When bears, wolves and foxes are your only neighbors, life can be pretty lonely. Add minus-60-degree days and a constant battle for the most basic necessities, and you have the daily challenges of people who live in remote corners of Alaska. This series takes viewers deep into an Alaskan winter to meet six tough and resilient residents as they try to stay one step ahead of storms and man-eating beasts to make it through to spring. The closest neighbor to Sue Aikens is more than 300 miles away. Eric Salitan subsists solely on what he hunts and forages. Chip and Agnes Hailstone catch fish for currency in bartering for supplies, and Andy and Kate Bassich use their pack of sled dogs for transportation.
Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 08, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
Sue sharpens her survival skills; Jessie sets out for food and medicine; Glenn burns a manmade structure to the ground so that nature can reclaim its rightful place; the Hailstones embark on a traditional hunt for valued seal meat and oil.
The episode was rated 7.77 from 86 votes.
As dark winter's grip tightens across the Arctic, Alaskans must learn new ways of survival in their surroundings. Chip Hailstone teaches his daughter Carol new survival skills as they hunt for small game. Ricko DeWilde reconnects with his past, and attempts to open a pathway to receive messages from the nearby village. Sue Aikens searches for resources at her land along the Chena River. And Jessie Holmes takes to the woods for a needed meal.
The episode was rated 7.78 from 94 votes.
Sue assesses the conditions of her new property at Chena River. Ricko traps for beaver. Jessie trains new puppies for the dog team. Agnes, Edward, and Idi embark on a wood gathering trip.
The episode was rated 7.79 from 91 votes.
Chip Hailstone goes on a duck hunt while Agnes and the girls pick berries. Sue looks out for some caribou meat. Jessie goes looking for a big bear. Andy and Denise collect water with hope of restoring the greenhouse.
The episode was rated 7.79 from 72 votes.
Alaskans attempt to survive and thrive while struggling with unpredictable winter weather. Jessie Holmes prepares for the Iditarod by doing some home demolition. Sue Aikens braves freezing conditions to make a bed with resources from her new land. Ricko DeWilde camps at a nearby hot springs to trap a wolverine for a traditional Athabaskan memorial. And the Hailstones run into a severe blizzard on a trek to their hunting grounds in Kiwalik.
The episode was rated 7.80 from 88 votes.
As winter returns to the Arctic, preparation is crucial for Alaskans to survive the coming months. For the Hailstones, the window to hunt big game animals grows shorter with each passing day. Sue Aikens must stay alert and aware of predator presence in Kavik. Glenn Villeneuve ensures the frozen lake in Chandalar is safe for his family's arrival. For Andy Bassich, camp preparations and sled dog training before the snow flies is key. And for Jessie Holmes, to be competitive in the upcoming Iditarod race, training must begin.
The episode was rated 7.80 from 109 votes.
To survive in the Arctic, Alaskans must battle Father Time to harvest the last of summer's bounty. Sue tracks a lone predator. The Hailstones have a chance at a key resource. Jessie builds a new cabin, and Andy fights the clock.
The episode was rated 7.80 from 76 votes.
The Hailstones bind together for a family hunt. Jessie recuperates from a hard-fought Iditarod. Ricko finds an unexpected treasure. Sue's rush to clear the runway is interrupted by an unexpected breakdown.
The episode was rated 7.81 from 78 votes.
Jessie collects logs in anticipation of the coming winter. The Hailstones prepare themselves for the coming fish run. Ricko teaches his younger children to hunt and fish. Sue tests her mettle against the capricious, flooding tundra.
The episode was rated 7.82 from 78 votes.
In the clutches of Dark winter, Alaskans face uncertain conditions caused by unseasonably warm temperatures. But the warmth won't last, and opportunities must be seized. Sue Aikens braves the unstable tundra to replenish her water supply. Jessie Holmes is on a quest for firewood as the Iditarod approaches. Chip Hailstone teaches his daughter Carol to hunt winter caribou. And Andy Bassich makes use of a recent caribou harvest.
The episode was rated 7.82 from 102 votes.
Sue settles back into life at Kavik; Ricko replaces the cabin stove; Jessie struggles to free his four-wheeler from the frozen mud; Chip and Agnes hunt an apex predator.
The episode was rated 7.83 from 76 votes.
In the Arctic, maintaining a subsistence lifestyle requires Alaskans to constantly learn new techniques, and honor those who came and lived before. In Kavik, Sue Aikens makes a cost-effective hunting weapon using harvested materials. The Hailstones embark on a family harvest. The training must continue for Andy Bassich and his youngest sled dogs. And for the first time this winter, Ricko Dewilde returns to the cabin where he spent his youth.
The episode was rated 7.86 from 91 votes.
As conditions worsen during the grueling arctic winter, Alaskans risk their lives to prepare for months of total darkness. Andy Bassich braves unsafe conditions on the Yukon River to hunt for needed meat. Sue Aikens tests a new piece of equipment that could be the difference between life and death. The Hailstones set a trap line near their homestead for vital fur. And Jessie Holmes must avoid thin ice to harvest the lifeblood of the Arctic.
The episode was rated 7.87 from 94 votes.
Jessie runs the race of a lifetime at the Iditarod. Ricko hunts for small game. The Hailstones go on a family rabbit hunt. Sue clears snow from her rooftops.
The episode was rated 7.92 from 86 votes.
The Hailstones build a new temporary structure in the Kiwalik region. Ricko teaches his younger children survival skills. Sue races against the clock to renovate a key camp fixture. Jessie battles weather and chance to secure a meal.
The episode was rated 7.92 from 76 votes.
