Ep 8. Sink or Swim

In Mountain Men season 9 episode 8, titled "Sink or Swim," the rugged outdoorsmen navigate the unpredictable wilderness of America's last frontier. The episode features three storylines focused on three distinct Mountain Men: Tom Oar, Marty Meierotto, and Eustace Conway.

Tom Oar, a traditional American trapper living in Montana’s remote Yaak River Valley, is preparing for a winter trapping season. With a late start due to warmer-than-usual weather, Tom must quickly trap enough animals to make ends meet. Tom faces several obstacles, including limited mobility because of a snowmobile breakdown and a nearby predator killing his traps. As he struggles to trap enough animals in time, Tom knows that falling short will make for a lean winter.

Meanwhile, in the wilds of Alaska, Marty Meierotto is caught between two worlds. Marty travels back and forth between his trapline and his family home in Two Rivers, Alaska. With his family set to arrive back home after months away, Marty tries to catch enough fish to stock up on food while he is away on trapping trips. As he sets out on the water with his makeshift boat, Marty faces a terrifying ordeal when he loses his paddle and is unable to steer away from rocks in the rapids. Marty knows that one mistake could lead to disaster, and the risk weighs heavily on him.

Finally, Eustace Conway, a Mountain Man living in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, faces a crucial moment in his battle against the encroachment of modern civilization. Eustace has been fighting a contentious legal battle with the state over his property rights. In this episode, he learns that a crucial hearing in the case is being rescheduled, causing him to fear that his small piece of land will be swallowed up by development. As he tries to rally his community to support his fight, Eustace must deal with the fear that he will lose everything he has worked so hard to protect.

Overall, "Sink or Swim" is an episode that showcases the grit and determination of the Mountain Men as they face difficult challenges in the wilderness. From Tom Oar's struggle to trap enough animals to Marty Meierotto's fight against the rapids, viewers are treated to a gripping display of survival in the harshest conditions imaginable. Meanwhile, Eustace Conway's battle against the modern world serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving our wild places and the way of life that they sustain.