Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 7, Episode 16 - Double Trouble - full transcript

Narrator:
ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...

[BLEEP]

PFFT!

WE'RE NOT GONNA GET
TO 1,000 OUNCES.

WE NEED ANOTHER PIECE OF LAND.

THIS IS THE OLD PLANT.

WE NAMED IT
DOUBLE TROUBLE.

Turin: HOLD ON.
BACK UP.

THIS IS YOUR WASH PLANT?

Todd: I NEED YOU TO GET
THIS THING RUNNING.

IT'S LIKE PUTTING LIPSTICK
ON A PIG.



OH [BLEEP]

THIS WEEK NEEDS TO BE
A 200-OUNCE WEEK,

AND EVERY ONE AFTER IT.

WE JUST GOT TO CRANK
EVERYTHING TO 11,

AND WE HAVE TO FORCE 200 OUNCES
A WEEK OUT OF THAT [BLEEP]

WHAT THE [BLEEP]
SOMETHING'S GOT TO BE DONE!

LOOK AT THE TAILINGS!

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU BACK, MAN.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I DIDN'T LEAVE
IN THE RIGHT WAY.

THAT'S NOT, UH, HOW I WOULD
NORMALLY HANDLE MYSELF.

SO I WANTED YOU TO KNOW
THAT I'M SORRY.

Narrator:
TODD HOFFMAN AND HIS CREW



ARE UP FOR AN EARLY START
ON THEIR NEW FAIRPLAY MINE

IN COLORADO
AFTER TODD'S DREAM OF MINING

5,000 OUNCES IN OREGON ENDED
IN FAILURE AND MUTINY.

WHAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH
THIS SUMMER WAS TOUGH, MAN.

AND I JUST APPRECIATE
EVERYBODY COMING BACK.

Narrator: WITH JUST 5 WEEKS LEFT
IN THE MINING SEASON,

HIS CREW RETURNED

WHEN TODD PROMISED THEM
A PROPER PAYCHECK

FOR THEIR SEASON'S WORK.

I'D LOVE TO SEE 1,000 OUNCES

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
IT'S GONNA TAKE FOR US

TO GET A PROFIT

AND TO PUT GOLD INTO
EVERYBODY'S POCKETS.

Narrator: LAST WEEK,
TODD'S FIRST FAIRPLAY CLEANUP

PRODUCED 49 OUNCES,
TAKING HIS SEASON TOTAL TO 275,

WORTH $330,000.

YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS
CAN PROBABLY DO THE MATH.

WE AIN'T GONNA HIT 1,000 OUNCES
WITH 5 WEEKS LEFT.

OKAY?

SO WE GOT TO HAVE
SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

LET'S GO SEE IF WE CAN
FIND SOME MORE LAND.

I'D LIKE TO GO LOOK AROUND.

WE STILL GOT TIME.
LET'S GO FIND SOME GROUND.

YEAH.

I MET A GUY
UP THE VALLEY HERE.

AND HE'S GOT SOME LAND
HE'D PROBABLY LEASE YA.

ANY GOOD?

IT'S GOT GOLD ON IT.

HUH.

THERE'S GOLD EVERYWHERE
IN THIS VALLEY.

I MEAN,
I'LL GO TALK TO HIM, BUT...

DOESN'T HURT ANYTHING
TO GO TALK TO HIM.

I'LL GO UP THERE.
DAVE, YOU WANT TO GO WITH ME?

YEAH.
LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK.

WHY DON'T YOU GUYS
KEEP KICKING ASS?

HOPEFULLY, WE CAN
FIND SOMETHING.

YOU READY?
YOU GONNA FIRE IT UP, FREDDY?

LET'S FIRE IT UP,
MAKE SOME GOLD.

LET'S GO!

Narrator: FREDDY DODGE FIRES UP
WASH PLANT RUSTY RED...

READY, KEVIN?

YES, SIR.

...WHILE KEVIN HIATT
FEEDS PAY INTO THE HOPPER.

WE NEED TO GET 1,000 OUNCES.
I NEED TO TAKE GOLD HOME.

MINDY AIN'T GONNA GO FOR,

UH, ME COMING HOME
EMPTY-HANDED, YOU KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'D LET ME
GOLD-MINE AGAIN AFTER THIS.

Narrator: JUST ONE MILE
NORTHWEST OF FAIRPLAY,

THERE'S AN ABANDONED 55-ACRE
CLAIM BESIDE SACRAMENTO CREEK

THAT WAS LAST MINED
2 YEARS AGO.

SO SACRAMENTO CREEK,

DOES IT GOT
A PRETTY GOOD HISTORY?

THAT'S WHAT FREDDY
TELLS ME, YOU KNOW.

AND HE KNOWS THIS AREA.

THIS IS HIS HOME TURF.
HE KNOWS WHERE THE GOLD IS.

I TRUST HIM.

SWEET.

THE LANDOWNER'S NAME
IS MIKE

AND HE'S GOT GROUND
AND HE'S GOT THE WASH PLANT.

REALLY?

YEAH.

FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD,

IT'S DAMN NEAR
A TURNKEY OPERATION.

HEY, TODD, IF IT'S AS GOOD
AS YOU SAY IT IS,

I'LL STAY AND RUN IT.

AND, UH, WASH PLANT'S HERE.
THAT'S PERFECT.

THAT'S NOT IT, IS IT?

NO WAY.

THAT THING HASN'T
RUN IN YEARS.

LET'S GO TALK TO HIM.

-YOU MIKE?
-YES.

HEY, MIKE.
TODD.

HOW YOU DOING?
MICHAEL PFISTER.

-HI, MIKE. I'M DAVE.
-HOW YOU DOING?

-NICE TO MEET YOU.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOU GOT SOME GOOD
GROUND HERE?

THE LAND IS VERY GOOD.
THERE'S GOLD IN THE GROUND.

YOU JUST GOT TO GET IT OUT.

HUH.

THIS IS THE OLD PLANT.

WHEW.

IT'S TWO TROMMELS
RUNNING PARALLEL.

HOLD ON.
BACK UP.

THIS IS YOUR WASH PLANT?

YES.

IT'S PRETTY ROUGH.

HOW OLD IS THAT MACHINE?

IT'S FROM THE '50s.

[ WHISTLES ]

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME
IT RAN?

OH, A COUPLE YEARS AGO,
UNTIL IT BROKE.

HOW MANY YARDS
AN HOUR WILL THAT DO?

ABOUT 350 YARDS AN HOUR.

WHOA.

DOES IT REALLY RUN?

IT WAS RUNNING
WHEN IT BROKE.

WHAT'S IT CALLED, MIKE?

WELL, WE NAMED
IT DOUBLE TROUBLE.

DOUBLE TROUBLE TROMMEL.

ARE YOU FRICKING NUTS, MAN?

Todd:
THIS IS GOOD GOLD GROUND.

IT'S THE SAME AS WHAT
WE GOT DOWN THERE.

I KNOW. I SAW.
I THINK IT'S GOOD GROUND.

SAME STUFF.

IT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
IT'S THE SAME GROUND.

THIS ISN'T A GOOD
WASH PLANT.

DUDE, I'M NOT DISAGREEING
WITH YOU AT ALL.

IF WE'RE GONNA PUT GOLD
IN THESE GUYS' POCKETS.

I NEED YOU TO GET
THIS THING RUNNING.

YES OR NO?
YOU IN OR OUT ON IT?

IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

YEAH.

BUT I DON'T THINK
WE HAVE A CHOICE.

I'M IN.
LET'S DO IT.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

Turin: WHEN I STARTED MINING
30 YEARS AGO,

I USED TO WORK
ON CRAP LIKE THIS.

AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA TRY
TO MAKE THIS THING WORK.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A PILE
OF [BLEEP] TO ME.

IT'S LIKE PUTTING LIPSTICK
ON A PIG.

Narrator: THE ORIGINAL MACHINE
WAS BUILT IN THE LAST '50s --

WITH JUST ONE TROMMEL.

20 YEARS LATER,
THEY ADDED A SECOND.

THE WAY THEY DESIGNED IT,
THIS SIDE BREAKS DOWN,

I CAN CONTINUE
TO RUN THE BIG ONE.

IF THE BIG ONE BREAKS DOWN,

I CAN STILL CONTINUE
TO RUN THE LITTLE ONE.

Narrator: EACH OF
DOUBLE TROUBLE'S TROMMELS

IS A GIANT ROTATING SIEVE.

AS PAY DIRT PASSES THROUGH,

WATER FROM THE SPRAY
BAR WASHES THE ROCKS.

THE GOLD AND FINE MATERIAL
DROP THROUGH THE SCREENS.

AND THE GOLD COLLECTS
IN THE RIFFLES BELOW

IF DAVE CAN GET IT RUNNING.

WE GOT A LOT OF WORK
TO DO AROUND HERE.

ALL THESE AREAS
HAVE TO BE GUARDED.

WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO
ON THESE CHUTES.

WE'VE GOT A SPRAY BAR
TO PUT IN HERE.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A MESS.
THIS IS A LOT OF WORK.

Parker:
WE'VE BEEN RUNNING SLUICIFER.

AND, UH, GOLD'S
COMING IN PRETTY SLOW.

Narrator: MINE BOSS
PARKER SCHNABEL

IS UNDER THE GUN.

WHAT SHOULD BE 200-
AND 300-OUNCE CLEANUPS

ARE ONLY ABOUT 100 OUNCES.

Narrator:
RICK'S INDIAN RIVER OPERATION
HAS BEEN PRODUCING WELL.

BUT THE BOUNDARY CUT EXTENSION
HASN'T BEEN PAYING OUT.

PARKER HAS A TOTAL OF JUST
1,680 OUNCES OF GOLD,

LESS THAN HALF HIS 4,000-OUNCE,
$4.8 MILLION SEASON GOAL.

Ness: WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON
WITH THESE CLEANUPS

FROM THIS BOUNDARY CUT
EXTENSION, MAN?

THAT'S DISMAL.

YEAH,
IT'S BEEN PRETTY [BLEEP]

[ SIGHS ]

WHAT'S THE SOLUTION HERE?

I DON'T [BLEEP] KNOW.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE
SOME BIG [BLEEP] CHANGE

IF IT KEEPS UP
LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW, WE'LL END THE SEASON
WITH NOT EVEN 2,000 OUNCES.

YEAH.

THE BOUNDARY CUT EXTENSION

HAS AVERAGED LESS
THAN 100 OUNCES PER WEEK.

THIS WEEK NEEDS TO BE
A 200-OUNCE WEEK,

AND EVERY ONE AFTER IT.

WELL, IF IT AIN'T IN THE GROUND,
THE [BLEEP] DO WE DO?

WE JUST GOT TO CRANK
EVERYTHING TO 11,

CRANK THAT PLANT UP.

AND WE HAVE TO FORCE 200 OUNCES
A WEEK OUT OF THAT [BLEEP]

Parker:
WELL, THAT'S WHY WE GOT IT.

BUY A NEW PLANT
TO WEAR IT OUT.

YEAH, I MEAN,
I KNOW, TURNING STUFF UP,

THINGS ARE GONNA
START BREAKING.

AND SO I'VE GOT A NEW MECHANIC
THAT WE'VE HIRED, ANDY.

MITCH CAN FOCUS
ON THE WASH PLANT.

AND ANDY CAN TAKE CARE OF
ALL THE REST OF THE EQUIPMENT.

YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY,
WE CAN GIVE MITCH SOME RELIEF.

COME ON, BUDDY.

[ DOG BARKING ]

JAKE, BE GOOD, BUDDY!

Man: HEY, WELCOME!

HOW'S IT GOING, GUYS?

Narrator: ANDY PAYNE
IS A SHOP MECHANIC...

HEY, JAKE.

Narrator:
...WHO'S NEVER WORKED ON A MINE.

Payne:
OH, YEAH, BUDDY.

MY OLD MAN WAS A MECHANIC,
AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE

ON JUST ABOUT EVERY
KIND OF PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

BUT I'VE NEVER
REALLY MINED, MYSELF,

SO IT'S GONNA BE
A NEW ADVENTURE.

[ DOG BARKING ]

OH, OH!
WE GOT TROUBLE.

LITTLE DOG, BIG ATTITUDE!
[ LAUGHS ]

I'M RICK.

-GOOD TO MEET YOU, RICK.
-THIS IS MITCH.

-HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
-GOOD TO MEET YOU, MITCH.

WE GOT QUITE A BIT
OF WORK FOR YOU.

SO, WE'LL GET YOU STARTED.

-OKAY. WILL DO.
-AWESOME.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN
TELLING PARKER FOR A LONG TIME

WE NEED, UH,
SOME MORE HELP UP HERE.

SO IT'S NICE TO SEE, UH,
HE FINALLY GOT ON THE PROGRAM

AND GOT ANOTHER
TECH UP HERE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT
WORKING OUT HERE

THAN WORKING IN A SHOP.

SO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY,
HE'S USED TO THAT.

AND, UH, HE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

-HEY, MITCH?
-YES.

IS THAT A30 RUNNABLE?

THIS WILL BE IN, LIKE --
THIS IS ONLY --

IT SHOULD TAKE 15 MINUTES.

-OH. HAMMER IT OUT, THEN.
-OKAY.

I'M GONNA FIND SOME GREASE
AND GREASE THE MACHINE.

Narrator: ANDY'S FIRST TASK --
GREASE THE A30 ROCK TRUCK

AND MAKE SURE
IT'S GOOD TO GO.

HEY, MITCH, YOU GOT
A GREASE GUN I COULD BORROW?

GOT A FEW
TUBES OF GREASE, TOO?

YEAH.
TRY AND GET THIS STUFF

IN YOUR TRUCK
SO YOU GOT IT NEXT TIME.

RIGHT ON.
THANKS, MAN.

YEP.

YEAH, SHOULD BE
ONLY 15 MINUTES.

THERE'S A ROCK OR SOMETHING
BESIDE THE NIPPLE.

I CAN'T, UH,
FULLY GET THE...

ALL RIGHT.

I NEED ANOTHER TOOL.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

NO, ALL MY TOOLS WERE A MESS.

I COULDN'T FIND
THE PROPER EXTENSION.

WITH A NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT,

YOU HAVE A LOT MORE STUFF
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

SO IT TAKES A BIT OF TIME
TO GET FAMILIARIZED WITH IT.

YOU KNOW,
THAT SHOULD'VE PROBABLY, UH,

TAKEN ABOUT HALF THE TIME.

-HEY, MITCH?
-YO.

UH, THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE
ON THAT ROCK TRUCK, EH?

YOU JUST, UH, SHOULD I BRING
THAT BACK OVER TO THEM OR...

UM, SO YOU GOT
THE GREASE LINES DONE?

YEP.

AND, UH,
TIRE PRESSURES AS WELL?

TIRE PRESSURES AS WELL.

UH, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T ACTUALLY

HAVE A FITTING FOR THAT,
UH, 3/8ths FITTING.

DO YOU HAVE A GAUGE?

YEAH.

THAT DRAWER
THAT'S OPEN RIGHT THERE,

IT'S RIGHT NEXT
TO THE SCREWDRIVERS.

THERE'S A LARGE GAUGE.

AH, OKAY.

NO, IT'S SILVER.

IT'S IN YOUR HAND.
IT'S SITTING ON YOUR FINGERTIPS.

AH, RIGHT THERE.

Blaschke:
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY TOOLS

YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO WORK
ON THIS, UH, MACHINERY

OUT HERE THAT, YOU KNOW,

YOU'RE NEVER GONNA
HAVE EVERYTHING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, A GUY
THAT IS COMING UP HERE

TO DO IT SHOULD AT LEAST
HAVE THE BASICS, YOU KNOW.

HE SHOULD AT LEAST
BE ABLE TO PUT AIR

IN A ROCK TRUCK TIRE.

YOU KNOW, PARKER'S
JUST BEEN HIRING GUYS

THAT JUST DRIVE UP THE ROAD

AND, YOU KNOW,
WANT TO GO TO WORK.

AND YOU GET WHAT YOU GET.

Narrator:
TONY BEETS IS IN TROUBLE.

TONY'S SECOND DREDGE LIES
ABANDONED 100 MILES UPSTREAM

AT THISTLE CREEK.

THE ONLY WAY
HE CAN MOVE IT

IS TO BREAK IT DOWN
INTO SMALLER PIECES.

TONY HAS BUILT A POWER BARGE

TO TRANSPORT THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT

HE NEEDS UP THE YUKON.

BUT IT'S BEEN LYING IDLE.

THREE WEEKS AGO,
TONY FIRED HIS ORIGINAL SKIPPER.

SO HE TURNED TO THE CAPTAIN
OF THE LOCAL STERN-WHEELER.

I'D REALLY
LOVE TO DO THAT.

IT'S JUST I CAN'T TURN
MY BACK ON THIS FOR A DAY.

MY SEASON GOES ON
FOR ANOTHER MONTH OR SO.

BUT IF I CAN
HELP YOU OUT THEN...

TONY HAS NOT MANAGED
TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE.

HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

WHAT'S UP?

ARE YOU SERIOUS?

SO ARE WE GONNA BE ABLE
TO BARGE THIS YEAR?

WOW.

HOLY SMOKES.

SO YOU'RE TELLING ME
I SPENT, LIKE,

JUST ABOUT A MILLION BUCKS
ON ALL THIS STUFF OVER HERE,

AND NOW I HAVE TO PAY
SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THE BARGING?

THAT'S NOT FLYING.

DAMNED IF YOU DO
AND DAMNED IF YOU DON'T, IS IT?

AND SEE WHAT WE
CAN COME UP WITH?

OKAY, WELL, THEN,
YOU BETTER GET ON THAT.

OKAY.

HOPEFULLY, WE CAN
NEGOTIATE A LITTLE BIT.

THE NEXT DAY,

WITH THE DEAL
ON THE BARGE DONE,

TONY CAN FINALLY
BRING IN HIS CRANE.

THROW IT HERE?

GOT TO COME TOWARDS ME.

YOU'RE GOOD.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator:
AFTER MONTHS OF DELAY,

TONY'S CRANE AND LOADER

FINALLY BEGIN THE 100-MILE
JOURNEY UP THE YUKON RIVER.

Parker:
IT IS MAYHEM HERE.

Narrator:
AT SCRIBNER CREEK,

IN A BID TO HIT HIS 4,000-OUNCE,
$4.8 MILLION GOAL,

PARKER HAS CRANKED
HIS WASH PLANT

UP TO 250 YARDS AN HOUR.

UH, YEAH,
OLD SLUICIFER'S CHEWING

THROUGH GROUND LIKE CRAZY.

SO, HOPEFULLY, WE CAN PICK
THE GOLD BACK UP HERE

AND STILL GET TO WHERE
WE NEED TO BE THIS SEASON.

WE NEED, UH, AS MUCH PAY
TOSSED UP AS WE DO FINE

AND COARSE TAILINGS DEALT WITH.

SO WE'RE DEFINITELY
STRETCHING OURSELVES THIN HERE.

WHAT THE [BLEEP]

FOR [BLEEP] SAKE!

HEY, CHRIS!
LOOK AT THE TAILINGS!

THE TAILINGS
HAVE CAUGHT UP WITH US.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT
OF A CRISIS MODE NOW.

Narrator: FINE TAILINGS HAVE
BUILT UP AROUND THE SLUICES.

THEY'RE BACKING UP AND WILL
SOON FILL THE SLUICE BOX,

CAUSING GOLD TO WASH STRAIGHT

OVER THE RIFFLES
AND OUT OF THE PLANT.

IT'S A PRETTY
SIMPLE SOLUTION.

YOU GET SOMEBODY DOWN THERE
IN A LOADER AND EXCAVATOR

AND MOVE SOME TAILINGS OUT
AND GET THAT FLOW GOING AGAIN.

CHRIS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

ANDY'S JUST WANDERING
AROUND.

SO WHY DON'T YOU LET HIM
BAIL THE TAILINGS?

ALL RIGHTY.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.

Narrator: NEW MECHANIC ANDY
IS IN THE HOT SEAT.

HEY.

YOU WANT TO, UH,
MOVE SOME OF THOSE --

SOME OF THOSE FINE TAILINGS,
GET A COUPLE SCOOPS?

Payne: YOU WANT ME TO GRAB
A BUCKETFUL OF SAND

-AND MAKE A TRENCH?
-YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THE MOST
EXPERIENCED WITH THAT SO FAR.

I'VE NEVER
DONE THIS BEFORE.

-ALL RIGHT.
-I COULD GIVE IT A TRY.

-[ CHUCKLES ]
-YEAH.

Narrator: TO STOP THE FINE
TAILINGS PILING UP,

ANDY NEEDS TO DIG
A CHANNEL FROM THE BASE

OF THE SLUICES

ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO THE SETTLING POND.

I'M GONNA DIG OUT
SOME OF THE FINES.

UH, JUST AVOIDING SOME
OF THIS EQUIPMENT HERE,

$100,000 THING HERE,

$650,000 THING THERE.

ANDREW! ANDREW!

NO, NO, NO, NO!

THE CORD!

OH!

THIS SIDE.

Doumitt: I REALIZED I SAW
A VERY WORRIED LOOK ON HIS FACE.

IT'S OBVIOUS THAT
HE'S NEVER BEEN

IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE THIS.

BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE JUST
ONE JOB AROUND HERE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T
JUST BE A MECHANIC.

YOU JUST CAN'T BE
A LOADER OPERATOR.

THERE'S TOO MANY JOBS
TO BE DONE.

Payne: I'M PRETTY GREEN WHEN
IT COMES TO MOVING DIRT.

SO I'M GONNA [BLEEP]
TAKE ORDERS.

I'M NERVOUS TOO 'CAUSE,
I MEAN, IT'S SOFT THERE.

AND SHE DID START TO SINK.

UH, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS
HOW FAR YOU'D GO DOWN,

OR MAYBE ONE SIDE WOULD GO DOWN,
AND YOU'D ROLL,

AND, UH, YOU KNOW,

YOU'VE GOT WATER
ALL THROUGH THERE.

SO, I MEAN...

I'VE GOT TO USE A SHOVEL.

I CAN'T RISK IT.

Narrator: WORRIED THAT HE MIGHT
SOMEHOW SINK THE LOADER,

ANDY DECIDES
TO GO OLD SCHOOL.

I'M DIGGING A TRENCH
FOR THE WATER RELIEF

SO IT DOESN'T GET
UNDER THE SLUICE.

WATER'S WASHING
UNDERNEATH THE PLANT.

SOMETHING'S GOT TO BE DONE.

THINGS GO BAD REAL FAST.

Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
NEW MECHANIC ANDY

CAN'T COPE WITH THE TAILINGS

THAT THREATEN TO SWAMP
THE WASH PLANT.

HEY, JASON?

MIGHT NEED A HAND.

THERE'S NOT MUCH
I CAN DO TO HELP, MAN.

I GOT TO KEEP THIS PLANT
RUNNING.

YEAH, MAYBE
JUST SEND HIM UP.

I ACTUALLY COULD USE
AN EXTRA HAND HERE.

FOREMAN RICK MAKES
THE 5-MILE JOURNEY

FROM HIS INDIAN RIVER CLAIM.

[BLEEP] FINE TAILINGS
ARE PILING UP AT THE WASH PLANT.

I DON'T HAVE A COMPETENT PERSON
AROUND TO DO IT,

SO I GOT TO STOP PULLING PAY
AND GO DO IT MYSELF.

THIS IS BULL[BLEEP], MAN.

LOOKS LIKE HE CAME
JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME.

WHEW!

A LITTLE BIT OF SAVING THE DAY.

I GOT WORRIED THERE
FOR A MINUTE.

Ness: THERE YOU GO.

JUST STAND THERE
LEANING ON A SHOVEL.

HE HASN'T BEEN
AROUND THIS STUFF.

AND, UH, HE DIDN'T
REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO

WHEN THE TAILINGS
BACKED UP LIKE THAT.

AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW.

IF THAT WAS MITCH, HE'D HAVE
KNOWN TO JUMP IN AN EXCAVATOR

AND TAKE CARE OF IT.

I JUST DON'T THINK
HE'S GOT WHAT IT TAKES.

IT IS AN ISSUE, IN MY MIND.

AND IT'S --
YEAH, IT'S A MAJOR ISSUE.

Narrator:
IN JUST 10 MINUTES,

RICK DIGS ANDY'S CHANNEL.

ANDY'S JUST NOT CUT OUT
FOR THIS [BLEEP] UP HERE.

YOU KNOW, HE'S JUST
NOT WORKING OUT.

SO [SIGHS] I'VE GOT TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

HOW'S IT GOING, PARKER?

WHERE WE AT?

I'M SORRY, ANDY.
IT'S JUST NOT WORKING OUT.

HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND.

YEAH.

IT WAS GOOD, UH,
GOOD WORKING WE DID, PARKER.

IT'S TOO BAD IT WASN'T,
UH, ENOUGH

TO KEEP ANOTHER GUY
STEADY, STEADY,

ANOTHER MECHANIC,
ANYWAY, AND...

RIGHT ON.
THAT'S THE --

AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM,
IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S FIELD WORK.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT
GEARED UP FOR IT,

IT'S TOUGH TO DO RIGHT.

-YEAH.
-NO, I GOTCHA.

RIGHT ON, MAN.
YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY.

YOU, TOO.

COME ON, JAKE.

Parker: ANDREWS'S A NICE GUY,
AND HE HAS GOOD INTENTIONS.

BUT HE'S JUST NOT
A FIELD MECHANIC.

I MEAN, OUT HERE IN THE YUKON,

YOU CAN ONLY HIRE WHO'S READY
AND AVAILABLE TO WORK.

SO, THIS LATE IN THE SEASON,
YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OPTIONS.

IT'S NOT HIS FAULT.

COME LOOK AT THIS.

OH. HOLY SMOKES.

Narrator:
AT SACRAMENTO CREEK,

DAVE AND MECHANIC JUAN
HAVE A PROBLEM.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I MEAN,
I'LL BE HONEST, DAVE.

IT'S A LOT OF DANG WORK.

ONE OF THE TROMMELS
ON DOUBLE TROUBLE

IS MISSING A VITAL PART,
THE SPRAY BAR.

SO DO YOU THINK YOU CAN, UH,
CUT SOME HOLES IN THIS,

PUT SOME NOZZLES?

YEAH.

PUT IT IN THE END

AND, UH, HANG IT OFF
OF THE END THERE?

OKAY.

WELL, WE FOUND SOME OLD,
UH, SCRAP STEEL.

WE NEED TO PUT A WASH SYSTEM
IN THE BIG TROMMEL.

SO WHAT WE GOT TO DO
IS CUT A BUNCH OF HOLES,

PUT SOME NOZZLES.

AND IT GOES IN THE CENTER
OF THE BIG TROMMEL.

AND IT JUST SPRAYS
AND CLEANS ALL THE ROCKS.

Narrator: USING AN 18-FOOT PIPE
AND 15 STEEL NOZZLES,

DAVE AND JUAN HAVE TO BUILD

AND THEN FIT AN ENTIRELY
NEW SPRAY BAR

CAPABLE OF DELIVERING
3,000 GALLONS

OF WATER PER MINUTE

TO WASH THE GOLD OFF THE ROCKS

AND THROUGH THE TROMMEL SCREEN
SO IT COLLECTS IN THE SLUICE.

THIS IS THE SPRAY BAR
WE JUST GOT DONE BUILDING.

WE'RE GONNA PUT IT INSIDE
THE BIG TROMMEL AND HANG IT.

IT'S GONNA BE KIND OF TRICKY
BECAUSE, UH,

WE CAN ONLY GET IT
PARTWAY IN.

AND THEN IT'S GONNA
TAKE THREE GUYS

TO PULL IT
THE REST OF THE WAY.

YEAH, I GOT VERY SMALL ROOM
TO WORK WITH HERE.

WATCH OUT!

EASY! EASY!

THAT'S IT.
IT'S IN PLACE NOW.

IT'S JUST GONNA TAKE
A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING

ON THE OTHER END
TO GET IT UP.

PUSH IT!

[BLEEP] [BLEEP]

EASY. EASY.

AND THEN HE'LL
WELD IT IN PLACE.

THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD, GUYS.
I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.

-WHAT DO YOU THINK, DAVE?
-LOOKS GOOD.

LOOKS REAL GOOD.

NEXT, WE GOT TO PUT
THE PIPE COMING DOWN

TO FEED THIS, UH,
THIS SPRAY BAR.

IT WON'T GO.
PUSH IT.

DOWN A BIT.

SO NOW WE'LL WELD THAT UP,
PUT A FLANGE ON THERE.

AND THAT'LL FEED
THE WATER TO THIS,

WE DON'T HAVE ALL
THE RIGHT FITTINGS.

SO I'M JUST CUTTING WHAT WE HAVE
AND TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK.

THIS IS ACTUALLY
THE MAIN WATER SUPPLY.

THIS HOSE THAT COMES UP RIGHT
THERE IS GONNA PLUG INTO THIS.

SO, UH, WHAT WE GOT LEFT TO DO
IS HOOK UP THIS WATER.

AND THEN THIS TROMMEL
WILL BE READY TO GO.

DON'T LET GO!

I'M NOT, TODD.

PUSH!

Narrator:
THEY CONNECT 600 FEET...

PULL SOME LENGTH DOWN.

...OF LAY-FLAT PIPE.

OKAY.
SEE IF THE OLD GIRL STILL WORKS.

SO THIS IS THE LAST
OF THE WIRING RIGHT HERE.

IT'S STILL A MYSTERY WHETHER
THIS THING'S GONNA WORK OR NOT.

BUT WE'LL PUT IT TOGETHER
AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, DAVE?
HAVE YOU ABOUT GOT HER?

ABOUT GOT IT.
THE LAST WIRE.

IT'S KIND OF EXCITING.

WE NEED THIS THING TO WORK.

Turin:
DOUBLE TROUBLE'S READY TO ROLL.

Narrator:
THE ONLY WAY THE CREW

IS GOING TO GET PAID
FOR THE SEASON

IS RUNNING DOUBLE TROUBLE.

TEST THE SMALL ONE FIRST.

-YOU READY?
-OH, MY GOSH.

-ALL RIGHT.
-SAY A PRAYER, YOU GUYS.

HERE WE GO.
POWER'S COMING ON!

OH, LORD,
HELP THIS THING RUN.

[ METAL CREAKING ]

Turin:
POWER'S COMING ON!

Narrator:
AT SACRAMENTO CREEK...

-THIS GONNA WORK?
-I HOPE SO.

Narrator:
...IT'S TIME TO FIND OUT

IF DAVE TURIN CAN BREATHE LIFE

INTO DOUBLE TROUBLE.

OH, LORD,
HELP THIS THING RUN.

[ METAL CREAKING ]

-YEAH!
-THERE'S ONE!

-LOOK AT THAT!
-NICE!

Narrator: AFTER 2 YEARS
OF BEING LEFT FOR DEAD,

DOUBLE TROUBLE LIVES AGAIN.

WOW!

ARE THE ROLLERS WORKING,
JUAN?

Ibarra: THEY LOOK GOOD.

HEY, DAVE, GOT TO TRY
THE BIG ONE NOW.

LET'S SEE
HOW THAT ONE GOES.

EVERYBODY CLEAR!
BIG TROMMEL'S COMING ON!

DOUBLE TROUBLE, DAVE!

HERE WE GO!

NICE!

YEAH!

WHOO-HOO!

-LOOK AT THAT.
-WHOO!

-IS IT WORKING?
-HELL YEAH!

WHOO!

YEAH! YEAH!

ALL RIGHT!

-WAY TO GO, BUDDY!
-AWESOME, MAN!

WHOA!

WHOA! [BLEEP]

WHOA! LOOK OUT!

SHE'S ALREADY
FALLING APART!

SHE'S ROUGH.
BUT IT'S WORKING.

SO A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL START.

Todd:
IF WE'RE GONNA THROW A PROFIT

AND WE'RE GONNA GET GOLD
INTO GUYS' POCKETS THIS YEAR,

IT'S GONNA BE BECAUSE
OF THESE RIGHT HERE.

YEAH, THEY'RE NOT GONNA WIN
ANY KIND OF A BEAUTY AWARD.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
NEITHER WOULD I.

-IT WORKS! YEAH!
-WHOO! YEAH!

Narrator: AT THISTLE CREEK,

TONY AND GENE ARRIVE

FOR THE NEXT STAGE
OF TONY'S GRAND PLAN...

...BRING IN THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT

TO TAKE HIS SECOND
DREDGE APART.

AFTER A 15-HOUR
JOURNEY UP THE YUKON,

THE HIRED BARGE HAS MADE IT
TO THE NEAREST DROP-OFF POINT.

AH, IT LOOKS LIKE
THEY GOT IT UNLOADED.

GOT TO HAVE SOME TOOLS HERE
TO WORK WITH AT THISTLE.

DON'T HAVE THE GEAR HERE,
WE CAN'T GET NOTHING DONE.

SO NOW WE CAN GET THE STUFF
MOVED UP TO THE DREDGE.

IT'S 8, 10 MILES.
THESE THINGS AREN'T VERY QUICK.

SO WE GOT TO GET GOING.

Narrator:
THE 47-TON LOADER AND CRANE,

CAPABLE OF LIFTING
40,000 POUNDS,

WILL BE THE KEY TO DISMANTLING
THE 70-YEAR-OLD DREDGE.

WOW.

ALL RIGHT
BEHIND ME?

YOU'RE CLEAR.

Narrator: THE CRANE LIFTS
AN 8x6-FOOT DUMPSTER INTO PLACE.

HEY, MIKEY!

AM I IN ABOUT
THE RIGHT SPOT THERE OR WHAT?

SWING TO YOUR RIGHT
ABOUT 6 FEET UP HERE.

YEAH.
STAY RIGHT THERE.

TONY NEEDS TO REMOVE
ALL THE SUPERFICIAL STRUCTURE

BEFORE HE CAN GET INTO LIFTING
THE KEY COMPONENTS.

Beaudry: THAT'S NICE TO HAVE
THE CRANE HERE.

WE'LL START WORKING AT GETTING
THE SUPERSTRUCTURE DOWN.

OKAY, I'M GONNA TAKE THAT
DOWN AND GO DUMP IT.

WELL, THE CRANE IS VITAL
TO TAKING THIS THING APART.

SWING LEFT.

AM I GOOD NOW?

WINCH LINE UP.

Main boom down.

IT'S A GOOD THING WE GOT
THE BIG POWER HERE

TO HELP US OUT.

STARTING TO HAUL DOWN
BIGGER LOADS WITH THE TIN

AND THE SIDING AND THE WINDOWS,
ALL THIS [BLEEP]

IT'S NICE.

WE CAN GET THIS [BLEEP]
OUT OF HERE.

Cheeseman: YEAH.
IT'S A LOT OF BULKY STUFF.

IT'S GONNA TAKE UP
A LOT OF DECK SPACE.

YES.

WELL, I THINK THE FIRST LOAD.
WE GOT THE BUCKETS LAYING HERE.

I JUST COULD DRAG THEM
DOWN THERE,

GET 'EM HAULED DOWN,
AND THROW THEM ON IT.

YEAH, REALLY GOOD SHAPE.

YEAH. WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO PICK IT UP IN ONE PIECE

SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO BREAK IT UP INTO CHUNKS.

WELL, I'LL GO GRAB
THE LOADER, TONY.

Narrator:
THIS HALF OF THE BUCKET LINE

WEIGHS ALMOST 10 TONS...

...THE EQUIVALENT OF AROUND
FIVE LARGE CARS.

THE 47-TON LOADER
WILL HAVE TO USE

ALL ITS 375 HORSEPOWER

TO DRAG IT FROM THE RIVER.

[BLEEP]

IT WON'T LET ME TURN!

[BLEEP] [BLEEP]

HUH?

[BLEEP]

AH! AHH!

[ LAUGHS ]

[BLEEP] [BLEEP]

PFFT!

[ GRUNTS ]

AAH!

WELL, WE CAN GET
A CHAIN AROUND THAT NOW.

OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA PUT
A CHAIN AROUND THE PIN

AND PULL UP ON THE PIN.

IT'S TOO LONG, DOESN'T GET
ON AND OFF THE BARGE EASY.

SO WE'RE GONNA BREAK IT
DOWN INTO PIECES WE CAN MANAGE.

SHOULD BE ABLE TO JUST
PULL IT NOW, SHOULDN'T I?

LET'S GO!

Narrator: IT'S TAKEN 4 MONTHS,
A HUGE CREW,

AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS WORTH OF EQUIPMENT.

BUT TONY BEETS' DREAM

OF BRINGING A SECOND DREDGE
BACK TO LIFE

IS AT LAST BECOMING
A REALITY.

WHEE!

[ LAUGHS ]

SHUT IT DOWN!

Narrator: AT THE FAIRPLAY MINE,

THE HOFFMAN CREW
HAS BEEN RUNNING PAY

THROUGH THEIR WASH PLANT,
RUSTY RED, ALL WEEK.

HOLY MOLY!
[ LAUGHS ]

HOLY CRAP!

HOLY [BLEEP]

LOOK AT THIS!

[ LAUGHS ]

THAT IS PACKED!

THIS IS WORTH
COMING BACK FOR, MAN!

REALLY GOOD SIGN.

THERE YOU GO, FELLAS,
DOUBLE-PANNER.

Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER AND HIS CREW WEIGH UP

THIS WEEK'S GOLD,
MINED FROM THEIR TWO CLAIMS.

THERE'S INDIAN RIVER.

OOH, THAT LOOKS NICE.

Parker:
RICHARD, GO FOR IT.

-YEAH?
-YEAH.

Narrator: TO STAY ON TRACK

FOR HIS 4,000-OUNCE SEASON GOAL,

HE NEEDS RICK TO DELIVER...

IT'S PRETTY HEAVY.

Narrator: ...100 OUNCES
FROM INDIAN RIVER.

30, 40...

60...

90.

OVER 100.

BEAUTIFUL.

112.65.

-NICE.
-WELL DONE.

-DUDE, THAT'S AWESOME.
-MM-HMM.

Narrator: 112 OUNCES
IS WORTH OVER $130,000.

PULLED OFF
A GOOD ONE, RICK.

AT THE BOUNDARY
CUT EXTENSION,

SLUICIFER RUNS
TWICE AS MUCH DIRT,

SO PARKER NEEDS IT
TO PRODUCE TWICE AS MUCH GOLD.

WELL, WE WERE GOING FOR
200 OUNCES THIS WEEK.

BUT THIS DON'T LOOK
LIKE NO 200 OUNCES.

THERE'S 30...

60...

-AW [BLEEP]
-AW, MAN.

I THINK
YOU'RE GONNA FALL SHORT.

A LITTLE BIT.

87.4.

THAT IS [BLEEP] DOG [BLEEP].

Narrator: 87 OUNCES
IS WORTH AROUND $100,000.

BOUNDARY CUT EXTENSION SUCKS.

THE FURTHER WE GO UP
THE BOUNDARY CUT EXTENSION,

THE WORSE IT'S GETTIN', TOO.

YEAH, I KNOW.

I THINK IT'S JUST THE GROUND'S
DYING ON YA, PARKER.

[ SIGHS ]

IT'S TURNING 4,000 OUNCES
INTO A FAIRY TALE.

YEAH.

-PRETTY [BLEEP] SAD.
-SOMETHIN'S GOT TO GIVE.

[BLEEP]
ALL RIGHT.

YOU WANT TO THROW
THIS STUFF IN JARS?

YEAH, ALL RIGHT.
I GOT YA COVERED.

[BLEEP]

THIS [BLEEP] CUT
IS ABSOLUTELY ATROCIOUS.

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

BUT WE GOT TO FIGURE
SOMETHING [BLEEP] OUT

'CAUSE THIS IS
NOT [BLEEP] WORKING.

WE'RE JUST THROWING GOOD MONEY
AFTER BAD AT THIS POINT.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

Narrator:
AT FAIRPLAY, COLORADO,

JACK HOFFMAN PROCESSES

THE GOLD FROM
THIS WEEK'S CLEANUP.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT
EXACTLY WHAT I EXPECTED.

BUT IT'S NOT, UH, TERRIBLE.

BUT I REALLY WANT
IT TO BE GOOD.

MOMENT OF TRUTH.

Narrator: TODD'S ONLY MINED
275 OUNCES THIS SEASON,

WORTH $330,000.

TO HIT HIS 1,000-OUNCE GOAL

AND SEND EVERYONE HOME

WITH A FAIR PAYCHECK
FOR THE SEASON,

HE NEEDS EVERY CLEANUP TO
PRODUCE MORE THAN 100 OUNCES.

-WOW.
-THAT'S A LOT.

Todd: HOW MUCH GOLD'S
IN THERE, DAD?

Jack: 119 OUNCES.

WHOO!

-NICE.
-NICE.

THAT'S OUR BEST
CLEANUP ALL YEAR.

-GOOD JOB, GUYS.
-RIGHT THERE.

GOLD'S GETTING BETTER.

Narrator: 119 OUNCES IS WORTH
OVER $140,000.

WELL, WE GOT TWO PLANTS NOW.
AND I KNOW IT'S OLD.

BUT I THINK DOUBLE TROUBLE'S
GONNA RUN A LOT OF YARDS,

LET'S HOPE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, DAVE?

Turin: I THINK IT'S GONNA
PRODUCE SOME GOLD.

I DON'T KNOW, DAVE.

THAT -- THAT TROMMEL
LOOKS PRETTY ROUGH.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I THINK WE CAN PUT
A LOT MORE PAY THROUGH THAT

THAN WHAT YOU GUYS CAN RUN.

I DON'T THINK
THERE'S ANY WAY

YOU'RE EVEN GONNA
GET CLOSE TO BEATING ME.

PUT YOUR MONEY
WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

I'LL BET YOU 100 BUCKS
WE BEAT YOU THIS YEAR.

-YOU ON?
-YEAH.

I HATE TO TAKE
YOUR MONEY, DAVE.

[ LAUGHS ]
LET'S SEE, BUDDY!

EASIEST 100 BUCKS
I EVER MADE!

DEAL?
ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE GOT THE BEST CLEANUP
WE'VE HAD ALL SEASON.

NOW, DAVE AND JUAN HAVE BEEN

WORKING THEIR TAIL OFF
ON DOUBLE TROUBLE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TWO MINES GOING.

THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE
FRIENDLY WAGER THERE.

IN THE END, THOUGH, MAN,
IT'S ONE TEAM, ONE DREAM.

WE'RE GOING
FOR 1,000 OUNCES.

AND IT'S GONNA TAKE
TWO PLANTS TO DO IT.

Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...

IT'S NICE TO BE
ACTUALLY MAKING MONEY.

WHAT THE [BLEEP]

SHUT IT OFF!

THEY GOT ME A [BLEEP] CLAIM

AND THEY'RE EXPECTING ME
TO GET GOLD.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE
KIDDING ME.

I CAN'T MAKE GOLD
IN THE GROUND, TODD.

THERE AIN'T ANY GOLD
IN THAT BOX.

AND, TOMORROW NIGHT,
THERE BETTER BE.

Parker: IT'S TIME TO PUT
THIS CONVEYOR INTO OVERDRIVE.

THAT DON'T SOUND
TOO [BLEEP] GOOD.

THAT [BLEEP] THING BROKE.

[BLEEP]

GET SOME OXYGEN, FELLA.

I DON'T NEED OXYGEN, DAD.