To Brave Alaska

In 1979, Roger Lewis and Denise Harris are invited by businessman Wylie Bennett to Alaska to search for a goldmine. They accept despite Denise's hesitation, hoping for an adventure or a windfall. They are flown to a remote wilderness campsite about 75 miles from civilization, with only a dog and a radio with poor reception, and are set up in a cabin to begin their expedition.

They settle into the cabin and begin life in the remote wilderness. Food supplies start running low as they realize no one will come to help them. Roger weighs hunting a deer to ease hunger, but Denise's vegetarianism sparks a moral disagreement.

They discover their first gold, but the amount proves insufficient to sustain them. With winter approaching, they decide that staying longer in Surprise Bay is untenable and resolve to return to civilization.

They gather their remaining supplies and the gold, and set off by canoe as their only feasible route back to civilization. The journey begins under tense optimism, hoping the river will carry them toward safety.

By day three, a violent storm overturns their canoe and hurls Denise into freezing water. The couple struggles to stay afloat and regain control as the wilderness looms around them. The storm marks a turning point in their precarious escape attempt.

Bill DeCreeft learns that no one has flown out for the couple and launches a search mission. Roger and Denise, meanwhile, have set up a camp near the river, realizing they may need to trek inland to survive.

Denise struggles to cross a river and loses their remaining food supplies. Roger explodes with anger over the lost provisions, though Denise tries to apologize. The conflict underscores their fragile morale as supplies dwindle.

As temperatures plummet, the pair face frostbite, hunger, and the ever-present risk of hypothermia. They press on, finding strength in small victories and stubborn resistance to despair.

Denise plunges through ice into freezing water but miraculously survives, an event she treats as a miracle. The incident renews her resolve to reach civilization, even as Roger's hope wanes. Their bond is strained but resilient in the face of death.

With no food left, Denise suggests eating the dog, a plan Roger refuses, unwilling to kill Newman. The moral dilemma tests their humanity as hunger gnaws at them. The animal becomes a symbol of their dwindling options.

Roger's condition worsens, and by day fourteen he has frostbite severe enough to make him mute. His physical decline adds urgency to their escape plan and questions about survival.

Despair leads Roger to propose using their last bullets to end their lives together. Denise staunchly refuses to give up, reaffirming her determination to reach safety. The couple clings to hope despite fatigue and fear.

On day seventeen, a helicopter led by DeCreeft appears in the sky as a sign of hope, but the crew fails to notice them among the terrain. The search team continues to comb the area, unaware of the couple's exact location.

Realizing they need better visibility, Denise convinces Roger to move toward open land and create a signal for rescue. They endure additional risk as they abandon their inland snowbound shelter.

On day nineteen, the couple is spotted by DeCreeft’s helicopter and rescued from certain death. They survive the harrowing ordeal through perseverance and luck. The film closes on their return to civilization after a grueling journey.