When winter slams into the vital highways that push through the American Rockies, crews of heavy recovery specialists race into action, working to clear wrecks and open roads before traffic backups and mayhem can spin out of control.
On Vail Pass in Colorado, Charlie Stubblefield and the crew from Mountain Recovery patrol Interstate 70 as it climbs 11,000 feet above sea level, where raging blizzards can blind drivers and push trucks to the edge of sheer mountain drops. To the south in Utah, the Stauffer’s Towing team answers the call on the narrow, twisting, stretch of U.S. Highway 6, which has been called one of the most dangerous roads in America. And in Wyoming, heavy rescue teams face winds that hit 60 mph, blasting ice across Interstate 80 and blowing semis straight onto their sides.
Clearing wrecks in these conditions demands grit and perseverance. While most drivers try to escape the weather, the recovery crews head straight into the storm. Whether they face a raging fire or a toxic spill, these crews roll up ready to make a plan and wrestle the wreckage off the road. They’ve got the equipment and the skill. But with more than a million people depending on the route that crosses these three states every day, there’s one thing the crews don’t have -- time.
EPISODE 1: A DANGEROUS SPOT TO BE
A semi bursts into flames, pushing Jesse and crew to make an urgent recovery before morning rush. Mountain Recovery fights to free a jackknife on a dangerous blind curve during a massive storm. One of Charlie’s drivers swerves to avoid a collision, forcing him into a crash that destroys his truck and threatens his life.
EPISODE 2: DEAD MAN’S CURVE
After a tractor pulling double trailers rolls over during a freak snowstorm, Mountain Recovery faces massive damage and an impossible deadline. Heavy Winds assault I-80 in Wyoming, closing the highway and pushing Jim and rookie Brendan to their limits.
EPISODE 3: LOOKS LIKE A WRECK
When freezing fog descends on Wyoming and ices over I-80, Brendan gets his first test on a rollover recovery. Heavy snow during the height of Vail ski traffic causes chaos for Big Jon and Kory as they battle a difficult jackknife. A moving van blasts off the highway in a Utah snowstorm, pushing the Stauffer’s team to perform a long pull up a steep incline.
EPISODE 4: HEAVYWEIGHT BATTLE
Charlie races to rescue a family trapped in a live lane of traffic. The Stauffer’s Utah crew battles to upright a rollover pinned between moving traffic and open water. And when a sinkhole swallows a 200,000-pound excavator, the recovery team must pull it free before the land collapses under their own trucks.
EPISODE 5: TAKING NAMES AND CLEARING LANES
Two separate crashes in Utah spur the Stauffer’s crew to perform a pair of dramatic recoveries. Bad Grandpa goes for a plunge when the Mountain Recovery team attempts a daring job on a raging river. Seth struggles to clear a semi facing the wrong direction on a vital stretch of I-70.
EPISODE 6: A SLIPPERY SITUATION
Intense winds and icy roads send a semi to the edge of a sheer drop. A massive snowfall forces Charlie out of his comfort zone and into a much bigger truck than normal. In the aftermath of a major storm, Bad Grandpa schools the boss in the art of recovery.
EPISODE 7: PROBLEMS ON TOP OF PROBLEMS
When vicious winds blow a bus off of I-80, Art must wrestle it back onto flat ground. A load of produce rolls off of the road, tearing down a wildlife fence that’s keeping a herd of elk from the highway. Jesse races to finish a tough recovery in time to be part of an important family milestone.
EPISODE 8: WEIGHT IS MY ENEMY
Charlie struggles to keep ahead of the chaos when a surprise storm hits Vail Pass. The pressure is on Brendan when he gets a major promotion and is forced to prove that he’s earned it. A heavy load of manure tests Cory’s rigging and his patience.
EPISODE 9: OUT OF NOWHERE
Charlie, Big Jon and crew fight a stubborn wreck on the coldest night of the winter. Austin and Kevan head up a remote mountain pass to rescue a lost driver. Brendan is put to the test in his new role when a hazardous load springs a leak on I-80.
EPISODE 10: WE DON'T GIVE UP
An unexpected spring storm sends the Mountain Recovery crew to make rescues all along I-70. Chuck faces a dangerous, high-tension wreck that threatens to snap a guardrail cable. A multi-day mud recovery frustrates the Stauffer’s crew, pushing Jesse to call for help from an unexpected source.