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On Thin Ice: Breakdowns, Whiteouts, and Survival on the World's Deadliest Roads
You've watched him battle the odds on History's Ice Road Truckers. Now read Hugh "The Polar Bear" Roland's own storm-by-storm account of surviving and conquering the infamous ice roads of the Arctic. Join Hugh in the front seat of his truck as he shares his most chilling, adrenaline-fueled tales of the world's most dangerous job.
Every year, a fleet of truckers travels beyond the northern equatorial line to the Arctic Circle, battling subzero temperatures and perilous conditions. Though treacherous, it is a region heavily endowed with natural resources. Locating this abundance of natural gas, conflict-free diamonds, and gold is relatively easy; extracting and transporting these goods is another matter entirely. The elite truckers chosen to deliver materials vital to these efforts spend two months traveling distances greater than Western Europe on naturally formed roads of ice that is only sixteen inches thick.
It is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
For more than twenty years, Hugh Rowland has survived the ice roads like none other. Each year when the temperature plummets, Rowland leaves his family in Vancouver, Canada, to drive 1,900 miles to Yellowknife, where he will begin his odyssey. Facing the threat of perilous avalanches, hundred-foot cliffs, and the ever-present danger of cracking through the ice, Hugh must push himself to the limit. The payoff is sweet, but Rowland isn't in it just for the money; he is driven by the camaraderie, the call to adventure, and the chance to battle the odds year after year.
From the first snowstorm to the final thaw, On Thin Ice traces the history of ice road trucking, chronicles Rowland's preparation for the trek, and follows him through his perilous journey along the infamous ice roads. Take a ride with Rowland as he recounts tales of epic breakdowns and breathtaking heroism that are just a daily part of the job. In this classic battle of man and machine versus cruelest nature, only the strong will survive to see their payday, their families, and the chance to do it all over again . . . on thin ice.
WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER . . .
"You've never experienced winter until you've lived through one in the far north. It starts in October and doesn't let up until mid-April. The temperatures drop to minus 70, with winds blowing 60 miles an hour. At that temperature, you throw a pot of boiling water or coffee into the air and it will instantly vaporize and turn into snow. It's cold as hell, but it's also full of silver, gold, uranium, diamonds, and oil worth tens of billions of dollars. Locating these treasures in the frozen tundra is the easy part. Getting them out of the ground and bringing them from the frozen wasteland to civilization is a lot tougher. That's my job." --From Ice Road Truckers
Every year, a fleet of truckers travels beyond the northern equatorial line to the Arctic Circle, battling subzero temperatures and perilous conditions. Though treacherous, it is a region heavily endowed with natural resources. Locating this abundance of natural gas, conflict-free diamonds, and gold is relatively easy; extracting and transporting these goods is another matter entirely. The elite truckers chosen to deliver materials vital to these efforts spend two months traveling distances greater than Western Europe on naturally formed roads of ice that is only sixteen inches thick.
It is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
For more than twenty years, Hugh Rowland has survived the ice roads like none other. Each year when the temperature plummets, Rowland leaves his family in Vancouver, Canada, to drive 1,900 miles to Yellowknife, where he will begin his odyssey. Facing the threat of perilous avalanches, hundred-foot cliffs, and the ever-present danger of cracking through the ice, Hugh must push himself to the limit. The payoff is sweet, but Rowland isn't in it just for the money; he is driven by the camaraderie, the call to adventure, and the chance to battle the odds year after year.
From the first snowstorm to the final thaw, On Thin Ice traces the history of ice road trucking, chronicles Rowland's preparation for the trek, and follows him through his perilous journey along the infamous ice roads. Take a ride with Rowland as he recounts tales of epic breakdowns and breathtaking heroism that are just a daily part of the job. In this classic battle of man and machine versus cruelest nature, only the strong will survive to see their payday, their families, and the chance to do it all over again . . . on thin ice.
WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER . . .
"You've never experienced winter until you've lived through one in the far north. It starts in October and doesn't let up until mid-April. The temperatures drop to minus 70, with winds blowing 60 miles an hour. At that temperature, you throw a pot of boiling water or coffee into the air and it will instantly vaporize and turn into snow. It's cold as hell, but it's also full of silver, gold, uranium, diamonds, and oil worth tens of billions of dollars. Locating these treasures in the frozen tundra is the easy part. Getting them out of the ground and bringing them from the frozen wasteland to civilization is a lot tougher. That's my job." --From Ice Road Truckers
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
7 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 29, 2010
i just limped through this because i had nothing else new to read. too much bravado. ok, ok...you are the greatest trucker in the world and the toughest and you can go without sleep for 59 hours straight. whole lotta that going on and nothing new or interesting. blah
March 4, 2022
I never watched Ice Road Truckers, but I lived on the Ingraham Trail for 4 years, where the Yellowknife ice road begins. Hugh sounds like quite the character. Not a humble guy, but at least he has made the most of life doing what he seems to enjoy most. His stories get a bit cliche, but the book does include some good history about the area and the places he mentions, like the Gold Range and Ragged Ass Rd, are all still there and haven't changed much. I received this book as a Christmas gift and wasn't sure I would even read it, but it was worth it. I learned a few things about the area that I didn't know, thanks to Hugh, so there you go.
February 16, 2021
Better than I expected. This isn’t just a rehash of episodes of the “Ice Road Truckers” TV series. Hugh Rowland has been driving on the ice roads in Canada’s north for decades. He has stories to tell. He also has a lot of knowledge about the history of ice roads, about the mines and communities that the roads connect, and the cold winter weather that makes it all possible. This was an interesting read.
September 16, 2017
Adventure is where you find it.
March 28, 2014
Wow, what a life. This was overall a good book. It had some parts where I felt like i was at an old cafe listening to some old timer and in other parts it felt like all they did was read a wikipedia page.
Hugh has had an insane life, which I enjoyed reading about. It had a lot of slow parts and also had two different "voices" speaking. One voice would be the old timer, the american truck driver. Then they had the co author whose only voice was well, the wikipedia page. Like all books it had some intense stories that I feel are awesome and need to be told to more people, and other parts where I would rather do ANYTHING other than read. I have never seen the show Ice Road Truckers, and have no plan to.
I picked it up because my dad is a truck driver, and also plows the city. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a casual pick it up every now and then read. My absolute favorite part about this book was the voice.
I felt like I was talking to him in person. He is pretty rough on the outside, like a sailor, but on the inside he's a big, fluffy, teddy bear. I give it three stars because as i said like three times before it was slow and sort of like a wikipedia page.
Hugh has had an insane life, which I enjoyed reading about. It had a lot of slow parts and also had two different "voices" speaking. One voice would be the old timer, the american truck driver. Then they had the co author whose only voice was well, the wikipedia page. Like all books it had some intense stories that I feel are awesome and need to be told to more people, and other parts where I would rather do ANYTHING other than read. I have never seen the show Ice Road Truckers, and have no plan to.
I picked it up because my dad is a truck driver, and also plows the city. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a casual pick it up every now and then read. My absolute favorite part about this book was the voice.
I felt like I was talking to him in person. He is pretty rough on the outside, like a sailor, but on the inside he's a big, fluffy, teddy bear. I give it three stars because as i said like three times before it was slow and sort of like a wikipedia page.
February 26, 2013
Like other reviewers of this book, I have found Ice Road Truckers a fascinating show. I took a chance on this book and was pleasantly surprised by its content. Yes, the ghost writer is in evidence, but to be fair, while Rowland is a very bright man, he grew up poor and had to leave school early. What you get from this book is a fairly complete picture of a man whose type is now pretty uncommon: tough, determined, smart, gets the job done. He knows his trade and he makes money at it. He respects those who work as hard as he does, and scorns slackers and wusses. The book told me a great deal about life in the bitter cold north of Canada and about the life of truckers who keep marginal communities going. To be honest, I read it in one sitting, and I would enjoy meeting the Polar Bear.
July 14, 2010
I'm a big fan of ICE ROAD TRUCKERS and so when I saw that Hugh Rowland had an autobiography, I got it from the library. There's a co-writer which shows through in the historical bits about the ice road. However, Hugh's voice is loud and clear when he recounts his life in the far north as he makes a living on the ice roads.
I know the first season I watched this, I was constantly saying these guys are nuts, and Hugh was a big reason for that. I don't always agree with everything he says, but he backs up what he says with big actions. It takes a special breed to do the job and I admire that kind of rugged individual.
He also tells a good story.
I know the first season I watched this, I was constantly saying these guys are nuts, and Hugh was a big reason for that. I don't always agree with everything he says, but he backs up what he says with big actions. It takes a special breed to do the job and I admire that kind of rugged individual.
He also tells a good story.
June 18, 2011
Ice Road Truckers has been a real hit for the History channel and it is a very fun show to watch. What goes on off camera and the real stories of the drivers is even better. Hugh Rowland is kind of hard to define. On camera he comes across as kind of an arrogant SOB. In his book here he actually does have a human side yet he also does not take offense to those that consider him an arrogant SOB.The guys who live in these areas as well as work in them have to have a bit of crusty in them to survive it would seem. This book is a must read for fans of the show. Also not to be missed I will put in a plug for Alex Debogorski's book King Of The Road.
January 30, 2015
As a fan of the History Channel Show Ice Road Truckers, I often wondered about the stars of the show and what makes them tick....I had read Alex Debgorski's book some time ago and was pleasantly surprised to see another star of the show who told his story.
This is a great book not only on one of the main stars of a great show, but also the behind the scenes....its not always what you see on the show...and this book talks of that. Most of the truckers who are on the show are friends who are simply trying to make a living. Its also more of a personal look of life parts of Canada where not many people dare go.
This is a great book not only on one of the main stars of a great show, but also the behind the scenes....its not always what you see on the show...and this book talks of that. Most of the truckers who are on the show are friends who are simply trying to make a living. Its also more of a personal look of life parts of Canada where not many people dare go.
January 3, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I don't watch much tv, and thus have never watched "Ice Road Truckers", but this book was a great change of pace. The author clearly isn't the most educated man in the world, but has found a niche doing something he loves. He (and co-author Michael Lent) really convey the beauty and danger of a part of the world which I have never seen, plus an occupation I really didn't know existed.
The author writes as if he we're talking to you at a truck stop.
Again, certainly not Shakespeare, but a fascinating book.
The author writes as if he we're talking to you at a truck stop.
Again, certainly not Shakespeare, but a fascinating book.
April 9, 2016
Excellent book!!! I expected to hear the author talk about his adventures on the ice roads but this book is SO much more than that! He describes the science behind the ice roads as well, such as how the roads are built and the strengths and weaknesses of that science. He also talks about the philosophical/psychological side - why the drivers take such risks and endure such amazing extremes of nature to do what they do. This book was really hard to put down. FAR exceeded my expectations!
June 14, 2011
I don't know why, but here lately I've been hooked on Ice Road Truckers. And when I found out there were books to read about it - well, that just made my life a little better. :)
I actually read this one at the same time that I read Alex's, and while I think in real life I'd like Alex better, I must admit that Hugh's book was better.
Excellent read for anyone looking for more Ice Road fun.
I actually read this one at the same time that I read Alex's, and while I think in real life I'd like Alex better, I must admit that Hugh's book was better.
Excellent read for anyone looking for more Ice Road fun.
September 3, 2012
A good read about another character raised in Alberta running the ice roads. This one seemed to be a little less organised and I found that I was bouncing back and forth between years and stories somewhat. Would have liked to have found out a little more about life growing up but it was a very interesting read anyways.
February 22, 2013
We've watched this show from the beginning, and I have trouble deciding if Hugh is an obnoxious blowhard, or a kind marshmallow inside. I'm still not sure. It may be a little of both. Not terribly well written, and not very interesting sometimes, but pretty painless and somewhat entertaining.
March 25, 2011
I guess this one is exactly what you would expect an ice road trucker to write. It has its informative parts, it can be entertaining, but all in all it is not the same as the show, Hugh's personality does not seem to fly off of the pages and I am no better for having read it!
February 15, 2012
Love IRT so interested to read Hugh's book. Much more detail about the history of the ice road and ice road trucking than Alex Debegorski's book but interesting none the less. Hugh is a larger than life character and this comes out in the book. I also think he is a bit if a pussycat in the QT!
July 30, 2014
For some crazy reason I really enjoyed watching the show Ice Road Truckers on the History Channel. It made me curious about the ice roads in the Arctic. This worthwhile book answered questions for me about how the roads are built and how the drivers survive the cold.
January 17, 2016
Ok book. Has interesting stories about Hugh Rowland's life driving across the ice roads. Also included is some history on how the roads started and why. Has tidbits about Hugh Rowland's personal life.
January 10, 2011
Roy read this - not me. He enjoyed it a lot and actually commented that it made him sad to be finished. On one of his trips to Alaska he had a ride with a guy who drove trucks up to the oil fields.
December 30, 2012
It was OK as far as I got (which wasn't very far). Not my style so gave up after 30 pages. A literary masterpiece it is not although I'm sure some folk will enjoy it.
April 22, 2013
So real, I feel like I'm there!
This book is so interesting, it was a great read.
This book is so interesting, it was a great read.
April 1, 2013
Really disappointing. Too egotistical and glorifying himself.
January 1, 2015
It explains a lot of what its like on the ice roads. Things you don't see in the show.
May 7, 2015
a bit over the top at points but come on, who doesn't like ice road truckers
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews