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♪ ♪
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JOHNNY: Java,
you want to come with?
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You gonna make the whole hike?
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Alright, come on.
Let's give it a try.
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Today, Java and I are going
to go on a scout.
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We're going to look for
a nice stand of timber,
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something that's worth
harvesting firewood from.
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Good girl, Java!
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You love that snow, huh?
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Every single day,
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the temperatures are dropping
more and more,
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which tells me that I'm going
to be locked into a cold spell.
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And when you walk out and see
your firewood pile low,
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it's not a good feeling,
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because you don't know exactly
how cold it's going to get.
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Ultimately the goal
is self-reliance.
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'Cause there's no one
coming to help.
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We got a lake right here,
that's good news.
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Right across the lake
is pretty dense wood.
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That's what I'm looking for.
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And the lake is something easy
to drag the wood across.
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So that's exactly
what I'm after.
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I think, uh, I think Java
approves of the lake. Ha ha!
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Should we get some wood here?
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We got to make sure there's
enough dead standing trees
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before we decide
this is the location.
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Come on!
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(barking)
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The trees I'm looking for
out here are dead,
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but they're still standing.
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And if I don't have to cut
or kill a live tree,
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then I don't do it.
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I'm fit and able to go
as far as I can to get wood.
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And as I get old, and my body
doesn't want to go as far,
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I move closer into my cabin
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and collect wood
closer and closer each year.
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Essentially,
it's my 401(k) timber.
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♪ ♪
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Think I hit the gold mine here!
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That looks like there's a lot
of dead standing trees
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just right here.
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It's like that one,
that's a big tree right there.
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That thing's massive
for out here.
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So this far north,
I don't get trees that big.
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So, it should sound like
I'm hitting a baseball
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with a baseball bat, that's
what it should sound like.
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And that tells me that
the wood's not rotten.
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If it has like a low thump,
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then it's rotten wood
and it's no good.
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(thunking)
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That's the sound
I'm looking for.
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I don't want to burn
rotten wood;
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it's a waste of time,
it's a waste of energy.
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You do all the work, you cut it
down, and it burns like crap.
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It's not any good.
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This one's gonna be a good tree.
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So, I need to get my sled
and come back tomorrow.
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♪ ♪
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ALEX: I like to challenge
my body, my mind, and my spirit,
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because it's not who you are
when you're doing good,
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it's who you are when
you're doing terrible,
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that's what's important.
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♪ ♪
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Anytime it snows,
and I get fresh snow,
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I got to take this truck out,
and pull a drag over it.
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Basically, what a drag is, it's
kind of the same idea as a plow,
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but the drag I'm using
currently, it's, uh, really old.
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And I think with a little bit
of kind of engineering,
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with a little bit of re-design,
I can make it better.
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NARRATOR: For Alex Javor,
the unmaintained access route
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running from his land
to the main road
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serves as his only escape,
and a key to his survival.
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But with deep snow
on the horizon,
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and no one around to help,
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he must maintain his only path
to civilization.
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♪ ♪
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ALEX: I got the lumber
I'll use here.
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This is the old drag I'm using.
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Uh, the major problem
with this one,
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right now, it's pretty small,
lightweight.
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It just doesn't move enough snow
out of the way,
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and it doesn't squish it down
hard enough,
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so I end up with a softer trail
than I could have.
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To solve the issue with weight,
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I'm just going to use
heavier pieces of lumber,
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kind of making it more robust,
heavier, a little bit wider.
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Hopefully give me
a better trail.
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Think I got the perfect guys
right here.
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These are thicker,
more robust, and heavier,
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so they should last longer.
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In the past, there was a couple
other people living out here.
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They were old-timers who had
been out here for a while,
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and I was lucky, I was able
to learn a lot from them.
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The drag is actually
one thing I learned.
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But now since no one else
is here, now it's my turn.
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I don't have a choice;
I got to do the work.
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I just got to
kind of be careful.
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I only have so many screws.
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Everything I got to do, I got to
try to use the minimum amount
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just so I don't run out.
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It's always more complicated.
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I always have to imagine
the worst-case scenario
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and plan for that.
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Anything could happen.
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I'm walking around with guns
all the time.
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I'm just walking
around the woods alone.
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If I'm swinging an axe enough,
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at some point,
I might cut my leg.
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Easier I can make it
to drive on this trail
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without falling off of it,
getting stuck,
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basically, the better
my life insurance policy is.
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So, at this point,
I have a drag.
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This one's a lot heavier,
and it's a lot wider.
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So already, I think this will
give me a better trail.
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♪ ♪
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CHRIS: No one does
jigsaw puzzles
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because they're really easy
to put together.
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It's the challenge,
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it's the excitement that
keeps you pushing forward.
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Well, that's what it's like
out here almost every day.
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I have to give it 110, 120%.
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♪ ♪
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JESSI: I love it out here.
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I love everything
about being out here.
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CHRIS: Me, too.
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JESSI: Like, I have everything
out here, except for the studio.
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I miss making pots and art
and just pretty things.
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CHRIS: Being able to weld on
things and hammer out iron.
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JESSI: Yeah.
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CHRIS: Yeah, I wish I could do
something like that.
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JESSI: Don't we have
some stove brick?
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Like some firebrick?
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CHRIS: Yeah, I've got a stash
of old firebrick I was saving.
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JESSI: You think that's enough
to make like a little forge?
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Like a little kiln?
Like a little mini raku kiln?
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CHRIS: That'd be fun.
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JESSI: Let's do it,
let's make some pots,
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let's make some knives.
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CHRIS: Yeah.
JESSI: Cool!
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CHRIS: The other day,
Jessi broke a cup,
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and she was like, "Ah, man, you
know, we only have so many cups,
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and here I've broken one,
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and we can't run to town
and get another."
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Let's go gather up
the other supplies.
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JESSI: Okay.
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CHRIS: If we can get this
little forge working,
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not only is this project
going to be fun
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and something I can do
with my wife,
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but at the end we're going
to have something
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that we can use every day
to create dinnerware,
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and things to drink out of
and eat off of.
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That would be
life-changing out here.
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JESSI: Let's get this centered.
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CHRIS:
We need to make a chimney,
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so maybe we go like this?
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You know? Something like that?
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Uh!
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How's that?
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JESSI: Awesome.
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Propane is going to be connected
to a weed burner,
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and then I want to trap
as much of that heat
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that's coming out of
the weed burner as possible.
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CHRIS: Let's try this out,
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because we're trying to hit
1,800 degrees, right?
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We might have to mess with
the chimney a little bit.
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JESSI: I mean, I think
it's just going to be
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like everything out here, it's
just trial and error, right?
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We should be good to go.
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CHRIS: Okay, I'll get
this started.
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JESSI: Wow.
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I'd really love to know that
I can make myself a little cup
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that will actually hold water
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that I'll be able to use
as a measuring cup
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or as a drinking cup.
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There's so many things
that I could make,
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so I really stinkin' hope
that this works out.
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Yeah, 400, 440, 470, 480, 490.
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Oop! You burnt it.
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Holy smokes!
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That's definitely hot enough.
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The temperatures
in the kiln exceed
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whatever those wires were
tested at, so it totally melted.
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Definitely getting
super, super hot.
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And now I've got a pyrometer
which is broken,
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but hopefully, if we do
everything correct,
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we'll get to about
1,800 degrees.
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That's the temperature I need
for the clay vitrification
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so it will hold water.
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I think it's going
to be plenty hot.
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I basically know that
the hottest this can get,
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at perfect temperature,
is like 1,900 degrees.
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CHRIS: Yup.
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JESSI: And that's
a little bit hotter
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than what I need
for vitrification.
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I got some clay, so,
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what do you say we go and, um,
find that clay and make a pot?
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♪ ♪
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00:09:01,208 --> 00:09:02,941
MANZO: Life in Alaska
is not something
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00:09:02,943 --> 00:09:06,578
where you can assess every risk.
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00:09:06,580 --> 00:09:10,782
Sometimes you just got to
put on your doing hands,
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00:09:10,784 --> 00:09:13,885
and just buck up
and get it done.
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00:09:13,887 --> 00:09:17,989
♪ ♪
203
00:09:17,991 --> 00:09:24,896
♪ ♪
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00:09:24,898 --> 00:09:26,331
Alright.
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00:09:26,333 --> 00:09:29,434
I got all these slabs
of nice spruce
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00:09:29,436 --> 00:09:34,439
that I cleared off
my dog training trails.
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00:09:34,441 --> 00:09:36,908
And the idea is,
I want to build a meat cache
208
00:09:36,910 --> 00:09:42,747
to get all of these critters
away from my food.
209
00:09:42,749 --> 00:09:44,749
My base camp
has been a base camp
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00:09:44,751 --> 00:09:47,485
for almost half a decade now.
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00:09:47,487 --> 00:09:50,722
And what I'm finding is
when animals are hungry,
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00:09:50,724 --> 00:09:52,257
they will go above and beyond
213
00:09:52,259 --> 00:09:54,392
to leave their
natural environment,
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00:09:54,394 --> 00:09:58,797
jump into my food tote,
and then destroy it.
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00:09:58,799 --> 00:10:01,499
And so it's an Alaskan tradition
216
00:10:01,501 --> 00:10:03,668
to elevate your good stuff
off the ground
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00:10:03,670 --> 00:10:07,772
and keep all these critters
off my hard-earned food.
218
00:10:07,774 --> 00:10:11,676
I'm thinking this area is
already a naturally clear area.
219
00:10:11,678 --> 00:10:16,414
And I've got a sturdy tree here,
and a sturdy tree there.
220
00:10:16,416 --> 00:10:17,482
This is gonna work well.
221
00:10:17,484 --> 00:10:20,719
That's a good spot.
222
00:10:20,721 --> 00:10:22,420
I'm going to start on the legs.
223
00:10:22,422 --> 00:10:25,423
(chainsaw starts)
224
00:10:25,425 --> 00:10:29,260
Living in Alaska,
you'll always see meat caches.
225
00:10:30,697 --> 00:10:35,400
Every native village,
every gold rush town.
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They make a lot of sense.
227
00:10:37,404 --> 00:10:40,071
'Cause basically,
an elevated platform
228
00:10:40,073 --> 00:10:42,607
sitting on 12-foot spruce poles
229
00:10:42,609 --> 00:10:47,879
to keep animals off anything
that might have a unique scent,
230
00:10:47,881 --> 00:10:50,382
it's an impenetrable fortress.
231
00:10:53,987 --> 00:10:57,555
Alright, got the legs
all set up.
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Now's time to build
the platform.
233
00:11:01,662 --> 00:11:03,795
Now that we're deep
into the winter,
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00:11:03,797 --> 00:11:05,897
I've noticed these critters.
235
00:11:05,899 --> 00:11:08,466
They get a little bold
when they're hungry.
236
00:11:10,671 --> 00:11:12,704
I've had black bears
sniff things out
237
00:11:12,706 --> 00:11:15,707
even with the dogs
barking at them.
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00:11:15,709 --> 00:11:18,443
It's gonna be super sturdy.
239
00:11:18,445 --> 00:11:19,844
When they find food,
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00:11:19,846 --> 00:11:23,948
they don't care how many
humans or dogs are around.
241
00:11:23,950 --> 00:11:25,550
If there's a will,
there's a way,
242
00:11:25,552 --> 00:11:28,253
and they will get
into your food.
243
00:11:30,957 --> 00:11:34,259
That's the last one,
and then the deck is done.
244
00:11:34,261 --> 00:11:35,960
Yeah, I'm starting
to see it now.
245
00:11:35,962 --> 00:11:37,996
It'll work pretty good.
246
00:11:37,998 --> 00:11:42,400
(dogs barking)
247
00:11:42,402 --> 00:11:43,968
Quiet down!
248
00:11:43,970 --> 00:11:49,808
(barking)
249
00:11:49,810 --> 00:11:52,777
Quiet down!
250
00:11:52,779 --> 00:11:54,579
What the (bleep) is that?
251
00:11:54,581 --> 00:11:56,715
♪ ♪
252
00:12:03,290 --> 00:12:06,224
(dogs barking)
253
00:12:06,226 --> 00:12:08,193
MANZO: What the (bleep) is that?
254
00:12:08,195 --> 00:12:11,996
(barking)
255
00:12:11,998 --> 00:12:15,100
I saw something brown
moving across the dog lot,
256
00:12:15,102 --> 00:12:17,869
coming around looking
for something to scavenge.
257
00:12:17,871 --> 00:12:21,339
These animals come in
full force; they are hungry.
258
00:12:21,341 --> 00:12:22,707
And they're willing
to do anything
259
00:12:22,709 --> 00:12:25,543
to get after these food sources.
260
00:12:25,545 --> 00:12:29,581
♪ ♪
261
00:12:29,583 --> 00:12:33,485
♪ ♪
262
00:12:33,487 --> 00:12:36,054
(barking)
263
00:12:36,056 --> 00:12:37,222
You alright, Snoop?
264
00:12:37,224 --> 00:12:38,623
What was that?
265
00:12:38,625 --> 00:12:40,291
(barking)
266
00:12:40,293 --> 00:12:42,260
From down there
at the meat cache site,
267
00:12:42,262 --> 00:12:43,962
I could see something barrel
268
00:12:43,964 --> 00:12:46,898
right across the backside
of the dog lot.
269
00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:48,833
And I had my food
on ground level.
270
00:12:48,835 --> 00:12:53,271
That might bring in
an occasional fox or a wolf.
271
00:12:53,273 --> 00:12:55,740
I think there's even coyotes
kicking around.
272
00:12:55,742 --> 00:12:57,642
Stray dogs,
who can say for sure?
273
00:12:57,644 --> 00:12:59,744
I ain't got time
to go track what it was.
274
00:12:59,746 --> 00:13:02,580
Snoop's big, ferocious bark,
275
00:13:02,582 --> 00:13:04,415
Mao's big, ferocious bark,
276
00:13:04,417 --> 00:13:06,084
they sent the thing off.
277
00:13:06,086 --> 00:13:09,988
What was that? What was that?
278
00:13:09,990 --> 00:13:11,589
You keep that away, huh?
279
00:13:11,591 --> 00:13:13,458
Good boy.
280
00:13:13,460 --> 00:13:17,395
I better get that cache done so
I can rest peaceably at night
281
00:13:17,397 --> 00:13:21,833
and not have to worry about
animals getting into my food.
282
00:13:21,835 --> 00:13:23,735
Time to get back to work.
283
00:13:28,375 --> 00:13:30,041
ALEX: I'm a predator.
284
00:13:30,043 --> 00:13:32,343
Everything I do is physical.
285
00:13:32,345 --> 00:13:33,778
I spend a lot of my days cold.
286
00:13:33,780 --> 00:13:35,747
A lot of times,
I burn more calories than I eat.
287
00:13:35,749 --> 00:13:37,048
Life is movement.
288
00:13:37,050 --> 00:13:38,883
When you stop moving,
you're dead.
289
00:13:38,885 --> 00:13:45,557
♪ ♪
290
00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:47,458
So at this point, I have a drag.
291
00:13:47,460 --> 00:13:48,526
It's, you know, functionally,
292
00:13:48,528 --> 00:13:49,727
it's going to be the same
as this one,
293
00:13:49,729 --> 00:13:53,898
except this one's a lot heavier,
and it's a lot wider.
294
00:13:53,900 --> 00:13:56,835
So already I think this will
give me a better trail.
295
00:13:56,837 --> 00:13:59,437
But solving the problem
of keeping it from sliding
296
00:13:59,439 --> 00:14:01,439
back and forth is going to be
a little more challenging.
297
00:14:01,441 --> 00:14:02,340
That's where a little bit
298
00:14:02,342 --> 00:14:04,976
of actual engineering
comes into play.
299
00:14:04,978 --> 00:14:09,881
I have an idea to change the way
I hitch it to my truck.
300
00:14:09,883 --> 00:14:13,017
And that won't eliminate it
from swaying to and fro,
301
00:14:13,019 --> 00:14:17,255
but it will eliminate
how far it can sway to and fro.
302
00:14:17,257 --> 00:14:19,424
So that might be enough.
303
00:14:19,426 --> 00:14:20,792
My idea is to use
the same system
304
00:14:20,794 --> 00:14:22,927
I use on my personal sled.
305
00:14:22,929 --> 00:14:25,129
Uh, just like a cross hitch.
306
00:14:25,131 --> 00:14:27,832
If I'm the back of the truck,
307
00:14:27,834 --> 00:14:33,304
I got one pole going
from the opposite side.
308
00:14:35,141 --> 00:14:38,276
And another pole coming
from the opposite side.
309
00:14:38,278 --> 00:14:42,313
And this way, it can only swing
so far to either side
310
00:14:42,315 --> 00:14:44,883
just because the pole is rigid.
311
00:14:44,885 --> 00:14:46,551
Uh, so I think this might help.
312
00:14:46,553 --> 00:14:49,487
Only one way to find out.
313
00:14:49,489 --> 00:14:51,055
I only got my own brain
to work with,
314
00:14:51,057 --> 00:14:54,959
I don't have someone else
to bounce ideas off of.
315
00:14:54,961 --> 00:14:56,995
I don't have a team of engineers
here with me
316
00:14:56,997 --> 00:14:59,297
to tell me if what I'm about
to do is stupid or not.
317
00:14:59,299 --> 00:15:01,866
So I just got to just find out.
318
00:15:01,868 --> 00:15:04,569
Okay, I got this side done,
now I'll do the other one.
319
00:15:04,571 --> 00:15:06,304
A lot of people won't
do stuff like this
320
00:15:06,306 --> 00:15:09,874
unless they feel like they can
do a really good job at it.
321
00:15:09,876 --> 00:15:11,175
I just, I don't have
that luxury.
322
00:15:11,177 --> 00:15:14,412
You know, I got to do things
whether I'm good at them or not.
323
00:15:14,414 --> 00:15:17,248
And, uh, maybe someday
I'll become good at it.
324
00:15:20,353 --> 00:15:23,488
Alright.
325
00:15:23,490 --> 00:15:24,989
Well, it's basically all set up.
326
00:15:24,991 --> 00:15:26,224
It's ready to be tested,
327
00:15:26,226 --> 00:15:27,825
but I'm going to wait
for light tomorrow,
328
00:15:27,827 --> 00:15:30,395
because if I get down there
and get stuck,
329
00:15:30,397 --> 00:15:32,030
have some kind of issue, I don't
want to have to walk back
330
00:15:32,032 --> 00:15:33,831
in the dark
and have a late night.
331
00:15:33,833 --> 00:15:36,134
So, gonna save the big test
for tomorrow.
332
00:15:36,136 --> 00:15:37,435
First light, I'll hit it,
333
00:15:37,437 --> 00:15:39,570
so I'm just gonna pack things up
and head home.
334
00:15:41,875 --> 00:15:45,243
♪ ♪
335
00:15:45,245 --> 00:15:47,111
JOHNNY: Being this far away
from help,
336
00:15:47,113 --> 00:15:49,514
I have to know
my responsible limits.
337
00:15:49,516 --> 00:15:53,551
♪ ♪
338
00:15:53,553 --> 00:15:56,621
Before I know what my limits
are, I have to learn them.
339
00:15:56,623 --> 00:16:02,393
♪ ♪
340
00:16:02,395 --> 00:16:03,895
Come on, Java.
341
00:16:03,897 --> 00:16:05,697
Time to harvest wood.
342
00:16:08,668 --> 00:16:10,268
Today I'm back to the location
343
00:16:10,270 --> 00:16:12,804
where I found a good
stand of timbers.
344
00:16:12,806 --> 00:16:15,840
You know, I have very limited
daylight this time of year,
345
00:16:15,842 --> 00:16:20,078
just a couple hours,
and I just got to get it done.
346
00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,046
It's just kind of a race
right now.
347
00:16:22,048 --> 00:16:25,850
The temperatures are dropping
at least 10 degrees every day.
348
00:16:25,852 --> 00:16:27,452
It's very valid to go out
349
00:16:27,454 --> 00:16:29,821
and gather as much
firewood as I can.
350
00:16:29,823 --> 00:16:31,823
I'm definitely sinking
into a cold spell,
351
00:16:31,825 --> 00:16:34,125
and I want to be
comfortable through it.
352
00:16:38,164 --> 00:16:39,764
Right here.
353
00:16:39,766 --> 00:16:43,634
This one's actually
a really big one.
354
00:16:43,636 --> 00:16:45,403
That's a lot of firewood.
355
00:16:45,405 --> 00:16:47,038
Ho.
356
00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:49,273
I need to get warmed up,
and I think this big tree here
357
00:16:49,275 --> 00:16:51,409
is a perfect start for me.
358
00:16:51,411 --> 00:16:53,411
The next thing I got to do is
figure out which direction
359
00:16:53,413 --> 00:16:55,546
I want this tree to fall.
360
00:16:55,548 --> 00:16:58,383
I play into which way
the tree is leaning,
361
00:16:58,385 --> 00:17:01,119
and it's leaning toward
it wants to go uphill.
362
00:17:01,121 --> 00:17:06,491
I've never fell a tree up
against a hill like this before.
363
00:17:06,493 --> 00:17:10,328
These trees weigh a lot, it's
dangerous work, it really is.
364
00:17:10,330 --> 00:17:11,429
So you just have to do it right,
365
00:17:11,431 --> 00:17:15,066
especially when you're
just using the axe.
366
00:17:15,068 --> 00:17:18,436
Java, you stay over there, yeah?
367
00:17:18,438 --> 00:17:20,605
So, I'm going to start
making this wedge.
368
00:17:20,607 --> 00:17:24,942
♪ ♪
369
00:17:24,944 --> 00:17:29,514
I could get hurt on the
outskirts of town chopping wood.
370
00:17:29,516 --> 00:17:33,551
An axe is an axe, it's going to
cause the same amount of damage.
371
00:17:33,553 --> 00:17:37,622
But out here, the consequences
are much greater,
372
00:17:37,624 --> 00:17:40,591
because out here in the Arctic,
being alone,
373
00:17:40,593 --> 00:17:42,526
no one's gonna help me
if I'm hurt.
374
00:17:42,528 --> 00:17:43,828
You put all that together,
375
00:17:43,830 --> 00:17:47,398
and it could be a very bad
recipe of disaster.
376
00:17:50,737 --> 00:17:52,703
Oh, it's gonna go.
377
00:17:52,705 --> 00:17:55,106
(creaking)
It's gonna go!
378
00:17:55,108 --> 00:17:56,674
(dog barks)
Java! Hey, no!
379
00:18:03,817 --> 00:18:07,085
(chopping)
380
00:18:07,087 --> 00:18:08,553
JOHNNY: Oh, it's gonna go.
381
00:18:08,555 --> 00:18:09,587
It's gonna go!
382
00:18:09,589 --> 00:18:12,256
(dog barks)
Java! Hey, no!
383
00:18:12,258 --> 00:18:16,627
(cracking)
384
00:18:16,629 --> 00:18:19,831
(crash)
385
00:18:21,768 --> 00:18:24,569
Java, you stay
out of the way, dude.
386
00:18:24,571 --> 00:18:27,638
Whew! Alright,
got the tree down.
387
00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,641
Next thing I got to do is just
take all of these branches off.
388
00:18:30,643 --> 00:18:32,944
Cut it into about
five, six-foot pieces.
389
00:18:32,946 --> 00:18:35,513
And those pieces will sit
on my sled real nice.
390
00:18:35,515 --> 00:18:39,150
I can drag them
all the way to camp.
391
00:18:39,152 --> 00:18:42,386
And coming out here,
and doing all this hard work,
392
00:18:42,388 --> 00:18:45,857
takes a lot of
stamina and energy.
393
00:18:45,859 --> 00:18:47,224
But the way I look at it is,
394
00:18:47,226 --> 00:18:52,797
I'd spend all month working
to pay for my heating bill.
395
00:18:52,799 --> 00:18:56,134
Spending a couple days out here
in this beautiful landscape
396
00:18:56,136 --> 00:18:58,169
getting my heat is worth it.
397
00:18:58,171 --> 00:19:02,673
♪ ♪
398
00:19:02,675 --> 00:19:05,476
So, I'm making a sled load here.
399
00:19:05,478 --> 00:19:07,378
And I'm gonna drag it
back to camp,
400
00:19:07,380 --> 00:19:08,946
just because
I got to take Java back.
401
00:19:08,948 --> 00:19:11,182
Her paws, she keeps
lifting her paws up.
402
00:19:11,184 --> 00:19:13,117
I can tell she's
really cold out here.
403
00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:14,619
The temperatures are dropping.
404
00:19:14,621 --> 00:19:17,788
The sun's going down, I got a
lot going against me right now.
405
00:19:17,790 --> 00:19:21,559
But it's not gonna stop me and
it's not gonna slow my progress.
406
00:19:21,561 --> 00:19:23,728
I just keep pushing forward.
407
00:19:23,730 --> 00:19:26,464
That's the name of the game.
408
00:19:26,466 --> 00:19:29,200
Take 'em to camp,
cut them into stove length.
409
00:19:29,202 --> 00:19:34,472
♪ ♪
410
00:19:34,474 --> 00:19:36,541
MANZO: A lot of these ideas
that I implement
411
00:19:36,543 --> 00:19:41,312
into my sustainable bush living
life comes from old-timers.
412
00:19:41,314 --> 00:19:43,514
If you don't know
how to do something,
413
00:19:43,516 --> 00:19:46,117
an old-timer will
never lead you wrong.
414
00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:51,022
♪ ♪
415
00:19:51,024 --> 00:19:53,624
Alright, that's turning out
to be a good, old, authentic,
416
00:19:53,626 --> 00:19:56,294
rustic-looking meat cache base.
417
00:19:56,296 --> 00:20:01,065
Now I got to turn this thing
up onto its side.
418
00:20:01,067 --> 00:20:02,867
Maybe prop it up against here
419
00:20:02,869 --> 00:20:04,936
and run these
little corner posts in,
420
00:20:04,938 --> 00:20:07,071
then start building up
the sides.
421
00:20:07,073 --> 00:20:12,410
It's essentially just gonna be
a big, heavy duty box.
422
00:20:12,412 --> 00:20:14,245
NARRATOR: Michael Manzo is
attempting to build
423
00:20:14,247 --> 00:20:17,014
a meat cache to safely store
and protect
424
00:20:17,016 --> 00:20:20,184
his vital provisions.
425
00:20:20,186 --> 00:20:22,920
As temperatures
continue to drop,
426
00:20:22,922 --> 00:20:25,957
he must work quickly,
as the surrounding predators
427
00:20:25,959 --> 00:20:28,960
move ever closer
to his base camp.
428
00:20:28,962 --> 00:20:33,130
♪ ♪
429
00:20:33,132 --> 00:20:35,299
MANZO: I got the legs on.
430
00:20:35,301 --> 00:20:37,902
Alright, next up,
I'm gonna put the sides up.
431
00:20:41,307 --> 00:20:42,740
(grunts)
432
00:20:42,742 --> 00:20:44,475
That's heavy.
433
00:20:44,477 --> 00:20:46,444
Ugh.
434
00:20:46,446 --> 00:20:48,145
Putting together a meat cache
435
00:20:48,147 --> 00:20:50,915
off the grid
in the bush of Alaska.
436
00:20:50,917 --> 00:20:53,184
This is really a puzzle.
437
00:20:53,186 --> 00:20:55,386
Each piece of wood that I mill
438
00:20:55,388 --> 00:20:58,456
is going to be slightly
different from the next,
439
00:20:58,458 --> 00:21:00,691
and so as I'm building,
440
00:21:00,693 --> 00:21:05,596
I'm thinking of the genius
of the old-timers.
441
00:21:07,767 --> 00:21:11,102
Alright, time to get
this roof on here.
442
00:21:11,104 --> 00:21:14,372
You can look at a black and
white photo of a meat cache,
443
00:21:14,374 --> 00:21:17,475
but could you imagine
what was involved
444
00:21:17,477 --> 00:21:21,779
to erect that thing
in the middle of nowhere?
445
00:21:21,781 --> 00:21:26,284
I have amazing, newer technology
tools to work with nowadays
446
00:21:26,286 --> 00:21:28,653
than what the old-timers had.
447
00:21:30,657 --> 00:21:32,523
That is awesome.
448
00:21:32,525 --> 00:21:35,059
I'll probably cut out
the doorway just big enough
449
00:21:35,061 --> 00:21:37,928
to climb in there and throw
some meat in there.
450
00:21:37,930 --> 00:21:42,333
Get a quarter in there,
moose quarter if I need to.
451
00:21:42,335 --> 00:21:45,336
It reminds me that present day,
452
00:21:45,338 --> 00:21:49,607
I certainly don't have the
answers like the old-timers did.
453
00:21:49,609 --> 00:21:52,977
I just keep working hard,
and before you know it,
454
00:21:52,979 --> 00:21:54,412
I'll have a complete,
455
00:21:54,414 --> 00:21:58,249
authentically Alaskan
turnkey meat cache.
456
00:21:58,251 --> 00:22:03,254
♪ ♪
457
00:22:03,256 --> 00:22:04,822
Plenty of space.
458
00:22:04,824 --> 00:22:06,290
Ugh, yeah.
459
00:22:06,292 --> 00:22:09,226
Stack a bunch of meat in here,
keep the animals out of it.
460
00:22:09,228 --> 00:22:12,063
It's an impenetrable fortress.
461
00:22:12,065 --> 00:22:13,864
Keep the haters out.
462
00:22:13,866 --> 00:22:15,466
Tomorrow's a big day.
463
00:22:15,468 --> 00:22:18,436
Turn this thing upright,
screw those four legs on,
464
00:22:18,438 --> 00:22:20,471
lift it all up as one unit.
465
00:22:20,473 --> 00:22:21,505
♪ ♪
466
00:22:21,507 --> 00:22:27,578
♪ ♪
467
00:22:27,580 --> 00:22:29,080
JESSI: We're always
gonna make mistakes,
468
00:22:29,082 --> 00:22:30,047
and things are gonna come up,
469
00:22:30,049 --> 00:22:32,750
and we're gonna have
challenges and setbacks.
470
00:22:32,752 --> 00:22:35,853
But we can't just quit when
it comes to making the Cosna
471
00:22:35,855 --> 00:22:38,489
our home and making
this place ours.
472
00:22:38,491 --> 00:22:43,828
♪ ♪
473
00:22:43,830 --> 00:22:45,162
CHRIS: How's it going?
474
00:22:45,164 --> 00:22:46,897
JESSI: Yeah. It's coming along.
475
00:22:46,899 --> 00:22:48,366
I got the beginnings
of a little cup.
476
00:22:48,368 --> 00:22:49,266
CHRIS: Yeah,
it looks pretty good,
477
00:22:49,268 --> 00:22:51,068
it almost looks like
a top of a flower.
478
00:22:51,070 --> 00:22:54,405
JESSI: Yeah. It'll be a good
little teacup, I think.
479
00:22:54,407 --> 00:22:57,274
CHRIS: The look on her face when
she starts creating her pottery,
480
00:22:57,276 --> 00:22:59,276
making these tiny
little funky cups,
481
00:22:59,278 --> 00:23:01,212
it's like her happy spot.
482
00:23:01,214 --> 00:23:02,313
JESSI: If I can drink out of it,
483
00:23:02,315 --> 00:23:05,983
then I'm gonna be
pleased as punch.
484
00:23:05,985 --> 00:23:07,885
CHRIS: In the city, you can just
run down to the local store
485
00:23:07,887 --> 00:23:09,487
and buy whatever you need.
486
00:23:09,489 --> 00:23:11,288
But out here,
the only way to get stuff
487
00:23:11,290 --> 00:23:12,523
is to create it from the land
488
00:23:12,525 --> 00:23:14,458
or from the supplies
you've brought out here.
489
00:23:14,460 --> 00:23:16,260
We're really short on supplies,
obviously,
490
00:23:16,262 --> 00:23:19,163
so if we can find a way,
like using a kiln,
491
00:23:19,165 --> 00:23:23,834
to create new items, that's
just unbelievable out here.
492
00:23:23,836 --> 00:23:25,436
I was rummaging through things,
493
00:23:25,438 --> 00:23:27,671
and I found some
old rusty nails.
494
00:23:27,673 --> 00:23:28,806
What I was thinking was,
495
00:23:28,808 --> 00:23:31,375
might be able to stick it
right down inside the forge,
496
00:23:31,377 --> 00:23:35,112
and then get it hot, and I could
pound out a knife or something.
497
00:23:35,114 --> 00:23:36,480
JESSI: Yeah! I'm stoked.
498
00:23:36,482 --> 00:23:38,416
I mean, like I'm gonna have
my little cups,
499
00:23:38,418 --> 00:23:40,651
and you're gonna make
some sweet knives.
500
00:23:40,653 --> 00:23:42,186
I think it'll be cool,
have the forge.
501
00:23:42,188 --> 00:23:44,155
CHRIS: I'm really excited
to try this out.
502
00:23:44,157 --> 00:23:48,426
JESSI: We're going to have the
best little tiny cups and knives
503
00:23:48,428 --> 00:23:49,760
in all of the Cosna.
504
00:23:49,762 --> 00:23:51,362
CHRIS: I'm gonna go gather up
some more supplies.
505
00:23:51,364 --> 00:23:52,329
JESSI: Okay.
506
00:23:52,331 --> 00:23:55,332
CHRIS: Give me a holler
when your stuff's done.
507
00:23:55,334 --> 00:23:57,234
JESSI: I'm gonna have to wait
a handful of hours
508
00:23:57,236 --> 00:23:59,904
to make sure that my pot
is nice and dry,
509
00:23:59,906 --> 00:24:03,441
and then I hope the kiln
ramps up how it needs to.
510
00:24:03,443 --> 00:24:05,576
It doesn't go too fast,
it doesn't go too slow.
511
00:24:05,578 --> 00:24:07,044
We'll have enough propane.
512
00:24:07,046 --> 00:24:09,580
There's a lot of things
that could go wrong here.
513
00:24:09,582 --> 00:24:12,216
CHRIS: I think you should just
fire it up and try it out!
514
00:24:12,218 --> 00:24:13,317
JESSI: We'll see.
515
00:24:13,319 --> 00:24:15,686
Nothing but to do but to do,
so let's do it.
516
00:24:15,688 --> 00:24:17,555
CHRIS: Alright, let me
start this up for you.
517
00:24:17,557 --> 00:24:18,589
JESSI: It's gonna be
one of those
518
00:24:18,591 --> 00:24:22,426
trial and error
kind of Cosna tries.
519
00:24:22,428 --> 00:24:25,896
♪ ♪
520
00:24:25,898 --> 00:24:26,964
Okay.
521
00:24:26,966 --> 00:24:28,299
We're gonna know
pretty instantly
522
00:24:28,301 --> 00:24:29,667
if this is gonna fail or not.
523
00:24:29,669 --> 00:24:30,468
CHRIS: Do you want me
to run the wand
524
00:24:30,470 --> 00:24:32,770
while you watch
everything or...?
525
00:24:32,772 --> 00:24:34,205
JESSI: Uh, sure.
You want to do that?
526
00:24:34,207 --> 00:24:38,542
CHRIS: Yeah, I want to just
heat it up real slow.
527
00:24:38,544 --> 00:24:40,444
Let me just see this real quick.
528
00:24:40,446 --> 00:24:42,680
JESSI: We need to get to
about 1,800 degrees
529
00:24:42,682 --> 00:24:45,015
for the clay vitrification.
530
00:24:45,017 --> 00:24:48,752
What that means is the clay's
sealed and it'll hold water.
531
00:24:48,754 --> 00:24:50,654
CHRIS: Watch out.
532
00:24:50,656 --> 00:24:54,258
I'm just gonna try to warm it up
in there real slow at first.
533
00:24:54,260 --> 00:24:55,392
JESSI: Communication is key.
534
00:24:55,394 --> 00:24:57,895
We need to talk to each other,
and we need to be aware
535
00:24:57,897 --> 00:25:01,232
of where the flame is and
not be careless in this project.
536
00:25:01,234 --> 00:25:04,101
Because, I mean,
we're getting 1,800 degrees.
537
00:25:04,103 --> 00:25:08,973
Molten hot lava coming out
of a volcano is 2,000 degrees,
538
00:25:08,975 --> 00:25:10,007
so we're right there.
539
00:25:10,009 --> 00:25:12,743
This is really, really hot.
540
00:25:12,745 --> 00:25:13,978
Just know if that explodes,
541
00:25:13,980 --> 00:25:17,214
like, it's gonna
come flying out.
542
00:25:17,216 --> 00:25:19,116
CHRIS: We got to be careful that
we don't let anything explode
543
00:25:19,118 --> 00:25:20,851
and come back and hit us.
544
00:25:20,853 --> 00:25:22,786
It'd be really hard
to deal with a burn
545
00:25:22,788 --> 00:25:24,722
as well as something
penetrated inside your skin
546
00:25:24,724 --> 00:25:26,056
all the way out here.
547
00:25:26,058 --> 00:25:27,892
I don't want to be
sitting there with pliers
548
00:25:27,894 --> 00:25:30,961
pulling glass out of my wife.
549
00:25:30,963 --> 00:25:33,864
I'm gonna bring it in
a little closer.
550
00:25:33,866 --> 00:25:35,799
JESSI: Come on, little pot.
551
00:25:37,503 --> 00:25:39,470
CHRIS: It looks
really cool in there.
552
00:25:39,472 --> 00:25:42,072
I'm gonna try to set it down.
553
00:25:42,074 --> 00:25:45,309
It's not quite tall enough,
we need a little shim.
554
00:25:46,779 --> 00:25:48,946
Little more.
Break it in half like that.
555
00:25:51,884 --> 00:25:54,885
JESSI: I was gonna put
this underneath here.
556
00:25:54,887 --> 00:25:55,786
(pop)
557
00:25:55,788 --> 00:25:56,954
JESSI: Oh, (bleep)!
CHRIS: Oh, it exploded!
558
00:26:03,729 --> 00:26:06,030
CHRIS: I'm gonna bring it in
a little closer.
559
00:26:06,032 --> 00:26:06,964
(pop)
560
00:26:06,966 --> 00:26:08,198
JESSI: Oh, (bleep)!
CHRIS: Oh, it exploded!
561
00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,334
JESSI: Damn.
562
00:26:10,336 --> 00:26:13,170
Oh, it exploded into
a bunch of little pieces.
563
00:26:13,172 --> 00:26:14,772
JESSI: Too wet.
CHRIS: Too wet.
564
00:26:14,774 --> 00:26:16,407
JESSI: Damn, damn, damn.
565
00:26:16,409 --> 00:26:20,110
It's just a frustrating time
right now.
566
00:26:20,112 --> 00:26:22,980
I'm gonna have to let the other
cups dry a little bit longer,
567
00:26:22,982 --> 00:26:26,951
and then come back
and try it again tomorrow.
568
00:26:26,953 --> 00:26:28,686
I've had a lot of this.
569
00:26:28,688 --> 00:26:31,221
I've had a lot of wet pieces
that have gone in my kiln,
570
00:26:31,223 --> 00:26:33,257
that have exploded
just like this, so.
571
00:26:33,259 --> 00:26:34,258
It will work.
572
00:26:34,260 --> 00:26:38,195
I just have to be more patient.
573
00:26:38,197 --> 00:26:40,297
Alright. Let's make some knives.
574
00:26:40,299 --> 00:26:41,932
CHRIS: Alright.
575
00:26:41,934 --> 00:26:43,400
Light this thing up.
576
00:26:43,402 --> 00:26:50,174
♪ ♪
577
00:26:50,176 --> 00:26:52,009
Alright, the spike's
starting to glow.
578
00:26:52,011 --> 00:26:54,979
Go ahead and tip it up,
try to get the tip for me.
579
00:26:58,117 --> 00:26:59,350
Perfect.
580
00:26:59,352 --> 00:27:01,819
JESSI: Wow.
581
00:27:01,821 --> 00:27:05,789
(clanking)
582
00:27:05,791 --> 00:27:07,391
CHRIS: There it is!
583
00:27:09,395 --> 00:27:11,562
It's something just calming
about sitting back
584
00:27:11,564 --> 00:27:14,298
and banging on steel
and watching the sparks fly.
585
00:27:14,300 --> 00:27:16,233
This is really cool.
586
00:27:16,235 --> 00:27:19,703
I'm just trying
to sharpen that edge up.
587
00:27:19,705 --> 00:27:22,439
Alright. There's my knife.
588
00:27:22,441 --> 00:27:24,842
I'm pretty excited.
I had a fantastic success.
589
00:27:24,844 --> 00:27:26,844
Before long, I'm gonna be
making pocket knives
590
00:27:26,846 --> 00:27:29,079
and skinning knives and axes,
591
00:27:29,081 --> 00:27:31,382
and I'm gonna be making
a lot of cool stuff out here
592
00:27:31,384 --> 00:27:33,717
so we can survive
a little easier.
593
00:27:33,719 --> 00:27:35,786
I'm really happy with that.
594
00:27:35,788 --> 00:27:37,521
I feel like it looks
like a real knife.
595
00:27:37,523 --> 00:27:39,890
It's got nice
little beveled edge.
596
00:27:39,892 --> 00:27:42,359
JESSI: You did great, love.
It looks awesome.
597
00:27:42,361 --> 00:27:44,028
CHRIS: Jess, on the other hand,
598
00:27:44,030 --> 00:27:45,429
things didn't quite
work out for her,
599
00:27:45,431 --> 00:27:47,131
and I'm feeling
kind of bad about that.
600
00:27:47,133 --> 00:27:51,435
I hope tomorrow everything works
out and she's has happy as I am.
601
00:27:51,437 --> 00:27:53,837
JESSI: I'll be back for you,
little kiln.
602
00:27:56,409 --> 00:27:59,043
JOHNNY: This land is
absolutely stunning.
603
00:27:59,045 --> 00:28:02,413
It's just hard to believe
that it's real.
604
00:28:02,415 --> 00:28:05,683
And it's been a dream
for well over a decade.
605
00:28:05,685 --> 00:28:10,020
And to see where I've planted
my flag, it's a awesome feeling.
606
00:28:10,022 --> 00:28:11,822
♪ ♪
607
00:28:11,824 --> 00:28:17,428
♪ ♪
608
00:28:17,430 --> 00:28:19,496
So I got a lot of my wood
back here.
609
00:28:19,498 --> 00:28:22,199
You know, the temperatures
are dropping and dropping.
610
00:28:22,201 --> 00:28:24,134
Every day it's getting colder.
611
00:28:24,136 --> 00:28:26,537
The sky's getting clear,
it's calm.
612
00:28:26,539 --> 00:28:28,005
And I notice that's
when all the cold air
613
00:28:28,007 --> 00:28:29,907
sinks down into this valley.
614
00:28:29,909 --> 00:28:32,376
So, firewood's a necessity.
615
00:28:32,378 --> 00:28:35,612
And I'm here to cut it all up
into stove-length pieces
616
00:28:35,614 --> 00:28:37,114
that'll fit into my stove.
617
00:28:37,116 --> 00:28:40,250
And I'm gonna stack 'em
on the side of my cabin.
618
00:28:40,252 --> 00:28:42,419
This kind of work
makes me feel great.
619
00:28:42,421 --> 00:28:45,089
You know, not only physically,
but mentally.
620
00:28:45,091 --> 00:28:49,626
Having a goal and accomplishing
it, it's a good feeling.
621
00:28:49,628 --> 00:28:54,765
It's very self-satisfying
to do laborious hard work.
622
00:28:54,767 --> 00:28:57,768
You know, it's the best sleeping
medication I could ask for.
623
00:28:57,770 --> 00:28:59,436
It's about to fall.
624
00:29:03,109 --> 00:29:05,209
Every log that I stack up
against the cabin
625
00:29:05,211 --> 00:29:07,978
is a sense of accomplishment.
626
00:29:07,980 --> 00:29:11,115
It's a good feeling.
627
00:29:11,117 --> 00:29:12,916
Each one of those
is providing heat,
628
00:29:12,918 --> 00:29:14,885
it's providing boiled water,
629
00:29:14,887 --> 00:29:19,356
it's providing a source
of energy to cook my food.
630
00:29:19,358 --> 00:29:22,292
I look at my stove
as the heart of my cabin.
631
00:29:22,294 --> 00:29:25,662
And the firewood is the blood
that makes it run.
632
00:29:28,067 --> 00:29:30,634
Whew!
633
00:29:30,636 --> 00:29:32,836
This is a pretty good start.
634
00:29:32,838 --> 00:29:35,139
This will be enough to get me
through a couple weeks.
635
00:29:39,145 --> 00:29:40,944
ALEX: All my adult life,
I've always been kind of seeking
636
00:29:40,946 --> 00:29:43,313
one challenge after another.
637
00:29:43,315 --> 00:29:45,983
You know, I guess that's just
kind of like my drug,
638
00:29:45,985 --> 00:29:48,552
triggering a positive
chemical reaction in my brain.
639
00:29:52,758 --> 00:29:55,159
So, I've got this drag built.
640
00:29:55,161 --> 00:29:57,895
Well, Sipsey,
it's all ready to go.
641
00:29:57,897 --> 00:29:59,696
What do you think?
Is it gonna work?
642
00:29:59,698 --> 00:30:02,900
He says, "I don't care."
643
00:30:02,902 --> 00:30:05,803
So, let's go have a drive
and test it out.
644
00:30:09,308 --> 00:30:11,408
Yeah, so I'm just gonna,
just take it down
645
00:30:11,410 --> 00:30:13,143
and then bring it back up.
646
00:30:13,145 --> 00:30:15,145
This is my usual route
I got to drag.
647
00:30:15,147 --> 00:30:16,947
There's not any
fresh snow to push,
648
00:30:16,949 --> 00:30:19,883
but I'll still be able to tell
if it's gonna solve my problems.
649
00:30:19,885 --> 00:30:23,554
Since I'm out here living alone,
far from other people,
650
00:30:23,556 --> 00:30:26,490
the responsibility to mitigate
risk as much as possible
651
00:30:26,492 --> 00:30:28,425
is totally on myself.
652
00:30:28,427 --> 00:30:32,462
So I always have to kind of
imagine the worst-case scenario
653
00:30:32,464 --> 00:30:33,664
and plan for that.
654
00:30:33,666 --> 00:30:35,666
Some of these narrow spots
are where I'm worried about
655
00:30:35,668 --> 00:30:40,904
it breaking, because it's just
got to squeeze through there.
656
00:30:40,906 --> 00:30:42,339
The better I can
make this trail,
657
00:30:42,341 --> 00:30:44,775
the easier I can make it
to be able to use this truck,
658
00:30:44,777 --> 00:30:47,377
and use it to give myself
the best fighting chance
659
00:30:47,379 --> 00:30:49,880
if there's an emergency.
660
00:30:49,882 --> 00:30:52,082
Okay, that was a narrow spot
I just squeezed and had a tug.
661
00:30:52,084 --> 00:30:53,917
I want to check it.
662
00:30:53,919 --> 00:30:56,353
See if that did any damage
right there.
663
00:31:00,092 --> 00:31:03,961
So far the drag itself
is holding up fine.
664
00:31:03,963 --> 00:31:08,232
So this, kind of this line,
like right here,
665
00:31:08,234 --> 00:31:12,336
this is, this is like how wide
the trail was before,
666
00:31:12,338 --> 00:31:14,972
and then it's pushing
all this extra.
667
00:31:14,974 --> 00:31:17,741
So shoving it out further
is really good.
668
00:31:17,743 --> 00:31:19,576
That's pretty cool.
669
00:31:19,578 --> 00:31:20,711
I mean, we got more to test,
670
00:31:20,713 --> 00:31:24,281
but the uphill side
was cut off really good,
671
00:31:24,283 --> 00:31:27,417
and that's one of those spots
where it was sliding a lot.
672
00:31:27,419 --> 00:31:29,486
We got more spots
like that to hit,
673
00:31:29,488 --> 00:31:32,489
but that's definitely
a good sign.
674
00:31:32,491 --> 00:31:34,958
The weight of the thing alone
might also just help keep it
675
00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:38,795
from sliding a lot, as well.
676
00:31:38,797 --> 00:31:40,430
I can see that this bank,
677
00:31:40,432 --> 00:31:43,667
it is grabbing that bank
and pushing it out more, so.
678
00:31:43,669 --> 00:31:45,068
I'm getting some extra width,
679
00:31:45,070 --> 00:31:49,039
and it looks like it's just
pushing right through that snow.
680
00:31:50,442 --> 00:31:52,709
Yeah, so this whole section
over here, this one spot
681
00:31:52,711 --> 00:31:56,914
where there's kind of a,
I'm kind of at an angle here.
682
00:32:00,252 --> 00:32:01,752
You hear that?
683
00:32:05,224 --> 00:32:06,723
Ooh, (bleep)!
684
00:32:06,725 --> 00:32:07,591
I'm gonna need to check,
685
00:32:07,593 --> 00:32:10,761
make sure everything's
still in place.
686
00:32:13,599 --> 00:32:14,932
Yeah, we had a failure here.
687
00:32:23,943 --> 00:32:26,143
ALEX: Yeah, we had
a failure here.
688
00:32:26,145 --> 00:32:28,345
The drag itself is good.
689
00:32:28,347 --> 00:32:29,846
In fact, it's great.
690
00:32:29,848 --> 00:32:32,950
But this rope was too weak,
and this rope broke.
691
00:32:32,952 --> 00:32:34,017
The metal bar fell,
692
00:32:34,019 --> 00:32:35,719
and that's what made
that loud clanking noise.
693
00:32:35,721 --> 00:32:36,853
So I'll just replace this rope
694
00:32:36,855 --> 00:32:38,889
and then everything
should be good.
695
00:32:38,891 --> 00:32:42,960
♪ ♪
696
00:32:42,962 --> 00:32:44,962
That's like one of those things
you don't know
697
00:32:44,964 --> 00:32:46,296
until you test things out.
698
00:32:46,298 --> 00:32:48,832
So that's like one
of those great things
699
00:32:48,834 --> 00:32:50,934
you can learn through testing.
700
00:32:52,638 --> 00:32:54,571
(beep) Oh.
701
00:32:56,742 --> 00:33:00,077
So I was thinking to just
double the rope up
702
00:33:00,079 --> 00:33:03,480
and then make a knot,
which will use a lot more rope,
703
00:33:03,482 --> 00:33:06,316
but a chain is just
way quicker and easier,
704
00:33:06,318 --> 00:33:09,386
and it's much, much stronger.
705
00:33:09,388 --> 00:33:12,422
I don't have to be down here
tying knots as much.
706
00:33:12,424 --> 00:33:14,558
I just put the chain through,
hook it.
707
00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:15,726
That's easy.
708
00:33:15,728 --> 00:33:18,895
Okay, this side's
good and tight.
709
00:33:18,897 --> 00:33:20,197
Definitely it's gonna be
a lot stronger.
710
00:33:20,199 --> 00:33:21,665
Will it be strong enough?
711
00:33:21,667 --> 00:33:24,234
Uh, I'll just have
to go test it and see.
712
00:33:27,439 --> 00:33:30,107
There we go.
713
00:33:30,109 --> 00:33:33,076
Okay. This will be test two.
714
00:33:33,078 --> 00:33:35,112
Alright,
I don't need no whammies.
715
00:33:35,114 --> 00:33:40,217
♪ ♪
716
00:33:40,219 --> 00:33:42,719
That's good, it's staying
a lot more rigid now.
717
00:33:42,721 --> 00:33:44,821
I'm cutting the trail even wider
718
00:33:44,823 --> 00:33:47,657
than the first time
I passed through here.
719
00:33:47,659 --> 00:33:50,093
You know, when it hits
kind of a hard spot of snow,
720
00:33:50,095 --> 00:33:55,065
it's not just bouncing off
of it, it's plowing through.
721
00:33:55,067 --> 00:33:58,335
Just having that rigid chain
is a lot, doing a lot better.
722
00:33:58,337 --> 00:33:59,903
So that's great.
723
00:34:01,607 --> 00:34:05,208
So, if I just get through
the rest of the way with this
724
00:34:05,210 --> 00:34:08,245
and everything looks good,
then call it done.
725
00:34:08,247 --> 00:34:13,683
♪ ♪
726
00:34:13,685 --> 00:34:16,053
MANZO: You can't escape
the strains
727
00:34:16,055 --> 00:34:19,656
of living a rural
Alaskan lifestyle.
728
00:34:19,658 --> 00:34:21,091
It's not for everybody.
729
00:34:21,093 --> 00:34:23,260
But you walk away
with a stronger core
730
00:34:23,262 --> 00:34:25,395
and a stronger mind.
731
00:34:25,397 --> 00:34:27,431
♪ ♪
732
00:34:27,433 --> 00:34:32,903
♪ ♪
733
00:34:32,905 --> 00:34:36,606
Alright. Got a nice start.
First light.
734
00:34:36,608 --> 00:34:40,444
I'll set the legs, brace 'em
good, hook up a winch, and boop!
735
00:34:40,446 --> 00:34:41,845
Get this thing upright.
736
00:34:41,847 --> 00:34:44,414
This meat cache is gonna
save a lot of grief.
737
00:34:44,416 --> 00:34:48,919
Keep all these animals
out of my food.
738
00:34:48,921 --> 00:34:51,054
After I attach these legs,
739
00:34:51,056 --> 00:34:55,192
this thing will probably weigh
2,000 pounds.
740
00:34:55,194 --> 00:34:58,595
And so 2,000 pounds
of green wood
741
00:34:58,597 --> 00:35:02,265
that hasn't quite got it's
strength yet from drying out,
742
00:35:02,267 --> 00:35:04,734
I'm super concerned about
yanking this thing upright
743
00:35:04,736 --> 00:35:06,103
in the cold weather.
744
00:35:06,105 --> 00:35:09,272
It's not an easy job,
and it's not a safe job,
745
00:35:09,274 --> 00:35:11,141
but it has to be done.
746
00:35:14,113 --> 00:35:15,545
Alright.
747
00:35:15,547 --> 00:35:19,716
I'm just bracing this
as good as I can everywhere.
748
00:35:19,718 --> 00:35:21,551
And that's the only way
that I can guarantee
749
00:35:21,553 --> 00:35:24,254
that I'm not going
to snap something.
750
00:35:24,256 --> 00:35:27,991
If something breaks on the pull,
I'm gonna give up on all this.
751
00:35:27,993 --> 00:35:30,127
And I don't want
to give up on it.
752
00:35:32,164 --> 00:35:34,798
I don't want to winch
from a horizontal
753
00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:35,832
directly at the ground.
754
00:35:35,834 --> 00:35:39,569
That type of force,
it's going to flex and yank
755
00:35:39,571 --> 00:35:43,306
and rip on things,
and a joint could fail.
756
00:35:43,308 --> 00:35:46,943
So, I'm gonna have to run
a strap and tension it off
757
00:35:46,945 --> 00:35:51,715
three or four trees,
about 18 foot up.
758
00:35:51,717 --> 00:35:54,484
That will give
a more gradual pull
759
00:35:54,486 --> 00:35:57,187
on this 2,000-pound meat cache.
760
00:35:59,124 --> 00:36:00,457
I'm just trying to visualize
761
00:36:00,459 --> 00:36:03,360
everything bad
that could happen.
762
00:36:03,362 --> 00:36:04,461
This could slip.
763
00:36:04,463 --> 00:36:08,465
And if any of these joints slip,
the shock of that
764
00:36:08,467 --> 00:36:11,902
will allow that heavy meat cache
to get enough inertia
765
00:36:11,904 --> 00:36:14,070
to catastrophically
destroy something.
766
00:36:14,072 --> 00:36:17,307
Once I start the pull,
I'm committed.
767
00:36:17,309 --> 00:36:20,177
There's no backing away
from that.
768
00:36:22,881 --> 00:36:25,982
This whole job
of erecting this thing,
769
00:36:25,984 --> 00:36:29,219
there is a lot of uncertainty,
a lot of unknowns.
770
00:36:29,221 --> 00:36:31,288
It's very sobering.
771
00:36:31,290 --> 00:36:33,390
(squeaking)
772
00:36:33,392 --> 00:36:37,093
Hear that? It's begging
for human sacrifice.
773
00:36:37,095 --> 00:36:40,430
I don't like working
with this tool.
774
00:36:40,432 --> 00:36:42,666
I don't like anything about it.
775
00:36:44,670 --> 00:36:46,703
It reminds me of a moment
776
00:36:46,705 --> 00:36:50,440
when I was a young specialist
in the army,
777
00:36:50,442 --> 00:36:56,846
and I was going on my first
convoy into a combat zone.
778
00:36:56,848 --> 00:36:58,848
All these hokey-ass knots.
779
00:36:58,850 --> 00:37:02,352
This strap is so thick
I can barely work with it.
780
00:37:02,354 --> 00:37:06,122
Some sketchy, sketchy (bleep).
781
00:37:06,124 --> 00:37:07,891
We had no armor.
782
00:37:07,893 --> 00:37:10,527
We had no air support.
783
00:37:10,529 --> 00:37:13,997
And I was truly terrified.
784
00:37:13,999 --> 00:37:16,666
Alright.
785
00:37:16,668 --> 00:37:18,935
Time to do some crazy stuff.
786
00:37:18,937 --> 00:37:21,605
(motor starts)
787
00:37:21,607 --> 00:37:24,841
But there just comes a time
where you just got to do it.
788
00:37:24,843 --> 00:37:28,545
You got to get the mission done.
789
00:37:28,547 --> 00:37:30,447
(cracking)
790
00:37:30,449 --> 00:37:35,285
This pull at 2,000 pounds
is heavier than anything
791
00:37:35,287 --> 00:37:37,721
I've ever pulled
with this winch.
792
00:37:37,723 --> 00:37:40,924
Ah, this is so shady.
793
00:37:40,926 --> 00:37:45,795
As this thing begins to rise up
and go vertical,
794
00:37:45,797 --> 00:37:49,399
it's gonna get to a point
where it's gonna fall forward.
795
00:37:49,401 --> 00:37:50,867
And once that thing
gets some momentum,
796
00:37:50,869 --> 00:37:54,471
it's gonna come crashing down,
and it ain't gonna be pretty.
797
00:37:54,473 --> 00:37:58,174
This is the moment
where if something fails,
798
00:37:58,176 --> 00:38:02,512
all that hard work,
gone in a split second.
799
00:38:02,514 --> 00:38:08,652
♪ ♪
800
00:38:08,654 --> 00:38:14,891
♪ ♪
801
00:38:21,900 --> 00:38:24,200
MANZO: Ah, this is so shady.
802
00:38:24,202 --> 00:38:30,974
♪ ♪
803
00:38:30,976 --> 00:38:37,814
♪ ♪
804
00:38:37,816 --> 00:38:41,851
Alright. Piece of cake, huh?
805
00:38:41,853 --> 00:38:43,887
16 foot to the top of that.
806
00:38:43,889 --> 00:38:48,725
♪ ♪
807
00:38:48,727 --> 00:38:50,927
Everything worked as envisioned.
808
00:38:50,929 --> 00:38:54,898
It was some serious force,
but it went up alright.
809
00:38:54,900 --> 00:38:56,566
I'm glad nothing broke.
810
00:38:56,568 --> 00:38:58,201
Super relieved.
811
00:38:58,203 --> 00:39:01,271
Sometimes you got to do
dangerous, stupid stuff.
812
00:39:01,273 --> 00:39:02,572
But here it is.
813
00:39:02,574 --> 00:39:05,241
It's up and running, and it's
gonna save me a lot of work.
814
00:39:05,243 --> 00:39:07,043
And now it's time
to get a door on this,
815
00:39:07,045 --> 00:39:08,845
get a bunch of my food in there,
816
00:39:08,847 --> 00:39:10,613
get a roof on it.
817
00:39:10,615 --> 00:39:14,451
Everything is now
gonna be safe up in there,
818
00:39:14,453 --> 00:39:17,153
where no animal can
get my hides again.
819
00:39:17,155 --> 00:39:23,393
♪ ♪
820
00:39:23,395 --> 00:39:24,661
ALEX: Yeah,
so these improvements
821
00:39:24,663 --> 00:39:27,030
all look like they're
really paying off.
822
00:39:27,032 --> 00:39:30,367
Now it's cutting through
the snowbanks a lot better.
823
00:39:30,369 --> 00:39:31,634
As long as I have
that discipline
824
00:39:31,636 --> 00:39:35,772
to always come out here and drag
it every time I get fresh snow,
825
00:39:35,774 --> 00:39:39,676
I'm gonna have
a really good, solid trail.
826
00:39:39,678 --> 00:39:41,611
I like that a lot of the work
I have to do here,
827
00:39:41,613 --> 00:39:45,115
it involves me to get to know
this actual land here,
828
00:39:45,117 --> 00:39:47,917
to get to actually know
my environment.
829
00:39:47,919 --> 00:39:49,319
You know, I mean,
you could be the same way
830
00:39:49,321 --> 00:39:51,287
with your community in the city.
831
00:39:51,289 --> 00:39:53,857
But I like that my environment
here is a forest.
832
00:39:53,859 --> 00:39:55,258
You know, it's beautiful.
833
00:39:55,260 --> 00:39:59,295
It's something I want
to be connected with.
834
00:39:59,297 --> 00:40:01,131
There's no guarantees.
835
00:40:01,133 --> 00:40:02,332
Just because living out here,
836
00:40:02,334 --> 00:40:05,835
especially in a kind of
a primitive way like I do,
837
00:40:05,837 --> 00:40:09,973
I take on a lot of
kind of deadly risk.
838
00:40:09,975 --> 00:40:13,209
And so it's good to know
I have this lifeline available.
839
00:40:13,211 --> 00:40:16,913
If I have an emergency,
I don't have to die out here.
840
00:40:16,915 --> 00:40:21,618
♪ ♪
841
00:40:21,620 --> 00:40:24,020
JESSI: Alright. Round two.
842
00:40:24,022 --> 00:40:26,356
CHRIS: You think
it's gonna work this time?
843
00:40:26,358 --> 00:40:27,891
JESSI: I hope so.
844
00:40:27,893 --> 00:40:29,426
These had a lot longer to dry,
845
00:40:29,428 --> 00:40:31,294
put 'em right beside
the stove, so.
846
00:40:31,296 --> 00:40:34,097
Alright, here's a cup.
847
00:40:34,099 --> 00:40:36,166
I feel like maybe it's too
finicky for the Cosna.
848
00:40:36,168 --> 00:40:39,369
CHRIS: It might be,
but we're gonna try.
849
00:40:39,371 --> 00:40:41,671
JESSI: I need to hit
1,800 degrees for the clay
850
00:40:41,673 --> 00:40:45,809
to hit vitrification
inside the kiln.
851
00:40:45,811 --> 00:40:48,711
And as soon as the clay hits
1,800 degrees, we're good to go,
852
00:40:48,713 --> 00:40:50,713
it just needs to cool down.
853
00:40:53,218 --> 00:40:55,185
CHRIS: It's gonna
go slowly down.
854
00:40:55,187 --> 00:40:57,320
(torch roaring)
855
00:40:57,322 --> 00:40:58,521
JESSI: Come on, little cup.
856
00:40:58,523 --> 00:41:00,256
My first cup out here
at the Cosna
857
00:41:00,258 --> 00:41:02,725
burst inside the kiln
first thing.
858
00:41:02,727 --> 00:41:05,328
There is something about
being out here at the Cosna.
859
00:41:05,330 --> 00:41:10,133
Just being so close to success
out here and then failing.
860
00:41:10,135 --> 00:41:11,401
Oh, my gosh.
861
00:41:11,403 --> 00:41:12,869
CHRIS: It is glowing in there.
862
00:41:12,871 --> 00:41:14,471
JESSI: It's beautiful.
863
00:41:15,941 --> 00:41:17,807
Come on, cup.
864
00:41:17,809 --> 00:41:21,344
And I have learned that
that's all part of the process.
865
00:41:21,346 --> 00:41:23,913
You learn something
with every failure.
866
00:41:23,915 --> 00:41:24,781
CHRIS: You stoked?
867
00:41:24,783 --> 00:41:26,850
JESSI: I'm so stoked!
868
00:41:26,852 --> 00:41:28,451
Oh, my gosh.
869
00:41:28,453 --> 00:41:30,086
CHRIS: I feel really proud
she created something
870
00:41:30,088 --> 00:41:31,554
that we can use every day.
871
00:41:31,556 --> 00:41:33,423
And I can start making tools.
872
00:41:33,425 --> 00:41:34,524
Endless possibilities,
873
00:41:34,526 --> 00:41:36,559
and something we're gonna
be able to use for years.
874
00:41:36,561 --> 00:41:38,962
JESSI: Oh, little guy!
875
00:41:38,964 --> 00:41:40,196
Look at you go.
876
00:41:40,198 --> 00:41:42,899
CHRIS: Good job.
877
00:41:42,901 --> 00:41:49,239
♪ ♪
878
00:41:49,241 --> 00:41:53,476
MANZO: This thing was
a journey into history.
879
00:41:53,478 --> 00:41:55,879
It's looking
pretty darn authentic.
880
00:41:57,682 --> 00:42:00,750
Process of this,
it went so smoothly.
881
00:42:00,752 --> 00:42:03,786
And now that it's upright,
I can get to putting on
882
00:42:03,788 --> 00:42:08,925
some authentic Alaskan touches
to this thing.
883
00:42:08,927 --> 00:42:11,995
There's so much going on in
my mind this time of the season.
884
00:42:11,997 --> 00:42:15,198
I have new trails
I have to put in,
885
00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:17,500
boat repairs that
need to be done,
886
00:42:17,502 --> 00:42:20,069
finish work on a new cabin.
887
00:42:20,071 --> 00:42:23,106
And now the stress
of my food and hides
888
00:42:23,108 --> 00:42:25,375
being ransacked by animals,
889
00:42:25,377 --> 00:42:30,179
that's one less thing on
my plate I have to worry about.
890
00:42:30,181 --> 00:42:32,482
I'm gonna put a little
set of antlers on here.
891
00:42:32,484 --> 00:42:34,517
♪ ♪
892
00:42:34,519 --> 00:42:40,089
♪ ♪
893
00:42:40,091 --> 00:42:44,661
There's the authentic touch
to the great Alaskan puzzle.
894
00:42:46,197 --> 00:42:48,231
Alright, that's a wrap.
895
00:42:55,040 --> 00:42:58,374
JOHNNY: So, I'm taking water
896
00:42:58,376 --> 00:43:02,211
and topping off
my Arctic hot tub.
897
00:43:02,213 --> 00:43:04,681
That's what I'm doing here.
898
00:43:04,683 --> 00:43:07,584
Physically I feel
pretty torn and battered
899
00:43:07,586 --> 00:43:10,386
after busting my ass
with firewood.
900
00:43:10,388 --> 00:43:14,157
So I'm gonna take this barrel,
I'm gonna take a soak.
901
00:43:14,159 --> 00:43:15,825
Oh, god, that's nice.
902
00:43:19,664 --> 00:43:24,934
That same timber that beat me
up, that made my body sore,
903
00:43:24,936 --> 00:43:29,672
is now converted into energy,
and it's healing my body.
904
00:43:29,674 --> 00:43:32,208
It's kind of a full circle.
905
00:43:34,946 --> 00:43:40,183
I never imagined myself to be
sitting in a homemade hot tub
906
00:43:40,185 --> 00:43:45,421
above the Arctic Circle in
-30 degrees and enjoying myself.
907
00:43:46,691 --> 00:43:50,326
A lot of people say,
why the Arctic?
908
00:43:50,328 --> 00:43:53,296
What are you running from?
What are you hiding from?
909
00:43:53,298 --> 00:43:55,398
And my response is,
910
00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:58,768
I'm not running or hiding
from anything.
911
00:43:58,770 --> 00:44:02,005
Maybe I'm seeking for something.
912
00:44:02,007 --> 00:44:04,974
Being out here, you have an
opportunity to isolate yourself,
913
00:44:04,976 --> 00:44:10,513
to get to know yourself and find
a more meaningful purpose.
914
00:44:10,515 --> 00:44:13,616
I think ultimately, that's what
we're all after, is freedom.
915
00:44:13,618 --> 00:44:18,354
It's a lot of work
to live this lifestyle.
916
00:44:18,356 --> 00:44:21,357
But to me, it's a life
worth living.
917
00:44:21,359 --> 00:44:23,259
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