Building Alaska

Hunting and fishing guide Bob May is building a new cabin on a remote island in southern Alaska. But before he begins construction, he needs to tear down the old, abandoned cabin. Easier said than done!

On a nearly deserted island in Alaska, Bob May is forced to adapt with inferior lumber, changing weather conditions and an 11-foot brown bear all causing havoc on the build site.

Things are built differently in a state which experiences 100 earthquakes a day. Though the framing is completed and the rough wiring and plumbing get underway, the grind of the 5-month project starts to wear Bob May down.

A subcontractor fails to show up for weeks, pushing Bob May further behind schedule. Meanwhile, Bob and his brother contend with some furry troublemakers of the job site that are chewing through hoses, cables and grocery bags.

Living this far off the grid, you need to be self-sufficient, whether that means using recycled oil or installing hydro- and wind-energy systems. The insulation delays continue as Bob May waits for a delinquent subcontractor.

Bob May gets the cabin completed just before his first paying customers arrive. Furniture and other items are installed at the last moment. He works 16-hour days and goes over budget, but he ends up with the cabin of his dreams.