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♪ ♪
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CHRIS: I'd like to
check a few different
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beaver dens today.
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This one's always been
good to us in the past.
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Oh, yeah.
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There's the den
from last year.
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But, no beaver sign.
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JESSI: There's no
feed pile over there.
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CHRIS: Yeah, that's
really strange that
there's no feed pile.
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Normally, it's just a
bunch of twigs sticking
out of the ground.
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Let's keep cruising.
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Let's see if we
can get any more signing
before the sun sets.
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We got just a
little bit longer.
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JESSI: All right.
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CHRIS: So, the logical
choice is these beavers
moved into the river.
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Lakes are a lot
safer to trap in,
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mostly because
there's no moving water.
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At least in a lake,
if you fall through.
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JESSI: Ah!
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CHRIS: Whoa! I'm here. I'm here!
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You just hold still and hope
to bob right back up the same
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hole you went in.
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In a river,
if you go through,
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the current will catch
you and take you down.
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That's it.
You're not coming back up.
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Best-case scenario
is death quick.
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Worst-case scenario
is starving to death,
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and I don't want
to starve to death.
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CHRIS: Hey,
check it out, Jess.
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Getting some beaver
sign in here.
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JESSI: Some over there.
CHRIS: All right.
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JESSI: Here a beaver,
there a beaver,
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everywhere a beav-beav!
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CHRIS: If we can
find this den,
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that'll be really awesome.
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That's gonna be a
good source of meat.
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Let's keep cruising.
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It looks like the
river's right here.
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Then let's walk down and see
if we can see any of the dens.
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JESSI: Let's go.
I'll follow you.
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CHRIS: Looks like
I can get down here.
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I'm gonna try to work my
way down and see if I can
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spot any signs of
beaver down there.
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JESSI: Okay.
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CHRIS: I'll let you
know what it looks like.
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JESSI: I'll be here.
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CHRIS: Oh, this
is gonna be steep.
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(bleep).
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Get my axe over here.
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JESSI: Whew!
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CHRIS: That worked out well.
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What we've learned about
living out at the Cosna is
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it's really hard to
get big game out here.
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We're just coming
into beaver season.
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We gotta get back up and
start trapping right away.
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I'm just trying to get
down to this next level okay.
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I'm gonna check out
the riverbank here.
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Oh man, it is slick.
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Sounds hollow down here.
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I think we're working
with some shelf ice.
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I gotta be real careful.
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One of the most
dangerous things on the
river is the shelf ice.
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It'll be just
a couple inches of ice with
insulating snow on top.
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And when you fall
through that,
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it's just open water
underneath with swift current.
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So you gotta watch out.
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JESSI: Watch your footing.
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You never know when you're
going to fall in somewhere.
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CHRIS: Yeah, right by this
hole here is really tilted.
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Oh yeah!
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Looks like it might be the
entrance down here, Jess.
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That's where I think
they're going in.
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JESSI: All right.
Well, I mean.
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We got a spot, right?
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CHRIS: Yeah.
I don't feel as safe.
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I don't know river
trapping as much.
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JESSI: Hands down, we gotta
set some snares for winter.
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You know what I mean?
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CHRIS: Yeah.
I'm gonna come back up.
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JESSI: Okay.
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MICHAEL:
Being self-reliant out here,
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you gotta be mindful of
what you're spending money on.
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You gotta be super frugal.
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You'll never see anything
I use that's frivolous
in any nature.
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Everything is very
utilitarian out here.
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(engine starts)
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MICHAEL: Not bad for 500 bucks.
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Recently, I sold my fat tire
bike for about $800,
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and I had no early season
training device for the dogs.
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And I can't really afford
an ATV or a side-by-side.
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And poverty breeds ingenuity.
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I bought this hooptie
for 500 bucks.
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This little tiny four-wheel
drive may look like something
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that your sister
or your little baby brother
would take to college,
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but I'll tell you what.
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This thing's a
straight up sleeper.
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And so this little
tiny four-wheel drive,
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I am gonna convert this into
a lawn and garden tractor.
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And I am also going to use
it to train my dog team
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while I wait for the
snowpack to increase.
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Winter is here and the
dogs are all excited.
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They kinda sit and take it
easy through the summer,
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but they actually
do need to start
working early in the season,
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that way they're
ready for expeditions
and winter caribou hunts.
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And so just like any athlete,
you have to train.
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Get those
muscles conditioned,
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get those
tendons tightened up.
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Yeah. There we go! There we go!
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A dog sled flexing over
roots in low snow conditions,
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it's excessive wear on the
sled for no good reason.
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So, while I wait for the
snowpack to get proper,
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I can use this on my
local trails and roads,
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and all I gotta do is
modify it just a wee bit.
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All right.
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So the idea that I come up
with is that I'm gonna cut the
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entire top of the
vehicle off to about this
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point right here.
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That way, there I have a
little cab over my head.
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And I'm going to leave
all the structure in here,
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all the side structure.
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And so it'll be just kinda
like a utility rack integrally
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built into the vehicle.
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I'm also gonna yank
the seat out of it and
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all the interior.
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It's going from SUV to mini
truck with a utility rack.
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And that starts now.
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I have high hopes
for this thing.
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I think it's gonna be a very
cheap but very important piece
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of equipment here
at base camp.
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I really enjoy being
frugal like my parents
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taught me to be.
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To be able to take something
that is essentially trash,
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that I can turn into
a very useful tool.
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This little thing,
at 500 bucks,
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it could catch on fire
tomorrow and I really wouldn't
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care all that much.
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Whereas if you had a
$9,000-$10,000 side by side,
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the continued payments on
that, it won't go away.
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And so you gotta be frugal
and be mindful about what I'm
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spending money on out here.
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And that's the only
way to survive.
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Won't be needing these.
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All right.
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That should be the last of it.
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Look at this truck bed space!
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I could stack
firewood way up here,
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just great big towering piles
of firewood weaving in and out
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of the woods with this
thing on my property because
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it's so tiny.
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And then this got cut off and
just turned into a tailgate.
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So, a cheap-o SUV
has now become a lawn
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and garden tractor.
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It can haul firewood
and train dog teams.
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Work's done.
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I'm gonna go grab some dogs
and test this beast out.
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ALEX: I don't have
a lot of money,
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but the land around
me is my wealth.
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You know, in the same
way a person takes care
of their bank account,
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I have to take care
of my bank account.
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I think it's just that simple.
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(chopping)
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ALEX: Every time I
cut down a tree here,
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I get more firewood, but if
I leave all these branches,
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it's just more fuel on the
ground for a forest fire.
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So, I gotta clean
it up every time.
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And keep creating big brush
piles, and then I'll burn 'em.
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The works never done,
but that's good,
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because I like doing the work.
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It's not really
a question of if,
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but it's just a
question of when.
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The greatest threat that
I face is not bears,
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not the cold either.
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It's actually a forest fire.
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Less than ten years ago,
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there was a huge forest fire
that destroyed many thousands
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of acres just about
a mile from here.
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And firefighters
were able to stop it.
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It would be almost impossible
for them to save my place,
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because there's all this
brush and stuff all over
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the ground surrounding it.
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So, a few months ago
before the ground froze,
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I dug a big hole right here,
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and then I covered
it with plywood.
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If I don't take care of this,
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all of this fuel
around my cabin,
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it could be the difference
between losing my home
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or saving my home.
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So, in order to protect
my property and my life,
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I have to literally
fight fire with fire.
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Okay, so this is
my big burn pit.
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What I'm gonna need to do
is collect all of my fuel,
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you know, just lots
of brush like this.
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I'll pile it all right here.
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Then I'll get my fire going,
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and then I just gotta
keep feeding it in.
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It's gonna be a lot of work.
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Once I get it built up,
it's gonna be a lot of fun.
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So, I'm going to get started.
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The biggest fuel loads around
my cabin are actually some
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brush piles that I've made.
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And these are basically
just like giant bombs.
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If it catches these on fire,
it's just gonna be a huge,
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you know, tower of fire that
will burn extremely hot.
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It'd be really irresponsible
of me to just sit here and
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keep my fingers
crossed that a forest fire
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doesn't come through.
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So, this is bush
style adulting.
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If I make a mess,
I gotta clean it up.
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But yeah, it's a lot of work.
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But it's the kinda
work I like to do.
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I like, I work,
I like working with my body.
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There's not really any
jobs left that are, like,
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just doing physical
work, you know.
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Everything's some big machine.
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Sitting around on your butt.
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So, I still got
more to do here.
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This is one pile.
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I got three more.
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There's a lot more to
collect, so I'll keep at it.
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JOHNNY: You know, with beauty,
comes the beast.
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With the beauty of
the landscape, the snow,
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the ice crystals
forming on everything,
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comes the cold
and bitter chills.
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So, yeah, it's a very
extreme place to live in.
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JOHNNY: It's a
brisk one today.
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It's a very primal
existence out here.
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I do as much
foraging, gathering,
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and hunting as I can.
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I have to constantly be
chopping firewood and I have
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to haul water from the lake.
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I don't have running water,
but I have walking water.
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A lot of people say, "How do
you keep up with all those
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challenges in one day?"
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But I welcome them.
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To me, it's more of
an inspiration than
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it is challenge.
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Can't always expect nature
to provide everything I
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want when I want it.
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It's not that
convenient out here.
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Last thing I need to do is
work up a sweat out here.
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And nature decides
when I get what I want.
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It's close to negative 20
down here in the lake.
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So, I'm chopping a hole
in the ice to fill up
244
00:11:33,593 --> 00:11:36,227
my water bucket.
245
00:11:36,263 --> 00:11:38,363
It's something you
gotta do every day.
246
00:11:38,398 --> 00:11:40,532
Chop through the
new formed ice.
247
00:11:40,567 --> 00:11:42,701
Lakes make a lot of noise.
248
00:11:42,736 --> 00:11:44,803
It sounds like
thunder cracking.
249
00:11:44,838 --> 00:11:47,639
It's almost like you're
sitting above a bowling alley.
250
00:11:50,377 --> 00:11:56,014
(ice cracking and shifting)
251
00:11:56,049 --> 00:11:59,751
You could feel that ice
shift right underneath me.
252
00:11:59,953 --> 00:12:01,686
You just hear it
shoot across the lake.
253
00:12:01,722 --> 00:12:02,921
Crack under your feet.
254
00:12:02,956 --> 00:12:05,323
And it kinda went right through
my water hole right here.
255
00:12:05,358 --> 00:12:09,894
(ice cracking and shifting)
256
00:12:20,273 --> 00:12:21,339
JOHNNY: (bleep).
257
00:12:21,374 --> 00:12:22,941
You can hear the ice settling.
258
00:12:22,976 --> 00:12:25,343
So, the water freezes
underneath and the ice falls
259
00:12:25,378 --> 00:12:28,446
down to that new water level.
260
00:12:32,452 --> 00:12:33,952
It's safe.
261
00:12:33,987 --> 00:12:35,787
I'm not, I'm not scared
of death out here.
262
00:12:35,822 --> 00:12:37,055
I'm not scared of danger.
263
00:12:37,090 --> 00:12:39,424
And if I was,
I don't belong out here.
264
00:12:42,496 --> 00:12:43,928
Ice is getting pretty thick.
265
00:12:43,964 --> 00:12:46,865
It's hard to get a clean
hole and just chop it with
266
00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:50,368
the axe without
getting too wet.
267
00:12:50,403 --> 00:12:51,970
And the bucket,
I can't really fit in that
268
00:12:52,005 --> 00:12:53,505
little hole anymore.
269
00:12:53,540 --> 00:12:54,773
As I get closer to winter,
270
00:12:54,808 --> 00:12:57,776
I'm learning
how prepared I am.
271
00:12:57,811 --> 00:12:58,843
You know, in some areas,
272
00:12:58,879 --> 00:13:00,812
I think I'm more
prepared than others.
273
00:13:00,847 --> 00:13:03,314
But as the
challenges face me,
274
00:13:03,350 --> 00:13:05,383
I have to adapt quickly.
275
00:13:05,418 --> 00:13:07,919
It's all about
adaptation out here.
276
00:13:09,556 --> 00:13:10,622
Today, I'm gonna
make an upgrade.
277
00:13:10,657 --> 00:13:13,024
The ice is getting thick
enough to where I need to
278
00:13:13,059 --> 00:13:15,393
upgrade with some new tools.
279
00:13:16,163 --> 00:13:21,432
I'm gonna make an ice
chisel and some ice cleats
for my boots because it's,
280
00:13:21,468 --> 00:13:25,170
it gets slippery out here,
walking around on the ice.
281
00:13:26,439 --> 00:13:29,307
Pretty soon, I'm gonna
get a lot of snow,
282
00:13:29,342 --> 00:13:31,176
so I'm gonna make
a snow shovel.
283
00:13:31,211 --> 00:13:34,345
Might even make a little ice
scooper to get the ice out,
284
00:13:34,815 --> 00:13:36,047
so I don't have to
keep putting gloves on and
285
00:13:36,082 --> 00:13:37,348
stick my hands in the water.
286
00:13:37,384 --> 00:13:40,485
You know, the cold penetrates
those gloves pretty easily.
287
00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,688
There's not a
hardware store I can
just pop into and buy this.
288
00:13:43,723 --> 00:13:46,157
I'm 200 miles away from
the nearest town and I
289
00:13:46,193 --> 00:13:48,092
gotta make it myself.
290
00:13:48,428 --> 00:13:49,494
Running around in the woods,
291
00:13:49,529 --> 00:13:51,930
I can find
some resources to use.
292
00:13:51,965 --> 00:13:54,465
It shouldn't be a problem
to make some tools.
293
00:13:54,935 --> 00:13:57,068
Seasons change and
they change fast.
294
00:13:57,103 --> 00:13:58,636
It's not a gradual change.
295
00:13:58,672 --> 00:14:00,605
It happens almost overnight.
296
00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:02,740
So being prepared,
having the right tools,
297
00:14:02,776 --> 00:14:06,311
is the key to
success out here.
298
00:14:15,789 --> 00:14:17,722
ALEX: For me, using my
body isn't hard work.
299
00:14:17,757 --> 00:14:19,858
It's just what
I do, it's life.
300
00:14:19,893 --> 00:14:21,593
Sitting inside an office,
sitting in front of a
301
00:14:21,628 --> 00:14:24,696
computer, and doing
paperwork, that's hard work.
302
00:14:24,731 --> 00:14:25,997
I hate to do it.
303
00:14:26,032 --> 00:14:27,365
It feels terrible to do it.
304
00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:28,533
Everything in my body says,
305
00:14:28,568 --> 00:14:30,768
"No, no, no.
Don't do this."
306
00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:41,179
ALEX: I've been doing
a lot of work to clear all the
307
00:14:41,214 --> 00:14:42,647
land around my cabin.
308
00:14:42,682 --> 00:14:44,782
But now this tree is
just sitting here.
309
00:14:44,818 --> 00:14:46,718
I'll cut it up and
turn it into firewood.
310
00:14:46,753 --> 00:14:48,553
But all these branches,
that's not good firewood.
311
00:14:48,588 --> 00:14:50,588
So, what I, what I'll do is
just cut these branches off
312
00:14:50,624 --> 00:14:52,724
and I can add them
to my big burn pit.
313
00:14:57,597 --> 00:15:00,465
If all I do is respond
to immediate needs,
314
00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:02,700
just like things that are
right in front of my face,
315
00:15:02,736 --> 00:15:04,202
obvious dangers.
316
00:15:04,237 --> 00:15:06,371
Well then, I'm just
barely surviving.
317
00:15:06,406 --> 00:15:10,008
If I'm predicting things that
could happen and I mitigate
318
00:15:10,043 --> 00:15:12,510
them now, then I'm thriving.
319
00:15:12,545 --> 00:15:15,313
Then I'm a real
bush man genius, so.
320
00:15:20,620 --> 00:15:22,954
I gotta think ahead.
321
00:15:25,525 --> 00:15:27,859
It would be a real shame if I
struggle an entire winter and
322
00:15:27,894 --> 00:15:30,628
then a forest fire destroys
my entire home in the summer.
323
00:15:32,198 --> 00:15:33,965
So that's a pretty
good wood pile.
324
00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,035
I think I'll burn it.
325
00:15:40,106 --> 00:15:42,807
The way I build a fire is
just kinda Lincoln Logs,
326
00:15:44,077 --> 00:15:46,377
stack them up like this, it's
just kind of with air flowing
327
00:15:46,813 --> 00:15:48,379
in there decently.
328
00:15:48,415 --> 00:15:49,714
You know, I'm playing
with fire here.
329
00:15:49,749 --> 00:15:52,317
I'm playing with
extremely high heat.
330
00:15:55,055 --> 00:15:56,888
So, one of the major things
that I just gotta be careful
331
00:15:56,923 --> 00:15:58,256
of while I'm doing this is,
332
00:15:58,291 --> 00:16:00,391
I'm gonna be standing
near the fire throwing
333
00:16:00,427 --> 00:16:02,660
additional pieces of wood in.
334
00:16:02,696 --> 00:16:05,463
I just gotta be careful not
to fall in and burn myself,
335
00:16:05,498 --> 00:16:07,098
melt any of my clothing.
336
00:16:07,133 --> 00:16:09,233
Because there is a
real danger here.
337
00:16:13,773 --> 00:16:15,173
The more stuff
I throw on top,
338
00:16:15,208 --> 00:16:17,408
the bigger it's gonna get.
339
00:16:23,083 --> 00:16:26,217
Most of this forest
is stuff that would be
340
00:16:26,252 --> 00:16:27,852
really hard to burn.
341
00:16:27,887 --> 00:16:29,387
It's not really flammable.
342
00:16:29,422 --> 00:16:31,589
It's got a lot of
moisture in it.
343
00:16:31,624 --> 00:16:34,192
But what happens in
a forest fire is,
344
00:16:34,227 --> 00:16:37,161
once the fire gets
so big and so hot,
345
00:16:37,197 --> 00:16:38,663
it'll just burn anything,
346
00:16:38,698 --> 00:16:41,499
because all that moisture
just vaporizes very quickly,
347
00:16:41,534 --> 00:16:44,869
turns the wood into dry wood,
and then it will burn.
348
00:16:44,904 --> 00:16:48,239
So that's the
same conditions I have to
create using my burn pit.
349
00:16:48,274 --> 00:16:52,877
Okay, okay, it's getting
kinda warm over here.
350
00:16:52,912 --> 00:16:54,312
Gonna take off my jacket.
351
00:16:54,347 --> 00:16:57,048
I don't really feel like
I'm in Alaska anymore.
352
00:16:57,083 --> 00:16:58,649
It's getting pretty warm.
353
00:16:58,685 --> 00:17:00,585
(flames blazing)
354
00:17:01,721 --> 00:17:03,388
(crackle and pop)
355
00:17:04,724 --> 00:17:07,091
So over here, it feels
like winter in Alaska,
356
00:17:07,127 --> 00:17:08,226
I get pretty cold.
357
00:17:08,261 --> 00:17:10,895
But then when I
come over here,
358
00:17:10,930 --> 00:17:13,131
it feels like a
sandstorm in Kuwait.
359
00:17:13,166 --> 00:17:15,466
Just like blowing
fumes of hot air.
360
00:17:15,502 --> 00:17:17,502
Oh my God.
361
00:17:20,907 --> 00:17:23,007
Oh, that is (bleep) hot.
362
00:17:24,577 --> 00:17:26,711
That is hot.
363
00:17:28,281 --> 00:17:30,314
Whew, the embers
are getting me.
364
00:17:30,350 --> 00:17:32,250
Whew!
365
00:17:32,285 --> 00:17:35,787
It's burning my skin.
366
00:17:40,727 --> 00:17:41,626
Whew.
367
00:17:41,661 --> 00:17:45,463
(bleep). Oh (bleep).
368
00:17:54,941 --> 00:17:56,741
ALEX: Oh (bleep).
369
00:17:58,945 --> 00:18:01,212
Make sure I'm not burning
my clothes over here.
370
00:18:03,049 --> 00:18:05,049
Not melted.
371
00:18:05,452 --> 00:18:06,851
This stump right
here is steaming,
372
00:18:06,886 --> 00:18:08,953
so I just moved my clothes
so they don't melt.
373
00:18:08,988 --> 00:18:10,922
It's too hot to stand
right here, really.
374
00:18:15,061 --> 00:18:19,664
Whew. That's it.
375
00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:22,467
That's all my wood.
376
00:18:22,502 --> 00:18:23,968
Eventually, the
middle will all burn,
377
00:18:24,003 --> 00:18:25,503
and then I can
shove the sides in.
378
00:18:25,538 --> 00:18:28,639
But for now, I can just
sit back and enjoy it.
379
00:18:30,777 --> 00:18:32,643
Took me a couple days
to gather all this wood.
380
00:18:32,679 --> 00:18:35,613
Now, I've basically burned
it off in just a matter of a
381
00:18:35,648 --> 00:18:37,348
couple of hours.
382
00:18:37,383 --> 00:18:40,518
Really makes me realize the
destructive power of a fire.
383
00:18:40,553 --> 00:18:43,488
It gives me life, and yet,
it can take away everything,
384
00:18:43,523 --> 00:18:45,356
too, in a moment.
385
00:18:45,391 --> 00:18:47,458
That's real power.
386
00:18:48,027 --> 00:18:49,961
I don't think I'm quite as
high as my cabin yet, but oh,
387
00:18:49,996 --> 00:18:52,363
it's pretty good.
388
00:18:52,398 --> 00:18:54,098
That's pretty tall.
389
00:18:54,134 --> 00:18:56,467
When I was younger, whenever
someone pressed me, you know,
390
00:18:56,503 --> 00:18:57,702
"What are you gonna
do with your life?"
391
00:18:57,737 --> 00:18:59,103
"Why don't you do
better in school?"
392
00:18:59,139 --> 00:19:00,738
I'd always tell them,
"I wanna be a caveman.
393
00:19:00,773 --> 00:19:02,507
I don't care about
any of that stuff."
394
00:19:02,542 --> 00:19:04,876
But I never really thought
that I was actually gonna
395
00:19:04,911 --> 00:19:07,445
grow up and kinda
become a caveman.
396
00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,781
And from here, I only wanna
become more of a caveman.
397
00:19:14,721 --> 00:19:16,154
Whew.
398
00:19:16,189 --> 00:19:18,489
Well, it's quitting
time for the day.
399
00:19:18,525 --> 00:19:20,258
I'm pretty exhausted.
400
00:19:20,293 --> 00:19:23,394
But there was a purpose,
and to be honest,
401
00:19:23,429 --> 00:19:24,962
even if there was
no purpose to this,
402
00:19:24,998 --> 00:19:27,865
I might have done it
anyway, because why not?
403
00:19:31,037 --> 00:19:34,472
When your work is also what
you might do for fun anyways,
404
00:19:34,507 --> 00:19:36,941
that's as good as
it gets, I think.
405
00:19:43,316 --> 00:19:44,882
JOHNNY: To know what
I need out here,
406
00:19:44,918 --> 00:19:47,952
I gotta spend time in nature.
407
00:19:47,987 --> 00:19:50,888
And ultimately, nature
tells me what I need.
408
00:19:52,058 --> 00:19:54,792
It's all about
banding with nature.
409
00:19:54,827 --> 00:19:56,727
It's being part of it.
410
00:19:58,364 --> 00:20:00,631
JOHNNY: First thing I'm
gonna make is an ice chisel.
411
00:20:00,667 --> 00:20:03,834
It's gonna be a chisel that
I can more efficiently chop a
412
00:20:03,870 --> 00:20:05,303
hole through the ice.
413
00:20:05,338 --> 00:20:07,071
To get water and, you know,
414
00:20:07,106 --> 00:20:10,074
even to go ice fishing
once it's time to do that.
415
00:20:17,550 --> 00:20:20,384
Well, it's frozen, so I
hope it will close tight.
416
00:20:20,954 --> 00:20:22,653
Probably not.
417
00:20:22,689 --> 00:20:24,889
We will figure it out.
418
00:20:25,191 --> 00:20:27,858
You know, to prepare for the
changing of seasons out here,
419
00:20:27,894 --> 00:20:29,193
you need to adapt.
420
00:20:29,229 --> 00:20:31,762
And to adapt for winter,
I need to make some tools.
421
00:20:31,798 --> 00:20:34,065
Simple tools that I
can kind of put up my
422
00:20:34,100 --> 00:20:36,167
own fight against nature.
423
00:20:36,202 --> 00:20:37,802
So, I need to make an
ice chisel to clear out an
424
00:20:37,837 --> 00:20:40,471
ice hole to get my water.
425
00:20:40,506 --> 00:20:42,506
I have an old chisel that
I'm gonna secure it down
426
00:20:42,542 --> 00:20:44,008
with some cordage.
427
00:20:44,310 --> 00:20:46,877
All right, one last
knot right here.
428
00:20:46,913 --> 00:20:49,780
Boom. I have my ice pick.
429
00:20:49,983 --> 00:20:50,948
Cool.
430
00:20:50,984 --> 00:20:53,084
Now I just gotta
give it a test run.
431
00:20:53,286 --> 00:20:56,120
Ice pick is an essential
tool in the Arctic.
432
00:20:56,856 --> 00:20:58,823
An axe, the
handle's too short.
433
00:20:58,858 --> 00:21:00,992
And eventually, this ice
will be several feet thick.
434
00:21:01,027 --> 00:21:02,693
I won't be able to chop
all the way down to get
435
00:21:02,729 --> 00:21:04,762
to the water.
436
00:21:04,797 --> 00:21:07,131
So the ice pick is a
super vital tool out here
437
00:21:07,166 --> 00:21:08,733
in the Arctic.
438
00:21:08,768 --> 00:21:09,867
Awesome.
439
00:21:09,902 --> 00:21:12,470
I think the next thing to
make is gonna be a scooper
440
00:21:12,505 --> 00:21:15,406
to scoop all of the ice
chunks out of the hole.
441
00:21:15,675 --> 00:21:18,009
And first thing I'll
need is a willow branch,
442
00:21:18,044 --> 00:21:20,111
because willow is
very malleable.
443
00:21:20,913 --> 00:21:23,114
So, that'll be
the choice wood.
444
00:21:23,149 --> 00:21:24,849
So, to make the ice scooper,
445
00:21:24,884 --> 00:21:26,250
I'm gonna use this willow,
446
00:21:26,286 --> 00:21:29,020
bottom of a kerosene can that
I have, and some cordage.
447
00:21:29,522 --> 00:21:31,555
It's pretty simple,
tie it all together,
448
00:21:31,591 --> 00:21:33,324
and that'll complete
the ice scooper.
449
00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:35,493
It'll filter out the water
and the ice when I try
450
00:21:35,528 --> 00:21:38,529
to clean out my ice hole.
451
00:21:39,198 --> 00:21:41,632
Don't be an ice hole, dude.
452
00:21:41,868 --> 00:21:44,502
Yeah, it's easy to
keep it simple out here
453
00:21:44,537 --> 00:21:46,704
with these tools.
454
00:21:46,939 --> 00:21:48,739
The simple items that I
find laying around and the
455
00:21:48,775 --> 00:21:50,875
natural resources around me,
456
00:21:50,910 --> 00:21:52,343
oh yeah,
we're getting somewhere with
457
00:21:52,378 --> 00:21:54,245
this bad boy.
458
00:21:54,614 --> 00:21:57,248
I can pretty much make
any tool that I need.
459
00:21:57,717 --> 00:21:58,716
Cool.
460
00:21:58,751 --> 00:21:59,850
Yeah, it's rustic looking.
461
00:21:59,886 --> 00:22:01,218
You know, it's got
a patina to it.
462
00:22:01,254 --> 00:22:03,421
But to me, you know,
that's beauty.
463
00:22:03,456 --> 00:22:06,090
That's, I like
this kind of stuff.
464
00:22:06,125 --> 00:22:08,526
I like character.
465
00:22:08,561 --> 00:22:10,895
I'm giving it a
little test run.
466
00:22:12,965 --> 00:22:14,765
Oh yeah.
467
00:22:14,801 --> 00:22:16,067
Works great.
468
00:22:16,102 --> 00:22:18,769
You know, it's important to
repurpose all of the material
469
00:22:18,805 --> 00:22:21,238
I have around here
because just that...
470
00:22:21,274 --> 00:22:24,141
its all I have out here.
471
00:22:24,844 --> 00:22:26,877
What I have here
is what I have.
472
00:22:26,913 --> 00:22:29,480
So, I gotta utilize the
materials that I have on hand
473
00:22:29,515 --> 00:22:32,149
to make the items that I need.
474
00:22:34,687 --> 00:22:36,420
It's a good way to
separate what you want versus
475
00:22:36,456 --> 00:22:37,888
what you need.
476
00:22:37,924 --> 00:22:40,257
Awesome.
I'm pretty happy with that.
477
00:22:40,993 --> 00:22:42,159
The sun's going down.
478
00:22:42,195 --> 00:22:45,363
It's time to get
off this cold ice.
479
00:22:49,569 --> 00:22:51,569
JESSI: Huge part of living
in Alaska is being able
480
00:22:51,604 --> 00:22:54,004
to adapt to your circumstances
and your surroundings.
481
00:22:55,341 --> 00:22:57,241
You gotta survive the winter.
482
00:22:58,911 --> 00:23:00,978
You gotta decide that
your life's worth it, right?
483
00:23:02,014 --> 00:23:03,881
(chainsaw motor)
484
00:23:09,622 --> 00:23:11,122
That's a lot of bows, love.
485
00:23:11,157 --> 00:23:12,656
CHRIS: Oh, I just figured
I'd cut it all up.
486
00:23:12,692 --> 00:23:14,759
You can use what you want.
487
00:23:16,963 --> 00:23:20,498
NARRATOR:
Chris and Jessi Morse are
attempting to trap beaver,
488
00:23:20,533 --> 00:23:23,567
a key source of
meat for winter survival.
489
00:23:24,937 --> 00:23:28,239
But with limited experience
navigating the thin ice and
490
00:23:28,274 --> 00:23:31,142
deadly open water
of the Cosna River,
491
00:23:31,177 --> 00:23:33,744
they must be
extremely careful when
setting their traps.
492
00:23:35,782 --> 00:23:37,281
JESSI: I was just
trying to think of where
493
00:23:37,350 --> 00:23:38,849
we were gonna set.
494
00:23:38,885 --> 00:23:40,518
Like I wish I could
get on the river.
495
00:23:40,553 --> 00:23:42,953
CHRIS: It's deep
overflow out here, like.
496
00:23:45,558 --> 00:23:47,124
JESSI: Ooh, yeah.
Look how wet that is.
497
00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:50,027
Okay.
So, we gotta stay close.
498
00:23:50,062 --> 00:23:52,530
CHRIS: Right in here,
you drop some in here,
499
00:23:52,565 --> 00:23:54,732
I bet you're gonna
get something.
500
00:23:54,767 --> 00:23:58,068
JESSI: So, you think that
that is a good spot to snare,
501
00:23:58,104 --> 00:23:59,036
right there?
502
00:23:59,071 --> 00:24:01,071
CHRIS: I can see
underneath the ice a bunch
503
00:24:01,107 --> 00:24:02,273
of beaver signs.
504
00:24:02,308 --> 00:24:03,674
Do you see all this
funky ice right here?
505
00:24:03,709 --> 00:24:04,975
It's got chunks in it.
506
00:24:05,011 --> 00:24:06,811
JESSI:
That's snacking material.
507
00:24:06,846 --> 00:24:08,078
So, I mean, this is it.
508
00:24:08,114 --> 00:24:10,014
This is the only spot
that we can put it.
509
00:24:10,049 --> 00:24:12,016
CHRIS: Can you hand
me the chainsaw, love?
510
00:24:21,928 --> 00:24:26,230
(chainsaw motor)
511
00:24:35,975 --> 00:24:38,742
(chainsaw motor)
512
00:24:41,414 --> 00:24:44,181
Something down there.
513
00:24:44,851 --> 00:24:46,317
I'm not sure what's going on.
514
00:24:46,352 --> 00:24:48,586
Something's weird.
I'm gonna try and pry at this.
515
00:24:48,621 --> 00:24:49,520
JESSI: Okay.
516
00:24:49,555 --> 00:24:52,089
CHRIS: Swap me
out with the axe.
517
00:24:53,759 --> 00:24:54,892
Weird.
518
00:24:54,927 --> 00:24:56,527
JESSI: I'm expecting some
three headed beaver to come
519
00:24:56,562 --> 00:24:58,362
out of here or something.
520
00:25:08,274 --> 00:25:10,374
CHRIS: Weird.
521
00:25:10,409 --> 00:25:12,209
JESSI: Is that the ground?
522
00:25:12,245 --> 00:25:14,111
CHRIS: I don't know
what's down there.
523
00:25:14,447 --> 00:25:16,213
JESSI: What is that?
524
00:25:25,358 --> 00:25:28,859
JESSI: Dang!
This stinks, love.
525
00:25:29,228 --> 00:25:30,394
CHRIS: I'm already
this far in.
526
00:25:30,429 --> 00:25:32,463
I gotta get down there and
just at least scope it out.
527
00:25:32,498 --> 00:25:33,931
JESSI: I don't know if
he's cutting through bank,
528
00:25:33,966 --> 00:25:35,799
or if he's cutting
through trash feed,
529
00:25:35,835 --> 00:25:38,602
if he's cutting
through the feed pile.
530
00:25:38,638 --> 00:25:41,739
But, just lots of,
like, eaten branches.
531
00:25:43,676 --> 00:25:45,409
Wow!
532
00:25:45,444 --> 00:25:47,545
It's like the beaver trash.
533
00:25:47,580 --> 00:25:50,014
So, they're just like super
messy adolescent beavers.
534
00:25:50,049 --> 00:25:51,682
CHRIS:
That's what I'm thinking.
535
00:25:51,717 --> 00:25:53,551
(bleep) adolescents!
536
00:25:53,586 --> 00:25:54,785
JESSI: Oh my.
537
00:25:54,820 --> 00:25:57,521
CHRIS: it's the entrance into
the den I bet, right there.
538
00:25:57,557 --> 00:25:58,989
That's why it's bubblin' out.
539
00:25:59,025 --> 00:26:00,391
JESSI: So, you like,
smashed a hole right above
540
00:26:00,426 --> 00:26:01,358
their door jam.
541
00:26:01,394 --> 00:26:02,226
CHRIS: Uh-hmm.
542
00:26:02,261 --> 00:26:03,360
JESSI: This is
just a weird one.
543
00:26:03,396 --> 00:26:05,963
This might be kind of a
trial and error kinda thing.
544
00:26:05,998 --> 00:26:07,331
CHRIS: We're gonna
find somethin' out.
545
00:26:07,366 --> 00:26:11,135
I think we should put a
snare, like, right in here,
546
00:26:11,170 --> 00:26:12,736
one right in this corner,
and one right in this
547
00:26:12,772 --> 00:26:15,739
corner nice and deep.
548
00:26:15,775 --> 00:26:17,474
JESSI: All right, you
wanna place this guy?
549
00:26:17,510 --> 00:26:19,677
CHRIS: Yeah.
Let's make sure it.
550
00:26:19,712 --> 00:26:20,544
JESSI: I'm happy.
551
00:26:20,580 --> 00:26:27,251
CHRIS: Yeah. There it goes.
552
00:26:32,158 --> 00:26:34,892
JESSI: I have to
be really careful about
where I set the snares.
553
00:26:34,927 --> 00:26:35,892
They're just finicky.
554
00:26:35,895 --> 00:26:37,328
They're just finicky
little snares.
555
00:26:37,363 --> 00:26:41,165
They have to be twisted
just right, faced just right.
556
00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,734
I don't wanna walk away
from a set that I'm not 100%
557
00:26:43,769 --> 00:26:45,069
dedicated to.
558
00:26:45,104 --> 00:26:48,405
I want every snare to be
at its maximum potential.
559
00:26:48,441 --> 00:26:52,543
So that set is at its maximum
potential to get a beaver.
560
00:26:52,845 --> 00:26:54,445
All right, right in
the middle, right?
561
00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:55,879
CHRIS: Uh-hmm.
562
00:26:55,915 --> 00:26:58,015
JESSI: Okay, please
don't drop snare.
563
00:26:58,050 --> 00:27:00,417
Please don't drop, snare.
564
00:27:00,653 --> 00:27:04,121
So, I really need the snares
to be in the exact spots.
565
00:27:04,156 --> 00:27:07,124
I spend a lot of time
on my hands, and knees,
566
00:27:07,159 --> 00:27:08,892
with my eyes really,
really close to that hole,
567
00:27:08,928 --> 00:27:11,095
placing those snares.
568
00:27:11,364 --> 00:27:12,296
But they're perfect.
569
00:27:12,331 --> 00:27:13,464
I think they're good.
570
00:27:13,499 --> 00:27:15,733
I think they're in the
spot that we need them.
571
00:27:15,768 --> 00:27:16,834
That's good.
572
00:27:16,869 --> 00:27:18,569
CHRIS: All right.
573
00:27:19,305 --> 00:27:20,704
JESSI: All righty-roo!
574
00:27:20,740 --> 00:27:22,473
Well, like, there we go.
575
00:27:22,508 --> 00:27:23,807
CHRIS: I'm worried, does it...
576
00:27:23,843 --> 00:27:25,876
JESSI: We just gotta cover
up the hole with snow and
577
00:27:25,911 --> 00:27:29,613
spruce boughs and just
hope that tomorrow or the
next day when we come out,
578
00:27:29,649 --> 00:27:31,749
maybe we have a beaver on
the other end of the snare.
579
00:27:39,058 --> 00:27:41,759
JOHNNY: You know, to prepare
for living in the Arctic,
580
00:27:41,794 --> 00:27:43,994
in an environment like this,
you got to plan ahead.
581
00:27:46,365 --> 00:27:48,399
It's all about preparation
in a land like this.
582
00:27:54,173 --> 00:27:55,572
JOHNNY: Snow's still
haven't come yet.
583
00:27:55,608 --> 00:27:57,307
But they will,
and when they do come,
584
00:27:57,343 --> 00:27:59,309
I wanna be prepared.
585
00:27:59,345 --> 00:28:01,445
So, I'm making
this snow shovel.
586
00:28:06,185 --> 00:28:08,819
So this is part of
a 55-gallon drum.
587
00:28:10,389 --> 00:28:13,090
Looks like it'd make a
good shovel, so I cut it.
588
00:28:13,392 --> 00:28:15,826
There's no instruction
booklet for any of this stuff.
589
00:28:15,861 --> 00:28:17,261
There's only one way
to find out,
590
00:28:17,296 --> 00:28:19,596
is just to just try it.
591
00:28:21,667 --> 00:28:25,302
Yeah, just go anywhere
you want, saw.
592
00:28:25,337 --> 00:28:26,804
No matter where you live,
593
00:28:26,839 --> 00:28:30,040
you gotta be prepared
for that environment.
594
00:28:31,343 --> 00:28:33,911
So I'm just gonna cut a
couple brackets out of this.
595
00:28:33,946 --> 00:28:36,380
And in this environment,
it's even more crucial to be
596
00:28:36,415 --> 00:28:39,049
prepared because it's the
elements that you're facing.
597
00:28:39,085 --> 00:28:41,785
It's, it's nature,
it's very stark contrast.
598
00:28:42,288 --> 00:28:44,621
You're either living
or you're dying.
599
00:28:45,191 --> 00:28:46,957
There's not a damn
thing in between.
600
00:28:46,992 --> 00:28:49,860
Whoo-hoo! Yeah!
We're in business.
601
00:28:52,998 --> 00:28:55,199
Shovel store is open.
602
00:28:56,469 --> 00:28:58,802
Ultimately, you can
make a living or you can
603
00:28:58,838 --> 00:29:01,105
buy a living.
604
00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:04,041
And I tried buying
my living and it
didn't work for me.
605
00:29:04,744 --> 00:29:06,376
To pay for
everything we need,
606
00:29:06,412 --> 00:29:08,011
to have people
do everything for us,
607
00:29:08,047 --> 00:29:09,847
I don't think
that's natural.
608
00:29:09,882 --> 00:29:11,548
It's all about being reliable.
609
00:29:11,584 --> 00:29:14,785
Do you wanna
rely on others or do you
wanna rely on yourself?
610
00:29:15,421 --> 00:29:16,720
It's pretty good.
611
00:29:16,756 --> 00:29:19,690
In a place like this,
I choose to rely on myself.
612
00:29:24,230 --> 00:29:26,497
This is gonna help with
my success of the winter,
613
00:29:26,532 --> 00:29:27,965
that's what this is gonna do.
614
00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:30,968
One less thing I
gotta worry about now.
615
00:29:31,003 --> 00:29:33,103
But, I gotta keep pushing on.
616
00:29:36,375 --> 00:29:38,075
MICHAEL: Cold weather
is really hard.
617
00:29:38,110 --> 00:29:40,377
And really, the only way
that you can keep them energy
618
00:29:40,412 --> 00:29:42,946
levels up is just gettin' out
and workin' in the weather.
619
00:29:42,982 --> 00:29:45,182
You gotta condition
yourself for.
620
00:29:45,217 --> 00:29:48,352
You gotta stay outside
as long as you can.
621
00:29:48,654 --> 00:29:51,622
You gotta let them toes get
a little cold here and there.
622
00:29:55,761 --> 00:30:01,799
(barking and howling)
623
00:30:06,338 --> 00:30:07,738
MICHAEL: All right.
624
00:30:07,773 --> 00:30:13,610
This thing wouldn't be complete
without a set of moose antlers.
625
00:30:13,646 --> 00:30:16,180
That'll be something that I
can wrap up my gang lines with
626
00:30:16,215 --> 00:30:18,382
when I'm not using them.
627
00:30:20,786 --> 00:30:22,786
And with some crazy
mayhem like this,
628
00:30:22,822 --> 00:30:24,555
we need some
patriotism as well.
629
00:30:28,027 --> 00:30:30,494
Another cool thing
about this rig,
630
00:30:30,529 --> 00:30:33,697
is it's got this
big bright red hook,
631
00:30:33,732 --> 00:30:36,200
and it's welded
right to the frame.
632
00:30:36,235 --> 00:30:38,435
That's a perfect spot
to hook up a gang line.
633
00:30:43,709 --> 00:30:47,611
I'm puttin' my four most
rambunctious, crazy,
634
00:30:47,646 --> 00:30:50,214
powerful malamutes
on the gang line.
635
00:30:53,452 --> 00:30:55,886
Haw!
636
00:30:55,921 --> 00:30:57,054
There's a lot of frenzied...
637
00:30:57,089 --> 00:30:58,222
Come here.
638
00:30:58,257 --> 00:31:00,591
Nervous energy pent up in
these dogs because they've
639
00:31:00,626 --> 00:31:01,992
been sittin' for some time.
640
00:31:02,027 --> 00:31:05,395
Line up!
641
00:31:07,833 --> 00:31:10,701
Try to keep the teams small
in the early season runs.
642
00:31:10,736 --> 00:31:12,502
So that way there, they're
more comfortable just working
643
00:31:12,538 --> 00:31:14,371
with a smaller group.
644
00:31:14,406 --> 00:31:15,906
Hop up! Come on.
645
00:31:15,941 --> 00:31:17,774
But hooking them up
to an automobile,
646
00:31:17,810 --> 00:31:19,810
that's entirely new for them.
647
00:31:19,845 --> 00:31:21,445
Come on. Gee, over.
648
00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:24,314
They've never ran in front
of one and had to focus on
649
00:31:24,350 --> 00:31:27,251
keeping that gang line tight.
650
00:31:28,587 --> 00:31:31,555
And so, hopefully,
this goes well.
651
00:31:36,295 --> 00:31:38,495
Go get 'em!
652
00:31:38,530 --> 00:31:41,999
Haw! Haw! Haw! Haw! Haw!
653
00:31:42,034 --> 00:31:43,967
Go! Go! Go!
654
00:31:45,237 --> 00:31:46,703
What the (bleep)?
655
00:31:57,316 --> 00:31:59,283
What the (bleep)?
656
00:32:09,261 --> 00:32:12,162
Line up that way.
You go that way.
657
00:32:13,799 --> 00:32:15,432
Look, that way.
658
00:32:15,467 --> 00:32:17,534
'Kay?
659
00:32:17,836 --> 00:32:19,436
Stay.
660
00:32:19,471 --> 00:32:21,705
Shh! Quiet down.
661
00:32:26,412 --> 00:32:28,178
You ready?
662
00:32:28,213 --> 00:32:31,281
Go! Go get 'em!
663
00:32:34,887 --> 00:32:37,554
Go get 'em!
Haw! Haw! Haw! Haw!
664
00:32:39,959 --> 00:32:41,858
Straight ahead.
665
00:32:44,129 --> 00:32:45,862
We're just gonna
go kinda slow.
666
00:32:45,898 --> 00:32:49,499
Let 'em get used to
runnin' down the road.
667
00:32:49,735 --> 00:32:52,035
All right.
668
00:32:52,071 --> 00:32:54,271
You know, I just have
this thing in drive,
669
00:32:54,306 --> 00:32:57,074
just so that I keep, keep
some forward motion going.
670
00:32:57,109 --> 00:32:58,342
I'm not jerkin' 'em.
671
00:32:58,377 --> 00:33:01,645
But they're kinda
pullin' this thing.
672
00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:04,181
I wanna keep a
constant weight on 'em.
673
00:33:04,216 --> 00:33:06,583
So I'm looking for a
really tight tug line.
674
00:33:06,618 --> 00:33:09,486
You don't want to let dogs
free-run in the early season
675
00:33:09,521 --> 00:33:11,054
because this is
about conditioning,
676
00:33:11,090 --> 00:33:12,756
holding them back.
677
00:33:12,791 --> 00:33:15,092
Hop up! Yup! Yup!
678
00:33:16,261 --> 00:33:18,595
And so the
gas pedal, the brakes,
679
00:33:18,630 --> 00:33:22,966
this all helps me keep these
dogs at a precise six and a
680
00:33:23,002 --> 00:33:25,969
half to seven miles an hour.
681
00:33:27,306 --> 00:33:28,939
Good boys!
682
00:33:28,974 --> 00:33:32,242
This is just a really
safe way of gettin' them first
683
00:33:32,277 --> 00:33:34,177
early season miles on the dogs.
684
00:33:34,213 --> 00:33:36,847
I'm really liking this.
685
00:33:42,287 --> 00:33:43,520
I could see it now.
686
00:33:43,555 --> 00:33:47,124
I have an entire eight-dog
team hooked up to this thing.
687
00:33:47,926 --> 00:33:50,360
Best 500 bucks I ever spent.
688
00:33:51,130 --> 00:33:53,964
They have done about a
three or four mile loop.
689
00:33:53,999 --> 00:33:56,099
I could tell
they're tuckered up.
690
00:33:56,735 --> 00:33:58,802
All right.
Do you guys like your new toy?
691
00:33:59,938 --> 00:34:02,506
Do you like your new toy?
692
00:34:02,541 --> 00:34:05,142
Good boys.
693
00:34:05,177 --> 00:34:08,045
They've never been hooked
up to an automobile before,
694
00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:09,346
and they don't seem to mind.
695
00:34:09,381 --> 00:34:10,947
I think that went really well.
696
00:34:10,983 --> 00:34:13,784
It's really special to see
these guys subjected to
697
00:34:13,819 --> 00:34:16,486
something new and prevail.
698
00:34:16,522 --> 00:34:18,522
Good boy. Good boy.
699
00:34:26,131 --> 00:34:28,165
CHRIS: The Cosna's always
throwing curve balls.
700
00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:30,333
Every year, it's
something different.
701
00:34:31,570 --> 00:34:33,870
I feel like everything on this
river's fighting against us.
702
00:34:33,906 --> 00:34:35,705
But we can't just pack up
and head back to the lake
703
00:34:35,741 --> 00:34:38,008
where we know
there's just nothing
there for us to trap.
704
00:34:40,746 --> 00:34:43,647
We gotta make it work or
we're gonna go hungry and
705
00:34:43,682 --> 00:34:45,449
it's gonna be a tough winter.
706
00:34:48,587 --> 00:34:51,688
CHRIS: Rock Solid.
707
00:34:51,723 --> 00:34:52,889
We're feeling good about it.
708
00:34:52,925 --> 00:34:54,991
We got the three snares set
exactly where I think the
709
00:34:55,027 --> 00:34:57,794
beavers running through and
maybe we got the beaver and
710
00:34:57,830 --> 00:34:59,729
it's just stuck
down under the ice.
711
00:34:59,765 --> 00:35:01,765
And so I won't know
until I chip it all out.
712
00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:03,900
But I'm hopeful.
713
00:35:05,404 --> 00:35:06,670
JESSI: Oop! Okay.
714
00:35:06,705 --> 00:35:08,405
I think that's it.
715
00:35:09,041 --> 00:35:10,674
BOTH: Oh!
716
00:35:10,709 --> 00:35:13,076
CHRIS: We had a beaver.
717
00:35:13,112 --> 00:35:14,744
That is disheartening.
718
00:35:14,780 --> 00:35:15,979
JESSI: Wow!
719
00:35:16,014 --> 00:35:17,581
So he must have
gotten it real tight.
720
00:35:17,616 --> 00:35:20,550
You know, this triggered,
and then he chewed on this
721
00:35:20,586 --> 00:35:21,918
to pull this thing down.
722
00:35:21,954 --> 00:35:23,653
You see how when I pull that,
it comes down?
723
00:35:23,689 --> 00:35:24,821
CHRIS: Yeah.
724
00:35:24,857 --> 00:35:26,423
JESSI: So, we had a beaver
for a short period of time.
725
00:35:26,458 --> 00:35:27,357
Yeah?
726
00:35:27,392 --> 00:35:28,358
That's a strong beaver.
727
00:35:28,393 --> 00:35:29,459
CHRIS: Yeah. I'm impressed.
728
00:35:29,495 --> 00:35:30,627
JESSI: That's a
super strong beaver.
729
00:35:30,662 --> 00:35:31,728
CHRIS: Let's check
out the other one.
730
00:35:31,763 --> 00:35:33,430
Maybe it got caught
in the other one.
731
00:35:36,869 --> 00:35:38,135
Nothin'.
732
00:35:38,170 --> 00:35:40,103
JESSI: Nada.
733
00:35:40,339 --> 00:35:42,339
CHRIS: It's like a tornado
going around in circles
734
00:35:42,374 --> 00:35:44,207
all around your snare.
735
00:35:44,243 --> 00:35:45,842
JESSI: Maybe because
it's the river?
736
00:35:45,878 --> 00:35:46,877
CHRIS: Yeah.
737
00:35:46,912 --> 00:35:48,311
So, it's just very new to me.
738
00:35:48,347 --> 00:35:51,214
I'm just, I've never seen
them pile sticks around
739
00:35:51,250 --> 00:35:52,516
snares like that.
740
00:35:52,551 --> 00:35:53,850
JESSI: It's.
741
00:35:53,886 --> 00:35:55,285
CHRIS: Very strange.
742
00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:56,620
Smart beavers.
743
00:35:56,655 --> 00:35:58,355
JESSI: New type of beaver.
744
00:35:58,390 --> 00:36:00,290
CHRIS: It's the
strangest thing.
745
00:36:01,493 --> 00:36:03,226
It's almost like they're
putting caution tape up
746
00:36:03,262 --> 00:36:04,895
around our snares.
747
00:36:04,930 --> 00:36:07,297
I've never seen beavers go
to so much lengths to block a
748
00:36:07,332 --> 00:36:09,466
snare with sticks like this.
749
00:36:09,501 --> 00:36:10,734
Damn!
750
00:36:10,769 --> 00:36:12,235
JESSI:
We were so close.
We were so close!
751
00:36:12,271 --> 00:36:14,771
CHRIS: Maybe, maybe this
other one has it in him.
752
00:36:14,806 --> 00:36:16,039
JESSI: Last one?
753
00:36:16,074 --> 00:36:17,841
CHRIS: Well, let's find out.
754
00:36:18,677 --> 00:36:20,677
JESSI: Wow,
that's deep, Chris.
755
00:36:20,712 --> 00:36:22,045
CHRIS: Okay.
756
00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:24,814
Let me see if I can
find your snare.
757
00:36:25,083 --> 00:36:27,384
Jessi is very meticulous
on where she puts 'em.
758
00:36:27,419 --> 00:36:28,952
We spent the time,
we put 'em in right.
759
00:36:28,987 --> 00:36:30,887
Why aren't we
gettin' any beaver?
760
00:36:30,923 --> 00:36:32,956
Oop. Look at that.
761
00:36:34,226 --> 00:36:35,992
JESSI: They ate the bait pole.
762
00:36:36,028 --> 00:36:37,861
CHRIS: I think I'm gonna have
to go down to my T-shirt,
763
00:36:37,896 --> 00:36:39,896
stick my arm down in there.
764
00:36:39,932 --> 00:36:41,364
JESSI: Okay.
765
00:36:41,633 --> 00:36:43,233
CHRIS: Okay.
766
00:36:48,106 --> 00:36:49,239
There's somethin' fuzzy
down in there.
767
00:36:49,274 --> 00:36:51,341
JESSI: No way.
CHRIS: Yeah.
JESSI: No. Stop it.
768
00:36:51,710 --> 00:36:53,176
CHRIS: It's wrapped
up in sticks.
769
00:36:53,212 --> 00:36:55,378
Holy cow!
This thing is heavy.
770
00:36:55,414 --> 00:36:57,080
Oh! I almost got it.
Almost got it.
771
00:36:57,115 --> 00:36:58,215
JESSI: Do you really?
772
00:36:58,250 --> 00:36:59,616
Are you serious?
Are you serious?
773
00:36:59,651 --> 00:37:01,051
CHRIS: Yeah.
JESSI: Let me see.
774
00:37:01,086 --> 00:37:02,285
CHRIS: I'm trying right now.
775
00:37:02,321 --> 00:37:03,520
JESSI: Let me see.
No way!
776
00:37:03,555 --> 00:37:04,788
CHRIS: It's (bleep) massive!
777
00:37:04,823 --> 00:37:07,524
JESSI: No way!
CHRIS: I got it!
JESSI: Holy cow!
778
00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:17,701
CHRIS: It's (bleep) massive!
JESSI: No way!
779
00:37:17,736 --> 00:37:19,069
CHRIS: I'm trying
to find an end of it.
780
00:37:19,104 --> 00:37:20,737
I got it.
781
00:37:20,772 --> 00:37:22,505
JESSI: Stop.
CHRIS: I got it.
(bleep) massive!
782
00:37:22,541 --> 00:37:23,540
JESSI: Holy cow!
783
00:37:23,575 --> 00:37:25,242
CHRIS: It's (bleep) huge!
784
00:37:25,277 --> 00:37:27,177
JESSI: Holy Smokes!
785
00:37:27,212 --> 00:37:29,512
There is a beaver on
the end of the snare.
786
00:37:29,548 --> 00:37:31,147
Like, we did it.
787
00:37:31,183 --> 00:37:32,882
We got a beaver!
788
00:37:34,253 --> 00:37:35,819
Holy smokes!
789
00:37:35,854 --> 00:37:37,887
This is a huge,
monster beaver.
790
00:37:37,923 --> 00:37:41,024
We have succeeded in this
really difficult deep river.
791
00:37:41,059 --> 00:37:43,126
And I've never done this
type of set, but, like,
792
00:37:43,161 --> 00:37:45,295
it paid off.
793
00:37:45,330 --> 00:37:46,963
CHRIS: That's a
good looking beav.
794
00:37:46,999 --> 00:37:48,265
JESSI: That's a big beaver.
795
00:37:48,300 --> 00:37:50,133
It's a huge beaver.
796
00:37:50,168 --> 00:37:51,534
After all that work.
797
00:37:51,570 --> 00:37:52,769
And in the river.
798
00:37:52,804 --> 00:37:55,505
Like, the first time in the
stinking river and we did it.
799
00:37:55,941 --> 00:37:57,040
Oh my goodness.
800
00:37:57,075 --> 00:37:58,041
CHRIS: Good job.
801
00:37:58,076 --> 00:37:59,643
JESSI: Oh, my goodness!
802
00:37:59,678 --> 00:38:01,311
CHRIS: Well, let's
get it dried off,
803
00:38:01,346 --> 00:38:04,281
and then we have a long
ways to drag this guy home.
804
00:38:04,516 --> 00:38:06,016
JESSI: Thank you
for your life, beaver.
805
00:38:06,051 --> 00:38:08,551
Nothing will go unused.
806
00:38:08,587 --> 00:38:09,986
We appreciate you and
we appreciate your life.
807
00:38:11,690 --> 00:38:13,857
Take it home!
808
00:38:14,259 --> 00:38:16,459
CHRIS: Oh! He's huge.
809
00:38:17,062 --> 00:38:18,295
I'm pretty excited.
810
00:38:18,330 --> 00:38:19,896
All of our hard work
is finally paying off.
811
00:38:19,931 --> 00:38:21,798
Everything's finally
coming into focus.
812
00:38:21,833 --> 00:38:24,334
The Cosna just likes to push
us to the edge of breaking.
813
00:38:24,369 --> 00:38:26,970
And it just goes to show
that you just can't give up.
814
00:38:27,005 --> 00:38:29,005
You just gotta keep moving
forward and keep pushing and
815
00:38:29,041 --> 00:38:31,741
the Cosna will reward you.
816
00:38:41,620 --> 00:38:44,888
ALEX: I've begun this big
journey towards clearing my
817
00:38:44,923 --> 00:38:47,657
cabin to make it safer
from a forest fire.
818
00:38:50,762 --> 00:38:53,797
But on any big journey,
you know, my experience has
819
00:38:53,832 --> 00:38:56,733
taught me
that the best thing to
do is to enjoy the work.
820
00:38:56,768 --> 00:38:57,867
Because if I enjoy the work,
821
00:38:57,903 --> 00:38:59,469
and then I'll
keep doing it,
822
00:38:59,504 --> 00:39:01,004
and then one day,
it'll be finished.
823
00:39:01,039 --> 00:39:03,640
So, the ritual's complete.
824
00:39:03,675 --> 00:39:06,476
It's to be the first of many.
825
00:39:06,511 --> 00:39:08,645
So, this is only
the beginning.
826
00:39:11,183 --> 00:39:13,883
It's gonna take me a long
time of doing this many,
827
00:39:13,919 --> 00:39:15,919
many times before the
mission's complete.
828
00:39:17,255 --> 00:39:20,123
So this will have to
become a habit for me.
829
00:39:20,158 --> 00:39:22,292
Okay. It's just the door.
830
00:39:23,895 --> 00:39:26,129
When you live
further from society,
831
00:39:26,164 --> 00:39:27,997
you gotta do more
things on your own.
832
00:39:28,033 --> 00:39:29,799
I mean, that's just
kinda how it is.
833
00:39:29,835 --> 00:39:33,203
If I wanna get help, I
gotta first help myself.
834
00:39:34,005 --> 00:39:39,042
This will just help kill
the coals more quickly.
835
00:39:39,077 --> 00:39:41,511
Keep fresh oxygen from
getting in so easily.
836
00:39:42,614 --> 00:39:45,715
And help keep any,
837
00:39:45,751 --> 00:39:48,685
anybody or anything
from falling in.
838
00:39:49,187 --> 00:39:52,088
There we go.
839
00:39:52,591 --> 00:39:54,224
Well, that's that.
840
00:39:54,259 --> 00:39:56,826
For now, I'm not safe
from a forest fire,
841
00:39:56,862 --> 00:39:59,295
but I'm a little bit closer.
842
00:40:00,098 --> 00:40:02,665
MICHAEL: This little micro
four-wheel drive used to haul
843
00:40:02,701 --> 00:40:04,701
a girl to college every day.
844
00:40:05,036 --> 00:40:07,971
But now, it's got a whole new
life out here at basecamp.
845
00:40:09,441 --> 00:40:11,975
It's got all sorts of utility.
846
00:40:12,010 --> 00:40:14,844
And just like everything else
I own, it's multifaceted.
847
00:40:15,981 --> 00:40:17,947
So this is just the
beginning for this thing.
848
00:40:25,724 --> 00:40:28,425
This is the funnest
$500 I've ever spent.
849
00:40:28,460 --> 00:40:33,096
This thing's all about
freedom, America, donuts,
850
00:40:33,131 --> 00:40:34,864
and some malamutes.
851
00:40:36,468 --> 00:40:38,101
Oh (bleep).
852
00:40:39,037 --> 00:40:40,370
That type of freedom,
853
00:40:40,405 --> 00:40:43,773
to be able to take something
that is essentially trash,
854
00:40:43,809 --> 00:40:46,743
and turn into
a very useful tool.
855
00:40:46,778 --> 00:40:51,681
Everything around
my life is designed to be
sustainable and affordable.
856
00:41:00,559 --> 00:41:02,892
JESSI: All right. Beaver.
857
00:41:02,928 --> 00:41:05,395
I finally got the monster
beaver that we were after.
858
00:41:08,366 --> 00:41:10,600
Living out at the Cosna
brings sort of respect to
859
00:41:10,635 --> 00:41:12,268
everything around you.
860
00:41:12,304 --> 00:41:13,937
It brings respect
to the river,
861
00:41:13,972 --> 00:41:16,139
and to the trees
that heat you,
862
00:41:16,174 --> 00:41:17,841
and to the animals
that feed you.
863
00:41:17,876 --> 00:41:20,610
These beavers are tough.
864
00:41:20,645 --> 00:41:23,713
This is an amazing
experience for us and nothing
865
00:41:23,748 --> 00:41:25,582
will go to waste.
866
00:41:26,451 --> 00:41:28,284
CHRIS: Oh, wow!
867
00:41:28,320 --> 00:41:30,453
JESSI: Holy cow!
868
00:41:30,489 --> 00:41:32,555
CHRIS: Has a really
good-looking haunch there.
869
00:41:33,258 --> 00:41:34,290
JESSI: That's awesome.
870
00:41:34,326 --> 00:41:37,660
Like, just this is,
just this is at least three
871
00:41:37,696 --> 00:41:38,928
meals for us.
872
00:41:38,964 --> 00:41:40,363
CHRIS: And look
how fatty it is.
873
00:41:40,398 --> 00:41:42,799
You can see it glisten
across there from the fat.
874
00:41:44,236 --> 00:41:46,135
Beaver's one of our
favorite meats out here.
875
00:41:46,171 --> 00:41:47,403
It's a nice fatty meat.
876
00:41:47,439 --> 00:41:49,038
Man, it packs some power.
877
00:41:49,074 --> 00:41:51,140
When we wake up and we look
over at that thermometer and
878
00:41:51,176 --> 00:41:53,610
it's needled out below
fifty, below zero,
879
00:41:53,645 --> 00:41:56,179
those are the days
we eat beaver meat.
880
00:41:56,748 --> 00:41:58,548
JESSI: To a good
trapping season, yeah?
881
00:41:58,583 --> 00:42:00,483
CHRIS: Yeah.
JESSI: First one.
882
00:42:01,386 --> 00:42:03,319
(crunching)
883
00:42:03,989 --> 00:42:06,990
CHRIS: Mmm!
Excellent. That's good.
884
00:42:07,526 --> 00:42:08,791
JESSI: That's rich meat.
885
00:42:08,827 --> 00:42:10,426
CHRIS: It's very rich.
886
00:42:10,462 --> 00:42:11,694
Thank you, beaver.
887
00:42:11,730 --> 00:42:13,963
JESSI: Thanks, beaver.
888
00:42:14,499 --> 00:42:15,865
CHRIS: Mm.
889
00:42:19,204 --> 00:42:21,204
JOHNNY: To have a
thought and to apply it,
890
00:42:21,239 --> 00:42:22,906
and actually build
it, to use it,
891
00:42:22,941 --> 00:42:24,707
and to see that it's
functional, is very,
892
00:42:24,743 --> 00:42:26,376
very satisfying.
893
00:42:26,411 --> 00:42:29,779
So, this is a chainsaw chain.
894
00:42:31,049 --> 00:42:34,484
And when I was putting my
window in, I hit a spike.
895
00:42:37,989 --> 00:42:39,722
Oh God!
896
00:42:39,758 --> 00:42:41,157
(bleep).
897
00:42:41,192 --> 00:42:42,892
That's why you gotta
wear eye protection.
898
00:42:42,928 --> 00:42:45,094
My mom's probably pretty
upset with me at this point.
899
00:42:46,298 --> 00:42:48,498
It's just too damaged.
900
00:42:48,533 --> 00:42:50,300
So find another use for it.
901
00:42:50,335 --> 00:42:52,235
And that's what I do out here.
902
00:42:52,270 --> 00:42:53,736
Take something that's
damaged and I turn it
903
00:42:53,772 --> 00:42:55,705
into something new.
904
00:42:55,740 --> 00:42:59,108
So, I think this chainsaw
will act as a nice ice cleat
905
00:42:59,377 --> 00:43:01,878
if I could strap it
to the bottom of my boot.
906
00:43:02,247 --> 00:43:04,113
The ice cleats are gonna
be pretty vital for me out
907
00:43:04,149 --> 00:43:07,283
here walking
around on slippery ice.
908
00:43:07,319 --> 00:43:10,253
So, I have an old chainsaw
chain laying around,
909
00:43:10,689 --> 00:43:13,623
so I'm gonna utilize
that for some cleats.
910
00:43:14,659 --> 00:43:16,492
I like to keep it
simple out here.
911
00:43:16,528 --> 00:43:19,696
I need something that works
and I need it to be available.
912
00:43:19,731 --> 00:43:20,964
And not only that,
913
00:43:20,999 --> 00:43:24,133
I need it to
be made from materials
I have around my camp.
914
00:43:24,369 --> 00:43:25,602
There it is.
915
00:43:25,637 --> 00:43:28,905
That's all four of 'em,
all tied on.
916
00:43:30,508 --> 00:43:32,141
Yeah, they feel pretty good.
917
00:43:32,177 --> 00:43:34,611
A lot of people see a frozen
landscape and they think
918
00:43:34,646 --> 00:43:36,045
"Time to go inside",
919
00:43:36,081 --> 00:43:38,648
but for me,
it's time to go outside.
920
00:43:38,683 --> 00:43:40,083
I don't wanna sit
inside and watch it.
921
00:43:40,118 --> 00:43:42,418
I wanna get out there
and experience it.
922
00:43:42,921 --> 00:43:45,121
What you doing, girl, huh?
923
00:43:45,156 --> 00:43:47,156
What you doing, girl?
924
00:43:47,192 --> 00:43:49,192
What you doing, huh?
925
00:43:49,227 --> 00:43:51,794
Come on, come on, come on.
926
00:43:52,564 --> 00:43:55,131
Mother Nature brings out the
vulnerability in me out here.
927
00:43:56,001 --> 00:43:57,867
And it's just when I
think I have a grip of things,
928
00:43:57,902 --> 00:43:59,636
she switches gears.
929
00:43:59,671 --> 00:44:01,904
And it's up to me
to either adapt or to
930
00:44:01,940 --> 00:44:03,339
face the consequences.
931
00:44:05,644 --> 00:44:09,078
And it's all about
adaptation and preparation.
932
00:44:09,314 --> 00:44:11,481
If you can harness
those simple principles,
933
00:44:11,516 --> 00:44:14,183
that's what's gonna keep
you coming home every night.
934
00:44:14,219 --> 00:44:16,486
That's what's gonna
keep you safe.
935
00:44:16,855 --> 00:44:19,188
That's what's gonna
keep you living wild.
936
00:44:21,426 --> 00:44:22,892
Captioned by
Cotter Media Group.