Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 3 - Golden Boy - full transcript
Parker fights with his crew over running at night. Tony twists a vital steel frame on the dredge. Todd, Jack and Thurber tackle their first clean up.
Todd Hoffman: GOLD MINING IS NOT
FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
IT'S BASICALLY A MINEFIELD
OF BROKEN DREAMS.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS DOWN TO THREE.
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE,
AND IT'S GOTTA WORK.
Narrator: THE BEATEN MEN
FIGHT A DESPERATE BATTLE...
TODD, TURN IT OFF!
...TO GET THEIR ANCIENT
EQUIPMENT UP AND RUNNING.
STOP!
IT BLEEDS DOWN.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
Narrator: THEY WORK HARDER
THAN EVER BEFORE...
I'LL KEEP HER GOIN'.
...TO BEAT THE ODDS
FOR THEIR FIRST PAYDAY...
[ ALL CHEER ]
HERE IT COMES.
THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD.
...AND THE CHANCE OF REDEMPTION.
THAT'S OUR BEST
FIRST CLEANUP EVER.
Narrator: TONY BEETS
HAS FALLEN WAY BEHIND...
...IN A FRANTIC ATTEMPT
TO GET HIS MASSIVE, 75-YEAR-OLD
DREDGE MINING GOLD THIS SEASON.
TONY TEARS INTO IT...
...BUT HIS RECKLESS ABANDON...
...SETS HIM BACK EVEN FURTHER.
YOU SEE ALL THAT TWISTED STEEL
UP THERE, TONY?
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL'S
2,000-OUNCE GOLD
LOOKS LESS AND LESS LIKELY...
WE'RE FALLIN' BEHIND.
THIS IS, LIKE, THE LEANEST
GROUND WE'VE EVER SEEN.
...TO CHANGE HIS FORTUNE.
WE HAVE TO GET THE GOLD
OUT OF THE GROUND.
Narrator: THE YOUNG MINE BOSS
MAKES THE UNPOPULAR DECISION
TO RUN HIS CREW
DAY AND NIGHT...
I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW
WE DO IT RIGHT NOW.
EITHER WALK OUTTA HERE
OR RUN 24/7.
Narrator: BUT FACES PROBLEM...
Parker: DAMN.
WE GOT A HOLE IN THE BELT.
...AFTER PROBLEM...
THIS JUST ISN'T WORKING.
...AS HE STRUGGLES
TO TURN HIS SEASON AROUND.
THAT'S GOOD GOLD.
THAT'S
A PRETTY DAMN GOOD PAN.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator:
TODD, JACK, AND THURBER
ARE ALL THAT REMAIN
OF THE HOFFMAN CREW.
OKAY. GET OUT OF THE WAY!
Narrator: THEY'RE WORKING ALONE
IN THE YUKON,
TRYING TO RESURRECT
THEIR GOLD MINING CAREERS.
WE'RE, UH, STRUGGLIN'.
LAST SEASON WAS SUCH
A HORRIBLE TRAIN WRECK
THAT, UH, GOT A COUPLE PIECES
OF EQUIPMENT AND, UH,
THEY WERE NEW
A LONG TIME AGO.
Narrator:
ALL THEY WERE ABLE TO SALVAGE
FROM THEIR DISASTROUS SEASON
IN THE JUNGLE
WAS THEIR WASH PLANT,
LITTLE RED.
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE,
AND IT'S GOTTA WORK,
OR IT -- IT'S OVER.
WE'RE DONE.
Narrator: TO GET MORE GOLD
THAN THE PATHETIC 2 OUNCES
THEY MINED LAST SEASON,
THE THREE OF THEM SOMEHOW
NEED TO GET LITTLE RED
UP AND RUNNING.
WHY DON'T YOU LET ME
JUST TELL YOU WHAT TO DO?!
I KNOW WHAT IT'S GOTTA DO.
[ EQUIPMENT CREAKING ]
WE'RE LACKING IN YOUTH
AND ABILITY.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE
THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD,
BUT WE ARE A TEAM.
[ CHUCKLES ]
ONE MINER, ONE OLD GUY,
AND ONE FAT GUY.
YOU KNOW WE'RE BEHIND,
AND I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S POSSIBLE,
BUT LOOK AT THAT.
IT'S ALL PAY DIRT OUT THERE.
WE DO NOT HAVE
TO STRIP THIS DIRT,
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY RUN
THIS THROUGH,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PAY DIRT
OUT HERE.
AND LET'S JUST GET SOME GOLD,
US THREE.
OKAY?
OKAY. WE'LL DO IT.
THURB, WE NEED TO, UH, LOAD
THAT SLUICE BOX UP ON THE 400,
AND AWAY WE GO.
WATCH THAT TOWLINE.
NICE AND EASY, JACK.
TAKE IT EASY. SLOW.
THERE YOU GO.
EASY, EASY, EASY!
[ GROANS ]
400 RUNNIN' PRETTY ROUGH,
HUH?
YEAH.
WELL, JUST TRY
TO MAKE IT UP HERE.
SEE IF WE CAN GET THE BOX SET.
GET YOUR SLUICE BOXES LEVEL
SO THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY
CATCHIN' YOUR GOLD.
YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO DO
ALL THIS
WITH PRETTY SHADY EQUIPMENT.
GET RIGHT UP TO IT.
THINK "CHING, CHING,"
THURB, HUH?
[ CLINKING ]
YOU'RE AT THE LEVEL. I WANNA SEE
WHERE WE'RE SITTIN' RIGHT HERE.
TRYIN' TO ACHIEVE 2 INCHES
PER FOOT OF FALL.
3 INCHES.
SO WE GOTTA COME UP
ON THIS END.
WE'RE GONNA HOOK YOU UP.
YOU'RE GONNA BRING THE FRONT UP.
OKAY.
WHOA!
WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'?
YOUR OWN THING OR...
COME ON, DAD. STOP!
WE'RE BRINGIN' THIS SIDE
OF THE BOX UP. OKAY?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME.
I CAN SEE IT.
IT'S AN INCH AND A HALF OFF.
NO ONE TOLD YOU TO MOVE IT
AND NOW YOU'RE MOVIN' IT AGAIN.
IT'S JUST YOUR COMMUNICATION
ISN'T RIGHT,
AND IT BLEEDS DOWN,
SO YOU'RE GONNA KEEP DOIN' --
I GET IT.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO WHEN I MOVE IT,
IT DON'T PAN IT.
I GET IT.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
YOU GOTTA GO DOWN!
I KNOW WHAT IT'S GOTTA DO.
IT JUST AIN'T DOIN' IT.
IT JUST BLEEDS AND BLEEDS
AND BLEEDS.
IT MAKES ME WONDER IF
I'M WASTIN' MY TIME HERE.
ALL RIGHT. CRAP.
SHE JUST DIED.
OKAY, THURBER, JUMP UP THERE
AND, UH, PUMP SOME MORE FUEL
INTO THAT BABY.
ALL RIGHT.
THE FUEL PUMP IS GOIN' OUT.
HYDRAULIC PUMP IS GIVIN' UP.
THIS THING'S DONE.
IT'S WAY PAST ITS PRIME.
SO I HAVE TO KINDA BABY
THIS THING ALONG,
BUT IF IT BREAKS DOWN,
WE ARE TOAST,
'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY
TO FIX IT.
OKAY. GIVE HER A SHOT.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS.
CURL THE BUCKET
A LITTLE BIT.
THURBER, DO NOT GET
UNDER THAT, THOUGH. OKAY?
SHOULD'VE GOT
MY LIFE INSURANCE.
UP. GO UP, PLEASE.
UP.
THURBER, GOOD JOB.
DAD, GOOD JOB. WE GOT IT IN.
DON'T BREATHE ON IT.
IT'S PERFECT.
WE GOT A PERFECT FALL NOW.
LET'S GO WORK
ON THE WATER SUPPLY, GUYS.
Narrator:
JUST 200 YARDS AWAY...
LET'S ROLL IT OUT, THURB.
...THERE'S ALREADY
A LARGE HOLDING POND
TO SUPPLY THE WASH PLANT.
THIS WILL BE
THE FINAL STEP,
AND THEN WE THROW THE KEY TO SEE
IF EVERYTHING'S RUNNING.
HAVE NO IDEA YET.
BRING IT IN, DAD.
Narrator: ALL THEY NEED NOW
IS TO DROP IN THE WATER FILTER.
THIS IS AWESOME.
IT FLOATS OUT THERE AND, UH,
KEEPS THE BASKET OFF
OF THE BOTTOM WHERE IT COULD
PULL SILT INTO OUR PUMP.
YOU DON'T WANNA PULL A BUNCH
OF JUNK INTO YOUR PUMP.
IT COULD RUIN YOUR PUMP.
EASY!
OKAY!
[ THUD ]
WHAT...THE FRICK?
[ EQUIPMENT CREAKING ]
THAT THING'S SUPPOSED
TO BE FLOATING.
WE'RE ABOUT 2 FEET SHORT
OF WATER HERE.
THE LEGS ARE ON THE BOTTOM.
THAT BASKET'S
BARELY UNDERWATER.
IF THAT FLOAT ISN'T FLOATIN',
YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER.
I NEED AT LEAST --
I'M -- I'M GUESSIN',
ANOTHER FOOT AND A HALF
TO 2 FEET IN HERE.
YOU CAN'T SLUICE
WITH DIRTY WATER.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE SCREWED.
Narrator: 10 MILES TO THE EAST
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
19-YEAR-OLD MINE BOSS
PARKER SCHNABEL IS GUNNING
FOR 2,000 OUNCES,
OR $2.4 MILLION IN GOLD
THIS SEASON.
HIS GOAL --
TO BUY HIS INDEPENDENCE.
Parker:
I CAN'T DEAL WITH TONY ANYMORE.
BY THE END OF THE SEASON,
I'LL ABLE TO BUY MY OWN GROUND
AND BE MY OWN MAN
LIKE MY GRANDPA IS.
Narrator:
BUT WITH JUST 80 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH LESS THAN $100,000,
AFTER 4 WEEKS OF MINING,
PARKER'S WAY OFF WHAT HE NEEDS
TO HIT HIS GOAL.
LET ME KNOW WHAT -- HOW MANY
BUCKETS YOU GET IN AN HOUR.
IF I HAVE TO,
I'LL CRANK THAT THING UP.
HONESTLY, IF WE'RE GONNA HIT
2,000 OUNCES,
WE REALLY TO START
MAKIN' UP GROUND.
WE NEED TO STEP UP
PRODUCTION.
WE DON'T WANNA START
OUR SEASON BEHIND.
Narrator: IF PARKER'S GOING TO
HIT 100 OUNCES EVERY WEEK,
HE NEEDS TO MAKE
A RADICAL CHANGE.
I THINK THIS IS, LIKE,
THE LEANEST GROUND
WE'VE EVER SEEN,
BUT THIS IS THE ONLY GROUND
WE'RE GOT,
SO IF WE CAN'T FIND
BETTER GROUND,
THEN WE'VE GOTTA RUN
MORE GROUND.
HEY, GENE.
HOW ARE THINGS GOIN'?
DOIN' DAYS RIGHT NOW
ON THIS LEAN A GROUND
ISN'T GONNA GET US ANYWHERE,
SO I'M THINKING ABOUT
TRYIN' TO CHANGE THINGS UP
AND START A NIGHT SHIFT
ON THE PLANT,
START SLUICIN' 24/7
AND START PUMPIN'
THIS STUFF THROUGH IT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I GUESS,
I DON'T REALLY AGREE
WITH RUNNIN' 24/7.
YEAH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW HOW SHORT
THE SEASON IS, GENE.
OH, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA
KEEP PAY TO THE PLANT, YOU KNOW?
GOTTA GET MORE PEOPLE.
I CAN, ON NIGHTS,
HAUL IN PAY --
I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW
HOW WE DO IT RIGHT NOW.
EITHER WALK OUTTA HERE
AND THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE
TO WALK TO, OR GO 24/7.
THERE'S NO OTHER WAY.
WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE
AND WE'RE JUST NOT READY YET.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOOD FOR
ONE SHIFT TODAY,
BUT NOT TWO.
GUYS MAY NOT LIKE IT,
BUT WE HAVE TO GET THE GOLD
OUT OF THE GROUND.
EVERY WEEK THAT WE DON'T DO
AT LEAST 100 OUNCES
IS A WEEK WE'RE FALLIN' BEHIND.
Narrator: AT 7:00 P.M.,
PARKER STARTS THE NEW REGIME.
OH, NEW GUY!
CHRIS, THIS IS DAVID.
DAVID, HOW YOU DOIN'?
HEY, CHRIS.
HE'S GONNA BE RUNNIN' NIGHTS,
STARTIN' TONIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. YEAH.
SO IF YOU COULD, SHOW HIM
THE ROPES ON THE PLANT?
HAVE YOU DONE ANY OPERATIN'
OF PLANTS LIKE THIS?
YEAH, I'VE RUN A COUPLE PLANTS
BEFORE.
[ CLOSES DOOR ]
LITTLE UNNERVING,
WATCHIN' A NEW GUY ON THE PLANT.
WE FINALLY GOT IT DIALED IN.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS
THE WISEST DECISION OR NOT.
NEW GUY AND I ARE GONNA TRY TO
RUN THE PLANT TONIGHT,
SO I'M GONNA HAUL IN PAY.
GOOD LUCK.
YEAH. THAT TRUCK READY TO GO?
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS, MAN.
YEP.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO HOT SEAT HERE,
LOAD THESE TRUCKS,
GET THE PAY UP TO THE PLANT,
AND HOPE I CAN KEEP UP.
Narrator: PARKER LOADS IN
THE EXCAVATOR
AND THEN JUMPS IN THE ROCK TRUCK
TO DRIVE PAY DIRT
OVER TO THE NEW GUY, DAVID.
BY 1:30 A.M.,
THE 2-MAN NIGHT CREW HAS ALREADY
RUN OVER 400 YARDS OF PAY DIRT.
I'M NOT LIVING THE DREAM.
I'M COLD AND I'M TIRED,
AND I'M TOO SOBER TO STILL BE
AWAKE AT 1:30 IN THE MORNING.
Narrator: PARKER'S WORKED
17 HOURS STRAIGHT,
AND HE'S STARTING TO LOSE IT.
HEY, PARKER, CAN YOU HURRY UP
WITH THIS PAY DIRT?
THIS PILE'S GETTIN'
PRETTY SMALL HERE.
ROGER THAT.
I'LL TRY TO PICK IT UP.
I'VE GOTTA BE DOIN'
EIGHT LOADS AN HOUR,
AND WITH THE WAY THIS HAUL IS,
I'M DOIN' ABOUT SIX AN HOUR
SO THAT REALLY STARTS
PUTTIN' ME BEHIND.
You're gonna have to pick up
the pace there, Parker.
YEAH. I MEAN, I'M TRYIN', MAN.
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
WE'RE GONNA BE RUNNIN' OUT HERE
IN A COUPLE MINUTES, I THINK.
Narrator: DAVID SCRAPES UP
THE LAST OF THE DIRT
PARKER STOCKPILED.
HEY, PARKER.
THE PAY DIRT IS GONE.
THIS JUST ISN'T WORKING.
I CAN'T KEEP UP.
[BLEEP] IT. [BLEEP] IT.
WE'LL JUST SHUT IT DOWN.
ALL RIGHTY.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO DO.
I CAN'T KEEP UP
WITH THE PLANT.
IT'S A LONG HAUL,
AND ONE GUY,
AND IT'S JUST NOT GONNA DO IT.
Narrator: AT 3:00 A.M.,
AFTER AN 8-HOUR NIGHT SHIFT,
PARKER CALLS IT.
HE JUST CAN'T HAUL ENOUGH
PAY DIRT TO KEEP THE PLANT FED.
THE GROUND'S LEAN,
AND THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THAT
IS TO RUN MORE OF IT,
AND SEEMS LIKE EVEN THAT
RIGHT NOW IS NOT AN OPTION.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,
BUT WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
Narrator: AT CLEAR CREEK,
TONY BEETS IS TAKING
HIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE APART
TO MOVE IT 150 MILES
TO HIS NEW CLAIM,
BUT HE'S ALREADY FALLEN
A WEEK BEHIND SCHEDULE.
Narrator: BUILT IN 1939,
IN ITS BEST SEASON,
THIS FLOATING GOLD FACTORY
CAUGHT $5 MILLION IN GOLD.
TONY IS DEAD SET
ON RESURRECTING IT THIS SEASON.
HE'S FINALLY GOT HIS NEW CRANE
ON SITE
TO REMOVE THE 6-TON GANTRY,
THE MASSIVE STRUCTURE
USED TO SUPPORT THE BUCKET LINE.
IF WE CAN TAKE IT OUT
IN ONE PIECE, FINE,
BUT IF IT BENDS,
IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
RIGHT WHERE IT'S ATTACHED.
TAKE IT APART, AND THEN WE'LL
LET IT DOWN IN TWO PIECES.
THEN WE DON'T TAKE A CHANCE
ON BENDING IT UP THERE.
RIGHT.
Narrator: THE GANTRY IS
A PIVOTING STEEL STRUCTURE
THAT SUPPORTS
THE GOLD-CATCHING BUCKET LINE.
THE GANTRY IS HELD IN PLACE
BY A BRACE.
BY REMOVING THE BOLTS
THAT CONNECT THEM,
TONY CAN LOWER THE GANTRY
WITHOUT THE 3-TON BRACE
STRAINING
THE 75-YEAR-OLD STEEL WORK.
BUT HE CAN'T RISK ANY MISTAKES.
THERE'S NOWHERE TO GET
SPARE PARTS FOR THE DREDGE.
HEIGHTS?
YEAH.
OH [BLEEP]
JUST DON'T LOOK DOWN.
OH...
IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN GET
ALL THE BOLTS OUT.
YEAH.
YEAH, WHEN YOU STAND RIGHT HERE
WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH,
TAKE 'EM ALL OUT.
HEY!
OH.
YIKES.
THIS WHOLE THING FELL THROUGH!
OKAY?
Narrator:
THE 75-YEAR-OLD DECK IS ROTTEN.
TONY, THE LUMBER
IS [BLEEP] UP.
I CAN HARDLY STAND ON IT
WITHOUT FALLIN' THROUGH.
Narrator:
AND TONY DOESN'T HAVE TIME
TO MAKE THE PLATFORM SAFE ENOUGH
TO REMOVE THE BOLTS
AND DISCONNECT THE BRACE.
I THINK THAT'D BE THE BEST,
THEN NOBODY'S UP THERE.
YEAH. BRACE WILL COME DOWN
WITH THE GANTRY.
YEAH...
YOU GOT IT?
Narrator: TONY NEEDS SOMEONE
TO CLIMB THE STEEL WORK
AND HOOK UP THE CRANE.
HE VOLUNTEERS HIS SON KEVIN.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
YEAH.
GOTTA GO UP ON TOP OF IT!
FEELS VERY WINDY!
I LIKE THAT PLAN.
JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE.
Narrator: THE GANTRY
AND THE BRACE
HAVE NOT BEEN MOVED
FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
IF THEY GET DAMAGED,
IT COULD BE NEXT SEASON
BEFORE TONY CAN CONSTRUCT
A REPLACEMENT.
YEAH, THIS IS THE FINAL BOLT.
SO THIS WILL GET
REALLY EXCITING
AND EVERYONE SHOULD STAND
[BLEEP] BACK.
ARE YOU READY? GO.
[ DRILLS ]
GO THE RIGHT WAY.
THAT HELPS.
[ DRILLING RESUMES ]
OKAY.
YOU GOT THAT...
I'LL NEED SOMEBODY
TO PUT PRESSURE ON IT,
SO SHOULD JUST SLIDE OUT.
LET'S SEE.
NOW IS THE FUN BIT.
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.
I CAN JUST SEE
A PROBLEM HERE.
[ CREAKING ]
HEY!
IT'S TWISTING.
HEY, TONY.
HEY!
HOLD IT DOWN, NOW. WE'LL WATCH.
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
THE GANTRY IS A BIT TWISTED.
YOU SEE ALL THAT TWISTED STEEL
UP THERE, TONY?
Narrator: 60 MILES SOUTH,
AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMANS' HOLDING POND
IS LOW ON WATER.
TODD'S HUNTING DOWN
THE WATER SOURCE
USED BY THE MINERS
THAT WENT BUST HERE LAST SEASON.
THE LAST GUYS THAT WERE HERE,
THEY MUST HAVE BEEN GETTIN'
THEIR WATER
ALL THE WAY FROM DOWN THERE.
HERE'S THEIR SUCTION.
LOOK AT THIS PUMP.
IT PULLED THE WATER
AND SENT IT
ALL THE WAY
UP TO THE PLANT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LONG WAY
TO PUSH THAT.
THAT IS GOOD WATER.
Narrator:
TO FILL THEIR HOLDING POND,
THEY'LL HAVE TO PUMP THE WATER
A HALF MILE UP THE PIPELINE.
BUT THE ONLY PUMP THEY HAVE
IS OVER 50 YEARS OLD.
HOW DO YOU START THAT THING?
HECK, I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE SEEN ONE OF THOSE LEVERS,
THURBER,
IN AN OLD WORLD WAR II MOVIE,
WHERE THEY DROP THE BOMBS
OUT OF THE BOMBER.
YOU GOTTA SIT THERE
AND THROW THAT IN.
THAT ENGAGES YOUR CLUTCH.
DAD, WHY DON'T YOU GO DOWN
TO THE END
AND TELL ME HOW MUCH WATER'S
COMIN' OUT OF THAT THING?
WHAT -- LET ME JUST FIRE IT UP,
GIVE HER A SHOT, OKAY?
[ SWITCH CLICKS, WHIRRING ]
[ WHIRRING STOPS ]
Hey. We're up at the top.
You can fire it up.
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
OKAY. I'M TRYIN'.
[ GROANS ]
WE GOT FUEL AND HERE SHE GOES.
[ WHIRRING ]
COME ON. COME ON, COME ON.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE GOTTA GET THIS PRIMED UP.
GET THE PUMP PUMPIN' WATER!
HERE IT COMES.
HERE SHE COMES.
THE PIPE IS TIGHT.
WE'RE PUSHIN' WATER.
ALL I'M HEARING RIGHT NOW
IS SOME SOUNDS,
BUT THAT'S, UH,
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
I'M AT ABOUT 500 R.P.M.
I think I'm gonna
throttle it up a little bit.
Bring it up to 700 RPM.
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
YEAH, I'M ABOUT 700 R.P.M.
Do you see anything coming up
to that baby?
Not seeing anything yet.
OH, DAD, I SEE SOME
SHOOTIN' OUT THE SIDE.
Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS DOWN TO JUST TODD, JACK,
AND THURBER.
BEFORE THEY CAN FIRE UP
THE WASH PLANT AND START MINING,
THEY HAVE TO PUMP WATER
A HALF MILE
UP INTO THEIR HOLDING POND.
OH, DAD! I SEE SOME
SHOOTIN' OUT THE SIDE.
HEY, SHUT IT OFF!
TURN IT OFF, TODD!
DAMN IT!
WE GOT A TORN GASKET
OR NO GASKET HERE.
[ GROANS ]
IT'S FRUSTRATING.
IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.
WE JUST CAN'T RUN DOWN
TO THE HARDWARE STORE
AND PICK SOMETHIN' UP.
YOU GOTTA IMPROVISE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE BUSH.
WE DON'T HAVE THE EXACT PART,
BUT YOU FIND SOMETHIN'
THAT YOU THINK WILL WORK
AND, UH, YOU GIVE IT A GO.
HERE'S SOME OLD HOSE.
I CAN CUT THIS STRIP,
WRAP IT AROUND THAT PIPE,
CLAMP IT TOGETHER.
MAYBE IT'LL WORK.
I THINK I HAVE A FIX.
HEY, TODD.
GO AHEAD AND FIRE IT UP.
OKAY, UH, WE'LL GIVE HER
A SHOT HERE.
DON'T SEE ANYTHING YET.
Have you started it comin'?
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
WOULD YOU SHUT UP
FOR ONE SECOND?
[ GROANS ]
WHAT DID HE SAY?
[ SWITCH CLICKS,
ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
LOOKS LIKE
SHE'S PUMPIN' WATER.
I can hear it!
[ WHIRRING ]
Okay, here she comes.
Got about half a pipe full.
WELL, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
[ CHUCKLES ] ALL RIGHT.
THURB, YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
I WOULDN'T SAY
WE'RE OUT OF THE WOODS YET,
BUT WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER.
HERE WE GO.
Narrator:
OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S NIGHT SHIFT PLAN
HAS FAILED.
HE'S OUT OF STOCKPILED PAY DIRT
AND CAN'T RUN THE WASH PLANT.
PARKER'S HAD JUST
FOUR HOURS SLEEP IN TWO DAYS,
BUT HE'S UP EARLY
AND BACK AT IT.
SO WE'RE ABOUT
TO CHANGE THINGS UP
A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: HE SHIFTS HIS ENTIRE
CREW ONTO HAULING PAY DIRT.
[ ENGINE RUMBLING ]
Parker: WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
PAY STOCKPILED AT THE PLANT
TO RUN ALL NIGHT,
SO WE ARE GONNA HAUL
ALL THIS PAY OUT OF HERE
AND STOCKPILE IT,
AND HOPEFULLY OUR NIGHT SHIFT
TONIGHT WILL BE SLUICIN'.
THIS IS A SHORT SEASON,
AND EVERY HOUR
THAT WE'RE NOT SLUICING
IS AN HOUR WE DON'T GET BACK.
WE JUST GOTTA GO FOR IT.
IF WE NEED TO THE PLANT
TO RUN 24/7,
THEN WE'LL DO WHAT IT TAKES
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
Narrator: PARKER'S LOST
FIVE HOURS OF SLUICING.
IT'S 1:00 P.M. BEFORE THEY
FIRE UP THE WASH PLANT.
WE'RE BACK UP
AND RUNNIN' AGAIN.
ABOUT TIME. NOW MAYBE
WE CAN GET SOME GOLD.
PARKER WANTS TO RUN
THE WASH PLANT 24 HOURS A DAY,
WHICH MEANS WE GOTTA GET A LOT
MORE MATERIAL UP TO THE PLANT.
PRESSURE'S TURNED ON.
WE'RE ALREADY WORKIN'
PRETTY DAMN HARD,
BUT WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO
BUST ASS AND GET IT FOR HIM.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT
A PRETTY GOOD STOCKPILE HERE,
AND THIS SHOULD RUN
DOUBLE SHIFTS,
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CAN
CRANK UP 24/7
AS SOON AS WE'RE READY HERE,
BECAUSE WE'VE DEFINITELY GOT
THE PAY.
Narrator: WITH A THOUSAND YARDS
OF PAY DIRT STOCKPILED,
PARKER AND DAVID START
THE NIGHT SHIFT ONCE AGAIN.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A PRESSURE.
SOMEBODY'S GOTTA DO THE JOB,
I GUESS.
IT'S ALWAYS HARDER TO SEE THAT
EVERYTHING'S WORKIN' PROPERLY
AT NIGHT.
Parker:
WE REALLY NEED THIS TO WORK.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA FIND
THE GOLD WE NEED IS --
IS JUST RUNNING THE YARDING,
BECAUSE WE'VE DROPPED DOWN WHAT
WE'RE DOIN' PER HOUR.
AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW,
PISSIN' IN THE WIND.
David: [BLEEP]
PARKER, WE GOT A PROBLEM.
WE GOT A PROBLEM. THIS TAIL END
CONVEYOR -- SHE JAMMED RIGHT UP.
WHAT HAPPENED?
OH, WE GOT A HOLE
IN THE BELT
ON THE TAIL END CONVEYOR.
[BLEEP]
WE GOT A LOT OF FINE ROCKS
BUILDING UP IN THERE,
WHICH CAN JAM IT UP,
AND THAT'LL SMOKE YOUR BELT
ON THE TAIL END CONVEYOR.
UH, IF WE KEEP RUNNING IT,
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA RIP
[BLEEP]
Narrator: IF PARKER DOESN'T STOP
THE CONVEYOR,
THE DAMAGED BELT WILL RIP
IN HALF,
PUTTING BIG RED OUT OF ACTION
FOR DAYS.
Parker: I DON'T REALLY WANNA
[BLEEP] THAT BELT UP.
WELL, I GUESS WE HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO SHUT IT DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
WE'RE GONNA DO, BUT RIGHT NOW
IT'S NOT CUTTIN' IT.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET
THIS THING GOING 24/7?
Narrator: AT CLEAR CREEK,
TONY BEETS AND HIS TEAM
ARE REMOVING A CRITICAL PIECE
OF HIS GOLD-CATCHING DREDGE --
THE 6-TON, STEEL GANTRY.
Narrator: THEY'VE LOWERED
THE GANTRY TO THE GROUND
AND BENT THE STEEL
IN THE PROCESS.
NOW THEY HAVE TO DISCONNECT
THE GANTRY FROM THE DREDGE
BY REMOVING THE PINS
IT HINGES ON.
OKAY.
RIGHT BEHIND YA.
HEY,
ON THE BARREL BEHIND YA.
Narrator: WHEN TONY LOWERED
THE GANTRY IN ONE PIECE,
HE TWISTED THE STRUCTURE.
NOW HE'S PAYING THE PRICE.
WELL, I THINK THAT BEAM
TWISTED LIKE THAT.
IT'S PROBABLY PUTTIN'
A PRETTY GOOD BIND
ON THAT OTHER PIN,
SO THAT OTHER PIN'S NOT
GONNA COME OUT VERY EASY.
IF YOU CAN GET THINGS
LINED UP PERFECTLY,
YOU CAN SLIDE IT
IN WITH YOUR FINGERS.
WANT ME TO GET A TORCH,
BURN THOSE OTHERS OFF?
I'LL JUST...
Narrator: THE TWISTED GANTRY
IS LOCKED IN PLACE
BY THREE REMAINING PINS.
THE PLAN IS TO REMOVE THE BOLTS
THAT HOLD THE TWO OUTER BEAMS
TO THE DREDGE.
THIS SHOULD RELEASE THE TWIST
ON THE GANTRY
AND ALLOW THEM TO REMOVE
THE FINAL TRAPPED PIN.
WELL, WITH HIM CUTTIN'
THEM BOLTS OFF,
IT OUGHTA FREE THIS SIDE UP,
AND THAT'LL PROBABLY
FREE THAT PIN UP
SO HE CAN GET IT
OUT OF THERE.
HEAVE HER UP.
HOLD ONE SECOND.
Narrator:
THE DREDGE WAS LEFT TO ROT HERE
AFTER ITS LAST SHIFT
27 YEARS AGO,
BUT TONY'S CONVINCED
HE CAN RESTORE IT
AND CATCH THOUSANDS OF OUNCES
OF GOLD, LIKE THE OLD-TIMERS.
Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK,
TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN STARTED
THEIR SEASON WITH NO CLAIM,
NO MACHINES, AND NO MEN.
NOT THAT ONE.
OKAY.
Narrator: NOW IF THEY CAN JUST
GET CLEAN WATER
TO THEIR WASH PLANT,
THEY CAN ONCE AGAIN
CALL THEMSELVES GOLD MINERS.
FOR THE LAST 24 HOURS,
THEY'VE BEEN PUMPING WATER
INTO THEIR HOLDING POND.
THEY'RE FINALLY READY
TO FIRE UP LITTLE RED
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
FIRE UP THE GENERATOR.
[ SWITCH CLICKS, WHIRRING ]
WORKING!
WORKIN' GOOD.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE GOT WATER!
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOO!
YEAH!
LISTEN, DAD, I WANT YOU TO PUT
THE FIRST BUCKET IN.
I'LL KEEP HER GOIN'.
YOU KNOW, ALL THIS WORK
AND ALL THIS PLANNING
HAS COME DOWN TO THIS.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE
THIS THING'S ACTUALLY RUNNIN'.
OKAY. HERE IT COMES.
IT'S WORKIN' GOOD!
BIG ROCKS GOIN' THAT WAY,
THE MATERIAL WITH THE GOLD'S
GOIN' THROUGH THE SLUICE.
ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.
I'M EXCITED.
I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.
IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD SEASON.
Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT DAY AND A HALF,
THE SKELETON CREW PUSH
THEIR 36-YEAR-OLD LOADER
AND TRUSTED 400 EXCAVATOR
HARDER THAN EVER BEFORE,
RUNNING 2,000 YARDS OF PAY DIRT.
THIS ISN'T IDEAL,
BUT I'M GETTIN' PAY DIRT.
[ CLANKING ]
THURBER, I NEED YOUR HELP.
WHAT'S GOIN' ON?
HOLY CRIPE, LOOK AT THAT.
YEAH, WHAT'S UP?
IT JUST QUIT.
CAN YOU JUST GET IT
TO DUMP DIRT?
TODD, I KNOW WHEN ENGINES GO,
AND THIS ONE WENT.
THIS PUPPY ISN'T GONNA GO
ANYMORE.
IT SEIZED UP.
UGH!
WE DON'T HAVE AN EXCAVATOR
TO LOAD THAT PLANT.
THURBER,
LET'S GO CUT THE WATER.
[ WHIRRING ]
[ WHIRRING STOPS ]
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S CREW GETS STARTED
ON A CLEANUP.
Parker: THIS LAST RUN HERE
DOESN'T LOOK REAL GREAT.
HOW MANY HOURS ARE ON IT
RIGHT NOW?
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T REALLY
KEEP TRACK OF HOURS.
GEEZ.
FIRST PICKER OF THE SEASON.
IT'S MORE THAN A PICKER.
YOU WANNA DOOM IT?
NEVER FIND NUGGETS.
WELL,
IF YOU USE PARKER'S HANDS,
THEY'RE SMALLER
AND THE NUGGET LOOKS BIGGER.
HA HA, FUNNY.
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER FINISHES THE CLEANUP
FOR THE WEEK.
WE TRIED TO GET THE NIGHT SHIFT
TO WORK AND IT WOULDN'T,
SO...I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GONNA
BE IN IT,
BUT THIS CAN'T BE
UNDER 100 OUNCES,
OR IT'S NOT PAYIN' THE BILLS.
Narrator: TONY BEETS,
PARKER'S CLAIM OWNER, ARRIVES
FOR THE GOLD WEIGH.
OH, KINDA ROUGH, REALLY.
WE TRYIN' TO GET
NIGHT SHIFTS GOIN'
AND, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE SHORTHANDED,
SO I'VE BEEN THROWIN' IN.
MAYBE 20, 30.
Narrator: TO HIT HIS GOAL
OF 2,000 OUNCES,
WORTH $2.4 MILLION,
PARKER NEEDS AT LEAST 100 OUNCES
EVERY WEEK.
90.83.
Narrator: 90 OUNCES IS WORTH
MORE THAN $100,000.
THIS IS TWO WEEKS NOW
THAT WE'RE UNDER.
I DON'T KNOW EVEN
IF WE'RE COVERIN' FUEL.
Narrator: PARKER WEIGHS OUT
TONY'S CUT --
13 1/2 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH $16,000.
RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS, TONY.
Narrator:
FOUR WEEKS INTO THE SEASON,
PARKER STILL HASN'T MANAGED
A SINGLE 100-OUNCE CLEANUP.
Parker:
I MEAN, ALL WE EVER TALK ABOUT
IS HOW SHORT THE SEASON IS.
IF YOU FALL BEHIND,
IT'S SO HARD TO CATCH UP,
AND THE PROBLEM IS, THAT'S TRUE.
Narrator:
BACK AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMANS' ONLY EXCAVATOR
IS DEAD.
THEY JUST GOT STARTED
AND SUDDENLY HAVE NO WAY
TO MINE.
ONE OF THE WORST -- WORST DAYS
OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S ONLY ONE GLIMMER OF HOPE
IN THIS WHOLE SITUATION,
AND THAT IS THAT I GOT GOLD
IN THE BOX.
Narrator: TODD'S ONLY CHANCE
OF REPAIRING OR REPLACING
THE 400 EXCAVATOR
IS TO GET A PILE OF GOLD
OUT OF THEIR FIRST CLEANUP.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE RAN
THE YARDS
TO BE THAT BIG OF A CLEANUP.
MAYBE 5 OR 10 OUNCES MAX.
YOUR HANDS...
THAT WOULDN'T EVEN BUY A BUCKET
FOR AN EXCAVATOR UP HERE.
SO...
YOU KNOW,
THIS COULD TAKE, UH,
TAKE THE SAP RIGHT OUTTA YA,
BUT WE'LL SEE.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S, UH, DRY IT OUT, DAD.
IT'S -- IT'S NOT OUR BIGGEST,
IT'S NOT OUR SMALLEST,
BUT IT COULD BE
OUR MOST IMPORTANT CLEANUP
WE'VE EVER DONE RIGHT HERE.
DAD, LET'S MEASURE IT UP.
ALL RIGHT. 3, THERE'S 4...
THAT SOUND JUST NEVER GETS OLD,
YOUR GOLD FALLIN' INTO A JAR.
10...
10.
11, 12...
18, 19, 20...
NOW WE'RE TALKIN'.
ALL RIGHT.
STILL GOT SOME GOIN'.
27...
YES!
28...
YEAH!
31...32...
33...
34.
WOW.
Narrator: 34 OUNCES,
WORTH OVER $40,000.
THAT'S OUR BEST FIRST CLEANUP
EVER.
THAT'S IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
HUH?
Narrator: THEY MAY HAVE
A BROKEN-DOWN EXCAVATOR,
BUT THEIR FIRST KLONDIKE CLEANUP
IS 17 TIMES MORE
THAN THEY GOT IN GUYANA
ALL OF LAST SEASON.
34 OUNCES.
GUYS, WE DID IT.
HOLY CRAP.
32 WITH LITTLE RED.
THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD.
WE JUST MIGHT HAVE ENOUGH GOLD
TO GET AN EXCAVATOR, GUYS.
I NEED TO RIDE INTO TOWN.
I THINK I NEED TO TELL MY WIFE
I'M STAYIN'.
FOR THE AMOUNT OF DIRT WE RAN,
THIS GROUND IS FRICKIN' AWESOME.
YEAH.
HERE WE GO, HUH?
WE'RE STILL IN THE GAME.
WE'RE NOT GOIN' HOME.
THIS LAND HAS
GOT SOMETHIN' SPECIAL,
AND I REALLY WANNA FIND OUT
WHAT IT'S GOT FOR US.
ME, MY DAD, AND THURBER,
WE'RE FRICKIN' BACK.
RIGHT THERE.
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH,"
TONY BEETS
MAKES A DRASTIC MOVE...
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I NEED?
I NEED MONEY.
...TAKING TO THE SKIES...
LET'S GO.
...AS HE STRUGGLES TO RECOVER
LOST TIME.
PARKER SCHNABEL NEEDS TO GET
BACK ON TRACK...
THEN LET'S DO IT.
...AND MAKES A RASH DECISION
THAT SPLITS HIS CREW.
WASN'T FAST ENOUGH, THEN GET
SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IT.
THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
Narrator:
AND A DEFEATED TODD HOFFMAN...
WHAT THE FRICK?!
GUYS, SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.
...SUCKS UP HIS PRIDE...
WE NEED MORE MEN.
...AND CALLS THE ONE MAN
WHO CAN SAVE HIS SEASON.
DAVE, IT'S TODD.
I NEED YA.
FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
IT'S BASICALLY A MINEFIELD
OF BROKEN DREAMS.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS DOWN TO THREE.
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE,
AND IT'S GOTTA WORK.
Narrator: THE BEATEN MEN
FIGHT A DESPERATE BATTLE...
TODD, TURN IT OFF!
...TO GET THEIR ANCIENT
EQUIPMENT UP AND RUNNING.
STOP!
IT BLEEDS DOWN.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
Narrator: THEY WORK HARDER
THAN EVER BEFORE...
I'LL KEEP HER GOIN'.
...TO BEAT THE ODDS
FOR THEIR FIRST PAYDAY...
[ ALL CHEER ]
HERE IT COMES.
THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD.
...AND THE CHANCE OF REDEMPTION.
THAT'S OUR BEST
FIRST CLEANUP EVER.
Narrator: TONY BEETS
HAS FALLEN WAY BEHIND...
...IN A FRANTIC ATTEMPT
TO GET HIS MASSIVE, 75-YEAR-OLD
DREDGE MINING GOLD THIS SEASON.
TONY TEARS INTO IT...
...BUT HIS RECKLESS ABANDON...
...SETS HIM BACK EVEN FURTHER.
YOU SEE ALL THAT TWISTED STEEL
UP THERE, TONY?
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL'S
2,000-OUNCE GOLD
LOOKS LESS AND LESS LIKELY...
WE'RE FALLIN' BEHIND.
THIS IS, LIKE, THE LEANEST
GROUND WE'VE EVER SEEN.
...TO CHANGE HIS FORTUNE.
WE HAVE TO GET THE GOLD
OUT OF THE GROUND.
Narrator: THE YOUNG MINE BOSS
MAKES THE UNPOPULAR DECISION
TO RUN HIS CREW
DAY AND NIGHT...
I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW
WE DO IT RIGHT NOW.
EITHER WALK OUTTA HERE
OR RUN 24/7.
Narrator: BUT FACES PROBLEM...
Parker: DAMN.
WE GOT A HOLE IN THE BELT.
...AFTER PROBLEM...
THIS JUST ISN'T WORKING.
...AS HE STRUGGLES
TO TURN HIS SEASON AROUND.
THAT'S GOOD GOLD.
THAT'S
A PRETTY DAMN GOOD PAN.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator:
TODD, JACK, AND THURBER
ARE ALL THAT REMAIN
OF THE HOFFMAN CREW.
OKAY. GET OUT OF THE WAY!
Narrator: THEY'RE WORKING ALONE
IN THE YUKON,
TRYING TO RESURRECT
THEIR GOLD MINING CAREERS.
WE'RE, UH, STRUGGLIN'.
LAST SEASON WAS SUCH
A HORRIBLE TRAIN WRECK
THAT, UH, GOT A COUPLE PIECES
OF EQUIPMENT AND, UH,
THEY WERE NEW
A LONG TIME AGO.
Narrator:
ALL THEY WERE ABLE TO SALVAGE
FROM THEIR DISASTROUS SEASON
IN THE JUNGLE
WAS THEIR WASH PLANT,
LITTLE RED.
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE,
AND IT'S GOTTA WORK,
OR IT -- IT'S OVER.
WE'RE DONE.
Narrator: TO GET MORE GOLD
THAN THE PATHETIC 2 OUNCES
THEY MINED LAST SEASON,
THE THREE OF THEM SOMEHOW
NEED TO GET LITTLE RED
UP AND RUNNING.
WHY DON'T YOU LET ME
JUST TELL YOU WHAT TO DO?!
I KNOW WHAT IT'S GOTTA DO.
[ EQUIPMENT CREAKING ]
WE'RE LACKING IN YOUTH
AND ABILITY.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE
THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD,
BUT WE ARE A TEAM.
[ CHUCKLES ]
ONE MINER, ONE OLD GUY,
AND ONE FAT GUY.
YOU KNOW WE'RE BEHIND,
AND I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S POSSIBLE,
BUT LOOK AT THAT.
IT'S ALL PAY DIRT OUT THERE.
WE DO NOT HAVE
TO STRIP THIS DIRT,
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY RUN
THIS THROUGH,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PAY DIRT
OUT HERE.
AND LET'S JUST GET SOME GOLD,
US THREE.
OKAY?
OKAY. WE'LL DO IT.
THURB, WE NEED TO, UH, LOAD
THAT SLUICE BOX UP ON THE 400,
AND AWAY WE GO.
WATCH THAT TOWLINE.
NICE AND EASY, JACK.
TAKE IT EASY. SLOW.
THERE YOU GO.
EASY, EASY, EASY!
[ GROANS ]
400 RUNNIN' PRETTY ROUGH,
HUH?
YEAH.
WELL, JUST TRY
TO MAKE IT UP HERE.
SEE IF WE CAN GET THE BOX SET.
GET YOUR SLUICE BOXES LEVEL
SO THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY
CATCHIN' YOUR GOLD.
YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO DO
ALL THIS
WITH PRETTY SHADY EQUIPMENT.
GET RIGHT UP TO IT.
THINK "CHING, CHING,"
THURB, HUH?
[ CLINKING ]
YOU'RE AT THE LEVEL. I WANNA SEE
WHERE WE'RE SITTIN' RIGHT HERE.
TRYIN' TO ACHIEVE 2 INCHES
PER FOOT OF FALL.
3 INCHES.
SO WE GOTTA COME UP
ON THIS END.
WE'RE GONNA HOOK YOU UP.
YOU'RE GONNA BRING THE FRONT UP.
OKAY.
WHOA!
WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'?
YOUR OWN THING OR...
COME ON, DAD. STOP!
WE'RE BRINGIN' THIS SIDE
OF THE BOX UP. OKAY?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME.
I CAN SEE IT.
IT'S AN INCH AND A HALF OFF.
NO ONE TOLD YOU TO MOVE IT
AND NOW YOU'RE MOVIN' IT AGAIN.
IT'S JUST YOUR COMMUNICATION
ISN'T RIGHT,
AND IT BLEEDS DOWN,
SO YOU'RE GONNA KEEP DOIN' --
I GET IT.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO WHEN I MOVE IT,
IT DON'T PAN IT.
I GET IT.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
YOU GOTTA GO DOWN!
I KNOW WHAT IT'S GOTTA DO.
IT JUST AIN'T DOIN' IT.
IT JUST BLEEDS AND BLEEDS
AND BLEEDS.
IT MAKES ME WONDER IF
I'M WASTIN' MY TIME HERE.
ALL RIGHT. CRAP.
SHE JUST DIED.
OKAY, THURBER, JUMP UP THERE
AND, UH, PUMP SOME MORE FUEL
INTO THAT BABY.
ALL RIGHT.
THE FUEL PUMP IS GOIN' OUT.
HYDRAULIC PUMP IS GIVIN' UP.
THIS THING'S DONE.
IT'S WAY PAST ITS PRIME.
SO I HAVE TO KINDA BABY
THIS THING ALONG,
BUT IF IT BREAKS DOWN,
WE ARE TOAST,
'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY
TO FIX IT.
OKAY. GIVE HER A SHOT.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS.
CURL THE BUCKET
A LITTLE BIT.
THURBER, DO NOT GET
UNDER THAT, THOUGH. OKAY?
SHOULD'VE GOT
MY LIFE INSURANCE.
UP. GO UP, PLEASE.
UP.
THURBER, GOOD JOB.
DAD, GOOD JOB. WE GOT IT IN.
DON'T BREATHE ON IT.
IT'S PERFECT.
WE GOT A PERFECT FALL NOW.
LET'S GO WORK
ON THE WATER SUPPLY, GUYS.
Narrator:
JUST 200 YARDS AWAY...
LET'S ROLL IT OUT, THURB.
...THERE'S ALREADY
A LARGE HOLDING POND
TO SUPPLY THE WASH PLANT.
THIS WILL BE
THE FINAL STEP,
AND THEN WE THROW THE KEY TO SEE
IF EVERYTHING'S RUNNING.
HAVE NO IDEA YET.
BRING IT IN, DAD.
Narrator: ALL THEY NEED NOW
IS TO DROP IN THE WATER FILTER.
THIS IS AWESOME.
IT FLOATS OUT THERE AND, UH,
KEEPS THE BASKET OFF
OF THE BOTTOM WHERE IT COULD
PULL SILT INTO OUR PUMP.
YOU DON'T WANNA PULL A BUNCH
OF JUNK INTO YOUR PUMP.
IT COULD RUIN YOUR PUMP.
EASY!
OKAY!
[ THUD ]
WHAT...THE FRICK?
[ EQUIPMENT CREAKING ]
THAT THING'S SUPPOSED
TO BE FLOATING.
WE'RE ABOUT 2 FEET SHORT
OF WATER HERE.
THE LEGS ARE ON THE BOTTOM.
THAT BASKET'S
BARELY UNDERWATER.
IF THAT FLOAT ISN'T FLOATIN',
YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER.
I NEED AT LEAST --
I'M -- I'M GUESSIN',
ANOTHER FOOT AND A HALF
TO 2 FEET IN HERE.
YOU CAN'T SLUICE
WITH DIRTY WATER.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE SCREWED.
Narrator: 10 MILES TO THE EAST
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
19-YEAR-OLD MINE BOSS
PARKER SCHNABEL IS GUNNING
FOR 2,000 OUNCES,
OR $2.4 MILLION IN GOLD
THIS SEASON.
HIS GOAL --
TO BUY HIS INDEPENDENCE.
Parker:
I CAN'T DEAL WITH TONY ANYMORE.
BY THE END OF THE SEASON,
I'LL ABLE TO BUY MY OWN GROUND
AND BE MY OWN MAN
LIKE MY GRANDPA IS.
Narrator:
BUT WITH JUST 80 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH LESS THAN $100,000,
AFTER 4 WEEKS OF MINING,
PARKER'S WAY OFF WHAT HE NEEDS
TO HIT HIS GOAL.
LET ME KNOW WHAT -- HOW MANY
BUCKETS YOU GET IN AN HOUR.
IF I HAVE TO,
I'LL CRANK THAT THING UP.
HONESTLY, IF WE'RE GONNA HIT
2,000 OUNCES,
WE REALLY TO START
MAKIN' UP GROUND.
WE NEED TO STEP UP
PRODUCTION.
WE DON'T WANNA START
OUR SEASON BEHIND.
Narrator: IF PARKER'S GOING TO
HIT 100 OUNCES EVERY WEEK,
HE NEEDS TO MAKE
A RADICAL CHANGE.
I THINK THIS IS, LIKE,
THE LEANEST GROUND
WE'VE EVER SEEN,
BUT THIS IS THE ONLY GROUND
WE'RE GOT,
SO IF WE CAN'T FIND
BETTER GROUND,
THEN WE'VE GOTTA RUN
MORE GROUND.
HEY, GENE.
HOW ARE THINGS GOIN'?
DOIN' DAYS RIGHT NOW
ON THIS LEAN A GROUND
ISN'T GONNA GET US ANYWHERE,
SO I'M THINKING ABOUT
TRYIN' TO CHANGE THINGS UP
AND START A NIGHT SHIFT
ON THE PLANT,
START SLUICIN' 24/7
AND START PUMPIN'
THIS STUFF THROUGH IT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I GUESS,
I DON'T REALLY AGREE
WITH RUNNIN' 24/7.
YEAH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW HOW SHORT
THE SEASON IS, GENE.
OH, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA
KEEP PAY TO THE PLANT, YOU KNOW?
GOTTA GET MORE PEOPLE.
I CAN, ON NIGHTS,
HAUL IN PAY --
I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW
HOW WE DO IT RIGHT NOW.
EITHER WALK OUTTA HERE
AND THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE
TO WALK TO, OR GO 24/7.
THERE'S NO OTHER WAY.
WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE
AND WE'RE JUST NOT READY YET.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOOD FOR
ONE SHIFT TODAY,
BUT NOT TWO.
GUYS MAY NOT LIKE IT,
BUT WE HAVE TO GET THE GOLD
OUT OF THE GROUND.
EVERY WEEK THAT WE DON'T DO
AT LEAST 100 OUNCES
IS A WEEK WE'RE FALLIN' BEHIND.
Narrator: AT 7:00 P.M.,
PARKER STARTS THE NEW REGIME.
OH, NEW GUY!
CHRIS, THIS IS DAVID.
DAVID, HOW YOU DOIN'?
HEY, CHRIS.
HE'S GONNA BE RUNNIN' NIGHTS,
STARTIN' TONIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. YEAH.
SO IF YOU COULD, SHOW HIM
THE ROPES ON THE PLANT?
HAVE YOU DONE ANY OPERATIN'
OF PLANTS LIKE THIS?
YEAH, I'VE RUN A COUPLE PLANTS
BEFORE.
[ CLOSES DOOR ]
LITTLE UNNERVING,
WATCHIN' A NEW GUY ON THE PLANT.
WE FINALLY GOT IT DIALED IN.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS
THE WISEST DECISION OR NOT.
NEW GUY AND I ARE GONNA TRY TO
RUN THE PLANT TONIGHT,
SO I'M GONNA HAUL IN PAY.
GOOD LUCK.
YEAH. THAT TRUCK READY TO GO?
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS, MAN.
YEP.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO HOT SEAT HERE,
LOAD THESE TRUCKS,
GET THE PAY UP TO THE PLANT,
AND HOPE I CAN KEEP UP.
Narrator: PARKER LOADS IN
THE EXCAVATOR
AND THEN JUMPS IN THE ROCK TRUCK
TO DRIVE PAY DIRT
OVER TO THE NEW GUY, DAVID.
BY 1:30 A.M.,
THE 2-MAN NIGHT CREW HAS ALREADY
RUN OVER 400 YARDS OF PAY DIRT.
I'M NOT LIVING THE DREAM.
I'M COLD AND I'M TIRED,
AND I'M TOO SOBER TO STILL BE
AWAKE AT 1:30 IN THE MORNING.
Narrator: PARKER'S WORKED
17 HOURS STRAIGHT,
AND HE'S STARTING TO LOSE IT.
HEY, PARKER, CAN YOU HURRY UP
WITH THIS PAY DIRT?
THIS PILE'S GETTIN'
PRETTY SMALL HERE.
ROGER THAT.
I'LL TRY TO PICK IT UP.
I'VE GOTTA BE DOIN'
EIGHT LOADS AN HOUR,
AND WITH THE WAY THIS HAUL IS,
I'M DOIN' ABOUT SIX AN HOUR
SO THAT REALLY STARTS
PUTTIN' ME BEHIND.
You're gonna have to pick up
the pace there, Parker.
YEAH. I MEAN, I'M TRYIN', MAN.
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
WE'RE GONNA BE RUNNIN' OUT HERE
IN A COUPLE MINUTES, I THINK.
Narrator: DAVID SCRAPES UP
THE LAST OF THE DIRT
PARKER STOCKPILED.
HEY, PARKER.
THE PAY DIRT IS GONE.
THIS JUST ISN'T WORKING.
I CAN'T KEEP UP.
[BLEEP] IT. [BLEEP] IT.
WE'LL JUST SHUT IT DOWN.
ALL RIGHTY.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO DO.
I CAN'T KEEP UP
WITH THE PLANT.
IT'S A LONG HAUL,
AND ONE GUY,
AND IT'S JUST NOT GONNA DO IT.
Narrator: AT 3:00 A.M.,
AFTER AN 8-HOUR NIGHT SHIFT,
PARKER CALLS IT.
HE JUST CAN'T HAUL ENOUGH
PAY DIRT TO KEEP THE PLANT FED.
THE GROUND'S LEAN,
AND THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THAT
IS TO RUN MORE OF IT,
AND SEEMS LIKE EVEN THAT
RIGHT NOW IS NOT AN OPTION.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,
BUT WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
Narrator: AT CLEAR CREEK,
TONY BEETS IS TAKING
HIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE APART
TO MOVE IT 150 MILES
TO HIS NEW CLAIM,
BUT HE'S ALREADY FALLEN
A WEEK BEHIND SCHEDULE.
Narrator: BUILT IN 1939,
IN ITS BEST SEASON,
THIS FLOATING GOLD FACTORY
CAUGHT $5 MILLION IN GOLD.
TONY IS DEAD SET
ON RESURRECTING IT THIS SEASON.
HE'S FINALLY GOT HIS NEW CRANE
ON SITE
TO REMOVE THE 6-TON GANTRY,
THE MASSIVE STRUCTURE
USED TO SUPPORT THE BUCKET LINE.
IF WE CAN TAKE IT OUT
IN ONE PIECE, FINE,
BUT IF IT BENDS,
IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
RIGHT WHERE IT'S ATTACHED.
TAKE IT APART, AND THEN WE'LL
LET IT DOWN IN TWO PIECES.
THEN WE DON'T TAKE A CHANCE
ON BENDING IT UP THERE.
RIGHT.
Narrator: THE GANTRY IS
A PIVOTING STEEL STRUCTURE
THAT SUPPORTS
THE GOLD-CATCHING BUCKET LINE.
THE GANTRY IS HELD IN PLACE
BY A BRACE.
BY REMOVING THE BOLTS
THAT CONNECT THEM,
TONY CAN LOWER THE GANTRY
WITHOUT THE 3-TON BRACE
STRAINING
THE 75-YEAR-OLD STEEL WORK.
BUT HE CAN'T RISK ANY MISTAKES.
THERE'S NOWHERE TO GET
SPARE PARTS FOR THE DREDGE.
HEIGHTS?
YEAH.
OH [BLEEP]
JUST DON'T LOOK DOWN.
OH...
IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN GET
ALL THE BOLTS OUT.
YEAH.
YEAH, WHEN YOU STAND RIGHT HERE
WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH,
TAKE 'EM ALL OUT.
HEY!
OH.
YIKES.
THIS WHOLE THING FELL THROUGH!
OKAY?
Narrator:
THE 75-YEAR-OLD DECK IS ROTTEN.
TONY, THE LUMBER
IS [BLEEP] UP.
I CAN HARDLY STAND ON IT
WITHOUT FALLIN' THROUGH.
Narrator:
AND TONY DOESN'T HAVE TIME
TO MAKE THE PLATFORM SAFE ENOUGH
TO REMOVE THE BOLTS
AND DISCONNECT THE BRACE.
I THINK THAT'D BE THE BEST,
THEN NOBODY'S UP THERE.
YEAH. BRACE WILL COME DOWN
WITH THE GANTRY.
YEAH...
YOU GOT IT?
Narrator: TONY NEEDS SOMEONE
TO CLIMB THE STEEL WORK
AND HOOK UP THE CRANE.
HE VOLUNTEERS HIS SON KEVIN.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
YEAH.
GOTTA GO UP ON TOP OF IT!
FEELS VERY WINDY!
I LIKE THAT PLAN.
JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE.
Narrator: THE GANTRY
AND THE BRACE
HAVE NOT BEEN MOVED
FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
IF THEY GET DAMAGED,
IT COULD BE NEXT SEASON
BEFORE TONY CAN CONSTRUCT
A REPLACEMENT.
YEAH, THIS IS THE FINAL BOLT.
SO THIS WILL GET
REALLY EXCITING
AND EVERYONE SHOULD STAND
[BLEEP] BACK.
ARE YOU READY? GO.
[ DRILLS ]
GO THE RIGHT WAY.
THAT HELPS.
[ DRILLING RESUMES ]
OKAY.
YOU GOT THAT...
I'LL NEED SOMEBODY
TO PUT PRESSURE ON IT,
SO SHOULD JUST SLIDE OUT.
LET'S SEE.
NOW IS THE FUN BIT.
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.
I CAN JUST SEE
A PROBLEM HERE.
[ CREAKING ]
HEY!
IT'S TWISTING.
HEY, TONY.
HEY!
HOLD IT DOWN, NOW. WE'LL WATCH.
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS
THE GANTRY IS A BIT TWISTED.
YOU SEE ALL THAT TWISTED STEEL
UP THERE, TONY?
Narrator: 60 MILES SOUTH,
AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMANS' HOLDING POND
IS LOW ON WATER.
TODD'S HUNTING DOWN
THE WATER SOURCE
USED BY THE MINERS
THAT WENT BUST HERE LAST SEASON.
THE LAST GUYS THAT WERE HERE,
THEY MUST HAVE BEEN GETTIN'
THEIR WATER
ALL THE WAY FROM DOWN THERE.
HERE'S THEIR SUCTION.
LOOK AT THIS PUMP.
IT PULLED THE WATER
AND SENT IT
ALL THE WAY
UP TO THE PLANT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LONG WAY
TO PUSH THAT.
THAT IS GOOD WATER.
Narrator:
TO FILL THEIR HOLDING POND,
THEY'LL HAVE TO PUMP THE WATER
A HALF MILE UP THE PIPELINE.
BUT THE ONLY PUMP THEY HAVE
IS OVER 50 YEARS OLD.
HOW DO YOU START THAT THING?
HECK, I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE SEEN ONE OF THOSE LEVERS,
THURBER,
IN AN OLD WORLD WAR II MOVIE,
WHERE THEY DROP THE BOMBS
OUT OF THE BOMBER.
YOU GOTTA SIT THERE
AND THROW THAT IN.
THAT ENGAGES YOUR CLUTCH.
DAD, WHY DON'T YOU GO DOWN
TO THE END
AND TELL ME HOW MUCH WATER'S
COMIN' OUT OF THAT THING?
WHAT -- LET ME JUST FIRE IT UP,
GIVE HER A SHOT, OKAY?
[ SWITCH CLICKS, WHIRRING ]
[ WHIRRING STOPS ]
Hey. We're up at the top.
You can fire it up.
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
OKAY. I'M TRYIN'.
[ GROANS ]
WE GOT FUEL AND HERE SHE GOES.
[ WHIRRING ]
COME ON. COME ON, COME ON.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE GOTTA GET THIS PRIMED UP.
GET THE PUMP PUMPIN' WATER!
HERE IT COMES.
HERE SHE COMES.
THE PIPE IS TIGHT.
WE'RE PUSHIN' WATER.
ALL I'M HEARING RIGHT NOW
IS SOME SOUNDS,
BUT THAT'S, UH,
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
I'M AT ABOUT 500 R.P.M.
I think I'm gonna
throttle it up a little bit.
Bring it up to 700 RPM.
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
YEAH, I'M ABOUT 700 R.P.M.
Do you see anything coming up
to that baby?
Not seeing anything yet.
OH, DAD, I SEE SOME
SHOOTIN' OUT THE SIDE.
Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS DOWN TO JUST TODD, JACK,
AND THURBER.
BEFORE THEY CAN FIRE UP
THE WASH PLANT AND START MINING,
THEY HAVE TO PUMP WATER
A HALF MILE
UP INTO THEIR HOLDING POND.
OH, DAD! I SEE SOME
SHOOTIN' OUT THE SIDE.
HEY, SHUT IT OFF!
TURN IT OFF, TODD!
DAMN IT!
WE GOT A TORN GASKET
OR NO GASKET HERE.
[ GROANS ]
IT'S FRUSTRATING.
IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.
WE JUST CAN'T RUN DOWN
TO THE HARDWARE STORE
AND PICK SOMETHIN' UP.
YOU GOTTA IMPROVISE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE BUSH.
WE DON'T HAVE THE EXACT PART,
BUT YOU FIND SOMETHIN'
THAT YOU THINK WILL WORK
AND, UH, YOU GIVE IT A GO.
HERE'S SOME OLD HOSE.
I CAN CUT THIS STRIP,
WRAP IT AROUND THAT PIPE,
CLAMP IT TOGETHER.
MAYBE IT'LL WORK.
I THINK I HAVE A FIX.
HEY, TODD.
GO AHEAD AND FIRE IT UP.
OKAY, UH, WE'LL GIVE HER
A SHOT HERE.
DON'T SEE ANYTHING YET.
Have you started it comin'?
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
WOULD YOU SHUT UP
FOR ONE SECOND?
[ GROANS ]
WHAT DID HE SAY?
[ SWITCH CLICKS,
ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
LOOKS LIKE
SHE'S PUMPIN' WATER.
I can hear it!
[ WHIRRING ]
Okay, here she comes.
Got about half a pipe full.
WELL, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
[ CHUCKLES ] ALL RIGHT.
THURB, YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
I WOULDN'T SAY
WE'RE OUT OF THE WOODS YET,
BUT WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER.
HERE WE GO.
Narrator:
OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S NIGHT SHIFT PLAN
HAS FAILED.
HE'S OUT OF STOCKPILED PAY DIRT
AND CAN'T RUN THE WASH PLANT.
PARKER'S HAD JUST
FOUR HOURS SLEEP IN TWO DAYS,
BUT HE'S UP EARLY
AND BACK AT IT.
SO WE'RE ABOUT
TO CHANGE THINGS UP
A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: HE SHIFTS HIS ENTIRE
CREW ONTO HAULING PAY DIRT.
[ ENGINE RUMBLING ]
Parker: WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
PAY STOCKPILED AT THE PLANT
TO RUN ALL NIGHT,
SO WE ARE GONNA HAUL
ALL THIS PAY OUT OF HERE
AND STOCKPILE IT,
AND HOPEFULLY OUR NIGHT SHIFT
TONIGHT WILL BE SLUICIN'.
THIS IS A SHORT SEASON,
AND EVERY HOUR
THAT WE'RE NOT SLUICING
IS AN HOUR WE DON'T GET BACK.
WE JUST GOTTA GO FOR IT.
IF WE NEED TO THE PLANT
TO RUN 24/7,
THEN WE'LL DO WHAT IT TAKES
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
Narrator: PARKER'S LOST
FIVE HOURS OF SLUICING.
IT'S 1:00 P.M. BEFORE THEY
FIRE UP THE WASH PLANT.
WE'RE BACK UP
AND RUNNIN' AGAIN.
ABOUT TIME. NOW MAYBE
WE CAN GET SOME GOLD.
PARKER WANTS TO RUN
THE WASH PLANT 24 HOURS A DAY,
WHICH MEANS WE GOTTA GET A LOT
MORE MATERIAL UP TO THE PLANT.
PRESSURE'S TURNED ON.
WE'RE ALREADY WORKIN'
PRETTY DAMN HARD,
BUT WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO
BUST ASS AND GET IT FOR HIM.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT
A PRETTY GOOD STOCKPILE HERE,
AND THIS SHOULD RUN
DOUBLE SHIFTS,
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CAN
CRANK UP 24/7
AS SOON AS WE'RE READY HERE,
BECAUSE WE'VE DEFINITELY GOT
THE PAY.
Narrator: WITH A THOUSAND YARDS
OF PAY DIRT STOCKPILED,
PARKER AND DAVID START
THE NIGHT SHIFT ONCE AGAIN.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A PRESSURE.
SOMEBODY'S GOTTA DO THE JOB,
I GUESS.
IT'S ALWAYS HARDER TO SEE THAT
EVERYTHING'S WORKIN' PROPERLY
AT NIGHT.
Parker:
WE REALLY NEED THIS TO WORK.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA FIND
THE GOLD WE NEED IS --
IS JUST RUNNING THE YARDING,
BECAUSE WE'VE DROPPED DOWN WHAT
WE'RE DOIN' PER HOUR.
AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW,
PISSIN' IN THE WIND.
David: [BLEEP]
PARKER, WE GOT A PROBLEM.
WE GOT A PROBLEM. THIS TAIL END
CONVEYOR -- SHE JAMMED RIGHT UP.
WHAT HAPPENED?
OH, WE GOT A HOLE
IN THE BELT
ON THE TAIL END CONVEYOR.
[BLEEP]
WE GOT A LOT OF FINE ROCKS
BUILDING UP IN THERE,
WHICH CAN JAM IT UP,
AND THAT'LL SMOKE YOUR BELT
ON THE TAIL END CONVEYOR.
UH, IF WE KEEP RUNNING IT,
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA RIP
[BLEEP]
Narrator: IF PARKER DOESN'T STOP
THE CONVEYOR,
THE DAMAGED BELT WILL RIP
IN HALF,
PUTTING BIG RED OUT OF ACTION
FOR DAYS.
Parker: I DON'T REALLY WANNA
[BLEEP] THAT BELT UP.
WELL, I GUESS WE HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO SHUT IT DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
WE'RE GONNA DO, BUT RIGHT NOW
IT'S NOT CUTTIN' IT.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET
THIS THING GOING 24/7?
Narrator: AT CLEAR CREEK,
TONY BEETS AND HIS TEAM
ARE REMOVING A CRITICAL PIECE
OF HIS GOLD-CATCHING DREDGE --
THE 6-TON, STEEL GANTRY.
Narrator: THEY'VE LOWERED
THE GANTRY TO THE GROUND
AND BENT THE STEEL
IN THE PROCESS.
NOW THEY HAVE TO DISCONNECT
THE GANTRY FROM THE DREDGE
BY REMOVING THE PINS
IT HINGES ON.
OKAY.
RIGHT BEHIND YA.
HEY,
ON THE BARREL BEHIND YA.
Narrator: WHEN TONY LOWERED
THE GANTRY IN ONE PIECE,
HE TWISTED THE STRUCTURE.
NOW HE'S PAYING THE PRICE.
WELL, I THINK THAT BEAM
TWISTED LIKE THAT.
IT'S PROBABLY PUTTIN'
A PRETTY GOOD BIND
ON THAT OTHER PIN,
SO THAT OTHER PIN'S NOT
GONNA COME OUT VERY EASY.
IF YOU CAN GET THINGS
LINED UP PERFECTLY,
YOU CAN SLIDE IT
IN WITH YOUR FINGERS.
WANT ME TO GET A TORCH,
BURN THOSE OTHERS OFF?
I'LL JUST...
Narrator: THE TWISTED GANTRY
IS LOCKED IN PLACE
BY THREE REMAINING PINS.
THE PLAN IS TO REMOVE THE BOLTS
THAT HOLD THE TWO OUTER BEAMS
TO THE DREDGE.
THIS SHOULD RELEASE THE TWIST
ON THE GANTRY
AND ALLOW THEM TO REMOVE
THE FINAL TRAPPED PIN.
WELL, WITH HIM CUTTIN'
THEM BOLTS OFF,
IT OUGHTA FREE THIS SIDE UP,
AND THAT'LL PROBABLY
FREE THAT PIN UP
SO HE CAN GET IT
OUT OF THERE.
HEAVE HER UP.
HOLD ONE SECOND.
Narrator:
THE DREDGE WAS LEFT TO ROT HERE
AFTER ITS LAST SHIFT
27 YEARS AGO,
BUT TONY'S CONVINCED
HE CAN RESTORE IT
AND CATCH THOUSANDS OF OUNCES
OF GOLD, LIKE THE OLD-TIMERS.
Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK,
TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN STARTED
THEIR SEASON WITH NO CLAIM,
NO MACHINES, AND NO MEN.
NOT THAT ONE.
OKAY.
Narrator: NOW IF THEY CAN JUST
GET CLEAN WATER
TO THEIR WASH PLANT,
THEY CAN ONCE AGAIN
CALL THEMSELVES GOLD MINERS.
FOR THE LAST 24 HOURS,
THEY'VE BEEN PUMPING WATER
INTO THEIR HOLDING POND.
THEY'RE FINALLY READY
TO FIRE UP LITTLE RED
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
FIRE UP THE GENERATOR.
[ SWITCH CLICKS, WHIRRING ]
WORKING!
WORKIN' GOOD.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE GOT WATER!
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOO!
YEAH!
LISTEN, DAD, I WANT YOU TO PUT
THE FIRST BUCKET IN.
I'LL KEEP HER GOIN'.
YOU KNOW, ALL THIS WORK
AND ALL THIS PLANNING
HAS COME DOWN TO THIS.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE
THIS THING'S ACTUALLY RUNNIN'.
OKAY. HERE IT COMES.
IT'S WORKIN' GOOD!
BIG ROCKS GOIN' THAT WAY,
THE MATERIAL WITH THE GOLD'S
GOIN' THROUGH THE SLUICE.
ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.
I'M EXCITED.
I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.
IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD SEASON.
Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT DAY AND A HALF,
THE SKELETON CREW PUSH
THEIR 36-YEAR-OLD LOADER
AND TRUSTED 400 EXCAVATOR
HARDER THAN EVER BEFORE,
RUNNING 2,000 YARDS OF PAY DIRT.
THIS ISN'T IDEAL,
BUT I'M GETTIN' PAY DIRT.
[ CLANKING ]
THURBER, I NEED YOUR HELP.
WHAT'S GOIN' ON?
HOLY CRIPE, LOOK AT THAT.
YEAH, WHAT'S UP?
IT JUST QUIT.
CAN YOU JUST GET IT
TO DUMP DIRT?
TODD, I KNOW WHEN ENGINES GO,
AND THIS ONE WENT.
THIS PUPPY ISN'T GONNA GO
ANYMORE.
IT SEIZED UP.
UGH!
WE DON'T HAVE AN EXCAVATOR
TO LOAD THAT PLANT.
THURBER,
LET'S GO CUT THE WATER.
[ WHIRRING ]
[ WHIRRING STOPS ]
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S CREW GETS STARTED
ON A CLEANUP.
Parker: THIS LAST RUN HERE
DOESN'T LOOK REAL GREAT.
HOW MANY HOURS ARE ON IT
RIGHT NOW?
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T REALLY
KEEP TRACK OF HOURS.
GEEZ.
FIRST PICKER OF THE SEASON.
IT'S MORE THAN A PICKER.
YOU WANNA DOOM IT?
NEVER FIND NUGGETS.
WELL,
IF YOU USE PARKER'S HANDS,
THEY'RE SMALLER
AND THE NUGGET LOOKS BIGGER.
HA HA, FUNNY.
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER FINISHES THE CLEANUP
FOR THE WEEK.
WE TRIED TO GET THE NIGHT SHIFT
TO WORK AND IT WOULDN'T,
SO...I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GONNA
BE IN IT,
BUT THIS CAN'T BE
UNDER 100 OUNCES,
OR IT'S NOT PAYIN' THE BILLS.
Narrator: TONY BEETS,
PARKER'S CLAIM OWNER, ARRIVES
FOR THE GOLD WEIGH.
OH, KINDA ROUGH, REALLY.
WE TRYIN' TO GET
NIGHT SHIFTS GOIN'
AND, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE SHORTHANDED,
SO I'VE BEEN THROWIN' IN.
MAYBE 20, 30.
Narrator: TO HIT HIS GOAL
OF 2,000 OUNCES,
WORTH $2.4 MILLION,
PARKER NEEDS AT LEAST 100 OUNCES
EVERY WEEK.
90.83.
Narrator: 90 OUNCES IS WORTH
MORE THAN $100,000.
THIS IS TWO WEEKS NOW
THAT WE'RE UNDER.
I DON'T KNOW EVEN
IF WE'RE COVERIN' FUEL.
Narrator: PARKER WEIGHS OUT
TONY'S CUT --
13 1/2 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH $16,000.
RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS, TONY.
Narrator:
FOUR WEEKS INTO THE SEASON,
PARKER STILL HASN'T MANAGED
A SINGLE 100-OUNCE CLEANUP.
Parker:
I MEAN, ALL WE EVER TALK ABOUT
IS HOW SHORT THE SEASON IS.
IF YOU FALL BEHIND,
IT'S SO HARD TO CATCH UP,
AND THE PROBLEM IS, THAT'S TRUE.
Narrator:
BACK AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMANS' ONLY EXCAVATOR
IS DEAD.
THEY JUST GOT STARTED
AND SUDDENLY HAVE NO WAY
TO MINE.
ONE OF THE WORST -- WORST DAYS
OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S ONLY ONE GLIMMER OF HOPE
IN THIS WHOLE SITUATION,
AND THAT IS THAT I GOT GOLD
IN THE BOX.
Narrator: TODD'S ONLY CHANCE
OF REPAIRING OR REPLACING
THE 400 EXCAVATOR
IS TO GET A PILE OF GOLD
OUT OF THEIR FIRST CLEANUP.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE RAN
THE YARDS
TO BE THAT BIG OF A CLEANUP.
MAYBE 5 OR 10 OUNCES MAX.
YOUR HANDS...
THAT WOULDN'T EVEN BUY A BUCKET
FOR AN EXCAVATOR UP HERE.
SO...
YOU KNOW,
THIS COULD TAKE, UH,
TAKE THE SAP RIGHT OUTTA YA,
BUT WE'LL SEE.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S, UH, DRY IT OUT, DAD.
IT'S -- IT'S NOT OUR BIGGEST,
IT'S NOT OUR SMALLEST,
BUT IT COULD BE
OUR MOST IMPORTANT CLEANUP
WE'VE EVER DONE RIGHT HERE.
DAD, LET'S MEASURE IT UP.
ALL RIGHT. 3, THERE'S 4...
THAT SOUND JUST NEVER GETS OLD,
YOUR GOLD FALLIN' INTO A JAR.
10...
10.
11, 12...
18, 19, 20...
NOW WE'RE TALKIN'.
ALL RIGHT.
STILL GOT SOME GOIN'.
27...
YES!
28...
YEAH!
31...32...
33...
34.
WOW.
Narrator: 34 OUNCES,
WORTH OVER $40,000.
THAT'S OUR BEST FIRST CLEANUP
EVER.
THAT'S IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
HUH?
Narrator: THEY MAY HAVE
A BROKEN-DOWN EXCAVATOR,
BUT THEIR FIRST KLONDIKE CLEANUP
IS 17 TIMES MORE
THAN THEY GOT IN GUYANA
ALL OF LAST SEASON.
34 OUNCES.
GUYS, WE DID IT.
HOLY CRAP.
32 WITH LITTLE RED.
THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD.
WE JUST MIGHT HAVE ENOUGH GOLD
TO GET AN EXCAVATOR, GUYS.
I NEED TO RIDE INTO TOWN.
I THINK I NEED TO TELL MY WIFE
I'M STAYIN'.
FOR THE AMOUNT OF DIRT WE RAN,
THIS GROUND IS FRICKIN' AWESOME.
YEAH.
HERE WE GO, HUH?
WE'RE STILL IN THE GAME.
WE'RE NOT GOIN' HOME.
THIS LAND HAS
GOT SOMETHIN' SPECIAL,
AND I REALLY WANNA FIND OUT
WHAT IT'S GOT FOR US.
ME, MY DAD, AND THURBER,
WE'RE FRICKIN' BACK.
RIGHT THERE.
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH,"
TONY BEETS
MAKES A DRASTIC MOVE...
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I NEED?
I NEED MONEY.
...TAKING TO THE SKIES...
LET'S GO.
...AS HE STRUGGLES TO RECOVER
LOST TIME.
PARKER SCHNABEL NEEDS TO GET
BACK ON TRACK...
THEN LET'S DO IT.
...AND MAKES A RASH DECISION
THAT SPLITS HIS CREW.
WASN'T FAST ENOUGH, THEN GET
SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IT.
THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
Narrator:
AND A DEFEATED TODD HOFFMAN...
WHAT THE FRICK?!
GUYS, SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.
...SUCKS UP HIS PRIDE...
WE NEED MORE MEN.
...AND CALLS THE ONE MAN
WHO CAN SAVE HIS SEASON.
DAVE, IT'S TODD.
I NEED YA.