IMPACT x Nightline: Switched Before Birth

At the onset of winter, Alaskans combat threats; a storm batters Kavik as Sue fortifies camp; Ricko searches for elusive wildlife; the Hailstones ice fish; Johnny secures food in the Brooks Range.

As winter rages on, erratic weather forces Alaskans to adapt to sudden storms, unseasonable open water, and darkening skies.

As the deep cold of dark winter persists, Alaskans must become one with the landscape if they are to carry on their way of life.

As daylight diminishes, Alaskans contend with the Arctic animals and predators lurking in the shadows.

Trapping season is now open in the Arctic, and Alaskans have only a few short months to protect crucial food sources and secure furs for warmth.

In deep winter, Alaskans are confronted with a number of challenges and surprises, and adaptation is critical to their survival.

As winter deepens, Alaskans must embrace their inner warrior to confront the doubts within and battle Mother Nature head-on.

Alaskans soldier through the heart of dark winter in pursuit of the resources they desperately need for survival. Ricko Dewilde teaches his son the powerful meanings behind wolverine trapping. Qutan Hailstone refines her hunting technique with her father, Chip. Chevie Roach teaches his kids about persistence on a quest for moose. And Sue Aikens journeys into the night to secure her lifeblood.

Alaskans journey through snow-covered mountains and across frozen rivers to teach their children the basics of Arctic survival in the deep cold.

In the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness, few have what it takes to survive, and even fewer still have what it takes to call it their home.

As winter turns to spring, Alaskans must hunt and trap to round out the year’s food supply and protect their food sources.

Residents of Alaska must seize the increasing daylight of spring and replenish their food provisions to navigate the months ahead.

In the final stretch of the cold, Alaskans rely on their knowledge and ingenuity amid the warming tundra and melting landscape.

In Alaska, the transition into spring is marked by longer days, open waterways, and returning wildlife.

Alaskans must rely on family to overcome melting ice and rising waters as they seek to take advantage of spring’s offerings.

With spring in full effect across the Arctic, residents of Alaska must seize seasonal opportunities, regardless of the dangers that lie in wait.

With the Arctic ice breaking up, Alaskans set out on grueling and sometimes perilous journeys of resource-gathering on the newly opened waterways.

Melting ice, open waterways and extended daylight allow Alaskans to chase a variety of springtime game across the Arctic.

As landscapes and animal patterns continue to change across the Arctic, Alaskans must face a new and uncertain reality in their quest for survival.

As spring transitions to summer, the last of the snow melts in Alaska and the Arctic’s residents make hay while the midnight sun shines.