Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 6, Episode 11 - Captain Monica - full transcript
Monica takes over as captain of Tony's 350 ton dredge. Parker struggles to haul in his monster new washplant and the Hoffman crew is plagued by tailings.
YEAH, WE'RE AT THE END
OF THE SUPER CUT, BOYS.
Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
THAT'S WAY
BELOW WHERE YOU WANNA BE.
IF YOU DON'T EXTEND IT,
YOU DON'T MAKE YOUR GOAL.
THAT'S SOMETHIN'
THAT COULD BREAK US.
HEY, WE GOT NO WATER!
[BLEEP]!
WE'RE GONNA BE DOWN
FOR AT LEAST A WEEK.
YOU GOTTA ADMIT,
WHEN THE KID TAKES A CHANCE,
HE DOESN'T GO SMALL.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
CHEERS, PARTNER.
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS,
HE'LL WIN, YEAH.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
HEY, KEVIN, DO YOU COPY?
YEAH, GO AHEAD, LOGAN.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THAT SAYING,
"BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR?"
UNH-UH.
YEAH, MAN, WE'RE COMIN' AT YOU
LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN, WATCH OUT.
Narrator:
MID-SEASON IN THE KLONDIKE,
IN THE HOFFMAN CREW'S SUPER CUT,
LOGAN PIERCE LOADS
PAY DIRT INTO ROCK TRUCKS
HEADED FOR THEIR WASH PLANT,
MONSTER RED.
Logan: I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER
HAD A SEASON RUN THIS SMOOTHLY.
WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH
THE BIGGEST CUT WE'VE EVER DONE.
I REALLY DO THINK
WE'LL HIT OUR 2,700-OUNCE GOAL.
Narrator: TWO HUNDRED
AND FIFTY YARDS WEST,
ANDY SPINKS AND DAVE TURIN STRIP
THE LAST OF THE OVERBURDEN
IN THE FAR END OF THE CUT.
YOU KNOW WE'RE APPROACHING
THE END, UH, OF OUR SUPER CUT.
THEY'VE MADE IT TO THE BUCKET
TODD SET TO MARK THE END
OF THE SUPER CUT
AT THE START OF THE SEASON.
Man: YOU KNOW, WHEN DAVE
AND I HUNG THAT BUCKET UP,
I GOTTA ADMIT,
BOTH OF US HAD OUR DOUBT.
HERE WE ARE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY AT THE BUCKET.
SO PRETTY HAPPY,
IT'S A GOOD FEELING.
ANDY, YOU WANNA KNOCK IT OVER?
YOU LIKE GOLFIN'.
WHY DON'T YOU TEE THAT SUCKER UP
AND SMASH IT?
I THINK I'M GONNA GO FOR IT.
HIT IT OUT.
SO HERE GOES THE BUCKET.
LET IT RIP.
DANG IT.
WE HUNG IT UP THERE TOO GOOD.
OKAY I'M GONNA SWING BACK,
TRY TO KNOCK IT OFF.
YEAH! YEAH, WE'RE AT THE END
OF THE SUPER CUT, BOYS!
Narrator: TOM'S CLAIM OWNER,
PETER TOLLMAN,
ARRIVES TO COLLECT
HIS MID-SEASON CUT OF THE GOLD.
WE'LL GO IN THE CLEAN UP ROOM.
JACK?
YEAH?
UH, WE NEED TO GET PETER
HIS GOLD, HIS CUT.
WELL...
Narrator: THE HOFFMANS TAKE SO
FAR IS 979 OUNCES OF GOLD.
PETER'S CUT, 20%,
OR 195 OUNCES,
WORTH ALMOST $215,000.
Man: THAT IS A FINE LOAF
OF BREAD YOU'VE MADE ME.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELL, THANK YOU.
WE'LL SEE YA LATER, MAN.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HEY, THANK YOU.
SO HOW --
HOW FAR ALONG ARE YA NOW?
ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH.
HALFWAY THROUGH WHAT?
ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE CUT.
A THOUSAND OUNCES IS HALF?
YOU'RE TELLIN' ME YOU'RE
ON A PACE TO DO 2,000 OUNCES?
YOUR GOAL IS 2,700.
THAT'S WAY
BELOW WHERE YOU WANNA BE.
I KNOW THAT WE GOT
SOME GOOD DRILL HOLES DOWN HERE
ON THE END.
AND I'M HOPIN' IT STARTS
TO GET BETTER AS I GO.
SHOW ME THIS
BECAUSE THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
IT'S BEEN GOOD HERE.
IT'S STARTIN' TO FLAKE OUT
ON US RIGHT IN HERE.
BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE GOOD
DRILL HOLES TOWARDS THE END.
Narrator: TODD'S HOPING
THAT THE SECOND HALF
OF THE SUPER CUT
HOLDS MORE GOLD THAN THE FIRST.
BUT IT'S NOT A CHANCE
PETER IS WILLING TO TAKE.
WHAT ABOUT THE LAST THIRD?
WHY AREN'T YOU STRIPPING IT?
IN OUR COMPUTER MODEL,
THERE'S ANOTHER 1,000 OUNCES
IN THIS SECTION, HERE.
WELL...
YOU GOTTA DO THIS SECTION, TOO.
Narrator: TODD'S SUPER CUT,
THE BIGGEST CUT
HE'S EVER OPENED, IS THE SIZE
OF 12 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
PETER WANTS TODD
TO EXTEND THE CUT AGAIN,
TO THE SIZE
OF 18 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
IF PETER'S COMPLETE MODELS
ARE CORRECT,
THIS SHOULD GIVE TODD
THE EXTRA 1,000 OUNCES
HE NEEDS TO HIT HIS 2,700 OUNCE,
$3 MILLION GOAL.
IT'S A HUGE GAMBLE RIGHT NOW
TO GO AND OPEN UP GROUND
THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
DO YA MEAN IT'S GETTIN' HOT?
WE'RE GONNA BE FIGHTIN'
SOME PRETTY SERIOUS MUD.
WELL, YEAH,
BUT THE -- THE BOTTOM LINE IS,
IF YOU DON'T EXTEND IT,
YOU DON'T MAKE YOUR GOAL PERIOD.
THERE'S 10 FEET OF MUCK
BETWEEN YOU AND $1 MILLION.
WELL...
COME ON.
I'LL GO CHEW THROUGH THAT
WITH MY TEETH.
I WONDER IF I GOT THIS PIECE,
RIGHT HERE.
I WONDER IF I COULD BEAT
OL' PARKER DOWN THERE.
THE ONLY ANSWER
TO THAT IS, GO DO IT.
I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
I'LL GO TALK TO THE GUYS.
THANKS, TODD.
SEE YOU, MAN.
Narrator: BUT OPENING
TOO MUCH GROUND
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER
COULD LEAVE THE HOFFMAN CREW
WITH AN UNMINEABLE LAKE OF MUD.
IF YOU NOTICE, I'M A FAT GUY
AND I'M IN MY SHORTS.
IT'S HOT OUT HERE.
I GOT WATER COMIN' IN HERE.
AND TO BITE OFF
A WHOLE 'NOTHER CUT LIKE THAT?
I TAKE THAT SERIOUS.
THAT'S SOMETHIN'
THAT COULD BREAK US.
SO, YEAH, IT'S SCARY.
Narrator: TEN MILES EAST,
PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS HIS OWN SUPER CUT,
HE CALLS, "THE BOUNDARY CUT."
A 1 MILLION-SQUARE-FOOT,
2,000 FOOT-LONG MONSTER
THAT'LL MAKE OR BREAK
THE SECOND HALF
OF PARKER'S MINING SEASON.
BRENNAN RUAUTT LOADS PAY DIRT.
Brennan:
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 10%
OF THE PAY
HAULED OUTTA THIS CUT SO FAR.
AND, UH,
WHAT I WAS TOLD YESTERDAY,
WANNA KEEP IT ALL
IN THAT BACK QUARTER.
Narrator:
INSTEAD OF PILING PAY DIRT
NEXT TO THEIR PLANT
A QUARTER-MILE AWAY,
PARKER HAS HIS CREW BUILD
A MASSIVE STOCKPILE IN THE CUT.
JUST RUNNING OUT OF ROOM.
IT'S GETTING A LITTLE
FRUSTRATING.
AS THE PILE OF PAY GROWS,
STACKING IT HIGHER BECOMES MORE
AND MORE DANGEROUS.
HEY, WE'RE ON OUR FIRST DAY,
HERE,
AND WE'RE ALREADY RUNNING
OUT OF PLACES TO PUT THE PAY.
LIKE, DO RAY AND PARKER
HAVE A PLAN?
PARKER NEVER LET ME KNOW.
ALL HE SAID WAS,
KEEP STACKIN' THERE.
THIS IS MESSED UP.
THEY NEVER TELL ME
'TIL IT'S TOO LATE.
MAYBE ONE OF THEM WILL
SHOW UP SOON.
LET US KNOW
WHAT THE HELL TO DO.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
KEEP THE AXE TO THE GRINDSTONE.
OH, [BLEEP].
AH.
OH MY [BLEEP].
START USING YOUR [BLEEP] EYES.
I JUST LOST IT, BUT OH WELL.
SECOND TIME TODAY.
[BLEEP] JOKE.
I WOULD SURE LIKE IT
IF THEY STARTED TO LET ME KNOW
THE OVER ALL GAME PLAN BEFORE WE
GET INTO THESE SITUATIONS.
SO I COULD GIVE THE TRUCKS
A BETTER IDEA
OF WHAT THEY COULD DO.
A LITTLE MORE PLANNING
AHEAD WOULD SURE HELP THAT OUT.
HEY, PARKER, YOU GOT A SECOND
TO TALK ABOUT THE BOUNDARY CUT?
YEAH.
Narrator: PARKER HASN'T SHARED
HIS PLAN WITH ANYONE.
FOREMAN RICK NESS CORNERS
HIS 20-YEAR-OLD BOSS
FOR ANSWERS.
ALL THE GUYS
ARE KINDA ASKIN' ME
WHAT THE PLAN IS, HERE,
IN THE BOUNDARY CUT.
AND I DON'T -- I DON'T REALLY
KNOW WHAT TO TELL 'EM.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT.
YEAH.
I'VE BEEN KINDA JUGGLING
ABOUT THIS NEW PLAN.
AND WE'RE JUST SPENDING SO MUCH
MONEY HAULIN' PAY TO OUR PLANT.
SO THE MORE I LOOK AT IT,
THE MORE I KINDA
WANNA TRY SOMETHIN' NEW
AND PUT THE PLANT
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CUT.
WHATTA YOU MEAN?
SO WE WERE GONNA PUT OUR WASH
PLANT OUT OVER HERE, RIGHT?
YEAH.
INSTEAD OF DOIN' THAT,
WE BUILD A PAD FOR THE PLANT
THAT SITS RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CUT.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF TRUCKING
PAY A QUARTER OF A MILE
OUT OF THE CUT
TO THE WASH PLANT,
PARKER
WANTS TO STRIP THE PAY DIRT
ON THE SOUTH SIDE
OF THE BOUNDARY CUT
AND STACK IT ON THE NORTH SIDE.
HE'LL THEN CONSTRUCT
A 400-FOOT-LONG,
50-FOOT-HIGH MEGA PAD
RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER
OF THE CUT.
HE'LL FLOOD THE SOUTH SIDE
AND PLACE
THE WASH PLANT ON IT
SO THAT IT CAN OPERATE NEXT
TO HIS MOUNTAIN OF PAY DIRT.
IF HE CAN PULL OFF
THIS RADICAL PLAN,
PARKER WILL SAVE THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS IN FUEL COSTS.
BUT HE'S NEVER ATTEMPTED
ANYTHING THIS AMBITIOUS.
SO I MEAN, WE BASICALLY
GOTTA BUILD A MOUNTAIN RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THING.
AND THAT'S GONNA COST
US DAYS OF SLUICING?
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA LOSE 5 DAYS
OF SLUICING, PROBABLY.
I MEAN,
WE SET UP LIKE WE NORMALLY DO
ON THE SIDE WE'RE BE
SLUICIN' TOMORROW, RIGHT?
BUT IF IT CAN GET US AWAY FROM
HAULIN' PAY EVERY SINGLE DAY,
THEN IT'LL BE WORTH IT, I THINK.
IT SEEMS LIKE A BIG GAMBLE,
YOU KNOW.
FIVE DAYS AIN'T A LOTTA TIME
TO SET SOMETHIN' LIKE THAT UP.
AND I NEED YOU TO.
WELL, IF THAT'S -- IF THAT'S
WHAT YOU WANT, YEAH.
THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
THANKS, RICK.
Narrator:
PARKER'S TAKING A HUGE CHANCE.
TO MAKE IT PROFITABLE,
HE NEEDS RICK AND THE CREW
TO BUILD THE MASSIVE NEW PAD
IN JUST 5 DAYS.
IT'S A LITTLE SCARY 'CAUSE
YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT --
WHOLE LOTTA TIME IN A SEASON.
I JUST HOPE WE'RE NOT SEVERELY
UNDERESTIMATING
THE TIME FRAME HERE.
Narrator:
THIS SEASON, TONY BEETS
IS OUT TO RECOVER THE $1 MILLION
HE INVESTED IN HIS GOLD DREDGE.
FINALLY, AFTER HALF A SEASON
OF BREAKDOWNS,
THE ANCIENT GOLD MACHINE
PRODUCED IT'S FIRST
GOOD CLEAN UP.
YEAH, IT'S WORKIN'.
HEY, WE GOT NO WATER!
WE GOT NO WATER!
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOIN' ON.
[BLEEP].
[BLEEP].
I'LL GO GET THE BREAKERS.
Narrator: THE DREDGE'S
30-YEAR-OLD WATER PUMP
IS OVERHEATING.
PRETTY [BLEEP] HOT.
MUSTA BEEN RUNNIN'
DRY OR SOMETHIN'.
IT'S ALL WE CAN DO IS OPEN IT UP
AND SEE WHAT WE GOT INSIDE.
Narrator: MIKE BEAUDRY
OPENS UP THE PUMP
BETWEEN THE SUCTION PIPE
AND THE MOTOR.
YOU KNOW,
IT GOT PRETTY HOT, THERE.
BUT SOMETIMES THEY'LL COME BACK.
AND THEY'LL KEEP WORKIN'
AFTER STUFF LIKE THAT.
YOU GOT ALL THIS [BLEEP]
IN THE SUCTION LINE.
NO WONDER WE GOT PROBLEMS.
BURN OUR PUMP UP.
Narrator:
DEBRIS IN THE SUCTION PIPE
HAS KEPT WATER
FROM GETTING TO THE PUMP MOTOR.
WITHOUT THE COOLING EFFECT
OF THE WATER,
THE PUMP HAS BURNED OUT.
WE RUN DRY AND BURNED
THE BEARINGS UP
OR SOMETHIN',
LOOKS LIKE.
WE'RE GONNA BE DOWN
FOR AT LEAST A WEEK.
OBVIOUSLY, IT AIN'T GONNA RUN
THE WAY IT IS.
OKAY.
Narrator: THE DREDGE IS
DEAD IN THE WATER
UNTIL TONY
CAN SOMEHOW GET NEW PARTS.
Narrator: TODD HOFFMAN HAS SENT
HIS ENTIRE CREW
OUT TO STRIP A HUGE
750-FOOT EXTENSION
TO THE SUPER CUT.
I'LL HAVE YOU GUYS PULL IN,
HEAD IN, OVER THERE.
Narrator: THE RACE IS ON TO
REMOVE OVERBURDEN
BEFORE IT TURNS
INTO AN IMPENETRABLE SEA OF MUD.
ANDY LEADS THE CHARGE
IN THE D11 'DOZER.
SOMETHIN' IS NOT RIGHT,
GOD DANG IT.
CRAP.
IT'S GETTIN' A LITTLE LEAKY.
Narrator: OIL IS LEAKING OUT OF
THE D11,
THE HOFFMAN
CREW'S BIGGEST 'DOZER.
HEY, RANDY, DO YOU COPY?
YEAH, THIS IS RANDY.
WE GOT AN OIL LEAK
ON THE 'DOZER.
ALL RIGHT, ANDY.
BRING IT ON UP.
I'M GONNA GET THIS UP TO RANDY
AND LET HIM LOOK AT IT.
SEE WHAT WE GOTTA DO
AND GET IT FIXED.
THE D11 IS PROBABLY THE MOST
CRUCIAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
WE HAVE IN STRIPPIN' DIRT.
AND THAT'S REALLY NOT
WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
I GOT A PRETTY GOOD-SIZE
OIL LEAK.
IT'S ON THE OIL PAN.
WOW, IT'S EVERYWHERE.
THERE'S A, UH, PUDDLE
OF OIL ALREADY IN HERE.
I'M NOT SURE
WHAT THE ISSUE IS YET.
BUT, UH, I'VE GOT EITHER A HOSE
OR A CRACKED OIL PAN.
I'M HOPIN'
THE LAST ONE'S NOT TRUE.
YOU KNOW, ONE AGAIN, WE GOT A
SUNNY DAY AND EVERYTHIN'S FINE.
SO IT'S PRETTY CRITICAL THAT WE
GET THIS 11 BACK UP AND RUNNIN'.
YEAH,
IT'S JUST POURING RIGHT HERE.
HEY, RANDY?
YEAH?
DO YOU SEE WHERE IT'S LEAKIN'?
YEAH, THERE COULD BE AN ACTUALLY
CRACK IN THE OIL PAN.
Narrator: A CRACKED OIL PAN
IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.
TO FIX IT, RANDY HAS TO GET
A NEW PAN SHIPPED ALL THE WAY
UP TO THE KLONDIKE.
I NEED TO GO TALK TO TODD.
RANDY, HOW BAD IS IT?
DUDE, IT'S NO GOOD.
IT'S BASICALLY A --
A CASCADE OF OIL.
I HAD TO PUT A PAN
UNDERNEATH OF IT.
BASICALLY, THIS IS DONE FOR NOW?
PRETTY MUCH.
HOW MUCH TIME
DO YOU NEED TO GET THIS FIXED?
UH, 5 DAYS, TODD.
PROBLEM IS,
THIS BLACK MUCK MELTS.
AND YOU GOT A BIG,
MUDDY MESS ON YOUR HANDS.
HOW MUCH TIME WE GOT 'TIL IT
TURNS INTO COMPLETE CRAP?
TWO OR 3 DAYS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LAKE
OUT THERE WHERE WE WERE DIGGIN'.
YOU GOTTA GET THIS FIXED, RANDY.
LISTEN, GRAB PART NUMBERS,
ORDER PARTS, HAVE 'EM FLOWN IN,
WHATEVER YOU GOTTA DO.
WE GOTTA GET THIS UP.
I GOTTA GET TO WORK.
WHATEVER IT TAKES.
ACCORDING TO PETER,
THERE'S AN EXTRA $1 MILLION
WORTH OF GOLD IN THAT EXTENSION.
SO RIGHT NOW, YOU GOT $1 MILLION
ON YOUR SHOULDERS.
ALL RIGHTY, TODD.
ALL RIGHT.
GOOD LUCK, RANDY.
THANKS.
Narrator: RANDY'S PARTS SUPPLIER
IS 1,000 MILES AWAY
IN EDMONTON, ALBERTA.
HEY, ROSS, HOW YOU DOIN'?
SO WE GOT A BIT
OF AN OIL LEAK ON THE CAT.
AND, UH,
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMIN'
FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR
OF THE OIL PAN.
I THINK THE OIL PAN, ITSELF,
HAS -- HAS GOT A CRACK IN IT.
AND IT'S LEAKIN'
THROUGH THE CRACK.
I GOTTA -- I GOTTA HAVE IT FIXED
AND BACK IN THE CUT IN 3 DAYS.
ALL RIGHTY, ROSS.
THANK YOU.
I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER, BYE.
WELL, ROSS SAID
IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK TO 2 WEEKS
TO GET AN OIL PAN HERE.
WELL, I CAN'T JUST SHUT IT DOWN
FOR 2 WEEKS.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT TIME.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS A 40,000-YARD PILE
OF PAY READY TO SLUICE.
BUT INSTEAD OF RUNNING
THE GOLD-RICH DIRT...
LAST TIME FOR THIS PIECE.
CHRIST DOUMITT SHUTS
DOWN THEIR WASH PLANT, BIG RED.
THAT'S IT.
WE'RE DONE.
PARKER WILL LOSE
$30,000 WORTH OF GOLD A DAY
UNTIL HIS CREW BUILDS
A MASSIVE NEW WASH PLANT PAD
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE BOUNDARY CUT.
KINDA UNNERVING THIS TIME
OF YEAR, YOU KNOW?
NOW'S THE TIME WHEN WE SHOULD BE
RUNNIN' HARD WITH GOOD DIRT.
SO I DON'T KNOW.
HE'S -- HE'S THROWIN' THE DICE,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
Narrator: PUTTING THE WASH PLANT
IN THE CENTER OF
THE BOUNDARY CUT
IS A RADICAL FIRST FOR PARKER.
IT'LL CUT DOWN ON HAUL TIME
AND FUEL COSTS.
BUT IT WILL ONLY PAY OFF
IF HE CAN GET BIG RED
SLUICING AGAIN IN JUST 5 DAYS.
BEFORE THAT, PARKER AND CREW
NEED TO BUILD IT
A 400-FOOT-LONG,
50-FOOT-HIGH NEW PAD.
Man: THERE'S A LOT TO DO.
IT'S FULL
ON AND DOWN TO CRUNCH TIME, NOW.
YOU CAN PARK THOSE TRUCKS NEXT
TO EACH OTHER HOWEVER YOU WANT.
WHATEVER'S EASIEST
FOR YOU, THERE, PARKER.
WE ARE ALWAYS
UNDER TIME PRESSURE.
NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TIME
AND PEOPLE, SO YOU MAKE DO.
PARKER'S GONNA RUN TWO TRUCKS.
AND I'LL LOAD 'EM BOTH.
IT'S KIND OF A ROUGH THING
TO DO.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE.
YEAH, I MISSED THE STEP
I WAS JUMPIN' FOR ON THAT ONE.
I THINK I SAW PARKER
JUMPING FROM TRUCK
TO TRUCK
LIKE SOME KIND OF A MONKEY.
WE GOT OUR HEIGHT, NOW,
FOR A PAD.
AND I'D SAY WE'RE ABOUT A THIRD
OF THE WAY ACROSS, NOW.
JUST A MATTER
OF THE TRUCKS DUMPIN' LOAD
AFTER LOAD OF GRAVEL
OFF THE END.
IT'S A PRETTY BIG JOB
AND BUILDIN' A PAD IN THE MIDDLE
OF IT.
THEN MOVIN' PAY,
MOVIN' OVERBURDEN,
MOVIN' PAY, THEN UP ON THE PILE.
OW, [BLEEP].
Narrator: THE CREW NEEDS OVER
50,000 YARDS
OF GRAVEL AND OVERBURDEN.
ENOUGH DIRT TO FILL
18 OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOLS.
BUT MASSIVE EARTH MOVING
IS NEW TERRITORY
FOR PARKER'S ROOKIE CREW.
SETTING UP THE PLANT
IN THE CUT, HERE,
WHICH IS JUST ODD TO ME.
THIS CUT'S A LOT
DIFFERENT FROM TREASURE ISLAND
JUST CAUSE... OH, [BLEEP].
WHOA, MEGAN!
Narrator:
MEGAN HAS BACKED HER TRUCK
OFF THE EDGE
OF THE 50-FOOT-HIGH PAD.
DAMN IT.
MEGAN!
[BLEEP].
MORE POWER.
Narrator:
SHE DUMPS THE 30 TONS OF DIRT
AND GETS HER TRUCK
BACK ONTO SOLID GROUND.
MAN, THAT [BLEEP] MUD.
YOU DON'T WANNA
JUST BACK STRAIGHT
DOWN THE SIDE
OF SOMETHIN' LIKE THIS, RIGHT?
'CAUSE THE SIDES ARE SOFT
AND IT'S GONNA WANNA GO OVER.
SO MAKE SURE
YOU HIT IT AT AN ANGLE.
I'D HATE TO SEE
YOU GO OVER THAT BANK.
IT'S PRETTY NERVE-WRACKING.
I'M KINDA GOIN' BLIND.
WE'VE ALWAYS HAD GENE AROUND.
THERE'S NO WAY
TO REPLACE THAT EXPERIENCE.
SO TIME
FOR US TO MAKE OUR MISTAKES.
HOPEFULLY NOT,
BUT WE DO WHAT IT TAKES.
Narrator:
THE SUPER CUT IS THE BIGGEST CUT
THE HOFFMANS HAVE EVER OPENED.
NOW, TO HIT
THEIR 2,700 OUNCE SEASON GOAL,
THEY'RE MAKING IT EVEN BIGGER.
WE'RE ALL THE WAY
IN THE BACK CORNER
IN THE EXTENSION
OF THE SUPER CUT.
Narrator:
ANDY IS IN THE D-9 'DOZER
TRYING TO KEEP UP
WITH THE MELTING KLONDIKE MUD.
THE D9'S BIG BROTHER, THE D11,
IS OUT OF COMMISSION UNTIL RANDY
FIXES ITS CRACKED OIL PAN.
I'VE GOT KIND OF AN IDEA, UH,
A WAY THAT I CAN FIX IT.
TO GET TO THIS OIL PAN,
WHERE IT'S SPLIT, UH,
I WANNA ADD SILICONE
TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE PAN,
COMPRESS IT IN AND,
UH, SEE IF IT'LL HOLD A SEAL.
I GOTTA REACH WAY UP IN HERE.
AND, UH, I ASKED
IF I COULD BORROW KEVIN'S, UH,
DAUGHTER'S PAINT BRUSH.
BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA
WANT IT BACK WHEN I'M DONE.
WE SHALL ATTACK.
Narrator: IF RANDY'S BUSH FIX
DOESN'T WORK, THE CREW
WILL HAVE TO WAIT 2 WEEKS
FOR A NEW OIL PAN
TO BE FLOWN IN FROM EDMONDTON,
1,000 MILES AWAY.
WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO HOPE
AND PRAY
THAT THIS STAYS TOGETHER.
I GOTTA WAIT
FOR THAT SILICON TO DRY.
IDEALLY, THE MANUFACTURER
WANTS 24 HOURS BEFORE YOU PUT
ANY KIND OF PRESSURE TO IT.
WE DON'T HAVE 24 HOURS.
SO I'M GOING TO ADD OIL TO IT,
SEE IF IT LEAKS.
KINDA PREMATURE,
BUT YOU KNOW IT'S LIKE,
WE CAN'T WAIT ALL DAY.
SO TURNIN' THE SWITCH, HERE.
NO LEAKS, DRY, NO LEAKS!
ALL RIGHT. LET'S POP THE PAN ON,
GET IT OUTTA HERE.
HOPE AND A PRAYER CAME TRUE.
IS THIS THING READY TO GO?
BUTTONED UP, TOPPED OFF,
BE GOOD TO HER.
RUN HER HARD.
LET'S GO MOVE SOME DIRT.
Narrator: RANDY'S FIX HAS THE
HOFFMAN CREW BACK ON TRACK
TO HIT THEIR $3 MILLION
SEASON GOAL.
GOOD THING, GOOD DAY.
LOOK AT THAT,
A BRAND-NEW PUMP FOR YA, JIM.
YEP, LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD
SIZED ONE.
Narrator: AFTER 2 DAYS SITTING
IDLE, TONY'S DREDGE CREW
TAKES DELIVERY
OF A BRAND-NEW WATER PUMP.
WELL, TONY, UH, CAME THROUGH.
SO WE'LL GET AFTER IT AND GET
IT DONE, GET BACK TO RUNNIN'.
Narrator: THE SELF-PRIMING
CENTRIFUGAL PUMP CAN FORCE
A MASSIVE 3,500 GALLONS OF WATER
A MINUTE THROUGH THE DREDGE,
THREE TIMES AS MUCH
AS THE PUMP IT'S REPLACING.
IT COULD BE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT
OVER THE OLD ONE.
THE OTHER ONE HAD A LOTTA HOURS
ON IT AND WEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS ONE'S NEW
AND MORE EFFICIENT.
I CAN'T SEE THAT SIDE.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT OVER THERE?
EASY!
Narrator: BUT THE NEW PUMP IS 77
YEARS YOUNGER THAN THE DREDGE
THE CREW IS CONNECTING IT TO.
WE DIDN'T KNOW
EXACTLY HOW WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO PLUMP IT
IN 'TIL WE HAVE IT HERE, SO.
FOUR INCHES, WHICH I THINK
IS GONNA BE TOO LONG.
GONNA HAVE TO DO
SOME MODIFICATIONS.
SO I'LL GO MEASURE...
GONNA RIG UP A NEW SUCTION LINE
FOR IT.
WE'RE HOPIN' THAT'S GONNA
KEEP THE GRASS AND STUFF
FROM PLUGGIN' IT UP.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S
WHAT WE WERE HAVIN' ISSUES
WITH ON THE OTHER ONE.
ARE YOU GONNA REUSE THIS OR ARE
YOU GONNA MAKE ANOTHER ONE?
REUSE IT SOMEHOW.
Narrator: MIKE AND GENE CONNECT
A NEW FILTER CAGE
AND SUCTION PIPE
TO THE ORIGINAL DREDGE PLUMBING.
SO 106, WE SHOULD HAVE, UH,
3 AND A HALF INCHES UNDERNEATH
THE BOTTOM PUT IN THERE.
THREE AND A HALF INCHES?
STRAIGHT DOWN.
SITTIN' ON THE BOTTOM,
THERE, AREN'T WE?
LOOKS ABOUT LIKE IT.
WHY THE [BLEEP] THERE, MIKEY?
I DON'T KNOW WHO DID THAT.
ADDED WHEN WE SHOULDA SUBTRACTED
OR WHAT?
Narrator: GENE'S MADE
THE SUCTION PIPE
ALMOST A FOOT TOO LONG.
BETTER TO BE TOO LONG
THAN TOO SHORT.
AND WHEN YOU READ A MEASURING
TAPE, NUMBERS ARE ON THE TOP.
WELL THAT'S THE SUCTION ON.
SHE'S DONE.
JUST FINISHED UP
THE LAST DETAILS,
LETTIN' THE GENERATE WARM UP.
AND WE'LL, UH, FIRE HER UP
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD.
SOMETHIN'S PUMPIN'.
Narrator: AFTER BEING DOWN
FOR 3 FULL DAYS,
THE DREDGE
IS FINALLY READY TO CATCH GOLD.
WE'RE BACK DREDGING.
THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
WE'RE BACK DREDGIN'.
THAT'S WHAT COUNTS GENE.
PULL THAT AND HOE HEAD A BIT.
Narrator:
IN PARKER'S BOUNDARY CUT,
THE CREW HAS BEEN
HAULING OVERBURDEN DAY AND NIGHT
TO BUILD
A MASSIVE NEW WASHPLANT PAD.
I'M JUST FINISHIN' UP.
THIS IS MY LAST TRUCK.
WE'RE DONE DOWN HERE, KIDS.
WOO!
FINALLY FINISHED.
Narrator: OVER 5 DAYS,
PARKER'S YOUNG CREW
HAS MOVED 50,000 YARDS
OF OVERBURDEN WEIGHING
OVER 75,000 TONS
TO CONSTRUCT A 400-FOOT-LONG,
50-FOOT-HIGH MEGA PAD.
BUT THE BOUNDARY CUT EARTH WORKS
HAVE COST PARKER OVER
HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
THE REST OF HIS SEASON
NOW DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH
GOLD IS IN THE 200,000 YARDS
OF PAY DIRT IN THE CUT.
YOU GOTTA ADMIT,
WHEN THE KID TAKES A CHANCE,
HE TAKES A CHANCE, DOESN'T HE?
HE DOESN'T GO SMALL.
Narrator: THE MONSTER STOCKPILE
IS THE SAME AMOUNT
OF PAY THAT PARKER
SLUICED ALL OF LAST SEASON.
NEED SOME HELP, THERE,
YOUNGSTER?
IT'S CHRIS DOUMITT'S JOB
TO RUN IT.
THAT'S A MOUNTAIN OF PAY DIRT.
THAT'S GONNA
LAST A LITTLE WHILE.
WELL, AND THAT'S
WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.
WE'VE ONLY 10 WEEKS LEFT.
AND I DON'T THINK BIG RED
CAN SLUICE THIS MUCH GROUND
IN 10 WEEKS.
THERE MAY BE ANOTHER WAY.
AND I WANNA COME
SHOW YOU SOMETHIN'.
COME WITH ME.
I HOPE IT'S NOT MORE GROUND.
THAT'S PLENTY, RIGHT THERE.
I THINK I MAY HAVE FOUND A WAY
THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THAT CUT
PRETTY QUICK AND --
AND MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.
IT'S THAT, RIGHT THERE.
YOU'RE KIDDIN' ME, REALLY?
Narrator: THIS GIANT,
25-TON WASH PLANT
IS ALMOST DOUBLE THE SIZE
OF BIG RED.
AND IT'S AVAILABLE TO RENT.
SO THE GUY
THAT OWNS IT CALLS IT GOLDZILLA.
GOLDZILLA?
YEAH.
WOW.
I MEAN, IT'S A FAIRLY OLD PLANT.
BUT WHERE BIG RED
DOES 130 YARDS, NOW,
THIS WILL PUSH OVER 200 I THINK
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH ROOM
IN THE SLUICE SHUNTS.
YEAH, WOW.
Narrator:
AT 200 YARDS AN HOUR,
GOLDZILLA WOULD ALLOW PARKER
TO RUN ALMOST TWICE THE DIRT.
BUT IT'LL ALSO PUT
HIM DEEPER IN THE HOLE.
YOU ALREADY GOT A HALF MILLION
INVESTED IN THAT CUT.
I'M KINDA LEERY ABOUT INVESTIN'
EVEN MORE BUT IN RENTALS.
WE'RE IN TOO DEEP, NOW.
WE JUST NEED TO RUN THE DIRT,
YOU KNOW?
WE JUST NEED TO MOVE
THE YARDAGE.
IF YOU THINK
THAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO.
IF IT'S WORTH IT OR NOT,
WE'LL FIND OUT.
Narrator: BEFORE HE HAS ANY IDEA
HOW IT WILL PAY,
PARKER
ROLES THE DICE ONCE AGAIN.
SINKING EVEN MORE MONEY
INTO HIS GIANT BOUNDARY CUT.
HE'S TAKIN' A HECK OF A RISK.
I MEAN, ONE HECK OF A RISK.
NOT WITH JUST THE BOUNDARY CUT,
BUT NOW ALL THESE OTHER FACTORS
HE'S THROWN INTO IT.
GUESS HE WORKED IT OUT
IN HIS HEAD
THAT THIS IS GONNA
SAVE OUR SEASON.
BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T,
IT'S GONNA COST US OUR SEASON.
Narrator: AT MCKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS CELEBRATING
A MAJOR MILESTONE.
THIS IS OUR GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY,
YOU KNOW?
PLEASE ASK ME TO OFFICIATE...
OH, NO, HOW NICE.
TO, UH, TO RENEW YOUR VOWS.
NO!
GEORGIA, DO YOU TAKE JACK
TO BE YOUR HUSBAND
UNTIL DEATH DO YOU PART?
I DO.
OH, THANK YOU.
WOO!
JACK, DO YOU TAKE GEORGIA
TO BE YOUR WIFE
UNTIL DEATH DO YOU PART?
I SURE DO.
I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU HUSBAND
AND WIFE.
YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE.
YEAH, THEY STILL GOT IT!
WOO!
OH, THANK YOU, DAVE.
YOU READY?
HEY, JACK, YOU READY?
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
DOESN'T JUST HAVE JACK
AND GEORGIA'S GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
TO CELEBRATE.
THEY'RE ABOUT TO HIT
THEIR OWN GOLDEN LANDMARK.
SO WE'RE AT 979.
IF WE DON'T MAKE 1,000,
WE PROBABLY
SOMETHIN' REALLY, REALLY BAD.
KINDA GOT BAD NEWS FOR YA.
NO YOU DON'T.
YEAH, I DO.
WE DID NOT MAKE THE 1,000.
BULL CRAP.
YEAH, WE MADE 1,182.
Narrator: THIS WEEK'S HAUL
OF 203 OUNCES
TAKES THEIR TOTAL
TO $1.3 MILLION.
LAST YEAR, WE WERE AT 150 OUNCES
AT THIS TIME, RIGHT HERE.
WOW.
YEAH.
I'M PROUD OF YOU.
YOU'RE JUST DOIN' A GREAT JOB.
WE'RE ALMOST AT 1,200.
TWENTY-SEVEN HUNDRED, I DON'T
KNOW IF IT'S ACHIEVEABLE, GUYS.
BUT WE'RE GONNA
GO GIVE IT EVERYTHING WE GOT.
SO LET'S JUST
USE THIS AS A SPRING BOARD
FOR THE LAST HALF A SEASON.
YEAH!
Narrator: IF THE EXTENSION TO
THE SUPER CUT HOLDS GOOD GOLD,
THE HOFFMAN CREW'S $3 MILLION
IS STILL WITHIN REACH.
PARKER AND TONY,
THEY CAN GO UP THERE.
THEY CAN FIRE PEOPLE.
THEY CAN GRIND IT OUT.
WE'LL DO IT OUR WAY.
AND THAT'S WITH FAITH
AND FAMILY.
IF ANYBODY CAN DO,
IT'LL BE THIS TEAM, RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: TONY BEETS
HAS STRUGGLED ALL SEASON
WITH HIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE.
BUT NOW, HE WANTS ANOTHER.
YOU FIGURE IT'S WORTH TAKIN'
THE JUMP ON THIS OTHER ONE?
Narrator: THIS 1940s DREDGE ONLY
RAN DIRT FOR 5 YEARS.
IT SAT UNTOUCHED
IN THIS ISOLATED CREEK
FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY.
OH, WOW.
YEAH, IT'S A...
HO, HO!
AFTER YOU.
NO, IT'S REALLY IN
GOOD SHAPE.
NOT TOO MANY OUT AROUND
THE COUNTRY OR THE WORLD MOVIN'
A DREDGE AROUND, SO.
IT'S JUST, UH, CASH.
THAT'S YOUR JOB, NOT MINE.
SO WHICH BAR
ARE WE GOIN' TO, HERE?
UH...
EH, IT'LL BE A SURPRISE.
Narrator:
FOR YEARS, PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS BEEN A TEENAGE MINE BOSS.
TODAY, THE KID TURNS 21.
YOU KNOW
I LOVE SURPRISES, RICK.
AND RICK HAS BIG PLANS.
ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE ARE.
WHAT ARE WE DOIN'?
IT'S PARTY BARGE, MAN.
NO, WHAT'D YOU DO?
LOTTA PEOPLE PUT THIS TOGETHER,
MAN, NOT JUST ME.
COME ON.
JUST AS SOON AS HE GETS OUT.
WHO IS THAT?
OKAY, COME ON.
[ LAUGHS ]
SURPRISE!
JUST WHO I WANTED ON MY 21st.
EXACTLY,
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE!
SEE, WE WENT WITH FAMILY.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FELLA.
Narrator: PARKER'S MOM, DAD,
AND GRANDPA
HAVE COME 600 MILES FROM
HAINES, ALASKA.
HI, GRANDPA.
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY
TO CELEBRATE A BIRTHDAY.
TO ME, THAT'S A MILESTONE.
AND YOU BECOME YOUR OWN AT 21.
GOOD, GOOD TO SEE YA.
OH, HERE'S YOUR PEOPLE.
WHO ELSE?
HOW'S IT GOIN', MAN?
HEY, BOYS.
WOO!
WE GOT YOUR BIRTHDAY PRESENT,
PARKER.
IN A GOLD PAN, JUST THE WAY
I LIKE IT.
Narrator: CHRIS DOUMITT
AND MECHANIC MICK BLASCHKE
ARRIVE WITH THE RESULTS
OF THEIR ALL-IMPORTANT
MID-SEASON CLEAN UP.
COME HERE, PARKER.
YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR,
EVERYBODY KICKED THEIR BUTTS
TO GIVE YOU 1,000 OUNCES.
WHAT'RE WE AT RIGHT NOW?
WE'RE AT 711 OUNCES.
PLUS THAT?
I TELL YOU WHAT,
YOU START POURIN'.
ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL?
RIGHT THERE,
IS 328 OUNCES OF GOLD.
RIGHT THERE.
THAT PUTS US AT 1,039 OUNCES.
YEAH!
WOW.
Narrator: 1,039 OUNCES
IS WORTH OVER $1.1 MILLION.
DESPITE A SLOW START, PARKER
NOW HAS 9 OUNCES MORE THAN HE
DID THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
I'D HAVE NEVER THOUGHT
THAT WE'D BE AHEAD OF LAST YEAR
AT THE SAME TIME.
SO HAVE YOU SET A GOAL
FOR THIS YEAR?
A GOAL?
WE HAVEN'T SET A REAL GOAL.
BUT WE'VE --
WE'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO DO
OVER 3,000 OUNCES THIS SEASON.
SO IT'S JUST DOIN' THE WORK
AND DOIN' OUR TIME.
YEAH.
AND I KNOW
THAT YOU GUYS'LL DO IT.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE WITH ME.
CHEERS TO 3,000 OUNCES.
AND LET'S CHEERS
TO THIS SECOND HALF!
CHEERS!
CHEERS!
WOO!
YEAH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
CHEERS, MOM!
Narrator: TO HIT HIS NEW
3,000 OUNCE,
$3.3 MILLION DOLLAR GOAL,
PARKER NEEDS TO TRIPLE
HIS CURRENT GOLD TOTAL
IN JUST 10 WEEKS.
I HAVE FANTASTIC ADMIRATION
FOR PARKER'S, UH, ABILITY
TO HAVE CONFIDENCE
THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS,
HE'LL WIN.
Narrator: 3,000 OUNCES
WOULD BLOW TODD HOFFMAN'S
2,700 OUNCE GOAL
RIGHT OUT OF THE WATER.
I'M NOT GONNA LET THAT GUY DOWN
STREAM TALK A BUNCH OF TRASH
AND BEAT US, YOU KNOW?
HE SHOWED UP WITH A BUNCH OF BIG
'DOZERS AND A BIG CHECK BOOK.
WELL, WE SHOW UP
WITH A BUNCH OF HARD WORK
AND A BUNCH OF SWEAT
AND A BUNCH OF LOST SLEEP.
THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT.
WE DON'T HAVE BETTER GROUND.
WE DON'T HAVE BETTER EQUIPMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT.
WE JUST...
WE'VE GOT HEART.
THE NEXT 2, 3 MONTHS
ARE GONNA BE BRUTAL.
THEY'RE GONNA
BE JUST DOWNRIGHT BRUTAL.
AND I CAN'T WAIT.
Narrator: IN THE SECOND HALF
OF THE MINING SEASON...
IT'S [BLEEP] GARBAGE.
AND IT'S GOOD STUFF.
SOON AS WE CAN START SLUICING,
THE SOONER WE
CAN ACTUALLY START MAKING MONEY.
I WOULDN'T TREAT MY DOG THE WAY
THAT HE'S WALKIN'
AROUND TREATIN' PEOPLE.
I JUST WANTED TO PUNCH HIM
IN THE [BLEEP] FACE.
WE ARE NOT A CREW, HERE.
DOZER'S MY ONLY FRIEND ANYMORE.
HE DOESN'T BACK DOWN
FROM THE CHALLENGE.
WE'RE GETTIN' DOWN TO THE WIRE.
TODD'S UP AND GOIN' PRETTY HARD.
BUT, UH, IF WE KEEP DOIN' WEEKS
LIKE THIS THEN
I DON'T THINK HE STANDS
A CHANCE.
ARE YOU GONNA TAKE MY DEAL
OR NOT?
I'M TAKIN' THE DEAL 'CAUSE
I'M GONNA BEAT YA.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.
WE'RE GONNA MINE
A $1 MILLION MOUNTAIN.
[BLEEP] ON FIRE.
SHUT IT DOWN!
WE GOT TWO PLANTS,
600 YARDS AN HOUR.
IF WE FINISH ALL OUR PAY,
WE WIN.
THIS ISN'T THE KID'S YEAR.
THIS IS OUR YEAR.
OF THE SUPER CUT, BOYS.
Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
THAT'S WAY
BELOW WHERE YOU WANNA BE.
IF YOU DON'T EXTEND IT,
YOU DON'T MAKE YOUR GOAL.
THAT'S SOMETHIN'
THAT COULD BREAK US.
HEY, WE GOT NO WATER!
[BLEEP]!
WE'RE GONNA BE DOWN
FOR AT LEAST A WEEK.
YOU GOTTA ADMIT,
WHEN THE KID TAKES A CHANCE,
HE DOESN'T GO SMALL.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
CHEERS, PARTNER.
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS,
HE'LL WIN, YEAH.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
HEY, KEVIN, DO YOU COPY?
YEAH, GO AHEAD, LOGAN.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THAT SAYING,
"BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR?"
UNH-UH.
YEAH, MAN, WE'RE COMIN' AT YOU
LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN, WATCH OUT.
Narrator:
MID-SEASON IN THE KLONDIKE,
IN THE HOFFMAN CREW'S SUPER CUT,
LOGAN PIERCE LOADS
PAY DIRT INTO ROCK TRUCKS
HEADED FOR THEIR WASH PLANT,
MONSTER RED.
Logan: I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER
HAD A SEASON RUN THIS SMOOTHLY.
WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH
THE BIGGEST CUT WE'VE EVER DONE.
I REALLY DO THINK
WE'LL HIT OUR 2,700-OUNCE GOAL.
Narrator: TWO HUNDRED
AND FIFTY YARDS WEST,
ANDY SPINKS AND DAVE TURIN STRIP
THE LAST OF THE OVERBURDEN
IN THE FAR END OF THE CUT.
YOU KNOW WE'RE APPROACHING
THE END, UH, OF OUR SUPER CUT.
THEY'VE MADE IT TO THE BUCKET
TODD SET TO MARK THE END
OF THE SUPER CUT
AT THE START OF THE SEASON.
Man: YOU KNOW, WHEN DAVE
AND I HUNG THAT BUCKET UP,
I GOTTA ADMIT,
BOTH OF US HAD OUR DOUBT.
HERE WE ARE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY AT THE BUCKET.
SO PRETTY HAPPY,
IT'S A GOOD FEELING.
ANDY, YOU WANNA KNOCK IT OVER?
YOU LIKE GOLFIN'.
WHY DON'T YOU TEE THAT SUCKER UP
AND SMASH IT?
I THINK I'M GONNA GO FOR IT.
HIT IT OUT.
SO HERE GOES THE BUCKET.
LET IT RIP.
DANG IT.
WE HUNG IT UP THERE TOO GOOD.
OKAY I'M GONNA SWING BACK,
TRY TO KNOCK IT OFF.
YEAH! YEAH, WE'RE AT THE END
OF THE SUPER CUT, BOYS!
Narrator: TOM'S CLAIM OWNER,
PETER TOLLMAN,
ARRIVES TO COLLECT
HIS MID-SEASON CUT OF THE GOLD.
WE'LL GO IN THE CLEAN UP ROOM.
JACK?
YEAH?
UH, WE NEED TO GET PETER
HIS GOLD, HIS CUT.
WELL...
Narrator: THE HOFFMANS TAKE SO
FAR IS 979 OUNCES OF GOLD.
PETER'S CUT, 20%,
OR 195 OUNCES,
WORTH ALMOST $215,000.
Man: THAT IS A FINE LOAF
OF BREAD YOU'VE MADE ME.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELL, THANK YOU.
WE'LL SEE YA LATER, MAN.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HEY, THANK YOU.
SO HOW --
HOW FAR ALONG ARE YA NOW?
ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH.
HALFWAY THROUGH WHAT?
ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE CUT.
A THOUSAND OUNCES IS HALF?
YOU'RE TELLIN' ME YOU'RE
ON A PACE TO DO 2,000 OUNCES?
YOUR GOAL IS 2,700.
THAT'S WAY
BELOW WHERE YOU WANNA BE.
I KNOW THAT WE GOT
SOME GOOD DRILL HOLES DOWN HERE
ON THE END.
AND I'M HOPIN' IT STARTS
TO GET BETTER AS I GO.
SHOW ME THIS
BECAUSE THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
IT'S BEEN GOOD HERE.
IT'S STARTIN' TO FLAKE OUT
ON US RIGHT IN HERE.
BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAVE GOOD
DRILL HOLES TOWARDS THE END.
Narrator: TODD'S HOPING
THAT THE SECOND HALF
OF THE SUPER CUT
HOLDS MORE GOLD THAN THE FIRST.
BUT IT'S NOT A CHANCE
PETER IS WILLING TO TAKE.
WHAT ABOUT THE LAST THIRD?
WHY AREN'T YOU STRIPPING IT?
IN OUR COMPUTER MODEL,
THERE'S ANOTHER 1,000 OUNCES
IN THIS SECTION, HERE.
WELL...
YOU GOTTA DO THIS SECTION, TOO.
Narrator: TODD'S SUPER CUT,
THE BIGGEST CUT
HE'S EVER OPENED, IS THE SIZE
OF 12 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
PETER WANTS TODD
TO EXTEND THE CUT AGAIN,
TO THE SIZE
OF 18 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
IF PETER'S COMPLETE MODELS
ARE CORRECT,
THIS SHOULD GIVE TODD
THE EXTRA 1,000 OUNCES
HE NEEDS TO HIT HIS 2,700 OUNCE,
$3 MILLION GOAL.
IT'S A HUGE GAMBLE RIGHT NOW
TO GO AND OPEN UP GROUND
THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.
DO YA MEAN IT'S GETTIN' HOT?
WE'RE GONNA BE FIGHTIN'
SOME PRETTY SERIOUS MUD.
WELL, YEAH,
BUT THE -- THE BOTTOM LINE IS,
IF YOU DON'T EXTEND IT,
YOU DON'T MAKE YOUR GOAL PERIOD.
THERE'S 10 FEET OF MUCK
BETWEEN YOU AND $1 MILLION.
WELL...
COME ON.
I'LL GO CHEW THROUGH THAT
WITH MY TEETH.
I WONDER IF I GOT THIS PIECE,
RIGHT HERE.
I WONDER IF I COULD BEAT
OL' PARKER DOWN THERE.
THE ONLY ANSWER
TO THAT IS, GO DO IT.
I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
I'LL GO TALK TO THE GUYS.
THANKS, TODD.
SEE YOU, MAN.
Narrator: BUT OPENING
TOO MUCH GROUND
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER
COULD LEAVE THE HOFFMAN CREW
WITH AN UNMINEABLE LAKE OF MUD.
IF YOU NOTICE, I'M A FAT GUY
AND I'M IN MY SHORTS.
IT'S HOT OUT HERE.
I GOT WATER COMIN' IN HERE.
AND TO BITE OFF
A WHOLE 'NOTHER CUT LIKE THAT?
I TAKE THAT SERIOUS.
THAT'S SOMETHIN'
THAT COULD BREAK US.
SO, YEAH, IT'S SCARY.
Narrator: TEN MILES EAST,
PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS HIS OWN SUPER CUT,
HE CALLS, "THE BOUNDARY CUT."
A 1 MILLION-SQUARE-FOOT,
2,000 FOOT-LONG MONSTER
THAT'LL MAKE OR BREAK
THE SECOND HALF
OF PARKER'S MINING SEASON.
BRENNAN RUAUTT LOADS PAY DIRT.
Brennan:
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 10%
OF THE PAY
HAULED OUTTA THIS CUT SO FAR.
AND, UH,
WHAT I WAS TOLD YESTERDAY,
WANNA KEEP IT ALL
IN THAT BACK QUARTER.
Narrator:
INSTEAD OF PILING PAY DIRT
NEXT TO THEIR PLANT
A QUARTER-MILE AWAY,
PARKER HAS HIS CREW BUILD
A MASSIVE STOCKPILE IN THE CUT.
JUST RUNNING OUT OF ROOM.
IT'S GETTING A LITTLE
FRUSTRATING.
AS THE PILE OF PAY GROWS,
STACKING IT HIGHER BECOMES MORE
AND MORE DANGEROUS.
HEY, WE'RE ON OUR FIRST DAY,
HERE,
AND WE'RE ALREADY RUNNING
OUT OF PLACES TO PUT THE PAY.
LIKE, DO RAY AND PARKER
HAVE A PLAN?
PARKER NEVER LET ME KNOW.
ALL HE SAID WAS,
KEEP STACKIN' THERE.
THIS IS MESSED UP.
THEY NEVER TELL ME
'TIL IT'S TOO LATE.
MAYBE ONE OF THEM WILL
SHOW UP SOON.
LET US KNOW
WHAT THE HELL TO DO.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
KEEP THE AXE TO THE GRINDSTONE.
OH, [BLEEP].
AH.
OH MY [BLEEP].
START USING YOUR [BLEEP] EYES.
I JUST LOST IT, BUT OH WELL.
SECOND TIME TODAY.
[BLEEP] JOKE.
I WOULD SURE LIKE IT
IF THEY STARTED TO LET ME KNOW
THE OVER ALL GAME PLAN BEFORE WE
GET INTO THESE SITUATIONS.
SO I COULD GIVE THE TRUCKS
A BETTER IDEA
OF WHAT THEY COULD DO.
A LITTLE MORE PLANNING
AHEAD WOULD SURE HELP THAT OUT.
HEY, PARKER, YOU GOT A SECOND
TO TALK ABOUT THE BOUNDARY CUT?
YEAH.
Narrator: PARKER HASN'T SHARED
HIS PLAN WITH ANYONE.
FOREMAN RICK NESS CORNERS
HIS 20-YEAR-OLD BOSS
FOR ANSWERS.
ALL THE GUYS
ARE KINDA ASKIN' ME
WHAT THE PLAN IS, HERE,
IN THE BOUNDARY CUT.
AND I DON'T -- I DON'T REALLY
KNOW WHAT TO TELL 'EM.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IT.
YEAH.
I'VE BEEN KINDA JUGGLING
ABOUT THIS NEW PLAN.
AND WE'RE JUST SPENDING SO MUCH
MONEY HAULIN' PAY TO OUR PLANT.
SO THE MORE I LOOK AT IT,
THE MORE I KINDA
WANNA TRY SOMETHIN' NEW
AND PUT THE PLANT
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CUT.
WHATTA YOU MEAN?
SO WE WERE GONNA PUT OUR WASH
PLANT OUT OVER HERE, RIGHT?
YEAH.
INSTEAD OF DOIN' THAT,
WE BUILD A PAD FOR THE PLANT
THAT SITS RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CUT.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF TRUCKING
PAY A QUARTER OF A MILE
OUT OF THE CUT
TO THE WASH PLANT,
PARKER
WANTS TO STRIP THE PAY DIRT
ON THE SOUTH SIDE
OF THE BOUNDARY CUT
AND STACK IT ON THE NORTH SIDE.
HE'LL THEN CONSTRUCT
A 400-FOOT-LONG,
50-FOOT-HIGH MEGA PAD
RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER
OF THE CUT.
HE'LL FLOOD THE SOUTH SIDE
AND PLACE
THE WASH PLANT ON IT
SO THAT IT CAN OPERATE NEXT
TO HIS MOUNTAIN OF PAY DIRT.
IF HE CAN PULL OFF
THIS RADICAL PLAN,
PARKER WILL SAVE THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS IN FUEL COSTS.
BUT HE'S NEVER ATTEMPTED
ANYTHING THIS AMBITIOUS.
SO I MEAN, WE BASICALLY
GOTTA BUILD A MOUNTAIN RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THING.
AND THAT'S GONNA COST
US DAYS OF SLUICING?
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA LOSE 5 DAYS
OF SLUICING, PROBABLY.
I MEAN,
WE SET UP LIKE WE NORMALLY DO
ON THE SIDE WE'RE BE
SLUICIN' TOMORROW, RIGHT?
BUT IF IT CAN GET US AWAY FROM
HAULIN' PAY EVERY SINGLE DAY,
THEN IT'LL BE WORTH IT, I THINK.
IT SEEMS LIKE A BIG GAMBLE,
YOU KNOW.
FIVE DAYS AIN'T A LOTTA TIME
TO SET SOMETHIN' LIKE THAT UP.
AND I NEED YOU TO.
WELL, IF THAT'S -- IF THAT'S
WHAT YOU WANT, YEAH.
THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
THANKS, RICK.
Narrator:
PARKER'S TAKING A HUGE CHANCE.
TO MAKE IT PROFITABLE,
HE NEEDS RICK AND THE CREW
TO BUILD THE MASSIVE NEW PAD
IN JUST 5 DAYS.
IT'S A LITTLE SCARY 'CAUSE
YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT --
WHOLE LOTTA TIME IN A SEASON.
I JUST HOPE WE'RE NOT SEVERELY
UNDERESTIMATING
THE TIME FRAME HERE.
Narrator:
THIS SEASON, TONY BEETS
IS OUT TO RECOVER THE $1 MILLION
HE INVESTED IN HIS GOLD DREDGE.
FINALLY, AFTER HALF A SEASON
OF BREAKDOWNS,
THE ANCIENT GOLD MACHINE
PRODUCED IT'S FIRST
GOOD CLEAN UP.
YEAH, IT'S WORKIN'.
HEY, WE GOT NO WATER!
WE GOT NO WATER!
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOIN' ON.
[BLEEP].
[BLEEP].
I'LL GO GET THE BREAKERS.
Narrator: THE DREDGE'S
30-YEAR-OLD WATER PUMP
IS OVERHEATING.
PRETTY [BLEEP] HOT.
MUSTA BEEN RUNNIN'
DRY OR SOMETHIN'.
IT'S ALL WE CAN DO IS OPEN IT UP
AND SEE WHAT WE GOT INSIDE.
Narrator: MIKE BEAUDRY
OPENS UP THE PUMP
BETWEEN THE SUCTION PIPE
AND THE MOTOR.
YOU KNOW,
IT GOT PRETTY HOT, THERE.
BUT SOMETIMES THEY'LL COME BACK.
AND THEY'LL KEEP WORKIN'
AFTER STUFF LIKE THAT.
YOU GOT ALL THIS [BLEEP]
IN THE SUCTION LINE.
NO WONDER WE GOT PROBLEMS.
BURN OUR PUMP UP.
Narrator:
DEBRIS IN THE SUCTION PIPE
HAS KEPT WATER
FROM GETTING TO THE PUMP MOTOR.
WITHOUT THE COOLING EFFECT
OF THE WATER,
THE PUMP HAS BURNED OUT.
WE RUN DRY AND BURNED
THE BEARINGS UP
OR SOMETHIN',
LOOKS LIKE.
WE'RE GONNA BE DOWN
FOR AT LEAST A WEEK.
OBVIOUSLY, IT AIN'T GONNA RUN
THE WAY IT IS.
OKAY.
Narrator: THE DREDGE IS
DEAD IN THE WATER
UNTIL TONY
CAN SOMEHOW GET NEW PARTS.
Narrator: TODD HOFFMAN HAS SENT
HIS ENTIRE CREW
OUT TO STRIP A HUGE
750-FOOT EXTENSION
TO THE SUPER CUT.
I'LL HAVE YOU GUYS PULL IN,
HEAD IN, OVER THERE.
Narrator: THE RACE IS ON TO
REMOVE OVERBURDEN
BEFORE IT TURNS
INTO AN IMPENETRABLE SEA OF MUD.
ANDY LEADS THE CHARGE
IN THE D11 'DOZER.
SOMETHIN' IS NOT RIGHT,
GOD DANG IT.
CRAP.
IT'S GETTIN' A LITTLE LEAKY.
Narrator: OIL IS LEAKING OUT OF
THE D11,
THE HOFFMAN
CREW'S BIGGEST 'DOZER.
HEY, RANDY, DO YOU COPY?
YEAH, THIS IS RANDY.
WE GOT AN OIL LEAK
ON THE 'DOZER.
ALL RIGHT, ANDY.
BRING IT ON UP.
I'M GONNA GET THIS UP TO RANDY
AND LET HIM LOOK AT IT.
SEE WHAT WE GOTTA DO
AND GET IT FIXED.
THE D11 IS PROBABLY THE MOST
CRUCIAL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
WE HAVE IN STRIPPIN' DIRT.
AND THAT'S REALLY NOT
WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
I GOT A PRETTY GOOD-SIZE
OIL LEAK.
IT'S ON THE OIL PAN.
WOW, IT'S EVERYWHERE.
THERE'S A, UH, PUDDLE
OF OIL ALREADY IN HERE.
I'M NOT SURE
WHAT THE ISSUE IS YET.
BUT, UH, I'VE GOT EITHER A HOSE
OR A CRACKED OIL PAN.
I'M HOPIN'
THE LAST ONE'S NOT TRUE.
YOU KNOW, ONE AGAIN, WE GOT A
SUNNY DAY AND EVERYTHIN'S FINE.
SO IT'S PRETTY CRITICAL THAT WE
GET THIS 11 BACK UP AND RUNNIN'.
YEAH,
IT'S JUST POURING RIGHT HERE.
HEY, RANDY?
YEAH?
DO YOU SEE WHERE IT'S LEAKIN'?
YEAH, THERE COULD BE AN ACTUALLY
CRACK IN THE OIL PAN.
Narrator: A CRACKED OIL PAN
IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.
TO FIX IT, RANDY HAS TO GET
A NEW PAN SHIPPED ALL THE WAY
UP TO THE KLONDIKE.
I NEED TO GO TALK TO TODD.
RANDY, HOW BAD IS IT?
DUDE, IT'S NO GOOD.
IT'S BASICALLY A --
A CASCADE OF OIL.
I HAD TO PUT A PAN
UNDERNEATH OF IT.
BASICALLY, THIS IS DONE FOR NOW?
PRETTY MUCH.
HOW MUCH TIME
DO YOU NEED TO GET THIS FIXED?
UH, 5 DAYS, TODD.
PROBLEM IS,
THIS BLACK MUCK MELTS.
AND YOU GOT A BIG,
MUDDY MESS ON YOUR HANDS.
HOW MUCH TIME WE GOT 'TIL IT
TURNS INTO COMPLETE CRAP?
TWO OR 3 DAYS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A LAKE
OUT THERE WHERE WE WERE DIGGIN'.
YOU GOTTA GET THIS FIXED, RANDY.
LISTEN, GRAB PART NUMBERS,
ORDER PARTS, HAVE 'EM FLOWN IN,
WHATEVER YOU GOTTA DO.
WE GOTTA GET THIS UP.
I GOTTA GET TO WORK.
WHATEVER IT TAKES.
ACCORDING TO PETER,
THERE'S AN EXTRA $1 MILLION
WORTH OF GOLD IN THAT EXTENSION.
SO RIGHT NOW, YOU GOT $1 MILLION
ON YOUR SHOULDERS.
ALL RIGHTY, TODD.
ALL RIGHT.
GOOD LUCK, RANDY.
THANKS.
Narrator: RANDY'S PARTS SUPPLIER
IS 1,000 MILES AWAY
IN EDMONTON, ALBERTA.
HEY, ROSS, HOW YOU DOIN'?
SO WE GOT A BIT
OF AN OIL LEAK ON THE CAT.
AND, UH,
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMIN'
FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR
OF THE OIL PAN.
I THINK THE OIL PAN, ITSELF,
HAS -- HAS GOT A CRACK IN IT.
AND IT'S LEAKIN'
THROUGH THE CRACK.
I GOTTA -- I GOTTA HAVE IT FIXED
AND BACK IN THE CUT IN 3 DAYS.
ALL RIGHTY, ROSS.
THANK YOU.
I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER, BYE.
WELL, ROSS SAID
IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK TO 2 WEEKS
TO GET AN OIL PAN HERE.
WELL, I CAN'T JUST SHUT IT DOWN
FOR 2 WEEKS.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT TIME.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS A 40,000-YARD PILE
OF PAY READY TO SLUICE.
BUT INSTEAD OF RUNNING
THE GOLD-RICH DIRT...
LAST TIME FOR THIS PIECE.
CHRIST DOUMITT SHUTS
DOWN THEIR WASH PLANT, BIG RED.
THAT'S IT.
WE'RE DONE.
PARKER WILL LOSE
$30,000 WORTH OF GOLD A DAY
UNTIL HIS CREW BUILDS
A MASSIVE NEW WASH PLANT PAD
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE BOUNDARY CUT.
KINDA UNNERVING THIS TIME
OF YEAR, YOU KNOW?
NOW'S THE TIME WHEN WE SHOULD BE
RUNNIN' HARD WITH GOOD DIRT.
SO I DON'T KNOW.
HE'S -- HE'S THROWIN' THE DICE,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
Narrator: PUTTING THE WASH PLANT
IN THE CENTER OF
THE BOUNDARY CUT
IS A RADICAL FIRST FOR PARKER.
IT'LL CUT DOWN ON HAUL TIME
AND FUEL COSTS.
BUT IT WILL ONLY PAY OFF
IF HE CAN GET BIG RED
SLUICING AGAIN IN JUST 5 DAYS.
BEFORE THAT, PARKER AND CREW
NEED TO BUILD IT
A 400-FOOT-LONG,
50-FOOT-HIGH NEW PAD.
Man: THERE'S A LOT TO DO.
IT'S FULL
ON AND DOWN TO CRUNCH TIME, NOW.
YOU CAN PARK THOSE TRUCKS NEXT
TO EACH OTHER HOWEVER YOU WANT.
WHATEVER'S EASIEST
FOR YOU, THERE, PARKER.
WE ARE ALWAYS
UNDER TIME PRESSURE.
NEVER HAVE ENOUGH TIME
AND PEOPLE, SO YOU MAKE DO.
PARKER'S GONNA RUN TWO TRUCKS.
AND I'LL LOAD 'EM BOTH.
IT'S KIND OF A ROUGH THING
TO DO.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE.
YEAH, I MISSED THE STEP
I WAS JUMPIN' FOR ON THAT ONE.
I THINK I SAW PARKER
JUMPING FROM TRUCK
TO TRUCK
LIKE SOME KIND OF A MONKEY.
WE GOT OUR HEIGHT, NOW,
FOR A PAD.
AND I'D SAY WE'RE ABOUT A THIRD
OF THE WAY ACROSS, NOW.
JUST A MATTER
OF THE TRUCKS DUMPIN' LOAD
AFTER LOAD OF GRAVEL
OFF THE END.
IT'S A PRETTY BIG JOB
AND BUILDIN' A PAD IN THE MIDDLE
OF IT.
THEN MOVIN' PAY,
MOVIN' OVERBURDEN,
MOVIN' PAY, THEN UP ON THE PILE.
OW, [BLEEP].
Narrator: THE CREW NEEDS OVER
50,000 YARDS
OF GRAVEL AND OVERBURDEN.
ENOUGH DIRT TO FILL
18 OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOLS.
BUT MASSIVE EARTH MOVING
IS NEW TERRITORY
FOR PARKER'S ROOKIE CREW.
SETTING UP THE PLANT
IN THE CUT, HERE,
WHICH IS JUST ODD TO ME.
THIS CUT'S A LOT
DIFFERENT FROM TREASURE ISLAND
JUST CAUSE... OH, [BLEEP].
WHOA, MEGAN!
Narrator:
MEGAN HAS BACKED HER TRUCK
OFF THE EDGE
OF THE 50-FOOT-HIGH PAD.
DAMN IT.
MEGAN!
[BLEEP].
MORE POWER.
Narrator:
SHE DUMPS THE 30 TONS OF DIRT
AND GETS HER TRUCK
BACK ONTO SOLID GROUND.
MAN, THAT [BLEEP] MUD.
YOU DON'T WANNA
JUST BACK STRAIGHT
DOWN THE SIDE
OF SOMETHIN' LIKE THIS, RIGHT?
'CAUSE THE SIDES ARE SOFT
AND IT'S GONNA WANNA GO OVER.
SO MAKE SURE
YOU HIT IT AT AN ANGLE.
I'D HATE TO SEE
YOU GO OVER THAT BANK.
IT'S PRETTY NERVE-WRACKING.
I'M KINDA GOIN' BLIND.
WE'VE ALWAYS HAD GENE AROUND.
THERE'S NO WAY
TO REPLACE THAT EXPERIENCE.
SO TIME
FOR US TO MAKE OUR MISTAKES.
HOPEFULLY NOT,
BUT WE DO WHAT IT TAKES.
Narrator:
THE SUPER CUT IS THE BIGGEST CUT
THE HOFFMANS HAVE EVER OPENED.
NOW, TO HIT
THEIR 2,700 OUNCE SEASON GOAL,
THEY'RE MAKING IT EVEN BIGGER.
WE'RE ALL THE WAY
IN THE BACK CORNER
IN THE EXTENSION
OF THE SUPER CUT.
Narrator:
ANDY IS IN THE D-9 'DOZER
TRYING TO KEEP UP
WITH THE MELTING KLONDIKE MUD.
THE D9'S BIG BROTHER, THE D11,
IS OUT OF COMMISSION UNTIL RANDY
FIXES ITS CRACKED OIL PAN.
I'VE GOT KIND OF AN IDEA, UH,
A WAY THAT I CAN FIX IT.
TO GET TO THIS OIL PAN,
WHERE IT'S SPLIT, UH,
I WANNA ADD SILICONE
TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE PAN,
COMPRESS IT IN AND,
UH, SEE IF IT'LL HOLD A SEAL.
I GOTTA REACH WAY UP IN HERE.
AND, UH, I ASKED
IF I COULD BORROW KEVIN'S, UH,
DAUGHTER'S PAINT BRUSH.
BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA
WANT IT BACK WHEN I'M DONE.
WE SHALL ATTACK.
Narrator: IF RANDY'S BUSH FIX
DOESN'T WORK, THE CREW
WILL HAVE TO WAIT 2 WEEKS
FOR A NEW OIL PAN
TO BE FLOWN IN FROM EDMONDTON,
1,000 MILES AWAY.
WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO HOPE
AND PRAY
THAT THIS STAYS TOGETHER.
I GOTTA WAIT
FOR THAT SILICON TO DRY.
IDEALLY, THE MANUFACTURER
WANTS 24 HOURS BEFORE YOU PUT
ANY KIND OF PRESSURE TO IT.
WE DON'T HAVE 24 HOURS.
SO I'M GOING TO ADD OIL TO IT,
SEE IF IT LEAKS.
KINDA PREMATURE,
BUT YOU KNOW IT'S LIKE,
WE CAN'T WAIT ALL DAY.
SO TURNIN' THE SWITCH, HERE.
NO LEAKS, DRY, NO LEAKS!
ALL RIGHT. LET'S POP THE PAN ON,
GET IT OUTTA HERE.
HOPE AND A PRAYER CAME TRUE.
IS THIS THING READY TO GO?
BUTTONED UP, TOPPED OFF,
BE GOOD TO HER.
RUN HER HARD.
LET'S GO MOVE SOME DIRT.
Narrator: RANDY'S FIX HAS THE
HOFFMAN CREW BACK ON TRACK
TO HIT THEIR $3 MILLION
SEASON GOAL.
GOOD THING, GOOD DAY.
LOOK AT THAT,
A BRAND-NEW PUMP FOR YA, JIM.
YEP, LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY GOOD
SIZED ONE.
Narrator: AFTER 2 DAYS SITTING
IDLE, TONY'S DREDGE CREW
TAKES DELIVERY
OF A BRAND-NEW WATER PUMP.
WELL, TONY, UH, CAME THROUGH.
SO WE'LL GET AFTER IT AND GET
IT DONE, GET BACK TO RUNNIN'.
Narrator: THE SELF-PRIMING
CENTRIFUGAL PUMP CAN FORCE
A MASSIVE 3,500 GALLONS OF WATER
A MINUTE THROUGH THE DREDGE,
THREE TIMES AS MUCH
AS THE PUMP IT'S REPLACING.
IT COULD BE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT
OVER THE OLD ONE.
THE OTHER ONE HAD A LOTTA HOURS
ON IT AND WEAR.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS ONE'S NEW
AND MORE EFFICIENT.
I CAN'T SEE THAT SIDE.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT OVER THERE?
EASY!
Narrator: BUT THE NEW PUMP IS 77
YEARS YOUNGER THAN THE DREDGE
THE CREW IS CONNECTING IT TO.
WE DIDN'T KNOW
EXACTLY HOW WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO PLUMP IT
IN 'TIL WE HAVE IT HERE, SO.
FOUR INCHES, WHICH I THINK
IS GONNA BE TOO LONG.
GONNA HAVE TO DO
SOME MODIFICATIONS.
SO I'LL GO MEASURE...
GONNA RIG UP A NEW SUCTION LINE
FOR IT.
WE'RE HOPIN' THAT'S GONNA
KEEP THE GRASS AND STUFF
FROM PLUGGIN' IT UP.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S
WHAT WE WERE HAVIN' ISSUES
WITH ON THE OTHER ONE.
ARE YOU GONNA REUSE THIS OR ARE
YOU GONNA MAKE ANOTHER ONE?
REUSE IT SOMEHOW.
Narrator: MIKE AND GENE CONNECT
A NEW FILTER CAGE
AND SUCTION PIPE
TO THE ORIGINAL DREDGE PLUMBING.
SO 106, WE SHOULD HAVE, UH,
3 AND A HALF INCHES UNDERNEATH
THE BOTTOM PUT IN THERE.
THREE AND A HALF INCHES?
STRAIGHT DOWN.
SITTIN' ON THE BOTTOM,
THERE, AREN'T WE?
LOOKS ABOUT LIKE IT.
WHY THE [BLEEP] THERE, MIKEY?
I DON'T KNOW WHO DID THAT.
ADDED WHEN WE SHOULDA SUBTRACTED
OR WHAT?
Narrator: GENE'S MADE
THE SUCTION PIPE
ALMOST A FOOT TOO LONG.
BETTER TO BE TOO LONG
THAN TOO SHORT.
AND WHEN YOU READ A MEASURING
TAPE, NUMBERS ARE ON THE TOP.
WELL THAT'S THE SUCTION ON.
SHE'S DONE.
JUST FINISHED UP
THE LAST DETAILS,
LETTIN' THE GENERATE WARM UP.
AND WE'LL, UH, FIRE HER UP
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD.
SOMETHIN'S PUMPIN'.
Narrator: AFTER BEING DOWN
FOR 3 FULL DAYS,
THE DREDGE
IS FINALLY READY TO CATCH GOLD.
WE'RE BACK DREDGING.
THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
WE'RE BACK DREDGIN'.
THAT'S WHAT COUNTS GENE.
PULL THAT AND HOE HEAD A BIT.
Narrator:
IN PARKER'S BOUNDARY CUT,
THE CREW HAS BEEN
HAULING OVERBURDEN DAY AND NIGHT
TO BUILD
A MASSIVE NEW WASHPLANT PAD.
I'M JUST FINISHIN' UP.
THIS IS MY LAST TRUCK.
WE'RE DONE DOWN HERE, KIDS.
WOO!
FINALLY FINISHED.
Narrator: OVER 5 DAYS,
PARKER'S YOUNG CREW
HAS MOVED 50,000 YARDS
OF OVERBURDEN WEIGHING
OVER 75,000 TONS
TO CONSTRUCT A 400-FOOT-LONG,
50-FOOT-HIGH MEGA PAD.
BUT THE BOUNDARY CUT EARTH WORKS
HAVE COST PARKER OVER
HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
THE REST OF HIS SEASON
NOW DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH
GOLD IS IN THE 200,000 YARDS
OF PAY DIRT IN THE CUT.
YOU GOTTA ADMIT,
WHEN THE KID TAKES A CHANCE,
HE TAKES A CHANCE, DOESN'T HE?
HE DOESN'T GO SMALL.
Narrator: THE MONSTER STOCKPILE
IS THE SAME AMOUNT
OF PAY THAT PARKER
SLUICED ALL OF LAST SEASON.
NEED SOME HELP, THERE,
YOUNGSTER?
IT'S CHRIS DOUMITT'S JOB
TO RUN IT.
THAT'S A MOUNTAIN OF PAY DIRT.
THAT'S GONNA
LAST A LITTLE WHILE.
WELL, AND THAT'S
WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.
WE'VE ONLY 10 WEEKS LEFT.
AND I DON'T THINK BIG RED
CAN SLUICE THIS MUCH GROUND
IN 10 WEEKS.
THERE MAY BE ANOTHER WAY.
AND I WANNA COME
SHOW YOU SOMETHIN'.
COME WITH ME.
I HOPE IT'S NOT MORE GROUND.
THAT'S PLENTY, RIGHT THERE.
I THINK I MAY HAVE FOUND A WAY
THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THAT CUT
PRETTY QUICK AND --
AND MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.
IT'S THAT, RIGHT THERE.
YOU'RE KIDDIN' ME, REALLY?
Narrator: THIS GIANT,
25-TON WASH PLANT
IS ALMOST DOUBLE THE SIZE
OF BIG RED.
AND IT'S AVAILABLE TO RENT.
SO THE GUY
THAT OWNS IT CALLS IT GOLDZILLA.
GOLDZILLA?
YEAH.
WOW.
I MEAN, IT'S A FAIRLY OLD PLANT.
BUT WHERE BIG RED
DOES 130 YARDS, NOW,
THIS WILL PUSH OVER 200 I THINK
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH ROOM
IN THE SLUICE SHUNTS.
YEAH, WOW.
Narrator:
AT 200 YARDS AN HOUR,
GOLDZILLA WOULD ALLOW PARKER
TO RUN ALMOST TWICE THE DIRT.
BUT IT'LL ALSO PUT
HIM DEEPER IN THE HOLE.
YOU ALREADY GOT A HALF MILLION
INVESTED IN THAT CUT.
I'M KINDA LEERY ABOUT INVESTIN'
EVEN MORE BUT IN RENTALS.
WE'RE IN TOO DEEP, NOW.
WE JUST NEED TO RUN THE DIRT,
YOU KNOW?
WE JUST NEED TO MOVE
THE YARDAGE.
IF YOU THINK
THAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO.
IF IT'S WORTH IT OR NOT,
WE'LL FIND OUT.
Narrator: BEFORE HE HAS ANY IDEA
HOW IT WILL PAY,
PARKER
ROLES THE DICE ONCE AGAIN.
SINKING EVEN MORE MONEY
INTO HIS GIANT BOUNDARY CUT.
HE'S TAKIN' A HECK OF A RISK.
I MEAN, ONE HECK OF A RISK.
NOT WITH JUST THE BOUNDARY CUT,
BUT NOW ALL THESE OTHER FACTORS
HE'S THROWN INTO IT.
GUESS HE WORKED IT OUT
IN HIS HEAD
THAT THIS IS GONNA
SAVE OUR SEASON.
BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T,
IT'S GONNA COST US OUR SEASON.
Narrator: AT MCKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS CELEBRATING
A MAJOR MILESTONE.
THIS IS OUR GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY,
YOU KNOW?
PLEASE ASK ME TO OFFICIATE...
OH, NO, HOW NICE.
TO, UH, TO RENEW YOUR VOWS.
NO!
GEORGIA, DO YOU TAKE JACK
TO BE YOUR HUSBAND
UNTIL DEATH DO YOU PART?
I DO.
OH, THANK YOU.
WOO!
JACK, DO YOU TAKE GEORGIA
TO BE YOUR WIFE
UNTIL DEATH DO YOU PART?
I SURE DO.
I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU HUSBAND
AND WIFE.
YOU MAY KISS THE BRIDE.
YEAH, THEY STILL GOT IT!
WOO!
OH, THANK YOU, DAVE.
YOU READY?
HEY, JACK, YOU READY?
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW
DOESN'T JUST HAVE JACK
AND GEORGIA'S GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
TO CELEBRATE.
THEY'RE ABOUT TO HIT
THEIR OWN GOLDEN LANDMARK.
SO WE'RE AT 979.
IF WE DON'T MAKE 1,000,
WE PROBABLY
SOMETHIN' REALLY, REALLY BAD.
KINDA GOT BAD NEWS FOR YA.
NO YOU DON'T.
YEAH, I DO.
WE DID NOT MAKE THE 1,000.
BULL CRAP.
YEAH, WE MADE 1,182.
Narrator: THIS WEEK'S HAUL
OF 203 OUNCES
TAKES THEIR TOTAL
TO $1.3 MILLION.
LAST YEAR, WE WERE AT 150 OUNCES
AT THIS TIME, RIGHT HERE.
WOW.
YEAH.
I'M PROUD OF YOU.
YOU'RE JUST DOIN' A GREAT JOB.
WE'RE ALMOST AT 1,200.
TWENTY-SEVEN HUNDRED, I DON'T
KNOW IF IT'S ACHIEVEABLE, GUYS.
BUT WE'RE GONNA
GO GIVE IT EVERYTHING WE GOT.
SO LET'S JUST
USE THIS AS A SPRING BOARD
FOR THE LAST HALF A SEASON.
YEAH!
Narrator: IF THE EXTENSION TO
THE SUPER CUT HOLDS GOOD GOLD,
THE HOFFMAN CREW'S $3 MILLION
IS STILL WITHIN REACH.
PARKER AND TONY,
THEY CAN GO UP THERE.
THEY CAN FIRE PEOPLE.
THEY CAN GRIND IT OUT.
WE'LL DO IT OUR WAY.
AND THAT'S WITH FAITH
AND FAMILY.
IF ANYBODY CAN DO,
IT'LL BE THIS TEAM, RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: TONY BEETS
HAS STRUGGLED ALL SEASON
WITH HIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE.
BUT NOW, HE WANTS ANOTHER.
YOU FIGURE IT'S WORTH TAKIN'
THE JUMP ON THIS OTHER ONE?
Narrator: THIS 1940s DREDGE ONLY
RAN DIRT FOR 5 YEARS.
IT SAT UNTOUCHED
IN THIS ISOLATED CREEK
FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY.
OH, WOW.
YEAH, IT'S A...
HO, HO!
AFTER YOU.
NO, IT'S REALLY IN
GOOD SHAPE.
NOT TOO MANY OUT AROUND
THE COUNTRY OR THE WORLD MOVIN'
A DREDGE AROUND, SO.
IT'S JUST, UH, CASH.
THAT'S YOUR JOB, NOT MINE.
SO WHICH BAR
ARE WE GOIN' TO, HERE?
UH...
EH, IT'LL BE A SURPRISE.
Narrator:
FOR YEARS, PARKER SCHNABEL
HAS BEEN A TEENAGE MINE BOSS.
TODAY, THE KID TURNS 21.
YOU KNOW
I LOVE SURPRISES, RICK.
AND RICK HAS BIG PLANS.
ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE ARE.
WHAT ARE WE DOIN'?
IT'S PARTY BARGE, MAN.
NO, WHAT'D YOU DO?
LOTTA PEOPLE PUT THIS TOGETHER,
MAN, NOT JUST ME.
COME ON.
JUST AS SOON AS HE GETS OUT.
WHO IS THAT?
OKAY, COME ON.
[ LAUGHS ]
SURPRISE!
JUST WHO I WANTED ON MY 21st.
EXACTLY,
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE!
SEE, WE WENT WITH FAMILY.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FELLA.
Narrator: PARKER'S MOM, DAD,
AND GRANDPA
HAVE COME 600 MILES FROM
HAINES, ALASKA.
HI, GRANDPA.
THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY
TO CELEBRATE A BIRTHDAY.
TO ME, THAT'S A MILESTONE.
AND YOU BECOME YOUR OWN AT 21.
GOOD, GOOD TO SEE YA.
OH, HERE'S YOUR PEOPLE.
WHO ELSE?
HOW'S IT GOIN', MAN?
HEY, BOYS.
WOO!
WE GOT YOUR BIRTHDAY PRESENT,
PARKER.
IN A GOLD PAN, JUST THE WAY
I LIKE IT.
Narrator: CHRIS DOUMITT
AND MECHANIC MICK BLASCHKE
ARRIVE WITH THE RESULTS
OF THEIR ALL-IMPORTANT
MID-SEASON CLEAN UP.
COME HERE, PARKER.
YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR,
EVERYBODY KICKED THEIR BUTTS
TO GIVE YOU 1,000 OUNCES.
WHAT'RE WE AT RIGHT NOW?
WE'RE AT 711 OUNCES.
PLUS THAT?
I TELL YOU WHAT,
YOU START POURIN'.
ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL?
RIGHT THERE,
IS 328 OUNCES OF GOLD.
RIGHT THERE.
THAT PUTS US AT 1,039 OUNCES.
YEAH!
WOW.
Narrator: 1,039 OUNCES
IS WORTH OVER $1.1 MILLION.
DESPITE A SLOW START, PARKER
NOW HAS 9 OUNCES MORE THAN HE
DID THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
I'D HAVE NEVER THOUGHT
THAT WE'D BE AHEAD OF LAST YEAR
AT THE SAME TIME.
SO HAVE YOU SET A GOAL
FOR THIS YEAR?
A GOAL?
WE HAVEN'T SET A REAL GOAL.
BUT WE'VE --
WE'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO DO
OVER 3,000 OUNCES THIS SEASON.
SO IT'S JUST DOIN' THE WORK
AND DOIN' OUR TIME.
YEAH.
AND I KNOW
THAT YOU GUYS'LL DO IT.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE WITH ME.
CHEERS TO 3,000 OUNCES.
AND LET'S CHEERS
TO THIS SECOND HALF!
CHEERS!
CHEERS!
WOO!
YEAH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
CHEERS, MOM!
Narrator: TO HIT HIS NEW
3,000 OUNCE,
$3.3 MILLION DOLLAR GOAL,
PARKER NEEDS TO TRIPLE
HIS CURRENT GOLD TOTAL
IN JUST 10 WEEKS.
I HAVE FANTASTIC ADMIRATION
FOR PARKER'S, UH, ABILITY
TO HAVE CONFIDENCE
THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS,
HE'LL WIN.
Narrator: 3,000 OUNCES
WOULD BLOW TODD HOFFMAN'S
2,700 OUNCE GOAL
RIGHT OUT OF THE WATER.
I'M NOT GONNA LET THAT GUY DOWN
STREAM TALK A BUNCH OF TRASH
AND BEAT US, YOU KNOW?
HE SHOWED UP WITH A BUNCH OF BIG
'DOZERS AND A BIG CHECK BOOK.
WELL, WE SHOW UP
WITH A BUNCH OF HARD WORK
AND A BUNCH OF SWEAT
AND A BUNCH OF LOST SLEEP.
THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT.
WE DON'T HAVE BETTER GROUND.
WE DON'T HAVE BETTER EQUIPMENT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT.
WE JUST...
WE'VE GOT HEART.
THE NEXT 2, 3 MONTHS
ARE GONNA BE BRUTAL.
THEY'RE GONNA
BE JUST DOWNRIGHT BRUTAL.
AND I CAN'T WAIT.
Narrator: IN THE SECOND HALF
OF THE MINING SEASON...
IT'S [BLEEP] GARBAGE.
AND IT'S GOOD STUFF.
SOON AS WE CAN START SLUICING,
THE SOONER WE
CAN ACTUALLY START MAKING MONEY.
I WOULDN'T TREAT MY DOG THE WAY
THAT HE'S WALKIN'
AROUND TREATIN' PEOPLE.
I JUST WANTED TO PUNCH HIM
IN THE [BLEEP] FACE.
WE ARE NOT A CREW, HERE.
DOZER'S MY ONLY FRIEND ANYMORE.
HE DOESN'T BACK DOWN
FROM THE CHALLENGE.
WE'RE GETTIN' DOWN TO THE WIRE.
TODD'S UP AND GOIN' PRETTY HARD.
BUT, UH, IF WE KEEP DOIN' WEEKS
LIKE THIS THEN
I DON'T THINK HE STANDS
A CHANCE.
ARE YOU GONNA TAKE MY DEAL
OR NOT?
I'M TAKIN' THE DEAL 'CAUSE
I'M GONNA BEAT YA.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.
WE'RE GONNA MINE
A $1 MILLION MOUNTAIN.
[BLEEP] ON FIRE.
SHUT IT DOWN!
WE GOT TWO PLANTS,
600 YARDS AN HOUR.
IF WE FINISH ALL OUR PAY,
WE WIN.
THIS ISN'T THE KID'S YEAR.
THIS IS OUR YEAR.