As dawn breaks over the Pacific Northwest, this year's Ax Men prepare for the battle that lies ahead. Behind every turn, danger lurks. To survive, they must escape falling trees and bone-crushing machinery, face impossible deadlines and the worst weather Mother Nature can throw at them. Returning from last season is J.M. Browning, last year's log count winner, and Pihl Logging, unruly but true-blue lifetime loggers. Adding to the competition this year will be two new companies–Washington-based newcomers Rygaard Logging, a fiery father-son team, and S&S Aqua Logging, a team of diving loggers who fish for timber in some of the Pacific Northwest's most treacherous waters.