Pat Moore let his son, Thomas, know exactly how he was feeling this week–no more enabling.
One of the best things about YUKON MEN is the attitudes of the men and women featured. Even when a plan goes wrong, they are typically able to make something good from it or, at the very least, make another plan and keep going forward. And, this can-do attitude was in great need this week, as it seemed everyone was having a bad time with their latest ventures.
Stan found himself on the losing end of a silver mine scheme, when the much-needed tractor just could not get the job done. The fact that they got it started at all, after it gathered rust in the woods for decades, was impressive. Using cardboard for gaskets, lengths of generic hose to replace the ones that had rotted over time and, in an ingenious move, scavenging Stan’s wife’s mop to create a throttle from a handle, they did get the tractor running. However, after it moved only a few feet, total disaster: cracked engine block. Like Stan said, there was no remedy they could conjure for that one—only a replacement will do. So, if the tractor ever does move again, it will not be this season. And, Stan finds himself woefully behind on his winter preparations because of his attempts to strike it rich at the silver mine—will it come back to haunt him as the always-near winter weather moves into Tanana?
Pat Moore was having what should have been a good surprise—the return of his son, Thomas—but it soon became clear: This is a pattern with Thomas who, according to Pat, has “demons” he needs to deal with. This time, Thomas had up and left without warning, showing up at Pat’s five months later as if nothing had happened. In fact, he just drove up on an ATV and walked over to the dogs, as if he was literally just going to pick up where he left Pat hanging when he left. Thomas said the right words, that he was back to work, to take care of his problems. But, Pat was skeptical and let Thomas know just what he was feeling, saying it straight, “Work is good. ‘Til it’s that hot day when you need a beer afterwards, and it’s all back to square one.” Pat made clear to his son this time: He is on his side, he will always love his son, but it is going to be up to Thomas to fix himself. What will that mean in the future? Only time will tell.
And, Joey and Charlie had a letdown of a sheep hunt, when they were dropped off at the wrong point, placing them many miles away from the pick-up point. The brush was so thick and the terrain so rugged, they basically spent the entire “hunt” just trying to get to the extraction point in time. They did—and the plane made it, despite brewing bad weather. And, the two hunters were optimistic, just glad that they survived to hunt another day, knowing that, ultimately, this is the life they chose when they decided to spend their lives off-the-grid in Tanana.
YUKON MEN airs on Discovery Channel on Tuesday nights at 9/8c.
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