Ep 5. Albert Johnson, Mad Trapper

In the fifth episode of Manhunt season 1, the focus is on the story of Albert Johnson, better known as the Mad Trapper. Johnson's story is one of the most fascinating and enduring mysteries in Canadian history. In the winter of 1931, the lawless trapper led the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on a wild chase through the rugged Yukon wilderness, eluding them for weeks in a tense game of cat and mouse.

The episode begins by painting a vivid picture of the harsh and unforgiving landscape of the Yukon in the dead of winter. Through archival footage and stunning aerial shots, we see the vast expanse of snow-covered forests and mountains that Johnson had to navigate on foot with only a sled and his wits.

Johnson was a solitary figure, a man who kept to himself and was suspicious of outsiders. But when he shot and seriously wounded a constable who had come to check on him for not registering his trapline, he became the target of a massive manhunt that would capture the attention of the entire country.

The RCMP quickly realized that Johnson was no ordinary trapper. He was an expert at covering his tracks, and seemed to have an almost supernatural ability to sense when someone was closing in on him. Despite their best efforts, the Mounties were unable to catch him.

The tension and drama of the manhunt really takes center stage in this episode. We see the RCMP officers trudging through waist-deep snow, camping out in freezing temperatures, and enduring all manner of hardships and setbacks in their pursuit of Johnson. And all the while, the elusive trapper seemed to stay one step ahead of them.

The episode delves into some of the different theories and rumors that sprang up around Johnson's identity and motives. Some people thought he was a spy or a bank robber on the run. Others speculated that he was a fugitive from from the United States or that he was a mythological creature like a Sasquatch or a windigo.

As the manhunt stretched into its second week, tensions were running high. The Mounties were getting frustrated, and started to resort to more aggressive tactics. They set traps and baited them with food, they fired shots to try and scare Johnson out of hiding, and they even resorted to dynamite when they thought they had him cornered.

But no matter what the RCMP did, Johnson always managed to evade them. He was a master of survival, and seemed to thrive in the harsh and lonely landscape of the Yukon. As the manhunt dragged on and the stakes got higher, it became clear that this was a man who was willing to fight to the death to protect his freedom and his way of life.

Manhunt season 1 episode 5 is a gripping and suspenseful look at one of Canada's most fascinating historical mysteries. Through a combination of archival footage, interviews with experts, and dramatic reenactments, it captures the drama, danger, and intrigue of the chase for the Mad Trapper. Anyone who loves true crime stories, wilderness survival tales, or stories of human resilience and ingenuity will find much to enjoy in this episode.