Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 2, Episode 3 - Family Feud - full transcript
Jack and Todd go head to head over how to set up their new claim. At Porcupine Creek, Dakota Fred rips out the wash plant and finds gold that he forced the Hoffmans to leave behind. At Big Nugget mine, Parker continues to hit pay dirt.
Narrator:
WAY UP NORTH IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN AND HIS CREW
ARE INTO THEIR SECOND SEASON
MINING FOR GOLD.
I DO LOVE OUR COUNTRY.
THEY ARE RISKING IT ALL
TO STRIKE IT RICH.
GOLD MINING -- ONE OF AMERICA'S
GREATEST DREAMS.
Narrator: AFTER LOSING
PORCUPINE CREEK...
HEY. HEY!
...THEY REFUSE
TO GIVE UP THEIR DREAM.
[ HORN HONKS ]
NOW THE HOFFMAN CREW
MUST BUILD A NEW MINE
FROM THE GROUND UP...
WE WILL NOT HAVE
ANOTHER CHANCE AT THIS.
...AND THEY ARE WAY BEHIND.
WITH 21 DAYS
OF THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON
ALREADY BEHIND THEM...
WHAT THE FRICK?
...THE PRESSURE
TO SALVAGE THE SEASON
PUSHES JACK
TO HIS BREAKING POINT.
I DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP]
IT'S BETTER FOR ME
TO JUST LEAVE.
BACK IN PORCUPINE CREEK,
DAKOTA FRED PUTS HIS CREW
IN HARM'S WAY...
...TO PULL APART
THE OLD HOFFMAN WASH PLANT...
GET THAT THING
OUT OF HERE!
...JUST AS HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENT
PARKER
PULLS FURTHER AND FURTHER AHEAD
IN THE RACE FOR GOLD.
IN ONE WEEK,
WE'VE ALMOST GOTTEN HALF
OF WHAT THE HOFFMANS GOT
ALL YEAR.
Narrator: AT THE QUARTZ CREEK
CLAIM IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN AND HIS CREW
ARE ON THE HUNT
FOR THE BOUNDARY
OF THEIR NEW GOLD CLAIM.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR
THE CORNER POST ON THE MINE.
LET ME GO LOOK AT THIS POST
HERE, SEE WHAT NUMBER IT IS.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
EXACTLY WHERE THE CLAIM IS.
YOU DO NOT WANT
TO START DRIVING EQUIPMENT
AND MAKING CUTS
IN SOMETHING THAT'S NOT YOURS.
THE WHOLE KEY IS JUST
GETTING THOSE POSTS FOUND.
Narrator:
THEY'RE LOOKING IN THIS FOREST
FOR 7-FOOT WOODEN POSTS USED
TO MARK THIS CLAIM 40 YEARS AGO.
Todd: YOU FIND ONE?
HOW LONG DID YOU SAY
THIS RUNS?
I SEE A RIBBON
TIED DOWN THERE.
THE POSTS WILL OUTLINE AN AREA
THAT LANDOWNER GREG McNEIL
BELIEVES HOLDS MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN GOLD.
THERE IT IS,
I THINK, MAYBE.
NOPE. THAT IS NOT IT.
Todd: SOMEBODY ELSE'S.
Narrator: AT THE START
OF THEIR SECOND MINING SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW LOST
THEIR PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM
TO RIVAL DAKOTA FRED.
THE DAKOTA BOYS OWN
PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM.
I'M GONNA MINE THIS CLAIM
THIS YEAR.
THE HOFFMANS HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO HEAD NORTH
TO THE KLONDIKE
AND, IN THE MIDDLE
OF A MODERN-DAY GOLD RUSH,
FINALLY SECURED A NEW CLAIM...
THIS IS QUARTZ CREEK.
AWESOME.
Narrator: ...A GOLD CLAIM
WITH VIRGIN GROUND.
IT'S NEVER BEEN TOUCHED
BY ANY KIND OF MACHINE, EVER.
BUT QUARTZ CREEK
IS A BIG RISK.
THE HOFFMANS HAVE NO TIME
TO TEST THE CLAIM'S SOIL
FOR GOLD.
THEIR DREAM NOW RESTS
ON THE WORD
OF CLAIM OWNER GREG McNEIL.
AT SOME POINT, WE'VE GOT TO
TRUST SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE.
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME.
Todd: I GOT A FEELING
IT'S RIGHT HERE.
THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS ALREADY 21 DAYS
INTO THE 150-DAY SEASON.
TODD HAS TO MAP HIS NEW CLAIM
BEFORE HE CAN EVEN MOVE IN
HIS EQUIPMENT.
THERE'S A COUPLE MORE FLAGS
OVER HERE.
McNeil: MAN, OH, MAN.
I SHOULD HAVE CAME OVER HERE
AND LOCATED THIS THING.
IT'S GONNA BE REAL CLOSE.
HEY, DAVE! GREG!
COME HERE!
McNeil: YEAH, I'M THINKING
THAT MIGHT BE OURS.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW GET
THEIR FIRST BREAK OF THE SEASON.
McNeil:
THIS IS POST NUMBER 1.
AND, THEN, STRAIGHT UP THE HILL
WILL BE NUMBER 2.
I'M GONNA WALK STRAIGHT
THROUGH HERE
AND SEE IF I CAN FIND
THAT OTHER POST.
Turin: I THINK THAT'S IT.
Todd: THERE WE GO.
THIS IS LOOKING GOOD.
McNeil: THERE IT IS.
RIGHT THERE.
NUMBER 2.
SO, HERE'S WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE
GOT -- ALL THE WAY UP TO HERE.
YOU HAVE ALMOST --
ABOUT A MILE.
Turin: HOLY CRAP.
SO, THAT'S SEVERAL YEARS' WORTH
OF MINING RIGHT THERE.
SEVERAL YEARS.
MM-HMM.
Narrator:
THE HOFFMANS' NEW LAND
COVERS TWO
500-BY-1,000-FOOT CLAIMS.
THEY WILL MINE THE GROUND
EAST OF THE CREEK,
WHERE THEY HOPE
THE VIRGIN GROUND IS.
AND ON THE WEST SIDE
OF THE CREEK,
THEY'LL CLEAR THE LAND AND
MOVE IN THEIR MINING EQUIPMENT.
WE'RE MINING HERE.
CAMP'S THERE.
WE'RE READY TO GO.
AND THIS IS GOOD STUFF.
THIS IS GOOD STUFF.
I THINK
WE'VE GOT A PLAN.
YEP. WE'VE GOT A PLAN.
600 MILES SOUTH
IN PORCUPINE CREEK, ALASKA,
DAKOTA FRED LOOKS OVER
THE HOFFMANS' OLD WASH PLANT.
GOLD MINING'S GOT A LOT TO DO
WITH DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
AND WHOEVER'S RUNNING THE SHOW,
THEIR OPINION
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
Narrator: FRED BOUGHT THE WASH
PLANT AND OTHER EQUIPMENT
FROM THE HOFFMANS FOR $80,000
WHEN THEY ABRUPTLY LEFT
PORCUPINE EARLIER IN THE SEASON.
BUT FRED IS NOT A FAN.
Fred: AND I'LL BE HAPPY
TO BE RID OF IT.
Narrator:
FROM THE MOMENT FRED ARRIVED
AT PORCUPINE CREEK LAST SEASON,
HE WANTED TO ALTER
THE HOFFMANS' WASH PLANT.
HE CLASHED
WITH MECHANIC JAMES HARNESS.
BUT NOW YOU [BLEEP]
DESTROYED THIS THING.
I TOTALLY,
ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE.
NOW THAT HE HAS
TAKEN OVER PORCUPINE,
HE WANTS TO LOSE THE HOFFMAN
WASH PLANT ALTOGETHER.
WE JUST FEEL
THIS IS WAY TOO INEFFICIENT,
TOO PRONE TO BREAK DOWN.
WE'RE GONNA GO WITH OUR SYSTEM.
Narrator:
ALREADY 22 DAYS INTO THE SEASON,
FRED HAS TO START MINING.
HE HAS A RADICAL PLAN
TO OVERHAUL THE MINE.
FELLAS, WE GOT SOME BIG NEWS
THIS MORNING.
WE'RE TAKING ALL THIS CRAP
OUT OF HERE.
I DON'T WANT
NOTHING LEFT!
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
MOVE EVERYTHING.
Zuck: OUT WITH THE HOFFMANS
AND IN WITH THE DAKOTA BOYS.
YEAH!
FIRST ON THE LIST, THE SHAKER,
BUT HOLDING IT IN PLACE
IS A STEEL BULKHEAD.
IT'S BURIED DEEP IN THE DIRT
AND SECURED WITH STEEL CABLE.
IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE
WITHOUT A LOT OF WORK.
Fred:
THERE'S A COUPLE LITTLE CABLES
TIED AROUND THIS THING.
PROBABLY GONNA
HAVE TO DIG IT OUT.
Zuck: CUT CLEAR?
YES, SIR.
Narrator: THE FOUR SIDES OF
THE BULKHEAD ARE DISCONNECTED.
NOW THEY NEED
TO REMOVE THE FRONT
TO SLIDE THE SHAKER OUT.
BUT FRED AND RIGGER DARREN
ARE GETTING NOWHERE
WITH THEIR SHOVELS.
JUST WASTING TIME.
FRED TAKES CHARGE AND JUMPS
INTO THE 270 EXCAVATOR.
HOLD UP, FRED!
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
FRED DECIDES
TO USE BRUTE FORCE.
JUST RUN THE CHAIN UNDERNEATH IT
SO WHEN HE PULLS ON IT,
IT SHOULD PULL IT STRAIGHT OUT,
I'M HOPING, IN THEORY.
HOOK UP THE CHAIN.
Narrator: THE CHAIN'S BREAKING
POINT IS 2,000 POUNDS.
BUT THE CREW HAS NO IDEA
JUST HOW DEEP THE BULKHEAD
IS BURIED.
A CHAIN IS ONLY AS STRONG
AS ITS WEAKEST LINK.
IF A CHAIN HAS BEEN STRETCHED,
THEN, YOU KNOW,
SOMEWHERE IN THAT CHAIN
THAT WEAKEST LINK IS GONNA
BE THE FIRST THING TO SNAP.
ARE YOU GUYS READY?!
IF YOU GET HIT
WITH A CHAIN THAT SNAPS,
IT WILL VERY EASILY
TAKE A LEG COMPLETELY OFF.
I MEAN, IT WILL CUT THE MEAT,
THE BONES, THE TENDONS,
EVERYTHING.
ALL RIGHT!
EVERYBODY SET?!
Zuck: LET'S GO!
KEEP COMING!
[ CREAKING ]
IS THAT CHAIN GONNA --
HOLD ON.
[ CREAKING CONTINUES ]
OHH!
WHAT'D YOU BREAK?
THE CHAIN?
DAMN.
THAT DIDN'T WORK SO WELL.
AH!
PULL THAT CHAIN
OUT OF THERE!
Narrator:
THE CHAIN JUST MISSES DARREN.
THE BULKHEAD DIDN'T BUDGE,
AND FRED REVERTS TO
THE SLOW BUT SAFER APPROACH.
WE SHOULD DIG IT OUT.
BUT INSTEAD OF SHOVELS,
THIS TIME THEY USE THE 270.
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
ALL RIGHT, DUSTIN!
DRAG SOME IRON OUT THERE!
HERE WE GO!
[ CHAIN CREAKING ]
[ METAL SCRAPING ]
IN NO TIME AT ALL,
THE 270 EXCAVATOR
EASILY DRAGS OUT
THE 25,000-POUND SHAKER.
JUST WALK IT
OVER TO THE JUNK PILE.
WHILE HE DOESN'T PLAN
TO USE IT,
FRED DOES PLAN
TO SELL THE WASH PLANT.
FRED NEEDS THE CASH.
EVERY DAY HE DOESN'T FIND GOLD,
HE LOSES MONEY.
WHILE DAKOTA FRED EXORCISES
THE DEMONS OF LAST YEAR,
PARKER SCHNABEL'S OPERATION
ACROSS THE CREEK,
THE BIG NUGGET MINE, IS RUNNING.
I TRY TO DO FIVE LOADS AN HOUR,
BUT USUALLY
I DON'T GET THAT MANY.
Narrator:
THE DIRT RUNNING THROUGH
PARKER'S PLANT IS TAILINGS,
MATERIAL THAT HIS GRANDPA
DISCARDED 20 YEARS AGO.
RUNNING THE OLD TAILINGS
IS ALL PART OF HIS MASTER PLAN
TO TURN THE MINE AROUND.
Parker: OH. OH.
HERE WE GO.
IT'S WORKING.
THEY'RE GETTING BIGGER.
Narrator: THREE WEEKS AGO,
16-YEAR-OLD PARKER
TOOK OVER THE MINE
FROM HIS 91-YEAR-OLD GRANDPA.
[ LAUGHS ]
THANKS, GRANDPA.
HIS FIRST DECISION, TO RECYCLE
OLD TAILINGS, WAS RISKY.
HOPEFULLY THERE'S A PILE OF GOLD
SITTING IN THERE SOMEWHERE.
Narrator: BUT AFTER ONLY ONE DAY
RUNNING THE OLD MATERIAL,
HE FOUND GOLD.
Parker: THAT'S NICE.
TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY.
3/5 OF AN OUNCE,
WHICH IS ABOUT $800.
BUT PARKER NEEDS A LOT MORE GOLD
TO TURN A PROFIT
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE.
JULY 1st,
I'M GONNA RUN OUT OF MONEY.
SO IT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT
TO HAVE A GOOD MONTH HERE.
Narrator:
AT THE END OF ANOTHER DAY,
THE CREW HAS RUN DIRT
FOR EIGHT HOURS,
BUT THERE'S STILL A PILE
OF TAILINGS TO LOAD.
Parker: THERE'S NO SENSE
IN DOING STUFF AROUND HERE
THAT CAN BE DONE
WHILE THE PLANT'S RUNNING,
WHEN THERE'S OTHER WORK
TO BE DONE.
YOU TWO, YOU GUYS HAVE
A HALF-HOUR, DON'T YOU?
Narrator: THIS CREW HAS ANSWERED
TO GRANDPA JOHN FOR 10 YEARS.
PARKER IS FINDING IT HARD
TO EARN THEIR RESPECT.
YEAH, YOU CAN RUN
THE EXCAVATOR.
AND, GARY,
YOU CAN RUN THE TRUCK.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
I GUESS THAT'S A "NO."
[BLEEP]
MAKES ME NOT FEEL LIKE THE BOSS.
Narrator:
IT IS 22 DAYS INTO THE SEASON,
AND IF PARKER CAN'T WIN OVER
HIS CREW SOON,
HE'LL NEVER TURN BIG NUGGET
AROUND.
UP AHEAD, YOUNG PARKER
SHOWS UP HIS MINING ELDERS...
THAT NUGGET'S
1/3 OF AN OUNCE.
...DAKOTA FRED
GETS SWEET JUSTICE,
FINDING GOLD IN DIRT
THE HOFFMANS LEFT BEHIND...
Dustin: YEAH!
PUSH SOME OF THAT F'ing ROCK
INTO THE FREAKING HOLE.
...AND AFTER FALLING
FURTHER BEHIND
IN THEIR MAKE-OR-BREAK
MINING SEASON,
FATHER AND SON
HAVE A BIG FALLING-OUT...
HE'S FRUSTRATING.
...FORCING JACK
TO CALL IT QUITS.
I'M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON
THAT YOU PUSH AROUND.
OKAY, GUYS.
THIS IS THE BIG ONE.
IF YOU HAVE TO, SLOW IT DOWN.
Narrator:
UP NORTH IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN HEADS TO HIS
GOLD CLAIM AT QUARTZ CREEK.
HEADS UP.
THERE'S A BIG ROCK STICKING OUT.
Be careful.
[ SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY ]
Narrator:
WITH TODD'S NEW GOLD CLAIM
MAPPED OUT
AND READY TO BE MINED,
HE LEADS TRUCKER TOM FENTON
ALONG A TREACHEROUS MOUNTAIN
ROAD DOWN TO THE CLAIM.
[ HORN HONKS ]
TOM IS HAULING
A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
THAT IS KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS.
Todd: I'M LIKING
THE LOOKS OF IT SO FAR.
THE THING LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.
THIS IS IT, HUH?
Narrator:
IN THE OFF-SEASON...
THIS IS IT.
...TODD BOUGHT A D8 DOZER
TO CLEAR THE LAND.
IT COST $37,000.
MAN, WE'LL TAKE IT.
OKAY. VERY GOOD.
IT PUT TODD
EVEN DEEPER IN THE HOLE,
BUT THIS YEAR
TODD HAS TO FIND GOLD,
OR THE DREAM IS OVER.
Todd:
WE'LL GET THE GOLD IN THE END.
WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP THE FAITH.
Narrator:
THE HOFFMANS HAVE LOST
23 DAYS OF THE MINING SEASON.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE D8
IS A WELCOME SIGHT.
Todd:
YEAH, IT FEELS GOOD.
I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
I WAS REALLY MINING
UNTIL I ACTUALLY GET
THE DOZER HERE.
Narrator: RUNNING THE D8
WILL COST TODD HUNDREDS
OF DOLLARS EVERY DAY.
Todd:
THAT...IS SWEET.
Narrator:
THE PRESSURE IS ON.
Jack: IT'S A DO-OR-DIE SITUATION
FOR A LOT OF THESE GUYS...
AND FOR ME, ALSO.
YOU KNOW, I WANT IT TO WORK.
AND IF WE DON'T GET GOLD
THIS TIME, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
Narrator: CHAMPING AT THE BIT,
JACK STARTS UP THE D8.
THE LAND ON THE WEST SIDE
OF QUARTZ CREEK
NEEDS TO BE CLEARED
SO THEY CAN SET UP THE WASH
PLANT NEAR THE VIRGIN GROUND.
BUT AFTER AN HOUR,
THE GROUND STILL ISN'T FLAT.
IT'S A MESS.
Todd:
MY DAD'S NOT A PLANNER.
HE'S UP THERE. HE'S PIVOTING.
HE DID A 360 OVER THERE.
HE CAME OVER HERE.
HE DUG THIS HOLE HERE.
HE DUG HERE.
HE CAN'T JUST GET ON THERE
'CAUSE IT'S FUN TO DRIVE IT.
WE ALL WANT TO DO THAT,
BUT NOT THIS YEAR.
SO, TOUGH.
I'M NOT PUTTING UP WITH IT.
[ ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]
PLEASE TELL ME
YOU'RE DONE.
THERE'S A BIG,
SOFT HOLE THERE,
AND YOU'RE BACK-DRAGGING IT,
MAKING IT NICE AND PRETTY.
GREAT. PUSH SOME OF THAT F'ing
ROCK INTO THE FREAKING HOLE.
THEN, GET THE FRICK
OUT OF HERE.
YOU KNOW, I'LL SHOVE ROCK
OVER THERE.
GREG'S COMING OVER,
AND THEN YOU GET OFF.
THERE'S NO RHYME
OR REASON.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU.
LISTEN,
THAT IS A FROZEN HOLE.
NO SHOOT, SHERLOCK!
AND YOU'RE IN THERE
PIVOTING ON IT!
GO AHEAD.
I DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP]
HE'LL SCREW IT UP.
I LOVE YOU, DAD.
I JUST -- YOU'RE DONE.
I NEED GREG TO TAKE OVER.
GO REST YOUR BACK.
Narrator:
THE PRESSURE TO GET MINING
HAS DRIVEN A WEDGE
BETWEEN FATHER AND SON.
IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.
[ DOOR SLAMS ]
Jack:
TODD AND I BOTH OWN THAT D8.
IT SHOWS DISRESPECT, YOU KNOW,
TO TELL ME
THAT I CAN'T USE MY OWN PIECE
OF EQUIPMENT, YOU KNOW?
I SAY SCREW HIM.
Narrator:
WHILE JACK COOLS OFF,
GREG REMSBURG TAKES OVER.
Todd: I LOVE MY DAD.
I'M NOT TRYING TO GET MEAN,
BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE A --
WE LAY OUT A PLAN,
AND WE'VE GOT TO STICK TO IT.
Narrator: WITHOUT WARNING,
JACK LOADS UP
AND SPEEDS OFF THE CLAIM.
Jack: TODD AND I --
WE'VE HAD OUR UPS AND DOWNS.
BUT I'M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON
THAT YOU PUSH AROUND.
YOU KNOW,
I WILL NOT HAVE DISRESPECT.
YOU KNOW,
I WON'T PUT UP WITH IT.
YOU KNOW, AND IT WON'T CARRY ON.
IT'S BETTER
FOR ME TO JUST LEAVE.
Narrator:
WHILE THE HOFFMAN CREW IMPLODES,
600 MILES SOUTH
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,
PARKER SCHNABEL
RALLIES HIS CREW.
24 HOURS AFTER THEY IGNORED
HIS ORDER TO RUN DIRT,
PARKER PROPOSES A PLAN
TO BOOST PROFITS.
I THINK MY GRANDPA'S ALWAYS
GIVEN YOU A $2-AN-HOUR BONUS
AT THE END OF THE YEAR
IF YOU STAY THE SEASON.
MM-HMM.
AND I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND
KEEP THAT POLICY AS MINIMUM.
IF WE HAVE A GOOD SEASON,
WE'LL DO A 10% PROFIT SHARE.
SO 5% FOR EACH OF YOU.
COOL.
IT REALLY GIVES US
A GOOD INCENTIVE
TO WORK.
THAT MAKES IT A CHALLENGE
TO SEE IF WE CAN
STRIKE SOMETHING GOOD.
I THINK THAT IT WILL MAKE
A BIG DIFFERENCE.
I THINK THAT WE'LL SEE THEM
TAKE IT A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL
AND TRY TO MAKE US SOME MONEY.
Narrator: IN JUST FOUR DAYS,
PARKER WILL DO
HIS WEEKLY CLEAN-OUT.
HIS CREW WASTES NO TIME
LOADING MORE OF THE 20-YEAR-OLD
TAILINGS THEY KNOW HOLD GOLD.
IT IS MORNING AT QUARTZ CREEK,
AND JACK IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
Turin: LORD, THANKS
FOR ANOTHER DAY.
I JUST ASK THAT YOU'D KEEP
JACK SAFE ON THE ROAD.
Todd:
I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY DAD WENT.
HE GOT MAD AT ME LAST NIGHT.
I THINK I MIGHT HAVE BEEN
A LITTLE DISRESPECTFUL TO HIM,
AND I FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT.
BUT, UH...
MAYBE I WAS RIGHT,
BUT I PROBABLY DID IT
IN THE WRONG WAY.
I ASK THAT YOU GIVE TODD
STRENGTH AS OUR LEADER.
THANKS FOR THIS DAY.
IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
AMEN.
AMEN.
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE,
YOU KNOW?
THIS IS IT.
SO I WANT IT DONE RIGHT.
IT'S FOR HIM, YOU KNOW?
NOT JUST FOR ME.
IT'S HIS DREAM.
Narrator: JIM THURBER
HEADS OFF TO FIND JACK.
Thurber:
TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF JACK,
AND I'LL TRY TO CALM HIM DOWN
AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT WENT ON.
AND, I MEAN,
WE'VE GOT TO RESOLVE IT.
IT WOULD BE A TOTAL DISASTER
IF HE LEAVES.
Narrator: JIM FACES FORECLOSURE
ON HIS HOME IN OREGON
IF HE DOESN'T FIND GOLD
THIS YEAR.
THIS IS MY LIVELIHOOD.
WE'RE ALL LIVING HERE AND
GOT TO DEAL WITH THIS STUFF.
BUT HOPEFULLY
I CAN TALK HIM DOWN.
Narrator:
BUT IT MAY BE TOO LATE.
JACK HAS SPENT THE NIGHT
45 MILES AWAY
IN A DAWSON CITY MOTEL.
[ DOG BARKS ]
TODD AND I HAVE
OUR UPS AND DOWNS,
BUT, YOU KNOW,
AS FAR AS IT GOES,
IF IT TURNS INTO A CONFLICT
WHERE I'M GONNA
BE SO PISSED OFF AT HIM,
YOU KNOW,
OR HE GETS PISSED OFF AT ME,
YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT GONNA STAY THERE.
Narrator: IT'S JACK'S DREAM
TO STRIKE IT RICH
MINING FOR GOLD.
TODD AND THE REST OF THE CREW
LEFT THEIR LIVES BEHIND
TO FOLLOW HIM.
THEY FOUND ALMOST NOTHING
LAST SEASON
AND ARE 24 DAYS INTO THE SECOND
SEASON WITH NO GOLD IN SIGHT.
IF JACK AND TODD CAN'T SETTLE
THEIR DIFFERENCES,
THIS COULD BE
THE END OF THE ROAD.
Zuck: OUT WITH THE OLD,
IN WITH THE NEW.
Narrator: IN PORCUPINE CREEK,
DAKOTA FRED AND HIS CREW
REMOVE THE OLD TROMMEL.
Fred:
IT'S JUST TOO INEFFICIENT,
TOO WIMPY FOR WHAT
WE'RE GONNA BE DOING.
Narrator: IT'S THE LAST PIECE
OF THE HOFFMANS' WASH PLANT.
IT'S NOW HISTORY,
AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED.
IT'S OUT OF HERE.
CRANK THAT DUDE UP!
THERE.
WATCH IT, WATCH IT, WATCH IT.
Zuck: YEP, YEP.
I'M WATCHING.
Narrator: FRED PLANS
TO PUT IN HIS OWN SYSTEM,
BUT HIS NEW WASH PLANT IS STILL
ON THE WAY UP TO THE CLAIM.
THE ONLY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
HE HAS AT PORCUPINE
IS A SMALL CLEAN-OUT TROMMEL.
BUT IT JUST MIGHT BE ENOUGH
TO GET FRED STARTED.
Fred: NOW WE'RE JUST SETTING UP
THIS CLEAN-UP TROMMEL.
WE'VE GOT
OUR HOUSEKEEPING STUFF DONE,
AND WE'RE READY
TO SEE SOME GOLD STUFF.
Narrator: FRED FOUND DIRT IN THE
HOFFMANS' JUNKED WASH PLANT --
PAY DIRT THAT TODD AND JACK
DIDN'T PROCESS
BEFORE THEY LEFT THE CLAIM.
THE HOFFMANS LEFT US
A LITTLE GIFT,
A LITTLE HOUSEWARMING GIFT,
IN THIS MATERIAL.
AND MAYBE THERE'S
A LITTLE GOLD IN THERE.
Dustin: THIS IS FREE GOLD
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING
TO GET TO IT.
WE'RE JUST GONNA PROCESS IT.
THIS IS JUST LEFTOVER,
SITTING-AROUND STUFF.
Fred: THERE MAY BE
A LITTLE GOLD IN THERE.
Narrator: WITH CREW ON-SITE,
FRED'S BURNING $700 A DAY.
HE NEEDS GOLD,
AND RUNNING DIRT
THE HOFFMANS DIDN'T PROCESS
COULD BE A QUICK FIX.
WHILE FRED GETS SET
TO RUN THE HOFFMANS' DIRT,
TODD AND JACK'S DREAM
OF STRIKING IT RICH
IS IN JEOPARDY.
NOW 25 DAYS INTO THE SEASON,
THEY ARE NOWHERE CLOSE
TO MINING.
AS TODD LEVELS THE GROUND,
JACK IS STILL NOT ON THE CLAIM.
IT HAS BEEN 24 HOURS
SINCE HE ABRUPTLY LEFT.
I HOPE HE DIDN'T HEAD HOME
OR SOMETHING
'CAUSE HE GETS...
TO WHERE HE KIND OF GOES
HIS OWN WAY.
THIS IS HIS DREAM, YOU KNOW?
SO, IT'S BECOME
ALL OF OUR DREAM, TOO,
AND IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT
IF WE WENT AHEAD WITHOUT HIM.
Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS YET TO SEE
A FLAKE OF GOLD THIS SEASON,
AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
I DON'T WANT TO LOOK
BACK AND SAY, "WELL,
WE COULD HAVE DONE THAT."
Narrator:
BUT FINALLY...
...JIM THURBER RETURNS
FROM HIS TRIP TO FIND JACK,
AND HE'S NOT ALONE.
WELL, I'M GONNA GO TALK
TO TODD.
WE'RE GONNA
PUT AN END TO THIS.
IF THE HOFFMANS' CREW
HAS ANY CHANCE
OF GETTING BACK ON TRACK,
TODD AND JACK HAVE TO RESOLVE
THEIR DIFFERENCES.
[ ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]
HEY, YOUR POP --
HE'S WAITING FOR YOU.
YOU GUYS NEED TO TALK.
I'LL BE OVER THERE
IN A LITTLE WHILE,
AS SOON
AS I GET DONE HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
FOR JIM, IT'S ESPECIALLY HARD
TO SEE JACK AND TODD FIGHT.
I BROUGHT YOU
SOME FOOD!
[ Voice breaking ]
WELL, IT'S PRETTY TOUGH
TO SEE A FATHER AND SON
DO WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
THANK YOU FOR CARING,
YOU KNOW?
IT JUST BRINGS BACK...
MEMORIES
THAT I CAN'T FIX.
MM-HMM.
MM-HMM.
MY DAD AND I WERE
GONNA TALK THINGS OUT.
NEXT THING,
I GET A CALL FROM THE HOSPITAL
THAT MY DAD IS DYING
IN THE I.C.U.
YEP.
YOU GOT TO TAKE
THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SAY, YOU KNOW,
GET OVER IT ALL.
MIGHT NOT BE ANOTHER CHANCE,
YOU KNOW?
DON'T MEAN
TO GET IN YOUR BUSINESS,
BUT, UH,
IT AFFECTS ALL OF US, SO...
OH, I FEEL BAD THAT ME AND HIM
GOT IN A FIGHT, SO...
HEY, I JUST WANTED TO APOLOGIZE.
I DIDN'T --
I WAS A LITTLE OUT OF LINE
YESTERDAY
AND DISRESPECTED YOU,
AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO.
I JUST WANT TO GET --
I JUST WANT THIS DONE RIGHT.
LAST YEAR WAS BASICALLY
MOSTLY MY FAULT,
AND I'M NOT GONNA
LOSE AGAIN THIS YEAR.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
HERE'S THE WAY
I LOOK AT IT, TOO.
IF IT TURNS
INTO AN ARGUMENT,
I'M JUST GONNA WALK AWAY
'CAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT THAT.
IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
AND, SO, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S THE DEAL.
NO ARGUING.
I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
Todd:
YOU KNOW WHAT? I WAS PRETTY
DISRESPECTFUL TO MY FATHER.
I LOVE HIM,
AND WE LOVE EACH OTHER.
AND THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT
THAN STUPID GOLD MINING,
BUT GOLD MINING ISN'T STUPID.
Narrator:
WITH THINGS PATCHED UP FOR NOW,
TODD AND JACK HEAD
TO THE TRAILER.
IN JACK'S ABSENCE,
TODD HAS RUN THE NUMBERS.
HERE'S THE LONG
AND THE SHORT OF IT, DAD.
WE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES
LAST YEAR,
AND I DON'T WANT
TO DO THAT AGAIN.
I WANT US TO COME OUT OF HERE
WINNERS, YOU KNOW?
I DO TOO.
WE GOT TO RUN IT A LITTLE LEANER
AND A LITTLE MEANER.
THAT'S WHY I WANT
TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE
JUST TO BREAK EVEN.
SO, RUNNING COSTS,
I'M GUESSING AN AVERAGE
OF 1,000 BUCKS A DAY.
AND, THEN, I'M GUESSING
WE GOT 125 DAYS OF MINING.
SO, YOU'VE GOT $125,000.
WHAT DOES THAT FIGURE OUT
IN GOLD?
WHAT ARE WE GETTING?
YOU'RE LOOKING AT...
ABOUT 65 TO 70 OUNCES.
THAT WOULD WORK, YEAH.
BUT THAT'S JUST A MINIMUM,
YOU KNOW?
I KNOW.
THAT'S JUST RUNNING COSTS.
AND BEYOND THAT
IT'S JUST ALL PROFIT.
I'D LIKE TO GET WAY BEYOND,
YOU KNOW, 100 OUNCES.
THIS IS IT. I'VE THROWN
ALL MY CARDS IN THAT POT.
YEP. I'M WITH YOU.
SO, LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.
FOR THE HOFFMAN CREW
TO MAKE ANY MONEY THIS SEASON,
THEY NEED TO DIG UP
OVER 70 OUNCES IN GOLD
FROM THE QUARTZ CREEK CLAIM.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS...
THEY HAVE NO IDEA
WHERE THAT GOLD IS.
Narrator: UP AT QUARTZ CREEK
IN THE KLONDIKE,
THE RACE IS ON
TO GET TO THE GOLD.
THE HOFFMAN CREW
NEEDS AT LEAST 70 OUNCES,
AND THEIR SEASON
IS SLOWLY SLIPPING AWAY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
THEIR NEW $40,000 WASH PLANT
IS ON-SITE,
BUT IT'S ON THE WRONG SIDE OF
THE CLAIM.
TODD AND I GOT TO GRAB THE PLANT
AND DRAG IT DOWN
SO WE CAN PUT IT TOGETHER.
Narrator: THE WASH PLANT SITS
JUST OFF THE QUARTZ CREEK ROAD.
THE HOFFMANS HAVE TO MOVE IT
NEXT TO THE CREEK,
NEAR THE VIRGIN GROUND
THEY PLAN TO MINE.
THERE ARE 300 YARDS
OF ROCKY TERRAIN
TO ITS FINAL RESTING SPOT.
BUT JACK IS CONVINCED
THERE IS A SHORTER ROUTE
THROUGH MUD AND TREES.
24 HOURS
AFTER THEIR FALLING-OUT,
TODD AND JACK'S TRUCE
IS PUT TO THE TEST.
DAD, I KIND OF THINK WE SHOULD
GO THROUGH THE ROCKS, MAN.
NO, IT'LL GO
JUST FINE THERE.
THROUGH THAT MUCK?
I GUARANTEE IT.
THE DOZER BARELY
GETS THROUGH THERE.
NO, IT JUST GOES
RIGHT THROUGH.
WELL, WE'LL FIND OUT.
Jack: LET'S GET GOING.
Todd:
THIS IS A DIRECT PATH.
I TRIED TO TALK HIM
INTO GOING OVER THE ROCKS,
BUT HE SAID HE THINKS
IT'LL GO THROUGH HERE BETTER.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
HOLD UP.
HOLD UP.
STOP! STOP! STOP!
OH, MOTHER.
Jack:
CRAP. [ GROANS ]
WELL, THIS ISN'T WORKING
VERY WELL.
Narrator:
THE FRONT END OF THE WASH PLANT
GETS STUCK IN THE DEEP MUCK.
Todd: CAN YOU --
Jack: I GOT A...
HEY!
YOU GOT TO LIFT
THAT BLADE UP!
ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS LIFT
THIS ONE SIDE UP OVER HERE.
OKAY.
Narrator:
BUT THIS TIME,
FATHER AND SON
ARE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.
YOU WANTED TO KEEP
THAT BLADE HIGH,
SO GET IN
A LITTLE CLOSER.
OKAY.
STAND BACK.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
EVERYBODY CLEAR?
[ ENGINE REVS ]
THERE IT GOES.
NOW WE'RE GETTING
SOMEWHERE.
YES!
YEAH! [ LAUGHS ]
IT'S WORKING, MAN!
IT'S WORKING.
LOOK AT THAT.
I GUARANTEE YOU RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE THE ONLY IDIOTS
IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW
AT THIS POINT IN TIME
DRAGGING A WASH PLANT
THROUGH THE JUNGLE.
THIS ISN'T, LIKE,
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
FOR ANYTHING.
BRING IT OVER HERE!
Narrator: THE PLAN WORKS,
AND THE WASH PLANT
IS PUSHED THE LAST FEW YARDS
INTO ITS FINAL POSITION
FOR THE SEASON.
Todd: KEEP GOING!
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD
RIGHT THERE.
HOW'S THAT?
I LIKE IT.
THIS LOOKS
FRICKING SWEET.
Todd: BOY, I GOT TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU, I DIDN'T THINK
THAT THE MUDDY ROUTE
WAS GONNA WORK,
BUT THE OLD MAN PULLED IT OFF.
I NEED TO LEARN
HOW TO BE MORE OF AN ENCOURAGER
THAN JUST, YOU KNOW,
A COMPLAINER.
Narrator: AT PORCUPINE CREEK,
DAKOTA FRED IS CONVINCED
THERE'S A BIG PAYDAY IN THE DIRT
THE HOFFMANS LEFT BEHIND.
[ MOTOR SPUTTERING ]
BUT HIS WATER PUMP
IS NOT FITTING
HIS SMALL CLEAN-OUT TROMMEL.
WE HAVE ANOTHER PUMP.
PAUL'S LOOKING TO SEE IF HE CAN
MAKE SOME MODIFICATIONS.
HE'S UP THERE TRYING TO CHANGE
PARTS ON IT RIGHT NOW.
Narrator:
IT NEEDS A PART HE DOESN'T HAVE.
WITHOUT A WORKING PUMP,
FRED WON'T BE ABLE TO WASH
ANY GOLD FROM THE DIRT.
Fred: WE'RE LIVING OUT HERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS.
IT'S NOT LIKE
YOU CAN JUST RUN OVER
TO YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE STORE
AND PICK SOMETHING UP.
IT JUST --
IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
Narrator: FRED HEADS ACROSS
THE CREEK TO BIG NUGGET MINE
TO SEE IF 16-YEAR-OLD
PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS THE SPARE PART HE NEEDS.
WHAT'S UP?
YOU GOT IT RUNNING?
YEAH.
Fred: ALL RIGHT!
GOT IT MADE.
LOOK, MAN,
I NEED A FAVOR.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
YOU GOT ANYTHING LIKE AN
INCH-AND-A-QUARTER NIPPLE?
IT'S A GOLD MINE!
Narrator:
IN 25 YEARS OF MINING,
THE SCHNABELS HAVE AMASSED
A STOCKPILE OF PARTS.
LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT
RIGHT --
OH, THERE IT IS!
I THINK THAT'S
INCH-AND-A-QUARTER.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED
RIGHT THERE.
PERFECT.
PERFECT. GOT IT.
NO PROBLEM.
THANK YOU.
GOOD LUCK.
YOU GONNA BE RUNNING SOON?
NO, NOT RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE JUST TRYING
TO GET THINGS SET UP.
SEE YOU, FRED.
THANK YOU, NOW.
Parker:
FRED'S A GOOD GUY.
HE GETS HIMSELF IN TROUBLE
SOMETIMES,
BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY FRED IS.
SO, JUST BEING THAT CLOSE,
IT'S COMPETITIVE.
Dustin:
I'M HOPING TO SEE IT WORK,
AND I WANT TO SEE SOME GOLD
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
GOT IT.
Narrator:
PARKER'S PART FITS...
Fred: HERE WE GO.
[ MOTOR TURNS OVER ]
...AND THE WATER FINALLY FLOWS
THROUGH THE CLEAN-OUT TROMMEL.
Fred: WE FEED IT
IN THIS CHAMBER HERE.
IT GOES INTO AN INNER CHAMBER.
THEN IT GOES OUT
INTO AN OUTER CHAMBER,
COMES FORWARD, DROPS OUT,
AND GOES INTO THIS SLUICE BOX
RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: 25 DAYS INTO THE SHORT
ALASKAN MINING SEASON,
FRED AND HIS CREW
JUST MIGHT FIND
THEIR FIRST GOLD OF THE YEAR
IN A PILE
OF THE HOFFMANS' OLD DIRT.
AFTER THIS IS ALL OVER WITH,
WE'LL TAKE THAT CONCENTRATE
AND WE'LL PAN IT OUT.
WE HOPE IT'S GOT
A LITTLE GOLD IN IT, TOO.
Narrator:
27 DAYS INTO THE MINING SEASON,
PARKER SCHNABEL RUNS
THE LAST DIRT OF THE WEEK
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE.
Parker: IT'S FRIDAY TODAY,
SO WE'RE GONNA CLEAN OUT
THE WHOLE PLANT.
Narrator:
FOUR DAYS SINCE OFFERING
HIS CREW A PAY INCENTIVE,
THEY'VE LOADED 100 BUCKETS
OF GRANDPA'S OLD TAILINGS
INTO THE WASH PLANT.
I'M WASHING THE GOLD
OUT OF THE BEARINGS
THROUGH THE SCREEN
INTO THE PAN BELOW.
IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT
OF EYE PRACTICE
TO DISCERN THE GOLD
FROM THE YELLOW ROCKS.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT ENOUGH NOW
THAT I'M CONFIDENT
THAT I'M PICKING ALL OF IT.
Narrator: THIS IS PARKER'S
FIRST WEEKLY CLEAN-OUT
AS THE BOSS
OF THE BIG NUGGET MINE.
THERE'S GOLD THERE.
PARKER'S DECISION
TO RUN THE DIRT
HIS GRANDPA THREW AWAY
20 YEARS AGO
LOOKS LIKE IT'S PAYING OFF.
IT IS ADDICTIVE.
AFTER YOU SEE THE RESULTS
OF THE GOLD
COME OUT OF THE MATERIAL,
IT MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT.
I THINK THE PROFIT-SHARING THING
THIS YEAR
IS A VERY EXCITING THING
FOR US.
I THINK IT MAKES US
A GOOD TEAM.
THIS IS OUR FIRST FULL WEEK
OF RUNNING,
AND WE'VE GOTTEN 6 OR 7 OUNCES.
IN ONE WEEK,
WE'VE ALMOST GOTTEN HALF
OF WHAT THE HOFFMANS GOT
ALL YEAR.
SO, THAT'S NOT BAD.
Narrator: IN THEIR ROOKIE SEASON
OF MINING AT PORCUPINE CREEK,
THE HOFFMANS MADE JUST $20,000.
16-YEAR-OLD PARKER
HAS MADE ALMOST $11,000
IN JUST HIS FIRST WEEK.
HE'S ON TRACK
TO MAKE NEARLY $200,000
IN HIS FIRST FULL SEASON
AS THE BOSS
OF THE BIG NUGGET MINE.
WHILE PARKER COUNTS HIS GOLD,
THE HOFFMANS SCRAMBLE TO CATCH
UP BACK IN QUARTZ CREEK.
THEIR NEW WASH PLANT
IS STILL IN PIECES.
TODD POSITIONS
THE HYDRAULIC RIFFLES
THAT HE HOPES WILL COLLECT FINE
GOLD FROM THE DIRT THEY RUN.
IF I DROP ONE OF THESE...
WE'RE STRAIGHT SCREWED.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A WEEK OR TWO
TO REBUILD THIS.
Narrator: ANY MORE DELAYS,
AND THE SEASON COULD BE OVER.
THE HOFFMANS NEED
$1,000 A DAY IN GOLD
JUST TO COVER THEIR OPERATING
COSTS FOR THE YEAR.
Jack: YEAH, THIS IS ALL
THE STUFF I WANTED TO HAVE DONE
BEFORE WE BROUGHT THIS UP HERE,
BUT, YOU KNOW,
IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
WE DON'T HAVE EXTRA PARTS
UP HERE,
SO WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE
OF WHAT WE GOT.
Narrator:
TO ATTACH THE HYDRAULIC RIFFLES,
THE MINERS MUST LOWER PIPES
ON EITHER SIDE
INTO SEMICIRCULAR CUPS
ON THE WASH-PLANT FRAME.
THIS PIVOT POINT WILL ALLOW
FOR MOVEMENT AND SUPPORT
WHEN THE PLANT IS OPERATIONAL.
Todd: OKAY, STAY CLEAR.
Remsburg: COME UP, THURB.
COMING DOWN.
EASY.
KEEP COMING.
WHOA. WHOA.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
SLOW DOWN!
NOT QUITE.
WATCH IT. WATCH IT!
WHOA!
WHAT'S WRONG?
IT'S HITTING.
Narrator: THE PIPE CONNECTION
ON THE RIFFLE
IS HITTING THE SUPPORT BEAM
ON THE WASH PLANT.
WHY IN THE HECK...?
THE SUPPORT, OR I-BEAM,
IS PART OF THE FRAME
THAT GIVES THE WASH PLANT
ITS STRENGTH.
JACK COMES UP
WITH A RADICAL SOLUTION --
CUT OUT A CHUNK OF THE BEAM SO
THE RIFFLE CAN SLIDE INTO PLACE.
MY DAD'S DOING SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING.
WHAT'S HE DOING, GREG?
Remsburg: YOU'RE NOT GONNA
BE HAPPY WHEN YOU SEE IT.
IS IT GONNA HURT
THE MACHINE?
WELL, WE DIDN'T REALLY NEED
THE I-BEAMS ANYWAY, DID WE?
HE'S NOT CUTTING
INTO THE I-BEAMS.
THERE'S NO WAY.
Narrator:
CUTTING THE I-BEAM
COULD COMPROMISE THE WASH
PLANT'S STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY,
BUT JACK IS ON A MISSION.
WHAT THE FRICK?
THAT'S THE MAIN
I-BEAM THERE, DAD.
STOP.
I KNOW.
THAT LOOKS LIKE PART
OF THE STRUCTURE THERE.
I MEAN,
I'M NO ROCKET SCIENTIST,
BUT THAT'S
THE I-BEAM, DAD.
YEAH, NO KIDDING.
ANOTHER FALL-OUT
BETWEEN FATHER AND SON
COULD BE DISASTROUS
FOR THE CREW.
Todd: YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M JUST
NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING.
I'M JUST GONNA FORGET IT.
NOT GOOD.
IT LOOKS LIKE A FIASCO,
BUT FOR THE SAKE OF UNITY,
I'M NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING.
Narrator: IT IS 27 DAYS
INTO THE HOFFMAN CREW'S
SECOND MINING SEASON,
AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
TODD AND JACK HAVE TO GET
70 OUNCES OF GOLD
BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN THINK
OF TURNING A PROFIT,
BUT THEY CAN'T MINE
WITHOUT A WORKING WASH PLANT.
Todd: THAT'S THE MAIN I-BEAM
THERE, DAD. STOP.
THEY CAN'T FIT THEIR HYDRAULIC
RIFFLES INTO THE MACHINE.
NO, JUST LET HER DOWN.
LET'S -- OKAY.
I'M DOING GOOD.
I'M JUST GONNA BE CALM
AND TAKE HER EASY.
JACK STOPS CUTTING
INTO THE I-BEAM,
ONE OF THE WASH PLANT'S
MAIN SUPPORTS,
AS JIM THURBER
HAS ANOTHER SOLUTION.
Thurber: THAT ONE'S
JUST TOO FAR BACK.
TO MATCH THAT SIDE,
IT NEEDS TO BE 15-1/4".
ALL RIGHT, SO YOU WANT
TO CUT THIS OFF
AND MOVE IT BACK.
IF JIM IS RIGHT,
THE SHORT PIPE ON THE RIFFLE
IS IN THE WRONG PLACE.
JACK CUTS IT OFF.
1/4". HERE.
LET ME GET 15-1/4".
Todd:
OKAY. COMING UP.
COMING IN.
Thurber:
GETTING CLOSE, GREG?
Remsburg: YEP.
ABOUT TWO MORE INCHES IN.
[ METAL SCRAPES ]
WHEW.
Narrator: REWELDING THE PIPE
FURTHER FORWARD
ALLOWS THE HYDRAULIC RIFFLE
TO SLIP INTO PLACE.
THAT SHOULD DO IT.
IT TURNED INTO A BIGGER DEAL
THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT,
BUT IT'S ON THERE.
IT'S DONE. IT LOOKS GOOD.
IT'LL WORK.
Narrator: AT PORCUPINE CREEK,
DAKOTA FRED AND HIS CREW
HAVE PROCESSED THE DIRT
THE HOFFMANS LEFT BEHIND.
THEY PAN IT LOOKING
FOR THEIR FIRST PAYDAY.
Fred:
WATCH THIS TECHNIQUE HERE.
Narrator: FRED SHOWS GREENHORNS
DUSTIN AND DARREN HOW TO PAN...
ISN'T THAT MORE COMFORTABLE
USING BOTH HANDS?
IT'S KILLING YOU.
YOU CAN'T NOT TOUCH IT.
NO. NO.
I MEAN, LIKE THAT.
THERE YOU GO.
NOW YOU GOT SOMETHING GOING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.
I'M STARTING TO LEARN, THOUGH.
I DON'T WANT TO LET NOTHING
GET OVER THE EDGE ON ME.
Narrator:
...AND THEY BOTH LEARN FAST.
WHAT IS THIS?
Dustin:
DID YOU FIND SOMETHING?
I DID.
Fred: WHOA! THERE IT IS!
LOOK AT THAT.
A PICKER!
HOLY [BLEEP]
THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL
A PICKER.
YEAH!
THAT'S WHAT GOLD LOOKS LIKE
RIGHT THERE.
SO, THAT'S WHY
I'M HERE.
[ LAUGHS ]
BRING IT OUT HERE.
Narrator: THIS GOLD WILL
ONLY COVER COSTS FOR THE DAY,
BUT FINDING
THE FIRST GOLD OF THE SEASON
IN THE HOFFMANS' DIRT
IS SWEET FOR THE DAKOTA BOYS.
MAN, IT'S BEEN
A HARD DAY.
THAT WAS A GOOD ENDING
TO A HARD DAY, THOUGH.
YEAH, FOR YOU.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Dustin: LOOK, IT'S PARKER.
OH, WE'VE GOT A VISIT?
Zuck: YEP.
Dustin: PARKER'S GONNA SHOW US
WHAT THEY'VE BEEN COLLECTING.
OH, NO!
WHAT'S UP, THERE,
FELLOW MINER?
Narrator:
PARKER SCHNABEL STOPS BY
TO SHOW FRED AND HIS CREW
WHAT A REAL GOLD HAUL IS.
NOW, THAT'S --
THAT'S A NICE DIG.
THAT NUGGET'S
1/3 OF AN OUNCE.
I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GET
A PAN OF GOLD LIKE THAT,
OR EVEN IN A WEEK RIGHT NOW,
AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.
IT'S PRETTY ENCOURAGING
TO SEE A LOT OF GOLD OUT HERE
JUST UP THE CREEK.
HE'S COMING
WITH HIS NUGGET.
Narrator:
DAKOTA FRED AND HIS CREW MAY
HAVE HAD THEIR FIRST PAYDAY,
BUT THEY'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO
TO CATCH UP TO PARKER'S
SEVEN-OUNCE, ONE-WEEK HAUL.
600 MILES NORTH AT QUARTZ CREEK,
THE ONLY GOLD
THE HOFFMANS HAVE FOUND
IS IN THE PANS OF TODD'S SONS,
HUNTER AND HUDSON.
OH.
SEE THAT?
THAT'S A PIECE OF GOLD.
Narrator:
THE KIDS' GOLD IS PROOF THAT
THERE IS GOLD IN THIS GROUND,
BUT THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS STILL FAR FROM MINING IT.
Todd: I HAVE
A LOT OF PRESSURE ON ME
'CAUSE I'VE GOT TO MAKE
THIS BLUE WASH PLANT
MAKE US A LOT OF MONEY
THIS YEAR.
AND THERE'S MORE THAN JUST ME.
THERE'S A LOT OF GUYS AND A LOT
OF FAMILIES COUNTING ON US.
Narrator: THEY DRAGGED THEIR
WASH PLANT ACROSS THE CLAIM
AND ATTACHED
THE HYDRAULIC RIFFLES
BUT HAVEN'T CHECKED
ANY OF THE OTHER MOVING PARTS.
THEY MAY STILL BE WEEKS AWAY
FROM A CLEAN-OUT.
Jack: BASICALLY,
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE.
YOU KNOW,
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY,
AND WE'VE GOT TO DO WELL.
AND SO, IF WE DON'T MAKE IT
THIS SUMMER, WE'RE DONE.
Narrator: ABOUT TO BEGIN THEIR
FIFTH WEEK OF THE MINING SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS ONLY
SLIGHTLY CLOSER TO FINDING GOLD.
IN A MAKE-OR-BREAK YEAR,
THIS IS NOT WHERE ANY OF THESE
MEN HAD EXPECTED TO BE.
IF THERE'S NO GOLD HERE,
THAT MEANS
THAT I MAY BE STUCK HERE
IN THE YUKON, ME AND MY BOY.
YOU KNOW,
I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO GET HOME.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ME,
BUT THAT'S MY SITUATION.
YOU KNOW,
WHEN WE GO TO A NEW PLACE,
IT'S ALL A MATTER
OF GETTING SET UP.
AND, YOU KNOW,
IT TAKES SOME TIME.
I MIGHT LOSE HALF MY YEAR.
I MIGHT HAVE TO GO BACK HOME.
IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE ALREADY
THIS YEAR,
SO WE DON'T NEED MORE
OF A STRUGGLE.
Thurber: RIGHT NOW, THIS IS --
THIS IS REALLY IT.
THIS IS ALL I HAVE IN MY FUTURE.
Todd: YOU KIND OF FIND
THE MEASURE OF A MAN
WHEN THINGS ARE DOWN.
IT MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LONGER
THAN I THOUGHT.
THERE WILL BE MAYBE
A FEW MORE FIGHTS.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN, MAN.
WAY UP NORTH IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN AND HIS CREW
ARE INTO THEIR SECOND SEASON
MINING FOR GOLD.
I DO LOVE OUR COUNTRY.
THEY ARE RISKING IT ALL
TO STRIKE IT RICH.
GOLD MINING -- ONE OF AMERICA'S
GREATEST DREAMS.
Narrator: AFTER LOSING
PORCUPINE CREEK...
HEY. HEY!
...THEY REFUSE
TO GIVE UP THEIR DREAM.
[ HORN HONKS ]
NOW THE HOFFMAN CREW
MUST BUILD A NEW MINE
FROM THE GROUND UP...
WE WILL NOT HAVE
ANOTHER CHANCE AT THIS.
...AND THEY ARE WAY BEHIND.
WITH 21 DAYS
OF THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON
ALREADY BEHIND THEM...
WHAT THE FRICK?
...THE PRESSURE
TO SALVAGE THE SEASON
PUSHES JACK
TO HIS BREAKING POINT.
I DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP]
IT'S BETTER FOR ME
TO JUST LEAVE.
BACK IN PORCUPINE CREEK,
DAKOTA FRED PUTS HIS CREW
IN HARM'S WAY...
...TO PULL APART
THE OLD HOFFMAN WASH PLANT...
GET THAT THING
OUT OF HERE!
...JUST AS HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENT
PARKER
PULLS FURTHER AND FURTHER AHEAD
IN THE RACE FOR GOLD.
IN ONE WEEK,
WE'VE ALMOST GOTTEN HALF
OF WHAT THE HOFFMANS GOT
ALL YEAR.
Narrator: AT THE QUARTZ CREEK
CLAIM IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN AND HIS CREW
ARE ON THE HUNT
FOR THE BOUNDARY
OF THEIR NEW GOLD CLAIM.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR
THE CORNER POST ON THE MINE.
LET ME GO LOOK AT THIS POST
HERE, SEE WHAT NUMBER IT IS.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
EXACTLY WHERE THE CLAIM IS.
YOU DO NOT WANT
TO START DRIVING EQUIPMENT
AND MAKING CUTS
IN SOMETHING THAT'S NOT YOURS.
THE WHOLE KEY IS JUST
GETTING THOSE POSTS FOUND.
Narrator:
THEY'RE LOOKING IN THIS FOREST
FOR 7-FOOT WOODEN POSTS USED
TO MARK THIS CLAIM 40 YEARS AGO.
Todd: YOU FIND ONE?
HOW LONG DID YOU SAY
THIS RUNS?
I SEE A RIBBON
TIED DOWN THERE.
THE POSTS WILL OUTLINE AN AREA
THAT LANDOWNER GREG McNEIL
BELIEVES HOLDS MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN GOLD.
THERE IT IS,
I THINK, MAYBE.
NOPE. THAT IS NOT IT.
Todd: SOMEBODY ELSE'S.
Narrator: AT THE START
OF THEIR SECOND MINING SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW LOST
THEIR PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM
TO RIVAL DAKOTA FRED.
THE DAKOTA BOYS OWN
PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM.
I'M GONNA MINE THIS CLAIM
THIS YEAR.
THE HOFFMANS HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO HEAD NORTH
TO THE KLONDIKE
AND, IN THE MIDDLE
OF A MODERN-DAY GOLD RUSH,
FINALLY SECURED A NEW CLAIM...
THIS IS QUARTZ CREEK.
AWESOME.
Narrator: ...A GOLD CLAIM
WITH VIRGIN GROUND.
IT'S NEVER BEEN TOUCHED
BY ANY KIND OF MACHINE, EVER.
BUT QUARTZ CREEK
IS A BIG RISK.
THE HOFFMANS HAVE NO TIME
TO TEST THE CLAIM'S SOIL
FOR GOLD.
THEIR DREAM NOW RESTS
ON THE WORD
OF CLAIM OWNER GREG McNEIL.
AT SOME POINT, WE'VE GOT TO
TRUST SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE.
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME.
Todd: I GOT A FEELING
IT'S RIGHT HERE.
THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS ALREADY 21 DAYS
INTO THE 150-DAY SEASON.
TODD HAS TO MAP HIS NEW CLAIM
BEFORE HE CAN EVEN MOVE IN
HIS EQUIPMENT.
THERE'S A COUPLE MORE FLAGS
OVER HERE.
McNeil: MAN, OH, MAN.
I SHOULD HAVE CAME OVER HERE
AND LOCATED THIS THING.
IT'S GONNA BE REAL CLOSE.
HEY, DAVE! GREG!
COME HERE!
McNeil: YEAH, I'M THINKING
THAT MIGHT BE OURS.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW GET
THEIR FIRST BREAK OF THE SEASON.
McNeil:
THIS IS POST NUMBER 1.
AND, THEN, STRAIGHT UP THE HILL
WILL BE NUMBER 2.
I'M GONNA WALK STRAIGHT
THROUGH HERE
AND SEE IF I CAN FIND
THAT OTHER POST.
Turin: I THINK THAT'S IT.
Todd: THERE WE GO.
THIS IS LOOKING GOOD.
McNeil: THERE IT IS.
RIGHT THERE.
NUMBER 2.
SO, HERE'S WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE
GOT -- ALL THE WAY UP TO HERE.
YOU HAVE ALMOST --
ABOUT A MILE.
Turin: HOLY CRAP.
SO, THAT'S SEVERAL YEARS' WORTH
OF MINING RIGHT THERE.
SEVERAL YEARS.
MM-HMM.
Narrator:
THE HOFFMANS' NEW LAND
COVERS TWO
500-BY-1,000-FOOT CLAIMS.
THEY WILL MINE THE GROUND
EAST OF THE CREEK,
WHERE THEY HOPE
THE VIRGIN GROUND IS.
AND ON THE WEST SIDE
OF THE CREEK,
THEY'LL CLEAR THE LAND AND
MOVE IN THEIR MINING EQUIPMENT.
WE'RE MINING HERE.
CAMP'S THERE.
WE'RE READY TO GO.
AND THIS IS GOOD STUFF.
THIS IS GOOD STUFF.
I THINK
WE'VE GOT A PLAN.
YEP. WE'VE GOT A PLAN.
600 MILES SOUTH
IN PORCUPINE CREEK, ALASKA,
DAKOTA FRED LOOKS OVER
THE HOFFMANS' OLD WASH PLANT.
GOLD MINING'S GOT A LOT TO DO
WITH DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
AND WHOEVER'S RUNNING THE SHOW,
THEIR OPINION
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
Narrator: FRED BOUGHT THE WASH
PLANT AND OTHER EQUIPMENT
FROM THE HOFFMANS FOR $80,000
WHEN THEY ABRUPTLY LEFT
PORCUPINE EARLIER IN THE SEASON.
BUT FRED IS NOT A FAN.
Fred: AND I'LL BE HAPPY
TO BE RID OF IT.
Narrator:
FROM THE MOMENT FRED ARRIVED
AT PORCUPINE CREEK LAST SEASON,
HE WANTED TO ALTER
THE HOFFMANS' WASH PLANT.
HE CLASHED
WITH MECHANIC JAMES HARNESS.
BUT NOW YOU [BLEEP]
DESTROYED THIS THING.
I TOTALLY,
ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE.
NOW THAT HE HAS
TAKEN OVER PORCUPINE,
HE WANTS TO LOSE THE HOFFMAN
WASH PLANT ALTOGETHER.
WE JUST FEEL
THIS IS WAY TOO INEFFICIENT,
TOO PRONE TO BREAK DOWN.
WE'RE GONNA GO WITH OUR SYSTEM.
Narrator:
ALREADY 22 DAYS INTO THE SEASON,
FRED HAS TO START MINING.
HE HAS A RADICAL PLAN
TO OVERHAUL THE MINE.
FELLAS, WE GOT SOME BIG NEWS
THIS MORNING.
WE'RE TAKING ALL THIS CRAP
OUT OF HERE.
I DON'T WANT
NOTHING LEFT!
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
MOVE EVERYTHING.
Zuck: OUT WITH THE HOFFMANS
AND IN WITH THE DAKOTA BOYS.
YEAH!
FIRST ON THE LIST, THE SHAKER,
BUT HOLDING IT IN PLACE
IS A STEEL BULKHEAD.
IT'S BURIED DEEP IN THE DIRT
AND SECURED WITH STEEL CABLE.
IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE
WITHOUT A LOT OF WORK.
Fred:
THERE'S A COUPLE LITTLE CABLES
TIED AROUND THIS THING.
PROBABLY GONNA
HAVE TO DIG IT OUT.
Zuck: CUT CLEAR?
YES, SIR.
Narrator: THE FOUR SIDES OF
THE BULKHEAD ARE DISCONNECTED.
NOW THEY NEED
TO REMOVE THE FRONT
TO SLIDE THE SHAKER OUT.
BUT FRED AND RIGGER DARREN
ARE GETTING NOWHERE
WITH THEIR SHOVELS.
JUST WASTING TIME.
FRED TAKES CHARGE AND JUMPS
INTO THE 270 EXCAVATOR.
HOLD UP, FRED!
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?
FRED DECIDES
TO USE BRUTE FORCE.
JUST RUN THE CHAIN UNDERNEATH IT
SO WHEN HE PULLS ON IT,
IT SHOULD PULL IT STRAIGHT OUT,
I'M HOPING, IN THEORY.
HOOK UP THE CHAIN.
Narrator: THE CHAIN'S BREAKING
POINT IS 2,000 POUNDS.
BUT THE CREW HAS NO IDEA
JUST HOW DEEP THE BULKHEAD
IS BURIED.
A CHAIN IS ONLY AS STRONG
AS ITS WEAKEST LINK.
IF A CHAIN HAS BEEN STRETCHED,
THEN, YOU KNOW,
SOMEWHERE IN THAT CHAIN
THAT WEAKEST LINK IS GONNA
BE THE FIRST THING TO SNAP.
ARE YOU GUYS READY?!
IF YOU GET HIT
WITH A CHAIN THAT SNAPS,
IT WILL VERY EASILY
TAKE A LEG COMPLETELY OFF.
I MEAN, IT WILL CUT THE MEAT,
THE BONES, THE TENDONS,
EVERYTHING.
ALL RIGHT!
EVERYBODY SET?!
Zuck: LET'S GO!
KEEP COMING!
[ CREAKING ]
IS THAT CHAIN GONNA --
HOLD ON.
[ CREAKING CONTINUES ]
OHH!
WHAT'D YOU BREAK?
THE CHAIN?
DAMN.
THAT DIDN'T WORK SO WELL.
AH!
PULL THAT CHAIN
OUT OF THERE!
Narrator:
THE CHAIN JUST MISSES DARREN.
THE BULKHEAD DIDN'T BUDGE,
AND FRED REVERTS TO
THE SLOW BUT SAFER APPROACH.
WE SHOULD DIG IT OUT.
BUT INSTEAD OF SHOVELS,
THIS TIME THEY USE THE 270.
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
ALL RIGHT, DUSTIN!
DRAG SOME IRON OUT THERE!
HERE WE GO!
[ CHAIN CREAKING ]
[ METAL SCRAPING ]
IN NO TIME AT ALL,
THE 270 EXCAVATOR
EASILY DRAGS OUT
THE 25,000-POUND SHAKER.
JUST WALK IT
OVER TO THE JUNK PILE.
WHILE HE DOESN'T PLAN
TO USE IT,
FRED DOES PLAN
TO SELL THE WASH PLANT.
FRED NEEDS THE CASH.
EVERY DAY HE DOESN'T FIND GOLD,
HE LOSES MONEY.
WHILE DAKOTA FRED EXORCISES
THE DEMONS OF LAST YEAR,
PARKER SCHNABEL'S OPERATION
ACROSS THE CREEK,
THE BIG NUGGET MINE, IS RUNNING.
I TRY TO DO FIVE LOADS AN HOUR,
BUT USUALLY
I DON'T GET THAT MANY.
Narrator:
THE DIRT RUNNING THROUGH
PARKER'S PLANT IS TAILINGS,
MATERIAL THAT HIS GRANDPA
DISCARDED 20 YEARS AGO.
RUNNING THE OLD TAILINGS
IS ALL PART OF HIS MASTER PLAN
TO TURN THE MINE AROUND.
Parker: OH. OH.
HERE WE GO.
IT'S WORKING.
THEY'RE GETTING BIGGER.
Narrator: THREE WEEKS AGO,
16-YEAR-OLD PARKER
TOOK OVER THE MINE
FROM HIS 91-YEAR-OLD GRANDPA.
[ LAUGHS ]
THANKS, GRANDPA.
HIS FIRST DECISION, TO RECYCLE
OLD TAILINGS, WAS RISKY.
HOPEFULLY THERE'S A PILE OF GOLD
SITTING IN THERE SOMEWHERE.
Narrator: BUT AFTER ONLY ONE DAY
RUNNING THE OLD MATERIAL,
HE FOUND GOLD.
Parker: THAT'S NICE.
TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY.
3/5 OF AN OUNCE,
WHICH IS ABOUT $800.
BUT PARKER NEEDS A LOT MORE GOLD
TO TURN A PROFIT
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE.
JULY 1st,
I'M GONNA RUN OUT OF MONEY.
SO IT'S KIND OF IMPORTANT
TO HAVE A GOOD MONTH HERE.
Narrator:
AT THE END OF ANOTHER DAY,
THE CREW HAS RUN DIRT
FOR EIGHT HOURS,
BUT THERE'S STILL A PILE
OF TAILINGS TO LOAD.
Parker: THERE'S NO SENSE
IN DOING STUFF AROUND HERE
THAT CAN BE DONE
WHILE THE PLANT'S RUNNING,
WHEN THERE'S OTHER WORK
TO BE DONE.
YOU TWO, YOU GUYS HAVE
A HALF-HOUR, DON'T YOU?
Narrator: THIS CREW HAS ANSWERED
TO GRANDPA JOHN FOR 10 YEARS.
PARKER IS FINDING IT HARD
TO EARN THEIR RESPECT.
YEAH, YOU CAN RUN
THE EXCAVATOR.
AND, GARY,
YOU CAN RUN THE TRUCK.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
I GUESS THAT'S A "NO."
[BLEEP]
MAKES ME NOT FEEL LIKE THE BOSS.
Narrator:
IT IS 22 DAYS INTO THE SEASON,
AND IF PARKER CAN'T WIN OVER
HIS CREW SOON,
HE'LL NEVER TURN BIG NUGGET
AROUND.
UP AHEAD, YOUNG PARKER
SHOWS UP HIS MINING ELDERS...
THAT NUGGET'S
1/3 OF AN OUNCE.
...DAKOTA FRED
GETS SWEET JUSTICE,
FINDING GOLD IN DIRT
THE HOFFMANS LEFT BEHIND...
Dustin: YEAH!
PUSH SOME OF THAT F'ing ROCK
INTO THE FREAKING HOLE.
...AND AFTER FALLING
FURTHER BEHIND
IN THEIR MAKE-OR-BREAK
MINING SEASON,
FATHER AND SON
HAVE A BIG FALLING-OUT...
HE'S FRUSTRATING.
...FORCING JACK
TO CALL IT QUITS.
I'M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON
THAT YOU PUSH AROUND.
OKAY, GUYS.
THIS IS THE BIG ONE.
IF YOU HAVE TO, SLOW IT DOWN.
Narrator:
UP NORTH IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN HEADS TO HIS
GOLD CLAIM AT QUARTZ CREEK.
HEADS UP.
THERE'S A BIG ROCK STICKING OUT.
Be careful.
[ SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY ]
Narrator:
WITH TODD'S NEW GOLD CLAIM
MAPPED OUT
AND READY TO BE MINED,
HE LEADS TRUCKER TOM FENTON
ALONG A TREACHEROUS MOUNTAIN
ROAD DOWN TO THE CLAIM.
[ HORN HONKS ]
TOM IS HAULING
A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
THAT IS KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS.
Todd: I'M LIKING
THE LOOKS OF IT SO FAR.
THE THING LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.
THIS IS IT, HUH?
Narrator:
IN THE OFF-SEASON...
THIS IS IT.
...TODD BOUGHT A D8 DOZER
TO CLEAR THE LAND.
IT COST $37,000.
MAN, WE'LL TAKE IT.
OKAY. VERY GOOD.
IT PUT TODD
EVEN DEEPER IN THE HOLE,
BUT THIS YEAR
TODD HAS TO FIND GOLD,
OR THE DREAM IS OVER.
Todd:
WE'LL GET THE GOLD IN THE END.
WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP THE FAITH.
Narrator:
THE HOFFMANS HAVE LOST
23 DAYS OF THE MINING SEASON.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE D8
IS A WELCOME SIGHT.
Todd:
YEAH, IT FEELS GOOD.
I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
I WAS REALLY MINING
UNTIL I ACTUALLY GET
THE DOZER HERE.
Narrator: RUNNING THE D8
WILL COST TODD HUNDREDS
OF DOLLARS EVERY DAY.
Todd:
THAT...IS SWEET.
Narrator:
THE PRESSURE IS ON.
Jack: IT'S A DO-OR-DIE SITUATION
FOR A LOT OF THESE GUYS...
AND FOR ME, ALSO.
YOU KNOW, I WANT IT TO WORK.
AND IF WE DON'T GET GOLD
THIS TIME, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
Narrator: CHAMPING AT THE BIT,
JACK STARTS UP THE D8.
THE LAND ON THE WEST SIDE
OF QUARTZ CREEK
NEEDS TO BE CLEARED
SO THEY CAN SET UP THE WASH
PLANT NEAR THE VIRGIN GROUND.
BUT AFTER AN HOUR,
THE GROUND STILL ISN'T FLAT.
IT'S A MESS.
Todd:
MY DAD'S NOT A PLANNER.
HE'S UP THERE. HE'S PIVOTING.
HE DID A 360 OVER THERE.
HE CAME OVER HERE.
HE DUG THIS HOLE HERE.
HE DUG HERE.
HE CAN'T JUST GET ON THERE
'CAUSE IT'S FUN TO DRIVE IT.
WE ALL WANT TO DO THAT,
BUT NOT THIS YEAR.
SO, TOUGH.
I'M NOT PUTTING UP WITH IT.
[ ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]
PLEASE TELL ME
YOU'RE DONE.
THERE'S A BIG,
SOFT HOLE THERE,
AND YOU'RE BACK-DRAGGING IT,
MAKING IT NICE AND PRETTY.
GREAT. PUSH SOME OF THAT F'ing
ROCK INTO THE FREAKING HOLE.
THEN, GET THE FRICK
OUT OF HERE.
YOU KNOW, I'LL SHOVE ROCK
OVER THERE.
GREG'S COMING OVER,
AND THEN YOU GET OFF.
THERE'S NO RHYME
OR REASON.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU.
LISTEN,
THAT IS A FROZEN HOLE.
NO SHOOT, SHERLOCK!
AND YOU'RE IN THERE
PIVOTING ON IT!
GO AHEAD.
I DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP]
HE'LL SCREW IT UP.
I LOVE YOU, DAD.
I JUST -- YOU'RE DONE.
I NEED GREG TO TAKE OVER.
GO REST YOUR BACK.
Narrator:
THE PRESSURE TO GET MINING
HAS DRIVEN A WEDGE
BETWEEN FATHER AND SON.
IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.
[ DOOR SLAMS ]
Jack:
TODD AND I BOTH OWN THAT D8.
IT SHOWS DISRESPECT, YOU KNOW,
TO TELL ME
THAT I CAN'T USE MY OWN PIECE
OF EQUIPMENT, YOU KNOW?
I SAY SCREW HIM.
Narrator:
WHILE JACK COOLS OFF,
GREG REMSBURG TAKES OVER.
Todd: I LOVE MY DAD.
I'M NOT TRYING TO GET MEAN,
BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE A --
WE LAY OUT A PLAN,
AND WE'VE GOT TO STICK TO IT.
Narrator: WITHOUT WARNING,
JACK LOADS UP
AND SPEEDS OFF THE CLAIM.
Jack: TODD AND I --
WE'VE HAD OUR UPS AND DOWNS.
BUT I'M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON
THAT YOU PUSH AROUND.
YOU KNOW,
I WILL NOT HAVE DISRESPECT.
YOU KNOW,
I WON'T PUT UP WITH IT.
YOU KNOW, AND IT WON'T CARRY ON.
IT'S BETTER
FOR ME TO JUST LEAVE.
Narrator:
WHILE THE HOFFMAN CREW IMPLODES,
600 MILES SOUTH
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,
PARKER SCHNABEL
RALLIES HIS CREW.
24 HOURS AFTER THEY IGNORED
HIS ORDER TO RUN DIRT,
PARKER PROPOSES A PLAN
TO BOOST PROFITS.
I THINK MY GRANDPA'S ALWAYS
GIVEN YOU A $2-AN-HOUR BONUS
AT THE END OF THE YEAR
IF YOU STAY THE SEASON.
MM-HMM.
AND I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND
KEEP THAT POLICY AS MINIMUM.
IF WE HAVE A GOOD SEASON,
WE'LL DO A 10% PROFIT SHARE.
SO 5% FOR EACH OF YOU.
COOL.
IT REALLY GIVES US
A GOOD INCENTIVE
TO WORK.
THAT MAKES IT A CHALLENGE
TO SEE IF WE CAN
STRIKE SOMETHING GOOD.
I THINK THAT IT WILL MAKE
A BIG DIFFERENCE.
I THINK THAT WE'LL SEE THEM
TAKE IT A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL
AND TRY TO MAKE US SOME MONEY.
Narrator: IN JUST FOUR DAYS,
PARKER WILL DO
HIS WEEKLY CLEAN-OUT.
HIS CREW WASTES NO TIME
LOADING MORE OF THE 20-YEAR-OLD
TAILINGS THEY KNOW HOLD GOLD.
IT IS MORNING AT QUARTZ CREEK,
AND JACK IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.
Turin: LORD, THANKS
FOR ANOTHER DAY.
I JUST ASK THAT YOU'D KEEP
JACK SAFE ON THE ROAD.
Todd:
I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY DAD WENT.
HE GOT MAD AT ME LAST NIGHT.
I THINK I MIGHT HAVE BEEN
A LITTLE DISRESPECTFUL TO HIM,
AND I FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT.
BUT, UH...
MAYBE I WAS RIGHT,
BUT I PROBABLY DID IT
IN THE WRONG WAY.
I ASK THAT YOU GIVE TODD
STRENGTH AS OUR LEADER.
THANKS FOR THIS DAY.
IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
AMEN.
AMEN.
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE,
YOU KNOW?
THIS IS IT.
SO I WANT IT DONE RIGHT.
IT'S FOR HIM, YOU KNOW?
NOT JUST FOR ME.
IT'S HIS DREAM.
Narrator: JIM THURBER
HEADS OFF TO FIND JACK.
Thurber:
TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF JACK,
AND I'LL TRY TO CALM HIM DOWN
AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT WENT ON.
AND, I MEAN,
WE'VE GOT TO RESOLVE IT.
IT WOULD BE A TOTAL DISASTER
IF HE LEAVES.
Narrator: JIM FACES FORECLOSURE
ON HIS HOME IN OREGON
IF HE DOESN'T FIND GOLD
THIS YEAR.
THIS IS MY LIVELIHOOD.
WE'RE ALL LIVING HERE AND
GOT TO DEAL WITH THIS STUFF.
BUT HOPEFULLY
I CAN TALK HIM DOWN.
Narrator:
BUT IT MAY BE TOO LATE.
JACK HAS SPENT THE NIGHT
45 MILES AWAY
IN A DAWSON CITY MOTEL.
[ DOG BARKS ]
TODD AND I HAVE
OUR UPS AND DOWNS,
BUT, YOU KNOW,
AS FAR AS IT GOES,
IF IT TURNS INTO A CONFLICT
WHERE I'M GONNA
BE SO PISSED OFF AT HIM,
YOU KNOW,
OR HE GETS PISSED OFF AT ME,
YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT GONNA STAY THERE.
Narrator: IT'S JACK'S DREAM
TO STRIKE IT RICH
MINING FOR GOLD.
TODD AND THE REST OF THE CREW
LEFT THEIR LIVES BEHIND
TO FOLLOW HIM.
THEY FOUND ALMOST NOTHING
LAST SEASON
AND ARE 24 DAYS INTO THE SECOND
SEASON WITH NO GOLD IN SIGHT.
IF JACK AND TODD CAN'T SETTLE
THEIR DIFFERENCES,
THIS COULD BE
THE END OF THE ROAD.
Zuck: OUT WITH THE OLD,
IN WITH THE NEW.
Narrator: IN PORCUPINE CREEK,
DAKOTA FRED AND HIS CREW
REMOVE THE OLD TROMMEL.
Fred:
IT'S JUST TOO INEFFICIENT,
TOO WIMPY FOR WHAT
WE'RE GONNA BE DOING.
Narrator: IT'S THE LAST PIECE
OF THE HOFFMANS' WASH PLANT.
IT'S NOW HISTORY,
AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED.
IT'S OUT OF HERE.
CRANK THAT DUDE UP!
THERE.
WATCH IT, WATCH IT, WATCH IT.
Zuck: YEP, YEP.
I'M WATCHING.
Narrator: FRED PLANS
TO PUT IN HIS OWN SYSTEM,
BUT HIS NEW WASH PLANT IS STILL
ON THE WAY UP TO THE CLAIM.
THE ONLY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
HE HAS AT PORCUPINE
IS A SMALL CLEAN-OUT TROMMEL.
BUT IT JUST MIGHT BE ENOUGH
TO GET FRED STARTED.
Fred: NOW WE'RE JUST SETTING UP
THIS CLEAN-UP TROMMEL.
WE'VE GOT
OUR HOUSEKEEPING STUFF DONE,
AND WE'RE READY
TO SEE SOME GOLD STUFF.
Narrator: FRED FOUND DIRT IN THE
HOFFMANS' JUNKED WASH PLANT --
PAY DIRT THAT TODD AND JACK
DIDN'T PROCESS
BEFORE THEY LEFT THE CLAIM.
THE HOFFMANS LEFT US
A LITTLE GIFT,
A LITTLE HOUSEWARMING GIFT,
IN THIS MATERIAL.
AND MAYBE THERE'S
A LITTLE GOLD IN THERE.
Dustin: THIS IS FREE GOLD
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING
TO GET TO IT.
WE'RE JUST GONNA PROCESS IT.
THIS IS JUST LEFTOVER,
SITTING-AROUND STUFF.
Fred: THERE MAY BE
A LITTLE GOLD IN THERE.
Narrator: WITH CREW ON-SITE,
FRED'S BURNING $700 A DAY.
HE NEEDS GOLD,
AND RUNNING DIRT
THE HOFFMANS DIDN'T PROCESS
COULD BE A QUICK FIX.
WHILE FRED GETS SET
TO RUN THE HOFFMANS' DIRT,
TODD AND JACK'S DREAM
OF STRIKING IT RICH
IS IN JEOPARDY.
NOW 25 DAYS INTO THE SEASON,
THEY ARE NOWHERE CLOSE
TO MINING.
AS TODD LEVELS THE GROUND,
JACK IS STILL NOT ON THE CLAIM.
IT HAS BEEN 24 HOURS
SINCE HE ABRUPTLY LEFT.
I HOPE HE DIDN'T HEAD HOME
OR SOMETHING
'CAUSE HE GETS...
TO WHERE HE KIND OF GOES
HIS OWN WAY.
THIS IS HIS DREAM, YOU KNOW?
SO, IT'S BECOME
ALL OF OUR DREAM, TOO,
AND IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT
IF WE WENT AHEAD WITHOUT HIM.
Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS YET TO SEE
A FLAKE OF GOLD THIS SEASON,
AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
I DON'T WANT TO LOOK
BACK AND SAY, "WELL,
WE COULD HAVE DONE THAT."
Narrator:
BUT FINALLY...
...JIM THURBER RETURNS
FROM HIS TRIP TO FIND JACK,
AND HE'S NOT ALONE.
WELL, I'M GONNA GO TALK
TO TODD.
WE'RE GONNA
PUT AN END TO THIS.
IF THE HOFFMANS' CREW
HAS ANY CHANCE
OF GETTING BACK ON TRACK,
TODD AND JACK HAVE TO RESOLVE
THEIR DIFFERENCES.
[ ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]
HEY, YOUR POP --
HE'S WAITING FOR YOU.
YOU GUYS NEED TO TALK.
I'LL BE OVER THERE
IN A LITTLE WHILE,
AS SOON
AS I GET DONE HERE.
ALL RIGHT.
FOR JIM, IT'S ESPECIALLY HARD
TO SEE JACK AND TODD FIGHT.
I BROUGHT YOU
SOME FOOD!
[ Voice breaking ]
WELL, IT'S PRETTY TOUGH
TO SEE A FATHER AND SON
DO WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.
THANK YOU FOR CARING,
YOU KNOW?
IT JUST BRINGS BACK...
MEMORIES
THAT I CAN'T FIX.
MM-HMM.
MM-HMM.
MY DAD AND I WERE
GONNA TALK THINGS OUT.
NEXT THING,
I GET A CALL FROM THE HOSPITAL
THAT MY DAD IS DYING
IN THE I.C.U.
YEP.
YOU GOT TO TAKE
THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SAY, YOU KNOW,
GET OVER IT ALL.
MIGHT NOT BE ANOTHER CHANCE,
YOU KNOW?
DON'T MEAN
TO GET IN YOUR BUSINESS,
BUT, UH,
IT AFFECTS ALL OF US, SO...
OH, I FEEL BAD THAT ME AND HIM
GOT IN A FIGHT, SO...
HEY, I JUST WANTED TO APOLOGIZE.
I DIDN'T --
I WAS A LITTLE OUT OF LINE
YESTERDAY
AND DISRESPECTED YOU,
AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO.
I JUST WANT TO GET --
I JUST WANT THIS DONE RIGHT.
LAST YEAR WAS BASICALLY
MOSTLY MY FAULT,
AND I'M NOT GONNA
LOSE AGAIN THIS YEAR.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
HERE'S THE WAY
I LOOK AT IT, TOO.
IF IT TURNS
INTO AN ARGUMENT,
I'M JUST GONNA WALK AWAY
'CAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT THAT.
IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
AND, SO, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S THE DEAL.
NO ARGUING.
I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
Todd:
YOU KNOW WHAT? I WAS PRETTY
DISRESPECTFUL TO MY FATHER.
I LOVE HIM,
AND WE LOVE EACH OTHER.
AND THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT
THAN STUPID GOLD MINING,
BUT GOLD MINING ISN'T STUPID.
Narrator:
WITH THINGS PATCHED UP FOR NOW,
TODD AND JACK HEAD
TO THE TRAILER.
IN JACK'S ABSENCE,
TODD HAS RUN THE NUMBERS.
HERE'S THE LONG
AND THE SHORT OF IT, DAD.
WE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES
LAST YEAR,
AND I DON'T WANT
TO DO THAT AGAIN.
I WANT US TO COME OUT OF HERE
WINNERS, YOU KNOW?
I DO TOO.
WE GOT TO RUN IT A LITTLE LEANER
AND A LITTLE MEANER.
THAT'S WHY I WANT
TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE
JUST TO BREAK EVEN.
SO, RUNNING COSTS,
I'M GUESSING AN AVERAGE
OF 1,000 BUCKS A DAY.
AND, THEN, I'M GUESSING
WE GOT 125 DAYS OF MINING.
SO, YOU'VE GOT $125,000.
WHAT DOES THAT FIGURE OUT
IN GOLD?
WHAT ARE WE GETTING?
YOU'RE LOOKING AT...
ABOUT 65 TO 70 OUNCES.
THAT WOULD WORK, YEAH.
BUT THAT'S JUST A MINIMUM,
YOU KNOW?
I KNOW.
THAT'S JUST RUNNING COSTS.
AND BEYOND THAT
IT'S JUST ALL PROFIT.
I'D LIKE TO GET WAY BEYOND,
YOU KNOW, 100 OUNCES.
THIS IS IT. I'VE THROWN
ALL MY CARDS IN THAT POT.
YEP. I'M WITH YOU.
SO, LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.
FOR THE HOFFMAN CREW
TO MAKE ANY MONEY THIS SEASON,
THEY NEED TO DIG UP
OVER 70 OUNCES IN GOLD
FROM THE QUARTZ CREEK CLAIM.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS...
THEY HAVE NO IDEA
WHERE THAT GOLD IS.
Narrator: UP AT QUARTZ CREEK
IN THE KLONDIKE,
THE RACE IS ON
TO GET TO THE GOLD.
THE HOFFMAN CREW
NEEDS AT LEAST 70 OUNCES,
AND THEIR SEASON
IS SLOWLY SLIPPING AWAY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
THEIR NEW $40,000 WASH PLANT
IS ON-SITE,
BUT IT'S ON THE WRONG SIDE OF
THE CLAIM.
TODD AND I GOT TO GRAB THE PLANT
AND DRAG IT DOWN
SO WE CAN PUT IT TOGETHER.
Narrator: THE WASH PLANT SITS
JUST OFF THE QUARTZ CREEK ROAD.
THE HOFFMANS HAVE TO MOVE IT
NEXT TO THE CREEK,
NEAR THE VIRGIN GROUND
THEY PLAN TO MINE.
THERE ARE 300 YARDS
OF ROCKY TERRAIN
TO ITS FINAL RESTING SPOT.
BUT JACK IS CONVINCED
THERE IS A SHORTER ROUTE
THROUGH MUD AND TREES.
24 HOURS
AFTER THEIR FALLING-OUT,
TODD AND JACK'S TRUCE
IS PUT TO THE TEST.
DAD, I KIND OF THINK WE SHOULD
GO THROUGH THE ROCKS, MAN.
NO, IT'LL GO
JUST FINE THERE.
THROUGH THAT MUCK?
I GUARANTEE IT.
THE DOZER BARELY
GETS THROUGH THERE.
NO, IT JUST GOES
RIGHT THROUGH.
WELL, WE'LL FIND OUT.
Jack: LET'S GET GOING.
Todd:
THIS IS A DIRECT PATH.
I TRIED TO TALK HIM
INTO GOING OVER THE ROCKS,
BUT HE SAID HE THINKS
IT'LL GO THROUGH HERE BETTER.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
HOLD UP.
HOLD UP.
STOP! STOP! STOP!
OH, MOTHER.
Jack:
CRAP. [ GROANS ]
WELL, THIS ISN'T WORKING
VERY WELL.
Narrator:
THE FRONT END OF THE WASH PLANT
GETS STUCK IN THE DEEP MUCK.
Todd: CAN YOU --
Jack: I GOT A...
HEY!
YOU GOT TO LIFT
THAT BLADE UP!
ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS LIFT
THIS ONE SIDE UP OVER HERE.
OKAY.
Narrator:
BUT THIS TIME,
FATHER AND SON
ARE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.
YOU WANTED TO KEEP
THAT BLADE HIGH,
SO GET IN
A LITTLE CLOSER.
OKAY.
STAND BACK.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
EVERYBODY CLEAR?
[ ENGINE REVS ]
THERE IT GOES.
NOW WE'RE GETTING
SOMEWHERE.
YES!
YEAH! [ LAUGHS ]
IT'S WORKING, MAN!
IT'S WORKING.
LOOK AT THAT.
I GUARANTEE YOU RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE THE ONLY IDIOTS
IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW
AT THIS POINT IN TIME
DRAGGING A WASH PLANT
THROUGH THE JUNGLE.
THIS ISN'T, LIKE,
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
FOR ANYTHING.
BRING IT OVER HERE!
Narrator: THE PLAN WORKS,
AND THE WASH PLANT
IS PUSHED THE LAST FEW YARDS
INTO ITS FINAL POSITION
FOR THE SEASON.
Todd: KEEP GOING!
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD
RIGHT THERE.
HOW'S THAT?
I LIKE IT.
THIS LOOKS
FRICKING SWEET.
Todd: BOY, I GOT TO BE HONEST
WITH YOU, I DIDN'T THINK
THAT THE MUDDY ROUTE
WAS GONNA WORK,
BUT THE OLD MAN PULLED IT OFF.
I NEED TO LEARN
HOW TO BE MORE OF AN ENCOURAGER
THAN JUST, YOU KNOW,
A COMPLAINER.
Narrator: AT PORCUPINE CREEK,
DAKOTA FRED IS CONVINCED
THERE'S A BIG PAYDAY IN THE DIRT
THE HOFFMANS LEFT BEHIND.
[ MOTOR SPUTTERING ]
BUT HIS WATER PUMP
IS NOT FITTING
HIS SMALL CLEAN-OUT TROMMEL.
WE HAVE ANOTHER PUMP.
PAUL'S LOOKING TO SEE IF HE CAN
MAKE SOME MODIFICATIONS.
HE'S UP THERE TRYING TO CHANGE
PARTS ON IT RIGHT NOW.
Narrator:
IT NEEDS A PART HE DOESN'T HAVE.
WITHOUT A WORKING PUMP,
FRED WON'T BE ABLE TO WASH
ANY GOLD FROM THE DIRT.
Fred: WE'RE LIVING OUT HERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS.
IT'S NOT LIKE
YOU CAN JUST RUN OVER
TO YOUR LOCAL HARDWARE STORE
AND PICK SOMETHING UP.
IT JUST --
IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
Narrator: FRED HEADS ACROSS
THE CREEK TO BIG NUGGET MINE
TO SEE IF 16-YEAR-OLD
PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS THE SPARE PART HE NEEDS.
WHAT'S UP?
YOU GOT IT RUNNING?
YEAH.
Fred: ALL RIGHT!
GOT IT MADE.
LOOK, MAN,
I NEED A FAVOR.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
YOU GOT ANYTHING LIKE AN
INCH-AND-A-QUARTER NIPPLE?
IT'S A GOLD MINE!
Narrator:
IN 25 YEARS OF MINING,
THE SCHNABELS HAVE AMASSED
A STOCKPILE OF PARTS.
LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT
RIGHT --
OH, THERE IT IS!
I THINK THAT'S
INCH-AND-A-QUARTER.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED
RIGHT THERE.
PERFECT.
PERFECT. GOT IT.
NO PROBLEM.
THANK YOU.
GOOD LUCK.
YOU GONNA BE RUNNING SOON?
NO, NOT RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE JUST TRYING
TO GET THINGS SET UP.
SEE YOU, FRED.
THANK YOU, NOW.
Parker:
FRED'S A GOOD GUY.
HE GETS HIMSELF IN TROUBLE
SOMETIMES,
BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY FRED IS.
SO, JUST BEING THAT CLOSE,
IT'S COMPETITIVE.
Dustin:
I'M HOPING TO SEE IT WORK,
AND I WANT TO SEE SOME GOLD
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
GOT IT.
Narrator:
PARKER'S PART FITS...
Fred: HERE WE GO.
[ MOTOR TURNS OVER ]
...AND THE WATER FINALLY FLOWS
THROUGH THE CLEAN-OUT TROMMEL.
Fred: WE FEED IT
IN THIS CHAMBER HERE.
IT GOES INTO AN INNER CHAMBER.
THEN IT GOES OUT
INTO AN OUTER CHAMBER,
COMES FORWARD, DROPS OUT,
AND GOES INTO THIS SLUICE BOX
RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: 25 DAYS INTO THE SHORT
ALASKAN MINING SEASON,
FRED AND HIS CREW
JUST MIGHT FIND
THEIR FIRST GOLD OF THE YEAR
IN A PILE
OF THE HOFFMANS' OLD DIRT.
AFTER THIS IS ALL OVER WITH,
WE'LL TAKE THAT CONCENTRATE
AND WE'LL PAN IT OUT.
WE HOPE IT'S GOT
A LITTLE GOLD IN IT, TOO.
Narrator:
27 DAYS INTO THE MINING SEASON,
PARKER SCHNABEL RUNS
THE LAST DIRT OF THE WEEK
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE.
Parker: IT'S FRIDAY TODAY,
SO WE'RE GONNA CLEAN OUT
THE WHOLE PLANT.
Narrator:
FOUR DAYS SINCE OFFERING
HIS CREW A PAY INCENTIVE,
THEY'VE LOADED 100 BUCKETS
OF GRANDPA'S OLD TAILINGS
INTO THE WASH PLANT.
I'M WASHING THE GOLD
OUT OF THE BEARINGS
THROUGH THE SCREEN
INTO THE PAN BELOW.
IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT
OF EYE PRACTICE
TO DISCERN THE GOLD
FROM THE YELLOW ROCKS.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT ENOUGH NOW
THAT I'M CONFIDENT
THAT I'M PICKING ALL OF IT.
Narrator: THIS IS PARKER'S
FIRST WEEKLY CLEAN-OUT
AS THE BOSS
OF THE BIG NUGGET MINE.
THERE'S GOLD THERE.
PARKER'S DECISION
TO RUN THE DIRT
HIS GRANDPA THREW AWAY
20 YEARS AGO
LOOKS LIKE IT'S PAYING OFF.
IT IS ADDICTIVE.
AFTER YOU SEE THE RESULTS
OF THE GOLD
COME OUT OF THE MATERIAL,
IT MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT.
I THINK THE PROFIT-SHARING THING
THIS YEAR
IS A VERY EXCITING THING
FOR US.
I THINK IT MAKES US
A GOOD TEAM.
THIS IS OUR FIRST FULL WEEK
OF RUNNING,
AND WE'VE GOTTEN 6 OR 7 OUNCES.
IN ONE WEEK,
WE'VE ALMOST GOTTEN HALF
OF WHAT THE HOFFMANS GOT
ALL YEAR.
SO, THAT'S NOT BAD.
Narrator: IN THEIR ROOKIE SEASON
OF MINING AT PORCUPINE CREEK,
THE HOFFMANS MADE JUST $20,000.
16-YEAR-OLD PARKER
HAS MADE ALMOST $11,000
IN JUST HIS FIRST WEEK.
HE'S ON TRACK
TO MAKE NEARLY $200,000
IN HIS FIRST FULL SEASON
AS THE BOSS
OF THE BIG NUGGET MINE.
WHILE PARKER COUNTS HIS GOLD,
THE HOFFMANS SCRAMBLE TO CATCH
UP BACK IN QUARTZ CREEK.
THEIR NEW WASH PLANT
IS STILL IN PIECES.
TODD POSITIONS
THE HYDRAULIC RIFFLES
THAT HE HOPES WILL COLLECT FINE
GOLD FROM THE DIRT THEY RUN.
IF I DROP ONE OF THESE...
WE'RE STRAIGHT SCREWED.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A WEEK OR TWO
TO REBUILD THIS.
Narrator: ANY MORE DELAYS,
AND THE SEASON COULD BE OVER.
THE HOFFMANS NEED
$1,000 A DAY IN GOLD
JUST TO COVER THEIR OPERATING
COSTS FOR THE YEAR.
Jack: YEAH, THIS IS ALL
THE STUFF I WANTED TO HAVE DONE
BEFORE WE BROUGHT THIS UP HERE,
BUT, YOU KNOW,
IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
WE DON'T HAVE EXTRA PARTS
UP HERE,
SO WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE
OF WHAT WE GOT.
Narrator:
TO ATTACH THE HYDRAULIC RIFFLES,
THE MINERS MUST LOWER PIPES
ON EITHER SIDE
INTO SEMICIRCULAR CUPS
ON THE WASH-PLANT FRAME.
THIS PIVOT POINT WILL ALLOW
FOR MOVEMENT AND SUPPORT
WHEN THE PLANT IS OPERATIONAL.
Todd: OKAY, STAY CLEAR.
Remsburg: COME UP, THURB.
COMING DOWN.
EASY.
KEEP COMING.
WHOA. WHOA.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
SLOW DOWN!
NOT QUITE.
WATCH IT. WATCH IT!
WHOA!
WHAT'S WRONG?
IT'S HITTING.
Narrator: THE PIPE CONNECTION
ON THE RIFFLE
IS HITTING THE SUPPORT BEAM
ON THE WASH PLANT.
WHY IN THE HECK...?
THE SUPPORT, OR I-BEAM,
IS PART OF THE FRAME
THAT GIVES THE WASH PLANT
ITS STRENGTH.
JACK COMES UP
WITH A RADICAL SOLUTION --
CUT OUT A CHUNK OF THE BEAM SO
THE RIFFLE CAN SLIDE INTO PLACE.
MY DAD'S DOING SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING.
WHAT'S HE DOING, GREG?
Remsburg: YOU'RE NOT GONNA
BE HAPPY WHEN YOU SEE IT.
IS IT GONNA HURT
THE MACHINE?
WELL, WE DIDN'T REALLY NEED
THE I-BEAMS ANYWAY, DID WE?
HE'S NOT CUTTING
INTO THE I-BEAMS.
THERE'S NO WAY.
Narrator:
CUTTING THE I-BEAM
COULD COMPROMISE THE WASH
PLANT'S STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY,
BUT JACK IS ON A MISSION.
WHAT THE FRICK?
THAT'S THE MAIN
I-BEAM THERE, DAD.
STOP.
I KNOW.
THAT LOOKS LIKE PART
OF THE STRUCTURE THERE.
I MEAN,
I'M NO ROCKET SCIENTIST,
BUT THAT'S
THE I-BEAM, DAD.
YEAH, NO KIDDING.
ANOTHER FALL-OUT
BETWEEN FATHER AND SON
COULD BE DISASTROUS
FOR THE CREW.
Todd: YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M JUST
NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING.
I'M JUST GONNA FORGET IT.
NOT GOOD.
IT LOOKS LIKE A FIASCO,
BUT FOR THE SAKE OF UNITY,
I'M NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING.
Narrator: IT IS 27 DAYS
INTO THE HOFFMAN CREW'S
SECOND MINING SEASON,
AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
TODD AND JACK HAVE TO GET
70 OUNCES OF GOLD
BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN THINK
OF TURNING A PROFIT,
BUT THEY CAN'T MINE
WITHOUT A WORKING WASH PLANT.
Todd: THAT'S THE MAIN I-BEAM
THERE, DAD. STOP.
THEY CAN'T FIT THEIR HYDRAULIC
RIFFLES INTO THE MACHINE.
NO, JUST LET HER DOWN.
LET'S -- OKAY.
I'M DOING GOOD.
I'M JUST GONNA BE CALM
AND TAKE HER EASY.
JACK STOPS CUTTING
INTO THE I-BEAM,
ONE OF THE WASH PLANT'S
MAIN SUPPORTS,
AS JIM THURBER
HAS ANOTHER SOLUTION.
Thurber: THAT ONE'S
JUST TOO FAR BACK.
TO MATCH THAT SIDE,
IT NEEDS TO BE 15-1/4".
ALL RIGHT, SO YOU WANT
TO CUT THIS OFF
AND MOVE IT BACK.
IF JIM IS RIGHT,
THE SHORT PIPE ON THE RIFFLE
IS IN THE WRONG PLACE.
JACK CUTS IT OFF.
1/4". HERE.
LET ME GET 15-1/4".
Todd:
OKAY. COMING UP.
COMING IN.
Thurber:
GETTING CLOSE, GREG?
Remsburg: YEP.
ABOUT TWO MORE INCHES IN.
[ METAL SCRAPES ]
WHEW.
Narrator: REWELDING THE PIPE
FURTHER FORWARD
ALLOWS THE HYDRAULIC RIFFLE
TO SLIP INTO PLACE.
THAT SHOULD DO IT.
IT TURNED INTO A BIGGER DEAL
THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT,
BUT IT'S ON THERE.
IT'S DONE. IT LOOKS GOOD.
IT'LL WORK.
Narrator: AT PORCUPINE CREEK,
DAKOTA FRED AND HIS CREW
HAVE PROCESSED THE DIRT
THE HOFFMANS LEFT BEHIND.
THEY PAN IT LOOKING
FOR THEIR FIRST PAYDAY.
Fred:
WATCH THIS TECHNIQUE HERE.
Narrator: FRED SHOWS GREENHORNS
DUSTIN AND DARREN HOW TO PAN...
ISN'T THAT MORE COMFORTABLE
USING BOTH HANDS?
IT'S KILLING YOU.
YOU CAN'T NOT TOUCH IT.
NO. NO.
I MEAN, LIKE THAT.
THERE YOU GO.
NOW YOU GOT SOMETHING GOING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.
I'M STARTING TO LEARN, THOUGH.
I DON'T WANT TO LET NOTHING
GET OVER THE EDGE ON ME.
Narrator:
...AND THEY BOTH LEARN FAST.
WHAT IS THIS?
Dustin:
DID YOU FIND SOMETHING?
I DID.
Fred: WHOA! THERE IT IS!
LOOK AT THAT.
A PICKER!
HOLY [BLEEP]
THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL
A PICKER.
YEAH!
THAT'S WHAT GOLD LOOKS LIKE
RIGHT THERE.
SO, THAT'S WHY
I'M HERE.
[ LAUGHS ]
BRING IT OUT HERE.
Narrator: THIS GOLD WILL
ONLY COVER COSTS FOR THE DAY,
BUT FINDING
THE FIRST GOLD OF THE SEASON
IN THE HOFFMANS' DIRT
IS SWEET FOR THE DAKOTA BOYS.
MAN, IT'S BEEN
A HARD DAY.
THAT WAS A GOOD ENDING
TO A HARD DAY, THOUGH.
YEAH, FOR YOU.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Dustin: LOOK, IT'S PARKER.
OH, WE'VE GOT A VISIT?
Zuck: YEP.
Dustin: PARKER'S GONNA SHOW US
WHAT THEY'VE BEEN COLLECTING.
OH, NO!
WHAT'S UP, THERE,
FELLOW MINER?
Narrator:
PARKER SCHNABEL STOPS BY
TO SHOW FRED AND HIS CREW
WHAT A REAL GOLD HAUL IS.
NOW, THAT'S --
THAT'S A NICE DIG.
THAT NUGGET'S
1/3 OF AN OUNCE.
I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GET
A PAN OF GOLD LIKE THAT,
OR EVEN IN A WEEK RIGHT NOW,
AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.
IT'S PRETTY ENCOURAGING
TO SEE A LOT OF GOLD OUT HERE
JUST UP THE CREEK.
HE'S COMING
WITH HIS NUGGET.
Narrator:
DAKOTA FRED AND HIS CREW MAY
HAVE HAD THEIR FIRST PAYDAY,
BUT THEY'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO
TO CATCH UP TO PARKER'S
SEVEN-OUNCE, ONE-WEEK HAUL.
600 MILES NORTH AT QUARTZ CREEK,
THE ONLY GOLD
THE HOFFMANS HAVE FOUND
IS IN THE PANS OF TODD'S SONS,
HUNTER AND HUDSON.
OH.
SEE THAT?
THAT'S A PIECE OF GOLD.
Narrator:
THE KIDS' GOLD IS PROOF THAT
THERE IS GOLD IN THIS GROUND,
BUT THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS STILL FAR FROM MINING IT.
Todd: I HAVE
A LOT OF PRESSURE ON ME
'CAUSE I'VE GOT TO MAKE
THIS BLUE WASH PLANT
MAKE US A LOT OF MONEY
THIS YEAR.
AND THERE'S MORE THAN JUST ME.
THERE'S A LOT OF GUYS AND A LOT
OF FAMILIES COUNTING ON US.
Narrator: THEY DRAGGED THEIR
WASH PLANT ACROSS THE CLAIM
AND ATTACHED
THE HYDRAULIC RIFFLES
BUT HAVEN'T CHECKED
ANY OF THE OTHER MOVING PARTS.
THEY MAY STILL BE WEEKS AWAY
FROM A CLEAN-OUT.
Jack: BASICALLY,
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE.
YOU KNOW,
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY,
AND WE'VE GOT TO DO WELL.
AND SO, IF WE DON'T MAKE IT
THIS SUMMER, WE'RE DONE.
Narrator: ABOUT TO BEGIN THEIR
FIFTH WEEK OF THE MINING SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS ONLY
SLIGHTLY CLOSER TO FINDING GOLD.
IN A MAKE-OR-BREAK YEAR,
THIS IS NOT WHERE ANY OF THESE
MEN HAD EXPECTED TO BE.
IF THERE'S NO GOLD HERE,
THAT MEANS
THAT I MAY BE STUCK HERE
IN THE YUKON, ME AND MY BOY.
YOU KNOW,
I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO GET HOME.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ME,
BUT THAT'S MY SITUATION.
YOU KNOW,
WHEN WE GO TO A NEW PLACE,
IT'S ALL A MATTER
OF GETTING SET UP.
AND, YOU KNOW,
IT TAKES SOME TIME.
I MIGHT LOSE HALF MY YEAR.
I MIGHT HAVE TO GO BACK HOME.
IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE ALREADY
THIS YEAR,
SO WE DON'T NEED MORE
OF A STRUGGLE.
Thurber: RIGHT NOW, THIS IS --
THIS IS REALLY IT.
THIS IS ALL I HAVE IN MY FUTURE.
Todd: YOU KIND OF FIND
THE MEASURE OF A MAN
WHEN THINGS ARE DOWN.
IT MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE LONGER
THAN I THOUGHT.
THERE WILL BE MAYBE
A FEW MORE FIGHTS.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN, MAN.