This special looks at the changes that have encompassed the Yellowknife area from its geological history millions of years ago to the origins of the indigenous Eskimos. It also looks at how trucks were outfitted for sub-zero temperatures in the 1930's and how the mines operated in the 1940's versus today.

The truckers reminisce about their experience in the ice road and tell us what there doing now. The town of Yellowknife is also highlighted as we see what life is like there in the off season.

Day 1 of the new Ice Road season brings 6,000 loads of freight to move in just 12 weeks to the oil camps of Alaska's North Slope. From unexpected weather and treacherous terrain, this is by far the most death defying route to date.

Temperatures drop to 70 below as the race for big bucks heats up. Truckers Lisa Kelly faces hurdles, Jack Jesse deals with the perils of hauling a load of 130-foot pipe and rookie Tim Freeman struggles with challenging mechanical problems.

The clock is ticking and an arctic storm is brewing. Hugh and Alex embark on their first trip to Prudhoe Bay, Lisa Kelly requests her first ever "heavy haul," and Tim Freeman makes his second attempt to navigate the ice road.

A massive storm blows in and all traffic on the ice road comes to a standstill. George, Tim and Lisa take shelter at Coldfoot while Jack Jesse tries to outrun the storm.

Another winter storm causes a major collision on "Slope Mountain" and tow truck driver Ben Krsykowski must carefully pull a truck cab and trailer back up on the road--knowing that the slightest spark could set off a massive explosion.

Lisa Kelly auditions to be the first woman to break into the elite Heavy Haul division while Hugh "The Polar Bear" Rowland aims for the title: master of the all the North American ice roads.

The race is on to make it to Prudhoe before a wicked storm turns fierce. Despite a cloud of ice fog, Hugh and Phil make it through the worst of the storm and celebrate at the top of Atigun Pass.

Record snowfall mixed with now warmer temperatures has turned Atigun Pass into a devil's slide - slippery than ever and at an all time high for avalanche risk.

With just three weeks to go, everyone is pushing it to the limit to get the freight to Deadhorse before the season ends. Lisa convoys north with Jack Jesse while Tim and George are delayed in Fairbanks.

With only two weeks left Alex is determined to take the lead. He immediately takes a back haul assignment, but the load isn't strapped securely and threatens to fall off.

A volcanic eruption in Southern Alaska sends Jack Jesse racing up to the North Slope with the first load of diesel reserves. Meanwhile, a major mechanical breakdown leaves Lisa stranded without heat in the frigid temperatures.

After several impressive runs this season, Lisa takes on a big haul of high explosives. Meanwhile, harsh icy conditions southbound on Atigun Pass cause Jack to spin out for the first time this season.

As the "Dash for the Cash" comes down to the wire, legendary driver George Spears calls it a career, Lisa makes a harrowing 300-mile run with no brakes, and polar bears shut down the Ice Road.

As the season 4 kicks into gear, the truckers take off on a 500-mile-long ice-covered road called the Dalton, encountering dangerous obstacles along the way.

Hugh "the Polar Bear" Rowland returns to Alaska at last and has to face down his haul road nemesis: chaining up. Meanwhile, failing trailer brakes and trash talk over the CB threaten to derail Lisa's comeback.

Jack, Hugh and Alex hit the haul road during a ruthless windstorm, with near-misses and disastrous engine trouble threatening to take them down. Meanwhile, Lisa, haunted by her recent missteps, sets out on the Dalton, determined to prove she is more than a pretty face.

A monster storm is hammering Atigun Pass, and if they want to survive, the Ice Road Truckers will have to think fast. Ray and Lisa make plans to keep the loads moving, but rookie mistakes send both drivers rolling directly into the heart of the storm.

Jack Jesse rushes to save the town of Nuiqsut with an emergency fuel delivery, but a blinding storm stops him on the thin ice of the frozen river road. Meanwhile, Lisa Kelly gets her big chance to step up when she's given her first oversized load. As she battles both the elements and the law, however, she begins to wonder if her trucking skills are up to the test.

As the temperature plunges, tempers flare after Hugh gets an earful from a driver who wants him off the Alaskan roads and back in Canada. Meanwhile, Alex takes a big risk by picking up a hitchhiker and Lisa struggles to get back on the road after a minor traffic safety setback.

When an avalanche strikes, Jack is left helpless as he watches the DOT clean up the carnage. Meanwhile, Ray faces the Dalton with a premonition of death hanging over him, and Hugh risks a head-on collision at 4,700 feet by driving on the wrong side of the road over Atigun Pass.

Lisa tackles the most dangerous haul of the season, trucking a multi-million dollar, 100-ton load across the entire state of Alaska. Meanwhile, Alex races to keep pace and Ray faces the worst night of his career when a spin-out at Ice Cut sends him over the edge.

Alex is thrust into a tough situation when a flipped truck leaves two men injured and one missing. Meanwhile, a careless mistake may rob Lisa of the hard-earned respect she has worked for all season long. Also, Greg fights for his job as Hugh devises a plan to steal a load from his old pal.

To reach the isolated town of Bettles, Jack Jesse must brave the arctic wilderness and cross a frozen river. Meanwhile, Greg takes on the biggest load of his career and Alex has a plan to one-up his rival Hugh. Will the Polar Bear go down without a fight?

A minor distraction sends rookie Ray Veilleux plowing into a snow bank and leaves him at the mercy of his fellow truckers. Meanwhile, trouble heats up for Lisa and Hugh when their cargo just won't stay put.

The Ice Road Truckers face one challenge after another when Ray spins out after pulling a risky maneuver, Alex ventures out onto the road with a burnt-out headlight and Greg experiences mechanical issues. Meanwhile, Jack lugs a 200-ton megahaul to Prudhoe and Lisa races to raise cash to buy back her horse.

The Ice Road Truckers take on a dangerous mission: the largest convoy the Dalton has ever seen on the road to Nuiqsut. On the way, they must navigate softening ice so that rising temperatures don't send them all to a watery grave.

A haul road legend's son heads to Atigun to say his final goodbyes and scatter his father's ashes but the legend's final ride puts Ray at risk. Meanwhile, Lisa's assigned to push-truck a monster load to Prudhoe, which leaves her feeling accomplished.

The Alaskan DOT races to stop potentially dangerous overflow from wiping out the Dalton and its truckers. Meanwhile, as the season nears its end, the truckers team up for safety, Hugh gets busted for speeding and Jack and Lisa come across an overturned rig.

Co-leaders Ray and Greg come face to face in Atigun, while Lisa's hard work pays off with an unforgettable reunion, Alex pushes to finally beat his nemesis and Jack's hope to repeat as King is in jeopardy in the season finale of Ice Road Truckers.

The Ice Road Truckers battle across the continent over frozen lakes, rivers, and ocean. Alex heads farther north than ever before on the deadly Dempster. Hugh and Rick face an impossible task on the thin ice of Manitoba's Winter Roads. In Alaska, veteran Jack Jessee returns to lead a pack of hungry new drivers on Carlile's biggest mission in history.

Alex drives on the Arctic Ocean, to the northernmost Canadian village accessible by ice road. Hugh and Rick face melting ice in a desperate search for missing trailers. In Alaska, a massive oil rig move continues as Jack struggles to mentor impatient young driver, Austin Wheeler. And, it's judgment day for the Dalton rookies as both Darrell and Porkchop meet with the boss to see if they pass their training runs.

In Alaska, the clock is ticking on the Dalton as the deadline to deliver a massive oil rig pushes every driver to step it up to get the job done. Will the pressure of his first ice crossing cause one rookie to crack? Plus, Alex races to deliver a load to a village across an icy river delta, but a looming storm threatens to trap him just inches above the rushing current. And, Hugh and Rick fight the melting winter roads to deliver their first load of the season to Winnipeg, when a rookie mistake leaves Rick in the line of fire.

A trailer malfunction threatens to strand Jack Jessee in inclement weather; Darrell struggles through a whiteout; and Hugh and Rick are forced to cross untested ice in order to transport water tanks to a remote community.

Austin spends a night in a ditch; Jack is forced to remove two wheels from his trailer; Porkchop is pulled off the road by Lane; and Hugh and Rick brave melting roads with a heavy load of two cement trucks.

Austin is tasked with transporting an entire cabin; Jack struggles to navigate a dangerously slick section of road; Lane teams Porkchop with Darrell; Hugh and Rick get into trouble with the law.

Rick makes an unpleasant discovery about his truck; Alex hauls a dangerously heavy excavator; Lane gets out on the road.

A huge wreck affects Darrell's aspirations to be king of the haul road; Porkchop tangles with precarious sheer cliffs on an access road; Austin joins the heavy-haul team; and Alex faces obstacles on the ice.

Austin's heavy haul through snow leads to a rookie mistake; Darrell is sorely tested by an infamous pass; Porkchop is assigned an unexpected load; Hugh enlists a motley crew to drive across ice; and a one-lane mine road pushes Alex to the limit.

Alex hauls a high-priced load down a dangerous one-lane road; Austin struggles with heavy cargo; Hugh helps a rookie driver who runs into trouble on the ice.

Alex gets caught in a whiteout; frost heaves cause trouble for Darrell; Austin is forced to load oversize cargo by himself.

Rick gets into an accident; Austin struggles to haul 85 foot sections of pipe; Porkchop helps Jack with his delivery; Darrell fights to stay warm after his truck dies on the road.

Jack scrambles to leave town; Alex braves brutal weather conditions to deliver machinery needed to reopen a critical road; Hugh jeopardizes his friendship with Rick.

Alex encounters high winds as he hauls a dangerous load of compressed gases; Austin helps a stuck trucker; and Rick puts his cargo in jeopardy while trying to get payback on Hugh.

Jack and Darrell rush to make a delivery before their road shuts down; Ray is hampered by a breakdown; Alex takes a risk with an extra large trailer; and Hugh and Rick are forced to put their differences aside.

Austin hauls a huge modular building;,Alex runs into trouble while transporting supplies across a section of frozen ocean; and Hugh and Rick get into a heated argument.