Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 7, Episode 17 - Cruelest Cut - full transcript
Parker Schnabel is forced to call his dad in to help his struggling operation, Todd Hoffman has the best clean-up of the season and Tony Beets' daughter Monica starts bringing home the gold.
IT'S COMPLACENCY, AND I'M
NOT GONNA PUT UP WITH THAT.
Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
-HOW'S IT GOIN'?
-GREAT, BUDDY. WE MADE IT.
-GOOD TO SEE YOU.
-NICE TO SEE YOU.
THAT [BLEEP]
THING BROKE.
[ BLEEP ] [ BLEEP ]
GET SOME OXYGEN, FELLA.
I DON'T NEED
OXYGEN, DAD.
THEY GOT ME AT [BLEEP]
CLAIMING THEY'RE
EXPECTING ME TO GET GOLD.
-YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME.
I CAN'T MAKE GOLD
IN THE GROUND, TODD.
THERE ISN'T ANY GOLD
IN THAT BOX.
AND TOMORROW NIGHT,
THERE BETTER BE.
IT'S NICE TO BE ACTUALLY
MAKING MONEY WITH MY CUT,
WITH MY PLANT.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?!
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
HEY, WE GOT THE PUMPS ON?
EVERYTHING READY?
GENERATOR GOING?
Narrator: TODD HOFFMAN IS ON HIS
NEW MINE IN FAIRPLAY, COLORADO.
LET'S GO!
FIRE IT UP!
Narrator: FOUR MONTHS
INTO THE SEASON,
HE'S ALREADY QUIT TWO
CLAIMS IN OREGON.
BUT NOT BEFORE
HIS WHOLE TEAM QUIT ON HIM.
Todd: LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S GET 1,000 OUNCES.
Narrator: NOW, HE'S ON THE GOLD,
AND HIS CREW IS BACK,
NEEDING TO GET PAID.
AT THIS POINT,
JUST BUST ASS,
MOVE A LOT OF DIRT
AND LET'S GET SOME GOLD.
Narrator: TODD HAS SET A NEW
1,000-OUNCE GOAL,
THE MINIMUM HE NEEDS
TO PAY HIS CREW
FOR THEIR SEASON'S WORK.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ON THE BEST
GROUND WE'VE EVER MINED.
AND EVERYTHING IS JUST
WORKING OUT FOR US RIGHT NOW.
Todd: WE JUST HAD THE BIGGEST
FRICKIN' CLEANUP OF OUR SEASON.
SO, FINALLY, AFTER EVERYTHING
THAT'S HAPPENED THIS SEASON,
WE'RE FINALLY KICKING SOME ASS.
AND IT FEELS DAMN GOOD.
Narrator: TO HIT HIS TARGET,
TODD'S DOUBLING DOWN
WITH A SECOND COLORADO
CLAIM AT SACRAMENTO CREEK
AND A 60-YEAR-OLD WASH PLANT
CALLED DOUBLE TROUBLE.
IT RUNS 400 YARDS
OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR.
TO KEEP UP, TODD'S BEEN
FORCED TO LEASE
A STATE-OF-THE-ART FEED SYSTEM.
Todd: YEAH, THIS IS OUR FEEDER.
WE CALL IT MAXIMUS.
THIS IS WHAT IT'S GONNA
TAKE TO MAKE IT WORK.
Turin: THIS IS GONNA
BE PRETTY COOL.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY MOVE
THE MACHINE, REMOTE CONTROL.
SO NOW WE GOT THE MAXIMUS TEAMED
UP WITH THE DOUBLE TROUBLE.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT
AS NEW AS TECHNOLOGY
AS YOU CAN GET MEETS ABOUT
AS OLD AS YOU CAN GET.
Narrator: A SINGLE OPERATOR
WITH A REMOTE CONTROL
CAN DRIVE THE HIGH-TECH
FEED CONVEYOR INTO PLACE,
EXTEND THE 80-FOOT CONVEYOR,
FEED 350 YARDS
AND HOUR INTO THE WASH PLANT,
AND TIP THE GRIZZLY BARS
WITHOUT LEAVING THE COMFORT
OF HIS EXCAVATOR.
HEY, DAVE, YOU WANT TO
FIRE UP THE TROMMELS?
COMIN' LIVE!
WE GOT WATER, TODD!
IT'S COMIN'!
ALL RIGHT!
[ BEEPING ]
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOIN' ON?
HMM.
THE 1950s TECHNOLOGY'S
GOING GOOD.
BUT COMPUTER'S NOT
WORKING SO GOOD RIGHT NOW.
ALL THESE FRICKIN'
ELECTRONICS,
THESE YOUNG GUYS CAN HAVE 'EM.
-THE HIGH IS GREEN.
-HIGH IS GREEN.
-THE LOW IS STILL RED.
-LOW IS STILL RED.
ONE GREEN, ONE RED.
THESE DAYS,
EVERYTHING IS ALL COMPUTERIZED.
AND, UH, IT'S JUST A PAIN.
I HATE COMPUTERS.
WE LIVE BY 'EM THESE DAYS.
BUT I REALLY HATE 'EM.
BOTH ARE RED.
THING'S TOO HIGH-TECH.
STILL,
A LOW-VOLTAGE IS RED.
Turin: SO WAIT A MINUTE.
IF I UNPLUG THIS...
OH! THERE IT GOES!
[ WHISTLES ]
WHATEVER YOU DID,
WE JUST GOT IT.
HOW'D YOU FIX IT, DAVE?
[ Laughing ]
I DON'T KNOW.
ALL I DID WAS PULL THIS OUT
AND PUT IT BACK IN.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
-IS IT WORKIN'?
-YEAH.
THIS THING WAS JUST
A LITTLE BIT LOOSE.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT'S THERE FOR.
I'M A FRICKIN'
ELECTRICAL GENIUS!
YOU GENIUS, YOU!
WHAT DO YOU THINK, DAVE?
CONVEYOR'S COMING ON!
FEED HER!
THERE WE GO, BOYS!
Narrator:
TODD HAS GIVEN DAVE TURIN
HIS OWN SMALL CREW
TO RUN SACRAMENTO CREEK.
LOGAN PIERCE DIGS PAY DIRT.
HUNTER HOFFMAN LOADS MAXIMUS.
OKAY, HUNTER. HERE WE GO.
FIRST BUCKET!
FIRST BUCKET OF GOLD
COMING AT YOU! WHOO!
FIRST DIRT COMING
THROUGH THE TROMMEL!
AND MECHANIC JUAN IBARRA RUNS
DOUBLE TROUBLE.
YOU GOT PAY COMIN', DAVE.
WHOO-HOO!
FINALLY, SACRAMENTO CREEK!
I DON'T KNOW, UH, WHICH PLANT'S
GONNA COME THROUGH IN THE END.
BUT WE NEED 'EM BOTH.
WE NEED BOTH OF 'EM
TO COME THROUGH.
IT'S GONNA TAKE TWO
TO GET US OVER THE HUMP.
IT'S GONNA TAKE TWO
TO GET US PROFITABLE.
AND IF ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE
A BUNCH OF GOLD HOME,
IT'S GONNA TAKE TWO PLANTS.
Parker: WE'RE AT THE POINT NOW
WHERE BOUNDARY CUT EXTENSION'S
JUST REALLY KILLIN' US.
IT'S ALL RIGHT TO GO THROUGH
SOME BAD PATCHES OF GROUND,
BUT IT'S JUST BEEN TERRIBLE
THE WHOLE WAY ACROSS.
AND WE REALLY HAVEN'T
HAD ONE GOOD CLEANUP.
Narrator:
PARKER SCHNABEL IS IN TROUBLE.
THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY
THROUGH THE SEASON,
HE HAS LESS THAN HALF
THE GOLD HE NEEDS
TO HIT HIS 4,000-OUNCE,
$4.8-MILLION GOAL.
Parker: THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL
WE'RE GETTIN' TO 4,000 OUNCES
WITH SLUICIFER ON THE GROUND
THAT'S THERE.
LIKE, IT'S JUST NOT
GONNA [BLEEP] DO IT.
AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO.
HERE'S RICK.
HEY, MAN.
SO I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO
ABOUT THIS BOUNDARY
CUT EXTENSION
OTHER THAN THAT
JUST [BLEEP] STOP.
IT AIN'T PAYING
THE [BLEEP] BILLS.
UGH.
I THINK WE HAVE TO MOVE
THE [BLEEP] PLANT.
[ BLEEP ]
WE'VE STILL GOT
THE CREEK CUT.
I MEAN,
IF WE'RE REALLY GONNA GO
AND GET 4,000 OUNCES
THIS YEAR,
WE'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING
PRETTY DRASTIC NOW.
WELL, WE'LL [BLEEP]
THE PLAN, THEN.
I'M GONNA GO SHUT
THE BOYS DOWN.
WE'LL GET THAT PAD
BUILT IN NO TIME.
WE'LL HAVE
THE PLANT MOVED.
ALL RIGHT.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
-SEE YOU, RICK.
-YEAH.
Narrator: PARKER IS ABANDONING
THE 77-ACRE BOUNDARY CUT.
INSTEAD, HE PLANS TO MINE
AROUND THE DIVERTED CREEK BED
HE PREPARED LAST SEASON.
BUT HE NEEDS TO BUILD A NEW PAD
BEFORE HE CAN MOVE
HIS WASH PLANT, SLUICIFER,
AND START RUNNING PAY DIRT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET HER RUN THROUGH.
AND LET'S GO AHEAD
AND SHUT HER DOWN.
Narrator:
EVERY DAY THAT SLUICIFER
IS SHUT DOWN COSTS PARKER
AROUND $20,000 IN LOST GOLD.
WELL, THAT'S IT.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST
CUT WE'VE EVER DONE.
TIME TO GET OUT OF HERE
AND GET SLUICIFER SET UP
ON ITS NEW PAD.
YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING USED
TO THESE CRAZY DECISIONS
THAT PARKER MAKES AROUND HERE.
THAT SEEMS BE HOW
WE FLY AROUND HERE,
BY THE SEAT
OF OUR PANTS, YOU KNOW,
AND JUST FRIGGIN' DO
THINGS ON THE FLY
AND HOPE TO HELL THAT THEY WORK.
Narrator: FIRST, THE CREW MUST
USE THREE ROCK TRUCKS
TO BUILD A 60-FOOT RAISED PAD
FOR SLUICIFER TO SIT ON.
HOP UP ON THIS SPOT RIGHT HERE
THAT I'M FLATTENING OFF HERE.
I THINK, ULTIMATELY, THAT'S
GONNA BE OUR BEST OPTION.
RICK HAS CHARGED
ROOKIE MINER KELLY
WITH LEVELING OFF THE PAD
IN THE D10 DOZER.
I'VE BEEN OVER HERE
FOR THE LAST FEW HOURS
WATCHING AND BUILDING
THE PAD.
IT SHOULD BE FLAT.
AND KELLY JUST INSISTS
ON CUTTING DOWN.
AND IT [BLEEP]
INFURIATES ME.
I WAS WATCHING FOR
THE LAST COUPLE HOURS.
AND YOU'RE ALWAYS
GOING DOWN.
AND OUR WAY OF DOING IT
IS TO BUILD FLAT, ALL RIGHT?
IT'S COMPLACENCY.
AND WE ARE NOT --
I'M NOT GONNA
PUT UP WITH THAT.
Fediuk: JUST A LEARNING CURVE
FOR ALL OF US, I GUESS.
HE WANTS DONE --
THINGS DONE A CERTAIN WAY.
YEAH. NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
AH, WELL, KELLY'S GONNA SPEND
THE REST OF THE DAY
IN A ROCK TRUCK.
BEING PULLED OUT OF A CAT
AND PUT IN A HAUL TRUCK
IS NOT A PROMOTION.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT
OF A DEMOTION THERE.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
IS KELLY DOING?
[ BLEEP ]
[BLEEP] DAMN IT.
Ness: NOT A GOOD DAY FOR HIM.
[ SIGHS ]
Parker: EVERY HOUR
SLUICIFER'S DOWN,
WE'RE LOSING OVER $2,000.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
A BETTER WAY
'CAUSE THIS ISN'T CUTTIN' IT.
[ PHONE RINGS ]
YEAH, HEY.
THIS IS PARKER.
HOW ARE YOU?
THAT'S GOOD.
LOOK, WE'VE GOT SOME STUFF
GOING ON UP HERE RIGHT NOW.
WE HAD TO SHUT
OUR WASH PLANT DOWN,
AND WE'RE MOVING TO A NEW CUT,
AND A BUNCH OF STUFF'S GOING ON.
AND I KNOW YOU WERE HOPING
TO MAKE IT UP HERE THIS YEAR.
AND, UH, HONESTLY,
NOW WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD TIME.
WE COULD REALLY USE
AN EXTRA SET OF HANDS.
OH, THERE'S A REALLY
BIG [BLEEP] ROCK THERE.
[BLEEP] THAT HOLE.
Narrator: AT EUREKA CREEK,
TONY BEETS HAS PUT
HIS DAUGHTER, MONICA,
IN CHARGE OF HER
FIRST OPERATION.
IT'S NICE TO BE ACTUALLY
MAKING MONEY
WITH THE CENTER CUT,
MY CUT, WITH MY PLANT,
INSTEAD OF WITH KEVIN
AND KEVIN'S DREDGE.
Narrator: MONICA'S NEW PLANT
IS HALF A MILE WEST
OF KEVIN'S GOLD DREDGE.
AND UNTIL THE DREDGE
IS REPAIRED,
KEVIN WILL BE WORKING
FOR HIS SISTER.
Kevin: TECHNICALLY, I GUESS,
MONICA'S MY BOSS RIGHT NOW.
TO BE REALLY HONEST,
I HAD VERY LITTLE TO DO
WITH SETTING UP THIS CUT.
THAT WAS ALL MONICA.
Monica: WE ARE 224 OUNCES AWAY
FROM MY FATHER'S
2,000-OUNCE GOAL.
THAT'S A FAIR BIT OF GOLD
TO HAVE TO GET
IN THE SHORT AMOUNT
OF TIME THAT I'VE GOT.
WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP
SLUICING UNTIL IT FREEZES.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?
DID IT [BLEEP] DIE?
[BLEEP] WHOLE, ENTIRE -- OW.
OUR TAILINGS
CONVEYOR IS SMOKING.
THAT'S NOT
[BLEEP] GOOD.
IF YOU GUYS WANT TO GO
TAKE A LOOK AT IT,
I'M GONNA SHUT OFF
THE GENERATOR.
OKAY.
I'LL HAVE A LOOK.
-LOOKING PRETTY SMOKED.
-YEAH.
Narrator: KEVIN AND MECHANIC
MIKE BEAUDRY TAKE A LOOK
AT THE SMOKING
TAILINGS CONVEYOR.
THIS IS NICE AND WARM.
THAT'S STILL BURNING.
YEAH, THEM BELTS ARE [BLEEP]
SMOKED, STILL HOT.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, WE GOT TO FIX
OUR TAILINGS CONVEYOR.
SO SOME PEOPLE
CAN START GREASING.
AND WE'LL KEEP
ON THE ROLL HERE.
WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE, BOYS?
TOO MUCH [BLEEP]
ON THE CONVEYOR.
THE BELTS
COULDN'T PULL IT.
SO THE PULLEY RATIO'S
A LITTLE BIT OFF.
-WE NEED NEW PULLEYS?
-YEP.
Monica: YEAH.
THE TAILINGS CONVEYOR
DECIDED IT WAS GOING TO SMOKE.
-GUESSING IT'S A PULLEY.
-OKAY.
IF YOU GET ME A PULLEY,
THEN WE CAN GET GOING.
Monica: [BLEEP] DO IT.
Narrator: TO HIT TONY'S TARGET,
MONICA HAS BEEN LOADING
TOO MUCH PAY DIRT.
THE MORE WEIGHT SHE
PUTS THE CONVEYOR BELT,
THE MORE STRAIN IT PUTS
ON THE DRIVE BELT,
WHICH HAS CAUSED IT TO SLIP,
HEAT UP, AND SMOKE.
BY INCREASING THE SIZE
OF THE PULLEY,
THERE WILL BE MORE CONTACT AREA,
WHICH MEANS THE DRIVE BELT
WILL HAVE MORE GRIP
AND BE ABLE TO HANDLE
THE INCREASED LOAD
WITHOUT SLIPPING.
FIX IT.
Kevin: SO WE'RE GONNA PUT
A BIGGER PULLEY ON THE MOTOR.
THIS'LL LET US RUN MORE DIRT
AND GET MORE GOLD.
WE HAVE TO --
YEAH, THAT'S THE ONE, MORE GOLD.
EVERYBODY LIKES THAT.
NOPE.
WHOO-HOO.
THAT'S...
OKAY, NOW WE'RE DONE.
Monica: LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.
SEEMS TO BE TAKING
THE ROCKS OUT,
WHICH IS PRETTY AWESOME.
WE'VE GOT NO SMOKE.
SO THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
IT'S NICE TO SEE
THE OLD GIRL WORKING.
YEAH.
WE'RE BACK AND ROLLIN'.
IT AIN'T PRETTY,
BUT WE'RE GOLD MINING!
Narrator:
IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF RUNNING
AT TODD'S
NEW SACRAMENTO CREEK CLAIM.
AND LOGAN IS IN CHARGE
OF THE CUT,
SENDING PAY DIRT
TO DOUBLE TROUBLE.
Pierce: THIS IS MY FIRST
CUT TODD'S LETTING ME DO.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT --
A LITTLE BIT SCARY.
I'M GETTING A LOT
MORE RESPONSIBILITY,
AND -- AND HOPEFULLY,
I DON'T FUMBLE THE BALL.
I HOPE THERE'S GOLD
IN THIS DIRT.
BUT IT'S NOT LIKE ANY PAY DIRT
I'VE EVER LOADED OUT.
IT'S PRETTY SANDY.
I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS
ABOUT THIS.
Todd: RUNNING 360 YARDS
AN HOUR RIGHT NOW!
IT'S THE MOST
WE'VE EVER RAN, EVER!
LOGAN WANTS TO RUN PAY.
WELL, ALONG WITH THAT COMES
RESPONSIBILITY AND PRESSURE.
AND WHAT HE SENDS TO THE PLANT
IS HOW WE SUCCEED OR WE FAIL.
TURN IT OFF.
CUT IT.
Narrator:
AT THE END OF THE FIRST DAY,
TODD INSPECTS
DOUBLE TROUBLE'S SLUICES.
SEE SOME GOLD?
NOPE.
I DON'T EITHER.
I THINK IT'S CRAP.
YEAH. NOT GOOD.
RAN ALL DAY,
SO WE SHOULD SEE IT LIT UP.
NOT SEEING ENOUGH GOLD.
HEY, UH, LOGAN,
YOUR CUT IS --
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
IT'S PAYIN' OFF.
BIG STRIKEOUT.
LOGAN, I KNOW
I SENT YOU OVER THERE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU GOT TO TEST THE GROUND.
DID YOU GET YOUR BUTT
OUT OF THERE AND DID YOU PAN IT?
Pierce: NEGATIVE.
NEGATIVE.
YOU SENT US TOPSOIL
AT 360 YARDS AN HOUR.
THERE'S NOTHING
IN THE BOX, ZERO.
WHEN YOU PICK A CLAIM
AND YOU SAY, "DIG OVER THERE --"
HEY, LISTEN TO ME.
YOU NEED TO GET YOUR ASS
OUT OF THAT SEAT,
AND YOU NEED TO PAN GOLD,
OR DON'T SEND IT TO US, OKAY?
YOU PERSONALLY PAN GOLD
AND THEN SEND IT
TO US, OKAY?
I CAN'T MAKE GOLD
IN THE GROUND, TODD.
THERE ISN'T ANY GOLD
IN THAT BOX.
AND TOMORROW NIGHT,
THERE BETTER BE.
WE'RE ALL FAILING
BECAUSE OF YOU.
OH, MY [BLEEP] [BLEEP].
Todd: LOGAN BETTER GET
HIS ASS OUT THERE
AND FIND THE PAY DIRT
AND GET IT TO THE PLANT.
I KNOW HE'S MY COUSIN.
BUT TOUGH [BLEEP].
WE GOTTA MAKE MONEY.
SNOW'S COMIN'.
Narrator:
AFTER A DISASTROUS FIRST DAY
OF RUNNING AT SACRAMENTO CREEK,
THE PRESSURE IS ON LOGAN
TO FIND GOLD-BEARING GROUND.
Pierce: WHEN I WAS DIGGING THAT
MATERIAL YESTERDAY,
I KNEW IT LOOKED A LITTLE FUNNY.
IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE
PAY THAT I'M USED TO.
AND TURNS OUT I WAS RIGHT,
THAT IT WAS WEIRD.
WHEN THEY POINT
AND SAY DIG THERE,
AND THEN I DON'T GET ANY GOLD
AND I GET AN ASS-CHEWIN' FOR IT,
IT'S PRETTY [BLEEP] UP.
TODAY, NOT GONNA MAKE
THAT SAME MISTAKE.
GONNA GO OUT ON MY OWN
AND FIND GOLD.
THINK I FOUND A SPOT WHERE
THERE'S GONNA BE SOME GOLD.
ALL THIS [BLEEP] AREA
THAT THEY WERE TELLIN' ME
TO DIG WAS ALL JUST --
IT'S ALL TOPSOIL.
Narrator: TWO HUNDRED FEET
FROM THE SANDY TOPSOIL
THAT HE SENT THROUGH THE PLANT,
LOGAN INVESTIGATES A NEW AREA.
WELL, I THINK I FOUND A SPOT
THAT MIGHT BE VIRGIN.
I THINK THIS IS WHAT
WE'RE LOOKING FOR RIGHT HERE.
THIS RIGHT HERE
IS A LOT BIGGER ROCK.
I'M GONNA GO PAN IT.
I MOVED FROM OREGON
TO COLORADO TO GET GOLD.
I DIDN'T COME HERE FOR FUN.
I CAME HERE TO GET GOLD.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
MIGHT BE SMALL,
BUT I'VE GOT ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE,
SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT COLORS.
TODD, DAVE, I'VE GOT SOMETHING
YOU GUYS NEED TO SEE.
Todd: WHAT DO YOU GOT?
GIVE THIS A SWIRL, TODD.
WOW.
SERIOUSLY?
SEE ALL THOSE COLORS?
OH, HECK YEAH.
THAT'S NOT BAD, LOGAN.
WHERE'D YOU FIND THAT?
IT WAS UP ON TOP
OF THE HILL.
IT'S THE OPPOSITE
OF WHAT YOU'D THINK.
BUT THAT'S WHERE
THE GOLD IS HERE.
IT'S NOT TOPSOIL.
IT'S NOT SAND.
IT'S JUST DIRT PACKED
AROUND BOULDERS.
TELL YOU WHAT.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST JUMP IN.
I THINK WE SHOULD RUN
A BIG OLD BULK TEST,
MAYBE 3,000 YARDS.
ALL RIGHT.
TRUCKS ARE ON THEIR WAY, THEN.
-OKAY. LET'S GO.
-WHAT DO YOU THINK?
-GOOD JOB. LET'S GET IT DONE.
-SOUNDS GOOD.
LET'S DO THIS, MAN.
GOSH, THAT THING IS HUGE.
WELL, IT LOOKS
IMPRESSIVE, ANYWAY,
TO SIT UP ON THAT
PEDESTAL LIKE IT IS.
YEAH, YEAH.
WOW.
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER SCHNABEL'S CALL
FOR HELP HAS BEEN ANSWERED
BY HIS PARENTS.
-WHAT DO YOU THINK?
-HEY! HELLO, HELLO!
HEY, BUDDY!
WE MADE IT, FINALLY!
-FINALLY, HONEY.
-GOOD TO SEE YOU.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
HOW ARE YOU? OH.
Roger: I CAN'T QUITE FIGURE IT
ALL OUT, THOUGH, FOR SURE,
YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU CALLED ME
BECAUSE YOU WANT ME TO BE HERE
OR YOU NEED ME TO WORK FOR YOU
OR WHAT THE CASE IS.
OR YOU MISS ME.
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS,
IT'LL COME CLEAR, RIGHT?
YEAH, EXACTLY.
SO, 'CAUSE I WANT TO KNOW, LIKE,
WHAT'S THE CRISIS OF THE DAY?
CRISIS OF THE DAY?
THERE'S NO CRISIS TODAY.
[ LAUGHS ]
SO ARE THEY ONGOING CRISES?
IS THAT THE PROBLEM?
-NO, EVERYTHING'S --
-IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT.
THE GO--
THE GOLD'S JUST
COMING IN SLOW.
-YOU'RE JUST NOT IN A HOT SPOT?
-YEAH.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK
IT'S ANYTHING WE'RE DOING WRONG.
-YEAH.
-WE GOT THE PLANT FIXED UP.
AND IT'S GOING GOOD.
AND WE'RE CRANKING
OUT THE YARDAGE.
LIKE, WE'RE RUNNING
A LOT OF DIRT.
IT'S JUST, UH,
NOT A LOT OF GOLD IN IT.
SO YOU'RE STRESSED
A LITTLE BIT IN THAT REGARD.
-YEAH.
-GOTCHA.
AND, I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE RIGHT ON THE --
WE'RE BREAKING EVEN
A LOT OF WEEKS.
AND IT'S LIKE, I'M NOT UP
HERE TO BREAK EVEN.
WHY DEAL WITH ALL THE STRESS
IF I'M EVEN MONEY?
YEAH.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY,
BECAUSE YOU'RE OUR SON
AND WE LOVE YOU DEARLY,
WE OBVIOUSLY ARE
VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT YOUR WELL-BEING.
AND IF YOU'RE UP HERE STRESSED
OUT NOT GETTING THE GOLD,
CAN WE BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE,
ANY HELP AT ALL?
YEAH.
WE'RE WAY BEHIND
GETTING THIS NEW PAD
FOR THE PLANT BUILT.
AND I WAS HOPING YOU
COULD HELP US OUT.
Narrator:
PARKER SENT HIS WHOLE CREW
TO WORK AT RICK'S
INDIAN RIVER OPERATION.
HIS MAIN WASH PLANT,
SLUICIFER, IS LYING IDLE.
TO SPEED UP THE MOVE
TO THE NEW CREEK CUT,
PARKER HAS A RADICAL PLAN.
Parker: YOU KNOW, SO I --
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE
OF BUILDING THIS NEXT PAD
FOR THE PLANT.
AND WE'RE TRYING SOMETHING
NEW WITH THIS CONVEYOR.
Roger: IT'S A BEAUTIFUL
CONVEYOR.
THAT'S, WHAT,
150 FEET, RIGHT?
A 150, YEAH.
COST US 300 GRAND.
BUT IT'LL DO THE WORK
OF THREE ROCK TRUCKS.
-LET'S DO HER.
-GOT DIRT TO MOVE.
Narrator: PARKER WAS USING
THREE ROCK TRUCKS
TO BUILD THE NEW PAD.
INSTEAD, HE IS REPLACING
THEM WITH A SUPER CONVEYOR.
PARKER WILL DOZE OVERBURDEN
ACROSS TO HIS DAD
IN THE 460 EXCAVATOR.
ROGER WILL THEN LOAD
THE 150-FOOT
SUPER CONVEYOR
WITH 900 YARDS
OF OVERBURDEN PER HOUR,
PILING IT ON TOP
OF KELLY'S RIM.
FINALLY, PARKER WILL DOZE
AND SHAPE THE PAD,
READY FOR SLUICIFER.
THIS, UH, DAMN CONVEYOR, IT, UH,
THIS AN UNBELIEVABLE MACHINE.
I'LL TELL YOU.
I'M IMPRESSED.
I THINK WHAT HE'S GOT
GOING HERE IS PHENOMENAL.
THERE'S A LOT OF
DIFFERENT WAYS TO MINE.
AND I THINK THAT PARKER'S, UH,
DEVELOPING HIS OWN UNIQUE WAY.
AND I THINK
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
Parker: YEAH, WE GOT SOME
REINFORCEMENTS HERE.
DAD'S GONNA HELP OUT.
SO IT'S TIME TO PUT THIS
CONVEYOR INTO OVERDRIVE HERE
AND SEE IF WE CAN'T
GET A PAD BUILT IN TIME.
[ CLANG ]
SHUT IT DOWN!
Roger: [ BLEEP ]
I SMELL A LITTLE BIT OF RUBBER.
OH, FOR [BLEEP] SAKE.
JUST RELAX.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
THAT [BLEEP] THING BROKE.
[BLEEP] BROKE.
[ BLEEP ] [ BLEEP ]
GET SOME OXYGEN, FELLA.
I DON'T NEED OXYGEN, DAD.
SO [BLEEP] ANNOYING.
CAN'T EVEN GET ANYTHING [BLEEP]
DONE AROUND HERE
'CAUSE EVERYTHING'S [BLEEP]
BREAKING ALL THE [BLEEP] TIME.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
IS RACING
TO FINISH THE NEW PAD
AT THE CREEK CUT
WITH HIS FATHER, ROGER.
BUT HIS NEW SUPER CONVEYOR
HAS A PROBLEM.
Parker:
[BLEEP] PIECE OF [BLEEP].
Roger: PULL IT, PARKER.
-YEAH.
-GOT IT.
IS THAT BROKEN?
YEAH, THE PIN'S BROKE.
IT'S A WIPER.
AH.
JUST KEEPS THE TAIL DRUM
FROM EATING [BLEEP].
IT'S [BLEEP]
BUSTED OFF IN THERE.
Narrator: PARKER HAS BEEN
RUNNING THE SUPER CONVEYOR
AT ITS TOP SPEED
OF 900 YARDS AN HOUR.
INSIDE THE CONVEYOR,
A STEEL WIPER
BLADE STOPS ROCKS
FROM BLOCKING THE TAIL DRUM
THAT DRIVES THE BELT.
A PIN THAT HOLDS THE METAL
WIPER IN PLACE HAS SHEERED.
SO THE WIPER HAS DROPPED
AND IS THREATENING
TO DESTROY THE BELT.
THAT [BLEEP] WIPER'S
CATCHIN' ON THE BELT.
LET'S JUST YANK THE WHOLE
[BLEEP] THING OUT OF THERE.
TRY TO COME
YOUR WAY OR MINE?
IT DON'T MATTER.
IT'S A RISK TO RUN
WITHOUT THE WIPER.
BUT EVERY HOUR THAT PARKER'S
NOT SLUICING PAY DIRT
COSTS HIM $2,500.
PIECE OF [BLEEP].
Parker: HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET
SOME DIRT SLUNG UP
AND START MAKIN' IT
LOOK LIKE A PAD.
IT'S GONNA TAKE
EVERYTHING MY DAD
AND I CAN THROW AT IT.
Narrator: IN COLORADO,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS RUNNING TWO
CLAIMS IN A DESPERATE BID
TO GET 1,000 OUNCES OF GOLD
AND SAVE THEIR SEASON.
I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT NOT
GETTIN' 1,000 OUNCES.
I JUST WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT
WE GOTTA DO TO GET IT.
Narrator: AT TODD'S MAIN
OPERATION, FAIRPLAY,
FREDDY AND THE CREW
ARE PULLING THE MATS.
-DANG, THAT LOOKS GOOD, FRED.
-AW, HELL YEAH.
-WATER.
-HOLY MOLY.
MARY, MOTHER OF MARTHA,
THAT LOOKS GOOD.
Hiatt:
DUDE, LOOK AT THAT.
WE GOT GOLD, MAN.
WE GOT GOOD GOLD.
RIGHT.
THOSE GUYS ARE SACRAMENTO
ARE GONNA HAVE TO LIVE
VICARIOUSLY THROUGH US
FOR A WHILE.
YEAH.
Narrator: ONE MILE NORTHWEST,
AT SACRAMENTO CREEK,
LOGAN IS UNDER PRESSURE.
Pierce: THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
RELYING ON THIS GOLD.
I NEED THIS TO WORK.
IT HAS TO WORK.
Narrator: HE'S FINISHING UP
A 3,000-YARD TEST
OF THE GROUND HE PROSPECTED.
I MADE THE DECISION TO COME UP
ON TOP OF THIS HILL.
IF THERE'S NO GOLD HERE,
IT'S MY ASS.
I'M PROBABLY GONNA GET --
I'M GONNA GET
IN SOME BIG TROUBLE.
Todd: HEY!
HEY, HUNTER, THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S IT.
LET'S GO CHECK THE MATS.
FRICKIN' WATER'S
GETTING MUDDY.
Todd: WHAT?
I CAN'T EVEN SEE
IF THERE'S GOLD,
THE WATER'S SO MUDDY.
I THINK WE'RE LOOKING
FOR 14 OR 15 OUNCES,
I THINK WOULD BE GOOD.
IF IT'S ANYTHING
LESS THAN THAT, I THINK
WE'VE GOT SOME
VERY SERIOUS DECISIONS TO MAKE
WHETHER WE'RE GONNA
KEEP GOING OR NOT.
I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S THERE.
THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD
FOR ONE DAY.
Kevin: JUST DRYING IT NOW.
MONICA'S FIRST, UH, CLEANUP
OUT OF HER PLANT, EUREKA.
LET'S SEE WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE.
Narrator: TONY BEETS' DREDGE
IS DOWN UNTIL KEVIN
GETS THE PARTS
HE NEEDS TO REPAIR IT.
TILL THEN, MONICA'S
NEW OPERATION
IS TONY'S ONLY HOPE
OF HITTING HIS 2,000-OUNCE,
$2.4-MILLION GOAL.
THAT'S WHAT WE GOT.
IT'S HOT. YOU READY?
YOU READY?
-YEP.
-OKAY.
Narrator: MONICA NEEDS TO
DELIVER AROUND 35 OUNCES A WEEK.
Monica: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30,
40, 50, 60...
73.6.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
Kevin: NOT BAD, CHICK.
Narrator: OVER $88,000,
MORE THAN TWICE
WHAT SHE NEEDS.
THAT'S ACTUALLY
REALLY GOOD, MONICA.
-THANK YOU.
-I'M QUITE EXCITED FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW,
IT'S YOUR BABY, THIS ONE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY
[BLEEP] AWESOME.
WELL, THANKS FOR GIVING ME
THE CHANCE TO PROVE MYSELF.
1850.
IT'S ABOUT 2.2 MILLIONS.
-1850.
-SO WE'RE 150 SHORT.
Monica: I'M ON IT.
I'M ON IT.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
ARE YOU ON IT?
YEAH, IF I GET MY PARTS IN.
Monica: I THINK THAT WAS AWESOME
FOR FIRST GOLD WEIGH.
I MEAN, I THINK IF I CAN GET
MY DAD TO THAT 2,000-OUNCE GOAL,
THAT'D BE [BLEEP] AWESOME.
[ DOG BARKING ]
ARR RAR RAR RAR
RAR RAR RAR!
YOU READY TO GO
BACK GETTING GOLD?
[ YELPS ]
YEAH?
PERFECT.
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
NANCY SCHNABEL
IS CATCHING UP WITH
PARKER'S GIRLFRIEND, ASHLEY.
I'VE BEEN WORRIED
ABOUT YOU UP HERE, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, I KNOW HOW PARKER IS
ON A -- DURING A SEASON.
I KNOW THAT IT TAKES
A HUGE TOLL ON HIM
MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
YOU KNOW, THAT CAN'T BE
A WHOLE LOT OF FUN FOR YOU.
HE HAS A LOT ON HIS MIND,
AND I CAN SEE THAT.
HE DOES, YEAH, YEAH.
AND IT IS EXTREMELY
STRESSFUL WITH EVERYTHING
THAT HE HAS TO DEAL WITH.
BUT I'M SUPER
UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.
-YOU ARE. YOU ARE.
-YEAH.
HE'S LUCKY --
HE'S LUCKY THAT YOU ARE.
Nancy: ASHLEY'S FABULOUS.
I -- I LIKE HER MORE
THAN PARKER A LITTLE BIT.
NO!
UM, SHE HAS TO HAVE
SOME SERIOUS PATIENCE
TO BE AROUND PARKER
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
I KNOW. YOU SHOULD JUST
COME HOME WITH US!
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO STAY HERE!
Parker: SO THIS IS JUST THE PAD
FOR THE CREEK
CUT FINAL TOUCHES HERE.
Narrator: USING
THE SUPER CONVEYOR,
PARKER AND HIS DAD, ROGER,
HAVE COMPLETED
A 60-FOOT-HIGH PAD
FOR SLUICIFER IN JUST 2 DAYS.
Parker: WE'RE READY
FOR A WASH PLANT.
SO TIME TO GET SLUICIN'
AND HOPEFULLY MAKE SOME MONEY
AND GET OUT OF THIS [BLEEP]
HOLE THAT
THE BOUNDARY
CUT EXTENSION PUT US IN.
IT'S A DAMN GOOD THING
WE HAVE THAT CONVEYOR HERE
AND THAT MY DAD
WAS ABLE TO COME UP.
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR HELPING OUT.
WE GOT A LOT OF DIRT
MOVED AND...
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO
COME AND HELP YOU OUT.
AND THE DAY
THAT YOU HAVE A SON,
YOU'LL UNDERSTAND 100%.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
THANKS, POPS.
YOU BET.
I LOOK AT WHERE HE'S AT TODAY,
AND I'M REAL PROUD OF HIM.
HE'S A GREAT KID AND --
UH, YOUNG MAN, I SHOULD SAY.
AND HE'S EVOLVING BEAUTIFULLY,
I THINK, INTO
A REAL PROFESSIONAL
AND QUITE AN ENTREPRENEUR.
BYE. IT WAS SO NICE
TO HAVE YOU HERE.
-LOVE YOU, MOM.
-YEAH, I LOVE YOU, TOO.
-LOVE YOU, PARKER.
-LOVE YOU, TOO, DAD.
YOU TAKE CARE, FELLA.
Narrator: AFTER ANSWERING
PARKER'S CALL FOR HELP,
ROGER AND NANCY SCHNABEL
ARE HEADING BACK HOME
TO HAINES, ALASKA.
BYE, MOM.
Parker: THIS YEAR,
WE'VE COME A LONG WAYS.
AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT MY MOM
AND DAD WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT.
IT'S JUST, UH, IT KIND OF
HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT
THAT MY GRANDPA
WON'T BE ABLE TO, THOUGH.
SO THAT'S A BIT TOUGH.
Narrator: SLUICIFER HAS BEEN
SHUT DOWN ALL WEEK.
BUT RICK NESS
AND THE REST OF THE CREW
HAVE BEEN RUNNING
BIG RED AT INDIAN RIVER.
WELL, THANKS FOR AT LEAST
KEEPING ONE PLANT
GOING AND KEEP
GETTING GOLD IN THE BOX.
Ness: YEAH.
LET'S SEE WHAT
THIS BRINGS US, TOO.
Narrator: TO STAY ON TRACK
FOR HIS 1,000-OUNCE GOAL,
RICK NEEDS AROUND 115 OUNCES.
NICE CHUNKS.
Parker: THERE'S YOUR FIRST 10.
THERE'S 30.
THERE'S 50.
-GOT A HUNDY.
-YES.
-STILL GOING.
-OOH!
STILL COMING.
OH, THAT'S IT.
THERE WE GO.
136.2.
-HELL YEAH.
-NICE.
Narrator: WORTH OVER $160,000.
-THAT'S AWESOME.
-WELL DONE.
-THAT'S THE BEST SO FAR.
-YEAH.
YEAH. SO I MEAN, OVERALL,
WITH BOTH PLANTS, WHERE WE AT?
THAT'S...
UH, THAT PROBABLY
JUST TICKED US OVER 2,000.
WHAT ARE WE,
2,017 OR SOME [BLEEP]?
YEAH, DUDE.
HALFWAY, FINALLY!
Narrator: 2,017 OUNCES,
WORTH ALMOST $2.5 MILLION,
TAKES PARKER OVER HALFWAY
TO HIS 4,000-OUNCE SEASON GOAL.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, UH,
LET'S GET THAT PLANT MOVED.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO GET A [BLEEP] TON OF GOLD
OUT OF THE CREEK CUT IF WE'RE
GONNA HIT 4,000 OUNCES.
I HAD ZERO PLAN ON RUNNING
TWO WASH PLANTS THIS SUMMER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW,
I'M DAMN GLAD WE DID
BECAUSE WE WOULD'VE HAD
A BIG FAT ZERO THIS WEEK
IF NOT FOR BIG RED
AND RICK RUNNING IT.
SO IT'S A DAMN GOOD RESULT.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
I -- I HOPE WE GOT SOMETHING.
WE BETTER HAVE OR ELSE
I'M IN DEEP CRAP.
Man: I KNOW.
Narrator: TODD HOFFMAN
HAS GIVEN UP
ON TURNING A PROFIT THIS SEASON.
INSTEAD, HE'S HELL-BENT
ON GETTING
1,000 OUNCES OF GOLD,
THE MINIMUM HE NEEDS
TO SEND HIS CREW HOME
WITH A PAYCHECK FOR THE WINTER.
Todd: SO, GUYS, WE HAD, UH,
A PRETTY AMAZING WEEK, NO JOKE.
AMAZING.
Narrator: TO HIT HIS TARGET,
TODD NEEDS AROUND
100 OUNCES A WEEK.
DAD, WHAT'D WE GET
ON FAIRPLAY?
120.2.
-WHOO!
-WHOO!
-[ CHUCKLES ]
-YEAH!
ALL RIGHT!
$144,000 WORTH OF GOLD
IN THESE TWO JARS.
-WHOO!
-YEAH!
WHOO!
THAT'S THE BEST GROUND
WE'VE BEEN ON EVER.
S-SO WHAT'D WE DO
AT SACRAMENTO?
Narrator: FOR SACRAMENTO CREEK
TO BE WORTH RUNNING,
LOGAN'S 1-DAY TEST
NEEDS TO PRODUCE
AT LEAST 18 OUNCES.
WELL, DAD,
WHAT'D WE GET?
[ CHUCKLES ] LOGAN,
YOU'RE RIGHT ON IT.
27.4.
-NICE.
-YEAH.
-NICE.
-GOOD JOB, BUDDY.
-ATTABOY.
-GOOD JOB, LOGAN!
YOU BROUGHT $33,000
WORTH OF PAY DIRT
TO THE PLANT IN 1 DAY.
THERE'S A LOT MORE
WHERE THAT CAME FROM, TOO.
BETWEEN ALL THIS, GUYS,
WITH THAT, LOGAN,
AND THIS,
$177,000, BUD.
-NICE.
-NICE.
Pierce: SUCH A RELIEF.
I FINALLY GOT US ON THE GOLD
THERE AT SACRAMENTO CREEK.
WE'RE -- WE'RE ON THE BOARD.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DIRT.
IT'S GOOD DIRT.
AND WE CAN RUN IT FAST.
HEY.
PROUD OF YOU, MAN.
YOU DID GOOD.
HE'S FEELING LIKE
THE WEIGHT'S OFF HIS SHOULDERS,
THE MONKEY'S OFF HIS BACK.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB, MAN.
WE'RE ON THE GOLD
IN BOTH PLANTS.
IS 1,000 OUNCES IN REACH?
YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT.
NOW, IT IS.
Narrator: ON THE NEXT
"GOLD RUSH"...
Dodge: CREEK'S COMPLETELY
DRIED UP NOW.
LET'S GET THE SON
OF A GUN UNPLUGGED.
FORGET ABOUT IT, FREDDY!
-AAH!
-FREDDY!
Kevin: WELL, SHE'S FINALLY HERE.
WE CAN GET SOME [BLEEP]
DREDGING GOING.
IT HAS TO FIT EXACTLY.
ARE YOU [BLEEP]
KIDDING ME?
[BLEEP] ANNOYED.
WELL, I THINK THIS PLANT'S
ABOUT READY TO MOVE.
SOUNDS LIKE IT'S
RISING UP FROM HELL.
FOR [BLEEP] SAKES.
I DON'T HAVE A PLAN,
SO STOP [BLEEP] ASKING ME.
NOT GONNA PUT UP WITH THAT.
Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
-HOW'S IT GOIN'?
-GREAT, BUDDY. WE MADE IT.
-GOOD TO SEE YOU.
-NICE TO SEE YOU.
THAT [BLEEP]
THING BROKE.
[ BLEEP ] [ BLEEP ]
GET SOME OXYGEN, FELLA.
I DON'T NEED
OXYGEN, DAD.
THEY GOT ME AT [BLEEP]
CLAIMING THEY'RE
EXPECTING ME TO GET GOLD.
-YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME.
I CAN'T MAKE GOLD
IN THE GROUND, TODD.
THERE ISN'T ANY GOLD
IN THAT BOX.
AND TOMORROW NIGHT,
THERE BETTER BE.
IT'S NICE TO BE ACTUALLY
MAKING MONEY WITH MY CUT,
WITH MY PLANT.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?!
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
HEY, WE GOT THE PUMPS ON?
EVERYTHING READY?
GENERATOR GOING?
Narrator: TODD HOFFMAN IS ON HIS
NEW MINE IN FAIRPLAY, COLORADO.
LET'S GO!
FIRE IT UP!
Narrator: FOUR MONTHS
INTO THE SEASON,
HE'S ALREADY QUIT TWO
CLAIMS IN OREGON.
BUT NOT BEFORE
HIS WHOLE TEAM QUIT ON HIM.
Todd: LET'S DO THIS.
LET'S GET 1,000 OUNCES.
Narrator: NOW, HE'S ON THE GOLD,
AND HIS CREW IS BACK,
NEEDING TO GET PAID.
AT THIS POINT,
JUST BUST ASS,
MOVE A LOT OF DIRT
AND LET'S GET SOME GOLD.
Narrator: TODD HAS SET A NEW
1,000-OUNCE GOAL,
THE MINIMUM HE NEEDS
TO PAY HIS CREW
FOR THEIR SEASON'S WORK.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ON THE BEST
GROUND WE'VE EVER MINED.
AND EVERYTHING IS JUST
WORKING OUT FOR US RIGHT NOW.
Todd: WE JUST HAD THE BIGGEST
FRICKIN' CLEANUP OF OUR SEASON.
SO, FINALLY, AFTER EVERYTHING
THAT'S HAPPENED THIS SEASON,
WE'RE FINALLY KICKING SOME ASS.
AND IT FEELS DAMN GOOD.
Narrator: TO HIT HIS TARGET,
TODD'S DOUBLING DOWN
WITH A SECOND COLORADO
CLAIM AT SACRAMENTO CREEK
AND A 60-YEAR-OLD WASH PLANT
CALLED DOUBLE TROUBLE.
IT RUNS 400 YARDS
OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR.
TO KEEP UP, TODD'S BEEN
FORCED TO LEASE
A STATE-OF-THE-ART FEED SYSTEM.
Todd: YEAH, THIS IS OUR FEEDER.
WE CALL IT MAXIMUS.
THIS IS WHAT IT'S GONNA
TAKE TO MAKE IT WORK.
Turin: THIS IS GONNA
BE PRETTY COOL.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY MOVE
THE MACHINE, REMOTE CONTROL.
SO NOW WE GOT THE MAXIMUS TEAMED
UP WITH THE DOUBLE TROUBLE.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT
AS NEW AS TECHNOLOGY
AS YOU CAN GET MEETS ABOUT
AS OLD AS YOU CAN GET.
Narrator: A SINGLE OPERATOR
WITH A REMOTE CONTROL
CAN DRIVE THE HIGH-TECH
FEED CONVEYOR INTO PLACE,
EXTEND THE 80-FOOT CONVEYOR,
FEED 350 YARDS
AND HOUR INTO THE WASH PLANT,
AND TIP THE GRIZZLY BARS
WITHOUT LEAVING THE COMFORT
OF HIS EXCAVATOR.
HEY, DAVE, YOU WANT TO
FIRE UP THE TROMMELS?
COMIN' LIVE!
WE GOT WATER, TODD!
IT'S COMIN'!
ALL RIGHT!
[ BEEPING ]
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOIN' ON?
HMM.
THE 1950s TECHNOLOGY'S
GOING GOOD.
BUT COMPUTER'S NOT
WORKING SO GOOD RIGHT NOW.
ALL THESE FRICKIN'
ELECTRONICS,
THESE YOUNG GUYS CAN HAVE 'EM.
-THE HIGH IS GREEN.
-HIGH IS GREEN.
-THE LOW IS STILL RED.
-LOW IS STILL RED.
ONE GREEN, ONE RED.
THESE DAYS,
EVERYTHING IS ALL COMPUTERIZED.
AND, UH, IT'S JUST A PAIN.
I HATE COMPUTERS.
WE LIVE BY 'EM THESE DAYS.
BUT I REALLY HATE 'EM.
BOTH ARE RED.
THING'S TOO HIGH-TECH.
STILL,
A LOW-VOLTAGE IS RED.
Turin: SO WAIT A MINUTE.
IF I UNPLUG THIS...
OH! THERE IT GOES!
[ WHISTLES ]
WHATEVER YOU DID,
WE JUST GOT IT.
HOW'D YOU FIX IT, DAVE?
[ Laughing ]
I DON'T KNOW.
ALL I DID WAS PULL THIS OUT
AND PUT IT BACK IN.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
-IS IT WORKIN'?
-YEAH.
THIS THING WAS JUST
A LITTLE BIT LOOSE.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT'S THERE FOR.
I'M A FRICKIN'
ELECTRICAL GENIUS!
YOU GENIUS, YOU!
WHAT DO YOU THINK, DAVE?
CONVEYOR'S COMING ON!
FEED HER!
THERE WE GO, BOYS!
Narrator:
TODD HAS GIVEN DAVE TURIN
HIS OWN SMALL CREW
TO RUN SACRAMENTO CREEK.
LOGAN PIERCE DIGS PAY DIRT.
HUNTER HOFFMAN LOADS MAXIMUS.
OKAY, HUNTER. HERE WE GO.
FIRST BUCKET!
FIRST BUCKET OF GOLD
COMING AT YOU! WHOO!
FIRST DIRT COMING
THROUGH THE TROMMEL!
AND MECHANIC JUAN IBARRA RUNS
DOUBLE TROUBLE.
YOU GOT PAY COMIN', DAVE.
WHOO-HOO!
FINALLY, SACRAMENTO CREEK!
I DON'T KNOW, UH, WHICH PLANT'S
GONNA COME THROUGH IN THE END.
BUT WE NEED 'EM BOTH.
WE NEED BOTH OF 'EM
TO COME THROUGH.
IT'S GONNA TAKE TWO
TO GET US OVER THE HUMP.
IT'S GONNA TAKE TWO
TO GET US PROFITABLE.
AND IF ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE
A BUNCH OF GOLD HOME,
IT'S GONNA TAKE TWO PLANTS.
Parker: WE'RE AT THE POINT NOW
WHERE BOUNDARY CUT EXTENSION'S
JUST REALLY KILLIN' US.
IT'S ALL RIGHT TO GO THROUGH
SOME BAD PATCHES OF GROUND,
BUT IT'S JUST BEEN TERRIBLE
THE WHOLE WAY ACROSS.
AND WE REALLY HAVEN'T
HAD ONE GOOD CLEANUP.
Narrator:
PARKER SCHNABEL IS IN TROUBLE.
THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY
THROUGH THE SEASON,
HE HAS LESS THAN HALF
THE GOLD HE NEEDS
TO HIT HIS 4,000-OUNCE,
$4.8-MILLION GOAL.
Parker: THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL
WE'RE GETTIN' TO 4,000 OUNCES
WITH SLUICIFER ON THE GROUND
THAT'S THERE.
LIKE, IT'S JUST NOT
GONNA [BLEEP] DO IT.
AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO.
HERE'S RICK.
HEY, MAN.
SO I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO
ABOUT THIS BOUNDARY
CUT EXTENSION
OTHER THAN THAT
JUST [BLEEP] STOP.
IT AIN'T PAYING
THE [BLEEP] BILLS.
UGH.
I THINK WE HAVE TO MOVE
THE [BLEEP] PLANT.
[ BLEEP ]
WE'VE STILL GOT
THE CREEK CUT.
I MEAN,
IF WE'RE REALLY GONNA GO
AND GET 4,000 OUNCES
THIS YEAR,
WE'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING
PRETTY DRASTIC NOW.
WELL, WE'LL [BLEEP]
THE PLAN, THEN.
I'M GONNA GO SHUT
THE BOYS DOWN.
WE'LL GET THAT PAD
BUILT IN NO TIME.
WE'LL HAVE
THE PLANT MOVED.
ALL RIGHT.
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
-SEE YOU, RICK.
-YEAH.
Narrator: PARKER IS ABANDONING
THE 77-ACRE BOUNDARY CUT.
INSTEAD, HE PLANS TO MINE
AROUND THE DIVERTED CREEK BED
HE PREPARED LAST SEASON.
BUT HE NEEDS TO BUILD A NEW PAD
BEFORE HE CAN MOVE
HIS WASH PLANT, SLUICIFER,
AND START RUNNING PAY DIRT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET HER RUN THROUGH.
AND LET'S GO AHEAD
AND SHUT HER DOWN.
Narrator:
EVERY DAY THAT SLUICIFER
IS SHUT DOWN COSTS PARKER
AROUND $20,000 IN LOST GOLD.
WELL, THAT'S IT.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST
CUT WE'VE EVER DONE.
TIME TO GET OUT OF HERE
AND GET SLUICIFER SET UP
ON ITS NEW PAD.
YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING USED
TO THESE CRAZY DECISIONS
THAT PARKER MAKES AROUND HERE.
THAT SEEMS BE HOW
WE FLY AROUND HERE,
BY THE SEAT
OF OUR PANTS, YOU KNOW,
AND JUST FRIGGIN' DO
THINGS ON THE FLY
AND HOPE TO HELL THAT THEY WORK.
Narrator: FIRST, THE CREW MUST
USE THREE ROCK TRUCKS
TO BUILD A 60-FOOT RAISED PAD
FOR SLUICIFER TO SIT ON.
HOP UP ON THIS SPOT RIGHT HERE
THAT I'M FLATTENING OFF HERE.
I THINK, ULTIMATELY, THAT'S
GONNA BE OUR BEST OPTION.
RICK HAS CHARGED
ROOKIE MINER KELLY
WITH LEVELING OFF THE PAD
IN THE D10 DOZER.
I'VE BEEN OVER HERE
FOR THE LAST FEW HOURS
WATCHING AND BUILDING
THE PAD.
IT SHOULD BE FLAT.
AND KELLY JUST INSISTS
ON CUTTING DOWN.
AND IT [BLEEP]
INFURIATES ME.
I WAS WATCHING FOR
THE LAST COUPLE HOURS.
AND YOU'RE ALWAYS
GOING DOWN.
AND OUR WAY OF DOING IT
IS TO BUILD FLAT, ALL RIGHT?
IT'S COMPLACENCY.
AND WE ARE NOT --
I'M NOT GONNA
PUT UP WITH THAT.
Fediuk: JUST A LEARNING CURVE
FOR ALL OF US, I GUESS.
HE WANTS DONE --
THINGS DONE A CERTAIN WAY.
YEAH. NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
AH, WELL, KELLY'S GONNA SPEND
THE REST OF THE DAY
IN A ROCK TRUCK.
BEING PULLED OUT OF A CAT
AND PUT IN A HAUL TRUCK
IS NOT A PROMOTION.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT
OF A DEMOTION THERE.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
IS KELLY DOING?
[ BLEEP ]
[BLEEP] DAMN IT.
Ness: NOT A GOOD DAY FOR HIM.
[ SIGHS ]
Parker: EVERY HOUR
SLUICIFER'S DOWN,
WE'RE LOSING OVER $2,000.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
A BETTER WAY
'CAUSE THIS ISN'T CUTTIN' IT.
[ PHONE RINGS ]
YEAH, HEY.
THIS IS PARKER.
HOW ARE YOU?
THAT'S GOOD.
LOOK, WE'VE GOT SOME STUFF
GOING ON UP HERE RIGHT NOW.
WE HAD TO SHUT
OUR WASH PLANT DOWN,
AND WE'RE MOVING TO A NEW CUT,
AND A BUNCH OF STUFF'S GOING ON.
AND I KNOW YOU WERE HOPING
TO MAKE IT UP HERE THIS YEAR.
AND, UH, HONESTLY,
NOW WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD TIME.
WE COULD REALLY USE
AN EXTRA SET OF HANDS.
OH, THERE'S A REALLY
BIG [BLEEP] ROCK THERE.
[BLEEP] THAT HOLE.
Narrator: AT EUREKA CREEK,
TONY BEETS HAS PUT
HIS DAUGHTER, MONICA,
IN CHARGE OF HER
FIRST OPERATION.
IT'S NICE TO BE ACTUALLY
MAKING MONEY
WITH THE CENTER CUT,
MY CUT, WITH MY PLANT,
INSTEAD OF WITH KEVIN
AND KEVIN'S DREDGE.
Narrator: MONICA'S NEW PLANT
IS HALF A MILE WEST
OF KEVIN'S GOLD DREDGE.
AND UNTIL THE DREDGE
IS REPAIRED,
KEVIN WILL BE WORKING
FOR HIS SISTER.
Kevin: TECHNICALLY, I GUESS,
MONICA'S MY BOSS RIGHT NOW.
TO BE REALLY HONEST,
I HAD VERY LITTLE TO DO
WITH SETTING UP THIS CUT.
THAT WAS ALL MONICA.
Monica: WE ARE 224 OUNCES AWAY
FROM MY FATHER'S
2,000-OUNCE GOAL.
THAT'S A FAIR BIT OF GOLD
TO HAVE TO GET
IN THE SHORT AMOUNT
OF TIME THAT I'VE GOT.
WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP
SLUICING UNTIL IT FREEZES.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?
DID IT [BLEEP] DIE?
[BLEEP] WHOLE, ENTIRE -- OW.
OUR TAILINGS
CONVEYOR IS SMOKING.
THAT'S NOT
[BLEEP] GOOD.
IF YOU GUYS WANT TO GO
TAKE A LOOK AT IT,
I'M GONNA SHUT OFF
THE GENERATOR.
OKAY.
I'LL HAVE A LOOK.
-LOOKING PRETTY SMOKED.
-YEAH.
Narrator: KEVIN AND MECHANIC
MIKE BEAUDRY TAKE A LOOK
AT THE SMOKING
TAILINGS CONVEYOR.
THIS IS NICE AND WARM.
THAT'S STILL BURNING.
YEAH, THEM BELTS ARE [BLEEP]
SMOKED, STILL HOT.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, WE GOT TO FIX
OUR TAILINGS CONVEYOR.
SO SOME PEOPLE
CAN START GREASING.
AND WE'LL KEEP
ON THE ROLL HERE.
WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE, BOYS?
TOO MUCH [BLEEP]
ON THE CONVEYOR.
THE BELTS
COULDN'T PULL IT.
SO THE PULLEY RATIO'S
A LITTLE BIT OFF.
-WE NEED NEW PULLEYS?
-YEP.
Monica: YEAH.
THE TAILINGS CONVEYOR
DECIDED IT WAS GOING TO SMOKE.
-GUESSING IT'S A PULLEY.
-OKAY.
IF YOU GET ME A PULLEY,
THEN WE CAN GET GOING.
Monica: [BLEEP] DO IT.
Narrator: TO HIT TONY'S TARGET,
MONICA HAS BEEN LOADING
TOO MUCH PAY DIRT.
THE MORE WEIGHT SHE
PUTS THE CONVEYOR BELT,
THE MORE STRAIN IT PUTS
ON THE DRIVE BELT,
WHICH HAS CAUSED IT TO SLIP,
HEAT UP, AND SMOKE.
BY INCREASING THE SIZE
OF THE PULLEY,
THERE WILL BE MORE CONTACT AREA,
WHICH MEANS THE DRIVE BELT
WILL HAVE MORE GRIP
AND BE ABLE TO HANDLE
THE INCREASED LOAD
WITHOUT SLIPPING.
FIX IT.
Kevin: SO WE'RE GONNA PUT
A BIGGER PULLEY ON THE MOTOR.
THIS'LL LET US RUN MORE DIRT
AND GET MORE GOLD.
WE HAVE TO --
YEAH, THAT'S THE ONE, MORE GOLD.
EVERYBODY LIKES THAT.
NOPE.
WHOO-HOO.
THAT'S...
OKAY, NOW WE'RE DONE.
Monica: LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.
SEEMS TO BE TAKING
THE ROCKS OUT,
WHICH IS PRETTY AWESOME.
WE'VE GOT NO SMOKE.
SO THAT'S THE MAIN THING.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
IT'S NICE TO SEE
THE OLD GIRL WORKING.
YEAH.
WE'RE BACK AND ROLLIN'.
IT AIN'T PRETTY,
BUT WE'RE GOLD MINING!
Narrator:
IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF RUNNING
AT TODD'S
NEW SACRAMENTO CREEK CLAIM.
AND LOGAN IS IN CHARGE
OF THE CUT,
SENDING PAY DIRT
TO DOUBLE TROUBLE.
Pierce: THIS IS MY FIRST
CUT TODD'S LETTING ME DO.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT --
A LITTLE BIT SCARY.
I'M GETTING A LOT
MORE RESPONSIBILITY,
AND -- AND HOPEFULLY,
I DON'T FUMBLE THE BALL.
I HOPE THERE'S GOLD
IN THIS DIRT.
BUT IT'S NOT LIKE ANY PAY DIRT
I'VE EVER LOADED OUT.
IT'S PRETTY SANDY.
I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS
ABOUT THIS.
Todd: RUNNING 360 YARDS
AN HOUR RIGHT NOW!
IT'S THE MOST
WE'VE EVER RAN, EVER!
LOGAN WANTS TO RUN PAY.
WELL, ALONG WITH THAT COMES
RESPONSIBILITY AND PRESSURE.
AND WHAT HE SENDS TO THE PLANT
IS HOW WE SUCCEED OR WE FAIL.
TURN IT OFF.
CUT IT.
Narrator:
AT THE END OF THE FIRST DAY,
TODD INSPECTS
DOUBLE TROUBLE'S SLUICES.
SEE SOME GOLD?
NOPE.
I DON'T EITHER.
I THINK IT'S CRAP.
YEAH. NOT GOOD.
RAN ALL DAY,
SO WE SHOULD SEE IT LIT UP.
NOT SEEING ENOUGH GOLD.
HEY, UH, LOGAN,
YOUR CUT IS --
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
IT'S PAYIN' OFF.
BIG STRIKEOUT.
LOGAN, I KNOW
I SENT YOU OVER THERE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU GOT TO TEST THE GROUND.
DID YOU GET YOUR BUTT
OUT OF THERE AND DID YOU PAN IT?
Pierce: NEGATIVE.
NEGATIVE.
YOU SENT US TOPSOIL
AT 360 YARDS AN HOUR.
THERE'S NOTHING
IN THE BOX, ZERO.
WHEN YOU PICK A CLAIM
AND YOU SAY, "DIG OVER THERE --"
HEY, LISTEN TO ME.
YOU NEED TO GET YOUR ASS
OUT OF THAT SEAT,
AND YOU NEED TO PAN GOLD,
OR DON'T SEND IT TO US, OKAY?
YOU PERSONALLY PAN GOLD
AND THEN SEND IT
TO US, OKAY?
I CAN'T MAKE GOLD
IN THE GROUND, TODD.
THERE ISN'T ANY GOLD
IN THAT BOX.
AND TOMORROW NIGHT,
THERE BETTER BE.
WE'RE ALL FAILING
BECAUSE OF YOU.
OH, MY [BLEEP] [BLEEP].
Todd: LOGAN BETTER GET
HIS ASS OUT THERE
AND FIND THE PAY DIRT
AND GET IT TO THE PLANT.
I KNOW HE'S MY COUSIN.
BUT TOUGH [BLEEP].
WE GOTTA MAKE MONEY.
SNOW'S COMIN'.
Narrator:
AFTER A DISASTROUS FIRST DAY
OF RUNNING AT SACRAMENTO CREEK,
THE PRESSURE IS ON LOGAN
TO FIND GOLD-BEARING GROUND.
Pierce: WHEN I WAS DIGGING THAT
MATERIAL YESTERDAY,
I KNEW IT LOOKED A LITTLE FUNNY.
IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE
PAY THAT I'M USED TO.
AND TURNS OUT I WAS RIGHT,
THAT IT WAS WEIRD.
WHEN THEY POINT
AND SAY DIG THERE,
AND THEN I DON'T GET ANY GOLD
AND I GET AN ASS-CHEWIN' FOR IT,
IT'S PRETTY [BLEEP] UP.
TODAY, NOT GONNA MAKE
THAT SAME MISTAKE.
GONNA GO OUT ON MY OWN
AND FIND GOLD.
THINK I FOUND A SPOT WHERE
THERE'S GONNA BE SOME GOLD.
ALL THIS [BLEEP] AREA
THAT THEY WERE TELLIN' ME
TO DIG WAS ALL JUST --
IT'S ALL TOPSOIL.
Narrator: TWO HUNDRED FEET
FROM THE SANDY TOPSOIL
THAT HE SENT THROUGH THE PLANT,
LOGAN INVESTIGATES A NEW AREA.
WELL, I THINK I FOUND A SPOT
THAT MIGHT BE VIRGIN.
I THINK THIS IS WHAT
WE'RE LOOKING FOR RIGHT HERE.
THIS RIGHT HERE
IS A LOT BIGGER ROCK.
I'M GONNA GO PAN IT.
I MOVED FROM OREGON
TO COLORADO TO GET GOLD.
I DIDN'T COME HERE FOR FUN.
I CAME HERE TO GET GOLD.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
MIGHT BE SMALL,
BUT I'VE GOT ONE, TWO, THREE,
FOUR, FIVE,
SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT COLORS.
TODD, DAVE, I'VE GOT SOMETHING
YOU GUYS NEED TO SEE.
Todd: WHAT DO YOU GOT?
GIVE THIS A SWIRL, TODD.
WOW.
SERIOUSLY?
SEE ALL THOSE COLORS?
OH, HECK YEAH.
THAT'S NOT BAD, LOGAN.
WHERE'D YOU FIND THAT?
IT WAS UP ON TOP
OF THE HILL.
IT'S THE OPPOSITE
OF WHAT YOU'D THINK.
BUT THAT'S WHERE
THE GOLD IS HERE.
IT'S NOT TOPSOIL.
IT'S NOT SAND.
IT'S JUST DIRT PACKED
AROUND BOULDERS.
TELL YOU WHAT.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST JUMP IN.
I THINK WE SHOULD RUN
A BIG OLD BULK TEST,
MAYBE 3,000 YARDS.
ALL RIGHT.
TRUCKS ARE ON THEIR WAY, THEN.
-OKAY. LET'S GO.
-WHAT DO YOU THINK?
-GOOD JOB. LET'S GET IT DONE.
-SOUNDS GOOD.
LET'S DO THIS, MAN.
GOSH, THAT THING IS HUGE.
WELL, IT LOOKS
IMPRESSIVE, ANYWAY,
TO SIT UP ON THAT
PEDESTAL LIKE IT IS.
YEAH, YEAH.
WOW.
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER SCHNABEL'S CALL
FOR HELP HAS BEEN ANSWERED
BY HIS PARENTS.
-WHAT DO YOU THINK?
-HEY! HELLO, HELLO!
HEY, BUDDY!
WE MADE IT, FINALLY!
-FINALLY, HONEY.
-GOOD TO SEE YOU.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
HOW ARE YOU? OH.
Roger: I CAN'T QUITE FIGURE IT
ALL OUT, THOUGH, FOR SURE,
YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU CALLED ME
BECAUSE YOU WANT ME TO BE HERE
OR YOU NEED ME TO WORK FOR YOU
OR WHAT THE CASE IS.
OR YOU MISS ME.
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS,
IT'LL COME CLEAR, RIGHT?
YEAH, EXACTLY.
SO, 'CAUSE I WANT TO KNOW, LIKE,
WHAT'S THE CRISIS OF THE DAY?
CRISIS OF THE DAY?
THERE'S NO CRISIS TODAY.
[ LAUGHS ]
SO ARE THEY ONGOING CRISES?
IS THAT THE PROBLEM?
-NO, EVERYTHING'S --
-IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
EVERYTHING'S ALL RIGHT.
THE GO--
THE GOLD'S JUST
COMING IN SLOW.
-YOU'RE JUST NOT IN A HOT SPOT?
-YEAH.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK
IT'S ANYTHING WE'RE DOING WRONG.
-YEAH.
-WE GOT THE PLANT FIXED UP.
AND IT'S GOING GOOD.
AND WE'RE CRANKING
OUT THE YARDAGE.
LIKE, WE'RE RUNNING
A LOT OF DIRT.
IT'S JUST, UH,
NOT A LOT OF GOLD IN IT.
SO YOU'RE STRESSED
A LITTLE BIT IN THAT REGARD.
-YEAH.
-GOTCHA.
AND, I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE RIGHT ON THE --
WE'RE BREAKING EVEN
A LOT OF WEEKS.
AND IT'S LIKE, I'M NOT UP
HERE TO BREAK EVEN.
WHY DEAL WITH ALL THE STRESS
IF I'M EVEN MONEY?
YEAH.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY,
BECAUSE YOU'RE OUR SON
AND WE LOVE YOU DEARLY,
WE OBVIOUSLY ARE
VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT YOUR WELL-BEING.
AND IF YOU'RE UP HERE STRESSED
OUT NOT GETTING THE GOLD,
CAN WE BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE,
ANY HELP AT ALL?
YEAH.
WE'RE WAY BEHIND
GETTING THIS NEW PAD
FOR THE PLANT BUILT.
AND I WAS HOPING YOU
COULD HELP US OUT.
Narrator:
PARKER SENT HIS WHOLE CREW
TO WORK AT RICK'S
INDIAN RIVER OPERATION.
HIS MAIN WASH PLANT,
SLUICIFER, IS LYING IDLE.
TO SPEED UP THE MOVE
TO THE NEW CREEK CUT,
PARKER HAS A RADICAL PLAN.
Parker: YOU KNOW, SO I --
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE
OF BUILDING THIS NEXT PAD
FOR THE PLANT.
AND WE'RE TRYING SOMETHING
NEW WITH THIS CONVEYOR.
Roger: IT'S A BEAUTIFUL
CONVEYOR.
THAT'S, WHAT,
150 FEET, RIGHT?
A 150, YEAH.
COST US 300 GRAND.
BUT IT'LL DO THE WORK
OF THREE ROCK TRUCKS.
-LET'S DO HER.
-GOT DIRT TO MOVE.
Narrator: PARKER WAS USING
THREE ROCK TRUCKS
TO BUILD THE NEW PAD.
INSTEAD, HE IS REPLACING
THEM WITH A SUPER CONVEYOR.
PARKER WILL DOZE OVERBURDEN
ACROSS TO HIS DAD
IN THE 460 EXCAVATOR.
ROGER WILL THEN LOAD
THE 150-FOOT
SUPER CONVEYOR
WITH 900 YARDS
OF OVERBURDEN PER HOUR,
PILING IT ON TOP
OF KELLY'S RIM.
FINALLY, PARKER WILL DOZE
AND SHAPE THE PAD,
READY FOR SLUICIFER.
THIS, UH, DAMN CONVEYOR, IT, UH,
THIS AN UNBELIEVABLE MACHINE.
I'LL TELL YOU.
I'M IMPRESSED.
I THINK WHAT HE'S GOT
GOING HERE IS PHENOMENAL.
THERE'S A LOT OF
DIFFERENT WAYS TO MINE.
AND I THINK THAT PARKER'S, UH,
DEVELOPING HIS OWN UNIQUE WAY.
AND I THINK
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
Parker: YEAH, WE GOT SOME
REINFORCEMENTS HERE.
DAD'S GONNA HELP OUT.
SO IT'S TIME TO PUT THIS
CONVEYOR INTO OVERDRIVE HERE
AND SEE IF WE CAN'T
GET A PAD BUILT IN TIME.
[ CLANG ]
SHUT IT DOWN!
Roger: [ BLEEP ]
I SMELL A LITTLE BIT OF RUBBER.
OH, FOR [BLEEP] SAKE.
JUST RELAX.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
THAT [BLEEP] THING BROKE.
[BLEEP] BROKE.
[ BLEEP ] [ BLEEP ]
GET SOME OXYGEN, FELLA.
I DON'T NEED OXYGEN, DAD.
SO [BLEEP] ANNOYING.
CAN'T EVEN GET ANYTHING [BLEEP]
DONE AROUND HERE
'CAUSE EVERYTHING'S [BLEEP]
BREAKING ALL THE [BLEEP] TIME.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
IS RACING
TO FINISH THE NEW PAD
AT THE CREEK CUT
WITH HIS FATHER, ROGER.
BUT HIS NEW SUPER CONVEYOR
HAS A PROBLEM.
Parker:
[BLEEP] PIECE OF [BLEEP].
Roger: PULL IT, PARKER.
-YEAH.
-GOT IT.
IS THAT BROKEN?
YEAH, THE PIN'S BROKE.
IT'S A WIPER.
AH.
JUST KEEPS THE TAIL DRUM
FROM EATING [BLEEP].
IT'S [BLEEP]
BUSTED OFF IN THERE.
Narrator: PARKER HAS BEEN
RUNNING THE SUPER CONVEYOR
AT ITS TOP SPEED
OF 900 YARDS AN HOUR.
INSIDE THE CONVEYOR,
A STEEL WIPER
BLADE STOPS ROCKS
FROM BLOCKING THE TAIL DRUM
THAT DRIVES THE BELT.
A PIN THAT HOLDS THE METAL
WIPER IN PLACE HAS SHEERED.
SO THE WIPER HAS DROPPED
AND IS THREATENING
TO DESTROY THE BELT.
THAT [BLEEP] WIPER'S
CATCHIN' ON THE BELT.
LET'S JUST YANK THE WHOLE
[BLEEP] THING OUT OF THERE.
TRY TO COME
YOUR WAY OR MINE?
IT DON'T MATTER.
IT'S A RISK TO RUN
WITHOUT THE WIPER.
BUT EVERY HOUR THAT PARKER'S
NOT SLUICING PAY DIRT
COSTS HIM $2,500.
PIECE OF [BLEEP].
Parker: HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET
SOME DIRT SLUNG UP
AND START MAKIN' IT
LOOK LIKE A PAD.
IT'S GONNA TAKE
EVERYTHING MY DAD
AND I CAN THROW AT IT.
Narrator: IN COLORADO,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS RUNNING TWO
CLAIMS IN A DESPERATE BID
TO GET 1,000 OUNCES OF GOLD
AND SAVE THEIR SEASON.
I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT NOT
GETTIN' 1,000 OUNCES.
I JUST WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT
WE GOTTA DO TO GET IT.
Narrator: AT TODD'S MAIN
OPERATION, FAIRPLAY,
FREDDY AND THE CREW
ARE PULLING THE MATS.
-DANG, THAT LOOKS GOOD, FRED.
-AW, HELL YEAH.
-WATER.
-HOLY MOLY.
MARY, MOTHER OF MARTHA,
THAT LOOKS GOOD.
Hiatt:
DUDE, LOOK AT THAT.
WE GOT GOLD, MAN.
WE GOT GOOD GOLD.
RIGHT.
THOSE GUYS ARE SACRAMENTO
ARE GONNA HAVE TO LIVE
VICARIOUSLY THROUGH US
FOR A WHILE.
YEAH.
Narrator: ONE MILE NORTHWEST,
AT SACRAMENTO CREEK,
LOGAN IS UNDER PRESSURE.
Pierce: THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
RELYING ON THIS GOLD.
I NEED THIS TO WORK.
IT HAS TO WORK.
Narrator: HE'S FINISHING UP
A 3,000-YARD TEST
OF THE GROUND HE PROSPECTED.
I MADE THE DECISION TO COME UP
ON TOP OF THIS HILL.
IF THERE'S NO GOLD HERE,
IT'S MY ASS.
I'M PROBABLY GONNA GET --
I'M GONNA GET
IN SOME BIG TROUBLE.
Todd: HEY!
HEY, HUNTER, THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S IT.
LET'S GO CHECK THE MATS.
FRICKIN' WATER'S
GETTING MUDDY.
Todd: WHAT?
I CAN'T EVEN SEE
IF THERE'S GOLD,
THE WATER'S SO MUDDY.
I THINK WE'RE LOOKING
FOR 14 OR 15 OUNCES,
I THINK WOULD BE GOOD.
IF IT'S ANYTHING
LESS THAN THAT, I THINK
WE'VE GOT SOME
VERY SERIOUS DECISIONS TO MAKE
WHETHER WE'RE GONNA
KEEP GOING OR NOT.
I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S THERE.
THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD
FOR ONE DAY.
Kevin: JUST DRYING IT NOW.
MONICA'S FIRST, UH, CLEANUP
OUT OF HER PLANT, EUREKA.
LET'S SEE WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE.
Narrator: TONY BEETS' DREDGE
IS DOWN UNTIL KEVIN
GETS THE PARTS
HE NEEDS TO REPAIR IT.
TILL THEN, MONICA'S
NEW OPERATION
IS TONY'S ONLY HOPE
OF HITTING HIS 2,000-OUNCE,
$2.4-MILLION GOAL.
THAT'S WHAT WE GOT.
IT'S HOT. YOU READY?
YOU READY?
-YEP.
-OKAY.
Narrator: MONICA NEEDS TO
DELIVER AROUND 35 OUNCES A WEEK.
Monica: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30,
40, 50, 60...
73.6.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
Kevin: NOT BAD, CHICK.
Narrator: OVER $88,000,
MORE THAN TWICE
WHAT SHE NEEDS.
THAT'S ACTUALLY
REALLY GOOD, MONICA.
-THANK YOU.
-I'M QUITE EXCITED FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW,
IT'S YOUR BABY, THIS ONE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY
[BLEEP] AWESOME.
WELL, THANKS FOR GIVING ME
THE CHANCE TO PROVE MYSELF.
1850.
IT'S ABOUT 2.2 MILLIONS.
-1850.
-SO WE'RE 150 SHORT.
Monica: I'M ON IT.
I'M ON IT.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
ARE YOU ON IT?
YEAH, IF I GET MY PARTS IN.
Monica: I THINK THAT WAS AWESOME
FOR FIRST GOLD WEIGH.
I MEAN, I THINK IF I CAN GET
MY DAD TO THAT 2,000-OUNCE GOAL,
THAT'D BE [BLEEP] AWESOME.
[ DOG BARKING ]
ARR RAR RAR RAR
RAR RAR RAR!
YOU READY TO GO
BACK GETTING GOLD?
[ YELPS ]
YEAH?
PERFECT.
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
NANCY SCHNABEL
IS CATCHING UP WITH
PARKER'S GIRLFRIEND, ASHLEY.
I'VE BEEN WORRIED
ABOUT YOU UP HERE, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, I KNOW HOW PARKER IS
ON A -- DURING A SEASON.
I KNOW THAT IT TAKES
A HUGE TOLL ON HIM
MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.
YOU KNOW, THAT CAN'T BE
A WHOLE LOT OF FUN FOR YOU.
HE HAS A LOT ON HIS MIND,
AND I CAN SEE THAT.
HE DOES, YEAH, YEAH.
AND IT IS EXTREMELY
STRESSFUL WITH EVERYTHING
THAT HE HAS TO DEAL WITH.
BUT I'M SUPER
UNDERSTANDING OF THAT.
-YOU ARE. YOU ARE.
-YEAH.
HE'S LUCKY --
HE'S LUCKY THAT YOU ARE.
Nancy: ASHLEY'S FABULOUS.
I -- I LIKE HER MORE
THAN PARKER A LITTLE BIT.
NO!
UM, SHE HAS TO HAVE
SOME SERIOUS PATIENCE
TO BE AROUND PARKER
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
I KNOW. YOU SHOULD JUST
COME HOME WITH US!
YOU DON'T HAVE
TO STAY HERE!
Parker: SO THIS IS JUST THE PAD
FOR THE CREEK
CUT FINAL TOUCHES HERE.
Narrator: USING
THE SUPER CONVEYOR,
PARKER AND HIS DAD, ROGER,
HAVE COMPLETED
A 60-FOOT-HIGH PAD
FOR SLUICIFER IN JUST 2 DAYS.
Parker: WE'RE READY
FOR A WASH PLANT.
SO TIME TO GET SLUICIN'
AND HOPEFULLY MAKE SOME MONEY
AND GET OUT OF THIS [BLEEP]
HOLE THAT
THE BOUNDARY
CUT EXTENSION PUT US IN.
IT'S A DAMN GOOD THING
WE HAVE THAT CONVEYOR HERE
AND THAT MY DAD
WAS ABLE TO COME UP.
JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR HELPING OUT.
WE GOT A LOT OF DIRT
MOVED AND...
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO
COME AND HELP YOU OUT.
AND THE DAY
THAT YOU HAVE A SON,
YOU'LL UNDERSTAND 100%.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
THANKS, POPS.
YOU BET.
I LOOK AT WHERE HE'S AT TODAY,
AND I'M REAL PROUD OF HIM.
HE'S A GREAT KID AND --
UH, YOUNG MAN, I SHOULD SAY.
AND HE'S EVOLVING BEAUTIFULLY,
I THINK, INTO
A REAL PROFESSIONAL
AND QUITE AN ENTREPRENEUR.
BYE. IT WAS SO NICE
TO HAVE YOU HERE.
-LOVE YOU, MOM.
-YEAH, I LOVE YOU, TOO.
-LOVE YOU, PARKER.
-LOVE YOU, TOO, DAD.
YOU TAKE CARE, FELLA.
Narrator: AFTER ANSWERING
PARKER'S CALL FOR HELP,
ROGER AND NANCY SCHNABEL
ARE HEADING BACK HOME
TO HAINES, ALASKA.
BYE, MOM.
Parker: THIS YEAR,
WE'VE COME A LONG WAYS.
AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT MY MOM
AND DAD WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT.
IT'S JUST, UH, IT KIND OF
HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT
THAT MY GRANDPA
WON'T BE ABLE TO, THOUGH.
SO THAT'S A BIT TOUGH.
Narrator: SLUICIFER HAS BEEN
SHUT DOWN ALL WEEK.
BUT RICK NESS
AND THE REST OF THE CREW
HAVE BEEN RUNNING
BIG RED AT INDIAN RIVER.
WELL, THANKS FOR AT LEAST
KEEPING ONE PLANT
GOING AND KEEP
GETTING GOLD IN THE BOX.
Ness: YEAH.
LET'S SEE WHAT
THIS BRINGS US, TOO.
Narrator: TO STAY ON TRACK
FOR HIS 1,000-OUNCE GOAL,
RICK NEEDS AROUND 115 OUNCES.
NICE CHUNKS.
Parker: THERE'S YOUR FIRST 10.
THERE'S 30.
THERE'S 50.
-GOT A HUNDY.
-YES.
-STILL GOING.
-OOH!
STILL COMING.
OH, THAT'S IT.
THERE WE GO.
136.2.
-HELL YEAH.
-NICE.
Narrator: WORTH OVER $160,000.
-THAT'S AWESOME.
-WELL DONE.
-THAT'S THE BEST SO FAR.
-YEAH.
YEAH. SO I MEAN, OVERALL,
WITH BOTH PLANTS, WHERE WE AT?
THAT'S...
UH, THAT PROBABLY
JUST TICKED US OVER 2,000.
WHAT ARE WE,
2,017 OR SOME [BLEEP]?
YEAH, DUDE.
HALFWAY, FINALLY!
Narrator: 2,017 OUNCES,
WORTH ALMOST $2.5 MILLION,
TAKES PARKER OVER HALFWAY
TO HIS 4,000-OUNCE SEASON GOAL.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, UH,
LET'S GET THAT PLANT MOVED.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO GET A [BLEEP] TON OF GOLD
OUT OF THE CREEK CUT IF WE'RE
GONNA HIT 4,000 OUNCES.
I HAD ZERO PLAN ON RUNNING
TWO WASH PLANTS THIS SUMMER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW,
I'M DAMN GLAD WE DID
BECAUSE WE WOULD'VE HAD
A BIG FAT ZERO THIS WEEK
IF NOT FOR BIG RED
AND RICK RUNNING IT.
SO IT'S A DAMN GOOD RESULT.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
I -- I HOPE WE GOT SOMETHING.
WE BETTER HAVE OR ELSE
I'M IN DEEP CRAP.
Man: I KNOW.
Narrator: TODD HOFFMAN
HAS GIVEN UP
ON TURNING A PROFIT THIS SEASON.
INSTEAD, HE'S HELL-BENT
ON GETTING
1,000 OUNCES OF GOLD,
THE MINIMUM HE NEEDS
TO SEND HIS CREW HOME
WITH A PAYCHECK FOR THE WINTER.
Todd: SO, GUYS, WE HAD, UH,
A PRETTY AMAZING WEEK, NO JOKE.
AMAZING.
Narrator: TO HIT HIS TARGET,
TODD NEEDS AROUND
100 OUNCES A WEEK.
DAD, WHAT'D WE GET
ON FAIRPLAY?
120.2.
-WHOO!
-WHOO!
-[ CHUCKLES ]
-YEAH!
ALL RIGHT!
$144,000 WORTH OF GOLD
IN THESE TWO JARS.
-WHOO!
-YEAH!
WHOO!
THAT'S THE BEST GROUND
WE'VE BEEN ON EVER.
S-SO WHAT'D WE DO
AT SACRAMENTO?
Narrator: FOR SACRAMENTO CREEK
TO BE WORTH RUNNING,
LOGAN'S 1-DAY TEST
NEEDS TO PRODUCE
AT LEAST 18 OUNCES.
WELL, DAD,
WHAT'D WE GET?
[ CHUCKLES ] LOGAN,
YOU'RE RIGHT ON IT.
27.4.
-NICE.
-YEAH.
-NICE.
-GOOD JOB, BUDDY.
-ATTABOY.
-GOOD JOB, LOGAN!
YOU BROUGHT $33,000
WORTH OF PAY DIRT
TO THE PLANT IN 1 DAY.
THERE'S A LOT MORE
WHERE THAT CAME FROM, TOO.
BETWEEN ALL THIS, GUYS,
WITH THAT, LOGAN,
AND THIS,
$177,000, BUD.
-NICE.
-NICE.
Pierce: SUCH A RELIEF.
I FINALLY GOT US ON THE GOLD
THERE AT SACRAMENTO CREEK.
WE'RE -- WE'RE ON THE BOARD.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DIRT.
IT'S GOOD DIRT.
AND WE CAN RUN IT FAST.
HEY.
PROUD OF YOU, MAN.
YOU DID GOOD.
HE'S FEELING LIKE
THE WEIGHT'S OFF HIS SHOULDERS,
THE MONKEY'S OFF HIS BACK.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB, MAN.
WE'RE ON THE GOLD
IN BOTH PLANTS.
IS 1,000 OUNCES IN REACH?
YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT.
NOW, IT IS.
Narrator: ON THE NEXT
"GOLD RUSH"...
Dodge: CREEK'S COMPLETELY
DRIED UP NOW.
LET'S GET THE SON
OF A GUN UNPLUGGED.
FORGET ABOUT IT, FREDDY!
-AAH!
-FREDDY!
Kevin: WELL, SHE'S FINALLY HERE.
WE CAN GET SOME [BLEEP]
DREDGING GOING.
IT HAS TO FIT EXACTLY.
ARE YOU [BLEEP]
KIDDING ME?
[BLEEP] ANNOYED.
WELL, I THINK THIS PLANT'S
ABOUT READY TO MOVE.
SOUNDS LIKE IT'S
RISING UP FROM HELL.
FOR [BLEEP] SAKES.
I DON'T HAVE A PLAN,
SO STOP [BLEEP] ASKING ME.