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Narrator: COMING UP ON "HILLBILLY BLOOD"...
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EASY DRIVE
FOR EUGENE AND SPENCER TO DELIVER MEDICINE TO A FRIEND.
Bolejack: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED UP HERE?
NOW IT'S TURNING INTO MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.
WE'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP MOVING AND GET TO CLYDE'S.
Bolejack: DAMN IT!
Narrator: DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES.
GENE, YOU GOT IT?
Bolejack: IF YOU GET SUCKED UNDER THAT OLD TREE ACROSS THE RIVER,
THE FORCE OF THE WATER WILL PIN YOU,
AND YOU CAN'T GET OUT, AND YOU DIE.
I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS.
Narrator: HERE IN COLD MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA,
THE LAND IS BEAUTIFUL, AND THE LIVING IS TOUGH.
THIS IS APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS --
FULL OF STRANGE TALES, SUPERSTITIONS, AND TRADITIONS.
TIME HASN'T TOUCHED THESE HILLS.
FOLKS LIVE OFF THE LAND JUST LIKE THEIR PARENTS,
GRANDPARENTS, AND GREAT-GRANDPARENTS BEFORE THEM.
EVERY DAY THEY CARRY ON THE GREAT MOUNTAIN TRADITION
OF GETTING BY WITH LITTLE AND MAKING DO WITH LESS.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO LIVING THE HARDSCRABBLE LIFE,
THERE'S NOBODY BETTER THAN EUGENE RUNKIS,
WHO'S GOT HILLBILLY INVENTION RUNNING THROUGH HIS VEINS,
AND HIS MOUNTAIN BROTHER, SPENCER "TWO DOGS" BOLEJACK,
WHO'S UNLOCKED THE SECRETS AT THE HEART OF THESE WOODS.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
UP IN THESE HILLS, FOLKS LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.
THE LAST ERRAND FOR THE BOYS THIS AFTERNOON
IS TO DROP OFF MEDICINE TO ONE OF SPENCER'S FRIENDS
WHOSE DIABETIC PROBLEMS
IS MAKING DRIVING DANG NEAR IMPOSSIBLE.
CLYDE LIVES UP IN THESE MOUNTAINS BY HIMSELF.
HE DEPENDS ON THIS MEDICINE TO KEEP ON GOING
AND SPLITTING HIS WOOD AND TAKING CARE OF HIS ANIMALS
AND ALL THAT STUFF.
JUST LOOKING OUT FOR SOMEBODY IS THE WAY YOU DO IT UP HERE.
ONE DAY, I'M GONNA BE IN THOSE SHOES,
AND I WANT SOMEBODY TO BRING ME WHAT I NEED.
SO, IT'S JUST DOING WHAT YOU DO IN THE MOUNTAINS.
Bolejack: OH, DAMN, MAN. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED UP HERE?
"GO BACK."
SO, WHEN I SEE A SIGN OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS
THAT SAYS, "GO BACK,"
IT CAN ONLY MEAN ONE OF TWO THINGS.
THE ROAD IS WASHED OUT, OR I'M ABOUT TO GET SHOT.
Narrator: THIS OLD LOGGING ROAD IS THE ONLY WAY UP TO CLYDE'S.
THIS IS REAL BAD NEWS,
CONSIDERING THE BOYS ONLY GOT A FEW HOURS OF DAYLIGHT LEFT.
WOW, MAN. THAT WHOLE ROAD'S DESTROYED UP THROUGH THERE.
LOOK AT THAT.
YEAH. IT COULD BE THAT ROUGH WEATHER WE'VE HAD
OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO.
IT'S BEEN PRETTY CRAZY, BUT "GO BACK" --
THAT'S PRETTY WEIRD.
LOGGING ROADS ARE OFTENTIMES OWNED BY THE STATE
OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
BUT SOMETIMES, THEY CROSS THROUGH PRIVATE LAND,
SO A LOGGING ROAD LIKE THIS,
NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH MAINTENANCE ISSUES
AND TREES BEING DOWN AND WASHOUTS,
BUT YOU'VE ALSO GOT SOME HAIRY CHARACTERS UP HERE
THAT MIGHT JUST CLOSE THE ROAD 'CAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE YOU.
NOW, THAT'S TELLING ME THAT THERE'S BAD LAND UP THERE.
I BET YOU THAT LITTLE STREAM THAT CROSSES THE ROAD UP THERE
IS ALL WASHED OUT.
I BET YOU THIS WHOLE ROAD IS WASHED OUT UP THERE.
HOW FAR IS IT UP THE ROAD TO HIS HOUSE?
IT'S ONLY 8 OR 10 MILES UP TO CLYDE'S ON THIS ROAD.
THAT'S A ROUGH 8 OR 10 MILES
IF YOU'VE GOT WASHED-OUT RIVER CROSSINGS
AND TREES DOWN BLOCKING THE ROAD
AND SOMEBODY SHOOTING AT YOU.
SO, DO YOU WANT TO HIKE IT IN THERE TO HIM?
WE CAN PROBABLY CUT OUR DISTANCE IN HALF,
AND I'D RATHER TAKE MY CHANCES ON THE MOUNTAIN
THAN UP THIS ROAD.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET OUR STUFF AND GO.
Bolejack: THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'VE GOT TO GET CLYDE'S MEDICINE.
THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.
Narrator: THE BOYS WERE PLANNING ON A SIMPLE DRIVE
TO DROP OFF MEDICINE TO THEIR FRIEND.
NOW IT'LL TAKE AN UNEXPECTED TREK
THROUGH THE COLD WINTER WOODS.
Runkis: SPENCER AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING WITH US --
JUST, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY WHATEVER'S IN OUR POCKETS.
AND I DON'T EVEN HAVE A CANTEEN TO CARRY WATER IN,
SO WE'RE JUST GRABBING UP RESOURCES AS WE GO
AND MAKING USE OF EVERY SINGLE THING WE FIND.
Bolejack: I'M GRABBING SOME THINGS LIKE BIRCH BARK.
IN CASE WE NEED TO GET A FIRE GOING LATER,
WE'VE GOT SOME FIRE STARTERS.
SO THE WOODS IS KIND OF LIKE A SUPERMARKET
IF YOU KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR.
THERE'S PROBABLY SOME REINDEER MOSS AROUND HERE
AND MIGHT EVEN BE SOME WILD ONIONS.
IT'S MID-WINTER, AND THERE'S NO GREEN FOLIAGE GROWING RIGHT NOW,
BUT TO THINK THAT THERE'S NO FOOD OUT HERE IS AN ILLUSION
BECAUSE THERE'S FOOD EVERYWHERE.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT RIGHT THERE.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA GET BACK TO THE TRUCK IN A DAY.
WE'LL BE LUCKY TO GET TO MY BUDDY'S HOUSE TONIGHT,
SO WE'RE STARTING TO KEEP OUR EYES OPEN
FOR A NICE PLACE THAT HAS THE RESOURCES WE NEED
TO STAY DRY AND WARM FOR A CAMP TONIGHT.
Narrator: IT CAN TAKE HOURS TO PUT UP CAMP
IF YOU HAVEN'T ANY GEAR WITH YOU,
SO THE BOYS BEST SET UP WHILE THEY CAN.
WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE HOURS OF DAYLIGHT LEFT,
SO I DON'T WANT TO GET STUCK UP THERE ON THE RIDGE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ALL HUNGRY AND FREEZING COLD,
TRYING TO GET TO THAT GUY'S HOUSE.
SEE, THIS LOOKS LIKE A NICE FLAT SPOT RIGHT HERE.
OH, YEAH.
THERE'S A BED OF MOSS ON IT ALREADY.
MM.
YEAH. THIS GRASS IS AWESOME.
WE'RE NOT GONNA FIND ANOTHER SPOT THAT'S THIS COMFY AND WARM.
MY GOAL IS TO MAKE THIS SHELTER WINDPROOF AND WARM FOR THE NIGHT
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE HERE OVERNIGHT
AND IT'S GONNA BE BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES.
HEAR THAT WATER?
YEAH. I CAN HEAR THE STREAM DOWN THERE.
I BET IF I GO FOLLOW THIS LITTLE CREEK DOWN...
I THINK THAT BIG RIVER'S IN THIS LITTLE VALLEY RIGHT HERE.
I CAN GO SET UP A TRAP WHILE YOU START THE SHELTERS.
IT'S GOOD TO BOTH GET SOMETHING DONE AT THE SAME TIME
SO THAT WE CAN GET WARM AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP
AND THEN HOPEFULLY IN THE MORNING
HAVE A GOOD BREAKFAST OF FISH AND WILD ONIONS.
IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE GOT THIS ALL RIGHT,
I MIGHT RUN DOWN THERE
AND START AND PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE FISH TRAP.
THERE'S SOME GOOD VINES AND SOME GREENBRIER
RUNNING DOWN THIS CREEK.
I COULD PROBABLY JUST WEAVE SOMETHING BIG ENOUGH
TO GET US A COUPLE OF FISH BY MORNING.
YEAH, I GOT THIS.
YOU WANT TO GO DO THAT?
ALL RIGHTY. BACK IN A MOMENT.
Narrator: THIS WAY, THEY CAN GET EVERYTHING DONE
BEFORE THE SUN SETS.
Runkis: I'M BUILDING A LEAN-TO SHELTER.
Narrator: A LEAN-TO IS THE MOST COMMON STRUCTURE
USED IN WILDERNESS SURVIVAL SITUATIONS.
I'M USING SPRUCE BOUGHS FOR THE THATCHING.
Narrator: SPRUCE OR PINE BOUGHS WILL WORK WELL FOR INSULATION.
3:00 IN THE MORNING, WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF FIREWOOD
AND IT'S 27 DEGREES OUTSIDE,
YOU'LL REALLY APPRECIATE TAKING THE EXTRA FEW MOMENTS
TO BUILD A GOOD SHELTER.
Narrator: EUGENE'S SHELTER DESIGN WILL HAVE TO BE STRONG ENOUGH
TO HANDLE THOSE WINTER WINDS.
HE'LL RIG UP SUPPORT POSTS OUT OF THE THICK BRANCHES
COVERED WITH FOLIAGE.
PILING LAYER UPON LAYER WILL ADD EXTRA INSULATION
AND MAKE THE HUT AS WARM AS POSSIBLE.
THE FIRST STEP TO BUILD A LEAN-TO
IS TO FASTEN THE BACKBONE OF THE SHELTER.
THE BACKBONE WILL HOLD ALL THE WEIGHT
OF THE OTHER BRANCHES AND FOLIAGE.
PLACING THE SPRUCE BOUGHS WITH THE STEM SIDE DOWN
SEEMS TO HELP TRAP AIR TO INSULATE THE BOYS FROM THE COLD.
OH [BLEEP] COME ON.
IT SEEMS THAT MAKING A SHELTER IS NOT GOING AS PLANNED.
Runkis: EH, NONE OF THIS [BLEEP] IS WORKING OUT RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: WITHOUT SOMETHING TO PROTECT THEM
FROM THE HARSH WINTER NIGHT,
THE BOYS ARE LOOKING AT A HEAP OF TROUBLE.
COMING UP...
WILL SPENCER'S FISH TRAP GO WORSE
THAN HOW EUGENE'S DOING WITH A SHELTER?
Bolejack: DAMN IT!
Narrator: SOME TOUGH GOING
TURNS EUGENE INTO A HILLBILLY TAILOR.
AND LATER...
FIGHTING A RAGING RIVER.
THIS IS THE TOUGHEST SPOT RIGHT HERE!
Narrator: A BLOCKED LANE PREVENTS SPENCER AND EUGENE
FROM QUICKLY DROPPING OFF MEDICINE TO A FRIEND.
Bolejack: OH, DAMN, MAN. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED UP HERE?
RATHER THAN LEAVE THEIR FRIEND HANGING,
THEY'LL HAVE TO TREK THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN ON FOOT.
I'D RATHER TAKE MY CHANCES ON THE MOUNTAIN
THAN UP THIS ROAD.
THEY CAN'T MAKE IT ALL THE WAY THERE BEFORE NIGHTFALL.
EUGENE'S ASSIGNMENT -- COME UP WITH A SHELTER,
WHICH AIN'T GOING TOO WELL.
SOMETIMES [BLEEP] HAPPENS,
AND I STEP RIGHT IN THERE AND MAKE A HELL OF A GUM
OUT OF SOMETHING WHEN I'M WORKING ON IT.
IT'S JUST THE GROUND IS HARD,
AND I DIDN'T JAM MY POSTS IN VERY DEEP.
Narrator: IF THE SHELTER STAKES AREN'T DRIVEN DEEP ENOUGH
INTO THE SOIL,
THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE TOP OF THE LEAN-TO.
THEY'RE A LITTLE WOBBLY, SO THE SHELTER KEPT FALLING APART.
Narrator: MEANWHILE, SPENCER CHECKS OUT THE TERRAIN
TO SEE WHAT HE CAN USE FOR HIS FISH TRAP.
WITH OVER 60 SPECIES OF *** VINES HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA,
SPENCER'S GOT HIS PICK.
HE CHOOSES CLEMATIS AND GRAPE
BECAUSE THEY'RE STRONG AND WATER-RESISTANT.
Bolejack: I'VE GOT TO BUILD A CAGE, BASICALLY,
THAT'S INVITING FOR A FISH
AND SO INVITING THAT THE FISH CAN'T LEAVE.
Narrator: SPENCER'S DESIGN FOR A FISH TRAP
WILL USE SINEWY VINES WOVEN TOGETHER INTO A CONE SHAPE
WITH AN OPENING WIDE ENOUGH FOR A TWO-POUND TROUT TO ENTER.
SETTLERS IN THIS LAND LEARNED THE SECRET OF USING THIS TRAP
FROM THE CHEROKEE NATION HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO,
AND FOLKS UP HERE HAVE BEEN USING THEM EVER SINCE.
Bolejack: NOW, AFTER I'VE GOT THE VINES LAID OUT IN A BASIC FRAMEWORK,
I HAVE TO BIND THEM TOGETHER
SO THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST FLOPPING AROUND,
AND SO I'LL TAKE ANOTHER VINE
AND JUST GO OVER, UNDER, OVER, UNDER, OVER, UNDER, OVER, UNDER.
FISH SOMETIMES JUST AREN'T SMART, YOU KNOW?
THEY CAN'T REALLY GO BACKWARDS.
THAT OPENING HAS TO BE SMALL ENOUGH,
TIGHT ENOUGH THAT THE FISH CAN'T TURN AROUND AND GET BACK OUT,
AND I'M GONNA TAKE THE ENDS OF THE VINE
AND AIM THEM DOWN INTO THE BASKET LIKE POKERS
SO THE FISH CAN GO IN AND BE LIKE, "OH, YUM, FOOD."
THEN, WHEN HE TRIES TO GO OUT, LIKE, "OH, NO, I CAN'T GET OUT."
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY BAIT,
SO I'M JUST GONNA USE THE NATURAL LAY OF THE RIVER
AND THE WATER AND THE ROCKS
AND PUT IT IN A PLACE WHERE THE FISH WILL GET INTO IT
AND JUST BE STUCK AND NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT.
Narrator: SPENCER ADDS A ROCK TO WEIGHT IT DOWN,
LESSENING THE CHANCE THE TRAP WILL FLOAT AWAY.
Narrator: THE NEXT TIME THEY GET OUT,
IT'LL BE ME PULLING IT OUT AND THROWING IT ON A FIRE.
DAMN IT!
I WAS PUTTING THE TRAP IN THE RIVER,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF LOOSE ROCKS AND BOULDERS UNDERNEATH THERE,
AND IT'S SLICK WITH ALGAE, AND I SLIPPED.
I'VE GOT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE I'M WORRIED ABOUT HYPOTHERMIA,
AS LONG AS I'M MOVING.
BUT AS SOON AS I SIT STILL, I'VE ONLY GOT A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
I'VE GOT TO KEEP MOVING RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: EUGENE'S FINALLY GOT ALL THE INSULATOR LAYERS
ON TOP OF THE LEAN-TO SHELTER.
WITH SPENCER DRENCHED, THIS HUT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
YOU GET THE TRAP SET?
THE TRAP'S SET, ALL RIGHT.
WHAT HAPPENED, MAN?
I'M SOAKED TO THE BONE, MAN. I FELL. IT'S STUPID.
I JUST FELL DOWN IN THE RIVER AND...
OH.
WHATEVER GEAR SPENCER HAD IN HIS CARGO POCKETS IS ALL SOAKED.
WHEN HE SHOWED UP WET LIKE THAT, WE DIDN'T HAVE [BLEEP] ON HAND.
WE DON'T HAVE TARPS. WE DON'T HAVE SLEEPING BAGS.
WE DON'T HAVE EXTRA CLOTHES AND ALL THAT STUFF.
WELL, GET IN THERE OUT OF THE WIND.
RATHER THAN HAVE SPENCER STRIP OFF HIS WET CLOTHES
IN THE LEAN-TO WITHOUT ANYTHING ELSE TO PUT ON,
EUGENE PLANS TO WARM UP HIS FRIEND
USING WHAT MOTHER NATURE PROVIDED.
ALL RIGHT. I KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO.
Narrator: COMING UP...
TAKING A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE TO SAVE A FRIEND.
THIS IS GONNA BE THE WARMEST COAT YOU EVER PUT ON.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF A QUICK DELIVERY OF MEDICINE TO A FRIEND,
A DETOUR'S FORCED THE BOYS DEEP INTO THE WOODS.
Runkis: WE'RE GONNA BE HERE OVERNIGHT,
AND IT'S GONNA BE BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES.
Narrator: PRIMED TO RUSTLE UP VITTLES,
SPENCER'S DONE FELL INTO A FREEZING CREEK
SETTING UP A FISH TRAP.
Bolejack: DAMN IT!
Narrator: WITHOUT DRY CLOTHES, A SLEEPING BAG, OR A FIRE,
IT'S UP TO EUGENE TO HELP HIS FRIEND
BEFORE THE SITUATION GETS ANY WORSE.
WELL, GET IN THERE OUT OF THE WIND.
Runkis: I HAD TO SPRING INTO ACTION IMMEDIATELY
AND MAKE USE OF WHATEVER I HAD, YOU KNOW, LAYING ABOUT MY FEET,
AND THE GRASS THAT WE HAD HERE WAS THE PERFECT THING.
I'M MAKING A COAT.
SO, THE TALL GRASSES AROUND HERE
ARE PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITH.
Narrator: EUGENE WILL WEAVE GRASS BUNDLES AND TIE THEM TOGETHER
TO MAKE A HILLBILLY COAT.
Runkis: IF YOU LOOK AT IT UNDER A MICROSCOPE,
YOU'D SEE GRASS IS COVERED WITH HAIRS,
SO WHEN YOU BUNDLE THAT UP AND PUT IT ON YOURSELF,
ALL THAT AIR SPACE AND THE HAIRS AND EVERYTHING
MAKE A PERFECT INSULATOR.
Narrator: BECAUSE EUGENE NEEDS DAYLIGHT TO MAKE THE GRASS COAT,
STARTING A FIRE WILL HAVE TO WAIT A BIT.
SPENCER'S MOVING HIS BODY BACK AND FORTH
TO TRY TO KEEP HIS CORE TEMPERATURE AS HIGH AS HE CAN.
YEAH, MAN. THIS IS GONNA BE THE WARMEST COAT YOU EVER PUT ON.
I HOPE SO.
I CAN ONLY DO SO MANY PUSH-UPS.
SO, WHAT I DO, I GET A NICE ONE-INCH-DIAMETER BUNDLE OF IT,
AND YOU WANT IT TO BE TWO TO THREE FEET LONG,
AND I'LL GRASP IT AT ONE END AND BEND OVER THE END
AND TIE IT WITH A PIECE OF WIRE
OR TIE IT WITH A PIECE OF STRING,
AND THAT HOLDS THAT WHOLE ENTIRE BUNDLE TOGETHER,
AND THEN I'LL TAKE 15 OR 20 OF THOSE BUNDLES
AND TIE THEM TOGETHER IN A CHAIN,
AND THAT GIVES ME A BIG ENOUGH COAT TO PUT ON LIKE A CLOAK.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN OVER 20 MINUTES SINCE SPENCER'S DUNKING.
IF ONLY HIS LEGS HAD GOTTEN WET, HE'D BE A LOT BETTER OFF.
A COLD-SOAKED CORE STRESSES THE LUNGS,
WHICH CAN LOSE HEAT QUICKER THAN ANY OTHER ORGANS.
THIS WEATHER JUST IS NUTS, BROTHER.
I'VE GOT TO TIE THIS TOGETHER TIGHT
SO THAT IT DOESN'T LEAK AIR.
ALL RIGHT. YOU NEED TO TRY THIS ON YOU.
SEE IF IT'S BIG ENOUGH. GET UP.
BECAUSE THEY'RE DRY,
THESE TALL GRASSES ARE PRETTY EASY TO WEAVE.
IF THEY WERE DAMP, IT WOULD BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.
TRY TO GET IT ALL THE WAY AROUND.
SEE, IT DON'T...
LET ME SEE.
IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH.
I NEED TO ADD A FEW PIECES TO IT.
YOU'RE GONNA BE WARM AS A TOASTER IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
HERE, WRAP UP IN THAT.
ALL RIGHT. I'LL GO MAKE YOU A HAT.
Bolejack: I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THIS WILL MEAN TONIGHT
WHEN I GO TO SLEEP AND LAY DOWN.
I'LL HAVE ABOUT SIX OR EIGHT INCHES OF GRASS UNDERNEATH ME,
AND I'LL HAVE THIS THING ON TOP OF ME
AND THEN MY JACKET ON TOP OF THAT.
MY WET JACKET WON'T BE PULLING MY BODY TEMPERATURE OFF OF ME.
IT WILL BE BLOCKING THE WIND
AND ALLOWING THIS DRY GRASS TO KEEP ME REAL WARM AND TOASTY.
Narrator: THE DRY GRASS COAT WILL HELP ABSORB THE MOISTURE
FROM SPENCER'S CLOTHES.
IT'S SAVING MY LIFE.
MY LEGS ARE PRETTY FROZEN AND NUMB,
BUT MY CHEST AND MY ABDOMEN AND MY SHOULDERS AND MY NECK
ARE STAYING NICE AND WARM FROM THIS JACKET.
IN FACT, I THINK MY SWEATER'S DRYING OUT UNDERNEATH HERE.
HERE YOU GO, BRO.
THE HUMAN BODY LOSES 60% OF YOUR HEAT THROUGH THE HEAD,
SO EVEN IF YOU'RE BUNDLED UP WITH THE THICKEST COAT
AND THE NICEST BOOTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE,
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A HAT ON YOUR HEAD, YOU'LL STILL BE COLD.
THAT'LL KEEP YOU WARM.
YEAH. JUST GET IT ON TOP. I'M NOT MOVING ANYWHERE.
EUGENE'S HELPED SPENCER,
JUST LIKE SPENCER IS AIMING TO BE THERE FOR HIS FRIEND CLYDE.
Bolejack: YEAH. MY BUDDY'S JUST REALLY COUNTING ON US,
AND IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT MEDICINE TO HIM
IN A TIMELY FASHION
BECAUSE HIS WELL-BEING AND EVEN HIS LIFE
DEPENDS ON US DELIVERING THAT MEDICATION.
Narrator: FROM THE GRASS FOR SPENCER'S COAT
TO THE BRANCHES FOR THE SHELTER,
THE FOREST HAS GIVEN THE BOYS EVERYTHING THEY NEED
TO SURVIVE THE COLD WINTER'S NIGHT.
LOOK AT THE WAY THAT FOG'S BLOWING IN
OVER THE RIDGE OVER THERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE MOTHER NATURE'S NOT QUITE DONE WITH THEM.
WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON GIVES EUGENE SERIOUS CONCERN.
I GUARANTEE YOU THERE'S A STORM COMING IN.
A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR IS BAD ENOUGH
WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE TREE BRANCHES FOR SHELTER.
IT CAN BE DEADLY WHEN YOU'RE OUT IN THE WOODS ON FOOT.
AND IF EUGENE'S RIGHT,
THEY'LL BE RIGHT IN THE THICK OF IT COME MORNING.
COMING UP...
WILL THE BOYS HAVE TO ABANDON THEIR MISSION
TO DELIVER THE MEDICINE?
YOU CAN'T SURVIVE IT.
Narrator: ON A MISSION OF MERCY TO DELIVER MEDICINE,
SPENCER FELL INTO A FREEZING CREEK.
Bolejack: DAMN IT!
I CAN TELL I'M NOT THINKING REAL CLEARLY.
HE WAS IN TROUBLE.
Narrator: EUGENE SPRANG INTO ACTION,
MAKING AN INSULATED COAT OUT OF TALL GRASSES.
HERE, WRAP UP IN THAT.
Bolejack: YEAH, THIS JACKET'S HELPING.
IT'S SAVING MY LIFE.
Narrator: WITH ONE CATASTROPHE AVERTED,
ANOTHER'S ON THE HORIZON IN THE FORM OF A WICKED STORM.
GOOD THING THIS IS COMFORTABLE.
[ LIGHTNING CRASHES ]
IT'S GONNA BE A COLD, WET NIGHT.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ RAIN PATTERING ]
OH, YEAH.
I DIDN'T SLEEP WORTH A DAMN LAST NIGHT
'CAUSE IT STARTED RAINING ABOUT 3:00 IN THE MORNING.
IT'S BEEN WINDY, FREEZING COLD.
BAD NIGHT.
Bolejack: MAN, I WAS SNUG AS A BUG IN A GRASS RUG LAST NIGHT.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, MY LEGS WERE COLD AND MY FEET ARE NUMB.
I CAN'T CHANGE THAT.
BUT MY BODY WAS WARM ENOUGH.
IT'S BEEN RAINING FOR A COUPLE HOURS NOW.
[ COUGHS ]
WELL, IF I WAS DEAD, I KNOW IT'D BE A LITTLE WARMER.
ANYWAY...
WELL, THE INSIDE OF THIS JACKET'S STILL DRY.
LOOK AT THAT.
NO OFFENSE ON YOUR FINE JACKET,
BUT I'M GONNA GRAB MY PONCHO FOR THIS WALK DOWN TO THE RIVER.
Narrator: SPENCER'S PONCHO THAT WAS IN HIS POCKET
WHEN HE GOT DUNKED DRIED OUT.
TIME TO SEE IF HIS FISH TRAP HAS SNARED A FISH FOR BREAKFAST.
LET'S GET THE FISH.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I CAN GET TO THE TRAP TODAY.
WITH ALL THIS RAIN AND WEATHER,
IT MIGHT BE A REAL DANGEROUS PREDICAMENT
DOWN THERE IN THE RIVER.
THIS WAS JUST A LITTLE CREEK.
THIS IS WHERE IT MEETS THE RIVER.
IT WAS ONLY A FOOT DEEP RIGHT HERE YESTERDAY.
Narrator: THE STORM'S DUMPED ALMOST THREE INCHES OF RAIN,
MAKING THE RIVER RISE ALMOST FOUR FEET.
AND THE MAIN RIVER'S CHEST DEEP.
YEAH, THERE AIN'T NO GETTING TO THAT DAMN THING.
IS THAT WHERE YOU SET THE TRAP AT OVER THERE?
YEAH. YOU'VE GOT TO CROSS THIS ONE TO GET TO THE RIVER.
THAT'S A LOT OF FORCE IN THAT WATER MOVING RIGHT NOW.
DUDE, THAT TRAP'S IN TENNESSEE BY NOW, BUDDY.
I JUST DON'T SEE EITHER ONE OF US GOING OVER THERE
TO LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S A FISH IN THAT TRAP.
IT AIN'T WORTH THE PAIN, BUDDY.
Bolejack: IF YOU GET SUCKED INTO ONE OF THESE STREAMS,
THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU CAN GRAB A BRANCH,
AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN STOP.
YOU'RE JUST GOING THROUGH FALL AFTER FALL
AFTER FALL AFTER FALL,
AND THE ROCKS JUST GRIND YOU TO PIECES
GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
YOU CAN'T SURVIVE IT.
IT'S A GOOD THING CLYDE'S GOT US AS FRIENDS,
BECAUSE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS BRINGING HIS MEDICINE TO HIM,
I THINK THEY'D QUIT RIGHT ABOUT HERE.
Narrator: THE BOYS KNOW TO LOOK FOR A THICK VINE
THEY CAN USE LIKE A ROPE
TO HELP THEM GET ACROSS THE FAST-MOVING WATER.
THEY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE
SINCE THIS IS THE MOST DIRECT WAY TO CLYDE'S.
IF THE VINE SNAPS,
THEY'LL BE HURLED INTO AN UNFORGIVING RIVER.
Bolejack: KEEP IT REALLY TIGHT!
SOMETHING YOU COULDN'T SEE REAL EASY IS THERE'S A STRAINER
RIGHT DOWN THE RIVER FROM US -- AN OLD TREE ACROSS THE RIVER.
IF YOU GET SUCKED UNDER THAT,
THE FORCE OF THE WATER WILL PIN YOU,
AND YOU CAN'T GET OUT, AND YOU DIE.
THIS IS THE TOUGHEST SPOT RIGHT HERE!
IT'S REALLY PUSHING ON ME!
Runkis: YEAH!
IS THERE ANY MORE LEAD?
NOT MUCH!
JUST WHEEL IT IN, MAN.
THIS IS SOME SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS [BLEEP] HERE, MAN.
Narrator: SPENCER WAS ONLY KNEE-DEEP IN COLD WATER THIS TIME,
BUT IT'S HITTING EUGENE MID-THIGH.
WATCH OUT! THERE'S A BIG ROCK RIGHT UNDER RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.
STAY UP FROM IT.
YEAH, TAKE YOUR TIME. TAKE YOUR TIME.
DUDE, THIS [BLEEP] IS COLD.
TO GET ACROSS THE RIVER, THE BOYS WILL HAVE TO ENDURE
A WATER TEMPERATURE OF ONLY 36 DEGREES.
THEY MANAGE TO STAY ON THEIR FEET,
WHICH IS GOOD,
'CAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR MIDSECTIONS
FROM EXPOSURE TO THAT COLD WATER.
THEY'RE MOVING AS FAST AS THEY CAN
TO KEEP THEIR CORE TEMPERATURES AS HIGH AS THEY CAN.
SPENCER AND I HAVE GOT TO GET TO CLYDE'S QUICK.
THIS IS A REALLY GNARLY RIVER.
I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS.
IT FEELS LIKE 1,000 NEEDLES GOING INTO MY FEET RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE JUST GOT TO KEEP MOVING AND GET TO CLYDE'S.
OH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SUN.
NOW IT'S FOGGY AND COLD.
Narrator: IT WON'T BE SOON ENOUGH TILL THE BOYS MAKE IT OVER TO CLYDE'S.
OH, THANK GOD.
NO DOUBT, HIS HOUSE IS A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES.
Bolejack: HELLO, CLYDE!
HEY, GUYS.
COME IN OUT OF THE WEATHER.
Bolejack: TRUST IS A REAL IMPORTANT IDEA
THAT PEOPLE CARRY IN THESE HILLS,
AND CLYDE'S TRUSTING ME TO GET HIS MEDICINE TO HIM,
AND WHEN SOMEBODY IS COUNTING ON ME TO GET A MISSION DONE,
I GET THE MISSION DONE.
I BET YOU ARE FROZE TO DEATH.
YEAH, WE'VE BEEN PLAYING IN THE RIVER OUT THERE.
OH, BROTHER. WE HAD A HECK OF A TIME.
WELL, I SURE DO APPRECIATE IT.
I THANK YOU A LOT.
I KNOW YOU WAS COMING, BUT YOU ARE A DAY LATE.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
THE BOYS SET OFF DOWN THE ROAD TO GET BACK HOME.
Bolejack: THERE'S A LOT OF MOTIVATION TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
A COMMUNITY THAT WORKS TOGETHER IS MUCH STRONGER AS A WHOLE
THAN A BUNCH OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING SEPARATE LIVES.
WHEN I SEE SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS A HAND WITH SOMETHING
AND I CAN HELP THEM OUT AND I KNOW I CAN HELP THEM OUT,
I GO AHEAD AND DO IT
BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
Narrator: LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR
IS JUST HOW FOLKS ROLL UP HERE ON COLD MOUNTAIN.