Fraser and Ray are heading up north to repair Fraser Sr.'s cabin when their plane crashes after their criminal pilot literally bails out on them. The two must then survive the harsh wilderness, no mean task as Fraser is blind and has a concussion.

Detailed Overview

A vacation in the Canadian north woods becomes a desperate lesson in survival after Fraser and Ray's plane is hijacked by an escaped murderer.

Posing as a pilot, a convict finds his freedom by jumping from a small plane leaving Fraser and Ray to crash deep in the wilderness. Blinded on impact, Fraser must rely on his remaining senses and Ray, his greenhorn partner, as they track the escaped prisoner and find their way back to civilization.

Struggling through the forest the two realize they have gone in circles but an elusive trail suggests that their killer is lurking close by.

Meanwhile night draws near and, to Ray's consternation, Fraser's condition deteriorates. Fraser's head wound has escalated into a serious concussion -- resulting in a high fever, dehydration, and an odd compulsion to call his partner "Steve." As usual in these situations, the ghosts of Ray and Fraser's dead fathers appear to add to their troubles. Each advises his son to save himself and ditch his partner for their own good. But then what are fathers for?

As time and water run out, it soon becomes clear that the hunters may be the hunted, and ultimately survival is left to the fittest. The escaped convict catches up with his injured prey and accosts them with gunfire. Ray, without aid of his normal arsenal of modern weapons, is forced to defend himself and Fraser with only a makeshift Intuit weapon -- a bola -- which, beginners luck, misses it's mark but creates a rockslide that leaves their convict fixtured permanently in the permafrost.

Ray, having saved his partner's life despite fear and self-doubt, now considers himself a conqueror of the wilderness. He rafts himself, Fraser and Diefenbaker downriver and home-free. Now if they can just make it over that waterfall...

Music

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
Written by John Phillips
MCA
(Available on various CD's; look under the 'Mamas and the Papas")
Fraser and Ray sing this as Ray carries the crippled Mountie through the woods.

I CAN'T GET OFF MY HORSE
Arranged by Paul Gross
(Not available on CD)
Fraser sings this as Ray carries the crippled Mountie through the woods.

BEETHOVEN'S 9TH SYMPHONY, ODE TO JOY
Composed by Ludwig Van Beethoven
Lyrics by Friedrich Johann Chistoph Von Schiller
(Available on various Cds, but not with Paul Gross singing)
Fraser belts this out as Ray carries the crippled Mountie through the woods and stops on ridge.

Interesting Trivia

• This episode was shown a bit out of order in Canada and the United States. Several episodes of Season 2 where shown before this one finally aired originally.
• Well-known Canadian comic Red Green ("The Red Green Show") appears as the Canadian airport controller. Paul Gross and Gordon Pinsent occasionally make appearances on his show as well.
• Kevin Rushton is back again in this episode playing a hunter.

Original Broadcast Information

• Canada: November 9, 1995
• Luxembourg: December 24, 1996
• Netherlands: December 12, 1998
• United States: January 5, 1996

Other Cool Links

• The DueSies Project
• Episode Title Origins
• Fan Episode Reviews
• Filming Locations