1 00:00:06,441 --> 00:00:08,311 narrator: Winter is here. 2 00:00:10,097 --> 00:00:12,969 At the world's northern edge, 3 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:15,971 people and cultures cut off from civilization-- 4 00:00:15,972 --> 00:00:19,235 This is an isolated community. 5 00:00:19,236 --> 00:00:21,237 narrator:--are briefly connected by a lifeline 6 00:00:21,238 --> 00:00:24,372 of roads paved with ice. 7 00:00:28,985 --> 00:00:30,638 Whoa, . 8 00:00:30,639 --> 00:00:34,511 Ah, son of a bitch. 9 00:00:34,512 --> 00:00:36,861 narrator: Fearless drivers risk everything-- 10 00:00:36,862 --> 00:00:38,646 Out here, you can freeze to death. 11 00:00:38,647 --> 00:00:40,388 Here, you just try not to die. 12 00:00:40,475 --> 00:00:42,258 narrator: - chasing big paydays-- 13 00:00:42,259 --> 00:00:43,782 I'll make it work. 14 00:00:43,869 --> 00:00:45,132 If I get back hauls, I get double the money. 15 00:00:45,219 --> 00:00:47,307 narrator: To haul in crucial supplies-- 16 00:00:47,308 --> 00:00:48,873 I'm ready to roll. 17 00:00:48,874 --> 00:00:51,921 narrator:--before the opportunity melts away 18 00:00:52,008 --> 00:00:54,706 under their chained tires. 19 00:00:54,837 --> 00:00:56,707 Whoo. 20 00:00:56,708 --> 00:00:59,536 narrator: This season, veterans return-- 21 00:00:59,537 --> 00:01:01,582 No hesitations, no practice runs. 22 00:01:01,583 --> 00:01:03,411 Back to bumping up and down. 23 00:01:03,498 --> 00:01:04,498 Let's see if an old man's still got what 24 00:01:04,499 --> 00:01:06,369 it takes to get the job done. 25 00:01:06,370 --> 00:01:07,892 narrator: - and rookies emerge. 26 00:01:07,893 --> 00:01:08,980 This is going to be one hell of a ride. 27 00:01:08,981 --> 00:01:10,896 Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Ahh! 28 00:01:10,983 --> 00:01:12,767 narrator: A new company reigns-- 29 00:01:12,768 --> 00:01:14,595 Muskie Creek, we have a very good reputation. 30 00:01:14,596 --> 00:01:16,162 We don't leave a load behind. 31 00:01:16,163 --> 00:01:17,990 narrator:--while another confronts legacy. 32 00:01:18,078 --> 00:01:19,862 I started this business to pass it down to my boys. 33 00:01:19,949 --> 00:01:21,558 That was always the plan. 34 00:01:21,559 --> 00:01:26,520 I was introduced to trucking probably from birth. 35 00:01:26,521 --> 00:01:28,261 narrator: The winter window is shorter than ever-- 36 00:01:28,262 --> 00:01:29,566 You got to get going. 37 00:01:29,567 --> 00:01:31,351 Haul ass. Haul ass. Haul some ass. 38 00:01:31,352 --> 00:01:33,658 narrator:--forcing everyone to burn at both ends. 39 00:01:33,745 --> 00:01:36,660 It's exhausting when you can't get warm. 40 00:01:36,661 --> 00:01:38,272 I feel beat up, chewed up, and spit out. 41 00:01:40,143 --> 00:01:41,926 narrator:--fighting an unrelenting battle. 42 00:01:41,927 --> 00:01:44,234 Ow. Cut all the way open. 43 00:01:44,321 --> 00:01:46,322 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 44 00:01:46,323 --> 00:01:49,891 narrator:--against the unforgiving wilderness. 45 00:01:49,892 --> 00:01:53,417 I'm just so afraid that I've got frostbite somewhere. 46 00:01:53,548 --> 00:01:55,940 Out here, it's me versus nature. 47 00:02:06,778 --> 00:02:07,822 narrator: On the Western Hemisphere's 48 00:02:07,823 --> 00:02:11,130 northern frontier, 49 00:02:11,131 --> 00:02:13,219 the race is on. 50 00:02:13,220 --> 00:02:15,308 You're going into the bush. 51 00:02:15,309 --> 00:02:17,615 It's you against Mother Nature. 52 00:02:17,702 --> 00:02:19,008 Mother Nature is unpredictable. 53 00:02:21,358 --> 00:02:23,490 narrator: And the most ambitious company on the ice 54 00:02:23,491 --> 00:02:25,753 roads is Muskie Creek. 55 00:02:28,191 --> 00:02:29,800 My problem right now is that we have 56 00:02:29,801 --> 00:02:32,891 so much forecasted right now and so many commitments. 57 00:02:32,978 --> 00:02:34,283 I'm short on drivers. 58 00:02:34,284 --> 00:02:37,418 We've got seven loads to load tomorrow. 59 00:02:37,505 --> 00:02:39,375 My name is Bill Danh. 60 00:02:39,376 --> 00:02:42,465 And I'm the operations manager here at Muskie Creek. 61 00:02:42,466 --> 00:02:45,339 Apparently, there's an air leak on the air tank. 62 00:02:45,426 --> 00:02:47,254 Did anybody do anything about it? 63 00:02:47,384 --> 00:02:50,604 Our primary goal is to service northern communities 64 00:02:50,605 --> 00:02:52,911 via winter road access. 65 00:02:52,998 --> 00:02:56,262 With about six weeks of winter roads, 66 00:02:56,263 --> 00:02:59,308 we have to slam these loads in as quickly and as efficiently 67 00:02:59,309 --> 00:03:01,005 as possible. 68 00:03:01,006 --> 00:03:03,051 Some of the communities that we go to, 69 00:03:03,052 --> 00:03:05,575 their only source to get food, building materials, 70 00:03:05,576 --> 00:03:07,142 is by local roads. 71 00:03:10,102 --> 00:03:13,757 It's crucial in that short window that we have 72 00:03:13,758 --> 00:03:16,761 we get as much freight up into those communities 73 00:03:16,848 --> 00:03:19,547 so that they can sustain for the next year. 74 00:03:23,203 --> 00:03:24,595 - Bill. - Todd. 75 00:03:24,682 --> 00:03:25,987 Nice to meet you, buddy. - Nice to meet you. 76 00:03:25,988 --> 00:03:27,336 - Yeah. - Heard a lot about you. 77 00:03:29,644 --> 00:03:31,080 I'm Todd Dewey. 78 00:03:31,167 --> 00:03:32,428 And I come from a little town called 79 00:03:32,429 --> 00:03:34,343 Port Angeles, Washington. 80 00:03:35,824 --> 00:03:38,478 Sweet . 81 00:03:38,479 --> 00:03:41,525 After spending five, six years up here being on the ice road, 82 00:03:41,612 --> 00:03:42,744 you know, it becomes a part of you. 83 00:03:46,704 --> 00:03:49,185 I got four beautiful daughters at home. 84 00:03:49,272 --> 00:03:51,491 And they were at that age where they needed Dad around. 85 00:03:51,492 --> 00:03:53,014 So I kind of took a step back from the ice 86 00:03:53,015 --> 00:03:54,929 roads a little bit. 87 00:03:54,930 --> 00:03:56,974 The last nine years of my life, I have really 88 00:03:56,975 --> 00:04:00,674 focused on family, home. 89 00:04:00,675 --> 00:04:02,589 Now that I'm an empty-nester and the daughters are gone, 90 00:04:02,590 --> 00:04:03,938 it's like the ice roads have been calling me. 91 00:04:03,939 --> 00:04:06,723 Todd, Todd. 92 00:04:06,724 --> 00:04:08,160 I'm taking on this challenge this year 93 00:04:08,291 --> 00:04:11,424 because I have a chance to actually make some money 94 00:04:11,425 --> 00:04:13,469 and build a nest egg back for me and my wife now 95 00:04:13,470 --> 00:04:16,907 and buy my own big rig. 96 00:04:16,908 --> 00:04:19,214 Muskie Creek, we have a very good reputation. 97 00:04:19,215 --> 00:04:21,085 Whatever we commit to, we fulfill. 98 00:04:21,086 --> 00:04:22,958 We don't leave a load behind. 99 00:04:23,045 --> 00:04:24,437 So Garden Hill is where your load is going to be going. 100 00:04:24,438 --> 00:04:26,656 OK. 101 00:04:26,657 --> 00:04:28,658 And then from there, you're going to cross the ice. 102 00:04:28,659 --> 00:04:30,530 Then you're going to travel down here to St. Theresa Point. 103 00:04:30,531 --> 00:04:31,966 That's going to be where I need you to pick up the back-haul. 104 00:04:31,967 --> 00:04:33,968 OK, you got it. 105 00:04:33,969 --> 00:04:36,318 narrator: Todd's burning 800 miles to Garden Hill. 106 00:04:36,319 --> 00:04:40,104 Then he's crossing Island Lake to pick up his back-haul 107 00:04:40,105 --> 00:04:41,846 in St. Theresa Point. 108 00:04:41,933 --> 00:04:43,978 It's loaded. 109 00:04:43,979 --> 00:04:45,458 It's ready, secured, just need a load of screw piles. 110 00:04:45,459 --> 00:04:47,590 They go into the ground. 111 00:04:47,591 --> 00:04:49,027 You can't start the building until those are in, right? 112 00:04:49,114 --> 00:04:50,767 There's a housing shortage in Garden Hill. 113 00:04:50,768 --> 00:04:53,422 So all loads, materials, it's all critical. 114 00:04:53,423 --> 00:04:55,773 Gotcha, 10-4. 115 00:04:55,860 --> 00:04:57,818 My biggest concern is that he 116 00:04:57,819 --> 00:05:00,168 may have lost his edge. 117 00:05:00,169 --> 00:05:04,781 I really can't afford any mistakes to happen. 118 00:05:04,782 --> 00:05:07,655 You know, I'm coming up here with a super set 119 00:05:07,742 --> 00:05:09,831 of skills that not a lot of guys have. 120 00:05:12,007 --> 00:05:14,009 I'm 51 years old. 121 00:05:14,096 --> 00:05:15,531 I don't know if I've got what it takes 122 00:05:15,532 --> 00:05:16,620 anymore to do these roads. 123 00:05:16,707 --> 00:05:18,534 But I'm going to hit it hard. 124 00:05:18,535 --> 00:05:20,581 And I'm going to see if I can make myself some good coin. 125 00:05:20,668 --> 00:05:21,712 Am I nervous? 126 00:05:21,799 --> 00:05:22,974 Absolutely. 127 00:05:23,061 --> 00:05:24,497 See if an old man's still got what 128 00:05:24,498 --> 00:05:25,542 it takes to get the job done. 129 00:05:29,633 --> 00:05:33,810 narrator: 600 frozen miles to the north-- 130 00:05:33,811 --> 00:05:35,290 I am kind of nervous to see what we-- 131 00:05:35,291 --> 00:05:37,075 what we find. 132 00:05:37,162 --> 00:05:39,034 narrator: Shaun Harris, owner of Harris and 133 00:05:39,121 --> 00:05:41,775 Sons Transportation, is checking the ice 134 00:05:41,776 --> 00:05:46,519 thickness on Wollaston Lake to see if it's safe for big rigs. 135 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:47,868 We're going to drill a hole or two 136 00:05:47,869 --> 00:05:50,828 and then check the thickness and know how long 137 00:05:50,915 --> 00:05:52,742 before we're going to be able to go across that 138 00:05:52,743 --> 00:05:53,875 crossing with large loads. 139 00:05:57,357 --> 00:05:59,836 narrator: The Wollaston Lake community is only 140 00:05:59,837 --> 00:06:03,971 accessible by boat or a 25-mile ice road 141 00:06:03,972 --> 00:06:05,842 when the lake freezes. 142 00:06:05,843 --> 00:06:07,671 They've had so much snow into Wollaston, 143 00:06:07,758 --> 00:06:09,281 it ended up insulating the ice. 144 00:06:09,412 --> 00:06:10,804 The ice would not thicken up. 145 00:06:10,805 --> 00:06:12,110 It wouldn't form properly. 146 00:06:12,197 --> 00:06:13,981 We're way behind on getting the roads 147 00:06:13,982 --> 00:06:17,638 ready to go for our heavy loads to cross them. 148 00:06:23,905 --> 00:06:25,819 My name is Shaun Harris, and I'm 51 years old. 149 00:06:25,820 --> 00:06:27,168 And I own a trucking business 150 00:06:27,169 --> 00:06:28,865 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. 151 00:06:28,866 --> 00:06:30,563 When I started this business, I called it 152 00:06:30,564 --> 00:06:34,393 Harris Logging and Transport. 153 00:06:34,394 --> 00:06:35,960 Years down the road when the boys got involved, 154 00:06:36,047 --> 00:06:38,746 I changed it to Shaun Harris and Sons. 155 00:06:38,833 --> 00:06:42,749 At the age of 17, 18, I went and got my license. 156 00:06:42,750 --> 00:06:46,143 And right out of trucking school, within three days, 157 00:06:46,144 --> 00:06:48,494 I was on the ice roads in northern Saskatchewan. 158 00:06:48,495 --> 00:06:51,148 And it was trial by fire. 159 00:06:51,149 --> 00:06:54,456 So this is my 32nd winter on the ice road. 160 00:06:54,457 --> 00:06:57,285 At this point now, we have 12 trucks. 161 00:06:57,286 --> 00:06:58,765 My company will take jobs that other people wouldn't touch 162 00:06:58,766 --> 00:07:01,071 with a 10-foot pole. 163 00:07:01,072 --> 00:07:02,464 I've hauled some of the biggest recorded loads 164 00:07:02,465 --> 00:07:03,726 across the ice. 165 00:07:08,819 --> 00:07:11,995 The Wollaston run is very dangerous, because the water 166 00:07:11,996 --> 00:07:13,606 is always moving there. 167 00:07:13,607 --> 00:07:15,216 That's generally where the thinnest ice is. 168 00:07:23,268 --> 00:07:24,530 We're hoping today, when we punch through, 169 00:07:24,531 --> 00:07:26,009 we have over 20 inches. 170 00:07:26,010 --> 00:07:29,099 Optimum is 33 to 38 inches to haul 171 00:07:29,100 --> 00:07:30,753 what we haul on here. 172 00:07:37,935 --> 00:07:39,806 First and foremost, you're looking for thickness 173 00:07:39,807 --> 00:07:41,722 to see how much ice there is. 174 00:07:41,809 --> 00:07:45,160 Then you want to look at the quality of the ice. 175 00:07:45,247 --> 00:07:47,988 You want it to kind of have a nice, clear look to it. 176 00:07:47,989 --> 00:07:49,904 This doesn't look like it's-- 177 00:07:49,991 --> 00:07:54,211 it's rotten or anything at the top. 178 00:07:54,212 --> 00:07:56,475 Find the bottom of the ice right there. 179 00:07:59,174 --> 00:08:01,872 18, give or take. 180 00:08:01,959 --> 00:08:03,960 We're in trouble. 181 00:08:03,961 --> 00:08:06,094 We may not get in here this winter. 182 00:08:06,181 --> 00:08:08,051 It's always a stress. 183 00:08:08,052 --> 00:08:09,836 Business-wise, I think the biggest stress 184 00:08:09,837 --> 00:08:11,795 is just the communities. 185 00:08:11,882 --> 00:08:13,970 When they can't get their stuff in there, they suffer. 186 00:08:13,971 --> 00:08:15,930 They're out of fuel right now. 187 00:08:16,017 --> 00:08:17,757 They're flying fuel in because they can't get across here 188 00:08:17,758 --> 00:08:20,542 when normally, we'd be hauling across here weeks ago. 189 00:08:20,543 --> 00:08:23,720 We're running out of time. 190 00:08:28,899 --> 00:08:32,467 narrator: Back at Muskie Creek, another ice road 191 00:08:32,468 --> 00:08:35,122 veteran is joining the team. 192 00:08:35,123 --> 00:08:36,645 Hey, you must be Bill. 193 00:08:36,646 --> 00:08:38,517 Lisa, finally nice to meet you. 194 00:08:38,518 --> 00:08:40,563 You guys are, like, top dogs in town. 195 00:08:40,650 --> 00:08:42,564 You got, like, the most trucks, the most loads. 196 00:08:42,565 --> 00:08:46,829 We're at 32 trucks, pounding about 500 loads per year. 197 00:08:49,050 --> 00:08:50,485 For, like, the last decade, 198 00:08:50,486 --> 00:08:52,748 I've been still trucking on the ice roads. 199 00:08:52,749 --> 00:08:54,010 But I bought my own truck. 200 00:08:54,011 --> 00:08:55,186 And I started my own business. 201 00:08:55,317 --> 00:08:57,144 Whoa! 202 00:08:57,145 --> 00:08:57,841 Well, that was interesting. 203 00:08:59,930 --> 00:09:01,975 Freezing wind, endless miles, and jobs 204 00:09:01,976 --> 00:09:03,237 that no one else will take. 205 00:09:04,369 --> 00:09:06,502 Oh, I can't--I mean-- 206 00:09:06,589 --> 00:09:07,589 oh, . I'm going to jackknife. 207 00:09:09,461 --> 00:09:11,246 Oh, my gosh. 208 00:09:11,333 --> 00:09:13,508 I got a farm in Wasilla in Alaska 209 00:09:13,509 --> 00:09:17,774 with 2 acres and 11 horses on it. 210 00:09:17,861 --> 00:09:19,035 Can you move with me? 211 00:09:19,036 --> 00:09:21,430 Yay, good girl. 212 00:09:21,517 --> 00:09:23,171 Currently, my truck is sitting broken 213 00:09:23,258 --> 00:09:24,388 in the shop in Fairbanks. 214 00:09:24,389 --> 00:09:26,522 And it's not running. 215 00:09:26,609 --> 00:09:29,437 I need, like, a lot of money really fast to get it going. 216 00:09:29,438 --> 00:09:30,873 And these are the hardest ice roads. 217 00:09:30,874 --> 00:09:32,658 So I'm going to make more on them. 218 00:09:32,659 --> 00:09:35,095 And that's why I'm here. 219 00:09:35,096 --> 00:09:36,618 The worst-case scenario is if I don't 220 00:09:36,619 --> 00:09:38,142 make the money to fix the truck, 221 00:09:38,229 --> 00:09:39,448 I'm going to have to start selling horses. 222 00:09:42,103 --> 00:09:44,408 Garden Hill is where you're going to. 223 00:09:44,409 --> 00:09:45,758 There's going to be lots of hills to climb. 224 00:09:45,759 --> 00:09:47,499 OK. 225 00:09:47,587 --> 00:09:50,763 Most important question, what am I driving? 226 00:09:50,764 --> 00:09:53,156 Dang. 227 00:09:53,157 --> 00:09:57,378 So Kenworth, nice. 228 00:09:57,379 --> 00:09:58,379 Haul ass. 229 00:09:58,380 --> 00:10:00,250 Yeah. 230 00:10:00,251 --> 00:10:02,296 narrator: Lisa's also running the 800-mile 231 00:10:02,297 --> 00:10:06,909 gauntlet to the remote community of Garden Hill. 232 00:10:06,910 --> 00:10:10,086 I just can't afford to not have the wheels turning. 233 00:10:16,093 --> 00:10:19,095 narrator: Plunging deeper into the frozen wilderness-- 234 00:10:19,096 --> 00:10:21,358 We got a lot of miles to go today. 235 00:10:21,359 --> 00:10:23,753 narrator:--Todd Dewey is battling his first winter 236 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:26,321 road in almost a decade. 237 00:10:26,408 --> 00:10:30,020 The road is in rough, rough shape. 238 00:10:30,107 --> 00:10:33,283 See, you can't see like that right here. 239 00:10:33,284 --> 00:10:36,417 There's a lot of pieces on here, heavy items. 240 00:10:36,418 --> 00:10:38,550 If they fall off, there's no way 241 00:10:38,638 --> 00:10:39,986 I'm going to manually and physically put 242 00:10:39,987 --> 00:10:43,424 them back on my load. 243 00:10:43,425 --> 00:10:45,819 It's getting a lot worse now, buddy. 244 00:10:48,517 --> 00:10:50,953 You feel that right there? 245 00:10:50,954 --> 00:10:53,956 Yeah, yeah, that's-- that's getting rough. 246 00:11:02,836 --> 00:11:05,054 And I have definitely got something going 247 00:11:05,055 --> 00:11:06,969 on with my load in the back. 248 00:11:06,970 --> 00:11:09,189 The drill bit is sticking out about a foot 249 00:11:09,190 --> 00:11:10,539 on the passenger side. 250 00:11:10,626 --> 00:11:11,888 This is not good. 251 00:11:16,632 --> 00:11:19,329 She is cold. 252 00:11:21,332 --> 00:11:24,508 Well, this is screwed. 253 00:11:24,509 --> 00:11:28,338 This wood beam had slid out of here almost a foot. 254 00:11:28,339 --> 00:11:29,775 Here's a better visual. 255 00:11:29,776 --> 00:11:31,864 The wood has slid this far. 256 00:11:31,865 --> 00:11:33,997 Half the problem is that it's so cold 257 00:11:34,084 --> 00:11:36,129 and the deck is so slick, and these pieces of wood 258 00:11:36,130 --> 00:11:39,133 are just sliding right on the deck. 259 00:11:39,220 --> 00:11:42,570 If it pushes too hard and slides with too much momentum 260 00:11:42,571 --> 00:11:44,615 and busts these straps, that whole thing's just going 261 00:11:44,616 --> 00:11:46,400 to slide right off the side. 262 00:11:46,401 --> 00:11:47,749 And this whole pallet of these drill bits 263 00:11:47,750 --> 00:11:48,532 are out in the middle of the ice road. 264 00:11:48,533 --> 00:11:51,710 That's not good. 265 00:11:51,711 --> 00:11:53,973 Well, I got an idea in my head. 266 00:11:53,974 --> 00:11:55,148 I don't know if it'll work. 267 00:11:55,149 --> 00:11:56,410 But it sure is worth a try. 268 00:12:00,241 --> 00:12:02,068 Here it goes. 269 00:12:02,069 --> 00:12:05,594 Whoa, you gotta love the ice roads, right? 270 00:12:05,681 --> 00:12:07,726 OK. 271 00:12:07,727 --> 00:12:12,469 Now we can link these two together so it's double-locked. 272 00:12:12,470 --> 00:12:13,602 Pull the slack out. 273 00:12:25,483 --> 00:12:26,527 Double-linked that. 274 00:12:26,528 --> 00:12:28,224 Those are bound. 275 00:12:28,225 --> 00:12:30,880 In theory, as I'm backing the truck up, 276 00:12:30,967 --> 00:12:32,707 that chain is going to come tight. 277 00:12:32,708 --> 00:12:34,796 And it's going to pull that load on the trailer. 278 00:12:34,797 --> 00:12:37,886 That's what I'm hoping will happen. 279 00:12:37,887 --> 00:12:39,627 OK, this is it. 280 00:12:39,628 --> 00:12:42,586 We're going to give her hell and give her a try. 281 00:12:42,587 --> 00:12:44,285 I hope this works. 282 00:12:50,552 --> 00:12:54,424 narrator: In the frigid northern frontier 283 00:12:54,425 --> 00:12:59,429 at Muskie Creek headquarters-- 284 00:12:59,430 --> 00:13:01,083 Gentlemen, I'm looking for Bill. 285 00:13:01,084 --> 00:13:01,998 You must be Scott. 286 00:13:02,085 --> 00:13:04,043 Yes, sir. 287 00:13:04,044 --> 00:13:04,739 narrator:--it's Scooter Yuill's first haul 288 00:13:04,740 --> 00:13:06,176 at a new company. 289 00:13:06,263 --> 00:13:08,830 Back home, he's an ice road veteran. 290 00:13:08,831 --> 00:13:11,093 But in these parts, he's a rookie. 291 00:13:11,094 --> 00:13:12,703 Looking forward to working with you this year. 292 00:13:12,704 --> 00:13:14,618 Are you sure about that? 293 00:13:14,619 --> 00:13:15,663 Is there something that you got to tell 294 00:13:15,664 --> 00:13:16,490 me that I don't know, then? 295 00:13:19,711 --> 00:13:22,236 I live in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. 296 00:13:22,323 --> 00:13:24,106 I own a couple trucks. 297 00:13:24,107 --> 00:13:26,413 I've been in business now five years. 298 00:13:26,414 --> 00:13:28,807 Trucking was a natural calling for me. 299 00:13:28,808 --> 00:13:31,200 For me, being out on the road on a job, 300 00:13:31,201 --> 00:13:33,812 it's a sense of accomplishment, especially when you deliver 301 00:13:33,813 --> 00:13:35,814 to Northern communities. 302 00:13:37,294 --> 00:13:39,601 I also own Harley's Hard Rock Saloon. 303 00:13:39,688 --> 00:13:41,820 It's a bar in Yellowknife. 304 00:13:41,821 --> 00:13:44,257 This is my bar. 305 00:13:44,258 --> 00:13:46,781 It's a community waterhole. 306 00:13:46,782 --> 00:13:48,261 A lot of the ice truck drivers, 307 00:13:48,262 --> 00:13:49,479 they will come to our bar. 308 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:50,567 They love it. 309 00:13:50,568 --> 00:13:52,439 They have a great time. 310 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:54,658 My wife, Kelly, and my daughter Morgan 311 00:13:54,659 --> 00:13:56,356 both work at my bar. 312 00:13:56,357 --> 00:14:00,274 And I have two daughters in Nova Scotia, Bianca and Zoe. 313 00:14:00,361 --> 00:14:03,493 And I'm praying for the best for them all the time. 314 00:14:03,494 --> 00:14:05,234 I really need this season to go well 315 00:14:05,235 --> 00:14:07,280 in order to provide the cash to do the upgrades 316 00:14:07,281 --> 00:14:09,891 up there at the bar. 317 00:14:09,892 --> 00:14:12,285 You are clean and clear to go to Red Sucker Lake. 318 00:14:12,286 --> 00:14:13,677 You've been to Red Sucker Lake? - No, sir. 319 00:14:13,678 --> 00:14:15,157 I haven't been in any of these ice roads. 320 00:14:15,158 --> 00:14:17,639 So this is all new territory for me. 321 00:14:17,726 --> 00:14:18,857 It depends on what kind of truck 322 00:14:18,858 --> 00:14:20,642 you're going to give me, too. 323 00:14:20,729 --> 00:14:22,164 - She hauls ass. - Nice. 324 00:14:22,165 --> 00:14:24,340 Yeah. 325 00:14:24,341 --> 00:14:28,170 This International is a very special truck to Muskie Creek. 326 00:14:28,171 --> 00:14:29,911 OK. 327 00:14:29,912 --> 00:14:32,219 The driver that was assigned this truck 328 00:14:32,306 --> 00:14:35,613 serviced Muskie Creek for a very long time. 329 00:14:35,700 --> 00:14:40,748 Two years ago, Irwin Friesen, we lost him. 330 00:14:40,749 --> 00:14:44,621 Irwin Friesen was a big part of Muskie Creek. 331 00:14:44,622 --> 00:14:48,148 He is one of the biggest reasons why Muskie Creek 332 00:14:48,235 --> 00:14:50,540 is where we're at today. 333 00:14:50,541 --> 00:14:52,586 He passed away two years ago when 334 00:14:52,587 --> 00:14:54,936 he was on duty doing a load. 335 00:14:54,937 --> 00:14:56,547 Sounds like some pretty big shoes to fill. 336 00:14:56,634 --> 00:14:58,157 Well, I hope to make you proud. 337 00:14:58,158 --> 00:15:00,028 And I'll be honored to drive her. 338 00:15:00,029 --> 00:15:03,379 I look forward to working with you. 339 00:15:03,380 --> 00:15:05,339 He's built a little bit of confidence in me. 340 00:15:05,426 --> 00:15:07,384 But talk is cheap. 341 00:15:07,471 --> 00:15:10,343 narrator: Scooter's first foray on these ice roads is 342 00:15:10,344 --> 00:15:12,519 an 800-mile adventure to the northern 343 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,783 community of Red Sucker Lake. 344 00:15:15,784 --> 00:15:17,611 Well, now we're going to check this load out, 345 00:15:17,612 --> 00:15:20,440 see what we're working with, making sure that nothing 346 00:15:20,441 --> 00:15:23,270 is going to come off. 347 00:15:23,357 --> 00:15:25,098 The key thing is keeping your deck clean. 348 00:15:25,185 --> 00:15:27,013 Imagine that, flying that through your windshield. 349 00:15:27,100 --> 00:15:28,274 That'll kill somebody. 350 00:15:28,275 --> 00:15:30,493 And this here has to go. 351 00:15:30,494 --> 00:15:32,975 narrator: Each driver is responsible for securing 352 00:15:33,062 --> 00:15:36,369 their load, confirming it's safe and legal. 353 00:15:36,370 --> 00:15:38,240 14.6. 354 00:15:38,241 --> 00:15:40,722 I'm about to ruin Bill's day. 355 00:15:40,809 --> 00:15:43,550 narrator: Anything over 12 feet needs a pilot truck. 356 00:15:43,551 --> 00:15:44,986 You can't haul this load. 357 00:15:44,987 --> 00:15:46,728 He's not going to like this. 358 00:15:46,815 --> 00:15:49,295 narrator: And none are available anytime soon. 359 00:15:49,296 --> 00:15:50,818 We got us a problem. 360 00:15:50,819 --> 00:15:51,775 What's the issue? 361 00:15:51,776 --> 00:15:53,777 14.6. 362 00:15:53,778 --> 00:15:56,171 narrator: So Scooter and the team need a new plan. 363 00:15:56,172 --> 00:15:58,261 That's the width. 364 00:15:58,348 --> 00:16:00,567 14.6 is how wide we are? 365 00:16:00,568 --> 00:16:01,960 Yes, sir. 366 00:16:01,961 --> 00:16:03,613 Are you sure? 367 00:16:03,614 --> 00:16:04,397 Is that from the tracks or the blade? 368 00:16:04,398 --> 00:16:05,572 Blade. 369 00:16:08,793 --> 00:16:11,970 It doesn't look 14.6. 370 00:16:11,971 --> 00:16:15,235 14.6. 371 00:16:15,322 --> 00:16:16,845 I really wish you didn't in my cornflakes 372 00:16:16,932 --> 00:16:18,628 this morning, eh? 373 00:16:18,629 --> 00:16:19,760 You're going to learn to hate me or love me. 374 00:16:24,157 --> 00:16:26,462 narrator: 400 miles to the northwest-- 375 00:16:30,337 --> 00:16:31,728 I'm looking for the crews that are flooding 376 00:16:31,729 --> 00:16:33,817 to try and thicken the ice. 377 00:16:33,818 --> 00:16:35,472 narrator: - Shaun Harris is meeting 378 00:16:35,559 --> 00:16:38,387 the ice road maintenance crew. 379 00:16:38,388 --> 00:16:42,696 To build the road, the crew spends weeks plowing snow and 380 00:16:42,697 --> 00:16:45,526 checking the ice thickness. 381 00:16:45,613 --> 00:16:49,616 Where the ice is thin, they use lake water to thicken it. 382 00:16:49,617 --> 00:16:55,100 The fate of Shaun's business depends on their progress. 383 00:16:55,101 --> 00:16:57,667 If the ice doesn't get any thicker, 384 00:16:57,668 --> 00:16:58,669 the community, they're not going to be able 385 00:16:58,756 --> 00:17:00,540 to get supplies like that in. 386 00:17:00,541 --> 00:17:02,673 This road is very vital. 387 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:04,805 It's the only lifeline in the wintertime for this community. 388 00:17:07,504 --> 00:17:09,984 How many holes are you guys going to drill? 389 00:17:09,985 --> 00:17:12,073 Two for now? 390 00:17:12,074 --> 00:17:14,511 So what they're doing here is, they've got thin spots 391 00:17:14,598 --> 00:17:15,816 where it's only 17 inches. 392 00:17:15,817 --> 00:17:17,731 So they drill holes. 393 00:17:17,732 --> 00:17:19,342 And now we're going to fire up the generator. 394 00:17:19,429 --> 00:17:20,603 And we're going to start flooding this section of ice 395 00:17:20,604 --> 00:17:21,865 that's thin here, right? - Yeah. 396 00:17:21,866 --> 00:17:23,345 Let's rock and roll. 397 00:17:26,088 --> 00:17:30,700 There we go. 398 00:17:30,701 --> 00:17:31,963 You can see what the boys are doing, 399 00:17:32,051 --> 00:17:33,617 putting water on existing ice. 400 00:17:33,704 --> 00:17:34,791 And they'll keep doing that and doing that. 401 00:17:34,792 --> 00:17:35,966 And they'll build levels. 402 00:17:35,967 --> 00:17:38,708 And that's how we grow the ice. 403 00:17:38,709 --> 00:17:41,972 How long will you guys let this run here, 404 00:17:41,973 --> 00:17:43,844 until she reaches the edges? - Yeah. 405 00:17:43,845 --> 00:17:45,673 And that's all you'll do today 406 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:46,500 or will you drill another couple of holes 407 00:17:46,587 --> 00:17:47,848 and pump some more? 408 00:17:47,849 --> 00:17:49,806 - Tomorrow. - Tomorrow? 409 00:17:49,807 --> 00:17:52,070 We are late in the season. 410 00:17:52,071 --> 00:17:53,636 If you went across here loaded, you would 411 00:17:53,637 --> 00:17:54,812 absolutely go in the drink. 412 00:17:54,899 --> 00:17:56,813 It's just not thick enough. 413 00:17:56,814 --> 00:17:58,554 These guys are working overtime 414 00:17:58,555 --> 00:18:00,861 trying to get a road open so their community 415 00:18:00,862 --> 00:18:03,690 can get the supplies in that they need. 416 00:18:11,090 --> 00:18:12,786 narrator: Halfway through his first run 417 00:18:12,787 --> 00:18:15,572 and not getting any closer-- 418 00:18:15,659 --> 00:18:17,269 It's about to get real. 419 00:18:17,270 --> 00:18:18,661 narrator: - veteran driver Todd Dewey 420 00:18:18,662 --> 00:18:21,403 is gambling on an old trucker trick 421 00:18:21,404 --> 00:18:25,364 to slide tons of steel screw piles back on his trailer. 422 00:18:25,365 --> 00:18:27,322 Oh, come on, you son of a bitch. 423 00:18:27,323 --> 00:18:29,281 narrator: The road pounded a pallet of foundation screws 424 00:18:29,282 --> 00:18:31,109 over the edge. 425 00:18:31,110 --> 00:18:33,937 That's getting rough. 426 00:18:33,938 --> 00:18:38,725 narrator: Now the fastest fix is ice road ingenuity. 427 00:18:38,726 --> 00:18:39,813 OK, here we go, boys. 428 00:18:54,481 --> 00:18:55,655 yeah. 429 00:18:55,656 --> 00:18:58,745 It looks like it moved. 430 00:18:58,746 --> 00:19:00,268 yeah. 431 00:19:00,269 --> 00:19:01,269 It slid right here. 432 00:19:01,270 --> 00:19:03,228 You can see. 433 00:19:03,229 --> 00:19:04,795 This block-- see how far that block is sticking out? 434 00:19:04,882 --> 00:19:06,709 This block was sticking clear out here. 435 00:19:06,710 --> 00:19:09,190 So this whole thing is now slid right back into position. 436 00:19:09,191 --> 00:19:11,236 Now I'm going to re-rig it. 437 00:19:11,237 --> 00:19:12,237 And I'm going to try to do the same thing to the front 438 00:19:12,238 --> 00:19:14,326 and get it pulled over. 439 00:19:14,327 --> 00:19:15,718 Tell you what, nothing like being in the bush 440 00:19:15,719 --> 00:19:17,285 and figuring out. 441 00:19:17,286 --> 00:19:18,460 That's why I love being on the ice roads. 442 00:19:21,421 --> 00:19:23,117 All right, re-rigging. 443 00:19:26,339 --> 00:19:28,384 OK, round two. 444 00:19:57,848 --> 00:19:59,937 Oh, hell yeah. 445 00:20:00,024 --> 00:20:02,243 We are back on the trailer. 446 00:20:02,244 --> 00:20:04,376 That's what the ice roads are all about, baby. 447 00:20:04,377 --> 00:20:06,248 Figure out, and just get it done. 448 00:20:09,425 --> 00:20:11,471 Get my load strapped and head back on the road. 449 00:20:18,086 --> 00:20:19,653 I'm ready to roll. 450 00:20:19,740 --> 00:20:22,569 Mission accomplished, baby. 451 00:20:22,656 --> 00:20:24,657 My load is nice and straight back there. 452 00:20:24,658 --> 00:20:26,354 I'm ready to put some miles on here 453 00:20:26,355 --> 00:20:28,575 and get this load into Garden Hill. 454 00:20:28,662 --> 00:20:31,359 Just another beautiful day on the ice roads. 455 00:20:44,808 --> 00:20:46,418 I am hitting the ground running. 456 00:20:46,419 --> 00:20:48,637 narrator: Deep in the frigid wilderness-- 457 00:20:48,638 --> 00:20:51,336 No hesitations, no practice runs. 458 00:20:51,337 --> 00:20:53,816 That first road, just knock it out. 459 00:20:53,817 --> 00:20:56,254 narrator:--Lisa Kelly is one of the first drivers 460 00:20:56,255 --> 00:21:00,345 facing a freshly frozen river crossing. 461 00:21:00,346 --> 00:21:03,043 Nelson River, East Channel. 462 00:21:07,744 --> 00:21:11,878 I'm not sure where the river begins here. 463 00:21:11,879 --> 00:21:14,229 There's so much snow on the ice. 464 00:21:14,316 --> 00:21:18,625 I can't tell what condition the ice is in right now. 465 00:21:21,149 --> 00:21:24,195 If it's clear ice, it's a better quality of ice 466 00:21:24,283 --> 00:21:26,109 and holds more weight. 467 00:21:26,110 --> 00:21:28,721 If it's, like, white ice, there's more air in it. 468 00:21:28,722 --> 00:21:30,070 So it's more likely to crack. 469 00:21:33,422 --> 00:21:37,512 First one in a while, so I'm a little nervous on it, you know? 470 00:21:37,513 --> 00:21:38,818 We'll see. 471 00:21:38,819 --> 00:21:40,820 We'll see how this goes. 472 00:21:40,821 --> 00:21:42,604 All right. 473 00:21:42,605 --> 00:21:44,432 Let's do this. 474 00:22:01,972 --> 00:22:04,191 narrator: On a frozen northern river-- 475 00:22:04,192 --> 00:22:07,716 Wow, that does not look good. 476 00:22:07,717 --> 00:22:11,198 narrator:--a deceptive expanse of untested ice 477 00:22:11,199 --> 00:22:13,375 separates Lisa Kelly from her offload. 478 00:22:14,985 --> 00:22:16,682 The best strategy I have for the lake 479 00:22:16,683 --> 00:22:19,511 crossing is listening for the cracking. 480 00:22:22,689 --> 00:22:24,952 I'm going to go with slower. 481 00:22:25,082 --> 00:22:28,389 I'd rather be safe than sorry. 482 00:22:28,390 --> 00:22:30,696 The ice is supposed to make the cracking sounds. 483 00:22:30,697 --> 00:22:32,393 But how much is too much cracking, right? 484 00:22:32,394 --> 00:22:34,264 Because it's got to crack to fall through. 485 00:22:34,265 --> 00:22:36,179 So there's got to be a certain limit on cracking sounds. 486 00:22:39,183 --> 00:22:41,359 "Thin ice" sign. 487 00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:44,232 Do you see that? 488 00:22:44,319 --> 00:22:45,711 narrator: A blanket of fresh snow 489 00:22:45,712 --> 00:22:47,887 covers the road and thin ice surrounding 490 00:22:47,888 --> 00:22:50,933 her, obscuring the border between safety 491 00:22:50,934 --> 00:22:53,458 and certain death. 492 00:22:53,459 --> 00:22:55,416 "Danger, open water." 493 00:22:55,417 --> 00:22:57,244 Good gosh. 494 00:22:57,245 --> 00:23:01,814 It's like that whole section is, like, open water. 495 00:23:03,338 --> 00:23:05,818 What makes this any thicker here? 496 00:23:13,870 --> 00:23:14,957 Don't go fast. 497 00:23:14,958 --> 00:23:16,046 I'm almost there. 498 00:23:16,133 --> 00:23:17,220 Don't go fast. 499 00:23:17,221 --> 00:23:18,700 Don't go fast. 500 00:23:22,226 --> 00:23:25,228 First ice crossing of the year out of the way. 501 00:23:25,229 --> 00:23:27,406 Here we come for more. 502 00:23:40,897 --> 00:23:42,072 narrator: Back at Muskie Creek-- 503 00:23:42,159 --> 00:23:43,638 It's 14.6 wide. 504 00:23:43,639 --> 00:23:45,466 What the ? 505 00:23:45,467 --> 00:23:46,946 narrator:--Scooter is stuck in the truck yard 506 00:23:46,947 --> 00:23:49,601 until his wide load is legal. 507 00:23:49,602 --> 00:23:52,779 If we take the blades off, we're no trouble. 508 00:23:52,909 --> 00:23:54,519 Beautiful. 509 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:56,477 That's why you're the pro. 510 00:23:56,478 --> 00:23:57,653 You're talking about a wide guy with a wide load. 511 00:23:57,784 --> 00:23:58,914 I know my-- 512 00:23:58,915 --> 00:24:00,090 So then where are your flags? 513 00:24:00,177 --> 00:24:01,264 I'm wearing them right here. 514 00:24:03,311 --> 00:24:04,791 Get the wings off, boys. 515 00:24:07,271 --> 00:24:09,142 On the road, problems start to arise. 516 00:24:09,143 --> 00:24:12,624 And there's only so much I can do from the office. 517 00:24:12,625 --> 00:24:14,321 It's up to the driver. 518 00:24:14,322 --> 00:24:17,368 They have to be the solution to the problem. 519 00:24:17,456 --> 00:24:18,761 We're golden. 520 00:24:24,941 --> 00:24:27,029 Here's my sage. 521 00:24:27,030 --> 00:24:30,903 I always keep a smudge kit with me, tobacco, sweet-grass. 522 00:24:32,993 --> 00:24:34,820 I'm new to smudging. 523 00:24:34,821 --> 00:24:36,430 I've been doing it for the last few years now. 524 00:24:36,431 --> 00:24:38,127 I've been digging into my history. 525 00:24:38,128 --> 00:24:40,478 And I'm pretty proud of it. 526 00:24:40,479 --> 00:24:43,656 I'm Mi'kmaq-- Mi'kmaq, actually, it's pronounced, 527 00:24:43,743 --> 00:24:45,962 from the East Coast. 528 00:24:46,049 --> 00:24:47,920 There's a reason why they were called the First Nations. 529 00:24:47,921 --> 00:24:49,530 They were the first ones. 530 00:24:49,531 --> 00:24:51,228 And they know how to survive off the land. 531 00:24:51,315 --> 00:24:53,143 And I like learning from it. 532 00:24:53,230 --> 00:24:54,928 For me, it keeps me grounded. 533 00:24:55,015 --> 00:24:55,971 It keeps me centered. 534 00:24:55,972 --> 00:24:57,233 It keeps me going. 535 00:24:57,234 --> 00:24:59,846 It gives me hope. 536 00:24:59,933 --> 00:25:03,762 It's kind of hard to do in a truck. 537 00:25:03,763 --> 00:25:07,375 We're going to pray the rest of our trips are blessed. 538 00:25:09,725 --> 00:25:12,771 Spirit of Irwin, you better keep on my good side. 539 00:25:12,772 --> 00:25:14,686 Scooter, you got to get going. 540 00:25:14,687 --> 00:25:15,643 Let's get out of here. 541 00:25:15,644 --> 00:25:16,905 Haul ass. 542 00:25:20,257 --> 00:25:21,694 We're rolling out. 543 00:25:21,781 --> 00:25:22,694 Copy. 544 00:25:34,663 --> 00:25:37,970 First load, finally. 545 00:25:37,971 --> 00:25:39,711 I'm feeling much alive. 546 00:25:39,712 --> 00:25:42,104 I'm feeling much better. 547 00:25:42,105 --> 00:25:43,715 I feel happy now. 548 00:25:53,813 --> 00:25:55,335 narrator: Heading into Garden Hill 549 00:25:55,336 --> 00:25:57,990 in the remote Island Lake region-- 550 00:25:57,991 --> 00:26:00,819 Garden Hill, finally made it. 551 00:26:00,820 --> 00:26:04,474 narrator:--Todd's racing to offload 45,000 pounds of steel 552 00:26:04,475 --> 00:26:07,216 so he can cross the lake and pick up another 553 00:26:07,217 --> 00:26:08,870 load by the end of the day. 554 00:26:08,871 --> 00:26:10,524 We're going to get this thing unloaded 555 00:26:10,525 --> 00:26:13,527 and be right back out on the ice roads. 556 00:26:15,008 --> 00:26:16,487 I got to turn and burn. 557 00:26:16,575 --> 00:26:17,618 I got another load I got to get picked 558 00:26:17,619 --> 00:26:20,274 up and delivered right away. 559 00:26:20,361 --> 00:26:22,014 Let's get this load off of here. 560 00:26:24,234 --> 00:26:25,408 I don't know how this is going to work. 561 00:26:25,409 --> 00:26:27,585 We're about to find out. 562 00:26:27,586 --> 00:26:29,195 The problem with unloading this is the forklift 563 00:26:29,196 --> 00:26:30,588 is not big enough to move these pallets 564 00:26:30,589 --> 00:26:32,502 off the back of this trailer. 565 00:26:32,503 --> 00:26:34,331 We're going to grab this whole pallet 566 00:26:34,418 --> 00:26:35,462 and see if we can just slide a whole pallet at one 567 00:26:35,463 --> 00:26:38,117 time right onto the ground. 568 00:26:38,118 --> 00:26:39,901 I guess we'll try that. 569 00:26:42,296 --> 00:26:43,950 We'll see what happens. 570 00:26:46,343 --> 00:26:48,955 Go fast. 571 00:27:02,446 --> 00:27:03,664 narrator: In the remote northern community 572 00:27:03,665 --> 00:27:04,622 of Garden Hill-- 573 00:27:09,889 --> 00:27:13,500 veteran driver Todd Dewey is racing to turn and burn so he 574 00:27:13,501 --> 00:27:14,894 can pick up his next load. 575 00:27:14,981 --> 00:27:16,111 It's a little messy. 576 00:27:16,112 --> 00:27:17,939 But it worked. 577 00:27:17,940 --> 00:27:19,550 Can't damage these things due to the fact 578 00:27:19,638 --> 00:27:20,942 they're just solid steel. 579 00:27:20,943 --> 00:27:23,076 I thought this was the only way we 580 00:27:23,163 --> 00:27:23,511 were going to be able to get it unloaded with the machines 581 00:27:23,598 --> 00:27:24,642 that we had. 582 00:27:37,003 --> 00:27:38,003 Let's get the hell out of here. 583 00:27:38,004 --> 00:27:40,745 I got another ice road to do. 584 00:27:40,746 --> 00:27:43,095 We came up with a good solution for the bush, didn't we? 585 00:27:43,096 --> 00:27:44,618 Nicely done. 586 00:27:50,277 --> 00:27:52,626 narrator: 450 miles to the west-- 587 00:27:59,373 --> 00:28:01,504 Shaun Harris is strategizing with his business 588 00:28:01,505 --> 00:28:04,770 partners, sons Riley and Zach. 589 00:28:04,857 --> 00:28:06,466 My boys, they've both been driving 590 00:28:06,467 --> 00:28:08,294 since they were five years old, and 591 00:28:08,295 --> 00:28:09,948 at 15 probably knew more than guys who have been doing it 592 00:28:09,949 --> 00:28:11,689 20 years. 593 00:28:11,690 --> 00:28:13,603 narrator: They need a plan to salvage 594 00:28:13,604 --> 00:28:17,346 the season if the Wollaston Lake crossing doesn't open. 595 00:28:17,347 --> 00:28:19,435 I wish I could sit in Mexico as much as you do. 596 00:28:19,436 --> 00:28:21,481 Riley is a mini me. 597 00:28:21,482 --> 00:28:24,266 And that's not generally a good thing. 598 00:28:24,267 --> 00:28:27,009 One day, when you have 32 years under your belts, 599 00:28:27,096 --> 00:28:28,836 then you can go to Mexico, too. 600 00:28:28,837 --> 00:28:30,577 I had that under my belt before I was 20. 601 00:28:31,710 --> 00:28:33,885 Oh, this guy. 602 00:28:33,886 --> 00:28:35,930 He is hot-tempered. 603 00:28:35,931 --> 00:28:37,627 But he's a hard worker. 604 00:28:37,628 --> 00:28:41,023 And he'll do whatever he has to do to get the job done. 605 00:28:41,110 --> 00:28:43,329 You gotta have a couple of handsome, capable sons 606 00:28:43,330 --> 00:28:45,593 before you can do that. 607 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:49,204 Zach is the exact opposite to myself 608 00:28:49,205 --> 00:28:51,293 and his younger brother, Riley. 609 00:28:51,294 --> 00:28:54,253 Zach is probably one of the most relaxed, easygoing 610 00:28:54,254 --> 00:28:55,820 guys you'll ever meet. 611 00:28:55,821 --> 00:28:56,995 We've had lots of snow up north. 612 00:28:56,996 --> 00:28:58,170 So-- 613 00:28:59,259 --> 00:29:00,260 both: Cris? 614 00:29:00,347 --> 00:29:02,131 Piss off. 615 00:29:02,218 --> 00:29:05,612 Crispy, my third son, is a potbellied pig. 616 00:29:05,613 --> 00:29:08,354 When we got him, he was no bigger than a loaf of bread. 617 00:29:08,355 --> 00:29:09,485 Go on. 618 00:29:09,486 --> 00:29:10,835 Get going. 619 00:29:10,836 --> 00:29:13,054 Now he's about 250 pounds. 620 00:29:13,055 --> 00:29:14,926 And he used to ride in the semi with me all the time. 621 00:29:14,927 --> 00:29:16,710 He absolutely loved it. 622 00:29:16,711 --> 00:29:17,667 He'd put his little feet up on the dash 623 00:29:17,668 --> 00:29:19,234 and look out the window. 624 00:29:19,235 --> 00:29:21,977 Like I don't have enough problems in my life. 625 00:29:22,064 --> 00:29:24,719 Wollaston is absolutely closed right now. 626 00:29:24,806 --> 00:29:28,462 And I'm getting extremely nervous. 627 00:29:28,549 --> 00:29:31,420 The season is going to be a short one. 628 00:29:31,421 --> 00:29:34,467 We've had an ungodly amount of snow this year. 629 00:29:34,468 --> 00:29:38,036 When you get a lot of snow early, it insulates the water. 630 00:29:38,037 --> 00:29:41,040 So then those cold temperatures can't absorb 631 00:29:41,127 --> 00:29:44,477 to freeze as fast and as hard as we need it. 632 00:29:44,478 --> 00:29:45,913 I think right now, we're going to do some things that we don't 633 00:29:45,914 --> 00:29:47,393 normally do this time of year. 634 00:29:47,394 --> 00:29:49,830 Yeah, no, we'll do what we got to do. 635 00:29:49,831 --> 00:29:52,354 We're going to have a tough winter. 636 00:29:57,273 --> 00:29:59,884 narrator: Approaching Island Lake outside Garden Hill-- 637 00:29:59,885 --> 00:30:02,364 The ice crossing just opened up. 638 00:30:02,365 --> 00:30:05,281 It's only open for light traffic, which means that it's 639 00:30:05,368 --> 00:30:07,326 not open for full weights yet. 640 00:30:07,327 --> 00:30:10,329 narrator:--veteran driver Todd Dewey is facing a 13-mile 641 00:30:10,330 --> 00:30:13,201 lake crossing on ice barely thick enough 642 00:30:13,202 --> 00:30:16,509 to hold his empty truck. 643 00:30:16,510 --> 00:30:18,772 That's kind of spooky, if you think about it. 644 00:30:34,528 --> 00:30:37,791 Thin ice means anything can happen. 645 00:30:42,971 --> 00:30:45,103 Here we go. 646 00:30:45,104 --> 00:30:47,496 narrator: He's on a deadline to pick up a back-haul today 647 00:30:47,497 --> 00:30:50,717 that's going to Muskie Creek. 648 00:30:50,718 --> 00:30:53,589 And the fastest way to St. Theresa Point 649 00:30:53,590 --> 00:30:56,331 is across the lake. 650 00:30:56,332 --> 00:30:58,857 The ice is not as thick as it's supposed to be. 651 00:30:58,944 --> 00:31:00,380 I hope you have a will in place set up for your family, 652 00:31:00,467 --> 00:31:01,947 because most likely you ain't making it home. 653 00:31:02,034 --> 00:31:03,469 That's what could go wrong. 654 00:31:03,470 --> 00:31:05,079 It's life and death up here. 655 00:31:13,697 --> 00:31:16,177 I'm a little concerned right now. 656 00:31:16,178 --> 00:31:18,137 I'm not hearing a lot of noise out of the ice. 657 00:31:22,315 --> 00:31:24,055 The cracking of the ice is always spooky. 658 00:31:24,056 --> 00:31:25,578 But that's part of the ice crossing. 659 00:31:25,579 --> 00:31:27,667 You want to hear it cracking. 660 00:31:27,668 --> 00:31:30,583 That actually means that the ice is really, really strong. 661 00:31:30,584 --> 00:31:35,936 When you can't hear any noise at all, that's not a good sign. 662 00:31:35,937 --> 00:31:37,591 I don't like that. 663 00:31:37,678 --> 00:31:38,853 I don't like that one single bit, not at all. 664 00:31:42,161 --> 00:31:43,640 narrator: Cracking sounds indicate 665 00:31:43,727 --> 00:31:45,815 the ice is flexing to relieve stress 666 00:31:45,816 --> 00:31:49,255 from the truck's weight. 667 00:31:49,342 --> 00:31:52,779 If the ice is too thin or too weak to flex under the stress, 668 00:31:52,780 --> 00:31:56,957 it could shatter, releasing Todd and his truck 669 00:31:56,958 --> 00:32:01,570 into the clutches of the deadly frigid depths. 670 00:32:07,142 --> 00:32:13,060 And off the ice. 671 00:32:13,061 --> 00:32:16,368 Hell, yeah. 672 00:32:16,369 --> 00:32:17,891 Go get my next load and turn and burn. 673 00:32:29,948 --> 00:32:31,297 narrator: On the other side of the lake-- 674 00:32:33,473 --> 00:32:36,127 I'm headed to Garden Hill with some building 675 00:32:36,128 --> 00:32:39,782 supplies for the communities. 676 00:32:39,783 --> 00:32:42,524 The hills are very abrupt, because it's not a road. 677 00:32:42,525 --> 00:32:44,005 There's no, like, grades. 678 00:32:44,092 --> 00:32:47,138 Like, they didn't build it to be driven. 679 00:32:47,139 --> 00:32:50,142 So when you come upon a hill, it's not smooth. 680 00:32:50,229 --> 00:32:52,447 And it's really abrupt and sharp. 681 00:32:52,448 --> 00:32:54,493 narrator: The Muskie Creek owner's truck 682 00:32:54,494 --> 00:32:57,278 is getting a beatdown as Lisa faces 683 00:32:57,279 --> 00:32:59,150 a final series of hills standing 684 00:32:59,151 --> 00:33:00,890 between her and the offload. 685 00:33:00,891 --> 00:33:02,588 A little rowdy at the moment. 686 00:33:02,589 --> 00:33:03,546 It's supposed to get worse. 687 00:33:07,594 --> 00:33:09,116 What was that? 688 00:33:13,165 --> 00:33:15,166 Hear a noise. 689 00:33:15,167 --> 00:33:16,776 I got to check this out. 690 00:33:16,777 --> 00:33:19,344 And this is a horrible place to do it. 691 00:33:19,345 --> 00:33:22,782 It sounds like it's under the hood. 692 00:33:22,783 --> 00:33:25,437 It's really loud right here. 693 00:33:39,495 --> 00:33:40,800 Oh, good lord. 694 00:34:01,691 --> 00:34:03,084 narrator: The road to Garden Hill-- 695 00:34:04,868 --> 00:34:07,132 A little rowdy at the moment. 696 00:34:07,219 --> 00:34:10,569 narrator:--battered Lisa and her truck 697 00:34:10,570 --> 00:34:13,311 and knocked out the hose that moves compressed air 698 00:34:13,312 --> 00:34:15,965 from the turbo to the engine. 699 00:34:15,966 --> 00:34:19,360 Without the turbo, she doesn't have the torque or the power 700 00:34:19,361 --> 00:34:22,059 to pull her load over the hills. 701 00:34:22,060 --> 00:34:23,886 Thank goodness the hose clamp is still there. 702 00:34:23,887 --> 00:34:26,019 My gosh. 703 00:34:26,020 --> 00:34:27,456 I actually think I'm going to have to turn the truck off, 704 00:34:27,543 --> 00:34:29,110 because there's pressure coming out of there. 705 00:34:29,197 --> 00:34:31,938 And it might not be able to get it on. 706 00:34:31,939 --> 00:34:36,290 But turning the truck off is kind of a bush no-no, 707 00:34:36,291 --> 00:34:37,683 because it might not start again. 708 00:34:44,821 --> 00:34:46,518 As the engine cools in 709 00:34:46,519 --> 00:34:50,131 the unforgiving temperatures, 710 00:34:50,218 --> 00:34:51,785 diesel fuel thickens 711 00:34:51,872 --> 00:34:54,091 like day-old Thanksgiving gravy, 712 00:34:54,092 --> 00:34:56,485 preventing the truck from restarting. 713 00:34:56,572 --> 00:35:00,445 All right. 714 00:35:00,446 --> 00:35:03,318 . 715 00:35:03,405 --> 00:35:06,712 Easy, tiger. 716 00:35:06,713 --> 00:35:09,758 OK. 717 00:35:09,759 --> 00:35:12,065 Ugh, my hands are cold. 718 00:35:13,459 --> 00:35:14,981 . 719 00:35:14,982 --> 00:35:16,113 Let me get out of the way. 720 00:35:19,900 --> 00:35:22,249 Get on our way. 721 00:35:22,250 --> 00:35:24,295 I'm kind of in a hurry, because I 722 00:35:24,296 --> 00:35:25,645 want to get out of the way of trucks, 723 00:35:25,732 --> 00:35:27,342 you know, 'cause if my truck cools 724 00:35:27,473 --> 00:35:31,172 down too much, that's going to really screw me. 725 00:35:35,829 --> 00:35:37,874 Get the truck started here. 726 00:35:37,961 --> 00:35:40,007 All right, love. 727 00:35:40,094 --> 00:35:42,008 You ready? 728 00:35:42,009 --> 00:35:43,401 Because it's cold. 729 00:35:47,928 --> 00:35:49,320 Oh, . 730 00:35:49,321 --> 00:35:51,671 Shut up. 731 00:35:51,758 --> 00:35:53,150 All right. 732 00:35:59,069 --> 00:36:00,896 It's cold. 733 00:36:04,771 --> 00:36:08,340 It started. 734 00:36:08,470 --> 00:36:10,123 I'm going to get out of these guys' way. 735 00:36:14,911 --> 00:36:17,522 I feel really bad for holding them up on that little skinny 736 00:36:17,523 --> 00:36:20,743 spot, of course. 737 00:36:20,830 --> 00:36:24,616 All right, back to bumping up and down here. 738 00:36:37,282 --> 00:36:41,546 narrator: Back across the lake-- 739 00:36:41,547 --> 00:36:43,983 So I finally made it into St. Theresa Point here. 740 00:36:43,984 --> 00:36:45,985 It's always exciting to get a back-haul. 741 00:36:45,986 --> 00:36:47,639 That just means you're actually getting paid for the way back, 742 00:36:47,640 --> 00:36:49,684 too, not just the way there. 743 00:36:49,685 --> 00:36:52,513 So double paycheck, I'll take that any day of the week. 744 00:36:52,514 --> 00:36:55,037 narrator: Todd's picking up a boat to haul back 745 00:36:55,038 --> 00:36:57,389 to Muskie Creek for repair. 746 00:36:57,476 --> 00:36:59,172 Hi, I'm Todd. Nice to meet you. 747 00:36:59,173 --> 00:37:00,521 Hi. 748 00:37:00,522 --> 00:37:02,916 This is an isolated community. 749 00:37:03,003 --> 00:37:05,266 We usually go from one community 750 00:37:05,353 --> 00:37:07,746 to another community using those boats. 751 00:37:07,747 --> 00:37:11,532 It's very important, the only way we get things delivered. 752 00:37:11,533 --> 00:37:13,404 So it's just like Santa. 753 00:37:15,842 --> 00:37:18,278 The trailer is this wide. 754 00:37:18,279 --> 00:37:20,672 And the boat is this wide. 755 00:37:20,673 --> 00:37:24,502 There's no margin for error. 756 00:37:24,503 --> 00:37:26,155 OK. 757 00:37:26,156 --> 00:37:27,548 Just go real slow and easy. 758 00:37:30,335 --> 00:37:31,683 Keep going. 759 00:37:31,684 --> 00:37:34,164 You're good. 760 00:37:34,295 --> 00:37:35,774 The truck is making me nervous. 761 00:37:35,775 --> 00:37:37,558 I know. Me too. 762 00:37:40,214 --> 00:37:41,302 Go ahead. 763 00:37:41,389 --> 00:37:42,260 You're OK. 764 00:37:42,347 --> 00:37:43,564 Come on. 765 00:37:43,565 --> 00:37:45,132 Keep coming. 766 00:37:45,219 --> 00:37:46,351 Keep coming. You want it to turn 767 00:37:46,438 --> 00:37:48,613 if you turn like that. 768 00:37:48,614 --> 00:37:51,920 All right, go ahead. Go, go, go, go, go, go. 769 00:37:51,921 --> 00:37:53,967 Just hang tight right there for a minute. 770 00:37:54,054 --> 00:37:55,708 Yah! 771 00:37:55,838 --> 00:37:57,230 I need to get this straightened out. 772 00:38:02,018 --> 00:38:04,585 It's working. 773 00:38:08,808 --> 00:38:10,199 This is a lot of work. 774 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:12,854 Who said the ice roads are easy, right? 775 00:38:12,855 --> 00:38:15,510 The boat pickup was a little bit more than what I expected. 776 00:38:15,597 --> 00:38:17,338 Hup! 777 00:38:17,425 --> 00:38:18,991 I'm tired. 778 00:38:18,992 --> 00:38:20,297 OK, stop. 779 00:38:20,298 --> 00:38:22,473 It's been a long day. 780 00:38:22,474 --> 00:38:23,561 The boat is loaded. 781 00:38:23,562 --> 00:38:26,477 And I'm done. 782 00:38:26,478 --> 00:38:28,001 Gosh, that was a lot of frickin' work. 783 00:38:31,004 --> 00:38:32,613 I do got a lot of ice road left to go to get out of here. 784 00:38:42,232 --> 00:38:44,409 Let's make some tracks. 785 00:38:44,496 --> 00:38:46,627 narrator: After a slow start on his first run-- 786 00:38:46,628 --> 00:38:47,933 Oh, yeah. 787 00:38:47,934 --> 00:38:48,977 It's going to be a fun run. 788 00:38:48,978 --> 00:38:50,936 I feel it already. 789 00:38:50,937 --> 00:38:52,764 narrator: - Scooter is finally free 790 00:38:52,765 --> 00:38:54,809 in his natural environment. 791 00:39:00,555 --> 00:39:02,687 She's going to be tight. 792 00:39:02,688 --> 00:39:05,255 One oversized inbound. 793 00:39:05,343 --> 00:39:07,127 This is a road that I've never been on. 794 00:39:07,214 --> 00:39:09,824 All these roads, I've never been on. 795 00:39:09,825 --> 00:39:11,739 It's going to be all kinds of fun. 796 00:39:11,740 --> 00:39:13,306 Here we go. 797 00:39:18,007 --> 00:39:19,313 Oh yeah, baby. 798 00:39:19,400 --> 00:39:23,534 Springs are working hard. 799 00:39:23,535 --> 00:39:25,362 Oh, yeah. 800 00:39:25,363 --> 00:39:28,713 That felt good, right up the sphincter on that one. 801 00:39:28,714 --> 00:39:30,541 Holy . 802 00:39:34,372 --> 00:39:35,807 getting rough. 803 00:39:41,770 --> 00:39:43,641 This is terrible. 804 00:39:43,642 --> 00:39:45,120 Ugh. 805 00:39:45,121 --> 00:39:47,949 We're just a touch of it in. 806 00:39:47,950 --> 00:39:50,648 And it's terrible. 807 00:39:50,649 --> 00:39:51,693 This is going to be interesting 808 00:39:51,780 --> 00:39:53,868 to see what happens here. 809 00:39:56,219 --> 00:39:57,525 Not much room. 810 00:39:57,612 --> 00:39:59,701 We have a narrow-ass road. 811 00:39:59,788 --> 00:40:01,310 And we are wide. 812 00:40:01,311 --> 00:40:03,008 So am I, but so is the load. 813 00:40:03,009 --> 00:40:04,575 Ha. 814 00:40:08,449 --> 00:40:12,104 narrator: As Scooter races into the bush, 815 00:40:12,105 --> 00:40:14,715 Todd's heading in the opposite direction. 816 00:40:18,894 --> 00:40:20,417 We got a little bit of shut-eye, 817 00:40:20,418 --> 00:40:21,767 back up this morning, bright and early. 818 00:40:25,814 --> 00:40:26,901 Oh, . 819 00:40:28,991 --> 00:40:31,689 You feel that right there? 820 00:40:31,690 --> 00:40:33,604 This road is really beating the truck around, really 821 00:40:33,605 --> 00:40:35,432 beating the load around. 822 00:40:41,308 --> 00:40:45,225 Ah, son of a bitch. 823 00:40:45,312 --> 00:40:46,965 We're losing air quick. 824 00:40:46,966 --> 00:40:48,401 We got something broke. 825 00:40:50,926 --> 00:40:52,797 The trailer brakes are completely blocked. 826 00:40:52,798 --> 00:40:54,015 We gotta stop now. 827 00:41:02,068 --> 00:41:03,547 The whole bracket that holds the air lines up 828 00:41:03,548 --> 00:41:06,507 is completely laying on the ground. 829 00:41:06,594 --> 00:41:08,334 Oh, my gosh. 830 00:41:08,335 --> 00:41:09,683 This is broke. That's broke. 831 00:41:09,684 --> 00:41:11,119 This is broke. This one's broke. 832 00:41:11,120 --> 00:41:12,208 That's broke. 833 00:41:12,295 --> 00:41:14,254 And this is broken. 834 00:41:14,341 --> 00:41:16,473 That's my main air supply for the trailer disc brakes. 835 00:41:16,474 --> 00:41:20,564 Un--believable. 836 00:41:20,565 --> 00:41:22,479 It's going to take a while to fix this. 837 00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:23,480 We ain't going anywhere. 838 00:41:23,481 --> 00:41:24,437 We're . 839 00:41:31,227 --> 00:41:32,271 narrator: This season-- 840 00:41:34,100 --> 00:41:35,143 Oh, gosh. 841 00:41:35,144 --> 00:41:37,103 Oh, gosh. 842 00:41:37,190 --> 00:41:38,190 narrator:--the ice road truckers battle brutal roads-- 843 00:41:38,191 --> 00:41:39,714 . 844 00:41:41,890 --> 00:41:43,891 Any more bumps, my boobs 845 00:41:43,892 --> 00:41:46,894 are going to smack me in the face and blacken my eyes. 846 00:41:46,895 --> 00:41:49,506 Oh. 847 00:41:49,507 --> 00:41:51,551 narrator: - and haul massive loads. 848 00:41:51,552 --> 00:41:53,293 Holy crap. 849 00:41:53,380 --> 00:41:55,250 I don't want to tip this over. 850 00:41:55,251 --> 00:41:56,774 Keep coming. There you go. 851 00:41:56,775 --> 00:41:57,688 Keep going. Right there. 852 00:41:57,689 --> 00:42:00,386 Perfect. 853 00:42:00,387 --> 00:42:02,344 The main concern is the ice crossings 854 00:42:02,345 --> 00:42:04,303 being a maximum weight. 855 00:42:04,304 --> 00:42:05,739 Come on, come on, come on. 856 00:42:05,740 --> 00:42:07,612 You can do it. You can do it. 857 00:42:07,699 --> 00:42:10,178 You can do it. 858 00:42:10,179 --> 00:42:12,660 narrator: The drivers must work together-- 859 00:42:12,747 --> 00:42:14,443 Can you not around with it while I'm under here? 860 00:42:14,444 --> 00:42:16,098 Because if this falls, I'm dead. 861 00:42:16,185 --> 00:42:17,883 Don't worry, Zach. 862 00:42:17,970 --> 00:42:20,624 Your little brother's coming to the rescue. 863 00:42:20,625 --> 00:42:24,802 Hey, now back up straight. 864 00:42:24,803 --> 00:42:25,933 narrator:--or fail alone. 865 00:42:25,934 --> 00:42:27,892 We ain't going anywhere. 866 00:42:27,893 --> 00:42:29,720 Ugh, my gosh. 867 00:42:29,721 --> 00:42:31,417 Come on. 868 00:42:31,418 --> 00:42:34,202 narrator: This is their one shot. 869 00:42:34,203 --> 00:42:35,464 My truck's on fire. 870 00:42:35,465 --> 00:42:37,379 Come on. 871 00:42:37,380 --> 00:42:37,816 Tell me this don't get your heart pumping. 872 00:42:39,426 --> 00:42:41,341 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.