Seasons & episodes

Alaskans live and die by the changing seasons. It's a constant fight to survive the brutality of the changing weather through sustenance hunting, trapping, fishing and relying on self-sufficient ingenuity. NGC follows six Alaskans as they fight through the freeze, the dark winter, the break up and the thaw. Then, as they spend summer preparing to do it all again.

Alaskans living in remote corners of the Arctic fight to build a prosperous life in one of the most inhospitable places on earth. Through the brutal and unforgiving seasons, they have staked their claim and are determined to carve out a life of relative comfort in the wilds of Alaska.

A compilation of Season 5, highlighting the environment of Alaska, and all of the challenges it brings.

As they work in Alaska’s harsh wilderness, each person learns his or her own lesson about the law of the land.

For Alaskans, building a life of freedom that can endure the cruel elements of the Arctic can only be done by employing the tools of the trade.

S1 · E1End of the Road 2013-05-19 · 60 min＋

Six people separated by hundreds of miles, all joined by the common cause of surviving the winter in the Alaskan bush. In Noorvik, Chip races to set whitefish nets on thin ice for the last catch of the season. Fishing on the frozen river is deadly, but it's vital to haul enough fish to last through the winter. Andy tests the safety of the river surrounding his house that he uses as a link to the outside world. Without this winter lifeline, he is trapped and isolated.

S1 · E2Hunt, Barter and Steal 2013-05-26 · 60 min＋

Sue heads home after recovering from an injury, only to find that her fuel supply has been stolen. Elsewhere, Chip and Agnes are unable to access their hunting grounds and are forced to barter their supplies.

S1 · E3Winter's Edge 2013-06-02 · 60 min＋

Sue sets up hand lines between her most important buildings and prepares firearms as a blizzard approaches. Elsewhere, Erik collects water and wood.

S1 · E4Wolf at the Door 2013-06-09 · 60 min＋

A wolf approaches Sue's cabin; Chip's snow machine breaks down; and Erik hunts for lynx.

S1 · E5Blood, Sweat and Fear 2013-06-16 · 60 min＋

Sue runs low on fuel and calls for an air delivery, but mechanical trouble and an impending winter storm make travel difficult. Elsewhere, Erik deals with a crafty wolf.

S1 · E6There Be Monsters 2013-06-23 · 60 min＋

Kate and Andy collect lumber for their homestead before celebrating her birthday; Chip and Agnes go hunting.

S1 · E7Cold, Dark and Alone 2013-06-30 · 60 min＋

Sue gets a rare hunting opportunity when a flock of birds end up in her yard; Erik has a snow-machine accident while out setting traps.

S1 · E8Checkmate 2013-07-07 · 60 min＋

Sue encounters a predator outside her tent; Andy buys a new sawmill and must tow it home despite dangerous snowdrifts on the Taylor Highway.

S1 · E9The Chase 2013-07-14 · 60 min＋

Chip and Agnes track a wolf for its fur; Sue hunts for a moose; Kate and Andy prepare for a doomsday scenario.

S1 · E10Hell and High Water 2013-07-21 · 60 min＋

Sue travels to Fairbanks to buy her Kavik River Camp; Andy and Kate move their dogs to a safe location before an ice breakup; Erik preps for grizzly-hunting season by renting out his property.

The second season begins with Andy dealing with a dangerous predator as hibernation season ends for the local wildlife. Also: Chip and Agnes hunt for fur; and Sue works to stock her freezer before the end of bear season.

The runway strip is threatened by runoff from melting snow that could halt vital business for Sue's camp. Elsewhere, Chip and Agnes commence on a fishing expedition with their children.

Sue deals with last-minute emergencies while preparing for customers to stay at her camp; Andy and Kate build a greenhouse for growing food supplies.

Glenn runs low on provisions and decides to go fishing to replenish his supplies. Elsewhere, Sue investigates a strange sight on the horizon and then tries to collect coal.

Sue attempts to hunt caribou to fill her food supplies before winter; Andy tries fishing with a net, which can be more dangerous to operate than his fish wheel.

Due to a shortage of food, Glenn is forced to travel from Chandalar to Fairbanks.

In the third-season premiere, Sue is forced to face a painful memory when she crosses paths with a grizzly bear. Elsewhere, the Bassichs set up a fishing wheel to feed their sled dogs; the Hailstones run into trouble net fishing; and Erik travels to Kodiak Island to hunt for food.

Erik goes hunting for mountain goats on Kodiak Island; Andy plans to down a moose with a homemade bullet; Sue tries her luck with a herd of caribou; and Chip and Agnes stock up for winter.

The Hailstones hunt for a moose to keep them fed during the winter; Sue hurries to close up camp before the freeze starts; Andy looks for beavers along the Yukon; and Erik tries to trap a fox.