Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 2, Episode 2 - Virgin Ground - full transcript

Narrator:
IN THE FROZEN NORTH...

[ HORN HONKS ]

...SEVEN
DOWN-ON-THEIR-LUCK MINERS

ARE BACK
FOR A SECOND GOLD-MINING SEASON.

THIS YEAR, IT'S MAKE OR BREAK.

WE NEED SIX FIGURES
OUT OF THIS SEASON.

WE'LL DO GOOD.
IF WE DON'T, I'M DONE.

Narrator: THEY'RE BACK,
BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER.

THAT'S PAYBACK TIME.

Narrator:
JUST AS THEY GOT STARTED,

THEY HAD TO LEAVE THE CLAIM.



I OWN
PORCUPINE CREEK.

BUT EVEN
WITHOUT A CLAIM TO MINE,

THEY REFUSE TO GIVE UP
THEIR DREAM.

Todd: THEY FOLLOWED ME AND
MY DAD TO THE END OF THE EARTH.

WE'LL GET THE GOLD.

Narrator: NOW THE HOFFMANS
ARE PLAYING CATCHUP.

THEY NEED A NEW GOLD CLAIM,
AND FAST.

IF WE DON'T GET LAND,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE MUTINY.

IT'S TIME TO PACK UP AND GO.

Narrator:
AS THE HOFFMANS HUNT NEW LAND...

...FRED RIPS
THEIR OLD CLAIM APART.

OH!

AND JUST ACROSS PORCUPINE CREEK,
16-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL...

WE'VE GOT WATER.



...PUTS HIS ELDERS TO SHAME

IN THE QUEST
TO STRIKE IT RICH.

Parker:
TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY.

Narrator: IN PORCUPINE CREEK,
SOUTHEAST ALASKA...

...THE NEW CLAIM OWNER
GETS TO WORK,

10 DAYS
INTO THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON.

Fred:
WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!

LET THE GAME BEGIN!

IT'S THE DAKOTA BOYS
AGAINST THE HOFFMANS.

Narrator: 24 HOURS AFTER
TAKING OVER PORCUPINE CREEK

FROM THE HOFFMANS,

"DAKOTA" FRED FILLS IN
THEIR HOLDING POND.

Fred: ALL RIGHT!

OH!

THE JUMP SHOT!

YAY-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!

DAKOTA BOYS SCORE.

THEY'RE UP ON THE HOFFMANS.

TIGHT GAME, FOLKS.

BUT THE DAKOTA BOYS WIN.

YEAH!

Narrator: TO STRIKE IT RICH
AT PORCUPINE CREEK,

FRED PLANS ON DOING THINGS
VERY DIFFERENTLY THIS SEASON.

LAST YEAR, TODD AND JACK

DISAGREED ON
HOW TO MINE PORCUPINE CREEK.

TODD PLANNED TO DIG
FOR A PAY STREAK...

ON THIS CLAIM, THERE IS
A PAY STREAK OF GOLD.

...UNTIL JACK CONVINCED HIM
TO DIG FOR NUGGETS

AT THE BOTTOM OF AN ANCIENT
WATERFALL CALLED A GLORY HOLE.

Jack:
I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

BUT IN ONE SEASON, THEY FOUND
JUST 14 OUNCES OF GOLD,

WORTH A MEASLY $20,000.

THIS YEAR, FRED'S GOING BACK
TO TODD'S ORIGINAL PLAN.

THIS IS THE GLORY HOLE
FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT.

WE INTEND TO MOVE THAT OUT
ABOUT ANOTHER 75 FEET OR SO.

THE WAY JACK DUG, TO GET DOWN
AS DEEP AS POSSIBLE --

TOTALLY WRONG.

Narrator: INSTEAD
OF DIGGING DOWN TO BEDROCK

LIKE JACK DID LAST YEAR,

FRED WILL DIG HORIZONTALLY,

CLEARING THE FIRST 20 FEET
OF DIRT.

HE CAN THEN PROCESS
THE GOLD-RICH PAY STREAK

HE THINKS
RUNS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CLAIM.

TO MOVE THIS MUCH PAY DIRT,
FRED NEEDS A NEW ROAD.

HE'LL BUILD ONE RIGHT OVER
THE HOFFMANS' OLD HOLDING POND.

FRED IS GAMBLING

THAT HIS RADICAL CLAIM
WILL PAY OFF BIG-TIME.

I'D BE HIGHLY EMBARRASSED,
HIGHLY EMBARRASSED,

IF I DON'T WIND UP WITH AT LEAST
A HUNDRED OUNCES OF GOLD

OUT OF THIS PLACE.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,

AFTER A 600-MILE DRIVE
FROM PORCUPINE CREEK,

THE HOFFMANS AND THEIR CREW
ARRIVE IN DAWSON CITY.

THEY HAVE NO CLAIM TO MINE
10 DAYS INTO THE SEASON.

IF THEY CAN'T FIND LAND
IN THE GOLD-RICH KLONDIKE SOON,

THEIR SECOND MINING SEASON
COULD BE THEIR LAST.

OH!

[ LAUGHS ]

WHAT A DAY.
YOU KNOW?

YEAH.
WE'RE FINALLY HERE.

IT'S LIKE MIDNIGHT,
AND IT'S STILL BRIGHT OUT.

THAT'S HOW FAR NORTH WE ARE,
MAN.

WE'RE WAY NORTH.
WE'RE UP IN THE KLONDIKE NOW.

SO THIS IS SWEET.

LAST TIME I WAS HERE,
IT WAS ALL SNOWY.

Narrator:
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME

THE HOFFMANS HAVE BEEN
TO DAWSON CITY.

THEY'RE BACK FOR A REASON.

BACK IN THE OFF SEASON,

THE HOFFMANS VENTURED NORTH
INTO THE KLONDIKE.

THIS IS DOUBLE OR NOTHING.

Narrator: THEY GOT LUCKY
AND FOUND VIRGIN GROUND

IN ONE OF THE RICHEST
GOLD FIELDS IN THE WORLD.

THIS IS DROP-DEAD KILLER CLAIM.

Narrator:
TO MINE IT, THEY SPENT $40,000

ON THE ONLY WASH PLANT
THEY COULD FIND,

A MACHINE THAT SEPARATES GOLD
FROM DIRT.

SO, THAT'S IT, HUH, WAYNE?

[ LAUGHS ]

IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S IN PRETTY DECENT SHAPE.

AT THE LAST MINUTE,
THEY LOST THE KLONDIKE CLAIM,

BUT NOT THEIR NEW WASH PLANT.

FOUR MONTHS AFTER BUYING IT,

THEY'RE BACK
AT WAYNE FISHER'S YARD,

DESPERATE TO SET UP
FOR THIS SEASON.

I THINK WE DID GOOD.
PIECE OF CAKE. YEAH.

Man: GONNA WORK?

THOSE HAVE
PRETTY DECENT BELTS ON THEM.

CAN WE START IT
AND STOP IT

REAL QUICK?
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL KNOW.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS
SET TO FIRE UP THE WASH PLANT

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN A LONG TIME.

THIS HAS SAT THERE
SIX YEARS IN ONE PLACE,

SO NOTHING'S BEEN RAN
IN AT LEAST THAT LONG,

MAYBE EVEN LONGER.

Narrator: TODD NEEDS TO SALVAGE
THEIR SECOND MINING SEASON.

TO KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE,
THE WASH PLANT HAS TO WORK.

WE'LL FIND OUT.

JUST REAL QUICK.

TANKER START.

[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]

Man: STOP! STOP!

STOP!
SHUT IT DOWN!

[ ENGINE STOPS ]

[BLEEP]

Narrator:
AFTER RUNNING FOR JUST SECONDS,

IT'S CLEAR TODD'S NEW WASH PLANT
NEEDS A MAJOR OVERHAUL.

ONE OF THE MOTORS
MIGHT NOT BE HOOKED UP RIGHT.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

Narrator:
UNFORTUNATELY, FOR THE CREW,

THE BROKEN MOTOR
IS NOT THE ONLY THING WRONG.

A WORKING WASH PLANT SEPARATES
THE GOLD FROM THE DIRT.

TODD'S HAS A CONVEYOR BELT

THAT FEEDS GOLD-BEARING MATERIAL
INTO THE WASH PLANT,

BUT IT NEEDS A NEW BELT
AND REPLACEMENT ROLLERS.

AFTER LEAVING THE CONVEYOR,

THE MATERIAL FALLS ONTO SCREENS,
WHERE IT IS WASHED.

BUT THE PLANT'S WATER PUMP
AND PIPES ARE BROKEN.

FINALLY, ANY GOLD IS CAUGHT
IN TRAYS OF HYDRAULIC RIFFLES.

TODD'S RIFFLES
ARE IN BAD NEED OF REPAIR.

FOR CREW MECHANIC JAMES HARNESS,
IT'S NOT A QUICK FIX.

Harness:
THERE'S A LOT OF BAD WELDS,

A LOT OF RUSTY PARTS
THAT ARE READY TO FALL APART.

IT NEEDS TO BE GONE THROUGH,

NOT ONLY JUST FOR SAFETY,

BUT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT
EVERY DAY.

SEASON'S SHORT.

WE WANT TO GET GOING AS FAST AS
WE CAN, SO THE ISSUE IS TIME.

Narrator: TODD HEADS INTO TOWN,

LEAVING THE CREW BEHIND
TO START THE REPAIRS

AND TO QUESTION THEIR FUTURE.

RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A CLAIM
TO MINE AT.

WE'RE FIXING THIS UP.

WE MAY BE FIXING IT UP
FOR NOTHING,

UNLESS TODD FINDS A CLAIM.

I'M JUST KIND OF WATCHING MY
CLOCK HERE, WAITING AND HOPING

THAT HE'S COMING BACK WITH
SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THIS TEAM.

Narrator: ALREADY 10 DAYS
INTO THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON,

THE HOFFMANS HAVE TO ACT FAST
TO FIND A CLAIM,

OR THEIR DREAM
OF STRIKING IT RICH WILL DIE.

AFTER LOSING PORCUPINE
TO DAKOTA FRED,

TODD SPENT THE 24-HOUR JOURNEY
UP TO THE KLONDIKE

ON THE PHONE WITH CLAIM OWNERS.

I NEED ANY MINE OWNER
THAT WANTS TO DO A 10% LEASE.

ALL RIGHT, MAN.
THANKS.

SAY A LITTLE PRAYER
THAT WE CAN FIND A HOME.

MAN: Copy that.

I WILL FIND US A PLACE.

Narrator: NOW TODD FOLLOWS UP
LEADS IN DAWSON CITY.

MAN: Hello?

MY NAME'S TODD HOFFMAN.

I WANTED TO KNOW

IF YOU HAD A CLAIM

THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE MINING
YOURSELF.

BUT FINDING A GOOD CLAIM UP HERE
IS NOT EASY.

GOLD IS MORE VALUABLE THAN EVER.

AND THERE'S A FULL-FLEDGED
GOLD RUSH IN THE KLONDIKE.

LAST YEAR, $52 MILLION IN GOLD
WAS PULLED FROM THE GROUND HERE.

THE COMPETITION FOR GOOD CLAIMS
ON VIRGIN GROUND IS FIERCE.

14 PHONE CALLS LATER,
TODD FINALLY GETS A BREAK.

WELL, THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

ALL RIGHT, MAN.
WE'LL LOOK AT IT AND TALK TERMS.

THANK YOU.

IT SOUNDS LIKE
WE GOT SOMETHING HERE

THAT IS DEFINITELY
WORTH LOOKING AT.

Narrator: 600 MILES SOUTH,
ON THE ROAD TO PORCUPINE CREEK,

A YOUNG MINER IS ON HIS WAY
TO AN IMPORTANT MEETING.

Parker:
I'M ON MY WAY TO GO SEE FRED.

I THINK THAT THIS VISIT

WILL KIND OF SET THE STAGE
FOR THE SUMMER.

YOU KNOW, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE
CAN BE ON GOOD TERMS ALL SUMMER.

Narrator: LAST SUMMER,
16-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL

WORKED WITH
HIS 91-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER

AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,

JUST ACROSS THE CREEK
FROM PORCUPINE.

BUT THIS SEASON,
JOHN SCHNABEL IS RETIRING.

I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 25 YEARS.

Narrator: PARKER WILL TAKE OVER
AS THE NEW BOSS OF BIG NUGGET.

10 DAYS INTO THE SEASON,
JOHN HAS DE-WINTERIZED,

AND THE MINE
IS READY FOR HIS GRANDSON.

PARKER IS JUST FINISHING UP
11th GRADE.

I'M PRETTY EXCITED
TO GET OUT OF HERE.

Narrator:
ON HIS WAY TO HIS CLAIM,

HE DROPS BY PORCUPINE CREEK.

NOT TOO MUCH.
YOU DOING ALL RIGHT?

GETTING THROUGH SCHOOL.
ALL RIGHT.

YOU JUST GOT DONE
WITH SCHOOL.

YEAH.

I HEAR RUMORS
YOU'RE GONNA PLAY OVER HERE

WHERE YOUR GRANDPA'S MINED.
YEAH.

SO, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
ABOUT GOLD THIS YEAR?

I'M GONNA FIND IT.

IS THAT ALL?
HOW MUCH?

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA?

WOW.

[ LAUGHS ]

[ COUGHS ]

FRED, YOU NEED TO BE
A LITTLE MORE DIPLOMATIC.

SOMETIMES I JUST SAY
WHAT I FEEL.

[ LAUGHS ] SOMETIMES
THAT GETS YOU IN TROUBLE.

WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

YOU GOT
A GOOD PLAN THERE.

GOOD LUCK, YOUNG MAN.

WE'LL SEE, HUH?

Parker:
I'M NOT GONNA SAY TO FRED,

"I THINK I'M GONNA GET MORE GOLD
THAN YOU."

BUT I THINK WE BOTH KIND
OF TAKE IT AS A CHALLENGE

TO BEAT EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW?

Narrator:
BACK UP IN DAWSON CITY...

THE HOFFMANS HEAD OUT TO CHECK
AN AVAILABLE CLAIM.

I JUST HOPE THIS IS IT,

BECAUSE THE GUYS
ARE REALLY APPREHENSIVE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
Todd: YEAH, I KNOW.

AND I DON'T BLAME THEM.
THIS IS THE END OF THE ROAD.

IF WE DON'T MAKE IT HERE,
IT'S --

IF WE DON'T MAKE IT,
OH, MY GOD.

WE'RE DONE.

BACK IN TOWN, THE CREW
DISCUSSES THE SITUATION.

PORCUPINE'S GONE, AND
WE'RE UP HERE WITH NOTHING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I JUST WONDER WHAT TODD

WAS THINKING
WHEN HE BROUGHT US UP HERE.

WHAT WAS I THINKING
BY FOLLOWING HIM?

WE'RE WORKING
ON A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT,

AND WE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

I'M AFRAID
WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME.

I TELL YOU WHAT -- I
CAN'T STICK AROUND HERE
MUCH LONGER, THOUGH.

THIS IS
GETTING RIDICULOUS.

WELL, CRAP. WE DON'T EVEN
KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING.

I MEAN, I'M KIND OF THINKING
WE GIVE THEM A TIME LIMIT.

IF HE CAN'T FIND A PLACE,
IT'S TIME TO PACK UP AND GO.

Narrator: COMING UP...

REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE,
GIVING DAKOTA FRED A BIG BOOST.

WHOO-OOH!
GOLD-ZILLA, MAN!

AND FOR THE HOFFMAN CREW,
IT'S DECISION TIME --

GAMBLE ON A CLAIM IN THE
KLONDIKE OR QUIT AND GO HOME.

I'M ASKING YOU GUYS
TO TRUST ME AGAIN.

DID THEY SHOW YOU
ANY GOLD?

THEIR MINING SEASON
HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

Todd: OH, FRICK!

Narrator:
11 DAYS INTO THE MINING SEASON,

THE HOFFMAN CREW
STILL HAS NO GOLD CLAIM.

INSTEAD OF MAKING MONEY
EVERY DAY, THEY'RE LOSING IT.

Doumitt: IF TODD DOESN'T
COME BACK WITH A CLAIM,

I THINK THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD
JUST TURN AROUND AND GO HOME.

Narrator: BUT 30 MILES AWAY,
TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN

ARE ON THEIR WAY TO CHECK OUT
SOME PROMISING LAND.

HOLY CRAP.

THIS IS
THE BIG LEAGUES HERE.

Jack: OH, MY GOD.
LOOK AT THAT.

OH, YEAH.
A DRILLING RIG.

THEY'RE GETTING PREPPED.
THEY'RE ABOUT READY TO SLUICE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO UP OUR GAME
A LITTLE BIT MORE

THAN WHERE WE'RE AT.

THE GOLD MINES HERE

ARE BIGGER THAN ANYTHING
THE HOFFMANS HAVE EVER SEEN.

INTO THE SECOND WEEK
OF THE SEASON,

THESE MINES ARE ALREADY RUNNING,

CHURNING OUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
OF GOLD.

THAT IT?

THAT IS IT.

ALLS I SEE HERE, THOUGH, DAD,
IS TAILINGS.

JUST TAILINGS.

I DON'T KNOW.

I HOPE NOT.

[ GROANS ]

I DIDN'T PLAN
ON TAILINGS.

I THOUGHT WE HAD
SOME VIRGIN GROUND.

THERE'S NO VIRGIN GROUND
IN SIGHT.

THIS CLAIM
IS COVERED IN TAILINGS,

ROCKS LEFT OVER
FROM PREVIOUS MINING.

I DON'T WANT TO MINE
RIGHT HERE.

Narrator: TODD AND JACK
SEARCH OUT THE CLAIM OWNER.

HI, GUYS.
HEY, ARE YOU GREG?

YES.
HEY, I'M TODD.

TODD. HEY.
IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU.

THE ONLY CONCERN I GOT IS,

IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S BEEN PRETTY MUCH

WORKED AND WORKED OVER,
HUH?

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT --

IF YOU GUYS GOT TIME,

WE COULD JUST TAKE A LITTLE
WALK, AND I COULD SHOW YOU --

LET'S DO IT.
YEAH.

HERE ON QUARTZ CREEK...

YEAH.

THIS IS WHERE I WOULD GO,
WHAT I'M GONNA SHOW YOU.

Narrator: ...GREG TAKES THE
HOFFMANS AWAY FROM THE TAILINGS

TO THE OTHER SIDE OF HIS CLAIM,
TO QUARTZ CREEK.

EVERYTHING FROM THIS SIDE --

IN FACT, MAYBE EVEN BACK
A FEW FEET --

HAS NEVER BEEN TOUCHED

BY ANY KIND
OF A MACHINE EVER.

Jack: WHAT?
WE GOT SOME VIRGIN GROUND.

ALL THIS ON THIS SIDE
IS VIRGIN GROUND.

THE DREDGE
COULDN'T GET IT.

AND IT'S NEVER HAD
A MACHINE ON IT.

Narrator:
SITTING NEXT TO QUARTZ CREEK

IS A GIANT DREDGE THAT WORKED
ITS WAY THROUGH THIS VALLEY

BETWEEN 1935 AND 1950.

ITS REVOLVING CHAIN OF BUCKETS

SCOOPED UP
7 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF DIRT

INTO ITS INTERNAL WASH PLANT.

THE DREDGE EXTRACTED GOLD WORTH
OVER A BILLION DOLLARS TODAY.

THE TAILINGS
WERE LEFT IN ITS WAKE.

BUT AT THE EDGE OF THE VALLEY,

THERE'S ONLY A FEW FEET OF SOIL
DOWN TO BEDROCK,

NOT ENOUGH DIRT
FOR THE DREDGE BUCKETS TO MINE.

THESE STRIPS OF VIRGIN GROUND,
CALLED SIDE PAY,

MAY STILL HOLD MILLIONS IN GOLD.

CLAIM OWNER GREG McNEIL

IS OFFERING THIS GROUND
UP FOR LEASE.

YOU KNOW,
THE OFFER WOULD BE THERE.

10% OFF THE TOP,

BEFORE ANY EXPENSES,
ANY FUEL, ANYTHING'S PAID.

Narrator:
NORMALLY, GROUND LIKE THIS

IS TESTED
BEFORE A LEASE IS SIGNED,

BUT WITH
THEIR SEASON SLIPPING AWAY

AND THEIR CREW READY TO QUIT,

TODD AND JACK
ARE RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT WE WERE
ALL SCREWED UP LAST YEAR.

IF WE DON'T GET SOME LAND --
AND I MEAN QUICK --

THE GUYS ARE GONNA -- WE'RE
GONNA HAVE MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY.

WE HAVE NO PLACE ELSE TO GO
BUT HERE.

YEAH.

WHILE THE HOFFMANS

DECIDE WHETHER TO RISK
THEIR FUTURE ON QUARTZ CREEK,

600 MILES SOUTH,
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE...

[ LAUGHS ]

...16-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL

STARTS HIS FIRST DAY
AS THE MAN IN CHARGE.

THANKS, GRANDPA.

PARKER IS NOW RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE MINE

HIS GRANDFATHER RAN SUCCESSFULLY
FOR 25 YEARS.

BUT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS,

THE CLAIM
HAS BARELY BROKEN EVEN.

PARKER'S IN A POSITION NOW
TO WHERE HE HAS TO MAKE THE MINE

MAKE A PROFIT
TO STAY IN BUSINESS.

SO IF HE DOESN'T TURN A PROFIT
THIS YEAR,

WE WON'T RUN NEXT YEAR.

Narrator: PARKER HAS A PLAN
TO TURN THE MINE AROUND.

MY GRANDPA
MINED THIS BENCH UP HERE.

HE MINED IT 20 YEARS EARLIER.

THEY GOT ABOUT A HUNDRED OUNCES
IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THIS IS ALL THE TAILINGS
FROM THAT BIG TWO WEEKS.

Narrator: PARKER IS CONFIDENT
THAT 20 YEARS LATER,

HIS MODERN MACHINERY CAN EXTRACT
GOLD FROM THE TAILINGS

HIS GRANDFATHER
THREW AWAY DECADES AGO.

IF THEIR SLUICE BOX
CAUGHT 50% OF THE GOLD

AND THEY GOT 100 OUNCES THEN,

THEN THERE WOULD BE
ANOTHER 100 OUNCES HERE.

SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE A CRACK
AT IT.

Narrator: TODAY 100 OUNCES OF
GOLD IS WORTH OVER $150,000.

PARKER FIRES UP
THE 330 EXCAVATOR

TO BEGIN CLEARING
THE UNDERGROWTH.

NEXT, HE STOCKPILES BUCKET LOADS
OF FRESHLY DUG TAILINGS

THAT THEN GET DUMPED
INTO THE WASH PLANT.

MATERIAL IS WASHED OFF THE ROCKS
FALLING THROUGH THE SHAKER,

WHILE BIG BOULDERS
ARE DISCARDED.

THE SPINNING TROMMEL
SEPARATES GOLD,

DIRT UNDER QUARTER OF AN INCH,
FROM THE REMAINING GRAVEL.

THIS GOLD-BEARING MATERIAL

THEN PASSES THROUGH
THE TROMMEL'S SCREENS

INTO SLUICE BOXES BELOW.

BECAUSE GOLD IS
19 TIMES HEAVIER THAN WATER,

IT SINKS TO THE BOTTOM
OF THE SLUICE BOX.

BUT AFTER ONLY 30 MINUTES
OF RUNNING...

Man: [BLEEP]

...PARKER'S WASH PLANT
SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING.

HE CHECKS THE GENERATOR,

THE SOURCE OF POWER
TO THE WASH PLANT.

IT'S DEAD.

[BLEEP]

THERE'S NOTHING
I CAN DO UP HERE, REALLY.

GO TALK TO MY GRANDPA.

IT SHUT DOWN, HUH?

I GUESS WE STOPPED.

Narrator:
LUCKILY, HIS GRANDFATHER

HAS NOT YET LEFT THE MINE.

PARKER NEEDS
HIS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

SOMEWHERE IN THE CIRCUITRY,

THERE'S A BAD
TERMINAL CONNECTION,

AND WE LOSE THE VOLTAGE.

I WOULD ORDER
A NEW REGULATOR.

WE HAD THIS PROBLEM
ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.

WHAT WAS IT?

WE PUT A NEW REGULATOR
ON IT.

AND IT WORKED?
YEAH.

BEEN RUNNING
FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.

OKAY.

NO PROBLEM.

[ LAUGHS ]

I GUESS.

THE REGULATOR
MAINTAINS THE RIGHT VOLTAGE

COMING OUT OF THE GENERATOR.

PARKER HEADS INTO TOWN
TO ORDER A NEW ONE.

IT'S A BAD FIRST DAY FOR THE
NEW BOSS OF THE BIG NUGGET MINE.

Parker: FIRST THING WE'RE DOING
IS LOSING MONEY

AND NOT RUNNING ANY DIRT.

IT COULD BE A PROBLEM.

Narrator:
UP IN THE KLONDIKE,

THE SHORT MINING SEASON
IS ALREADY 12 DAYS OLD.

THE HOFFMAN CREW
OVERHAULS THEIR NEW WASH PLANT

WHILE THEY WAIT
FOR TODD AND JACK

TO RETURN FROM THEIR HUNT
FOR A NEW CLAIM.

Man:
TODD AND JACK ARE HERE.

Todd: HELLO, GUYS.

HEY, WHAT'S UP?

FOUND IT.
I CUT A DEAL.

WE GOT OURSELVES A MINE.
Man: NO WAY.

Man #2: DO WE REALLY?

GUYS, WE GOT OURSELVES
VIRGIN GROUND, SO...

Remsburg:
TODD, WE WENT TO PORCUPINE

BELIEVING THERE WAS GOLD.

I KNOW.

THERE WAS GOLD.

BUT WE DIDN'T GET
ANY OF IT.

I KNOW.

WHAT'S TO SAY THAT THIS MINE
IS GONNA PAY?

DID THEY SHOW YOU ANY GOLD?
I MEAN...

Man: SO YOU'RE TAKING HIS WORD
FOR IT?

MY GUT FEELING IS GOOD.

THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING.
I'VE ALREADY SHOOK ON IT.

THAT'S OUR HOME.

IT FEELS RIGHT.

I'M ASKING YOU GUYS
TO TRUST ME AGAIN.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

THERE'S EVERY POSSIBILITY
I CAN BE WRONG, BUT...

I MEAN, AT SOME POINT, WE GOT
TO TRUST SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE.

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME.

I THINK WE CAN DO IT.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

Man #2: I HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAY
OF THE LAND UP THERE, BUT...

RIGHT HERE.

Man #3: WE'RE RUNNING
OUT OF TIME ALREADY.

Narrator: THE RACE IS ON
TO GET TO THE GOLD.

AS THE CREW REPAIRS
THE WASH PLANT'S WATER PIPES,

DAVE TURIN MEASURES
FOR THE NEW CONVEYOR BELT

THAT WILL FEED DIRT
INTO THE WASH PLANT.

WE COULD BUILD THIS
TO A CERTAIN EXTENT,

AND THEN WE NEED THE PARTS.

HOPEFULLY,
THEY'LL BE HERE TOMORROW.

Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS BEHIND

AND LOSING MONEY
WITH EVERY PASSING DAY.

BUT NOW THEY HAVE A REAL CHANCE

AT STRIKING IT RICH
IN THE KLONDIKE.

600 MILES SOUTH
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

DAKOTA FRED IS ALSO SCRAMBLING
TO GET MINING.

TO BUILD A NEW ROAD OVER
THE HOFFMANS' OLD HOLDING POND,

HE MOVES TONS OF DIRT.

Fred: A LOT OF GOLD'S
GONNA COME UP THIS ROAD.

PROBABLY GONNA BE PLATED ON THE
TRACKS BY THE TIME WE GET DONE.

Narrator: BUT FRED IS DOING
THE WORK OF THREE MEN.

HIS CREW HASN'T ARRIVED YET.

THEY ARE STILL PREPPING
THEIR MINING EQUIPMENT

DOWN IN NORTH DAKOTA.

WITH THE ROAD FINISHED,

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE
FRED CAN DO.

[ SIGHS ]

Fred:
SOMETIMES I DO WISH I HAD HELP.

Narrator: FRED'S CLAIM ISN'T
THE ONLY ONE AT A STANDSTILL.

ACROSS THE CREEK
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,

POWER IS THE PROBLEM.

Parker:
I WAS HOPING TO GET UP HERE

AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
AND RUN THE PLANT,

BUT THAT'S NOT QUITE HAPPENING.

Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
FINALLY HAS THE NEW REGULATOR

FOR HIS BROKEN GENERATOR.

IT SHOULD GET THEIR WASH PLANT
UP AND RUNNING,

BUT HE NEEDS HIS CREW
TO INSTALL IT.

OH, WELL.

WE'LL GET GOING SOMETIME TODAY,
HOPEFULLY.

Narrator:
GRANDPA JOHN HAS PARKER'S CREW

REPAIRING THE ROAD TO THE CLAIM.

IT'S CLEAR THAT PARKER
ISN'T REALLY THE BOSS

OF THE BIG NUGGET MINE JUST YET.

I'M JUST CONFUSED,

'CAUSE I THOUGHT LAST NIGHT,
I TOLD --

I THOUGHT
I MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR

THAT THE PLAN
WAS TO RUN THE PLANT.

I THOUGHT
GARY WAS GONNA MEET ME UP HERE.

EVERYTHING'S SCREWED UP.

I HAVE TO HAVE THIS FIGURED OUT
THIS MORNING.

LIKE,
AS IN 20 MINUTES AGO.

I'LL GO GET THE MAN
WITH THE TOOLBOX.

[ LAUGHS ]
RELAX.

HE'S AWFUL IMPATIENT.

YOUNG PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY CAN
DO EVERYTHING IN A BIG HURRY,

BUT YOU HAVE TO GET OLDER
TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,
THE HOFFMAN CREW

WORKS TIRELESSLY TO REPLUMB
THEIR WASH PLANT.

I'M IN.

THEY NEED TO HIRE A TRUCK

TO HAUL THEIR OLD
20,000-POUND WASH PLANT

UP TO THEIR NEW CLAIM.

THE 45-MILE ROAD
FROM DAWSON CITY TO QUARTZ CREEK

RISES 4,000 FEET
OVER KING SOLOMON'S DOME.

TRANSPORTING A HEAVY LOAD
ON THIS WINDING DIRT ROAD

IS TREACHEROUS.

THIS IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL.

I'M HEADING OVER TO SEE,
LIKE, THE ONLY TRUCKER

THAT'LL BRING OUR EQUIPMENT
OVER THE PASS

AND DOWN INTO OUR GOLD MINE.

Narrator: ON THE OUTSKIRTS
OF DAWSON CITY LIVES TOM FENTON.

HEY, ARE YOU TOM?

YEAH, I AM.
YEAH.

HEY, TOM.
I'M TODD.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

OH, I'M HANGING IN THERE.

I GOT A QUESTION
FOR YOU.

YOU'RE THE ONLY GUY

THAT'LL GO UP AND DOWN
THOSE BIG HILLS.

I'M THE ONLY GUY.

YOU'RE THE MAN, HUH?

NO.
I'M JUST THE ONLY GUY.

OKAY.

I HAVE A LIST ABOUT AS LONG AS
MY ARM OF OTHER PEOPLE.

THE GOLD-MINING CREWS
SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE KLONDIKE

KEEP TRUCKER TOM FENTON
A BUSY MAN.

[ GROANS ]

DO YOU WANT TO DO THE PLANT
ON MONDAY?

TOM HAS ONLY ONE FREE DAY

TO HAUL TODD'S WASH PLANT
IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

AND IF IT'S RAINING?

I AIN'T GOING.

ROGER.

NO PROBLEM.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.

THANK YOU. SEE YA.
HAVE FUN.

TOM'S LIMITED AVAILABILITY
MEANS TODD'S WASH PLANT

HAS TO BE READY
IN JUST TWO DAYS.

[BLEEP]

BUT IT'S STILL IN PIECES.

ALL THE OTHER GUYS ARE UP
IN THE HILLS RUNNING RIGHT NOW,

SO I WANT TO GO UP THERE.

I WANT TO DIG GOLD.

THE GUYS WILL BE,
YOU KNOW, ON MY BACK.

I DON'T CARE.

WE NEED GOLD.
WE NEED TO GET IT FAST.

SO WISH ME LUCK.

Narrator:
DAWSON CITY, THE KLONDIKE.

THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS FITTED THEIR WASH PLANT

WITH A NEW SCREEN
TO FILTER GOLD-BEARING MATERIAL

AND NEW WATER PIPES.

THEY HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS,

BUT EVERY DAY THE HOFFMAN CREW

SPENDS MAKING FIXES
IS ANOTHER DAY LOST.

THE WASH PLANT HAS TO BE HAULED

TO THEIR NEW CLAIM ON
QUARTZ CREEK IN JUST TWO DAYS.

YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME?

I KNOW TIME IS AN ISSUE,

AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THINGS
DONE IN A HURRY,

BUT I JUST DON'T FEEL
WE'RE READY

TO TAKE THAT THING
UP THERE.

WE HAVE THE SHOP HERE.
WE'VE GOT TOOLS.

WE'VE GOT
THE THINGS WE NEED.

ONCE WE GET UP THERE,

IT'S GONNA BE TWICE AS HARD
TO WORK ON.

THING IS, I CAN ONLY GET
THIS TRUCKER ON MONDAY,

SO IT'S NOW OR NEVER.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT UP THERE
IN PIECES,

'CAUSE WE'LL LOSE HALF THE STUFF
ON THE WAY UP THERE.

I BOOKED HIM.
WITH THIS GUY, WE GOT TO GO.

CAN YOU LIVE WITH THAT?

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH CHOICE.
ALL RIGHT.

STICK WITH IT.

HAULING A RICKETY OLD WASH PLANT
UP TO QUARTZ CREEK

COULD END IN DISASTER.

THE JOURNEY COULD LEAD
TO WEEKS OF REPAIRS.

Harness: BUT LIKE I SAID,
TIME IS AN ENEMY.

WE HAVE TO BE OUT OF HERE
AND HAVE THIS STUFF UP THERE,

SO I GUESS
WE HAVE TO ROLL WITH IT.

Narrator: 600 MILES SOUTH
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

DAKOTA FRED
HAS FINISHED HIS NEW ROAD.

IT'S DAY 14
OF THE MINING SEASON,

BUT FRED CAN'T BEGIN TO MINE
PORCUPINE HIS WAY...

WITHOUT HIS CREW
OR HIS MINING EQUIPMENT.

LUCKILY, FRED ISN'T ALONE
FOR MUCH LONGER.

[ HORN HONKS ]

HIS CREW WINDS THEIR WAY UP
TO THE CLAIM

IN AN 18-WHEELER LOADED
WITH SUPPLIES FROM NORTH DAKOTA.

BOY, Y'ALL ARE A SIGHT
FOR SORE EYES!

GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
TAKE CARE.

PAUL IS FRED'S BUSINESS PARTNER,
DUSTIN IS FRED'S SON,

AND DARREN IS THEIR TRUCK DRIVER
AND RIGGER.

TOLD YOU I'D GET UP THERE
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

WELL, WHAT'D HE DO -- HIDE YOU
IN THE SLEEPER OR SOMETHING?

PUT YOU IN THE CARGO?

PUT ME IN A BOX THIS MORNING,
RIGHT?

STUCK YOU IN A BOX?
[ LAUGHS ]

OH!

WHAT'D Y'ALL GOT ON HERE?

OH, MAN.
I DIDN'T EVEN LOOK.

Narrator: THE CREW HAS
BRAND-NEW MINING EQUIPMENT,

INCLUDING A CONTAINER
FULL OF TOOLS, A PUMP,

AND A NEW CLEAN-OUT TROMMEL
TO EXTRACT THE GOLD.

WOW.

WHOO-OOH!
GOLD-ZILLA, MAN!

THAT'S GOLD-ZILLA!

[ LAUGHS ]

DAKOTA FRED AND HIS CREW CAN
FINALLY GET DOWN TO THE BUSINESS

OF PULLING MILLIONS IN GOLD
OUT OF PORCUPINE CREEK.

Fred:
WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK?

Man: LET'S START RAINING.
[ LAUGHTER ]

GET THE WATER COMING.

ACROSS THE CREEK
AT BIG NUGGET MINE,

PARKER SCHNABEL'S CREW

INSTALLS THE NEW REGULATOR
ON THE WASH PLANT'S GENERATOR.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

THE VOLT METER
ON THE LEFT THERE --

WHEN HE TURNS THE KNOB,
WE WANT THAT TO ADJUST.

SEE, HE'S TURNING IT DOWN.

I THINK IT WORKED.

YOU TURN THE THING, AND
THE VOLTAGE GOES UP AND DOWN.

SEE, IT'S HOLDING STEADY AT 484

AND WITH A 480-VOLT SYSTEM.

SO...

Narrator: WITH THE GENERATOR
UP AND RUNNING,

THEY POWER UP THE WASH PLANT.

Parker: I THINK WE SHOULD RUN IT
ABOUT TWO HOURS,

AND IF IT'S STILL RUNNING THEN,
WE'LL PROBABLY BE GOOD,

SO I'LL GO FEED THE PLANT,
AND WE'VE GOT WATER.

SO...

Narrator:
ONCE AGAIN, PARKER

FEEDS HIS GRANDPA'S 20-YEAR-OLD
TAILINGS INTO THE PLANT.

Parker:
YOU KNOW, WE PUT THE PART IN.

I DID EVERYTHING I COULD,
SO NOW YOU JUST GOT TO WAIT.

IT'S TOUGH.

WE GOT 20 MINUTES SO FAR.
SO...

IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES, WE'LL START
GETTING A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENT,

AND IN ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER THAT,

WE'LL BE PRETTY SURE
WE FIXED IT.

Narrator: TWO WEEKS
INTO THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON,

PARKER SCHNABEL'S MINE
IS FULLY OPERATIONAL.

HOPEFULLY THERE'S A PILE OF GOLD
SITTING IN THERE SOMEWHERE.

Narrator: AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,

PARKER SCHNABEL'S GENERATOR
IS BACK UP AND RUNNING.

Parker: SEE, YOU TURN IT UP,
AND IT GOES UP.

SO...

Narrator: 15 DAYS
INTO THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON,

HE IS CLOSING IN
ON HIS FIRST CLEANUP

AS THE NEW BOSS
OF THE BIG NUGGET MINE.

John: PARKER IS SITTING
ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

HE HAS VISIONS

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

AND I HOPE HE'S RIGHT.

Narrator:
PARKER SHUT DOWN THE WASH PLANT,

BUT LEAVES THE WATER RUNNING
TO PUSH ANY REMAINING GOLD

THROUGH THE MACHINE AND
INTO THE SCHNABEL SLUICE BOX.

THAT'S THE FIRST CLEANOUT
OF DIRT

THAT I'VE PICKED OUT, I GUESS.

WHAT HE'LL DO NOW
IS WORK IT AROUND

AND GET IT DOWN
TO ABOUT A PANFUL OF DIRT.

Narrator: AS THEY WORK THE WATER
INTO THE DIRT,

THE LIGHTER MATERIAL
WASHES AWAY.

ONLY THE HEAVIEST MATERIAL,
INCLUDING ANY GOLD,

STAYS IN THE SLUICE BOX.

SEE THOSE NUGGETS
RIGHT THERE? WAIT.

SO THERE'S A FEW NUGGETS
SITTING RIGHT UP TOP THERE.

[ LAUGHS ]

THE NUGGETS IN THE SLUICE BOX

ARE AN EARLY INDICATION THAT
PARKER'S PLAN JUST MIGHT WORK.

HE WON'T KNOW FOR SURE

IF RUNNING HIS GRANDPA'S
DISCARDED TAILINGS HAS PAID OFF

UNTIL HE CAN PAN
ALL OF THE WASH-PLANT DIRT.

THE REASON I'M HERE IS,
I RAN THIS DIRT A LONG TIME AGO

WITH A REAL PRIMITIVE SYSTEM
OF JUST A SLUICE BOX.

AND WE THREW AWAY
LOTS OF GOLD.

HE'S TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE
AND SAY IT'S HALF THAT.

HOPEFULLY HE HAS
A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: LESS THAN A HALF-MILE
AWAY AT PORCUPINE CREEK,

DAKOTA FRED AND HIS CREW

RUSH TO UNLOAD
THEIR GOLD-MINING EQUIPMENT.

BRING YOUR BUCKET
OVER HERE, FRED.

BUT A CONTAINER
WEIGHING 25,000 POUNDS

FORCES THEM TO THINK THROUGH
THEIR NEXT MOVE.

Dustin: I TRUST HIS ABILITIES
TO RUN AND OPERATE MACHINERY

ON EVERYTHING OUT HERE
PRETTY MUCH.

SO I HAVE FAITH THAT
HE'S NOT GONNA GET ME KILLED.

ONE ON EACH SIDE.

YOU GOT ONE
RIGHT THERE, HUH?

[ BEEPING ]

[ GRUNTS ] GOD DAMN IT!
Man: WHOA!

YOU ALL RIGHT?

YEAH.

Narrator: DARREN, THE CREW'S
RIGGER, TAKES THE LEAD.

Zuck: WE'RE GONNA WALK AROUND
TO THE OTHER SIDE

OF THE CONTAINER
AND THE TRAILER,

AND WE'RE GONNA LIFT UP

ON THE BOTTOM END OVER THERE.

AND AS SOON
AS IT CLEARS THE TRUCK,

I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND PULL OUT
FROM UNDERNEATH IT.

STEP BACK, FOLKS.

WE GOT A TURN HERE.

Narrator:
DARREN RIGS ONE SIDE

OF THE CONTAINER
TO THE EXCAVATOR

SO THAT THE TRUCK
CAN SIMPLY PULL AWAY.

LOOKS LIKE THAT PLAN
WILL WORK FINE FOR ME.

Zuck:
LOOKING GOOD, FRED.

Fred: YAY!

Dustin:
SO FAR, SO GOOD.

WE GOT IT DOWN, NO PROBLEMS.

YEAH.

Narrator:
15 DAYS INTO THE SEASON,

THE PORCUPINE CREW
IS READY TO MINE FOR GOLD.

Man: ALL RIGHT.

MEANWHILE,
JUST OUTSIDE DAWSON CITY,

TOM FENTON ARRIVES TO HAUL THE
HOFFMANS' BROKEN-DOWN WASH PLANT

TO THEIR NEW CLAIM.

THE CREW HAS WORKED
DAY AND NIGHT,

BUT THE WASH PLANT
IS FAR FROM FINISHED.

Harness: WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE IT
UP THERE IN PIECES.

HOPE THAT IT WORKS.

WON'T BE ABLE TO TEST IT,
AND IT'S A MESS.

Narrator:
WITH ONLY ONE SHOT AT THE MOVE,

THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS NO CHOICE

BUT TO MAKE THE REMAINING FIXES
ON THE CLAIM --

45 MILES OUT
IN THE YUKON WILDERNESS.

IT'S A LITTLE PREMATURE,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE BOOKED THE TRUCKER.
WE'RE GOING.

Todd: LET'S GO.
GET IN THE TRUCK.

LET'S LOAD UP.

Narrator: FIRST, THEY HAVE TO
GET THE 20,000-POUND WASH PLANT

ONTO THE TRAILER.

Jack: THE TRAILER'S UP HERE,
AND THIS PLANT'S DOWN HERE,

AND ALL YOU'RE LIFTING IT WITH
IS WHAT THEY CALL A BRA,

AND IT'S A CABLE.

I HOPE HE DOESN'T FLIP IT OVER.

Narrator: TOM'S WINCH DRAGS THE
WASH PLANT TOWARDS THE LOWBOY,

BUT THE OLD MACHINE IS AGING
AND NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND.

IF IT FALLS OVER,
IT COULD EASILY END

THE HOFFMANS' SECOND SEASON
OF MINING BEFORE IT EVEN STARTS.

Todd: OH, FRICK!

GET BACK.

Narrator: UP IN THE KLONDIKE,
THE HOFFMANS' WASH PLANT

IS GETTING WINCHED
ONTO A TRAILER.

IT NEEDS TO MAKE THE TRIP TO
THEIR NEW CLAIM IN QUARTZ CREEK,

BUT IT WEIGHS 20,000 POUNDS.

IF IT FAILS, THEIR MINING SEASON
WILL BE IN JEOPARDY.

Todd: EASY, EASY.
ENOUGH! STOP!

AH [BLEEP]

HOLD UP, TOM.

DID IT MAKE IT?

RIGHT HERE.

OH, YEAH.

IT ROLLED
RIGHT OVER LIKE THAT.

HOW'D THAT OTHER SIDE
LOOK?

OKAY?

Jack: YEAH.

Todd:
HE'S GOT IT ON THE TRAILER.

IT LOOKED A LITTLE SKETCHY,
BUT, I MEAN, OH, MY GOSH.

HE GOT HER ON THERE.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Narrator:
THE WASH PLANT IS SECURE...

FOR NOW.

Todd:
GOING AROUND THOSE CORNERS --

THAT'S THE THING
THAT REALLY SCARES ME.

Narrator: TOM FENTON
HAS 20,000 POUNDS OF SHAKER

STRAPPED TO HIS TRAILER
AND A TREACHEROUS JOURNEY AHEAD.

Todd: WE'RE FOLLOWING A TRUCKER
WITH A TOP-HEAVY WASH PLANT.

BUT THAT'S IT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE MOVING IN.

WE'VE GOT OUR WASH PLANT.
WE'RE GOING IN.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS' CONVOY
HITS THE ROAD TO THEIR NEW HOME.

IT'S A 45-MILE JOURNEY FROM
DAWSON CITY TO THEIR GOLD CLAIM.

Jack: IT'S LIKE DRIVING
ON A BUNCH OF MARBLES

ON A COOKIE SHEET.

Narrator:
THEY SUMMIT KING SOLOMON'S DOME

AND HEAD DOWN
INTO THE QUARTZ CREEK VALLEY.

Todd: THERE'S OUR MINE
RIGHT DOWN THERE IN THAT VALLEY.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO ON
INTO THE PROMISED LAND.

Narrator: WITH
A 20,000-POUND LOAD BEHIND HIM,

TOM FENTON HAS TO CONTROL
HIS SPEED,

OR THE TOP-HEAVY WASH PLANT
COULD FALL OFF AT ANY TURN.

THIS HILL'S
BASICALLY STRAIGHT DOWN.

I CAN HEAR
HIS ENGINE REVVING UP.

Narrator: TOM'S
AN EXPERIENCED KLONDIKE TRUCKER

AND USES A LOW GEAR
TO STAY IN CONTROL.

HE NEGOTIATES THE 4,000-FOOT
DESCENT TO THE CLAIM

WITH NO PROBLEMS.

THE HOFFMANS' NEW WASH PLANT
SURVIVES THE TRIP.

MEANWHILE,
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,

PARKER SCHNABEL
WEIGHS HIS FIRST GOLD.

TO KICK OFF THE SEASON,
HE MADE THE RISKY DECISION

TO RUN HIS GRANDPA'S
20-YEAR-OLD TAILINGS.

I LIKE MY GOLD GOLDEN BROWN.

Narrator: NOW HE FINDS OUT
IF IT'S PAID OFF.

[ BLOWS ]

SEE HOW FINE THAT STUFF IS?

Narrator:
WEIGHING THE GOLD

HAS BEEN HIS GRANDFATHER'S
EVENING RITUAL FOR 25 YEARS.

NOW IT'S PARKER'S TURN.

Parker:
IT'S A BIG DAY FOR ME.

I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT

FOR MY GRANDPA
TO PUT THIS MUCH FAITH IN ME.

IT'S QUITE AN HONOR
BECAUSE HE'S AN AMAZING MAN.

REALLY, WELL, HE IS A HERO, BUT
THAT'S WHAT HE'S ALWAYS BEEN.

3/5 OF AN OUNCE,
WHICH IS ABOUT $800.

WE ONLY RAN FOUR HOURS,

SO I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A GOOD WEEK NEXT WEEK.

Narrator: IF EVERY DAY
IS AS GOOD AS HIS FIRST,

PARKER WILL MAKE OVER $200,000

DURING THE 5-MONTH
MINING SEASON --

10 TIMES WHAT THE HOFFMANS
MADE LAST YEAR

AND ENOUGH TO KEEP
HIS GRANDPA'S MINE IN BUSINESS.

Parker: YOU KNOW,
I'M IN CHARGE NOW, AND HE'S NOT.

I HOPE THAT HE DOESN'T LOSE
THE MOTIVATION TO KEEP GOING,

BECAUSE THAT'S THE WORST THING
THAT COULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE.

I COULD WALK AWAY FROM THE MINE
IN A HEARTBEAT

IF IT MEANT
KEEPING MY GRANDPA AROUND.

Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK,
45 MILES SOUTH OF DAWSON CITY,

THE HOFFMAN CREW
ARRIVES AT THEIR NEW HOME.

THIS IS IT, GUYS.
THIS IS OUR CLAIM RIGHT HERE.

Thurber:
I GUESS THIS IS HOME.

IT DOESN'T REALLY LOOK LIKE IT,
BUT APPARENTLY, IT IS.

THIS IS WEIRD-LOOKING.
I DON'T KNOW.

THERE IS LOTS OF TAILINGS HERE.

I THINK SOMEONE MAY HAVE
CHOCOLATE-COATED

SOME DOG POO HERE.

Narrator:
NO ONE LIKES WHAT THEY SEE,

BUT TODD QUICKLY TAKES THEM OVER

TO SEE THE VIRGIN GROUND
ACROSS QUARTZ CREEK.

THOSE TAILINGS THAT YOU SAW,
OKAY?

THOSE CAME FROM THAT OLD DREDGE
RIGHT THERE.

Narrator:
IN THE 1950s, THE DREDGE

MINED WHAT TODAY WOULD BE
OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN GOLD

OUT OF THIS VALLEY.

IF THE GROUND
ACROSS QUARTZ CREEK

WAS UNTOUCHED BY THE DREDGE,

THEIR NEW CLAIM
COULD HOLD A FORTUNE IN GOLD.

THEY NEVER COULD GET UP
TO OUR CLAIM.

THAT VIRGIN GROUND OVER THERE
HAS NEVER BEEN TOUCHED --

ALL THROUGH THE GOLD RUSH,
ALL THROUGH ALL THIS TIME.

WE'RE GONNA FRICKIN' DO THIS,

'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA GO
RIGHT OVER THERE,

AND WE'RE GONNA KICK
SOME STRAIGHT BUTT.

DON'T GIVE UP.
OKAY?

AND I KNOW
WE'VE HAD TROUBLES.

LAST YEAR,
WE HAD A HORRIBLE SEASON.

WE'VE LOST A LOT OF MONEY.

WE'VE HAD BLOOD, SWEAT,
AND TEARS INTO THIS, OKAY?

IF YOU GUYS GOT THE COJONES,

LET'S TEAM UP AGAIN
AND REALLY HIT IT HARD, 100%.

WE WILL NOT HAVE
ANOTHER CHANCE AT THIS.

WE REPRESENT THE BEST COUNTRY
IN THE WORLD.

THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE,
THAT'S WHERE WE BORN,

AND PEOPLE HAVE DIED
FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE.

SO WHO'S WITH ME?

WHOO!
WE CAN DO IT.

MY EXPECTATIONS
JUST SHOT THROUGH THE ROOF.

THIS IS COOL.
THIS IS REALLY EXCITING NOW.

TODD CAME THROUGH.
ONCE AGAIN.

WHOO!
HERE WE ARE.

GREAT.
LET'S DO IT.

WE GOT TO START.

Todd: MY GUYS HAVE BEEN KICKED
IN THE TEETH,

AND THEY FOLLOWED ME AND MY DAD
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.

[ LAUGHTER ]

WE'LL GET THE GOLD.

WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP THE FAITH.