In the blink of an eye, ti moved to mid-April, and the grasslands in Montana began to turn green.
But Ethan and Olivia were still too young to endure the long journey and the unpredictable weather of Alaska.
After a family discussion, Lin Yu’an decided to first go alone to Alaska to lay a solid groundwork for the family.
Aliya and the children would wait until sumr to join him, once everything was settled.
After saying goodbye to his wife and children, Lin Yu’an once again boarded a flight to Fairbanks.
This ti, his mood was completely different from when he went to scout the location last ti; it was no longer about exploration and choice, but about conquering and challenge!
The "Life Below Zero" program crew was already prepared.
When Lin Yu’an stepped out of the airport, he was greeted not only by his old friend Jack but also by the accompanying director David, who gave him a robust hug.
"Herman, welco back! From this mont, your Alaskan legend officially begins filming!"
In Fairbanks, Lin Yu’an attended an online conference at the Aurora Hotel.
A huge map covered the entire table, with smoke swirling around.
Director David, local coordinator Jack, and guide Stan, who was attending the video conference, all wore solemn expressions.
Stan was the first to speak: "In mid to late April, during the lting season, the northern section of Dalton Highway will turn into a sea of mud, and the small road leading to your parcel is an even bigger disaster. It’s all marshes and water holes, and heavy equipnt can’t get through."
Director David adjusted his glasses and added, "This season makes it impossible to do any effective civil work. Does this an the plan has to be postponed until June?"
The conference room fell into silence.
Postponent would an a more than month-long window of inactivity, which is unacceptable for a high-cost reality show project.
Lin Yu’an hadn’t spoken yet; he had already anticipated the problem of the lting season, which is why he had gone ho to stock up earlier.
He had even pre-arranged so equipnt to counter the muddy conditions during the lting season.
He pointed at the map where the simple road from Dalton Highway to parcel A lay and asked solemnly, "How long will this road hold?"
This question left the three in the room stunned.
Stan answered deeply, "With the current temperature and snow lting rate, it will last at most two weeks. After two weeks, it will turn into an impassable mire. No wheeled vehicle will make it through."
"Two weeks."
Lin Yu’an repeated the word and tapped his fingers lightly on the map.
He looked up, circled the room, and then said sothing that plunged the entire conference room into silence.
"Alright, then try it."
Looking at David, he said in a calm tone, "Now, I need you and Mike to take a complete break and relax for a while."
"What?"
David almost thought he had heard it wrong.
"Lin, what do you an? Are we postponing the shooting plans?"
Lin Yu’an shook his head, "No, not postponing, it’s my personal action, starting now."
"I want to take these two weeks to try and move the batch of supplies I need. Your current shooting is aningless."
"That’s impossible!"
David stood up excitedly, "Lin, a single person, two weeks, and facing roads that are about to be sealed off—that’s just beyond human capability!"
Lin Yu’an didn’t argue with him, just spoke firmly.
"In two weeks, I’ll contact you. Trust , when I reach out to you again, you’ll see a perfect beginning worth filming."
"At that ti, you just need to get in by helicopter."
Lin Yu’an’s confident and strong aura left David speechless with doubt.
Ultimately, under Lin Yu’an’s insistence, David departed Fairbanks with a head full of questions.
Lin Yu’an followed him to Fairbanks.
His transport plan officially began!
His first target was the internet trading platform in the industrial zone on the outskirts of Fairbanks.
This platform gathers all information on various heavy equipnt companies and logistics warehouses that serve the surrounding mines and oil fields.
Through a cash transaction of one thousand five hundred US dollars, he bought a worn-looking but standard 40-foot container.
This was purchased from a construction company looking to upgrade its equipnt; it was an undecorated container bearing no markings.
The container was slightly smaller than his space and could fit entirely inside.
Then he headed straight to the heavy equipnt and used car marketplace.
He didn’t choose the flashy chain rental companies, but entered a local company that offers long-term vehicle rental services for oil fields and construction sites.
The vehicles here weren’t clean, but each exuded a feeling of "sturdy and reliable."
He directly told the owner, "I need a dual-rear-wheel pickup capable of towing heavy items, modified for off-road use. The rental period... let’s set it at 15 days for now, but I might extend it."
The owner was a burly man with a full beard who sized up Lin Yu’an, then pointed to a steel beast in the corner of the yard.
It was a Ford F-450, its body covered in dried mud spots, but clearly well-maintained.
Its front bumper was replaced with a heavy-duty steel crash bar and equipped with a WARN 16,500-pound heavy-duty winch.
The suspension was visibly raised, fitted with six massive all-terrain tires; this was a vehicle truly born to conquer Alaska!
The boss patted the tire: "This guy just retired from an exploration team on the North Slope, we gave it a full maintenance."
"The rent isn’t cheap; seventeen hundred US dollars for half a month, plus high insurance and deposit."
"No problem."
Lin Yu’an didn’t even haggle, checked the condition of the chassis, engine compartnt, and winch, and after confirming the vehicle was in good condition, he promptly said.
"This is the one. I also need a heavy-duty flatbed trailer that can carry goods over three tons, rent the trailer for two days."
Half an hour later, Lin Yu’an signed a month-long lease contract and paid nearly ten thousand US dollars in deposit and rent.
He got the car keys, jumped into the cab of this steel beast, feeling the steady, powerful vibration of the diesel engine.
He drove the F-450, towing the flatbed trailer, and personally picked up the large empty container, pulling it to a temporary rented parking area south of Fairbanks.
Before heading out of town, he found a gas station, filled up the F-450’s tank, and topped off several spare diesel and gasoline barrels.
All around was silent, no caras here, nor unnecessary glances.
A thought arose.
"Boom——"
Lin Yu’an placed the deadweight, wooden fra-encased "Warm Winter S-200" cast iron heating stove at the very back of the container.
Right after that, a red tricycle also appeared out of thin air inside the container!
Lin Yu’an went forward and used industrial-grade nylon straps and ratchet fasteners to securely fix this "warhorse" to the preset anchor points on the container floor.
Using several thick chains, he fixed it to the container walls, ensuring it wouldn’t move an inch amidst the severe jolts of land transport.
Next were those two large iron pots, 80 centiters in diater, that could seemingly stew a whole bear, cleverly nested together, fitting snugly next to the heating stove.
Comrcial vacuum packaging machine, "Little Sun" heater, boxes of seeds of various models, bundles of cold-glinting farming tools...
All the "magic tools" he purchased from China, categorized and precisely stowed in every corner of the container.
Finally, he placed the Xu Gong XC760K loader and its full set of attachnts on the container’s outermost space, firmly securing them with professional fastening chains.
Several hours later, the previously empty container was packed full with various "magic tools" from China.
Lin Yu’an personally used high-strength bolts and lead seals bought from China to firmly lock the container doors.
After completing all this, he returned the flatbed trailer to the rental company.
He contacted a local heavy transport company known for handling any troubleso route, "Polaris Logistics."
Because it was a local pickup, the entire process beca even simpler and more direct.
He said to the logistics dispatcher over the phone: "I have a 40-foot container at the old warehouse district south of town."
"Inside are my personal equipnt and supplies, I need you to send a truck over to transport it to a clearing near mile marker 115 on the Dalton Highway."
The dispatcher was silent for a mont upon hearing this address.
"Sir, the road conditions on the Dalton Highway in April... are very bad, especially after crossing the Yukon River. Our charges will be high, and we can’t guarantee an exact arrival ti."
"That place is almost deserted; once our driver unloads, they must leave imdiately; you’ll also need to pay a substantial deposit."
"Money’s not an issue, I just need you to get it there safely as soon as possible, once it arrives, just unload it on the ground."
After the logistics company checked the customs clearance docunts and filed them, Lin Yu’an paid a hefty fifteen thousand US dollars in transportation fees, including an "adverse road condition risk fee."
This special transport task officially got on the schedule.
Having completed the most crucial logistics setup, Lin Yu’an still had important matters to attend to.
He carefully reviewed in his mind, this container’s items had already been professionally handled for customs clearance, and taxes genuinely supplented.
Now there’s no fear of inspection by relevant departnts, all procedures were legal and compliant, Lin Yu’an just needed to expedite this transportation process.
The original biggest loophole might have been the transportation ti issue, but unexpectedly, another container had already arrived at Haines Deepwater Port in Alaska, halfway through customs clearance, expected to take one or two weeks.
It’s been 17 days to Alaska, sothing Lin Yu’an hadn’t anticipated! If I’d known it was this fast, no need for any Golden Finger to save ti!
The various prepared docunts for deft maneuvering, aim to snatch a month’s ti, in the end, turned out to be a vain effort! Can only say China’s courier speed, aweso!
Now, the last high-risk loophole of inconsistent transport ti can withstand scrutiny.
Only left is the showcase of legal docunts stage to patch the last loophole.
Lin Yu’an, before the courier cos to collect the goods, once again carefully reviewed to ensure no mistakes, he opened the sport cara, started recording the footage for "the first step of building ho."
He introduced everything through selfies, especially highlighting his expectations for Chinese-made equipnt!
Filming the container’s exterior, lead seal close-up, holding the customs clearance related docunt fax from the dark web company, introducing it as an express from China.
Then showcasing the contract signed with the logistics company, indicating the courier company would soon ship this container to the new ho camp nearby.
Although the process was tortuous and troubleso, all these would beco materials filled with legality once the program airs later.
The filming was completed quickly, everything ready!
Now he just needs to drive the F-450, heading north, leaving Fairbanks urban area.
Along that muddy Dalton Highway, driving towards the unloading point waiting for him!
————
(7K words updated in the morning, 3K more tonight)
(Please asking for monthly tickets again, brothers.)
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