1 00:00:10,761 --> 00:00:14,223 Coming up on Mountain Men, Wild North... 2 00:00:15,599 --> 00:00:18,142 One spark hits the right piece of tinder 3 00:00:18,143 --> 00:00:19,769 with the right gust of wind, 4 00:00:19,770 --> 00:00:21,480 we're fighting a wildfire. 5 00:00:23,315 --> 00:00:26,150 We'll take the hide off of the bear, 6 00:00:26,151 --> 00:00:28,986 the fat, the meat, and eventually get to the bones. 7 00:00:28,987 --> 00:00:31,240 There's not one single thing that will go to waste. 8 00:00:32,573 --> 00:00:33,325 Ready for battle. 9 00:00:34,451 --> 00:00:35,661 It just keeps coming. 10 00:00:37,246 --> 00:00:38,497 We need to get the house sealed up 11 00:00:38,664 --> 00:00:41,375 so that the bats have no way to get back in. 12 00:00:42,626 --> 00:00:43,751 Well, you ready to skin some beavers? 13 00:00:45,170 --> 00:00:46,546 I'm the last one in the family 14 00:00:46,547 --> 00:00:48,005 that's doing any of this. 15 00:00:48,006 --> 00:00:51,677 Passing my knowledge onto her is very important. 16 00:00:53,262 --> 00:00:54,887 Oh, [bleep]! 17 00:00:54,888 --> 00:00:56,098 Oh, my god. 18 00:01:01,979 --> 00:01:03,980 As day breaks over the Pasquia Hills, 19 00:01:03,981 --> 00:01:06,107 the hunt is over, 20 00:01:06,108 --> 00:01:08,651 and Broc Simoneau and his sister Alicia 21 00:01:08,652 --> 00:01:12,280 have a 400-pound black bear to show for it. 22 00:01:12,281 --> 00:01:14,115 Oh, it's a nice bear. 23 00:01:14,116 --> 00:01:15,324 Now comes the hard work 24 00:01:15,325 --> 00:01:17,827 of breaking it down, 25 00:01:17,828 --> 00:01:19,537 and with their dad on hand to help, 26 00:01:19,538 --> 00:01:22,206 the whole family is in on this one. 27 00:01:22,207 --> 00:01:24,625 Hunting is the way my dad raised us, 28 00:01:24,626 --> 00:01:26,460 and so it's truly a special thing 29 00:01:26,461 --> 00:01:27,421 for us all to experience together. 30 00:01:28,755 --> 00:01:30,840 That's good. 31 00:01:30,841 --> 00:01:33,092 Yesterday, Broc guided Alicia 32 00:01:33,093 --> 00:01:33,719 straight to a kill... 33 00:01:36,638 --> 00:01:38,598 Her first black bear in nearly 20 years. 34 00:01:38,599 --> 00:01:39,975 Oh, it's a nice big bear. 35 00:01:41,101 --> 00:01:42,311 Before nightfall, 36 00:01:42,477 --> 00:01:45,813 the animal was gutted and left to cool, 37 00:01:45,814 --> 00:01:48,399 but now, with temperatures on the rise, 38 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,193 they're in a race to break it down. 39 00:01:51,194 --> 00:01:53,487 The processing of the animal 40 00:01:53,488 --> 00:01:54,281 is just as important as the hunt. 41 00:01:54,489 --> 00:01:55,865 You have to be timely with it, 42 00:01:55,866 --> 00:01:58,869 because if you take too long, the meat'll spoil. 43 00:01:59,828 --> 00:02:00,870 All right. 44 00:02:00,871 --> 00:02:02,246 Meat cooled down really nice. 45 00:02:02,247 --> 00:02:04,957 Yeah, that meat'll be good. 46 00:02:04,958 --> 00:02:06,459 We'll take the hide off of the bear, 47 00:02:06,460 --> 00:02:09,044 the fat, the meat, all in its sequence, 48 00:02:09,045 --> 00:02:11,088 and eventually get to the bones, 49 00:02:11,089 --> 00:02:12,423 and so there's not one single thing 50 00:02:12,424 --> 00:02:13,966 that will go to waste. 51 00:02:13,967 --> 00:02:16,552 Alicia, what do you decide how you're going to mount it? 52 00:02:16,553 --> 00:02:18,095 I think I'll life-size him. 53 00:02:18,096 --> 00:02:20,514 Put him in my office. 54 00:02:20,515 --> 00:02:22,058 Walk in every day and take a look at him. 55 00:02:22,059 --> 00:02:23,267 Okay. 56 00:02:23,268 --> 00:02:26,687 Well, then I'll cut him for a life-size bear. 57 00:02:26,688 --> 00:02:29,732 Alicia wants her bear taxidermied, 58 00:02:29,733 --> 00:02:32,902 which means every cut has to be precise. 59 00:02:32,903 --> 00:02:34,445 There's the elbow. 60 00:02:34,446 --> 00:02:35,863 When you're life-sizing it, 61 00:02:35,864 --> 00:02:37,865 it's all about ease of sewing for the taxidermist. 62 00:02:37,866 --> 00:02:40,117 You can hold that one right there. 63 00:02:40,118 --> 00:02:43,454 Broc and my dad have done this many, many times, 64 00:02:43,455 --> 00:02:45,289 and so it's very efficient. 65 00:02:45,290 --> 00:02:47,417 They make quick work of it, and, um, that helps. 66 00:02:49,670 --> 00:02:51,088 - Okay, can I roll him? - Yeah, yeah. 67 00:02:52,756 --> 00:02:54,757 Okay. Just don't get that on the hide, eh? 68 00:02:54,758 --> 00:02:56,384 Bear meat and the hide 69 00:02:56,385 --> 00:02:59,345 can both carry bacteria and parasites. 70 00:02:59,346 --> 00:03:02,848 Keeping the two separate during processing 71 00:03:02,849 --> 00:03:04,851 is critical to avoid cross-contamination. 72 00:03:08,772 --> 00:03:09,689 This is the ham. 73 00:03:09,690 --> 00:03:11,065 That's the femur bone. 74 00:03:11,066 --> 00:03:12,650 You can see the meat line. 75 00:03:12,651 --> 00:03:15,528 That tells me where to cut from the muscle. 76 00:03:15,529 --> 00:03:17,863 Every piece of edible meat 77 00:03:17,864 --> 00:03:19,990 is carefully extracted, 78 00:03:19,991 --> 00:03:22,785 but the lymph node buried deep in the hind leg 79 00:03:22,786 --> 00:03:24,621 has to be avoided. 80 00:03:26,248 --> 00:03:27,790 So there's a gland in there. 81 00:03:27,791 --> 00:03:29,917 You feel that lump? - Oh yeah. 82 00:03:29,918 --> 00:03:32,336 If that gets processed in the meat and ground up, 83 00:03:32,337 --> 00:03:33,421 it's going to taint. 84 00:03:33,422 --> 00:03:35,005 People say, "Oh, bear meat's nasty"? 85 00:03:35,006 --> 00:03:35,756 That's why. - Yeah. 86 00:03:35,757 --> 00:03:36,966 Lymph nodes 87 00:03:36,967 --> 00:03:38,926 filter toxins and waste from the body. 88 00:03:38,927 --> 00:03:40,511 See, that's one. 89 00:03:40,512 --> 00:03:42,012 Cut into one, 90 00:03:42,013 --> 00:03:46,225 and it can spread bacteria to the surrounding meat. 91 00:03:46,226 --> 00:03:47,435 Here's the other one right here. 92 00:03:47,436 --> 00:03:49,103 Yeah. 93 00:03:49,104 --> 00:03:50,396 And you just, you don't go deep, 94 00:03:50,397 --> 00:03:52,022 because if you go deep, you'll cut it. 95 00:03:52,023 --> 00:03:53,274 Right. 96 00:03:53,275 --> 00:03:54,568 Take that out, and that's garbage. 97 00:03:56,528 --> 00:04:00,406 So, this is our total waste off of a 400-pound bear. 98 00:04:00,407 --> 00:04:01,824 That's pretty good. - Wow, my dogs... 99 00:04:01,825 --> 00:04:03,118 There's maybe a pound, 100 00:04:03,285 --> 00:04:05,579 but your dogs'll still eat this, so we waste nothing. 101 00:04:06,955 --> 00:04:08,330 That's my steak. 102 00:04:08,331 --> 00:04:10,040 In the end, 103 00:04:10,041 --> 00:04:13,294 Alicia secures 150 pounds of meat, 104 00:04:13,295 --> 00:04:16,129 enough to last well into next year. 105 00:04:16,130 --> 00:04:18,631 Gotta find some room in the freezer when I get home. 106 00:04:18,632 --> 00:04:21,594 Even though the hide and meat are off the bone, 107 00:04:21,595 --> 00:04:23,471 there's still a lot more work ahead. 108 00:04:23,472 --> 00:04:26,182 Dad, do you want to bring the fat in? 109 00:04:26,183 --> 00:04:28,268 We'll put it on the table and start cleaning it up. 110 00:04:35,025 --> 00:04:36,984 1,000 miles away 111 00:04:36,985 --> 00:04:39,487 in the remote La Cloche Mountains, 112 00:04:39,488 --> 00:04:42,114 a homestead isn't built in a day. 113 00:04:42,115 --> 00:04:47,077 Every structure, every system, every repair takes time, 114 00:04:47,078 --> 00:04:49,455 and for Kie and Dave Marrone... 115 00:04:49,456 --> 00:04:51,457 Okay, come here, buddy. 116 00:04:51,458 --> 00:04:52,666 The moment has come 117 00:04:52,667 --> 00:04:55,378 to finish what they started years ago. 118 00:04:57,339 --> 00:04:59,673 The biggest mistake that we've made 119 00:04:59,674 --> 00:05:01,425 in building this house ourself 120 00:05:01,426 --> 00:05:03,512 is not finishing it right at the start. 121 00:05:04,554 --> 00:05:05,930 When we sided the rest of the house, 122 00:05:05,931 --> 00:05:08,182 we just didn't bring it to completion. 123 00:05:08,183 --> 00:05:12,561 We left corners exposed, gaps at windows and doors, 124 00:05:12,562 --> 00:05:14,940 and that allowed bats to get in. 125 00:05:16,233 --> 00:05:18,150 Without being properly sealed, 126 00:05:18,151 --> 00:05:21,362 hundreds of bats have colonized the walls, 127 00:05:21,363 --> 00:05:25,825 leaving behind harmful waste and structural damage. 128 00:05:25,826 --> 00:05:29,620 And then the biggest job is cleaning out this bat poo. 129 00:05:29,621 --> 00:05:30,955 It's disgusting, and... 130 00:05:30,956 --> 00:05:33,040 It's disgusting. 131 00:05:33,041 --> 00:05:34,501 Yeah, this is not the stuff of fairytales. 132 00:05:36,378 --> 00:05:38,712 Thankfully, these bats are migratory, 133 00:05:38,713 --> 00:05:40,631 so they leave in the fall, 134 00:05:40,632 --> 00:05:43,008 they come back in the spring, 135 00:05:43,009 --> 00:05:46,929 so we've got a window of opportunity to seal this up. 136 00:05:46,930 --> 00:05:49,890 The first step is clearing the waste. 137 00:05:49,891 --> 00:05:51,392 I think we should get some PPE on. 138 00:05:51,393 --> 00:05:52,268 Yeah. 139 00:05:52,269 --> 00:05:54,186 But bat guano 140 00:05:54,187 --> 00:05:56,522 can harbor dangerous fungal spores 141 00:05:56,523 --> 00:05:59,358 that can cause severe respiratory illness, 142 00:05:59,359 --> 00:06:03,612 which is why Dave and Kie suit up in full hazmat gear 143 00:06:03,613 --> 00:06:06,157 before touching any of it. 144 00:06:09,911 --> 00:06:11,037 Ready for battle. 145 00:06:12,873 --> 00:06:14,540 We're going to try this tubing, 146 00:06:14,541 --> 00:06:16,083 feed it in from the side, 147 00:06:16,084 --> 00:06:18,502 try and drive out all the bat poo that way. 148 00:06:20,046 --> 00:06:21,255 - Oh yeah. - Look at that. 149 00:06:21,256 --> 00:06:23,508 That's the ticket right there, honey. 150 00:06:26,595 --> 00:06:28,680 Oh, my god. 151 00:06:31,808 --> 00:06:33,309 It just keeps coming. 152 00:06:33,310 --> 00:06:34,685 I'm shocked 153 00:06:34,686 --> 00:06:36,896 at how much bat poo is coming out of this wall. 154 00:06:36,897 --> 00:06:38,772 I had no idea it was this bad. 155 00:06:38,773 --> 00:06:41,108 I'm really glad that we're tackling it now 156 00:06:41,109 --> 00:06:42,943 and not waiting another year. 157 00:06:42,944 --> 00:06:46,238 Instead of 90% full, 158 00:06:46,239 --> 00:06:48,324 it's now about 5% full, 159 00:06:48,325 --> 00:06:51,702 which might be the best we can hope for. 160 00:06:51,703 --> 00:06:52,495 Yeah. 161 00:06:53,496 --> 00:06:56,415 We're good, honey. Success! 162 00:06:56,416 --> 00:06:57,875 We've done the cleanup. 163 00:06:57,876 --> 00:06:59,793 We need to get the house sealed up 164 00:06:59,794 --> 00:07:02,212 to get this over with 165 00:07:02,213 --> 00:07:04,591 so that the bats have no way to get back in. 166 00:07:05,675 --> 00:07:06,842 Wow. 167 00:07:06,843 --> 00:07:08,261 That's a lot of [bleep]. 168 00:07:16,561 --> 00:07:20,397 1600 miles away near Whitecourt Mountain, 169 00:07:20,398 --> 00:07:22,816 where the dense boreal forests of the north 170 00:07:22,817 --> 00:07:26,320 meet the tall grasses of the Great Plains... 171 00:07:26,321 --> 00:07:28,239 Oh, my god. Yes, this is so dry. 172 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:31,700 ...fire season starts 173 00:07:31,701 --> 00:07:33,118 the second the snow melts, 174 00:07:33,119 --> 00:07:35,663 and for men like Randy Barrass, 175 00:07:35,664 --> 00:07:40,417 being well prepared is the only way to survive. 176 00:07:40,418 --> 00:07:41,794 A lightning strike up there 177 00:07:41,795 --> 00:07:44,421 can turn into absolute chaos down here. 178 00:07:44,422 --> 00:07:47,341 To protect his cabin and family's ranch, 179 00:07:47,342 --> 00:07:49,426 nine powerful impact sprinklers 180 00:07:49,427 --> 00:07:52,179 run four hours a day during fire season... 181 00:07:54,724 --> 00:07:56,266 ...driven by a high-pressure pump 182 00:07:56,267 --> 00:07:59,395 that sucks water from a nearby creek. 183 00:07:59,396 --> 00:08:00,979 Every day it doesn't rain, I make it rain. 184 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,234 But despite his best efforts, 185 00:08:05,235 --> 00:08:06,486 every spring... 186 00:08:07,487 --> 00:08:10,406 ...the fires keep coming... 187 00:08:10,407 --> 00:08:12,950 Holy [bleep]. 188 00:08:12,951 --> 00:08:14,827 ...and three years ago, 189 00:08:14,828 --> 00:08:17,621 Randy almost lost everything. 190 00:08:17,622 --> 00:08:19,039 That is one hell of a fire, 191 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,208 and it is really rolling. 192 00:08:21,209 --> 00:08:22,292 Terrifying. 193 00:08:22,293 --> 00:08:25,129 The government didn't have the resources 194 00:08:25,130 --> 00:08:26,547 to fight this fire. 195 00:08:26,548 --> 00:08:28,424 We weren't ready. 196 00:08:28,425 --> 00:08:30,342 It just about took the whole community. 197 00:08:30,343 --> 00:08:31,885 I don't want to lose my place. 198 00:08:31,886 --> 00:08:33,513 I don't want to lose my property. 199 00:08:34,972 --> 00:08:37,099 Never gonna be caught flat-footed again. 200 00:08:37,100 --> 00:08:38,892 Never. 201 00:08:38,893 --> 00:08:41,478 Okay, now I'm going to fire up the whole nine yards. 202 00:08:48,028 --> 00:08:51,530 Four, five, six, 203 00:08:51,531 --> 00:08:53,032 seven, eight, nine. 204 00:08:53,033 --> 00:08:55,576 Ha. It's raining. 205 00:08:55,577 --> 00:08:57,870 It's everything I can do, 206 00:08:57,871 --> 00:08:59,831 which is a little bit more than nothing. 207 00:09:01,041 --> 00:09:02,249 Well, I'm looking at it, 208 00:09:02,250 --> 00:09:03,625 I fire it up, I'm happy, 209 00:09:03,626 --> 00:09:04,918 it's working, and then I'm not happy. 210 00:09:04,919 --> 00:09:06,129 And I go, "Oh, I need more." 211 00:09:07,297 --> 00:09:08,797 To take his firefighting arsenal 212 00:09:08,798 --> 00:09:10,049 to the next level, 213 00:09:10,050 --> 00:09:12,051 Randy's got a plan... 214 00:09:12,052 --> 00:09:16,472 his 1977 Mercedes-Benz Unimog. 215 00:09:16,473 --> 00:09:19,600 Originally built as an agricultural workhorse, 216 00:09:19,601 --> 00:09:21,018 it was quickly adopted 217 00:09:21,019 --> 00:09:22,895 by militaries and fire departments 218 00:09:22,896 --> 00:09:24,521 around the world 219 00:09:24,522 --> 00:09:28,275 to access terrain unreachable by other vehicles. 220 00:09:28,276 --> 00:09:31,153 The Unimog can go damn near anywhere. 221 00:09:31,154 --> 00:09:32,988 It doesn't matter how heavy. 222 00:09:32,989 --> 00:09:36,033 I can go into the bush. I can go up cut lines. 223 00:09:36,034 --> 00:09:37,576 I can go a lot of places 224 00:09:37,577 --> 00:09:40,412 that the firetrucks and regular vehicles can't go. 225 00:09:40,413 --> 00:09:43,373 It is a cool buggy. It's my midlife crisis. 226 00:09:45,752 --> 00:09:47,169 Outfit it with water tanks 227 00:09:47,170 --> 00:09:48,629 and high-powered hoses, 228 00:09:48,630 --> 00:09:51,882 and it becomes the ultimate firefighting machine, 229 00:09:51,883 --> 00:09:55,844 capable of pushing deep into the backcountry 230 00:09:55,845 --> 00:09:57,346 and fighting fire 231 00:09:57,347 --> 00:09:59,848 beyond what any sprinkler system can reach, 232 00:09:59,849 --> 00:10:03,560 but first, it needs an overhaul. 233 00:10:03,561 --> 00:10:06,396 The totes are gonna be here, 234 00:10:06,397 --> 00:10:11,151 then it's build and install my "monitor." 235 00:10:11,152 --> 00:10:13,195 With one 1,000-liter tote 236 00:10:13,196 --> 00:10:15,239 already on board, 237 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,533 Randy's first priority is to add two more, 238 00:10:17,534 --> 00:10:20,410 tripling his water supply. 239 00:10:20,411 --> 00:10:22,246 Let's do it. 240 00:10:24,833 --> 00:10:26,417 Load the totes. 241 00:10:29,462 --> 00:10:31,089 Right there. 242 00:10:36,469 --> 00:10:39,513 Come on. There we go. 243 00:10:39,514 --> 00:10:40,890 I'll line it up with the other one. 244 00:10:43,059 --> 00:10:44,853 Ah, ah, easy. I said "be gentle." 245 00:10:45,895 --> 00:10:47,730 From there, I better do it by hand. 246 00:10:54,279 --> 00:10:59,783 Now it's hook up the hoses, put it all together, man. 247 00:10:59,784 --> 00:11:01,952 Hopefully by the end of today, I'll have this all tested, 248 00:11:01,953 --> 00:11:03,245 full of water, 249 00:11:03,246 --> 00:11:07,250 and ready to go at the drop of a spark. 250 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,133 It's fire season in the wild north, 251 00:11:16,134 --> 00:11:18,719 and a single blaze is all it takes 252 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,555 to threaten the 10,000-acre ranch 253 00:11:21,556 --> 00:11:24,725 that has been in the Barrass family for generations... 254 00:11:24,726 --> 00:11:27,352 They say don't even fart out in the bush right now, 255 00:11:27,353 --> 00:11:29,188 it's so dry. 256 00:11:29,189 --> 00:11:31,315 ...so Randy is hard at work 257 00:11:31,316 --> 00:11:34,359 fortifying a mobile line of defense, 258 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,570 one that will become his most important weapon 259 00:11:36,571 --> 00:11:39,198 when fire threatens the land, 260 00:11:39,199 --> 00:11:41,575 and it starts with welding a steel platform 261 00:11:41,576 --> 00:11:43,577 for a high-capacity nozzle 262 00:11:43,578 --> 00:11:46,330 that he'll mount onto his truck. 263 00:11:46,331 --> 00:11:49,499 This is, uh, my homemade, 264 00:11:49,500 --> 00:11:52,961 "junkyard wars" kinda idea of a monitor. 265 00:11:52,962 --> 00:11:55,339 But with sparks flying, 266 00:11:55,340 --> 00:11:56,798 he has to be careful 267 00:11:56,799 --> 00:11:59,593 not to ignite the very thing he's trying to prevent. 268 00:11:59,594 --> 00:12:02,221 Building my firefighting equipment 269 00:12:02,222 --> 00:12:04,765 without starting a fire doing it. 270 00:12:04,766 --> 00:12:07,142 One spark hits the right piece of tinder 271 00:12:07,143 --> 00:12:09,102 with the right gust of wind, 272 00:12:09,103 --> 00:12:10,646 and we're fighting a wildfire... 273 00:12:10,647 --> 00:12:13,566 so I turned the sprinklers on ahead of time. 274 00:12:16,569 --> 00:12:19,072 The sweet sound of rain on a tin roof. 275 00:12:20,949 --> 00:12:23,450 Fabricated from scrap steel and pipe, 276 00:12:23,451 --> 00:12:25,744 the homemade firefighting cannon 277 00:12:25,745 --> 00:12:29,164 is built to rotate and reach fire from long range. 278 00:12:29,165 --> 00:12:31,500 I love making my own stuff. 279 00:12:31,501 --> 00:12:33,377 I like getting an idea 280 00:12:33,378 --> 00:12:35,170 or seeing what somebody else is doing 281 00:12:35,171 --> 00:12:36,338 and then going, "I think I can build that 282 00:12:36,339 --> 00:12:37,966 either better or easier, or cheaper." 283 00:12:39,175 --> 00:12:40,717 I didn't want to spend over three grand 284 00:12:40,718 --> 00:12:42,427 on a manufactured monitor 285 00:12:42,428 --> 00:12:44,054 when I can just junkyard it. 286 00:12:47,392 --> 00:12:50,435 Hell, yeah, that'll do it. 287 00:12:50,436 --> 00:12:51,895 Whoosh. 288 00:12:51,896 --> 00:12:53,647 Just give 'er. 289 00:12:53,648 --> 00:12:56,358 Improvising as he goes, 290 00:12:56,359 --> 00:12:59,444 Randy also engineers a heavy-duty trailer hitch 291 00:12:59,445 --> 00:13:01,697 to support the whole contraption. 292 00:13:01,698 --> 00:13:03,490 Just like that, man. 293 00:13:08,788 --> 00:13:10,956 Those are some of the ugliest welds in history, 294 00:13:10,957 --> 00:13:13,667 but pretty welds are for ugly men, 295 00:13:13,668 --> 00:13:16,963 so I'm anxious to try it out. 296 00:13:18,506 --> 00:13:22,217 It has to be installed today and tested today, 297 00:13:22,218 --> 00:13:25,429 because there's fires breakin' out all over the place. 298 00:13:25,430 --> 00:13:28,599 Eventually, one of 'em is going to break out around here. 299 00:13:31,185 --> 00:13:32,437 Deadly! 300 00:13:41,112 --> 00:13:42,904 I think it's going to work, man. 301 00:13:44,282 --> 00:13:46,533 It's exactly what I thought it'd look like. 302 00:13:46,534 --> 00:13:49,327 It is cool and ugly and rusty... 303 00:13:49,328 --> 00:13:50,954 and beautiful. 304 00:13:50,955 --> 00:13:53,540 Okay, that's it. Right on. 305 00:13:53,541 --> 00:13:54,791 The only thing left to do now 306 00:13:54,792 --> 00:13:56,252 is give her the big test. 307 00:14:12,894 --> 00:14:15,937 1600 miles away in the La Cloche Mountains, 308 00:14:15,938 --> 00:14:17,689 Kie and Dave are in a race 309 00:14:17,690 --> 00:14:21,026 to seal their homestead once and for all... 310 00:14:21,027 --> 00:14:22,444 I got the tractor warming up. 311 00:14:22,445 --> 00:14:24,738 Let's get a pine log over here. 312 00:14:24,739 --> 00:14:27,532 ...and they won't let anything slow them down, 313 00:14:27,533 --> 00:14:29,618 not even a late spring snow squall. 314 00:14:29,619 --> 00:14:30,911 We really need 315 00:14:30,912 --> 00:14:32,913 to board up the north side of our wall 316 00:14:32,914 --> 00:14:34,414 before the bats come, 317 00:14:34,415 --> 00:14:36,292 so we can't afford any delays right now. 318 00:14:37,794 --> 00:14:40,212 The goal is to finish the siding today, 319 00:14:40,213 --> 00:14:42,714 but before a single board gets nailed, 320 00:14:42,715 --> 00:14:44,758 they first need to be milled. 321 00:14:44,759 --> 00:14:46,718 Do you wanna just push her on together 322 00:14:46,719 --> 00:14:48,220 so it goes over smoothly? 323 00:14:48,221 --> 00:14:50,222 Each log is lifted 324 00:14:50,223 --> 00:14:51,890 onto the carriage of the bandsaw mill 325 00:14:51,891 --> 00:14:53,726 and guided into place... 326 00:14:57,355 --> 00:15:00,065 where a continuous looping blade cuts through the wood 327 00:15:00,066 --> 00:15:03,069 with no margin for error. 328 00:15:06,114 --> 00:15:08,865 Everything that we do out here in the wilderness 329 00:15:08,866 --> 00:15:10,450 at our homestead 330 00:15:10,451 --> 00:15:14,162 is inherently more dangerous because help is so far away, 331 00:15:14,163 --> 00:15:17,582 so we need to be extra careful when we're working 332 00:15:17,583 --> 00:15:19,876 and not making sudden movements 333 00:15:19,877 --> 00:15:23,421 or carrying more than we can handle. 334 00:15:23,422 --> 00:15:24,632 Let's keep going! 335 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:27,425 We got a lot of boards to make. 336 00:15:27,426 --> 00:15:33,181 We need 50 full-width one by twelve boards 337 00:15:33,182 --> 00:15:34,683 to keep the bats out. 338 00:15:34,684 --> 00:15:37,769 Yeah, baby, let's go. Take her off of there. 339 00:15:37,770 --> 00:15:39,437 Just tearing through it now. 340 00:15:39,438 --> 00:15:44,234 Woo-hoo! Oh yeah. Oh, look at that. 341 00:15:44,235 --> 00:15:45,861 - Amazing. - That's nice. 342 00:15:45,862 --> 00:15:48,029 Just stacking 'em up. 343 00:15:48,030 --> 00:15:49,114 Offload these boards. 344 00:15:49,115 --> 00:15:50,825 We'll get another log on this thing. 345 00:16:01,335 --> 00:16:02,503 Oh, [bleep]! 346 00:16:03,504 --> 00:16:04,922 Oh, my god. 347 00:16:10,386 --> 00:16:12,679 Back in the La Cloche Mountains... 348 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:14,639 Oh, [bleep]! 349 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:16,850 ...a dangerous miscalculation... 350 00:16:16,851 --> 00:16:18,268 I'm so sorry. 351 00:16:18,269 --> 00:16:20,353 Oh, my god. 352 00:16:20,354 --> 00:16:22,063 ...is a stark reminder 353 00:16:22,064 --> 00:16:24,649 of how fast things can go wrong out here. 354 00:16:24,650 --> 00:16:28,486 I'm so sorry. 355 00:16:28,487 --> 00:16:29,571 Are you okay? 356 00:16:29,572 --> 00:16:30,614 Yeah. 357 00:16:30,615 --> 00:16:31,740 Is the mill okay? 358 00:16:31,741 --> 00:16:32,657 Probably not. 359 00:16:32,658 --> 00:16:34,659 Holy [bleep]. 360 00:16:34,660 --> 00:16:37,954 I thought the forks were tilted further up than they were, 361 00:16:37,955 --> 00:16:39,706 so the log actually rolled off, 362 00:16:39,707 --> 00:16:41,750 landed pretty hard on the mill. 363 00:16:41,751 --> 00:16:44,711 It did crush that beam. 364 00:16:44,712 --> 00:16:46,630 Should we just jack it up a little bit? 365 00:16:46,631 --> 00:16:48,632 If the carriage isn't level, 366 00:16:48,633 --> 00:16:50,508 the cuts won't be, either. 367 00:16:50,509 --> 00:16:51,468 That's pretty good. 368 00:16:51,469 --> 00:16:52,511 Yeah. 369 00:16:52,762 --> 00:16:55,056 Just check the other side real quick. 370 00:16:56,140 --> 00:16:58,308 No, it's really... it's low here, right? 371 00:16:58,309 --> 00:17:00,769 Which we're not going to fix with just the jacks. 372 00:17:00,770 --> 00:17:02,063 Okay. 373 00:17:03,481 --> 00:17:06,816 We can see a little bit of a gap here in the rail, 374 00:17:06,817 --> 00:17:08,735 so the rail isn't completely straight now, 375 00:17:08,736 --> 00:17:10,528 so we're going to live with it, 376 00:17:10,529 --> 00:17:12,530 but this is something that we're going to have to correct later. 377 00:17:12,531 --> 00:17:14,658 It happens. Yeah. 378 00:17:14,659 --> 00:17:16,285 Just got to keep moving. 379 00:17:22,208 --> 00:17:25,085 That's a nice-looking board right there. 380 00:17:25,086 --> 00:17:26,962 Kie and Dave push through 381 00:17:26,963 --> 00:17:28,964 the rest of the milling without incident. 382 00:17:28,965 --> 00:17:30,340 This one's good, right? 383 00:17:30,341 --> 00:17:31,341 Yeah. 384 00:17:31,342 --> 00:17:32,676 That should do. 385 00:17:32,677 --> 00:17:34,344 Good stack. 386 00:17:34,345 --> 00:17:36,388 But before the siding can go up, 387 00:17:36,389 --> 00:17:39,558 the old windows must come out. 388 00:17:39,559 --> 00:17:41,601 When we first built this place, 389 00:17:41,602 --> 00:17:44,479 we were on a extremely limited budget. 390 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,983 Luckily we came into used windows, 391 00:17:47,984 --> 00:17:49,776 but the windows were in rough shape 392 00:17:49,777 --> 00:17:51,152 right from day one. 393 00:17:51,153 --> 00:17:52,028 Ready to go? 394 00:17:52,029 --> 00:17:53,071 Giddyup. 395 00:17:53,072 --> 00:17:54,823 And with no such thing 396 00:17:54,824 --> 00:17:56,366 as home delivery out here, 397 00:17:56,367 --> 00:17:59,786 picking them up is a job all on its own. 398 00:17:59,787 --> 00:18:01,788 Windows are over the lake, 399 00:18:01,789 --> 00:18:03,207 six kilometers away. 400 00:18:03,374 --> 00:18:06,501 Right now in early spring, the road is too soft to use, 401 00:18:06,502 --> 00:18:07,794 so we have to go in by boat. 402 00:18:07,795 --> 00:18:09,546 Go for a boat ride, Hank? 403 00:18:10,339 --> 00:18:12,174 Good boy. 404 00:18:14,260 --> 00:18:16,470 Okay, let's go get those windows. 405 00:18:25,187 --> 00:18:27,522 Back in Broc's workshop, 406 00:18:27,523 --> 00:18:30,775 breaking down a 400-pound bear takes time 407 00:18:30,776 --> 00:18:32,986 and plenty of hands to get it done... 408 00:18:32,987 --> 00:18:34,863 Trim all the meat off. 409 00:18:34,864 --> 00:18:36,072 Cube it before we cook it. 410 00:18:36,073 --> 00:18:37,949 ...and in the Simoneau family, 411 00:18:37,950 --> 00:18:41,703 not even the bones and fat go to waste. 412 00:18:41,704 --> 00:18:44,164 Bear fat has many applications that you can use it for. 413 00:18:44,165 --> 00:18:45,790 It's a good moisturizer. 414 00:18:45,791 --> 00:18:48,335 It's good for leather, good for my boots, 415 00:18:48,336 --> 00:18:51,171 and I like to cook with it as well. 416 00:18:51,172 --> 00:18:54,132 But before the fat can be rendered into clean oil, 417 00:18:54,133 --> 00:18:56,969 every last remnant of meat has to be trimmed off. 418 00:18:59,180 --> 00:19:00,430 Is this clean enough for you, Broc? 419 00:19:00,431 --> 00:19:02,390 - Yep. - Yeah, that's good. 420 00:19:02,391 --> 00:19:04,934 Bear fat has been prized for centuries, 421 00:19:04,935 --> 00:19:07,854 traded by frontiersmen like currency, 422 00:19:07,855 --> 00:19:09,606 and used by Indigenous people 423 00:19:09,607 --> 00:19:12,192 for everything from cooking to medicine. 424 00:19:12,193 --> 00:19:13,026 Let me get this one cookin'. 425 00:19:13,027 --> 00:19:16,196 Yep. That's ready to go. 426 00:19:16,197 --> 00:19:19,115 As it cooks, it'll start to turn liquid. 427 00:19:19,116 --> 00:19:21,076 The grease is pulled out of the fat itself. 428 00:19:21,077 --> 00:19:22,578 Yeah, here, let me stir this. 429 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:25,706 Ooh, it smells like bacon, actually. 430 00:19:31,379 --> 00:19:32,587 How you doing? 431 00:19:32,588 --> 00:19:33,713 Good. Should I pour this off? 432 00:19:33,714 --> 00:19:35,173 Yep. 433 00:19:35,174 --> 00:19:36,633 Look how clear that is. 434 00:19:36,634 --> 00:19:38,510 Even though it's rendered, 435 00:19:38,511 --> 00:19:41,221 without a preservative, it won't last long. 436 00:19:41,222 --> 00:19:43,223 I put sodium benzoate in with the bear fat, 437 00:19:43,224 --> 00:19:44,933 'cause it'll chemically stop it. 438 00:19:44,934 --> 00:19:46,893 It's food-safe, so you can still eat it, 439 00:19:46,894 --> 00:19:48,103 I can still cook with it, 440 00:19:48,104 --> 00:19:49,646 and it'll just keep it from rotting 441 00:19:49,647 --> 00:19:51,898 if there is bacteria or something in it. 442 00:19:53,818 --> 00:19:55,235 The entire concoction 443 00:19:55,236 --> 00:19:56,403 is then blended... 444 00:19:56,404 --> 00:19:57,487 Yeah, it's good. 445 00:19:57,488 --> 00:19:59,197 ...and jarred. 446 00:19:59,198 --> 00:20:02,826 Using the entire animal and not wasting any of it 447 00:20:02,827 --> 00:20:03,868 comes from my dad. 448 00:20:03,869 --> 00:20:06,079 Let me see in there. 449 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,289 Just sprinkle that little bit in the tops of these. 450 00:20:08,290 --> 00:20:10,333 We use everything, 451 00:20:10,334 --> 00:20:13,044 and it's important to me that I keep that. 452 00:20:13,045 --> 00:20:14,421 It's the way I was raised. 453 00:20:14,422 --> 00:20:17,340 It's part of respect for the process and the bear. 454 00:20:17,341 --> 00:20:20,176 The bones I keep are the two femur bones, 455 00:20:20,177 --> 00:20:21,594 the upper leg, 456 00:20:21,595 --> 00:20:24,639 and then the two upper in the arm bones. 457 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:26,182 We'll boil them and clean them 458 00:20:26,183 --> 00:20:27,684 and make 'em something that you can keep, 459 00:20:27,685 --> 00:20:28,894 something that'll last for decades. 460 00:20:29,979 --> 00:20:31,938 These are done. 461 00:20:31,939 --> 00:20:33,565 I'm going to make a pipe for Alicia 462 00:20:33,566 --> 00:20:36,026 out of one of the leg bones of her bear. 463 00:20:39,196 --> 00:20:42,490 Can you just cut the knuckles off for me? 464 00:20:46,871 --> 00:20:49,748 Using the bones gives that animal a chance 465 00:20:49,749 --> 00:20:51,541 to come back and talk to you. 466 00:20:51,542 --> 00:20:53,209 It doesn't end just when you've hunted it 467 00:20:53,210 --> 00:20:54,335 and it's done. 468 00:20:54,336 --> 00:20:56,005 It keeps the animal alive. 469 00:20:57,506 --> 00:20:59,508 - That about wraps her up. - Yeah. 470 00:21:09,268 --> 00:21:11,519 More than 500 miles away 471 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:13,688 in the northern Rocky Mountains, 472 00:21:13,689 --> 00:21:16,065 generations of Cree tradition 473 00:21:16,066 --> 00:21:20,820 run through everything Rob Bauer does on his trap line... 474 00:21:20,821 --> 00:21:22,572 Well, you ready to skin some beavers? 475 00:21:22,573 --> 00:21:24,491 - Yeah. Let's do it. - Nice. 476 00:21:24,492 --> 00:21:25,617 ...and today, 477 00:21:25,618 --> 00:21:28,161 his 18-year-old daughter, Apryl, 478 00:21:28,162 --> 00:21:31,414 is here to learn every step of the process. 479 00:21:31,415 --> 00:21:33,333 Apryl, she's my mini me. 480 00:21:33,334 --> 00:21:34,876 We do everything together. 481 00:21:34,877 --> 00:21:36,878 We go hunting, we go fishing, we go trapping. 482 00:21:36,879 --> 00:21:39,047 Dad grew up doing this, 483 00:21:39,048 --> 00:21:41,133 and I love spending time with him. 484 00:21:42,635 --> 00:21:44,928 But one thing Apryl hasn't done before 485 00:21:44,929 --> 00:21:47,764 is learn how to process a fresh beaver hide 486 00:21:47,765 --> 00:21:50,100 into a pair of traditional mittens. 487 00:21:50,810 --> 00:21:52,435 Just a few days ago... 488 00:21:52,436 --> 00:21:53,937 We have a beaver. 489 00:21:53,938 --> 00:21:55,480 ...Rob pulled two fresh beavers 490 00:21:55,481 --> 00:21:56,898 from under the ice. 491 00:21:56,899 --> 00:21:59,067 His fur is extremely thick. 492 00:21:59,068 --> 00:22:01,319 ...and now they're ready for skinning. 493 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:03,154 How's that one? 494 00:22:03,155 --> 00:22:04,322 Feels good. 495 00:22:04,323 --> 00:22:05,406 Not frozen? 496 00:22:05,407 --> 00:22:06,991 Nope. 497 00:22:06,992 --> 00:22:09,536 I'm pretty much the last one in the family 498 00:22:09,537 --> 00:22:11,538 that's doing any of this, 499 00:22:11,539 --> 00:22:15,334 so passing my knowledge onto her is very important. 500 00:22:16,544 --> 00:22:21,089 So, first thing to do is lay 'em out nice. 501 00:22:21,090 --> 00:22:23,049 Every pair of mittens 502 00:22:23,050 --> 00:22:24,717 Rob can get out of a beaver hide 503 00:22:24,718 --> 00:22:28,722 is income that helps him maintain his life as a trapper. 504 00:22:31,058 --> 00:22:33,560 A lot of my mittens start around the $400 mark 505 00:22:33,561 --> 00:22:36,980 and go all the way up to $1,000. 506 00:22:36,981 --> 00:22:40,651 Now, I like to go back of the tail to the lower jaw. 507 00:22:42,069 --> 00:22:45,321 You want to keep your knife tip up on the hide, 508 00:22:45,322 --> 00:22:48,032 not digging down into the meat and the fat. 509 00:22:48,033 --> 00:22:50,410 Skinning a beaver is a skill 510 00:22:50,411 --> 00:22:52,245 that takes time to master. 511 00:22:52,246 --> 00:22:55,583 A single wrong cut can ruin the entire hide. 512 00:22:56,876 --> 00:22:58,918 So, when you're skinning, 513 00:22:58,919 --> 00:23:01,754 you don't want your knife cutting against the hide. 514 00:23:01,755 --> 00:23:03,506 I have my one knife that I made, 515 00:23:03,507 --> 00:23:05,258 and that's my beaver skinning knife. 516 00:23:05,259 --> 00:23:07,135 The blade's fairly thick, 517 00:23:07,136 --> 00:23:10,763 and that's been my go-to beaver knife for many, many years. 518 00:23:10,764 --> 00:23:13,933 You want to be at a slight angle, 519 00:23:13,934 --> 00:23:16,311 so it's kinda cutting and scraping, 520 00:23:16,312 --> 00:23:19,230 and this is what we call cleaned skin. 521 00:23:20,482 --> 00:23:22,066 You following? 522 00:23:22,067 --> 00:23:23,401 I'm following. 523 00:23:23,402 --> 00:23:24,444 Right on. 524 00:23:24,445 --> 00:23:25,778 Yeah. 525 00:23:25,779 --> 00:23:27,739 So, one hide skinned. 526 00:23:27,740 --> 00:23:28,824 You know what this means. 527 00:23:30,284 --> 00:23:33,454 Get your beaver. Get it up here. 528 00:23:40,961 --> 00:23:42,503 Why is that so hard? 529 00:23:42,504 --> 00:23:44,547 It'll be easier up top. 530 00:23:44,548 --> 00:23:46,467 Just under the hide. 531 00:23:48,552 --> 00:23:49,469 Okay. 532 00:23:49,470 --> 00:23:50,596 Yeah, you did okay there. 533 00:23:52,014 --> 00:23:54,015 The belly is a little bit hard 534 00:23:54,016 --> 00:23:55,600 because you have to be a little bit softer on it 535 00:23:55,601 --> 00:23:57,227 so you don't make any mistakes. 536 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:03,651 The way you hold the knife makes a big, big difference. 537 00:24:04,818 --> 00:24:06,486 The pressure's on. 538 00:24:06,487 --> 00:24:08,948 Making sure you don't make a hole. 539 00:24:13,827 --> 00:24:15,663 Looking good. 540 00:24:16,747 --> 00:24:18,039 Okay. 541 00:24:18,040 --> 00:24:19,208 Good job, Apryl. 542 00:24:20,626 --> 00:24:21,627 I'd have to give her a A+. 543 00:24:22,461 --> 00:24:23,753 These hides 544 00:24:23,754 --> 00:24:24,963 will need to be stretched and tanned 545 00:24:24,964 --> 00:24:27,465 before they can be turned into mittens. 546 00:24:27,466 --> 00:24:29,050 For today's lesson, 547 00:24:29,051 --> 00:24:32,220 Rob will pull from stock that's already complete. 548 00:24:32,221 --> 00:24:34,055 Let's go head to the cabin, 549 00:24:34,056 --> 00:24:35,516 get working on a pair of mitts. 550 00:24:40,980 --> 00:24:42,855 Deep in the Pasquia Hills, 551 00:24:42,856 --> 00:24:46,025 a bear harvest means more than just meat in the freezer. 552 00:24:46,026 --> 00:24:50,780 For Broc Simoneau, every part of the animal is honored. 553 00:24:50,781 --> 00:24:53,950 I'm going to attempt to make a pipe for Alicia 554 00:24:53,951 --> 00:24:55,743 out of one of the femur bones. 555 00:24:55,744 --> 00:24:59,372 Pipes are something that's been around for a long, long time. 556 00:24:59,373 --> 00:25:01,207 Different pipes, different traditions 557 00:25:01,208 --> 00:25:02,835 based on where they're from. 558 00:25:04,003 --> 00:25:05,628 For over a century, 559 00:25:05,629 --> 00:25:07,547 Indigenous peoples of the Arctic 560 00:25:07,548 --> 00:25:11,217 have crafted tobacco pipes from natural materials, 561 00:25:11,218 --> 00:25:16,305 a tradition that has been passed down through generations. 562 00:25:16,306 --> 00:25:18,683 Mother Nature kinda already has it started. 563 00:25:18,684 --> 00:25:20,226 We just gotta finish it. 564 00:25:20,227 --> 00:25:21,644 The first step 565 00:25:21,645 --> 00:25:23,896 is drilling through the marrow cavity, 566 00:25:23,897 --> 00:25:25,398 creating a narrow channel 567 00:25:25,399 --> 00:25:28,902 that will carry the smoke from the bowl to the bit. 568 00:25:30,571 --> 00:25:33,156 Drilling in from two different sides. 569 00:25:33,157 --> 00:25:35,324 This'll be the end that you smoke from, 570 00:25:35,325 --> 00:25:38,453 and lining it up with the socket here 571 00:25:38,454 --> 00:25:40,496 where you are gonna have your bowl, 572 00:25:40,497 --> 00:25:45,084 so it's obviously angles that are predetermined already... 573 00:25:45,085 --> 00:25:47,336 so I'm gonna measure on here 574 00:25:47,337 --> 00:25:50,257 so I don't go too deep and go out the other side. 575 00:25:58,557 --> 00:26:01,392 The marrow is starting to come out. 576 00:26:01,393 --> 00:26:02,518 Extracting all the marrow 577 00:26:02,519 --> 00:26:03,854 is critical. 578 00:26:04,104 --> 00:26:06,355 Any residual matter left inside will burn, 579 00:26:06,356 --> 00:26:08,275 corrupt the flavor, and ruin the draw. 580 00:26:14,281 --> 00:26:16,616 Yeah. Good. 581 00:26:16,617 --> 00:26:19,202 So now I'm just gonna make a bowl 582 00:26:19,203 --> 00:26:21,538 for the tobacco to sit in. 583 00:26:30,464 --> 00:26:32,131 I've always enjoyed working with bones. 584 00:26:32,132 --> 00:26:34,967 When I was about six years old, 585 00:26:34,968 --> 00:26:37,011 I started digging in old rain barrels 586 00:26:37,012 --> 00:26:39,222 of bear skulls and wolf skulls, 587 00:26:39,223 --> 00:26:41,265 and ever since then, I like making things out of bones, 588 00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:42,475 wearing bones. 589 00:26:42,476 --> 00:26:43,851 You know, you should eat what you kill, 590 00:26:43,852 --> 00:26:44,894 and you should wear what you kill 591 00:26:44,895 --> 00:26:46,021 and use what you kill as well. 592 00:26:52,528 --> 00:26:54,403 I'm just seeing if the two holes connect 593 00:26:54,404 --> 00:26:55,322 by trying to blow smoke through it. 594 00:27:03,413 --> 00:27:04,790 Yeah. Good. 595 00:27:06,542 --> 00:27:07,708 A Dremel 596 00:27:07,709 --> 00:27:10,128 levels and smooths the shape of the bowl, 597 00:27:10,129 --> 00:27:15,424 and is used for etching the bone with a signature design. 598 00:27:15,425 --> 00:27:20,055 A feather is a symbol of intention and energy. 599 00:27:21,265 --> 00:27:23,099 That's what smoking a pipe helps teach you, 600 00:27:23,100 --> 00:27:24,976 is to empty your brain 601 00:27:24,977 --> 00:27:26,352 until you got room for new thoughts, 602 00:27:26,353 --> 00:27:29,231 and keep your mouth shut 'til you smoke it. 603 00:27:31,233 --> 00:27:32,817 Finally, it's buffed smooth 604 00:27:32,818 --> 00:27:34,735 and brought to life. 605 00:27:34,736 --> 00:27:36,029 It's nice to make art 606 00:27:36,196 --> 00:27:38,489 out of something that otherwise would be discarded. 607 00:27:38,490 --> 00:27:40,032 There's beauty in the bones. 608 00:27:40,033 --> 00:27:43,703 There's beauty in, you know, something that was alive 609 00:27:43,704 --> 00:27:46,080 and is still alive in a different essence. 610 00:27:46,081 --> 00:27:48,207 Everything in life is energy, 611 00:27:48,208 --> 00:27:50,585 and so you don't... you don't waste any of it. 612 00:27:50,586 --> 00:27:53,296 I think this is done. 613 00:27:53,297 --> 00:27:54,590 We'll leave it as-is. 614 00:27:57,634 --> 00:27:59,469 I feel like Alicia will like it. 615 00:28:10,939 --> 00:28:13,900 500 miles west, in fire country... 616 00:28:13,901 --> 00:28:14,942 This is where we're going to get 617 00:28:14,943 --> 00:28:16,777 to load up the water. 618 00:28:16,778 --> 00:28:18,655 ...Randy's preparing for a fight... 619 00:28:21,742 --> 00:28:23,242 Now we're pumping. 620 00:28:23,243 --> 00:28:25,578 ...pulling 3,000 liters of water 621 00:28:25,579 --> 00:28:27,413 from the nearest creek... 622 00:28:27,414 --> 00:28:28,289 It's getting there. 623 00:28:28,290 --> 00:28:29,707 ...and getting ready 624 00:28:29,708 --> 00:28:32,628 to test out his new fire-fighting machine. 625 00:28:34,796 --> 00:28:35,880 Well, I finally got it full. 626 00:28:35,881 --> 00:28:38,299 I might as well just fire it up. 627 00:28:38,300 --> 00:28:40,635 So I use one pump to load the totes... 628 00:28:43,764 --> 00:28:46,432 ...and I use the second pump to spray. 629 00:28:46,433 --> 00:28:47,601 Hell, yeah! 630 00:28:49,436 --> 00:28:51,437 But while he's got the water... 631 00:28:51,438 --> 00:28:53,439 Oh, boy. 632 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:54,983 ...it's not flowing as planned. 633 00:28:56,735 --> 00:28:58,861 Yeah, we got a pretty terrible leak here. 634 00:28:58,862 --> 00:29:01,155 The hoses can't withstand the high pressure 635 00:29:01,156 --> 00:29:03,199 without reinforcement. 636 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:05,034 Let's see what I can do about that. 637 00:29:05,035 --> 00:29:06,954 Put a second clamp on. 638 00:29:11,792 --> 00:29:13,960 Things don't always go to plan. 639 00:29:13,961 --> 00:29:15,045 There's always a little tweaking... 640 00:29:16,922 --> 00:29:19,465 Looks like the same kind of a thing. 641 00:29:21,927 --> 00:29:23,970 Fixed a couple of leaks, 642 00:29:23,971 --> 00:29:25,681 and, well, let's see if we've got 'em fixed. 643 00:29:27,015 --> 00:29:28,308 Test number two. 644 00:29:30,978 --> 00:29:34,021 Oh yeah! Excellent. 645 00:29:34,022 --> 00:29:35,606 That's what I want. 646 00:29:35,607 --> 00:29:39,193 Making rainbows, man. Awesome. 647 00:29:39,194 --> 00:29:41,862 The water is blasting... 648 00:29:41,863 --> 00:29:43,030 All right. Test successful. 649 00:29:43,031 --> 00:29:44,532 ...but the real test 650 00:29:44,533 --> 00:29:47,451 is to see if the 49-year-old Unimog 651 00:29:47,452 --> 00:29:51,664 can still handle the very terrain Randy needs to patrol. 652 00:29:51,665 --> 00:29:53,833 So we got maximum weight on the machine. 653 00:29:53,834 --> 00:29:54,834 Now is the test to see 654 00:29:54,835 --> 00:29:57,545 if our four-wheel drive capabilities 655 00:29:57,546 --> 00:30:01,007 and our mobile unit are up to snuff. 656 00:30:01,008 --> 00:30:04,343 Everything's awesome... 657 00:30:05,262 --> 00:30:06,763 ...except for that flat tire. 658 00:30:08,181 --> 00:30:10,434 [bleep]. 659 00:30:14,146 --> 00:30:16,272 back in the shadow of Whitecourt Mountain, 660 00:30:16,273 --> 00:30:19,525 the dry season has hit, and fire risk is everywhere. 661 00:30:19,526 --> 00:30:21,193 [bleep]. 662 00:30:21,194 --> 00:30:22,862 She's flat. 663 00:30:22,863 --> 00:30:24,321 Randy needs 664 00:30:24,322 --> 00:30:26,699 his newly converted Unimog fire truck 665 00:30:26,700 --> 00:30:28,744 up and running fast... 666 00:30:31,788 --> 00:30:34,290 We are close to ready, but we're not ready. 667 00:30:34,291 --> 00:30:35,958 ...but the vintage vehicle's 668 00:30:35,959 --> 00:30:37,209 first off-road test 669 00:30:37,210 --> 00:30:40,379 is off to a slow start. 670 00:30:40,380 --> 00:30:42,840 I hope this jack's got enough jam 671 00:30:42,841 --> 00:30:45,552 to lift her when she's full of water. 672 00:30:51,183 --> 00:30:52,434 Come on. 673 00:30:54,686 --> 00:30:56,353 It's thousands and thousands of pounds. 674 00:30:56,354 --> 00:30:57,646 I did that test on purpose. 675 00:30:57,647 --> 00:30:59,399 Tough. Hard. What can it handle? 676 00:31:00,859 --> 00:31:02,985 Aw, gee, and that tire was almost brand-new, too. 677 00:31:04,404 --> 00:31:07,449 I think I got everything I could outta that guy. 678 00:31:14,498 --> 00:31:18,000 So, now I am ready to go. 679 00:31:18,001 --> 00:31:19,753 At a moment's notice. 680 00:31:22,798 --> 00:31:26,550 Now let's see if we can get this old girl 681 00:31:26,551 --> 00:31:28,135 to pull her into the bush. 682 00:31:33,558 --> 00:31:36,686 I want to know that this thing'll work off the roads. 683 00:31:38,355 --> 00:31:40,189 The Unimog was engineered 684 00:31:40,190 --> 00:31:42,608 for terrain that defeats everything else... 685 00:31:42,609 --> 00:31:44,193 This thing's awesome! 686 00:31:45,445 --> 00:31:46,737 ...with axles 687 00:31:46,738 --> 00:31:48,364 that give it extreme ground clearance, 688 00:31:48,365 --> 00:31:51,158 locking differentials that maximize traction, 689 00:31:51,159 --> 00:31:54,746 and a frame built to flex over anything in its path... 690 00:31:55,914 --> 00:31:58,958 Now we'll shift her into four-wheel drive, 691 00:31:58,959 --> 00:32:01,002 and we'll gear down, because this is gonna be rough. 692 00:32:02,629 --> 00:32:03,712 ...but there's no way to tell 693 00:32:03,713 --> 00:32:06,549 if it can handle more than 6,000 pounds 694 00:32:06,550 --> 00:32:08,717 and get deep enough into the backcountry 695 00:32:08,718 --> 00:32:09,885 to fight fire 696 00:32:09,886 --> 00:32:11,513 until it's pushed to its limits. 697 00:32:14,141 --> 00:32:17,894 What we can't get around, we'll go over. 698 00:32:20,564 --> 00:32:22,858 We're not going to break any speed limits. 699 00:32:25,235 --> 00:32:26,819 Ooh. 700 00:32:26,820 --> 00:32:29,156 I'd say this is a good spot. 701 00:32:33,201 --> 00:32:34,702 Totes look good. 702 00:32:34,703 --> 00:32:37,454 Right full. Nobody's moved. 703 00:32:37,455 --> 00:32:39,874 Yeah, it can handle a bit of rough use. 704 00:32:39,875 --> 00:32:43,712 The Unimog obviously has got the gumption to do this job. 705 00:32:49,759 --> 00:32:51,969 Ah, excellent. 706 00:32:51,970 --> 00:32:54,139 Whoo! 707 00:32:57,601 --> 00:32:59,059 Oh, right on. 708 00:32:59,060 --> 00:33:02,396 Take that, you freaking fire. 709 00:33:02,397 --> 00:33:06,233 Oh, man, just happier than [bleep]. 710 00:33:06,234 --> 00:33:08,153 This is way better than I even thought. 711 00:33:09,029 --> 00:33:10,404 I'm feeling great. 712 00:33:10,405 --> 00:33:11,572 It works perfectly. 713 00:33:11,573 --> 00:33:13,324 It's exactly what I want. 714 00:33:13,325 --> 00:33:14,700 It's exactly what I need. 715 00:33:16,745 --> 00:33:19,330 [bleep] love it. 716 00:33:19,331 --> 00:33:21,165 This is just another problem to solve, 717 00:33:21,166 --> 00:33:23,292 another part of the life off grid. 718 00:33:23,293 --> 00:33:25,002 Do you wait for somebody else to come and fix it? 719 00:33:25,003 --> 00:33:27,796 No, you do it yourself, and you figure out a way. 720 00:33:27,797 --> 00:33:28,757 There's always a way. 721 00:33:41,937 --> 00:33:45,272 100 miles away, back at Rob's homestead... 722 00:33:45,273 --> 00:33:47,066 I got some of Grandma's old stuff here. 723 00:33:47,067 --> 00:33:49,777 ...the oldest lessons are kept alive 724 00:33:49,778 --> 00:33:52,112 in the hands that pass them down... 725 00:33:52,113 --> 00:33:53,113 Stuff she made, 726 00:33:53,114 --> 00:33:54,448 and this stuff that's in this bag 727 00:33:54,449 --> 00:33:56,075 is 40 to 50 years old. 728 00:33:56,076 --> 00:33:57,534 ...and today, 729 00:33:57,535 --> 00:34:00,287 his daughter Apryl is getting a front-row seat 730 00:34:00,288 --> 00:34:02,873 to a family tradition. 731 00:34:02,874 --> 00:34:04,875 Here's some of her mukluks she used to make. 732 00:34:04,876 --> 00:34:07,294 I remember like, a lot when I was younger, 733 00:34:07,295 --> 00:34:09,463 being at Grandma's house quite a bit. 734 00:34:09,464 --> 00:34:10,923 Yeah, she made all kinds of stuff, 735 00:34:10,924 --> 00:34:13,050 and I remember as a young kid there 736 00:34:13,051 --> 00:34:14,760 hanging out with Grandma, 737 00:34:14,761 --> 00:34:17,553 and she was always sewing and making this stuff, 738 00:34:17,554 --> 00:34:19,390 and I'd help her quite a bit. 739 00:34:19,391 --> 00:34:20,975 Look at some of her bead work she used to do, 740 00:34:20,976 --> 00:34:22,725 pretty good at it. 741 00:34:22,726 --> 00:34:24,271 Yeah, it's really beautiful. 742 00:34:25,272 --> 00:34:28,148 I find it very inspirational that my great-grandma did this 743 00:34:28,149 --> 00:34:30,192 without even using a machine. 744 00:34:30,193 --> 00:34:31,986 I mean, she did this with all her hands. 745 00:34:31,987 --> 00:34:33,904 And then here's the pair of mitts 746 00:34:33,905 --> 00:34:35,906 that she made for Grandpa many years ago. 747 00:34:35,907 --> 00:34:38,492 Probably these are 40 years old. 748 00:34:38,493 --> 00:34:40,910 It's just crazy how long they lasted. 749 00:34:40,911 --> 00:34:42,913 So, yeah, we're gonna recreate these, 750 00:34:42,914 --> 00:34:44,958 but with my own patterns. 751 00:34:46,918 --> 00:34:48,627 So, we got a good pile of pelts here 752 00:34:48,628 --> 00:34:49,670 to choose from. 753 00:34:51,630 --> 00:34:53,381 Did you catch these all yourself? 754 00:34:53,382 --> 00:34:54,384 Yep, every one of 'em 755 00:34:54,551 --> 00:34:55,384 came out here from the trap line. 756 00:34:55,385 --> 00:34:57,636 So, we need two pelts. 757 00:34:57,637 --> 00:35:00,265 We need one for the mitts and one for the liners. 758 00:35:02,058 --> 00:35:04,643 So, this one, see up here, it's got a little bit of damage, 759 00:35:04,644 --> 00:35:07,021 so this guy here 760 00:35:07,022 --> 00:35:10,441 would be a good one to use for the liners. 761 00:35:10,442 --> 00:35:12,402 Here's his back material. 762 00:35:15,447 --> 00:35:17,406 We want to try and use as much of this back material 763 00:35:17,407 --> 00:35:19,366 on each mitt. 764 00:35:19,367 --> 00:35:21,619 We don't want to have one mitt here 765 00:35:21,620 --> 00:35:23,704 that's got a bunch of the back material 766 00:35:23,705 --> 00:35:25,122 and some of the belly material. 767 00:35:25,123 --> 00:35:27,416 We want to keep it even and equal 768 00:35:27,417 --> 00:35:30,711 so they look exactly the same. 769 00:35:30,712 --> 00:35:32,088 So, here's our pattern that we're using. 770 00:35:34,299 --> 00:35:35,716 So, I'll cut this first one out. 771 00:35:35,717 --> 00:35:38,052 We gotta hold the material up, 772 00:35:38,053 --> 00:35:39,511 'cause we don't want to cut the hairs. 773 00:35:39,512 --> 00:35:41,348 We only want to cut the leather. 774 00:35:43,516 --> 00:35:45,976 Precision at this stage is everything. 775 00:35:45,977 --> 00:35:47,436 There's our first piece. 776 00:35:47,437 --> 00:35:49,605 One wrong cut, 777 00:35:49,606 --> 00:35:51,940 and every hour Rob has put into this single hide 778 00:35:51,941 --> 00:35:53,902 could be wasted. 779 00:36:00,283 --> 00:36:02,534 Okay. 780 00:36:02,535 --> 00:36:06,330 So, I'm going to let you take the lead on here. 781 00:36:06,331 --> 00:36:07,831 Make sure we're not cutting on this pattern. 782 00:36:07,832 --> 00:36:08,832 Yeah, I know. 783 00:36:08,833 --> 00:36:10,752 Make sure you're cutting that one. 784 00:36:13,880 --> 00:36:15,131 Hold your knife as straight as you can. 785 00:36:16,508 --> 00:36:18,008 So, you have to keep the knife straight. 786 00:36:18,009 --> 00:36:19,218 You can't turn it, 787 00:36:19,219 --> 00:36:22,347 otherwise it'll leave an edge to the hide. 788 00:36:23,348 --> 00:36:24,766 Yeah, that looks good. 789 00:36:27,435 --> 00:36:29,938 Okay. All of our pieces to our puzzle. 790 00:36:31,690 --> 00:36:32,607 We're ready for sewing. 791 00:36:34,025 --> 00:36:35,902 So, yeah, slide over here, Apryl. 792 00:36:39,030 --> 00:36:42,325 Here is my pride and joy. 793 00:36:43,535 --> 00:36:44,368 A favorite of furriers 794 00:36:44,369 --> 00:36:46,787 throughout the 20th century, 795 00:36:46,788 --> 00:36:50,458 the Bonis B model can puncture the heaviest of furs. 796 00:36:51,710 --> 00:36:54,837 Now discontinued, Rob's machine is a collector's item, 797 00:36:54,838 --> 00:36:57,464 but still packs plenty of power. 798 00:36:57,465 --> 00:36:58,841 Pretty cool. 799 00:36:58,842 --> 00:36:59,883 So, as we're sewing, 800 00:36:59,884 --> 00:37:02,261 this machine goes very, very fast, 801 00:37:02,262 --> 00:37:04,555 so you kinda gotta control your foot. 802 00:37:04,556 --> 00:37:06,098 Under here's your power switch. 803 00:37:08,101 --> 00:37:10,018 Open the wheels, in it goes, 804 00:37:10,019 --> 00:37:12,396 and then slowly... 805 00:37:12,397 --> 00:37:13,940 away we go. 806 00:37:15,108 --> 00:37:17,818 Sewing this beaver together, it's nothing for this machine. 807 00:37:17,819 --> 00:37:19,362 It punches through like nothing. 808 00:37:21,948 --> 00:37:23,699 Damn, this thing's pretty old, 809 00:37:23,700 --> 00:37:24,659 but it works pretty well. 810 00:37:26,578 --> 00:37:28,370 Done... 811 00:37:28,371 --> 00:37:30,582 mitten number one. Nice size on it, too. 812 00:37:32,834 --> 00:37:34,168 Your turn. You're next. 813 00:37:34,169 --> 00:37:35,878 Pretty excited. 814 00:37:35,879 --> 00:37:36,629 Good. 815 00:37:38,423 --> 00:37:39,591 Now, slow and steady. 816 00:37:41,801 --> 00:37:43,470 That was not slow and steady. 817 00:37:46,431 --> 00:37:47,848 Okay, good. 818 00:37:50,351 --> 00:37:51,518 It went too fast. 819 00:37:51,519 --> 00:37:52,519 Okay, what did I do? 820 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:53,646 You broke the needle. 821 00:37:59,778 --> 00:38:02,529 Back in Rob's workshop... 822 00:38:02,530 --> 00:38:05,365 It went too fast, you broke the needle. 823 00:38:05,366 --> 00:38:09,119 ...some lessons are harder to learn than others. 824 00:38:09,120 --> 00:38:10,162 I'm just learning 825 00:38:10,163 --> 00:38:11,663 that it's a thing that you can't rush. 826 00:38:11,664 --> 00:38:13,248 You have to take it pretty slow. 827 00:38:13,249 --> 00:38:15,417 Okay. So, I guess, well, we broke a needle. 828 00:38:15,418 --> 00:38:18,295 Needles that fit the antique machine are rare, 829 00:38:18,296 --> 00:38:21,381 and replacements aren't easy to come by... 830 00:38:21,382 --> 00:38:23,635 These needles could be a hundred years old. 831 00:38:25,637 --> 00:38:27,596 ...but luckily, Rob's prepared, 832 00:38:27,597 --> 00:38:29,431 so they can give it one more try. 833 00:38:29,432 --> 00:38:31,558 So, we got a needle. 834 00:38:31,559 --> 00:38:34,520 Here, take it and hold it with my tweezers. 835 00:38:34,521 --> 00:38:36,314 Tighten the needle in place. 836 00:38:37,649 --> 00:38:39,150 Okay, switch again. 837 00:38:45,281 --> 00:38:46,323 Once you've used it a little bit, 838 00:38:46,324 --> 00:38:48,158 it gets pretty easy, hey? 839 00:38:48,159 --> 00:38:50,369 Yeah, I'm starting to get the hang of it. 840 00:38:50,370 --> 00:38:51,204 That's good. 841 00:38:52,330 --> 00:38:55,874 Last stitch. Boom. 842 00:38:55,875 --> 00:38:57,918 Boom shakalaka. 843 00:38:57,919 --> 00:39:00,379 With the mittens taking shape, 844 00:39:00,380 --> 00:39:02,047 one final step remains... 845 00:39:03,675 --> 00:39:06,802 ...sewing in the liners cut from another beaver hide 846 00:39:06,803 --> 00:39:09,638 and sheared down to a thin, soft layer. 847 00:39:09,639 --> 00:39:11,807 We're taking all the long guard hair off. 848 00:39:11,808 --> 00:39:13,726 We're just left with the underwool... 849 00:39:15,019 --> 00:39:17,312 ...and the underwool is very dense and very warm. 850 00:39:17,313 --> 00:39:18,356 Yeah. 851 00:39:23,027 --> 00:39:25,654 Let's throw this liner into this mitt 852 00:39:25,655 --> 00:39:27,448 and see how it's all coming together. 853 00:39:28,157 --> 00:39:30,785 Nice. Good job, Apryl. 854 00:39:31,870 --> 00:39:33,830 That looks really good. 855 00:39:36,374 --> 00:39:38,293 Made some pretty cool mitts, and I'm just really happy. 856 00:39:39,544 --> 00:39:42,921 It's really awesome to experience this. 857 00:39:42,922 --> 00:39:46,049 I feel more in touch with my heritage 858 00:39:46,050 --> 00:39:48,176 and with my great-grandma. 859 00:39:48,177 --> 00:39:50,679 Wonder how they'll do in the cold. 860 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:52,264 Let's go outside and try 'em out. 861 00:39:52,265 --> 00:39:55,350 - Yeah. - Okay. 862 00:39:55,351 --> 00:39:56,977 Well, if Grandma was watching right now, 863 00:39:56,978 --> 00:39:59,022 I'm sure she'd be tickled pink. 864 00:40:00,940 --> 00:40:03,942 It means a lot to pass these skills on down to Apryl, 865 00:40:03,943 --> 00:40:05,903 because if I don't, 866 00:40:05,904 --> 00:40:09,698 I don't know who would. 867 00:40:09,699 --> 00:40:11,783 I hope to keep doing this with my dad 868 00:40:11,784 --> 00:40:14,244 and keep this tradition alive. 869 00:40:14,245 --> 00:40:15,787 It is a privilege to know about this 870 00:40:15,788 --> 00:40:17,664 and to be able to do it, 871 00:40:17,665 --> 00:40:19,959 especially to do it with my dad. 872 00:40:32,639 --> 00:40:34,806 As the sun sets over the Pasquia Hills, 873 00:40:34,807 --> 00:40:38,810 the Simoneaus are preparing for a hard-won feast. 874 00:40:38,811 --> 00:40:39,686 I think I'm ready. 875 00:40:39,687 --> 00:40:42,315 Here's the big test. 876 00:40:48,863 --> 00:40:49,947 Well? 877 00:40:49,948 --> 00:40:51,740 Mm, that's good. 878 00:40:51,741 --> 00:40:53,116 Doesn't get any better. 879 00:40:53,117 --> 00:40:54,786 That's pretty... - Cooked perfect. 880 00:40:56,663 --> 00:40:57,955 Worked out pretty good. 881 00:40:57,956 --> 00:41:01,166 You got to come and hunt with your brother, 882 00:41:01,167 --> 00:41:03,543 and you guys got your bear. 883 00:41:03,544 --> 00:41:05,796 Yeah. It's been a long time. 884 00:41:05,797 --> 00:41:06,797 I don't know how many times 885 00:41:06,798 --> 00:41:08,674 you've called me to come hunting bear 886 00:41:08,675 --> 00:41:10,051 and I just haven't had the time. 887 00:41:12,512 --> 00:41:13,929 What I learned this trip 888 00:41:13,930 --> 00:41:16,390 is it's important to take the time out, 889 00:41:16,391 --> 00:41:18,767 to pause and come back to where you were from, 890 00:41:18,768 --> 00:41:20,018 spend time with family, 891 00:41:20,019 --> 00:41:22,938 connected to nature, back to your roots. 892 00:41:22,939 --> 00:41:25,315 I mean, that's what really matters at the end of the day. 893 00:41:25,316 --> 00:41:27,943 Getting away, sitting with my brother, 894 00:41:27,944 --> 00:41:29,903 and, you know, I leave with what I came for. 895 00:41:29,904 --> 00:41:31,405 Yeah. 896 00:41:31,406 --> 00:41:33,824 It is nice to get out in the bush with my sister. 897 00:41:33,825 --> 00:41:35,659 It's nostalgic. 898 00:41:35,660 --> 00:41:38,954 Nature has a way of keeping you coming back, 899 00:41:38,955 --> 00:41:41,456 and Alicia says this could be her last bear, 900 00:41:41,457 --> 00:41:43,542 but I know there's still something out there 901 00:41:43,543 --> 00:41:44,793 she's looking for, 902 00:41:44,794 --> 00:41:46,128 and I know the power of bear. 903 00:41:46,129 --> 00:41:47,295 They'll call you back. 904 00:41:47,296 --> 00:41:49,339 This tastes pretty good. 905 00:41:49,340 --> 00:41:50,424 Best steak I ever had. 906 00:41:52,802 --> 00:41:54,178 Yeah. 907 00:41:56,681 --> 00:42:00,350 Next time on Mountain Men, Wild North... 908 00:42:02,103 --> 00:42:03,229 Woo-hoo! 909 00:42:04,439 --> 00:42:05,731 We're fishing, Cor. 910 00:42:11,779 --> 00:42:13,114 Come on! 911 00:42:15,074 --> 00:42:16,283 This hill has a lot of snow. 912 00:42:16,284 --> 00:42:17,993 Yep. Yep. 913 00:42:17,994 --> 00:42:18,994 Yep. 914 00:42:22,081 --> 00:42:22,998 Not sure what's giving us... 915 00:42:22,999 --> 00:42:23,875 Ow, ow, ow! 916 00:42:25,376 --> 00:42:27,002 Holy! 917 00:42:27,003 --> 00:42:28,045 We can't go around these puddles. 918 00:42:28,046 --> 00:42:29,130 We gotta go through 'em. 919 00:42:31,424 --> 00:42:33,383 Going through some really deep stuff. 920 00:42:33,384 --> 00:42:35,510 Yep, yep, hup, hup, hup. 921 00:42:35,511 --> 00:42:36,888 I'm not sure if we're gonna make it.