Bering Sea Gold (2012–…): Season 3, Episode 1 - Fire and Icebergs - full transcript
Shawn: I'M MR. GOLD.
I WANT TO HAVE
A BIG ENOUGH PILE OF GOLD
TO SIT BACK AND SAY,
"DAMN, I DID GOOD."
Kevin: [ HOWLS ]
THANK [BLEEP] GOD!
Emily:
WHEN YOU GO UNDER THE ICE, YOU
MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT.
OH [BLEEP]
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Vernon: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER,
I'M GONNA GET THE GOLD.
[BLEEP] YOUR [BLEEP]
GOD!
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M [BLEEP] DOING?
Zeke: SOME GUYS
ARE GETTING POTS OF GOLD.
I THINK THAT I MIGHT HAVE
A GOOD CHANCE OF GETTING LUCKY.
GOLD RIGHT THERE,
BROTHER.
4½ POUNDS.
YEAH!
YEAH!
♪ LISTEN UP CLOSE, NOW
♪ WHAT I SAY
♪ I'M A-GONNA HEAD OUT WEST
ONE DAY ♪
♪ I HEARD ABOUT A FORTUNE
TO BE MADE ♪
♪ AND I'M A-GONNA GET IT,
NOW, JUST YOU WAIT ♪
♪ GOLD
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA...
THERE'S GOLD EVERYWHERE HERE.
YOU CAN MAKE MONEY
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND.
Narrator: ...THE CENTER
OF THE GOLD-MINING UNIVERSE.
Vernon: THERE ARE HUNDREDS
OF TONS OF GOLD OUT THERE.
IT'S WORTH ABOUT $2.5 BILLION.
Narrator:
EVERY WINTER, DARING MINERS
CUT HOLES IN THE ICE,
FIRE UP THEIR SLUICE BOXES,
AND RISK THEIR LIVES IN
THE 25-DEGREE BERING SEA
FOR A CHANCE TO STRIKE IT RICH.
Shawn:
SOMETIMES, YOU GO, "WHY IN
THE HELL AM I DOING THIS?"
BUT THIS IS WHAT I LOVE TO DO.
AM I GONNA SIT IN AN OFFICE
AND PUSH PAPERS,
OR AM I GONNA BE OUT HERE,
FINDING GOLD?
I LOVE MY JOB.
Narrator:
FOR THOSE TOUGH ENOUGH...
2014 ICE MINING.
LET'S GO.
Narrator:
...FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD.
Shawn:
ICE IS THIN AS HELL THIS YEAR.
HOPEFULLY,
WE DON'T FALL THROUGH.
Zeke: IT'S WHAT GETS MINERS
OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING,
IS THAT THEY'RE GAMBLERS.
"WELL, MAYBE TODAY
WILL BE THE DAY.
WILL I HIT IT BIG?"
Narrator: IN A SHORT SEASON,
MINERS ARE FOCUSING
ON TWO OFF-SHORE CLAIMS
KNOWN TO BE RICH IN GOLD --
THE TINY CLAIM 14, JUST ONE MILE
EAST OF THE HARBOR,
AND THE TOMCOD CLAIM, LOCATED
SEVEN MILES WEST OF TOWN.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE WINTER,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY GOLD SEASON.
Narrator:
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
Shawn: MR. GOLD'S GONNA MAKE
SOME GOLD TODAY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
...SHAWN POMRENKE AND
THE SHAMROCK ARE BACK IN ACTION.
Shawn:
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GO DOWN THERE
AND GET RIGHT ON THE GOLD.
AFTER LAST WINTER,
WE CAN'T DO ANY WORSE.
Narrator: ONE YEAR AGO...
WE GOT A LOT TO DO
IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
Narrator: ...A LATE START...
Steve P.: BUSTED PIECES
FROM THE PUMP DRIVE.
...AND A BROKEN DRIVE SHAFT
RUINED THE POMRENKE SEASON.
Shawn: LOOK AT ALL
THOSE DAMN NUGGETS.
LOOK HOW SHINY THAT IS.
BUT A $1.1 MILLION SUMMER
BROUGHT REDEMPTION
AND A NEW NICKNAME.
THEY DON'T CALL ME "MR. GOLD"
FOR NOTHING.
Narrator:
IF HE WANTS TO KEEP THE TITLE,
HE'LL HAVE TO FINALLY
TURN A PROFIT
WITH HIS $100,000 WINTER DREDGE.
I THINK I'M GONNA GET 'EM.
WE'LL BE ROCKING AND ROLLING,
PUT GOLD IN THE BOX TOMORROW.
Narrator: JOINING THE SHAMROCK
A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY...
Vernon: ALL RIGHT.
1, 2, 3, GO.
WILD RANGER OWNER
VERNON ADKISON
ONCE AGAIN GUNNING
FOR A COMEBACK.
BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
ENGINE ROOM MOVED INTO PLACE.
MOVED THE SLUICE BOX INTO PLACE.
AND PROBABLY IN A COUPLE HOURS,
WE'LL BE READY TO GO MINING.
Narrator:
FOR THREE SEASONS...
...VERNON HAS SPENT OVER
$1 MILLION CHASING GOLD.
NO GOLD.
THERE'S VERY MINOR GOLD.
...BUT HAS COLLECTED
JUST 105 OUNCES.
I REALLY, TRULY BELIEVE
THIS IS GONNA PAY OFF FOR US.
Vernon:
LAST SEASON IN THE SUMMER
WAS NOT A SUCCESSFUL SEASON,
AND LAST WINTER WASN'T, EITHER.
CALLING IT QUITS AND GOING HOME
CROSSED MY MIND,
BUT I ROLLED A LOT OF MONEY
INTO THIS OPERATION.
WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE
THIS, I'M NOT HALF-STEPPING.
EITHER I'M GONNA MAKE IT
IN A FAIRLY BIG WAY,
OR I'M GONNA BE TOAST.
WE GOT A RIG HERE
THAT'S PRETTY DAMN NICE.
IT'S A HONKING MACHINE.
Narrator:
VERNON'S HONKING MACHINE
INCLUDES AN 8x16-FOOT
ENGINEERING ROOM ON SKIS,
A 24-FOOT CLEANUP SHACK,
TOPSIDE SLUICE BOX
CONNECTED TO 60 FEET OF HOSE,
AND A STATE-OF-THE-ART
COMMUNICATION STATION.
Vernon: I PICKED IT UP
FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT,
BUT THE ENGINE RUNS GOOD,
THE HEATER WORKS GOOD.
VERN OVER THERE WITH PILES
OF [BLEEP] EVERYWHERE.
CLEAN YOUR SPOT UP.
Vernon: BEEN A LONG TIME
PUTTING IT TOGETHER,
AND, YOU KNOW,
FINGERS CROSSED IT'S GONNA WORK.
Narrator: WHILE THE SHAMROCK
AND WILD RANGER
RACE TO GET ON THE GOLD,
EIGHT MILES UP THE COAST,
ON CLAIM 14...
Zeke: BE MY FIRST TIME DOWN
THIS WINTER.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.
Narrator:
...THE REIGNING WINTER GOLD
CHAMPION, ZEKE TENHOFF,
IS FINALLY RETURNING
TO FULL-TIME MINING.
THIS PAST SUMMER,
I GOT A LITTLE ROWDY
AND GOT KIND OF MIXED UP
WITH THE PO-PO.
Narrator:
LAST SUMMER, FOLLOWING THE DEATH
OF HIS BEST FRIEND,
ZEKE'S LIFE
SPUN OUT OF CONTROL...
THEY DRAG ME
OUT OF THE COP CAR,
AND THEY WRESTLE ME DOWN
TO THE GROUND LIKE THIS
AND HOLD MY HEAD DOWN
LIKE THIS.
...ENDING WITH AN ARREST
FOR MULTIPLE FELONIES.
[ LAUGHS ]
I HAVE A COURT DATE FOR
MY FINAL SENTENCING NEXT WEEK.
AND, REALLY, THE ONLY THING
BETWEEN ME AND GOING TO JAIL
IS THIS EXPENSIVE LAWYER
THAT I HAVE, WHO'S A GREAT GUY.
BUT HE NEEDS TO GET PAID, AND
HE'S COMING TO TOWN NEXT WEEK.
Narrator:
TO BUY HIS FREEDOM,
ZEKE IS PAYING MORE
THAN ONE STEEP PRICE.
THE OTHER?
ZEKE DOESN'T HAVE IT BAD.
HE CAN'T COMPLAIN.
HE'S GOT THE BEST MINING PARTNER
OUT HERE.
Narrator:
WORKING FOR SELF-PROCLAIMED
SUPER DREDGER GLEN LeBARON
AND DOING EVERYTHING
BY HIS RULES.
THIS IS THE MISS NOMER.
IT'S, LIKE, COMPLETELY MY IDEA.
EVERYTHING WE DID HERE
WAS IN LIEU OF,
LIKE, ZEKE GETTING HIS WAY.
THIS IS THE ENTRANCE TO EL
DORADO, WHERE ALL THE GOLD'S AT.
THERE'S NO REASON
FOR IT TO BE INDOORS.
Narrator: GLEN'S PLAN IS
TO DIVE IN THE OPEN AIR,
JUST LIKE HE'S ALWAYS DONE
WHILE RIVER MINING.
Zeke:
I DON'T LIKE BEING COLD,
ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE, YOU KNOW,
DOING A LOT OF NIGHT DIVING
AND IF THE TEMPERATURE DROPS,
AND WHO KNOWS?
GLEN HAS A LOT
OF DREDGING EXPERIENCE.
BUT THE FACT IS, HE DOESN'T HAVE
A WHOLE LOT OF EXPERIENCE
IN THE OCEAN UP HERE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.
Glen: ZEKE RECENTLY BROUGHT OUT
THIS OTHER ICE SHACK,
WHICH HE'S BEEN WORKING ON
FOR THE LAST WEEK.
Narrator: AT ZEKE'S REQUEST,
GLEN HAS AGREED
TO A SECOND RELIEF HOLE
INSIDE AN 8x16-FOOT DIVE SHACK.
HERE ME TALKING [BLEEP] ZEKE?
NOTHING.
ZEKE AND I RESPECT EACH OTHER
AS MINERS.
BUT I'M ONE OF THE MOST
ACCOMPLISHED GOLD DREDGERS
ON THE PLANET.
ZEKE IS STILL A BEGINNER.
I WOULDN'T CONSIDER
ZEKE ANYWHERE NEAR ME,
BECAUSE I'VE SPENT SO MUCH MORE
TIME DREDGING THAN ZEKE HAS.
Narrator: THIS SEASON,
THE BOYS WILL BE MINING
WITH GLEN'S
ONE-OF-A-KIND INVENTION --
AN UNDERWATER DREDGE
HE NAMED "THE DRAGON."
HEY, WHAT'S THE STATUS?
YOU HAVE THE NOZZLE?
Let's get this party started,
man.
ALL RIGHT, YEAH.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE'RE ABOUT TO GET SOME GOLD.
WHOO!
THE SAND IS SO FINE
AND SO DENSE,
IT CREATES
AN ARTIFICIAL HARD PAN.
JUST, YOU KNOW [BLEEP] DANCE,
SEA MONKEY, DANCE.
ZEKE MAY OR MAY NOT REALIZE
THE FACT
THAT HE'S WORKING WITH ME
IS GONNA ALLOW HIM
TO JUMP, LIKE, YEARS IN ADVANCE.
AS LONG AS ZEKE LISTENS TO ME,
WE'RE GONNA DO REALLY WELL
THIS SEASON.
I'VE GOT LEGITIMATE CREDIBILITY
THAT I'VE REALLY WORKED HARD
TO EARN.
YOU KNOW, IF ANYONE WANTS TO
[BLEEP] PISS ME OFF,
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS TELL ME
THAT I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
OR THAT I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO DREDGE,
AND I'M GONNA BE
REALLY [BLEEP] PISSED OFF.
Narrator: BACK IN TOWN...
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE
THAT OUR GOAL
IS TO GET ON THE ICE
TOMORROW.
THE SIDE'S ALMOST DONE WELDED.
WE'LL GET THAT SIDE DONE WELDED.
AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO,
SECOND DAY.
...WHILE OTHER CREWS
ARE ALREADY ON THE ICE,
EMILY RIEDEL, THE ONLY FEMALE
DREDGE OWNER IN THE FLEET,
IS STILL PUTTING
HER RIG TOGETHER.
I'M LATE GETTING OUT HERE.
YOU KNOW, I ENDED
REALLY STRONGLY LAST SEASON,
AND WE GOT A LOT OF GOLD,
AND THAT WAS AMAZING.
BUT THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AS
A CAPTAIN DURING THE ICE SEASON.
I HAVE SO MUCH TO PROVE.
Narrator: LAST SUMMER...
IF THIS IS A TEST AS
A FIRST-TIME CAPTAIN,
I THINK I'M FAILING.
Narrator:
...AFTER EMILY'S DIVERS
QUIT MID-SEASON...
[ IMITATES BUGS BUNNY ]
THAT'S ALL, FOLKS.
Narrator:
...SHE PICKED UP A NEW TEAM...
YOU STILL
SEEING SOME GOLD?
...AND PULLED OFF
A 109-OUNCE COMEBACK.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU DOUBTING [BLEEP] OUT THERE.
MY JOURNEY OF BEING IN NOME HAS
GONE FROM BEING ABSOLUTELY BROKE
AND LIVING IN A BEACH SHACK
TO OWNING MY OWN DREDGE.
AND NOW I WANT MORE.
BUT I WANT TO BE THE BEST NOME
GOLD DREDGER THAT EVER EXISTED.
Narrator: AFTER PAYING OFF
HER SUMMER DREDGE,
SHE'S GONE BACK INTO DEBT TO BUY
TOP-OF-THE-LINE ICE-MINING GEAR.
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE MOST
LEGIT DIVE HEATER IN NOME.
I GUARANTEE IT.
MY OPERATION SO FAR
HAS COST ME ABOUT $50,000.
MY GOAL THIS SEASON
WAS TO ASSEMBLE
THE MOST PROFESSIONAL COMMERCIAL
DIVING OPERATION EVER.
Tony: SHE MUST HAVE A LOT
OF FAITH IN US AS CREW
TO SINK THIS MUCH MONEY
IN NEW EQUIPMENT,
DOWN TO HER LAST DIME.
Narrator:
EMILY'S BETTING THE HOUSE
ON COMMERCIAL DIVE EQUIPMENT,
BUT HER BIGGEST GAMBLE
IS ON A SECRET WEAPON...
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WE'RE
USING A SUBMERSIBLE DREDGE,
AND IT WAS DESIGNED FOR US
BY ROB,
WHO WORKED WITH GLEN AND ZEKE
LAST YEAR.
Narrator:
...THE PROTOTYPE FOR A NEW
UNDERWATER RECOVERY SYSTEM
BASED ON GLEN'S DESIGN
FOR THE DRAGON.
Emily:
NOW, THE BEAUTY OF THIS THING
IS THAT IT'S ON THE STAND
AND IT SWIVELS.
WE HAVE A 360-DEGREE RADIUS.
MY GOAL IS TO BUILD SOMETHING
THAT RECOVERS GOLD
BETTER THAN GLEN'S DRAGON.
WHATEVER GLEN IS DOING UP HERE,
I JUST WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING
THAT'S BETTER.
YOU KNOW,
WE'RE GOOD AT SLAYING DRAGONS.
IT'S GONNA BE THE DESOLATION
OF GLEN.
HE THINKS HE'S GOT THE DRAGON.
WELL, WE GOT THE SLAYER,
SO IT'S ALL GOOD.
WE'RE DELAYED GETTING OUT.
EVERYONE'S GOT A HEAD START.
HOPEFULLY,
ONCE WE GET THIS THING GOING...
[ LAUGHS ] I'D SAY IT'S A GOOD
THING THEY GOT A HEAD START,
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA BLOW
THEM OUT OF THE [BLEEP] ICE.
Narrator:
SEVEN MILES WEST OF NOME HARBOR,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
THERE YOU GO!
...FOR THE FIRST TIME
AS DREDGE OWNERS,
THE KELLY FAMILY
IS HITTING THE ICE.
Kris: WE'RE GONNA GET OUT THERE,
PUNCH A COUPLE HOLES.
YOU KNOW,
WITH THE LUCK OF THE IRISH,
WE'RE GONNA GET ON THE GOLD
THIS AFTERNOON.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT HAPPENS
FOR US.
Brad: THE REAPER ICE DREDGE
IS 13 FEET TALL,
13 FEET WIDE, 26 FEET LONG.
IF WE GET 50 GRAND A WEEK, WE'LL
BE HAPPY. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
AFTER OUR FAILING SEASON WITH
STEVE, WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
Narrator: LAST SEASON...
WE'RE OUT OF HERE.
WE'RE DONE. WE'RE DONE.
TOO MUCH WAVES.
...BRAD AND HIS TWO SONS,
KRIS AND ANDY...
HERE IS YOUR GOLD,
ANDY.
...GOT LESS THAN 9 OUNCES...
THAT'S PITIFUL.
...WORKING
FOR STEVE RIEDEL.
EVERYBODY STILL ASSOCIATES ME
WITH WORKING ON THE MINNOW
AND GETTING NO [BLEEP] GOLD.
YEAH, IT'S A PRETTY
[BLEEP] FEELING, YOU KNOW.
LIKE, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO SAY.
THAT'S SHAWN'S OVER THERE
TO THE RIGHT. THAT'S VERN.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO 300 YARDS
TO THE LEFT OF THEM.
WE'RE LIKE THIS [BLEEP] CLOSE
TO MAKING SOME MONEY,
AND I AM SUPER EXCITED.
Narrator: NOW THE FIGHTING IRISH
HAVE COBBLED TOGETHER
THE CHEAPEST DREDGE ON THE ICE,
THE REAPER.
Brad: THAT'S IT, MAN.
I'M ON ICE, TOO.
FOR THE ICE SHACK,
YOU HAVE $1,200 FOR THE WOOD.
I DID ALL THE LABOR.
SHIPPED HERE WAS ANOTHER $300.
SO, YOU KNOW,
UNDER 2 GRAND FOR THE ICE SHACK.
LOOKS REAL GHETTO FABULOUS
IN HERE,
BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES.
Kris: WE'RE KIND OF
OUR OWN WORST ENEMY,
BUT WHEN WE HAVE AN ENEMY IN
COMMON, WE'RE [BLEEP] GREAT.
WE'RE, LIKE, UNITED.
WE'RE A FAMILY.
BUT WHEN WE ONLY HAVE OURSELVES
TO GO AGAINST,
IT'S LIKE, "JESUS," YOU KNOW.
THAT'S WHEN WE KILL EACH OTHER.
GET THE [BLEEP]
OUT OF THE WAY.
Narrator:
UNLIKE THEIR NEW NEIGHBORS
OVER ON THE SHAMROCK...
ICE HOLES ARE A CAKEWALK
THIS YEAR.
Narrator:
...FOR THE REAPER BOYS...
YOU [BLEEP] PIECE OF [BLEEP]
Narrator: ...DIVE HOLES
ARE A WEE BIT COMPLICATED.
Kris: GO!
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
SECOND ATTEMPT RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, HOLD IT.
OKAY, GO!
GO AGAIN.
WOW.
YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS EASY,
EVERYBODY WOULD BE DOING IT.
GO!
WHOA.
I'M OKAY, EVERYBODY.
THANKS FOR [BLEEP] WONDERING.
Narrator:
WHILE THE KELLYS SLUG IT OUT
WITH AN ICE CUBE,
EIGHT MILES TO THE EAST...
...AFTER SIX HOURS OF DREDGING,
ZEKE IS CHECKING IN
ON THE FRUITS OF HIS LABOR.
LOTS OF GOLD?
OKAY, I'LL MEET YOU
AT THE DIVE HOLE.
THIS HOLE IS REALLY SMALL.
[ CHUCKLES ]
FIRST DAY DOWN, AND I'M STAYING
ON SOME PRETTY DECENT GOLD.
IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT,
AND I THINK IT'LL PILE UP.
LAST YEAR, GLEN AND I
AND THE REST OF OUR ICE TEAM
DID BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE,
AND, I MEAN, THERE'S VERY LITTLE
DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT WE'LL DO THAT AGAIN.
IT'S OKAY WHEN IT'S WARM.
BEING WARM IS FOR WIMPS.
OR IF YOU'RE OUT HERE
BY YOURSELF
AND THE HOLE FREEZERS OVER SO
MUCH YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH IT.
THAT WOULD BE [BLEEP]
BUT IF YOU'RE,
LIKE, OUT OF AIR.
BUT SAFETY IS OVERRATED,
RIGHT?
WELL, YEAH.
KNOCK YOURSELF OUT DOWN THERE.
KNOCK MYSELF OUT
SOME BIG NUGGETS.
I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF TREPIDATION
ABOUT MY PARTNERSHIP WITH GLEN.
I WON'T LIE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL
THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR GLEN
TO WORK WITH ME, AS WELL.
Narrator:
FOR GLEN'S SHIFT, HE'S BROUGHT
OUT HIS GIRLFRIEND...
GETTING COLD OUT.
...JASMIN GEORGE, TO TEND.
THE NICE THING
ABOUT DREDGING WITH GIRLS
IS THEY DON'T WANT TO DREDGE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST SHOW UP
AND TRY TO MAKE OUR LIVES EASY,
AND THEN
WE CAN JUST FOCUS ON DREDGING.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR
LAST SUMMER THIS WINTER,
AND ALL THE MONEY THAT
I COULD HAVE MADE LAST SUMMER
NEEDS TO BE MADE NOW
SO THIS COMING SUMMER
WILL BE THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE.
Narrator:
AS GLEN GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS,
EIGHT MILES TO THE WEST,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
Vernon: OKAY, LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: ...CAPTAIN VERNON
HAS THE WILD RANGER READY
FOR ITS MAIDEN DREDGE
OF THE SEASON.
WE'RE MINING.
NO BULL[BLEEP] ABOUT IT.
WE'RE HERE TO GET THE GOLD.
I ASSEMBLED THE FINEST CREW
THAT THERE IS IN NOME.
MY DAUGHTER ELAINE
IS BACK THIS YEAR.
JUSTON --
HE'S A COMMERCIAL DIVER
AND HAS BEEN
FOR SIX OR SEVEN YEARS.
AND SPENSER
RECENTLY CAME ABOARD.
HE'S JUST AN ALL-AROUND,
CAN-DO-ANYTHING KIND OF GUY.
AND HE'S PRETTY DAMN EASY
TO GET ALONG WITH, UNLIKE JASON.
HE KNOWS
HE'S A ROYAL PAIN THE ASS.
VERN AND I ALWAYS END UP SAYING,
"ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT.
NO MORE."
YOU KNOW, "WE'RE NOT
WORKING TOGETHER ANYMORE."
AND THEN, INEVITABLY,
I END UP COMING RIGHT BACK.
VERN, I CAN'T WORK
ON THE WILD RANGER.
Narrator:
AFTER QUITTING AS A DECK HAND...
Vernon: LET'S GO. I'LL TAKE YOU
BACK TO YOUR HOUSE.
I'LL GET SOMEBODY OUT HERE
THAT CAN [BLEEP] DO THE JOB.
...AND BEING FIRED
AS A DECK HAND...
LOOKS GOOD.
...JASON WALKER HAS BEEN
GIVEN YET ANOTHER CHANCE...
THIS TIME AROUND,
I'M NOT FOLLOWING SOMEONE ELSE.
I'M NOT -- YOU KNOW,
I'M LEADING THIS CREW.
Narrator:
...AND, NATURALLY, A PROMOTION.
MY MAN JASON
CAME UP WITH THIS PLAN
TO PUT THIS EQUIPMENT TOGETHER.
JASON AND I DO TEND TO HAVE OUR
DIFFERENCES FROM TIME TO TIME.
BUT I KNOW HIM TO BE A DEDICATED
MINER, A VERY HARD WORKER.
I MEAN, HE'S IMPERVIOUS TO PAIN.
I MEAN, I BELIEVE
YOU COULD BEAT HIM IN THE HEAD
WITH A BALL-PEEN HAMMER.
IT WOULDN'T EVEN PHASE HIM.
HE PICKED OUT THIS SPOT.
HE GUARANTEES THERE'S GOLD
DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT HOLE.
AND WE'RE GONNA SEE JUST WHAT
KIND OF A GOLD FINDER HE IS,
IF HE'S BULL[BLEEP]
OR IF HE'S THE MAN.
IF HE'S THE MAN, I'LL ADMIT IT.
I'M A KICK-BUTT DREDGER,
AND I KNOW HOW TO FIND GOLD.
THIS PAST SUMMER, I WORKED
ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S DREDGE.
WE DID REALLY WELL IN
ONE TIGHT LITTLE SPOT,
AND I'M PRETTY CONFIDANT
THAT I CAN GET US RIGHT DOWN
ON THE GOLD.
GO FIND ME SOME GOLD.
FIND US SOME GOLD.
OKAY, JASON.
HE PICKED THIS SPOT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE ULTIMATE
CONSIDERATION, RIGHT THERE.
THE MAIN THING IS
TO GET THE GOLD.
Narrator:
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM,
THE WILD RANGER WINS THE RACE
TO GET IN THE WATER.
SPEAKING OF WHICH...
GO!
YEAH, BABY!
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
[BLEEP] TALKING ABOUT.
53-TIME LUCKY.
Narrator:
...AFTER THREE HOURS,
THE KELLY BOYS
ARE ONE STEP CLOSER.
BACK AT THE MISS NOMER...
GLEN: Hey, Jasmin,
the gold's really awesome.
YEAH, I'M ON THIS
PRETTY HARD-PACKED SAND.
I'M SEEING A LOT OF GOOD GOLD
ON IT.
OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE ON THE HOT SPOT.
...AFTER FIVE HOURS,
GLEN AND JASMIN
ARE WORKING LATE INTO THE NIGHT.
YEAH, I'M SEEING GOLD ON
MULTIPLE PAY LAYERS HERE.
THERE'S GOLD ON THIS CLAY.
THERE'S GOLD
ON THIS SAND.
THE CLAY
RUNS INTO THE SILT,
AND THEN THE SILT
RUNS INTO THE GRAVEL.
AND THERE'S JUST GOLD
EVERYWHERE AROUND HERE.
Narrator:
AT THE MISS NOMER...
I'M RIGHT HERE.
OKAY.
...AFTER NEARLY SIX HOURS
UNDER THE ICE,
GLEN LeBARON'S DIVE HOLE
IS FROZEN SHUT.
GLEN: Jas!
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
HOLY [BLEEP]
GOD.
UGH.
ZEKE'S ICE-SHACK RELIEF HOLE,
THE SAME ONE
GLEN DIDN'T SEE A NEED FOR,
JUST SAVED HIS LIFE.
I DIDN'T KNOW
YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO --
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT
YOU COULDN'T SEE THIS HOLE.
YEAH, WE'VE...
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A LIGHT
OVER HERE AT ALL TIMES.
[ GROANS ]
WHOA.
THERE'S NO AMOUNT OF GOLD
THAT'S WORTH DYING FOR.
JUST BEFORE I REALIZED
I WAS FROZEN IN,
I WAS ON REALLY AWESOME GOLD.
THAT'S WHEN THINGS
ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS,
BECAUSE YOU'RE SO DISTRACTED,
AND THAT'S WHEN THINGS
CAN GO WRONG.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
Shawn: MR. GOLD HERE.
FIRST DIVE OF THE SEASON.
SHAWN'S GONNA HOP DOWN
AND GO CHECK THIS SPOT OUT,
SEE IF THERE'S ANY GOLD.
Narrator:
...IT'S TIME TIME FOR THE
INAUGURAL DIVE ON THE SHAMROCK.
Shawn: YOU ALWAYS WANT TO
COME OUT ON TOP.
THE NUMBERS
AT THE END OF THE SEASON
SHOW WHO THE BEST DREDGER IS.
IF YOU'RE THE BEST DREDGER, YOU
NEED TO GET MORE GOLD THAN ME.
I'M MR. GOLD.
LITTLE BIT ANXIOUS TO
SEE WHAT'S DOWN HERE.
SPENT OVER $100,000
ON THIS DREDGE,
BUT THAT'S THE GAMBLE YOU TAKE
WHEN YOU GOLD MINE.
TIME TO GO MAKE SOME GOLD.
[ GROWLS ]
I SEE SOME COBBLE OVER THIS WAY
I'M GONNA GO CHECK OUT.
VIS IS PRETTY GOOD.
GO AHEAD, FLARE THE PUMP UP.
Cody: HOW DEEP'S THAT SAND
LOOKING?
IS IT GETTING DEEP,
OR IS IT JUST KIND OF
COVERING THE COBBLE?
EASY WORKINGS.
Narrator: AS SHAWN'S
$100,000 RIG GETS ROLLING,
300 YARDS AWAY...
Brad: SO, WHAT'S THE PLAN
DOWN THERE?
MY PLAN IS TO GET A LOT OF GOLD
AND WORK HARD.
...THE CHEAPEST DREDGE
ON THE ICE IS ALSO FIRING UP.
IT'S [BLEEP] COLD.
I THINK IT'S ALL GONNA WORK OUT
REALLY GOOD.
WE'RE ON A RICH AREA.
ALL I GOT TO DO DOWN THERE
IS PUT IN SOME HOURS.
Narrator: FOR THE REAPER,
IT'S ALL SYSTEMS GO...
...MOST OF THE SYSTEMS, ANYWAY.
HERE WE GO.
YOU READY?
COME ON.
PRETTY GHETTO.
JUST DON'T ROLL OVER
ON YOUR SIDE,
OR ONE SIDE
WILL FLIP OFF.
WITH NO WORKING COMMUNICATIONS
AND A WEIGHT BELT
MADE FROM A GARDEN HOSE,
THE FIGHTING KELLYS
ARE READY TO DIVE.
WHAT'S MY GOAL FOR THE SEASON?
15 OUNCES FOR MYSELF.
LIKE, $18,000
FOR A MONTH AND A HALF OF WORK
I CONSIDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
2 OUNCES TODAY.
AT LEAST $1,000 I'M GONNA MAKE.
WE GOT THIS MASK
FROM THE GOODWILL,
SO BE GRATEFUL WE GOT ONE.
GET THE DAMN GOLD.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
KRIS IS DOWN, FINALLY.
I HOPE HE GETS A LOT OF GOLD.
I AT LEAST HOPE HE CAN EARN
HIS KEEP TODAY, YOU KNOW.
Narrator:
THE REAPER IS THE CLOSEST
TO THE SHORELINE,
DREDGING IN AN AREA NO DEEPER
THAN A BACKYARD SWIMMING POOL.
BOX ISN'T CHANGING COLORS YET.
Narrator:
BATTLING BOTH THE ELEMENTS
AND THE FAMILY BUDGET,
KRIS IS DIVING IN THE MOST
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IMAGINABLE.
YEAH, THERE WE GO THERE.
I SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SEE
ANY RIPPLES OR ANYTHING.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT.
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME, ALASKA...
A LITTLE TOBACCO
CALMS THE NERVES.
Narrator:
...AFTER FIVE HOURS OF DREDGING
IN DANGEROUSLY SHALLOW WATER,
KRIS KELLY
IS HEADED BACK TOPSIDE.
BUT THE LOW TIDE HAS
DROPPED THE OVERHEAD ICE DOWN
TO JUST TWO FEET OF CLEARANCE.
AS KRIS STRUGGLES
TO MAKE IT BACK TO SAFETY,
TOPSIDE, HIS DAD AND BROTHER
ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE.
YOU NOT FEELING IT TODAY,
OR WHAT?
HUH?
EASY.
IF WE EVER HAVE TO DO
AN EMERGENCY ASCENT,
WE'RE [BLEEP] DEAD.
WHY?
BECAUSE
THAT CAN'T COME OFF.
THERE'S LIKE THAT MUCH
TO GET IN BETWEEN.
YOU CAN'T [BLEEP] SEE.
HOW LOW IS IT RIGHT NOW,
THE GAP?
LIKE 2½ FEET.
LIKE THAT [BLEEP] BIG, MAN.
I'M JIGGLING INSIDE.
I GOT THAT [BLEEP] WEIGHT BELT
ON.
THESE KIDS, YOU KNOW,
THEY EXAGGERATE EVERY SITUATION.
BACK IN 1952 OR '40,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A COMM BOX
TO TALK TO THE DIVER.
THEY GAVE A COUPLE YARDS
ON THE LINE, UP YOU CAME.
ANDY, BE CAREFUL, MAN.
BECAUSE IT'S --
IT'S REAL [BLEEP] DANGEROUS.
I SWEAR TO GOD, YOU ONLY GOT
A [BLEEP] ENTRANCE THIS BIG.
IT'S LIKE CAVE DIVING.
Narrator: DESPITE THE DANGER,
FATHER KNOWS BEST.
I'D LIKE TO KEEP A MINIMUM
OF 10 OUNCES A WEEK.
YOU KNOW, AND IF I CAN
KEEP THE KIDS WORKING,
10 OUNCES A WEEK,
THAT'S NOTHING.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
Narrator: WHILE THE KELLY BOYS
RELY ON THE LUCK OF THE IRISH,
OVER AT THE SHAMROCK...
HOW'S THE GROUND LOOKING
DOWN THERE?
IS IT PRETTY BEAT UP?
OH, HECK.
YEAH, I AIN'T SEEING [BLEEP]
IN THIS SPOT.
...FOR SHAWN POMRENKE,
THE FIRST SPOT ISN'T LIVING UP
TO MR. GOLD STANDARD.
IT'S NOT WORTH DREDGING [BLEEP]
IN THE WINTER, I'M LOOKING FOR,
YOU KNOW,
3, 4 OUNCE AN HOUR MATERIAL,
WHICH IS STARTING TO GET MORE
RARE AND MORE RARE OUT THERE.
SO, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
DO A LOT MORE MOVES
AND A LOT MORE SEARCHING
TO FIND IT.
THE MOVING IS A PAIN IN THE ASS,
BUT IF YOU DON'T MOVE,
YOU AIN'T GONNA FIND THE GOLD.
NOPE.
NOPE.
NOPE.
MR. GOLD CAN'T FIND NO GOLD!
Narrator:
OVER AT THE WILD RANGER...
Vernon: HE'S COMING UP.
...VERNON'S CREW HAS BEEN
MINING AROUND THE CLOCK
FOR TWO FULL DAYS.
Vernon: JASON WAS WORKING HERE
LAST SUMMER.
WE KNOW JASON
WAS GETTING GOOD GOLD LAST YEAR.
I'VE GOT A LOT OF MONEY
INVESTED IN EQUIPMENT.
THE DIVERS, THEY GOT THEIR TIME
AND ENERGY INVESTED.
EVERYBODY'S JUST GOT HIGH HOPES
THAT WE'LL DROP RIGHT DOWN
ON TOP OF THE MOTHER LODE.
BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS
YOU NEVER CAN TELL.
THERE'S A LOT OF TENSION
AND SUSPENSE IN THE AIR.
WE'RE GONNA CHECK THE TEST MATS
AND SEE WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL
HE WAS IN.
Narrator:
NOW, TO SEE IF JASON HAS
LED THEM TO THE PROMISED LAND,
THEY'RE PANNING OUT THE FIRST
FEW FEET OF THE SLUICE BOX.
Jason: I LIKE IT.
[ CHUCKLES ] WHOO.
I'M ON SOME GOLD.
THAT'S A DAMN GOOD
TEST MAT.
NOT REALLY SURPRISED.
I'M JUST CONFIRMING
WHAT I ALREADY KNEW.
AFTER ALL THE SEASONS
IN THE PAST,
WHEN I'VE COME UP HERE
AND JUST BOMBED OUT,
SO MANY FALSE STARTS,
I'LL TELL YOU,
YOU CAN'T IMAGINE
HOW GOOD IT FEELS
TO FINALLY GET ON
SOME GOOD, SOLID GOLD.
Jason:
THAT LOOKS GOOD.
LOOK AT THAT
CHUNKY [BLEEP]
LOT OF CHUNKY.
[ LAUGHING ]
YOU GONNA GO
GET SOME MORE?
YEAH, I'M GONNA GO
GET SOME MORE,
BUT I'M GONNA SMOKE A CIGARETTE
FIRST.
GOOD IDEA.
THAT FEELS GREAT!
THAT FEELS GREAT.
FEELS GREAT.
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD PILE
OF GOLD RIGHT THERE.
DEFINITELY
A BEAUTIFUL THING.
HERE WE ARE
AND ON THE SPOT THAT I FOUND.
I MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE A PICTURE
OF THAT.
I EARNED THE RIGHT
TO BE IN CHARGE.
I PAID MY DUES.
I'VE BEEN HERE
FOR THREE SEASONS.
I DON'T NEED
10 YEARS' EXPERIENCE.
I LEARNED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS
WHAT I NEED TO DO
AND HOW TO DO THIS.
[BLEEP]
IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE,
FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET TO
THE MOON AND DO MOON MINING.
[ LAUGHS ]
WE'RE NOT MINING HELIUM-3.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF GOLD
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN.
♪ GOLD MINING IS SOMETHING
YOU DO NOT EVERYDAY ♪
Narrator: AFTER GOING ALL-IN
AS A CAPTAIN...
I'M THE KING OF THE ICEBERGS!
HIT ONE FOR ME.
I DARE YOU.
Narrator:
...STEVE RIEDEL...
GET OFF THE DREDGE.
...IS NOW A MAN
WITHOUT A DREDGE.
I NEED ABOUT $5,000
TO GET THE MINNOW BACK,
AND I THINK I CAN DO THAT
BY THE END OF ICE.
Narrator: NOW,
INSTEAD OF PANNING FOR GOLD,
HE'S PANNING
FOR SPARE CHANGE.
SING ME A SONG,
STEVE!
Steve R.: THANKS, MR.
$6.00.
$6.60 TOWARDS THE MINNOW.
THAT'LL BUY MAYBE BREAKFAST
TOMORROW.
Narrator: AFTER THREE DAYS
ON THE FROZEN BERING SEA...
ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.
IT'S GOLD MINING.
Narrator: ...THE FIRST RESULTS
ARE COMING IN.
IT'S DEFINITELY A LOT HARDER
IN THE WINTER.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE AIN'T ON AS MUCH GOLD
AS I'D LIKE TO BE,
BUT WE'LL JUST KEEP FOLLOWING,
AND HOPEFULLY
IT TURNS INTO SOMETHING BIG.
Narrator: FOR SHAWN POMRENKE
AND THE SHAMROCK,
THE FIRST DIVE HOLE IS A BUST.
INDICATIONS ARE,
WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD GOLD.
Narrator:
BUT OVER ON THE WILD RANGER,
THINGS ARE LOOKING
MUCH MORE PROMISING.
THIS ICE SEASON,
IT COST ME A BUNCH OF MONEY.
I'M -- I DON'T EVEN
WANT TO DO THE MATH.
BUT I THINK WITH THIS CLEANUP
THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW...
OH, YEAH.
...I THINK
I'M GONNA TURN A PROFIT.
LET'S STOP IT AND TAKE A LOOK,
JUST AS A MORALE BOOSTER.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
WHOO! WOW.
TOO MUCH GOLD.
GOLD DRIPPING OFF ON THE FLOOR.
I'M DAMN PROUD OF MYSELF.
I'M DAMN PROUD OF MYSELF.
Narrator:
WHILE VERNON WAITS TO SEE
JUST HOW BIG HIS PAYDAY WILL BE,
AT THE MISS NOMER...
Glen: [ CHUCKLES ]
THERE WE GO.
...AFTER LEARNING THE VALUE
OF AN ICE-SHACK RELIEF HOLE,
GLEN AND ZEKE ARE ABOUT TO LEARN
THE VALUE OF THEIR GOLD.
AND WE GOT 14.95 OUNCES.
THIS IS GOOD.
WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD START HERE.
Narrator:
14.95 OUNCES IS WORTH $19,500.
IT COULD GET BETTER.
IT'LL PROBABLY GET WORSE.
NO,
IT'S GONNA GET WAY BETTER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
WAY BETTER.
Zeke: YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
HAVE TAUGHT ME
THAT THIS ACTUALLY
IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY GLEN DOESN'T REALIZE
THAT I KNOW WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY THAT.
Narrator: AS GLEN AND ZEKE
GET BACK TO WORK...
Emily: AND I'M GOING WITH
WHERE WE WERE DREDGING LAST.
THERE WAS SOME GOOD GOLD.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE
GLEN'S BEEN DREDGING
RIGHT ABOUT WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
Narrator:
...EMILY RIEDEL IS LOOKING
TO MOVE IN ON THEIR TURF.
THIS SPOT'S GONNA WORK GREAT.
IT'S FLAT.
THERE ARE NO PRESSURE RIDGES.
MY GOAL THIS SEASON IS,
I'M TIRED OF 50 OUNCES.
I'M TIRED OF 100 OUNCES.
I WANT MORE.
AND I WANT TO DO
WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO GET IT.
Narrator: BACK IN NOME,
FOR THE KELLY CLAN...
9.94 OUNCES.
JUST A SMIDGEN UNDER 10 OUNCES.
...FINALLY FREE OF STEVE RIEDEL,
THEIR FIRST WINTER PAYDAY
IS MORE THAN THEY MADE
ALL LAST SUMMER.
BE $10,698.
Brad: PERFECT.
OUR HOPES ARE DEFINITELY HIGH
THAT WE DO WELL THIS SEASON.
IF WE GET ALONG
AND WORK TOGETHER,
I SEE IT BEING A GREAT SEASON.
I REALLY DO.
CAN YOU KEEP THESE GUYS BUSY
FOR A FEW MINUTES, BILL,
WHILE I CAN GET OUT OF HERE?
CAN YOU DO THAT?
NO, NO, NO. I'M AFRAID I'D HAVE
TO REACH FOR MY SECURITY SYSTEM.
WELL, FINALLY A PAYDAY.
THANKS, STEVE.
[ LAUGHS ]
AND THIS IS NOTHING COMPARED
TO WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET.
Narrator: ACROSS TOWN...
Vernon:
OKAY, HERE IT GOES.
...AT VERNON ADKISON'S
TRAILER...
Jason: GO. GO!
LOOKING LOVELY.
...IN THE SAME SPOT
WHERE VERNON HAS STRUCK OUT...
Man: 2.42.
DOWNRIGHT PITIFUL.
...OVER...
1.23.
Man: WHAT?
...AND OVER...
...AND OVER...
Vernon:
TOTAL FINANCIAL RUIN.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.
Jason: YEAH.
LOOKING GOOD.
32.6.
Narrator:
...HE'S FINALLY STRUCK GOLD.
THE FIRST HAUL IS WORTH
A WHOPPING $42,500.
GOOD START RIGHT THERE.
GOOD START.
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD START.
HELL, YEAH.
EVERYBODY IS DAMN NEAR ECSTATIC.
THERE'S MORE GOLD
THAT'S CLEANED OUT
THAN ANY OF US HAVE EVER SEEN
IN ANY CLEANOUT.
I MEAN,
IT'S A REALLY GOOD CLEANOUT.
THIS IS THE BEST GOLD
THAT VERN HAS EVER SEEN
IN ANY OF HIS OPERATIONS.
YOU KNOW, THE FIRST COUPLE OF
TIMES I WAS INVOLVED WITH HIM,
I HAD NO SAY.
THEN HE HIRED ME
TO RUN HIS ICE OPERATION,
AND HE'S SUCCEEDING
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
Vernon: GOLD RESONATES
WITH THE SOUL, YOU KNOW.
IT'S LIKE,
GET SOME GOLD ON THE TABLE,
IT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.
Narrator:
VERNON'S 32.6 OUNCES PUTS HIM
AT THE TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD,
WHILE MR. GOLD AND MISS RIEDEL
ARE YET TO MAKE A DIME.
WE GOT DRAGONS TO SLAY.
WE GOT DRAGONS TO SLAY.
THERE BE DRAGONS.
THAT'S WHY WE COME TO NOME!
[BLEEP] GREEDY.
Zeke:
THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY
THAT I'LL HAVE TO GO TO JAIL
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
I TOLD YOU I NEEDED AIR!
NOW! PULL ME UP!
THIS IS MY SPOT,
AND I BROUGHT YOU HERE!
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
I WANT TO HAVE
A BIG ENOUGH PILE OF GOLD
TO SIT BACK AND SAY,
"DAMN, I DID GOOD."
Kevin: [ HOWLS ]
THANK [BLEEP] GOD!
Emily:
WHEN YOU GO UNDER THE ICE, YOU
MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT.
OH [BLEEP]
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Vernon: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER,
I'M GONNA GET THE GOLD.
[BLEEP] YOUR [BLEEP]
GOD!
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M [BLEEP] DOING?
Zeke: SOME GUYS
ARE GETTING POTS OF GOLD.
I THINK THAT I MIGHT HAVE
A GOOD CHANCE OF GETTING LUCKY.
GOLD RIGHT THERE,
BROTHER.
4½ POUNDS.
YEAH!
YEAH!
♪ LISTEN UP CLOSE, NOW
♪ WHAT I SAY
♪ I'M A-GONNA HEAD OUT WEST
ONE DAY ♪
♪ I HEARD ABOUT A FORTUNE
TO BE MADE ♪
♪ AND I'M A-GONNA GET IT,
NOW, JUST YOU WAIT ♪
♪ GOLD
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA...
THERE'S GOLD EVERYWHERE HERE.
YOU CAN MAKE MONEY
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND.
Narrator: ...THE CENTER
OF THE GOLD-MINING UNIVERSE.
Vernon: THERE ARE HUNDREDS
OF TONS OF GOLD OUT THERE.
IT'S WORTH ABOUT $2.5 BILLION.
Narrator:
EVERY WINTER, DARING MINERS
CUT HOLES IN THE ICE,
FIRE UP THEIR SLUICE BOXES,
AND RISK THEIR LIVES IN
THE 25-DEGREE BERING SEA
FOR A CHANCE TO STRIKE IT RICH.
Shawn:
SOMETIMES, YOU GO, "WHY IN
THE HELL AM I DOING THIS?"
BUT THIS IS WHAT I LOVE TO DO.
AM I GONNA SIT IN AN OFFICE
AND PUSH PAPERS,
OR AM I GONNA BE OUT HERE,
FINDING GOLD?
I LOVE MY JOB.
Narrator:
FOR THOSE TOUGH ENOUGH...
2014 ICE MINING.
LET'S GO.
Narrator:
...FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD.
Shawn:
ICE IS THIN AS HELL THIS YEAR.
HOPEFULLY,
WE DON'T FALL THROUGH.
Zeke: IT'S WHAT GETS MINERS
OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING,
IS THAT THEY'RE GAMBLERS.
"WELL, MAYBE TODAY
WILL BE THE DAY.
WILL I HIT IT BIG?"
Narrator: IN A SHORT SEASON,
MINERS ARE FOCUSING
ON TWO OFF-SHORE CLAIMS
KNOWN TO BE RICH IN GOLD --
THE TINY CLAIM 14, JUST ONE MILE
EAST OF THE HARBOR,
AND THE TOMCOD CLAIM, LOCATED
SEVEN MILES WEST OF TOWN.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE WINTER,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY GOLD SEASON.
Narrator:
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
Shawn: MR. GOLD'S GONNA MAKE
SOME GOLD TODAY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
...SHAWN POMRENKE AND
THE SHAMROCK ARE BACK IN ACTION.
Shawn:
HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GO DOWN THERE
AND GET RIGHT ON THE GOLD.
AFTER LAST WINTER,
WE CAN'T DO ANY WORSE.
Narrator: ONE YEAR AGO...
WE GOT A LOT TO DO
IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
Narrator: ...A LATE START...
Steve P.: BUSTED PIECES
FROM THE PUMP DRIVE.
...AND A BROKEN DRIVE SHAFT
RUINED THE POMRENKE SEASON.
Shawn: LOOK AT ALL
THOSE DAMN NUGGETS.
LOOK HOW SHINY THAT IS.
BUT A $1.1 MILLION SUMMER
BROUGHT REDEMPTION
AND A NEW NICKNAME.
THEY DON'T CALL ME "MR. GOLD"
FOR NOTHING.
Narrator:
IF HE WANTS TO KEEP THE TITLE,
HE'LL HAVE TO FINALLY
TURN A PROFIT
WITH HIS $100,000 WINTER DREDGE.
I THINK I'M GONNA GET 'EM.
WE'LL BE ROCKING AND ROLLING,
PUT GOLD IN THE BOX TOMORROW.
Narrator: JOINING THE SHAMROCK
A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY...
Vernon: ALL RIGHT.
1, 2, 3, GO.
WILD RANGER OWNER
VERNON ADKISON
ONCE AGAIN GUNNING
FOR A COMEBACK.
BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
ENGINE ROOM MOVED INTO PLACE.
MOVED THE SLUICE BOX INTO PLACE.
AND PROBABLY IN A COUPLE HOURS,
WE'LL BE READY TO GO MINING.
Narrator:
FOR THREE SEASONS...
...VERNON HAS SPENT OVER
$1 MILLION CHASING GOLD.
NO GOLD.
THERE'S VERY MINOR GOLD.
...BUT HAS COLLECTED
JUST 105 OUNCES.
I REALLY, TRULY BELIEVE
THIS IS GONNA PAY OFF FOR US.
Vernon:
LAST SEASON IN THE SUMMER
WAS NOT A SUCCESSFUL SEASON,
AND LAST WINTER WASN'T, EITHER.
CALLING IT QUITS AND GOING HOME
CROSSED MY MIND,
BUT I ROLLED A LOT OF MONEY
INTO THIS OPERATION.
WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE
THIS, I'M NOT HALF-STEPPING.
EITHER I'M GONNA MAKE IT
IN A FAIRLY BIG WAY,
OR I'M GONNA BE TOAST.
WE GOT A RIG HERE
THAT'S PRETTY DAMN NICE.
IT'S A HONKING MACHINE.
Narrator:
VERNON'S HONKING MACHINE
INCLUDES AN 8x16-FOOT
ENGINEERING ROOM ON SKIS,
A 24-FOOT CLEANUP SHACK,
TOPSIDE SLUICE BOX
CONNECTED TO 60 FEET OF HOSE,
AND A STATE-OF-THE-ART
COMMUNICATION STATION.
Vernon: I PICKED IT UP
FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT,
BUT THE ENGINE RUNS GOOD,
THE HEATER WORKS GOOD.
VERN OVER THERE WITH PILES
OF [BLEEP] EVERYWHERE.
CLEAN YOUR SPOT UP.
Vernon: BEEN A LONG TIME
PUTTING IT TOGETHER,
AND, YOU KNOW,
FINGERS CROSSED IT'S GONNA WORK.
Narrator: WHILE THE SHAMROCK
AND WILD RANGER
RACE TO GET ON THE GOLD,
EIGHT MILES UP THE COAST,
ON CLAIM 14...
Zeke: BE MY FIRST TIME DOWN
THIS WINTER.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.
Narrator:
...THE REIGNING WINTER GOLD
CHAMPION, ZEKE TENHOFF,
IS FINALLY RETURNING
TO FULL-TIME MINING.
THIS PAST SUMMER,
I GOT A LITTLE ROWDY
AND GOT KIND OF MIXED UP
WITH THE PO-PO.
Narrator:
LAST SUMMER, FOLLOWING THE DEATH
OF HIS BEST FRIEND,
ZEKE'S LIFE
SPUN OUT OF CONTROL...
THEY DRAG ME
OUT OF THE COP CAR,
AND THEY WRESTLE ME DOWN
TO THE GROUND LIKE THIS
AND HOLD MY HEAD DOWN
LIKE THIS.
...ENDING WITH AN ARREST
FOR MULTIPLE FELONIES.
[ LAUGHS ]
I HAVE A COURT DATE FOR
MY FINAL SENTENCING NEXT WEEK.
AND, REALLY, THE ONLY THING
BETWEEN ME AND GOING TO JAIL
IS THIS EXPENSIVE LAWYER
THAT I HAVE, WHO'S A GREAT GUY.
BUT HE NEEDS TO GET PAID, AND
HE'S COMING TO TOWN NEXT WEEK.
Narrator:
TO BUY HIS FREEDOM,
ZEKE IS PAYING MORE
THAN ONE STEEP PRICE.
THE OTHER?
ZEKE DOESN'T HAVE IT BAD.
HE CAN'T COMPLAIN.
HE'S GOT THE BEST MINING PARTNER
OUT HERE.
Narrator:
WORKING FOR SELF-PROCLAIMED
SUPER DREDGER GLEN LeBARON
AND DOING EVERYTHING
BY HIS RULES.
THIS IS THE MISS NOMER.
IT'S, LIKE, COMPLETELY MY IDEA.
EVERYTHING WE DID HERE
WAS IN LIEU OF,
LIKE, ZEKE GETTING HIS WAY.
THIS IS THE ENTRANCE TO EL
DORADO, WHERE ALL THE GOLD'S AT.
THERE'S NO REASON
FOR IT TO BE INDOORS.
Narrator: GLEN'S PLAN IS
TO DIVE IN THE OPEN AIR,
JUST LIKE HE'S ALWAYS DONE
WHILE RIVER MINING.
Zeke:
I DON'T LIKE BEING COLD,
ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE, YOU KNOW,
DOING A LOT OF NIGHT DIVING
AND IF THE TEMPERATURE DROPS,
AND WHO KNOWS?
GLEN HAS A LOT
OF DREDGING EXPERIENCE.
BUT THE FACT IS, HE DOESN'T HAVE
A WHOLE LOT OF EXPERIENCE
IN THE OCEAN UP HERE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.
Glen: ZEKE RECENTLY BROUGHT OUT
THIS OTHER ICE SHACK,
WHICH HE'S BEEN WORKING ON
FOR THE LAST WEEK.
Narrator: AT ZEKE'S REQUEST,
GLEN HAS AGREED
TO A SECOND RELIEF HOLE
INSIDE AN 8x16-FOOT DIVE SHACK.
HERE ME TALKING [BLEEP] ZEKE?
NOTHING.
ZEKE AND I RESPECT EACH OTHER
AS MINERS.
BUT I'M ONE OF THE MOST
ACCOMPLISHED GOLD DREDGERS
ON THE PLANET.
ZEKE IS STILL A BEGINNER.
I WOULDN'T CONSIDER
ZEKE ANYWHERE NEAR ME,
BECAUSE I'VE SPENT SO MUCH MORE
TIME DREDGING THAN ZEKE HAS.
Narrator: THIS SEASON,
THE BOYS WILL BE MINING
WITH GLEN'S
ONE-OF-A-KIND INVENTION --
AN UNDERWATER DREDGE
HE NAMED "THE DRAGON."
HEY, WHAT'S THE STATUS?
YOU HAVE THE NOZZLE?
Let's get this party started,
man.
ALL RIGHT, YEAH.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE'RE ABOUT TO GET SOME GOLD.
WHOO!
THE SAND IS SO FINE
AND SO DENSE,
IT CREATES
AN ARTIFICIAL HARD PAN.
JUST, YOU KNOW [BLEEP] DANCE,
SEA MONKEY, DANCE.
ZEKE MAY OR MAY NOT REALIZE
THE FACT
THAT HE'S WORKING WITH ME
IS GONNA ALLOW HIM
TO JUMP, LIKE, YEARS IN ADVANCE.
AS LONG AS ZEKE LISTENS TO ME,
WE'RE GONNA DO REALLY WELL
THIS SEASON.
I'VE GOT LEGITIMATE CREDIBILITY
THAT I'VE REALLY WORKED HARD
TO EARN.
YOU KNOW, IF ANYONE WANTS TO
[BLEEP] PISS ME OFF,
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS TELL ME
THAT I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT
OR THAT I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO DREDGE,
AND I'M GONNA BE
REALLY [BLEEP] PISSED OFF.
Narrator: BACK IN TOWN...
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE
THAT OUR GOAL
IS TO GET ON THE ICE
TOMORROW.
THE SIDE'S ALMOST DONE WELDED.
WE'LL GET THAT SIDE DONE WELDED.
AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO,
SECOND DAY.
...WHILE OTHER CREWS
ARE ALREADY ON THE ICE,
EMILY RIEDEL, THE ONLY FEMALE
DREDGE OWNER IN THE FLEET,
IS STILL PUTTING
HER RIG TOGETHER.
I'M LATE GETTING OUT HERE.
YOU KNOW, I ENDED
REALLY STRONGLY LAST SEASON,
AND WE GOT A LOT OF GOLD,
AND THAT WAS AMAZING.
BUT THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AS
A CAPTAIN DURING THE ICE SEASON.
I HAVE SO MUCH TO PROVE.
Narrator: LAST SUMMER...
IF THIS IS A TEST AS
A FIRST-TIME CAPTAIN,
I THINK I'M FAILING.
Narrator:
...AFTER EMILY'S DIVERS
QUIT MID-SEASON...
[ IMITATES BUGS BUNNY ]
THAT'S ALL, FOLKS.
Narrator:
...SHE PICKED UP A NEW TEAM...
YOU STILL
SEEING SOME GOLD?
...AND PULLED OFF
A 109-OUNCE COMEBACK.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU DOUBTING [BLEEP] OUT THERE.
MY JOURNEY OF BEING IN NOME HAS
GONE FROM BEING ABSOLUTELY BROKE
AND LIVING IN A BEACH SHACK
TO OWNING MY OWN DREDGE.
AND NOW I WANT MORE.
BUT I WANT TO BE THE BEST NOME
GOLD DREDGER THAT EVER EXISTED.
Narrator: AFTER PAYING OFF
HER SUMMER DREDGE,
SHE'S GONE BACK INTO DEBT TO BUY
TOP-OF-THE-LINE ICE-MINING GEAR.
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE MOST
LEGIT DIVE HEATER IN NOME.
I GUARANTEE IT.
MY OPERATION SO FAR
HAS COST ME ABOUT $50,000.
MY GOAL THIS SEASON
WAS TO ASSEMBLE
THE MOST PROFESSIONAL COMMERCIAL
DIVING OPERATION EVER.
Tony: SHE MUST HAVE A LOT
OF FAITH IN US AS CREW
TO SINK THIS MUCH MONEY
IN NEW EQUIPMENT,
DOWN TO HER LAST DIME.
Narrator:
EMILY'S BETTING THE HOUSE
ON COMMERCIAL DIVE EQUIPMENT,
BUT HER BIGGEST GAMBLE
IS ON A SECRET WEAPON...
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, WE'RE
USING A SUBMERSIBLE DREDGE,
AND IT WAS DESIGNED FOR US
BY ROB,
WHO WORKED WITH GLEN AND ZEKE
LAST YEAR.
Narrator:
...THE PROTOTYPE FOR A NEW
UNDERWATER RECOVERY SYSTEM
BASED ON GLEN'S DESIGN
FOR THE DRAGON.
Emily:
NOW, THE BEAUTY OF THIS THING
IS THAT IT'S ON THE STAND
AND IT SWIVELS.
WE HAVE A 360-DEGREE RADIUS.
MY GOAL IS TO BUILD SOMETHING
THAT RECOVERS GOLD
BETTER THAN GLEN'S DRAGON.
WHATEVER GLEN IS DOING UP HERE,
I JUST WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING
THAT'S BETTER.
YOU KNOW,
WE'RE GOOD AT SLAYING DRAGONS.
IT'S GONNA BE THE DESOLATION
OF GLEN.
HE THINKS HE'S GOT THE DRAGON.
WELL, WE GOT THE SLAYER,
SO IT'S ALL GOOD.
WE'RE DELAYED GETTING OUT.
EVERYONE'S GOT A HEAD START.
HOPEFULLY,
ONCE WE GET THIS THING GOING...
[ LAUGHS ] I'D SAY IT'S A GOOD
THING THEY GOT A HEAD START,
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA BLOW
THEM OUT OF THE [BLEEP] ICE.
Narrator:
SEVEN MILES WEST OF NOME HARBOR,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
THERE YOU GO!
...FOR THE FIRST TIME
AS DREDGE OWNERS,
THE KELLY FAMILY
IS HITTING THE ICE.
Kris: WE'RE GONNA GET OUT THERE,
PUNCH A COUPLE HOLES.
YOU KNOW,
WITH THE LUCK OF THE IRISH,
WE'RE GONNA GET ON THE GOLD
THIS AFTERNOON.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT HAPPENS
FOR US.
Brad: THE REAPER ICE DREDGE
IS 13 FEET TALL,
13 FEET WIDE, 26 FEET LONG.
IF WE GET 50 GRAND A WEEK, WE'LL
BE HAPPY. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
AFTER OUR FAILING SEASON WITH
STEVE, WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
Narrator: LAST SEASON...
WE'RE OUT OF HERE.
WE'RE DONE. WE'RE DONE.
TOO MUCH WAVES.
...BRAD AND HIS TWO SONS,
KRIS AND ANDY...
HERE IS YOUR GOLD,
ANDY.
...GOT LESS THAN 9 OUNCES...
THAT'S PITIFUL.
...WORKING
FOR STEVE RIEDEL.
EVERYBODY STILL ASSOCIATES ME
WITH WORKING ON THE MINNOW
AND GETTING NO [BLEEP] GOLD.
YEAH, IT'S A PRETTY
[BLEEP] FEELING, YOU KNOW.
LIKE, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO SAY.
THAT'S SHAWN'S OVER THERE
TO THE RIGHT. THAT'S VERN.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO 300 YARDS
TO THE LEFT OF THEM.
WE'RE LIKE THIS [BLEEP] CLOSE
TO MAKING SOME MONEY,
AND I AM SUPER EXCITED.
Narrator: NOW THE FIGHTING IRISH
HAVE COBBLED TOGETHER
THE CHEAPEST DREDGE ON THE ICE,
THE REAPER.
Brad: THAT'S IT, MAN.
I'M ON ICE, TOO.
FOR THE ICE SHACK,
YOU HAVE $1,200 FOR THE WOOD.
I DID ALL THE LABOR.
SHIPPED HERE WAS ANOTHER $300.
SO, YOU KNOW,
UNDER 2 GRAND FOR THE ICE SHACK.
LOOKS REAL GHETTO FABULOUS
IN HERE,
BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES.
Kris: WE'RE KIND OF
OUR OWN WORST ENEMY,
BUT WHEN WE HAVE AN ENEMY IN
COMMON, WE'RE [BLEEP] GREAT.
WE'RE, LIKE, UNITED.
WE'RE A FAMILY.
BUT WHEN WE ONLY HAVE OURSELVES
TO GO AGAINST,
IT'S LIKE, "JESUS," YOU KNOW.
THAT'S WHEN WE KILL EACH OTHER.
GET THE [BLEEP]
OUT OF THE WAY.
Narrator:
UNLIKE THEIR NEW NEIGHBORS
OVER ON THE SHAMROCK...
ICE HOLES ARE A CAKEWALK
THIS YEAR.
Narrator:
...FOR THE REAPER BOYS...
YOU [BLEEP] PIECE OF [BLEEP]
Narrator: ...DIVE HOLES
ARE A WEE BIT COMPLICATED.
Kris: GO!
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
SECOND ATTEMPT RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, HOLD IT.
OKAY, GO!
GO AGAIN.
WOW.
YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS EASY,
EVERYBODY WOULD BE DOING IT.
GO!
WHOA.
I'M OKAY, EVERYBODY.
THANKS FOR [BLEEP] WONDERING.
Narrator:
WHILE THE KELLYS SLUG IT OUT
WITH AN ICE CUBE,
EIGHT MILES TO THE EAST...
...AFTER SIX HOURS OF DREDGING,
ZEKE IS CHECKING IN
ON THE FRUITS OF HIS LABOR.
LOTS OF GOLD?
OKAY, I'LL MEET YOU
AT THE DIVE HOLE.
THIS HOLE IS REALLY SMALL.
[ CHUCKLES ]
FIRST DAY DOWN, AND I'M STAYING
ON SOME PRETTY DECENT GOLD.
IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT,
AND I THINK IT'LL PILE UP.
LAST YEAR, GLEN AND I
AND THE REST OF OUR ICE TEAM
DID BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE,
AND, I MEAN, THERE'S VERY LITTLE
DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT WE'LL DO THAT AGAIN.
IT'S OKAY WHEN IT'S WARM.
BEING WARM IS FOR WIMPS.
OR IF YOU'RE OUT HERE
BY YOURSELF
AND THE HOLE FREEZERS OVER SO
MUCH YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH IT.
THAT WOULD BE [BLEEP]
BUT IF YOU'RE,
LIKE, OUT OF AIR.
BUT SAFETY IS OVERRATED,
RIGHT?
WELL, YEAH.
KNOCK YOURSELF OUT DOWN THERE.
KNOCK MYSELF OUT
SOME BIG NUGGETS.
I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF TREPIDATION
ABOUT MY PARTNERSHIP WITH GLEN.
I WON'T LIE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL
THAT IT'S DIFFICULT FOR GLEN
TO WORK WITH ME, AS WELL.
Narrator:
FOR GLEN'S SHIFT, HE'S BROUGHT
OUT HIS GIRLFRIEND...
GETTING COLD OUT.
...JASMIN GEORGE, TO TEND.
THE NICE THING
ABOUT DREDGING WITH GIRLS
IS THEY DON'T WANT TO DREDGE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST SHOW UP
AND TRY TO MAKE OUR LIVES EASY,
AND THEN
WE CAN JUST FOCUS ON DREDGING.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR
LAST SUMMER THIS WINTER,
AND ALL THE MONEY THAT
I COULD HAVE MADE LAST SUMMER
NEEDS TO BE MADE NOW
SO THIS COMING SUMMER
WILL BE THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE.
Narrator:
AS GLEN GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS,
EIGHT MILES TO THE WEST,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
Vernon: OKAY, LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: ...CAPTAIN VERNON
HAS THE WILD RANGER READY
FOR ITS MAIDEN DREDGE
OF THE SEASON.
WE'RE MINING.
NO BULL[BLEEP] ABOUT IT.
WE'RE HERE TO GET THE GOLD.
I ASSEMBLED THE FINEST CREW
THAT THERE IS IN NOME.
MY DAUGHTER ELAINE
IS BACK THIS YEAR.
JUSTON --
HE'S A COMMERCIAL DIVER
AND HAS BEEN
FOR SIX OR SEVEN YEARS.
AND SPENSER
RECENTLY CAME ABOARD.
HE'S JUST AN ALL-AROUND,
CAN-DO-ANYTHING KIND OF GUY.
AND HE'S PRETTY DAMN EASY
TO GET ALONG WITH, UNLIKE JASON.
HE KNOWS
HE'S A ROYAL PAIN THE ASS.
VERN AND I ALWAYS END UP SAYING,
"ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT.
NO MORE."
YOU KNOW, "WE'RE NOT
WORKING TOGETHER ANYMORE."
AND THEN, INEVITABLY,
I END UP COMING RIGHT BACK.
VERN, I CAN'T WORK
ON THE WILD RANGER.
Narrator:
AFTER QUITTING AS A DECK HAND...
Vernon: LET'S GO. I'LL TAKE YOU
BACK TO YOUR HOUSE.
I'LL GET SOMEBODY OUT HERE
THAT CAN [BLEEP] DO THE JOB.
...AND BEING FIRED
AS A DECK HAND...
LOOKS GOOD.
...JASON WALKER HAS BEEN
GIVEN YET ANOTHER CHANCE...
THIS TIME AROUND,
I'M NOT FOLLOWING SOMEONE ELSE.
I'M NOT -- YOU KNOW,
I'M LEADING THIS CREW.
Narrator:
...AND, NATURALLY, A PROMOTION.
MY MAN JASON
CAME UP WITH THIS PLAN
TO PUT THIS EQUIPMENT TOGETHER.
JASON AND I DO TEND TO HAVE OUR
DIFFERENCES FROM TIME TO TIME.
BUT I KNOW HIM TO BE A DEDICATED
MINER, A VERY HARD WORKER.
I MEAN, HE'S IMPERVIOUS TO PAIN.
I MEAN, I BELIEVE
YOU COULD BEAT HIM IN THE HEAD
WITH A BALL-PEEN HAMMER.
IT WOULDN'T EVEN PHASE HIM.
HE PICKED OUT THIS SPOT.
HE GUARANTEES THERE'S GOLD
DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT HOLE.
AND WE'RE GONNA SEE JUST WHAT
KIND OF A GOLD FINDER HE IS,
IF HE'S BULL[BLEEP]
OR IF HE'S THE MAN.
IF HE'S THE MAN, I'LL ADMIT IT.
I'M A KICK-BUTT DREDGER,
AND I KNOW HOW TO FIND GOLD.
THIS PAST SUMMER, I WORKED
ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S DREDGE.
WE DID REALLY WELL IN
ONE TIGHT LITTLE SPOT,
AND I'M PRETTY CONFIDANT
THAT I CAN GET US RIGHT DOWN
ON THE GOLD.
GO FIND ME SOME GOLD.
FIND US SOME GOLD.
OKAY, JASON.
HE PICKED THIS SPOT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE ULTIMATE
CONSIDERATION, RIGHT THERE.
THE MAIN THING IS
TO GET THE GOLD.
Narrator:
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM,
THE WILD RANGER WINS THE RACE
TO GET IN THE WATER.
SPEAKING OF WHICH...
GO!
YEAH, BABY!
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
[BLEEP] TALKING ABOUT.
53-TIME LUCKY.
Narrator:
...AFTER THREE HOURS,
THE KELLY BOYS
ARE ONE STEP CLOSER.
BACK AT THE MISS NOMER...
GLEN: Hey, Jasmin,
the gold's really awesome.
YEAH, I'M ON THIS
PRETTY HARD-PACKED SAND.
I'M SEEING A LOT OF GOOD GOLD
ON IT.
OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE ON THE HOT SPOT.
...AFTER FIVE HOURS,
GLEN AND JASMIN
ARE WORKING LATE INTO THE NIGHT.
YEAH, I'M SEEING GOLD ON
MULTIPLE PAY LAYERS HERE.
THERE'S GOLD ON THIS CLAY.
THERE'S GOLD
ON THIS SAND.
THE CLAY
RUNS INTO THE SILT,
AND THEN THE SILT
RUNS INTO THE GRAVEL.
AND THERE'S JUST GOLD
EVERYWHERE AROUND HERE.
Narrator:
AT THE MISS NOMER...
I'M RIGHT HERE.
OKAY.
...AFTER NEARLY SIX HOURS
UNDER THE ICE,
GLEN LeBARON'S DIVE HOLE
IS FROZEN SHUT.
GLEN: Jas!
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
HOLY [BLEEP]
GOD.
UGH.
ZEKE'S ICE-SHACK RELIEF HOLE,
THE SAME ONE
GLEN DIDN'T SEE A NEED FOR,
JUST SAVED HIS LIFE.
I DIDN'T KNOW
YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO --
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT
YOU COULDN'T SEE THIS HOLE.
YEAH, WE'VE...
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A LIGHT
OVER HERE AT ALL TIMES.
[ GROANS ]
WHOA.
THERE'S NO AMOUNT OF GOLD
THAT'S WORTH DYING FOR.
JUST BEFORE I REALIZED
I WAS FROZEN IN,
I WAS ON REALLY AWESOME GOLD.
THAT'S WHEN THINGS
ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS,
BECAUSE YOU'RE SO DISTRACTED,
AND THAT'S WHEN THINGS
CAN GO WRONG.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...
Shawn: MR. GOLD HERE.
FIRST DIVE OF THE SEASON.
SHAWN'S GONNA HOP DOWN
AND GO CHECK THIS SPOT OUT,
SEE IF THERE'S ANY GOLD.
Narrator:
...IT'S TIME TIME FOR THE
INAUGURAL DIVE ON THE SHAMROCK.
Shawn: YOU ALWAYS WANT TO
COME OUT ON TOP.
THE NUMBERS
AT THE END OF THE SEASON
SHOW WHO THE BEST DREDGER IS.
IF YOU'RE THE BEST DREDGER, YOU
NEED TO GET MORE GOLD THAN ME.
I'M MR. GOLD.
LITTLE BIT ANXIOUS TO
SEE WHAT'S DOWN HERE.
SPENT OVER $100,000
ON THIS DREDGE,
BUT THAT'S THE GAMBLE YOU TAKE
WHEN YOU GOLD MINE.
TIME TO GO MAKE SOME GOLD.
[ GROWLS ]
I SEE SOME COBBLE OVER THIS WAY
I'M GONNA GO CHECK OUT.
VIS IS PRETTY GOOD.
GO AHEAD, FLARE THE PUMP UP.
Cody: HOW DEEP'S THAT SAND
LOOKING?
IS IT GETTING DEEP,
OR IS IT JUST KIND OF
COVERING THE COBBLE?
EASY WORKINGS.
Narrator: AS SHAWN'S
$100,000 RIG GETS ROLLING,
300 YARDS AWAY...
Brad: SO, WHAT'S THE PLAN
DOWN THERE?
MY PLAN IS TO GET A LOT OF GOLD
AND WORK HARD.
...THE CHEAPEST DREDGE
ON THE ICE IS ALSO FIRING UP.
IT'S [BLEEP] COLD.
I THINK IT'S ALL GONNA WORK OUT
REALLY GOOD.
WE'RE ON A RICH AREA.
ALL I GOT TO DO DOWN THERE
IS PUT IN SOME HOURS.
Narrator: FOR THE REAPER,
IT'S ALL SYSTEMS GO...
...MOST OF THE SYSTEMS, ANYWAY.
HERE WE GO.
YOU READY?
COME ON.
PRETTY GHETTO.
JUST DON'T ROLL OVER
ON YOUR SIDE,
OR ONE SIDE
WILL FLIP OFF.
WITH NO WORKING COMMUNICATIONS
AND A WEIGHT BELT
MADE FROM A GARDEN HOSE,
THE FIGHTING KELLYS
ARE READY TO DIVE.
WHAT'S MY GOAL FOR THE SEASON?
15 OUNCES FOR MYSELF.
LIKE, $18,000
FOR A MONTH AND A HALF OF WORK
I CONSIDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
2 OUNCES TODAY.
AT LEAST $1,000 I'M GONNA MAKE.
WE GOT THIS MASK
FROM THE GOODWILL,
SO BE GRATEFUL WE GOT ONE.
GET THE DAMN GOLD.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
KRIS IS DOWN, FINALLY.
I HOPE HE GETS A LOT OF GOLD.
I AT LEAST HOPE HE CAN EARN
HIS KEEP TODAY, YOU KNOW.
Narrator:
THE REAPER IS THE CLOSEST
TO THE SHORELINE,
DREDGING IN AN AREA NO DEEPER
THAN A BACKYARD SWIMMING POOL.
BOX ISN'T CHANGING COLORS YET.
Narrator:
BATTLING BOTH THE ELEMENTS
AND THE FAMILY BUDGET,
KRIS IS DIVING IN THE MOST
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IMAGINABLE.
YEAH, THERE WE GO THERE.
I SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SEE
ANY RIPPLES OR ANYTHING.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT.
Narrator:
OFF THE COAST OF NOME, ALASKA...
A LITTLE TOBACCO
CALMS THE NERVES.
Narrator:
...AFTER FIVE HOURS OF DREDGING
IN DANGEROUSLY SHALLOW WATER,
KRIS KELLY
IS HEADED BACK TOPSIDE.
BUT THE LOW TIDE HAS
DROPPED THE OVERHEAD ICE DOWN
TO JUST TWO FEET OF CLEARANCE.
AS KRIS STRUGGLES
TO MAKE IT BACK TO SAFETY,
TOPSIDE, HIS DAD AND BROTHER
ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE.
YOU NOT FEELING IT TODAY,
OR WHAT?
HUH?
EASY.
IF WE EVER HAVE TO DO
AN EMERGENCY ASCENT,
WE'RE [BLEEP] DEAD.
WHY?
BECAUSE
THAT CAN'T COME OFF.
THERE'S LIKE THAT MUCH
TO GET IN BETWEEN.
YOU CAN'T [BLEEP] SEE.
HOW LOW IS IT RIGHT NOW,
THE GAP?
LIKE 2½ FEET.
LIKE THAT [BLEEP] BIG, MAN.
I'M JIGGLING INSIDE.
I GOT THAT [BLEEP] WEIGHT BELT
ON.
THESE KIDS, YOU KNOW,
THEY EXAGGERATE EVERY SITUATION.
BACK IN 1952 OR '40,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A COMM BOX
TO TALK TO THE DIVER.
THEY GAVE A COUPLE YARDS
ON THE LINE, UP YOU CAME.
ANDY, BE CAREFUL, MAN.
BECAUSE IT'S --
IT'S REAL [BLEEP] DANGEROUS.
I SWEAR TO GOD, YOU ONLY GOT
A [BLEEP] ENTRANCE THIS BIG.
IT'S LIKE CAVE DIVING.
Narrator: DESPITE THE DANGER,
FATHER KNOWS BEST.
I'D LIKE TO KEEP A MINIMUM
OF 10 OUNCES A WEEK.
YOU KNOW, AND IF I CAN
KEEP THE KIDS WORKING,
10 OUNCES A WEEK,
THAT'S NOTHING.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
Narrator: WHILE THE KELLY BOYS
RELY ON THE LUCK OF THE IRISH,
OVER AT THE SHAMROCK...
HOW'S THE GROUND LOOKING
DOWN THERE?
IS IT PRETTY BEAT UP?
OH, HECK.
YEAH, I AIN'T SEEING [BLEEP]
IN THIS SPOT.
...FOR SHAWN POMRENKE,
THE FIRST SPOT ISN'T LIVING UP
TO MR. GOLD STANDARD.
IT'S NOT WORTH DREDGING [BLEEP]
IN THE WINTER, I'M LOOKING FOR,
YOU KNOW,
3, 4 OUNCE AN HOUR MATERIAL,
WHICH IS STARTING TO GET MORE
RARE AND MORE RARE OUT THERE.
SO, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
DO A LOT MORE MOVES
AND A LOT MORE SEARCHING
TO FIND IT.
THE MOVING IS A PAIN IN THE ASS,
BUT IF YOU DON'T MOVE,
YOU AIN'T GONNA FIND THE GOLD.
NOPE.
NOPE.
NOPE.
MR. GOLD CAN'T FIND NO GOLD!
Narrator:
OVER AT THE WILD RANGER...
Vernon: HE'S COMING UP.
...VERNON'S CREW HAS BEEN
MINING AROUND THE CLOCK
FOR TWO FULL DAYS.
Vernon: JASON WAS WORKING HERE
LAST SUMMER.
WE KNOW JASON
WAS GETTING GOOD GOLD LAST YEAR.
I'VE GOT A LOT OF MONEY
INVESTED IN EQUIPMENT.
THE DIVERS, THEY GOT THEIR TIME
AND ENERGY INVESTED.
EVERYBODY'S JUST GOT HIGH HOPES
THAT WE'LL DROP RIGHT DOWN
ON TOP OF THE MOTHER LODE.
BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS
YOU NEVER CAN TELL.
THERE'S A LOT OF TENSION
AND SUSPENSE IN THE AIR.
WE'RE GONNA CHECK THE TEST MATS
AND SEE WHAT KIND OF MATERIAL
HE WAS IN.
Narrator:
NOW, TO SEE IF JASON HAS
LED THEM TO THE PROMISED LAND,
THEY'RE PANNING OUT THE FIRST
FEW FEET OF THE SLUICE BOX.
Jason: I LIKE IT.
[ CHUCKLES ] WHOO.
I'M ON SOME GOLD.
THAT'S A DAMN GOOD
TEST MAT.
NOT REALLY SURPRISED.
I'M JUST CONFIRMING
WHAT I ALREADY KNEW.
AFTER ALL THE SEASONS
IN THE PAST,
WHEN I'VE COME UP HERE
AND JUST BOMBED OUT,
SO MANY FALSE STARTS,
I'LL TELL YOU,
YOU CAN'T IMAGINE
HOW GOOD IT FEELS
TO FINALLY GET ON
SOME GOOD, SOLID GOLD.
Jason:
THAT LOOKS GOOD.
LOOK AT THAT
CHUNKY [BLEEP]
LOT OF CHUNKY.
[ LAUGHING ]
YOU GONNA GO
GET SOME MORE?
YEAH, I'M GONNA GO
GET SOME MORE,
BUT I'M GONNA SMOKE A CIGARETTE
FIRST.
GOOD IDEA.
THAT FEELS GREAT!
THAT FEELS GREAT.
FEELS GREAT.
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD PILE
OF GOLD RIGHT THERE.
DEFINITELY
A BEAUTIFUL THING.
HERE WE ARE
AND ON THE SPOT THAT I FOUND.
I MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE A PICTURE
OF THAT.
I EARNED THE RIGHT
TO BE IN CHARGE.
I PAID MY DUES.
I'VE BEEN HERE
FOR THREE SEASONS.
I DON'T NEED
10 YEARS' EXPERIENCE.
I LEARNED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS
WHAT I NEED TO DO
AND HOW TO DO THIS.
[BLEEP]
IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE,
FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET TO
THE MOON AND DO MOON MINING.
[ LAUGHS ]
WE'RE NOT MINING HELIUM-3.
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF GOLD
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN.
♪ GOLD MINING IS SOMETHING
YOU DO NOT EVERYDAY ♪
Narrator: AFTER GOING ALL-IN
AS A CAPTAIN...
I'M THE KING OF THE ICEBERGS!
HIT ONE FOR ME.
I DARE YOU.
Narrator:
...STEVE RIEDEL...
GET OFF THE DREDGE.
...IS NOW A MAN
WITHOUT A DREDGE.
I NEED ABOUT $5,000
TO GET THE MINNOW BACK,
AND I THINK I CAN DO THAT
BY THE END OF ICE.
Narrator: NOW,
INSTEAD OF PANNING FOR GOLD,
HE'S PANNING
FOR SPARE CHANGE.
SING ME A SONG,
STEVE!
Steve R.: THANKS, MR.
$6.00.
$6.60 TOWARDS THE MINNOW.
THAT'LL BUY MAYBE BREAKFAST
TOMORROW.
Narrator: AFTER THREE DAYS
ON THE FROZEN BERING SEA...
ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.
IT'S GOLD MINING.
Narrator: ...THE FIRST RESULTS
ARE COMING IN.
IT'S DEFINITELY A LOT HARDER
IN THE WINTER.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE AIN'T ON AS MUCH GOLD
AS I'D LIKE TO BE,
BUT WE'LL JUST KEEP FOLLOWING,
AND HOPEFULLY
IT TURNS INTO SOMETHING BIG.
Narrator: FOR SHAWN POMRENKE
AND THE SHAMROCK,
THE FIRST DIVE HOLE IS A BUST.
INDICATIONS ARE,
WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD GOLD.
Narrator:
BUT OVER ON THE WILD RANGER,
THINGS ARE LOOKING
MUCH MORE PROMISING.
THIS ICE SEASON,
IT COST ME A BUNCH OF MONEY.
I'M -- I DON'T EVEN
WANT TO DO THE MATH.
BUT I THINK WITH THIS CLEANUP
THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW...
OH, YEAH.
...I THINK
I'M GONNA TURN A PROFIT.
LET'S STOP IT AND TAKE A LOOK,
JUST AS A MORALE BOOSTER.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
WHOO! WOW.
TOO MUCH GOLD.
GOLD DRIPPING OFF ON THE FLOOR.
I'M DAMN PROUD OF MYSELF.
I'M DAMN PROUD OF MYSELF.
Narrator:
WHILE VERNON WAITS TO SEE
JUST HOW BIG HIS PAYDAY WILL BE,
AT THE MISS NOMER...
Glen: [ CHUCKLES ]
THERE WE GO.
...AFTER LEARNING THE VALUE
OF AN ICE-SHACK RELIEF HOLE,
GLEN AND ZEKE ARE ABOUT TO LEARN
THE VALUE OF THEIR GOLD.
AND WE GOT 14.95 OUNCES.
THIS IS GOOD.
WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD START HERE.
Narrator:
14.95 OUNCES IS WORTH $19,500.
IT COULD GET BETTER.
IT'LL PROBABLY GET WORSE.
NO,
IT'S GONNA GET WAY BETTER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
WAY BETTER.
Zeke: YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
HAVE TAUGHT ME
THAT THIS ACTUALLY
IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY GLEN DOESN'T REALIZE
THAT I KNOW WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT WHEN I SAY THAT.
Narrator: AS GLEN AND ZEKE
GET BACK TO WORK...
Emily: AND I'M GOING WITH
WHERE WE WERE DREDGING LAST.
THERE WAS SOME GOOD GOLD.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE
GLEN'S BEEN DREDGING
RIGHT ABOUT WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
Narrator:
...EMILY RIEDEL IS LOOKING
TO MOVE IN ON THEIR TURF.
THIS SPOT'S GONNA WORK GREAT.
IT'S FLAT.
THERE ARE NO PRESSURE RIDGES.
MY GOAL THIS SEASON IS,
I'M TIRED OF 50 OUNCES.
I'M TIRED OF 100 OUNCES.
I WANT MORE.
AND I WANT TO DO
WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO GET IT.
Narrator: BACK IN NOME,
FOR THE KELLY CLAN...
9.94 OUNCES.
JUST A SMIDGEN UNDER 10 OUNCES.
...FINALLY FREE OF STEVE RIEDEL,
THEIR FIRST WINTER PAYDAY
IS MORE THAN THEY MADE
ALL LAST SUMMER.
BE $10,698.
Brad: PERFECT.
OUR HOPES ARE DEFINITELY HIGH
THAT WE DO WELL THIS SEASON.
IF WE GET ALONG
AND WORK TOGETHER,
I SEE IT BEING A GREAT SEASON.
I REALLY DO.
CAN YOU KEEP THESE GUYS BUSY
FOR A FEW MINUTES, BILL,
WHILE I CAN GET OUT OF HERE?
CAN YOU DO THAT?
NO, NO, NO. I'M AFRAID I'D HAVE
TO REACH FOR MY SECURITY SYSTEM.
WELL, FINALLY A PAYDAY.
THANKS, STEVE.
[ LAUGHS ]
AND THIS IS NOTHING COMPARED
TO WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET.
Narrator: ACROSS TOWN...
Vernon:
OKAY, HERE IT GOES.
...AT VERNON ADKISON'S
TRAILER...
Jason: GO. GO!
LOOKING LOVELY.
...IN THE SAME SPOT
WHERE VERNON HAS STRUCK OUT...
Man: 2.42.
DOWNRIGHT PITIFUL.
...OVER...
1.23.
Man: WHAT?
...AND OVER...
...AND OVER...
Vernon:
TOTAL FINANCIAL RUIN.
THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.
Jason: YEAH.
LOOKING GOOD.
32.6.
Narrator:
...HE'S FINALLY STRUCK GOLD.
THE FIRST HAUL IS WORTH
A WHOPPING $42,500.
GOOD START RIGHT THERE.
GOOD START.
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD START.
HELL, YEAH.
EVERYBODY IS DAMN NEAR ECSTATIC.
THERE'S MORE GOLD
THAT'S CLEANED OUT
THAN ANY OF US HAVE EVER SEEN
IN ANY CLEANOUT.
I MEAN,
IT'S A REALLY GOOD CLEANOUT.
THIS IS THE BEST GOLD
THAT VERN HAS EVER SEEN
IN ANY OF HIS OPERATIONS.
YOU KNOW, THE FIRST COUPLE OF
TIMES I WAS INVOLVED WITH HIM,
I HAD NO SAY.
THEN HE HIRED ME
TO RUN HIS ICE OPERATION,
AND HE'S SUCCEEDING
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
Vernon: GOLD RESONATES
WITH THE SOUL, YOU KNOW.
IT'S LIKE,
GET SOME GOLD ON THE TABLE,
IT JUST MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.
Narrator:
VERNON'S 32.6 OUNCES PUTS HIM
AT THE TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD,
WHILE MR. GOLD AND MISS RIEDEL
ARE YET TO MAKE A DIME.
WE GOT DRAGONS TO SLAY.
WE GOT DRAGONS TO SLAY.
THERE BE DRAGONS.
THAT'S WHY WE COME TO NOME!
[BLEEP] GREEDY.
Zeke:
THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY
THAT I'LL HAVE TO GO TO JAIL
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
I TOLD YOU I NEEDED AIR!
NOW! PULL ME UP!
THIS IS MY SPOT,
AND I BROUGHT YOU HERE!
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