Summary
Highlights
While eating, Luke hears movement in the river and suspects a beaver is trying to scare him off. He almost makes a mistake with salt and sugar. He prepares for bed, leaving a fire burning to deter animals. He experiences a near-disaster when an ember from the fire lands on his tarp, thankfully without causing a fire. He improvises a pillow and finally goes to sleep, hoping for no animal attacks.
Luke inflates his packraft and organizes his gear to keep the center of gravity low. He launches into the icy river, observing that the ice is soft, like 'shaved ice slush.' He encounters difficulties maneuvering through the slush and avoiding snags and boulders. He emphasizes the dangers of hypothermia and 'sweepers' (fallen trees in the current), prioritizing staying dry and avoiding being pinned under the water. He notes the cold seeping through the raft and paddle, making his hands cold even when dry.
Luke navigates through rapids and continues to encounter massive amounts of ice, underscoring the urgency of his departure. Despite the slow appearance of movement against the ice, he acknowledges he's moving quickly relative to the shoreline. The ice, paradoxically, helps him maintain downstream momentum against the wind. He faces increasing ice accumulation and more significant sweepers as he travels further downstream. He endures mounting cold and hunger, wishing for the sun to return. He successfully rafts 12 miles back to town, noting the ordeal was dicey but successful.
Luke searches for a suitable camp spot, favoring a location protected from the wind. He finds high bush cranberries, which are edible after a few frosts. He eventually settles on a sheltered spot between two islands to build his camp and fire.
Luke wakes up to an even colder morning, with significant ice now present in the river, which wasn't there the day before. This raises concerns about his plan to use a packraft to get home. His fingers and toes quickly go numb, highlighting the extreme cold. After breakfast, he notices even more ice, prompting him to start packing up his campsite to leave.
Luke starts a fire for warmth and cooking. He attempts to make bread, but realizes he may have forgotten to add yeast, necessitating slow proofing by the fire. He also tries fishing for trout using a flesh fly, then prepares a lamb shank for dinner. He struggles with his water filter freezing due to the cold and discovers he indeed forgot the yeast for his dough, resulting in flatbread.
Luke is dropped off by helicopter on a sandbar in a river in Alaska, with the task of finding his way home solo. He notes the 27°F temperature, the frozen landscape, and the impending first major snowfall. He observes bear and moose prints, signifying the presence of wildlife attracted by spawning salmon.