Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 14 - Gold Road - full transcript

Narrator:
IN THE YUKON...

WE'VE HIT DESPERATE TIMES.

Narrator: ...THE HOFFMAN CREW
TAKES A FALL

AND HITS ROCK BOTTOM...

DAVE,
I'M JUST ABOUT OUT OF DIRT.

...UNTIL DAVE TURIN'S
DISCOVERY...

HOLY COW.
NOW, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

Narrator:
...TURNS THEIR FORTUNES AROUND.

YEAH!

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Narrator:
TONY BEETS PUSHES HIS CREW...



WATCH OUT, KEVIN!

...TO THEIR BREAKING POINT.

ALL RIGHT.

PARKER SCHNABEL'S DREAM
OF FANTASY LAND GOLD...

I KNOW THAT THERE'S
REALLY GOOD GOLD HERE.

Narrator: ...HITS A FROZEN WALL
OF PERMAFROST...

IT'S JUST SOLID BLOCKS OF ICE.

FANTASY LAND'S DEAD AGAIN.

Narrator:
...THAT SUDDENLY DERAILS

HIS 2,000-OUNCE SEASON.

Parker: WE NEED TO FIND
A LOT OF GOLD HERE

IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: UP AT McKINNON CREEK,
IN THE KLONDIKE,



THE HOFFMAN CREW IS FIGHTING
TO KEEP THEIR SEASON ALIVE.

THEY'RE ALMOST 3/4 OF THE WAY
THROUGH THE SEASON

AND HAVE MINED 412 OUNCES
OF GOLD WORTH NEARLY $500,000.

THEY'RE PUSHING HARD

TO HIT TODD'S 1,000-OUNCE,
$1.2 MILLION GOAL.

ANDY SPINKS DIGS PAY DIRT
WORTH $14 A YARD

OUT OF DAVE TURIN'S NEW CUT.

I'M PRETTY PLEASED WITH
HOW THE WASH PLANT'S RUNNING.

GUYS ARE WORKING.

AND EVERYTHING'S GOING
REALLY GOOD.

HEY, ANDY,
THIS IS WORKING AWESOME.

Narrator: LOGAN PIERCE
HAULS ANDY'S PAY TO THE PLANT.

THIS IS THE SMOOTHEST I'VE EVER
SEEN THIS OPERATION GO.

WE'RE SLUICING
A SERIOUS AMOUNT OF PAY DIRT.

Narrator:
JACK HOFFMAN FEEDS MONSTER RED.

Jack:
THE MATERIAL IS VERY GOOD.

IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING STUPID,
WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE 1,000.

[BLEEP]

DAVE, THIS IS ANDY.
YOU COPY?

YEAH, GO AHEAD.

DAVE, I'M JUST ABOUT DONE
WITH THIS CUT.

WE'RE JUST ABOUT
OUT OF DIRT.

YOU'RE KIDDING.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT
WHAT WE WANTED TO HEAR.

But I'm scratching right now
just to finish up.

THIS IS GOING A LOT FASTER
THAN WE THOUGHT.

ALL RIGHT.
LET ME COME LOOK AT IT.

10-4.

Narrator: DAVE TURIN HAS
PARTNERED WITH TODD THIS SEASON,

BUT HE'S IN CHARGE
OF THE MINING.

I FIGURED WE'D HAVE
AT LEAST A COUPLE MORE DAYS.

IT'S JUST NOT AS DEEP AS WHAT
WE THOUGHT, I DON'T THINK.

IT'S JUST A LITTLE SHALLOW.

I THINK IT'S GREAT GROUND,
BUT...

YOU KNOW,
IT IS WHAT IT IS.

YOU GET TO BEDROCK,
THAT'S ALL WE GOT.

BUT WE GOT TO FIND
SOME MORE GROUND.

YEAH, I GET IT.
ALL RIGHT.

I'LL GO LOOK.
SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

FINDING NEW GROUND TO MINE
THIS LATE IN THE SEASON

WILL BE A REAL CHALLENGE.

ALMOST ALL OF THE CLAIM
IS FROZEN SOLID,

AND IT'S TOO LATE
FOR THE SUN TO THAW GROUND.

SO, WE GOT TO LOOK AROUND,

TRY TO FIND SOMETHING
THAT'S THAWED OUT.

NOW WE GOT TO GO LOOK

FOR AN EASTER EGG IN THE GRASS,
I GUESS.

Narrator: WITHOUT PAY DIRT
THAT'S ALREADY THAWED,

THE CREW WILL HAVE
NOTHING TO RUN.

HEY, TODD.

ANDY'S ALREADY DOWN
TO BEDROCK.

ARE YOU KIDDING?

I THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK
AT THOSE DRILL MAPS AGAIN.

YEAH, THERE YOU GO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT
THE HAUL ROAD?

Todd: THOSE DRILL HOLES
ARE AWESOME.

YOU THINK WE COULD GET SOMETHING
ALONGSIDE THE ROAD?

WELL, I'LL GRAB STEVE

AND I'LL WALK AN EXCAVATOR
UP THERE

AND WE'LL DIG SOME TEST HOLES
OR SOMETHING.

ALL RIGHT.

THE HAUL ROAD
RUNS FROM THE WASH PLANT

1/2 MILE UP TO THE HIGHER CUT,

RIGHT THROUGH AN AREA
OF GOOD DRILL HOLES.

TODD'S HOPING THAT THE GROUND
BESIDE THE HAUL ROAD

HAS HAD THE FROST
PULLED OUT OF IT

BY THE THAWED TAILINGS THAT WERE
USED TO BUILD THE ROAD.

STEVE PASLEY, THE CREW MECHANIC,

HEADS OUT
TO DIG SOME TEST HOLES.

RIGHT NOW OUR MISSION
IS TO FIND THAW GROUND.

SO, IF THIS IS THAWED HERE,

THIS COULD MAKE
A NICE LITTLE CUT FOR US.

IF IT'S FROZEN,

OUR SEASON MAY COME TO AN END
PRETTY QUICK.

RIGHT THERE I'M DOWN TO GRAVEL.

Todd: HEY, STEVE.

IS IT FROZEN?
NO, MAN, IT'S THAWED.

OH, YOU'RE KIDDING.

IN FACT,
I GOT WATER IN THE HOLE.

DUDE, THAT'S AWESOME.
IT'S ALL THAWED, TODD.

OKAY,
THAT'S A GOOD THING.

THIS IS GONNA BE
OUR NEXT CUT RIGHT HERE.

RIGHT ON.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL, ESPECIALLY
THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

20 FEET FROM THE ROAD,

YOU GET IN HERE
AND STRIP IT REAL QUICK,

YOU GET IT ON THE TRUCKS,
GET IT TO THE PLANT,

AND KEEP FEEDING THE MONSTER.

I THINK WE JUST GOT
PRETTY DANG LUCKY.

Narrator: 10 MILES EAST,
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

PARKER SCHNABEL WORKS

TOWARDS HIS 2,000 OUNCE,
$2.4 MILLION GOLD.

HE'S MINING THE FAR CUT,
BUT THEY'RE DOWN TO BEDROCK,

AND HIS PAY DIRT
IS ALSO ABOUT TO RUN OUT.

SCRAPING UP
THE LAST OF THIS ONE CUT.

FOLLOW THE BEDROCK
AND, YOU KNOW, GET THEM CLEAN.

KEEP THE PLANT RUNNING
AS LONG AS WE CAN.

Narrator: CHRIS DOUMITT
FEEDS THE WASH PLANT.

Doumitt: THESE LAST COUPLE WEEKS
HAVE BEEN REALLY NICE.

I MEAN, THEY'VE BEEN KEEPING
THE LANDING TOTALLY FULL OF PAY,

BUT NOW IT'S DWINDLING.

ALL THIS FAR CUT REALLY
HELD US OVER FOR A LONG TIME,

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AGAIN.

Narrator:
BUT UNLIKE THE HOFFMANS,

PARKER IS ONE STEP
AHEAD OF THE GAME.

ACROSS THE CREEK,

HE HAS THE OTHER HALF
OF HIS CREW ALREADY WORKING

TO GET DOWN TO GOLD-RICH GRAVEL
IN FANTASY LAND.

NOW WE GOT A BIG PUSH
GOING ON RIGHT NOW

TRYING TO GET THIS CUT
STRIPPED OUT.

PUT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY
INTO THIS GROUND HERE.

SO I SURE HOPE IT PAYS OFF.

Narrator: PARKER'S CREW HAS BEEN
STRIPPING THAWED OVERBURDEN

FOR TWO WEEKS.

THEY SHOULD HIT PAY DIRT
IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

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

WE GOT A LOT OF DIRT LEFT
TO MOVE HERE.

ONE OF THOSE SAYINGS --

SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO SPEND
A LITTLE MONEY TO MAKE SOME,

AND WE'RE DEFINITELY SPENDING
A LOT HERE.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S REALLY GOOD
GOLD HERE.

IT'S JUST A HELL OF A FIGHT
TO GET IT.

WHAT THE [BLEEP]

YEAH, THAT'S SOLID ICE.
[BLEEP]

Narrator:
BEFORE HE EVEN REACHES PAY DIRT,

RICK'S HIT PERMAFROST.

HEY, PARKER,
YOU GOT A COPY?

YEAH, RICK, GO AHEAD.

DUDE, I'M OVER IN FANTASY LAND,
AND I'M HITTING ICE.

[BLEEP]

IS IT EVERYWHERE,
OR JUST WHERE YOU'RE AT?

WELL,
I JUST STARTED HITTING IT,

but it's solid.

I'm not even close
to gravel yet,

AND IT'S JUST
SOLID BLOCKS OF ICE.

[ SIGHS ]

WHY DON'T YOU GO AROUND
AND TRY SOMEWHERE ELSE?

SEE IF IT'S EVERYWHERE.
I'LL BE OVER IN A LITTLE BIT.

ALL RIGHT, WISH ME LUCK.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT THERE WAS
GONNA BE THIS MUCH FROST.

I MEAN, IT'S GONNA BE
TOO DIFFICULT OF A PROCESS

TO TRY TO DIG THROUGH THIS.

Narrator:
THIS LATE IN THE SEASON,

THIS FAR NORTH...

RICK.

...PERMAFROST JUST WON'T THAW.

IT'S THE SAME
AS LAST YEAR, MAN.

AND IT'S EVERYWHERE?

IT'S EVERYWHERE.
I TRIED OVER THERE.

I TRIED THIS SIDE.
I TRIED OVER HERE.

THERE'S NOTHING BUT ICE.

WE MAY HAVE GOTTEN HERE
A LITTLE EARLIER THIS YEAR,

BUT NOT EARLY ENOUGH.

APPARENTLY NOT.

WELL, JUST WE CAN GET IN HERE
WITH THE DOZERS

AND START RIPPING IT,
BUT IT'LL BE TOO LATE...

YEAH.
...FOR THE STUFF TO THAW

TO RUN IT
THROUGH THE PLANT.

[BLEEP]
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

YEAH?
YEAH.

FANTASY LAND'S DEAD AGAIN.

YEP.

WHAT'S HAPPENING
TO OUR [BLEEP] SEASON?

Narrator: FIVE MILES WEST,
AT EUREKA CREEK,

TONY BEETS WORKS OVERTIME

TO GET HIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE
REBUILT AND GOLD MINING

BEFORE WINTER CLOSES IN,

FREEZING EVERYONE
OUT OF THE KLONDIKE.

GO.

[ WHISTLES ]

GO, GO, GO,
GO, GO, GO, GO.

HE'S A MONTH BEHIND SCHEDULE

AND IN A MAD SCRAMBLE
TO CATCH UP.

TONY INSISTS HIS CREW WORKS
AT DOUBLE SPEED

TO REBUILD FOUR CRITICAL PARTS
OF THE DREDGE IN JUST TWO DAYS.

Krisher: THINGS GOT TO BE DONE
IN AN ORDER,

AND IF THEY DON'T GET DONE
IN THAT ORDER,

IT MEANS
US TEARING IT BACK APART

IN ORDER TO GET THINGS RIGHT,

AND THEN PUT IT
BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

Narrator: THE CREW DOESN'T WANT
TO REBUILD THE DREDGE IN A RUSH

AND OUT OF ORDER.

WE'RE JUST MAKING SURE
WE CAN PUT IT TOGETHER

THE WAY WE'RE ORDERED
TO PUT IT TOGETHER,

AND STUFF FITS.

WE'RE NOT SURE WE CAN.

YO.

ALL RIGHT!

Narrator:
FIRST ON TONY'S LIST --

THE GEARBOX AND THE BULL GEAR.

WHEN IT'S RUNNING,

A CHAIN OF BUCKETS DELIVERS
PAY DIRT INTO THE DREDGE.

THE BUCKET LINE IS DRIVEN BY
THE LARGE COG OF THE BULL GEAR,

WHICH IN TURN IS POWERED BY
THE DRIVE COG OF THE GEARBOX.

FOR THE MECHANISM TO WORK,

BOTH COGS HAVE TO BE
PERFECTLY ALIGNED.

Tony:
LIFT THE DAMN THING UP.

JERRY'S IN THE CRANE,

HOISTING THE GEARBOX UP FIRST.

MIKE GUIDES IT INTO POSITION.

THE GEARBOX AND BULL GEAR
ARE IRREPLACEABLE

AND HAVE BEEN SITTING UNUSED
FOR 27 YEARS.

Tony: HEY!

Narrator: AT EUREKA CREEK,
TONY BEETS' CREW

IS RE-INSTALLING THE BULL GEAR

ON THEIR 75-YEAR-OLD
GOLD-MINING DREDGE.

Tony: HEY!

NO ONE IS HURT,
BUT THE TEETH OF THE BULL GEAR

HAVE HIT THE SUPERSTRUCTURE.

THEY NEED TO LIFT THE 6-TON COG
CAREFULLY INTO POSITION,

AND THERE'S NO ROOM FOR ERROR.

SUCK YOUR BOOM IN
ABOUT 1/2 INCH OR SO.

[BLEEP]

[BLEEP]
THIS AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN.

YEAH, THERE'S NO WAY THAT SHAFT
WILL CLEAR INTO THAT BEARING.

[BLEEP]

THE BULL GEAR IS DESIGNED

TO SIT IN A BEARING
SET AT 45 DEGREES.

THE GEARBOX SITS
ON A HORIZONTAL BEARING.

IN HIS RUSH,
TONY PUT THE GEARBOX IN FIRST.

NOW IT'S IMPOSSIBLE
TO LOWER THE BULL GEAR IN

AT A 45-DEGREE ANGLE.

AND THE GAP IS TOO SMALL
TO DROP IT FROM ABOVE.

WE GOT A PROBLEM.
THIS AIN'T GONNA WORK.

[BLEEP]

THIS HAS GOT TO GO IN
BEFORE THE GEARBOX.

I'VE GOT TO COME BACK BECAUSE
I'M HITTING ON MY BEARING,

AND MY SHAFT
ISN'T ANYWHERE CLOSE.

WE GOT TO UN-PIN
THAT GEARBOX.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU GET HURRIED

AND DON'T THINK THINGS THROUGH.

Narrator:
THEY MOVE THE GEARBOX ASIDE,

THEN HOIST UP THE BULL GEAR
AGAIN FOR A SECOND ATTEMPT.

Rhodes: OKAY, HOLD IT THERE.
NOW TABLE IT OUT.

JUST A LITTLE BIT LEFT.

BOOM OUT.

YEP.

DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.

CABLE DOWN. EASY.

IN?

GEARBOX IS IN.

Narrator: NEXT UP
ON TONY'S BRUTAL SCHEDULE --

THE HEAVIEST PART
OF THE DREDGE --

THE BUCKET LADDER.

THE DREDGE'S LADDER SUPPORTS
THE ALL-IMPORTANT BUCKET LINE

THAT CARRIES PAY DIRT
UP INTO THE DREDGE.

IT'S A COLOSSAL CONVEYER
THAT WEIGHS IN AT 14 TONS.

TO KEEP UP THE BREAKNECK PACE,
TONY JUMPS INTO HIS BIG RIG

TO BACK THE LADDER
INTO POSITION.

AAH!

[BLEEP]

Narrator:
NOW TONY'S LOSING VALUABLE TIME.

HE BRINGS IN TWO
325-HORSEPOWER EXCAVATORS.

THEY LIFT THE LADDER
SO THE TRUCK CAN PULL OUT.

Tony: THERE YOU GO.

Narrator: THEN TONY HAS TO
GUIDE THE LADDER

INTO THE NARROW SPACE
BETWEEN THE PONTOONS.

TO THE RIGHT.
THERE IT IS.

UP.

GO.

Narrator: FINALLY, THEY CAN LIFT
THE MASSIVE LADDER INTO PLACE.

Tony: GOOD.

Narrator:
MIKE USES BRUTE FORCE

TO SECURE FOUR
10-INCH STEEL BOLTS.

Krisher: IT'S IN.

THE LADDER IS IN.

AT McKINNON CREEK,

THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS STRIPPING THAWED GROUND

FROM THEIR NEW CUT
BESIDE THE HAUL ROAD.

Spinks: ANY TIME WE CAN FIND
SOME GROUND THAT'S THAWED OUT

CLOSE TO THE WASH PLANT,
IT'S A BIG DEAL.

YOU CAN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING
BETTER THAN THIS

THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.

WE GOT THIS LAST MONTH OR SO
OF PUSH TO GO.

THIS IS WHERE YOU GET
ALL YOUR GOLD,

SO YOU JUST GOT TO KEEP
GOING HARD.

Narrator:
THEY NEED TO GET DOWN TO GRAVEL

BEFORE MONSTER RED CHEWS THROUGH
THE LAST OF THE PAY

FROM DAVE'S OLD CUT.

IT'S GOBBLING IT
AS FAST AS I CAN FEED IT.

THEY GOT TO LIGHT A FIRE UNDER
THEIR BUTTS AND GET THE FAITH.

Narrator: LOGAN PIERCE HAULS
OVERBURDEN IN HIS ROCK TRUCK.

WE'VE HIT DESPERATE TIMES.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF PAY DIRT

AND TRYING TO KEEP
THIS WASH PLANT GOING,

SO WE HAVE TO THROW ALMOST
ALL OF OUR PEOPLE AT STRIPPING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE A RACE.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE OKAY.

IT'S JUST WHAT WE GOT TO DO.

Pierce: HOLY [BLEEP]

Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK...

Pierce: HOLY [BLEEP]

...LOGAN PIERCE
HAS ROLLED HIS ROCK TRUCK.

YOU ALL RIGHT, LOGAN?

YEAH, I MEAN, IT THUMPED
PRETTY HARD, BUT I'M GOOD.

YEAH, I FELT IT.

[BLEEP]

LOGAN'S RATTLED BUT OKAY.

I'VE DRIVEN A TRUCK
FOR THREE YEARS.

THIS IS THE FIRST ONE
I'VE ROLLED.

THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO
ABOUT IT, THOUGH.

Narrator:
ANDY USES HIS EXCAVATOR

TO CAREFULLY RIGHT THE TRUCK.

IT HAPPENED REALLY SLOW,

AND THEN IT "PFF!" SLAMMED
AT THE BOTTOM.

JUST GET IT OUT OF HERE, LOGAN,
SO WE CAN KEEP GOING.

WITHIN MINUTES,
THEY'RE BACK IN BUSINESS.

Pierce: AWESOME.
LET'S MOVE SOME DIRT.

Narrator:
BACK AT EUREKA CREEK...

TONY BEETS IS DEAD SET

ON GETTING FOUR MAJOR PARTS
OF HIS DREDGE REBUILT

IN JUST TWO DAYS.

BUT HE'S ALSO GOT TO RUN
HIS GOLD MINE AT PARADISE HILL.

Krisher: WE TOOK IT APART.
WE CAN GET IT BACK TOGETHER.

IT'LL BE UP FOR YOU
THIS AFTERNOON. HOW'S THAT?

YOU KNOW, WE HAD A COUPLE STUFF
OUT OF ORDER HERE THIS MORNING

BECAUSE TONY WAS IN A MAD RUSH
TO GET THIS DONE.

TONY HAS A HABIT OF SHOWING UP,
CAUSING A RUCKUS,

AND WE GOT TO PICK UP THE PIECES
AND MAKE IT ALL WORK AGAIN.

Narrator: TONY HAS LEFT THE CREW
TO FIT THE WHEELHOUSE,

THE NERVE CENTER OF THE DREDGE,

WHERE THE DREDGE MASTER USES
AN ANTIQUATED SYSTEM OF LEVERS

TO CONTROL
THE GIANT GOLD-CATCHING MACHINE.

Kevin: THIS IS GONNA BE
A VERY TRICKY LIFT

JUST TO GET IT TO LINE UP
AND STAY WHERE WE WANT IT.

I THINK
WE'RE SAFE TO GO HERE.

EASY UP HERE,
AND LET'S GET HER IN PLACE.

Rhodes: YEAH,
JUST WATCH THAT SWING THERE.

IT LOOKS GOOD GOING
BACK UP IN THE AIR HERE.

JOE'S OVER
IN THE OTHER SIDE THERE.

I SEE HIM.

DON'T GO DOWN TOO MUCH HERE.

OKAY, I THINK YOU NEED
TO BOOM UP A LITTLE BIT.

Narrator: TO LOCK THE WHEELHOUSE
IN POSITION,

THEY NEED TO LINE UP 20
3/4-INCH BOLT HOLES.

Kevin:
SO MANY PIECES TO LINE UP,

AND NONE OF THEM
ARE PERFECTLY STRAIGHT.

YOU'RE GONNA HIT ON
THESE OTHER CHANNEL IRONS

UNLESS WE GO THAT WAY
A LITTLE BIT.

BUT SOME OF THE COLUMNS
THAT THE WHEELHOUSE SITS ON

WERE BENT ON THE LONG HAUL
TO EUREKA CREEK.

AND THERE'S SIX COLUMNS
WE'RE TRYING TO SET IT OVER

AT THE SAME TIME.

PLUS A SET OF STAIRS.

AND WE DON'T HAVE
ANY WIGGLE ROOM.

Kevin: I'M SURE A LOT
OF THIS STUFF WAS STRAIGHT

BEFORE WE MOVED IT.

Rhodes: IF YOU PUT A BOLT
IN THAT CORNER, IT WILL KEY IT.

WHEN I LIFT, IT WILL LIFT YOUR
SIDE AND NOT COME UNDONE THERE.

Krisher: SWING BACK
TOWARD YOUR LEFT A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY, THAT'S GOOD.

NICE.

YEAH, LOOKS GOOD. THEY GOT
ALL FOUR CORNERS PINNED.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE JUST
PUTTING IN THE BOLTS

AND THE REST OF THE HOLES.

CALMLY.

FEELS GOOD TO BE IN THE PILOT
HOUSE AGAIN, DOESN'T IT?

Kevin: WE GOT REALLY FAR
REALLY QUICK, ACTUALLY.

IT'S GOING REALLY NICE.

YEAH, I'M SURPRISED TO SEE
HOW FAST WE'VE BEEN ABLE

TO GET THIS
BACK TOGETHER HERE.

AND TONY WANTS US TO HEAD IT
THAT WAY WHEN IT'S RUNNING.

I CAN PICTURE IT NOW
CHURNING OUT ACROSS THAT.

Narrator:
OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

FROZEN OVERBURDEN
HAS FORCED PARKER

TO ABANDON FANTASY LAND...

THE CUT HE WAS BANKING

ON GETTING HIM TO 2,000 OUNCES
THIS SEASON.

RICK HAS MOVED BACK OVER
TO THE FAR CUT

TO GET THE LAST OF ITS PAY DIRT
TO THE WASH PLANT.

Ness: I'M SITTING
ON THE LAST BIT OF PAY

THAT WE HAVE EXPOSED RIGHT NOW.

I'LL BE DONE WITH THIS
BY THE END OF TODAY.

AFTER THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IT.

YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S A DIFFICULT
SITUATION WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE GOT NO GROUND OPEN.

AND NOT REALLY ANY CLEAR PATH
AS TO WHERE WE'RE GOING,

SO WE'RE ON THE ROAD TO TROUBLE,
ACTUALLY.

Narrator:
PARKER HAD BEEN ONE STEP AHEAD.

IF HE CAN'T FIND NEW GROUND,
AND SOON,

HIS CREW WON'T HAVE ANYTHING
TO MINE.

GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DIRECTION
WE WANT TO GO HERE,

SO WE CAN MAKE IT
ANOTHER SIX, EIGHT WEEKS.

AND OUR HEAD START'S PRETTY WELL
GONE AS FAR AS OPEN GROUND.

YEAH, WE'VE JUST --

WE'RE JUST BASICALLY
STAYING AHEAD OF THE PLANT.

RIGHT, OUR OPTIONS ARE
PRETTY LIMITED, AREN'T THEY?

YEAH.

WE JUST GOT SOME DECISIONS
TO MAKE HERE.

SO WHAT WAY
DO YOU WANT TO PROCEED?

I THINK THE ONLY OPTION

IS TO GO UP ON THE UPPER END
OF THE FAR CUT

ON THE TREE LINE UP THERE.

IT KIND OF GOES UP
IN A HUMP THERE.

LOOKS LIKE 25 FOOT DEEP.

WE NEED
TO COMMIT TO SOMETHING.

YEAH.

WHAT THE HELL, WE TAKE OUT
A COUPLE THOUSAND YARDS,

AND IF IT'S PAYING GOOD,
THEN WE STRIP MORE.

Parker: HOPEFULLY IT'S THAWED.
HOPEFULLY IT'S GOOD.

BUT WE'LL DO IT
BECAUSE WE HAVE NO OTHER OPTION.

Narrator:
WITH FANTASY LAND FROZEN OUT,

PARKER'S NEW PLAN IS TO MOVE
JUST NORTH OF THE FAR CUT

TO START STRIPPING
UNPROVEN GROUND.

HE KNOWS THE PAY DIRT
IS BURIED 25 FEET DEEP.

[ LAUGHS ]

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

BUT THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT
IF IT'S THAWED

IS TO REMOVE THE OVERBURDEN.

EVERYBODY'S WORKING GOOD
TOGETHER.

DO WHAT WE HAVE TO
TO GET TO 2,000 OUNCES.

Ness: IT'S SO DEEP
THAT PARKER'S UP TOP

WITH THE 700 AND TWO TRUCKS
AND HE'S TAKING ONE LEVEL OFF

AND THEN I'M BELOW HIM
WITH TWO TRUCKS

TAKING ANOTHER LEVEL DOWN.

I MEAN, IF THAT GIVES YOU
A LITTLE IDEA

OF HOW DEEP IT IS, IT'S NASTY.

Narrator: IT'S A RACE
TO GET DOWN TO GRAVEL

BEFORE CHRIS' STOCKPILE
OF PAY

BACK AT THE WASH PLANT
RUNS OUT.

Doumitt: I CAN SEE THOSE GUYS
WORKING THAT CUT OVER THERE,

BUT I CAN'T REALLY TELL
HOW MUCH WE'RE GETTING DONE.

WE RUN OUT OF PAY DIRT NOW,

AND WE'RE GONNA BE
IN A WORLD OF HURT.

HEY, PARKER,
YOU GOT A COPY?

I NEED SOME PAY DIRT
UP HERE, MAN.

I ONLY GOT ABOUT TWO SHIFTS
LEFT, MAYBE 24 HOURS.

YOU SURE
THAT'S ALL WE GOT?

That's about it.

Parker: RIGHT NOW
THINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT HECTIC.

WE'RE TRYING HARD
TO CATCH BACK UP.

THE REAL PROBLEM IS
JUST THE DEPTH OF OVERBURDEN

THAT WE'RE GOING INTO.

WE DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S THAWED OR FROZEN

WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.

EVERYBODY'S WORKING
AS FAST AND HARD AS WE CAN.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE RUNNING THE
MACHINES CONTINUOUSLY ALL DAY.

NOBODY'S STOPPING
FOR COFFEE BREAKS OR LUNCH.

YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY'S EATING ON THE FLY.

IT SURE HELPS OUT.

ALL RIGHT, RICK,
HOW ARE WE LOOKING DOWN THERE?

PRETTY SURE
I'M FINALLY DOWN TO PAY DIRT.

YOU WANT TO COME
CHECK THIS OUT?

Narrator: PARKER NEEDS
THE FAR CUT EXTENSION

TO DELIVER
OVER 800 OUNCES OF GOLD

IF HE'S TO REACH HIS
2,000 OUNCE, $2.4 MILLION GOAL.

AFTER CLEARING
A MASSIVE 30 FEET OF OVERBURDEN,

PARKER FINALLY TESTS
THE EXPOSED GRAVEL.

THAT'S A PRETTY DAMN GOOD PAN
RIGHT THERE, ACTUALLY.

SEE, THERE'S SOME GOOD GOLD
RIGHT IN THERE.

SOME DAMN NICE STUFF.

RICK.

[ GRUNTS ]

LOOKS LIKE 30.

IT'S OUT OF THIS BANK?
YEAH.

MAN.

HEY, MIKE.

THAT'S BIG FLAKES, HUH?

YEAH.

Cheeseman: IF YOU KEEP FINDING
PANS LIKE THAT,

IT'S -- WE COULD MAKE
MORE MONEY PANNING.

DAMN CLOSE.

PROBABLY HAVE MORE FUN.

THIS IS AWESOME
BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S THAWED.

THE PLAN IS PRETTY SIMPLE --
KEEP CHASING THIS GOOD GROUND.

Narrator:
AT EUREKA CREEK...

TONY BEETS HAS LEFT HIS CREW
TO REBUILD THE DREDGE

WHILE HE WORKS AT HIS GOLD MINE,
PARADISE HILL.

[ WOOD CREAKS ]

JERRY'S LEFT IN CHARGE
OF MIKE AND TONY'S SON, KEVIN.

IT'S GETTING LATE.
WE GOT TO PULL IT OUT.

WE'LL ALL HAVE TIME TO REST
WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER,

BUT RIGHT NOW WE GOT TO KEEP ON
[BLEEP] GOING.

Narrator:
TODAY, THE CREW'S RE-INSTALLING

THE LAST ITEM ON TONY'S LIST --
THE LADDER WALLS.

GET WAY BACK, GUYS.

IT'S A BIG WALL HERE.

THESE TIMBER AND STEEL PLATES

FIT ON EITHER SIDE
OF THE BUCKET LINE

TO PROTECT THE PONTOONS
AND THE DREDGE CREW

FROM FALLING ROCKS.

Rhodes: THEY'RE NOT IN VERY GOOD
CONDITION, AS YOU CAN SEE.

WE'RE GONNA TRY
TO WIGGLE THEM IN RIGHT NOW.

AND WE'RE GOING OVER THE TOP
AND TRY STRAIGHT DOWN, RIGHT?

Krisher: YEP.

LIKE A BIG SAIL UP THERE.

IT'S CATCHING ANY LITTLE BIT
OF WIND THERE, BUT...

AM I GONNA CLEAR?

YOU GOT TO BOOM UP A BIT,
JERRY.

GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT
OF LEFT SWING.

Narrator: THEY NEED TO LOWER
THE 8-INCH-WIDE WALL

INTO A 12-INCH GAP

BETWEEN THE BUCKET LADDER
AND THE SUPERSTRUCTURE.

NOW WE GOT TO TRY
TO THREAD THE NEEDLE HERE

WITH THIS WALL GOING DOWN.

I REALLY DON'T LIKE THIS.
YOU GUYS BE [BLEEP] CAREFUL.

Krisher:
NOW THAT THE LADDER'S IN PLACE,

THIS IS GONNA BE
A PAIN IN THE ASS.

Rhodes: OH, WE SHOULD HAVE
PUT THE WALLS IN FIRST,

THEN THE WHEELHOUSE,
THEN THE LADDER

WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LAST THING
TO GO IN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK,
KEVIN?

Kevin:
IT'S SKETCHY AS [BLEEP]

THERE'S A 20-FOOT WALL
HANGING IN THE AIR

WITH [BLEEP] FALLING OFF OF IT.

[ CREAKING ]

[BLEEP]

Krisher: IT'S SITTING RIGHT ON
THAT BRACKET, IT LOOKS LIKE.

SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
GET HIM UP THERE

JUST TO KIND OF PUSH IT OVER.

HEY, KEVIN, YOU WANT TO GET
IN THE GENIE LIFT AND GO UP?

Kevin: YEAH, SURE.

IT'S VERY DANGEROUS UP THERE
WITH STUFF FALLING DOWN.

IF THAT THING SWINGS AND CATCHES
ME, I'LL GO FOR A TUMBLE.

THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN
IN THE RIGHT ORDER,

AND WE WOULDN'T BE
GOING THROUGH THIS.

I KNOW. I KNOW.

CABLE DOWN. CABLE DOWN.

LOAD CABLE DOWN.
GIVE ME A FOOT OR TWO HERE.

SEE IF IT'S GOING IN.

I DON'T LIKE THAT.

GIVE ME JUST A HAIR.

Narrator: A PIECE OF TIMBER
COMING LOOSE FROM THE WALL

IS CAUGHT ON THE BUCKET LADDER.

MORE?

[ DEVICE BEEPING ]

[BLEEP]

YEAH,
JUST DON'T BOOM OUT TOO FAR,

OR IT'LL TIP OVER ON YOU.

THAT'S WHY THE BEEPER'S
GOING OFF THERE.

OH, I KNOW.

Narrator:
KEVIN HAS THE CHERRY PICKER

EXTENDED TO ITS MAXIMUM REACH,
AND IT'S AT RISK OF TIPPING.

MAN: Kevin,
one of your rear tires

is just about lifting off
the ground a little bit here.

Just so you know.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT HAPPIER
NOT HEARING THAT.

Rhodes: YEAH, WELL,
IT WAS TONY THAT DECIDED

TO PUT
THIS BUCKET LADDER IN,

AND NOW HIS OWN SON'S UP THERE
IN A DANGEROUS PLACE

TRYING TO GET THIS THING
BACK INTO PLACE HERE.

WATCH OUT, MIKE.

Krisher:
WATCH OUT, KEVIN!

HOW'S THAT?

SHE AIN'T STUCK NO MORE.

JUST THE WAY
WE PLANNED IT.

PAIN IN THE ASS,
BUT IT'S IN.

Narrator:
IT TAKES ANOTHER HOUR

TO SLIDE THE SECOND WALL BETWEEN
THE LADDER AND THE WHEELHOUSE.

SHE'S ALL IN, MIKE.

WHAT A PAIN IN THE ASS.

YEAH, BIG SHINY PIECES MAKE YOU
FEEL GOOD TO HAVE THEM IN,

BUT THERE'S OTHER STUFF
THAT NEEDED TO GO IN FIRST.

Narrator: JUST AS THEY FINISH
THE JOB, TONY ARRIVES.

HELLO, TONY.

WELL, WE'VE BEEN
STRUGGLING HERE.

THE WHEELHOUSE WAS IN THERE
OUT OF ORDER.

THE LADDER WAS IN THERE
OUT OF ORDER.

NO ROOM.

THREADING THE NEEDLE
UP THERE.

TONY'S CREW HAS MANAGED
TO INSTALL FOUR MAJOR PARTS

OF THE DREDGE IN JUST TWO DAYS.

AT McKINNON CREEK...

ANDY AND DAVE STRIP OVERBURDEN
IN THE NEW HAUL ROAD CUT.

THEY'RE DESPERATELY HUNTING
THAWED PAY DIRT.

Turin:
IT'S COLD THIS MORNING.

WE GOT FOG.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

WHEN WE FIND GROUND
THAT'S THAWED OUT,

THAT'S EASY MONEY.

IT'S EASY GOLD.

IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED
AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON

BECAUSE WINTER IS COMING.

Narrator: AFTER DIGGING
FOR 12 HOURS STRAIGHT,

DAVE MAKES A BREAKTHROUGH.

OH, THERE'S A POCKET RIGHT HERE.

SEE HOW DEEP IT IS?
SEE HOW MUCH WATER'S IN THERE?

AND THERE'S BIG GRAVEL?

SO THAT MEANS
AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT,

THERE SHOULD BE A LOT OF GOLD.

LOOK AT THIS.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
WE GOT THIS POCKET.

IT DIPS DOWN, AND LOOK
AT ALL THIS WHITE QUARTZ.

SO WE HIT A POCKET
OF WHITE CHANNEL,

THERE SHOULD BE SOME GOOD GOLD
IN HERE.

Narrator:
SMALL DEPRESSIONS IN THE GRAVEL

OFTEN CONTAIN LARGE
CONCENTRATIONS OF GOLD.

Turin:
HOLY COW. LOOK AT THAT.

NOW, THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

THERE'S 25, 30 COLORS IN THAT.

IT'S EASY. IT'S QUICK.
IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE PLANT.

THAT COULD BE
AN AMAZING FIND RIGHT THERE.

HEY, ANDY,
CHECK THIS OUT.

THAT IS AN AMAZING PAN.

Spinks: THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT WE NEEDED RIGHT THERE.

COOL. WELL, WE'LL KEEP DIGGING,
GET IT TO THE PLANT.

NICE JOB.

[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
SWEET.

Narrator:
THE HAUL ROAD CUT LOOKS GOOD.

IT'S TIME TO START HAULING PAY.

Spinks: IF WE CAN GET TWO
OR THREE DAYS, FOUR DAYS

OF RUNNING OUT OF THIS
THIS CLOSE TO THE WASH PLANT,

GOT GREAT GOLD IN IT,
YOU KNOW, THIS IS PERFECT.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED.

Todd:
THAT'S OUR PAY DIRT RIGHT NOW

COMING IN
FROM THE HAUL ROAD CUT.

WE GOT BIG HOPES
ON THIS PAY DIRT RIGHT HERE.

I LIKE THIS.
YEAH.

IT'S GOT THAT, YOU KNOW,
GOLD SMELL TO IT.

JUST LITERALLY...

SMELL IT.
YEAH, SMELL IT.

IT'S GOT, YEAH.

I JUST FEEL RELIEVED.
YEAH.

FINALLY SEE
A GOOD PAY LIKE THIS.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER
THAN THIS, I THINK.

WE WERE ABLE TO SCRATCH IT,
BRING IT DOWN HERE,

PUTTING IT
RIGHT INSIDE THE HOPPER.

SO THIS IS GONNA BE SOME
OF THE BEST DIRT WE'VE EVER RAN.

IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME.

Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,

THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS RUN
THE LAST OF THE PAY DIRT

FROM DAVE'S OLD CUT

AND A DAY'S WORTH OF PAY
FROM THE NEW HAUL ROAD CUT.

OH, WOW.

THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE CRAP PILE
OF GOLD IN HERE, BOYS.

Thurber: NICE.
THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO SEE.

HOLY CRAP.

YEAH, THAT'S DRAINED.
COME HERE, LOG.

WE'RE ONTO SOMETHING GOOD HERE.

THIS IS THE BEST
WE'VE SEEN IT SO FAR.

Pierce: HOLY SMOKES.

I'M SEEING MORE GOLD IN HERE

THAN I'VE EVER SEEN
AFTER JUST ONE DAY.

Todd: I DON'T KNOW.
LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF GOLD TO ME.

DOES IT LOOK LIKE
A LOT OF GOLD TO YOU?

Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

PARKER HAS RUN
EVERY LAST YARD OF DIRT

FROM THE ORIGINAL FAR CUT.

HE ONLY HAS FIVE WEEKS LEFT
TO HIT 2,000 OUNCES.

HE'S ABOUT TO FIND OUT
IF HE'S ON TRACK.

Parker: 34.1.

Narrator: LAST WEEK,
HE HAD A MONSTER CLEAN-UP --

156 OUNCES WORTH $187,000.

Parker: 6.05.
WHAT'S THAT BRING US TO?

GOT OUR TOTAL TO 126.9.

[ SIGHS ]

SO IT'S...
DOING A LITTLE WORSE.

I THOUGHT IT'D GET BETTER,
BUT IT'S WEIRD.

THAT BRINGS US TO...

1,313.

Narrator: PARKER'S MINED
OVER $1.5 MILLION WORTH OF GOLD.

BUT THE 20-YEAR-OLD MINE BOSS

IS ALMOST 700 OUNCES SHORT
OF HIS GOAL.

WE NEED TO FIND A LOT OF GOLD
HERE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

SO IF WE JUST EXTEND
THAT FAR CUT UPSTREAM,

AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL DELIVER.

BETTER START
FIGURING THINGS OUT HERE.

Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,

THE HOFFMAN CREW
BADLY NEEDS A GOOD CLEANUP.

MONSTER RED'S SLUICES
LOOKED LOADED,

BUT THEY'VE BEEN FOOLED BEFORE.

I DON'T LIKE
SITTING ON THE CRATE.

I'LL JUST SIT ON THE WOOD.

Spinks: DID YOU SEE THAT,
WHERE I WAS DIGGING?

IT'S OVER YOUR HEAD.

IT'S SIX FEET DEEP.

Turin: DID YOU SEE HOW HIGH
THE BEDROCK IS, THOUGH?

Narrator:
JACK'S IN THE GOLD ROOM
FINISHING UP THE CLEANUP.

YOU KNOW,
THE OTHER THING IS

THEY SAY
THAT THOSE OLD TIMERS --

THAT'S WHAT THEY LOOK FOR
IS THOSE BEDROCK DIPS.

AND WE HAD
A BIG BEDROCK DIP RIGHT THERE.

THEY ARE LESS THAN HALFWAY
TO THEIR 1,000-OUNCE GOAL...

AND THEN IT GOES LIKE THIS,
THEN IT GOES BACK DOWN.

AND I SAID,
"INSTEAD OF"...

...AND THE GEESE
ARE ALREADY HEADING SOUTH.

THE HOFFMAN CREW'S SEASON

DEPENDS ON GETTING
BETTER CLEANUPS.

WHAT DO WE GOT, JACK?

132.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

ALL RIGHT.

Narrator:
132 OUNCES, WORTH OVER $150,000,

IS THE HOFFMAN CREW'S
BEST CLEANUP THIS SEASON.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS

SINCE THEY'VE PRODUCED
THIS MUCH GOLD IN A SINGLE WEEK.

HEY, THAT WAS WAY BIGGER
THAN WE THOUGHT.

Turin:
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT.

FINALLY, WE GOT SURPRISED
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

FINALLY,
WE'RE ON SOME GOOD GOLD.

DAD,
WHAT'S THAT PUT US AT?

WELL, WITH THESE FOUR,

THAT BRINGS US TO 544,

AND WE ARE COOKING.

132 OUNCES, MAN.
THAT'S A SHOT IN THE ARM.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

WE SET A 1,000-OUNCE GOAL.

I HATE TO TELL EVERYBODY
WE'RE GONNA BEAT IT.

I MEAN, THAT CLEANUP ALONE --
THAT'S INSANE.

THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT THIS TEAM NEEDED.

WE NEEDED A MORALE BOOSTER.

EVERYBODY'S UP.

EVERYBODY'S BACK ENERGIZED,

AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE
TO FINISH THIS SEASON.

THERE'S ABOUT $680,000

SITTING RIGHT THERE
ON THAT SAWHORSE.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

Thurber:
I JUST WANT TO STARE AT IT.

WE DUG THAT OUT OF THE GROUND.

Jack:
WE'RE GONNA HIT THAT 1,000,

AND WE'RE GONNA SAIL
RIGHT PAST IT.

WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR GOAL.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

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

KICKING ASS.
THINGS ARE GOOD.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS' LUCK
SUDDENLY RUNS OUT.

Turin:
WHAT THE [BLEEP]

IT'S JUST ABOUT GONE.

Narrator: AND THIS TIME,
THEIR HUNT FOR NEW PAY DIRT...

WHOA!

...GETS THEM STUCK DEEP
IN A HOLE...

IT'S BURIED
UP TO ITS AXLES.

I DON'T KNOW
IF WE'LL GET IT OUT.

...AS PARKER MAKES A PUSH
FOR 2,000 OUNCES...

OH, COME ON!

...FAILING EQUIPMENT...

[BLEEP] TRACK SPLIT.

...AND YET MORE FROZEN GROUND...

Parker: NOW WE'RE SCREWED.

Narrator: ...PUT HIS
MONSTER GOAL IN JEOPARDY.

WE'RE IN TROUBLE, BOYS.

Narrator: AND TONY BEETS
GOES TO NEW HEIGHTS...

SOMEBODY GET ME
A COUPLE OF BOLTS.

...AND NEW LOWS...
TORCH.

WE'LL BLOW THE THING OFF.

[BLEEP]

...TO GET HIS GOLD SHIP
READY TO SET SAIL.

WE GOT SOME TREASURE ONBOARD.
HOW THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?

[ LAUGHS ]