Ep 1. Dark Days

In the season 5 premiere of Yukon Men, entitled "Dark Days," the residents of Tanana, Alaska are bracing themselves for what could be one of the toughest winters on record. With temperatures already plummeting and the snow starting to pile up, the locals know that they will need to work together and use every tool at their disposal if they hope to survive the coming months.

At the start of the episode, we see the town's leader and resident hunter, Charlie Wright, preparing to venture out into the wilderness to hunt for much-needed food. With his trusted dog team at his side, Charlie sets off into the backcountry in search of caribou and moose. But as he travels deeper into the wilderness, he begins to sense that something is not quite right. The animals are scarce, and the tracks he does find are old and faint. It's as if the game has vanished into thin air.

Back in Tanana, the townspeople are also feeling the effects of the harsh winter weather. With the river and surrounding lakes frozen solid, they are forced to rely on the supplies they have stockpiled throughout the year. But as the days drag on and the temperatures continue to drop, those supplies are starting to dwindle. The community is faced with the tough decision of whether or not to start rationing their remaining food.

As the episode progresses, we see various members of the town tackling the challenges of winter in their own way. Joey Zuray, a skilled trapper, heads out into the forest to check his traplines and hopefully catch enough furs to make it through the winter. Meanwhile, Stan Zuray, Joey's uncle and another longtime resident of Tanana, is working tirelessly to repair his snow machine. The vehicle is essential for his ability to move around the area and hunt game, and he knows that a breakdown could be catastrophic.

Perhaps the most unnerving moment of the episode comes when Charlie Wright's daughter, Bobbi, and her husband, Tyler, venture out to check their trapline. It's a routine task that they've done countless times before, but this time, something is different. As they approach the traps, they hear an eerie sound in the distance. It's a howl that echoes through the trees and sends chills down their spines. They both know that it could be a pack of wolves, hungry and on the hunt.

Ultimately, "Dark Days" serves as a stark reminder of just how unforgiving the Alaskan wilderness can be. It's a place where a minor misstep or equipment failure can quickly turn deadly. But it's also a place of incredible beauty and resilience. As the residents of Tanana hunker down and prepare for the worst, they demonstrate an unwavering spirit and determination that is truly inspiring.