Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 2, Episode 12 - Twenty Four Seven - full transcript
Short on time, the Hoffman Crew decides to run night and day in a struggle to get to the gold, while a federal mining inspector pays a surprise visit to both Fred and Parker. The inspector finds safety violations and both operations face closure.
Narrator: JUST OUTSIDE
THE ARCTIC CIRCLE,
SEVEN DOWN-ON-THEIR LUCK MINERS
ARE RISKING IT ALL
ON A NEW GOLD-MINING CLAIM.
THIS AIN'T A LOVE STORY.
IT'S A FREAKING GOLD MINE.
Narrator: THIS SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS RIPPED THROUGH 8 FEET
OF FROZEN EARTH
AND DUG A PIT HALF THE SIZE
OF A FOOTBALL FIELD
TO GET DOWN TO PAY GRAVEL.
Remsburg: I JUST STRUCK GOLD!
Thurber: WHOA!
LOOK AT THAT.
OH, MY GOD.
Narrator: NOW WITH A PAY STREAK
OF GOLD FINALLY VISIBLE...
OH, THAT'S GOOD STUFF.
...THE CREW RUNS
THEIR HEAVY EQUIPMENT 24/7
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.
THE SLUICE BOX IS FULL OF GOLD.
THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG CLEANUP.
Narrator: MEANWHILE,
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,
17-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL...
[BLEEP]
Narrator:
...GETS A SURPRISE VISIT
FROM A FEDERAL MINING INSPECTOR.
Parker:
NOTHING WE SAY MATTERS.
I HAVE TO WITHDRAW THE MINERS
FROM THE MINE SITE.
Narrator: AND "DAKOTA" FRED'S
MINING DREAM
TURNS INTO A NIGHTMARE WHEN HE
FALLS UNDER THE SAME SCRUTINY.
YOU JUST TELL ME
HOW ANYBODY WOULD FEEL
OTHER THAN ANGRY
OVER B.S. LIKE THIS.
Narrator: AT THE QUARTZ CREEK
CLAIM IN THE KLONDIKE,
THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON
IS 93 DAYS OLD.
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS CLEANING OUT
DIRT FROM THREE DAYS OF MINING.
THEY'RE DESPERATE
FOR SOME GOOD NEWS.
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING ENOUGH
MONEY TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY.
SIMPLE THINGS LIKE JUST PUTTING
FOOD ON THE TABLE --
THAT'S GETTING TOUGH TO DO.
THE HOPE AND ANTICIPATION
JUST KEEPS IT GOING.
I MEAN, THAT'S ALL I GOT.
Narrator:
JACK FEEDS THE FINISHING TABLE.
THIS IS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
THAT DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS,
YOU KNOW?
I'M NOT USED TO THAT.
Todd:
THAT'S GOLD COMING AT YOU.
Man #2: SEE, JACK?
RIGHT THERE IT'S PERFECT.
LOOK, A STEADY STREAM
OF GOLD...
YEAH.
...GOING INTO THERE.
BLACK SAND
BACK ABOUT 1/4 INCH.
THAT'S A PRETTY SIGHT.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED
A BIGGER JAR. HUH?
DON'T YOU THINK?
YEP.
I'LL GO GET A BUCKET.
[ LAUGHS ]
THE FIRST COUPLE NUGGETS LOOKED
KIND OF COARSE, YOU KNOW?
THEY'RE NOT BIG, BUT THERE
ARE SOME FLATTER FLAKES.
SO, IT'S KIND OF EXCITING.
WE'LL SEE WHAT WE GET
IN THIS CLEANOUT,
BUT I THINK IT'S GONNA BE
PRETTY GOOD.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS SPENT CLOSE TO THREE MONTHS
IN THE KLONDIKE GETTING DOWN
TO PAY GRAVEL...
Turin: FINALLY, WE'RE THERE.
Narrator: ...AND DIALING IN
THEIR WASH PLANT.
SHE AIN'T PRETTY, BUT SHE'S
KICKING SOME ASS RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: BUT SO FAR,
THEY'VE FOUND ONLY 4 OUNCES
OF GOLD WORTH JUST $6,400.
I'M THE BREADWINNER
IN OUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW.
I NEED TO BRING HOME SOME GOLD
THIS YEAR.
Narrator: THEIR GOAL
IS TO GET TO 100 OUNCES,
WORTH OVER $160,000.
THAT WOULD GIVE THEM A PROFIT
OF NEARLY $50,000 TO SPLIT.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO OUR GOAL,
BUT WE'VE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO,
AND WE'RE BEHIND.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS TO AVERAGE 1.6 OUNCES
OF GOLD EVERY DAY
FOR THE REMAINING 57 DAYS.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
TO STAY ON TRACK,
THEY NEED A MINIMUM OF 4.8
OUNCES FROM THIS 3-DAY CLEANOUT.
Thurber: OKAY.
Man #2: OKAY. LET'S HEAR IT.
PUT IT ON THE PAPER.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE GET.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
5!
[ LAUGHTER ]
ALL RIGHT.
Doumitt: HERE, JACK, LET ME
TAKE YOU OUT TO DINNER.
YOU GO HAVE A GOOD TIME
ON THAT, OKAY?
5.2.
5.2?
ALMOST 5 1/4.
Narrator: FINDING $8,300
IN THE LAST THREE DAYS
MAKES THEIR $160,000 GOAL
POSSIBLE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WE GOT $15,000 WORTH
OF GOLD ALREADY.
AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.
WE'RE GONNA JUST GO ON AND UP --
ON UPWARDS FROM THERE.
WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED
A LOT, YOU GUYS.
WE'VE DONE VERY WELL.
Narrator:
THE CREW HAS NEVER RUN DIRT
FOR MORE THAN SIX HOURS
AT A TIME.
NOW THEY'RE ON THE GOLD,
TODD WANTS TO SHOW THEM
WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE
IF THEY RUN ALL DAY
AND ALL NIGHT.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING,
IF WE RAN FOR 24 HOURS,
I PREDICT
IT'S GONNA BE BIGGER.
WE GOT OUR BEST DIRT.
ALL THIS STUFF
WAS PRACTICE DIRT.
THAT'S THE REAL STUFF
DOWN THERE.
YOU GUYS ALL-IN ON THAT?
OH, YEAH.
I'M IN.
THE FUEL WILL BE HERE
IN THE MORNING.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY? 8:00.
WHY DON'T WE GET PREPPED
AND THEN WE'LL RUN
FOR 24 HOURS?
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO.
YEE-HAW!
RIGHT ON!
I REALLY THINK WE MIGHT PULL
30 OUNCES IN THIS 24 HOURS.
WE'RE GONNA RUN AND RUN
AND RUN AND RUN AND RUN.
WE'RE GONNA DO A CLEANOUT HERE
AND JUST SEE SOME SWEET GOLD
IN THE BOX.
Narrator: DOWN SOUTH
AT THE HOFFMAN'S OLD MINE
IN PORCUPINE CREEK,
THE DAKOTA BOYS
GET SOME TROUBLING NEWS --
AN INSPECTOR FROM THE MINING
SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
IS IN TOWN.
MSHA's A SAFETY --
MINING POLICE IS WHAT THEY ARE.
AND THEY COME OUT, AND
THEY GIVE YOU AN INSPECTION,
AND THEY GIVE YOU
BIG, GIANT FINES
IF YOU'RE NOT
DOING IT RIGHT.
WE'RE MISSING ONE PIECE
OF PAPERWORK.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE --
WE GOT IT IN A POST OFFICE,
WE HOPE.
WE GOT TO CHARGE
THIS BATTERY.
I'M SORRY.
Man: THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
WE GOT TO GET GOING.
THEY SENT US PAPERWORK, AND IT
STILL HASN'T MADE IT TO US.
AND I'M GONNA MAKE A DESPERATE
DASH TO THE POST OFFICE --
IF WE CAN GET THIS TRUCK
RUNNING --
AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET
THE PAPERWORK THAT WE NEED
TO COMPLETE
OUR PAPERWORK SITUATION.
Narrator:
IF DAKOTA FRED'S OPERATION
FAILS TO MEET FEDERAL
MINING SAFETY STANDARDS,
MSHA COULD SHUT HIM DOWN.
THEY HAVE TO GET
TO THE POST OFFICE FAST,
BUT THEIR TRUCK
HAS A DEAD BATTERY.
AND THE GENERATOR THEY NEED
TO CHARGE IT IS ACTING UP.
OHH, DON'T DO THIS.
[BLEEP]
WELL, JUST TAKE
THE FOUR-WHEELER ON UP.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, GOOD LUCK.
SEE WHAT THE HELL YOU CAN DO.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator: THEY ARE MISSING
THEIR SAFETY TRAINING PLAN.
FRED SUBMITTED IT
THREE MONTHS AGO
AND IS STILL WAITING FOR MSHA
TO APPROVE AND RETURN IT.
DUSTIN HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO MAKE THE 80-MILE
ROUND TRIP ON A FOUR-WHEELER.
IF THE PAPERWORK ISN'T
IN THEIR POST-OFFICE BOX,
MSHA MAY SHUT THEM DOWN.
HEY! COME HERE!
Narrator: SINCE DIGGING
INTO HIS LIFE SAVINGS
TO BUY PORCUPINE CREEK,
DAKOTA FRED HAS SUFFERED
CONSTANT MECHANICAL BREAKDOWNS.
WE JUST CAN'T DO ANY MINING.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY DEAD RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: HE'S LOST HIS HOME
IN NORTH DAKOTA
AND EVERYTHING HE OWNS
TO FLOODS.
WOW. OH, LORD.
IT'S BAD.
Narrator: THEN,
JUST WHEN HE NEEDED IT MOST,
HE FOUND 19 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH $30,000 IN A SINGLE WEEK.
I THINK TONIGHT
IS A 3-BEER NIGHT.
BUT THE DAKOTA BOYS
NEED ANOTHER 80 OUNCES
TO MAKE A DECENT PROFIT
THIS SEASON.
THE LAST THING FRED NEEDS NOW
IS TO FAIL A FEDERAL
SAFETY INSPECTION.
I'M EDGY ABOUT IT JUST 'CAUSE I
DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN,
IF IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE COMING
OR NOT.
WE'VE GOT OUR SIGNS UP.
WE'VE GOT SAFETY OUT THE [BLEEP]
I DON'T SEE NOTHING
IN YOUR HANDS.
NADA?
NADA.
ALL YOU GOT WAS SOME JUNK MAIL
AND SOMEBODY ELSE'S MAIL.
OKAY.
DON'T HAVE IT. SO...
WELL, WE JUST HAVE TO
DEAL WITH IT.
JUST TELL THEM
THAT WE APPLIED FOR IT
AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IT
OVER AND OVER,
AND WE'RE TRYING.
I MEAN, WE'RE DOING WHAT
IT SAYS TO DO, BASICALLY.
WELL --
IT'S JUST WE DON'T HAVE IT
IN PRINT,
WHICH IS RIDICULOUS!
I KNOW. A PIECE OF PAPER
NEVER KEPT ME SAFE EVER.
YEAH, WELL...
[ LAUGHS ]
WELL, ALL THAT WE CAN DO
IS JUST HOPE FOR THE BEST.
IF WE FAIL, WE FAIL.
HEY, YEAH, WE TRIED.
Narrator:
BACK UP IN THE KLONDIKE
WITH ONLY 56 DAYS LEFT
OF THE MINING SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW BEGINS
A 24-HOUR MARATHON RUN.
ON THE D8 DOZER, GREG REMSBURG
STOCKPILES PAY DIRT.
Remsburg: WELL, WE'VE SPENT
WEEKS -- WEEKS --
CLEARING THIS FIELD HERE
AND CREATING A PIT.
THAT'S EXCITING.
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE GOLD MINING.
Narrator: IN THE 228,
TODD FEEDS THE WASH PLANT.
Todd: WELL, WE'VE GOT TO RUN
ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT.
WE WANT TO GET THAT PAY MATERIAL
OUT AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE 50 OUNCES
OF GOLD.
Remsburg: WHOA! HOLY!
YEAH!
OH, MAN.
I JUST STRUCK GOLD!
Todd: DID YOU?
I JUST STRUCK GOLD.
IT'S IN THE BOTTOM.
TODD, WE NEED TO GET THURBER
DOWN HERE RIGHT AWAY.
WE NEED TO SEE
WHAT'S IN THIS GROUND.
IT'S JUST --
I THINK IT'S LOADED WITH GOLD.
THURBER!
WHAT DO YOU GOT, GREG?
EVERYTHING IS JUST GLISTENING
IN THE WATER
THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE AREA.
LIKE RIGHT HERE.
LOOK AT THAT.
WHOA!
LOOK AT THAT.
BIGGER PIECES.
BIGGER PIECES.
OH, MY GOSH.
YOU COULD ALMOST PICK THEM UP
WITH YOUR FINGERS.
OH, MY GOD.
YEAH, THIS IS
WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE.
LET'S PAN THIS UP.
OH, THAT'S GOOD STUFF.
NOW, THAT'S A LOT.
THAT'S MORE THAN
WE'VE SEEN SO FAR.
YEAH, THAT'S FLOUR GOLD.
OH, MAN.
THIS MIGHT JUST BE THE POT
OF GOLD WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.
GOOD-LOOKING STUFF.
SEE THE LITTLE GRAINS?
THAT'S NUTS.
YEAH.
Todd: 10 PIECES OF FAIRLY --
IT'S SMALL,
BUT PRETTY COARSE GOLD IN THAT
LITTLE TEENY BIT OF DIRT.
SO, TIMES THAT BY EVERY BUCKET.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. OKAY?
WE'RE ON TO GOLD.
SO, NOW WE'VE JUST GOT
TO GO GET IT.
Narrator: AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,
THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT WEEKS LEFT
IN THE MINING SEASON.
BUT 17-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS LESS THAN THREE WEEKS
BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL
STARTS UP AGAIN.
THE PRESSURE IS ON FOR HIM
TO FIND GOLD
IN HIS NEW DIG SITE
AT EMERSON TRENCH.
Parker:
I'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF TO MOVE,
AND I'VE SPENT
ABOUT TWO DAYS ON IT,
AND I'VE ONLY DONE ABOUT 1/5
OF WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE.
Narrator: SINCE TAKING OVER HIS
GRANDPA'S MINE THREE MONTHS AGO,
PARKER HAS FOUND 20 OUNCES
OF GOLD WORTH $32,000.
I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
Narrator: BUT HE NEEDS
ANOTHER 50 OUNCES
TO SAVE THE FAMILY CLAIM.
I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I NEED
EXCEPT DIRT WITH GOLD IN IT.
[ CHAIN SAW BUZZING ]
[ TREE CRACKS ]
Narrator: HE'S RISKED LIFE AND
LIMB TO OPEN TWO NEW DIG SITES.
BUT THEY DIDN'T PAN OUT.
FINALLY, PARKER IS ON THE GOLD,
BUT HE'S DIGGING ON
THE VERY EDGE OF HIS CLAIM.
THE FUTURE OF THE MINE
DEPENDS ON FINDING
A RICH PAY STREAK OF GOLD
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
IN ORDER TO TURN A PROFIT.
IT'S GETTING LATE IN THE SEASON,
AND WE NEED TO START KIND OF
TRYING TO FIND SOME GOLD.
YEAH, WE'RE IN SOME PRETTY
GOOD DIRT RIGHT NOW.
Narrator:
AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE MINE,
AN MSHA INSPECTOR SHOWS UP
WITHOUT WARNING.
PARKER GETS THE BAD NEWS
ON THE RADIO.
[BLEEP]
YEAH. [BLEEP]
NO, THIS ISN'T GONNA DO ME
ANY GOOD.
Narrator: BY THE TIME PARKER
GETS DOWN TO THE WASH PLANT,
THE INSPECTOR HAS ALREADY
FINISHED HIS ASSESSMENT.
Parker: MY GRANDPA'S BEEN
RUNNING THIS
FOR, I THINK, 26 YEARS.
I DON'T THINK HE'S EVER GOTTEN
AN INSPECTION.
WE'RE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
OKAY.
I HAVE TO COME OUT
AND DO MY JOB.
I HAVE TO FINE VIOLATIONS
AND I HAVE TO CITE THEM.
OKAY.
BUT EVERYTHING
I'VE SEEN SO FAR,
IT'S LIKE YOU GUYS HAVEN'T
BEEN INSPECTED BEFORE.
SO, THERE'S A LITTLE MORE
THAN NORMAL ON THE VIOLATIONS.
OKAY. SORRY.
Narrator: THE INSPECTOR CITES
PARKER FOR SIX SAFETY HAZARDS.
THANK YOU.
MM-HMM.
EACH CARRYING A FINE
OF AROUND $300.
GRANDPA JOHN
ARRIVES AT THE MINE.
Parker:
MSHA GUY WROTE UP CITATIONS.
John: HOW SERIOUS?
NOTHING SERIOUS.
GOING THROUGH PAPERWORK
AT THE OFFICE.
THE INSPECTOR NOW WANTS TO GO
THROUGH THE MINE'S PAPERWORK.
THIS YEAR, IT'S BEEN 17-YEAR-OLD
PARKER'S RESPONSIBILITY
TO GET EVERYTHING IN ORDER.
I HOPE I REMEMBERED TO PUT
THE RIGHT PAPERS IN HERE.
THAT WOULD BE BAD.
[ Sighing ] OH, GOD.
THIS IS GONNA BE FUN.
Narrator:
AFTER GOING THROUGH THE FILES,
THE INSPECTOR
HAS DEVASTATING NEWS.
Inspector: PARKER,
RIGHT NOW, IS IN VIOLATION
OF PART 48 TRAINING
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE
A CERTIFIED PLAN IN PLACE.
AND SO, I HAVE TO WITHDRAW
THE MINERS FROM THE MINE SITE
BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSIDERED
A HAZARD UPON THEMSELVES
AND OTHERS FOR NOT
HAVING PROPER TRAINING.
John: TRAINING FOR WHAT?
HOW TO WORK OR SAFETY?
SAFETY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING HERE FOR
23 YEARS UNDER MY SUPERVISION.
WE'VE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT
BECAUSE I PERSONALLY
HAVE TAKEN A RESPONSIBILITY
TO EMPHASIZE SAFETY.
MM-HMM.
I REALIZE THAT.
THE PROBLEM WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW
IS THE MINE
NEEDED TO BE REGULATED
BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND BY MSHA
AND IT HAD BEEN OPERATING
WITHOUT THAT REGULATION
FOR THE 23 YEARS.
NOTHING WE SAY MATTERS,
SO GET ON RIGHT HERE.
I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.
Narrator: THE INSPECTOR SHUTS
THE MINE DOWN ON THE SPOT.
HERE'S OUR WITHDRAW ORDER.
"THE OPERATOR IS HEREBY ORDERED
"TO WITHDRAW THE THREE MINERS
FROM THE MINE
UNTIL THEY HAVE RECEIVED
THE REQUIRED TRAINING."
THEY SHUT US DOWN.
THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS.
I HATE TO SEE HIM HAVE TO FACE
THIS KIND OF A PROBLEM
SO YOUNG IN LIFE WHEN HE'S
SO DETERMINED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
OF COURSE IT'S MY FAULT.
I'M IN CHARGE.
Narrator: PARKER BREAKS THE NEWS
TO HIS CREW.
I'D JUST LIKE TO TALK
TO YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT, LIKE, WHAT WE --
WHAT HAPPENED.
SO, AS OF NOW,
THE MINE IS SHUT DOWN.
AND UNTIL WE GET RETRAINED,
WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
IS GET SOMEBODY IN HERE
THAT IS CERTIFIED FOR MONDAY.
Narrator: BUT FINDING
AN INSTRUCTOR ON SHORT NOTICE
WILL BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
PARKER NEEDS ANOTHER $80,000
TO KEEP THE FAMILY MINE ALIVE.
EMERSON TRENCH
COULD BE THE ANSWER,
BUT, UNABLE TO MINE, THE FUTURE
OF BIG NUGGET IS IN JEOPARDY.
Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK
IN THE KLONDIKE,
WITH ONLY 56 DAYS LEFT
IN THE MINING SEASON...
Man: TURN THEM ON, THURB.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
...THE HOFFMAN CREW CONTINUES
ITS 24-HOUR MARATHON RUN.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME LEFT,
SO EVERYONE FEELS THAT URGENCY.
WATER FLOWS GOOD.
IF IT AIN'T MOVING DOWN THE BOX
PRETTY GOOD --
I THINK WE'RE ABOUT RIGHT,
WATER-WISE.
FIRE IT UP.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator: THEY'RE NOW READY TO
RUN THEIR BEST PAY GRAVEL LONGER
AND HARDER THAN EVER BEFORE.
IT'S A 24-HOUR, NONSTOP RUN.
I THINK THE LONGEST WE'VE RUN
HAS BEEN SIX HOURS --
SIX OR SEVEN HOURS.
SO, THIS IS...A LOT MORE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME
THIS SEASON,
THEY'RE RUNNING EVERY PART
OF THEIR MINING OPERATION
SIMULTANEOUSLY.
DOWN IN THE PIT,
DAVE IS ON THE D8 DOZER.
Turin: THE GOLD'S HERE.
I'M RIGHT ON TOP OF IT.
I'VE GOT TO KEEP PUSHING
CRISP DIRT.
Narrator: IN THE LOADER,
CHRIS CARRIES PAY DIRT FROM
THE PIT TO TODD IN THE 228.
TODD THEN FEEDS THE WASH PLANT.
THIS IS THE LAYER THE GOLD'S IN.
OUR LAST CLEANOUT
WAS $10 A YARD.
THIS MUST BE, I'M GUESSING,
$15, $20 A YARD.
SO, YOU RUN 2,000, 3,000 YARDS
OF THIS STUFF --
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
Narrator: ON THE GROUND,
JIM THURBER IS IN CHARGE
OF THE WASH PLANT.
Thurber:
IT'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S NOT A FUN JOB.
IT'S NOT A CLEAN JOB,
BUT IT'S KIND OF A COOL ONE.
Narrator: AFTER EIGHT HOURS,
THEY'VE RUN DIRT
LONGER THAN EVER BEFORE.
BUT OUT OF NOWHERE...
...THE WASH PLANT'S
WATER PRESSURE DROPS.
FROM THE 228, JACK SPOTS
THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
[ HORN HONKING ]
IMMEDIATELY, JIM INVESTIGATES.
THE SCREEN AROUND OUR PUMP
PLUGS UP WITH ANCIENT
LITTLE BRANCHES, BARK,
AND IT PLUGS UP THE HOLES
ON THE SIDE OF THE SCREEN.
Narrator: FROM THE GET-GO,
DIRTY WATER HAS PLAGUED
THE HOFFMAN CREW.
LOOK AT THIS.
WE LOST OUR WATER.
GOOD LORD!
SHUT IT DOWN!
JUST A WEEK AGO,
THEY FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM
BY INSTALLING A SCREEN
AND PUMPING CLEAN WATER
INTO THEIR INTAKE POND.
BUT NOW, AFTER RUNNING
FOR EIGHT STRAIGHT HOURS,
DEBRIS IS ONCE AGAIN
CLOGGING UP THE SCREEN.
WITHOUT A STEADY SUPPLY OF WATER
TO THE WASH PLANT,
THEY CAN'T RUN DIRT...
OR GET GOLD.
IT'S DOWN TO JIM THURBER
TO MANUALLY UNCLOG THE SCREEN.
IF HE FALLS, THE WATER
IS DIRTY AND COLD.
Thurber:
THAT THING JUST CAN'T HANDLE
THE WAY WE'RE RUNNING IT
RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN ALL DAY,
ALL NIGHT.
SO, WE'VE GOT TO KEEP
WATCHING IT,
RUNNING BACK AND FORTH,
KEEP AN EYE ON IT.
TURN YOUR BACK ON IT,
IT PLUGS RIGHT UP.
Narrator:
WITH THE SCREEN CLEARED,
THE WATER PRESSURE IN
THE WASH PLANT IS BACK FOR NOW.
BUT NOBODY KNOWS
IF IT CAN HANDLE RUNNING
FOR ANOTHER 16 HOURS STRAIGHT.
Narrator: IT'S 10:00 P.M.
ON THE QUARTZ CREEK GOLD CLAIM.
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME
IN THEIR SECOND MINING SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS
ON A 24-HOUR RUN.
IT IS NOW HOUR 13.
TODAY WE'RE GOING AT IT
AND REALLY GOLD MINING.
OUR WATER IS GETTING
KIND OF DARK --
LIKE, A LOT OF SEDIMENT IN IT.
Narrator: SEDIMENT IN THE WATER
CAN CLOG UP
THE GOLD-CATCHING RIFFLES.
TODD SHUTS DOWN BRIEFLY
TO CHECK THE SLUICE BOXES.
[ ENGINE STOPS ]
WE'RE SHOWING SOME PRETTY GOOD
GOLD IN THE BOX.
I CAN SEE IT.
YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT HERE.
GOLD BEHIND EVERY RIFFLE,
LIKE THIS.
Narrator:
BUT THERE'S ALSO BAD NEWS.
I GOT RIFFLES THAT ARE PACKED UP
FROM LOTS OF HOURS OF RUNNING,
AND I WANT TO GET THEM LOOSE,
AND THE GOLD SINKS DOWN
INTO THE MINER'S MOSS.
Narrator: IF LESS WATER
IS PASSING THROUGH
THE CLOGGED SCREEN,
LESS WATER IS REACHING
THE WASH PLANT.
WITHOUT ENOUGH WATER,
THE PAY GRAVEL WASHES OVER
THE RIFFLES MORE SLOWLY,
CAUSING THEM TO PACK UP.
IF TODD CONTINUES TO RUN DIRT
OVER THE CLOGGED RIFFLES,
THEIR GOLD WILL START RUNNING
RIGHT OUT OF THE SLUICES.
FIRE ME UP, BUDDY.
[ GENERATOR TURNS OVER ]
OKAY, THERE WE GO.
Narrator: BUT ONLY HALFWAY
THROUGH THEIR 24-HOUR RUN,
TODD'S NOT READY TO QUIT
JUST YET.
INSTEAD, TO PREVENT THEM
FROM LOSING GOLD,
HE DECIDES TO WASH OUT
THE PACKED RIFFLES.
YOU START AT THE BOTTOM,
AND YOU WORK YOUR WAY UP.
THEN YOU KNOW
THESE ARE UNPACKED.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M
ACCOMPLISHING IT RIGHT OR NOT.
Narrator: THIS SHOULD SECURE THE
GOLD IN THE MINER'S MOSS BELOW
AND UNCLOG THE RIFFLES.
Man:
YOU'RE SINKING THE GOLD?
Todd: YEAH.
THIS SHOULD LOCK IN THE GOLD
THAT WE GOT.
Jack: IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GO
THROUGH THE DARK.
SO, IT'S THE FIRST TIME
WE RUN ALL NIGHT.
I HOPE IT WORKS OUT GOOD.
Narrator:
WITH THE RIFFLES UNCLOGGED,
TODD DECIDES TO RUN AGAIN,
RISKING THE POSSIBILITY
OF LOSING MORE GOLD.
Todd: ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE WATERED IN.
THE GOLD HAS SUNK.
LOCKED, COCKED,
AND READY TO ROCK.
THURB, YOU TURN
THE MACHINE ON, HUH?
YOU READY?
Narrator: IT IS 3:00 A.M.
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS NOW RUN
THEIR BEST PAY DIRT
FOR 18 STRAIGHT HOURS.
Remsburg:
IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
AND IT'S GETTING HARD
TO CONCENTRATE,
AND HARD TO SEE,
AND EVERYBODY'S TIRED.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOT
DIFFERENT PAINS GOING ON,
BUT IT'S TIME TO BITE THE BULLET
AND GO FOR THE GOLD.
WE JUST GOT TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL.
THE WATER'S A...
WATER'S A LITTLE IFFY RIGHT NOW.
Narrator:
DAVE CONTINUES THE UPHILL BATTLE
TO KEEP THE WATER SUPPLY STEADY.
Turin: AW, THAT WATER'S CAUSING
PROBLEMS AGAIN.
THERE'S TOO MUCH WOOD
IN THE WATER,
AND IT JUST PLUGS UP
OUR FILTER THERE.
AND THEN THAT PUMPS
STARTS SUCKING AIR.
AND THEN IT'S NOT WASHING
THE GOLD PROPERLY.
AW, THERE. IT QUIT AGAIN.
Thurber: WHOA.
WE LOST WATER AGAIN.
Remsburg: SHUT IT DOWN.
HEY, CHRIS?
DOUMITT:
Yeah, go ahead.
HEY, WE'VE LOST OUR WATER.
WE'RE GONNA SHUT DOWN
FOR A HALF-HOUR OR SO
AND LET THE INTAKE POND
SETTLE OUT.
Okeydokey.
Thanks.
Narrator: 18 HOURS
INTO THEIR 24-HOUR RUN,
AND TODD HAS TO SHUT DOWN
THE WASH PLANT AGAIN.
Todd: OH, MY GOD.
LOOK AT THIS.
LOOK AT THAT RIFFLE.
I DON'T LIKE WHAT I'M SEEING
IN THESE RIFFLES.
THEY'RE PACKING IN.
I DON'T LIKE THE WAY
IT'S MUDDING UP.
IT'S NOT LOOKING RIGHT.
YOU THINK
OUR WATER'S TOO DIRTY?
YEP.
MAYBE WE'D BETTER BAG IT.
WE DON'T WANT TO WASH
THE GOLD OUT.
WE'RE IN
SUCH GOOD MATERIAL.
I'D SURE HATE
TO SCREW IT UP.
LET'S CALL IT A DAY, DAVE.
I CAN'T --
I THINK WE SHOULD.
I DON'T WANT TO RUN
ON THIS ANYMORE.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE DONE.
THE WATER'S TOO MUDDY.
RATHER THAN WASTE GOLD,
LET'S JUST STOP,
LET THE WATER CLEAN OUT.
THE REALLY GOOD NEWS IS THAT
THE SLUICE BOX IS FULL OF GOLD.
THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG CLEANUP.
IT'S GONNA BE KIND OF FUN TO SEE
TOMORROW WHEN THE DAYLIGHT HITS.
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS.
THE PARTY'S OVER.
TIME TO GO TO BED.
Narrator: IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,
THE BIG NUGGET MINE IS SHUT DOWN
AFTER FAILING
AN MSHA INSPECTION.
WITH JUST OVER TWO WEEKS LEFT
BEFORE HE RETURNS
TO HIGH SCHOOL,
PARKER HAS WORKED THROUGH
THE NIGHT TO FIND AN INSTRUCTOR
THAT CAN CONDUCT
THE NECESSARY SAFETY TRAINING.
PARKER HAS TO FIND $80,000
IN GOLD
TO KEEP HIS GRANDPA'S MINE
AFLOAT.
HE NEEDS TO GET MINING AGAIN...
AND FAST.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT
AN MSHA INSTRUCTOR
TO REVERSE WHAT THE MSHA
INSPECTOR HAS DONE TO US.
SO, HE'S HERE TO GIVE US
A PIECE OF PAPER THAT SAYS
WE CAN MINE LIKE WE HAVE BEEN
FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
STUPID.
Narrator: THE INSTRUCTOR
IDENTIFIES SAFETY HAZARDS
AND RECOMMENDS FIXES.
SO, THIS SHOULD HAVE
A KNEE BOARD?
Man: YEAH. IT SHOULD
HAVE ONE ACROSS HERE
SO YOU CAN'T FALL
BETWEEN THE TWO.
IT'S REALLY BORING.
Narrator:
THE TRAINING IS OVER.
BUT UNTIL THE MSHA INSPECTOR
GIVES THEM THE GREEN LIGHT,
THE MINE CAN'T OPEN.
I GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN 15 DAYS,
AND I CAN'T WORK RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S...IT BOTHERS ME.
IT'S ANNOYING.
IT'S A PAIN IN THE ASS.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,
WHILE THE BIG NUGGET
REMAINS SHUT DOWN,
PARKER'S CREW ADDRESSES
SAFETY VIOLATIONS.
I'VE GOT TO PUT GUARD RAILS UP
FOR THE INSPECTORS
SO THAT WE DON'T FALL
OFF THE DECK BACKWARDS.
MSHA's A GOOD THING BECAUSE
IF THEY WEREN'T IN PLACE,
A LOT MORE MINERS WOULD GET
KILLED AROUND THE COUNTRY.
Narrator:
THE MSHA INSPECTOR'S NEXT VISIT
DETERMINES IF PARKER
CAN REOPEN THE MINE.
HOPEFULLY TODAY ALL THIS CRAP
WILL GET REVERSED,
AND HE WILL JUST LEAVE
PEACEFULLY.
Parker: HELLO.
GOOD MORNING.
KIND OF A HECTIC MORNING.
I'VE GOT
A MILLION THINGS TO DO.
WILL YOU BE ABLE TO TERMINATE
THE STOP-WORK ORDER?
Inspector: YEAH.
TODAY?
MM-HMM.
OKAY.
THE TERMINATION OR LIFTING
OF THE ORDER --
THE PAPER FORM -- I WILL
HAVE FOR YOU TO TOMORROW.
OKAY, BUT FOR NOW,
WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
YES.
OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU.
AND HOPEFULLY NEXT TIME,
I'LL BE A LITTLE MORE
PREPARED.
WE MADE IT.
ALL RIGHT.
IT'S OVER.
ALL RIGHT.
Parker:
YEAH, I THINK THE VIOLATIONS
WILL PROBABLY TOTAL
ABOUT 2 GRAND.
AND THEN WE SPENT ABOUT $1,000
ON THE TRAINING YESTERDAY.
AND WE LOST ONE DAY,
SO YOU COULD SAY THAT LOST US
1,000 BUCKS.
SO, THAT'S 4 GRAND
THAT MSHA HAS COST US.
Man: LET'S GO, BOYS.
Parker: I WAS GONNA WAIT
UNTIL LATER TO RUN THE PLANT,
BUT I FIGURED WE JUST NEED TO
START GETTING SOME DIRT MOVED.
THIS IS OUR SECOND DAY
THAT WE'VE LOST,
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA LOSE IT
BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA LET
THAT HAPPEN.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
Narrator: TO FIND OUT IF
THE PAY STREAK IN EMERSON TRENCH
IS RICH ENOUGH TO SAVE THE MINE,
PARKER DECIDES TO RUN
ALL THE STOCKPILED DIRT.
JUST MINUTES
AFTER LEAVING BIG NUGGET,
THE MSHA INSPECTOR ARRIVES
AT PORCUPINE CREEK.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
Inspector: GOOD MORNING.
CAN I HELP YOU, SIR?
YEAH, I'M WITH MSHA.
YES, SIR?
GOOD TO MEET YOU, SIR.
FRED HURT.
NICE TO MEET YOU, FRED.
I'M THE MINE OPERATOR HERE.
PAUL.
PLEASED TO MEET YOU.
PAUL BEAM.
Narrator: FOR THREE MONTHS,
FRED'S BEEN MINING
WITHOUT AN MSHA CERTIFIED
SAFETY TRAINING PLAN.
IF THE INSPECTOR FINDS OUT, FRED
COULD FACE A STOP-WORK ORDER
OR EVEN A FINE THAT COULD
PUT HIM OUT OF BUSINESS.
BUT BEFORE LOOKING
OVER FRED'S PAPERWORK,
THE INSPECTOR WALKS THE MINE.
IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
TO SPOT THREE SAFETY HAZARDS.
Inspector: ARE YOU USING
THE SNOW FENCE AS A BARRIER?
Fred: THIS IS
A WARNING BARRICADE.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH STRENGTH
TO STOP SOMEONE
IF THEY TRIP AND FALL OVER
THE BANK AND GET REALLY HURT.
IT JUST KIND OF TAPERS OFF.
Narrator: BUT SITE VIOLATIONS
ARE NOT FRED'S BIGGEST CONCERN.
MISSING PAPERWORK COULD
JEOPARDIZE HIS ENTIRE OPERATION.
FRED'S BUSINESS PARTNER,
PAUL BEAM,
GOES OVER PORCUPINE CREEK'S
PAPERWORK WITH THE INSPECTOR.
WE GOT ONE PIECE OF PAPERWORK
THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT
RIGHT NOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
Narrator: THE DAKOTA BOYS
SENT THEIR TRAINING PLAN TO MSHA
FOR APPROVAL,
BUT IT'S NOT BEEN CERTIFIED
AND RETURNED.
PAUL PLEADS THEIR CASE.
WE HAVE A TRAINING PLAN,
AND WE PUT IT IN
AT LEAST A MONTH, SIX WEEKS
BEFORE WE EVEN STARTED
DOING ANY AMOUNT
OF DIRT WORK.
I'VE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS
TO TRY TO SAY, "HEY,
WE NEED THIS PLAN."
I DON'T THINK IT'S OUR FAULT
THAT IT GOT BACKLOGGED
WITH THE MSHA DISTRICT
TO PROVE IT, YOU KNOW?
CALL THE DISTRICT OFFICE
AND TALK TO JOHN.
AND LET HIM KNOW THAT YOU
MAILED THE PLAN IN MAY
AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK.
YEAH. YEAH.
THANKS. [ SIGHS ]
THE INSPECTOR IS NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT THE MISSING TRAINING PLAN.
HE HAS A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH
THE DAKOTA BOYS' OPERATION.
THE INITIAL TRAINING
REQUIRES 16 OFF-SITE
AND 8 HOURS ON-SITE TRAINING
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
BY AN APPROVED INSTRUCTOR.
AND THIS IS AN ALASKA CODE --
STATE OF ALASKA CODE
THAT THEY'VE COME UP --
NO.
THIS IS THE FEDERAL CODE.
THEY'RE IN VIOLATION
OF A MAJOR MSHA REGULATION.
SO, YOUR TRAINING CERTIFICATES
ARE BASICALLY NULL AND VOID.
SO, I NEED TO ISSUE A WITHDRAWAL
ORDER OF ALL PERSONNEL.
SO, NOW YOU CAN TELL
FRED TO [CHUCKLES]
TO CEASE AND DESIST.
THE SAME INSPECTOR THAT
SHUT DOWN BIG NUGGET MINE
SHUTS DOWN PORCUPINE CREEK.
LIKE PARKER, FRED AND HIS CREW
HAVE NOT HAD
THE REQUIRED 8 HOURS
OF SITE-SPECIFIC
SAFETY TRAINING.
WE'RE SHUT DOWN, FRED.
WE'VE GOT TO --
[ SIGHS ]
OHH.
WHAT --
WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?
WHAT IS THIS?
WELL, IT'S PART OF THE --
IT'S IN THE RULES.
ALL RIGHT.
[BLEEP]
WELL, WHAT'S GOING ON?
WELL, I'M SORRY TO SAY,
I NEED TO WITHDRAW THE MINERS
FOR THEIR SAFETY
BECAUSE THE MINE ACT STATES
THAT UNTRAINED MINERS
ARE A HAZARD TO THEMSELVES
AND OTHERS.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND
A "SITE-SPECIFIC" ANYTHING
BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS MINE
BETTER THAN ANY INSTRUCTOR
EVER THOUGHT OF KNOWING.
WE'RE REGULATING YOU...
[ CHUCKLES ]
...TO PROTECT THE HEALTH
AND SAFETY OF THE MINERS.
[ WHISTLES ]
IS THERE ANY
POSSIBLE LEEWAY?
THE WITHDRAWAL JUST STOPS YOU
UNTIL YOU GET YOUR TRAINING.
DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK
ABOUT IT.
THAT'S TWO TO THREE OF MY DAYS
OF MINING, PERIOD,
MINIMUM THAT WE'RE SHUT DOWN.
YOU JUST TELL ME
HOW ANYBODY WOULD FEEL
OTHER THAN ANGRY
OVER B.S. LIKE THIS.
Narrator:
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,
WITH THE END OF HIS SEASON
CLOSING IN,
PARKER IS FINALLY RUNNING
THE DIRT FROM HIS NEW DIG SITE
AT EMERSON TRENCH.
YOU GET ANYTHING OUT
OF THAT DIRT TODAY?
OOH-HOO-HOO!
THAT'S HALF OF THE FIRST ROW
OF THE JIG.
AWW, YOU CAN'T HELP
BUT SMILE.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 2 1/2
OR 3 OUNCES, HUH?
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU TELL ME, AND I'LL LISTEN.
LOOKS LIKE IT.
LOOKS LIKE 2 1/2.
I DON'T WANT TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING --
OVERESTIMATING IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
KEEP ADMIRING THAT, AND YOU'LL
INCREASE IT TO 3 OUNCES.
I THINK IT IS 3 OUNCES.
[ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT.
NO, SERIOUSLY.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT MUCH GOLD
IN THE PAN IN ALL SUMMER.
I AGREE.
THE TOTAL CLEANOUT FROM THIS RUN
IS 6 OUNCES,
BRINGING PARKER'S GOLD TALLY
TO 26 OUNCES, WORTH $41,000.
AFTER ALL THE SETBACKS,
PARKER HAS FINALLY HIT
A PAY STREAK
THAT COULD SAVE
HIS GRANDPA'S MINE.
UP NORTH IN THE KLONDIKE,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS ALSO HOPING
FOR A BIG PAYDAY.
WITH JUST 54 DAYS LEFT
OF THE MINING SEASON,
THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF CLEANING OUT GOLD
FROM AN EPIC 18-HOUR RUN.
OH, IT'LL BE THE BEST CLEANUP
THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S GONNA KIND
OF PROPEL US FORWARD.
I'M IN A GOOD MOOD RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE IT'S JUST ABOUT
THE LAST SHOVELFUL.
Narrator: TODD SET OUT
TO PROVE TO HIS CREW
THAT THEY CAN STILL MAKE
A FORTUNE AT QUARTZ CREEK.
IF WE RAN FOR 24 HOURS,
IT'S GONNA BE BIGGER.
OKAY. LET'S GO.
YEE-HAW!
Narrator: WITH GOLD ACTUALLY
GLISTENING IN THE DIG SITE,
THE CREW IS SETTING THEIR SIGHTS
ON AT LEAST 20 OUNCES
IN THIS CLEANOUT.
I REALLY THINK WE MIGHT PULL
30 OUNCES IN THIS 24 HOURS.
Narrator: NOW THEY'RE DRYING OUT
THEIR LATEST TAKE.
COOKING GOLD.
IT'S MY FAVORITE RECIPE.
Todd: DO YOU HAVE THE FUNNEL,
AND DO YOU HAVE YOUR BOTTLE?
I HAVE A BOTTLE.
PUT YOUR FUNNEL IN.
OKAY.
ZERO IT, DAD,
AND THEN, THURB,
POUR THAT ONE IN FIRST.
THERE'S ONE PLUS --
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT,
WAIT, WAIT!
OKAY, IT'S ZEROED.
GO AHEAD.
Todd: CALL THEM OUT.
THERE'S .33.
PHEW.
NOW...
Thurber: 2 OUNCES.
...2.
3.
3.
4.
5.
6.
IT'S .9.
7.
8.
8.
9.
9.
9.09.
9 OUNCES.
BIG DEAL.
NO, IT'S NOT THE BIG MONEY
THAT WE WERE HOPING.
WHEN I WAS RUNNING LAST NIGHT,
IT JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK
WE WERE CATCHING GOLD.
WE SHOULD HAVE PULLED THE PLUG
ON IT EARLIER.
FROM THE TIME WE WATERED
THAT GOLD IN ON,
I BET YOU,
IT WAS TOUCH AND GO.
Remsburg: WE JUST NEED TO MAKE
SURE EVERYTHING IS RIGHT
BEFORE WE RUN.
Narrator:
IT'S CLEAR THAT DIRTY WATER
PACKED UP THE RIFFLES AGAIN,
ALLOWING PRECIOUS GOLD
TO PASS RIGHT OUT THE END
OF THE SLUICE BOXES.
TODD'S DECISION TO KEEP RUNNING
HAS COST THEM DEARLY.
WE STILL DID,
EVEN WITH BAD WATER
AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED,
WE STILL DID $14,000 WORTH
OF GOLD LAST NIGHT.
THE CLEANOUT BRINGS
THE HOFFMANS' GOLD TALLY
TO 19 OUNCES,
WORTH ABOUT $30,000.
BUT THEY NEED TO GET
TO 100 OUNCES TO GO HOME
WITH MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.
THIS IS EVERYTHING TO ME.
THIS IS WHERE MY INCOME'S
COMING FROM.
THEY SAY IT WAS BETTER
THAN LAST YEAR,
BUT LAST YEAR WAS A DISASTER.
SO, YOU KNOW,
WE STILL HAVE THE DREAM.
WE'RE STILL DREAMING.
I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T TURN OUT
TO BE A NIGHTMARE.
Narrator:
UNHAPPY WITH THE CLEANOUT,
THE CREW CONFRONTS TODD.
Turin:
THURBER AND I BUSTED OUR ASS
SITTING ON THAT STUPID FILTER
TOO LONG.
AND IF WE WERE DOING THAT
AND SHOOTING GOLD DOWN THIS,
IT PISSES ME OFF.
WE NEEDED SOMEBODY
TO MAKE A DECISION.
HAD I KNOWN THAT THAT WATER
WAS THAT DETRIMENTAL,
I'D HAVE SHUT IT DOWN
IMMEDIATELY.
I KNOW YOU'RE FRUSTRATED
ABOUT THE WATER, YOU KNOW?
WHY DIDN'T YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE WATER, DAVE?
WHY DIDN'T I?
I MEAN, I HAD IDEAS,
BUT, FRICK, WE'RE A BUNCH
OF FRICKING ROOKIES.
WE'RE LEARNING.
I EXPECTED MORE GOLD THAN THIS,
TOO, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE EITHER GOT TO KIND OF BELIEVE
IN A LONG-TERM PLAN,
OR IT'S PROBABLY NOT GONNA WORK,
YOU KNOW?
I DON'T BELIEVE
IN OUR ECONOMY ANYMORE.
I BELIEVE IN GOLD.
I JUST WISH I WAS BETTER AT IT.
[ Laughing ] BETTER
GOLD MINER, YOU KNOW?
WE HAD A LOUSY CLEANOUT,
AND NOW I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON.
ALREADY WE'VE GOTTEN MORE THAN
WE DID ALL SEASON AT PORCUPINE.
SO, I'M HERE FOR THE HAUL.
I THINK YOU CAN GET US
THROUGH THIS.
I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS
TEAM, AND I WANT IT TO CONTINUE.
WE MAY NOT SET ANY RECORDS,
BUT WE CANNOT FAIL.
I'M GIVING YOU THAT PROMISE
RIGHT NOW.
I'M NOT GOING TO FAIL
AT GOLD MINING.
THE ARCTIC CIRCLE,
SEVEN DOWN-ON-THEIR LUCK MINERS
ARE RISKING IT ALL
ON A NEW GOLD-MINING CLAIM.
THIS AIN'T A LOVE STORY.
IT'S A FREAKING GOLD MINE.
Narrator: THIS SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS RIPPED THROUGH 8 FEET
OF FROZEN EARTH
AND DUG A PIT HALF THE SIZE
OF A FOOTBALL FIELD
TO GET DOWN TO PAY GRAVEL.
Remsburg: I JUST STRUCK GOLD!
Thurber: WHOA!
LOOK AT THAT.
OH, MY GOD.
Narrator: NOW WITH A PAY STREAK
OF GOLD FINALLY VISIBLE...
OH, THAT'S GOOD STUFF.
...THE CREW RUNS
THEIR HEAVY EQUIPMENT 24/7
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.
THE SLUICE BOX IS FULL OF GOLD.
THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG CLEANUP.
Narrator: MEANWHILE,
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,
17-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL...
[BLEEP]
Narrator:
...GETS A SURPRISE VISIT
FROM A FEDERAL MINING INSPECTOR.
Parker:
NOTHING WE SAY MATTERS.
I HAVE TO WITHDRAW THE MINERS
FROM THE MINE SITE.
Narrator: AND "DAKOTA" FRED'S
MINING DREAM
TURNS INTO A NIGHTMARE WHEN HE
FALLS UNDER THE SAME SCRUTINY.
YOU JUST TELL ME
HOW ANYBODY WOULD FEEL
OTHER THAN ANGRY
OVER B.S. LIKE THIS.
Narrator: AT THE QUARTZ CREEK
CLAIM IN THE KLONDIKE,
THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON
IS 93 DAYS OLD.
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS CLEANING OUT
DIRT FROM THREE DAYS OF MINING.
THEY'RE DESPERATE
FOR SOME GOOD NEWS.
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE MAKING ENOUGH
MONEY TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY.
SIMPLE THINGS LIKE JUST PUTTING
FOOD ON THE TABLE --
THAT'S GETTING TOUGH TO DO.
THE HOPE AND ANTICIPATION
JUST KEEPS IT GOING.
I MEAN, THAT'S ALL I GOT.
Narrator:
JACK FEEDS THE FINISHING TABLE.
THIS IS A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
THAT DOES EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS,
YOU KNOW?
I'M NOT USED TO THAT.
Todd:
THAT'S GOLD COMING AT YOU.
Man #2: SEE, JACK?
RIGHT THERE IT'S PERFECT.
LOOK, A STEADY STREAM
OF GOLD...
YEAH.
...GOING INTO THERE.
BLACK SAND
BACK ABOUT 1/4 INCH.
THAT'S A PRETTY SIGHT.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED
A BIGGER JAR. HUH?
DON'T YOU THINK?
YEP.
I'LL GO GET A BUCKET.
[ LAUGHS ]
THE FIRST COUPLE NUGGETS LOOKED
KIND OF COARSE, YOU KNOW?
THEY'RE NOT BIG, BUT THERE
ARE SOME FLATTER FLAKES.
SO, IT'S KIND OF EXCITING.
WE'LL SEE WHAT WE GET
IN THIS CLEANOUT,
BUT I THINK IT'S GONNA BE
PRETTY GOOD.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS SPENT CLOSE TO THREE MONTHS
IN THE KLONDIKE GETTING DOWN
TO PAY GRAVEL...
Turin: FINALLY, WE'RE THERE.
Narrator: ...AND DIALING IN
THEIR WASH PLANT.
SHE AIN'T PRETTY, BUT SHE'S
KICKING SOME ASS RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: BUT SO FAR,
THEY'VE FOUND ONLY 4 OUNCES
OF GOLD WORTH JUST $6,400.
I'M THE BREADWINNER
IN OUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW.
I NEED TO BRING HOME SOME GOLD
THIS YEAR.
Narrator: THEIR GOAL
IS TO GET TO 100 OUNCES,
WORTH OVER $160,000.
THAT WOULD GIVE THEM A PROFIT
OF NEARLY $50,000 TO SPLIT.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO OUR GOAL,
BUT WE'VE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO,
AND WE'RE BEHIND.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS TO AVERAGE 1.6 OUNCES
OF GOLD EVERY DAY
FOR THE REMAINING 57 DAYS.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]
TO STAY ON TRACK,
THEY NEED A MINIMUM OF 4.8
OUNCES FROM THIS 3-DAY CLEANOUT.
Thurber: OKAY.
Man #2: OKAY. LET'S HEAR IT.
PUT IT ON THE PAPER.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE GET.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
5!
[ LAUGHTER ]
ALL RIGHT.
Doumitt: HERE, JACK, LET ME
TAKE YOU OUT TO DINNER.
YOU GO HAVE A GOOD TIME
ON THAT, OKAY?
5.2.
5.2?
ALMOST 5 1/4.
Narrator: FINDING $8,300
IN THE LAST THREE DAYS
MAKES THEIR $160,000 GOAL
POSSIBLE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WE GOT $15,000 WORTH
OF GOLD ALREADY.
AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.
WE'RE GONNA JUST GO ON AND UP --
ON UPWARDS FROM THERE.
WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED
A LOT, YOU GUYS.
WE'VE DONE VERY WELL.
Narrator:
THE CREW HAS NEVER RUN DIRT
FOR MORE THAN SIX HOURS
AT A TIME.
NOW THEY'RE ON THE GOLD,
TODD WANTS TO SHOW THEM
WHAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE
IF THEY RUN ALL DAY
AND ALL NIGHT.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING,
IF WE RAN FOR 24 HOURS,
I PREDICT
IT'S GONNA BE BIGGER.
WE GOT OUR BEST DIRT.
ALL THIS STUFF
WAS PRACTICE DIRT.
THAT'S THE REAL STUFF
DOWN THERE.
YOU GUYS ALL-IN ON THAT?
OH, YEAH.
I'M IN.
THE FUEL WILL BE HERE
IN THE MORNING.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY? 8:00.
WHY DON'T WE GET PREPPED
AND THEN WE'LL RUN
FOR 24 HOURS?
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO.
YEE-HAW!
RIGHT ON!
I REALLY THINK WE MIGHT PULL
30 OUNCES IN THIS 24 HOURS.
WE'RE GONNA RUN AND RUN
AND RUN AND RUN AND RUN.
WE'RE GONNA DO A CLEANOUT HERE
AND JUST SEE SOME SWEET GOLD
IN THE BOX.
Narrator: DOWN SOUTH
AT THE HOFFMAN'S OLD MINE
IN PORCUPINE CREEK,
THE DAKOTA BOYS
GET SOME TROUBLING NEWS --
AN INSPECTOR FROM THE MINING
SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
IS IN TOWN.
MSHA's A SAFETY --
MINING POLICE IS WHAT THEY ARE.
AND THEY COME OUT, AND
THEY GIVE YOU AN INSPECTION,
AND THEY GIVE YOU
BIG, GIANT FINES
IF YOU'RE NOT
DOING IT RIGHT.
WE'RE MISSING ONE PIECE
OF PAPERWORK.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE --
WE GOT IT IN A POST OFFICE,
WE HOPE.
WE GOT TO CHARGE
THIS BATTERY.
I'M SORRY.
Man: THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
WE GOT TO GET GOING.
THEY SENT US PAPERWORK, AND IT
STILL HASN'T MADE IT TO US.
AND I'M GONNA MAKE A DESPERATE
DASH TO THE POST OFFICE --
IF WE CAN GET THIS TRUCK
RUNNING --
AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET
THE PAPERWORK THAT WE NEED
TO COMPLETE
OUR PAPERWORK SITUATION.
Narrator:
IF DAKOTA FRED'S OPERATION
FAILS TO MEET FEDERAL
MINING SAFETY STANDARDS,
MSHA COULD SHUT HIM DOWN.
THEY HAVE TO GET
TO THE POST OFFICE FAST,
BUT THEIR TRUCK
HAS A DEAD BATTERY.
AND THE GENERATOR THEY NEED
TO CHARGE IT IS ACTING UP.
OHH, DON'T DO THIS.
[BLEEP]
WELL, JUST TAKE
THE FOUR-WHEELER ON UP.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, GOOD LUCK.
SEE WHAT THE HELL YOU CAN DO.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator: THEY ARE MISSING
THEIR SAFETY TRAINING PLAN.
FRED SUBMITTED IT
THREE MONTHS AGO
AND IS STILL WAITING FOR MSHA
TO APPROVE AND RETURN IT.
DUSTIN HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO MAKE THE 80-MILE
ROUND TRIP ON A FOUR-WHEELER.
IF THE PAPERWORK ISN'T
IN THEIR POST-OFFICE BOX,
MSHA MAY SHUT THEM DOWN.
HEY! COME HERE!
Narrator: SINCE DIGGING
INTO HIS LIFE SAVINGS
TO BUY PORCUPINE CREEK,
DAKOTA FRED HAS SUFFERED
CONSTANT MECHANICAL BREAKDOWNS.
WE JUST CAN'T DO ANY MINING.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY DEAD RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: HE'S LOST HIS HOME
IN NORTH DAKOTA
AND EVERYTHING HE OWNS
TO FLOODS.
WOW. OH, LORD.
IT'S BAD.
Narrator: THEN,
JUST WHEN HE NEEDED IT MOST,
HE FOUND 19 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH $30,000 IN A SINGLE WEEK.
I THINK TONIGHT
IS A 3-BEER NIGHT.
BUT THE DAKOTA BOYS
NEED ANOTHER 80 OUNCES
TO MAKE A DECENT PROFIT
THIS SEASON.
THE LAST THING FRED NEEDS NOW
IS TO FAIL A FEDERAL
SAFETY INSPECTION.
I'M EDGY ABOUT IT JUST 'CAUSE I
DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN,
IF IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE COMING
OR NOT.
WE'VE GOT OUR SIGNS UP.
WE'VE GOT SAFETY OUT THE [BLEEP]
I DON'T SEE NOTHING
IN YOUR HANDS.
NADA?
NADA.
ALL YOU GOT WAS SOME JUNK MAIL
AND SOMEBODY ELSE'S MAIL.
OKAY.
DON'T HAVE IT. SO...
WELL, WE JUST HAVE TO
DEAL WITH IT.
JUST TELL THEM
THAT WE APPLIED FOR IT
AND WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IT
OVER AND OVER,
AND WE'RE TRYING.
I MEAN, WE'RE DOING WHAT
IT SAYS TO DO, BASICALLY.
WELL --
IT'S JUST WE DON'T HAVE IT
IN PRINT,
WHICH IS RIDICULOUS!
I KNOW. A PIECE OF PAPER
NEVER KEPT ME SAFE EVER.
YEAH, WELL...
[ LAUGHS ]
WELL, ALL THAT WE CAN DO
IS JUST HOPE FOR THE BEST.
IF WE FAIL, WE FAIL.
HEY, YEAH, WE TRIED.
Narrator:
BACK UP IN THE KLONDIKE
WITH ONLY 56 DAYS LEFT
OF THE MINING SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW BEGINS
A 24-HOUR MARATHON RUN.
ON THE D8 DOZER, GREG REMSBURG
STOCKPILES PAY DIRT.
Remsburg: WELL, WE'VE SPENT
WEEKS -- WEEKS --
CLEARING THIS FIELD HERE
AND CREATING A PIT.
THAT'S EXCITING.
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE GOLD MINING.
Narrator: IN THE 228,
TODD FEEDS THE WASH PLANT.
Todd: WELL, WE'VE GOT TO RUN
ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT.
WE WANT TO GET THAT PAY MATERIAL
OUT AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE 50 OUNCES
OF GOLD.
Remsburg: WHOA! HOLY!
YEAH!
OH, MAN.
I JUST STRUCK GOLD!
Todd: DID YOU?
I JUST STRUCK GOLD.
IT'S IN THE BOTTOM.
TODD, WE NEED TO GET THURBER
DOWN HERE RIGHT AWAY.
WE NEED TO SEE
WHAT'S IN THIS GROUND.
IT'S JUST --
I THINK IT'S LOADED WITH GOLD.
THURBER!
WHAT DO YOU GOT, GREG?
EVERYTHING IS JUST GLISTENING
IN THE WATER
THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE AREA.
LIKE RIGHT HERE.
LOOK AT THAT.
WHOA!
LOOK AT THAT.
BIGGER PIECES.
BIGGER PIECES.
OH, MY GOSH.
YOU COULD ALMOST PICK THEM UP
WITH YOUR FINGERS.
OH, MY GOD.
YEAH, THIS IS
WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE.
LET'S PAN THIS UP.
OH, THAT'S GOOD STUFF.
NOW, THAT'S A LOT.
THAT'S MORE THAN
WE'VE SEEN SO FAR.
YEAH, THAT'S FLOUR GOLD.
OH, MAN.
THIS MIGHT JUST BE THE POT
OF GOLD WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.
GOOD-LOOKING STUFF.
SEE THE LITTLE GRAINS?
THAT'S NUTS.
YEAH.
Todd: 10 PIECES OF FAIRLY --
IT'S SMALL,
BUT PRETTY COARSE GOLD IN THAT
LITTLE TEENY BIT OF DIRT.
SO, TIMES THAT BY EVERY BUCKET.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. OKAY?
WE'RE ON TO GOLD.
SO, NOW WE'VE JUST GOT
TO GO GET IT.
Narrator: AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,
THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT WEEKS LEFT
IN THE MINING SEASON.
BUT 17-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS LESS THAN THREE WEEKS
BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL
STARTS UP AGAIN.
THE PRESSURE IS ON FOR HIM
TO FIND GOLD
IN HIS NEW DIG SITE
AT EMERSON TRENCH.
Parker:
I'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF TO MOVE,
AND I'VE SPENT
ABOUT TWO DAYS ON IT,
AND I'VE ONLY DONE ABOUT 1/5
OF WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE.
Narrator: SINCE TAKING OVER HIS
GRANDPA'S MINE THREE MONTHS AGO,
PARKER HAS FOUND 20 OUNCES
OF GOLD WORTH $32,000.
I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
Narrator: BUT HE NEEDS
ANOTHER 50 OUNCES
TO SAVE THE FAMILY CLAIM.
I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I NEED
EXCEPT DIRT WITH GOLD IN IT.
[ CHAIN SAW BUZZING ]
[ TREE CRACKS ]
Narrator: HE'S RISKED LIFE AND
LIMB TO OPEN TWO NEW DIG SITES.
BUT THEY DIDN'T PAN OUT.
FINALLY, PARKER IS ON THE GOLD,
BUT HE'S DIGGING ON
THE VERY EDGE OF HIS CLAIM.
THE FUTURE OF THE MINE
DEPENDS ON FINDING
A RICH PAY STREAK OF GOLD
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
IN ORDER TO TURN A PROFIT.
IT'S GETTING LATE IN THE SEASON,
AND WE NEED TO START KIND OF
TRYING TO FIND SOME GOLD.
YEAH, WE'RE IN SOME PRETTY
GOOD DIRT RIGHT NOW.
Narrator:
AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE MINE,
AN MSHA INSPECTOR SHOWS UP
WITHOUT WARNING.
PARKER GETS THE BAD NEWS
ON THE RADIO.
[BLEEP]
YEAH. [BLEEP]
NO, THIS ISN'T GONNA DO ME
ANY GOOD.
Narrator: BY THE TIME PARKER
GETS DOWN TO THE WASH PLANT,
THE INSPECTOR HAS ALREADY
FINISHED HIS ASSESSMENT.
Parker: MY GRANDPA'S BEEN
RUNNING THIS
FOR, I THINK, 26 YEARS.
I DON'T THINK HE'S EVER GOTTEN
AN INSPECTION.
WE'RE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
OKAY.
I HAVE TO COME OUT
AND DO MY JOB.
I HAVE TO FINE VIOLATIONS
AND I HAVE TO CITE THEM.
OKAY.
BUT EVERYTHING
I'VE SEEN SO FAR,
IT'S LIKE YOU GUYS HAVEN'T
BEEN INSPECTED BEFORE.
SO, THERE'S A LITTLE MORE
THAN NORMAL ON THE VIOLATIONS.
OKAY. SORRY.
Narrator: THE INSPECTOR CITES
PARKER FOR SIX SAFETY HAZARDS.
THANK YOU.
MM-HMM.
EACH CARRYING A FINE
OF AROUND $300.
GRANDPA JOHN
ARRIVES AT THE MINE.
Parker:
MSHA GUY WROTE UP CITATIONS.
John: HOW SERIOUS?
NOTHING SERIOUS.
GOING THROUGH PAPERWORK
AT THE OFFICE.
THE INSPECTOR NOW WANTS TO GO
THROUGH THE MINE'S PAPERWORK.
THIS YEAR, IT'S BEEN 17-YEAR-OLD
PARKER'S RESPONSIBILITY
TO GET EVERYTHING IN ORDER.
I HOPE I REMEMBERED TO PUT
THE RIGHT PAPERS IN HERE.
THAT WOULD BE BAD.
[ Sighing ] OH, GOD.
THIS IS GONNA BE FUN.
Narrator:
AFTER GOING THROUGH THE FILES,
THE INSPECTOR
HAS DEVASTATING NEWS.
Inspector: PARKER,
RIGHT NOW, IS IN VIOLATION
OF PART 48 TRAINING
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE
A CERTIFIED PLAN IN PLACE.
AND SO, I HAVE TO WITHDRAW
THE MINERS FROM THE MINE SITE
BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSIDERED
A HAZARD UPON THEMSELVES
AND OTHERS FOR NOT
HAVING PROPER TRAINING.
John: TRAINING FOR WHAT?
HOW TO WORK OR SAFETY?
SAFETY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING HERE FOR
23 YEARS UNDER MY SUPERVISION.
WE'VE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT
BECAUSE I PERSONALLY
HAVE TAKEN A RESPONSIBILITY
TO EMPHASIZE SAFETY.
MM-HMM.
I REALIZE THAT.
THE PROBLEM WE HAVE
RIGHT NOW
IS THE MINE
NEEDED TO BE REGULATED
BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND BY MSHA
AND IT HAD BEEN OPERATING
WITHOUT THAT REGULATION
FOR THE 23 YEARS.
NOTHING WE SAY MATTERS,
SO GET ON RIGHT HERE.
I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.
Narrator: THE INSPECTOR SHUTS
THE MINE DOWN ON THE SPOT.
HERE'S OUR WITHDRAW ORDER.
"THE OPERATOR IS HEREBY ORDERED
"TO WITHDRAW THE THREE MINERS
FROM THE MINE
UNTIL THEY HAVE RECEIVED
THE REQUIRED TRAINING."
THEY SHUT US DOWN.
THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS.
I HATE TO SEE HIM HAVE TO FACE
THIS KIND OF A PROBLEM
SO YOUNG IN LIFE WHEN HE'S
SO DETERMINED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
OF COURSE IT'S MY FAULT.
I'M IN CHARGE.
Narrator: PARKER BREAKS THE NEWS
TO HIS CREW.
I'D JUST LIKE TO TALK
TO YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT, LIKE, WHAT WE --
WHAT HAPPENED.
SO, AS OF NOW,
THE MINE IS SHUT DOWN.
AND UNTIL WE GET RETRAINED,
WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
IS GET SOMEBODY IN HERE
THAT IS CERTIFIED FOR MONDAY.
Narrator: BUT FINDING
AN INSTRUCTOR ON SHORT NOTICE
WILL BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
PARKER NEEDS ANOTHER $80,000
TO KEEP THE FAMILY MINE ALIVE.
EMERSON TRENCH
COULD BE THE ANSWER,
BUT, UNABLE TO MINE, THE FUTURE
OF BIG NUGGET IS IN JEOPARDY.
Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK
IN THE KLONDIKE,
WITH ONLY 56 DAYS LEFT
IN THE MINING SEASON...
Man: TURN THEM ON, THURB.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
...THE HOFFMAN CREW CONTINUES
ITS 24-HOUR MARATHON RUN.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME LEFT,
SO EVERYONE FEELS THAT URGENCY.
WATER FLOWS GOOD.
IF IT AIN'T MOVING DOWN THE BOX
PRETTY GOOD --
I THINK WE'RE ABOUT RIGHT,
WATER-WISE.
FIRE IT UP.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator: THEY'RE NOW READY TO
RUN THEIR BEST PAY GRAVEL LONGER
AND HARDER THAN EVER BEFORE.
IT'S A 24-HOUR, NONSTOP RUN.
I THINK THE LONGEST WE'VE RUN
HAS BEEN SIX HOURS --
SIX OR SEVEN HOURS.
SO, THIS IS...A LOT MORE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME
THIS SEASON,
THEY'RE RUNNING EVERY PART
OF THEIR MINING OPERATION
SIMULTANEOUSLY.
DOWN IN THE PIT,
DAVE IS ON THE D8 DOZER.
Turin: THE GOLD'S HERE.
I'M RIGHT ON TOP OF IT.
I'VE GOT TO KEEP PUSHING
CRISP DIRT.
Narrator: IN THE LOADER,
CHRIS CARRIES PAY DIRT FROM
THE PIT TO TODD IN THE 228.
TODD THEN FEEDS THE WASH PLANT.
THIS IS THE LAYER THE GOLD'S IN.
OUR LAST CLEANOUT
WAS $10 A YARD.
THIS MUST BE, I'M GUESSING,
$15, $20 A YARD.
SO, YOU RUN 2,000, 3,000 YARDS
OF THIS STUFF --
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
Narrator: ON THE GROUND,
JIM THURBER IS IN CHARGE
OF THE WASH PLANT.
Thurber:
IT'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S NOT A FUN JOB.
IT'S NOT A CLEAN JOB,
BUT IT'S KIND OF A COOL ONE.
Narrator: AFTER EIGHT HOURS,
THEY'VE RUN DIRT
LONGER THAN EVER BEFORE.
BUT OUT OF NOWHERE...
...THE WASH PLANT'S
WATER PRESSURE DROPS.
FROM THE 228, JACK SPOTS
THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
[ HORN HONKING ]
IMMEDIATELY, JIM INVESTIGATES.
THE SCREEN AROUND OUR PUMP
PLUGS UP WITH ANCIENT
LITTLE BRANCHES, BARK,
AND IT PLUGS UP THE HOLES
ON THE SIDE OF THE SCREEN.
Narrator: FROM THE GET-GO,
DIRTY WATER HAS PLAGUED
THE HOFFMAN CREW.
LOOK AT THIS.
WE LOST OUR WATER.
GOOD LORD!
SHUT IT DOWN!
JUST A WEEK AGO,
THEY FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM
BY INSTALLING A SCREEN
AND PUMPING CLEAN WATER
INTO THEIR INTAKE POND.
BUT NOW, AFTER RUNNING
FOR EIGHT STRAIGHT HOURS,
DEBRIS IS ONCE AGAIN
CLOGGING UP THE SCREEN.
WITHOUT A STEADY SUPPLY OF WATER
TO THE WASH PLANT,
THEY CAN'T RUN DIRT...
OR GET GOLD.
IT'S DOWN TO JIM THURBER
TO MANUALLY UNCLOG THE SCREEN.
IF HE FALLS, THE WATER
IS DIRTY AND COLD.
Thurber:
THAT THING JUST CAN'T HANDLE
THE WAY WE'RE RUNNING IT
RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN ALL DAY,
ALL NIGHT.
SO, WE'VE GOT TO KEEP
WATCHING IT,
RUNNING BACK AND FORTH,
KEEP AN EYE ON IT.
TURN YOUR BACK ON IT,
IT PLUGS RIGHT UP.
Narrator:
WITH THE SCREEN CLEARED,
THE WATER PRESSURE IN
THE WASH PLANT IS BACK FOR NOW.
BUT NOBODY KNOWS
IF IT CAN HANDLE RUNNING
FOR ANOTHER 16 HOURS STRAIGHT.
Narrator: IT'S 10:00 P.M.
ON THE QUARTZ CREEK GOLD CLAIM.
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME
IN THEIR SECOND MINING SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS
ON A 24-HOUR RUN.
IT IS NOW HOUR 13.
TODAY WE'RE GOING AT IT
AND REALLY GOLD MINING.
OUR WATER IS GETTING
KIND OF DARK --
LIKE, A LOT OF SEDIMENT IN IT.
Narrator: SEDIMENT IN THE WATER
CAN CLOG UP
THE GOLD-CATCHING RIFFLES.
TODD SHUTS DOWN BRIEFLY
TO CHECK THE SLUICE BOXES.
[ ENGINE STOPS ]
WE'RE SHOWING SOME PRETTY GOOD
GOLD IN THE BOX.
I CAN SEE IT.
YOU CAN SEE IT RIGHT HERE.
GOLD BEHIND EVERY RIFFLE,
LIKE THIS.
Narrator:
BUT THERE'S ALSO BAD NEWS.
I GOT RIFFLES THAT ARE PACKED UP
FROM LOTS OF HOURS OF RUNNING,
AND I WANT TO GET THEM LOOSE,
AND THE GOLD SINKS DOWN
INTO THE MINER'S MOSS.
Narrator: IF LESS WATER
IS PASSING THROUGH
THE CLOGGED SCREEN,
LESS WATER IS REACHING
THE WASH PLANT.
WITHOUT ENOUGH WATER,
THE PAY GRAVEL WASHES OVER
THE RIFFLES MORE SLOWLY,
CAUSING THEM TO PACK UP.
IF TODD CONTINUES TO RUN DIRT
OVER THE CLOGGED RIFFLES,
THEIR GOLD WILL START RUNNING
RIGHT OUT OF THE SLUICES.
FIRE ME UP, BUDDY.
[ GENERATOR TURNS OVER ]
OKAY, THERE WE GO.
Narrator: BUT ONLY HALFWAY
THROUGH THEIR 24-HOUR RUN,
TODD'S NOT READY TO QUIT
JUST YET.
INSTEAD, TO PREVENT THEM
FROM LOSING GOLD,
HE DECIDES TO WASH OUT
THE PACKED RIFFLES.
YOU START AT THE BOTTOM,
AND YOU WORK YOUR WAY UP.
THEN YOU KNOW
THESE ARE UNPACKED.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M
ACCOMPLISHING IT RIGHT OR NOT.
Narrator: THIS SHOULD SECURE THE
GOLD IN THE MINER'S MOSS BELOW
AND UNCLOG THE RIFFLES.
Man:
YOU'RE SINKING THE GOLD?
Todd: YEAH.
THIS SHOULD LOCK IN THE GOLD
THAT WE GOT.
Jack: IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GO
THROUGH THE DARK.
SO, IT'S THE FIRST TIME
WE RUN ALL NIGHT.
I HOPE IT WORKS OUT GOOD.
Narrator:
WITH THE RIFFLES UNCLOGGED,
TODD DECIDES TO RUN AGAIN,
RISKING THE POSSIBILITY
OF LOSING MORE GOLD.
Todd: ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE WATERED IN.
THE GOLD HAS SUNK.
LOCKED, COCKED,
AND READY TO ROCK.
THURB, YOU TURN
THE MACHINE ON, HUH?
YOU READY?
Narrator: IT IS 3:00 A.M.
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS NOW RUN
THEIR BEST PAY DIRT
FOR 18 STRAIGHT HOURS.
Remsburg:
IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
AND IT'S GETTING HARD
TO CONCENTRATE,
AND HARD TO SEE,
AND EVERYBODY'S TIRED.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOT
DIFFERENT PAINS GOING ON,
BUT IT'S TIME TO BITE THE BULLET
AND GO FOR THE GOLD.
WE JUST GOT TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL.
THE WATER'S A...
WATER'S A LITTLE IFFY RIGHT NOW.
Narrator:
DAVE CONTINUES THE UPHILL BATTLE
TO KEEP THE WATER SUPPLY STEADY.
Turin: AW, THAT WATER'S CAUSING
PROBLEMS AGAIN.
THERE'S TOO MUCH WOOD
IN THE WATER,
AND IT JUST PLUGS UP
OUR FILTER THERE.
AND THEN THAT PUMPS
STARTS SUCKING AIR.
AND THEN IT'S NOT WASHING
THE GOLD PROPERLY.
AW, THERE. IT QUIT AGAIN.
Thurber: WHOA.
WE LOST WATER AGAIN.
Remsburg: SHUT IT DOWN.
HEY, CHRIS?
DOUMITT:
Yeah, go ahead.
HEY, WE'VE LOST OUR WATER.
WE'RE GONNA SHUT DOWN
FOR A HALF-HOUR OR SO
AND LET THE INTAKE POND
SETTLE OUT.
Okeydokey.
Thanks.
Narrator: 18 HOURS
INTO THEIR 24-HOUR RUN,
AND TODD HAS TO SHUT DOWN
THE WASH PLANT AGAIN.
Todd: OH, MY GOD.
LOOK AT THIS.
LOOK AT THAT RIFFLE.
I DON'T LIKE WHAT I'M SEEING
IN THESE RIFFLES.
THEY'RE PACKING IN.
I DON'T LIKE THE WAY
IT'S MUDDING UP.
IT'S NOT LOOKING RIGHT.
YOU THINK
OUR WATER'S TOO DIRTY?
YEP.
MAYBE WE'D BETTER BAG IT.
WE DON'T WANT TO WASH
THE GOLD OUT.
WE'RE IN
SUCH GOOD MATERIAL.
I'D SURE HATE
TO SCREW IT UP.
LET'S CALL IT A DAY, DAVE.
I CAN'T --
I THINK WE SHOULD.
I DON'T WANT TO RUN
ON THIS ANYMORE.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE DONE.
THE WATER'S TOO MUDDY.
RATHER THAN WASTE GOLD,
LET'S JUST STOP,
LET THE WATER CLEAN OUT.
THE REALLY GOOD NEWS IS THAT
THE SLUICE BOX IS FULL OF GOLD.
THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG CLEANUP.
IT'S GONNA BE KIND OF FUN TO SEE
TOMORROW WHEN THE DAYLIGHT HITS.
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS.
THE PARTY'S OVER.
TIME TO GO TO BED.
Narrator: IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,
THE BIG NUGGET MINE IS SHUT DOWN
AFTER FAILING
AN MSHA INSPECTION.
WITH JUST OVER TWO WEEKS LEFT
BEFORE HE RETURNS
TO HIGH SCHOOL,
PARKER HAS WORKED THROUGH
THE NIGHT TO FIND AN INSTRUCTOR
THAT CAN CONDUCT
THE NECESSARY SAFETY TRAINING.
PARKER HAS TO FIND $80,000
IN GOLD
TO KEEP HIS GRANDPA'S MINE
AFLOAT.
HE NEEDS TO GET MINING AGAIN...
AND FAST.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT
AN MSHA INSTRUCTOR
TO REVERSE WHAT THE MSHA
INSPECTOR HAS DONE TO US.
SO, HE'S HERE TO GIVE US
A PIECE OF PAPER THAT SAYS
WE CAN MINE LIKE WE HAVE BEEN
FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
STUPID.
Narrator: THE INSTRUCTOR
IDENTIFIES SAFETY HAZARDS
AND RECOMMENDS FIXES.
SO, THIS SHOULD HAVE
A KNEE BOARD?
Man: YEAH. IT SHOULD
HAVE ONE ACROSS HERE
SO YOU CAN'T FALL
BETWEEN THE TWO.
IT'S REALLY BORING.
Narrator:
THE TRAINING IS OVER.
BUT UNTIL THE MSHA INSPECTOR
GIVES THEM THE GREEN LIGHT,
THE MINE CAN'T OPEN.
I GO BACK TO SCHOOL IN 15 DAYS,
AND I CAN'T WORK RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S...IT BOTHERS ME.
IT'S ANNOYING.
IT'S A PAIN IN THE ASS.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,
WHILE THE BIG NUGGET
REMAINS SHUT DOWN,
PARKER'S CREW ADDRESSES
SAFETY VIOLATIONS.
I'VE GOT TO PUT GUARD RAILS UP
FOR THE INSPECTORS
SO THAT WE DON'T FALL
OFF THE DECK BACKWARDS.
MSHA's A GOOD THING BECAUSE
IF THEY WEREN'T IN PLACE,
A LOT MORE MINERS WOULD GET
KILLED AROUND THE COUNTRY.
Narrator:
THE MSHA INSPECTOR'S NEXT VISIT
DETERMINES IF PARKER
CAN REOPEN THE MINE.
HOPEFULLY TODAY ALL THIS CRAP
WILL GET REVERSED,
AND HE WILL JUST LEAVE
PEACEFULLY.
Parker: HELLO.
GOOD MORNING.
KIND OF A HECTIC MORNING.
I'VE GOT
A MILLION THINGS TO DO.
WILL YOU BE ABLE TO TERMINATE
THE STOP-WORK ORDER?
Inspector: YEAH.
TODAY?
MM-HMM.
OKAY.
THE TERMINATION OR LIFTING
OF THE ORDER --
THE PAPER FORM -- I WILL
HAVE FOR YOU TO TOMORROW.
OKAY, BUT FOR NOW,
WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
YES.
OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU.
AND HOPEFULLY NEXT TIME,
I'LL BE A LITTLE MORE
PREPARED.
WE MADE IT.
ALL RIGHT.
IT'S OVER.
ALL RIGHT.
Parker:
YEAH, I THINK THE VIOLATIONS
WILL PROBABLY TOTAL
ABOUT 2 GRAND.
AND THEN WE SPENT ABOUT $1,000
ON THE TRAINING YESTERDAY.
AND WE LOST ONE DAY,
SO YOU COULD SAY THAT LOST US
1,000 BUCKS.
SO, THAT'S 4 GRAND
THAT MSHA HAS COST US.
Man: LET'S GO, BOYS.
Parker: I WAS GONNA WAIT
UNTIL LATER TO RUN THE PLANT,
BUT I FIGURED WE JUST NEED TO
START GETTING SOME DIRT MOVED.
THIS IS OUR SECOND DAY
THAT WE'VE LOST,
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA LOSE IT
BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA LET
THAT HAPPEN.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
Narrator: TO FIND OUT IF
THE PAY STREAK IN EMERSON TRENCH
IS RICH ENOUGH TO SAVE THE MINE,
PARKER DECIDES TO RUN
ALL THE STOCKPILED DIRT.
JUST MINUTES
AFTER LEAVING BIG NUGGET,
THE MSHA INSPECTOR ARRIVES
AT PORCUPINE CREEK.
GOOD MORNING, SIR.
Inspector: GOOD MORNING.
CAN I HELP YOU, SIR?
YEAH, I'M WITH MSHA.
YES, SIR?
GOOD TO MEET YOU, SIR.
FRED HURT.
NICE TO MEET YOU, FRED.
I'M THE MINE OPERATOR HERE.
PAUL.
PLEASED TO MEET YOU.
PAUL BEAM.
Narrator: FOR THREE MONTHS,
FRED'S BEEN MINING
WITHOUT AN MSHA CERTIFIED
SAFETY TRAINING PLAN.
IF THE INSPECTOR FINDS OUT, FRED
COULD FACE A STOP-WORK ORDER
OR EVEN A FINE THAT COULD
PUT HIM OUT OF BUSINESS.
BUT BEFORE LOOKING
OVER FRED'S PAPERWORK,
THE INSPECTOR WALKS THE MINE.
IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
TO SPOT THREE SAFETY HAZARDS.
Inspector: ARE YOU USING
THE SNOW FENCE AS A BARRIER?
Fred: THIS IS
A WARNING BARRICADE.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH STRENGTH
TO STOP SOMEONE
IF THEY TRIP AND FALL OVER
THE BANK AND GET REALLY HURT.
IT JUST KIND OF TAPERS OFF.
Narrator: BUT SITE VIOLATIONS
ARE NOT FRED'S BIGGEST CONCERN.
MISSING PAPERWORK COULD
JEOPARDIZE HIS ENTIRE OPERATION.
FRED'S BUSINESS PARTNER,
PAUL BEAM,
GOES OVER PORCUPINE CREEK'S
PAPERWORK WITH THE INSPECTOR.
WE GOT ONE PIECE OF PAPERWORK
THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT
RIGHT NOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
Narrator: THE DAKOTA BOYS
SENT THEIR TRAINING PLAN TO MSHA
FOR APPROVAL,
BUT IT'S NOT BEEN CERTIFIED
AND RETURNED.
PAUL PLEADS THEIR CASE.
WE HAVE A TRAINING PLAN,
AND WE PUT IT IN
AT LEAST A MONTH, SIX WEEKS
BEFORE WE EVEN STARTED
DOING ANY AMOUNT
OF DIRT WORK.
I'VE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS
TO TRY TO SAY, "HEY,
WE NEED THIS PLAN."
I DON'T THINK IT'S OUR FAULT
THAT IT GOT BACKLOGGED
WITH THE MSHA DISTRICT
TO PROVE IT, YOU KNOW?
CALL THE DISTRICT OFFICE
AND TALK TO JOHN.
AND LET HIM KNOW THAT YOU
MAILED THE PLAN IN MAY
AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK.
YEAH. YEAH.
THANKS. [ SIGHS ]
THE INSPECTOR IS NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT THE MISSING TRAINING PLAN.
HE HAS A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH
THE DAKOTA BOYS' OPERATION.
THE INITIAL TRAINING
REQUIRES 16 OFF-SITE
AND 8 HOURS ON-SITE TRAINING
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
BY AN APPROVED INSTRUCTOR.
AND THIS IS AN ALASKA CODE --
STATE OF ALASKA CODE
THAT THEY'VE COME UP --
NO.
THIS IS THE FEDERAL CODE.
THEY'RE IN VIOLATION
OF A MAJOR MSHA REGULATION.
SO, YOUR TRAINING CERTIFICATES
ARE BASICALLY NULL AND VOID.
SO, I NEED TO ISSUE A WITHDRAWAL
ORDER OF ALL PERSONNEL.
SO, NOW YOU CAN TELL
FRED TO [CHUCKLES]
TO CEASE AND DESIST.
THE SAME INSPECTOR THAT
SHUT DOWN BIG NUGGET MINE
SHUTS DOWN PORCUPINE CREEK.
LIKE PARKER, FRED AND HIS CREW
HAVE NOT HAD
THE REQUIRED 8 HOURS
OF SITE-SPECIFIC
SAFETY TRAINING.
WE'RE SHUT DOWN, FRED.
WE'VE GOT TO --
[ SIGHS ]
OHH.
WHAT --
WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?
WHAT IS THIS?
WELL, IT'S PART OF THE --
IT'S IN THE RULES.
ALL RIGHT.
[BLEEP]
WELL, WHAT'S GOING ON?
WELL, I'M SORRY TO SAY,
I NEED TO WITHDRAW THE MINERS
FOR THEIR SAFETY
BECAUSE THE MINE ACT STATES
THAT UNTRAINED MINERS
ARE A HAZARD TO THEMSELVES
AND OTHERS.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND
A "SITE-SPECIFIC" ANYTHING
BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS MINE
BETTER THAN ANY INSTRUCTOR
EVER THOUGHT OF KNOWING.
WE'RE REGULATING YOU...
[ CHUCKLES ]
...TO PROTECT THE HEALTH
AND SAFETY OF THE MINERS.
[ WHISTLES ]
IS THERE ANY
POSSIBLE LEEWAY?
THE WITHDRAWAL JUST STOPS YOU
UNTIL YOU GET YOUR TRAINING.
DON'T EVEN WANT TO TALK
ABOUT IT.
THAT'S TWO TO THREE OF MY DAYS
OF MINING, PERIOD,
MINIMUM THAT WE'RE SHUT DOWN.
YOU JUST TELL ME
HOW ANYBODY WOULD FEEL
OTHER THAN ANGRY
OVER B.S. LIKE THIS.
Narrator:
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,
WITH THE END OF HIS SEASON
CLOSING IN,
PARKER IS FINALLY RUNNING
THE DIRT FROM HIS NEW DIG SITE
AT EMERSON TRENCH.
YOU GET ANYTHING OUT
OF THAT DIRT TODAY?
OOH-HOO-HOO!
THAT'S HALF OF THE FIRST ROW
OF THE JIG.
AWW, YOU CAN'T HELP
BUT SMILE.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 2 1/2
OR 3 OUNCES, HUH?
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU TELL ME, AND I'LL LISTEN.
LOOKS LIKE IT.
LOOKS LIKE 2 1/2.
I DON'T WANT TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR BEING --
OVERESTIMATING IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
KEEP ADMIRING THAT, AND YOU'LL
INCREASE IT TO 3 OUNCES.
I THINK IT IS 3 OUNCES.
[ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT.
NO, SERIOUSLY.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT MUCH GOLD
IN THE PAN IN ALL SUMMER.
I AGREE.
THE TOTAL CLEANOUT FROM THIS RUN
IS 6 OUNCES,
BRINGING PARKER'S GOLD TALLY
TO 26 OUNCES, WORTH $41,000.
AFTER ALL THE SETBACKS,
PARKER HAS FINALLY HIT
A PAY STREAK
THAT COULD SAVE
HIS GRANDPA'S MINE.
UP NORTH IN THE KLONDIKE,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS ALSO HOPING
FOR A BIG PAYDAY.
WITH JUST 54 DAYS LEFT
OF THE MINING SEASON,
THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE
OF CLEANING OUT GOLD
FROM AN EPIC 18-HOUR RUN.
OH, IT'LL BE THE BEST CLEANUP
THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S GONNA KIND
OF PROPEL US FORWARD.
I'M IN A GOOD MOOD RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE IT'S JUST ABOUT
THE LAST SHOVELFUL.
Narrator: TODD SET OUT
TO PROVE TO HIS CREW
THAT THEY CAN STILL MAKE
A FORTUNE AT QUARTZ CREEK.
IF WE RAN FOR 24 HOURS,
IT'S GONNA BE BIGGER.
OKAY. LET'S GO.
YEE-HAW!
Narrator: WITH GOLD ACTUALLY
GLISTENING IN THE DIG SITE,
THE CREW IS SETTING THEIR SIGHTS
ON AT LEAST 20 OUNCES
IN THIS CLEANOUT.
I REALLY THINK WE MIGHT PULL
30 OUNCES IN THIS 24 HOURS.
Narrator: NOW THEY'RE DRYING OUT
THEIR LATEST TAKE.
COOKING GOLD.
IT'S MY FAVORITE RECIPE.
Todd: DO YOU HAVE THE FUNNEL,
AND DO YOU HAVE YOUR BOTTLE?
I HAVE A BOTTLE.
PUT YOUR FUNNEL IN.
OKAY.
ZERO IT, DAD,
AND THEN, THURB,
POUR THAT ONE IN FIRST.
THERE'S ONE PLUS --
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT,
WAIT, WAIT!
OKAY, IT'S ZEROED.
GO AHEAD.
Todd: CALL THEM OUT.
THERE'S .33.
PHEW.
NOW...
Thurber: 2 OUNCES.
...2.
3.
3.
4.
5.
6.
IT'S .9.
7.
8.
8.
9.
9.
9.09.
9 OUNCES.
BIG DEAL.
NO, IT'S NOT THE BIG MONEY
THAT WE WERE HOPING.
WHEN I WAS RUNNING LAST NIGHT,
IT JUST DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK
WE WERE CATCHING GOLD.
WE SHOULD HAVE PULLED THE PLUG
ON IT EARLIER.
FROM THE TIME WE WATERED
THAT GOLD IN ON,
I BET YOU,
IT WAS TOUCH AND GO.
Remsburg: WE JUST NEED TO MAKE
SURE EVERYTHING IS RIGHT
BEFORE WE RUN.
Narrator:
IT'S CLEAR THAT DIRTY WATER
PACKED UP THE RIFFLES AGAIN,
ALLOWING PRECIOUS GOLD
TO PASS RIGHT OUT THE END
OF THE SLUICE BOXES.
TODD'S DECISION TO KEEP RUNNING
HAS COST THEM DEARLY.
WE STILL DID,
EVEN WITH BAD WATER
AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED,
WE STILL DID $14,000 WORTH
OF GOLD LAST NIGHT.
THE CLEANOUT BRINGS
THE HOFFMANS' GOLD TALLY
TO 19 OUNCES,
WORTH ABOUT $30,000.
BUT THEY NEED TO GET
TO 100 OUNCES TO GO HOME
WITH MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.
THIS IS EVERYTHING TO ME.
THIS IS WHERE MY INCOME'S
COMING FROM.
THEY SAY IT WAS BETTER
THAN LAST YEAR,
BUT LAST YEAR WAS A DISASTER.
SO, YOU KNOW,
WE STILL HAVE THE DREAM.
WE'RE STILL DREAMING.
I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T TURN OUT
TO BE A NIGHTMARE.
Narrator:
UNHAPPY WITH THE CLEANOUT,
THE CREW CONFRONTS TODD.
Turin:
THURBER AND I BUSTED OUR ASS
SITTING ON THAT STUPID FILTER
TOO LONG.
AND IF WE WERE DOING THAT
AND SHOOTING GOLD DOWN THIS,
IT PISSES ME OFF.
WE NEEDED SOMEBODY
TO MAKE A DECISION.
HAD I KNOWN THAT THAT WATER
WAS THAT DETRIMENTAL,
I'D HAVE SHUT IT DOWN
IMMEDIATELY.
I KNOW YOU'RE FRUSTRATED
ABOUT THE WATER, YOU KNOW?
WHY DIDN'T YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE WATER, DAVE?
WHY DIDN'T I?
I MEAN, I HAD IDEAS,
BUT, FRICK, WE'RE A BUNCH
OF FRICKING ROOKIES.
WE'RE LEARNING.
I EXPECTED MORE GOLD THAN THIS,
TOO, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE EITHER GOT TO KIND OF BELIEVE
IN A LONG-TERM PLAN,
OR IT'S PROBABLY NOT GONNA WORK,
YOU KNOW?
I DON'T BELIEVE
IN OUR ECONOMY ANYMORE.
I BELIEVE IN GOLD.
I JUST WISH I WAS BETTER AT IT.
[ Laughing ] BETTER
GOLD MINER, YOU KNOW?
WE HAD A LOUSY CLEANOUT,
AND NOW I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON.
ALREADY WE'VE GOTTEN MORE THAN
WE DID ALL SEASON AT PORCUPINE.
SO, I'M HERE FOR THE HAUL.
I THINK YOU CAN GET US
THROUGH THIS.
I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS
TEAM, AND I WANT IT TO CONTINUE.
WE MAY NOT SET ANY RECORDS,
BUT WE CANNOT FAIL.
I'M GIVING YOU THAT PROMISE
RIGHT NOW.
I'M NOT GOING TO FAIL
AT GOLD MINING.