1 00:00:11,405 --> 00:00:13,923 >> Welcome to Warroad Minnesota where the cold 2 00:00:13,923 --> 00:00:18,763 does not stop training or operations along the northern border. 3 00:00:18,763 --> 00:00:21,529 4 00:00:21,529 --> 00:00:26,531 >> This morning I came to work at 5:30 in the morning and it was 32 below, 5 00:00:26,531 --> 00:00:28,458 and that was without a wind chill. 6 00:00:28,458 --> 00:00:31,535 That was the right out temperature. 7 00:00:31,535 --> 00:00:33,638 >> On tap for today, snowmobile training 8 00:00:33,638 --> 00:00:37,087 for agents assigned to the Grand Fork sector. 9 00:00:37,087 --> 00:00:38,580 >> We're doing a counter steering 10 00:00:38,580 --> 00:00:40,787 and set your track like we've been doing all week. 11 00:00:40,787 --> 00:00:42,745 And what you're gonna do, 12 00:00:42,745 --> 00:00:46,414 turn away from the hill and you're using that uphill, ski the back. 13 00:00:46,414 --> 00:00:48,528 That ski's a rudder to keep yourself... 14 00:00:48,528 --> 00:00:51,325 you're gonna make corrections at the throttle of the steering 15 00:00:51,325 --> 00:00:53,811 to keep yourself on the face of the hill and keep your line. 16 00:00:53,811 --> 00:00:55,646 >> The sled program for the Warroad Station 17 00:00:55,646 --> 00:00:58,505 and then really throughout the Grand Fork sectors is big. 18 00:00:58,505 --> 00:01:01,736 It allows us to get out and reach areas 19 00:01:01,736 --> 00:01:07,265 that we just can't with vehicles or other track machines. 20 00:01:07,265 --> 00:01:09,845 So our sled program is pretty vital to us. 21 00:01:09,845 --> 00:01:12,052 >> Today's training finds us a few miles offshore 22 00:01:12,052 --> 00:01:14,570 on Lake of the Woods along Buffalo Point. 23 00:01:14,570 --> 00:01:17,148 The ice below us is at 5-1/2 feet deep 24 00:01:17,148 --> 00:01:20,659 which allows these agents to test their skills at riding on ice 25 00:01:20,659 --> 00:01:25,965 which is the preferred method in the winter months along the northern border. 26 00:01:25,965 --> 00:01:26,273 27 00:01:26,273 --> 00:01:28,418 >> So Lake of the Woods, it's a big lake. 28 00:01:28,418 --> 00:01:31,307 It borders Minnesota, Manitoba and Ontario 29 00:01:31,307 --> 00:01:36,929 so it's a vast area that can be hard to cover at times. 30 00:01:36,929 --> 00:01:40,931 But the sleds really, they really help out. 31 00:01:40,931 --> 00:01:41,217 32 00:01:41,217 --> 00:01:44,293 >> With 861 miles of international border with Canada, 33 00:01:44,293 --> 00:01:48,332 snowmobiles are vital for mission accomplishment for agents in Grand Fork sector. 34 00:01:48,332 --> 00:01:51,285 During this training agents patrol the cut along the border 35 00:01:51,285 --> 00:01:54,826 which quickly changes from frozen lakes to the middle of a forest 36 00:01:54,826 --> 00:01:58,606 that can be used as cover for cross-border activities. 37 00:01:58,606 --> 00:02:02,014 >> So this cut runs along the U.S./Canada border. 38 00:02:02,014 --> 00:02:05,743 We check the fresh powder here for foot sign 39 00:02:05,743 --> 00:02:07,639 or there's a snowmobile trail right up here 40 00:02:07,639 --> 00:02:10,034 that comes and joins the cut from the Canadian side, 41 00:02:10,034 --> 00:02:15,967 anything out of the norm, human or snowmobile or ATV or what have you. 42 00:02:15,967 --> 00:02:18,453 >> The training that these agents are going through this week encompasses 43 00:02:18,453 --> 00:02:22,887 a lot of riding time and classroom work and even how to repair sleds in the field 44 00:02:22,887 --> 00:02:26,887 if one was to break down while on patrol. 45 00:02:26,887 --> 00:02:27,205 46 00:02:27,205 --> 00:02:32,052 >> Compiling training into what we do, it's critical because the sleds are; 47 00:02:32,052 --> 00:02:35,595 the sleds are a huge vehicle that we use in winter. 48 00:02:35,595 --> 00:02:37,490 We're on them constantly. 49 00:02:37,490 --> 00:02:41,063 And this training just allows us to safely do it. 50 00:02:41,063 --> 00:02:43,798 >> After 8 hours of training and temperatures well below zero, 51 00:02:43,798 --> 00:02:47,186 these agents were more than happy to head back to the station today. 52 00:02:47,186 --> 00:02:49,890 Tomorrow's forecast calls for much of the same, 53 00:02:49,890 --> 00:02:52,998 below zero temperatures with a 100% chance of patrolling 54 00:02:52,998 --> 00:02:55,888 the northern border on a snowmobile. 55 00:02:55,888 --> 00:03:00,418 For CBP, I'm Christ Grogan in Warroad, Minnesota. 56 00:03:00,418 --> 00:03:01,069 57 00:03:01,069 --> 00:03:01,351 58 00:03:01,351 --> 00:03:01,571