1 00:00:07,172 --> 00:00:09,586 NARRATOR: On this episode of "Ice Road Truckers." 2 00:00:09,724 --> 00:00:10,379 Oh, no. 3 00:00:10,517 --> 00:00:11,793 Hang on. 4 00:00:11,931 --> 00:00:15,620 NARRATOR: Alaska is rocked by a volcanic eruption. 5 00:00:15,758 --> 00:00:18,517 Alex charges ahead in the dash for the cash. 6 00:00:18,655 --> 00:00:20,724 I like to catch him because it will make him grumpy. 7 00:00:20,862 --> 00:00:21,896 Dirty rotten [bleep]. 8 00:00:22,034 --> 00:00:23,655 Heh, heh, heh. 9 00:00:23,793 --> 00:00:27,137 NARRATOR: And a breakdown leaves Lisa stranded on the ice. 10 00:00:27,275 --> 00:00:28,620 LISA KELLY: My truck is dead. 11 00:00:31,724 --> 00:00:34,275 NARRATOR: At the top of the world-- 12 00:00:34,413 --> 00:00:35,068 [horn honks] 13 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:36,965 [grinding] 14 00:00:37,103 --> 00:00:39,586 --there's a job only a few would dare. 15 00:00:42,586 --> 00:00:45,413 Just when you thought extreme trucking couldn't 16 00:00:45,551 --> 00:00:50,517 get more dangerous, "Ice Road Truckers" take on Alaska. 17 00:00:55,965 --> 00:00:57,344 [theme music] 18 00:01:02,034 --> 00:01:02,931 [glass crashing] 19 00:01:04,931 --> 00:01:05,827 [glass crashing] 20 00:01:07,448 --> 00:01:08,310 [glass crashing] 21 00:01:09,896 --> 00:01:10,793 [glass crashing] 22 00:01:12,896 --> 00:01:13,793 [glass crashing] 23 00:01:17,862 --> 00:01:19,689 [truck engine getting louder] 24 00:01:19,827 --> 00:01:20,724 [glass crashing] 25 00:01:23,793 --> 00:01:24,689 [brakes swoosh] 26 00:01:28,068 --> 00:01:31,724 With less than two weeks left in the winter season, 27 00:01:31,862 --> 00:01:35,586 the spring thaw is fast approaching. 28 00:01:35,724 --> 00:01:38,517 And the race is on to get the last 300 29 00:01:38,655 --> 00:01:42,620 loads in before the ice roads melt away. 30 00:01:42,758 --> 00:01:46,310 But an unforeseen disaster 1,000 miles to the south 31 00:01:46,448 --> 00:01:51,965 has made this treacherous road more vital than ever. 32 00:01:52,103 --> 00:01:55,862 Mount Redoubt is erupting-- 33 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:57,275 [loud explosion] 34 00:01:57,413 --> 00:02:04,310 --sending ash more than 65,000 feet into the sky. 35 00:02:04,448 --> 00:02:07,103 It's grounded all air traffic in Alaska 36 00:02:07,241 --> 00:02:11,793 and created delays in nearly every industry. 37 00:02:11,931 --> 00:02:18,137 Now the Dalton ice road is the only route to the oilfields, 38 00:02:18,275 --> 00:02:20,793 and the north slope is desperate for supplies. 39 00:02:24,862 --> 00:02:27,310 In Fairbanks, Jack Jessee is picking up 40 00:02:27,448 --> 00:02:30,413 his 17th load of the season. 41 00:02:30,551 --> 00:02:33,241 JACK JESSEE: Well, we've got a loaded fuel tanker today. 42 00:02:33,379 --> 00:02:35,758 It's got about 9,200 gallons of fuel on it. 43 00:02:35,896 --> 00:02:38,344 We're going to be right at our max weight. 44 00:02:38,482 --> 00:02:41,758 NARRATOR: And this fuel tanker could be Jack's most important 45 00:02:41,896 --> 00:02:44,172 run yet. 46 00:02:44,310 --> 00:02:46,655 JACK JESSEE: The volcano erupted down there in Anchorage, 47 00:02:46,793 --> 00:02:48,448 shut down the refineries. 48 00:02:48,586 --> 00:02:50,689 Prudhoe's been out of fuel for a couple days now, 49 00:02:50,827 --> 00:02:52,758 and they're going to start feeling it. 50 00:02:52,896 --> 00:02:54,137 NARRATOR: Everything in Deadhorse 51 00:02:54,275 --> 00:02:56,310 runs on diesel generators. 52 00:02:56,448 --> 00:02:59,379 No fuel, no power, no heat. 53 00:02:59,517 --> 00:03:03,034 And the oil-flowing south will soon come to a halt 54 00:03:03,172 --> 00:03:06,517 if they can't keep the flow of diesel moving north. 55 00:03:06,655 --> 00:03:09,689 And it's mad rush to get all this fuel up there. 56 00:03:09,827 --> 00:03:13,620 I try to load max volume on the tanker 57 00:03:13,758 --> 00:03:16,862 to bring the whole trailer right up to my max weight. 58 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,931 And then I have to adjust my axles to make 59 00:03:20,068 --> 00:03:21,517 all the axle groups legal. 60 00:03:24,413 --> 00:03:28,689 NARRATOR: But Jack's lift axle is frozen shut. 61 00:03:28,827 --> 00:03:32,206 A lift axle uses compressed air to raise and lower 62 00:03:32,344 --> 00:03:34,655 the suspension, which transfers weight 63 00:03:34,793 --> 00:03:37,655 evenly throughout the trailer. 64 00:03:37,793 --> 00:03:39,172 [air hisses] 65 00:03:39,310 --> 00:03:40,896 Nope, I'll go get the mechanic again. 66 00:03:49,448 --> 00:03:50,241 [air hisses] 67 00:03:51,586 --> 00:03:53,931 It doesn't seem like coming up is the problem. 68 00:03:54,068 --> 00:03:56,344 It just happened when it come down. 69 00:03:56,482 --> 00:03:58,620 NARRATOR: Carlile mechanic Jared Lane 70 00:03:58,758 --> 00:04:04,068 pries open the valves to clear the air lines of any moisture. 71 00:04:04,206 --> 00:04:05,000 [air hisses] 72 00:04:06,034 --> 00:04:07,413 JACK JESSEE: There we go. 73 00:04:07,551 --> 00:04:09,275 Perfect. 74 00:04:09,413 --> 00:04:11,241 And then we'll get this tanker load to Prudhoe. 75 00:04:23,896 --> 00:04:26,793 NARRATOR: As Jack reaches the Dalton, the rapidly thawing 76 00:04:26,931 --> 00:04:29,965 road becomes his next big challenge. 77 00:04:30,103 --> 00:04:31,586 JACK JESSEE: The sun hit it yesterday, 78 00:04:31,724 --> 00:04:33,103 and it just makes it so much slicker. 79 00:04:36,482 --> 00:04:39,758 And I'm already spinning climbing up this hill. 80 00:04:39,896 --> 00:04:43,689 Those are the tires spinning right now. 81 00:04:43,827 --> 00:04:45,689 Come on, find some traction. 82 00:04:49,275 --> 00:04:52,551 I told you, this is going to be a slick day out here today. 83 00:04:52,689 --> 00:04:55,206 [loud semi engine] 84 00:04:55,344 --> 00:04:59,413 NARRATOR: 500 miles north in Deadhorse, Lisa Kelly 85 00:04:59,551 --> 00:05:04,172 arrives to pick up her 13th load of the season. 86 00:05:04,310 --> 00:05:06,724 LISA KELLY: Our wonderful mountain blew up, 87 00:05:06,862 --> 00:05:09,103 and it was, like, there's this ash everywhere. 88 00:05:09,241 --> 00:05:12,275 NARRATOR: The volcano is creating multiple delays. 89 00:05:12,413 --> 00:05:14,896 If my wheels aren't turning, I'm not getting paid to sit. 90 00:05:15,034 --> 00:05:16,310 What am I hauling? 91 00:05:16,448 --> 00:05:18,620 Uh, it's just going to be some miscellaneous LTL. 92 00:05:18,758 --> 00:05:19,931 OK. 93 00:05:20,068 --> 00:05:21,931 And it will include a little bit of hazmat. 94 00:05:22,068 --> 00:05:24,103 Used batteries, I think I can deal with that. 95 00:05:24,241 --> 00:05:24,931 No big deal. 96 00:05:25,068 --> 00:05:28,103 OK, so go fast. 97 00:05:28,241 --> 00:05:29,896 NARRATOR: But a load of used batteries 98 00:05:30,034 --> 00:05:33,068 is not the only thing Lisa will be carrying today. 99 00:05:33,206 --> 00:05:35,724 I have a passenger today. 100 00:05:35,862 --> 00:05:38,551 NARRATOR: Anita Stelsel is a safety trainer for an oil 101 00:05:38,689 --> 00:05:41,448 company, and a volcano has stranded her on the north 102 00:05:41,586 --> 00:05:42,275 slope. 103 00:05:42,413 --> 00:05:43,620 Hey. 104 00:05:43,758 --> 00:05:45,310 NARRATOR: She needs to hitch a ride back to Fairbanks 105 00:05:45,448 --> 00:05:46,517 with Lisa. - Hi. 106 00:05:46,655 --> 00:05:47,758 Thanks for taking me to town. 107 00:05:47,896 --> 00:05:49,068 Yeah, no problem, Anita. 108 00:05:49,206 --> 00:05:50,862 Her flight was canceled and rescheduled 109 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,275 for a much later time than she wanted to be there. 110 00:05:53,413 --> 00:05:56,965 Load your stuff and hop in, we'll get out of here. 111 00:05:57,103 --> 00:05:58,965 It's going to be interesting having a passenger. 112 00:05:59,103 --> 00:06:00,413 I haven't had one in a long time. 113 00:06:03,379 --> 00:06:05,137 I'm sure she's not going to like my techno. 114 00:06:05,275 --> 00:06:06,103 [door closes] 115 00:06:06,241 --> 00:06:07,068 [laughs] 116 00:06:08,206 --> 00:06:09,034 [techno music] 117 00:06:27,310 --> 00:06:29,862 NARRATOR: Back in Deadhorse, Alex Debogorski 118 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,172 is also preparing to head south with a backhaul. 119 00:06:34,310 --> 00:06:40,068 I'm hauling a C-1256, one of the Carlile tractors. 120 00:06:40,206 --> 00:06:45,275 The radiator broke and was leaking a bunch of antifreeze. 121 00:06:45,413 --> 00:06:47,931 NARRATOR: Alex has trailed his rival Hugh Rowland 122 00:06:48,068 --> 00:06:49,655 in loads all season. 123 00:06:49,793 --> 00:06:53,103 Now they're dead even, and he's eager to pull ahead. 124 00:06:53,241 --> 00:06:55,241 Oh, I'd like to catch him because it will make him 125 00:06:55,379 --> 00:06:56,586 grumpy. 126 00:06:56,724 --> 00:06:57,517 [chuckles] 127 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,172 Because he's always rush, rush, rush, rush. 128 00:07:02,310 --> 00:07:04,034 So right now, I've aired up the trailer. 129 00:07:04,172 --> 00:07:06,137 I'm just going to check the chains, 130 00:07:06,275 --> 00:07:09,344 check the tires and the suspension on the trailer, 131 00:07:09,482 --> 00:07:12,379 and I guess we'll be off. 132 00:07:12,517 --> 00:07:13,344 [soft thuds] 133 00:07:21,413 --> 00:07:25,034 Well, [bleep], that tire's flat. 134 00:07:25,172 --> 00:07:26,827 This tire's off the rim. 135 00:07:26,965 --> 00:07:28,965 NARRATOR: Alex has been sidelined this season 136 00:07:29,103 --> 00:07:32,103 by a frustrating run of worn-out tires. 137 00:07:32,241 --> 00:07:35,931 A huge hole delayed him the first time. 138 00:07:36,068 --> 00:07:37,448 Then-- 139 00:07:37,586 --> 00:07:39,206 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: Look at that, we've got another flat tire. 140 00:07:39,344 --> 00:07:40,724 Looks like it's got the tread gone. 141 00:07:40,862 --> 00:07:43,689 NARRATOR: --on another trip, he lost an entire tread layer. 142 00:07:43,827 --> 00:07:44,965 Now this. 143 00:07:45,103 --> 00:07:46,275 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: Well, I mean, the weight, 144 00:07:46,413 --> 00:07:47,931 I mean, that tire couldn't carry two, 145 00:07:48,068 --> 00:07:49,103 the weight for both of them. 146 00:07:49,241 --> 00:07:50,482 We'll end up with two flat tires. 147 00:07:50,620 --> 00:07:53,103 These smaller tires don't-- aren't that great anyway. 148 00:07:53,241 --> 00:07:55,413 Yeah, I think and then probably that looks like a cap, 149 00:07:55,551 --> 00:07:58,206 too, so she'd be wrecked. 150 00:07:58,344 --> 00:08:01,620 NARRATOR: Alex has no choice but to head to the tire shop. 151 00:08:01,758 --> 00:08:04,517 Well, I've got a full load, and that tire goes flat, 152 00:08:04,655 --> 00:08:07,172 then there's a possibility in wrecking a second tire. 153 00:08:07,310 --> 00:08:09,137 We end up with two flat tires and one axle, 154 00:08:09,275 --> 00:08:11,517 chances are, we're not going to make it. 155 00:08:11,655 --> 00:08:12,931 Oh, well. 156 00:08:13,068 --> 00:08:14,965 A guy's gotta pick a place to die of old age, 157 00:08:15,103 --> 00:08:16,482 I guess, it might be Prudhoe. 158 00:08:16,620 --> 00:08:17,448 [chuckles] 159 00:08:21,275 --> 00:08:24,448 NARRATOR: Back at the Carlile yard in Fairbanks. 160 00:08:24,586 --> 00:08:25,275 Hugh. 161 00:08:28,275 --> 00:08:29,310 Get another load, I guess. 162 00:08:29,448 --> 00:08:31,103 Sure. 163 00:08:31,241 --> 00:08:32,379 Another load of pipe. 164 00:08:32,517 --> 00:08:33,827 OK. 165 00:08:33,965 --> 00:08:35,862 It's actually the last load of the seven-inch pipe 166 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,137 for the year, so go get your truck and get ready to go, 167 00:08:38,275 --> 00:08:39,689 and it'll be right here in this yard. 168 00:08:41,862 --> 00:08:42,965 Oh? 169 00:08:43,103 --> 00:08:45,517 NARRATOR: Mechanic Jared Lane has some bad news. 170 00:08:53,620 --> 00:08:55,655 HUGH ROWLAND: OK, well, at least I know that. 171 00:08:55,793 --> 00:08:58,620 NARRATOR: Hugh was hoping to hit the road within the hour. 172 00:08:58,758 --> 00:09:01,896 But now that his truck has a major exhaust problem, 173 00:09:02,034 --> 00:09:05,310 he's stuck in town indefinitely. 174 00:09:05,448 --> 00:09:07,724 Well, here I sit broken-hearted. 175 00:09:07,862 --> 00:09:09,241 Truck's broken down. 176 00:09:09,379 --> 00:09:13,413 We're waiting for some exhaust clamps and stuff. 177 00:09:13,551 --> 00:09:14,551 I guess they better fix it. 178 00:09:14,689 --> 00:09:15,965 Because if your exhaust ain't good, 179 00:09:16,103 --> 00:09:17,448 you're not going anywhere. 180 00:09:20,551 --> 00:09:24,793 NARRATOR: 60 miles out of Deadhorse, Lisa races south 181 00:09:24,931 --> 00:09:26,379 with her passenger, Anita. 182 00:09:26,517 --> 00:09:28,172 Am I scaring ya? 183 00:09:28,310 --> 00:09:29,586 [laughs] 184 00:09:29,724 --> 00:09:33,344 No, not at all because I'm a safety trainer, right? 185 00:09:33,482 --> 00:09:34,206 I teach driving. 186 00:09:34,344 --> 00:09:36,758 I can tell you're really solid. 187 00:09:36,896 --> 00:09:38,551 Well, as pretty as this road is, 188 00:09:38,689 --> 00:09:40,862 though, there sure is a lot of crazy accidents up here. 189 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,241 I figure it's because they're all looking at the mountains 190 00:09:43,379 --> 00:09:44,103 and not the road. 191 00:09:44,241 --> 00:09:45,517 [chuckles] 192 00:09:45,655 --> 00:09:47,862 I would guess it has something to do with the speed you 193 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:52,241 guys go because I've wondered how and why a trucker would be 194 00:09:52,379 --> 00:09:56,448 driving faster than I would drive on a road like this. 195 00:09:56,586 --> 00:09:59,482 Trucks are a lot heavier than a car is. 196 00:09:59,620 --> 00:10:00,827 Right. 197 00:10:00,965 --> 00:10:03,137 And the trailer actually helps weight the tires. 198 00:10:03,275 --> 00:10:04,517 And then when you think about it, 199 00:10:04,655 --> 00:10:08,344 I've got at least 10 wheels just on the truck alone. 200 00:10:08,482 --> 00:10:10,206 That's more contact with the ice. 201 00:10:16,689 --> 00:10:19,241 NARRATOR: Lisa is making good time until suddenly-- 202 00:10:19,379 --> 00:10:20,034 Um. 203 00:10:27,620 --> 00:10:29,000 [ominous music] 204 00:11:03,448 --> 00:11:04,758 [door closes] 205 00:11:04,896 --> 00:11:06,206 [diesel engine running] 206 00:11:16,275 --> 00:11:20,827 LISA KELLY: [bleep],, I've got a major fuel leak. 207 00:11:20,965 --> 00:11:22,827 It's leaking on the ground. 208 00:11:28,379 --> 00:11:29,655 [engine stops] 209 00:11:29,793 --> 00:11:31,758 If the truck isn't running and doesn't give me heat, 210 00:11:31,896 --> 00:11:34,000 then I could freeze to death. 211 00:11:34,137 --> 00:11:35,862 This is a major problem. 212 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:37,103 My truck is dead. 213 00:11:46,172 --> 00:11:48,344 NARRATOR: 62 miles south of Deadhorse, 214 00:11:48,482 --> 00:11:50,827 Lisa Kelly and her passenger, Anita, 215 00:11:50,965 --> 00:11:53,000 are stranded with a broken fuel line. 216 00:11:55,931 --> 00:11:57,379 LISA KELLY: I don't know. 217 00:11:57,517 --> 00:11:59,620 I don't even know what to do because I don't know where it's 218 00:11:59,758 --> 00:12:01,068 coming from. 219 00:12:01,206 --> 00:12:03,344 I can't find, there's fuel like everywhere. 220 00:12:03,482 --> 00:12:04,931 And I can't go anywhere like this. 221 00:12:05,068 --> 00:12:07,206 We won't make it anywhere with no fuel. 222 00:12:07,344 --> 00:12:10,206 NARRATOR: The diesel continues to pour out into a hazmat 223 00:12:10,344 --> 00:12:11,965 pan used to protect the tundra. 224 00:12:19,241 --> 00:12:20,931 They're out of radio contact. 225 00:12:24,482 --> 00:12:27,724 And without fuel, they have no heat. 226 00:12:27,862 --> 00:12:32,413 The situation is quickly becoming life-threatening. 227 00:12:32,551 --> 00:12:34,000 OK. 228 00:12:34,137 --> 00:12:35,482 I'm going to go check it out, make sure, see if it's stopped 229 00:12:35,620 --> 00:12:36,241 or not. OK. 230 00:12:36,379 --> 00:12:37,034 Do you need my help? 231 00:12:37,172 --> 00:12:38,310 --what's going on. 232 00:12:38,448 --> 00:12:40,379 Uh, no, just stay in here and stay warm for now, 233 00:12:40,517 --> 00:12:45,896 I guess, so I'll be right back. 234 00:12:46,034 --> 00:12:46,931 [door closes] 235 00:12:48,206 --> 00:12:52,034 I just don't even know where it's coming from. 236 00:12:52,172 --> 00:12:55,482 It's just all soaked under here. 237 00:12:55,620 --> 00:12:57,379 I'm too [bleep] cold. 238 00:13:02,206 --> 00:13:04,517 You know, there's always people around until you break down, 239 00:13:04,655 --> 00:13:07,758 then there's nobody. 240 00:13:07,896 --> 00:13:09,241 [ominous music] 241 00:13:17,724 --> 00:13:18,586 [door closes] 242 00:13:18,724 --> 00:13:20,068 ANITA STELSEL: What's wrong? 243 00:13:20,206 --> 00:13:23,448 LISA KELLY: From what I can see, it's a major, major problem 244 00:13:23,586 --> 00:13:24,862 that I can't fix. 245 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:26,655 It's not something I can just, I don't even 246 00:13:26,793 --> 00:13:28,172 know where it's coming from. 247 00:13:28,310 --> 00:13:30,172 So the thing we gotta do is sit here and wait for a truck 248 00:13:30,310 --> 00:13:31,379 to go by. 249 00:13:31,517 --> 00:13:33,689 The truck's off, and it's cold out here, 250 00:13:33,827 --> 00:13:36,241 so hopefully someone comes along before I freeze to death. 251 00:13:45,482 --> 00:13:47,379 NARRATOR: Up north in Deadhorse, Alex 252 00:13:47,517 --> 00:13:50,689 has been stuck for two hours waiting for his flat tire 253 00:13:50,827 --> 00:13:52,517 to be repaired. 254 00:13:52,655 --> 00:13:55,241 He gave up the lucrative ice roads in Yellowknife 255 00:13:55,379 --> 00:13:58,103 for a shot at bigger money in Alaska. 256 00:13:58,241 --> 00:14:00,827 But constant mechanical trouble has cost him 257 00:14:00,965 --> 00:14:02,379 thousands of dollars. 258 00:14:02,517 --> 00:14:03,965 Well, you lose money because we've-- 259 00:14:04,103 --> 00:14:06,034 I don't know-- we've lost a couple of days already, 260 00:14:06,172 --> 00:14:08,448 you know. 261 00:14:08,586 --> 00:14:13,689 Tires go flat, and it gets slightly frustrating. 262 00:14:13,827 --> 00:14:15,379 That's just the way it goes. 263 00:14:15,517 --> 00:14:17,896 Hopefully we'll get to see Fairbanks soon and start 264 00:14:18,034 --> 00:14:19,758 with a new load. 265 00:14:19,896 --> 00:14:22,275 That'll be pretty well the morning. 266 00:14:22,413 --> 00:14:25,206 We'll start on the afternoon shift after that. 267 00:14:25,344 --> 00:14:26,103 [chuckles] 268 00:14:27,137 --> 00:14:27,931 [metal thud] 269 00:14:28,896 --> 00:14:30,379 Yeah, Jeff found this in my tire. 270 00:14:30,517 --> 00:14:31,551 Goodness knows what it is. 271 00:14:31,689 --> 00:14:33,931 He thinks it might be a piece of chain. 272 00:14:34,068 --> 00:14:36,344 Could be a piece of space junk that fell to Earth, 273 00:14:36,482 --> 00:14:40,310 landed on the Dalton highway, and I ran it over. 274 00:14:40,448 --> 00:14:41,275 [space music] 275 00:14:43,310 --> 00:14:44,137 [whirring] 276 00:14:49,103 --> 00:14:49,758 Have fun. 277 00:14:49,896 --> 00:14:50,689 Thank you very much. 278 00:14:54,448 --> 00:14:57,206 NARRATOR: Alex makes a break for it, trying once again 279 00:14:57,344 --> 00:14:58,310 to pull ahead of Hugh. 280 00:14:58,448 --> 00:14:59,724 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: Well, what would Hugh 281 00:14:59,862 --> 00:15:01,448 do if he had a flat tire? 282 00:15:01,586 --> 00:15:03,758 He'd probably run till all the tires fell off the truck. 283 00:15:03,896 --> 00:15:04,655 [laughs] 284 00:15:06,448 --> 00:15:09,310 NARRATOR: But just as he heads for the ice-- 285 00:15:09,448 --> 00:15:10,793 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: We're not done yet. 286 00:15:10,931 --> 00:15:13,413 NARRATOR: Another setback. 287 00:15:13,551 --> 00:15:16,034 The rolling disaster continues. 288 00:15:16,172 --> 00:15:19,034 The truck which we're hauling has a radiator problem, which 289 00:15:19,172 --> 00:15:20,827 means it's leaking antifreeze. 290 00:15:20,965 --> 00:15:24,000 NARRATOR: The antifreeze is toxic and must be contained. 291 00:15:24,137 --> 00:15:25,896 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: Ah, [bleep],, it's leaking out 292 00:15:26,034 --> 00:15:27,344 the other side, too. 293 00:15:27,482 --> 00:15:29,620 MECHANIC: Yeah. 294 00:15:29,758 --> 00:15:31,310 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: It's not rocket science. 295 00:15:31,448 --> 00:15:33,655 It has to be drained. 296 00:15:33,793 --> 00:15:35,758 MECHANIC: We can pull that one plug out right there 297 00:15:35,896 --> 00:15:36,827 on that bottom hose. 298 00:15:36,965 --> 00:15:38,344 And it'll come right out. 299 00:15:38,482 --> 00:15:40,655 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: Because they are usually seized in there. 300 00:15:40,793 --> 00:15:42,448 We're lucky that thing might break loose. 301 00:15:42,586 --> 00:15:44,103 I'm thinking that's the one right there. 302 00:15:53,862 --> 00:15:55,862 NARRATOR: Alex removes the radiator cap 303 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,620 to drain all the antifreeze. 304 00:15:59,758 --> 00:16:01,172 [liquid draining] 305 00:16:04,862 --> 00:16:05,482 OK. 306 00:16:08,517 --> 00:16:10,586 NARRATOR: With the spill cleaned up, 307 00:16:10,724 --> 00:16:14,965 Alex attempts to head south one more time. 308 00:16:15,103 --> 00:16:17,448 I've had enough of Prudhoe for today. 309 00:16:17,586 --> 00:16:19,724 Pretty well fixed everything. 310 00:16:19,862 --> 00:16:22,551 We might as well get going before something else breaks. 311 00:16:22,689 --> 00:16:23,448 [laughing] 312 00:16:23,586 --> 00:16:25,586 Let's go do some trucking. 313 00:16:25,724 --> 00:16:27,793 Good Lord willing, I'll see you in Coldfoot. 314 00:16:27,931 --> 00:16:28,827 [chuckles] 315 00:16:31,862 --> 00:16:35,689 I don't believe it. 316 00:16:35,827 --> 00:16:36,793 We're finally on the road. 317 00:16:41,413 --> 00:16:43,379 NARRATOR: Back in Fairbanks-- 318 00:16:43,517 --> 00:16:44,793 [loud whirring] 319 00:16:48,689 --> 00:16:50,827 --mechanics have just finished repairing 320 00:16:50,965 --> 00:16:55,103 Hugh's exhaust system, and he's finally getting on the road. 321 00:16:58,551 --> 00:16:59,827 HUGH ROWLAND: Hey, let's go. 322 00:16:59,965 --> 00:17:01,413 Go ahead and head on up there. 323 00:17:01,551 --> 00:17:02,620 Let's rock and roll, Billy. 324 00:17:05,931 --> 00:17:08,517 We were going to start at 5:00. 325 00:17:08,655 --> 00:17:10,344 It's 10:00 now. 326 00:17:10,482 --> 00:17:11,275 [truck horn] 327 00:17:12,896 --> 00:17:16,551 NARRATOR: The sun has already beaten down on the ice for five 328 00:17:16,689 --> 00:17:18,448 long hours, and it's clear. 329 00:17:18,586 --> 00:17:21,448 The end of the ice road season is near. 330 00:17:21,586 --> 00:17:23,448 See, the old frost heaves are coming out now. 331 00:17:23,586 --> 00:17:26,310 She's starting to warm up. 332 00:17:26,448 --> 00:17:27,793 The road got soft. 333 00:17:27,931 --> 00:17:29,827 She's "washboardy," potholes, [bleep] rocks sticking out 334 00:17:29,965 --> 00:17:30,620 of her. 335 00:17:30,758 --> 00:17:32,758 Now she's a [bleep] mess. 336 00:17:32,896 --> 00:17:35,000 She's a rough son of a [bleep]. 337 00:17:35,137 --> 00:17:37,379 NARRATOR: Hugh struggles to keep his rig steady 338 00:17:37,517 --> 00:17:38,862 over the rough terrain. 339 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:41,206 HUGH ROWLAND: You [bleep]. 340 00:17:41,344 --> 00:17:43,137 She don't want to go up there. 341 00:17:43,275 --> 00:17:47,482 Come into low range. 342 00:17:47,620 --> 00:17:52,344 Making that sound, she won't go into high range on the hill. 343 00:17:52,482 --> 00:17:54,275 DISPATCH: You have a good trip. 344 00:17:54,413 --> 00:17:57,103 HUGH ROWLAND: Too steep right there. 345 00:17:57,241 --> 00:17:59,724 NARRATOR: At this pace, Hugh won't be taking back 346 00:17:59,862 --> 00:18:03,448 his lead on Alex anytime soon. 347 00:18:03,586 --> 00:18:04,931 Road's rougher than [bleep]. 348 00:18:05,068 --> 00:18:07,206 Spring has sprung. 349 00:18:07,344 --> 00:18:11,448 She's coming apart at the seams, but we'll make her happen. 350 00:18:11,586 --> 00:18:13,931 Just got to go slow and steady. 351 00:18:14,068 --> 00:18:15,413 Make it work. 352 00:18:19,965 --> 00:18:22,241 NARRATOR: 150 miles up the ice road, 353 00:18:22,379 --> 00:18:26,448 Jack Jessee continues north with a load of fuel desperately 354 00:18:26,586 --> 00:18:28,068 needed on the north slope. 355 00:18:28,206 --> 00:18:32,448 Uh, right now, I'm hauling 9,200 gallons. 356 00:18:32,586 --> 00:18:37,586 We're shipping up massive quantities of this fuel. 357 00:18:37,724 --> 00:18:40,137 NARRATOR: When it comes to hauling important loads, 358 00:18:40,275 --> 00:18:43,724 Jack is one of Carlile's top drivers. 359 00:18:43,862 --> 00:18:45,206 If they give me a load, they know 360 00:18:45,344 --> 00:18:48,758 it's going to get there, unless something catastrophic happens. 361 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:57,551 You know, I'm not hauling a van load of valves or groceries 362 00:18:57,689 --> 00:18:59,931 or insulation, you know. 363 00:19:00,068 --> 00:19:03,344 This is, this is fuel. 364 00:19:03,482 --> 00:19:05,310 Trucks catch on fire sometimes. 365 00:19:05,448 --> 00:19:08,000 I mean, tankers have burned down on the roads before. 366 00:19:08,137 --> 00:19:09,965 It does happen. 367 00:19:10,103 --> 00:19:13,344 NARRATOR: Up ahead, Jack faces one of the Dalton's most 368 00:19:13,482 --> 00:19:15,620 challenging hills, the Koyukuk. 369 00:19:15,758 --> 00:19:17,206 The Koyukuk, you know, she's one 370 00:19:17,344 --> 00:19:20,379 of the many places you don't want to meet people out here. 371 00:19:20,517 --> 00:19:23,758 You know, you could easily end up a big ball of mess of steel 372 00:19:23,896 --> 00:19:25,206 down at the bottom of it. 373 00:19:25,344 --> 00:19:28,206 NARRATOR: It starts with a razor-sharp narrow curve, 374 00:19:28,344 --> 00:19:32,137 and then it's straight up, a 13% grade. 375 00:19:32,275 --> 00:19:36,896 And it's best navigated one truck at a time. 376 00:19:37,034 --> 00:19:39,241 Jack builds momentum to make the climb. 377 00:19:43,620 --> 00:19:45,517 JACK JESSEE [ON RADIO]: Going up the Koyukuk now. 378 00:19:45,655 --> 00:19:46,482 [radio beeps] 379 00:19:49,034 --> 00:19:50,862 Son of a [bleep]. 380 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:54,344 NARRATOR: But a southbound truck is also headed straight 381 00:19:54,482 --> 00:19:55,620 for the narrow curve. 382 00:19:55,758 --> 00:19:57,103 JACK JESSEE: I hollered at him on the radio. 383 00:19:57,241 --> 00:19:59,310 I hope he heard me 'cause if he doesn't stop, 384 00:19:59,448 --> 00:20:02,172 then I'm going to try my damnedest to get him to stop 385 00:20:02,310 --> 00:20:03,551 or slowed down. 386 00:20:03,689 --> 00:20:04,551 [ominous music] 387 00:20:05,482 --> 00:20:06,482 Oh, no. 388 00:20:06,620 --> 00:20:09,413 Hang on. 389 00:20:09,551 --> 00:20:11,862 [bleep] dammit. 390 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:12,862 Holy [bleep]. 391 00:20:15,931 --> 00:20:18,379 NARRATOR: 150 miles up the ice road, 392 00:20:18,517 --> 00:20:22,241 Jack Jessee is navigating a razor-sharp curve. 393 00:20:22,379 --> 00:20:24,689 JACK JESSEE: Koyukuk, just one of the many places you don't 394 00:20:24,827 --> 00:20:26,724 want to meet people out here. 395 00:20:26,862 --> 00:20:30,068 You know, you could easily end up a big ball of mess of steel 396 00:20:30,206 --> 00:20:31,517 down at the bottom of it. 397 00:20:31,655 --> 00:20:34,379 NARRATOR: He radioed ahead to warn an oncoming truck. 398 00:20:34,517 --> 00:20:36,827 JACK JESSEE [ON RADIO]: I'm coming up this way, Southbound. 399 00:20:36,965 --> 00:20:38,517 NARRATOR: But his call went unnoticed. 400 00:20:38,655 --> 00:20:40,068 JACK JESSEE: [bleep] dammit. 401 00:20:40,206 --> 00:20:43,137 NARRATOR: And now they're on a collision course. 402 00:20:43,275 --> 00:20:45,206 JACK JESSEE: Oh, no, hang on. 403 00:20:45,344 --> 00:20:46,724 Oh, my god. 404 00:20:50,310 --> 00:20:51,137 Holy [bleep]. 405 00:20:54,275 --> 00:20:56,103 Holy cow. 406 00:20:56,241 --> 00:20:59,793 Well, now, why in the hell did anybody do that? 407 00:20:59,931 --> 00:21:02,517 You know, it's a well-known fact among all our drivers 408 00:21:02,655 --> 00:21:08,068 up here that northbound truck usually have the right-of-way. 409 00:21:08,206 --> 00:21:10,172 Ah, hell, that wasn't a close call then. 410 00:21:10,310 --> 00:21:11,310 That's just normal. 411 00:21:16,241 --> 00:21:17,068 [laughs] 412 00:21:22,793 --> 00:21:24,034 I wasn't worried. 413 00:21:24,172 --> 00:21:26,379 I had my fingers crossed. 414 00:21:26,517 --> 00:21:28,068 I don't get worried till I cross my toes. 415 00:21:31,827 --> 00:21:35,965 NARRATOR: Jack forges ahead with 270 miles still to go. 416 00:21:36,103 --> 00:21:38,000 You know, we're not thrill-seekers up here. 417 00:21:38,137 --> 00:21:39,586 We're just trying to make a living. 418 00:21:39,724 --> 00:21:43,137 You know, we want to make it home to our families, you know. 419 00:21:43,275 --> 00:21:45,034 That's-- that's what we do. 420 00:21:48,965 --> 00:21:52,137 NARRATOR: 200 miles to the north, Lisa and her passenger 421 00:21:52,275 --> 00:21:54,827 are still broken down in the Arctic cold 422 00:21:54,965 --> 00:21:58,517 with a massive fuel leak. 423 00:21:58,655 --> 00:22:00,862 Oh, there'll be somebody. 424 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:02,827 There'll be somebody that comes along. 425 00:22:02,965 --> 00:22:05,172 NARRATOR: They've been stranded for nearly an hour 426 00:22:05,310 --> 00:22:07,586 with no heat and no help in sight. 427 00:22:12,172 --> 00:22:13,517 Finally-- 428 00:22:13,655 --> 00:22:16,482 LISA KELLY: Hey, there's a truck coming. 429 00:22:16,620 --> 00:22:19,172 Hey, hey, hey, can you stop, can you stop for a second. 430 00:22:19,310 --> 00:22:20,172 Back up. I need you. 431 00:22:20,310 --> 00:22:21,241 I need you. I'm broken. 432 00:22:21,379 --> 00:22:22,551 Come back. 433 00:22:22,689 --> 00:22:24,206 BAIRD FOLSOM: Hey, Lisa. 434 00:22:24,344 --> 00:22:25,000 LISA KELLY: Yeah. 435 00:22:25,137 --> 00:22:25,793 I'm broken. 436 00:22:25,931 --> 00:22:26,620 Please help me. 437 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,758 Hey. 438 00:22:34,896 --> 00:22:37,310 Thanks for stopping. 439 00:22:37,448 --> 00:22:40,137 I was smelling diesel fuel really bad, and then I got out 440 00:22:40,275 --> 00:22:42,620 and the whole underside of the truck is just covered. 441 00:22:42,758 --> 00:22:45,172 Yeah, it's leaking when it's not running? 442 00:22:45,310 --> 00:22:47,413 LISA KELLY: I can't figure out where it's coming from, 443 00:22:47,551 --> 00:22:49,689 but it looked like it was just coming out of the bottom 444 00:22:49,827 --> 00:22:50,620 down there. 445 00:22:50,758 --> 00:22:53,586 That's where it's really wet. 446 00:22:53,724 --> 00:22:57,724 NARRATOR: Trucker Baird Folsom spots the trouble immediately. 447 00:22:57,862 --> 00:23:00,517 The fuel line's dropped on a fitting in there, 448 00:23:00,655 --> 00:23:02,793 and it's actually rubbed a hole in the fuel line. 449 00:23:02,931 --> 00:23:04,586 LISA KELLY: Well, if we can't get it fixed, 450 00:23:04,724 --> 00:23:06,689 somebody needs a ride. 451 00:23:06,827 --> 00:23:08,655 NARRATOR: If it can't be fixed, Lisa 452 00:23:08,793 --> 00:23:15,206 will have to abandon her load and lose nearly $1,500. 453 00:23:15,344 --> 00:23:18,000 But there's nothing like a damsel in distress 454 00:23:18,137 --> 00:23:20,137 to attract passing truckers. 455 00:23:20,275 --> 00:23:24,586 Soon Lisa's got an entourage of helping hands. 456 00:23:24,724 --> 00:23:26,586 LISA KELLY: Help me. 457 00:23:26,724 --> 00:23:27,758 Where's it broke at? 458 00:23:31,965 --> 00:23:32,965 LISA KELLY: Save me, Hardy. 459 00:23:33,103 --> 00:23:33,896 [laughs] 460 00:23:35,896 --> 00:23:38,689 NARRATOR: Most ice road truckers carry spare parts. 461 00:23:38,827 --> 00:23:42,862 But an extra fuel return line is rare. 462 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:44,379 Look at that. 463 00:23:44,517 --> 00:23:45,344 LISA KELLY: Woo! 464 00:23:45,482 --> 00:23:47,344 You owe him big. 465 00:23:47,482 --> 00:23:49,103 NARRATOR: If the part works, Lisa 466 00:23:49,241 --> 00:23:50,965 will soon be back in business. 467 00:23:51,103 --> 00:23:52,551 LISA KELLY: I want to help if I can 468 00:23:52,689 --> 00:23:54,586 or learn or watch or something. 469 00:23:54,724 --> 00:23:56,310 I can be somewhat useful. 470 00:24:01,172 --> 00:24:03,551 I wish I was a little bit more mechanically inclined than I 471 00:24:03,689 --> 00:24:06,586 am, but I couldn't even tell where it was coming from. 472 00:24:06,724 --> 00:24:09,137 This is something I have never seen before. 473 00:24:09,275 --> 00:24:11,586 I have yet to see a mechanic work on a motor 474 00:24:11,724 --> 00:24:13,448 from the top of it like that. 475 00:24:13,586 --> 00:24:17,034 LISA KELLY: I have a great view from here. 476 00:24:17,172 --> 00:24:18,034 I'm watching. 477 00:24:18,172 --> 00:24:19,344 I'm learning. 478 00:24:19,482 --> 00:24:21,758 MAN: She was standing in the fender well last time. 479 00:24:21,896 --> 00:24:22,620 [laughing] 480 00:24:23,896 --> 00:24:26,551 I was-- I was watching and learning then, too. 481 00:24:26,689 --> 00:24:27,965 So that's a fuel line, huh? 482 00:24:28,103 --> 00:24:29,965 MAN: This is the return line. LISA KELLY: What's it do? 483 00:24:30,103 --> 00:24:31,034 Go back into the-- 484 00:24:31,172 --> 00:24:32,344 MAN: Goes back into, into the system. 485 00:24:32,482 --> 00:24:34,206 LISA KELLY: What kind of fitting do you need? 486 00:24:34,344 --> 00:24:35,413 I have like an air one. 487 00:24:35,551 --> 00:24:37,000 MAN: Oh, you've got different kind of tools, 488 00:24:37,137 --> 00:24:39,172 like you've got makeup or something in there. 489 00:24:39,310 --> 00:24:40,068 [laughter] 490 00:24:42,068 --> 00:24:43,448 I'm sorry, Lisa. 491 00:24:43,586 --> 00:24:44,793 I'm sorry. 492 00:24:44,931 --> 00:24:46,379 LISA KELLY: You've got a crescent wrench right here 493 00:24:46,517 --> 00:24:47,689 that I'm about ready to chuck. 494 00:24:47,827 --> 00:24:48,689 [laughs] 495 00:24:56,206 --> 00:24:57,965 That's the bad line, and here's the good line. 496 00:24:58,103 --> 00:25:00,068 We screwed it on there and screwed it in the back. 497 00:25:00,206 --> 00:25:01,931 Actually, Baird did it. Thank you very much. 498 00:25:02,068 --> 00:25:03,172 I appreciate it. 499 00:25:03,310 --> 00:25:05,103 Better start it, make sure it works first. 500 00:25:05,241 --> 00:25:07,517 NARRATOR: One big test still remains. 501 00:25:07,655 --> 00:25:08,517 [click] 502 00:25:09,448 --> 00:25:17,482 [engine struggling] 503 00:25:17,620 --> 00:25:18,482 [engine starts] 504 00:25:21,586 --> 00:25:23,413 LISA KELLY: Awesome. 505 00:25:23,551 --> 00:25:26,448 MAN: OK. 506 00:25:26,586 --> 00:25:29,482 LISA KELLY: OK, thank you so much. 507 00:25:29,620 --> 00:25:34,689 Very, very grateful that these guys stopped to help us. 508 00:25:34,827 --> 00:25:40,862 NARRATOR: Back on the road, Lisa is southbound once again, 509 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:43,931 hoping to make up for lost time. 510 00:25:44,068 --> 00:25:46,379 It's tough to get warm after all that, 511 00:25:46,517 --> 00:25:48,379 but the truck's heating up. 512 00:25:48,517 --> 00:25:50,344 We've got some air going on now. 513 00:25:50,482 --> 00:25:51,862 Rolling again, woo-hoo. 514 00:25:56,965 --> 00:25:59,689 NARRATOR: 120 miles south of Lisa, Hugh 515 00:25:59,827 --> 00:26:02,379 is hell-bent on raking in as many loads 516 00:26:02,517 --> 00:26:04,827 as he can before the season ends. 517 00:26:04,965 --> 00:26:06,586 HUGH ROWLAND: It's warming up every day. 518 00:26:06,724 --> 00:26:09,344 I think I got the last load of big seven-inch pipe. 519 00:26:09,482 --> 00:26:11,827 There won't be any more big stuff coming, I don't think, 520 00:26:11,965 --> 00:26:15,275 so it's really winding down here for the end of the season. 521 00:26:15,413 --> 00:26:17,724 We're going to make her all the way to Prudhoe Bay tonight, 522 00:26:17,862 --> 00:26:20,206 so we're going to push right on through. 523 00:26:20,344 --> 00:26:23,827 NARRATOR: Up ahead, treacherous conditions on Atigun Pass 524 00:26:23,965 --> 00:26:28,068 are making chains necessary for all northbound trucks. 525 00:26:28,206 --> 00:26:30,517 But here at the base of the mountain range, 526 00:26:30,655 --> 00:26:33,689 an early spring thaw is quickly turning the road 527 00:26:33,827 --> 00:26:36,448 into a slick mixture of ice and mud. 528 00:26:36,586 --> 00:26:40,827 Go throw some iron on here. 529 00:26:40,965 --> 00:26:50,586 [chains rattling] 530 00:26:50,724 --> 00:26:54,034 [bleep] mud. 531 00:26:54,172 --> 00:26:57,344 You're just making everything tough to get on. 532 00:26:57,482 --> 00:26:59,275 [bleep] dammit. 533 00:26:59,413 --> 00:27:00,310 Ah, [bleep]. 534 00:27:05,827 --> 00:27:08,137 NARRATOR: Four miles ahead, Hugh's convoy partner, 535 00:27:08,275 --> 00:27:12,413 Phil Cromm, has already made it over the pass. 536 00:27:12,551 --> 00:27:14,172 He's struggling a bit. 537 00:27:14,310 --> 00:27:17,310 He should be coming down this side by now. 538 00:27:17,448 --> 00:27:20,793 NARRATOR: While the polar bear may reign on roads made of ice, 539 00:27:20,931 --> 00:27:24,379 slogging through mud is just not his style. 540 00:27:24,517 --> 00:27:28,413 Ah, you dirty rotten [bleep],, slimy [bleep].. 541 00:27:35,241 --> 00:27:38,172 NARRATOR: 170 miles from Deadhorse, Hugh Rowland 542 00:27:38,310 --> 00:27:40,689 is stuck at the base of Atigun Pass. 543 00:27:40,827 --> 00:27:44,275 HUGH ROWLAND: Oh, you [bleep] sucker. 544 00:27:44,413 --> 00:27:46,551 NARRATOR: Struggling to chain up in the worst 545 00:27:46,689 --> 00:27:48,482 springtime conditions. 546 00:27:48,620 --> 00:27:53,965 HUGH ROWLAND: [bleep],, ah, ah, [bleep].. 547 00:27:57,103 --> 00:27:59,310 NARRATOR: The chains are caked with frozen mud-- 548 00:27:59,448 --> 00:28:00,655 Nope. 549 00:28:00,793 --> 00:28:04,310 NARRATOR: --making them impossible to clasp. 550 00:28:04,448 --> 00:28:08,517 But without chains, he stands no chance against the still icy 551 00:28:08,655 --> 00:28:09,931 conditions on the Pass. 552 00:28:13,448 --> 00:28:16,241 HUGH ROWLAND: Uh, [bleep]. 553 00:28:16,379 --> 00:28:19,827 NARRATOR: After 45 minutes of struggle, 554 00:28:19,965 --> 00:28:23,517 Hugh finally locks the last chain in place. 555 00:28:23,655 --> 00:28:25,103 HUGH ROWLAND: Isn't that something? 556 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:33,310 [bleep] mud on my [bleep] glasses. 557 00:28:42,827 --> 00:28:46,310 Yeah, type of [bleep] where I'd like to shove some camera 558 00:28:46,448 --> 00:28:50,724 up somebody's [bleep] ass is what it is. 559 00:28:50,862 --> 00:28:51,724 [grunts] 560 00:28:53,310 --> 00:28:54,172 [dramatic music] 561 00:28:57,724 --> 00:29:10,413 [chains rattling] 562 00:29:10,551 --> 00:29:13,413 NARRATOR: Hugh climbs steadily to the top of the 4,700-foot 563 00:29:13,551 --> 00:29:14,206 summit. 564 00:29:17,448 --> 00:29:18,793 Well, I'll tell you, it ain't very 565 00:29:18,931 --> 00:29:21,482 many trips since she's melting. 566 00:29:21,620 --> 00:29:23,551 Every day, you notice a difference every time you 567 00:29:23,689 --> 00:29:25,551 come over here. 568 00:29:25,689 --> 00:29:28,068 NARRATOR: As he heads down the icy slope, 569 00:29:28,206 --> 00:29:31,586 he has to rely on his Jake brake, which 570 00:29:31,724 --> 00:29:34,241 uses engine compression to slow his descent. 571 00:29:37,344 --> 00:29:40,310 Too much foot brake in these slick conditions 572 00:29:40,448 --> 00:29:43,931 could cause him to jackknife over the edge. 573 00:29:44,068 --> 00:29:54,793 [metal crunching] 574 00:29:54,931 --> 00:30:02,896 As his speed increases, Hugh flips the Jake brake on, 575 00:30:03,034 --> 00:30:04,413 but nothing happens. 576 00:30:24,896 --> 00:30:26,758 HUGH ROWLAND: Come on, you [bleep].. 577 00:30:29,413 --> 00:30:31,655 NARRATOR: 45,000 pounds of drill pipe 578 00:30:31,793 --> 00:30:35,379 is now pushing Hugh faster and faster down the hill. 579 00:30:43,344 --> 00:30:48,000 Up ahead, one of Atigun's deadly hairpin turns. 580 00:30:48,137 --> 00:30:49,000 [ominous music] 581 00:30:53,586 --> 00:31:03,482 Hugh down-shifts and carefully pumps the foot brake, 582 00:31:03,620 --> 00:31:06,103 but it's not slowing him down fast enough. 583 00:31:10,827 --> 00:31:13,379 He hits the Jake one more time. 584 00:31:13,517 --> 00:31:15,344 [dramatic music] 585 00:31:20,931 --> 00:31:22,793 [engine revs down] 586 00:31:24,862 --> 00:31:26,758 And it finally engages. 587 00:31:36,793 --> 00:31:39,655 [bleep], amazing. 588 00:31:43,310 --> 00:31:44,206 I love that pass. 589 00:31:44,344 --> 00:31:46,344 I mean, that's, going over there, 590 00:31:46,482 --> 00:31:49,000 and that's [bleep] exciting driving, that one. 591 00:31:49,137 --> 00:31:51,655 Brake [bleep] pucker up, that's the best thing 592 00:31:51,793 --> 00:31:53,379 that ever happened. 593 00:31:53,517 --> 00:31:55,827 Woo-hoo. 594 00:31:55,965 --> 00:31:56,827 [truck horn] 595 00:32:02,448 --> 00:32:06,241 NARRATOR: The Brooks mountain range was formed more than 126 596 00:32:06,379 --> 00:32:08,620 million years ago. 597 00:32:08,758 --> 00:32:13,034 It extends for 710 miles across northern Alaska 598 00:32:13,172 --> 00:32:17,413 and reaches heights of up to 4,700 feet. 599 00:32:17,551 --> 00:32:20,724 At this altitude, the weather is so unpredictable 600 00:32:20,862 --> 00:32:24,103 that it caused many historical gold expeditions to fail. 601 00:32:27,724 --> 00:32:32,310 And today, as a front moves in, the pass still 602 00:32:32,448 --> 00:32:36,068 proves to be the worst trouble spot for the truckers. 603 00:32:36,206 --> 00:32:38,482 So shortly here, we'll get down there by Atigun camp. 604 00:32:38,620 --> 00:32:40,000 We'll be putting the chains on. 605 00:32:43,172 --> 00:32:45,551 NARRATOR: Alex and convoy partner Ron Dobbs 606 00:32:45,689 --> 00:32:47,413 are at the north slope of Atigun, 607 00:32:47,551 --> 00:32:49,620 preparing to make the climb. 608 00:32:49,758 --> 00:32:52,000 Hopefully I don't have problems getting over 609 00:32:52,137 --> 00:32:53,275 with this load. 610 00:32:53,413 --> 00:32:55,517 I think it's fairly heavy towards the back end, 611 00:32:55,655 --> 00:32:57,344 so I could spin. 612 00:33:03,827 --> 00:33:06,655 Gonna go out and put the chains on. 613 00:33:06,793 --> 00:33:07,931 Hang the jewelry. 614 00:33:08,068 --> 00:33:09,448 [chains rattling] 615 00:33:12,586 --> 00:33:18,275 NARRATOR: To be safe, Alex chains up all four drive axles. 616 00:33:18,413 --> 00:33:19,379 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: Oh, baby. 617 00:33:22,137 --> 00:33:24,965 NARRATOR: Like Hugh, Alex has struggled with his chains 618 00:33:25,103 --> 00:33:27,000 the entire time he's been in Alaska. 619 00:33:30,275 --> 00:33:32,034 [hydraulics hiss] 620 00:33:32,172 --> 00:33:36,137 But today, Alex proves he's one step closer to mastering 621 00:33:36,275 --> 00:33:37,793 the Dalton ice road. 622 00:33:37,931 --> 00:33:40,137 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: OK. 623 00:33:40,275 --> 00:33:43,241 Rock and roll. 624 00:33:43,379 --> 00:33:44,172 [snow crunches] 625 00:33:46,655 --> 00:33:48,482 We're all locked up and chained up on all four. 626 00:33:48,620 --> 00:33:51,068 And we've got snow falling. 627 00:33:51,206 --> 00:33:59,275 Slippery, up we go, up and over, into the Twilight Zone. 628 00:34:04,793 --> 00:34:08,551 NARRATOR: Each foot he climbs brings heavier snow. 629 00:34:08,689 --> 00:34:10,724 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: We're climbing into the clouds now, 630 00:34:10,862 --> 00:34:15,517 so visibility will probably not be great at the top. 631 00:34:15,655 --> 00:34:17,310 So we won't be worried about scenery. 632 00:34:17,448 --> 00:34:19,551 We'll be just worrying about seeing the guardrail. 633 00:34:19,689 --> 00:34:22,241 Heh, heh, heh. 634 00:34:22,379 --> 00:34:24,620 Ooh. 635 00:34:24,758 --> 00:34:27,172 The good thing is you can't see down over the cliff. 636 00:34:27,310 --> 00:34:32,931 Depends where you go, it'll be 200 to maybe 300 feet down. 637 00:34:33,068 --> 00:34:36,310 Make for a wild ride anyway. 638 00:34:36,448 --> 00:34:38,517 Make sure we've got our radios turned on 639 00:34:38,655 --> 00:34:42,965 so we can hear if anybody's coming up from the other side. 640 00:34:46,275 --> 00:34:46,965 Oh! 641 00:34:50,551 --> 00:34:51,413 [truck honking] 642 00:34:55,379 --> 00:34:56,103 Where's the shoulder? 643 00:34:59,655 --> 00:35:00,965 Holy mackerel, we're disappearing. 644 00:35:01,103 --> 00:35:02,620 [radio chatter] 645 00:35:04,758 --> 00:35:06,724 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: You've disappeared into the clouds. 646 00:35:12,482 --> 00:35:14,896 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: Just as long as I don't go over the guardrail 647 00:35:15,034 --> 00:35:15,724 instead. 648 00:35:22,827 --> 00:35:23,517 Braille. 649 00:35:30,827 --> 00:35:33,931 NARRATOR: Alex and Ron cut through the fog and snow 650 00:35:34,068 --> 00:35:37,655 and finally round the 4,700-foot summit. 651 00:35:37,793 --> 00:35:40,517 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: We've come down out of the clouds. 652 00:35:40,655 --> 00:35:41,551 We're doing fine. 653 00:35:46,448 --> 00:35:50,275 Avalanche comes down, it'll just shove us over the bank. 654 00:35:50,413 --> 00:35:52,379 I'm just worried about staying on the road. 655 00:35:52,517 --> 00:35:55,620 I'll let the avalanche worry about itself. 656 00:35:55,758 --> 00:35:57,931 If we get hit by an avalanche, we won't have much time 657 00:35:58,068 --> 00:35:59,689 to think about it. 658 00:35:59,827 --> 00:36:01,241 [chuckles] 659 00:36:07,758 --> 00:36:12,068 NARRATOR: 75 miles from Fairbanks, Lisa Kelly 660 00:36:12,206 --> 00:36:16,586 and her passenger are nearing the end of a long day. 661 00:36:16,724 --> 00:36:18,068 LISA KELLY: It never fails. 662 00:36:18,206 --> 00:36:19,793 The trip you're going home is the one 663 00:36:19,931 --> 00:36:22,344 that just screws all up. 664 00:36:22,482 --> 00:36:27,241 It goes wrong, takes long. 665 00:36:27,379 --> 00:36:28,724 Floyd, Floyd, Floyd, I need you. 666 00:36:28,862 --> 00:36:29,758 I need you. I need you. 667 00:36:29,896 --> 00:36:30,551 I'm broken. 668 00:36:30,689 --> 00:36:32,241 Come back. 669 00:36:32,379 --> 00:36:34,689 NARRATOR: Luckily, Lisa got her fuel line fixed. 670 00:36:34,827 --> 00:36:35,827 [engine running] 671 00:36:35,965 --> 00:36:39,137 LISA KELLY: OK, thank you so much. 672 00:36:39,275 --> 00:36:42,310 NARRATOR: But they've spent the past 12 hours inhaling 673 00:36:42,448 --> 00:36:43,827 diesel fumes. 674 00:36:43,965 --> 00:36:45,275 LISA KELLY: The piece that came off 675 00:36:45,413 --> 00:36:47,689 was like right in front of the dash here. 676 00:36:47,827 --> 00:36:49,655 And then it just soaked the whole underside. 677 00:36:49,793 --> 00:36:52,689 The fumes are just coming right up through the cabin sleeper, 678 00:36:52,827 --> 00:36:58,827 so the fumes are in here so bad that you can taste them. 679 00:36:58,965 --> 00:37:02,551 Yeah, we're all eager to get home. 680 00:37:02,689 --> 00:37:05,965 NARRATOR: Inhaling diesel can cause nausea and even 681 00:37:06,103 --> 00:37:07,034 temporary blindness. 682 00:37:13,068 --> 00:37:15,103 But with the finish line in sight, 683 00:37:15,241 --> 00:37:19,448 Lisa decides to power through to Fairbanks. 684 00:37:19,586 --> 00:37:21,482 Uh, my head feels like about 100 pounds, 685 00:37:21,620 --> 00:37:26,103 and it wants to fall down on the ground because it hurts so bad. 686 00:37:26,241 --> 00:37:30,517 Head feels like a bowling ball. 687 00:37:30,655 --> 00:37:32,034 [ominous music] 688 00:37:36,103 --> 00:37:37,482 [bird cawing] 689 00:37:45,103 --> 00:37:46,931 NARRATOR: Lisa Kelly is nearing the end 690 00:37:47,068 --> 00:37:52,206 of a grueling 14-hour trip in a cab filled with diesel fumes. 691 00:37:52,344 --> 00:37:56,344 All this diesel smell is making me sick, 692 00:37:56,482 --> 00:38:01,068 so I'm not feeling too good right now. 693 00:38:01,206 --> 00:38:02,965 NARRATOR: She survived a breakdown 694 00:38:03,103 --> 00:38:05,896 and managed to ferry her passenger safely back 695 00:38:06,034 --> 00:38:07,206 to Fairbanks. 696 00:38:07,344 --> 00:38:13,551 LISA KELLY: I'm in Fairbanks, and I'm done. 697 00:38:13,689 --> 00:38:14,931 All right, yeah, thanks. 698 00:38:15,068 --> 00:38:16,344 Nice to meet you. 699 00:38:16,482 --> 00:38:17,896 Yeah, thanks. 700 00:38:18,034 --> 00:38:22,275 And next time I can't fly home because a volcano blows up, I 701 00:38:22,413 --> 00:38:23,310 will keep you in mind. 702 00:38:23,448 --> 00:38:24,172 OK, thanks. 703 00:38:24,310 --> 00:38:25,000 [chuckles] 704 00:38:26,137 --> 00:38:27,586 NARRATOR: With 500 miles behind her, 705 00:38:27,724 --> 00:38:30,413 Lisa finally calls it a day. 706 00:38:30,551 --> 00:38:34,137 LISA KELLY: Barely made it, but we made it. 707 00:38:34,275 --> 00:38:35,137 That's all that matters. 708 00:38:35,275 --> 00:38:35,965 We're here. 709 00:38:40,137 --> 00:38:42,620 NARRATOR: Just 85 miles up the road, 710 00:38:42,758 --> 00:38:47,137 Alex and Ron are also closing in on Fairbanks. 711 00:38:47,275 --> 00:38:49,000 Yeah, there's been enough twists and turns, 712 00:38:49,137 --> 00:38:49,827 that's for sure. 713 00:38:57,551 --> 00:39:02,482 NARRATOR: Alex had a day filled with mechanical problems, 714 00:39:02,620 --> 00:39:05,103 and it's not over yet. 715 00:39:05,241 --> 00:39:07,482 [engine rattling] 716 00:39:07,620 --> 00:39:09,000 Oh, baby. 717 00:39:13,137 --> 00:39:17,517 We're going up the hill, and, uh, all of a sudden, the engine 718 00:39:17,655 --> 00:39:20,448 quits. 719 00:39:20,586 --> 00:39:25,034 You know, maybe drops 100, 200 RPM and then catches again. 720 00:39:25,172 --> 00:39:29,000 [engine revs back up] 721 00:39:29,137 --> 00:39:33,586 Kind of jiggle it back and forth like it's not running the way 722 00:39:33,724 --> 00:39:34,965 it should. 723 00:39:35,103 --> 00:39:36,620 So I'm not sure if it's the air cleaner causing 724 00:39:36,758 --> 00:39:40,896 a problem or the computer or it just, we 725 00:39:41,034 --> 00:39:42,586 haven't had any trouble for the last two 726 00:39:42,724 --> 00:39:44,724 or three hours so it's just time to have a problem. 727 00:39:47,482 --> 00:39:50,310 NARRATOR: Alex's truck stands little chance of making it 728 00:39:50,448 --> 00:39:53,758 over the steep hills to Fairbanks. 729 00:39:53,896 --> 00:39:55,655 If he can't fix the problem, he'll 730 00:39:55,793 --> 00:40:00,793 lose the load and the $1,300 that goes with it. 731 00:40:00,931 --> 00:40:02,275 RON: Well, let's just drop the hood, 732 00:40:02,413 --> 00:40:03,827 and we'll just take a quick peek. 733 00:40:03,965 --> 00:40:06,137 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: See, there's quite a bit of dirt here, eh? 734 00:40:06,275 --> 00:40:08,620 RON: Quite a bit of dirt, yeah. ALEX DEBOGORSKI: Surprised-- 735 00:40:08,758 --> 00:40:10,862 NARRATOR: The air filter is clogged, causing the engine 736 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:12,448 to falter. 737 00:40:12,586 --> 00:40:16,000 Ron tries rigging the valve to get air directly 738 00:40:16,137 --> 00:40:17,482 into the system. 739 00:40:17,620 --> 00:40:20,310 RON: When it's idling like that, it's usually getting air 740 00:40:20,448 --> 00:40:23,379 from the inside underneath the hood, so it's getting warm air. 741 00:40:23,517 --> 00:40:26,965 Now when you get on the throttle and that pops open, 742 00:40:27,103 --> 00:40:28,724 and then you're getting the outside air. 743 00:40:28,862 --> 00:40:33,517 Does it, does it go back or back and forth on its own? 744 00:40:33,655 --> 00:40:35,000 RON: Well, it should. 745 00:40:35,137 --> 00:40:36,965 I don't understand why it's hanging up there like that. 746 00:40:54,137 --> 00:40:55,827 Yeah, with a little bit of luck, 747 00:40:55,965 --> 00:40:57,241 we'll get this thing back to town 748 00:40:57,379 --> 00:40:58,655 before we have any more problems. 749 00:41:12,275 --> 00:41:13,758 That's a sigh of relief. 750 00:41:13,896 --> 00:41:15,206 There's the shop. 751 00:41:15,344 --> 00:41:17,137 NARRATOR: With Carlile's yard in sight, 752 00:41:17,275 --> 00:41:20,137 Alex limps across the finish line. 753 00:41:20,275 --> 00:41:22,724 ALEX DEBOGORSKI: Well, it's been a heck of a trip. 754 00:41:22,862 --> 00:41:25,413 I'm happy to see the end of it, that's for sure. 755 00:41:28,965 --> 00:41:32,206 NARRATOR: 490 miles north, Hugh and Phil power 756 00:41:32,344 --> 00:41:34,241 out the last stretch to Deadhorse. 757 00:41:36,551 --> 00:41:38,448 HUGH ROWLAND: Hammer down then for [bleep] sakes. 758 00:41:38,586 --> 00:41:39,379 [laughs] 759 00:41:42,689 --> 00:41:44,137 Quit your lollygagging. 760 00:41:54,620 --> 00:41:55,517 [truck horn] 761 00:42:03,137 --> 00:42:06,000 Coming around the edge of the airport. 762 00:42:06,137 --> 00:42:08,344 NARRATOR: When they finally pull into the yard, 763 00:42:08,482 --> 00:42:12,068 Hugh is hoping to turn and burn with another load. 764 00:42:12,206 --> 00:42:16,310 Yes, it's Hugh Rowland, truck number 1158. 765 00:42:16,448 --> 00:42:17,551 Well, I don't have a load. 766 00:42:17,689 --> 00:42:19,310 I thought I'd have a load when I got here, 767 00:42:19,448 --> 00:42:20,241 but apparently I don't. 768 00:42:20,379 --> 00:42:21,931 So what do I, what do I do? 769 00:42:22,068 --> 00:42:25,413 Yeah, I don't see it so, OK, yeah, bye. 770 00:42:28,310 --> 00:42:29,275 Tried to get another one. 771 00:42:29,413 --> 00:42:30,068 Nobody's up. 772 00:42:30,206 --> 00:42:31,586 Nobody's around. 773 00:42:31,724 --> 00:42:33,344 No, I didn't have a load, I guess. 774 00:42:33,482 --> 00:42:35,000 I have to wait till morning. 775 00:42:35,137 --> 00:42:36,448 We were late getting going. 776 00:42:36,586 --> 00:42:38,620 That's why we're so late getting here. 777 00:42:38,758 --> 00:42:42,000 It's done now. 778 00:42:42,137 --> 00:42:44,517 NARRATOR: After 11 weeks on the Dalton ice road, 779 00:42:44,655 --> 00:42:46,689 Hugh and Alex are in a dead heat, 780 00:42:46,827 --> 00:42:50,724 and Jack Jessee is the clear frontrunner, 781 00:42:50,862 --> 00:42:54,172 as he continues to push through the night with a vital load 782 00:42:54,310 --> 00:42:55,586 of fuel. 783 00:42:55,724 --> 00:42:57,379 The way this road is, I don't think I'm 784 00:42:57,517 --> 00:42:59,034 going to have any problem staying awake. 785 00:43:02,241 --> 00:43:04,586 It's kind of taking 110% attention 786 00:43:04,724 --> 00:43:06,068 to drive it right now. 787 00:43:12,620 --> 00:43:16,551 NARRATOR: Hauling 9,200 gallons of diesel over this road 788 00:43:16,689 --> 00:43:19,620 has taken its toll. 789 00:43:19,758 --> 00:43:20,931 [gears grinding] 790 00:43:21,068 --> 00:43:22,586 JACK JESSEE: The load's wiggling me around. 791 00:43:26,620 --> 00:43:30,068 Potholes here, you know, rough road there. 792 00:43:32,931 --> 00:43:36,862 The back of my neck from getting thrown back and forth going 793 00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:37,965 through the frost heaves. 794 00:43:44,241 --> 00:43:44,931 Uh. 795 00:43:50,517 --> 00:43:53,034 Oh, we finally made it to Deadhorse. 796 00:43:53,172 --> 00:43:55,344 It's about 3:30. 797 00:43:55,482 --> 00:43:58,000 NARRATOR: Jack pulls into the pumps with little time 798 00:43:58,137 --> 00:43:59,586 to spare. 799 00:43:59,724 --> 00:44:02,758 Yeah, you see how far the line is up on those tanks up there? 800 00:44:02,896 --> 00:44:06,689 That's how much fuel they got in them. 801 00:44:06,827 --> 00:44:08,931 Uh, what a day. 802 00:44:14,310 --> 00:44:16,379 OK, we got flow. 803 00:44:16,517 --> 00:44:18,965 You look at it just right, you can see that stuff zooming out 804 00:44:19,103 --> 00:44:19,793 of there. 805 00:44:22,655 --> 00:44:27,275 NARRATOR: 9,200 gallons drain in less than 45 minutes. 806 00:44:27,413 --> 00:44:28,793 Eh, make it empty. 807 00:44:28,931 --> 00:44:32,275 It don't do me any good to haul it back. 808 00:44:32,413 --> 00:44:33,275 MAN: You're on the road. 809 00:44:33,413 --> 00:44:34,206 JACK JESSEE: All right. 810 00:44:34,344 --> 00:44:35,586 Sounds good to me. 811 00:44:35,724 --> 00:44:38,068 It's been a long day. 812 00:44:38,206 --> 00:44:42,034 We got it up here, though. 813 00:44:42,172 --> 00:44:48,793 Then, we're going to find a hole to crawl into, just go to bed.