 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, showing rare courage in the face of disaster, in the air, on horseback, or in a screaming squad car. Ranger Bill, his mind alert, a ready smile, unswerving, loyal to his mission, and all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. This is a great ski country out here. Folks come from far and near to try and break their necks on the dizzy slopes of the mountains around Naughty Pine. I wouldn't recommend beginners trying to break in their skis out here. These ski runs are for experienced and quick-thinking men and women, and sometimes even they have trouble staying in one piece. Now going down the slope isn't any problem, but getting back up is another matter. So the folks at the ski lodges have installed what they call ski lifts. They're varied in construction and design, but they all fill the same purpose to get the skiers back up to the top of the run. Hold on to your safety belts now because here we go with the story, Skiers in the Sky. Well here we are at a mile-high ski lodge. It's at the foot of a great and dangerous run that begins a mile up in the mountains. Right now a group of athletes are gathering to go up to the top in the ski lift car. The car is enclosed and is supported by eight cables. The reason for this type of ski lift is that the car passes right over some very rugged canyon country on its way to the top. The car is pulled to the top by clamping onto a continuous power cable, like the San Francisco cable cars. Right now the operator of the car, Red McCann, is trying to get everyone organized to make the trip. Well I do declare you don't have to shout like a wounded bull you break my eardrums. Well I'm sorry miss, but these folks are gonna listen to me. Oh we've skied before sir. We're not novices you know. I'm aware of that. You haven't skied this run before. Now listen to me carefully everybody. Be sure and check all your gear carefully before boarding the car. It's a long way to the top and once the car starts we won't back up and we can't turn around. Now let me warn you, each and every one of you, when you get to the top of mile-high run and you think it's gonna be too much for you, don't take a chance. Ride back down on the car. Well a lot of top skiers have sweat blood on this run. It's wicked. It's a real challenge. But don't be a fool. We won't think you're a coward for turning back. In fact we'll congratulate you for having common sense. Now if you checked your gear then you can board the car. Be sure you have all your equipment. How do we know this car safe? We have to cross dead man's gorge don't we? Well miss there are eight cables suspending the car. Their strength is tested at eight times the maximum weight of a fully loaded car. It'll swing in the wind but it won't fall. All right time to go. Leave in five minutes. We might as well introduce ourselves as long as we're going to ride to the top together miss uh... Canada, grace Canada. I'm Calvin Moore. If I close my eyes I'm not asleep. I can't ride in airplanes because I get dizzy from the height. Well it seems to me that you all should have stayed the lodge. This candy car makes you that way. Oh no I told my dad I was going to ski the mile-high run and that's what I intend to do. Oh the car's swaying. Well that's what red said dude. Do you know the operator? Of course not silly. Everyone calls him red. Hey we're stopping. Now we're going backwards. All right you're safe. Power cable's snapped but I've set the brakes. The brakes will hold the car. What if they don't hold? We'll all be killed. We're stuck over dead man's gorge. The skill of cars stuck over dead man's gorge. What? Are you sure? Of course I'm sure. I saw with my own eyes. No no no take it easy folks. I'll go out and find out what's wrong. It might be only a temporary power failure. That is no power failure Mr. Jackson. The cable's broken. Great. Got you right. But this never happened before. What are you gonna do to get that car down? Well the first thing I'm gonna do is get help. Who? Rangers. Boy that's a mess this time. You're not joking pal. There's gotta be some dead people this time. I don't mean maybe. Here let me open this garage door here. Now never mind the car Henry. Very well stubby. You fellas drive the other rescue truck. Henry and I'll take this one. All right let's go. Don't spare the horsepower. Watch out for patches of ice on curves. I've got my old eagle eye glued to the road. Got a whole truck full. And two trucks full. Two trucks on the spot is better than two of the garage back home. All right. Yeah pal? How could that lift car get stuck out in the middle of nowhere? That's what we're gonna find out. Why don't you do something red? You stand around looking pretty. What do you expect me to do? Fly down there like a bird and get help? Well at least you could try something instead of standing around like a pig in a poke. I'll get help. I'll figure out some way to get out of here. You can't make me die in this part. That's what it's gonna be. The first guy that steps out of line is gonna get this wrench laid right alongside his head. You can't talk to us that way you big ape. A lot of nerve threatening us like that. What do you think you're gonna do by beating us on the head? You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You ought to be. Quiet. That's better. Don't take the yak and that'd be like that again miss. I'll put you on the roof. When your charming friend is stirring up panic in this car and I won't have it. I'm giving you a fair warning all of you. The first one of you men to start a panic gets this wrench right in the head. There'll be no panic. It's the only way we're gonna get out of here alive. If you look back at the lodge you'll notice that there's quite a lot of people down there. They know we're in trouble and help will get here just as soon as they figure out the best way to do it and keep us alive. Ray Wolf, stop it. Get those people back. So much noise I can't even hear myself. Thank you. Henry call the sheriff and have him send men up here to keep this crowd in the control out of the way. Well I don't know what to do. How do we get those poor people out of there? This is a terrible thing but they might all get killed. Mr. Jackson this is the time to use your head for something more than a hat rack. Panic and fear will accomplish nothing. Mind to add to the problem. I'm sorry but what do you want me to do? Right now give me some information. Ask what you wish. I figure the car is being held in a 45 degree angle. Yeah 43 to be exact. How long will the brakes hold the car up there? Oh no it's two hours five hours who knows. Is there heat in the car? Yeah the heat's manufactured by a small gas engine. How long will the gas hold out? A lot more than two hours. How many people in the car? 31 including the operator. The sheriff's on his way with his men. That's fine Henry. Uh Mr. Jackson is there any place close by that a helicopter can land? Yeah there's a large clearing out back at the lodge. Henry call for a small copter while I check the clearing. Right. What you gonna do with the copter? I'm going to get aboard the lift car. In me there. How else Mr. Jackson? Don't they stop looking at us and do something? Landscapes what are they gonna do? Cheer or watch us go to our death? Why don't we do something? All we do is sit around and wait. Wait for death. Well I'm gonna do something about this and nobody's gonna stop me. You make me. You just make me. I'm not afraid of you in that wrench. I'm gonna get out in the roof and yell for help. That's what I'm gonna do and don't try and stop me. You killed him Calvin. You killed him. Now see what you've done. I didn't. He slipped and struck his head. He slipped. Do you hear? I didn't kill him. You believe me don't you? He isn't dead miss. Just knocked out but good. Well Mr. you certainly fixed things up fine. Now we don't have anyone who knows how to operate this car. There's plenty tight fit inside this small helicopter. Don't breathe hard you push me out the door. That's no joke either fellas. Martin how close do you think you can come to the car? Well my first answer is not very. When I think about those folks down there stranded like penguins on an ice floe. I'll say I'll get as close as I can. A good thing door on the side so copter not have to fight wind. So it not be blown into sight of lift. Yeah I'll say. They got enough problems without fighting the wind. Well here goes fellas. We'll make a dry run first and you can see for yourself how close I can get. I'll be fine Martin. If the copter vibrates a lot don't think it's falling apart. I'm going to have to rev it up for better stability. Here we go. How's it look? Fine. I'll take the copter straight up. Okay. Call her when. Swing into the car door by using the cable. You can hold the copter right here. I can hold it. Wonderful. I circle around while I get into the harness and we'll try out my little stunt. You ready for me to snap harness shut? Yes. You ready now? Don't forget walkie-talkie. Right. Well I left that here without the wig wag. You better get a portable radio set up to swing in on the cable. In case the walkie-talkie comes out. I'll be out of business without communications. I do as soon as copter land at large. You ready now Bill? Just about. Give me plenty of slack cable after I swing in to the door. I want to be jerked out of the car if Martin can't hold the copter. Ah, that's a good idea. I'll watch cables slack putty close. Are you ready Bill? Yeah. Let's maneuver into position and try it. Landscapes. What do they think they can do with that helicopter? They can't land on the roof of the car. Maybe they came out to look and laugh. Oh don't talk fools. They're up to something. Here they come again. There's a man hanging under that machine. He let go. No, no he didn't. He's been lured on a cable. What good is that going to do? He's going to try and get on the car. I believe you're right. The door Calvin, open the door. They're swinging him like a pendulum. Here he comes. Grab a hold of me till I can disconnect this cable. Sure, Ranger. There we are. Okay, the cable's free. Well howdy folks. My name's Bill Jefferson, not Buck Rogers. What's the matter with the red? That man's responsible. They had a fight and red slipped and he struck his head. Well, I'll fix red up and we'll see about getting you folks out of here safely. Why not get us our first Nintake care red? Because my selfish friend, the man's hurt. That's why. Sure look like a spider swinging back and forth up there. I'll say did. Why didn't he breathe while he was making like a trapeze? He'd been inside the car in about five minutes. Ain't said a word. Maybe he smashed walkie-talkie getting into car. Oh that's possible all right. How are we going to know? Well, he'll give the young whipper snapper another five minutes and then Sam Martin and Gray will back up there to swing in the portable radio. Well, do you think you can get those people out of there the same way he got in? Wouldn't be surprised. That's about what he's figured on doing, Mr. Jackson. But it'll take a long time with just one copter. If that's what he's going to do, we'll have them flying. How do you feel, red? My, my headache's a little bit otherwise I'm okay. I've had a rough time up here. Hell, panic. Watch out for the girl man in the front seat. They're panic makers. Okay. I've got to radio the lodge. You don't think something's happened to my radio? Bill to Gray Wolf. Bill to Gray Wolf. Over. All right, got his head bashed in a little. I took time to fix it. Now he's all right. Now here's the plan. Get half a dozen helicopters like Martins and have them come in one at a time. We'll have to have some harnesses to put on these people beforehand. You can start anytime you're ready. Over. Here as soon as possible. Over and out. Good work and out. Sounds good, Bill. I'll stay with the car until all the passengers are out. Okay, red. Now let me have your attention, please. You folks will be taken off the car the same way I came in. One at a time. Mr. No, it's scary but not risky. I've been on the swinging end of a helicopter cable dozens of times and lived to tell the tale. Yeah, they said the cables in the lift car wouldn't break but one did. You're still alive, aren't you? That's telling them, Ranger. I'll go first just to show everyone it can be done. Thank you, sir. In a short time we'll be taking you out of here as quickly as the helicopters can make it to the ground and back. In the meantime, just relax. That feels pretty good, Ranger. Now you don't want it too tight, just comfortable. All right, relax now because the harness will do all the work of keeping you safe. When I did the parachute drop at the fairgrounds last year, I sure didn't think I was practicing for something like this. I'll weigh my handkerchief now and you're off. Well, good luck to the rest of you. Oh, this is it. Here I go. How are things up there, Bill? That's fine. How are they with you? We've got a lot of happy relatives and relief passengers down here. That's fine. When are you coming down? After everyone else is down. Oh, why sure feel good. This rescue's going like clockwork. What are you going to do about the car? That, my dear fellow, is Mr. Jackson's worry. Our job is over when I come down. How many of you are left up there? Four passengers, red and myself. Say, tell the boys to step on it. There's a strong wind coming up. It'll make rescue difficult, if not impossible, very shortly. Oh, no, I'm not so happy. I'll pass the word right away, Bill. Over and out. The brakes are slipping. I can feel a car moving. What's more, there's a fine snow stock now. That gets under the brakes. She was wearing for a nasty bobsled ride. What's going on up there? Martin, put Grey Wolf on. Red, can you tighten the brake lever anymore? I'll try. There's one more notch to go. The brakes are slipping. We're going to be killed. Do something before we're killed. Sit down, Calvin, and keep quiet. We've got enough trouble without you acting up. Hey, they're hauling again. I got the handle up to the last notch. Good work, Red. Oh, Grey Wolf. How many feet of heavy hauser line are there on the trucks? 400 feet isn't enough. Not to get another 200 feet of rope somewhere. Say I know what you can do. Double up some of the lighter rope on the trucks. You'll have all you need. Okay. Ask Martin to get a helper. Have them take the rope to the bottom of the gorge. Then having fastened one end of it to the bottom of the copter. And lift that end up to us. We'll be ready to grab it as it swings in next to the car. We try to swing rope close to car so you can grab it. Fine. While you're doing that, have Stumpy and Henry get all the men they can down in the gorge. Won't be hard to get down from the lodge. After you drop the rope to us, we'll tie it securely to the car somehow. Have Henry take the other walkie-talkie with him so I can talk to them on the gorge floor. I want the man to hold on to the rope and act as an anchor for the car. We'll try to ease the car down to the lower tower by intermittently releasing the brake. They'll hold the rope and keep us from slipping too fast. Do you understand what I'm up to? Over and out. Well, fellas, we can do some more sitting and waiting. Yeah, I believe so. With the sheriff's men, I'd say there's about 30. Oh, that ought to do it. Don't you think, Stumpy? Yeah, for sure do. Now we'll turn the spotlights on. The truck's down into the gorge so we can see what we're doing. We'll need all the flash and headlights. We can get a hold up for lights to see our own way down. We've got all of them that we can find, beg, or borrow. Good. Well, there's no sense waiting around up here. Let's get going. I hope this works. Bill and Red got everyone out with themselves and one passenger. I hope they make it all right. I don't care about the car, but I just want to save them men. Well, we're walking down into the gorge. We can all do some praying. If I get out of this alive, I'll never lift a foot off the ground again. Why don't they do something to get us out of here? I don't want to die. They can't let me die. Kelvin, if you're so worried about dying, why did you wait until the last to leave the car? Why didn't you go first? I'm afraid to swing out near like the others did. I can't stand high places. I was afraid I'd faint. I was scared, you hear? I was scared. Yeah, I hear. The others were scared, too. However, they took their courage by the bootstraps and made it. Scared or not. Oh, he's just plain yellow. A jellyfish. Easy with your words, Red. Kelvin, I can tell you what you're afraid of. How? What am I afraid of? How can you tell? You a psychiatrist or something like that? I'm not a mental doctor or a mind reader, but I'm a Christian. I've seen people like you before. What's that got to do with me? You're scared because you're afraid of God. I am not. I think someone's talked to you about accepting the Lord as your savior. And you refused. And the Holy Spirit has been dealing with you about your rejection. You're full of hot air. Bill, the copter's coming in overhead. Okay, Red. Kelvin, I think you'll take a different outlook on life if you stop fighting the Lord and accept him. I know you'll lose your terrible fear of dying. I'd do some praying if I were you. Now, let's slide the windows of the car open so we can grab the rope. Got it. Let's drag it inside and get it tied down quickly. No. Yes, pal, we are. How do you want us to do this? Like a tug of war. Like a tug of war. Well, you don't pull back. Just drag along. Hold on that snowy cable. Then you'll have to snag the rope as you go. Take a turn around a large boulder and let the man get a new position and release the rope and snag it again farther on. Gotcha. Okay. We'll start releasing the brakes in two minutes. Kelvin, you keep a look out below and see if you can tell us when we're getting close to the tower. All right. Red, you and I will work the brake lever together. Okay. I don't want to release the brakes all the way. Just enough to move the car. Right. Okay, let's do it now. Let's give the boys on the ground time to reorganize. Can you see the tower? Just make it out. We've got about a hundred feet to go. Hey, the brakes are out. Oh, no. They took to the boys on the ground now. Grab all the zoning and hang on in case we crash. Can't be much farther now. Passengers have asked me to tell you how grateful they are for what you and the Rangers and the Sheriffs' men and all the rest who helped have done. Thanks, Red. Our reward is in seeing the joy in everyone's face. Even Kelvin here looks happy and peaceful. I am. Bill, can I speak with you? Sure, Kelvin. Excuse us, Red. How do you know I was fighting with the Lord? Well, that's a long story, Kelvin. And I knew that someone needed to be rescued two times from danger. Two times? All of us in the car needed to be rescued from a nasty drop into the canyon. And you needed to be rescued by the Lord from a life of selfishness and sin. It's up to you, Kelvin. You can be rescued if you want to. Jesus Christ has made contact with men. He's a link, a cable between us and God. Kelvin, you have the choice of receiving him and being rescued from the danger of sin or being stranded forever. Well, we'll see you next week for more adventure with... Ranger.