Ice Road Truckers Season Two: A Review

Season Two of Ice Road Truckers opens with anxious anticipation, as viewers watch the History Channel portray the perilous journeys of the men who travel northern Canada's roads built on ice, to make their much needed deliveries.

Like in season one, season two opens with a narration by Thom Beers; "At the top of the world, there's an outpost like not other...and a job that only a few would dare. The ice men return: two titans of the southern ice roads, and two contenders. Last season they drove loaded semis on frozen lakes...this year, the Arctic Ocean. Deeper out on thinner ice. The new mission: to haul the heavy metal of natural gas drilling rigs up a frozen river and across ice-choked seas. Ice road truckers have come to the edge of the earth. These are the men who make their living on thin ice."

Four of the drivers from season one, come back to season two; revving up the engines of their 18-wheelers, ready to hit the ice roads again to make those deliveries. The drivers returning are Hugh, Alex, Rick and Drew. In the first episode two new drivers are introduced:

1. Bear - he works as a bear - hunting guide when he's not hauling loads on the ice roads. He is 59 years old, and has driven the ice roads for six years.

2. Eric - is 46 years old, and has 26 years of experience driving trucks on the ice roads.

In season one, the ice road truckers drove on frozen lakes. In season two it's the Tuktoyaktuk Winter Road; the road that takes its drivers up the Mackenzie River, and over certain areas of the Arctic Ocean.

In episode one, 'Edge of the Earth' the four returning become a little frustrated as they have to learn new rules, for a new ice road, and Drew quits before even taking one load out.

Episode two 'Mechanical Mayhem' has Drew getting a job with a moving company, and things start to get a bit exciting as Alex, on the way back from making deliveries, comes up on emergency personnel going over a flipped over rig, with no sign of the driver. Word comes later that the driver made it back okay, and Drew and Rick both get sick.

Episode three 'The Big Blizzard' brings a lot of excitement, wondering if the men are going to get their loads in before the blizzard hits.

In episode four 'Arctic Whiteout' part of the ice road is closed when the blizzard hit.

Episodes five and six, 'The Big Blizzard' and 'Hundred Ton Haul' are pretty much the same old thing; but in episode seven 'Man Down' Alex's health becomes much worse and he checks himself into the hospital.

'A Trucker's Farewell,' episode eight, brought tears as Alex says goodbye. He has a blood clot, and the doctor says he could have a heart attack if he continues driving.

For me, the second season of Ice Road Truckers, didn't have the same anxious anticipation for the drivers. I did enjoy watching it though, because I had no idea that in the extreme north, complete jobs were set up on the ice, and then moved before the ice melts; such as in 'The World Crumbles.'

The biggest differences that I noticed between season one and season two was, there didn't seem to be as big a concentration on making money. That did get kind of old in the first one. It was something that had to be overlooked, in order to enjoy a good series. Season two seems to be a little bit more professional, but I think it was because the men were more relaxed; it wasn't a new thing anymore.

Resources:

http://www.history.com/minisites/iceroadtruckers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Road_Truckers