78 00:05:10,758 --> 00:05:12,000 the liquid shifts forward. 79 00:05:15,689 --> 00:05:17,896 He struggles to keep the truck aligned 80 00:05:18,034 --> 00:05:21,068 and prevent the liquid from sloshing side to side. 81 00:05:26,310 --> 00:05:28,931 At the bottom, Jack guns it to keep up his momentum. 82 00:05:32,896 --> 00:05:36,965 But the liquid shifts to the back 83 00:05:37,103 --> 00:05:38,793 and starts to work against him. 84 00:05:43,517 --> 00:05:44,206 Woo-hoo! 85 00:05:44,344 --> 00:05:45,206 Now we're spinning. 86 00:05:50,827 --> 00:05:53,379 NARRATOR: Jack slowly inches off the steep grade. 87 00:06:02,517 --> 00:06:05,827 We had to slow down, but just backed out of it a little bit 88 00:06:05,965 --> 00:06:08,448 to stop the slosh, went right up the hill. 89 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:13,448 With a load like this, sometimes I 90 00:06:13,586 --> 00:06:16,034 wish I had a neck brace so I don't get whiplash. 91 00:06:16,172 --> 00:06:21,793 [laughter] 92 00:06:21,931 --> 00:06:26,206 NARRATOR: Back at the Carlile terminal, Lisa Kelly, George 93 00:06:26,344 --> 00:06:29,344 Spears, and rookie Tim Freeman are teaming up 94 00:06:29,482 --> 00:06:34,103 for a three-truck convoy to Deadhorse. 95 00:06:34,241 --> 00:06:39,103 Here in Fairbanks, the skies are clear, but up the ice road 96 00:06:39,241 --> 00:06:41,896 the weather is unpredictable. 97 00:06:42,034 --> 00:06:44,379 GEORGE SPEARS: Yesterday the roads were closed from Dietrich 98 00:06:44,517 --> 00:06:46,689 to the pass. 99 00:06:46,827 --> 00:06:49,137 About all we can do is just go, and just like always, we'll 100 00:06:49,275 --> 00:06:52,206 wait at Coldfoot for it to get better. 101 00:06:52,344 --> 00:06:54,413 Seems like this winter, that's all we've been doing. 102 00:06:54,551 --> 00:06:56,172 We'll see if it's a good day for trucking 103 00:06:56,310 --> 00:06:59,068 once we get on the road. 104 00:06:59,206 --> 00:07:01,586 NARRATOR: Lisa is preparing for an epic journey-- 105 00:07:01,724 --> 00:07:06,655 414 miles of steep mountain ice and then to an oil field 106 00:07:06,793 --> 00:07:10,000 over a frozen Arctic Ocean. 107 00:07:10,137 --> 00:07:14,517 She's hauling a critical load of rig mats and a pickup truck. 108 00:07:14,655 --> 00:07:18,310 Rig mats are platforms used to protect the Arctic tundra 109 00:07:18,448 --> 00:07:21,620 from the crushing weight of oil rigs. 110 00:07:21,758 --> 00:07:24,206 It's not a Twinkie load. 111 00:07:24,344 --> 00:07:25,793 NARRATOR: George and Tim each have 112 00:07:25,931 --> 00:07:28,448 a load of Styrofoam insulation. 113 00:07:28,586 --> 00:07:30,275 That's a good looking load. 114 00:07:30,413 --> 00:07:32,310 Shouldn't give me no problems. 115 00:07:32,448 --> 00:07:35,034 NARRATOR: Tim and George have made six runs together 116 00:07:35,172 --> 00:07:38,482 this season, but they've never run with Lisa, who has 117 00:07:38,620 --> 00:07:40,827 a reputation for going fast. 118 00:07:40,965 --> 00:07:43,206 LISA KELLY: I never I've been trucking with Tim and George 119 00:07:43,344 --> 00:07:44,689 before. 120 00:07:44,827 --> 00:07:50,827 George is slow and steady, and I'm erratic, and not very 121 00:07:50,965 --> 00:07:52,931 steady. 122 00:07:53,068 --> 00:07:53,931 Girl, girl cooties. 123 00:07:54,068 --> 00:07:54,758 Girl. 124 00:08:00,206 --> 00:08:01,137 RADIO: Are we ready? 125 00:08:07,965 --> 00:08:09,827 Here we go. 126 00:08:09,965 --> 00:08:12,862 NARRATOR: Locked and loaded, the convoy heads for the ice. 127 00:08:35,862 --> 00:08:39,068 I don't go that fast, honestly. 128 00:08:39,206 --> 00:08:39,896 Not to worry. 129 00:08:56,379 --> 00:08:58,137 NARRATOR: At the northern end of the Dalton-- 130 00:09:05,620 --> 00:09:08,689 --Alex Debogorski and his convoy partner Ron Dobbs 131 00:09:08,827 --> 00:09:11,241 are approaching Deadhorse. 132 00:09:11,379 --> 00:09:13,586 Always looking forward to delivering a load 133 00:09:13,724 --> 00:09:16,000 and then going back and getting another one. 134 00:09:16,137 --> 00:09:18,896 That's what this is all about. 135 00:09:19,034 --> 00:09:22,172 NARRATOR: After being behind in the load count all season, 136 00:09:22,310 --> 00:09:25,896 completing this run will finally put Alex one load ahead 137 00:09:26,034 --> 00:09:29,000 of his rival, Hugh Rowland, in the dash for the cash. 138 00:09:29,137 --> 00:09:31,310 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: I would strongly suggest the number one 139 00:09:31,448 --> 00:09:33,965 thing that Huey would have to learn on this road is to work 140 00:09:34,103 --> 00:09:35,482 on his patience. 141 00:09:35,620 --> 00:09:40,551 Every time Huey goes by, like, you just smell burning hair. 142 00:09:40,689 --> 00:09:43,172 NARRATOR: And that's just what got Hugh into trouble 143 00:09:43,310 --> 00:09:44,689 on his last run. 144 00:09:44,827 --> 00:09:46,517 I just got busted. 145 00:09:46,655 --> 00:09:49,103 NARRATOR: Hugh did not record enough downtime 146 00:09:49,241 --> 00:09:53,241 and was docked $250 and a day's worth of driving 147 00:09:53,379 --> 00:09:54,586 time on the road. 148 00:09:54,724 --> 00:09:55,551 You're out of service. 149 00:09:55,689 --> 00:09:57,758 You can't drive. 150 00:09:57,896 --> 00:10:00,689 NARRATOR: Giving Alex just the edge he needed to pull ahead. 151 00:10:04,862 --> 00:10:12,310 After dropping his trailer, Alex scores a backhaul-- 152 00:10:12,448 --> 00:10:17,551 a loader and a tub grinder that will bring him an extra $1,300. 153 00:10:17,689 --> 00:10:19,620 But it's a top-heavy load-- 154 00:10:19,758 --> 00:10:22,206 one he must chain down properly, or else 155 00:10:22,344 --> 00:10:24,965 risk a rollover on the ice. 156 00:10:25,103 --> 00:10:29,448 This one here, I got it right tight. 157 00:10:29,586 --> 00:10:31,379 I guess somebody decided that was good enough, 158 00:10:31,517 --> 00:10:32,931 but they didn't have to haul a load. 159 00:10:33,068 --> 00:10:35,517 So we're going to have to kinda watch and see what it does, 160 00:10:35,655 --> 00:10:36,482 going down on the road. 161 00:10:42,931 --> 00:10:46,517 NARRATOR: Alex departs with convoy partner Ron Dobbs, bound 162 00:10:46,655 --> 00:10:50,137 once again for Fairbanks, and pulling even further 163 00:10:50,275 --> 00:10:52,482 ahead of Hugh in that dash for the cash. 164 00:10:52,620 --> 00:10:54,655 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: If I have more backhauls like this, 165 00:10:54,793 --> 00:10:58,620 then I'll make more money for myself, 166 00:10:58,758 --> 00:11:01,379 and I'll make more money for Carlile. 167 00:11:01,517 --> 00:11:05,827 Mind you, I don't want to count my chickens before we patch up 168 00:11:05,965 --> 00:11:06,689 the cracked eggs. 169 00:11:16,068 --> 00:11:19,034 NARRATOR: 240 miles south in Coldfoot, 170 00:11:19,172 --> 00:11:21,724 Hugh Rowland cranks up his load of drill pipe. 171 00:11:27,034 --> 00:11:28,793 He's just getting back on the road 172 00:11:28,931 --> 00:11:33,241 after a visit to the Fairbanks courthouse to pay his fine. 173 00:11:33,379 --> 00:11:35,379 No contest. 174 00:11:35,517 --> 00:11:37,620 NARRATOR: Now he's northbound on a mission 175 00:11:37,758 --> 00:11:39,241 to take back his lead. 176 00:11:39,379 --> 00:11:41,517 HUGH ROWLAND: I've never lost a load count in my life. 177 00:11:41,655 --> 00:11:43,862 NARRATOR: But his convoy partner, Phil Krom, 178 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:46,655 is nowhere in sight. 179 00:11:46,793 --> 00:11:49,206 I've already ate, [bleep],, showered, and shaved, 180 00:11:49,344 --> 00:11:51,172 and he's just having his first cup of coffee. 181 00:11:54,275 --> 00:11:56,137 [laughter] 182 00:11:56,275 --> 00:11:57,965 Impatient polar bear. 183 00:11:58,103 --> 00:12:01,896 Well, he should have woke me up before he was ready to leave. 184 00:12:02,034 --> 00:12:07,034 [laughter] If I'm not ready when you're ready to go, 185 00:12:07,172 --> 00:12:08,896 just wait longer. 186 00:12:09,034 --> 00:12:11,896 [laughter] 187 00:12:25,379 --> 00:12:29,344 NARRATOR: On the road, Hugh tries to make up for lost time. 188 00:12:29,482 --> 00:12:33,137 But up ahead, he encounters another obstacle. 189 00:12:33,275 --> 00:12:35,172 Just when you think you know what's going on, 190 00:12:35,310 --> 00:12:36,862 bam, something jumps up in front of you, 191 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:38,344 and the road surprises you again. 192 00:12:44,482 --> 00:12:48,310 [truck horn] 193 00:12:48,448 --> 00:12:50,586 NARRATOR: 180 miles up the ice road, 194 00:12:50,724 --> 00:12:53,413 Hugh and Phil are northbound when they encounter 195 00:12:53,551 --> 00:12:56,482 one of the Dalton's most unpredictable obstacles. 196 00:13:01,793 --> 00:13:03,379 Caribou in the street up here, so-- 197 00:13:06,068 --> 00:13:10,724 Got a white one running down the road right in front of me. 198 00:13:10,862 --> 00:13:13,620 Phil brakes to avoid hitting the animal. 199 00:13:17,655 --> 00:13:21,137 Any time you hit an animal, it-- it damages the truck, you know. 200 00:13:21,275 --> 00:13:27,724 You might spend $20,000 or $30,000 in damages. 201 00:13:27,862 --> 00:13:31,896 Yeah, about 30, 40 miles an hour. 202 00:13:32,034 --> 00:13:34,482 NARRATOR: One small caribou is setting the pace 203 00:13:34,620 --> 00:13:36,206 for two giant big rigs. 204 00:13:53,517 --> 00:13:55,655 PHIL KROMM: Just didn't really wanna get off the road, 205 00:13:55,793 --> 00:13:57,655 because the snow is still a little deep here, 206 00:13:57,793 --> 00:13:59,931 and it's harder for 'em to get around. 207 00:14:00,068 --> 00:14:03,689 Out here, it's not always a truck around a blind corner. 208 00:14:03,827 --> 00:14:07,137 Sometimes you come around a blind corner or something, 209 00:14:07,275 --> 00:14:10,448 you find a whole herd of caribou in the road, and-- 210 00:14:10,586 --> 00:14:13,758 or a moose, or a bear. 211 00:14:13,896 --> 00:14:14,758 Could be anything. 212 00:14:23,310 --> 00:14:26,310 NARRATOR: 115 miles up the Dalton, 213 00:14:26,448 --> 00:14:30,448 Jack Jessee is crossing the Arctic Circle. 214 00:14:30,586 --> 00:14:33,482 Northbound, open up five. 215 00:14:33,620 --> 00:14:36,310 NARRATOR: He's hauling a critical load of drag reducing 216 00:14:36,448 --> 00:14:42,137 agent to aid the flow of oil at a pump station near Coldfoot. 217 00:14:42,275 --> 00:14:46,620 And it has to be there in less than two hours. 218 00:14:46,758 --> 00:14:48,206 You know, it's kind of a challenging 219 00:14:48,344 --> 00:14:50,068 deal with this particular kind of load. 220 00:14:50,206 --> 00:14:52,000 NARRATOR: This live load makes it extra 221 00:14:52,137 --> 00:14:55,344 difficult to navigate the sharp twists and turns of the ice 222 00:14:55,482 --> 00:14:56,275 road. 223 00:14:56,413 --> 00:14:57,586 You know, when I meet somebody, 224 00:14:57,724 --> 00:14:59,551 I always have to slow down because this thing 225 00:14:59,689 --> 00:15:01,517 kind of wiggles back and forth. 226 00:15:01,655 --> 00:15:04,137 And it just kind of sloshes a lot. 227 00:15:04,275 --> 00:15:08,241 And it'll make you think that you're not being able to keep 228 00:15:08,379 --> 00:15:10,000 it where you wanna keep it. 229 00:15:10,137 --> 00:15:12,482 I don't, know, I just tend to slow down when I meet somebody, 230 00:15:12,620 --> 00:15:13,310 because of that. 231 00:15:19,758 --> 00:15:21,275 Wonder if this car's gonna meet us right 232 00:15:21,413 --> 00:15:23,620 in the middle of the curve. 233 00:15:23,758 --> 00:15:26,655 NARRATOR: Up ahead, a pickup truck is barreling straight 234 00:15:26,793 --> 00:15:29,000 towards Jack. 235 00:15:29,137 --> 00:15:33,241 Dalton protocol is for the southbound truck to pull over. 236 00:15:33,379 --> 00:15:35,827 JACK JESSEE: You wouldn't wanna meet two trucks in that curve. 237 00:15:35,965 --> 00:15:39,620 NARRATOR: The oncoming truck shows no sign of slowing down. 238 00:15:39,758 --> 00:15:41,344 JACK JESSEE: God, What is this guy doing? 239 00:15:46,310 --> 00:15:49,068 What the [bleep]? 240 00:15:49,206 --> 00:15:52,448 Son of a [bleep]. 241 00:15:52,586 --> 00:15:55,344 Holy [bleep]. 242 00:15:55,482 --> 00:15:57,724 Yeah, dammit. 243 00:15:57,862 --> 00:16:00,827 Need to bring a little more common sense with him. 244 00:16:00,965 --> 00:16:02,896 But then again, he probably doesn't see the road 245 00:16:03,034 --> 00:16:06,034 like I see it, and I know he doesn't drive it the way I do. 246 00:16:06,172 --> 00:16:08,586 But hopefully he doesn't come back any time soon. 247 00:16:08,724 --> 00:16:10,310 NARRATOR: Jack knows firsthand what 248 00:16:10,448 --> 00:16:13,034 can happen to inexperienced drivers on the ice. 249 00:16:13,172 --> 00:16:15,620 There was a pickup truck that went down the beaver slide one 250 00:16:15,758 --> 00:16:20,275 time, and there was-- there was a big dip from a frost heave. 251 00:16:20,413 --> 00:16:22,034 And it just went flying down that hill. 252 00:16:22,172 --> 00:16:25,172 And he hit that dip, and the butt end of his truck came up, 253 00:16:25,310 --> 00:16:27,689 spun him around, and he rolled, like, eight or nine times. 254 00:16:27,827 --> 00:16:29,344 And it ended up killing him. 255 00:16:33,206 --> 00:16:37,551 NARRATOR: 120 miles south of Jack, Lisa is running in convoy 256 00:16:37,689 --> 00:16:41,137 with George and Tim. 257 00:16:41,275 --> 00:16:44,689 She's got a critical load bound for the ice road of the Arctic 258 00:16:44,827 --> 00:16:49,448 Ocean, but driving at a rookie's pace is holding her up. 259 00:16:49,586 --> 00:16:52,620 LISA KELLY: Life in the slow lane is slow-- 260 00:16:52,758 --> 00:16:53,482 very slow. 261 00:16:56,896 --> 00:16:58,241 Here we go again, man. 262 00:17:01,275 --> 00:17:04,344 When a turtle passes us, we're going too damn slow. 263 00:17:08,586 --> 00:17:09,241 You bet, Johnny. 264 00:17:18,655 --> 00:17:19,482 [laughter] 265 00:17:19,620 --> 00:17:22,000 Not to worry. 266 00:17:22,137 --> 00:17:25,172 We go much slower, though, I'm gonna get even crankier. 267 00:17:25,310 --> 00:17:27,448 I've never really run with Lisa till today. 268 00:17:27,586 --> 00:17:30,344 I've heard that she drives a little faster than most. 269 00:17:30,482 --> 00:17:33,413 She won't be able to stay behind us very long. 270 00:17:33,551 --> 00:17:34,896 We are slow and slower. 271 00:17:40,137 --> 00:17:40,965 Wonderful. 272 00:17:49,482 --> 00:17:50,172 OK. 273 00:17:50,310 --> 00:17:52,758 Pull in here, Tim 274 00:17:52,896 --> 00:17:54,758 TIM FREEMAN: All right, George. 275 00:17:54,896 --> 00:18:00,379 NARRATOR: Finally, George and Tim let Lisa take the lead. 276 00:18:00,517 --> 00:18:03,172 LISA KELLY: I kinda go my own pace, which is not really 277 00:18:03,310 --> 00:18:04,931 a fast pace. 278 00:18:05,068 --> 00:18:08,275 It just seems like I'm fast because the other drivers are 279 00:18:08,413 --> 00:18:11,241 slower. 280 00:18:11,379 --> 00:18:13,551 NARRATOR: Lisa quickly blazes a trail 281 00:18:13,689 --> 00:18:16,241 and pulls out ahead of the convoy. 282 00:18:16,379 --> 00:18:18,344 LISA KELLY: I don't know where Tim and George are, 283 00:18:18,482 --> 00:18:21,689 they're back there somewhere making their way. 284 00:18:21,827 --> 00:18:26,482 But we are going the speed limit. 285 00:18:26,620 --> 00:18:28,862 NARRATOR: Up ahead the first brutal ascent, 286 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,413 an 8% grade called 2 and 1/2 mile. 287 00:18:32,551 --> 00:18:35,068 It's one of the steepest hills on the haul road 288 00:18:35,206 --> 00:18:37,103 where gear selection is critical. 289 00:18:37,241 --> 00:18:39,068 Oh boy. 290 00:18:39,206 --> 00:18:41,034 I'm not in the right gear. 291 00:18:45,103 --> 00:18:46,448 Here we go again. 292 00:18:51,034 --> 00:18:52,896 Oh [bleep], I'm spinning. 293 00:19:02,965 --> 00:19:06,310 NARRATOR: 77 miles north of Fairbanks, Lisa Kelly 294 00:19:06,448 --> 00:19:10,241 leads George and Tim in a convoy bound for Deadhorse. 295 00:19:10,379 --> 00:19:14,172 Oh boy, I'm not in the right gear. 296 00:19:14,310 --> 00:19:17,827 NARRATOR: But she's spinning out on the very first ascent. 297 00:19:17,965 --> 00:19:19,758 Oh [bleep], I'm spinning. 298 00:19:25,620 --> 00:19:29,379 NARRATOR: And now doesn't have enough power to pull her 48,000 299 00:19:29,517 --> 00:19:32,275 pound load up the hill. 300 00:19:32,413 --> 00:19:34,413 Her truck shudders to a dead stop. 301 00:19:38,034 --> 00:19:38,689 Hold on, guys. 302 00:19:38,827 --> 00:19:40,689 I spun out. 303 00:19:40,827 --> 00:19:44,172 TIM FREEMAN: Lisa spun out over 2 and 1/2 mile there. 304 00:19:44,310 --> 00:19:47,068 GEORGE SPEARS: Yeah Tim, we'll hold up till she gets going. 305 00:19:47,206 --> 00:19:49,793 All right, Georgie. 306 00:19:49,931 --> 00:19:52,724 NARRATOR: Unable to get started again on an incline, 307 00:19:52,862 --> 00:19:56,310 Lisa has to back 250 yards down the hill 308 00:19:56,448 --> 00:19:58,758 to get another run at it. 309 00:19:58,896 --> 00:20:00,275 Is there anybody coming behind me? 310 00:20:00,413 --> 00:20:01,965 Yeah, all kinds, we'll get them to stop. 311 00:20:14,103 --> 00:20:15,965 Hold on there, I'm spun out there up there. 312 00:20:24,413 --> 00:20:26,379 That's one of those gears that I always miss, 313 00:20:26,517 --> 00:20:29,793 and if I miss it I spin. 314 00:20:29,931 --> 00:20:34,551 2 and 1/2 mile is probably the worst one on this end, it is. 315 00:20:34,689 --> 00:20:37,620 It is double tough. 316 00:20:37,758 --> 00:20:40,413 NARRATOR: The slightest misstep could send her off the road. 317 00:20:44,068 --> 00:20:47,137 Be nice if I didn't put the trailer in a ditch. 318 00:20:47,275 --> 00:20:51,517 Everybody misses a gear once in a while, it's no big deal. 319 00:20:51,655 --> 00:20:53,620 Except for the fact there's about five trucks right 320 00:20:53,758 --> 00:20:55,103 behind you. 321 00:20:55,241 --> 00:20:56,965 LISA KELLY: Everyone's gonna be really pissed 322 00:20:57,103 --> 00:21:00,172 if I don't make it this time because I got a lot of people 323 00:21:00,310 --> 00:21:01,172 waiting for me. 324 00:21:01,310 --> 00:21:02,172 Should I try this again? 325 00:21:08,689 --> 00:21:10,586 NARRATOR: Lisa starts over in first gear. 326 00:21:17,137 --> 00:21:18,000 You can make it. 327 00:21:18,137 --> 00:21:19,482 You can make it. 328 00:21:19,620 --> 00:21:21,482 Don't make me shift this gear. 329 00:21:27,034 --> 00:21:28,413 I'm making it. 330 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,068 OK guys, I made it. 331 00:21:36,206 --> 00:21:36,896 TIM FREEMAN: OK. 332 00:21:39,517 --> 00:21:41,965 All right, George, you go ahead and get a run at her. 333 00:21:42,103 --> 00:21:43,241 GEORGE SPEARS: All righty, Tim. 334 00:21:47,275 --> 00:21:50,068 2 and 1/2 mile, I hate 2 and 1/2 mile. 335 00:21:50,206 --> 00:21:52,275 2 and 1/2 mile hates me. 336 00:21:52,413 --> 00:21:54,103 We don't get along. 337 00:21:54,241 --> 00:21:56,310 It's the second time I've spun out on 2 and 1/2 mile 338 00:21:56,448 --> 00:22:00,862 this year because I missed a gear. 339 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,344 Missing the gear, my specialty. 340 00:22:04,482 --> 00:22:09,241 Thus the nickname Gear Jammer. 341 00:22:09,379 --> 00:22:11,241 Whatever you wanna call me. 342 00:22:11,379 --> 00:22:14,724 Transmission leaver on the road person. 343 00:22:14,862 --> 00:22:16,724 NARRATOR: Up ahead, Lisa still has 344 00:22:16,862 --> 00:22:21,931 420 miles of extreme terrain to go and then ocean ice. 345 00:22:27,172 --> 00:22:31,103 It's April in Alaska, and the spring thaw is here, 346 00:22:31,241 --> 00:22:36,551 making the conditions on the ice roads even more treacherous. 347 00:22:36,689 --> 00:22:38,827 Give me the auger. 348 00:22:38,965 --> 00:22:40,896 NARRATOR: Every year, the National Weather Service 349 00:22:41,034 --> 00:22:43,655 in Fairbanks gathers data to help forecast 350 00:22:43,793 --> 00:22:45,310 the end of the ice road season. 351 00:22:45,448 --> 00:22:47,137 We're out here to take an ice measurement. 352 00:22:47,275 --> 00:22:48,724 We'll be doing ice measurements here 353 00:22:48,862 --> 00:22:50,275 at this lake and a few other lakes. 354 00:22:50,413 --> 00:22:52,689 Going to measure the depth of the ice 355 00:22:52,827 --> 00:22:53,965 and the thickness of the ice. 356 00:22:54,103 --> 00:22:55,689 And you know, if we know how thick the ice, 357 00:22:55,827 --> 00:22:59,206 we have a little better idea when the ice might melt off. 358 00:23:05,689 --> 00:23:07,344 NARRATOR: They drill down to the water level 359 00:23:07,482 --> 00:23:08,827 with a gas powered auger. 360 00:23:17,172 --> 00:23:19,862 We'll go ahead and check it now and see. 361 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,000 Little scientific piece of equipment here. 362 00:23:22,137 --> 00:23:25,379 Brad Sipperley uses a simple bamboo stick marked off 363 00:23:25,517 --> 00:23:27,379 in inches. 364 00:23:27,517 --> 00:23:29,206 All right. 365 00:23:29,344 --> 00:23:30,689 31 again, huh. 366 00:23:30,827 --> 00:23:32,068 Is that what it was last month? 367 00:23:32,206 --> 00:23:33,517 BRAD SIPPERLEY: Yeah. 368 00:23:33,655 --> 00:23:35,793 NARRATOR: The ice is no longer building up 369 00:23:35,931 --> 00:23:38,931 and is now on the decline. 370 00:23:39,068 --> 00:23:42,793 As temperatures rise, it's estimated that less than three 371 00:23:42,931 --> 00:23:45,448 weeks remain for the ice roads. 372 00:23:45,586 --> 00:23:48,241 Well the, roads become terrible it's another thing, 373 00:23:48,379 --> 00:23:50,896 it's melted on top of the roads. 374 00:23:51,034 --> 00:23:53,655 The roads then become very, very slick, and of course, 375 00:23:53,793 --> 00:23:54,689 very, very hazardous. 376 00:23:57,827 --> 00:24:01,000 NARRATOR: 150 miles from Fairbanks-- 377 00:24:01,137 --> 00:24:03,448 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: [SINGING] Springtime in Alaska, 378 00:24:03,586 --> 00:24:06,620 it's 40 below. 379 00:24:06,758 --> 00:24:09,965 NARRATOR: Alex and his convoy partner Ron Dobbs are nearing 380 00:24:10,103 --> 00:24:11,758 the end of their run. 381 00:24:11,896 --> 00:24:13,862 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: Southbound to Fairbanks. 382 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:16,517 Everything seems to be running good. 383 00:24:16,655 --> 00:24:18,827 This load looks secure, the tires 384 00:24:18,965 --> 00:24:21,000 are on the truck in the trailer. 385 00:24:21,137 --> 00:24:22,793 What more can anybody ask for? 386 00:24:36,896 --> 00:24:39,551 You got some air, did you? 387 00:24:39,689 --> 00:24:42,172 NARRATOR: Frost heaves in the tundra caused by temperature 388 00:24:42,310 --> 00:24:45,103 fluctuations make for a bone-shattering ride. 389 00:24:59,172 --> 00:25:02,448 Few different body parts puckering up some more. 390 00:25:11,862 --> 00:25:14,344 That's the kind of bouncing that breaks those chains. 391 00:25:18,379 --> 00:25:21,206 NARRATOR: The rough road shakes Alex's straps loose. 392 00:25:31,206 --> 00:25:34,586 And a passing trucker spots the dangerous situation. 393 00:26:05,206 --> 00:26:07,137 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: It's just one of these kind of pain 394 00:26:07,275 --> 00:26:09,413 in the rear loads of-- 395 00:26:09,551 --> 00:26:11,344 ai, yi, yi, yi, yi. 396 00:26:14,931 --> 00:26:18,344 NARRATOR: Alex pushes forward, hoping the strap will make it 397 00:26:18,482 --> 00:26:20,482 to Fairbanks. 398 00:26:20,620 --> 00:26:21,862 But suddenly-- 399 00:26:27,931 --> 00:26:29,275 Oh, no friggin' wonder. 400 00:26:29,413 --> 00:26:33,793 [bleep] 401 00:26:33,931 --> 00:26:35,482 NARRATOR: The loose strap breaks free, 402 00:26:35,620 --> 00:26:38,965 and now the load is dangerously unstable. 403 00:26:39,103 --> 00:26:42,137 And if one of the loose ends catches in the wheels, 404 00:26:42,275 --> 00:26:44,758 the entire load could get ripped from the trailer. 405 00:26:54,275 --> 00:26:56,000 Just worried about everything falling off. 406 00:27:00,103 --> 00:27:03,793 NARRATOR: 140 miles from Fairbanks. 407 00:27:03,931 --> 00:27:05,620 Just worried about everything falling off. 408 00:27:09,793 --> 00:27:13,172 NARRATOR: Alex Debogorski's load has broken free from its tie 409 00:27:13,310 --> 00:27:18,310 down strap, and is now dangerously unstable. 410 00:27:18,448 --> 00:27:21,206 Great. 411 00:27:21,344 --> 00:27:22,517 Ron, you called? 412 00:27:22,655 --> 00:27:23,620 RADIO: Yeah. 413 00:27:23,758 --> 00:27:25,517 Wanna stop here and check that load? 414 00:27:25,655 --> 00:27:26,551 OK, great. 415 00:27:33,551 --> 00:27:35,827 Well, the strap broke. 416 00:27:35,965 --> 00:27:37,931 It got cut on the top there. 417 00:27:38,068 --> 00:27:40,965 Your load's definitely being a real pain in the axle. 418 00:27:41,103 --> 00:27:42,517 No kidding. 419 00:27:42,655 --> 00:27:45,931 NARRATOR: The strategy, add a new tie down strap and use 420 00:27:46,068 --> 00:27:49,137 pieces of the broken one to buffer against the load's 421 00:27:49,275 --> 00:27:50,896 sharp edges. 422 00:27:51,034 --> 00:27:53,965 RON DOBBS: This edge right here, cutting the strap. 423 00:27:54,103 --> 00:27:55,344 So we'll put this little-- 424 00:27:55,482 --> 00:27:59,620 little corner protector, just a piece of a strap here, 425 00:27:59,758 --> 00:28:00,517 underneath the strap. 426 00:28:00,655 --> 00:28:03,862 That'll keep it from cutting it. 427 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:08,034 There, that should work. 428 00:28:08,172 --> 00:28:11,827 Never a dull moment on the Dalton, yeah. 429 00:28:11,965 --> 00:28:13,000 Always got something to do. 430 00:28:21,206 --> 00:28:26,310 NARRATOR: Back on the road, Alex pushes forward to Fairbanks. 431 00:28:26,448 --> 00:28:28,724 If he makes it there tonight, it will put him 432 00:28:28,862 --> 00:28:31,586 two loads up on his rival Hugh. 433 00:28:31,724 --> 00:28:33,517 I just want to get back to town before dark. 434 00:28:41,724 --> 00:28:45,103 NARRATOR: 160 miles north, Hugh and convoy partner, 435 00:28:45,241 --> 00:28:49,034 Phil Krom, approach Atigun Pass, the deadliest section 436 00:28:49,172 --> 00:28:50,655 of the road. 437 00:28:50,793 --> 00:28:51,793 Favorite part of the trip. 438 00:28:51,931 --> 00:28:54,068 Most exciting part of the trip. 439 00:28:54,206 --> 00:28:58,896 [truck horn] 440 00:28:59,034 --> 00:29:00,965 NARRATOR: And Phil decides that the time 441 00:29:01,103 --> 00:29:03,448 has come to let Hugh lead. 442 00:29:03,586 --> 00:29:04,965 Let Hugh get out in front. 443 00:29:05,103 --> 00:29:07,206 That's part of our training process anyway at some point, 444 00:29:07,344 --> 00:29:08,310 you know? 445 00:29:08,448 --> 00:29:10,103 Get them out in front, see how they do. 446 00:29:13,655 --> 00:29:15,827 All right, Hubert, you're on point. 447 00:29:15,965 --> 00:29:17,034 Let 'er rip there. 448 00:29:17,172 --> 00:29:20,103 Catch up here in just a minute. 449 00:29:20,241 --> 00:29:23,068 [truck horn] 450 00:29:25,896 --> 00:29:26,586 Woo-hoo! 451 00:29:30,137 --> 00:29:32,000 This is pretty good for me. 452 00:29:32,137 --> 00:29:40,379 [laughter] Go, go, go. 453 00:29:40,517 --> 00:29:43,551 Hammer down. 454 00:29:43,689 --> 00:29:46,275 Lead, follow, or get the [bleep] out of the way. 455 00:29:50,275 --> 00:29:52,517 NARRATOR: Hugh steps up, but driving lead 456 00:29:52,655 --> 00:29:56,827 has serious responsibilities. 457 00:29:56,965 --> 00:29:58,068 Two northbound at the pass. 458 00:30:02,517 --> 00:30:07,896 NARRATOR: He's got to call out the oncoming trucks, 459 00:30:08,034 --> 00:30:10,965 and is the first to test new road conditions. 460 00:30:13,551 --> 00:30:15,689 HUGH ROWLAND: If the sun starts beating on these hills, 461 00:30:15,827 --> 00:30:19,310 I guess it just magnifies everything. 462 00:30:19,448 --> 00:30:23,000 In 15 minutes this could start-- just start shining up. 463 00:30:23,137 --> 00:30:25,310 And then as soon as somebody goes over it 464 00:30:25,448 --> 00:30:28,068 after it's been getting shiny from the sun, then it's just, 465 00:30:28,206 --> 00:30:29,689 like, glass right away. 466 00:30:41,793 --> 00:30:42,862 Lots of traffic. 467 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:46,068 We're going-- need to do it along here. 468 00:30:46,206 --> 00:30:47,482 [bleep] pile of traffic. 469 00:30:51,379 --> 00:30:53,000 NARRATOR: The increased traffic forces 470 00:30:53,137 --> 00:31:01,172 Hugh closer to the road's edge, where his tires hit 471 00:31:01,310 --> 00:31:04,103 a slick patch of ice. 472 00:31:04,241 --> 00:31:06,000 HUGH ROWLAND: Doing a lot of spinning there. 473 00:31:18,310 --> 00:31:20,000 NARRATOR: His wheels barely clinging 474 00:31:20,137 --> 00:31:30,034 to the road, Hugh crests the summit. 475 00:31:30,172 --> 00:31:31,931 HUGH ROWLAND: Well, we got lucky again. 476 00:31:34,896 --> 00:31:37,275 Another good thing going one more time over the pass. 477 00:31:41,482 --> 00:31:45,310 NARRATOR: But Hugh still has 166 miles to go, 478 00:31:45,448 --> 00:31:49,379 and he's trailing Alex by one run. 479 00:31:49,517 --> 00:31:52,793 [truck horn] 480 00:31:52,931 --> 00:31:56,068 130 miles south, Jack Jessee is racing 481 00:31:56,206 --> 00:31:59,724 to deliver a critical tanker full of drag reducing agent 482 00:31:59,862 --> 00:32:02,586 to a pump station near Coldfoot. 483 00:32:02,724 --> 00:32:05,655 Well, this-- this DRA stuff there, 484 00:32:05,793 --> 00:32:09,172 gotta get it there as fast as we can. 485 00:32:09,310 --> 00:32:12,344 NARRATOR: If he's late, oil in the Trans Alaskan Pipeline 486 00:32:12,482 --> 00:32:14,896 could come to a halt. 487 00:32:15,034 --> 00:32:17,586 I'm supposed to be there at noon. 488 00:32:17,724 --> 00:32:19,482 I'm running a little late. 489 00:32:19,620 --> 00:32:22,000 NARRATOR: DRA congeals in the cold, 490 00:32:22,137 --> 00:32:25,413 and the longer it stays in the tanker, the more difficult 491 00:32:25,551 --> 00:32:28,620 it is to pump out. 492 00:32:28,758 --> 00:32:31,206 Takes about two hours to pump this stuff off, 493 00:32:31,344 --> 00:32:33,517 average, if nothing goes wrong. 494 00:32:33,655 --> 00:32:35,448 Last time I did it, it took me two days. 495 00:32:35,586 --> 00:32:38,379 So I've got my fingers crossed this time. 496 00:32:43,206 --> 00:32:45,551 Hey, yeah, we're just getting ready to pull in here. 497 00:32:45,689 --> 00:32:47,793 DRA injection site. 498 00:32:47,931 --> 00:32:49,689 NARRATOR: Jack needs a quick turnaround 499 00:32:49,827 --> 00:32:52,862 in order to keep his lead in that dash for the cash. 500 00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:55,137 JACK JESSEE: Yeah, if I can't get this offloaded today, 501 00:32:55,275 --> 00:32:59,206 I'll miss out on a load of fuel I've got set up. 502 00:32:59,344 --> 00:33:01,551 NARRATOR: But when he pulls onto the platform 503 00:33:01,689 --> 00:33:06,793 above the underground tank, there's a big problem. 504 00:33:13,620 --> 00:33:15,724 JACK JESSEE: I was afraid I was gonna have to do this. 505 00:33:20,896 --> 00:33:23,000 We're dragging our landing gear right here. 506 00:33:23,137 --> 00:33:25,758 NARRATOR: The landing gear is too low for the platform 507 00:33:25,896 --> 00:33:28,344 and could rip open the tank below. 508 00:33:28,482 --> 00:33:29,551 And it hit his metal plate. 509 00:33:29,689 --> 00:33:31,137 And I don't want to tear the plate up, 510 00:33:31,275 --> 00:33:32,896 and I don't want to break my landing gear, 511 00:33:33,034 --> 00:33:35,689 so I'm gonna jack my suspension up a little bit. 512 00:33:39,379 --> 00:33:42,241 Well, what I'm doing now is the-- 513 00:33:42,379 --> 00:33:44,896 the leveling arm here for my airbags 514 00:33:45,034 --> 00:33:46,344 set a little too low for this. 515 00:33:46,482 --> 00:33:49,137 So I'm gonna move the pin setting one notch, 516 00:33:49,275 --> 00:33:52,551 and hopefully that'll be enough to raise the suspension up 517 00:33:52,689 --> 00:33:54,172 that I won't break my landing gear 518 00:33:54,310 --> 00:33:58,068 and I won't dig up their containment pit. 519 00:33:58,206 --> 00:34:01,517 I was hoping to get it out of here a little faster than this. 520 00:34:11,034 --> 00:34:12,758 NARRATOR: The adjustment works. 521 00:34:12,896 --> 00:34:15,448 Yeah, I'm gonna hook up the hose now. 522 00:34:15,586 --> 00:34:17,551 NARRATOR: And the offload can finally begin. 523 00:34:20,517 --> 00:34:24,620 The DRA makes it into the pump station just in time 524 00:34:24,758 --> 00:34:27,310 and keeps the oil in the pipeline flowing from the north 525 00:34:27,448 --> 00:34:28,137 slope. 526 00:34:32,172 --> 00:34:34,551 JACK JESSEE: I'm hoping to make it back to Fairbanks tonight. 527 00:34:34,689 --> 00:34:36,724 Get in there, get a load of fuel. 528 00:34:36,862 --> 00:34:39,068 We'll be up here again tomorrow, do it again. 529 00:34:43,931 --> 00:34:47,206 NARRATOR: 130 miles north, Lisa, George, and Tim 530 00:34:47,344 --> 00:34:49,862 continue their convoy to Deadhorse. 531 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,275 [truck horn] 532 00:35:07,103 --> 00:35:09,517 I've had fun since the day I was born. 533 00:35:09,655 --> 00:35:10,344 RADIO: Right on. 534 00:35:15,137 --> 00:35:17,586 LISA KELLY: Once in a while it's nice to be in front, just so I 535 00:35:17,724 --> 00:35:19,137 don't have any trucks in my view. 536 00:35:19,275 --> 00:35:20,413 I can just-- 537 00:35:20,551 --> 00:35:22,275 I just got this great landscape for a view. 538 00:35:27,827 --> 00:35:30,137 GEORGE SPEARS: We got over the pass without any problems. 539 00:35:30,275 --> 00:35:32,931 It was actually a pretty nice day. 540 00:35:33,068 --> 00:35:34,172 TIM FREEMAN: Really good trip. 541 00:35:34,310 --> 00:35:35,620 Beautiful last two days. 542 00:35:35,758 --> 00:35:37,103 Just loving it. 543 00:35:37,241 --> 00:35:39,448 LISA KELLY: The roads are great, and I've got nothing 544 00:35:39,586 --> 00:35:41,448 but open road in front of me. 545 00:35:41,586 --> 00:35:43,862 Open road, and blue skies, and sunshine. 546 00:35:51,689 --> 00:35:54,517 NARRATOR: But up here blue skies never last long. 547 00:36:11,827 --> 00:36:14,310 TIM FREEMAN: It's supposed to be flowing really bad up here one 548 00:36:14,448 --> 00:36:17,103 delineator at a time. 549 00:36:17,241 --> 00:36:19,103 NARRATOR: Delineators are reflectors 550 00:36:19,241 --> 00:36:25,310 positioned every 50 feet to help truckers gauge visibility. 551 00:36:25,448 --> 00:36:28,000 When you can only see one delineator, it's not good. 552 00:36:33,517 --> 00:36:36,310 TIM FREEMAN: Blowing like a son of a [bleep] right now. 553 00:36:40,862 --> 00:36:45,655 [bleep] 554 00:36:45,793 --> 00:36:47,517 GEORGE SPEARS: Just got by Franklin Bluff 555 00:36:47,655 --> 00:36:50,517 and we're down to one or two delineators. 556 00:36:54,482 --> 00:36:57,827 I can't see. 557 00:36:57,965 --> 00:37:04,068 NARRATOR: 25 miles to Deadhorse, 35 mile per hour winds. 558 00:37:04,206 --> 00:37:06,482 They push ahead into the unknown. 559 00:37:06,620 --> 00:37:09,413 [car horn] 560 00:37:13,517 --> 00:37:14,379 Holy crap. 561 00:37:22,931 --> 00:37:28,241 NARRATOR: 390 miles up the ice road on the Franklin Bluffs. 562 00:37:28,379 --> 00:37:30,206 LISA KELLY: My flags are about ready to rip off 563 00:37:30,344 --> 00:37:31,896 the side of my load there. 564 00:37:32,034 --> 00:37:35,034 Uh oh, I think I already lost one. 565 00:37:35,172 --> 00:37:38,068 Can't see. 566 00:37:38,206 --> 00:37:41,689 Winds have kicked up to 35 miles per hour, 567 00:37:41,827 --> 00:37:45,206 and visibility is less than 50 feet. 568 00:37:45,344 --> 00:37:48,448 Lisa, Tim, and George struggle to see the road 569 00:37:48,586 --> 00:37:50,793 and keep from driving off into the tundra. 570 00:37:53,689 --> 00:37:55,862 TIM FREEMAN: [bleep] I couldn't see nothing there. 571 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:57,275 All I seen was drifts in the road. 572 00:37:57,413 --> 00:37:59,448 I was wondering if we were still on it or not. 573 00:38:03,413 --> 00:38:05,206 Tim, just-- can you still see me all right? 574 00:38:05,344 --> 00:38:08,344 I wanna keep you where you can still see me. 575 00:38:08,482 --> 00:38:10,827 Yeah George, I can't see you anymore. 576 00:38:22,034 --> 00:38:22,724 Oh no. 577 00:38:32,724 --> 00:38:33,586 Heads up. 578 00:38:39,137 --> 00:38:41,965 It's what the hell am I doing up here? 579 00:38:42,103 --> 00:38:44,000 Think of a lot better places to be. 580 00:38:48,103 --> 00:38:55,310 NARRATOR: The convoy pushes through the storm 581 00:38:55,448 --> 00:38:58,137 until the winds start to back down. 582 00:38:58,275 --> 00:39:00,379 TIM FREEMAN: It's starting to lighten up a little bit. 583 00:39:00,517 --> 00:39:02,137 We're getting pretty close to the 20 mile 584 00:39:02,275 --> 00:39:05,206 where they said it was gonna clear up. 585 00:39:05,344 --> 00:39:06,827 NARRATOR: As it clears, Deadhorse 586 00:39:06,965 --> 00:39:09,586 appears on the horizon. 587 00:39:09,724 --> 00:39:12,241 RADIO: Hey, is Georgie and Timmy coming up behind you? 588 00:39:12,379 --> 00:39:13,034 They're coming. 589 00:39:13,172 --> 00:39:14,000 They're back there. 590 00:39:28,965 --> 00:39:30,344 Turn around, do her again. 591 00:39:30,482 --> 00:39:31,310 Just another trip. 592 00:39:34,448 --> 00:39:36,896 NARRATOR: While Tim and George turn and burn-- 593 00:39:37,034 --> 00:39:40,275 Headed out to Oliktok to deliver this pickup truck 594 00:39:40,413 --> 00:39:43,206 on the back of the trailer. 595 00:39:43,344 --> 00:39:46,275 NARRATOR: --Lisa heads for the ice road of the Arctic Ocean. 596 00:39:51,068 --> 00:39:54,931 430 miles south, Alex is nearing Fairbanks 597 00:39:55,068 --> 00:39:56,448 with his top-heavy load. 598 00:40:00,034 --> 00:40:04,206 The road's bumpy and a number of things 599 00:40:04,344 --> 00:40:06,000 could probably go awry. 600 00:40:06,137 --> 00:40:07,793 NARRATOR: By completing his 10th run, 601 00:40:07,931 --> 00:40:11,793 Alex will pull two loads ahead of his rival, Hugh Rowland. 602 00:40:11,931 --> 00:40:14,413 There's a rumor that he got a ticket. 603 00:40:14,551 --> 00:40:16,310 I don't know what-- 604 00:40:16,448 --> 00:40:18,724 I expect if he got a ticket, he got a ticket on the scale 605 00:40:18,862 --> 00:40:20,896 and might have to do hours of service, I don't know. 606 00:40:23,103 --> 00:40:24,551 He's been kind of doing his own thing, 607 00:40:24,689 --> 00:40:26,793 so I really don't know what's going on there 608 00:40:26,931 --> 00:40:29,965 and how he got himself in trouble there. 609 00:40:30,103 --> 00:40:32,413 NARRATOR: Hoping to avoid a ticket himself, 610 00:40:32,551 --> 00:40:36,413 Alex pulls over to prepare for a DOT inspection. 611 00:40:36,551 --> 00:40:38,862 Gotta do our paperwork before we go to the scale, 612 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,275 make sure that the logbook, make sure everything is right. 613 00:40:44,068 --> 00:40:45,724 Hey Alex, I was thinking maybe we 614 00:40:45,862 --> 00:40:47,275 oughta check the height on that thing. 615 00:40:47,413 --> 00:40:49,862 Looks like it's right up there pretty tall. 616 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:53,724 NARRATOR: On the Dalton, 17 feet is the maximum load height. 617 00:40:53,862 --> 00:40:57,482 But from here south, it's only safe to haul 15 feet 618 00:40:57,620 --> 00:40:58,689 through city streets. 619 00:40:58,827 --> 00:40:59,862 You have a tape measure? 620 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:01,344 Yeah, I got a tape measure on me. 621 00:41:10,724 --> 00:41:13,448 Yeah, there's 15, there's 16. 622 00:41:13,586 --> 00:41:16,310 To the top of the beacon, we're right about 16'3. 623 00:41:16,448 --> 00:41:18,310 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: We're 15 inches too high, then? 624 00:41:18,448 --> 00:41:21,724 Yep, 15 inches too tall. 625 00:41:21,862 --> 00:41:23,965 NARRATOR: Alex doesn't have the correct permit 626 00:41:24,103 --> 00:41:25,931 for an oversized load. 627 00:41:26,068 --> 00:41:27,620 He'll have to leave it here tonight 628 00:41:27,758 --> 00:41:29,896 because if he drives it any further 629 00:41:30,034 --> 00:41:34,068 he'll face a pricey ticket or possible suspension. 630 00:41:34,206 --> 00:41:37,689 I think it's a good call, and we'll get the permit tomorrow, 631 00:41:37,827 --> 00:41:39,448 everything will be fine. 632 00:41:39,586 --> 00:41:43,241 And keeps Alex out of trouble. 633 00:41:43,379 --> 00:41:46,517 NARRATOR: Alex plays it safe but he won't be able to deliver 634 00:41:46,655 --> 00:41:48,517 the load until tomorrow-- 635 00:41:48,655 --> 00:41:51,551 a move that jeopardizes his lead in the dash for the cash. 636 00:41:56,172 --> 00:41:58,758 10 miles outside of Deadhorse, Hugh Rowland 637 00:41:58,896 --> 00:42:01,206 races to the finish line. 638 00:42:01,344 --> 00:42:03,862 [truck horn] 639 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:05,551 But she's been a good run this morning, 640 00:42:05,689 --> 00:42:07,793 [bleep] up and over the pass. 641 00:42:07,931 --> 00:42:10,000 Booking right along here. 642 00:42:10,137 --> 00:42:13,310 And here we are going around the corner to Deadhorse already. 643 00:42:13,448 --> 00:42:16,206 Time flies when you're having fun. 644 00:42:16,344 --> 00:42:18,517 I'm just going to drop below, go and do some paperwork, 645 00:42:18,655 --> 00:42:21,448 and come back out, grab another load, 646 00:42:21,586 --> 00:42:24,724 and then I'm ready to rock and roll back south. 647 00:42:24,862 --> 00:42:28,000 NARRATOR: As Hugh rolls into the Carlile yard, 648 00:42:28,137 --> 00:42:31,517 he pulls even again in the load count with Alex. 649 00:42:31,655 --> 00:42:35,413 The two Canadians are now tied with nine loads of piece. 650 00:42:35,551 --> 00:42:39,206 And while Lisa Kelly trails the Dalton ace, Jack Jessee, 651 00:42:39,344 --> 00:42:42,655 tonight she's leaving them all behind. 652 00:42:42,793 --> 00:42:47,172 We gotta cross the ocean to get to the delivery point. 653 00:42:47,310 --> 00:42:50,137 NARRATOR: She's headed over a frozen Arctic Ocean 654 00:42:50,275 --> 00:42:54,206 to an oil rig 36 miles northwest of Deadhorse. 655 00:42:58,413 --> 00:42:59,034 LISA KELLY: OK. 656 00:43:08,413 --> 00:43:11,793 I'm officially on the ice. 657 00:43:11,931 --> 00:43:13,793 I'm officially on the ocean. 658 00:43:32,172 --> 00:43:34,482 NARRATOR: Spring's rising temperatures are quickly 659 00:43:34,620 --> 00:43:40,103 depleting the ice, leaving it just thick enough to support 660 00:43:40,241 --> 00:43:45,896 Lisa's 48,000 pounds. 661 00:43:46,034 --> 00:43:50,034 It's cracked and brittle, with mere weeks left before it all 662 00:43:50,172 --> 00:43:50,896 melts away. 663 00:43:54,137 --> 00:43:56,172 Every load on this road could be the last. 664 00:44:08,896 --> 00:44:11,000 Up ahead, lights on the horizon. 665 00:44:20,379 --> 00:44:22,068 LISA KELLY: And get the truck off of there, 666 00:44:22,206 --> 00:44:26,310 and get back to Deadhorse. 667 00:44:26,448 --> 00:44:30,000 NARRATOR: On a frozen stretch of ice 280 miles north 668 00:44:30,137 --> 00:44:33,655 of the Arctic Circle, Lisa Kelly's epic run finally 669 00:44:33,793 --> 00:44:35,344 comes to an end. 670 00:44:35,482 --> 00:44:38,448 LISA KELLY: Drove across the ocean to get here. 671 00:44:38,586 --> 00:44:40,448 Nothing fell off, nobody died. 672 00:44:40,586 --> 00:44:42,724 We had a good day. 673 00:44:42,862 --> 00:44:45,103 I still got one more load under my belt 674 00:44:45,241 --> 00:44:48,172 that I haven't destroyed.