01x03 - Mountain Lions and Tornados

[bunniefuu]

I got new gloves, you guys.

You're going to need them.

It's colder than a witch's
broomstick up here.

It's colder than
a warlock's wiener.

It's so cold
I saw my attorney

with his hands
in his own pockets.

It's winter right now.

But the bears are going
to be waking up.

And they're going
to be hungry and angry.

And that's what you don't want.
You don't want a hangry bear.

Did you say "hangry"?

We really are out
in the middle of nowhere.

One snowfall could be
the difference

between life and death.

We have food that feeds
our family for one year.

I wonder how
prepared they are.

Every one of these little
black spruce is a match stick.

Last year, five million acres
burned in Alaska.

I mean, this is a forest
of match sticks.

Marty raney has been building
homesteads for 40 years.

He's spent his life passing
on his homesteading skills.

I was raised off-grid.

I built a life and a family in
the toughest place on earth --

Alaska.

And I've taught my kids
everything I know.

Daughter misty has raised
and slaughtered animals

and grown her own food
since she was a child.

A homestead needs to be
nurtured every day.

You get out what you put in.

Son Matt
spent 12 years

as a guide and hunter in Alaska.

I have the utmost
respect for wildlife.

Hunting is a privilege
and a necessity.

In the last decade,

two million Americans
have moved off-grid.

There's no road.
There's no grid.

There's no nothing.

But the wilderness
is a tough place to survive.

Look out!
Oh, my god!

This year, tens of thousands
of homesteads will fail.

We're not going to make it
another month.

We'll start burning furniture
to keep warm if we have to.

We're struggling
to stay alive.

We really need the raneys
to come and help us.

For those brave enough
to embark on this lifestyle,

we're here to help them
overcome the challenges

and fulfill that dream.

My resume, I'll show it
to you right now.

Are we here?

I think we're --
who knows?

But we're really remote.

The raneys have been
asked to help out

a homestead in Alaska.

Hey, look at this.
Are we at the end of the road?

I think I see some sled dogs.

Whoa,
come on, guys.

Man, look at this place.

We are out there.

They've traveled
over 300 miles

north from their base
in hatcher pass

through the highest peaks
of america

to the edge
of the arctic circle.

Endless wilderness, big game,

and an abundant growing season
make Alaska the promised land

for those tough enough
to survive its winters.

But where the valleys
of the chatanika meet

the snow-capped crests
of the white mountains,

the spring thaw means
wildfires are coming

and thousands of bears
are waking up.

The raneys have just seven days
to save the homestead

before moving on
to their next project.

The house is unfinished.

Yeah, it's just
building-wrapped.

I mean,
look at that stuff.

I'm going to take a wild guess
and say you might be Jeff.

I'm Jeff.
Marty raney.

How are you?
Nice to meet you.

This place is stunning,
even by Alaska standards.

I mean look at --
look at your setting.

A million square miles
with a dog sled.

It's the Alaska dream.
They're living it.

But the dream's in jeopardy.

Six months ago,

newlyweds Jeff
and kattijo deeter

finally pulled the plug
on their old lives...

That's one of my favorite
pictures from that day.

When along with
Jeff's mom Gretchen,

they moved into
their new off-grid home.

Doesn't it seem kind of easy,
the way things were?

Yeah, a different lifestyle.

Of course, you had mom
and dad at that,

and especially your dad.

Growing up as a kid,
my dad was really involved

in construction
and was a very handy guy.

A lot of what I have
at this point,

I gained from him.

It's probably
the hardest thing is...

Not having his dad.

In 2009,
Jeff's dad Eric was

tragically k*lled
in a road accident.

And with kattijo's own mom over
3,000 miles away in Wisconsin,

the young couple are struggling.

This thing's
not working again.

If his dad
would have been here,

I'm sure there'd have been a lot
more progress on this house.

Okay,
that sounds promising.

O-Kay.

But the things
that they're facing,

they need some major help.

Jeff, aren't you
worried about this?

You seem like
you're pretty calm.

And I'm --
I'm freaking out.

He hates asking for help

and he's at a point
where he really needs to.

Determined to do it alone,

the deeters invested $150,000
to start a dog mushing business

and build a house among
the apex predators of Alaska.

Just getting some snacks
out for the dogs.

You're going to do it here?

Bears are going to be
coming out.

Do we have very
much stuff in there?

Well, we're getting to
the bottom of the reserve.

With money tied up
in a half-finished house,

forest fire season on its way,

and bears coming out
of hibernation...

The bear was right here
at the bottom of the steps.

Gretchen's reached out
to the raneys

to ask them to save
her son's homestead.

We could be k*lled.

That is a reality,
and that's one of the realities

we have to recognize
living here.

With money tight
for the deeters,

the raneys plan
to make improvements

using materials sourced
from the homestead.

Fixes must pay for
themselves or save lives.

I want to show you where we are
dumping our kitchen waste.

It's right in this spot here.

20 feet away from
your front door here.

You think it
attracts bears?

It attracts our
little buddy here.

Kattijo and Jeff did have
an encounter right here.

Right here?
Right here.

What kind of bear was it?

Grizzly.
I mean, that's --

that's the granddad
of all brown bears.

I know friends of mine

that have had bear encounters
with their homestead

and they have literally
devastated their homes

to the point where they were
almost irreparable.

In the last 11 years,

33 people have been k*lled
by bears in North America.

These predators can smell
an animal carcass

from 20 miles away.

Oh, wow.

Dog food.
This is not bear-proof.

I just ripped this off
with one arm.

This, it can't go on
for very much longer.

No, I know. I know.

As you can see, there's so much
to do around here.

That's why -- that's why
we're here to help.

Well, that's -- yeah, well,
that will be great.

Jeff and kattijo don't
like to ask for help.

They don't ask for help.

But if a bear came in
and tore the place apart,

it would be a dream
just torn to shreds.

This little gem over here
is our human food storage.

The only freezer
for your food?

Yeah, that's it.
Yeah.

How do you fit all your food
for a year in here?

Well, we don't.

O-Kay.

And this is like,
a couple weeks?

This is not good.

And I think you don't know
the situation that you're in,

because you still have
a smile on your face.

And you don't realize
how serious it is.

We're in the dead
of wintertime.

They have a couple of things
in their freezer.

That is not the place you want
to be this time of year.

On the other side
of the property,

Marty has an even
bigger concern.

The homestead's south side
is dangerously close

to an area of highly flammable
black spruce trees.

That's the best fire starter
in Alaska, yes or no?

Yep, that's --
that's true.

How far is it
from your house?

25 feet, 20 feet?

20 feet.

20 feet from your house.

But this is our one buffer
from the road, you know,

from... and obviously we're
at the end of the road.

But this is kind of
our privacy barrier.

Let's just say
the fire broke out,

which they can in winter,
by the way.

Yep.

And let's just say
it was raging across here

at 15 to 20 miles an hour.

I mean, do you have a plan?

I've got my chainsaw ready.

The fire defense
is you with a chainsaw

trying to clear these trees
while the fire is encroaching?

How many sled dogs
are at risk?

We've got 37 dogs.

That's kind of
a comfort feature

that you're putting as
a priority over the safety

and, you know, the survival
of this homestead.

If you don't mind,

I'd like you to run
some of this by your wife.

Okay.

In 2015, half the wildfires
in the U.S. were in Alaska.

Five million acres
went up in smoke.

This swath of trees
could actually k*ll you. Fact.

This house needs
a defense system.

And the first thing
in this line of defense

is to move these trees back.

I don't really want
to cut any more trees.

We're attached
to these trees.

We're attached
to our privacy.

We're out here completely --

I'm home alone a lot.

I don't want people knowing
that our house is back here.

Don't take it personally,

but why would we do
any improvements here

when I'm telling you that place
is going to burn down?

I -- I think we're
wasting our time.

Ball's in your court.

It's only a matter of time
before the forest fire

does come through here,

which will then burn
their house down.

So I've got a surprise
for these people.

40 flammable homes
on the property,

not to mention the householder.

Yeah.
Come here.

I would like to see
the evacuation plan.

Okay.
All right.

Okay.

Hey, Matt!
Light the flares!

It's going to happen
right now.

Sorry,
don't take it personally.

Right now?
Right this second, darling.

Well, we've got --
I mean, we've got a lot

to set up for that.
We're not really...

No, fires don't announce
they're coming,

and here comes the smoke.
Okay. All right. Okay.

Matt, good job!
Light some more flares!

Sometimes, forest fires
right in this area travel

15 miles an hour.

The flames are coming.

Still to come,

Jeff and kattijo
race against time

to evacuate their homestead.

I'll tell you right now,
they're going too slow,

and that's a fact.

And the raneys'
rescue plans

are met with fierce resistance.

I don't want
to put a ladder on here.

I don't want to put
another section on here.

I'm not doing it.

Interior Alaska.

The raneys have just seven days
to turn around a homestead

in mortal danger.

Matt!
Light some more flares!

Hungry bears

and a fast-approaching
fire season

threaten a family
of dog-mushers and their home.

Come on, bud.

Off-grid expert Marty
has simulated a fire

to prove to the deeters
they must take his advice

to cut down the trees
closest to their home

or face a devastating inferno.

These guys built their house

in the worst possible location
for a forest fire.

Their house is right
at the top of a Ridge.

Fire is one of the few things
that runs faster uphill.

Kattijo and Jeff
carry out the fire drill

without harming their dogs.

Where do you want her?

A wildfire can consume
five square miles of forest

in just 20 minutes.

But 20 minutes in,

kattijo and Jeff
are not even close.

I'll tell you right now,
they're going too slow,

and that's a fact.

They're not prepared.

Okay, next.

Okay, hold it right there.

Hold it right there.
Get your wife.

Let's talk, please.

The deeter's
evacuation has failed.

There's 21 dogs in there,
yes?

Yep.
21, 22, 23.

So, 24 dogs in
about 24 minutes.

Okay.
So that's 40 dogs,

40 minutes.

I'm an Alaskan
and I live in the valley

where a fire broke out in
a dog mushing community.

So I know those 40 guys
depend on you and that plan.

Your husband told me,
"when the fire breaks out,

katti and I will fire up
the chainsaws

and we will remove the trees

from around the house
to stave off the fire."

That's cool.

But where do the dogs
come into that plan?

I'm...

You know, I --
I think it makes sense

to cut these trees back.

Yeah,
it's got to happen.

I love -- I love hearing
you say that.

Thank you.
I'm going to start cutting.

Marty springing
the evacuation

on us definitely
made an impression,

and yeah, we've decided
to move forward with that

and cut those trees back.

Woo!
Ready?

Let's do it.

To protect
the deeter's $150,000 homestead,

Marty and Jeff are creating
a 50-foot buffer

clear of flammable trees.

Removing the trees
means the homestead

is much more likely
to survive the summer.

Woo!

Yeah, I think that'll do it.
Let's have a look,

see how it looks
from out here.

I see one thing already.
It looks a lot safer.

Yeah, having that
buffer looks good.

It's cool.

These guys, they made
a good decision here.

We're off to
a really good start.

But it's still not safe.

Safer,
but still not safe.

I mean, you know right now
if I break out a lighter

and get close to that,
what's going to happen?

Yep, yeah, it's going to
go right up in flames.

I mean, how long
has it been on there?

I've had that on a year.

One year?
Yep.

Where's the siding?

Siding is sitting right here
in this beautiful pile.

This steel siding should be
cladding the house to protect it

from flying sparks
and hot embers.

We're going to give this house
a suit of armor.

It's going to be clad
in steel siding,

and that will be a huge step
in the defense system.

But fire isn't the only threat
to this homestead.

In Alaskan summers,
130,000 bears

come out of hibernation,

and close encounters
can be fatal.

I talked to Gretchen.
Just before winter hit,

I think they had
a bear encounter.

Black? A black bear?
No. Grizzly bear.

Are you kidding me?

Big, nasty griz.

I personally have been
chased by a grizzly bear

and came this close
to getting mauled,

k*lled, or eaten.

It happens.

Basically, they came
face-to-face with this grizzly

and they got lucky
and the grizzly --

the grizzly just saw them
and then went off.

If they don't get
their food situation

under control, the next time
they have a bear encounter,

you know, it might not go
very well for them.

Well, you should see
their food supply.

What's the problem?
They have no way to store it.

These bears are going
to be waking up.

In my honest opinion,
these people aren't ready.

But misty has
a food storage solution.

I'm thinking, like, we need
to build a root cellar.

Misty,
I like the way you think.

A root cellar is going to solve
all kinds of problems

for kattijo and Jeff
on this homestead,

but first we need to
persuade them to say yes.

You have food scattered
all over your property.

You need to have it
bear-proof.

Root cellars have been
around forever.

They're very efficient.

They would solve all kinds
of problems for you guys,

including the bear problem.

It's going to have a bear-proof
door on the front of it.

Matt's going to build it.

Misty's planning
a root cellar built

in a hole from timber panels,
then buried with earth.

The earth acts as insulation

to keep the contents
at a constant cool

temperature throughout
all seasons.

In the summer, heat is absorbed
before it reaches the cellar,

and in the winter, that ground
will retain enough warmth

to protect the contents
of the cellar from freezing.

But building it risks
$3,000 dollars of lumber

before they even know
if the arctic conditions

make digging a hole possible.

The temperature
right here in Fairbanks area

has been 66 below zero,

so the ground's frozen.

It's going to be scratch,
scratch, scratch.

You guys, I'm not optimistic
that we're going to be able

to dig very far
this time of year.

I'm really not.

Would you be open to just seeing
if we could break ground?

And if we fail, fine,

but we won't know
until we're actually digging.

So I -- I have some concerns
just about the aesthetics.

We take a spot
and we make a big hole.

Without some serious
revegetation,

we won't be able
to make it look uniform

with the rest of the property.

Okay, but my concerns
would be food storage,

including the bear problem.

I'm not disagreeing that
it's not a good idea.

What I'm saying is,
like, I don't know

that the gamble is worth it.

I'm a little
bit frustrated.

It can be a challenge
dealing with dog mushers.

Is this how every day
is going to go?

You could just trust us
and know that this

is going to be
a really good decision for you.

Let's go find something else
to do and think on this.

Okay.

They need to tap
into the raney family

and what we're telling them.

They need to listen
to what my dad

is saying and tap into
that experience,

and that's how they're
going to survive.

Have to be honest,
I'm a little hurt

we haven't gained
their confidence.

They think that we don't know
how to do the projects

that we're doing here,
and, wow.

Part of me wants to
pull them aside and say,

"listen, my resume,
I'll show it to you right now."

Coming up
on "homestead rescue,"

the raneys dig deep to solve
the deeters' food crisis...

Fish on, people!

But could face defeat
from the frozen north.

We're seeing a ton
of frozen ground.

Close to
the arctic circle

in remote northern Alaska,
misty raney

is struggling
to convince the deeters

that a root cellar will help
protect them from bears.

You could just trust us
and know that this

is going to be
a really good decision for you.

The flammable cabin
is also at risk from wildfires.

I mean, you know right now
if I break out a lighter

and get close to that,
what's going to happen?

Yep. Yeah, it's going to
go right up in flames.

Man, that's sweet.
- So Matt raney

is pressing on with the plan
to attach the fireproof sidings,

but he needs Jeff
and kattijo's help.

I was thinking maybe both
of you guys could get up there

and just measure
those two windows.

All right.
Let's go, guys.

I think it's slippery.
Just be careful, you guys.

This is scary.

You're telling me
that you're not

comfortable with the scaffold?

Both of us have
a mutual fear of heights.

I understand
why this siding

hasn't been put on
for all this time.

They just can't do it.

We don't want to go
any higher than this.

But there's no way
we're going to be able

to do this house, you know,

unless we get up there
and we're literally on the top

of this scaffold
as high as we can get.

I'm not doing it.
I'm not going up there.

With kattijo and Jeff
reluctant to follow

any of the raneys advice,
Marty has called a time-out.

Beautiful.
So beautiful.

Yeah, this is good,
you guys.

How's it going?
Hello.

Yeah.

It's time for the raneys

and the deeters
to go ice-fishing,

get away from these
stressful work projects,

and maybe everyone
will let their guard down.

They get to see that we really
do want to help them

and maybe earn their trust.

I see we got beer,
that's a good start.

This looks amazing.

Tarp hotel.

Inland lakes in Alaska are

a plentiful source
of protein for homesteaders.

It can save hundreds of dollars
a year on store-bought food.

Woo!

All the ways you can
build a fire --

flint, matches, lightning.

Some people actually can
build a fire with an ice lens.

I am not that person.

I have a fish!
Fish on, fish on!

Yeah!
Grab it! Grab it! Grab it!

Oh, yeah!

You guys,
I have a fish.

World's smallest fish.

Relations begin to thaw
as Jeff opens up to Matt

about the impact
of his father's death.

You've had help in the past.

Like, your father helped you,
like, achieve the dream

to a certain point
out on the homestead.

When you're in that moment,

you don't realize
how special that is and how --

you know, you kind of
take it for granted.

It's been cool
to build our place

with his knowledge
and his tools that I inherited.

It's been pretty great.

Well, from what I've seen,
I mean, with this family,

I mean, you know,

a son is only as good
as his father, you know?

And like, I mean,
I'm a reflection of my dad.

You're a reflection of your dad,
and you guys,

your determination out here
and your ability to survive

and your willingness, I mean,
that's in your blood.

I'm -- I'm pretty sure,
you know,

your dad would be very proud.

Hope so.

You know, we're here
to help you guys out.

Yeah, thanks.

Hey, fish on!
Fish on, people.

Nice, katti.
Fish on. Yeah, yeah!

Don't lose him.
Don't lose him. Don't lose him.

Got him!
Look at that.

Woo-hoo!

That's a keeper!
Yeah!

Nothing can bond people
together like a camp fire.

The deeters have been
walking around here

with frowns on
their faces for days.

But that camp fire
built a bridge.

Perhaps we can gain
their confidence.

That's my wish.

It's morning,
and Marty's ice fishing trip

seems to have yielded
the results he wanted.

Moving right along.
Let's go work.

Okay, sounds good.
Kattijo and Jeff have decided

to let misty and Marty go ahead
and dig the root cellar.

I was a little bit concerned,
but I'm ready to go for it.

It's really great to have Marty
and misty here saying,

"yes, it is possible."

Woo-oo!

Misty has called in a favor.

Her friend Chad will
lend her a backhoe

and a day of his time,
a $1,000 savings

that's getting them closer
to being safe from bears.

How's it going?
Good seeing you.

You too.
Long time.

Thanks for saving the day.

Yeah. So I heard we got to
dig a hole here.

How deep are we
talking about going?

I think I'd love
to see 12 feet.

We might get lucky.
Yeah.

Let's hop in
and give it a shot.

Digging deep
in an Alaskan winter

means getting through
rock-hard frozen ground.

Nobody in their right mind
would dig a root cellar

this time of year,
but we're here now.

Can't guarantee
we're going to dig one.

Did you see him take
the first scoop out of there?

There's no turning
back from there.

Chad is a really
experienced contractor,

and I'm just --
I'm really stoked

to have him here right now,
and hopefully we're successful.

While Chad starts to cut into
the frozen ground, Marty, misty,

and kattijo start on the root
cellar's internal frame.

So we're building
four walls.

And there's a top plate
and a bottom plate.

The $3,000 spent on lumber

is an investment
against predators.

But in these arctic conditions,

even Marty is
struggling to build.

This is the very first
nail of the project.

Frozen boards, slippery ice.

Let's try the second nail
in the project.

Second nail,
is it going to go?

Yeah, okay.

With the box taking shape,
misty wants to see

if Chad is making
any progress with the hole.

How's it going?
It's hard.

It's frozen solid
down here.

This whole project's
made me really nervous

because it took a while to
convince the deeters to do it

and I just don't know
how well this is going to go.

God.

I got the teeth on this machine
are about wore out right now.

After the break,
with a half-dug hole

and only four days left
to save the deeter homestead --

misty!
Tempers threaten

to derail the entire build.

Do you know why we've never had
anybody help us on this house?

Because we don't
trust anybody.

On a struggling
Alaskan homestead,

the raneys' rescue plans
are being blocked at every turn.

All right.
Let's go, guys.

Matt's attempts to fire-proof
the cabin have been grounded.

I'm not doing it.
I'm not going up there.

And after days spent
convincing the deeters

to let them dig a root cellar,
misty and Marty

have hit rock-solid,
frozen ground.

And I'm just at this
weird standstill

and it's so frustrating
and really concerning.

I'm just really worried
that this project

is not going to happen at all.

Misty! It sounded like
there was some concern

about actually being able
to dig the hole.

Welcome to
digging in Alaska.

Stuff comes up like this
all the time in construction

and you have discussions,

you solve the problem
in the moment.

This is definitely not
the process of construction.

You draw a picture,
things get measured.

You want me to draw a picture
of a cubicle box square?

No, stop being condescending.

Do you know --
do you know why we've never

had anybody help us
on this house, anybody ever?

Because we don't trust anybody.

You're being really rowdy.

You're getting me
really riled up.

Like, that's
a little bit intense.

Marty! Do you think
we can dig it?

There's no trust
from kattijo,

and I don't even know
where that comes from.

But at some point,
hopefully she'll trust me.

Honey, I understand loud
and clear how crazy this is,

and how traumatic --
we got a hole half dug

and we don't know if it's
going to actually be completed.

You're crying.

Yeah, I'm stressed.
Okay.

Well, all I can say, kid,

is be patient with this.

Everything we've talked
to you guys about

we're trying our hardest
to make happen,

because we believe that
those things are needed here.

And misty is a --
misty's a --

she's a tough person.

She can be abrupt,
she can be blunt.

She can be opinionated.

But I -- can I be
honest with you?

Yeah.
In the short time

I've been here...

I'm all of
the same things.

What am I going to say?
What am I going to say?

I'm just like her.

Yeah, I know that.
I know that.

So, bear with us,
because she's out here

in the cold too
trying to help.

I definitely
need to let go,

but it's difficult.

Both of us have parents

who are very able
to do all of this stuff,

and neither of them are here.
Jeff's dad is not here.

My mom is not here.

Um, and so,
there are times like today

when that's --
that's really hard.

We miss them.

Alaskans, they don't like
being told what to do

and they have their own
opinions about everything.

They're very unique.

That's why they all left
the 48 states down there,

because they didn't fit in.

Out here,

you gain someone's trust
by hard work.

With a half-dug hole

and just three days left
on the homestead,

Marty and misty come up
with a radical plan.

These trees, they're like
gasoline on a torch.

Pile them up,
light them on fire,

go have a drink,
because the flames

and the heat
will thaw the ground.

On a homestead,

you need to just be
as efficient as you can

and just really think
outside of the box.

Okay. Should we
light it on fire?

Yeah, you bet.

The fire is left to burn
through the night.

Only in the morning will they
know if their plan has worked.

It's morning.

If the fire hasn't
thawed the ground,

there's no chance misty

can protect the deeter's
food storage from bears.

Okay.

Woo-hoo!

Oh man, the ground seems
like it's finally thawed out!

Oh, yeah. It's way better
than what it used to be.

This is so great!

Woo-hoo!

Now the hole for
the root cellar can be dug,

and the deeters
are as happy as misty.

So we finally got
the ground work done.

We got the hole dug.

We need to move the walls over,
which are very heavy,

and get them into the hole,

and it's going to take
a lot of people.

With kattijo's help,
the root cellar

will be built upon
a suspended timber floor.

Back here?
To the rescue.

Got it.
Don't let it crush you.

Once level...
Fricking on the nuts.

The first wall panel
can be hoisted into place.

It weighs 300 pounds
and is covered with sheets

of tar and plastic
to prevent rot.

Cool.
I got it!

Misty, come over here
with your nail.

I got it.
Wait.

Watch your fingers.

All right. We're on.

Okay.

This $3,000 project
is finally on track.

It's pretty cool
to actually have

the box in the ground
because we've never been

in a position where people
have helped us out

in the way that the raney family
is helping us.

I definitely need to let go
and trust misty a bit more.

Still to come...

Let's do it!
The raneys are in a race

against time to finish the vital
bear-proof root cellar,

and Jeff needs to
face his fears.

Whoa...

Woo!
What have you got here?

Marty raney's built
a dog sled generator...

Wow, look at that.

To help Jeff power his
dog yard lights for free.

This thing is kind of
a dog generator.

This will charge
two batteries.

I'm pumped
to give it a shot.

Ready?
Let's do it!

Off!
Woo!

To charge the batteries,

the wheels need to generate
at least 15 volts.

How many volts
do you have?

15.5.

How much?
15.5.

You're kidding me!
Woo! It works!

The generator works,

but the real test is whether
it can power the lights.

Three, two, one.

Yeah!

Yeah, look at these!

I don't know how much
more off-grid it can get

when a dog team
is generating power.

Interior Alaska.

Gretchen called on the raneys
to save her son from bears

and the serious
threat of wildfires.

We've made great strides
on the homestead,

but there's lots more to do.

Matt and Jeff
have just one day left

to attach the cabin's
fireproof sidings

before the raneys must leave.

The fire season is here

and we just got
to get that siding on.

We need to get, you know,
20, 30 feet in the air.

And I really hope
Jeff's fear of heights

doesn't impede us from actually
getting this job done.

You know, being up on a ladder
and 25 feet off the ground

is not something that
I've really warmed up to.

That is going to be a challenge,
working up that high.

I'll climb up there
and I'll take this anchor point

and literally strap it
onto the house.

Trying to make it as safe
as possible as I can for him,

the anchor system and the
harnesses that we have on.

All right.
You're totally secure.

But I don't know,
you know?

We'll see what happens
when we get up there.

Matt needs to pass the razor
sharp sheet of steel to Jeff,

but there's a new threat.

The wind is picking up

and working conditions
are getting dangerous.

You're doing good, man.

The farther we go up, the more
I'm concerned about this wind.

I don't want this metal acting
like a wind sail, you know,

and pulling us
off that scaffold.

Beware, it's going to be
hanging off the edge.

You got a hold of that?

Whoa.

Tighten that rope up.

It's getting pretty heavy.

We're not totally out
of the danger yet.

Let's get it on here.

Got it.
Woo!

The heaviest and most
dangerous large panels are on.

Jeff did k*ller.

You know, whatever fear he had,
I think he just sucked it up

and he just pushed through.

We can put this sheet on
and then that's it, man.

Actually starting that process
is a little tough.

But if you get in the zone
of working, then you feel good.

Getting to this point
is pretty amazing.

This is amazing, Matt, having
this place completely wrapped.

It's looking good.
It was hard work,

but I feel good.

I think you guys
are secure.

The homestead
is finally protected

by the fire break
and steel siding.

I feel a lot better
going into spring

and this upcoming fire season

having this place
wrapped in metal.

That's a big relief.

The rush is now on to complete
the bear-proofed root cellar.

Misty is building
a covered stairwell

and framing two doorways.

You walk in that first door,
shut it.

And then you walk down your
steps, open the second door.

And you're not releasing
all this controlled temperature.

Right, right.
Because this is going to be

the same temperature
year-round.

Yeah. So what do you think
of the root cellar, kattijo?

I was worried,
but now I'm just excited.

We'll stack it
right on top.

One week ago,
Jeff's mother Gretchen

was desperate for
the raneys' help.

Now, using material found
around the homestead,

Matt is building a door
to the root cellar

which will complete the job

of keeping her family safe
from bears.

So this thing
is going to be literally

the most bear-proof door
you've ever seen.

This door's going to be
five inches thick.

That's like three
or four times thicker

than most front doors,
you know.

Set that down right there.

Okay.

It's pretty basic.

I know it's brutal
and it's medieval.

That is is.
But bear comes in here,

boom, he puts that
paw down there,

that bear is going to realize
this is not a place

where he can just come in here
and get food.

As a mother, you never stop
worrying about your kids,

no matter how old they are.

And there were a lot of things
that concerned me here,

fire danger, bear safety.

I am delighted that all of the
projects have been completed.

This was an amazing feat.

You know, we did
a lot of work here.

And I think that someone
was here in spirit,

and I really do, Gretchen,

your husband,
and Jeff, your dad.

I just wanted to give
a little reminder

by giving you guys a door handle
with his old tools,

you know, made out
of his hammers.

So every time, you know,
you guys go over there,

he's always going to be there.

This is really...
Pleasure meeting you.

Aw,
I'm going to miss you!

When we first rolled in here,

I didn't even think
they'd survive the summer.

But now, whatever Jeff
and kattijo decide to do,

I know that their house
is protected from forest fires

and the homestead
is protected from predators.

Thank you very much.

Bye, guys.
Bye.

Hey, Marty.
Hi, Matt.

Hi, misty.
We just wanted to give you guys

an update on
how things are going.

We actually were able
to upgrade our dog trailer

and get something
a little bit larger.

It's going to allow us
to transport up to 50 dogs

in the trailer at once
and make it possible for us

to get out of here with
all of our animals in one trip.

We are using the root cellar
for storing food.

It's mostly dog food
that's down in here now,

which is still great,
keeping it away from the bears.

Getting that siding up
on our house,

making sure that we're protected
for the upcoming fire season,

was amazing to get that done
in a short amount of time.

It was a learning experience,
and I think in the future,

we will be able to trust --

to trust people more
and to ask for help.