Ice Road Truckers (2007) s08e04 Episode Script
Snow Bound
Narrator: Now on Ice Road Truckers Todd: These are the most extreme conditions that I have ever travelled on.
Narrator: Freezing Art: I'm running out of fuel, I'm completely out of fucking patience.
Narrator: Stranded Lisa: I'm just spinning my wheels on this fucking path.
Narrator: And falling apart Darrell: Whoa! It's cracking! Narrator: The storm of the century's got the drivers Agh! Narrator: fighting to stay alive.
Art: Anybody who's got any ideas of doing this for a fucking job, might wanna get themselves checked out.
Narrator: One of the worst storms on record has ravaged Canada, sending the competition on the winter roads into chaos.
in-in 36 hours.
It was incredible.
Narrator: While most truckers stayed on the sidelines through the onslaught, the drivers at VP Express and Polar Industries, dared to push forward.
And while the blizzard pounded Manitoba, Ontario bore the brunt of it, leaving Polar's expansion plan in ruins.
Mark: We can't afford to have all these trucks sitting in Ontario, stuck in the snow.
This is gonna cost thousands a day.
Narrator: Deep in Ontario, hundreds of miles from civilization Art: Hello, hello.
Can you hear me now? Hello? Narrator: Even with his emergency sat phone, Polar driver, Art Burke, has no contact with the outside world.
Art: Hello? Still there? Can't be completed as dialled.
Holy fucking shit! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Narrator: After delivering a load to remote Deer Lake Come on, baby, you can do it.
(Truck whines) You're all right.
Narrator: the heavy snow thwarted Art's run back to Winnipeg, and he's been stuck for 15 hours.
Art: Nobody went by while I was asleep by the look of the tracks, that's for fucking sure.
(Crow cawing) That's the first fucking thing I've seen all day with a bit of life.
(Crow cawing) Starting to crack the fuck up, a little bit.
It is freezing.
Fuck! It's cold.
This is the kind of place the city slickers only fucking dream of in their nightmares.
(Laughs) Narrator: With the storm dying down, his only hope is that truckers are willing to get back on the road, and that a passing driver can throw him a lifeline.
I'm down to half a tank of fuel, I can't spend too much time here.
Narrator: But with his fuel supply dwindling, he's quickly running out of time.
So I gotta to stay here.
I don't know, boy, I hope the fucking snow fairy comes or something helps me the fuck out of this.
Narrator: But Art is not the only Polar driver down for the count - 200 miles northeast - Hello? Hello? How you turn it up? Narrator: Lisa Kelly's also stuck in no-man's-land.
Lisa: Can't hear crap on this phone.
Satellite phones suck.
I'm pretty much just sitting here stuck, I have every chain that I could muster from the shop on the truck, which isn't enough.
Narrator: Yesterday (Truck honks) Oh, you guys aren't gonna go then? You're just camping out? Narrator: Lisa was the only trucker to drive the road to Big Trout Lake through the blizzard.
At this point I'm the only one still moving.
Narrator: But on her way back home she was unable to conquer the steep hills through the mounting snow.
Lisa: I've been saying that we're gonna get stuck because I don't have any driver weight.
Narrator: And she's been stuck ever since.
Narrator: With Lisa and Art both stranded, Polar's situation is growing more dire with each passing minute.
But back in Winnipeg Cam: VP, Cam here.
What the hell's going on? We're banned, why? W-what did they say? Narrator: Rival VP Express has got troubles of their own.
It sounds, it sounds like that to me too, you know, somebody is just trying to cause shit.
Yeah, give me just a little bit, I'll find out what the hell is going on.
Narrator: Dispatcher Cam alerts boss, Vlad Pleskot, about a sticky situation up north.
Cam: Alex, went into Red Sucker to get that repo Polar trailer.
Vlad: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
He got escorted out of the place by the constables.
He got what? Cam: They escorted him out.
Narrator: Yesterday Alex: (Chuckles) Narrator: VP sent Alex Debogorski to repo a trailer from their rival, Polar Industries.
That'll just rub salt in the wound.
(Laughing) Narrator: But after the 700 mile trek to Red Sucker Lake Mark: Well, whatever you can do on your end to make this happen-- make this stop.
(Police sirens wail) Narrator: Polar boss Mark Kohaykewich made sure Alex was sent back.
Alex: I understand.
That-that's just bullshit.
Sounds like somebody is kinda trying to cause shit.
Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.
Fucking down the street.
So I mean, it kind of sucks because Alex he's going to have to sit on the road right now.
Vlad: Okay.
Alex is still sitting on the side of the road.
Vlad: Pretty soon he's going to run out of diesel and run out of supplies.
Narrator: 320 miles north, just outside Red Sucker Lake Alex: I'm sitting out here in a snow bank, kicked out of town by the tribal police.
Uh, I mean they didn't tell us to wait, we're waiting on our own cog-- waiting on my own cognisance.
Narrator: Alex awaits instructions from headquarters.
Alex: Waiting for Cam to straighten out this problem so I can go back into town, because we are here, and this is an expensive place to send a truck to.
The only concern with the truck is how much fuel's in it.
I got about, I got under three-eighths of a tank.
I mean, there's lots of idling.
Narrator: He's already spent a night in sub-zero temperatures, but with fuel burning fast, and food rations dwindling, VP will have to resolve the stand off soon, or Alex might not make it back to Winnipeg.
I don't know.
We're gonna find out shortly, I hope.
Narrator: While VP is stuck in neutral a 100 miles to the east (Truck honks) We're up here in freakin' no-man's-land.
Narrator: Polar driver, Todd Dewey, is attempting to tame a road few have ever travelled.
Todd: VP is still on their little fucking run and Team Polar's got all the hard fucking loads going to fucking places that mankind has never even fucking been.
Narrator: Part of Polar's ambitious expansion plan into Ontario, Todd must drive 600 miles to remote Muskrat Dam.
Hang on! (Chains clink) This load's really high-centred, it's really stacked up high on the low deck.
Narrator: The load of construction supplies is over six feet tall, and the high centre of gravity makes it easily susceptible to wind, and tipping over.
You know, the roads are so bumpy it starts throwing your weight like this, and there's always that possibility it can throw your trailer right over.
You get your one tire into that snow drift and you let your steering wheel out of your hand, it pulls you right into the fucking bank, and there you are stuck.
We need to hang on.
These fucking ruts are deep.
I need to really concentrate what the fuck I'm doing here, or we're gonna be in a world of fucking hurt.
(Truck engine rumbles) Narrator: But as Todd rounds a corner, the situation quickly gets worse.
Todd: Whoa, that's a steep hill.
Steep downhill, cross a little tiny, narrow bridge, and a steep hill afterwards.
You get stopped on that hill and you are fucked.
So I'm gonna try to hammer down.
Narrator: The hill will force him to accelerate to get through it.
Get as much momentum as I can to carry me up over the top.
Looks like a pretty long, steep grade.
Narrator: And with a tall, unstable load that can flip at any moment, he's playing a deadly game.
Hang on! Here we go! Holly, sweet lord.
Come on, baby.
Come on! Don't get stuck! Son of a bitch! Get up the hill! Come on, get up the hill! (Revving, tires spin) I fucking lost it! Narrator: On the road to Muskrat Dam Come on, baby.
Narrator: Four feet of snow is stopping Todd Dewey in his tracks.
Todd: Come on, don't get stuck! Son of a bitch! Get up the hill! Come on, get up the hill! (Tires spinning) I fucking lost it! (Tires spinning) Narrator: Determined not to tumble backwards and jackknife the rig Fuck.
Here we go! Narrator: Todd tries again.
Todd: Come on, get up the hill.
Narrator: And gives it all he's got.
Todd: Get up the hill! (Tires spinning) Yee haw! Ha ha ha! That was fucked.
I didn't think we were gonna make it.
Team Polar this year is definitely driving some uh, some real, real winter roads.
The road conditions I'm fighting right now are un-fucking-believable, and I know the rest of the crew is fighting the same thing.
Narrator: While Polar moves on just outside of Red Sucker Lake In the name of the Father, and the Son, Holy Spirit, Amen.
Jesus, I trust in You Narrator: VP's Alex Debogorski is still stuck in limbo.
Alex: Please give us a hand with fixing the situation we're in here, so we can either go back to Winnipeg and get another load, or go into town and get the one we're supposed to get.
Narrator: If he returns to Winnipeg without repoing the contested trailer, he won't get paid, but if he waits too long, he could run out of fuel.
Narrator: As the diesel burns Sat phones are maddening.
Narrator: Alex keeps trying to contact dispatch.
Alex: Hi.
Cam, how's it goin'? Okay, we'll see you later.
Thank you.
Bye.
Finally.
Narrator: As Alex heads back into Red Sucker down in Winnipeg Cam: Well, we got her straightened away.
I mean, he slowed us down, but he didn't stop us so Hugh: Well, that's good.
Cam: Now if it cost us a couple of days, - and we got her back-- Hugh: - That's good.
Narrator: VP has gained the upper hand in their chess game with Polar.
I can't stress how low I think that guy is, he's just-- Well, he tried, he didn't want us to get that trailer, he tried to stop us.
I mean, that's a repo job, that just makes him look bad.
Narrator: Down the street Mark: Polar Industries.
Narrator: Mark gets word that the trailer is in VP's hands.
Fucking idiots.
(Taps pen) Mark: You know what, this is typical VP style.
If VP Express wants to come in and they want to play the hero game, and we're gonna solve everything eh, like this is ridiculous.
He's sticking his nose in my business again.
I hate Hugh.
I hate VP Express.
Those guys, it's just their attitude and approach to the way they're doing things, it's just, it's childish and that's what pisses me off.
Narrator: VP may have won this battle.
Alex: Well, I'm happy to be moving.
My visit to Red Sucker Lake in northern Manitoba was basically being a pawn in somebody's political arena.
Narrator: But before his mission is complete, Alex still faces 700 miles of storm ravaged roads and a dwindling fuel supply.
I still have to get out of here, get to Winnipeg, so, I guess I've got between a quarter and a half.
When the fuel starts getting under a half, I start getting a little nervous.
I mean that trailer being empty is a problem, too.
The trick is not to get myself stuck, I guess.
I don't really need anymore drama.
Narrator: While Alex ploughs ahead 200 miles away on the road to Ontario's Big Trout Lake All right, I'm on the road again.
Narrator: Polar driver Darrell Ward's on the move too.
Things just aren't working so well for me this year.
Narrator: But it's been a rocky season for the Montana Legend.
I'm runin' a big whole heap of fucking trucks.
I'm not getting loads that I want.
(Warning beeps) Well, what the fuck.
Narrator: A sidelined truck cost Darrell a valuable haul.
Darrell: I've only made two runs since I've been here.
Narrator: And he had it out with the boss.
Darrell: I want, I want as many loads as I can get.
That's why I'm here, you know.
Mark: I apologize if it's not up to your standard.
I haven't got half the loads I had last year.
Narrator: Now he's back in action, but he's still feeling the sting from missing a paycheque.
Darrell: Get as many loads as you can.
Mark needs to step up his game or I'm gonna step up my game.
Narrator: But Darrell's frustration with the company soon takes a back seat to the challenge ahead.
Darrell: Well, looks like I got an ice crossing coming up.
(Track stops) (Door shuts) Road's only been open for about a week.
Doesn't look to me like it's been maintained at all.
The snow's an insulator, on top of that it's a blanket.
Keeps your ice from freezing.
You keep snow on there, you're never gonna get enough ice to drive across so you could be looking for a disaster.
Narrator: While heavy snow falls on the frozen surface, it acts as an insulator, it slows the formation of the ice, preventing it from reaching optimal thickness.
So when a big rig attempts to cross, the ice might not be strong enough to hold it.
(Loud crash) It's one of those ones you really don't know if you want to cross or not.
At this point you really don't have a choice.
I got a granddaughter, you know.
I should not even be doin' this shit.
Narrator: On a remote Ontario lake crossing I got a granddaughter, you know.
I should not even be doin' this shit.
Narrator: Polar driver Darrell Ward's rolling onto trouble.
Darrell: Kind of an eerie feeling when you know you're the only tracks out here.
You know you're the only one out here.
Trying to find the best trail there is, I guess.
I don't know how thick the ice is.
She's cracking.
I can hear it cracking.
I don't like driving across these ice crossings when there's snow on the ice.
Narrator: The blizzard's dumped four feet of snow insulating the ice, preventing it from fully hardening.
Darrell: About as bad as it gets right here.
Narrator: And now Darrell's load is adding 30 tonnes on top of it.
(Ice cracking) Darrell: Whoa! It's cracking! Hell yeah! Narrator: Darrell survived the battle.
You know that crossing there was as bad as this road.
Narrator: But the rest of the way, he'll trade cracking ice for bone-crushing terrain.
I got 125 kilometres to go through on this road today.
Narrator: While Darrell ploughs ahead 85 miles to the northwest These are the most extreme conditions that I have ever travelled on anywhere on an ice road.
Narrator: Polar team-mate, Todd Dewey's wild ride to remote Muskrat Dam continues.
Just ploughing through fresh snow.
No tracks, no nothing.
Narrator: And as he nears his first ice crossing Todd: Uh-oh.
Narrator: there's trouble ahead.
Oh, there's trucks backed up from one end to the next.
Man: - How's it goin'? Todd: - I've been better.
Man: This lake up here, has been closed down.
It blew into the snow, and then the weight cracked it, so the water came on top.
Todd: Holy fuck! The road that I was supposed to take that goes up to Muskrat Dam, the lake had collapsed in.
All that great big snowstorm that had happened for two or three days there had snowed so much snow on the lake, the weight had collapsed and cracked the lake in on the inside.
Narrator: With the crossing closed down They've made a trail around uh, through the First Reserve near Round Lake.
Narrator: only one alternative remains.
An un-maintained and rarely used trail, unfit for big rigs in any type of weather.
(Truck engine rumbles) But it's Todd's only option.
As the convoy retreats Todd: Muskrat Dam, here we come, you son of a bitch.
Narrator: Todd presses on.
(Chains rattle) Todd: I guess they took a bulldozer, pushed some road that hasn't been used in 25 years, and they pushed it back open, and they said it is a rough son of a bitch through there, but that's the only way to get to Muskrat Dam.
So, that's the way we're going.
Biggest challenge of this right here is just staying on the fucking road without sliding into the fucking ditch.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! That's what I'm talking about, just damn near pulled me off the road right there.
(Truck engine rumbles) Narrator: Only ten miles down the route, Todd hits an ice crossing untouched by any other driver.
I don't know, looks fucking scary.
Look at that.
Fuck! After what I just heard about the other lake, too much snow on the lake and it fucking busted through, hell yeah, it makes me nervous.
Weight of the snow busted through the lake.
Just think how much weight all this snow is, compacted up and building on my trailer.
I mean, just think how much weight all this snow starts adding up, it's a lot.
And as you can see, I've already got one hell of a load on.
I don't need any more of a load.
Narrator: Every pound of snow Todd knocks away decreases his chance of falling through the ice.
(Truck engine hums) Here we go.
Fuck (Wheels spinning) Narrator: On a un-maintained ice crossing to Muskrat Dam Here we go.
Narrator: Todd Dewey's blazing a terrifying path.
Todd: Look how much snow is on this lake! That's like ten feet high.
Narrator: Mountains of snow have accumulated on the lake (Ice cracking) pushing the ice to the brink of collapse.
I ain't never seen nothin' like this in my life.
That is officially the most snow I have ever seen stacked on a lake.
Ever! (Cracking) (Chains rattle) Wow.
Dude, I ain't never seen shit like this.
Almost off, baby.
Yee haw! Hell yeah! Oh well, we wanted a sense of adventure, we got it now.
Narrator: Todd's navigated the crossing, but he's still got 75 miles to go on the seldom travelled route.
You know, most of these runs aren't about when you get there, it's if you get there.
Narrator: While Todd motors ahead His Polar team-mate's barely hanging on.
I don't know how long I'm gonna fucking be here.
There's no traffic on this road.
Narrator: After 20 hours, Art Burke's still stranded, he hasn't seen any trucks for two days.
Art: There's no trucks, no shit at all.
I guess they can't get through or they got more brains than me, or something.
They're going to have to plough this eventually with some kind of a fucking rig and hopefully that will tow me out.
Maybe I'll follow them out of here, eh.
Well, I don't expect that to happen anytime soon.
Anybody who's got any fucking ideas of doing this for a fucking job, might want to get themselves checked out.
Narrator: Without any sign of life on the horizon, and with temperatures falling, all he can do is retreat to his cab, hope for a miracle.
Art: Could be a lot worse.
I could be up there crossways in the fucking road.
We're just gonna sit back here, boy, eat fucking candy, and wait for some good samaritan to come along and save me.
So to speak.
Narrator: While Art burns his last drops of fuel 200 miles northwest (Truck engine rumbles) Lisa: Like I said, I was gonna go until I couldn't go no more.
So here I am, gone until I can't go no more.
Narrator: Polar team-mate, Lisa Kelly, nears her 24th hour stranded in frozen back country.
(Crow cawing) Lisa: Running out of fuel.
It is freezing.
Narrator: As the next cold front hits, the danger of frigid nightfall looms.
Narrator: But there's one other driver that dared to run this road.
Get this mess cleaned up.
Lisa: Darrell! (Laughs) Narrator: On his way to Big Trout Lake, Darrell Ward spots his team-mate in trouble.
I'm gonna pull you forward.
Oh, I'm sure you will.
I've got faith in ya.
Copy.
Right on.
These roads are terrible.
Lisa: I was just gonna say, have you been having fun or what? My God, it's been rough in deep snow.
Darrell's gonna pull me forward just to get me to the top of this hill, 'cause there's no way I'm going anywhere.
Darrell: Here we go.
Narrator: Darrell throws it in reverse Darrell: Move! Narrator: Tries to tug Lisa's Darrell, hang on, I might be stuck again.
Darrell: Man! Narrator: But in four feet of snow, if Darrell's not careful, he could easily find himself stuck as well.
(Wheels spinning) Lisa: I'm just spinning my wheels on this fucking path.
Fuck.
Narrator: 100 miles from remote Big Trout Lake Wow! Narrator: Darrell Ward's trying to pull team-mate, Lisa Kelly, to freedom.
Fuck.
Narrator: But in the deep snow, even the Montana Legend struggles on the steep hill.
(Wheels spinning) Lisa: I'm just spinning my wheels on this fucking path.
Darrell: (Over radio) Let's hit her again.
(Wheels spinning) Come on, pull.
Hell yeah! Narrator: Finally Lisa: I guess I'll try not to dig another hole.
Narrator: Darrell gets the job done.
All I needed was a tiny little tug.
Darrell: Yup.
Lisa: Here you go.
You get a necklace, and I get a necklace.
Darrell: Here you go.
Mine's got-- Mine's longer.
Lisa: Well, let me get mine up here.
Darrell: Right on.
Lisa: I've missed you.
(Laughs) Narrator: While the Polar drivers get back on the road 170 miles to the west, and the brutal trail out of Red Sucker Lake.
As long as she stays smooth, we're fine.
If it's all bumpy and we have to slow down, we got a problem.
Narrator: VP's Alex Debogorski, is racing back to Winnipeg with Polar's repoed trailer.
Gotta get in the zone here.
It-- it's getting uglier.
A little uglier there.
Narrator: But the five foot high snowfall is making the notoriously vicious road a beast to navigate.
Alex: Now here's a road that's gonna be a little slippery.
If I go in the ditch, I'm gonna be really pissed off.
Uh, it's getting thicker here, and of course I got a hill.
Agh! Starting to climb a little, getting a little steeper.
Come on! Don't stop, buddy! (Truck engine revs) (Beeping) (Chains clink) (Truck engine rumbles) (Wheels spinning) Alex: Well (Truck engine roars, chains clink) Narrator: While VP's shut down, 140 miles to the east in Ontario, a Polar driver is not faring any better.
Art: Well, here we are stuck here for another fucking night.
I'm running out of fucking fuel, I'm running completely out of fucking patience.
I need somebody, I need a fucking tug at the top of that fucking hill, and there's nothing here to tug me.
Narrator: Art Burke's facing another night in Arctic condition.
And after being stranded for 24 hours Holy fucking shit! Narrator: he'll run out of fuel to keep him warm before the sun rises.
(Truck engine hums) (Wind gusts) (Honking in the distance) Narrator: Finally Art: (Joyous laughter) Narrator: A ray of hope (Truck honks) Hey! All right.
Narrator: A passing truck may be Art's life line.
Art: I've been waiting to see you all day long, my friend.
I've got-- (Laughs) I'm so happy to see you and I'll tell you, I've been here since yesterday evening.
Man: - Really? Art: - And I can't get up there, eh.
Narrator: But in the massive snowfall Art: I hope this works.
Narrator: the light rig might not have what it takes to get Art free.
Art: Okay.
So we're all set?! Art: There we go, boy.
(Chains clink) Come on, baby, let's get this shit up here.
We got it all under control now.
(Loud clang) Oh my God, we just tore the bumper off his fucking truck.
Holy fucking shit! Narrator: In 40 below temperatures Art: There we go, boy.
Narrator: Art Burke's plan for freedom (Loud clang) Oh my God, we just tore the bumper off his fucking truck.
Narrator: has hit the brakes.
Holy fucking shit! Did you see what happened? We tore the fucking bumper off your truck.
*** It's not good.
You have to send the bill for this to fucking Polar.
(Truck honks in the distance) Narrator: But Art's about to get a second chance Art: You get in.
We're all set? All right! Narrator: A grater clearing the road after the storm Okay, boys and girls.
Narrator: provides Art's best bet yet to get moving.
That a boy, keep going.
For fuck's sake.
We got it fucking made, boys.
(Laughs) We made it! Holy fucking gentlemen, that is fan-fucking-tastic.
Thank you very, very, very much.
We'll see you again next trip when I fuck it again.
Narrator: After two days of isolation, Polar finally has their last driver on the road.
Hey baby, we're off again, eh.
Narrator: And with 150 miles ahead of him, Art may just have enough fuel to get him back to Winnipeg.
Okay, she's fucking rolling, boy.
Keep her fucking rolling.
Narrator: While one Polar driver heads for home Todd: Holy smokes, hang on.
Narrator: another is closing in on his drop-off point.
It's Muskrat Dam.
Narrator: And Polar notches another load.
Todd: Well, I made it, and I'm here at the Muskrat Dam.
This is where my load's gonna be dumped tomorrow.
It's been a long 24 hours, I'm tired.
We've been fighting this road all day long, I mean all day.
It has been four feet of snow, three feet of snow, ploughing these trucks through 'em.
It's been a crazy day.
Narrator: 100 miles to the east, in Big Trout Lake No time to sit around.
Narrator: Darrell Ward's making his delivery, too.
Ready to get this load off and get back in that truck and get turned around and Narrator: And Polar bags another one.
Darrell: give Mark a call and see if he's got a back haul for us.
Narrator: Now the Montana Legend's looking for a back haul to take to Winnipeg, make up for his lost paycheque.
Darrell: Hello? Hey Yeah, yeah I'm here, Mark.
Narrator: But Mark's got nothing for him.
Darrell: You know, I run from Winnipeg all the way into northern Ontario for one load, and now you're deadheading me back to the shop? Fuck that.
Darrell: You talk to Mark, and he's gonna tell you everything you wanna hear.
"Oh Darrell, you'll get a back haul every trip, you'll get this, you'll get that.
" As time goes by, you realize that a lot of it is just blowing smoke up your ass.
Narrator: As Darrell heads back to Polar headquarters empty handed, a new storm is brewing on the winter roads.
Darrell: I came here to get the loads, as many loads as I can, and I'm not getting them.
Mark knows it.
Mark knows I'm not happy.
If I'm gonna run these winter roads, something's gotta change.
Narrator: Next time on Ice Road Truckers Whiteouts, blizzards, snowstorms, of fresh snow.
Narrator: Havoc on the roads Hold on, this one might hurt.
Ah! Narrator: shakes the drivers to their core.
Beam me up, Scotty, for fuck's sake.
Narrator: And at Polar-- a shocking move I want as many loads as I can get.
This isn't all about you.
Narrator: shakes up the entire season.
You're in, or you're out?
Narrator: Freezing Art: I'm running out of fuel, I'm completely out of fucking patience.
Narrator: Stranded Lisa: I'm just spinning my wheels on this fucking path.
Narrator: And falling apart Darrell: Whoa! It's cracking! Narrator: The storm of the century's got the drivers Agh! Narrator: fighting to stay alive.
Art: Anybody who's got any ideas of doing this for a fucking job, might wanna get themselves checked out.
Narrator: One of the worst storms on record has ravaged Canada, sending the competition on the winter roads into chaos.
in-in 36 hours.
It was incredible.
Narrator: While most truckers stayed on the sidelines through the onslaught, the drivers at VP Express and Polar Industries, dared to push forward.
And while the blizzard pounded Manitoba, Ontario bore the brunt of it, leaving Polar's expansion plan in ruins.
Mark: We can't afford to have all these trucks sitting in Ontario, stuck in the snow.
This is gonna cost thousands a day.
Narrator: Deep in Ontario, hundreds of miles from civilization Art: Hello, hello.
Can you hear me now? Hello? Narrator: Even with his emergency sat phone, Polar driver, Art Burke, has no contact with the outside world.
Art: Hello? Still there? Can't be completed as dialled.
Holy fucking shit! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Narrator: After delivering a load to remote Deer Lake Come on, baby, you can do it.
(Truck whines) You're all right.
Narrator: the heavy snow thwarted Art's run back to Winnipeg, and he's been stuck for 15 hours.
Art: Nobody went by while I was asleep by the look of the tracks, that's for fucking sure.
(Crow cawing) That's the first fucking thing I've seen all day with a bit of life.
(Crow cawing) Starting to crack the fuck up, a little bit.
It is freezing.
Fuck! It's cold.
This is the kind of place the city slickers only fucking dream of in their nightmares.
(Laughs) Narrator: With the storm dying down, his only hope is that truckers are willing to get back on the road, and that a passing driver can throw him a lifeline.
I'm down to half a tank of fuel, I can't spend too much time here.
Narrator: But with his fuel supply dwindling, he's quickly running out of time.
So I gotta to stay here.
I don't know, boy, I hope the fucking snow fairy comes or something helps me the fuck out of this.
Narrator: But Art is not the only Polar driver down for the count - 200 miles northeast - Hello? Hello? How you turn it up? Narrator: Lisa Kelly's also stuck in no-man's-land.
Lisa: Can't hear crap on this phone.
Satellite phones suck.
I'm pretty much just sitting here stuck, I have every chain that I could muster from the shop on the truck, which isn't enough.
Narrator: Yesterday (Truck honks) Oh, you guys aren't gonna go then? You're just camping out? Narrator: Lisa was the only trucker to drive the road to Big Trout Lake through the blizzard.
At this point I'm the only one still moving.
Narrator: But on her way back home she was unable to conquer the steep hills through the mounting snow.
Lisa: I've been saying that we're gonna get stuck because I don't have any driver weight.
Narrator: And she's been stuck ever since.
Narrator: With Lisa and Art both stranded, Polar's situation is growing more dire with each passing minute.
But back in Winnipeg Cam: VP, Cam here.
What the hell's going on? We're banned, why? W-what did they say? Narrator: Rival VP Express has got troubles of their own.
It sounds, it sounds like that to me too, you know, somebody is just trying to cause shit.
Yeah, give me just a little bit, I'll find out what the hell is going on.
Narrator: Dispatcher Cam alerts boss, Vlad Pleskot, about a sticky situation up north.
Cam: Alex, went into Red Sucker to get that repo Polar trailer.
Vlad: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
He got escorted out of the place by the constables.
He got what? Cam: They escorted him out.
Narrator: Yesterday Alex: (Chuckles) Narrator: VP sent Alex Debogorski to repo a trailer from their rival, Polar Industries.
That'll just rub salt in the wound.
(Laughing) Narrator: But after the 700 mile trek to Red Sucker Lake Mark: Well, whatever you can do on your end to make this happen-- make this stop.
(Police sirens wail) Narrator: Polar boss Mark Kohaykewich made sure Alex was sent back.
Alex: I understand.
That-that's just bullshit.
Sounds like somebody is kinda trying to cause shit.
Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.
Fucking down the street.
So I mean, it kind of sucks because Alex he's going to have to sit on the road right now.
Vlad: Okay.
Alex is still sitting on the side of the road.
Vlad: Pretty soon he's going to run out of diesel and run out of supplies.
Narrator: 320 miles north, just outside Red Sucker Lake Alex: I'm sitting out here in a snow bank, kicked out of town by the tribal police.
Uh, I mean they didn't tell us to wait, we're waiting on our own cog-- waiting on my own cognisance.
Narrator: Alex awaits instructions from headquarters.
Alex: Waiting for Cam to straighten out this problem so I can go back into town, because we are here, and this is an expensive place to send a truck to.
The only concern with the truck is how much fuel's in it.
I got about, I got under three-eighths of a tank.
I mean, there's lots of idling.
Narrator: He's already spent a night in sub-zero temperatures, but with fuel burning fast, and food rations dwindling, VP will have to resolve the stand off soon, or Alex might not make it back to Winnipeg.
I don't know.
We're gonna find out shortly, I hope.
Narrator: While VP is stuck in neutral a 100 miles to the east (Truck honks) We're up here in freakin' no-man's-land.
Narrator: Polar driver, Todd Dewey, is attempting to tame a road few have ever travelled.
Todd: VP is still on their little fucking run and Team Polar's got all the hard fucking loads going to fucking places that mankind has never even fucking been.
Narrator: Part of Polar's ambitious expansion plan into Ontario, Todd must drive 600 miles to remote Muskrat Dam.
Hang on! (Chains clink) This load's really high-centred, it's really stacked up high on the low deck.
Narrator: The load of construction supplies is over six feet tall, and the high centre of gravity makes it easily susceptible to wind, and tipping over.
You know, the roads are so bumpy it starts throwing your weight like this, and there's always that possibility it can throw your trailer right over.
You get your one tire into that snow drift and you let your steering wheel out of your hand, it pulls you right into the fucking bank, and there you are stuck.
We need to hang on.
These fucking ruts are deep.
I need to really concentrate what the fuck I'm doing here, or we're gonna be in a world of fucking hurt.
(Truck engine rumbles) Narrator: But as Todd rounds a corner, the situation quickly gets worse.
Todd: Whoa, that's a steep hill.
Steep downhill, cross a little tiny, narrow bridge, and a steep hill afterwards.
You get stopped on that hill and you are fucked.
So I'm gonna try to hammer down.
Narrator: The hill will force him to accelerate to get through it.
Get as much momentum as I can to carry me up over the top.
Looks like a pretty long, steep grade.
Narrator: And with a tall, unstable load that can flip at any moment, he's playing a deadly game.
Hang on! Here we go! Holly, sweet lord.
Come on, baby.
Come on! Don't get stuck! Son of a bitch! Get up the hill! Come on, get up the hill! (Revving, tires spin) I fucking lost it! Narrator: On the road to Muskrat Dam Come on, baby.
Narrator: Four feet of snow is stopping Todd Dewey in his tracks.
Todd: Come on, don't get stuck! Son of a bitch! Get up the hill! Come on, get up the hill! (Tires spinning) I fucking lost it! (Tires spinning) Narrator: Determined not to tumble backwards and jackknife the rig Fuck.
Here we go! Narrator: Todd tries again.
Todd: Come on, get up the hill.
Narrator: And gives it all he's got.
Todd: Get up the hill! (Tires spinning) Yee haw! Ha ha ha! That was fucked.
I didn't think we were gonna make it.
Team Polar this year is definitely driving some uh, some real, real winter roads.
The road conditions I'm fighting right now are un-fucking-believable, and I know the rest of the crew is fighting the same thing.
Narrator: While Polar moves on just outside of Red Sucker Lake In the name of the Father, and the Son, Holy Spirit, Amen.
Jesus, I trust in You Narrator: VP's Alex Debogorski is still stuck in limbo.
Alex: Please give us a hand with fixing the situation we're in here, so we can either go back to Winnipeg and get another load, or go into town and get the one we're supposed to get.
Narrator: If he returns to Winnipeg without repoing the contested trailer, he won't get paid, but if he waits too long, he could run out of fuel.
Narrator: As the diesel burns Sat phones are maddening.
Narrator: Alex keeps trying to contact dispatch.
Alex: Hi.
Cam, how's it goin'? Okay, we'll see you later.
Thank you.
Bye.
Finally.
Narrator: As Alex heads back into Red Sucker down in Winnipeg Cam: Well, we got her straightened away.
I mean, he slowed us down, but he didn't stop us so Hugh: Well, that's good.
Cam: Now if it cost us a couple of days, - and we got her back-- Hugh: - That's good.
Narrator: VP has gained the upper hand in their chess game with Polar.
I can't stress how low I think that guy is, he's just-- Well, he tried, he didn't want us to get that trailer, he tried to stop us.
I mean, that's a repo job, that just makes him look bad.
Narrator: Down the street Mark: Polar Industries.
Narrator: Mark gets word that the trailer is in VP's hands.
Fucking idiots.
(Taps pen) Mark: You know what, this is typical VP style.
If VP Express wants to come in and they want to play the hero game, and we're gonna solve everything eh, like this is ridiculous.
He's sticking his nose in my business again.
I hate Hugh.
I hate VP Express.
Those guys, it's just their attitude and approach to the way they're doing things, it's just, it's childish and that's what pisses me off.
Narrator: VP may have won this battle.
Alex: Well, I'm happy to be moving.
My visit to Red Sucker Lake in northern Manitoba was basically being a pawn in somebody's political arena.
Narrator: But before his mission is complete, Alex still faces 700 miles of storm ravaged roads and a dwindling fuel supply.
I still have to get out of here, get to Winnipeg, so, I guess I've got between a quarter and a half.
When the fuel starts getting under a half, I start getting a little nervous.
I mean that trailer being empty is a problem, too.
The trick is not to get myself stuck, I guess.
I don't really need anymore drama.
Narrator: While Alex ploughs ahead 200 miles away on the road to Ontario's Big Trout Lake All right, I'm on the road again.
Narrator: Polar driver Darrell Ward's on the move too.
Things just aren't working so well for me this year.
Narrator: But it's been a rocky season for the Montana Legend.
I'm runin' a big whole heap of fucking trucks.
I'm not getting loads that I want.
(Warning beeps) Well, what the fuck.
Narrator: A sidelined truck cost Darrell a valuable haul.
Darrell: I've only made two runs since I've been here.
Narrator: And he had it out with the boss.
Darrell: I want, I want as many loads as I can get.
That's why I'm here, you know.
Mark: I apologize if it's not up to your standard.
I haven't got half the loads I had last year.
Narrator: Now he's back in action, but he's still feeling the sting from missing a paycheque.
Darrell: Get as many loads as you can.
Mark needs to step up his game or I'm gonna step up my game.
Narrator: But Darrell's frustration with the company soon takes a back seat to the challenge ahead.
Darrell: Well, looks like I got an ice crossing coming up.
(Track stops) (Door shuts) Road's only been open for about a week.
Doesn't look to me like it's been maintained at all.
The snow's an insulator, on top of that it's a blanket.
Keeps your ice from freezing.
You keep snow on there, you're never gonna get enough ice to drive across so you could be looking for a disaster.
Narrator: While heavy snow falls on the frozen surface, it acts as an insulator, it slows the formation of the ice, preventing it from reaching optimal thickness.
So when a big rig attempts to cross, the ice might not be strong enough to hold it.
(Loud crash) It's one of those ones you really don't know if you want to cross or not.
At this point you really don't have a choice.
I got a granddaughter, you know.
I should not even be doin' this shit.
Narrator: On a remote Ontario lake crossing I got a granddaughter, you know.
I should not even be doin' this shit.
Narrator: Polar driver Darrell Ward's rolling onto trouble.
Darrell: Kind of an eerie feeling when you know you're the only tracks out here.
You know you're the only one out here.
Trying to find the best trail there is, I guess.
I don't know how thick the ice is.
She's cracking.
I can hear it cracking.
I don't like driving across these ice crossings when there's snow on the ice.
Narrator: The blizzard's dumped four feet of snow insulating the ice, preventing it from fully hardening.
Darrell: About as bad as it gets right here.
Narrator: And now Darrell's load is adding 30 tonnes on top of it.
(Ice cracking) Darrell: Whoa! It's cracking! Hell yeah! Narrator: Darrell survived the battle.
You know that crossing there was as bad as this road.
Narrator: But the rest of the way, he'll trade cracking ice for bone-crushing terrain.
I got 125 kilometres to go through on this road today.
Narrator: While Darrell ploughs ahead 85 miles to the northwest These are the most extreme conditions that I have ever travelled on anywhere on an ice road.
Narrator: Polar team-mate, Todd Dewey's wild ride to remote Muskrat Dam continues.
Just ploughing through fresh snow.
No tracks, no nothing.
Narrator: And as he nears his first ice crossing Todd: Uh-oh.
Narrator: there's trouble ahead.
Oh, there's trucks backed up from one end to the next.
Man: - How's it goin'? Todd: - I've been better.
Man: This lake up here, has been closed down.
It blew into the snow, and then the weight cracked it, so the water came on top.
Todd: Holy fuck! The road that I was supposed to take that goes up to Muskrat Dam, the lake had collapsed in.
All that great big snowstorm that had happened for two or three days there had snowed so much snow on the lake, the weight had collapsed and cracked the lake in on the inside.
Narrator: With the crossing closed down They've made a trail around uh, through the First Reserve near Round Lake.
Narrator: only one alternative remains.
An un-maintained and rarely used trail, unfit for big rigs in any type of weather.
(Truck engine rumbles) But it's Todd's only option.
As the convoy retreats Todd: Muskrat Dam, here we come, you son of a bitch.
Narrator: Todd presses on.
(Chains rattle) Todd: I guess they took a bulldozer, pushed some road that hasn't been used in 25 years, and they pushed it back open, and they said it is a rough son of a bitch through there, but that's the only way to get to Muskrat Dam.
So, that's the way we're going.
Biggest challenge of this right here is just staying on the fucking road without sliding into the fucking ditch.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! That's what I'm talking about, just damn near pulled me off the road right there.
(Truck engine rumbles) Narrator: Only ten miles down the route, Todd hits an ice crossing untouched by any other driver.
I don't know, looks fucking scary.
Look at that.
Fuck! After what I just heard about the other lake, too much snow on the lake and it fucking busted through, hell yeah, it makes me nervous.
Weight of the snow busted through the lake.
Just think how much weight all this snow is, compacted up and building on my trailer.
I mean, just think how much weight all this snow starts adding up, it's a lot.
And as you can see, I've already got one hell of a load on.
I don't need any more of a load.
Narrator: Every pound of snow Todd knocks away decreases his chance of falling through the ice.
(Truck engine hums) Here we go.
Fuck (Wheels spinning) Narrator: On a un-maintained ice crossing to Muskrat Dam Here we go.
Narrator: Todd Dewey's blazing a terrifying path.
Todd: Look how much snow is on this lake! That's like ten feet high.
Narrator: Mountains of snow have accumulated on the lake (Ice cracking) pushing the ice to the brink of collapse.
I ain't never seen nothin' like this in my life.
That is officially the most snow I have ever seen stacked on a lake.
Ever! (Cracking) (Chains rattle) Wow.
Dude, I ain't never seen shit like this.
Almost off, baby.
Yee haw! Hell yeah! Oh well, we wanted a sense of adventure, we got it now.
Narrator: Todd's navigated the crossing, but he's still got 75 miles to go on the seldom travelled route.
You know, most of these runs aren't about when you get there, it's if you get there.
Narrator: While Todd motors ahead His Polar team-mate's barely hanging on.
I don't know how long I'm gonna fucking be here.
There's no traffic on this road.
Narrator: After 20 hours, Art Burke's still stranded, he hasn't seen any trucks for two days.
Art: There's no trucks, no shit at all.
I guess they can't get through or they got more brains than me, or something.
They're going to have to plough this eventually with some kind of a fucking rig and hopefully that will tow me out.
Maybe I'll follow them out of here, eh.
Well, I don't expect that to happen anytime soon.
Anybody who's got any fucking ideas of doing this for a fucking job, might want to get themselves checked out.
Narrator: Without any sign of life on the horizon, and with temperatures falling, all he can do is retreat to his cab, hope for a miracle.
Art: Could be a lot worse.
I could be up there crossways in the fucking road.
We're just gonna sit back here, boy, eat fucking candy, and wait for some good samaritan to come along and save me.
So to speak.
Narrator: While Art burns his last drops of fuel 200 miles northwest (Truck engine rumbles) Lisa: Like I said, I was gonna go until I couldn't go no more.
So here I am, gone until I can't go no more.
Narrator: Polar team-mate, Lisa Kelly, nears her 24th hour stranded in frozen back country.
(Crow cawing) Lisa: Running out of fuel.
It is freezing.
Narrator: As the next cold front hits, the danger of frigid nightfall looms.
Narrator: But there's one other driver that dared to run this road.
Get this mess cleaned up.
Lisa: Darrell! (Laughs) Narrator: On his way to Big Trout Lake, Darrell Ward spots his team-mate in trouble.
I'm gonna pull you forward.
Oh, I'm sure you will.
I've got faith in ya.
Copy.
Right on.
These roads are terrible.
Lisa: I was just gonna say, have you been having fun or what? My God, it's been rough in deep snow.
Darrell's gonna pull me forward just to get me to the top of this hill, 'cause there's no way I'm going anywhere.
Darrell: Here we go.
Narrator: Darrell throws it in reverse Darrell: Move! Narrator: Tries to tug Lisa's Darrell, hang on, I might be stuck again.
Darrell: Man! Narrator: But in four feet of snow, if Darrell's not careful, he could easily find himself stuck as well.
(Wheels spinning) Lisa: I'm just spinning my wheels on this fucking path.
Fuck.
Narrator: 100 miles from remote Big Trout Lake Wow! Narrator: Darrell Ward's trying to pull team-mate, Lisa Kelly, to freedom.
Fuck.
Narrator: But in the deep snow, even the Montana Legend struggles on the steep hill.
(Wheels spinning) Lisa: I'm just spinning my wheels on this fucking path.
Darrell: (Over radio) Let's hit her again.
(Wheels spinning) Come on, pull.
Hell yeah! Narrator: Finally Lisa: I guess I'll try not to dig another hole.
Narrator: Darrell gets the job done.
All I needed was a tiny little tug.
Darrell: Yup.
Lisa: Here you go.
You get a necklace, and I get a necklace.
Darrell: Here you go.
Mine's got-- Mine's longer.
Lisa: Well, let me get mine up here.
Darrell: Right on.
Lisa: I've missed you.
(Laughs) Narrator: While the Polar drivers get back on the road 170 miles to the west, and the brutal trail out of Red Sucker Lake.
As long as she stays smooth, we're fine.
If it's all bumpy and we have to slow down, we got a problem.
Narrator: VP's Alex Debogorski, is racing back to Winnipeg with Polar's repoed trailer.
Gotta get in the zone here.
It-- it's getting uglier.
A little uglier there.
Narrator: But the five foot high snowfall is making the notoriously vicious road a beast to navigate.
Alex: Now here's a road that's gonna be a little slippery.
If I go in the ditch, I'm gonna be really pissed off.
Uh, it's getting thicker here, and of course I got a hill.
Agh! Starting to climb a little, getting a little steeper.
Come on! Don't stop, buddy! (Truck engine revs) (Beeping) (Chains clink) (Truck engine rumbles) (Wheels spinning) Alex: Well (Truck engine roars, chains clink) Narrator: While VP's shut down, 140 miles to the east in Ontario, a Polar driver is not faring any better.
Art: Well, here we are stuck here for another fucking night.
I'm running out of fucking fuel, I'm running completely out of fucking patience.
I need somebody, I need a fucking tug at the top of that fucking hill, and there's nothing here to tug me.
Narrator: Art Burke's facing another night in Arctic condition.
And after being stranded for 24 hours Holy fucking shit! Narrator: he'll run out of fuel to keep him warm before the sun rises.
(Truck engine hums) (Wind gusts) (Honking in the distance) Narrator: Finally Art: (Joyous laughter) Narrator: A ray of hope (Truck honks) Hey! All right.
Narrator: A passing truck may be Art's life line.
Art: I've been waiting to see you all day long, my friend.
I've got-- (Laughs) I'm so happy to see you and I'll tell you, I've been here since yesterday evening.
Man: - Really? Art: - And I can't get up there, eh.
Narrator: But in the massive snowfall Art: I hope this works.
Narrator: the light rig might not have what it takes to get Art free.
Art: Okay.
So we're all set?! Art: There we go, boy.
(Chains clink) Come on, baby, let's get this shit up here.
We got it all under control now.
(Loud clang) Oh my God, we just tore the bumper off his fucking truck.
Holy fucking shit! Narrator: In 40 below temperatures Art: There we go, boy.
Narrator: Art Burke's plan for freedom (Loud clang) Oh my God, we just tore the bumper off his fucking truck.
Narrator: has hit the brakes.
Holy fucking shit! Did you see what happened? We tore the fucking bumper off your truck.
*** It's not good.
You have to send the bill for this to fucking Polar.
(Truck honks in the distance) Narrator: But Art's about to get a second chance Art: You get in.
We're all set? All right! Narrator: A grater clearing the road after the storm Okay, boys and girls.
Narrator: provides Art's best bet yet to get moving.
That a boy, keep going.
For fuck's sake.
We got it fucking made, boys.
(Laughs) We made it! Holy fucking gentlemen, that is fan-fucking-tastic.
Thank you very, very, very much.
We'll see you again next trip when I fuck it again.
Narrator: After two days of isolation, Polar finally has their last driver on the road.
Hey baby, we're off again, eh.
Narrator: And with 150 miles ahead of him, Art may just have enough fuel to get him back to Winnipeg.
Okay, she's fucking rolling, boy.
Keep her fucking rolling.
Narrator: While one Polar driver heads for home Todd: Holy smokes, hang on.
Narrator: another is closing in on his drop-off point.
It's Muskrat Dam.
Narrator: And Polar notches another load.
Todd: Well, I made it, and I'm here at the Muskrat Dam.
This is where my load's gonna be dumped tomorrow.
It's been a long 24 hours, I'm tired.
We've been fighting this road all day long, I mean all day.
It has been four feet of snow, three feet of snow, ploughing these trucks through 'em.
It's been a crazy day.
Narrator: 100 miles to the east, in Big Trout Lake No time to sit around.
Narrator: Darrell Ward's making his delivery, too.
Ready to get this load off and get back in that truck and get turned around and Narrator: And Polar bags another one.
Darrell: give Mark a call and see if he's got a back haul for us.
Narrator: Now the Montana Legend's looking for a back haul to take to Winnipeg, make up for his lost paycheque.
Darrell: Hello? Hey Yeah, yeah I'm here, Mark.
Narrator: But Mark's got nothing for him.
Darrell: You know, I run from Winnipeg all the way into northern Ontario for one load, and now you're deadheading me back to the shop? Fuck that.
Darrell: You talk to Mark, and he's gonna tell you everything you wanna hear.
"Oh Darrell, you'll get a back haul every trip, you'll get this, you'll get that.
" As time goes by, you realize that a lot of it is just blowing smoke up your ass.
Narrator: As Darrell heads back to Polar headquarters empty handed, a new storm is brewing on the winter roads.
Darrell: I came here to get the loads, as many loads as I can, and I'm not getting them.
Mark knows it.
Mark knows I'm not happy.
If I'm gonna run these winter roads, something's gotta change.
Narrator: Next time on Ice Road Truckers Whiteouts, blizzards, snowstorms, of fresh snow.
Narrator: Havoc on the roads Hold on, this one might hurt.
Ah! Narrator: shakes the drivers to their core.
Beam me up, Scotty, for fuck's sake.
Narrator: And at Polar-- a shocking move I want as many loads as I can get.
This isn't all about you.
Narrator: shakes up the entire season.
You're in, or you're out?