The Characters of Ice Road Truckers Season 1

The History Channel show Ice Road Truckers follows a band of rough and tumble truckers as they haul huge loads across some of the most dangerous and unusual roads in existence - Canada's ice roads. Sometimes called winter roads, these icy roadways are formed to traverse the frozen lakes and rivers of the Northwest Territories, and are the only links (by ground) to mining operations in Canada's far north. It takes a special set of skills to navigate these danger laden highways. Season 1 of the program follows three seasoned veterans and three rookies through their arctic odyssey.

Alex Debogorski - One of the most experienced veterans on the Ice Road. He lives in Yellow Knife, NWT which is the base of operations for the ice roads. He competes with Hugh to be the trucker that hauls the most loads in a season. He is patient, wise, has an easy going manner and is a fan favorite. He has eleven children, is a devout Catholic and a lay minister.

Hugh 'The Polar Bear' Rowland- Hugh has been hauling loads in the arctic for 27 years. He is a bit gruff and a big talker, but he can back it up. In Season 1, he brings four trucks up to Yellow Knife- he runs one himself and hires some rookies for the other three. Hugh wants to be king of the roads up north, and competes fiercely with Alex to win the 'Dash for the Cash'.

Jay Westgard - Jay is relatively young, but has been trucking on the ice roads since he was sixteen years old. He is extremely talented and much respected. He is the guy that gets all the hard jobs - the over weight, over sized or unstable loads. His patience and methodical manner insure that he always delivers the most difficult loads intact and on time.

Rick Yemm- One of the rookies that Hugh hires to drive one of his trucks. Rick is a younger version of his boss... outspoken, loud and brash. Rick boasts a lot, but can't seem to back it up as he underestimates the cold temperatures (-40 below) and the condition of his truck doesn't seem to suit him. He wants to beat his boss, but finds the challenge daunting.

Drew Sherwood - Another rookie in Hugh's operation. He too underestimates the job. He's been trucking on regular highways for years, but has no experience on ice. He hopes to make a bundle of money at this dangerous job, but also finds the task much bigger than he expected. His journey is laden with mishaps and disappointments.

TJ Tilcox - Also a novice, he comes from a trucking family with rodeo ties. He also underestimated the cold weather, but he's determined to succeed. He works hard but an injury forces him to have to quit early.

You can purchase the DVD of Ice Road Truckers, Season 1 at the History Channel Website. (www.history.com) This is an enjoyable show and gives the viewer a rare glimpse into a world seldom seen. You'll be hooked in the first five minutes of the first episode as you follow these six truckers across Canada's arctic landscape.

Source:

The History Channel Website, Ice Road Truckers, Biographies section. www.history.com.