Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 5, Episode 9 - Colossal Clean Up - full transcript

Narrator:
UP IN THE KLONDIKE...

FIRE IT UP.
LET'S GO GET SOME GOLD!

I LIKE IT, JACK.

Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN CREW FIRES UP

THEIR BIGGEST WASH PLANT YET.

THEY DON'T CALL IT
"MONSTER RED" FOR NOTHIN'.

Narrator:
BUT THEY QUICKLY LEARN

THAT TO PROCESS THREE TIMES
THE PAY DIRT...

KEEP THAT PAY RUNNIN'.

Spinks:
DIGGIN' AS FAST AS WE CAN.

Narrator:
THEY'LL NEED TO FEED THE BEAST



MORE WATER THAN THEY CAN SUPPLY.

DAMN IT! SHUT IT DOWN!

WE BETTER FIGURE IT OUT QUICK.

Narrator:
OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK...

AH, WHAT THE HELL?
WE GOT A PROBLEM.

Narrator: PARKER DISCOVERS
THAT HE'S LOSING

THOUSANDS IN GOLD EVERY WEEK.

IT'S OBVIOUS THAT
WE ARE PISSING AWAY MONEY.

Narrator: BUT HE ACTS FAST...

Parker: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
LOOKS FANCY.

Narrator: TURBO-CHARGING
HIS WASH PLANT...

Parker: THAT PREWASH IS LIKE
A WAR ZONE UP THERE.

Narrator: AND GETS
THE BEST CLEANUP OF HIS CAREER.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST CLEANOUT
WE'VE EVER HAD.



Narrator: AND TONY BEETS
AND CREW RISK LIFE AND LIMB...

Monica: AAH!

Narrator:
...TO GET THEIR 75-YEAR-OLD

GOLD-CATCHING DREDGE
ON A CONVOY...

Tony: CUT IT. CUT IT. CUT IT.
CUT IT. CUT IT. CUT IT. CUT IT.

Narrator: ...TO ITS NEW HOME.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK,

THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS AT A CROSSROADS.

LAST YEAR, WHEN WE WERE IN
THE JUNGLE

GETTIN' OUR ASS KICKED,
WE ALL FELT LIKE ZEROS.

THIS YEAR, I THINK
WE'RE COMING OUT OF A HOLE.

Narrator: ALMOST HALFWAY
THROUGH THE SEASON,

THE CREW HAS ONLY 136 OUNCES
OF GOLD, WORTH JUST $160,000.

BUT THEY'VE TAKEN A DRASTIC STEP
TO UPGRADE THEIR OPERATION.

Todd: PEOPLE THINK THAT
WE'RE GONNA FAIL THIS YEAR.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

THEY HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S COMIN' AT 'EM.

TIME TO MAKE THIS BAD BOY
SPIT OUT SOME GOLD.

GUYS, LET'S BRING IT IN.

LET'S DO IT.
[ CLACKING ]

All: YEAH!
Todd: WHOO!

Jack: THIS IS A NEW BEGINNING.

Todd: FIRE IT UP!
[ CLICK ]

Turin: READY, CLEAR!

Todd: HIT THE SCREEN, DAVE.
[ SWITCH CLICKS ]

Narrator: TO SAVE THEIR SEASON,

THEY'VE TRADED UP
FROM "LITTLE RED"

TO ONE OF THE BIGGEST
WASH PLANTS IN THE KLONDIKE,

MONSTER RED.

PUT THE WATER
AT 3,000 GALLONS A MINUTE,

AND LET'S ROCK 'N' ROLL.

[ WHIRRING ]

Hiatt: LET'S GO GET SOME GOLD!

AH! POWER. IT'S 200 K.W., BUDDY.

CLEAR!

Todd: FEEL IT RUMBLIN'
IN THE GROUND

LIKE A TRAIN GOIN' BY.

HERE COMES THE FIRST BUCKET
OF DIRT.

MY DAD'S PUTTIN' HER IN
RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: THIS 29-FOOT-TALL
BEAST CAN RUN 300 YARDS

OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR --

THREE TIMES WHAT LITTLE RED
COULD HANDLE.

Todd: 300 YARDS AN HOUR
RIGHT NOW.

ONCE YOU THROW A BUCKET IN,

YOU'VE GOT TO GET
ANOTHER BUCKET. BAM, BAM!

Jack: IT IS SO HARD TO KEEP UP
WITH THIS PLANT.

THEY DON'T CALL IT "MONSTER RED"
FOR NOTHIN'.

KEEP THAT PAY RUNNIN'.

Spinks:
WE NEED TO GET 4,000 YARDS.

EVERY DAY,
A TRUCK TO THE WASH PLANT.

RIGHT NOW TRUCKS ARE RUNNIN'.
WE GOT PAY DIRT.

EVERYTHING'S GOOD.

THIS IS AWESOME.
WE'VE NEVER BEEN THIS BIG.

Todd:
WELL, THAT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

UH, THAT'S NOT GOOD.

WE'RE RUNNIN' OUT OF WATER.

Narrator: AFTER RUNNING DIRT
FOR JUST FOUR HOURS,

THE WATER LEVEL
IN THE INTAKE POND IS SO LOW,

THE PUMP IS SUCKING IN AIR.

MONSTER RED DEMANDS 3,000
GALLONS OF WATER EVERY MINUTE.

DUDE, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH WATER
IN THE INTAKE POND.

BUT THEN YOU GO OVER HERE.

THERE'S ALL THIS WATER
IN THE TAILING POND.

WE DON'T KNOW WHY
WE'RE RUNNIN' OUT OF WATER.

IT SHOULD GO IN A CIRCLE.

BUT WE BETTER FIGURE IT OUT,
FIGURE IT OUT QUICK.

Narrator: THE INTAKE POND
SUPPLIES THE WATER

FOR THE WASH PLANT,

WHICH WASHES THE ROCKS,

RUNS DOWN THE SLUICES
AND OUT INTO THE TAILINGS POND.

THE DIRTY WATER THEN CIRCULATES
THROUGH A BURIED PIPE,

CALLED A CULVERT,
INTO TWO SETTLING PONDS.

IT RETURNS TO THE INTAKE POND,

CLEANER AND READY TO RUN THROUGH
THE WASH PLANT AGAIN.

[ RADIO STATIC ]
Todd: TODD TO DAVE.

DUDE, WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF WATER
IN THE INTAKE POND.

TURIN:
You're frickin' kiddin' me!

TODD: I don't think the water's
flowin' around fast enough.

HOW BAD IS IT?

It's bad. We're going to have
to shut the plant

down here in a minute
if we don't hurry up

and get somethin' goin' here.

I'm gonna take
the excavator down

and see if I can get more
water flowin' around.

ALL RIGHT.

Todd to Dave.
I see what the problem is.

THE PUMP IS SUCKING UP WATER
FASTER THAN THE CULVERT

IS ACTUALLY LETTIN' IT THROUGH.

Narrator: TODD'S WATER
RECYCLING SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED

FOR HIS SMALLER WASH PLANT,
LITTLE RED.

MONSTER RED DEMANDS FOUR TIMES
THE WATER.

IT'S SUCKING THE INTAKE POND DRY
BEFORE IT HAS TIME TO REFILL.

I'M GONNA TRY TO CUT A DITCH,

GET AS MUCH WATER
AS I CAN THROUGH.

HOPEFULLY,
THAT TAKES CARE OF IT.

Narrator:
TODD'S CONVINCED THE CULVERT

TO THE SETTLING PONDS
IS TOO SMALL

TO ALLOW ENOUGH WATER
TO PASS THROUGH.

HIS PLAN -- DIG A CHANNEL
ALONGSIDE THE CULVERT

TO INCREASE THE VOLUME OF WATER
THROUGH TO THE INTAKE POND.

BUT HE HAS JUST MINUTES
BEFORE THE PUMP RUNS DRY.

[ SHIFTS GEAR ]

Todd: FINALLY.

[ RADIO STATIC ]
TODD TO DAVE.

DID I MAKE IT IN TIME?

Turin: NO, IT'S TOO LATE.

Narrator: TODD'S FIX
IS TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE.

THE INTAKE POND IS ALREADY
TOO LOW.

I'M JUST WORRIED
ABOUT ALL THE STICKS.

I THINK IT'S GONNA PLUG UP
OUR SUCTION LINE.

I THINK
WE OUGHT TO SHUT DOWN.

WELL, WE DIDN'T MAKE IT.
WE'RE GONNA SHUT DOWN.

WE RAN A GOOD FIVE HOURS,
BUT WE JUST RAN OUT OF WATER.

SHUT IT DOWN! DOWN!

Turin: WE'RE GONNA SHUT IT DOWN
FOR A BIT.

[ RADIO STATIC ]
Okay.

Jack: TO SHUT DOWN
ON YOUR FIRST DAY --

THAT'S NOT A VERY GOOD DEAL.

Narrator: 10 MILES EAST,
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

19-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL
IS BACK MINING THE FAR CUT,

THE GROUND THAT GAVE HIM
148 OUNCES, WORTH OVER $200,000,

IN JUST FOUR DAYS
AT THE END OF LAST SEASON.

Ness:
WE'RE FINALLY IN THE FAR CUT.

WE'VE BEEN WAITIN' ALL SPRING
FOR THIS.

IT'S TIME TO MAKE UP
FOR LOST GROUND HERE.

Remsburg: CUT IS PROMISING.

EVERY POUND
THAT'S COME OUT OF IT

HAS BEEN LOOKING BETTER
AND BETTER.

Narrator: WITH 678 OUNCES
BANKED, WORTH $813,000,

PARKER STILL HAS
A FIGHTING CHANCE

OF HITTING HIS 2,000-OUNCE,
$2.4 MILLION SEASON GOAL.

AH, WHAT THE HELL?

[ RADIO STATIC ]
HEY, PARKER. YOU ON HERE?

PARKER: Yeah, go ahead.

WE GOT A PROBLEM. YOU PROBABLY
OUGHT TO GET UP HERE

AND LOOK AT IT AS, UH,
QUICK AS YOU CAN.

Yeah, I'll be right there.

WHAT'S UP, GENE?

UH, WE GOT A PROBLEM
WITH THE COARSE TAILS HERE.

IT'S GOT A LOT OF DIRT.

THAT'S WHERE THE GOLD'S AT.
SO...

RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, THAT SIDE'S CLEAN.

THAT SIDE'S DIRTY.

I'D SURE HATE TO THINK THAT
WE'RE PISSIN' AWAY

A BUNCH OF GOLD OUT HERE
IN THIS STUFF.

Narrator:
TAILINGS ARE DISCARDED

OUT OF THE BACK
OF THE WASH PLANT.

THEY SHOULD HAVE ALL
THE GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT

WASHED OFF.

IF THEY'RE NOT CLEAN,
PARKER'S LOSING GOLD.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU
WANNA DO, GENE?

I THINK WE SHOULD RUN A TEST,

YOU KNOW, CLEAN THE BOX OUT,
RUN 1,200 YARDS,

AND THEN WE'LL KNOW.
I MEAN --

IF YOU'RE WRONG, WE'RE LOSING
A WHOLE SHIFT OF SLUICING.

BUT IF I'M RIGHT,

WE COULD FIGURE OUT HOW
TO GET SOME MORE GOLD.

WHAT'S --
WHAT'S THE TIPPING POINT

AS FAR AS DOING
SOMETHING ABOUT IT?

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T TRY
TO CATCH EVERY LAST FLAKE.

WELL, I REALIZE WE CAN'T TRY
AND CATCH EVERY FLAKE,

BUT MAYBE IT'S, YOU KNOW,
AN OUNCE.

WE'RE LOSING MORE
THAN AN OUNCE IN A DAY.

BETTER CHANGE SOMETHIN'.
AND MAYBE I'M WRONG.

BUT I JUST --
I DON'T LIKE NOT KNOWING.

I'M NOT TOO EXCITED
ABOUT THE IDEA

OF LOSING A DAY OF SLUICIN'.

WELL, I MEAN, I JUST...
YEAH, YEAH.

I'M SORRY IT'S GONNA
SLOW DOWN THE PLANT,

BUT I THINK IT'S A SMART
DECISION. MY -- MY OPINION.

[ BLEEP ]

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO IT.

SHUT IT DOWN!

YOU HAPPY?

HE DOESN'T WANNA STOP THE PLANT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I DON'T
WANT TO LOSE GOLD EITHER.

[ CLICK ]

IF THERE'S NO GOLD,
WE LOST A SHIFT.

IF THERE IS GOLD,
WE'VE BEEN LOSING GOLD.

I DON'T LIKE
LOSE-LOSE SITUATIONS.

Narrator: TO FIND OUT
IF THEY'RE LOSING GOLD,

THE CREW INSTALLS CLEAN MATS.

THEN THEY RUN 1,200 YARDS
OF OLD TAILINGS

BACK THROUGH THE WASH PLANT.

PARKER HOPES THAT,
AT THE END OF THE DAY,

THE SLUICE BOX WILL BE EMPTY.

IF IT ISN'T,
THEY'VE BEEN LOSING GOLD.

Kroeker: THERE WE GO.

IT'S THE LAST BUCKET
OF OUR 1,200-YARD TEST.

LET'S GO SEE WHAT'S IN THE BOX.
HOPEFULLY, THERE'S NOTHING.

Parker: SO RIGHT NOW I'M JUST
JIGGING THE CONCENTRATE

FROM OUR TAILINGS RUN.

FIRST TIME I'VE EVER SLUICED
TAILINGS.

YEAH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW
TO FEEL ABOUT IT.

INTERESTING.

Narrator: PARKER WEIGHS THE GOLD
ON THE BACK OF HIS A.T.V.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING MORE
THAN AN OUNCE,

HE'S GOT A REAL PROBLEM.

[ CLANK ]

Parker: 5.167.

THAT'S HALF AN OUNCE
AN HOUR,

PROBABLY 6 OR 7 GRAND
A DAY.

THERE'S NO POINT IN RUNNING PAY
UNTIL WE FIX THE PROBLEM.

NO.

Narrator:
5 OUNCES, WORTH ABOUT $6,000,

IS A QUARTER
OF PARKER'S DAILY GOLD HAUL.

IF HE CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW

TO KEEP THE PAY DIRT
FROM STICKING TO THE ROCKS,

HE'LL LOSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS.

WELL, WE HAVE TO GO
THE PLANT AND FIGURE IT OUT.

[ SIGHS ] IT DOESN'T PISS ME OFF
THAT IT HAPPENED.

IT JUST PISSED ME OFF THAT
WE DIDN'T CATCH IT SOONER.

AT LEAST WE DIDN'T RUN
THE WHOLE FAR CUT.

YOU HAVE IT ALL THAT WAY.
SO...

FILM IT, ED. DON'T ASK US
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO,

BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, ED.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

PARKER'S DISCOVERED
THAT HIS WASH PLANT

ISN'T WASHING ALL THE PAY DIRT
OFF THE ROCKS.

HE'S LOSING ABOUT $6,000 OF GOLD
EVERY DAY.

[ BARKING ]
SHUT UP!

Narrator: UNTIL HE FINDS A FIX,
HE'S SHUT HIS WASH PLANT DOWN.

WELL, WE'RE TRYING
TO MAKE THE SOLUTION AT PREWASH

BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MUCH
YOU CAN DO

ONCE THE ROCK HITS THE SCREEN.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO
IS PUT A SPRAY BAR IN HERE

TO SPRAY ON THE ROCKS
AND POUND IT WITH WATER.

Narrator: THE TAILINGS COMING
OUT OF BIG RED

ARE COVERED
IN GOLD-BEARING PAY DIRT.

PARKER'S PLAN IS TO INSTALL
ANOTHER SPRAY BAR

IN THE PREWASH, THE FIRST STAGE
OF THE WASH PLANT.

THE EXTRA WATER SHOULD LOOSEN
THE PAY DIRT FROM THE ROCKS

SO THAT ALL OF THE GOLD ENDS UP
IN THE SLUICES,

NOT IN THE TAILINGS.

BUT ORDERING
A CUSTOM-MADE SPRAY BAR

WOULD DELAY PRODUCTION
FOR WEEKS.

SO GENE AND MECHANIC
MIKE BOLDRICK

ATTEMPT A BUSH FIX WITH
WHATEVER THEY CAN FIND ON SITE.

THAT'S THE BEST PIECE
OF 4-INCH WE GOT?

THAT'S ALL WE GOT.
DOIN' OUT PART RECYCLING.

RECYCLING. NOTHING GOES TO WASTE
IN THE YUKON.

[ METAL WHINING ]

[ WHIRS, CRACKLING ]

WELL, LET'S GET THE WATER ON
AND GET THE PLANT GOING AGAIN.

HOPEFULLY, THIS WORKS.
FIRE IT UP.

[ SWITCH CLICKS, WHIRRING ]

[ CLICK, WHIRRING ]

Parker: WHOO!

THAT'S IT!

HOLY CRAP.

NOW WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE.

WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

HOW'S IT LOOKING DOWN THERE,
GENE?!

[ BLEEP ]

THEY'RE STILL DIRTY, HUH?

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STILL NOT
GETTING 100% CLEAN.

Narrator:
THE SPRAY BAR ISN'T ENOUGH.

PARKER AND CREW ARE STILL LOSING
THOUSANDS A DAY.

I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO GO HAVE

YOU PISS AWAY SOME MONEY.
OR...

WELL, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT
WE ARE PISSING AWAY MONEY.

[ BLEEP ]

Narrator:
NORTH, AT CLEAR CREEK,

TONY BEETS HAS SPENT
THE LAST 11 WEEKS

DISMANTLING HIS 75-YEAR-OLD
GOLD-MINING RELIC.

HE'S FINALLY DOWN
TO THE LAST FEW PIECES.

STARTING IN 1901,

DREDGES TRANSFORMED GOLD MINING
IN THE KLONDIKE.

ONE DREDGE TAKE 800 OUNCES,

NOW WORTH ALMOST $1 MILLION,
IN A SINGLE DAY.

TONY IS DEAD SET ON REVIVING
THE OLD MINING METHOD.

HE'S VOWED TO HAVE HIS DREDGE
UP AND RUNNING THIS SEASON,

BUT HE'S ALREADY THREE WEEKS
BEHIND SCHEDULE.

Narrator:
WITH THE STACKER,

GANTRY, LADDER,
AND SUPERSTRUCTURE REMOVED,

ALL THAT'S LEFT IS THE HULL.

IT'S MADE UP OF 19 6-TON STEEL
BOXES CALLED PONTOONS.

THEY'RE HELD TOGETHER
BY AROUND 5,000 RUSTED BOLTS

THAT WOULD TAKE WEEKS TO REMOVE.

Jerry: YOU KNOW HOW MANY BOLTS
ARE IN THEM PONTOONS

HOLDIN' 'EM TOGETHER?

Narrator: TONY'S PLAN --

REMOVE JUST ENOUGH BOLTS
TO LIFT THE PONTOONS

IN FOUR MASSIVE SECTIONS.

BY GETTING THEM OUT FASTER,
THEY SHOULD KEEP ALIVE

THEIR CHANCE OF RUNNING
THIS YEAR.

TO REMOVE THE BOLTS,

TONY AND HIS CREW CLIMB
INTO THE HULL,

WHERE NO ONE'S BEEN
IN ALMOST 30 YEARS.

[ CLANK, DRILLING ]

Tony: JERRY!

Tony: HOOK IT UP.
Jerry: YOU READY TO GO, MIKE?

GIVE HER SOME PULL.

KEEP PUTTING
A LITTLE MORE TENSION ON IT.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING HAPPENIN'.
[ RADIO STATIC ]

UH, WITH THE MUCK
UNDERNEATH THIS THING,

IT CREATES A LOT OF SUCTION,

AND THE THING'S STUCK DOWN
PRETTY GOOD.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE GONNA RIP

THE PLATES OFF FROM THERE.
EASE UP ON IT.

COME ON.

Jerry: IT'S CLEAR.

Narrator: ONCE THEY'VE BROKEN
30 YEARS OF SUCTION...

Narrator:
THE NEXT TWO PONTOON SECTIONS...

GO, GO, GO, GO, GO,
GO, GO!

Narrator: ...COME OUT EASILY.

Narrator: AND THEY ARE
IMMEDIATELY TRUCKED OVER

TO THE REST OF THE DISMANTLED
DREDGE AT PARADISE HILL.

ONLY ONE SECTION LEFT TO LIFT.

[ WHIRRING ]

Tony: STOP.

Jerry: THAT'S TOO HEAVY.

[ BLEEP ]

Mike: THIS ONE WEIGHS
10,000 POUNDS MORE,

PROBABLY, 'CAUSE OF THAT WINCH.

Narrator: TO SAVE TIME,

TONY'S LEFT A GIGANTIC STEEL
WINCH ON THE PONTOON.

AS A RESULT, THIS SECTION WEIGHS
A MASSIVE 70,000 POUNDS.

WITH THE CRANE UNABLE
TO MOVE IT,

TONY TRIES
A DIFFERENT APPROACH.

HE BRINGS IN OPERATOR
JOE McINTYRE

AND DAUGHTER MONICA.

Tony: DO IT!

[ THUD ]

[ WHIRRING ]

[ LAUGHS ]

McIntyre:
YOU BROKE MY NEW CHAIN.

[ METAL SCRAPING ]

Jerry: IT'S COMIN'.

Tony: GOOD!

Jerry:
THIS WON'T BE TOO TOP-HEAVY.

Jerry: WE'VE GOT 12 TONS...

[ CREAKING ]

Mike: WATCH YOURSELF!

DON'T GET IN BETWEEN THERE.
MOVE IT UP A BIT.

McIntyre: IF THAT THING BREAKS,
IT'LL SQUISH YOU.

Jerry: THEY'RE TOO HEAVY.

Monica: AAH!

[ CREAKS ]

Narrator: AT CLEAR CREEK,

TONY BEETS' CREW

HAS LOST CONTROL OF
A 40,000-POUND PONTOON.

Jerry: THEY'RE TOO HEAVY!

Monica: AAH!

[ METAL CREAKING, THUD ]

Mike: HOLY COW.

YOU OKAY?

YEP.

ALL RIGHT.

Monica: ACTUALLY,
THAT WAS KIND OF [BLEEP] UP.

YEAH,
I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT AT ALL.

OKAY...

Mike: WATCH YOURSELF.
DON'T GET IN BETWEEN THE LEGS.

Jerry: DON'T GET PINCHED.

McIntyre: GUYS, THIS WAY.

Kevin: A LITTLE MORE. GOOD.

Narrator: AFTER 11 BACK-BREAKING
WEEKS OF WORK

SHIFTING 350 TONS,

THE LAST OF
TONY'S MILLION-DOLLAR DREDGE

LEAVES CLEAR CREEK
FOR ITS NEW HOME.

Narrator:
SOUTH, AT McKINNON CREEK,

MONSTER RED HAS SUCKED
THEIR INTAKE POND DRY.

TODD TRIED CUTTING A NEW CHANNEL
AS A QUICK FIX,

BUT THE WATER SHORTAGE
STILL HAS THEM SHUT DOWN.

Todd: WE CANNOT KEEP STARTING
AND STOPPING.

EVERY HOUR THAT WE'RE DOWN,
WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY.

WE NEED A LONG-TERM FIX.

WE GOT TO GET
THIS WATER LEVEL UP.

HOLD ON. HOLD ON.
TODD, IF WE RAISE THE LEVEL,

IT'S GONNA GET
INTO THE MINER'S CUT.

IT'S GONNA FLOOD THAT.

THAT CUT'S GOT A LOT OF GOLD
IN IT.

Narrator: IF TODD RAISES
THE WATER LEVEL

IN THE TAILINGS POND,

IT WILL FLOOD
INTO THE CUT BEHIND

THAT STILL HOLDS AT LEAST
$50,000 IN GOLD.

TODD AND DAVE,
NOW EQUAL PARTNERS,

ARE LEFT
WITH A TOUGH DECISION.

WE NEED TO BE SLUICIN',
MAN.

I DON'T WANT TO WASTE
THAT PAY.

I'LL GET ANDY IN THERE.
WE'LL BUST IT OUT,

AND THEN WE CAN FLOOD
THAT CUT,

AND IT GIVES YOU MORE --
MORE VOLUME OF WATER.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GO YOUR ROUTE ON THIS.

OKAY.
LET'S DO IT.

LET'S DO IT.
GET ANDY ON IT.

ALL RIGHT.

Narrator:
SEASONED OPERATOR ANDY SPINKS

BEGINS LOADING THE ROCK TRUCK.

LOGAN PIERCE AND KEVIN HIATT

THEN STOCKPILE THE PAY DIRT
NEXT TO MONSTER RED.

THEY CAN'T REFILL
THE WATER SYSTEM

AND RESTART THE WASH PLANT

UNTIL THEY GET THE LAST
OF THE GOLD OUT OF THE CUT.

AH, DANG IT.

YOU'RE FRICKING KIDDING ME.

HEY, WE GOT A LOT OF WATER
SEEPIN' IN HERE, ANDY.

IT'S JUST ALL
THE GROUNDWATER

JUST SEEPING INTO THIS THING.

[ RADIO STATIC ]
THIS ISN'T GOOD.

YOU CAN SEE IT STARTING
TO FILL IN.

RIGHT WHEN HE DIGS, BOOM.
THE WATER'S IN THERE.

WE DON'T WANT THE WATER
TO MIX WITH OUR GOLD PAY.

WHAT IT DOES IS,
IT SINKS THE GOLD DOWN.

NOW WE'RE CHASING IT DOWN
INTO THE BEDROCK.

KIND OF A PROBLEM.

All right, man. We'll just
haul ass. Keep goin'.

ANDY, YOU'RE BARELY STAYING
AHEAD OF IT.

DIGGING AS FAST AS WE CAN.

ANDY, I'M TELLING YA.
WASHING THE GOLD RIGHT DOWN,

We're gonna be chasing it
forever.

Narrator: THE CREW IS COMING TO
THE END OF THEIR 12-HOUR SHIFT.

BUT $50,000 IN GOLD
IS ON THE LINE.

I KNOW YOU GUYS
HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD,

BUT WE GOT TO GO ALL NIGHT.

GUYS HAVE BEEN BEING PUSHED
TILL MIDNIGHT

EVERY NIGHT AS IT IS.

IF WE DON'T, WE'LL WAKE UP,

AND THIS'LL JUST
BE ONE BIG LAKE,

AND WE'RE GONNA LOSE
THIS CUT.

THAT GOLD'S GONNA SINK
OUT OF THERE,

AND WE'RE GONNA
MISS THIS, MAN.

[ RADIO STATIC ]

OKAY, WE'LL GET IT OUT.

[ EQUIPMENT CREAKS ]

Narrator: 7:00 A.M.

THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS WORKED
THROUGH THE NIGHT.

Hiatt: THIS IS THE LAST ONE.

Narrator: THEY'VE SAVED
AT LEAST 5,000 YARDS OF PAY,

WORTH ABOUT $50,000.

HEY, GOOD JOB, YOU GUYS.

All: WHOO!
[ HATS CLACK ]

YEAH!

PROUD OF THE WHOLE TEAM.

WHEN THEY START SEEING THIS GOLD
FROM THIS PILE IN THE BOX,

THEN I THINK EVERYBODY'S GONNA
START BEING A BELIEVER.

Narrator:
WITH THEIR PAY DIRT BANKED,

THE HOFFMAN CREW CAN NOW
FLOOD THE CUT

AND RAISE WATER LEVELS ENOUGH
TO KEEP

THEIR MONSTER WASH PLANT FED.

FINALLY, AFTER TWO DAYS DOWN...

HEAT CONVEYOR'S COMING ON.

Narrator: THEY REBOOT AND BEGIN
SLUICING THEIR NEW PAY DIRT.

THE HOFFMANS ARE BACK
IN BUSINESS.

Todd: YEAH!
LOOK AT THIS BEAST!

WON'T TAKE US LONG, MAN,

AND WE'LL BE ON THE SCOREBOARD,
BIG-TIME.

Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

PARKER SCHNABEL'S DISCOVERED

THAT HIS WASH PLANT
ISN'T CLEANING

ALL THE PAY DIRT OFF THE ROCKS.

HE'S BEEN LOSING
ABOUT 30 OUNCES OF GOLD,

WORTH AROUND $35,000,
EVERY WEEK.

TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM,

PARKER'S BOUGHT THE BIGGEST
WATER PUMP HE COULD FIND.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE A NICE PUMP.

IF THIS THING DOESN'T DO
THE TRICK,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL.
LOOKS FANCY.

IT'S EVEN GOT A REMOTE.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO
LAUNCH A SPACESHIP IN HERE.

HOLY CRAP.

Narrator: THE CUTTING-EDGE,
COMPUTER-CONTROLLED PUMP,

CAPABLE OF MOVING 5,000 GALLONS
OF WATER EVERY MINUTE...

PUSH THAT,
IT ACTIVATES THE REMOTE.

[ WHIRRING ]

Narrator: ...COULD NET PARKER

AN EXTRA HALF A MILLION DOLLARS
IN GOLD.

[ BEEPING ]

IT WON'T START.

"3251.03 TIMES 5. CHECK MANUAL."
[ BEEP ]

[ BLEEP ]

Gene: IT SHOULD BE
SOMETHING SIMPLE.

I THINK IT'S JUST
A BRAND-NEW PUMP. IT...

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE DOING
SOMETHING WRONG OR WHAT.

IT'S A FRUSTRATING THING

'CAUSE EVERYTHING'S
STOPPED RIGHT NOW.

AND WE'RE PRETTY COMMITTED

'CAUSE WE'VE YANKED
THE OLD ONE OUT ALREADY.

I DIDN'T GO IN TO COLLEGE.

ALL I DID WAS GO
INTO ENGINE -- ENGINE --

ENGINE, UH...

[BLEEP] ENGINE TO...THE...

WE'RE ALL PRETTY OLD-SCHOOL GUYS
HERE, YOU KNOW?

SOMETHING'S BROKE,
YOU FIX IT.

AND HERE,
IT'S SOMETHING BROKE,

IT'S SOME LITTLE SENSOR
THAT'S GETTING ONE EXTRA VOLT.

Narrator:
OVERWHELMED BY THE MANUAL...

Gene: IT'S JUST ALL
THIS "STAR WARS" [BLEEP].

Narrator: GENE RESORTS TO
OLD-SCHOOL MINING INTUITION.

Gene:
WE GOT TO GET THE PUMP LOWER.

Narrator: GENE SUSPECTS

THAT THE PUMP IS AUTOMATICALLY
SHUTTING DOWN

BECAUSE THE FIRST JOINT
ON THE PIPE IS SUCKING IN AIR.

IF PARKER CAN GET
THE JOINT UNDERWATER...

IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE DEEPER
OUT THAT WAY.

Narrator: IT JUST MIGHT START.

I THINK THAT'S AS MUCH
AS WE'VE GOT.

Gene:
[BLEEP] BETTER PUMP THIS TIME.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

Narrator: GENE WAS RIGHT.

THE COMPUTER-CONTROLLED PUMP
SENSED AIR ENTERING THE PIPE.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS ALWAYS,
SOMETHING STUPID.

I KNOW. WE GOT TO BREAK IT

BACK DOWN TO THE SIMPLE
[BLEEP], YOU KNOW?

LET'S GO SEE HOW IT LOOKS!

YEAH, IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.

AND THAT PREWASH IS LIKE
A WAR ZONE UP THERE.

THAT IS A LOT OF WATER UP HERE,
THAT'S FOR DAMN SURE!

IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE IT'S MAKING
A HELL OF A DIFFERENCE.

PRESSURE-WISE, WE'VE GOT
A PRESSURE GAUGE RIGHT HERE.

BEFORE,
WE WERE AT ABOUT 11 POUNDS.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT 23.

Narrator: PARKER NOW HAS DOUBLE
THE PRESSURE

AND DOUBLE THE VOLUME
OF WATER WASHING ROCKS.

THE SUPERPUMP JUST MIGHT BE
THE KEY TO PARKER'S SEASON.

SO THAT BEDROCK WE RAN
IS PRETTY DARN CLEAN,

REALLY.

OH, WOW.

ALL THAT GOLD
THAT WE WERE LOSING

BEFORE ON OUR COARSE TAILINGS

SHOULD NOW BE GOING
INTO OUR SLUICE,

SO THAT'S GOOD.

Narrator: NORTH,

A CONVOY OF NINE MASSIVE TRUCKS
HAS LEFT PARADISE HILL.

EACH CARRIES A VITAL PIECE
OF TONY BEETS'

350-TON,
75-YEAR-OLD GOLD DREDGE.

MIKE: Uh, it's just fine.

Narrator:
THEY'RE LESS THAN 50 MILES

FROM THE DREDGE'S NEW HOME,
TONY'S EUREKA CREEK CLAIM.

Narrator: AT 85 FEET,

THE STACKER TRUCK IS
THE LONGEST LOAD IN THE CONVOY.

DRIVER JOE McINTYRE HAS
THE HARDEST JOB, BAR NONE.

Tony: GIVE HER. GIVE HER.
GIVE HER. GIVE HER. GIVE HER.

STOMP ON THE [BLEEP].

STEP ON IT. STEP ON IT.
STEP ON IT.

WATCH OUT. WATCH OUT.
WATCH OUT.

CUT IT. CUT IT. CUT IT.
CUT IT. CUT IT. CUT IT. AH!

[ THUD ]

AAH!

Narrator: TO HELP GET
THE 20-TON RIG BACK ON TRACK,

MONICA BRINGS IN A LOADER
FROM PARADISE HILL.

[ REVERSE ALERT BEEPING ]

[ ENGINE REVS ]

Narrator:
AS TONY'S DREDGE CONVOY

CLOSES IN ON EUREKA CREEK,

THEY PASS
SOME INTERESTED SPECTATORS.

WELL, TONY KEEPS TALKING
ABOUT THIS DREDGE,

BUT NOW MOST OF IT'S
FINALLY SHOWING UP.

THERE'S THE TROMMEL.

WHAT'S THAT?

OH, THERE'S THE WHEEL HOUSE.
[ LAUGHS ]

THIS IS SO OLD SCHOOL.

LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING
TO AN ANTIQUE SHOW

WITH ALL THAT.
[ LAUGHS ]

THEY'RE A LONG WAYS AWAY

FROM, UH, GETTING ANY GOLD
WITH THAT THING.

THEY'VE GOT TO GET IT
BACK TOGETHER,

AND THEY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE HELL
OF A LOT OF TIME TO DO IT.

UH, TONY'S A MADMAN.
I LOVE IT. [ LAUGHS ]

[ HORN BLARES ]

[ LAUGHS ]

STILL SLUICIN'.

Narrator: TONY BEETS
IS APPROACHING EUREKA CREEK

WITH A PIECE OF GOLD-MINING
HISTORY THAT HE PLANS TO REVIVE.

Narrator: HE'S INVESTED OVER
A MILLION DOLLARS

AND 11 LONG WEEKS OF WORK

TO GET THE 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE
TO ITS NEW HOME.

[ HORN BLARING ]

Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK...

THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS RUN
MONSTER RED NONSTOP

FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, ANDY?
WHAT DO YOU THINK WE GOT?

I'M THINK IF WE'RE OVER 50,

WE'RE GOING
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IF WE'RE UNDER 50, I THINK WE
GOT SOME THINGS TO FIGURE OUT.

Narrator:
IT'S HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON.

TODD AND DAVE HAVE PUT AROUND
A MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE MINE.

NOW JACK'S CLEANUP
WILL DETERMINE

WHETHER THEY'RE ON THE ROAD
TO REDEMPTION OR FAILURE.

Todd:
I'M TIRED OF LOOKING BAD.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A SERIOUS COMEBACK.

AND HOPEFULLY, WE'LL PUT GOLD
IN EVERYBODY'S POCKET.

Spinks: THERE'S JACK.

Turin: ALL RIGHT.

Jack: I GOT SOME GOOD NEWS,
AND I GOT SOME BAD NEWS.

[ FLAMES CRACKLING ]

THE GOOD NEWS IS

THERE ISN'T ANY BAD NEWS.

[ CHUCKLES ]

IT IS 99.37.
Turin: WHOO!

Todd:
OH, YOU'RE KIDDING ME.

[ CHEERING ]

Narrator:
WITH CLOSE TO A HUNDRED OUNCES,

WORTH AROUND $120,000
IN JUST ONE CLEANUP,

TODD AND HIS CREW CAN FINALLY

PUT LAST YEAR'S
DISASTROUS SEASON BEHIND THEM.

Spinks:
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS

SINCE I'VE SEEN A HUNDRED OUNCES
OF GOLD.

TONIGHT WAS A GOOD NIGHT.

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP
IN REDEEMING OURSELVES.

I LIKE IT, JACK!
YEAH.

NICE JOB.
Todd: THIS IS WHERE WE BELONG.

WE DON'T BELONG
IN THE STUPID JUNGLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT? TWO YEARS AGO,

I SAID I'D GET
A THOUSAND OUNCES,

AND WE ONLY GOT 800.

THIS YEAR, I WANT US
TO GET A THOUSAND OUNCES,

AND THEN
I WANT US TO KEEP ON GOING.

Doumitt: WOW.

Hiatt: DO IT!
YES!

Todd: OVER A THOUSAND OUNCES,
HERE WE COME.

WHOO!

Jack: WE'LL DO IT.
IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

Narrator:
OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

AFTER THREE AND A HALF DAYS
OF SLUICING,

IT'S ALSO TIME FOR A CLEANUP.

IF PARKER CAN BEAT
LAST WEEK'S STAGGERING GOLD HAUL

OF 191 OUNCES, WORTH $230,000,

HIS EXPENSIVE NEW PUMP
WILL HAVE BEEN WORTH IT.

WITH HIS DREDGE NOW JUST
A FEW MILES UP THE ROAD,

CLAIM OWNER TONY BEETS ARRIVES
FOR THE BIG MOMENT.

HEY, PARKER.
HOW YA DOING, TONY?

YEAH.

WELL, WE CAN HOPE.

SO LET'S SEE
WHAT WE'VE GOT.

IS IT ALL GONNA FIT
IN THERE, TONY?

WHOA.

WOW.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST CLEANOUT
WE'VE EVER HAD.

NO.

Narrator: 230.45 OUNCES,

WORTH WELL OVER
A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS,

THE BIGGEST CLEANUP
IN "GOLD RUSH" HISTORY.

YEAH, THE STARS ALIGNED
ON THIS ONE.

Narrator:
PARKER NOW HAS 915 OUNCES,

WORTH OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

WITH OVER 80 DAYS
STILL LEFT TO MINE,

HE IS WELL ON HIS WAY
TO HITTING HIS SEASON GOAL

OF 2,000 OUNCES,
WORTH $2.4 MILLION.

IN THE SECOND HALF
OF THE SEASON...

[ CLANK ]
OH, [BLEEP].

Narrator: TODD HOFFMAN

PUSHES HARD
FOR HIS AMBITIOUS GOAL.

A THOUSAND OUNCES,
HERE WE COME.

Narrator: BUT AS HE STRUGGLES

TO FIND GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT...

WE'LL GO BANKRUPT
IF WE KEEP GOING LIKE THAT.

Narrator: TODD FACES
ANOTHER DISASTROUS SEASON.

SOMETHING'S GONNA HAVE
TO CHANGE.

YOU WILL BE PACKIN' UP.

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW...

[ BLEEP ]

WE CAN'T DO THIS.
SOMEONE'S GONNA GET HURT.

Narrator: ...ARE IN THE FIGHT
OF THEIR LIVES...

THAT'S A BUNCH OF [BLEEP].

Narrator: ...TO REDEEM
THEMSELVES AS GOLD MINERS.

MOMENT OF TRUTH.

[ CHEERING ]

I THINK WE GOT A GOOD SHOT
AT GETTING A THOUSAND OUNCES.

Narrator: TONY BEETS INSISTS
HE CAN GO BACK IN TIME...

Narrator: ...TO BRING HIS
75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE BACK TO LIFE.

Narrator:
BUT STANDING IN HIS WAY...

THIS IS PRIORITY.

Narrator: HIS WIFE, MINNIE...

Narrator: HIS MEN...

I DON'T THINK THIS THING
IS EVER GONNA CATCH GOLD.

Narrator: HIS MACHINES...

[ WHIRRING ]
Tony: WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

[ BLEEP ]

Narrator: AND SOON...

THE YUKON WINTER.

[ WHIRRING ]

Narrator:
AND WITH A 2,000-OUNCE SEASON

IN HIS SIGHTS...

Parker:
EVERYBODY'S WORKING HARD,

AND I THINK WE'RE REALLY
GONNA DO IT.

Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL

CALLS IN
HIS 94-YEAR-OLD GRANDPA...

[ LAUGHS ] PARKER!

YOU'VE GOT TO TRY.
DON'T EVER GIVE UP.

Narrator: ...TO BEGIN THE HUNT
FOR HIS OWN KLONDIKE CLAIM.

WHAT KIND OF PRICE
WOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR?

$3 MILLION.
WOW.

Narrator: BUT JUST AS THINGS
BEGIN TO LOOK UP...

HEY, PARKER. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

[ CHEERS AND LAUGHTER ]

[ CELL PHONE RINGS ]
Ness: HI, WHAT'S GOING ON?

Narrator: ...DISASTER STRIKES.

RICK, WHAT'S UP?

PARKER!
HE'S BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT!

HOLY [BLEEP].

Pierce: PARKER!

Ness: PARKER!