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Episode 2

Episode 2 of 3

Benedict Allen attempts a trek across Siberia with a team of husky dogs. A near-fatal journey down an iced-up river fails to convince the dogs of Benedict's leadership qualities.

In the harshest winter in Siberian memory, Benedict Allen is in Siberia's remotest and most secretive province of Chukotka to learn from native hunters how to use a team of husky dogs to travel 1,500 kilometres into the Arctic and attempt to cross the Bering Strait into Alaska.

On the third leg, Benedict and his two native guides are hit by a massive storm and a wind chill of minus 60 in the frozen northern night. As they head north the weather becomes more extreme and the settlements even more bizarre. Benedict's dog team remains unconvinced by his leadership and a near fatal journey down an iced-up river fails to fill them with confidence.

Benedict and his team have struggled over 1,000 kilometres as they continue north through the Arctic winter towards the Bering Strait. One of his dogs has begun to listen to his commands, but with mountains ahead he needs his entire team's loyalty. If the dogs don't listen to him now they could all go over a cliff. At the most dangerous point Benedict discovers that one of his dogs has developed a potentially fatal neurosis and they are lucky to make it to the next settlement alive. Once there, the strain of the journey starts to show and his native guides begin to crack.

Originally broadcast in 2002.

1 hour

Last on

Mon 5 Mar 2012 23:30

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Benedict Allen
Executive Producer Bob Long
Producer John Hesling

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