Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 2, Episode 5 - Drill or Die - full transcript
A crew rebellion forces Todd Hoffman to dig test holes on the claim. The tension mounts as they wait to see if they're sitting on a gold-rich paystreak or about to go bust.
Narrator:
IT'S THE HOFFMAN CREW'S
SECOND SEASON MINING FOR GOLD.
WE'RE READY TO GO.
Narrator:
AGAIN, THEY ARE RISKING IT ALL
TO STRIKE IT RICH
IN THE FROZEN NORTH.
IF WE DON'T GET GOLD THIS TIME,
WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
Narrator:
TO GET TO THE GOLD THIS SEASON,
THEY HAVE TO MINE
THE KLONDIKE WAY.
THEY'RE BATTLING
A SEA OF BLACK MUCK...
OH!
...TO FIND OUT IF THERE
IS ANY GOLD ON THEIR NEW CLAIM.
I'M FRICKIN' NERVOUS.
DOWN SOUTH AT PORCUPINE CREEK...
HOLY COW.
..."DAKOTA" FRED IS HIT
WITH DEVASTATING NEWS.
OUR HOUSE
IS GONNA GO UNDERWATER.
Narrator: AND 16-YEAR-OLD
PARKER SCHNABEL
DESPERATELY SEEKS
A NEW SOURCE OF GOLD.
OOH, WHAT'S THAT?
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK
IN THE KLONDIKE...
IT'S 45 DAYS
INTO THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON.
Todd:
LOOKS LIKE A BIG PILE OF MUD,
BUT I CAN SEE A PLAN
STARTING TO FORM, AND...
I DON'T KNOW.
WE'LL FIND OUT.
Narrator: DAVE TURIN PUSHES
ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF BLACK SLUDGE
OFF OF THE HOFFMAN DIG SITE
WITH THE D8 DOZER.
Turin:
WE GOT TO DO WHAT WE GOT TO DO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY
WE CAN GET IT OUT OF HERE.
Narrator: IF DAVE CAN REMOVE
8 FEET OF THIS MUCK,
HE SHOULD GET
TO THE GRAVEL LAYER
THAT THEY HOPE HOLDS MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS' WORTH OF GOLD.
Turin:
YEAH, IT'S WORKING PRETTY GOOD.
I MEAN,
I'M GETTING THE JOB DONE.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
ALREADY WASTED $5,000
STRIPPING AN AREA ON THE CLAIM
THEY LATER FOUND OUT
HAD BEEN MINED 60 YEARS AGO.
IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.
Narrator:
NOW, ON NEW GROUND,
THEY HAVE WON THE FIGHT AGAINST
CENTURIES-OLD PERMAFROST.
WHOA!
THERE WE GO!
THEY RIPPED IT UP...
THAT IS A BIG CHUNK
OF ICE.
...SO THAT IT CAN MELT
IN THE SUMMER SUN.
BUT THIS NEW GROUND IS UNTESTED,
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS NO IDEA
IF THERE IS GOLD HERE,
AND IT'S DANGEROUS WORK.
Turin:
THE SOIL IN THE YUKON -- I'VE
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
YOU SEE THAT SINKHOLE?
OH [BLEEP]
[ BEEPING ]
WHOA!
THIS IS NOT GOOD.
EASY.
EASY.
WHOA!
Narrator: THE BLACK MUCK
JUST ABOVE THE PAY GRAVEL
MELTS UNEVENLY,
CREATING HOLES
ACROSS THE DIG SITE.
THE D8, THE ONLY MACHINE THEY'VE
GOT TO GET DOWN TO THE GOLD,
IS SINKING IN AN 8-FOOT DITCH.
GREG REMSBURG
GETS DAVE'S S.O.S. CALL.
TURIN: Might --
Might need some help.
Remsburg: DAVE'S STUCK,
AND I GOT TO GO PULL HIM OUT!
Let's go.
Come on, let's go!
Right there.
Whoa, whoa.
Right there.
Pull back, pull back,
pull back, pull back.
Whoa!
AH!
I'M GONNA GO BACK
A LITTLE MORE.
Yeah, right there.
Go ahead.
WHAT A [BLEEP] DAY!
Narrator:
ON A DIG SITE 100 YARDS BY 50,
THERE MAY BE 15,000 TONS OF MUCK
TO MOVE
BEFORE THEY HIT PAY GRAVEL.
THIS IS TERRIBLE TO PUSH WITH.
IT'S TOO SOFT.
WHAT HAPPENS
IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN?
YEAH, I'M WITH YOU.
BUT HOW ARE WE GONNA DEAL
WITH THIS MESS?
Narrator:
1/3 OF THE WAY INTO THE SEASON,
EVERY DAY IS PRICELESS.
BEFORE THE CREW SPENDS MORE TIME
RISKING THEIR LIVES
CLEARING THE MUCK,
THEY WANT PROOF
THAT THE GOLD IS THERE.
BREAKING THE RULES.
YEAH, IT'S DANGEROUS.
IT'S RIDICULOUS.
SHOW ME SOMETHING THAT'S
TANGIBLE, THAT'S EVIDENCE.
YOU KNOW,
GIVE ME SOMETHING.
Todd: WE'LL GET
ON THE SAME PAGE, OKAY?
WE'RE NOT GONNA MOVE
AHEAD UNLESS EVERYBODY'S
ON THE SAME PAGE.
WELL, HE BETTER
HAVE SOMETHING.
I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE
GONNA BE ABLE TO STRIP
THAT AND RUN THAT.
BASED ON WHAT?
I'M WITH GREG.
I DON'T GO OFF OF FEELINGS.
I'M SORRY, JACK,
BUT SHOW ME SOMETHING, MAN.
YOU CAN'T JUST SAY,
"LET'S GO ON A FEELING."
Narrator: LAST SEASON
IN PORCUPINE CREEK,
JACK WAS CONVINCED THAT AT THE
BOTTOM OF HIS PRIZED GLORY HOLE,
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GOLD
WAS SITTING ON BEDROCK.
WE KNOW IT'S THERE.
ALL WE GOT TO DO IS GET IT.
Narrator:
THE CREW SPENT ALL SUMMER
AND $250,000 ON JACK'S HUNCH,
BUT THEY PULLED
ONLY $20,000 WORTH OF GOLD
OUT OF THE GLORY HOLE.
LAST YEAR,
WE SPENT THE WHOLE SUMMER
DIGGING ON A HOLE
BASED ON A FEELING,
A GUT FEELING.
AND THEN WE START STRIPPING HERE
ON A FEELING.
I AGREE WITH THESE GUYS.
BEFORE WE START MOVING, BEFORE
WE GO DOING SOMETHING ELSE,
I'D LIKE --
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE GOLD
BEFORE I
START GOING AFTER IT.
WELL,
HERE'S THE DEAL, DAD.
IF THESE GUYS
AREN'T ON BOARD,
I MEAN,
WE GOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
LET'S GO.
Remsburg: I JUST DON'T
WANT TO BE WILLY-NILLY
GOLD MINERS AGAIN THIS YEAR.
WE DID THAT LAST YEAR
AND LOST OUR ASS.
I NEED TO SEE SOMETHING.
I NEED TO FEEL IT.
IT HAS TO BE TANGIBLE,
HAS TO BE SOMETHING
I CAN SEE, FEEL, AND TOUCH.
IT TOOK US A WHOLE SEASON
LAST YEAR
UNTIL WE FINALLY GOT INTO STUFF,
AND THEN WE HAD IT TAKEN AWAY
FROM US,
AND I DON'T
WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN.
WE GOT AN ISSUE.
I GOT TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
I GOT TO GO SOUTH
AND TAKE CARE OF IT.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS LAID DOWN THE LAW.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RISK
THEIR LIVES
UNTIL THEY ARE SURE THERE IS
GOLD UNDER THE 8 FEET OF MUCK.
TO GET THE PROOF HE NEEDS,
TODD NEEDS HELP.
HE HEADS TO SEE A KLONDIKE MINER
WHO'S WORKED THE BLACK MUCK
FOR 20 YEARS.
Todd: I NEED HIM.
WE'LL JUST SEE
WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
JUST...
THIS OUGHT TO BE GOOD.
Narrator: 600 MILES SOUTH
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...
DAKOTA FRED PLANS TO RUN DIRT
ON AN UNTESTED MACHINE
HIS SON, DUSTIN,
HAS NICKNAMED "THE BEAST."
THE BEAST IS PRETTY POWERFUL.
SO I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
SO WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT
IF IT WORKS.
Fred: FIRE IT UP!
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
Narrator:
EVER SINCE DAKOTA FRED REMOVED
THE HOFFMANS' OLD WASH PLANT...
GET THAT THING OUT OF HERE!
...THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE BEEN
DIALING IN THEIR NEW DEROCKER.
IT'S HERE NOW, AND WE'RE
GONNA PUT IT INTO ACTION.
Narrator:
THEY'RE BANKING ON THE DEROCKER
TO EXTRACT THE GOLD
FROM PORCUPINE CREEK DIRT.
I NEED TO SEE SOME GOLD,
KEEP MY BILLS RUNNING.
Narrator: AFTER 40 DAYS,
FRED AND HIS SON, DUSTIN,
ARE FINALLY READY TO RUN DIRT
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
BRANDING THE BEAST.
THIS IS OUR DAKOTA BOYS MARK.
AND FIRE WATER PUMP UP.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
Dustin: I THINK IT'S GONNA WORK
JUST PERFECT, FRED.
YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK?
Fred: I THINK I'M READY TO RUN
DIRT RIGHT NOW.
I'M GONNA JUST THROW SOME
IN THERE
JUST TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON,
SEE HOW IT ACTS,
SEE IF IT'S DOING
WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO.
Narrator: FRED LOADS HIS FIRST
BUCKET OF DIRT OF THE SEASON.
THE DEROCKER IS DESIGNED TO WASH
GOLD-RICH DIRT FROM BOULDERS.
THE MATERIAL FLOWS
ALONG THE WAVY DECK
WHILE JETS WASH THE ROCKS.
ANY GOLD FALLS
INTO THE SLUICE BOXES BELOW.
BUT FRED HAS NEVER RUN DIRT
THROUGH A MACHINE LIKE THIS
BEFORE.
THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE NO IDEA
IF THE DEROCKER
CAN HANDLE THE LARGE
PORCUPINE CREEK BOULDERS.
BETTER GET BACK.
HEY, DUST! ANOTHER BIG ONE
COMING THROUGH -- A BIG ONE!
I THINK IT'S GONNA FILL UP
AND THEN JUST...
START FALLING OFF, I HOPE.
* DA DA DA *
Narrator:
AFTER A TENSE MOMENT,
THE DAKOTA BOYS' NEW DEROCKER
IS WORKING PERFECTLY.
THIS IS AWESOME.
THIS IS...
IS A GREAT SENSE
OF ACCOMPLISHMENT RIGHT NOW.
IT REALLY FEELS GOOD --
EXHILARATING.
I FEEL CHARGED RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: UP AHEAD...
TODD SEEKS HELP
FROM A KLONDIKE LEGEND
TO LOCATE THE GOLD
AT QUARTZ CREEK.
DUDE, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M DOING.
PARKER SCHNABEL WAGES WAR...
COME ON!
...AGAINST
CENTURY-OLD MINING EQUIPMENT.
LOOK AT THAT BEAST!
Narrator: AND DAKOTA FRED
AND HIS SON, DUSTIN...
START.
...HIT ONE BRICK WALL
AFTER ANOTHER.
I'VE JUST NEVER SEEN
SO MANY THINGS GO WRONG.
Narrator:
IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN IS ON THE HUNT
FOR INFORMATION.
TO CRUSH A CREW REBELLION
AT QUARTZ CREEK,
HE HAS TO PROVE THAT
UNDER 8 FEET OF THICK MUCK...
THERE'S GOLD.
THERE'S AN OFFICE RIGHT THERE.
Narrator:
TODD'S BROUGHT DAVE
TO MEET NEIGHBORING MINER
DUTCHMAN TONY BEETS.
HEY, MY NAME'S TODD.
YEAH, I FIGURED THAT ONE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YEAH.
TONY BEETS.
TONY.
YEAH.
GOOD TO MEET YOU.
Turin: HEY, TONY.
HEY.
Narrator:
TONY RUNS TAMARACK MINE,
A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR
GOLD-MINING CORPORATION.
Todd: I GOT TO GET SOME HELP
FROM THIS GUY.
I'D RATHER DO IT ONCE
AND DO IT RIGHT.
THIS GUY KNOWS
HOW TO DO IT RIGHT.
Narrator:
TODD WANTS TO SHOW DAVE TURIN
THAT IT'S WORTH
RISKING EVERYTHING
TO GET DOWN TO THE GOLD.
THAT'S FUN TO WATCH.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
Todd: I'D LIKE TO HAVE
A WEEK LIKE THAT.
Narrator: FOR TONY,
THIS IS A BAD WEEK --
220 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH ABOUT $350,000.
I'D BE PRETTY HAPPY
WITH 220 OUNCES.
TONY HAS GOLD MINING
DOWN TO A SCIENCE.
Beets: THIS IS JUST PART
OF WHAT WE GOT.
THIS IS NOT ALL OF IT
THAT CAME OUT OF IT.
Narrator:
LIKE THE HOFFMANS,
TONY ALSO FIGHTS
A SEA OF BLACK MUCK,
BUT HE STILL PULLS
THOUSANDS OF OUNCES OF GOLD
OUT FROM UNDER IT EVERY YEAR.
WHILE DAVE CHECKS OUT
THE MINE...
[ LAUGHTER ]
GET IN.
...TODD AND TONY MEET PRIVATELY.
TODD WANTS TO FIND OUT
HOW HE CAN CONVINCE HIS CREW
THAT THERE'S GOLD
AT QUARTZ CREEK.
WELL, OKAY,
HERE'S THE DEAL.
I'M DOWN THERE ON QUARTZ CREEK.
I'M STARTING TO STRIP.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING
STRIPPING
IF YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S UNDERNEATH IT?
HMM.
DRILL.
SEE, THIS WHAT YOU WANT.
TONY'S MINING CORPORATION
IS THRIVING
BECAUSE IT STICKS
TO ONE GOLDEN RULE.
NO DRILLING TEST HOLES --
NO DIGGING.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
WHEN YOU DRILL.
YEAH.
THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE GROUND
EVERY 3, 4 FEET.
OH, GREAT.
THERE'S NO DREAMING
IN THIS KIND OF BUSINESS.
WELL, TONY, DUDE,
I'M GLAD YOU TOLD ME THIS
'CAUSE I'M GONNA
FRICKIN' DRILL IT.
IT'S THERE, YEAH.
YOU GOT TO GET THAT.
NOW YOU GOT TO GO DRILL.
APPRECIATE IT.
DRILLING'S NUMBER ONE.
NO DRILLING -- NO DIGGING.
NEVER MIND THE STORIES
THE NEIGHBORS HAVE.
DRILL.
OTHERWISE, THEY'LL END UP
WITH THE SAME KIND OF SEASON
AS THEY HAD LAST YEAR.
I GOT SOME CONFIRMATION
ON SOME THINGS.
HE SAID, "DON'T EVEN --
DON'T EVEN TOUCH THE GROUND
UNLESS YOU DRILL IT."
AND SO, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO.
Narrator: 600 MILES SOUTH
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE...
16-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS A NEW SPOT TO MINE.
I THINK MY GRANDPA WAS
KIND OF SAVING THIS AREA FOR...
A SPECIAL TIME, AND I GUESS
THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME.
Narrator: JUST SIX WEEKS AGO,
PARKER FINISHED 11th GRADE.
FOR HIS SUMMER VACATION, HE'S
TAKING OVER THE BIG NUGGET MINE
FROM HIS 91-YEAR-OLD GRANDPA,
JOHN.
HE'S GONNA MAKE
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY DAY.
Narrator: BUT THE BIG NUGGET
MINE IS IN TROUBLE.
IF HE DOESN'T TURN A PROFIT,
WE WON'T RUN NEXT YEAR.
Narrator:
ALREADY THIS SEASON,
PARKER HAS 10 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH AROUND $16,000.
I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING
RIGHT.
Narrator: BUT HIS RUNNING COSTS
SO FAR ARE DOUBLE THAT,
AND THE GOLD HAS DRIED UP.
I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I NEED
EXCEPT DIRT WITH GOLD IN IT.
Narrator:
PARKER IS DESPERATE
TO FIND A NEW SOURCE OF GOLD
AND SAVE THE MINE.
Parker:
MY GRANDPA'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT,
"OH, THE BUCKETS, THE BUCKETS,"
FOR PROBABLY LIKE FIVE YEARS.
HE'S LIKE, "OH, IF I WANTED
SOME EASY MONEY,
I'D JUST GO DIG
THE BUCKETS OUT."
THAT'S WHAT
HE KEPT TELLING ME, SO...
WE'LL SEE IF HE WAS RIGHT.
Narrator: THE BUCKETS ARE PART
OF A 100-YEAR-OLD DREDGE --
A PRIMITIVE EXCAVATOR
THAT DUG OUT GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT.
BUT A FLOOD 100 YEARS AGO
WASHED AWAY
EVERYTHING
BUT THE HEAVY IRON BUCKETS.
THE SCHNABELS THINK THE FLOOD
FORCED THE OLD MINERS
TO LEAVE BEHIND A LOT OF GOLD.
Parker: I'M REALLY EXCITED
TO GET THE BUCKETS OUT
AND SEE WHAT'S DOWN THERE,
AND IF WE'RE RIGHT,
IT SHOULD BE PRETTY GOOD.
AND IF WE'RE WRONG,
WE'LL LOSE...
10 GRAND.
Narrator:
RUNNING THE 330 EXCAVATOR
CAN BURN UP TO $1,000 OF DIESEL
A DAY.
JOHN SCHNABEL
HAS WAITED 25 YEARS
TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S UNDER THESE BUCKETS.
JUST TRYING TO SEE WHAT'S
DOWN UNDERNEATH THERE, HUH?
WE LIVE IN EXPECTATION.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ MACHINE CREAKING ]
Narrator: BUT HE'S GONNA
HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER.
IT'S BEEN SITTING IN THERE
A LONG TIME,
AND IT DOESN'T WANT TO COME OUT,
I DON'T THINK.
MAYBE WITH A CABLE
ON OUR BIG LOADER.
[ GRUNTS ]
Narrator:
GRANDPA JOHN JUMPS IN THE LOADER
WHILE PARKER ATTACHES
A THICK CABLE
TO THE HEAVIEST PART OF THE OLD
BUCKET SYSTEM, THE GEAR WHEEL.
[ MACHINE CREAKING ]
NOPE!
NOT EVEN CLOSE.
Narrator: PARKER'S STEEL CABLE
IS RATED TO PULL 10 TONS,
BUT IT SNAPS UNDER THE WEIGHT
OF THE BUCKETS.
John:
IT DIDN'T EVEN JIGGLE.
Parker:
IT MUST ALL BE CONNECTED.
I THINK THE BIG GEAR
HAS A SHAFT,
A SPROCKET
THAT THE CHAIN IS AROUND.
GOT TO DIG IT OUT.
YOU CAN'T PULL IT OUT.
[ CLATTERS ]
BAD NEWS FOR PARKER.
THE MORE FUEL HE HAS TO BURN,
THE MORE GOLD HE HAS TO FIND.
[ SIGHS ] I WISH THAT
WOULD'VE JUST CAME RIGHT OUT,
BUT THAT'D BE TOO EASY.
Narrator: LESS THAN A MILE AWAY
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...
Fred:
YEAH, I CAN HEAR YOU.
...FRED GETS A CALL FROM HIS
WIFE BACK HOME IN NORTH DAKOTA.
HOLY COW.
WHERE ARE YOU --
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
I THINK OUR SATELLITE
HAS GONE DOWN.
I GOT...
NEWS THAT OUR HOUSE...
IS GONNA GO UNDERWATER
IN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DAYS.
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Narrator:
MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA,
WHERE FRED LIVES
IN THE OFF-SEASON,
IS FACING THE WORST FLOODING
IN 40 YEARS.
FRED'S HOME IS RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOD ZONE.
WE'RE GONNA LOSE
[CLEARS THROAT]
PRETTY MUCH
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE GOT.
TALKED TO MY WIFE.
I ASK HER IF I SHOULD
JUST GO AHEAD AND LEAVE HERE.
AND SHE INSISTED I DO NOT.
SHE SAID, "FRED...
"WE'VE INVESTED
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE GOT,
ANYTHING WE CAN AFFORD
INTO THIS OPERATION."
SHE SAID, "STAY THERE.
MAKE SOME GOLD."
IT'S JUST TOUGH.
REALLY TOUGH.
Narrator: FRED NOW NEEDS TO HIT
THE MOTHER LODE
AT PORCUPINE CREEK
MORE THAN EVER.
Narrator:
IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN IS BACK
FROM HIS MEETING WITH
NEIGHBORING MINER TONY BEETS.
THE GUY, TONY,
TODAY CONFIRMED IT FOR SURE.
THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT.
I'M GONNA -- I'M GONNA DRILL.
HEY, GREG!
DAVE! JAMES!
DAD.
Jack: YEAH?
Narrator:
IT'S BEEN 24 HOURS
SINCE THE HOFFMAN CREW
DEMANDED PROOF
THAT GOLD LIES UNDER THE THICK
BLACK MUCK AT QUARTZ CREEK.
LITTLE MEETING HERE.
TODD HAS A PLAN.
FIRST OFF, WE GOT TO GET
DRILLING IMMEDIATELY.
THIS IS
WHAT TONY TOLD ME TODAY.
DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT
UNLESS YOU DRILL IT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK,
GREG?
DRILLING --
IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY AWESOME
STRIPPING GROUND
WHEN WE KNOW
WHAT'S AT THE BOTTOM.
SO, DAVE...
Turin: I'M SATISFIED.
WE MIGHT AS WELL START.
THIS IS OUR LAST SHOT.
WE NEED SOME HOPE.
WE'RE PUSHING MUD.
WE NEED SOME HOPE.
LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: WITH THE WHOLE TEAM
BEHIND DRILLING,
JACK HAS NO OPTION
BUT TO FALL IN LINE.
I DO AGREE WITH THE GUYS.
I DO AGREE
THAT WE NEED TO DRILL IT
SO WE AREN'T WASTING
A BUNCH OF MONEY OR TIME.
Remsburg:
WE'VE BEEN AIMLESSLY MOVING DIRT
HERE FOR THE PAST WEEK
AND SPENDING THE EQUIVALENT OF
WHAT A DRILLER'S GONNA COST US.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE CAN
ACTUALLY HAVE SOME DIRECTION.
Narrator:
NO MORE MUD WILL BE STRIPPED
UNTIL DRILL TESTS PINPOINT
EXACTLY WHERE THE GOLD IS --
THAT IS, IF THERE IS ANY.
600 MILES SOUTH
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...
...AFTER SIX GRUELING WEEKS
OF PREP,
DAKOTA FRED'S DEROCKER
IS FINALLY WORKING.
NOW HE CAN START FEEDING IT
GOLD-RICH DIRT.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: FOR THAT,
HE USES HIS AGING 980 LOADER.
Fred:
COME ON, BABY, LET'S START.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
Narrator:
AT LEAST THAT'S THE PLAN.
[ MACHINE CREAKING ]
[ GROANS ]
I NEED TO READ UP
ON THE OLD 580.
I THINK
IT'S A BRAKE PROBLEM.
Narrator: TO FIND OUT
WHY THE BRAKES AREN'T WORKING,
FRED AND SON, DUSTIN, HAVE TO
TAKE OFF THE 1/2-TON WHEEL.
WE HAVE ANOTHER CHAIN THERE.
I'VE GOT ONE.
THAT'S ONE RIGHT HERE
WE COULD USE FOR THAT.
COME ON, NOW.
[ MACHINE CREAKING, BEEPING ]
Dustin:
ONE CHAIN SET.
COMING UP, COMING UP.
ALL YOURS.
WATCH OUT.
IT'LL BE INTERESTING
TO SEE WHAT 28-YEAR-OLD BRAKES
LOOK LIKE.
NOW, I SEE MAYBE, MAYBE
3/16 OF AN INCH OF LINING LEFT.
SO THOSE
ARE VERY, VERY WORN.
JUST ABOUT THE TIME THAT WE
GET FINISHED WITH OUR DEROCKER
AND GETTING EVERYTHING SET UP
WITH THE WATER
AND EVERYTHING READY TO MINE,
WE GET THE BAD NEWS
THAT THE BRAKES ON THIS LOADER
JUST WILL NOT HOLD.
JUST CAN'T OPERATE THAT WAY,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE ON GRADES
AND SLOPES AND RAMPS,
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
GOT SOME BEARINGS HERE
I WANT TO PROTECT
FROM GETTING DIRT ALL OVER IT.
Narrator: FRED CAN'T RUN THE
LOADER WITHOUT NEW BRAKE PADS,
AND WITHOUT THE LOADER,
FRED CAN'T RUN HIS DEROCKER.
Fred:
THIS PARTICULAR MACHINE
IS AN ABSOLUTE KEY PART
OF OUR OPERATION.
NO LOADER, NO GOLD.
Narrator:
ACROSS THE CREEK AT BIG NUGGET,
PARKER SCHNABEL IS SPENDING
CLOSE TO $1,000 ON FUEL A DAY.
HE'S SURE THERE'S GOLD
UNDER THESE CENTURY-OLD
RUSTY MINING BUCKETS.
Parker:
ALL WE NEED IS ONE OF THOSE
LITTLE BUCKETS FULL OF GOLD,
AND THEN I'D HAVE A BEACH HOUSE
IN THE HAMPTONS.
Narrator: PARKER PLANS
TO FISH THE BUCKETS OUT,
BUT IT'S HARD TO FISH
WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CATCH.
Parker: I THINK I NEED TO SEE
WHAT I'M DOING.
IT'S TOUGH
NOT TO HOOK ONTO THE BUCKETS
OR WHATEVER'S DOWN THERE WITHOUT
SEEING WHAT'S UNDER THE WATER.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
ONCE WE GET THE THING
PUMPED OUT,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET
ALL THIS STUFF OUT OF HERE.
SO, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT
ONCE WE GET THE BUCKETS OUT,
THE LAYER OF GROUND
UNDERNEATH THEM
IS UNWORKED GROUND
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BUILT UP
OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
[ MACHINE CREAKING ]
I NEED TO FLOP THIS UP OVER
AND LAY IT
UP AGAINST THIS ROCK HERE.
[ THUD ]
OH, DAMN IT!
IT BROKE!
Narrator:
PARKER WORKS HALF A DAY
AND BURNS HALF A TANK OF DIESEL
AND MANAGES TO PULL OUT
HALF OF THE BUCKETS.
HEY, YOU GOT IT!
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S
QUITE A PIECE OF IRON.
WE CAN SEND THAT
TO AN ANTIQUE DEALER
FOR A DOLLAR A POUND --
WE'D BE RICH.
THERE MUST BE
AN AWFUL LOT OF IRON.
THAT LIFT SYSTEM HAD A LOT MORE
THAN JUST THIS.
HOW FAR DO YOU THINK IT IS
TO BEDROCK?
IT'LL BE
BELOW THE BUCKET.
I DON'T KNOW.
THE BUCKETS -- I'VE GOT...
PROBABLY
8 FEET DOWN THERE
UNDER THE WATER LEVEL
RIGHT NOW,
AND I'M STILL NOT HITTING
THE BOTTOM OF THAT LAST CHAIN.
YOUR CURIOSITY
IS GETTING TO THE POINT
WHERE YOU WONDER
IF THERE'S ANY GOLD IN IT, HUH?
I CAN'T GET -- NO, I JUST
CAN'T GET THE BUCKETS OUT.
UH-HUH. WELL, YOU CAN GET THEM.
JUST KEEP WORKING AT IT.
BUT WHAT PARKER REALLY NEEDS
TO DIG UP IS GOLD,
OR HE'LL BANKRUPT
HIS GRANDPA'S MINE.
Narrator:
AT THE QUARTZ CREEK GOLD CLAIM,
A DRILLING EXPERT
HAS JUST ARRIVED.
Todd: YEAH, IT'S KIND OF
A CRAZY-LOOKING, LITTLE VEHICLE,
BUT I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT
ABOUT THIS.
Narrator:
IN THE BOMBARDIER DRILL RIG...
AH!
...IS HENRY RENNIG.
CAN YOU GET THROUGH THERE
OKAY?
OH, YEAH, I SHOULD BE GOOD.
I GOT TO PUT A HOLE RIGHT HERE.
FOR 20 YEARS,
HE'S DRILLED FOR GOLD
ON THE LARGEST CLAIMS
IN THE KLONDIKE.
TODD NEEDS HIS EXPERTISE
TO FIND OUT HOW DEEP THE MUCK IS
AND IF THERE'S PAY GRAVEL
BENEATH IT.
Todd: SO, NOW HENRY'S GONNA GO
AHEAD AND DROP A HOLE HERE.
WE'RE GONNA DO THIS RIGHT
THIS YEAR.
WE'RE GONNA DRILL. WE'RE
GONNA DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE ADVICE
FROM ALL THE GUYS THAT ARE
SUCCESSFUL ON THIS CREEK.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE DRILLING.
Narrator: HENRY SINKS HOLE
NUMBER ONE INTO THE BLACK MUCK.
TO LOCATE THE GOLD,
HE DRILLS DOWN THROUGH
THE BLACK MUCK AND PERMAFROST,
ADDING SECTIONS OF DRILL BIT
5 FEET AT A TIME
TO GET DOWN TO THE PAY GRAVEL
AND BEDROCK.
THE DIRT SAMPLE SHOULD PINPOINT
WHETHER THERE'S GOLD
UNDER THIS PART OF THE CLAIM.
AFTER DRILLING EACH HOLE, HENRY
COLLECTS THE DIRT INTO BUCKETS
TO BE PANNED FOR GOLD LATER.
Todd: WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT
IF WE'RE GONNA BE EATING STEAK
OR IF WE'RE GONNA BE EATING
HOT DOGS.
Todd: WHAT'S YOUR GUESS ON OUR
PAY GRAVEL RIGHT IN THERE?
5 FEET OF GRAVEL
AND 2 FEET OF BEDROCK.
Narrator: THE FIRST HOLE
INDICATES THAT BENEATH THE MUCK,
THERE'S 5 FEET OF PAY GRAVEL.
IF THIS LAYER IS EVEN
ACROSS THE CLAIM,
THERE COULD BE 8,000 TONS
OF GOLD-BEARING GRAVEL
TO MINE AT QUARTZ CREEK.
THE GOLD IS JUST UNDER OUR FEET.
AND STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
BUT IT'S WITHIN REACH.
Narrator: HENRY MOVES ON
TO HIS NEXT TEST HOLE.
Doumitt:
KIND OF CURIOUS NOW
AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON
AND WHAT HE'S GONNA FIND.
GETTING REAL CURIOUS.
Narrator: JACK WAS NOT A FAN
OF THE DRILLING PLAN,
BUT TWO DAYS AGO, HE HAD TO
GIVE IN TO THE CREW'S DEMAND.
Jack:
THIS IS 18 BUCKS A FOOT.
IT'S EXCITING, BUT I CAN HEAR
THE THINGS KA-CHING, KA-CHING
GOING ON IN MY BRAIN,
YOU KNOW?
Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN CREW CAN ONLY AFFORD
12 HOLES AT A COST OF $4,000 --
MONEY WELL SPENT
IF HENRY CAN PROVE
THERE'S GOLD ON QUARTZ CREEK.
Thurber:
WHAT HE'S GONNA DO
IS TELL US HOW DEEP WE
GOT TO DIG TO GET TO BEDROCK.
I MEAN, THIS IS ALL GREAT.
THIS IS A TOOL WE DIDN'T HAVE
LAST YEAR.
WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO DRILL
INSTEAD OF GUESSING AND GOING
BY OLD FOLKLORE HOW DEEP IT WAS.
THIS GUY WOULD TELL YOU
STRAIGHT UP.
Narrator:
THE CREW WATCHES NERVOUSLY
AS HENRY DIGS TOWARDS BEDROCK.
EVERY FOOT OF PAY GRAVEL
ON THE WAY DOWN
IS POTENTIALLY FULL OF GOLD.
HENRY, WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE
WHEN YOU HIT BEDROCK?
DEPENDS WHAT KIND OF BEDROCK
IT IS.
SOMETIMES
YOU GET SOFT BED,
AND THEN YOU DON'T HEAR
ANY STONES GRINDING.
OKAY.
Jack: WELL, WE'RE LOOKING
FOR CHUNKS OF BEDROCK.
THE GRAVEL WILL BE ROUNDED,
AND THE BEDROCK WILL BE SHARP.
Thurber: I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY
SHAFTS HE'S IN THE GROUND,
BUT...THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
Jack:
IT IS STILL GOING DOWN.
SEE, THIS IS
ALL SHARP STONES, EH?
YEAH.
HE'S THROUGH THE GRAVEL.
YOU NOTICE
IT'S GOT SHARP EDGES.
SO HE'S BREAKING UP
BEDROCK.
HENRY, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WHAT'S YOUR PREDICTION?
I THINK THIS HOLE
HAS A GOOD CHANCE.
PROBABLY 9 FEET DOWN
IS WHERE THE BEDROCK IS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GUESSING.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS --
THIS IS GOOD GROUND.
I'M JUST SURE OF IT.
BUT I'VE BEEN SURE
OF A LOT OF THINGS.
BUT I THINK YOU'RE
GONNA FIND OUT I'M RIGHT.
Narrator:
HENRY HAS ANOTHER 10 HOLES
TO DRILL ACROSS THE CLAIM.
THE HOFFMAN CREW WON'T KNOW
IF THEY HAVE GOLD
UNTIL HE PANS EACH TEST SAMPLE.
600 MILES SOUTH.
DAKOTA FRED
HEADS TO HAINES, ALASKA,
TO ORDER PARTS
FOR HIS BROKEN-DOWN 980 LOADER.
SEE YOU LATER.
TAKE CARE.
IT'S ALSO A CHANCE
TO FIND OUT FROM HIS WIFE
JUST HOW BAD THE FLOODING IS
BACK HOME IN MINOT.
[ Ringing ]
Hello?
HELLO, HON.
HOW YOU DOING?
Pretty bad day here
today.
Of course, we're expecting
7 more feet of water, so...
WOW. 7 FEET?
FRED'S HOME
HAS 3 FEET OF WATER IN IT.
SOON, IT WILL BE INUNDATED
LIKE THE REST OF MINOT,
NOW DECLARED A DISASTER AREA.
GONNA BE
JUST LIKE NEW ORLEANS.
ONCE IT BREACHES,
YOU CAN'T STOP IT.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
FRED HAS INVESTED HIS
LIFE SAVINGS IN PORCUPINE CREEK.
NOW HE HAS
A GUT-WRENCHING DECISION --
GO HOME TO SAVE HIS HOUSE
AND EVERYTHING HE OWNS
OR STAY AND FIND GOLD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I MEAN, I KNOW WE GOT A TON
OF MONEY INVESTED IN THIS THING.
WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING
THIS YEAR.
I wouldn't come
running home yet.
WELL, HON, I LOVE YOU.
I love you, too, baby.
AND...
Hang on.
I WILL.
Okay, honey.
I LOVE YOU.
Bye.
BYE.
AS LONG AS THERE IS A CHANCE
OF FINDING GOLD,
FRED IS STAYING
AT PORCUPINE CREEK.
Narrator:
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,
PARKER SCHNABEL HASN'T RUN DIRT
NOW FOR FIVE DAYS.
HE'S STILL TRYING TO PULL
ANCIENT GOLD-MINING BUCKETS
OUT OF WHAT HE'S CONVINCED
IS GOLD-RICH DIRT.
Parker:
I WISH THEY WEREN'T THAT DEEP
'CAUSE NOT ONLY
CAN WE NOT GET THEM OUT
BUT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING ABOVE
THOSE BUCKETS HAS BEEN WORKED.
EVERYTHING FROM THAT
BUCKET LEVEL UP IS GARBAGE.
Narrator:
PARKER HAS GIVEN UP HOPE OF
GETTING OUT ALL OF THE BUCKETS,
BUT HE'S SHIFTED ENOUGH OF THEM
TO GET TO THE POCKETS OF DIRT
UNDER THEM.
Parker: I'M JUST GONNA KEEP
DIGGING ALONGSIDE OF THEM
AND HAUL IT TO THE PLANT
'CAUSE IT SHOULD BE GOOD DIRT.
Narrator:
FINALLY, HE CAN GET
TO THE MATERIAL HE'S BANKING ON
BEING RICH IN GOLD.
Parker:
IF I WORK A LATE NIGHT,
I COULD GET ENOUGH DIRT HAULED
TO RUN TOMORROW.
PARKER MUST UNEARTH AT LEAST
6 OUNCES OF GOLD WORTH $9,500
JUST TO COVER HIS FUEL COSTS.
BUT HE'S HOPING THIS OLD SPOT
WILL YIELD A WHOLE LOT MORE.
Parker: I'VE GOT A PLAN.
I'M GONNA EXECUTE MY PLAN.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
Narrator:
NORTH IN QUARTZ CREEK,
THE HOFFMANS ARE IN THEIR
SECOND DAY OF DRILL TESTING.
THAT'S A LOT OF MUD, DAVE.
Turin: THAT'S A LOT OF MUD.
DRILLER HENRY RENNIG
HAS ALREADY DUG SIX TEST HOLES
AND HAS SIX MORE TO GO.
Todd: HEY, HENRY, YOU GOT A NAME
FOR YOUR LITTLE RIG?
NO,
I CAN'T THINK OF ONE.
Todd: HOW ABOUT
"LITTLE RED MAMA"?
IT'S MORE ORANGE, THOUGH.
WELL, NOT WHEN IT WAS NEW,
IT WASN'T.
COME ON,
LITTLE RED MAMA.
THE LAST SIX HOLES
WILL BE UP IN THE TREE LINE
ABOVE THE DIG SITE.
THIS AREA IS TODD'S BACKUP PLAN
JUST IN CASE THERE'S NO GOLD
UNDER THE BLACK MUCK.
Todd: THERE MIGHT BE
AN ANCIENT CREEK THAT CAME DOWN.
SO I WANT TO PROVE IT,
SEE IF THAT IS THE CASE.
WE'LL GET HENRY OUT HERE
TO DRILL A FEW MORE HOLES
OUT IN THAT BOWL AREA.
BUT ME AND DAVE
ARE KIND OF THINKING
THAT THAT MIGHT BE
A SPECIAL PLACE.
IF TODD'S RIGHT,
THEN THERE COULD BE
ANOTHER PAY STREAK OF GOLD
ON THE QUARTZ CREEK CLAIM
30 FEET UP IN DENSE FOREST --
THAT IS, IF HENRY CAN GET
HIS DRILL UP THERE.
TODD HAS MADE THE DECISION
TO DRILL THESE SIX HOLES
AT A COST OF $2,000.
IF HENRY CAN'T HIT PAY GRAVEL,
IT WILL BE A WASTE OF MONEY.
HEY, HENRY, WHAT'S THE BEST HOLE
YOU EVER CAME UP WITH?
HOW MUCH GOLD IN ONE HOLE?
$30.
FOR ONE HOLE?
WOW!
HOPEFULLY,
YOU HIT INTO THE GRAVEL.
THIS IS GOOD, THOUGH.
LOOK, HE HIT GRAVEL RIGHT THERE
AT 8 FEET.
THAT'S NOT THAT MUCH
TO MOVE.
HENRY HAS FIVE MORE HOLES
TO DRILL AT THE TREE LINE
BEFORE THE HOFFMAN CREW
CAN FIND OUT
IF THERE'S ANY GOLD
ON THEIR CLAIM.
IF THERE ISN'T, THEY'LL HAVE TO
PACK UP AND GO HOME BROKE.
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...
DAKOTA FRED IS STILL STRUGGLING
TO RUN DIRT.
HIS 980 LOADER IS CRIPPLED,
BUT HE REFUSES TO GIVE UP.
UNTIL HE CAN GET THE PARTS
TO FIX THE 980,
HIS SON, DUSTIN, IS FORCED
TO USE THE SMALLER D6 DOZER
TO MOVE PAY DIRT
TO THE DEROCKER.
WE'RE ABOUT TO START RUNNING
REAL DIRT.
SO, HOPEFULLY, BY THE END OF
THE DAY, I'LL FEEL LIKE A MINER!
Narrator: IT'S FINALLY TIME
FOR THE DAKOTA BOYS
TO FIND OUT
IF THEY'RE ON THE GOLD.
DUSTIN'S BRINGING UP
MORE MATERIAL.
WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GO.
YOU READY?
GET IT GOING, FRED.
Fred: LET'S GO.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
YEAH, THE WATER'S GOING.
DOESN'T THAT LOOK GREAT?
NICE AND SMOOTH --
THE PERFECT RIVER.
I LIKE THAT.
OH, YEAH.
THAT IS NICE.
Narrator: FRED IS ABOUT TO LOSE
HIS HOUSE TO FLOODS.
HE HAS PUT HIS LIFE SAVINGS
ON THE LINE TO MINE.
HE HAS TO FIND GOLD NOW.
WITH HIS BIG LOADER BROKEN,
HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO FIRE UP
THE 270 EXCAVATOR
TO LOAD DIRT
INTO THE WASH PLANT.
[ CLICK ]
WHAT IN THE HELL'S THAT?
[ CLICKING ]
OH, CRAP!
GOD!
THERE'S DUSTIN.
LET ME HOLLER AT HIM.
DUSTIN! COME HERE!
IT WON'T START?
Narrator: THE 270,
FRED'S LAST HOPE, IS DEAD.
ALL RIGHT. DUSTIN?
YEAH?
HIT THAT STARTER AGAIN.
GO!
NOTHING.
[ GROANS ]
Fred:
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW.
IF THIS MACHINE
IS OUT OF OPERATION,
WE ARE OUT OF OPERATION.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF OUR
KEY PIECES OF EQUIPMENT,
PARTICULARLY
WITH JUST TWO OF US HERE.
IT'S SERIOUS -- VERY SERIOUS.
IF YOU COULD HOLD UP
THAT RUBBER PIECE RIGHT THERE,
I COULD TAKE THAT BOLT OFF.
ALL RIGHT.
YOU GOT IT, HUH?
I HOPE
THIS IS THE PROBLEM.
...KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS
WITH THAT THING.
Dustin:
IT'S THE STARTER.
SOMETHING'S WRONG
WITH THE STARTER.
LOOKS LIKE...
HEY, WE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE HERE
WITH THIS THING.
WE JUST CAN'T DO
ANY MINING.
IT'S ABSOLUTE DEAD
RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS NO PLACE
AROUND HERE
TO GET US
ANY PARTS FOR THIS THING.
I NEED TO GO BACK DOWN
TO MINOT.
I'VE JUST NEVER SEEN SO MANY
THINGS GO WRONG ALL AT ONCE.
Fred: IT'S JUST A DIFFICULT TIME
RIGHT NOW.
HOUSE IS GOING UNDER TONIGHT.
YOU JUST WONDER
HOW MUCH A GUY CAN TAKE.
Narrator: AFTER NEARLY
EIGHT WEEKS, FRED HAS NO GOLD,
AND HIS HOME
BACK IN NORTH DAKOTA
IS ABOUT TO GO UNDERWATER.
THIS COULD BE THE END
FOR THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM.
Narrator: AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA...
...PARKER SCHNABEL
IS FINALLY MOVING THE DIRT
FROM UNDER THE OLD IRON BUCKETS
TO HIS WASH PLANT.
HE NEEDS AT LEAST
6 OUNCES OF GOLD, OR $9,500,
TO COVER HIS COSTS.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW FOR SURE
WHETHER IT'S THERE OR NOT.
Narrator: HE'S HOPING
HE HAS HIT THE MOTHER LODE.
Parker:
I MAY HAVE WASTED 10 GRAND.
YEAH, I'M WORRIED.
Narrator: BUT AFTER FIVE HOURS
OF RUNNING, SIGNS AREN'T GOOD.
IF WE RAN DIRT
THAT HAD ANY NUGGETS IN IT,
THIS IS WHERE THEY'D BE.
BUT RIGHT NOW,
IT'S JUST A PILE OF NAILS.
IN THE PROCESSED DIRT, THERE'S
A REWARD FOR HIS EFFORTS --
A NUGGET WORTH ABOUT 100 BUCKS.
BUT NOT MUCH ELSE.
Parker:
WE DIDN'T MAKE MONEY.
IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT
UP THERE ON THAT?
NOT REALLY.
I WAS DOWN ON BEDROCK.
I DON'T THINK
IT CHANGES ANYTHING.
IT HASN'T CHANGED A THING,
HAS IT?
PARKER'S PLAN
HASN'T PAID OFF.
THE GOLD HE FOUND
UNDER THE OLD RUSTY BUCKETS
IS WORTH JUST $400.
BUT IT TOOK 10 DAYS AND
$10,000 IN FUEL TO GET TO IT.
EIGHT WEEKS
INTO HIS FIRST YEAR IN CHARGE,
PARKER IS HEADED FOR BANKRUPTCY.
Parker: I DIDN'T REALLY PREPARE
MYSELF TO LOSE MONEY THIS MUCH.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
KEEP WORKING.
Narrator:
AT QUARTZ CREEK,
IT'S CRUNCH TIME
FOR THE HOFFMAN CREW.
THEIR DREAM OF STRIKING IT RICH
DEPENDS
ON HENRY'S DRILL RESULTS.
THAT'S OUR FIRST HOLE, RIGHT?
YEAH.
THE PAY GRAVEL FROM THE 12 DRILL
HOLES ARE IN SEPARATE BUCKETS.
HENRY PANS EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY
TO DETERMINE THEIR GOLD CONTENT.
THE FIRST SIX BUCKETS
ARE FROM TODD'S BACKUP PLAN --
THE AREA IN THE TREE LINE.
THIS IS BASICALLY A SNAPSHOT
OF YOUR FUTURE.
I'M FRICKIN' NERVOUS.
HEY, HENRY, IF THIS HOLE
DOESN'T TURN OUT GOOD,
I MIGHT NEED A HUG.
WELL, YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD
CHANCE OF FINDING SOMETHING.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
[ WATER RUSHING ]
I'LL LET YOU HAVE A LOOK
AT IT.
COUNT THEM OUT.
Jack: THERE'S AT LEAST
15 COLORS THERE.
Turin: IT'S NOT AS GOOD
AS I WAS HOPING.
Narrator: THE FIRST TEST SAMPLE
IS ALMOST WORTHLESS.
HENRY PANS THE DIRT
FROM DRILL HOLE NUMBER TWO.
Rennig: THIS ONE DOESN'T
EVEN LOOK AS GOOD AS THE
OTHER ONE, I DON'T THINK.
PRETTY DISAPPOINTING.
DOESN'T LOOK TOO GOOD.
Todd: NOTHING?
LITTLE BIT BETTER --
NO BETTER THAN -- NO BETTER YET.
Narrator:
THE FIRST SIX TEST HOLES
FROM THE TREE LINE ARE A BUST.
THERE'S ALMOST NO GOLD
IN THE PANS.
DISAPPOINTED --
EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED.
IT'S NOT EVEN GONNA PAY FOR
THE POSTAGE TO PAY THE BILLS.
Remsburg: NOT GOOD.
IT'S NOT GOOD.
Narrator:
BUT THERE ARE SIX MORE.
THE SECOND DRILL TEST RESULTS
ARE FROM THE SLIPPERY SLOPE
WHERE THE HOFFMANS HAVE BATTLED
THE MUCK.
IF THERE'S NO GOLD IN ANY OF
THESE SIX REMAINING TEST HOLES,
THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS OUT OF BUSINESS.
Todd:
ALL RIGHT, BUD.
PAN REAL SLOW.
REMEMBER WHAT I SAID.
I GOT TO HUG YOU.
YOU GOT TO HUG ME.
IF THE NEXT HOLE'S OUTRAGEOUSLY
RICH, DO I GET A HUG?
DUDE, YOU'RE GONNA GET
MORE THAN A HUG, HENRY.
Remsburg:
IT'S GONNA BE THE MOST-WATCHED
PAN YOU'VE EVER DONE, HENRY.
I DON'T KNOW.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S A LOT OF BLACK SAND.
THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD.
THE DIRT FROM THE FIRST HOLE
IN THE DIG SITE IS A HIT.
I SAW AT LEAST 20, 30 PIECES
OF GOLD IN THERE.
Narrator: 20 TO 30 PIECES
OF GOLD IN ONE PAN
MEANS THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS HIT PAY DIRT.
YOU CAN SEE GOLD ALL THE WAY
AROUND THE TOP OF THIS PAN.
THIS SEASON IS MAKE OR BREAK.
THE HOFFMAN CREW NOW KNOWS
THEIR CLAIM HOLDS GOLD,
THEY KNOW WHERE IT IS,
AND THEY HAVE PLENTY OF TIME
LEFT IN THE SEASON
TO STRIKE IT RICH.
Turin:
THIS IS EXCITING.
THERE'S GOLD UNDER THIS GROUND,
AND, LIKE JACK SAID LAST YEAR
BUT NOW I BELIEVE IT,
WE JUST GOT TO DIG IT UP.
Doumitt: OH,
I DEFINITELY HAVE GOLD FEVER.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
I CAUGHT IT LAST YEAR, AND
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SHAKE IT.
Jack:
IT'S MORE THAN SUCCESSFUL.
IT'S --
IT'S DROP-DEAD FANTASTIC.
Thurber: THAT'S PRICELESS
AND A LIFE-CHANGING EVENT
FOR ALL OF US.
IT'S THE HOFFMAN CREW'S
SECOND SEASON MINING FOR GOLD.
WE'RE READY TO GO.
Narrator:
AGAIN, THEY ARE RISKING IT ALL
TO STRIKE IT RICH
IN THE FROZEN NORTH.
IF WE DON'T GET GOLD THIS TIME,
WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
Narrator:
TO GET TO THE GOLD THIS SEASON,
THEY HAVE TO MINE
THE KLONDIKE WAY.
THEY'RE BATTLING
A SEA OF BLACK MUCK...
OH!
...TO FIND OUT IF THERE
IS ANY GOLD ON THEIR NEW CLAIM.
I'M FRICKIN' NERVOUS.
DOWN SOUTH AT PORCUPINE CREEK...
HOLY COW.
..."DAKOTA" FRED IS HIT
WITH DEVASTATING NEWS.
OUR HOUSE
IS GONNA GO UNDERWATER.
Narrator: AND 16-YEAR-OLD
PARKER SCHNABEL
DESPERATELY SEEKS
A NEW SOURCE OF GOLD.
OOH, WHAT'S THAT?
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK
IN THE KLONDIKE...
IT'S 45 DAYS
INTO THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON.
Todd:
LOOKS LIKE A BIG PILE OF MUD,
BUT I CAN SEE A PLAN
STARTING TO FORM, AND...
I DON'T KNOW.
WE'LL FIND OUT.
Narrator: DAVE TURIN PUSHES
ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF BLACK SLUDGE
OFF OF THE HOFFMAN DIG SITE
WITH THE D8 DOZER.
Turin:
WE GOT TO DO WHAT WE GOT TO DO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY
WE CAN GET IT OUT OF HERE.
Narrator: IF DAVE CAN REMOVE
8 FEET OF THIS MUCK,
HE SHOULD GET
TO THE GRAVEL LAYER
THAT THEY HOPE HOLDS MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS' WORTH OF GOLD.
Turin:
YEAH, IT'S WORKING PRETTY GOOD.
I MEAN,
I'M GETTING THE JOB DONE.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
ALREADY WASTED $5,000
STRIPPING AN AREA ON THE CLAIM
THEY LATER FOUND OUT
HAD BEEN MINED 60 YEARS AGO.
IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.
Narrator:
NOW, ON NEW GROUND,
THEY HAVE WON THE FIGHT AGAINST
CENTURIES-OLD PERMAFROST.
WHOA!
THERE WE GO!
THEY RIPPED IT UP...
THAT IS A BIG CHUNK
OF ICE.
...SO THAT IT CAN MELT
IN THE SUMMER SUN.
BUT THIS NEW GROUND IS UNTESTED,
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS NO IDEA
IF THERE IS GOLD HERE,
AND IT'S DANGEROUS WORK.
Turin:
THE SOIL IN THE YUKON -- I'VE
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
YOU SEE THAT SINKHOLE?
OH [BLEEP]
[ BEEPING ]
WHOA!
THIS IS NOT GOOD.
EASY.
EASY.
WHOA!
Narrator: THE BLACK MUCK
JUST ABOVE THE PAY GRAVEL
MELTS UNEVENLY,
CREATING HOLES
ACROSS THE DIG SITE.
THE D8, THE ONLY MACHINE THEY'VE
GOT TO GET DOWN TO THE GOLD,
IS SINKING IN AN 8-FOOT DITCH.
GREG REMSBURG
GETS DAVE'S S.O.S. CALL.
TURIN: Might --
Might need some help.
Remsburg: DAVE'S STUCK,
AND I GOT TO GO PULL HIM OUT!
Let's go.
Come on, let's go!
Right there.
Whoa, whoa.
Right there.
Pull back, pull back,
pull back, pull back.
Whoa!
AH!
I'M GONNA GO BACK
A LITTLE MORE.
Yeah, right there.
Go ahead.
WHAT A [BLEEP] DAY!
Narrator:
ON A DIG SITE 100 YARDS BY 50,
THERE MAY BE 15,000 TONS OF MUCK
TO MOVE
BEFORE THEY HIT PAY GRAVEL.
THIS IS TERRIBLE TO PUSH WITH.
IT'S TOO SOFT.
WHAT HAPPENS
IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN?
YEAH, I'M WITH YOU.
BUT HOW ARE WE GONNA DEAL
WITH THIS MESS?
Narrator:
1/3 OF THE WAY INTO THE SEASON,
EVERY DAY IS PRICELESS.
BEFORE THE CREW SPENDS MORE TIME
RISKING THEIR LIVES
CLEARING THE MUCK,
THEY WANT PROOF
THAT THE GOLD IS THERE.
BREAKING THE RULES.
YEAH, IT'S DANGEROUS.
IT'S RIDICULOUS.
SHOW ME SOMETHING THAT'S
TANGIBLE, THAT'S EVIDENCE.
YOU KNOW,
GIVE ME SOMETHING.
Todd: WE'LL GET
ON THE SAME PAGE, OKAY?
WE'RE NOT GONNA MOVE
AHEAD UNLESS EVERYBODY'S
ON THE SAME PAGE.
WELL, HE BETTER
HAVE SOMETHING.
I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE
GONNA BE ABLE TO STRIP
THAT AND RUN THAT.
BASED ON WHAT?
I'M WITH GREG.
I DON'T GO OFF OF FEELINGS.
I'M SORRY, JACK,
BUT SHOW ME SOMETHING, MAN.
YOU CAN'T JUST SAY,
"LET'S GO ON A FEELING."
Narrator: LAST SEASON
IN PORCUPINE CREEK,
JACK WAS CONVINCED THAT AT THE
BOTTOM OF HIS PRIZED GLORY HOLE,
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GOLD
WAS SITTING ON BEDROCK.
WE KNOW IT'S THERE.
ALL WE GOT TO DO IS GET IT.
Narrator:
THE CREW SPENT ALL SUMMER
AND $250,000 ON JACK'S HUNCH,
BUT THEY PULLED
ONLY $20,000 WORTH OF GOLD
OUT OF THE GLORY HOLE.
LAST YEAR,
WE SPENT THE WHOLE SUMMER
DIGGING ON A HOLE
BASED ON A FEELING,
A GUT FEELING.
AND THEN WE START STRIPPING HERE
ON A FEELING.
I AGREE WITH THESE GUYS.
BEFORE WE START MOVING, BEFORE
WE GO DOING SOMETHING ELSE,
I'D LIKE --
I'D LIKE TO SEE THE GOLD
BEFORE I
START GOING AFTER IT.
WELL,
HERE'S THE DEAL, DAD.
IF THESE GUYS
AREN'T ON BOARD,
I MEAN,
WE GOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
LET'S GO.
Remsburg: I JUST DON'T
WANT TO BE WILLY-NILLY
GOLD MINERS AGAIN THIS YEAR.
WE DID THAT LAST YEAR
AND LOST OUR ASS.
I NEED TO SEE SOMETHING.
I NEED TO FEEL IT.
IT HAS TO BE TANGIBLE,
HAS TO BE SOMETHING
I CAN SEE, FEEL, AND TOUCH.
IT TOOK US A WHOLE SEASON
LAST YEAR
UNTIL WE FINALLY GOT INTO STUFF,
AND THEN WE HAD IT TAKEN AWAY
FROM US,
AND I DON'T
WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN.
WE GOT AN ISSUE.
I GOT TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
I GOT TO GO SOUTH
AND TAKE CARE OF IT.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS LAID DOWN THE LAW.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RISK
THEIR LIVES
UNTIL THEY ARE SURE THERE IS
GOLD UNDER THE 8 FEET OF MUCK.
TO GET THE PROOF HE NEEDS,
TODD NEEDS HELP.
HE HEADS TO SEE A KLONDIKE MINER
WHO'S WORKED THE BLACK MUCK
FOR 20 YEARS.
Todd: I NEED HIM.
WE'LL JUST SEE
WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
JUST...
THIS OUGHT TO BE GOOD.
Narrator: 600 MILES SOUTH
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...
DAKOTA FRED PLANS TO RUN DIRT
ON AN UNTESTED MACHINE
HIS SON, DUSTIN,
HAS NICKNAMED "THE BEAST."
THE BEAST IS PRETTY POWERFUL.
SO I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
SO WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT
IF IT WORKS.
Fred: FIRE IT UP!
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
Narrator:
EVER SINCE DAKOTA FRED REMOVED
THE HOFFMANS' OLD WASH PLANT...
GET THAT THING OUT OF HERE!
...THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE BEEN
DIALING IN THEIR NEW DEROCKER.
IT'S HERE NOW, AND WE'RE
GONNA PUT IT INTO ACTION.
Narrator:
THEY'RE BANKING ON THE DEROCKER
TO EXTRACT THE GOLD
FROM PORCUPINE CREEK DIRT.
I NEED TO SEE SOME GOLD,
KEEP MY BILLS RUNNING.
Narrator: AFTER 40 DAYS,
FRED AND HIS SON, DUSTIN,
ARE FINALLY READY TO RUN DIRT
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
BRANDING THE BEAST.
THIS IS OUR DAKOTA BOYS MARK.
AND FIRE WATER PUMP UP.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
Dustin: I THINK IT'S GONNA WORK
JUST PERFECT, FRED.
YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK?
Fred: I THINK I'M READY TO RUN
DIRT RIGHT NOW.
I'M GONNA JUST THROW SOME
IN THERE
JUST TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON,
SEE HOW IT ACTS,
SEE IF IT'S DOING
WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO.
Narrator: FRED LOADS HIS FIRST
BUCKET OF DIRT OF THE SEASON.
THE DEROCKER IS DESIGNED TO WASH
GOLD-RICH DIRT FROM BOULDERS.
THE MATERIAL FLOWS
ALONG THE WAVY DECK
WHILE JETS WASH THE ROCKS.
ANY GOLD FALLS
INTO THE SLUICE BOXES BELOW.
BUT FRED HAS NEVER RUN DIRT
THROUGH A MACHINE LIKE THIS
BEFORE.
THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE NO IDEA
IF THE DEROCKER
CAN HANDLE THE LARGE
PORCUPINE CREEK BOULDERS.
BETTER GET BACK.
HEY, DUST! ANOTHER BIG ONE
COMING THROUGH -- A BIG ONE!
I THINK IT'S GONNA FILL UP
AND THEN JUST...
START FALLING OFF, I HOPE.
* DA DA DA *
Narrator:
AFTER A TENSE MOMENT,
THE DAKOTA BOYS' NEW DEROCKER
IS WORKING PERFECTLY.
THIS IS AWESOME.
THIS IS...
IS A GREAT SENSE
OF ACCOMPLISHMENT RIGHT NOW.
IT REALLY FEELS GOOD --
EXHILARATING.
I FEEL CHARGED RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: UP AHEAD...
TODD SEEKS HELP
FROM A KLONDIKE LEGEND
TO LOCATE THE GOLD
AT QUARTZ CREEK.
DUDE, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M DOING.
PARKER SCHNABEL WAGES WAR...
COME ON!
...AGAINST
CENTURY-OLD MINING EQUIPMENT.
LOOK AT THAT BEAST!
Narrator: AND DAKOTA FRED
AND HIS SON, DUSTIN...
START.
...HIT ONE BRICK WALL
AFTER ANOTHER.
I'VE JUST NEVER SEEN
SO MANY THINGS GO WRONG.
Narrator:
IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN IS ON THE HUNT
FOR INFORMATION.
TO CRUSH A CREW REBELLION
AT QUARTZ CREEK,
HE HAS TO PROVE THAT
UNDER 8 FEET OF THICK MUCK...
THERE'S GOLD.
THERE'S AN OFFICE RIGHT THERE.
Narrator:
TODD'S BROUGHT DAVE
TO MEET NEIGHBORING MINER
DUTCHMAN TONY BEETS.
HEY, MY NAME'S TODD.
YEAH, I FIGURED THAT ONE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YEAH.
TONY BEETS.
TONY.
YEAH.
GOOD TO MEET YOU.
Turin: HEY, TONY.
HEY.
Narrator:
TONY RUNS TAMARACK MINE,
A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR
GOLD-MINING CORPORATION.
Todd: I GOT TO GET SOME HELP
FROM THIS GUY.
I'D RATHER DO IT ONCE
AND DO IT RIGHT.
THIS GUY KNOWS
HOW TO DO IT RIGHT.
Narrator:
TODD WANTS TO SHOW DAVE TURIN
THAT IT'S WORTH
RISKING EVERYTHING
TO GET DOWN TO THE GOLD.
THAT'S FUN TO WATCH.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
Todd: I'D LIKE TO HAVE
A WEEK LIKE THAT.
Narrator: FOR TONY,
THIS IS A BAD WEEK --
220 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH ABOUT $350,000.
I'D BE PRETTY HAPPY
WITH 220 OUNCES.
TONY HAS GOLD MINING
DOWN TO A SCIENCE.
Beets: THIS IS JUST PART
OF WHAT WE GOT.
THIS IS NOT ALL OF IT
THAT CAME OUT OF IT.
Narrator:
LIKE THE HOFFMANS,
TONY ALSO FIGHTS
A SEA OF BLACK MUCK,
BUT HE STILL PULLS
THOUSANDS OF OUNCES OF GOLD
OUT FROM UNDER IT EVERY YEAR.
WHILE DAVE CHECKS OUT
THE MINE...
[ LAUGHTER ]
GET IN.
...TODD AND TONY MEET PRIVATELY.
TODD WANTS TO FIND OUT
HOW HE CAN CONVINCE HIS CREW
THAT THERE'S GOLD
AT QUARTZ CREEK.
WELL, OKAY,
HERE'S THE DEAL.
I'M DOWN THERE ON QUARTZ CREEK.
I'M STARTING TO STRIP.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING
STRIPPING
IF YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S UNDERNEATH IT?
HMM.
DRILL.
SEE, THIS WHAT YOU WANT.
TONY'S MINING CORPORATION
IS THRIVING
BECAUSE IT STICKS
TO ONE GOLDEN RULE.
NO DRILLING TEST HOLES --
NO DIGGING.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
WHEN YOU DRILL.
YEAH.
THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE GROUND
EVERY 3, 4 FEET.
OH, GREAT.
THERE'S NO DREAMING
IN THIS KIND OF BUSINESS.
WELL, TONY, DUDE,
I'M GLAD YOU TOLD ME THIS
'CAUSE I'M GONNA
FRICKIN' DRILL IT.
IT'S THERE, YEAH.
YOU GOT TO GET THAT.
NOW YOU GOT TO GO DRILL.
APPRECIATE IT.
DRILLING'S NUMBER ONE.
NO DRILLING -- NO DIGGING.
NEVER MIND THE STORIES
THE NEIGHBORS HAVE.
DRILL.
OTHERWISE, THEY'LL END UP
WITH THE SAME KIND OF SEASON
AS THEY HAD LAST YEAR.
I GOT SOME CONFIRMATION
ON SOME THINGS.
HE SAID, "DON'T EVEN --
DON'T EVEN TOUCH THE GROUND
UNLESS YOU DRILL IT."
AND SO, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO.
Narrator: 600 MILES SOUTH
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE...
16-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS A NEW SPOT TO MINE.
I THINK MY GRANDPA WAS
KIND OF SAVING THIS AREA FOR...
A SPECIAL TIME, AND I GUESS
THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME.
Narrator: JUST SIX WEEKS AGO,
PARKER FINISHED 11th GRADE.
FOR HIS SUMMER VACATION, HE'S
TAKING OVER THE BIG NUGGET MINE
FROM HIS 91-YEAR-OLD GRANDPA,
JOHN.
HE'S GONNA MAKE
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY DAY.
Narrator: BUT THE BIG NUGGET
MINE IS IN TROUBLE.
IF HE DOESN'T TURN A PROFIT,
WE WON'T RUN NEXT YEAR.
Narrator:
ALREADY THIS SEASON,
PARKER HAS 10 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH AROUND $16,000.
I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING
RIGHT.
Narrator: BUT HIS RUNNING COSTS
SO FAR ARE DOUBLE THAT,
AND THE GOLD HAS DRIED UP.
I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I NEED
EXCEPT DIRT WITH GOLD IN IT.
Narrator:
PARKER IS DESPERATE
TO FIND A NEW SOURCE OF GOLD
AND SAVE THE MINE.
Parker:
MY GRANDPA'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT,
"OH, THE BUCKETS, THE BUCKETS,"
FOR PROBABLY LIKE FIVE YEARS.
HE'S LIKE, "OH, IF I WANTED
SOME EASY MONEY,
I'D JUST GO DIG
THE BUCKETS OUT."
THAT'S WHAT
HE KEPT TELLING ME, SO...
WE'LL SEE IF HE WAS RIGHT.
Narrator: THE BUCKETS ARE PART
OF A 100-YEAR-OLD DREDGE --
A PRIMITIVE EXCAVATOR
THAT DUG OUT GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT.
BUT A FLOOD 100 YEARS AGO
WASHED AWAY
EVERYTHING
BUT THE HEAVY IRON BUCKETS.
THE SCHNABELS THINK THE FLOOD
FORCED THE OLD MINERS
TO LEAVE BEHIND A LOT OF GOLD.
Parker: I'M REALLY EXCITED
TO GET THE BUCKETS OUT
AND SEE WHAT'S DOWN THERE,
AND IF WE'RE RIGHT,
IT SHOULD BE PRETTY GOOD.
AND IF WE'RE WRONG,
WE'LL LOSE...
10 GRAND.
Narrator:
RUNNING THE 330 EXCAVATOR
CAN BURN UP TO $1,000 OF DIESEL
A DAY.
JOHN SCHNABEL
HAS WAITED 25 YEARS
TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S UNDER THESE BUCKETS.
JUST TRYING TO SEE WHAT'S
DOWN UNDERNEATH THERE, HUH?
WE LIVE IN EXPECTATION.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ MACHINE CREAKING ]
Narrator: BUT HE'S GONNA
HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER.
IT'S BEEN SITTING IN THERE
A LONG TIME,
AND IT DOESN'T WANT TO COME OUT,
I DON'T THINK.
MAYBE WITH A CABLE
ON OUR BIG LOADER.
[ GRUNTS ]
Narrator:
GRANDPA JOHN JUMPS IN THE LOADER
WHILE PARKER ATTACHES
A THICK CABLE
TO THE HEAVIEST PART OF THE OLD
BUCKET SYSTEM, THE GEAR WHEEL.
[ MACHINE CREAKING ]
NOPE!
NOT EVEN CLOSE.
Narrator: PARKER'S STEEL CABLE
IS RATED TO PULL 10 TONS,
BUT IT SNAPS UNDER THE WEIGHT
OF THE BUCKETS.
John:
IT DIDN'T EVEN JIGGLE.
Parker:
IT MUST ALL BE CONNECTED.
I THINK THE BIG GEAR
HAS A SHAFT,
A SPROCKET
THAT THE CHAIN IS AROUND.
GOT TO DIG IT OUT.
YOU CAN'T PULL IT OUT.
[ CLATTERS ]
BAD NEWS FOR PARKER.
THE MORE FUEL HE HAS TO BURN,
THE MORE GOLD HE HAS TO FIND.
[ SIGHS ] I WISH THAT
WOULD'VE JUST CAME RIGHT OUT,
BUT THAT'D BE TOO EASY.
Narrator: LESS THAN A MILE AWAY
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...
Fred:
YEAH, I CAN HEAR YOU.
...FRED GETS A CALL FROM HIS
WIFE BACK HOME IN NORTH DAKOTA.
HOLY COW.
WHERE ARE YOU --
WHERE ARE YOU NOW?
I THINK OUR SATELLITE
HAS GONE DOWN.
I GOT...
NEWS THAT OUR HOUSE...
IS GONNA GO UNDERWATER
IN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DAYS.
[ SIRENS WAILING ]
Narrator:
MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA,
WHERE FRED LIVES
IN THE OFF-SEASON,
IS FACING THE WORST FLOODING
IN 40 YEARS.
FRED'S HOME IS RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOD ZONE.
WE'RE GONNA LOSE
[CLEARS THROAT]
PRETTY MUCH
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE GOT.
TALKED TO MY WIFE.
I ASK HER IF I SHOULD
JUST GO AHEAD AND LEAVE HERE.
AND SHE INSISTED I DO NOT.
SHE SAID, "FRED...
"WE'VE INVESTED
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE GOT,
ANYTHING WE CAN AFFORD
INTO THIS OPERATION."
SHE SAID, "STAY THERE.
MAKE SOME GOLD."
IT'S JUST TOUGH.
REALLY TOUGH.
Narrator: FRED NOW NEEDS TO HIT
THE MOTHER LODE
AT PORCUPINE CREEK
MORE THAN EVER.
Narrator:
IN THE KLONDIKE,
TODD HOFFMAN IS BACK
FROM HIS MEETING WITH
NEIGHBORING MINER TONY BEETS.
THE GUY, TONY,
TODAY CONFIRMED IT FOR SURE.
THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT.
I'M GONNA -- I'M GONNA DRILL.
HEY, GREG!
DAVE! JAMES!
DAD.
Jack: YEAH?
Narrator:
IT'S BEEN 24 HOURS
SINCE THE HOFFMAN CREW
DEMANDED PROOF
THAT GOLD LIES UNDER THE THICK
BLACK MUCK AT QUARTZ CREEK.
LITTLE MEETING HERE.
TODD HAS A PLAN.
FIRST OFF, WE GOT TO GET
DRILLING IMMEDIATELY.
THIS IS
WHAT TONY TOLD ME TODAY.
DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT
UNLESS YOU DRILL IT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK,
GREG?
DRILLING --
IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY AWESOME
STRIPPING GROUND
WHEN WE KNOW
WHAT'S AT THE BOTTOM.
SO, DAVE...
Turin: I'M SATISFIED.
WE MIGHT AS WELL START.
THIS IS OUR LAST SHOT.
WE NEED SOME HOPE.
WE'RE PUSHING MUD.
WE NEED SOME HOPE.
LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: WITH THE WHOLE TEAM
BEHIND DRILLING,
JACK HAS NO OPTION
BUT TO FALL IN LINE.
I DO AGREE WITH THE GUYS.
I DO AGREE
THAT WE NEED TO DRILL IT
SO WE AREN'T WASTING
A BUNCH OF MONEY OR TIME.
Remsburg:
WE'VE BEEN AIMLESSLY MOVING DIRT
HERE FOR THE PAST WEEK
AND SPENDING THE EQUIVALENT OF
WHAT A DRILLER'S GONNA COST US.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE CAN
ACTUALLY HAVE SOME DIRECTION.
Narrator:
NO MORE MUD WILL BE STRIPPED
UNTIL DRILL TESTS PINPOINT
EXACTLY WHERE THE GOLD IS --
THAT IS, IF THERE IS ANY.
600 MILES SOUTH
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...
...AFTER SIX GRUELING WEEKS
OF PREP,
DAKOTA FRED'S DEROCKER
IS FINALLY WORKING.
NOW HE CAN START FEEDING IT
GOLD-RICH DIRT.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: FOR THAT,
HE USES HIS AGING 980 LOADER.
Fred:
COME ON, BABY, LET'S START.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
Narrator:
AT LEAST THAT'S THE PLAN.
[ MACHINE CREAKING ]
[ GROANS ]
I NEED TO READ UP
ON THE OLD 580.
I THINK
IT'S A BRAKE PROBLEM.
Narrator: TO FIND OUT
WHY THE BRAKES AREN'T WORKING,
FRED AND SON, DUSTIN, HAVE TO
TAKE OFF THE 1/2-TON WHEEL.
WE HAVE ANOTHER CHAIN THERE.
I'VE GOT ONE.
THAT'S ONE RIGHT HERE
WE COULD USE FOR THAT.
COME ON, NOW.
[ MACHINE CREAKING, BEEPING ]
Dustin:
ONE CHAIN SET.
COMING UP, COMING UP.
ALL YOURS.
WATCH OUT.
IT'LL BE INTERESTING
TO SEE WHAT 28-YEAR-OLD BRAKES
LOOK LIKE.
NOW, I SEE MAYBE, MAYBE
3/16 OF AN INCH OF LINING LEFT.
SO THOSE
ARE VERY, VERY WORN.
JUST ABOUT THE TIME THAT WE
GET FINISHED WITH OUR DEROCKER
AND GETTING EVERYTHING SET UP
WITH THE WATER
AND EVERYTHING READY TO MINE,
WE GET THE BAD NEWS
THAT THE BRAKES ON THIS LOADER
JUST WILL NOT HOLD.
JUST CAN'T OPERATE THAT WAY,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE ON GRADES
AND SLOPES AND RAMPS,
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
GOT SOME BEARINGS HERE
I WANT TO PROTECT
FROM GETTING DIRT ALL OVER IT.
Narrator: FRED CAN'T RUN THE
LOADER WITHOUT NEW BRAKE PADS,
AND WITHOUT THE LOADER,
FRED CAN'T RUN HIS DEROCKER.
Fred:
THIS PARTICULAR MACHINE
IS AN ABSOLUTE KEY PART
OF OUR OPERATION.
NO LOADER, NO GOLD.
Narrator:
ACROSS THE CREEK AT BIG NUGGET,
PARKER SCHNABEL IS SPENDING
CLOSE TO $1,000 ON FUEL A DAY.
HE'S SURE THERE'S GOLD
UNDER THESE CENTURY-OLD
RUSTY MINING BUCKETS.
Parker:
ALL WE NEED IS ONE OF THOSE
LITTLE BUCKETS FULL OF GOLD,
AND THEN I'D HAVE A BEACH HOUSE
IN THE HAMPTONS.
Narrator: PARKER PLANS
TO FISH THE BUCKETS OUT,
BUT IT'S HARD TO FISH
WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CATCH.
Parker: I THINK I NEED TO SEE
WHAT I'M DOING.
IT'S TOUGH
NOT TO HOOK ONTO THE BUCKETS
OR WHATEVER'S DOWN THERE WITHOUT
SEEING WHAT'S UNDER THE WATER.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
ONCE WE GET THE THING
PUMPED OUT,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET
ALL THIS STUFF OUT OF HERE.
SO, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT
ONCE WE GET THE BUCKETS OUT,
THE LAYER OF GROUND
UNDERNEATH THEM
IS UNWORKED GROUND
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BUILT UP
OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
[ MACHINE CREAKING ]
I NEED TO FLOP THIS UP OVER
AND LAY IT
UP AGAINST THIS ROCK HERE.
[ THUD ]
OH, DAMN IT!
IT BROKE!
Narrator:
PARKER WORKS HALF A DAY
AND BURNS HALF A TANK OF DIESEL
AND MANAGES TO PULL OUT
HALF OF THE BUCKETS.
HEY, YOU GOT IT!
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S
QUITE A PIECE OF IRON.
WE CAN SEND THAT
TO AN ANTIQUE DEALER
FOR A DOLLAR A POUND --
WE'D BE RICH.
THERE MUST BE
AN AWFUL LOT OF IRON.
THAT LIFT SYSTEM HAD A LOT MORE
THAN JUST THIS.
HOW FAR DO YOU THINK IT IS
TO BEDROCK?
IT'LL BE
BELOW THE BUCKET.
I DON'T KNOW.
THE BUCKETS -- I'VE GOT...
PROBABLY
8 FEET DOWN THERE
UNDER THE WATER LEVEL
RIGHT NOW,
AND I'M STILL NOT HITTING
THE BOTTOM OF THAT LAST CHAIN.
YOUR CURIOSITY
IS GETTING TO THE POINT
WHERE YOU WONDER
IF THERE'S ANY GOLD IN IT, HUH?
I CAN'T GET -- NO, I JUST
CAN'T GET THE BUCKETS OUT.
UH-HUH. WELL, YOU CAN GET THEM.
JUST KEEP WORKING AT IT.
BUT WHAT PARKER REALLY NEEDS
TO DIG UP IS GOLD,
OR HE'LL BANKRUPT
HIS GRANDPA'S MINE.
Narrator:
AT THE QUARTZ CREEK GOLD CLAIM,
A DRILLING EXPERT
HAS JUST ARRIVED.
Todd: YEAH, IT'S KIND OF
A CRAZY-LOOKING, LITTLE VEHICLE,
BUT I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT
ABOUT THIS.
Narrator:
IN THE BOMBARDIER DRILL RIG...
AH!
...IS HENRY RENNIG.
CAN YOU GET THROUGH THERE
OKAY?
OH, YEAH, I SHOULD BE GOOD.
I GOT TO PUT A HOLE RIGHT HERE.
FOR 20 YEARS,
HE'S DRILLED FOR GOLD
ON THE LARGEST CLAIMS
IN THE KLONDIKE.
TODD NEEDS HIS EXPERTISE
TO FIND OUT HOW DEEP THE MUCK IS
AND IF THERE'S PAY GRAVEL
BENEATH IT.
Todd: SO, NOW HENRY'S GONNA GO
AHEAD AND DROP A HOLE HERE.
WE'RE GONNA DO THIS RIGHT
THIS YEAR.
WE'RE GONNA DRILL. WE'RE
GONNA DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE ADVICE
FROM ALL THE GUYS THAT ARE
SUCCESSFUL ON THIS CREEK.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE DRILLING.
Narrator: HENRY SINKS HOLE
NUMBER ONE INTO THE BLACK MUCK.
TO LOCATE THE GOLD,
HE DRILLS DOWN THROUGH
THE BLACK MUCK AND PERMAFROST,
ADDING SECTIONS OF DRILL BIT
5 FEET AT A TIME
TO GET DOWN TO THE PAY GRAVEL
AND BEDROCK.
THE DIRT SAMPLE SHOULD PINPOINT
WHETHER THERE'S GOLD
UNDER THIS PART OF THE CLAIM.
AFTER DRILLING EACH HOLE, HENRY
COLLECTS THE DIRT INTO BUCKETS
TO BE PANNED FOR GOLD LATER.
Todd: WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT
IF WE'RE GONNA BE EATING STEAK
OR IF WE'RE GONNA BE EATING
HOT DOGS.
Todd: WHAT'S YOUR GUESS ON OUR
PAY GRAVEL RIGHT IN THERE?
5 FEET OF GRAVEL
AND 2 FEET OF BEDROCK.
Narrator: THE FIRST HOLE
INDICATES THAT BENEATH THE MUCK,
THERE'S 5 FEET OF PAY GRAVEL.
IF THIS LAYER IS EVEN
ACROSS THE CLAIM,
THERE COULD BE 8,000 TONS
OF GOLD-BEARING GRAVEL
TO MINE AT QUARTZ CREEK.
THE GOLD IS JUST UNDER OUR FEET.
AND STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
BUT IT'S WITHIN REACH.
Narrator: HENRY MOVES ON
TO HIS NEXT TEST HOLE.
Doumitt:
KIND OF CURIOUS NOW
AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON
AND WHAT HE'S GONNA FIND.
GETTING REAL CURIOUS.
Narrator: JACK WAS NOT A FAN
OF THE DRILLING PLAN,
BUT TWO DAYS AGO, HE HAD TO
GIVE IN TO THE CREW'S DEMAND.
Jack:
THIS IS 18 BUCKS A FOOT.
IT'S EXCITING, BUT I CAN HEAR
THE THINGS KA-CHING, KA-CHING
GOING ON IN MY BRAIN,
YOU KNOW?
Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN CREW CAN ONLY AFFORD
12 HOLES AT A COST OF $4,000 --
MONEY WELL SPENT
IF HENRY CAN PROVE
THERE'S GOLD ON QUARTZ CREEK.
Thurber:
WHAT HE'S GONNA DO
IS TELL US HOW DEEP WE
GOT TO DIG TO GET TO BEDROCK.
I MEAN, THIS IS ALL GREAT.
THIS IS A TOOL WE DIDN'T HAVE
LAST YEAR.
WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO DRILL
INSTEAD OF GUESSING AND GOING
BY OLD FOLKLORE HOW DEEP IT WAS.
THIS GUY WOULD TELL YOU
STRAIGHT UP.
Narrator:
THE CREW WATCHES NERVOUSLY
AS HENRY DIGS TOWARDS BEDROCK.
EVERY FOOT OF PAY GRAVEL
ON THE WAY DOWN
IS POTENTIALLY FULL OF GOLD.
HENRY, WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE
WHEN YOU HIT BEDROCK?
DEPENDS WHAT KIND OF BEDROCK
IT IS.
SOMETIMES
YOU GET SOFT BED,
AND THEN YOU DON'T HEAR
ANY STONES GRINDING.
OKAY.
Jack: WELL, WE'RE LOOKING
FOR CHUNKS OF BEDROCK.
THE GRAVEL WILL BE ROUNDED,
AND THE BEDROCK WILL BE SHARP.
Thurber: I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY
SHAFTS HE'S IN THE GROUND,
BUT...THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
Jack:
IT IS STILL GOING DOWN.
SEE, THIS IS
ALL SHARP STONES, EH?
YEAH.
HE'S THROUGH THE GRAVEL.
YOU NOTICE
IT'S GOT SHARP EDGES.
SO HE'S BREAKING UP
BEDROCK.
HENRY, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WHAT'S YOUR PREDICTION?
I THINK THIS HOLE
HAS A GOOD CHANCE.
PROBABLY 9 FEET DOWN
IS WHERE THE BEDROCK IS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GUESSING.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS --
THIS IS GOOD GROUND.
I'M JUST SURE OF IT.
BUT I'VE BEEN SURE
OF A LOT OF THINGS.
BUT I THINK YOU'RE
GONNA FIND OUT I'M RIGHT.
Narrator:
HENRY HAS ANOTHER 10 HOLES
TO DRILL ACROSS THE CLAIM.
THE HOFFMAN CREW WON'T KNOW
IF THEY HAVE GOLD
UNTIL HE PANS EACH TEST SAMPLE.
600 MILES SOUTH.
DAKOTA FRED
HEADS TO HAINES, ALASKA,
TO ORDER PARTS
FOR HIS BROKEN-DOWN 980 LOADER.
SEE YOU LATER.
TAKE CARE.
IT'S ALSO A CHANCE
TO FIND OUT FROM HIS WIFE
JUST HOW BAD THE FLOODING IS
BACK HOME IN MINOT.
[ Ringing ]
Hello?
HELLO, HON.
HOW YOU DOING?
Pretty bad day here
today.
Of course, we're expecting
7 more feet of water, so...
WOW. 7 FEET?
FRED'S HOME
HAS 3 FEET OF WATER IN IT.
SOON, IT WILL BE INUNDATED
LIKE THE REST OF MINOT,
NOW DECLARED A DISASTER AREA.
GONNA BE
JUST LIKE NEW ORLEANS.
ONCE IT BREACHES,
YOU CAN'T STOP IT.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
FRED HAS INVESTED HIS
LIFE SAVINGS IN PORCUPINE CREEK.
NOW HE HAS
A GUT-WRENCHING DECISION --
GO HOME TO SAVE HIS HOUSE
AND EVERYTHING HE OWNS
OR STAY AND FIND GOLD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I MEAN, I KNOW WE GOT A TON
OF MONEY INVESTED IN THIS THING.
WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING
THIS YEAR.
I wouldn't come
running home yet.
WELL, HON, I LOVE YOU.
I love you, too, baby.
AND...
Hang on.
I WILL.
Okay, honey.
I LOVE YOU.
Bye.
BYE.
AS LONG AS THERE IS A CHANCE
OF FINDING GOLD,
FRED IS STAYING
AT PORCUPINE CREEK.
Narrator:
AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,
PARKER SCHNABEL HASN'T RUN DIRT
NOW FOR FIVE DAYS.
HE'S STILL TRYING TO PULL
ANCIENT GOLD-MINING BUCKETS
OUT OF WHAT HE'S CONVINCED
IS GOLD-RICH DIRT.
Parker:
I WISH THEY WEREN'T THAT DEEP
'CAUSE NOT ONLY
CAN WE NOT GET THEM OUT
BUT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING ABOVE
THOSE BUCKETS HAS BEEN WORKED.
EVERYTHING FROM THAT
BUCKET LEVEL UP IS GARBAGE.
Narrator:
PARKER HAS GIVEN UP HOPE OF
GETTING OUT ALL OF THE BUCKETS,
BUT HE'S SHIFTED ENOUGH OF THEM
TO GET TO THE POCKETS OF DIRT
UNDER THEM.
Parker: I'M JUST GONNA KEEP
DIGGING ALONGSIDE OF THEM
AND HAUL IT TO THE PLANT
'CAUSE IT SHOULD BE GOOD DIRT.
Narrator:
FINALLY, HE CAN GET
TO THE MATERIAL HE'S BANKING ON
BEING RICH IN GOLD.
Parker:
IF I WORK A LATE NIGHT,
I COULD GET ENOUGH DIRT HAULED
TO RUN TOMORROW.
PARKER MUST UNEARTH AT LEAST
6 OUNCES OF GOLD WORTH $9,500
JUST TO COVER HIS FUEL COSTS.
BUT HE'S HOPING THIS OLD SPOT
WILL YIELD A WHOLE LOT MORE.
Parker: I'VE GOT A PLAN.
I'M GONNA EXECUTE MY PLAN.
SIMPLE AS THAT.
Narrator:
NORTH IN QUARTZ CREEK,
THE HOFFMANS ARE IN THEIR
SECOND DAY OF DRILL TESTING.
THAT'S A LOT OF MUD, DAVE.
Turin: THAT'S A LOT OF MUD.
DRILLER HENRY RENNIG
HAS ALREADY DUG SIX TEST HOLES
AND HAS SIX MORE TO GO.
Todd: HEY, HENRY, YOU GOT A NAME
FOR YOUR LITTLE RIG?
NO,
I CAN'T THINK OF ONE.
Todd: HOW ABOUT
"LITTLE RED MAMA"?
IT'S MORE ORANGE, THOUGH.
WELL, NOT WHEN IT WAS NEW,
IT WASN'T.
COME ON,
LITTLE RED MAMA.
THE LAST SIX HOLES
WILL BE UP IN THE TREE LINE
ABOVE THE DIG SITE.
THIS AREA IS TODD'S BACKUP PLAN
JUST IN CASE THERE'S NO GOLD
UNDER THE BLACK MUCK.
Todd: THERE MIGHT BE
AN ANCIENT CREEK THAT CAME DOWN.
SO I WANT TO PROVE IT,
SEE IF THAT IS THE CASE.
WE'LL GET HENRY OUT HERE
TO DRILL A FEW MORE HOLES
OUT IN THAT BOWL AREA.
BUT ME AND DAVE
ARE KIND OF THINKING
THAT THAT MIGHT BE
A SPECIAL PLACE.
IF TODD'S RIGHT,
THEN THERE COULD BE
ANOTHER PAY STREAK OF GOLD
ON THE QUARTZ CREEK CLAIM
30 FEET UP IN DENSE FOREST --
THAT IS, IF HENRY CAN GET
HIS DRILL UP THERE.
TODD HAS MADE THE DECISION
TO DRILL THESE SIX HOLES
AT A COST OF $2,000.
IF HENRY CAN'T HIT PAY GRAVEL,
IT WILL BE A WASTE OF MONEY.
HEY, HENRY, WHAT'S THE BEST HOLE
YOU EVER CAME UP WITH?
HOW MUCH GOLD IN ONE HOLE?
$30.
FOR ONE HOLE?
WOW!
HOPEFULLY,
YOU HIT INTO THE GRAVEL.
THIS IS GOOD, THOUGH.
LOOK, HE HIT GRAVEL RIGHT THERE
AT 8 FEET.
THAT'S NOT THAT MUCH
TO MOVE.
HENRY HAS FIVE MORE HOLES
TO DRILL AT THE TREE LINE
BEFORE THE HOFFMAN CREW
CAN FIND OUT
IF THERE'S ANY GOLD
ON THEIR CLAIM.
IF THERE ISN'T, THEY'LL HAVE TO
PACK UP AND GO HOME BROKE.
AT PORCUPINE CREEK...
DAKOTA FRED IS STILL STRUGGLING
TO RUN DIRT.
HIS 980 LOADER IS CRIPPLED,
BUT HE REFUSES TO GIVE UP.
UNTIL HE CAN GET THE PARTS
TO FIX THE 980,
HIS SON, DUSTIN, IS FORCED
TO USE THE SMALLER D6 DOZER
TO MOVE PAY DIRT
TO THE DEROCKER.
WE'RE ABOUT TO START RUNNING
REAL DIRT.
SO, HOPEFULLY, BY THE END OF
THE DAY, I'LL FEEL LIKE A MINER!
Narrator: IT'S FINALLY TIME
FOR THE DAKOTA BOYS
TO FIND OUT
IF THEY'RE ON THE GOLD.
DUSTIN'S BRINGING UP
MORE MATERIAL.
WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GO.
YOU READY?
GET IT GOING, FRED.
Fred: LET'S GO.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
YEAH, THE WATER'S GOING.
DOESN'T THAT LOOK GREAT?
NICE AND SMOOTH --
THE PERFECT RIVER.
I LIKE THAT.
OH, YEAH.
THAT IS NICE.
Narrator: FRED IS ABOUT TO LOSE
HIS HOUSE TO FLOODS.
HE HAS PUT HIS LIFE SAVINGS
ON THE LINE TO MINE.
HE HAS TO FIND GOLD NOW.
WITH HIS BIG LOADER BROKEN,
HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO FIRE UP
THE 270 EXCAVATOR
TO LOAD DIRT
INTO THE WASH PLANT.
[ CLICK ]
WHAT IN THE HELL'S THAT?
[ CLICKING ]
OH, CRAP!
GOD!
THERE'S DUSTIN.
LET ME HOLLER AT HIM.
DUSTIN! COME HERE!
IT WON'T START?
Narrator: THE 270,
FRED'S LAST HOPE, IS DEAD.
ALL RIGHT. DUSTIN?
YEAH?
HIT THAT STARTER AGAIN.
GO!
NOTHING.
[ GROANS ]
Fred:
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW.
IF THIS MACHINE
IS OUT OF OPERATION,
WE ARE OUT OF OPERATION.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.
I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF OUR
KEY PIECES OF EQUIPMENT,
PARTICULARLY
WITH JUST TWO OF US HERE.
IT'S SERIOUS -- VERY SERIOUS.
IF YOU COULD HOLD UP
THAT RUBBER PIECE RIGHT THERE,
I COULD TAKE THAT BOLT OFF.
ALL RIGHT.
YOU GOT IT, HUH?
I HOPE
THIS IS THE PROBLEM.
...KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS
WITH THAT THING.
Dustin:
IT'S THE STARTER.
SOMETHING'S WRONG
WITH THE STARTER.
LOOKS LIKE...
HEY, WE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE HERE
WITH THIS THING.
WE JUST CAN'T DO
ANY MINING.
IT'S ABSOLUTE DEAD
RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS NO PLACE
AROUND HERE
TO GET US
ANY PARTS FOR THIS THING.
I NEED TO GO BACK DOWN
TO MINOT.
I'VE JUST NEVER SEEN SO MANY
THINGS GO WRONG ALL AT ONCE.
Fred: IT'S JUST A DIFFICULT TIME
RIGHT NOW.
HOUSE IS GOING UNDER TONIGHT.
YOU JUST WONDER
HOW MUCH A GUY CAN TAKE.
Narrator: AFTER NEARLY
EIGHT WEEKS, FRED HAS NO GOLD,
AND HIS HOME
BACK IN NORTH DAKOTA
IS ABOUT TO GO UNDERWATER.
THIS COULD BE THE END
FOR THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM.
Narrator: AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE
IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA...
...PARKER SCHNABEL
IS FINALLY MOVING THE DIRT
FROM UNDER THE OLD IRON BUCKETS
TO HIS WASH PLANT.
HE NEEDS AT LEAST
6 OUNCES OF GOLD, OR $9,500,
TO COVER HIS COSTS.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW FOR SURE
WHETHER IT'S THERE OR NOT.
Narrator: HE'S HOPING
HE HAS HIT THE MOTHER LODE.
Parker:
I MAY HAVE WASTED 10 GRAND.
YEAH, I'M WORRIED.
Narrator: BUT AFTER FIVE HOURS
OF RUNNING, SIGNS AREN'T GOOD.
IF WE RAN DIRT
THAT HAD ANY NUGGETS IN IT,
THIS IS WHERE THEY'D BE.
BUT RIGHT NOW,
IT'S JUST A PILE OF NAILS.
IN THE PROCESSED DIRT, THERE'S
A REWARD FOR HIS EFFORTS --
A NUGGET WORTH ABOUT 100 BUCKS.
BUT NOT MUCH ELSE.
Parker:
WE DIDN'T MAKE MONEY.
IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT
UP THERE ON THAT?
NOT REALLY.
I WAS DOWN ON BEDROCK.
I DON'T THINK
IT CHANGES ANYTHING.
IT HASN'T CHANGED A THING,
HAS IT?
PARKER'S PLAN
HASN'T PAID OFF.
THE GOLD HE FOUND
UNDER THE OLD RUSTY BUCKETS
IS WORTH JUST $400.
BUT IT TOOK 10 DAYS AND
$10,000 IN FUEL TO GET TO IT.
EIGHT WEEKS
INTO HIS FIRST YEAR IN CHARGE,
PARKER IS HEADED FOR BANKRUPTCY.
Parker: I DIDN'T REALLY PREPARE
MYSELF TO LOSE MONEY THIS MUCH.
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
KEEP WORKING.
Narrator:
AT QUARTZ CREEK,
IT'S CRUNCH TIME
FOR THE HOFFMAN CREW.
THEIR DREAM OF STRIKING IT RICH
DEPENDS
ON HENRY'S DRILL RESULTS.
THAT'S OUR FIRST HOLE, RIGHT?
YEAH.
THE PAY GRAVEL FROM THE 12 DRILL
HOLES ARE IN SEPARATE BUCKETS.
HENRY PANS EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY
TO DETERMINE THEIR GOLD CONTENT.
THE FIRST SIX BUCKETS
ARE FROM TODD'S BACKUP PLAN --
THE AREA IN THE TREE LINE.
THIS IS BASICALLY A SNAPSHOT
OF YOUR FUTURE.
I'M FRICKIN' NERVOUS.
HEY, HENRY, IF THIS HOLE
DOESN'T TURN OUT GOOD,
I MIGHT NEED A HUG.
WELL, YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD
CHANCE OF FINDING SOMETHING.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
[ WATER RUSHING ]
I'LL LET YOU HAVE A LOOK
AT IT.
COUNT THEM OUT.
Jack: THERE'S AT LEAST
15 COLORS THERE.
Turin: IT'S NOT AS GOOD
AS I WAS HOPING.
Narrator: THE FIRST TEST SAMPLE
IS ALMOST WORTHLESS.
HENRY PANS THE DIRT
FROM DRILL HOLE NUMBER TWO.
Rennig: THIS ONE DOESN'T
EVEN LOOK AS GOOD AS THE
OTHER ONE, I DON'T THINK.
PRETTY DISAPPOINTING.
DOESN'T LOOK TOO GOOD.
Todd: NOTHING?
LITTLE BIT BETTER --
NO BETTER THAN -- NO BETTER YET.
Narrator:
THE FIRST SIX TEST HOLES
FROM THE TREE LINE ARE A BUST.
THERE'S ALMOST NO GOLD
IN THE PANS.
DISAPPOINTED --
EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED.
IT'S NOT EVEN GONNA PAY FOR
THE POSTAGE TO PAY THE BILLS.
Remsburg: NOT GOOD.
IT'S NOT GOOD.
Narrator:
BUT THERE ARE SIX MORE.
THE SECOND DRILL TEST RESULTS
ARE FROM THE SLIPPERY SLOPE
WHERE THE HOFFMANS HAVE BATTLED
THE MUCK.
IF THERE'S NO GOLD IN ANY OF
THESE SIX REMAINING TEST HOLES,
THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS OUT OF BUSINESS.
Todd:
ALL RIGHT, BUD.
PAN REAL SLOW.
REMEMBER WHAT I SAID.
I GOT TO HUG YOU.
YOU GOT TO HUG ME.
IF THE NEXT HOLE'S OUTRAGEOUSLY
RICH, DO I GET A HUG?
DUDE, YOU'RE GONNA GET
MORE THAN A HUG, HENRY.
Remsburg:
IT'S GONNA BE THE MOST-WATCHED
PAN YOU'VE EVER DONE, HENRY.
I DON'T KNOW.
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S A LOT OF BLACK SAND.
THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD.
THE DIRT FROM THE FIRST HOLE
IN THE DIG SITE IS A HIT.
I SAW AT LEAST 20, 30 PIECES
OF GOLD IN THERE.
Narrator: 20 TO 30 PIECES
OF GOLD IN ONE PAN
MEANS THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS HIT PAY DIRT.
YOU CAN SEE GOLD ALL THE WAY
AROUND THE TOP OF THIS PAN.
THIS SEASON IS MAKE OR BREAK.
THE HOFFMAN CREW NOW KNOWS
THEIR CLAIM HOLDS GOLD,
THEY KNOW WHERE IT IS,
AND THEY HAVE PLENTY OF TIME
LEFT IN THE SEASON
TO STRIKE IT RICH.
Turin:
THIS IS EXCITING.
THERE'S GOLD UNDER THIS GROUND,
AND, LIKE JACK SAID LAST YEAR
BUT NOW I BELIEVE IT,
WE JUST GOT TO DIG IT UP.
Doumitt: OH,
I DEFINITELY HAVE GOLD FEVER.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
I CAUGHT IT LAST YEAR, AND
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SHAKE IT.
Jack:
IT'S MORE THAN SUCCESSFUL.
IT'S --
IT'S DROP-DEAD FANTASTIC.
Thurber: THAT'S PRICELESS
AND A LIFE-CHANGING EVENT
FOR ALL OF US.