Throng

The documentary series examining the lucrative but highly dangerous job of driving trucks on Canada’s ice highways continues. In this episode, Hugh takes a novice trucker under his wing. Another rookie sets out with a difficult load; Rick is part of a convoy in trouble; Drew heads back onto the ice; and Eric races to be leader of the pack.

This week, ice-road veteran Hugh Rowland is called upon to impart his wisdom to an up-and-coming trucker. He must partner 18-year-old Isaac Lennie on his first trip up the ice road. Their mission is to pick up waste water from the Wurmlinger barge. Hugh drives the rig onto the ice road then lets Isaac take the controls, only for the young trucker to stall the engine several times.

Despite this initial setback, Hugh has confidence in his pupil. “Give Isaac a couple of trips and he’s gonna be a professional,” he says. The rookie acquits himself well on the slippery corners and arrives safely at the Wurmlinger. The drive back with a full tank is more challenging, as the liquid inside sloshes around and makes the truck top- heavy. Isaac completes the journey, but the next day he disappoints his teacher by failing the written part of his driving test. Has he blown his chances of becoming an ice-road trucker?

Elsewhere, another rookie sets out with one of his most challenging loads yet. Mike Flynn is travelling solo with 16,000 litres of diesel fuel, bound for the research base at Mallick. Mike has to be extra careful as the moving liquid could easily overturn his truck and cause an explosion. “I like driving the fuel truck. I like the pressure,” he says. “If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space, you know?”

In Tuk, Rick Yemm teams up with 54-year-old Bill Thorbourne to form a two-truck convoy to Mallick. Having been prescribed some drugs for his backache, Rick is in high spirits. Bill, meanwhile, seems to enjoy a good working relationship with the hotshot trucker. “He reminds me of when I was younger,” Bill reflects. “He’s got the fire and the twinkle in his eye.”

Bill is grateful to have Rick around when the heater in his cab stops working 74 miles from Mallick. The temperature inside his truck plummets to a chilly –10°F and the pair are forced to make regular stops on their way to Mallick, allowing Bill to jump into Rick’s cab to warm up. A broken heater can be deadly for an ice road trucker, as Eric Dufresne explains: “You’ll die instantly. You won’t even feel your legs... Your hands will be frozen to the steering wheel and everything will be stiff. Your heart will start slowing down. The truck’s still going and you’re dead.”

Over in Inuvik, Drew Sherwood has been tasked with delivering groceries to the isolated hamlet of Aklavik. It may not be the most glamorous load on the ice, but for the people of Aklavik, the supplies are a lifeline during the harsh winter. It is also a chance for Drew to escape the warehouse and hit the road once more. Unfortunately, his trip almost comes to an abrupt end when his wheels lock up and he begins to slide out of control.

As spring approaches and the ice-road season nears its end, Eric and Hugh are the leaders of the pack, having made 39 hauls each. Eric is determined to get one over on his rival and, while Hugh is busy teaching Isaac, he manages to make two hauls on the same day.

Eric’s job is to assist with the dismantling of the camp at Mallick. The base is engaged in the exploration of gas hydrates – a solid form of gas found in permafrost. The research companies are looking for a way to turn these hydrates into natural gas and, after 15 years of research, the team at Mallick has succeeded. “It’s a wonderful time for us,” says scientist Scott Dallimore. “But you know what? We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that ice road and those ice-road truckers!”