Life Below Zero Season 12 Episode 7 Highways of the Arctic
- TV14
- January 22, 2019
- 46 min
-
(7)
In season 12 episode 7 of Life Below Zero, titled Highways of the Arctic, viewers are taken on a journey through the remote and unforgiving landscape of Alaska's Arctic region. The episode follows a number of different characters, each living a unique and challenging lifestyle in one of the harshest environments on Earth.
One of the main threads of the episode is the story of Sue Aikens, who runs the Kavik River Camp in the wilderness of northern Alaska. Sue is a tough and resilient woman who has lived in the Arctic for over 30 years, and she has learned to survive in a place where temperatures can drop to -70 degrees and where the nearest town is over 500 miles away. She runs the only camp for hundreds of miles around, and she must be completely self-sufficient in order to keep it running. In Highways of the Arctic, we see Sue battling the elements as she tries to transport a vital piece of machinery to the camp, a journey that takes her across treacherous ice roads and through blinding snowstorms.
Another character featured in the episode is Andy Bassich, a dog musher who lives deep in the Alaskan interior. Andy has a team of over 30 huskies, and he uses them to transport supplies, hunt for food, and explore the wilderness around his remote home. In Highways of the Arctic, we see Andy and his dogs braving sub-zero temperatures as they travel across frozen lakes and through mountain passes in search of supplies. Andy's relationship with his dogs is a key theme of the episode, and we see him caring for them and training them to be the best sled dogs they can be.
Another character featured in the episode is Ricko DeWilde, a Gwich'in Athabaskan who lives in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Ricko is a hunter and gatherer who relies on the land and the animals around him for survival. In Highways of the Arctic, we see him spearing fish in a frozen river, gathering spruce roots to make snowshoes, and hunting for caribou on the wide open tundra. Ricko's connection to the land and the animals he hunts is a powerful and moving aspect of the episode, and we see how he has learned to live in harmony with the Arctic ecosystem.
Finally, we meet Heimo Korth and his wife Edna, who live in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Heimo is one of the most experienced and skilled survivalists in the Arctic, having lived in the region for over 40 years. In Highways of the Arctic, we see Heimo and Edna braving a punishing snowstorm as they search for game to sustain themselves through the long winter months.
Throughout the episode, we see how these characters must navigate the challenges of life in the Arctic, from dealing with extreme weather conditions to finding food and shelter in an unforgiving landscape. We also see the deep sense of community and kinship that exists among the people who live in this remote and isolated region. Life Below Zero: Highways of the Arctic is a compelling and inspiring look at the lives of some of the toughest and most resilient people in America.