National Geographic documents Interstate 80 hazards

Amy Edgett / Sierra Sun From left: Alejandro Smith, Adrian Belic and Mike Sweet take a break from filming in the Kingvale Caltrans cafeteria. "It's not glamorous," said Smith of television production's long hours, travel, and lack of sleep. Belic noted the layers of production: work, find talent, sweat, sweat, clever ideas and sweat, with 12-plus hour days working with the snow removal crews. Sound familiar, snow fighters?

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Amy Edgett / Sierra Sun Edgar Allen "Tow" Stratton chains up his '03 379 Peterbuilt truck during a March 28 snow event, with cameraman Jonathan Berman catching every move. Stratton's company, Dependable Tow, will be featured in National Geographic's documentary "Hell on the Highway."

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Amy Edgett / Sierra Sun Adrian Belic films a jovial Caltrans crew for National Geographic's "Hell on the Highway."

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Amy Edgett / Sierra Sun Alejandro Smith's talents lie in aquiesing a situation, to be in control yes let the subjects behavior remian organic, naturla. here, Caltrans Superintendent Bryan Carlson makes light of the storm's date: Friday, April 13, as his employees monitor and track the system's progess.

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Courtesy California Highway Patrol April Fool's day 2012 proved unlucky for a big rig trucker on Interstate 80. California Highway Patrol manages traffic, Dependable Tow takes on the wreck and film crews capture the scene for a Nat Geo documentary "Hell on the Highway."

TRUCKEE — Winter rages across Donner Summit, 100 mph wind gusts blow Pacific storms of blinding snow that ravage the 7,240-foot pass on Interstate 80 above Donner Lake. The brutal storm systems dump an average snow accumulation of 415 inches yearly — the 2010-11 winter a massive 700-plus inches with 250 inches still piled high by May 23, 2011. Who better to capture the trials and triumphs of keeping the pass open for travel and commerce than National Geographic, airing the 10-part documentary “Hell on the Highway” Wednesdays at 10 p.m.? “We are telling the story of the men and …