Meet the Loggers

Operating out of Astoria, Oregon, no-nonsense, all-business Jay Browning started his company from the ground up. Logging is one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet, which Jay is more than aware of. He lost his hand in a logging accident and now wears a prosthetic, but prides himself on not accepting any of the workers' compensation checks that followed the ordeal. Taking handouts just isn't Jay's style.

This year, Browning Logging is looking for its next leader. Jay's natural successor is his son Jesse, but Jesse has yet to prove that he has what it takes to step into his old man's boots. As Jay's career winds down and the market approaches its lowest point yet, will Jesse prove himself capable of carrying on the family torch?

Pihl Logging has been the lifeblood of Vernonia, Oregon for almost 25 years. Of the 2,300 residents in town, almost all know someone who relies on company owner Mike Pihl to keep their family fed.

Pihl Logging is comprised of a group of men who like to trade jibes with each other almost as much as they like to cut timber. At the heart of the operation is 30-year veteran timber cutter Dwayne Dethlefs, who is the embodiment of old-school logging. Rounding out the crew is Dwayne's son Dustin and a host of other colourful characters. The men at Pihl are like family, at-times dysfunctional but always entertaining. They may fight like brothers, but they will always have each others' backs.

Based in Port Angeles, Washington, Rygaard Logging is a family business led by father Craig and son Gab. Logging is in their blood literally and figuratively. These are hard-working "salt-of-the-earth" men, risking everything they have to get the job done.

As Rygaard moves onto a downhill logging site, the most dangerous of all logging operations, gravity works against them on every turn. This is brutal work and one of the easiest ways for a logger to go broke or get hurt. Adding to the liability is greenhorn Brad Hewitt, a novice who is stepping onto the mountain for the first time.

Based in Montana, R&R Conner Aviation is a family-run helicopter logging company owned and operated by Ryan Conner and wife Robin. While all logging ranks amongst the most dangerous of occupations, Helicopter logging is particularly dangerous and is also the most expensive forms of timber harvesting. The demands of working beneath a thundering helicopter in severe weather are more than most can handle. Having an experienced team of pilots, mechanics and ground crew is crucial.

R&R has been grounded for nine months after a hard landing destroyed their helicopter. Now, with a rebuilt rig, Ryan is getting his company back in the air over the woods of Montana. This is going to be a critical logging season for R&R and chief pilot Bart Colantuono will be a key factor in getting the business back to the place it was last year, and making money.

Retired logger Jimmy Smith started his Aberdeen, Washington-based underwater logging company because no one else was doing it and he hoped to make a quick buck. The big idea? Locate and harvest perfectly preserved timber that was lost in Washington's waterways a century ago on its way to the mill.

Jimmy's a colourful man with big dreams, big ideals, but very little attention to detail. As a result, Jimmy, his son James and a revolving cast of friends-turned-deckhands struggle every day to keep the underwater logging operation afloat.