As winter draws near, Port Protection residents ready themselves for Mother Nature's cruelest months. With his freezer low on venison, Gary Muehlberger trudges through the Alaskan brush in search of deer. Matt Carlson begins a long journey home alone after having left his family behind in Ketchikan. Mary Miller must first repair an outhaul before collecting firewood.

The residents of Port Protection prepare to survive the harsh winter. Gary Muehlberger ventures outside the safety of Port Protection in search of clams and crabs. Matt Carlson and his father Sam attempt to repair an old oil stove to provide heat. Tim "Curly" Leach and his dog search the Alaskan wetlands for duck and geese. Mary Miller hopes to catch enough fish to fill her freezer.

Living in Port Protection is a never-ending education on the art of survival. David Squibb fights tides and a rocky beach to install a wind generator. Mary Miller uses her carpentry skills to better preserve her meat supplies. Gary Muehlberger and old friend Litzi Botello try their luck catching a yellow eye. Curly Leach must repair his home before stockpiling firewood.

Port Protection residents must work together to make it through the winter. Sam Carlson and his son Matt explore new terrain in the hopes of bagging a buck. Gary Muehlberger brings down a massive tree to build a woodshed. New Port Protection resident Breanna Miethe takes on the challenge of felling her first tree. Fisherman Stuart Andrews struggles to fill his winter freezer with fish.

With winter approaching, last minute chores take priority. Wether it is gathering wood for the community, building a backup water supply, securing dangerous drifting objects or just making a new hat, it must all get done.

Persistence and patience are necessary skills for the residents of Port Protection.

Residents of Port Protection rely on their hard-earned skills to survive the winter.

With winter coming fast, David and Sam tackle a large tree, Gary and Matt get busy building, Curley goes fishing and Breanna helps Oliver to carry out some boat maintenance.

Mary's home is threatened by dying trees, and she calls on Curly for help. Sam and Dave hatch a scheme to use the tide to generate electricity, and Matt heads over to Litzi to help her with the boardwalk