Ep 2. Sink or Swim
- TV-14
- December 19, 2010
- 44 min
In season 4 episode 2 of Ax Men titled "Sink or Swim," viewers are taken back into the world of adrenaline-pumping timber cutting, where danger and risk are just a part of everyday life. In this episode, the crews are deep into the logging season, battling the elements and each other as they race to fill their quotas.
The first crew we see is Rygaard Logging, who find themselves in a bit of a predicament when their primary truck driver, Craig, has a family emergency and has to leave the site. With no backup driver available, the team scrambles to come up with a solution to keep their logs moving. Meanwhile, the rigging team takes on their own set of challenges when they have to relocate a massive spar tree in order to get to a patch of valuable timber. As always, the danger is very real and one wrong move could have catastrophic consequences.
Next, we check in with the Chapman Logging crew. They're in the process of moving their entire operation to a new site, which presents a whole host of challenges. The crew has to navigate tough terrain and deal with dangerous obstacles, all while keeping up their production. Complicating matters even further, a major piece of equipment breaks down, threatening to derail their progress entirely.
Over with the Conner Aviation team, the sky's the limit. These death-defying pilots use helicopters to transport massive logs from some of the most remote corners of the forest back to the mills. In "Sink or Swim," they're faced with some of their toughest challenges yet. Heavy snow and freezing temperatures make flying treacherous, and when the chopper malfunctions, the crew is forced to make some tough decisions in order to keep themselves and their cargo safe.
Finally, we catch up with the S&S Aqua Logging crew. These guys are in a league of their own, using boats to retrieve submerged timber from the bottom of rivers. Despite the unique challenges they face, they manage to keep their operation running smoothly, until a freak accident threatens to capsize their boat and dump their valuable cargo into the river.
Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the high-stakes world of professional logging. From massive equipment breakdowns to dangerous weather conditions, nothing is off-limits in this show. It's a true test of skill, strength, and nerve, and by the end of the episode, viewers will be left on the edge of their seats, wondering what kind of danger the crews will face next.