Life Below Zero° — Season 5

Alaskans living in remote corners of the Arctic fight to build a prosperous life in one of the most inhospitable places on earth. Through the brutal and unforgiving seasons, they have staked their claim and are determined to carve out a life of relative comfort in the wilds of Alaska. Chip and Agnes Hailstone; Andy Bassich and Kate Rorke; Erik Salitan; Glenn Villeneuve; and Sue Aikens all live off the grid in Alaska. Sustaining a rich life in the bush requires them to harvest, build and travel as they battle extreme isolation. Follow them as they overcome the odds to secure a bounty of resources from the land, explore the vast tundra, and acquire a means of wealth in the bush - the reward of their labor is to not only survive, but to thrive.

Fall season in the Arctic means the final preparation is in full swing for the long winter months ahead. In Kavik, Sue sets off on a quest for food to survive the coming freeze. In Eagle, Andy and Kate race to get their fish wheel turning before the chum salmon run hits. With their annual caribou hunt on the horizon, the Hailstones build a cache to store their meat for the season. And in Chandalar, Glenn sets out on the most critical hunt of his year as he hopes to harvest a moose that will yield nearly six months' worth of meat.

With winter around the corner, Alaskans prepare themselves for the onslaught. In Noorvik, the Hailstone family goes caribou hunting to put up meat for the winter. In Kavik, a bear poses a threat to clients at Sue's camp. In Eagle, Andy repairs the fish wheel to protect the dogs' food supply. And in Chandalar, Glenn must haul a felled moose over land and water to get it back to the safety of his camp.

With seasons changing and the transition from fall to winter, Alaskans are preparing for the winter months. In Eagle, Andy hunts for elusive moose, as he and Kate need to replenish their red meat supply for the coming winter. In Kavik, Sue seals up camp and heads to Fairbanks for a foot procedure. With Tiktaalik - a local word for burbot - in season, the Hailstones teach their daughters to ice fish on the river. And in Chandalar, Glenn repairs his cabin before the harsh winter hits.

As temperatures grow colder, the Alaskans continue to prepare for the winter months. In Fairbanks, Sue Aikens travels 150 miles on an icy road to investigate a tip that squatters are on her property in central Alaska. In Eagle, Andy must take his dogs to gather more firewood for the winter, but collecting resources is stalled when his sled begins to fall apart at the seams. In Noorvik, Chip and Agnes Hailstone brave the thin ice to harvest whitefish for food and trade. And in Chandalar, Glenn chases after a pack of wolves in hopes of harvesting leftover caribou meat.

With dark winter just around the corner, Alaskans continue preparing for the winter months. In Noorvik, Chip builds a freight sled for winter travel. A blizzard strands Sue in Fairbanks and she must brave a notoriously dangerous road to get home to Kavik. In Eagle, Andy and Kate get their sled dogs ready for the winter and put them through their paces. And in Chandalar, Glenn tries to vary his diet and to harvest more meat for the long winter ahead.

Dark winter in the Arctic brings limited daylight and rapidly decreasing temperatures. With a hundred days of no sunlight ahead, Glenn must secure more wood for heat. In Eagle, Andy and Kate rescue a lone bear cub that has wandered into their camp. The Hailstones gather a vital resource for themselves as well as their neighbors. After two weeks away from camp, Sue returns to Kavik with a long list of critical tasks to complete.

With dark winter in full swing, Alaskans face new challenges in sub-zero temperatures. In Eagle, Andy, now living alone in the bush, maintains the snow-covered trails and takes care of the dogs on his own. In Kavik, after a barrage of storms, Sue fixes her generator in order to have electricity throughout camp. In Noorvik, the Hailstones build a new teepee to shelter their growing family for upcoming hunts. And in Wiseman, Erik takes his wife, Martha, hunting for animal hides to supplement their income.

The adventurers blaze a trail across Alaska in the midst of winter. In Noorvik, the Hailstones stash emergency supplies along their hunting and trapping routes. In Kavik, Sue's contact with the outside world hangs in the balance. In Wiseman, Erik takes a fall while gathering firewood. And in Eagle, Andy attempts to trap muskrats for a winter meal.

When it's winter in Alaska, Mother Nature rules, and the work necessary for survival is grueling. In Noorvik, Chip and Agnes Hailstone break trail to the Kiwalik River in preparation for hunting and fishing. In Kavik, Sue Aikens constructs a pair of snowshoes so she can travel through deep snow and scout the tundra. In Eagle, Andy Bassich fights frigid temperatures to replenish crucial resources. And in Wiseman, Erik and Martha Salitan set their first fur traps of the season.

In Eagle, Andy constructs snares to maintain his food supply. In Wiseman, Erik and Martha cut up their last moose quarter and use salvaged supplies to construct a smokehouse. In Kiwalik, Chip and Agnes go caribou hunting to stockpile meat and fur for the coming months. And in Kavik, Sue clears her runway for a plane to deliver a new snow machine.

As winter fades and signs of spring emerge, the Alaskans begin to store supplies for the coming months. In Kiwalik, the Hailstones begin their annual fur trapping expedition. In Wiseman, the Salitans work to stock up on caribou meat before guiding season begins. In Chandalar, Glenn Villeneuve races to retrieve stored meat and haul it back to camp before any predators can beat him to it. And in Kavik, Sue Aikens' need to blow off steam has dangerous consequences.

Spring is on the horizon, and the Alaskans prepare for the coming months as winter ends. Sue Aikens' snow machine crash leaves her with an uncertain future, and she heads into town to get a diagnosis on her injury. In Kiwalik, the Hailstones prepare for their final caribou hunt before heading home, but Chip's snow machine breaks down and that could be a major setback in their quest for meat. In Chandalar, Glenn heads out to retrieve the last of his buried caribou, and must get to it before a predator can discover it. And in Wiseman, the Salitans take to the ice to catch fish, but may have to search for an alternative food source.