Male narrator: Tonight, for
the first time in ice road
history...
>> [Laughing]
>> Narrator: The haul road's
top drivers join together in
the largest convoy the Dalton's
ever seen...
[Horn honking]
Bringing supplies to a village
about to be cut off from
civilization.
>> So that's why we're trying to
get out there as fast as we can.
>> Narrator: They'll battle
weather...
>> You okay, Alex?
Can you see?
>> No.
>> Narrator: Thinning ice...
>> I heard about a guy dying out
here a couple weeks ago.
>> Narrator: And each other.
>> Are we supposed to be
dragging our feet, Greg?
>> I swear, the guy likes his
own voice too damn much.
>> Narrator: In a 570-mile
journey that puts everything on
the line.
>> I would rather die doing
something I love doing than
being too scared to live life.
>> Holy [Bleep].
[Aerosmith's livin' on the edge]
>> ♪ Livin' on the edge ♪
>> Narrator: These are the
truckers who make their living...
>> yee haw!
>> On thin ice.
>> ♪ Livin' on the edge ♪
>> [Laughing]
>> â™ª You can't help yourself â™ª
♪ you can't help yourself ♪
♪ livin' on the edge ♪
♪ you can't help yourself ♪
♪ from falling ♪
♪ livin' on the edge ♪
♪ yeah, yeah ♪
Sync by n17t01 www.addic7ed.com
All right, Fairbanks
kfar, 660 am.
Temperatures rising, ce road
softening up.
Now's the time to get your trips
in before it gets out from
underneath you.
>> Narrator: As the ice road
season hits the home stretch,
the window for moving loads
north is closing fast.
At the Carlile yard, heavy
hauler Jack Jessee's being sent
on an important fuel delivery.
>> Well, we got a load of fuel
going out to the village.
>> Narrator: At the start of
the season, Jack took the first
load of fuel across the ice to
Nuiqsut.
And now, he's taking the last.
Rising temperatures mean the ice
is getting thin.
And when it's gone, the door to
Nuiqsut will be shut.
With the ice road just days from
closing, Jack's not alone.
Today the haul road's top
drivers are being dispatched in
a supersize convoy to make the
final deliveries to the village
before the ice road disappears.
>> So this will be kinda cool,
getting to go out over the ice.
I think it's a village.
Population, I don't know.
Three?
[Laughing]
I don't know.
[Chuckles]
I guess I'll find out.
This will be fun to learn about
the place.
>> Well, all looks good.
>> The best I can see,
everything is a-okay.
>> Narrator: First they'll face
500 Miles of the Dalton, with
loads bound for the oil fields.
Once they reach Prudhoe, they'll
pick up the last load of
supplies bound for Nuiqsut,
and head another 70 Miles across
the Colville river.
[Horn honking]
>> [Laughing]
>> Well, the ice road's usually
only open for about two months.
Two and half months, if weather
permits.
And in that span of time, we
have to get everything out to
the villages.
We got a short window to get
this stuff done, so that's why
we're trying to get out there
as fast as we can.
>> Never been to Nuiqsut before,
so that's a new lovely ball
game for me over there.
You never know exactly what's
gonna happen.
>> This is gonna be a load that
needs to go to a lnupiat
community,
in a settlement which is
actually cut off from the rest
of civilization.
>> Ah, it'll actually be the
first time I've actually really
gone much outside of the Carlile
yard in Prudhoe.
I don't know the ice road at
all.
Just that we've prepared for the
worst and hope for the best.
>> I gotta go north of Prudhoe
three or four hours to get out
to Nuiqsut, and probably across
some rivers or something, I
don't know.
I've never been out there, so
it'll be a kind of a fun
adventure to try it out.
First time I'll be crossing a
frozen river.
I've been on an ocean and I've
been on the tundra ice, but I've
never been on river ice.
>> Narrator: The journey's off
to a strong start, but just ten
Miles outside of Fairbanks...
[Cell phone ringing]
>> So what's wrong with this
trailer?
Oh.
All right.
Well, I'll be right back.
Okay.
My quickness out of town was now
set just back farther than
normal.
>> Narrator: In the rush to get
trucks on the road, Lisa was
given the wrong trailer.
She's headed north, but her load
should be going South to the
city of Kenai.
>> Kenai's here, Anchorage is
here, Fairbanks is here, Prudhoe
is here.
I can't believe it got this far
before they noticed that this
doesn't even go here.
You know, as soon as you find
out the freight's going the
wrong direction, then any more
minutes going the wrong
direction is minutes wasted.
>> Narrator: After returning to
Fairbanks for a new load, Lisa
will have to hustle to catch up
with the convoy.
>> Again.
This day could get crappy really
St.
>> Narrator: While Lisa heads
back, the rest of the pack
forges ahead.
Greg Boadwine's pulled to the
front of the line.
>> This might very well be the
lightest load I've had this
season.
Oh, yeah, it's nice to be this
light.
Especially today, because the
entire group is behind me.
I got... see if I can remember the
order here, I got Alex back
there behind me, then Hugh, then
ray, then Jack.
>> Narrator: With his heavy load
of fuel, Jack's dropped to the
back.
And Greg's eating up the chance
to lead the convoy.
>> They have to have somebody
out in front to lead and get
them through the scary spots.
I'm enjoying it.
It's gonna give me some material
to talk some crap about later.
>> Narrator: But the Dalton's
no place to get cocky.
>> 10-4, thanks.
Yeah, they got a rollover on
the 17-mile at the Dalton.
I don't know if it's a big rig,
or just a pickup, or what's
rolled over there.
But we're about 15 Miles away.
[Indistinct radio chatter]
>> 17-mile is a bunch of curves
in there, who knows.
You know, it's just speculation.
We're just guessing right now.
We're gonna see when we get
there.
[Police radio chatter]
>> Holy [Bleep].
Narrator: 100 Miles north of
Fairbanks, a rig carrying a
6 1/2 ton diesel
generator caught an edge...
And rolled into the ditch.
Holy [Bleep].
Looks like somebody's in the
ditch.
Ease on through here real...
Slow and gentle.
A nasty roll.
That's just yet another one of
the wonderful hazards out here
is...Thin road.
You can get too far over before
you even come close to realizing
it.
As soon as that steer tire gets
in the ditch, you're screwed.
I mean, if it hits the snow,
you're done.
I received the radio dispatch
at 7:17 this morning.
And I made it on scene here at
0920 hours.
This morning, this gentleman was
transporting a generator set,
two skid steers, and a pallet of
motor oil.
This guy had the whole road to
himself this morning when this
happened.
He didn't meet anybody, he
didn't have any animals in front
of him.
You know, good lighting
conditions...
You know, this could happen to
anybody with any experience.
Well, that definitely... that
wasn't a little bit in the
ditch, that whole darn thing was
in the ditch.
You know, and all he did was he
got too close to the edge.
He thought that there was
plenty of room on the shoulder,
and there isn't shoulders up
here.
You know, if you get too close,
it gets sucked in.
Pfft, that's what happens.
Narrator: The driver was
taken to the hospital.
And the truck will have to be
towed back to Fairbanks...
Once they can recover the load.
It's a grim reminder that any
trip to Prudhoe bay could turn
into a trip to the scrap yard.
Just glad that wasn't me.
That's a bad deal.
Nobody wants to get in that.
Seeing that definitely
reminds you how dangerous it is,
how much respect you have to
have for this road.
You look away for a quarter
second, you could end up on
your side.
Narrator: 100 Miles South...
Why's it say Prudhoe on it
then, if it doesn't go to
Prudhoe?
Narrator: Lisa's back at
dispatch after finding out her
last load was headed in the
wrong direction.
You have 1835.
I have 1835.
All right?
Are you sure?
I am.
Can I leave this time?
You can leave.
But as a dispatcher, I reserve
the right to recall you at any
time.
Well, then I better get out
of phone service before you do.
You should.
[Laughing]
The other load isn't going to
Prudhoe, so this one apparently
is.
[Beeping]
Narrator: This time, Lisa's
rig is loaded with a snowmobile
bound directly for Nuiqsut.
That should be good.
Yep.
Narrator: By 11:00 A.M.,
she's back on the Dalton, racing
to catch up with the rest of the
fleet.
I'm telling you, it's raining
on my parade today.
[Laughing]
Weather's getting crappy, the
loads are getting heavier and
longer...
My clock is ticking, so we
cannot wait.
Narrator: Two hours ahead of
her, the convoy pushes north
with Greg still out in front.
Getting out ahead.
I hope to stay out ahead of
everyone.
Probably be able to get out far
enough ahead that I don't really
have to worry about it.
Narrator: After passing the
wreck this morning, Greg's
taking it slow as he navigates
the taps... a 55-mile stretch of
road known for its hills and
sharp corners.
Conditions I'm not liking.
Trying to make sure we keep
traction everywhere and don't
have any mishaps.
In about half a second flat,
someone could spin out.
And I definitely hope it's not
me.
Narrator: But every decision
Greg makes affects the other
drivers.
Hey, boys...
Narrator: Alex needs momentum
to make it up the hills, and
he's tired of Greg's pace.
Are we supposed to be
dragging our feet, Greg?
[Scoffs]
Oh, it's really rough.
He starts giving me "the Jack."
Sounded like the Jack Jessee
speech.
"Oh, yeah, the road's rough.
We gotta take it easy here."
Yeah, give me a break.
He made up his own plan there
for what he's gonna do.
Get in everybody's way.
Now we're gonna be right behind
him unless he can...
Narrator: To make it over
the hills with his heavier load,
Alex floors it.
I hope that's not Alex behind
us.
If it is, he's dropping
awful fast.
He shouldn't even be close to
that.
He shouldn't be anywhere near
that close to us.
[Bleep], he's coming down hard.
Pipe load's gonna snap that
truck, if he keeps that up.
[Mutters] Grief.
Well, I gotta figure out, okay,
this guy's gonna drive slow.
You know, so pretty soon I'll be
putting up flack from the guy
behind me is driving fast.
Narrator: Just behind Alex is
Hugh.
Out driving amid the hills
again.
His truck goes a little faster,
but he don't know how to use it.
It's tough giving Alex a little
space, 'cause he's going so
[bleep] Slow.
He knows I'm coming, he always
tells me to stay back.
Then I got a guy behind that
wants to go fast.
So I'm going too slow for the
guy behind, and too fast for
the guy in front.
Of course, the guy in front, he
can go and drag his butt because
he's got half a load.
He just, he has no load on him.
Always a fun one.
Trying to get Alex back there
to shut up so we can hear the
radio long enough.
I swear, the guy likes his own
voice too damn much.
It's getting old quick.
What a bunch of bologna.
[Horn honking]
Narrator: By midday, the
convoy's past coldfoot.
And thanks to Greg's slow
driving, Lisa's able to catch
up.
Hey, Lisa.
What's happening?
Holy crap, look at that.
We are a convoy.
All right.
Hey, how's it up north?
Is it storming pretty good?
That's, like, most of the way.
Narrator: The southbound
driver warns the convoy that a
storm is brewing up north.
I'm hearing on the radio that
the weather's moving in, the
temperature's dropping really
fast.
[Wind howling]
[Indistinct radio chatter]
What's going on is there's a
blow up by Prudhoe.
Probably, like, 40 Miles
or... yeah, 40 Miles out of
Prudhoe.
You know, it's winds that's
picking up all the snow.
It's hard to see the road.
It's drifting and stuff like
that.
And if it picks up a lot of
snow, and visibility drops to
nothing, we may not make it out
there.
Narrator: Coming up...
You okay, Alex?
Can you see?
No.
Narrator: The convoy's
driving blind.
Narrator: 400 Miles north of
Fairbanks, the convoy's headed
through a phase two blow,
meaning road conditions are
poor and visibility is limited.
Looks very gusty.
Looks like it's blowing pretty
good out there.
[Wind howling]
Narrator: It's bad news for
all the truckers,
but it's especially dangerous
for Lisa Kelly.
Unfortunately vans, which I'm
hauling, does not do very well
in wind.
Especially when it hits
broadside.
But I'm pretty heavy, so I'm
hoping it'll hold its ground.
To be honest, I'm glad I
don't have Lisa's load.
That van is nothing but a big,
old sail.
It's gonna be pushing her all
around the place.
Narrator: A sudden gust of
wind could blow Lisa right off
the road.
I'm just gonna keep pushing
forward.
Narrator: But strong winds
aren't the only danger.
Are you back there, Jack?
Or whoever's behind me?
I'm behind you... Alex.
I see you.
Narrator: Tired of fighting
the pack, Alex dropped to the
back of the convoy.
And now Lisa is worried he can't
see her.
Do my lights bother you or
help you?
No, that's good.
I just know where you are so I
don't have to run you over.
That'll work.
Narrator: With limited
visibility, drivers won't know
they're headed for a collision
until it's too late.
We're just South of Prudhoe.
And I got Lisa in front of me,
so I gotta make sure I don't run
into her.
Narrator: But the visibility
has dropped to zero.
Ah, [Bleep].
No.
Yeah...
I don't know if I'm ever gonna
see her taillights.
Lisa, you gotta copy?
[Static]
Narrator: As the sun sets,
the convoy is forced to slow
down.
I have no idea how far out of
Prudhoe I am right now.
Narrator: All they can do is
inch forward...
Sounds like the blind are
leading the blind.
Narrator: And hope to avoid
a disaster.
[Horn honking]
I can't see anything.
A lot can happen in the
last ten Miles getting into
Prudhoe.
The weather can really kill
somebody out here.
I've seen trucks flipped over
four Miles right from Prudhoe.
Where that poor guy probably
thought, "whoa, I made it."
And there it is, a truck flipped
over in the middle of the road.
All of a sudden, the road comes
up and bites you, and it's over.
And when it bites you, it's
gonna put you off the road, on
your top, or whatever.
You don't want that to happen.
Cost you your life.
Narrator: Finally, light
breaks through the darkness.
Here comes all the other
guys, right behind us.
Narrator: The convoy's made
it to Prudhoe bay.
But the adventure has just begun
as they pick up new loads bound
for Nuiqsut.
Well, I'll let the landing
gear down.
See how bad that's frozen up.
Narrator: Lisa heads in for
a weather report.
"The winds have increased to"
40 Miles an hour, making driving
difficult.
Two inches of fresh snow,
causing zero visibility.
"Travel is not advised."
Narrator: A phase three blow
means all roads are shut down.
If the storm continues, we're
certainly not gonna be able to
go out to Nuiqsut tonight.
But try again in the morning,
dispatch gets in, and see what
they have to say about the
weather and going out there, so.
It's blowing at about a phase
three right now.
And it really, really sucks.
So here, we're stuck.
And that's it, I'm going to bed.
And maybe when I wake up in the
morning it'll be bright blue
skies.
[Wind howling]
Camera's at 100% yard yet,
or what's going on?
Narrator: The next morning,
the weather's gone from bad to
worse.
Well, we got up here to
Prudhoe last night here.
And [Bleep], we're coming into
dodge, we get a blow about 40
Miles out.
So we got in here, and dropped
the load off here, and today was
supposed to go out to Nuiqsut.
And we can't get out there
today.
It's worse out there yet.
It's phase two down here, and
supposedly phase three out
there.
Narrator: The convoy's
stranded while they wait out the
storm.
Jack Jessee's taking advantage
of the downtime by heading to
the shop for a little
maintenance.
We're gonna change the air
cleaner real quick.
Lisa's gonna give me a hand.
Sometimes it takes a couple
people.
Narrator: And Lisa's using
the time to learn a skill that
could mean the difference
between life and death.
This is a little different
design air cleaner than you've
got, Lisa.
Okay.
But the SIM... the principal's
still the same.
Oh, wow.
There's lots of snow in there.
Yeah, it just sucks it up,
then it gets wedged in there.
Narrator: In a blow, snow is
drawn into the air intake and
clogs the filter.
As the blockage builds, the
engine's deprived of air until
it shuts down...
Leaving the driver to be buried
alive.
What... I mean, if this plugs
up, your engine doesn't run
anymore, right?
Yeah, if this thing plugs up,
your motor won't get any air.
[Grunts]
See all that snow packed in
there?
Wow, that's really
hard-packed, too.
Yeah.
That's why it wasn't getting any
air.
I can see it.
You know, slide in like that.
Put it in straight?
There you go.
Now, see if that cover will go
on just like that.
Go in here.
Let's close the hood up.
That worked out good.
Hopefully... I needed the help,
she needed a little more
experience learning that too.
There's so much stuff to learn
up here, you can't expect
somebody to learn it all.
Narrator: As the storm rages
on, the truckers take a rare
opportunity to have a meal
together.
Hey, Jack.
It's still blowing.
Yeah?
I don't think it's gonna let
up for...
I haven't seen the weather
forecast, but it... this one looks
like it's gonna be here for a
day or so.
Yeah, we're gonna be here for
another day, I think.
I wouldn't wanna be out there
in this kind of weather.
She's hard on the pocketbook.
Yeah.
Yeah, it is, so.
Hopefully we can get out
there tomorrow and make some
money.
I hope so.
Otherwise gonna be watching
tv, playing crib, and sleeping.
Yeah.
Well, you can get caught up on
your beauty sleep.
We know how much you need it.
Yeah, since you're so
good-looking already, you won't
need the sleep at all, will you?
[Laughing]
Probably not.
I'll just go.
I don't know, I think maybe
both of you could use a couple
more hours.
That's just my opinion.
Yeah.
But...Anyway, [Bleep].
I'm gonna get outta here, I
think.
Got any movies?
Nope.
You wouldn't wanna see the
movies he has, anyway.
[Laughing]
Yeah.
I'm just saying, I got a few
that you can borrow.
[Chuckles]
Clean ones.
Yeah.
Well, that's the best kind.
I wipe the dust off of
them every time.
Yeah, keep them well-oiled.
[Laughing]
I'm gonna go call the wife,
sit in the truck, and maybe even
watch a movie.
Yeah.
All right, guys.
Yep.
Sit in here too long, you'll get
fat.
Narrator: With nowhere to go,
they do what they can to pass
the time.
[Laughing]
I have ice road truckers.
So I can study and learn from
my mistakes from last year.
It's more of homework than it is
pleasure.
I got cleaning supplies up here.
Like, floor cleaner, glass
cleaner, dash cleaner.
I got... I keep my cereal up here.
I got, like, my pajamas and my
workout stuff.
This is a bigger sleeper than
most people have.
I mean, it's still pretty tight
living quarters, but it's
comfortable for me.
'Cause I gotta live here
full-time.
>> I'm stuck in the blow here.
And from what I can see, it
looks like there's a blizzard
warning until Saturday.
It's "with whiteout conditions
at times."
>> Narrator: After 24 hours,
the truckers are getting
restless.
>> [Sigh]
It's blowing till Monday.
Might get to leave Tuesday.
>> Narrator: Coming up...
>> I heard about a guy dying out
here a couple weeks ago.
>> Narrator: A final run across
thin ice.
Narrator: 500 Miles north of
Fairbanks, and 36 hours after
the truckers arrived in
Prudhoe...
The storm's cleared and the ice
road is en.
Morning, boss.
Mr. Boadwine.
So have you ever been to
Nuiqsut?
Only in my imagination.
We're gonna have you go to
the school to drop off some
school stuff for them.
First time on the ice road.
Oh, gosh.
Got books...
Pencils, paper...
More books.
Narrator: Any load that
doesn't make it to the village
now will have to wait another
year.
But delivering the critical
supplies means taking the
70-mile trip across a sheet of
ice.
"Excited" might not be the
right word.
"Leery" is definitely the right
word for going out on a new
road, especially a new ice road.
I'll get excited once I get back
here and know I made it both
ways.
Then it'll be more of an
excitement feeling, instead of
nerves.
We got a boat motor, and some
furniture, and some trim.
Yeah, a little different from
the routine, but we'll get this
done.
Yeah, this load's going to
Nuiqsut.
Looks like a bundle of two by
fours and a riverboat.
I'm doing... delivering chairs,
paint, and some tables to a
presbyterian church.
I've never been to Nuiqsut
before, so I'm not quite sure
what to expect.
And this is kind of a taste of a
different culture right in my
own state.
Well, we finally made it out
to the ice road.
Narrator: As the convoy rolls
out, the only thing separating
them from a watery grave is the
crackling ice.
It ain't safe, but...
I mean, this is living life up
here.
Out on the road, and...
There's so many different ways
to die.
Hey, I would rather die doing
something I love doing than
being too scared to live life.
I sound like a regular
philosopher.
Lisa, the philosopher slash
truck driver.
Narrator: Just ahead of Lisa,
Greg's on the ice for the first
time.
Oh, it's a completely
different animal.
It's all reasonably flat.
But it's slicker than snot.
I don't even know what to really
compare it to.
It's literally like trying to
drive a car on a hockey rink.
It's real slick, so you gotta
watch your ass.
Speed limit out here is 35,
on the ice.
You don't go over it, period.
And most of the time I'm going
under it.
Especi... well, there I'm drifting
out of that corner right now,
and that was 30.
Narrator: The weight of the
convoy causes thinning ice to
bow, creating a wake under the
surface that presses back on the
ice.
The faster the trucks go,
the stronger the wake becomes.
Go too fast, and the wake gets
strong enough to burst through
the ice.
You know, the new people just
need to learn to go slow.
Because you're not driving a
car, you're not on the
interstate.
You know, you're driving on ice.
Normally, it's in good shape,
it's in good conditions.
But...You know, you got to know
when that line is.
But realize that you could slide
right off the road in a
heartbeat.
I heard about a guy dying out
here a couple weeks ago.
I don't know.
I don't exactly know what
happened.
I think he went out on the
tundra or something like that,
or maybe fell through the ice.
I don't know what it was.
You just gotta be real careful,
do everything nice and smooth.
Narrator: Despite the danger,
there's no place the veterans of
the Canadian ice roads would
rather be.
Oh, yeah.
Like, as soon as I pulled on
here, I said, "hey, Alex,
doesn't it feel like home to
"you?"
He said, "it even looks like
home."
So yeah, we're pretty happy to
be out here.
Hard to slow down when we got
this road, because it reminds me
of home.
I enjoy the look and the
variety, with all that ice and
then the tundra.
And you look way out, it's like
the big sky country.
It's horizon in all directions.
Narrator: After almost three
days and 570 grueling Miles,
the convoy's made it to Nuiqsut.
[Horn honking]
Pulling into Nuiqsut here,
and gonna have my first look at
the little village here.
And people out here, they're
pretty excited.
The whole town was coming down
to see us.
[Horn honking]
Narrator: Coming up...
The ice road truckers cut loose.
Narrator: In Nuiqsut, Alaska,
the convoy's pulling off the ice
to deliver the final supplies of
the season.
I am Lisa with Carlile,
and I have a delivery of a snow
machine.
And I need to be able to find
your place to deliver this.
So if you could call me back,
that'd be great.
Thank you.
Narrator: But in the town of
400 people, there's still plenty
of room to get lost.
It's the blue house down the
street.
Is there any way you could
lead me there?
Because I don't know this town
at all.
Yeah, um...
This is my first time ever
here.
I'll bring you there.
Do I gotta turn that way?
Yeah.
Okay, I gotta move over then
to make a wide turn, so.
And I'm not even sure...
Who this person is.
Or how they know where I'm
going.
This is a stop, right?
Go see what's up, what's up.
So, uh...How the hell we get
this off here?
[Giggles]
I think it survived.
That's good.
[Giggles]
That's how I usually take it
out, anyways.
Maybe that's why it's broken.
[Chuckles]
Just joking.
And there's your copy.
And I'll back up for you.
All right.
I'm very thankful that you
brought my snow machine for me.
You're welcome.
Thanks.
Have a good day.
You too.
Thank you.
Yeah, thank you.
See you later.
The guy I delivered the snow
machine to looked very happy to
have it back.
Narrator: Across town, Greg's
hauling a van with a year's
worth of school supplies.
Gotta make a delivery to the
school today.
And I don't know when the last
time all the kids saw a big
truck pull up, but it might get
kind of entertaining.
Well, from what I understand,
if they had had to fly all this
material out to the site here,
we just saved them over
$1 million out of a
$5 million budget.
It's nice to see the loads all
the way to where they go.
Ooh.
Morning.
Oh, hi.
How are you?
I'm Greg with Carlile.
I'm good, yourself?
Hi, glad to meet you.
Yeah.
But it's even better to see
all the people at the load help
us out.
Oh, this one looks fun.
[Children chattering]
Hi, I'm Greg.
I'm Joyce ray.
Here comes superman and
spiderman.
[Giggles]
[Chuckles]
Look!
Look.
Yeah.
Hi.
How was school today, guys?
Good.
Yeah?
Having fun?
Mm-hmm.
Learning?
You learn.
The kids in there were
fantastic.
You can see the culture even in
the children.
I mean, everyone here is
extremely welcoming.
It's absolutely amazing.
Thank you very much, ma'am.
Thank you so much.
It's nice to meet you.
Have a good day, kids.
Y'all take care, okay?
Oh, yes, ma'am.
Time to go back to... oh.
Oh, how sweet.
Thank you.
[Laughing]
Thank you.
Bye, spiderman.
[Giggles]
[Horn honking]
I always end up delivering to
major companies.
It's not personal at all, it's
just part of the day.
So actually being able to see
some of the faces, and it's just
something I never get to do.
[Beeping]
Narrator: With two deliveries
down, the rest of the convoy
pulls in to drop off the last
supplies of the season.
Well, you sign one of these
and sign one of those.
You get to keep one, and I get...
ready?
One, two, three, go.
[Grunts]
There!
All right.
[Laughing]
I just [Bleep] In my pants.
[Laughing]
Well, we finally made it to
the village.
Come down here and open some
valves.
Get this fuel going.
Where are you, Alex?
Hi, sweetheart.
How are you?
Thank you very much.
Nice parka.
Thank you.
Once the ice road closes, we
have to wait for big items like
this probably until next
December or January.
This is a church, you'll make
it.
[Chuckles]
Might knock the roof off doing
it, but.
Attendant God, we come before
you and thank you for the safe
travel for Alex, and for the
material that has arrived.
We're very thankful that we have
a means to get things up here.
And they're very thankful for
the drivers that push through in
all kinds of weather to get
here.
Bye there, fellas.
Narrator: With the deliveries
complete, Jack and Lisa head
back to Fairbanks...
While the rest of the convoy
stops by the community center
for a surprise from the village.
[Cheers and applause]
[Drums and chanting]
The truckers are special guests
at a Potlatch ceremony.
Meaning "to give away" in
chinook jargon, Potlatch
ceremonies have been held for
hundreds of years by the
indigenous peoples of the
pacific northwest.
Traditionally, the hosts of the
Potlatch lavish guests with
gifts, and this generosity would
bring honor to the host.
In the late 19th century,
Potlatches were banned in the
U.S. and Canada, as missionaries
viewed the religious ceremonies
as contrary to civilized values.
It wasn't until the mid-20th
century that the bans were
lifted and the Potlatch could
again be celebrated openly.
And tonight's Potlatch features
a traditional menu of caribou
stir fry, whale, and walrus.
That must be the meat of
the walrus.
That's what's between the meat
and skin of the walrus.
And me and Greg are gonna share
this piece here.
[Laughing]
It just surprised him.
It's not bad.
It's different.
It's kinda like meat and fish,
all at the same time.
The walrus.
There's your surf and turf.
Dude, you gotta try
the walrus.
Not gonna happen.
[Laughing]
Look at my kid.
That's how many kids I got.
Oh, for real, you do?
Yeah, I got 11.
That's... see my wife?
She's still kicking.
Wow.
[Chanting]
♪ ♪
Narrator: And for the last
dance of the night, the ice road
truckers join in.
Got out there and showed them
some moves.
I think they picked up on some
of those moves, and it'll go on
a long way.
♪ ♪
Pretty big dance for us.
We all danced, and we had a good
time.
We had a blast here.
Yeah, it was a real honor to
be here.
[Chanting and singing]
♪ ♪
Narrator: While the melting
ice road will soon close Nuiqsut
to the rest of the world, the
community and its traditions
will carry on...
thanks, in part, to the truckers
who live their lives on thin
ice.
[Cheers and applause]
Narrator: Everyone chalks up
two runs for the trip across
the ice.
Next, on ice road truckers...
>> I'm chasing you, buddy.
Keep running.
>> Narrator: A rivalry between
friends heats up the haul road.
>> Hey, Greg, that was some dumb
ass [Bleep] You did there.
At least you pulled into
a driveway instead of into
a ditch.
>> Narrator: Alex has a run-in
with the law.
>> Got it "on-duty not driving,"
when it should've been
"driving."
>> Whoops.
That was kind of a screw-up
there.
>> Narrator: Greg is getting
restless.
>> If you're not gonna stay on
the road, go ahead and get off
the road, period.
>> Narrator: Lisa takes on
the season's last mega-haul.
>> Next thing you know, it's
thrown out the window.
[Gasps]
>> We may need to stop, it's not
looking too good.
Sync by n17t01 www.addic7ed.com