1 00:00:10,594 --> 00:00:12,261 Coming up 2 00:00:12,262 --> 00:00:14,555 on Mountain Men, Wild North... 3 00:00:14,556 --> 00:00:16,139 The point isn't just to get bears... 4 00:00:16,140 --> 00:00:18,100 It's gonna drive the bears crazy. 5 00:00:18,101 --> 00:00:20,312 ...we're trying to find mature boars. 6 00:00:25,734 --> 00:00:27,110 Our wind changed just like that. 7 00:00:27,277 --> 00:00:29,153 We've got some swirling action here on the winds, 8 00:00:29,154 --> 00:00:31,697 and now the sparks. 9 00:00:31,698 --> 00:00:33,825 The speed of this fire, that's what scares me. 10 00:00:35,369 --> 00:00:37,036 The fur is off. 11 00:00:37,037 --> 00:00:38,704 Beavers are a great source of food. 12 00:00:38,705 --> 00:00:41,165 I'm going to get this body cavity opened up. 13 00:00:41,166 --> 00:00:42,833 Oh, nice-looking liver. 14 00:00:44,836 --> 00:00:46,504 Whoa! 15 00:00:46,505 --> 00:00:48,089 Hey! Hey, hey, hey! 16 00:00:48,090 --> 00:00:51,175 The sled's gone, and I'm behind my sled, 17 00:00:51,176 --> 00:00:53,886 and that's the last place a musher wants to be. 18 00:00:53,887 --> 00:00:55,889 Whoa! [bleep] 19 00:01:06,567 --> 00:01:08,568 The remote Pasquia Hills 20 00:01:08,569 --> 00:01:10,152 are in the heart 21 00:01:10,153 --> 00:01:12,780 of one of the most concentrated black bear populations 22 00:01:12,781 --> 00:01:13,656 in the region. 23 00:01:13,657 --> 00:01:15,741 At this density, 24 00:01:15,742 --> 00:01:17,743 population management 25 00:01:17,744 --> 00:01:22,249 is the only thing that maintains balance... 26 00:01:25,377 --> 00:01:26,794 and Broc Simoneau 27 00:01:26,795 --> 00:01:29,505 is one of the few hunting guides around 28 00:01:29,506 --> 00:01:32,008 who knows how to draw the bears in close enough 29 00:01:32,009 --> 00:01:35,011 to bag a giant. 30 00:01:35,012 --> 00:01:36,679 I kinda want to see 31 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:37,889 what they're doing here. 32 00:01:39,683 --> 00:01:41,475 The vital spring bear season 33 00:01:41,476 --> 00:01:42,810 is fast approaching, 34 00:01:42,811 --> 00:01:44,729 which means every blind 35 00:01:44,730 --> 00:01:47,106 and every bait station on his property 36 00:01:47,107 --> 00:01:49,735 has to perform exactly as planned. 37 00:01:56,116 --> 00:01:57,701 There's a bear coming in. 38 00:02:02,539 --> 00:02:04,791 It's a sow with cubs. 39 00:02:05,959 --> 00:02:08,211 She's on red alert right now. 40 00:02:09,755 --> 00:02:11,589 Sows are legal to harvest 41 00:02:11,590 --> 00:02:14,258 if they do not have cubs with them. 42 00:02:14,259 --> 00:02:17,261 It's obvious when the cubs are with them, but still, 43 00:02:17,262 --> 00:02:18,429 I need to do my best 44 00:02:18,430 --> 00:02:20,307 to make sure clients only shoot boars. 45 00:02:21,391 --> 00:02:23,100 The point isn't just to get bears, 46 00:02:23,101 --> 00:02:25,227 we're trying to find mature boars. 47 00:02:25,228 --> 00:02:27,563 We don't want to shoot the sows, 48 00:02:27,564 --> 00:02:29,775 because they're gonna regenerate the population. 49 00:02:31,234 --> 00:02:33,653 A sow with cubs is unmistakable, 50 00:02:33,654 --> 00:02:35,529 but alone, 51 00:02:35,530 --> 00:02:38,574 she can be nearly impossible to distinguish from a male, 52 00:02:38,575 --> 00:02:40,826 known as a boar. 53 00:02:40,827 --> 00:02:41,827 They don't have antlers 54 00:02:41,828 --> 00:02:43,579 like an elk, or a moose, or a deer. 55 00:02:43,580 --> 00:02:45,956 The one thing that never fails 56 00:02:45,957 --> 00:02:49,418 is when a sow stands on her hind legs, 57 00:02:49,419 --> 00:02:51,796 she's going to be shorter, 58 00:02:51,797 --> 00:02:53,964 so if I can get something up in the tree 59 00:02:53,965 --> 00:02:55,966 that she can't reach, 60 00:02:55,967 --> 00:02:58,511 but that the boar can reach, 61 00:02:58,512 --> 00:03:01,264 it's an easier way to figure out if it's a sow or a boar. 62 00:03:04,059 --> 00:03:05,309 In the past, 63 00:03:05,310 --> 00:03:08,312 Broc has hung fresh meat in the trees. 64 00:03:08,313 --> 00:03:09,605 The problem is that through the night, 65 00:03:09,606 --> 00:03:10,815 they will clean it up, 66 00:03:10,816 --> 00:03:12,817 and then the next night it's empty, 67 00:03:12,818 --> 00:03:13,860 and they're no longer standing. 68 00:03:15,028 --> 00:03:16,487 This season, 69 00:03:16,488 --> 00:03:18,864 he's engineering a more sophisticated operation, 70 00:03:18,865 --> 00:03:20,533 one designed to last. 71 00:03:20,534 --> 00:03:21,701 During Covid, 72 00:03:21,702 --> 00:03:22,993 when everybody was selling everything, 73 00:03:22,994 --> 00:03:24,370 there was a honey farm 74 00:03:24,371 --> 00:03:25,329 that was selling off all their excess material, 75 00:03:25,330 --> 00:03:28,416 so I bought everything they had. 76 00:03:28,417 --> 00:03:30,334 The plan is to suspend the honey 77 00:03:30,335 --> 00:03:33,213 where only a standing boar can reach it. 78 00:03:34,506 --> 00:03:36,507 Once I get the barrel up in the air, 79 00:03:36,508 --> 00:03:37,801 I'm gonna drill a hole 80 00:03:38,093 --> 00:03:39,636 just so that the liquid honey will trickle out. 81 00:03:41,221 --> 00:03:42,555 So, if the honey's liquid, 82 00:03:42,556 --> 00:03:43,848 we're good to go. 83 00:03:53,066 --> 00:03:54,484 Yeah, that's good, that's still really good. 84 00:03:58,405 --> 00:03:59,572 Painting the barrels black 85 00:03:59,573 --> 00:04:01,991 will allow them to absorb more sunlight 86 00:04:01,992 --> 00:04:05,327 and make the honey warm enough to flow. 87 00:04:05,328 --> 00:04:08,289 but each weighs 650 pounds, 88 00:04:08,290 --> 00:04:09,665 so getting it high off the ground 89 00:04:09,666 --> 00:04:11,834 will be a challenge. 90 00:04:11,835 --> 00:04:13,085 The problem is, 91 00:04:13,086 --> 00:04:14,170 is anything that I get up in the air 92 00:04:14,171 --> 00:04:15,588 is something I have to be able to lift. 93 00:04:20,135 --> 00:04:22,762 But I've never put something of this volume there before. 94 00:04:22,763 --> 00:04:25,432 This is trial and error. 95 00:04:36,735 --> 00:04:38,778 A thousand miles away, 96 00:04:38,779 --> 00:04:40,780 in the frozen La Cloche Mountains... 97 00:04:40,781 --> 00:04:42,615 Oh, yeah! 98 00:04:42,616 --> 00:04:44,950 ...a successful trapline 99 00:04:44,951 --> 00:04:48,287 doesn't end with the catch... 100 00:04:48,288 --> 00:04:49,622 Nice. 101 00:04:49,623 --> 00:04:51,791 ...and for Dave and Kie Marrone, 102 00:04:51,792 --> 00:04:54,251 the real work is about to begin. 103 00:04:54,252 --> 00:04:55,419 Which one do you want? 104 00:04:55,420 --> 00:04:57,171 I like the looks of this guy. 105 00:04:58,173 --> 00:04:59,965 For days, 106 00:04:59,966 --> 00:05:02,760 they've been battling a colony of beavers... 107 00:05:02,761 --> 00:05:05,263 whose handiwork threatens to flood their only road... 108 00:05:06,765 --> 00:05:08,808 - Hey! - Oh! 109 00:05:08,809 --> 00:05:10,434 ...and now that they've caught the culprits... 110 00:05:10,435 --> 00:05:12,228 Beauty. Perfect catch. 111 00:05:12,229 --> 00:05:14,606 ...not a single part will go to waste. 112 00:05:17,108 --> 00:05:18,776 Get the feet off? 113 00:05:18,777 --> 00:05:20,654 Yeah, I was going to start with the tail, myself. 114 00:05:22,072 --> 00:05:24,573 Catching the beaver is important to our lifestyle 115 00:05:24,574 --> 00:05:26,450 because we use it to sustain us. 116 00:05:26,451 --> 00:05:28,118 Beavers are a great source of food. 117 00:05:28,119 --> 00:05:29,286 We eat the meat 118 00:05:29,287 --> 00:05:32,331 and use all of the fat and the fur. 119 00:05:32,332 --> 00:05:36,168 Feet off, tail off, and I need to... 120 00:05:36,169 --> 00:05:38,170 open it up. 121 00:05:38,171 --> 00:05:40,089 I'm just going to rough-skin these guys 122 00:05:40,090 --> 00:05:41,924 so we can get on to butchering and rendering fat right away. 123 00:05:41,925 --> 00:05:43,676 Yeah. 124 00:05:43,677 --> 00:05:45,803 Rough-skinning is a fast and efficient way 125 00:05:45,804 --> 00:05:47,763 to remove the hide, 126 00:05:47,764 --> 00:05:50,975 while leaving much of the fat and flesh attached. 127 00:05:50,976 --> 00:05:53,561 Once we get the fur off the animal, 128 00:05:53,562 --> 00:05:54,854 then we'll set it aside... 129 00:05:54,855 --> 00:05:56,522 Fur is off. 130 00:05:56,523 --> 00:05:58,357 - Ta-da-da! - Beauty. 131 00:05:58,358 --> 00:06:00,359 ...and then at a later date, we'll get them tanned. 132 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:01,611 The land provides. 133 00:06:03,864 --> 00:06:06,073 I'm going to get this body cavity opened up. 134 00:06:06,074 --> 00:06:07,616 Oh, nice-looking liver. 135 00:06:07,617 --> 00:06:09,577 We eat many of the organs. 136 00:06:09,578 --> 00:06:11,620 The heart and kidneys we quite enjoy, 137 00:06:11,621 --> 00:06:14,373 but a lot of the livers will go to our dog, Hank. 138 00:06:14,374 --> 00:06:15,666 Hank's gonna be happy. 139 00:06:15,667 --> 00:06:18,586 The rest of the prime meat 140 00:06:18,587 --> 00:06:20,462 Kie and Dave will save for themselves... 141 00:06:20,463 --> 00:06:22,798 Got the tiny little backstraps off. 142 00:06:22,799 --> 00:06:24,300 ...providing key protein 143 00:06:24,301 --> 00:06:27,136 that sustains them throughout the year. 144 00:06:27,137 --> 00:06:29,972 Beavers are our primary meat source out here. 145 00:06:29,973 --> 00:06:31,056 It's a lot more work 146 00:06:31,057 --> 00:06:31,891 than just going to the supermarket. 147 00:06:31,892 --> 00:06:33,517 They're big animals. 148 00:06:33,518 --> 00:06:35,561 They're bigger than I think a lot of people realize. 149 00:06:35,562 --> 00:06:37,898 40 pounds is fairly typical for an adult. 150 00:06:39,065 --> 00:06:41,108 Let's get this fat on. 151 00:06:41,109 --> 00:06:43,527 For centuries, 152 00:06:43,528 --> 00:06:45,738 beavers have helped sustain Indigenous communities 153 00:06:45,739 --> 00:06:47,197 and northern trappers. 154 00:06:47,198 --> 00:06:49,450 Beyond the meat and fur, 155 00:06:49,451 --> 00:06:52,536 their fat has long been a valuable resource. 156 00:06:52,537 --> 00:06:54,788 To start the rendering process, 157 00:06:54,789 --> 00:06:56,582 add a little bit of water. 158 00:06:56,583 --> 00:06:59,460 Most of it will be rendered down to make soap. 159 00:06:59,461 --> 00:07:01,545 Off the grid, everything they make 160 00:07:01,546 --> 00:07:03,922 is one less thing they have to buy. 161 00:07:03,923 --> 00:07:06,216 It's nice to have a well-rounded homestead, 162 00:07:06,217 --> 00:07:08,302 and so it's one thing to provide your own meat, 163 00:07:08,303 --> 00:07:10,471 to provide your own clothing, 164 00:07:10,472 --> 00:07:11,972 but there's lots of other things 165 00:07:11,973 --> 00:07:13,932 that need to happen at the homestead, 166 00:07:13,933 --> 00:07:15,893 and part of that is keeping clean, 167 00:07:15,894 --> 00:07:18,187 and to be able to make soap 168 00:07:18,188 --> 00:07:20,856 from that same animal that is feeding you 169 00:07:20,857 --> 00:07:22,024 is pretty special. 170 00:07:23,735 --> 00:07:27,237 You've got to stir it a lot when it's first going. 171 00:07:27,238 --> 00:07:28,405 Eventually, 172 00:07:28,406 --> 00:07:31,659 all of this mass will shrivel up, 173 00:07:31,660 --> 00:07:35,621 and all that's left will be the liquid fat. 174 00:07:35,622 --> 00:07:37,831 It's actually starting to reduce now. 175 00:07:37,832 --> 00:07:39,626 - One beaver down. - Nice. 176 00:07:48,718 --> 00:07:51,428 2,300 miles north, 177 00:07:51,429 --> 00:07:54,264 deep in the boundary ranges of the Yukon, 178 00:07:54,265 --> 00:07:57,476 the land remains locked in winter's grip, 179 00:07:57,477 --> 00:07:59,812 and with it, 180 00:07:59,813 --> 00:08:01,605 hundreds of miles of frozen trails, 181 00:08:01,606 --> 00:08:03,899 epic mountain passes, 182 00:08:03,900 --> 00:08:05,693 and back country so remote 183 00:08:05,694 --> 00:08:06,985 the only way through... 184 00:08:08,738 --> 00:08:09,822 ...is by dog team. 185 00:08:12,450 --> 00:08:13,992 Come on, Mitchy Goops. 186 00:08:13,993 --> 00:08:15,911 For competitive mushers like Connor McMahon... 187 00:08:15,912 --> 00:08:17,371 Mitchy... 188 00:08:17,372 --> 00:08:18,872 ...the racing season may be over... 189 00:08:18,873 --> 00:08:21,542 Mitchy, we gonna go mushing? 190 00:08:23,294 --> 00:08:25,671 ...but with more than 50 dogs to train, 191 00:08:25,672 --> 00:08:27,589 and a racing career to build, 192 00:08:27,590 --> 00:08:29,925 every morning counts. 193 00:08:29,926 --> 00:08:32,635 We're gonna take out B-team here. 194 00:08:32,636 --> 00:08:35,806 Do a little bit of challenges with them, 195 00:08:35,807 --> 00:08:39,226 and we're gonna just up the ante a little bit today. 196 00:08:41,020 --> 00:08:42,896 Within this kennel, 197 00:08:42,897 --> 00:08:44,565 there's different dogs 198 00:08:44,566 --> 00:08:45,858 at different stages in their career, 199 00:08:45,859 --> 00:08:47,484 so we have what I like to call my race team, 200 00:08:47,485 --> 00:08:48,861 my A-team, 201 00:08:48,862 --> 00:08:50,404 and then we got, like, the B-team, 202 00:08:50,405 --> 00:08:52,656 which is my younger dogs 203 00:08:52,657 --> 00:08:53,991 that have lots of potential. 204 00:08:53,992 --> 00:08:55,784 You're going to work, big man? 205 00:08:55,785 --> 00:08:57,286 Yeah? 206 00:08:57,287 --> 00:08:59,455 All right, yeah, let's go. 207 00:08:59,456 --> 00:09:02,124 After placing seventh in the Yukon Quest 208 00:09:02,125 --> 00:09:04,334 and 20th in the Iditarod, 209 00:09:04,335 --> 00:09:06,003 Connor is pushing harder than ever 210 00:09:06,004 --> 00:09:07,504 to move up the ranks, 211 00:09:07,505 --> 00:09:10,090 and that means some aggressive training 212 00:09:10,091 --> 00:09:12,885 and tough choices. 213 00:09:12,886 --> 00:09:15,095 This is Clipper right here. 214 00:09:15,096 --> 00:09:16,263 We're grooming this guy. 215 00:09:16,264 --> 00:09:18,849 He's one day gonna be replacing 216 00:09:18,850 --> 00:09:20,934 the top lead dogs we got in the yard. 217 00:09:23,146 --> 00:09:25,355 Today's test... 218 00:09:25,356 --> 00:09:28,192 20 miles of demanding back country trail 219 00:09:28,193 --> 00:09:30,486 designed to find out 220 00:09:30,487 --> 00:09:32,863 if any of the B-team are ready to graduate... 221 00:09:32,864 --> 00:09:34,490 Ready? 222 00:09:34,491 --> 00:09:35,866 ...to the A-team. 223 00:09:36,951 --> 00:09:38,452 All right! 224 00:09:43,792 --> 00:09:45,709 The first challenge 225 00:09:45,710 --> 00:09:47,629 is to see if Clipper has what it takes to lead. 226 00:09:52,884 --> 00:09:56,053 I've left one of my corners untouched. 227 00:09:56,054 --> 00:09:58,180 There hasn't been any traffic through it. 228 00:09:58,181 --> 00:09:59,431 There's been a couple snowfalls, 229 00:09:59,432 --> 00:10:02,434 so it's an unused trail, 230 00:10:02,435 --> 00:10:05,063 and... I'm going to ask Clipper to take it. 231 00:10:07,357 --> 00:10:09,691 There's nice, easy, hard pack trail 232 00:10:09,692 --> 00:10:11,026 that we're traveling on. 233 00:10:11,027 --> 00:10:12,319 So now I'm going to ask him, 234 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,029 "There's two roads, Clipper, 235 00:10:14,030 --> 00:10:15,823 one's easy, and one's hard, 236 00:10:15,824 --> 00:10:17,866 but we're going to take the hard road today." 237 00:10:17,867 --> 00:10:19,827 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 238 00:10:19,828 --> 00:10:22,204 Gee, gee, gee, gee, gee! 239 00:10:22,205 --> 00:10:23,914 Gee, Clipper, gee! Yeah, yeah! 240 00:10:23,915 --> 00:10:25,916 That's a dog, man! 241 00:10:25,917 --> 00:10:27,501 "Gee" is a musher's command 242 00:10:27,502 --> 00:10:28,503 to take a hard right. 243 00:10:29,921 --> 00:10:32,798 Gee, gee, gee, gee, gee! 244 00:10:32,799 --> 00:10:34,758 Clipper, gee! 245 00:10:34,759 --> 00:10:36,176 Gee! 246 00:10:36,177 --> 00:10:37,970 Mastering it in rough conditions 247 00:10:37,971 --> 00:10:41,390 is exactly what separates the A-team from the B-team... 248 00:10:41,391 --> 00:10:43,267 Gee, gee! Yeah, yeah, yeah! 249 00:10:43,268 --> 00:10:45,310 Clipper, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! 250 00:10:45,311 --> 00:10:46,812 Yeah... up! 251 00:10:46,813 --> 00:10:49,648 ...and today, Clipper makes the cut. 252 00:10:49,649 --> 00:10:53,652 Good work, guys. 253 00:10:53,653 --> 00:10:54,653 Good dogs. 254 00:10:54,654 --> 00:10:56,780 Atta boy, Clip! 255 00:10:56,781 --> 00:10:59,575 It was not as smooth as it could have been, 256 00:10:59,576 --> 00:11:00,701 but that's training, man. 257 00:11:00,702 --> 00:11:01,785 That's mushin'. 258 00:11:01,786 --> 00:11:03,203 That's how I wanted it to go, 259 00:11:03,204 --> 00:11:04,997 and we got through it, we did it, we conquered it. 260 00:11:09,252 --> 00:11:12,129 Out here, the trail is a lifeline. 261 00:11:12,130 --> 00:11:13,630 Beyond it, 262 00:11:13,631 --> 00:11:16,717 wilderness too dense and unforgiving to survive... 263 00:11:16,718 --> 00:11:17,551 and everything happens right on it-- 264 00:11:17,552 --> 00:11:20,345 eating, sleeping, 265 00:11:20,346 --> 00:11:21,847 and answering the call of nature, 266 00:11:21,848 --> 00:11:24,558 for the dogs and the musher alike. 267 00:11:24,559 --> 00:11:26,894 I stand on the brake, 268 00:11:26,895 --> 00:11:30,105 and I got my snow hook in, and got the pants undone, 269 00:11:30,106 --> 00:11:31,733 and was about to start going to the bathroom... 270 00:11:38,573 --> 00:11:39,865 Whoa! 271 00:11:39,866 --> 00:11:41,241 The sled's gone, 272 00:11:41,242 --> 00:11:42,993 and I'm behind my sled, 273 00:11:42,994 --> 00:11:45,746 and that's the last place a musher wants to be. 274 00:11:45,747 --> 00:11:47,247 Eh! Eh! Eh! Eh! 275 00:11:47,248 --> 00:11:49,041 I'm running for my life. 276 00:11:49,042 --> 00:11:51,502 [bleep] Whoa! 277 00:11:58,009 --> 00:11:59,259 In the remote boundary ranges... 278 00:11:59,260 --> 00:12:00,969 Whoa! 279 00:12:00,970 --> 00:12:01,762 ...it's a musher's worst nightmare... 280 00:12:01,763 --> 00:12:03,305 [bleep]! 281 00:12:03,306 --> 00:12:05,182 ...a runaway sled 282 00:12:05,183 --> 00:12:07,392 with a team of dogs tearing up the trail 283 00:12:07,393 --> 00:12:09,686 with no end in sight. 284 00:12:09,687 --> 00:12:12,022 I'm running for my life. 285 00:12:12,023 --> 00:12:14,274 I'm behind my sled, 286 00:12:14,275 --> 00:12:16,693 and that's the last place a musher wants to be. 287 00:12:16,694 --> 00:12:18,737 I could get stuck out there in the wilderness. 288 00:12:18,738 --> 00:12:20,949 It could be life or death for my dogs. 289 00:12:24,285 --> 00:12:27,287 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa... 290 00:12:27,288 --> 00:12:30,165 While few people live in this remote area, 291 00:12:30,166 --> 00:12:31,166 it's a musher's paradise, 292 00:12:31,167 --> 00:12:32,210 and luckily for Connor... 293 00:12:34,712 --> 00:12:35,754 ...he's not the only one 294 00:12:35,755 --> 00:12:36,965 training out here today. 295 00:12:39,008 --> 00:12:41,009 As I come around that first corner, 296 00:12:41,010 --> 00:12:42,678 I see my neighbor's out there. 297 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:43,846 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 298 00:12:45,515 --> 00:12:47,849 Oh, I get a beer. I get a beer, I know that! 299 00:12:47,850 --> 00:12:49,268 You get a whole case, buddy! 300 00:12:49,269 --> 00:12:50,352 Whew! 301 00:12:52,730 --> 00:12:54,064 - Whoo! - Good job, brother! 302 00:12:55,066 --> 00:12:56,942 Good job, boys. 303 00:12:56,943 --> 00:13:00,362 I'm just so grateful my dogs are safe. 304 00:13:00,363 --> 00:13:02,739 That's a big slice of humble pie there. 305 00:13:04,158 --> 00:13:06,743 That's not something that normally happens, so... 306 00:13:06,744 --> 00:13:09,288 ...we're sweating pretty good. 307 00:13:09,289 --> 00:13:10,872 If that was my A-team, 308 00:13:10,873 --> 00:13:13,583 they would've been probably laying down eating some snow... 309 00:13:13,584 --> 00:13:16,503 You guys ditched me! 310 00:13:16,504 --> 00:13:18,130 How could you do this? 311 00:13:18,131 --> 00:13:20,215 ...but these young guys, they want to keep going. 312 00:13:22,343 --> 00:13:24,261 Out here, mistakes happen fast. 313 00:13:24,262 --> 00:13:26,722 In a race, 314 00:13:26,723 --> 00:13:29,016 one like that would take you out of the running, 315 00:13:29,017 --> 00:13:32,519 which is exactly why the training never stops. 316 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:34,646 Okay, ready, young guns, 317 00:13:34,647 --> 00:13:35,772 and we're off. 318 00:13:35,773 --> 00:13:36,773 All right, all right. 319 00:13:36,774 --> 00:13:37,774 Yep, yep, yep, yep! 320 00:13:39,485 --> 00:13:40,653 Good dogs. 321 00:13:52,915 --> 00:13:54,541 More than 1,000 miles southeast, 322 00:13:54,542 --> 00:13:57,544 in the Pasquia Hills, 323 00:13:57,545 --> 00:13:59,713 if you want to hunt a bear, you have to think like one, 324 00:13:59,714 --> 00:14:01,715 and Broc knows 325 00:14:01,716 --> 00:14:04,301 nothing stops a prowling predator in its tracks 326 00:14:04,302 --> 00:14:06,721 like the sweet smell of honey... 327 00:14:09,057 --> 00:14:10,307 Yup. 328 00:14:10,308 --> 00:14:11,224 ...but to make the bears 329 00:14:11,225 --> 00:14:13,268 play by his rules, 330 00:14:13,269 --> 00:14:15,187 the 650-pound barrel 331 00:14:15,188 --> 00:14:19,608 has to first get high off the ground... 332 00:14:19,609 --> 00:14:20,776 Do you want me to back it up a ways? 333 00:14:20,777 --> 00:14:21,985 ...and for that, 334 00:14:21,986 --> 00:14:24,279 he has the help of his dad, Greg, 335 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,615 and a heavy-duty lifting machine 336 00:14:26,616 --> 00:14:28,158 with a telescopic boom. 337 00:14:28,159 --> 00:14:30,410 Ideally, I want the bottom of the honey barrel 338 00:14:30,411 --> 00:14:31,620 to be seven feet. 339 00:14:31,621 --> 00:14:33,371 I just need something 340 00:14:33,372 --> 00:14:35,248 to get the bears to stand up, 341 00:14:35,249 --> 00:14:37,709 which makes it easier to identify a boar from a sow, 342 00:14:37,710 --> 00:14:39,795 as a sow will be substantially shorter. 343 00:14:39,796 --> 00:14:43,215 Securing the 650-pound barrel in the tree 344 00:14:43,216 --> 00:14:45,175 is one challenge... 345 00:14:45,176 --> 00:14:47,177 Now I've got it lashed to this tree and this tree. 346 00:14:47,178 --> 00:14:49,221 That would probably hold it, 347 00:14:49,222 --> 00:14:51,056 but I'm going to chain it as well. 348 00:14:51,057 --> 00:14:52,307 ...making sure a 500-pound bear 349 00:14:52,308 --> 00:14:54,810 can't knock it down is another. 350 00:14:54,811 --> 00:14:58,146 I'm gonna run a ratchet strap around it 351 00:14:58,147 --> 00:14:59,940 to keep the bears from swinging on it, 352 00:14:59,941 --> 00:15:01,483 I want it to be tight. 353 00:15:02,527 --> 00:15:04,820 Black bears can problem-solve, 354 00:15:04,821 --> 00:15:08,657 and if it's got a lever, a latch, a knob, a trigger, 355 00:15:08,658 --> 00:15:10,367 they will find it, and they will open it. 356 00:15:10,368 --> 00:15:12,912 Okay, let's lower this. 357 00:15:17,959 --> 00:15:19,876 The last step 358 00:15:19,877 --> 00:15:23,004 is to make a hole big enough to let the honey escape, 359 00:15:23,005 --> 00:15:26,800 but small enough to keep the bears wanting more. 360 00:15:26,801 --> 00:15:28,343 I like it, that's perfect. 361 00:15:28,344 --> 00:15:30,137 That is perfect. 362 00:15:30,138 --> 00:15:31,513 It's good. 363 00:15:31,514 --> 00:15:33,306 It's going to drive the bears crazy. 364 00:15:33,307 --> 00:15:35,809 To ensure he has strong bear activity 365 00:15:35,810 --> 00:15:37,811 before the season opens, 366 00:15:37,812 --> 00:15:40,398 Broc needs to get the barrels up today... 367 00:15:42,483 --> 00:15:45,318 but the second location is deeper in the woods, 368 00:15:45,319 --> 00:15:48,947 and can only be accessed by ATV, 369 00:15:48,948 --> 00:15:52,033 which means Broc is on his own to get it done. 370 00:15:52,034 --> 00:15:54,119 This site is on the south end of the property. 371 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:55,078 There's water. 372 00:15:55,079 --> 00:15:56,872 Difficult to get machines in. 373 00:15:56,873 --> 00:15:57,957 You just got to do things a little bit differently. 374 00:16:00,209 --> 00:16:01,960 I don't mind that tree. 375 00:16:01,961 --> 00:16:03,670 There's a big pile of bear scat right here. 376 00:16:03,671 --> 00:16:05,714 You can tell by the size of the scat 377 00:16:05,715 --> 00:16:07,174 the size of the bear, 378 00:16:07,175 --> 00:16:10,093 and this is the kind of bear we're after. 379 00:16:10,094 --> 00:16:12,470 To single-handedly get this barrel up, 380 00:16:12,471 --> 00:16:15,640 Broc will rely on a block and tackle pulley system 381 00:16:15,641 --> 00:16:18,186 and his own brute strength. 382 00:16:30,823 --> 00:16:32,657 So that's where I want the barrel to be. 383 00:16:32,658 --> 00:16:34,409 Put a strap on it. 384 00:16:35,953 --> 00:16:37,871 Okay. Solid. 385 00:16:37,872 --> 00:16:39,081 Honey barrel in the tree. 386 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:48,007 The smallest of holes... 387 00:16:50,218 --> 00:16:51,676 and this should do it. 388 00:16:51,677 --> 00:16:53,970 The traps are set. 389 00:16:53,971 --> 00:16:55,639 All that's left now 390 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:57,849 is to see if the bears will take the bait. 391 00:16:57,850 --> 00:16:59,434 Now it's just Mother Nature's timing. 392 00:16:59,435 --> 00:17:00,936 I've got the honey here for 'em, 393 00:17:00,937 --> 00:17:02,605 and I'll just come in and hunt when the wind's right. 394 00:17:13,491 --> 00:17:15,408 1,000 miles away, 395 00:17:15,409 --> 00:17:18,118 in the shadow of the Ilgachuz Range, 396 00:17:18,119 --> 00:17:21,039 Eliguk Lake is teeming with trout, 397 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:22,499 which makes it the perfect place 398 00:17:22,500 --> 00:17:25,460 to run a remote fishing lodge... 399 00:17:25,461 --> 00:17:26,627 There's another dead one, 400 00:17:26,628 --> 00:17:28,463 look at 'em all, 401 00:17:28,464 --> 00:17:30,465 and these are so close to home. 402 00:17:30,466 --> 00:17:31,675 ...but one of the worst places on Earth... 403 00:17:31,676 --> 00:17:33,635 See these couple of trees right here? 404 00:17:33,636 --> 00:17:35,762 ...to face a wildfire. 405 00:17:35,763 --> 00:17:37,806 Those were alive last summer. 406 00:17:37,807 --> 00:17:39,808 Wow. 407 00:17:39,809 --> 00:17:40,809 Fire comes through here, 408 00:17:40,810 --> 00:17:41,852 they hit these dead ones, 409 00:17:42,019 --> 00:17:43,770 it's-it's going to travel very fast. 410 00:17:43,771 --> 00:17:46,481 10 years ago, 411 00:17:46,482 --> 00:17:49,526 Jen and Arön left city life behind 412 00:17:49,527 --> 00:17:51,611 to live off-grid full-time. 413 00:17:51,612 --> 00:17:54,364 We had been in the city for 20 years, 414 00:17:54,365 --> 00:17:56,783 and it was just time for a change. 415 00:17:56,784 --> 00:17:59,035 Whoo! 416 00:18:00,746 --> 00:18:02,914 Since we were both from the wilderness originally, 417 00:18:02,915 --> 00:18:05,292 coming back to the wilderness was a calling. 418 00:18:05,293 --> 00:18:07,794 Carving out a life from scratch 419 00:18:07,795 --> 00:18:09,421 in the remote backcountry 420 00:18:09,422 --> 00:18:11,006 has never been easy, 421 00:18:11,007 --> 00:18:14,093 but recently they've faced a new threat-- fire. 422 00:18:16,012 --> 00:18:18,305 Look at this monster. 423 00:18:18,306 --> 00:18:20,974 One blaze came within a mile and a half 424 00:18:20,975 --> 00:18:22,727 of taking everything... 425 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:34,196 I fought that fire for two and a half months. 426 00:18:36,782 --> 00:18:39,326 Our lodge is extremely vulnerable. 427 00:18:39,327 --> 00:18:42,662 Trees are so dry. 428 00:18:42,663 --> 00:18:45,999 You just know that you could lose it all. 429 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:47,709 ...so as soon as winter 430 00:18:47,710 --> 00:18:49,544 starts to loosen its grip, 431 00:18:49,545 --> 00:18:51,004 priority number one 432 00:18:51,005 --> 00:18:53,840 becomes clearing their property of dead trees 433 00:18:53,841 --> 00:18:57,385 to mitigate the threat of wildfires. 434 00:18:57,386 --> 00:18:59,804 Well, I'm gonna go get the chainsaw 435 00:18:59,805 --> 00:19:01,598 and start cutting. 436 00:19:01,599 --> 00:19:04,309 Are you gonna have another burn pile right there? 437 00:19:04,310 --> 00:19:05,602 - Right there. - Okay. 438 00:19:05,603 --> 00:19:07,604 Burn what we have to, 439 00:19:07,605 --> 00:19:09,981 and try to save everything else. 440 00:19:09,982 --> 00:19:12,442 We've got to do this while we have snow on the ground. 441 00:19:12,443 --> 00:19:14,319 The moment the snow melts, 442 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:16,738 government fire bans go into effect, 443 00:19:16,739 --> 00:19:19,199 and their window to cut and burn will disappear. 444 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:21,451 Once the fire bans are in place, 445 00:19:21,452 --> 00:19:25,455 there is no more burning until fall or next winter. 446 00:19:25,456 --> 00:19:27,165 Now... 447 00:19:27,166 --> 00:19:29,459 which one's first? 448 00:19:29,460 --> 00:19:32,087 First on the chopping block, 449 00:19:32,088 --> 00:19:35,298 a towering 120-foot spruce 450 00:19:35,299 --> 00:19:37,384 that split straight through the center 451 00:19:37,385 --> 00:19:38,885 in a recent windstorm, 452 00:19:38,886 --> 00:19:40,553 and now threatens to come crashing down 453 00:19:40,554 --> 00:19:42,222 on their lodge. 454 00:19:42,223 --> 00:19:44,432 That's the big crack right from the base. 455 00:19:44,433 --> 00:19:45,767 - Wow. - All the way up 456 00:19:45,768 --> 00:19:48,561 past that top strap. 457 00:19:48,562 --> 00:19:52,023 Cutting a tree down with cracks in it like that 458 00:19:52,024 --> 00:19:53,983 is very unpredictable. 459 00:19:53,984 --> 00:19:55,318 These two straps 460 00:19:55,319 --> 00:19:57,737 should stop any big splits coming off it. 461 00:19:57,738 --> 00:20:00,365 Are you confident you can fell this 462 00:20:00,366 --> 00:20:01,991 without hitting the woodshed? 463 00:20:01,992 --> 00:20:03,201 It has to come down, 464 00:20:03,202 --> 00:20:06,204 or the next big windstorm will take it down 465 00:20:06,205 --> 00:20:10,500 without the control of where we want it to go. 466 00:20:14,463 --> 00:20:16,589 Arön is no novice 467 00:20:16,590 --> 00:20:18,550 when it comes to felling trees... 468 00:20:18,551 --> 00:20:20,677 I always, in the back of my mind, 469 00:20:20,678 --> 00:20:22,011 I'm always worried for his safety. 470 00:20:22,012 --> 00:20:23,847 ...but being 130 miles 471 00:20:23,848 --> 00:20:25,306 from the nearest hospital, 472 00:20:25,307 --> 00:20:27,852 there's no room for error. 473 00:20:42,158 --> 00:20:44,452 Oh, look, it's gonna go. 474 00:20:47,496 --> 00:20:48,914 There it goes. 475 00:20:52,585 --> 00:20:53,669 Wow! 476 00:20:59,258 --> 00:21:01,009 Back on Eliguk Lake... 477 00:21:03,012 --> 00:21:05,513 There it goes! There it goes! 478 00:21:07,516 --> 00:21:09,518 Oh, wow. 479 00:21:12,646 --> 00:21:13,313 Right where you said it was going to go! 480 00:21:13,314 --> 00:21:14,773 That's awesome. 481 00:21:14,774 --> 00:21:16,357 Beauties. 482 00:21:17,777 --> 00:21:19,903 - I love it. - Thank you. 483 00:21:19,904 --> 00:21:22,447 One dead tree is down... 484 00:21:23,741 --> 00:21:25,658 ...but the work isn't over. 485 00:21:25,659 --> 00:21:27,702 Let's cut this up and get it into a fire pile. 486 00:21:27,703 --> 00:21:29,537 Now comes delimbing, 487 00:21:29,538 --> 00:21:31,456 bucking, 488 00:21:31,457 --> 00:21:33,334 and stacking. 489 00:21:35,002 --> 00:21:36,503 This is good. 490 00:21:36,504 --> 00:21:38,755 I think I can get some lumber out of this one. 491 00:21:38,756 --> 00:21:40,673 Looks like a 16-footer. 492 00:21:40,674 --> 00:21:42,550 If the sections are long enough 493 00:21:42,551 --> 00:21:44,719 and free of cracks and rot, 494 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:46,680 they're saved as millable logs. 495 00:21:49,058 --> 00:21:50,767 That's going to be firewood. 496 00:21:50,768 --> 00:21:54,021 Others are kept to ward off the cold... 497 00:21:57,149 --> 00:22:01,445 It's hard to fathom how much firewood we go through. 498 00:22:02,947 --> 00:22:04,739 Our wood shed is crucial. 499 00:22:07,076 --> 00:22:10,036 We can't turn on a furnace or a light switch 500 00:22:10,037 --> 00:22:11,120 or any other heating source, 501 00:22:11,121 --> 00:22:12,163 so this is it. 502 00:22:17,795 --> 00:22:19,712 Anything that's not usable, 503 00:22:19,713 --> 00:22:22,340 get them in that pile and burn them 504 00:22:22,341 --> 00:22:24,552 so that they won't be a hazard later on. 505 00:22:26,220 --> 00:22:29,222 ...but before a single match is lit, 506 00:22:29,223 --> 00:22:31,099 they have to be ready 507 00:22:31,100 --> 00:22:33,143 for anything that could go wrong. 508 00:22:34,395 --> 00:22:39,065 The water trailer we have is a very important tool. 509 00:22:39,066 --> 00:22:40,859 There might be snow on the ground, 510 00:22:40,860 --> 00:22:43,278 but these fires can take right off. 511 00:22:43,279 --> 00:22:45,488 This is the only way I can get water 512 00:22:45,489 --> 00:22:47,657 for fire mitigation, 513 00:22:47,658 --> 00:22:49,368 straight from the lake. 514 00:22:57,751 --> 00:22:58,961 I'm through. 515 00:23:05,384 --> 00:23:06,551 That's in there. 516 00:23:11,807 --> 00:23:14,225 My safety measure. 517 00:23:19,607 --> 00:23:21,691 Beautiful. 518 00:23:21,692 --> 00:23:23,610 Filling up nicely. 519 00:23:36,874 --> 00:23:38,541 Back in the La Cloche mountains, 520 00:23:38,542 --> 00:23:41,711 Dave and Kie are still grinding it out. 521 00:23:41,712 --> 00:23:42,837 It's basically going as fast 522 00:23:42,838 --> 00:23:44,797 as I can shovel the meat in the hopper. 523 00:23:44,798 --> 00:23:48,259 ...to make the most of their two-beaver catch. 524 00:23:48,260 --> 00:23:50,219 Most of the beaver meat 525 00:23:50,220 --> 00:23:52,138 ends up getting turned into ground meat 526 00:23:52,139 --> 00:23:54,307 simply because you don't get those big cuts 527 00:23:54,308 --> 00:23:56,726 that you're going to get on big game animals. 528 00:23:56,727 --> 00:23:59,145 Ground meat is just so versatile. 529 00:23:59,146 --> 00:24:00,980 We're going to make some sausage... 530 00:24:00,981 --> 00:24:02,315 and that's pretty well... 531 00:24:02,316 --> 00:24:04,526 the end of the meat. 532 00:24:06,862 --> 00:24:07,696 Once the meat is processed... 533 00:24:08,864 --> 00:24:10,407 Can you put some salt? 534 00:24:12,076 --> 00:24:14,369 ...it's time to put their secret sausage recipe 535 00:24:14,370 --> 00:24:15,828 to work. 536 00:24:15,829 --> 00:24:17,664 I'm going to put a little bit of flour in it, too, 537 00:24:17,665 --> 00:24:18,873 just as a binder. 538 00:24:18,874 --> 00:24:20,542 Okay. 539 00:24:22,211 --> 00:24:25,046 I've got the beaver meat all mixed up here. 540 00:24:25,047 --> 00:24:28,299 Okay, I got the intestine. 541 00:24:28,300 --> 00:24:30,760 I'm just going to give it a rinse again. 542 00:24:30,761 --> 00:24:32,679 Cleaned and prepared, 543 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:34,430 the beaver's own intestine 544 00:24:34,431 --> 00:24:36,683 will become the natural casing 545 00:24:36,684 --> 00:24:38,643 that'll hold the sausage together. 546 00:24:38,644 --> 00:24:40,354 Okay, this one's ready to stuff. 547 00:24:43,816 --> 00:24:46,567 This is going to be super yummy, 548 00:24:46,568 --> 00:24:48,945 even though it does not look it. 549 00:24:48,946 --> 00:24:51,990 Whoa! Slippery. 550 00:24:51,991 --> 00:24:54,409 I think beaver is probably 551 00:24:54,410 --> 00:24:55,994 one of the healthiest meats that you can find. 552 00:24:55,995 --> 00:24:57,745 It's organic. 553 00:24:57,746 --> 00:25:00,081 It's fair trade. 554 00:25:00,082 --> 00:25:01,624 It's free range. 555 00:25:01,625 --> 00:25:04,460 Oh, hello. 556 00:25:04,461 --> 00:25:06,295 What do you think? 557 00:25:06,296 --> 00:25:08,297 Butchering is a real family affair. 558 00:25:08,298 --> 00:25:09,549 The animals see what's going on. 559 00:25:09,550 --> 00:25:11,092 They get excited, 560 00:25:11,093 --> 00:25:12,885 because they've learned if they do wait patiently, 561 00:25:12,886 --> 00:25:14,262 they're gonna get their share as well. 562 00:25:14,263 --> 00:25:16,681 One giant sausage, 563 00:25:16,682 --> 00:25:17,932 that's what we're getting. 564 00:25:17,933 --> 00:25:20,893 Seeing how an animal is processed 565 00:25:20,894 --> 00:25:23,521 is always a part of living out here 566 00:25:23,522 --> 00:25:24,897 that I really appreciate. 567 00:25:24,898 --> 00:25:27,942 You have to see the guts and the glory. 568 00:25:27,943 --> 00:25:30,779 It's done, it's out of my hands. 569 00:25:32,406 --> 00:25:34,282 I think we're going to need a bigger pan. 570 00:25:34,283 --> 00:25:35,992 Oh, look at that. 571 00:25:35,993 --> 00:25:38,286 I'm always thinking about how grateful I am to the beaver 572 00:25:38,287 --> 00:25:39,537 for giving its life to us. 573 00:25:39,538 --> 00:25:40,913 Fresh beaver sausage. 574 00:25:40,914 --> 00:25:41,998 Mm, yeah. 575 00:25:41,999 --> 00:25:43,417 Amazing. 576 00:25:49,631 --> 00:25:50,882 As dusk settles 577 00:25:50,883 --> 00:25:52,717 over the Pasquia Hills... 578 00:25:53,969 --> 00:25:55,970 ...black bears emerge, 579 00:25:55,971 --> 00:25:57,139 hungry and on the move... 580 00:25:59,308 --> 00:26:00,808 and so does Broc, 581 00:26:00,809 --> 00:26:04,730 eager to find out if his honey traps will pay off. 582 00:27:26,395 --> 00:27:28,688 It's easy to see she's too short, 583 00:27:28,689 --> 00:27:30,523 and that it's a female. 584 00:27:30,524 --> 00:27:31,941 Most inexperienced hunters 585 00:27:31,942 --> 00:27:34,570 would be thinking, "Maybe I should shoot this bear." 586 00:27:35,904 --> 00:27:38,739 My goal, aside from getting big bears, 587 00:27:38,740 --> 00:27:40,867 is to keep sows like this alive, 588 00:27:40,868 --> 00:27:43,077 keep them from getting shot. 589 00:27:43,078 --> 00:27:44,203 Seeing the honey barrel come to fruition 590 00:27:44,204 --> 00:27:46,205 and actually work, 591 00:27:46,206 --> 00:27:47,623 it's exciting for me... 592 00:27:47,624 --> 00:27:49,917 We're ready to start hunting now. 593 00:28:02,931 --> 00:28:05,224 1,300 miles northwest, 594 00:28:05,225 --> 00:28:08,769 it's a crisp 10 degrees under a bluebird sky... 595 00:28:08,770 --> 00:28:10,605 There you go, Clipper. 596 00:28:10,606 --> 00:28:12,148 ...and Connor's B-team 597 00:28:12,149 --> 00:28:14,650 now has 10 more miles under their belts... 598 00:28:14,651 --> 00:28:17,194 Good dogs... yup! 599 00:28:17,195 --> 00:28:19,405 ...but running at a steady clip 600 00:28:19,406 --> 00:28:20,740 is only half the equation. 601 00:28:20,741 --> 00:28:22,617 Whoa... 602 00:28:22,618 --> 00:28:23,951 All right. 603 00:28:23,952 --> 00:28:25,703 Learning how to rest on the trail 604 00:28:25,704 --> 00:28:27,663 is just as important 605 00:28:27,664 --> 00:28:30,458 to maintain the stamina it takes to win races. 606 00:28:31,877 --> 00:28:34,170 Now the plan is to teach these young bucks 607 00:28:34,171 --> 00:28:36,298 what it is to do a good quick camp. 608 00:28:37,674 --> 00:28:40,760 So it's a big learning time for these young dogs. 609 00:28:40,761 --> 00:28:44,680 They're gonna see that once this stuff comes out, 610 00:28:44,681 --> 00:28:47,558 that means we're having a nap. 611 00:28:47,559 --> 00:28:49,810 We sleep out in the bush quite a bit, 612 00:28:49,811 --> 00:28:51,520 and it's really important for these guys 613 00:28:51,521 --> 00:28:53,314 to learn that routine. 614 00:28:54,858 --> 00:28:56,025 In a race like the Iditarod, 615 00:28:56,026 --> 00:28:58,694 mushers run a strict schedule, 616 00:28:58,695 --> 00:29:01,656 four hours on, four hours off, 617 00:29:01,657 --> 00:29:04,116 keeping the dogs sharp and healthy through a race 618 00:29:04,117 --> 00:29:06,410 that can last nearly two weeks. 619 00:29:06,411 --> 00:29:08,747 All right, guys. 620 00:29:11,792 --> 00:29:16,253 So we're going to get a pot right now full of snow. 621 00:29:16,254 --> 00:29:19,382 We're going to make some water for the dogs 622 00:29:19,383 --> 00:29:20,550 to mix up with a little bit of kibble. 623 00:29:22,594 --> 00:29:24,470 Add our fuel to our cooker. 624 00:29:24,471 --> 00:29:25,888 Throw in some straw, 625 00:29:25,889 --> 00:29:27,848 light the methanol hydrate. 626 00:29:27,849 --> 00:29:29,600 Cooker's rolling. 627 00:29:29,601 --> 00:29:31,352 That is good to go now. 628 00:29:36,650 --> 00:29:39,151 We got some nice pink salmon here. 629 00:29:39,152 --> 00:29:41,278 Good stuff. 630 00:29:41,279 --> 00:29:43,615 Just to give it some flavor, easy digestible fats for them. 631 00:29:46,159 --> 00:29:47,494 Now we make you some yum-yums. 632 00:29:48,954 --> 00:29:50,287 Who's hungry? 633 00:29:50,288 --> 00:29:52,873 All right, Mitchy Goops. 634 00:29:52,874 --> 00:29:54,542 There you go, Vega. 635 00:29:54,543 --> 00:29:55,960 Eat your yum-yums. 636 00:29:55,961 --> 00:29:57,586 Okay, Button. 637 00:29:57,587 --> 00:29:58,587 Okay, yes, I'm coming. 638 00:29:58,588 --> 00:30:00,132 I'm coming. 639 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:08,514 So now I need to make sure that I rest myself. 640 00:30:08,515 --> 00:30:10,182 Need to make sure you're clear-headed, 641 00:30:10,183 --> 00:30:12,268 because if I don't take care of myself, 642 00:30:12,269 --> 00:30:14,186 I can't take care of my dogs. 643 00:30:16,523 --> 00:30:17,815 It took us about an hour, 644 00:30:17,816 --> 00:30:19,817 but right now we got 'em all laid down, 645 00:30:19,818 --> 00:30:21,777 everybody's asleep, and they're fed. 646 00:30:21,778 --> 00:30:23,612 This was the goal. 647 00:30:34,458 --> 00:30:35,583 Back on Eliguk Lake... 648 00:30:35,584 --> 00:30:37,460 Grab my torch. 649 00:30:37,461 --> 00:30:39,170 ...with a full tank of water... 650 00:30:39,171 --> 00:30:41,172 Find a good spot to light this from. 651 00:30:41,173 --> 00:30:42,214 ...Arön and Jen 652 00:30:42,215 --> 00:30:44,508 are preparing to light the fuse. 653 00:30:44,509 --> 00:30:45,760 Light it up. 654 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:56,979 Look how fast that's going. 655 00:30:56,980 --> 00:30:58,522 Fighting fire with fire 656 00:30:58,523 --> 00:31:01,067 means staying vigilant every second. 657 00:31:01,068 --> 00:31:04,361 If a spark got into a standing dead tree like this, 658 00:31:04,362 --> 00:31:05,489 this is how fast it would take off. 659 00:31:06,990 --> 00:31:08,783 One shift in the wind, 660 00:31:08,784 --> 00:31:10,993 and the flames can spread 661 00:31:10,994 --> 00:31:14,081 faster than they can be contained. 662 00:31:15,707 --> 00:31:17,626 Our wind changed just like that. 663 00:31:19,127 --> 00:31:21,712 We've got some swirling action here on the winds. 664 00:31:21,713 --> 00:31:22,464 It's going in circles. 665 00:31:24,466 --> 00:31:27,259 And now the sparks. 666 00:31:30,931 --> 00:31:31,972 Maybe you should get the hose. 667 00:31:31,973 --> 00:31:32,974 Yup. 668 00:31:40,524 --> 00:31:41,775 On Eliguk Lake... 669 00:31:43,401 --> 00:31:45,277 Look at the wind just flame that fire. 670 00:31:45,278 --> 00:31:46,529 ...what was supposed to be 671 00:31:46,530 --> 00:31:47,530 a controlled burn 672 00:31:47,531 --> 00:31:49,866 is now pushing the limits... 673 00:31:52,953 --> 00:31:54,912 Maybe you should get the hose. 674 00:31:54,913 --> 00:31:56,456 Yep. 675 00:31:57,958 --> 00:32:00,543 ...but luckily, Arön is prepared for the worst. 676 00:32:00,544 --> 00:32:02,628 You can't just let a fire burn. 677 00:32:02,629 --> 00:32:05,256 They're so unpredictable. 678 00:32:05,257 --> 00:32:07,341 The wind's changing so much. 679 00:32:07,342 --> 00:32:09,301 Sparks are going everywhere. 680 00:32:14,141 --> 00:32:16,225 This should help stop any sparks 681 00:32:16,226 --> 00:32:18,603 from getting these trees caught on fire. 682 00:32:25,026 --> 00:32:27,403 Wow, that's much better. 683 00:32:27,404 --> 00:32:30,072 I've got the ground all around here soaked, 684 00:32:30,073 --> 00:32:31,991 so I think this fire's good. 685 00:32:31,992 --> 00:32:34,869 It's not going anywhere. 686 00:32:34,870 --> 00:32:38,539 I'll feel a little better when it burns down a bit. 687 00:32:38,540 --> 00:32:41,375 If I had to say anything scared me the most off the grid, 688 00:32:41,376 --> 00:32:45,212 it's not just wildfires, 689 00:32:45,213 --> 00:32:47,298 it's complacency. 690 00:32:49,092 --> 00:32:50,426 Anything can change out here at any moment, 691 00:32:50,427 --> 00:32:52,720 so getting complacent about it 692 00:32:52,721 --> 00:32:54,471 is what is going to trip you up the fastest. 693 00:32:54,472 --> 00:32:55,973 We need some rains now. 694 00:32:55,974 --> 00:32:57,892 If we don't get spring rains, 695 00:32:57,893 --> 00:33:00,728 it's going to be a scary summer. 696 00:33:00,729 --> 00:33:03,480 This area is much safer now, 697 00:33:03,481 --> 00:33:04,732 for now, 698 00:33:04,733 --> 00:33:07,318 but who knows what it's going to be like 699 00:33:07,319 --> 00:33:08,527 in a couple of weeks. 700 00:33:08,528 --> 00:33:10,321 The fires are coming. 701 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:24,877 2,000 miles southeast 702 00:33:24,878 --> 00:33:27,087 in the La Cloche Mountains, 703 00:33:27,088 --> 00:33:29,506 the sun is sinking low, 704 00:33:29,507 --> 00:33:32,343 but the day's work isn't done yet. 705 00:33:32,344 --> 00:33:33,594 It's looking good. 706 00:33:33,595 --> 00:33:34,595 - Is it? - Oh yeah. 707 00:33:34,596 --> 00:33:36,347 She's done. 708 00:33:36,348 --> 00:33:37,932 The fat from two beavers 709 00:33:37,933 --> 00:33:39,391 is rendered and ready, 710 00:33:39,392 --> 00:33:42,062 but homemade soap takes more than fat alone. 711 00:33:43,271 --> 00:33:45,940 Watch your step, it's very slippery. 712 00:33:45,941 --> 00:33:48,567 The soap that we're going to be making today 713 00:33:48,568 --> 00:33:51,111 is a combination of the rendered beaver fat 714 00:33:51,112 --> 00:33:55,115 and our own homemade wood ash lye. 715 00:33:55,116 --> 00:33:56,742 Just pour off most of the liquid. 716 00:33:56,743 --> 00:33:59,620 We're going to use the ash from our furnace 717 00:33:59,621 --> 00:34:01,664 and make potassium hydroxide. 718 00:34:02,916 --> 00:34:05,501 Potassium hydroxide, or lye, 719 00:34:05,502 --> 00:34:06,752 is the chemical reactant 720 00:34:06,753 --> 00:34:09,213 that turns raw fat into soap. 721 00:34:09,214 --> 00:34:12,424 - Watch my face! - Watch, this lye is caustic. 722 00:34:12,425 --> 00:34:15,636 After 24 hours soaking in rainwater, 723 00:34:15,637 --> 00:34:17,930 the ash gets strained and boiled 724 00:34:17,931 --> 00:34:20,265 into a highly volatile concentrate. 725 00:34:20,266 --> 00:34:21,726 One wrong move, 726 00:34:24,813 --> 00:34:28,314 It's crazy that this bucket of ash 727 00:34:28,315 --> 00:34:31,277 is the second ingredient in soap making. 728 00:34:33,446 --> 00:34:35,656 That's good, that's good, stop, stop, stop. 729 00:34:35,657 --> 00:34:37,533 I am not a chemist. 730 00:34:37,534 --> 00:34:39,827 This is an ancient way of making soap. 731 00:34:39,828 --> 00:34:42,705 This was household knowledge, 732 00:34:42,706 --> 00:34:44,330 and it's really cool 733 00:34:44,331 --> 00:34:46,582 because both ingredients came from the land, 734 00:34:46,583 --> 00:34:48,002 and I just love that. 735 00:34:48,003 --> 00:34:49,253 Boom. 736 00:34:49,254 --> 00:34:51,214 We've just made lye. 737 00:34:54,259 --> 00:34:56,218 A few hours later, 738 00:34:56,219 --> 00:34:59,888 Kie is ready to put her homemade recipe to the test. 739 00:34:59,889 --> 00:35:02,850 This is my lye, potassium hydroxide. 740 00:35:02,851 --> 00:35:05,144 The concentrated lye 741 00:35:05,145 --> 00:35:07,187 is combined with the rendered beaver fat 742 00:35:07,188 --> 00:35:09,898 to start the soap-making process. 743 00:35:13,069 --> 00:35:15,988 We're blending the lye and the fat together, 744 00:35:15,989 --> 00:35:18,699 and the idea is that we keep blending it 745 00:35:18,700 --> 00:35:20,284 until they can't be separated anymore. 746 00:35:20,285 --> 00:35:23,621 It's already turning a nice creamy color. 747 00:35:23,622 --> 00:35:25,789 You've reached saponification, 748 00:35:25,790 --> 00:35:27,499 which is soap, 749 00:35:27,500 --> 00:35:30,712 when the two particles don't separate. 750 00:35:31,880 --> 00:35:33,505 It's soap! 751 00:35:33,506 --> 00:35:35,507 It's workin'! 752 00:35:38,970 --> 00:35:43,057 I just love that aspect of creation 753 00:35:43,058 --> 00:35:47,269 from something that was a living animal, 754 00:35:47,270 --> 00:35:51,524 and now it's ready to be used for cleaning up. 755 00:35:53,068 --> 00:35:54,944 That's it. 756 00:35:56,863 --> 00:35:58,906 We're going to let this soap cure a little bit, 757 00:35:58,907 --> 00:36:01,159 and that just means to dehydrate, 758 00:36:01,534 --> 00:36:04,746 and then we're going to go test it out. 759 00:36:06,831 --> 00:36:08,416 I'm ready for a wash. 760 00:36:13,713 --> 00:36:16,590 Back on the trail, rested and well fed... 761 00:36:16,591 --> 00:36:18,050 All right! 762 00:36:18,051 --> 00:36:19,385 All right, you guys. 763 00:36:19,386 --> 00:36:21,428 Connor and the team 764 00:36:21,429 --> 00:36:23,889 are ready for the final stretch of their training run... 765 00:36:23,890 --> 00:36:25,641 Nap time is officially over. 766 00:36:25,642 --> 00:36:27,976 Ready, Clip? Ready, Clip? 767 00:36:27,977 --> 00:36:29,436 The beasts are awakened, 768 00:36:29,437 --> 00:36:32,439 and they're screamin', and they wanna go. 769 00:36:37,987 --> 00:36:40,114 Ready? All right. 770 00:36:40,115 --> 00:36:42,324 Easy, guys. 771 00:36:45,203 --> 00:36:46,745 ...but there's one last obstacle 772 00:36:46,746 --> 00:36:48,997 that stands between them and the finish line. 773 00:36:48,998 --> 00:36:51,875 Whoa... 774 00:36:54,546 --> 00:36:58,424 So we got this, uh, beaver pond. 775 00:36:58,425 --> 00:36:59,466 It's pretty deep, 776 00:36:59,467 --> 00:37:01,635 and it's never ever have good ice. 777 00:37:01,636 --> 00:37:04,304 I don't trust the ice. 778 00:37:04,305 --> 00:37:06,099 There's no such thing as safe ice. 779 00:37:08,143 --> 00:37:12,896 Got my, uh, ice-checking pick here, 780 00:37:12,897 --> 00:37:15,357 so we're gonna have to go start working our way across this, 781 00:37:15,358 --> 00:37:17,109 making sure it's safe 782 00:37:17,110 --> 00:37:19,278 for the knuckleheads to follow me, 783 00:37:19,279 --> 00:37:21,238 so hope it doesn't end in swimming. 784 00:37:22,657 --> 00:37:24,366 They don't swim. 785 00:37:24,367 --> 00:37:25,993 These northern dogs, they will not get in the water. 786 00:37:25,994 --> 00:37:27,077 They will not, 787 00:37:27,078 --> 00:37:28,495 and that's because 788 00:37:28,496 --> 00:37:30,122 they have an instinctual fear of hypothermia. 789 00:37:30,123 --> 00:37:32,082 They know if they go in and they get wet, 790 00:37:32,083 --> 00:37:33,834 we live in a cold environment, 791 00:37:33,835 --> 00:37:36,044 that could be detrimental to them. 792 00:37:36,045 --> 00:37:39,339 Breaking through the ice in these temperatures, 793 00:37:39,340 --> 00:37:42,092 and hypothermia can set in within minutes, 794 00:37:42,093 --> 00:37:45,053 for a human or a dog. 795 00:37:45,054 --> 00:37:47,181 Three good, hard hits with my ice pick 796 00:37:47,182 --> 00:37:49,141 and the ice feels solid, 797 00:37:49,142 --> 00:37:51,186 I'm going to move onto it. 798 00:37:56,107 --> 00:37:59,068 Just about to the other side. 799 00:38:00,987 --> 00:38:01,862 I think we're going to go for it. 800 00:38:01,863 --> 00:38:03,363 I'm feeling confident 801 00:38:03,364 --> 00:38:04,698 that this ice will support us, 802 00:38:04,699 --> 00:38:06,450 and we're going to get across this. 803 00:38:06,451 --> 00:38:08,494 Ready! Hup! 804 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:16,836 Mitchy, haw, haw, haw! 805 00:38:19,506 --> 00:38:21,299 All right, bring me across. 806 00:38:23,843 --> 00:38:26,720 Haw, haw! 807 00:38:26,721 --> 00:38:28,973 Good dogs. 808 00:38:35,271 --> 00:38:36,814 We got across. 809 00:38:36,815 --> 00:38:37,981 That was just perfect, 810 00:38:37,982 --> 00:38:39,733 especially those young guys, you know? 811 00:38:39,734 --> 00:38:41,819 It was the first time those guys have had to see me get off 812 00:38:41,820 --> 00:38:44,655 and do a little bit of trail inspection, 813 00:38:44,656 --> 00:38:47,116 so that's a very good learning experience for them. 814 00:38:48,618 --> 00:38:49,660 Good work, guys. 815 00:38:49,661 --> 00:38:51,787 Yah, yah, Vega. Yah, yah, Vega. 816 00:38:51,788 --> 00:38:54,873 Bring us home strong, my boys. 817 00:38:54,874 --> 00:38:57,543 Home stretch, yah! Yup! Yup! 818 00:38:57,544 --> 00:39:00,045 Whoa... 819 00:39:00,046 --> 00:39:01,672 Good dogs! 820 00:39:01,673 --> 00:39:03,048 You wanna go back to your houses? 821 00:39:03,049 --> 00:39:04,758 Yeah? You ready to go back home? 822 00:39:04,759 --> 00:39:05,843 I feel like 823 00:39:05,844 --> 00:39:07,928 today was more of a training day for me, 824 00:39:07,929 --> 00:39:09,346 but that's what we do together. 825 00:39:09,347 --> 00:39:10,264 We go out there, and we learn, and we grow, 826 00:39:10,265 --> 00:39:11,348 and we work together as a team. 827 00:39:11,349 --> 00:39:13,976 Clipper, big man. 828 00:39:13,977 --> 00:39:15,811 Clipper really impressed me today. 829 00:39:15,812 --> 00:39:17,521 We got some things to work on, 830 00:39:17,522 --> 00:39:18,981 we do for sure, 831 00:39:18,982 --> 00:39:20,858 but he did really good. 832 00:39:22,735 --> 00:39:26,822 I'm very proud of you. 833 00:39:26,823 --> 00:39:28,991 I see a really bright future 834 00:39:28,992 --> 00:39:30,868 for all the younger dogs we got going. 835 00:39:30,869 --> 00:39:32,828 They're gonna do great, great things. 836 00:39:32,829 --> 00:39:34,747 Good dogs! 837 00:39:42,505 --> 00:39:44,756 2,300 miles away 838 00:39:44,757 --> 00:39:46,717 in the La Cloche mountains, 839 00:39:46,718 --> 00:39:49,095 life off the grid 840 00:39:52,140 --> 00:39:55,435 and that goes for even the simplest daily routines. 841 00:39:57,186 --> 00:39:58,937 The soap made from yesterday's beaver harvest 842 00:39:58,938 --> 00:39:59,855 is ready, 843 00:39:59,856 --> 00:40:02,190 so all Kie and Dave need now... 844 00:40:03,610 --> 00:40:06,069 ...is the bath. 845 00:40:06,070 --> 00:40:07,613 We don't have a shower in the wintertime, 846 00:40:07,614 --> 00:40:09,489 so once a week, 847 00:40:09,490 --> 00:40:11,116 we'll cut a big enough hole in the ice 848 00:40:11,117 --> 00:40:13,035 so that we can have a cold plunge. 849 00:40:13,036 --> 00:40:13,953 Whoo-hoo! 850 00:40:15,455 --> 00:40:16,748 We got one free. 851 00:40:18,249 --> 00:40:20,125 Cold plunges are cold, 852 00:40:20,126 --> 00:40:21,377 there's no getting around that... 853 00:40:23,254 --> 00:40:24,004 ...but the more you do it... 854 00:40:24,005 --> 00:40:25,339 Oh, yeah! 855 00:40:26,466 --> 00:40:28,133 ...the more comfortable you become. 856 00:40:28,134 --> 00:40:30,636 Okay... and one. Nice. 857 00:40:30,637 --> 00:40:32,638 Hovering barely above freezing, 858 00:40:32,639 --> 00:40:36,725 the frigid lake water isn't for the faint of heart, 859 00:40:36,726 --> 00:40:40,270 which is why every plunge begins with a sauna. 860 00:40:40,271 --> 00:40:41,521 This sauna we built, 861 00:40:41,522 --> 00:40:44,859 and we harvested the logs from our property. 862 00:40:48,279 --> 00:40:50,697 It's a great way to get clean, 863 00:40:50,698 --> 00:40:53,533 but also a nice relaxing way to end the week 864 00:40:53,534 --> 00:40:55,619 and just enjoy a good sweat. 865 00:40:55,620 --> 00:40:58,914 After 20 minutes at 108 degrees 866 00:40:58,915 --> 00:41:01,626 and a good lather with their homemade soap... 867 00:41:02,627 --> 00:41:03,710 I'm ready. 868 00:41:03,711 --> 00:41:04,629 - Ready for the plunge? - Yeah. 869 00:41:05,546 --> 00:41:06,839 ...all that's left 870 00:41:07,006 --> 00:41:09,508 is the final sprint across frozen ground... 871 00:41:09,509 --> 00:41:10,926 Whoo! 872 00:41:10,927 --> 00:41:12,010 Let's do this. 873 00:41:12,011 --> 00:41:13,345 Whew! 874 00:41:13,346 --> 00:41:15,889 ...and one act of pure courage. 875 00:41:15,890 --> 00:41:17,474 Three, two, one! 876 00:41:17,475 --> 00:41:18,434 Ah! 877 00:41:26,025 --> 00:41:27,484 - Come on in! - I'm comin'! 878 00:41:27,485 --> 00:41:29,528 Ooh! Ooh! 879 00:41:29,529 --> 00:41:33,156 Building a life together in the wilderness 880 00:41:33,157 --> 00:41:34,449 has been an incredible experience. 881 00:41:34,450 --> 00:41:35,535 Whoa! Okay... 882 00:41:36,703 --> 00:41:38,078 We're masters of our own destiny. 883 00:41:38,079 --> 00:41:39,121 I think it's freezing in my hair. 884 00:41:39,122 --> 00:41:40,205 Yeah. 885 00:41:40,206 --> 00:41:42,749 I think one of the keys 886 00:41:42,750 --> 00:41:44,209 to being successful out here 887 00:41:44,210 --> 00:41:45,961 is that neither one of us wanted to give up 888 00:41:45,962 --> 00:41:47,254 at the same time, 889 00:41:47,255 --> 00:41:51,466 so it was always a matter of... things get hard, 890 00:41:51,467 --> 00:41:52,843 let's work through it, 891 00:41:52,844 --> 00:41:54,636 and just step by step. 892 00:41:54,637 --> 00:41:56,722 Okay, I'm good. 893 00:41:56,723 --> 00:41:58,265 - You're good? - I'm good. 894 00:41:58,266 --> 00:41:59,349 Okay. 895 00:41:59,350 --> 00:42:01,018 Here we go, whoa. 896 00:42:01,019 --> 00:42:04,104 Oh, my gosh! Wow! 897 00:42:08,192 --> 00:42:11,820 Next time on Mountain Men, Wild North... 898 00:42:11,821 --> 00:42:12,612 All right. 899 00:42:12,613 --> 00:42:14,239 Ready? 900 00:42:14,240 --> 00:42:15,949 Easy... 901 00:42:15,950 --> 00:42:17,534 If they do step off-trail, 902 00:42:17,535 --> 00:42:20,454 if they do start to get a little uneasy, 903 00:42:20,455 --> 00:42:22,415 I want to be in complete control. 904 00:42:23,958 --> 00:42:27,586 It's the last good run for under-ice beaver trapping. 905 00:42:27,587 --> 00:42:30,630 The trap is live. 906 00:42:30,631 --> 00:42:32,549 Feels like the wind is holding. 907 00:42:32,550 --> 00:42:34,051 I'm going for it quick. 908 00:42:35,678 --> 00:42:37,679 Wham!