On Part 1, Elaine Meader-McCausland talks about her personal background and early days of meeting and marrying Fred Meader, looking for a remote place to live, the remote lifestyle at the lake, her self discovery while living off of the land in a remote place, difficulties and benefits of living in a remote place, and basics of living at the lake.

On Part 2, Elaine Meader-McCausland talks about caring for and educating her son and the development of her husband's film career, the family's return to Alaska and how life at the lake changed, difficulties of living with a "community" of people at the lake, her husband's film about their life at the lake, her husband's death, finishing the film, starting her life over again, and her life in California after leaving the lake and how she has seen the lake area change during her years of visiting.

On Part 3, Elaine Meader-McCausland talks about thoughts about the creation of Gates of the Arctic National Park, the interaction the Meaders had with neighboring Natives, miners, and guides, the ideals of living at the lake mixed with making a film about it, and final thoughts about her life and the lake experience.