It’s fall in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and animals are on the move. Some Alaskans pursue the tail end of the caribou migration. A bear ransacks Bob’s cabin, destroying two years of dry meat. A family arrives to signs of moose.
Surviving 400 miles from civilization boils down to one thing -- finding food. Heimo pursues an animal that can feed him and his wife for months. The condition of Bob’s boat threatens the hunt. The Seldens arrive to a flooded cabin.
Winter is coming, and residents must prepare for temperatures dropping to -50 degrees.
Winter has arrived and the time for preparation is over. Bob deals with the ramifications of crashing his plane. To begin trapping, Heimo must find a way to cross a newly frozen river. Ray and his daughters set out to catch much needed meat.
The difficulties of life hundreds of miles from civilization becomes abundantly clear. Tyler and Ashley trek 15 miles to a lake cabin to run their dog team and search for food. Bob leaves home to see his daughter and assess the damage of his crashed plane.
Darkness has arrived in the refuge. Heimo’s golden rule to never get caught miles from home in the dark is in jeopardy. The Lewis family prepares for a life-changing event as their daughters prepare to leave and head out on their own in town.
As the end of winter nears, the residents of the refuge look toward the future. Bob trains Ruger to be a hunting dog, while Ray prepares for an empty nest life without his daughters. Heimo’s ambitious mind pushes his aging body to the brink.
Sunlight finally returns to the refuge. Heimo’s stopped in his tracks by -50 degree temperatures. The Seldens make their home in a new cabin, and Bob tries to salvage his worst season in 40 years and questions his future.