Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 17 - Rivers of Gold - full transcript

Narrator: UP NORTH IN THE GOLD
FIELDS OF THE KLONDIKE...

IT'S TIME TO FINISH THIS.

Narrator: ...JUST AS WINTER
BEGINS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR,

THE HOFFMANS CHASE THEIR BEST
PAY STREAK OF THE SEASON.

YES!

GREAT DAY TO BE A MINER.

Narrator: BUT WHEN JACK DROPS
A BOULDER INTO MONSTER RED...

THAT'S A BUNCH OF [BLEEP]

IT DIDN'T GO
THROUGH THE GRIZZLY BARS.

THEY'RE SAYING THAT I DUMPED IT
OVER THE SIDE.

THAT'S B.S.
YOU CAN SEE IT DIDN'T.



Narrator: ...THEIR OPERATION
SUDDENLY GRINDS TO A HALT.

Pasley: HIT THE BYPASS!

TAILINGS CONVEYOR'S LOCKED UP!

Narrator: AT EUREKA CREEK,
THINGS GO SOUTH...

...WHEN TONY LEAVES HIS CREW

IN CHARGE OF A CRITICAL PIECE
OF THE DREDGE.

Krisher:
WHOA! WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!

NO!

[ BANGS ]

Narrator:
AND OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

PARKER'S ONGOING QUEST
FOR THAWED GROUND...

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

Narrator:
...TAKES A DRASTIC STEP...

Ness: IT'S GONNA BE
KIND OF LIKE A TREASURE HUNT.



Narrator: ...WHEN GENE CHEESEMAN
DIVERTS A RIVER...

Cheeseman: WELL,
WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT.

Ness: OH, YEAH,
THAT'S QUITE A BIT OF WATER.

Narrator: ...TO GET DOWN
TO BIG, CHUNKY GOLD...

THAT'S A NICE PAN.

...LEADING TO ONE
OF PARKER'S BEST CLEANUPS EVER.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

McKINNON CREEK, THE KLONDIKE.

THERE ARE JUST THREE WEEKS LEFT
IN THE MINING SEASON.

AND THE HOFFMAN CREW IS
DETERMINED TO MAKE THEM COUNT.

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL MORNING
IN THE KLONDIKE.

WE GOT ONE LAST PUSH,
SO WE'RE GONNA PUSH THE CREW

AND THE MACHINERY
AS HARD AS THEY CAN GO.

WE HAVE A GOAL,
AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT

IF THE ICE HOLDS OFF
LONG ENOUGH.

IT'S TIME TO FINISH THIS.
THIS IS THE LAST PUSH, SO...

[ MACHINE RUMBLING ]

ALL WE'RE DOING NOW
IS GETTING GOLD.

NO STRIPPING.

ALL WE GOT TO DO IS HAUL
THE PAY TO THE PLANT

AND RUN IT AND GET GOLD.

Narrator: THEIR GOLD TOTAL
STANDS AT 780 OUNCES...

WORTH $936,000.

TO HIT THEIR 1,000-OUNCE,
$1.2 MILLION SEASON GOLD,

THEY NEED TO KEEP MONSTER RED
RUNNING 300 YARDS AN HOUR

FOR AS MANY DAYS AS POSSIBLE.

DO YOU THINK
WE CAN DO IT?

I THINK SO, AS LONG
AS WE GOT STUFF TO RUN

AND EVERYTHING KEEPS RUNNING.

YEAH, I'M UP FOR IT.

LET'S DO IT.

Narrator:
JUST NORTH OF THE HAUL ROAD,

TODD DIGS PAY DIRT
FROM THEIR NEW CUT.

THE GROUND ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE ROAD

YIELDED AN IMPRESSIVE 132 OUNCES
WORTH OVER $150,000.

Todd: THIS STUFF HERE,

I'M STARTING TO HIT SOME
BIGGER ROCKS, WHICH IS GOOD.

STARTING TO GET REAL, REAL GOOD
IN HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE, TO ME.

HEY, ANDY.

Narrator: TODD SPOTTED GROUND

THAT COULD LEAD
TO AN EVEN BIGGER PAY DIG.

LOOK AT THAT WEIRD-COLORED
BROWN STUFF.

YEAH.

IS THAT BEDROCK
DECOMPOSED?

YEAH.

YOU CAN SEE A BANK OF A RIVER
RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

LOOK AT THE COLOR OF THAT.
SEE THAT?

ANYTIME WE FIND,
LIKE, ROCKS LIKE THAT

THAT ARE SETTLED
RIGHT NEXT TO BEDROCK,

IT'S JUST THE BOTTOM
WHERE ALL THE HEAVY GOLD

JUST SEEMS
TO CONCENTRATE, SO...

THIS WAS ON THE EDGE
OF SOMETHING.

THERE'S QUARTZ
RIGHT THERE.

ONCE YOU START GETTING
INTO THOSE BIGGER BOULDERS,

YOU START SEEING
BETTER GOLD.

MEANS YOU'RE
IN A DEEPER RIVER CHANNEL --

A CHANNEL THAT CAN MOVE
THOSE BIGGER ROCKS IN.

Narrator: QUARTZ AND BIG
BOULDERS ARE SIGNS OF BIG GOLD.

TODD'S FIND
COULD BE THE BREAKTHROUGH

THEY DESPERATELY NEED.

FROM ALL INDICATIONS,
THIS LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

THAT HAUL ROAD CUT, THAT CHANNEL
THAT WE FOUND IN THERE

COULD COME RIGHT THROUGH HERE.
I DON'T KNOW.

Narrator: WITH WINTER AROUND
THE CORNER, THE CREW RACES

TO GET THE NEW RIVERBED PAY DIRT
THROUGH THE WASH PLANT.

WE GOT THE GROUND THAT HAS
THE GOLD, SO THE MORALE IS HIGH,

SO GREAT DAY TO BE A MINER.

Pasley: GUYS, GUYS!
HIT THE BYPASS!

HIT THE BYPASS!
HIT THE BYPASS!

TAILINGS CONVEYOR'S LOCKED UP!

Todd: SHUT IT DOWN.

Narrator: 10 MILES UPRIVER,

PARKER SCHNABEL'S SCRIBNER
CREEK CLAIM IS AT A STANDSTILL.

HE'S OUT OF PAY DIRT AND HASN'T
RUN HIS WASH PLANT FOR 24 HOURS.

SO, WE'RE LOSING ANOTHER DAY
OF PRODUCTION.

WE GOT TO GET THIS PLANT
RUNNING.

Narrator: FOR THE LAST 3 WEEKS,
THE 20-YEAR-OLD MINE BOSS

HAS BEEN ON THE HUNT
FOR THAWED GROUND,

BUT HE'S STRUCK OUT EVERY TIME.

SEE, 'CAUSE I JUST WENT DOWN
THROUGH THREE FEET OF GRAVEL,

AND IT'S FROZEN UNDER THAT.

SO THAT MEANS THAT OUR PAY
IS STILL FROZE.

WE'RE HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME
FINDING THAWED GROUND, YOU KNOW?

THAT'S GIVING US
A PRETTY BIG PROBLEM.

Narrator: PARKER HAS 1,508
OUNCES, WORTH $1.8 MILLION.

BUT UNLESS HE CAN FIND
THAWED PAY DIRT

THIS LATE IN THE SEASON,

HE CAN KISS HIS
2,000-OUNCE DREAM GOODBYE.

Parker: IT'S BEEN PRETTY
STRESSFUL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

WHERE THE REST OF THE GOLD'S
GONNA COME FROM.

WE CAME UP HERE
WITH A PRETTY BIG GOAL,

AND THIS COULD REALLY
THROW A COG IN A LOT OF THAT.

[ GRINDS ]

DID YOU HEAR THAT?

IT'S SQUEAKING AWFULLY BAD.

THAT'S NOT GOOD.

[ TRACKS SQUEAKING ]

[BLEEP]
CAN'T ONE STUPID THING GO RIGHT.

Narrator: THE D10 TRACKS
ARE DANGEROUSLY LOOSE.

PARKER NEEDS TO GET THE 85-TON
MACHINE OUT OF THE CUT

BEFORE THE TRACKS
GIVE OUT COMPLETELY.

ABOUT MY ONLY OPTION RIGHT NOW

IS TO GO BACK
TO THE [BLEEP] YARD.

HEY, GENE.

THIS THING'S
SQUEAKING REALLY BAD.

I MEAN, THE TRACKS
ARE LOOSER THAN HELL,

BUT I DON'T KNOW
IF THAT WOULD DO IT.

WELL,
THEY'RE STRETCHED OUT.

I MEAN, THESE
ARE OILED PINS, YOU KNOW.

IF YOU LOOK AT THEM --
THESE PINS?

YEAH. I MEAN, THEY'RE --
YOU SEE RIGHT HERE,

IT'S WORE CLEAR THROUGH.

HOLY [BLEEP]
THAT IS WORE OUT.

I KNOW IT'S NOT
WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.

JUST IT'S TIME FOR IT
TO GET SOME ATTENTION.

RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL...

WE'LL HAVE TO FIX IT.

Narrator: PARKER'S SEASON
HAS GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE.

HE'S GOT NO THAWED GROUND,

AND NOW HIS $160,000 DOZER
IS OUT OF ACTION.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE,

BECAUSE THERE REALLY
AREN'T THAT MANY NOW.

THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S...HARD
TO ADJUST TO THINGS LIKE THIS.

NEED TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT

TO GET SOME QUICK, EASY
THAWED PAY UP TO THE PLANT.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

Narrator: GENE HEADS OUT ON A
SOLO MISSION TO FIND NEW GROUND.

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT --
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

JUST TRYING TO MAKE A PLAN.

DOING A LITTLE EXPLORING AROUND,

TRYING TO FIND SOME GROUND
WE CAN OPEN UP HERE

THAT'S NOT FROZE.

Narrator:
THERE'S ONE PLACE ON THE CLAIM

GENE THINKS
THERE'S THAWED GROUND,

BUT IT'S NOT DIRT
THEY'LL HAVE TO MOVE.

IT'S A RIVER.

FROM THE LOOKS OF THE CRICK,
IT'S, YOU KNOW, LOOKS LIKE

IT SHOULD BE THAWED
'CAUSE THE RIVER'S THERE.

BUT TILL YOU REALLY START
EXPLORING SOME MORE,

YOU DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

Narrator: THE GROUND UNDER
SULFUR CREEK SHOULD BE THAWED.

IF GENE'S RIGHT,
HE COULD SAVE PARKER'S SEASON,

BUT FIRST, HE HAS TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO DIVERT A RIVER.

Narrator: AT EUREKA CREEK,
KLONDIKE LEGEND TONY BEETS

HAS WORKED ALL SEASON
TO MINE LIKE THE OLD-TIMERS.

HE'S VOWED TO HAVE HIS
75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE CATCHING GOLD

BEFORE WINTER SHUTS DOWN
THE YUKON.

THE TAILINGS CONVEYOR,
OR STACKER, IS 85 FEET LONG

AND WEIGHS IN AT 7 TONS.

ONCE OPERATIONAL, THE STACKER
FITS ON THE BACK OF THE DREDGE.

IT WILL TAKE WORTHLESS TAILINGS
OUT OF THE TROMMEL

AND MOVE THEM OUT OF THE BACK
OF THE DREDGE.

WELL, THE STACKER HAS A COUPLE
OF PINS THERE ON THE BOTTOM,

AND THEY GO
IN THESE CRADLES HERE.

AND IT HANGS OFF A CABLE
OFF THE OTHER END.

Narrator: BUT TONY
IS RACING THE YUKON WINTER.

HE NEEDS TO KICK HIS OPERATION
INTO HIGH GEAR.

FIRST THEY RIG THE STACKER
TO A PAIR OF CRANES.

Man: IT'S GOING GOOD.

ONE END HOOKED UP,
ONE TO GO.

PIECE OF CAKE.
AWESOME.

WHERE YOU GOING?

Narrator: TO HOOK THE STACKER
ONTO THE DREDGE,

THE CREW MUST WORK TOGETHER
TO CAREFULLY LINE UP

TWO NINE-INCH PIVOT PINS

WITH A SET OF CRADLES
ON THE BODY OF THE DREDGE.

JOE DIRECTS THE TWO CRANES
USING HAND SIGNALS.

MIKE HAS EYES
ON THE DOCKING POINT.

AS THE STACKER MOVES FORWARD,
IT GETS BETWEEN JOE AND MIKE,

SO MIKE SWITCHES
TO USING HIS RADIO.

WE WANT A LITTLE BIT
OF DOWN.

NOW SUCK IT IN.

BUT JOE DOESN'T HAVE A RADIO.

JUST A LITTLE BIT.

PULL UP
JUST A LITTLE BIT.

HE'S NOW DIRECTING BLIND.

HOLD UP.
GOT TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT.

WHO'S DOING THE DIRECTING
OUT THERE?

MONICA!

Monica: WHAT DO YOU WANT
JERRY TO BE DOING?

JOE?
HEY?

JERRY'S
DEFINITELY LOWERING.

HOLD ON. HOLD ON.
HOLD ON. HOLD ON.

Krisher: WHO'S DIRECTING THIS?
HAS HE GOT A [BLEEP] RADIO?

[ METAL SCRAPING ]

WHOA! WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!

Monica: HOLD IT!

NO!
[ BANGS ]

NO!
I SAID STOP!

THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
HE SHOULD HAVE A [BLEEP] RADIO.

YOU NEED A [BLEEP] RADIO.

I'M TRYING TO GET HIM TO STOP

BECAUSE WE'RE CRASHING
INTO I-BEAMS UP HERE.

YOU STAND ON THIS SIDE.

WHO ELSE HAS GOT A RADIO?
NOBODY.

[BLEEP]

Narrator:
WHEN TONY RETURNS, IT'S CHAOS.

TONY QUICKLY TAKES CHARGE.

Man: MORE?

SHOULD I GO UP
A HAIR OR WHAT?

Man #2: BACK. COME ON.

Beets: GOOD.
NO. NO, NO, NO.

[ BANGS ]

Narrator: THE STACKER IS FINALLY
ATTACHED TO THE DREDGE,

BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO LIFT IT
INTO ITS FINAL POSITION.

AT McKINNON CREEK...

THE HOFFMAN CREW IS SHUT DOWN.

IN THEIR RACE
TO HIT 1,000 OUNCES

BEFORE THE END OF THE SEASON,

THE MINERS HAVE PUSHED
MONSTER RED HARD,

AND IT'S TAKEN A TOLL.

ONCE WE GET THIS BOX CLEANED
OUT, WE'LL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

I THINK WHAT WE GOT IS A HOLE
WORE INSIDE THIS BOX,

AND IT'S LETTING THE ROCKS
DROP DOWN THROUGH HERE,

AND THAT'S WHAT'S
PLUGGING UP OUR TAIL PULLEY.

OH, THERE YOU GO.

HOLY [BLEEP]

Narrator: ABRASIVE BEDROCK
HAS WORN HOLES IN THE ROCK BOX,

CAUSING ROCKS TO FALL INTO
THE TAIL PULLEY, JAMMING IT UP.

WITH ONE END OF THE TAILINGS
CONVEYOR SEIZED UP

AND THE OTHER END STILL RUNNING,

THE DRIVE BELT HAS BURNT THROUGH
AND THE CONVEYOR HAS SPLIT.

THERE'S NO QUICK FIX
FOR THIS SERIES OF SETBACKS.

Man: HEY, STEVE.
Pasley: YEAH.

LOOK AT OUR BELT.

WE GOT IT IN THE BEDROCK.

IT'S REAL ABRASIVE AND SHARP.

JUST WORE OUT A BUNCH OF STUFF
PRETTY QUICK.

IT'S ALWAYS THAT WAY.

IT'S THE BEST GOLD
WE'VE EVER SEEN,

BUT IT'S THE MOST ABRASIVE.

CAUSES THE MOST PROBLEMS.

Narrator:
THEY'RE DEAD IN THE WATER

UNTIL THE CONVEYOR IS REPAIRED.

Turin:
WE GOT TO GET THIS GOING,

GET BACK UP AND RUNNING
AS QUICK AS WE CAN.

WE GOT TO MAKE THE MOST
OF EVERY MINUTE, EVERY SECOND.

LET'S GET THIS THING GOING,
YOU GUYS.

Narrator:
DAVE MOBILIZES THE CREW.

EVERY HOUR THEY'RE NOT RUNNING,
THEY'RE LOSING GOLD.

IT'S REALLY BAD TIMING, MAN.

WE'RE ON SOME REALLY HOT GROUND
RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN'T GET THIS FIXED
FAST ENOUGH.

Narrator: THEY REINFORCE
THE TAILING CHUTE AND ROCK BOX.

Pasley: LET THE ROCKS POUND
ON THAT INSTEAD OF THIS STEEL,

AND WHEN IT WEARS OUT,
IT'S REAL EASY TO CHANGE.

Narrator: KEVIN STITCHES UP
THE TORN CONVEYOR BELT.

Kevin:
SO, RIGHT WHERE THE SEAM IS,

PROBABLY HAVE TO CUT IT OUT
AND DO A WHOLE NEW SEAM.

Narrator: AND DAVE REPLACES
THE BURNT-OUT DRIVE BELT.

AFTER SIX HOURS,

IT'S TIME TO FIND OUT
IF THEIR FIX HAS WORKED.

THE BELT'S FIXED.
DRIVE BELTS ARE ON.

KEVIN, LET'S SEE IF THIS THING
WILL RUN.

FIRE IT UP, KEVIN!

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

LOOKS GOOD.
HEY, IT'S RUNNING, STEVE.

Pasley:
LET'S GET SOME GOLD.

GOOD JOB. IT WORKS.
YES!

TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER
THAN WE THOUGHT.

I THINK WE'RE GOOD.

Narrator:
IT'S COST THEM MOST OF THE DAY,

BUT THE HOFFMAN CREW IS BACK
RUNNING GOLD-RICH GROUND.

Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK
IN THE KLONDIKE,

PARKER SCHNABEL'S WASH PLANT
HASN'T RUN IN TWO DAYS.

HE'S DESPERATE
FOR THAWED PAY DIRT.

HIS FOREMAN, GENE CHEESEMAN,
THINKS HE'S FOUND THAWED GROUND,

BUT IT'S UNDER
THREE FEET OF WATER.

SO, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN,
GENE?

Cheeseman: I THINK I GOT IT
FIGURED OUT HOW TO WORK.

WE DIVERT OUR WATER
THROUGH THE SHORTCUT THERE

AND MINE THAT WHOLE AREA.

SHOULD BE THAWED
'CAUSE THE RIVER'S THERE.

AND GET THE CREEK BED,
TOO, HUH?

YOU'LL GET THE CREEK BED
AND ALL THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S --

THERE'S NOT ANY OVERBURDEN
ON ANY OF IT.

WE COULD HAVE THE PAY TO
THE PLANT THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

ALL RIGHT,
THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

GENE'S PLAN -- DIVERT
SULFUR CREEK THROUGH AN OLD CUT

AND EXPOSE THE CREEK BED.

THERE WILL BE NO OVERBURDEN
TO CLEAR,

AND GENE'S HOPING THAT
THE GROUND WILL HAVE BEEN THAWED

BY THE WATER.

RICK DIGS AN AREA
JUST ON THE EDGE OF THE RIVER

WHERE THEY WILL DIVERT THE CREEK
INTO THE OLD CUT...

YEAH, THE CREEK
IS ACTUALLY KIND OF A FREEBIE

IN ITSELF, YOU KNOW.

WITH WATER FLOWING
THROUGH THERE,

IT TOOK AWAY
ALL THE OVERBURDEN

AND WE DON'T GOT TO STRIP IT.

ALL THAT'S LEFT IS THE GRAVEL
AND THE GOLD.

Narrator: ...WHILE GENE DIGS
AN EXIT FOR THE WATER

SO THAT IT CAN REJOIN
THE RIVER DOWNSTREAM.

DIGGING OUT A CHANNEL HERE
TO MAKE A NEW DIVERSION

TO RUN THE WATER THROUGH

SO IT CAN MINE OUT
AGAINST THE BERM OVER THERE.

Ness: WELL, I JUST GOT A LAST
LITTLE BIT OF DIRT HERE.

Narrator:
AFTER FIVE HOURS OF MOVING DIRT,

RICK IS FINALLY READY
TO BREAK THROUGH THE BERM...

DIVERTING SULFUR CREEK.

Ness: HERE WE GO.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DIG
THAT BIG OF A HOLE.

IT SHOULD START
TO JUST RUSH THOUGH THERE

AND TAKE IT DOWN ITSELF.

OH, YEAH, THAT'S QUITE
A BIT OF WATER.

[ CHUCKLES ]

Narrator: WITHIN 15 MINUTES,

PARKER HAS TWO ACRES OF WHAT
HE IS HOPING IS THAWED GROUND.

BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY
TO FIND OUT IF IT'S GOT GOLD.

Parker:
YEAH, I MEAN, BASICALLY,

THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE
IS DEAD CENTER OF THE VALLEY.

SINCE IT'S IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE VALLEY,

IT SHOULD BE GOOD.

THAT'S A NICE PAN.

I THINK UNDERNEATH ALL THAT
CREEK THERE COULD BE MAIN PAY.

I'VE NEVER MINED
MAIN PAY BEFORE.

IT COULD BE REALLY GOOD GROUND.

YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE
THE BEST GOLD ON THE CLAIM.

Narrator:
ANCIENT FAST-FLOWING RIVERS

CARVED VALLEYS
THROUGH THE KLONDIKE,

LEAVING BIG GOLD DEPOSITS
KNOWN AS MAIN PAY.

OVER TIME, THE RIVER SLOWED
AND CHANGED COURSE,

LAYING DOWN MUCH SMALLER
GOLD DEPOSITS KNOWN AS SIDE PAY.

OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS,

MINERS EXTRACTED VIRTUALLY
ALL THE MAIN PAY IN THE VALLEY.

PARKER'S BANKING ON THE FACT

THAT THEY LEFT A STREAK
OF MAIN PAY BENEATH THE CREEK.

RICK DIGS
THE NEWLY EXPOSED CREEK BED.

IT'S STARTING TO HEAD TOWARDS
THE MAIN PAY CHANNEL

THAT THEY MINED, YOU KNOW,
30 YEARS AGO OR WHATEVER IT WAS.

FINDING ALL THE LITTLE CHUNKS
THAT THEY LEFT BEHIND,

AND HOPEFULLY, THERE'S JUST
GONNA BE A TON OF GOLD IN THERE.

IT'S GONNA BE KIND OF LIKE
A TREASURE HUNT, YOU KNOW?

WE'VE NEVER HIT, YOU KNOW,
SOMETHING EXCITING AND BIG,

SO YOU NEVER KNOW, MAN.

WE COULD JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN

BE AT 2,000 OUNCES
BEFORE WE KNOW IT.

Narrator: GENE FINALLY CRANKS
THE WASH PLANT BACK UP.

LET'S GET TO WORK.

AND SCRIBNER CREEK
IS BACK IN BUSINESS.

FIVE MILES WEST...

AT EUREKA CREEK,
TONY BEETS' 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE

IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE
A GOLD-CATCHING MACHINE.

WITH THE 85-FOOT-LONG
TAILINGS CONVEYOR ATTACHED,

TONY HAS LEFT HIS CREW
TO TACKLE THE 9-TON STEEL SPIKE

KNOWN AS THE SPUD.

ONCE THE DREDGE IS FLOATED, THE
SPUD ANCHORS IT TO THE GROUND.

IT ACTS AS A PIVOT, ALLOWING THE
DREDGE TO SWING SIDE TO SIDE,

CARVING ITS WAY
THROUGH KLONDIKE PAY DIRT.

PULL IT A BIT OVER.

HE'S TRYING TO GET THIS SPUD
LIFTED UP THERE IN THE AIR.

IT'S LIKE A 9-TON PENDULUM
SWINGING AROUND HERE.

Narrator: JERRY HAS TO LIFT THE
9-TON SPUD 40 FEET INTO THE AIR,

THEN DROP IT VERTICALLY DOWN
INTO ITS SLOT.

Krisher:
I'M JUST LOOKING AT IT,

AND I'M ALMOST THINKING
WE'RE GONNA HAVE PROBLEMS.

Narrator:
MIKE DOESN'T LIKE THE ANGLE.

WELL, I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S GONNA GO IN THIS WAY

BECAUSE IT WAS PUT IN
OUT OF ORDER,

SO THEY PUT UP THAT GANTRY
FOR THE STACKER IN THE REAR,

AND THE TILT BACK ON IT
IS BACK OVER THE SPUD KEEPER,

SO IT'S NOT ALLOWING US
TO HAVE A STRAIGHT SHOT.

Narrator: THE SPUD WAS DESIGNED
TO BE PUT IN BEFORE THE GANTRY.

BUT MIKE DECIDES
TO GIVE IT A SHOT ANYWAY.

Krisher: I DON'T SEE ANYTHING
THAT'S GONNA SNAG,

SO JUST KEEP FEEDING HER DOWN
HERE.

WE MIGHT END UP GETTING LUCKY.

I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE
THAT MUCH WEIGHT OVER ON THERE.

IT'S GOING REAL GOOD.

AS LONG AS WE CLEAR THAT THING,
WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

[ BANGS ]

WELL [BLEEP]

DON'T LOOK LIKE
IT'S MOVING AT ALL.

SHE'S SITTING PRETTY TIGHT.

[BLEEP]
WHATEVER. WHATEVER.

WE SHOULD'VE PUT IT TOGETHER
IN THE PROPER ORDER.

Narrator: THE CREW
IS FORCED TO START AGAIN.

THIS TIME, THEY ENLARGE
THE SPUD SLOT TWO INCHES

BY LOOSENING ITS BOLTS.

BUT 30 YEARS
OF BRUTAL KLONDIKE WEATHER

HAS RUSTED THE MASSIVE
STEEL BOLTS IN PLACE.

IT'S JUST A LITTLE TRICK
TO GET TOUGH NUTS TO CRACK.

Narrator: JERRY LIFTS THE SPUD
FOR ONE MORE TRY.

Man:
WHAT'S HE REVVING UP FOR?

NOW THAT WE GOT THOSE BOLTS
OUT OF THE WAY,

THE SPRINGS OUT OF THE WAY,

IT SHOULD BE ENOUGH SPACE
TO JUST DROP IT STRAIGHT DOWN.

KEEP HER COMING HERE.

LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING IN
ALL RIGHT SO FAR,

BUT WE WERE THIS FAR BEFORE.

AH.

ALL RIGHT, IT'S IN, GUYS.

MAN: Awesome.
Let's not do that again.

JERRY: Good job.

That was a struggle
all day long.

YAY!
YIPPEE.

FINALLY.

Narrator:
DONE IN THE PROPER ORDER,

IT SHOULD'VE TAKEN
NO MORE THAN AN HOUR.

BUT AFTER SIX HOURS,
AS THE SUN SETS ON EUREKA CREEK,

THE DREDGE'S SPUD
IS FINALLY IN POSITION.

Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK
IN THE KLONDIKE,

TODD DIGS GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT

FROM HIS NEW CUT
NORTH OF THE HAUL ROAD.

WE GOT HIGH HOPES
FOR THIS CUT RIGHT HERE.

CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS
ON THIS NEXT CLEANUP, THOUGH,

I'LL TELL YOU THAT.

Narrator:
KEVIN HAULS IT TO THE PLANT,

AND JACK FEEDS MONSTER RED.

TO HIT THEIR SEASON GOAL
BEFORE THEY'RE FROZEN OUT,

THEY NEED TO RUN
AT LEAST 3,000 YARDS A DAY.

Jack:
IT'S A HORSE RACE RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT.

IT'S GOOD MATERIAL.

PLANT'S RUNNING ALL RIGHT,
AND THIS IS A GOOD DAY.

[ BANGS ]

Todd: HOLY [BLEEP]
JACK, SHUT IT DOWN.

WE GOT A BLOCKAGE.
IT'S PILING UP.

LEAVE IT ON!
LEAVE IT ON!

GOT BLOCKED UP SOMEHOW.

UP THERE.

YEAH, WE GOT SOMETHING
JAMMED IN THERE.

Jack: GOT A ROCK BACKED UP
IN HERE.

THAT AIN'T A ROCK,
THAT'S A BOULDER.

HOW'D THAT GET THROUGH?

Thurber: IT'S BACKED UP.

IT'S BACKED UP
ALL THROUGH THE PLANT,

DOWN THE FEEDER,
OVERFLOWING OVER THE BACK.

WE GOT A BIG MESS,
SO WE GOT TO GET IT CLEARED OUT.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT RUNNING.

NOTHING WENT
OVER THE SIDE.

OH, NO,
IT JUST MAGICALLY APPEARED.

WHAT IS THAT?

LOOK AT IT.
IT'S HUGE.

Jack: IT DID NOT COME OVER --
IT DID NOT COME OVER THE SIDE.

[BLEEP]

NO, IT WENT THROUGH
THE GRIZZLY BARS.

IT DID NOT COME OVER THE SIDE.
THAT'S A BUNCH OF [BLEEP]

DIDN'T GO
THROUGH THE GRIZZLY BARS.

IT HAD TO, 'CAUSE IT DID
NOT COME OVER THE TOP.

THAT WENT THROUGH.
THAT'S A BUNCH OF [BLEEP]

Narrator:
TO PREVENT OVERSIZED ROCKS

FROM DAMAGING THE WASH PLANT,

THE HOPPER FEEDER IS PROTECTED
BY A SET OF GRIZZLY BARS.

THE CREW IS CONVINCED

THAT JACK ALLOWED A BOULDER
TO DROP ONTO THE FEED CONVEYOR,

JAMMING UP THE TAILING CHUTE.

Turin: LOOK HOW BIG
THAT IS, JACK.

I DON'T CARE.
I DIDN'T DROP ANY OVER.

I WOULD'VE SEEN THAT.

IT CAN'T FIT
THROUGH THE GRIZZLY.

IT'S THAT BIG.

YOU CAN'T SEE
EVERY BIT OF IT.

YEAH, I DID.
I CAN SEE EVERY --

WELL, THEN
HOW DID IT GET THERE?

I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT DIDN'T
COME OVER THE SIDE.

WELL, WE GOT A BIG-ASS HOLE
IN THAT GRIZZLY BAR THEN.

Narrator:
THE BOULDER WON'T BUDGE.

Jack: WHERE IS IT?

IT'S STILL IN THERE.
I'M JUST GONNA DO THIS SLOW.

IT'S ROCKING. HERE IT GOES.
HERE IT COMES.

THERE'S NO WAY
THAT JUMPED OVER.

HAD THAT IN LAST NIGHT.

Narrator: THE CREW LOSES
TWO HOURS OF RUNNING TIME

BUT GETS RIGHT BACK TO BUSINESS.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

YES! IT STARTED!

I THINK I'M GONNA GO PUT
SOME DRY CLOTHES ON.

OH, THEY THINK
THEY KNOW SO MUCH,

BUT THEY'RE FULL OF [BLEEP]
YOU KNOW.

PARDON MY LANGUAGE,
BUT KIND OF PISSES ME OFF.

EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THAT GOT
THROUGH THE GRIZZLY BAR, THEN.

OH, WHATEVER.

Narrator:
OVER AT EUREKA CREEK...

...TONY IS ON SITE TO OVERSEE

THE NEXT STAGE
OF THE DREDGE REBUILD,

HANGING THE TAILINGS CONVEYOR
OR STACKER IN POSITION.

BECAUSE THE DREDGE'S GANTRY
WINCH IS NOT YET OPERATIONAL,

JERRY HAS TO RAISE THE STACKER
USING THE CRANE.

WHEN THEY'RE ALL READY,
THEN WE'LL LIFT THE STACKER UP

AND THEY'LL TIE THE CABLE OFF,

AND THEN I'LL LIFT THE WEIGHT
OFF THE CRANE,

AND HOPEFULLY IT STAYS UP.

Narrator: AS JERRY LIFTS,

THE REST OF THE CREW TAKES UP
THE SLACK ON THE CABLE.

THE 7-TON STACKER
WILL HANG OFF THE GANTRY

BY A SINGLE STEEL CABLE,

BUT THE CABLE IS 30 YEARS OLD.

Krisher: OLD CABLES CAN JUST
RUST AND ROT IN THE MIDDLE

AND NOT BE AS STRONG
AS THEY NEED TO BE.

SO, THOSE OLD CABLES HAVE TO
HOLD A PRETTY GOOD LOAD THERE.

Narrator:
THE STACKER IS IN POSITION,

BUT IT'S STILL HELD UP
BY THE CRANE.

AS SOON AS JERRY
LOWERS THE CRANE,

THE CREW WILL FIND OUT
IF THE 30-YEAR-OLD CABLE

CAN STILL SUPPORT 7 TONS.

Krisher: GOTCHA.

[ CABLE CREAKING ]

I'M LOOSE.

THAT LOOKS
PRETTY GOOD, MIKE.

IT'S SITTING THERE
HANGING ON ITS OWN.

Krisher: CRANE'S UNHOOKED,
SO IT BETTER BE HOLDING IT,

'CAUSE WE'RE STANDING IN IT
AND IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE,

SO IT'S ON ITS OWN.

Narrator: FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN ALMOST THREE DECADES,

THE TAILINGS CONVEYOR
HAS COME BACK TO LIFE.

THAT'LL BE GREAT.

I DIDN'T DOUBT YOU.

WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

TONY COULD BE AT THE HELM
OF HIS MILLION-DOLLAR DREDGE

JUST LIKE THEY DID 100 YEARS AGO
CATCHING KLONDIKE GOLD.

Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
AFTER THREE DAYS OF RUNNING,

CHRIS DOUMITT PULLS THE MATS

FOR THE FIRST CLEANUP
OF THE CREEK-BED DIRT.

Doumitt: DUDE, HEY, LOOK.
A NUGGET.

THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

SEE HOW COARSE THIS ALL IS?

SO, IF THERE'S ANY FINE GOLD,

MAYBE IT'S SINKING DOWN
THROUGH THE MATS.

WE'RE CATCHING COARSE GOLD.

WE'VE BEEN CATCHING FINE GOLD
ALL SEASON, SO...

Narrator: THE CHANGE FROM FINE
TO COARSE GOLD IS A SIGN

THAT THEY COULD'VE HIT MAIN PAY.

Parker: I'M GLAD
THAT THE STUFF LOOKED GOOD.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S
THE FIRST CRACK AT MAIN PAY

WE'VE HAD EVER.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE
A REALLY GOOD CLEANUP.

I JUST WISH WE HAD
100,000 YARDS OF IT.

NO KIDDING.

Narrator: AT THE HOFFMAN CAMP
IN THE KLONDIKE,

THE CREW WAITS FOR JACK
TO FINISH THE CLEANUP.

THEY HIT A GREAT PAY STREAK ON
THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE HAUL ROAD.

NOW THEY'VE CHASED
THE PAY STREAK NORTH

AND RUN 10,000 YARDS.

Todd: WE'RE EXPECTING
A BIG CLEANOUT.

WE'RE COMING OFF
OUR BIGGEST CLEANUP.

I'M THINKING 110 OUNCES
AT LEAST.

Man: HERE COMES JACK.

EVERYBODY STAND UP.
STAND UP.

I SAW THE BIG BOULDERS,
SAW THE BEDROCK.

ALL THE INDICATORS WERE GOOD,
BUT IT JUST WASN'T THERE.

34 OUNCES.

Todd: 34?

WHERE'S THE OTHER 100?

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

Narrator: THEIR TAKE,
34 OUNCES, WORTH JUST $40,000,

BRINGS THEIR GOLD TOTAL
TO 814 OUNCES, WORTH $975,000.

TODD'S NEW HAUL ROAD CUT
IS A BUST.

THAT'S THE WORST CLEANUP
WE'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME.

THIS IS THE WRONG TIME
OF THE SEASON

TO BE HAVING
LOUSY CLEANUPS.

Turin:
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

CLOSING IN.
IT'S GETTING COLD.

WE GOT TO DIG A LITTLE DEEPER.

Narrator:
WITH JUST TWO WEEKS LEFT,

THE HOFFMANS' 1,000-OUNCE GOAL
IS LOOKING LESS AND LESS LIKELY.

WE NEED GOLD,
BUT BEYOND GOLD,

OUR FAMILIES AND OUR FAITH
ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT.

AND DAD, CAN YOU SAY
A PRAYER FOR US?

YEAH, SURE.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ASK

THAT YOU JUST GIVE US THE ROCKS
WITH GOLD IN IT,

AND LORD, THAT YOU WOULD HELP US

TO JUST FEED IT
THROUGH THE PLANT, LORD,

THAT WE SAILED PAST
1,000 OUNCES,

AND WE ASK ALL THESE THINGS
IN YOUR NAME. AMEN.

All: AMEN.

TO 1,000 OUNCES, GUYS.
WE CAN DO THIS.

Narrator: 20 MILES NORTH...

...PARKER'S ON HIS WAY

TO TONY BEETS'
PARADISE HILL CLAIM.

HE'S ABOUT TO WEIGH
THE FIRST OF HIS GOLD

FROM THE EXPOSED CREEK BED AND
FIND OUT IF HE'S HIT MAIN PAY.

HEY, TONY.

GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

YEAH.

BROUGHT IT UP HERE.
GOOD.

IT LOOKS
PRETTY DAMN GOOD, YEAH.

YEAH.

LET'S FIND OUT.

50.

60, 70, 80.

POUR IT FASTER.
90.

100.
THERE YOU GO.

20.

130, 140, 150.

GEEZ.
WHOA, 160.

170.

200.

215.4.

WOW.

WE'VE HIT
A GOOD HOT SPOT HERE.

IT'S ENDED UP BEING, YOU KNOW,
GOOD MAIN PAY GROUND.

FOR SURE.

215 OUNCES IS WORTH OVER
A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS.

IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST CLEANUPS
OF PARKER'S CAREER.

IT TAKES HIS GOLD TOTAL
UP TO 1,723 OUNCES.

HE'S NOW BANKED OVER $2 MILLION

AND CONFIRMED HIS HUNCH
THAT THEY'RE ON MAIN PAY.

YEAH.

YEAH.

PARKER HANDS OVER TONY'S CUT --

43 OUNCES,
WORTH MORE THAN $50,000.

Man: HOW YOU FEELING
RIGHT NOW, MAN?

THAT'S A PRETTY DAMN GOOD
CLEANOUT RIGHT THERE.

YOU KNOW, TONY TAKES HIS,
AND THAT HURTS A LITTLE BIT,

BUT I'M DAMN HAPPY WITH THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S A LITTLE LATE
IN THE SEASON

TO START FINDING
THE BEST GROUND,

BUT BETTER LATE THAN NEVER,
RIGHT?

THAT'S A QUARTER
OF A MILLION BUCKS RIGHT HERE.

RIGHT? YOU KNOW,
WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

Narrator:
PARKER FINISHED LAST SEASON

WITH LESS THAN $1.5 MILLION
IN GOLD.

WITH $2 MILLION
ALREADY IN THE BANK,

HE STILL HAS TWO WEEKS
TO MINE MAIN PAY

AND A FIGHTING CHANCE OF HITTING
HIS 2,000-OUNCE SEASON GOAL.

ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...

TONY BEETS ASSEMBLES
THE LAST PIECE OF HIS DREDGE...

...THE GOLD-CATCHING
BUCKET LINE.

BUT HE DISCOVERS
HE'S MISSING VITAL PARTS.

PARKER SCHNABEL IS ON
THE BEST GOLD OF THE SEASON...

DEFINITELY SOME OF
THE BETTER STUFF I'VE SEEN.

Narrator: ...MAIN PAY GOLD.

COMING TOGETHER PRETTY NICELY.

Narrator:
BUT WITH 2,000 OUNCES IN SIGHT,

DISASTER STRIKES.

WE LOST ALL CONTROLS.

WE WERE WINNING THE BATTLE
UNTIL NOW.

Narrator: WHEN THE HOFFMAN CREW

WAKES UP TO THE FIRST FREEZE
OF THE SEASON...

Turin:
YOU'RE FREAKING KIDDING ME.

Narrator:
...AN UNLIKELY HERO...

Man: WRAP TARPS AROUND IT.
Turin: THAT'LL WORK.

Narrator: ...LEADS THEM
TO A MONSTER CLEANUP.

IT'S GONNA BE A PAYDAY.

[ ALL CHEERING ]