Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 20 - Millions in Gold - full transcript

Narrator: AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE MINING SEASON...

MAKE SOME GOLD.

Narrator: HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS
ABOVE CARMACKS...

Narrator: BROTHERS
FREDDY AND DEREK DODGE

TEAMED UP WITH EX-HOFFMAN
FOREMAN DAVE TURIN.

Turin: HOPEFULLY, WE CAN COME
TOGETHER AS A TEAM

AND KICK SOME ASS.

HERE IT GOES!

Narrator: THEY BATTLED
VIRGIN GROUND IN THE YUKON.

WHOA!

Narrator: ON A TREASURE HUNT



FOR GOLD NUGGETS.

BIG, NUGGETY
CARMACKS GOLD.

Narrator: BUT,
AFTER JUST SIX WEEKS...

YOU GOTTA DO WHAT'S BEST
FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

Narrator: DAVE LEFT
THE DODGE BROTHERS.

I'M TALKING $3 MILLION
WORTH OF VIRGIN GROUND.

Narrator: TO GO IN 50-50

WITH TODD HOFFMAN
AT McKINNON CREEK.

I'LL DO IT
IF I'M A PARTNER.

Narrator: BUT FREDDY AND DEREK
STUCK TO THEIR GUNS.

POW!

Narrator: THEY BROUGHT IN
HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT...

IT'S A PUZZLE.

MAYBE THESE GUYS
CAN SOLVE IT.



Narrator: FACED CONSTANT
BREAKDOWNS.

IF IT BREAKS IN HERE,
WE'RE -- PERIOD.

Narrator: AND FOUGHT
DROUGHT AND FLOOD.

NATURE'S GOT US
BY THE NUTS RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: IN A HUNT
FOR WHAT FREDDY IS SURE...

LET'S GO!

Narrator: LIES BURIED SOMEWHERE
UP THEIR CREEK.

YOU KNOW, I'M SEARCHING
FOR EL DORADO UP HERE.

Narrator: MILLIONS...

IN MONSTER NUGGETS.

Fred: I DIDN'T COME
ALL THIS WAY TO MESS AROUND.

I CAME HERE TO SUCCEED.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: HIGH
IN THE YUKON WILDERNESS...

LIES THE FABLED
FREEGOLD MOUNTAIN.

FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY,

MINERS HAVE COME HERE
TO SEEK THEIR FORTUNE.

NOW, ON ONE OF THE LAST
VIRGIN CLAIMS,

GOLD GURU FREDDY DODGE

AND HIS BROTHER,
MINING LEGEND DEREK,

ARE LOOKING TO WRITE
THEIR OWN PAGE

IN THE HISTORY OF THE MOUNTAIN.

Freddy: THIS CREEK'S
A TREASURE HUNT FOR ME.

IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY
TO REALLY BRING IN SOME GOLD.

NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT
HERE AND THERE,

BUT BIG NUGGETS.

Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,
150 MILES NORTH,

MINERS DEPEND ON FINE GOLD.

HERE IN CARMACKS,
THE DODGE BROTHERS

ARE MINING FOR POCKETS
OF BIG NUGGETS.

IT'S A HIGH-RISK STRATEGY.

ON THIS MOUNTAIN, FORTUNES HAVE
BEEN MADE AND LOST.

Derek: THE TREASURE
COULD BE ANYWHERE.

IT'S A GAME OF CHANCE.

IT'S JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW,

GOING TO LAS VEGAS
AND ROLLING THE DICE.

Narrator: OVER HALFWAY THROUGH
THEIR SEASON,

FREDDY AND DEREK ARE IN TROUBLE.

THEY'VE RECOVERED ONLY
155 OUNCES OF GOLD,

WORTH JUST $186,000.

THEY HAVE ROUGHLY 50 DAYS LEFT

TO FIND THE PILE OF NUGGETS

SOMEWHERE UP THEIR CREEK.

Freddy: SEASON'S COMING
TO AN END.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN
ON GOOD GOLD YET,

BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD
UNDERNEATH

THE SIDE OF THIS MOUNTAIN,

WE WANT TO GET IT OUT
BEFORE WE'RE FROZE OUT.

THAT WAS GOOD.

THIS MACHINE SMOKING OR...?

I JUST BLEW A HYDRAULIC LINE,
DIDN'T I?

FLIPPIN' HYDRAULIC LINE
JUST BLEW OUT.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT
A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE,

BUT IT'S STILL MORE DOWN TIME.

HEY, DEREK?

YOU CALLING ME?

YEAH, I JUST BLEW
A HYDRAULIC LINE UP HERE.

HOPEFULLY, IT'S JUST
AN O-RING IN THERE.

MAYBE I CAN FIND SOME PARTS
TO GET IT GOING HERE.

SEE IF I CAN'T
GET IT FIXED.

YOU KNOW,
THAT'S YOUR OWN FAULT,

YOU RAMMING AND JAMMING
AND BLOWING SOMETHING UP.

THIS STUFF CAN BE AVOIDED.

Narrator: FREDDY AND DEREK
ARE 50-50 PARTNERS,

BUT THEY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT
APPROACHES TO GOLD MINING.

Freddy: YOU KNOW, DEREK,
WE MAY BE BROTHERS,

AND WE MAY HAVE QUITE A FEW
THINGS IN COMMON,

BUT WE'VE GOT DIFFERENT
MINING PLANS.

DEREK'S A MORE SLOW
AND METHODICAL TYPE MINER.

I'M MORE OF
THE DREAMER TYPE MINER.

I WANT TO FIND THAT BUCKET OF
GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW.

Derek: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
WE'VE MINED TOGETHER.

I MEAN,
WORKING WITH FREDDY'S FINE.

I MEAN, HE'S MY BROTHER.

BUT HE'S, YOU KNOW, ALMOST
A GENERATION OFF OF ME --

HE'S QUITE A LOT YOUNGER.

I'M THE OLD-SCHOOL
KIND OF A GUY HERE,

AND HE'S KIND OF THE ONE
THAT WANTS TO COME IN

AND RIP IT UP AND GET IT DONE.

BUT HE'S KIND OF
LEARNING NOW

THAT YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT.

WELL, I GOT THE PARTS.

AS LONG AS THEY'RE RIGHT.

SEE THAT ONE O

COUPLE-DOLLAR PIECE,

BUT IT MAY COST YOU
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

BECAUSE IT SHUTS YOU DOWN.

YOU'RE BROKE DOWN,
YOU AREN'T MAKING GOLD.

LET'S KICK SOME BUTT.

Narrator: THE HYDRAULIC LINE
IS FIXED.

Freddy: COME ON!

Narrator: FREDDY
GETS RIGHT BACK TO WORK.

Derek: YEAH, THIS CREEK IS
A VERY DIFFICULT CREEK TO MINE.

IT'S SMALL, IT'S NARROW,
THE SIDES ARE STEEP.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE WATER.

THIS THING'S GOT ABOUT
EVERYTHING

NOT GOING FOR IT THAT A CREEK
COULD HAVE, BUT IT'S GOT...

REALLY NICE, BIG GOLD IN IT.

Narrator: WITH THE LIMITED
WATER SUPPLY, FREDDY AND DEREK

DAMMED THE CREEK TO CREATE
A HOLDING POND.

THEY PUMP WATER

IN A PIPELINE
FROM THE HOLDING POND

UP THE CREEK TO A CUSTOM-BUILT
WASH PLANT,

DESIGNED TO FIT
IN THE NARROW VALLEY.

THE SMALL DEROCKER ONLY RUNS
70 YARDS AN HOUR,

LESS THAN A QUARTER

OF WHAT TODD'S MONSTER RED
CAN RUN.

BUT IT INCLUDES A 13-FOOT
BOIL BOX

TO CATCH THE LARGE
GOLD NUGGETS

THE VALLEY IS KNOWN FOR.

KEEPING THE PLANT FED,

DEREK'S WIFE, IRENE.

MY WIFE IS A CITY GIRL --
SHE'S NEVER BEEN ON

A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
IN HER LIFE.

THIS IS MY BIG ADVENTURE.

I'VE BEEN TO GIRL SCOUT CAMP,
BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.

Narrator: TO REPLACE DAVE TURIN,
FREDDY AND DEREK

BROUGHT IN TERRY ROKOSH.

Freddy: WE MISS DAVE
IN HERE FOR SURE.

DAVE'S A HECK OF AN OPERATOR.

AND SO IS TERRY
THAT'S ON THAT HOE RIGHT THERE.

IT'S GREAT WORKING HERE
WITH FREDDY,

IRENE, AND DEREK.

Freddy: SHUT HER DOWN!

Narrator: AT THE END
OF A LONG WEEK,

FREDDY AND DEREK STOP
FOR A CLEANUP.

HOW'S IT LOOKING,
DEREK?

SEE ANYTHING?

YEAH, THAT LOOKS
PRETTY GOOD, EH?

Freddy: HOPEFULLY, THEY ALL LOOK
LIKE THAT, DEREK.

NOT A BAD LITTLE GUY THERE,
THOUGH.

THIS IS GONNA BE
A GOOD CLEANUP.

MIGHT NOT BE
TOO BAD, EH?

Freddy: I'M REALLY HOPING FOR
30 OUNCES.

WE KNOW WE'RE DOING GOOD THERE
AND NOT WASTING OUR TIME.

LOTS OF NUGGETS IN THERE,
DEREK.

YEAH, THOSE ARE
NICE ONES THERE, FRED.

Freddy: 17.73 OUNCES.

Narrator: 17 OUNCES OF GOLD

IS WORTH JUST $20,000.

Derek: WE EXPECTED
WAY MORE,

BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED
IN THIS PARTICULAR PIT

THAT DIDN'T GIVE IT TO US.

Narrator: THE DODGE BROTHERS
NOW HAVE A 172 OUNCES OF GOLD,

WORTH AROUND $200,000.

WITH JUST SIX WEEKS LEFT,

THEY ARE STILL 28 OUNCES SHORT
OF EVEN COVERING

THEIR SEASON'S RUNNING COSTS.

Freddy: IS IT A TREASURE HUNT?

OR IS IT A PLACE
TO GO BANKRUPT ON?

I HAVE HOPED THAT

THERE COULD BE PLACES
IN OUR CREEK

WHERE THE BEDROCK CHANGES.

JUST LIKE A SLUICE BOX,

IT COULD BE PHENOMENAL --

YOU KNOW, POCKETS
AND BIG NUGGETS.

Narrator: DESPERATE TO SAVE
THEIR SEASON...

FREDDY TAKES A DRASTIC STEP

TO FIND NUGGET-RICH GROUND.

HOW YOU DOING,
ISAAC?

Narrator: ISAAC FAGE
AND DAN MURRAY...

GOOD TO MEET YOU, DAN.

Narrator: USE A COMBINATION OF
GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR

AND AERIAL MAPPING TO INDICATE
WHERE THE GOLD COULD BE HIDDEN.

SO WE'RE GONNA FLY
THE DRONE UP ABOVE HERE,

AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE
A DETAILED MAP

OF WHAT THE GROUND
SURFACE LOOKS LIKE.

AND THEN THE RADAR IS GONNA
MAKE A DETAILED MAP

OF WHAT THE BEDROCK
LOOKS LIKE.

THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER.

YEP, THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

Narrator: THE DRONE
WILL FLY UP THE CREEK,

TAKING DETAILED AERIAL
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VALLEY.

INDEPENDENTLY, THE
GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR DEVICE

MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE
ACROSS THE CREEK...

SENDING OUT RADIO WAVES
FROM A TRANSMITTER.

THE WAVES BOUNCE BACK
OFF THE BEDROCK

TO A RECEIVER.

THE TIME IT TAKES
THE SIGNAL TO RETURN

GIVES AN EXACT DEPTH AND CONTOUR
OF THE BEDROCK BELOW.

Freddy:
WE'RE OVER HERE!

SO YOU'RE GONNA
FIGURE IT OUT, ARE YOU?

WELL, WE'RE GONNA
DO OUR BEST HERE,

SO WE BROUGHT A COUPLE
GOOD TOOLS

TO HELP US MAP THE BEDROCK.

WE CAN GATHER ALL THIS DATA
IN A DAY NOW.

YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF
AN OLD-TIME MINER,

SO IT'S ALL NEW
TECHNOLOGY TO ME.

AND I'LL BELIEVE IT
WHEN I SEE IT.

THE TECHNOLOGY WAY,
IT STILL DOESN'T TELL YOU

WHETHER THERE'S ANY GOLD THERE.

IT TELLS YOU WHERE
THE BEDROCK IS.

THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY
TELLS YOU BOTH.

SO WE'LL SEE.

Narrator: TO BEGIN THIS SURVEY,

DAN TRAVERSES THE CREEK
WITH THE GPR UNIT.

Murray: SO ALL I'M DOING

IS DRAGGING THIS
GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR

BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE CLAIM.

THE SNAKE THAT I'M DRAGGING
AROUND BEHIND ME

HAS A RADIO TRANSMITTER
AND A RECEIVER.

THAT GOES TO THIS LITTLE DATA
LOGGER THAT'S IN MY POCKET.

AND BEFORE YOU KNOW,
YOU'VE GOT A REAL PRETTY PICTURE

OF WHAT THE BEDROCK
LOOKS LIKE UNDERNEATH US.

Narrator: TO CREATE AN AERIAL
VIEW OF THE CREEK

THAT WILL LATER BE
MATCHED UP WITH THE GPR,

ISAAC PREPARES THE DRONE.

Fage: IT'S A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY
PACKED ON BOARD

WITH THIS THING.

IT CAN FLY A MISSION COMPLETELY
AUTONOMOUSLY.

IT UNDERSTANDS --
IT'S SENSING THE GROUND.

IT SENSES WIND SPEED
AND DIRECTION.

YEAH, LET'S GET THIS THING
IN THE AIR.

Freddy: AMAZING, EH?

LET'S PUT HER
IN THE AIR.

THERE IT GOES!

Fage: NOW IT'S OFF
TO ITS MISSION.

POW!

YOU COULD SEE THE LITTLE THING
ON HERE.

IT'S TAKING THE PHOTOS
AS IT GOES DOWN THE LINE.

THAT'S HOW WE BUILD THIS COOL
ELEVATION MODEL.

THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

I CAN'T WAIT
TO SEE THE RESULTS.

20 YEARS AGO, YOU'D HAVE
NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT

A LITTLE PLANE
HELPING YOU FIND GOLD.

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
TECHNOLOGY HERE,

KEYED WITH THE GPR
THAT DAN'S DOING UP THERE,

IT MAY DICTATE
THE MINING PLAN,

HUH, DEREK?

WELL, IT'S A FANCY LITTLE TOOL.
I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT.

IT'LL WORK.

Narrator: UP IN THE YUKON,

FREDDY AND DEREK DODGE

GET THE GROUND-PENETRATING
RADAR RESULTS

FOR THEIR CARMACKS CLAIM.

FREDDY IS HOPING
THE BEDROCK IMAGES

WILL PROVIDE A TREASURE MAP.

Freddy: ABOUT DINNER TIME?

HOW'S IT GOING,
FREDDY?

I GOT THE RESULTS BACK
FROM DAN AND ISAAC.

HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.

Derek: SO THIS IS THE FUNNY
LITTLE AIRPLANE PICTURE,

IS THAT RIGHT?
YEAH.

Narrator: 728 PHOTOGRAPHS

TAKEN BY THE DRONE
FORM A HIGH-RESOLUTION

AERIAL MAP OF THE CREEK.

Freddy: LOOK HOW THIS VALLEY
OPENS UP RIGHT THERE.

Narrator: WHEN THEY SUPERIMPOSE

THE GROUND-PENETRATING DATA
OVER THE PHOTOS,

THE BEDROCK DEPTH,
INDICATED BY COLORS,

BECOMES CLEAR.

THE DODGE BROTHERS NOW HAVE
THEIR TREASURE MAP.

LOOK RIGHT HERE.

SEE WHERE IT JUST

FANS OUT RIGHT THERE?

SO THAT SHOULD BE
ALLUVIAL FANNING.

I THINK OUR BEST GOLD'S
RIGHT HERE.

Narrator: A FAST-FLOWING CREEK

HAS CARRIED GOLD
DOWN FROM THE MOTHER LODE

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

WHERE THE CREEK WIDENED
AND LEVELED,

THE WATER SLOWED, ALLOWING
HEAVIER MATERIAL

TO SINK DOWN ONTO THE CREEK BED.

FREDDY HOPES THIS HAS FORMED
A GOLD-RICH ALLUVIAL FAN.

THAT'S WHERE YOU
THINK IT IS, HUH?

IT SHOULD BE.

THAT SHOULD BE A HOT SPOT.

Derek: THAT'S A LONG DAMN WAY

FROM DOWN HERE
WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

WELL, I'D JUST LIKE TO
JUMP UP THERE

AND DIG SOME HOLES
AND SEE WHAT'S THERE.

HMM.

WELL...

THAT AIN'T THE WAY
TO MINE A CREEK.

THERE'S A LOT OF

SPECKS OF GOLD BETWEEN
HERE AND THERE.

I KNOW THERE IS.

AND WE NEED TO PUT THEM
ON THE SCALE.

YOU JUST CAN'T POTHOLE HERE
AND POTHOLE THERE

AND WISH YOURSELF RICH.

MINE EVERY INCH
AND WASH EVERY DAMN ROCK.

AND TAKE EVERY SPECK OF GOLD
FROM DOWN HERE

WHERE WE'RE AT TO UP HERE.

THAT'S HOW YOU
GOTTA DO IT, FREDDY.

I'D SURE LIKE TO GET THERE
BY THE END OF THE SEASON.

HMM.

IT TAKES PATIENCE

AND BEFORE THIS
CREEK'S DONE,

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE
GONNA LEARN,

IS PATIENCE.

YOU KNOW, I'D BE PLEASED AS HELL
TO SEE THAT HE'S RIGHT,

BECAUSE IT WOULD
BENEFIT ME, TOO.

I MEAN, WE'RE PARTNERS
IN THIS THING.

BUT I'VE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE
MOVE IN ON CREEKS

AND DIG A HOLE HERE
AND DIG A HOLE THERE.

PRETTY SOON, IT'S SO UNORGANIZED
AND YOU CAN'T DO

ANYTHING WITH THE CREEK --
THEY'VE RUINED IT.

Narrator: DEREK REFUSES TO
CHANGE HIS METHODICAL PLAN,

BUT FREDDY WON'T GIVE UP
HIS HUNT FOR TREASURE.

Freddy: THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO
GET TO THIS SEASON --

THIS ALLUVIAL FAN HERE.

RIGHT HERE, THIS VALLEY
WIDENS OUT.

TO ME, THIS SHOULD BE
THE BEST GOLD

RIGHT UNDER OUR FEET.

MY GOAL IS, BEFORE THIS
SEASON ENDS,

TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND
OF GOLD'S

UNDER THIS TREE.

WE JUST GOTTA GET TO IT.

Narrator: BUT THE ALLUVIAL FAN
IS 700 FEET

FROM WHERE THE DODGE BROTHERS
ARE CURRENTLY MINING.

Freddy: THE MORE MATERIAL
WE MOVE HERE,

THE FASTER WE GET UP THERE.

Narrator: IN THE 400 EXCAVATOR,

TERRY MOVES UP THE CREEK
ONE BUCKET AT A TIME.

DEREK, IN HIS D8 DOZER,

RIPS AND PUSHES DIRT
DOWN TO WHERE

IRENE FEEDS THE PLANT.

Derek: THE CREEK
ISN'T PUTTING OUT

LIKE WE EXPECTED SO FAR,
YOU KNOW.

WE'LL JUST CONTINUE ON --
YOU NEVER GIVE UP.

EVERY MORNING, YOU TAKE YOUR
SKIRT OFF

AND PULL YOUR PANTS
ON TO MINE THIS CREEK,

AND IF YOU DON'T,
YOU'RE GONNA FAIL.

OH, .

FREDDY, YOU GOT A COPY?

WHAT'S GOING ON, DEREK?

WE GOT SOME REAL ISSUES,
IT SOUNDS LIKE, HERE.

IT'S SQUEAKING LIKE HELL.

WHATEVER IT IS, WE GOTTA
HAVE A LOOK AT IT.

I'LL BE RIGHT UP.

WELL, THE DOZER'S

ACTUALLY THE HEART
OF THE OPERATION, REALLY.

IT USUALLY IS
IN EVERY OPERATION.

I MEAN, IT'S...

IT'S YOUR MAJOR PIECE OF
EQUIPMENT FOR MOVING DIRT.

BUT I THINK WE GOT
AN ISSUE HERE.

IT MAY BE A BIG ISSUE.

ANOTHER PROBLEM?

WELL, I FOUND OUR SQUEAK.

THESE PINS ARE ALMOST
HALF WORN THROUGH,

AND THAT'S WHAT'S MAKING ALL
THE METAL AND SQUEAKING

AND DOING ALL THE CARRYING ON.

Freddy: THIS IS
A MAJOR PROBLEM.

IT'S BARELY HANGING ON.

IF IT BREAKS IN HERE,
WE'RE -- PERIOD.

'CAUSE IF A PIN BREAKS HERE,
THIS DOZER DOESN'T MOVE.

AND THEN WE'RE SCREWED
FOR DOING ANYTHING ELSE IN HERE.

IT'S GOTTA GO HOME
AND BE REPAIRED.

NEW UNDERCARRIAGE
IS THE ONLY OPTION WE GOT, SO...

ICING ON A
IS WHAT IT IS.

I MEAN,
IT'S DONE UNTIL WE --

UNTIL WE REPAIR IT.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE
HERE.

I'LL GET ON THE PHONE,
ORDER SOME PARTS,

AND DEAL WITH IT.

THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.

Narrator: WITHOUT THE DOZER,

THE DODGE BROTHERS ARE FORCED
TO SHUT DOWN THE PLANT

AFTER ONLY THREE DAYS
OF RUNNING.

FREDDY PULLS THE MATS

WHILE DEREK CALLS TO GET
THE VITAL PARTS.

HEY, IS MIKE THERE?

IT ISN'T LIKE CHANGING
A TIRE ON YOUR CAR.

IT COSTS A FRICKIN' LOT
OF MONEY

TO CHANGE THAT UNDERCARRIAGE
ON THAT DOZER.

SO, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS A BIG DEAL HERE.

SO WHAT'S THE SCORE?
WHAT?

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE
BEFORE I CAN GET A NEW ONE?

AW, .
THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK.

Derek: FREDDY?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

THEY CAN'T GET US
AN UNDERCARRIAGE

BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE
PRETTY WELL .

YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT BE
THE LAST CLEANUP WE DO.

.

Freddy: YOU KNOW,
I WANTED TO SEE

WHAT'S AT THE END OF THIS PIT.

WITH THAT DOZER BEING DOWN,
OUR SEASON'S PRETTY MUCH DONE.

CALL IT QUITS AND GO HOME.

Narrator: AT CARMACKS
UP IN THE YUKON,

THE DODGE BROTHERS ARE
ON THE HUNT FOR GOLD NUGGETS.

BUT THEIR MINE
IS AT A STANDSTILL.

THEIR ALL-IMPORTANT DOZER
IS DOWN FOR THE SEASON.

ALL THEY CAN DO NOW

IS WEIGH UP THE GOLD FROM
THE LAST THREE DAYS' MINING.

Freddy: WE'VE GOT ABOUT FOUR
WEEKS LEFT IN THE SEASON.

BUT THAT DOZER BEING DOWN,

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

BASICALLY, WHAT GOLD YOU SEE
RUNNING ON THE TABLE HERE

MAY BE IT FOR THE SEASON.

AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT
THERE'S ENOUGH HERE

TO GET US BROKE EVEN.

Derek: WE'RE HERE TO MINE GOLD
TO MAKE MONEY.

NOW THE D8 DOZER IS DOWN,

THE TRACK'S FAILED ON IT.

SO WE'VE GOT SOME DECISIONS
TO MAKE HERE.

FINISH HERE IN ONE SECOND.
SO...

THERE'S A LOT OF FRICKIN'
COARSE GOLD IN HERE.

A LOT MORE THAN I THOUGHT
THERE WAS GONNA BE.

I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS.

A LOT OF NUGGETS THERE.

Narrator: THE CREW'S PREVIOUS
CLEANUP

WAS A DISAPPOINTING 17 OUNCES,
WORTH JUST $20,000.

SO WHAT DO WE GOT?

38.1 OUNCES THERE, DEREK.

THAT'S WHAT A CLEANUP'S
SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

Narrator: FOR A CREW OF FOUR,

38 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH OVER $45,000,

IS AN IMPRESSIVE CLEANUP
FOR JUST THREE DAYS OF RUNNING.

THAT'S PRETTY
GOOD, FREDDY.

Narrator: THEIR 210-OUNCE,

$252,000 TOTAL

HAS LIFTED THEIR SPIRITS.

WITH THAT GOLD
RIGHT THERE,

OUR EXPENSES ARE
JUST ABOUT COVERED.

Narrator: THEY'VE FINALLY HIT
COARSE GOLD AND NUGGETS,

BUT JUST WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST,

THEY'VE LOST THEIR DOZER.

Derek: WHAT DO YOU
THINK, FREDDY?

I THINK WE NEED
TO KEEP GOING.

RIGHT, SO HOW DO
YOU DO THAT?

INSTEAD OF PUSHING IT
WITH THE DOZER,

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
HAVE

AN EXCAVATOR
FEEDING THE LOADER,

AND THE LOADER FEEDING
THE EXCAVATOR AT THE PLANT.

IT MAY COST MORE
MONEY BECAUSE

NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT

WHERE WE HAD ONE BEFORE.

BUT WITH GOLD LIKE THAT,
COULD BE WORTH IT.

Narrator: WITH THE GROUND
GETTING RICHER BY THE DAY,

FREDDY'S DEVISED A PLAN

THAT COULD STILL GET HIM
UP TO HIS HOT SPOT.

Freddy: WE'RE GONNA USE WHAT
EQUIPMENT WE'VE GOT.

WE'RE DOWN,
BUT WE'RE NOT OUT.

Narrator: IT TAKES TWO MACHINES

TO REPLACE THE BROKEN DOZER.

TERRY, IN THE 400 EXCAVATOR,

STOCKPILES THE PAY DIRT.

DEREK THEN USES THE LOADER

TO BRING IT DOWN TO IRENE
AT THE PLANT.

Freddy: YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA
END UP BURNING

MAYBE 100 GALLONS OF FUEL
MORE A DAY,

BUT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN
IN THAT CLEANUP,

COULD BE WORTH IT.

Narrator: AFTER ANOTHER WEEK
OF RUNNING...

AN OVERNIGHT STORM HAS DUMPED
FOUR INCHES OF RAIN

INTO THE VALLEY.

Derek: I'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE
HERE, AND I KNOW IT'S COMING.

Narrator: DEREK HEADS OUT TO
CHECK THE HOLDING POND

THAT FEEDS THE WASH PLANT.

Derek: , THIS AIN'T GOOD.

UH...

FRED, YOU GOT A COPY?

YEAH, DEREK,
WHAT'S GOING ON?

WE'RE STARTING TO GET SOME HIGH
WATER HERE WITH THIS RAIN.

WE'VE ONLY GOT ABOUT FOUR
OR FIVE INCHES

OF FREEBOARD ON THE TOP
OF THE DAM.

I KNOW WHAT'S COMING HERE.

WE MAY LOSE THIS DAM RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: THE DODGE BROTHERS'
WHOLE OPERATION

RELIES ON A CREEK
THAT RUNS DOWN THE VALLEY.

FREDDY AND DEREK DAMMED IT
TO CREATE A HOLDING POND

THAT STORES THE WATER THEY NEED
TO RUN THEIR WASH PLANT.

THE HEAVY RAINS HAVE FILLED
THE POND TO BREAKING POINT.

IF THEY DON'T GET THE WATER
LEVEL DOWN -- AND FAST --

THE DAM WILL BURST,

AND THEY'LL LOSE THEIR
CRITICAL WATER SUPPLY.

Freddy:
NOT LOOKING GOOD.

NO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN ISSUE
HERE PRETTY QUICKLY.

YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA OPEN UP
SOME OPTIONS HERE FOR US,

'CAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO HANDLE THIS.

Freddy: IF THE DAM BREAKS,

WE AREN'T GETTING ANY MORE GOLD,
THAT'S FOR DAMN SURE,

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
TIME TO REBUILD

AND GET SLUICING AGAIN.

WONDER IF WE COULD LOWER
THAT SPILLWAY A BIT.

Derek: WE START MESSING WITH
THE SPILLWAY,

WE'RE GONNA GET A BIG VOLUME
OF WATER THROUGH THERE,

IT'S GONNA WASH THE DAM OUT,
COULD TAKE

THE EXCAVATOR WITH IT, WHICH
COULD TAKE THE GUY WITH IT.

WE CAN'T TAKE THAT CHANCE.

MY IDEA IS WE'LL RIG
THAT PUMP UP

SO IT CAN PUMP DOWNHILL.

Narrator: IF THEY DIG
A DEEPER SPILLWAY,

THEY RISK WEAKENING
THE STRUCTURE

OF THE DAM WALL
AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

DEREK'S SOLUTION --

LOWER THE POND BY PUMPING WATER
OUT OVER THE TOP OF THE DAM.

GOTTA HAVE SOME FITTINGS
FOR THAT PUMP,

'CAUSE IT'S PUMPING UPHILL NOW.

WE GOTTA TURN IT AROUND AND
PUMP IT DOWNHILL, SO I KNOW

THERE'S A FITTING ON THE
DEROCKER THAT WILL FIT ON THERE.

SACRIFICE RUNNING
THE WASH PLANT

AND GET THIS WATER
DOWNHILL.

LET'S GET HER, TERRY.

BREAK THOSE
FITTINGS APART.

Narrator: DEREK PREPS THE PUMP,

WHILE FREDDY AND TERRY HEAD
UP TO THE DEROCKER FOR PARTS.

OKAY, I GOT HER
PULLED, TERRY.

RIGHT HERE.

WHILE THIS IS FLOODING,

THERE WILL BE NO PLANT
RUNNING.

LET'S GO, TERRY!

COME ON!

WIGGLE THAT A LITTLE BIT.

THERE WE GO --
COME ON.

YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD.

IF IT GOES, IT GOES,
BUT WE'RE GONNA

DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO STOP IT FROM GOING.

THAT'S IT!

TERRY, LET'S START PUMPING WATER
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

WELL, IT'S WORKING.

WELL,
IT'S RAINING, TOO.

IF THE WATER COMES UP,
WE'RE .

IF THE WATER GOES DOWN,
WE'RE SAVED.

THERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

Narrator: AT THEIR
CARMACKS CLAIM,

THE DODGE BROTHERS
HAVE AVERTED DISASTER.

THE RAIN HAS FINALLY STOPPED.

THE PUMP HAS LOWERED THE HOLDING
POND TO A SAFE LEVEL.

FREDDY RECONNECTS THE PUMP
TO THE WASH PLANT.

HEY, DEREK, I'M GONNA
FIRE THE PUMP UP.

OKAY, FIRE IT ON UP.

Narrator: THE CREW CAN FINALLY
START UP THE PLANT

AND GET BACK TO MINING
THEIR GOOD GROUND.

Freddy: LET'S TEAR THIS UP.

Narrator: WITH ONLY THREE WEEKS
LEFT IN THE SEASON,

FREDDY AND DEREK HAVE JUST
10 OUNCES OF PROFIT --

WORTH A PITIFUL $12,000.

BUT...

THEY ARE GETTING CLOSER
AND CLOSER

TO THE ALLUVIAL FAN...

WHERE GOLD GURU FREDDY DODGE

HOPES THEY'LL SOON UNCOVER
A MONSTER PILE OF GOLD NUGGETS.

Freddy: THERE'S MY MARK.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE WORKED OUR ASS
OFF THIS SEASON.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE
HOW CLOSE WE ARE.

WE'RE STRIPPING RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, SO COME
HELL OR HIGH WATER,

I WANT TO SEE WHAT'S
IN THAT FAN RIGHT THERE.

Narrator: FREDDY PUSHES THE CREW
TO GET THEM UP TO THE GROUND

HE'S SURE WILL MAKE
THEIR SEASON.

Freddy: IRENE,
LET'S MAKE SOME GOLD.

Irene: YOU GIVE ME THE DIRT,
AND I'LL FEED THE BEAST.

Derek: TIME IS OF
THE ESSENCE HERE

BECAUSE THIS IS OUR PROFIT
MONEY HERE.

WE CAN'T GIVE UP ON THIS PIT.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE WHATEVER

STEPS IT'S GONNA TAKE
TO FINISH IT AND GET IT DONE

BEFORE WINTER SETS IN.

Narrator: AT THE END
OF THE WEEK,

IT'S TIME FOR
A CRITICAL CLEANUP.

Freddy:
THAT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

I WAS THINKING
THERE'D BE A LOT OF COARSE GOLD

AND A LOT MORE GOLD.

BUT IF YOU DON'T THINK POSITIVE,
YOU MAY AS WELL GO HOME.

I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST SEE
75 OUNCES TO PROVE THAT

WE'RE GOING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

50.66 OF FINE GOLD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK,
FREDDY?

50.66 OUNCES, DEREK.

BUT...

THERE'S 36 OUNCES
OF NUGGETS.

THAT'LL WORK.

THERE'S 86.65 OUNCES THERE.

HOLY .

Narrator: 86 OUNCES --
WORTH OVER $100,000.

THAT'S A WONDERFUL
SET OF NUGGETS.

NOT MANY MINERS SEE
THAT IN THEIR LIFETIME.

NO, NOT NUGGETS LIKE THAT.

Narrator: THEIR GOLD TOTAL

IS NOW 296 OUNCES --
WORTH OVER $350,000.

WE'RE ON THE RIGHT
PATH HERE,

LOOKS TO ME LIKE --

OH, IT'S CLOSE.
WE'RE CLOSE.

LET'S GO FOR OVER
A HUNDRED NEXT TIME.

Derek: YEAH.

Narrator: LARGER NUGGETS
JUST MIGHT MEAN THEY'VE REACHED

FREDDY'S HOT SPOT --
THE ALLUVIAL FAN.

Freddy: 36 OUNCES OF NUGGETS.

THIS PIT WE'RE MINING RIGHT NOW

IS WHERE I WANTED TO BE
THE WHOLE TIME.

YOU KNOW, IT'S DOUBLED
OUR DOLLARS PER YARD.

I'LL TAKE THAT
ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.

Narrator: FREDDY FINALLY
GETS TO MINE

THE "X" ON HIS TREASURE MAP.

BY THE NEXT CLEANUP,

HE'LL BE PROVED RIGHT OR WRONG.

Freddy: TODAY, WE'RE GONNA
START DIGGING

IN THAT ALLUVIAL FAN.

THIS IS WHERE WE WERE TRYING
TO GET ALL SEASON.

I HOPE THERE'S A POT OF GOLD
SITTING UNDER IT.

I WANT TO SEE BIG NUGGETS.

I'M SEARCHING FOR EL DORADO
UP HERE.

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING...

FREDDY WAKES UP
TO SOME BAD NEWS FROM HOME.

Man: SO WHERE ARE
YOU GOING, FREDDY?

UH, I'M...

GOING HOME, I...

HAD A -- OH, I DON'T --

IT'S A TOUGH ONE HERE.

UH...

I GOTTA GO HOME FOR A FEW DAYS.

MY FATHER-IN-LAW, HE...

HE PASSED AWAY, SO...

MY WIFE'S PRETTY...

MY WIFE'S PRETTY TORE UP,
AND HE'S A FRIEND OF MINE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I LIKE
THE CAMERA ON ME LIKE...

Derek: FREDDY'S HAD TO LEAVE US
FOR A FEW DAYS.

HE'S HAD A DEATH IN THE FAMILY
ON HIS WIFE'S SIDE,

AND HE'S GOTTA GO ATTEND
THE SERVICE

AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S GONNA LEAVE US A LITTLE
BIT SHORTHANDED HERE,

BUT WE'LL LIMP ALONG.

YOU GOTTA TAKE CARE OF YOUR
FAMILY FIRST.

THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT
THAN WHAT WE GOT --

REALLY WHAT WE
GOT GOING ON HERE.

I MEAN, THIS IS IMPORTANT, TOO,

BUT FAMILY IS FAMILY.

Narrator: AFTER SIX DAYS DEALING
WITH A DEATH IN THE FAMILY,

FREDDY DODGE IS
ON HIS WAY BACK TO CARMACKS.

Freddy: IT'S BEEN
A DIFFICULT WEEK.

MY FATHER-IN-LAW PASSED AWAY,

MY FAMILY IS PRETTY TORE UP.

MY WIFE'S TORE UP.

SHE REALLY DOESN'T LIKE ME BEING
AWAY RIGHT NOW,

BUT I'VE GOTTA FINISH
THIS SEASON UP HERE.

I WANT TO FIND OUT IF THAT
GOLD'S IN THE GROUND

BEFORE THIS SEASON'S DONE.

THAT'S MY GOAL.

Narrator: AT THE CARMACKS CLAIM,

FREDDY HAS RETURNED...

AND BROUGHT THE HARSH
YUKON WINTER WITH HIM.

BEFORE THEY CAN RUN ANY MORE OF
THE PROMISING ALLUVIAL FAN DIRT,

THEY FIRST HAVE TO THAW OUT
THE WASH PLANT.

Freddy: FROZEN STIFF!

IT'S THE POINT THAT'S
TELLING YOU

THAT YOU'RE
RUNNING OUT OF DAYS.

THIS COULD BE OUR LAST DAY
SLUICING.

WANT TO GO FIRE UP THE PUMP,
DEREK?

Rokosh: THERE'S NO
WATER, FREDDY!

WHAT'S THAT?

THERE'S NO WATER!

IT'S DRAWING HERE,

SO THAT'S GOTTA BE PLUGGED,
DEREK.

Narrator: THE PUMP'S INTAKE
IS ON THE SURFACE

AND FROZEN SHUT.

TERRY, LET'S HOOK IT UP
TO THE FOUR-WHEELER!

OKAY!

TERRY?

Narrator: FREDDY SETS OUT
TO BREAK UP THE ICE.

RIGHT NEXT
TO THERE, EH?

THE SUCTION'S FROZE IN!

WE'RE GONNA HOOK THIS UP TO THAT
FOUR-WHEELER

AND TRY TO BREAK THAT LOOSE
IN THE ICE.

YEAH, TERRY!

DRIVE HER BACK, TERRY!

Freddy: YEAH, TERRY,
IT'S LOOSE!

GOOD JOB!

IT'S STARTING
TO PUMP.

Narrator: FREDDY'S PLAN WORKS.

THEY CAN ONCE AGAIN PUMP WATER
UP TO THE DEROCKER.

DEREK'S WIFE, IRENE,

LOADS THE DAY'S FIRST BUCKET
OF PAY DIRT,

BUT IT'S TAKEN OVER FOUR HOURS

JUST TO GET THE WASH PLANT
UP AND RUNNING.

THAT GONNA RUN
ALL RIGHT?

IT'S NOT PERFECT,
BUT WE'RE RUNNING.

THAT'S THE WAY
IT'S GONNA BE AS LONG AS

IT'S FREEZING HARD AT NIGHT --
IT'S GONNA GET WORSE.

Narrator: THE FORECAST
PREDICTS EVEN COLDER WEATHER.

Freddy: ABOUT DONE NOW.

Derek: YEAH.

YOU WORK ALL DAY TO TRY
TO GET GOING,

YOU WON'T MAKE IT.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING FOR US,

BUT NOTHING YOU CAN
DO ABOUT IT.

WE'RE DONE.

Narrator: DEREK CALLS IT.

THIS IS THE LAST DAY
OF THEIR SEASON.

FOR THE REMAINING SIX HOURS,

THE CREW RUNS NUGGET-RICH DIRT

FROM THE ALLUVIAL FAN.

THEY PUSH HARD,

PROCESSING 400 YARDS OF DIRT.

Derek: THAT'S IT!

Narrator: FOR THE LAST TIME
THIS SEASON,

FREDDY WEIGHS THEIR GOLD.

IF HE'S RIGHT,
THE FAN CUT

SHOULD PRODUCE A PILE OF
CHUNKY GOLD NUGGETS.

Derek: WE NEED OVER 100 OUNCES

SO IT'S WORTH ANOTHER SHOT
NEXT YEAR.

YEAH, HERE'S OUR
FINE GOLD.

10...

20...

31.20.

OKAY, HERE'S OUR MID-SIZE GOLD.

10...

20...

35.84.

Derek: WELL, IT AIN'T
A HUNDRED YET,

I'LL TELL YOU THAT.

WELL, LOOK AT THIS.
WELL...

NUGGETS ALWAYS WEIGH

DIFFERENT THAN YOU
THINK THEY'RE GONNA.

Freddy: 10...

20...

30...

40...

42.14.

109.18.

Narrator: 109 OUNCES --

WORTH $131,000.

THIS LAST WEEK OF RUNNING

HAS PRODUCED OVER A QUARTER
OF THEIR GOLD

FOR THE SEASON.

Freddy: WE GOT 109.18 OUNCES.

WE HAD 296.

WE'RE OVER 405.

Narrator: THEIR TOTAL TAKE
FOR THE SEASON --

405 OUNCES,

WORTH $486,000.

LIKE, LOOK AT SOME
OF THOSE NUGGETS.

THAT'S -- THAT'S
THE FINAL RESULT

OF NOT GIVING UP.

THIS CLEANUP...

IS THE BEST OF THE YEAR.

Narrator: FREDDY'S ALLUVIAL FAN

HAS DELIVERED -- BIG-TIME!

Derek: THIS IS KIND OF
VINDICATION OF THIS CREEK.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL...

WE'VE ALL SACRIFICED A LOT.

THAT'S LIVING, MAN.

IT AIN'T EASY FOR ME.

I LOVE YOU, BUDDY.

LOVE YOU, BROTHER!

Derek: YOU KNOW, WE HAD
A LITTLE TROUBLE

HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR.

WE SURVIVED IT, AND NOW
WE'VE HAD A COMEBACK.

WE KNOW THE CREEK'S
GOT GOLD IN IT.

IT'S NOT GONNA
GIVE IT UP EASILY,

BUT WHAT THE HELL --
THAT'S LIFE, MAN.

Freddy: WE JUST STARTED INTO
THAT FAN CUT,

AND LOOK WHAT'S IN THAT PAN.

42 OUNCES OF NUGGETS FOR JUST
A LITTLE BIT OF DIRT.

SO THAT'S A VICTORY TO ME.

Narrator: COMING UP

ON THE SEASON FINALE
OF "GOLD RUSH"...

AN EPIC STRUGGLE...

FOR FREEDOM.

Man: I COULD SHOW UP NEXT SPRING
AND THIS COULD BE MINE.

Narrator: FOR FUTURE...

Man: I CAN'T GET THIS ICE
THROUGH THE GRIZZLY BARS.

DO NOT SHUT THAT FRICKIN'
PLANT DOWN!

SO, DAD, TELL US WHAT WE GOT.

Narrator: AND FORTUNE.

Man: LET'S GET ON BOARD
AND SEE WHAT THIS THING WILL DO.

GO!

IS THERE GOLD IN THERE
OR IS THERE GOLD IN THERE?