Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 11 - Parker's Accident - full transcript
Parker Schnabel totals his car in a head on collision. The Hoffman crew rock trucks go head to head on a dangerous haul road and Tony Beets finally starts to rebuild his 75 year old gold mining dredge.
Narrator:
AT EUREKA CREEK...
...TONY BEETS'
MILLION-DOLLAR DREDGE
IS FOUR WEEKS BEHIND SCHEDULE.
HE'S BEING UNREALISTIC,
A DREAMER.
Narrator:
HE'S RUNNING OUT OF TIME
TO GET HIS GOLD MACHINE REBUILT
BEFORE WINTER.
HE'S FORCED TO CUT CORNERS...
Monica:
THAT'S SKETCHY LOOKING.
...AND PUTS HIS CREW
IN HARM'S WAY.
Tony: WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
MIKE. MIKE!
AT McKINNON CREEK...
Turin: EVERYBODY CLEAR!
Narrator:
...TODD HOFFMAN
IS FINALLY FIRING
ON ALL CYLINDERS
ON NEW GROUND.
Todd: WE PUT ALL OUR CARDS
ON THIS CUT.
SIZE OF 10 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
Narrator: BUT TO KEEP THEIR
MASSIVE WASH PLANT FED...
I'M TOTALLY OUT OF PAY.
Narrator:
THE CREW IS DRIVEN...
1,000 OUNCES, HERE WE COME.
Narrator:
...TO THE BRINK.
HOLY [BLEEP]
WE'LL GO BANKRUPT
IF WE KEEP GOING LIKE THAT.
Narrator:
AND AT SCRIBNER CREEK...
RICK, WHAT'S UP?
HEY I GOT TO [BLEEP] RUN.
...DISASTER STRIKES.
PARKER.
HE'S BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
PARKER!
PARKER!
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
SCRIBNER CREEK. THE KLONDIKE.
Remsburg:
WHAT'S GOING ON?
[ INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER ]
THE CREW LEARNS
PARKER IS IN TROUBLE.
RICK, WHAT'S UP?
HEY, I GOT TO [BLEEP] RUN.
CAN YOU LOAD TRUCKS FOR ME,
GREG?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
PARKER.
HE'S BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
COME ON.
SOMETHING'S WRONG.
I JUST GOT TO GO FIND OUT
WHAT IT IS.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
PARKER!
[ CAR DOOR CLOSES ]
PARKER!
[BLEEP]
Narrator: PARKER'S BEEN
IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION
ON THE ROAD TO DAWSON.
THERE'S HIS TRUCK.
BUT WHERE'S PARKER?
I DON'T SEE HIM.
PARKER!
WHERE ARE YOU AT?
Parker: HEY.
[ DOG BARKS ]
Rick: DUDE.
[BLEEP]
I KNOW.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
YEAH, I'M OKAY.
YOUR HEAD DO THAT
TO THE STEERING WHEEL,
OR WAS IT YOUR HANDS?
HEAD.
OH, GEEZ.
SHE WAS SO FAR ON MY [BLEEP]
BY THE WAY.
I'M IN THE DITCH
WHEN WE HIT.
REALLY?
I'M IN THE [BLEEP] DITCH
WHEN WE HIT.
THINK THEY'LL TOTAL IT OUT?
YEAH.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S JUST
THE ONE PIECE, YOU KNOW?
THE ENGINE,
IT STILL RUNS AND DRIVES.
YEAH, IT'S TOTALED.
I MEAN,
LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW,
I CAME UP HERE PRETTY BROKE,
REALLY.
I MEAN, I HAD A GOLD
GOVERNMENT SURPLUS TRUCK
THAT WAS ALL BEAT UP.
AND IT GAVE ME
A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST
NEW TRUCK I'VE BOUGHT, YOU KNOW?
IT'S NICE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
I'VE ACTUALLY STARTED
TAKING GOOD CARE
OF MY VEHICLE.
AND...
[ SIGHS ]
YEAH.
YEAH. IT'S JACKED.
Narrator:
WEST, AT McKINNON CREEK...
HALFWAY
THROUGH THEIR MINING SEASON
AND WITH THEIR IMPRESSIVE
LAST CLEANUP
OF 99 OUNCES,
WORTH NEARLY $120,000,
THE HOFFMAN CREW NOW HAS A TOTAL
OF 235 OUNCES,
WORTH OVER $280,000.
GO GET READY TO BRING IT IN.
TODD'S NOW DETERMINED TO GET
HIS HIGHEST GOLD COUNT EVER.
I NOT ONLY WANT 1,000 OUNCES.
I WANT TO SMASH IT.
EVERYBODY THAT LAUGHED AT US
AND ALL THE CRAP WE TOOK,
YOU KNOW WHAT, I WANT THOSE GUYS
TO KISS OUR ASS.
WE GOT OURSELVES A MONSTER HERE.
IT WILL DO 300 YARDS AN HOUR.
WE GOT TO COME TOGETHER
AS A TEAM
AND KEEP THIS THING FED.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, DAVE?
ARE WE READY?
Turin:
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE.
BOTH YOU AND I, WE GOT
WAY TOO MUCH INVESTED IN THIS.
WE EITHER HIT ONE
OUT OF THE PARK
OR WE'RE STRIKING OUT.
WE GOT THE TEAM.
WE GOT THE GROUND.
WE GOT THE EQUIPMENT NOW.
AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE
THIS SLUICE BOX LIGHT UP.
Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS FINISHED
RUNNING THE CUT
BESIDE THEIR WASH PLANT.
THEY ARE ABOUT TO RUN
THE FIRST PAY
FROM THE HIGHER CUT
AT THE FAR END OF THEIR CLAIM.
WE'RE ON THE HIGHER CUT,
BUT IT'S A MILE HAUL.
ROCK TRUCKERS, HOW FAST
CAN WE BRING IT DOWN HERE?
AS FAST AS YOU CAN TAKE IT.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
DAD, YOU SHOULD SAY
A LITTLE PRAYER FOR US.
Jack: YUP.
LORD, GIVE OUR
ROCK TRUCK DRIVERS SAFETY,
AND HELP THEM TO JUST
SPEEDILY GET THAT TO THE PLANT.
LORD, HELP THE PLANT
TO JUST GOBBLE IT UP
AND TO PUT THE GOLD
IN THE BOX HERE.
All: AMEN.
Todd: LET'S GO.
WE PUT ALL OUR CARDS
ON THIS CUT.
AND LET'S HOPE IT PAYS OFF.
Narrator: AS THE SECOND HALF
OF THE SEASON BEGINS,
THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS ONE LAST CHANCE
TO REDEEM THEMSELVES.
HEY, DAVE,
FIRE UP THE GENERATOR.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Turin: EVERYBODY CLEAR!
TAILING CONVEYOR COMING ON.
SCREEN'S COMING ON.
THURBER,
FIRE IT UP.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator: THURBER STARTS
THE 3,000-GALLON-A-MINUTE
WATER PUMP.
THE ROCK TRUCKS HAUL PAY DIRT
FROM THE HIGHER CUT.
AND JACK LOADS HIS FIRST BUCKET
INTO MONSTER RED.
Jack: LET'S KICK SOME ASS.
I'M KEEPING COUNT
WITH THIS CLICKER.
I PUSH IT
EVERY TIME I DUMP A LOAD.
MONSTER RED NEEDS
50 DUMPS PER HOUR.
Narrator: 50 BUCKETLOADS
IS 300 YARDS OF PAY DIRT.
TO MEET MONSTER RED'S DEMAND,
KEVIN AND LOGAN HAVE TO DELIVER
ONE TRUCKLOAD EVERY SIX MINUTES.
AND IT'S A ONE-MILE ROUND TRIP.
I'M TOTALLY OUT OF PAY.
THAT'S IT.
10-4.
Yeah, I'm on my way.
♪ WHERE IS THE EDGE?
♪ WHERE IS THE EDGE?
♪ I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE MY TRUCK
OFF THE CLIFF ♪
Narrator: LOGAN'S ROCK TRUCK
BACKS UP TO THE RAMP.
BOOP! RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: AND JACK
IMMEDIATELY TAKES THE PAY.
Jack: WELL, RIGHT NOW,
AT 39 LOADS AN HOUR,
THAT'S ROUGHLY 230 YARDS.
IT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Narrator:
60 MINUTES IN, IT'S CLEAR.
THE TWO ROCK TRUCKS
JUST CAN'T FEED MONSTER RED
ENOUGH PAY DIRT.
JACK:
Hey, Kevin and Logan,
I know you guys are trying,
BUT YOU GOT TO TRY
A LITTLE BIT HARDER.
IT'S JUST A LONG HAUL
ON THIS ROAD,
AND IT'S TIGHT.
We can't even pass
each other.
Well, let's put it this way.
I KNEW SOME GIRLS THAT COULD
LOAD FASTER THAN THAT.
SON OF A...
JACK IS YELLING DOWN TO US
TO GET HIM PAY.
AND, I MEAN, MY FOOT'S
ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.
WE CAN ONLY GO SO FAST.
AND THIS IS ABOUT IT.
THAT WAS JUST WAY TOO CLOSE,
LOG.
I'VE NEVER HAD TO RUN MY TRUCK
LIKE A FORMULA-1 RACE CAR.
HOLY [BLEEP]
SH--
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK...
KEVIN AND LOGAN ARE RACING
TO KEEP
THEIR MASSIVE WASH PLANT FED.
HOLY [BLEEP]
SH--
KEVIN!
DUDE,
THAT WAS TOO CLOSE.
THIS IS FRICKING STUPID.
LET'S GO TALK TO DAVE.
HEY,
YOU GUYS GOT A MINUTE?
WHAT'S UP?
JACK'S BEEN PUSHING US
TO GET PAY TO THAT PLANT
AT A CRAZY RATE.
Turin: IT'S THE ONLY WAY
WE'RE GONNA MAKE ANY MONEY.
WE GOT TO RUN THE PLANT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED.
LISTEN TO ME.
TURN AROUND.
WHAT'S THE MINUTES?
LISTEN TO ME.
NO, YOU LISTEN TO ME.
WHAT ARE THE MINUTES?
COME ON. LET'S TALK.
IT'S, LIKE,
A NINE-MINUTE ROUND TRIP.
IT'S NINE MINUTES?
IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
WE GOT TO GET THE PAY
TO THE PLANT IN A ROCK TRUCK.
WE CAN GET PAY DOWN THERE,
JUST NOT AT THAT RATE.
I'M NOT GONNA DRIVE.
YOU'RE REFUSING
TO DRIVE...
YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS
SERIOUSLY.
YOU'RE REFUSING TO DRIVE
THE TRUCKS RIGHT NOW?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M COMING TO YOU
WITH A SAFETY CONCERN,
AND YOU'RE NOT
TAKING ME SERIOUSLY.
YEAH, I AM TELLING YOU
I'M NOT DRIVING.
NO, I'M NOT SAYING
I'M NOT TAKING YOU SERIOUSLY.
THAT'S HOW I FEEL.
JUST RELAX.
CALM DOWN.
LET'S WORK THROUGH THIS.
WELL, DON'T START
ACCUSING ME OF BEING --
HEY. HEY.
CALM DOWN. CALM DOWN.
IF IT'S THAT BIG A DEAL,
THEN WE'LL SOLVE IT.
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO.
ARE YOU GUYS USING YOUR RADIOS?
ARE YOU USING THE RADIOS?
[BLEEP]
I'M DONE.
Narrator: FIVE MILES EAST
AT EUREKA CREEK...
AFTER THREE MONTHS
OF GRUELING WORK
DISMANTLING TONY BEETS'
MILLION-DOLLAR DREDGE,
MIKE AND JERRY
ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN PHASE TWO --
RESURRECTING THE BEAST
AT ITS NEW HOME.
DREDGES LIKE TONY'S
DOMINATED MINING IN THE YUKON
IN THE FIRST HALF
OF THE 20th CENTURY.
12 OF THESE MASSIVE MACHINES
PRODUCED OVER 17 TONS OF GOLD
THAT, TODAY, WOULD BE WORTH
OVER $650 MILLION.
TONY IS PLANNING TO MINE
LIKE THE OLD TIMERS.
BUT HIS 75-YEAR-OLD MACHINE
IS IN HUNDREDS OF PIECES.
MIKE AND JERRY ASSESS
THE WORK THAT LIES AHEAD.
WELL, THIS IS SOME
OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE
THAT HOLDS THE LADDER UP,
ISN'T IT?
I DON'T REMEMBER THE ENDS
BEING BENT ON THESE I-BEAMS.
DO YOU, MIKE?
NO. I'M SURE THEY GOT MESSED UP
UNLOADING THEM.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
THEY'LL HAVE TO BE CUT OUT
AND REPLACED.
LOOK AT THIS MESS.
THOSE SLUICE BOXES AREN'T USABLE
THE WAY THEY ARE.
YOU KNOW, THE SLUICE BOXES
ARE KIND OF IMPORTANT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THAT'S WHAT CATCHES THE GOLD.
RIGHT.
THAT'LL HAVE TO BE ALL CUT APART
AND FIXED BACK UP.
IT'S LIKE NOBODY
GIVES A [BLEEP]
[ HORN BLARES ]
Narrator: WHEN THE DREDGE CONVOY
ARRIVED...
Monica: AAH!
TONY RUSHED TO GET EVERYTHING
OFF LOADED.
LET IT GO.
THERE WE GO!
YES!
HIS RECKLESS STYLE HAS LEFT
CRITICAL PARTS DAMAGED,
PUTTING HIS REBUILD
EVEN FURTHER BEHIND.
FOUR HOURS LATE,
TONY BEETS ARRIVES
AT EUREKA CREEK.
Rhodes:
[BLEEP] TONY.
I THOUGHT WE WERE PROMISED
A LAY-DOWN YARD
AND A PLACE TO PUT
THE [BLEEP] THING BACK TOGETHER.
IT LOOKS LIKE
A [BLEEP] JUNKYARD.
THIS IS GONNA COST US TIME.
HE'S BEING UNREALISTIC,
A DREAMER.
IT ISN'T GONNA GET DONE.
THIS COST US PROBABLY WEEKS,
THE WAY THIS WAS HANDLED
AND DUMPED OFF HERE.
Krisher: YOU EXPECT US
TO PUT THIS BACK TOGETHER NOW?
Rhodes: IT'S NOT
A PIECE OF CAKE, TONY.
Narrator: TONY TAKES
MIKE AND JERRY TO THE CUT
WHERE HE PLANS TO RUN THE DREDGE
BY THE END OF THIS SEASON.
[ WATER SLOSHING ]
THAT'S AMAZING.
HUH.
THE RIGHT THERE
IS THE REASON WE'RE HERE.
WE WANT TO SEE
THAT DREDGE RUNNING
AND GETTING THAT GOLD
OUT OF THE GROUND.
Narrator:
TONY'S MASTER PLAN --
LEVEL AN AREA
IN HIS GOLD-RICH CUT
TO FIT TOGETHER THE PONTOONS.
THEN THEY'LL REBUILD
THE SUPERSTRUCTURE
AND ALL THE WORKING PARTS
OF THE DREDGE.
ONCE ASSEMBLED,
THEY'LL FLOOD THE CUT,
FLOAT THE DREDGE,
AND BEGIN MINING FOR GOLD
LIKE THEY DID 100 YEARS AGO.
LET'S GET HER BACK TOGETHER,
HUH?
HERE WE GO.
TONY HAS GIVEN JERRY AND MIKE
THE MOTIVATION THEY NEED
TO BEGIN LEVELING THE CUT.
YEAH, LOOKING GOOD, JERRY.
THAT PILE OVER THERE
IS THE FIRST PAY PILE
THAT THE DREDGE
IS GONNA HEAD FOR
WHEN SHE SETS SAIL.
Rhodes: THIS IS GREAT
IF TONY'S PLAN WORKS.
WE MIGHT JUST HAVE THIS DREDGE
RUNNING THIS SEASON.
Narrator: FIVE MILES EAST
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S SHAKEN OFF HIS ACCIDENT
AND GOT HIMSELF
A SECONDHAND PICKUP TRUCK.
HE'S ONCE AGAIN READY TO ROLL.
JUST THREE DAYS AWAY
FROM HIS 20th BIRTHDAY,
HE'S ALREADY BANKED
915 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH OVER $1 MILLION.
AND HIS GRANDPA IS COMING
TO THE CLAIM TO CELEBRATE.
LAST WEEK'S CLEANUP
WAS THE BEST EVER, YOU KNOW?
230 OUNCES.
THAT'S DAMN GOOD,
AND WE'RE WITHIN
TOUCHING DISTANCE OF 1,000,
SO EVERYBODY'S WORKING HARD,
AND I THINK
WE'RE REALLY GONNA DO IT.
Narrator:
BUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON,
HE'S STILL 85 OUNCES SHORT
OF WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE
TO HIT HIS 2,000-OUNCE,
$2.4 MILLION GOAL.
HEY, WHAT UP, YOUNGSTER?
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
GOOD, GOOD.
SO, I WANT TO HAVE
1,000 OUNCES
BY THE TIME
MY GRANDPA GETS HERE.
THAT'S THREE DAYS.
YOU THINK WE CAN GET IT
BY THEN?
IF WE PUSH HARD, NOTHING BREAKS,
THERE'S A CHANCE.
LET'S JUST RUN HER HARD.
WE'LL PUSH IT
AS HARD AS WE CAN.
THANKS, DOUMITT.
YEAH.
GOOD LUCK ON THIS ONE, MAN.
Doumitt: PARKER WANTS TO PUSH
FOR 1,000 OUNCES
BY THE TIME
HIS GRANDPA GETS HERE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
NOT ONLY WOULD IT BE GREAT
FOR HIM,
I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT MORALE
BOOSTER FOR THE WHOLE CREW.
IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE,
BUT DEFINITELY
BE THE ICING ON THE CAKE
FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
[ METAL GROANING ]
[BLEEP] GENE!
HIT THE BUTTON.
HIT IT!
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S CREW PUSHES
TO HIT 1,000 OUNCES
BEFORE GRANDPA JOHN SHOWS UP
TO CELEBRATE
HIS GRANDSON'S 20th BIRTHDAY.
[BLEEP]
BUT SUDDENLY...
GENE!
...THERE'S A MAJOR PROBLEM
WITH THE WASH PLANT.
HIT THE BUTTON.
HIT IT!
Cheeseman:
DID YOU DO THE BYPASS?
YEAH.
[ METAL GROANING ]
THE CONVEYOR BELT THAT FEEDS
PAY DIRT INTO THE PLANT
HAS TORN LENGTHWISE,
CLOGGING THE FEEDER AND SPILLING
GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT EVERYWHERE.
I'LL BET YOU
THAT BELT'S JUST COILED UP
UP IN THAT PREWASH RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN,
IF YOU COME UNDERNEATH IT,
YOU CAN SEE THE TEAR STARTS
DOWN THERE AT THE PATCH,
GOES ALL THE WAY UP
TO THE HEAD WHEEL,
AND ALL THE WAY
BACK DOWN TO THE HOPPER.
Parker: [BLEEP]
IT'S THE WHOLE LENGTH OF IT
IS [BLEEP]
SOMETHING CAUGHT IT SOMEWHERE
FOR IT TO RIP LIKE THAT.
IT WOULDN'T BE A HUGE DEAL,
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SPARE.
WE'RE DOWN UNTIL WE GET IT
REPLACED, BASICALLY.
Doumitt: THERE'S NO WAY
YOU CAN REPAIR THIS.
AND I KNOW
GENE'S BEEN AFTER PARKER
FOR QUITE SOME TIME
TO GET A SPARE BELT.
HE FINALLY TALKED HIM INTO IT.
BUT I DON'T THINK
IT WILL BE HERE
FOR ABOUT
ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR DAYS.
RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE TOTALLY DEAD IN THE WATER.
WELL, IF IT'S NOT
GONNA BE HERE FOR A WHILE...
PULL MATS
AND SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.
Narrator:
PARKER IS SHUT DOWN.
ALL HE CAN DO NOW IS A CLEANUP
AND HOPE HE HITS HIS MID-SEASON
GOAL OF 1,000 OUNCES,
WORTH $1.2 MILLION.
OH, WE GOT HIM.
I THINK WE GOT --
THERE'S GOLD IN HERE
ALONG THE BAR.
ALL ALONG THIS PIECE OF IRON
ON THE BACK SIDE, THERE'S GOLD.
THERE'S GOLD IN HERE.
I THINK
THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD ONE.
I THINK WE GOT
THAT THOUSAND OUNCES.
Narrator: TO HIT 1,000 OUNCES,
PARKER NEEDS ONLY 85 OUNCES.
63.7.
SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
THAN THAT.
Narrator: 63.7 OUNCES
BRINGS PARKER'S TOTAL
TO 978 OUNCES,
WORTH NEARLY $1.2 MILLION.
HE'S STILL 22 SHORT
OF THE 1,000 OUNCES
HE WAS HOPING TO PRESENT
TO HIS GRANDPA.
HEY, GUYS.
SO I JUST WEIGHED THAT GOLD UP.
AND IT ENDS UP,
WE'RE A LITTLE SHORT.
We're only at 978.
I KNOW YOU GUYS
ALL BUSTED YOUR ASS,
but it is what it is.
Why don't you guys take
the rest of the weekend off,
AND I'LL SEE YOU GUYS
OUT HERE ON MONDAY?
I MEAN, I REALLY WANTED
TO SHOW MY GRANDPA 1,000 OUNCES.
BUT I GUESS
YOU CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,
AFTER A CLOSE CALL
IN THEIR ROCK TRUCKS
ON THE NARROW ROAD
TO MONSTER RED,
KEVIN AND LOGAN REFUSE TO DRIVE.
MINE BOSS DAVE TURIN
NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION
AND FAST.
Turin:
THIS HAUL ISN'T WORKING.
I GOT TO GET UP THERE
AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
THIS IS JUST NOT WIDE ENOUGH
FOR TWO TRUCKS.
[ SIGHS ]
DAVE TO TODD.
HOW'S IT GOING?
THESE ROADS
ARE TOO DANGEROUS.
Trucks aren't gonna be able
to pass each other.
I don't know
what the solution is.
DAVE, MEET ME
OVER HERE BY THIS CUT.
I'll be there in a minute.
HEY, I GOT AN IDEA, DAVE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WE BUILD A NEW ROAD
AND CONNECT THE CORNER
OF THE CUT TO THE WASH PLANT.
WE PUT A CULVERT IN THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
AND THEN, THIS TRENCH,
YOU GET THE DOZER
AND CUT THE ROAD IN.
A ONE-WAY ROAD SYSTEM.
THAT JUST MIGHT WORK.
I'LL BE DAMNED.
Narrator: TODD'S PLAN --
BUILD A BRIDGE
OVER THEIR DRAINAGE SYSTEM,
THEN MOVE THOUSANDS OF TONS
OF DIRT INTO A TRENCH
AND FORM A NEW ROAD
DIRECTLY TO THE WASH PLANT.
THIS WILL CREATE
A ONE-WAY SYSTEM
THAT KEEPS THE ROCK TRUCKS
FROM HAVING TO PASS EACH OTHER.
WE'RE GONNA BUILD
A PAY DIRT SUPERHIGHWAY.
THIS IS GONNA BE A STRAIGHT SHOT
FROM THE LARGEST CUT
WE'VE EVER DONE
TO THE LARGEST WASH PLANT
IN THE KLONDIKE.
PUTTING IN A CULVERT.
WE'VE GOT A REAL SOPHISTICATED
SYSTEM FOR OUR WATER.
IT'S IN A CLOSED CIRCUIT.
AND THIS CULVERT WILL ALLOW US
TO GET THE PAY DIRT
AND NOT GO
THROUGH OUR WATER SYSTEM.
Narrator: WITH THE CULVERT,
OR DRAINAGE PIPE, NOW IN PLACE,
DAVE BEGINS WORK
ON THE REST OF THE ROAD.
Turin: LOOKING GOOD.
THIS WILL BE ACCESS TO OUR CUT
AND ACCESS TO OUR WASH PLANT.
BUT I JUST GOT TO BUILD IT,
BUILD IT RIGHT,
AND THEN BE DONE WITH IT.
Todd:
THIS SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
LET'S JUST GET THE PAY DIRT
TO THE PLANT AND IN THE BOX.
THIS ROAD,
THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD IDEA.
Narrator:
EAST, AT EUREKA CREEK...
...TONY BEETS TRUCKS IN
THE FIRST OF HIS FIVE
24-TON PONTOONS TO THE CUT,
WHERE HE PLANS TO RECONSTRUCT
HIS GOLD DREDGE PIECE BY PIECE.
Krisher: I THINK IT WILL TAKE
PROBABLY A WEEK
TO MOLD
ALL THE PONTOONS TOGETHER.
THIS IS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME,
TONY DEMANDS THEY POSITION
AND ATTACH ALL FIVE PONTOONS
IN JUST ONE DAY.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO.
[ LAUGHS ]
JERRY! UP.
JERRY LIFTS THE FIRST PONTOON
OFF THE LOWBOY.
THAT'S [BLEEP]
SKETCHY LOOKING.
IT NEEDS TO GO THAT WAY.
Tony: WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
MIKE. MIKE!
Narrator:
AT EUREKA CREEK...
TONY BEETS AND CREW POSITION
THE FIRST 24-TON PONTOON
OF HIS GOLD DREDGE.
Tony: WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
MIKE. MIKE!
Krisher:
MAN, THAT WAS CLOSE.
IT'S LIKE THE BRAKE
DIDN'T HOLD.
JUST GOT TO BE CAREFUL.
24 TONS COMING DOWN ON A PERSON
ISN'T GONNA BE A PRETTY SIGHT.
THE BRAKE DIDN'T HOLD
ON THE CRANE.
PROBABLY,
I DIDN'T HAVE THE ENGINE
REVVED UP TIGHT ENOUGH,
AND THE BRAKE RELEASED,
AND DOWN THE PONTOON CAME.
WE'LL JUST KEEP IT
REVVED UP MORE THE NEXT TIME.
Narrator: TONY DECIDES
NOT TO TAKE ANY MORE CHANCES.
HE CALLS IN A SECOND CRANE
TO HELP MANEUVER
THE MASSIVE PONTOONS.
ALL THESE 3/4 BOLTS
HAVE TO LINE UP
WITH THOSE 3/4 BOLTS.
AND THERE'S ONLY ABOUT
1/16-INCH CLEARANCE HERE.
SO THE TWO HAVE TO BE
LINED UP ALMOST PERFECTLY THERE
TO SLIDE THE NEW BOLTS THROUGH.
WELL, I THINK
IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE.
THERE ARE 200 BOLTS
ON THAT SIDE TO LINE UP.
THERE'S NOT MUCH ROOM FOR ERROR.
DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
[ METAL THUDS ]
I HAVE TO GO GET WASHERS,
SO DON'T YELL.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO
ABOUT THIS?
IT LOOKS LIKE IT GOT BENT
WHEN IT GOT SHIPPED.
Krisher:
AH, NOT QUITE AS PLANNED,
BUT IT'S GOING TOGETHER,
AND THAT'S WHAT COUNTS.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
[ GRUNTS ]
UH, I'M SURPRISED.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I DIDN'T THINK
IT WOULD GO THIS GOOD.
WELL,
I BELIEVE IN YOU.
AAH!
OH!
[ LAUGHTER ]
OH, THERE'S AN ELBOW
IN MY THROAT.
TODAY WENT SO MUCH FASTER
THAN I EVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED
IT DID.
WE ACTUALLY GAINED
SOME DAYS HERE.
IF THE REST OF THE STUFF
GOES TOGETHER,
IT MIGHT BE DONE THIS FALL.
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK...
THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS CONNECTED THEIR WASH PLANT
TO THE HIGHER CUT
WITH A NEW
PAY DIRT SUPERHIGHWAY.
LOOKS LIKE
YOU ABOUT GOT IT, DAVE.
HEY, IT'S LOOKING GOOD,
BUDDY.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
LOOKING GOOD.
THEY'VE LOST TWO DAYS OF MINING,
BUT KEVIN AND LOGAN
CAN NOW MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.
Hiatt: COME ON.
LET'S GO!
WE GOT ONE-WAY TRAFFIC NOW.
THEY'RE HEADED ONE WAY
AROUND HERE.
THEY LOOP AROUND THE PLANT,
COME BACK UP THE OLD ROAD.
AND SO I THINK WE SOLVED
THE PROBLEM.
THEY'VE TURNED
OUR SINGLE-LANE DIRT ROAD
INTO, BASICALLY, THE AUTOBAHN.
WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING
WAY BETTER TIME NOW
BECAUSE IT IS A SHORTER ROUTE.
IT'S GREAT.
Thurber: STAND BACK!
Narrator:
THURBER FIRES UP MONSTER RED.
Thurber:
NOW WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE.
WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND
WOULDN'T WANT TO BE HERE,
YOU KNOW?
YOU GOT SUNSHINE.
EVERYTHING'S WORKING WELL.
I LOVE THIS.
I LOVE IT. BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S "FAN-DABBY-DOZEY."
WELL, WE'VE BEEN RUNNING
FOR AN HOUR.
AND THESE GUYS
ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.
EVERY TIME YOU LOOK,
THERE'S A ANOTHER TRUCKLOAD
OF MATERIAL.
AND I'LL TAKE AS MANY OF THEM
AS YOU CAN GIVE ME.
Narrator: SO FAR,
THE ROCK TRUCKS
HAVE TRIED AND FAILED
TO DELIVER 300 YARDS OF PAY DIRT
AN HOUR.
HEY, DAD,
WHAT BUCKET IS THAT?
Jack: THAT'S 51,
SO THAT'S 300 YARDS AN HOUR.
GREAT JOB, DAD.
KEEP IT GOING.
YEAH!
OVER 300 YARDS AN HOUR.
HOPEFULLY,
WE CAN KEEP THIS GOING.
1,000 OUNCES, HERE WE COME.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK...
...THE REPLACEMENT BELT
FOR THE BROKEN CONVEYOR
HAS ARRIVED.
BUT AFTER FAILING TO REACH HIS
MID-SEASON GOAL OF 1,000 OUNCES,
PARKER HAS LEFT FOR TOWN
AND GIVEN HIS CREW
THE WEEKEND OFF.
BUT CHRIS REFUSES TO QUIT.
HEY,
YOU GUYS GOT A MINUTE?
Ness: YEAH.
Cheeseman: YUP.
I KNOW THAT PARKER SAID
TO SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN
THIS WEEKEND,
TAKE A BREAK.
BUT I GOT TO THINKING
ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, PARKER JUST SMASHED
HIS TRUCK, RIGHT?
HIS BIRTHDAY'S COMING UP.
HIS GRANDPA'S COMING IN.
I CRUNCHED SOME NUMBERS.
AND I THINK,
IF WE WORK THROUGH THIS WEEKEND,
WE CAN HIT 1,000 OUNCES
FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IS IT WORTH TAKING A SHOT?
YEAH, I DON'T SEE
WHY WE COULDN'T DO THAT.
I'M SURE IT WOULD
MAKE HIM HAPPY.
HE'S BUMMING ABOUT HIS TRUCK,
RIGHT?
ALL RIGHT.
SOUNDS GOOD.
IF WE CAN PULL THIS OFF,
I THINK IT WOULD BE
A TREMENDOUS BIRTHDAY PRESENT.
WHAT OTHER 20-YEAR-OLD KID
GETS 1,000 OUNCES OF GOLD
FOR HIS BIRTHDAY, RIGHT?
Narrator: PARKER'S CREW IS ONLY
22 OUNCES SHORT OF 1,000.
BUT BEFORE THEY CAN START
RUNNING PAY DIRT,
THEY'LL HAVE TO FIRST REPLACE
THEIR ENTIRE CONVEYOR BELT.
AND PARKER'S BIRTHDAY
IS JUST TWO DAYS AWAY.
LET'S GET TO WORK.
COME ON.
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Cheeseman: COME ON.
Ness:
SHE'S GOOD TO GO.
FIRE IT UP!
YEAH!
THAT'S IT!
WHOO!
NOW YOU'RE TALKING.
YEE-HAW!
THE WHOLE PLAN
IS COMING TOGETHER.
MONDAY,
WE OUGHT TO HAVE 1,000 OUNCES.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK...
GENE CHEESEMAN RUNS CONCENTRATE
THROUGH THE GOLD TABLE.
PARKER'S GRANDPA'S
SUPPOSED TO BE SHOWING UP.
AND WE'RE GONNA DO
A LITTLE EXTRACT HERE
AND SEE IF WE CAN GET
TO 1,000 OUNCES.
HE WANTS TO PROVE TO HIS GRANDPA
HE'S, YOU KNOW, DOING GOOD
AND ACHIEVED THE GOALS
HE'S GONE OUT AND SET
AND MAKE HIM PROUD, YOU KNOW,
WHICH I THINK HE HAS.
AND I'M GLAD
HE CAN HAVE HIS TIME
WITH HIS GRANDFATHER, YOU KNOW?
I LOST MY GRANDFATHER
A WHILE BACK, AND IT'S...
I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
HE WAS TO ME,
SO SURE THAT HIS GRANDFATHER
IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO HIM.
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS SPENT WEEKS
PREPPING THE HIGHER CUT
FOR A BIG SECOND HALF
OF THE SEASON.
Todd: THAT CUT'S THE SIZE
OF 10 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
SO, HOPEFULLY, WE DIDN'T MAKE
THE WRONG DECISION,
GO UP THERE AND STRIP THAT.
Narrator: AFTER RUNNING
FOR JUST THREE DAYS THIS WEEK,
TODD IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT
IF THE HIGHER CUT
WILL GIVE HIM A CHANCE
OF A 1,000-OUNCE,
$1.2 MILLION SEASON.
IT'S GOOD.
BUT IT'S NOT AS GOOD
AS I WAS EXPECTING.
PUT IT THAT WAY.
ALL RIGHT.
PROOF'S IN THE PUDDING NOW.
Todd: OUR LAST CLEANUP
WAS OUR BIGGEST.
WE'RE COMING
OFF A 100-OUNCE CLEANUP,
AND I'M HOPING THAT THIS ONE
IS EVEN BETTER.
GIVE ME THE GOOD NEWS.
Jack: 22.74.
MM.
Narrator: 22.7 OUNCES
IS WORTH JUST $28,000.
HALFWAY
THROUGH THE MINING SEASON,
TODD'S GOLD TOTAL
IS JUST 258 OUNCES,
WORTH $310,000.
THAT WAS 7,000 YARDS, DAD.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
ABOUT 60 OUNCES.
[ GROANS ]
THIS IS STUPID.
WE CAN'T DO THAT.
ABOUT FOUR BUCKS A YARD.
THAT'S ALL IT IS.
WE'LL GO BANKRUPT
IF WE KEEP GOING LIKE THAT.
THIS IS NOT GOOD, DAD.
AFTER SHUTTING DOWN FOR TWO DAYS
TO BUILD A NEW ROAD
TO THEIR PLANT,
THE HIGHER CUT
JUST ISN'T PAYING OUT.
Jack: I MEAN, IF WE DON'T
STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT,
WE'RE GONNA BE OUT OF HERE
AND BE LOOKING REALLY STUPID.
Todd: WE CAN'T SURVIVE
ON FOUR BUCKS A YARD.
IT'S GOT TO BE 10 BUCKS A YARD,
OR WE CAN'T EVEN MAKE IT.
SO...AM I DISAPPOINTED?
YEAH, I'M A LITTLE BEYOND
DISAPPOINTED NOW.
NOT A GOOD DAY.
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER AND HIS GRANDPA
ARRIVE FROM TOWN
TO FIND THE CREW HAS PREPARED
A BIRTHDAY BARBECUE FOR HIM.
Doumitt: HI, GRANDPA.
John:
HELLO, EVERYBODY.
HEY, HOW YOU DOING?
HOW YOU DOING, JOHN?
HOW YOU DOING?
WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE.
HEY, PARKER,
WE GOT A SURPRISE FOR YOU.
John: WOW.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PARKER.
AND I THOUGHT,
"WHAT IF WE COULD WIND UP
WITH 1,000 OUNCES TOTAL
FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?"
SO I TALKED TO THE GUYS.
WE WORKED
THROUGH OUR WEEKEND OFF.
HOPEFULLY, THIS'LL MAKE UP
FOR YOUR CRASHED TRUCK
AND GET US BACK ON TRACK
TOWARD 2,000 OUNCES.
SO I HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY PRESENT
IS IN THAT PAN RIGHT THERE.
Parker: I'M IMPRESSED.
YOU GUYS HAVE ALL GONE
WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND
SO FAR THIS SEASON.
AND, YOU KNOW,
I APPRECIATE THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO WEIGH IT UP,
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK-SEE NOW.
WHAT DO WE NEED?
22 OUNCES.
WE'RE AT 978.
PUT HER ON THE SCALE,
YOUNG'UN.
LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT
FOR A BIRTHDAY PRESENT.
15.
THERE'S 20. 21.
22 OUNCES?
WHOO!
1,000 OUNCES,
HALF SEASON.
IS THAT IT?
NO, THERE'S MORE.
LAST SEASON,
WHAT DID WE DO?
AT THE VERY END 1,029.
29?
SO, NOW, THAT'S THE NUMBER.
29.9.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
IS NOW 20 YEARS OLD.
HE'S JUST HALFWAY THROUGH
HIS SECOND SEASON
MINING THE KLONDIKE.
AND HE ALREADY HAS 1,030 OUNCES,
WORTH NEARLY $1.3 MILLION.
TRULY, I'M IMPRESSED.
I MEAN, WE JUST PASSED
LAST SEASON, 1,030 OUNCES.
AND WE'RE HALFWAY.
John: YOU GUYS HAVE ALL
BEEN GREAT TO MY GRANDSON.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SIT HERE
WITH ALL OF YOU PEOPLE
BECAUSE YOU ARE PART OF US,
YOU KNOW, A TEAM.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE FOR THIS,
GRANDPA.
OH, IT'S A HAPPY MOMENT
FOR ME TOO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
TO THE SECOND HALF.
Doumitt: TO THE SECOND HALF.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH.
[ HORN HONKS ]
Narrator: THE CREW HAS ONE MORE
BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
FOR THEIR YOUNG BOSS.
THAT'S A YUKON ROPE SWING
RIGHT THERE, PARTNER.
WHOO! COME ON.
LET'S DO THIS.
YEAH, I MEAN, I JUST TURNED 20,
AND WE JUST FOUND
1,000 OUNCES OF GOLD.
WHAT'S MORE NOT TO LOVE?
[ MAN LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...
TONY BEETS' CREW
TOOK IT APART.
BUT NOW,
THEY CAN'T FIND THE PARTS
TO REBUILD THE VIKING'S SHIP.
THAT'S ALL I COULD FIND.
AND THE CREW STARTS
TO LOSE FAITH IN THE PROJECT.
Man:
I DON'T THINK THIS THING'S
EVER GONNA CATCH GOLD.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
SETS OUT WITH HIS GRANDPA
TO BUY HIS OWN CLAIM.
TONY WILL REALIZE
HE MIGHT BE GIVING UP
A HALF-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
BUT HE'S STUNNED
BY THE PRICE TAG...
WHAT KIND OF PRICE
WOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR?
$3 MILLION.
WOW.
...LEAVING PARKER
WITH AN AGONIZING DECISION.
TAKE THE GAMBLE.
AND WITH THE HOFFMANS' SEASON
ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER,
DAVE TURIN TAKES
A COMMANDING ROLE...
DO NOT DUMP THAT DIRT.
I SAY WE STOP.
Narrator: ...MAKING A DECISION
THAT PAYS OFF BIG TIME.
THIS IS THE MOST GOLD
I'VE EVER SEEN.
AT EUREKA CREEK...
...TONY BEETS'
MILLION-DOLLAR DREDGE
IS FOUR WEEKS BEHIND SCHEDULE.
HE'S BEING UNREALISTIC,
A DREAMER.
Narrator:
HE'S RUNNING OUT OF TIME
TO GET HIS GOLD MACHINE REBUILT
BEFORE WINTER.
HE'S FORCED TO CUT CORNERS...
Monica:
THAT'S SKETCHY LOOKING.
...AND PUTS HIS CREW
IN HARM'S WAY.
Tony: WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
MIKE. MIKE!
AT McKINNON CREEK...
Turin: EVERYBODY CLEAR!
Narrator:
...TODD HOFFMAN
IS FINALLY FIRING
ON ALL CYLINDERS
ON NEW GROUND.
Todd: WE PUT ALL OUR CARDS
ON THIS CUT.
SIZE OF 10 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
Narrator: BUT TO KEEP THEIR
MASSIVE WASH PLANT FED...
I'M TOTALLY OUT OF PAY.
Narrator:
THE CREW IS DRIVEN...
1,000 OUNCES, HERE WE COME.
Narrator:
...TO THE BRINK.
HOLY [BLEEP]
WE'LL GO BANKRUPT
IF WE KEEP GOING LIKE THAT.
Narrator:
AND AT SCRIBNER CREEK...
RICK, WHAT'S UP?
HEY I GOT TO [BLEEP] RUN.
...DISASTER STRIKES.
PARKER.
HE'S BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
PARKER!
PARKER!
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
SCRIBNER CREEK. THE KLONDIKE.
Remsburg:
WHAT'S GOING ON?
[ INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER ]
THE CREW LEARNS
PARKER IS IN TROUBLE.
RICK, WHAT'S UP?
HEY, I GOT TO [BLEEP] RUN.
CAN YOU LOAD TRUCKS FOR ME,
GREG?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
PARKER.
HE'S BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
COME ON.
SOMETHING'S WRONG.
I JUST GOT TO GO FIND OUT
WHAT IT IS.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
PARKER!
[ CAR DOOR CLOSES ]
PARKER!
[BLEEP]
Narrator: PARKER'S BEEN
IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION
ON THE ROAD TO DAWSON.
THERE'S HIS TRUCK.
BUT WHERE'S PARKER?
I DON'T SEE HIM.
PARKER!
WHERE ARE YOU AT?
Parker: HEY.
[ DOG BARKS ]
Rick: DUDE.
[BLEEP]
I KNOW.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
YEAH, I'M OKAY.
YOUR HEAD DO THAT
TO THE STEERING WHEEL,
OR WAS IT YOUR HANDS?
HEAD.
OH, GEEZ.
SHE WAS SO FAR ON MY [BLEEP]
BY THE WAY.
I'M IN THE DITCH
WHEN WE HIT.
REALLY?
I'M IN THE [BLEEP] DITCH
WHEN WE HIT.
THINK THEY'LL TOTAL IT OUT?
YEAH.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S JUST
THE ONE PIECE, YOU KNOW?
THE ENGINE,
IT STILL RUNS AND DRIVES.
YEAH, IT'S TOTALED.
I MEAN,
LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW,
I CAME UP HERE PRETTY BROKE,
REALLY.
I MEAN, I HAD A GOLD
GOVERNMENT SURPLUS TRUCK
THAT WAS ALL BEAT UP.
AND IT GAVE ME
A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST
NEW TRUCK I'VE BOUGHT, YOU KNOW?
IT'S NICE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
I'VE ACTUALLY STARTED
TAKING GOOD CARE
OF MY VEHICLE.
AND...
[ SIGHS ]
YEAH.
YEAH. IT'S JACKED.
Narrator:
WEST, AT McKINNON CREEK...
HALFWAY
THROUGH THEIR MINING SEASON
AND WITH THEIR IMPRESSIVE
LAST CLEANUP
OF 99 OUNCES,
WORTH NEARLY $120,000,
THE HOFFMAN CREW NOW HAS A TOTAL
OF 235 OUNCES,
WORTH OVER $280,000.
GO GET READY TO BRING IT IN.
TODD'S NOW DETERMINED TO GET
HIS HIGHEST GOLD COUNT EVER.
I NOT ONLY WANT 1,000 OUNCES.
I WANT TO SMASH IT.
EVERYBODY THAT LAUGHED AT US
AND ALL THE CRAP WE TOOK,
YOU KNOW WHAT, I WANT THOSE GUYS
TO KISS OUR ASS.
WE GOT OURSELVES A MONSTER HERE.
IT WILL DO 300 YARDS AN HOUR.
WE GOT TO COME TOGETHER
AS A TEAM
AND KEEP THIS THING FED.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, DAVE?
ARE WE READY?
Turin:
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE.
BOTH YOU AND I, WE GOT
WAY TOO MUCH INVESTED IN THIS.
WE EITHER HIT ONE
OUT OF THE PARK
OR WE'RE STRIKING OUT.
WE GOT THE TEAM.
WE GOT THE GROUND.
WE GOT THE EQUIPMENT NOW.
AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA SEE
THIS SLUICE BOX LIGHT UP.
Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS FINISHED
RUNNING THE CUT
BESIDE THEIR WASH PLANT.
THEY ARE ABOUT TO RUN
THE FIRST PAY
FROM THE HIGHER CUT
AT THE FAR END OF THEIR CLAIM.
WE'RE ON THE HIGHER CUT,
BUT IT'S A MILE HAUL.
ROCK TRUCKERS, HOW FAST
CAN WE BRING IT DOWN HERE?
AS FAST AS YOU CAN TAKE IT.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
DAD, YOU SHOULD SAY
A LITTLE PRAYER FOR US.
Jack: YUP.
LORD, GIVE OUR
ROCK TRUCK DRIVERS SAFETY,
AND HELP THEM TO JUST
SPEEDILY GET THAT TO THE PLANT.
LORD, HELP THE PLANT
TO JUST GOBBLE IT UP
AND TO PUT THE GOLD
IN THE BOX HERE.
All: AMEN.
Todd: LET'S GO.
WE PUT ALL OUR CARDS
ON THIS CUT.
AND LET'S HOPE IT PAYS OFF.
Narrator: AS THE SECOND HALF
OF THE SEASON BEGINS,
THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS ONE LAST CHANCE
TO REDEEM THEMSELVES.
HEY, DAVE,
FIRE UP THE GENERATOR.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Turin: EVERYBODY CLEAR!
TAILING CONVEYOR COMING ON.
SCREEN'S COMING ON.
THURBER,
FIRE IT UP.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator: THURBER STARTS
THE 3,000-GALLON-A-MINUTE
WATER PUMP.
THE ROCK TRUCKS HAUL PAY DIRT
FROM THE HIGHER CUT.
AND JACK LOADS HIS FIRST BUCKET
INTO MONSTER RED.
Jack: LET'S KICK SOME ASS.
I'M KEEPING COUNT
WITH THIS CLICKER.
I PUSH IT
EVERY TIME I DUMP A LOAD.
MONSTER RED NEEDS
50 DUMPS PER HOUR.
Narrator: 50 BUCKETLOADS
IS 300 YARDS OF PAY DIRT.
TO MEET MONSTER RED'S DEMAND,
KEVIN AND LOGAN HAVE TO DELIVER
ONE TRUCKLOAD EVERY SIX MINUTES.
AND IT'S A ONE-MILE ROUND TRIP.
I'M TOTALLY OUT OF PAY.
THAT'S IT.
10-4.
Yeah, I'm on my way.
♪ WHERE IS THE EDGE?
♪ WHERE IS THE EDGE?
♪ I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE MY TRUCK
OFF THE CLIFF ♪
Narrator: LOGAN'S ROCK TRUCK
BACKS UP TO THE RAMP.
BOOP! RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: AND JACK
IMMEDIATELY TAKES THE PAY.
Jack: WELL, RIGHT NOW,
AT 39 LOADS AN HOUR,
THAT'S ROUGHLY 230 YARDS.
IT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE.
Narrator:
60 MINUTES IN, IT'S CLEAR.
THE TWO ROCK TRUCKS
JUST CAN'T FEED MONSTER RED
ENOUGH PAY DIRT.
JACK:
Hey, Kevin and Logan,
I know you guys are trying,
BUT YOU GOT TO TRY
A LITTLE BIT HARDER.
IT'S JUST A LONG HAUL
ON THIS ROAD,
AND IT'S TIGHT.
We can't even pass
each other.
Well, let's put it this way.
I KNEW SOME GIRLS THAT COULD
LOAD FASTER THAN THAT.
SON OF A...
JACK IS YELLING DOWN TO US
TO GET HIM PAY.
AND, I MEAN, MY FOOT'S
ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.
WE CAN ONLY GO SO FAST.
AND THIS IS ABOUT IT.
THAT WAS JUST WAY TOO CLOSE,
LOG.
I'VE NEVER HAD TO RUN MY TRUCK
LIKE A FORMULA-1 RACE CAR.
HOLY [BLEEP]
SH--
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK...
KEVIN AND LOGAN ARE RACING
TO KEEP
THEIR MASSIVE WASH PLANT FED.
HOLY [BLEEP]
SH--
KEVIN!
DUDE,
THAT WAS TOO CLOSE.
THIS IS FRICKING STUPID.
LET'S GO TALK TO DAVE.
HEY,
YOU GUYS GOT A MINUTE?
WHAT'S UP?
JACK'S BEEN PUSHING US
TO GET PAY TO THAT PLANT
AT A CRAZY RATE.
Turin: IT'S THE ONLY WAY
WE'RE GONNA MAKE ANY MONEY.
WE GOT TO RUN THE PLANT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED.
LISTEN TO ME.
TURN AROUND.
WHAT'S THE MINUTES?
LISTEN TO ME.
NO, YOU LISTEN TO ME.
WHAT ARE THE MINUTES?
COME ON. LET'S TALK.
IT'S, LIKE,
A NINE-MINUTE ROUND TRIP.
IT'S NINE MINUTES?
IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
WE GOT TO GET THE PAY
TO THE PLANT IN A ROCK TRUCK.
WE CAN GET PAY DOWN THERE,
JUST NOT AT THAT RATE.
I'M NOT GONNA DRIVE.
YOU'RE REFUSING
TO DRIVE...
YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS
SERIOUSLY.
YOU'RE REFUSING TO DRIVE
THE TRUCKS RIGHT NOW?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M COMING TO YOU
WITH A SAFETY CONCERN,
AND YOU'RE NOT
TAKING ME SERIOUSLY.
YEAH, I AM TELLING YOU
I'M NOT DRIVING.
NO, I'M NOT SAYING
I'M NOT TAKING YOU SERIOUSLY.
THAT'S HOW I FEEL.
JUST RELAX.
CALM DOWN.
LET'S WORK THROUGH THIS.
WELL, DON'T START
ACCUSING ME OF BEING --
HEY. HEY.
CALM DOWN. CALM DOWN.
IF IT'S THAT BIG A DEAL,
THEN WE'LL SOLVE IT.
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO.
ARE YOU GUYS USING YOUR RADIOS?
ARE YOU USING THE RADIOS?
[BLEEP]
I'M DONE.
Narrator: FIVE MILES EAST
AT EUREKA CREEK...
AFTER THREE MONTHS
OF GRUELING WORK
DISMANTLING TONY BEETS'
MILLION-DOLLAR DREDGE,
MIKE AND JERRY
ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN PHASE TWO --
RESURRECTING THE BEAST
AT ITS NEW HOME.
DREDGES LIKE TONY'S
DOMINATED MINING IN THE YUKON
IN THE FIRST HALF
OF THE 20th CENTURY.
12 OF THESE MASSIVE MACHINES
PRODUCED OVER 17 TONS OF GOLD
THAT, TODAY, WOULD BE WORTH
OVER $650 MILLION.
TONY IS PLANNING TO MINE
LIKE THE OLD TIMERS.
BUT HIS 75-YEAR-OLD MACHINE
IS IN HUNDREDS OF PIECES.
MIKE AND JERRY ASSESS
THE WORK THAT LIES AHEAD.
WELL, THIS IS SOME
OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE
THAT HOLDS THE LADDER UP,
ISN'T IT?
I DON'T REMEMBER THE ENDS
BEING BENT ON THESE I-BEAMS.
DO YOU, MIKE?
NO. I'M SURE THEY GOT MESSED UP
UNLOADING THEM.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
THEY'LL HAVE TO BE CUT OUT
AND REPLACED.
LOOK AT THIS MESS.
THOSE SLUICE BOXES AREN'T USABLE
THE WAY THEY ARE.
YOU KNOW, THE SLUICE BOXES
ARE KIND OF IMPORTANT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THAT'S WHAT CATCHES THE GOLD.
RIGHT.
THAT'LL HAVE TO BE ALL CUT APART
AND FIXED BACK UP.
IT'S LIKE NOBODY
GIVES A [BLEEP]
[ HORN BLARES ]
Narrator: WHEN THE DREDGE CONVOY
ARRIVED...
Monica: AAH!
TONY RUSHED TO GET EVERYTHING
OFF LOADED.
LET IT GO.
THERE WE GO!
YES!
HIS RECKLESS STYLE HAS LEFT
CRITICAL PARTS DAMAGED,
PUTTING HIS REBUILD
EVEN FURTHER BEHIND.
FOUR HOURS LATE,
TONY BEETS ARRIVES
AT EUREKA CREEK.
Rhodes:
[BLEEP] TONY.
I THOUGHT WE WERE PROMISED
A LAY-DOWN YARD
AND A PLACE TO PUT
THE [BLEEP] THING BACK TOGETHER.
IT LOOKS LIKE
A [BLEEP] JUNKYARD.
THIS IS GONNA COST US TIME.
HE'S BEING UNREALISTIC,
A DREAMER.
IT ISN'T GONNA GET DONE.
THIS COST US PROBABLY WEEKS,
THE WAY THIS WAS HANDLED
AND DUMPED OFF HERE.
Krisher: YOU EXPECT US
TO PUT THIS BACK TOGETHER NOW?
Rhodes: IT'S NOT
A PIECE OF CAKE, TONY.
Narrator: TONY TAKES
MIKE AND JERRY TO THE CUT
WHERE HE PLANS TO RUN THE DREDGE
BY THE END OF THIS SEASON.
[ WATER SLOSHING ]
THAT'S AMAZING.
HUH.
THE RIGHT THERE
IS THE REASON WE'RE HERE.
WE WANT TO SEE
THAT DREDGE RUNNING
AND GETTING THAT GOLD
OUT OF THE GROUND.
Narrator:
TONY'S MASTER PLAN --
LEVEL AN AREA
IN HIS GOLD-RICH CUT
TO FIT TOGETHER THE PONTOONS.
THEN THEY'LL REBUILD
THE SUPERSTRUCTURE
AND ALL THE WORKING PARTS
OF THE DREDGE.
ONCE ASSEMBLED,
THEY'LL FLOOD THE CUT,
FLOAT THE DREDGE,
AND BEGIN MINING FOR GOLD
LIKE THEY DID 100 YEARS AGO.
LET'S GET HER BACK TOGETHER,
HUH?
HERE WE GO.
TONY HAS GIVEN JERRY AND MIKE
THE MOTIVATION THEY NEED
TO BEGIN LEVELING THE CUT.
YEAH, LOOKING GOOD, JERRY.
THAT PILE OVER THERE
IS THE FIRST PAY PILE
THAT THE DREDGE
IS GONNA HEAD FOR
WHEN SHE SETS SAIL.
Rhodes: THIS IS GREAT
IF TONY'S PLAN WORKS.
WE MIGHT JUST HAVE THIS DREDGE
RUNNING THIS SEASON.
Narrator: FIVE MILES EAST
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S SHAKEN OFF HIS ACCIDENT
AND GOT HIMSELF
A SECONDHAND PICKUP TRUCK.
HE'S ONCE AGAIN READY TO ROLL.
JUST THREE DAYS AWAY
FROM HIS 20th BIRTHDAY,
HE'S ALREADY BANKED
915 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH OVER $1 MILLION.
AND HIS GRANDPA IS COMING
TO THE CLAIM TO CELEBRATE.
LAST WEEK'S CLEANUP
WAS THE BEST EVER, YOU KNOW?
230 OUNCES.
THAT'S DAMN GOOD,
AND WE'RE WITHIN
TOUCHING DISTANCE OF 1,000,
SO EVERYBODY'S WORKING HARD,
AND I THINK
WE'RE REALLY GONNA DO IT.
Narrator:
BUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON,
HE'S STILL 85 OUNCES SHORT
OF WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE
TO HIT HIS 2,000-OUNCE,
$2.4 MILLION GOAL.
HEY, WHAT UP, YOUNGSTER?
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
GOOD, GOOD.
SO, I WANT TO HAVE
1,000 OUNCES
BY THE TIME
MY GRANDPA GETS HERE.
THAT'S THREE DAYS.
YOU THINK WE CAN GET IT
BY THEN?
IF WE PUSH HARD, NOTHING BREAKS,
THERE'S A CHANCE.
LET'S JUST RUN HER HARD.
WE'LL PUSH IT
AS HARD AS WE CAN.
THANKS, DOUMITT.
YEAH.
GOOD LUCK ON THIS ONE, MAN.
Doumitt: PARKER WANTS TO PUSH
FOR 1,000 OUNCES
BY THE TIME
HIS GRANDPA GETS HERE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
NOT ONLY WOULD IT BE GREAT
FOR HIM,
I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT MORALE
BOOSTER FOR THE WHOLE CREW.
IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE,
BUT DEFINITELY
BE THE ICING ON THE CAKE
FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
[ METAL GROANING ]
[BLEEP] GENE!
HIT THE BUTTON.
HIT IT!
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S CREW PUSHES
TO HIT 1,000 OUNCES
BEFORE GRANDPA JOHN SHOWS UP
TO CELEBRATE
HIS GRANDSON'S 20th BIRTHDAY.
[BLEEP]
BUT SUDDENLY...
GENE!
...THERE'S A MAJOR PROBLEM
WITH THE WASH PLANT.
HIT THE BUTTON.
HIT IT!
Cheeseman:
DID YOU DO THE BYPASS?
YEAH.
[ METAL GROANING ]
THE CONVEYOR BELT THAT FEEDS
PAY DIRT INTO THE PLANT
HAS TORN LENGTHWISE,
CLOGGING THE FEEDER AND SPILLING
GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT EVERYWHERE.
I'LL BET YOU
THAT BELT'S JUST COILED UP
UP IN THAT PREWASH RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN,
IF YOU COME UNDERNEATH IT,
YOU CAN SEE THE TEAR STARTS
DOWN THERE AT THE PATCH,
GOES ALL THE WAY UP
TO THE HEAD WHEEL,
AND ALL THE WAY
BACK DOWN TO THE HOPPER.
Parker: [BLEEP]
IT'S THE WHOLE LENGTH OF IT
IS [BLEEP]
SOMETHING CAUGHT IT SOMEWHERE
FOR IT TO RIP LIKE THAT.
IT WOULDN'T BE A HUGE DEAL,
BUT WE DON'T HAVE A SPARE.
WE'RE DOWN UNTIL WE GET IT
REPLACED, BASICALLY.
Doumitt: THERE'S NO WAY
YOU CAN REPAIR THIS.
AND I KNOW
GENE'S BEEN AFTER PARKER
FOR QUITE SOME TIME
TO GET A SPARE BELT.
HE FINALLY TALKED HIM INTO IT.
BUT I DON'T THINK
IT WILL BE HERE
FOR ABOUT
ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR DAYS.
RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE TOTALLY DEAD IN THE WATER.
WELL, IF IT'S NOT
GONNA BE HERE FOR A WHILE...
PULL MATS
AND SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.
Narrator:
PARKER IS SHUT DOWN.
ALL HE CAN DO NOW IS A CLEANUP
AND HOPE HE HITS HIS MID-SEASON
GOAL OF 1,000 OUNCES,
WORTH $1.2 MILLION.
OH, WE GOT HIM.
I THINK WE GOT --
THERE'S GOLD IN HERE
ALONG THE BAR.
ALL ALONG THIS PIECE OF IRON
ON THE BACK SIDE, THERE'S GOLD.
THERE'S GOLD IN HERE.
I THINK
THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD ONE.
I THINK WE GOT
THAT THOUSAND OUNCES.
Narrator: TO HIT 1,000 OUNCES,
PARKER NEEDS ONLY 85 OUNCES.
63.7.
SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
THAN THAT.
Narrator: 63.7 OUNCES
BRINGS PARKER'S TOTAL
TO 978 OUNCES,
WORTH NEARLY $1.2 MILLION.
HE'S STILL 22 SHORT
OF THE 1,000 OUNCES
HE WAS HOPING TO PRESENT
TO HIS GRANDPA.
HEY, GUYS.
SO I JUST WEIGHED THAT GOLD UP.
AND IT ENDS UP,
WE'RE A LITTLE SHORT.
We're only at 978.
I KNOW YOU GUYS
ALL BUSTED YOUR ASS,
but it is what it is.
Why don't you guys take
the rest of the weekend off,
AND I'LL SEE YOU GUYS
OUT HERE ON MONDAY?
I MEAN, I REALLY WANTED
TO SHOW MY GRANDPA 1,000 OUNCES.
BUT I GUESS
YOU CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,
AFTER A CLOSE CALL
IN THEIR ROCK TRUCKS
ON THE NARROW ROAD
TO MONSTER RED,
KEVIN AND LOGAN REFUSE TO DRIVE.
MINE BOSS DAVE TURIN
NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION
AND FAST.
Turin:
THIS HAUL ISN'T WORKING.
I GOT TO GET UP THERE
AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
THIS IS JUST NOT WIDE ENOUGH
FOR TWO TRUCKS.
[ SIGHS ]
DAVE TO TODD.
HOW'S IT GOING?
THESE ROADS
ARE TOO DANGEROUS.
Trucks aren't gonna be able
to pass each other.
I don't know
what the solution is.
DAVE, MEET ME
OVER HERE BY THIS CUT.
I'll be there in a minute.
HEY, I GOT AN IDEA, DAVE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WE BUILD A NEW ROAD
AND CONNECT THE CORNER
OF THE CUT TO THE WASH PLANT.
WE PUT A CULVERT IN THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
AND THEN, THIS TRENCH,
YOU GET THE DOZER
AND CUT THE ROAD IN.
A ONE-WAY ROAD SYSTEM.
THAT JUST MIGHT WORK.
I'LL BE DAMNED.
Narrator: TODD'S PLAN --
BUILD A BRIDGE
OVER THEIR DRAINAGE SYSTEM,
THEN MOVE THOUSANDS OF TONS
OF DIRT INTO A TRENCH
AND FORM A NEW ROAD
DIRECTLY TO THE WASH PLANT.
THIS WILL CREATE
A ONE-WAY SYSTEM
THAT KEEPS THE ROCK TRUCKS
FROM HAVING TO PASS EACH OTHER.
WE'RE GONNA BUILD
A PAY DIRT SUPERHIGHWAY.
THIS IS GONNA BE A STRAIGHT SHOT
FROM THE LARGEST CUT
WE'VE EVER DONE
TO THE LARGEST WASH PLANT
IN THE KLONDIKE.
PUTTING IN A CULVERT.
WE'VE GOT A REAL SOPHISTICATED
SYSTEM FOR OUR WATER.
IT'S IN A CLOSED CIRCUIT.
AND THIS CULVERT WILL ALLOW US
TO GET THE PAY DIRT
AND NOT GO
THROUGH OUR WATER SYSTEM.
Narrator: WITH THE CULVERT,
OR DRAINAGE PIPE, NOW IN PLACE,
DAVE BEGINS WORK
ON THE REST OF THE ROAD.
Turin: LOOKING GOOD.
THIS WILL BE ACCESS TO OUR CUT
AND ACCESS TO OUR WASH PLANT.
BUT I JUST GOT TO BUILD IT,
BUILD IT RIGHT,
AND THEN BE DONE WITH IT.
Todd:
THIS SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
LET'S JUST GET THE PAY DIRT
TO THE PLANT AND IN THE BOX.
THIS ROAD,
THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD IDEA.
Narrator:
EAST, AT EUREKA CREEK...
...TONY BEETS TRUCKS IN
THE FIRST OF HIS FIVE
24-TON PONTOONS TO THE CUT,
WHERE HE PLANS TO RECONSTRUCT
HIS GOLD DREDGE PIECE BY PIECE.
Krisher: I THINK IT WILL TAKE
PROBABLY A WEEK
TO MOLD
ALL THE PONTOONS TOGETHER.
THIS IS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.
TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME,
TONY DEMANDS THEY POSITION
AND ATTACH ALL FIVE PONTOONS
IN JUST ONE DAY.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO.
[ LAUGHS ]
JERRY! UP.
JERRY LIFTS THE FIRST PONTOON
OFF THE LOWBOY.
THAT'S [BLEEP]
SKETCHY LOOKING.
IT NEEDS TO GO THAT WAY.
Tony: WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
MIKE. MIKE!
Narrator:
AT EUREKA CREEK...
TONY BEETS AND CREW POSITION
THE FIRST 24-TON PONTOON
OF HIS GOLD DREDGE.
Tony: WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
MIKE. MIKE!
Krisher:
MAN, THAT WAS CLOSE.
IT'S LIKE THE BRAKE
DIDN'T HOLD.
JUST GOT TO BE CAREFUL.
24 TONS COMING DOWN ON A PERSON
ISN'T GONNA BE A PRETTY SIGHT.
THE BRAKE DIDN'T HOLD
ON THE CRANE.
PROBABLY,
I DIDN'T HAVE THE ENGINE
REVVED UP TIGHT ENOUGH,
AND THE BRAKE RELEASED,
AND DOWN THE PONTOON CAME.
WE'LL JUST KEEP IT
REVVED UP MORE THE NEXT TIME.
Narrator: TONY DECIDES
NOT TO TAKE ANY MORE CHANCES.
HE CALLS IN A SECOND CRANE
TO HELP MANEUVER
THE MASSIVE PONTOONS.
ALL THESE 3/4 BOLTS
HAVE TO LINE UP
WITH THOSE 3/4 BOLTS.
AND THERE'S ONLY ABOUT
1/16-INCH CLEARANCE HERE.
SO THE TWO HAVE TO BE
LINED UP ALMOST PERFECTLY THERE
TO SLIDE THE NEW BOLTS THROUGH.
WELL, I THINK
IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE.
THERE ARE 200 BOLTS
ON THAT SIDE TO LINE UP.
THERE'S NOT MUCH ROOM FOR ERROR.
DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
[ METAL THUDS ]
I HAVE TO GO GET WASHERS,
SO DON'T YELL.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO
ABOUT THIS?
IT LOOKS LIKE IT GOT BENT
WHEN IT GOT SHIPPED.
Krisher:
AH, NOT QUITE AS PLANNED,
BUT IT'S GOING TOGETHER,
AND THAT'S WHAT COUNTS.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
[ GRUNTS ]
UH, I'M SURPRISED.
[ LAUGHTER ]
I DIDN'T THINK
IT WOULD GO THIS GOOD.
WELL,
I BELIEVE IN YOU.
AAH!
OH!
[ LAUGHTER ]
OH, THERE'S AN ELBOW
IN MY THROAT.
TODAY WENT SO MUCH FASTER
THAN I EVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED
IT DID.
WE ACTUALLY GAINED
SOME DAYS HERE.
IF THE REST OF THE STUFF
GOES TOGETHER,
IT MIGHT BE DONE THIS FALL.
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK...
THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS CONNECTED THEIR WASH PLANT
TO THE HIGHER CUT
WITH A NEW
PAY DIRT SUPERHIGHWAY.
LOOKS LIKE
YOU ABOUT GOT IT, DAVE.
HEY, IT'S LOOKING GOOD,
BUDDY.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
LOOKING GOOD.
THEY'VE LOST TWO DAYS OF MINING,
BUT KEVIN AND LOGAN
CAN NOW MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.
Hiatt: COME ON.
LET'S GO!
WE GOT ONE-WAY TRAFFIC NOW.
THEY'RE HEADED ONE WAY
AROUND HERE.
THEY LOOP AROUND THE PLANT,
COME BACK UP THE OLD ROAD.
AND SO I THINK WE SOLVED
THE PROBLEM.
THEY'VE TURNED
OUR SINGLE-LANE DIRT ROAD
INTO, BASICALLY, THE AUTOBAHN.
WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING
WAY BETTER TIME NOW
BECAUSE IT IS A SHORTER ROUTE.
IT'S GREAT.
Thurber: STAND BACK!
Narrator:
THURBER FIRES UP MONSTER RED.
Thurber:
NOW WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE.
WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND
WOULDN'T WANT TO BE HERE,
YOU KNOW?
YOU GOT SUNSHINE.
EVERYTHING'S WORKING WELL.
I LOVE THIS.
I LOVE IT. BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S "FAN-DABBY-DOZEY."
WELL, WE'VE BEEN RUNNING
FOR AN HOUR.
AND THESE GUYS
ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.
EVERY TIME YOU LOOK,
THERE'S A ANOTHER TRUCKLOAD
OF MATERIAL.
AND I'LL TAKE AS MANY OF THEM
AS YOU CAN GIVE ME.
Narrator: SO FAR,
THE ROCK TRUCKS
HAVE TRIED AND FAILED
TO DELIVER 300 YARDS OF PAY DIRT
AN HOUR.
HEY, DAD,
WHAT BUCKET IS THAT?
Jack: THAT'S 51,
SO THAT'S 300 YARDS AN HOUR.
GREAT JOB, DAD.
KEEP IT GOING.
YEAH!
OVER 300 YARDS AN HOUR.
HOPEFULLY,
WE CAN KEEP THIS GOING.
1,000 OUNCES, HERE WE COME.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK...
...THE REPLACEMENT BELT
FOR THE BROKEN CONVEYOR
HAS ARRIVED.
BUT AFTER FAILING TO REACH HIS
MID-SEASON GOAL OF 1,000 OUNCES,
PARKER HAS LEFT FOR TOWN
AND GIVEN HIS CREW
THE WEEKEND OFF.
BUT CHRIS REFUSES TO QUIT.
HEY,
YOU GUYS GOT A MINUTE?
Ness: YEAH.
Cheeseman: YUP.
I KNOW THAT PARKER SAID
TO SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN
THIS WEEKEND,
TAKE A BREAK.
BUT I GOT TO THINKING
ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, PARKER JUST SMASHED
HIS TRUCK, RIGHT?
HIS BIRTHDAY'S COMING UP.
HIS GRANDPA'S COMING IN.
I CRUNCHED SOME NUMBERS.
AND I THINK,
IF WE WORK THROUGH THIS WEEKEND,
WE CAN HIT 1,000 OUNCES
FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IS IT WORTH TAKING A SHOT?
YEAH, I DON'T SEE
WHY WE COULDN'T DO THAT.
I'M SURE IT WOULD
MAKE HIM HAPPY.
HE'S BUMMING ABOUT HIS TRUCK,
RIGHT?
ALL RIGHT.
SOUNDS GOOD.
IF WE CAN PULL THIS OFF,
I THINK IT WOULD BE
A TREMENDOUS BIRTHDAY PRESENT.
WHAT OTHER 20-YEAR-OLD KID
GETS 1,000 OUNCES OF GOLD
FOR HIS BIRTHDAY, RIGHT?
Narrator: PARKER'S CREW IS ONLY
22 OUNCES SHORT OF 1,000.
BUT BEFORE THEY CAN START
RUNNING PAY DIRT,
THEY'LL HAVE TO FIRST REPLACE
THEIR ENTIRE CONVEYOR BELT.
AND PARKER'S BIRTHDAY
IS JUST TWO DAYS AWAY.
LET'S GET TO WORK.
COME ON.
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Cheeseman: COME ON.
Ness:
SHE'S GOOD TO GO.
FIRE IT UP!
YEAH!
THAT'S IT!
WHOO!
NOW YOU'RE TALKING.
YEE-HAW!
THE WHOLE PLAN
IS COMING TOGETHER.
MONDAY,
WE OUGHT TO HAVE 1,000 OUNCES.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK...
GENE CHEESEMAN RUNS CONCENTRATE
THROUGH THE GOLD TABLE.
PARKER'S GRANDPA'S
SUPPOSED TO BE SHOWING UP.
AND WE'RE GONNA DO
A LITTLE EXTRACT HERE
AND SEE IF WE CAN GET
TO 1,000 OUNCES.
HE WANTS TO PROVE TO HIS GRANDPA
HE'S, YOU KNOW, DOING GOOD
AND ACHIEVED THE GOALS
HE'S GONE OUT AND SET
AND MAKE HIM PROUD, YOU KNOW,
WHICH I THINK HE HAS.
AND I'M GLAD
HE CAN HAVE HIS TIME
WITH HIS GRANDFATHER, YOU KNOW?
I LOST MY GRANDFATHER
A WHILE BACK, AND IT'S...
I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
HE WAS TO ME,
SO SURE THAT HIS GRANDFATHER
IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO HIM.
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS SPENT WEEKS
PREPPING THE HIGHER CUT
FOR A BIG SECOND HALF
OF THE SEASON.
Todd: THAT CUT'S THE SIZE
OF 10 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
SO, HOPEFULLY, WE DIDN'T MAKE
THE WRONG DECISION,
GO UP THERE AND STRIP THAT.
Narrator: AFTER RUNNING
FOR JUST THREE DAYS THIS WEEK,
TODD IS ABOUT TO FIND OUT
IF THE HIGHER CUT
WILL GIVE HIM A CHANCE
OF A 1,000-OUNCE,
$1.2 MILLION SEASON.
IT'S GOOD.
BUT IT'S NOT AS GOOD
AS I WAS EXPECTING.
PUT IT THAT WAY.
ALL RIGHT.
PROOF'S IN THE PUDDING NOW.
Todd: OUR LAST CLEANUP
WAS OUR BIGGEST.
WE'RE COMING
OFF A 100-OUNCE CLEANUP,
AND I'M HOPING THAT THIS ONE
IS EVEN BETTER.
GIVE ME THE GOOD NEWS.
Jack: 22.74.
MM.
Narrator: 22.7 OUNCES
IS WORTH JUST $28,000.
HALFWAY
THROUGH THE MINING SEASON,
TODD'S GOLD TOTAL
IS JUST 258 OUNCES,
WORTH $310,000.
THAT WAS 7,000 YARDS, DAD.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
ABOUT 60 OUNCES.
[ GROANS ]
THIS IS STUPID.
WE CAN'T DO THAT.
ABOUT FOUR BUCKS A YARD.
THAT'S ALL IT IS.
WE'LL GO BANKRUPT
IF WE KEEP GOING LIKE THAT.
THIS IS NOT GOOD, DAD.
AFTER SHUTTING DOWN FOR TWO DAYS
TO BUILD A NEW ROAD
TO THEIR PLANT,
THE HIGHER CUT
JUST ISN'T PAYING OUT.
Jack: I MEAN, IF WE DON'T
STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT,
WE'RE GONNA BE OUT OF HERE
AND BE LOOKING REALLY STUPID.
Todd: WE CAN'T SURVIVE
ON FOUR BUCKS A YARD.
IT'S GOT TO BE 10 BUCKS A YARD,
OR WE CAN'T EVEN MAKE IT.
SO...AM I DISAPPOINTED?
YEAH, I'M A LITTLE BEYOND
DISAPPOINTED NOW.
NOT A GOOD DAY.
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER AND HIS GRANDPA
ARRIVE FROM TOWN
TO FIND THE CREW HAS PREPARED
A BIRTHDAY BARBECUE FOR HIM.
Doumitt: HI, GRANDPA.
John:
HELLO, EVERYBODY.
HEY, HOW YOU DOING?
HOW YOU DOING, JOHN?
HOW YOU DOING?
WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE.
HEY, PARKER,
WE GOT A SURPRISE FOR YOU.
John: WOW.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PARKER.
AND I THOUGHT,
"WHAT IF WE COULD WIND UP
WITH 1,000 OUNCES TOTAL
FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?"
SO I TALKED TO THE GUYS.
WE WORKED
THROUGH OUR WEEKEND OFF.
HOPEFULLY, THIS'LL MAKE UP
FOR YOUR CRASHED TRUCK
AND GET US BACK ON TRACK
TOWARD 2,000 OUNCES.
SO I HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY PRESENT
IS IN THAT PAN RIGHT THERE.
Parker: I'M IMPRESSED.
YOU GUYS HAVE ALL GONE
WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND
SO FAR THIS SEASON.
AND, YOU KNOW,
I APPRECIATE THAT.
IF YOU WANT TO WEIGH IT UP,
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK-SEE NOW.
WHAT DO WE NEED?
22 OUNCES.
WE'RE AT 978.
PUT HER ON THE SCALE,
YOUNG'UN.
LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT
FOR A BIRTHDAY PRESENT.
15.
THERE'S 20. 21.
22 OUNCES?
WHOO!
1,000 OUNCES,
HALF SEASON.
IS THAT IT?
NO, THERE'S MORE.
LAST SEASON,
WHAT DID WE DO?
AT THE VERY END 1,029.
29?
SO, NOW, THAT'S THE NUMBER.
29.9.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
IS NOW 20 YEARS OLD.
HE'S JUST HALFWAY THROUGH
HIS SECOND SEASON
MINING THE KLONDIKE.
AND HE ALREADY HAS 1,030 OUNCES,
WORTH NEARLY $1.3 MILLION.
TRULY, I'M IMPRESSED.
I MEAN, WE JUST PASSED
LAST SEASON, 1,030 OUNCES.
AND WE'RE HALFWAY.
John: YOU GUYS HAVE ALL
BEEN GREAT TO MY GRANDSON.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SIT HERE
WITH ALL OF YOU PEOPLE
BECAUSE YOU ARE PART OF US,
YOU KNOW, A TEAM.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE FOR THIS,
GRANDPA.
OH, IT'S A HAPPY MOMENT
FOR ME TOO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
TO THE SECOND HALF.
Doumitt: TO THE SECOND HALF.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH.
[ HORN HONKS ]
Narrator: THE CREW HAS ONE MORE
BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
FOR THEIR YOUNG BOSS.
THAT'S A YUKON ROPE SWING
RIGHT THERE, PARTNER.
WHOO! COME ON.
LET'S DO THIS.
YEAH, I MEAN, I JUST TURNED 20,
AND WE JUST FOUND
1,000 OUNCES OF GOLD.
WHAT'S MORE NOT TO LOVE?
[ MAN LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...
TONY BEETS' CREW
TOOK IT APART.
BUT NOW,
THEY CAN'T FIND THE PARTS
TO REBUILD THE VIKING'S SHIP.
THAT'S ALL I COULD FIND.
AND THE CREW STARTS
TO LOSE FAITH IN THE PROJECT.
Man:
I DON'T THINK THIS THING'S
EVER GONNA CATCH GOLD.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
SETS OUT WITH HIS GRANDPA
TO BUY HIS OWN CLAIM.
TONY WILL REALIZE
HE MIGHT BE GIVING UP
A HALF-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
BUT HE'S STUNNED
BY THE PRICE TAG...
WHAT KIND OF PRICE
WOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR?
$3 MILLION.
WOW.
...LEAVING PARKER
WITH AN AGONIZING DECISION.
TAKE THE GAMBLE.
AND WITH THE HOFFMANS' SEASON
ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER,
DAVE TURIN TAKES
A COMMANDING ROLE...
DO NOT DUMP THAT DIRT.
I SAY WE STOP.
Narrator: ...MAKING A DECISION
THAT PAYS OFF BIG TIME.
THIS IS THE MOST GOLD
I'VE EVER SEEN.