1 00:00:05,689 --> 00:00:08,827 NARRATOR: On the season finale of "Ice Road Truckers--" 2 00:00:08,931 --> 00:00:10,275 This job never stops. 3 00:00:10,379 --> 00:00:13,655 This road never lets up. 4 00:00:13,758 --> 00:00:15,068 NARRATOR: Anything can happen. 5 00:00:20,034 --> 00:00:22,206 Anybody can lose it all. 6 00:00:22,344 --> 00:00:24,241 Everything's about as [bleep] as it can get, 7 00:00:24,344 --> 00:00:25,517 unless everything falls apart. 8 00:00:25,620 --> 00:00:27,034 NARRATOR: And everything imaginable 9 00:00:27,137 --> 00:00:30,379 gets in the way of delivering that final load. 10 00:00:30,482 --> 00:00:34,965 There is a bear in the way,and it has the ice road closed. 11 00:00:35,068 --> 00:00:36,172 It's a hell of a road. 12 00:00:36,275 --> 00:00:38,862 It's a good ride. 13 00:00:38,965 --> 00:00:41,310 [theme music] 14 00:01:10,413 --> 00:01:13,206 NARRATOR: In the last days of this ice road season, 15 00:01:13,310 --> 00:01:15,068 winter is giving way to spring. 16 00:01:18,517 --> 00:01:21,275 And while brutal snowstorms batter drivers 17 00:01:21,379 --> 00:01:26,103 and their trucks, higher temperatures 18 00:01:26,206 --> 00:01:27,482 attack the road itself. 19 00:01:30,620 --> 00:01:32,172 The sun's coming out. 20 00:01:32,275 --> 00:01:35,448 It's staying out longer, and it's 21 00:01:35,551 --> 00:01:39,862 starting to make any ice or snow that's left a whole lot 22 00:01:39,965 --> 00:01:42,034 slicker. 23 00:01:42,137 --> 00:01:46,689 Spent my tires just like that, it's so slick out here. 24 00:01:46,793 --> 00:01:48,448 NARRATOR: The ice roads of the far north 25 00:01:48,551 --> 00:01:51,758 are about to disappear, making ocean crossings 26 00:01:51,862 --> 00:01:55,000 impossible until the next deep freeze. 27 00:01:57,620 --> 00:02:00,103 For now, truckers have just two days 28 00:02:00,206 --> 00:02:03,379 left to squeeze in one last lucrative run. 29 00:02:07,275 --> 00:02:10,137 90 miles north of Fairbanks is Jack Jessee. 30 00:02:13,241 --> 00:02:16,310 Pulling onto the icy surface of the Dalton 31 00:02:16,413 --> 00:02:19,517 with 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel. 32 00:02:19,620 --> 00:02:21,655 Last run. 33 00:02:21,758 --> 00:02:25,551 NARRATOR: Jack's last run willalso be the last ocean crossing 34 00:02:25,655 --> 00:02:26,896 of the season. 35 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,862 We'll actually get to drive this thing across the ocean. 36 00:02:29,965 --> 00:02:31,620 NARRATOR: He's bound for an oil rig 37 00:02:31,724 --> 00:02:34,689 off Alaska's northern coast, and to get there, 38 00:02:34,793 --> 00:02:37,965 he must cross a rapidly melting ice road. 39 00:02:38,103 --> 00:02:40,517 You know, when they hear that Fairbanks is starting to thaw 40 00:02:40,620 --> 00:02:43,689 out a little bit, they all get in a little bit of a panic. 41 00:02:43,793 --> 00:02:48,689 Put their last orders for fuel, or freight, or anything 42 00:02:48,793 --> 00:02:49,931 that they haven't gotten yet. 43 00:02:54,379 --> 00:02:58,103 NARRATOR: One of Carlile's stardrivers, Jack's run the biggest 44 00:02:58,206 --> 00:03:01,931 loads of the year through the harshest winter in memory. 45 00:03:02,034 --> 00:03:06,137 It's almost indescribable how this winter's went. 46 00:03:06,241 --> 00:03:08,000 I can call it rough. 47 00:03:08,103 --> 00:03:10,103 I could call it difficult and challenging, 48 00:03:10,241 --> 00:03:13,344 but until you've driven in this kind of stuff, 49 00:03:13,448 --> 00:03:15,310 it's just really hard to explain. 50 00:03:18,379 --> 00:03:21,206 Driving in it blows. 51 00:03:21,310 --> 00:03:24,620 Couldn't see past the end of the hood. 52 00:03:24,724 --> 00:03:27,758 NARRATOR: Through white outs on the north slope 53 00:03:27,862 --> 00:03:33,586 and avalanches on Atigun Pass, Jack steered his giant rigs 54 00:03:33,689 --> 00:03:36,655 without a wreck. 55 00:03:36,758 --> 00:03:38,862 Other truckers were not so lucky. 56 00:03:41,655 --> 00:03:45,034 The way the winter went, itwas more like Russian roulette. 57 00:03:45,172 --> 00:03:46,758 You never knew who was going to be next. 58 00:03:50,896 --> 00:03:52,620 One, I didn't die. 59 00:03:52,724 --> 00:03:54,000 Two, I made it home every trip. 60 00:03:54,103 --> 00:03:55,758 And three, I made a little money doing it. 61 00:04:04,068 --> 00:04:06,482 NARRATOR: 270 miles up the Dalton, 62 00:04:06,586 --> 00:04:08,172 Lisa Kelly is southbound. 63 00:04:12,379 --> 00:04:16,344 This is my final run of this season of the year, 64 00:04:16,482 --> 00:04:19,827 of the-- whatever-- until next winter. 65 00:04:19,931 --> 00:04:22,448 NARRATOR: She's on a backhaul from Prudhoe Bay, 66 00:04:22,551 --> 00:04:24,724 pulling a trailer of hazardous waste. 67 00:04:31,896 --> 00:04:34,034 NARRATOR: Lisa's second season on the Dalton 68 00:04:34,137 --> 00:04:37,827 has been full of personal achievements. 69 00:04:37,931 --> 00:04:40,793 I had a lot of firsts this year. 70 00:04:40,896 --> 00:04:45,827 First time I've ever lost the road completely. 71 00:04:45,931 --> 00:04:46,620 Crap. 72 00:04:52,655 --> 00:04:57,482 First time I've been through avalanches on the pass. 73 00:04:57,586 --> 00:04:59,448 First time I've seen buzzcocks. 74 00:04:59,551 --> 00:05:01,482 Right there! 75 00:05:01,586 --> 00:05:05,344 That is so cool. 76 00:05:05,448 --> 00:05:09,586 It was my first time on the ocean ice. 77 00:05:09,689 --> 00:05:13,241 We are on the ocean right now. 78 00:05:13,344 --> 00:05:15,793 So intense, dude. 79 00:05:15,896 --> 00:05:19,137 NARRATOR: By safely moving challenging loads all winter, 80 00:05:19,241 --> 00:05:22,724 she's positioned for the biggest first of all. 81 00:05:22,862 --> 00:05:25,000 I think she'd like to be the first heavy haul woman 82 00:05:25,103 --> 00:05:27,689 that we've got here at Carlile. 83 00:05:27,793 --> 00:05:29,448 What she's going to have to prove everyone 84 00:05:29,551 --> 00:05:32,689 is that she's capable of running the haul road safely, 85 00:05:32,793 --> 00:05:36,448 and with challenging loads. 86 00:05:36,551 --> 00:05:39,965 NARRATOR: Now she's just 350 miles from the finish line 87 00:05:40,068 --> 00:05:41,241 in Fairbanks. 88 00:05:41,344 --> 00:05:43,310 So far it's been uneventful, but that 89 00:05:43,413 --> 00:05:45,896 doesn't mean it can't get a whole lot worse really quick. 90 00:05:54,103 --> 00:05:54,827 Dammit. 91 00:06:00,448 --> 00:06:01,689 Oh, man. 92 00:06:01,793 --> 00:06:02,482 [bleep] 93 00:06:02,586 --> 00:06:03,931 Come on, what the [bleep]? 94 00:06:04,034 --> 00:06:06,862 NARRATOR: Suddenly, Lisarealizes her trailer brakes are 95 00:06:06,965 --> 00:06:08,000 shot. 96 00:06:08,103 --> 00:06:10,482 Had nearly got into Prudhoe with this trailer. 97 00:06:10,586 --> 00:06:13,586 I thought it was, like, something small. 98 00:06:13,689 --> 00:06:17,931 It's turning out to get bigger and bigger. 99 00:06:18,034 --> 00:06:20,172 NARRATOR: In Lisa's trailer brake system, 100 00:06:20,275 --> 00:06:24,344 air began leaking out of a pinhole gap in a well. 101 00:06:24,448 --> 00:06:27,413 But because metal expands as it warms up, 102 00:06:27,517 --> 00:06:30,689 the slow leak becomes a torrent as she moves south. 103 00:06:33,310 --> 00:06:37,206 Now she's in danger of losing her brakes completely. 104 00:06:37,310 --> 00:06:41,413 And it could drain all myair completely out of my truck. 105 00:06:41,517 --> 00:06:44,482 And my truck, and my trailer would just lock up, 106 00:06:44,586 --> 00:06:47,655 and it would really suck to beclimbing a hill when everything 107 00:06:47,758 --> 00:06:51,000 decides to just stop and lock. 108 00:06:51,103 --> 00:06:53,206 NARRATOR: Lisa slowly pushes south, 109 00:06:53,310 --> 00:06:55,241 hoping her brakes will hold. 110 00:06:55,344 --> 00:06:59,793 The road never lets up, and I can't let up, you know? 111 00:06:59,896 --> 00:07:02,517 You can't just quit in the middle of it. 112 00:07:02,655 --> 00:07:03,551 I'm done with this road. 113 00:07:03,655 --> 00:07:04,965 I'm taken a plane out of here. 114 00:07:05,068 --> 00:07:06,137 Oh, there are no planes here. 115 00:07:15,379 --> 00:07:18,655 NARRATOR: In the Fairbanksyards of Carlile Transportation, 116 00:07:18,758 --> 00:07:23,965 haul road veteran George Spears begins his last run ever. 117 00:07:24,068 --> 00:07:26,379 It's not only the end of the season, it's the end of me. 118 00:07:26,482 --> 00:07:27,586 I'm done. 119 00:07:27,689 --> 00:07:34,827 [laughter] If somebody told me when I was a kid, 120 00:07:34,931 --> 00:07:38,000 you're going to be spending 35 years in Alaska, 121 00:07:38,137 --> 00:07:41,689 30 years driving trucks up here,I'd have said, you're crazy. 122 00:07:41,793 --> 00:07:45,000 NARRATOR: As many can attest, his 30th winter season 123 00:07:45,103 --> 00:07:47,034 has been one of the toughest. 124 00:07:47,137 --> 00:07:49,827 We had extremely cold weather, then 125 00:07:49,931 --> 00:07:51,793 we had extremely warm weather. 126 00:07:51,896 --> 00:07:54,275 Then we had windy weather, and a lot of snow. 127 00:07:54,379 --> 00:07:57,586 It was just a tough winter all the way around, so-- 128 00:07:57,689 --> 00:07:59,068 NARRATOR: When he does walk away, 129 00:07:59,172 --> 00:08:02,275 he'll leave no regrets behind. 130 00:08:02,379 --> 00:08:04,413 I spent all my money on beer and women. 131 00:08:04,517 --> 00:08:08,275 The rest of it I just waste. 132 00:08:08,379 --> 00:08:10,379 NARRATOR: Running in convoy with George 133 00:08:10,517 --> 00:08:14,965 is Alex Debogorski, who's on his 12th load of the season. 134 00:08:15,068 --> 00:08:16,689 Well, here we go. 135 00:08:16,793 --> 00:08:19,793 The last trip of the season. 136 00:08:19,896 --> 00:08:22,034 The last trip this year on the Dalton. 137 00:08:22,137 --> 00:08:23,931 I've got, actually, a real real nice load. 138 00:08:24,034 --> 00:08:26,793 I have an air ride trailer, which is the first air ride 139 00:08:26,896 --> 00:08:28,724 trailer I've got, and it's riding real nice. 140 00:08:28,827 --> 00:08:32,586 I've got three pickups on the back. 141 00:08:32,689 --> 00:08:36,620 A payload of just under 20,000 pounds. 142 00:08:36,724 --> 00:08:39,793 NARRATOR: Air suspension is abig advantage in the final days 143 00:08:39,896 --> 00:08:43,034 of the ice road, when the driving surface is pitted 144 00:08:43,172 --> 00:08:43,896 and potholed. 145 00:08:47,068 --> 00:08:49,827 Well, it's spring. 146 00:08:49,931 --> 00:08:53,586 The trucks pound on the road out, and they keep grading it, 147 00:08:53,689 --> 00:08:55,068 and the trucks keep pounding it out. 148 00:08:58,827 --> 00:09:02,206 NARRATOR: Alex is just half a run behind his rival, Hugh 149 00:09:02,310 --> 00:09:03,551 Rowland. 150 00:09:03,655 --> 00:09:06,000 And he'd like nothing better than to beat the polar bear 151 00:09:06,103 --> 00:09:07,344 at his own game. 152 00:09:07,448 --> 00:09:09,482 Suppose if I could have more loads than Hugh, 153 00:09:09,586 --> 00:09:13,620 that would be good, because it'd irritate him. 154 00:09:13,724 --> 00:09:15,689 NARRATOR: But for now, Alex's pace 155 00:09:15,827 --> 00:09:18,862 is set by lead driver George Spears. 156 00:09:18,965 --> 00:09:21,689 Georgie is not known for being a speed demon. 157 00:09:24,620 --> 00:09:26,931 And he hasn't disappointed us. 158 00:09:27,034 --> 00:09:28,310 He's going as slow as ever. 159 00:09:31,034 --> 00:09:34,413 NARRATOR: And he's leaving the outcome of the race in someone 160 00:09:34,517 --> 00:09:36,172 else's hands. 161 00:09:36,275 --> 00:09:37,655 God. 162 00:09:37,758 --> 00:09:40,586 The Oscar goes to God for writing the script. 163 00:09:44,068 --> 00:09:48,310 It's God writing the script, and man trying to mess it up. 164 00:09:48,413 --> 00:09:50,206 [laughter] 165 00:09:55,068 --> 00:09:59,000 NARRATOR: 50 miles ahead of Alex is Hugh Rowland, heading 166 00:09:59,103 --> 00:10:03,379 southbound to Fairbanks to pick up his 14th load. 167 00:10:03,482 --> 00:10:06,620 If he arrives early enough to score one more run, 168 00:10:06,724 --> 00:10:10,000 he'll almost certainly top Alex in the load count. 169 00:10:10,103 --> 00:10:13,724 In his final days on the Dalton,Hugh is hitting his stride. 170 00:10:13,827 --> 00:10:15,034 [horn] 171 00:10:16,482 --> 00:10:19,137 I've heard about this road since I was a kid. 172 00:10:19,241 --> 00:10:22,310 I never, ever dreamed I'd be here, but I am here. 173 00:10:22,448 --> 00:10:24,551 And I enjoy the [bleep] out of it. 174 00:10:24,655 --> 00:10:27,827 I've met lots of good people, and they treated me like gold. 175 00:10:27,931 --> 00:10:30,793 NARRATOR: Hugh and Alex have overcome the double stigma 176 00:10:30,896 --> 00:10:36,310 of being newcomers and Canadianson the American ice road. 177 00:10:36,413 --> 00:10:38,896 Pretty easy to weed the [bleep] out of this on this 178 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,137 road. 179 00:10:40,241 --> 00:10:43,379 You can weed a [bleep] out real quick on a good road. 180 00:10:43,482 --> 00:10:44,724 Now, me and Alex aren't [bleep]. 181 00:10:44,827 --> 00:10:47,310 We've been doing this all our lives. 182 00:10:47,413 --> 00:10:52,172 NARRATOR: The polar bear's finalrun looks like a victory lap. 183 00:10:52,275 --> 00:10:53,724 Until-- 184 00:10:53,827 --> 00:10:56,103 [hissing] 185 00:10:59,103 --> 00:11:02,000 I got a brake that fell right off the truck. 186 00:11:02,103 --> 00:11:04,724 NARRATOR: With one brake gone and smoke pouring off 187 00:11:04,827 --> 00:11:09,241 the others, Hugh's season could end here. 188 00:11:18,896 --> 00:11:21,206 I lost the [inaudible]. 189 00:11:27,068 --> 00:11:28,793 Everything's about as [bleep] as it can get, 190 00:11:28,931 --> 00:11:30,034 unless everything flies apart. 191 00:11:34,068 --> 00:11:36,655 NARRATOR: Hugh Rowland was closing in on Fairbanks 192 00:11:36,758 --> 00:11:40,620 and hoping to pick up one morerun this season when his brakes 193 00:11:40,724 --> 00:11:42,896 literally went up in smoke. 194 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:44,793 I got a brake that fell right off the truck. 195 00:11:51,344 --> 00:11:52,758 It just fell right off. 196 00:11:52,862 --> 00:11:53,758 Yeah. 197 00:11:53,862 --> 00:11:54,551 [bleep] 198 00:11:56,793 --> 00:11:59,068 NARRATOR: Hugh and his running partner, Phil [inaudible],, 199 00:11:59,172 --> 00:12:00,827 assess the damage. 200 00:12:00,931 --> 00:12:02,586 - It's smoking up front. - That's nothing. 201 00:12:02,724 --> 00:12:03,862 This is what's wrong here. 202 00:12:07,310 --> 00:12:10,482 NARRATOR: When one of the four brake assemblies dropped off, 203 00:12:10,586 --> 00:12:13,586 it left a huge breach in the air system. 204 00:12:13,689 --> 00:12:18,931 The remaining brakes locked, and quickly overheated. 205 00:12:19,034 --> 00:12:22,068 Brake can fell off of Hugh's truck there. 206 00:12:22,172 --> 00:12:26,103 This time of year the road's getting rough, and vibrating 207 00:12:26,206 --> 00:12:28,551 things. 208 00:12:28,655 --> 00:12:30,413 It's unfortunate we didn't catch it before it 209 00:12:30,517 --> 00:12:32,344 had come completely off. 210 00:12:32,448 --> 00:12:34,413 It's an old truck, and it just rotted off. 211 00:12:34,517 --> 00:12:37,000 That's all that happened. 212 00:12:37,137 --> 00:12:39,103 Broke right off. 213 00:12:39,206 --> 00:12:41,724 NARRATOR: With his truck in lockdown, 214 00:12:41,827 --> 00:12:44,344 Hugh is going nowhere. 215 00:12:44,448 --> 00:12:49,103 His season ends here, unless he can somehow patch together 216 00:12:49,206 --> 00:12:50,000 the brake system. 217 00:12:54,586 --> 00:12:58,724 140 miles up the Dalton is Alex Debogorski, 218 00:12:58,827 --> 00:13:01,344 and now that Hugh has broken down, 219 00:13:01,448 --> 00:13:04,827 he might finally have a chance to take the lead. 220 00:13:04,931 --> 00:13:08,413 If only he wasn't following the most cautious driver 221 00:13:08,551 --> 00:13:11,413 on the Dalton, George Spears. 222 00:13:11,517 --> 00:13:14,034 He says he's never broke anybody's windshield 223 00:13:14,137 --> 00:13:16,758 with a rock, because at the speed he's going, 224 00:13:16,862 --> 00:13:18,344 the rocks don't even leave the ground. 225 00:13:22,482 --> 00:13:26,344 NARRATOR: And George is even slower than usual, due 226 00:13:26,448 --> 00:13:28,862 to the deep potholes in the decaying road. 227 00:13:32,379 --> 00:13:36,068 Good way to break your front springs. 228 00:13:36,172 --> 00:13:37,655 Break your shocks, or something. 229 00:13:37,758 --> 00:13:39,620 Oh, there's another one. 230 00:13:43,206 --> 00:13:45,586 [horn] 231 00:13:47,172 --> 00:13:49,000 I'm really excited. 232 00:13:49,103 --> 00:13:51,000 George just got up to 30 miles an hour. 233 00:13:54,758 --> 00:13:56,034 Springtime in Alaska. 234 00:13:56,137 --> 00:13:57,310 You're going to have potholes. 235 00:13:59,379 --> 00:14:01,586 We got passed by two gophers back there. 236 00:14:01,689 --> 00:14:03,827 They didn't seem to be too worried about the potholes. 237 00:14:03,931 --> 00:14:05,172 They probably made 'em. 238 00:14:05,275 --> 00:14:06,413 It's pretty daggone rough. 239 00:14:06,517 --> 00:14:07,724 We're going to have to go slow. 240 00:14:07,827 --> 00:14:11,172 That's all there is to it. 241 00:14:11,275 --> 00:14:12,620 Oh, goodness grief. 242 00:14:16,137 --> 00:14:21,793 NARRATOR: Back in Fairbanks, TimFreeman looks up the final load 243 00:14:21,896 --> 00:14:24,758 of his rookie season. 244 00:14:24,862 --> 00:14:28,793 On his first 10 runs, he was guided by his mentor, George 245 00:14:28,896 --> 00:14:30,551 Spears. 246 00:14:30,655 --> 00:14:36,517 For this trip, management hasfinally cleared him to go solo. 247 00:14:36,620 --> 00:14:38,896 I believe Tim is ready to go out there by himself. 248 00:14:42,068 --> 00:14:43,344 We're going to have to watch him. 249 00:14:43,448 --> 00:14:46,758 The haul road is a very dangerous place to be. 250 00:14:46,862 --> 00:14:49,586 The thought of me driving theDalton highway before I went up 251 00:14:49,724 --> 00:14:52,310 there scared the [bleep] out of me, to be honest with you. 252 00:14:52,413 --> 00:14:54,482 My first trip, my second trip, and my third trip 253 00:14:54,586 --> 00:14:57,448 were just about as bad as I envisioned that. 254 00:14:57,551 --> 00:14:59,344 NARRATOR: On his first run-- 255 00:14:59,448 --> 00:15:00,551 This sucks! 256 00:15:00,655 --> 00:15:01,931 I know it. 257 00:15:02,034 --> 00:15:04,413 NARRATOR: He was forced to turnback with mechanical trouble 258 00:15:04,517 --> 00:15:06,758 before he even reached the ice road. 259 00:15:06,862 --> 00:15:10,241 His next trip took him straight into a whiteout 260 00:15:10,344 --> 00:15:12,862 on one of the most treacherous stretches of road 261 00:15:12,965 --> 00:15:13,931 in North America. 262 00:15:14,034 --> 00:15:15,586 Holy [bleep]. 263 00:15:15,689 --> 00:15:18,965 NARRATOR: With his third load, his truck broke down again, 264 00:15:19,068 --> 00:15:21,517 and was burglarized. 265 00:15:21,620 --> 00:15:25,620 Some [bleep] weed stole the tire chains off my truck. 266 00:15:25,758 --> 00:15:28,103 NARRATOR: But he toughed out the rough stretches 267 00:15:28,206 --> 00:15:31,724 until he finally hit his stride. 268 00:15:31,827 --> 00:15:34,448 I made it up there, kept her out of the ditch. 269 00:15:34,551 --> 00:15:37,275 Didn't get stuck in too many bad storms, so yeah, 270 00:15:37,379 --> 00:15:38,310 it was a good season. 271 00:15:38,413 --> 00:15:39,482 I think I did good up there. 272 00:15:43,137 --> 00:15:44,827 This is something I've been looking forward 273 00:15:44,931 --> 00:15:46,379 to since I started at Carlile. 274 00:15:49,758 --> 00:15:53,827 NARRATOR: His first solo run is also his first major load. 275 00:15:53,931 --> 00:15:54,758 [horn] 276 00:15:56,241 --> 00:16:03,827 50 foot lengths of oversized pipe, totaling 45,000 pounds. 277 00:16:03,931 --> 00:16:06,241 Headed due north to Prudhoe Bay. 278 00:16:09,551 --> 00:16:10,862 We're nearing a town. 279 00:16:10,965 --> 00:16:16,413 For the first 260 miles, it's one steep grade after another. 280 00:16:16,517 --> 00:16:19,379 Windy, curvy. 281 00:16:19,482 --> 00:16:21,655 You need to learn the road before you're sent out here 282 00:16:21,758 --> 00:16:22,448 by yourself. 283 00:16:25,310 --> 00:16:29,965 NARRATOR: The road is scarcelyrecognizable from earlier runs. 284 00:16:30,103 --> 00:16:39,172 It's become an obstacle course of mud, frost heaves, 285 00:16:39,275 --> 00:16:40,068 and deep potholes. 286 00:16:43,310 --> 00:16:44,931 I knew the road was going to get rough, 287 00:16:45,034 --> 00:16:47,655 but I didn't think it was goingto get as rough as it really 288 00:16:47,758 --> 00:16:48,448 did. 289 00:16:48,551 --> 00:16:49,896 It's rough as [bleep]. 290 00:16:55,241 --> 00:16:58,344 NARRATOR: Just 70 miles north is Hugh Rowland and Phil 291 00:16:58,448 --> 00:17:02,034 [inaudible]. 292 00:17:02,172 --> 00:17:05,137 Trying to patch together Hugh's brakes for the run 293 00:17:05,241 --> 00:17:06,206 back to Fairbanks. 294 00:17:09,793 --> 00:17:11,310 You're knocking dirt in my ear. 295 00:17:11,413 --> 00:17:12,103 Oh, sorry. 296 00:17:16,310 --> 00:17:17,379 Wanting to break up. 297 00:17:17,482 --> 00:17:20,862 It's not gonna. 298 00:17:20,965 --> 00:17:23,172 NARRATOR: They strip off parts of the damaged brake. 299 00:17:29,275 --> 00:17:30,000 There. 300 00:17:30,103 --> 00:17:30,965 I got it. 301 00:17:31,068 --> 00:17:31,758 Yeah. 302 00:17:34,448 --> 00:17:36,103 NARRATOR: Using an old bungie, Phil 303 00:17:36,241 --> 00:17:39,206 secures what's left of the brake to the undercarriage 304 00:17:39,310 --> 00:17:40,310 of the truck. 305 00:17:40,413 --> 00:17:42,793 With the broken line sealed off, the system 306 00:17:42,896 --> 00:17:47,172 might hold air long enough to get Hugh back to Fairbanks. 307 00:17:47,275 --> 00:17:49,862 I'll see if I can get air. 308 00:17:49,965 --> 00:17:51,103 We're building air pressure. 309 00:17:58,448 --> 00:18:01,793 Yeah, we're good. 310 00:18:01,896 --> 00:18:04,724 NARRATOR: Hugh and Phil havemanaged to bring the truck back 311 00:18:04,827 --> 00:18:06,275 from the dead. 312 00:18:06,379 --> 00:18:09,000 All right, let's try and get this operation to town. 313 00:18:09,137 --> 00:18:09,827 Yeah. 314 00:18:09,931 --> 00:18:10,724 We'd better get going. 315 00:18:18,551 --> 00:18:20,137 That's why they call us the dream team. 316 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,275 Well that's part of the reason. 317 00:18:27,379 --> 00:18:30,758 NARRATOR: Hugh's hoping to pickup one last run this season, 318 00:18:30,862 --> 00:18:34,655 but for now he's fortunate to have avoided disaster. 319 00:18:34,758 --> 00:18:37,103 We'd have ended up [bleep] everything when it came flying 320 00:18:37,206 --> 00:18:38,551 apart. We'd have had a wreck. 321 00:18:38,655 --> 00:18:40,758 First off, I'd have run right out of air immediately, 322 00:18:40,862 --> 00:18:42,448 and then everything would have locked up, 323 00:18:42,586 --> 00:18:43,862 and we'd have been over the bank. 324 00:18:50,137 --> 00:18:54,586 NARRATOR: 240 miles up the Dalton, going southbound, Lisa 325 00:18:54,689 --> 00:18:59,862 Kelly powers over the top of Atigun Pass. 326 00:18:59,965 --> 00:19:03,931 On the descent, she faces a series of steep, sharp turns, 327 00:19:04,034 --> 00:19:05,241 with no trailer brakes. 328 00:19:09,379 --> 00:19:11,758 Switcback in for a mountain pass, and gotta 329 00:19:11,862 --> 00:19:13,655 be careful on it, because it's real tight. 330 00:19:13,758 --> 00:19:16,068 It was kind of scary to discoverI didn't have brakees all 331 00:19:16,206 --> 00:19:18,310 of a sudden, and I didn't know what to do about it. 332 00:19:18,413 --> 00:19:20,103 When you just can't get a stop fast enough. 333 00:19:22,862 --> 00:19:24,413 NARRATOR: She still has truck brakes, 334 00:19:24,517 --> 00:19:27,517 but she could quickly burn through them trying to stop 335 00:19:27,620 --> 00:19:31,000 both tractor and trailer. 336 00:19:31,103 --> 00:19:33,413 So I'm just going to drive where I don't need my brakes. 337 00:19:38,793 --> 00:19:41,241 NARRATOR: Lisa attempts to make the downhill run 338 00:19:41,344 --> 00:19:43,862 without touching her brake pedal. 339 00:19:43,965 --> 00:19:46,000 We have the Jake brake, and we can 340 00:19:46,103 --> 00:19:48,517 downshift to help slow us down. 341 00:19:48,655 --> 00:19:50,344 So I'm not completely without, but I 342 00:19:50,448 --> 00:19:54,241 don't want to be going so fast that I need to stop suddenly. 343 00:19:57,310 --> 00:19:58,689 I'll just drive real slow. 344 00:20:02,689 --> 00:20:04,689 Try not to come up on anything too fast, 345 00:20:04,793 --> 00:20:06,000 where I'd have to use my brakes. 346 00:20:09,103 --> 00:20:11,620 MAN [ON RADIO]: Coming at you there, Lisa. 347 00:20:11,724 --> 00:20:14,103 What's coming at me? 348 00:20:14,206 --> 00:20:18,103 [horn] Whoa! 349 00:20:18,206 --> 00:20:19,103 Holy crap. 350 00:20:28,241 --> 00:20:32,517 NARRATOR: Nursing the gear shift and the Jake, 351 00:20:32,620 --> 00:20:36,068 Lisa makes it safely to the bottom of the pass 352 00:20:36,172 --> 00:20:39,000 without touching her brakes once. 353 00:20:39,103 --> 00:20:41,068 I mean, if you're using your brakes all the time, 354 00:20:41,172 --> 00:20:43,068 you're probably going too fast. 355 00:20:43,172 --> 00:20:46,034 NARRATOR: But with 250 miles left to go, 356 00:20:46,137 --> 00:20:50,689 Lisa is a long way from being home free. 357 00:20:50,793 --> 00:20:52,965 I'm not there until I'm pulling in the yard. 358 00:20:55,827 --> 00:20:59,068 NARRATOR: With less than two days left in the season, 359 00:20:59,172 --> 00:21:04,379 Lisa Kelly nurses a damagedtruck down a decaying ice road. 360 00:21:04,482 --> 00:21:06,241 That's a really scary feeling, when you just 361 00:21:06,344 --> 00:21:09,068 can't get stopped fast enough. 362 00:21:09,172 --> 00:21:11,482 NARRATOR: She's 240 miles from Fairbanks, 363 00:21:11,586 --> 00:21:13,172 and her trailer brakes are gone. 364 00:21:15,827 --> 00:21:20,379 Lisa is afraid to risk it any further. 365 00:21:20,482 --> 00:21:22,137 Hey, [inaudible],, you got a copy there? 366 00:21:27,827 --> 00:21:31,827 NARRATOR: A familiar voice responds to her radio call. 367 00:21:31,965 --> 00:21:32,862 Way to go, Lisa. 368 00:21:36,068 --> 00:21:37,689 NARRATOR: Tim Freeman pulls into Coldfoot 369 00:21:37,793 --> 00:21:39,103 to help Lisa with her brakes. 370 00:21:42,517 --> 00:21:44,655 Where are they coming from? 371 00:21:44,758 --> 00:21:46,379 Right here. 372 00:21:46,482 --> 00:21:48,068 Oh. 373 00:21:48,172 --> 00:21:50,965 Can we-- I have a plug that we could just thread in the end, 374 00:21:51,068 --> 00:21:52,310 maybe? 375 00:21:52,413 --> 00:21:53,103 OK. 376 00:21:53,206 --> 00:21:56,344 Toss it in here. 377 00:21:56,448 --> 00:21:59,034 NARRATOR: With a rubber plug and some Teflon tape, 378 00:21:59,137 --> 00:22:03,758 Tim tries to stop the leak in Lisa's brake line. 379 00:22:03,896 --> 00:22:05,275 Now I'm gonna be your cheerleader. 380 00:22:05,379 --> 00:22:06,000 Go, Tim! 381 00:22:06,103 --> 00:22:06,965 Go, Tim! 382 00:22:07,068 --> 00:22:10,137 Go, go! 383 00:22:10,241 --> 00:22:12,724 OK, go-- go charge your trailer. 384 00:22:12,827 --> 00:22:14,448 LISA: OK. 385 00:22:14,551 --> 00:22:18,310 Don't let it shoot you in the forehead. 386 00:22:18,413 --> 00:22:20,206 Are you ready for the test? 387 00:22:23,620 --> 00:22:25,275 NARRATOR: Lisa charges up the system. 388 00:22:31,241 --> 00:22:35,000 And the air tank on the trailer holds. 389 00:22:35,137 --> 00:22:37,793 Lisa, you [inaudible] big time. 390 00:22:37,896 --> 00:22:39,034 - Why? - Why? 391 00:22:39,137 --> 00:22:40,344 What do you mean, why? 392 00:22:40,448 --> 00:22:44,000 Because I'm sitting on my ass in mud, probably is why. 393 00:22:44,103 --> 00:22:44,827 Why? 394 00:22:48,620 --> 00:22:51,275 Thanks. 395 00:22:51,379 --> 00:22:54,000 I was gonna give you a nice, warm, friendly you're welcome. 396 00:22:57,517 --> 00:22:59,275 Thanks for doing that, though. 397 00:22:59,379 --> 00:23:00,344 No problem. 398 00:23:00,448 --> 00:23:01,137 It was awesome. 399 00:23:01,241 --> 00:23:01,965 Appreciate it. 400 00:23:05,551 --> 00:23:08,413 It's actually kind of a goodending to the season, you know? 401 00:23:08,551 --> 00:23:10,965 I mean, it kind of sucks that we're, like, all breaking down 402 00:23:11,068 --> 00:23:14,551 and stuff, but it's cool thatwe can all help each other out. 403 00:23:14,655 --> 00:23:16,448 Keep on truckin'. 404 00:23:16,551 --> 00:23:18,103 LISA: All righty. 405 00:23:18,206 --> 00:23:19,344 We're going to make it back. 406 00:23:19,448 --> 00:23:20,896 Bungee cords, and duct tape, and all. 407 00:23:26,862 --> 00:23:28,827 NARRATOR: 300 miles south-- 408 00:23:28,931 --> 00:23:31,482 You always get your load back. 409 00:23:31,586 --> 00:23:34,379 NARRATOR: Running with his own jerry-rigged brake system, 410 00:23:34,482 --> 00:23:39,586 Hugh Rowland pulls into the Carlile yard in Fairbanks. 411 00:23:39,689 --> 00:23:43,206 Got her fixed up, and haywiredup, and we made her to town. 412 00:23:43,344 --> 00:23:44,551 Got the load delivered, anyway. 413 00:23:47,068 --> 00:23:48,448 These good guys in the shop here are 414 00:23:48,551 --> 00:23:50,689 going to work on her tonight, and try and get her out 415 00:23:50,793 --> 00:23:54,000 tomorrow, and we'll make that last load. 416 00:23:54,103 --> 00:23:57,137 NARRATOR: If he can sneak in one last run, 417 00:23:57,241 --> 00:24:01,103 he'll secure his win against Alex 418 00:24:01,206 --> 00:24:05,000 and come in first among all road rookies. 419 00:24:05,103 --> 00:24:07,206 But he can't get back on the road 420 00:24:07,310 --> 00:24:11,931 until his mangled brakes are rebuilt. 421 00:24:12,034 --> 00:24:14,310 How long can it take? 422 00:24:14,413 --> 00:24:16,724 These guys could have itdone in a couple hours tonight, 423 00:24:16,862 --> 00:24:19,275 or they could have it done in half a day tomorrow. 424 00:24:19,379 --> 00:24:22,931 Or we might have to order parts from Kentucky. 425 00:24:28,793 --> 00:24:32,827 NARRATOR: Meanwhile, 160 miles up the ice road-- 426 00:24:32,931 --> 00:24:35,758 Alex will be lucky to just pull even with Hugh 427 00:24:35,862 --> 00:24:38,586 in the dash for the cash. 428 00:24:38,689 --> 00:24:41,896 We could have people die of old age on this trip. 429 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,482 [laughter] 430 00:24:44,586 --> 00:24:47,000 NARRATOR: Until George lets him take the lead. 431 00:25:06,482 --> 00:25:09,137 He's letting me lead because he figures I can do the job. 432 00:25:12,068 --> 00:25:13,172 Just makes me really excited. 433 00:25:13,275 --> 00:25:14,000 Proud. 434 00:25:18,310 --> 00:25:19,172 I've got her. 435 00:25:23,689 --> 00:25:26,068 That'll be my opportunity to get out of the dust, 436 00:25:26,172 --> 00:25:27,965 and get to show George some dust. 437 00:25:36,103 --> 00:25:38,000 NARRATOR: Back in Fairbanks, Lisa Kelly 438 00:25:38,103 --> 00:25:44,827 pulls across the finish line with a big sigh of relief. 439 00:25:44,931 --> 00:25:46,620 Last load of the season. 440 00:25:46,724 --> 00:25:49,310 Going home. 441 00:25:49,413 --> 00:25:54,344 Going to play all summer, and get back to work next winter. 442 00:25:54,448 --> 00:25:55,137 Yay! 443 00:25:55,275 --> 00:25:58,103 I love this part. 444 00:25:58,206 --> 00:26:01,758 NARRATOR: All winter long, she'sdefied the stereotypes of being 445 00:26:01,862 --> 00:26:04,206 a woman driver, and a lightweight freight 446 00:26:04,310 --> 00:26:07,344 hauler by carrying the most challenging loads 447 00:26:07,448 --> 00:26:08,137 of the season. 448 00:26:11,655 --> 00:26:13,517 I would like to do more big stuff. 449 00:26:13,620 --> 00:26:16,965 So that way, people can't make fun of me. 450 00:26:17,068 --> 00:26:20,482 NARRATOR: To top it all off-- 451 00:26:20,586 --> 00:26:22,896 I am on the ocean ice. 452 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:24,517 Kinda feel the waves. 453 00:26:24,620 --> 00:26:27,241 NARRATOR: She navigated the frozen Arctic Ocean 454 00:26:27,344 --> 00:26:29,965 for the first time in her career. 455 00:26:30,103 --> 00:26:32,068 This was a big season for me. 456 00:26:32,172 --> 00:26:33,965 I'm glad I survived it. 457 00:26:34,068 --> 00:26:35,310 It's over. 458 00:26:35,413 --> 00:26:37,137 Going home. 459 00:26:37,241 --> 00:26:41,000 NARRATOR: Lisa ends her second ice road season with 15 loads 460 00:26:41,103 --> 00:26:45,068 in the books, and one of the strongest showings of any ice 461 00:26:45,172 --> 00:26:46,758 road trucker this year. 462 00:26:46,862 --> 00:26:49,344 I am really proud of myself this year. 463 00:26:49,448 --> 00:26:50,827 For all the accidents there's been, 464 00:26:50,931 --> 00:26:54,275 and all the storms there's been, I've survived it. 465 00:26:54,379 --> 00:26:56,000 I made it through. 466 00:26:56,103 --> 00:26:56,896 Kept it on the road. 467 00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:58,310 Didn't crash anything. 468 00:26:58,413 --> 00:27:00,620 Stuff broke, but I fixed it. 469 00:27:00,724 --> 00:27:01,413 I made it. 470 00:27:01,551 --> 00:27:02,241 I'm alive. 471 00:27:12,344 --> 00:27:15,551 NARRATOR: 170 miles up the road in Coldfoot, 472 00:27:15,655 --> 00:27:17,310 it's the final day of the season. 473 00:27:20,241 --> 00:27:24,689 And Jack Jessee is fueling up for the long haul ahead. 474 00:27:24,793 --> 00:27:28,137 They're gonna take us out on the sea ice, about 75 miles. 475 00:27:28,241 --> 00:27:30,758 There's an island out there. 476 00:27:30,862 --> 00:27:34,068 This is where they need thisfuel, before the sea ice breaks 477 00:27:34,172 --> 00:27:36,206 up. 478 00:27:36,344 --> 00:27:38,931 NARRATOR: After the top layer of the Dalton melted 479 00:27:39,034 --> 00:27:43,241 during the day, it iced over again last night. 480 00:27:47,241 --> 00:27:49,551 Man, it is slick out here. 481 00:27:54,517 --> 00:27:57,034 Heading north out of Coldfoot. 482 00:27:57,137 --> 00:27:59,000 The last time for a while. 483 00:28:07,448 --> 00:28:09,862 Northbound, Atigun Pass. 484 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:12,000 NARRATOR: Jack begins his last trip 485 00:28:12,103 --> 00:28:16,275 up Atigun Pass, where conditionsare the slickest of the season. 486 00:28:16,379 --> 00:28:18,068 We're really on the slick side right now. 487 00:28:18,172 --> 00:28:19,724 Light dusting happened last night. 488 00:28:22,551 --> 00:28:23,931 Going around a lot of these curves, 489 00:28:24,034 --> 00:28:26,000 I have to actually slow down before I get to them, 490 00:28:26,103 --> 00:28:27,965 because you know, you turn could the wheel, 491 00:28:28,068 --> 00:28:28,965 and nothing will happen. 492 00:28:29,068 --> 00:28:31,965 And that's not a very fun feeling. 493 00:28:32,068 --> 00:28:34,931 You gotta do everything nice and slow, and smooth. 494 00:28:35,034 --> 00:28:36,413 Nothing fast, nothing jerky. 495 00:28:42,413 --> 00:28:44,275 It can be pretty mean up here. 496 00:28:53,241 --> 00:28:56,344 NARRATOR: Jack navigates histanker through the switchbacks. 497 00:28:56,448 --> 00:28:57,137 Come on. 498 00:28:57,241 --> 00:28:59,000 I'm almost to the top. 499 00:29:04,862 --> 00:29:06,344 NARRATOR: And safely over the pass. 500 00:29:14,379 --> 00:29:17,448 His last run of the season is trouble free-- 501 00:29:17,586 --> 00:29:18,275 so far. 502 00:29:23,103 --> 00:29:26,827 As the sun climbs in the morning sky, 503 00:29:26,931 --> 00:29:30,034 the ice road season reaches the point of no return. 504 00:29:35,379 --> 00:29:38,965 Up in Dead Horse, Alex Debogorski already 505 00:29:39,068 --> 00:29:42,103 has the finish line in sight. 506 00:29:42,206 --> 00:29:44,000 No kidding, we made it to Prudhoe. 507 00:29:44,103 --> 00:29:46,551 Yes, sir, this is Dead Horse. 508 00:29:46,655 --> 00:29:47,551 We're just coming in. 509 00:29:47,655 --> 00:29:48,517 Dead Horse Camp. 510 00:29:53,103 --> 00:29:56,000 Could put us back on the chase with Huey. 511 00:29:56,103 --> 00:29:59,206 NARRATOR: As Alex pulls in with his 13th run, 512 00:29:59,310 --> 00:30:01,482 he ties Hugh in the load count. 513 00:30:01,586 --> 00:30:05,655 But win or lose, he's managedto finish a tough rookie season 514 00:30:05,758 --> 00:30:07,034 in Alaska-- 515 00:30:07,137 --> 00:30:10,275 a huge accomplishment after serious heart trouble 516 00:30:10,379 --> 00:30:12,620 cut his last season short. 517 00:30:12,724 --> 00:30:14,000 I am worried. 518 00:30:14,103 --> 00:30:16,413 You have-- your heart going sofast, your shortness of breath, 519 00:30:16,517 --> 00:30:18,586 and the blood that you've been coughing up-- 520 00:30:18,689 --> 00:30:20,551 [coughing] 521 00:30:23,206 --> 00:30:24,517 The doctor says I'm not supposed 522 00:30:24,620 --> 00:30:25,655 to back to work driving. 523 00:30:29,103 --> 00:30:32,206 As far as I know, my heart's still beating properly, 524 00:30:32,310 --> 00:30:36,379 and I'm not sure what the futureholds for Alex Debogorski. 525 00:30:36,482 --> 00:30:39,827 I mean-- I'm not into reading tea leaves. 526 00:30:39,931 --> 00:30:42,586 I'm working at this one day at a time. 527 00:30:42,689 --> 00:30:45,586 I'll let God do the planning, and I'll just sort of 528 00:30:45,689 --> 00:30:46,724 follow in the wake. 529 00:30:57,482 --> 00:31:01,344 NARRATOR: Back in Fairbanks,mechanics have worked all night 530 00:31:01,448 --> 00:31:03,551 rebuilding Hugh's brakes. 531 00:31:03,655 --> 00:31:05,931 We lost the brake part in [inaudible],, 532 00:31:06,034 --> 00:31:08,482 and all the airlines, and everything were gone. 533 00:31:08,586 --> 00:31:11,689 But them boys in the shop there,they got out here last night, 534 00:31:11,793 --> 00:31:14,862 and got her [bleep] fixed right up for this morning. 535 00:31:14,965 --> 00:31:16,896 So we're ready to rock and roll. 536 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:19,689 Gonna go find my load. 537 00:31:19,793 --> 00:31:22,068 NARRATOR: At the final hour, Hugh 538 00:31:22,172 --> 00:31:25,103 scores one last load of the season, 539 00:31:25,206 --> 00:31:27,620 thanks to his mechanics. 540 00:31:27,724 --> 00:31:29,965 Them guys in the shop did a hell of a good job on them 541 00:31:30,103 --> 00:31:31,275 brakes [inaudible]. 542 00:31:31,379 --> 00:31:32,413 Feels like a million bucks. 543 00:31:32,517 --> 00:31:36,517 Just like a brand new [bleep] brake system. 544 00:31:36,620 --> 00:31:39,103 NARRATOR: But as Hugh merges onto the ice, 545 00:31:39,206 --> 00:31:41,620 it's clear that the conditions of the road 546 00:31:41,724 --> 00:31:44,965 will make his last run one of the toughest. 547 00:31:45,068 --> 00:31:49,448 It's getting rough, and muddy, and [bleep].. 548 00:31:49,551 --> 00:31:50,241 Blech! 549 00:31:53,827 --> 00:31:56,310 NARRATOR: Up in Dead Horse, the next driver 550 00:31:56,413 --> 00:31:59,448 to pull into the yard is George Spears. 551 00:31:59,551 --> 00:32:01,448 We made to Prudhoe Bay. 552 00:32:01,586 --> 00:32:03,172 NARRATOR: After 30 years on the ice, 553 00:32:03,275 --> 00:32:07,482 George delivers his very last load before finally calling 554 00:32:07,586 --> 00:32:08,689 it quits. 555 00:32:08,793 --> 00:32:12,000 Though his fellow drivers aren't so sure. 556 00:32:12,103 --> 00:32:14,034 George, you've been thinking about quitting now 557 00:32:14,137 --> 00:32:16,000 for the last 20 years, that I know of. 558 00:32:16,103 --> 00:32:17,689 But I don't think you could run him away 559 00:32:17,793 --> 00:32:19,000 from this job with a big stick. 560 00:32:19,103 --> 00:32:22,137 And it'd be a damn big one, too. 561 00:32:22,241 --> 00:32:23,827 But I don't know-- 562 00:32:23,931 --> 00:32:27,689 he seems pretty adamant aboutit right now, but I don't know. 563 00:32:27,793 --> 00:32:29,379 Once you get truck driving in your blood, 564 00:32:29,482 --> 00:32:32,241 it's hard to get it out. 565 00:32:32,344 --> 00:32:34,586 NARRATOR: On his return trip to Fairbanks, 566 00:32:34,724 --> 00:32:39,413 the old adrenaline junkie is already feeling withdrawals. 567 00:32:39,517 --> 00:32:41,275 It's hard to quit this deal cold turkey. 568 00:32:41,379 --> 00:32:43,965 I've been doing this for 30 years. 569 00:32:44,068 --> 00:32:46,724 You'd miss the adventure. 570 00:32:46,827 --> 00:32:49,241 I had a friend of mine me a long time ago, 571 00:32:49,344 --> 00:32:54,655 veterans seek out something likethis that's right on the edge. 572 00:32:54,758 --> 00:32:58,896 This is a dangerous occupation,and I'll miss that part of it. 573 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:02,172 But I am really glad this season is over, 574 00:33:02,275 --> 00:33:04,689 and now it's time to go home. 575 00:33:04,793 --> 00:33:06,137 NARRATOR: While George heads south, 576 00:33:06,241 --> 00:33:10,241 his rookie protege, Tim Freeman,prepares to make his first solo 577 00:33:10,379 --> 00:33:14,448 run over 4,700 foot Atigun Pass. 578 00:33:14,551 --> 00:33:16,827 How's that pass look there, southbound? 579 00:33:22,206 --> 00:33:22,931 All righty. 580 00:33:23,034 --> 00:33:24,517 Thank you. 581 00:33:24,620 --> 00:33:27,862 NARRATOR: This time, Tim will need to make his own decision 582 00:33:27,965 --> 00:33:29,931 on whether or not to chain up. 583 00:33:30,034 --> 00:33:33,482 I've had three guys in a row that all told me 584 00:33:33,586 --> 00:33:35,517 it was good to go. 585 00:33:35,620 --> 00:33:38,655 So we're going to give her a shot. 586 00:33:38,758 --> 00:33:39,862 Northbound on the pass. 587 00:33:39,965 --> 00:33:40,896 Northbound, Atigun Pass. 588 00:33:45,068 --> 00:33:47,655 NARRATOR: He decides to run the pass barefoot, 589 00:33:47,758 --> 00:33:49,000 or without chains. 590 00:33:52,103 --> 00:33:55,241 I'd rather spin out going up than slide 591 00:33:55,344 --> 00:33:58,413 down, because you know, you spin out going up, 592 00:33:58,517 --> 00:34:00,689 you're at least stopped for a second. 593 00:34:00,793 --> 00:34:03,758 You're going down, and you start sliding, 594 00:34:03,862 --> 00:34:04,758 there ain't no stopping. 595 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:12,241 It's a long way to the bottom of this here hill. 596 00:34:17,068 --> 00:34:21,448 NARRATOR: Tim has no trouble making the climb. 597 00:34:21,551 --> 00:34:25,931 But on the way down, conditions are much worse. 598 00:34:26,034 --> 00:34:29,206 Black ice down here at the bottom, so be careful. 599 00:34:29,310 --> 00:34:32,620 NARRATOR: Black ice is nearly invisible. 600 00:34:32,724 --> 00:34:36,275 If Tim hits it without chains, he could go over the cliff. 601 00:34:51,344 --> 00:34:52,275 Black ice. 602 00:34:52,379 --> 00:34:54,206 Watch the black ice on the switchback. 603 00:35:02,172 --> 00:35:03,551 NARRATOR: Dodging the ice patches-- 604 00:35:08,586 --> 00:35:13,551 he finally hits the north slope,and the home stretch of a very 605 00:35:13,655 --> 00:35:16,551 respectable rookie season. 606 00:35:16,655 --> 00:35:18,586 90 miles left on my first solo run. 607 00:35:18,689 --> 00:35:19,379 Holy [bleep]. 608 00:35:27,482 --> 00:35:33,344 NARRATOR: 90 miles north, Jack Jessee pulls into Dead Horse. 609 00:35:33,448 --> 00:35:36,000 Well, we're here. 610 00:35:36,103 --> 00:35:39,034 Let's go find out my further instructions. 611 00:35:39,137 --> 00:35:40,448 Hey, Chuck. 612 00:35:40,551 --> 00:35:41,827 Jackson. 613 00:35:41,931 --> 00:35:45,000 NARRATOR: Jack is booked to go even further north, to Point 614 00:35:45,103 --> 00:35:45,896 Thomson-- 615 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:49,034 an island in the Beaufort Sea. 616 00:35:49,137 --> 00:35:53,413 But the ice road has one more obstacle to throw at him. 617 00:35:53,517 --> 00:35:54,896 Let's go to Point Thomson. 618 00:35:55,034 --> 00:35:56,000 Where am I going? 619 00:35:56,103 --> 00:35:57,344 I can't-- what do you mean, I can't go? 620 00:35:57,448 --> 00:35:59,172 Why? - There's a bear on the road. 621 00:35:59,275 --> 00:36:01,034 - There's a bear on the road? - Polar bear. 622 00:36:01,137 --> 00:36:02,172 A polar bear on the road? 623 00:36:06,172 --> 00:36:07,103 Say, can you imagine that? 624 00:36:07,206 --> 00:36:08,931 A polar bear out on the ice? 625 00:36:09,034 --> 00:36:11,310 On the sea ice. 626 00:36:11,413 --> 00:36:12,931 Supposedly, it's a den. 627 00:36:13,034 --> 00:36:13,793 Oh, there's a den? 628 00:36:13,896 --> 00:36:14,586 A polar bear den? 629 00:36:14,689 --> 00:36:15,862 Yeah. 630 00:36:15,965 --> 00:36:17,793 The bears came out of the den today 631 00:36:17,896 --> 00:36:19,931 and started roaming around. 632 00:36:20,034 --> 00:36:21,586 And that means you shut down the road. 633 00:36:25,344 --> 00:36:27,448 Had a lot of delays this year. 634 00:36:27,551 --> 00:36:28,965 Weather. 635 00:36:29,103 --> 00:36:31,413 Equipment. 636 00:36:31,517 --> 00:36:32,379 Why not wait on a bear? 637 00:36:36,275 --> 00:36:38,931 NARRATOR: But the ice road closes within hours, 638 00:36:39,034 --> 00:36:42,655 and if it's not bear free soon, Jack will never 639 00:36:42,758 --> 00:36:46,344 deliver his last load. 640 00:36:46,448 --> 00:36:48,689 The final hours of the ice road season. 641 00:36:52,413 --> 00:36:54,862 Most drivers have delivered their loads 642 00:36:54,965 --> 00:36:56,034 and called it a year. 643 00:36:59,068 --> 00:37:03,172 Only a few diehards are still battling it out, including 644 00:37:03,310 --> 00:37:05,379 Jack Jessee and Hugh Rowland. 645 00:37:05,482 --> 00:37:09,137 Hugh stands to come in first among all rookie drivers 646 00:37:09,241 --> 00:37:12,896 if he delivers his 14th load to Dead Horse. 647 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:15,068 Looks like I'm gonna win the dash for the cash 648 00:37:15,172 --> 00:37:16,275 again this year. 649 00:37:20,758 --> 00:37:22,103 NARRATOR: But suddenly-- 650 00:37:22,206 --> 00:37:24,068 [horn] 651 00:37:26,206 --> 00:37:28,137 He hits a huge traffic jam. 652 00:37:32,068 --> 00:37:35,758 MAN [ON RADIO]: Pretty much a standstill here. 653 00:37:35,896 --> 00:37:37,172 Holy [bleep]! 654 00:37:37,275 --> 00:37:39,448 Holy [bleep]. 655 00:37:39,551 --> 00:37:41,413 A couple of trucks tried to get through there 656 00:37:41,517 --> 00:37:44,517 and got stuck, so now we've got the road all blocked up 657 00:37:44,620 --> 00:37:46,586 with 14 wides. 658 00:37:46,689 --> 00:37:49,724 NARRATOR: The convoy ahead tried to drift slam, 659 00:37:49,827 --> 00:37:52,517 busting their way through snow that had piled up 660 00:37:52,620 --> 00:37:53,862 across the road. 661 00:37:53,965 --> 00:37:58,137 But they spun out and wound up sideways across the road, 662 00:37:58,241 --> 00:38:00,965 blocking both lanes of traffic. 663 00:38:01,068 --> 00:38:02,931 It's a bad drift spot that we've 664 00:38:03,034 --> 00:38:05,827 been dealing with all year, and now it's springtime. 665 00:38:05,931 --> 00:38:09,103 So the snow is all wet and heavy. 666 00:38:12,137 --> 00:38:13,517 Now here we're sitting for an hour. 667 00:38:13,620 --> 00:38:15,689 Everybody. 668 00:38:15,793 --> 00:38:19,275 NARRATOR: While the man they call the polar bear sits idle, 669 00:38:19,379 --> 00:38:22,034 real polar bears are blocking the ocean road 670 00:38:22,137 --> 00:38:24,344 in front of Jack Jessee. 671 00:38:24,448 --> 00:38:26,517 Well, it's kind of poetic, with the season ending 672 00:38:26,620 --> 00:38:28,137 on a bear. 673 00:38:28,241 --> 00:38:29,551 Everything else has slown me down. 674 00:38:29,655 --> 00:38:30,344 Why not a bear? 675 00:38:34,482 --> 00:38:38,551 NARRATOR: But just as he's ready to abandon his trailer-- 676 00:38:38,655 --> 00:38:40,931 MAN [ON RADIO]: Hey, Jack, looks like they cleared off. 677 00:38:41,068 --> 00:38:42,448 You're good to go. 678 00:38:42,551 --> 00:38:43,827 All right, good deal. 679 00:38:43,931 --> 00:38:46,517 NARRATOR: He gets word that thebears have moved off the ice 680 00:38:46,620 --> 00:38:47,310 road. 681 00:38:50,310 --> 00:38:52,413 It's now or never. 682 00:38:52,517 --> 00:38:53,413 Let's get moving. 683 00:38:58,034 --> 00:39:01,275 75 or 80 miles on the sea ice to get out to this island 684 00:39:01,379 --> 00:39:03,551 I've got to go to. 685 00:39:03,655 --> 00:39:05,275 That's going to end up taking a while. 686 00:39:12,862 --> 00:39:15,000 You know, how often do you get to drive on the ocean? 687 00:39:18,241 --> 00:39:21,103 NARRATOR: Jack is headed to oneof the most remote settlements 688 00:39:21,206 --> 00:39:22,517 in the world-- 689 00:39:22,620 --> 00:39:26,724 Point Thomson, a tiny island offthe coast of the Beaufort Sea. 690 00:39:26,827 --> 00:39:28,344 MAN [ON RADIO]: Where you headed, Jack? 691 00:39:28,448 --> 00:39:31,034 I've got to go to Point Thomson out here today. 692 00:39:33,862 --> 00:39:34,862 I know. 693 00:39:34,965 --> 00:39:36,793 I know it is. 694 00:39:36,896 --> 00:39:39,000 I'm more worried a whale will come up and eat me. 695 00:39:41,793 --> 00:39:42,862 Yeah. 696 00:39:42,965 --> 00:39:45,655 I don't think they're gentle. 697 00:39:45,758 --> 00:39:47,862 NARRATOR: With spring arriving, the ice road 698 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:53,034 is at its thinnest and most dangerous point this season. 699 00:39:53,137 --> 00:39:57,482 The ice bends and buckles underthe weight of jack's 50,000 700 00:39:57,586 --> 00:40:00,655 pound load. 701 00:40:00,758 --> 00:40:05,896 70 nerve-wracking miles over the frozen arctic sea. 702 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:09,206 Jack pushes into the unknown. 703 00:40:09,310 --> 00:40:10,931 You could easily die out there. 704 00:40:11,034 --> 00:40:12,724 Can't get anybody on the radios. 705 00:40:12,827 --> 00:40:14,137 What do you do, you know? 706 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:21,551 NARRATOR: Back in Dead Horse-- 707 00:40:21,689 --> 00:40:22,379 Here we are. 708 00:40:22,482 --> 00:40:24,068 We made her. 709 00:40:24,172 --> 00:40:27,206 NARRATOR: Tim Freeman pulls into the Carlile yard, 710 00:40:27,310 --> 00:40:30,379 completing his first solo run. 711 00:40:30,482 --> 00:40:34,896 I just needed to prove to myself that I could do it. 712 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:39,000 NARRATOR: He started this seasonas the kid from Minnesota. 713 00:40:39,103 --> 00:40:43,206 Now he's left the Lower 48 in the rear view. 714 00:40:43,310 --> 00:40:44,241 Alaska's my home now. 715 00:40:44,344 --> 00:40:47,413 Fairbanks is my home now. 716 00:40:47,517 --> 00:40:49,482 I'm proud of my accomplishments this year. 717 00:40:49,586 --> 00:40:52,034 I didn't have too many big problems. 718 00:40:52,137 --> 00:40:53,137 Kept her out of the ditch. 719 00:40:53,241 --> 00:40:54,655 Stayed off my roof. 720 00:40:54,793 --> 00:40:57,551 Made a little money. 721 00:40:57,655 --> 00:40:59,000 Get a lot of future in front of me. 722 00:40:59,103 --> 00:41:01,172 Let's see what happens. 723 00:41:01,275 --> 00:41:03,034 [horn] 724 00:41:05,448 --> 00:41:06,413 NARRATOR: 30 miles south-- 725 00:41:10,413 --> 00:41:15,068 after nearly two hours, the Dalton is finally clear. 726 00:41:15,172 --> 00:41:17,689 Right on. 727 00:41:17,793 --> 00:41:19,482 NARRATOR: And Hugh hits the home stretch 728 00:41:19,586 --> 00:41:22,137 to complete his final run. 729 00:41:22,241 --> 00:41:23,620 [horn] 730 00:41:23,724 --> 00:41:25,034 Next stop, Prudhoe Bay. 731 00:41:30,068 --> 00:41:33,137 NARRATOR: The polar bear came to the Dalton as an outsider. 732 00:41:33,241 --> 00:41:33,965 Yee-haw! 733 00:41:34,068 --> 00:41:35,241 Fairbanks, Alaska. 734 00:41:35,344 --> 00:41:38,793 NARRATOR: With a reputation for being a loose cannon. 735 00:41:38,896 --> 00:41:40,241 Get back! 736 00:41:40,344 --> 00:41:42,413 NARRATOR: But at the end of his first season, 737 00:41:42,517 --> 00:41:45,517 he's gained respect for his ability to conquer 738 00:41:45,620 --> 00:41:47,896 North America's deadliest road. 739 00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:49,379 Good working with you this winter. 740 00:41:49,482 --> 00:41:51,620 Enjoyed the [bleep] out of it.Thanks for having me. 741 00:41:51,724 --> 00:41:52,413 You betcha. 742 00:41:52,517 --> 00:41:53,275 Had a lot of fun. 743 00:41:53,379 --> 00:41:56,896 Inaugurated into the Dalton gang. 744 00:41:57,000 --> 00:41:58,034 Mission accomplished. 745 00:41:58,137 --> 00:41:59,931 We made it! 746 00:42:00,034 --> 00:42:02,448 I'm officially a member of the Dalton gang. 747 00:42:02,586 --> 00:42:05,103 Dalton Highway gang. 748 00:42:05,206 --> 00:42:06,310 Honorary member. 749 00:42:06,413 --> 00:42:10,068 So I'm pretty honored, and pretty proud of that. 750 00:42:10,172 --> 00:42:12,724 When the ice is gone, it's timefor the polar bear to go home. 751 00:42:19,413 --> 00:42:21,862 NARRATOR: 60 miles to the northeast, 752 00:42:21,965 --> 00:42:26,448 all ice road truckers have cashed it in for this season-- 753 00:42:26,551 --> 00:42:27,551 except for one. 754 00:42:31,551 --> 00:42:35,793 Jack Jessee forges ahead over the ocean, 755 00:42:35,931 --> 00:42:40,137 hauling a 50,000 pound big rig over a few inches 756 00:42:40,241 --> 00:42:41,310 of melting ice. 757 00:42:46,931 --> 00:42:48,620 It can get a little iffy. 758 00:42:48,724 --> 00:42:50,586 It'll make your heart skip a little faster. 759 00:42:50,689 --> 00:42:51,517 Beat a little faster. 760 00:42:55,689 --> 00:42:57,551 I think we're going to be OK, but I'm 761 00:42:57,655 --> 00:42:59,862 gonna need to keep my fingers crossed on this one, too. 762 00:43:04,310 --> 00:43:08,758 NARRATOR: Until finally, he reaches his destination-- 763 00:43:08,896 --> 00:43:11,896 a remote island in the middle of the Beaufort Sea. 764 00:43:17,034 --> 00:43:17,965 Well, we're here. 765 00:43:20,724 --> 00:43:23,896 NARRATOR: He pumps out 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel 766 00:43:24,000 --> 00:43:26,482 and calls it a. seaso. 767 00:43:26,586 --> 00:43:28,655 Well, this winter season is finally over. 768 00:43:28,758 --> 00:43:31,068 Need to get a couple week vacation going on, 769 00:43:31,172 --> 00:43:32,000 is what I need now. 770 00:43:32,103 --> 00:43:33,379 NARRATOR: In the final standings, 771 00:43:33,482 --> 00:43:38,034 Jack Jessee tops out with 20loads, the most runs of any ice 772 00:43:38,137 --> 00:43:39,724 road trucker this season. 773 00:43:39,827 --> 00:43:42,655 And once again, Hugh Rowland has managed 774 00:43:42,793 --> 00:43:45,965 to beat out his Canadian rival, Alex Debogorski. 775 00:43:46,068 --> 00:43:49,379 Only this time, it was on American soil. 776 00:43:49,482 --> 00:43:50,241 [inaudible]. 777 00:43:50,344 --> 00:43:51,517 On the Dalton highway. 778 00:43:51,620 --> 00:43:52,655 That was a lot of fun. 779 00:43:52,758 --> 00:43:54,448 Maybe we'll get to come back again some time. 780 00:43:54,551 --> 00:43:55,241 That's right. 781 00:43:55,344 --> 00:43:56,241 To being alive. 782 00:43:56,344 --> 00:43:57,068 Yep. 783 00:43:57,172 --> 00:43:59,620 And never even had an incident. 784 00:43:59,724 --> 00:44:00,517 No incidents. 785 00:44:00,620 --> 00:44:01,448 No incidents, yeah. 786 00:44:01,551 --> 00:44:03,000 [inaudible] not an incident? 787 00:44:03,103 --> 00:44:04,965 [laughter] 788 00:44:07,931 --> 00:44:11,793 NARRATOR: But next year, when temperatures drop below zero, 789 00:44:11,896 --> 00:44:15,655 and the Arctic falls back into a deep freeze, the north 790 00:44:15,793 --> 00:44:18,862 slope of Alaska will be transformed again 791 00:44:18,965 --> 00:44:20,655 by roads made of ice. 792 00:44:20,758 --> 00:44:24,241 And truckers will return for one more adventure 793 00:44:24,344 --> 00:44:26,103 at the top of the world. 794 00:44:26,206 --> 00:44:28,379 We've got a name for the last frontier up here. 795 00:44:28,482 --> 00:44:30,482 It's called the haul road. 796 00:44:30,586 --> 00:44:32,034 Yee-haw!