Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 1 - New Blood - full transcript
Young Parker sets an outrageous season goal of 2,000 ounces. Tony Beets, The Viking, buys a 75-year-old gold catching dredge. And Todd Hoffman is left a broken man without a crew and with no plans to mine.
Turin: I'M NOT MINING
WITH THE HOFFMANS ANYMORE.
IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION.
I LOVE TODD,
BUT I CAN'T SPEND ANOTHER YEAR
OF MY LIFE WORKING FOR HIM.
I NEED TO BE WITH A CREW
WHO CAN GET SOME SERIOUS GOLD.
THIS IS MY CHANCE
AT A NEW BEGINNING.
RIGHT HERE UNDER THIS GLACIER
IS A GREAT, BIG PILE OF GOLD.
ALL WE GOT TO DO IS DIG IT UP.
Todd: I HAD A DREAM
OF GOING TO THE JUNGLE,
AND WHAT THAT DREAM BROUGHT WAS
A LOT OF PAIN AND HEARTBREAK.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE LOST
AND WHAT WE WENT THROUGH,
THAT DAMN NEAR DESTROYED ME.
IT WAS EMBARRASSING
AND DEMORALIZING.
I NEVER, EVER WANT TO BE A PART
OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN,
AND I WON'T -- WON'T DO IT.
[ BIRD SCREECHES ]
Parker:
LAST SEASON WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.
WE FOUND A LOT OF GOLD.
WE MADE A LOT OF MONEY.
A THOUSAND OUNCES OUR FIRST YEAR
IN THE KLONDIKE
IS A DAMN GOOD ACHIEVEMENT.
[ SNAKE RATTLES ]
YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WAS
THE TRAINING YEAR,
AND IT'S TIME TO TAKE
THE TRAINING WHEELS OFF.
Narrator: THIS SEASON,
EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.
WE'RE NOT MINERS ANYMORE.
LET'S TEAR THIS THING UP.
Narrator: NEW CLAIMS...
THE CARMACKS IS OPEN
FOR BUSINESS.
Narrator: ...NEW MINERS...
...AND NEW WAYS TO PULL GOLD
OUT OF THE GROUND.
BIGGER...
[BLEEP]
Narrator:
...BADDER MACHINES.
BIG DREAMS...
I'M SETTING A 2,000-OUNCE GOAL
FOR US.
...BIG DECISIONS...
I'M OUT, TODD.
DUDE, I'M OUT.
Todd:
I DO NOT WANT DO THIS, DAD.
JUST DON'T QUIT.
Narrator: ...AND THE BIGGEST
GOLD THEY'VE EVER MINED.
Turin: THAT'S THE BIGGEST NUGGET
I'VE EVER DUG UP.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator:
IN A HIGH MOUNTAIN PASS
JUST WEST OF CARMACKS
IN THE YUKON,
A NEW GOLD-MINING CREW KICKS OFF
THEIR SEASON.
DAVE TURIN HAS LEFT
HIS OLD FRIEND TODD HOFFMAN
TO MINE WITH TWO LEGENDS,
FREDDIE AND DEREK DODGE.
THEIR GROUND --
AN EXTRAORDINARY,
NUGGET-RICH VALLEY.
Derek: WE'RE GLAD
YOU'RE HERE WITH US, DAVE.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE YOU
ON THE TEAM.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TOGETHER
AS A TEAM TO KICK SOME ASS.
I WOULD SUGGEST WE GET IN
OUR MACHINES AND RIP AND TEAR.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S RIP THE HELL
OUT OF THIS THING.
LET'S GO, GUYS.
Narrator: THE DODGE BROTHERS'
CARMACKS CLAIM
IS JUST TWO MILES
FROM THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN,
CLOSE TO THE SOURCE OF THE GOLD
IN AN AREA THAT WAS MISSED
DURING THE GOLD RUSH.
IT'S THOUGHT TO CONTAIN
SOME OF THE BEST GOLD DEPOSITS
IN THE YUKON.
LAST YEAR, THE HOFFMANS
CONSIDERED MINING CARMACKS.
SO YOU GUYS ARE AFTER
SOME BIG NUGGETS, HUH?
LIKE HOW BIG?
HOW BIG?
ABOUT THAT BIG.
OH!
NOW, THAT'S WHAT I CALL
A BIG NUGGET.
BUT WHEN TODD DECIDED ON HEADING
TO SOUTH AMERICA INSTEAD,
THE DODGE BROTHERS MINED
THE CLAIM.
LOOK AT THAT ONE!
SOME BEAUTIFUL GOLD HERE.
THE RESULTS WERE REMARKABLE.
Derek: THIS IS
JUST SOME OF THE BIG STUFF.
Narrator:
DAVE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE
TO GET A PIECE
OF THE CARMACKS ACTION.
I CAN'T WAIT TILL I SEE GOLD.
FREDDY AND DEREK HAVE BEEN DOING
THIS CREEK,
AND THEY'RE GETTING BIG GOLD
AND A LOT OF IT.
I'M KIND OF KNOWN
AS THE GOLD GUY.
DEREK, HE'S BEEN A PROSPECTOR
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
DAVE,
HE'S ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE
I'VE EVER SEEN
ON HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
WE'VE PUT TOGETHER
ONE HELL OF A TEAM.
IF THE GOLD'S IN THE GROUND,
WE WILL SUCCEED.
Narrator:
THE NUGGETS AT CARMACKS
ARE BURIED BENEATH THE ICE.
DAVE AND THE DODGE BROTHERS
COULD WAIT FOR THE FROZEN RIVER
TO THAW,
BUT THEY HAVE A PLAN
THAT SHOULD PUT THEM WEEKS AHEAD
OF THE GAME.
THEY'LL BUILD AN ICE DEN
UPSTREAM...
...TO CREATE A MASSIVE BUILDUP
OF WATER.
WHEN THE DAM IS FULL,
DEREK WILL RELEASE
200,000 GALLONS OF WATER
INTO THE VALLEY BELOW.
THE SURGE SHOULD CLEAR
ENOUGH SNOW AND ICE
FOR THE CREW TO START MINING.
BUT DAVE HAS TO BUILD THE DAM
FROM BELOW,
MANEUVERING HIS EXCAVATOR
ON ICE.
Turin:
I'VE NEVER WORKED ON ICE BEFORE.
IT MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS.
THIS IS A 105,000-POUND MACHINE,
AND IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO BE RUN
ON SNOW AND ICE.
COME ON. GET UP.
THERE WE GO.
THERE WE GO.
AH, THAT'S GOOD.
Narrator: AFTER A HALF AN HOUR,
THE DAM STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE.
Turin: HERE, I GOT A LOT OF ICE
SITTING IN HERE RIGHT NOW.
Freddy: THE POND'S FILLING UP
FASTER THAN I THOUGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HURRY.
Derek:
WELL, I'M GONNA CUT IT LOSE.
IT'S GOING TO GO BIG.
HANG ON.
LET ME GET OUT OF HERE.
WHOA.
Narrator:
200,000 GALLONS OF WATER
THREATEN TO BREACH THE DAM
WITH DAVE DIRECTLY IN ITS PATH.
Turin: WHOA!
WHOA, EASY THERE.
Derek: ABOUT TO LOSE IT.
Turin: COME ON, BABY.
GET UP THE HILL.
I CAN'T BE WAITING.
YOU GOT TO HURRY, GUYS.
THIS DAM'S GOING TO BREAK
ON ITS OWN.
[ GROANS ]
WELL, THAT OUGHT TO BE ENOUGH.
Narrator:
WITH DAVE OUT OF HARM'S WAY,
DEREK BREAKS THROUGH
THE 15-FOOT WALL.
LET'S GIVE IT HELL.
THERE IT GOES!
LOOK AT THAT STUFF
GO DOWN THE CREEK, MAN.
SOME ICE FLOWING NOW.
NICE!
THAT'LL CLEAR IT OUT.
ALL THE WATER AND ICE FROM ABOVE
HAS FLOWED DOWN TO THE BOTTOM
OF THE MOUNTAIN.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT.
IT'S WORKING PERFECT.
Narrator:
IN JUST A MORNING'S WORK,
THE WATER HAS CLEARED
MOST OF THE ICE
COVERING THEIR CARMACKS GOLD.
WE TORE
THE HECK OUT OF IT.
WORKED GOOD, HUH?
DOWN TO GRAVEL.
THERE'S GOLD RIGHT
WHERE WE'RE STANDING HERE NOW.
I THINK THERE'S GONNA
BE POCKETS IN HERE THAT
ARE GONNA BE AMAZING.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE
A GREAT SEASON.
CARMACKS IS OPEN
FOR BUSINESS.
Narrator: LAST YEAR,
IN HIS FIRST KLONDIKE SEASON,
19-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL
MINED A STAGGERING
1,029 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH $1.4 MILLION.
I MEAN, LAST SEASON,
BY EVERY MEASURE THAT I KNOW,
IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS FOR US,
AND WE DID OVER 1,000 OUNCES
ON LOW-GRADE GROUND.
TONY TOLD ME THAT IF I DID WELL
LAST YEAR,
HE'D GIVE ME BETTER GROUND.
I'M HERE TO GET IT.
Narrator: PARKER'S TRAVELED
3,000 MILES TO ARIZONA
FOR A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING
WITH HIS CLAIM OWNER,
TONY BEETS, AT HIS WINTER HOME.
HEY, TONY.
LONG TIME, NO SEE.
YEAH.
WELL, I MEAN,
LIKE WE SAID LAST YEAR,
YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A BIT
OF A TRAINING GROUND.
BUT THIS SEASON, YOU KNOW,
I'M PREPARED TO THROW EVERYTHING
WE MADE LAST YEAR INTO IT.
BUT THAT MEANS,
OBVIOUSLY, LIKE YOU KNOW,
WE NEED BETTER GROUND.
NO, NO, NO, NO,
NO, NO, NO, NO.
I THOUGHT
I COULD EXPECT IT, BECAUSE...
HMM, NO.
...YOU KNOW, THIS SEASON --
OR THIS LAST SEASON,
I THOUGHT THAT WE SHOWED THAT
YOU CAN GIVE ME GROUND
THAT IS ECONOMICAL TO MINE.
NO.
I EXPECTED THIS
TO GO DIFFERENTLY.
IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS TO ME
AT THIS POINT
THAT YOU'RE LEASING ME GROUND
THAT YOU WOULD NEVER TOUCH.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S
NO NEGOTIATING HERE, SO, UM...
WELL, YOU MAKE IT HARD
TO BE HAPPY.
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
[ SIGHS ]
[BLEEP] THAT.
I MEAN, IF TONY WANTS ME TO MINE
HIS [BLEEP] GROUND,
THEN I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I WANT
TO GO BACK TO THE KLONDIKE.
Narrator: 1,000 MILES NORTH,
IN SANDY, OREGON,
AFTER EPIC FAILURE
IN THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA,
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS DISBANDED.
THE GUYS HAVE HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO DO WHAT THEY CAN
TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN HOME,
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET
ANY ODD JOB I CAN FIND.
GOT BILLS TO PAY.
Narrator:
ANDY SPINKS HAS RESORTED
TO WORKING
AT HIS FAMILY'S NURSERY.
Spinks: I'VE SPENT A LOT
OF YEARS TO TRY TO HELP TODD,
AND IT'S A BIG COMMITMENT.
AND UH,
IT HASN'T REALLY PAID OFF.
Narrator: AND THE FUTURE IS
NO BRIGHTER FOR KEVIN HIATT.
Hiatt: NOW, I'M DEALING WITH
OTHER PEOPLES' GARBAGE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IT'S A JOB.
IT'S A PAYING JOB.
AT LEAST I'M GOING TO MAKE
SOME MONEY DOING IT,
AND IT'S WHAT I --
WHAT I HAVE TO DO.
Narrator: BUT TODD REFUSES TO
LET THE HOFFMANS' DREAM DIE.
HE CALLS HIS CREW TOGETHER
FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE SOUTH AMERICA.
I'M NERVOUS. I GOT ALL MY GUYS
COMING OVER RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
A PRETTY FRANK TALK.
I'M GOING TO ASK MY TEAM
TO GO NORTH ONE MORE TIME.
WILL THEY COME WITH ME?
I DON'T KNOW.
HEY, GUYS.
COME ON IN.
HAVE A SEAT.
THANKS FOR COMING.
I APPRECIATE IT.
I'M NOT HAPPY
THAT YOU GUYS ARE STRUGGLING
BECAUSE OF MY DECISIONS.
THAT'S NOT FUNNY TO ME.
WHAT THE HELL WERE WE DOING
IN GUYANA?
WE KNEW NOTHING
ABOUT DIAMONDS.
WE KNEW NOTHING
ABOUT THE COUNTRY.
WE SHOULD NEVER LEFT
THE KLONDIKE.
GUYS, I WANT TO GO BACK
TO THE KLONDIKE
AND FINISH WHAT WE STARTED.
IF WE COULD FIND
SOME GOOD LAND,
PUT THE EQUIPMENT BACK TOGETHER,
AND LET'S GO.
YOU DON'T HAVE LAND?
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
HE'S DONE IT BEFORE.
HE CAN DO IT AGAIN.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE
A CHANCE.
WHO'S WITH ME?
I'M OUT, TODD.
I'M OUT.
I'M OUT.
ALL OF YOU GUYS?
THURBER, YOU BEEN WITH ME
FOR FOUR FRICKIN' YEARS.
I CAN'T GO
UNLESS YOU HAVE LAND.
I DON'T HAVE LAND.
DUDE, I'M OUT.
THAT HURTS.
NEVER EXPECTED THAT.
DID YOU?
NOPE.
Narrator: AFTER HIS DISASTROUS
MEETING WITH TONY BEETS,
PARKER IS BACK HOME IN ALASKA.
TONY BEETS ISN'T THE ONLY OPTION
FOR ME THIS YEAR.
AND MY OTHER OPTION IS TO STAY
HERE AND MINE BIG NUGGET.
YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY
KIND OF TEMPTING,
CONSIDERING THE ATTITUDE
TONY HAS ABOUT THINGS.
Narrator:
TO DECIDE ON HIS NEXT MOVE,
PARKER HEADS TO SEE
HIS MINING MENTOR,
94-YEAR-OLD GRANDPA JOHN.
HEY, GRANDPA.
OH, HELLO!
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I'M DOING FINE.
I'M DOING BETTER
NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S NICE TO SEE YA.
I JUST WENT DOWN TO ARIZONA
AND MET WITH TONY.
AND, UH, TONY'S BASICALLY
OFFERING ME
THE SAME GROUND THAT WE MINED
LAST YEAR.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.
AND YOU RESENT IT SOMEWHAT,
I GATHER.
IF TONY WANTS ME TO KEEP
MY [BLEEP] GROUND,
I MIGHT AS WELL JUST TO BACK
TO BIG NUGGET
AND BE MY OWN BOSS,
YOU KNOW?
IT'S OBVIOUS WE'RE DEALING
IN EMOTIONS
RATHER THAN IN ECONOMICS.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE IS THERE
HERE?
WELL, THERE ISN'T MUCH,
PARKER. I WILL --
I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT YOU CAN
MAYBE HAVE A FEW YEARS,
BUT THEN,
YOU GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE.
IF I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU
SOME OF MY TRUE ADVICE,
I WOULD SAY THIS.
I THINK
YOU SHOULD GO UP THERE,
OPEN UP TO THE GROUND
THAT TONY'S GOT
AND EARN ENOUGH
TO BUY YOUR OWN CLAIM.
I WOULD GET OUT
FROM UNDER TONY.
I MEAN, THE FACT THAT
YOU HAVE OWNED BIG NUGGET
HAS ALWAYS GIVEN YOU THE FREEDOM
TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, RIGHT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT.
BUYING GROUND STARTS TO LOOK
LIKE A BETTER IDEA.
IT'S A RISK
AND A CHALLENGE.
AND ANYBODY THAT BACKS AWAY
FROM A CHALLENGE,
IN MY OPINION,
WILL NEVER GET TOO FAR.
THANKS, GRANDPA.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
UP NORTH THIS SUMMER.
I WILL LOOK FORWARD
TO COMING.
I HAVE
EVERY BIT OF CONFIDENCE
YOU'RE GOING TO COME OUT
A WINNER.
I MEAN, MY GRANDPA'S RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I JUST NEED TO GO
UP THERE AND BUY MY OWN GROUND
AND GET OUT FROM UNDER TONY.
AND A DECENT CLAIM IS GOING
TO COST AT LEAST 2,000 OUNCES.
TRYING TO FIND 1,000 LAST YEAR
DAMN NEAR KILLED US,
BUT I'M GOING TO PILE EVERY CENT
WE MADE LAST YEAR BACK INTO IT
AND BUY MY OWN GROUND
AND BE MY OWN BOSS.
Narrator: 320 MILES NORTH
AT CLEAR CREEK IN THE YUKON,
TONY BEETS TAKES
TWO EXPERT MACHINISTS,
MIKE KRISHER AND JERRY RHODES,
TO HIS LATEST PURCHASE.
ARE YOU NUTS?
IT'S HUGE.
WHAT THE [BLEEP] DID YOU DO?
Narrator: DREDGES ARE
FLOATING GOLD FACTORIES.
THEY WERE FIRST USED IN
THE KLONDIKE OVER 100 YEARS AGO.
FOR HALF A CENTURY,
THEY DOMINATED
THE GOLD-MINING LANDSCAPE.
THEY SLOWLY DUG THEIR WAY
THROUGH THE VALLEYS
IN PONDS
THEY CREATED THEMSELVES,
LEAVING VAST LINES OF TAILINGS
IN THEIR WAKE.
IN A SINGLE DAY,
THE BIGGEST DREDGES
COULD PROCESS
A STAGGERING
14,500 YARDS OF PAY DIRT,
PRODUCING NEARLY $1 MILLION
IN GOLD.
[ DREDGE WHIRRING ]
DREDGES COMBINE
ALL THE PROCESSES OF GOLD MINING
IN ONE FLOATING MACHINE.
A BUCKET LINE AT THE FRONT DIGS
THE PAY DIRT.
AN ONBOARD WASH PLANT
WASHES THE DIRT.
GOLD THEN COLLECTS
IN THE SLUICES.
AND FINALLY,
TAILINGS SPIT OUT OF THE BACK.
BUT NO ONE'S RUN A DREDGE
IN THE KLONDIKE
FOR OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
THIS THING'S OLDER
THAN WE ARE, TONY.
HOW DO WE KNOW ANYTHING
WILL EVEN WORK IN IT?
TO GET THIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE
BACK UP AND RUNNING,
TONY WILL HAVE TO BREAK IT DOWN
INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES,
TRUCK IT 150 MILES
AND HOPE HE CAN GET IT TO WORK
AFTER PUTTING IT ALL
BACK TOGETHER.
WITHOUT JERRY AND MIKE'S
MECHANICAL EXPERTISE,
TONY HAS NO CHANCE
OF PULLING OFF THIS EPIC FEAT
OF ENGINEERING.
Man: YOU BET
AN AWFUL, AWFUL HERE, TONY.
YOU EXPECT US TO MOVE
THIS THING?
[ DREDGE WHIRRING ]
OH, WOW.
IT LOOKS REALLY NICE.
Beets: YEAH.
BUT IT HASN'T RUN.
WHOA.
HUH?
JUST [BLEEP]
LOOK AT THIS.
YOU MAKE IT SOUND
PRETTY EASY.
BUT TONY, WE WANT THIS,
TO HAVE IT HAPPEN FOR YOU.
BUT YOU GOT A FEW OBSTACLES HERE
THAT YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT.
IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT
IF THIS RAN LAST SEASON.
MM-HMM.
BUT IT'S BEEN SITTING 30 YEARS.
WE'RE IN.
YEAH.
OKAY. PERFECT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK,
MIKE?
I DON'T KNOW. WHAT HAVE
WE GOT OURSELVES INTO HERE?
Narrator:
APRIL IN DAWSON CITY.
27 DEGREES,
AND STILL A WEEK BEFORE
THE START OF THE MINING SEASON.
BUT ONCE AGAIN,
PARKER SCHNABEL AND RICK NESS
ARE BACK
AT SCRIBNER CREEK EARLY.
TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY
HIS OWN LAND
BY THE END OF THE SEASON,
PARKER NEEDS TO GET
HIS OPERATION
UP AND RUNNING
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK, RICK.
YEP.
BEFORE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING,
PARKER AND RICK NEED TO FIND OUT
IF THEIR EQUIPMENT HAS SURVIVED
THE MINUS-50-DEGREE
WINTER WINDS.
AS GENE'S SHOWING UP HERE
IN LESS THAN 10 DAYS,
SO IF THERE'S ANY SURPRISES,
WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
Ness: YEAH.
Parker:
WE'RE PRETTY DAMN EARLY,
BUT I'D RATHER DEAL WITH THIS
NOW THAN IN A MONTH,
BECAUSE WE WILL BE
ONE OF THE FIRST ONES SLUICING.
THEN, WE GET TO FIND SOME GOLD.
Narrator: THE KEY TO OPENING
GROUND EARLY IN THE SEASON
IS PARKER'S
30-YEAR-OLD D10 DOZER.
IF WE CAN GET THIS DOZER GOING,
THEN WE CAN START STRIPPING.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
COME ON.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
COME ON, YOU [BLEEP]
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
HA-HA!
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
THAT'S A GOOD START,
RIGHT THERE.
Narrator:
PARKER AND RICK IMMEDIATELY
START CLEARING OVERBURDEN
IN THE FAR CUT,
GROUND SO RICH IN GOLD
THAT IN JUST THE FINAL FOUR DAYS
OF LAST SEASON,
THEY MINED 148 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH $200,000.
Parker: [BLEEP] YEAH.
YEE-HAW!
Narrator: PARKER RIPS THROUGH
THE ICE WITH A D10 RIPPER.
RICK FOLLOWS BEHIND
IN THE EXCAVATOR.
Ness: YEP, THIS IS THE FIRST CUT
OF THE NEW SEASON.
I'M KIND OF STARTING
WHERE PARKER AND I LEFT OFF
IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR,
AND IT'S GOING TO BE
[BLEEP] AWESOME.
Parker: IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK
IN THE SADDLE.
I'M HAPPY WITH HOW THINGS
ARE GOING SO FAR.
YOU KNOW, RICK IS PRETTY GUNG-HO
TO GET GOING.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOLD
WHERE WE'RE STRIPPING.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT
A BIG ADVANTAGE OVER LAST YEAR,
HAVING A YEAR UNDER OUR BELT.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS GOING ON
WITH THE STEERING ON THIS THING?
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
HEY, RICK.
CAN YOU COME OVER HERE AND --
SOMETHING'S GOING ON
WITH THIS [BLEEP] DOZER.
[BLEEP]
THAT PIN FOR THE STABILIZER BAR
IS BACKED OUT.
Ness: AH, NO.
ALMOST COMPLETELY.
[BLEEP]
Narrator: THE RIGHT HAND TRACK
IS BOWING IN AND OUT,
MAKING THE DOZER IMPOSSIBLE
TO STEER.
UNDERNEATH, AN IDLER ARM
IS DESIGNED
TO KEEP THE TRACK IN LINE
BY LOCKING IT TO THE BODY.
BUT THE PIN HAS SLIPPED OUT,
AND THE IDLER ARM IS NO LONGER
CONNECTED TO THE TRACK.
WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE DOZER
ON THE TRACKS,
THERE'S NO WAY TO LINE UP
THE TWO PINHOLES.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET
THAT THING LINED BACK UP?
I THINK IF I COULD SEE THAT
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF TRACK,
AND YOU PUT SOME PRESSURE
ON THE BLADE
AND LIFT THE MACHINE
UP A LITTLE BIT,
IT MIGHT LINE BACK UP.
AND MAYBE, MAYBE I CAN POUND
THAT SUCKER BACK IN PLACE.
JUST DRIVE IT RIGHT BACK IN?
YEAH.
RICK'S PLAN --
USE THE BLADE TO TAKE THE WEIGHT
OFF THE FRONT OF THE DOZER,
RELEASING THE PRESSURE
ON THE TRACKS,
BRINGING THE PINHOLES
BACK INTO ALIGNMENT.
RICK WILL THEN TRY TO DRIVE
THE PIN BACK IN BY HAND
FROM UNDER
THE 125,000-POUND DOZER.
BUT THAT PUTS YOU
UNDER HERE
WITH ALL THE PRESSURE
ON THOSE CYLINDERS.
YEAH, IT'S...
THERE'S NO REAL OTHER OPTION
RIGHT NOW.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TRY IT.
ALL RIGHT, BRING IT DOWN
JUST A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S PRETTY CLOSE
RIGHT THERE.
PRETTY CLOSE?
PRETTY CLOSE.
YOU WANT ME TO GET
IN, GET UNDER THERE AND
SEE IF IT WILL GO IN?
YEAH, BUT BE CAREFUL.
ALL RIGHT.
PARKER, I CAN'T GET ANY LEVERAGE
FROM MY BACK, MAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE
ABLE TO POUND THIS IN.
WELL,
WE NEED TO GET HER GOING
OR ELSE, YOU KNOW,
WE CAN'T STRIP.
AND THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON
WE'RE UP HERE.
[ POUNDING ]
IT'S GOT TO GO IN
ABOUT SIX MORE INCHES.
Narrator: PARKER EDGES
THE DOZER BLADE DOWN
TO BETTER LINE UP THE HOLES.
CAN YOU POUND IT IN?
ALL RIGHT, I THINK
IT'S STARTING TO MOVE, ACTUALLY.
[ POUNDING ]
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
WHEW.
[BLEEP] YOU, PIN.
NICE SWINGING,
JOHN HENRY.
I GOT IT, BUDDY.
BACK IN BUSINESS.
GOOD JOB, MAN.
ALL RIGHT.
BACK TO STRIPPING.
WE'LL GET BACK TO IT.
HELLS, YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET
SOME [BLEEP] DIRT MOVED.
Narrator: SANDY, OREGON.
TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN HAVE BEEN
ABANDONED BY THEIR CREW.
BUT FATHER AND SON ARE REFUSING
TO QUIT.
[ GRUNTS ]
LET'S TARP IT,
GET THE PUMP, AND GO.
WELL, I'VE DECIDED TO GO NORTH,
BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
UM, THAT DECISION
DIDN'T COME EASY.
I DON'T HAVE A CLAIM.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EQUIPMENT.
I'VE NEVER BEEN THIS UNPREPARED
FOR ANYTHING IN MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT HAVE LAND,
AND IT'S JUST THE TWO OF US,
BUT WE'RE FATHER AND SON.
AND TOGETHER,
WE CAN CONQUER THE WORLD.
YOU READY?
YEP.
Narrator:
FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS,
THEY'VE HEADED OFF TO MINE
WITH A CREW, A CLAIM,
AND A PLAN.
Todd: I THINK WE GOT EVERYTHING.
I THINK WE'RE READY TO GO.
THIS TIME, THEY HAVE NOTHING.
I LOVE YOU GUYS.
I LOVE YOU, HONEY.
I'LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU
THE WHOLE WAY.
DAD, WILL YOU SAY A LITTLE
PRAYER FOR US ALL TOGETHER?
Jack: LORD, HELP US TO FIND
A PLACE TO MINE.
GIVE US THE STRENGTH.
GIVE US THE COURAGE
TO GO FORWARD.
AMEN.
AMEN.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
LOVE YOU. GOODBYE.
Narrator: ONCE AGAIN,
TODD AND JACK MAKE
THE 2,000-MILE JOURNEY NORTH
TO THE KLONDIKE.
IF THEY CAN'T SOMEHOW
TURN THINGS AROUND,
IT COULD BE THEIR LAST.
THE SCARY PART FOR ME
IS IT ALL COMES DOWN TO LAND.
YOU KNOW,
GOLD IS WHERE YOU FIND IT.
YOU GOT TO GET
A GOOD CLAIM.
IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT.
GREG'S GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING
FOR US.
HE ALWAYS HAS
IN THE PAST.
THE HOFFMANS HAVE ARRANGED
TO MEET THE MAN
WHO GAVE THEM THEIR FIRST BREAK
IN THE KLONDIKE THREE YEARS AGO,
GREG MCNEIL.
HEY, GREG.
HI, TODD.
HEY, JACK.
HOW ARE YOU?
DOING ALL RIGHT.
DOING ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
WHY I WANTED
TO MEET WITH YOU IS,
I WAS HOPING YOU HAD SOME LAND
FOR US.
REMEMBER THE GROUND
THAT WE LEASED BEFORE?
I NEED THAT LAND AGAIN,
GREG.
THERE'S JUST NO WAY POSSIBLE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
THIS IS OUR LAST SHOT,
GREG.
THAT'S OUT OF THE QUESTION.
AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
AFTER LAST SEASON, YOU KNOW,
I JUST DON'T KNOW, YOU
KNOW, WHAT STOCK IN YOU
IS WORTH THIS YEAR.
I MEAN,
I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT
WHO UP HERE IS GOING LEASE
YOU GUYS ANY GROUND.
IT IS WHAT IT IS.
YEP.
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.
YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO NEED IT.
TAKE CARE.
YEAH.
OH,
THAT DIDN'T GO SO GOOD.
YOU KNOW, TODD, IT'S NOT
THE FIGHT THAT THE DOG'S IN.
IT'S THE FIGHT
THAT'S IN THE DOG.
WE WILL FIND A PLACE.
IF WE CAN'T FIND
A DECENT CLAIM,
I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS,
DAD.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE
ANOTHER FAILURE LIKE THAT.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, TODD.
JUST DON'T QUIT.
Narrator:
JUST TWO HOURS SOUTH OF DAWSON,
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER AND RICK HAVE SPENT
THE LAST WEEK
STRUGGLING ON THEIR OWN
TO REMOVE 12 FEET OF OVERBURDEN.
RIGHT NOW, RICK AND I ARE TRYING
TO GET THIS CUT SORTED.
IT'S JUST A LONG PUSH.
AND, YOU KNOW,
THAT DOZER'S EXPENSIVE TO RUN.
Narrator: PARKER'S FOREMAN,
GENE CHEESEMAN,
IS DUE TO ARRIVE ANY MINUTE
WITH THEIR NEW MECHANIC.
Parker: GENE'S DEFINITELY
THE KEY TO THIS SEASON
IF WE'RE GOING TO DO
THE BIG NUMBERS.
HE KNOWS HOW TO MOVE DIRT,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO
RIGHT NOW.
HOW'S IT GOING?
Cheeseman:
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
GOOD.
HOW WAS THE TRIP UP?
OH, NOT TOO BAD.
FIND A MECHANIC, I GUESS, HUH?
HOW'S IT GOING?
GOOD, MITCH.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
NOT TOO BAD.
GLAD TO BE HERE.
Narrator:
FOR TWO SEASONS,
MITCH BLASCHKE WAS
TODD HOFFMAN'S MECHANIC.
THIS YEAR,
HE'S DEFECTED TO PARKER'S CREW.
WELL, I'M GLAD YOU'RE BOTH HERE,
BECAUSE THIS TIME LAST YEAR,
WE WERE SLUICING
FOUR DAYS FROM NOW.
AND WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR THAT
RIGHT NOW,
SO I'M GLAD YOU GUYS
ARE HERE.
AND I HOPE
THAT WE CAN STEP THAT UP.
OKAY.
WELL, LET'S GO GET GOING ON IT.
ALL RIGHT.
SOUNDS GOOD.
Blaschke: I'M TIRED OF WORKING
ON UNEDUCATED GUESSES,
SO CAME TO OVER HERE WHERE, UH,
THEY SEEM TO PLAN THINGS OUT
A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO A GOOD SEASON
AND WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO GET THE JOB DONE
AND GET SOME GOLD IN THE BOX.
Parker: I JUST HOPE MITCH
HASN'T LOST HIS WORK ETHIC
WORKING FOR TODD HOFFMAN.
IF SOMETHING'S BROKE DOWN,
MITCH IS GOING TO STAY HERE TILL
HE FIXES IT
OR HE GETS IN A SERVICE TRUCK
AND DRIVES BACK TO OREGON.
Narrator:
GENE HEADS STRAIGHT TO THE CUT
TO CHECK ON PARKER'S PROGRESS.
Cheeseman: I JUST GOT HERE, SO
I WANT TO GO KIND OF CHECK OUT
WHAT PARKER AND RICK
HAVE BEEN DOING
FOR THE LAST LITTLE BIT
THEY'VE BEEN HERE
AND JUST KIND OF GET ORGANIZED,
GET A PLAN,
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
Narrator:
HE'S NOT IMPRESSED.
YEAH.
YOU WANT TO GET 2,000 OUNCES,
IT'S, UH...
GOT TO SPEED IT UP, HERE.
Parker:
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
Cheeseman: JUST PUSHING
WITH ONE CAT'S
NOT GOING TO GET IT OPENED UP
FAST ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO GET THOSE TRUCKS
OUT HERE
AND GET -- GET TO HAULING
THIS STUFF.
I KNOW THAT,
BUT THE ROAD'S JUST SO [BLEEP]
YOU KNOW,
ICE AND MUD AND WHATNOT.
NOBODY'S HAULING ANYTHING
OUT HERE.
I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO GET THE TRUCKS OUT HERE.
I MEAN, I KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT...
WELL, PUSHING WILL WORK, BUT
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT LONGER.
IF THE TRUCK'S HERE, IT'S GONNA
SPEED UP THE WHOLE PROCESS,
MOVE TWICE AS MUCH MATERIAL
AND BURN LESS FUEL.
SO LET'S GET THE --
GET THE TRUCKS HERE.
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.
Narrator: 140 MILES SOUTH
OF DAWSON CITY, AT CARMACKS,
JUST A WEEK
INTO THE MINING SEASON,
FREDDY, DEREK, AND DAVE
ARE FINALLY READY TO RUN DIRT
ON THEIR MOUNTAIN CLAIM.
THAT THICK PATCH OF ICE
IS GONE.
LET'S GET TO SLUICING.
MAKE SOME GOLD.
Narrator: JOINING THEM IS
DEREK'S WIFE, IRENE.
Derek: GOT TO PUT SOME PAY
IN THIS BOX, IRENE.
SO LET HER RIP.
WILL DO.
I'VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG
TO GET THIS SHOW GOING.
Narrator:
IRENE FEEDS THE DEROCKER
THAT WASHES THE GOLD AND DIRT
OFF ROCKS AND BOULDERS.
THERE'S
OUR FIRST BUCKET.
WE'RE SLUICING
AND MAKING GOLD!
TURIN: Woo-hoo!
Narrator: DAVE STRIPS LAND
FURTHER DOWN THE CLAIM.
Turin:
WE'RE ON GOOD GROUND.
AND WE'RE GOING TO GET
SOME GOOD GOLD THIS YEAR.
Freddy: WE KEEP RUNNING
AT THIS RATE, DEREK,
it's going to be a good year,
that's for sure.
Derek:
IRENE'S FEEDING GOOD,
AND WE GOT ABOUT DOUBLE
OUR PRODUCTION SO FAR
THE WAY IT'S LOOKING HERE.
WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?
THAT'S ALL WE NEED.
HEY, DEREK.
We got a part here
in the tailings.
I don't know
what it's off of.
DEREK:
What's it look like?
UH, IT'S YELLOW.
IT'S A SEAL OFF OF SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT.
I'm coming to check
this out.
IT'S PILING UP AT THE TOP.
IT'S NOT FEEDING RIGHT,
EITHER.
[BLEEP]
SHUT IT DOWN!
SHUT IT DOWN!!
[ SLUICE SHUTS DOWN ]
IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD
UNDER THERE.
WE GOT A TIRE IN THERE
NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LAYING
ON THE FLOOR.
FREDDY,
WE GOT SOME ISSUES HERE.
AND THAT AXLE'S EITHER COME OUT
OR BROKEN OR DONE SOMETHING,
AND I THINK WE'RE SCREWED.
Narrator:
THE DECK OF THE DEROCKER
MOVES UP AND DOWN
ON A BED OF TRUCK WHEELS.
DIRECTLY BENEATH
WHERE THE ROCKS ARE LOADED,
ONE OF THE WHEELS HAS
SHEARED OFF ITS AXLE.
Freddy: HOOKING A CHAIN UP
TO PULL THE DEROCKER DECK BACK
SO WE CAN GET INSIDE OF IT
AND GET IT FIXED.
THERE'S ONE HELL OF A BUNCH
OF WEIGHT RIGHT HERE
WE'RE TRYING TO PULL UPHILL --
ROCK, STEEL,
AND FIGHTING GRAVITY.
HERE WE GO.
Narrator:
BEFORE THEY CAN FIX THE WHEEL,
THEY HAVE TO REMOVE
THE ROCKS AND THE DECK
THAT WEIGH OVER 10,000 POUNDS.
OH.
[BLEEP]
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
GONNA TRY TO GET THIS UP HIGHER,
OVER THE TOP OF THE BLADE.
TRY IT AGAIN.
COME ON, CHAIN.
THAT'LL WORK, DEREK.
Freddy:
DOESN'T LOOK GOOD, DOES IT?
WELL, LET'S GET WITH IT,
AND WE'LL MAKE SOME GOLD
THIS AFTERNOON.
LET'S DO IT.
IT'S ALL YOURS, DEREK.
WE'LL REPLACE THIS AXLE NOW
AND PUT A NEW SEAL IN
AND GET TO ROLLING AGAIN HERE.
OOH.
[ DRILL WHIRS ]
WE'VE GOT ONE OF THESE ROLLER
PUT BACK TOGETHER.
Turin: THE DODGE BROTHERS ARE
A DREAM TEAM.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX
THEIR EQUIPMENT.
LAST YEAR,
WITH THE HOFFMANS IN GUYANA,
THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN US WEEKS.
Derek: WELL, WE'RE GETTING
OUR TIRES IN PLACE,
AND WE'LL ROLL THE DECK
BACK OVER,
AND WE'LL BE READY
TO ROCK 'N' ROLL AGAIN.
[ DRILL WHIRS ]
LET'S FIRE IT UP.
TRY HER OUT
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
GOT A LOAD UP.
PULL YOUR THUMB IN, GIRL.
OKAY.
LOOKS GOOD.
Narrator:
IN JUST THREE HOURS,
FREDDY AND DEREK FIX
THE DEROCKER
AND ARE BACK WASHING ROCKS.
CARMACKS IS BACK ON TRACK
TO BE THE FIRST MINE
TO STRIKE GOLD THIS SEASON.
GOOD JOB, DEREK.
GOOD JOB.
IT WORKS, YEP.
EXCELLENT.
[ ANIMAL HOWLS ]
Narrator: 3:00 a.m.
JUST OUTSIDE DAWSON CITY,
PARKER AND RICK ARE TAKING
MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.
IF NO ONE ELSE WILL DRIVE THEIR
ROCK TRUCKS TO SCRIBNER CREEK,
THEY WILL.
SO ARE THESE TRUCKS READY
TO ROCK 'N' ROLL?
Ness: YEAH, TRUCKS ARE
READY TO ROCK 'N' ROLL,
BUT THIS ROAD'S
STILL A NIGHTMARE.
WE JUST NEED
THESE ROCK TRUCKS ON-SITE
AS SOON AS WE CAN,
YOU KNOW.
YEAH.
NO, I GET IT.
WE NEED TO GET GROUND
STRIPPED,
AND WE NEED TO GET THAT PLANT
UP AND RUNNING.
TO AVOID SLIPPING
ON THE MUDDY ROADS,
THEIR PLAN IS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT,
WHEN THE GROUND FREEZES UP.
IT DID FREEZE
PRETTY GOOD OVERNIGHT, AT LEAST.
ALL RIGHT,
LET'S DO IT, RICK.
SOUNDS GOOD, BUDDY.
LET'S TRY TO KEEP
THE RUBBER SIDE DOWN,
GET THERE IN ONE PIECE.
THEY'LL HAVE TO HURRY TO COVER
THE 55 MILES BACK TO THE CLAIM
BEFORE THE SUN RISES
AND THE ICY ROAD STARTS TO MELT.
IN MAY, THIS FAR NORTH,
NIGHT LASTS
LESS THAN FIVE HOURS.
HOW'S THAT TRUCK RUNNING,
RICK?
TRUCK'S RUNNING SMOOTH,
PARKER.
THESE ROADS ARE GOOD
SO FAR.
DUDE, THESE THINGS HAVE
SOME BALLS.
YEAH, I'M PRETTY IMPRESSED
SO FAR.
NEGOTIATING THE ICE
SLOWS PROGRESS.
PICK UP THE PACE.
OH.
AS DAWN BREAKS,
PARKER AND RICK STILL HAVE
10 MILES TO GO.
AS SOON AS THE SUN RISES,
THE ICE BEGINS TO MELT,
AND THE ROADS DETERIORATE FAST.
This road ain't starting
to look so good, is it?
MAN, I KNEW THESE ROADS
WERE GOING TO GET BAD, DUDE.
THIS IS --
THIS AIN'T GOOD.
THIS PART OF THE ROAD IS
WASHED RIGHT OUT, ISN'T IT?
Yeah, it is.
Pretty jacked.
THIS HAS ALL
TURNED INTO MUD.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SLIDE
ON ANY AND ALL OF IT.
HOLY [BLEEP]
OH, [BLEEP] HELL.
[ CRASH ]
OH [BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
Narrator: JUST FIVE MILES
FROM SCRIBNER CREEK,
AFTER AN OVERNIGHT DRIVE
FROM DAWSON,
RICK NESS
HAS CRASHED HIS ROCK TRUCK.
[BLEEP]
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] ARE WE DOING, DUDE?
I [BLEEP] TOLD YOU
THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
Schnabel: TOLD ME WHAT
WAS GONNA [BLEEP] HAPPEN,
YOU WERE GONNA DRIVE
OFF THE [BLEEP] ROAD?
[BLEEP] ROADS ARE [BLEEP]
THAT'S [BLEEP]
WELL, YOU DID
A GOOD NUMBER ON THAT ONE.
[BLEEP]
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
TO GET A CHAIN OR SOMETHING.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PULL
THE [BLEEP] THING OUT.
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE
A WHOLE LOT OF ROOM.
AND THE PROBLEM IS,
I CAN'T PULL YOU ON THIS SIDE.
'CAUSE IF YOU COME THIS WAY
AT ALL,
WE'LL TIP THE TRACTOR OVER.
GOOD [BLEEP] WAY
TO START A [BLEEP] SEASON.
Narrator:
PARKER HAS TO SOMEHOW PULL
RICK'S TRUCK OUT OF THE DITCH.
BUT JUST TO THE RIGHT
OF THE TRUCK IS A STEEP SLOPE
THAT DROPS OFF 15 FEET
INTO A CREEK.
WE JUST NEED TO WATCH OUT
FOR THAT [BLEEP] DITCH,
'CAUSE THAT STILL
IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT
THAT TRACTOR GOES
OVER IN IT.
AND THEN, WE'RE HOOPED.
Ness: YEAH.
[BLEEP]
YOU READY, RICK?
YEP.
LET'S GIVE IT A WHIRL.
IT'S PULLING ME
INTO THE [BLEEP] DITCH.
[BLEEP] HELL.
IF IT STARTS TO GO OVER,
I'M KILLING THE MOTOR.
ROGER THAT.
OH [BLEEP]
Watch it.
Watch that front end.
THANK [BLEEP]
I'M SORRY.
THANKS, DUDE.
DON'T THANK ME.
WE'RE NOT TOO FAR
FROM THE MINE NOW,
BUT LET'S JUST
TAKE IT EASY.
THERE'S NO USE IN LEAVING THEM
BESIDE THE ROAD,
ESPECIALLY
WITH THE MESS WE MADE.
YEAH.
AFTER FIVE GRUELING HOURS,
PARKER AND RICK
FINALLY ARRIVE ON THE CLAIM
WITH THE ROCK TRUCKS THEY NEED
TO HAVE ANY SHOT
AT A 2,000-OUNCE,
$2. 4-MILLION SEASON.
WE DID HER.
WHAT A [BLEEP] TRIP.
I DIDN'T THINK
GETTING TWO ROCK TRUCKS
TO A [BLEEP] MINE SITE
WOULD BE THAT BAD.
IT SHOULD NOT BE
THAT HARD.
AT CLEAR CREEK,
TONY BEETS' MACHINISTS,
MIKE AND JERRY,
HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWO DAYS
WORKING ON A PLAN
TO DISMANTLE THE DREDGE.
SO WE'LL MAKE THIS
P2, HUH?
THEY'RE PAINSTAKINGLY MARKING
EVERY PIECE
OF THE 200-FOOT
GOLD-CATCHING VESSEL.
AND THEN,
LET'S SEE HERE.
THIS WILL BE
DIAGONAL EIGHT, RIGHT?
TONY AND HIS DAWSON CREW,
INCLUDING HIS DAUGHTER, MONICA,
AND SON, KEVIN,
ARRIVE AT THE DREDGE.
THIS LOOKS LIKE A BIG JOB, TONY.
WE GOT A [BLEEP] PLAN?
IS IT SAFE?
WE'RE WASHING THE PORCUPINE
[BLEEP] OUT.
IT'S BURIED
IN PORCUPINE [BLEEP] AND GRAVEL.
YOU GOT TO BE ABLE
TO FIND THE BOLTS.
I MEAN, WHAT THE --
HOW BAD CAN IT...
IS THAT THE WAY
YOU GOT TO DO IT?
Narrator:
THE CREW FOLLOWS TONY'S LEAD,
TAKING THE SIDING
OFF THE 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
TONY'S WAY OF DOING THINGS
IS WEIRD AND ODD,
BUT DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO
TO GET IT DONE.
TONY, YOU'RE DESTROYING
THE [BLEEP] DREDGE.
Narrator: IN DAWSON CITY,
WITH THE MINING SEASON
ALREADY UNDERWAY,
TODD HOFFMAN IS DESPERATE
TO FIND A CLAIM.
TODD,
IS THAT MARSHALL MINTZ?
YEAH, IT IS.
ARE YOU KIDDING? AFTER GUYANA?
LISTEN. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT,
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
LET'S GO IN THERE
AND HEAR HIM OUT, OKAY?
OH, GEEZ, TODD.
LET'S JUST SEE
WHAT HE'S GOT TO SAY ON IT.
MARSHALL MINTZ BROKERED
THE HOFFMAN'S DEAL
FOR A CLAIM DOWN
IN GUYANA LAST SEASON --
A DEAL
THAT NEARLY BANKRUPTED THEM.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
YOU REMEMBER MY DAD?
HEY.
HOW ARE YOU, JACK?
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HOW ARE YOU DOING,
MARSHALL?
I'M DOING OKAY, TODD.
AND HOW ABOUT YOU?
WELL...
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
NOT VERY GOOD.
WE CANNOT FIND ANY GROUND.
I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO HELP
YOU GUYS OUT AFTER THAT,
WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH
IN THE JUNGLE.
GOING TO THE JUNGLE WASN'T --
WASN'T A GOOD MOVE FOR US.
AND HERE WE ARE IN THE KLONDIKE,
AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
WELL, YOU'RE LATE.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
UH, I...
YOU KNOW,
I HAVE ONE LEAD.
THIS IS
A PIECE OF PROPERTY.
IT'S CALLED
THE McKINNON CREEK.
IT'S NOT ALL THAT FAR
FROM WHERE YOU GUYS
HAD SOME SUCCESS
ON THE INDIAN RIVER
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
OH, NO KIDDING.
TELL ME ABOUT THE GROUND.
DO YOU KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT IT?
WELL,
THE GUY THAT'S RUNNING IT
IS PETER TALLMAN
OF KLONDIKE GOLD CORP.
OKAY.
I'VE KNOWN PETER
FOR MAYBE 15 YEARS.
AND IF HE SAYS
THERE'S GOLD THERE,
THERE'S GOLD THERE.
HEARD THIS STUFF BEFORE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WHY ARE THEY NOT MINING IT
RIGHT NOW?
I THINK THEY WENT BUST.
WHAT HAPPENED?
I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT --
WHY THOSE PEOPLE ARE GONE,
BUT THEY'RE GONE.
HERE'S WHAT WORRIES ME.
IF IT WAS REALLY GOOD,
WHY HASN'T IT BEEN TAKEN BY NOW?
BASICALLY, I THINK YOU
GOT TO TAKE A LOOK YOURSELF --
GET OUT THERE
WITH A GOLD PAN.
DO YOU KNOW HOW BAD I WANT
TO BELIEVE IN THIS RIGHT NOW?
I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER LEAD.
WHEN CAN WE GET OUT THERE
AND TAKE A LOOK?
WE CAN JUST
TAKE THE DRIVE OUT THERE.
YEAH, I'LL DO IT.
ALL RIGHT, MARSHALL,
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
THE LAST
OF PARKER'S TEAM ARRIVES.
TWO TRUSTY VETERANS
ARE BACK FOR A SECOND SEASON --
GREG REMSBURG
TO OPERATE EQUIPMENT
AND CHRIS DOUMITT
TO RUN THE WASH PLANT.
LAST YEAR WAS
A PRETTY OVERWHELMING SUCCESS.
THIS YEAR,
WE'RE DUMPING ALL THAT MONEY
RIGHT BACK INTO THE PLACE.
SO, I MEAN, WE'RE JUST --
WE'RE GOING ALL OUT THIS SEASON,
AND I'M SETTING
A 2,000-OUNCE GOAL FOR US.
YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA TAKE
A LOT OF EFFORT
ON OUR PART, RIGHT?
WE'RE GONNA BE
WORKING LONG DAYS.
IT'S GOING TO BE
A BIT OF A GRIND THIS YEAR.
AND MITCH,
YOUR TWO-OUNCE SEASON
IS GOING TO BE
A LONG WAYS IN THE PAST
BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
YEAH, NO KIDDING.
WELL, I THINK IT'S GONNA TAKE
A LOT OF HARD WORK --
MOVE A LOT OF DIRT.
BUT IT'S WHY I CAME BACK,
BECAUSE I KNOW WE CAN
DO BETTER THAN LAST YEAR.
WE'VE GOT GOOD EQUIPMENT.
WE'VE GOT A GOOD WASH PLANT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
WHAT WE CAN DO WITH IT.
SO SHOULD WE GET TO IT?
Together: LET'S DO IT.
Remsburg: FEELS GOOD
TO BE BACK IN THE YUKON.
IT WAS A ROUGH YEAR LAST YEAR.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE GOT 1,000 OUNCES.
YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE
A STRUGGLE TO GET 2,000 OUNCES.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE US
INTO THE WINTER, BUT SO WHAT?
Doumitt: PARKER'S
PULLING OUT 2,000 OUNCES.
THAT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
I CAN'T DO IT STANDING HERE
TALKING SO I GOT TO GO TO WORK.
Narrator:
THE TEAM KICKS INTO GEAR.
TO INCREASE PRODUCTION
THIS SEASON,
PARKER HAS BROUGHT IN
A MASSIVE 70-TON EXCAVATOR
TO LOAD HIS ROCK TRUCKS.
Ness: I REALLY THINK THIS IS
GONNA SPEED THINGS UP BIG TIME.
I'M LOADING THIS TRUCKS
IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS A PIECE.
BETTER THAN A MINUTE AND A HALF.
SO, SO FAR, IT'S OFF
TO A GOOD START, I'D SAY.
Narrator:
AFTER SIX DAYS OF HAULING
PAY DIRT OUT OF THE FAR CUT,
PARKER'S CREW
IS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
AND READY TO FIRE UP BIG RED
FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S CRANK HER UP.
THAT SOUNDS SWEET.
THIS WHOLE SYSTEM'S
JUST PURRING.
WE GOT A TRUCK FULL OF GOLD.
DELIVERING IT TO THE PLANT.
THIS IS THE FIRST ONE.
WE GOT A HIGH TOTAL
TO ACHIEVE THIS YEAR.
AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE THOUSANDS
OF LOADS JUST LIKE THIS ONE.
Narrator: JUST TWO WEEKS
AFTER ARRIVING IN THE KLONDIKE,
PARKER IS WASHING ROCKS.
THE KIND OF YARDAGE
WE HAVE TO RUN,
WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE.
ROCKS JUST NEED
TO GO THROUGH THIS,
AND HOPEFULLY
THERE'S SOME GOLD IN IT.
Narrator: WITHIN HOURS
OF FIRING UP THE WASH PLANT,
TONY BEETS ARRIVES UNANNOUNCED.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING,
TONY?
THAT'S BETWEEN
YOU AND HIM.
Parker,
you better get up here.
Tony just shut us down.
Schnabel: WHAT THE [BLEEP]
Narrator: IN THE NEW
SCRIBNER CREEK CONTRACT,
TONY INSISTED
ON A CLAUSE REQUIRING PARKER
TO INSTALL HYDRAULIC RIFFLES --
A WATER-SLUICING SYSTEM
THAT SHOULD CATCH MORE GOLD.
Schnabel: [BLEEP] ME.
PARKER HAS IGNORED
THE CLAUSE AND TONY.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
A CONTRACT.
YEAH.
JUST SHOW UP ON THE SPRING
AND SHUTTING US DOWN?
TONY, WE JUST [BLEEP]
GOT STARTED SLUICING.
REALLY?
THAT'S [BLEEP] TONY.
WHATEVER, TONY.
[BLEEP] THAT.
WE MADE A BIG EFFORT
TO GET SLUICING THIS EARLY,
AND ANY HEAD START
WE HAD'S GONE NOW.
Narrator:
CARMACKS, SOUTHERN YUKON,
AFTER SIX DAYS OF RUNNING DIRT,
THE DODGE BROTHERS
AND DAVE TURIN
ARE READY FOR THEIR
FIRST CLEANUP OF THE SEASON.
OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE
SHUTTING THE PUMP DOWN HERE
IN JUST A SECOND.
Narrator: THE MOUNTAINS
AROUND THEIR CARMACKS CLAIM
ARE LADEN WITH COARSE GOLD.
THE BIGGEST NUGGETS SHOULD SIT
ON BEDROCK, BUT SO FAR,
THEY'VE ONLY RUN SURFACE DIRT
THROUGH THE WASH PLANT.
OKAY, FREDDY, DAVE,
LET'S GATHER UP AT THE BOX
AND SEE
WHAT WE GOT FOR THE DAY.
HOPEFULLY, IT'LL BE GOOD.
Turin: ROGER THAT, DEREK,
I'LL MEET YOU AT THE SLUICE BOX.
WELL,
FIRST CLEANUP AT CARMACKS.
IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE
I'VE SEEN GOLD IN A SLUICE BOX.
HOW'S IT LOOKING,
YOU GUYS?
WHAT HAVE WE GOT?
OH, THERE WE GO.
I MEAN, I'M JUST PICKING OUT
GOLD NUGGETS LEFT AND RIGHT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN
GOLD LIKE THIS BEFORE.
LOOK THERE --
BIG,
NUGGETY CARMACKS GOLD.
THAT'S WHY WE MINE.
RIGHT THERE, BOYS.
FIRST GOLD NUGGET.
Freddy:
FIRST CLEANUP OF THE YEAR.
THEY'LL BE MORE IN THERE.
WE'LL KNOW HERE
IN A FEW HOURS.
Narrator: HAVING ALREADY PULLED
A FISTFUL OF NUGGETS,
THEY HEAD TO THE GOLD ROOM
TO SEPARATE THE CONCENTRATE.
Freddy: SO, HERE WE GO.
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK
IN THE GOLD ROOM.
THAT'S MY FAVORITE PLACE.
HERE IN THE GOLD ROOM TELLS YOU
WHAT ALL YOUR HARD WORK'S
GIVING YOU.
EITHER IT'S BEEN WORTHWHILE
OR IT HASN'T BEEN WORTHWHILE.
LAST SCOOP.
Narrator:
IF DAVE AND THE DODGE BROTHERS
CAN GET MORE THAN $15 A YARD
FROM THE TOP LAYER OF PAY DIRT,
THEY CAN CASH IN BIG TIME
ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO THE NUGGETS AT BEDROCK.
YEAH, 17 OUNCES
WOULD BE A GOOD START --
YOU KNOW, FOR TOP STUFF.
HERE WE GO.
THERE'S FIVE.
15. 15.
20. WHEW.
NO WAY.
27.47.
Man: WHEW.
27.48
NICE!
THAT WORKS.
THAT'S HUGE.
THAT'S EXACTLY 10 OUNCES MORE
THAN YOU WERE HOPING FOR.
FOR SURE. FOR TOP STUFF,
THAT'S DAMN GOOD, EH?
WHEN WE GET TO THE BOTTOM,
THERE'S GOING TO BE
SOME GOODIES COMING.
YEP.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: THE CREW'S
IMPRESSIVE FIRST HAUL --
27 OUNCES OF NUGGETY GOLD,
IS WORTH $32,000.
THE TOP LAYER IS PAYING
A MASSIVE $27 A YARD.
THE DIRT THAT LIES BENEATH
COULD BE WORTH MILLIONS.
WE COULD MAYBE GET UP TOWARDS
THAT 1,000 OUNCES.
IF WE WITH OUT OF HERE
WITH 1,000 OUNCES,
THERE'LL BE A LOT OF HAPPY
CREATURES LEAVING THIS CREEK.
IT COULD BE
A HELL OF A YEAR.
US OLD GUYS STILL KNOW
A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW?
YEAH, I KNOW IT.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
GENE SPENT THE LAST TWO DAYS
IN HIS WORKSHOP
FABRICATING
NEW HYDRAULIC RIFFLES.
THE CREW CAN NOW INSTALL THEM
IN BIG RED.
WELCOME TO THE 21st CENTURY.
OUT WITH THE HOLD,
IN WITH THE NEW.
WE'RE GONNA GET THIS DONE.
TONY HAS SHUT US DOWN
UNTIL WE GET HYDRAULIC RIFFLES
IN OUR BOX,
AND GENE'S FABBED THESE UP.
AND HOPEFULLY,
THEY'RE GONNA WORK.
Narrator:
IN PARKER'S ORIGINAL SLUICE BOX,
THE WATER WASHED AWAY
THE LIGHTER MATERIAL,
ALLOWING THE HEAVIER GOLD
TO SINK TO THE BOTTOM.
BUT WORTHLESS BLACK SAND
ALSO CLOGGED UP THE RIFFLES.
TONY'S INSISTED
ON HYDRAULIC RIFFLES
THAT USE JETS OF WATER
TO AGITATE THE CONCENTRATE,
SENDING
THE USELESS BLACK SAND OUT
WHILE STILL ALLOWING
THE PRECIOUS GOLD
TO SETTLE IN THE RIFFLES.
WELL, HERE'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE
OF WHY WE WANT TO USE
THESE HYDRAULIC RIFFLES.
WE'RE EIGHT FEET
DOWN THE SLUICE,
AND HERE'S A BAND OF GOLD
RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM.
HYDRAULIC RIFFLES
TRAP THE GOLD BETTER.
WE WON'T BE
DOING AS MANY CLEANUPS,
LONGER RUN TIME.
WE WILL SEE IF IT WORKS.
SO, CHRIS,
WHAT DO YOU RECKON
THIS WHOLE SHUTDOWN THING
COST US?
20 OUNCES?
YEAH.
WELL, WE'LL GET
THE [BLEEP] THINGS IN THERE
AND MAKE
THE VIKING HAPPY.
THERE YOU GO.
GET BACK TO IT.
THIS THE LAST ONE.
Narrator:
ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO DO,
TURN ON THE WATER.
NOW, WE'RE ALL SET UP,
READY TO GO.
WE JUST NEED
TO START RUNNING AGAIN.
I MEAN, IT WAS PRETTY ANNOYING,
BUT WE'RE BACK UP AND RUNNING.
SO HOPEFULLY THOSE RIFFLES
WORK WELL.
WE'RE RUNNING DIRT.
Narrator:
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME,
PARKER GETS HIS ENTIRE CREW
DIGGING, HAULING,
AND RUNNING
AS MUCH PAY DIRT AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK HAVING
2,000 OUNCES OF GOLD THIS SEASON
IS GONNA TAKE A LOT OF WORK,
BUT IT'S GONNA BE BADASS
WHEN WE GET THERE.
Remsburg:
EVERYBODY'S KIND OF PUMPED UP
AND READY TO GO NOW,
SO A GOOD CLEANUP WOULD REALLY
HELP CARRY US INTO THE SEASON.
EVERY HOUR
THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING USE OF
IS AN HOUR WASTED.
WE'RE NOT GETTING
THIS TIME BACK.
Narrator: AFTER THREE DAYS
OF RUNNING HARD,
CHRIS DOUMITT BEGINS
THE FIRST SCRIBNER CREEK CLEANUP
OF THE SEASON.
Doumitt: I'D BE REAL CURIOUS
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE --
HOW IT WORKS OUT.
YEAH, THERE'S GOLD IN THERE.
OOH, THERE'S A PILE OF GOLD
RIGHT THERE.
GOLD ALL LINED UP IN THERE.
THERE'S GOLD ALONG HERE.
THEY MIGHT BE A LOT OF WORK,
BUT MAYBE
THESE RIFFLES ARE WORKING.
WELL, PARKER THREW DOWN
2,000 OUNCES THIS YEAR.
I THOUGHT
A THOUSAND WAS DIFFICULT.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED
REALLY GOOD CLEANUPS EVERY TIME.
THIS BEING THE FIRST ONE,
IT'S GONNA TELL US
IF WE START OUT
WITH A GOOD SEASON OR NOT.
Narrator: TONY BEETS ARRIVES
AT PARKER'S CLAIM
FOR THE BIG WEIGH-IN.
Schnabel: HEY, TONY.
HEY, PARKER.
YEAH.
YEAH,
THEY SEEMED TO WORK FINE.
I MEAN,
THEY CAUGHT MOST OF THIS STUFF.
IT'S ACTUALLY A DECENT [BLEEP]
RACK OF GOLD RIGHT THERE.
I THINK THIS STUFF'S READY
TO BE WEIGHED UP.
THE KLONDIKE SEASON
IS ABOUT 20 WEEKS LONG.
FOR PARKER TO HAVE ANY CHANCE
OF BUYING HIS OWN KLONDIKE CLAIM
BY THE END OF THE SEASON,
HE NEEDS 100 OUNCES
WORTH $120,000,
EACH AND EVERY WEEK.
LET'S SEE WHAT THIS IS.
IT'S 20 --
25.
SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE.
60.
TWO, THREE, FOUR...
SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE.
WHOA.
12, 72, 73.
HONESTLY,
I WAS HOPING FOR BETTER.
YEAH, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
A 2,000-OUNCE SEASON, TONY.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH,
YEAH, YEAH.
WE'RE WAY AHEAD
OF WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR,
BUT WE NEED TO BE
EVEN FURTHER AHEAD.
YEAH,
BUT IT COULD BE BETTER.
DESPITE A MASSIVE 73 OUNCES
WORTH $90,000,
AFTER
JUST THREE DAYS OF RUNNING,
PARKER IS NOT SATISFIED.
AND HE STILL HAS TO PAY TONY
HIS 15% CUT.
THANK YOU, TONY.
SEE YOU THEN.
Schnabel:
I MEAN, IT'S NOT A BAD START.
LAST SEASON,
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT.
THIS SEASON, WE'RE NOT TRYING
TO DO 1,000 OUNCES.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO 2,000, RIGHT?
EVERY WEEK FROM HERE ON OUT
THAT WE DON'T DO
OVER 100 OUNCES A WEEK,
WE'RE FALLING BEHIND.
AND JUST TO PUT IT BLUNTLY,
THIS WEEK, WE FELL BEHIND.
Narrator:
35 MILES SOUTH OF DAWSON CITY,
TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN
ARE ON THEIR WAY TO
THE ABANDONED McKINNON MINE --
THEIR ONE AND ONLY LEAD
THIS SEASON.
Jack: IT'S PRETTY DESOLATE
OUT HERE.
MAN, LOOK AT ALL THIS CRAP
AROUND HERE. GEEZ.
LET'S GO FIND OUT
IF THIS IS FOR REAL.
WELL, I'M NOT GONNA
HOLD MY BREATH.
PETER TALLMAN,
CEO OF THE COMPANY
THAT OWNS THE LAND,
HAS AGREED TO SHOW THEM AROUND
THE 350-ACRE CLAIM.
HOW ARE YOU DOING,
MARSHALL?
Mintz:
HOW'S THINGS?
GOOD.
THIS IS TODD HOFFMAN.
PETER TALLMAN OF...
TODD, NICE TO MEET YOU.
SO THIS IS A CLAIM, HUH?
IT'S A GOOD ONE.
YOU'RE GONNA LIKE IT.
I HOPE SO.
LET'S GO UP AND HAVE A LOOK.
OKAY.
WOW.
I SEE YOU ALREADY GOT
A WASH PLANT UP HERE.
IT'S THE GUYS THAT HAD
THE CLAIMS LAST YEAR,
AND THEY PUSHED
A LOT OF DIRT.
AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR THEM,
AND THEY'RE GONE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE GUYS
THAT WERE IN HERE LAST YEAR?
THEY WENT BUST.
WHY?
IS IT BECAUSE OF THE GOLD?
THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD HERE --
A LOT OF GOLD.
THEY WENT BUST.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN.
THE WHOLE CLAIM'S
A MILE AND A HALF LONG.
THEY'VE ONLY TAMPERED
WITH A LITTLE BIT
AND LEFT A LOT
STILL SITTING THERE.
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO MAKE
A LOT OF MONEY HERE.
THE CLAIM'S GOING TO BE LEASED
SOMETIME IN THE NEXT WEEK
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THERE'S A LOT
OF INTEREST IN IT.
IF ME AND MY DAD PAN GOLD
RIGHT OVER HERE,
I'M GOING TO WALK
BACK OVER HERE,
AND I'M GOING TO SEE
IF I CAN CUT A DEAL WITH YOU.
I KNOW
YOU'RE GONNA FIND GOLD.
I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE NEED IT.
DAD, LET'S GO
TAKE A PEEK, HUH?
OKAY.
MARSHALL,
THEY FOR REAL?
THEY'RE A LITTLE SCALED DOWN,
BUT THEY KNOW HOW TO MINE.
THEY NEED A BREAK.
LOOK OVER HERE, DAD.
LOOK AT THIS.
THERE'S SOME GROUND
READY TO GO OVER HERE.
THAT'S STRIPPED,
OKAY?
AND THAT TOOK THEM TIME
AND MONEY.
THAT WOULD PUT US AHEAD.
SO IF THERE'S GOLD IN THIS CUT,
WE GOT SOMETHING THERE.
LET'S GO PAN THAT.
OKAY.
JUST SCOOP
OUT OF ANYWHERE, DAD.
Narrator: IF THERE'S GOLD
IN JACK'S TEST PAN,
McKINNON CREEK'S STRIPPED GROUND
COULD ALLOW THE HOFFMANS
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME
AND SAVE THEM THOUSANDS
IN START-UP COSTS.
DAD,
ARE YOU SEEING ANYTHING?
THERE'S SOME GOLD.
IT'S RIGHT UP IN THE TOP.
LOOK AT THAT.
THERE'S GOLD RIGHT THERE.
LOOK AT THAT, DAD.
YEAH.
THIS IS FRICKIN' AWESOME.
THIS IS A LOT
OF FRICKIN' GOLD, OKAY?
YEAH.
AND THIS IS IT.
WE COULD ROLL
THAT FRICKIN' TROMMEL IN HERE
AND BE MINING IN THE FIRST WEEK,
YOU UNDERSTAND?
THERE'S PROBABLY MAYBE 80,
90 OUNCES ALREADY STRIPPED.
THAT COULD GET US RIGHT OUT
OF THE HOLE, YOU KNOW?
RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
YEP.
THAT'D BE
AN AWESOME START.
WE'LL TAKE THEIR PAY DIRT
AND MAKE IT OURS.
WE NEED IT.
I'LL GO UP THERE AND SEE
IF WE CAN NEGOTIATE, ALL RIGHT?
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK IN THE YUKON,
JACK AND TODD
HAVE FOUND GOLD IN GROUND
THAT'S READY TO BE RUN.
BUT TO SECURE THIS LAND,
THEY'LL HAVE TO CUT A DEAL
WITH PETER TALLMAN.
Tallman: WELL,
SEE ANYTHING YOU LIKE?
WELL, WE LOOKED AROUND
AND FOUND GOLD.
YOU WERE RIGHT.
NOT SURPRISED.
I KNOW THERE'S GOLD THERE.
I KNOW
THERE'S GOOD GOLD THERE.
YEAH, BUT THERE'S
A BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN JUST HAVING GOLD
IN YOUR PAN
AND TRYING TO PROCESS
200,000 OR 300,000 YARDS OF IT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH.
SO WHAT'S YOUR DEAL
ON THIS LAND?
WHAT KIND OF DEAL
WOULD YOU MAKE US?
STRAIGHT UP?
20% OF PRODUCTION.
OOH.
Narrator: THE HOFFMANS PAID
JUST 10% THE LAST TIME
THEY WERE IN THE KLONDIKE.
NOT EVEN THINKING
ABOUT NEGOTIATING.
IT'S WORTH IT.
WE GOT TO TALK.
YEAH.
MIND IF TAKE A MINUTE
AND TALK ABOUT IT?
Tallman: NOT AT ALL.
OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK?
EVERYBODY ELSE
CHARGES 10 AROUND HERE.
HE'S WANTING DOUBLE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK
THERE'S PROBABLY ENOUGH
IF WE DO THE VOLUME.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT.
LET'S GO TALK TO HIM.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
PETER.
LAST TIME I LEASED
A CLAIM UP HERE, IT WAS 10%.
THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD
OUT HERE,
BUT THAT WAS
A GOOD GOLD PAN.
AND I'D LIKE
TO OFFER YOU 15%.
20%
LIKE I SAID,
IT'S NOT NEGOTIABLE.
THERE IS GOOD GOLD HERE.
YOU KNOW IT.
I KNOW IT.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
IF I COULD USE THE CAMP
AND SOME OF THE PUMPS,
I WOULD GO TO 20%
IF YOU COULD
THROW THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IN
AND GIVE US A LEG UP.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT THAT?
ALL RIGHT.
USE THE EQUIPMENT.
I'LL LET YOU USE THE CAMP,
EXCEPT THIS.
I THINK WE GOT A DEAL.
ONE MORE THING, THOUGH.
YOU'VE HAD
DIFFICULTIES BEFORE.
SO I WANT A MINIMUM
OF 100 OUNCES OF GOLD
PAID TO ME
REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU GET.
COME IN AND YOU
DON'T PRODUCE ANYTHING,
YOU'RE STILL PAYING.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
I'M GONNA AGREE TO THAT,
AND MY DAD'S GONNA CHEW
MY EAR OFF ALL THE WAY HOME.
BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT.
I'M GOING TO STEP OUT
ON THE LIMB.
LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.
YOU GOT YOURSELF A DEAL.
DEAL.
CONGRATULATIONS.
WELCOME TO McKINNON CREEK.
GOOD LUCK.
Narrator:
TODD HOFFMAN HAS A CLAIM,
BUT BEFORE HE CAN MINE,
HE ALREADY OWES
100 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH $120,000.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, DAD?
WELL, I THINK
THAT'S A TOUGH DEAL,
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
YOU KNOW WHAT, DAD?
WE GOT GOLD IN THE PAN.
YEAH.
AND KNOW WHAT THAT IS?
THAT'S HOPE.
ONE WEEK AGO, WE WEREN'T EVEN
GOING TO BE FRICKIN' MINING,
BUT HERE WE ARE, OKAY?
IT'S A BRAND-NEW START.
LET'S GO GET OUR STUFF.
YEP.
AND LET'S GET STARTED,
HUH?
YEAH, LET'S JUST GO KICK
SOME ASS.
LET'S GO GIVE HER HELL.
TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN
LOST EVERYTHING LAST SEASON
IN THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA.
BUT WITH THEIR NEW CLAIM,
McKINNON CREEK,
THEY HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE
AT REDEMPTION.
IN AN ALL NEW SEASON
OF "GOLD RUSH"...
Man:
STAND BACK! [BLEEP]
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS TO MAN UP...
2,000 OUNCES IS
A HELL OF A LOT OF GOLD TO FIND.
Narrator:
...TO WIN HIS INDEPENDENCE
FROM TONY BEETS.
[BLEEP] IT.
Narrator: THE 19-YEAR-OLD
IS HARD ON HIMSELF...
GET OUT OF MY [BLEEP]
Narrator:
...AND HIS CREW.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET
A [BLEEP] ANSWER YOU WANT.
EITHER WALK OUT OF HERE
OR RUN 24/7.
ON AN AUDACIOUS QUEST...
THIS ISN'T WORKING.
...TO HIT 2,000 OUNCES...
Schnabel:
THAT'S A TON OF GOLD.
Narrator:
...PARKER GOES FOR BROKE...
[BLEEP] DAMN IT.
Narrator: ...TO SECURE
HIS FUTURE IN THE KLONDIKE.
I JUST NEED TO BUY MY OWN GROUND
AND BE MY OWN BOSS.
TONY BEETS...
...STRUGGLES TO RESURRECT
HIS 75-YEAR-OLD
GOLD-CATCHING DREDGE.
BUT FINDING THE TIME...
TONY, YOU THERE?
Narrator: ...THE CASH...
I NEED MONEY.
[BLEEP]
...AND THE PATIENCE...
GET THE [BLEEP]
Narrator:
...JUST MIGHT PROVE TOO MUCH
FOR THE VIKING TO HANDLE.
NOW, THAT WAS RIDICULOUS
[BLEEP]
Narrator:
AND TODD HOFFMAN...
WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
...FINDS HIMSELF
BACK AT SQUARE ONE.
Hoffman: THIS RIGHT HERE
REPRESENTS SURVIVAL.
Narrator: ONCE AGAIN,
HE BATTLES REJECTION...
I NEED YOU
BACK OVER HERE.
CAN'T DO IT.
I NEED YOU.
I'M NOT INTERESTED.
I'M HAPPY HERE.
...DEFEAT...
YOU CAN'T JUST QUIT.
I'M SORRY, BUT WE'RE DONE.
...AND HIS OWN FATHER...
WHOA!
STOP!
GET OUT OF THE WAY.
YOU CAN JUST SUCK EGGS.
[ GROANS ]
Narrator:
...IN AN ALL-OUT FIGHT...
LET'S JUST GIVE HER HELL.
Man: TURN IT OFF.
Narrator:
...TO SALVAGE HIS DIGNITY...
I GOT TO GET US RUNNING AGAIN.
Narrator:
...AND HIS MINING CAREER.
WHAT IF WE COULD COME BACK
FROM THE ASHES
AND KICK SOME ASS THIS YEAR?
WITH THE HOFFMANS ANYMORE.
IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION.
I LOVE TODD,
BUT I CAN'T SPEND ANOTHER YEAR
OF MY LIFE WORKING FOR HIM.
I NEED TO BE WITH A CREW
WHO CAN GET SOME SERIOUS GOLD.
THIS IS MY CHANCE
AT A NEW BEGINNING.
RIGHT HERE UNDER THIS GLACIER
IS A GREAT, BIG PILE OF GOLD.
ALL WE GOT TO DO IS DIG IT UP.
Todd: I HAD A DREAM
OF GOING TO THE JUNGLE,
AND WHAT THAT DREAM BROUGHT WAS
A LOT OF PAIN AND HEARTBREAK.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE LOST
AND WHAT WE WENT THROUGH,
THAT DAMN NEAR DESTROYED ME.
IT WAS EMBARRASSING
AND DEMORALIZING.
I NEVER, EVER WANT TO BE A PART
OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAIN,
AND I WON'T -- WON'T DO IT.
[ BIRD SCREECHES ]
Parker:
LAST SEASON WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.
WE FOUND A LOT OF GOLD.
WE MADE A LOT OF MONEY.
A THOUSAND OUNCES OUR FIRST YEAR
IN THE KLONDIKE
IS A DAMN GOOD ACHIEVEMENT.
[ SNAKE RATTLES ]
YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WAS
THE TRAINING YEAR,
AND IT'S TIME TO TAKE
THE TRAINING WHEELS OFF.
Narrator: THIS SEASON,
EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.
WE'RE NOT MINERS ANYMORE.
LET'S TEAR THIS THING UP.
Narrator: NEW CLAIMS...
THE CARMACKS IS OPEN
FOR BUSINESS.
Narrator: ...NEW MINERS...
...AND NEW WAYS TO PULL GOLD
OUT OF THE GROUND.
BIGGER...
[BLEEP]
Narrator:
...BADDER MACHINES.
BIG DREAMS...
I'M SETTING A 2,000-OUNCE GOAL
FOR US.
...BIG DECISIONS...
I'M OUT, TODD.
DUDE, I'M OUT.
Todd:
I DO NOT WANT DO THIS, DAD.
JUST DON'T QUIT.
Narrator: ...AND THE BIGGEST
GOLD THEY'VE EVER MINED.
Turin: THAT'S THE BIGGEST NUGGET
I'VE EVER DUG UP.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator:
IN A HIGH MOUNTAIN PASS
JUST WEST OF CARMACKS
IN THE YUKON,
A NEW GOLD-MINING CREW KICKS OFF
THEIR SEASON.
DAVE TURIN HAS LEFT
HIS OLD FRIEND TODD HOFFMAN
TO MINE WITH TWO LEGENDS,
FREDDIE AND DEREK DODGE.
THEIR GROUND --
AN EXTRAORDINARY,
NUGGET-RICH VALLEY.
Derek: WE'RE GLAD
YOU'RE HERE WITH US, DAVE.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE YOU
ON THE TEAM.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN COME TOGETHER
AS A TEAM TO KICK SOME ASS.
I WOULD SUGGEST WE GET IN
OUR MACHINES AND RIP AND TEAR.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S RIP THE HELL
OUT OF THIS THING.
LET'S GO, GUYS.
Narrator: THE DODGE BROTHERS'
CARMACKS CLAIM
IS JUST TWO MILES
FROM THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN,
CLOSE TO THE SOURCE OF THE GOLD
IN AN AREA THAT WAS MISSED
DURING THE GOLD RUSH.
IT'S THOUGHT TO CONTAIN
SOME OF THE BEST GOLD DEPOSITS
IN THE YUKON.
LAST YEAR, THE HOFFMANS
CONSIDERED MINING CARMACKS.
SO YOU GUYS ARE AFTER
SOME BIG NUGGETS, HUH?
LIKE HOW BIG?
HOW BIG?
ABOUT THAT BIG.
OH!
NOW, THAT'S WHAT I CALL
A BIG NUGGET.
BUT WHEN TODD DECIDED ON HEADING
TO SOUTH AMERICA INSTEAD,
THE DODGE BROTHERS MINED
THE CLAIM.
LOOK AT THAT ONE!
SOME BEAUTIFUL GOLD HERE.
THE RESULTS WERE REMARKABLE.
Derek: THIS IS
JUST SOME OF THE BIG STUFF.
Narrator:
DAVE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE
TO GET A PIECE
OF THE CARMACKS ACTION.
I CAN'T WAIT TILL I SEE GOLD.
FREDDY AND DEREK HAVE BEEN DOING
THIS CREEK,
AND THEY'RE GETTING BIG GOLD
AND A LOT OF IT.
I'M KIND OF KNOWN
AS THE GOLD GUY.
DEREK, HE'S BEEN A PROSPECTOR
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
DAVE,
HE'S ONE OF THE BEST PEOPLE
I'VE EVER SEEN
ON HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
WE'VE PUT TOGETHER
ONE HELL OF A TEAM.
IF THE GOLD'S IN THE GROUND,
WE WILL SUCCEED.
Narrator:
THE NUGGETS AT CARMACKS
ARE BURIED BENEATH THE ICE.
DAVE AND THE DODGE BROTHERS
COULD WAIT FOR THE FROZEN RIVER
TO THAW,
BUT THEY HAVE A PLAN
THAT SHOULD PUT THEM WEEKS AHEAD
OF THE GAME.
THEY'LL BUILD AN ICE DEN
UPSTREAM...
...TO CREATE A MASSIVE BUILDUP
OF WATER.
WHEN THE DAM IS FULL,
DEREK WILL RELEASE
200,000 GALLONS OF WATER
INTO THE VALLEY BELOW.
THE SURGE SHOULD CLEAR
ENOUGH SNOW AND ICE
FOR THE CREW TO START MINING.
BUT DAVE HAS TO BUILD THE DAM
FROM BELOW,
MANEUVERING HIS EXCAVATOR
ON ICE.
Turin:
I'VE NEVER WORKED ON ICE BEFORE.
IT MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS.
THIS IS A 105,000-POUND MACHINE,
AND IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO BE RUN
ON SNOW AND ICE.
COME ON. GET UP.
THERE WE GO.
THERE WE GO.
AH, THAT'S GOOD.
Narrator: AFTER A HALF AN HOUR,
THE DAM STARTS TO TAKE SHAPE.
Turin: HERE, I GOT A LOT OF ICE
SITTING IN HERE RIGHT NOW.
Freddy: THE POND'S FILLING UP
FASTER THAN I THOUGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HURRY.
Derek:
WELL, I'M GONNA CUT IT LOSE.
IT'S GOING TO GO BIG.
HANG ON.
LET ME GET OUT OF HERE.
WHOA.
Narrator:
200,000 GALLONS OF WATER
THREATEN TO BREACH THE DAM
WITH DAVE DIRECTLY IN ITS PATH.
Turin: WHOA!
WHOA, EASY THERE.
Derek: ABOUT TO LOSE IT.
Turin: COME ON, BABY.
GET UP THE HILL.
I CAN'T BE WAITING.
YOU GOT TO HURRY, GUYS.
THIS DAM'S GOING TO BREAK
ON ITS OWN.
[ GROANS ]
WELL, THAT OUGHT TO BE ENOUGH.
Narrator:
WITH DAVE OUT OF HARM'S WAY,
DEREK BREAKS THROUGH
THE 15-FOOT WALL.
LET'S GIVE IT HELL.
THERE IT GOES!
LOOK AT THAT STUFF
GO DOWN THE CREEK, MAN.
SOME ICE FLOWING NOW.
NICE!
THAT'LL CLEAR IT OUT.
ALL THE WATER AND ICE FROM ABOVE
HAS FLOWED DOWN TO THE BOTTOM
OF THE MOUNTAIN.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT.
IT'S WORKING PERFECT.
Narrator:
IN JUST A MORNING'S WORK,
THE WATER HAS CLEARED
MOST OF THE ICE
COVERING THEIR CARMACKS GOLD.
WE TORE
THE HECK OUT OF IT.
WORKED GOOD, HUH?
DOWN TO GRAVEL.
THERE'S GOLD RIGHT
WHERE WE'RE STANDING HERE NOW.
I THINK THERE'S GONNA
BE POCKETS IN HERE THAT
ARE GONNA BE AMAZING.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE
A GREAT SEASON.
CARMACKS IS OPEN
FOR BUSINESS.
Narrator: LAST YEAR,
IN HIS FIRST KLONDIKE SEASON,
19-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL
MINED A STAGGERING
1,029 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH $1.4 MILLION.
I MEAN, LAST SEASON,
BY EVERY MEASURE THAT I KNOW,
IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS FOR US,
AND WE DID OVER 1,000 OUNCES
ON LOW-GRADE GROUND.
TONY TOLD ME THAT IF I DID WELL
LAST YEAR,
HE'D GIVE ME BETTER GROUND.
I'M HERE TO GET IT.
Narrator: PARKER'S TRAVELED
3,000 MILES TO ARIZONA
FOR A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING
WITH HIS CLAIM OWNER,
TONY BEETS, AT HIS WINTER HOME.
HEY, TONY.
LONG TIME, NO SEE.
YEAH.
WELL, I MEAN,
LIKE WE SAID LAST YEAR,
YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A BIT
OF A TRAINING GROUND.
BUT THIS SEASON, YOU KNOW,
I'M PREPARED TO THROW EVERYTHING
WE MADE LAST YEAR INTO IT.
BUT THAT MEANS,
OBVIOUSLY, LIKE YOU KNOW,
WE NEED BETTER GROUND.
NO, NO, NO, NO,
NO, NO, NO, NO.
I THOUGHT
I COULD EXPECT IT, BECAUSE...
HMM, NO.
...YOU KNOW, THIS SEASON --
OR THIS LAST SEASON,
I THOUGHT THAT WE SHOWED THAT
YOU CAN GIVE ME GROUND
THAT IS ECONOMICAL TO MINE.
NO.
I EXPECTED THIS
TO GO DIFFERENTLY.
IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS TO ME
AT THIS POINT
THAT YOU'RE LEASING ME GROUND
THAT YOU WOULD NEVER TOUCH.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S
NO NEGOTIATING HERE, SO, UM...
WELL, YOU MAKE IT HARD
TO BE HAPPY.
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
[ SIGHS ]
[BLEEP] THAT.
I MEAN, IF TONY WANTS ME TO MINE
HIS [BLEEP] GROUND,
THEN I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I WANT
TO GO BACK TO THE KLONDIKE.
Narrator: 1,000 MILES NORTH,
IN SANDY, OREGON,
AFTER EPIC FAILURE
IN THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA,
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS DISBANDED.
THE GUYS HAVE HAD NO CHOICE
BUT TO DO WHAT THEY CAN
TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN HOME,
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET
ANY ODD JOB I CAN FIND.
GOT BILLS TO PAY.
Narrator:
ANDY SPINKS HAS RESORTED
TO WORKING
AT HIS FAMILY'S NURSERY.
Spinks: I'VE SPENT A LOT
OF YEARS TO TRY TO HELP TODD,
AND IT'S A BIG COMMITMENT.
AND UH,
IT HASN'T REALLY PAID OFF.
Narrator: AND THE FUTURE IS
NO BRIGHTER FOR KEVIN HIATT.
Hiatt: NOW, I'M DEALING WITH
OTHER PEOPLES' GARBAGE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IT'S A JOB.
IT'S A PAYING JOB.
AT LEAST I'M GOING TO MAKE
SOME MONEY DOING IT,
AND IT'S WHAT I --
WHAT I HAVE TO DO.
Narrator: BUT TODD REFUSES TO
LET THE HOFFMANS' DREAM DIE.
HE CALLS HIS CREW TOGETHER
FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE SOUTH AMERICA.
I'M NERVOUS. I GOT ALL MY GUYS
COMING OVER RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
A PRETTY FRANK TALK.
I'M GOING TO ASK MY TEAM
TO GO NORTH ONE MORE TIME.
WILL THEY COME WITH ME?
I DON'T KNOW.
HEY, GUYS.
COME ON IN.
HAVE A SEAT.
THANKS FOR COMING.
I APPRECIATE IT.
I'M NOT HAPPY
THAT YOU GUYS ARE STRUGGLING
BECAUSE OF MY DECISIONS.
THAT'S NOT FUNNY TO ME.
WHAT THE HELL WERE WE DOING
IN GUYANA?
WE KNEW NOTHING
ABOUT DIAMONDS.
WE KNEW NOTHING
ABOUT THE COUNTRY.
WE SHOULD NEVER LEFT
THE KLONDIKE.
GUYS, I WANT TO GO BACK
TO THE KLONDIKE
AND FINISH WHAT WE STARTED.
IF WE COULD FIND
SOME GOOD LAND,
PUT THE EQUIPMENT BACK TOGETHER,
AND LET'S GO.
YOU DON'T HAVE LAND?
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
HE'S DONE IT BEFORE.
HE CAN DO IT AGAIN.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE
A CHANCE.
WHO'S WITH ME?
I'M OUT, TODD.
I'M OUT.
I'M OUT.
ALL OF YOU GUYS?
THURBER, YOU BEEN WITH ME
FOR FOUR FRICKIN' YEARS.
I CAN'T GO
UNLESS YOU HAVE LAND.
I DON'T HAVE LAND.
DUDE, I'M OUT.
THAT HURTS.
NEVER EXPECTED THAT.
DID YOU?
NOPE.
Narrator: AFTER HIS DISASTROUS
MEETING WITH TONY BEETS,
PARKER IS BACK HOME IN ALASKA.
TONY BEETS ISN'T THE ONLY OPTION
FOR ME THIS YEAR.
AND MY OTHER OPTION IS TO STAY
HERE AND MINE BIG NUGGET.
YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY
KIND OF TEMPTING,
CONSIDERING THE ATTITUDE
TONY HAS ABOUT THINGS.
Narrator:
TO DECIDE ON HIS NEXT MOVE,
PARKER HEADS TO SEE
HIS MINING MENTOR,
94-YEAR-OLD GRANDPA JOHN.
HEY, GRANDPA.
OH, HELLO!
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I'M DOING FINE.
I'M DOING BETTER
NOW THAT YOU'RE HERE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT'S NICE TO SEE YA.
I JUST WENT DOWN TO ARIZONA
AND MET WITH TONY.
AND, UH, TONY'S BASICALLY
OFFERING ME
THE SAME GROUND THAT WE MINED
LAST YEAR.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.
AND YOU RESENT IT SOMEWHAT,
I GATHER.
IF TONY WANTS ME TO KEEP
MY [BLEEP] GROUND,
I MIGHT AS WELL JUST TO BACK
TO BIG NUGGET
AND BE MY OWN BOSS,
YOU KNOW?
IT'S OBVIOUS WE'RE DEALING
IN EMOTIONS
RATHER THAN IN ECONOMICS.
WHAT KIND OF FUTURE IS THERE
HERE?
WELL, THERE ISN'T MUCH,
PARKER. I WILL --
I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT YOU CAN
MAYBE HAVE A FEW YEARS,
BUT THEN,
YOU GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE.
IF I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU
SOME OF MY TRUE ADVICE,
I WOULD SAY THIS.
I THINK
YOU SHOULD GO UP THERE,
OPEN UP TO THE GROUND
THAT TONY'S GOT
AND EARN ENOUGH
TO BUY YOUR OWN CLAIM.
I WOULD GET OUT
FROM UNDER TONY.
I MEAN, THE FACT THAT
YOU HAVE OWNED BIG NUGGET
HAS ALWAYS GIVEN YOU THE FREEDOM
TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, RIGHT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT.
BUYING GROUND STARTS TO LOOK
LIKE A BETTER IDEA.
IT'S A RISK
AND A CHALLENGE.
AND ANYBODY THAT BACKS AWAY
FROM A CHALLENGE,
IN MY OPINION,
WILL NEVER GET TOO FAR.
THANKS, GRANDPA.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
UP NORTH THIS SUMMER.
I WILL LOOK FORWARD
TO COMING.
I HAVE
EVERY BIT OF CONFIDENCE
YOU'RE GOING TO COME OUT
A WINNER.
I MEAN, MY GRANDPA'S RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I JUST NEED TO GO
UP THERE AND BUY MY OWN GROUND
AND GET OUT FROM UNDER TONY.
AND A DECENT CLAIM IS GOING
TO COST AT LEAST 2,000 OUNCES.
TRYING TO FIND 1,000 LAST YEAR
DAMN NEAR KILLED US,
BUT I'M GOING TO PILE EVERY CENT
WE MADE LAST YEAR BACK INTO IT
AND BUY MY OWN GROUND
AND BE MY OWN BOSS.
Narrator: 320 MILES NORTH
AT CLEAR CREEK IN THE YUKON,
TONY BEETS TAKES
TWO EXPERT MACHINISTS,
MIKE KRISHER AND JERRY RHODES,
TO HIS LATEST PURCHASE.
ARE YOU NUTS?
IT'S HUGE.
WHAT THE [BLEEP] DID YOU DO?
Narrator: DREDGES ARE
FLOATING GOLD FACTORIES.
THEY WERE FIRST USED IN
THE KLONDIKE OVER 100 YEARS AGO.
FOR HALF A CENTURY,
THEY DOMINATED
THE GOLD-MINING LANDSCAPE.
THEY SLOWLY DUG THEIR WAY
THROUGH THE VALLEYS
IN PONDS
THEY CREATED THEMSELVES,
LEAVING VAST LINES OF TAILINGS
IN THEIR WAKE.
IN A SINGLE DAY,
THE BIGGEST DREDGES
COULD PROCESS
A STAGGERING
14,500 YARDS OF PAY DIRT,
PRODUCING NEARLY $1 MILLION
IN GOLD.
[ DREDGE WHIRRING ]
DREDGES COMBINE
ALL THE PROCESSES OF GOLD MINING
IN ONE FLOATING MACHINE.
A BUCKET LINE AT THE FRONT DIGS
THE PAY DIRT.
AN ONBOARD WASH PLANT
WASHES THE DIRT.
GOLD THEN COLLECTS
IN THE SLUICES.
AND FINALLY,
TAILINGS SPIT OUT OF THE BACK.
BUT NO ONE'S RUN A DREDGE
IN THE KLONDIKE
FOR OVER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
THIS THING'S OLDER
THAN WE ARE, TONY.
HOW DO WE KNOW ANYTHING
WILL EVEN WORK IN IT?
TO GET THIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE
BACK UP AND RUNNING,
TONY WILL HAVE TO BREAK IT DOWN
INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES,
TRUCK IT 150 MILES
AND HOPE HE CAN GET IT TO WORK
AFTER PUTTING IT ALL
BACK TOGETHER.
WITHOUT JERRY AND MIKE'S
MECHANICAL EXPERTISE,
TONY HAS NO CHANCE
OF PULLING OFF THIS EPIC FEAT
OF ENGINEERING.
Man: YOU BET
AN AWFUL, AWFUL HERE, TONY.
YOU EXPECT US TO MOVE
THIS THING?
[ DREDGE WHIRRING ]
OH, WOW.
IT LOOKS REALLY NICE.
Beets: YEAH.
BUT IT HASN'T RUN.
WHOA.
HUH?
JUST [BLEEP]
LOOK AT THIS.
YOU MAKE IT SOUND
PRETTY EASY.
BUT TONY, WE WANT THIS,
TO HAVE IT HAPPEN FOR YOU.
BUT YOU GOT A FEW OBSTACLES HERE
THAT YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT.
IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT
IF THIS RAN LAST SEASON.
MM-HMM.
BUT IT'S BEEN SITTING 30 YEARS.
WE'RE IN.
YEAH.
OKAY. PERFECT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK,
MIKE?
I DON'T KNOW. WHAT HAVE
WE GOT OURSELVES INTO HERE?
Narrator:
APRIL IN DAWSON CITY.
27 DEGREES,
AND STILL A WEEK BEFORE
THE START OF THE MINING SEASON.
BUT ONCE AGAIN,
PARKER SCHNABEL AND RICK NESS
ARE BACK
AT SCRIBNER CREEK EARLY.
TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY
HIS OWN LAND
BY THE END OF THE SEASON,
PARKER NEEDS TO GET
HIS OPERATION
UP AND RUNNING
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK, RICK.
YEP.
BEFORE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING,
PARKER AND RICK NEED TO FIND OUT
IF THEIR EQUIPMENT HAS SURVIVED
THE MINUS-50-DEGREE
WINTER WINDS.
AS GENE'S SHOWING UP HERE
IN LESS THAN 10 DAYS,
SO IF THERE'S ANY SURPRISES,
WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
Ness: YEAH.
Parker:
WE'RE PRETTY DAMN EARLY,
BUT I'D RATHER DEAL WITH THIS
NOW THAN IN A MONTH,
BECAUSE WE WILL BE
ONE OF THE FIRST ONES SLUICING.
THEN, WE GET TO FIND SOME GOLD.
Narrator: THE KEY TO OPENING
GROUND EARLY IN THE SEASON
IS PARKER'S
30-YEAR-OLD D10 DOZER.
IF WE CAN GET THIS DOZER GOING,
THEN WE CAN START STRIPPING.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
COME ON.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
COME ON, YOU [BLEEP]
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
HA-HA!
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
THAT'S A GOOD START,
RIGHT THERE.
Narrator:
PARKER AND RICK IMMEDIATELY
START CLEARING OVERBURDEN
IN THE FAR CUT,
GROUND SO RICH IN GOLD
THAT IN JUST THE FINAL FOUR DAYS
OF LAST SEASON,
THEY MINED 148 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH $200,000.
Parker: [BLEEP] YEAH.
YEE-HAW!
Narrator: PARKER RIPS THROUGH
THE ICE WITH A D10 RIPPER.
RICK FOLLOWS BEHIND
IN THE EXCAVATOR.
Ness: YEP, THIS IS THE FIRST CUT
OF THE NEW SEASON.
I'M KIND OF STARTING
WHERE PARKER AND I LEFT OFF
IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR,
AND IT'S GOING TO BE
[BLEEP] AWESOME.
Parker: IT FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK
IN THE SADDLE.
I'M HAPPY WITH HOW THINGS
ARE GOING SO FAR.
YOU KNOW, RICK IS PRETTY GUNG-HO
TO GET GOING.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOLD
WHERE WE'RE STRIPPING.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT
A BIG ADVANTAGE OVER LAST YEAR,
HAVING A YEAR UNDER OUR BELT.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS GOING ON
WITH THE STEERING ON THIS THING?
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
HEY, RICK.
CAN YOU COME OVER HERE AND --
SOMETHING'S GOING ON
WITH THIS [BLEEP] DOZER.
[BLEEP]
THAT PIN FOR THE STABILIZER BAR
IS BACKED OUT.
Ness: AH, NO.
ALMOST COMPLETELY.
[BLEEP]
Narrator: THE RIGHT HAND TRACK
IS BOWING IN AND OUT,
MAKING THE DOZER IMPOSSIBLE
TO STEER.
UNDERNEATH, AN IDLER ARM
IS DESIGNED
TO KEEP THE TRACK IN LINE
BY LOCKING IT TO THE BODY.
BUT THE PIN HAS SLIPPED OUT,
AND THE IDLER ARM IS NO LONGER
CONNECTED TO THE TRACK.
WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE DOZER
ON THE TRACKS,
THERE'S NO WAY TO LINE UP
THE TWO PINHOLES.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET
THAT THING LINED BACK UP?
I THINK IF I COULD SEE THAT
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF TRACK,
AND YOU PUT SOME PRESSURE
ON THE BLADE
AND LIFT THE MACHINE
UP A LITTLE BIT,
IT MIGHT LINE BACK UP.
AND MAYBE, MAYBE I CAN POUND
THAT SUCKER BACK IN PLACE.
JUST DRIVE IT RIGHT BACK IN?
YEAH.
RICK'S PLAN --
USE THE BLADE TO TAKE THE WEIGHT
OFF THE FRONT OF THE DOZER,
RELEASING THE PRESSURE
ON THE TRACKS,
BRINGING THE PINHOLES
BACK INTO ALIGNMENT.
RICK WILL THEN TRY TO DRIVE
THE PIN BACK IN BY HAND
FROM UNDER
THE 125,000-POUND DOZER.
BUT THAT PUTS YOU
UNDER HERE
WITH ALL THE PRESSURE
ON THOSE CYLINDERS.
YEAH, IT'S...
THERE'S NO REAL OTHER OPTION
RIGHT NOW.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TRY IT.
ALL RIGHT, BRING IT DOWN
JUST A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S PRETTY CLOSE
RIGHT THERE.
PRETTY CLOSE?
PRETTY CLOSE.
YOU WANT ME TO GET
IN, GET UNDER THERE AND
SEE IF IT WILL GO IN?
YEAH, BUT BE CAREFUL.
ALL RIGHT.
PARKER, I CAN'T GET ANY LEVERAGE
FROM MY BACK, MAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE
ABLE TO POUND THIS IN.
WELL,
WE NEED TO GET HER GOING
OR ELSE, YOU KNOW,
WE CAN'T STRIP.
AND THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON
WE'RE UP HERE.
[ POUNDING ]
IT'S GOT TO GO IN
ABOUT SIX MORE INCHES.
Narrator: PARKER EDGES
THE DOZER BLADE DOWN
TO BETTER LINE UP THE HOLES.
CAN YOU POUND IT IN?
ALL RIGHT, I THINK
IT'S STARTING TO MOVE, ACTUALLY.
[ POUNDING ]
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
WHEW.
[BLEEP] YOU, PIN.
NICE SWINGING,
JOHN HENRY.
I GOT IT, BUDDY.
BACK IN BUSINESS.
GOOD JOB, MAN.
ALL RIGHT.
BACK TO STRIPPING.
WE'LL GET BACK TO IT.
HELLS, YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET
SOME [BLEEP] DIRT MOVED.
Narrator: SANDY, OREGON.
TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN HAVE BEEN
ABANDONED BY THEIR CREW.
BUT FATHER AND SON ARE REFUSING
TO QUIT.
[ GRUNTS ]
LET'S TARP IT,
GET THE PUMP, AND GO.
WELL, I'VE DECIDED TO GO NORTH,
BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
UM, THAT DECISION
DIDN'T COME EASY.
I DON'T HAVE A CLAIM.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EQUIPMENT.
I'VE NEVER BEEN THIS UNPREPARED
FOR ANYTHING IN MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT HAVE LAND,
AND IT'S JUST THE TWO OF US,
BUT WE'RE FATHER AND SON.
AND TOGETHER,
WE CAN CONQUER THE WORLD.
YOU READY?
YEP.
Narrator:
FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS,
THEY'VE HEADED OFF TO MINE
WITH A CREW, A CLAIM,
AND A PLAN.
Todd: I THINK WE GOT EVERYTHING.
I THINK WE'RE READY TO GO.
THIS TIME, THEY HAVE NOTHING.
I LOVE YOU GUYS.
I LOVE YOU, HONEY.
I'LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU
THE WHOLE WAY.
DAD, WILL YOU SAY A LITTLE
PRAYER FOR US ALL TOGETHER?
Jack: LORD, HELP US TO FIND
A PLACE TO MINE.
GIVE US THE STRENGTH.
GIVE US THE COURAGE
TO GO FORWARD.
AMEN.
AMEN.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
LOVE YOU. GOODBYE.
Narrator: ONCE AGAIN,
TODD AND JACK MAKE
THE 2,000-MILE JOURNEY NORTH
TO THE KLONDIKE.
IF THEY CAN'T SOMEHOW
TURN THINGS AROUND,
IT COULD BE THEIR LAST.
THE SCARY PART FOR ME
IS IT ALL COMES DOWN TO LAND.
YOU KNOW,
GOLD IS WHERE YOU FIND IT.
YOU GOT TO GET
A GOOD CLAIM.
IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT.
GREG'S GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING
FOR US.
HE ALWAYS HAS
IN THE PAST.
THE HOFFMANS HAVE ARRANGED
TO MEET THE MAN
WHO GAVE THEM THEIR FIRST BREAK
IN THE KLONDIKE THREE YEARS AGO,
GREG MCNEIL.
HEY, GREG.
HI, TODD.
HEY, JACK.
HOW ARE YOU?
DOING ALL RIGHT.
DOING ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
WHY I WANTED
TO MEET WITH YOU IS,
I WAS HOPING YOU HAD SOME LAND
FOR US.
REMEMBER THE GROUND
THAT WE LEASED BEFORE?
I NEED THAT LAND AGAIN,
GREG.
THERE'S JUST NO WAY POSSIBLE.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
THIS IS OUR LAST SHOT,
GREG.
THAT'S OUT OF THE QUESTION.
AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
AFTER LAST SEASON, YOU KNOW,
I JUST DON'T KNOW, YOU
KNOW, WHAT STOCK IN YOU
IS WORTH THIS YEAR.
I MEAN,
I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT
WHO UP HERE IS GOING LEASE
YOU GUYS ANY GROUND.
IT IS WHAT IT IS.
YEP.
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.
YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO NEED IT.
TAKE CARE.
YEAH.
OH,
THAT DIDN'T GO SO GOOD.
YOU KNOW, TODD, IT'S NOT
THE FIGHT THAT THE DOG'S IN.
IT'S THE FIGHT
THAT'S IN THE DOG.
WE WILL FIND A PLACE.
IF WE CAN'T FIND
A DECENT CLAIM,
I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS,
DAD.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE
ANOTHER FAILURE LIKE THAT.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, TODD.
JUST DON'T QUIT.
Narrator:
JUST TWO HOURS SOUTH OF DAWSON,
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER AND RICK HAVE SPENT
THE LAST WEEK
STRUGGLING ON THEIR OWN
TO REMOVE 12 FEET OF OVERBURDEN.
RIGHT NOW, RICK AND I ARE TRYING
TO GET THIS CUT SORTED.
IT'S JUST A LONG PUSH.
AND, YOU KNOW,
THAT DOZER'S EXPENSIVE TO RUN.
Narrator: PARKER'S FOREMAN,
GENE CHEESEMAN,
IS DUE TO ARRIVE ANY MINUTE
WITH THEIR NEW MECHANIC.
Parker: GENE'S DEFINITELY
THE KEY TO THIS SEASON
IF WE'RE GOING TO DO
THE BIG NUMBERS.
HE KNOWS HOW TO MOVE DIRT,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO
RIGHT NOW.
HOW'S IT GOING?
Cheeseman:
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
GOOD.
HOW WAS THE TRIP UP?
OH, NOT TOO BAD.
FIND A MECHANIC, I GUESS, HUH?
HOW'S IT GOING?
GOOD, MITCH.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
NOT TOO BAD.
GLAD TO BE HERE.
Narrator:
FOR TWO SEASONS,
MITCH BLASCHKE WAS
TODD HOFFMAN'S MECHANIC.
THIS YEAR,
HE'S DEFECTED TO PARKER'S CREW.
WELL, I'M GLAD YOU'RE BOTH HERE,
BECAUSE THIS TIME LAST YEAR,
WE WERE SLUICING
FOUR DAYS FROM NOW.
AND WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR THAT
RIGHT NOW,
SO I'M GLAD YOU GUYS
ARE HERE.
AND I HOPE
THAT WE CAN STEP THAT UP.
OKAY.
WELL, LET'S GO GET GOING ON IT.
ALL RIGHT.
SOUNDS GOOD.
Blaschke: I'M TIRED OF WORKING
ON UNEDUCATED GUESSES,
SO CAME TO OVER HERE WHERE, UH,
THEY SEEM TO PLAN THINGS OUT
A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO A GOOD SEASON
AND WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO GET THE JOB DONE
AND GET SOME GOLD IN THE BOX.
Parker: I JUST HOPE MITCH
HASN'T LOST HIS WORK ETHIC
WORKING FOR TODD HOFFMAN.
IF SOMETHING'S BROKE DOWN,
MITCH IS GOING TO STAY HERE TILL
HE FIXES IT
OR HE GETS IN A SERVICE TRUCK
AND DRIVES BACK TO OREGON.
Narrator:
GENE HEADS STRAIGHT TO THE CUT
TO CHECK ON PARKER'S PROGRESS.
Cheeseman: I JUST GOT HERE, SO
I WANT TO GO KIND OF CHECK OUT
WHAT PARKER AND RICK
HAVE BEEN DOING
FOR THE LAST LITTLE BIT
THEY'VE BEEN HERE
AND JUST KIND OF GET ORGANIZED,
GET A PLAN,
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
Narrator:
HE'S NOT IMPRESSED.
YEAH.
YOU WANT TO GET 2,000 OUNCES,
IT'S, UH...
GOT TO SPEED IT UP, HERE.
Parker:
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
Cheeseman: JUST PUSHING
WITH ONE CAT'S
NOT GOING TO GET IT OPENED UP
FAST ENOUGH.
WE NEED TO GET THOSE TRUCKS
OUT HERE
AND GET -- GET TO HAULING
THIS STUFF.
I KNOW THAT,
BUT THE ROAD'S JUST SO [BLEEP]
YOU KNOW,
ICE AND MUD AND WHATNOT.
NOBODY'S HAULING ANYTHING
OUT HERE.
I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO GET THE TRUCKS OUT HERE.
I MEAN, I KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT...
WELL, PUSHING WILL WORK, BUT
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT LONGER.
IF THE TRUCK'S HERE, IT'S GONNA
SPEED UP THE WHOLE PROCESS,
MOVE TWICE AS MUCH MATERIAL
AND BURN LESS FUEL.
SO LET'S GET THE --
GET THE TRUCKS HERE.
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.
Narrator: 140 MILES SOUTH
OF DAWSON CITY, AT CARMACKS,
JUST A WEEK
INTO THE MINING SEASON,
FREDDY, DEREK, AND DAVE
ARE FINALLY READY TO RUN DIRT
ON THEIR MOUNTAIN CLAIM.
THAT THICK PATCH OF ICE
IS GONE.
LET'S GET TO SLUICING.
MAKE SOME GOLD.
Narrator: JOINING THEM IS
DEREK'S WIFE, IRENE.
Derek: GOT TO PUT SOME PAY
IN THIS BOX, IRENE.
SO LET HER RIP.
WILL DO.
I'VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG
TO GET THIS SHOW GOING.
Narrator:
IRENE FEEDS THE DEROCKER
THAT WASHES THE GOLD AND DIRT
OFF ROCKS AND BOULDERS.
THERE'S
OUR FIRST BUCKET.
WE'RE SLUICING
AND MAKING GOLD!
TURIN: Woo-hoo!
Narrator: DAVE STRIPS LAND
FURTHER DOWN THE CLAIM.
Turin:
WE'RE ON GOOD GROUND.
AND WE'RE GOING TO GET
SOME GOOD GOLD THIS YEAR.
Freddy: WE KEEP RUNNING
AT THIS RATE, DEREK,
it's going to be a good year,
that's for sure.
Derek:
IRENE'S FEEDING GOOD,
AND WE GOT ABOUT DOUBLE
OUR PRODUCTION SO FAR
THE WAY IT'S LOOKING HERE.
WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?
THAT'S ALL WE NEED.
HEY, DEREK.
We got a part here
in the tailings.
I don't know
what it's off of.
DEREK:
What's it look like?
UH, IT'S YELLOW.
IT'S A SEAL OFF OF SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT.
I'm coming to check
this out.
IT'S PILING UP AT THE TOP.
IT'S NOT FEEDING RIGHT,
EITHER.
[BLEEP]
SHUT IT DOWN!
SHUT IT DOWN!!
[ SLUICE SHUTS DOWN ]
IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD
UNDER THERE.
WE GOT A TIRE IN THERE
NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LAYING
ON THE FLOOR.
FREDDY,
WE GOT SOME ISSUES HERE.
AND THAT AXLE'S EITHER COME OUT
OR BROKEN OR DONE SOMETHING,
AND I THINK WE'RE SCREWED.
Narrator:
THE DECK OF THE DEROCKER
MOVES UP AND DOWN
ON A BED OF TRUCK WHEELS.
DIRECTLY BENEATH
WHERE THE ROCKS ARE LOADED,
ONE OF THE WHEELS HAS
SHEARED OFF ITS AXLE.
Freddy: HOOKING A CHAIN UP
TO PULL THE DEROCKER DECK BACK
SO WE CAN GET INSIDE OF IT
AND GET IT FIXED.
THERE'S ONE HELL OF A BUNCH
OF WEIGHT RIGHT HERE
WE'RE TRYING TO PULL UPHILL --
ROCK, STEEL,
AND FIGHTING GRAVITY.
HERE WE GO.
Narrator:
BEFORE THEY CAN FIX THE WHEEL,
THEY HAVE TO REMOVE
THE ROCKS AND THE DECK
THAT WEIGH OVER 10,000 POUNDS.
OH.
[BLEEP]
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
GONNA TRY TO GET THIS UP HIGHER,
OVER THE TOP OF THE BLADE.
TRY IT AGAIN.
COME ON, CHAIN.
THAT'LL WORK, DEREK.
Freddy:
DOESN'T LOOK GOOD, DOES IT?
WELL, LET'S GET WITH IT,
AND WE'LL MAKE SOME GOLD
THIS AFTERNOON.
LET'S DO IT.
IT'S ALL YOURS, DEREK.
WE'LL REPLACE THIS AXLE NOW
AND PUT A NEW SEAL IN
AND GET TO ROLLING AGAIN HERE.
OOH.
[ DRILL WHIRS ]
WE'VE GOT ONE OF THESE ROLLER
PUT BACK TOGETHER.
Turin: THE DODGE BROTHERS ARE
A DREAM TEAM.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX
THEIR EQUIPMENT.
LAST YEAR,
WITH THE HOFFMANS IN GUYANA,
THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN US WEEKS.
Derek: WELL, WE'RE GETTING
OUR TIRES IN PLACE,
AND WE'LL ROLL THE DECK
BACK OVER,
AND WE'LL BE READY
TO ROCK 'N' ROLL AGAIN.
[ DRILL WHIRS ]
LET'S FIRE IT UP.
TRY HER OUT
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
GOT A LOAD UP.
PULL YOUR THUMB IN, GIRL.
OKAY.
LOOKS GOOD.
Narrator:
IN JUST THREE HOURS,
FREDDY AND DEREK FIX
THE DEROCKER
AND ARE BACK WASHING ROCKS.
CARMACKS IS BACK ON TRACK
TO BE THE FIRST MINE
TO STRIKE GOLD THIS SEASON.
GOOD JOB, DEREK.
GOOD JOB.
IT WORKS, YEP.
EXCELLENT.
[ ANIMAL HOWLS ]
Narrator: 3:00 a.m.
JUST OUTSIDE DAWSON CITY,
PARKER AND RICK ARE TAKING
MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.
IF NO ONE ELSE WILL DRIVE THEIR
ROCK TRUCKS TO SCRIBNER CREEK,
THEY WILL.
SO ARE THESE TRUCKS READY
TO ROCK 'N' ROLL?
Ness: YEAH, TRUCKS ARE
READY TO ROCK 'N' ROLL,
BUT THIS ROAD'S
STILL A NIGHTMARE.
WE JUST NEED
THESE ROCK TRUCKS ON-SITE
AS SOON AS WE CAN,
YOU KNOW.
YEAH.
NO, I GET IT.
WE NEED TO GET GROUND
STRIPPED,
AND WE NEED TO GET THAT PLANT
UP AND RUNNING.
TO AVOID SLIPPING
ON THE MUDDY ROADS,
THEIR PLAN IS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT,
WHEN THE GROUND FREEZES UP.
IT DID FREEZE
PRETTY GOOD OVERNIGHT, AT LEAST.
ALL RIGHT,
LET'S DO IT, RICK.
SOUNDS GOOD, BUDDY.
LET'S TRY TO KEEP
THE RUBBER SIDE DOWN,
GET THERE IN ONE PIECE.
THEY'LL HAVE TO HURRY TO COVER
THE 55 MILES BACK TO THE CLAIM
BEFORE THE SUN RISES
AND THE ICY ROAD STARTS TO MELT.
IN MAY, THIS FAR NORTH,
NIGHT LASTS
LESS THAN FIVE HOURS.
HOW'S THAT TRUCK RUNNING,
RICK?
TRUCK'S RUNNING SMOOTH,
PARKER.
THESE ROADS ARE GOOD
SO FAR.
DUDE, THESE THINGS HAVE
SOME BALLS.
YEAH, I'M PRETTY IMPRESSED
SO FAR.
NEGOTIATING THE ICE
SLOWS PROGRESS.
PICK UP THE PACE.
OH.
AS DAWN BREAKS,
PARKER AND RICK STILL HAVE
10 MILES TO GO.
AS SOON AS THE SUN RISES,
THE ICE BEGINS TO MELT,
AND THE ROADS DETERIORATE FAST.
This road ain't starting
to look so good, is it?
MAN, I KNEW THESE ROADS
WERE GOING TO GET BAD, DUDE.
THIS IS --
THIS AIN'T GOOD.
THIS PART OF THE ROAD IS
WASHED RIGHT OUT, ISN'T IT?
Yeah, it is.
Pretty jacked.
THIS HAS ALL
TURNED INTO MUD.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SLIDE
ON ANY AND ALL OF IT.
HOLY [BLEEP]
OH, [BLEEP] HELL.
[ CRASH ]
OH [BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
Narrator: JUST FIVE MILES
FROM SCRIBNER CREEK,
AFTER AN OVERNIGHT DRIVE
FROM DAWSON,
RICK NESS
HAS CRASHED HIS ROCK TRUCK.
[BLEEP]
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] ARE WE DOING, DUDE?
I [BLEEP] TOLD YOU
THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
Schnabel: TOLD ME WHAT
WAS GONNA [BLEEP] HAPPEN,
YOU WERE GONNA DRIVE
OFF THE [BLEEP] ROAD?
[BLEEP] ROADS ARE [BLEEP]
THAT'S [BLEEP]
WELL, YOU DID
A GOOD NUMBER ON THAT ONE.
[BLEEP]
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
TO GET A CHAIN OR SOMETHING.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PULL
THE [BLEEP] THING OUT.
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE
A WHOLE LOT OF ROOM.
AND THE PROBLEM IS,
I CAN'T PULL YOU ON THIS SIDE.
'CAUSE IF YOU COME THIS WAY
AT ALL,
WE'LL TIP THE TRACTOR OVER.
GOOD [BLEEP] WAY
TO START A [BLEEP] SEASON.
Narrator:
PARKER HAS TO SOMEHOW PULL
RICK'S TRUCK OUT OF THE DITCH.
BUT JUST TO THE RIGHT
OF THE TRUCK IS A STEEP SLOPE
THAT DROPS OFF 15 FEET
INTO A CREEK.
WE JUST NEED TO WATCH OUT
FOR THAT [BLEEP] DITCH,
'CAUSE THAT STILL
IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT
THAT TRACTOR GOES
OVER IN IT.
AND THEN, WE'RE HOOPED.
Ness: YEAH.
[BLEEP]
YOU READY, RICK?
YEP.
LET'S GIVE IT A WHIRL.
IT'S PULLING ME
INTO THE [BLEEP] DITCH.
[BLEEP] HELL.
IF IT STARTS TO GO OVER,
I'M KILLING THE MOTOR.
ROGER THAT.
OH [BLEEP]
Watch it.
Watch that front end.
THANK [BLEEP]
I'M SORRY.
THANKS, DUDE.
DON'T THANK ME.
WE'RE NOT TOO FAR
FROM THE MINE NOW,
BUT LET'S JUST
TAKE IT EASY.
THERE'S NO USE IN LEAVING THEM
BESIDE THE ROAD,
ESPECIALLY
WITH THE MESS WE MADE.
YEAH.
AFTER FIVE GRUELING HOURS,
PARKER AND RICK
FINALLY ARRIVE ON THE CLAIM
WITH THE ROCK TRUCKS THEY NEED
TO HAVE ANY SHOT
AT A 2,000-OUNCE,
$2. 4-MILLION SEASON.
WE DID HER.
WHAT A [BLEEP] TRIP.
I DIDN'T THINK
GETTING TWO ROCK TRUCKS
TO A [BLEEP] MINE SITE
WOULD BE THAT BAD.
IT SHOULD NOT BE
THAT HARD.
AT CLEAR CREEK,
TONY BEETS' MACHINISTS,
MIKE AND JERRY,
HAVE SPENT THE LAST TWO DAYS
WORKING ON A PLAN
TO DISMANTLE THE DREDGE.
SO WE'LL MAKE THIS
P2, HUH?
THEY'RE PAINSTAKINGLY MARKING
EVERY PIECE
OF THE 200-FOOT
GOLD-CATCHING VESSEL.
AND THEN,
LET'S SEE HERE.
THIS WILL BE
DIAGONAL EIGHT, RIGHT?
TONY AND HIS DAWSON CREW,
INCLUDING HIS DAUGHTER, MONICA,
AND SON, KEVIN,
ARRIVE AT THE DREDGE.
THIS LOOKS LIKE A BIG JOB, TONY.
WE GOT A [BLEEP] PLAN?
IS IT SAFE?
WE'RE WASHING THE PORCUPINE
[BLEEP] OUT.
IT'S BURIED
IN PORCUPINE [BLEEP] AND GRAVEL.
YOU GOT TO BE ABLE
TO FIND THE BOLTS.
I MEAN, WHAT THE --
HOW BAD CAN IT...
IS THAT THE WAY
YOU GOT TO DO IT?
Narrator:
THE CREW FOLLOWS TONY'S LEAD,
TAKING THE SIDING
OFF THE 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE
BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.
TONY'S WAY OF DOING THINGS
IS WEIRD AND ODD,
BUT DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO
TO GET IT DONE.
TONY, YOU'RE DESTROYING
THE [BLEEP] DREDGE.
Narrator: IN DAWSON CITY,
WITH THE MINING SEASON
ALREADY UNDERWAY,
TODD HOFFMAN IS DESPERATE
TO FIND A CLAIM.
TODD,
IS THAT MARSHALL MINTZ?
YEAH, IT IS.
ARE YOU KIDDING? AFTER GUYANA?
LISTEN. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT,
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
LET'S GO IN THERE
AND HEAR HIM OUT, OKAY?
OH, GEEZ, TODD.
LET'S JUST SEE
WHAT HE'S GOT TO SAY ON IT.
MARSHALL MINTZ BROKERED
THE HOFFMAN'S DEAL
FOR A CLAIM DOWN
IN GUYANA LAST SEASON --
A DEAL
THAT NEARLY BANKRUPTED THEM.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
YOU REMEMBER MY DAD?
HEY.
HOW ARE YOU, JACK?
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HOW ARE YOU DOING,
MARSHALL?
I'M DOING OKAY, TODD.
AND HOW ABOUT YOU?
WELL...
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
NOT VERY GOOD.
WE CANNOT FIND ANY GROUND.
I'D CERTAINLY LIKE TO HELP
YOU GUYS OUT AFTER THAT,
WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH
IN THE JUNGLE.
GOING TO THE JUNGLE WASN'T --
WASN'T A GOOD MOVE FOR US.
AND HERE WE ARE IN THE KLONDIKE,
AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.
WELL, YOU'RE LATE.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
UH, I...
YOU KNOW,
I HAVE ONE LEAD.
THIS IS
A PIECE OF PROPERTY.
IT'S CALLED
THE McKINNON CREEK.
IT'S NOT ALL THAT FAR
FROM WHERE YOU GUYS
HAD SOME SUCCESS
ON THE INDIAN RIVER
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
OH, NO KIDDING.
TELL ME ABOUT THE GROUND.
DO YOU KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT IT?
WELL,
THE GUY THAT'S RUNNING IT
IS PETER TALLMAN
OF KLONDIKE GOLD CORP.
OKAY.
I'VE KNOWN PETER
FOR MAYBE 15 YEARS.
AND IF HE SAYS
THERE'S GOLD THERE,
THERE'S GOLD THERE.
HEARD THIS STUFF BEFORE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WHY ARE THEY NOT MINING IT
RIGHT NOW?
I THINK THEY WENT BUST.
WHAT HAPPENED?
I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT --
WHY THOSE PEOPLE ARE GONE,
BUT THEY'RE GONE.
HERE'S WHAT WORRIES ME.
IF IT WAS REALLY GOOD,
WHY HASN'T IT BEEN TAKEN BY NOW?
BASICALLY, I THINK YOU
GOT TO TAKE A LOOK YOURSELF --
GET OUT THERE
WITH A GOLD PAN.
DO YOU KNOW HOW BAD I WANT
TO BELIEVE IN THIS RIGHT NOW?
I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER LEAD.
WHEN CAN WE GET OUT THERE
AND TAKE A LOOK?
WE CAN JUST
TAKE THE DRIVE OUT THERE.
YEAH, I'LL DO IT.
ALL RIGHT, MARSHALL,
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
THE LAST
OF PARKER'S TEAM ARRIVES.
TWO TRUSTY VETERANS
ARE BACK FOR A SECOND SEASON --
GREG REMSBURG
TO OPERATE EQUIPMENT
AND CHRIS DOUMITT
TO RUN THE WASH PLANT.
LAST YEAR WAS
A PRETTY OVERWHELMING SUCCESS.
THIS YEAR,
WE'RE DUMPING ALL THAT MONEY
RIGHT BACK INTO THE PLACE.
SO, I MEAN, WE'RE JUST --
WE'RE GOING ALL OUT THIS SEASON,
AND I'M SETTING
A 2,000-OUNCE GOAL FOR US.
YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA TAKE
A LOT OF EFFORT
ON OUR PART, RIGHT?
WE'RE GONNA BE
WORKING LONG DAYS.
IT'S GOING TO BE
A BIT OF A GRIND THIS YEAR.
AND MITCH,
YOUR TWO-OUNCE SEASON
IS GOING TO BE
A LONG WAYS IN THE PAST
BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
YEAH, NO KIDDING.
WELL, I THINK IT'S GONNA TAKE
A LOT OF HARD WORK --
MOVE A LOT OF DIRT.
BUT IT'S WHY I CAME BACK,
BECAUSE I KNOW WE CAN
DO BETTER THAN LAST YEAR.
WE'VE GOT GOOD EQUIPMENT.
WE'VE GOT A GOOD WASH PLANT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
WHAT WE CAN DO WITH IT.
SO SHOULD WE GET TO IT?
Together: LET'S DO IT.
Remsburg: FEELS GOOD
TO BE BACK IN THE YUKON.
IT WAS A ROUGH YEAR LAST YEAR.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE GOT 1,000 OUNCES.
YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE
A STRUGGLE TO GET 2,000 OUNCES.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE US
INTO THE WINTER, BUT SO WHAT?
Doumitt: PARKER'S
PULLING OUT 2,000 OUNCES.
THAT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
I CAN'T DO IT STANDING HERE
TALKING SO I GOT TO GO TO WORK.
Narrator:
THE TEAM KICKS INTO GEAR.
TO INCREASE PRODUCTION
THIS SEASON,
PARKER HAS BROUGHT IN
A MASSIVE 70-TON EXCAVATOR
TO LOAD HIS ROCK TRUCKS.
Ness: I REALLY THINK THIS IS
GONNA SPEED THINGS UP BIG TIME.
I'M LOADING THIS TRUCKS
IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS A PIECE.
BETTER THAN A MINUTE AND A HALF.
SO, SO FAR, IT'S OFF
TO A GOOD START, I'D SAY.
Narrator:
AFTER SIX DAYS OF HAULING
PAY DIRT OUT OF THE FAR CUT,
PARKER'S CREW
IS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
AND READY TO FIRE UP BIG RED
FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S CRANK HER UP.
THAT SOUNDS SWEET.
THIS WHOLE SYSTEM'S
JUST PURRING.
WE GOT A TRUCK FULL OF GOLD.
DELIVERING IT TO THE PLANT.
THIS IS THE FIRST ONE.
WE GOT A HIGH TOTAL
TO ACHIEVE THIS YEAR.
AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE THOUSANDS
OF LOADS JUST LIKE THIS ONE.
Narrator: JUST TWO WEEKS
AFTER ARRIVING IN THE KLONDIKE,
PARKER IS WASHING ROCKS.
THE KIND OF YARDAGE
WE HAVE TO RUN,
WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE.
ROCKS JUST NEED
TO GO THROUGH THIS,
AND HOPEFULLY
THERE'S SOME GOLD IN IT.
Narrator: WITHIN HOURS
OF FIRING UP THE WASH PLANT,
TONY BEETS ARRIVES UNANNOUNCED.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING,
TONY?
THAT'S BETWEEN
YOU AND HIM.
Parker,
you better get up here.
Tony just shut us down.
Schnabel: WHAT THE [BLEEP]
Narrator: IN THE NEW
SCRIBNER CREEK CONTRACT,
TONY INSISTED
ON A CLAUSE REQUIRING PARKER
TO INSTALL HYDRAULIC RIFFLES --
A WATER-SLUICING SYSTEM
THAT SHOULD CATCH MORE GOLD.
Schnabel: [BLEEP] ME.
PARKER HAS IGNORED
THE CLAUSE AND TONY.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
A CONTRACT.
YEAH.
JUST SHOW UP ON THE SPRING
AND SHUTTING US DOWN?
TONY, WE JUST [BLEEP]
GOT STARTED SLUICING.
REALLY?
THAT'S [BLEEP] TONY.
WHATEVER, TONY.
[BLEEP] THAT.
WE MADE A BIG EFFORT
TO GET SLUICING THIS EARLY,
AND ANY HEAD START
WE HAD'S GONE NOW.
Narrator:
CARMACKS, SOUTHERN YUKON,
AFTER SIX DAYS OF RUNNING DIRT,
THE DODGE BROTHERS
AND DAVE TURIN
ARE READY FOR THEIR
FIRST CLEANUP OF THE SEASON.
OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO BE
SHUTTING THE PUMP DOWN HERE
IN JUST A SECOND.
Narrator: THE MOUNTAINS
AROUND THEIR CARMACKS CLAIM
ARE LADEN WITH COARSE GOLD.
THE BIGGEST NUGGETS SHOULD SIT
ON BEDROCK, BUT SO FAR,
THEY'VE ONLY RUN SURFACE DIRT
THROUGH THE WASH PLANT.
OKAY, FREDDY, DAVE,
LET'S GATHER UP AT THE BOX
AND SEE
WHAT WE GOT FOR THE DAY.
HOPEFULLY, IT'LL BE GOOD.
Turin: ROGER THAT, DEREK,
I'LL MEET YOU AT THE SLUICE BOX.
WELL,
FIRST CLEANUP AT CARMACKS.
IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE
I'VE SEEN GOLD IN A SLUICE BOX.
HOW'S IT LOOKING,
YOU GUYS?
WHAT HAVE WE GOT?
OH, THERE WE GO.
I MEAN, I'M JUST PICKING OUT
GOLD NUGGETS LEFT AND RIGHT.
I'VE NEVER SEEN
GOLD LIKE THIS BEFORE.
LOOK THERE --
BIG,
NUGGETY CARMACKS GOLD.
THAT'S WHY WE MINE.
RIGHT THERE, BOYS.
FIRST GOLD NUGGET.
Freddy:
FIRST CLEANUP OF THE YEAR.
THEY'LL BE MORE IN THERE.
WE'LL KNOW HERE
IN A FEW HOURS.
Narrator: HAVING ALREADY PULLED
A FISTFUL OF NUGGETS,
THEY HEAD TO THE GOLD ROOM
TO SEPARATE THE CONCENTRATE.
Freddy: SO, HERE WE GO.
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK
IN THE GOLD ROOM.
THAT'S MY FAVORITE PLACE.
HERE IN THE GOLD ROOM TELLS YOU
WHAT ALL YOUR HARD WORK'S
GIVING YOU.
EITHER IT'S BEEN WORTHWHILE
OR IT HASN'T BEEN WORTHWHILE.
LAST SCOOP.
Narrator:
IF DAVE AND THE DODGE BROTHERS
CAN GET MORE THAN $15 A YARD
FROM THE TOP LAYER OF PAY DIRT,
THEY CAN CASH IN BIG TIME
ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO THE NUGGETS AT BEDROCK.
YEAH, 17 OUNCES
WOULD BE A GOOD START --
YOU KNOW, FOR TOP STUFF.
HERE WE GO.
THERE'S FIVE.
15. 15.
20. WHEW.
NO WAY.
27.47.
Man: WHEW.
27.48
NICE!
THAT WORKS.
THAT'S HUGE.
THAT'S EXACTLY 10 OUNCES MORE
THAN YOU WERE HOPING FOR.
FOR SURE. FOR TOP STUFF,
THAT'S DAMN GOOD, EH?
WHEN WE GET TO THE BOTTOM,
THERE'S GOING TO BE
SOME GOODIES COMING.
YEP.
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: THE CREW'S
IMPRESSIVE FIRST HAUL --
27 OUNCES OF NUGGETY GOLD,
IS WORTH $32,000.
THE TOP LAYER IS PAYING
A MASSIVE $27 A YARD.
THE DIRT THAT LIES BENEATH
COULD BE WORTH MILLIONS.
WE COULD MAYBE GET UP TOWARDS
THAT 1,000 OUNCES.
IF WE WITH OUT OF HERE
WITH 1,000 OUNCES,
THERE'LL BE A LOT OF HAPPY
CREATURES LEAVING THIS CREEK.
IT COULD BE
A HELL OF A YEAR.
US OLD GUYS STILL KNOW
A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW?
YEAH, I KNOW IT.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
GENE SPENT THE LAST TWO DAYS
IN HIS WORKSHOP
FABRICATING
NEW HYDRAULIC RIFFLES.
THE CREW CAN NOW INSTALL THEM
IN BIG RED.
WELCOME TO THE 21st CENTURY.
OUT WITH THE HOLD,
IN WITH THE NEW.
WE'RE GONNA GET THIS DONE.
TONY HAS SHUT US DOWN
UNTIL WE GET HYDRAULIC RIFFLES
IN OUR BOX,
AND GENE'S FABBED THESE UP.
AND HOPEFULLY,
THEY'RE GONNA WORK.
Narrator:
IN PARKER'S ORIGINAL SLUICE BOX,
THE WATER WASHED AWAY
THE LIGHTER MATERIAL,
ALLOWING THE HEAVIER GOLD
TO SINK TO THE BOTTOM.
BUT WORTHLESS BLACK SAND
ALSO CLOGGED UP THE RIFFLES.
TONY'S INSISTED
ON HYDRAULIC RIFFLES
THAT USE JETS OF WATER
TO AGITATE THE CONCENTRATE,
SENDING
THE USELESS BLACK SAND OUT
WHILE STILL ALLOWING
THE PRECIOUS GOLD
TO SETTLE IN THE RIFFLES.
WELL, HERE'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE
OF WHY WE WANT TO USE
THESE HYDRAULIC RIFFLES.
WE'RE EIGHT FEET
DOWN THE SLUICE,
AND HERE'S A BAND OF GOLD
RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM.
HYDRAULIC RIFFLES
TRAP THE GOLD BETTER.
WE WON'T BE
DOING AS MANY CLEANUPS,
LONGER RUN TIME.
WE WILL SEE IF IT WORKS.
SO, CHRIS,
WHAT DO YOU RECKON
THIS WHOLE SHUTDOWN THING
COST US?
20 OUNCES?
YEAH.
WELL, WE'LL GET
THE [BLEEP] THINGS IN THERE
AND MAKE
THE VIKING HAPPY.
THERE YOU GO.
GET BACK TO IT.
THIS THE LAST ONE.
Narrator:
ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO DO,
TURN ON THE WATER.
NOW, WE'RE ALL SET UP,
READY TO GO.
WE JUST NEED
TO START RUNNING AGAIN.
I MEAN, IT WAS PRETTY ANNOYING,
BUT WE'RE BACK UP AND RUNNING.
SO HOPEFULLY THOSE RIFFLES
WORK WELL.
WE'RE RUNNING DIRT.
Narrator:
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME,
PARKER GETS HIS ENTIRE CREW
DIGGING, HAULING,
AND RUNNING
AS MUCH PAY DIRT AS POSSIBLE.
I THINK HAVING
2,000 OUNCES OF GOLD THIS SEASON
IS GONNA TAKE A LOT OF WORK,
BUT IT'S GONNA BE BADASS
WHEN WE GET THERE.
Remsburg:
EVERYBODY'S KIND OF PUMPED UP
AND READY TO GO NOW,
SO A GOOD CLEANUP WOULD REALLY
HELP CARRY US INTO THE SEASON.
EVERY HOUR
THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING USE OF
IS AN HOUR WASTED.
WE'RE NOT GETTING
THIS TIME BACK.
Narrator: AFTER THREE DAYS
OF RUNNING HARD,
CHRIS DOUMITT BEGINS
THE FIRST SCRIBNER CREEK CLEANUP
OF THE SEASON.
Doumitt: I'D BE REAL CURIOUS
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE --
HOW IT WORKS OUT.
YEAH, THERE'S GOLD IN THERE.
OOH, THERE'S A PILE OF GOLD
RIGHT THERE.
GOLD ALL LINED UP IN THERE.
THERE'S GOLD ALONG HERE.
THEY MIGHT BE A LOT OF WORK,
BUT MAYBE
THESE RIFFLES ARE WORKING.
WELL, PARKER THREW DOWN
2,000 OUNCES THIS YEAR.
I THOUGHT
A THOUSAND WAS DIFFICULT.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED
REALLY GOOD CLEANUPS EVERY TIME.
THIS BEING THE FIRST ONE,
IT'S GONNA TELL US
IF WE START OUT
WITH A GOOD SEASON OR NOT.
Narrator: TONY BEETS ARRIVES
AT PARKER'S CLAIM
FOR THE BIG WEIGH-IN.
Schnabel: HEY, TONY.
HEY, PARKER.
YEAH.
YEAH,
THEY SEEMED TO WORK FINE.
I MEAN,
THEY CAUGHT MOST OF THIS STUFF.
IT'S ACTUALLY A DECENT [BLEEP]
RACK OF GOLD RIGHT THERE.
I THINK THIS STUFF'S READY
TO BE WEIGHED UP.
THE KLONDIKE SEASON
IS ABOUT 20 WEEKS LONG.
FOR PARKER TO HAVE ANY CHANCE
OF BUYING HIS OWN KLONDIKE CLAIM
BY THE END OF THE SEASON,
HE NEEDS 100 OUNCES
WORTH $120,000,
EACH AND EVERY WEEK.
LET'S SEE WHAT THIS IS.
IT'S 20 --
25.
SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE.
60.
TWO, THREE, FOUR...
SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE.
WHOA.
12, 72, 73.
HONESTLY,
I WAS HOPING FOR BETTER.
YEAH, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
A 2,000-OUNCE SEASON, TONY.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH,
YEAH, YEAH.
WE'RE WAY AHEAD
OF WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR,
BUT WE NEED TO BE
EVEN FURTHER AHEAD.
YEAH,
BUT IT COULD BE BETTER.
DESPITE A MASSIVE 73 OUNCES
WORTH $90,000,
AFTER
JUST THREE DAYS OF RUNNING,
PARKER IS NOT SATISFIED.
AND HE STILL HAS TO PAY TONY
HIS 15% CUT.
THANK YOU, TONY.
SEE YOU THEN.
Schnabel:
I MEAN, IT'S NOT A BAD START.
LAST SEASON,
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT.
THIS SEASON, WE'RE NOT TRYING
TO DO 1,000 OUNCES.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO 2,000, RIGHT?
EVERY WEEK FROM HERE ON OUT
THAT WE DON'T DO
OVER 100 OUNCES A WEEK,
WE'RE FALLING BEHIND.
AND JUST TO PUT IT BLUNTLY,
THIS WEEK, WE FELL BEHIND.
Narrator:
35 MILES SOUTH OF DAWSON CITY,
TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN
ARE ON THEIR WAY TO
THE ABANDONED McKINNON MINE --
THEIR ONE AND ONLY LEAD
THIS SEASON.
Jack: IT'S PRETTY DESOLATE
OUT HERE.
MAN, LOOK AT ALL THIS CRAP
AROUND HERE. GEEZ.
LET'S GO FIND OUT
IF THIS IS FOR REAL.
WELL, I'M NOT GONNA
HOLD MY BREATH.
PETER TALLMAN,
CEO OF THE COMPANY
THAT OWNS THE LAND,
HAS AGREED TO SHOW THEM AROUND
THE 350-ACRE CLAIM.
HOW ARE YOU DOING,
MARSHALL?
Mintz:
HOW'S THINGS?
GOOD.
THIS IS TODD HOFFMAN.
PETER TALLMAN OF...
TODD, NICE TO MEET YOU.
SO THIS IS A CLAIM, HUH?
IT'S A GOOD ONE.
YOU'RE GONNA LIKE IT.
I HOPE SO.
LET'S GO UP AND HAVE A LOOK.
OKAY.
WOW.
I SEE YOU ALREADY GOT
A WASH PLANT UP HERE.
IT'S THE GUYS THAT HAD
THE CLAIMS LAST YEAR,
AND THEY PUSHED
A LOT OF DIRT.
AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR THEM,
AND THEY'RE GONE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE GUYS
THAT WERE IN HERE LAST YEAR?
THEY WENT BUST.
WHY?
IS IT BECAUSE OF THE GOLD?
THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD HERE --
A LOT OF GOLD.
THEY WENT BUST.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN.
THE WHOLE CLAIM'S
A MILE AND A HALF LONG.
THEY'VE ONLY TAMPERED
WITH A LITTLE BIT
AND LEFT A LOT
STILL SITTING THERE.
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO MAKE
A LOT OF MONEY HERE.
THE CLAIM'S GOING TO BE LEASED
SOMETIME IN THE NEXT WEEK
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
THERE'S A LOT
OF INTEREST IN IT.
IF ME AND MY DAD PAN GOLD
RIGHT OVER HERE,
I'M GOING TO WALK
BACK OVER HERE,
AND I'M GOING TO SEE
IF I CAN CUT A DEAL WITH YOU.
I KNOW
YOU'RE GONNA FIND GOLD.
I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE NEED IT.
DAD, LET'S GO
TAKE A PEEK, HUH?
OKAY.
MARSHALL,
THEY FOR REAL?
THEY'RE A LITTLE SCALED DOWN,
BUT THEY KNOW HOW TO MINE.
THEY NEED A BREAK.
LOOK OVER HERE, DAD.
LOOK AT THIS.
THERE'S SOME GROUND
READY TO GO OVER HERE.
THAT'S STRIPPED,
OKAY?
AND THAT TOOK THEM TIME
AND MONEY.
THAT WOULD PUT US AHEAD.
SO IF THERE'S GOLD IN THIS CUT,
WE GOT SOMETHING THERE.
LET'S GO PAN THAT.
OKAY.
JUST SCOOP
OUT OF ANYWHERE, DAD.
Narrator: IF THERE'S GOLD
IN JACK'S TEST PAN,
McKINNON CREEK'S STRIPPED GROUND
COULD ALLOW THE HOFFMANS
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME
AND SAVE THEM THOUSANDS
IN START-UP COSTS.
DAD,
ARE YOU SEEING ANYTHING?
THERE'S SOME GOLD.
IT'S RIGHT UP IN THE TOP.
LOOK AT THAT.
THERE'S GOLD RIGHT THERE.
LOOK AT THAT, DAD.
YEAH.
THIS IS FRICKIN' AWESOME.
THIS IS A LOT
OF FRICKIN' GOLD, OKAY?
YEAH.
AND THIS IS IT.
WE COULD ROLL
THAT FRICKIN' TROMMEL IN HERE
AND BE MINING IN THE FIRST WEEK,
YOU UNDERSTAND?
THERE'S PROBABLY MAYBE 80,
90 OUNCES ALREADY STRIPPED.
THAT COULD GET US RIGHT OUT
OF THE HOLE, YOU KNOW?
RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
YEP.
THAT'D BE
AN AWESOME START.
WE'LL TAKE THEIR PAY DIRT
AND MAKE IT OURS.
WE NEED IT.
I'LL GO UP THERE AND SEE
IF WE CAN NEGOTIATE, ALL RIGHT?
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK IN THE YUKON,
JACK AND TODD
HAVE FOUND GOLD IN GROUND
THAT'S READY TO BE RUN.
BUT TO SECURE THIS LAND,
THEY'LL HAVE TO CUT A DEAL
WITH PETER TALLMAN.
Tallman: WELL,
SEE ANYTHING YOU LIKE?
WELL, WE LOOKED AROUND
AND FOUND GOLD.
YOU WERE RIGHT.
NOT SURPRISED.
I KNOW THERE'S GOLD THERE.
I KNOW
THERE'S GOOD GOLD THERE.
YEAH, BUT THERE'S
A BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN JUST HAVING GOLD
IN YOUR PAN
AND TRYING TO PROCESS
200,000 OR 300,000 YARDS OF IT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH.
SO WHAT'S YOUR DEAL
ON THIS LAND?
WHAT KIND OF DEAL
WOULD YOU MAKE US?
STRAIGHT UP?
20% OF PRODUCTION.
OOH.
Narrator: THE HOFFMANS PAID
JUST 10% THE LAST TIME
THEY WERE IN THE KLONDIKE.
NOT EVEN THINKING
ABOUT NEGOTIATING.
IT'S WORTH IT.
WE GOT TO TALK.
YEAH.
MIND IF TAKE A MINUTE
AND TALK ABOUT IT?
Tallman: NOT AT ALL.
OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW.
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK?
EVERYBODY ELSE
CHARGES 10 AROUND HERE.
HE'S WANTING DOUBLE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, I THINK
THERE'S PROBABLY ENOUGH
IF WE DO THE VOLUME.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT.
LET'S GO TALK TO HIM.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
PETER.
LAST TIME I LEASED
A CLAIM UP HERE, IT WAS 10%.
THAT'S PRETTY STANDARD
OUT HERE,
BUT THAT WAS
A GOOD GOLD PAN.
AND I'D LIKE
TO OFFER YOU 15%.
20%
LIKE I SAID,
IT'S NOT NEGOTIABLE.
THERE IS GOOD GOLD HERE.
YOU KNOW IT.
I KNOW IT.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
IF I COULD USE THE CAMP
AND SOME OF THE PUMPS,
I WOULD GO TO 20%
IF YOU COULD
THROW THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IN
AND GIVE US A LEG UP.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT THAT?
ALL RIGHT.
USE THE EQUIPMENT.
I'LL LET YOU USE THE CAMP,
EXCEPT THIS.
I THINK WE GOT A DEAL.
ONE MORE THING, THOUGH.
YOU'VE HAD
DIFFICULTIES BEFORE.
SO I WANT A MINIMUM
OF 100 OUNCES OF GOLD
PAID TO ME
REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU GET.
COME IN AND YOU
DON'T PRODUCE ANYTHING,
YOU'RE STILL PAYING.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
I'M GONNA AGREE TO THAT,
AND MY DAD'S GONNA CHEW
MY EAR OFF ALL THE WAY HOME.
BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT.
I'M GOING TO STEP OUT
ON THE LIMB.
LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.
YOU GOT YOURSELF A DEAL.
DEAL.
CONGRATULATIONS.
WELCOME TO McKINNON CREEK.
GOOD LUCK.
Narrator:
TODD HOFFMAN HAS A CLAIM,
BUT BEFORE HE CAN MINE,
HE ALREADY OWES
100 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH $120,000.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, DAD?
WELL, I THINK
THAT'S A TOUGH DEAL,
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
YOU KNOW WHAT, DAD?
WE GOT GOLD IN THE PAN.
YEAH.
AND KNOW WHAT THAT IS?
THAT'S HOPE.
ONE WEEK AGO, WE WEREN'T EVEN
GOING TO BE FRICKIN' MINING,
BUT HERE WE ARE, OKAY?
IT'S A BRAND-NEW START.
LET'S GO GET OUR STUFF.
YEP.
AND LET'S GET STARTED,
HUH?
YEAH, LET'S JUST GO KICK
SOME ASS.
LET'S GO GIVE HER HELL.
TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN
LOST EVERYTHING LAST SEASON
IN THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA.
BUT WITH THEIR NEW CLAIM,
McKINNON CREEK,
THEY HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE
AT REDEMPTION.
IN AN ALL NEW SEASON
OF "GOLD RUSH"...
Man:
STAND BACK! [BLEEP]
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS TO MAN UP...
2,000 OUNCES IS
A HELL OF A LOT OF GOLD TO FIND.
Narrator:
...TO WIN HIS INDEPENDENCE
FROM TONY BEETS.
[BLEEP] IT.
Narrator: THE 19-YEAR-OLD
IS HARD ON HIMSELF...
GET OUT OF MY [BLEEP]
Narrator:
...AND HIS CREW.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET
A [BLEEP] ANSWER YOU WANT.
EITHER WALK OUT OF HERE
OR RUN 24/7.
ON AN AUDACIOUS QUEST...
THIS ISN'T WORKING.
...TO HIT 2,000 OUNCES...
Schnabel:
THAT'S A TON OF GOLD.
Narrator:
...PARKER GOES FOR BROKE...
[BLEEP] DAMN IT.
Narrator: ...TO SECURE
HIS FUTURE IN THE KLONDIKE.
I JUST NEED TO BUY MY OWN GROUND
AND BE MY OWN BOSS.
TONY BEETS...
...STRUGGLES TO RESURRECT
HIS 75-YEAR-OLD
GOLD-CATCHING DREDGE.
BUT FINDING THE TIME...
TONY, YOU THERE?
Narrator: ...THE CASH...
I NEED MONEY.
[BLEEP]
...AND THE PATIENCE...
GET THE [BLEEP]
Narrator:
...JUST MIGHT PROVE TOO MUCH
FOR THE VIKING TO HANDLE.
NOW, THAT WAS RIDICULOUS
[BLEEP]
Narrator:
AND TODD HOFFMAN...
WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
...FINDS HIMSELF
BACK AT SQUARE ONE.
Hoffman: THIS RIGHT HERE
REPRESENTS SURVIVAL.
Narrator: ONCE AGAIN,
HE BATTLES REJECTION...
I NEED YOU
BACK OVER HERE.
CAN'T DO IT.
I NEED YOU.
I'M NOT INTERESTED.
I'M HAPPY HERE.
...DEFEAT...
YOU CAN'T JUST QUIT.
I'M SORRY, BUT WE'RE DONE.
...AND HIS OWN FATHER...
WHOA!
STOP!
GET OUT OF THE WAY.
YOU CAN JUST SUCK EGGS.
[ GROANS ]
Narrator:
...IN AN ALL-OUT FIGHT...
LET'S JUST GIVE HER HELL.
Man: TURN IT OFF.
Narrator:
...TO SALVAGE HIS DIGNITY...
I GOT TO GET US RUNNING AGAIN.
Narrator:
...AND HIS MINING CAREER.
WHAT IF WE COULD COME BACK
FROM THE ASHES
AND KICK SOME ASS THIS YEAR?