Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 13 - Piles of Gold - full transcript
Todd and Dave butt heads over how to mine, but end up with the biggest reward they've seen all season. Tony and Parker go to war over bedrock gold and Minnie Beets steals Tony's dredge crew to work their family mine.
Narrator:
UP IN THE YUKON...
THIS GOLD IS OURS.
Narrator:
...TODD AND DAVE ARE AT WAR
OVER WHICH GROUND TO MINE.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO
MOVE THIS PLANT.
I'M NOT MOVING THIS PLANT
UNTIL I KNOW I GOT
ALL THE GOLD HERE.
Narrator:
BUT DAVE FINDS NEW GROUND...
THAT'S A GREAT PAN.
Narrator: ...THAT GIVES
THE HOFFMAN CREW...
MOMENT OF TRUTH!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
...THEIR BEST GOLD
OF THE SEASON.
WE'RE GONNA GO WAY
PAST 1,000, TODD.
TONY BEETS AND FAMILY...
...STRUGGLE TO INSTALL THE HEART
OF THEIR GOLD-MINING DREDGE.
BE CAREFUL IN THERE, DADDY.
Narrator:
A 9-TON TROMMEL.
Tony:
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
Narrator:
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY...
...BREATHE SIGNS OF LIFE
INTO THEIR 75-YEAR-OLD
GOLD DREDGE.
AND OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK...
WE GOT TO HAUL ASS.
...TONY LAYS DOWN THE LAW.
PARKER HAS TO DIG ANOTHER
TWO FEET OF BEDROCK.
EVERY TIME WE TAKE MORE BEDROCK,
WE START LOSING MONEY.
IT TAKES A TOLL ON HIS PLANT...
Man: THAT ONE'S BROKEN.
THAT ONE'S BROKEN.
Narrator:
...AND ON HIS GOLD TOTAL.
TONY BEETS JUST COST ME
25,000 BUCKS.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS 1,030 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH $1.2 MILLION.
WITH JUST SEVEN WEEKS
TO REACH HIS 2,000-OUNCE,
$2.4 MILLION GOAL,
HE HAS HIS CREW
WORKING ON TWO CUTS.
ALL RIGHT, RICK, YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO START HAULING MUD.
All right, man.
I'll get on it.
Narrator: IN THE FAR CUT,
GENE AND GREG ARE RUNNING PAY
FROM THE BEDROCK.
WE'RE JUST MOVING OUR WAY
UP THE FAR CUT HERE.
THE FAR CUT'S ALMOST DONE.
Narrator: ACROSS THE CREEK
IN FANTASY LAND,
THE SAVVY 20-YEAR-OLD
IS ALREADY A STEP AHEAD,
STRIPPING GROUND FOR A NEW CUT.
Parker: RICK'S NOT HAULING PAY.
I'M NOT HAULING PAY.
WE'RE BOTH JUST
HAULING OVERBURDEN,
AND IT'S JUST WHAT
WE HAVE TO DO.
I MEAN, THERE'S SOME DEEP GROUND
IN HERE.
Narrator:
TONY BEETS, THE CLAIM OWNER,
GETS 15% OF PARKER'S GOLD.
HE INSPECTS THE FAR CUT
TO BE SURE PARKER GETS
EVERY LAST FLAKE OF GOLD
BEFORE THEY FILL IT IN.
HOW'S IT GOING, TONY?
YEAH, WE BEEN PLOWING
THROUGH IT.
WOW.
YEAH.
WE'RE TAKING A FOOT.
WE PANNED SOME OF IT,
TRYING TO KEEP GOING.
OF THE BEDROCK?
YEAH.
WELL, A DAY'S SLUICING
IS 15 GRAND.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS.
PARKER HAS FOUND GOLD
IN THE FIRST FOOT
OF FRACTURED BEDROCK,
AND HE'S ALREADY RUN IT.
TONY THINKS THE GOLD GOES DOWN
ANOTHER TWO FEET
AND DEMANDS THAT PARKER DIGS
DEEPER AND RUNS IT.
YEAH, AND I'M THE ONE THAT LOSES
THE [BLEEP] MONEY, TONY.
BYE.
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
Narrator:
PARKER HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO GO BACK AND DIG DEEPER
INTO BEDROCK.
Parker:
TONY'S GOOD AT MAKING IT HARD
TO MAKE MONEY ON THIS GROUND.
PRETTY SOON, YOU'RE NOT RUNNING
YOUR OWN [BLEEP] BUSINESS.
HE TOLD ME THAT HE'S NOT
TOO BOTHERED BY IT.
YOU THINK I GIVE A [BLEEP]
WHAT HE'S BOTHERED BY?
IT'S NOT HIS [BLEEP] TIME
TO BE BOTHERED WITH.
IT'S MY TIME.
I PAID HIM FOR IT.
Narrator:
30 MILES NORTH AT PARADISE HILL,
TONY BEETS' MINE IS SHUT DOWN
AFTER THREE CREW MEMBERS
UP AND QUIT.
TONY'S WIFE, MINNIE, HAS PULLED
THEIR KIDS, MONICA AND KEVIN,
OFF THE DREDGE TO RESTART THEIR
OPERATION AND GET SOME GOLD.
I KNOW THE DREDGE IS IMPORTANT
TO YOU, BUT THIS IS PRIORITY.
YOU DON'T HAVE
THREE PEOPLE HERE.
YEAH, WHERE?
YOU KNOW
THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
YOU HAVE TO SLUICE HERE
IN ORDER TO WORK THE DREDGE.
YOU KNOW I'M RIGHT.
WHAT'S UP?
THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE DOING
A WEEK'S WORTH IN THREE DAYS.
WE WANT TO GET THERE
JUST AS MUCH AS YOU DO,
BUT WE'LL HAVE TO GO
TWO SHIFTS.
ALL RIGHT,
WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN.
Narrator: TO MINE A WEEK'S WORTH
OF PAY DIRT IN JUST THREE DAYS,
TONY SETS THE PACE,
LOADING GOLD-RICH,
WHITE-CHANNEL PAY
IN HIS 25-YEAR-OLD EXCAVATOR.
MONICA HAS TO KEEP UP,
HAULING DIRT TO THE PLANT
IN THIS 769 ROCK TRUCK.
[ CRASH ]
HOLY [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
Narrator:
KEVIN RUNS THEIR 20-YEAR-OLD,
55-FOOT TROMMEL HARD,
LOADING IT TO ITS MAX.
300 YARDS OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR.
Kevin:
THIS IS THE HARDEST WE'VE RUN
THE TROMMEL UP HERE AT THE HILL.
WE'RE GOING A LITTLE ROUGH
TO GET IT IN THERE.
HEY, MONICA.
I CAN'T KEEP TO THE PLAN
IF YOU DON'T GIVE ME NO DIRT.
Monica: KEVIN,
WE'RE BRINGING THIS DIRT
TO YOU AS FAST AS WE CAN.
Narrator:
TONY HAS THE MINE
AND HIS FAMILY RUNNING OVERTIME.
BUT TO GET THE DREDGE REBUILT
WHILE GOLD MINING THIS SEASON,
THE BEETS FAMILY WILL HAVE TO
WORK THEMSELVES TO THE BONE.
20 MILES SOUTH...
AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS ALREADY 2/3
OF THE WAY THROUGH THE SEASON.
BUT THEY HAVE BARELY A QUARTER
OF THE GOLD THEY NEED
TO REACH THEIR 1,000-OUNCE,
$1.2 MILLION GOAL.
Todd: TODD TO JACK.
TODD TO JACK.
Yeah.
WHAT BUCKET ARE YOU AT?
RIGHT NOW, I'M AT 54.
KNOCK ON WOOD, RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE KICKING SOME ASS.
JUST OVER 300 YARDS AN HOUR.
Narrator:
THEY'VE STRUGGLED ALL SEASON,
BUT THEY ARE NOW RUNNING
PAY DIRT WORTH $11 PER YARD
FROM THEIR HIGHER CUT.
THIS GOLD IS OURS.
WE CLAIM IT.
WE'RE GONNA DIG IT THE FRICK UP.
Narrator: THE PAY
SHOULD ONLY GET BETTER
WHEN THEY HIT THE GOLD-RICH
LAYER ON BEDROCK.
THAT'S BEDROCK.
WHERE?
RIGHT THERE.
YEAH, THAT'S BEDROCK
RIGHT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW.
LOOK AT -- THAT'S ALL SAND.
RIGHT THERE WHERE THE BUCKET IS,
I HIT BEDROCK.
BUT TWO FEET BELOW THAT,
I'M HITTING ROCK.
IT'S NOT BEDROCK.
WHY DO WE HAVE BEDROCK
STICKING UP RIGHT HERE
AND NOT RIGHT THERE?
WHERE IS IT OVER HERE,
ANDY?
SEE THAT RIGHT THERE
YOU'RE STANDING ON NOW?
THAT'S BEDROCK,
ISN'T IT?
OR IS THAT JUST
SAND LAYERS?
YOU THINK THAT'S SAND
OR BEDROCK?
HARD TO GUESS WHERE
THIS BEDROCK'S GOING.
IT POPPED UP RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Narrator: IN THE HIGHER CUT,
THE BEDROCK IS UNEVEN.
IF THE HOFFMANS CAN'T FIND
THE GOLD-RICH DEPOSITS
THAT COLLECT ON BEDROCK,
THEY'LL END UP LEAVING
THE BEST GOLD BEHIND.
IS THIS BEDROCK OR NOT?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
I THINK
IT'S A FALSE BEDROCK.
I THINK IT'S A SILTY --
MAYBE AN OLD, ANCIENT CHANNEL.
SOUNDS LIKE A COP-OUT.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH, THIS IS A COLLEGE
EDUCATION IN GOLD MINING, GUYS,
AND WE'RE GETTING EVERYTHING
THROWN AT US.
THE PROBLEM IS, WE GOT THE FINAL
EXAM RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: TODD, DAVE, AND ANDY
ARE CONFUSED.
THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT
IF THEY'RE RUNNING
THE GOLD-RICH BEDROCK LAYER
IS TO HAVE A CLEANUP.
JIM THURBER IS OPTIMISTIC
THAT IT WILL PAY OUT, BIG TIME.
EVERYONE'S PINS AND NEEDLES.
THEY'RE ANTICIPATING
A GOOD CLEANUP,
AND IF WE HIT TRIPLE DIGITS
ON A CLEANUP,
CAN'T DESCRIBE WHAT THAT DOES
FOR YOU.
Jack:
THAT'S THE LAST LOAD IN.
SHOULD BE THE BEST GOLD WE'RE
GONNA SEE OUT OF THAT CUT.
I HOPE IT'S GOOD ENOUGH.
YOU NEVER KNOW
UNTIL YOU WEIGH IT UP.
WELL, GUYS, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T KNOW HOW
TO PUT THIS TO YOU,
BUT...WE HAVE 29 OUNCES.
Narrator:
NOT EVEN $35,000.
THEIR PAY DIRT IS WORTH
LESS THAN $4 A YARD.
I MEAN,
WE DID EVERYTHING RIGHT.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
THREE TIMES THAT.
THAT SHOULD BE THE BEST STUFF,
BUT IT'S NOT.
Man:
WELL, WHAT IN THE HECK?
HOW CAN THE BEDROCK
NOT HAVE GOLD?
IT'S GOT TO.
SOMETHING'S WRONG.
Dave: I JUST FEEL LIKE
I GOT KICKED IN THE STOMACH.
WE INVESTED A TON OF MONEY
IN THAT CUT,
AND WE GET 30 OUNCES
OUT OF IT?
OH, I KNOW.
LAST TIME I FELT LIKE THIS
WAS IN THE JUNGLE.
I DON'T LIKE THAT FEELING.
I'M TIRED.
WE'VE WORKED OUR BUTTS OFF.
OUR CUT'S
A BIG PILE OF [BLEEP]
I WON'T GET TO 1,000 OUNCES
AT 30-OUNCE CLEANUPS.
THEY GOT TO BE BIG.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S CREW DIGS DOWN
AN EXTRA TWO FEET INTO BEDROCK
IN THE FAR CUT,
AND THEY'RE NOT HAPPY.
Gene: IT'S FRUSTRATING,
BUT I MEAN, THERE'S GOLD.
IT'S IF IT'S ENOUGH
WORTH CHASING.
I MEAN, AT SOME POINT,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET IT ALL.
YOU GOT TO JUST FIGURE OUT
WHAT'S THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE
THING TO DO.
Narrator:
TONY BEETS INSISTED
PARKER HUNT FOR GOLD DEEP
IN THE FRACTURED BEDROCK --
WORK THAT TAKES A TOLL
ON THE MACHINES
AND THE WASH PLANT.
Parker:
GIVING ME ADVICE IS ONE THING,
BUT IF HE WANTS TO TELL SOMEBODY
HOW TO DO EVERY LITTLE THING,
I DON'T KNOW WHY HE DOESN'T JUST
MINE THIS HIMSELF.
THIS ISN'T JUST AMATEUR HOUR
AROUND HERE.
Narrator:
PARKER'S MONEY IS ON THE LINE.
HE DECIDES TO RUN A TEST.
Parker: WE'RE GONNA RUN
1,500 YARDS OF BEDROCK
FROM BELOW THE LEVEL
WE NORMALLY TAKE
AND SEE IF IT STILL
PAYS THE BILLS.
1,500 YARDS, WE NEED AT LEAST
15 OUNCES OUT OF THE TEST.
PRETTY SIMPLE MATH --
AN OUNCE EVERY 100 YARDS.
Narrator:
FOR THE NEXT TEN HOURS,
CHRIS DOUMITT RUNS
THE JAGGED BEDROCK
THROUGH THEIR WASH PLANT,
BIG RED.
Chris: I DON'T WANT TO RUN IT.
I HATE RUNNING BEDROCK.
IT TEARS UP BELTS.
IT TEARS UP SCREEN MATERIAL.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO RUN.
SO IF THE GOLD'S NOT IN IT,
THEN WE'RE JUST RUNNING DAMAGE
FOR NO REASON AT ALL.
IF IT'S RICH, YEAH,
LET'S RUN IT.
WE ALL KNOW
"IF" IS A VERY BIG WORD.
Narrator:
BUT AFTER JUST 50 MINUTES...
...THEY'RE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN.
THE GRIZZLY BARS ARE BLOCKED
WITH HUGE CHUNKS OF BEDROCK.
THESE BABIES ARE JAMMED IN HERE
PRETTY GOOD.
[ Panting ] THIS IS ABSOLUTELY
TONY -- TONY BEETS' FAULT.
IF HE'D STOP PUSHING PARKER
SO MUCH...
WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE SO HARD
ON OUR EQUIPMENT.
Narrator: WHILE GREG
CLEARS THE GRIZZLY BARS,
CHRIS SPOTS A PROBLEM
ON THE SCREEN DECK.
Chris:
THIS IS ALL BROKE IN HERE.
I'M RUNNING JAGGED BEDROCK.
IT'S BANGING ON THIS STUFF,
AND IT JUST TOOK ITS TOLL.
HOW'S IT HOLDING UP?
LOOKS BAD.
THAT ONE'S BROKEN.
THAT ONE'S BROKEN.
WE CAN'T RUN LIKE THIS.
WE'LL MESS UP THAT LOWER SCREEN,
FOR SURE.
OH, YEAH.
Narrator: SHARP ROCKS HAVE
BROKEN THE FIRST SCREEN
AND FALLEN ONTO
THE LOWER SCREEN.
IF THEY BREAK THROUGH
THE SECOND SCREEN,
THEY'LL END UP
IN THE SLUICE BOX,
DISRUPT THE FLOW OF WATER,
AND CAUSE PRECIOUS GOLD TO WASH
OUT INTO THE TAILINGS POND.
I KNOW IT'S NOT GONNA
STAY TURNED OFF,
SO WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY
TO MAKE IT RUN.
YEAH.
WITH NO SPARE PARTS
FOR THE PLANT,
MITCH HAS ONLY ONE PLACE
TO GO -- THE BONEYARD.
Mitch: WE'RE JUST GOING
THROUGH THE SCRAP PILE,
TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO
PATCH THAT SCREEN UP WITH.
WE KNOW THE RIGHT STUFF.
THIS LOOKS PRETTY GROSS HERE,
BUT IT MIGHT JUST WORK.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
SO, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS TRY
AND PATCH UP THESE HOLES
WHERE THE SCREEN'S WORE THROUGH.
A LOT OF GUYS
WILL JUST TURN IT OFF
AND WAIT TILL THEY GOT
THE RIGHT PARTS,
BUT IF YOU DO THAT,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE GETTING
NO 2,000 OUNCES UP HERE.
SHE'S FIXED.
GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE YUKON.
LET'S FIRE IT UP
AND GET SOME GOLD.
Narrator:
AFTER MITCH'S BUSH FIX,
PARKER'S CREW GETS BACK
TO RUNNING THE TOUGH,
FAR CUT BEDROCK.
Chris: WITH THE WAY THIS DECKING
HAS WORN OUT,
IT'S KIND OF LIKE
THE HARE AND TORTOISE.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE THE HARE.
WE GO LIKE CRAZY AND STOP,
GO LIKE CRAZY AND STOP.
IT DID NOT WORK OUT
FOR THE HARE,
AND IT'S NOT WORKING OUT FOR US.
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK...
...TODD IS MYSTIFIED
BY THE HIGHER CUT BEDROCK
AND HIS DISASTROUS CLEANUP.
FACING ANOTHER SEASON
OF FAILURE,
TODD'S DESPERATE FOR HELP.
Todd: WE'RE HEADING DOWN
TO GUY FAVRON'S.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST MINERS
OVER HERE IN THE KLONDIKE,
SO, FOR THE SAKE OF US
SURVIVING AS MINERS,
GETTING ADVICE FROM A LOCAL
THAT KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING,
HAS BEEN HERE 20 OR 30 YEARS,
IS NOT A BAD IDEA.
Narrator: THE FAVRONS
HAVE MINED THE KLONDIKE
FOR THREE GENERATIONS
AND HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST
OPERATIONS AROUND.
IF ANYONE CAN UNLOCK THE MYSTERY
OF THE HIGHER CUT BEDROCK,
THE FAVRONS CAN.
HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?
ALL RIGHT.
DOING A LITTLE
WHEELING, HUH?
YEAH, WE'RE STILL SCRATCHING
A LIVING OUT OF THE DIRT HERE.
OH, MY GOSH.
IT'S ALL GOLD, HUH, COMING UP?
YEAH, IT'S JUST SEPARATING IT.
IT STAYS IN THE GROOVE.
THE REVERSE SPIRAL WHEEL
IS WHAT THEY CALL THAT.
IT'S THE WORST PART OF THE JOB
IS CLEANING GOLD.
YEAH, BUT IT'S KIND OF FUN,
ISN'T IT?
HAD A HORRIBLE CLEANUP
THE OTHER NIGHT.
REALLY?
YEAH.
WELL, THAT'S NEVER --
NEVER A GOOD FEELING.
I'M ACTUALLY HERE
TO SEE IF --
SEE IF YOU MIGHT COME OUT
AND TAKE A LOOK
AT WHAT I GOT COOKING,
AND MAYBE YOU COULD HELP.
OH, REALLY?
WE GOT BEDROCK
GOING UP AND DOWN.
UM, GEEZ.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET EVERY HOUR
INTO THE DAY RIGHT NOW.
THIS TIME OF THE YEAR,
WE'RE RUNNING 24/7, SO IT'S --
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED.
IT'S A LITTLE TRICKY,
BUT MAYBE ME AND NEIL
COULD SNEAK OUT THERE.
HEY, THAT'D BE GREAT.
I'D SURE APPRECIATE IT.
YOU BETCHA.
AWESOME.
I'LL KEEP GOING HERE,
AND WE'LL CATCH YOU LATER.
Todd: YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THINK HE KNOWS HOW SERIOUS
THIS IS FOR ME AND MY GUYS.
IF WE DON'T GET 1,000 OUNCES,
I DOUBT WE'LL EVEN BE BACK,
SO IT'S IMPORTANT
HE'S COMING OUT,
AND LET'S HOPE THIS IS
WHERE WE TURN AROUND.
Narrator:
THE NEXT DAY AT McKINNON CREEK,
GUY FAVRON ARRIVES
WITH HIS FOREMAN...
HI, GUYS.
...NEIL LOVELESS.
HOW'S IT GOING?
Man: I HATE TO SEE YOU
SUFFER, TODD.
YOU SEE HOW THIS IS GOING
UP AND DOWN?
HAVE YOU GUYS EVER SEEN BEDROCK
THAT LOOKED QUITE LIKE THIS?
YEAH,
WE SEE THAT ALL THE TIME.
I MEAN, THERE'S --
THERE'S GONNA BE HIGHS.
THERE'S GONNA BE LOWS.
IS IT THAT SPOTTY?
IS IT GOOD, BAD?
WE'VE HAD GROUND
THAT'S SPOTTY BEFORE,
AND IT CAN HAPPEN LIKE THAT.
DON'T HIT
THE PANIC BUTTON YET.
WE ARE PANICKED.
TODD AND I GOT EVERYTHING
IN THIS.
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP
AND KEEP PUNCHING FORWARD.
YOU WOULD KEEP GOING?
OH, YEAH.
YOU JUST GOT TO KEEP THOSE
TRUCKS GETTING TO THE PLANT.
YOUR WHOLE SEASON COULD BE
IN ONE TRUCKLOAD.
RIGHT.
IF YOU PUT THE HOURS IN,
YOU'LL GET IT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL HERE
BECAUSE WE AIN'T ALL THERE.
THAT IS TRUE.
THAT'S TRUE.
YOU GUYS WANT TO TAKE A LOOK
AT THE WASH PLANT?
YES, WHERE THE HECK
IS THAT SUCKER?
WAY DOWN THAT WAY.
REALLY? ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW'S
WASH PLANT, MONSTER RED,
IS OVER A HALF A MILE
FROM THE HIGHER CUT.
EACH ROCK TRUCK TAKES 12 MINUTES
TO DO THE ROUND TRIP
AND BURNS THROUGH
$500 OF FUEL A DAY.
PHEW!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I THINK YOU GOT A KICK ASS
WASH PLANT HERE.
YOU'RE UP THERE
WITH A LOT OF MINERS
THAT HAVE BEEN AT THIS
ALL THEIR LIVES.
COOL.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S JUST IN THE WRONG SPOT.
HMM.
I MEAN, THE COST OF RUNNING
THOSE TRUCKS --
I DON'T KNOW.
HOW FAR ARE YOU HAULING IT?
Todd: A LONG WAYS.
IT'S A LONG WAYS.
LOOKS LIKE A MILE TO ME.
I MEAN, EVERY OUNCE YOU SAVE
IS ANOTHER OUNCE
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRODUCE.
I AGREE WITH GUY.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO MOVE
THIS PLANT DOWN THERE
'CAUSE THE MAJORITY OF OUR PAY
IS DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW?
I KNOW, BUT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH
GOLD IN THE SLUICE BOX.
IT'S NOT EVEN PAYING
FOR THE FUEL TO HAUL IT.
AND WE STOP EVERYTHING
WHILE WE MOVE THIS PLANT.
DAVE,
I AGREE WITH THESE GUYS.
I THINK WE OUGHT
TO MOVE THIS THING.
SOMETIMES PARTNERS DON'T SEE
THINGS EYE-TO-EYE ALL THE TIME.
I'M NOT MOVING THIS PLANT
UNTIL I KNOW I GOT
ALL THE GOLD HERE.
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,
TODD HOFFMAN WANTS
TO MOVE MONSTER RED
CLOSER TO THE HIGHER CUT.
BUT DAVE TURIN'S
IGNORING HIS PARTNER
AND SEARCHING FOR GOOD PAY DIRT
500 YARDS FROM THE WASH PLANT.
IT'D JUST BE FOOLISH
TO MOVE THAT WASH PLANT
IF THERE'S GOLD CLOSE BY.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND
SOME MORE GROUND
AND OPEN IT UP IN A HURRY.
SO I'M GONNA DIG A COUPLE HOLES.
HOPEFULLY WE FIND
SOME THAWED GROUND,
AND WE KEEP MINING.
WE DON'T HAVE TO MOVE
THE WASH PLANT.
RIGHT NOW,
I GOT ABOUT SIX FEET DOWN.
[ GRINDING ]
OOH, THAT SOUNDS HARD, THOUGH.
[ BANGING ]
DANG IT.
I'M HITTING SOMETHING
SOLID ALREADY.
[ BANGING CONTINUES ]
YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY TIGHT
AND SOLID.
IT'S JUST TOO FROZEN.
THAT AIN'T GONNA WORK.
Narrator: IF DAVE CAN'T FIND
THAWED PAY DIRT
CLOSE TO THE PLANT,
TODD WILL MOVE MONSTER RED
TO SAVE FUEL,
BUT IT WILL COST THEM A WEEK
OF VALUABLE SLUICING.
Dave: DOWN ABOUT SIX OR EIGHT
FEET, AND IT'S STILL DIGGING.
THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
SO FAR, IT'S THAWED OUT.
YEAH.
MOSTLY GRAVEL.
IT'S CRITICAL WE GET
A BREAK, MAN.
WE JUST NEED SOMETHING GOOD
TO HAPPEN.
[ SCRAPING ]
THAWED GRAVEL,
AND IT'S DOWN TO GRAY!
I LIKE IT.
Narrator: IT'S THAWED GRAVEL,
JUST 500 YARDS
FROM THE WASH PLANT.
Dave:
THIS COULD BE GREAT.
Narrator: BUT IT HAS
TO HOLD GOOD GOLD.
THIS WOULD TRULY BE A BLESSING
IF THIS PAN GOT ANY KIND
OF GOLD IN IT.
GOT BLACK SAND, LOTS OF GARNETS.
OH, THERE WE GO.
THERE WE GO.
THERE'S THE GOLD
I'M LOOKING FOR!
YEAH!
THAT'S A NICE ONE RIGHT THERE.
PROBABLY 30 PIECES.
THAT'S A GREAT PAN.
Narrator: ARMED WITH PROOF
THAT THERE'S EASY GOLD
NEAR THE WASH PLANT,
DAVE CONFRONTS TODD.
WELL, LOOKS LIKE THE PLANT'S
GONNA STAY WHERE IT IS.
THERE'S GOOD GOLD RIGHT NEXT
TO THE WASH PLANT.
LISTEN, WE CAN'T MOVE
THE PLANT LATER.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO MOVE IT
IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE IT.
I KNOW.
IT'S GOOD PAY.
I JUST GOT A GREAT PAN,
OVER 30 COLORS.
IT'S A RISK.
THIS'LL WORK.
Narrator:
AT PARADISE HILL,
TONY BEETS AND HIS KIDS
HAVE WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK.
THEY'VE SLUICED A WEEK'S WORTH
OF PAY DIRT IN JUST THREE DAYS.
SHORT ON CREW,
IT WAS THE ONLY WAY
THEY COULD GET BACK
TO REBUILDING THEIR
MILLION-DOLLAR DREDGE.
IN JUST THREE DAYS,
THREE MEMBERS
OF THE BEETS FAMILY
MINED 163 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH NEARLY $200,000.
BUT ONLY MINNIE, TONY'S WIFE,
WILL DECIDE IF IT'S ENOUGH.
THAT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD,
YOU KNOW?
PRETTY COOL.
THEN COME BACK AND DO
SOME MORE SLUICING HERE.
GOOD ENOUGH.
OKAY, WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.
YOU BET. BYE.
Narrator:
OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S CREW SHUTS DOWN
THE PLANT
AFTER THEIR 1,500-YARD
BEDROCK TEST.
I'M GONNA TURN THE WATER ON
TO THAT PREWASH UP THERE.
Parker: GO FOR IT.
TONY BEETS ORDERED PARKER
TO DIG TWO FEET DEEPER
INTO BEDROCK.
FOR THE TEST TO BE ACCURATE,
THE CREW NEEDS TO GET EVERY
FLAKE OF GOLD OUT OF THE PLANT.
Chris:
HELL OF A JOB FOR A MAN
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE EMPEROR
OF THE UNIVERSE, YOU KNOW THAT?
WELL, TONY'S SAYING
WE NEED TO GO DEEPER.
PERSONALLY,
I THINK WE NAILED IT.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S GONNA BE
THAT MUCH GOLD IN HERE.
IT'S HIS CLAIM, SO YOU DO
WHAT THE CLAIM OWNER SAYS.
WE'LL FIND OUT WHO'S RIGHT.
EITHER THE OLD-TIME MINER
OR THE GUY THAT'S JUST
STARTING, RIGHT?
Narrator:
TONY'S BEDROCK TEST
COST PARKER 10 HOURS
OF SLUICING,
WHICH NORMALLY PRODUCES AN OUNCE
EVERY 100 YARDS.
Parker:
HOW MANY YARDS DID WE RUN?
Gene:
IT WAS 1,500, ROUGHLY.
I MEAN, WE WANT 15 OUNCES.
HAVE A TOSSUP, I THINK.
RIGHT.
THAT'S 7.005.
HMM.
7 OUNCES OF GOLD IS LESS THAN
HALF AN OUNCE PER 100 YARDS,
HALF WHAT PARKER NORMALLY GETS.
I MEAN, WITH THAT RESULT,
I THINK TONY'S WRONG.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED
TO CHASE THAT DEEP.
HE WOULDN'T RUN THAT STUFF.
I DON'T THINK SO, EITHER.
NOBODY REALLY MAKES MONEY
ON THAT.
NO.
WE WASTED A LOT OF TIME.
I MEAN, IN 2 SHIFTS LATELY WE'VE
BEEN FINDING 25 OR 30 OUNCES.
HERE WE FOUND 7, SO, YOU KNOW,
TONY BEETS JUST COST ME
25,000 BUCKS.
[ TRUCK BEEPING ]
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS MADE A DECISION.
HE'S GOING TO IGNORE
TONY'S ORDER
TO DIG DEEPER
INTO THE FAR CUT BEDROCK.
INSTEAD, GENE THINKS
THERE'S A BETTER WAY
TO RECOVER THE BEDROCK GOLD.
Gene: YOU KNOW,
I THINK WE'RE GETTING
INTO THE BEDROCK
PLENTY DEEP ENOUGH.
IT'S JUST THAT THE [BLEEP] IS
FALLING OUT BETWEEN THE TEETH.
LIKE THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE.
YEAH, IT'S ALL LOOSE,
LIKE TRYING TO EAT YOUR SOUP
WITH A FORK, YOU KNOW.
IT'S JUST GONNA RUN
BETWEEN THE SPINES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE GET ALL THE GOLD.
RIGHT.
PARKER'S CREW
IS SCRAPING THE BEDROCK
WITH A BUCKET THAT HAS TEETH
WITH EIGHT-INCH GAPS.
EVERY BUCKET THEY DIG LEAVES
BEHIND LINES OF GOLD-RICH PAY.
IF THEY SWITCH
TO A SMOOTH-EDGED BUCKET,
THEY'LL CLEAN UP ALL THE GOLD
ON TOP OF THE BEDROCK
WITH NO NEED TO GO DEEPER.
Gene: HEY, RICK!
WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE,
CAN YOU SWAP BUCKETS?
Rick: YEAH.
Narrator:
THERE'S ONLY ONE PROBLEM.
THE SMOOTH-EDGE BUCKET
IS 30% SMALLER.
THE ONLY DISADVANTAGE IS THAT
THAT'S A SMALLER BUCKET.
YEAH, IT'S JUST TWO OR THREE
BUCKETS A LOAD SLOWER.
IT'S NOT QUITE AS FAST,
BUT SOMETIMES SLOWER IS FASTER.
IT'S THE BEST DIRT.
GO TO ALL THIS TROUBLE
TO GET THERE,
WE SHOULD GET IT ALL.
Narrator:
WITH A SMOOTH-EDGED BUCKET,
RICK CAN SCRAPE UP THE BEST
FAR CUT PAY DIRT
AND GET IT OVER TO THE PLANT.
Rick: WE'RE GONNA GET THINGS
ROLLING AGAIN,
GET THIS PLANT UP AND RUNNING
AND GET SOME DIRT PROCESSED.
Narrator: PARKER NOW PLANS TO
RUN THE REST OF THE WEEK HIS WAY
TO FIND OUT WHO'S RIGHT --
HIM OR TONY.
TONY MAY NOT LIKE IT,
BUT SCREW IT.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T DO IT.
I'VE GOT TO PAY THE BILLS,
AND THAT MEANS
I'VE GOT TO MAKE MONEY.
Narrator: AFTER A $200,000
CLEANUP AT PARADISE HILL...
...TONY, KEVIN, AND MONICA
FINALLY ARRIVE BACK
AT EUREKA CREEK.
THEY'RE READY TO REBUILD THEIR
MILLION-DOLLAR GOLD DREDGE.
WE'RE ABOUT READY
WHENEVER YOU ARE.
MIKE AND I CAN'T DO IT
BY OURSELVES.
WE WERE PROMISED HELP
AND NEVER GOT ANY.
Narrator: ONCE THE DREDGE
IS OPERATIONAL,
THE BUCKET LINE WILL FEED
PAY DIRT INTO THE TROMMEL.
AS THE TROMMEL ROTATES,
IT SEPARATES OUT WORTHLESS ROCKS
AND WASHES GOLD-RICH CONCENTRATE
DOWN INTO THE SLUICE BOX.
NOW THE CREW HAS TO LIFT
THE 25-FOOT, 9-TON TROMMEL
INTO A NARROW GAP IN THE CENTER
OF THE SUPER STRUCTURE.
Man:
JUST GIVE ME SOME CABLE DOWN.
I GOT NOWHERE TO GO.
THAT'S NOT GOOD!
Tony: WHOA, WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA!
IT'S JAMMED.
Narrator: WHEN THE DREDGE
WAS FIRST BUILT,
THE TROMMEL WOULD LIFT
IN AND OUT EASILY.
75 YEARS LATER, PARTS
HAVE BEEN BENT OUT OF SHAPE,
AND THE GAP IS NOW TOO SMALL
FOR THE TROMMEL TO FIT THROUGH.
TROMMEL'S STUCK
IN ONE OF THE CROSS BEAMS.
BIG SILVER --
MONICA, CAN YOU PASS IT?
IT'S JAMMED
UNDERNEATH THE PINCH BAR.
Man:
THAT AIN'T GONNA WORK.
YOU THINK, DOWN?
Narrator:
TONY RESORTS TO BRUTE FORCE.
BE CAREFUL IN THERE, DADDY.
Tony: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
UP, MORE.
[ METAL SCRAPING ]
THIS SUCKS.
Man: CABLE DOWN.
Man #2:
DON'T HIT THE GEARS.
THAT LOOKS GOOD TO ME.
YEP.
Narrator:
THIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE
WAS LEFT TO RUST IN THE YUKON
FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
FINALLY, TONY ATTEMPTS TO FIRE
UP THE GOLD-CATCHING MONSTER.
[ GEARS CRANKING ]
THE TROMMEL IS THE FIRST PART
OF TONY'S DREDGE
TO MOVE IN 27 YEARS.
AWESOME.
AND IT'S THE FIRST INDICATION
THAT HE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE
TO PULL GOLD FROM THE GROUND
BEFORE WINTER.
Monica: THAT'S [BLEEP] GREAT.
HUH?
Mike:
I THINK IT'LL WORK.
IT NEEDS A LITTLE WATER, THOUGH.
YEAH, THAT TOO.
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,
THREE GENERATIONS OF HOFFMANS
HAVE ARRIVED.
GLAD TO BE HERE, FINALLY.
Todd: I MISSED YOU.
I MISSED YOU.
SO GLAD TO SEE YOU.
Narrator:
JACK'S WIFE, GEORGIA.
I'M DOING GREAT.
GLAD YOU'RE HERE, THOUGH.
Narrator:
TODD'S WIFE, SHAWNA.
Todd:
WHAT DO YOU THINK, GUYS?
A LITTLE BETTER
THAN LAST YEAR, HUH?
YEAH, NO KIDDING.
LOOK.
SEE THE GOLD COMING THROUGH?
Narrator: AND HIS 7-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER, OLIVIA.
Todd: THESE NUGGETS.
THAT COOL?
LOOK AT 'EM.
THAT'D MAKE A PAIR
OF EARRINGS, HUH?
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
Jack:
FAMILY'S ALWAYS GREAT.
AND YOU DON'T WORRY ABOUT 'EM
AT HOME,
YOU KNOW,
AND SO THEY'RE WITH YOU.
WORST CASE SCENARIO IS, THEY GET
EATEN BY A BEAR HERE, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BIG DEAL.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL'S
ON HIS WAY TO MEET TONY BEETS
AFTER DEFYING HIS ORDER
TO DIG DEEPER INTO BEDROCK.
I MEAN, TONY MIGHT HAVE A LOT
OF CONTROL OVER ME,
BUT ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
HE CAN'T TELL ME HOW TO MINE.
HE CAN'T TELL ME
WHAT DIRT TO SLUICE
AND WHAT DIRT NOT TO SLUICE.
SO, HE'S JUST GONNA HAVE TO DEAL
WITH IT.
PRETTY GOOD.
Narrator: THE FIRST 7 OUNCES
IS FROM DEEP IN THE BEDROCK
THAT TONY MADE HIM RUN.
THE REST IS FROM
GENE'S TECHNIQUE,
SCRAPING THE SURFACE
WITH A SMOOTH-EDGED BUCKET.
140, MAKE 150?
YEAH, PRETTY CLOSE, HUH?
154, 55?
156.20.
156 OUNCES OF GOLD
IS WORTH $180,000,
ONE OF PARKER'S BIGGEST
CLEANOUTS OF THE SEASON.
HIS TOTAL IS NOW 1,186 OUNCES
WORTH $1.4 MILLION.
I MEAN...
WELL, NO, WE DIDN'T REALLY TAKE
A WHOLE LOT MORE BEDROCK.
WE JUST CLEANED IT
UP BETTER.
WE STOPPED USING TEETH,
AND WE SCRAPED THE BEDROCK
NICE AND CLEAN.
EVERY TIME WE TAKE MORE BEDROCK,
WE START LOSING MONEY, TONY.
I HAVE TO MAKE MONEY, TOO.
LOOK, TONY, THAT'S JUST THE
[BLEEP] WAY WE'RE GONNA DO IT,
ALL RIGHT?
NO. NO.
IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH IT,
THEN KICK US OFF THE [BLEEP]
I MIGHT AS WELL
TAKE A HIKE, THEN,
'CAUSE I HAVE TO MAKE
[BLEEP] MONEY, TOO, TONY.
IF TONY HAD IT HIS WAY,
HE'D DRIVE MY BUSINESS
IN THE GROUND
TO PUT A FEW BUCKS
IN HIS POCKET.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
I DON'T KNOW WHO STARTED
CALLING HIM A KLONDIKE LEGEND,
BUT IT'S MORE LIKE
A [BLEEP] KLONDIKE [BLEEP]
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK...
DAVE TURIN REFUSED TO MOVE
THE PLANT TO THE HIGHER CUT.
HE'S NOW EXCAVATING PAY DIRT
FROM A NEW CUT
CLOSE TO THE WASH PLANT.
KIND OF DO-OR-DIE NOW.
SCRAMBLING TO OPEN UP GROUND
AND KEEP THAT MONSTER FED.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF
A 12-MINUTE ROUND TRIP
FROM THE HIGHER CUT,
THE ROCK TRUCKS NOW TAKE
JUST 4 MINUTES,
CUTTING THEIR FUEL COSTS
BY 2/3.
IT'S MUCH EASIER
TO HAUL IT FORM HERE.
WE'RE SO MUCH CLOSER
THAN THE HIGHER CUT.
♪ HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN
Narrator:
BUT SAVING FUEL IS POINTLESS
IF THE CREW IS NOT RUNNING
GOOD PAY DIRT.
THEY'RE TRYING
TO OPEN UP NEW GROUND.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD
OF GROUND IT IS.
Narrator:
AFTER A THREE-DAY RUN...
Todd: WE'RE SHUT DOWN.
Narrator: ...TODD CALLS
FOR A CLEANUP TO FIND OUT.
THE CREW HAS RUN 10,000 YARDS.
IF DAVE'S CUT IS GOING
TO TURN THEIR SEASON AROUND,
IT NEEDS TO PAY
AT LEAST $10 A YARD,
WHICH MEANS THEY NEED
AT LEAST 83 OUNCES OF GOLD.
Dave: HERE COMES JACK.
WELL...
WHAT DO YOU GOT?
...I'D LIKE TO SAY
WE'RE IN THE MONEY,
BUT IT WASN'T AS GOOD
AS I THOUGHT.
YOU'RE KIDDING.
THAT'S IT?
Man: KIDDING ME.
Todd:
THAT AIN'T GONNA CUT IT.
WHAT'S IN THERE?
Jack: 16.
UGH.
BUT WITH THIS,
MAKES IT 116.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: 116 OUNCES OF GOLD
IS WORTH ALMOST $140,000.
IT'S BY FAR THE HOFFMAN CREW'S
BIGGEST CLEANUP THIS SEASON.
IT TAKES THEIR TOTAL
TO 412 OUNCES,
CLOSE TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS,
AND PROVES DAVE'S NEW CUT
IS FULL OF GOLD.
WE CAN GET OVER 1,000 OUNCES
THIS SEASON.
I THINK WE CAN DO IT.
IT'S POSSIBLE,
AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO IT.
100%.
Man: WHOO!
IT'S NOT ONLY
JUST ABOUT THE GOLD.
AFTER LAST YEAR,
IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE'RE MADE OF.
HUH, GUYS?
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...
Man: WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!
Narrator: ...PARKER IS BACK
MINING FANTASY LAND,
BUT IT'S FROZEN SOLID.
IT'S ALL FROZEN.
I THINK IT'S DONE.
Narrator: HE'S FORCED TO HUNT
FOR THAWED GROUND...
WE NEED TO FIND A LOT OF GOLD
HERE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
...TO PUT HIS SEASON
BACK ON TRACK.
THAT'S A PRETTY DAMN GOOD PAN
RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW'S
WINNING STREAK RUNS OUT.
DAVE, I'M JUST ABOUT
OUT OF DIRT.
BUT A SMART MOVE
BY DAVE TURIN...
I THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK
AT THOSE DRILL MAPS AGAIN.
...PAYS OFF...
WHAT DO YOU GOT, JACK?
...BIG TIME.
[ CHEERING ]
TONY BEETS SCRAMBLES TO POSITION
THE NERVE CENTER OF HIS DREDGE.
WATCH OUT, KEVIN!
AND IS ONE STEP CLOSER
TO DREDGING FOR GOLD.
Tony: IT'S ANOTHER PIECE
OF THE PUZZLE.
UP IN THE YUKON...
THIS GOLD IS OURS.
Narrator:
...TODD AND DAVE ARE AT WAR
OVER WHICH GROUND TO MINE.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO
MOVE THIS PLANT.
I'M NOT MOVING THIS PLANT
UNTIL I KNOW I GOT
ALL THE GOLD HERE.
Narrator:
BUT DAVE FINDS NEW GROUND...
THAT'S A GREAT PAN.
Narrator: ...THAT GIVES
THE HOFFMAN CREW...
MOMENT OF TRUTH!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
...THEIR BEST GOLD
OF THE SEASON.
WE'RE GONNA GO WAY
PAST 1,000, TODD.
TONY BEETS AND FAMILY...
...STRUGGLE TO INSTALL THE HEART
OF THEIR GOLD-MINING DREDGE.
BE CAREFUL IN THERE, DADDY.
Narrator:
A 9-TON TROMMEL.
Tony:
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
Narrator:
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY...
...BREATHE SIGNS OF LIFE
INTO THEIR 75-YEAR-OLD
GOLD DREDGE.
AND OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK...
WE GOT TO HAUL ASS.
...TONY LAYS DOWN THE LAW.
PARKER HAS TO DIG ANOTHER
TWO FEET OF BEDROCK.
EVERY TIME WE TAKE MORE BEDROCK,
WE START LOSING MONEY.
IT TAKES A TOLL ON HIS PLANT...
Man: THAT ONE'S BROKEN.
THAT ONE'S BROKEN.
Narrator:
...AND ON HIS GOLD TOTAL.
TONY BEETS JUST COST ME
25,000 BUCKS.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS 1,030 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH $1.2 MILLION.
WITH JUST SEVEN WEEKS
TO REACH HIS 2,000-OUNCE,
$2.4 MILLION GOAL,
HE HAS HIS CREW
WORKING ON TWO CUTS.
ALL RIGHT, RICK, YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO START HAULING MUD.
All right, man.
I'll get on it.
Narrator: IN THE FAR CUT,
GENE AND GREG ARE RUNNING PAY
FROM THE BEDROCK.
WE'RE JUST MOVING OUR WAY
UP THE FAR CUT HERE.
THE FAR CUT'S ALMOST DONE.
Narrator: ACROSS THE CREEK
IN FANTASY LAND,
THE SAVVY 20-YEAR-OLD
IS ALREADY A STEP AHEAD,
STRIPPING GROUND FOR A NEW CUT.
Parker: RICK'S NOT HAULING PAY.
I'M NOT HAULING PAY.
WE'RE BOTH JUST
HAULING OVERBURDEN,
AND IT'S JUST WHAT
WE HAVE TO DO.
I MEAN, THERE'S SOME DEEP GROUND
IN HERE.
Narrator:
TONY BEETS, THE CLAIM OWNER,
GETS 15% OF PARKER'S GOLD.
HE INSPECTS THE FAR CUT
TO BE SURE PARKER GETS
EVERY LAST FLAKE OF GOLD
BEFORE THEY FILL IT IN.
HOW'S IT GOING, TONY?
YEAH, WE BEEN PLOWING
THROUGH IT.
WOW.
YEAH.
WE'RE TAKING A FOOT.
WE PANNED SOME OF IT,
TRYING TO KEEP GOING.
OF THE BEDROCK?
YEAH.
WELL, A DAY'S SLUICING
IS 15 GRAND.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS.
PARKER HAS FOUND GOLD
IN THE FIRST FOOT
OF FRACTURED BEDROCK,
AND HE'S ALREADY RUN IT.
TONY THINKS THE GOLD GOES DOWN
ANOTHER TWO FEET
AND DEMANDS THAT PARKER DIGS
DEEPER AND RUNS IT.
YEAH, AND I'M THE ONE THAT LOSES
THE [BLEEP] MONEY, TONY.
BYE.
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
Narrator:
PARKER HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO GO BACK AND DIG DEEPER
INTO BEDROCK.
Parker:
TONY'S GOOD AT MAKING IT HARD
TO MAKE MONEY ON THIS GROUND.
PRETTY SOON, YOU'RE NOT RUNNING
YOUR OWN [BLEEP] BUSINESS.
HE TOLD ME THAT HE'S NOT
TOO BOTHERED BY IT.
YOU THINK I GIVE A [BLEEP]
WHAT HE'S BOTHERED BY?
IT'S NOT HIS [BLEEP] TIME
TO BE BOTHERED WITH.
IT'S MY TIME.
I PAID HIM FOR IT.
Narrator:
30 MILES NORTH AT PARADISE HILL,
TONY BEETS' MINE IS SHUT DOWN
AFTER THREE CREW MEMBERS
UP AND QUIT.
TONY'S WIFE, MINNIE, HAS PULLED
THEIR KIDS, MONICA AND KEVIN,
OFF THE DREDGE TO RESTART THEIR
OPERATION AND GET SOME GOLD.
I KNOW THE DREDGE IS IMPORTANT
TO YOU, BUT THIS IS PRIORITY.
YOU DON'T HAVE
THREE PEOPLE HERE.
YEAH, WHERE?
YOU KNOW
THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
YOU HAVE TO SLUICE HERE
IN ORDER TO WORK THE DREDGE.
YOU KNOW I'M RIGHT.
WHAT'S UP?
THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE DOING
A WEEK'S WORTH IN THREE DAYS.
WE WANT TO GET THERE
JUST AS MUCH AS YOU DO,
BUT WE'LL HAVE TO GO
TWO SHIFTS.
ALL RIGHT,
WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN.
Narrator: TO MINE A WEEK'S WORTH
OF PAY DIRT IN JUST THREE DAYS,
TONY SETS THE PACE,
LOADING GOLD-RICH,
WHITE-CHANNEL PAY
IN HIS 25-YEAR-OLD EXCAVATOR.
MONICA HAS TO KEEP UP,
HAULING DIRT TO THE PLANT
IN THIS 769 ROCK TRUCK.
[ CRASH ]
HOLY [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
Narrator:
KEVIN RUNS THEIR 20-YEAR-OLD,
55-FOOT TROMMEL HARD,
LOADING IT TO ITS MAX.
300 YARDS OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR.
Kevin:
THIS IS THE HARDEST WE'VE RUN
THE TROMMEL UP HERE AT THE HILL.
WE'RE GOING A LITTLE ROUGH
TO GET IT IN THERE.
HEY, MONICA.
I CAN'T KEEP TO THE PLAN
IF YOU DON'T GIVE ME NO DIRT.
Monica: KEVIN,
WE'RE BRINGING THIS DIRT
TO YOU AS FAST AS WE CAN.
Narrator:
TONY HAS THE MINE
AND HIS FAMILY RUNNING OVERTIME.
BUT TO GET THE DREDGE REBUILT
WHILE GOLD MINING THIS SEASON,
THE BEETS FAMILY WILL HAVE TO
WORK THEMSELVES TO THE BONE.
20 MILES SOUTH...
AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS ALREADY 2/3
OF THE WAY THROUGH THE SEASON.
BUT THEY HAVE BARELY A QUARTER
OF THE GOLD THEY NEED
TO REACH THEIR 1,000-OUNCE,
$1.2 MILLION GOAL.
Todd: TODD TO JACK.
TODD TO JACK.
Yeah.
WHAT BUCKET ARE YOU AT?
RIGHT NOW, I'M AT 54.
KNOCK ON WOOD, RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE KICKING SOME ASS.
JUST OVER 300 YARDS AN HOUR.
Narrator:
THEY'VE STRUGGLED ALL SEASON,
BUT THEY ARE NOW RUNNING
PAY DIRT WORTH $11 PER YARD
FROM THEIR HIGHER CUT.
THIS GOLD IS OURS.
WE CLAIM IT.
WE'RE GONNA DIG IT THE FRICK UP.
Narrator: THE PAY
SHOULD ONLY GET BETTER
WHEN THEY HIT THE GOLD-RICH
LAYER ON BEDROCK.
THAT'S BEDROCK.
WHERE?
RIGHT THERE.
YEAH, THAT'S BEDROCK
RIGHT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW.
LOOK AT -- THAT'S ALL SAND.
RIGHT THERE WHERE THE BUCKET IS,
I HIT BEDROCK.
BUT TWO FEET BELOW THAT,
I'M HITTING ROCK.
IT'S NOT BEDROCK.
WHY DO WE HAVE BEDROCK
STICKING UP RIGHT HERE
AND NOT RIGHT THERE?
WHERE IS IT OVER HERE,
ANDY?
SEE THAT RIGHT THERE
YOU'RE STANDING ON NOW?
THAT'S BEDROCK,
ISN'T IT?
OR IS THAT JUST
SAND LAYERS?
YOU THINK THAT'S SAND
OR BEDROCK?
HARD TO GUESS WHERE
THIS BEDROCK'S GOING.
IT POPPED UP RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Narrator: IN THE HIGHER CUT,
THE BEDROCK IS UNEVEN.
IF THE HOFFMANS CAN'T FIND
THE GOLD-RICH DEPOSITS
THAT COLLECT ON BEDROCK,
THEY'LL END UP LEAVING
THE BEST GOLD BEHIND.
IS THIS BEDROCK OR NOT?
WHAT'S GOING ON?
I THINK
IT'S A FALSE BEDROCK.
I THINK IT'S A SILTY --
MAYBE AN OLD, ANCIENT CHANNEL.
SOUNDS LIKE A COP-OUT.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH, THIS IS A COLLEGE
EDUCATION IN GOLD MINING, GUYS,
AND WE'RE GETTING EVERYTHING
THROWN AT US.
THE PROBLEM IS, WE GOT THE FINAL
EXAM RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: TODD, DAVE, AND ANDY
ARE CONFUSED.
THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT
IF THEY'RE RUNNING
THE GOLD-RICH BEDROCK LAYER
IS TO HAVE A CLEANUP.
JIM THURBER IS OPTIMISTIC
THAT IT WILL PAY OUT, BIG TIME.
EVERYONE'S PINS AND NEEDLES.
THEY'RE ANTICIPATING
A GOOD CLEANUP,
AND IF WE HIT TRIPLE DIGITS
ON A CLEANUP,
CAN'T DESCRIBE WHAT THAT DOES
FOR YOU.
Jack:
THAT'S THE LAST LOAD IN.
SHOULD BE THE BEST GOLD WE'RE
GONNA SEE OUT OF THAT CUT.
I HOPE IT'S GOOD ENOUGH.
YOU NEVER KNOW
UNTIL YOU WEIGH IT UP.
WELL, GUYS, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T KNOW HOW
TO PUT THIS TO YOU,
BUT...WE HAVE 29 OUNCES.
Narrator:
NOT EVEN $35,000.
THEIR PAY DIRT IS WORTH
LESS THAN $4 A YARD.
I MEAN,
WE DID EVERYTHING RIGHT.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
THREE TIMES THAT.
THAT SHOULD BE THE BEST STUFF,
BUT IT'S NOT.
Man:
WELL, WHAT IN THE HECK?
HOW CAN THE BEDROCK
NOT HAVE GOLD?
IT'S GOT TO.
SOMETHING'S WRONG.
Dave: I JUST FEEL LIKE
I GOT KICKED IN THE STOMACH.
WE INVESTED A TON OF MONEY
IN THAT CUT,
AND WE GET 30 OUNCES
OUT OF IT?
OH, I KNOW.
LAST TIME I FELT LIKE THIS
WAS IN THE JUNGLE.
I DON'T LIKE THAT FEELING.
I'M TIRED.
WE'VE WORKED OUR BUTTS OFF.
OUR CUT'S
A BIG PILE OF [BLEEP]
I WON'T GET TO 1,000 OUNCES
AT 30-OUNCE CLEANUPS.
THEY GOT TO BE BIG.
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S CREW DIGS DOWN
AN EXTRA TWO FEET INTO BEDROCK
IN THE FAR CUT,
AND THEY'RE NOT HAPPY.
Gene: IT'S FRUSTRATING,
BUT I MEAN, THERE'S GOLD.
IT'S IF IT'S ENOUGH
WORTH CHASING.
I MEAN, AT SOME POINT,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET IT ALL.
YOU GOT TO JUST FIGURE OUT
WHAT'S THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE
THING TO DO.
Narrator:
TONY BEETS INSISTED
PARKER HUNT FOR GOLD DEEP
IN THE FRACTURED BEDROCK --
WORK THAT TAKES A TOLL
ON THE MACHINES
AND THE WASH PLANT.
Parker:
GIVING ME ADVICE IS ONE THING,
BUT IF HE WANTS TO TELL SOMEBODY
HOW TO DO EVERY LITTLE THING,
I DON'T KNOW WHY HE DOESN'T JUST
MINE THIS HIMSELF.
THIS ISN'T JUST AMATEUR HOUR
AROUND HERE.
Narrator:
PARKER'S MONEY IS ON THE LINE.
HE DECIDES TO RUN A TEST.
Parker: WE'RE GONNA RUN
1,500 YARDS OF BEDROCK
FROM BELOW THE LEVEL
WE NORMALLY TAKE
AND SEE IF IT STILL
PAYS THE BILLS.
1,500 YARDS, WE NEED AT LEAST
15 OUNCES OUT OF THE TEST.
PRETTY SIMPLE MATH --
AN OUNCE EVERY 100 YARDS.
Narrator:
FOR THE NEXT TEN HOURS,
CHRIS DOUMITT RUNS
THE JAGGED BEDROCK
THROUGH THEIR WASH PLANT,
BIG RED.
Chris: I DON'T WANT TO RUN IT.
I HATE RUNNING BEDROCK.
IT TEARS UP BELTS.
IT TEARS UP SCREEN MATERIAL.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO RUN.
SO IF THE GOLD'S NOT IN IT,
THEN WE'RE JUST RUNNING DAMAGE
FOR NO REASON AT ALL.
IF IT'S RICH, YEAH,
LET'S RUN IT.
WE ALL KNOW
"IF" IS A VERY BIG WORD.
Narrator:
BUT AFTER JUST 50 MINUTES...
...THEY'RE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN.
THE GRIZZLY BARS ARE BLOCKED
WITH HUGE CHUNKS OF BEDROCK.
THESE BABIES ARE JAMMED IN HERE
PRETTY GOOD.
[ Panting ] THIS IS ABSOLUTELY
TONY -- TONY BEETS' FAULT.
IF HE'D STOP PUSHING PARKER
SO MUCH...
WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE SO HARD
ON OUR EQUIPMENT.
Narrator: WHILE GREG
CLEARS THE GRIZZLY BARS,
CHRIS SPOTS A PROBLEM
ON THE SCREEN DECK.
Chris:
THIS IS ALL BROKE IN HERE.
I'M RUNNING JAGGED BEDROCK.
IT'S BANGING ON THIS STUFF,
AND IT JUST TOOK ITS TOLL.
HOW'S IT HOLDING UP?
LOOKS BAD.
THAT ONE'S BROKEN.
THAT ONE'S BROKEN.
WE CAN'T RUN LIKE THIS.
WE'LL MESS UP THAT LOWER SCREEN,
FOR SURE.
OH, YEAH.
Narrator: SHARP ROCKS HAVE
BROKEN THE FIRST SCREEN
AND FALLEN ONTO
THE LOWER SCREEN.
IF THEY BREAK THROUGH
THE SECOND SCREEN,
THEY'LL END UP
IN THE SLUICE BOX,
DISRUPT THE FLOW OF WATER,
AND CAUSE PRECIOUS GOLD TO WASH
OUT INTO THE TAILINGS POND.
I KNOW IT'S NOT GONNA
STAY TURNED OFF,
SO WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY
TO MAKE IT RUN.
YEAH.
WITH NO SPARE PARTS
FOR THE PLANT,
MITCH HAS ONLY ONE PLACE
TO GO -- THE BONEYARD.
Mitch: WE'RE JUST GOING
THROUGH THE SCRAP PILE,
TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO
PATCH THAT SCREEN UP WITH.
WE KNOW THE RIGHT STUFF.
THIS LOOKS PRETTY GROSS HERE,
BUT IT MIGHT JUST WORK.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
SO, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS TRY
AND PATCH UP THESE HOLES
WHERE THE SCREEN'S WORE THROUGH.
A LOT OF GUYS
WILL JUST TURN IT OFF
AND WAIT TILL THEY GOT
THE RIGHT PARTS,
BUT IF YOU DO THAT,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE GETTING
NO 2,000 OUNCES UP HERE.
SHE'S FIXED.
GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE YUKON.
LET'S FIRE IT UP
AND GET SOME GOLD.
Narrator:
AFTER MITCH'S BUSH FIX,
PARKER'S CREW GETS BACK
TO RUNNING THE TOUGH,
FAR CUT BEDROCK.
Chris: WITH THE WAY THIS DECKING
HAS WORN OUT,
IT'S KIND OF LIKE
THE HARE AND TORTOISE.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE THE HARE.
WE GO LIKE CRAZY AND STOP,
GO LIKE CRAZY AND STOP.
IT DID NOT WORK OUT
FOR THE HARE,
AND IT'S NOT WORKING OUT FOR US.
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK...
...TODD IS MYSTIFIED
BY THE HIGHER CUT BEDROCK
AND HIS DISASTROUS CLEANUP.
FACING ANOTHER SEASON
OF FAILURE,
TODD'S DESPERATE FOR HELP.
Todd: WE'RE HEADING DOWN
TO GUY FAVRON'S.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST MINERS
OVER HERE IN THE KLONDIKE,
SO, FOR THE SAKE OF US
SURVIVING AS MINERS,
GETTING ADVICE FROM A LOCAL
THAT KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING,
HAS BEEN HERE 20 OR 30 YEARS,
IS NOT A BAD IDEA.
Narrator: THE FAVRONS
HAVE MINED THE KLONDIKE
FOR THREE GENERATIONS
AND HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST
OPERATIONS AROUND.
IF ANYONE CAN UNLOCK THE MYSTERY
OF THE HIGHER CUT BEDROCK,
THE FAVRONS CAN.
HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?
ALL RIGHT.
DOING A LITTLE
WHEELING, HUH?
YEAH, WE'RE STILL SCRATCHING
A LIVING OUT OF THE DIRT HERE.
OH, MY GOSH.
IT'S ALL GOLD, HUH, COMING UP?
YEAH, IT'S JUST SEPARATING IT.
IT STAYS IN THE GROOVE.
THE REVERSE SPIRAL WHEEL
IS WHAT THEY CALL THAT.
IT'S THE WORST PART OF THE JOB
IS CLEANING GOLD.
YEAH, BUT IT'S KIND OF FUN,
ISN'T IT?
HAD A HORRIBLE CLEANUP
THE OTHER NIGHT.
REALLY?
YEAH.
WELL, THAT'S NEVER --
NEVER A GOOD FEELING.
I'M ACTUALLY HERE
TO SEE IF --
SEE IF YOU MIGHT COME OUT
AND TAKE A LOOK
AT WHAT I GOT COOKING,
AND MAYBE YOU COULD HELP.
OH, REALLY?
WE GOT BEDROCK
GOING UP AND DOWN.
UM, GEEZ.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET EVERY HOUR
INTO THE DAY RIGHT NOW.
THIS TIME OF THE YEAR,
WE'RE RUNNING 24/7, SO IT'S --
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED.
IT'S A LITTLE TRICKY,
BUT MAYBE ME AND NEIL
COULD SNEAK OUT THERE.
HEY, THAT'D BE GREAT.
I'D SURE APPRECIATE IT.
YOU BETCHA.
AWESOME.
I'LL KEEP GOING HERE,
AND WE'LL CATCH YOU LATER.
Todd: YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THINK HE KNOWS HOW SERIOUS
THIS IS FOR ME AND MY GUYS.
IF WE DON'T GET 1,000 OUNCES,
I DOUBT WE'LL EVEN BE BACK,
SO IT'S IMPORTANT
HE'S COMING OUT,
AND LET'S HOPE THIS IS
WHERE WE TURN AROUND.
Narrator:
THE NEXT DAY AT McKINNON CREEK,
GUY FAVRON ARRIVES
WITH HIS FOREMAN...
HI, GUYS.
...NEIL LOVELESS.
HOW'S IT GOING?
Man: I HATE TO SEE YOU
SUFFER, TODD.
YOU SEE HOW THIS IS GOING
UP AND DOWN?
HAVE YOU GUYS EVER SEEN BEDROCK
THAT LOOKED QUITE LIKE THIS?
YEAH,
WE SEE THAT ALL THE TIME.
I MEAN, THERE'S --
THERE'S GONNA BE HIGHS.
THERE'S GONNA BE LOWS.
IS IT THAT SPOTTY?
IS IT GOOD, BAD?
WE'VE HAD GROUND
THAT'S SPOTTY BEFORE,
AND IT CAN HAPPEN LIKE THAT.
DON'T HIT
THE PANIC BUTTON YET.
WE ARE PANICKED.
TODD AND I GOT EVERYTHING
IN THIS.
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP
AND KEEP PUNCHING FORWARD.
YOU WOULD KEEP GOING?
OH, YEAH.
YOU JUST GOT TO KEEP THOSE
TRUCKS GETTING TO THE PLANT.
YOUR WHOLE SEASON COULD BE
IN ONE TRUCKLOAD.
RIGHT.
IF YOU PUT THE HOURS IN,
YOU'LL GET IT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL HERE
BECAUSE WE AIN'T ALL THERE.
THAT IS TRUE.
THAT'S TRUE.
YOU GUYS WANT TO TAKE A LOOK
AT THE WASH PLANT?
YES, WHERE THE HECK
IS THAT SUCKER?
WAY DOWN THAT WAY.
REALLY? ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW'S
WASH PLANT, MONSTER RED,
IS OVER A HALF A MILE
FROM THE HIGHER CUT.
EACH ROCK TRUCK TAKES 12 MINUTES
TO DO THE ROUND TRIP
AND BURNS THROUGH
$500 OF FUEL A DAY.
PHEW!
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I THINK YOU GOT A KICK ASS
WASH PLANT HERE.
YOU'RE UP THERE
WITH A LOT OF MINERS
THAT HAVE BEEN AT THIS
ALL THEIR LIVES.
COOL.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S JUST IN THE WRONG SPOT.
HMM.
I MEAN, THE COST OF RUNNING
THOSE TRUCKS --
I DON'T KNOW.
HOW FAR ARE YOU HAULING IT?
Todd: A LONG WAYS.
IT'S A LONG WAYS.
LOOKS LIKE A MILE TO ME.
I MEAN, EVERY OUNCE YOU SAVE
IS ANOTHER OUNCE
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRODUCE.
I AGREE WITH GUY.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO MOVE
THIS PLANT DOWN THERE
'CAUSE THE MAJORITY OF OUR PAY
IS DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW?
I KNOW, BUT THERE WASN'T ENOUGH
GOLD IN THE SLUICE BOX.
IT'S NOT EVEN PAYING
FOR THE FUEL TO HAUL IT.
AND WE STOP EVERYTHING
WHILE WE MOVE THIS PLANT.
DAVE,
I AGREE WITH THESE GUYS.
I THINK WE OUGHT
TO MOVE THIS THING.
SOMETIMES PARTNERS DON'T SEE
THINGS EYE-TO-EYE ALL THE TIME.
I'M NOT MOVING THIS PLANT
UNTIL I KNOW I GOT
ALL THE GOLD HERE.
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,
TODD HOFFMAN WANTS
TO MOVE MONSTER RED
CLOSER TO THE HIGHER CUT.
BUT DAVE TURIN'S
IGNORING HIS PARTNER
AND SEARCHING FOR GOOD PAY DIRT
500 YARDS FROM THE WASH PLANT.
IT'D JUST BE FOOLISH
TO MOVE THAT WASH PLANT
IF THERE'S GOLD CLOSE BY.
WE'VE GOT TO FIND
SOME MORE GROUND
AND OPEN IT UP IN A HURRY.
SO I'M GONNA DIG A COUPLE HOLES.
HOPEFULLY WE FIND
SOME THAWED GROUND,
AND WE KEEP MINING.
WE DON'T HAVE TO MOVE
THE WASH PLANT.
RIGHT NOW,
I GOT ABOUT SIX FEET DOWN.
[ GRINDING ]
OOH, THAT SOUNDS HARD, THOUGH.
[ BANGING ]
DANG IT.
I'M HITTING SOMETHING
SOLID ALREADY.
[ BANGING CONTINUES ]
YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY TIGHT
AND SOLID.
IT'S JUST TOO FROZEN.
THAT AIN'T GONNA WORK.
Narrator: IF DAVE CAN'T FIND
THAWED PAY DIRT
CLOSE TO THE PLANT,
TODD WILL MOVE MONSTER RED
TO SAVE FUEL,
BUT IT WILL COST THEM A WEEK
OF VALUABLE SLUICING.
Dave: DOWN ABOUT SIX OR EIGHT
FEET, AND IT'S STILL DIGGING.
THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
SO FAR, IT'S THAWED OUT.
YEAH.
MOSTLY GRAVEL.
IT'S CRITICAL WE GET
A BREAK, MAN.
WE JUST NEED SOMETHING GOOD
TO HAPPEN.
[ SCRAPING ]
THAWED GRAVEL,
AND IT'S DOWN TO GRAY!
I LIKE IT.
Narrator: IT'S THAWED GRAVEL,
JUST 500 YARDS
FROM THE WASH PLANT.
Dave:
THIS COULD BE GREAT.
Narrator: BUT IT HAS
TO HOLD GOOD GOLD.
THIS WOULD TRULY BE A BLESSING
IF THIS PAN GOT ANY KIND
OF GOLD IN IT.
GOT BLACK SAND, LOTS OF GARNETS.
OH, THERE WE GO.
THERE WE GO.
THERE'S THE GOLD
I'M LOOKING FOR!
YEAH!
THAT'S A NICE ONE RIGHT THERE.
PROBABLY 30 PIECES.
THAT'S A GREAT PAN.
Narrator: ARMED WITH PROOF
THAT THERE'S EASY GOLD
NEAR THE WASH PLANT,
DAVE CONFRONTS TODD.
WELL, LOOKS LIKE THE PLANT'S
GONNA STAY WHERE IT IS.
THERE'S GOOD GOLD RIGHT NEXT
TO THE WASH PLANT.
LISTEN, WE CAN'T MOVE
THE PLANT LATER.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO MOVE IT
IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE IT.
I KNOW.
IT'S GOOD PAY.
I JUST GOT A GREAT PAN,
OVER 30 COLORS.
IT'S A RISK.
THIS'LL WORK.
Narrator:
AT PARADISE HILL,
TONY BEETS AND HIS KIDS
HAVE WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK.
THEY'VE SLUICED A WEEK'S WORTH
OF PAY DIRT IN JUST THREE DAYS.
SHORT ON CREW,
IT WAS THE ONLY WAY
THEY COULD GET BACK
TO REBUILDING THEIR
MILLION-DOLLAR DREDGE.
IN JUST THREE DAYS,
THREE MEMBERS
OF THE BEETS FAMILY
MINED 163 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH NEARLY $200,000.
BUT ONLY MINNIE, TONY'S WIFE,
WILL DECIDE IF IT'S ENOUGH.
THAT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD,
YOU KNOW?
PRETTY COOL.
THEN COME BACK AND DO
SOME MORE SLUICING HERE.
GOOD ENOUGH.
OKAY, WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.
YOU BET. BYE.
Narrator:
OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S CREW SHUTS DOWN
THE PLANT
AFTER THEIR 1,500-YARD
BEDROCK TEST.
I'M GONNA TURN THE WATER ON
TO THAT PREWASH UP THERE.
Parker: GO FOR IT.
TONY BEETS ORDERED PARKER
TO DIG TWO FEET DEEPER
INTO BEDROCK.
FOR THE TEST TO BE ACCURATE,
THE CREW NEEDS TO GET EVERY
FLAKE OF GOLD OUT OF THE PLANT.
Chris:
HELL OF A JOB FOR A MAN
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE EMPEROR
OF THE UNIVERSE, YOU KNOW THAT?
WELL, TONY'S SAYING
WE NEED TO GO DEEPER.
PERSONALLY,
I THINK WE NAILED IT.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S GONNA BE
THAT MUCH GOLD IN HERE.
IT'S HIS CLAIM, SO YOU DO
WHAT THE CLAIM OWNER SAYS.
WE'LL FIND OUT WHO'S RIGHT.
EITHER THE OLD-TIME MINER
OR THE GUY THAT'S JUST
STARTING, RIGHT?
Narrator:
TONY'S BEDROCK TEST
COST PARKER 10 HOURS
OF SLUICING,
WHICH NORMALLY PRODUCES AN OUNCE
EVERY 100 YARDS.
Parker:
HOW MANY YARDS DID WE RUN?
Gene:
IT WAS 1,500, ROUGHLY.
I MEAN, WE WANT 15 OUNCES.
HAVE A TOSSUP, I THINK.
RIGHT.
THAT'S 7.005.
HMM.
7 OUNCES OF GOLD IS LESS THAN
HALF AN OUNCE PER 100 YARDS,
HALF WHAT PARKER NORMALLY GETS.
I MEAN, WITH THAT RESULT,
I THINK TONY'S WRONG.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED
TO CHASE THAT DEEP.
HE WOULDN'T RUN THAT STUFF.
I DON'T THINK SO, EITHER.
NOBODY REALLY MAKES MONEY
ON THAT.
NO.
WE WASTED A LOT OF TIME.
I MEAN, IN 2 SHIFTS LATELY WE'VE
BEEN FINDING 25 OR 30 OUNCES.
HERE WE FOUND 7, SO, YOU KNOW,
TONY BEETS JUST COST ME
25,000 BUCKS.
[ TRUCK BEEPING ]
Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS MADE A DECISION.
HE'S GOING TO IGNORE
TONY'S ORDER
TO DIG DEEPER
INTO THE FAR CUT BEDROCK.
INSTEAD, GENE THINKS
THERE'S A BETTER WAY
TO RECOVER THE BEDROCK GOLD.
Gene: YOU KNOW,
I THINK WE'RE GETTING
INTO THE BEDROCK
PLENTY DEEP ENOUGH.
IT'S JUST THAT THE [BLEEP] IS
FALLING OUT BETWEEN THE TEETH.
LIKE THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE.
YEAH, IT'S ALL LOOSE,
LIKE TRYING TO EAT YOUR SOUP
WITH A FORK, YOU KNOW.
IT'S JUST GONNA RUN
BETWEEN THE SPINES.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE GET ALL THE GOLD.
RIGHT.
PARKER'S CREW
IS SCRAPING THE BEDROCK
WITH A BUCKET THAT HAS TEETH
WITH EIGHT-INCH GAPS.
EVERY BUCKET THEY DIG LEAVES
BEHIND LINES OF GOLD-RICH PAY.
IF THEY SWITCH
TO A SMOOTH-EDGED BUCKET,
THEY'LL CLEAN UP ALL THE GOLD
ON TOP OF THE BEDROCK
WITH NO NEED TO GO DEEPER.
Gene: HEY, RICK!
WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE,
CAN YOU SWAP BUCKETS?
Rick: YEAH.
Narrator:
THERE'S ONLY ONE PROBLEM.
THE SMOOTH-EDGE BUCKET
IS 30% SMALLER.
THE ONLY DISADVANTAGE IS THAT
THAT'S A SMALLER BUCKET.
YEAH, IT'S JUST TWO OR THREE
BUCKETS A LOAD SLOWER.
IT'S NOT QUITE AS FAST,
BUT SOMETIMES SLOWER IS FASTER.
IT'S THE BEST DIRT.
GO TO ALL THIS TROUBLE
TO GET THERE,
WE SHOULD GET IT ALL.
Narrator:
WITH A SMOOTH-EDGED BUCKET,
RICK CAN SCRAPE UP THE BEST
FAR CUT PAY DIRT
AND GET IT OVER TO THE PLANT.
Rick: WE'RE GONNA GET THINGS
ROLLING AGAIN,
GET THIS PLANT UP AND RUNNING
AND GET SOME DIRT PROCESSED.
Narrator: PARKER NOW PLANS TO
RUN THE REST OF THE WEEK HIS WAY
TO FIND OUT WHO'S RIGHT --
HIM OR TONY.
TONY MAY NOT LIKE IT,
BUT SCREW IT.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T DO IT.
I'VE GOT TO PAY THE BILLS,
AND THAT MEANS
I'VE GOT TO MAKE MONEY.
Narrator: AFTER A $200,000
CLEANUP AT PARADISE HILL...
...TONY, KEVIN, AND MONICA
FINALLY ARRIVE BACK
AT EUREKA CREEK.
THEY'RE READY TO REBUILD THEIR
MILLION-DOLLAR GOLD DREDGE.
WE'RE ABOUT READY
WHENEVER YOU ARE.
MIKE AND I CAN'T DO IT
BY OURSELVES.
WE WERE PROMISED HELP
AND NEVER GOT ANY.
Narrator: ONCE THE DREDGE
IS OPERATIONAL,
THE BUCKET LINE WILL FEED
PAY DIRT INTO THE TROMMEL.
AS THE TROMMEL ROTATES,
IT SEPARATES OUT WORTHLESS ROCKS
AND WASHES GOLD-RICH CONCENTRATE
DOWN INTO THE SLUICE BOX.
NOW THE CREW HAS TO LIFT
THE 25-FOOT, 9-TON TROMMEL
INTO A NARROW GAP IN THE CENTER
OF THE SUPER STRUCTURE.
Man:
JUST GIVE ME SOME CABLE DOWN.
I GOT NOWHERE TO GO.
THAT'S NOT GOOD!
Tony: WHOA, WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA!
IT'S JAMMED.
Narrator: WHEN THE DREDGE
WAS FIRST BUILT,
THE TROMMEL WOULD LIFT
IN AND OUT EASILY.
75 YEARS LATER, PARTS
HAVE BEEN BENT OUT OF SHAPE,
AND THE GAP IS NOW TOO SMALL
FOR THE TROMMEL TO FIT THROUGH.
TROMMEL'S STUCK
IN ONE OF THE CROSS BEAMS.
BIG SILVER --
MONICA, CAN YOU PASS IT?
IT'S JAMMED
UNDERNEATH THE PINCH BAR.
Man:
THAT AIN'T GONNA WORK.
YOU THINK, DOWN?
Narrator:
TONY RESORTS TO BRUTE FORCE.
BE CAREFUL IN THERE, DADDY.
Tony: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
UP, MORE.
[ METAL SCRAPING ]
THIS SUCKS.
Man: CABLE DOWN.
Man #2:
DON'T HIT THE GEARS.
THAT LOOKS GOOD TO ME.
YEP.
Narrator:
THIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE
WAS LEFT TO RUST IN THE YUKON
FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
FINALLY, TONY ATTEMPTS TO FIRE
UP THE GOLD-CATCHING MONSTER.
[ GEARS CRANKING ]
THE TROMMEL IS THE FIRST PART
OF TONY'S DREDGE
TO MOVE IN 27 YEARS.
AWESOME.
AND IT'S THE FIRST INDICATION
THAT HE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE
TO PULL GOLD FROM THE GROUND
BEFORE WINTER.
Monica: THAT'S [BLEEP] GREAT.
HUH?
Mike:
I THINK IT'LL WORK.
IT NEEDS A LITTLE WATER, THOUGH.
YEAH, THAT TOO.
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,
THREE GENERATIONS OF HOFFMANS
HAVE ARRIVED.
GLAD TO BE HERE, FINALLY.
Todd: I MISSED YOU.
I MISSED YOU.
SO GLAD TO SEE YOU.
Narrator:
JACK'S WIFE, GEORGIA.
I'M DOING GREAT.
GLAD YOU'RE HERE, THOUGH.
Narrator:
TODD'S WIFE, SHAWNA.
Todd:
WHAT DO YOU THINK, GUYS?
A LITTLE BETTER
THAN LAST YEAR, HUH?
YEAH, NO KIDDING.
LOOK.
SEE THE GOLD COMING THROUGH?
Narrator: AND HIS 7-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER, OLIVIA.
Todd: THESE NUGGETS.
THAT COOL?
LOOK AT 'EM.
THAT'D MAKE A PAIR
OF EARRINGS, HUH?
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
Jack:
FAMILY'S ALWAYS GREAT.
AND YOU DON'T WORRY ABOUT 'EM
AT HOME,
YOU KNOW,
AND SO THEY'RE WITH YOU.
WORST CASE SCENARIO IS, THEY GET
EATEN BY A BEAR HERE, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BIG DEAL.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL'S
ON HIS WAY TO MEET TONY BEETS
AFTER DEFYING HIS ORDER
TO DIG DEEPER INTO BEDROCK.
I MEAN, TONY MIGHT HAVE A LOT
OF CONTROL OVER ME,
BUT ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS,
HE CAN'T TELL ME HOW TO MINE.
HE CAN'T TELL ME
WHAT DIRT TO SLUICE
AND WHAT DIRT NOT TO SLUICE.
SO, HE'S JUST GONNA HAVE TO DEAL
WITH IT.
PRETTY GOOD.
Narrator: THE FIRST 7 OUNCES
IS FROM DEEP IN THE BEDROCK
THAT TONY MADE HIM RUN.
THE REST IS FROM
GENE'S TECHNIQUE,
SCRAPING THE SURFACE
WITH A SMOOTH-EDGED BUCKET.
140, MAKE 150?
YEAH, PRETTY CLOSE, HUH?
154, 55?
156.20.
156 OUNCES OF GOLD
IS WORTH $180,000,
ONE OF PARKER'S BIGGEST
CLEANOUTS OF THE SEASON.
HIS TOTAL IS NOW 1,186 OUNCES
WORTH $1.4 MILLION.
I MEAN...
WELL, NO, WE DIDN'T REALLY TAKE
A WHOLE LOT MORE BEDROCK.
WE JUST CLEANED IT
UP BETTER.
WE STOPPED USING TEETH,
AND WE SCRAPED THE BEDROCK
NICE AND CLEAN.
EVERY TIME WE TAKE MORE BEDROCK,
WE START LOSING MONEY, TONY.
I HAVE TO MAKE MONEY, TOO.
LOOK, TONY, THAT'S JUST THE
[BLEEP] WAY WE'RE GONNA DO IT,
ALL RIGHT?
NO. NO.
IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH IT,
THEN KICK US OFF THE [BLEEP]
I MIGHT AS WELL
TAKE A HIKE, THEN,
'CAUSE I HAVE TO MAKE
[BLEEP] MONEY, TOO, TONY.
IF TONY HAD IT HIS WAY,
HE'D DRIVE MY BUSINESS
IN THE GROUND
TO PUT A FEW BUCKS
IN HIS POCKET.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
I DON'T KNOW WHO STARTED
CALLING HIM A KLONDIKE LEGEND,
BUT IT'S MORE LIKE
A [BLEEP] KLONDIKE [BLEEP]
Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK...
DAVE TURIN REFUSED TO MOVE
THE PLANT TO THE HIGHER CUT.
HE'S NOW EXCAVATING PAY DIRT
FROM A NEW CUT
CLOSE TO THE WASH PLANT.
KIND OF DO-OR-DIE NOW.
SCRAMBLING TO OPEN UP GROUND
AND KEEP THAT MONSTER FED.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF
A 12-MINUTE ROUND TRIP
FROM THE HIGHER CUT,
THE ROCK TRUCKS NOW TAKE
JUST 4 MINUTES,
CUTTING THEIR FUEL COSTS
BY 2/3.
IT'S MUCH EASIER
TO HAUL IT FORM HERE.
WE'RE SO MUCH CLOSER
THAN THE HIGHER CUT.
♪ HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN
Narrator:
BUT SAVING FUEL IS POINTLESS
IF THE CREW IS NOT RUNNING
GOOD PAY DIRT.
THEY'RE TRYING
TO OPEN UP NEW GROUND.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD
OF GROUND IT IS.
Narrator:
AFTER A THREE-DAY RUN...
Todd: WE'RE SHUT DOWN.
Narrator: ...TODD CALLS
FOR A CLEANUP TO FIND OUT.
THE CREW HAS RUN 10,000 YARDS.
IF DAVE'S CUT IS GOING
TO TURN THEIR SEASON AROUND,
IT NEEDS TO PAY
AT LEAST $10 A YARD,
WHICH MEANS THEY NEED
AT LEAST 83 OUNCES OF GOLD.
Dave: HERE COMES JACK.
WELL...
WHAT DO YOU GOT?
...I'D LIKE TO SAY
WE'RE IN THE MONEY,
BUT IT WASN'T AS GOOD
AS I THOUGHT.
YOU'RE KIDDING.
THAT'S IT?
Man: KIDDING ME.
Todd:
THAT AIN'T GONNA CUT IT.
WHAT'S IN THERE?
Jack: 16.
UGH.
BUT WITH THIS,
MAKES IT 116.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Narrator: 116 OUNCES OF GOLD
IS WORTH ALMOST $140,000.
IT'S BY FAR THE HOFFMAN CREW'S
BIGGEST CLEANUP THIS SEASON.
IT TAKES THEIR TOTAL
TO 412 OUNCES,
CLOSE TO HALF A MILLION DOLLARS,
AND PROVES DAVE'S NEW CUT
IS FULL OF GOLD.
WE CAN GET OVER 1,000 OUNCES
THIS SEASON.
I THINK WE CAN DO IT.
IT'S POSSIBLE,
AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO IT.
100%.
Man: WHOO!
IT'S NOT ONLY
JUST ABOUT THE GOLD.
AFTER LAST YEAR,
IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE'RE MADE OF.
HUH, GUYS?
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...
Man: WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!
Narrator: ...PARKER IS BACK
MINING FANTASY LAND,
BUT IT'S FROZEN SOLID.
IT'S ALL FROZEN.
I THINK IT'S DONE.
Narrator: HE'S FORCED TO HUNT
FOR THAWED GROUND...
WE NEED TO FIND A LOT OF GOLD
HERE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
...TO PUT HIS SEASON
BACK ON TRACK.
THAT'S A PRETTY DAMN GOOD PAN
RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW'S
WINNING STREAK RUNS OUT.
DAVE, I'M JUST ABOUT
OUT OF DIRT.
BUT A SMART MOVE
BY DAVE TURIN...
I THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK
AT THOSE DRILL MAPS AGAIN.
...PAYS OFF...
WHAT DO YOU GOT, JACK?
...BIG TIME.
[ CHEERING ]
TONY BEETS SCRAMBLES TO POSITION
THE NERVE CENTER OF HIS DREDGE.
WATCH OUT, KEVIN!
AND IS ONE STEP CLOSER
TO DREDGING FOR GOLD.
Tony: IT'S ANOTHER PIECE
OF THE PUZZLE.