Jim Redcrow is a Metis teenager who helps his father and uncle run a trapline in northern Alberta. As part of his duties, Jim maintains the family dog team that is used to haul supplies to and from the trapline. Times are hard and Jim will lose his dogs unless he can figure another way for them to earn their keep. He enters a grueling three-day race that tests the limits of his team. Tempted to win at all costs, he comes to realize the price may be too high.