On Thin Ice: Breakdowns, Whiteouts, and Survival on the World's Deadliest Roads - Hardcover

9781401323684: On Thin Ice: Breakdowns, Whiteouts, and Survival on the World's Deadliest Roads
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You've watched him battle the odds on History's Ice Road Truckers. Now read Hugh "The Polar Bear" Roland's own storm-by-storm account of surviving and conquering the infamous ice roads of the Arctic. Join Hugh in the front seat of his truck as he shares his most chilling, adrenaline-fueled tales of the world's most dangerous job.

Every year, a fleet of truckers travels beyond the northern equatorial line to the Arctic Circle, battling subzero temperatures and perilous conditions. Though treacherous, it is a region heavily endowed with natural resources. Locating this abundance of natural gas, conflict-free diamonds, and gold is relatively easy; extracting and transporting these goods is another matter entirely. The elite truckers chosen to deliver materials vital to these efforts spend two months traveling distances greater than Western Europe on naturally formed roads of ice that is only sixteen inches thick.

It is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

For more than twenty years, Hugh Rowland has survived the ice roads like none other. Each year when the temperature plummets, Rowland leaves his family in Vancouver, Canada, to drive 1,900 miles to Yellowknife, where he will begin his odyssey. Facing the threat of perilous avalanches, hundred-foot cliffs, and the ever-present danger of cracking through the ice, Hugh must push himself to the limit. The payoff is sweet, but Rowland isn't in it just for the money; he is driven by the camaraderie, the call to adventure, and the chance to battle the odds year after year.

From the first snowstorm to the final thaw, On Thin Ice traces the history of ice road trucking, chronicles Rowland's preparation for the trek, and follows him through his perilous journey along the infamous ice roads. Take a ride with Rowland as he recounts tales of epic breakdowns and breathtaking heroism that are just a daily part of the job. In this classic battle of man and machine versus cruelest nature, only the strong will survive to see their payday, their families, and the chance to do it all over again . . . on thin ice.

WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER . . .

"You've never experienced winter until you've lived through one in the far north. It starts in October and doesn't let up until mid-April. The temperatures drop to minus 70, with winds blowing 60 miles an hour. At that temperature, you throw a pot of boiling water or coffee into the air and it will instantly vaporize and turn into snow. It's cold as hell, but it's also full of riches: silver, gold, uranium, diamonds, and oil worth tens of billions of dollars. Locating these treasures in the frozen tundra is the easy part. Getting them out of the ground and bringing them from the frozen wasteland to civilization is a lot tougher. That's my job." --From Ice Road Truckers

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About the Author:
Hugh Rowland is a burly, bearded, swearing man who blows methyl hydrate into his own transmission and welcomes storms as breaks from boredom. A trucker with over 30 years experience, he runs a successful excavation business in British Columbia. He has been married for 25 years to his childhood sweetheart Dianne and has 3 daughters, Karly, Chandra and Candice, and 2 grand children.
From Booklist:
Fans of the History reality television series Ice Road Truckers will be thrilled with this inside look at the job by Rowland, a regular participant. He opens hard and fast by imagining a colleague’s death after breaking through the ice and then continues with yet more dangerous moments from his decades on the job, such as when he was run off the road or chased by wolves. Rowland mixes a fair amount of Yellowknife color and history with a recounting of his own past, and fans will enjoy his personal reflections on school (dropout), prison (for a barroom brawl), and his long, successful marriage to the understanding Dianne (fan of Stephen King and Dean Koontz). Rowland deviates from the expected by discussing the impact of cameras on the job, making sure to point out that he finds their presence humorous and easy to ignore. The point, of course, is that it is all real, all unscripted, and nobody can tell him what to do, which is exactly what his millions of admirers want to hear. --Colleen Mondor

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  • PublisherHyperion
  • Publication date2010
  • ISBN 10 1401323685
  • ISBN 13 9781401323684
  • BindingHardcover
  • Edition number1
  • Number of pages256
  • Rating

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9781409120742: On Thin Ice: Breakdowns, Whiteouts and Survival on the World's Deadliest Roads. Hugh Rowland with Michael Lent

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ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9781409120742
Publisher: Orion, 2011
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  • 9781409122487: On Thin Ice: Breakdowns, Whiteouts, and Survival on the World's Deadliest Roads

    Orion ..., 2010
    Hardcover

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