Great Wild North

As a brutally cold winter and trapping season begins, a handful of tough, modern day Northerners head out to their traplines in remote parts of Yukon and Alaska, battling sub-zero temperatures and hazardous terrain.

With only four months to earn a paycheck, trappers are busy working their lines. In Dawson City, Cor faces a painful choice when his lead dog is injured.

Trapping is a way of life in the unforgiving Western frontier that dates back centuries: to make money, you've got to catch fur.

As a warm Chinook wind sweeps thru Yukon and Alaska, winter makes an unexpected retreat, creating problems in the bush.

More than half way through the trapping season, it's come down to survival of the fittest as both man and animal compete for dwindling resources in harsh winter wilderness.

A long, grueling winter is taking its toll, pushing equipment, supplies and nerves to a breaking point. Dangerously low on food supplies, Megan and Brian hunt for survival.

For trappers who have endured a winter plagued with hardships and setbacks, the warm spring air signals the final bell.

With temperatures rising and animals on the move, trappers are racing to take advantage of the best hunting conditions of the season before time runs out.