 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill, pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. One of our worst enemies in the winter is cold. You know how it feels to step out of the house when it's 10 or 15 degrees below zero. Imagine trying to get around in 30 or 40 below zero. I'll stop shivering. It's really not so bad if you're dressed for it and you eat the proper food that'll build up your body heat. The bitter cold is a clever enemy. It sneaks up on you and captures you unless you're on guard. Probably one of the coldest places around Naughty Pine is the savage mountains to the north. Man alive, but those rock piles are cold. It's so cold up there, we've nicknamed them the refrigerator mountains. And that's where our story takes us today. Decision for death. The wind never stops blowing in the savage mountains. In fact, in the wintertime, it cuts through you like a knife. Right now, a party of mountain climbers are up in the mountain. Eric, we gotta rest soon. I'm gonna give out. Up ahead, there's a spot. Too dangerous here by this crevasse. Eric's right. Gotta keep going. Keep up, men. Almost to a sheltered spot. We can break out one of the pack and eat a little. Hey, hey, we're beginning to move. Breaking off under us. Drive your picks in, man. Broken? Feels like it. How's the equipment? Don't worry about a thing. Hey, where's Don and Jim? Well, there are only six of us here. I saw them slip down there. Yeah, see if they're okay. Jim! What's the thermometer say, Eric? 35 below, Keith. I'm afraid a night up here will kill us all. We'll probably get to 50 below tonight. Maybe that's the best way out for us. I see. Reason doesn't matter at all. We just sort of go to sleep painlessly. Yeah, maybe you're right, Mer. A rescue party would never find us this correct. Don't give up, Pope Thomas. They know back in town that we came up here. They know the approximate time that we should be back. Yeah, I guess you're right. It's only been hours now, and the cold's really beginning to get through my clothing. We've run out of food, too. I wonder how Jim and Don are in a deep crevasse. They fell a lot further than we did. Maybe they're dead. Could be. They took an awful fall down there. We haven't heard a word from them. Maybe they're conserving their strength. Hope so. It would be terrible if they're down. They're all broken up and suffering from a lot of pain. Yeah, and we can't do a thing for them. Well, I know something we can do for ourselves and for each of them. Oh, shit. What can we do, huh? We can pray. That's right. I've got new hope now. Let's keep an optimistic attitude and look at this thing on the positive side. We'll ask God to send the rescuers. Oh, I'm sorry, Bill. I guess I wasn't paying attention to the volume. Son, maybe you'd turn deaf all of a sudden. Hmm. Man alive. This fellow's up in the Savage Mountains. They're in a real spot. You can say that again, young fella. We don't call them cold stone hills or refrigerator mountains for nothing. Not right. Why, it's much colder up there than other places. I not know. That is cold mountain range up there. There isn't a colder range of mountains anywhere in the country. It's a strange phenomenon, right? I'll say. There are a treacherous range of mountains, too. They haven't been killed trying to climb them than anywhere around. Yep. But folks never seem to learn. That mountain climbing challenge. The next fellow will think he can make it all right. Yeah, Grand Wolf's right. Seems that the more dangerous the mountains and the higher the death rate of climbers, the more men there are that try to conquer the peaks. That's the challenge of mountain climbing. It's a man against the elements proposition. Be that as it may. I'm glad to stay right here by the radiator about conquering mountains. I think the rescue party is going to make it out up there. Oh, who can tell, Judge? It might even be that we'll have to get other men to try and rescue the rescuers. Yeah, that's what I've been thinking. They've been going an awful long time. There, the rescue party's back. We were just thinking about getting somewhere to come after you and the boys, Rick's. Well, you are too far wrong, Judge. We had a couple of close calls. What about the agate men? Did you find them? Yes, we did. We found them all right, but we couldn't get to them unless we had wings. They fall into a crevasse? That's right, Judge. The biggest and deepest one I've ever seen in a long while. Yeah, it's too bad. You say it's impossible to get them out? Yes, it's impossible. Are they still alive? Yes. All of them? Yes, as far as we could tell. They saw us, so at least they know we're trying. Well, Mayor, what do we do now? Where do we go from here? I'm not going to give up yet, Judge. I'm going to call the rangers. Oh, I don't know, fellas. We have to spend the night here. We're done for. Oh, it's cold. Don't give up. We saw the rescue party up there, and they saw us. Sure, but what could they do? This crevasse is just as straight up as it can be. They were just as helpless as we are. Now, maybe, but you never know. I've got to change positions, fellas. Here, we'll give you a hand. Yeah, I'll take this side, Keith. Okay, let's move in. How easy does it, Eric? Right. Okay, it's good. Why don't you let us try and splinch your leg, man? No, no. We've got nothing to tie the picks to my legs with. I'll turn my shirt into strips. Oh, no, no. You're cold enough now without taking your outer clothes off. Anyway, broken bones didn't pierce a blood vessel, so we can leave it the way it is. Weigh things. Look, it'll make any difference anyway. Well, as I was saying before about staying close to the fire, I've come to the conclusion that either I talk too much or too loud or both. I don't think so, pal. Although, sometimes, I'm almost willing to believe that the walls are there. I almost think that true at times, too. Well, I guess we won't be as cold as old poor fellas strapped up in the savage mountains. Yeah, that's for sure, old timer. Well, it must be terrible to be cold, so very cold that you're only half alive. It's death by inches. First, your hands and feet freeze, then your legs and arms and so on until death puts an end to yourself. Death from freezing isn't painful itself. It's a part leading to the death. It's enough to drive a man out of his mind. Ah, there are helicopters waiting for us. Yep, there's Andy Gibbons waiting with the Whirly Bird. Okay, Grey Wolf, let's get the gear out of the trunk. Right. Good, pal. We'll wait for you at the copter. There, village of Greenbowl. Ah, that hasn't taken long, has it? Looks like you ought to be able to set the copter down in the village square, Andy. Yeah, so there's plenty of room there. There's plenty of people watching us come in. Maybe they thought we was coming on horseback. Here we go for the landing. Okay, let's be sure you don't land on top of that statue down there. That's the whole story, as far as we can tell it to you, Bill. It's not a pleasant story, but that can't be helped. Where's the leader of the rescue party, mayor? Why, he's right over there with the crowd. I'll get it. Thank you. Why the right look on your face? We're just thinking about how wonderful things are today, huh? What do you mean? Well, take that there, helicopter. We're just studying it. I wonder how many lives have been saved with that amazing collection of nuts and bolts. Let's save a lot of lives. Then there's a pretty good chance that the boys up in the mountains can be saved. That remained to be seen, judge. That wonderful machine, but not able to do everything. So this is Rex, the leader of the rescue party. Oh, hello, Rex. Hello, Bill. Uh, Rex, how about taking a ride in the copter with us and showing us where the men are trapped? Sure, be glad to. When do we leave? Right now. I don't think they're gonna try to get us out, fellas. I guess you're right, Mayor. Something would have happened by now. Man's cold. You said it. This is the end. What's the matter, Mayor? My ears must be frozen. I think I hear a plane. That's the wind playing on the ice ridges. No. No, it isn't. Listen. It is a plane. It sounds like it's coming right over us. But what good is a plane gonna do us? Eric, look up there. There's a helicopter. Maybe there's a chance to get out. Maybe God's gonna help us. They're really down there in that crevasse. Wow, what a far they took. You can say that again, sonny. That's a big hole down there. What do you think, Bill? I'm not sure yet, Gray Wolf. Those fellas are in an awful jam. Do you think there's a chance to get them out? Oh, perhaps. Right now, let's break out the emergency rations and the power megaphone. We gotta get some food to those men. I don't feel so cold now, fellas. Neither do I. Don't try to move, Merv. Eric and I and the other fellas will get the food particles. Here comes the first one. That was close. Here comes another. I got it. I've got this one. This high-energy food will give us plenty of body heat and keep us from freezing. Let's open one and pass it out to all the fellas. And we'll save the others just in case. Here they go. I hope that fella wasn't joking by telling us they're gonna try and get us out. The relatives of the trapped men are here. Can I give them words of hope? Not yet, Judge. We've got to say something to them pretty soon. They can't be but all. I understand, Edmere. Andy, do you think you can fly a small copter down into the crevasse far enough to lure a cable and a harness and winch the men up one at a time? I don't know, Bill. That'd be pretty risky. What can it be done? Sure, the ideas sound, but whether or not it would be safe to do it is another matter. The up-and-down drafts are pretty strong up there. Andy, can it be done? Yes or no? Yes. If I go with you to work the winch and bring the man into the cabin, will you try it? Okay. My common sense tells me no, but I keep thinking of those trapped men. Let's go. You go ahead and warm up the copter. I'll be with you in a minute. Okay. Henry, stop him. Get the village doctor and help him set up a place to take care of the men. Right. Gray Wolf, call the helicopter field. Them send up four small copters like Andes and their best pilots. Okay, Bill. If they come before you get back, you want them to go get more trapped men? No. Wait until Andy and I return. Bill, can I give the relatives some kind of news now? Yes, Judge, you can. Tell them we're going to try and get one man out. If we succeed, they can be reasonably sure we'll get the others out. Oh, tell them. And our prayers will go with you all the way up there and back. Thanks. Ask the Lord to keep the winds down so the helicopter doesn't get bashed to bits against the crevasse walls. Here they come again. Yeah. I wonder what's going to happen next. What are they trying to do? They'll crash. They can't land in here. They stopped dropping. They're not going to try and land. Hey, there comes a cable with a harness on it. Hey, this is it, fellas. We're going to be rescued. Are you all right, man? Yeah, never mind me. Grab that harness when he's swinging over here. I forgot about my leg for a minute. Hey, they're swinging the harness and the cable. Grab it when you can, Eric. I'll help Merv up so he can get into it. No, you don't. You fellas go first. There'll be no argument. You're late in each care, and you'll be first. One more swing, and I'll be able to grab the harness. Whoever would have thought we'd get out of here by now. They've got it. I've let the cable out as far as it'll go. Can you hold the copter? Oh, I think so. The drafts are strong, but so far they haven't gotten out of hand. But don't dilly and dally around, though. I won't. Say, the fellow they're putting the harness on must be injured. Oh, how badly? I know. It looks like he got a broken leg in the way they're handling him. I wish they'd hurry. The draft's getting out of hand? No, but I wouldn't push them too far. The copter's getting hard to handle. Well, he's all set now. Take her up slowly. If he doesn't swing too hard, hit the other wall of the crevasse. Right. I'm winching him in. As soon as I get him into the cabin, we can take off for the village full blast. You guys are terrific. What a rescue. I'll say it's some rescue. You give it everybody a fresh supply of hope, young fellow. That's right. Everybody glum until you and Andy come back with one of the trapped men. Yeah. The doc's working on his leg now. Then he'll take care of him for exposure and frostbite. Let's not get too excited yet, fellas. We've got seven more men to go. Are the helicopters here? They sure are, sonny. The boys brought along some winchmen, too, there. Okay. Give them the word to go. One copter at a time. After Andy's had a little rest, he and I'll join the parade. It's number two. Easy with the stretcher, man. This fourth man. Get him to Dr. Quick. He has bad frostbite. It hasn't showed up. Maybe it crashed. The copter did crash. There are the two men. Are they all right? Yeah. As far as I can tell, it might as well go after one of them while we're here, huh? It might as well. Although we might end up in the bottom of that crevasse, too. This did a terrific job. And sit by the fire like we started out doing. Yep. I make the motion that we adopted. I second. And I third, fourth, and fifth it. That makes it unanimous. Let's go home. Hey, old fast. Maybe it can make one more hop. But, fellas, our job isn't finished. What do you mean? You'll find out. Let's go over and see the man brought in. How's the doc treating you, fellas? Just fine, Ranger. We want to thank you for what you've done. Oh, forget it. The fact that we got you out alive is thanks enough. How's your broken leg, mister? Okay. Doc said it fine. Say, where did you fellas put Jim and Don? Jim and Don? Who are they? They're part of our group. They fell into the crevasse, too? Why, yes. Well, we took eight men out. Yes, pal, but two of the men were from the crashed helicopter. That's why we can't go home. Oh, boy. Then they're still in the crevasse. But we didn't see them from the helicopters. They fell into a small crevasse near the bottom of the larger one. We never did hear from them. Come on, fellas. We got to go after them. Wait. Yeah? I don't think it's any use, Ranger. They're dead by now. Let's make sure we've got all the gear we need, fellas. Make sure the rope is good. We took over all gear at in top shape. Yes. We even went over it twice. Fine. Andy's going to take us up close to the crevasse and set us down. We'll go on from there. Mr. Jefferson? Yes, sir? I'm Burton Smith, Jim Smith's father. He's one of the boys you're missing. Well, how do you do, Mr. Smith? This is Donald Porter Sr. He's the father of the other lads still up there. How do you do, sir? Hello. Mr. Jefferson? We understand that you're going back up there after our two boys. Yes, sir. That's right. We're just about ready to leave. Well, we don't want you to try and rescue them. Why not? There's been enough life-risking done already, sir. We talked to the other men in the party, and they hadn't heard from them at all on that crevasse. We feel that you and your men in the helicopter ponds have risked your lives enough. You've done all that could be asked, even more. You realize that your decision is a decision for death, don't you? We fully realize the weight of our decision, Mr. Jefferson. There are sons. Yes. Yes, I know. You feel that they're dead already? Yes. We talked it over with our wives, and we're agreed. The reasonable thing to do is nothing more. We can't ask you men to take any more risks. Mr. Smith, we appreciate your decision, and I know it's taken courage to make it. More courage than I've ever seen in all my life. But the Ranger Code will not allow us to accept your decision. I want to find your sons and know whether they're dead or alive. I see. But isn't there any way that we can dissuade you from going up again? No, Mr. Smith. We'd never leave a job half done. Let's go, men. The helicopter's waiting. Drive those stakes well, fellas. A lot of weight is going to hang on them. I will drive them all the way to China. They won't give. Oh, say they won't. His eyes is like concrete, only twice as high. Oh, give this one another lick for goodment here. Right, Wolf. Let's rig the Bosun chair and I'll get started down. Right. Henry, bring the walkie-talkie. Right. Bosun chair ready now. All right. Here I go over the side. Watch the ropes so they don't foul. Yeah, I'll say so. Well, that crevasse is a lot deeper than a fella would think. Hey, it's Bill. Did you find him? I'm right beside him. Are they still alive? I think so. We're sending down the first basket stretcher. Good boy. We'll start the second stretcher down right after we get this one up. Hey, I can see the helicopter coming now. How far is Bill up the wall? Bill, halfway. He'll make it on it. Hey! What's the matter? Bill's stuck. He's not able to move, Bosun chair, up our town. Hey, man, alive? Throw jam in the block and tackle with ice. Henry, hurry. It's no use. Ice is like rock. Now what are we going to do? Henry, you cut land while you and I hold stuff. Then all of us pull Bill up. And this ice? Well, fly couldn't stand on it. I'll tie myself to a stick so we none all go over. Okay, but let's do it quick. I tie myself quickly. Ready now. Henry, cut rope. Are you sure you fellas can hold Bill? Oh, sure! Quick, pull Aaron and cut the rope. Okay, here goes. Henry, snap it up around the stick so it holds when we pull. Okay, I'll pull too. I can see his head. That's good. There's pile of ice. What's the doctor's verdict, Mr. Smith? Well, it's good news. They'll live. Although he'll have to remove some frostbite toes and fingers. But they'll be well again, thanks to you and your men. That's all right. We're glad that we got to them in time. Took a lot of courage to do what you men did. A lot of courage. Not nearly as much as your decision took. Mr. Smith, as parents, it wasn't easy for you to make a decision for death. It takes an awful lot of courage for a parent to say, leave my son up there to die because you've risked your life enough trying to save him. That's real courage in full measure. Well, see you next week for more adventure with...