Sarah Palin's Alaska (2010) s01e07 Episode Script
Logging
N pretty busy, So this summer, we're setting aside time To spend with family and friends, Doing what we love to do, and that's exploring alaska.
This weekend, our family is going to afognak island, Home to the logging industry, One of the most important industries In all of alaska.
I'm gonna pull the trigger.
Man: Yep, pull the trigger.
On this trip, I want willow to learn What a hard day's work means to an alaskan.
Willow, got a tree in your hands? Come here, sister.
Kind of get out of your comfort zone.
That's the number-one thing.
Op! Op! Did you just roll your eyes? Sarah: So we're gonna get outside and get a little dirty.
We're going to broaden willow's horizons And remind her that for her future, She's in the driver's seat.
Go! Whoo-hoo! you need a place to be your sanctuary follow me there come on, follow me there where love, like a river, flows peace like you've never known and joy never-ending lives won't you follow me there? won't you follow me there? where love, like a river, flows peace like you've never known and joy never-ending lives a place where faith can find hope that will never die follow me there come on, follow me there -- Captions by vitac -- Captions paid for by discovery communications Sarah: Good morning, sleepy boy.
You're so cute! Can I have a kiss, too? Yeah.
Willow: Dad, can we go to the dmv now? Todd: I'm not sure.
Dad, seriously! I got to go! Sometimes the older ones are more maintenance Than the babies.
Sarah: Being a parent of teenagers, That's a great challenge.
You know, we look back now -- Yeah, it seemed like it was a lot of work back then, but no.
That was the easy part.
It's when they became teenagers That it became a bit more challenging.
Good morning, sunshine.
We need you to help us wrap presents For the families out at the logging camp.
Todd: Yeah.
Let's go, piper.
Come on, sister.
It was a thrill for todd and for me To be invited out to afognak island, Off the southern coast of alaska, To visit the evergreen timber logging camp.
Wake up.
Let's go, pipe.
Wake up, sister.
Piper, wake up! Sarah: Logging is an industry that is important to alaska And one I'm eager to learn more about, So we're superexcited to get out there.
The timing was good, too, Because todd, being the motor head that he is, Has always wanted to get over to check out The raceway on kodiak island, which is right in the area.
Todd: Willow, you looking forward to going out to kodiak? There's no cellphone service out there? I'm not sure.
Yeah, I'm superexcited.
Sarah: Willow, come on.
Willow's gonna come with us, Which will be interesting.
It will be good for her.
Willow's a normal teenager.
But what 16-year-old Does know what they want to do in life? Well, one way that you can help them find that path Is you let them experience as much as they possibly can.
Where's your muscles? Oh, my goodness! Willow: Bye, trippy.
Can I have kiss bye? Give me a kiss.
Mwah! Bye.
I love you.
[ baby babbling .]
Oh, geez! Yesterday, I twittered the word "refudiate," Instead of "repudiate.
" I pressed an "f" instead of a "d," And people freaked out.
So now we're saying, "no, no, no, no, no.
"the english language "is a moving, breathing, evolving art.
I can invent a word.
" So now, guess what? "refudiate" is now the number-two-searched term On google trends.
Make lemonade out of lememons.
Hi.
Afternoon.
Sarah: I'm excited about the timber industry in alaska.
I'm excited about diversifying our economy in alaska And not being so solely reliant on oil and gas developments.
A renewable like timber is a perfect fit for us.
So I'm really thrilled we get to spend the next three days Immersed in this industry.
Afognak island is only three miles north of kodiak island.
That's in the southern part of the state of alaska.
I've been all over this state, But I was blown away by how beautiful afognak island is.
The evergreen logging camp is so alaskan.
It is very remote.
There are only about 80 people who live there year-round, And they all happen to live in the logging camp.
And they have got to be very hardy and very self-sufficient.
From the plane, we got picked up by janell and ron, Who run the operation here.
They'll be our hosts while we're at the camp.
Janell: Gonna go see where we live and work here.
All right, we're gonna go to the cookhouse first.
Well, this is really nice.
So, this is our cookhouse.
And it smells really good.
Tim.
Yes? This is sarah palin, her husband, todd, And their daughter willow.
Well, hello, mr.
Chef.
Todd and willow.
Tim the cook.
Very difficult job that he has, Keeping all those hardworking loggers fed And keeping them all happy.
So it was another good thing for willow to get to see, Is how somebody like tim does his job.
If you need any help, you holler.
Willow's available to help.
Put your phone away.
Hey, thank you so much! Tim: Thank you.
Janell: I think I'll take you over And show you your home for the next couple of days.
And what about beach-combing? Kind of our oasis.
Everybody loves it down there.
And it's really close, so, nice and handy.
Oh, my goodness.
This is so nice.
We'll have you in here.
This is beautiful.
Sarah: So, our bunks are the same bunks That loggers get to stay in.
It reminded me a lot of some of the fish camps That we've stayed in out in bristol bay.
And, you know, we were honored to get to be treated Just like any other logger would be treated.
Unfortunately, children are not allowed at the logging site Because it's too dangerous.
Ron: You ready to go to work? Yes.
So we left willow at the house, We grabbed our gear, and headed out.
Ron: First thing we're gonna do is meet up with matt and pat.
They're gonna show us how to cut down a tree.
Cutting on a logging job Is one of the most dangerous jobs in the industry.
Todd: Many accidents? We occasionally have one once in a while.
Sarah: I know that this is very, very dangerous work That these guys are engaged in.
I do hope that they'll let me get my hands dirty, But we're not gonna get in their way, 'cause this really could be potentially deadly work They're engaged in.
We go to great pains to make sure That we're as safe as we possibly can be.
I know the guys at evergreen timber are looking out for me, But stepping into any area where there's a potential For someone to get hurt makes me nervous.
How are we doing today? Hey, guys.
Hey! How you doing? Thanks for letting us be on your turf for a little bit here.
What they'll do is when they walk up to a tree, They'll look up and see if there's anything that come down And hit the cutter.
Pat: When you're facing up a tree, Basically, you're giving it a direction to fall.
You just keep on sawing Until you got about a third of the tree cut, And you make sure you got this first cut In the direction that you want the tree to go.
There's so much danger that's inherent with a chainsaw.
A chainsaw can end your life quicker than colonel colt's .
45.
Would you like to help me cut a tree down? You want to help him? Sure.
[ chainsaw buzzing .]
Come here.
Come on.
Pat: When you hit a knot, It just makes that chainsaw fly back at you Just as fast as that chain was moving.
And if it flies out of that cut, The first thing that tip wants to do Is come right at your face.
If you don't know how to cook for yourself And cook for others, what's the alternative? Frozen microwave food? Sarah: So, willow just turned 16.
She's ready to get her driver's license.
Todd: We're gonna find out what kind of driver she is.
Willow palin taking the checkered flag! I can't drive this! [ chainsaw buzzing .]
Man: Whoo-hoo-hoo! Stressful! Pat: Good job.
Yeah.
Uh-huh.
That was all me.
[ laughs .]
This is serious business, what these guys do out here.
These are massive trees, And if one of these starts falling in the wrong direction, There's gonna be trouble.
And there's nothing you can do to stop it.
How long should this log be? 36 foot, 10 inches.
Sarah: Okay.
And are you walking on the log to do this? Yeah, you can go ahead and just hang that On your belt loop if you want.
Evergreen timber's customers order their logs At specific lengths.
So once a tree is on the ground, It has to be cut again to the right size Before it can be hauled out.
It's got your autograph on it.
You got to make it perfect, huh? Pat: You want me to start it? Sarah: I'll try to do it.
Okay.
You'll have to crank it, though.
[ chainsaw starts .]
Sarah: You got to have respect for the guys That are out here handling these chainsaws.
I mean, this is really hard work.
I was ready to go home after cutting down one tree.
And these guys do it 6 days a week, 11 months out of the year.
[ chainsaw shuts off .]
You're a pretty good partner.
This is fun.
This is a great workout.
Yeah, it just beats the hell out of pilates, I imagine.
[ laughs .]
Sarah: Yeah.
Before you leave, too, Could I get you to sign my chainsaw? I would be honored.
You are just a bold man.
[ laughs .]
Thank you so much for letting us do this.
We appreciate this.
Pat: I got sarah to sign my chainsaw.
I'm pretty proud of that.
I think I'm gonna retire it.
I'm gonna put it up on the shelf, Let it gather dust.
[ laughs .]
Sarah: Thank you guys very much.
Be safe.
Have fun.
Thank you.
Todd: All right, ready? I'm ready.
Plant some saplings.
I got my last wi-fi connection here for two more minutes.
All right, there we go.
Since willow couldn't come with us To where they cut down the trees, We thought it would be fun to join the local school kids On a trip they're taking To reseed the parts of the forest That have already been harvested.
Willow, it's gonna be a blast.
You're gonna replant trees.
So in 20 years, you can come out here with your children And watch them harvested.
Todd: Very Oh, it's so gorgeous.
It's just like in a movie.
Sarah: One of the reasons that the logging industry Is so good for alaska and america Is that it draws upon a renewable resource -- trees.
And one way to reseed the forest that you have harvested Is to drop seeds by airplane, Or you can physically replant the saplings.
Sarah: Hey.
Nice to see you again.
Thank you for coming out to help us plant trees this morning.
We're excited to.
Sarah: The forest that they harvest on afognak island Are considered coastal rainforest, And they only harvest a small percentage Of the trees that are there.
Here we go, will.
These are sitka spruce, Which happens to be our state tree.
They grow about 4 feet per year, So it's a relatively easy place to reforest.
Here, grab this.
How far apart should the trees be? Will: Well, normally they're planted About 10 to 12 feet apart.
Beautiful.
Okay, who's got another tree? Willow, come here, sister! Sometimes willow has selective hearing, Meaning she can't hear when her mother talks to her.
The teenage years are not easy years.
Any parent will tell you.
You have to remember that you're not your teenager's friend.
You are their parent.
Let's go, jade.
And we don't have to hang out and pal around.
I want my kids to obey D make the right decisions.
So, again, you have to be a parent first.
[ gasps .]
look how beautiful.
I know this isn't the ideal trip for a teenager, But I don't want willow to miss out on an opportunity To learn from this experience.
So when we got back from planting saplings, I asked her to walk down to the beach with me To have a little chat.
I'm so glad you're out here with me, willow.
I really am.
It's good for you.
In 10 years, you'll look back and you'll appreciate it.
It's just getting you through the xt 10 years Without rolling your eyes.
You'll learn something from these people.
Do you know what their industry produces for the rest of us? Do you know what wood is used for? I'm getting my mind on skipping rocks.
You know what wood is used for? Mom, you're throwing me off.
So, willow, tomorrow, Can you hang out with tim in the mess hall? That would be great.
So, what you learn tomorrow is gonna help you, willow, With all your jobs in the future, But also some job skills.
'cause what's the alternative? What else would you do? If you don't know how to cook for yourself And cook for others, what's the alternative? Frozen microwave food? And I'm throwing away your cellphone.
You're impossible.
Sarah: The number-one lesson that I try to impart with willow Is employing tough work ethic, But I also know that especially at her age, She wants to push back on that lesson a little bit with me.
'cause she knows that that needles me.
She knows that kind of gets my goat.
So, yeah, we go back and forth on that one, Especially this summer, I'm finding.
Yeah.
Got to get over that hump soon, or she's gonna drive me crazy.
Kind of get out of your comfort zone.
That's the number-one thing.
Op! Op! Did you just roll your eyes? Did you? You didn't go 10 minutes without rolling your eyes.
Willow: My mom's always talking to me About being independent and not relying on others.
I guess that's a mom's job, to drive me crazy.
[ laughs .]
So, you want to run it? Uh-huh.
I do.
You realize I have no clue what I'm doing.
Oh, my gosh! Man: Get going.
Ah! Do you have a firearm? Man #2: No, I don't.
But I do have bear spray.
Willow: There's another one.
Sarah: Don't spend all that time on that phone down there, Please, in the kitchen.
Please? Promise? Tim's out there in the mess hall later, So go help him.
Rawr! Rawr! [ smooches .]
Have fun.
What did we think of the cutting? Different? Uh, big, big trees.
Big, solid, solid.
Tougher than it looks.
Loved the feeling of the ground rocking when they fall.
Sarah: Yesterday, we learned how these hardworking alaskans Harvest these giant trees.
And today we're gonna see what happens to those trees After they've been harvested.
Whoa.
You guys ready for action? We're ready.
So, what are we doing? Sheesh.
After the trees are cut down, you have to move them.
To do that, the guys use what's called a shovel logger.
The shovel logger is a big machine With two pinchers on the end.
It picks up a log and it moves it onto the back of a truck.
Sarah: Hi, there.
Hi.
This is rocky howard.
He runs one of the shovels.
Hey.
How are you? Nice to meet you.
Hey, rocky.
Todd.
How you doing? Good.
So, you want to run it? Uh-huh.
I do.
I do.
Do you want to load the log? Uh-huh.
Okay.
I got one right there.
You realize I have no clue what I'm doing, right? Todd: This looks like a fairly new piece of equipment.
Looks like a fairly expensive piece of equipment.
All righty, then.
Let's see.
Thanks.
You bet.
Climbing up here is tough enough, dude.
Oh, my gosh.
Okay.
All right, now, Everything looks easier than it is in real life.
Want me to turn it on? Get the key.
Okay.
All right.
[ engine turns over .]
And I see some, what looks like to be hydraulic somethings.
Yeah.
Okay.
This is your lever to release All your functions and everything else.
Okay.
Okay? Pull it forward, I assume, brings it up? Yep.
Where's the trigger to close that clamp thing? Right here.
All right.
There's all sorts of dangers Operating the shovel on the machine.
What releases it? Right here.
Remind me not to touch that.
A log could come through the cabin if you get it to close.
That brings it down.
Whoops.
You can't really teach anybody how to run a machine like this.
If you want to do it, You're gonna have to learn it on your own.
It's just like riding a bicycle.
Use your head, don't make a stupid move.
Are we ready? I'm going up? Yep.
Just don't hit this one.
Oh, yeah.
Don't let me hit that one.
I'm going up.
Going up.
You tell me what to do, rocky.
Keep going.
Ah! Okay, let's go out with your heel.
Out with the heel.
This way.
That way.
Yep.
Oh, my gosh.
It's close to the window.
Okay, that's far enough.
All right.
Up a little bit more.
Yep.
And then swing.
Not much of a swinger here.
I want to go slow.
Okay.
Um, no.
More? Yep.
A little more.
Sarah: While I'm at the controls there -- This is a big, powerful piece of machinery, And it's kind of intimidating, Especially intimidating when I know that todd's watching me, And he's the mechanical one in the family, And I kind of want to impress him, So I want to do a good job.
I don't want to drop the log.
You realize this is tougher than it looks.
Do you realize that? You know that? Yeah.
Okay, wait.
Okay, I see.
I see.
Oops.
Down.
Down.
Yep.
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
This is good.
Little bit to you? Yep.
Oh, shoot.
This is good.
Should I just drop this? Yep.
You can drop it.
I'm gonna pull the trigger.
Yep.
Pull the trigger.
There you go.
Can you scoot it up A little bit, though, So it doesn't fall out? It won't.
It won't.
I'll fix it.
Yeah.
Yes! There you go.
Just shut it off and grab your gloves.
That was cool.
Hey, thank you so much! That was great.
We'll take those wrappers and throw them over.
Okay.
Ah, this was pretty cool.
It was great! Cool.
Of course Kill a lesser man.
[ chuckles .]
That's awesome.
Todd, checked in on willow yet today? I haven't.
Sarah: So, at some point during the day, I wanted to check in on willow.
I was anxious to see what she was up to.
Is willow around? Janell: Yes, she is.
Stand by just a moment.
Couldn't wait to hear how it was going With tim the cook in the kitchen.
Expecting her to be able to cook dinner For the rest of us that night.
Willow.
What are you doing, willow? Um, nothing.
[ sighs .]
I did not want to hear you say that.
What are you doing? Now we're gonna go on a walk to the beach.
Did you get to cook at all with tim? I went there and ate.
That's about the same.
Yeah.
Cook, eating, okay.
Hey, would you run down there, though, And just offer to help, okay? 'cause I'm sure that they could help with dishes Or baking or something that you could handle, okay? Yeah, I'll ask.
Promise me, willow.
Do.
Okay, well, have fun, and love you.
Love you, too.
Bye.
Bye.
Thank you.
It's pretty amazing to see how hard all these guys work.
Todd: Yep.
Conservationists write me nasty letters Because I support an industry like this.
They write me these nasty letters Using their pretty little pencils On their pretty little stationery, not realizing -- Where do you think your pencil And your piece of paper came from, people? It came from a tree that was harvested.
Which way do I steer it? Ease right up into them.
Ooh! We're gonna introduce you to eskimo bingo.
Okay, go, go, go! I got double.
You must be matthew.
How are you? I'm sarah.
This is todd.
Hey, matthew.
Hi, todd.
Sarah: Today, todd and I get to see the last step Of the logging process.
This is where the cut logs Get shipped from this tiny corner of alaska To people who need them all over the world.
And that's where the bumboats come in.
Todd, you're a boat driver.
I'll drive it.
Can he drive? Oh, yeah.
Okay, cool.
We call these the bundles.
The bundles.
Sarah: A bumboat pushes the bundles of logs Further out in the water, Where they'll wait for a cargo ship To come and take them away.
You can actually spin on a dime in these things.
We don't need no stinking yacht, todd.
We'll go ahead and start with this one.
And you just come up from the back end of them.
Ease right up into them.
Hang on.
Hang on, bessie.
Open her right up.
Rooster-tail it, todd.
They're made to run wide open.
It's kind of like the way I move furniture, isn't it? "duh, duh, duh.
" The controls were just awkward at first Until you had a few minutes under your belt Working with them.
Matt: Todd was a rookie driver, But for a rookie driver he did all right.
Todd: Any time that I'm driving something, She's gonna give her shot at it, too, So she tried for a little bit.
Little throttle.
You're gonna come right into it.
Oops.
That's all right.
It's a bumper boat.
It's a bumper boat.
Now give her some throttle.
The amazing thing about th industry Is that when one tree gets cut down, Several trees will grow in its place.
Well, I want the -- There you go.
So which way do I steer it? Right towards that.
And because these folks are so concerned With being good stewards of the land, They're ensuring the sustainability Of their industry forever.
That's all right.
We can go get another bundle anyway.
That's close enough.
It was a lot of fun to drive the thing.
Reminded me as a kid at the state fair, The bumper cars, you know, and bumper boats.
Well, thanks for letting us see what you do.
No.
My pleasure.
I hope you guys enjoyed it.
That was great.
Let's walk up to the mess hall.
Let me get the door for you.
All right.
Thanks.
Holy geez.
Willow's in the kitchen.
Todd: Hello, willow.
Sarah: I couldn't believe my eyes.
There was willow, helping tim the cook in the kitchen.
Willow: Okay, mom, I'm done.
Wait a minute.
No, you're not.
Oh, lord.
Got another portion to add there.
Sarah: I think being a parent of a teenager Means you are repeating yourself a lot, Because you're never really sure If your kid is getting the message.
Good? So to see willow there working away Showed me she was actually hearing me.
That made me very, very proud of her.
Great job, willow.
Oh, it ia good gym! Hi, guys.
Todd: Building's almost as big as the shop.
Hi.
We wanted to tell the people out there At evergreen logging camp How much we appreciated their hospitality, Their willingness to let us come in there And share part of their life.
As kind of a little bit of a thank you, We're gonna introduce you, If you haven't played it already, to eskimo bingo.
It's a game that our family has played for a long time, And it's always a big, rowdy, wild game.
It's fun.
So, normally we're in a circle, Because you roll the dice, And you've got gifts in the middle, And whoever gets doubles grabs a gift.
And you go around and around as fast as you can Because we only have 10 minutes to play the game.
Ready? Who's keeping time? I got it.
You tell us when to go, willow.
Okay, ready? Set, go.
[ object clanks .]
just one time.
I got double.
Into the pie plate.
[ laughter .]
How many minutes left, will? Willow: Six minutes.
Doubles.
You chose to sit far away? All right.
Doubles again.
I know how to play.
It's a certain flip of the wrist.
[ cheering .]
A minute and a half.
Okay, go, go, go! 10 seconds.
[ laughter .]
Todd: 5 3 2, 1! Game over! [ applause .]
Sarah: Okay, now you can see what you got.
Todd: Open up, see what you got.
Sarah: Oh, it's just what you wanted! Sarah: I truly have a greater appreciation For what it takes to build this industry And how the folks out here, In kind of a self-contained community, make it all work.
Thank you, guys.
We'll see you later.
Thanks so much.
See you later.
Oh, they're so nice.
It was fun.
Sarah: Even though we're leaving camp tomorrow, It thrills us all to know we're leaving this place With a whole bunch of new friends.
There's a comfortableness between the people who live here And make their living here and our family.
It's comfortable.
It's real.
It's genuine.
We feel like we're at home.
Good night, willow.
I love you so much.
Willow: Mom! So, willow just turned 16.
Todd: We're gonna find out what kind of driver she is.
Man: Bring it home! I can't drive this! Willow palin taking the checkered flag! Sarah: Whoa! [ tires screech .]
Todd: That was fun.
Sarah: That was fun.
Sarah: Spending time at the evergreen timber logging camp Was such a thrill for us.
We met such awesome people and learned so much.
But best of all, we feel like the experience helped willow Grow up little bit.
So as we leave afognak for kodiak island, We have one more special treat for her, One we know any teenager would love.
[ tires screech .]
So, willow just turned 16.
She's ready to get her driver's license.
Todd: We're gonna find out what kind of driver she is.
Be a good way to learn some defensive driving, I think.
I've never driven a stock car, so I'm kind of scared.
Here we go.
We got a fire suit.
Put it on now? Sarah: Stock cars are not go-karts, you know.
These are not just big-boy toys.
These are fast and powerful machines.
It's tough to get in and out of these stock cars.
If they were to catch fire, that is where the danger is.
So, very important that todd and willow Both wore the flame-retardant suits.
So, willow, we're gonna pick your best time Out of the three laps that you do.
And then we're gonna take your dad's best one out of his three And compare it to yours, And whoever has the fastest time is the winner.
Okay.
Give it a shot? 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
[ engine turns over .]
Announcer: All right, folks, here we go! Kraa racing association presents Stock-car racing for your viewing pleasure! Right now, we got mr.
Todd palin ready for a time trial.
We're going three laps.
We're gonna get out and get this party started right now.
Let's get ready to go, baby! [ tires screech .]
All right, there he goes! The number 2 car is on the first corner right there, Looking good, going strong.
We're gonna have the first-lap time in here shortly! Here comes the first lap time! 25! 25 with that first lap.
Here we go, lap number two.
Coming around.
Here we go, down the homestretch! [ beep .]
That's gonna be a 23.
23 on that second lap, todd.
Here we go on that third one right here.
A little soft on that corner.
Throw that checkered flag right now.
Bringing it home! Let her rip! [ beep .]
That's a 24 on the last lap right there for todd palin.
All right, that car looks like it's running a little hot.
Go ahead and climb in.
Go ahead and slide in.
So, how much driving experience do you have, willow? Not a lot.
Not a lot? Todd: How do you feel, willow? I'm gonna get claustrophobic.
[ chuckles .]
no, you're not.
Be confident.
Okay.
Sarah: This is the only time I'd ever encourage willow to go for speed, drive fast.
So, you need to turn it on.
[ engine turns over .]
Ee! Come on out.
[ laughs .]
Aah! Announcer: And here comes the pink war machine.
Willow palin's stock car! Kodiak island! I just don't want her to crash, but I want her to go fast, 'cause I want her to have a competitive bone in her body.
I want her to win.
I want her to beat you.
We're gonna get ready to cut her loose.
You ready? You got to go fast! Ready! Let's go! Go! Whoo-hoo! Announcer: Here she goes! Lap number one.
Coming to that first corner, looking sharp.
There we go.
Little loose on the rear end.
Three laps, folks.
Aah! She's screaming.
[ laughs .]
I can hear her from out here.
[ announcer shouting indistinctly .]
The pink thunder! Go, baby! Go! Willow palin! I can't drive this! Announcer: That's a 30.
03.
30.
03.
Here we go.
Lap number two.
Aah! Oh, my gosh.
She's braver than I thought she'd be.
Announcer: I don't know how it's gonna turn out here.
Lap number two.
Looks like she picked up her time.
Oh, gonna be outside! Coming around the turn! Here we go! Whoo! Holy moly! [ speaking indistinctly .]
Here we go, last lap coming up right now.
Come on! One more, baby! Looking good down the back stretch.
We're gonna bring it in for a home run right now.
Whoo-whee! She's gonna bring it in right now! Put your hands together for willow palin, Taking the checkered flag! Come on! Kick it! [ screams .]
Whoa! Man: Brake, brake, brake! Aah! Willow, are you okay? Put your hands together for willow palin, Taking the checkered flag! Sarah: Come on! Kick it! [ screams .]
Whoa! Man: Brake, brake, brake! Aah! Willow, are you okay? [ siren wailing .]
Sarah: I can't stand the thought Of any of my children being harmed in any way.
Are you okay? So seeing willow crash makes the mama grizzly in me come out.
[ laughs .]
I'm fine.
That was awesome! Fortunately, when I saw her get out of the car, She had a smile on her face.
I think that was a badge of honor, For her to finish the way that she did.
That's my girl.
Willow palin left her mark! I swear I'm a good driver.
How did it feel? It was kind of hard.
I know.
I heard you screaming your head off.
Sarah: You could just see her confidence soaring, And by the time she hit the third lap, She finished that in 20 seconds.
I couldn't believe that willow had beaten her dad.
And I was really, really proud of her.
The best part of all, though, Was seeing that permanent smile on willow's face.
Hello.
Hi.
Good morning, guys.
How are you? Fine.
How are you? Thank you for your help today.
Josh.
Todd.
Willow, good to meet you.
Do some bear-viewing today? Excellent.
That's the plan? Sarah: Something that kodiak is famous for Are its huge bears.
So todd, willow, and I couldn't leave kodiak island Without first going to frazer lake to see them.
You guys ready? All right, here we go.
That's where all our bears are.
Beautiful.
Yeah.
Todd: Flying over frazer lake and river -- Right before we landed, I think we counted three or four bears.
So we knew that it was bear country.
Any wild animal is unpredictable.
You have to be aware of bears wherever you go.
You're gonna take your family out in the woods, You'd better be ready.
Josh: All right, guys, well, we'll head up this trail.
It's about a 3/4-mile hike.
And if we happen to see a bear on the trail, We'll just move off to the side, let it go on by.
No big deal.
Sarah: Do you have a firearm? No, I don't.
But I do have bear spray.
That tends to be more effective, anyhow.
Sarah: Our guide, he at least had bear spray, So, you know, that's some good caution right there.
Hear any bears growl? Willow: You see that bear? Wow.
This is beautiful.
Josh: Fish that are coming upriver, that's all sockeye.
The kodiak bears fish often down the river, then, huh? They'll fish here through August on a good year.
He's coming up this way.
If you guys want, we can just sit down and hang out.
I've got chairs so you don't get your gear wet.
Just watch out for the bear poop You're about to step in there.
That's an 800-pound bear, huh? Sarah: That's cool.
He's a big boy.
Yeah.
This is the big boy.
He doesn't move quickly unless he has to.
Sarah: It's real important When you're in a natural setting like that.
Just be real quiet, be real mellow, Just observe these bears, Watch what it is that they do in their natural habitat.
Willow: There's another one.
Josh: That guy has a collar.
He's been hanging out here a lot, too.
Why does it have a collar? Well, they're tracking their movements, And they're programmed to drop off in 2012.
Willow, do you think it's gonna get a fish in front of us? Hopefully.
There's a sow with two spring cubs down here, Which is pretty cool.
Sarah: Oh, look at that.
We saw the mama bear and her two cubs, And it was a beautiful sight.
And when I watch a mama bear in her natural habitat, Protecting her cubs, I get it.
I know exactly what it is that she's thinking.
She's gonna do all that she can to protect her cubs If she thinks that they're being challenged.
And as a mom, I take every opportunity that I can To communicate with willow About what it is that she wants to do in life.
It's a tough challenge.
But I've learned, as much as I want to defend her And fight for her, That sometimes I just have to let her go And find her own way.
And, you know, she's gonna find it, Because her older brother, track, certainly has found that.
Bristol has found that.
So I'm confident she'll find it.
Todd: So, they are an amazing animal.
It's quite the treat to watch them On their home turf, fishing.
Josh: All right, guys, well, we should probably head on back.
It's about that time.
Back by our flight plan.
Well, thanks.
Nice, big bear today.
Yeah, it was big.
Todd: So, willow, how was it? Willow: Fun.
It's pretty awesome.
Josh: Hey, you guys all buckled in and ready? Sarah: To just spend some time in that natural environment With todd and willow -- good family time -- It was very much a worthwhile trip.
Visiting kodiak and afognak island was just an amazing trip, Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from our own home.
There we are with such a diverse variety of things to do, From stock-car racing to observing bears To chopping down a tree With a whole bunch of hard-working loggers.
That is so uniquely our alaska.
Hi! Hi! Hello, little tiny baby! Come here! Usually the best part of our travels, though, is coming home.
You're so excited! [ clapping .]
Yay! Sarah: I'm gonna come get you, tripp.
Yeah, you got the basketball! Yay! Sarah: Returning to wasilla And getting to see trig and tripp's Beautiful smiling faces welcoming us home, Well, that is when we know we're truly home.
It's awesome to be home.
Come here! I missed you too much! Willow: Can we go to the dmv now? Todd: Yes.
Pretty cool.
Next time on "sarah palin's alaska" Piper: All this gold is all mine.
I'm selling it on ebay.
No.
Yeah, I am.
This is pretty fascinating.
Don't hit the iceberg, piper.
That's like the titanic.
Whoa.
[ laughs .]
You guys, this is a little bit scary.
This weekend, our family is going to afognak island, Home to the logging industry, One of the most important industries In all of alaska.
I'm gonna pull the trigger.
Man: Yep, pull the trigger.
On this trip, I want willow to learn What a hard day's work means to an alaskan.
Willow, got a tree in your hands? Come here, sister.
Kind of get out of your comfort zone.
That's the number-one thing.
Op! Op! Did you just roll your eyes? Sarah: So we're gonna get outside and get a little dirty.
We're going to broaden willow's horizons And remind her that for her future, She's in the driver's seat.
Go! Whoo-hoo! you need a place to be your sanctuary follow me there come on, follow me there where love, like a river, flows peace like you've never known and joy never-ending lives won't you follow me there? won't you follow me there? where love, like a river, flows peace like you've never known and joy never-ending lives a place where faith can find hope that will never die follow me there come on, follow me there -- Captions by vitac -- Captions paid for by discovery communications Sarah: Good morning, sleepy boy.
You're so cute! Can I have a kiss, too? Yeah.
Willow: Dad, can we go to the dmv now? Todd: I'm not sure.
Dad, seriously! I got to go! Sometimes the older ones are more maintenance Than the babies.
Sarah: Being a parent of teenagers, That's a great challenge.
You know, we look back now -- Yeah, it seemed like it was a lot of work back then, but no.
That was the easy part.
It's when they became teenagers That it became a bit more challenging.
Good morning, sunshine.
We need you to help us wrap presents For the families out at the logging camp.
Todd: Yeah.
Let's go, piper.
Come on, sister.
It was a thrill for todd and for me To be invited out to afognak island, Off the southern coast of alaska, To visit the evergreen timber logging camp.
Wake up.
Let's go, pipe.
Wake up, sister.
Piper, wake up! Sarah: Logging is an industry that is important to alaska And one I'm eager to learn more about, So we're superexcited to get out there.
The timing was good, too, Because todd, being the motor head that he is, Has always wanted to get over to check out The raceway on kodiak island, which is right in the area.
Todd: Willow, you looking forward to going out to kodiak? There's no cellphone service out there? I'm not sure.
Yeah, I'm superexcited.
Sarah: Willow, come on.
Willow's gonna come with us, Which will be interesting.
It will be good for her.
Willow's a normal teenager.
But what 16-year-old Does know what they want to do in life? Well, one way that you can help them find that path Is you let them experience as much as they possibly can.
Where's your muscles? Oh, my goodness! Willow: Bye, trippy.
Can I have kiss bye? Give me a kiss.
Mwah! Bye.
I love you.
[ baby babbling .]
Oh, geez! Yesterday, I twittered the word "refudiate," Instead of "repudiate.
" I pressed an "f" instead of a "d," And people freaked out.
So now we're saying, "no, no, no, no, no.
"the english language "is a moving, breathing, evolving art.
I can invent a word.
" So now, guess what? "refudiate" is now the number-two-searched term On google trends.
Make lemonade out of lememons.
Hi.
Afternoon.
Sarah: I'm excited about the timber industry in alaska.
I'm excited about diversifying our economy in alaska And not being so solely reliant on oil and gas developments.
A renewable like timber is a perfect fit for us.
So I'm really thrilled we get to spend the next three days Immersed in this industry.
Afognak island is only three miles north of kodiak island.
That's in the southern part of the state of alaska.
I've been all over this state, But I was blown away by how beautiful afognak island is.
The evergreen logging camp is so alaskan.
It is very remote.
There are only about 80 people who live there year-round, And they all happen to live in the logging camp.
And they have got to be very hardy and very self-sufficient.
From the plane, we got picked up by janell and ron, Who run the operation here.
They'll be our hosts while we're at the camp.
Janell: Gonna go see where we live and work here.
All right, we're gonna go to the cookhouse first.
Well, this is really nice.
So, this is our cookhouse.
And it smells really good.
Tim.
Yes? This is sarah palin, her husband, todd, And their daughter willow.
Well, hello, mr.
Chef.
Todd and willow.
Tim the cook.
Very difficult job that he has, Keeping all those hardworking loggers fed And keeping them all happy.
So it was another good thing for willow to get to see, Is how somebody like tim does his job.
If you need any help, you holler.
Willow's available to help.
Put your phone away.
Hey, thank you so much! Tim: Thank you.
Janell: I think I'll take you over And show you your home for the next couple of days.
And what about beach-combing? Kind of our oasis.
Everybody loves it down there.
And it's really close, so, nice and handy.
Oh, my goodness.
This is so nice.
We'll have you in here.
This is beautiful.
Sarah: So, our bunks are the same bunks That loggers get to stay in.
It reminded me a lot of some of the fish camps That we've stayed in out in bristol bay.
And, you know, we were honored to get to be treated Just like any other logger would be treated.
Unfortunately, children are not allowed at the logging site Because it's too dangerous.
Ron: You ready to go to work? Yes.
So we left willow at the house, We grabbed our gear, and headed out.
Ron: First thing we're gonna do is meet up with matt and pat.
They're gonna show us how to cut down a tree.
Cutting on a logging job Is one of the most dangerous jobs in the industry.
Todd: Many accidents? We occasionally have one once in a while.
Sarah: I know that this is very, very dangerous work That these guys are engaged in.
I do hope that they'll let me get my hands dirty, But we're not gonna get in their way, 'cause this really could be potentially deadly work They're engaged in.
We go to great pains to make sure That we're as safe as we possibly can be.
I know the guys at evergreen timber are looking out for me, But stepping into any area where there's a potential For someone to get hurt makes me nervous.
How are we doing today? Hey, guys.
Hey! How you doing? Thanks for letting us be on your turf for a little bit here.
What they'll do is when they walk up to a tree, They'll look up and see if there's anything that come down And hit the cutter.
Pat: When you're facing up a tree, Basically, you're giving it a direction to fall.
You just keep on sawing Until you got about a third of the tree cut, And you make sure you got this first cut In the direction that you want the tree to go.
There's so much danger that's inherent with a chainsaw.
A chainsaw can end your life quicker than colonel colt's .
45.
Would you like to help me cut a tree down? You want to help him? Sure.
[ chainsaw buzzing .]
Come here.
Come on.
Pat: When you hit a knot, It just makes that chainsaw fly back at you Just as fast as that chain was moving.
And if it flies out of that cut, The first thing that tip wants to do Is come right at your face.
If you don't know how to cook for yourself And cook for others, what's the alternative? Frozen microwave food? Sarah: So, willow just turned 16.
She's ready to get her driver's license.
Todd: We're gonna find out what kind of driver she is.
Willow palin taking the checkered flag! I can't drive this! [ chainsaw buzzing .]
Man: Whoo-hoo-hoo! Stressful! Pat: Good job.
Yeah.
Uh-huh.
That was all me.
[ laughs .]
This is serious business, what these guys do out here.
These are massive trees, And if one of these starts falling in the wrong direction, There's gonna be trouble.
And there's nothing you can do to stop it.
How long should this log be? 36 foot, 10 inches.
Sarah: Okay.
And are you walking on the log to do this? Yeah, you can go ahead and just hang that On your belt loop if you want.
Evergreen timber's customers order their logs At specific lengths.
So once a tree is on the ground, It has to be cut again to the right size Before it can be hauled out.
It's got your autograph on it.
You got to make it perfect, huh? Pat: You want me to start it? Sarah: I'll try to do it.
Okay.
You'll have to crank it, though.
[ chainsaw starts .]
Sarah: You got to have respect for the guys That are out here handling these chainsaws.
I mean, this is really hard work.
I was ready to go home after cutting down one tree.
And these guys do it 6 days a week, 11 months out of the year.
[ chainsaw shuts off .]
You're a pretty good partner.
This is fun.
This is a great workout.
Yeah, it just beats the hell out of pilates, I imagine.
[ laughs .]
Sarah: Yeah.
Before you leave, too, Could I get you to sign my chainsaw? I would be honored.
You are just a bold man.
[ laughs .]
Thank you so much for letting us do this.
We appreciate this.
Pat: I got sarah to sign my chainsaw.
I'm pretty proud of that.
I think I'm gonna retire it.
I'm gonna put it up on the shelf, Let it gather dust.
[ laughs .]
Sarah: Thank you guys very much.
Be safe.
Have fun.
Thank you.
Todd: All right, ready? I'm ready.
Plant some saplings.
I got my last wi-fi connection here for two more minutes.
All right, there we go.
Since willow couldn't come with us To where they cut down the trees, We thought it would be fun to join the local school kids On a trip they're taking To reseed the parts of the forest That have already been harvested.
Willow, it's gonna be a blast.
You're gonna replant trees.
So in 20 years, you can come out here with your children And watch them harvested.
Todd: Very Oh, it's so gorgeous.
It's just like in a movie.
Sarah: One of the reasons that the logging industry Is so good for alaska and america Is that it draws upon a renewable resource -- trees.
And one way to reseed the forest that you have harvested Is to drop seeds by airplane, Or you can physically replant the saplings.
Sarah: Hey.
Nice to see you again.
Thank you for coming out to help us plant trees this morning.
We're excited to.
Sarah: The forest that they harvest on afognak island Are considered coastal rainforest, And they only harvest a small percentage Of the trees that are there.
Here we go, will.
These are sitka spruce, Which happens to be our state tree.
They grow about 4 feet per year, So it's a relatively easy place to reforest.
Here, grab this.
How far apart should the trees be? Will: Well, normally they're planted About 10 to 12 feet apart.
Beautiful.
Okay, who's got another tree? Willow, come here, sister! Sometimes willow has selective hearing, Meaning she can't hear when her mother talks to her.
The teenage years are not easy years.
Any parent will tell you.
You have to remember that you're not your teenager's friend.
You are their parent.
Let's go, jade.
And we don't have to hang out and pal around.
I want my kids to obey D make the right decisions.
So, again, you have to be a parent first.
[ gasps .]
look how beautiful.
I know this isn't the ideal trip for a teenager, But I don't want willow to miss out on an opportunity To learn from this experience.
So when we got back from planting saplings, I asked her to walk down to the beach with me To have a little chat.
I'm so glad you're out here with me, willow.
I really am.
It's good for you.
In 10 years, you'll look back and you'll appreciate it.
It's just getting you through the xt 10 years Without rolling your eyes.
You'll learn something from these people.
Do you know what their industry produces for the rest of us? Do you know what wood is used for? I'm getting my mind on skipping rocks.
You know what wood is used for? Mom, you're throwing me off.
So, willow, tomorrow, Can you hang out with tim in the mess hall? That would be great.
So, what you learn tomorrow is gonna help you, willow, With all your jobs in the future, But also some job skills.
'cause what's the alternative? What else would you do? If you don't know how to cook for yourself And cook for others, what's the alternative? Frozen microwave food? And I'm throwing away your cellphone.
You're impossible.
Sarah: The number-one lesson that I try to impart with willow Is employing tough work ethic, But I also know that especially at her age, She wants to push back on that lesson a little bit with me.
'cause she knows that that needles me.
She knows that kind of gets my goat.
So, yeah, we go back and forth on that one, Especially this summer, I'm finding.
Yeah.
Got to get over that hump soon, or she's gonna drive me crazy.
Kind of get out of your comfort zone.
That's the number-one thing.
Op! Op! Did you just roll your eyes? Did you? You didn't go 10 minutes without rolling your eyes.
Willow: My mom's always talking to me About being independent and not relying on others.
I guess that's a mom's job, to drive me crazy.
[ laughs .]
So, you want to run it? Uh-huh.
I do.
You realize I have no clue what I'm doing.
Oh, my gosh! Man: Get going.
Ah! Do you have a firearm? Man #2: No, I don't.
But I do have bear spray.
Willow: There's another one.
Sarah: Don't spend all that time on that phone down there, Please, in the kitchen.
Please? Promise? Tim's out there in the mess hall later, So go help him.
Rawr! Rawr! [ smooches .]
Have fun.
What did we think of the cutting? Different? Uh, big, big trees.
Big, solid, solid.
Tougher than it looks.
Loved the feeling of the ground rocking when they fall.
Sarah: Yesterday, we learned how these hardworking alaskans Harvest these giant trees.
And today we're gonna see what happens to those trees After they've been harvested.
Whoa.
You guys ready for action? We're ready.
So, what are we doing? Sheesh.
After the trees are cut down, you have to move them.
To do that, the guys use what's called a shovel logger.
The shovel logger is a big machine With two pinchers on the end.
It picks up a log and it moves it onto the back of a truck.
Sarah: Hi, there.
Hi.
This is rocky howard.
He runs one of the shovels.
Hey.
How are you? Nice to meet you.
Hey, rocky.
Todd.
How you doing? Good.
So, you want to run it? Uh-huh.
I do.
I do.
Do you want to load the log? Uh-huh.
Okay.
I got one right there.
You realize I have no clue what I'm doing, right? Todd: This looks like a fairly new piece of equipment.
Looks like a fairly expensive piece of equipment.
All righty, then.
Let's see.
Thanks.
You bet.
Climbing up here is tough enough, dude.
Oh, my gosh.
Okay.
All right, now, Everything looks easier than it is in real life.
Want me to turn it on? Get the key.
Okay.
All right.
[ engine turns over .]
And I see some, what looks like to be hydraulic somethings.
Yeah.
Okay.
This is your lever to release All your functions and everything else.
Okay.
Okay? Pull it forward, I assume, brings it up? Yep.
Where's the trigger to close that clamp thing? Right here.
All right.
There's all sorts of dangers Operating the shovel on the machine.
What releases it? Right here.
Remind me not to touch that.
A log could come through the cabin if you get it to close.
That brings it down.
Whoops.
You can't really teach anybody how to run a machine like this.
If you want to do it, You're gonna have to learn it on your own.
It's just like riding a bicycle.
Use your head, don't make a stupid move.
Are we ready? I'm going up? Yep.
Just don't hit this one.
Oh, yeah.
Don't let me hit that one.
I'm going up.
Going up.
You tell me what to do, rocky.
Keep going.
Ah! Okay, let's go out with your heel.
Out with the heel.
This way.
That way.
Yep.
Oh, my gosh.
It's close to the window.
Okay, that's far enough.
All right.
Up a little bit more.
Yep.
And then swing.
Not much of a swinger here.
I want to go slow.
Okay.
Um, no.
More? Yep.
A little more.
Sarah: While I'm at the controls there -- This is a big, powerful piece of machinery, And it's kind of intimidating, Especially intimidating when I know that todd's watching me, And he's the mechanical one in the family, And I kind of want to impress him, So I want to do a good job.
I don't want to drop the log.
You realize this is tougher than it looks.
Do you realize that? You know that? Yeah.
Okay, wait.
Okay, I see.
I see.
Oops.
Down.
Down.
Yep.
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
This is good.
Little bit to you? Yep.
Oh, shoot.
This is good.
Should I just drop this? Yep.
You can drop it.
I'm gonna pull the trigger.
Yep.
Pull the trigger.
There you go.
Can you scoot it up A little bit, though, So it doesn't fall out? It won't.
It won't.
I'll fix it.
Yeah.
Yes! There you go.
Just shut it off and grab your gloves.
That was cool.
Hey, thank you so much! That was great.
We'll take those wrappers and throw them over.
Okay.
Ah, this was pretty cool.
It was great! Cool.
Of course Kill a lesser man.
[ chuckles .]
That's awesome.
Todd, checked in on willow yet today? I haven't.
Sarah: So, at some point during the day, I wanted to check in on willow.
I was anxious to see what she was up to.
Is willow around? Janell: Yes, she is.
Stand by just a moment.
Couldn't wait to hear how it was going With tim the cook in the kitchen.
Expecting her to be able to cook dinner For the rest of us that night.
Willow.
What are you doing, willow? Um, nothing.
[ sighs .]
I did not want to hear you say that.
What are you doing? Now we're gonna go on a walk to the beach.
Did you get to cook at all with tim? I went there and ate.
That's about the same.
Yeah.
Cook, eating, okay.
Hey, would you run down there, though, And just offer to help, okay? 'cause I'm sure that they could help with dishes Or baking or something that you could handle, okay? Yeah, I'll ask.
Promise me, willow.
Do.
Okay, well, have fun, and love you.
Love you, too.
Bye.
Bye.
Thank you.
It's pretty amazing to see how hard all these guys work.
Todd: Yep.
Conservationists write me nasty letters Because I support an industry like this.
They write me these nasty letters Using their pretty little pencils On their pretty little stationery, not realizing -- Where do you think your pencil And your piece of paper came from, people? It came from a tree that was harvested.
Which way do I steer it? Ease right up into them.
Ooh! We're gonna introduce you to eskimo bingo.
Okay, go, go, go! I got double.
You must be matthew.
How are you? I'm sarah.
This is todd.
Hey, matthew.
Hi, todd.
Sarah: Today, todd and I get to see the last step Of the logging process.
This is where the cut logs Get shipped from this tiny corner of alaska To people who need them all over the world.
And that's where the bumboats come in.
Todd, you're a boat driver.
I'll drive it.
Can he drive? Oh, yeah.
Okay, cool.
We call these the bundles.
The bundles.
Sarah: A bumboat pushes the bundles of logs Further out in the water, Where they'll wait for a cargo ship To come and take them away.
You can actually spin on a dime in these things.
We don't need no stinking yacht, todd.
We'll go ahead and start with this one.
And you just come up from the back end of them.
Ease right up into them.
Hang on.
Hang on, bessie.
Open her right up.
Rooster-tail it, todd.
They're made to run wide open.
It's kind of like the way I move furniture, isn't it? "duh, duh, duh.
" The controls were just awkward at first Until you had a few minutes under your belt Working with them.
Matt: Todd was a rookie driver, But for a rookie driver he did all right.
Todd: Any time that I'm driving something, She's gonna give her shot at it, too, So she tried for a little bit.
Little throttle.
You're gonna come right into it.
Oops.
That's all right.
It's a bumper boat.
It's a bumper boat.
Now give her some throttle.
The amazing thing about th industry Is that when one tree gets cut down, Several trees will grow in its place.
Well, I want the -- There you go.
So which way do I steer it? Right towards that.
And because these folks are so concerned With being good stewards of the land, They're ensuring the sustainability Of their industry forever.
That's all right.
We can go get another bundle anyway.
That's close enough.
It was a lot of fun to drive the thing.
Reminded me as a kid at the state fair, The bumper cars, you know, and bumper boats.
Well, thanks for letting us see what you do.
No.
My pleasure.
I hope you guys enjoyed it.
That was great.
Let's walk up to the mess hall.
Let me get the door for you.
All right.
Thanks.
Holy geez.
Willow's in the kitchen.
Todd: Hello, willow.
Sarah: I couldn't believe my eyes.
There was willow, helping tim the cook in the kitchen.
Willow: Okay, mom, I'm done.
Wait a minute.
No, you're not.
Oh, lord.
Got another portion to add there.
Sarah: I think being a parent of a teenager Means you are repeating yourself a lot, Because you're never really sure If your kid is getting the message.
Good? So to see willow there working away Showed me she was actually hearing me.
That made me very, very proud of her.
Great job, willow.
Oh, it ia good gym! Hi, guys.
Todd: Building's almost as big as the shop.
Hi.
We wanted to tell the people out there At evergreen logging camp How much we appreciated their hospitality, Their willingness to let us come in there And share part of their life.
As kind of a little bit of a thank you, We're gonna introduce you, If you haven't played it already, to eskimo bingo.
It's a game that our family has played for a long time, And it's always a big, rowdy, wild game.
It's fun.
So, normally we're in a circle, Because you roll the dice, And you've got gifts in the middle, And whoever gets doubles grabs a gift.
And you go around and around as fast as you can Because we only have 10 minutes to play the game.
Ready? Who's keeping time? I got it.
You tell us when to go, willow.
Okay, ready? Set, go.
[ object clanks .]
just one time.
I got double.
Into the pie plate.
[ laughter .]
How many minutes left, will? Willow: Six minutes.
Doubles.
You chose to sit far away? All right.
Doubles again.
I know how to play.
It's a certain flip of the wrist.
[ cheering .]
A minute and a half.
Okay, go, go, go! 10 seconds.
[ laughter .]
Todd: 5 3 2, 1! Game over! [ applause .]
Sarah: Okay, now you can see what you got.
Todd: Open up, see what you got.
Sarah: Oh, it's just what you wanted! Sarah: I truly have a greater appreciation For what it takes to build this industry And how the folks out here, In kind of a self-contained community, make it all work.
Thank you, guys.
We'll see you later.
Thanks so much.
See you later.
Oh, they're so nice.
It was fun.
Sarah: Even though we're leaving camp tomorrow, It thrills us all to know we're leaving this place With a whole bunch of new friends.
There's a comfortableness between the people who live here And make their living here and our family.
It's comfortable.
It's real.
It's genuine.
We feel like we're at home.
Good night, willow.
I love you so much.
Willow: Mom! So, willow just turned 16.
Todd: We're gonna find out what kind of driver she is.
Man: Bring it home! I can't drive this! Willow palin taking the checkered flag! Sarah: Whoa! [ tires screech .]
Todd: That was fun.
Sarah: That was fun.
Sarah: Spending time at the evergreen timber logging camp Was such a thrill for us.
We met such awesome people and learned so much.
But best of all, we feel like the experience helped willow Grow up little bit.
So as we leave afognak for kodiak island, We have one more special treat for her, One we know any teenager would love.
[ tires screech .]
So, willow just turned 16.
She's ready to get her driver's license.
Todd: We're gonna find out what kind of driver she is.
Be a good way to learn some defensive driving, I think.
I've never driven a stock car, so I'm kind of scared.
Here we go.
We got a fire suit.
Put it on now? Sarah: Stock cars are not go-karts, you know.
These are not just big-boy toys.
These are fast and powerful machines.
It's tough to get in and out of these stock cars.
If they were to catch fire, that is where the danger is.
So, very important that todd and willow Both wore the flame-retardant suits.
So, willow, we're gonna pick your best time Out of the three laps that you do.
And then we're gonna take your dad's best one out of his three And compare it to yours, And whoever has the fastest time is the winner.
Okay.
Give it a shot? 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
[ engine turns over .]
Announcer: All right, folks, here we go! Kraa racing association presents Stock-car racing for your viewing pleasure! Right now, we got mr.
Todd palin ready for a time trial.
We're going three laps.
We're gonna get out and get this party started right now.
Let's get ready to go, baby! [ tires screech .]
All right, there he goes! The number 2 car is on the first corner right there, Looking good, going strong.
We're gonna have the first-lap time in here shortly! Here comes the first lap time! 25! 25 with that first lap.
Here we go, lap number two.
Coming around.
Here we go, down the homestretch! [ beep .]
That's gonna be a 23.
23 on that second lap, todd.
Here we go on that third one right here.
A little soft on that corner.
Throw that checkered flag right now.
Bringing it home! Let her rip! [ beep .]
That's a 24 on the last lap right there for todd palin.
All right, that car looks like it's running a little hot.
Go ahead and climb in.
Go ahead and slide in.
So, how much driving experience do you have, willow? Not a lot.
Not a lot? Todd: How do you feel, willow? I'm gonna get claustrophobic.
[ chuckles .]
no, you're not.
Be confident.
Okay.
Sarah: This is the only time I'd ever encourage willow to go for speed, drive fast.
So, you need to turn it on.
[ engine turns over .]
Ee! Come on out.
[ laughs .]
Aah! Announcer: And here comes the pink war machine.
Willow palin's stock car! Kodiak island! I just don't want her to crash, but I want her to go fast, 'cause I want her to have a competitive bone in her body.
I want her to win.
I want her to beat you.
We're gonna get ready to cut her loose.
You ready? You got to go fast! Ready! Let's go! Go! Whoo-hoo! Announcer: Here she goes! Lap number one.
Coming to that first corner, looking sharp.
There we go.
Little loose on the rear end.
Three laps, folks.
Aah! She's screaming.
[ laughs .]
I can hear her from out here.
[ announcer shouting indistinctly .]
The pink thunder! Go, baby! Go! Willow palin! I can't drive this! Announcer: That's a 30.
03.
30.
03.
Here we go.
Lap number two.
Aah! Oh, my gosh.
She's braver than I thought she'd be.
Announcer: I don't know how it's gonna turn out here.
Lap number two.
Looks like she picked up her time.
Oh, gonna be outside! Coming around the turn! Here we go! Whoo! Holy moly! [ speaking indistinctly .]
Here we go, last lap coming up right now.
Come on! One more, baby! Looking good down the back stretch.
We're gonna bring it in for a home run right now.
Whoo-whee! She's gonna bring it in right now! Put your hands together for willow palin, Taking the checkered flag! Come on! Kick it! [ screams .]
Whoa! Man: Brake, brake, brake! Aah! Willow, are you okay? Put your hands together for willow palin, Taking the checkered flag! Sarah: Come on! Kick it! [ screams .]
Whoa! Man: Brake, brake, brake! Aah! Willow, are you okay? [ siren wailing .]
Sarah: I can't stand the thought Of any of my children being harmed in any way.
Are you okay? So seeing willow crash makes the mama grizzly in me come out.
[ laughs .]
I'm fine.
That was awesome! Fortunately, when I saw her get out of the car, She had a smile on her face.
I think that was a badge of honor, For her to finish the way that she did.
That's my girl.
Willow palin left her mark! I swear I'm a good driver.
How did it feel? It was kind of hard.
I know.
I heard you screaming your head off.
Sarah: You could just see her confidence soaring, And by the time she hit the third lap, She finished that in 20 seconds.
I couldn't believe that willow had beaten her dad.
And I was really, really proud of her.
The best part of all, though, Was seeing that permanent smile on willow's face.
Hello.
Hi.
Good morning, guys.
How are you? Fine.
How are you? Thank you for your help today.
Josh.
Todd.
Willow, good to meet you.
Do some bear-viewing today? Excellent.
That's the plan? Sarah: Something that kodiak is famous for Are its huge bears.
So todd, willow, and I couldn't leave kodiak island Without first going to frazer lake to see them.
You guys ready? All right, here we go.
That's where all our bears are.
Beautiful.
Yeah.
Todd: Flying over frazer lake and river -- Right before we landed, I think we counted three or four bears.
So we knew that it was bear country.
Any wild animal is unpredictable.
You have to be aware of bears wherever you go.
You're gonna take your family out in the woods, You'd better be ready.
Josh: All right, guys, well, we'll head up this trail.
It's about a 3/4-mile hike.
And if we happen to see a bear on the trail, We'll just move off to the side, let it go on by.
No big deal.
Sarah: Do you have a firearm? No, I don't.
But I do have bear spray.
That tends to be more effective, anyhow.
Sarah: Our guide, he at least had bear spray, So, you know, that's some good caution right there.
Hear any bears growl? Willow: You see that bear? Wow.
This is beautiful.
Josh: Fish that are coming upriver, that's all sockeye.
The kodiak bears fish often down the river, then, huh? They'll fish here through August on a good year.
He's coming up this way.
If you guys want, we can just sit down and hang out.
I've got chairs so you don't get your gear wet.
Just watch out for the bear poop You're about to step in there.
That's an 800-pound bear, huh? Sarah: That's cool.
He's a big boy.
Yeah.
This is the big boy.
He doesn't move quickly unless he has to.
Sarah: It's real important When you're in a natural setting like that.
Just be real quiet, be real mellow, Just observe these bears, Watch what it is that they do in their natural habitat.
Willow: There's another one.
Josh: That guy has a collar.
He's been hanging out here a lot, too.
Why does it have a collar? Well, they're tracking their movements, And they're programmed to drop off in 2012.
Willow, do you think it's gonna get a fish in front of us? Hopefully.
There's a sow with two spring cubs down here, Which is pretty cool.
Sarah: Oh, look at that.
We saw the mama bear and her two cubs, And it was a beautiful sight.
And when I watch a mama bear in her natural habitat, Protecting her cubs, I get it.
I know exactly what it is that she's thinking.
She's gonna do all that she can to protect her cubs If she thinks that they're being challenged.
And as a mom, I take every opportunity that I can To communicate with willow About what it is that she wants to do in life.
It's a tough challenge.
But I've learned, as much as I want to defend her And fight for her, That sometimes I just have to let her go And find her own way.
And, you know, she's gonna find it, Because her older brother, track, certainly has found that.
Bristol has found that.
So I'm confident she'll find it.
Todd: So, they are an amazing animal.
It's quite the treat to watch them On their home turf, fishing.
Josh: All right, guys, well, we should probably head on back.
It's about that time.
Back by our flight plan.
Well, thanks.
Nice, big bear today.
Yeah, it was big.
Todd: So, willow, how was it? Willow: Fun.
It's pretty awesome.
Josh: Hey, you guys all buckled in and ready? Sarah: To just spend some time in that natural environment With todd and willow -- good family time -- It was very much a worthwhile trip.
Visiting kodiak and afognak island was just an amazing trip, Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from our own home.
There we are with such a diverse variety of things to do, From stock-car racing to observing bears To chopping down a tree With a whole bunch of hard-working loggers.
That is so uniquely our alaska.
Hi! Hi! Hello, little tiny baby! Come here! Usually the best part of our travels, though, is coming home.
You're so excited! [ clapping .]
Yay! Sarah: I'm gonna come get you, tripp.
Yeah, you got the basketball! Yay! Sarah: Returning to wasilla And getting to see trig and tripp's Beautiful smiling faces welcoming us home, Well, that is when we know we're truly home.
It's awesome to be home.
Come here! I missed you too much! Willow: Can we go to the dmv now? Todd: Yes.
Pretty cool.
Next time on "sarah palin's alaska" Piper: All this gold is all mine.
I'm selling it on ebay.
No.
Yeah, I am.
This is pretty fascinating.
Don't hit the iceberg, piper.
That's like the titanic.
Whoa.
[ laughs .]
You guys, this is a little bit scary.