“Ice Airport Alaska” has always been a show about controlled chaos. It’s a testament to human ingenuity (and perhaps a touch of madness) that planes even attempt to land in a place where the weather forecast regularly includes “horizontal snow” and “wind chill factors capable of freezing your eyelashes solid.” But this Sunday, the usual Alaskan mayhem gets dialed up to 11.
The episode, “Avalanche Warning,” presents a trifecta of potential disasters. First up, we have scientists wrestling with the very real threat of avalanches endangering Anchorage. These aren’t your picturesque, ski-resort variety, mind you. We’re talking potentially city-leveling snowslides. The episode follows the efforts to prevent disaster, a task as delicate as defusing a bomb made of frozen water.
Next, we move from natural threats to potentially invasive ones. Anchorage International’s border agents face an insidious enemy: insects. While not as immediately dramatic as an avalanche, the accidental introduction of a non-native species could unravel Alaska’s delicate ecosystem. So, yeah, no pressure, border agents. Just the fate of the Alaskan wilderness resting on your shoulders.
And if avalanches and insect infestations weren’t enough, we have a bush pilot hauling explosives. Apparently, a remote village has a holiday celebration planned, and fireworks are on the menu. Getting those explosives safely to their destination is a task requiring nerves of steel and a deep understanding of Alaskan weather patterns (which, let’s be honest, are probably best described as “unpredictable”).
“Ice Airport Alaska” often focuses on the challenges faced by airport personnel: brutal temperatures of -38 Fahrenheit, winds exceeding 100 mph. This Sunday’s episode doesn’t offer these brave souls much respite as they struggle to keep the airport running smoothly, making for must-see-TV.
“Ice Airport Alaska” airs Sundays at 9:00 PM on the Smithsonian Channel.
