Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 8, Episode 23 - American Dreamer - full transcript
Todd Hoffman sits down to discuss his past eight seasons on Gold Rush and what his exciting next chapter will be.
EIGHT YEARS AGO, I HAD A DREAM
TO PUT GOLD IN MY GUYS' POCKETS
AND CHANGE ALL OF OUR LIVES.
AND WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED
THAT GOAL.
BUT AT SOME POINT,
YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO MOVE ON.
Narrator:
FACING FINANCIAL RUIN IN 2010,
TODD HOFFMAN
SET OUT ON A MISSION.
CAN'T A GUY RISK IT ALL
IN AMERICA ANYMORE?
Narrator:
...TO MINE FOR GOLD...
GOT OUR FIRST REAL NUGGET.
WHOO-HOO!
Narrator:
...AND CHANGE THE FORTUNE
OF HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
I'M ON FOOD STAMPS.
ONE MORE LATE PAYMENT
ON MY MORTGAGE,
THEN WE GO INTO FORECLOSURE.
I WANTED TO TAKE ACTION.
YEAH!
Narrator: THEIR QUEST
TOOK THE HOFFMAN CREW
AROUND THE WORLD...
AWAY WE WENT, MAN,
ON AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.
WE ALL HAD GOLD FEVER.
Narrator:
...FROM THE FROZEN NORTH...
THIS IS NUTS.
Narrator:
...TO THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA.
-HOLY SMOKES!
-YOU ARE FREAKING KIDDING ME!
Narrator: NOW, AS WE REACH
THE END OF AN ERA...
IF YOU'RE JUST BREAKING EVEN,
IS IT WORTH IT?
Todd:
I'M NOT MINING ANYMORE.
I WANT TO CHASE ANOTHER DREAM.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
THAT WE'VE HAD.
Narrator: OUR MINERS TAKE
THE HOT SEAT ONE LAST TIME...
OKAY, YOU READY?
Narrator:
...TO REVEAL THE TRUTH
BEHIND
THEIR MINING ADVENTURE...
I'VE GOT A NEW OPPORTUNITY,
AND I WANT TO SEE
HOW IT TURNS OUT.
Narrator: ...AND THE REASON
IT'S FINALLY COME TO AN END.
Todd: NOBODY WOULD EVER EXPECT
THAT WE WOULD MINE
FOR EIGHT SEASONS, DUG UP
ALMOST $10 MILLION IN GOLD.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
**
**
**
HEY, DAD.
I DON'T THINK
WE CAN AFFORD
TO GET ANY FUEL, SO...
ALL RIGHT.
THE WAY THINGS ARE,
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
**
IN 2010,
WE HAD SOME REALLY BAD TIMES
THAT HAPPENED IN AMERICA.
EVERYBODY WAS STRUGGLING.
PEOPLE WERE GETTING LAID OFF.
EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING
AT EACH OTHER.
NO BUSINESS WAS BEING DONE.
WE'RE DOWN
TO THE POINT OF NO HOPE.
WE MAY HAVE
TO SELL THE AIRPORT.
MIGHT BE THE BEST DEAL.
I JUST DON'T KNOW.
I REMEMBER
GETTING PULLED OUT OF SCHOOL,
AND I WAS GETTING HOMESCHOOLED
JUST 'CAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD
FOR ME TO GO TO SCHOOL THERE
ANYMORE.
YOU KNOW, I DO REMEMBER MY DAD
AND MY GRANDPA AND MY FAMILY
BEING REALLY STRESSED OUT.
WHEN YOU CAN'T PROVIDE
FOR YOUR FAMILY,
I THINK IT TAKES YOUR
CONFIDENCE, AND IT'S NOT FUN.
WHEN OTHER THINGS AREN'T DOING
WELL, GOLD USUALLY GOES UP.
SO THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE
GO GOLD MINING.
WHAT DO YOU GOT HERE?
Jack: I'VE SEEN A LOT
OF GROUND, AND THIS IS IT.
HOLY COW.
Todd: HE GOT 29 GRAMS
IN THAT ONE TEST HAUL.
THERE'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WELL, IF YOU THINK WE GOT
A SHOT, I MEAN, I'LL GO ALL IN.
I KNOW WE GOT A SHOT.
Todd: I MINED TWO SUMMERS
WITH MY FATHER IN THE '80s,
AND SO THE GOLD-MINING DREAM
STARTED WITH MY DAD.
I LOVE GOLD MINING, AND
I LOVE MESSING AROUND WITH GOLD.
I ALWAYS KNEW THAT,
IF GOLD GOES UP AGAIN,
I'M GONNA GIVE THIS ONE
MORE SHOT FOR MY DAD.
I'M THROWING EVERYTHING
I GOT INTO IT.
WE'RE GONNA GO GOLD MINING.
Narrator: FOR HIS CREW, TODD
TURNS TO A BUNCH OF FRIENDS
HIT HARD
BY THE FINANCIAL CRISIS.
YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS
FOR A LONG TIME.
I'M BEGGING,
BORROWING, AND STEALING
THE MONEY TO PUT
THIS THING TOGETHER.
GUYS AROUND ME WERE SINKING,
SO I WANTED TO TAKE ACTION.
TODD IS ABSOLUTELY GOOD
AT HELPING HIS FRIENDS.
YOU GUYS ARE THE GUYS
THAT I BELIEVE
CAN HELP US PULL THIS THING OFF.
I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU'RE IN.
DORSEY?
I'M ON FOOD STAMPS.
I CAN'T AFFORD
TO FIX MY TOOTH.
I MEAN, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
SO OF COURSE I'M IN, MAN.
CORY?
I DON'T --
I DON'T THINK I'M IN.
YOU KNOW MY STORY, TODD.
I KNOW
YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION,
AND, HOPEFULLY, WE CAN PULL
IT ALL TOGETHER FOR YOU.
I'LL DO WHATEVER
YOU NEED ME TO DO.
I WANTED TO OFFER THEM HOPE,
AND AWAY WE WENT, MAN,
ON AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.
**
Narrator:
TODD INVESTS EVERYTHING HE HAS
INTO THE PROJECT, BUILDING
HIS OWN MINING EQUIPMENT
WITH THE HELP
OF HIS GREENHORN CREW.
I HATE RELYING ON
MY PARENTS FOR HELP.
I'M 41 YEARS OLD.
I SHOULD BE ABLE
TO WIPE MY OWN BOTTOM.
ONE MORE LATE PAYMENT
ON MY MORTGAGE,
THEN WE GO INTO FORECLOSURE.
Todd:
THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE FRICKIN' SURPRISED
ABOUT WHAT THIS GROUP OF
NUTBALLS CAN PUT TOGETHER.
Narrator:
WITH EVERYTHING READY,
IT'S TIME FOR HIS RAGTAG CREW
TO HEAD NORTH.
[ SIGHS ]
IT'S HARD TO LEAVE.
HARD TO LEAVE MY GIRLS.
Jack:
I WANT THEM TO HAVE GOLD.
YOU KNOW --
PUT IT IN THEIR POCKET,
PAY FOR THEIR HOUSES,
PAY FOR THEIR CARS.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT IT FOR.
[ HORN HONKING ]
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
YEAH! WHOO!
WANT TO GO TO ALASKA?
HUH?
**
ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES
IS BEING IN THE BACK OF THE
OLD SUBURBAN AND GOING MINING.
THAT'S SOMETHING
I'M NEVER GONNA FORGET.
I GOT TO TAKE A PEE.
Todd:
WE'RE NOT STOPPING.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO PEE IN A BOTTLE.
Hunter: EVERYBODY ON THE CREW
WAS SUPER-POOR, JUST LIKE US,
AND MY DAD WANTED EVERYBODY
TO LEAVE THAT SUMMER RICH.
Narrator: FIVE DAYS OF HARD
DRIVING TAKES THEM TO ALASKA
AND WITHIN SIGHT OF
THEIR GOLD CLAIM.
BUT THE ROOKIE MINERS
CAN'T MINE UNLESS THEY GET
THEIR 100,000-POUND EXCAVATOR
ACROSS THE KLEHENI RIVER.
WELL, THANKS A LOT.
HE SAID THAT THERE
IS NO FREAKIN' WAY
WE CAN GO ACROSS THAT BRIDGE.
HE SAYS IT'LL EITHER BUCKLE,
OR THE PILINGS WILL GIVE WAY.
WE HAD TO GET THAT 400,
OR WE WEREN'T MINING.
OKAY, WE'LL TRY GOING
ACROSS THE RIVER.
I HAD NO IDEA HOW
DEEP THAT THING WAS.
EVERYBODY WAS FREAKED OUT,
I KNOW MY DAD WAS,
LIKE, REALLY SCARED.
I THOUGHT
THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE
WE COULD GET THAT THING STUCK.
HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO!
**
-WHOA!
-HOLY...
Man:
KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING!
YOU COULD HAVE A GRAVEL BAR
THAT HAS A GREAT BIG
FREAKIN' HOLE UNDERNEATH,
AND YOU GO WHEELING ACROSS,
ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU GET THERE,
AND IT GOES UNDER.
WATCH FOR THE SINKHOLES
OUT THERE.
Todd:
I'M GOING, I'M GOING, I'M GOING.
GETTING THE EXCAVATOR ACROSS
THAT RIVER IS KIND OF LIKE
MOSES PARTING THE WATERS.
-YOU GOT IT.
-WHOO!
WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!
WE GOT PROBABLY
THREE MORE OF THESE CHANNELS
TO GET ACROSS, SO...
EACH ONE'S A LITTLE DEEPER.
Hunter:
THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.
I JUST DON'T THINK
I'D EVER SEEN MY DAD
DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
YOU KNOW?
I GOT HALSTEAD OVER HERE
SCOUTING OUT IN FRONT OF US.
AND HE'S JUST GONNA FIND
THE SHALLOWEST SPOT THAT HE CAN.
OH, BABY, I'M GETTIN' WET.
MIKE, GET OUT OF THERE.
YOU'RE GONNA GO DOWN.
THAT WAS A LOT DEEPER
THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS.
-YOU WANT TO LIFT IT?
-YEAH, LET'S LIFT IT.
Greg: THIS IS THE FINAL PUSH
COMING UP.
WE GOT THE DEEPEST
AND THE FASTEST CHANNEL
RIGHT AHEAD OF US.
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE
THE GUYS THAT JUST CAME UP,
LOST THEIR 400, TURNED
AROUND, AND WENT BACK HOME.
IF I [BLEEP] THIS UP NOW,
WE'RE SCREWED.
HOW WE LOOKING?
Man: GONNA GET DEEP HERE
IN A SECOND.
OH, BOY.
**
HERE WE GO,
HERE WE GO!
**
WHOA!
-WHOA!
Man: WHOA!
Todd:
UNHOOK THE GATOR!
HURRY UP! HURRY UP!
UNHOOK THE GATOR -- NOW!
I WILL!
Man: KEEP MOVING THE TRUCK!
KEEP MOVING!
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!
**
-HANG ON.
-GO.
**
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
Greg: KEEP GOING!
KEEP GOING!
[ MAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
**
YOU GOT IT.
-WHOO! WHOO!
Man: WHOO!
IT WAS PRETTY BAD-ASS.
Man #2: GOOD DRIVING.
WHOO! WHOO!
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT
OF A PUCKER SITUATION,
IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
MY BUTT GOT CLENCHED.
THAT WAS ABOUT
AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET.
IF IT HAD NOT MADE IT,
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE END OF "GOLD RUSH."
YOU KNOW,
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IT.
Narrator:
CROSSING THE KLEHENI RIVER
DELIVERS THE HOFFMAN CREW
TO THE PROMISED LAND --
PORCUPINE CREEK,
THEIR NEW GOLD CLAIM.
THIS FEELS AWESOME.
FEELS LIKE I'M COMING HOME.
**
Man: WHOO!
LOOK AT THOSE MOUNTAINS.
GEEZ.
THIS IS AMAZING.
NOW WE HAVE HOPE,
AND WE'RE ON A MISSION.
I'M A GUY FROM THE CITY
TAKING A RISK,
TRYING TO MINE GOLD
WITH HIS BUDDIES.
THE AMERICAN DREAM
CAN COME IN MANY WAYS.
WE CHOSE GOLD MINING,
AND OUR CREW CHOSE
GOLD MINING WITH US.
Jack:
YOU'RE ALL MILLIONAIRES.
THE ONLY THING IS,
YOU GOT TO GET IT OUT
OF THE GROUND, YOU KNOW?
[ LAUGHTER ]
THERE ISN'T ONE MAN IN AMERICA,
IF HE'S GOT ANYTHING INSIDE HIM,
WOULDN'T WANT TO
BE HERE WITH US.
Man: LOOK OUT!
Narrator: UP NEXT...
Man: WHOA!
YOU CAN'T MINE IN THE JUNGLE.
IT DOESN'T WORK.
Narrator:
AND FOLLOWING THE SHOW...
I WANT A GOLD NUGGET THIS BIG.
Narrator:
...AN EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK...
-PARKER!
-[BLEEP]
Narrator:
...OF THE NEW "PARKER'S TRAIL."
Parker:
PROSPECTING, GUYANA-STYLE.
WE'RE IN THE MONEY.
**
**
[ YAWNS ]
GO.
HOLY [BLEEP]
TODD'S JUST LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE --
HE'S MADE MISTAKES.
HEY!
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!
MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF
TODD AS A GOLD MINER...
IS, HE WASN'T A GOLD MINER.
SHUT THIS FRICKIN' THING OFF.
Todd: YOU KNOW,
WE MADE ALL THE MISTAKES
THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS MADE.
WE DIDN'T BYPASS
HARDLY ANY OF THEM.
Man: WHOA!
Hunter: NOBODY KNEW
WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
THEY WERE JUST WINGING IT.
**
Man: THERE.
I THOUGHT WE WERE DONE
LOOKING LIKE IDIOTS, BUT NOPE.
MINING GOLD
IS A STEEP LEARNING CURVE.
WE MADE A LOT OF
MISTAKES ALONG THE WAY.
Narrator: IN THEIR ROOKIE
SEASON, THE HOFFMAN CREW
STRUGGLES TO GET
THEIR HAND-BUILT WASH PLANT
TO CATCH GOLD.
Todd: HEY, THURBY!
SHUT IT OFF!
Todd: YOU GOT TO SOMEHOW
CATCH THE GOLD.
AND I THINK I'M ONLY
CATCHING PART OF IT.
THIS IS -- THIS IS
HARD TO FIGURE OUT.
Narrator: THE GREENHORNS PUT OUT
A DESPERATE CALL FOR HELP.
WHEN I DROVE IN, I WAS LIKE,
"THIS ISN'T GOOD."
[ LAUGHS ]
HOW DOES MY DAD'S
NUGGET TRAP LOOK TO YOU?
NOT GOOD.
HE HAD OLD EQUIPMENT.
HE HAD A WHOLE CREW OF PEOPLE
THAT'D NEVER SEEN
A PIECE OF GOLD BEFORE.
YOU PULL INTO A PLACE LIKE THAT,
AND YOU SEE A BUNCH OF GUYS
STRUGGLING,
MY FIRST THOUGHTS
WERE TO HELP THEM OUT.
REMEMBER ONE THING, TODD --
SLICK PLATES
CAN'T CATCH GOLD.
OKAY.
THEY'D BEEN STRUGGLING ALL
SEASON THAT THEY'D BEEN THERE.
ONLY AN IDIOT
DOESN'T LISTEN TO FREDDY.
BASICALLY, I'M JUST BLOWING
MY GOLD RIGHT DOWN THE CREEK.
CORRECT. MY SUGGESTION
IS GET COMPLETE RIFFLES
ALL THE WAY DOWN.
THEY'D MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES.
I MEAN,
THAT'S JUST HOW YOU LEARN.
HE'S TAUGHT US A HELL OF A LOT,
FOR SURE.
YEAH, WE PUT THE RIFFLES IN,
AND WE FOUND OUR FIRST NUGGET.
GOOD LORD.
HOLY!
-LOOK AT THAT.
HOLY CRAP.
I CAN'T FREAKIN' BELIEVE IT.
THAT'D LOOK GOOD
ON A NECKLACE.
-WHOO!
-A PAIR OF EARRINGS?
WELL, THAT WAS
THE START OF THE RELATIONSHIP.
IT JUST PROGRESSED OVER
THE YEARS FROM THERE...
TILL WE FINALLY ENDED UP
PARTNERING UP AT FAIRPLAY.
I THINK VERY HIGHLY OF THAT MAN.
I DO.
HE'S A GOOD MAN.
Narrator: BUT WHEN THEY MOVED
TO THE KLONDIKE,
THE BIG CHALLENGE
IS DECIDING WHERE TO START
THEIR FIRST GOLD-RICH CUT.
Todd: GOLD IS WHERE YOU FIND IT,
IF YOU CAN FIND IT.
A LOT OF AREAS YOU GO TO,
HALF OF THE MINE
COULD ALREADY BE
COMPLETELY MINED OUT.
Narrator: IN THIS VALLEY,
BETWEEN 1935 AND 1950,
A DREDGE MINED
OVER $1 BILLION WORTH OF GOLD
AT TODAY'S PRICES.
GOOD LORD.
LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT THING.
THE BAD NEWS IS THAT, MAN,
THEY GOT A LOT OF THE GOLD.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT
I DON'T THINK IT CAUGHT IT ALL.
NOW WE JUST GOT TO FIND IT.
ONE WAY TO TELL IS IF THERE'S
BIG SPRUCE ON THE PROPERTY.
THEN THE DREDGE
DIDN'T GET THERE.
LET'S WALK DOWN
THIS WAY JUST A HAIR.
THAT IS
AN OLD DREDGE TAILING.
IT WAS GONNA BE TOUGH.
WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY
FIGURE THIS GAME OUT.
SEE, NOW, UP HERE,
THIS IS A VERY OLD FOREST.
Man: YEAH, THESE ARE
ALL OLD TREES.
DUDE, THIS WAS
NOT MINED UP HERE.
Man #2: NO.
THIS IS ALL VIRGIN
GROUND RIGHT HERE.
Todd: WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW
IS, WE'RE STRIPPING
THE TOP LAYER OF GROUND OFF.
HE'S TRYIN' TO GET DOWN
TO OUR PAY GRAVEL.
MY GUT'S TELLING ME, WITHIN
THIS AREA OF VIRGIN GROUND HERE,
WE'RE GONNA GET 200 OUNCES.
[ LAUGHS ]
TODD'S NOT THE BEST GOLD MINER.
Narrator:
CLAIM OWNER MARLON McNEIL
ARRIVES TO CHECK ON PROGRESS.
FELLAS, WHAT HAVE
YOU BEEN DOING HERE?
I WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK.
I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
-WHAT DO YOU THINK?
-THAT'S BEEN DREDGED.
THE EVIDENCE IS HERE.
THERE WAS BIG TREES
GROWING OUT OF IT.
THAT'S THE REASON WE...
WELL, THAT HAD PLENTY OF
TIME FOR TREES TO GROW.
THERE WAS SOME SPRUCE TREES
IN THERE.
THEY GROW FAST.
WASN'T A GREAT START.
SO, YOU'RE SAYING DON'T
EVEN BOTHER WITH THAT.
YEAH.
Narrator: TODD STUMBLES
ON AN OLD DREDGE CABLE,
CONFIRMING THE TERRIBLE TRUTH.
IT LOOKED VIRGIN, BUT IT WASN'T.
HERE WAS
THIS GREAT BIG FOOTBALL FIELD
THAT'S ALL STRIPPED AND READY
TO GO WITH NO GOLD.
NOW WE LAUGH AT IT,
BUT, AT THE TIME, I'M LIKE,
"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?"
**
Freddy: THE BIGGEST MISTAKE
OVER THE YEARS WAS THE JUNGLE.
IT WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.
I NEVER WENT TO THE JUNGLE,
IT WAS JUST, LIKE,
SUPER-DANGEROUS FOR ME TO GO.
I WISH I HADN'T
GONE TO THE JUNGLE.
IT WAS CRAZY.
WE DID SOME AWESOME THINGS.
**
Dave: HOLY SMOKES!
LOOK AT THE DROP ON THAT FALLS!
IT'S BREATHTAKING.
[ HORN HONKS ]
Todd:
WE BROUGHT THAT TROMMEL
PLACES THAT NOBODY HAD EVER
SEEN ANY HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
THAT'S THE SKETCHIEST BRIDGE
I'VE EVER SEEN.
Freddy:
DRAGGING IN LITTLE RED.
AND IT WAS A NIGHTMARE TO GET
IN THERE FROM THE BEGINNING.
Todd:
IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG,
IT'S LITERALLY
GONNA KILL SOMEBODY.
THIS IS ALL KINDERGARTEN STUFF.
THE HILL'S MAJOR LEAGUE.
Todd:
IT'S LIKE CRAWLING UP A HILL
OF JUST ABSOLUTE
MASHED POTATOES.
Man: HE'S DONE.
WE'RE GONNA NEED
SOME ASSISTANCE FROM JACK.
WE COULDN'T GET FROM
POINT "A" TO POINT "B."
BRING IT TOWARDS ME
A LITTLE. GOOD.
Man: GOT TO TURN NOW, ANDY.
YOU GOT TO GET TURNED.
Narrator: EVEN WITH JACK'S HELP,
THEY STRUGGLE
TO DRAG THEIR 23-TON TROMMEL
UP THE HILL.
AND THE TOP-HEAVY WASH PLANT
STARTS TO FALL.
-JACK!
-WATCH IT!
[ BRANCHES SNAPPING ]
STOP!
STOP! STOP! STOP!
DAD, GET THAT FRICKIN' BUCKET
UP THERE!
HOLD THAT THING -- NOW!
**
EASY, ANDY.
**
YOU GOT TO STAY WITH IT.
WE GOT IT.
-WHOO!
-YEAH! YEAH!
-YEAH, TODD!
I WAS SO PROUD OF MY GUYS
THAT WE EVEN GOT IT IN THERE.
YOU FINALLY GET IT UP THERE,
AND THEN YOU REALIZE YOU CAN'T
REALLY MINE IN THAT KIND OF MUD.
IT DOESN'T WORK.
I'M SEEING NO GOLD.
THIS IS IT.
NADA. NOTHING.
Dave: AH, THAT'S THE WORLD'S
WORST CLEANUP, I THINK,
IN GOLD-MINING HISTORY.
Narrator: WITH NO GOLD,
TODD RETHINKS
HIS JUNGLE-MINING STRATEGY.
Todd:
I WENT TO MINE GOLD,
BUT I KNEW THAT THE POTENTIAL
WAS HUGE FOR DIAMONDS.
TODD, SEE THAT?
Todd: YEAH.
THAT'S A DIAMOND.
YOU ARE
FREAKING KIDDING ME.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN SAY
THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN
THEIR OWN DIAMONDS
RIGHT OUT OF THE JUNGLE.
GUYS, OUR LUCK JUST
FRICKIN' CHANGED, RIGHT HERE.
WE'RE ALL GIDDY AND HAPPY.
WE GOT DIAMONDS.
THAT IS AWESOME.
I KNEW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
ABOUT MINING DIAMONDS.
Narrator: TODD BUYS A NEW
DIAMOND-CATCHING WASH PLANT --
A LAVADOR.
AFTER A MONTH
OF MINING DIAMONDS,
THERE IS JUST ONE PROBLEM.
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
WHEN YOU DON'T GET DIAMONDS
OR GOLD, YOU KNOW,
YOU GOT TO CUT YOUR LOSSES.
ALL DONE. OH!
**
YOU ARE FREAKING KIDDING ME!
A LOT OF PEOPLE
THINK THAT I HAD AN ACCIDENT.
ACCORDING TO MY DAD,
HE SLIPPED ON THE CONTROLS.
I HAVEN'T TOLD
ANYBODY THIS BEFORE,
BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU
RIGHT NOW.
I DECIDED I'M GOING
TO DESTROY THIS THING.
I GUESS YOU'D CALL IT
A MERCY KILLING.
HE SMASHED THE ABSOLUTE CRAP
OUT OF THAT THING.
THAT SUCKER WAS GOING DOWN,
AND IT WAS GOING DOWN BIG-TIME.
**
IF I COULD HAVE RAN OVER IT
AT THE SAME TIME,
I WOULD HAVE.
YOU KNOW, I HATED THAT THING.
I JUST WANTED TO
PUT AN END TO IT.
Todd: I MEAN, THAT PRETTY WELL
ENDED THE SEASON.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
STICK A FORK IN US
AT THAT POINT.
**
GUYANA'S ONE
OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL,
BUT UNFORGIVING
PLACES IN THE WORLD.
EVERYBODY I KNOW THAT'S COME
DOWN HERE HASN'T DONE WELL.
ANYTHING I MADE LAST YEAR,
I LOST RIGHT DOWN HERE.
**
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE UP.
**
**
THE FATHER-SON DYNAMIC
IS THE AGE-OLD MYSTERY.
**
Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN FAMILY
HAS BEEN GOLD MINING
TOGETHER FOR EIGHT YEARS.
Todd: TO GO GOLD MINING
AS A FAMILY IS PRETTY AWESOME.
THIS IS
A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.
WORKING WITH MY FAMILY,
IT CAN BE REALLY GOOD,
OR IT CAN BE REALLY BAD.
Jack: GOING ON A TREASURE HUNT
WITH YOUR SON,
I CONSIDER IT WORK.
**
Todd:
MY DAD'S NOT A PLANNER.
HE'S UP THERE, HE'S PIVOTING,
HE'S DOING 360 OVER THERE.
YOU CAN'T JUST GET ON THERE
'CAUSE IT'S FUN TO DRIVE IT.
I'M NOT PUTTING UP WITH IT.
THERE'S TIMES WHERE WE
JUST FRUSTRATE THE CRAP
OUT OF EACH OTHER.
**
PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE DONE.
THERE'S A BIG, SOFT HOLE THERE,
AND YOU'RE BACK-DRAGGING IT,
MAKING IT NICE AND PRETTY.
GREAT.
PUSH SOME OF THAT [BLEEP]
ROCK INTO THE FREAKIN' HOLE.
THEN GET THE FRICK
OUT OF HERE.
YOU KNOW, I'LL SHOVE ROCK
OVER THERE.
GREG'S COMING OVER,
AND THEN YOU GET OFF.
THAT IS A FROZEN HOLE.
NO SHOOT, SHERLOCK!
AND YOU'RE IN THERE
PIVOTING ON IT!
GO AHEAD.
I DON'T GIVE A CRAP.
HE'LL SCREW IT UP.
I LOVE YOU, DAD.
I JUST -- YOU'RE DONE.
HE THOUGHT
I SHOULD DO SOMETHING ONE WAY,
AND I THOUGHT
I SHOULD DO IT ANOTHER WAY,
AND I WASN'T GONNA BE TOLD.
**
Narrator:
WITHOUT WARNING, JACK LOADS UP
AND SPEEDS OFF THE CLAIM.
I'M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON
THAT YOU PUSH AROUND, YOU KNOW.
I WILL NOT HAVE DISRESPECT.
YOU KNOW?
Todd:
MY DAD ALMOST QUIT.
BUT I MADE
A SERIOUS MISTAKE THERE.
I CHOSE TO CHEW MY DAD OUT
OVER SOMETHING
THAT, IN THE LONG RUN,
IT AIN'T GONNA MATTER.
I JUST WANTED TO APOLOGIZE.
I WAS A LITTLE OUT OF LINE
YESTERDAY
AND DISRESPECTED YOU,
AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO.
I JUST --
I JUST WANT TO GET --
I JUST WANT THIS DONE RIGHT.
AND I'VE SEEN
THIS HAPPEN IN FAMILIES,
WHERE THE DAD JUST CAN'T LET GO.
AND IT CAUSES A RIFF
BETWEEN THE FAMILY,
AND THEY NEVER COME BACK.
HERE'S THE WAY
I LOOK AT IT.
IF IT TURNS
INTO AN ARGUMENT,
I'M JUST GONNA WALK AWAY
'CAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT THAT.
Todd: IF JACK HAD LEFT,
WE WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN DONE.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER.
I WOULD HAVE WENT HOME.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES MY DAD AND
GRANDPA WORK TOGETHER GREAT,
AND SOMETIMES, IT'S KIND OF HOW
ME AND MY DAD WORK TOGETHER,
SO...NOT GREAT.
Narrator:
JACK AND TODD WEREN'T
THE ONLY FATHER-SON PAIR
ON THE MINE SITE.
SINCE THE AGE OF 10,
HUNTER HOFFMAN
HAS SPENT EVERY SUMMER
LIVING AND WORKING WITH HIS DAD.
Todd: FOR HUNTER IN THOSE EARLY
YEARS, IT'S JUST A CAMPING TRIP.
MORE LIKE AN ADVENTURE.
IT WAS REALLY FUN FOR ME.
THE FIRST SEASON WAS
THE BEST SUMMER I'VE EVER HAD.
YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH
HUNTER WAS OUT CAMPING,
RUNNING AROUND, SHOOTING
STUFF WITH HIS BB GUN,
HE WAS WATCHING.
SOME OF THIS, YOU KNOW,
WHAT WAS GOING ON,
WAS OBVIOUSLY
RUBBING OFF ON HIM.
WHEN I PANNED THAT FIRST GOLD,
I DEFINITELY HAD GOLD FEVER.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED.
SEE THAT?
THAT'S A PIECE OF GOLD.
I WASN'T A HUGE PART OF THE
MINING THE FIRST FEW SEASONS.
FIRE ME UP, BUDDY.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
OKAY, THERE WE GO.
BUT THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO DO,
YOU KNOW.
I WANTED TO BE ON THE CREW.
UH, HUNTER, HUNTER.
YOU GOT A COPY?
Narrator: AT THE AGE OF 16,
HUNTER IS FINALLY LEGAL
TO OPERATE EQUIPMENT.
Hunter: WE HAD A TRUCK
STUCK IN THE ROAD,
SO MY DAD SENT ME
TO GO GRAB A LOADER,
AND I CAME IN
AND BACK-DRAGGED THE ROAD,
SMOOTHED IT OUT.
KEEP YOUR WHEELS LIKE THAT.
DON'T GET IN THE MIDDLE.
**
NO, NOT TOO MUCH!
WHOA!
STOP.
YOU DRAGGED TIRES
ON THAT [BLEEP] ROAD.
QUIT PUTTIN' THEM
IN THE MIDDLE.
LOOK WHAT YOU DID.
I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE,
AND I HAD TO CROSS THE ROAD
TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE.
I CAN'T JUMP THE LOADER.
YOU SET IT UP WRONG.
SO DON'T SAY THAT.
**
OKAY, RIGHT THERE.
STOP.
PUT YOUR BUCKET DOWN
AND BACK-DRAG THAT.
TIP IT UP A LITTLE MORE
AND THEN COME DOWN.
UNTIP IT.
[BLEEP]
DOWN.
COME DOWN.
OKAY! JUST BE QUIET!
I KNOW HOW TO BACK-DRAG.
**
I THINK MY DAD'S
BIGGEST WEAKNESS
IS PROBABLY COMMUNICATION.
HUNTER, PUT IT IN REVERSE,
KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BREAK.
ROLL THE BACK IN
A LITTLE BIT.
BOTH OF YOU GUYS ARE
SAYING TWO OPPOSITE THINGS,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I WOULDN'T LOOK AT YOUR
GRANDPA, I'D LOOK AT ME.
WORKING WITH HUNTER,
YOU KNOW HE THINKS HE KNOWS
A LITTLE BIT MORE
THAN HE REALLY DOES.
I GOT MY DAD YELLING IN MY EAR,
I GOT MY GRANDPA
YELLING ON THIS SIDE.
Todd: GO WITH HIM HUNTER.
THAT'S JUST THE STUFF
THAT'S SUPER FRUSTRATING
WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY
IN A STRESSFUL SITUATION.
IT SHOWED ME THAT HE'S
GOT SOME FIGHT IN HIM,
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
Narrator:
AFTER SEVEN SEASONS OF MINING,
18-YEAR-OLD HUNTER FINALLY
GETS TO RUN HIS OWN OPERATION
WITH MONSTER RED.
-OKAY, SO WE HAVE A DEAL?
-WE GOT A DEAL.
Hunter:
I JUST FELT LIKE I WAS READY
TO STEP UP AND TAKE CHARGE,
TRYING TO BECOME A MAN
AND GET RESPECT WITH
THE REST OF THE CREW.
IT'S HARD TO GIVE UP
CONTROL, IT'S NOT EASY.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BRING
YOUR STICK IN AND CURL OUT
OTHERWISE YOU'RE
GONNA HIT THE SCREEN.
IT WON'T FIT.
HEY, WATCH THIS,
NOT THIS.
I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU
YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIT,
YOU'RE GONNA HIT IT.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
DAD!
YOU'VE GOT
TO BE KIDDING ME!
YOU MIGHT BE GOOD
AT EATIN' BURGERS,
BUT YOU'RE NOT GOOD AT
PUTTIN' WASH PLANTS TOGETHER.
YOU'RE GONNA PUT ME IN CHARGE
OF THIS PLANT, WE MADE A DEAL,
AND YOU WEREN'T LISTENING TO
A SINGLE THING I SAID TODAY.
SHUT UP AND LET ME TALK.
OKAY?
YOU KNOW, IT'S KINDA
SIMILAR BETWEEN TODD AND I,
YOU KNOW, AND TODD HAS NOT
RELEASED THE REIGNS YET.
MY DAD WOULDN'T REALLY
LISTEN TO ME, YOU KNOW.
MY DECISIONS DIDN'T
REALLY COUNT.
I CAN'T WORK WITH MY DAD,
I CAN'T HAVE HIM HERE
MICROMANAGING
EVERYTHING I DO.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
BUT YOU CAN'T JUST WALK OFF,
THAT'S NOT THE WAY
THE HOFFMAN'S DO,
WE DON'T JUST RUN OFF.
MY GRANDPA'S BEEN AROUND,
HE HAS A LOT OF WISDOM
FOR ME TO GET FROM HIM.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
YOUR SON.
YOUR GRANDSON.
THIS YEAR I HAD TO
COME BACK TO MY DAD
FOR RELATIONSHIP ADVICE.
AND MY DAD IS THE GUY ON
THAT STUFF, HE SEES THINGS.
Jack:
GUYS, IF YOU WORK TOGETHER
WE WON'T HAVE THIS ARGUING AND
GARBAGE GOING ON DOWN HERE.
I NEED TO BACK OUT,
BACK AWAY FROM IT,
AND IF I SLOWED YOU DOWN
BY STUFF I DID,
THEN I NEED TO STOP DOING THAT
AND LET YOU RUN IT.
THEY HAD TO WORK IT OUT.
AND SO THEY DID.
FIRE IT UP!
Narrator: HUNTER REPAYS
HIS DAD'S CONFIDENCE IN HIM.
MONSTER RED DELIVERS ALMOST HALF
THE HOFFMAN'S GOLD THIS SEASON.
[ CHEERING ]
-WAY TO GO, BUDDY.
-GOOD JOB, HUNTER.
Jack: IT'S BEEN A BLESSING
TO HAVE MY FAMILY THERE.
IT'S MORE VALUABLE THAN GOLD.
HAVING YOU KNOW, THREE
GENERATIONS MINING TOGETHER
IS PRETTY COOL BECAUSE I FEEL
LIKE YOU DON'T SEE THAT A LOT.
Todd: HUNTER'S GONE FROM
A BOY TO A MAN.
IT'S BEEN FUN TO WATCH.
Hunter: I'VE LOVED WORKING
WITH MY DAD AND GRANDPA,
I WOULD NEVER GO
MINING WITHOUT THEM.
I DID LEARN WHERE THE
REAL GOLD WAS IN MINING,
AND THAT IS IN
THE RELATIONSHIPS.
-WORKS GOOD MAN.
-DOESN'T IT LOOK GOOD?
Narrator: FROM THE START,
TODD BUILT 316 MINING
AROUND FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
Todd:
WHEN IT WAS JUST A SMALL CREW,
A BUNCH OF KNUCKLEHEADS
TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
Man #1: LOOK OUT!
WHOA!
BUT GOLD MINING, IT'S NOT EASY,
IT'S TOUGH.
GET OUT OF MY WAY.
-GO AHEAD.
-YOU WANT THIS UP YOUR [BLEEP]?
THAT FIRST SEASON WE WEREN'T
FINDING A LOT OF GOLD.
TENSION'S RUNNING HIGH.
YOU'RE SITTIN' THERE
BEATING IN THE THREADS.
-DON'T ARGUE WITH ME!
-HEY!
IF YOU AREN'T
FINDING ANY GOLD,
STRESS LEVELS
GO UP TREMENDOUSLY.
'CAUSE I'VE BEEN
HERE FOR THREE MONTHS
WITHOUT ANY [BLEEP] MONEY.
Todd: YOU HAVE FIGHTS,
YOU HAVE SOME MUTINIES.
YOU AND I,
YOU WANT TO DO IT?
WE'LL [BLEEP] DO IT
AND THEN YOU'LL LEARN
TO SHUT
YOUR [BLEEP] MOUTH.
YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
TREACHERY HERE AND THERE,
ALONG THE WAY, BUT THAT'S IN
THE NATURE OF GOLD MINING.
Narrator:
IN THEIR THIRD YEAR OF MINING,
TODD INSPIRES HIS
DYSFUNCTIONAL CREW
BY SETTING A MASSIVE
MILLION DOLLAR TARGET.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I
THREW A GOAL OUT THERE, RIGHT,
YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW
IT'S BIG, BIG GOAL.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU GUYS
TO GO AFTER A BEAR
WITH A BB GUN THIS YEAR.
Narrator:
TODD'S PLAN SPLIT THE CREW
ACROSS TWO WASH PLANTS.
DAVE, MYSELF, GREG, AND
CHRIS WERE RUNNIN' BIG RED.
Dave: THERE'S A LOT OF
PRESSURE PUT ON US
BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONLY
ONES THAT ARE SOLIDLY
AND CONSISTENTLY
PRODUCING GOLD RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN TODD BROUGHT
ANOTHER PLANT IN
THAT DIDN'T WORK
OUT REALLY WELL.
I CANNOT SPEND ONE MORE DAY
WORKING ON THIS, I'M DONE.
IT JUST WAS LIKE,
KIND OF A MAKE OR BREAK
MOMENT RIGHT THERE.
Narrator:
UNABLE TO RUN TWO WASH PLANTS,
TODD'S ONLY OPTION: DOUBLE DOWN,
AND RUN NIGHT SHIFTS.
Todd: I MADE A DECISION
TO JOIN THE TEAMS.
WE NEEDED TO HELP EACH OTHER,
WE NEEDED TO ALL
GROUP AROUND BIG RED.
QUARTZ CREEK GUYS,
WE'RE THE NIGHT SHIFT.
BOTH CREWS ENDED UP ON BIG RED.
THE MONEY'S GONNA BE MADE
HERE AT NIGHT WITH THESE GUYS.
TODD WAS RUNNIN' THE NIGHT
SHIFT IN HIS BIG RED PAJAMAS.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE NIGHT
SHIFT STAYS ON THE NIGHT SHIFT.
[ CRASH ]
NO, NO, NO!
WHAT'S GOING ON?
I THINK WE NEED TO SLOW
THE FEED DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE IN THE BEST
DIRT WE'VE EVER HAD.
WE BREAK THE WASH PLANT,
WE BREAK THE WASH PLANT.
TIME IS MONEY, WE GOT TO GET
ROLLING AGAIN, LET'S GO.
THIS IS GONNA BE
EXCITING IN THE MORNIN'.
Narrator:
TODD'S DECISION TO KEEP SLUICING
THROUGH THE NIGHT PAYS OFF.
THIS IS OUT OF THE BOTTOM BATCH.
WITH THE DAY SHIFT WE'RE
GETTIN' 50 OUNCES A WEEK.
BUT THEN THE NIGHT SHIFT
CAME ON AND IT DOUBLED IT.
GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB.
WE BECAME A TEAM
AT THAT TIME.
YOU GUYS SHOULD BE
PROUD OF YOURSELVES.
WE WENT FROM KNUCKLEHEADS
TO THE GUYS GETTIN'
QUITE A BIT OF GOLD.
Jack: 803.
[ CHEERING ]
GUYS IT'S 1.2 MILLION IN GOLD.
THAT WAS OUR FIRST
MILLION DOLLAR SEASON.
IT KINDA PULLED
THE GUYS TOGETHER.
THEY REALIZED THEN
THAT WE COULD DO IT.
I THINK THAT YEAR WAS THE
YEAR THAT WE KIND JUST BECAME
A BAND OF BROTHERS, REALLY
KINDA LEARNED HOW TO DO THIS.
AND THEY CAME OUT OF IT
WITH A HELL OF A NICE
PAIR OF OVERALLS.
Narrator: WHEN THE HOFFMANS
RETURN TO THE KLONDIKE
FOR THEIR SIXTH SEASON.
ANDY, WELCOME BUDDY.
YEAH, YEAH.
THE BAND OF BROTHERS SETS
THEIR SITES EVEN HIGHER.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST
WE'VE EVER BEEN OUT HERE.
IT'S GONNA BE THE
BEST YEAR EVER.
Fred: THE EQUIPMENT, THE CREWS.
YEAH!
EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER,
THE STARS LINED UP.
WE NEED THE BIGGEST
CUT WE'VE EVER SEEN.
THIS IS OUR ONE CHANCE.
LET'S MAKE A SUPERCUT.
TODD LAID OUT WHAT HE
CALLED HIS SUPERCUT,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY GOT IT STRIPPED,
THEY GOT IT THAWED,
AND THEY GOT IT SLUICED.
ROCK AND ROLL.
IT PROVED THAT THE
HOFFMAN CREW COULD
GET THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW.
Todd: YOU TURNED A LOT OF BOYS
INTO MEN THAT SUMMER.
IT PUT HAIR
ON THEIR CHEST FOR SURE.
Man #2: HOLY, MAN.
WE GOT 3,032.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THEY WERE PROUD OF THEMSELVES.
[ CHEERING ]
Hunter: THAT WAS KIND
OF THE FEELING WE'D BEEN CHASING
I THINK, EVERY SEASON.
THE KIND OF FIRST TIME
WE FELT SUPER VICTORIOUS.
Todd: WE'VE GOTTEN MORE GOLD
THIS SEASON THAN ALL OF OUR
OTHER SEASONS COMBINED.
WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT, HUH.
SOMETIMES TODD'S BIG
DREAMS COME TRUE.
COME ON BRING IT IN
MAN, LET'S GIVE THANKS.
I GAVE OUT A HELL
OF A LOT OF GOLD.
SOME GUYS GOT
$50,000, $60,000 BONUSES.
Jack: HEAVENLY FATHER,
WE JUST TRULY THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S
IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
All: AMEN.
IT KIND OF PULLS
THE GUYS TOGETHER.
AND ONCE THEY GO THROUGH THAT
TOGETHER, THEY ARE BROTHERS.
Fred: SEASON ONE THEY DID
$17,000 WORTH OF GOLD.
SEASON FIVE AND SIX,
$5 MILLION WORTH OF GOLD.
MAYBE WE SHOULDA STOPPED THERE.
SEASON SEVEN SEES
THE HOFFMANS LEAVE
THE LUCRATIVE KLONDIKE FOR
THE GOLD FIELDS OF OREGON.
I LEFT THE KLONDIKE BECAUSE
I FELT LIKE I'D DONE
EVERYTHING I WANTED
TO DO UP THERE.
I WANT TO SEE IF IT'S POSSIBLE
TO TRY TO MAKE IT IN THE U.S.
I GET IT, TODD
WANTS TO COME HOME.
BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEES.
IT TURNED INTO
NOT BEING SO GOOD.
Jack: NOTHIN'?
OREGON WAS, CALL IT A BUST.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
THAT WAS A REAL LOW POINT.
IT'S TIME TO LOAD UP
AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE
WHEN THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TO
MAKE EVERYBODY A LIVING HERE.
WHEN THINGS WENT BAD IN OREGON,
EVERYBODY WAS HURTING.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS,
I'M DONE.
Dave: I'LL BE HONEST WITH YA,
WE'VE LOST THIS TEAM.
AND WITHOUT THIS
TEAM WE CAN'T DO IT.
LUCKILY WE BAILED OUT BY FREDDY
AND OFF TO COLORADO WE WENT.
WE'RE IN THE LAST CHANCE
SALOON ON THIS ONE.
I WENT THERE AND PROSPECTED
AND CAME OUT WITH GOOD RESULTS.
I'M SEEIN' GOLD BOYS.
IT GIVES US HOPE FREDDY,
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE A HELL
OF A FRIEND, MAN.
DITTO.
Narrator: BUT IT'S TOO LITTLE
TOO LATE TO SAVE
THEIR SEASON FROM DISASTER.
JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT,
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH GOLD.
IT JUST PUTS MORE
PRESSURE ON EVERYBODY
AND IT MAKES EVERYBODY
HAVE SHORT TEMPERS.
IT WAS KIND OF TOWARDS
THE END OF THE SEASON.
WE WERE JUST TRYING
TO CLOSE OUT STRONG.
LET GO OF ME NOW!
I'M GONNA [BLEEP] KILL HIM!
-TELL HIM RIGHT NOW.
-NO, YOU WON'T.
-GET THE [BLEEP]
-DAVE!
-NO, NO, NO, NO.
-[BLEEP]
TREY!
YOU DON'T THINK THAT YOU'RE
GONNA HAVE SITUATIONS
WHERE TWO GUYS ALMOST
KILL EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW.
IT TAKES A WHOLE CREW DOWN
WHEN THAT KIND OF STUFF GOES ON.
[BLEEP] CHICKEN [BLEEP]
TREY!
THAT SHOOK OUR FOUNDATION
AS A BAND OF BROTHERS,
I'LL TELL YA THAT RIGHT NOW.
IT JUST KIND OF RUINED
THE WHOLE SEASON
TO END IT LIKE THAT
YOU KNOW.
-JUST TAKE ME HOME.
-I'LL TAKE YA.
JUST PACK MY [BLEEP] UP
AND GO.
I'M DONE.
Todd:
IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GAME OVER.
YOU WANT TO LIVE A WEIRD LIFE,
YOU GET A CAMERA CREW
THAT FOLLOWS YOU AROUND
FOR EIGHT YEARS.
GET OUT OF MY WAY.
YOU KNOW THE RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE TV CREW
WASN'T THAT GREAT AT FIRST.
I ASK YOU A QUESTION
AND YOU JUST IGNORE ME.
I CAN SAY I'VE ONLY
PUNCHED ONE GUY.
[ LAUGHING ]
BUT PROBABLY THE WORST TIME
I'VE EVER HAD
WAS WHEN MY DAUGHTER OLIVIA
HAD A SEIZURE.
THE CAMERA CREW
SWUNG INTO ACTION.
WE ARE ON THE ROAD.
WE GOT HER TO THE HOSPITAL.
-DADDY.
-HOW YA FEELIN'?
WE ALL WORKED TOGETHER
AND MY DAUGHTER WAS SAVED.
AND NOW I GUESS THE CAMERA GUYS
I'LL BE FRIENDS WITH FOREVER.
EVERYTHING COMES
TO AN END, RIGHT.
Narrator: IN THEIR
FINAL YEAR MINING,
TODD THROWS OUT ANOTHER
MASSIVELY AMBITIOUS CHALLENGE.
I BELIEVE WE CAN GET 5,000
OUNCES IN ONE SEASON.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
COME HOME AND TELL YOUR FAMILY
AND FRIENDS YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT?
WE CAN'T FAIL AGAIN.
Narrator:
THEN THE HOFFMANS' PROBLEMS
GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.
YOU ARE HEREBY ORDERED
TO CEASE AND DESIST
ALL MINING IMMEDIATELY.
THE BEST GROUND EVER
AND WE GOT SHUT DOWN.
Narrator: AND THE REST OF THEIR
GROUND DOESN'T PAY OUT
LIKE THEY HOPED.
WE SHOULDA HAD A HELL OF
A LOT MORE GOLD THAN THAT.
THIS ISN'T GONNA PAY
ANY BILLS.
IT'S NOT THE EQUIPMENT,
IT'S NOT THE GUYS.
I THINK IT'S THE GROUND.
Narrator:
BY THE END OF THE SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW LOSES
THE WILL TO CONTINUE.
WE'RE BROKEN BY THIS SEASON.
WE FAILED.
I JUST DON'T THINK
IT'S WORTH IT ANY MORE.
ANOTHER SEASON OF
A LOT OF WORK AND
NOT A LOT OF GOLD.
IF YOU'RE JUST BREAKING
EVEN, IS IT WORTH IT ANYMORE?
Man #3: YOU KNOW I CAME UP HERE
TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY
AND THE THOUGHT OF ME
NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE
FOR 'EM THIS SEASON,
I CAN'T HAVE THAT.
DO WE KEEP GOIN'?
WE'RE NOT TAKING' HOME THE GOLD
THAT WE WANTED TO TAKE HOME.
IT'S TIME.
-YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
Todd: THIS IS IT THEN, HUH?
ECONOMICALLY THERE'S
A TIME WHEN YOU NEED TO
SHIFT GEARS,
MAYBE DO SOMETHING ELSE.
I'M NOT MINING ANYMORE.
Narrator: OVER THEIR EIGHT
YEAR MINING CAREER...
NO GUTS, NO GLORY.
...IN THREE COUNTRIES...
WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS
ANYMORE BRIAN.
LET'S RUN SOME DIRT.
...THROUGH A DOZEN
WASH PLANTS...
[ GRUNTS ]
...THE HOFFMANS
SEARCHED FOR GOLD...
WE JUST WENT FOR IT,
WE'RE LEARNING.
AMERICAN LEARNED WITH US.
...AND EVOLVED FROM A BUNCH
OF DESPERATE ROOKIES...
14.64.
...INTO A CREW OF WORLD
FAMOUS MILLIONAIRE MINERS.
803.
1,000.
1,644.
3,032, OUR BEST SEASON EVER.
I'VE ALWAYS SAID,
YOU'RE ALL MILLIONAIRES,
YOU JUST HAVE TO GET IT
OUT OF THE GROUND.
BUT WE DID MINE OVER
THE 8,000 OUNCES
ALMOST $10 MILLION
WORTH OF GOLD.
AND THAT'S NOT BAD FOR A BUNCH
OF ROOKIES FROM THE CITY.
THEY'VE GIVEN LOTS
OF PEOPLE JOBS.
THEY'VE GIVEN LOTS
OF PEOPLE HOPE.
Todd: THURBER SAVED HIS HOUSE.
Jack: ANDY'S GOT A LITTLE RANCH,
AND INTO RAISIN' CATTLE.
LOGAN NOW OWNS A DUPLEX,
HE'S SELLIN' REAL ESTATE.
KEVIN NOT ONLY IS BETTER
FINANCIALLY BUT ALSO ABLE
TO SAVE HIS MARRIAGE.
I WANT FREDDY TO KEEP
MINING, FAIR PLAYIN'.
AND GET THAT GOLD
THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED
TO GET OUT THIS SUMMER.
MY DAD, A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T LIKE HIM BUT
THE REAL TODD HOFFMAN,
HE CARES MORE ABOUT
OUR TEAM AND THE CREW
BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE.
I LOOK UP TO HIM.
Narrator:
DESPITE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS,
THE HOFFMANS NOW FACE
A CRITICAL MOMENT OF TRUTH.
YOU KNOW, EIGHT YEARS AGO
I HAD A DREAM TO PUT GOLD
IN MY POCKETS AND HELP
MY GUYS OUT AND MY FAMILY.
I'VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT DREAM.
AND NOW IT'S TIME
TO CHASE ANOTHER DREAM.
I'VE LEARNED A TON ABOUT HOW
TO DO THINGS IN TELEVISION
AND I WANT TO FOCUS ON MY
TELEVISION PRODUCTION COMPANY
AND I WANT TO FOCUS ON SINGING.
I PUT A BUNCH OF SONGS
OUT ON THE INTERNET,
AND I'M ACTUALLY STARTING TO GET
SOME REALLY SERIOUS OFFERS.
LAUGH IF YOU WANT, BUT
YOU MIGHT HAVE ME SINGING
ON YOUR RADIO SOMETIMES
SOON, WHO KNOWS.
STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.
I WANT TO BREAK IT BIG,
I WANT TO HIT ONE
OUT OF THE PARK.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
GONNA TRY TO DO.
Fred: TODD IS A DREAMER.
HE SETS GOALS
THAT ARE WAY TOO BIG SOMETIMES
BUT THAT'S
WHAT DREAMERS DO.
I LIKE WORKING WITH MY FAMILY,
AND IF IT'S GOLD MINING
OR IF WE'RE MAKING TV SHOWS
OR WHATEVER I'M GONNA PROBABLY
JUST BE RIGHT THERE
WORKIN' WITH MY DAD.
MY DAD, I THINK HE'S GONNA
MISS MINING, AND I THINK THAT
SOME DAY HE'LL BE RUNNIN'
HIS CLEAN UP EQUIPMENT AGAIN.
YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT.
NOPE.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT
OUR ADVENTURE AS A WHOLE,
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE AMERICAN
DREAM IS STILL ALIVE.
IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY,
IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'D CHANGE
ANYTHING, I REALLY WOULDN'T.
I DON'T THINK
I'D CHANGE A THING.
GOOD JOB, DAD.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'VE HAD.
**
Narrator: UP AHEAD.
Parker:
WE'VE CONQUERED THE YUKON.
NOW IT'S TIME TO GO
CONQUER THE JUNGLE.
Narrator: ON A SPECIAL EDITION
OF "GOLD RUSH: PARKER'S TRAIL."
YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE
YOUR [BLEEP] TIME?
PARKER IS HARD
TO DEAL WITH, MAN.
HAINES, ALASKA TO GEORGETOWN,
GUYANA IS A LONG TRIP.
Narrator:
ANOTHER KEY GOLD RUSH MINER...
I GOT SOME THINGS I GOT
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
...DROPS A BOMBSHELL.
I'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY
AND I'M GONNA TAKE IT.
[ DRAMATIC MUSIC ]
GEEZ.
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
TO PUT GOLD IN MY GUYS' POCKETS
AND CHANGE ALL OF OUR LIVES.
AND WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED
THAT GOAL.
BUT AT SOME POINT,
YOU GOT TO KNOW WHEN TO MOVE ON.
Narrator:
FACING FINANCIAL RUIN IN 2010,
TODD HOFFMAN
SET OUT ON A MISSION.
CAN'T A GUY RISK IT ALL
IN AMERICA ANYMORE?
Narrator:
...TO MINE FOR GOLD...
GOT OUR FIRST REAL NUGGET.
WHOO-HOO!
Narrator:
...AND CHANGE THE FORTUNE
OF HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
I'M ON FOOD STAMPS.
ONE MORE LATE PAYMENT
ON MY MORTGAGE,
THEN WE GO INTO FORECLOSURE.
I WANTED TO TAKE ACTION.
YEAH!
Narrator: THEIR QUEST
TOOK THE HOFFMAN CREW
AROUND THE WORLD...
AWAY WE WENT, MAN,
ON AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.
WE ALL HAD GOLD FEVER.
Narrator:
...FROM THE FROZEN NORTH...
THIS IS NUTS.
Narrator:
...TO THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA.
-HOLY SMOKES!
-YOU ARE FREAKING KIDDING ME!
Narrator: NOW, AS WE REACH
THE END OF AN ERA...
IF YOU'RE JUST BREAKING EVEN,
IS IT WORTH IT?
Todd:
I'M NOT MINING ANYMORE.
I WANT TO CHASE ANOTHER DREAM.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
THAT WE'VE HAD.
Narrator: OUR MINERS TAKE
THE HOT SEAT ONE LAST TIME...
OKAY, YOU READY?
Narrator:
...TO REVEAL THE TRUTH
BEHIND
THEIR MINING ADVENTURE...
I'VE GOT A NEW OPPORTUNITY,
AND I WANT TO SEE
HOW IT TURNS OUT.
Narrator: ...AND THE REASON
IT'S FINALLY COME TO AN END.
Todd: NOBODY WOULD EVER EXPECT
THAT WE WOULD MINE
FOR EIGHT SEASONS, DUG UP
ALMOST $10 MILLION IN GOLD.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
**
**
**
HEY, DAD.
I DON'T THINK
WE CAN AFFORD
TO GET ANY FUEL, SO...
ALL RIGHT.
THE WAY THINGS ARE,
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
**
IN 2010,
WE HAD SOME REALLY BAD TIMES
THAT HAPPENED IN AMERICA.
EVERYBODY WAS STRUGGLING.
PEOPLE WERE GETTING LAID OFF.
EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING
AT EACH OTHER.
NO BUSINESS WAS BEING DONE.
WE'RE DOWN
TO THE POINT OF NO HOPE.
WE MAY HAVE
TO SELL THE AIRPORT.
MIGHT BE THE BEST DEAL.
I JUST DON'T KNOW.
I REMEMBER
GETTING PULLED OUT OF SCHOOL,
AND I WAS GETTING HOMESCHOOLED
JUST 'CAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD
FOR ME TO GO TO SCHOOL THERE
ANYMORE.
YOU KNOW, I DO REMEMBER MY DAD
AND MY GRANDPA AND MY FAMILY
BEING REALLY STRESSED OUT.
WHEN YOU CAN'T PROVIDE
FOR YOUR FAMILY,
I THINK IT TAKES YOUR
CONFIDENCE, AND IT'S NOT FUN.
WHEN OTHER THINGS AREN'T DOING
WELL, GOLD USUALLY GOES UP.
SO THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE
GO GOLD MINING.
WHAT DO YOU GOT HERE?
Jack: I'VE SEEN A LOT
OF GROUND, AND THIS IS IT.
HOLY COW.
Todd: HE GOT 29 GRAMS
IN THAT ONE TEST HAUL.
THERE'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WELL, IF YOU THINK WE GOT
A SHOT, I MEAN, I'LL GO ALL IN.
I KNOW WE GOT A SHOT.
Todd: I MINED TWO SUMMERS
WITH MY FATHER IN THE '80s,
AND SO THE GOLD-MINING DREAM
STARTED WITH MY DAD.
I LOVE GOLD MINING, AND
I LOVE MESSING AROUND WITH GOLD.
I ALWAYS KNEW THAT,
IF GOLD GOES UP AGAIN,
I'M GONNA GIVE THIS ONE
MORE SHOT FOR MY DAD.
I'M THROWING EVERYTHING
I GOT INTO IT.
WE'RE GONNA GO GOLD MINING.
Narrator: FOR HIS CREW, TODD
TURNS TO A BUNCH OF FRIENDS
HIT HARD
BY THE FINANCIAL CRISIS.
YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS
FOR A LONG TIME.
I'M BEGGING,
BORROWING, AND STEALING
THE MONEY TO PUT
THIS THING TOGETHER.
GUYS AROUND ME WERE SINKING,
SO I WANTED TO TAKE ACTION.
TODD IS ABSOLUTELY GOOD
AT HELPING HIS FRIENDS.
YOU GUYS ARE THE GUYS
THAT I BELIEVE
CAN HELP US PULL THIS THING OFF.
I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU'RE IN.
DORSEY?
I'M ON FOOD STAMPS.
I CAN'T AFFORD
TO FIX MY TOOTH.
I MEAN, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
SO OF COURSE I'M IN, MAN.
CORY?
I DON'T --
I DON'T THINK I'M IN.
YOU KNOW MY STORY, TODD.
I KNOW
YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION,
AND, HOPEFULLY, WE CAN PULL
IT ALL TOGETHER FOR YOU.
I'LL DO WHATEVER
YOU NEED ME TO DO.
I WANTED TO OFFER THEM HOPE,
AND AWAY WE WENT, MAN,
ON AN ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.
**
Narrator:
TODD INVESTS EVERYTHING HE HAS
INTO THE PROJECT, BUILDING
HIS OWN MINING EQUIPMENT
WITH THE HELP
OF HIS GREENHORN CREW.
I HATE RELYING ON
MY PARENTS FOR HELP.
I'M 41 YEARS OLD.
I SHOULD BE ABLE
TO WIPE MY OWN BOTTOM.
ONE MORE LATE PAYMENT
ON MY MORTGAGE,
THEN WE GO INTO FORECLOSURE.
Todd:
THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE FRICKIN' SURPRISED
ABOUT WHAT THIS GROUP OF
NUTBALLS CAN PUT TOGETHER.
Narrator:
WITH EVERYTHING READY,
IT'S TIME FOR HIS RAGTAG CREW
TO HEAD NORTH.
[ SIGHS ]
IT'S HARD TO LEAVE.
HARD TO LEAVE MY GIRLS.
Jack:
I WANT THEM TO HAVE GOLD.
YOU KNOW --
PUT IT IN THEIR POCKET,
PAY FOR THEIR HOUSES,
PAY FOR THEIR CARS.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT IT FOR.
[ HORN HONKING ]
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
YEAH! WHOO!
WANT TO GO TO ALASKA?
HUH?
**
ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES
IS BEING IN THE BACK OF THE
OLD SUBURBAN AND GOING MINING.
THAT'S SOMETHING
I'M NEVER GONNA FORGET.
I GOT TO TAKE A PEE.
Todd:
WE'RE NOT STOPPING.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO PEE IN A BOTTLE.
Hunter: EVERYBODY ON THE CREW
WAS SUPER-POOR, JUST LIKE US,
AND MY DAD WANTED EVERYBODY
TO LEAVE THAT SUMMER RICH.
Narrator: FIVE DAYS OF HARD
DRIVING TAKES THEM TO ALASKA
AND WITHIN SIGHT OF
THEIR GOLD CLAIM.
BUT THE ROOKIE MINERS
CAN'T MINE UNLESS THEY GET
THEIR 100,000-POUND EXCAVATOR
ACROSS THE KLEHENI RIVER.
WELL, THANKS A LOT.
HE SAID THAT THERE
IS NO FREAKIN' WAY
WE CAN GO ACROSS THAT BRIDGE.
HE SAYS IT'LL EITHER BUCKLE,
OR THE PILINGS WILL GIVE WAY.
WE HAD TO GET THAT 400,
OR WE WEREN'T MINING.
OKAY, WE'LL TRY GOING
ACROSS THE RIVER.
I HAD NO IDEA HOW
DEEP THAT THING WAS.
EVERYBODY WAS FREAKED OUT,
I KNOW MY DAD WAS,
LIKE, REALLY SCARED.
I THOUGHT
THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE
WE COULD GET THAT THING STUCK.
HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO!
**
-WHOA!
-HOLY...
Man:
KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING!
YOU COULD HAVE A GRAVEL BAR
THAT HAS A GREAT BIG
FREAKIN' HOLE UNDERNEATH,
AND YOU GO WHEELING ACROSS,
ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU GET THERE,
AND IT GOES UNDER.
WATCH FOR THE SINKHOLES
OUT THERE.
Todd:
I'M GOING, I'M GOING, I'M GOING.
GETTING THE EXCAVATOR ACROSS
THAT RIVER IS KIND OF LIKE
MOSES PARTING THE WATERS.
-YOU GOT IT.
-WHOO!
WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!
WE GOT PROBABLY
THREE MORE OF THESE CHANNELS
TO GET ACROSS, SO...
EACH ONE'S A LITTLE DEEPER.
Hunter:
THAT WAS PRETTY COOL.
I JUST DON'T THINK
I'D EVER SEEN MY DAD
DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
YOU KNOW?
I GOT HALSTEAD OVER HERE
SCOUTING OUT IN FRONT OF US.
AND HE'S JUST GONNA FIND
THE SHALLOWEST SPOT THAT HE CAN.
OH, BABY, I'M GETTIN' WET.
MIKE, GET OUT OF THERE.
YOU'RE GONNA GO DOWN.
THAT WAS A LOT DEEPER
THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS.
-YOU WANT TO LIFT IT?
-YEAH, LET'S LIFT IT.
Greg: THIS IS THE FINAL PUSH
COMING UP.
WE GOT THE DEEPEST
AND THE FASTEST CHANNEL
RIGHT AHEAD OF US.
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE
THE GUYS THAT JUST CAME UP,
LOST THEIR 400, TURNED
AROUND, AND WENT BACK HOME.
IF I [BLEEP] THIS UP NOW,
WE'RE SCREWED.
HOW WE LOOKING?
Man: GONNA GET DEEP HERE
IN A SECOND.
OH, BOY.
**
HERE WE GO,
HERE WE GO!
**
WHOA!
-WHOA!
Man: WHOA!
Todd:
UNHOOK THE GATOR!
HURRY UP! HURRY UP!
UNHOOK THE GATOR -- NOW!
I WILL!
Man: KEEP MOVING THE TRUCK!
KEEP MOVING!
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!
**
-HANG ON.
-GO.
**
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
Greg: KEEP GOING!
KEEP GOING!
[ MAN SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY ]
**
YOU GOT IT.
-WHOO! WHOO!
Man: WHOO!
IT WAS PRETTY BAD-ASS.
Man #2: GOOD DRIVING.
WHOO! WHOO!
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT
OF A PUCKER SITUATION,
IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
MY BUTT GOT CLENCHED.
THAT WAS ABOUT
AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN GET.
IF IT HAD NOT MADE IT,
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE END OF "GOLD RUSH."
YOU KNOW,
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IT.
Narrator:
CROSSING THE KLEHENI RIVER
DELIVERS THE HOFFMAN CREW
TO THE PROMISED LAND --
PORCUPINE CREEK,
THEIR NEW GOLD CLAIM.
THIS FEELS AWESOME.
FEELS LIKE I'M COMING HOME.
**
Man: WHOO!
LOOK AT THOSE MOUNTAINS.
GEEZ.
THIS IS AMAZING.
NOW WE HAVE HOPE,
AND WE'RE ON A MISSION.
I'M A GUY FROM THE CITY
TAKING A RISK,
TRYING TO MINE GOLD
WITH HIS BUDDIES.
THE AMERICAN DREAM
CAN COME IN MANY WAYS.
WE CHOSE GOLD MINING,
AND OUR CREW CHOSE
GOLD MINING WITH US.
Jack:
YOU'RE ALL MILLIONAIRES.
THE ONLY THING IS,
YOU GOT TO GET IT OUT
OF THE GROUND, YOU KNOW?
[ LAUGHTER ]
THERE ISN'T ONE MAN IN AMERICA,
IF HE'S GOT ANYTHING INSIDE HIM,
WOULDN'T WANT TO
BE HERE WITH US.
Man: LOOK OUT!
Narrator: UP NEXT...
Man: WHOA!
YOU CAN'T MINE IN THE JUNGLE.
IT DOESN'T WORK.
Narrator:
AND FOLLOWING THE SHOW...
I WANT A GOLD NUGGET THIS BIG.
Narrator:
...AN EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK...
-PARKER!
-[BLEEP]
Narrator:
...OF THE NEW "PARKER'S TRAIL."
Parker:
PROSPECTING, GUYANA-STYLE.
WE'RE IN THE MONEY.
**
**
[ YAWNS ]
GO.
HOLY [BLEEP]
TODD'S JUST LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE --
HE'S MADE MISTAKES.
HEY!
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!
MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF
TODD AS A GOLD MINER...
IS, HE WASN'T A GOLD MINER.
SHUT THIS FRICKIN' THING OFF.
Todd: YOU KNOW,
WE MADE ALL THE MISTAKES
THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS MADE.
WE DIDN'T BYPASS
HARDLY ANY OF THEM.
Man: WHOA!
Hunter: NOBODY KNEW
WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
THEY WERE JUST WINGING IT.
**
Man: THERE.
I THOUGHT WE WERE DONE
LOOKING LIKE IDIOTS, BUT NOPE.
MINING GOLD
IS A STEEP LEARNING CURVE.
WE MADE A LOT OF
MISTAKES ALONG THE WAY.
Narrator: IN THEIR ROOKIE
SEASON, THE HOFFMAN CREW
STRUGGLES TO GET
THEIR HAND-BUILT WASH PLANT
TO CATCH GOLD.
Todd: HEY, THURBY!
SHUT IT OFF!
Todd: YOU GOT TO SOMEHOW
CATCH THE GOLD.
AND I THINK I'M ONLY
CATCHING PART OF IT.
THIS IS -- THIS IS
HARD TO FIGURE OUT.
Narrator: THE GREENHORNS PUT OUT
A DESPERATE CALL FOR HELP.
WHEN I DROVE IN, I WAS LIKE,
"THIS ISN'T GOOD."
[ LAUGHS ]
HOW DOES MY DAD'S
NUGGET TRAP LOOK TO YOU?
NOT GOOD.
HE HAD OLD EQUIPMENT.
HE HAD A WHOLE CREW OF PEOPLE
THAT'D NEVER SEEN
A PIECE OF GOLD BEFORE.
YOU PULL INTO A PLACE LIKE THAT,
AND YOU SEE A BUNCH OF GUYS
STRUGGLING,
MY FIRST THOUGHTS
WERE TO HELP THEM OUT.
REMEMBER ONE THING, TODD --
SLICK PLATES
CAN'T CATCH GOLD.
OKAY.
THEY'D BEEN STRUGGLING ALL
SEASON THAT THEY'D BEEN THERE.
ONLY AN IDIOT
DOESN'T LISTEN TO FREDDY.
BASICALLY, I'M JUST BLOWING
MY GOLD RIGHT DOWN THE CREEK.
CORRECT. MY SUGGESTION
IS GET COMPLETE RIFFLES
ALL THE WAY DOWN.
THEY'D MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES.
I MEAN,
THAT'S JUST HOW YOU LEARN.
HE'S TAUGHT US A HELL OF A LOT,
FOR SURE.
YEAH, WE PUT THE RIFFLES IN,
AND WE FOUND OUR FIRST NUGGET.
GOOD LORD.
HOLY!
-LOOK AT THAT.
HOLY CRAP.
I CAN'T FREAKIN' BELIEVE IT.
THAT'D LOOK GOOD
ON A NECKLACE.
-WHOO!
-A PAIR OF EARRINGS?
WELL, THAT WAS
THE START OF THE RELATIONSHIP.
IT JUST PROGRESSED OVER
THE YEARS FROM THERE...
TILL WE FINALLY ENDED UP
PARTNERING UP AT FAIRPLAY.
I THINK VERY HIGHLY OF THAT MAN.
I DO.
HE'S A GOOD MAN.
Narrator: BUT WHEN THEY MOVED
TO THE KLONDIKE,
THE BIG CHALLENGE
IS DECIDING WHERE TO START
THEIR FIRST GOLD-RICH CUT.
Todd: GOLD IS WHERE YOU FIND IT,
IF YOU CAN FIND IT.
A LOT OF AREAS YOU GO TO,
HALF OF THE MINE
COULD ALREADY BE
COMPLETELY MINED OUT.
Narrator: IN THIS VALLEY,
BETWEEN 1935 AND 1950,
A DREDGE MINED
OVER $1 BILLION WORTH OF GOLD
AT TODAY'S PRICES.
GOOD LORD.
LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT THING.
THE BAD NEWS IS THAT, MAN,
THEY GOT A LOT OF THE GOLD.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT
I DON'T THINK IT CAUGHT IT ALL.
NOW WE JUST GOT TO FIND IT.
ONE WAY TO TELL IS IF THERE'S
BIG SPRUCE ON THE PROPERTY.
THEN THE DREDGE
DIDN'T GET THERE.
LET'S WALK DOWN
THIS WAY JUST A HAIR.
THAT IS
AN OLD DREDGE TAILING.
IT WAS GONNA BE TOUGH.
WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY
FIGURE THIS GAME OUT.
SEE, NOW, UP HERE,
THIS IS A VERY OLD FOREST.
Man: YEAH, THESE ARE
ALL OLD TREES.
DUDE, THIS WAS
NOT MINED UP HERE.
Man #2: NO.
THIS IS ALL VIRGIN
GROUND RIGHT HERE.
Todd: WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW
IS, WE'RE STRIPPING
THE TOP LAYER OF GROUND OFF.
HE'S TRYIN' TO GET DOWN
TO OUR PAY GRAVEL.
MY GUT'S TELLING ME, WITHIN
THIS AREA OF VIRGIN GROUND HERE,
WE'RE GONNA GET 200 OUNCES.
[ LAUGHS ]
TODD'S NOT THE BEST GOLD MINER.
Narrator:
CLAIM OWNER MARLON McNEIL
ARRIVES TO CHECK ON PROGRESS.
FELLAS, WHAT HAVE
YOU BEEN DOING HERE?
I WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK.
I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
-WHAT DO YOU THINK?
-THAT'S BEEN DREDGED.
THE EVIDENCE IS HERE.
THERE WAS BIG TREES
GROWING OUT OF IT.
THAT'S THE REASON WE...
WELL, THAT HAD PLENTY OF
TIME FOR TREES TO GROW.
THERE WAS SOME SPRUCE TREES
IN THERE.
THEY GROW FAST.
WASN'T A GREAT START.
SO, YOU'RE SAYING DON'T
EVEN BOTHER WITH THAT.
YEAH.
Narrator: TODD STUMBLES
ON AN OLD DREDGE CABLE,
CONFIRMING THE TERRIBLE TRUTH.
IT LOOKED VIRGIN, BUT IT WASN'T.
HERE WAS
THIS GREAT BIG FOOTBALL FIELD
THAT'S ALL STRIPPED AND READY
TO GO WITH NO GOLD.
NOW WE LAUGH AT IT,
BUT, AT THE TIME, I'M LIKE,
"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?"
**
Freddy: THE BIGGEST MISTAKE
OVER THE YEARS WAS THE JUNGLE.
IT WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.
I NEVER WENT TO THE JUNGLE,
IT WAS JUST, LIKE,
SUPER-DANGEROUS FOR ME TO GO.
I WISH I HADN'T
GONE TO THE JUNGLE.
IT WAS CRAZY.
WE DID SOME AWESOME THINGS.
**
Dave: HOLY SMOKES!
LOOK AT THE DROP ON THAT FALLS!
IT'S BREATHTAKING.
[ HORN HONKS ]
Todd:
WE BROUGHT THAT TROMMEL
PLACES THAT NOBODY HAD EVER
SEEN ANY HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
THAT'S THE SKETCHIEST BRIDGE
I'VE EVER SEEN.
Freddy:
DRAGGING IN LITTLE RED.
AND IT WAS A NIGHTMARE TO GET
IN THERE FROM THE BEGINNING.
Todd:
IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG,
IT'S LITERALLY
GONNA KILL SOMEBODY.
THIS IS ALL KINDERGARTEN STUFF.
THE HILL'S MAJOR LEAGUE.
Todd:
IT'S LIKE CRAWLING UP A HILL
OF JUST ABSOLUTE
MASHED POTATOES.
Man: HE'S DONE.
WE'RE GONNA NEED
SOME ASSISTANCE FROM JACK.
WE COULDN'T GET FROM
POINT "A" TO POINT "B."
BRING IT TOWARDS ME
A LITTLE. GOOD.
Man: GOT TO TURN NOW, ANDY.
YOU GOT TO GET TURNED.
Narrator: EVEN WITH JACK'S HELP,
THEY STRUGGLE
TO DRAG THEIR 23-TON TROMMEL
UP THE HILL.
AND THE TOP-HEAVY WASH PLANT
STARTS TO FALL.
-JACK!
-WATCH IT!
[ BRANCHES SNAPPING ]
STOP!
STOP! STOP! STOP!
DAD, GET THAT FRICKIN' BUCKET
UP THERE!
HOLD THAT THING -- NOW!
**
EASY, ANDY.
**
YOU GOT TO STAY WITH IT.
WE GOT IT.
-WHOO!
-YEAH! YEAH!
-YEAH, TODD!
I WAS SO PROUD OF MY GUYS
THAT WE EVEN GOT IT IN THERE.
YOU FINALLY GET IT UP THERE,
AND THEN YOU REALIZE YOU CAN'T
REALLY MINE IN THAT KIND OF MUD.
IT DOESN'T WORK.
I'M SEEING NO GOLD.
THIS IS IT.
NADA. NOTHING.
Dave: AH, THAT'S THE WORLD'S
WORST CLEANUP, I THINK,
IN GOLD-MINING HISTORY.
Narrator: WITH NO GOLD,
TODD RETHINKS
HIS JUNGLE-MINING STRATEGY.
Todd:
I WENT TO MINE GOLD,
BUT I KNEW THAT THE POTENTIAL
WAS HUGE FOR DIAMONDS.
TODD, SEE THAT?
Todd: YEAH.
THAT'S A DIAMOND.
YOU ARE
FREAKING KIDDING ME.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN SAY
THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN
THEIR OWN DIAMONDS
RIGHT OUT OF THE JUNGLE.
GUYS, OUR LUCK JUST
FRICKIN' CHANGED, RIGHT HERE.
WE'RE ALL GIDDY AND HAPPY.
WE GOT DIAMONDS.
THAT IS AWESOME.
I KNEW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
ABOUT MINING DIAMONDS.
Narrator: TODD BUYS A NEW
DIAMOND-CATCHING WASH PLANT --
A LAVADOR.
AFTER A MONTH
OF MINING DIAMONDS,
THERE IS JUST ONE PROBLEM.
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
WHEN YOU DON'T GET DIAMONDS
OR GOLD, YOU KNOW,
YOU GOT TO CUT YOUR LOSSES.
ALL DONE. OH!
**
YOU ARE FREAKING KIDDING ME!
A LOT OF PEOPLE
THINK THAT I HAD AN ACCIDENT.
ACCORDING TO MY DAD,
HE SLIPPED ON THE CONTROLS.
I HAVEN'T TOLD
ANYBODY THIS BEFORE,
BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU
RIGHT NOW.
I DECIDED I'M GOING
TO DESTROY THIS THING.
I GUESS YOU'D CALL IT
A MERCY KILLING.
HE SMASHED THE ABSOLUTE CRAP
OUT OF THAT THING.
THAT SUCKER WAS GOING DOWN,
AND IT WAS GOING DOWN BIG-TIME.
**
IF I COULD HAVE RAN OVER IT
AT THE SAME TIME,
I WOULD HAVE.
YOU KNOW, I HATED THAT THING.
I JUST WANTED TO
PUT AN END TO IT.
Todd: I MEAN, THAT PRETTY WELL
ENDED THE SEASON.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
STICK A FORK IN US
AT THAT POINT.
**
GUYANA'S ONE
OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL,
BUT UNFORGIVING
PLACES IN THE WORLD.
EVERYBODY I KNOW THAT'S COME
DOWN HERE HASN'T DONE WELL.
ANYTHING I MADE LAST YEAR,
I LOST RIGHT DOWN HERE.
**
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE UP.
**
**
THE FATHER-SON DYNAMIC
IS THE AGE-OLD MYSTERY.
**
Narrator:
THE HOFFMAN FAMILY
HAS BEEN GOLD MINING
TOGETHER FOR EIGHT YEARS.
Todd: TO GO GOLD MINING
AS A FAMILY IS PRETTY AWESOME.
THIS IS
A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE.
WORKING WITH MY FAMILY,
IT CAN BE REALLY GOOD,
OR IT CAN BE REALLY BAD.
Jack: GOING ON A TREASURE HUNT
WITH YOUR SON,
I CONSIDER IT WORK.
**
Todd:
MY DAD'S NOT A PLANNER.
HE'S UP THERE, HE'S PIVOTING,
HE'S DOING 360 OVER THERE.
YOU CAN'T JUST GET ON THERE
'CAUSE IT'S FUN TO DRIVE IT.
I'M NOT PUTTING UP WITH IT.
THERE'S TIMES WHERE WE
JUST FRUSTRATE THE CRAP
OUT OF EACH OTHER.
**
PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE DONE.
THERE'S A BIG, SOFT HOLE THERE,
AND YOU'RE BACK-DRAGGING IT,
MAKING IT NICE AND PRETTY.
GREAT.
PUSH SOME OF THAT [BLEEP]
ROCK INTO THE FREAKIN' HOLE.
THEN GET THE FRICK
OUT OF HERE.
YOU KNOW, I'LL SHOVE ROCK
OVER THERE.
GREG'S COMING OVER,
AND THEN YOU GET OFF.
THAT IS A FROZEN HOLE.
NO SHOOT, SHERLOCK!
AND YOU'RE IN THERE
PIVOTING ON IT!
GO AHEAD.
I DON'T GIVE A CRAP.
HE'LL SCREW IT UP.
I LOVE YOU, DAD.
I JUST -- YOU'RE DONE.
HE THOUGHT
I SHOULD DO SOMETHING ONE WAY,
AND I THOUGHT
I SHOULD DO IT ANOTHER WAY,
AND I WASN'T GONNA BE TOLD.
**
Narrator:
WITHOUT WARNING, JACK LOADS UP
AND SPEEDS OFF THE CLAIM.
I'M NOT THE KIND OF PERSON
THAT YOU PUSH AROUND, YOU KNOW.
I WILL NOT HAVE DISRESPECT.
YOU KNOW?
Todd:
MY DAD ALMOST QUIT.
BUT I MADE
A SERIOUS MISTAKE THERE.
I CHOSE TO CHEW MY DAD OUT
OVER SOMETHING
THAT, IN THE LONG RUN,
IT AIN'T GONNA MATTER.
I JUST WANTED TO APOLOGIZE.
I WAS A LITTLE OUT OF LINE
YESTERDAY
AND DISRESPECTED YOU,
AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO.
I JUST --
I JUST WANT TO GET --
I JUST WANT THIS DONE RIGHT.
AND I'VE SEEN
THIS HAPPEN IN FAMILIES,
WHERE THE DAD JUST CAN'T LET GO.
AND IT CAUSES A RIFF
BETWEEN THE FAMILY,
AND THEY NEVER COME BACK.
HERE'S THE WAY
I LOOK AT IT.
IF IT TURNS
INTO AN ARGUMENT,
I'M JUST GONNA WALK AWAY
'CAUSE I JUST DON'T WANT THAT.
Todd: IF JACK HAD LEFT,
WE WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN DONE.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER.
I WOULD HAVE WENT HOME.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES MY DAD AND
GRANDPA WORK TOGETHER GREAT,
AND SOMETIMES, IT'S KIND OF HOW
ME AND MY DAD WORK TOGETHER,
SO...NOT GREAT.
Narrator:
JACK AND TODD WEREN'T
THE ONLY FATHER-SON PAIR
ON THE MINE SITE.
SINCE THE AGE OF 10,
HUNTER HOFFMAN
HAS SPENT EVERY SUMMER
LIVING AND WORKING WITH HIS DAD.
Todd: FOR HUNTER IN THOSE EARLY
YEARS, IT'S JUST A CAMPING TRIP.
MORE LIKE AN ADVENTURE.
IT WAS REALLY FUN FOR ME.
THE FIRST SEASON WAS
THE BEST SUMMER I'VE EVER HAD.
YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH
HUNTER WAS OUT CAMPING,
RUNNING AROUND, SHOOTING
STUFF WITH HIS BB GUN,
HE WAS WATCHING.
SOME OF THIS, YOU KNOW,
WHAT WAS GOING ON,
WAS OBVIOUSLY
RUBBING OFF ON HIM.
WHEN I PANNED THAT FIRST GOLD,
I DEFINITELY HAD GOLD FEVER.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED.
SEE THAT?
THAT'S A PIECE OF GOLD.
I WASN'T A HUGE PART OF THE
MINING THE FIRST FEW SEASONS.
FIRE ME UP, BUDDY.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
OKAY, THERE WE GO.
BUT THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO DO,
YOU KNOW.
I WANTED TO BE ON THE CREW.
UH, HUNTER, HUNTER.
YOU GOT A COPY?
Narrator: AT THE AGE OF 16,
HUNTER IS FINALLY LEGAL
TO OPERATE EQUIPMENT.
Hunter: WE HAD A TRUCK
STUCK IN THE ROAD,
SO MY DAD SENT ME
TO GO GRAB A LOADER,
AND I CAME IN
AND BACK-DRAGGED THE ROAD,
SMOOTHED IT OUT.
KEEP YOUR WHEELS LIKE THAT.
DON'T GET IN THE MIDDLE.
**
NO, NOT TOO MUCH!
WHOA!
STOP.
YOU DRAGGED TIRES
ON THAT [BLEEP] ROAD.
QUIT PUTTIN' THEM
IN THE MIDDLE.
LOOK WHAT YOU DID.
I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE,
AND I HAD TO CROSS THE ROAD
TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE.
I CAN'T JUMP THE LOADER.
YOU SET IT UP WRONG.
SO DON'T SAY THAT.
**
OKAY, RIGHT THERE.
STOP.
PUT YOUR BUCKET DOWN
AND BACK-DRAG THAT.
TIP IT UP A LITTLE MORE
AND THEN COME DOWN.
UNTIP IT.
[BLEEP]
DOWN.
COME DOWN.
OKAY! JUST BE QUIET!
I KNOW HOW TO BACK-DRAG.
**
I THINK MY DAD'S
BIGGEST WEAKNESS
IS PROBABLY COMMUNICATION.
HUNTER, PUT IT IN REVERSE,
KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BREAK.
ROLL THE BACK IN
A LITTLE BIT.
BOTH OF YOU GUYS ARE
SAYING TWO OPPOSITE THINGS,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I WOULDN'T LOOK AT YOUR
GRANDPA, I'D LOOK AT ME.
WORKING WITH HUNTER,
YOU KNOW HE THINKS HE KNOWS
A LITTLE BIT MORE
THAN HE REALLY DOES.
I GOT MY DAD YELLING IN MY EAR,
I GOT MY GRANDPA
YELLING ON THIS SIDE.
Todd: GO WITH HIM HUNTER.
THAT'S JUST THE STUFF
THAT'S SUPER FRUSTRATING
WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY
IN A STRESSFUL SITUATION.
IT SHOWED ME THAT HE'S
GOT SOME FIGHT IN HIM,
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
Narrator:
AFTER SEVEN SEASONS OF MINING,
18-YEAR-OLD HUNTER FINALLY
GETS TO RUN HIS OWN OPERATION
WITH MONSTER RED.
-OKAY, SO WE HAVE A DEAL?
-WE GOT A DEAL.
Hunter:
I JUST FELT LIKE I WAS READY
TO STEP UP AND TAKE CHARGE,
TRYING TO BECOME A MAN
AND GET RESPECT WITH
THE REST OF THE CREW.
IT'S HARD TO GIVE UP
CONTROL, IT'S NOT EASY.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BRING
YOUR STICK IN AND CURL OUT
OTHERWISE YOU'RE
GONNA HIT THE SCREEN.
IT WON'T FIT.
HEY, WATCH THIS,
NOT THIS.
I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU
YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIT,
YOU'RE GONNA HIT IT.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
DAD!
YOU'VE GOT
TO BE KIDDING ME!
YOU MIGHT BE GOOD
AT EATIN' BURGERS,
BUT YOU'RE NOT GOOD AT
PUTTIN' WASH PLANTS TOGETHER.
YOU'RE GONNA PUT ME IN CHARGE
OF THIS PLANT, WE MADE A DEAL,
AND YOU WEREN'T LISTENING TO
A SINGLE THING I SAID TODAY.
SHUT UP AND LET ME TALK.
OKAY?
YOU KNOW, IT'S KINDA
SIMILAR BETWEEN TODD AND I,
YOU KNOW, AND TODD HAS NOT
RELEASED THE REIGNS YET.
MY DAD WOULDN'T REALLY
LISTEN TO ME, YOU KNOW.
MY DECISIONS DIDN'T
REALLY COUNT.
I CAN'T WORK WITH MY DAD,
I CAN'T HAVE HIM HERE
MICROMANAGING
EVERYTHING I DO.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
BUT YOU CAN'T JUST WALK OFF,
THAT'S NOT THE WAY
THE HOFFMAN'S DO,
WE DON'T JUST RUN OFF.
MY GRANDPA'S BEEN AROUND,
HE HAS A LOT OF WISDOM
FOR ME TO GET FROM HIM.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
YOUR SON.
YOUR GRANDSON.
THIS YEAR I HAD TO
COME BACK TO MY DAD
FOR RELATIONSHIP ADVICE.
AND MY DAD IS THE GUY ON
THAT STUFF, HE SEES THINGS.
Jack:
GUYS, IF YOU WORK TOGETHER
WE WON'T HAVE THIS ARGUING AND
GARBAGE GOING ON DOWN HERE.
I NEED TO BACK OUT,
BACK AWAY FROM IT,
AND IF I SLOWED YOU DOWN
BY STUFF I DID,
THEN I NEED TO STOP DOING THAT
AND LET YOU RUN IT.
THEY HAD TO WORK IT OUT.
AND SO THEY DID.
FIRE IT UP!
Narrator: HUNTER REPAYS
HIS DAD'S CONFIDENCE IN HIM.
MONSTER RED DELIVERS ALMOST HALF
THE HOFFMAN'S GOLD THIS SEASON.
[ CHEERING ]
-WAY TO GO, BUDDY.
-GOOD JOB, HUNTER.
Jack: IT'S BEEN A BLESSING
TO HAVE MY FAMILY THERE.
IT'S MORE VALUABLE THAN GOLD.
HAVING YOU KNOW, THREE
GENERATIONS MINING TOGETHER
IS PRETTY COOL BECAUSE I FEEL
LIKE YOU DON'T SEE THAT A LOT.
Todd: HUNTER'S GONE FROM
A BOY TO A MAN.
IT'S BEEN FUN TO WATCH.
Hunter: I'VE LOVED WORKING
WITH MY DAD AND GRANDPA,
I WOULD NEVER GO
MINING WITHOUT THEM.
I DID LEARN WHERE THE
REAL GOLD WAS IN MINING,
AND THAT IS IN
THE RELATIONSHIPS.
-WORKS GOOD MAN.
-DOESN'T IT LOOK GOOD?
Narrator: FROM THE START,
TODD BUILT 316 MINING
AROUND FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
Todd:
WHEN IT WAS JUST A SMALL CREW,
A BUNCH OF KNUCKLEHEADS
TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
Man #1: LOOK OUT!
WHOA!
BUT GOLD MINING, IT'S NOT EASY,
IT'S TOUGH.
GET OUT OF MY WAY.
-GO AHEAD.
-YOU WANT THIS UP YOUR [BLEEP]?
THAT FIRST SEASON WE WEREN'T
FINDING A LOT OF GOLD.
TENSION'S RUNNING HIGH.
YOU'RE SITTIN' THERE
BEATING IN THE THREADS.
-DON'T ARGUE WITH ME!
-HEY!
IF YOU AREN'T
FINDING ANY GOLD,
STRESS LEVELS
GO UP TREMENDOUSLY.
'CAUSE I'VE BEEN
HERE FOR THREE MONTHS
WITHOUT ANY [BLEEP] MONEY.
Todd: YOU HAVE FIGHTS,
YOU HAVE SOME MUTINIES.
YOU AND I,
YOU WANT TO DO IT?
WE'LL [BLEEP] DO IT
AND THEN YOU'LL LEARN
TO SHUT
YOUR [BLEEP] MOUTH.
YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF
TREACHERY HERE AND THERE,
ALONG THE WAY, BUT THAT'S IN
THE NATURE OF GOLD MINING.
Narrator:
IN THEIR THIRD YEAR OF MINING,
TODD INSPIRES HIS
DYSFUNCTIONAL CREW
BY SETTING A MASSIVE
MILLION DOLLAR TARGET.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I
THREW A GOAL OUT THERE, RIGHT,
YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW
IT'S BIG, BIG GOAL.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU GUYS
TO GO AFTER A BEAR
WITH A BB GUN THIS YEAR.
Narrator:
TODD'S PLAN SPLIT THE CREW
ACROSS TWO WASH PLANTS.
DAVE, MYSELF, GREG, AND
CHRIS WERE RUNNIN' BIG RED.
Dave: THERE'S A LOT OF
PRESSURE PUT ON US
BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONLY
ONES THAT ARE SOLIDLY
AND CONSISTENTLY
PRODUCING GOLD RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN TODD BROUGHT
ANOTHER PLANT IN
THAT DIDN'T WORK
OUT REALLY WELL.
I CANNOT SPEND ONE MORE DAY
WORKING ON THIS, I'M DONE.
IT JUST WAS LIKE,
KIND OF A MAKE OR BREAK
MOMENT RIGHT THERE.
Narrator:
UNABLE TO RUN TWO WASH PLANTS,
TODD'S ONLY OPTION: DOUBLE DOWN,
AND RUN NIGHT SHIFTS.
Todd: I MADE A DECISION
TO JOIN THE TEAMS.
WE NEEDED TO HELP EACH OTHER,
WE NEEDED TO ALL
GROUP AROUND BIG RED.
QUARTZ CREEK GUYS,
WE'RE THE NIGHT SHIFT.
BOTH CREWS ENDED UP ON BIG RED.
THE MONEY'S GONNA BE MADE
HERE AT NIGHT WITH THESE GUYS.
TODD WAS RUNNIN' THE NIGHT
SHIFT IN HIS BIG RED PAJAMAS.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE NIGHT
SHIFT STAYS ON THE NIGHT SHIFT.
[ CRASH ]
NO, NO, NO!
WHAT'S GOING ON?
I THINK WE NEED TO SLOW
THE FEED DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE IN THE BEST
DIRT WE'VE EVER HAD.
WE BREAK THE WASH PLANT,
WE BREAK THE WASH PLANT.
TIME IS MONEY, WE GOT TO GET
ROLLING AGAIN, LET'S GO.
THIS IS GONNA BE
EXCITING IN THE MORNIN'.
Narrator:
TODD'S DECISION TO KEEP SLUICING
THROUGH THE NIGHT PAYS OFF.
THIS IS OUT OF THE BOTTOM BATCH.
WITH THE DAY SHIFT WE'RE
GETTIN' 50 OUNCES A WEEK.
BUT THEN THE NIGHT SHIFT
CAME ON AND IT DOUBLED IT.
GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB.
WE BECAME A TEAM
AT THAT TIME.
YOU GUYS SHOULD BE
PROUD OF YOURSELVES.
WE WENT FROM KNUCKLEHEADS
TO THE GUYS GETTIN'
QUITE A BIT OF GOLD.
Jack: 803.
[ CHEERING ]
GUYS IT'S 1.2 MILLION IN GOLD.
THAT WAS OUR FIRST
MILLION DOLLAR SEASON.
IT KINDA PULLED
THE GUYS TOGETHER.
THEY REALIZED THEN
THAT WE COULD DO IT.
I THINK THAT YEAR WAS THE
YEAR THAT WE KIND JUST BECAME
A BAND OF BROTHERS, REALLY
KINDA LEARNED HOW TO DO THIS.
AND THEY CAME OUT OF IT
WITH A HELL OF A NICE
PAIR OF OVERALLS.
Narrator: WHEN THE HOFFMANS
RETURN TO THE KLONDIKE
FOR THEIR SIXTH SEASON.
ANDY, WELCOME BUDDY.
YEAH, YEAH.
THE BAND OF BROTHERS SETS
THEIR SITES EVEN HIGHER.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST
WE'VE EVER BEEN OUT HERE.
IT'S GONNA BE THE
BEST YEAR EVER.
Fred: THE EQUIPMENT, THE CREWS.
YEAH!
EVERYTHING CAME TOGETHER,
THE STARS LINED UP.
WE NEED THE BIGGEST
CUT WE'VE EVER SEEN.
THIS IS OUR ONE CHANCE.
LET'S MAKE A SUPERCUT.
TODD LAID OUT WHAT HE
CALLED HIS SUPERCUT,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY GOT IT STRIPPED,
THEY GOT IT THAWED,
AND THEY GOT IT SLUICED.
ROCK AND ROLL.
IT PROVED THAT THE
HOFFMAN CREW COULD
GET THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW.
Todd: YOU TURNED A LOT OF BOYS
INTO MEN THAT SUMMER.
IT PUT HAIR
ON THEIR CHEST FOR SURE.
Man #2: HOLY, MAN.
WE GOT 3,032.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
THEY WERE PROUD OF THEMSELVES.
[ CHEERING ]
Hunter: THAT WAS KIND
OF THE FEELING WE'D BEEN CHASING
I THINK, EVERY SEASON.
THE KIND OF FIRST TIME
WE FELT SUPER VICTORIOUS.
Todd: WE'VE GOTTEN MORE GOLD
THIS SEASON THAN ALL OF OUR
OTHER SEASONS COMBINED.
WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT, HUH.
SOMETIMES TODD'S BIG
DREAMS COME TRUE.
COME ON BRING IT IN
MAN, LET'S GIVE THANKS.
I GAVE OUT A HELL
OF A LOT OF GOLD.
SOME GUYS GOT
$50,000, $60,000 BONUSES.
Jack: HEAVENLY FATHER,
WE JUST TRULY THANK YOU
FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES, IT'S
IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
All: AMEN.
IT KIND OF PULLS
THE GUYS TOGETHER.
AND ONCE THEY GO THROUGH THAT
TOGETHER, THEY ARE BROTHERS.
Fred: SEASON ONE THEY DID
$17,000 WORTH OF GOLD.
SEASON FIVE AND SIX,
$5 MILLION WORTH OF GOLD.
MAYBE WE SHOULDA STOPPED THERE.
SEASON SEVEN SEES
THE HOFFMANS LEAVE
THE LUCRATIVE KLONDIKE FOR
THE GOLD FIELDS OF OREGON.
I LEFT THE KLONDIKE BECAUSE
I FELT LIKE I'D DONE
EVERYTHING I WANTED
TO DO UP THERE.
I WANT TO SEE IF IT'S POSSIBLE
TO TRY TO MAKE IT IN THE U.S.
I GET IT, TODD
WANTS TO COME HOME.
BUT THERE'S NO GUARANTEES.
IT TURNED INTO
NOT BEING SO GOOD.
Jack: NOTHIN'?
OREGON WAS, CALL IT A BUST.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
THAT WAS A REAL LOW POINT.
IT'S TIME TO LOAD UP
AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE
WHEN THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TO
MAKE EVERYBODY A LIVING HERE.
WHEN THINGS WENT BAD IN OREGON,
EVERYBODY WAS HURTING.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS,
I'M DONE.
Dave: I'LL BE HONEST WITH YA,
WE'VE LOST THIS TEAM.
AND WITHOUT THIS
TEAM WE CAN'T DO IT.
LUCKILY WE BAILED OUT BY FREDDY
AND OFF TO COLORADO WE WENT.
WE'RE IN THE LAST CHANCE
SALOON ON THIS ONE.
I WENT THERE AND PROSPECTED
AND CAME OUT WITH GOOD RESULTS.
I'M SEEIN' GOLD BOYS.
IT GIVES US HOPE FREDDY,
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE A HELL
OF A FRIEND, MAN.
DITTO.
Narrator: BUT IT'S TOO LITTLE
TOO LATE TO SAVE
THEIR SEASON FROM DISASTER.
JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT,
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH GOLD.
IT JUST PUTS MORE
PRESSURE ON EVERYBODY
AND IT MAKES EVERYBODY
HAVE SHORT TEMPERS.
IT WAS KIND OF TOWARDS
THE END OF THE SEASON.
WE WERE JUST TRYING
TO CLOSE OUT STRONG.
LET GO OF ME NOW!
I'M GONNA [BLEEP] KILL HIM!
-TELL HIM RIGHT NOW.
-NO, YOU WON'T.
-GET THE [BLEEP]
-DAVE!
-NO, NO, NO, NO.
-[BLEEP]
TREY!
YOU DON'T THINK THAT YOU'RE
GONNA HAVE SITUATIONS
WHERE TWO GUYS ALMOST
KILL EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW.
IT TAKES A WHOLE CREW DOWN
WHEN THAT KIND OF STUFF GOES ON.
[BLEEP] CHICKEN [BLEEP]
TREY!
THAT SHOOK OUR FOUNDATION
AS A BAND OF BROTHERS,
I'LL TELL YA THAT RIGHT NOW.
IT JUST KIND OF RUINED
THE WHOLE SEASON
TO END IT LIKE THAT
YOU KNOW.
-JUST TAKE ME HOME.
-I'LL TAKE YA.
JUST PACK MY [BLEEP] UP
AND GO.
I'M DONE.
Todd:
IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GAME OVER.
YOU WANT TO LIVE A WEIRD LIFE,
YOU GET A CAMERA CREW
THAT FOLLOWS YOU AROUND
FOR EIGHT YEARS.
GET OUT OF MY WAY.
YOU KNOW THE RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE TV CREW
WASN'T THAT GREAT AT FIRST.
I ASK YOU A QUESTION
AND YOU JUST IGNORE ME.
I CAN SAY I'VE ONLY
PUNCHED ONE GUY.
[ LAUGHING ]
BUT PROBABLY THE WORST TIME
I'VE EVER HAD
WAS WHEN MY DAUGHTER OLIVIA
HAD A SEIZURE.
THE CAMERA CREW
SWUNG INTO ACTION.
WE ARE ON THE ROAD.
WE GOT HER TO THE HOSPITAL.
-DADDY.
-HOW YA FEELIN'?
WE ALL WORKED TOGETHER
AND MY DAUGHTER WAS SAVED.
AND NOW I GUESS THE CAMERA GUYS
I'LL BE FRIENDS WITH FOREVER.
EVERYTHING COMES
TO AN END, RIGHT.
Narrator: IN THEIR
FINAL YEAR MINING,
TODD THROWS OUT ANOTHER
MASSIVELY AMBITIOUS CHALLENGE.
I BELIEVE WE CAN GET 5,000
OUNCES IN ONE SEASON.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
COME HOME AND TELL YOUR FAMILY
AND FRIENDS YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT?
WE CAN'T FAIL AGAIN.
Narrator:
THEN THE HOFFMANS' PROBLEMS
GO FROM BAD TO WORSE.
YOU ARE HEREBY ORDERED
TO CEASE AND DESIST
ALL MINING IMMEDIATELY.
THE BEST GROUND EVER
AND WE GOT SHUT DOWN.
Narrator: AND THE REST OF THEIR
GROUND DOESN'T PAY OUT
LIKE THEY HOPED.
WE SHOULDA HAD A HELL OF
A LOT MORE GOLD THAN THAT.
THIS ISN'T GONNA PAY
ANY BILLS.
IT'S NOT THE EQUIPMENT,
IT'S NOT THE GUYS.
I THINK IT'S THE GROUND.
Narrator:
BY THE END OF THE SEASON,
THE HOFFMAN CREW LOSES
THE WILL TO CONTINUE.
WE'RE BROKEN BY THIS SEASON.
WE FAILED.
I JUST DON'T THINK
IT'S WORTH IT ANY MORE.
ANOTHER SEASON OF
A LOT OF WORK AND
NOT A LOT OF GOLD.
IF YOU'RE JUST BREAKING
EVEN, IS IT WORTH IT ANYMORE?
Man #3: YOU KNOW I CAME UP HERE
TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY
AND THE THOUGHT OF ME
NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE
FOR 'EM THIS SEASON,
I CAN'T HAVE THAT.
DO WE KEEP GOIN'?
WE'RE NOT TAKING' HOME THE GOLD
THAT WE WANTED TO TAKE HOME.
IT'S TIME.
-YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
Todd: THIS IS IT THEN, HUH?
ECONOMICALLY THERE'S
A TIME WHEN YOU NEED TO
SHIFT GEARS,
MAYBE DO SOMETHING ELSE.
I'M NOT MINING ANYMORE.
Narrator: OVER THEIR EIGHT
YEAR MINING CAREER...
NO GUTS, NO GLORY.
...IN THREE COUNTRIES...
WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS
ANYMORE BRIAN.
LET'S RUN SOME DIRT.
...THROUGH A DOZEN
WASH PLANTS...
[ GRUNTS ]
...THE HOFFMANS
SEARCHED FOR GOLD...
WE JUST WENT FOR IT,
WE'RE LEARNING.
AMERICAN LEARNED WITH US.
...AND EVOLVED FROM A BUNCH
OF DESPERATE ROOKIES...
14.64.
...INTO A CREW OF WORLD
FAMOUS MILLIONAIRE MINERS.
803.
1,000.
1,644.
3,032, OUR BEST SEASON EVER.
I'VE ALWAYS SAID,
YOU'RE ALL MILLIONAIRES,
YOU JUST HAVE TO GET IT
OUT OF THE GROUND.
BUT WE DID MINE OVER
THE 8,000 OUNCES
ALMOST $10 MILLION
WORTH OF GOLD.
AND THAT'S NOT BAD FOR A BUNCH
OF ROOKIES FROM THE CITY.
THEY'VE GIVEN LOTS
OF PEOPLE JOBS.
THEY'VE GIVEN LOTS
OF PEOPLE HOPE.
Todd: THURBER SAVED HIS HOUSE.
Jack: ANDY'S GOT A LITTLE RANCH,
AND INTO RAISIN' CATTLE.
LOGAN NOW OWNS A DUPLEX,
HE'S SELLIN' REAL ESTATE.
KEVIN NOT ONLY IS BETTER
FINANCIALLY BUT ALSO ABLE
TO SAVE HIS MARRIAGE.
I WANT FREDDY TO KEEP
MINING, FAIR PLAYIN'.
AND GET THAT GOLD
THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED
TO GET OUT THIS SUMMER.
MY DAD, A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T LIKE HIM BUT
THE REAL TODD HOFFMAN,
HE CARES MORE ABOUT
OUR TEAM AND THE CREW
BEFORE EVERYTHING ELSE.
I LOOK UP TO HIM.
Narrator:
DESPITE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS,
THE HOFFMANS NOW FACE
A CRITICAL MOMENT OF TRUTH.
YOU KNOW, EIGHT YEARS AGO
I HAD A DREAM TO PUT GOLD
IN MY POCKETS AND HELP
MY GUYS OUT AND MY FAMILY.
I'VE ACCOMPLISHED THAT DREAM.
AND NOW IT'S TIME
TO CHASE ANOTHER DREAM.
I'VE LEARNED A TON ABOUT HOW
TO DO THINGS IN TELEVISION
AND I WANT TO FOCUS ON MY
TELEVISION PRODUCTION COMPANY
AND I WANT TO FOCUS ON SINGING.
I PUT A BUNCH OF SONGS
OUT ON THE INTERNET,
AND I'M ACTUALLY STARTING TO GET
SOME REALLY SERIOUS OFFERS.
LAUGH IF YOU WANT, BUT
YOU MIGHT HAVE ME SINGING
ON YOUR RADIO SOMETIMES
SOON, WHO KNOWS.
STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.
I WANT TO BREAK IT BIG,
I WANT TO HIT ONE
OUT OF THE PARK.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
GONNA TRY TO DO.
Fred: TODD IS A DREAMER.
HE SETS GOALS
THAT ARE WAY TOO BIG SOMETIMES
BUT THAT'S
WHAT DREAMERS DO.
I LIKE WORKING WITH MY FAMILY,
AND IF IT'S GOLD MINING
OR IF WE'RE MAKING TV SHOWS
OR WHATEVER I'M GONNA PROBABLY
JUST BE RIGHT THERE
WORKIN' WITH MY DAD.
MY DAD, I THINK HE'S GONNA
MISS MINING, AND I THINK THAT
SOME DAY HE'LL BE RUNNIN'
HIS CLEAN UP EQUIPMENT AGAIN.
YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT.
NOPE.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT
OUR ADVENTURE AS A WHOLE,
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE AMERICAN
DREAM IS STILL ALIVE.
IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY,
IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'D CHANGE
ANYTHING, I REALLY WOULDN'T.
I DON'T THINK
I'D CHANGE A THING.
GOOD JOB, DAD.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'VE HAD.
**
Narrator: UP AHEAD.
Parker:
WE'VE CONQUERED THE YUKON.
NOW IT'S TIME TO GO
CONQUER THE JUNGLE.
Narrator: ON A SPECIAL EDITION
OF "GOLD RUSH: PARKER'S TRAIL."
YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE
YOUR [BLEEP] TIME?
PARKER IS HARD
TO DEAL WITH, MAN.
HAINES, ALASKA TO GEORGETOWN,
GUYANA IS A LONG TRIP.
Narrator:
ANOTHER KEY GOLD RUSH MINER...
I GOT SOME THINGS I GOT
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
...DROPS A BOMBSHELL.
I'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY
AND I'M GONNA TAKE IT.
[ DRAMATIC MUSIC ]
GEEZ.
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.