Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 12 - Ship of Fools - full transcript

ALL CLEAR!

Narrator:
UP NORTH, IN THE KLONDIKE...

DO NOT DUMP THAT DIRT.

...THE HOFFMAN CREW IS
AT BREAKING POINT.

I SAY WE STOP.

THAT IS THE DUMBEST THING
WE'VE EVER DONE.

Narrator: DAVE TURIN HAS TO FIND
RICHER GROUND...

Turin: SOMETHING IS
GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE.

Narrator: ...OR THEIR SEASON
COULD COME TO A GRINDING HALT.

WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT LEAVING AND GOING HOME.

TONY BEETS WORKS OVERTIME



TO ASSEMBLE
THE DREDGE'S STEEL SKELETON.

BUT THE DAMAGED SLUICE BOXES...

...FRUSTRATE HIS CREW.

I DON'T THINK THIS THING'S
EVER GONNA CATCH GOLD.

AND TONY HAS TO FIGHT...

...TO KEEP HIS DREAM ALIVE.

PARKER SCHNABEL...
Parker: WHAT'S FOR SALE?

...BEGINS THE HUNT
FOR HIS OWN KLONDIKE CLAIM.

WHAT KIND OF PRICE
WOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR?

...BUT GOOD GROUND
DOESN'T COME CHEAP.

$3 MILLION.
WOW.

BACK AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER OPENS UP A NEW CUT...

WELCOME TO FANTASY LAND.

...AND PUTS HIS CREW
IN A WORLD OF HURT.



I'M SICK OF THIS [BLEEP]

THINK ABOUT
WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE DOING.

HEY, GENE!

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,

THE HOFFMAN CREW IS OVER HALFWAY
THROUGH THE MINING SEASON.

BUT WITH JUST 258 OUNCES
OF GOLD,

WORTH OVER $300,000,

THEY ARE JUST A QUARTER
OF THE WAY

TO THEIR 1,000-OUNCE GOAL.

Thurber: IF IT WAS EASY,

EVERYONE WOULD BE UP HERE
DOING IT.

IT'S NOT JUST A GUESSING GAME
OR LUCK.

THERE IS SOME...ORGANIZED CHAOS
TO ALL THIS,

BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

Narrator: THIS SEASON,

DAVE TURIN AND TODD HOFFMAN
ARE EQUAL PARTNERS,

BUT DAVE IS IN CHARGE
OF MINING OPERATIONS.

HE HAS THE CREW RUNNING DIRT
WORTH JUST $4 A YARD,

NOT ENOUGH TO EVEN COVER
THEIR RUNNING COSTS.

Turin:
NOBODY'S MAKING ANY MONEY YET.

AND OBVIOUSLY,
WE WANT TO TURN THE CORNER

AND START MAKING A PROFIT

AND GETTING A RETURN
ON OUR INVESTMENT.

MY GUYS ARE DOWN.

EVERYBODY'S BUMMED OUT,
INCLUDING ME.

Narrator:
AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME,

CLAIM OWNER PETER TALLMAN
SHOWS UP

TO CHECK ON THE HOFFMANS.

HOW'S IT GOING, TODD?

HOW YA MAKING OUT?

MOVING SOME DIRT.
YEAH, I CAN SEE THAT.

BUT, UH, THE END RESULT TO GET
GOLD ISN'T -- ISN'T THERE.

WE'RE AT 4 BUCKS A YARD.
AND, UH...

4 BUCKS?

NOBODY --
NOBODY RUNS $4 A YARD.

THERE'S MORE GOLD
IN MY DRIVEWAY.

WE SHOULD BE A LOT FARTHER ALONG
THAN WE ARE NOW.

THIS ISN'T GONNA MAKE
EITHER OF US ANY MONEY AT ALL.

WE NEED TO SEE SOME GOLD.

WE'RE STUFFING THE DIRT
THROUGH THE PLANT AS
FAST AS WE CAN GO.

TODD, THERE'S -- THERE'S GOLD
EVERYWHERE IN THE KLONDIKE.

VERY FEW PLACES
YOU CAN MAKE MONEY AT IT.

HERE IS ONE OF 'EM.

IF I'M NOT SEEING $10 A YARD,
YOU'RE GOING BROKE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD TO SEE YA.

YEP. GOOD LUCK.

Narrator:
TODD HAS TO GIVE PETER

A 20% CUT
OF THE HOFFMAN CREW'S GOLD.

IF THEY CAN'T GET
ONTO GOOD GROUND,

NO ONE WILL MAKE ANY MONEY.

Todd:
I'LL TAKE THE HEAT

WHEN IT COMES TO BEING IN
THE FURNACE WITH THE LANDOWNER,

BUT PRIVATELY,

DAVE BETTER FIGURE THIS OUT
AND FIGURE IT OUT FAST.

DAVE, YOU GOT A SEC?
Turin: YEAH.

HERE'S THE DEAL.
PETER JUST SHOWED UP.

AND, UH...

HE'S SUPER-DISAPPOINTED.

WE GOT TO GET
10 BUCKS A YARD.

I DON'T KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW
WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

I CAN'T --

IF YOU DON'T FIGURE
SOMETHING OUT,

WE'RE GONNA BE PACKING UP
AND LEAVING.

YOU WANT TO BE A PARTNER?

YOU WANT TO BE
THE MINING EXPERT?

YOU BETTER DIG US
OUT OF THIS HOLE.

IF YOU CAN THINK OF SOMETHING,
DAVE,

AND SAVE OUR BACON,
YOU BETTER START THINKING NOW.

GIVE ME SOME TIME.
I'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

Narrator: FIVE MILES EAST,
AT EUREKA CREEK...

...TONY BEETS IS
IN A RACE AGAINST TIME.

HE'S ON A MISSION TO RESURRECT

HIS 75-YEAR-OLD
MILLION-DOLLAR DREDGE

BY THE END OF THE SEASON.

JUST LIKE THE OLD-TIMERS
A CENTURY AGO,

TONY IS DEAD-SET ON CATCHING
KLONDIKE GOLD

IN THE DREDGE'S SLUICE BOXES.

BUT HE'S WAY BEHIND SCHEDULE.

HE'S GOT LESS THAN TWO MONTHS

TILL THE BRUTAL YUKON WINTER
WILL SHUT HIM DOWN.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO THIS
IN THE RIGHT ORDER.

BECAUSE THAT THING COME APART
IN A SEQUENCE,

AND IT'S GONNA HAVE TO GO
BACK TOGETHER THAT WAY.

HIS CREW HAS ASSEMBLED
THE PONTOONS, OR HULL.

THEIR PLAN THIS WEEK --

REBUILD
THE 75-TON STEEL SKELETON,

THEN WELD THE SLUICE BOXES
IN PLACE.

LET'S PUT SOME BOLTS IN.

THE DREDGE'S SUPERSTRUCTURE

CONSISTS OF 150 I-BEAMS
CONNECTED BY 5,000 BOLTS.

THE MASSIVE STEEL SKELETON

SUPPORTS ALL THE DREDGE'S
GOLD-CATCHING EQUIPMENT.

IT'S GONNA TAKE EVERYBODY
WORKING TOGETHER HERE

TO MAKE IT GO SMOOTH, I THINK.

THIS IS HOW WE GET STUFF DONE
IN THE BEETS FAMILY.

WE TEND TO...
HIT IT WITH A HAMMER.

OH,
AND SWEAR AT IT A LOT.

Tony: OKAY, MIKE.

YOU'RE WELCOME.
[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: TONY HEADS BACK
TO HIS PARADISE HILL MINE,

LEAVING HIS DREDGE CREW
TO FINISH THE DAY'S WORK.

LET'S GET THE MOLD
IN HERE.

IT'S IN THERE.

MONICA, WANT TO THROW ME
SOME MORE BOLTS?

I NEED BOLTS.

YOU THINK THERE'S MORE
IN THE CONTAINER?

I CAN GO LOOK.
I CAN GO DO THAT.

HEY, MIKE, JERRY,
CAN'T FIND ANY.

I'VE GOT THREE.

THAT'S ALL YOU COULD FIND WAS
THREE BOLTS?

THAT'S ALL I COULD FIND.

THERE'S GOT TO BE MORE
OVER THERE.

THEY'RE ALL EMPTY BOXES.

[ TOOL CLATTERS ]
THAT'S [BLEEP]

CHECK MYSELF.

THERE ISN'T ANY.

YEAH, YOU BETTER GET
ON THE PHONE WITH TONY.

WHERE ARE WE GONNA FIND
2,000 BOLTS IN THE YUKON,

THIS AFTERNOON?
YOU'RE NOT.

Narrator: THE CREW TORCHED OFF
THOUSANDS OF BOLTS

TO DISMANTLE THE DREDGE.

TONY ORDERED REPLACEMENTS,
BUT NOT ENOUGH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S GETTING
A LITTLE RIDICULOUS.

THAT'S JUST THE WAY
IT'S BEEN GOING.

JUST FIVE HOURS IN,

THE CREW HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO CALL IT A DAY.

WE'RE DONE.

EAST, AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

PARKER SCHNABEL'S CREW HAS HIT
ITS STRIDE.

THEY'VE BEEN MINING
FOR THREE MONTHS NOW

AND HAVE ALREADY PASSED

LAST YEAR'S TOTAL
OF 1,029 OUNCES OF GOLD,

WORTH WELL OVER $1 MILLION.

Man: YOU KNOW, WE'RE OVER
HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING PRETTY
GOOD FOR REACHING PARKER'S GOAL.

BUT YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO SEE
THAT 2,000 OUNCES,

WE GOT A LOT OF DIRT LEFT
TO MOVE HERE.

Narrator:
AT THE START OF THE SEASON,

PARKER'S GRANDPA SUGGESTED
HE BUY HIS OWN CLAIM.

NOW WITH GRANDPA JOHN VISITING,

PARKER WANTS ADVICE ON THE CLAIM
HE'S BEEN EYEING.

YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH IS,
I'VE BEEN LOOKING AROUND

AND TALKING TO PEOPLE
QUITE A BIT ABOUT GROUND,

AND THERE'S NOT MUCH
UP HERE.

OH.
PRETTY WELL ALL OCCUPIED.

YEAH, NO KIDDING.

THEY'RE HEADING
TO LAST CHANCE CREEK,

A CLAIM NEAR BONANZA CREEK,

WHERE THE GOLD RUSH BEGAN
IN 1896.

IN ITS FIRST YEAR,

BONANZA PRODUCED
125,000 OUNCES OF GOLD,

WHICH TODAY WOULD BE WORTH
$150 MILLION.

A CENTURY LATER,

THIS AREA STILL CONTAINS
SOME OF THE RICHEST GROUND.

THIS MINE BELONGS
TO CLAIM OWNER LEE OHLMICK.

HEY, PARKER, YOU MADE IT.
HEY, LEE.

OH, NICE.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?

GOOD, YEAH. YOU BROUGHT
YOUR GRANDPA WITH YA?

YEAH, HERE,
THIS IS MY GRANDPA.

PARKER SAID HE WAS GONNA
BRING Y'ALL. THAT'S GREAT.

SUPER.
I'M GLAD THAT I'M HERE.

Parker:
BUT ANYWAY, WHILE HE WAS HERE,

I WANTED TO COME UP AND MAYBE
TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR GROUND.

WE CAN GO IN MY TRUCK,
IF YOU LIKE, AND SHOW YOU.

THE GUYS ARE UP THERE WORKING,
BUT I CAN SHOW YOU AROUND.

Ohlmick: 23 YEARS
I'VE BEEN HERE, AT THIS SPOT.

THERE'S
OUR SLUICE PLANT.

Parker: HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD
THAT PLANT, LEE?

20 YEARS.
AND IT HASN'T WORN OUT YET?

WHAT ARE YOU --
WHAT'S FOR SALE?

Ohlmick: THIS IS THE MAIN
PARCEL, OR THE MAIN PORTION,

THAT A PERSON WOULD BE
CONCENTRATING ON,

FROM HERE UP,
THAT MILE AND A HALF.

OKAY.
WELL, HOW WIDE IS THIS VALLEY?

IT'S
100-FOOT MINING WIDTH ABOUT.

MM-HMM.
I SEE.

AND HOW THICK IS
YOUR PAY LAYER?

WELL, PROBABLY 8-FOOT
SLUICE SECTION. YEAH.

SO IF YOU TAKE
A MILE AND A HALF OF GROUND

THAT'S 100 FEET WIDE
AND 8 FEET DEEP,

IN THE GROUND --
SO, WITHOUT FLUFF --

THAT'S JUST
OVER 230,000 YARDS.

Narrator:
LEE HAS DRILL RESULTS SHOWING

HIS GROUND IS WORTH $26 A YARD,

MEANING HIS CLAIM
COULD STILL CONTAIN

UPWARDS OF $6 MILLION IN GOLD.

AND I GUESS,
WITH A MILE AND A HALF TO GO,

UH, THERE'S ENOUGH QUALITY
IN THERE TO LAST A FEW SEASONS.

MM-HMM.

WHAT KIND OF PRICE WOULD YOU
BE LOOKING FOR FOR THIS?

WELL, IF I REALLY WANTED
[CHUCKLES]

TO GET FISHING BADLY
THIS YEAR

AND ASKED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS
FAIR MARKET VALUE,

I THINK -- SCARY NUMBER --

BUT, UH, PROBABLY BE BETTER
THAN $3 MILLION.

WOW.
YEAH.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK,

THE HOFFMAN CREW IS RUNNING
PAY DIRT

WORTH ONLY 4 BUCKS A YARD.

DAVE'S CALLED BACK THE OWNER
OF THE CLAIM, PETER TALLMAN,

TO FIND OUT WHY THE DRILL MAPS
INDICATE

THE GROUND SHOULD BE WORTH
THREE TIMES THAT.

I WAS WONDERING IF MAYBE
YOU COULD SHED SOME LIGHT

ON THE GEOLOGY, MAYBE HELP ME
WITH WHERE TO MINE.

I'M AT THE END OF MY ROPE.

Narrator:
PETER RUNS THE COMPANY

THAT OWNS
THE McKINNON CREEK CLAIM...

BUT HE'S ALSO ONE
OF THE YUKON'S TOP GEOLOGISTS.

WELL, IT'S NOT IN MY INTEREST
TO HAVE YOU MINING $4 A YARD

FOR THE REST OF THE SUMMER.
YEAH.

'CAUSE THAT'S MONEY COMING
OUT OF MY POCKET.

EXACTLY.

SO, YEAH, THE SOONER
WE GET YOU SORTED, THE BETTER.

WE BASED OUR MINE PLAN
ON THE DRILL HOLES.

BUT WHEN I RUN IT IN THE SLUICE
BOX, IT'S JUST NOT THERE.

THE DRILL DATA DOESN'T GIVE YOU
DEPTH TO GOLD, REALLY.

RIGHT.

IT JUST TELLS YOU
THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD

SOMEWHERE IN THE COLUMN.

AND WHAT YOU'VE
THOROUGHLY PROVEN

IS THAT ALL YOUR GOLD IS
DOWN BELOW.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS WRONG
FROM THE BEGINNING?

DON'T MINE THIS.
ALL RIGHT.

YOU'LL GO BUST DOING THAT.
OTHERS HAVE, TOO.

STOP.
OKAY.

PEEL IT AND LET'S BOTH GET ON
TO THE GOOD STUFF,

WHICH IS DOWN BELOW YOUR FEET.
OH.

DOWN BELOW THIS IS --
IT'S A WHITE CHANNEL GRAVEL.

AND THERE'S
A LOT OF IT THERE.

AND WHEN WE GET
TO THE WHITE CHANNEL STUFF,

THE DIFFERENCE IS DRAMATIC.

AND YOU'RE NOT TO IT YET.

SO, YOU'RE TELLING ME

THAT I SHOULD JUST GET RID OF
THIS TOP GRAVEL

AND THEN JUST MINE
THE WHITE CHANNEL?

SIMPLY? YES.
ALL RIGHT.

Narrator:
IF THE HOFFMANS STRIP AWAY

THE LOW-YIELD PAY DIRT
THEY'VE BEEN RUNNING,

THEY'LL HIT A LAYER
OF WHITE CHANNEL PAY DIRT

THAT SHOULD HOLD A HIGHER
CONCENTRATION OF GOLD.

SO FAR, THEY'VE SPENT THE SUMMER
UP TO DATE

MINING THE WRONG MATERIAL.

BUT THEY'RE SO CLOSE.

THEY'RE ALMOST DOWN
TO THE BEST STUFF.

Narrator: THE CREW HAS BEEN
WORKING THEMSELVES TO THE BONE,

RUNNING 3,000 YARDS OF DIRT
A DAY,

WORTH JUST $12,000,

BARELY ENOUGH
TO PAY FOR THEIR FUEL.

MINE BOSS DAVE TURIN MAKES
A RADICAL DECISION.

WELL, WE'RE SHUTTING DOWN.

CAN'T AFFORD TO RUN THIS STUFF.

[ MACHINERY SHUTS DOWN ]

I GOT TO STOP THOSE TRUCKS.

KEVIN, DO NOT RUN THAT DIRT.

TODD:
What the heck?

I'M SHUTTING IT DOWN, TODD.
WE NEED TO TALK.

I SAY WE STOP.
Todd: WHY?

NO MORE SLUICING $4 A YARD.

WE'RE NOT HAULING THIS STUFF
ANYMORE.

WE'RE GONNA JUST DUMP IT
ON THE SIDE AND GET RID OF IT.

Man: OH, BOY.

PETER SAYS THERE'S WHITE CHANNEL
IN THAT PIT,

AND THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

AND THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE GONNA START MAKING PAY.

WE JUST GOT TO GET DOWN TO IT

AND GET RID OF
THAT BROWN, CRAPPY GRAVEL.

THIS IS A DIFFICULT DECISION,
BUT I CANNOT SEE ANY OTHER WAY.

ANDY, HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE
TO GET THAT DIRT OFF OF THERE?

THREE DAYS.

IT'S GONNA HURT, FEELING LIKE
I'M DUMPING GOLD OFF THAT CLIFF.

WE NEED TO GET RID OF
THAT STUFF.

WE NEED TO GET DOWN.
I DISAGREE.

IT'S GONNA COST US MONEY
TO GET RID OF IT.

SO, WHY NOT RUN IT?
IT'S QUICK.

IT'S FROM THERE TO THERE.
WE GET RID OF IT.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
WHAT I THINK. THAT'S IT.

OKAY.
I HEARD IT.

IT'S A TOUGH DECISION
FOR ALL OF US.

I'M WITH DAVE.

BUT IF WE DON'T GET
TO $10 A YARD,

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SITUATION
THAT'S WAY BEYOND

ANYTHING HAVING TO DO
WITH BRINGING HOME MONEY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LEAVING
AND GOING HOME EARLY.

OKAY?
THAT'S THE SITUATION.

COME ON, KEVIN.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE
I HAVE A CHOICE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
LIFE ISN'T FAIR.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

Narrator:
WITH MONSTER RED SHUT DOWN,

THE CREW IS DIVIDED.

THEY'LL BE THROWING GOLD AWAY

IN THE HOPE
OF FINDING RICHER GROUND.

WELL, THAT MAKES ME NERVOUS.

I DON'T WANT TO SEPARATE
THIS TEAM.

I DIDN'T COME HERE TO --
TO CAUSE A RIFT WITH THE TEAM.

SO, HALF THE GUYS
ARE DISAGREEING WITH ME.

THAT'S HARD.
I DON'T -- I DON'T --

I LOVE THESE GUYS.
I CAME HERE TO HELP LEAD 'EM.

AND SO THIS IS A TOUGH DECISION.
I'M PRETTY NERVOUS NOW.

HOLY MOLY.

Narrator: TEN MILES EAST,

PARKER SCHNABEL HAS PUT
HIS SEARCH FOR A NEW CLAIM

ON THE BACK BURNER.

TO HIT HIS 2,000-OUNCE,
$2.4 MILLION GOAL,

HE'LL HAVE TO OPEN UP
A SECOND CUT.

BEFORE GRANDPA JOHN'S VISIT
COMES TO AN END,

PARKER SEEKS HIS ADVICE.

OUR BIGGEST STRUGGLE

IS KEEPING GROUND OPEN
OUT AHEAD OF US.

YEAH, WITH THE VOLUME

THAT YOU'RE RUNNING
THROUGH THAT PLANT.

I SEE THAT. YEP.
AH.

WE RUN A LOT OF YARDAGE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE RAN OVER --
OVER 130,000 YARDS THIS SEASON.

AND IT'S HALFWAY THROUGH,
HUH?

YEAH.
THAT'S A LOT OF...

IT LEAVES US IN A POSITION WHERE
WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.

I MEAN, OUR TWO OPTIONS
FOR BETTER GROUND

ARE EITHER FANTASY LAND

OR THIS BERM
WE'VE GOT UP HERE

THAT THEY PUSHED UP ON
UPSTREAM OF US.

MY GUT'S LEANING TOWARDS
FANTASY LAND.

AND LAST SEASON, YOU KNOW,

YOU SUGGESTED GOING
ACROSS THE CREEK.

AND THAT'S
WHAT REALLY SHOT US UP

AND GAVE US A SHOT
AT 1,000 OUNCES LAST YEAR.

WELL, YOU'RE ON THE ROAD
TO DOING IT,

SO I GUESS
YOU'LL BE REWARDED.

I'D SAY FIND
BETTER GROUND.

John:
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO.

LET'S HOPE IT'S THERE...
RIGHT.

...WAITING FOR YOU
TO CASH OUT.

[ CHUCKLES ]

Narrator: BEFORE PARKER
CAN CROSS THE CREEK

TO OPEN UP THE NEW CUT,

HE TAKES HIS GRANDPA
TO THE AIRPORT

FOR HIS FLIGHT HOME TO HAINES.

ALL RIGHT, GRANDPA.
HAVE A GOOD FLIGHT.

WELL, GOODBYE, PARKER.
BYE, GRANDPA.

OH, TAKE CARE.
BYE, BYE.

MY GRANDPA'S NEVER STEERED ME
ON THE WRONG DIRECTION.

AND IT WAS HIS IDEA LAST YEAR
TO GO TO FANTASY LAND.

AND I DON'T SEE WHY, UH,

WHY IT WON'T MAKE US SOME MONEY

AND GET IT TO OUR GOAL
THIS YEAR.

YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY --

IT'LL REALLY HELP BRING
EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT
A TOUGH SECOND HALF COMING UP.

YOU KNOW,
AS FAR AHEAD AS WE ARE,

IT'S REALLY NOT THAT FAR AHEAD.

AND I'M PRETTY SET ON

2,000 OUNCES
AT THE END OF THE SEASON

IN FRONT OF MY OWN CHUNK
OF GROUND THIS FALL.

Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK,

MINE BOSS DAVE TURIN
HAS STUCK HIS NECK OUT.

TO TURN THE HOFFMANS' SEASON
AROUND,

HE'S SHUT DOWN MONSTER RED

TO DIG DEEPER
FOR RICHER PAY DIRT.

BUT AFTER TWO DAYS,

THERE'S STILL NO SIGN
OF WHITE CHANNEL GOLD.

THIS IS A BIG DECISION THAT --
THAT I'VE MADE HERE,

REMOVING THIS BROWN.

IT'S NOT
A REAL POPULAR DECISION.

SOME OF THE GUYS THINK
I'M MAKING A MISTAKE.

SO THERE'S A LOT RIDING ON IT.

Narrator: TO GET DOWN
TO THE WHITE CHANNEL,

KEVIN AND LOGAN DUMP 900 YARDS
OF PAY DIRT EVERY HOUR,

AND EVERY YARD CONTAINS
$4 OF GOLD.

WE'RE DUMPING $36,000
OVER THAT CLIFF A DAY.

Pierce:
ALL WE'RE DOING IS JUST

THROWING GOLD RIGHT OFF
THE BACK OF THIS CLIFF.

THIS IS A CLIFF THAT WE MADE
BY DUMPING OVERBURDEN, NOT PAY.

NOW, WE'RE ACTUALLY DUMPING PAY
OFF IT,

AND I THINK THAT IS THE DUMBEST
THING WE'VE EVER DONE.

Narrator:
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,

THEY'RE BURNING AROUND
$10,000 OF FUEL A DAY.

WITH THE WASH PLANT SHUT DOWN,

DAVE IS TAKING A RISK
THAT HAS TO PAY OFF.

NAME OF THIS GAME IS
PUT GOLD IN YOUR POCKETS,

AND YOU'LL PUT GOLD IN YOUR
POCKETS WHEN YOU'RE SLUICING.

Turin: THE GUYS ARE GETTING
KIND OF DEMORALIZED.

MORALE IS DOWN.

THEY'RE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE
WE'RE NOT SLUICING,

AND ALL THEY CAN SEE IS
MONEY GOING OUT.

I JUST HOPE WE MAKE IT THROUGH.

BY TOMORROW,
HOPEFULLY WE'RE SLUICING AGAIN.

WE CAN START GENERATING
SOME CAPITAL

AND START PAYING THE BILLS
AGAIN.

Todd:
DAVE'S FEELING THE PRESSURE NOW.

IT'S EASY TO WANT TO BE
THE QUARTERBACK.

IT'S NOT EASY
WHEN YOU'RE NOT THROWING, UH,

YOU'RE NOT THROWING RECEPTIONS.

Narrator: FINALLY,
DAVE MAKES A BREAKTHROUGH.

Turin: WELL,
THAT'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.

I'M SEEING SOME WHITE GRAVEL,
GRAY GRAVEL.

IT'S PRETTY BRIGHT.

I THINK I'M THERE.

I THINK THIS IS IT.
I THINK I'M AT THE GRAVEL.

WELL, PETER SAID I'D HIT MUD.

AND THEN, BENEATH THAT,
I SHOULD HIT THIS WHITE CHANNEL.

SEE HOW WHITE THIS QUARTZ IS?

IT'S EXACTLY
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

THIS IS A GREAT SIGN.

I'M RIGHT AT THE TOP
OF THE WHITE CHANNEL.

I'LL GRAB A PAN
AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

HOPEFULLY,
THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD IN IT.

Narrator: IF DAVE DOESN'T GET
GOOD COLORS,

HIS DECISION TO STOP RUNNING
MONSTER RED

WILL HAVE COST THEM
TENS OF THOUSANDS FOR NOTHING.

DAVE'S AUTHORITY AS A MINE BOSS
DEPENDS ON THIS ONE PAN.

SO WE'RE CLOSE.

WHITE QUARTZ.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT.

I'M REALLY CLOSE.

Hey, Todd.
This is Dave.

TODD, YOU GOT A COPY?

YEAH, DAVE.
I GOT A COPY.

Hey, I just hit
some gray gravel.

I JUST PANNED IT.
I THINK WE'RE THERE.

YOU KNOW,
WE CAN'T DO THIS AGAIN.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE SURE, DAVE.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE SURE.

I'LL SHOW YOU
FOR YOURSELF, TODD.

THIS A GOOD PAN.
YOU CAN LOOK FOR YOURSELF.

TODD, CHECK THIS OUT, BUDDY.
THIS IS A GREAT PAN.

RIGHT AT THE TOP.

HOLY SNIKEYS.
UGH!

NOW, THAT'S
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

YEAH!
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.

Narrator:
26 COLORS ARE A SURE SIGN

THAT DAVE HAS HIT THE TOP
OF THE WHITE CHANNEL.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S THE LAYER
THAT WE HAVE TO START AT?

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE STARTING.
I CAN SEE IT'S DIFFERENT.

SO, WHY DON'T WE --

BUT IS IT GOOD ENOUGH FOR US
TO JUST GO AND RUN IT?

I DON'T KNOW.
LET'S DO 1,000 YARDS.

LET'S RUN 1,000 YARDS
THROUGH THE PLANT.

ALL THE MATS.
I'LL GO FOR THAT.

AND LET'S JUST SEE
WHAT IT IS.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO THIS.

LET'S DO THIS, DAVE.

DAVE RADIOS THE GOOD NEWS
TO THE CREW.

TURIN: All right.
It's about time, huh?

LET'S START SLUICING.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

Kevin, you ready to go haul
some dirt?

Hiatt: YEAH. WE ARE.
WE'RE FINALLY RUNNING, HUH?

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO,
IS SLUICE AND GET SOME GOLD.

THURBER, FIRE IT UP.
Thurber: LET'S GO!

Narrator: THE WHITE-CHANNEL TEST
WILL TAKE THE CREW FOUR HOURS.

ONLY THEN WILL DAVE KNOW
IF HIS DECISION

WILL APPEASE THEIR CLAIM OWNER

AND RESTORE THE FAITH
OF HIS MEN.

[ CLATTER ]

ALL CLEAR!

[ AIR HORN BLARES ]

8:00 A.M.
DAWSON CITY AIRPORT.

TONY BEETS HAS CALLED IN A FAVOR

FROM HIS HARDWARE SUPPLIER
IN VANCOUVER.

WORK ON THE DREDGE HAS BEEN
AT A STANDSTILL FOR TWO DAYS.

NOW, HIS DREDGE CREW

WILL ATTEMPT TO MAKE UP
FOR LOST TIME.

Narrator:
AT EUREKA CREEK,

TONY BEETS' CREW FINALLY HAS
ALL THE BOLTS THEY NEED

TO PUT THEIR MILLION-DOLLAR
DREDGE BACK TOGETHER.

THEY'RE NOW READY TO ATTACH

THE ALL-IMPORTANT
STEEL SLUICE BOXES.

DOING GOOD. KEEP 'EM GOING.
KEEP 'EM GOING.

AH, THE SLUICE BOXES
FINALLY SHOWED UP HERE.

CAN YOU GO
ANY FURTHER BACK?

COOL.

HEY, JERRY.
CAN YOU COME LOOK AT THIS?

WHAT DO YOU SEE, KEVIN?

I'M JUST LOOKING
HOW BENT IT IS.

ARE THE BRACKETS GONNA FIT?
IS THAT --

I DON'T KNOW.
IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE STRAIGHT?

'CAUSE I JUST DON'T KNOW
HOW THEY'RE EVER GONNA PUT

THE SLUICE RUNS TOGETHER
AS BENT UP AS THAT IS.

Krisher:
THESE SLUICE BOXES, THEY REALLY
NEED TO BE STRAIGHTENED FLAT.

YOU GOT HUMPS IN THERE,

AND THE WATER SPEEDS UP
OVER THAT,

IT'S GONNA TAKE GOLD OUT WITH IT
WHEN IT GOES OVER THAT.

SO YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE PRETTY FLAT.

THEY DAMAGED IT PRETTY GOOD.

HEY, TONY.
MIKE HERE.

HEY, WE GOT A PROBLEM.

THESE SLUICE BOXES HERE --
WE'RE READY TO PUT 'EM IN,

BUT THEY'RE PRETTY BENT UP.

THEY GOT PRETTY MESSED UP
WHEN THEY GOT TRUCKED OVER HERE.

WE SHOULD BE REPAIRING
THEM THINGS ON THE GROUND

BEFORE THEY EVER GO IN.

ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANKS, TONY.

WE'LL TALK TO YA LATER.
BYE.

TONY SAID, "PUT 'EM IN,"
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.

WE'LL GET 'EM IN, AND THEN LET
SOMEBODY ELSE STRUGGLE WITH IT

THAT HAS TO WELD 'EM.

COME ON.

FIRST BOLTS ARE GOING IN PLACE
NOW.

SO WE ABOUT GOT THIS ONE.

SECOND SLUICE BOX COMING IN.

THIS ONE ISN'T DAMAGED
QUITE AS BAD,

BUT IT'S STILL GOT
ITS, UH, ISSUES WITH IT.

Kevin: THAT'S ABOUT AS GOOD
AS WE'RE GONNA GET.

WE GOT A 2-INCH GAP, BUT IT'S
NOT GONNA GO TOGETHER VERY NICE.

IT LOOKS LIKE [BLEEP]
BUT IT'S IN.

HEY, MIKE!
WANT TO COME HAVE A LOOK?

WHAT DO YOU GOT?

YOU TELL ME.

THIS PIECE HAS GOT TO COME OUT
THE STRAIGHT UP.

ENTIRE CORNER THERE IS
OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

WHOLE RUN OF THE BACK IS
BENT DOWN.

GOT TO PULL THAT BACK UP.

SOMEBODY'S GONNA SPEND A LOT
OF TIME REPAIRING ALL THIS.

THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

I DON'T THINK THIS THING'S
EVER GONNA CATCH GOLD.

Narrator: FIVE MILES EAST,
AT SCRIBNER CREEK...

...PARKER SCHNABEL'S CREW
WORKS HARD

TO FEED THEIR WASH PLANT
140 YARDS OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR.

WE'RE SLUICING SO MUCH DIRT.

I DON'T KNOW.
I LIKE IT.

Narrator: THEY'RE RUNNING DIRT
FROM THE FAR CUT.

AT THIS RATE, THEY'LL FINISH
THE CUT IN JUST TWO WEEKS.

Parker: RIGHT NOW, WE ARE
JUST SLUICING THE FAR CUT.

WE'RE CLOSE TO BEING DONE
DOWN THERE,

BUT, UH, YOU KNOW,

WE'VE ALWAYS GOT TO BE
ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE PLANT.

Narrator:
TO STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME,

PARKER'S PULLED SOME OF HIS CREW
OFF THE FAR CUT

TO STRIP THE NEXT CUT ACROSS
THE CREEK -- FANTASY LAND,

WHERE HE MINED OVER
300 OUNCES OF GOLD LAST SEASON.

MY GRANDPA JUST CAME
TO VISIT, AND YOU KNOW,

HE SUGGESTED TO COME BACK
OVER HERE TO FANTASY LAND.

THERE WAS A BUNCH OF GOOD GROUND
THAT WE LEFT LAST YEAR,

AND, UH, WHY NOT GO
WHERE WE KNOW IT IS?

Cheeseman: WELL, WE STARTED
THIS CUT LAST YEAR,

AND IT RAN PRETTY DECENT.

AND JUST WEREN'T ABLE
TO FINISH IT.

SO I WANT TO FINISH IT
THIS YEAR.

Parker:
NOTHING'S A SURE BET,

BUT WE'VE FOUND A LOT OF GOLD
ALL AROUND THIS CUT.

AND I KNOW IT'S NOT DOING US
ANY GOOD

COVERED UNDER 30 FEET OF MUD.

Narrator: PARKER AVOIDED
THIS GROUND LAST YEAR

BECAUSE PREVIOUS MINERS

DUMPED THOUSANDS OF YARDS
OF OVERBURDEN HERE.

TO GET DOWN TO PAY,

THE CREW HAS TO FIRST CLEAR
A 30-FOOT MOUNTAIN OF MUD.

Kroeker: IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE,
DEALING WITH THIS MUD

AND REALLY PISS YOU OFF
IN A DAY.

YOU KNOW,
ALL YOU DO IS PUSH MUD,

AND FIGHTING IT
EVERY INCH OF THE WAY.

Narrator:
BUT THE OVERBURDEN IS SO SOFT

THE DOZERS KEEP GETTING STUCK.

Man:
DAMN! HEY, GENE!

WE CAN JUST GET THE CORNER
OF THE BLADE THERE

AND JUST KIND OF GIVE IT
A LITTLE PROMPT,

SEE IF YOU CAN GET HIM TO SPIN
OUT OF THERE.

CAN YOU LIFT YOURSELF UP?

Parker: YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT
TOO MANY GUYS THAT ARE BETTER

AT DEALING WITH SITUATIONS
LIKE THIS THAN GENE.

LIFT UP YOUR BLADE!

HE'S LIFTING YOUR FRONT END UP
AND SINKING THE BACK!

Man: COME ON.

THAT'S ENOUGH.

THAT'S THE STUFF.
LET'S CRANK IT UP, BOYS!

YEAH.
CLEAR YOUR TRACKS OUT.

Narrator: BOTH D10s
CAN NOW GET BACK TO WORK,

TRYING TO SHIFT
THE MOUNTAIN OF DIRT.

UP HERE, ONCE YOU GO DOWN,
IT'S GONNA COST A LOT OF MONEY.

IT SHUTS THE OTHER MACHINES DOWN
TO TRY AND DIG ONE OUT.

SO YOU GOT TO DO
THE BEST YOU CAN

TO STAY ON TOP OF IT
AND NOT GET STUCK.

Narrator:
BUT JUST TWO HOURS LATER,

GENE GETS ANOTHER S.O.S. CALL.

THIS IS [BLEEP]
THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME.

THIS TIME, HE NEEDS
THE 48-TON 460 EXCAVATOR

TO PULL OUT
THE 28-TON ROCK TRUCK.

Cheeseman: COME ON.

OKAY, OKAY.
STAND BACK.

LET'S GET TO WORK.
I'M SICK OF THIS [BLEEP]

I HOPE GENE
IS NOT TOO PISSED OFF

BECAUSE HE'S ALWAYS ANGRY, EH?
[ LAUGHS ]

Cheeseman:
JUST GOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

AND IF IT'S ALL MUDDY,
YOU START TO BACK INTO THE HOLE,

AND YOU SEE YOUR BACK WHEELS
SINKING IN,

DON'T KEEP BACKING INTO IT.

DON'T BACK ALL THE WAY
TILL THE FRONT BUMPER'S IN IT.

JUST GOT TO THINK.
DON'T --

THINK ABOUT WHAT THE HELL
YOU'RE DOING. THAT'S ALL.

Narrator:
PARKER AND HIS CREW

CLEAR FANTASY LAND
WITHOUT A BREAK.

BY THE END OF A LONG, HARD DAY,

THEY'VE ONLY STRIPPED THREE FEET
OFF ONE SECTION.

THERE IS STILL OVER 27 FEET
OF OVERBURDEN TO GO.

AT THIS RATE, IT'LL TAKE WEEKS
TO REACH PAY DIRT.

WELCOME TO FANTASY LAND.

IT'S DEEP.

THERE'S SOME GRAVEL DOWN THERE
SOMEWHERE.

YEAH, IT'S --
THAT'S A LONG WAYS DOWN.

[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]

WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE
THE TOP OF THE 10,

ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT APPEARS OUT
FROM, UH, FROM THE DIP...

YEAH, IT MAKES ME
A LITTLE NERVOUS JUST 'CAUSE

YOU'RE LOOKING AT HOW MUCH TIME
YOU GET INTO SOMETHING.

AND THEN,
WHAT WE GET OUT OF IT AS PAY.

IT'S, UH, A LITTLE SCARY.
YEAH.

HOPEFULLY, FANTASY LAND'S

AS GOOD AS IT WAS LAST YEAR
FOR YOU.

YEAH, NO KIDDING.
WE NEED IT.

BE SPENDING MONTHS STRIPPING

TWO WEEKS', THREE WEEKS' WORTH
OF PAY, AND THEN...

WE'RE IN TROUBLE.

I'M STARTING TO WONDER
IF WE SHOULDN'T GO SOMEWHERE

WHERE THEY DIDN'T STACK
A BUNCH OF MUD ON TOP OF IT.

Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK,

THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS RUN

A 1,000-YARD TEST
OF WHITE-CHANNEL GRAVEL.

MINE BOSS DAVE TURIN'S
REPUTATION

IS RIDING ON
WHAT'S IN THE SLUICE BOX.

LOOKS FAIRLY DECENT.

HE HAS TO CONVINCE HIS CREW
AND THEIR CLAIM OWNER

THAT THEY'RE CAPABLE OF MAKING
A PROFIT THIS SEASON.

WELL,
WE GOT GOLD IN THE CUT.

WE'RE BRINGING IT UP,
RUNNING IT.

THIS FEELS PRETTY GOOD.

Turin: IT'S WHAT
WE CAME HERE FOR, BOYS.

IT'S NICE TO SEE GOLD
IN THE SLUICE BOX.

WELL, THE GUYS ARE EXCITED.
THE GOLD LOOKS GOOD.

BUT I'VE BEEN FOOLED BY RIFFLES
BEFORE.

IF WE DON'T GET $10 A YARD,

THOSE GUYS ARE GONNA WONDER
ABOUT MY DECISION-MAKING.

HOLY SMOKES.

Narrator:
6:00 A.M. AT EUREKA CREEK.

MARK FAVRON, A LOCAL WELDER,
ARRIVES AT THE DREDGE

TO GET HIS FIRST LOOK

AT TONY BEETS'
75-YEAR-OLD STEEL SLUICE BOXES.

Favron: HOLY [BLEEP]

THIS ISN'T THE WAY
I WOULD'VE DONE IT.

I THINK A LOT OF THIS STEEL IS
PRETTY TIRED.

IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND BANGED AROUND.

IF HE GETS ANY GOLD OUT OF THIS,
IT'LL BE AMAZING

'CAUSE EVERYTHING'S
NOT STRAIGHT.

NOTHING GOOD ABOUT IT,
AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.

Narrator: THERE ARE HUGE GAPS
IN THE TWO 15-FOOT SLUICE BOXES,

AND AT LEAST HALF THE STEEL
IS BENT.

TO CATCH GOLD,
THE SLUICES MUST BE SMOOTH,

AT THE PERFECT ANGLE
AND WATERTIGHT.

Favron: NOT BAD, I GUESS.

AS YOU CAN SEE,
SHE'S WORE OUT PRETTY BAD.

WE'VE HAD TO DO
SOME MAJOR SURGERY.

IT'S NOT THE WAY I'M USED
TO DOING THINGS.

OKAY.

SOME OF THOSE PATCHES DON'T LOOK
THE BEST.

ARE THEY GONNA BE
WATERTIGHT?

BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA
HOLD WATER FOR YOU, TONY.

OKAY.
I HOPE YOU DO.

YEAH, DAD?

Monica: WE'RE GONNA PUMP
SOME WATER THROUGH THERE,

MAKE SURE THERE'S NO LEAKS.

SO HOPEFULLY, MY DAD'S NOT JUST,

YOU KNOW,
BLOWING SMOKE UP HIS ASS.

GO!

DO IT!

COME ON!

HEY, TONY. IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.
IT'S NOT LEAKING.

YES. THAT'S IT.

Narrator:
AFTER WEEKS OF SETBACKS,

TONY'S ONE STEP CLOSER

TO BRINGING HIS 75-YEAR-OLD
GOLD DREDGE BACK TO LIFE.

OVER AT McKINNON CREEK...

...CLAIM OWNER PETER TALLMAN

IS BACK TO SEE IF THE HOFFMANS
HAVE HIT $10 A YARD.

HEY, TODD.
HOW ARE YOU?

WELL, I'M NERVOUS.

YOU KNOW WHAT? IF WE DON'T GET
AT LEAST 10 BUCKS A YARD,

THERE'S REALLY NO POINT
IN US STAYING, REALLY.

ALL RIGHT, DAD.
POUR THE GOLD.

Narrator: FOR TODD AND DAVE
TO MAKE A PROFIT THIS SEASON,

THEIR 1,000-YARD TEST
OF WHITE CHANNEL PAY DIRT

HAS TO PRODUCE
AT LEAST EIGHT OUNCES OF GOLD,

WORTH OVER $9,000.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

Man: COME ON.

GUYS,
WE ONLY NEEDED EIGHT.

WE GOT 9.14.

YES.
HUH?

ALL RIGHT!
ALL RIGHT.

GOOD JOB, GUYS.
GOOD JOB.

9.1 OUNCES.
THAT'S ABOUT $11 A YARD, OKAY?

THAT'S ABOUT THREE TIMES BETTER

THAN THE BROWN DIRT
WE WERE RUNNING.

Narrator: WITH THE WHITE CHANNEL
PAYING OUT 11 BUCKS A YARD,

THE HOFFMANS COULD AVERAGE
160 OUNCES A WEEK,

WORTH ALMOST $200,000.

THEY COULD NOW HIT 1,000 OUNCES,
OR $1.2 MILLION IN GOLD,

BEFORE THE YUKON WINTER HITS.

Todd: QUESTION IS, PETER,
ARE YOU AND I GOOD?

ARE WE ALL GOOD?
WE'RE GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.
WELL DONE.

I'VE SEEN THE CUT
FROM THE LAST TIME I WAS IN.

IT LOOKS GREAT,

AND YOU'VE GOT THE PROOF
IN THE JAR TO SHOW IT.

IT FEELS LIKE IT --
THE FIRST TIME THAT, YOU KNOW,

WE KNOW FOR A FACT
WE GOT GOLD IN OUR PAY DIRT.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE OFF.

DAVE,
YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT.
WELL, THANKS, TODD.

EVERYBODY'S BEHIND YOU, OKAY?
THANKS.

Turin: WE'RE ON THE GOLD NOW.
LET'S DO IT.

HEY, GUYS.
LET'S BRING IT IN,

JUST TO SEE IF WE CAN FINISH
THIS STRONG.

Todd:
COME ON, BRING IT IN.

Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...

WE GOT TO HAUL ASS.

TONY DEMANDS THAT PARKER

DIG DEEPER INTO BEDROCK...

...COSTING PARKER IN DAMAGE
TO HIS EQUIPMENT...

Parker:
THAT ONE'S BROKEN.

AND I'M THE ONE THAT LOSES
[BLEEP] MONEY, TONY.

...AND IN LOST GOLD.

Parker: TONY BEETS JUST COST ME
25,000 BUCKS.

Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK...

SOMETHING'S WRONG.

...TODD AND DAVE ARE
IN DEEP TROUBLE.

Todd: I'M NOT FAILING AGAIN
THIS YEAR.

THEY DISAGREE
ON THE SOLUTION...

IF WE DON'T GET
THAT HIGHER CUT STRIPPED,

WE AIN'T GONNA MAKE IT.

...BUT END UP WITH THE BEST
CLEAN-UP OF THE SEASON.

MOMENT OF TRUTH.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

AND JUST WHEN TONY BEETS BEGINS
TO MAKE REAL PROGRESS

DROPPING IN
HIS 75-YEAR-OLD TROMMEL...

THAT THING IS GONNA
WASH ROCKS, HUH?

...HIS WIFE, MINNIE,
SUDDENLY STEPS IN,

STEALING HALF OF HIS CREW.

I KNOW THE DREDGE IS IMPORTANT
TO YOU,

BUT THIS IS PRIORITY.

GET OUT.