Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 2, Episode 15 - Man Down - full transcript

Narrator: SEVEN MINERS
FROM THE LOWER 48...

WE'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE
OF FRICKIN' NOWHERE.

...ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME
TO FIND

THE 100 OUNCES OF GOLD THEY NEED
TO TURN THEIR FORTUNES AROUND.

JUST BEING OUT HERE'S A GAMBLE.
LET'S RAISE THE STAKES.

IN THE KLONDIKE, GOLD MINES
ARE ALREADY SHUTTING DOWN

FOR THE LONG ARCTIC WINTER.

THEY'RE GETTING THEIR ASS
OUT OF TOWN.

BUT FINALLY, THE HOFFMAN CREW

IS SEEING THE BEST GOLD
OF THE SEASON.

HOLY SMOKES!



LOOKS REAL GOOD.

THEIR LEADER, TODD HOFFMAN...

THAT'S OUR FIRST
KLONDIKE NUGGET.

Narrator:
...HATCHES A RADICAL PLAN...

Todd:
I'M GONNA PROPOSE SOMETHING

THAT COULD BE A TURNING POINT
IN OUR MINE.

Narrator: ...TO BANK MORE GOLD
PER DAY THAN EVER.

IF WE CAN'T MAKE IT,
WE'RE DONE.

WHOA!

Narrator: DOWN SOUTH,
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!

Narrator:
...TODD'S RIVAL, DAKOTA FRED,

GETS A TASTE OF THE SUCCESS THAT
ELUDED THE HOFFMANS LAST YEAR.

[ High-pitched voice ]
NO GUTS, NO GLORY!



Narrator: AND AS 17-YEAR-OLD
PARKER SCHNABEL

TOTALS UP $55,000 IN GOLD...

[ SIREN WAILS ]

...DISASTER STRIKES, PUTTING
EVERYTHING IN PERSPECTIVE.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'LL DO WITHOUT HIM.

Narrator:
AT QUARTZ CREEK,

THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS ONLY WEEKS LEFT TO MINE.

THEIR GOAL --
100 OUNCES OF KLONDIKE GOLD.

THEY'VE DUG 40 OUNCES OUT
OF THEIR FIRST DIG SITE, CUT 1,

BUT ARE RUNNING OUT OF PAY DIRT
TO PROCESS.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE
6, 7 FEET BELOW THE GRAVEL,

INTO THE BEDROCK,

AND I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE

GOLD WOULD TRAVEL
THAT FAR INTO THE BEDROCK.

Narrator:
THURBER PANS THE BOTTOM OF CUT 1

TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY GOLD LEFT.

YOU KNOW,
WHATEVER THIS PANS OUT,

AT LEAST WE'LL HAVE AN IDEA --

DO WE KEEP GOING
OR GET CRACKING ON CUT NUMBER 2?

WE'LL SEE.

NOT REAL GOOD.

WE GOT THIS ONE LITTLE
SPECK OF GOLD.

Narrator:
IT'S TAKEN ALMOST FOUR MONTHS...

HEY, MAYBE WE'RE DONE.

Narrator: ...BUT CUT 1
IS FINALLY OUT OF GOLD.

TWO WEEKS AGO,

THE CREW STARTED STRIPPING
GROUND ON A SECOND CUT.

BUT THE PRESSURE
OF GETTING DOWN TO THE GOLD

WITH THEIR SEASON SLIPPING AWAY

PUSHED ONE CREW MEMBER
OVER THE EDGE.

HOW COME
THE DOZER AIN'T RUNNING?

WHERE'D GREG GO?

I'M STARTING TO FEEL LESS
HOPEFUL ABOUT MY CHANCES HERE.

Narrator:
GREG REMSBURG QUIT,

LEAVING THE CLAIM, TO FIND WORK
BACK HOME IN OREGON.

NOW WITH CUT 2 STILL DAYS AWAY
FROM DELIVERING ANY PAY DIRT,

THE CREW IS EAGER TO FEED
WHATEVER THEY CAN

INTO THEIR WASH PLANT.

JACK DIGS UP
THE ACCESS RAMP TO CUT 1.

Jack:
WE MIGHT AS WELL GET

AS MUCH GOLD OUT OF THIS ONE
AS WE CAN

SO WE CAN GO TO CUT NUMBER 2.

Narrator: TODD AND JIM

RUN THE OLD ACCESS-RAMP DIRT
THROUGH THE WASH PLANT.

Todd: HEY, JIM!
LAST BUCKET!

YEAH, WE'RE GONNA SHUT DOWN,
TAKE A LOOK AT THESE RIFFLES.

Turin:
WHAT DO YOU THINK, JIM?

DON'T SEE MUCH GOLD.

THERE'S SOME GOLD
IN THERE.

HOLY SMOKES!
LOOK AT THAT THING!

HA HA!

[ LAUGHTER ]

OH, GEE.
LOOKY THERE.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING
FOR EVER SINCE LAST YEAR.

Todd: DUDE, LOOK AT THE SIZE
OF THAT BAD BOY.

I THINK
THAT'S JUST AWESOME.

FRIGGIN' SWEET.

I THINK THAT'S JUST
THE BEGINNING.

RIGHT THERE -- THAT'S
OUR FIRST KLONDIKE NUGGET.

IT'S A NICE ONE.

GUYS, I HATE
TO TELL YOU THIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S
A QUARTZ CREEK NUGGET.

THINK IT MIGHT BE TORONTO?
YEP.

REALLY?
I DO.

Narrator: TORONTO CREEK
RUNS INTO QUARTZ CREEK

ON THE SOUTH END
OF THE HOFFMANS' CLAIM.

THE NUGGET WAS PULLED
FROM THE ACCESS RAMP

ON THE SOUTHERN END OF CUT 1.

BUT THE CREW HAS BEEN PREPPING
THEIR SECOND CUT

FURTHER FROM TORONTO CREEK.

TODD AND JACK
SCOUT OUT TORONTO CREEK,

WHERE TODD SUSPECTS
THERE'S BETTER GOLD.

THEY DISCUSS
A POSSIBLE CHANGE OF PLAN.

I KNOW THERE'S GOLD
UP TORONTO.

THAT GOLD WORKED ITS WAY
OUT TO THE MOUTH,

RIGHT HERE,
SOMEWHERE IN THIS AREA.

Jack:
I HEAR YOU. I KNOW.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SITTING ON
40 OUNCES, TOTAL.

HALF THIS CUT
ON CUT NUMBER 2 IS DONE.

THERE COULD BE --
WHO KNOWS? --

500 TO 1,000 OUNCES
RIGHT AT THE MOUTH HERE.

YEAH, I KNOW.

WE GOT TIME
FOR ONE MORE CUT.

WELL, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE
A DECISION.

I'M WILLING TO WORK
WHATEVER WAY IT GOES.

TORONTO CREEK JUST MAY BE
RICHER GROUND THAN CUT 2.

BUT IT'LL TAKE WEEKS TO STRIP,

THE CREW IS A MAN DOWN,
AND WINTER COULD FREEZE THEM OUT

BEFORE THEY EVEN REACH
PAY GRAVEL.

BACK AT THE WASH PLANT, THE CREW
CONTINUES THE CLEANOUT...

...AND TAKES THE MATERIAL FROM
THE OLD RAMP TO THE GOLD ROOM.

LAST ONE.

NICE LITTLE NUGGETS.
THEY'RE CLINKERS.

SEEING SOME NICE PIECES.

LOOK AT THAT.
THERE'S A NICE ONE.

FOUR NICE CHUNKS.

DUDE, THAT'S A NUGGET.

THEY GO CLINK IN THE PAN.

LOOK AT THAT.

THAT WAS IN, LIKE,
ABOUT 30 SHOVELFULS.

THAT'S AS MANY NUGGETS
AS WE'VE EVER FOUND.

[ MOTOR WHIRRING ]

I'M EXTREMELY PLEASED
WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

WE DIDN'T WIND UP WITH
A LOT OF MATERIAL PUT THROUGH,

BUT IT IS REALLY GOOD STUFF.

IT AIN'T GONNA TAKE LONG.

THAT'S IT.

NOT BAD FOR NOT RUNNING
MUCH MATERIAL.

5...

ALMOST 7 OUNCES.

FOR A THREE-HOUR RUN,
THAT'S NOT BAD.

THAT'S PRETTY FREAKIN' GOOD.

Narrator: JACK'S DECISION

TO RUN THE RAMP DIRT THEY ALMOST
LEFT BEHIND HAS PAID OFF --

$11,000 IN GOLD
FOR JUST THREE HOURS OF WORK.

BUT NOW THE HOFFMANS HAVE
A SEASON-DEFINING CALL TO MAKE.

I'M GONNA PROPOSE
SOMETHING

THAT COULD BE A TURNING POINT
IN OUR MINE.

THIS SECTION
OVER HERE, OKAY?

CUT NUMBER 3,
LET'S CALL IT.

WHEN YOU GET TWO CREEKS
WITH GOLD IN THEM CONVERGING...

YEP.

...YOU GET
A POCKET OF GOLD.

WE'RE TALKING

POSSIBLY 500 TO 1,000 OUNCES
ON BEDROCK

WHERE THE TWO RIVERS
CONVERGE.

I WANT TO KNOCK IT
OUT OF THE PARK.

I WANT TO TRY TO SEE
WHAT WE CAN DO IN 3,

BUT THE QUESTION IS THIS --
WE GOT TIME FOR ONE.

YEAH, WE ONLY GOT TIME
FOR ONE CUT.

ONE CUT.

TODD, THAT'S A HUGE GAMBLE,
GOING OVER THERE.

JUST BEING OUT HERE'S
A GAMBLE, OKAY?

WE'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE
OF FRICKIN' NOWHERE.

IF WE'RE GONNA GO OUT,

LET'S JUST RAISE THE STAKES,
TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

I KNOW YOU'RE LIKE
ME AND JACK.

YOU'D RATHER GO OUT OF HERE
LIKE A HERO.

AND WHAT ABOUT
THESE GUYS?

THEY NEED TO GET THROUGH
THE WINTER.

YEAH.

IF WE GET HALFWAY THROUGH THAT
AND WE CAN'T MAKE IT,

WE'RE DONE.

WE WALK AWAY WITH --
THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT.
RIGHT.

AT LEAST THERE I KNOW
WE CAN GET THESE GUYS

SOME MONEY
IN THEIR POCKET.

GET THEM A LITTLE BREAD MONEY.
I GET IT.

WE DON'T NEED
AN ANSWER NOW.

I WANT YOU TO KIND OF THINK
ABOUT IT AND THINK TO YOURSELF,

"CAN WE GET DOWN IN TIME
AND DO IT?"

AND SLUICE IT
BEFORE THE SNOW FLIES.

AND IF WE CAN'T DRAW YOU
ON BOARD, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

Narrator: DOWN SOUTH,

JUST OUTSIDE
THE BIG NUGGET MINE IN ALASKA,

17-YEAR-OLD MINE BOSS
PARKER SCHNABEL

RECEIVES DEVASTATING NEWS.

Parker: I TALKED TO MY PARENTS,
AND THEY TOLD ME

THAT MY GRANDPA'S HAD A, UM --

HAD A HEART ATTACK.

IT'S JUST NOT
A [BLEEP] GOOD DAY.

YOU KNOW,
MY GRANDPA'S PROBABLY...

THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON
IN MY LIFE, AND...

FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO HIM
JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN

IS PRETTY TOUGH TO, UM...

PRETTY TOUGH TO TAKE,
TOUGH TO HANDLE.

Narrator:
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER,

PARKER TOOK OVER
THE BIG NUGGET MINE

FROM HIS 91-YEAR-OLD
GRANDFATHER, JOHN.

THANKS, GRANDPA.

John:
PARKER HAS A VISION

THAT HE'S GONNA MAKE
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY DAY,

AND I HOPE HE'S RIGHT.

Narrator:
JOHN WAS SUPPOSED TO RETIRE,

BUT HE'S BEEN A CONSTANT
PRESENCE ON THE MINE...

OH, MY GRANDPA'S HERE!
NOW WE'VE GOT THE "A" TEAM!

Narrator: ...MENTORING
HIS 17-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON

WHENEVER HE COULD.

I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO HOOK ONTO
THE BACK END WITH A CABLE.

THERE YOU GO.
THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY.

NOW JOHN IS BEING AIRLIFTED
TO THE HOSPITAL IN ANCHORAGE.

NO ONE KNOWS IF HE'LL MAKE IT.

Parker:
SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT...

YOU KNOW, WHAT IT'LL BE LIKE --

WHAT'LL HAPPEN
WHEN MY GRANDPA PASSES AWAY.

YOU KNOW, USUALLY, I THINK, "OH,
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, HE'S OLD.

I'LL BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT
FINE," BUT...

THE TRUTH IS, IT'LL...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL DO
WITHOUT HIM.

Narrator:
AT PORCUPINE CREEK, IN ALASKA,

DAKOTA FRED
HAS BEEN DIGGING FOR GOLD

ON THE HOFFMANS' OLD CLAIM
FOR FOUR MONTHS.

Fred:
THAT'S WHERE THE GOLD IS.

Narrator: THE CREW
IS RUNNING THEIR DE-ROCKER HARD

AND CATCHING GOLD.

BUT WITH ONLY 41 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH $66,000,

FRED AND HIS CREW HAVE DECIDED
TO TRY AND HIT BEDROCK

BEFORE WINTER CLOSES THEM OUT.

Fred:
I SPENT MOST OF MY SAVINGS,

LOST MY HOUSE ALONG THE WAY,
GOT IT FLOODED.

WE HOPE THIS PAYS OFF.

I'VE, UH...

KIND OF STAKED MY...

I GUESS
WE STAKED OUR WHOLE SEASON

ON THE FACT THAT HOPEFULLY
THAT BEDROCK MATERIAL

IS GONNA PAY A LOT BETTER THAN
WHAT THE UPPER MATERIAL DID.

WE'D BETTER HAVE SOME GOLD
TO PAY IT OFF.

I HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S
AT BEDROCK, IF WE CAN FIND IT.

IF WE CAN FIND IT.

WHO KNOWS IF IT'S
A THOUSAND FEET?

I HAVE NO IDEA.

Narrator: LAST SEASON,
JACK HOFFMAN BET IT ALL

ON HITTING BEDROCK
AT PORCUPINE CREEK.

Jack: I'VE JUST GOT A LITTLE
WAYS TO GET, TOUCH BEDROCK.

THAT'S WHERE THE GOLD'S LAYING,
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING.

Narrator: BUT WHEN FRED
TOOK OVER PORCUPINE,

HE REJECTED THE HOFFMANS'
GLORY-HOLE STRATEGY,

OPTING TO MINE SHALLOWER
PAY DIRT ACROSS A WIDER AREA.

Fred: THE WAY JACK DUG TO GET
DOWN AS DEEP AS POSSIBLE --

TOTALLY WRONG.

Narrator: BUT AS FRED DUG DEEP,
HE FOUND MORE GOLD.

WE KNOW NOW
WHAT'S REALLY DOWN THERE.

UH...

AS YOU GO DEEPER,
YOU GET BETTER.

ALL RIGHT,
WE'RE GONNA TRY THIS...

Narrator:
FRED IS NOW AFTER

THE DEEPEST GOLD HE HOPES
IS SITTING ON BEDROCK.

TO GET AT IT, HE HAS TO INCH
THE 270 EXCAVATOR

DOWN A DANGEROUS ROCKY BANK...

Fred:
...IF I DON'T DIE FIRST.

Narrator: ...70 FEET
TO THE BOTTOM OF HIS PIT.

THIS IS
A DANGEROUS MANEUVER HERE.

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.

ABOUT A 35-, 40-DEGREE
SLOPE HERE.

WHOA.

WE JUST SLIDING RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M DOWN.

ALL RIGHT,
LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO.

WHOA!
WE'RE ROCKIN' HERE.

GONNA HAVE TO BACK UP HERE
A LITTLE BIT.

[ BEEPING ]

[ CRASH ]

OH, NO.

Fred: DUSTIN,
COME DOWN HERE IMMEDIATELY!

I need some help!
We're in big trouble.

BIG TROUBLE.

WHAT'D YOU DO?

COMPLETELY LOST THE TRACK.

I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

WELL, I GUESS A ROCK GRABBED IT,
OF SOME KIND,

AND JUST UNROLLED IT.

ALL RIGHT, SO,
CHECK THE BOX UP THERE

TO MAKE SURE
YOU DON'T HAVE A CHAIN.

I'M GONNA GET
A CHAIN AND A SHOVEL

AND A COME-ALONG
AND FEW OTHER LITTLE THINGS.

Narrator: BUT THERE MAY BE
AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM.

FRED'S 6-INCH PUMP
IS BARELY KEEPING UP

WITH THE GROUND WATER
POURING INTO THE PIT.

WE'RE RIGHT DOWN HERE WHERE
THE WATER COULD OVERTAKE THIS

IN ABOUT FOUR HOURS.

IT'S GONNA BE A RACE AGAINST
THE WATER LEVEL COMING UP.

'CAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF RAIN,
OUR RIVER'S HIGH.

THAT PUMP QUITS,

WE CAN JUST ABOUT
KISS THIS EXCAVATOR GOODBYE,

'CAUSE IT'LL BE UNDERWATER.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A TRACK
THROWN THIS BAD

TO WHERE THE IDLE WHEEL
HAS COME OFF OF THE TRACTOR.

THIS IS VERY SERIOUS.
IT COULD BE FATAL.

THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS SPOT
FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING IN.

HEADS UP FOR BIG ROCKS
RIGHT HERE COMING DOWN.

YEAH, I'M WATCHING THAT.

ALL RIGHT,
HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE
THE BUCKET.

I'M GONNA TRY TO HIT IT
WITH THE TOOTH AND PUSH IT IN.

WE HAVE AN ARTICULATING ARM,

WHICH REALLY HELPS
TO PUT A TRACK BACK ON.

I'M GONNA MOVE
OUT OF THE WAY.

YOU'RE TOUCHING.

OOH! THAT'S IT.

THERE YOU GO. BEAUTIFUL.
DO IT AGAIN.

OH, YEAH.

STAND BY.

Narrator:
WITH DUSTIN AT THE CONTROLS...

STRAIGHT BACK!

...FRED TRIES TO FORCE THE TRACK
BACK INTO ITS GUIDE PULLEYS.

CURL UP A LITTLE!

STRAIGHT BACK!

HOLD IT!

MOVE DOWN!

WHOA!

WE'RE ON.

ALL RIGHT!

WHOO!

YO!

LOOKS GOOD.
YEE-HAW!

FORTUNATELY, WE GOT IT FIXED.

RIGHT NOW, SHE'S RUNNING.
LET'S SEE IF SHE LIKES DIGGING.

Narrator: THE DAKOTA BOYS
LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

ALL RIGHT, BIG BOY.
LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO HERE.

Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK,
DAVE TURIN IS IN HIS ELEMENT...

WHOA!

...PUSHING HARD
TO GET PAY DIRT IN CUT 2.

Turin: TODD AND JACK
WANT TO GO TO CUT NUMBER 3

AND ABANDON CUT NUMBER 2.

SOMETIMES I DO MY BEST THINKING
WHEN I'M RUNNING THIS DOZER.

WHEN YOU SPEND THIS MUCH TIME
ON A DOZER, YOU CAN ACTUALLY,

YEAH, PUSH WITHOUT THINKING
ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

SO I'VE BEEN THINKING WE COULD
DO CUT NUMBER 2 IN ABOUT 3 DAYS

IF I GET ENOUGH TIME
TO WORK AT IT PRETTY HARD.

I THINK I COULD GET
CUT NUMBER 2 READY.

AND THEN IF I ADD
ANOTHER OPERATOR IN THE 400,

I'D GO START ON STRIPPING
CUT NUMBER 3.

IF I PROPOSE TO GREG

THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP
A WHOLE NEW CUT,

CUT NUMBER 3 HAS BIG GOLD IN IT.

SO HOPEFULLY MAYBE WE CAN
GET GREG REMSBURG BACK UP HERE.

Turin:
I JUST GOT TO TALK TO TODD.

THERE'S NO WAY
I'M GONNA EVEN

ATTEMPT THE THIRD CUT
WITHOUT GREG.

HEY, TODD, YOU GOT A MINUTE?
YEAH. WHAT?

YOU KNOW,
WE TALKED ABOUT...

CHANGING FROM CUT NUMBER 2
TO CUT NUMBER 3, RIGHT?

I MEAN, YOU AND JACK TALKED
ABOUT DOING CUT NUMBER 3.

WE'RE A DOZER GUY DOWN.
I CAN'T DO IT BY MYSELF.

THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN
GET THAT DONE WITHOUT REMSBURG.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE BETTER
WITH HIM THAN WITHOUT HIM.

I KNOW WE'D BE LIMPING
INTO THE END OF THE SEASON.

SO, DUDE, I'M OPEN, AS LONG AS
HE'S GOT HIS HEAD IN THE GAME

AND IF YOU'RE WILLING
TO KICK HIM A FLIGHT.

I'M WILLING TO STEP UP
AND HELP HIM WITH A PLANE TICKET

BECAUSE I KNOW
HE'S GONNA MAKE IT BACK.

IF WE CAN GET THREE CUTS,
WE COULD GET --

WHO KNOWS? -- 200 OUNCES.
I DON'T KNOW.

AND HE'LL BE ABLE
TO GET THROUGH THE WINTER.

AND I KNOW
HE COULDN'T FIND A JOB

IN THIS SHORT
AMOUNT OF TIME.

OKAY,
I'M GONNA GIVE HIM A CALL

AND SEE IF I CAN'T
GET HIM UP HERE.

I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO LEAVE
IN THE FIRST PLACE.

[ Dialing ]

Narrator:
GREG REMSBURG LEFT QUARTZ CREEK,

FEARING FAILURE
FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

[ Telephone ringing ]

DAVE HAS TO PERSUADE HIM

THAT THE NEW GROUND TODD
HAS FOUND COULD MAKE HIM RICH.

HEY, GREG.
REMSBURG: Dave.

HOW'S IT GOING, MAN?

Well, I'm doing all right.

YEAH? EVERYTHING
GOING ALL RIGHT AT HOME?

It's still pretty slow
down here.

You know how it is.

YEAH.

WE'RE JUST KIND OF IN A --
KIND OF IN A DILEMMA OUT HERE.

TODD THREW SOMETHING AT ME, AND
HE WANTS TO GO ACROSS THE ROAD,

GO ALL THE WAY UP TO TORONTO
CREEK, AND OPEN A THIRD CUT.

Whoa.

BUT HERE'S THE DEAL,
GREG --

I CAN'T DO THAT THIRD CUT
WITHOUT YOU.

I NEED YOUR HELP.

That's the last thing
I expected to hear this morning.

I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO
IS WE'LL FINISH THE SECOND CUT,

SLUICE IT OUT,
AND THEN WHILE THEY'RE SLUICING,

YOU AND I CAN BE
WORKING ON THIS THIRD CUT.

I came home for my family,
and, you know,

I don't know if I can gamble
with them, in a sense.

WHY DON'T YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
TALK IT OVER WITH SANDY?

Let me get back to you,
and we can go from there.

OKAY, MAN.
ALL RIGHT, BYE.

WE'RE LOSING TIME.

WE NEED HIM,
AND WE NEED HIM BAD.

IT'S THE BEST THING
FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY.

GET BACK UP HERE.
LET'S FINISH WHAT WE STARTED.

Narrator: IN ANCHORAGE,
TEENAGE MINER PARKER SCHNABEL

RUSHES TO BE WITH
HIS 91-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER,

WHO HAS SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK.

JOHN SCHNABEL
HAS JUST UNDERGONE SURGERY

TO PREVENT FURTHER ATTACKS.

John: PARKER!

I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU.
[ GROANS ]

I'M NOT GONNA GET OUT OF BED,
BUT GIVE ME A HUG.

[ LAUGHS ]

IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.

WELL, I HOPE SO.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I'M SORRY
I'M IN SUCH CONDITION.

I'M KIND OF HELPLESS.

ON MONDAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN
HAPPY TO CASH IN...

[ CHUCKLES ]

JUST TO ESCAPE,
IF NOTHING ELSE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

WELL,
I'M GLAD YOU DIDN'T.

Narrator:
TO LIFT HIS SPIRITS,

PARKER SHOWS HIS GRANDFATHER
THE SEASON'S GOLD...

FEELS PRETTY NICE.

34 1/2 ALMOST.

...ALMOST $55,000 WORTH.

[ CHUCKLES ]
THAT'S PRETTY NICE.

YEAH.

BE CAREFUL.
DON'T DROP IT.

SO, WHAT -- DO YOU HAVE, LIKE,
A NEW HEART NOW OR SOMETHING?

NO, THEY PUT
TWO STINTS IN THERE.

JOHN HAD SURGERY
TO OPEN UP TWO BLOCKED ARTERIES.

BUT JUST 24 HOURS LATER,

JOHN HAS ONLY ONE THING
ON HIS MIND --

GETTING BACK TO THE MINE.

I WANT TO GO HOME.

YOU CAN'T EVEN WALK.

I'LL PROBABLY BE ABLE
TO GET UP TO THE MINE

SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.

MAYBE THE MIDDLE
OR THE END OF THE WEEK.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M JUST WONDERING
IF IT WOULDN'T BE GOOD

FOR YOU TO STAY HERE
FOR A FEW MORE DAYS.

AND I JUST THINK THAT
THAT'S A LOT OF TRAVEL

IF YOU'VE ONLY GOT
ONE FOOT AND HALF A HEART.

ONE FOOT
IN THE GRAVE, HUH?

[ LAUGHS ]

THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.

TRY TO UNDERSTAND, PARKER,

THAT I WOULD LIKE
TO GO HOME TODAY.

Parker: AND I WISH
HE WOULD JUST STAY HERE

AND LET HIS BODY
KIND OF DEAL WITH EVERYTHING

THAT'S GONE ON
IN THE LAST FEW DAYS,

BUT, UM...

I THINK A BIG PART
OF MY GRANDPA'S WELL-BEING

IS HIS MENTAL HEALTH,

AND HE'S HAPPIEST IN HAINES,
SO LET HIM GO TO HAINES.

Narrator: JOHN BEGINS
THE 500-MILE JOURNEY HOME.

OHO.

I FEEL LIKE I'LL MAKE IT.

[ LAUGHS ]

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

Narrator:
IN THE KLONDIKE,

DAVE TURIN IS MAKING A PICKUP
AT DAWSON AIRPORT.

I'M BACK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.

HOW ARE YOU?
I'M -- I'M GOOD.

YEAH?
YEAH, I'M READY TO GO.

TODD GOES,
"LET'S GIVE UP ON CUT NUMBER 2.

LET'S GO TO CUT NUMBER 3.
LET'S JUST GO FOR BROKE."

AND I WASN'T GOING FOR IT.

I MEAN,
ALL THAT WORK TO OPEN IT UP,

AND WE ALMOST
WEREN'T GONNA RUN IT?

AND IT'S LIKE
MONEY IN THE BANK?

THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT IT WAS.

SO THAT'S WHEN WE TALKED --
BRING YOU BACK.

THEY START SLUICING
CUT NUMBER 2.

YOU AND I GO TO WORK
ON CUT NUMBER 3.

BUT WITHOUT YOU
IN THE 400,

I HAD NO CHANCE
OF DOING CUT NUMBER 3.

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING, THE
REUNITED HOFFMAN CREW GATHERS.

TODD NOW NEEDS EVERY MAN TO PULL
TOGETHER TO MAKE ONE LAST PUSH.

AT BEST, THEY HAVE FOUR WEEKS
TO MAKE THEIR SEASON PROFITABLE.

SO, GREG, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE BACK
TO FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED.

YOU'RE GONNA FINISH IT OUT.
I WANT YOU TO FINISH STRONG.

I'M IN. MY HEAD'S IN IT.
GOOD.

I'M EXCITED
TO GET INTO THIS GROUND.

LET'S GET EVERYTHING
THAT'S THERE.

I REALLY THINK
IT'S OVER THERE,

AND WE GOT A SHOT
WITH YOU BEING HERE.

BRING IT IN, GUYS.
DAD.

I SAY WE GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT,
YOU GUYS.

SAY A QUICK PRAYER
FOR SAFETY TODAY.

LORD,
WE'RE TRULY GRATEFUL

THAT EVERYBODY'S HERE
AND THAT THE TEAM'S COMPLETE.

AND, LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU JUST
HELP US TO GET A LOT OF GOLD.

AND WE PRAY THIS
IN YOUR NAME. AMEN.

AMEN.
AMEN.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
LET'S DO IT.

Narrator:
DAVE AND GREG GET RIGHT TO WORK,

CLEARING THE DIRT IN CUT 2.

ONCE THEY HIT PAY GRAVEL,

THE CREW WILL RUN IT THROUGH
THE WASH PLANT,

ALLOWING DAVE AND GREG TO MOVE
OVER AND START STRIPPING CUT 3.

NICE TO BE BACK IN HERE!

WE GOT A LOT OF MUCK TO GET OUT
OF HERE STILL, BUT...

THINK WE CAN GET 'ER.

Turin: YEAH, IT'S REALLY NICE
HAVING GREG BACK.

HIM AND I THINK A LOT ALIKE, SO
IT'S REALLY EASY TO COMMUNICATE,

AND WE'RE GONNA GET
THIS CUT NUMBER 2 DONE,

AND WE'RE GONNA DO THIS
IN ABOUT HALF THE TIME.

Narrator:
AFTER FIVE HOURS OF TEAMWORK,

GREG REACHES
THE FIRST LEVEL OF PAY GRAVEL.

GOT GOOD PAY HERE IN CUT 2.

IT'S ALREADY STARTING TO SHOW.

Doumitt:
YEAH, THAT'S THE FIRST SCOOP.

YOU KNOW, I'M A PUMPOLOGIST,
NOT A GEOLOGIST,

BUT, BY GOLLY, IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S GOLD-BEARING TO ME.

YEAH, MAN.
WE GOT THE SECOND CUT.

FIRST COUPLE LOADS OF DIRT
ARE HERE.

YEAH, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

Narrator: BUT CHRIS HAS TO MAKE
A LONG TRIP TO THE WASH PLANT

WITH EVERY LOAD
OF CUT 2 PAY DIRT.

HE'S BURNING TIME
AND PRECIOUS DIESEL.

DAVE TURIN HAS A SOLUTION.

Turin: GOT TO GET FAST ACCESS
TO CUT NUMBER 2,

AND THE QUICKEST WAY WE FOUND
IS TO PUT IN A NEW ROAD

AND BYPASS THE ROAD
THAT'S ALL THE WAY AROUND.

SHOULD BE A LOT MORE EFFICIENT.

Narrator:
INSTEAD OF THE 250-YARD JOURNEY

THROUGH CUT 1 WITH EVERY LOAD,

DAVE PROPOSES
A SHORTCUT FROM CUT 2

THAT WILL BE FOUR TIMES FASTER.

Turin: WE'VE GOT TO GET ACROSS
OUR RETURN WATER.

WE'VE GOT A DITCH RIGHT NOW,

SO WE GOT TO PUT A CULVERT
IN THERE,

AND THEN THE LOADER
WILL BE BRINGING MATERIAL

FROM CUT NUMBER 2.

IF WE SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME
DOING THIS RIGHT,

THEN THIS WILL SAVE US DAYS
LATER ON,

AND WE NEED THOSE DAYS.

WE NEED
EVERY DAY WE CAN GET NOW.

Narrator:
THE NEW ROAD IS COMPLETE,

AND THE CREW GETS BACK TO WORK
ON CUT 2.

Turin: ANYTIME YOU MOVE
FROM ONE SPOT TO ANOTHER

AND YOU START MOVING YOUR PLANT,
CONFIGURING ROADS AND STUFF,

AND YOU COULD BE RUNNING
THE SAME DAY,

THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

STARTING TO GET THE HANG OF IT.

WE'RE STARTING TO FIGURE
SOME THINGS OUT.

I'M PRETTY HAPPY
THAT WE COULD KEEP RUNNING.

THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

Narrator:
AFTER RUNNING FOR FOUR HOURS,

THE HOFFMAN CREW SHUTS DOWN

TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY GOLD
IN THE CUT 2 PAY GRAVEL.

[ ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]

IS THAT CUT 2?
THAT'S THE GOOD STUFF, I BET.

NOT BAD.
LOOK AT THAT.

WOW, LOOK. LOOK AT THIS,
AND THIS.

Doumitt: THAT'S AS GOOD
AS WE'VE SEEN.

GUYS,
THIS CUT 2 IS SICK.

LOOK AT THIS NUGGET
TRYING TO MAKE ITS WAY OUT.

LOOK AT THAT LITTLE GUY.

AND YOU WANTED TO ABANDON
CUT 2, TODD. SHAME.

GUYS, I GOT GOLD
ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE.

WHAT?

I'M GLAD WE STUCK WITH CUT 2.

THIS IS AWESOME STUFF.

OH, YEAH.
LOOKS REAL GOOD.

THIS IS NOTICEABLY BETTER
THAN THE FIRST CUT.

BIG-TIME.

Narrator:
AT PORCUPINE CREEK,

FRED IS 70 FEET DOWN IN THE PIT,
ON THE HUNT FOR BEDROCK GOLD.

Fred: AAH!

THE HOFFMANS WERE DIGGING

BASICALLY
THE SAME MATERIAL I AM,

EXCEPT JUST NOT QUITE AS DEEP.

THAT'S ALL.
[ LAUGHING ]

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW SPENT
ALL OF THEIR FIRST MINING SEASON

TRYING
BUT FAILING TO REACH BEDROCK.

I THINK
I'M ABOUT 3 OR 4 FEET BELOW

WHERE THE HOFFMANS DUG LAST YEAR

IN THE DEEPEST POTS
I GOT OUT THERE.

FRED SEEMS TO THINK
HE'S CLOSE TO

OR SOMETHING
THAT'S SIMILAR TO BEDROCK.

IF THAT'S THE CASE,
THIS IS GONNA YIELD

FOUR TIMES WHAT WE'VE BEEN
WORKING WITH BEFORE.

[ CLATTERING ]

Narrator: FRED HITS SOMETHING
THAT WON'T BUDGE.

Fred:
I'M ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT THERE.

YEE-HOO-HOO-HOO!
LOOK AT THAT STUFF.

Narrator: AFTER ALMOST
TWO FULL SEASONS OF MINING,

SOMEONE HAS FINALLY HIT BEDROCK
AT PORCUPINE.

Fred:
WE HAVE GOT SUCCESS HERE.

Dustin: WE GOT GOLD!

Fred: YEAH, BOYS!
YEAH! I KNEW IT!

YEAH! COME ON!

IF JACK WAS HERE,
HE'D BE JEALOUS.

HE'D BE WANTING TO BE DOWN HERE
TO DIG, JUST LIKE ME.

WAH!

FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO
THAT LITTLE SCRATCHY VOICE.

[ High-pitched voice ]
NO GUTS, NO GLORY!

[ Normal voice ]
I HOPE THERE'S GOLD

JUST DRIPPING OFF THAT STUFF,
SO DON'T SPILL A DROP OF IT.

WHAT I'M TOLD
IS THAT IT'S POSSIBLE

TO HAVE AN OUNCE
EVERY YARD OF DIRT

INSTEAD OF AN OUNCE
EVERY 100 YARDS OF DIRT

WHEN YOU HIT BEDROCK.

HOPING THAT THIS STUFF
HOLDS A LOT OF GOLD IN IT.

BOY, IT WOULD BE NICE IF THERE
WAS A LOT OF GOLD IN THERE.

[ BEEPING ]

Narrator: 40 MILES SOUTH,
IN HAINES, ALASKA,

JOHN SCHNABEL ARRIVES
BACK FROM ANCHORAGE

JUST DAYS
AFTER HIS HEART ATTACK.

[ LAUGHING ]
WELL, COME ON BACK.

John: COME ON.

OH, I'M SURE GLAD
TO SEE YOU.

[ LAUGHTER ]

HI, DAD!

WHAT A WEEK, HUH?

GOOD TO SEE YOU!

ALL RIGHT!

DAD, YOU LOOK GREAT.
YOU LOOK GREAT.

I LOOK PRETTY WEAK.

YOU'RE GONNA GO FOR IT?
YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, DAD.
WHAT A WEEK, HUH?

YEAH, EVERYTHING --
YOU'RE FEELING OKAY, THOUGH?

YEAH, I'M...EMOTIONAL.
THAT'S ALL.

I THINK IT'S GREAT.

WHAT YOU NEED,
AS FAR AS EMOTIONS GO --

WHAT YOU NEED
TO PSYCH YOURSELF UP FOR

IS TO LET US
TAKE CARE OF YOU, OKAY?

JUST LET US DO IT.
IT'S A THRILL, DAD.

WELL, I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE
TOO MANY PLANS.

[ LAUGHTER ]

WE'RE HAPPY
TO HAVE YOU, MAN.

Parker:
SO, HOW ARE WE GONNA DO THIS?

OH, I CAN GET IN.
NO PROBLEM.

I'M GONNA GET IN.
WHEREVER.

[ GROANS ]

IF HE CAN DO THAT,
HE CAN RUN THE MINE.

IT JUST PROVES TO YOU
THAT I'M NOT HELPLESS.

[ LAUGHTER ]

SEE? HE LOOKS GOOD.

Narrator:
JOHN MAY BE BACK ON HIS FEET,

BUT HE'S 91 AND GETTING OVER
HIS THIRD HEART ATTACK.

Parker: I WON'T LET HIM AT THE
MINE FOR TWO WEEKS, AT LEAST.

I THINK THAT'S THE BEST THING
TO DO IS JUST --

JUST TELL HIM
TO TAKE TWO WEEKS OFF.

Narrator:
BACK UP IN THE KLONDIKE...

THE HOFFMAN CREW IS RUNNING THE
PAY DIRT FROM THEIR SECOND CUT.

NOW TODD'S READY TO PUT
HIS AMBITIOUS PLAN INTO ACTION.

SO, THE SECOND CUT, THAT'S
THE SURE THING, THE SURE ROUTE,

BUT I WANT TO GO AHEAD
AND TAKE THAT OTHER CUT HERE,

BECAUSE THAT BIG NUGGET WE GOT
CAME OUT OF THAT TORONTO CREEK.

SO I REALLY THINK
THAT THERE'S MORE GOLD

DOWN AT THE BASE OF TORONTO
THAN THERE IS UP THERE.

WE'RE READY TO GO.

Narrator: DAVE AND GREG
MOVE OVER FROM CUT 2

TO START STRIPPING THEIR THIRD
CUT, JUST OFF TORONTO CREEK.

[ WOOD CRACKING ]

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
DAVE IS REMINDED

JUST HOW HARD IT IS
TO GET DOWN TO KLONDIKE GOLD.

Turin: OH, MAN!

IT'S RIGHT BACK TO THE SAME GOO.

MUD IN ONE SPOT,
PERMAFROST IN ANOTHER.

NASTY STUFF.

WELL, HERE WE ARE
BACK IN THE MUD AGAIN.

AAH!

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS STRIP
AT PRETTY MUCH THE WRONG TIME.

Turin:
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS

WHEN YOU START TO CUT
REAL LATE.

YOU GOT PERMAFROST THAT MELTS,
TURNS TO MUD,

SO IT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT.

THAT'S ICE.

SEE HOW IT'S --

I CAN'T GET ANY TRACTION.

DANG IT.

NEED A LITTLE HELP, GREG.

Narrator:
AT QUARTZ CREEK,

GREG REMSBURG AND DAVE TURIN
ARE OPENING A THIRD CUT,

BUT THE D8 IS STUCK.

GREG COMES OVER TO PULL THE
84,000-POUND D8 OUT OF THE MUD.

TRY TO LIFT YOU
A LITTLE BIT?

NO, JUST -- IT'S JUST,
YOU'RE HUNG UP ON THAT RING,

SO GO THAT WAY
AND CURL UP A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY.

[ BEEPING ]

WE'RE GONNA BE LUCKY

IF WE DON'T LOSE
ONE OF THESE PIECES OUT HERE.

DAVE IS IN
DEEPER THAN HE THOUGHT.

I'M GONNA NEED
ANOTHER PULL, GREG.

WHAT A MESS.

Turin: THIS IS A REAL GAMBLE.

THE RISK IS THAT THIS MACHINE
DOESN'T MAKE IT.

WITHOUT THIS MACHINE,
WE'RE DONE.

WE MIGHT AS WELL JUST GO HOME
AND CALL IT A WINTER.

Narrator: GREG WANTS PROOF
THAT THERE IS GOLD IN CUT 3

BEFORE HE TAKES ANY MORE RISKS.

Remsburg: TODD THINKS
THERE'S A PAY LAYER DOWN HERE.

I GOT TO SEE IT FOR MYSELF.

I'D SAY LET'S GET A PAN
AND FIND OUT.

THIS IS JUST
FROM A SMALL PILE OF DIRT

RIGHT OUT OF CUT NUMBER 3,

ABOUT 25 FEET FROM THE CREEK.

SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE
THE GOLD, BUT I'M SKEPTICAL.

I'D LIKE TO FIND
A BIG OLD NUGGET.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

THERE'S PROBABLY 30 --
30 PIECES.

TIMES LIKE THESE,
I DON'T MIND BEING WRONG.

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT
A LOT OF COLOR.

THAT'S ACTUALLY
PRETTY NICE STUFF,

AND IT'S COMING FROM
NOT VERY DEEP.

WHAT DO YOU GOT?

WHAT THE...

TOLD YOU.

RIGHT? IT'S NOT
SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.

THAT'S ALL
I NEEDED TO HEAR.

I TOLD YOU!

JUST NEEDED TO HEAR HIMSELF SAY,
"I TOLD YOU SO."

I TOLD YOU SO.

I'M TELLING YOU,
IT'S IN THERE.

THAT'S AS GOOD AS ANY PAN
THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN.

THAT'S A LOT
OF PIECES OF GOLD.

MAYBE CUT 3 HOLDS THE ANSWER
TO THIS WHOLE SEASON.

Narrator:
AT PORCUPINE CREEK,

FRED HAS BEEN DIGGING
BEDROCK PAY DIRT FOR TWO DAYS.

DUSTIN HAS BEEN RUNNING IT
THROUGH THE WASH PLANT.

HE SHUTS DOWN TO FIND OUT
WHAT THE BEDROCK MATERIAL HOLDS.

WHAT'S THE PLAN, FRED?

GONNA DO A FULL CLEANOUT.

AND THEN?

CONCENTRATE IT
AND PAN IT OUT.

THE DAKOTA BOYS
CLEAN THE SLUICE BOXES.

Fred:
CERTAINLY HOPING TO GET

A LITTLE BIT BETTER RETURN TODAY
THAN WE NORMALLY GET,

BUT RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE GETTING READY

TO GO OVER AND DO A CLEANUP,

SEE IF WE CAN'T HIT
THAT MAGIC 50 OUNCES.

Narrator: 50 OUNCES
IS FRED'S BREAK-EVEN POINT.

WITH BREAKDOWNS, FLOODING,
AND AN MSHA CLOSURE,

THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE ONLY
RUN THEIR MACHINES FOR 80 DAYS.

THERE'S GOLD IN THERE.
I CAN SEE IT.

Narrator: AT AN AVERAGE COST
OF $1,000 A DAY,

THEY'LL SEE A PROFIT
ONCE THEY PASS $80,000,

OR 50 OUNCES OF GOLD.

ANY GOLD IN THAT?

SEE THAT PRETTY GOLD?

FRED ADDS THE CONTENTS
OF THE BEDROCK CLEANOUT

TO HIS EXISTING GOLD.

I'VE NOT WEIGHED
ALL THIS GOLD EVER.

I'VE WEIGHED IT SEPARATELY,
OCCASIONALLY,

BUT, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW
IF THIS IS GONNA WORK OR NOT.

SINCE MAY, WE BEEN TRYING TO GET
TO 50 OUNCES.

IF WE CAN GET 50 OUNCES,
WE'LL BREAK EVEN.

THERE'S 10.

20, 30...

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HOPE
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS.

MAKE IT. COME ON.

THERE'S 40.

BEDROCK GOLD COULD PUSH THEM
OVER 50 OUNCES...

COME ON.

...AND INTO PROFIT.

46...

47...

COME ON, NOW.

[ LAUGHS ] COME ON.

THERE'S 49 ON THE MONEY.

ALL RIGHT.

WHOO!

50.7! YEAH!

[ LAUGHTER ]

NOW, THAT'S CLOSE.

THAT'S CLOSE.

GOLD!

Dustin: THAT'S A LOT OF WORK
PUT INTO THAT.

YOU FINALLY
START REALIZING,

HEY, WE'RE
DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

FROM NOW ON,
EVERY OUNCE OF GOLD

THEY CAN PULL
OUT OF PORCUPINE CREEK

BEFORE THE WINTER
FREEZES THEM OUT

IS MONEY IN THEIR POCKET.

WE STILL GOT TIME
TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WE GONNA START WORKING ON
OUR SECOND 50.