WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:02.802
- Hey everyone, thanks for
tuning in for Dropped this week.

2
00:00:02.802 --> 00:00:05.138
We're gonna do things a
little bit differently here.

3
00:00:05.138 --> 00:00:06.606
You know, every time that
Chris and I get dropped

4
00:00:06.606 --> 00:00:08.641
in the middle of nowhere,
the first couple of days seem

5
00:00:08.641 --> 00:00:10.143
like they're surreal.

6
00:00:10.143 --> 00:00:11.678
You're out there taken in the
beauty, taken in everything

7
00:00:11.678 --> 00:00:14.214
about the adventure side
of things, but then all

8
00:00:14.214 --> 00:00:16.416
of the sudden, there comes
a point where you know

9
00:00:16.416 --> 00:00:18.018
you're on Dropped,
you know you're stuck

10
00:00:18.018 --> 00:00:20.120
in the middle of
nowhere, with no food.

11
00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:22.489
This year was definitely a
little bit different for us.

12
00:00:22.489 --> 00:00:23.957
- Yeah, we've been
blessed to go to a lot

13
00:00:23.957 --> 00:00:25.892
of different places
over the past seasons,

14
00:00:25.892 --> 00:00:27.927
but this one we
really challenged

15
00:00:27.927 --> 00:00:30.330
ourselves and we ran into a
whole lot of issues that we

16
00:00:30.330 --> 00:00:32.832
weren't really anticipating,
and I think it all came

17
00:00:32.832 --> 00:00:35.735
to a head in this particular
episode called Choke Point.

18
00:00:35.735 --> 00:00:37.137
- Yes.

19
00:00:37.137 --> 00:00:39.339
- This is our favorite
episode, we hope you guys enjoy

20
00:00:39.339 --> 00:00:41.474
this episode, and thanks
again for watching

21
00:00:41.474 --> 00:00:44.444
Dropped, Escape the Arctic.

22
00:00:44.444 --> 00:00:47.614
(Slow dramatic music)

23
00:01:05.065 --> 00:01:06.933
- [Narrator] Hunters have
always been the first to venture

24
00:01:06.933 --> 00:01:08.435
into the wilderness.

25
00:01:08.435 --> 00:01:11.571
Whether driven by necessity,
or a thirst for adventure,

26
00:01:11.571 --> 00:01:14.941
it is hunters that dare to
go where most others won't.

27
00:01:14.941 --> 00:01:16.409
Brothers Chris and
Casey Keefer represent

28
00:01:16.409 --> 00:01:18.511
the modern day hunter.

29
00:01:18.511 --> 00:01:21.081
For most of their lives, the
Keefer brothers have tested

30
00:01:21.081 --> 00:01:23.483
their skills as survivors
in some of the world's most

31
00:01:23.483 --> 00:01:27.053
dangerous and
unpredictable landscapes.

32
00:01:27.053 --> 00:01:29.089
Dropped with only a sidearm
for protection, and the clothes

33
00:01:29.089 --> 00:01:32.358
on their backs, together they
will spend the next months

34
00:01:32.358 --> 00:01:35.962
scratching and clawing their
way over 100 river miles,

35
00:01:35.962 --> 00:01:39.899
through a land ruled
by predators, in a
race against time.

36
00:01:39.899 --> 00:01:42.435
Supply yielding caches will
be placed by the producers

37
00:01:42.435 --> 00:01:43.803
throughout their journey.

38
00:01:43.803 --> 00:01:46.573
To acquire them, the
brothers must beat the clock,

39
00:01:46.573 --> 00:01:48.675
as mother nature threatens
to choke the north

40
00:01:48.675 --> 00:01:50.243
with ice and snow.

41
00:01:50.243 --> 00:01:53.012
For the first time, the
Keefer brothers will find out

42
00:01:53.012 --> 00:01:55.281
what it's like to be
cast into the wild

43
00:01:55.281 --> 00:01:57.550
with virtually nothing.

44
00:01:57.550 --> 00:01:58.885
This is Dropped.

45
00:02:03.823 --> 00:02:06.893
Over 150 million years ago,
much of Alaska was nothing

46
00:02:06.893 --> 00:02:08.394
but a shallow sea.

47
00:02:08.394 --> 00:02:10.864
Things changed after a
drifting tectonic plate sank

48
00:02:10.864 --> 00:02:13.066
it's teeth into
the Arctic shelf.

49
00:02:13.066 --> 00:02:15.468
The plate's ceaseless advance
over countless centuries

50
00:02:15.468 --> 00:02:17.704
has forced the bedrock
to buckle and rise,

51
00:02:17.704 --> 00:02:20.373
building the Brooks
Range we know today.

52
00:02:20.373 --> 00:02:23.209
The drastic shifts in
elevation define the landscape,

53
00:02:23.209 --> 00:02:25.178
a trait that many of the
range's residence have become

54
00:02:25.178 --> 00:02:27.981
accustomed to, even
dependent upon.

55
00:02:27.981 --> 00:02:30.450
Something the Keefer brothers
are all too aware of as they

56
00:02:30.450 --> 00:02:34.621
struggle to escape the shallow
rivers of the open tundra.

57
00:02:36.089 --> 00:02:38.057
Chris and Casey Keefer are
fighting a shallow river

58
00:02:38.057 --> 00:02:41.628
in their race to beat
the rapidly approaching
arctic winter.

59
00:02:41.628 --> 00:02:44.030
The brothers were forced to
break camp early to drag their

60
00:02:44.030 --> 00:02:48.768
raft over two miles before
ice and snow choke the river.

61
00:02:48.768 --> 00:02:51.905
They have another two miles to
validate their second cache.

62
00:02:51.905 --> 00:02:54.307
With hopes of acquiring
a few more precious tools

63
00:02:54.307 --> 00:02:58.478
to help survive sharp winds
and freezing temperatures.

64
00:02:59.412 --> 00:03:00.613
- This is ridiculous.

65
00:03:00.613 --> 00:03:02.782
- [Casey] But I wanted
weather and water.

66
00:03:02.782 --> 00:03:05.018
Chris and I chose to
bow-stern our way down through

67
00:03:05.018 --> 00:03:08.154
this high skinny water,
it's actually a really good

68
00:03:08.154 --> 00:03:11.324
method to move through this
skinny stuff, because you can

69
00:03:11.324 --> 00:03:14.928
get in an out of the boat
really quick and really easy.

70
00:03:14.928 --> 00:03:18.298
When the boat comes down,
and it drops over a rapid,

71
00:03:18.298 --> 00:03:20.867
as the bow gets closer to
shore, and Chris pushes off,

72
00:03:20.867 --> 00:03:23.603
what that does, is that
actually spins the boat on it's

73
00:03:23.603 --> 00:03:27.073
axis like this, toward
the shore a lot harder.

74
00:03:27.073 --> 00:03:29.142
- [Narrator] Every impact
threatens to damage the raft,

75
00:03:29.142 --> 00:03:30.810
which could lead the
brothers stranded.

76
00:03:30.810 --> 00:03:32.478
- [Casey] So far we've been
going through this skinny water,

77
00:03:32.478 --> 00:03:35.281
getting out of the tundra, but
we're pickin our way through.

78
00:03:35.281 --> 00:03:37.083
- [Narrator] The surging
river is a good sign that the

79
00:03:37.083 --> 00:03:38.785
brothers are steadily
making their way out

80
00:03:38.785 --> 00:03:40.286
of the barren high country.

81
00:03:40.286 --> 00:03:41.821
- It's definitely dropping
in elevation, because we're

82
00:03:41.821 --> 00:03:43.323
getting more ruffles right now.

83
00:03:43.323 --> 00:03:46.192
- Look back there, you can
see it, see the layers?

84
00:03:46.192 --> 00:03:49.462
Down, flat, down, flat,
ripple, flat, it comes all

85
00:03:49.462 --> 00:03:50.897
the way through there.

86
00:03:50.897 --> 00:03:53.166
- We've had to drop 20 degrees
since we started rollin.

87
00:03:53.166 --> 00:03:55.602
- [Casey] Oh yeah, the
winds down 30 degrees.

88
00:03:55.602 --> 00:03:58.271
- [Chris] All the more
reason to get to this cache.

89
00:03:58.271 --> 00:03:59.272
We're runnin tight.

90
00:03:59.272 --> 00:04:00.206
- [Casey] Yeah.

91
00:04:00.206 --> 00:04:03.243
- So, I say we just hammer up.

92
00:04:03.243 --> 00:04:04.911
- Welcome to Alaska.

93
00:04:06.079 --> 00:04:07.146
- Let's roll.

94
00:04:08.648 --> 00:04:10.617
- [Casey] Hold on,
let me get up here.

95
00:04:10.617 --> 00:04:12.352
- [Chris] Thank God
we have the raft.

96
00:04:12.352 --> 00:04:13.686
- [Narrator] The Keefer
brothers broke camp prior

97
00:04:13.686 --> 00:04:16.122
to daylight in order to
get a jump on the storm.

98
00:04:16.122 --> 00:04:18.057
Changing river flows and
gradients have the played the

99
00:04:18.057 --> 00:04:20.426
morning float, and only
compounded their troubles

100
00:04:20.426 --> 00:04:23.363
on the water, but they're about
to reach a critical point.

101
00:04:23.363 --> 00:04:25.765
The water is beginning to pick
up speed, allowing them to

102
00:04:25.765 --> 00:04:28.034
cover long distances
in short bursts.

103
00:04:28.034 --> 00:04:30.003
It will also mean
equally long distances

104
00:04:30.003 --> 00:04:31.671
of calm shallow water.

105
00:04:31.671 --> 00:04:33.806
Without oars to propel
them, these calm sections

106
00:04:33.806 --> 00:04:36.042
of the river will eat
away invaluable time,

107
00:04:36.042 --> 00:04:38.077
something they can't afford
to waste if they hope to

108
00:04:38.077 --> 00:04:40.113
validate their second cache.

109
00:04:40.113 --> 00:04:42.081
- [Chris] Woo, here we
have fresh fast water.

110
00:04:42.081 --> 00:04:43.616
- [Narrator] The steep drop
on elevation has rocketed

111
00:04:43.616 --> 00:04:46.419
the brothers almost a mile
down the river through a fast

112
00:04:46.419 --> 00:04:48.521
stretch of water
riddled with boulders.

113
00:04:48.521 --> 00:04:51.391
A narrow escape that has
made up valuable time.

114
00:04:51.391 --> 00:04:54.761
- So, first snow fall,
first couple of stands

115
00:04:54.761 --> 00:04:58.498
against spruce, all in
all, feels pretty good.

116
00:04:58.498 --> 00:05:01.034
Feels good to get sown out
of that high country man,

117
00:05:01.034 --> 00:05:03.403
get down into here
where we got some trees.

118
00:05:03.403 --> 00:05:05.638
Gives us a little
sense of shelter.

119
00:05:05.638 --> 00:05:07.774
Way better for a fire.

120
00:05:07.774 --> 00:05:09.609
We have had to navigate
some rapids for sure,

121
00:05:09.609 --> 00:05:14.013
some rocky sections, but we're
making do, we're getting by.

122
00:05:14.013 --> 00:05:15.848
Rollin down the river.

123
00:05:17.583 --> 00:05:20.486
- [Narrator] The river's
gradient has bottomed out,

124
00:05:20.486 --> 00:05:23.189
but the slow shallow water
means Chris and Casey will be

125
00:05:23.189 --> 00:05:25.892
forced to drag the raft
the last half mile.

126
00:05:27.593 --> 00:05:29.162
- [Narrator] The Keefer
brothers are fighting a river

127
00:05:29.162 --> 00:05:30.997
as they battle the elements
in search of their second

128
00:05:30.997 --> 00:05:32.498
supply cache.

129
00:05:32.498 --> 00:05:34.100
With limited vision in the
face of a blizzard and only

130
00:05:34.100 --> 00:05:36.836
14 minutes left to find
and validate the cache,

131
00:05:36.836 --> 00:05:39.439
the brothers must be extra
vigilant in their search.

132
00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:41.774
- [Chris] Okay, we're at
the coordinates right now.

133
00:05:41.774 --> 00:05:43.776
- [Casey] A lot of
good that does us.

134
00:05:43.776 --> 00:05:45.578
- [Narrator] As the brothers
struggle to maintain a healthy

135
00:05:45.578 --> 00:05:47.980
internal temperature, their
bodies use up resources that

136
00:05:47.980 --> 00:05:51.117
would otherwise be available
for mental processes.

137
00:05:51.117 --> 00:05:53.553
As a result, the mind is
more likely to make mistakes

138
00:05:53.553 --> 00:05:56.522
or choose the easy option
rather than the correct one.

139
00:05:56.522 --> 00:05:58.925
Everyday decisions can quickly
become life threatening

140
00:05:58.925 --> 00:06:01.127
scenarios because of
the extreme environment

141
00:06:01.127 --> 00:06:03.129
they find themselves in.

142
00:06:04.130 --> 00:06:06.632
(tense music)

143
00:06:08.601 --> 00:06:09.602
- Whoa baby!

144
00:06:10.737 --> 00:06:13.005
Right here, cache.

145
00:06:13.005 --> 00:06:13.840
Ha, ha.

146
00:06:15.808 --> 00:06:17.677
It's like Christmas morning.

147
00:06:17.677 --> 00:06:18.878
(yells)

148
00:06:18.878 --> 00:06:20.113
Okay, I'm gonna validate.

149
00:06:20.113 --> 00:06:22.715
- [Casey] Yeah,
send that in dude.

150
00:06:23.816 --> 00:06:25.618
(drums playing)

151
00:06:25.618 --> 00:06:27.954
I'm getting into this thing.

152
00:06:30.022 --> 00:06:31.357
Okay, it's done.

153
00:06:33.393 --> 00:06:34.794
Cache's validated.

154
00:06:34.794 --> 00:06:36.028
- Covered rock.

155
00:06:39.232 --> 00:06:40.633
- [Chris] That was one
of the coldest nights

156
00:06:40.633 --> 00:06:41.834
I've ever spent.

157
00:06:41.834 --> 00:06:43.703
It's proven to be pretty
difficult this far.

158
00:06:43.703 --> 00:06:45.138
- [Narrator] It's been two
days since the brothers were

159
00:06:45.138 --> 00:06:48.007
dropped in the high arctic
tundra, having covered 12 river

160
00:06:48.007 --> 00:06:50.810
miles over tough terrain,
and in freezing temperatures

161
00:06:50.810 --> 00:06:53.946
with minimal gear, the brothers
have successfully found

162
00:06:53.946 --> 00:06:56.682
and validated
their second cache.

163
00:06:58.384 --> 00:07:00.553
- Oh, we got a frame pack.

164
00:07:02.955 --> 00:07:05.591
It's got somethin in it.

165
00:07:05.591 --> 00:07:07.860
My hands are just freezing.

166
00:07:09.862 --> 00:07:11.397
Game bags and salt.

167
00:07:12.365 --> 00:07:13.299
- [Chris] Seriously?

168
00:07:13.299 --> 00:07:14.534
There's gotta be more than that.

169
00:07:14.534 --> 00:07:15.835
What else?

170
00:07:15.835 --> 00:07:18.638
Is there any other pockets?

171
00:07:18.638 --> 00:07:21.374
- No, nothin on the inside.

172
00:07:21.374 --> 00:07:23.976
There's somthin in here.

173
00:07:23.976 --> 00:07:24.911
Range finder.

174
00:07:24.911 --> 00:07:26.979
- Oh, you know what that means.

175
00:07:26.979 --> 00:07:28.448
- Open that.

176
00:07:28.448 --> 00:07:29.582
- [Casey] If there's a range
finder, we've got a gun.

177
00:07:29.582 --> 00:07:31.284
- [Chris] Skinny knives.

178
00:07:31.284 --> 00:07:33.753
- [Casey] How did we not get...

179
00:07:33.753 --> 00:07:35.087
Come on!

180
00:07:35.087 --> 00:07:36.155
- Ha ha baby!

181
00:07:37.190 --> 00:07:38.758
Something golden up in there.

182
00:07:38.758 --> 00:07:40.460
- [Casey] Oars!

183
00:07:40.460 --> 00:07:41.360
- Yes, yes!

184
00:07:43.463 --> 00:07:45.298
- Looky, looky, looky!

185
00:07:46.466 --> 00:07:48.868
- What kind of a gun
are we lookin at?

186
00:07:48.868 --> 00:07:49.936
Four bullets.

187
00:07:50.970 --> 00:07:51.838
- [Chris] Four bullets?

188
00:07:51.838 --> 00:07:53.339
- [Casey] Four.

189
00:07:53.339 --> 00:07:54.640
- [Chris] There's gotta
be more bullets than that.

190
00:07:54.640 --> 00:07:56.108
- [Casey] I'll
check every pocket.

191
00:07:56.108 --> 00:07:57.743
- [Narrator] Only four
bullets will leave little

192
00:07:57.743 --> 00:07:59.045
room for error.

193
00:07:59.045 --> 00:08:00.880
- 270 wind, short mag.

194
00:08:02.248 --> 00:08:03.349
- Oars, huge.

195
00:08:04.884 --> 00:08:08.154
- Salt, and tag
bags, and a tarp.

196
00:08:08.154 --> 00:08:09.822
- [Narrator] The brother's
second supply cache proves

197
00:08:09.822 --> 00:08:11.891
critical for taking
down big game.

198
00:08:11.891 --> 00:08:14.894
The meat care lit contains
iodized salt, synthetic game

199
00:08:14.894 --> 00:08:16.395
bags, and skinning knives.

200
00:08:16.395 --> 00:08:18.631
These items will help prepare
and preserve game meat

201
00:08:18.631 --> 00:08:22.168
and hides for several weeks,
if they can find game.

202
00:08:22.168 --> 00:08:24.971
With the addition of oars, the
raft kit is finally complete,

203
00:08:24.971 --> 00:08:27.173
and the brothers can
travel safely down river

204
00:08:27.173 --> 00:08:28.641
at a quicker pace.

205
00:08:28.641 --> 00:08:32.044
The rifle kit contains a model
70-270 short magnum rifle,

206
00:08:32.044 --> 00:08:35.381
four ballistic silver tipped
bullets, a 4-12x50 rifle scope,

207
00:08:35.381 --> 00:08:36.849
and a range finder.

208
00:08:36.849 --> 00:08:38.384
These items will afford the
brothers the opportunity

209
00:08:38.384 --> 00:08:41.187
to take down big
game from a distance.

210
00:08:41.187 --> 00:08:43.356
- Those oars are gonna be huge.

211
00:08:43.356 --> 00:08:47.493
- Because I'm done with
the sticks and the rowing!

212
00:08:47.493 --> 00:08:48.628
(water splashes)

213
00:08:48.628 --> 00:08:50.129
We've got oars now.

214
00:08:50.129 --> 00:08:52.031
- [Narrator] Finding oars in
the cache means less time spent

215
00:08:52.031 --> 00:08:54.500
on the river, valuable
time the brothers can spend

216
00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:56.135
searching for food.

217
00:08:56.135 --> 00:08:57.703
- Okay, yeah, here we go.

218
00:08:57.703 --> 00:09:01.774
Alright, cache validated,
your next cache is located

219
00:09:03.409 --> 00:09:05.077
15 miles down river.

220
00:09:06.112 --> 00:09:07.947
- That's 15 miles far.

221
00:09:09.415 --> 00:09:11.884
- So at this point, with this
weather, I say we just keep

222
00:09:11.884 --> 00:09:14.820
movin, and try to find
a spot for this evening,

223
00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:16.355
since we've got more daylight.

224
00:09:16.355 --> 00:09:18.457
- I'm not campin here, no way.

225
00:09:18.457 --> 00:09:19.692
- Alright.

226
00:09:19.692 --> 00:09:21.160
- [Casey] Let's just
keep rollin dude.

227
00:09:21.160 --> 00:09:22.929
We're already in it, the
best way to stay warm is to

228
00:09:22.929 --> 00:09:24.397
keep on pushin.

229
00:09:24.397 --> 00:09:27.099
What we should do is to delay
this stuff, and then let's

230
00:09:27.099 --> 00:09:28.100
just tarp it.

231
00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:29.535
- [Chris] Yeah.

232
00:09:29.535 --> 00:09:30.736
- [Narrator] Tarping the
raft will protect what little

233
00:09:30.736 --> 00:09:32.838
gear the brothers have
by keeping it dry.

234
00:09:32.838 --> 00:09:34.740
- It's a good tarp too.

235
00:09:37.543 --> 00:09:38.911
- [Chris] Hey, you
wanna throw your stick?

236
00:09:38.911 --> 00:09:40.780
- [Casey] Yeah.

237
00:09:40.780 --> 00:09:43.516
- [Chris] It's
very invigorating.

238
00:09:47.253 --> 00:09:48.387
Success man!

239
00:09:48.387 --> 00:09:50.389
- [Casey] Let's move on.

240
00:09:52.792 --> 00:09:56.529
- Let's keep moving,
I'm hurtin, it's chilly.

241
00:09:59.131 --> 00:10:00.533
Look at that.

242
00:10:00.533 --> 00:10:01.901
- Ha ha ha.

243
00:10:01.901 --> 00:10:05.271
- Tell you what,
winter's comin fast!

244
00:10:05.271 --> 00:10:07.406
- It's Alaska baby!

245
00:10:07.406 --> 00:10:09.075
How fast you rowing?

246
00:10:13.479 --> 00:10:15.815
(grunting)

247
00:10:15.815 --> 00:10:16.649
Perfect!

248
00:10:18.951 --> 00:10:20.686
- [Narrator] As the sun peaks
in the sky on the brother's

249
00:10:20.686 --> 00:10:23.789
third day in Alaska, the
cloud cover burns off,

250
00:10:23.789 --> 00:10:25.391
taking the winter
storm that has barraged

251
00:10:25.391 --> 00:10:27.026
them all morning with it.

252
00:10:27.026 --> 00:10:29.428
The elation of finding
oars in their second cache

253
00:10:29.428 --> 00:10:33.599
is short lived, as they find
themselves in shallow water.

254
00:10:35.234 --> 00:10:37.803
As the day drags on,
the brother's pace
continues to lessen.

255
00:10:37.803 --> 00:10:40.740
This morning's push to the
cache zapped their reserves,

256
00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:42.742
and they find themselves
running on fumes.

257
00:10:42.742 --> 00:10:45.544
- It's just wild how, when
you're flying in here,

258
00:10:45.544 --> 00:10:48.414
everything looks so tame
and so peaceful from the air

259
00:10:48.414 --> 00:10:49.782
from a distance.

260
00:10:49.782 --> 00:10:51.584
The land looks level and flat.

261
00:10:51.584 --> 00:10:54.120
The river doesn't
look too daunting,

262
00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:56.322
and then you get down here.

263
00:10:56.322 --> 00:10:59.892
There's nothin flat about
it, the rivers are nasty,

264
00:10:59.892 --> 00:11:01.394
but that's what we
signed up for, you know,

265
00:11:01.394 --> 00:11:05.331
it's not the postcard you
see, it's the real deal.

266
00:11:05.331 --> 00:11:07.033
- This whole time Casey and
I've been kind of going down

267
00:11:07.033 --> 00:11:09.301
this river, we're lookin
to see if we can't pick up

268
00:11:09.301 --> 00:11:11.037
some protein along the way.

269
00:11:11.037 --> 00:11:13.572
The thing about the
tundra is, it's so vast,

270
00:11:13.572 --> 00:11:17.710
and then out of nowhere, you'll
run into a herd of caribou,

271
00:11:17.710 --> 00:11:19.145
or you'll see a moose,
and you're like,

272
00:11:19.145 --> 00:11:20.646
where did he come from?

273
00:11:20.646 --> 00:11:22.348
But it's a little discouraging
when you can see five miles

274
00:11:22.348 --> 00:11:26.185
in all directions, and
you don't see anything.

275
00:11:27.486 --> 00:11:29.088
- [Narrator] Warmer temperatures
take hold as Chris and

276
00:11:29.088 --> 00:11:32.191
Casey slog their way through
a long flat stretch of river.

277
00:11:32.191 --> 00:11:35.061
Their primary goal now is to
reach tree line where food

278
00:11:35.061 --> 00:11:36.495
will be more prevalent.

279
00:11:36.495 --> 00:11:38.798
- [Casey] Hey Chris,
what's on that left bank?

280
00:11:38.798 --> 00:11:40.766
- [Chris] Where?

281
00:11:40.766 --> 00:11:42.401
What is it?

282
00:11:42.401 --> 00:11:45.504
Hey, it a bear comin this way.

283
00:11:45.504 --> 00:11:46.872
- [Chris] Hey bear!

284
00:11:46.872 --> 00:11:48.908
- [Casey] It's like
a 100, 150 yards.

285
00:11:48.908 --> 00:11:52.678
Rule is, don't rush,
it's gonna be brutal.

286
00:11:52.678 --> 00:11:54.847
- [Narrator] Standing over
12 feet tall, an adult male

287
00:11:54.847 --> 00:11:57.616
grizzly in the fall can
weigh more that 1200 pounds

288
00:11:57.616 --> 00:12:00.586
and run up to 40 miles per
hour over long distances.

289
00:12:00.586 --> 00:12:03.556
Their paws have four inch claws
that are specialized tools

290
00:12:03.556 --> 00:12:05.858
to dig up roots, even
in frozen ground.

291
00:12:05.858 --> 00:12:07.893
They are strong enough
to kill an adult caribou

292
00:12:07.893 --> 00:12:10.229
in a single blow, and
their bite force is over

293
00:12:10.229 --> 00:12:14.166
1200 PSI, strong enough
to crush a bowling ball.

294
00:12:14.166 --> 00:12:16.602
These bears that call Alaska
home are known to roam

295
00:12:16.602 --> 00:12:19.472
several hundred miles,
losing site of him now means

296
00:12:19.472 --> 00:12:21.407
Chris and Casey risk
stumbling upon him

297
00:12:21.407 --> 00:12:23.175
somewhere down river.

298
00:12:24.610 --> 00:12:25.678
- Hey bear!

299
00:12:25.678 --> 00:12:26.512
- See him?

300
00:12:26.512 --> 00:12:27.613
- [Casey] No.

301
00:12:30.049 --> 00:12:31.450
Hey bear!

302
00:12:31.450 --> 00:12:34.386
Came down the
hillside right at us.

303
00:12:35.387 --> 00:12:37.022
Now we have no idea where he is.

304
00:12:37.022 --> 00:12:39.658
The problem is, is where we
last saw him is right there.

305
00:12:39.658 --> 00:12:42.962
This river bends and
goes right by there.

306
00:12:42.962 --> 00:12:47.066
We're just taking our time,
just gonna talk out loud,

307
00:12:47.066 --> 00:12:48.601
yell at 'em.

308
00:12:48.601 --> 00:12:50.536
- [Narrator] There are more
than 30,000 bears in Alaska.

309
00:12:50.536 --> 00:12:52.872
Meeting one up close is
something the brothers always

310
00:12:52.872 --> 00:12:53.939
try to avoid.

311
00:12:55.407 --> 00:12:57.109
- [Casey] Stay alert.

312
00:12:57.109 --> 00:12:58.978
- [Narrator] Grizzly bears
are found in many habitats

313
00:12:58.978 --> 00:13:01.981
across North America, they
are normally solitary animals,

314
00:13:01.981 --> 00:13:03.949
and not typically territorial.

315
00:13:03.949 --> 00:13:05.551
However, they are
known to congregate

316
00:13:05.551 --> 00:13:06.952
where food is plentiful.

317
00:13:06.952 --> 00:13:08.721
A grizzly attacking
a human is uncommon,

318
00:13:08.721 --> 00:13:11.290
but their temperament can
easily change if cornered,

319
00:13:11.290 --> 00:13:14.193
surprised, or a mother's
cub is in danger.

320
00:13:14.193 --> 00:13:16.562
This is not the first
encounter the brothers have had

321
00:13:16.562 --> 00:13:18.597
with grizzlies, nor
will it be the last.

322
00:13:18.597 --> 00:13:21.066
A threat the brothers must
always be aware of when

323
00:13:21.066 --> 00:13:23.669
traversing the wilds of Alaska.

324
00:13:25.104 --> 00:13:27.373
With a bear in the immediate
vicinity, Chris and Casey are

325
00:13:27.373 --> 00:13:29.842
forced to continually stop
and check their surroundings

326
00:13:29.842 --> 00:13:31.777
with each new bend in the river.

327
00:13:31.777 --> 00:13:33.279
- We just want to see
what's ahead of us.

328
00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:35.314
Anytime you can use the land
to kind of get a grasp of

329
00:13:35.314 --> 00:13:37.850
what's up in front of
you, you've gotta do it.

330
00:13:37.850 --> 00:13:39.919
- [Casey] Especially
with a bear in the area.

331
00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:41.220
For once I'm glad
there's no trees.

332
00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:42.721
You can see for miles.

333
00:13:42.721 --> 00:13:43.989
- [Narrator] The brothers
make use of a small hill to

334
00:13:43.989 --> 00:13:46.358
see out and around the
surrounding location,

335
00:13:46.358 --> 00:13:47.993
also known as glassing.

336
00:13:47.993 --> 00:13:50.196
This vantage point allows
the brothers to see for miles

337
00:13:50.196 --> 00:13:52.932
in all directions as they
hope to spot the grizzly

338
00:13:52.932 --> 00:13:54.733
before it spots them.

339
00:13:54.733 --> 00:13:56.435
- Well, we can see
him if he's gone.

340
00:13:56.435 --> 00:13:58.637
- Yeah, but the grass
is real tall here.

341
00:13:58.637 --> 00:14:00.172
Look at those mountains
man, they're closing in

342
00:14:00.172 --> 00:14:01.707
all around us though.

343
00:14:01.707 --> 00:14:03.475
- [Narrator] The brothers have
reached an almost impassable

344
00:14:03.475 --> 00:14:06.512
section of the range, and have
come face to face with a full

345
00:14:06.512 --> 00:14:08.747
grown male grizzly bear
shortly after validating

346
00:14:08.747 --> 00:14:10.216
their second cache.

347
00:14:10.216 --> 00:14:12.518
Steep mountains flank the
sides of the river, and force

348
00:14:12.518 --> 00:14:15.554
any travelling animal into the
only passable area for miles,

349
00:14:15.554 --> 00:14:17.223
known as a choke point.

350
00:14:17.223 --> 00:14:19.058
Animals in the surrounding
area will be forced to

351
00:14:19.058 --> 00:14:21.627
funnel into this concentrated
shoot, making it a prime

352
00:14:21.627 --> 00:14:24.797
hunting habitat, but the
presence of a grizzly reaffirms

353
00:14:24.797 --> 00:14:27.600
that the brothers aren't
the only ones on the hunt.

354
00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.702
Predators have learned to
take full advantage of terrain

355
00:14:29.702 --> 00:14:31.937
changes like this, and
are known to congregate

356
00:14:31.937 --> 00:14:33.505
where prey is plentiful.

357
00:14:33.505 --> 00:14:35.741
Finding this choke point
increases the brother's

358
00:14:35.741 --> 00:14:37.376
chances of obtaining red meat,

359
00:14:37.376 --> 00:14:39.845
but it also means they must
be more cautious than ever

360
00:14:39.845 --> 00:14:42.181
as they are now in direct
competition for food with

361
00:14:42.181 --> 00:14:44.650
the area's resident predators.

362
00:14:44.650 --> 00:14:48.053
- Nothin, we should
probably get going, huh?

363
00:14:48.053 --> 00:14:48.988
- [Casey] Wait, what's that?

364
00:14:48.988 --> 00:14:50.456
- [Chris] What?

365
00:14:50.456 --> 00:14:52.491
- [Casey] shoot.

366
00:14:52.491 --> 00:14:54.727
It's caribou, right there.

367
00:14:54.727 --> 00:14:56.862
- [Narrator] The caribou is
back up river where the brothers

368
00:14:56.862 --> 00:14:58.697
last spotted the bear.

369
00:15:00.933 --> 00:15:03.102
- [Narrator] Chris an Casey
have spotted a lone caribou

370
00:15:03.102 --> 00:15:05.905
wandering the open tundra,
but they must act fast,

371
00:15:05.905 --> 00:15:08.574
the brothers must hurry
back to the raft to re-equip

372
00:15:08.574 --> 00:15:11.110
before he moves out of range.

373
00:15:11.110 --> 00:15:13.512
- [Casey] We just spotted
a caribou, up on the side

374
00:15:13.512 --> 00:15:16.382
of the hill, and we don't
want to go hammering up

375
00:15:16.382 --> 00:15:18.651
through there with our
waders on, cause if you tear

376
00:15:18.651 --> 00:15:20.619
your waders, they're worthless.

377
00:15:20.619 --> 00:15:23.555
We've got like a
perfect wind right now.

378
00:15:23.555 --> 00:15:25.925
Gosh, you've got
to pack your bag.

379
00:15:25.925 --> 00:15:27.359
- [Chris] We don't
have a lot of bullets.

380
00:15:27.359 --> 00:15:29.595
- [Casey] Gotta make
the shots count.

381
00:15:29.595 --> 00:15:31.764
I'm ready to go,
alright, let's go.

382
00:15:31.764 --> 00:15:33.432
- [Narrator] The longer
the brothers are away,

383
00:15:33.432 --> 00:15:37.536
the greater the risk of
them losing track of him.

384
00:15:38.370 --> 00:15:40.572
(dramatic music)

385
00:15:40.572 --> 00:15:42.942
Caribou hair matches
perfectly against the backdrop

386
00:15:42.942 --> 00:15:45.344
of the open tundra,
acting as a camouflage

387
00:15:45.344 --> 00:15:46.712
against predators.

388
00:15:46.712 --> 00:15:48.380
- Is he still there?

389
00:15:49.682 --> 00:15:50.849
Right there, right there.

390
00:15:50.849 --> 00:15:53.419
Going left to right, see 'em?

391
00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:57.289
- [Chris] Hey, what's
the range on 'em?

392
00:15:57.289 --> 00:15:58.791
- [Narrator] There are many
factors the brothers must take

393
00:15:58.791 --> 00:16:01.493
into consideration before
taking a shot, pressure,

394
00:16:01.493 --> 00:16:03.362
velocity, and distance.

395
00:16:03.362 --> 00:16:05.798
6The primer found in a bullet
spits fire, creating gas,

396
00:16:05.798 --> 00:16:08.634
and increasing pressure, that
launches the bullet forward

397
00:16:08.634 --> 00:16:10.135
within a millisecond.

398
00:16:10.135 --> 00:16:11.804
The weight of the bullet,
and the pressure acting upon

399
00:16:11.804 --> 00:16:13.739
the bullet, determines
both it's velocity,

400
00:16:13.739 --> 00:16:15.174
and it's distance.

401
00:16:15.174 --> 00:16:17.109
As the bullet leaves the
muzzle, wind, air, and gravity

402
00:16:17.109 --> 00:16:19.378
impact it's energy
and trajectory,

403
00:16:19.378 --> 00:16:21.180
slowing it down and
arching it's path.

404
00:16:21.180 --> 00:16:23.515
Adding in wind direction
and a moving target makes it

405
00:16:23.515 --> 00:16:24.984
that much more difficult.

406
00:16:24.984 --> 00:16:27.152
A strict code of ethics
will not permit the brothers

407
00:16:27.152 --> 00:16:31.190
to take a poor shot, even in
these extreme circumstances.

408
00:16:31.190 --> 00:16:32.024
- 196.

409
00:16:33.092 --> 00:16:34.259
- [Chris] 196?

410
00:16:35.327 --> 00:16:37.162
(whispers)

411
00:16:37.162 --> 00:16:38.630
Where did he go?

412
00:16:38.630 --> 00:16:39.798
- [Chris] I don't know.

413
00:16:39.798 --> 00:16:43.068
All I can see is
white, it disappeared.

414
00:16:43.068 --> 00:16:44.336
Right there, see
it's head just--

415
00:16:44.336 --> 00:16:45.437
- [Casey] Oh yeah,
he's right there.

416
00:16:45.437 --> 00:16:46.372
- [Chris] See 'em?

417
00:16:46.372 --> 00:16:47.473
Alright, he's standin up.

418
00:16:47.473 --> 00:16:48.474
You got 'em?

419
00:16:51.610 --> 00:16:54.046
- [Casey] I don't know,
he turned his body.

420
00:16:54.046 --> 00:16:55.748
- [Narrator] Caribou are one
of the only mammals that can

421
00:16:55.748 --> 00:16:58.917
see ultra violet light, a
rare ability that allows them

422
00:16:58.917 --> 00:17:01.553
to spot predators
across long distances.

423
00:17:01.553 --> 00:17:03.655
Combined with the vast
emptiness of the tundra,

424
00:17:03.655 --> 00:17:07.726
gives the caribou a distinct
advantage over the brothers.

425
00:17:07.726 --> 00:17:09.595
- He spun, and he
knew we were here.

426
00:17:09.595 --> 00:17:12.164
- Oh yeah, he was
lookin right at us.

427
00:17:12.164 --> 00:17:13.065
Did he go in that creek?

428
00:17:13.065 --> 00:17:14.333
- [Casey] Yep.

429
00:17:14.333 --> 00:17:15.434
- [Chris] He's like
a day away already.

430
00:17:15.434 --> 00:17:17.936
I hope the bear doesn't get 'em.

431
00:17:17.936 --> 00:17:19.905
- [Narrator] Having spotted
the brothers, the caribou has

432
00:17:19.905 --> 00:17:22.641
taken refuge in a small
creek almost 500 yards

433
00:17:22.641 --> 00:17:24.143
back up river.

434
00:17:24.143 --> 00:17:26.712
There is nowhere else for the
caribou to avoid detection,

435
00:17:26.712 --> 00:17:28.981
and the thick cover and high
banks will allow the brothers

436
00:17:28.981 --> 00:17:30.716
to move undetected.

437
00:17:30.716 --> 00:17:32.618
If they can make their
way around the front side

438
00:17:32.618 --> 00:17:34.920
of the creek, they
might have another shot,

439
00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:37.089
but they must also be aware
that a grizzly bear still

440
00:17:37.089 --> 00:17:39.425
lurks in the immediate area.

441
00:17:41.427 --> 00:17:43.695
Surviving solely on
adrenaline at this point,

442
00:17:43.695 --> 00:17:45.564
they can only hope the
track will be worth it's

443
00:17:45.564 --> 00:17:47.132
weight in red meat.

444
00:17:48.534 --> 00:17:50.402
They must constantly pay
attention to the wind

445
00:17:50.402 --> 00:17:52.071
and the geography.

446
00:17:52.071 --> 00:17:56.141
One miscalculated move, can
send the caribou running.

447
00:17:56.141 --> 00:17:58.477
- I say we creep in here
right now, but I don't want

448
00:17:58.477 --> 00:18:00.345
to like dive in there,
why don't we just walk up,

449
00:18:00.345 --> 00:18:02.181
and let our wind blow?

450
00:18:03.048 --> 00:18:05.717
(pensive music)

451
00:18:09.588 --> 00:18:11.156
whoa, whoa, whoa!

452
00:18:11.156 --> 00:18:13.392
(gunshots)

453
00:18:15.794 --> 00:18:17.563
He just stood up.

454
00:18:17.563 --> 00:18:19.131
Check 'em.

455
00:18:19.131 --> 00:18:20.599
- [Narrator] A white wolf
was lurking in high brush

456
00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:23.569
around the creek, stalking
the caribou, or the brothers.

457
00:18:23.569 --> 00:18:25.270
- Wow am I shaking,
look at that.

458
00:18:25.270 --> 00:18:26.672
I took three steps backwards.

459
00:18:26.672 --> 00:18:27.940
- [Narrator] Chris is fortunate
to still be in one piece

460
00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:29.508
after such a close encounter.

461
00:18:29.508 --> 00:18:31.343
- He just got up right there,
I didn't know if he was

462
00:18:31.343 --> 00:18:33.312
coming at me or charging
or what, but at this time,

463
00:18:33.312 --> 00:18:35.047
I'm not messing around.

464
00:18:35.047 --> 00:18:36.181
- Dude, he knew we
were here long before

465
00:18:36.181 --> 00:18:37.683
we knew he was here.

466
00:18:37.683 --> 00:18:39.218
- [Chris] That second shot
dropped him right there.

467
00:18:39.218 --> 00:18:41.453
- [Casey] He was just laying
right down in here or what?

468
00:18:41.453 --> 00:18:42.955
- [Chris] Yeah, just kind of
stool up behind this stuff,

469
00:18:42.955 --> 00:18:45.557
just when he stood up and
looked at me, and I just

470
00:18:45.557 --> 00:18:48.727
popped off one, and he
just kind of folded,

471
00:18:48.727 --> 00:18:50.262
and the second one
he just dropped.

472
00:18:50.262 --> 00:18:51.497
- [Casey] Well, I heard you
yelling, and the next thing

473
00:18:51.497 --> 00:18:53.465
I know, you're shootin.

474
00:18:53.465 --> 00:18:55.300
(Chris grunts)

475
00:18:55.300 --> 00:18:59.471
- Freaked me out when I turned
around and that's all I saw.

476
00:19:00.873 --> 00:19:02.441
- [Narrator] The wolves
that roam the remote corners

477
00:19:02.441 --> 00:19:04.576
of Alaska, are some of the
most lethal and efficient

478
00:19:04.576 --> 00:19:06.011
hunters on earth.

479
00:19:06.011 --> 00:19:07.880
Generally found in
packs, the consist of six

480
00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:09.448
or seven animals.

481
00:19:09.448 --> 00:19:11.717
Wolves are social carnivores
that rely on numbers to take

482
00:19:11.717 --> 00:19:14.186
down prey five times their size.

483
00:19:14.186 --> 00:19:16.655
Often times, due to
relatively high birth rates,

484
00:19:16.655 --> 00:19:19.224
a pack of wolves must
continuously be on the hunt.

485
00:19:19.224 --> 00:19:21.860
In most of mainland Alaska,
moose and caribou are their

486
00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:24.530
primary food source, with
small animals like squirrels,

487
00:19:24.530 --> 00:19:27.900
beavers, and snowshoe hares
supplementing their diet.

488
00:19:27.900 --> 00:19:30.135
An efficient pack of wolves
is capable of taking down

489
00:19:30.135 --> 00:19:32.938
large game every few days,
especially when the ground

490
00:19:32.938 --> 00:19:34.406
is snow covered.

491
00:19:34.406 --> 00:19:36.608
This high rate of predation
can have drastic affects

492
00:19:36.608 --> 00:19:38.810
on the reproduction
rates of moose, caribou,

493
00:19:38.810 --> 00:19:40.379
and even dall sheep.

494
00:19:40.379 --> 00:19:43.248
Alaska is home to an
estimated 11,000 wolves,

495
00:19:43.248 --> 00:19:45.517
and they a have never been
considered either endangered

496
00:19:45.517 --> 00:19:46.718
or threatened.

497
00:19:46.718 --> 00:19:48.420
Checks and balances
are in place to control

498
00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:49.621
the wolf populations.

499
00:19:49.621 --> 00:19:51.857
If left unmanaged, this
super predator would

500
00:19:51.857 --> 00:19:54.193
devastate Alaska's wildlife.

501
00:19:56.361 --> 00:19:58.797
- Today was a hard day, but
it was well earned, you know,

502
00:19:58.797 --> 00:20:01.633
every since we entered this
valley, we started to see,

503
00:20:01.633 --> 00:20:04.603
you know, signs of caribou
kills up in the hills.

504
00:20:04.603 --> 00:20:06.238
You know there's wolves around.

505
00:20:06.238 --> 00:20:09.675
- You get in those situations,
and that animal in particular

506
00:20:09.675 --> 00:20:11.910
is so unbelievably skilled.

507
00:20:13.145 --> 00:20:15.447
I don't know, it's a
humbling experience.

508
00:20:15.447 --> 00:20:18.850
- We're not survivalist,
we're not guys that claim we

509
00:20:18.850 --> 00:20:20.519
know everything
about being out here.

510
00:20:20.519 --> 00:20:23.355
We're big game hunters that
love to test ourselves.

511
00:20:23.355 --> 00:20:25.190
But just being able to
see caribou tonight,

512
00:20:25.190 --> 00:20:27.192
and not be able to
pull the trigger,

513
00:20:27.192 --> 00:20:30.229
just watching that food
go by, is pretty hard.

514
00:20:30.229 --> 00:20:32.798
If anything I've learned,
it's that you've gotta take

515
00:20:32.798 --> 00:20:34.333
it as it comes.

516
00:20:34.333 --> 00:20:36.435
- [Casey] We spent a lot of
energy today goin up there,

517
00:20:36.435 --> 00:20:38.337
but that's how we roll.

518
00:20:39.805 --> 00:20:42.474
(Drum beating)