Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Narrator: ALASKA -- THE LAST FRONTIER.
[ GUNSHOT ]
I'M ON A STRANGE PLANET WHERE BULLETS MISS BEARS.
I AM NOT A ROCK CLIMBER. AAH!
Narrator: ...THE KILCHERS REACH DIZZYING HEIGHTS
AND NEW DEPTHS TO FIND FOOD.
I THINK THEY'RE FROM A DIFFERENT PLANET.
AAH! OH, BOY.
Narrator: THE ANNUAL CATTLE DRIVE
TURNS INTO AN EPIC BATTLE
COME ON!
THE CALF'S HEAD WAS MOSTLY UNDER THE WATER.
HE NEEDS HELP, MAN.
COME ON!
♪ 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
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: AFTER EIGHT SNOWBOUND MONTHS,
THE ALASKAN WINTER IS FINALLY OVER.
NEW LIFE FLOURISHES IN THE SPRING MELT.
BUT ON THE KILCHER HOMESTEAD, FOOD SUPPLIES ARE RUNNING LOW.
Otto: THIS IS GETTING SERIOUS.
WE'RE IN A REAL DO-OR-DIE SITUATION HERE AT THE MOMENT,
FOR REAL.
Narrator: ATZ LEE KILCHER AND HIS WIFE, JANE,
VENTURE 35 MILES ACROSS THE BAY ON A HUNT FOR FRESH FOOD.
AN EXTREMELY LOW TIDE PRESENTS A RARE CHANCE TO SEARCH
FOR AN ELUSIVE PREDATOR -- OCTOPUS.
ON THE SIDE OF THE BAY THAT I LIVE ON,
IT'S JUST MUD FLATS.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BAY
IS THESE REALLY JAGGED, EXTREME TERRAIN --
LOTS OF CLIFFS AND LARGE BOULDERS.
THAT'S WHERE THE OCTOPUS ARE AT.
ONCE A MONTH, YOU GET THESE EXTREME LOW TIDES.
AND IT JUST GOES OUT AND EXPOSES PARTS OF THE OCEAN FLOOR
THAT USUALLY AREN'T EVEN SEEN FOR THE WHOLE REST OF THE MONTH.
YOU'RE 26 FEET BELOW SEA LEVEL,
AND BASICALLY ARE JUST HIDING UNDERNEATH OF THESE ROCKS
UNTIL THE TIDE COMES BACK IN.
AND THAT'S YOUR BEST CHANCE FOR OCTOPUS.
Narrator: MOST OCTOPUS LIVE IN THE DEEP OCEAN,
BUT IN ALASKA, THEY INHABIT COASTAL SHALLOWS.
SCIENTISTS BELIEVE IT'S TO ESCAPE
THE HIGH NUMBER OF SEA OTTERS IN THE REGION.
Jane: THERE'S A LOT OF MEAT ON THE OCTOPUS TO EAT.
IF YOU CATCH A BIG OCTOPUS, THAT'S MANY, MANY DINNERS.
ISN'T THIS CRAZY TO THINK IT'S ALL, LIKE, OCEAN FLOOR?
Atz Lee: YES.
BREAK YOUR LEG IN HERE.
YEAH. BE CAREFUL.
SO YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL
WHEN YOU'RE HIKING AROUND ON THOSE ROCKS
'CAUSE IT'S SO EASY TO JUST LAND ON YOUR ***.
Atz Lee: IT'S SLIPPERY TERRAIN. A LOT OF KELP AND SEAWEED.
IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS FOOTING.
JAGGED ROCKS, BARNACLES.
IT'S EASY TO SLIP AND BREAK A LEG, CUT YOURSELF --
STUFF LIKE THAT.
OH!
Jane: I LIKE TO BE OUTSIDE.
I DON'T LIKE TO BE HOME WAITING
WHILE HE'S DOING SOMETHING FUN AND EXCITING.
Atz Lee: IT'S SLIPPERY.
I'M JUST NOT A BETTY HOMEMAKER --
NEVER HAVE, NEVER WILL BE.
BUT IF YOU TOLD ME 10 YEARS AGO
I'D BE MARRYING A MAN THAT HAS AN OUTHOUSE,
I WOULD HAVE SLAPPED YOU SILLY.
AND I DID.
AND...HERE I AM.
ARE YOU READY TO SLAY SOME OCTOPUS?
YEAH.
TIME FOR THE HUNT.
Narrator: 35 MILES AWAY, ON THE HOMESTEAD,
ATZ LEE'S UNCLE OTTO AND HIS FAMILY
PREPARE FOR THE ANNUAL SPRING CATTLE DRIVE,
MARKING THE START OF WARMER WEATHER
AND THEIR FOUR-MONTH WINDOW TO PREP FOR WINTER.
Otto: OH, MAN, WE'RE HELL-BENT ON GETTING THESE CATTLE
AHEAD OF THE BAY TODAY.
IT'S TIME TO HEAD OUT.
AND THESE COWS ARE JUST GNASHING AT THEIR FENCES.
Narrator: THE LONG WINTER HAS EXHAUSTED THEIR SUPPLY OF HAY.
IF THEY DON'T REACH FRESH GRASS SOON,
OTTO WILL BE HARD-PRESSED TO FEED HIS HERD.
Otto: THEY'VE BEEN COOPED UP ALL WINTER,
SLEEPING UNDER FROZEN TREES, AND SHIVERING.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN SURVIVING.
THEY CAN SMELL THAT HEAD-OF-THE-BAY SALT AIR.
THEY CAN SENSE IT.
Narrator: OTTO NEEDS ALL THE HELP HE CAN GET
FOR THE EPIC TWO-DAY CATTLE DRIVE.
Otto: I GOT EIVIN, CHARLOTTE, MY BROTHER'S SON, SHANE.
WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
AND THIS YEAR, WE WERE BLESSED WITH COUSIN RUSS.
HE'S A RELATIVE OF CHARLOTTE'S.
HEY, OTTO.
Narrator: BUT OTTO CAN'T PERSUADE
HIS SON'S WIFE, EVE, TO COME.
ARE YOU COMING UP AT ALL?
NOT AT ALL?
I KNOW.
I KNOW EVE'S NOT FEELING WELL,
AND SO -- SHE'S KIND OF GOT A FLU OR SOMETHING.
EVERYTHING'S A ZOO. YEAH.
Narrator: THE NEAREST GRASSLANDS
ARE AT THE HEAD OF THE KACHEMAK BAY.
BETWEEN THE CATTLE AND GREEN PASTURES
LIE 20 MILES OF BEACH INACCESSIBLE AT HIGH TIDE...
FOUR STICKY MILES OF MUD FLATS...
AND TWO FRIGID GLACIAL RIVERS.
Otto: [ WHOOPING ]
MOVE IT! MOVE IT! MOVE IT! MOVE IT!
COME ON! LET'S GO!
Narrator: THE ANNUAL CATTLE DRIVE BEGINS.
THEY'VE MADE THIS TREK EVERY SPRING FOR 60 YEARS,
BUT THE KILCHERS NEVER KNOW
WHAT MOTHER NATURE WILL THROW AT THEM.
Otto: IT SEEMS LIKE NO MATTER HOW PREPARED I AM,
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP.
Eivin: IT'S INEVITABLY ALWAYS THE STRESS OF THE FIRST DAY,
IS GETTING THE COWS TO THE BEACH,
AND GETTING THEM AS FAR UP THE BEACH AS WE CAN
IN THAT WINDOW WHEN THE TIDE IS OUT.
AND, SO, IT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT
THAT YOU HIT THE BEACH RIGHT ON TIME.
HOLD ON. HOLD ON.
Otto: WE GOT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HOMESTEAD,
AND THE FIRST THING ONTO THE BEACH,
THERE'S SOME LOOSE COAL THERE.
AND, I MEAN, ALMOST INSTANTLY, WE GOT A TRACTOR STUCK.
Narrator: TWO TRACTORS HAUL PROVISIONS
TO FEED THE DRIVE ON THE FIRST NIGHT.
Eivin: [BLEEP]
[ ENGINE SPUTTERS ]
I JUST KILLED IT.
Otto: SOMETIMES OUT LOUD AND SOMETIMES TO MYSELF,
I GO, "OOH, SO IT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THOSE DAYS, IS IT?"
Narrator: 35 MILES AWAY,
OTTO'S NEPHEW ATZ LEE AND HIS WIFE, JANE,
CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR OCTOPUS ON THE EXPOSED REEF.
THEY HAVE TO WORK SWIFTLY.
WHEN HIGH TIDE RETURNS,
IT WILL BURY THIS REEF UNDER 26 FEET OF FREEZING WATER.
Jane: CATCHING AN OCTOPUS
IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN CATCHING FISH.
THEY SQUISH DOWN INTO LITTLE HOLES.
I DON'T FEEL ANYTHING UNDER HERE.
Atz Lee: THE MAIN THING YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
IS JUST ANY KIND OF HOLE OR ENTRANCE
UNDERNEATH OF A ROCK.
Narrator: THE EIGHT-LIMBED PREDATOR IS COMPLETELY BONELESS,
ALLOWING IT TO SQUEEZE INTO TINY SPACES.
YOU KNOW, AN OCTOPUS THIS BIG CAN FIT THROUGH A HOLE THAT BIG.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S AMAZING.
IT'S JUST THE SIZE OF THEIR BEAK.
THEY CAN SHOVE THEMSELVES THROUGH REALLY SMALL HOLES.
SO YOU'RE JUST LOOKING FOR ANY SMALL HOLE
THAT YOU CAN GET YOUR ROD OR YOUR PIECE OF WIRE DOWN INTO.
Jane: LET ME KNOW IF YOU FEEL ANYTHING.
ALL YOU REALLY NEED TO GO OCTOPUS HUNTING
IS A PIECE OF STIFF WIRE, LIKE THE CHAIN-LINK FENCE.
IF YOU TAKE ONE OF THOSE APART, THAT'S REALLY GOOD WIRE.
YOU CAN BEND THE END OF IT TO MAKE A HOOK END.
AND YOU CAN ALSO KIND OF BEND THE PIECE OF WIRE ITSELF
IF YOU NEED TO GO UNDERNEATH OF A HOLE AND AROUND A CORNER.
BASICALLY, YOU'RE JUST KIND OF SHOOTING IN THE DARK
UNTIL YOU FEEL SOMETHING.
AND YOU CAN KIND OF FEEL THE END,
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING SOFT THERE.
AND POKE AT IT, AND POKE AT IT,
AND YOU TRY TO AGGRAVATE IT OUT OF THAT HOLE.
SINCE YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE THE OCTOPUS,
BASICALLY YOU JUST HAVE TO CHECK EVERY SINGLE ROCK
THAT YOU COME BY THAT YOU THINK IS BIG ENOUGH
FOR AN OCTOPUS TO HIDE UNDERNEATH OF.
KEEP AN EYE ON THE TIDE, HUH, HONEY?
YEP.
Jane: THE TIDES IN ALASKA ARE REALLY EXTREME.
FROM WHERE I'M STANDING RIGHT NOW,
I'LL COMPLETELY BE UNDER WATER WHEN THE TIDE COMES UP.
Atz Lee: YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH TIME EXACTLY YOU GOT
UNTIL THIS REEF GETS BURIED.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU, YOU SURE AS HELL
DON'T WANT TO BE OUT THERE WHEN THE TIDE COMES IN.
Jane: SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO TIME IT RIGHT
ABOUT GETTING OUT THERE AND GETTING BACK OUT.
ATZ, GET OVER HERE.
THAT HILL IS SO SLICK.
Atz Lee: HAVEN'T HAD ANY LUCK WITH THE OCTOPUS YET,
BUT IT'S THE FIRST TIDE.
WE GOT A COUPLE MORE TO GO
BEFORE WE'RE GONNA HEAD BACK HOME.
SO OUR PRIORITY RIGHT NOW
IS MAKING IT OFF THIS REEF WARM AND DRY,
GETTING CAMP SET UP FOR THE NIGHT.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT MAKING IT BACK AROUND THE POINT.
IT'S NOT OVER. IT'S NOT OVER. WE JUST GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
OKAY.
Narrator: ATZ LEE AND JANE HAVE ONLY MINUTES
BEFORE THE 33-DEGREE, RISING OCEAN CUTS OFF
AAH!
AAH!
I'M GONNA HAVE TO CARRY YOU IF YOU BREAK YOUR LEG.
LET'S GET AROUND THE POINT.
Narrator: 35 MILES AWAY, ATZ LEE'S UNCLE OTTO
IS STILL TRYING TO GET THE STALLED TRACTOR
OUT OF THE DEEP SAND.
YOU WANT TO GET THE TRACTOR OVER HERE?
WE CAN PROBABLY PULL IT, PULL EVERYTHING OUT.
HOPEFULLY SO.
Eivin: WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GONNA GET THIS THING GOING
AND OUT OF HERE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
THE WHOLE REST OF THE HERD HAS TAKEN OFF.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AS SOON AS YOU GET TO THE BEACH,
IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONVINCE THOSE COWS TO STOP.
AND IT'S KIND OF THIS UNSTOPPABLE MACHINE
THAT JUST KEEPS GOING.
A LOT OF HAZARDS, A LOT OF PREDATORS,
AND DANGERS, YOU KNOW?
WE'VE GOT RIVERS TO CROSS.
THE WATER'S EXTREMELY COLD. IT'S MOVING FAST.
WHEN ONE COW STRAYS FROM THE HERD,
THERE'S THE POTENTIAL FOR BEARS AND WOLVES TO TAKE OUT THAT COW.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD BE GOING WRONG
WITH THE REST OF THOSE COWS, AND HERE WE ARE, STUCK.
START OUT IN FIRST,
AND THEN, MAYBE ONCE YOU'RE GOING, KICK IT UP --
TRY TO KICK IT UP TO SECOND FOR ROLL STARTING IT.
Shane: THAT OLD TRACTOR'S ALTERNATOR ISN'T WORKING TOO WELL,
THEN THE BATTERY QUIT WORKING WHEN SHE WAS STUCK.
IF A CATTLE DRIVE WENT SMOOTHLY, IT WOULDN'T BE HOMESTEAD.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
HYAH!
[ HORSE NEIGHS ]
OKAY. SLOW DOWN.
[ BIRD CALLING ]
Otto: IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE WILD, WILD WEST
RIGHT OUT HERE STILL.
THEY MAKE MOVIES ABOUT EVERYWHERE ELSE,
BUT HERE, IT'S STILL THE REAL DEAL.
LET'S GO, LITTLE ONE.
THOSE LITTLE ONES,
THEY ALWAYS ARE IN THE BACK OF THE PACK, HUH?
Narrator: A 2-DAY-OLD CALF TAGGED WITH AN I.D. NUMBER 1308,
STRUGGLES TO KEEP UP WITH THE HERD.
THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE KEPT HAVING TO DEAL WITH
ALONG THE WAY.
AND WHEN WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO FOCUS
ON HOW THAT LITTLE CALF WAS DOING,
IT WAS REALLY STUMBLING.
IT WAS REALLY HAVING TROUBLE WALKING.
IT HAD ALREADY WALKED A FEW MILES.
AND WE REALIZED THAT HE WAS HINDERING OUR PROGRESS.
HEY, LITTLE FELLER.
Narrator: CALF NUMBER 1308 IS DANGEROUSLY YOUNG
TO MAKE THIS TRIP.
WITH OTTO FOCUSED ON THE EXHAUSTED NEWBORN,
HE CAN'T TEND TO THE REST OF THE HERD.
AND THAT PUTS ALL THE CATTLE AT RISK.
Otto: IT SEEMS LIKE NO MATTER HOW PREPARED I AM,
A CALF WILL SCREW YOU UP.
YOU JUST CAN'T PREDICT
WHEN A BABY'S GONNA CRAP ITS DIAPERS
AND CHANGE YOUR WHOLE DAY.
IT'S BEEN WRITTEN IN THE GREAT BOOK
THAT THERE WILL BE ONE UNCOOPERATIVE CRITTER.
THAT'S A CERTAIN.
Narrator: ACROSS THE BAY, A SWIFTLY RISING TIDE
FORCES OTTO'S NEPHEW ATZ LEE AND HIS WIFE, JANE,
TO ABANDON TODAY'S HUNT FOR OCTOPUS.
THEY'VE NARROWLY ESCAPED THE REEF,
BUT THE BONE-CHILLING WATER CUTS OFF THEIR ONLY ESCAPE ROUTE
AROUND THE CLIFFS.
HUH.
YOU KNOW, WATER'S UP AGAINST THIS CLIFF HERE.
Atz Lee: THERE'S ONLY A COUPLE OF SPOTS WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET UP
OFF OF THE BEACH ON TOP OF THE CLIFFS FOR SAFETY.
THIS IS IT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, BOY.
Narrator: IT'S THE ONLY PATH TO SAFETY.
AND IT'S STRAIGHT UP AN ICY 100-FOOT ROCK FACE.
Atz Lee: THE CLIFF THAT WE HAVE TO SCALE TO GET UP OFF THE BEACH
IS PRETTY CONCERNING TO ME
BECAUSE IT'S REALLY STEEP TERRAIN.
IT'S REALLY SLIPPERY SLOPE, AND ON TOP OF THAT,
JANE'S HORRIFIED OF HEIGHTS.
I'LL HELP GET YOU UP.
HOLD ON. I REALLY AM NERVOUS.
Jane: THE WAY OUT IS TO GO UP THE CLIFFS.
NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
Atz Lee: WHETHER SHE WANTS TO OR NOT,
JANE'S GONNA HAVE TO CONQUER HER FEARS
AND MAKE IT UP THIS CLIFF.
[ GRUNTS ]
JUST CHECK YOUR FOOTING.
HEY.
IT'S KIND OF ICY FOOTING.
YES, IT IS.
OH, MY GOD!
I AM NOT A ROCK CLIMBER.
DON'T DO THAT.
AAH! OH, MY GOD!
Narrator: 35 MILES FROM THE HOMESTEAD,
ON THE SHORE OF ENGLISH BAY,
ATZ LEE AND JANE HUNT FOR OCTOPUS
WHEN THE RAPIDLY RISING TIDE FORCES THEM TO FLEE.
WE JUST GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
NOW IT'S A DESPERATE SCRAMBLE FOR HIGH GROUND,
WHERE THEY CAN CAMP FOR THE NIGHT
AND HOPE FOR BETTER LUCK AT TOMORROW'S LOW TIDE.
OH, BOY. IS THIS IT?
THIS IS IT.
THE ONLY PATH TO SAFETY IS A PERILOUS CLIMB
UP AN ICY 100-FOOT CLIFF.
OH, BOY.
Atz Lee: A 10-FOOT FALL CAN KILL A PERSON.
FALL ON THE ROCKS AND BREAK YOUR NECK -- NO PROBLEM.
Jane: [ GRUNTS ]
Jane: ATZ IS A REALLY GREAT TEACHER,
AND HE'S REALLY EXPERIENCED FROM THE WAY HE GREW UP.
SO I JUST REALLY JUST TRUST HIM WITH MY LIFE.
OH, MY GOD!
I'M SHAKING.
I KNOW. JUST TAKE IT SLOW. YOU GOT IT.
OKAY.
WHEN YOU'RE AFRAID OF HEIGHTS,
THEN YOUR NERVES ARE ALREADY JUST, LIKE, WORKING AGAINST YOU.
OKAY.
CROSS UNDERNEATH THE ROPE.
JANE, CROSS UNDER TO THE OTHER SIDE.
OKAY.
[ PANTING ]
[ SNIFFLES ]
YOU'RE DOING GOOD, BABY.
KEEP WITH IT.
DON'T DO THAT.
KEEP WITH IT. GET ALL THE WAY UP.
OKAY.
I DON'T THINK I'M EVER DOING THAT AGAIN.
I DON'T THINK I EVER WANT YOU TO DO THAT AGAIN.
OH, MY GOD.
OKAY.
ALL THE WAY UP TOP.
DOING GOOD. YOU'RE ALMOST THERE.
I MADE IT!
WHOO!
HA HA!
I'M UP HERE. I'M JUST STILL SHAKING.
I DEFINITELY GET PUSHED TO MY LIMITS FROM MARRYING ATZ
WITH THE EXTREME THINGS WE DO ON THE HOMESTEAD,
SO I'M GOING FARTHER THAN I EVER THOUGHT I WOULD
WITH MY EXPERIENCE IN THE OUTDOORS.
PLEASE DON'T FALL 'CAUSE I CAN'T COME BACK DOWN.
I WON'T, BABY.
Atz Lee: I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS MORE SCARED -- ME OR HER.
I MEAN, I'M SURE SHE WAS PRETTY FREAKED OUT,
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE
IF SHE WOULD HAVE FALLEN DOWN.
SHE'S THE ONLY WIFE I GOT.
I DON'T LIKE BEING IN SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.
GOOD JOB, BABY.
HUH?
YOU DID IT.
I'M STILL A LITTLE SHAKY.
GOOD JOB.
GOOD JOB!
IT'S FUN NOW THAT IT'S OVER. [ CHUCKLES ]
NOW WE GOT TO WALK, BUT IT'S ON LEVEL GROUND.
TRAIL.
COME ON. LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
Narrator: THE COUPLE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW WHEN LOW TIDE GIVES THEM
ANOTHER STAB AT THE ELUSIVE OCTOPUS.
THEY AREN'T THE ONLY ONES IN NEED OF A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.
ATZ LEE'S UNCLE OTTO AND FAMILY HAVE TAKEN ALL DAY
TO DRIVE THE HERD A MERE 12 MILES.
THE HARDEST PART OF THE JOURNEY STILL LIES AHEAD.
Charlotte: WE'VE MADE IT TO THE FOX CREEK CORRALS,
AND THIS IS ABOUT THE HALFWAY POINT.
Otto: A LITTLE OVER HALFWAY AS FAR AS DISTANCE GOES,
BUT IT'S NOT QUITE HALFWAY AS FAR AS TOUGHNESS GOES.
WE STILL HAVE SOME BIG RIVERS TO CROSS.
WE'RE GONNA LET THE COWS REST, LET THE CALVES NURSE.
AND MAYBE WE'LL GRAB A COUPLE OF MOUNTAIN OYSTERS
AND EAT THOSE FOR DINNER, CAMP OUT FOR THE NIGHT.
AND MORNING -- SHEEP RIVER STINGLEY CABIN OR BUST.
Narrator: BEFORE NIGHTFALL, THE DRIVE FACES ANOTHER SETBACK.
HEY, DAD.
HEY, I'M GONNA -- I THINK I'M GONNA HEAD BACK
AND GO CHECK ON EVE 'CAUSE SHE WASN'T FEELING WELL.
OKAY.
EVE'S KIND OF BEEN FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER AND A LITTLE PUKEY,
SO I WANT TO GO BACK AND SEE IF I CAN HELP HER IN THE GARDEN
OR SEE IF I CAN TAKE ANY CHORES OFF HER HANDS
AND JUST MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BIT SIMPLER FOR HER.
Narrator: LOSING A MEMBER AS EXPERIENCED AS EIVIN
PUTS THE REMAINING TEAM UNDER STRAIN.
SO, CAN I TAKE YOUR WHEELER?
OKAY.
YEP.
EIVIN IS JUST PRETTY MUCH IRREPLACEABLE.
AND EIVIN HAS HELPED ME FOR SO MANY YEARS
THAT I KIND OF HAVE BECOME KIND OF DEPENDENT UPON THAT.
HEY, SEE YA, EIVIN.
SEE YA.
IT WAS A LITTLE TOUGH KNOWING
THAT I WASN'T GONNA HAVE EIVIN THE NEXT DAY
FOR THE RIVERS AND ALL.
OH [BLEEP]
Narrator: JUST 11 MILES FROM THE HALFWAY CORRAL,
OTTO'S BROTHER ATZ SR.
RIDES AHEAD OF THE ANNUAL CATTLE DRIVE.
HIS MISSION --
TO SCOUT FOR PREDATORS THAT MIGHT THREATEN THE HERD.
TO NAVIGATE THESE 1,600 ACRES OF VARIED TERRAIN,
ATZ SR. MUST TRAVEL BY ATV...
HORSEBACK...
AND ON FOOT.
Atz: SO FAR, HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING.
Narrator: LAST YEAR ALONE, EIGHT COWS WERE KILLED BY PREDATORS.
IF THE SAME HAPPENS THIS YEAR,
IT COULD DECIMATE THE FAMILY'S MEAT SUPPLY.
WHOA.
WELL, IT'S SPRINGTIME. THERE'S BREAKUP.
IN THE BACK COUNTRY, SNOW IS MELTING,
AND ALL OF THESE CREEKS ARE GETTING FLOODED.
SO WE GOT US A LITTLE SITUATION HERE.
ONE OPTION WOULD HAVE BEEN TO TURN AROUND
AND BACKTRACK MANY HOURS.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE QUICKER
JUST TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CROSS.
WELL, THIS IS THE OLD WALLACE PLACE.
ANOTHER OLD HOMESTEAD HOUSE GONE DOWN.
THE BUSHES GROWING OVER IT -- CAN'T HARDLY SEE IT ANYMORE.
THE FURTHER OUT THERE YOU ARE,
THE FURTHER YOU ARE IN THE ELEMENTS,
IN THE WILDERNESS, DEPENDING ON YOURSELF.
THEN YOU GOT TO GET CREATIVE. YOU GOT TO GET INNOVATIVE.
YOU GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO MAKE THINGS.
I'M GONNA GO FOR
THE ICE-CHOPPING, RAMP-BUILDING OPTION.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
I GOT ONE SHOT.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF DEALS WHERE YOU GOT ONE SHOT.
I GOT TO GIVE IT HELL.
AAH!
Narrator: 20 MILES FROM THE HOMESTEAD,
AT THE HEAD OF THE BAY, ATZ SR. SEARCHES FOR PREDATORS
THAT COULD DEVASTATE THE KILCHER'S HERD OF CATTLE.
Atz: WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: A GLACIAL-CREEK CROSSING BLOCKS HIS PROGRESS,
PUTTING HIS ATV TO THE TEST.
Atz: THIS IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD,
AND IT'S MAN AGAINST THE ELEMENTS.
AAH!
COULD HAVE FALLEN OVER BACKWARDS AND DIED RIGHT THERE.
I HAVE FRIENDS HERE IN HOMER
THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED ON FOUR-WHEELERS
BY IT FLIPPING OVER BACKWARDS ON THEM...
ARGH!
...SO I WAS DETERMINED
NOT TO LET IT COME OVER BACKWARDS ON ME.
RAMP WAS TOO STEEP, BOARDS WERE TOO SLIPPERY --
KEPT FALLING OUT OF THE WAY --
THAT I FINALLY DECIDED
I'M JUST GONNA KEEP CHOPPING THE ICE
AND TO HELL WITH THE RAMP.
WE GOT TO HAVE SPEED SINCE WE AIN'T GOT NO TRACTION.
SPEED. I'M GONNA USE SPEED.
YEAH!
PART OF BEING RAISED ON A HOMESTEAD --
I THINK YOU GET REALLY GOOD
AT FIGURING OUT A WAY TO DO THINGS.
Narrator: AT FOX CREEK CORRAL,
THE ANNUAL SPRING CATTLE DRIVE BEGINS ITS SECOND DAY.
TODAY IS THE DAY THEY'RE GONNA FIND THEIR SUMMER PARADISE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: EACH YEAR PRESENTS ITS OWN SET OF DIFFICULTIES.
Otto: I'M REAL WORRIED ABOUT THAT CALF,
AND WE GOT TO GET IT UP THERE.
I GOT TO WHEELER IT AS FAR AS I CAN
BECAUSE IT'S GONNA HAVE TO WALK BETWEEN THE RIVERS.
Shane: RIGHT.
IT MAY HAVE TO SWIM THE DAMN RIVERS.
Narrator: THE MOST DIFFICULT LEG OF THE DRIVE LIES AHEAD.
BUT OTTO WILL HAVE TO PUSH ON WITH A SKELETON CREW.
THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THE TWO TRACTORS
ACROSS THE IMMINENT MUD FLATS AND RIVERS,
SO SHANE AND RUSS MUST RETURN TO THE HOMESTEAD.
Otto: WELL, THAT'S AS FAR AS WE CAN GO WITH THE TRACTORS.
PHYSICALLY, FROM THERE ON,
IT'S VERY SLIPPERY, WET, AND MUDDY,
AND WE'D GET STUCK.
Narrator: WORSE YET,
OTTO'S MOST EXPERIENCED CATTLE DRIVER, EIVIN,
HAD TO ABANDON THE DRIVE.
EIVIN HAD TO TAKE OFF LAST NIGHT.
HE HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT EVE THERE,
AND SO I WASN'T GONNA HAVE EIVIN TODAY.
[ ENGINE RUMBLING ]
YO, I HEAR A WHEELER.
WHOA!
Charlotte: HEY, AUGUST.
NICE!
Otto: FORTUNATELY, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE HEAR A WHEELER,
AND HERE COMES AUGUST.
APPARENTLY, EIVIN TOLD AUGUST WE NEEDED HELP UP HERE,
AND, WOW, WHAT A NICE TRADE-OUT --
TRADED ONE BROTHER FOR ANOTHER.
SO, HERE'S THE PLAN --
WE NEED TO SAVE THAT CALF'S ENERGY FOR THE RIVER
AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FOX,
SO WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO CARRY THAT CALF ON THE WHEELER.
Charlotte: THE YOUNG CALVES, MOSTLY THEY'RE DOING ALL RIGHT,
EXCEPT WE'VE GOT ONE WHO'S JUST NOW THREE DAYS OLD.
[ LAUGHS ]
YESTERDAY, IT WAS TWO DAYS OLD,
AND IT JUST REALLY WAS HAVING A HARD TIME
WALKING THE DISTANCE.
Otto: GO AHEAD AND GRAB HIM, AUGUST. YOU CAN PICK HIM UP.
[ MOOING ]
[ GRUNTS ]
Shane: YOU GOT HIM ALL RIGHT?
YOU'RE "CALF-WAY" THERE NOW.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I GAVE YOU AN EXTRA-LONG STRING HERE.
ALL RIGHT, NOW I NEED THE BOTTOM ONE YOU GOT.
PUT IT ON TOP OF THIS ONE.
GOOD TO GO.
HOPEFULLY, HE'LL SURVIVE THIS ORDEAL.
[ MOOING ]
Narrator: 10 MORE MILES TO GO.
BUT THE NEWBORN CALF WILL HAVE TO SURVIVE
MUD FLATS, PREDATORS, AND TWO RIVER CROSSINGS
TO REACH GREENER PASTURES.
12 MILES AWAY, AT THE HOMESTEAD,
OTTO'S SON EIVIN TENDS TO HIS SICK WIFE, EVE.
Eivin: SCRAMBLED EGGS AND NETTLES.
Eve: I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO EAT A LOT,
BUT I'LL EAT SOME.
HOW IS IT?
IT'S DELICIOUS.
THANK YOU.
YOU GOT YOUR APPETITE?
YEAH.
SO, THERE'S SOME STUFF YOU COULD DO FOR ME
AT THE HIGH TUNNEL.
IT WOULD BE GREAT.
OKAY.
AND THEN MAYBE YOU COULD SPREAD A LITTLE BIT OF FERTILIZER
IN THE LOWER GARDEN.
THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
THERE'S SOME WATERING, SOME WEEDING.
I KNOW WEEDING'S NOT YOUR FAVORITE.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S OKAY.
IT'S ALL TO A GOOD CAUSE.
Eivin: EVE JUST HASN'T REALLY HAD A WHOLE LOT OF ENERGY LATELY.
SO I CAME HOME TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HER CHORES, MY CHORES,
AND JUST KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO ON THE FARM.
[ GOATS BLEATING ]
[ CLUCKING ]
HEY, CHICKEN, I'M ON THE HUNT.
LOOKING FOR EGGS UNDER YOU.
[ CLUCKING ]
OH, THAT CHICKEN'S MEAN.
OW!
GOD!
WE GOT MILK, EGGS...
YEAH, YOU BRING THAT.
LET'S GO. COME ON.
GOOD BOY.
WATER THE GARLIC.
WATER THE HOPS.
MAKE ME SOME BEER THIS FALL.
KIND OF DO SOME WEEDING.
IT WAS TOO DANG TEDIOUS.
NEED A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS.
NOW THAT I'M KIND OF DOING EVE'S CHORES, AS WELL,
I'M REALLY REALIZING HOW MUCH SHE HAS TO DO IN A DAY.
AND SHE DOES A LOT EVERY DAY,
AND IT'S PRETTY AMAZING HOW MUCH SHE CAN ACCOMPLISH.
JUST -- I'M QUICKLY REALIZING HOW MUCH SHE DOES.
Narrator: 35 MILES ACROSS THE BAY,
EIVIN'S COUSIN ATZ LEE AND HIS WIFE, JANE,
HAVE SURVIVED A CLOSE CALL WITH THE RISING TIDE
TO RETURN FOR A SECOND DAY,
STILL IN PURSUIT OF AN EIGHT-LEGGED DELICACY.
Jane: DEFINITELY READY TO FIND SOME OCTOPUS TODAY.
I'M READY TO GO SLAY THEM.
♪ OCTOPUS, WHERE ARE YOU? ♪
Atz Lee: OCTOPUS HUNTING IS NINE PARTS PATIENCE
AND ONE PART SUCCESS.
AND YOU IF YOU DON'T GOT THE PATIENCE, YOU KNOW,
AND A GOOD ATTITUDE,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE A VERY GOOD HUNTER.
DOESN'T WANT TO COME OUT. IT'S TOO SLIPPERY.
COME HERE, YOU.
[ GROANS ]
EEL, NOT OCTOPUS.
NOT WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
Narrator: OCTOPUSES ARE MASTERS OF DISGUISE,
ABLE TO CHANGE COLOR, TEXTURE, AND SHAPE
TO BLEND IN WITH THEIR SURROUNDINGS.
Atz Lee: IF YOU'RE TRACKING A LAND ANIMAL,
YOU LOOK FOR TRACKS.
"OH, THERE'S A BEAR PRINT."
"OH, THERE ARE SOME, YOU KNOW, ANIMAL TRACKS."
YOU CAN FOLLOW THE TRACKS AND GET TO THE ANIMAL.
YOU CAN SIT IN A SPOT WHERE YOU SEE A TRAIL --
ANIMAL COMES WALKING BY.
OCTOPUS -- THEY DON'T LEAVE SIGNS.
YOU'RE JUST OUT THERE KIND OF WALKING AROUND.
YOU KNOW THEY'RE UNDERNEATH OF THESE ROCKS, BUT IT'S HARD.
THERE'S ALL THE KELP, AND THERE'S SEA ANEMONES,
AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER CREATURES BLOCKING THEIR HOLES.
THESE GUYS --
IRISH LORDS.
TADPOLES.
THEY STICK THEMSELVES TO THE ROCKS
AND THEN THEY LAY EGGS.
RIGHT NOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY SIT ABOVE WATER LAYING EGGS.
AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY OUT FOR THE SAME THING WE ARE --
OCTOPUS HOLES.
THEY'LL GET DOWN IN THERE,
TRY TO GET SOME OF THAT OCTOPUS, TOO.
BUT THEY LAY THOSE EGGS, THOSE LITTLE TADPOLES,
AND THEN THEY TURN INTO BIG FISH.
AND TIDE COMES BACK IN -- WHHHH! -- OUT IN THE SEA.
I THINK THEY'RE FROM A DIFFERENT PLANET.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM, HUH?
YEAH.
I'LL TRY TO FIND SOME OCTOPUS.
Jane: IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING 'CAUSE I THOUGHT
THEY WOULD JUST BE IN, LIKE, A NICE TIDE POOL OF WATER
AND YOU'D, LIKE, POKE AROUND AND THEY WRAP UP ON A STICK,
AND YOU'D JUST GET IT.
LIKE, THAT'S HOW I DREAMED IT.
BUT, REALLY, THEY'RE REALLY UNDERNEATH THOSE ROCKS,
TO THE POINT WHERE YOU DON'T EVEN THINK
THAT THEY POSSIBLY COULD BE UNDER THERE.
MAN...
IT CERTAINLY AIN'T AN EASY SPORT.
YOU WANT TO GET OFF THIS REEF?
NOT COMPLETELY YET.
GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A GO.
[ SIGHS ]
Atz Lee: IT CAN GET SO DISCOURAGING.
IT'S COLD, IT'S WET, YOUR FEET GET WET,
YOUR PANTS ARE GETTING WET,
AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE RACING AGAINST THE TIDE.
IT'S REALLY AT THOSE POINTS WHERE IT'S JUST WHEN
A LOT OF HUNTERS GIVE UP AND GO HOME.
AND IT'S AT THOSE MOMENTS, FOR ME,
WHEN YOU GOT TO JUST REALLY DIG DEEP
BECAUSE YOU'RE OUT THERE.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE OUT THERE FOR
AND YOU GOT TO USE EVERYTHING UP TO THE VERY LAST MINUTE.
HEY! WHOA!
I'M GETTING ONE.
Atz Lee: NICE JOB, BABY.
Jane: YOU KNOW THERE'S AN OCTOPUS UNDER THERE
IF YOU FEEL A SQUISH.
AAH!
DISGUSTING.
I'M SEEING IT MOVE.
Atz Lee: GOT A LITTLE POOL THERE.
HOW ARE WE GONNA GET IT OUT?
COAX HIM OUT OF THERE.
MAYBE WE SHOULD POUR SOME SODA DOWN.
YEAH.
YOU CAN POUR SODA DOWN A TUBE 'CAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE SODA.
JUST *** HIM OFF.
BACK IN THE DAY, THEY USED TO USE BLEACH,
BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY COOL.
SO THE SODA DOESN'T REALLY HURT THE TIDE POOLS
AND THE OCTOPUS DON'T LIKE IT, JUST 'CAUSE OF THE CARBONATION.
GET IN THERE, BABY.
WHAT AN OCTOPUS REALLY WILL DO,
YOU KNOW, WITH ITS TENTACLES, IT'LL JUST GRAB YOUR POLE.
LIKE, IT'LL GRAB IT FROM YOU OR TURN IT.
IT'S KIND OF A SHOCKER WHEN THAT HAPPENS TO YOU.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE FIGHT'S ON.
HEY! WHOA!
YEP.
AAH!
AAH! [BLEEP]
Narrator: 35 MILES FROM THE HOMESTEAD,
IN THE SHALLOWS OF ENGLISH BAY,
ATZ LEE AND HIS WIFE, JANE, ARE ON THE HUNT FOR OCTOPUS.
BUT AFTER NEARLY TWO UNSUCCESSFUL DAYS,
THE COUPLE ARE LOSING PATIENCE AND GETTING HUNGRY.
YOU WANT TO GET OFF THIS REEF?
NOT COMPLETELY YET.
THEN, JUST AS THE TIDE BEGINS TO CREEP UP THE ICY REEF,
A SLITHERING GLIMMER OF HOPE...
HEY! WHOA!
I'M GETTING ONE.
HE IS UNDER THIS ROCK.
Atz Lee: NICE JOB, BABY.
I SEE A HOLE THAT'S LIKE AN INCH IN DIAMETER OR SMALLER.
AND, SO, YOU SEE IT START SQUEEZING OUT,
YOU JUST GO FOR IT.
OH, MY GOD.
HE IS LIKE UNDER THIS ROCK.
AAH! [BLEEP]
STAY ON IT, JANE.
WELL, I GOT A LEG.
OF COURSE, I RIPPED OF A LEG 'CAUSE I GOT TOO EXCITED.
GOD, IT'S STILL MOVING, AND IT'S JUST THE LEG.
Narrator: OCTOPUSES INTENTIONALLY LOSE LIMBS
TO ESCAPE CAPTURE, BUT IF THEY SURVIVE,
THE APPENDAGE WILL GROW BACK IN A FEW WEEKS.
Atz Lee: THAT THING JUST STARTED DIVING DOWN IN THERE.
I THINK IT WENT UNDERNEATH THE BOULDER
AND THEN ATTACHED ITSELF
TO THE ROOF OF THAT HOLE IN THERE.
SO I JUST STUCK THE HOOK IN
AND JUST GENTLY KIND OF FOUND A PLACE ON THE BACK OF ITS HOOD,
AND I COULD KIND OF FEEL IT.
BACK OF THE HOOD. OH, YEAH. THERE HE GOES.
THE TIDE IS, LIKE, RIGHT THERE.
OH, MY GOD.
GET READY.
I WILL.
WE GOT HIM.
WE GOT HIM.
ONCE I FELT LIKE I HAD A GOOD TUG,
YOU JUST KIND OF SLOWLY PULL IT, PULL IT, PULL IT --
[ VOCALIZES ]
WHOO!
[ LAUGHS ] YEAH!
WHOO!
IT'S LIKE BIRTHING OCTOPUS.
MWAH!
OH, MY GOD.
Narrator: A SIX-POUND OCTOPUS LIKE THIS ONE REQUIRES
80 POUNDS OF FORCE TO BREAK ITS SUCTIONED GRASP.
THAT'S WHY WE COULDN'T GET HIM OUT OF THERE.
HE JUST LATCHED ONTO THOSE ROCKS AND HOLD ON, BUT...
UNBELIEVABLE.
THIS IS, LIKE, THE LAST FIVE MINUTES,
AND I AM NOT GETTING WET.
LET'S GO.
LET'S GO BEFORE WE CAN'T GO.
REALLY FEELING THE PRESSURE OF HAVING TO GET OUT OF HERE
'CAUSE OF THE TIDE.
GRABBED THE GEAR, PACK IT UP,
AND STARTED RUNNING FOR THAT LAND BRIDGE.
AND, I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE OPPOSITE MOSES.
INSTEAD OF PARTING THE SEAS, THE SEAS WERE COMING
BACK TOGETHER, MAN, AND WE WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
OUR ACCESS TO THE REEF'S GONE.
YES, IT IS.
IT WAS THE TIDE OR THE OCTOPUS.
AND TODAY, WE WIN.
Narrator: OVER 45 MILES AWAY,
ATZ LEE'S UNCLE OTTO DRIVES THE HERD FAST AND HARD
TOWARD THEIR SUMMER GRAZING LANDS.
TWO DEEP GLACIAL RIVERS LIE IN THEIR PATH,
AND A 3-DAY-OLD CALF -- NUMBER 1308 --
IS ALREADY TOO TIRED TO WALK.
Charlotte: THE PLAN WAS THAT WE WOULD GROUP UP WITH THE HERD
BEFORE THEY CROSSED THE FOX RIVER.
AND WE'D UNTIE THE CALF,
REUNITE IT WITH ITS MOTHER,
AND THEN IT COULD POSSIBLY SWIM THE RIVER WITH ITS MOTHER.
Narrator: IN ALASKA'S BACK COUNTRY, NATURE HAS ITS OWN IDEAS.
AT THE FOX RIVER, THE HERD BOLTS ACROSS ON ITS OWN.
Otto: HEY!
THE COWS WERE SO GUNG HO TO GET ACROSS THOSE RIVERS.
WELL, THAT DON'T LOOK VERY [BLEEP] GOOD, DOES IT?
WE CAN'T CROSS THE WHEELER FROM HERE.
Charlotte: LOOKING FOR GRASS, THE COWS WERE GONE.
Otto: THERE WAS NO FORCE THAT WAS GONNA HOLD THEM BACK.
THE MINUTE I SAW THE COWS GO INTO THE RIVER AND NOT STOPPING,
I KNEW WE WERE UP AGAINST A SCREW-UP.
YOU DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO BE LEFT BEHIND,
SUCH AS THE CALF.
I HOPED THE MOTHER WOULD STOP.
SHE DIDN'T.
I REALLY WANTED THAT CALF TO CROSS WITH THE COW.
THAT WAS THE SAFEST WAY IT WAS GONNA CROSS.
AND I HAD BEEN SAVING ITS ENERGY ALL THAT TIME
BY CARRYING IT ON THE WHEELER SO THAT IT COULD.
IT WAS A REAL MISTAKE TO LET THE COWS
GET THAT FAR AHEAD OF MYSELF.
SHOULDN'T HAVE LET THE MAMA GO WITHOUT THE CALF
IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
WOULD HAVE BEEN ITS SAFEST TRANSIT OF ALL.
NOW I HAVE TO TAKE A RISK CARRYING THIS LITTLE [BLEEP]
ACROSS THE RIVER, AND I DON'T LIKE IT.
Charlotte: I'M SURPRISED THE MOTHER'S NOT HANGING BACK MORE,
LOOKING FOR HIM,
'CAUSE SHE SURE WAS -- YOU KNOW, ALL ALONG THE TRIP,
SHE WAS JUST CONSTANTLY CHECKING WHERE HE WAS.
OKAY.
THE PLAN HERE NOW IS TO GET THE CALF UP ON ME.
WHOA.
OKAY.
WHOA.
[ COW MOOS ]
[BLEEP] MAN.
IT BECAME BECAME QUITE A CLUSTER [BLEEP]
I SAY WE SHOULD JUST GO FOR IT.
COME ON, LITTLE FELLER.
COME ON, LITTLE FELLER.
MAYBE HE'LL FOLLOW US
JUST OUT OF NEEDING TO FOLLOW SOMETHING.
COME ON, LITTLE FELLER.
I THOUGHT PROBABLY WASN'T SMART
TO TRY TO CARRY THAT CALF ON THE HORSE,
SO I DECIDED TO LEAD THE CALF ACROSS.
A LITTLE UNRULY.
Charlotte: I'M EVEN WORRIED ABOUT IT GOING ACROSS THE RIVER
BECAUSE IT'S SO LITTLE,
AND IF THERE'S MUCH OF A CURRENT,
THEY CAN BE SWEPT AWAY
IF IT JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE ENERGY TO SWIM.
LET'S GO!
COME ON!
LET'S GO!
LET'S GO! COME ON!
Otto: I JUST TOOK A RISK, AND IT WAS A GAMBLE.
COME ON!
I LOOKED BACK, AND THAT DAMN CALF
WAS JUST LIKE A FRICKIN' KING SALMON.
AT THAT POINT, I KIND OF LOST CONTROL OF THE SITUATION.
COME ON! COME ON!
Charlotte: IT LOOKED LIKE A REALLY BAD IDEA.
THE CALF'S HEAD WAS MOSTLY UNDER THE WATER.
[ MOOING ]
COME ON!
Otto: I REALIZED THAT HE WASN'T SWIMMING TOO WELL.
AND I KIND OF DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHOICE.
COME ON!
COME ON!
I MADE THE DECISION TO GO AS FAST AS I COULD
AND PULL AS HARD AS I COULD AND GET THAT THING ACROSS.
COME ON!
HE NEEDS HELP, MAN.
Jane: ALMOST THE WHOLE, ENTIRE OCTOPUS IS FOOD.
ALL THE TENTACLES -- THE ARMS -- ARE ALL FOOD.
Jane: IS THAT LIKE ITS BRAINS?
Atz Lee: ITS GUTS AND EVERYTHING. WHOO!
THE HEAD OF IT IS THE GUTS AND THE BRAIN AND EVERYTHING,
AND YOU GET RID OF THAT.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A NICE, LIKE, FLAT THING CALLED THE HOOD
THAT YOU EAT.
LOOK AT THAT NICE PIECE OF MEAT.
NICE!
OCTOPUS IS CHEWY,
SO YOU JUST HAVE TO TENDERIZE IT.
AND YOU CAN JUST KIND OF BEAT UP THE ARMS WITH A ROCK.
Atz Lee: YOU CAN FRY THEM.
YOU CAN JUST GO STRAIGHT SUSHI STYLE.
OCTOPUS FOR DINNER!
HERE'S TO PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE.
Atz Lee: IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ALWAYS SUCCEEDING --
YOU KNOW, THE JOURNEY IS A LOT OF IT, TOO.
BUT WHEN YOU PUT THE TWO TOGETHER,
IT JUST TASTES ALL THE SWEETER
KNOWING WHAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH TO IT GET IT.
WOW.
[ LAUGHS ] IT'S REALLY GOOD.
YEAH.
IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER.
COME ON!
[ HORSE NEIGHS ]
COME ON!
Narrator: 20 MILES FROM THE HOMESTEAD,
THE ANNUAL CATTLE DRIVE
IS IN ITS SECOND AND MOST DANGEROUS DAY.
AFTER BEING ABANDONED BY ITS MOTHER,
CALF NUMBER 1308 MUST CROSS A TURBULENT GLACIAL RIVER
WITHOUT HER GUIDANCE.
OTTO HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO DRAG THE FEEBLE NEWBORN
TO THE FAR BANK.
LET'S GO!
COME ON!
[ MOOING ]
COME ON!
HE NEEDS HELP, MAN.
QUITE FRANKLY, I THOUGHT I DROWNED THAT CALF.
COME ON.
COME ON, LITTLE FELLER.
COME ON OUT OF THERE.
COME ON!
COME ON!
I WAS STILL A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT IT
AT THAT POINT, YOU KNOW.
IT WAS PRETTY WEAK AND WOBBLY
AND OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY TRAUMATIZED.
PUT HIM UP HERE. HERE WE GO.
OKAY. AGAIN.
GOT HIM.
ONE MORE FLOP. ONE MORE.
OKAY.
COME ON, LITTLE FELLER. GET UP.
COME ON. COME ON, LITTLE FELLER.
AH, IT'S OKAY.
[ GRUNTS ]
OKAY.
Narrator: A FEW MILES AHEAD, ACROSS SHEEP RIVER,
ATZ SR. HAS BEEN SCOUTING FOR PREDATORS
WHEN HE SPOTS THE HERD.
BUT THERE'S NO SIGN OF HIS BROTHER OTTO.
Atz: WHEN I SAW THE CATTLE
COMING ACROSS THE FLATS WITHOUT ANYBODY,
THEN I REALIZED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG.
Otto: WHEN WE GOT TO THE SHEEP RIVER, 1308 WAS NOT ABOUT TO CROSS IT.
I HAD TO DRAG IT ACROSS THAT, TOO.
COME ON, LITTLE BABY COW.
COME ON, WE GOT TO GET HIM ACROSS.
PUSH ON HIM, AUGUST!
POOR LITTLE GUY.
COME ON.
PUSH ON IT! PUSH ON IT!
KEEP GOING.
KEEP GOING.
COME ON.
COME ON. COME ON.
DAMN, THIS IS A HARD PULL.
COME ON, BABY.
OTTO, STOP! HE'S STUCK IN THE MUD!
WHAT?
[ MOOING ]
GOT HIM.
Charlotte: BY THE TIME THAT BABY GOT
TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHEEP,
IT WAS JUST SO WRUNG OUT.
IT WAS SHIVERING,
AND IT WAS JUST STANDING THERE LIKE A POOR, FORLORN CREATURE.
IT JUST LOOKED LIKE IT WAS IN BAD, SAD SHAPE.
GOD, WHERE'S THE MOTHER?
Otto: COME ON, LITTLE FELLER.
WELL, JUST KIND OF PLAY WITH HIM HERE.
AUGUST, DO YOU WANT TO RUN OVER
AND HELP ME GET NUMBER 8 OVER HERE?
LET'S GO FIND YOUR MAMA. COME ON.
THE MOTHER IS NOT RIGHT HERE,
SO THE GUYS HAVE JUST GONE OFF TO FIND THE MOTHER.
SO WE'RE GONNA BRING HER BACK TO HIM.
Atz: THERE YOU GO.
[ MOOING ]
THERE YOU GO.
OH, THAT'S GONNA BE A HAPPY COW.
LOOK AT HIM.
[ MOOING ]
Charlotte: [ LAUGHS ]
OHH!
HOW ABOUT THAT?
HOW ABOUT THAT?
OH, BOY.
Otto: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE JOURNEY OF THAT CALF --
IN THAT SPAN OF TIME
THAT CALF WALKED FIVE MILES UP THE BEACH
BEFORE IT GOT TOO TIRED,
RODE ON A WHEELER,
GOT DUMPED OFF AT THE CORRAL, SPENT THE NIGHT,
GOT HOGTIED, THROWN ON A WHEELER,
TAKEN UP TO THE RIVER, FORGOTTEN BY ITS MOTHER...
TRIED TO DROWN IT CROSSING THE RIVER, YOU KNOW...
[ CHUCKLES ]
THEN RODE A HORSE ANOTHER THREE MILES,
GOT DRAGGED ACROSS ANOTHER RIVER,
AND THEN, FINALLY, IN THE END,
MOM SUDDENLY SAW BABY, BABY SAW MOM,
AND HERE THEY CAME TOGETHER.
JUST -- YOU KNOW, THAT WAS KIND OF LIKE, "WOW."
A DAY AND A HALF IN THE LIFE OF 1308.
YOU KNOW? [ CHUCKLES ]
WOW.
IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST REALLY SOMETHING.
Charlotte: WELL, THAT'S THAT.
Eivin: [ SIGHS ]
Eve: DID YOU JUST GET DONE WITH ALL THE CHORES?
THANK YOU.
THE GOATS ARE DEFINITELY PREGNANT.
OH!
LIKE, RUBY AND DAFFODIL ARE STARTING TO GET BIG.
AND I CAN KIND OF SEE A LUMP ON RUBY NOW
THAT SEEMS LIKE SHE'S KIND OF GOT
THIS PREGNANCY THING GOING ON.
WELL, THEY MIGHT NOT BE THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE PREGNANT.
OH, YEAH?
YEAH.
REALLY?
YEAH!
PRETTY CRAZY, HUH?
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, MY GOD.
Eivin: IT'S SO SPECIAL TO GET TO GROW UP
THE WAY THAT I GREW UP AND MY DAD GREW UP --
ADVENTURE EVERYWHERE, AND PLACES TO BUILD TREE FORTS
AND HIDDEN MEADOWS AND HIDDEN FIELDS
AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
IT'S ALL GONNA BE A NEW ADVENTURE TO MY KID.
AND, SO, IT'S PRETTY EXCITING TO GET TO WATCH THEM
GO THROUGH ALL THAT AND DISCOVER EVERYTHING
THAT THIS PLACE HAS TO OFFER FOR THEMSELVES.
THAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY YOU HAVEN'T BEEN FEELING WELL.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: NEXT, ON "ALASKA -- THE LAST FRONTIER"...
EIVIN AND EVE WORK TOGETHER
TO ENHANCE THE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR THEIR FUTURE CHILD.
Eivin: IF I DON'T GET WATER NOW,
IT'S JUST GONNA KIND OF GET CRAZY.
OH [BLEEP]
OH, OH, OH, OH.
Narrator: OTTO AND CHARLOTTE BEGIN
A CREATIVE AND MOBILE HOME IMPROVEMENT.
OUCH!
AND ATZ AND ATZ LEE JOURNEY OUT
TO CONTINUE A RELENTLESS HUNT FOR BADLY NEEDED MEAT.
Charlotte: YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S COMING NEXT,
WHAT YOU NEED TO BE READY FOR.
IT'S A WILD LIFE.