Posted on 07/01/2007 3:11:31 PM PDT by NewLand
The History Channel embarks upon an unparalleled adventure revealing the virtually unknown occupation of ice road trucking, considered to be one of the world's most dangerous jobs. ICE ROAD TRUCKERS charts two months in the lives of six extraordinary men who haul vital supplies to diamond mines over frozen lakes that double as roads. The livelihood of many depends on these tenuous roads, which through the years have been responsible for the deaths of dozens of men.
Always prepared for the ice to give way under the weight of their trucks, these drivers put their lives and financial security of their families on the line in an exhilarating dash for cash. Beginning Sunday, June 17 at 10pm ET/PT, this adrenaline packed series reveals the raw, gripping quest of ice road truckers.
The desolate white landscape stretches as far as the eye can see in a world where the land meets the sky at an invisible horizon, just miles from the Arctic Circle. The fascinating, yet little-known ice road trucking industry, stationed just outside of Yellowknife in Canada's Northwest Territory, is responsible for supporting the diamond mines there. Canada now stands as the third largest diamond producer in the world, housing an industry that rakes in $1.9 billion a year.
Each year, the many lakes of this region completely freeze over and engineers build an ice road over them that can withstand the weight of tractor trailers, hopefully. Jackknifing, breakdowns and accidents are commonplace. Last year, because of the effects of global warming, the ice road was closed early, leaving hundreds of tons of supplies stuck at the dispatch station. Since the terrain in this region is virtually impenetrable, and there are so few paved roads, the only way for supplies to reach the mines is by traveling over the ice road. The entire industry depends on the weather and the courage of the ice road truckers, who are willing to push themselves to the limit and who constantly hear the cracking of the ice right beneath their wheels.
“Why use trucks? Why not build large cargo hauling hovercraft?”
Those can’t climb 18% grades.
The Following Positions will Become Available Over the Next Few Months
Site Administrators
Rock Truck Drivers
Equipment Operators
Mechanics
Welders
Northerners are encouraged to apply for these positions. Training will be provided for some positions.
watch the show and you’ll understand immediately!
I like the guy with the gun....heh. Guess you have to have a sense of humor!
To me its the same, $20 an hour but in the winter I average 30 hours a week but in summer its like 60+ hours a week. Its usually 12 hours a day often more, 6 days a week.
Uh......no thanks!
what a show! constant f-bombs, guns being shot...
Hugh is a manster! Did you see the barbell bit?
So they can actually stop on the roads when broken down...just can’t idle? Then the engine vibration would cause the ice to break?
I’m gonna try that (in my car).
LOST ALL HIS BATTERIES? HOLY SCHNIKIES!
Yeah, I think he’s my favorite.
see ya next week guys!
Love it and Deadliest Catch!
My ex worked for the company that actualy built those hover-barges in Fairbanks. The design was from England. They had an engineer from there oversee the project. They have a long history with hovercraft over there.
I am watching #2 right now, will get to tonights in a little bit so I can skip the commercials, I record almost everything.
Diamonds are necessary if you ever want to see drilling in ANWR. What do you think a drilling bit uses to cut through bedrock? Diamonds of course.
The American version of this was “Sorcerer” (1977) with Roy Schider. I saw it when it first came out.
Nearly all industrial diamonds are synthetic.
Ice Road Trucker PING to the original thread.
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