Smallscreen News

'Yukon Men' returns to Discovery on Friday, Feb. 22 (VIDEO)

By April MacIntyre Feb 11, 2013, 15:42 GMT

Tune in alert for the action from Tanana, Alaska – just 60 miles from the Arctic Circle.

Tune in alert for the action from Tanana, Alaska – just 60 miles from the Arctic Circle. 

For the 200 people who live there, life is always lived on the edge.  They face frigid temperatures, a shortage of animals they depend on for food and a harsh existence that pushes villagers to the limit of human strength and will.

From Discovery

Last season, people faced an epically brutal winter.  Now they are racing against falling temperatures and dwindling daylight.  Will the villagers of Tanana be ready when fall suddenly turns into a winter of darkness and ice?  Find out when Discovery’s hit YUKON MEN returns with all-new episodes on Friday, February 22 at 10pm ET/PT, and don’t miss the special YUKON MEN PRE-SHOW on Tuesday, February 19 at 10pm ET/PT.

Joining the Yukon Men (and women) this season are newcomers Dustin and Sam.  Dustin comes to Tanana from North Carolina, after answering a newspaper ad for a dog handler.  Dustin may be able to handle the dogs, but can he handle a brutal winter in Alaska?  Sam, an Alaskan native, hopes his family will be accepted in the town of only 200.  Newcomers are always a bit suspect.  Sam is forced to prove to the Tanana community that he is there to contribute – and not take precious resources.

Living off the land in a remote Alaskan village with no roads in or out is a constant struggle.  Last winter was one of the coldest winter’s to-date with temperatures dropping to a record 60 degrees below freezing.  Now almost a year later, it’s fall in Tanana and the villagers are on a race against time to hunt and gather all the necessities needed to survive another extreme Alaskan winter.  It hits with a punch, like a snowball to the face.  Autumn here is a critical time.  There is so much for the villagers to do before winter, but barely enough time to get it done.  Winter arrives without warning.  And making it even worse, the upcoming winter is predicted to be even colder than the last.

It’s important for the residents of this tiny village stock up with essentials before it’s too late.  A freezer full of meat is imperative for survival, but can they protect themselves from the hungry predators across rough terrain?  

Last winter was incredibly tough for this town.  The battles against Mother Nature…and sometimes each other…are just beginning.

YUKON MEN is produced for Discovery Channel by Paper Route Productions, Inc.  Alan LaGarde is executive producer for Paper Route Productions, Inc and French Horwitz is executive producer for Discovery Channel.