1 00:00:05,482 --> 00:00:07,758 NARRATOR: After 12 weeks of battling North America's 2 00:00:07,862 --> 00:00:09,413 deadliest passage-- 3 00:00:09,517 --> 00:00:10,379 [music playing] 4 00:00:10,482 --> 00:00:11,862 TRUCKER: Oh, look at that, man. 5 00:00:11,965 --> 00:00:12,655 Holy cow! 6 00:00:15,344 --> 00:00:17,206 I'm trying to stop, I promise. 7 00:00:24,172 --> 00:00:27,172 NARRATOR: The ice road season is nearing an end. 8 00:00:27,275 --> 00:00:29,862 That's when things gets really dangerous. 9 00:00:29,965 --> 00:00:30,827 [skid sound] 10 00:00:32,379 --> 00:00:34,379 NARRATOR: There's just a few days left-- 11 00:00:34,482 --> 00:00:35,206 I don't like this. 12 00:00:36,586 --> 00:00:39,103 NARRATOR: Truckers face deadly springtime conditions-- 13 00:00:39,206 --> 00:00:40,034 Sleet. 14 00:00:40,137 --> 00:00:42,379 Sleet! 15 00:00:42,482 --> 00:00:44,896 NARRATOR: --to haul the last freight north-- 16 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:46,551 Hopefully we can get a few more in. 17 00:00:46,655 --> 00:00:49,000 NARRATOR: --before all the ice roads melt away. 18 00:00:49,103 --> 00:00:51,344 It's going to get really bad. 19 00:00:51,448 --> 00:00:52,310 [horn] 20 00:00:53,413 --> 00:00:54,793 [music playing] 21 00:01:25,586 --> 00:01:27,551 NARRATOR: Spring's unpredictable weather 22 00:01:27,655 --> 00:01:32,034 has brought a sudden storm and, with it, 23 00:01:32,172 --> 00:01:34,137 high winds and thick, heavy snow. 24 00:01:37,172 --> 00:01:41,620 150 miles up the ice road, AlexDebogorski and convoy partner, 25 00:01:41,724 --> 00:01:44,413 Ron Dubbs, are pushing through hoping 26 00:01:44,517 --> 00:01:46,275 to reach Coldfoot tonight. 27 00:01:46,379 --> 00:01:48,482 ALEX: We've got 60 miles to go. 28 00:01:48,586 --> 00:01:51,379 And it's been snowing for the last 15 minutes or so. 29 00:01:51,482 --> 00:01:54,758 The snow is melting on the ground and on the road 30 00:01:54,862 --> 00:01:56,620 because we're right around the freezing mark. 31 00:01:56,724 --> 00:01:58,965 And this is what makes it kind of dangerous. 32 00:02:02,482 --> 00:02:03,379 It's hard to see. 33 00:02:03,517 --> 00:02:06,310 It's hard to tell what's out there. 34 00:02:06,413 --> 00:02:08,862 NARRATOR: As Alex struggles to see the road, 35 00:02:08,965 --> 00:02:11,827 Ron radios in with even bigger troubles. 36 00:02:20,379 --> 00:02:21,068 ALEX: Oh. 37 00:02:32,241 --> 00:02:34,724 RON: I'm leaking oil all over my turbo. 38 00:02:34,827 --> 00:02:37,000 That's-- that's what I was smelling. 39 00:02:37,137 --> 00:02:39,206 It's spraying all the way up here. 40 00:02:39,310 --> 00:02:40,586 Here, up here? 41 00:02:40,689 --> 00:02:42,206 RON: Yeah, it-- it's spraying out. 42 00:02:42,310 --> 00:02:43,965 ALEX: Back here. 43 00:02:44,068 --> 00:02:45,000 Seems to be really get-- 44 00:02:45,103 --> 00:02:46,862 RON: It-- so, it's all over the place. 45 00:02:46,965 --> 00:02:48,103 ALEX: Holy mackerel! 46 00:02:48,206 --> 00:02:51,034 NARRATOR: The leak is coming from a busted oil line. 47 00:02:51,137 --> 00:02:52,620 RON: I can't run it like that. 48 00:02:52,724 --> 00:02:54,655 It'll just pump oil out all over the ground. 49 00:02:54,758 --> 00:02:56,103 And I'd run out of oil. 50 00:02:56,206 --> 00:02:58,620 Even though we only have 30 miles to Coldfoot, 51 00:02:58,724 --> 00:03:00,551 I can't even run it that far. 52 00:03:00,655 --> 00:03:04,620 I need to get another braided line. 53 00:03:04,724 --> 00:03:05,965 NARRATOR: Repairing the truck will 54 00:03:06,068 --> 00:03:08,000 have to wait until morning. 55 00:03:08,103 --> 00:03:09,517 ALEX: Jack this thing in here. 56 00:03:09,620 --> 00:03:11,827 But then I'll give you a ride home to Coldfoot. 57 00:03:11,965 --> 00:03:13,793 NARRATOR: It's an unfortunate setback 58 00:03:13,896 --> 00:03:17,620 that could cost Alex one of his last loads on the ice. 59 00:03:17,724 --> 00:03:21,000 I don't know how long it'llbe waiting for the part to come. 60 00:03:21,103 --> 00:03:22,103 Time is money. 61 00:03:22,206 --> 00:03:25,310 And it will probably cost me some time too. 62 00:03:29,724 --> 00:03:31,551 [music playing] 63 00:03:34,551 --> 00:03:36,724 NARRATOR: As day breaks in Fairbanks, 64 00:03:36,827 --> 00:03:38,827 Lisa Kelly has just been assigned 65 00:03:38,931 --> 00:03:41,793 one of the last top-dollar runs of the season. 66 00:03:41,896 --> 00:03:44,724 LISA: I'm going to go over and scale this, see how much I 67 00:03:44,862 --> 00:03:48,103 weigh, and then get out of town. 68 00:03:48,206 --> 00:03:50,068 Just drive straight to Prudhoe. 69 00:03:50,172 --> 00:03:52,068 Let's just go. 70 00:03:52,172 --> 00:03:54,344 NARRATOR: But as she prepares to take off-- 71 00:03:54,448 --> 00:03:56,620 It still hasn't stopped making noise yet? 72 00:03:56,724 --> 00:03:59,724 NARRATOR: Lisa discovers a problem with her trailer. 73 00:03:59,827 --> 00:04:02,931 LISA: Why am I losing all my air? 74 00:04:03,034 --> 00:04:05,448 It's not-- 75 00:04:05,551 --> 00:04:07,965 NARRATOR: Without air pressure,the brakes won't release, 76 00:04:08,068 --> 00:04:09,413 and the trailer won't budge. 77 00:04:20,379 --> 00:04:21,068 I don't know. 78 00:04:21,172 --> 00:04:23,517 I don't get it. 79 00:04:23,620 --> 00:04:24,310 One of those days. 80 00:04:24,413 --> 00:04:25,103 Can you tell? 81 00:04:29,551 --> 00:04:33,827 Won't stop making air leak sounds. 82 00:04:33,931 --> 00:04:35,655 Please don't be frozen. 83 00:04:35,758 --> 00:04:38,965 NARRATOR: Lisa tries thawing outthe lines with methyl hydrate, 84 00:04:39,068 --> 00:04:41,310 which acts like an antifreeze. 85 00:04:41,413 --> 00:04:44,551 LISA: I really just want to leave. 86 00:04:44,655 --> 00:04:46,000 I'm going to try this again. 87 00:04:50,551 --> 00:04:52,206 Dumping it out. 88 00:04:52,344 --> 00:04:55,172 NARRATOR: But the quick fix isn't working. 89 00:04:55,275 --> 00:04:56,551 [music playing] 90 00:04:58,931 --> 00:05:02,655 And Lisa's chances of getting another big load this season 91 00:05:02,758 --> 00:05:04,448 are quickly fading. 92 00:05:04,551 --> 00:05:05,172 Drop this one. 93 00:05:05,275 --> 00:05:06,310 Get another load. 94 00:05:06,413 --> 00:05:07,931 But I don't know what they're going to give me 95 00:05:08,034 --> 00:05:09,241 that's going to be interesting. 96 00:05:12,206 --> 00:05:14,586 NARRATOR: She leaves the broken trailer in the yard 97 00:05:14,689 --> 00:05:16,379 and heads for dispatch. 98 00:05:16,482 --> 00:05:17,793 [music playing] 99 00:05:21,103 --> 00:05:23,172 Hey, it's Lisa. 100 00:05:23,275 --> 00:05:24,620 MAN: Bad mood. 101 00:05:24,758 --> 00:05:26,137 I'm not in a bad mood. MAN: Ahh! 102 00:05:26,241 --> 00:05:27,551 I'm just in-- 103 00:05:27,655 --> 00:05:29,551 I'll be so much happier when I'min the rolling down the road. 104 00:05:29,655 --> 00:05:30,689 [inaudible] LISA: I know. 105 00:05:30,793 --> 00:05:31,965 - OK. - Give me a load. 106 00:05:32,068 --> 00:05:32,965 Let's go. 107 00:05:33,068 --> 00:05:35,000 Please. 108 00:05:35,103 --> 00:05:38,931 How about a van with 45,000 pounds of explosives? 109 00:05:39,034 --> 00:05:40,310 You got to call the state troopers 110 00:05:40,413 --> 00:05:41,862 and let them know you're on the road. 111 00:05:41,965 --> 00:05:43,827 LISA: Are you serious? - Oh, I'm quite serious. 112 00:05:43,931 --> 00:05:45,275 You see that route plan? LISA: Wow! 113 00:05:45,379 --> 00:05:46,137 I've never done that. 114 00:05:46,241 --> 00:05:47,206 Oh, yeah. 115 00:05:47,310 --> 00:05:48,586 You've got a little map and everything. 116 00:05:48,689 --> 00:05:50,655 If you deviate from this route, and you go boom, 117 00:05:50,758 --> 00:05:52,103 they'll be really unhappy with you. 118 00:05:52,206 --> 00:05:54,689 LISA: So you're counting on meto actually keep it on the road 119 00:05:54,793 --> 00:05:55,827 today? 120 00:05:55,931 --> 00:05:59,275 MAN: Yes, that would be, uh, what we were hoping. 121 00:05:59,413 --> 00:06:00,172 LISA: See you. 122 00:06:00,275 --> 00:06:01,000 Have fun. 123 00:06:01,103 --> 00:06:01,862 LISA: Thanks. 124 00:06:01,965 --> 00:06:03,241 It's a cool van. 125 00:06:03,344 --> 00:06:05,206 We gotta call the state troopersbefore we can leave to let them 126 00:06:05,310 --> 00:06:06,965 know I'm on the road. That's kind of scary. 127 00:06:07,068 --> 00:06:09,068 They should know all the time when I'm on the road. 128 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:14,689 [beep] 129 00:06:15,862 --> 00:06:17,137 Watch me hook up to it, and it explodes 130 00:06:17,241 --> 00:06:18,586 as soon as I bang the king pin. 131 00:06:18,689 --> 00:06:20,310 Kaboom! 132 00:06:20,413 --> 00:06:22,551 End of my workday. 133 00:06:22,655 --> 00:06:24,586 NARRATOR: The critical load of explosives 134 00:06:24,689 --> 00:06:27,344 will be used to break new ground on the North Slope. 135 00:06:27,448 --> 00:06:28,344 [explosion] 136 00:06:31,931 --> 00:06:32,793 [beep] 137 00:06:36,724 --> 00:06:37,862 Well, it didn't explode yet. 138 00:06:37,965 --> 00:06:39,482 We're all right. 139 00:06:39,586 --> 00:06:43,000 NARRATOR: After several impressive runs this season, 140 00:06:43,103 --> 00:06:45,827 including a set of oversized tires 141 00:06:45,931 --> 00:06:49,379 and a load of 80-foot pipe, this run 142 00:06:49,482 --> 00:06:53,724 is another giant step for Lisa and one that will earn her 143 00:06:53,827 --> 00:06:57,724 $1,700 if delivered on time and intact. 144 00:07:01,275 --> 00:07:03,034 If the rest goes uneventful, we'll be good. 145 00:07:03,137 --> 00:07:04,827 But I just have this feeling that it won't. 146 00:07:07,827 --> 00:07:08,655 [beep] 147 00:07:12,103 --> 00:07:14,965 NARRATOR: 500 miles north in Deadhorse, Hugh Rowland 148 00:07:15,068 --> 00:07:16,896 hooks up to his 13th load. 149 00:07:19,965 --> 00:07:21,034 HUGH: Yeah, I've got my load. 150 00:07:21,137 --> 00:07:21,862 I got my paperwork. 151 00:07:21,965 --> 00:07:23,000 I'm fueled up. 152 00:07:23,103 --> 00:07:25,310 And, as usual, I'm waiting on the fill billy. 153 00:07:25,413 --> 00:07:27,000 Let's rock and roll, fill billy. 154 00:07:36,310 --> 00:07:37,655 Yeah, let's blow it. 155 00:07:42,241 --> 00:07:44,793 NARRATOR: Once again, he's pulled half a run ahead 156 00:07:44,896 --> 00:07:46,758 of his rival, Alex. 157 00:07:46,862 --> 00:07:48,206 But it's a tight race. 158 00:07:48,310 --> 00:07:51,586 And with the ice road season in its final days, 159 00:07:51,689 --> 00:07:54,206 every load could be their last. 160 00:07:54,310 --> 00:07:56,551 HUGH: And that's a friendly rivalry between me and Alex, 161 00:07:56,655 --> 00:07:57,517 but he-- 162 00:07:57,620 --> 00:07:58,620 he'll concede. 163 00:07:58,724 --> 00:08:00,000 I know he's going to concede to me this year. 164 00:08:00,103 --> 00:08:01,758 And he knows I passed him a couple of times. 165 00:08:01,862 --> 00:08:02,551 [laughter] 166 00:08:04,103 --> 00:08:06,344 NARRATOR: With Alex stuck in Coldfoot, 167 00:08:06,448 --> 00:08:09,000 Hugh might just get the chance he's looking for. 168 00:08:09,103 --> 00:08:10,206 HUGH: I've got one more trip. 169 00:08:10,310 --> 00:08:12,000 That's all we got. 170 00:08:12,103 --> 00:08:14,655 NARRATOR: But with 500 miles still ahead, 171 00:08:14,793 --> 00:08:16,275 anything could happen. 172 00:08:16,379 --> 00:08:18,034 MAN [ON RADIO]: OK, we're doing. 173 00:08:18,137 --> 00:08:18,862 10-4. 174 00:08:18,965 --> 00:08:19,793 [horn] 175 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,448 NARRATOR: 250 miles south of Hugh, the leader of the load 176 00:08:28,551 --> 00:08:31,586 count, Jack Jesse, is racing back to Fairbanks 177 00:08:31,689 --> 00:08:32,482 for his next load. 178 00:08:36,068 --> 00:08:38,551 How does the hill look up there? 179 00:08:38,655 --> 00:08:41,931 NARRATOR: But first, he must climb Atigun Pass, the road's 180 00:08:42,034 --> 00:08:44,931 deadliest stretch, with an empty tanker. 181 00:08:51,551 --> 00:08:52,517 OK. 182 00:08:52,620 --> 00:08:54,034 All right, well, I'm coming up. 183 00:08:54,137 --> 00:08:55,517 [music playing] 184 00:08:59,689 --> 00:09:02,413 Climbing the north side of the pass, heading back empty, 185 00:09:02,517 --> 00:09:04,137 it's always a pretty big challenge 186 00:09:04,241 --> 00:09:07,344 to get an empty tanker up this hill without spinning out. 187 00:09:10,551 --> 00:09:12,827 NARRATOR: With little weight over the drive axles, 188 00:09:12,931 --> 00:09:16,965 it's extremely difficult to maintain traction. 189 00:09:17,068 --> 00:09:23,068 There's a lot of fluff going on here, and I don't know. 190 00:09:23,206 --> 00:09:24,724 I actually might not make this one. 191 00:09:36,413 --> 00:09:40,724 The problem is is when you spin out and slide backwards. 192 00:09:40,827 --> 00:09:43,379 That's when things gets really dangerous. 193 00:09:43,482 --> 00:09:44,758 [music playing] 194 00:09:47,655 --> 00:09:51,551 You know, because you may notbe able to stop going backwards. 195 00:09:51,655 --> 00:09:53,655 And that's really bad. 196 00:09:53,793 --> 00:09:55,620 [music playing] 197 00:10:00,586 --> 00:10:02,448 Feel us spinning? 198 00:10:02,551 --> 00:10:05,379 That bounding is because we're spinning. 199 00:10:05,482 --> 00:10:07,448 Back out of it a little bit, not too much. 200 00:10:12,413 --> 00:10:14,241 Oh, god. 201 00:10:14,344 --> 00:10:18,724 NARRATOR: Jack downshifts hopinga lower gear will stop him 202 00:10:18,827 --> 00:10:20,896 from sliding. 203 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,379 That's going to take all the torque off the motor. 204 00:10:28,793 --> 00:10:29,862 MAN [ON RADIO]: [inaudible]. 205 00:10:29,965 --> 00:10:30,862 How you doing, bud? 206 00:10:30,965 --> 00:10:33,344 Oh, don't do that. 207 00:10:33,448 --> 00:10:35,586 NARRATOR: The truck shudders to a halt, 208 00:10:35,689 --> 00:10:39,103 leaving the Dalton ace barely clinging to the ice 209 00:10:39,206 --> 00:10:42,517 just 300 feet from the top. 210 00:10:42,620 --> 00:10:43,517 [skid sound] 211 00:10:47,586 --> 00:10:48,482 Come on. 212 00:10:48,586 --> 00:10:49,482 Oh! 213 00:10:49,586 --> 00:10:50,482 I'm almost to the top. 214 00:10:53,551 --> 00:10:57,931 This is not my idea of fun. 215 00:10:58,034 --> 00:10:58,931 Ah, [bleep]. 216 00:11:03,620 --> 00:11:06,000 Yeah, I didn't make it here, guys. 217 00:11:06,103 --> 00:11:07,275 Northbound lane is still open. 218 00:11:07,379 --> 00:11:08,793 They can get around if they need to. 219 00:11:09,689 --> 00:11:11,517 MAN [ON RADIO]: OK. 220 00:11:11,620 --> 00:11:13,241 NARRATOR: He can't move forward. 221 00:11:13,344 --> 00:11:18,068 And backing down Atiguun is not an option. 222 00:11:18,172 --> 00:11:19,689 This is not my idea of fun. 223 00:11:32,551 --> 00:11:34,586 NARRATOR: Fortunately, a DOT plow 224 00:11:34,724 --> 00:11:36,965 is working the road nearby. 225 00:11:37,068 --> 00:11:39,517 Jack flags him down for a tow. 226 00:11:39,620 --> 00:11:40,931 JACK: I got a strap I'll put out. 227 00:11:41,034 --> 00:11:43,137 MAN: OK. 228 00:11:43,241 --> 00:11:45,896 Well, I'm going to get a free tow today. 229 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:47,827 The state's going to tow me up the hill. 230 00:12:01,344 --> 00:12:05,517 NARRATOR: Jack attaches a tow pin to the frame of his truck 231 00:12:05,620 --> 00:12:10,448 and connects a heavy-duty tow strap to the plow. 232 00:12:10,586 --> 00:12:13,724 That way, we won't jerk anything off when it goes bam. 233 00:12:13,827 --> 00:12:14,517 Yeah. 234 00:12:14,620 --> 00:12:15,448 [laughter] 235 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:17,965 OK, let's go to it. 236 00:12:18,068 --> 00:12:19,000 MAN [ON RADIO]: Ready? 237 00:12:19,103 --> 00:12:22,241 JACK: Yep, let's go. 238 00:12:22,344 --> 00:12:24,206 [music playing] 239 00:12:41,068 --> 00:12:43,793 NARRATOR: The plow drags Jack all the way to the top 240 00:12:43,896 --> 00:12:45,344 of the pass. 241 00:12:45,448 --> 00:12:47,275 JACK: This is actually the steepest part. 242 00:12:47,379 --> 00:12:50,310 These guys, they don't mind helping out when we do this, 243 00:12:50,413 --> 00:12:51,310 you know? 244 00:12:51,413 --> 00:12:52,586 I mean, they were working the hill. 245 00:12:55,241 --> 00:12:57,000 Well, if anybody has problems on a hill, 246 00:12:57,103 --> 00:12:58,827 it's definitely going to be an empty tanker. 247 00:13:01,793 --> 00:13:04,689 Well, that ought to be good there. 248 00:13:04,793 --> 00:13:07,931 Now we'll just get out and put everything back up, 249 00:13:08,034 --> 00:13:11,275 thank these guys a lot, and go on our merry way. 250 00:13:11,379 --> 00:13:13,896 I hope I don't get fired for this. 251 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:14,758 [laughter] 252 00:13:16,172 --> 00:13:18,344 Thanks, I appreciate it! 253 00:13:18,448 --> 00:13:20,758 Well, if I had to spin out, today was a beautiful day 254 00:13:20,862 --> 00:13:23,379 to do it, a whole lot better than the wind 255 00:13:23,482 --> 00:13:27,862 blowing at 40 to 50 miles an hour and dealing with that. 256 00:13:27,965 --> 00:13:30,068 All right, let's get back in the truck and keep going. 257 00:13:30,172 --> 00:13:31,586 [music playing] 258 00:13:38,827 --> 00:13:40,655 This time of year, it's hard to read the roads 259 00:13:40,758 --> 00:13:41,931 and the empty tankers. 260 00:13:42,034 --> 00:13:43,275 Sometimes they're really tough. 261 00:13:43,379 --> 00:13:44,620 You can do it a little faster. 262 00:13:44,724 --> 00:13:48,034 But just like that, you get a hill, you may not make it. 263 00:13:54,034 --> 00:13:57,206 NARRATOR: 250 miles south of Jack, Lisa Kelly 264 00:13:57,310 --> 00:13:58,724 drops onto the ice road. 265 00:14:03,793 --> 00:14:05,965 I got some explosives on board. 266 00:14:06,068 --> 00:14:10,137 I'm not sure exactly what kind, just kinds that blow up, 267 00:14:10,241 --> 00:14:10,965 I think. 268 00:14:15,517 --> 00:14:19,379 The only thing that you can't do around my load is smoke. 269 00:14:19,482 --> 00:14:21,379 Nobody smoke around this load. 270 00:14:25,724 --> 00:14:27,241 This is like tightest and windiest part 271 00:14:27,344 --> 00:14:29,862 of the whole road. 272 00:14:29,965 --> 00:14:33,827 Just really good steep hills, like down a steep hill, 273 00:14:33,931 --> 00:14:36,310 up a steep hill. 274 00:14:36,413 --> 00:14:38,896 NARRATOR: Up ahead is Lisa's biggest challenge, 275 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,448 one of the steepest grades on the road known 276 00:14:41,551 --> 00:14:44,448 as 2 and 1/2 mile. 277 00:14:44,551 --> 00:14:47,517 LISA: Northbound 2 and 1/2 mile. 278 00:14:47,620 --> 00:14:49,655 Here's the hill that always get me. 279 00:14:49,758 --> 00:14:52,655 So we're going to play a trick on the hill. 280 00:14:52,758 --> 00:14:55,448 NARRATOR: Last week, Lisa spun out on 2 and 1/2 mile-- 281 00:14:56,379 --> 00:14:58,068 Hold on, guys. 282 00:14:58,172 --> 00:14:59,413 Spun out. 283 00:14:59,517 --> 00:15:02,310 NARRATOR: --and had to back all the way down the slope. 284 00:15:02,413 --> 00:15:04,482 LISA: That's one of those gears that I always miss. 285 00:15:04,586 --> 00:15:07,965 And if I miss it, I spin. 286 00:15:08,068 --> 00:15:10,068 NARRATOR: Now she has a new plan of attack. 287 00:15:30,068 --> 00:15:33,034 She hopes to avoid spinning out by not shifting 288 00:15:33,137 --> 00:15:36,620 in the middle of the hill. 289 00:15:36,724 --> 00:15:40,103 I am definitely not in the right gear yet. 290 00:15:40,206 --> 00:15:42,068 That one right here [inaudible]. 291 00:15:51,137 --> 00:15:54,000 My foot's on it just enough when climbing, 292 00:15:54,103 --> 00:15:56,517 but not all the way to the floor. 293 00:15:56,620 --> 00:15:58,517 This is like, come on. 294 00:16:06,620 --> 00:16:07,689 MAN [ON RADIO]: [inaudible] 295 00:16:08,586 --> 00:16:09,482 [whistle] 296 00:16:22,206 --> 00:16:22,931 There. 297 00:16:25,103 --> 00:16:26,896 I'm at that critical moment. Do you see that? 298 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:28,689 It was dropping. And I turned off the fan. 299 00:16:28,793 --> 00:16:29,931 And now we're picking up. 300 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:34,896 OK. 301 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,862 We got it. 302 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,379 Almost there. 303 00:16:39,482 --> 00:16:41,344 Here we go. 304 00:16:44,413 --> 00:16:45,310 Oh, we made it. 305 00:16:48,896 --> 00:16:52,241 That proved to be a little morechallenging than I anticipated. 306 00:16:55,862 --> 00:16:57,241 NARRATOR: Success on the ice road 307 00:16:57,344 --> 00:17:00,827 is largely a matter of knowing when and how to pull 308 00:17:00,931 --> 00:17:02,379 the right gear. 309 00:17:02,482 --> 00:17:07,241 And this season, Lisa hastriumphed over many challenges. 310 00:17:07,344 --> 00:17:10,655 Sticking in fourth,[inaudible] climb [inaudible].. 311 00:17:10,793 --> 00:17:14,586 And that's the way she's done. 312 00:17:14,689 --> 00:17:19,000 I think I'll do that every time. 313 00:17:19,103 --> 00:17:19,965 [music playing] 314 00:17:23,517 --> 00:17:28,724 NARRATOR: 400 miles north in Deadhorse, rookie Tim Freeman 315 00:17:28,827 --> 00:17:32,241 and veteran George Spears are beginning their return trip 316 00:17:32,344 --> 00:17:35,310 to Fairbanks. 317 00:17:35,413 --> 00:17:40,827 GEORGE: It's about 10 o'clock here, about 5 or 6 below zero. 318 00:17:40,931 --> 00:17:41,827 Everything's going good. 319 00:17:46,793 --> 00:17:48,103 TIM: George has got an empty. 320 00:17:48,206 --> 00:17:51,482 I've got an empty with just some pallets in it 321 00:17:51,586 --> 00:17:53,413 just to get our trailers back to town 322 00:17:53,517 --> 00:17:55,344 so we can reload them and send them back up. 323 00:17:55,448 --> 00:17:58,482 NARRATOR: Tim has been running with George all season. 324 00:17:58,586 --> 00:18:02,206 But soon, it will be time for him to strike out on his own. 325 00:18:02,310 --> 00:18:04,241 GEORGE: Tim's learning that truck. 326 00:18:04,344 --> 00:18:08,241 It takes a while to get adjusted to a truck to know. 327 00:18:08,344 --> 00:18:10,931 you know, what it's boundaries are, when it's going to spin, 328 00:18:11,034 --> 00:18:12,655 when it's not going to spin. 329 00:18:12,758 --> 00:18:15,206 As time goes by, he's doing a real good job. 330 00:18:15,310 --> 00:18:17,448 He's getting it all figured out. 331 00:18:17,586 --> 00:18:20,103 My confidence has been really good the last three runs. 332 00:18:20,206 --> 00:18:22,586 But we'll see when we get another storm just 333 00:18:22,689 --> 00:18:23,896 how comfortable I really am. 334 00:18:29,655 --> 00:18:31,448 NARRATOR: The brutal weather this winter 335 00:18:31,551 --> 00:18:33,862 has been a tough initiation for the rookie. 336 00:18:38,758 --> 00:18:39,689 Still coming, George. 337 00:18:39,793 --> 00:18:41,275 I can't see a [bleep] thing though. 338 00:18:44,172 --> 00:18:45,896 NARRATOR: In less than 10 runs, he's 339 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:50,034 been hit by four bad storms. 340 00:18:50,137 --> 00:18:53,413 Just horrendous storms. 341 00:18:53,551 --> 00:18:54,448 Oh, wow! 342 00:18:54,551 --> 00:18:57,896 Look at that [bleep],, man, holy cow. 343 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:00,827 NARRATOR: And the delays have cost both Tim and George 344 00:19:00,931 --> 00:19:02,724 serious time and money. 345 00:19:02,827 --> 00:19:03,517 Heads up. 346 00:19:11,241 --> 00:19:12,931 GEORGE: This trip here is going to make up 347 00:19:13,034 --> 00:19:15,620 for some of the real bad ones we've had in the last month 348 00:19:15,724 --> 00:19:17,034 or so. 349 00:19:17,137 --> 00:19:20,689 Hopefully, we can get a few more in before the springtime 350 00:19:20,793 --> 00:19:22,103 arrives. 351 00:19:22,206 --> 00:19:25,000 So we'll just roll up the road, take it as it comes. 352 00:19:31,482 --> 00:19:36,586 NARRATOR: 250 miles to the south, another spring storm 353 00:19:36,689 --> 00:19:39,310 is blowing through. 354 00:19:39,413 --> 00:19:41,344 It's nice and pleasant out today. 355 00:19:41,448 --> 00:19:43,689 NARRATOR: And Alex and Ron have returned 356 00:19:43,793 --> 00:19:47,172 to the side of the road with parts to fix the oil leak. 357 00:19:47,275 --> 00:19:48,931 ALEX: Look at that. 358 00:19:49,034 --> 00:19:50,310 Perfect. 359 00:19:50,413 --> 00:19:52,793 RON: We got the big hammer here in case we can't get it 360 00:19:52,896 --> 00:19:53,620 with the wrench. 361 00:19:53,724 --> 00:19:54,620 Finishing now, yeah. 362 00:19:54,724 --> 00:19:56,241 Yep. 363 00:19:56,344 --> 00:19:58,413 RON: Very tight down there. 364 00:19:58,551 --> 00:20:00,517 NARRATOR: They're pushing to get back on the road 365 00:20:00,620 --> 00:20:03,379 before the storm gets any worse. 366 00:20:03,482 --> 00:20:05,413 Truckers do the best work in tight places. 367 00:20:08,275 --> 00:20:10,344 NARRATOR: Ron disconnects the damaged line. 368 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:15,655 There's a little hole right here, Alex. 369 00:20:15,758 --> 00:20:17,655 Here's this little tiny hole right here. 370 00:20:17,758 --> 00:20:18,551 ALEX: Well-- 371 00:20:18,655 --> 00:20:19,862 RON: That little tiny hole. 372 00:20:19,965 --> 00:20:21,103 ALEX: [inaudible] 60, 70. 373 00:20:21,206 --> 00:20:23,965 RON: Yeah, just make sure we got the right one. 374 00:20:24,068 --> 00:20:25,448 You want to hand that to me? 375 00:20:31,517 --> 00:20:33,344 Ah, let's see here. 376 00:20:33,448 --> 00:20:36,137 Let me tighten this one up a little bit here on top 377 00:20:36,241 --> 00:20:38,000 till we get it almost snug. 378 00:20:38,103 --> 00:20:38,965 [hammering] 379 00:20:41,793 --> 00:20:45,310 ALEX: Start it up and see if it sprays in all directions. 380 00:20:45,413 --> 00:20:46,103 All right, Alex. 381 00:20:46,206 --> 00:20:47,000 You ready? 382 00:20:47,103 --> 00:20:47,862 ALEX: Yeah, go ahead. 383 00:20:47,965 --> 00:20:48,655 [beep] 384 00:20:50,620 --> 00:20:51,310 OK. 385 00:20:54,896 --> 00:20:56,275 So far, so good. 386 00:20:56,379 --> 00:20:57,275 Wasn't too bad. 387 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,206 NARRATOR: Back on the road, they pushed through the storm, 388 00:21:06,344 --> 00:21:08,896 eager to make up for lost time. 389 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,000 Yeah, I think it's going to get a little stormier 390 00:21:11,103 --> 00:21:12,172 before it'll get better. 391 00:21:17,620 --> 00:21:19,448 [music playing] 392 00:21:22,482 --> 00:21:25,068 NARRATOR: 160 miles south of Deadhorse-- 393 00:21:30,517 --> 00:21:33,068 --Tim and George are racing back to Fairbanks 394 00:21:33,172 --> 00:21:36,793 hoping to pick up one of the last loads of this season. 395 00:21:36,896 --> 00:21:38,896 Rick, you come across any [inaudible] yet? 396 00:21:47,655 --> 00:21:50,689 NARRATOR: But the road ahead is getting worse as today's 397 00:21:50,793 --> 00:21:52,275 fierce storm gathers strength. 398 00:22:08,206 --> 00:22:11,275 As they start the 4,700-foot climb, 399 00:22:11,379 --> 00:22:14,000 visibility drops to less than 20 feet. 400 00:22:24,448 --> 00:22:27,172 GEORGE [ON RADIO]: Tim, how's everything going back there? 401 00:22:27,275 --> 00:22:31,344 There's some bad places where you can't see nothing, so-- 402 00:22:31,448 --> 00:22:33,827 Just spun a little bit, even with the chains on. 403 00:22:45,689 --> 00:22:50,517 NARRATOR: The storm grows more intense with every mile. 404 00:22:50,620 --> 00:22:53,931 30 years on this road really qualifies Georgie as the judge 405 00:22:54,034 --> 00:22:56,137 over the rest of us guys. 406 00:22:56,241 --> 00:22:57,689 I trust his decision. 407 00:22:57,793 --> 00:23:01,172 I'm right behind him, whatever he thinks. 408 00:23:01,275 --> 00:23:03,896 NARRATOR: George decides to push on towards the summit. 409 00:23:06,793 --> 00:23:08,103 GEORGE: This winter has just been-- 410 00:23:08,206 --> 00:23:12,758 you can't-- just you can't evenpredict what's going to happen. 411 00:23:12,862 --> 00:23:14,724 Seen it like this a long time. 412 00:23:14,827 --> 00:23:16,241 It's just really unpredictable. 413 00:23:21,413 --> 00:23:23,689 NARRATOR: On their descent, the snow lightens up 414 00:23:23,793 --> 00:23:26,758 and visibility improves. 415 00:23:26,862 --> 00:23:29,551 TIM: You're always taking a gamble on the weather up here. 416 00:23:29,655 --> 00:23:32,517 You know, uh, just a gamble the whole way, 417 00:23:32,620 --> 00:23:35,275 just the luck of the draw. 418 00:23:35,379 --> 00:23:37,517 NARRATOR: As Tim prepares to run alone, 419 00:23:37,620 --> 00:23:39,965 the unforgiving weather has him wondering 420 00:23:40,068 --> 00:23:42,310 if it's all worth the effort. 421 00:23:42,413 --> 00:23:45,275 TIM: No piece of freight isworth your life, stuck out here 422 00:23:45,379 --> 00:23:47,482 in a snowdrift somewhere wondering when the blow is 423 00:23:47,586 --> 00:23:48,275 going to happen. 424 00:23:53,965 --> 00:23:59,310 NARRATOR: 78 miles south at the Coldfoot truck stop, 425 00:23:59,413 --> 00:24:02,586 two Canadian rivals are taking shelter from the storm. 426 00:24:02,689 --> 00:24:03,551 --a seat. 427 00:24:03,655 --> 00:24:05,793 Yeah, how have thing's been going? 428 00:24:05,896 --> 00:24:06,655 Well, I can-- 429 00:24:06,758 --> 00:24:08,931 just travelling [inaudible]. 430 00:24:09,034 --> 00:24:11,137 Yeah, I didn't finish my education program with you 431 00:24:11,241 --> 00:24:11,965 last year. 432 00:24:12,068 --> 00:24:12,896 [laughter] 433 00:24:17,172 --> 00:24:19,241 NARRATOR: These two may be old friends. 434 00:24:19,344 --> 00:24:23,413 But they're in Alaska to see who can turn the most loads. 435 00:24:23,517 --> 00:24:27,000 And at the moment, Hugh is ahead, 12 loads to 11. 436 00:24:27,137 --> 00:24:28,689 How many loads you got now? 437 00:24:28,793 --> 00:24:31,724 Well, I can't tell you. 438 00:24:31,827 --> 00:24:35,034 [laughter] 439 00:24:35,137 --> 00:24:36,241 You can't tell me. 440 00:24:36,344 --> 00:24:38,172 HUGH: Yeah, Alex asked me how many loads I have. 441 00:24:38,275 --> 00:24:40,000 And I said, you know I can't tell you that. 442 00:24:40,103 --> 00:24:42,103 I said, you'll start losing beauty sleep over that. 443 00:24:42,206 --> 00:24:43,379 And you need your beauty sleep. 444 00:24:43,482 --> 00:24:45,275 So, yeah, I just told him I couldn't tell him 445 00:24:45,379 --> 00:24:46,275 that for sure. 446 00:24:46,379 --> 00:24:47,724 - You're still being trained? - Yeah. 447 00:24:47,827 --> 00:24:48,517 [laughter] 448 00:24:49,655 --> 00:24:51,206 He won't let me pass him on the hills. 449 00:24:51,310 --> 00:24:52,517 He won't let you pass him? 450 00:24:52,620 --> 00:24:53,517 [laughter] 451 00:24:53,620 --> 00:24:54,344 No. 452 00:24:54,448 --> 00:24:56,241 So when did you start to lead? 453 00:24:56,344 --> 00:24:58,413 Well, like he said, I led a couple times, 454 00:24:58,517 --> 00:24:59,655 and he couldn't keep up. So-- 455 00:24:59,793 --> 00:25:00,620 [laughter] 456 00:25:01,586 --> 00:25:03,034 So I just stay behind now. 457 00:25:03,137 --> 00:25:05,206 And then that way, I stay out of trouble. 458 00:25:05,310 --> 00:25:07,551 I think Hugh is getting worse. 459 00:25:07,655 --> 00:25:10,344 I'm not sure why he just can't sit still at all. 460 00:25:10,448 --> 00:25:11,310 He's got ants in pants. 461 00:25:11,413 --> 00:25:12,103 I don't know. 462 00:25:12,206 --> 00:25:13,172 Maybe he has a tapeworm. 463 00:25:13,275 --> 00:25:14,827 I really don't know what's driving him. 464 00:25:14,931 --> 00:25:15,620 [laughter] 465 00:25:17,068 --> 00:25:19,758 Anyway, I'm going to get out of here. 466 00:25:19,862 --> 00:25:20,862 [inaudible] 467 00:25:20,965 --> 00:25:22,517 - Yeah, we got to get going too.- All right. 468 00:25:22,620 --> 00:25:23,931 [chink glasses] Talk to you later. 469 00:25:24,034 --> 00:25:24,724 [inaudible] 470 00:25:24,827 --> 00:25:27,655 Yeah. 471 00:25:27,758 --> 00:25:30,344 NARRATOR: As Hugh and Phil pushthrough the storm on their way 472 00:25:30,448 --> 00:25:33,413 to Fairbanks, Alex and Ron brace themselves 473 00:25:33,551 --> 00:25:36,206 for a treacherous run up Atigun Pass-- 474 00:25:36,310 --> 00:25:37,689 [music playing] 475 00:25:40,172 --> 00:25:42,896 --where the summit is still being pummeled by snow. 476 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,000 ALEX: It's fairly slippery. 477 00:25:45,103 --> 00:25:46,862 I don't think anybody is taking any chances. 478 00:25:46,965 --> 00:25:48,758 We're all chaining up. 479 00:25:48,862 --> 00:25:50,724 [music playing] 480 00:25:56,689 --> 00:25:58,034 OK, other side. 481 00:26:01,137 --> 00:26:03,862 NARRATOR: Chaining up has cost Alex a lot of precious time 482 00:26:03,965 --> 00:26:04,655 this season-- 483 00:26:06,517 --> 00:26:08,655 --and caused one driver to leave him behind. 484 00:26:11,586 --> 00:26:13,689 But as this season comes to an end, 485 00:26:13,793 --> 00:26:16,344 it appears Alex is becoming a pro. 486 00:26:27,344 --> 00:26:28,724 All right. 487 00:26:28,827 --> 00:26:30,724 That's a first. 488 00:26:30,827 --> 00:26:33,655 I guess we can leave any time you like there, Ron. 489 00:26:33,758 --> 00:26:35,241 RON [ON RADIO]: All right, here we go. 490 00:26:35,344 --> 00:26:36,655 [music playing] 491 00:26:41,448 --> 00:26:44,310 Well, we're chained up and in gear. 492 00:26:44,413 --> 00:26:48,068 Well, we're approaching Atigun Pass northbound. 493 00:26:48,172 --> 00:26:51,000 This is sort of a new test for us here because, like I say, 494 00:26:51,103 --> 00:26:52,517 it's snowing. 495 00:26:52,620 --> 00:26:55,344 The road is-- it's ice covered. 496 00:26:55,448 --> 00:26:56,793 It's fairly warm. 497 00:26:56,896 --> 00:26:58,000 And it's slippery. 498 00:26:58,103 --> 00:26:59,758 It makes it hard to steer. 499 00:27:02,793 --> 00:27:04,620 A beautiful day for a penguin. 500 00:27:04,724 --> 00:27:05,551 [laughter] 501 00:27:07,034 --> 00:27:11,344 NARRATOR: As Alex begins the climb, the weather closes in. 502 00:27:11,448 --> 00:27:14,551 ALEX: It's so white, you can't hardly tell the-- 503 00:27:14,689 --> 00:27:16,103 tell whether it's snowing or not. 504 00:27:16,206 --> 00:27:17,793 I think we got a little bit of snowfall. 505 00:27:17,896 --> 00:27:19,586 It looks like more like fog now. 506 00:27:19,689 --> 00:27:22,482 I think we're going to get intosome fog going over the pass. 507 00:27:25,482 --> 00:27:26,344 [crunching] 508 00:27:30,310 --> 00:27:31,103 It's pretty bad. 509 00:27:31,206 --> 00:27:32,758 What a mess. 510 00:27:32,862 --> 00:27:35,206 The grader doesn't seem to havebeen down here for a while. 511 00:27:35,310 --> 00:27:36,000 So-- 512 00:27:36,103 --> 00:27:36,965 [bleep] 513 00:27:39,931 --> 00:27:41,206 We only have one lane open. 514 00:27:41,310 --> 00:27:46,000 So we can't-- if anybody comes roaring up the hill, 515 00:27:46,103 --> 00:27:47,965 my right side here hasn't been cleaned. 516 00:27:48,103 --> 00:27:51,310 It looks like there's about 6 inches of snow sitting there. 517 00:27:51,413 --> 00:27:55,241 So there's only one lane. 518 00:27:55,344 --> 00:27:57,241 [music playing] 519 00:28:00,862 --> 00:28:03,206 [bleep] like this. 520 00:28:03,310 --> 00:28:05,206 It's hard to tell what's happening. 521 00:28:08,689 --> 00:28:11,931 NARRATOR: As Alex Debogorski climbs the infamous Atigun 522 00:28:12,034 --> 00:28:15,241 Pass, he's hit by a terrible spring storm. 523 00:28:15,344 --> 00:28:16,034 [bleep] 524 00:28:16,137 --> 00:28:17,551 I don't like this. 525 00:28:21,344 --> 00:28:22,310 So I don't know the road. 526 00:28:22,413 --> 00:28:23,413 That's the problem. 527 00:28:23,517 --> 00:28:25,034 If I knew the road, I'd just let it roll. 528 00:28:25,137 --> 00:28:28,000 But I'm not sure what's around that corner. 529 00:28:28,103 --> 00:28:29,000 [bleep] 530 00:28:30,586 --> 00:28:32,448 Can't tell where we are on the hill 531 00:28:32,551 --> 00:28:36,379 if we're going to make it to the top or not. 532 00:28:36,482 --> 00:28:37,862 [music playing] 533 00:28:43,862 --> 00:28:46,206 MAN [ON RADIO]: [inaudible] down the hill. 534 00:28:46,310 --> 00:28:50,172 How you doing there, Alex? 535 00:28:50,275 --> 00:28:51,137 So far, so good. 536 00:28:51,241 --> 00:28:52,655 MAN [ON RADIO]: [inaudible] 537 00:28:52,758 --> 00:28:55,068 NARRATOR: He finally reaches the top. 538 00:28:55,206 --> 00:28:57,586 But his troubles are far from over. 539 00:28:57,689 --> 00:28:58,689 It's messy. 540 00:28:58,793 --> 00:29:01,206 NARRATOR: Conditions downhill are even worse. 541 00:29:01,310 --> 00:29:05,275 ALEX: It's varying degrees of slipperiness. 542 00:29:05,379 --> 00:29:07,689 You don't want to apply the brakes very hard or else 543 00:29:07,793 --> 00:29:10,827 we go into toboggan mode. 544 00:29:10,931 --> 00:29:13,758 Let's not fall off the road here. 545 00:29:24,620 --> 00:29:27,758 NARRATOR: At last, Alex and Rondescend onto the North Slope. 546 00:29:30,551 --> 00:29:33,620 Well, that's been a real workout. 547 00:29:33,724 --> 00:29:34,551 Holy mackerel. 548 00:29:34,655 --> 00:29:35,482 [horn] 549 00:29:37,965 --> 00:29:40,655 NARRATOR: 100 miles south of Alex-- 550 00:29:40,758 --> 00:29:41,551 [horn] 551 00:29:43,034 --> 00:29:47,206 --Hugh and convoy partner Phil are making good time moving 552 00:29:47,310 --> 00:29:49,103 south through the storm. 553 00:29:49,206 --> 00:29:49,931 Sleet! 554 00:29:50,034 --> 00:29:52,103 Sleet! 555 00:29:52,206 --> 00:29:55,413 NARRATOR: Until it turns into a dangerous mixture of snow 556 00:29:55,517 --> 00:29:56,206 and sleet. 557 00:29:56,310 --> 00:29:57,620 [music playing] 558 00:29:57,724 --> 00:30:00,000 They're already saying there's4 inches on the Beaver Slide, 559 00:30:00,103 --> 00:30:03,517 means she's starting to stick now. 560 00:30:03,655 --> 00:30:06,000 About 2 more degrees, this little wet drizzle of snow 561 00:30:06,103 --> 00:30:08,620 will turn [bleep] into a sheet of ice. 562 00:30:08,724 --> 00:30:12,344 And then the fun begins. 563 00:30:12,448 --> 00:30:14,482 We could off on that side of the cliff 564 00:30:14,586 --> 00:30:16,586 or against the rocks on this side. 565 00:30:19,862 --> 00:30:22,620 Ain't Mother Nature grand? 566 00:30:22,724 --> 00:30:25,068 As long as we make it over the Beaver Slide without getting 567 00:30:25,172 --> 00:30:27,137 killed. 568 00:30:27,241 --> 00:30:29,000 NARRATOR: The Beaver Slide is one of the most 569 00:30:29,103 --> 00:30:31,379 notorious slopes on the Dalton. 570 00:30:31,482 --> 00:30:35,275 Southbound, it's 2 miles straight uphill. 571 00:30:35,379 --> 00:30:38,206 There we go. 572 00:30:38,344 --> 00:30:39,206 [horn] 573 00:30:43,241 --> 00:30:45,103 It is [bleep] glare ice. 574 00:30:48,172 --> 00:30:51,724 NARRATOR: Momentum is key to making it to the top. 575 00:30:51,827 --> 00:30:52,689 [horn] 576 00:30:55,689 --> 00:30:58,413 Halfway up the climb, Hugh hits the right gear. 577 00:31:02,275 --> 00:31:05,275 But he can't find enough traction. 578 00:31:05,379 --> 00:31:06,000 HUGH: Listen. 579 00:31:10,551 --> 00:31:12,413 [bleep] slicker than snot on a chicken's lip. 580 00:31:21,310 --> 00:31:23,275 NARRATOR: Hugh attempts a new strategy. 581 00:31:23,379 --> 00:31:24,931 Zigzag up that hill just to make it. 582 00:31:29,517 --> 00:31:32,379 NARRATOR: Snake back and forth across both lanes in order 583 00:31:32,482 --> 00:31:34,655 to find something for his tires to grip. 584 00:31:43,448 --> 00:31:44,310 Come on, baby. 585 00:31:47,310 --> 00:31:48,379 I need some snow. Come on. 586 00:31:48,482 --> 00:31:49,172 Come on. 587 00:32:02,758 --> 00:32:05,310 I got one wheel in the middle where everybody hasn't 588 00:32:05,413 --> 00:32:06,827 been driving and one on-- 589 00:32:06,931 --> 00:32:09,862 on the outside. 590 00:32:09,965 --> 00:32:12,379 If worse comes to worse, grab your ass with both hands 591 00:32:12,482 --> 00:32:13,172 and hang on. 592 00:32:13,275 --> 00:32:15,034 That's all we can do. 593 00:32:15,137 --> 00:32:17,000 [music playing] 594 00:32:20,034 --> 00:32:21,862 Come on, baby. 595 00:32:21,965 --> 00:32:27,172 NARRATOR: Finally, Hugh crests the top. 596 00:32:27,275 --> 00:32:29,413 HUGH: Well, it just gives us some traction because now 597 00:32:29,517 --> 00:32:30,758 you're not pulling straight up. 598 00:32:30,862 --> 00:32:32,379 The truck doesn't have to work so hard. 599 00:32:32,482 --> 00:32:36,206 So it just [bleep] gets some snow off the side and it's 600 00:32:36,310 --> 00:32:38,482 off the middle and made it into the dock. 601 00:32:41,620 --> 00:32:42,448 Yeah, you betcha. 602 00:32:54,620 --> 00:32:57,000 Not a problem. 603 00:32:57,103 --> 00:32:57,793 Yee haw! 604 00:33:01,379 --> 00:33:03,310 NARRATOR: Back at the base of Atigun Pass, 605 00:33:03,413 --> 00:33:06,275 Lisa Kelly is the next to make the climb. 606 00:33:06,379 --> 00:33:10,931 And she's hauling 45,000 pounds of explosives. 607 00:33:11,034 --> 00:33:14,862 Try not to blow anything up. 608 00:33:14,965 --> 00:33:17,724 But we gotta get over Atigun. 609 00:33:17,827 --> 00:33:21,758 It's predictable that Atigun is very unpredictable. 610 00:33:21,862 --> 00:33:24,206 If you want to venture a guess, guess that Atigun 611 00:33:24,344 --> 00:33:25,137 is going to be crazy. 612 00:33:25,241 --> 00:33:26,103 [laughter] 613 00:33:28,103 --> 00:33:30,793 It's blowing down here, but not too bad. 614 00:33:30,896 --> 00:33:35,206 It should still be open if downhere is anything to go by up 615 00:33:35,310 --> 00:33:37,206 there, which it isn't. 616 00:33:37,310 --> 00:33:39,034 They're nothing alike. 617 00:33:39,137 --> 00:33:40,482 [music playing] 618 00:33:45,275 --> 00:33:51,689 NARRATOR: As Lisa begins the ascent, the winds pick up 619 00:33:51,793 --> 00:33:55,344 and snow starts to collect on the road. 620 00:33:55,448 --> 00:33:57,206 It's already built up along that guardrail. 621 00:33:57,344 --> 00:34:00,344 It's almost over the edge of the guardrail already. 622 00:34:00,448 --> 00:34:02,275 It's really deep here. 623 00:34:02,379 --> 00:34:03,241 [crunching] 624 00:34:06,241 --> 00:34:08,517 You just can't see that well down here. 625 00:34:08,620 --> 00:34:10,000 It's going to get really bad. 626 00:34:13,034 --> 00:34:14,827 NARRATOR: Snow on top of slick ice 627 00:34:14,931 --> 00:34:17,413 is a deadly combination that can easily 628 00:34:17,517 --> 00:34:21,275 send a trucker over the edge. 629 00:34:21,379 --> 00:34:22,241 [crash] 630 00:34:33,413 --> 00:34:35,068 LISA: The truck is saying, I want to slip. 631 00:34:35,172 --> 00:34:36,034 And I'm saying no. 632 00:34:36,137 --> 00:34:38,517 Get sure footing. 633 00:34:38,620 --> 00:34:41,793 We have a mountain goat here, right? 634 00:34:41,896 --> 00:34:43,275 You got to keep-- keep the traction. 635 00:34:43,379 --> 00:34:44,620 You don't want to spin. 636 00:34:44,724 --> 00:34:45,586 [crunching] 637 00:34:53,034 --> 00:34:54,896 So far, so good. 638 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:56,862 I haven't slipped yet. 639 00:34:56,965 --> 00:35:01,241 And we're almost over, almost to the top. 640 00:35:07,620 --> 00:35:08,482 There we go. 641 00:35:08,586 --> 00:35:12,862 OK, northbound over the top. 642 00:35:12,965 --> 00:35:14,862 Atigun is my last obstacle that I have 643 00:35:14,965 --> 00:35:16,827 to jump just to get to Prudhoe. 644 00:35:16,931 --> 00:35:17,724 [laughter] 645 00:35:21,034 --> 00:35:24,275 NARRATOR: 195 miles south of Lisa, Jack Jesse 646 00:35:24,379 --> 00:35:26,000 is closing in on Fairbanks. 647 00:35:29,068 --> 00:35:33,517 You know this heading south on this road 648 00:35:33,620 --> 00:35:36,000 is actually tougher than going north. 649 00:35:40,206 --> 00:35:42,586 Unfortunately, you know, I don't know how it works out. 650 00:35:42,689 --> 00:35:45,896 You start from point A. You go to point B. From B back to A 651 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:49,206 should be the same elevations, but the hills are just longer 652 00:35:49,310 --> 00:35:52,724 and bigger heading south. 653 00:35:52,827 --> 00:35:55,379 NARRATOR: But one of the biggest southbound challenges 654 00:35:55,482 --> 00:36:01,827 is man-made the steep 6% grade of the Yukon River Bridge. 655 00:36:01,931 --> 00:36:04,482 JACK: That could be an issue today. 656 00:36:04,586 --> 00:36:08,137 There won't be anybody to pull me up that one, so-- 657 00:36:08,241 --> 00:36:09,689 NARRATOR: The south end of the bridge 658 00:36:09,793 --> 00:36:13,103 is nearly 100 feet higher than the north end. 659 00:36:13,241 --> 00:36:15,620 With the snow that's been falling all day, 660 00:36:15,724 --> 00:36:18,448 this is one of the most dangerous slopes on the haul 661 00:36:18,551 --> 00:36:19,379 road. 662 00:36:19,482 --> 00:36:21,655 JACK: But an empty tanker, again, 663 00:36:21,758 --> 00:36:25,620 going up these long hills should be a little tough, so-- 664 00:36:25,724 --> 00:36:28,206 NARRATOR: A spin out here could launch Jack's truck 665 00:36:28,310 --> 00:36:32,000 off the bridge [crash] and sendhim crashing through the river 666 00:36:32,103 --> 00:36:35,068 ice over 100 feet below. 667 00:36:35,172 --> 00:36:36,034 [crash] 668 00:36:42,379 --> 00:36:44,206 Southbound, Yukon River Bridge. 669 00:36:44,310 --> 00:36:46,172 It can be pretty slick sometimes in the winter. 670 00:36:46,310 --> 00:36:48,724 I remember when they first put this wood decking they got 671 00:36:48,827 --> 00:36:50,931 on this bridge here, it can be pretty slick sometimes 672 00:36:51,034 --> 00:36:51,862 in the winter. 673 00:36:56,724 --> 00:37:00,344 NARRATOR: Jack hits the bridge at close to 55 miles per hour, 674 00:37:00,448 --> 00:37:03,655 counting on momentum to get him across. 675 00:37:03,758 --> 00:37:07,275 JACK: That's kind of strange. 676 00:37:07,379 --> 00:37:09,827 NARRATOR: But almostimmediately, he loses traction. 677 00:37:22,344 --> 00:37:24,724 Oh, there we go spinning already. 678 00:37:27,517 --> 00:37:28,206 Spinning again. 679 00:37:28,310 --> 00:37:29,689 This thing is slick. 680 00:37:33,827 --> 00:37:34,758 Holy [bleep]! 681 00:37:34,862 --> 00:37:36,655 If it weren't for the momentum I had, 682 00:37:36,758 --> 00:37:37,931 I don't think I would make it. 683 00:37:38,034 --> 00:37:40,586 Son of a [bleep]. 684 00:37:40,689 --> 00:37:43,931 What the [bleep]? 685 00:37:44,034 --> 00:37:47,379 NARRATOR: Jack downshifts and picks up 686 00:37:47,482 --> 00:37:48,896 some much-needed traction. 687 00:37:54,448 --> 00:37:55,931 Wow! 688 00:37:56,034 --> 00:37:57,206 Be glad to get back on the ice. 689 00:37:57,310 --> 00:37:58,724 Hell, there was more traction there. 690 00:38:02,448 --> 00:38:05,551 And there we go. 691 00:38:05,655 --> 00:38:06,758 Traction. 692 00:38:06,862 --> 00:38:07,689 [chuckle] 693 00:38:08,896 --> 00:38:11,000 Good thing I did hit that at a decent speed. 694 00:38:11,103 --> 00:38:13,758 Trying to hit that thing at a slower speed, 695 00:38:13,862 --> 00:38:16,551 I wouldn't have made it. 696 00:38:16,655 --> 00:38:19,758 NARRATOR: As night falls, Jack forges ahead to Fairbanks 697 00:38:19,862 --> 00:38:23,068 with just 130 miles to go. 698 00:38:23,172 --> 00:38:26,034 JACK: All you need to know is the road's slick right now. 699 00:38:26,172 --> 00:38:28,482 That's all you need to know. 700 00:38:35,793 --> 00:38:39,344 I don't think winter's over quite yet. 701 00:38:39,448 --> 00:38:41,413 You know, we all got spring fever. 702 00:38:41,517 --> 00:38:43,793 And winter is going to bearound for a little bit longer. 703 00:38:51,551 --> 00:38:54,172 Just outside of Deadhorse, Lisa Kelly 704 00:38:54,275 --> 00:38:57,413 wraps up one of her most dangerous runs of the season. 705 00:38:57,517 --> 00:38:59,034 LISA: Yeah, we're still-- 706 00:38:59,172 --> 00:39:00,344 I'm still trucking. 707 00:39:00,448 --> 00:39:02,655 We haven't blown up. 708 00:39:02,758 --> 00:39:04,689 NARRATOR: She made it to the end of the haul road 709 00:39:04,793 --> 00:39:06,482 with a load of explosives. 710 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:11,862 [music playing] 711 00:39:19,241 --> 00:39:20,103 [air escape] 712 00:39:22,689 --> 00:39:24,931 LISA: Yeah, I was just being real careful not to go off 713 00:39:25,034 --> 00:39:27,310 the road with it, not to hit anything, or get rear 714 00:39:27,413 --> 00:39:30,275 ended, or rear end someone. 715 00:39:30,379 --> 00:39:31,551 Yep, didn't blow anything up. 716 00:39:31,655 --> 00:39:32,517 [chuckle] 717 00:39:34,103 --> 00:39:38,379 Oh, I feel old after that trip. 718 00:39:38,482 --> 00:39:41,896 I just aged 10 years after that one. 719 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:44,137 NARRATOR: But the season isn't over yet. 720 00:39:44,241 --> 00:39:47,931 Tomorrow, Lisa will be gunning again for another load. 721 00:39:48,034 --> 00:39:52,310 LISA: Well, the season has been so crazy this year. 722 00:39:52,413 --> 00:39:53,275 There's no rest for me. 723 00:39:53,379 --> 00:39:54,275 [chuckle] 724 00:39:56,862 --> 00:39:57,758 [music playing] 725 00:40:10,275 --> 00:40:13,000 NARRATOR: The next day, Tim and George 726 00:40:13,103 --> 00:40:16,620 are closing in on Fairbanks. 727 00:40:16,724 --> 00:40:18,275 Southbound and down. 728 00:40:21,862 --> 00:40:23,206 GEORGE: Tim's right behind me. 729 00:40:23,310 --> 00:40:26,448 We're going to be headed for Fairbanks here. 730 00:40:26,551 --> 00:40:29,724 We're looking good. 731 00:40:29,827 --> 00:40:31,896 NARRATOR: After 10 trips together-- 732 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:35,896 TIM: Look at that [bleep] man, holy cow! 733 00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:37,896 NARRATOR: --through the season's worst weather-- 734 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:38,724 [bleep]. 735 00:40:38,827 --> 00:40:40,689 I couldn't see nothing there. 736 00:40:40,827 --> 00:40:44,413 NARRATOR: --the time is near for the rookie to run solo. 737 00:40:44,517 --> 00:40:46,172 Tim keeps working his way up. 738 00:40:46,275 --> 00:40:48,137 He's doing a great job. 739 00:40:48,241 --> 00:40:52,310 And, uh, I really feel confident in him right now. 740 00:40:52,413 --> 00:40:55,758 I-- I just think he'll be ready to go and get her 741 00:40:55,862 --> 00:40:58,379 done by himself. 742 00:40:58,482 --> 00:40:59,620 TIM: So I'm confident. 743 00:40:59,724 --> 00:41:01,448 If you want me to go alone, I mean, I'll go alone, 744 00:41:01,551 --> 00:41:03,965 no problem, but-- 745 00:41:04,068 --> 00:41:07,793 until George kicks me off, I'll stick with that. 746 00:41:07,896 --> 00:41:10,724 He's not going to be up here for much longer. 747 00:41:10,827 --> 00:41:14,310 NARRATOR: George plans on retiring after this season. 748 00:41:14,448 --> 00:41:16,068 GEORGE: I feel very fortunate. 749 00:41:16,172 --> 00:41:17,689 I still wouldn't trade it for anything. 750 00:41:17,793 --> 00:41:22,413 You know, it's time to move on. 751 00:41:22,517 --> 00:41:23,931 TIM: We're really going to miss him. 752 00:41:24,034 --> 00:41:24,896 No doubt about it. 753 00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:28,379 Everybody's uncle, Georgie Spears. 754 00:41:28,482 --> 00:41:31,068 NARRATOR: But George is pushing for at least one more 755 00:41:31,172 --> 00:41:34,551 run up the ice road before cashing in for good. 756 00:41:34,655 --> 00:41:36,724 GEORGE: Yeah, it ain't over yet boys. 757 00:41:36,827 --> 00:41:39,517 We're going to try to go again tomorrow and make 758 00:41:39,620 --> 00:41:41,896 another good trip. 759 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:45,034 NARRATOR: As Tim and George pull into the Carlile yard, 760 00:41:45,137 --> 00:41:48,379 they complete what could be their last run together 761 00:41:48,517 --> 00:41:50,482 this season. 762 00:41:50,586 --> 00:41:52,000 TIM: George is a great teacher. 763 00:41:52,103 --> 00:41:53,827 I'm just trying to soak up as much knowledge 764 00:41:53,931 --> 00:41:56,862 as I can from him before I go out there on my own. 765 00:41:56,965 --> 00:41:59,206 He's really been good, good to me, good-- good teacher. 766 00:41:59,310 --> 00:42:01,551 I couldn't have learned from anybody better than George 767 00:42:01,655 --> 00:42:02,620 here. 768 00:42:02,724 --> 00:42:04,000 [music playing] 769 00:42:07,862 --> 00:42:11,862 NARRATOR: 500 miles north, Alex and Ron 770 00:42:11,965 --> 00:42:15,551 are nearing the end of their latest trial. 771 00:42:15,655 --> 00:42:19,241 ALEX: Well, a dull, nice road showed some of its temperament 772 00:42:19,344 --> 00:42:20,034 today. 773 00:42:20,137 --> 00:42:21,482 We-- we had snow. 774 00:42:21,620 --> 00:42:22,965 We had a little bit of wind. 775 00:42:23,068 --> 00:42:24,034 We had ice. 776 00:42:24,137 --> 00:42:25,482 We had a little bit of everything. 777 00:42:25,586 --> 00:42:27,068 NARRATOR: Alex pulls into Deadhorse 778 00:42:27,172 --> 00:42:29,275 with his 12th load of this season 779 00:42:29,379 --> 00:42:32,068 and high hopes of getting in one last run 780 00:42:32,172 --> 00:42:34,310 before the ice roads all melt away. 781 00:42:41,551 --> 00:42:43,827 ALEX: We're going to try to make it back to Fairbanks 782 00:42:43,931 --> 00:42:44,724 tomorrow, I guess, eh? 783 00:42:44,827 --> 00:42:46,413 If-- if we get out of here early, 784 00:42:46,517 --> 00:42:48,206 we've got a good shot at doing that. 785 00:42:48,310 --> 00:42:51,206 NARRATOR: For the moment, Alex has pulled even again 786 00:42:51,310 --> 00:42:53,068 with rival Hugh Rowland. 787 00:42:53,172 --> 00:42:56,241 And with mere days left on this road, 788 00:42:56,379 --> 00:42:58,758 Jack Jesse is the clear frontrunner. 789 00:42:58,862 --> 00:43:03,241 But for the rest, it's a battle to the bitter end 790 00:43:03,344 --> 00:43:06,793 to see how many loads they can claim on North America's 791 00:43:06,896 --> 00:43:08,275 deadliest ice road. 792 00:43:08,379 --> 00:43:10,517 HUGH: Drop the load, grab one more, 793 00:43:10,620 --> 00:43:14,344 and that's the last one on the season, turn and burn, baby, 794 00:43:14,448 --> 00:43:15,137 turn and burn. 795 00:43:15,241 --> 00:43:16,034 Woo hoo! 796 00:43:16,137 --> 00:43:16,862 [horn] 797 00:43:16,965 --> 00:43:18,206 Ka-ching! Ka-ching! 798 00:43:18,310 --> 00:43:19,000 Dash for the cash. 799 00:43:19,103 --> 00:43:20,172 [horn] 800 00:43:20,275 --> 00:43:22,724 Bet you I made more money than that [bleep].. 801 00:43:22,827 --> 00:43:24,862 We have another complication. 802 00:43:24,965 --> 00:43:28,068 GEORGE: My last winter, and it wants to kick my butt 803 00:43:28,206 --> 00:43:30,103 on the way out the door. 804 00:43:30,206 --> 00:43:31,965 TIM: I knew the road was going to get rough. 805 00:43:32,068 --> 00:43:34,862 But it's rough, a son of a bitch. 806 00:43:34,965 --> 00:43:37,310 LISA: It was kind of scary to discover I didn't have brakes 807 00:43:37,413 --> 00:43:39,068 all of a sudden. 808 00:43:39,172 --> 00:43:41,448 TRUCKER: There is a bear in the way. 809 00:43:41,551 --> 00:43:43,000 And it has the ice road closed. 810 00:43:43,103 --> 00:43:44,448 HUGH: Everything's about as [bleep] 811 00:43:44,551 --> 00:43:47,758 as you can get unless they been in [inaudible]..