1 00:00:17,820 --> 00:00:18,920 AGNES HAILSTONE: Go, go, go. 2 00:00:19,287 --> 00:00:21,653 -Another day of snow in this winter wonderland. -Whee! 3 00:00:22,254 --> 00:00:23,653 AGNES: Today we're going up the river. 4 00:00:26,353 --> 00:00:29,553 There's caribou crossing by the hundreds up the river. 5 00:00:30,254 --> 00:00:32,720 This is the time to go do our caribou hunt. 6 00:00:32,853 --> 00:00:34,454 The river's about to freeze. 7 00:00:36,287 --> 00:00:38,387 This is the time we go out and go get our meat. 8 00:00:38,653 --> 00:00:41,986 We could have meat during the freeze-up. 9 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,020 Jon's gonna be here with us. He just came in from Selawik. 10 00:00:45,254 --> 00:00:48,286 JON: I haven't been up here hunting with my parents in quite a few years. 11 00:00:48,353 --> 00:00:52,819 I'm ready to go do just about anything to catch a boatload of caribou. 12 00:00:52,886 --> 00:00:54,619 I need meat. 13 00:00:54,686 --> 00:00:56,353 CHIP HAILSTONE: Around this time of year I usually have like 30 caribou, 14 00:00:56,420 --> 00:00:57,586 and a lot of food security. 15 00:00:57,653 --> 00:00:59,753 But, erm, that just ain't the way it is right now. 16 00:01:00,220 --> 00:01:01,820 The thing about freeze-up is that you never know 17 00:01:01,887 --> 00:01:03,653 when it's gonna occur or how many times it'll occur. 18 00:01:04,086 --> 00:01:05,519 Sometimes it comes along and it thaws. 19 00:01:05,586 --> 00:01:07,187 Sometimes it comes along and just stays frozen. 20 00:01:07,254 --> 00:01:09,220 But we're gonna try and get as many caribou as we can. 21 00:01:09,586 --> 00:01:12,653 We're not trophy hunting, we're hunting for food, so it's all about food. 22 00:01:13,154 --> 00:01:14,686 That's the real trophy. 23 00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:18,320 (THEME MUSIC PLAYING) 24 00:01:40,054 --> 00:01:42,220 It's a long trip up there to go set up camp, 25 00:01:42,419 --> 00:01:44,853 and our chances of seeing animals between here and there are great. 26 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:46,720 And if they are, we'll just stop and work 'em. 27 00:01:46,787 --> 00:01:50,320 And wherever we find ourselves this evening, we'll sit and make camp, all right? 28 00:01:52,053 --> 00:01:54,953 NARRATOR: With limited time before the caribou migration ends, 29 00:01:55,486 --> 00:01:58,953 the Hailstones must intercept the herd before the river freezes. 30 00:02:02,686 --> 00:02:06,186 Heck, if we really score good, maybe we'll just sleep at home in bed. 31 00:02:06,486 --> 00:02:07,620 (LAUGHING) 32 00:02:13,986 --> 00:02:16,919 CHIP: Well, the biggest problem you have right now is having it be so cold 33 00:02:16,986 --> 00:02:18,386 and then getting wet. 34 00:02:18,886 --> 00:02:21,586 Getting wet is the real bullshit pain. 35 00:02:27,353 --> 00:02:28,553 (TINMIAQ SPEAKING) 36 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,552 So it's about to freeze up in a couple days, 37 00:02:31,619 --> 00:02:33,953 and we usually come up here to go get all the bulls 38 00:02:34,586 --> 00:02:36,053 while they cross the river, 39 00:02:37,519 --> 00:02:39,853 and set up a camp, spend the night. 40 00:02:41,719 --> 00:02:43,320 CHIP: I don't see any fresh tracks. 41 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:45,953 But who knows? 42 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:48,254 Maybe we'll get lucky, maybe we won't. 43 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:52,087 This is probably the first time I've ever been up here 44 00:02:52,154 --> 00:02:54,220 and not seen anything, caribou-wise. 45 00:02:55,020 --> 00:02:57,553 But what we need to do is get a few before rut hits. 46 00:02:58,519 --> 00:03:01,353 For now we're just happy to be right here in the place we are. 47 00:03:01,453 --> 00:03:03,153 Hopefully there will be caribou crossing tomorrow. 48 00:03:03,220 --> 00:03:05,586 We're just gonna keep at it until we get what we need. 49 00:03:10,653 --> 00:03:13,652 SUE AIKINS: Throw a pebble into the ocean, you're still gonna have a ripple. 50 00:03:13,719 --> 00:03:16,753 Sooner or later it's a tidal wave in another part of the world. 51 00:03:21,453 --> 00:03:26,087 Well, today's the day I say goodbye to my last little clients. 52 00:03:26,319 --> 00:03:30,252 NARRATOR: Kavik River Camp serves as a remote fuelling station and bed-and-breakfast 53 00:03:30,319 --> 00:03:32,653 for bush pilots who are passing through the tundra. 54 00:03:33,187 --> 00:03:35,453 With her season of clients coming to an end, 55 00:03:35,820 --> 00:03:38,553 Sue must now prepare for dark winter alone. 56 00:03:39,020 --> 00:03:40,987 Well, there's always a little trepidation. 57 00:03:42,220 --> 00:03:45,920 People fly off, and I look around and I'm like, "Ah..." 58 00:03:45,987 --> 00:03:49,086 The amount of work is overwhelming, and... (EXCLAIMS) 59 00:03:49,153 --> 00:03:51,319 I'm not gonna see anybody for a while. 60 00:03:51,486 --> 00:03:54,486 It's an emotional trip. People are leaving and you're all by yourself. 61 00:03:54,786 --> 00:03:56,653 -And on one hand that feels... -(AEROPLANE ENGINE ROARING) 62 00:03:57,187 --> 00:03:59,920 It is vast and overwhelming country, 63 00:04:00,087 --> 00:04:02,120 so it feels vast and overwhelming. 64 00:04:02,187 --> 00:04:04,820 It's the life that I choose, it's the life that I love. 65 00:04:05,386 --> 00:04:07,953 And then suddenly it doesn't seem so overwhelming. 66 00:04:08,020 --> 00:04:09,187 Got to get to work. 67 00:04:13,352 --> 00:04:16,187 Time to get myself a little cup of tea and warm up. 68 00:04:17,653 --> 00:04:19,887 Winter's not waiting on me to be ready. 69 00:04:19,954 --> 00:04:21,020 It's here. 70 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,286 What I need to do is get all my jet fuel barrels. 71 00:04:24,353 --> 00:04:26,787 Get 'em over to the fuel shed to get filled. 72 00:04:26,953 --> 00:04:28,987 Get as many pallets as I can, 73 00:04:29,386 --> 00:04:31,720 erm, and get those over by my heat tank. 74 00:04:32,286 --> 00:04:34,386 I need to get it to where it needs to live for the winter 75 00:04:34,453 --> 00:04:37,553 to make it the, er, easiest, closest for me 76 00:04:37,620 --> 00:04:40,453 when the conditions are brutally cold and brutally dark. 77 00:04:43,219 --> 00:04:45,586 Just gonna take a quick look at my barrels. 78 00:04:48,353 --> 00:04:50,053 (SIGHS) What a project. 79 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,120 Four barrels go on a pallet. 80 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:58,252 In order for me to have enough fuel for the entire winter, 81 00:04:58,319 --> 00:04:59,987 that's 48 barrels. 82 00:05:00,786 --> 00:05:02,486 I have to individually, 83 00:05:03,987 --> 00:05:05,520 look at each barrel... 84 00:05:07,786 --> 00:05:09,153 Say yes or no to it. 85 00:05:09,453 --> 00:05:11,953 See if they're empty. If they're not, verify what's in it. 86 00:05:12,020 --> 00:05:14,319 Check it out. Make sure there's no holes. 87 00:05:14,386 --> 00:05:17,687 Even a pinhole leak, it's a protected ecosystem. 88 00:05:17,754 --> 00:05:21,020 You can't leak fuel out all over, it's just not the way it's done. 89 00:05:21,252 --> 00:05:24,653 So I have to visually inspect each year, each barrel. 90 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:26,686 This is a no. 91 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:29,953 Bad ones are over here. 92 00:05:30,020 --> 00:05:32,053 Why are they bad? Well, this one has a hole in it. 93 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,386 This one's beat up really dang bad. 94 00:05:34,453 --> 00:05:36,319 Looks like it's been that way for a while. 95 00:05:36,686 --> 00:05:39,820 Right here is a ding, but it's not a hole. 96 00:05:39,887 --> 00:05:42,486 But if I need 48 barrels, 97 00:05:43,386 --> 00:05:45,486 I've got to do 48 inspections. 98 00:05:47,586 --> 00:05:48,819 You know, I'm getting colder. 99 00:05:48,886 --> 00:05:50,686 Am I well below zero? 100 00:05:50,753 --> 00:05:54,219 No, but now is the time to get everything where it needs to be. 101 00:05:54,286 --> 00:05:58,519 I have to continue my process on getting the barrels where they need to live, 102 00:05:58,586 --> 00:06:01,419 because overnight I can drop below zero. 103 00:06:01,619 --> 00:06:03,820 Within a couple weeks I'm gonna be dark. 104 00:06:05,887 --> 00:06:08,486 I got 48 that are free of holes, 105 00:06:08,553 --> 00:06:11,519 free of things that'll compromise the integrity of the barrel. 106 00:06:11,586 --> 00:06:14,352 Next step for me though, for this, get to work. 107 00:06:14,419 --> 00:06:15,653 Start pumping fuel. 108 00:06:19,653 --> 00:06:22,453 JESSIE HOLMES: I've got a passion for this and that's what drives me, 109 00:06:22,619 --> 00:06:25,353 it's passion, determination, competitiveness. 110 00:06:31,987 --> 00:06:34,085 Winter is coming fast, it's already snowed. 111 00:06:34,152 --> 00:06:36,052 The ground's been freezing every morning, 112 00:06:36,119 --> 00:06:40,085 but now it's time to turn my full attention to my last big priority of the season, 113 00:06:40,152 --> 00:06:42,787 before winter, is to put up a lot of fish here for the dogs. 114 00:06:42,854 --> 00:06:46,453 NARRATOR: Jessie Holmes relies on the resources along the Nenana River 115 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:49,787 to maintain a subsistence lifestyle with his team of sled dogs. 116 00:06:50,253 --> 00:06:52,086 To survive the long winter ahead, 117 00:06:52,153 --> 00:06:55,887 it is vital for Jessie to catch fish before the river freezes. 118 00:06:58,219 --> 00:07:01,919 JESSIE: My lead, which is one of the most important parts of the fish wheel, 119 00:07:01,986 --> 00:07:03,886 is in pretty bad condition. 120 00:07:03,953 --> 00:07:08,252 A lead is basically a fence from the shore to the baskets of the fish wheel. 121 00:07:08,319 --> 00:07:10,085 So the fish hit it, 122 00:07:10,152 --> 00:07:13,054 they have no way to go through except into the baskets scooping them up. 123 00:07:13,286 --> 00:07:15,586 The trick about a fish wheel is attention to detail, 124 00:07:15,653 --> 00:07:18,253 and this lead is one of the most important parts of it. 125 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,553 It could run now without the lead, it'd catch some fish, 126 00:07:20,620 --> 00:07:23,553 but I'm not looking for some fish, I'm looking for hundreds of fish. 127 00:07:26,252 --> 00:07:28,987 Next thing is just to physically push this in here. 128 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:32,953 If you fall in this river, you know, you're not gonna make it very long, 129 00:07:33,020 --> 00:07:34,286 especially this time of year. 130 00:07:34,987 --> 00:07:37,052 You could get hit by any moving part 131 00:07:37,119 --> 00:07:39,085 or scooped up into the basket if you fall in, 132 00:07:39,452 --> 00:07:41,653 and you could lose your boat and your life. 133 00:07:49,286 --> 00:07:51,186 Oh, come on. You got to be kidding. 134 00:07:58,020 --> 00:08:00,419 All right! Done. 135 00:08:03,252 --> 00:08:05,086 I'm hoping that this will be productive 136 00:08:05,353 --> 00:08:08,586 'cause I wanna put up as much fish as I possibly can before winter. 137 00:08:14,687 --> 00:08:16,286 Nothing goes to waste. 138 00:08:16,353 --> 00:08:18,753 What I don't use, there's other animals that will use it. 139 00:08:31,019 --> 00:08:32,353 It's getting light out there. 140 00:08:32,453 --> 00:08:33,820 I got to get back up to that moose. 141 00:08:33,887 --> 00:08:36,186 I got to go up there and get that before anything finds it. 142 00:08:36,787 --> 00:08:38,552 This time of year there's still bears around. 143 00:08:38,619 --> 00:08:40,285 There are wolves around, there're wolverines. 144 00:08:40,352 --> 00:08:44,219 If anything gets to that moose before I get there, they'll eat it up. 145 00:08:44,686 --> 00:08:46,319 What they don't eat, they'll destroy. 146 00:08:46,386 --> 00:08:47,786 I got to get up there as fast as I can. 147 00:08:48,686 --> 00:08:51,553 NARRATOR: Glenn Villeneuve has successfully harvested a moose, 148 00:08:51,620 --> 00:08:56,052 which he relies on to provide enough meat and protein to survive most of the year. 149 00:08:56,419 --> 00:08:59,386 He must retrieve the meat before scavengers devour it, 150 00:08:59,953 --> 00:09:02,018 or be forced to search for other food sources in 151 00:09:02,085 --> 00:09:04,420 dark winter when the animals are scarce. 152 00:09:05,620 --> 00:09:09,486 Bears don't go into hibernation till two or three weeks from now, so, 153 00:09:09,553 --> 00:09:11,186 I definitely want my rifle. 154 00:09:11,586 --> 00:09:12,887 Very important. 155 00:09:13,386 --> 00:09:15,286 As I approach that moose... (RIFLE CLICKING) 156 00:09:16,952 --> 00:09:21,620 Main thing on my mind, did anything get there before I get back to it? 157 00:09:24,486 --> 00:09:27,186 I got about four and a half miles of walking in the snow. 158 00:09:27,253 --> 00:09:29,320 I'm gonna be dragging heavy loads of meat. 159 00:09:30,353 --> 00:09:32,219 I got to get that moose back to camp. 160 00:09:37,586 --> 00:09:39,286 I'm listening carefully. 161 00:09:40,085 --> 00:09:42,052 Listening for any sounds. 162 00:09:42,586 --> 00:09:44,386 Trying to look ahead, 163 00:09:44,687 --> 00:09:46,819 see as far as I can in the forest. 164 00:09:46,886 --> 00:09:50,419 Looking at the snow, are there any bear tracks around? 165 00:09:51,687 --> 00:09:52,786 Just paying close attention. 166 00:09:52,853 --> 00:09:54,686 I don't want to get surprised here. 167 00:09:56,252 --> 00:09:58,419 The moose is just over the other side of this little hill. 168 00:09:58,486 --> 00:10:00,119 I can't see it. 169 00:10:00,186 --> 00:10:01,253 (TAKES DEEP BREATH) 170 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,486 But it's just on the other side of this hill. 171 00:10:03,686 --> 00:10:07,153 I've gotta be very careful, going up over this last hill. 172 00:10:07,220 --> 00:10:09,519 Make sure there's nothing there, I don't want to get a surprise. 173 00:10:10,052 --> 00:10:14,253 It's very dangerous situation. If you come across a bear that's on a food pile, 174 00:10:14,686 --> 00:10:16,620 they can be extremely aggressive. 175 00:10:23,519 --> 00:10:24,586 There it is. 176 00:10:27,220 --> 00:10:29,720 Looks good, just how I left it. 177 00:10:33,986 --> 00:10:35,686 I want to keep the meat as clean as possible. 178 00:10:35,753 --> 00:10:38,519 So I got this tarp, I'm gonna set each piece down here, 179 00:10:38,586 --> 00:10:40,720 wrap it up, and drag it home. 180 00:10:41,152 --> 00:10:42,219 Okay. 181 00:10:42,986 --> 00:10:44,252 (GRUNTS) 182 00:10:44,319 --> 00:10:46,085 I want to start with some of the tastiest meat. 183 00:10:46,152 --> 00:10:49,252 The pelvis here's got the tenderloins and the backstrap. 184 00:10:49,852 --> 00:10:51,753 (SIGHS) There, that's a heavy piece of meat. 185 00:10:53,186 --> 00:10:54,787 I'm gonna make a new trail. 186 00:10:55,053 --> 00:10:57,253 Try to go as straight as I can right down. 187 00:10:58,386 --> 00:11:01,886 Try to find the path of least resistance through all these woods here. 188 00:11:02,353 --> 00:11:04,419 That's where I got to get it to, down there to the water. 189 00:11:04,486 --> 00:11:06,786 That's where the camp is, 500 yards down. 190 00:11:14,753 --> 00:11:15,952 -(THUD) -(PAINFULLY) Aah! 191 00:11:16,452 --> 00:11:18,086 Whoa! 192 00:11:18,153 --> 00:11:19,619 This is out of control. 193 00:11:19,686 --> 00:11:21,786 Living out here by myself I got to be really careful. 194 00:11:21,853 --> 00:11:24,286 I don't want to take extra chances I don't have to take. 195 00:11:24,353 --> 00:11:26,852 Running down that hill in front of this sled is not a good idea. 196 00:11:26,919 --> 00:11:29,553 I could get myself run over, if this thing hit me in the legs, 197 00:11:30,053 --> 00:11:31,652 I mean, it would knock me right over. I could get hurt. 198 00:11:31,719 --> 00:11:33,119 I got to put the brakes on this thing. 199 00:11:34,119 --> 00:11:36,985 If I put rope underneath it, the weight of all that meat, 200 00:11:37,052 --> 00:11:40,420 pushing down hard on that sled, it'll force that rope into the snow, 201 00:11:40,487 --> 00:11:41,686 it'll create a lot more drag. 202 00:11:42,553 --> 00:11:43,619 That's the theory anyway. 203 00:11:43,686 --> 00:11:45,119 I got to see how it works. 204 00:11:46,753 --> 00:11:48,687 I got the brake on. I'm gonna try it out. 205 00:11:48,754 --> 00:11:52,520 Hopefully this time, this thing's under control and I don't get myself run over. 206 00:11:55,153 --> 00:11:57,686 Oh yeah. There's a lot more resistance. 207 00:11:59,019 --> 00:12:01,052 Lot of drag there, that's helping. 208 00:12:06,553 --> 00:12:08,520 Oh, perfect. No problems. 209 00:12:11,386 --> 00:12:12,886 No problems. Problem solved. 210 00:12:14,052 --> 00:12:15,219 (GRUNTS) 211 00:12:15,286 --> 00:12:17,553 There. One down, seven to go. 212 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,085 You got to really be on it. 213 00:12:21,152 --> 00:12:23,219 Lot of work to get done in a short time. 214 00:12:23,486 --> 00:12:27,952 But in a short time, I can get enough meat to last me for six months. 215 00:12:30,653 --> 00:12:33,019 What an experience. There's nothing like it. 216 00:12:33,119 --> 00:12:35,586 Killing a big bull moose up there in the woods, 217 00:12:35,653 --> 00:12:38,019 it was so satisfying to have that moose, 218 00:12:38,086 --> 00:12:40,352 knowing that I was gonna have moose meat this winter. 219 00:12:40,419 --> 00:12:43,052 It was the most intense moose hunt I have ever had. 220 00:12:45,587 --> 00:12:47,453 Headed back for the last load. 221 00:12:47,885 --> 00:12:50,919 Most of the meat, easiest way to transport, it's in a sled. 222 00:12:51,152 --> 00:12:53,553 But for the head, I'd rather put it on my back. 223 00:13:01,052 --> 00:13:02,386 (SIGHS) Ah! 224 00:13:03,786 --> 00:13:04,986 Made it back. 225 00:13:05,253 --> 00:13:07,353 Hey, look at that, all the meat's still there. 226 00:13:07,420 --> 00:13:08,818 Nothing came into camp while I was gone. 227 00:13:08,885 --> 00:13:10,352 That's good. 228 00:13:10,419 --> 00:13:12,918 Now the moose is all in one place, I can keep an eye on it. 229 00:13:12,985 --> 00:13:15,653 I can see it right out my window, much more secure. 230 00:13:16,019 --> 00:13:17,586 And then tomorrow I'm gonna get up, 231 00:13:17,653 --> 00:13:19,252 and I've got to reposition this moose. 232 00:13:19,319 --> 00:13:21,785 I've got to secure it so that I can leave camp 233 00:13:21,852 --> 00:13:24,219 and know that nothing's gonna happen to it when I'm gone. 234 00:13:29,786 --> 00:13:31,785 JESSIE: Nothing ever goes to waste around here. 235 00:13:31,852 --> 00:13:32,986 That's what dogs are for. 236 00:13:39,519 --> 00:13:41,386 Setting down here to check the fish wheel. 237 00:13:41,719 --> 00:13:43,220 It's been running all night. 238 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,553 I'm really hoping the labour and the new lead's gonna pay off. 239 00:13:47,086 --> 00:13:49,052 The season's coming close to an end. 240 00:13:49,386 --> 00:13:51,553 I need a lot of fish going into the winter. 241 00:13:51,620 --> 00:13:53,052 The winter's long up here. 242 00:13:53,486 --> 00:13:56,651 You get all the conditions up here, 50 below zero, wind. 243 00:13:56,718 --> 00:14:00,186 And that all affects dogs and ups the amount of calories they need. 244 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:01,620 Dogs love fish soup. 245 00:14:01,919 --> 00:14:03,386 Nothing gets them going in the morning 246 00:14:03,453 --> 00:14:05,818 like fish soup boiled up with a little fat, so... 247 00:14:06,319 --> 00:14:07,852 Oh, it's looking like it's running. 248 00:14:07,919 --> 00:14:11,152 You know the lead's all in place, that's an important thing, 249 00:14:11,219 --> 00:14:13,752 it ain't gonna catch no fish if it ain't in place. 250 00:14:14,286 --> 00:14:15,952 Oh, I see a lot of fish right there. 251 00:14:16,685 --> 00:14:17,986 It's looking great. 252 00:14:18,852 --> 00:14:21,219 Wow, it's looking better than I expected. Whoa. 253 00:14:22,019 --> 00:14:23,553 There's a fish right there. 254 00:14:23,819 --> 00:14:24,885 Wow. 255 00:14:25,119 --> 00:14:26,453 This is a lot of fish. 256 00:14:26,619 --> 00:14:28,652 And that could feed my dogs for a long time. 257 00:14:32,620 --> 00:14:35,119 I know one thing, I'm gonna have some happy dogs. 258 00:14:38,453 --> 00:14:41,319 I'll use about 18 a day, 20 sometimes. 259 00:14:41,586 --> 00:14:44,685 So, that's, you know, days of feed for my dogs. 260 00:14:46,085 --> 00:14:47,819 This is what it's all about for me. 261 00:14:48,219 --> 00:14:51,118 You suffer a lot of hard times and lean times out here, 262 00:14:51,185 --> 00:14:53,186 so, when it's good, man, you're excited. 263 00:14:53,253 --> 00:14:57,286 You just... You realise how lucky you are to be doing something like this. 264 00:14:59,186 --> 00:15:03,286 I'm gonna throw this last one on here, it's 177. 265 00:15:03,986 --> 00:15:08,485 So, now I got haul all these up to my house on the Nenana River and get to work, 266 00:15:08,552 --> 00:15:11,353 you know, moving 'em and getting 'em to where they're gonna be for the winter. 267 00:15:12,420 --> 00:15:14,019 Fishing is nothing but work. 268 00:15:14,319 --> 00:15:17,719 But whenever it pays off it's the best feeling you could have. 269 00:15:20,752 --> 00:15:25,286 SUE: Winter is not waiting for me to get rested and have time to feel cosy. 270 00:15:25,553 --> 00:15:26,652 It's here. 271 00:15:31,818 --> 00:15:33,852 All righty. 272 00:15:33,919 --> 00:15:36,119 (SIGHS) Well, there's 48 barrels of fun. 273 00:15:36,453 --> 00:15:38,585 (SIGHS) Count them just to make sure. 274 00:15:41,353 --> 00:15:42,486 Yep, 48. 275 00:15:43,919 --> 00:15:45,786 This is only part of staying warm. 276 00:15:45,919 --> 00:15:48,952 You don't stay warm staring at 48 empty barrels. 277 00:15:49,919 --> 00:15:52,420 It's got to be 48 full barrels, so... 278 00:15:53,286 --> 00:15:55,685 And a job half-done isn't done. 279 00:15:58,186 --> 00:15:59,752 NARRATOR: To survive the harsh winter ahead, 280 00:15:59,819 --> 00:16:02,319 Sue must disperse her fuel throughout camp. 281 00:16:02,785 --> 00:16:05,085 But isolated in the tundra and working alone, 282 00:16:05,152 --> 00:16:08,752 filling and moving 48 barrels of fuel is a hefty undertaking. 283 00:16:09,286 --> 00:16:11,518 SUE: This is a 200-gallon portable tank. 284 00:16:11,585 --> 00:16:13,286 I carry it wherever I need it. 285 00:16:16,319 --> 00:16:17,919 This is my fuel shed. 286 00:16:18,652 --> 00:16:21,786 I just got fuel in the big bladder over here the other day. 287 00:16:21,853 --> 00:16:24,852 Now I need to start taking it out and sprinkling it around camp. 288 00:16:27,551 --> 00:16:29,186 (ENGINE ROARING) 289 00:16:29,253 --> 00:16:30,652 C'mon, c'mon, c'mon. 290 00:16:32,019 --> 00:16:33,085 It's kicked on. 291 00:16:33,152 --> 00:16:34,918 I'm trying to be very careful. 292 00:16:34,985 --> 00:16:38,453 I'm giving myself 10 gallons of fuel a day for whatever purpose I need it. 293 00:16:38,819 --> 00:16:43,319 That's 3,000 gallons in an average winter between loads of fuel. 294 00:16:46,352 --> 00:16:48,485 That cold winter weather's coming in. 295 00:16:48,552 --> 00:16:51,319 It's better if I can get a lot of my work done, 296 00:16:51,386 --> 00:16:53,918 my winter fuel where it needs to live now, 297 00:16:53,985 --> 00:16:57,986 than waiting till it's 50, 60 below and then saying, "Shit, where's my fuel?" 298 00:17:02,319 --> 00:17:07,186 Take this into the gen shed, plop it into the tank, come back for more. 299 00:17:11,219 --> 00:17:12,618 Fuck. 300 00:17:12,685 --> 00:17:13,785 Fuck. 301 00:17:14,986 --> 00:17:16,019 Really? 302 00:17:18,453 --> 00:17:21,885 I've definitely got smoke coming over here, 303 00:17:22,453 --> 00:17:25,785 kind of by, where this filter is, something smells hot. 304 00:17:25,852 --> 00:17:27,452 It could just be overheating, 305 00:17:28,352 --> 00:17:33,719 I thought I had a radiator issue before, coolant issue before. 306 00:17:34,718 --> 00:17:36,186 Sorta smells that way. 307 00:17:37,019 --> 00:17:40,519 It is a catastrophe if this Bobcat goes down. 308 00:17:41,552 --> 00:17:44,552 I don't have the money for a new one. I don't have it. 309 00:17:45,753 --> 00:17:47,819 Winter is beating down the door. 310 00:17:47,886 --> 00:17:52,819 If I want to be successful at being warm this winter, then I've got to fix the Bobcat, 311 00:17:52,952 --> 00:17:56,685 or at least fix it enough that I can get the hard work done. 312 00:17:56,752 --> 00:17:59,618 The problem is it's a very, very old piece of equipment. 313 00:18:00,219 --> 00:18:03,752 You know, you're, you're talking 20, 30-year-old piece of equipment. 314 00:18:03,852 --> 00:18:07,485 Been around the block a few time like the town bike, everybody's had a ride. 315 00:18:07,652 --> 00:18:11,418 So I'll start it off simple, process of elimination. 316 00:18:11,485 --> 00:18:15,618 See if I can see an obvious thing, but do the simple things, check the oil. 317 00:18:16,286 --> 00:18:19,253 If it's out of oil it's gonna be hot and it's gonna be unhappy. 318 00:18:20,252 --> 00:18:23,286 And you are pretty low on oil. 319 00:18:24,919 --> 00:18:27,618 A Bobcat 753 320 00:18:28,052 --> 00:18:32,119 will take seven and a half quarts of oil on a full oil change. 321 00:18:32,452 --> 00:18:37,019 I'm not doing a full oil change right now, I'm just bringing it up to level, 322 00:18:37,551 --> 00:18:39,986 and gonna see if that makes any difference. 323 00:18:40,485 --> 00:18:42,852 It's starting to get a little bit on the late side tonight, 324 00:18:42,919 --> 00:18:45,552 but I just want to see, is there something obvious? 325 00:18:45,986 --> 00:18:47,452 Was it just a little low? 326 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:00,220 (SUE SPEAKING) 327 00:19:00,552 --> 00:19:03,618 There's a petcock valve, and it's leaking anti-freeze. 328 00:19:04,485 --> 00:19:08,685 It's already smelling warm to me, and it hasn't gone anywhere. 329 00:19:08,752 --> 00:19:11,886 I'm gonna take it back, park it just like it was. 330 00:19:12,220 --> 00:19:14,618 Get my little book out, read up, what the hell is it? 331 00:19:14,685 --> 00:19:15,819 What does it mean? 332 00:19:16,019 --> 00:19:17,552 Leaking anti-freeze is not good. 333 00:19:17,619 --> 00:19:20,919 It's not good for the animals, and it's not good for my vehicle. 334 00:19:23,818 --> 00:19:26,485 My whole plan with working smart instead of hard 335 00:19:26,719 --> 00:19:31,185 falls to pieces when the equipment meant to do the hard part for me fails. 336 00:19:31,252 --> 00:19:33,886 Now worst-case scenario, the Bobcat doesn't get fixed, 337 00:19:33,953 --> 00:19:36,685 I don't have the money laying around to get another one. 338 00:19:36,752 --> 00:19:39,619 Everything'll have to be filled, five-gallon cans at a time. 339 00:19:40,052 --> 00:19:42,986 But the stakes are pretty freaking high for me to get this job done. 340 00:19:46,718 --> 00:19:48,485 GLENN VILLENEUVE: Not everybody has the chance 341 00:19:48,552 --> 00:19:49,719 to go out and hunt for their own food. 342 00:19:49,786 --> 00:19:52,186 If you really want to, it's still possible. 343 00:19:55,186 --> 00:19:56,418 (SIGHS) 344 00:19:57,085 --> 00:20:00,318 I'm going from the whole animal down to bite-sized pieces. 345 00:20:01,886 --> 00:20:03,185 (SIGHS) 346 00:20:03,252 --> 00:20:05,086 NARRATOR: With all of his moose meat back in camp, 347 00:20:05,153 --> 00:20:07,185 Glenn must now carry the supply to an area 348 00:20:07,252 --> 00:20:09,452 that is safely out of reach from scavengers. 349 00:20:09,519 --> 00:20:13,618 I still got to get this secure, so that when I leave camp, nothing can get to it. 350 00:20:13,685 --> 00:20:15,319 When I'm not here to watch it, 351 00:20:15,519 --> 00:20:18,086 this meat has to be out of reach of scavengers. 352 00:20:18,585 --> 00:20:22,485 By hanging the meat up off of this meat pole, it protects it from scavengers. 353 00:20:22,552 --> 00:20:24,318 Bears can't get to it up there. 354 00:20:24,885 --> 00:20:26,052 Problem is, 355 00:20:26,318 --> 00:20:29,718 I built this meat pole 11 years ago. 356 00:20:29,885 --> 00:20:33,385 It's getting old, it's not in good shape inside. 357 00:20:33,585 --> 00:20:35,251 Eventually it's gonna fall over. 358 00:20:35,318 --> 00:20:37,418 I just don't want it to come down with me on top of it. 359 00:20:37,485 --> 00:20:39,119 -It's 20-feet high... -(WOOD CREAKING) 360 00:20:39,186 --> 00:20:41,351 If that thing broke when I was up there, that would be a disaster. 361 00:20:41,418 --> 00:20:44,819 I can't chance it. I can't put a whole moose on this any more. 362 00:20:45,485 --> 00:20:47,252 I think I'm gonna have to divide up the weight. 363 00:20:47,952 --> 00:20:51,852 I'll put part of it on this pole, I'll put part of it up on this platform, 364 00:20:52,352 --> 00:20:53,919 less stress on these structures. 365 00:20:55,719 --> 00:20:56,952 -(CHAINS CLANGING) -All right. 366 00:20:57,351 --> 00:20:58,485 See how this goes. 367 00:20:59,285 --> 00:21:03,418 I'm just worried about the, the poles themselves, how strong they are. 368 00:21:06,019 --> 00:21:07,585 Just gonna take it slow. 369 00:21:08,251 --> 00:21:09,418 Keep my balance. 370 00:21:11,886 --> 00:21:13,219 (GRUNTING) 371 00:21:18,819 --> 00:21:20,719 (EXHALES DEEPLY) Got it up here. 372 00:21:25,585 --> 00:21:27,652 That's definitely as much weight as I want on that platform. 373 00:21:27,719 --> 00:21:30,385 I want to put the rest of it up here on this meat pole. 374 00:21:32,352 --> 00:21:35,251 Getting this little block and tackle together, this is gonna help me. 375 00:21:35,318 --> 00:21:37,752 I can lift a very heavy weight with this. 376 00:21:37,819 --> 00:21:40,452 I've got to go all the way up on top of the pole 377 00:21:40,952 --> 00:21:42,752 in order to make this system work. 378 00:21:45,418 --> 00:21:46,952 (WOOD CREAKING) 379 00:21:47,518 --> 00:21:51,352 I can't see what's going on inside that wood so I just have to use my best judgment. 380 00:21:55,019 --> 00:21:56,518 Got to be careful up here. 381 00:21:56,585 --> 00:22:00,952 I'm 20 feet high, where my feet are standing. 382 00:22:01,019 --> 00:22:03,318 I definitely don't want to mess up. 383 00:22:15,919 --> 00:22:18,685 I had to get this pulley up high enough 384 00:22:18,752 --> 00:22:21,285 so that I could wench the meat all the way up to where I want to hang it. 385 00:22:21,352 --> 00:22:22,385 Oh, wow. 386 00:22:23,953 --> 00:22:25,485 Really light now. 387 00:22:25,552 --> 00:22:27,685 It's given me a huge mechanical advantage. 388 00:22:29,351 --> 00:22:32,119 There, I got it high enough. 389 00:22:32,552 --> 00:22:35,585 Last piece of meat, just got to get these ribs up there. 390 00:22:35,985 --> 00:22:37,852 I got most of the meat over on the platform this year... 391 00:22:37,919 --> 00:22:39,519 (PULLEY CREAKING) 392 00:22:39,586 --> 00:22:41,852 But I distributed the weight and put some of it on my meat pole. 393 00:22:42,385 --> 00:22:44,986 Got it. That way, it's safe. 394 00:22:45,419 --> 00:22:47,852 Neither of those are gonna fall down with that amount of weight on it. 395 00:22:48,418 --> 00:22:50,251 And also, nothing can get to it. 396 00:22:50,318 --> 00:22:51,985 Scavengers just can't get up there. 397 00:22:52,052 --> 00:22:55,952 I got that moose, I got it back to camp, and now I got it safe. 398 00:23:01,685 --> 00:23:04,752 JESSIE: The more you grow out here, the more you understand what it takes. 399 00:23:12,552 --> 00:23:16,752 I'll be building a new rack system that I can hopefully hang 1,000 fish on. 400 00:23:16,819 --> 00:23:19,752 So I can just take those fish right off of it, they're ready. 401 00:23:20,218 --> 00:23:22,986 And just to lessen my workload, make more space. 402 00:23:23,252 --> 00:23:25,185 NARRATOR: Creating a fish rack will allow Jessie 403 00:23:25,252 --> 00:23:28,518 to dry, smoke, and preserve large quantities of fish. 404 00:23:28,585 --> 00:23:30,918 The meat will provide him and his sled dogs 405 00:23:30,985 --> 00:23:33,419 with enough protein for the long winter. 406 00:23:34,053 --> 00:23:35,819 I need to start collecting some poles, 407 00:23:35,886 --> 00:23:38,852 and I'm gonna put 'em up with some barrels in a level area 408 00:23:39,618 --> 00:23:42,019 and start filling it up with some fish. 409 00:23:44,452 --> 00:23:46,218 I'm not an idealist out here. 410 00:23:46,318 --> 00:23:47,485 I'm a realist. 411 00:23:47,885 --> 00:23:50,753 If it means using a chainsaw over a bow saw, 412 00:23:51,152 --> 00:23:52,752 that's the way I'm gonna do it. 413 00:23:53,552 --> 00:23:57,585 Waste time doing things the hard way, then you miss out on a lot of opportunities. 414 00:24:00,352 --> 00:24:01,652 Time's of the essence. 415 00:24:02,418 --> 00:24:05,118 It's imperative that I get these fish put up for the winter, 416 00:24:05,185 --> 00:24:06,785 it really enables my lifestyle. 417 00:24:06,852 --> 00:24:09,485 This is a huge part of my lifestyle to have these fish. 418 00:24:10,052 --> 00:24:12,652 It fuels my dogs and it fuels me. 419 00:24:14,986 --> 00:24:17,285 This is pretty much what it's gonna look like. 420 00:24:17,619 --> 00:24:20,986 I'll be rolling these and spacing these, 421 00:24:21,853 --> 00:24:25,351 even enough apart that I can fit about five fish per alder pole. 422 00:24:25,485 --> 00:24:27,686 I'm looking to not go too far of a span 423 00:24:27,753 --> 00:24:31,719 'cause I don't want it to bend and break and be under the strain of too many fish, 424 00:24:31,786 --> 00:24:34,252 so, I'm just trying to fit in this rectangle what I can. 425 00:24:34,319 --> 00:24:39,352 I'll have 125 fish per row, and nine rows, so I'll have 426 00:24:39,986 --> 00:24:42,886 over 1,000 fish hanging on this which is gonna be cool. 427 00:24:46,585 --> 00:24:50,919 It's time to hang some fish and try to fit as many in there as I possibly can. 428 00:24:51,318 --> 00:24:54,619 As much as my rack can hold is the work I got cut out for me. 429 00:24:56,352 --> 00:24:59,751 I'm just going for it, 'cause time's everything to me right now. 430 00:24:59,818 --> 00:25:01,485 All these fish that I put up now, 431 00:25:01,552 --> 00:25:04,852 fish that I'm putting up for my whole winter season of dog food. 432 00:25:05,519 --> 00:25:10,552 I got to cut costs of my dog food and add a quality supplement of fish and, 433 00:25:10,619 --> 00:25:12,819 you know without these fish, life is pretty hard. 434 00:25:12,886 --> 00:25:16,085 I got to get this done right so I optimize on my catch of fish. 435 00:25:16,152 --> 00:25:17,984 I don't get to try to do this again. 436 00:25:18,051 --> 00:25:21,719 You know, this is it, this is my opportunity to put up fish for the winter. 437 00:25:24,451 --> 00:25:26,452 Got a lot of dogs, need a lot of fish. 438 00:25:26,719 --> 00:25:27,919 Got to do it right. 439 00:25:28,452 --> 00:25:30,985 Fifty dogs, there's no such thing as too much fish. 440 00:25:43,051 --> 00:25:44,385 (CREAKING) 441 00:25:46,285 --> 00:25:47,852 (THUD) 442 00:25:47,919 --> 00:25:49,852 Fucking damn it! 443 00:25:56,919 --> 00:25:58,018 Fuck! 444 00:26:04,018 --> 00:26:07,452 Well, it's a hard lesson that's gonna cost me a lot of work, 445 00:26:07,519 --> 00:26:10,284 but it will probably stick in my mind, you know? It's... 446 00:26:10,518 --> 00:26:13,451 I don't think that plastic barrel helped me too much there. 447 00:26:13,518 --> 00:26:17,318 Could have had more barrels maybe and more supports, and some weight. 448 00:26:17,385 --> 00:26:21,385 Think I cut a shortcut because the metal barrels, heavier to carry. (LAUGHS) 449 00:26:22,752 --> 00:26:24,519 And this is what fucking happens. 450 00:26:25,686 --> 00:26:28,651 I'm gonna load all these fish on the tarp. 451 00:26:28,718 --> 00:26:31,685 Still just really thankful to have this fish. 452 00:26:31,752 --> 00:26:33,585 This is a very valuable resource. 453 00:26:35,586 --> 00:26:37,819 This is costing me valuable time 454 00:26:38,819 --> 00:26:41,352 that I need to be out there on the river putting up more fish. 455 00:26:42,052 --> 00:26:46,419 Takes a lot of pounds of meat to feed these dogs, so, 456 00:26:47,152 --> 00:26:50,419 while this is a lot of fish and it makes me feel good to have it, 457 00:26:51,085 --> 00:26:54,452 I don't want to waste time, thinking I got it made 458 00:26:54,519 --> 00:26:56,519 'cause you don't ever have it made. 459 00:26:56,586 --> 00:26:58,218 You can't be complacent. 460 00:26:58,285 --> 00:27:01,418 I'm gonna put this back together, I'll just put it back together stronger. 461 00:27:04,152 --> 00:27:06,318 And count it a lesson learned. 462 00:27:10,951 --> 00:27:14,084 I got these fish, they're ready to go back on these racks. 463 00:27:14,151 --> 00:27:17,652 Racks just need to be thrown back together a little bit more securely. 464 00:27:18,285 --> 00:27:19,884 Fish got to be moved again. 465 00:27:19,951 --> 00:27:22,984 This task is mostly done, so it's definitely gonna get done. 466 00:27:23,051 --> 00:27:24,418 I have no choice but to get it done, 467 00:27:24,485 --> 00:27:26,752 I don't start something and not finish it. 468 00:27:34,318 --> 00:27:37,851 SUE: You count your years by the winters you're surviving. 469 00:27:41,652 --> 00:27:42,718 All righty. 470 00:27:43,685 --> 00:27:46,418 Time to, er, get some fuelling done, man. 471 00:27:46,485 --> 00:27:48,051 NARRATOR: With temperatures dropping, 472 00:27:48,118 --> 00:27:51,151 Sue must fix her Bobcat to disperse her fuel throughout camp, 473 00:27:51,218 --> 00:27:53,786 or risk having no heat in freezing conditions. 474 00:27:54,218 --> 00:27:57,719 -I'm gonna get some anti-freeze, pour it in there. -(ENGINE ROARING) 475 00:27:58,252 --> 00:28:00,151 Got to mix it 50-50. 476 00:28:01,951 --> 00:28:05,619 Last night coolant was leaking out, maybe that'll fix it. 477 00:28:05,686 --> 00:28:09,185 If it fixes it, great, I'll run, run, run, get my fuelling done. 478 00:28:11,218 --> 00:28:14,752 I've got to get my fuel done, winter's here. 479 00:28:15,252 --> 00:28:17,518 Do I want to hurt my little Sue-Cat? No. 480 00:28:17,585 --> 00:28:20,385 Do I have to push it to its limits? This time, yes. 481 00:28:20,785 --> 00:28:21,985 So, that's good. 482 00:28:29,252 --> 00:28:30,719 (ENGINE STARTING) 483 00:28:31,552 --> 00:28:33,552 I don't like it when my shit doesn't work. 484 00:28:33,619 --> 00:28:35,985 I'm gonna run that thing till it falls apart today. 485 00:28:36,052 --> 00:28:39,151 I've got all this to fuel up and I'm out of time. 486 00:28:41,185 --> 00:28:45,752 You start from one end, and go around to the other. 487 00:28:48,018 --> 00:28:52,252 The Bobcat is running hot, pistol hot. 488 00:28:52,652 --> 00:28:55,519 Erm, whether it's thermostat, pump... 489 00:28:56,351 --> 00:28:58,085 Don't know, don't care. 490 00:28:58,252 --> 00:29:00,719 I've got to get my barrels done. 491 00:29:01,818 --> 00:29:03,918 That's the name of the game, is getting the chore done, 492 00:29:03,985 --> 00:29:06,818 so that this winter I don't have to break myself doing it. 493 00:29:08,385 --> 00:29:11,219 All lifestyles come with a certain amount of angst. 494 00:29:11,619 --> 00:29:15,185 Mine just... My angst comes in 55-gallon drums. 495 00:29:20,851 --> 00:29:22,485 CHIP: I wouldn't trade this life for anything. 496 00:29:22,784 --> 00:29:25,218 It doesn't make a lot of money, but it's very satisfying. 497 00:29:33,318 --> 00:29:34,985 Lot of ice going by. 498 00:29:36,118 --> 00:29:38,084 Won't stop caribou from crossing, but... 499 00:29:38,151 --> 00:29:40,518 This doesn't seem to have panned out very well. 500 00:29:40,718 --> 00:29:43,351 NARRATOR: The Hailstones have arrived at a familiar hunting spot 501 00:29:43,418 --> 00:29:45,385 and set up camp to scout for caribou, 502 00:29:45,452 --> 00:29:47,785 a crucial food source for the months ahead. 503 00:29:48,385 --> 00:29:50,552 We got up a couple of hours ago after the fog left. 504 00:29:51,519 --> 00:29:55,051 And er, we haven't seen or heard any caribou cross whatsoever. 505 00:29:55,685 --> 00:29:58,785 So we're thinking the ones that have been following this trail probably petered out. 506 00:29:58,952 --> 00:30:01,119 But there were a lot of fresh caribou signs downriver, 507 00:30:01,486 --> 00:30:04,185 so our thought is just to, erm, move on downriver. 508 00:30:04,252 --> 00:30:07,118 We'll move to where the caribou are crossing, it's the smartest thing to do. 509 00:30:07,185 --> 00:30:08,351 We got the transportation. 510 00:30:08,418 --> 00:30:12,085 You can't always be 100% on hunting. 511 00:30:12,418 --> 00:30:14,352 Lot of times you go home with nothing. 512 00:30:14,419 --> 00:30:16,018 I'd like to avoid that though. 513 00:30:17,285 --> 00:30:18,784 I want to go home with lots. 514 00:30:21,385 --> 00:30:26,985 We're gonna pack up camp and put everything away and head back downriver. 515 00:30:28,018 --> 00:30:29,586 This big sheet of ice right here, 516 00:30:30,085 --> 00:30:33,252 what gets our attention is that it's up and out of the water, 517 00:30:33,385 --> 00:30:35,784 which means that it's floating, which means it's at least an inch thick. 518 00:30:36,818 --> 00:30:38,851 This other ice that we got here is a quarter-inch thick. 519 00:30:38,918 --> 00:30:40,619 There's no problem, but that right there 520 00:30:40,718 --> 00:30:43,718 is kind of like a "Hey, there's some big guys in the river to be aware of." 521 00:30:44,218 --> 00:30:46,817 What we don't want to do is get ourselves stuck here. 522 00:30:46,884 --> 00:30:48,851 -AGNES: All set, ready? -(CHIP SIGHS) 523 00:30:51,619 --> 00:30:53,018 CHIP: You got that secured? 524 00:30:53,585 --> 00:30:55,584 All right, well, you guys make sure the lids and stuff are down, 525 00:30:55,651 --> 00:30:58,352 'cause ploughing through all this ice and stuff is just a bunch of crap. 526 00:30:58,419 --> 00:30:59,985 It's gonna knock all this loose. 527 00:31:10,419 --> 00:31:12,285 (ICE CRACKING) 528 00:31:16,651 --> 00:31:18,352 AGNES: Stop, Chip! CHIP: Damn it! 529 00:31:22,118 --> 00:31:23,918 (ENGINE SLOWING DOWN) 530 00:31:24,118 --> 00:31:25,851 CHIP: This ice all around isn't doing us any favours. 531 00:31:25,918 --> 00:31:28,385 It burns a lot of gas to either slow down and plough through it, 532 00:31:28,452 --> 00:31:30,684 or to take the time to go way around it. 533 00:31:30,751 --> 00:31:34,051 And er, I'm not into beating up my boat, and I'm not into wasting gas, 534 00:31:34,118 --> 00:31:37,118 so we're gonna get out of this stuff here and make a new plan. 535 00:31:38,984 --> 00:31:41,651 Go ahead. We're just gonna sit here and wait a little bit, 536 00:31:41,918 --> 00:31:44,352 quietly, and try to keep still, 537 00:31:44,651 --> 00:31:46,550 not scare any of the animals away and hopefully 538 00:31:46,617 --> 00:31:48,917 they all come down the hill and cross over here 539 00:31:48,984 --> 00:31:52,051 so we can try to catch some zooming across the river. 540 00:31:57,685 --> 00:32:01,051 Feels like we're in an okay spot, but not a really good spot. 541 00:32:16,818 --> 00:32:18,018 CHIP: Ah. 542 00:32:18,751 --> 00:32:19,785 Huh. 543 00:32:20,552 --> 00:32:22,552 That's pretty fucking dead if you ask me. 544 00:32:22,651 --> 00:32:26,018 I feel like the main herd has already passed. 545 00:32:26,085 --> 00:32:29,851 -Oh. Yep. You guys just want to go home? -Yep. 546 00:32:29,918 --> 00:32:31,818 Well, the ice makes it really hard for the caribou to swim. 547 00:32:31,885 --> 00:32:33,884 I mean, they're literally cutting and beating themselves up 548 00:32:33,951 --> 00:32:35,484 if they try to get through this stuff. 549 00:32:35,551 --> 00:32:37,152 Caribou aren't gonna be crossing here. 550 00:32:37,219 --> 00:32:39,251 As long as there's all these big huge pans of ice, 551 00:32:39,318 --> 00:32:40,984 and to me they're only getting bigger, 552 00:32:41,051 --> 00:32:43,452 it looks like it's time to go, so we're gonna get out of here. 553 00:32:47,951 --> 00:32:49,152 Here we go. 554 00:32:50,118 --> 00:32:51,718 We've decided to get away from the ice. 555 00:32:51,785 --> 00:32:54,751 We're gonna pare out all the extra heavy things that we've got. 556 00:32:54,951 --> 00:32:57,585 We're just gonna lighten the boat as best we can since we're at home. 557 00:32:57,851 --> 00:33:01,984 And hopefully in the morning start out anew and go out and see what we can get. 558 00:33:02,818 --> 00:33:04,385 We're not defeated or anything. 559 00:33:04,651 --> 00:33:06,185 It's just not the day for it. 560 00:33:06,252 --> 00:33:07,718 Maybe tomorrow will be a better day. 561 00:33:07,985 --> 00:33:09,318 We'll see. 562 00:33:12,918 --> 00:33:14,951 GLENN: I took the time to learn what I needed to learn. 563 00:33:15,584 --> 00:33:16,885 That's why I survived. 564 00:33:27,851 --> 00:33:29,452 (METAL CLANGING) 565 00:33:30,185 --> 00:33:33,151 I cook all my food right here on this woodstove, 566 00:33:33,218 --> 00:33:36,451 or outside on an open fire, if it's warmer. 567 00:33:37,351 --> 00:33:40,051 I just like the atmosphere of the woodstove and cooking on it. 568 00:33:40,551 --> 00:33:41,817 You get used to it. 569 00:33:41,884 --> 00:33:44,252 Cut myself a couple of nice steaks. 570 00:33:45,584 --> 00:33:47,717 Backstrap for dinner. Look at that. 571 00:33:48,451 --> 00:33:50,052 Just clean it up a little bit. 572 00:33:50,285 --> 00:33:51,984 It's hard to keep it perfectly clean. 573 00:33:52,051 --> 00:33:54,785 Sometimes I get a few moose hairs on my meat and that's all right. 574 00:33:55,119 --> 00:33:56,884 I can just pick 'em off. 575 00:33:56,951 --> 00:33:59,418 I can trim a little bit if it's a little bit dirty. 576 00:33:59,851 --> 00:34:03,717 But I don't want to trim more fat than I have to 'cause I like eating that fat. 577 00:34:03,784 --> 00:34:06,851 I'll eat three or four pounds of meat a day, that's normal. 578 00:34:06,918 --> 00:34:09,918 Cold out here. Got to have a lot of meat and fat to stay warm. 579 00:34:11,685 --> 00:34:14,784 There's nothing like hunting for your own meat, nothing like it. 580 00:34:18,952 --> 00:34:21,551 Everything that lives has to die. 581 00:34:23,218 --> 00:34:24,684 And the way nature works, 582 00:34:26,151 --> 00:34:29,918 when things die, they get consumed by something else that's living. 583 00:34:31,851 --> 00:34:33,118 It's a cycle, it's natural. 584 00:34:34,251 --> 00:34:35,784 And people are part of it, too, 585 00:34:35,851 --> 00:34:38,751 and when you're hunting you see it up close and personal. 586 00:34:40,484 --> 00:34:43,785 You're part of that big process whether you know it or not. 587 00:34:44,685 --> 00:34:47,818 But the hunter is aware that he's part of that cycle of life. 588 00:34:48,718 --> 00:34:50,985 The hunter knows because he killed it himself. 589 00:34:53,319 --> 00:34:55,651 -(CHIRPING) -(HOWLING) 590 00:34:59,218 --> 00:35:00,319 Time for dinner. 591 00:35:00,852 --> 00:35:05,385 Look at this, that steak's looking pretty good, isn't it? 592 00:35:06,151 --> 00:35:09,285 I tell ya, this is when it's really all worth it, right here... 593 00:35:10,252 --> 00:35:13,885 Right here at the dinner table, that's what it's all about. 594 00:35:21,451 --> 00:35:23,451 Mmm. There's something about it. 595 00:35:24,451 --> 00:35:27,718 All those miles walked and all that weight dragged, 596 00:35:27,952 --> 00:35:29,218 all that time spent 597 00:35:30,518 --> 00:35:31,851 out there in the woods, 598 00:35:33,952 --> 00:35:36,352 and then it all pays off, I tell ya. 599 00:35:41,884 --> 00:35:45,384 Lucky enough to live up here, you may as well be grateful and thankful. 600 00:35:46,585 --> 00:35:48,918 (HUSKIES BARKING AND HOWLING) 601 00:35:55,785 --> 00:35:57,318 JESSIE: Got this rack project. 602 00:35:57,385 --> 00:35:58,951 Would have been nice to have finished that in one day, 603 00:35:59,018 --> 00:36:02,584 but now we got good six inches of snow to add to the mix. 604 00:36:04,918 --> 00:36:07,918 NARRATOR: Jessie has suffered a setback while constructing his fish rack. 605 00:36:08,018 --> 00:36:09,584 With snow already falling, 606 00:36:09,651 --> 00:36:12,384 he must complete the rack to dry and preserve the fish 607 00:36:12,451 --> 00:36:15,285 that will feed himself and his sled dogs through the winter. 608 00:36:15,484 --> 00:36:18,085 This isn't like I'm having to start this whole project over again. 609 00:36:18,152 --> 00:36:21,118 I'm just trying to rectify the balance problem that I had and... 610 00:36:21,451 --> 00:36:25,818 And then I just pick these fish up and slap 'em on here and... 611 00:36:25,885 --> 00:36:29,785 I'm behind right now, if I don't keep moving I'm gonna be way behind. 612 00:36:30,252 --> 00:36:35,019 For me, fear is... Fear of failure is probably the greatest fear for me. 613 00:36:36,219 --> 00:36:40,785 'Cause right now I have so much on the line, and I've invested so much. 614 00:36:41,351 --> 00:36:44,984 Hopefully this'll set up a little bit and help it from kicking out. 615 00:36:45,051 --> 00:36:46,384 (CRACKLING) 616 00:36:46,451 --> 00:36:47,518 Whoa. 617 00:36:49,484 --> 00:36:50,651 Oh, God. 618 00:36:52,550 --> 00:36:56,584 That tree's gonna break and fall right on this rack and destroy all my hard work. 619 00:36:56,918 --> 00:36:58,584 I'm gonna have to take a look at it 620 00:36:58,651 --> 00:37:01,252 and see if I can safely get it down somehow without hitting the rack. 621 00:37:12,184 --> 00:37:13,684 Whoo, yeah! 622 00:37:21,151 --> 00:37:23,018 Ah, disaster diverted. 623 00:37:36,018 --> 00:37:38,218 Oh, man, I'm feeling good about this, you know? 624 00:37:39,051 --> 00:37:42,351 It's way more solid, it's gonna hold. 625 00:37:42,885 --> 00:37:46,251 It's a lot of work, but it's for a greater cause. 626 00:37:50,484 --> 00:37:52,651 That's what attracts me to this, you know? 627 00:37:53,517 --> 00:37:56,818 Is that long time out in the wilderness with the dogs. 628 00:37:56,885 --> 00:37:59,184 You got to be really solid with who you are, you know? 629 00:37:59,251 --> 00:38:00,718 You got to like yourself. 630 00:38:03,817 --> 00:38:05,451 All right! This looks great. 631 00:38:05,685 --> 00:38:06,985 This is gonna hold. 632 00:38:07,618 --> 00:38:10,618 Got, you know, nearly a thousand fish here so, 633 00:38:11,152 --> 00:38:13,284 you know, I achieved what I wanted to achieve. 634 00:38:13,351 --> 00:38:14,851 I had some hardships along the way, 635 00:38:14,918 --> 00:38:17,517 but it's just a lesson in perseverance, you know? 636 00:38:18,051 --> 00:38:20,784 When things aren't going good, that's when you got to step up, man, 637 00:38:20,851 --> 00:38:22,784 you got to step up and get it done. 638 00:38:22,851 --> 00:38:26,651 My mind can rest that I accomplished this and I can move onto the next job, 639 00:38:27,118 --> 00:38:29,584 which now, that the snow is coming, is many. 640 00:38:34,651 --> 00:38:36,417 CHIP: This is part of life. 641 00:38:36,484 --> 00:38:38,118 You've got to kill something if you want to eat and you want to live. 642 00:38:45,318 --> 00:38:46,551 (HUSKIES BARKING) 643 00:38:46,618 --> 00:38:47,851 Are you guys ready? 644 00:38:47,918 --> 00:38:49,484 -I'm ready. -Yeah. 645 00:38:49,551 --> 00:38:51,718 It's too bad your mom doesn't feel good enough to follow today. 646 00:38:52,085 --> 00:38:54,284 -That's all right, the four of us will get 'er done. -Oh yeah. 647 00:38:54,585 --> 00:38:58,052 This morning Agnes hasn't been feeling very well, so we suggested she stay home. 648 00:38:58,119 --> 00:39:01,018 Me, Jon, Ting, we can cover this. We've got Carol. 649 00:39:01,118 --> 00:39:03,484 We're pulling her out of school for the day, let her go hunt some more. 650 00:39:03,551 --> 00:39:05,251 We're a good crew. We'll work out. 651 00:39:06,184 --> 00:39:07,951 -(GRUNTS) -Jon will direct the hunt. 652 00:39:08,284 --> 00:39:10,851 He'll pick up any of your wounded. You two will do the shooting. 653 00:39:10,918 --> 00:39:14,417 When he's telling you "shoot", "don't shoot", you listen to him. 654 00:39:14,484 --> 00:39:17,784 You know how it is when you've got two or three people shooting at the same time, 655 00:39:17,851 --> 00:39:19,651 you have to have control on that. 656 00:39:21,384 --> 00:39:24,250 Take the boat, go out, and when darkness is coming we'll come back. 657 00:39:24,317 --> 00:39:26,750 And it's gonna freeze up the river here pretty soon. 658 00:39:26,817 --> 00:39:28,517 So we're trying to beat the rut basically. 659 00:39:28,584 --> 00:39:30,084 And we need to come up with a certain amount of caribou 660 00:39:30,151 --> 00:39:31,884 because there's a certain amount that we eat, 661 00:39:31,951 --> 00:39:34,118 and other people that we support, too, and we need to get caribous. 662 00:39:37,217 --> 00:39:39,551 Yesterday where we were at, up above Kiana, 663 00:39:39,618 --> 00:39:42,384 up on the main channel of the Kobuk River, it was icing in. 664 00:39:42,451 --> 00:39:45,417 So, we decided to ease on down home, go back out again today, 665 00:39:45,484 --> 00:39:47,451 'cause there's no ice down this far. 666 00:39:47,518 --> 00:39:49,284 The caribou aren't gonna cross route through the ice 667 00:39:49,351 --> 00:39:50,918 when it's going through the river, so 668 00:39:51,317 --> 00:39:54,651 we don't want to be too late. But then again, we don't know what we'll get. 669 00:39:55,251 --> 00:39:56,818 So, what we're gonna do is we're gonna give it a try. 670 00:40:02,052 --> 00:40:03,818 (JON SPEAKING) 671 00:40:04,051 --> 00:40:05,417 Checking for some tracks... 672 00:40:13,784 --> 00:40:15,885 This is always a good place to park and have a look. 673 00:40:24,618 --> 00:40:26,084 There ain't nothing here. 674 00:40:26,517 --> 00:40:29,617 Migration is going basically from the north to the south, 675 00:40:29,684 --> 00:40:32,951 but to bypass this place they have to swim east to west, so 676 00:40:33,184 --> 00:40:35,251 we're just gonna, just keep looking, I guess. 677 00:40:38,417 --> 00:40:41,684 We're going to a place called Kugluktuk, where the delta starts to separate. 678 00:40:42,384 --> 00:40:44,518 We're looking at all the caribou trails over here. 679 00:40:44,985 --> 00:40:46,984 I want to find some caribou that are making tracks, 680 00:40:47,051 --> 00:40:49,050 I don't want to just see the tracks of caribou. 681 00:41:01,284 --> 00:41:03,418 We didn't see any today. And that happens. 682 00:41:03,818 --> 00:41:05,217 It's just part of hunting. 683 00:41:05,284 --> 00:41:06,784 It's getting later in the day. 684 00:41:06,851 --> 00:41:09,183 Just make our way back down Noorvik and hunt our way home. 685 00:41:09,250 --> 00:41:10,852 We're easing on out of here. 686 00:41:11,117 --> 00:41:12,851 Let's hope we see something on the way, huh? 687 00:41:14,717 --> 00:41:17,384 If we're not gonna catch caribou, then we're gonna have to... 688 00:41:20,084 --> 00:41:23,117 We're gonna have to have a hard, cold winter for the first few months. 689 00:41:24,384 --> 00:41:25,550 It's pretty hard. 690 00:41:25,617 --> 00:41:27,050 It doesn't feel good. 691 00:41:27,117 --> 00:41:29,784 It's hard to be unsuccessful, especially on so many trips. 692 00:41:31,517 --> 00:41:34,651 CHIP: Never, in my life, have I ever been without caribou at this time of year, 693 00:41:34,718 --> 00:41:35,983 or had this happen. 694 00:41:36,050 --> 00:41:37,651 That just ain't the way it is right now. 695 00:41:37,718 --> 00:41:38,918 Sometimes you go home with nothing. 696 00:41:39,618 --> 00:41:42,550 Oh, well, that's the attitude you got to take. 697 00:41:42,617 --> 00:41:44,952 If you don't, you just get upset and that doesn't help. 698 00:41:45,218 --> 00:41:48,217 Sometimes nature takes control in the strangest ways, 699 00:41:48,284 --> 00:41:50,884 and that's part of living in the Arctic. You just keep at it. 700 00:41:50,951 --> 00:41:52,885 Hunting isn't always a sure thing, that's why it's "hunting". 701 00:41:57,651 --> 00:42:00,651 SUE: I don't want to get caught with my panties down, I got to get my work done. 702 00:42:00,784 --> 00:42:03,317 Commando is no way to get caught by nature. 703 00:42:08,350 --> 00:42:10,284 (ENGINE ROARING) 704 00:42:10,784 --> 00:42:13,317 Well this is the last barrel. 705 00:42:13,384 --> 00:42:15,050 The sun's just getting ready to go down. 706 00:42:15,117 --> 00:42:16,885 I've been at it since the sun came up. 707 00:42:20,384 --> 00:42:21,451 All right. 708 00:42:22,751 --> 00:42:24,217 There you go. 709 00:42:26,384 --> 00:42:28,484 Three-thousand gallons of fun. 710 00:42:30,017 --> 00:42:34,051 So, you know, snapping a little bung down on this one is kinda, 711 00:42:34,418 --> 00:42:37,684 snapping together one of the big puzzle pieces of winter. 712 00:42:38,117 --> 00:42:39,717 I got the Bobcat going. 713 00:42:39,784 --> 00:42:43,517 It didn't want to run, and it's not running well. 714 00:42:43,584 --> 00:42:45,517 But I did manage to get it going, 715 00:42:45,584 --> 00:42:50,484 which enabled me to get fuel from my storage containers 716 00:42:51,150 --> 00:42:54,251 to my fuel barrels, over by my heat tank. 717 00:42:54,318 --> 00:42:58,684 Er, what that'll do for me is that enables me to, very short distance, 718 00:42:58,751 --> 00:43:01,351 I can hand pump that fuel into my heat tank, 719 00:43:01,418 --> 00:43:04,417 but it allows me to have heat for the nine, 10 months of winter 720 00:43:04,484 --> 00:43:06,150 in between fuel deliveries. 721 00:43:07,350 --> 00:43:11,618 Preparation is just 90% of thriving out here. 722 00:43:11,685 --> 00:43:15,050 It's not easy no matter what style of life you choose 723 00:43:15,117 --> 00:43:18,718 but for me, it's the wind in my face, 724 00:43:18,818 --> 00:43:20,451 the chill up my spine 725 00:43:20,518 --> 00:43:22,818 and the thrill of not knowing what's out there 726 00:43:22,885 --> 00:43:25,117 that keeps me living here.