Bering Sea Gold (2012–…): Season 10, Episode 4 - Over the Line - full transcript
In the Bluff's lawless waters, Shawn and Kris wield brute strength and verbal threats to stand their ground as raging competition forces captains to change tactics. In Nome, Emily and ...
Narrator:
NOW ON "BERING SEA GOLD."
Shawn: THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN AROUND NOME FOR A LONG TIME
KNOW THERE'S DEFINITELY
A MINING CODE OF ETHICS.
THESE IDIOTS THAT COME UP AND
THINK THAT ITS JUST A WILD WEST,
PISSES YOU OFF.
DIVING ON MY BUOY NOW.
HEY, GET OFF MY MARKER.
I'M GONNA RUN THEM OVER.
Kris: IN THIS INDUSTRY,
THERE IS A BUNCH
OF MISERABLE ASS[BLEEP].
BE CAREFUL 'CAUSE EVERYONE'S
STEALING FROM YOU.
[BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
George: I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT
OF PROSPECTING FOR THE MYRTLE
BUT I'VE GOT
A STRATEGY UNDER MY HAT
AND IT'S TIME TO FIND MYGOLD.
ALL RIGHT BOYS,
[BLEEP] YOU!
[ LAUGHS ]
-THERE'S GOLD EVERYWHERE.
-HELL YEAH!
-YEAH!
-PUTTING US ON THE BIG GOLD.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
Narrator: ONE MONTH INTO
THE SUMMER MINING SEASON,
A MODERN DAY GOLD RUSH IS
IN FULL SWING,
WITH COMPETITION
REACHING A FEVER PITCH...
SUCCESS DEPENDS
ON WHO IS WILLING
TO DIVE DEEPEST, TRAVEL
FURTHEST, AND STAY OUT LONGEST.
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT,
THE MINER WHO THRIVES
DOESN'T WAIT TO STRIKE
WHEN THE IRON IS HOT,
HE MAKES IT HOT BY STRIKING.
♪♪
80 MILES EAST OF NOME,
AT THE BLUFF...
Shawn:
EVERYBODY'S IN MY WAY.
Narrator:
...CAPTAIN SHAWN POMRENKE
IS DETERMINED TO MINE
1,200 OUNCES OF GOLD
BY THE END OF THE SUMMER
SO HE CAN START CONSTRUCTION
ON HIS $6 MILLION DOLLAR
MEGA DREDGE.
TO MEET HIS GOAL, HE'LL
NEED OVER A THOUSAND MORE.
I'M NUDGING
EVERYBODY OUT OF HERE
THEY KNOW WHERE
I'M ON GOOD GOLD.
TRYING TO CROWD ME RIGHT NOW.
WITH KEN KERR'S 600-TON
BERING SEA BEAST,
THE MYRTLE IRENE,CHURNING UP
THE GOLD GROUNDS AROUND NOME,
MR. GOLD IS FEELING THE SCREWS.
YEAH, HE'S ALMOST
ON MY [BLEEP] BUOY.
[BLEEP]
AND THE INCREASINGLY
CROWDED GROUNDS OF THE BLUFF...
THEY'RE GONNA HIT
HIS OUTBOARD.
HAVE BECOME
A WILD FREE FOR ALL.
[ METAL CLANKS ]
Man:
NOW GET OUT OF HERE!
Shawn: THERE'S DEFINITELY
A MINING CODE OF ETHICS.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE MINED AND BEEN
AROUND NOME FOR A LONG TIME
KNOW ABOUT 'EM AND THESE IDIOTS
THAT COME UP AND THINK
THAT IT'S JUST A WILD WEST
AND THINK THEY CAN DO
WHATEVER THEY WANT,
PISSES YOU OFF.
Narrator:
SHAWN HAS A TWO-PRONGED PLAN
TO START CONSTRUCTION
OF HIS MEGA DREDGE
BY THE END OF THE SEASON.
CHRISTINE ROSEIS
A GOLD GETTING' MACHINE.
HE'S PUT THE CHRISTINE ROSE
ON A PRIME SWATH
OF VIRGIN GROUND.
THIS IS MY SPOT
FROM THIS WINTER!
AND HE'S FOUGHT OFF
PARASITES AT THE BLUFF...
104.85. NICE JOB.
...TO REAP THE REWARDS AND
KEEP HIS SEASON GOAL ALIVE.
MEGA DREDGE AIN'T
PAYING FOR ITSELF.
NOW...
KILL IT, BUDDY.
...SHAWN'S TACTIC
TO FIGHT THE CROWD
IS TO COVER MORE GROUND FASTER
BY RUNNING AS MANY
DIVE SHIFTS AS POSSIBLE.
♪♪
Shawn: HEY!
GET OFF MY MARKER [BLEEP].
Narrator: AND TO THROW HIS
WEIGHT AROUND WHEN NECESSARY.
Shawn: HE'S ON MY MARKER.
GET THE [BLEEP] OUT OF HERE.
I'M GONNA RUN THEM OVER.
I'LL PULL THEM UP
WITH THE ANCHOR LINE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO [BLEEP] THESE GUYS...
♪♪
CAM, KEEP HEADING
THAT DIRECTION.
YOU'RE ALMOST TO IT.
♪♪
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, I'LL THROTTLE UP.
♪♪
HOW'S THE GOLD DOWN THERE?
REALLY GOOD GOLD?
♪♪
WE SURE HAD TO FIGHT
FOR IT TODAY, BUDDY.
ALMOST A NEVER-ENDING GAME
OF CHESS
WITH ALL THESE GUYS HERE.
DAMN SURE OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
YOU SEE IT'S GOOD GOLD.
HE'S RIGHT ON TOP OF THE MARKER.
WE HAD TO SHOVE
A COUPLE GUYS OUT OF OUR WAY,
BUT BIGGER BOATS ALWAYS
GOT THE RIGHT OF WAY.
ALL WE DO NOW IS
KEEP EVERYTHING RUNNING
AND STAY ON THIS PAY.
IF WE CAN STAY ON THIS PAY
THEN IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD RUN.
WE CAN DO 300, 400,
OR 500 OUNCES HERE
IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.
Narrator: WITH THEIR POSITION
FIRMLY ESTABLISHED...
Shawn: WHAT'S UP, RICK?WHEW!
I GOT MY PHONE ON ME.
IF YOU GUYS NEED
ANYTHING, LET ME KNOW.
GOOD LUCK.
...SHAWN CAN HEAD BACK TO NOME
AND FOCUS ON THE FUTURE
OF THE POMRENKE EMPIRE.
Shawn:
CHRISTINE ROSEIS IN SOME GOLD.
THE HAVILAH'SIN SOME GOLD.
I'M GONNA GO CONCENTRATE ON
GETTING THE MEGA DREDGE GOING.
Narrator:
AND HE'S GOT A HOT TIP...
Shawn: I GOT TO LINE ON A GOOD
DEAL ON SOME STEEL IN NOME.
SO I HAVE TO JUMP ON IT.
Narrator:
...THAT MAY ALLOW HIM
TO ACCELERATE THE
MEGA DREDGE TIMELINE.
50 FEET AWAY...
ALL RIGHT, BOYS,
[BLEEP] YOU.
[ LAUGHS ]
...ON THE REAPER.
Kris: NO, I'M NOT
INTIMIDATED BY SHAWN.
I'M A LITTLE JEALOUS THAT
HE HAS SO MANY COOL THINGS.
AND ALL KINDS OF NICE TOYS.
AND HE DOES KNOW WHAT HE'S
DOING, I GOT TO GIVE HIM THAT.
BUT I'M DEFINITELY
NOT INTIMIDATED BY HIM.
Narrator:
...CAPTAIN KRIS KELLY IS SET ON
LEADING HIS FAMILY
FROM SUBSISTENCE MINERS
TO NOME GOLD KINGPINS.
TO DO IT, HE SET A COOL
1,000-OUNCE GOAL FOR THE SEASON.
THE MASSIVE HAUL WILL
SET THE FOUNDATION
FOR A GOLDEN FUTURE
ON THE BERING SEA.
TO DO IT, HE'S COUNTING
ON BLUFF PAY DIRT.
THROW ANCHOR!
Narrator: SO FAR...
THIS IS A SIGN, RIGHT THERE!
KELLY UNITED HAS BEEN ON
THE BEST GROUND OF THEIR LIVES.
Kris:
THE K-DOG COMES THROUGH AGAIN.
WHOO-HOO!
Narrator:
...DESPITE BLUFF PARASITES...
Kris:
I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT EVERYBODY
THAT COMES TO THE BLUFF.
Narrator:
...AND BAD WEATHER...
THE WIND'S STARTING
TO PICK UP.
WE'RE STARTING TO GET
WHITE CAPS OUT HERE.
Kris: OKAY, I'M COMING.
Narrator: NOW...
THEY'RE COMING FOR YOUR GOLD
IS WHAT THEY'RE COMING FOR.
...THE IRISH ARE STARTING
TO FEEL
THE SIDE EFFECTS OF SUCCESS.
NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING
THAT WE'RE MAKING
A LOT MORE GOLD,
WE'RE STARTING TO GET FOLLOWED
AROUND A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THREE OF FOUR
BOATS ON THE SHORE,
AND BETWEEN 8 TO 12 BOATS
AT THE BLUFFS MOST DAYS.
Narrator:
ALASKAN MINING LAW STATES
DREDGES MUST STAY 100 YARDS AWAY
FROM OTHER OPERATIONS.
BUT MINING LAW TAKES A BACK
SEAT WHEN PAY DIRT IS AT STAKE
AND YOU'RE 90 MILES
OFF THE GRID.
Kris: YOU'RE JUST PUSHING
AS HARD AS YOU CAN
AND MOP UP
AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
I NEED 30 OUNCES.
MEANING LEAD DIVER, ANDY KELLY,
NEEDS TO GET BACK
ON PAY DIRT FAST
TO KEEP THEIR STREAK ALIVE.
♪♪
♪♪
OKAY, LET'S SEE.
ANDY, WE REALLY
GOT TO PUSH IT TODAY.
I NEED
A 30 OUNCE CLEAN UP.
IT'S GONNA TAKE ME
A LITTLE BIT THERE.
♪♪
♪♪
OKAY, IDLE UP.
IT'S GOOD!
♪♪
OKAY ANDY, TALK TO ME.
HUH?
YOU'VE HAD LONG ENOUGH
DOWN THERE. TALK TO ME.
I JUST FOUND
A [BLEEP] PUDDLE.
GOLD!
I'M SEEING A REALLY
GOOD AMOUNT OF GOLD.
I'M SUCKING UP
PUDDLE AFTER PUDDLE,
JUST CONNECTED EVERY
[BLEEP] PUDDLE DOWN HERE.
YEAH, THAT BOX IS GONNA
BE LIT UP WHEN I'M DONE.
WHOO! OKAY, SO DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE ON THE BEST GOLD
YOU'VE SEEN THIS SEASON?
YEAH, THIS IS
THE BEST GOLD I'VE SEEN.
HEY!
BEST GOLD HE'S SEEN ALL YEAR!
YOU KNOW, WHEN ANDY
SAYS IT'S THE BEST GOLD,
THAT MEANS OUNCE AND A HALF,
TWO OUNCES AN HOUR, PLUS.
SO, WHEW, IT'S HOT IN HERE.
♪♪
KRIS, DUDE.
DON'T LOOK LIKE IT.
DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
[BLEEP]
WE GOT TO JUST LEARN TO
SHUT THE [BLEEP] UP.
Andy: WELL, THAT'S WHY YOU
DON'T GET EXCITED
AND ASK ME WHAT I'M ON.
I'M GONNA TRY TO WORK
ON MY EMOTIONAL PROBLEM,
BUT WHEN YOU TELL ME
WE'RE ON OVER $1,000 AN HOUR,
I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP THAT
INSIDE AND NOT GET EXCITED.
GO [BLEEP] DO YOUR
OWN PROSPECTING.
BULL [BLEEP]!
I'M TRYING NOT TO YELL.
DON'T PARK RIGHT ON ANDY.
IN THIS INDUSTRY,
THERE'S A BUNCH
OF MISERABLE ASS[BLEEP] IN THIS.
THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES
TO BE A MINER, I GUESS.
BE CAREFUL BECAUSE
EVERYONE'S STEALING FROM YOU.
THAT'S WHAT ALL THESE
OTHER [BLEEP] DO.
I'M GONNA TRY REALLY
HARD TO BE QUIET, OKAY?
Andy: OH, YEAH.
RIGHT NOW IT'S A RACE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH
GOLD IS AROUND HERE.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO I NEED TO BE
OUT HERE ALL THE TIME.
OUR BOAT NEEDS TO BE OUT
AS THE LAST GROUP GOES TO LEAVE.
OH, [BLEEP]
PULL!
Kris: I'M CLEANING LIKE
A MOTHER [BLEEP]
George:
NOW IT'S TIME TO FIND MY GOLD.
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.
AT THE SMALL BOAT HARBOR...
-HIGH TIDE.
-YES, SIR.
...ARCTIC SEA OPERATIONS
MANAGER, GEORGE YOUNG,
IS RETURNING TO HIS FIRST LOVE.
LET'S GO GET IT.
LET'S GO GET SOME GOLD.
AFTER FOUR WEEKS OF OVERSEEING
ARCTIC SEA OPERATIONS...
I WANT TO SHOW YOU
SOMETHING HERE.
...IN HIS SIGHTS, 50 OUNCES
OF BERING SEA GOLD
TO MAKE GOOD ON A 50 GRAND
LOAN FROM BROTHER, DAVE.
AND COVER THE SEASON'S
OPERATING COSTS.
WE GOT TO MAKE MOVES
SO I CAN PAY MY BROTHER.
George:
IF I GET ON SOME GOOD GOLD,
I'M STILL SHOOTING
FOR THAT 50 OUNCES.
Narrator: THIS SEASON...
YOU GOT TO GO OUT THERE AND
PROSPECT ALL THOSE LEASES FOR US
SO WE DON'T SCREW AROUND.
...GEORGE RETURNED TO NOME
TO MINE THE BERING SEA,
PAY HIS DEBT,
AND BANK A PROFIT
BY HIS OWN HAND.
♪♪
BUT THE ARCTIC SEA BRAIN TRUST
HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN.
GET HER.
WE'RE GOING DIGGING.
AFTER MARKING GOLD RICH GROUND
FOR KEN KERR'S BEARING SEA
BEAST, THE MYRTLE IRENE,
GEORGE IS FINALLY
GETTING HIS DREDGE,
THE 24-FOOT ALL ABOUT NUGGETS,
OUT FOR A DAY OF MINING.
WE'VE GOT THE SIX-INCH
DREDGE AREA IN HERE.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT
THE EAST TRACK.
EVERYBODY'S NOT GETTING CLOSE
TO THAT BORDERLINE.
AND HE HAS A PLAN
TO MAKE IT PAY.
EVEN IF THEY'RE JUST STAYING
A HUNDRED FEET OFF IT,
I'M THINKING WE CAN
WORK RIGHT ON THAT EDGE
WHERE MAYBE
A BUNCH OF GOLD IS LEFT.
SOUNDS LIKE
A GOOD PLAN TO ME.
George:
I'M TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I'VE GOT A STRATEGY
UNDER MY HAT.
READY WHEN YOU ARE.
I'M MOVING.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS,
I'M HOPING TURTLE AND I
CAN GET ON SOME REALLY GOOD GOLD
ON THIS NEW SPOT
THAT I PICKED OUT.
Narrator: MOST MINERS HAVE
ACCESS TO ONE CLAIM AT A TIME
AND GIVE BOUNDARY LINES A WIDE
BERTH TO AVOID CLAIM-JUMPING.
GEORGE IS IN THE UNIQUE
POSITION OF HAVING ACCESS
TO TWO ADJACENT CLAIMS.
THIS MEANS HE CAN ACCESS
THE BAND OF UNTOUCHED GROUND
EVERYONE ELSE HAS AVOIDED.
ALL RIGHT.
IF GEORGE'S PLAN TO WORK
THE BOUNDARY LINE IS SUCCESSFUL,
HE COULD BE TAPPING
A LITERAL GOLD MINE.
THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT,
THOUGH,
IS TO GET DOWN THERE
AND LOOK.
LET'S GO SWIMMING.
♪♪
♪♪
GO AHEAD AND CRANK UP
THE NOZZLE.
OKAY, ROGER.
♪♪
♪♪
IT SEEMS LIKE
RIGHT ALONG THIS EDGE,
SEEMS TO BE BY THE LINE.
IT'S WHAT
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR.
COME ON, GOLD.
COME ON, YELLOW.
♪♪
WAIT A MINUTE.
I THINK I HEAR SOME.
OH, HOLY [BLEEP]!
TURTLE.
BUT I'VE ONLY
JUST BEGUN.
♪♪
WHOO!
WE'RE GETTING PAID TODAY.
♪♪
Narrator:
90 MILES EAST, AT THE BLUFF.
HOW'S IT LOOKING
DOWN THERE?
REAPERLEAD DIVER, ANDY KELLY,
IS ON THE TAIL END
OF HIS SIX HOUR SHIFT.
AND WITH GOLD HUNGRY
PARASITE DREDGES
READY TO POUNCE ON THEIR SPOT...
Kris:
OKAY, I'M DIVING RIGHT NOW.
...CAPTAIN KRIS MAKES HASTE
GETTING BACK DOWN
TO THE COVETED GROUND.
♪♪
♪♪
GROUND FLOOR.
OKAY, IT'S TIME
TO MAKE A HOAGIE.
HOW'S IT GOING, JAY?
THOSE ARE PICKERS.
JUST A [BLEEP] LOAD
OF PICKERS.
BIG GOLD'S IN THE HOUSE.
PUTTING US
ON THE BIG GOLD.
THERE'S GOLD COMING OUT
ALL OVER THIS WALL.
BAM!
$100 BILL.
BOO-YAH, BABY!
GIVE ME A SECOND AND I'LL
BREAK DOWN THIS WALL.
I'M TRYING TO MOVE THE
ROCKS OVER TO WHERE YOU WERE.
THEY'RE THE BIGGEST
ROCKS IN THE AREA.
RIGHT HERE.
OH, LET ME
MOVE THIS ROCK.
♪♪
GET YOUR ASS GOING,
STOP SINGING.
OH [BLEEP].
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
PULL, PULL!
♪♪
♪♪
OUCH, THAT [BLEEP] HURT.
HE CUT HIMSELF.
♪♪
Kris: THE ROCKS DOWN THERE
ARE SUPER SHARP.
AND I'M MOVING BIG ROCKS.
I'M A [BLEEP] IDIOT
AND IT SLIPPED
AND [BLEEP] PINCHED
MY FINGERS REALLY BAD.
Narrator:
WHILE MOVING ROCKS, THE CAPTAIN
HAS OPENED A THREE-INCH GASH
ON HIS HAND.
I ALMOST CUT
MY WHOLE FINGER OFF.
AN INJURY SERIOUS ENOUGH
TO END KRIS' DIVE EARLY...
I TORE
ALL THE SKIN OFF.
...AND PUT THE IRISH
OFF THE WATER FOR THE DAY.
I'VE GOT A FIRST AID KIT
AT THE CABIN, KRIS.
THAT'S NOT EVEN BAD.
-OH [BLEEP] OFF!
-IT'S NOT.
I'VE GOT TO DIVE
WITH MY HAND.
[BLEEP] BABY, MAN.
AFTER A LITTLE
BROTHERLY AFFECTION...
WHATEVER WORKS.
...CAPTAIN KRIS SUCKS IT UP
AND GETS BACK UNDER THE WATER.
♪♪
THIS IS EXACTLY
WHERE I LEFT OFF.
LOTS OF CHUNKIES.
IF NOT AN OUNCE AN HOUR,
DAMN CLOSE.
Shawn: I'M PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
WE'LL SEE IF IT WILL MAKE
A TON OF GOLD.
KEEPING THE DIVERS WORKING.
WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE?
Narrator: OFF THE COAST OF NOME,
ON THE EROICA...
HEY, DARYL. YOU'VE GOT ABOUT
FIVE MINUTES LEFT OF YOUR DIVE.
Daryl: OKAY.
...NOME'S FIRST AND ONLY
FEMALE DREDGE OWNER,
CAPTAIN EMILY RIEDEL, IS IN
PURSUIT OF A 500-OUNCE SEASON
AND HAS 471 REMAINING
TO MAKE HER MARK.
AND SHE STAKED HER EFFORTS
ON THE UNTOUCHED DEEP PORTION
OF CLAIM 14.
WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE?
THERE'S GOLD EVERYWHERE.
HELL YEAH, DUDE.
THAT'S AWESOME.
DIVING AT DEPTHS
OF 30 FEET OR GREATER...
I'M STARTING
TO LIFT NOW.
...PUTS THE DIVER
AT RISK OF A BENDS,
A POTENTIALLY DEADLY CONDITION
WHERE BUBBLES OF NITROGEN GAS
FORM IN THE BLOOD.
SYMPTOMS CAN INCLUDE
A BURNING PAIN IN THE CHEST,
KNOWN AS THE CHOKES,
RASHES KNOWN AS THE CREEPS,
AND EVEN A LOSS
OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
TO OFFSET SHORTER DIVES,
WE'RE JUST GONNA NEED TO FIND
THE BEST AND THE MOST
CONCENTRATED GOLD.
Narrator: TO COMBAT THE CREEPS
AND THE CHOKES,
EMILY'S DIVERS ARE LIMITED
TO FIVE HOUR SHIFTS.
WERE YOU
IN THAT BOULDER AREA?
NICE.
PRETTY NICE GOLD
IN THERE.
AND SO FAR...
OH, [BLEEP]
...CAPTAIN EMILY'S STRATEGY
TO TARGET DEEPER WATER
HAS YIELDED
EARLY SEASON DIVIDENDS.
WHOO!
ENOUGH, THAT SHE DOUBLED DOWN
AND ADDED MORE DIVERS...
NO, RICK IS RIGHT.
...TO RAKE IN MORE GOLD.
NOW...
THE CREW NEEDS TO
MAKE SOME MONEY.
I NEED TO
MAKE SOME MONEY.
WE DON'T OFTEN GET
WEATHER WINDOWS LIKE THIS.
FOR A COUPLE DAYS
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE HITTING IT REALLY HARD.
WITH LEAD DIVER,
DARYL GALIPEAU'S
SHIFT AT AN END...
I'M HEADED DOWN.
...NEXT UP, VETERAN DIVER,
RICK "MIDDLE-AGED MAN BODY"
SMITH.
♪♪
Emily:
HEY, RICK. DO YOU COPY?
Rick: I DO.
♪♪
COOL, MAN. CARRY ON.
GET THAT GOLD.
YEP.
HE'S WORKING.
SEVEN MILES NORTH
AT THE POMRENKE COMPOUND...
♪♪
THIS IS THE SAME
THING I WENT THROUGH
WITH THE CHRISTINE ROSE.
ONE NIGHT I DREAMT IT UP.
AND THEN I STARTED
DRAWING IT UP.
AND THEN WE STARTED BUILDING.
Narrator:
...MR. GOLD, SHAWN POMRENKE
IS PUTTING THE FINAL
TOUCHES ON THE BLUEPRINTS
FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES
WILL SECURE THE FUTURE
OF THE FAMILY BUSINESS.
Shawn: THERE'S DEFINITELY
A LOT MORE GOING ON
ON THIS BARGE
THAN THE CHRISTINE ROSE.
Narrator:
THE IDEA FOR THE MEGA DREDGE
HAS BEEN PECULATING IN SHAWN'S
HEAD FOR NEARLY A DECADE.
-THERE'S YOUR NEW BOAT, SHAWN.
-PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
THREE SEASONS AGO,
HE FOUND THE PLATFORM
TO REALIZE THAT IDEA.
Shawn:
MAN, I SEE THE POTENTIAL.
Narrator:
AN OCEAN-RATED CARGO BARGE
IN SAINT MARY'S ALASKA.
ALL THERE IS TO DO NOW
IS GET THIS OUT OF HERE.
Narrator:
BUT AFTER TOWING IT 183 MILES
ACROSS THE NORTON SOUND...
Shawn: FIRST STEP TO BUILDING
THIS DREDGE IS DONE.
Narrator: THE PROJECT HAS
LANGUISHED IN THE WEEDS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE
A LOT MORE DETAIL.
A LOT MORE MONEY.
Narrator: BUT TODAY,
IS DAY ONE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Shawn: I'VE BEEN BUILDING
THIS THING IN MY HEAD FOR YEARS
AND IT'LL BE BUILT TO MY SPECS
AND THE WAY I WANT IT BUILT,
AND DESIGNED
TO HOW I WANT IT TO WORK,
'CAUSE THERE'S NOTHING
LIKE IT IN THE WORLD.
Narrator:
NOTHING EXCEPT KEN KERR'S BEAST,
THE 600-TON MYRTLE IRENE.
Shawn:
ONCE I GET THIS BARGE BUILT
AND IT'S DONE
AND UP AND RUNNING,
THEN I'M NOT GONNA HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT ANYTHING ANYMORE
BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE MORE GOLD
THAN WE KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH.
Narrator: MEASURING A COLOSSAL
165x45 FEET,
SHAWN'S MEGA DREDGE
WILL BE LONGER AND WIDER
THAN NOME'S CURRENT LARGEST
DREDGE, THE MYRTLE IRENE.
ESSENTIALLY, A SUPER SIZED
HYBRID EXCAVATOR SUCTION DREDGE.
SHAWN'S BLUEPRINT
CALLS FOR 120-TON EXCAVATOR,
WITH A HEAVY DUTY BOOM THAT
LOWERS A FOUR-FOOT CUTTER HEAD,
FEEDING A 16 INCH
SUCTION HOSE TO STREAM
AN UNINTERRUPTED FLOW
OF GOLD RICH MATERIAL
INTO THE DIFFUSER
AND WASH BLAND.
BUT WHAT REALLY
SETS IT APART IS THE ABILITY
TO DREDGE DEEP.
WHILE THE MYRTLE CAN MINE
TO A DEPTH OF 30 FEET,
THE MEGA DREDGE WILL REACH 80.
RUNNING FULL-TILT,
THE MEGA DREDGE WILL PROCESS
A STAGGERING 564 CUBIC YARDS
OF MATERIAL PER HOUR,
NEARLY DOUBLE THE MYRTLE'S
300-YARD-PER-HOUR CAPACITY.
WHEN FINISHED,
SHAWN'S GOLD-GOBBLING BEHEMOTH
WILL WEIGH IN
AT A MIND-NUMBING 825 TONS,
OUT-WEIGHING KEN KERR'S
BEAST BY 225 GROSS TONS.
Shawn:
TIME TO WORK ON THE MEGA DREDGE.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE
THIS THING HAPPEN.
THIS IS DAY ONE
OF BUILDING THE MEGA DREDGE.
Narrator: A DAY MADE POSSIBLE
BY AN UNEXPECTED WINDFALL.
Shawn: WE'RE GONNA START
LAYING EVERYTHING OUT.
100,000 POUNDS
OF HIGH-QUALITY LOCAL STEEL
THAT SUDDENLY CAME UP FOR SALE.
IN NOME, YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS
TO THE THINGS
YOU DO DOWN IN THE STATES.
YOU CAN'T GO TO HOME DEPOT
AND PICK UP WHAT YOU NEED.
YOU CAN'T GO TO THE STEEL YARD
AND PICK UP WHAT YOU NEED.
SO YOU HAVE TO UTILIZE
WHAT YOU HAVE.
Narrator:
IT'S NOT ALL THE STEEL HE NEEDS
TO BUILD THE MEGA DREDGE,
BUT IT'S ENOUGH TO GET STARTED.
IT'S A BUNCH OF LITTLE
PIECES OF STEEL, OF SHEETS,
AND NOW IT'S ALL GOT TO
GET CUT AND WELDED TOGETHER.
I'M PUTTING
IT TOGETHER REALLY SIMPLE,
THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE
THAT MANY PROBLEMS
WHEN WE'RE UP AND RUNNING.
Narrator: AND WITH THE MYRTLE
CHEWING UP THE BERING SEA,
A START IS WHAT MR. GOLD NEEDS.
LET'S SEE IF IT'LL
MAKE A TON OF GOLD.
NOW WE GOT
ALL THE MATERIALS HERE.
TIME TO START
PUTTING IT TO WORK.
THERE'S A LIFETIME
OF GOLD LEFT IN THAT OCEAN.
AND THE DEEPER YOU CAN GO,
THE LONGER YOU'LL BE ABLE
TO STAY OUT
AND MAKE A LIVING MINING.
WITH THE MEGA DREDGE,
I'LL BE ABLE TO MINE
THE REST OF MY LIFE.
-GOLD.
-THAT WAS A NICE ONE.
-DID YOU SEE THAT ONE?
-THAT WAS A NICE ONE.
-WHOO-HOO!
-ALL RIGHT!
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME,
ON THE ALL ABOUT NUGGETS.
-WHOO!
-GOOD DIVES?
-WHOO-HOO!
-ALL RIGHT.
George: YEAH!
I WAS ON GOLD, MAN.
I SEEN WHAT
THE BERING SEA HAS TO OFFER.
Narrator:
SOPHOMORE MINER, GEORGE YOUNG
IS FINISHING OFF
HIS FIRST DIVE OF THE SEASON
AND HOPES HIS EFFORTS
WILL MAKE A DENT
IN THE 50 GRAND LOAN
HE TOOK OUT FROM BIG BRO, DAVE,
TO BUY HIS DREDGE AND START
HIS LIFE AS A BERING SEA MINER.
George: THAT WAS DEFINITELY
MY BEST DIVE EVER.
THAT WAS A WICKED DIVE.
Narrator:
HIS PLAN TO REDUCE HIS DEBT
IS TO MINE THE BOUNDARY LINE
BETWEEN TWO ADJACENT CLAIMS.
George: LET'S SEE WHAT THIS
LOOKS LIKE REAL QUICK.
SOME GOOD PIECES
IN HERE ACTUALLY.
[BLEEP] THERE'S A WHOLE PILE
OF IT RIGHT THERE.
YEAH, IT IS.
YEAH, YEAH.
PRETTY DAMN GOOD
CLEAN UP, BOYS.
George: I'M REALLY HOPING THIS
FIRST CLEAN OUT'S REALLY GOOD.
I CAN, YOU KNOW, GIVE MY
BROTHER A COUPLE OUNCES OF GOLD.
YOU KNOW LAST YEAR
I WAS HANDING HIM,
HALF OUNCES HERE
AND HALF OUNCES THERE
AND THIS YEAR, I'D REALLY
LIKE TO START IT OFF
ON A HIGH NOTE.
♪♪
Narrator:
FIVE MILES EAST, ON CLAIM 14...
Emily:
RICK, START HEADING UP.
Rick: OKAY
...EROICADIVER,
RICK SMITH IS AT
THE END OF HIS FIVE-HOUR SHIFT.
AND WITH THE GOOD WEATHER
WINDOW HOLDING...
Emily: OVER HERE
...CAPTAIN EMILY IS DETERMINED
TO KEEP THE EROICA
SUCKING UP THE GOLD.
BRINGING ON DIVE TECH
AND VETERAN MINER, BOB HAFNER,
TO TAKE THE THIRD SHIFT
OF THE DAY.
CAN YOU BRING ME
OVER TO THAT BOW NOW?
BOB'S ONE OF THE VERY FIRST OFF
SHORE GOLD DIVERS
EVER TO EXIST IN NOME.
HE IS ABOUT
AS ORIGINAL AS IT GETS.
AND LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
IT'S A GAMBLE TO
BRING ON A BIGGER CREW
IF YOU'RE NOT BRINGING
ON GOOD PEOPLE.
WE WILL DROP
THE NOZZLE DOWN
AND I'LL START SWINGING
AND SEE WHAT I FIND.
PERFECT.
SOUNDS GOOD MAN.
I'M BRINGING ON THE BEST PEOPLE.
I'M BRINGING ON SOME
OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED GOLD
DREDGERS
THAT I'VE EVER BEEN AND KNOWN.
BUT IF WE DON'T GET ON GOLD THEN
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY LOSES MONEY.
AH, THERE WE GO,
IT'S BETTER AND CLEARER.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT.
HOW'S IT GOING
DOWN THERE, BOB?
IT'S LOOKING GOOD.
THERE'S STILL SOME
GOLD SITTING DOWN HERE.
SO YOU THINK WE ARE AT
AN ANCIENT BEACH LINE
OUT HERE RIGHT NOW?
Narrator: AS THE LEVEL
OF THE BERING SEA ROSE
AND FELL OVER THE MILLENNIA
IT CREATED A SERIES OF
CONCENTRIC, ANCIENT BEACH LINES
THAT RADIATES OUT
FROM THE COAST.
THESE GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
COMBINED WITH THE TIDAL
MOTION OF THE OCEAN ACT
AS NATURAL GOLD AGGREGATORS.
THEY CAN BE INDICATORS
OF INCREDIBLY RICH GOLD GROUND.
COUPLE OF PIECES THERE.
MAKING MONEY.
YO, EMILY
YO, WHAT'S UP BOB?
IT'S THE LITTLE LAYER, RIGHT
UNDERNEATH HERE THAT I WANT.
THE GOLD SITS RIGHT IN IT.
I LOVE THIS STUFF.
YOU'RE IN SOME NICE CHEESE
DOWN THERE?
THAT SIX FEET IS JUST
NO BETTER ACTION.
THESE ARE HAPPY DAYS.
♪♪
90 MILES EAST, AT THE BLUFF...
Kris: TOO MANY CHUNKS OF GOLD.
WHOA I GOT BIG PROBLEMS!
Narrator:
...AFTER WEEKS BATTLING WEATHER
AND FIGHTING THROUGH
INCREASINGLY CROWDED GROUNDS,
KELLY UNITED'S
FIRST CLEANOUT OF THE SEASON
IS FINALLY UNDERWAY.
THIS ISN'T NOTHING,
THIS IS JUST THE PIECES
I PICKED OUT
'CAUSE THEY WERE JUST
STANDING THERE LOOKING AT ME.
I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD
FOR THIS POINT
AND I FEEL REALLY GOOD FOR
EVERYTHING THAT'S COME TOGETHER.
I KNOW THAT I HAVE THE BEST
CHANCE OF GETTING THE BIGGEST
AMOUNT OF GOLD
I EVER HAVE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
Narrator: AND WITH THE COST
OF SETTING UP CAMP AT THE
BLUFF AND BUILDING
THE REVOLUTIONARY
AMPHIBIOUS REAPER...
Kris: THAT LOOKED LIKE A QUARTER
OUNCE TO ME RIGHT THERE
Narrator: ...THE KELLY'S ARE
COUNTING ON A BIG PAY OUT
TO PROVE IT WAS
ALL WORTH THE RISK.
GOLD.
THAT WAS A NICE ONE.
DID YOU SEE THAT ONE?
THAT WAS A NICE ONE.
♪♪
THERE WE GO.
LET'S CLEAN THIS GOLD.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH HAS ARRIVED.
IT LOOKS LIKE 25 OUNCES OF GOLD.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS MUCH.
THAT'S HEAVY AS HELL.
HERE WE GO.
THERE'S ONE,
THERE'S TWO.
13, 14, 15.
WE JUST HIT 20.
Brad: 23, 24
WE JUST HIT 30 OUNCES
DO I STILL HAVE
MY OUNCE NUGGET?
BOOM, THERE'S MY OUNCE.
ALMOST 32 OUNCES.
WHOA,
THAT'S MORE THAN A POUND.
THAT'S TWO POUNDS OF GOLD.
THAT'S TWO
HUNGRY MAN DINNERS.
TWO POUNDS OF BERING
SEA GOLD IS WORTH OVER
$40,000 OR APPROXIMATELY
14,981 FROZEN DINNERS.
TWO POUNDS OF GOLD.
32 OUNCES THAT WE GOT FOR THE
BLUFFS IS THE BIGGEST CLEANOUT
THE KELLY'S HAVE EVER
GOTTEN IN THE BERING SEA.
Narrator: BON APPETIT,
CAPTAIN KRIS. BON APPETIT.
THIS IS A TASTE BABY.
HERE'S THE NEW BARGE BOYS,
THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS
ARE GOING TO BE
RUNNING SOME DAY.
RIGHT ON.
Narrator: AND NOW,
AN EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER
FROM BRAD KELLY.
IF YOU WANTED TO GO
SOMEWHERE AND HAVE A VACATION
IN MIND I RECOMMEND
GOING TO THE BLUFFS.
THE REAPERGOLD CABIN.
JUST $4,000 A WEEK,
WE'LL PUT YOU UP
FOR A WEEK, PUT YOU ON GOLD,
AND MAKE SURE YOU GET GOLD.
WE CATER TO AN ELITE CLIENTELE.
WE'RE LIVING FIRST CLASS.
YOU'VE GOT
A MICROWAVE OUT THERE,
YOU'VE GOT A COFFEE MAKER.
WOW.
IT'S THE LAST GREAT EXPERIENCE,
YOU KNOW, THE BIG ADVENTURE.
Narrator: CALL IN THE NEXT
10 MINUTES FOR YOUR FREE
BREAKFAST VOUCHER.
I'M GONNA HUSTLE ALL THESE
PEOPLE IN --
CAMERA OFF, I'M GONNA
BRING, HUSTLE ALL THESE
PEOPLE TO COME OUT THERE,
IF WE BRING 20 PEOPLE
OUT A WEEK...
WOW! [ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: IN NOME, ALASKA...
HERE'S THE NEW BARGE BOYS.
THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS
ARE GONNA BE RUNNING
HOPEFULLY SOME DAY.
...WITH CONSTRUCTION
ON THE MEGA DREDGE
FINALLY UNDERWAY, MR. GOLD,
SHAWN POMRENKE IS GIVING SONS,
DYLAN AND LUKE,
A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE
OF THE FAMILY BUSINESS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I LIKE IT.
YOU LIKE IT? DEFINITELY
MAKES ALL THESE OTHER DREDGES
LOOK LIKE
LITTLE CHILD'S PLAY.
YEAH, THAT'S FOR SURE.
THIS MEGA DREDGE
IS GOING TO BE THE KEY.
IT'S GOING TO SET
MY FAMILY UP FOR GENERATIONS.
ALL'S THEY GOT TO DO IS
GET THIS THING UP AND RUNNING.
Narrator: WITH THOUSANDS
OF HOURS OF LABOR AHEAD,
THE NEXT PHASE OF THE POMRENKE
LEGACY HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.
WE'VE GOT A MOUNTAIN
OF WORK TO DO, BUT IT'LL HAPPEN.
Narrator: TWO MILES AWAY...
George: MAN, LOOK AT THAT.
...AT GEORGE YOUNG'S
MACHINE SHOP
THIS IS THE CLEANOUT
WE'RE DOING FROM THE LINE.
THE SOPHOMORE MINER
IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT
IF HIS STRATEGY TO MINE
THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN TWO CLAIMS
WILL PAY OFF.
YOU KNOW, THIS CLEAN OUT
IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT ONE.
BECAUSE IF WE FOUND OUR SPOT,
WE COULD REALLY
CLEAN UP
THE REST OF THE SEASON.
IF IT DOESN'T,
HE'LL HAVE WASTED HIS FIRST
OPPORTUNITY OF THE SEASON
TO MINE FOR HIMSELF.
WE ARE GONNA FIRE THIS UP.
Narrator:
AND HIS SEASON GOAL OF 50 OUNCES
TO MAKE GOOD ON HIS BROTHERS
LOAN, WILL BE A PIPE DREAM.
IT'S AMAZING HOW EXCITED
YOU CAN GET OVER YELLOW ROCK.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE GO BOYS.
1, 2...
8, 9, 10...
COME ON.
11.33 OUNCES.
Narrator: 11.33 OUNCES
IS WORTH CLOSE TO $15,000.
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD MAN.
GEORGE'S
MINE THE LINE THEORY PUTS
HIS 50-OUNCE SUMMER GOAL
WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE.
RIGHT ON.
AFTER COVERING
OPERATING COSTS...
-GEORGE!
-...GEORGE MAKES A LONG OVER DUE
VISIT TO HIS BROTHER, DAVE.
LITTLE OVER
THREE OUNCES.
LOOK AT THAT.
THANKS.
George: PAYING MY BROTHER
BACK WOULD JUST SHOW
THAT I'M APPRECIATIVE
FOR WHAT HE'S PROVIDED
ME WITH, YOU KNOW,
AND TO LET HIM SEE THAT
I CAN STILL BE INDEPENDENT.
KEEP GETTING THE GOLD.
I LIKE GOLD.
YOU'RE DOING GOOD,
THOUGH.
Narrator: ACROSS TOWN, AT
EMILY RIEDEL'S CLEANUP SHACK...
Emily: GOT A GOOD RUN IN
AND WE STAYED ON SOME PRETTY
CONSISTENT GOLD.
THINK WE ALL HAVE
PRETTY HIGH EXPECTATIONS
FOR THIS CLEANUP.
Narrator: AFTER PUSHING HER
EXPANDED CREW TO THE LIMIT...
WE'RE REALLY GETTING
IT TO TAKE OFF THE LAST
OF THAT BLACK SAND.
Narrator: ...EMILY NEEDS
AT LEAST $25,000 TO
MEET HER INCREASED PAYROLL
AND TURN A PROFIT.
Emily:
I REALLY HOPE THAT WE'RE DOING
AN OUNCE OR HOUR OR BETTER.
I KNOW I'VE GOT
THE DIVERS FOR IT
AND THE GROUND IS GOOD,
BUT SOMETIMES YOU'RE SURPRISED.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
I KNOW THERE'S
ONE OUNCE IN THERE.
1, 2, 3...
THAT'S A NICE ONE
10.
WE ARE OVER 20.
33.8.
WHO THE HELL WAS RIGHT?
-I SAID IT.
Narrator: 33.8 OUNCES
IS WORTH OVER $43,000
MORE THAN ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY
AN ADDITIONAL DIVER,
AND REAFFIRM CAPTAIN EMILY'S
STRATEGY TO GO DEEP.
Emily: NOT BAD GUYS.
I FEEL LIKE THIS YEAR
I'VE PUT THE DREAM TOGETHER.
WITH MY CREW,
AND MY BOAT BEING AS STRONG
AS THEY ARE THIS SEASON,
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE EQUIPPED
TO HAVE THE BEST SEASON EVER.
ONLY GOD COULD SINK THIS SHIP.
NEXT TIME,
WE'LL DO BETTER. TRIPLE IT.
Narrator: AS THE SUMMER SEASON
NEARS THE MID-POINT
GEORGE YOUNG JOINS
THE COUNT AND KELLY UNITED
CELEBRATES THE BIGGEST
CLEANOUT OF THEIR LIVES.
Ken: LET'S GO,
WE'VE GOT TO GET TO WORK.
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN SLOW.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT
WE PULL A SEASON OUT YET.
COMPLETELY DEAD, DANG THIS
THING'S GOT GREMLINS IN IT.
THE SEASON'S TICKING AWAY,
WE NEED ANOTHER 1,000 OUNCES.
IF I DON'T PRODUCE
THE GOLD, NO MEGA DREDGE.
Kris:
DAD'S GOING TO TOWN TO GET GAS.
NOW THAT WE ARE ON BIG GOLD.
LITTLE DETAILS ARE COMING BACK
TO BITE ME IN THE ASS.
NOT A PROBLEM. WE'VE GOT
SOME WEATHER PICKING UP.
WE'VE GOT TO
GET OUT OF HERE.
ONE ANGRY BERING SEA
RIGHT HERE.
IT'S SINKING
BY THE MINUTE.
PULL THE ROPE UP.
THIS ALL YOU GOT?
NOW ON "BERING SEA GOLD."
Shawn: THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN AROUND NOME FOR A LONG TIME
KNOW THERE'S DEFINITELY
A MINING CODE OF ETHICS.
THESE IDIOTS THAT COME UP AND
THINK THAT ITS JUST A WILD WEST,
PISSES YOU OFF.
DIVING ON MY BUOY NOW.
HEY, GET OFF MY MARKER.
I'M GONNA RUN THEM OVER.
Kris: IN THIS INDUSTRY,
THERE IS A BUNCH
OF MISERABLE ASS[BLEEP].
BE CAREFUL 'CAUSE EVERYONE'S
STEALING FROM YOU.
[BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
George: I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT
OF PROSPECTING FOR THE MYRTLE
BUT I'VE GOT
A STRATEGY UNDER MY HAT
AND IT'S TIME TO FIND MYGOLD.
ALL RIGHT BOYS,
[BLEEP] YOU!
[ LAUGHS ]
-THERE'S GOLD EVERYWHERE.
-HELL YEAH!
-YEAH!
-PUTTING US ON THE BIG GOLD.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
Narrator: ONE MONTH INTO
THE SUMMER MINING SEASON,
A MODERN DAY GOLD RUSH IS
IN FULL SWING,
WITH COMPETITION
REACHING A FEVER PITCH...
SUCCESS DEPENDS
ON WHO IS WILLING
TO DIVE DEEPEST, TRAVEL
FURTHEST, AND STAY OUT LONGEST.
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT,
THE MINER WHO THRIVES
DOESN'T WAIT TO STRIKE
WHEN THE IRON IS HOT,
HE MAKES IT HOT BY STRIKING.
♪♪
80 MILES EAST OF NOME,
AT THE BLUFF...
Shawn:
EVERYBODY'S IN MY WAY.
Narrator:
...CAPTAIN SHAWN POMRENKE
IS DETERMINED TO MINE
1,200 OUNCES OF GOLD
BY THE END OF THE SUMMER
SO HE CAN START CONSTRUCTION
ON HIS $6 MILLION DOLLAR
MEGA DREDGE.
TO MEET HIS GOAL, HE'LL
NEED OVER A THOUSAND MORE.
I'M NUDGING
EVERYBODY OUT OF HERE
THEY KNOW WHERE
I'M ON GOOD GOLD.
TRYING TO CROWD ME RIGHT NOW.
WITH KEN KERR'S 600-TON
BERING SEA BEAST,
THE MYRTLE IRENE,CHURNING UP
THE GOLD GROUNDS AROUND NOME,
MR. GOLD IS FEELING THE SCREWS.
YEAH, HE'S ALMOST
ON MY [BLEEP] BUOY.
[BLEEP]
AND THE INCREASINGLY
CROWDED GROUNDS OF THE BLUFF...
THEY'RE GONNA HIT
HIS OUTBOARD.
HAVE BECOME
A WILD FREE FOR ALL.
[ METAL CLANKS ]
Man:
NOW GET OUT OF HERE!
Shawn: THERE'S DEFINITELY
A MINING CODE OF ETHICS.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE MINED AND BEEN
AROUND NOME FOR A LONG TIME
KNOW ABOUT 'EM AND THESE IDIOTS
THAT COME UP AND THINK
THAT IT'S JUST A WILD WEST
AND THINK THEY CAN DO
WHATEVER THEY WANT,
PISSES YOU OFF.
Narrator:
SHAWN HAS A TWO-PRONGED PLAN
TO START CONSTRUCTION
OF HIS MEGA DREDGE
BY THE END OF THE SEASON.
CHRISTINE ROSEIS
A GOLD GETTING' MACHINE.
HE'S PUT THE CHRISTINE ROSE
ON A PRIME SWATH
OF VIRGIN GROUND.
THIS IS MY SPOT
FROM THIS WINTER!
AND HE'S FOUGHT OFF
PARASITES AT THE BLUFF...
104.85. NICE JOB.
...TO REAP THE REWARDS AND
KEEP HIS SEASON GOAL ALIVE.
MEGA DREDGE AIN'T
PAYING FOR ITSELF.
NOW...
KILL IT, BUDDY.
...SHAWN'S TACTIC
TO FIGHT THE CROWD
IS TO COVER MORE GROUND FASTER
BY RUNNING AS MANY
DIVE SHIFTS AS POSSIBLE.
♪♪
Shawn: HEY!
GET OFF MY MARKER [BLEEP].
Narrator: AND TO THROW HIS
WEIGHT AROUND WHEN NECESSARY.
Shawn: HE'S ON MY MARKER.
GET THE [BLEEP] OUT OF HERE.
I'M GONNA RUN THEM OVER.
I'LL PULL THEM UP
WITH THE ANCHOR LINE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO [BLEEP] THESE GUYS...
♪♪
CAM, KEEP HEADING
THAT DIRECTION.
YOU'RE ALMOST TO IT.
♪♪
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, I'LL THROTTLE UP.
♪♪
HOW'S THE GOLD DOWN THERE?
REALLY GOOD GOLD?
♪♪
WE SURE HAD TO FIGHT
FOR IT TODAY, BUDDY.
ALMOST A NEVER-ENDING GAME
OF CHESS
WITH ALL THESE GUYS HERE.
DAMN SURE OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
YOU SEE IT'S GOOD GOLD.
HE'S RIGHT ON TOP OF THE MARKER.
WE HAD TO SHOVE
A COUPLE GUYS OUT OF OUR WAY,
BUT BIGGER BOATS ALWAYS
GOT THE RIGHT OF WAY.
ALL WE DO NOW IS
KEEP EVERYTHING RUNNING
AND STAY ON THIS PAY.
IF WE CAN STAY ON THIS PAY
THEN IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD RUN.
WE CAN DO 300, 400,
OR 500 OUNCES HERE
IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.
Narrator: WITH THEIR POSITION
FIRMLY ESTABLISHED...
Shawn: WHAT'S UP, RICK?WHEW!
I GOT MY PHONE ON ME.
IF YOU GUYS NEED
ANYTHING, LET ME KNOW.
GOOD LUCK.
...SHAWN CAN HEAD BACK TO NOME
AND FOCUS ON THE FUTURE
OF THE POMRENKE EMPIRE.
Shawn:
CHRISTINE ROSEIS IN SOME GOLD.
THE HAVILAH'SIN SOME GOLD.
I'M GONNA GO CONCENTRATE ON
GETTING THE MEGA DREDGE GOING.
Narrator:
AND HE'S GOT A HOT TIP...
Shawn: I GOT TO LINE ON A GOOD
DEAL ON SOME STEEL IN NOME.
SO I HAVE TO JUMP ON IT.
Narrator:
...THAT MAY ALLOW HIM
TO ACCELERATE THE
MEGA DREDGE TIMELINE.
50 FEET AWAY...
ALL RIGHT, BOYS,
[BLEEP] YOU.
[ LAUGHS ]
...ON THE REAPER.
Kris: NO, I'M NOT
INTIMIDATED BY SHAWN.
I'M A LITTLE JEALOUS THAT
HE HAS SO MANY COOL THINGS.
AND ALL KINDS OF NICE TOYS.
AND HE DOES KNOW WHAT HE'S
DOING, I GOT TO GIVE HIM THAT.
BUT I'M DEFINITELY
NOT INTIMIDATED BY HIM.
Narrator:
...CAPTAIN KRIS KELLY IS SET ON
LEADING HIS FAMILY
FROM SUBSISTENCE MINERS
TO NOME GOLD KINGPINS.
TO DO IT, HE SET A COOL
1,000-OUNCE GOAL FOR THE SEASON.
THE MASSIVE HAUL WILL
SET THE FOUNDATION
FOR A GOLDEN FUTURE
ON THE BERING SEA.
TO DO IT, HE'S COUNTING
ON BLUFF PAY DIRT.
THROW ANCHOR!
Narrator: SO FAR...
THIS IS A SIGN, RIGHT THERE!
KELLY UNITED HAS BEEN ON
THE BEST GROUND OF THEIR LIVES.
Kris:
THE K-DOG COMES THROUGH AGAIN.
WHOO-HOO!
Narrator:
...DESPITE BLUFF PARASITES...
Kris:
I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT EVERYBODY
THAT COMES TO THE BLUFF.
Narrator:
...AND BAD WEATHER...
THE WIND'S STARTING
TO PICK UP.
WE'RE STARTING TO GET
WHITE CAPS OUT HERE.
Kris: OKAY, I'M COMING.
Narrator: NOW...
THEY'RE COMING FOR YOUR GOLD
IS WHAT THEY'RE COMING FOR.
...THE IRISH ARE STARTING
TO FEEL
THE SIDE EFFECTS OF SUCCESS.
NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING
THAT WE'RE MAKING
A LOT MORE GOLD,
WE'RE STARTING TO GET FOLLOWED
AROUND A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THREE OF FOUR
BOATS ON THE SHORE,
AND BETWEEN 8 TO 12 BOATS
AT THE BLUFFS MOST DAYS.
Narrator:
ALASKAN MINING LAW STATES
DREDGES MUST STAY 100 YARDS AWAY
FROM OTHER OPERATIONS.
BUT MINING LAW TAKES A BACK
SEAT WHEN PAY DIRT IS AT STAKE
AND YOU'RE 90 MILES
OFF THE GRID.
Kris: YOU'RE JUST PUSHING
AS HARD AS YOU CAN
AND MOP UP
AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
I NEED 30 OUNCES.
MEANING LEAD DIVER, ANDY KELLY,
NEEDS TO GET BACK
ON PAY DIRT FAST
TO KEEP THEIR STREAK ALIVE.
♪♪
♪♪
OKAY, LET'S SEE.
ANDY, WE REALLY
GOT TO PUSH IT TODAY.
I NEED
A 30 OUNCE CLEAN UP.
IT'S GONNA TAKE ME
A LITTLE BIT THERE.
♪♪
♪♪
OKAY, IDLE UP.
IT'S GOOD!
♪♪
OKAY ANDY, TALK TO ME.
HUH?
YOU'VE HAD LONG ENOUGH
DOWN THERE. TALK TO ME.
I JUST FOUND
A [BLEEP] PUDDLE.
GOLD!
I'M SEEING A REALLY
GOOD AMOUNT OF GOLD.
I'M SUCKING UP
PUDDLE AFTER PUDDLE,
JUST CONNECTED EVERY
[BLEEP] PUDDLE DOWN HERE.
YEAH, THAT BOX IS GONNA
BE LIT UP WHEN I'M DONE.
WHOO! OKAY, SO DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE ON THE BEST GOLD
YOU'VE SEEN THIS SEASON?
YEAH, THIS IS
THE BEST GOLD I'VE SEEN.
HEY!
BEST GOLD HE'S SEEN ALL YEAR!
YOU KNOW, WHEN ANDY
SAYS IT'S THE BEST GOLD,
THAT MEANS OUNCE AND A HALF,
TWO OUNCES AN HOUR, PLUS.
SO, WHEW, IT'S HOT IN HERE.
♪♪
KRIS, DUDE.
DON'T LOOK LIKE IT.
DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
[BLEEP]
WE GOT TO JUST LEARN TO
SHUT THE [BLEEP] UP.
Andy: WELL, THAT'S WHY YOU
DON'T GET EXCITED
AND ASK ME WHAT I'M ON.
I'M GONNA TRY TO WORK
ON MY EMOTIONAL PROBLEM,
BUT WHEN YOU TELL ME
WE'RE ON OVER $1,000 AN HOUR,
I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP THAT
INSIDE AND NOT GET EXCITED.
GO [BLEEP] DO YOUR
OWN PROSPECTING.
BULL [BLEEP]!
I'M TRYING NOT TO YELL.
DON'T PARK RIGHT ON ANDY.
IN THIS INDUSTRY,
THERE'S A BUNCH
OF MISERABLE ASS[BLEEP] IN THIS.
THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES
TO BE A MINER, I GUESS.
BE CAREFUL BECAUSE
EVERYONE'S STEALING FROM YOU.
THAT'S WHAT ALL THESE
OTHER [BLEEP] DO.
I'M GONNA TRY REALLY
HARD TO BE QUIET, OKAY?
Andy: OH, YEAH.
RIGHT NOW IT'S A RACE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH
GOLD IS AROUND HERE.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO I NEED TO BE
OUT HERE ALL THE TIME.
OUR BOAT NEEDS TO BE OUT
AS THE LAST GROUP GOES TO LEAVE.
OH, [BLEEP]
PULL!
Kris: I'M CLEANING LIKE
A MOTHER [BLEEP]
George:
NOW IT'S TIME TO FIND MY GOLD.
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.
AT THE SMALL BOAT HARBOR...
-HIGH TIDE.
-YES, SIR.
...ARCTIC SEA OPERATIONS
MANAGER, GEORGE YOUNG,
IS RETURNING TO HIS FIRST LOVE.
LET'S GO GET IT.
LET'S GO GET SOME GOLD.
AFTER FOUR WEEKS OF OVERSEEING
ARCTIC SEA OPERATIONS...
I WANT TO SHOW YOU
SOMETHING HERE.
...IN HIS SIGHTS, 50 OUNCES
OF BERING SEA GOLD
TO MAKE GOOD ON A 50 GRAND
LOAN FROM BROTHER, DAVE.
AND COVER THE SEASON'S
OPERATING COSTS.
WE GOT TO MAKE MOVES
SO I CAN PAY MY BROTHER.
George:
IF I GET ON SOME GOOD GOLD,
I'M STILL SHOOTING
FOR THAT 50 OUNCES.
Narrator: THIS SEASON...
YOU GOT TO GO OUT THERE AND
PROSPECT ALL THOSE LEASES FOR US
SO WE DON'T SCREW AROUND.
...GEORGE RETURNED TO NOME
TO MINE THE BERING SEA,
PAY HIS DEBT,
AND BANK A PROFIT
BY HIS OWN HAND.
♪♪
BUT THE ARCTIC SEA BRAIN TRUST
HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN.
GET HER.
WE'RE GOING DIGGING.
AFTER MARKING GOLD RICH GROUND
FOR KEN KERR'S BEARING SEA
BEAST, THE MYRTLE IRENE,
GEORGE IS FINALLY
GETTING HIS DREDGE,
THE 24-FOOT ALL ABOUT NUGGETS,
OUT FOR A DAY OF MINING.
WE'VE GOT THE SIX-INCH
DREDGE AREA IN HERE.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT
THE EAST TRACK.
EVERYBODY'S NOT GETTING CLOSE
TO THAT BORDERLINE.
AND HE HAS A PLAN
TO MAKE IT PAY.
EVEN IF THEY'RE JUST STAYING
A HUNDRED FEET OFF IT,
I'M THINKING WE CAN
WORK RIGHT ON THAT EDGE
WHERE MAYBE
A BUNCH OF GOLD IS LEFT.
SOUNDS LIKE
A GOOD PLAN TO ME.
George:
I'M TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I'VE GOT A STRATEGY
UNDER MY HAT.
READY WHEN YOU ARE.
I'M MOVING.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS,
I'M HOPING TURTLE AND I
CAN GET ON SOME REALLY GOOD GOLD
ON THIS NEW SPOT
THAT I PICKED OUT.
Narrator: MOST MINERS HAVE
ACCESS TO ONE CLAIM AT A TIME
AND GIVE BOUNDARY LINES A WIDE
BERTH TO AVOID CLAIM-JUMPING.
GEORGE IS IN THE UNIQUE
POSITION OF HAVING ACCESS
TO TWO ADJACENT CLAIMS.
THIS MEANS HE CAN ACCESS
THE BAND OF UNTOUCHED GROUND
EVERYONE ELSE HAS AVOIDED.
ALL RIGHT.
IF GEORGE'S PLAN TO WORK
THE BOUNDARY LINE IS SUCCESSFUL,
HE COULD BE TAPPING
A LITERAL GOLD MINE.
THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT,
THOUGH,
IS TO GET DOWN THERE
AND LOOK.
LET'S GO SWIMMING.
♪♪
♪♪
GO AHEAD AND CRANK UP
THE NOZZLE.
OKAY, ROGER.
♪♪
♪♪
IT SEEMS LIKE
RIGHT ALONG THIS EDGE,
SEEMS TO BE BY THE LINE.
IT'S WHAT
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR.
COME ON, GOLD.
COME ON, YELLOW.
♪♪
WAIT A MINUTE.
I THINK I HEAR SOME.
OH, HOLY [BLEEP]!
TURTLE.
BUT I'VE ONLY
JUST BEGUN.
♪♪
WHOO!
WE'RE GETTING PAID TODAY.
♪♪
Narrator:
90 MILES EAST, AT THE BLUFF.
HOW'S IT LOOKING
DOWN THERE?
REAPERLEAD DIVER, ANDY KELLY,
IS ON THE TAIL END
OF HIS SIX HOUR SHIFT.
AND WITH GOLD HUNGRY
PARASITE DREDGES
READY TO POUNCE ON THEIR SPOT...
Kris:
OKAY, I'M DIVING RIGHT NOW.
...CAPTAIN KRIS MAKES HASTE
GETTING BACK DOWN
TO THE COVETED GROUND.
♪♪
♪♪
GROUND FLOOR.
OKAY, IT'S TIME
TO MAKE A HOAGIE.
HOW'S IT GOING, JAY?
THOSE ARE PICKERS.
JUST A [BLEEP] LOAD
OF PICKERS.
BIG GOLD'S IN THE HOUSE.
PUTTING US
ON THE BIG GOLD.
THERE'S GOLD COMING OUT
ALL OVER THIS WALL.
BAM!
$100 BILL.
BOO-YAH, BABY!
GIVE ME A SECOND AND I'LL
BREAK DOWN THIS WALL.
I'M TRYING TO MOVE THE
ROCKS OVER TO WHERE YOU WERE.
THEY'RE THE BIGGEST
ROCKS IN THE AREA.
RIGHT HERE.
OH, LET ME
MOVE THIS ROCK.
♪♪
GET YOUR ASS GOING,
STOP SINGING.
OH [BLEEP].
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
PULL, PULL!
♪♪
♪♪
OUCH, THAT [BLEEP] HURT.
HE CUT HIMSELF.
♪♪
Kris: THE ROCKS DOWN THERE
ARE SUPER SHARP.
AND I'M MOVING BIG ROCKS.
I'M A [BLEEP] IDIOT
AND IT SLIPPED
AND [BLEEP] PINCHED
MY FINGERS REALLY BAD.
Narrator:
WHILE MOVING ROCKS, THE CAPTAIN
HAS OPENED A THREE-INCH GASH
ON HIS HAND.
I ALMOST CUT
MY WHOLE FINGER OFF.
AN INJURY SERIOUS ENOUGH
TO END KRIS' DIVE EARLY...
I TORE
ALL THE SKIN OFF.
...AND PUT THE IRISH
OFF THE WATER FOR THE DAY.
I'VE GOT A FIRST AID KIT
AT THE CABIN, KRIS.
THAT'S NOT EVEN BAD.
-OH [BLEEP] OFF!
-IT'S NOT.
I'VE GOT TO DIVE
WITH MY HAND.
[BLEEP] BABY, MAN.
AFTER A LITTLE
BROTHERLY AFFECTION...
WHATEVER WORKS.
...CAPTAIN KRIS SUCKS IT UP
AND GETS BACK UNDER THE WATER.
♪♪
THIS IS EXACTLY
WHERE I LEFT OFF.
LOTS OF CHUNKIES.
IF NOT AN OUNCE AN HOUR,
DAMN CLOSE.
Shawn: I'M PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
WE'LL SEE IF IT WILL MAKE
A TON OF GOLD.
KEEPING THE DIVERS WORKING.
WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE?
Narrator: OFF THE COAST OF NOME,
ON THE EROICA...
HEY, DARYL. YOU'VE GOT ABOUT
FIVE MINUTES LEFT OF YOUR DIVE.
Daryl: OKAY.
...NOME'S FIRST AND ONLY
FEMALE DREDGE OWNER,
CAPTAIN EMILY RIEDEL, IS IN
PURSUIT OF A 500-OUNCE SEASON
AND HAS 471 REMAINING
TO MAKE HER MARK.
AND SHE STAKED HER EFFORTS
ON THE UNTOUCHED DEEP PORTION
OF CLAIM 14.
WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE?
THERE'S GOLD EVERYWHERE.
HELL YEAH, DUDE.
THAT'S AWESOME.
DIVING AT DEPTHS
OF 30 FEET OR GREATER...
I'M STARTING
TO LIFT NOW.
...PUTS THE DIVER
AT RISK OF A BENDS,
A POTENTIALLY DEADLY CONDITION
WHERE BUBBLES OF NITROGEN GAS
FORM IN THE BLOOD.
SYMPTOMS CAN INCLUDE
A BURNING PAIN IN THE CHEST,
KNOWN AS THE CHOKES,
RASHES KNOWN AS THE CREEPS,
AND EVEN A LOSS
OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
TO OFFSET SHORTER DIVES,
WE'RE JUST GONNA NEED TO FIND
THE BEST AND THE MOST
CONCENTRATED GOLD.
Narrator: TO COMBAT THE CREEPS
AND THE CHOKES,
EMILY'S DIVERS ARE LIMITED
TO FIVE HOUR SHIFTS.
WERE YOU
IN THAT BOULDER AREA?
NICE.
PRETTY NICE GOLD
IN THERE.
AND SO FAR...
OH, [BLEEP]
...CAPTAIN EMILY'S STRATEGY
TO TARGET DEEPER WATER
HAS YIELDED
EARLY SEASON DIVIDENDS.
WHOO!
ENOUGH, THAT SHE DOUBLED DOWN
AND ADDED MORE DIVERS...
NO, RICK IS RIGHT.
...TO RAKE IN MORE GOLD.
NOW...
THE CREW NEEDS TO
MAKE SOME MONEY.
I NEED TO
MAKE SOME MONEY.
WE DON'T OFTEN GET
WEATHER WINDOWS LIKE THIS.
FOR A COUPLE DAYS
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
WE'RE HITTING IT REALLY HARD.
WITH LEAD DIVER,
DARYL GALIPEAU'S
SHIFT AT AN END...
I'M HEADED DOWN.
...NEXT UP, VETERAN DIVER,
RICK "MIDDLE-AGED MAN BODY"
SMITH.
♪♪
Emily:
HEY, RICK. DO YOU COPY?
Rick: I DO.
♪♪
COOL, MAN. CARRY ON.
GET THAT GOLD.
YEP.
HE'S WORKING.
SEVEN MILES NORTH
AT THE POMRENKE COMPOUND...
♪♪
THIS IS THE SAME
THING I WENT THROUGH
WITH THE CHRISTINE ROSE.
ONE NIGHT I DREAMT IT UP.
AND THEN I STARTED
DRAWING IT UP.
AND THEN WE STARTED BUILDING.
Narrator:
...MR. GOLD, SHAWN POMRENKE
IS PUTTING THE FINAL
TOUCHES ON THE BLUEPRINTS
FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES
WILL SECURE THE FUTURE
OF THE FAMILY BUSINESS.
Shawn: THERE'S DEFINITELY
A LOT MORE GOING ON
ON THIS BARGE
THAN THE CHRISTINE ROSE.
Narrator:
THE IDEA FOR THE MEGA DREDGE
HAS BEEN PECULATING IN SHAWN'S
HEAD FOR NEARLY A DECADE.
-THERE'S YOUR NEW BOAT, SHAWN.
-PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
THREE SEASONS AGO,
HE FOUND THE PLATFORM
TO REALIZE THAT IDEA.
Shawn:
MAN, I SEE THE POTENTIAL.
Narrator:
AN OCEAN-RATED CARGO BARGE
IN SAINT MARY'S ALASKA.
ALL THERE IS TO DO NOW
IS GET THIS OUT OF HERE.
Narrator:
BUT AFTER TOWING IT 183 MILES
ACROSS THE NORTON SOUND...
Shawn: FIRST STEP TO BUILDING
THIS DREDGE IS DONE.
Narrator: THE PROJECT HAS
LANGUISHED IN THE WEEDS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE
A LOT MORE DETAIL.
A LOT MORE MONEY.
Narrator: BUT TODAY,
IS DAY ONE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Shawn: I'VE BEEN BUILDING
THIS THING IN MY HEAD FOR YEARS
AND IT'LL BE BUILT TO MY SPECS
AND THE WAY I WANT IT BUILT,
AND DESIGNED
TO HOW I WANT IT TO WORK,
'CAUSE THERE'S NOTHING
LIKE IT IN THE WORLD.
Narrator:
NOTHING EXCEPT KEN KERR'S BEAST,
THE 600-TON MYRTLE IRENE.
Shawn:
ONCE I GET THIS BARGE BUILT
AND IT'S DONE
AND UP AND RUNNING,
THEN I'M NOT GONNA HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT ANYTHING ANYMORE
BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE MORE GOLD
THAN WE KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH.
Narrator: MEASURING A COLOSSAL
165x45 FEET,
SHAWN'S MEGA DREDGE
WILL BE LONGER AND WIDER
THAN NOME'S CURRENT LARGEST
DREDGE, THE MYRTLE IRENE.
ESSENTIALLY, A SUPER SIZED
HYBRID EXCAVATOR SUCTION DREDGE.
SHAWN'S BLUEPRINT
CALLS FOR 120-TON EXCAVATOR,
WITH A HEAVY DUTY BOOM THAT
LOWERS A FOUR-FOOT CUTTER HEAD,
FEEDING A 16 INCH
SUCTION HOSE TO STREAM
AN UNINTERRUPTED FLOW
OF GOLD RICH MATERIAL
INTO THE DIFFUSER
AND WASH BLAND.
BUT WHAT REALLY
SETS IT APART IS THE ABILITY
TO DREDGE DEEP.
WHILE THE MYRTLE CAN MINE
TO A DEPTH OF 30 FEET,
THE MEGA DREDGE WILL REACH 80.
RUNNING FULL-TILT,
THE MEGA DREDGE WILL PROCESS
A STAGGERING 564 CUBIC YARDS
OF MATERIAL PER HOUR,
NEARLY DOUBLE THE MYRTLE'S
300-YARD-PER-HOUR CAPACITY.
WHEN FINISHED,
SHAWN'S GOLD-GOBBLING BEHEMOTH
WILL WEIGH IN
AT A MIND-NUMBING 825 TONS,
OUT-WEIGHING KEN KERR'S
BEAST BY 225 GROSS TONS.
Shawn:
TIME TO WORK ON THE MEGA DREDGE.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE
THIS THING HAPPEN.
THIS IS DAY ONE
OF BUILDING THE MEGA DREDGE.
Narrator: A DAY MADE POSSIBLE
BY AN UNEXPECTED WINDFALL.
Shawn: WE'RE GONNA START
LAYING EVERYTHING OUT.
100,000 POUNDS
OF HIGH-QUALITY LOCAL STEEL
THAT SUDDENLY CAME UP FOR SALE.
IN NOME, YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS
TO THE THINGS
YOU DO DOWN IN THE STATES.
YOU CAN'T GO TO HOME DEPOT
AND PICK UP WHAT YOU NEED.
YOU CAN'T GO TO THE STEEL YARD
AND PICK UP WHAT YOU NEED.
SO YOU HAVE TO UTILIZE
WHAT YOU HAVE.
Narrator:
IT'S NOT ALL THE STEEL HE NEEDS
TO BUILD THE MEGA DREDGE,
BUT IT'S ENOUGH TO GET STARTED.
IT'S A BUNCH OF LITTLE
PIECES OF STEEL, OF SHEETS,
AND NOW IT'S ALL GOT TO
GET CUT AND WELDED TOGETHER.
I'M PUTTING
IT TOGETHER REALLY SIMPLE,
THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE
THAT MANY PROBLEMS
WHEN WE'RE UP AND RUNNING.
Narrator: AND WITH THE MYRTLE
CHEWING UP THE BERING SEA,
A START IS WHAT MR. GOLD NEEDS.
LET'S SEE IF IT'LL
MAKE A TON OF GOLD.
NOW WE GOT
ALL THE MATERIALS HERE.
TIME TO START
PUTTING IT TO WORK.
THERE'S A LIFETIME
OF GOLD LEFT IN THAT OCEAN.
AND THE DEEPER YOU CAN GO,
THE LONGER YOU'LL BE ABLE
TO STAY OUT
AND MAKE A LIVING MINING.
WITH THE MEGA DREDGE,
I'LL BE ABLE TO MINE
THE REST OF MY LIFE.
-GOLD.
-THAT WAS A NICE ONE.
-DID YOU SEE THAT ONE?
-THAT WAS A NICE ONE.
-WHOO-HOO!
-ALL RIGHT!
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME,
ON THE ALL ABOUT NUGGETS.
-WHOO!
-GOOD DIVES?
-WHOO-HOO!
-ALL RIGHT.
George: YEAH!
I WAS ON GOLD, MAN.
I SEEN WHAT
THE BERING SEA HAS TO OFFER.
Narrator:
SOPHOMORE MINER, GEORGE YOUNG
IS FINISHING OFF
HIS FIRST DIVE OF THE SEASON
AND HOPES HIS EFFORTS
WILL MAKE A DENT
IN THE 50 GRAND LOAN
HE TOOK OUT FROM BIG BRO, DAVE,
TO BUY HIS DREDGE AND START
HIS LIFE AS A BERING SEA MINER.
George: THAT WAS DEFINITELY
MY BEST DIVE EVER.
THAT WAS A WICKED DIVE.
Narrator:
HIS PLAN TO REDUCE HIS DEBT
IS TO MINE THE BOUNDARY LINE
BETWEEN TWO ADJACENT CLAIMS.
George: LET'S SEE WHAT THIS
LOOKS LIKE REAL QUICK.
SOME GOOD PIECES
IN HERE ACTUALLY.
[BLEEP] THERE'S A WHOLE PILE
OF IT RIGHT THERE.
YEAH, IT IS.
YEAH, YEAH.
PRETTY DAMN GOOD
CLEAN UP, BOYS.
George: I'M REALLY HOPING THIS
FIRST CLEAN OUT'S REALLY GOOD.
I CAN, YOU KNOW, GIVE MY
BROTHER A COUPLE OUNCES OF GOLD.
YOU KNOW LAST YEAR
I WAS HANDING HIM,
HALF OUNCES HERE
AND HALF OUNCES THERE
AND THIS YEAR, I'D REALLY
LIKE TO START IT OFF
ON A HIGH NOTE.
♪♪
Narrator:
FIVE MILES EAST, ON CLAIM 14...
Emily:
RICK, START HEADING UP.
Rick: OKAY
...EROICADIVER,
RICK SMITH IS AT
THE END OF HIS FIVE-HOUR SHIFT.
AND WITH THE GOOD WEATHER
WINDOW HOLDING...
Emily: OVER HERE
...CAPTAIN EMILY IS DETERMINED
TO KEEP THE EROICA
SUCKING UP THE GOLD.
BRINGING ON DIVE TECH
AND VETERAN MINER, BOB HAFNER,
TO TAKE THE THIRD SHIFT
OF THE DAY.
CAN YOU BRING ME
OVER TO THAT BOW NOW?
BOB'S ONE OF THE VERY FIRST OFF
SHORE GOLD DIVERS
EVER TO EXIST IN NOME.
HE IS ABOUT
AS ORIGINAL AS IT GETS.
AND LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
IT'S A GAMBLE TO
BRING ON A BIGGER CREW
IF YOU'RE NOT BRINGING
ON GOOD PEOPLE.
WE WILL DROP
THE NOZZLE DOWN
AND I'LL START SWINGING
AND SEE WHAT I FIND.
PERFECT.
SOUNDS GOOD MAN.
I'M BRINGING ON THE BEST PEOPLE.
I'M BRINGING ON SOME
OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED GOLD
DREDGERS
THAT I'VE EVER BEEN AND KNOWN.
BUT IF WE DON'T GET ON GOLD THEN
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY LOSES MONEY.
AH, THERE WE GO,
IT'S BETTER AND CLEARER.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT.
HOW'S IT GOING
DOWN THERE, BOB?
IT'S LOOKING GOOD.
THERE'S STILL SOME
GOLD SITTING DOWN HERE.
SO YOU THINK WE ARE AT
AN ANCIENT BEACH LINE
OUT HERE RIGHT NOW?
Narrator: AS THE LEVEL
OF THE BERING SEA ROSE
AND FELL OVER THE MILLENNIA
IT CREATED A SERIES OF
CONCENTRIC, ANCIENT BEACH LINES
THAT RADIATES OUT
FROM THE COAST.
THESE GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
COMBINED WITH THE TIDAL
MOTION OF THE OCEAN ACT
AS NATURAL GOLD AGGREGATORS.
THEY CAN BE INDICATORS
OF INCREDIBLY RICH GOLD GROUND.
COUPLE OF PIECES THERE.
MAKING MONEY.
YO, EMILY
YO, WHAT'S UP BOB?
IT'S THE LITTLE LAYER, RIGHT
UNDERNEATH HERE THAT I WANT.
THE GOLD SITS RIGHT IN IT.
I LOVE THIS STUFF.
YOU'RE IN SOME NICE CHEESE
DOWN THERE?
THAT SIX FEET IS JUST
NO BETTER ACTION.
THESE ARE HAPPY DAYS.
♪♪
90 MILES EAST, AT THE BLUFF...
Kris: TOO MANY CHUNKS OF GOLD.
WHOA I GOT BIG PROBLEMS!
Narrator:
...AFTER WEEKS BATTLING WEATHER
AND FIGHTING THROUGH
INCREASINGLY CROWDED GROUNDS,
KELLY UNITED'S
FIRST CLEANOUT OF THE SEASON
IS FINALLY UNDERWAY.
THIS ISN'T NOTHING,
THIS IS JUST THE PIECES
I PICKED OUT
'CAUSE THEY WERE JUST
STANDING THERE LOOKING AT ME.
I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD
FOR THIS POINT
AND I FEEL REALLY GOOD FOR
EVERYTHING THAT'S COME TOGETHER.
I KNOW THAT I HAVE THE BEST
CHANCE OF GETTING THE BIGGEST
AMOUNT OF GOLD
I EVER HAVE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
Narrator: AND WITH THE COST
OF SETTING UP CAMP AT THE
BLUFF AND BUILDING
THE REVOLUTIONARY
AMPHIBIOUS REAPER...
Kris: THAT LOOKED LIKE A QUARTER
OUNCE TO ME RIGHT THERE
Narrator: ...THE KELLY'S ARE
COUNTING ON A BIG PAY OUT
TO PROVE IT WAS
ALL WORTH THE RISK.
GOLD.
THAT WAS A NICE ONE.
DID YOU SEE THAT ONE?
THAT WAS A NICE ONE.
♪♪
THERE WE GO.
LET'S CLEAN THIS GOLD.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH HAS ARRIVED.
IT LOOKS LIKE 25 OUNCES OF GOLD.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS MUCH.
THAT'S HEAVY AS HELL.
HERE WE GO.
THERE'S ONE,
THERE'S TWO.
13, 14, 15.
WE JUST HIT 20.
Brad: 23, 24
WE JUST HIT 30 OUNCES
DO I STILL HAVE
MY OUNCE NUGGET?
BOOM, THERE'S MY OUNCE.
ALMOST 32 OUNCES.
WHOA,
THAT'S MORE THAN A POUND.
THAT'S TWO POUNDS OF GOLD.
THAT'S TWO
HUNGRY MAN DINNERS.
TWO POUNDS OF BERING
SEA GOLD IS WORTH OVER
$40,000 OR APPROXIMATELY
14,981 FROZEN DINNERS.
TWO POUNDS OF GOLD.
32 OUNCES THAT WE GOT FOR THE
BLUFFS IS THE BIGGEST CLEANOUT
THE KELLY'S HAVE EVER
GOTTEN IN THE BERING SEA.
Narrator: BON APPETIT,
CAPTAIN KRIS. BON APPETIT.
THIS IS A TASTE BABY.
HERE'S THE NEW BARGE BOYS,
THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS
ARE GOING TO BE
RUNNING SOME DAY.
RIGHT ON.
Narrator: AND NOW,
AN EXCLUSIVE LIMITED TIME OFFER
FROM BRAD KELLY.
IF YOU WANTED TO GO
SOMEWHERE AND HAVE A VACATION
IN MIND I RECOMMEND
GOING TO THE BLUFFS.
THE REAPERGOLD CABIN.
JUST $4,000 A WEEK,
WE'LL PUT YOU UP
FOR A WEEK, PUT YOU ON GOLD,
AND MAKE SURE YOU GET GOLD.
WE CATER TO AN ELITE CLIENTELE.
WE'RE LIVING FIRST CLASS.
YOU'VE GOT
A MICROWAVE OUT THERE,
YOU'VE GOT A COFFEE MAKER.
WOW.
IT'S THE LAST GREAT EXPERIENCE,
YOU KNOW, THE BIG ADVENTURE.
Narrator: CALL IN THE NEXT
10 MINUTES FOR YOUR FREE
BREAKFAST VOUCHER.
I'M GONNA HUSTLE ALL THESE
PEOPLE IN --
CAMERA OFF, I'M GONNA
BRING, HUSTLE ALL THESE
PEOPLE TO COME OUT THERE,
IF WE BRING 20 PEOPLE
OUT A WEEK...
WOW! [ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: IN NOME, ALASKA...
HERE'S THE NEW BARGE BOYS.
THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS
ARE GONNA BE RUNNING
HOPEFULLY SOME DAY.
...WITH CONSTRUCTION
ON THE MEGA DREDGE
FINALLY UNDERWAY, MR. GOLD,
SHAWN POMRENKE IS GIVING SONS,
DYLAN AND LUKE,
A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE
OF THE FAMILY BUSINESS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I LIKE IT.
YOU LIKE IT? DEFINITELY
MAKES ALL THESE OTHER DREDGES
LOOK LIKE
LITTLE CHILD'S PLAY.
YEAH, THAT'S FOR SURE.
THIS MEGA DREDGE
IS GOING TO BE THE KEY.
IT'S GOING TO SET
MY FAMILY UP FOR GENERATIONS.
ALL'S THEY GOT TO DO IS
GET THIS THING UP AND RUNNING.
Narrator: WITH THOUSANDS
OF HOURS OF LABOR AHEAD,
THE NEXT PHASE OF THE POMRENKE
LEGACY HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.
WE'VE GOT A MOUNTAIN
OF WORK TO DO, BUT IT'LL HAPPEN.
Narrator: TWO MILES AWAY...
George: MAN, LOOK AT THAT.
...AT GEORGE YOUNG'S
MACHINE SHOP
THIS IS THE CLEANOUT
WE'RE DOING FROM THE LINE.
THE SOPHOMORE MINER
IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT
IF HIS STRATEGY TO MINE
THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN TWO CLAIMS
WILL PAY OFF.
YOU KNOW, THIS CLEAN OUT
IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT ONE.
BECAUSE IF WE FOUND OUR SPOT,
WE COULD REALLY
CLEAN UP
THE REST OF THE SEASON.
IF IT DOESN'T,
HE'LL HAVE WASTED HIS FIRST
OPPORTUNITY OF THE SEASON
TO MINE FOR HIMSELF.
WE ARE GONNA FIRE THIS UP.
Narrator:
AND HIS SEASON GOAL OF 50 OUNCES
TO MAKE GOOD ON HIS BROTHERS
LOAN, WILL BE A PIPE DREAM.
IT'S AMAZING HOW EXCITED
YOU CAN GET OVER YELLOW ROCK.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE GO BOYS.
1, 2...
8, 9, 10...
COME ON.
11.33 OUNCES.
Narrator: 11.33 OUNCES
IS WORTH CLOSE TO $15,000.
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD MAN.
GEORGE'S
MINE THE LINE THEORY PUTS
HIS 50-OUNCE SUMMER GOAL
WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE.
RIGHT ON.
AFTER COVERING
OPERATING COSTS...
-GEORGE!
-...GEORGE MAKES A LONG OVER DUE
VISIT TO HIS BROTHER, DAVE.
LITTLE OVER
THREE OUNCES.
LOOK AT THAT.
THANKS.
George: PAYING MY BROTHER
BACK WOULD JUST SHOW
THAT I'M APPRECIATIVE
FOR WHAT HE'S PROVIDED
ME WITH, YOU KNOW,
AND TO LET HIM SEE THAT
I CAN STILL BE INDEPENDENT.
KEEP GETTING THE GOLD.
I LIKE GOLD.
YOU'RE DOING GOOD,
THOUGH.
Narrator: ACROSS TOWN, AT
EMILY RIEDEL'S CLEANUP SHACK...
Emily: GOT A GOOD RUN IN
AND WE STAYED ON SOME PRETTY
CONSISTENT GOLD.
THINK WE ALL HAVE
PRETTY HIGH EXPECTATIONS
FOR THIS CLEANUP.
Narrator: AFTER PUSHING HER
EXPANDED CREW TO THE LIMIT...
WE'RE REALLY GETTING
IT TO TAKE OFF THE LAST
OF THAT BLACK SAND.
Narrator: ...EMILY NEEDS
AT LEAST $25,000 TO
MEET HER INCREASED PAYROLL
AND TURN A PROFIT.
Emily:
I REALLY HOPE THAT WE'RE DOING
AN OUNCE OR HOUR OR BETTER.
I KNOW I'VE GOT
THE DIVERS FOR IT
AND THE GROUND IS GOOD,
BUT SOMETIMES YOU'RE SURPRISED.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
I KNOW THERE'S
ONE OUNCE IN THERE.
1, 2, 3...
THAT'S A NICE ONE
10.
WE ARE OVER 20.
33.8.
WHO THE HELL WAS RIGHT?
-I SAID IT.
Narrator: 33.8 OUNCES
IS WORTH OVER $43,000
MORE THAN ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY
AN ADDITIONAL DIVER,
AND REAFFIRM CAPTAIN EMILY'S
STRATEGY TO GO DEEP.
Emily: NOT BAD GUYS.
I FEEL LIKE THIS YEAR
I'VE PUT THE DREAM TOGETHER.
WITH MY CREW,
AND MY BOAT BEING AS STRONG
AS THEY ARE THIS SEASON,
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE EQUIPPED
TO HAVE THE BEST SEASON EVER.
ONLY GOD COULD SINK THIS SHIP.
NEXT TIME,
WE'LL DO BETTER. TRIPLE IT.
Narrator: AS THE SUMMER SEASON
NEARS THE MID-POINT
GEORGE YOUNG JOINS
THE COUNT AND KELLY UNITED
CELEBRATES THE BIGGEST
CLEANOUT OF THEIR LIVES.
Ken: LET'S GO,
WE'VE GOT TO GET TO WORK.
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN SLOW.
WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT
WE PULL A SEASON OUT YET.
COMPLETELY DEAD, DANG THIS
THING'S GOT GREMLINS IN IT.
THE SEASON'S TICKING AWAY,
WE NEED ANOTHER 1,000 OUNCES.
IF I DON'T PRODUCE
THE GOLD, NO MEGA DREDGE.
Kris:
DAD'S GOING TO TOWN TO GET GAS.
NOW THAT WE ARE ON BIG GOLD.
LITTLE DETAILS ARE COMING BACK
TO BITE ME IN THE ASS.
NOT A PROBLEM. WE'VE GOT
SOME WEATHER PICKING UP.
WE'VE GOT TO
GET OUT OF HERE.
ONE ANGRY BERING SEA
RIGHT HERE.
IT'S SINKING
BY THE MINUTE.
PULL THE ROPE UP.
THIS ALL YOU GOT?