Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 18 - Frozen Gold - full transcript

Narrator: UP NORTH...

AS TIME IS RUNNING OUT
FOR TONY BEETS...

...THE ALL-IMPORTANT
BUCKET LINE BREAKS...

Tony: WHOA, WHOA!

Narrator: ...PUSHING TONY
PAST HIS BREAKING POINT.

THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS OUT OF PAY...

THIS IS ALL THE PAY DIRT
WE'VE GOT.

YOU'RE FRICKIN'
KIDDING ME.

Narrator: ...AND WINTER LOCKS UP
MONSTER RED'S SLUICE BOX.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM,
RIGHT HERE.

JUST WHEN
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S OVER...



GONNA HAVE TO SHUT IT DOWN.

[BLEEP]

Narrator:
...ANDY HATCHES A PLAN...

DO NOT SHUT THAT PLANT DOWN.
I WILL GET YOU DIRT.

Narrator: ...TO MAKE
ONE LAST PUSH FOR 1,000 OUNCES.

[ ALL CHEERING ]

PARKER SCHNABEL
IS ON MAIN PAY...

DEFINITELY SOME OF
THE BETTER STUFF I'VE SEEN.

IT'S COMING TOGETHER
PRETTY NICELY.

YEE-HAW!

...BUT THE YOUNG MINE BOSS
IS TESTED...

[ RUMBLING ]

[BLEEP]

Narrator:
...WHEN HIS MACHINES FAIL...



I'VE LOST ALL CONTROLS
OF THE EXCAVATOR.

Narrator:
...AND THE YUKON WINTER HITS.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

AT McKINNON CREEK,
WINTER HAS ARRIVED.

WHEW!
IT'S COLD THIS MORNING.

REALLY COLD.

Narrator: AND THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS OUT OF THAWED PAY DIRT.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I THINK WE TOOK A CHANCE,
TOOK A GAMBLE --

ON THAT HAUL ROAD CUT.

DIDN'T PAY OFF.

KIND OF A WASTE OF TIME
IN THE END.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT
WE'RE GONNA DO, THOUGH.

HIGHER CUT IS
ABOUT ALL WE GOT NOW.

GUESS THAT GOES TO SHOW,

MAYBE WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION
TO THE DIRT RESULTS.

LAST WEEK,
TODD AND DAVE HAD TO ABANDON

THE CUT ON THE NORTH SIDE
OF THE HAUL ROAD,

LEAVING THEM 186 OUNCES SHORT

OF THEIR
1,000-OUNCE, $1.2 MILLION GOAL.

YOU'RE FRICKIN'
KIDDING ME.

THERE'S MORE BAD NEWS.

MONSTER RED'S SLUICE BOXES
ARE FROZEN SOLID.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM,
RIGHT HERE.

THIS HAS, UH, KIND OF
SNUCK UP ON US THIS MORNING.

THIS IS GONNA TAKE US
A COUPLE HOURS TO THAW OUT.

IT'S TIME
THAT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE.

WE SHOULD BE SLUICING.

THE CREW NOW
HAS TO WASTE PRECIOUS TIME

THAWING OUT THE SLUICES.

Jack: RIGHT NOW,
IF YOU PUT GOLD IN IT,

IT'S JUST WASH RIGHT ON DOWN
AND OUT THE BOX.

WELL, THE PLAN IS,
WE'RE GONNA RUN THE WATER.

ONCE THAT GRAVEL GETS THAWED OUT
AND IT'S STARTS MOVING,

THEN WE CAN SLUICE AGAIN.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

SO, WE'RE JUST GONNA GO KIND OF
SLOW, LET IT WARM UP, THAW OUT.

AS IT GETS COLDER AT NIGHT,
THIS WILL CONTINUE TO GET WORSE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

Narrator:
IT'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF HOURS
FOR THE SLUICES TO THAW,

BUT THE CREW FACES
A BIGGER PROBLEM.

A SHORTAGE OF THAWED PAY DIRT
THREATENS TO SHUT THEM DOWN.

MINE BOSS DAVE TURIN DESPERATELY
NEEDS TO FIND GOLD-RICH GROUND

TO KEEP THEIR SEASON ALIVE.

Turin:
WELL, WE'RE GONNA CHECK

TO SEE HOW GOOD THE GOLD IS
AT THE HIGHER CUT.

Narrator:
FIVE WEEKS AGO,

THE HOFFMANS STRIPPED AN
EXTENSION TO THEIR HIGHER CUT.

THEY STARTED MINING IT
AND FOUND GOOD GOLD.

BUT WHEN THE GOLD RAN OUT,
THEY STOPPED.

THE DRILL HOLES
ON THE SOUTH SIDE ARE PATCHY,

BUT DAVE THINKS THEY COULD
STILL HOLD THE BEST GOLD.

Turin: ALL WE'RE DOING IS
KIND OF GOING ON A HUNCH,

BECAUSE WE KNOW
IT WASN'T REAL GOOD,

BUT WE'RE MOVING TO
A DIFFERENT SECTION OF THE PIT,

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER
INTO THE BEDROCK.

Narrator:
ANDY SPINKS DIGS TEST HOLES IN
THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE EXTENSION

FOR DAVE TO PAN.

YOU KNOW, WORKING IN THIS CUT,
FOR THE MOST PART,

IT'S ALL NICE AND THAWED OUT.

DIGGING RIGHT DOWN INTO BEDROCK,

SO, HOPEFULLY, IT'S GOT
A LOT OF GOOD GOLD IN IT.

Turin: WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
THE BEDROCK'S CHANGING.

THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY
OF HITTING A HOT SPOT HERE.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.

THIS LOOKS BAD.

YEAH, THERE'S NOTHING IN IT.

NOW YOU'RE TALKING.

Narrator:
AS ANDY DIGS THE NEXT HOLE,
THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE ROCK.

HERE'S EXACTLY
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

WE STILL GOT RIVER ROCK,
AND THEN YOU GOT BEDROCK.

SEE HOW SHARP
AND ANGULAR IT IS?

AND YOU GOT
ALL THIS ROUND ROCK.

RIGHT WERE THOSE TWO MEET
IS WHERE ALL THE GOLD IS.

THESE ARE THE TREASURE HUNTS
THAT WE GO ON.

EVERY GOLD MINER IS LOOKING
FOR STUFF LIKE THIS.

Narrator: THE ROCKS INDICATE

THAT AN ANCIENT RIVER
ONCE RAN THROUGH HERE.

ANY GOLD CARRIED BY THE WATER
WOULD HAVE SUNK

ALONG WITH
HEAVY, ROUND RIVER ROCKS,

EVENTUALLY ACCUMULATING
IN A PAY STREAK ON THE BEDROCK.

HOLY [BLEEP]

HOLY COW.

I THINK THIS COULD BE
A GOOD PAN.

LOOK AT THAT.

I GOT THREE BIG PIECES JUST
SHOWING THEMSELVES RIGHT THERE.

HOLY [BLEEP]

WE NEEDED THIS.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU DID.

WE HIT A GOOD SPOT.

THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF
THE BEST PANS I'VE HAD UP HERE.

IF THE REST OF THIS
IS LIKE THAT...

NICE TIME OF YEAR
TO HIT THAT.

MAYBE THIS IS THE BREAK
WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

I'M GONNA GET SOME OF THAT
TO THE PLANT.

NO KIDDING.

Narrator: EAST...

AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS ALREADY BANKED 1,723 OUNCES,

WORTH OVER $2 MILLION.

HE'S ON TRACK TO HIT HIS
2,000-OUNCE, $2.4 MILLION GOAL.

STARTING TO GET COLD, AND WE'VE
GOT A LOT OF GOLD TO FIND STILL,

SO WE NEED TO KEEP ON IT,
REALLY.

YOU KNOW, THIS CUT HAS REALLY
BEEN PAYING OFF REAL WELL.

IF WE JUST STICK WITH IT,

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BREAK
A 2,000 MARK.

LOOKING GOOD.

HEY, THIS IS
SOME PRETTY GOOD-LOOKING PAY --

A LOT OF BIG, COARSE ROCK.

COARSE GOLD, TOO.

YOU KNOW,
WE'VE BEEN FINDING NICE NUGGETS.

DEFINITELY SOME
OF THE BETTER STUFF I'VE SEEN.

EVERYTHING'S COMING TOGETHER
PRETTY NICELY.

COULDN'T ASK
FOR BETTER TIMING FOR IT.

Narrator: JUST A WEEK AGO,
PARKER TOOK A DRASTIC STEP,

DIVERTING A CREEK

TO MINE A RICH GOLD STREAK
OF MAIN PAY ON THE RIVERBED.

NOW HIS CREW IS REMOVING
40 FEET OF OVERBURDEN

TO GET DOWN
TO THE THAWED PAY DIRT

ON THE SIDE OF THE CREEK.

BUT TO MOVE
THE MOUNTAIN OF OVERBURDEN,

THEY NEED
EVERY MACHINE THEY HAVE.

Ness:
IT'S THE END OF THE SEASON,

AND THIS IS REALLY
OUR ONLY FOCUS.

THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THE BERM CUT.
THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE.

WE'RE STRIPPING OVERBURDEN
AND WE'RE HAULING PAY.

WE'VE GOT
ALL OF OUR MACHINES IN HERE.

WE'RE IN
A VERY, VERY SMALL AREA,

AND WE'RE JUST GOING AT IT
'CAUSE, REALLY, THIS IS IT.

Narrator:
GENE AND RICK DIG OUT PAY DIRT
IN THE TWO 460 EXCAVATORS

AND SEND IT OFF TO THE PLANT,

WHILE GREG CHEWS THROUGH THE
OVERBURDEN IN THE LARGER 700.

Remsburg: I'M MOVING OVERBURDEN
AS FAST AS WE CAN,

TRYING TO GET RICK DOWN
TO SOME MORE PAY DIRT.

IT'S ABOUT TAKING
WHAT WE CAN GET.

WE'VE GOT TO DANCE.

WE GOT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH,

BOTH EXCAVATORS LOADING.

WE'RE MOVING TODAY.

[ RUMBLING ]

I'VE LOST ALL CONTROLS
OF THE EXCAVATOR.

WHAT THE [BLEEP]

NESS:
This is bad news.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON.

I GOT --
I'VE GOT NO CONTROLS.

I'm gonna go get Mitch.

[Bleep] thing.

THE 700 RIGHT NOW IS MOVING

TWICE AS MUCH DIRT AS A 460,
JUST ABOUT,

AND WE NEED IT BAD.

HOPEFULLY, MITCH CAN
WORK HIS MAGIC IN A FEW MINUTES,

HAVE THE PROBLEM FIGURED OUT,

AND GET US WIRED BACK TOGETHER
AND OFF AND ROLLING AGAIN.

OTHERWISE, THIS COULD -- THIS
COULD FINISH US OFF, RIGHT HERE.

Narrator: WITHOUT THE 700
CLEARING OVERBURDEN,

THE CREW WILL RUN OUT
OF PAY DIRT FAST.

Blaschke: HOPEFULLY,
IT'S SOMETHING SIMPLE AND QUICK.

Parker: WHAT THE HELL'S
GOING ON, GREG?

IT JUST STOPPED.
JUST DEAD.

THE HYDRAULIC'S NOT RESPONDING,
SO THE NEXT THING IS,

I'M JUST GONNA KEEP FOLLOWING
THE WIRING BACK

AND SEE HOW
EVERYTHING LOOKS.

SEE WHAT IT'S GOT
FOR PRESSURE.

SO, WHAT'S THE STORY
WITH THIS PIG?

LOST THE PILOT PUMP.

[BLEEP]

Narrator:
THE PILOT PUMP PUMPS HYDRAULIC
FLUID THROUGHOUT THE 700.

Blaschke:
IT'S KIND OF THE BRAIN.

IT'S WHAT TELLS EVERYTHING
WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.

Narrator: WITHOUT IT,
THE EXCAVATOR WON'T RUN.

Blaschke: WE DON'T HAVE
ANY SPARES OUT HERE,

SO LOOKS LIKE
A LITTLE BIT MORE

THAN JUST
A FIVE-MINUTE FIX HERE.

ALL RIGHT.
LET ME KNOW.

ALL RIGHT.

WE NEED THIS THING RUNNING.
I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO.

Parker: OVERBURDEN IS THE GAME
RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE GOT 40 FEET OF OVERBURDEN
AND ONLY 4 FEET OF PAY.

THIS WAS THE MACHINE THAT
WE WERE MOVING ALL OUR MUD WITH,

AND WE WERE WINNING THE BATTLE
UNTIL NOW.

Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK,

WITH TEMPERATURES NOW DROPPING
BELOW FREEZING AT NIGHT,

THE HOFFMAN CREW
BADLY NEEDS A WAY

TO KEEP THEIR SLUICES
FROM FREEZING SOLID.

KEVIN HIATT HAS A PLAN.

IF YOU GO HUNTING, YOU REALIZE
THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HEATER

IN YOUR TENT WITH YOU,
AND IT KEEPS IT WARM.

WE'LL HAVE A TARP OVER THE TOP
AND TARPS AROUND THE SIDE.

AND, HOPEFULLY, THAT'S GONNA
KEEP OUR SLUICE BOX THAWED.

THIS SHOULD DO IT.

Narrator:
AT THE END OF THE DAY,

THEY SHUT DOWN THE WASH PLANT
AND MEET AT THE SLUICES.

THAT WAY
A LITTLE BIT, DAVE!

Turin: MY WAY?
YEAH.

WE'RE HOPING TO COVER THIS

TO KEEP THE HEAT IN,
KEEP THE FROST OFF.

BRING HER IN.

HOPEFULLY,
IT DOESN'T GET TOO COLD.

I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY HANDLE
INTO THE EARLY 20s,

BUT IF IT GETS INTO THE TEENS
OR BELOW THAT,

WE MAY HAVE AN ISSUE.

WE'LL SEE.
WE'RE GONNA TRY IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL WORK.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT A SHOT.

Turin: PLUG IT IN!

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

Hiatt: IF THIS WORKS RIGHT,

THIS HEATER RIGHT HERE IS GONNA
GET IT NICE AND TOASTY IN HERE.

ALL RIGHT,
GRAB SOME ROPES AND TIE IT OFF.

SO, I HOPE WHEN WE GET TO WORK
IN THE MORNING,

THIS THING IS THAWED OUT AND WE
CAN GET TO WORK, START SLUICING.

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,

THE TEMPERATURE HITS
10 DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.

IT'S COLD.
I HOPE THIS WORKED.

AH, DUDE,
IT'S WARM IN THERE.

FEEL THAT.

LOOKS GOOD?

YEAH.
NICE!

SO FAR, SO GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD.
GEEZ LOUISE.

NO FROZEN...

IT'S PERFECT.

WE ARE READY TO RUN.

IF YOU WANT TO FIRE IT UP,
WE'LL GET GOING.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

OKAY, JACK,
PUT IT IN.

Jack: WE ARE COOKING.

THE ROCK GOBBLER
CATCHES UP REAL QUICK.

GREAT.

Narrator:
5 MILES EAST...

AT EUREKA CREEK...

KLONDIKE LEGEND TONY BEETS
HAS ALMOST FINISHED

THE REBUILD OF HIS 75-YEAR-OLD,
MILLION-DOLLAR DREDGE.

Crewman: LIKE IT?

IT'S TAKEN TONY SIX MONTHS,

BUT IF HE CAN GET
THE OLD DREDGE RUNNING,

HE BELIEVES THAT EACH SEASON,

IT COULD NET HIM
MILLIONS IN GOLD.

THE BUCKET LINE
DOES THE DIGGING.

THE 130 FEET
OF CHAIN-LINK, CAST-IRON BUCKETS

FEED GOLD-RICH DIRT
INTO THE DREDGE.

BUT BEFORE TONY CAN INSTALL
THE BUCKET LINE,

HE FIRST HAS TO MAKE SURE

THAT THE MOTOR THAT POWERS IT
WILL RUN.

Narrator: TONY IS HOPING

THAT THE 75-HORSEPOWER,
30-YEAR-OLD MOTOR

WILL STILL HAVE THE POWER
TO MOVE THE BULL GEAR,

DRIVE THE BUCKET LINE,

AND FEED PAY DIRT
INTO THE DREDGE.

HEY!

FIRE IT UP, GUYS!

Tony:
IT'S STARTING TO GO OVER.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

Narrator: RIGHT AWAY,
THE MOTOR'S BELTS SMOKE,

AND THE BULL GEAR SLIPS.

WHOA! TONY!
TONY, STOP!

IT'S NOT SAFE!

[ ENGINE STOPS ]

MIKE! HEY!

NO, JUST WRENCH HER IN
AND LOCK IT DOWN.

Narrator: MIKE ADJUSTS
THE TENSION ON THE BELTS.

COME ON, YOU [BLEEP]

I'M TIGHTENING THE ADJUSTER
ON THE MOTOR MOUNT HERE.

IT'S JUST
TIGHTENING THE BELTS UP.

SO, HE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GO
MUCH FARTHER HERE.

SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.

Narrator:
WITH THE BELTS TIGHTENED,

TONY TRIES ONCE AGAIN TO SEE
IF THE GEAR SYSTEM WILL WORK.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

AT SCRIBNER CREEK...

...WITH THE 700 EXCAVATOR DOWN,

GREG IS STRUGGLING
IN THE SMALLER 460

TO MOVE OVERBURDEN FAST ENOUGH
FOR RICK TO KEEP THE PLANT FED.

Remsburg:
THIS TIME OF THE SEASON,
THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE,

SO THE NAME OF THE GAME IS
MOVING OVERBURDEN.

Ness:
WELL, THE SCARY PART IS, YEAH,

REGARDLESS
OF THE 700 BEING DOWN,

WE STILL GOT TO MOVE
THE SAME AMOUNT OF DIRT.

Narrator:
THEIR WASH PLANT, BIG RED,

IS CHEWING THROUGH
150 YARDS OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR,

AND PARKER HAS DONE THE MATH.

Doumitt:
WHAT UP, YOUNGSTER?

YOUR PAY PILE
IS LOOKING PRETTY THIN.

WE'RE NOT DUMPING THAT
IN THE PLANT.

WE'RE WHAT?

WE'RE NOT DUMPING THAT
IN THE PLANT.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?
YEAH.

WHY NOT?
IF WE RUN ANY MORE PAY,

THEN IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE IT
THROUGH THE NIGHT.

WE GOT TO SHUT HER DOWN.

PARKER HAS AVOIDED
FROZEN SLUICES BY RUNNING 24/7.

BUT NOW, WITH THE 700 DOWN,

THEY'RE PRODUCING
HALF THE PAY DIRT.

HE HAS NO CHOICE
BUT TO SHUT DOWN DURING THE DAY

TO BUILD UP A STOCKPILE
TO RUN THROUGH THE NIGHT.

Doumitt:
WE'RE INTO SOME RICH GROUND NOW.

WE'RE ON THE GRAVY TRAIN.

NOW WE'RE MAKING PROFIT.
NOW WE'RE MAKING MONEY.

I MEAN, IT'S PROBABLY
SOME OF THE BEST STUFF

I'VE SEEN IN FIVE YEARS.

AND TO SAY "SHUT HER DOWN,"
IT'S PAINFUL.

IT'S REAL PAINFUL.

THE WHOLE REASON
WE ARE WHERE WE ARE

IS BECAUSE WE RUN 24/7.

AND IF YOU'RE RUNNING
50% LESS TIME,

THEN I'M MAKING LESS
THAN HALF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,

THE HOFFMANS WORK
A NEW GOLD CHANNEL DAVE FOUND

IN AN EXTENSION
OF THEIR HIGHER CUT.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME
WHEN WE NEED THE GOLD THE MOST,

SO, HOPEFULLY,
THIS BEDROCK PAYS WELL

AND GETS US OVER
THAT 1,000 OUNCES.

Narrator: THEY'RE IN A RACE
AGAINST THE YUKON WINTER.

TO HAVE ANY HOPE
OF REACHING 1,000 OUNCES,

THEY CAN'T AFFORD
ANY MORE SHUTDOWNS.

WELL, THE ROCK GOBBLER
IS DOING ITS JOB.

WE'RE DOING OUR JOB.

EVERYTHING SHOULD TURN OUT FINE
IN THE END.

SPINKS: Hey,
something has broke on the 700.

PASLEY:
What's up, there, Andy?

I'm leaking hydraulic fluid
everywhere.

THAT'S NOT GOOD.

Narrator: THE 700
IS THEIR LARGEST EXCAVATOR.

WITHOUT IT,

ANDY CAN'T GET ENOUGH PAY DIRT
TO MONSTER RED.

Spinks: IT'S GOT TO BE
UP IN THOSE HOSES

ON THAT BELLY PAN.

Pasley:
YOU CAN SMELL HYDRAULIC OIL.

HOLY COW.

CAN YOU SEE
WHERE IT'S COMING?

NOT REALLY.

WANT ME
TO START IT REAL QUICK?

YEAH, START IT.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

YEAH, OKAY.

THESE ARE FRICKIN' BAD.

WHEN ONE OF THESE THINGS BREAKS,
IT'S NO JOKE, MAN.

IT'S NOT GOOD.

Pasley:
A HOSE LIKE THAT --

WE JUST DON'T HAVE ONE
HERE AT CAMP,

SO WE GOT TO GO INTO TOWN
AND GET ONE MADE.

THAT'S A WHOLE DAY

OF US NOT GETTING PAY DIRT
UP TO THE WASH PLANT.

Narrator:
LOSING THEIR 700 EXCAVATOR

HITS THE HOFFMAN CREW
JUST AS HARD AS IT HIT PARKER.

KEVIN TO TODD.

KEVIN TO TODD.
DO YOU COPY, TODD?

COPY.

Hey,
I got some bad news.

WE ARE JUST ABOUT
OUT OF PAY.

HOW LONG WE GOT?

Oh, I'll be lucky
if I can run another 45 minutes

before I have to
shut it down.

[BLEEP]

SPINKS:
Do not shut that plant down.

TODD:
Who's down there?

Todd, this is Andy.

DO NOT SHUT THAT PLANT DOWN.
I WILL GET YOU DIRT.

THAT'S MUSIC TO MY EARS.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

THE EXCAVATOR
IS SITTING NEXT TO PAY DIRT.

I'LL PUSH PAY DIRT
TO THE EXCAVATOR,

and I'll have the trucks
haul it out.

WE CAN KEEP THAT PLANT RUNNING,
THOUGH. DON'T SHUT IT DOWN.

ALL RIGHT.
YOU'VE GOT IT, BUDDY.

Do it.
Do it quick.

Narrator: THE TRACKS ON THE 700
CAN'T MOVE,

BUT ITS ARM AND BUCKET
STILL WORK.

IF ANDY
CAN DOZE DIRT CLOSE ENOUGH,

THE 700 CAN STILL LOAD TRUCKS.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE WORK TOO STINKING HARD
TO GET RIGHT TO THE END,

AND JUST BECAUSE A HOSE BLOWS,
WE CAN'T PUT GOLD IN THE BOX.

WE'RE GONNA DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO KEEP THAT PLANT RUNNING,

AND THIS
WILL KEEP THE PLANT RUNNING.

TYSON AND C.J.,

I NEED YOU GUYS DOWN HERE
IN THE ROCK TRUCKS A.S.A.P.

WE GOT TO GO.
LET'S GO. HURRY UP.

Turin: ALL RIGHT,
WE'RE WORKING, WE'RE WORKING.

NICE JOB, ANDY!

Thank you!

Narrator: DAVE LOADS ANDY'S PAY
INTO THE ROCK TRUCKS

WITH THE IMMOBILIZED
700 EXCAVATOR.

Turin:
THIS MIGHT JUST WORK.

COME HELL OR HIGH WATER,

THE MONSTER
IS NOT GONNA SHUT DOWN.

RIGHT ON, YOU GUYS.

YOUR TIMING
COULDN'T BE ANY BETTER.

I'M JUST ABOUT OUT OF DIRT.

THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED,
RIGHT THERE.

KEEP IT STEADY
AND KEEP IT HOPPING.

Narrator:
EAST, AT EUREKA CREEK,

TONY'S CREW PREPARES TO INSTALL

THE VERY LAST PART
OF THE DREDGE --

THE BUCKET LINE.

IF HE CAN GET
THIS VITAL PART IN PLACE,

THE DREDGE
SHOULD BE READY TO RUN

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN NEARLY 30 YEARS.

THE LINE
OF 72 CAST-IRON BUCKETS,

EACH WEIGHING 660 POUNDS,
WILL EVENTUALLY DIG PAY DIRT,

BUT HAULING THE 24-TON LINE
IS NO EASY TASK.

TONY IS IN HIS TYPICAL
"RUSH, RUSH, GET 'ER DONE" MOOD.

Narrator: TONY'S PLAN --

USE THE WINCH
ON THE BACK OF THE DOZER

TO PULL
THE 130-FOOT-LONG BUCKET LINE

UP AND AROUND
THE DREDGE'S LADDER.

ONCE IN POSITION, HE WILL
CONNECT THE TWO END BUCKETS

TO FORM ONE CONTINUOUS LOOP.

GONNA MAKE IT,
IT LOOKS LIKE.

Tony: OH...

Narrator:
AT EUREKA CREEK...

Tony: WHOA, WHOA,
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

...A HEAVY-DUTY STEEL CABLE

PULLING TONY'S
24-TON BUCKET LINE JUST SNAPPED.

GOT TROUBLE
WITH THAT FRICKIN' CABLE.

WE ALMOST GOT TO HAVE A PULLEY
OVER HERE, EH?

SURE, IF YOU WANT.
WHATEVER YOU WANT.
YOU'RE THE CHIEF.

TONY'S NEW PLAN --

HAVE MONICA LIFT THE BUCKETS,
USING THE EXCAVATOR,

TO REDUCE THE LOAD ON THE CABLE

WHILE THE DOZER
STILL DOES THE PULLING.

THE NEW PLAN WORKS.

ONCE OPERATIONAL,

THESE BUCKETS WILL MOVE

100 YARDS
OF GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT AN HOUR.

THE BUCKETS ARE IN POSITION...

GOOD!

...BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

THE BUCKET LINE IS 4 FEET SHORT.

GO TO CLEAR CREEK AND GO THROUGH
THE JUNKYARD OUT THERE.

I KNOW WE WENT THROUGH IT,

BUT THERE COULD BE SOME
LAYING THERE IN THE JUNK.

THERE WAS LEAVES ON THE TREES
AND STUFF AT THE TIME.

YOU COULDN'T SEE THROUGH
THE BRUSH VERY GOOD, BUT...

YEP.

NO.

YEP.

IF I CAN'T FIND TWO BUCKETS,

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

I MEAN, WE MIGHT NOT
END UP RUNNING THIS SEASON.

Narrator:
THE NEXT MORNING AT SCRIBNER...

...THE FIRST SNOWS OF THE SEASON
HIT THE YUKON.

PARKER'S WASH PLANT
IS FROZEN SOLID,

AND THE PARTS
FOR HIS ALL-IMPORTANT 700

STILL HAVEN'T ARRIVED.

HIS CREW IS COLD
AND HAS NOTHING TO DO.

IT'S FREEZING ALREADY.

THAT ICE NEVER MELTED OFF IT
AT ALL TODAY.

UNH-UNH.
NOT AT ALL.

AND IT'S GONNA DO NOTHING
BUT GET COLDER.

YEAH.

OUR DAY IS COMING.

YEAH, YEAH.

Parker:
THE WAY THIS WEATHER IS GOING...

...WHO KNOWS
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?

I MEAN, ONE MINUTE,
IT'S NICE AND SUNNY,

THE NEXT MINUTE,
IT'S DUMPING SNOW,

AND IN AN HOUR, IT'LL ALL
PROBABLY BE GONE -- I HOPE.

Narrator: BUT A SPECIAL DELIVERY
IS EN ROUTE

THAT JUST MIGHT GET
PARKER'S SEASON BACK ON TRACK.

SO, THIS IS THE PUMP HERE
THAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING ON.

AS YOU CAN SEE,
SHE CAME IN RED LABEL.

WE'RE HAPPY TO SEE THIS.

THIS IS WHAT'S BEEN HOLDING
US UP FROM RUNNING THAT 700.

IT'S THE BIGGEST EXCAVATOR
WE GOT OUT HERE

AND MOVES THE MOST DIRT,

AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
GETTING IT BACK RUNNING TODAY.

[ Strained ]
OH, THAT'S NOT LIGHT.

READY?

Blaschke:
YEAH, GO FOR IT.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD
UP HERE!

LET'S GET THIS DONE.

Remsburg: BACK IN ACTION.

Narrator: NOW THE SCHNABEL CREW
CAN FINALLY GET BACK TO MINING.

Remsburg:
BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN.

YEE-HAW!

Parker: WE LOST A FEW
SHIFTS OF RUNNING, WHICH HURTS,

BUT NOW THAT WE'VE GOT
THE 700 BACK UP AND RUNNING,

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE
PLANT BACK UP AND RUNNING 24/7

AND MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.

GOOD TO BE
BACK IN THE SEAT AGAIN.

WE HAVE A LOT OF OVERBURDEN
TO MOVE,

AND THIS
IS THE MACHINE TO DO IT.

HOPEFULLY, WITH BOTH RICK AND I
ON THIS OVERBURDEN,

WE CAN MAKE UP SOME TIME
AND OFFSET OUR LOSSES.

FULL STEAM AHEAD.

Narrator:
AT EUREKA CREEK,

TONY'S DREDGE
IS VIRTUALLY REBUILT.

BUT TO HAVE ANY HOPE OF RUNNING
BEFORE WINTER FREEZES THEM OUT,

MONICA HAS TO FIND
TWO MORE CAST-IRON BUCKETS.

[ DOOR OPENS ]

HEY, DAD.

FOUND SOMETHING.

THESE WERE
WAY AT THE BACK.

THAT'S PROBABLY WHY
THEY DIDN'T FIND THEM.

YEAH, BUT THE LENGTH
IS REALLY ALL YOU NEED.

IT'LL WORK.

TONY RACES BACK
TO THE DREDGE.

THERE'S NO TIME TO LOSE.

HE NEEDS TO PUT THE BUCKETS ON
BEFORE MORE SNOW FALLS.

[ WHISTLES ]

THANKS.
Kevin: WATCH YOUR FINGERS.

OKAY.

Krisher: THAT'S JUST
SO SHE CAN TURN, RIGHT?

DOWN, DOWN,
DOWN, DOWN.

A BIT MORE,
A BIT MORE.

IT'S TAKEN SIX LONG MONTHS,

MORE THAN 10,000 BOLTS,

150 I-BEAMS, 2 GANTRIES,

19 PONTOONS,

A WHEELHOUSE, STACKER,

BULL GEAR, TROMMEL,

SLUICE BOX, SPUD,

LADDER, 72 BUCKETS,

AND ONE LAST PIN...

...BUT, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN ALMOST 30 YEARS,

TONY'S DREDGE IS READY TO RUN.

Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK,

THE CREW IS PULLING MATS
AFTER RUNNING PAY DIRT

FROM DAVE'S ANCIENT RIVERBED.

IN ALL HONESTY, WE ONLY RUN
5,000 YARDS THROUGH THESE MATS.

I THINK THERE'S
AT LEAST 50 OUNCES IN HERE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK,
LOGAN?

DID YOU SAY
5,000 YARDS?

YEAH.

GOLD MINING
IS A GAME OF MATH.

ONCE YOU KNOW A RIVER,

YOU KNOW WHERE THE GOLD IS
IN THAT RIVER --

IN OUR CASE, IT'S
ABOUT A FOOT ABOVE BEDROCK --

THEN IT'S JUST A GAME OF MATH.

YOU KNOW HOW MANY YARDS YOU RAN,

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH GOLD
YOU'RE GONNA GET.

FAIR ENOUGH. SO WHAT DO YOU
CALCULATE THE TOTAL WILL BE?

WHO KNOWS?

[ LAUGHTER ]

Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK
IN THE KLONDIKE,

PARKER SCHNABEL HAS SHUT DOWN.

IT'S TIME FOR A GOLD WEIGH.

Parker: SO, IT'S BEEN
A PRETTY ROUGH WEEK.

WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE HAY
WHILE THE SUN SHINES HERE,

'CAUSE THERE'S OBVIOUSLY
NOT MUCH TIME LEFT.

Narrator: THIS YEAR, PARKER
HAS MINED 1,723 OUNCES OF GOLD,

WORTH MORE THAN $2 MILLION.

HEY, TONY.
HEY, PARKER!

HUH?

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON.

HOPEFULLY, THIS IS JUST
A SHOT ACROSS THE BOW, YOU KNOW?

YEAH.

THERE'S A COUPLE NICE CHUNKS
IN THERE.

WITH TEMPERATURES
DROPPING FAST...

ALL RIGHT, WELL,
WEIGH THIS STUFF UP.

...PARKER WILL BE LUCKY
TO GET ANOTHER WEEK OF SLUICING.

20.

TO STAY ON TRACK
FOR HIS SEASON GOAL,

HE NEEDS AT LEAST 140 OUNCES.

60.

80.

100.

117.10.

117 OUNCES
IS WORTH $140,000.

HE'S WELL SHY OF HIS
2,000-OUNCE, $2.4 MILLION GOAL,

AND HE ONLY HAS DAYS LEFT
BEFORE THE BIG FREEZE SETS IN.

THIS BRINGS US TO 1,840.

160 TO GO.

YEAH.
YEAH?

WOW.

AS LONG AS THIS WEATHER
DOESN'T HOLD UP,

THEN IT'S JUST NOT WORTH
FIGHTING FROZEN GROUND,

I DON'T THINK.

RIGHT.

YEAH.
RIGHT?

I HEAR YOU.

YEAH, YOU TOO.
OKAY.

Parker: THERE'S STILL
A LONG WAYS TO GO.

I KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE
A BAD ONE,

'CAUSE WE DIDN'T
GET THE HOURS IN.

YOU KNOW, WE JUST
WEREN'T SLUICING AS MUCH TIME.

AND WITH THE 700
BACK UP AND RUNNING,

WE GOT TO MAKE UP
FOR LOST TIME.

YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHAT COLOR THE GROUND IS --

WHITE, BROWN, GOLDEN --

GOT TO MOVE THE DIRT.

IT'S TIME TO SEPARATE
THE MEN FROM THE BOYS.

Narrator:
AT McKINNON CREEK,

THE HOFFMAN CREW WAITS ANXIOUSLY

TO FIND OUT IF DAVE'S ANCIENT
RIVER CHANNEL WILL PAY OFF.

Todd:
WE NEED TO HIT THIS ONE, GUYS.

IF WE DON'T GET 1,000 OUNCES,

GUYS, I LOVE ALL OF YOU,
BUT WE'RE NOT COMING BACK.

THAT'S THE LONG
AND THE SHORT OF IT.

ME AND DAVE ARE IN TROUBLE,

AND WE'RE NOT
GONNA BE ABLE TO COME BACK.

THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.

Narrator: WITH THE SEASON
DRAWING TO A CLOSE

AND JUST 814 OUNCES BANKED,

THEY NEED AT LEAST 93 OUNCES

TO HAVE A SHOT AT THEIR
1,000-OUNCE, $1.2 MILLION GOAL.

Jack: HEY, GUYS.
Turin: THERE'S JACK.

HEY, GUYS.

100.

22.

YEAH!

[ ALL CHEERING ]

GRAND TOTAL -- 936.

YEAH!

[ ALL CHEERING ]

WE'RE CLOSE, JACK.

YEAH, WE ARE.
Man: YEAH!

Narrator: 936 OUNCES
IS WORTH MORE THAN $1.1 MILLION.

GOOD LORD.

GUYS,
WE GOT NINE FULL JARS.

DAD,
HOLD THAT LAST JAR UP.

GUYS,
THAT'S ALL WE GOT TO DO.

WE JUST GOT TO
GET THAT 10th JAR FILLED UP.

LOOK AT THAT, GUYS.

ANDY.

HOW MANY MORE DAYS OF PAY
DO WE HAVE IN THE HIGHER CUT?

WE ONLY GOT
A FEW DAYS LEFT.

WE GOT TO DO IT, ANDY.

I KNOW THE GOLD IS THERE
IF WE GOT ENOUGH PAY.

IT'S GONNA BE CLOSE.

WE'RE NOT LEAVING
TILL THIS JAR IS FULL.

BUT HERE'S THE DEAL.

WE WENT THROUGH SOME CRAP
LAST YEAR.

AND THIS IS OUR YEAR.

THIS IS OUR YEAR
OF REDEMPTION.

LET'S FILL THIS UP, GUYS,
AND LET'S KEEP GOING.

WELL, GUYS, I'D LIKE
TO JUST THANK GOD FOR IT.

HEAVENLY FATHER,

WE THANK YOU FOR
JUST BRINGING US TO THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH GOLD
IS OUT THERE IN THAT GROUND,

AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD
GIVE IT TO US ABUNDANTLY.

AMEN.
Man: AMEN.

AMEN.

LET'S GET SOME SLEEP
AND HIT IT IN THE MORNING, OKAY?

THAT LAST 60-SOMETHING OUNCES
IS GONNA BE TOUGH -- VERY TOUGH.

IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE A FIGHT
TO GET TO THE VERY END,

BUT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,
THIS TEAM RIGHT HERE --

WE'LL GET THERE,
AND WE'LL GET THAT 1,000 OUNCES.

I CAN SEE THE FINISH LINE.
I KNOW WHERE IT IS.

NOW THE QUESTION IS,
CAN THIS TEAM FINISH?

CAN WE FINISH THE MARATHON
THAT WE STARTED?

Todd: TIME'S UP.

WE GOT TO GET IT.
WE GOT TO GET IT NOW.

Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH,"

WITH THE BIG FREEZE
ABOUT TO HIT,

PARKER'S CREW
IS READY TO HEAD HOME.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW,
WHAT'S THE ISSUE?

EVERYBODY'S WORE-OUT.

I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS HERE
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE HERE.

TONY'S MILLION-DOLLAR DREDGE
SPRINGS A LEAK.

WHOA! HOLD IT!

WE'RE TAKING ON WATER.
GET OUT OF THE WAY.
CLEAR THIS AREA.

GOT TO GET SOME PUMPS
UP THERE QUICK.

Narrator:
AND WHEN THEY LEAST EXPECT IT...

WE DID IT! WE DID IT!
YEAH!

...THE HOFFMAN CREW GETS
DEVASTATING NEWS.

I'M REALLY SORRY.
THIS IS A DISAPPOINTMENT.