Ice Lake Rebels (2014–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - 40 Below and Missing - full transcript
JUST BELOW THE ARCTIC CIRCLE,
IN CANADA'S
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES,
HERE ON GREAT SLAVE LAKE,
A COLONY OF PIONEERS HAVE CHOSEN
TO LIVE OFF THE GRID...
I GOT YOU.
I GOT YOU.
...AND ON THE EDGE.
THE FREAKING THING JUST BREAKS,
AND THERE'S NOTHING I COULD HAVE
DONE TO PREVENT THAT.
THE REASON I LIKE IT
UP HERE IS THE FREEDOM.
NOBODY TELLS ME WHAT TO DO,
HOW TO LIVE MY LIFE.
I WOULDN'T HAVE IT
ANY OTHER WAY.
BUT LIVING ON A SUBARCTIC LAKE
DURING THE WORST WINTER
ON RECORD
PUSHES THEIR FLOATING HOMES
TO THE LIMIT.
IT'S -45 DEGREES.
THE COLD CAN KILL YOU.
NUMBER-ONE THING,
THE LIFE-SAVING THING,
IS YOU NEED HEAT.
THE HOUSE IS FROZEN.
IF I CAN'T GET
THIS HOUSE HEATED UP,
ALL OF MY SYSTEMS
ARE GONNA BE AFFECTED.
IN A LAND
WHERE NOTHING COMES EASY...
EVERYTHING IN THIS
LIFESTYLE TAKES EFFORT.
IT'S -45 OUTSIDE,
AND ANYTHING MECHANICAL
WON'T START.
THIS FAR NORTH,
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE
ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT
IS IN TIP-TOP SHAPE.
YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.
...THESE REBELS
USE EVERY RESOURCE.
YEAH!
TO SURVIVE,
THEY HAVE TO DIG DEEP
AND BATTLE THE WRATH
OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE.
I CAN BARELY FEEL
MY FINGERS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S JUST COLD.
IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY COLD.
ONE OF THE MOST SAVAGE WINTERS
EVER TO HIT
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
IS CHARGING ACROSS THE FROZEN
HORIZON OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE.
WITH ONLY FOUR HOURS OF SUNLIGHT
A DAY TO WARM THIS TUNDRA,
THE FORECAST
FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS
IS NOW CALLING
FOR RECORD LOWS OF -50.
WELL, YOU HAVE TO MAKE
A REAL VALIANT EFFORT TO PREPARE
FOR THE ONSLAUGHT OF WINTER.
I'VE BEEN UP HERE
FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS,
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE COLDEST.
IT'S SO **** COLD.
HOUSEBOATERS STEPHAN HERVIEUX
AND HIS FIANCéE, ALLYCE RATTRAY,
HAD SET OUT FOR A FISHING
EXPEDITION ON THE OPEN LAKE.
BUT SEVERE WEATHER
FORCED THEM BACK HOME.
THE LAKE IS UNPREDICTABLE.
YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET.
EVERY 20 MINUTES, IT CHANGES,
SO IT'S DANGEROUS,
BUT IT'S PART OF LIVING
ON THE LAKE.
YOU CAN'T BE OUT THERE
IN A STORM, GALE WINDS.
I MEAN,
NOBODY'S FISHING IN THAT.
WHOA.
WHAT NOW?
COLD IN HERE.
FOR PETE'S SAKE!
I WALK IN.
IT'S LIKE -10 DEGREES.
YEP.
SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING.
GEEZ LOUISE.
THE HOUSE IS FROZEN.
YOU'RE KIDDING ME.
I LOOK TO THE PROPANE FURNACE.
NOT A THING.
IF I CAN'T GET
THIS HOUSE HEATED UP,
PIPES ARE GONNA BURST,
MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM'S GONNA GO,
MY BATTERIES ARE GONNA FREEZE.
HOLY ****
LOOK AT THIS.
FREAKIN' FROST
ALL OVER THE DAMN HEATER UNIT.
EVERY SYSTEM IN MY HOUSE
IS THREATENED AT THIS POINT.
THE HEATER UNIT
SHOULD NOT BE FROZEN.
I START MESSING AROUND
WITH THE PROPANE.
I CAN'T GET A PILOT TO LIGHT.
I TURN IT OFF, DO A RESET.
NOTHING.
THAT PILOT LIGHT GOING OUT
NEVER HAPPENS.
IT'S JUST TOO COLD.
SOMETIMES
THE PILOT WON'T EVEN LIGHT,
SO WHAT YOU DO
IS YOU KEEP THE TORCH
ON THAT THERMAL COUPLING,
AND I WAIT TILL IT'S RED-HOT.
TURN THE THERMOSTAT UP TO...
YOU CAN'T COOK FOOD,
'CAUSE THAT'S ALL ON PROPANE.
THE HOT WATER'S ALL ON PROPANE.
TO GET HOME TO A COLD HOUSE,
PIPES ARE MOST LIKELY
FROZEN SOLID.
WE WEREN'T PLANNING FOR THIS.
WE DIDN'T EMPTY THEM OUT.
ALL OF OUR CANNED GOODS,
ALL OF OUR FOOD IS NOW FROZEN,
EVERYTHING.
TURN THE THERMOSTAT
UP TO 100% PLEASE.
YEAH, IT'S THERE.
PROPANE GELS
AT -37, -40.
GUARANTEED THE PROPANE
HAS GELLED.
WE'VE HAD THAT.
IN EXTREME COLD,
PROPANE GAS CHANGES TO A LIQUID,
MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FLOW
THROUGH
THE HEATING SYSTEM'S HOSES.
I'LL GO CHECK AND MAKE SURE
ALL THE LINES ARE STILL GOOD.
I GOT TO GO OUTSIDE,
AND IT'S -45 DEGREES OUT THERE.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
OKAY.
THE SUN'S GOING DOWN,
AND THE WIND'S PICKING UP.
AND THE FORECASTING ONE OF
THE COLDEST NIGHTS OF THE YEAR.
I GOT TO GET THIS FIXED.
THIS IS WHAT IT IS
LIVING OUT HERE.
AT THIS TEMPERATURE,
NOTHING WORKS.
SO IT'S JUST SCRAMBLING
TO GET IT GOING,
AND YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HEAT.
MAN, IT'S COLD.
CAN YOU SEE THIS?
AND THERE WE GO.
IT'S SO COLD RIGHT NOW
THAT I JUST MOVED THE HOSE
AND IT SNAPPED.
I'M SCREWED.
I NEED TO FIND
ANOTHER HOSE LIKE THIS.
I GOT THESE HOSES.
I HOPE THIS WORKS.
FIXING THE PROPANE FURNACE
WILL SAVE
HIS HOUSEBOAT'S UTILITY SYSTEMS.
IN THE MEANTIME,
A SMALL WOOD STOVE WILL HAVE
TO KEEP HIM AND ALLYCE WARM.
IN THE WINTER,
THE CONTINUOUSLY BREAKING DOWN
OF EQUIPMENT NEVER ENDS.
OKAY.
IT'S ABOUT 3:30, AND I'M RUNNING
OUT OF LIGHT FAST.
WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR,
IT'S GONNA BE PITCH-BLACK.
HOURS OUTSIDE YELLOWKNIFE BAY,
VETERAN FISHERMAN BRIAN ABBOT
AND HIS ASSISTANT SHEILA FRISE
HEAD TO THEIR FISHING OUTPOST
TO SEEK SHELTER FROM THE SEVERE
COLD FRONT HEADING THEIR WAY.
MADE HER.
THE WEATHER
IS THE WORST IN 33 YEARS.
YOU STILL GOT TO GET OUT THERE
AND PULL THESE NETS
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
WE NEED MORE FISH
IN THE FREEZERS.
BUT YOU GOT TO PLAY IT SAFE.
BACK TO THE ICE PALACE.
IT'S A SAFE PLACE TO GO.
WE CAN KEEP EQUIPMENT,
EXTRA NETS, FUEL, FOOD,
AND JUST ANYTHING
YOU MIGHT NEED FOR SURVIVAL
IF YOU DO GET STUCK OUT HER.
COLD OUT THERE.
COLD SKI-DOO RIDE.
I'VE BEEN FISHING ON THIS LAKE
SINCE I WAS 12 YEARS OLD,
AND THIS IS THE COLDEST
CONDITIONS I'VE EVER FISHED IN.
THERE'S ZUCCHINIS
IN THE FRIDGE.
YOU STILL GOT TO COOK THAT UP,
FRY IT.
YEAH, I'LL JUST FRY IT UP
IN THE FRYING PAN.
BRIAN DOESN'T CARE
WHAT KIND OF WEATHER WORKS IN.
HE'LL GO DAY OR NIGHT,
IT DON'T MATTER.
WELL, I SURE HOPE
THIS WINTER'S
A LITTLE BIT BETTER
THAN THE LAST WINTER.
CAN'T STAND ANOTHER ONE
LIKE LAST WINTER,
BUT I HEARD IT'S GONNA BE
A BAD ONE THIS YEAR.
THIS FORCED BREAKAWAY
FROM THEIR FISHING LINES
MAY BE NECESSARY,
BUT IT WILL BE COSTLY.
THERE'S QUITE A BIT
OF ICE OUT THERE STILL,
'CAUSE WHEN I PUT THAT HOOK DOWN
TO GRAB THE ROPE,
THERE WAS PRACTICALLY
LIKE ONLY THIS MUCH OF IT
STICKING OUT.
AND IT'S ONLY GONNA GET
A LOT WORSE.
THERE'S A LIMIT YOU HAVE
TO LEAVE YOUR NETS DOWN.
FISH DON'T WAIT.
THE NETS ARE OUT THERE.
FISH GOES BAD.
AND SO I ACTUALLY TRY TO PULL
MINE IN 24 HOURS OR LESS.
YOU LOSE EVEN LESS FISH,
AND WHAT YOU'VE GOT
ARE MORE LIVELY.
AND IF YOU'RE IN A GOOD SPOT,
THE NETS ARE FULL ENOUGH ANYWAY.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET
MORE NETS IN RIGHT AWAY, TOO.
WE DON'T HAVE
ANYWHERE NEAR ENOUGH FISH.
I MEAN, THIS, WHAT WE GOT HERE,
IS NOT GONNA CUT IT.
YEAH, WE NEED TO GET THEM
FREEZERS FULL TO THE BRIM.
YEAH, WE GOT LIKE
SEVEN FREEZERS TO FILL.
NINE.
NINE NOW?
THERE'S NINE NOW, YEAH.
MY GOODNESS.
YEP.
ACROSS THE BAY,
GREAT SLAVE LAKE'S
NEWEST RESIDENT
PREPARES TO HUNKER DOWN
FOR HER FIRST NIGHT
IN THE SAVAGE WEATHER.
IT'S GETTING REALLY COLD,
SO I HOPE IT GOES OKAY.
IT'S GONNA BE A BIT OF A TEST.
I'M MOLLY.
I'M 21.
I WAS BORN IN YELLOWKNIFE
AND RAISED ON A HOUSEBOAT.
I'VE BEEN IN VANCOUVER
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS,
AND NOW I'M MOVING BACK TO
YELLOWKNIFE TO LIVE ON MY OWN.
I KNOW HOW TO, LIKE,
CHOP FIREWOOD, AND I CAN CANOE.
BUT THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS
THAT I'VE NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE
BECAUSE I WAS YOUNGER
AND MY FAMILY TOOK CARE OF ME.
BUT NOW I WANT TO LEARN
HOW TO DO IT MYSELF.
MOLLY HAS MOVED
INTO HER NAMESAKE HOUSEBOAT,
THE MOLLY BARGE,
BUILT BY HER DAD 20 YEARS AGO.
SHE'S RETURNING TO HELP
HER FATHER RUN HIS FLOATING B&B.
MY DAD CALLED ME, AND HE ASKED
IF I COULD HELP HIM
WITH THE CAFé AND THE HOUSEBOAT.
SO I MOVED UP BECAUSE
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT NORTH,
AND IT'S ALWAYS NICE
TO COME HOME.
THE HOUSEBOATS,
THEY'RE COMPLETELY
SELF-SUFFICIENT
AND OFF THE GRID.
THERE'S NO POWER LINE
GOING UNDERNEATH THE ICE.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE PROPANE HEAT,
WOOD HEAT.
SO IT'S ALWAYS A BIT
OF AN ADAPTATION,
BUT, YOU KNOW,
IT FEELS KIND OF NATURAL.
THAT'S THE WAY I WAS RAISED.
WITH TEMPERATURES
CONTINUING TO PLUMMET,
FOR YOUNG MOLLY,
HEAT IS HER NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY.
I'M PRETTY PROUD OF MYSELF.
I GOT MY FIRE DONE.
MAKE SURE THAT I CAN GET
ALL MY BEDDING HERE.
I GOT A LOT OF STUFF
I GOT TO GET DONE.
MAYBE AUGER FOR ICE, TOO...
AUGER THE ICE FOR WATER.
SO THERE'S LOTS OF STUFF I GOT
BEFORE MY NIGHT'S OVER.
WHILE MAINLANDERS CAN
JUST TURN ON THE KITCHEN TAP,
RUSTLING WATER
FROM GREAT SLAVE LAKE
IS FAR MORE CHALLENGING.
MOLLY MUST USE AN AUGER,
A LARGE HAND-POWERED DRILL,
TO TAP THE LAKE'S WATER FROM
UNDER FIVE FEET OF WINTER ICE.
WHEN I WAS TRYING
TO AUGER FOR WATER,
I KICKED AT IT,
AND, LIKE, MY FOOT
MADE MORE OF A DENT IN THE ICE.
THIS IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
THIS IS NOT HAPPENING.
35 MILES WEST,
"PIKE" MIKE AND RAGNAR WESSTROM,
HARDENED VETERANS
OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE WINTERS,
KNOW ALL TO WELL THE SEVERITY
THESE DEEP FREEZES
HAVE ON VITAL EQUIPMENT.
YOU GOT A FLASHLIGHT THERE,
MIKE?
YEAH, YOU WANT TO BORROW IT?
YEAH, PLEASE.
THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR
IS TAKING A TOLL ON HIS $100,000
ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE.
WHEN YOU HAVE -50,
NOTHING IS MOVING.
YOU HAVE TO HEAT UP EITHER
THE OIL OR EITHER THE COOLANT.
WE HAD TO OPEN UP THE VALVES
TO THE COOLANT TO THE ENGINE,
AND EVERYTHING
IS SO, SO COMPLICATED.
TURN THE VALVE ON.
I'LL IGNITE IT FOR YOU.
IT'S ON.
SO, THERE'S THIS AUXILIARY
HEATER TO HEAT UP THE COOLANT.
YOU USE IT WITH A PROPANE TORCH.
AND YOU HEAT UP THE ENGINE,
AND YOU CAN START IT.
RAGNAR IS HEATING UP
THE HAGGLUNDS' COOLANT,
WHICH ACTUALLY WARMS UP
THE ENGINE'S OIL
AND TRANSMISSION FLUID
SO IT CAN START UP
IN THE BITTER COLD.
AFTER THAWING THE ENGINE'S
COOLING SYSTEM FOR OVER AN HOUR,
RAGNAR ATTEMPTS TO START
THE HAGGLUNDS.
NOW HE HAS TO KEEP THIS MACHINE
RUNNING FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN
TO PREVENT THE ENGINE BLOCK
FROM FREEZING.
35 MILES EAST,
BACK IN THE BAY,
THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR
IS THREATENING
STEPHAN AND ALLYCE'S HOUSEBOAT.
I CAN BARELY FEEL
MY FINGERS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S JUST COLD.
IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY COLD.
STEPHAN'S
OLD PROPANE HOSE CRACKED
FROM THE SUB-40-DEGREE
TEMPERATURE.
NOW HE'S ATTACHING A NEW HOSE
TO RESTORE HEAT
IN HIS HOUSEBOAT.
I WANT THIS PROPANE UNIT
TO WORK.
I CAN SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, LORD.
IF YOU'RE LISTENING...
BABY JESUS.
NOW I GOT TO PUT THAT UNIT
ONTO THE HOUSE.
DON'T WANT TO BEND THIS...
TOO MUCH.
****
THIS IS A BIT TRICKY.
MAN,
I DO NOT LOVE THIS WEATHER.
AND THERE WE GO.
I JUST BROKE THE SECOND ONE.
IF I CAN'T GET
THIS HOUSE HEATED UP,
THAT FREEZE
COULD DESTROY OUR HOUSEBOAT.
AS A RECORD
40-DEGREE-BELOW-ZERO SUBARCTIC CHILL
GRIPS THE 10,000 SQUARE MILES
OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE...
MAN,
I DO NOT LOVE THIS WEATHER.
AND THERE WE GO.
I JUST BROKE THE SECOND ONE.
THE BITTER COLD HAS SNAPPED
BOTH OF STEPHAN'S PROPANE HOSES.
HE IS RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS
TO SURVIVE THE NIGHT.
IT'S GETTING LATE,
AND THERE'S NO WAY I CAN FIND
ANOTHER HOSE RIGHT NOW.
BUT I'VE GOT TO MAKE DUE
WITH WHAT I HAVE.
WELL, NO CHOICE, HON.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SLEEP
BACK HERE.
WE GOT TO CONSERVE SPACE.
LESS PLACE, MORE HEAT.
WE'VE GOT A FIRE STARTED,
BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP
THE ENTIRE HOUSEBOAT WARM.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IS REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SPACE
WE'RE TRYING TO HEAT.
IF WE GOT THAT TABLECLOTH,
PUT IT UP RIGHT HERE.
JUST TO BLOCK THAT AREA?
WELL, YEAH,
TO KEEP THE HEAT IN, RIGHT?
HERE YOU GO.
THERE ARE SO MANY
PROBLEMS OUT THERE IN THE WINTER.
EVERYTHING CAN GO WRONG.
BUT THE NUMBER-ONE THING,
THE LIFE-SAVING THING,
IS YOU NEED HEAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE HEAT,
YOU CAN'T SURVIVE
LIVING OUT HERE ON THE LAKE.
TRY AND USE THE OLD HOLE.
IF NOT, WE'LL MAKE A NEW ONE.
I DON'T CARE.
OKAY.
HEAT IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE.
HIGHER.
AW, HOLD ON.
****
WE'RE GONNA HEAT OUR AREA FIRST.
HOPEFULLY, THAT'LL KEEP
THE PIPES FROM FREEZING
AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FROM SHORTING OUT.
IF WE CAN'T, THAT COULD BE
THE END OF OUR HOUSEBOAT.
35 MILES WEST,
RAGNAR WESSTROM
KEEPS THE ENGINES
OF HIS HAGGLUNDS RUNNING
TO PREVENT
THE SEVERE TEMPERATURES
FROM DAMAGING
HIS $100,000 MACHINE.
INSIDE, HE'S PLANNING AN
IMPORTANT MISSION WITH CHEF RON
THAT WILL AFFECT ALL OF THE
RESIDENTS ON GREAT SLAVE LAKE.
WEST 114.
SO THAT TAKES HIM
RIGHT HERE AT BAKER ISLAND.
WE'RE LOCATED
IN UNCHARTED WATERS
IN THE NORTH ARM
OF THE GREAT SLAVE LAKE,
AND NOW THE GOVERNMENT
HAS DECIDED TO MAP THE AREA.
THEY WANT TO COME TO MY LODGE
TO PUT UP A GPS
TO MAP THE WHOLE AREA.
I THOUGH,
"**** THIS IS NOT GOOD."
I BUILT THIS PLACE FROM SCRATCH,
AND THIS IS MY LITTLE KINGDOM.
I TOLD THEM,
"KEEP OF MY ISLAND.
I'LL PUT UP
THE **** GPS MYSELF."
RAGNAR STARTED
HIS LODGE OFF THE GRID
TO GET AS FAR AWAY
FROM THE GOVERNMENT AS POSSIBLE.
BUT HELPING MAP OUT
THE UNCHARTED LAKE
WILL ULTIMATELY BENEFIT
HIS BUSINESS.
I HELP THEM MAP THIS PLACE,
AND IN EXCHANGE, THEY PROMISE ME
ACCESS TO THOSE MAPS,
AND THAT GIVES ME
MORE SAFELY TRAVEL IN THE LAND
WITH NEW CLIENTS
TO NEW TERRITORIES
FOR HUNTING AND FISHING.
IT'LL ALSO BE SAFER
BECAUSE WE HAVE
A PINPOINT LOCATION, EVERYTHING.
OKAY,
YOU CAN TAKE THE GREEN ONE.
I'LL TAKE THE BLACK ONE.
OKAY.
BACK IN THE BAY,
HIS HOUSEBOAT'S VITAL SYSTEMS
IN JEOPARDY
OF BEING PERMANENTLY DAMAGED
FROM THE EXTREME COLD,
STEPHAN DECIDES TO VISIT FELLOW
HOUSEBOATER GARY VAILLANCOURT.
I REALLY HOPE YOU GOT SOMETHING
FOR ME, GARY.
I KNEW I HAD TO FIND
SOME SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM,
AND THE ONLY PERSON
I COULD THINK OF WAS GARY.
GARY WAS THE FIRST HOUSEBOATER,
WAY BACK IN THE '70s.
IF ANYBODY'S GOT THE PROPANE
HOSE I NEED, IT'S GONNA BE GARY.
WHAT EXACTLY IS IT
YOU NEED TO GET ON IT?
A PROPANE HOSE
FOR A TWIN-STAGE REGULATOR.
IF YOU'VE GOT ONE,
I COULD REALLY USE ONE.
WITHOUT IT, I GOT...
YEAH, I GOT ONE
IN HERE SOMEWHERE.
I'M SORT OF KNOWN
AS A COLLECTOR OF THINGS,
AND I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME,
SO I'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS.
I ACQUIRED A SURVEYOR
FOR A CONTRACT I WAS WORKING ON
TO CLEAN UP OLD, CONTAMINATED
MINE SITES ON GREAT SLAVE LAKE,
AND IT'S JUST A BIG
STORAGE PLACE NOW.
ONE OF THE THINGS
ABOUT BEING ON THE LAKE IS,
WE'RE ALL NEIGHBORS,
SO WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT.
IF THERE'S A PROBLEM,
WE GOT TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
LET'S TRY THIS ONE.
YEAH,
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, BUT...
NOW, THAT'S
LOOKING PROMISING.
THAT'S LOOKS A LOT LIKE...
THAT'S ALMOST...
NO, THAT'S NOT IT.
THAT'S NOT IT.
THAT'S IT!
THAT'S EXACTLY...
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I NEED!
YOU'RE KIDDING?
NO, I SWEAR TO GOD.
WOW.
PERFECT.
COOL, MAN.
THANK YOU, GARY.
THANK YOU, GARY.
ALL RIGHT.
PUT THAT HOSE ON, AND HOPEFULLY
THAT FURNACE KICKS IN.
ACROSS THE BAY,
MOLLY'S RETURN
TO GREAT SLAVE LAKE
TO LIVE ON HER OWN
AND OFF THE GRID
IS PROVING MORE DIFFICULT
THAN SHE REMEMBERED.
I WAS NOT SO SUCCESSFUL, AND
THAT WAS REALLY DISCOURAGING.
NOT BEING ABLE TO GET
A HOLE IN THE WATER,
I GOT A POT,
AND I MADE SOME SNOW WATER.
AND THAT'S JUST HOW IT HAD TO BE
BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT
GOING ANYWHERE.
IT WAS REALLY DISCOURAGING.
LIVING OFF THE GRID
ON GREAT SLAVE LAKE
AFFORDS CERTAIN FREEDOMS,
BUT WINTERS HERE
CAN BE MORE THAN MANY NEWCOMERS
ARE PREPARED FOR.
IT SURE IS DIFFERENT
THAN BEING IN VANCOUVER.
I DO LOVE BEING BACK,
AND THERE'S SOMETHING
ABOUT THE NORTH,
BUT EVERYTHING IN THIS LIFESTYLE
TAKES EFFORT.
ONE OF THE NICE THINGS
ABOUT LIVING UP HERE
IS IT'S MORE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
I MEAN, I GOT TO START THE
GENERATOR, WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE.
I GOT TO START THE PROPANE,
WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE.
I GOT TO START THE WATER,
WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE.
SO IT'S LIKE DRINKING
OUT OF A POT.
SO IT'S DIFFERENT.
IT'S DEFINITELY
MORE CHALLENGING TO BE HERE,
AND I'M FIGURING OUT
WHAT THAT'S LIKE TONIGHT.
ARMED WITH A NEW HOSE FROM GARY,
STEPHAN IS NOW IN A RACE
AGAINST TIME
TO GET HIS HEATER WORKING
BEFORE THE NIGHT'S
FALLING TEMPERATURES
CAUSE VITAL SYSTEMS
ON HIS HOUSEBOAT TO BREAK DOWN.
I GOT ANOTHER HOSE FROM GARY,
THANK GOODNESS.
SO NOW I JUST GOT TO PUT
SOME TEFLON
TO MAKE SURE WE GOT A GOOD SEAL.
WE FOUND A PROPANE HOSE,
AND I REALLY, REALLY HOPE
THIS IS ALL I NEED
TO GET THAT HEAT RESTORED.
THE HOUSE IS OBVIOUSLY
FROZEN SOLID RIGHT NOW,
AND I NEED THE HEAT A.S.A.P.,
LIKE, YESTERDAY.
I GET THE FITTINGS ON
PERFECTLY TIGHT.
YEAH!
THAT'S WHAT I WANT.
ALL RIGHT,
EVERYTHING SEEMS GOOD.
NOW FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH,
SEE IF THE FURNACE STARTS.
- HON?
- YEAH.
I JUST GOT A HOSE FROM GARY.
GREAT.
AND INSTALLED IT.
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, PILOT ON.
COME ON.
VALVE TURNED.
GOOD TO GO.
OKAY, THIS HAS TO WORK.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE I CAN DO, HON.
HEAT THAT THERMAL COUPLE.
COME ON.
LET'S SEE IF THE THERMAL COUPLE
WILL HOLD.
****
AND LOOK AT THE WIND.
LOOK AT THE WIND
BLOWING MY ****
COLD WIND IS BLOWING
MY FREAKIN' TORCH OUT.
NO WONDER
IT DOESN'T WANT TO START.
PLEASE, PLEASE.
DARKNESS CONTINUES TO BLANKET
THE VAST EXPANSE
OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE.
AND ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
WINTER COLD SNAPS ON RECORD
HAS BROKEN
STEPHAN'S HOUSEBOAT FURNACE.
THE HOUSE IS OBVIOUSLY
FROZEN SOLID RIGHT NOW,
AND I NEED THE HEAT A.S.A.P.
THE COLD CAN KILL YOU,
AND EVERY SYSTEM IN MY HOUSE
IS THREATENED AT THIS POINT.
NOW FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH,
SEE IF THE FURNACE STARTS.
OKAY, THIS HAS TO WORK.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE I CAN DO, HON.
COME ON.
WITHOUT HEAT,
THEIR WATER PIPES,
BATTERY BANKS,
AND ELECTRICAL PANELS
CAN BECOME PERMANENTLY DAMAGED
BY THE -50 DEGREE TEMPERATURES.
PLEASE, PLEASE.
YEAH! FLAME ON!
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
RIGHT ON!
FINALLY! FINALLY!
THANK GOD.
LET ME CLOSER TO THAT HEAT!
YEAH.
NO, THAT'S... THAT'S
THROWING OFF SOME HEAT NOW.
GOOD. GOOD.
SEE, HON,
I TOLD YOU I'D FIX IT.
GOOD JOB, BABE.
SOMETIMES, I SERIOUSLY
THINK THE LAKE IS TRYING TO KILL ME.
BUT WHEN ALLYCE AND I
CAN PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER
AND SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS,
THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE
I'D RATHER CALL HOME.
AS DAWN BREAKS ACROSS THE BAY,
FISHERMAN BRIAN
AND HIS ASSISTANT SHEILA
RETURN FROM THE OPEN LAKE
WITH A LOAD OF FRESH FISH.
THE COLD FRONT HAD FORCED THEM
TO SEEK SHELTER INDOORS,
LOSING TIME
SETTING MORE CRITICAL NETS.
MY HANDS ARE COLD.
BY THE TIME
THE FISHERMEN RETURN,
THE FRESH FISH
ARE FROZEN SOLID...
NO, THOSE ONES ARE FROZEN,
THOUGH.
...MAKING THE FILLETING PROCESS
NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
THIS WAS PROBABLY
THE HARDEST JOB
THAT I'VE EVER DONE
IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
WHEN YOU'VE GOT A WIND
WHISTLING,
YOUR FISH ARE FREEZING
SO QUICKLY, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION NOW
COULD BE
THE CANADIAN BOMBARDIER,
MADE FOR THESE TERRAINS,
WHEN IT'S WORKING.
THE BOMBARDIER
IS BASICALLY LIKE A LARGE VAN
AND THROWING
A SET OF TRACKS ONTO IT
AND THROWING
THE FRONT WHEELS AWAY
AND PUT A COUPLE SKIS ON IT.
HAVING A BOMBARDIER OUT
ON THE ICE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
YOU'VE GOT SOMEWHERE WARM
TO CLIMB INTO
WHEN YOU'RE FREEZING
YOUR BUTT OFF.
YOU'VE GOT SOMEWHERE TO DRY
GLOVES OFF, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND IT KEEPS THE FISH
FROM FREEZING.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO START
WORKING ON THIS BOMBARDIER.
IT'S A NECESSITY.
35 MILES WEST,
ALONG THE UPPER SHORES
OF THE LAKE...
RAGNAR WESSTROM HEADS OUT
ON HIS MISSION
TO INSTALL A TRANSMITTER
TO SCAN THE TERRAIN
SURROUNDING HIS LODGE.
THE GOVERNMENT APPROACHED ME
ABOUT THIS SATELLITE
MAPPING PROGRAM.
THEY WANT TO SEND
THEIR OWN PEOPLE OUT.
DIDN'T REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH THAT,
SO I OFFERED THEM A DEAL
THAT WE DO IT FOR THEM.
RAGNAR HEADS OUT
ACROSS THE FROZEN LAKE
TOWARDS THE GPS WAY POINT,
THE HIGHEST POINT IN THE REGION.
WE'RE ABOUT 15 MILES
FROM THE HIGHWAY,
AND WE'RE ABOUT 60 KILOMETERS
FROM YELLOWKNIFE,
SO WE'RE
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
GREAT SLAVE LAKE
IS A BIG-ASS LAKE,
300 MILES LONG,
AND THE WHOLE NORTH ARM
IS ABOUT 100 KILOMETERS LONG.
AND WE'RE THE ONLY LODGE
IN THE NORTH ARM,
SO WE'RE QUITE ISOLATED.
THIS AREA IS ONE
OF THE FEW PLACES IN THE WORLD
THAT'S UNCHARTED.
WHEN I FIRST HEARD
THE GOVERNMENT COMING IN
TO DO THE SURVEY
FOR THE NEW MAPS,
I DIDN'T REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE
ABOUT IT.
BUT AFTER SOME THOUGHT,
I THOUGHT
I COULD BENEFIT FROM IT.
BETTER SAFETY,
EXPANDING THE BUSINESS.
SO AFTER ALL,
I THOUGHT IT'D BE BETTER FOR US.
RIGHT ON.
HAGGLUNDS BV206...
UNSTOPPABLE.
THERE'S CHALLENGES
LIVING THIS FAR NORTH.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ROAD ACCESS.
YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY CORNER STORES.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT,
IT'S WORTHWHILE
BECAUSE YOU'RE FREE.
AND THERE'S NO PRICE ON FREEDOM.
WE JUST GOT THIS TRANSMITTER GPS
YESTERDAY FROM OTTAWA.
IT HAS THE TRANSMITTER,
IT HAS A LITHIUM
HEAVY-DUTY BATTERY,
AND ALSO THE ANTENNA.
WHEN I CONNECT THE TRANSMITTER,
IT WILL CONNECT
WITH THE SATELLITE,
AND THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO MAP
THE AREA.
AND THIS HAS NEVER
BEEN DONE BEFORE.
ONCE ACTIVATED,
THIS NEW GPS BEACON
WILL HELP PROVIDE
IN-DEPTH CHARTS
DETAILING THE UNDERWATER
TERRAIN OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE,
WHICH WILL MAKE IT SAFER
FOR BOATERS
AND EASIER FOR ANGLERS
TO LOCATE FISH.
NOW I'M SECURING THE DEVICE
WITH ROCKS
SO THE WIND DOESN'T TAKE IT
WHEN WE GET THIS BIG STORM.
GOOD.
FIRMLY SECURED.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
WE GET GOOD CHARTS
OF THE TERRAIN.
WITH NEW MAPS,
IT'LL ALSO BE SAFER,
BECAUSE THE GUIDES CAN,
VIA RADIO CONTACT,
PINPOINT LOCATION, EVERYTHING.
SO IT'S SAFER FOR US,
SAFER FOR THE CLIENTS.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT,
IT COULD BE A MATTER
OF LIFE AND DEATH.
ACROSS THE BAY...
...STEPHAN TRAVELS
TO HENRY AND BRIAN'S FISH PLANT
IN SEARCH OF MATERIALS
TO BUILD A SHELTER
IF HE AND ALLYCE ATTEMPT TO FISH
THE OPEN LAKE AGAIN.
GOOD DAY, GOOD DAY, HENRY.
HOW'S IT GOING?
BUSY MAN.
BUSY MAN.
BUSY MAN, YEAH.
JUST CUTTING FISH ALL DAY LONG,
AS YOU SEE.
HOW'S BUSINESS?
PICKING UP DAILY.
GOOD.
I'M SETTING UP
A FISH CAMP MYSELF.
NOT COMPETITION.
YOU KNOW I'LL NEVER COMPETE.
COME ON.
I'M SMALL FRIES.
I'M SMALL FRIES.
I'M GETTING MARRIED,
AND I NEED THE MONEY.
SO THIS IS LIKE EXTRA INCOME.
I GOT TO GET SOMETHING, RIGHT?
SO I'VE GOT A BASE OUT THERE,
BUT I NEED A TARP.
I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU OR BRIAN
MIGHT HAVE ONE.
WELL,
THERE'S A BUNCH OF STUFF
DOWN THERE
IN THE BACK DOWN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S DOWN THERE ALTOGETHER,
BUT WE CAN
TAKE A LOOK AND SEE.
YOU DON'T MIND?
NO, DON'T MIND.
AWESOME. THANKS.
YEP.
I HAVE
THIS OLD TARP HERE.
IS IT ANY GOOD TO YOU?
IT'S GOT A FEW HOLES IN IT,
BY THE LOOKS OF IT.
WHAT ABOUT BACK THERE?
I GOT THIS BIG TARP HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS.
LOOKS LIKE A TARP.
YEAH, THERE'S ON HERE.
NO, NO. HOLD ON.
THIS IS A PROSPECTORS TENT.
THIS IS EXACTLY
WHAT I NEED, HENRY.
I GOT REAL LUCKY.
I WAS LOOKING FOR A TARP
AT HENRY'S,
AND I FOUND
A NICE PROSPECTOR TENT.
WELL, YOU CAN BORROW IT.
I DON'T WANT TO BORROW IT.
I WANT TO OWN THIS.
WHAT CAN I...
I HAVEN'T GOT ANY MONEY.
BUT YOU KNOW ME...
I'M PRETTY HANDY.
WE GOT AN OLD BOMBARDIER
OUT HERE.
WE NEED TO GET IT
SHOVELED OUT
AND CLEANED UP
SO WE CAN GET WORKING ON IT.
THE BOMBARDIER?
YEAH.
I'D LOVE TO FIX THAT UP FOR YOU.
DOWN THIS WAY HERE.
I'LL SHOW YOU WERE IT'S AT.
THIS IS HOUSEBOAT ECONOMICS 101.
THEY GOT WHAT I NEED.
I GOT WHAT THEY NEED.
THEY GOT A BOMBARDIER.
I GOT A BRAIN AND A WRENCH.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE
SOMETHING WORK HERE.
WE COME TOGETHER, WE EXCHANGE.
WE'RE COMMUNITY MEN.
THERE SHE IS OUT THERE,
IS THE BOMBARDIER.
SHE'S AN OLD BOMBARDIER.
GOOD OLD SNOWCAT?
YEAH.
TWO YEARS AGO,
IT WAS RUNNING FINE
WHEN WE PARKED IT THERE.
SO IT WAS RUNNING
WHEN YOU PARKED IT.
IT WAS RUNNING
WHEN WE PARKED IT, YES.
IT'S A '74.
IT'S A '74?
THAT'S A GREAT YEAR.
YEAH. YEAH.
THIS THING WAS MADE
IN '74, TOO.
WAS IT?
YEAH. BEST YEAR.
BEST YEAR,
IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF.
YEAH.
THAT'S A BEAUTY.
HOW AM I GONNA GET
THIS **** THING STARTED?
AND I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO.
WE'LL GET THAT THING RUNNING,
HENRY. DON'T YOU WORRY.
BACK IN YELLOWKNIFE BAY,
AT THE CT BARGE,
GARY VAILLANCOURT
RUNS A B&B
ABOARD HIS MASSIVE VESSEL.
THE COLD FRONT FORCED HIM
TO BURN THROUGH
ALL OF HIS PROPANE JUST TO KEEP
ALL SYSTEMS RUNNING.
NOW GARY AND MOLLY
MUST REPLACE THE TANKS
BEFORE TEMPERATURES PLUMMET
AGAIN TONIGHT.
THE MAIN THING I WORRY ABOUT
WITH THIS RESTAURANT IS PROPANE.
WE USE PROPANE HERE
FOR EVERYTHING.
HEAT, OF COURSE,
REFRIGERATION, COOKING,
AND OUR GAS LIGHTS
WHEN WE NEED THEM.
I JUST HAPPENED
TO BE WALKING BY,
AND I SAW THE GAUGES,
AND I REALIZED WE WERE MINUTES
FROM LOSING THE WHOLE HOUSE,
AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
WHEN THE ICE GETS BAD,
YOU CAN'T MOVE PROPANE,
AND IF I RUN OUT THEN,
I AM REALLY UP THE CREEK.
THIS IS LIKE A LEVER.
THESE MULTIPLE PULLEYS, THEY
MAKE YOU STRONGER THAN YOU ARE.
YOU CAN LIFT MORE
THAN YOU COULD.
I'VE NEVER LOADED PROPANE
WITH MY DAD BEFORE,
SO I NEVER REALLY KNEW HOW
WE GOT IT ONTO THE HOUSEBOAT.
SEE HOW FAR YOU CAN GET.
WILL YOU BRACE IT SO IT'S NOT
JUST GONNA DROP ON ME?
YOU'RE READY TO BE DONE
DOING PROPANE.
I DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE
HOW HEAVY IT WAS GONNA BE
'CAUSE IT'S ABOUT 70 POUNDS
FOR THE PROPANE TANK.
IT'S STUCK ON THE THING.
LET HER DOWN. OKAY.
WIGGLE IT OUT.
THAT'S GOOD.
RIGHT THERE.
STOP, STOP, STOP!
YOU CAN GET IT.
"I WANT TO BE THE BEST I CAN"...
THAT'S HER ATTITUDE,
AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF HER.
AND SHE HAS A FEW MORE TOOLS
IN THE KIT NOW.
ONLY EIGHT MORE.
HA, HA, HA.
DON'T THINK LIKE THAT.
LAST EIGHT!
ACROSS THE BAY,
AT BRIAN AND HENRY'S FISH BARGE,
STEPHAN IS CHARGED WITH THE TASK
OF BRINGING
A 40-YEAR-OLD BOMBARDIER
BACK TO LIFE.
GOOD OLD SNOWCAT?
YEAH.
TWO YEARS AGO,
IT WAS RUNNING FINE.
I WANTED TO PROVE
MYSELF TO BRIAN.
I WANT TO SHOW HIM
THAT HE CAN DEPEND ON ME,
NOT JUST AS A NEIGHBOR
OR AS A FRIEND,
BUT AS AN APPRENTICE.
AND LOOKING AT THAT BOMBARDIER
THAT HASN'T MOVED IN 2½ YEARS,
IF I CAN MOVE THAT THING,
I THINK HE JUST MIGHT SEEM
SOME VALUE IN ME.
IF HE SUCCEEDS,
HE'LL GAIN A PROSPECTORS TENT
IN TRADE
AND HELP PROVIDE
A MUCH-NEEDED MOBILE SHELTER
FOR THE FISHERMEN.
I'M DEALING
WITH A 1974 BOMBARDIER.
COME ON.
YOU DIRTY, LITTLE...
SUCKA.
YEAH, IT'S HARD WORK,
AND IT'S A HARD LIFE.
BUT IT'S A VERY REWARDING LIFE.
I'M OUT HERE ON THE LAND,
FRESH AIR,
HELPING OUT MY NEIGHBOR,
HELPING OUT MY FRIEND.
I'M NOT PAYING TAXES.
I'M NOT A SLAVE TO A DESK.
I'M NOT A DESK MONKEY.
I AM FREE.
WHAT I'M DOING IS NOT UNLIKE
WHAT THE DENE DO
WITH THE HIDE OF AN ANIMAL.
THEY WILL CHEW IT
TO MAKE IT MORE MALLEABLE.
THIS HOSE IS COLD.
IT'S FREEZING OUT HERE,
OBVIOUSLY.
AND SO,
I'M GETTING SOME HEAT ON IT.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
LOOK AT THAT FIT.
THAT WAS AWESOME.
THAT IS MUSIC TO MY EARS.
TRYING TO FIX A 1974 BOMBARDIER
FROZEN IN THE ICE
ON A FREEZING-COLD LAKE
WITH MISMATCHED TOOLS,
SOME BORROWED, SOME FOUND...
I MEAN, THIS IS TOUGH.
ALL YOU CAN DO IS TRY
AND THEN TRY AGAIN.
WORKING WITH COLD STEEL
IS NEVER FUN.
AND MOST OF THE YEAR,
IT'S COLD HERE.
SEE WHAT I GOT TO WORK WITH?
OKAY, LET'S SEE IF WE GOT POWER.
MAN.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
A 1974 BOMBARDIER.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
PLEASE.
BRIAN AND HENRY
ARE DEPENDING ON ME.
IF I DON'T GET
THIS THING STARTED,
THEY WILL BE VERY DISAPPOINTED.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
YEAH!
I GOT IT!
WAY TO GO, MAN.
YOU DONE A GOOD JOB.
GOOD GIRL!
GOOD GIRL!
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED, BABY!
OKAY.
HOPEFULLY, SHE GOES IN GEAR,
AND SHE ROLLS.
THE TRACK IS TOTALLY FROZEN.
JUST LIKE A TRUCK
WHEN YOU GET IT STUCK,
I'M JUST GONNA GO FORWARD, BACK,
FORWARD, BACK.
NO.
THIS WINTER ON GREAT SLAVE
LAKE HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY BRUTAL,
ONE OF THE COLDEST ON RECORD.
IT'S HERE THAT GARY VAILLANCOURT
AND HIS DAUGHTER MOLLY
ARE RUNNING AN OFF-THE-GRID
BED-AND-BREAKFAST.
THE RECENT COLD SNAP ALMOST
DEPLETED HIM OF HIS PROPANE,
HIS ONLY SOURCE OF ENERGY.
I'M GONNA DO THE DISHES.
NOW THEY'RE PLAYING CATCH-UP
TO GET THEIR DINER
BACK UP AND RUNNING
BEFORE CUSTOMERS ARRIVE.
THE POWER SYSTEM
AND THE WATER SYSTEM THAT I HAVE
ARE BUILT
FOR ABOUT SEVEN PEOPLE,
SO RUNNING A RESTAURANT
IS CERTAINLY A LOT MORE
THAN I'M USED TO SUPPLYING.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM
WITH LITTLE KITCHEN'S?
IT'S THE TIME TO KIND OF
RESET THINGS HERE.
NO.
WE'RE OUT OF WATER.
NOW?
YEAH.
IT COULDN'T BE BETTER TIMED.
DAMN!
CAN WE MAKE IT
WITHOUT HAVING TO PUMP WATER?
WELL,
WE KIND OF STALLED.
SHOULD REALLY HAVE
SOME WATER.
MY FAVORITE JOB...
PUMPING WATER.
NEVER A DULL MOMENT.
ONCE THE WATER RUNS OUT,
HAVE TO DROP
EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING
AND GO OUTSIDE
AND DRILL A HOLE IN THE ICE,
LAY OUT A HOSE,
40-BELOW WEATHER,
AND HOPE IT DOESN'T FREEZE
BEFORE YOU GET IT ALL DONE.
THIS IS REALLY NICE WATER,
SOME OF THE CLEANEST WATER
IN THE WORLD,
BUT YOU GOT TO WORK TO GET IT.
IN ORDER TO REACH
THE PRISTINE WATER BELOW,
GARY MUST USE THE POWER AUGER
TO DRILL THROUGH
6 FEET OF SOLID ICE.
NOTHING IS REALLY EASY
ON THE LAKE.
THINGS THAT PEOPLE
TAKE FOR GRANTED
ON LAND ENDS UP BEING A BIG DEAL
ON THE LAKE,
EVEN GETTING WATER.
THERE'S A LOT OF PENALTIES
TO PAY,
BUT THERE'S SOME
REAL REWARDS, TOO.
I GOT ABOUT 150 GALLONS OF WATER
TO PUMP.
THERE'S A TANK INSIDE.
WHEN IT'S FULL, THE WATER WILL
COME OUT THAT LITTLE HOSE THERE,
SO I CAN JUST SORT OF SIT
AND WATCH.
THERE ARE NO ELECTRIC
SENSORS ON GARY'S BARGE,
SO THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE
THAT THAT TANKS ARE FULL
IS TO PUMP TILL THEY OVERFLOW.
FULL.
OKAY, WATER'S ON.
TA-DA! LOOK AT THAT.
WATER.
THAT IS SUCH A RELIEF.
YEAH.
WEATHER HERE PUT A BIT OF
A CRIMP INTO THE POWER SYSTEMS.
THERE'S A LOT OF LIGHTS ON
AND WATER PUMP'S GOING,
AND THE HEATERS ARE ALL RUNNING,
AND SO IT'S JUST A BIT
OF A STRAIN.
BUT IT'S UP TO THE TASK.
YOU WANT ME
TO DO THAT AGAIN?
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
ACROSS THE BAY,
AFTER GETTING
THE ENGINE STARTED,
STEPHAN NOW STRUGGLES TO FREE
THE BOMBARDIER FROM THE ICE
BEFORE THE NEXT WAVE
OF THE COLD FRONT
MAKES MOVING IT IMPOSSIBLE.
THAT TRACK IS STILL
FROZEN INTO THIS ICE.
IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE
ALL WINTER.
MAN!
IT'S FREAKIN' PERMAFROSTED
IN THERE.
RIGHT HERE TO RIGHT HERE,
WE ARE FROZEN STIFF.
I'VE GOT TO MELT THAT.
TORCH TIME.
STEPHAN GRABS A TIGER TORCH,
A MASSIVE
PROPANE HEATING ELEMENT,
TO MELT THE PERMAFROST
AND FREE THE BOMBARDIER.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
ANYTHING BEFORE I MOVED UP HERE.
AND WHEN I HAVE A PROBLEM,
EVEN THOUGH
I DON'T KNOW THE SYSTEM,
THE WHEELS ARE TURNING.
I'VE GOT TO IMAGINE,
"HOW DOES THIS WORK?"
I'VE GOT TO DO SOME RESEARCH.
I'VE GOT TO ASK QUESTIONS.
I'VE GOT TO ASK PEOPLE
WHO HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE INNOVATIVE
HERE IN THE NORTH.
IT IS CRITICAL TO YOUR SURVIVAL.
THERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT, NOW, HOPEFULLY,
I CAN GET THIS GUY FREE.
COME ON, BABY.
NOW I'M A BOMBARDIER
ARCHEOLOGIST.
YEAH!
SUCCESS!
SUCCESS!
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!
THIS IS IT, MAN.
THIS IS FOR ALL THE MARBLES.
AFTER A BLIZZARD
BLANKETED YELLOWKNIFE BAY,
SHUTTING DOWN VITAL SYSTEMS TO
THESE OFF-THE-GRID HOUSEBOATS,
STEPHAN HERVIEUX
IS TRYING TO SALVAGE ONE VICTORY
OVER THE UNPREDICTABLE LAKE,
FREEING
FISHERMEN BRIAN AND HENRY'S
OLD BOMBARDIER FROM THE ICE.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!
MAN.
YEAH!
WE DID IT!
WE DID IT!
YEAH, BABY! YEAH!
THIS GIRL HASN'T SEEN SUNSHINE
IN TWO YEARS.
THE BOMBARDIER
WILL GIVE ITS OWNERS PROTECTION
FROM THE ELEMENTS AND ALLOW THEM
TO HAUL MORE FISH.
I FEEL SO GOOD RIGHT NOW.
EVERYTHING I'VE DONE...
SO MUCH HARD WORK, SO MUCH TIME,
SO MUCH RISK,
SO MANY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS,
AND I'VE OVERCOME
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
YEAH!
WELL, IT SOUNDED PRETTY ROUGH,
BUT SHE'S RUNNING.
IT'LL GET IT THERE.
HEY, I TOLD I'D GET IT GOING.
GOOD MAN, GOOD MAN.
RIGHT ON.
I TOLD YOU I'D GET HER GOING,
AND I TOLD YOU I'D GET HER OUT.
YOU DID. YEP.
I'M A MAN OF MY WORD.
STEPHAN'S A PRETTY GOOD GUY.
HE'S A SELF-STARTER,
SO I THINK HE'LL BE
A REAL BONUS HERE FOR ME.
THIS IS GONNA HELP
A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING IN THREE
TIMES AS MUCH FISH PER LOAD.
THREE TIMES?
YEAH.
SO I JUST TRIPLED
YOUR PROFITS.
NO.
WELL, NO.
I'M BROKE,
AND EVERYTHING I'VE THOUGHT OF
TO TRY TO MAKE MONEY
HAS NOT WORKED OUT FOR ME.
I STILL HAVE MY WEDDING
TO PAY FOR IN THE SPRING.
I CANNOT DISAPPOINT
MY LOVELY WIFE-TO-BE.
I'M GONNA FIND A WAY.
I NEED TO MAKE MONEY.
I'M GETTING MARRIED.
I'D LIKE TO COME TO WORK FOR YOU
FULL TIME, MAN.
I THINK WE SHOULD SIT DOWN
AND TALK ABOUT IT LATER ON.
ALL RIGHT.
LIKE A REAL MAN.
A REAL MAN.
THANK YOU.
YOU DONE GOOD.
NOW I GOT TO GO HOME
AND GET CLEANED UP.
I GOT A HOT DATE WITH ALLYCE.
BACK AT THE CT BARGE,
GARY AND MOLLY
HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN
THEIR B&B BACK UP AND RUNNING
AND ARE READY
FOR THE DINNER CROWD.
I WOULD DEFINE SUCCESS
FOR MY CAFé TO BE
JUST, LIKE, TURNING A PROFIT,
YOU KNOW?
ESSENTIALLY, BREAKING EVEN
IN A SMALL BUSINESS IS IDEAL.
I MEAN, MAKING MONEY PAST THERE
IS OBVIOUSLY MORE IDEAL.
IT SMELLS DELICIOUS!
THANK YOU!
I'M GLAD YOU GUYS HERE.
HEY, ALLYCE!
I LOVE THIS FOOD, BABY.
WE ARE HAVING WHITEFISH
FROM THE FISH PLANT,
- OUR FAVORITE.
- OF COURSE.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA
HAVE HONEY-CUMIN CARROTS
AND ROSEMARY POTATOES.
YES.
THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
YES TO ALL OF THE ABOVE.
THANK YOU.
HELLO!
HOW ARE YOU?
COME ON IN FOR YOUR FISH.
NICE.
RIGHT ON.
HI, GUYS.
HOW ARE YOU?
HEY, BRIAN.
HOW ARE YOU?
HEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE
ALL THE HOUSEBOATERS CAN COME.
MAKES US ALL STRONGER TO BOND.
MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO SURVIVE
OUT HERE ON THE LAKE.
I'M GLAD MOLLY WAS THERE
TO HELP WITH IT.
IS THIS EVER GOOD.
FOR ME NOW TO JOIN
THIS COMMUNITY OF HOUSEBOATERS
WHO ARE MAJOR INNOVATORS,
MAJOR CREATIVE PEOPLE...
THESE GUYS
ARE LIKE RENAISSANCE FOLK.
I'M AT HOME.
I THINK ME AND MY DAD
ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO HAVING A GATHERING SPACE
ON THE LAKE THAT IS, YOU KNOW,
A REALLY GOOD COMMUNITY SPOT
AND SOMETHING
THAT EVERYONE
CAN COME TO AN ENJOY.
THE HOUSEBOATERS HAVE SOMETHING
THAT THEY SHARE, YOU KNOW,
THAT NOBODY ELSE
REALLY UNDERSTANDS, YOU KNOW,
LIKE DRILLING FOR YOUR WATER,
CANOEING HOME,
LIKE DOING THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S JUST A TOTALLY
DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.
MOLLY, CONGRATULATIONS.
LIKE, THIS IS
A LONG TIME COMING...
A HOMEGROWN GIRL,
A HOMEGROWN HOUSEBOAT.
TO MOLLY!
YAY! YAY! YAY!
YAY. CLINK.
LONG MAY SHE SAIL.
LONG MAY SHE SAIL.
IN CANADA'S
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES,
HERE ON GREAT SLAVE LAKE,
A COLONY OF PIONEERS HAVE CHOSEN
TO LIVE OFF THE GRID...
I GOT YOU.
I GOT YOU.
...AND ON THE EDGE.
THE FREAKING THING JUST BREAKS,
AND THERE'S NOTHING I COULD HAVE
DONE TO PREVENT THAT.
THE REASON I LIKE IT
UP HERE IS THE FREEDOM.
NOBODY TELLS ME WHAT TO DO,
HOW TO LIVE MY LIFE.
I WOULDN'T HAVE IT
ANY OTHER WAY.
BUT LIVING ON A SUBARCTIC LAKE
DURING THE WORST WINTER
ON RECORD
PUSHES THEIR FLOATING HOMES
TO THE LIMIT.
IT'S -45 DEGREES.
THE COLD CAN KILL YOU.
NUMBER-ONE THING,
THE LIFE-SAVING THING,
IS YOU NEED HEAT.
THE HOUSE IS FROZEN.
IF I CAN'T GET
THIS HOUSE HEATED UP,
ALL OF MY SYSTEMS
ARE GONNA BE AFFECTED.
IN A LAND
WHERE NOTHING COMES EASY...
EVERYTHING IN THIS
LIFESTYLE TAKES EFFORT.
IT'S -45 OUTSIDE,
AND ANYTHING MECHANICAL
WON'T START.
THIS FAR NORTH,
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE
ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT
IS IN TIP-TOP SHAPE.
YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.
...THESE REBELS
USE EVERY RESOURCE.
YEAH!
TO SURVIVE,
THEY HAVE TO DIG DEEP
AND BATTLE THE WRATH
OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE.
I CAN BARELY FEEL
MY FINGERS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S JUST COLD.
IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY COLD.
ONE OF THE MOST SAVAGE WINTERS
EVER TO HIT
THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
IS CHARGING ACROSS THE FROZEN
HORIZON OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE.
WITH ONLY FOUR HOURS OF SUNLIGHT
A DAY TO WARM THIS TUNDRA,
THE FORECAST
FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS
IS NOW CALLING
FOR RECORD LOWS OF -50.
WELL, YOU HAVE TO MAKE
A REAL VALIANT EFFORT TO PREPARE
FOR THE ONSLAUGHT OF WINTER.
I'VE BEEN UP HERE
FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS,
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE COLDEST.
IT'S SO **** COLD.
HOUSEBOATERS STEPHAN HERVIEUX
AND HIS FIANCéE, ALLYCE RATTRAY,
HAD SET OUT FOR A FISHING
EXPEDITION ON THE OPEN LAKE.
BUT SEVERE WEATHER
FORCED THEM BACK HOME.
THE LAKE IS UNPREDICTABLE.
YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET.
EVERY 20 MINUTES, IT CHANGES,
SO IT'S DANGEROUS,
BUT IT'S PART OF LIVING
ON THE LAKE.
YOU CAN'T BE OUT THERE
IN A STORM, GALE WINDS.
I MEAN,
NOBODY'S FISHING IN THAT.
WHOA.
WHAT NOW?
COLD IN HERE.
FOR PETE'S SAKE!
I WALK IN.
IT'S LIKE -10 DEGREES.
YEP.
SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING.
GEEZ LOUISE.
THE HOUSE IS FROZEN.
YOU'RE KIDDING ME.
I LOOK TO THE PROPANE FURNACE.
NOT A THING.
IF I CAN'T GET
THIS HOUSE HEATED UP,
PIPES ARE GONNA BURST,
MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM'S GONNA GO,
MY BATTERIES ARE GONNA FREEZE.
HOLY ****
LOOK AT THIS.
FREAKIN' FROST
ALL OVER THE DAMN HEATER UNIT.
EVERY SYSTEM IN MY HOUSE
IS THREATENED AT THIS POINT.
THE HEATER UNIT
SHOULD NOT BE FROZEN.
I START MESSING AROUND
WITH THE PROPANE.
I CAN'T GET A PILOT TO LIGHT.
I TURN IT OFF, DO A RESET.
NOTHING.
THAT PILOT LIGHT GOING OUT
NEVER HAPPENS.
IT'S JUST TOO COLD.
SOMETIMES
THE PILOT WON'T EVEN LIGHT,
SO WHAT YOU DO
IS YOU KEEP THE TORCH
ON THAT THERMAL COUPLING,
AND I WAIT TILL IT'S RED-HOT.
TURN THE THERMOSTAT UP TO...
YOU CAN'T COOK FOOD,
'CAUSE THAT'S ALL ON PROPANE.
THE HOT WATER'S ALL ON PROPANE.
TO GET HOME TO A COLD HOUSE,
PIPES ARE MOST LIKELY
FROZEN SOLID.
WE WEREN'T PLANNING FOR THIS.
WE DIDN'T EMPTY THEM OUT.
ALL OF OUR CANNED GOODS,
ALL OF OUR FOOD IS NOW FROZEN,
EVERYTHING.
TURN THE THERMOSTAT
UP TO 100% PLEASE.
YEAH, IT'S THERE.
PROPANE GELS
AT -37, -40.
GUARANTEED THE PROPANE
HAS GELLED.
WE'VE HAD THAT.
IN EXTREME COLD,
PROPANE GAS CHANGES TO A LIQUID,
MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FLOW
THROUGH
THE HEATING SYSTEM'S HOSES.
I'LL GO CHECK AND MAKE SURE
ALL THE LINES ARE STILL GOOD.
I GOT TO GO OUTSIDE,
AND IT'S -45 DEGREES OUT THERE.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
OKAY.
THE SUN'S GOING DOWN,
AND THE WIND'S PICKING UP.
AND THE FORECASTING ONE OF
THE COLDEST NIGHTS OF THE YEAR.
I GOT TO GET THIS FIXED.
THIS IS WHAT IT IS
LIVING OUT HERE.
AT THIS TEMPERATURE,
NOTHING WORKS.
SO IT'S JUST SCRAMBLING
TO GET IT GOING,
AND YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HEAT.
MAN, IT'S COLD.
CAN YOU SEE THIS?
AND THERE WE GO.
IT'S SO COLD RIGHT NOW
THAT I JUST MOVED THE HOSE
AND IT SNAPPED.
I'M SCREWED.
I NEED TO FIND
ANOTHER HOSE LIKE THIS.
I GOT THESE HOSES.
I HOPE THIS WORKS.
FIXING THE PROPANE FURNACE
WILL SAVE
HIS HOUSEBOAT'S UTILITY SYSTEMS.
IN THE MEANTIME,
A SMALL WOOD STOVE WILL HAVE
TO KEEP HIM AND ALLYCE WARM.
IN THE WINTER,
THE CONTINUOUSLY BREAKING DOWN
OF EQUIPMENT NEVER ENDS.
OKAY.
IT'S ABOUT 3:30, AND I'M RUNNING
OUT OF LIGHT FAST.
WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR,
IT'S GONNA BE PITCH-BLACK.
HOURS OUTSIDE YELLOWKNIFE BAY,
VETERAN FISHERMAN BRIAN ABBOT
AND HIS ASSISTANT SHEILA FRISE
HEAD TO THEIR FISHING OUTPOST
TO SEEK SHELTER FROM THE SEVERE
COLD FRONT HEADING THEIR WAY.
MADE HER.
THE WEATHER
IS THE WORST IN 33 YEARS.
YOU STILL GOT TO GET OUT THERE
AND PULL THESE NETS
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
WE NEED MORE FISH
IN THE FREEZERS.
BUT YOU GOT TO PLAY IT SAFE.
BACK TO THE ICE PALACE.
IT'S A SAFE PLACE TO GO.
WE CAN KEEP EQUIPMENT,
EXTRA NETS, FUEL, FOOD,
AND JUST ANYTHING
YOU MIGHT NEED FOR SURVIVAL
IF YOU DO GET STUCK OUT HER.
COLD OUT THERE.
COLD SKI-DOO RIDE.
I'VE BEEN FISHING ON THIS LAKE
SINCE I WAS 12 YEARS OLD,
AND THIS IS THE COLDEST
CONDITIONS I'VE EVER FISHED IN.
THERE'S ZUCCHINIS
IN THE FRIDGE.
YOU STILL GOT TO COOK THAT UP,
FRY IT.
YEAH, I'LL JUST FRY IT UP
IN THE FRYING PAN.
BRIAN DOESN'T CARE
WHAT KIND OF WEATHER WORKS IN.
HE'LL GO DAY OR NIGHT,
IT DON'T MATTER.
WELL, I SURE HOPE
THIS WINTER'S
A LITTLE BIT BETTER
THAN THE LAST WINTER.
CAN'T STAND ANOTHER ONE
LIKE LAST WINTER,
BUT I HEARD IT'S GONNA BE
A BAD ONE THIS YEAR.
THIS FORCED BREAKAWAY
FROM THEIR FISHING LINES
MAY BE NECESSARY,
BUT IT WILL BE COSTLY.
THERE'S QUITE A BIT
OF ICE OUT THERE STILL,
'CAUSE WHEN I PUT THAT HOOK DOWN
TO GRAB THE ROPE,
THERE WAS PRACTICALLY
LIKE ONLY THIS MUCH OF IT
STICKING OUT.
AND IT'S ONLY GONNA GET
A LOT WORSE.
THERE'S A LIMIT YOU HAVE
TO LEAVE YOUR NETS DOWN.
FISH DON'T WAIT.
THE NETS ARE OUT THERE.
FISH GOES BAD.
AND SO I ACTUALLY TRY TO PULL
MINE IN 24 HOURS OR LESS.
YOU LOSE EVEN LESS FISH,
AND WHAT YOU'VE GOT
ARE MORE LIVELY.
AND IF YOU'RE IN A GOOD SPOT,
THE NETS ARE FULL ENOUGH ANYWAY.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET
MORE NETS IN RIGHT AWAY, TOO.
WE DON'T HAVE
ANYWHERE NEAR ENOUGH FISH.
I MEAN, THIS, WHAT WE GOT HERE,
IS NOT GONNA CUT IT.
YEAH, WE NEED TO GET THEM
FREEZERS FULL TO THE BRIM.
YEAH, WE GOT LIKE
SEVEN FREEZERS TO FILL.
NINE.
NINE NOW?
THERE'S NINE NOW, YEAH.
MY GOODNESS.
YEP.
ACROSS THE BAY,
GREAT SLAVE LAKE'S
NEWEST RESIDENT
PREPARES TO HUNKER DOWN
FOR HER FIRST NIGHT
IN THE SAVAGE WEATHER.
IT'S GETTING REALLY COLD,
SO I HOPE IT GOES OKAY.
IT'S GONNA BE A BIT OF A TEST.
I'M MOLLY.
I'M 21.
I WAS BORN IN YELLOWKNIFE
AND RAISED ON A HOUSEBOAT.
I'VE BEEN IN VANCOUVER
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS,
AND NOW I'M MOVING BACK TO
YELLOWKNIFE TO LIVE ON MY OWN.
I KNOW HOW TO, LIKE,
CHOP FIREWOOD, AND I CAN CANOE.
BUT THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS
THAT I'VE NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE
BECAUSE I WAS YOUNGER
AND MY FAMILY TOOK CARE OF ME.
BUT NOW I WANT TO LEARN
HOW TO DO IT MYSELF.
MOLLY HAS MOVED
INTO HER NAMESAKE HOUSEBOAT,
THE MOLLY BARGE,
BUILT BY HER DAD 20 YEARS AGO.
SHE'S RETURNING TO HELP
HER FATHER RUN HIS FLOATING B&B.
MY DAD CALLED ME, AND HE ASKED
IF I COULD HELP HIM
WITH THE CAFé AND THE HOUSEBOAT.
SO I MOVED UP BECAUSE
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT NORTH,
AND IT'S ALWAYS NICE
TO COME HOME.
THE HOUSEBOATS,
THEY'RE COMPLETELY
SELF-SUFFICIENT
AND OFF THE GRID.
THERE'S NO POWER LINE
GOING UNDERNEATH THE ICE.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE PROPANE HEAT,
WOOD HEAT.
SO IT'S ALWAYS A BIT
OF AN ADAPTATION,
BUT, YOU KNOW,
IT FEELS KIND OF NATURAL.
THAT'S THE WAY I WAS RAISED.
WITH TEMPERATURES
CONTINUING TO PLUMMET,
FOR YOUNG MOLLY,
HEAT IS HER NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY.
I'M PRETTY PROUD OF MYSELF.
I GOT MY FIRE DONE.
MAKE SURE THAT I CAN GET
ALL MY BEDDING HERE.
I GOT A LOT OF STUFF
I GOT TO GET DONE.
MAYBE AUGER FOR ICE, TOO...
AUGER THE ICE FOR WATER.
SO THERE'S LOTS OF STUFF I GOT
BEFORE MY NIGHT'S OVER.
WHILE MAINLANDERS CAN
JUST TURN ON THE KITCHEN TAP,
RUSTLING WATER
FROM GREAT SLAVE LAKE
IS FAR MORE CHALLENGING.
MOLLY MUST USE AN AUGER,
A LARGE HAND-POWERED DRILL,
TO TAP THE LAKE'S WATER FROM
UNDER FIVE FEET OF WINTER ICE.
WHEN I WAS TRYING
TO AUGER FOR WATER,
I KICKED AT IT,
AND, LIKE, MY FOOT
MADE MORE OF A DENT IN THE ICE.
THIS IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
THIS IS NOT HAPPENING.
35 MILES WEST,
"PIKE" MIKE AND RAGNAR WESSTROM,
HARDENED VETERANS
OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE WINTERS,
KNOW ALL TO WELL THE SEVERITY
THESE DEEP FREEZES
HAVE ON VITAL EQUIPMENT.
YOU GOT A FLASHLIGHT THERE,
MIKE?
YEAH, YOU WANT TO BORROW IT?
YEAH, PLEASE.
THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR
IS TAKING A TOLL ON HIS $100,000
ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE.
WHEN YOU HAVE -50,
NOTHING IS MOVING.
YOU HAVE TO HEAT UP EITHER
THE OIL OR EITHER THE COOLANT.
WE HAD TO OPEN UP THE VALVES
TO THE COOLANT TO THE ENGINE,
AND EVERYTHING
IS SO, SO COMPLICATED.
TURN THE VALVE ON.
I'LL IGNITE IT FOR YOU.
IT'S ON.
SO, THERE'S THIS AUXILIARY
HEATER TO HEAT UP THE COOLANT.
YOU USE IT WITH A PROPANE TORCH.
AND YOU HEAT UP THE ENGINE,
AND YOU CAN START IT.
RAGNAR IS HEATING UP
THE HAGGLUNDS' COOLANT,
WHICH ACTUALLY WARMS UP
THE ENGINE'S OIL
AND TRANSMISSION FLUID
SO IT CAN START UP
IN THE BITTER COLD.
AFTER THAWING THE ENGINE'S
COOLING SYSTEM FOR OVER AN HOUR,
RAGNAR ATTEMPTS TO START
THE HAGGLUNDS.
NOW HE HAS TO KEEP THIS MACHINE
RUNNING FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN
TO PREVENT THE ENGINE BLOCK
FROM FREEZING.
35 MILES EAST,
BACK IN THE BAY,
THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR
IS THREATENING
STEPHAN AND ALLYCE'S HOUSEBOAT.
I CAN BARELY FEEL
MY FINGERS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S JUST COLD.
IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY COLD.
STEPHAN'S
OLD PROPANE HOSE CRACKED
FROM THE SUB-40-DEGREE
TEMPERATURE.
NOW HE'S ATTACHING A NEW HOSE
TO RESTORE HEAT
IN HIS HOUSEBOAT.
I WANT THIS PROPANE UNIT
TO WORK.
I CAN SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, LORD.
IF YOU'RE LISTENING...
BABY JESUS.
NOW I GOT TO PUT THAT UNIT
ONTO THE HOUSE.
DON'T WANT TO BEND THIS...
TOO MUCH.
****
THIS IS A BIT TRICKY.
MAN,
I DO NOT LOVE THIS WEATHER.
AND THERE WE GO.
I JUST BROKE THE SECOND ONE.
IF I CAN'T GET
THIS HOUSE HEATED UP,
THAT FREEZE
COULD DESTROY OUR HOUSEBOAT.
AS A RECORD
40-DEGREE-BELOW-ZERO SUBARCTIC CHILL
GRIPS THE 10,000 SQUARE MILES
OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE...
MAN,
I DO NOT LOVE THIS WEATHER.
AND THERE WE GO.
I JUST BROKE THE SECOND ONE.
THE BITTER COLD HAS SNAPPED
BOTH OF STEPHAN'S PROPANE HOSES.
HE IS RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS
TO SURVIVE THE NIGHT.
IT'S GETTING LATE,
AND THERE'S NO WAY I CAN FIND
ANOTHER HOSE RIGHT NOW.
BUT I'VE GOT TO MAKE DUE
WITH WHAT I HAVE.
WELL, NO CHOICE, HON.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SLEEP
BACK HERE.
WE GOT TO CONSERVE SPACE.
LESS PLACE, MORE HEAT.
WE'VE GOT A FIRE STARTED,
BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP
THE ENTIRE HOUSEBOAT WARM.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IS REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SPACE
WE'RE TRYING TO HEAT.
IF WE GOT THAT TABLECLOTH,
PUT IT UP RIGHT HERE.
JUST TO BLOCK THAT AREA?
WELL, YEAH,
TO KEEP THE HEAT IN, RIGHT?
HERE YOU GO.
THERE ARE SO MANY
PROBLEMS OUT THERE IN THE WINTER.
EVERYTHING CAN GO WRONG.
BUT THE NUMBER-ONE THING,
THE LIFE-SAVING THING,
IS YOU NEED HEAT.
YOU DON'T HAVE HEAT,
YOU CAN'T SURVIVE
LIVING OUT HERE ON THE LAKE.
TRY AND USE THE OLD HOLE.
IF NOT, WE'LL MAKE A NEW ONE.
I DON'T CARE.
OKAY.
HEAT IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE.
HIGHER.
AW, HOLD ON.
****
WE'RE GONNA HEAT OUR AREA FIRST.
HOPEFULLY, THAT'LL KEEP
THE PIPES FROM FREEZING
AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FROM SHORTING OUT.
IF WE CAN'T, THAT COULD BE
THE END OF OUR HOUSEBOAT.
35 MILES WEST,
RAGNAR WESSTROM
KEEPS THE ENGINES
OF HIS HAGGLUNDS RUNNING
TO PREVENT
THE SEVERE TEMPERATURES
FROM DAMAGING
HIS $100,000 MACHINE.
INSIDE, HE'S PLANNING AN
IMPORTANT MISSION WITH CHEF RON
THAT WILL AFFECT ALL OF THE
RESIDENTS ON GREAT SLAVE LAKE.
WEST 114.
SO THAT TAKES HIM
RIGHT HERE AT BAKER ISLAND.
WE'RE LOCATED
IN UNCHARTED WATERS
IN THE NORTH ARM
OF THE GREAT SLAVE LAKE,
AND NOW THE GOVERNMENT
HAS DECIDED TO MAP THE AREA.
THEY WANT TO COME TO MY LODGE
TO PUT UP A GPS
TO MAP THE WHOLE AREA.
I THOUGH,
"**** THIS IS NOT GOOD."
I BUILT THIS PLACE FROM SCRATCH,
AND THIS IS MY LITTLE KINGDOM.
I TOLD THEM,
"KEEP OF MY ISLAND.
I'LL PUT UP
THE **** GPS MYSELF."
RAGNAR STARTED
HIS LODGE OFF THE GRID
TO GET AS FAR AWAY
FROM THE GOVERNMENT AS POSSIBLE.
BUT HELPING MAP OUT
THE UNCHARTED LAKE
WILL ULTIMATELY BENEFIT
HIS BUSINESS.
I HELP THEM MAP THIS PLACE,
AND IN EXCHANGE, THEY PROMISE ME
ACCESS TO THOSE MAPS,
AND THAT GIVES ME
MORE SAFELY TRAVEL IN THE LAND
WITH NEW CLIENTS
TO NEW TERRITORIES
FOR HUNTING AND FISHING.
IT'LL ALSO BE SAFER
BECAUSE WE HAVE
A PINPOINT LOCATION, EVERYTHING.
OKAY,
YOU CAN TAKE THE GREEN ONE.
I'LL TAKE THE BLACK ONE.
OKAY.
BACK IN THE BAY,
HIS HOUSEBOAT'S VITAL SYSTEMS
IN JEOPARDY
OF BEING PERMANENTLY DAMAGED
FROM THE EXTREME COLD,
STEPHAN DECIDES TO VISIT FELLOW
HOUSEBOATER GARY VAILLANCOURT.
I REALLY HOPE YOU GOT SOMETHING
FOR ME, GARY.
I KNEW I HAD TO FIND
SOME SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM,
AND THE ONLY PERSON
I COULD THINK OF WAS GARY.
GARY WAS THE FIRST HOUSEBOATER,
WAY BACK IN THE '70s.
IF ANYBODY'S GOT THE PROPANE
HOSE I NEED, IT'S GONNA BE GARY.
WHAT EXACTLY IS IT
YOU NEED TO GET ON IT?
A PROPANE HOSE
FOR A TWIN-STAGE REGULATOR.
IF YOU'VE GOT ONE,
I COULD REALLY USE ONE.
WITHOUT IT, I GOT...
YEAH, I GOT ONE
IN HERE SOMEWHERE.
I'M SORT OF KNOWN
AS A COLLECTOR OF THINGS,
AND I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME,
SO I'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS.
I ACQUIRED A SURVEYOR
FOR A CONTRACT I WAS WORKING ON
TO CLEAN UP OLD, CONTAMINATED
MINE SITES ON GREAT SLAVE LAKE,
AND IT'S JUST A BIG
STORAGE PLACE NOW.
ONE OF THE THINGS
ABOUT BEING ON THE LAKE IS,
WE'RE ALL NEIGHBORS,
SO WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT.
IF THERE'S A PROBLEM,
WE GOT TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
LET'S TRY THIS ONE.
YEAH,
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, BUT...
NOW, THAT'S
LOOKING PROMISING.
THAT'S LOOKS A LOT LIKE...
THAT'S ALMOST...
NO, THAT'S NOT IT.
THAT'S NOT IT.
THAT'S IT!
THAT'S EXACTLY...
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I NEED!
YOU'RE KIDDING?
NO, I SWEAR TO GOD.
WOW.
PERFECT.
COOL, MAN.
THANK YOU, GARY.
THANK YOU, GARY.
ALL RIGHT.
PUT THAT HOSE ON, AND HOPEFULLY
THAT FURNACE KICKS IN.
ACROSS THE BAY,
MOLLY'S RETURN
TO GREAT SLAVE LAKE
TO LIVE ON HER OWN
AND OFF THE GRID
IS PROVING MORE DIFFICULT
THAN SHE REMEMBERED.
I WAS NOT SO SUCCESSFUL, AND
THAT WAS REALLY DISCOURAGING.
NOT BEING ABLE TO GET
A HOLE IN THE WATER,
I GOT A POT,
AND I MADE SOME SNOW WATER.
AND THAT'S JUST HOW IT HAD TO BE
BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT
GOING ANYWHERE.
IT WAS REALLY DISCOURAGING.
LIVING OFF THE GRID
ON GREAT SLAVE LAKE
AFFORDS CERTAIN FREEDOMS,
BUT WINTERS HERE
CAN BE MORE THAN MANY NEWCOMERS
ARE PREPARED FOR.
IT SURE IS DIFFERENT
THAN BEING IN VANCOUVER.
I DO LOVE BEING BACK,
AND THERE'S SOMETHING
ABOUT THE NORTH,
BUT EVERYTHING IN THIS LIFESTYLE
TAKES EFFORT.
ONE OF THE NICE THINGS
ABOUT LIVING UP HERE
IS IT'S MORE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
I MEAN, I GOT TO START THE
GENERATOR, WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE.
I GOT TO START THE PROPANE,
WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE.
I GOT TO START THE WATER,
WHICH I HAVEN'T DONE.
SO IT'S LIKE DRINKING
OUT OF A POT.
SO IT'S DIFFERENT.
IT'S DEFINITELY
MORE CHALLENGING TO BE HERE,
AND I'M FIGURING OUT
WHAT THAT'S LIKE TONIGHT.
ARMED WITH A NEW HOSE FROM GARY,
STEPHAN IS NOW IN A RACE
AGAINST TIME
TO GET HIS HEATER WORKING
BEFORE THE NIGHT'S
FALLING TEMPERATURES
CAUSE VITAL SYSTEMS
ON HIS HOUSEBOAT TO BREAK DOWN.
I GOT ANOTHER HOSE FROM GARY,
THANK GOODNESS.
SO NOW I JUST GOT TO PUT
SOME TEFLON
TO MAKE SURE WE GOT A GOOD SEAL.
WE FOUND A PROPANE HOSE,
AND I REALLY, REALLY HOPE
THIS IS ALL I NEED
TO GET THAT HEAT RESTORED.
THE HOUSE IS OBVIOUSLY
FROZEN SOLID RIGHT NOW,
AND I NEED THE HEAT A.S.A.P.,
LIKE, YESTERDAY.
I GET THE FITTINGS ON
PERFECTLY TIGHT.
YEAH!
THAT'S WHAT I WANT.
ALL RIGHT,
EVERYTHING SEEMS GOOD.
NOW FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH,
SEE IF THE FURNACE STARTS.
- HON?
- YEAH.
I JUST GOT A HOSE FROM GARY.
GREAT.
AND INSTALLED IT.
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, PILOT ON.
COME ON.
VALVE TURNED.
GOOD TO GO.
OKAY, THIS HAS TO WORK.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE I CAN DO, HON.
HEAT THAT THERMAL COUPLE.
COME ON.
LET'S SEE IF THE THERMAL COUPLE
WILL HOLD.
****
AND LOOK AT THE WIND.
LOOK AT THE WIND
BLOWING MY ****
COLD WIND IS BLOWING
MY FREAKIN' TORCH OUT.
NO WONDER
IT DOESN'T WANT TO START.
PLEASE, PLEASE.
DARKNESS CONTINUES TO BLANKET
THE VAST EXPANSE
OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE.
AND ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
WINTER COLD SNAPS ON RECORD
HAS BROKEN
STEPHAN'S HOUSEBOAT FURNACE.
THE HOUSE IS OBVIOUSLY
FROZEN SOLID RIGHT NOW,
AND I NEED THE HEAT A.S.A.P.
THE COLD CAN KILL YOU,
AND EVERY SYSTEM IN MY HOUSE
IS THREATENED AT THIS POINT.
NOW FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH,
SEE IF THE FURNACE STARTS.
OKAY, THIS HAS TO WORK.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE I CAN DO, HON.
COME ON.
WITHOUT HEAT,
THEIR WATER PIPES,
BATTERY BANKS,
AND ELECTRICAL PANELS
CAN BECOME PERMANENTLY DAMAGED
BY THE -50 DEGREE TEMPERATURES.
PLEASE, PLEASE.
YEAH! FLAME ON!
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
RIGHT ON!
FINALLY! FINALLY!
THANK GOD.
LET ME CLOSER TO THAT HEAT!
YEAH.
NO, THAT'S... THAT'S
THROWING OFF SOME HEAT NOW.
GOOD. GOOD.
SEE, HON,
I TOLD YOU I'D FIX IT.
GOOD JOB, BABE.
SOMETIMES, I SERIOUSLY
THINK THE LAKE IS TRYING TO KILL ME.
BUT WHEN ALLYCE AND I
CAN PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER
AND SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS,
THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE
I'D RATHER CALL HOME.
AS DAWN BREAKS ACROSS THE BAY,
FISHERMAN BRIAN
AND HIS ASSISTANT SHEILA
RETURN FROM THE OPEN LAKE
WITH A LOAD OF FRESH FISH.
THE COLD FRONT HAD FORCED THEM
TO SEEK SHELTER INDOORS,
LOSING TIME
SETTING MORE CRITICAL NETS.
MY HANDS ARE COLD.
BY THE TIME
THE FISHERMEN RETURN,
THE FRESH FISH
ARE FROZEN SOLID...
NO, THOSE ONES ARE FROZEN,
THOUGH.
...MAKING THE FILLETING PROCESS
NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
THIS WAS PROBABLY
THE HARDEST JOB
THAT I'VE EVER DONE
IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
WHEN YOU'VE GOT A WIND
WHISTLING,
YOUR FISH ARE FREEZING
SO QUICKLY, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION NOW
COULD BE
THE CANADIAN BOMBARDIER,
MADE FOR THESE TERRAINS,
WHEN IT'S WORKING.
THE BOMBARDIER
IS BASICALLY LIKE A LARGE VAN
AND THROWING
A SET OF TRACKS ONTO IT
AND THROWING
THE FRONT WHEELS AWAY
AND PUT A COUPLE SKIS ON IT.
HAVING A BOMBARDIER OUT
ON THE ICE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
YOU'VE GOT SOMEWHERE WARM
TO CLIMB INTO
WHEN YOU'RE FREEZING
YOUR BUTT OFF.
YOU'VE GOT SOMEWHERE TO DRY
GLOVES OFF, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND IT KEEPS THE FISH
FROM FREEZING.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO START
WORKING ON THIS BOMBARDIER.
IT'S A NECESSITY.
35 MILES WEST,
ALONG THE UPPER SHORES
OF THE LAKE...
RAGNAR WESSTROM HEADS OUT
ON HIS MISSION
TO INSTALL A TRANSMITTER
TO SCAN THE TERRAIN
SURROUNDING HIS LODGE.
THE GOVERNMENT APPROACHED ME
ABOUT THIS SATELLITE
MAPPING PROGRAM.
THEY WANT TO SEND
THEIR OWN PEOPLE OUT.
DIDN'T REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH THAT,
SO I OFFERED THEM A DEAL
THAT WE DO IT FOR THEM.
RAGNAR HEADS OUT
ACROSS THE FROZEN LAKE
TOWARDS THE GPS WAY POINT,
THE HIGHEST POINT IN THE REGION.
WE'RE ABOUT 15 MILES
FROM THE HIGHWAY,
AND WE'RE ABOUT 60 KILOMETERS
FROM YELLOWKNIFE,
SO WE'RE
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
GREAT SLAVE LAKE
IS A BIG-ASS LAKE,
300 MILES LONG,
AND THE WHOLE NORTH ARM
IS ABOUT 100 KILOMETERS LONG.
AND WE'RE THE ONLY LODGE
IN THE NORTH ARM,
SO WE'RE QUITE ISOLATED.
THIS AREA IS ONE
OF THE FEW PLACES IN THE WORLD
THAT'S UNCHARTED.
WHEN I FIRST HEARD
THE GOVERNMENT COMING IN
TO DO THE SURVEY
FOR THE NEW MAPS,
I DIDN'T REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE
ABOUT IT.
BUT AFTER SOME THOUGHT,
I THOUGHT
I COULD BENEFIT FROM IT.
BETTER SAFETY,
EXPANDING THE BUSINESS.
SO AFTER ALL,
I THOUGHT IT'D BE BETTER FOR US.
RIGHT ON.
HAGGLUNDS BV206...
UNSTOPPABLE.
THERE'S CHALLENGES
LIVING THIS FAR NORTH.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ROAD ACCESS.
YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY CORNER STORES.
YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT,
IT'S WORTHWHILE
BECAUSE YOU'RE FREE.
AND THERE'S NO PRICE ON FREEDOM.
WE JUST GOT THIS TRANSMITTER GPS
YESTERDAY FROM OTTAWA.
IT HAS THE TRANSMITTER,
IT HAS A LITHIUM
HEAVY-DUTY BATTERY,
AND ALSO THE ANTENNA.
WHEN I CONNECT THE TRANSMITTER,
IT WILL CONNECT
WITH THE SATELLITE,
AND THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO MAP
THE AREA.
AND THIS HAS NEVER
BEEN DONE BEFORE.
ONCE ACTIVATED,
THIS NEW GPS BEACON
WILL HELP PROVIDE
IN-DEPTH CHARTS
DETAILING THE UNDERWATER
TERRAIN OF GREAT SLAVE LAKE,
WHICH WILL MAKE IT SAFER
FOR BOATERS
AND EASIER FOR ANGLERS
TO LOCATE FISH.
NOW I'M SECURING THE DEVICE
WITH ROCKS
SO THE WIND DOESN'T TAKE IT
WHEN WE GET THIS BIG STORM.
GOOD.
FIRMLY SECURED.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
WE GET GOOD CHARTS
OF THE TERRAIN.
WITH NEW MAPS,
IT'LL ALSO BE SAFER,
BECAUSE THE GUIDES CAN,
VIA RADIO CONTACT,
PINPOINT LOCATION, EVERYTHING.
SO IT'S SAFER FOR US,
SAFER FOR THE CLIENTS.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT,
IT COULD BE A MATTER
OF LIFE AND DEATH.
ACROSS THE BAY...
...STEPHAN TRAVELS
TO HENRY AND BRIAN'S FISH PLANT
IN SEARCH OF MATERIALS
TO BUILD A SHELTER
IF HE AND ALLYCE ATTEMPT TO FISH
THE OPEN LAKE AGAIN.
GOOD DAY, GOOD DAY, HENRY.
HOW'S IT GOING?
BUSY MAN.
BUSY MAN.
BUSY MAN, YEAH.
JUST CUTTING FISH ALL DAY LONG,
AS YOU SEE.
HOW'S BUSINESS?
PICKING UP DAILY.
GOOD.
I'M SETTING UP
A FISH CAMP MYSELF.
NOT COMPETITION.
YOU KNOW I'LL NEVER COMPETE.
COME ON.
I'M SMALL FRIES.
I'M SMALL FRIES.
I'M GETTING MARRIED,
AND I NEED THE MONEY.
SO THIS IS LIKE EXTRA INCOME.
I GOT TO GET SOMETHING, RIGHT?
SO I'VE GOT A BASE OUT THERE,
BUT I NEED A TARP.
I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU OR BRIAN
MIGHT HAVE ONE.
WELL,
THERE'S A BUNCH OF STUFF
DOWN THERE
IN THE BACK DOWN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S DOWN THERE ALTOGETHER,
BUT WE CAN
TAKE A LOOK AND SEE.
YOU DON'T MIND?
NO, DON'T MIND.
AWESOME. THANKS.
YEP.
I HAVE
THIS OLD TARP HERE.
IS IT ANY GOOD TO YOU?
IT'S GOT A FEW HOLES IN IT,
BY THE LOOKS OF IT.
WHAT ABOUT BACK THERE?
I GOT THIS BIG TARP HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS.
LOOKS LIKE A TARP.
YEAH, THERE'S ON HERE.
NO, NO. HOLD ON.
THIS IS A PROSPECTORS TENT.
THIS IS EXACTLY
WHAT I NEED, HENRY.
I GOT REAL LUCKY.
I WAS LOOKING FOR A TARP
AT HENRY'S,
AND I FOUND
A NICE PROSPECTOR TENT.
WELL, YOU CAN BORROW IT.
I DON'T WANT TO BORROW IT.
I WANT TO OWN THIS.
WHAT CAN I...
I HAVEN'T GOT ANY MONEY.
BUT YOU KNOW ME...
I'M PRETTY HANDY.
WE GOT AN OLD BOMBARDIER
OUT HERE.
WE NEED TO GET IT
SHOVELED OUT
AND CLEANED UP
SO WE CAN GET WORKING ON IT.
THE BOMBARDIER?
YEAH.
I'D LOVE TO FIX THAT UP FOR YOU.
DOWN THIS WAY HERE.
I'LL SHOW YOU WERE IT'S AT.
THIS IS HOUSEBOAT ECONOMICS 101.
THEY GOT WHAT I NEED.
I GOT WHAT THEY NEED.
THEY GOT A BOMBARDIER.
I GOT A BRAIN AND A WRENCH.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE
SOMETHING WORK HERE.
WE COME TOGETHER, WE EXCHANGE.
WE'RE COMMUNITY MEN.
THERE SHE IS OUT THERE,
IS THE BOMBARDIER.
SHE'S AN OLD BOMBARDIER.
GOOD OLD SNOWCAT?
YEAH.
TWO YEARS AGO,
IT WAS RUNNING FINE
WHEN WE PARKED IT THERE.
SO IT WAS RUNNING
WHEN YOU PARKED IT.
IT WAS RUNNING
WHEN WE PARKED IT, YES.
IT'S A '74.
IT'S A '74?
THAT'S A GREAT YEAR.
YEAH. YEAH.
THIS THING WAS MADE
IN '74, TOO.
WAS IT?
YEAH. BEST YEAR.
BEST YEAR,
IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF.
YEAH.
THAT'S A BEAUTY.
HOW AM I GONNA GET
THIS **** THING STARTED?
AND I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO.
WE'LL GET THAT THING RUNNING,
HENRY. DON'T YOU WORRY.
BACK IN YELLOWKNIFE BAY,
AT THE CT BARGE,
GARY VAILLANCOURT
RUNS A B&B
ABOARD HIS MASSIVE VESSEL.
THE COLD FRONT FORCED HIM
TO BURN THROUGH
ALL OF HIS PROPANE JUST TO KEEP
ALL SYSTEMS RUNNING.
NOW GARY AND MOLLY
MUST REPLACE THE TANKS
BEFORE TEMPERATURES PLUMMET
AGAIN TONIGHT.
THE MAIN THING I WORRY ABOUT
WITH THIS RESTAURANT IS PROPANE.
WE USE PROPANE HERE
FOR EVERYTHING.
HEAT, OF COURSE,
REFRIGERATION, COOKING,
AND OUR GAS LIGHTS
WHEN WE NEED THEM.
I JUST HAPPENED
TO BE WALKING BY,
AND I SAW THE GAUGES,
AND I REALIZED WE WERE MINUTES
FROM LOSING THE WHOLE HOUSE,
AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
WHEN THE ICE GETS BAD,
YOU CAN'T MOVE PROPANE,
AND IF I RUN OUT THEN,
I AM REALLY UP THE CREEK.
THIS IS LIKE A LEVER.
THESE MULTIPLE PULLEYS, THEY
MAKE YOU STRONGER THAN YOU ARE.
YOU CAN LIFT MORE
THAN YOU COULD.
I'VE NEVER LOADED PROPANE
WITH MY DAD BEFORE,
SO I NEVER REALLY KNEW HOW
WE GOT IT ONTO THE HOUSEBOAT.
SEE HOW FAR YOU CAN GET.
WILL YOU BRACE IT SO IT'S NOT
JUST GONNA DROP ON ME?
YOU'RE READY TO BE DONE
DOING PROPANE.
I DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE
HOW HEAVY IT WAS GONNA BE
'CAUSE IT'S ABOUT 70 POUNDS
FOR THE PROPANE TANK.
IT'S STUCK ON THE THING.
LET HER DOWN. OKAY.
WIGGLE IT OUT.
THAT'S GOOD.
RIGHT THERE.
STOP, STOP, STOP!
YOU CAN GET IT.
"I WANT TO BE THE BEST I CAN"...
THAT'S HER ATTITUDE,
AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF HER.
AND SHE HAS A FEW MORE TOOLS
IN THE KIT NOW.
ONLY EIGHT MORE.
HA, HA, HA.
DON'T THINK LIKE THAT.
LAST EIGHT!
ACROSS THE BAY,
AT BRIAN AND HENRY'S FISH BARGE,
STEPHAN IS CHARGED WITH THE TASK
OF BRINGING
A 40-YEAR-OLD BOMBARDIER
BACK TO LIFE.
GOOD OLD SNOWCAT?
YEAH.
TWO YEARS AGO,
IT WAS RUNNING FINE.
I WANTED TO PROVE
MYSELF TO BRIAN.
I WANT TO SHOW HIM
THAT HE CAN DEPEND ON ME,
NOT JUST AS A NEIGHBOR
OR AS A FRIEND,
BUT AS AN APPRENTICE.
AND LOOKING AT THAT BOMBARDIER
THAT HASN'T MOVED IN 2½ YEARS,
IF I CAN MOVE THAT THING,
I THINK HE JUST MIGHT SEEM
SOME VALUE IN ME.
IF HE SUCCEEDS,
HE'LL GAIN A PROSPECTORS TENT
IN TRADE
AND HELP PROVIDE
A MUCH-NEEDED MOBILE SHELTER
FOR THE FISHERMEN.
I'M DEALING
WITH A 1974 BOMBARDIER.
COME ON.
YOU DIRTY, LITTLE...
SUCKA.
YEAH, IT'S HARD WORK,
AND IT'S A HARD LIFE.
BUT IT'S A VERY REWARDING LIFE.
I'M OUT HERE ON THE LAND,
FRESH AIR,
HELPING OUT MY NEIGHBOR,
HELPING OUT MY FRIEND.
I'M NOT PAYING TAXES.
I'M NOT A SLAVE TO A DESK.
I'M NOT A DESK MONKEY.
I AM FREE.
WHAT I'M DOING IS NOT UNLIKE
WHAT THE DENE DO
WITH THE HIDE OF AN ANIMAL.
THEY WILL CHEW IT
TO MAKE IT MORE MALLEABLE.
THIS HOSE IS COLD.
IT'S FREEZING OUT HERE,
OBVIOUSLY.
AND SO,
I'M GETTING SOME HEAT ON IT.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
LOOK AT THAT FIT.
THAT WAS AWESOME.
THAT IS MUSIC TO MY EARS.
TRYING TO FIX A 1974 BOMBARDIER
FROZEN IN THE ICE
ON A FREEZING-COLD LAKE
WITH MISMATCHED TOOLS,
SOME BORROWED, SOME FOUND...
I MEAN, THIS IS TOUGH.
ALL YOU CAN DO IS TRY
AND THEN TRY AGAIN.
WORKING WITH COLD STEEL
IS NEVER FUN.
AND MOST OF THE YEAR,
IT'S COLD HERE.
SEE WHAT I GOT TO WORK WITH?
OKAY, LET'S SEE IF WE GOT POWER.
MAN.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
A 1974 BOMBARDIER.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
PLEASE.
BRIAN AND HENRY
ARE DEPENDING ON ME.
IF I DON'T GET
THIS THING STARTED,
THEY WILL BE VERY DISAPPOINTED.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
YEAH!
I GOT IT!
WAY TO GO, MAN.
YOU DONE A GOOD JOB.
GOOD GIRL!
GOOD GIRL!
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED, BABY!
OKAY.
HOPEFULLY, SHE GOES IN GEAR,
AND SHE ROLLS.
THE TRACK IS TOTALLY FROZEN.
JUST LIKE A TRUCK
WHEN YOU GET IT STUCK,
I'M JUST GONNA GO FORWARD, BACK,
FORWARD, BACK.
NO.
THIS WINTER ON GREAT SLAVE
LAKE HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY BRUTAL,
ONE OF THE COLDEST ON RECORD.
IT'S HERE THAT GARY VAILLANCOURT
AND HIS DAUGHTER MOLLY
ARE RUNNING AN OFF-THE-GRID
BED-AND-BREAKFAST.
THE RECENT COLD SNAP ALMOST
DEPLETED HIM OF HIS PROPANE,
HIS ONLY SOURCE OF ENERGY.
I'M GONNA DO THE DISHES.
NOW THEY'RE PLAYING CATCH-UP
TO GET THEIR DINER
BACK UP AND RUNNING
BEFORE CUSTOMERS ARRIVE.
THE POWER SYSTEM
AND THE WATER SYSTEM THAT I HAVE
ARE BUILT
FOR ABOUT SEVEN PEOPLE,
SO RUNNING A RESTAURANT
IS CERTAINLY A LOT MORE
THAN I'M USED TO SUPPLYING.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM
WITH LITTLE KITCHEN'S?
IT'S THE TIME TO KIND OF
RESET THINGS HERE.
NO.
WE'RE OUT OF WATER.
NOW?
YEAH.
IT COULDN'T BE BETTER TIMED.
DAMN!
CAN WE MAKE IT
WITHOUT HAVING TO PUMP WATER?
WELL,
WE KIND OF STALLED.
SHOULD REALLY HAVE
SOME WATER.
MY FAVORITE JOB...
PUMPING WATER.
NEVER A DULL MOMENT.
ONCE THE WATER RUNS OUT,
HAVE TO DROP
EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING
AND GO OUTSIDE
AND DRILL A HOLE IN THE ICE,
LAY OUT A HOSE,
40-BELOW WEATHER,
AND HOPE IT DOESN'T FREEZE
BEFORE YOU GET IT ALL DONE.
THIS IS REALLY NICE WATER,
SOME OF THE CLEANEST WATER
IN THE WORLD,
BUT YOU GOT TO WORK TO GET IT.
IN ORDER TO REACH
THE PRISTINE WATER BELOW,
GARY MUST USE THE POWER AUGER
TO DRILL THROUGH
6 FEET OF SOLID ICE.
NOTHING IS REALLY EASY
ON THE LAKE.
THINGS THAT PEOPLE
TAKE FOR GRANTED
ON LAND ENDS UP BEING A BIG DEAL
ON THE LAKE,
EVEN GETTING WATER.
THERE'S A LOT OF PENALTIES
TO PAY,
BUT THERE'S SOME
REAL REWARDS, TOO.
I GOT ABOUT 150 GALLONS OF WATER
TO PUMP.
THERE'S A TANK INSIDE.
WHEN IT'S FULL, THE WATER WILL
COME OUT THAT LITTLE HOSE THERE,
SO I CAN JUST SORT OF SIT
AND WATCH.
THERE ARE NO ELECTRIC
SENSORS ON GARY'S BARGE,
SO THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE
THAT THAT TANKS ARE FULL
IS TO PUMP TILL THEY OVERFLOW.
FULL.
OKAY, WATER'S ON.
TA-DA! LOOK AT THAT.
WATER.
THAT IS SUCH A RELIEF.
YEAH.
WEATHER HERE PUT A BIT OF
A CRIMP INTO THE POWER SYSTEMS.
THERE'S A LOT OF LIGHTS ON
AND WATER PUMP'S GOING,
AND THE HEATERS ARE ALL RUNNING,
AND SO IT'S JUST A BIT
OF A STRAIN.
BUT IT'S UP TO THE TASK.
YOU WANT ME
TO DO THAT AGAIN?
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
ACROSS THE BAY,
AFTER GETTING
THE ENGINE STARTED,
STEPHAN NOW STRUGGLES TO FREE
THE BOMBARDIER FROM THE ICE
BEFORE THE NEXT WAVE
OF THE COLD FRONT
MAKES MOVING IT IMPOSSIBLE.
THAT TRACK IS STILL
FROZEN INTO THIS ICE.
IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE
ALL WINTER.
MAN!
IT'S FREAKIN' PERMAFROSTED
IN THERE.
RIGHT HERE TO RIGHT HERE,
WE ARE FROZEN STIFF.
I'VE GOT TO MELT THAT.
TORCH TIME.
STEPHAN GRABS A TIGER TORCH,
A MASSIVE
PROPANE HEATING ELEMENT,
TO MELT THE PERMAFROST
AND FREE THE BOMBARDIER.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
ANYTHING BEFORE I MOVED UP HERE.
AND WHEN I HAVE A PROBLEM,
EVEN THOUGH
I DON'T KNOW THE SYSTEM,
THE WHEELS ARE TURNING.
I'VE GOT TO IMAGINE,
"HOW DOES THIS WORK?"
I'VE GOT TO DO SOME RESEARCH.
I'VE GOT TO ASK QUESTIONS.
I'VE GOT TO ASK PEOPLE
WHO HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE INNOVATIVE
HERE IN THE NORTH.
IT IS CRITICAL TO YOUR SURVIVAL.
THERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT, NOW, HOPEFULLY,
I CAN GET THIS GUY FREE.
COME ON, BABY.
NOW I'M A BOMBARDIER
ARCHEOLOGIST.
YEAH!
SUCCESS!
SUCCESS!
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!
THIS IS IT, MAN.
THIS IS FOR ALL THE MARBLES.
AFTER A BLIZZARD
BLANKETED YELLOWKNIFE BAY,
SHUTTING DOWN VITAL SYSTEMS TO
THESE OFF-THE-GRID HOUSEBOATS,
STEPHAN HERVIEUX
IS TRYING TO SALVAGE ONE VICTORY
OVER THE UNPREDICTABLE LAKE,
FREEING
FISHERMEN BRIAN AND HENRY'S
OLD BOMBARDIER FROM THE ICE.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!
MAN.
YEAH!
WE DID IT!
WE DID IT!
YEAH, BABY! YEAH!
THIS GIRL HASN'T SEEN SUNSHINE
IN TWO YEARS.
THE BOMBARDIER
WILL GIVE ITS OWNERS PROTECTION
FROM THE ELEMENTS AND ALLOW THEM
TO HAUL MORE FISH.
I FEEL SO GOOD RIGHT NOW.
EVERYTHING I'VE DONE...
SO MUCH HARD WORK, SO MUCH TIME,
SO MUCH RISK,
SO MANY POTENTIAL PROBLEMS,
AND I'VE OVERCOME
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
YEAH!
WELL, IT SOUNDED PRETTY ROUGH,
BUT SHE'S RUNNING.
IT'LL GET IT THERE.
HEY, I TOLD I'D GET IT GOING.
GOOD MAN, GOOD MAN.
RIGHT ON.
I TOLD YOU I'D GET HER GOING,
AND I TOLD YOU I'D GET HER OUT.
YOU DID. YEP.
I'M A MAN OF MY WORD.
STEPHAN'S A PRETTY GOOD GUY.
HE'S A SELF-STARTER,
SO I THINK HE'LL BE
A REAL BONUS HERE FOR ME.
THIS IS GONNA HELP
A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO BRING IN THREE
TIMES AS MUCH FISH PER LOAD.
THREE TIMES?
YEAH.
SO I JUST TRIPLED
YOUR PROFITS.
NO.
WELL, NO.
I'M BROKE,
AND EVERYTHING I'VE THOUGHT OF
TO TRY TO MAKE MONEY
HAS NOT WORKED OUT FOR ME.
I STILL HAVE MY WEDDING
TO PAY FOR IN THE SPRING.
I CANNOT DISAPPOINT
MY LOVELY WIFE-TO-BE.
I'M GONNA FIND A WAY.
I NEED TO MAKE MONEY.
I'M GETTING MARRIED.
I'D LIKE TO COME TO WORK FOR YOU
FULL TIME, MAN.
I THINK WE SHOULD SIT DOWN
AND TALK ABOUT IT LATER ON.
ALL RIGHT.
LIKE A REAL MAN.
A REAL MAN.
THANK YOU.
YOU DONE GOOD.
NOW I GOT TO GO HOME
AND GET CLEANED UP.
I GOT A HOT DATE WITH ALLYCE.
BACK AT THE CT BARGE,
GARY AND MOLLY
HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN
THEIR B&B BACK UP AND RUNNING
AND ARE READY
FOR THE DINNER CROWD.
I WOULD DEFINE SUCCESS
FOR MY CAFé TO BE
JUST, LIKE, TURNING A PROFIT,
YOU KNOW?
ESSENTIALLY, BREAKING EVEN
IN A SMALL BUSINESS IS IDEAL.
I MEAN, MAKING MONEY PAST THERE
IS OBVIOUSLY MORE IDEAL.
IT SMELLS DELICIOUS!
THANK YOU!
I'M GLAD YOU GUYS HERE.
HEY, ALLYCE!
I LOVE THIS FOOD, BABY.
WE ARE HAVING WHITEFISH
FROM THE FISH PLANT,
- OUR FAVORITE.
- OF COURSE.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA
HAVE HONEY-CUMIN CARROTS
AND ROSEMARY POTATOES.
YES.
THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
YES TO ALL OF THE ABOVE.
THANK YOU.
HELLO!
HOW ARE YOU?
COME ON IN FOR YOUR FISH.
NICE.
RIGHT ON.
HI, GUYS.
HOW ARE YOU?
HEY, BRIAN.
HOW ARE YOU?
HEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE
ALL THE HOUSEBOATERS CAN COME.
MAKES US ALL STRONGER TO BOND.
MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO SURVIVE
OUT HERE ON THE LAKE.
I'M GLAD MOLLY WAS THERE
TO HELP WITH IT.
IS THIS EVER GOOD.
FOR ME NOW TO JOIN
THIS COMMUNITY OF HOUSEBOATERS
WHO ARE MAJOR INNOVATORS,
MAJOR CREATIVE PEOPLE...
THESE GUYS
ARE LIKE RENAISSANCE FOLK.
I'M AT HOME.
I THINK ME AND MY DAD
ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO HAVING A GATHERING SPACE
ON THE LAKE THAT IS, YOU KNOW,
A REALLY GOOD COMMUNITY SPOT
AND SOMETHING
THAT EVERYONE
CAN COME TO AN ENJOY.
THE HOUSEBOATERS HAVE SOMETHING
THAT THEY SHARE, YOU KNOW,
THAT NOBODY ELSE
REALLY UNDERSTANDS, YOU KNOW,
LIKE DRILLING FOR YOUR WATER,
CANOEING HOME,
LIKE DOING THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S JUST A TOTALLY
DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.
MOLLY, CONGRATULATIONS.
LIKE, THIS IS
A LONG TIME COMING...
A HOMEGROWN GIRL,
A HOMEGROWN HOUSEBOAT.
TO MOLLY!
YAY! YAY! YAY!
YAY. CLINK.
LONG MAY SHE SAIL.
LONG MAY SHE SAIL.