Ice Lake Rebels (2014–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Winter Is Coming - full transcript

JUST 200 MILES
FROM THE ARCTIC CIRCLE,

IN SUBARCTIC CANADA,

A GROUP OF REBELS
HAVE LEFT THE LAW OF THE LAND,

JOURNEYED HERE TO PLANT
THEIR STAKE IN THE WATER.

THE REWARD IS FREEDOM
TO LIVE WITH NO AUTHORITY,

NO TAXES, NO UTILITIES,
AND NO HELP.

WE'RE SINKING.
WE'RE TAKING ON WATER RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S A LIFE JACKET
RIGHT HERE.

THIS HOUSE CAN GO BOOM.

THEY'VE ALL CHOSEN THIS LIFE

AND THE CHALLENGES
THAT COME WITH IT.



IT STARTED OUT PRETTY PRIMITIVE.

WE WENT OUT AND GOT
A BUNCH OF 45-GALLON DRUMS

AND PUTS RAFTS TOGETHER
AND BUILT HOUSES ON THEM,

AND THOSE WERE
THE FIRST HOUSEBOATS.

HOUSEBOATING IS A WAY

TO NOT HAVE TO FEEL LIKE
YOU HAVE TO CONFORM

AND NOT FEEL LIKE
YOU HAVE TO FIT IN.

I KNOW MY CRAZY.

DO YOU?

HON!
WHAT?

I THINK WE'RE FROZEN IN AGAIN.
NO.

I'LL DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING
YOU ASK ME HERE,

BUT I'M NOT **** PISSING
ON THE SNOWMOBILE.

IF YOU PISS ON THE FUEL PUMP,



IT MELTS THE ICE,
AND THE GAS CAN COME THROUGH.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE
A GOOD DAY'S HARD WORK

TO GET YOUR SPERM COUNT UP.

NOW THIS LAKE
IS ABOUT TO GO THROUGH

A PERILOUS WINTER FREEZE.

YOU GET MINUS-30,
MINUS-40, MINUS-50...

NOT FOR A DAY, NOT FOR A WEEK...
FOR MONTHS.

AND THESE REBELS
HAVE MERE DAYS TO PREPARE

FOR THE ONSLAUGHT
OF MOTHER NATURE'S WRATH.

IF I DON'T MANAGE TO GET
SOME MEAT STASHED ON MY BOAT,

IT'S GONNA BE
A HUNGRY COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IF IT'S NOT 100% LEVEL,
AND THE STORMS COME IN,

WE'RE GONNA SINK.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
AAH!

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW
HOW MUCH WE DON'T KNOW

ABOUT LIVING ON A HOUSEBOAT.

LIKE,
SAY IT FREEZES TOMORROW.

HOW DO WE PREVENT US FROM,
LIKE, FREEZING ON AN ANGLE?

IT'S GO TIME.

HOLY CRAP!

IT'S FREAKING GREAT SLAVE, MAN.

AAH!

IT'S A DEADLY LAKE
THAT KILLS PEOPLE EVERY YEAR.

JUST A CANOE BREEZE, LAD!

JUST A CANOE BREEZE.

IT'S THE END
OF THE SHORT SUBARCTIC SUMMER

IN YELLOWKNIFE BAY

WITH TEMPERATURES AT A WELCOMING
12 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

BUT THE SHIFTING WINDS
FROM THE NORTH TO SOUTHWEST

HAVE BROUGHT AN EARLY FROST.

AROUND HERE,
IT'S KNOWN AS FREEZE-UP,

ONE OF THE TWO DEADLIEST TIMES
OF THE YEAR...

THE OTHER BEING THE TREACHEROUS
SPRING THAW KNOWN AS BREAK-UP.

RIGHT NOW, EVERYONE IS IN A RACE

TO MAKE SURE
THEIR HOMES REMAIN LEVEL

WHILE LOADING THEIR WINTER
PROVISIONS ON BOARD

BEFORE THEY FREEZE
INTO SEVEN MONTHS OF ICE.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOOD.

STEPHAN HERVIEUX CAME HERE

TO LIVE ON THE LAKE
AND OFF THE GRID,

FREE FROM PROVINCIAL LAW

AND THE PROTECTIONS
THAT COME WITH IT.

I'M FROM SUDBURY, ONTARIO,
LAND OF A THOUSAND LAKES,

AND I'VE ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT
THESE HOUSEBOATERS,

AND THEY'RE KIND OF SPOKEN
AS, LIKE, THESE CREATURES...

THESE SPECIAL BREED.

I WOULD HEAR PEOPLE TALKING
IN A PUB OR SOMETHING.

THEY'D BE LIKE,
"WOW, HOUSEBOATERS...

"THEY DON'T WASH,

"AND THEY WEAR FUNNY CLOTHES
ON PURPOSE,

AND THEY'RE SUCH GRANOLAS."

SO I WAS HEARING ALL THIS,
AND I WAS LIKE,

"THEY SOUND LIKE
MY KIND OF PEOPLE MAYBE."

YET AFTER FOUR YEARS
OF LIVING ON THE LAKE,

THIS YEAR'S EARLY FREEZE
HAS CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE,

THE ICE HAS MOVED IN
A LITTLE BIT,

AND FROM HOUR TO HOUR,

THINGS ARE CHANGING
ALL THE TIME.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

OOH!

HOLY ****

OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS,

THESE CHUNKS OF ICE

WILL EVENTUALLY COVER
THE ENTIRE LAKE,

MAKING TRAVEL A TREACHEROUS
AND DEADLY AFFAIR.

I WANT TO GET AROUND
THAT ICE FLOE RIGHT THERE.

FREEZE-UP PREPARATION
IS IMPERATIVE.

YOU NEED YOUR WOOD.

YOU GOT TO GET YOUR PROPANE,
ALL YOUR SUPPLIES.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING YOU'RE GONNA
NEED FOR THE NEXT MINIMUM MONTH.

THERE AIN'T NO **** WAY

YOU WANT TO CARRY THIS ****
IN FREEZE-UP.

YOU JUST DON'T.
IT'S JUST NONSENSE.

AS CRAZY AS I AM,
EVEN I WOULDN'T DO THAT.

AND WE'RE IN.

WHILE STEPHAN
INSPECTS THE HOUSEBOAT,

HIS FIANCéE, ALLYCE,
ATTENDS TO OTHER CHORES.

I'M TESTING THE ICE
TO SEE IF IT'S SAFE.

I'M TRYING TO TAKE THE DOG
FOR A WALK,

GET HER TO THE ISLAND

SO SHE CAN DO HER BUSINESS
AND COME BACK HOME.

YELLOWKNIFE NATIVE
ALLYCE RATTRAY

HAS ALWAYS LIVED CLOSE
TO THE LAKE AND OFF THE GRID.

I ENDED UP MOVING ONTO THE LAKE
BECAUSE I STARTED DATING STEPH.

AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH
THIS BEAUTIFUL HOUSE ON A LAKE,

AND IT'S A DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE,
AND I LOVE IT.

BUT EVEN FOR THIS NORTHERNER,

LIVING IN THE SUBARCTIC

ON ONE OF THE DEEPEST LAKES
IN THE WORLD

REQUIRES SPECIAL SKILLS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE RESPECT
FOR THE LAKE.

YOU HAVE TO RESPECT THE ICE
THAT YOU'RE WALKING ON.

ALL RIGHT, DORA.
OVER HERE.

IT GETS TO THE POINT

WHERE THE ICE IS TOO THICK
FOR YOU CANOE THROUGH,

BUT ALSO TOO THIN
FOR YOU TO WALK ON.

YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

EVEN WALKING YOUR DOG
AT THIS POINT

GETS TO BE QUITE THE CHALLENGE.

I'M EXHAUSTED.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,

I THINK PEOPLE CHOOSE
TO LIVE ON THE WATER

BECAUSE IT'S
A SEPARATE WAY OF LIFE.

WE HAVE NO HEATING BILL,
NO WATER BILL, NO UTILITY BILL.

THERE'S NOTHING EXCESS.
JUST EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED.

IT'S JUST
A BEAUTIFUL WAY OF LIFE.

STEPHAN AND ALLYCE

ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES
CAUGHT OFF GUARD

BY THE EARLY COLD FRONT.

THERE ARE OVER 30 HOUSEBOATERS
ON YELLOWKNIFE BAY,

AND THEY HAVE ALL LEARNED

THAT THE LAKE CHANGES ITS MOOD
AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE...

THE LAKE, SHE'S ANGRY.

...TURNING A SIMPLE CROSSING
INTO A LIFE-OR-DEATH AFFAIR.

BOAT TAKING A POUNDING.

EVEN VETERAN LAKE DWELLERS

GARY VAILLANCOURT
AND "PIKE" MIKE HARRISON

AREN'T IMMUNE TO HER TEMPESTS.

I GOT THE NAME "PIKE" MIKE
BECAUSE I'M A FISHING GUIDE,

AND 30,000 TROPHY PIKE LATER,
I DON'T KNOW.

I WAS GONNA TRY
AND, YOU KNOW,

PUT A LITTLE BIT OF COLOR
INTO THE DAY

AND PADDLE ACROSS,
RIGHT?

BUT IT'S JUST BLOWING UP
MORE AND MORE AND MORE,

SO I'M NOT OVERLY INCLINED.

WHAT ABOUT A FERRY ACROSS?

YOU'RE TOO GOOD A FRIEND TO
LET YOU PADDLE OVER, MIKE, SO...

THAT'S A GOOD MAN.

GREAT SLAVE LAKE
IS A VERY LARGE LAKE.

AND IT CAN FLAT, CALM,
AND LIKE A MIRROR,

AND IN TWO HOURS,

YOU CAN BE WONDERING
IF YOU'RE GONNA SURVIVE OR NOT

BECAUSE THE WAVES
ARE POUNDING OVER YOUR BOAT.

SO IT WILL NOURISH YOU,
AND IT WILL KICK YOUR BUTT,

DEPENDING ON WHAT MOOD IT'S IN.

WITH DEPTHS OF OVER 2,000 FEET

AND ZERO-DEGREE TEMPERATURES,

THIS ARCTIC LAKE CAN KILL A MAN
WITHIN SECONDS OF FALLING IN,

MAKING THESE REBELS
A SPECIAL BREED OF SURVIVALIST.

I'VE GOT TO BE
CLOSE TO THE WATER,

CLOSE TO WHERE MY BRETHREN ARE,
THE FISH.

I'VE MORPHED INTO HUMAN FORM
TO SUPPORT THE MARGINAL SPECIES

AND STAND UP
FOR WHAT'S NOT UNDERSTOOD.

YO, HO, HO!

JUST A CANOE BREEZE, LAD.
JUST A CANOE BREEZE.

THE LAKE, SHE'S BEAUTIFUL
WHEN SHE GETS MAD.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE HER SO.

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE ME
ON THE INSIDE THERE?

WHEN I CAME OVER HERE
TO INSPECT THE SITE,

MY NEIGHBOR'S PLACE DISLODGED
FROM ITS MOORING.

GETTING HOME IS JUST
ONE CHALLENGE ON STORMY DAYS.

UPROOTED ANCHORS ARE ANOTHER.

SHE'S RIGHT UP AGAINST MY BOAT,

AND PRETTY SOON,
MAYBE CUTTING BOTH OF US LOOSE.

IN ORDER TO STAY FREE
FROM THE LAW,

NO HOUSEBOAT
CAN BE ANCHORED TO LAND,

WHICH MEANS
THEY HAVE TO BE ANCHORED

TO THE EVER-SHIFTING SANDS
OF THIS VOLATILE LAKE.

THE RESULT COULD BE
A HECK OF A LOT OF DAMAGE.

TO AVOID A COLLISION,
MIKE MUST TEMPORARILY TIE OFF

TO TREES ON THE TINY,
UNGOVERNED ISLAND NEARBY.

SHE ALMOST KNOCKED ME
OFF MY PIN,

SO BASICALLY WHAT I'VE DONE IS
ATTACHED THE LINE TO HER BOAT,

AND I'M HAULING HER BACK.

IF I DON'T GET THIS DONE,

WITH THE WIND AND ALL THIS WATER
COMING DOWN HERE,

THIS IS GONNA PUSH
MY MOORING OFF

AND BOTH OF US ARE GONNA WIND UP
BASHED UP AGAINST **** BARGE.

IF MY MOORING BREAKS,

I'M PILED UP
IN A BUNCH OF SPLINTERS

AGAINST A 50,000-TON BARGE.

I'D HAVE TO FIND
ANOTHER PLACE TO LIVE.

THIS AIN'T DOING
WHAT I WANT IT TO DO.

****

IN THE MIDST
OF A LATE OCTOBER STORM,

"PIKE" MIKE HARRISON IS BATTLING
TO KEEP A RUNAWAY HOUSEBOAT

FROM SMASHING
INTO HIS FLOATING DOCK.

YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT HAPPEN.

HIS ONLY OPTION

IS TO TEMPORARILY TIE OFF
HIS NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE

TO A TREE
ON A SMALL ISLAND NEARBY.

WHEN YOU'RE ON THE LAKE
WHEN WINTER'S ARRIVING,

IT'S LIKE AN INLAND OCEAN.

YOU'VE GOT 6-, 7-METER WAVES.

A BIG STORM COULD BLOW YOU
UP ONTO THE ROCKS

AND PUNCTURE A FLOAT.

NEXT THING YOU KNOW,
YOUR BOAT'S SINKING.

THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON
TO IT.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE PREPARED
AND ADAPTABLE.

COME ON, BABY.

YEAH!

RIGHT ON.

THAT'S DEFINITELY BETTER.

THERE'S A MADNESS TO MY METHODS.

WELL, I MANAGED TO GET MY DOCK
IN A SECURE POSITION.

WHAT ELSE DOES A FELLA NEED,

OUTSIDE OF A DANCE
WITH YOUR SPECIAL GIRL?

HOURS LATER,

THE TEMPERAMENTAL LAKE
CALMS DOWN...

OKAY, WHAT DO I HAVE
IN THIS HOUSE?

...AS STEPHAN
AND ALLYCE TAKE INVENTORY

OF WHAT THEY WILL NEED
DURING FREEZE-UP.

SO, I GOT SOUP.

ONLY ONE LOAF OF BREAD.

THEY'LL NEED
TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE

FOR UP TO A MONTH
ON THEIR HOUSEBOAT

AS THE ICE EVENTUALLY THICKENS
TO A DEPTH

THAT WILL ALLOW THEM
TO WALK ON IT SAFELY.

GOT SOME RICE.
NEED SOME MORE OF THAT.

I THINK THOSE THREE
PROPANE TANKS ARE ALL EMPTY.

LIVING ON A HOUSEBOAT REQUIRES
YOU TO BE 100% SELF-SUFFICIENT.

ABOARD MY VESSEL,
THE KIMBERLITE,

YOU GOT SEVERAL SYSTEMS
TO KEEP UP AND RUNNING.

HERE'S MY CONTROLLER
FOR THE SOLAR POWER RIGHT HERE.

THE SUN IS COMING
TO THESE SOLAR PANELS.

MY SOLAR CHARGER INVERTER

IS CONVERTING SOLAR POWER
INTO USABLE ENERGY

THAT I CAN USE RIGHT NOW,
LIKE THIS LIGHT.

NOW, THIS IS
A REGISTERED VESSEL,

SO I HAD A VHF MARINE RADIO.

I'VE SINCE PULLED THE FUSE OUT,

BECAUSE PEOPLE
WOULD COME OVER HERE

WHEN WE'D GET A LITTLE ROWDY,
AND THEY'D BE GETTING ON THIS.

NOT COOL.

THIS IS VERY,
VERY SERIOUS BUSINESS.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING
ABOUT HOUSEBOAT LIVING.

THE LITTLE THINGS
ARE THE BIG THINGS.

HEAT... I AM LUCKY ENOUGH,
ON THIS VESSEL,

TO HAVE HOT WATER ON DEMAND.

BASICALLY,

WHEN I TURN THE PRESSURE ON
FOR HEAT ON THE WATER,

THAT SHOULD FIRE UP.

THE THINGS
THAT YOU ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED,

THEY ARE THE MOST PRECIOUS
THINGS TO US.

HEAT, WATER, POWER.

BECAUSE I'VE GOT
THE HOT WATER ON DEMAND,

I HAVE A LUXURIOUS AMENITY...
HOT SHOWERS.

THAT IS, OF COURSE, PROVIDED

THAT THE HOT WATER ON DEMAND
IS WORKING PROPERLY.

LIVING OFF GRID,
YOU HAVE ZERO SEWER SERVICES.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TOILET.

TWO YEARS AGO,

WE INVESTED APPROXIMATELY $2,000
WITH SHIPPING...

'CAUSE EVERYTHING'S EXPENSIVE
IN THE NORTH...

AND WE BOUGHT THIS CADILLAC.

IT'S GOT A 3-INCH FAN,
WHICH IS ALWAYS TURNING.

SO WHAT IT DOES IS

IT TAKES THE MOISTURE
OUT OF THAT NUMBER-2 EXCREMENT

SO THAT WHAT YOU'RE LEFT WITH
AT THE END OF THE DAY

IS A COMPOSTABLE.

THE PROBLEM WITH HOUSEBOATS IS
ALWAYS GONNA BE THE SAME FOR ME.

SPACE IS AT A PREMIUM.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OF IT.

AND NOW LET ME SHOW YOU
THE CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS.

AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT'S LITERALLY JUST A BEDROOM.

I'VE GOT ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF
BETWEEN THE BED AND THE WALL,

AND THAT'S IT.

IT'S JUST A PLACE TO REST
YOUR BONES AND GET SOME SLEEP.

I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW
NOW THREE YEARS AGO.

I'M CONTINUOUSLY LEARNING
ABOUT THE LAKE,

ABOUT WHEN IT'S TIME
TO GRAB PELLETS,

WHEN IT'S BEST TO GRAB PROPANE
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO FREEZE-UP,

BECAUSE THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES
TO PAY FOR YOUR NEGLIGENCE.

WE'VE STILL GOT
A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

FOR DECADES,

THE LAKE AND ITS PROMISE
OF LIVING FREE

HAS ATTRACTED REBELS

SEEKING THE INDEPENDENCE
OF LIFE OFF THE GRID.

HEAVY STUFF
SHOULD GO ON THE BOTTOM,

'CAUSE IF IT GOES ON THE TOP,
IT'LL MAKE IT TIPPIER, RIGHT?

DON'T YOU THINK?
YEAH.

MY NAME IS IMAN KASSAM.

I'M 29 YEARS OLD.

I LIVE IN YELLOWKNIFE,
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES.

RIGHT NOW, I LIVE IN A CONDO.

IT'S A VERY TYPICAL STYLE
OF LIVING.

I HAVE PLUMBING.
I HAVE HEATING.

I HAVE ELECTRICITY.
I HAVE EVERYTHING.

I HAVE A FRIDGE
THAT PLUGS INTO A WALL.

YEAH.

BUT MY PARTNER, JESSICA,

RECENTLY DECIDED
TO GO LIVE ON A HOUSEBOAT.

THERE'S PROBABLY, LIKE,

A WAY MORE EFFICIENT WAY
OF DOING THIS.

IT NEEDS ATTACHED?

I WANT TO LIVE OFF THE GRID.

I WANT TO TEST MYSELF.
I WANT TO PUSH MY BOUNDARIES.

THERE YOU GO.

NICE.

WHEN YOU LIFE ON A HOUSEBOAT,

YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE
OF YOURSELF.

LIKE, YOU HAVE TO PUT WOOD
IN YOUR STOVE,

AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE
A GENERATOR,

AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE
YOUR LIGHTS ARE WORKING,

AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS
RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF HEAD LAMPS.

IT MAKES YOU HOLD YOURSELF
ACCOUNTABLE.

I'M JUST READY FOR THAT...
I WANT THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

OKAY.
OKAY.

I THINK SOMETHING
THAT REALLY WAS A BIG DRAW

IN TERMS OF TRYING TO LIVE
ON A HOUSEBOAT

WAS THAT WE BOTH
DO REALLY LIKE THE CHALLENGE.

I LOOK AT
THE HOUSEBOAT COMMUNITY,

AND I REALLY RESPECT
WHAT THEY'RE DOING,

TO BE SEPARATED FROM LAND,
SEPARATED FROM THE CITY.

I RESPECT THE WAY
THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE LAKE

AND THE KNOWLEDGE
THAT THEY HAVE,

AND IT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.

DON'T TIP US.

YOU DON'T
FRIGGIN' TIP US.

WHILE EVERY YEAR,

NEW ARRIVALS ATTEMPT TO LIVE
AN AUTONOMOUS LIFE ON THE LAKE,

FEW SUCCEED,

ESPECIALLY
DURING THE FALL FREEZE-UP.

IS IT THIS ONE AHEAD?
IS IT THAT ONE?

IT'S GOT TO BE THAT ONE.
THAT ONE LOOKS LIKE THE ONE.

IT'S GOT GREEN TRIM.

TAKE ME HOME, WOMAN.
OKAY.

I'M A REALLY ADVENTUROUS PERSON.

JESSICA IS
JUST AS ADVENTUROUS AS I AM.

WHOA.
AAH!

AND I THINK
WE'RE BOTH JUST READY

FOR, LIKE, SOMETHING REALLY COOL
AND NEW AND DIFFERENT.

OKAY.
OKAY, WATCH YOUR HEAD.

WHOA.

BIGGER
THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS.

THIS IS WICKED.

THERE'S WATER ON THE FLOOR.

WHERE DID I PUT MY FLASHLIGHT?
DO YOU HAVE YOUR FLASHLIGHT?

YEAH.

CHECK IT OUT.

GO FOR A SWIM.

OKAY.

SO, IF WE WERE TO FALL IN IT,
IT'S NOT...

WE'RE NOT GONNA ACTUALLY
FALL THROUGH.

YEAH, THANK YOU
FOR TESTING THAT, THOUGH.

THE PLACE IS ACTUALLY
MUCH LARGER ON THE INSIDE

THAN IT LOOKS ON THE OUTSIDE.

I THOUGHT
IT WAS GONNA BE SMALLER.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A COUCH,
THERE'S A BED,

THERE'S A "BATHROOM."

YOU... YOU OKAY?

IT'S JUST A BUCKET.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S LIKE CAMPING.
JUST A BUCKET?

NO, LIKE A HUNTING BUCKET.

GOD.

AND IT'S NOT THAT THE HUNTING
BUCKET MAKES ME NERVOUS.

IT'S THAT IT'S LIKE

IT IS... IT COULD...

ENCLOSED SPACE
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M A LADY.

WE'RE GONNA GET
REALLY CLOSE...

YEAH, WELL...
...REALLY QUICKLY.

HOLY CRAP!

WE'RE SINKING.
WE'RE TAKING ON WATER RIGHT NOW.

IF IT'S NOT 100% LEVEL,
WHEN THE STORMS COME IN,

THIS HOUSE CAN GO BOOM.

LIFE IN THE SUBARCTIC
IS PERILOUS,

BUT HOUSEBOATER RANDY SIBBESTON,
A DESCENDANT OF THE MéTIS TRIBE,

WHOSE FAMILY HAS CALLED THE
SHORES OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE HOME

FOR GENERATIONS,

WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING.

I ALWAYS FOUND IT
A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATING

LIVING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY
WITH SO MANY PEOPLE,

WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE
INFINITE CONCESSIONS.

AFTER A WHILE,
I GOT TIRED OF IT.

AND HOUSEBOATING, FOR ME,

IS A WAY TO HAVE
A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA FREEDOM

AND NOT HAVE TO FEEL LIKE
YOU HAVE TO CONFORM

AND NOT FEEL LIKE
YOU HAVE TO FIT IN.

RANDY'S PREPARING
TO HUNT BIG GAME,

BUT WITH HIS MEAT SUPPLY
ALMOST GONE

AND FREEZE-UP
LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY,

HE ONLY HAS DAYS TO TRANSPORT
FRESH MEAT BY BOAT TO HIS HOME

BEFORE THE LAKE'S ICE
MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

I'M NOT EXACTLY A LONE WOLF.

I HAVE A WIFE AND SIX KIDS.

MY JOB,
AS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY,

IS TO PROVIDE FOOD
AND COMFORT AND SECURITY

FOR STEPHANIE AND THE KIDS.

AND I TAKE THAT JOB
VERY SERIOUSLY.

I TRY TO SHOP AS LITTLE
AS POSSIBLE AT THE STORE,

JUST BECAUSE THE QUALITY
OF FOOD THESE DAYS IS...

A LOT OF IT IS QUESTIONABLE.

MYSELF, I SEE THE VALUE

IN BEING ABLE
TO GO OUT INTO THE BUSH

AND BE ABLE TO RUSTLE UP
SOME FOOD FOR MY FAMILY

SO THAT WE CAN HAVE
VERY NUTRITIONAL,

PURE, UNTAINTED FOOD.

BACK IN YELLOWKNIFE BAY...

OKAY,
YOU GOT ELECTRICAL TAPE?

YEP.
BEAUTIFUL.

...STEPHAN AND ALLYCE
CONTINUE CHECKING THEIR VESSEL

TO MAKE SURE
IT WILL SURVIVE FREEZE-UP.

THE MAIN WORRY
OF EVERY HOUSEBOATER

IS THAT OUR HOUSE FREEZES IN
ON AN ANGLE.

THIS IS WHAT I CALL
A HOUSEBOATER'S LEVEL.

AND I DEMONSTRATE.

SO, THAT'LL TELL ME
WHERE THE PITCH IS.

IF YOU'RE FROZEN INTO AN ANGLE,

THAT'S WHERE YOU ARE ALL WINTER.

SO ABSOLUTELY,
BEFORE IT FREEZES,

YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS LEVEL.

AND NOW I WANT A CROSS SECTION

TO SEE IF I'M IN BALANCE
HORIZONTALLY.

OKAY, SO WE'RE OBVIOUSLY LISTING
THAT WAY AND THIS WAY,

SO WE'RE BASICALLY LIKE THIS.

AND THIS HAS TO BE CORRECTED
BEFORE FREEZE-UP.

IF IT'S NOT 100% LEVEL
AND THE STORMS COME IN,

WE'RE GONNA SINK.

FREAKIN' FREEZE-UP?
IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING.

IT NEVER FREAKING ENDS.

NEW ARRIVALS IMAN AND JESSICA

ARE GETTING A SENSE
OF THE STRUGGLES

WHICH COME FROM CHOOSING TO LIVE
ON GREAT SLAVE LAKE

RIGHT BEFORE IT ICES OVER.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT THIS
HOUSEBOAT OPPORTUNITY OPENED UP,

I WAS EXTREMELY EXCITED.

NOW THAT IT'S
A LITTLE WHILE LATER,

THE NERVES ARE SETTING IN
A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S SUCH A SCARY TRANSITION

TO MOVE ON A HOUSEBOAT
IN THE WINTER DURING FREEZE-UP

FOR THE FIRST TIME.

TRYING TO GET LITTLE PIECES,

'CAUSE WE JUST HAVE
A LITTLE STOVE.

WHAT IF WE RUN OUT OF WOOD?

WHAT IF WE RUN OUT
OF ELECTRICITY?

AND HAVE YOU SEEN THAT WATER?

IT'S TREACHEROUS.

IT'S CRAZY, AND IT'S COLD.

IT'S FREEZING COLD, THAT WATER.

WHAT IF WE FALL IN?

OKAY, WE HAVE
A LOT TO DO TONIGHT.

THERE'S A LOT OF
CHALLENGES TO LIVING ON A HOUSEBOAT,

AND THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK
INVOLVED.

WE'RE FEELING CONFIDENT,

BUT FEELING LIKE WE GOT
A LOT OF LEARNING TO DO.

I THINK PROBABLY WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.

WE DON'T EVEN KNOW
HOW MUCH WE DON'T KNOW

ABOUT LIVING ON A HOUSEBOAT,

SO I'M EXPECTING IT TO BE
A STEEP LEARNING CURVE.

QUESTION.

YOU KNOW HOW
WHEN IT FREEZES,

HOW THE HOUSEBOATS FREEZE
WHERE THEY'RE AT, RIGHT?

DO WE NEED TO...
LIKE, CAN IT JUST...

LIKE, HOW DO WE PREVENT US FROM,
LIKE, FREEZING ON AN ANGLE?

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SEEN, LIKE,
THE HOUSEBOATS,

AND THEY FREEZE LIKE...

I DON'T KNOW.

HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE'RE
ON AN ANGLE THIS SECOND?

I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY,

AS THE FREEZE GETS CLOSER
AND AS MORE ICE IS ON THE LAKE,

MY BIGGEST FEAR IS
THAT WE'RE NOT PREPARED.

LIKE, SAY IT FREEZES
TONIGHT AND TOMORROW,

AND IN TWO DAYS,
IF WE DIDN'T DO SOMETHING

THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO
TO THE FLOATS,

IT'S TOO LATE.
WE DIDN'T DO IT.

AND WE'RE JUST, LIKE,
IN BIG TROUBLE FOR THE WINTER.

YOU'RE MAKING ME
SUPER PARANOID NOW.

I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE IT'S NOT THE BEST TIME
TO BE BRAND-NEW TO A HOUSEBOAT,

RIGHT AROUND
THE TIME OF FREEZE-UP.

I'M NERVOUS NOW.

10 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF YELLOWKNIFE BAY,

RANDY SIBBESTON
HUNTS FOR THE FRESH MEAT

SO VITAL FOR HIS FAMILY'S
WINTER SURVIVAL.

HE NEEDS A KILL NOW

IN ORDER TO SAFELY CANOE
THE HEAVY ANIMAL

ACROSS THE LAKE
BEFORE FREEZE-UP.

HERE IN THE GREAT
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES,

WHEN WINTER COMES,

IT COMES WITH A FURY
AND A VENGEANCE

THAT IT'S ALMOST AS THOUGH
NATURE WANTS YOU TO PAY

FOR THE BEAUTIFUL SUMMER
THAT YOU JUST HAD.

AND WINTER IS DEFINITELY COMING.

I KNOW THERE'S AN AREA
ON THE OTHER SIDE THERE

THAT THE MOOSE LOVE
TO HANG OUT IN.

I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE
TO TAKE A LOOK OVER THERE,

BUT THE ICE
ISN'T REALLY THICK ENOUGH

TO WALK ON ALL THE WAY AROUND.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT I'LL BE ABLE
TO FIND A LITTLE SPOT

THAT'S GOT AT LEAST
A FEW INCHES OF ICE

THAT I CAN WALK ACROSS ON.

I'M JUST GONNA MAKE MYSELF
A LITTLE BIT OF A WALKING STICK

SO WHEN I GO OUT ON THE ICE,
IF I FALL THROUGH,

I'LL BE ABLE TO AT LEAST PULL
MYSELF BACK UP ONTO THE ICE.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO WEIGH
MY RISKS, RIGHT,

AND THIS IS
JUST ONE OF THOSE TIMES

WHERE I'M GONNA TAKE
A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANCE HERE

IN ORDER TO SEE
IF I CAN GET SOME FRESH MEAT.

LOOKS LIKE
IT'S PRETTY THIN OVER THERE.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS
WITH FREEZE-UP IS

JUST AT THIS TIME OF YEAR
THERE'S ICE,

BUT IT'S IN VARYING THICKNESS.

YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE 3 INCHES,
4 INCHES RIGHT ON THE SHORE,

AND THEN YOU GO OUT
A LITTLE BIT FURTHER,

AND IT'S MAYBE AN INCH THICK
OR HALF AN INCH THICK.

CAN SPELL DISASTER FOR YOU.

10 MILES SOUTH
OF YELLOWKNIFE BAY

AND ON MARSHLAND,

RANDY SIBBESTON NEEDS TO CROSS
A THINLY FROZEN RIVER

IN ORDER TO CONTINUE HIS HUNT
FOR MOOSE,

VITAL PROTEIN THAT WILL GET HIM
AND HIS FAMILY

THROUGH THE UPCOMING FREEZE.

WALKING OUT ON THE THIN
ICE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR

IS A DANGEROUS THING.

IF YOU FALL THROUGH AND YOU GET
WET AND SOAKED RIGHT THROUGH,

THE COLD JUST GOES
RIGHT TO YOUR BONE,

AND THAT WATER'S PROBABLY
ONLY MAYBE 3 DEGREES.

I'M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON TO
GO OUT ON A LIMB FOR NO REASON.

BUT I'M WILLING TO RISK CERTAIN
THINGS FOR A QUALITY OF LIFE.

TO ME, I HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN... DETERMINED

TO CONQUER MY FEARS

SO THAT MY WILL
IS THE DOMINANT FORCE IN NATURE.

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.

MEANWHILE,
BACK IN YELLOWKNIFE BAY,

THE ICE CONTINUES TO FORM
ON THE CHURNING LAKE.

BUT IT REMAINS UNSTABLE.

AAH!

SO, I'M AT THE BACK OF THE BOAT,

AND I HEAR IMAN
SCREAMING MY NAME.

MY GOD!

YOU KNOW THAT FEELING WHERE
YOUR HEART JUST SORT OF SINKS?

YOU JUST KNOW
SOMETHING IS WRONG.

AND I JUST BOLTED
TO THE FRONT DOOR

AND RIGHT AWAY SAW
THAT SHE WAS IN THE WATER.

SHE HAD FALLEN THROUGH THE ICE,
AND SHE LOOKED SO SCARED.

OKAY.

YOU'RE OKAY.
HEY, LOOK AT ME. YOU'RE OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA GET INSIDE,
TAKE ALL YOUR CLOTHES OFF.

TAKE OFF MY BOOTS.

SHE WAS JUST YELLING, LIKE,
THAT SHE COULDN'T FEEL HER FEET,

AND SO I YANKED HER BOOTS OFF.

AND THEN WE KIND OF HALF-CRAWLED
AND WE HALF-DRAGGED HER INSIDE

AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

I COULD SEE
THAT SHE WAS GASPING.

YOU'RE OKAY. YOU'RE OKAY.
SWEATER. SWEATER.

IT TAKES A LONG TIME
TO NOT JUST WARM UP YOUR BODY,

BUT EVEN AFTER
YOU'RE WARM AGAIN,

YOUR BODY IS STILL RECOVERING
FROM THIS MAJOR SHOCK.

YOU'RE OKAY.

YOU'RE OKAY.
YOU'RE OKAY.

SHE WAS SO COLD,
SHE JUST KEPT SAYING,

"I'M SO COLD I CAN'T BREATHE.
I'M SO COLD."

AND SHE WAS REALLY FREAKED OUT.

AND I WAS TRYING TO STAY CALM
TO HELP HER,

BUT I WAS REALLY WORRIED
ABOUT HER, TOO.

IT WAS REALLY SCARY.

I'M IN THE WATER,
AND I COULDN'T FEEL ANYTHING.

I COULDN'T EVEN...
I COULDN'T EVEN LIFT MY LEGS

AND, LIKE, I HAD LOST ALL
SENSATION OF MY TOES, MY LEGS.

AND IT WAS SO CLEAR TO ME HOW
IMPOSSIBLE IT WAS TO GET OUT.

LIKE, I JUST DIDN'T FEEL STRONG.

AND I WAS BREATHING SO PANICKY
AND HEAVILY,

AND IT WAS...
IT WAS A REALLY WEIRD FEELING.

THIS IS YOUR BOOT.

WE WERE CONFIDENT
THAT WE COULD DO THIS,

THAT WE COULD LIVE
ON A HOUSEBOAT.

THIS INCIDENT
SORT OF REMINDED US

THAT, YOU'RE NOT IN CHARGE.

THE LAKE IS IN CHARGE.

IT'S SCARY.

IT'S NOT EASY

AND NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY,
DURING FREEZE-UP AND BREAK-UP,

IT'S SO, LIKE, IMPERATIVE
THAT PEOPLE PREPARE

AND PEOPLE ARE EXTRA CAUTIOUS
AND EXTRA CAREFUL.

I DON'T THINK I FULLY UNDERSTOOD
IT UNTIL, LIKE... UNTIL NOW.

AS IMAN RECOVERS
FROM HER BRUSH WITH DEATH...

READY?

I WON'T POINT OUT THAT
I KEEP GETTING THE HEAVY END.

HEY, HEY, HEY.

...STEPHAN AND ALLYCE HAVE ADDED
NEARLY A TON OF PROPANE,

GASOLINE, FIREWOOD,
AND CANNED GOODS

TO SURVIVE THE WINTER.

BUT THIS YEAR, THE LAKE'S
EVER-SHIFTING WIND AND WAVES

ARE TAKING A TOLL ON THEIR HOME.

WE'RE TILTED RIGHT NOW,

SO WE'RE TRYING
TO BALANCE OUR BOAT,

MOVING AROUND ALL OUR
PROPANE TANKS, OUR PELLETS.

JUST TRYING TO GET IT LEVEL.

LOOK AT THIS.

THAT'S FAST.

I DON'T NEED THAT TO TELL ME.
I'M SLIDING LIKE THAT.

I'M SORRY, I JUST THOUGHT
I'D DEMONSTRATE IT.

OKAY, OKAY, COME ON.
HUP!

WHAT HAPPENED?

HOLY CRAP!

OKAY, OKAY,

GEEZ.

YEP, I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.

THAT TILT IS AMAZINGLY BAD.

OKAY, LET'S GET ON WITH THIS.

MY HOUSEBOAT WAS TILTING.
I WAS JUST...

I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TIME
TO THINK ABOUT IT.

I WENT FROM LIKE THIS TO THAT.

DORA!

GOD, MAN.
I GOT TO CHECK THOSE LINES, HON.

THERE'S A LIFE JACKET
RIGHT HERE.

WHERE'S MY RED ONE?
WHERE'S MY GOOD ONE?

I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DON'T REALLY
THINK THERE'S TIME FOR THAT.

THERE IS NO TIME FOR THAT.

YOU CAN'T INSURE A HOUSEBOAT,

SO IF IT SINKS,
YOU'RE OUT YOUR MONEY.

YOU'VE GOT NO INVESTMENT.
YOU'RE DONE.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO
JUMP IN THERE, BREAK THAT ICE.

AS YOU CAN SEE,
THIS LINE RIGHT HERE...

YOU SEE THAT LINE GOT CAUGHT IN
THE ICE WHEN IT FROZE UP ZIGZAG.

I NEED IT TO BE TIGHT
AND TENSION.

IF IT'S NOT 100% TIGHT
AND THE STORMS COME IN,

THIS HOUSE CAN GO BOOM.

THAT SHOULD BE ABOUT
6 TO 8 INCHES OUT OF THE WATER.

THE HOUSE IS IN THE WATER
RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S GO TIME.

BREAKING UP THIS ICE
SO I CAN GET A GOOD LINE.

I NEED THIS HOUSEBOAT
TO BE 100% SECURE.

I DON'T TRUST THIS ICE.

IT'S NOT THAT GREAT.

MOORING IS ALL YOU'VE GOT
HOLDING YOU IN PLACE.

IT'S YOUR SAFETY NET.
IT'S YOUR FOUNDATION.

IT'S EVERYTHING.

YOU GOT **** MOORING?
YOU'RE ****

CAREFUL.

YOU KNOW
WHAT THE PROBLEM IS?

IT'S ALL THOSE PELLETS
WE PUT ON THE HOUSE

RIGHT BEFORE IT FROZE.

GO TO THE TOP RIGHT NOW!
RIGHT NOW!

I GOT IT.

IT WAS PERFECTLY FLAT
THE OTHER DAY.

WE EVENED IT OUT
FOR FREEZE-UP.

THE STORMS CAME IN.

I'VE GOT
A BIGGER PROBLEM NOW.

LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

WE'RE SINKING.
WE'RE TAKING ON WATER RIGHT NOW.

IN YELLOWKNIFE BAY,

HOME TO OVER 30 HOUSEBOATS
FLOATING OFF GRID

AND FREE FROM SOCIETY'S RULES
AND REGULATIONS,

STEPHAN AND ALLYCE
HAVE A PONTOON

THAT IS TAKING ON WATER

AND THREATENING TO SINK
THEIR UNINSURED HOUSE.

LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

WE'RE SINKING.
WE'RE TAKING ON WATER RIGHT NOW.

OUR HOUSEBOAT IS
FLOATING ON TWO ALUMINUM PONTOONS

THAT GO THE LENGTH OF THE HOUSE.

THEY ARE EACH SET UP
WITH SEPARATE SECTIONS.

IF ONE OF THE FLOATS
DOES GET FLOODED,

THEN ESPECIALLY IN FREEZE-UP,
YOU NEED TO FIX IT RIGHT AWAY.

THERE YOU GO.

THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES

WILL EXPAND ANY WATER TRAPPED
IN THEIR FLOTATIONS INTO ICE,

BUSTING PONTOONS WIDE OPEN
AND SINKING THEIR HOME.

NOW, THIS STEP HERE SHOULD BE
AS HIGH AS THAT ONE THERE.

SO YOU CAN TELL THAT,

EVEN THOUGH WE'VE MOVED
ALL THE WAY,

WE STILL GOT WATER IN THE
PONTOONS AND WE'RE LISTING.

OBVIOUSLY.

AT THIS POINT,
THERE'S A HOLE IN THAT PONTOON.

BECAUSE THE HOUSEBOAT
IS SINKING,

I CAN'T EVEN ACCESS
AND PUMP IT OUT.

AND WE'RE SUBMERGED.

SEE, THERE'S TOO MUCH WEIGHT
ON THIS SIDE, STILL.

HOLD ON A SECOND.

I'M GONNA SEE IF I CAN MOVE
STUFF AROUND THE OTHER END.

I NEED TO GET ALL THE WEIGHT
OFF THIS BOAT RIGHT NOW

SO THAT THE PONTOON
GETS ABOVE THE WATER LINE

SO THAT I CAN PULL THAT PLUG OUT
AND THEN PUMP THE PONTOON OUT.

I FEEL IT ALREADY. GOD.

START HER UP.

BASICALLY, THE LAKE RIGHT NOW
IS ZERO DEGREES.

I CAN GO IN THERE FOR MAYBE
5, 10 MINUTES AT A TIME,

AND THEN I GOT TO COME OUT,

'CAUSE MY HANDS
WILL LOSE FEELING,

AND THEN HYPOTHERMIA CAN SET IN.

THAT SOUNDS EMPTY TO ME, MAN.

SO NOW I'VE GOT TO CHECK EVERY
PONTOON AND EVERY BULKHEAD

TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS BREACHED.

STEPHAN'S THIN RED SUIT

WAS NO MATCH
FOR THE FREEZING WATER,

FORCING HIM TO CHANGE
INTO A THICKER BLUE DRY SUIT

TO AVOID HYPOTHERMIA.

MY GOD!

THERE'S SO MANY LEAKS
IN THIS SUIT.

IN AND OUT, BABE.
IN AND OUT.

SO COLD.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA
HOW COLD THIS WATER IS

UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN IN IT.

IF HE WASN'T WEARING
THIS DRY SUIT,

IT WOULD BE 10 SECONDS,
AND HE'D BE NUMB,

AND HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO GET OUT.

MAN.

THIS DRY SUIT IS SAVING HIM,

BUT HE CAN'T SPEND LONG
UNDER THERE.

THERE'S NO WAY.

I FEEL JUST QUEASY.

I FEEL WEIRD.

IMAN'S SLOW RECOVERY
FROM THE ICY WATER

REMINDS JESSICA HOW DANGEROUS
LIVING ON THE LAKE CAN BE.

YOU HEART RATE'S OKAY.

YOU'RE BREATHING OKAY.

BUT IT IS A SHOCK,

AND THERE WAS A LOT
OF ADRENALINE,

AND YOU WERE PRETTY...
YOU GOT PRETTY UPSET.

YEAH.

AS THE FREEZE GETS CLOSER,

JUST REALIZING
THAT THE LAKE IS IN CHARGE

AND THAT THE LAKE'S NOT PLAYING
BY OUR RULES,

WE'RE PLAYING
BY THE LAKE'S RULES,

IS REALLY SCARY.

I FEEL OUT OF BREATH.

I FEEL LIKE
MY BREATHING'S FUNNY.

I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T STAND.
MY LEGS ARE A LITTLE WEAK.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

IS THIS STILL
WHAT WE WANT TO BE DOING?

IS THIS STILL OKAY?

RIGHT NOW,
I'M NOT REALLY THAT SURE.

MEANWHILE,

ON AN ISLAND
15 MILES TO THE SOUTH,

RANDY CONTINUES HIS MOOSE HUNT
BEFORE THE IMPEDING FREEZE

MAKES HAULING HIS KILL BY BOAT
IMPOSSIBLE.

THE STAPLE FOOD IS MOOSE MEAT.

THAT'S THE...

THAT'S THE CALL
OF A LONELY COW MOOSE.

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO ATTRACT
A BULL,

THAT'S THE CALL
YOU WANT TO MAKE,

BECAUSE THEY HEAR THAT,
THEY'LL COME RUNNING.

THE MOOSE HAVEN'T BEEN
RESPONDING TO MY CALLS,

SO I'M GONNA TRY THIS,

'CAUSE THIS IS
A GOOD OLD TRICK THAT...

IT MAKES A PRETTY CONVINCING
MOOSE CALL, ACTUALLY.

I'VE GOT TO... I'VE GOT TO
GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

IN THE NORTHEAST
CORNER OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE,

JESSICA AND IMAN MAKE
A DIFFICULT CHOICE TO LEAVE.

STEER US, OKAY?

OKAY.
OKAY.

LIVING ON THE MOLLY BARGE

WAS PROBABLY NOT EXACTLY
WHAT WE EXPECTED.

WE KIND OF HAD THIS IDEA

THAT WE WERE GONNA GO OUT
AND HAVE AN ADVENTURE

AND SORT OF JUMP RIGHT IN
AND LEARN ON THE FLY.

AND SOMETIMES, THAT WORKED.

AND SOMETIMES,
LEARNING ON THE FLY

WASN'T THE BEST WAY
TO GO ABOUT IT.

USE YOUR FOOT STRENGTH.

THE CANOE'S SO HEAVY
RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THE TIME OF YEAR
TO MOVE IN WAS... A LITTLE BOLD.

BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE
ABLE TO GET THE OPPORTUNITY

TO TEST OUT
LIVING ON AN HOUSEBOAT.

IT WAS A HUGE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

WANT TO HOP OUT?

WITHOUT FALLING IN?

I CAN MANAGE HOLDING THE CANOE
WITHOUT FALLING IN.

I DO WANT TO LIVE ON A HOUSEBOAT AGAIN.
I REALLY WANT TO.

I WANT TO LIVE OFF THE GRID.

I DO.

I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO IT
NEXT TIME AROUND

A LITTLE BIT MORE PREPARED.

NOW WE KNOW.

MEANWHILE,
RANDY'S UNSUCCESSFUL HUNT

MEANS MORE DAYS WILL HAVE TO
BE SPENT LOOKING FOR BIG GAME

TO BRING HOME TO HIS FAMILY.

STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING.

IT'S GETTING DARK,
AND IT'S COLD,

SO I GONNA MAKE A FIRE
AND GET MYSELF SET UP.

GONNA MAKE CAMP.

JUST GET A RIPPING FIRE
GOING HERE.

SO, I'M GONNA HAVE TO LOOK
AT MY OPTIONS

AND FIGURE OUT A DIFFERENT
COURSE OF ACTION TOMORROW.

THE ONE THING I LEARNED
WHEN I WAS YOUNG WAS

THAT THE ONLY WAY YOU DON'T
GET SKUNKED WHEN YOU'RE HUNTING

IS IF YOU DON'T GIVE UP
TILL YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING.

IF I'VE GOT TO SPEND THREE,
FOUR DAYS OUT HERE HUNTING

UNTIL I GET SOMETHING TO EAT,
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

TOMORROW WILL BE A BETTER DAY.

I'M SO HUNGRY.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BAY,

STEPHAN HAS SPENT
AN ARDUOUS FOUR HOURS

IN AND OUT OF ICY WATER,

MAKING SURE ALL HIS PONTOONS
ARE AIRTIGHT.

NO ONE HAS ANY CLAIM
OR STAKE TO THE WATER.

IT'S GREAT SLAVE.
IT'S GONNA DO WHAT IT DOES.

SO, WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS
WATCH, LISTEN, LEARN,

AND DO WHAT YOU CAN.

WHATEVER'S INSIDE
OF YOUR CONTROL,

YOU'D BETTER TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THAT.

YEP!

I THINK I GOT IT.

I THINK WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

WE'RE WILLING TO RISK OUR LIVES
A LITTLE BIT

FOR THE PEACE OF BEING
ON THE BAY.

IT'S WORTH IT.

AND YOU TAKE EVERYTHING
IN STRIDE.

YOU HAVE RESPECT FOR THE LAKE.
YOU'LL MAKE IT.

THIS IS GREAT.

EVERYTHING IS A-OKAY
IN MY OPINION.

LOOK AT THAT.
LOOK AT ALL THAT CLEARANCE.

I HAD TO FIGHT FOR MY HOUSE
AND MY SURVIVAL TODAY.

I FEEL ALIVE, MORE ALIVE
THAN I'VE EVER FELT

IN MY ENTIRE EXISTENCE
LIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS.

WE MADE IT, BABY!
WE MADE IT.

I LOVE YOU,
DARLING.

SOME PEOPLE DEFINITELY
WOULD LOOK AT US

AS IF WE'RE LIVING THIS PRIMAL,
KIND OF PRIMITIVE LIFESTYLE

AND THROUGH
THE SUBARCTIC WINTERS

AND THE SPRINGS AND THE FALLS.

BUT, I MEAN,
ISN'T YOUR LIFE A CHALLENGE,

GETTING IN YOUR CAR,

DRIVING FOR FOUR HOURS
TO COMMUTE,

STUCK IN TRAFFIC,

DOING NOTHING BUT CURSING THE
GUY IN FRONT, THE GUY BEHIND.

I MEAN, WHAT'S A CHALLENGE?

WHAT'S PRIMITIVE?
WHAT'S CRAZY?

I MEAN, I KNOW MY CRAZY.
DO YOU?

I COULD DO NOT ASK
FOR A STRONGER WOMAN.

I COULD NOT HAVE MADE
A STRONGER WOMAN.

"MADE?"

IF I WAS... I'M JUST SAYING,
IF I HAD...

YOU KNOW,
IF YOU COULD MAKE SOMEBODY,

I COULDN'T MAKE ANYTHING
AS GOOD AS YOU.

YOU'RE THE BEST.
YOU'RE THE BEST.

BY MORNING,

A FINE LAYER OF ICE
ONE INCH THICK

BLANKETS THE BAY...

...CONSTANTLY SHIFTING

AND MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE
TO TRANSPORT ANY MORE SUPPLIES.

TWO, THREE, COME ON!
COME ON, GET BACK OVER.

THERE WE GO.

THE DEADLIEST TIME OF YEAR
IS HERE.

WELL, THIS IS FREEZE-UP.

IT'S ABOUT MINUS-12,
MINUS-15 DEGREES,

BUT THIS AIN'T WINTER.

WINTER IS STILL COMING.

THIS SEASON
ON "ICE LAKE REBELS"...

MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA

HOW EXTREME
WINTER LIVING IS HERE.

I SERIOUSLY THINK
THE LAKE IS TRYING TO KILL ME.

IT'S BELOW ZERO IN HERE.

I THINK
WE'RE FROZEN IN AGAIN.

IF I CAN'T GET
THIS HOUSE HEATED UP,

ALL OF MY SYSTEMS
ARE GONNA BE AFFECTED.

PIPES ARE GONNA BURST,
MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM'S GONNA GO,

MY BATTERIES ARE GONNA FREEZE...

EVERY SYSTEM IN MY HOUSE
IS THREATENED AT THIS POINT.

THIS PLACE,
IT'S OUR MEDICINE CHEST,

IT'S OUR SUPERMARKET.

WE RELY ON IT FOR EVERYTHING.

BUSH SURVIVAL
IS KEY TO MAKE IT OUT HERE.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW
HOW TO LIVE OFF THE LAND.

WE HAVE OUR OWN LAWS.

WE HAVE OUR OWN RULES.

AND WE'RE INDEPENDENT.

YOU JUST GRIND THROUGH IT,

'CAUSE IF YOU DON'T,
YOU'RE DONE.

WHOA!

NO! ****

I'VE GOT YOU.

ABSOLUTELY
AT THE MERCY OF THE LAKE.

BRIAN AND STEPHAN ARE NOT BACK
YET FROM CHECKING THE NETS.

IN THE REGULAR WORLD,

PEOPLE JUST CALL 911
WHEN SOMEBODY GOES MISSING.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT OUT HERE.

STEPH, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?

WELL, THEY SAY HELL IS HOT.

I DISAGREE.
IT'S COLD.