Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Narrator: ALASKA -- THE LAST FRONTIER.
FALL IS OVER,
AND WINTER DESCENDS QUICKLY ON THE HOMESTEAD.
Otto: IF IT SUDDENLY TURNS FREEZING, IF IT SUDDENLY SNOWS,
THEN WE'RE GONNA BE UP AGAINST THAT DESPERATION.
Narrator: THE KILCHER COUSINS EIVIN AND ATZ LEE
REMAIN 90 MILES FROM THE HOMESTEAD
ON SHUYAK ISLAND IN A FINAL ATTEMPT
TO PROCURE WINTER MEAT FOR EIVIN'S FAMILY.
Eivin: EVE'S CLOSE TO HAVING THE BABY.
I'M DEFINITELY WONDERING IF I'M MISSING IT,
AND I WANT TO BE HOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator: AS THE DARKNESS CLOSES IN,
THE KILCHER WOMEN PREPARE FOR THE IMPENDING FREEZE.
REALLY, IF YOU DON'T GET OUT THERE AND SEIZE THE DAY,
THEN IT'S GONE.
Narrator: EVE'S MOTHER ARRIVES TO HELP HER
WITH LAST-MINUTE CHORES WHILE EIVIN IS AWAY.
Dena: WITH THE PREGNANCY, THE BIRTH IMMINENT,
I'M JUST MAKING SURE SHE'S SAFE.
Narrator: AND JANE BATTLES THE ELEMENTS
TO HELP OTTO AND ATZ UNDERTAKE THE DANGEROUS JOURNEY
OF RETURNING THE CATTLE BACK TO THE HOMESTEAD.
NO!
NOT IDEAL FOR A CATTLE DRIVE, BUT WHAT DO YOU DO?
WHEN THE COWS HAVE TO COME HOME, THEY HAVE TO COME HOME.
Otto: YOU CAN ROLL OVER AND DIE.
Narrator: ANTICIPATION MOUNTS THROUGH WINTER'S WRATH...
DAD!
...AND FOR THE FUTURE OF THE HOMESTEAD.
Eve: AWW.
♪ SOMETIMES IT'S BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS ♪
♪ ON ALASKA'S LAST FRONTIER ♪
♪ BUT LIFE IS SIMPLE, LIFE IS GOOD ♪
♪ WHEN YOU'RE LIVIN' LIKE YOU SHOULD ♪
♪ HEY, HEY ♪
♪ SOMETIMES IT'S STRUGGLE, STRIFE ♪
♪ FATHERS, SONS, BROTHERS, WIVES ♪
♪ BUT WE'RE MAKIN' OUR WAY ♪
♪ YES, WE'LL STAY ♪
♪ RIGHT HERE ♪
♪ ON ALASKA'S LAST FRONTIER ♪
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
[ GUNSHOT ]
Narrator: 90 MILES FROM THE HOMESTEAD,
EIVIN AND HIS COUSIN ATZ LEE
CONTINUE THEIR THREE-DAY DEER HUNT ON SHUYAK ISLAND.
[ GUNSHOT ]
THEY'VE ALREADY SECURED FOUR DEER,
BUT EIVIN IS WORRIED HE WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH MEAT
TO FEED HIS GROWING FAMILY FOR THE WINTER.
Eivin: IF WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE MEAT,
THEN, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA FEEL A LOT BETTER
ABOUT THIS GOING INTO WINTER.
UH-HUH.
EVE'S ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY NOW, ALMOST ANYTIME,
AND BEING FAR AWAY FROM THE HOMESTEAD HERE,
I DEFINITELY WORRY ABOUT HER.
WELL, MAYBE WHILE YOU'RE HANGING THAT,
I'LL JUST USE THIS LAST HALF HOUR OF LIGHT HERE
AND GO TAKE A LITTLE LOOK.
YEAH, GO WALK DOWN THAT TRAIL.
MAYBE THERE'S ONE NOT TOO FAR.
YOU NEVER KNOW.
GO FOR IT.
Atz Lee: PART OF THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING ME HERE
IS THAT IF I GET SEVERAL DEER, AS WELL,
I CAN GIVE THAT MEAT TO EIVIN TO GIVE HIM AN EXTRA ADVANTAGE
COMING INTO WINTER WITH THIS NEWBORN CHILD.
SO, IT'S NOT THAT EIVIN NECESSARILY NEEDS
TO GET MORE MEAT THAN USUAL AT THIS POINT.
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, HIS INFANT
ISN'T GONNA BE EATING THE DEER MEAT ITSELF,
BUT EVE'S GONNA BE EATING FOR TWO.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO GET ONE MORE FOR THEM.
WHEN I'M OUT HUNTING, I DEFINITELY TRY TO PUT MYSELF
INTO THE MIND OF THE PREY THAT I'M GOING AFTER.
DEER, OBVIOUSLY, DO NOT MOVE THROUGH THE FOREST AT RAPID PACE
FROM ONE END OF THE ISLAND TO THE OTHER.
THEY ARE STAYING VERY ALERT FOR PREDATORS, STOPPING,
LISTENING, MOVING A FEW STEPS, WALKING QUIETLY,
ALWAYS AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS.
SO, I FIND IT EASIEST JUST TO KIND OF ACT LIKE THE DEER.
[ GUNSHOT ]
YOU KNOW, I KNOW HOW NERVOUS EIVIN IS.
I KNOW THAT WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY
TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY,
AND THERE'S NO WAY TO SEE INTO THE FUTURE.
THERE'S NO WAY TO HAVE ANY KIND OF GUARANTEE
THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET ENOUGH FOR THAT WINTER.
OH, YEAH. THANK YOU.
Narrator: 90 MILES AWAY BACK ON THE HOMESTEAD,
EIVIN'S WIFE, EVE, IS 8 1/2 MONTHS PREGNANT.
SHE CONTINUES HER LAST-MINUTE WINTER PREPARATIONS
WITH THE HELP OF HER VISITING MOTHER, DENA.
Eve: ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO GET SOME ROSE HIPS.
COME ON TONSAI.
Eve: HAVING MY MOM HERE IS ESSENTIAL.
SHE CAME TO HELP ME, SINCE I'M GETTING SO BIG AND PREGNANT
AND CAN'T DO AS MUCH AS I WAS ABLE TO BEFORE,
ESPECIALLY WHILE EIVIN'S GONE.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE WALKING FROM HERE.
Dena: IN THE SUMMERTIME, I SAW HER WHEN SHE WAS FIRST PREGNANT
AND JUST BARELY HAD A BUMP.
BUT TO SEE HER LIKE THIS, JUST BURSTING PREGNANT,
IS JUST PRICELESS.
THERE'S THE BIG PATCH.
OH, GOOD.
YEAH, I THINK WE CAN GET TO THOSE.
I'M HERE FOR THE WHOLE WINTER.
I SPEND SUMMERS RESEARCHING KILLER WHALES
IN SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA, BUT I SPEND MY WINTERS HERE.
I DON'T NEED A ROCKSLIDE ON ME.
[ GRUNTS ] OUCH.
WITH THE PREGNANCY AND THE BIRTH IMMINENT,
IT'S JUST KIND OF NICE TO JUST BE, LIKE,
RIGHT THERE NEXT TO HER, JUST MAKING SURE SHE'S SAFE.
Eve: ROSE HIPS ARE THE FRUIT OF THE ROSE PLANT,
AND THEY'RE LOADED WITH VITAMIN C.
LOOK AT THE SIZE OF SOME OF THESE.
THE SEEDS HAVE LITTLE HOOKS ON THEM.
YOU KNOW, EIVIN EATS THE SEEDS ALL THE TIME BY THE HANDFUL.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
THAT'S WHAT I TOLD HIM.
Dena: THOSE SEEDS AND THEIR HAIRS AND THEIR HOOKS
CLING ONTO THINGS AS THEY GO THROUGH YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
I SAW SOME OLD NATIVE LADY SAY
THAT YOU DON'T EAT THE ROSE-HIP SEEDS
BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU ITCHY BUTT, SO I WANT TO JUST RECOMMEND
JUST EAT THE OUTER PART OF IT OR MAKE IT INTO TEA.
WOW. THESE ARE REALLY GOOD ONES.
I KNOW, AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN BITTER.
MNH-MNH. [ BURPS ] EXCUSE ME.
Eve: IT IS A LITTLE DANGEROUS GOING TO PICK THESE ROSE HIPS
WHEN I'M SO CLOSE TO MY DUE DATE,
BUT I HAVE MY MOM WITH ME TO HELP ME OUT,
AND THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE LAST THINGS
THAT I GO OUT AND DO THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THIS.
LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY THERE.
THAT'LL DO IT.
Dena: I JUST LOOK AT HER.
[ Chuckling ] I GAZE AT HER WHEN SHE'S NOT LOOKING AT ME.
I STILL WATCH HER WHEN SHE SLEEPS
[LAUGHS] JUST LIKE WHEN SHE WAS A BABY.
WAH! OH!
WADDLING NOW.
OUCH.
YEAH, I REMEMBER YOU TOLD ME
YOU WEREN'T GONNA WADDLE WHEN YOU WERE PREGNANT.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
NO, I'M IN WADDLE MODE.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH.
Narrator: JUST A MILE AWAY ON THE HOMESTEAD,
EVE'S FATHER-IN-LAW, OTTO,
PREPARES FOR THE LAST MASSIVE JOB HE MUST ACCOMPLISH
BEFORE WINTER HITS.
Otto: YES, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR, BOYS.
OH, BOSS, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
Otto: WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO ON A CATTLE DRIVE.
WE'RE GONNA GET THE COWS HOME FOR THE FALL.
THE GOOD NEWS IS,
IT'LL BE OTTO DOING SOMETHING EARLY FOR A CHANGE...
WE THINK, BUT IT COULD ALL GO TO [BLEEP]
[ GRUNTING ]
BOY, THAT WAS NICELY DONE.
OH, IT'S NOT AS NICELY DONE AS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,
BUT IT WASN'T BAD.
[ LAUGHS ] IT WAS IMPRESSIVE.
LAST YEAR, WE WAITED UNTIL IT WAS SUPER ICY.
THE CONDITIONS WERE JUST AWFUL.
AND, SO, NOW, IF WE CAN GET AHEAD
OF THIS REALLY COLD WEATHER THAT'S COMING IN,
IT'LL BE BETTER IF WE'RE NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE ICE.
Narrator: OTTO AND CHARLOTTE PLAN ON RIDING THEIR HORSES
OVER 20 MILES TO THE CATTLEMAN'S CABIN AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY,
WHERE THEY WILL RENDEZVOUS WITH OTTO'S BROTHER ATZ SR.
AND NEIGHBORING HOMESTEADER MARK MORET,
WHO ARE ROUNDING UP THE KILCHER CATTLE.
COME ON!
Atz: FALL ROUNDUP IS BASICALLY ABOUT --
IT'S THE END OF THE SEASON,
THE GRASS IS DIMINISHING, DANGERS ARE INCREASING,
TIME TO BRING THEM HOME.
SO, AUGUST, WE'RE LOADING UP, PUTTING EVERYTHING IN HERE.
WHAT ELSE IS GOING? JUST THOSE PACKS?
UH-HUH.
Charlotte: THE GROUP GOING ON THE ROUNDUP
IS GONNA BE OTTO AND MYSELF AND AUGUST.
HI. HOW YOU DOING?
Charlotte: UNFORTUNATELY, EIVIN IS NOT ABLE
TO GO WITH US THIS YEAR BECAUSE HE IS STILL HUNTING,
SO WE'RE GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT SHORTHANDED.
OKAY, I STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE THE HELL MY GLOVES ARE,
BUT I GOT ONE PAIR.
I LOST MORE [BLEEP] TRYING TO GET READY HERE.
THERE'S KIND OF THIS HOMESTEADERS CLOCK
THAT'S KEEPING TRACK,
AND YOU KIND OF FIGURE OUT THAT WINTER'S COMING.
WHAT ABOUT THIS GUN?
YEAH, I GOT TO GET IT.
I GOT TWO SHOTS.
I GUESS THERE'S ONE FOR YOUR BEAR AND ONE FOR ME.
IF IT SUDDENLY TURNS FREEZING, IF IT SUDDENLY SNOWS,
THEN WE'RE GONNA BE UP AGAINST THAT DESPERATION.
HEY, GOOD BOY.
GOOD BOY.
HEY. HEY, HEY, HEY.
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS SOME KIND OF INTENSITY.
GO AHEAD AND MOUNT UP AND I'LL HOOK YOU UP.
THERE'S KIND OF ALWAYS SOME LITTLE BIT OF, YOU KNOW,
THAT, AGAIN -- THAT IMPENDING "SOMETHING'S COMING."
HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!
[BLEEP] DAD!
Otto: AUGUST, PULL BACK!
NO!
Narrator: IT'S LATE FALL IN SOUTHERN ALASKA.
OTTO, CHARLOTTE, AND THEIR SON AUGUST
ARE HURRYING TO THE HEAD OF THE BAY
TO BRING THEIR CATTLE HOME SAFELY
BEFORE THE HEAVY WINTER WEATHER ARRIVES.
HEY. HEY, HEY, HEY.
Charlotte: IN THE TIME THAT IT TOOK US
TO GET EVERYTHING READY TO GO, WE WERE REALLY QUITE LATE.
GO AHEAD AND MOUNT UP AND I'LL HOOK YOU UP.
I'M FEELING REALLY UP AGAINST IT,
AS FAR AS THE NIGHT COMING ON
AND KNOWING HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE US TO GET UP TO THE CABIN.
WHOA.
I FELT LIKE WE WERE PRETTY SCREWED.
OKAY.
HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!
[BLEEP] DAD!
Otto: AUGUST, PULL BACK!
NO! I DON'T --
I DIDN'T HAVE THE REINS. I WAS --
XENA!
Otto: I TURN AROUND, AND THERE'S THE HORSE, BOSSANOVA,
BUCKIN' UP A STORM, AND AUGUST IS PRETTY MUCH --
YOUR CLASSIC JUST RODEO DISMOUNT.
COULD'VE AT LEAST TOLD ME HE WAS UNTIED.
WHAT WAS UNTIED?
HE WAS.
Charlotte: IT'S DEFINITELY SCARY FOR ME
WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, AND HE ENDED UP FINE.
I THINK HE WAS JUST MAD BECAUSE WE WERE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS
JUST TRYING TO GET OUT OF THERE, AND HE WAS FRUSTRATED.
OKAY, LET'S GO.
THE BAD NEWS IS, IS THAT BY THE TIME WE GOT STARTED,
WE WERE PUSHING THE END OF DAYLIGHT.
AND THIS TIME OF YEAR, NIGHT FALLS FAIRLY QUICKLY,
AND WE STILL HAD TWO RIVERS TO CROSS,
SO I HAD TO KEEP TELLING MYSELF, "RELAX. EVERYTHING'S FINE."
BUT WHEN IT'S DARK IN ALASKA, IT UPS THE ANTE.
YOU DO SOMETHING THAT'S DANGEROUS,
IT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS.
BUT TO DO IT IN THE DARK, THAT DOUBLES YOUR DANGER.
Charlotte: HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
GOING PRETTY GOOD.
ARE YOU COLD?
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S WARMING UP A LITTLE, OR MAYBE IT'S JUST ME.
MAYBE I'M JUST GETTING NUMB.
YEAH.
GOOD.
TRYING TO FIND THE PLACE
WHERE I HAVE THE MOST *** TO CUSHION MYSELF.
MAYBE WE'LL LEAVE A LITTLE EARLIER NEXT YEAR.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
THAT COULD ALWAYS BE AN OPTION.
I'M PROUD OF ALL THE KIDS.
AUGUST HAS GROWN UP.
HE'S PULLING HIS WEIGHT REALLY NICELY.
I STARTED THINKING ABOUT HOW EIVIN HAS HELPED ME
FOR SO MANY YEARS.
I'M GONNA MISS HIM NOT BEING ALONG THIS YEAR.
BUT JUST THE FACT THAT MY SON AND EVE ARE HAVING A KID --
IT'S THE EXCITEMENT OF A NEW BIRTH,
AND KIND OF JUST BEING PART OF THEIR EXCITING TIME
IS JUST SO FLIPPIN' INFECTIOUS, IT'S PATHETIC.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OH, BOY. OH, BOY.
OH, BOY! THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING, MAN.
I'M GONNA BE A GRANDADDY.
THAT WAS CRAZY.
OOH, CAN'T WAIT TO GET IN AND WARM UP.
I KNOW, IT'S BEEN REALLY COLD.
I HOPE THERE'S FUEL IN THE LANTERN.
FINALLY CROSSED THAT LAST STRETCH,
GOT TO THIS CABIN, AND...
WAHOO!
...IT'S A BIG DEAL.
IT'S A REAL BIG DEAL.
AND AFTER ALL THAT TREKKING, SUDDENLY, YOU FELT SAFE.
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
Narrator: OVERNIGHT, THE EVER-CHANGING ALASKAN WEATHER
TURNS TO HEAVY RAIN, DRIVEN BY A STRONG, FREEZING WIND.
OTTO AND CHARLOTTE HAVE ASKED ATZ LEE'S WIFE, JANE,
TO HELP ON THEIR CATTLE DRIVE.
WITH HER HUSBAND STILL AWAY ON A DEER HUNT,
JANE WILL TRAVEL ALONE TO MEET THEM AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY.
Jane: FOR ME TO GET TO WHERE I'M GOING,
I AM FOUR-WHEELING UP THE MUD FLAT,
WHICH ARE EXCEPTIONALLY MUDDY.
AND THEN I HAVE TO CROSS A RIVER
AND THEN TAKE A HIKE FOR ABOUT 25 MINUTES
AND THEN CROSS ANOTHER RIVER.
AH!
I HOPE THIS WEATHER WILL STOP.
THIS WEATHER'S REALLY WICKED. IT'S *** ME OFF.
[ GRUNTS ]
NOT IDEAL FOR A CATTLE DRIVE, BUT WHAT DO YOU DO?
WHEN THE COWS HAVE TO COME HOME, THEY HAVE TO COME HOME.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
I KNOW THEY'RE WAITING ON ME, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE LATE,
SO I JUST WANT TO GET UP THERE AND GET THERE QUICK.
HOPEFULLY, THAT'LL HAPPEN.
DEFINITELY NERVOUS TO GO BY MYSELF,
BUT IT'S ALWAYS HARD WHEN THE WEATHER'S TURNING ON YOU
AND YOU'RE GETTING SLIGHTLY HYPOTHERMIC.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S REALLY GONNA HELP ME OUT
IF I REALLY GET INTO TROUBLE
IS THE FACT THAT THEY KNOW THAT I'M COMING AND I'M NOT THERE.
COME LOOK FOR ME.
[ CATTLE LOWING ]
Charlotte: WOW.
HONEY, THIS IS [BLEEP]
THIS HAS GOT TO BE, LIKE, THE WORST DAY OF THE YEAR.
DO YOU EVEN WANT TO DO THIS?
WE'RE HERE, AND I FEEL LIKE WE GOT TO DO IT,
BUT IT SURE LOOKS HORRID.
Mark: [ YODELING ]
HEY, GUYS!
YOU MADE IT.
HI, MARK.
HOW WAS THE RIVER CROSSING?
WAS THERE WHITE CAPS?
WELL, THE WIND WAS BLOWING ON THAT RIVER,
AND I COULDN'T TELL WHAT WAS THE RIVER AND WHAT WAS THE SKY.
COMING STRAIGHT OVER HERE, YOU KNOW,
RIGHT INTO THIS DRIVING RAIN WAS NOT GOOD.
AND [BLEEP] PRETTY COLD.
I CAN'T EVEN FEEL MY FINGERS RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW?
DID YOU SEE THE COWS ON THE WAY OVER?
YEAH, THEY'RE IN THE CORRALS OVER THERE.
Charlotte: HEY, YOU GUYS, IT LOOKS LIKE JANE'S COMING.
JANE?
HOLY CRAP.
GOD. JANE.
IT'S MISERABLE.
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOA. YOU MADE IT.
HI, JANE!
HOW THE HELL ARE YOU?
HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?
SUPER MISERABLE.
[ Chuckling ] SUPER MISERABLE.
I SAY WE WAIT TILL TOMORROW, JANE.
THE ONLY WORRY I HAVE IS,
I'VE SEEN THIS [BLEEP] TURN TO SNOW BEFORE,
AND IF IT TURNS TO SNOW, WE'RE [BLEEP]
Jane: IN THE LAST 10 MINUTES,
RIGHT BEFORE I GOT TO THE CORRAL,
THE WEATHER GOT WORSE,
SO I WAS LIKE, "WHY ARE WE DEBATING THIS?"
WELL, I FEEL LIKE GOING BECAUSE --
WHOA, LISTEN TO THAT LITTLE GAL.
Otto: THAT GAL IMPRESSES ME.
THAT'S I GUESS WHAT KEEPS IT EXCITING BETWEEN US.
YOU'VE BEEN BY THAT WARM STOVE ALL MORNING.
YOU'RE JUST PULLING A TOUGH ONE ON ME, AIN'T YA?
[ Chuckling ] I'M SERIOUS. I WANT TO GO NOW.
I'M SAYING STAY HERE.
Atz: YOU KNOW, YOUR MAIN TOOLS ARE YOUR HORSES.
YOUR HORSES ARE WHAT'S DRIVING THE CATTLE,
AND HORSES JUST ALMOST WILL NOT GO IN THOSE KIND OF CONDITIONS.
SO, AFTER HUM AND HAWING BACK AND FORTH,
WE FINALLY DECIDED, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
"LET'S JUST CALL IT OFF.
LET'S JUST HOLE UP AND GO FOR TOMORROW."
I THINK YOU GUYS ARE A BUNCH OF WIMPS.
Narrator: OVER 90 MILES AWAY, OTTO'S SON EIVIN,
ALONG WITH HIS COUSIN ATZ LEE,
AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR FRIEND
AND HIS BUSH PLANE TO GET THEM HOME.
Eivin: JUST A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THE WEATHER THIS MORNING,
BUT ROLAND MADE IT,
AND THE WHOLE TRIP OVERALL WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.
WE GOT A LOT OF MEAT.
ATZ LEE DROPPED ANOTHER DEER.
NOW I GET TO GO HOME AND CHECK IN WITH EVE
AND SEE WHERE SHE'S AT.
I'M A LITTLE BIT WORRIED THAT SHE'S ALREADY HAD THE BABY,
BUT WE'LL FIND OUT HERE PRETTY SOON.
EVE?
EVE?
Eve: HI, HON!
[ CHUCKLES ]
I DIDN'T HAVE THE BABY YET!
OH, GOOD. I WAS WONDERING.
I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HOME.
MWAH! MWAH! MM!
I GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF DEER.
LOOK AT THAT! THAT'S SO EXCITING!
YEAH.
IT STARTED OUT REALLY GOOD.
I GOT TWO DOES THE FIRST DAY,
AND THEN ATZ AND I EACH GOT A BUCK RIGHT THERE AT THE END.
OH, I WISH I COULD'VE GONE.
NEXT TIME.
NEXT TIME. WELL, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HOME.
YEAH, IT WAS A LONG TRIP.
YEAH, IT WAS. IT WAS TOO LONG.
[ LAUGHS ]
Eve: IT IS AMAZING THAT THE DEER THAT EIVIN BROUGHT HOME
WILL BE FEEDING OUR CHILD THAT ISN'T EVEN BORN YET,
AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO APPRECIATE IT IN A FEW MONTHS.
SO, THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.
Eivin: IS YOUR MOM STILL HERE?
YEAH, SHE IS.
WELL, SHE'S GONNA LOVE THIS DEER.
SHE LOVES DEER, DOESN'T SHE?
YEAH, IT'S HER FAVORITE.
WELL, GOOD, WE GOT PLENTY TO SHARE WITH HER AND -- TONSAI!
UNH-UNH! UNH-UNH!
Narrator: COMING UP, PREPARATIONS FOR WINTER
CONTINUE ON THE HOMESTEAD.
QUICKSAND BRINGS THE CATTLE DRIVE TO A HALT.
Otto: HOLY [BLEEP]
YOU CAN ROLL OVER AND DIE.
Narrator: THE HOMESTEAD FREEZES OVER BUT GROWS BY ONE.
WHAT AN AMAZING THING TO GET TO WITNESS AND GO THROUGH.
Narrator: THE KILCHERS AWAKE TO A BREAK IN THE WEATHER
AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY.
THEY JUMP ON THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN THE 20-MILE JOURNEY
TO GET THEIR CATTLE HOME FROM THE SUMMER RANGE
BEFORE THE UNPREDICTABLE ALASKAN WEATHER
YET AGAIN SHUTS THEM DOWN.
Otto: WATCH OUT! HEY! HEY! HEY!
IT WENT FROM REALLY [BLEEP] TO REALLY FANTASTIC.
HEY, BEEFER, YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD!
YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD, STEER.
IF WE WERE TAKING ALL THE CATTLE HOME, IT'D BEEN A LOT SIMPLER.
MARK WANTED TO KEEP HIS UP THERE LONGER.
OTTO WANTED TO BRING ALL OF HIS BACK,
SO WE BASICALLY HAD TO CUT OUT THE CATTLE
WE WANTED TO BRING HOME.
CAN WE GET A HAND?
Jane: THEY ASKED ME TO GET IN THE PEN AND HELP SEPARATE COWS.
I HAD NOT SEPARATED COWS BEFORE.
Otto: CHASE THAT BLUE ONE THERE.
COME ON.
Mark: AND HERE'S MY RED TAG WITH THE HORNS RIGHT THERE, OTTO.
NO, COME BACK.
NO, NO, NO, NO.
NO.
Jane: I WANTED TO SPANK THEM
'CAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WOULD GET THEM MOVING,
BUT THEN OTTO SAID I MIGHT GET KICKED.
OKAY, THIS ONE WITH THE HORN.
HE'S GOING?
YEP. WELL, YOU GOT TO GET ON THE OTHER SIDE THERE QUICKER.
HEY! HO!
OH, AND THAT ONE -- THAT ONE GOES, TOO.
NO! I SCARED HIM.
SO, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE,
WHICH I HAVE NO PROBLEM BEING.
SO, WE'RE GONNA TRY THIS AGAIN RIGHT TOWARDS OTTO.
HEY!
DON'T GET SO WILD THERE.
OKAY.
UH-UH-UH! GEEZ.
A LITTLE FEISTY.
THE NICE THING ABOUT JANE IS, SHE MIGHT BE INEXPERIENCED,
BUT SHE AIN'T AFRAID.
YOU KNOW, SHE'D DIVE RIGHT IN THERE.
COME ON, GIRL.
COME ON.
MNH-MNH. NO!
[ WHISTLES ] COME ON, DOUGHNUT.
YOU CAN DO A LOT KIND OF THROUGH COW INTIMIDATION, REALLY,
AND JANE KIND OF CAUGHT ON TO THAT
AND I THINK SHE KIND OF LIKED THAT A LITTLE BIT.
YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT COW DOMINATRIX, YOU KNOW?
[ CHUCKLES ]
NO! HEY! NO-NO-NO-NO-NO!
YES!
Narrator: THE HERDS ARE FINALLY SEPARATED.
THE KILCHERS CAN BEGIN THEIR CATTLE DRIVE.
BACK AT THE HOMESTEAD, OTTO'S SON EIVIN AND HIS WIFE, EVE,
CONTINUE THEIR PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER MONTHS AHEAD
AND THE ARRIVAL OF THEIR NEW BABY.
Eivin: WELL, I GOT TO START DOING MY FIREWOOD.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN I'M A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.
YOU KNOW, FORTUNATELY, IT HASN'T QUITE SNOWED YET,
BUT I DEFINITELY GOT TO GET FIREWOOD IN THE WOODSHED
IF WE'RE GONNA TRY TO HAVE ENOUGH FOR THIS WHOLE WINTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN JUST TRYING
TO CRAM A LOT INTO THIS FALL,
AND WITH THE BABY COMING AND STUFF,
I'M DEFINITELY KIND OF PUSHED TO THE EDGE HERE
WITH GETTING IT ALL DONE.
HOPEFULLY, MY DAD LEFT GAS IN THIS THING.
HE WAS THE ONE THAT USED IT LAST.
AHA!
HE'S A BETTER MAN THAN I AM, APPARENTLY.
YOU KNOW, I TRY TO THINK ABOUT FIREWOOD
AND HAVING ENOUGH OF IT TO GET THROUGH THE WINTERTIME.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU HAVE TO VISUALIZE YOURSELF --
"IF I'M GONNA HEAT THIS ENTIRE SPACE,
I NEED TO BE ABLE TO FILL THIS ENTIRE SPACE WITH WOOD,"
AND THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU ENOUGH HEAT
TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF FIREWOOD.
THAT'S PROBABLY ENOUGH FOR TWO WEEKS.
THIS WINTER SEEMS LIKE MORE OF A CHALLENGE
THAN IT'S EVER BEEN BEFORE.
YEP, KEEP COMING.
AND...STOP.
WITH THE BABY ON THE WAY, I DON'T WANT
TO HAVE TO BE COMING UP WITH A WAY TO HEAT THIS WHOLE HOUSE
IF I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FIREWOOD, YOU KNOW,
AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS HAVING EVE OUT THERE
CHOPPING WOOD IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER.
WE NEED A LOT MORE WOOD THAN THIS.
MM-HMM.
THERE'S, LIKE, ENOUGH FOR A MONTH.
MM-HMM.
Eve: PREGNANCY ON THE HOMESTEAD
IS JUST SORT OF A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE, YOU KNOW?
I DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE AN HOUR TO WORK EVERY DAY
AND GO SIT AT A DESK, BUT, YOU KNOW,
MY CHALLENGES ARE GETTING TO THE OUTHOUSE
AND, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF ALL THE ANIMALS,
AND THAT HAS TO HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT.
HON, I CAN DO ALL THIS IF YOU'RE NOT FEELING UP FOR IT.
NO, I CAN DO IT FOR A BIT.
I'M GOOD.
WELL, TELL ME WHEN YOU GET TOO TIRED
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO INTO LABOR
'CAUSE YOU'RE MOVING FIREWOOD.
[ Chuckling ] THAT WOULDN'T BE GOOD.
[ LAUGHS ]
Eivin: EVE PREGNANT IS PRETTY AMAZING, YOU KNOW.
SHE STILL TRIES TO DO AS MUCH AS SHE TRIED TO DO
BEFORE SHE WAS PREGNANT AND STUFF,
SO, YOU KNOW, IT HASN'T REALLY SLOWED HER DOWN
VERY MUCH AT ALL.
SHE STILL WANTS TO GET HER HANDS IN THE MIX
AND BE AS ACTIVE AS POSSIBLE.
I DEFINITELY HAVE TO HELP REMIND HER
WHY SHE'S TIRED AT THE END OF THE DAY.
GOING FOR THE BIG ONES THERE, HONEY.
[ CHUCKLES ] THIS ONE IS HEAVY.
AND I ALSO HAVE TO TELL HER TO SIT THE HELL DOWN SOMETIMES
BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT REALLY PART OF HER PERSONALITY.
SHE'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT WILL DO EVERYTHING HERSELF.
ALL RIGHT!
GONNA GO GET ANOTHER LOAD?
Narrator: 20 MILES AWAY, OTTO AND HIS FAMILY CONTINUE
TO PUSH THEIR CATTLE BACK TO THE HOMESTEAD,
WHERE THEY'LL REMAIN FOR THE REST OF THE WINTER.
Atz: THE POINT IS TO BRING THE CATTLE HOME.
THE RIVERS ARE GONNA START FREEZING,
THE GROUND IS GONNA GET HARD
AND SLIPPERY TO WALK HORSES AND CATTLE ON,
GRASS IS DIMINISHING, DANGERS ARE INCREASING.
TIME TO BRING THEM HOME.
Narrator: WITH HEAVY SNOW ON ITS WAY,
THE KILCHERS AND NEIGHBOR MARK MORET
MUST COMPLETE THE TWO-DAY JOURNEY IN ONE.
THEY MUST DRIVE THE CATTLE ACROSS 2 RIVERS,
20 MILES OF MUD FLATS,
IN ORDER TO REACH THE SAFETY OF THE HOMESTEAD.
Otto: GET OUT OF THERE! HYAH!
WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THIS POSITION BACK HERE, AUGUST?
I'LL TAKE POINT.
IT'S SUNNY NOW, BUT BY THE TIME WE GET TO HOMESTEAD,
IT COULD BE SNOWING.
WE'VE GOT ALL DAY YET, AND ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO PRETTY GOOD WITH YOUR COWS THERE, OTTO.
THEY LOVE TO HEAD HOME THIS TIME OF YEAR.
OH, YEAH.
Jane: WHOA-HO!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME? WHOO!
I DON'T BELIEVE JANE HAS DONE A CATTLE DRIVE BEFORE.
SHE'S BEEN AROUND THEM,
AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW MUCH HORSE EXPERIENCE --
SHE'S HAD SOME, BUT NOT A LOT.
HOW DEEP IS THIS RIVER?
Mark: NOT AT ALL, THERE, JANE,
BUT YOU'LL WANT TO PICK YOUR FEET UP
RIGHT THERE IN THE BEGINNING.
YOU'LL TAKE YOUR FEET OUT OF THE STIRRUPS
AND JUST LIFT THEM UP THERE A LITTLE BIT.
BUT IF YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU WERE GONNA FALL OFF, JANE,
YOU'D RATHER GET YOUR FEET WET
THAN GO ALL THE WAY INTO THE RIVER.
GOT IT.
IT'S ALWAYS A CRAPSHOOT
ON WHETHER THE COWS ARE GONNA GO IN OR NOT GO IN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, YOU THINK,
"OH, THEY'RE HEADING RIGHT THERE,"
AND THEN EVERYBODY BALKS.
YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.
COME ON, COME ON. HEP!
DON'T GET AHEAD, JANE.
YOU'RE GETTING AHEAD OF THE HERD.
OH, COME ON!
LET'S GO, BUDDY.
[ WHISTLING ]
DAMN, IT'S SOFT OUT HERE.
HYAH!
OH, COME HERE.
AW, HE WAS JUST SINKING IN, ATZ.
BAD QUICKSAND OVER THERE.
[ CATTLE LOWING ]
HOLD ON! DON'T CROSS YET.
BOY, A GUY GETS IN THERE WITH A HORSE, YOU'RE [BLEEP]
IT'S NOT A GOOD PLACE, REALLY,
WHERE THE COWS ARE GOING THERE.
Atz: CATTLE GENERALLY KNOW WHERE TO GO.
BUT IT'S A GOOD THING WE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE COWS
BECAUSE WHEN THEY GOT OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE,
A LOT OF THEM WERE MIRING DOWN IN THE QUICKSAND.
Otto: MAN, HE'S DOWN. LOOK AT THAT.
HOLY [BLEEP]
YOU CAN LOSE A COW.
A TIDE COMES IN, AND THEY CAN'T GET OUT.
YOU CAN ROLL OVER AND DIE.
Narrator: WINTER IS COMING IN ALASKA.
OTTO, CHARLOTTE, AUGUST, JANE, MARK, AND ATZ
MUST PUSH THEIR CATTLE ACROSS 2 RIVERS
AND 20 MILES OF MUD FLATS IN ORDER TO REACH THE HOMESTEAD
BEFORE BEING CAUGHT IN A HEAVY SNOW.
Otto: BAD QUICKSAND OVER THERE.
BOY, A GUY GETS IN THERE WITH A HORSE, YOU'RE [BLEEP]
Atz: IT'S A GOOD THING WE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE COWS
BECAUSE WHEN THEY GOT OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE,
A LOT OF THEM WERE MIRING DOWN IN THE QUICKSAND.
THAT MAYBE FROM THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX FEET DEEP
THAT COWS AND CALVES CAN GET STUCK IN AND CAN DIE IN.
Otto: YOU CAN LOSE A COW.
YOU CAN DAG NAM LOSE A COW --
A TIDE COMES IN, THEY CAN'T GET OUT.
[ CATTLE LOWING ]
Atz: LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ONE FLOUNDERING.
MIGHT HAVE TO PULL HIM OUT.
MAN, HE'S DOWN!
LOOK AT THAT!
HOLY [BLEEP]
BUT THESE CATTLE BEEN UP THERE LONG ENOUGH THAT THEY KNOW,
THEY JUST KIND OF RELAX, AND THEN REAL SLOWLY --
THAT'S HOW A GOOD COW OR A GOOD HORSE GETS OUT.
Otto: I'M GLAD WE'RE NOT DOWN THERE, EH?
HEP! HEP! HEP! HEP!
HEP! HEP! HEP! HEP! HEP!
Jane: WELL, THEY GOT THESE THINGS
THAT THEY YELL AT THE COWS.
"HIP! HIP! HIP! HIP!" OR "YEP! YEP!"
BUT I JUST WANT TO BE LIKE, "MOVE! MOVE YOUR BUTT!"
HEP! COME ON! MOVE OUT OF THERE! GO! GO!
Otto: OKAY, HERE WE GO.
WE'RE ON THE BEACH, MAN.
Narrator: AFTER BRINGING THE CATTLE SAFELY ACROSS TWO RIVERS,
THE KILCHERS ARE STILL ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH
THIS ARDUOUS JOURNEY.
Jane: HUP! GET OUT OF THERE.
Narrator: BEFORE THEY LOSE THE LIGHT OF DAY,
THEY MUST TRAVEL 15 MILES OF BEACH
TO GET BACK TO THE HOMESTEAD.
Otto: SOMETHING'S WRONG DOWN HERE.
MOVE! GO! GET OUT OF HERE!
WELL, WE CAME UP TO A PATCH OF THE BEACH
THAT HAD A LOT OF GRASS
AND THE COWS SAW IT AND THEY WERE JUST LIKE,
"WELL, WE'RE GOING FOR IT."
AND, LIKE, TWO OR THREE OF THEM TOOK OFF,
AND THE REST WERE LIKE, "I'M GOING FOR IT, TOO."
AND THEN WE HAD A RIOT ON OUR HANDS.
COME ON! MOVE!
OHH, I'M GONNA GET YA.
MOVE! GO! GO!
AND THEY WENT INTO THIS AREA
WHERE IT WAS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOADED WITH DRIFTWOOD
AND THE HORSES DON'T LIKE THAT
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ON A HORSE GOING THROUGH THAT.
[ GRUNTS ]
WELL, MY GUT INSTINCT WAS TO GET OFF THE HORSE
AND GO BY FOOT AND JUST GET IN THERE
AND JUST HUSTLE THEM OUT NOW BEFORE THE SITUATION GOT WORSE.
I WASN'T GONNA WAIT ON ANYBODY TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO.
OUT! OUT! GO! MOVE! MOVE!
THE CATTLE DON'T, LIKE, INSTANTLY MOVE FOR YOU.
YOU GOT TO DO A LOT OF HUSTLING,
AND, LIKE, YOU JUST GOT TO KEEP ON THEM.
COME ON! MOVE!
OKAY, LET'S GO NOW! COME ON!
LET'S GO! COME ON! GET OUT OF HERE!
Charlotte: GO ON!
Mark: DOING GOOD. GOOD GIRLS, GOOD BOYS.
Jane: YEAH?
YOU'RE DOING REAL GOOD. THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR THANKING ME.
GET ON! GET ON!
MY GOLLY, I THINK I'D TAKE THAT JANE WITH ME
ANY DAMN TIME ON A CATTLE DRIVE.
SHE'S GOT IT FIGURED OUT.
Jane: WELL, THESE GUYS ARE EXPERIENCED CATTLEMEN
AND EXPERIENCED COWBOYS,
SO TO GET PRAISE FROM THEM FOR DOING SOMETHING
YOU NORMALLY DON'T TO, IT'S QUITE A COMPLIMENT.
JUST TO HOLD MY OWN WITH THEM IS A REALLY NICE FEELING.
HELLO! COME ON! GET GOING!
Otto: BOY, WHEN THEY CROSS THE CREEK COMING INTO KILCHER LAND,
IT'S -- THERE'S JUST A MOMENT OF ELATION.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE, "WHEW."
Mark: WELL, OTTO KILCHER,
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR OF A CATTLE DRIVE!
THERE WE GO.
COME ON, GUYS!
Jane: WELL, IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE THE BIG MEADOW
AND GET THE CATTLE THERE BECAUSE, FOR ONE,
THEY'RE HAPPY COWS
AND THEY GOT A BIG MEADOW TO HANG OUT AND EAT,
AND THEN YOUR LONG, LONG DAY IS OVER.
LET'S HEAD THE HELL OUT OF HERE.
GOOD COWS.
GOOD COWS.
A LOT OF CHASING, A LOT OF WHOOPING, A LOT OF HOLLERING.
IT'S A LOT OF WAITING FOR BAD WEATHER TO CLEAR UP
AND SQUEEZING THESE COWS HOME BETWEEN STORMS THIS YEAR
AND...WE'RE HERE AND I'M HAPPY.
Narrator: TEMPERATURES ON THE HOMESTEAD
HAVE DROPPED BELOW FREEZING --
CLEAR INDICATION THAT FALL IS QUICKLY MOVING INTO WINTER.
BUT OTTO AND CHARLOTTE HAVE ONE LAST DUTY TO COMPLETE.
HEY, HON.
DID YOU GET IT?
YEAH.
Otto: PASSING ALONG THIS LITTLE BABY CRIB
IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME
BECAUSE IT BRINGS ME ALL THE WAY BACK TO MAKING IT.
PRETTY PROUD OF IT, PRETTY PROUD OF IT.
IT'S KIND OF -- HOPEFULLY, IT'S STARTING A TRADITION.
WOW. I GOT TO SEE THIS THING AGAIN.
YEAH, LOOK AT IT.
SO, ALL YOUR BABIES WERE IN HERE.
AWW.
WHAT A NICE JOB. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
BRASS, AND I MADE IT SO YOU COULD HANG IT UP,
AND I HAVE SOME ROPE SOMEWHERE FOR IT.
IT MIGHT BE UNDERNEATH THERE.
YEAH, I REMEMBER WE HUNG IT FOR AUGUST.
THERE WERE FOUR KILCHER BOYS RAISED IN THAT CRADLE ALREADY,
AND EIVIN AND EVE'S BABY WILL BE THE FIFTH.
DID YOU EVER IMAGINE WHEN YOU HAD BABY EIVIN IN THERE,
YOU'D BE PASSING IT TO HIS BABY?
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S SO SWEET.
NO.
32 YEARS OLD, IT IS -- THIS THINGS ALREADY, CHARLOTTE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, HUH?
I GUESS A BABY DOESN'T PUT A LOT OF WEAR ON IT --
JUST THAT THEY GET OLDER AND START TEETHING --
I'M SURE IT'S BEEN BARFED ON A TIME OR TWO.
YEAH.
IT IS SO PRETTY.
Otto: YOU KNOW, MY DAD WAS STILL AROUND WHEN AUGUST WAS BORN,
AND THIS IS THE FIRST CHILD IN 17 YEARS
THAT IS BEING BORN ONTO THE HOMESTEAD.
I THINK WHEN DAD DIED, WE LOST A SENSE OF FAMILY,
AND HAVING THIS LITTLE KID IS ROUNDING IT RIGHT BACK OUT.
Eve: [ SIGHS ] WHAT YOU MAKING?
Eivin: WORKING ON MY HAT.
YOU MEAN MY HAT?
[ CHUCKLES ]
THIS HAT'S TOO BIG FOR YOUR HEAD.
I THINK IT'D LOOK REAL GOOD ON ME.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Charlotte: WE JUST KEEP THINKING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS
THAT THIS BABY MEANS FOR THE FAMILY,
HAVING A GRANDCHILD -- IT'S OUR FIRST GRANDCHILD.
Eivin: HEY, DAD, COME ON IN.
Eve: COME ON IN.
HELLO!
HELLO, HELLO.
WE BRANG YOU A PRESENT.
OH, LOOK AT THAT!
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
DO YOU RECOGNIZE IT?
I BUILT IT, EIVIN.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT CRIB.
I MADE IT ORIGINALLY FOR MY FIRST CHILD, LEVI,
BUT YOU GUYS WERE BOTH IN IT.
NIKOS HAD THIS CRADLE, AND THEN AUGUST HAD IT.
Otto: IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW,
WILL SURVIVE ME AND CAN PASS ALONG.
IT'S TIME TO PASS IT ALONG.
Eve: THANKS, OTTO.
HOW EXCITING.
WE'LL PUT IT TO GOOD USE TILL AUGUST NEEDS TO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THEN CHARLOTTE GOT A LITTLE --
OH, AND THEN I'VE GOT A LITTLE PRESENT
TO KIND OF GO WITH THAT.
I'LL LET EVE UNWRAP THAT.
AWESOME.
OH, MY GOSH, CHARLOTTE.
THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL.
LOOK AT THAT.
AND ALL THE STITCHING -- OH, MY GOODNESS.
THANK YOU, GUYS, SO MUCH.
Charlotte: YOU'RE WELCOME!
WELL, WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED, WE CAN HARDLY CONTAIN OURSELVES.
I'M SO EXCITED.
Eve: I'M SO EXCITED, TOO.
GLAD YOU LIKE IT.
I THINK MY DAD WAS PRETTY PROUD
TO PASS THAT LITTLE CRADLE ON TO ME.
THANKS, DAD.
TO HIM, IT'S NOT THAT LONG AGO
THAT HE WAS LAYING ME DOWN IN THERE,
AND NOW I'LL BE LAYING MY LITTLE BABY DOWN IN THERE, AS WELL.
THANKS, OTTO!
OOH, YOU BET.
I LOVE IT.
OH, MY GOD. I CAN'T WAIT.
Otto: OH, MY GOD!
EVERY PARENT'S NIGHTMARE -- ME AS A GRANDAD.
PFFH! [ LAUGHS ]
Eivin: WHAT'S YOUR FEELING, HON?
YOU THINK IT'S A BOY, OR YOU THINK IT'S A GIRL?
WELL, I WANT IT TO BE A GIRL,
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S A BOY.
THAT'S GOOD.
I HOPE IT'S A LITTLE BOY
'CAUSE I WANT IT TO GIVE MY DAD HELL.
[ Chuckling ] YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
I'LL TEACH HIM TO MAKE TRAPS
AND SEE IF HE CAN SNARE MY DAD LIKE I SNARED GRANDPA EWELL,
BACK WHEN I WAS LIKE 10 YEARS OLD.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I THINK YOUR DAD WILL HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT IT.
YEAH, GRANDPA EWELL WAS PRETTY PISSED OFF
WHEN I CAUGHT HIM IN A SNARE.
"EIVIN!"
HE KNEW IT WAS ME, AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
HOW HE KNEW FOR CERTAIN IT WAS ME.
[ LAUGHS ]
HE'S NOT ALLOWED TO CATCH MOM IN THE SNARE.
OKAY.
WE'LL ESTABLISH THAT RULE EARLY.
I EXPECT, IF I HAVE A BOY,
THAT I'M GONNA HAVE MY WORK CUT OUT FOR ME.
EIVIN WAS A TERROR, AND THEN, OF COURSE,
I IMAGINE IF I HAVE A GIRL, THEY'LL BE MORE LIKE ME,
AND I WAS A PRETTY MELLOW KID.
[ LAUGHS ]
IF IT'S A GIRL, I WANT TO TEACH HER TO WELD.
[ BABY CRYING ]
Eve: AWW.
HE GOES AND TEACHES YOU ALL THE FUN STUFF.
YEAH.
Eve: FINDLAY FARENORTH KILCHER WAS BORN AT 5:50 A.M. ON SUNDAY
AND HE WAS 7 POUNDS, 6 OUNCES AND 21 INCHES LONG
AND VERY HEALTHY AND FULL OF LIFE,
AND WE ARE ENJOYING HIM TREMENDOUSLY.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH.
OH, YOU RECOGNIZING DADDY?
HEY, BUDDY.
HEY, SWEET ONE.
FINDLAY.
Eivin: WHAT AN AMAZING THING
TO GET TO WITNESS AND GO THROUGH --
BECOMING A FATHER, BECOMING A PARENT.
YOU'RE NAMED AFTER A GOOD-SPIRITED PIRATE
FROM YUKON ISLAND.
[ CHUCKLES ]
WE TOOK A TRIP LATE IN THE FALL
TO BRING OUR YAK TO A GUY, FINDLAY ABBOTT, ON YUKON ISLAND.
HE'S A VERY OLD FAMILY FRIEND,
AND I ALWAYS LIKED HIM WHEN I WAS A KID.
SO, I WENT HOME THAT EVENING AND I TOLD EVE ABOUT FINDLAY
AND MEETING HIM AGAIN AND I SAID THAT I REALLY LIKED THE NAME,
AND SHE DID, AS WELL.
AND, SO, WE KIND OF WROTE IT DOWN,
AND IT MOVED TO THE TOP OF THE LIST OF OUR BOY NAMES.
YEAH.
YOU'LL GET TO MEET HIM SOMEDAY.
WE'LL GO VISIT HIM.
YOU CAN BRING HIM A SALMON.
FINDLAY FARENORTH.
Eve: "FARENORTH" IS FINDLAY'S MIDDLE NAME,
AND THAT WAS EWELL'S MIDDLE NAME THAT HE GAVE HIMSELF
WHEN HE CAME TO AMERICA.
AND HE WAS DETERMINED TO FARE NORTH, HEAD NORTHWARD.
WE REALLY WANTED TO HONOR THIS BEAUTIFUL HOMESTEAD.
THE WAY WE THOUGHT WE COULD HONOR THAT
IS BY GIVING OUR KID, YOU KNOW, EWELL'S MIDDLE NAME.
ARE WE READY, HONEY?
YEAH.
Otto: I'M TOTALLY EXCITED TO HAVE A GRANDCHILD.
IT'S, LIKE, THE COOLEST THING IN THE WORLD,
BUT MORE THAN THAT, I'M SO EXCITED FOR EIVIN AND EVE.
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE LITTLE GUY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S THE FOURTH GENERATION NOW OF A HOMESTEADER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
OH, MY GOD. I CAN'T WAIT.
[ KNOCKING ON DOOR ]
Eve: COME IN!
HI, EVE!
OH, MY GOD!
WE CAME TO SEE THE BABY.
HE CAN WAKE UP. HE MIGHT WAKE UP.
Charlotte: HOW ARE YOU DOING?
Eve: ISN'T HE CUTE?
HE LOOKS SO CUTE!
WE PUT HIM IN A LITTLE OUTFIT.
OOH!
OHP.
OH, HE OPENED HIS EYES.
[ Chuckling ] I KNOW.
Otto: THE BIGGEST THING I FELT
WAS JUST -- OH -- JUST A VERY DEEP-FELT LOVE AND CONNECTION.
IT WENT RIGHT TO MY VERY SOUL WHEN I SAW THAT CHILD.
I WANT TO HOLD HIM, BUT I DON'T WANT TO WAKE HIM UP.
REALLY?
YES, DEFINITELY.
OH, MY GOD. [ CHUCKLES ]
A LITTLE BABY BOY.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
THERE YOU GO, DADDY.
Eve: AWW.
WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT?
Charlotte: OH, MY GOODNESS.
HE'S JUST SLEEPING THROUGH EVERYTHING.
HE'S JUST, LIKE, ANGELIC, MAN.
OOH. LOOK IT THERE.
I'M SQUEEZING HIS BUTT, AND HIS HEAD BOBBLES.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU WOULD DO SOMETHING WEIRD
WITH THE BABY RIGHT OFF THAT BAT.
LOOK AT THAT! AH!
OH, MY GOD!
EVERY PARENT'S NIGHTMARE -- ME AS A GRANDAD.
PFFH! [ LAUGHS ]
AW, YEAH.
SHOULD BE FUN.
[ LAUGHS ]
TIME YOU MANNED UP A LITTLE BIT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THAT'S WHAT EIVIN KEEPS SAYING.
ENOUGH OF THEM COOEY, COOEY DAMN VOICES.
IT'S TIME YOU HEARD SOME REAL TALKIN'.
[ LAUGHS ]
Charlotte: HE DOESN'T HAVE TO MAN UP YET.
WAIT TILL HE'S A MONTH OLD.
OKAY, WE'LL GIVE YOU THREE MORE WEEKS.
THIS SUMMER IS GONNA BE A LOT OF FUN WITH FINDLAY.
I JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR ALL THE STAGES
THAT HE'LL BE GOING THROUGH, GROWING UP WITH US OUT HERE,
AND IT JUST BRINGS MORE LIFE TO THE HOMESTEAD.
AWW. LOOK AT THAT.
[ SIGHS ]
I'M GLAD I JUST WORKED SO HARD THIS FALL
JUST GETTING EVERYTHING KIND OF SORTED AWAY.
WE GOT DEER MEAT IN THE FREEZER.
WE GOT FIREWOOD FOR THE WINTER AND STUFF.
Eve: ROOT CELLAR'S FULL OF FOOD.
IT KIND OF GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF TIME
TO JUST CATCH MY BREATH
AND JUST REALIZE THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT I NOW HAVE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST FOR ME AND EVE, BUT IT'S TO --
JUST TO RAISE THIS LITTLE GUY UP TO THE BEST I CAN.
Eivin: MY GRANDFATHER CAME HERE ABOUT 75 YEARS AGO
AS AN EXPERIMENT TO SEE IF HE COULD CREATE A FAMILY
AND COMMUNITY THAT LIVED OFF THE LAND.
MY WHOLE LIFE, MY DAD ALWAYS TOLD ME IF I WANTED TO,
I COULD ALWAYS BUILD A CABIN SOMEWHERE.
AND WHEN I FINALLY DECIDED
THAT I DID WANT TO START MY HOME HERE,
I THINK HE WAS PROBABLY JUST AS EXCITED AS I WAS.
FINDLAY IS THE FOURTH GENERATION TO LIVE HERE ON THE PROPERTY,
SO EVERYTHING AT THIS POINT IS EXCITING, IT'S INTIMIDATING,
AND IT'S KIND OF A WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE.
[ BABY CRYING ]
FINDLAY.
HEY, BUDDY. HEY, BUDDY. HEY, BUDDY.
HEY, BUDDY.
YOU'RE OKAY.
YOU'RE OKAY.
HEY, BUDDY.
YOU'RE OKAY.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS