Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 8, Episode 7 - Inferno - full transcript
As forest fires tear through the Klondike threatening to end Parker's season, his crew begins to desert. As Todd runs three wash-plants for the first time, his mechanic Juan is pushed to ...
WE'RE RIGHT IN
THE DANGER ZONE HERE.
Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
OBVIOUSLY, THIS FIRE
IS PRETTY DAMN CLOSE,
AND I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE,
BUT I WOULDN'T BLAME ANY OF YOU
IF YOU WANT TO GO.
**
Christie: NO.
**
JUST ABOUT STRAIGHT-UP
GETTING THE MOST GOLD.
Poulson: HEY, HEY, HEY!
JUAN, STOP!
I GOT EQUIPMENT
BROKEN DOWN EVERYWHERE.
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ]
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
**
**
[ THUNDER ROLLING ]
**
WELL, TODAY
IS A PRETTY BIG DAY.
WE'RE FINISHING OFF THE CREEK
CUT THAT'S GIVEN US OVER
400 OUNCES,
WHICH IS REALLY GOOD.
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,
PARKER SCHNABEL
IS RUNNING THE LAST
OF THE STOCKPILED PAY DIRT
FROM HIS CREEK CUT.
WE'RE JUST ABOUT DONE WITH IT
NOW, AND IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON.
Narrator: IN TOTAL, THE CUT
HAS DELIVERED PARKER
NEARLY 2,000 OUNCES
OF GOLD WORTH $2.3 MILLION.
Parker: I'VE GOT HIGH HOPES
FOR OUR NEXT CUT.
HOPEFULLY, TODAY, WE CAN GET
THE REST OF THIS PAY RAN.
WE'VE GOT 1,100 OUNCES
SO FAR, WHICH IS GOOD.
IT'S A LOT OF GOLD, BUT IT'S NOT
NEARLY WHERE WE NEED TO BE
IF WE'RE GOING TO GET
5,000 OUNCES THIS YEAR.
SOON AS WE GET DONE
SLUICING HERE,
WE CAN JUST START BREAKING
EVERYTHING DOWN,
GETTING IT MOVED.
LET'S GO!
Narrator: THE NEXT STEP IS TO
MOVE THEIR $500,000 WASH PLANT,
SLUICIFER, TO THE NEW CUT.
FIRST, WE'VE GOT TO JUST
MAKE SURE WE GOT
ALL THE PAY
OUT OF THIS CUT
AND MAKE SURE WE DON'T
LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND.
LET'S JUST GET THIS DONE
WITH AND GET MOVED.
**
HEY, GUYS, CAN YOU
COME OVER HERE?
**
THAT'S BEDROCK RIGHT THERE.
WHAT'S PARKER
DOING OVER THERE?
Rick: I DON'T KNOW.
I GUESS HE THINKS
WE MISSED SOME PAY.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'LL JUST PARK
THIS HAULER OUT OF YOUR WAY,
AND I'LL GO SEE WHAT HE
WANTS ME TO DO AND [ BLEEP ].
**
YOU KNOW, BUT THIS
IS DEFINITELY PAY.
I DIDN'T THINK IT'D BE
COMING IN THIS FAR,
BUT WE OBVIOUSLY MISSED
THAT EDGE, HUH?
THIS IS THE BEST SIDE
OF THE CUT EVEN THOUGH
THAT'S A LOT OF DIRT
TO MOVE, HUH?
Ruault: THAT'S, LIKE,
40 FEET OVERBURDEN.
IT'S DEFINITELY
WORTH CHASING.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE NEVER HAD
THIS PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE
BUT, WHATEVER.
PARKER HAS MINED OUT
THE CREEK CUT,
AN AREA LARGER
THAN SIX FOOTBALL FIELDS.
HE'S ALSO STARTED TO STRIP
THE OVERBURDEN IN THE NEXT CUT.
BUT ON THE SIDE OF THE OLD CUT,
HE'S IDENTIFIED A CRUCIAL STRIP
OF GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT
BURIED BENEATH THE OVERBURDEN.
IT WILL TAKE DAYS TO CLEAR
THE 40 FEET OF WORTHLESS DIRT
TO GET DOWN TO THE GOLD.
IF WE CAN GET A FEW
THOUSAND YARDS OF THIS,
I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED
IF WE CAN GET AN EXTRA
50 OR 100 OUNCES
OUT OF THIS SIDE.
IT'S WORTH CHASING.
THAT'S FOR DAMN SURE.
CLEARING THE OVERBURDEN
WILL COST PARKER $15,000 A DAY.
Ruault: MITCHELL!
Poulson: WHAT'S UP, MAN?
WE HAVE TO PUT THE PLANT
MOVE ON HOLD.
WHY IS THAT?
WELL, PARKER WANTS
TO [ BLEEP ] GO DIG
40 FEET INTO A BANK
THAT'S PROBABLY BEEN ALREADY
MINED, AND NOW FOR WHAT?
WE'LL WASTE ALL OUR TIME ON THE
PLANT MOVE, FUEL, WAGES WITHOUT
[ BLEEP ] EVEN KNOWING IF
THERE'S
AN OUNCE UNDER THERE.
DUDE, YOU GOT
TO BE KIDDING ME.
I KNOW THERE'S BETTER THINGS
WE COULD BE DOING,
BUT THIS IS PARKER'S DECISION,
SO LET'S JUST GET IT DONE.
IS THERE SOMETHING
BURNING OVER THERE?
YEAH, FOREST FIRE, YEP.
LIGHTNING OR...
PROBABLY FROM
THE LIGHTNING, YEAH.
THAT WIND KEEPS BLOWING AT US.
[ BLEEP ], THAT FIRE IS GOING
TO MOVE FAST.
[ CRACKLING ]
**
Todd: THIS IS GOING TO BE THE
BIGGEST MINING OPERATION
WE'VE EVER TAKEN ON!
Narrator:
IN COLORADO, TODD HOFFMAN
HAS REALIZED HIS DREAM
OF RUNNING THREE WASH PLANTS.
WE'RE GOING FOR 5,000 OUNCES.
WE'RE ALREADY WAY BEHIND.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO
GET THERE IS THREE PLANTS.
ALL RIGHT.
TROMMEL LINE COMING ON.
FEEDER ON.
ALL RIGHT, TODD.
WE'RE RUNNING.
FEED IT.
Narrator: SO FAR, RUNNING JUST
DOUBLE TROUBLE AND MONSTER RED,
TODD HAS ONLY PRODUCED
625 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH JUST $750,000.
STARTING UP THE PLANT.
FEEDER COMING ON.
HE NEEDS DOUBLE THAT
TO CATCH UP WITH PARKER.
Hunter: WE'RE GOING TO RUN AS
MANY YARDS AS WE CAN TODAY,
AND HOPEFULLY, WHEN WE SHUT
DOWN, THE BOX LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
Narrator: BY THIS STAGE
IN THE SEASON,
HE SHOULD HAVE WELL
OVER 1,500 OUNCES.
LAST WEEK, FREDDY FINALLY
FIRED UP RUSTY RED
AND STARTED MINING THE
GOLD-RICH GROUND AT FAIRPLAY.
Dodge: WE'RE STARTING
OUR FIRST FULL WEEK
OF RUNNING HERE AT FAIRPLAY.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, KEVIN.
WE HAD SOME PROBLEMS
WITH FAIRPLAY,
BUT WE'RE BACK IN ACTION.
**
RUNNING 800 YARDS
AN HOUR FEELS UNBELIEVABLE.
Narrator:
IF TODD CAN KEEP HIS THREE
WASH PLANTS RUNNING NONSTOP,
HIS 5,000-OUNCE GOAL
IS STILL WITHIN REACH.
Todd:
WE'RE STRETCHED SUPER THIN.
WE'VE GOT EVERY SINGLE PIECE
OF EQUIPMENT IN ACTION,
BURNING A LOT OF FUEL,
BUT WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF GOLD.
THE PERSON I WORRY
ABOUT, THOUGH, IS JUAN.
Narrator:
IT'S UP TO MECHANIC JUAN IBARRA
TO MAINTAIN ALL
THREE WASH PLANTS.
Ibarra: RIGHT NOW, THE PLANT
IS RUNNING GREAT.
YOU KNOW, MONSTER RED MOVES
A LOT OF MATERIAL,
BUT WE MOVE A LOT OF MATERIAL,
AND WE RARELY BREAK DOWN.
**
Todd: GOT A PROBLEM.
JUAN, WE GOT
A BIG PROBLEM THERE.
GOT A JAM-UP.
MUST BE A ROCK IN THERE QUICK.
Ibarra:
THAT CHUTE IS OVERFLOWING.
**
**
**
IT'S OKAY, TODD.
I GOT IT LOOSE.
JUST A ROCK GOT JAMMED
HERE IN THE HOPPER.
THAT LOOKED BAD.
YOU OKAY?
I GOT IT BROKE LOOSE.
SHE'S DOING FINE NOW.
JUST A ROCK GOT CAUGHT IN THERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT
COULD'VE BEEN BAD.
LUCKILY, WE WERE ABLE TO BREAK
IT LOOSE AND KEEP ON RUNNING.
WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO SHUT
THE PLANT DOWN.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE GOT TO DO
ALL WE CAN DO KEEP THIS RUNNING.
WE CAN'T HAVE
BREAKDOWNS RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: A MILE DOWN THE ROAD
AT FAIRPLAY MINE,
FREDDY IS PUSHING
200 YARDS AN HOUR
OF GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT
THROUGH RUSTY RED.
Dodge: FAIRPLAY IS THE KEY
FOR 5,000 OUNCES THIS YEAR.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
WE GOT THE BEST GOLD HERE.
[ BANG ]
[ BLEEP ]
[ MACHINERY KNOCKING ]
KEVIN, SHUT THE PUMP OFF.
SHUT THE WATER OFF NOW.
SOMETHING IS BROKE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YET.
LOUD BANG, THOUGH.
HEY, JUAN, CAN YOU
GET OVER HERE ASAP?
WE JUST SNAPPED
A BEARING OVER ON
RUSTY RED ON THE CONVEYOR,
ON THE FEED CONVEYOR.
Ibarra:
I'm on my way.
A ROCK MUST'VE GOT IN THERE.
WE HAVE NO SHORTAGE
OF [ BLEEP ] ROCKS HERE.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
I'VE GOT ALL THIS
[ BLEEP ] ON HERE.
[ BLEEP ],
THAT'S ALL WE NEED.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
BEARING BLEW UP.
OH, MAN.
THE WHOLE TAIL PULLEY
IS BUSTED UP,
AND THE WHOLE BEARING
IS JUST LAYING HERE,
BROKEN ALL TO [ BLEEP ].
Dodge: YEAH, WE'RE DOWN
UNTIL WE GET THE BEARING.
OKAY.
WELL, I'LL HURRY UP,
SEE WHAT I CAN DO.
OKAY.
Juan to Todd,
Juan to Todd.
HEY, TODD, YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO BELIEVE THIS.
WE JUST BROKE DOWN
HERE AT FAIRPLAY.
DUDE, ARE
YOU KIDDING ME?
I'M GOING TO GET
SOME PARTS COMING.
I'M GOING TO FIX IT
AS QUICK AS I CAN, MAN.
I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I NEED YOU BACK HERE
AT DOUBLE TROUBLE REAL QUICK.
IF YOU CAN GET AWAY,
GET OVER HERE.
THANKS.
[ GROANS ]
[ PHONE RINGING ]
Hey, Dale.
Yeah?
It's Juan at Fairplay.
Uh-huh.
Hey, I need to get some bearings
for a tail pulley, the P212.
Okay.
I'll see what I can do.
Okay.
Can I have it in the morning?
Poulson: HEY, HEY, HEY!
JUAN, STOP!
[ BANG ]
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ] [ BLEEP ]
**
Poulson: HEY, HEY, HEY!
JUAN, STOP!
[ BANG ]
[ BLEEP ]
Narrator: IN COLORADO,
MECHANIC JUAN
IS HAVING A DAY FROM HELL.
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ] [ BLEEP ]
JUAN TORE HIS BUMPER OFF,
[ BLEEP ] THE FRONT
OF HIS TRUCK UP.
HIT A BIG ROCK.
UGH.
Narrator: JUAN'S 600-POUND
CHROME-AND-ALUMINUM FENDER
IS HANGING BY
A SINGLE MOUNT.
Ibarra: FUDGE!
THERE'S 20-GRAND WORTH OF DAMAGE
ON THAT [ BLEEP ] THING.
I'M GOING TO TRY
TO BACK UP, TREY.
ALL RIGHT.
EVERYBODY, GET BACK.
**
THAT WAS A HARD HIT,
TORE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
THAT'S ALL I NEED,
IS MORE [ BLEEP ] WORK.
I GOT THREE WASH PLANTS
AND A [ BLEEP ]
BROKEN TRUCK NOW.
I DON'T WANT TO TALK RIGHT NOW.
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.
**
**
Todd: HEY, HUNTER, EVERYTHING
IS ON US NOW.
WE'RE ALL-IN AT SACRAMENTO.
FAIRPLAY IS DOWN AGAIN.
Narrator: UNTIL THE FAIRPLAY
MINE COMES BACK ON TRACK,
THE PRESSURE IS
ON TODD AND HUNTER
TO KEEP THEIR PLANTS
PRODUCING GOLD.
Todd:
WE'RE GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS.
WE'RE RUNNING UP
9,000 YARDS AN HOUR.
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE ABOUT
5 YEARS AWAY FROM DIAPERS
AND ME PUTTING
YOU IN A HOME,
SO I APPRECIATE
THE EFFORT, SERIOUSLY.
Narrator:
OPERATOR LOGAN PIERCE MUST SEND
AT LEAST 12 TRUCKLOADS
OF PAY DIRT PER HOUR
TO KEEP EACH PLANT RUNNING.
Pierce: FEEDING BOTH PLANTS
OFF THE SAME LAYER.
THIS GROUND ISN'T THE BEST,
BUT WE'RE RUNNING
A [ BLEEP ] PILE OF DIRT,
SO THAT MAKES UP FOR IT.
**
[ BELT CREAKING ]
THIS IS, LIKE,
MAKING A WEIRD SMELL
LIKE WE'RE BURNING
A BELT UP,
SO I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED
TO SHUT DOWN OR NOT.
WELL, DO WHAT
YOU GOT TO DO.
DON'T BURN IT UP.
UGH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT'S CUT THAT ENTIRE THING.
THAT'S BAD, BAD.
SEE THIS LINE?
IT JUST SAWED
THE ENTIRE THING.
OH, THAT SUCKS.
[ BLEEP ]
GET JUAN.
Hey, Juan, do
you have a copy?
WE HAVE A GIGANTIC SLICE
IN OUR FEEDER BELT.
Ibarra: I'm on my way.
**
A ROCK GOT STUCK IN THERE.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT,
IT SLOWLY TAPERS RIGHT THERE.
WELL, THAT'S THE ISSUE.
ROCKS GET IN HERE
THAT ARE BIGGER.
THEN THEY GET TRAPPED HERE
WHERE IT TAPERS,
AND THEY START
TEARING UP THE BELT --
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS
WE'RE GOING TO CUT SOME STEEL.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE STRIPS
AND ACTUALLY LINE THAT HOLE.
Narrator: AS PAY DIRT PASSES
THROUGH MONSTER RED'S HOPPER,
SMALL ROCKS ARE GETTING
TRAPPED IN THE GAPS
BETWEEN THE BELT AND THE WALLS.
HERE, THEY CAUSE FRICTION
AND TEAR THE SIDES OF THE BELT.
JUAN'S PLAN:
FABRICATE STEEL STRIPS
AND WELD THEM ALONG THE WALLS
TO CLOSE THESE GAPS.
THAT SHOULD GET RID
OF THAT PROBLEM.
IT SHOULD. MAYBE NOT.
WE'LL SEE.
**
**
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS,
WE GOT THESE STRIPS
THAT WE CUT OUT AND WE'RE GOING
TO PUT THEM RIGHT HERE
TO FILL IN THIS GAP.
WE GOT TO GET THIS BACK UP
AND RUNNING AS QUICK AS WE CAN.
YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, WE REALLY
NEED TO GET THIS FIXED.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BE DOWN.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IS
RELYING ON ME AND MY DAD,
SO HOPEFULLY JUAN
CAN WORK SOME MAGIC
AND GET US UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.
Narrator: AFTER 5 HOURS,
JUAN'S BUSH FIX IS COMPLETE.
THAT WAS THE LAST PIECE, HUNTER.
IT'S READY TO GO.
WANT TO FIRE HER UP?
[ ENGINE STARTING,
BEEPING ]
THAT POTENTIALLY COULD'VE CAUSED
US A LOT OF DAMAGE THERE.
HEY, TODD, GOOD NEWS,
WE'RE BACK UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.
LET'S ROCK AND ROLL.
MONSTER RED IS BACK IN THE GAME,
BUT UNTIL JUAN GETS
THE NEW PARTS FOR RUSTY RED,
THEY'RE ONLY OPERATING
AT TWO-THIRDS CAPACITY.
HEY, DARRELL, IT'S JUAN.
HEY, I WAS WANTING TO CHECK
ON THOSE BEARINGS, MAN,
BEEN WAITING ON THOSE
FOR A COUPLE DAYS.
NO.
CAN'T GET THOSE
OVERNIGHTED FOR ME?
I WAS SUPPOSED TO
HAVE THEM YESTERDAY.
NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME
I WON'T GET THEM
UNTIL THE END OF THE WEEK?
Darrell: Yeah, sorry, man.
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL JUST GO ELSEWHERE.
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ]
HEY, TODD,
I GOT SOME BAD NEWS.
Fairplay is going to be
down for at least a week.
I can't find those
bearings anywhere.
TELL ME YOU'RE
FREAKING KIDDING.
**
THE INSIDE HALF OF THIS CUT
GAVE US THE BEST GOLD,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE
WE MISSED THE EDGE.
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,
PARKER'S CREW HAS MOVED BACK
INTO THE CREEK CUT
AFTER PARKER FOUND
A STRIP OF UN-MINED PAY DIRT.
Parker: THAT EDGE WE MISSED
COULD HAVE 50 OUNCES,
COULD HAVE 150 OUNCES.
YOU NEVER KNOW.
THAT FOREST FIRE IS GETTING
A HELL OF A LOT CLOSER,
AND THE WHOLE SKY
IS FULL OF SMOKE.
THE WIND HAS REALLY BEEN BLOWING
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
FOR US TODAY.
HOPEFULLY, THE WIND
CHANGES DIRECTION
AND BLOWS IT AWAY FROM US.
DON'T WANT TO SEE MY TRAILER
GO UP IN FLAMES.
WHAT'S THE EVAC PLAN?
**
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL BE RIGHT DOWN.
THERE'S NOT MUCH TO SAY OTHER
THAN THERE'S A LOT OF [ BLEEP ]
DIRT TO MOVE.
YEP.
HAVE FUN!
Narrator: THE FIRE IS HEADING
STRAIGHT FOR PARKER'S CLAIM,
AND THE LOCAL FIRE MARSHAL
HAS ARRIVED TO DISCUSS
EVACUATION PLANS.
**
**
Parker: I WAS NOT VERY WORRIED
ABOUT THIS UNTIL NOW.
IT'S ALL GOING TO DEPEND
ON THE WIND DIRECTION.
**
Narrator: IN THE CREEK CUT,
PARKER'S CREW
HAS FINALLY DUG
THROUGH THE OVERBURDEN.
HOLY [ BLEEP ].
OKAY.
I KNEW IT.
I [ BLEEP ] KNEW THAT
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH
TO WARRANT GOING INTO THIS BANK.
SHE'S ALREADY BEEN MINED.
WE GOT NOTHING ALL
THE WAY TO BEDROCK.
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK
THIS HAS BEEN MINED?
BECAUSE WE PULLED MOSS, LIKE,
A FOOT ABOVE THAT BEDROCK.
Narrator:
MOSS ONLY GROWS ON THE SURFACE.
FINDING IT 40 FEET DOWN
IS A SURE SIGN
THAT THE GROUND
HAS RECENTLY BEEN MINED.
Parker: WE CAN'T HAVE DONE
ALL THIS FOR NOTHING.
WE JUST BURNED TWO TANKS
OF FUEL IN A DAY.
JUST LEAVE. LEAVE ME.
JUST WALK OFF.
YUP.
PARKER HAS WASTED $15,000
DIGGING WORTHLESS OVERBURDEN.
YEAH, SO WE [ BLEEP ] UP.
[ LAUGHTER ]
ANYWAY...
WE?
THAT WAS YOU!
IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT.
WHATEVER.
SO, MITCH, I BLAME YOU
FOR THIS FIRE COMING AT US.
WHY?
WHAT DID I DO?
IT'S COMING FOR SLUICIFER.
YEAH, SHE'S [ BLEEP ] COMING.
YEAH, THAT LOOKS
PRETTY [ BLEEP ].
THAT LOOKS... YEAH.
IT LOOKS PRETTY
APOCALYPTIC, HONESTLY.
LIKE, THAT MOUNTAIN
JUST WENT OUT OF VIEW.
YEAH.
WHAT THE [ BLEEP ]?
WAIT. [ BLEEP ] NOW IT'S COMING.
IT'S ALL COMING THIS WAY NOW.
YEAH, YOU WOULD NEVER
SEE IT COMING
BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING
TO MOVE THIS DIRECTION,
IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE THIS.
THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN,
THAT THE FIRE IS THAT CLOSE.
IF THIS WIND WERE TO KEEP UP
LIKE THIS, HOLY [ BLEEP ],
IT COULD BE HERE TONIGHT.
**
**
Andrea: [ LAUGHS ]
Addison: THERE!
Andrea: YEAH!
YOU SEE DADDY?
HI!
Ibarra: HEY!
NARRATOR: IN COLORADO,
MECHANIC JUAN IS GRABBING
A 5-MINUTE LUNCH BREAK
WITH HIS WIFE, ANDREA,
AND DAUGHTER, ADDISON.
HI, SWEETHEART.
SOME CHICKEN?
MOUTH!
OH!
THAT'S A BIG BITE.
LET ME GET YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
HOW IS EVERYTHING GOING?
BUSY.
YEAH?
[ Sighing ] YEAH.
IT'S TOO MUCH,
JUST TOO MUCH.
Narrator: OVER AT SACRAMENTO,
THE REST OF THE CREW
IS PUSHING BOTH
PLANTS TO THE MAX.
LOGAN, WE'RE RUNNING AGAIN,
SO SEND ME SOME GOOD DIRT.
I GOT TO FUEL UP
THE 700 REAL QUICK.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK
AS SOON AS I CAN.
OKAY.
[ BANG ]
OH, [ BLEEP ].
OH, JEEZ.
HEY, JUAN, JUAN,
DO YOU HAVE A COPY?
YEAH, GO AHEAD.
GO FOR JUAN.
I have a catastrophic
meltdown on my 700.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M ON MY WAY.
BYE, ADDY.
MISS YOU, TOO.
BYE.
LOVE YOU.
IS DADDY WORKING?
MM-HMM.
YEAH.
WHERE'S MY PAY?
WHY DO WE NOT HAVE PAY UP HERE?
LOGAN: My 700 is toast.
The tracks are toast.
I THINK I BROKE A PAD.
IT'S NOT JUST A PIN.
HOLY [ BLEEP ] BOULDERS.
WHAT HAPPENED?
THE TRACK JUST
WENT [ BLEEP ].
OH, [ BLEEP ].
IT'S COMPLETELY TACO-ED.
IT'S BAD, MAN.
IT'S A BAD BREAK.
I HAVE TO LOAD PAY, JUAN.
WHAT NOW?
WHAT DO WE NEED?
A PIN?
WE'RE GOING TO NEED
A WHOLE NEW SECTION OF LINK.
HOW MANY PIECES?
SIX, BUT THIS IS
A TWO-MECHANIC JOB.
I CAN'T DO IT BY MYSELF.
HOW LONG IS
THIS GOING TO TAKE?
IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME HALF
A DAY, BUT THAT'S WITH HELP.
THE ONLY WAY THIS WORKS,
ME FEEDING TWO PLANTS,
IS A 700 OR BIGGER.
I CAN'T DO THIS WITH THE 480.
YOU NEED THE...
I GET IT.
OKAY.
I'VE BEEN ASKING YOU
FOR WEEKS FOR HELP.
I NEED ANOTHER MECHANIC.
YOU KNOW, I GOT EQUIPMENT
BROKEN DOWN EVERYWHERE.
I GOT PLANTS WE'RE TRYING
TO TAKE CARE OF,
MAINTENANCE GOING ON
ON EQUIPMENT.
I NEED HELP.
**
Todd: I GOT NO PLANTS RUNNING,
AND NOW WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS.
IT'S JUST TURNED
INTO A NIGHTMARE.
IT'S ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S A CURSE
ON COLORADO FOR ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
CAN'T CATCH A FREAKING BREAK.
**
**
Parker: I GUESS IT'S CLOSED
THE DISTANCE.
IT WENT FROM 20K
AWAY TO 7.
HOLY [ BLEEP ].
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,
A 350-ACRE WILDFIRE
IS FAST APPROACHING
PARKER'S CLAIM.
IT'S MOVING.
Ness: WOW.
THEY NEED A CAT OUT THERE.
OKAY.
FIRE LINES, LIKE,
THEY'RE GOING
TO TRY TO GET A BARRIER
SO IT DON'T BURN US OUT.
[ BLEEP ] THAT'S CRAZY.
YEAH.
SO, WHO'S
THE MAN FOR THAT?
IT DOESN'T
REALLY MATTER TO ME.
I THOUGHT AL HAS
DONE THIS BEFORE.
WE COULD SEND
HIM OUT THERE.
Parker: ALL RIGHT.
THE DOZER IS JUST UP HERE.
IF YOU COULD, TAKE IT UP
THAT RIDGE UP THERE
AND START
CUTTING FIRE LINES,
AND THEY NEED TO BE
AT LEAST 30 FEET WIDE
SO THE FIRE DOESN'T
JUMP OVER TO OUR SIDE.
THEN WE'RE [ BLEEP ].
Salewski: SWEET.
GOOD?
YEAH, WE'RE GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.
SOUNDS GOOD.
Salewski: WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT
AND GO DO WHAT WE CAN
AND BUILD A FIRE LINE,
PROTECT EVERYBODY SO EVERYBODY
CAN KEEP MINING.
GETS ANY CLOSER,
WE GET EVACUATED.
IT COULD BE THE END OF OUR
SEASON, AND WE WON'T BE MINING.
EVERYTHING WILL BE BURNT
TO THE GROUND AROUND HERE.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator: AL'S MISSION: DRIVE
4 MILES FROM SCRIBNER CREEK
TO WITHIN A MILE
OF THE 350-ACRE FIRE.
HE WILL USE THE DOZER
TO CREATE A FIRE LINE --
A BREAK BETWEEN THE TREES.
[ CRASHING ]
WHEN THE WILDFIRE HITS,
THIS BREAK SHOULD STARVE
THE FIRE OF FUEL,
PREVENTING IT FROM
REACHING PARKER'S CLAIM.
**
**
BUT THE RAGING FIRE
IS GAINING IN SPEED,
INCREASING THE THREAT
TO PARKER'S CAMP.
[ CRACKLING ]
**
[ FIRE ROARING ]
NEXT MORNING, THE FIRE IS JUST
3 MILES FROM SCRIBNER CREEK,
AND FOR SOME OF THE CREW, THAT'S
JUST TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.
WELL, THERE'S THE HOLE
THAT USED TO HAVE
AL AND FRENCHY'S TRAILERS.
FRENCHY AND AL [ BLEEP ] OFF
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
WITH THEIR TRAILERS.
WHAT?
YEAH, I WALKED OUT HERE
TO SEE TWO
[ BLEEP ] TRAILERS
HEADING DOWN THE ROAD.
I'M LIKE...
Parker: NO WAY.
Narrator:
DURING THE NIGHT, PARKER'S
TWO MAIN DOZER OPERATORS,
FRENCHY HENZ AND AL SILUSKI,
HAVE FLED.
WHAT'S DONE IS DONE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED TO THEM.
THEY'RE SCARED
OF THE FIRE OR...
WHAT A [ BLEEP ]
KICK IN THE BALLS.
[ BLEEP ]
**
**
**
**
**
**
WE'RE IN A BAD SITUATION
RIGHT NOW.
FREDDY'S PLANT IS DOWN.
THE OTHER TWO
ARE NOT GETTING PAY.
THE 700 IS DOWN.
Narrator: IN COLORADO,
TO KEEP HIS THREE-WASH-PLANT
OPERATION RUNNING,
TODD HAS MADE A TOUGH DECISION.
JUAN IS FREAKED OUT.
HE'S STRESSED OUT.
HE NEEDS HELP.
I CAN'T REALLY AFFORD
IT RIGHT NOW,
BUT I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO BITE THE BULLET.
**
TOADIE, THIS IS JUAN.
HEY, JUAN.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
HEY, TODD, HOW YOU BEEN?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
FREDDY'S BROTHER-IN-LAW,
HE'S A MECHANIC,
AND HE'S A HELL OF A MECHANIC.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE
SNAPPED THIS TRACK.
ALL RIGHT.
PROBLEM IS, WITHOUT THE 700,
PLANT AIN'T GOING TO RUN,
SO WE GOT TO GET
HER GOING QUICK.
COOL. ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GET ON IT.
OKAY, GO.
THIS JOB HERE,
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD-SIZE JOB.
IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO TAKE
TWO PEOPLE TO GET IT DONE.
Narrator: TOADIE HEATS THE
STEEL NUTS SO THEY'LL EXPAND
AND JUAN CAN WRENCH THEM OFF.
I'VE PRETTY MUCH BEEN
WORKING ON CARS
AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT
THROUGH ALL MY LIFE,
ON AND OFF.
**
**
ONE DOWN.
IT'S NOT BUDGING.
IS IT?
Godek: THESE BOLTS
ARE BEING STUBBORN,
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY
CUTTING THE NUTS OFF.
**
CUT THIS LINK.
THEN, ONCE YOU CUT THAT,
THIS IS GOING TO COLLAPSE.
[ CLANKING ]
BOOM.
A LOT OF DANG WORK
FOR SIX LINKS.
TOADIE IS GREAT.
HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
HE HAS HIS OWN SERVICE TRUCK.
HE'S GOING TO BE
A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR TEAM.
THERE YOU GO, LOGAN.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO REALLY START
MOVING SOME DIRT AGAIN.
Ibarra: WELL, NOW THAT TOADIE
IS HERE HELPING ME,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP UP
ON TOP OF THE PLANTS
AND KEEP THEM ALL RUNNING,
GET BACK ON THAT GOLD.
Narrator: WITH TWO MECHANICS,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS BACK
TO RUNNING 600 YARDS AN HOUR,
AND BACK WITH A CHANCE OF
HITTING TODD'S 5,000-OUNCE GOAL.
MONSTER RED, DOUBLE TROUBLE,
WE'RE BACK RUNNING AGAIN!
WE'RE HERE TO KICK SOME ASS!
**
**
Parker: I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT
WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL.
WE'RE RIGHT IN
THE DANGER ZONE HERE.
Narrator:
IN THE KLONDIKE, THE FIRE IS NOW
TOO CLOSE FOR PARKER TO MINE,
AND WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS HAVE
ARRIVED TO PROTECT THE CAMP.
Ness: IF THEY'RE SETTING THEM
SPRINKLERS UP,
THE [ BLEEP ] FIRE HAS
TO BE GETTING CLOSE,
AND IF WE'RE SEEING
ASHES LAND ON THE HOOD
OF OUR [ BLEEP ] VEHICLE,
THAT'S NOT A GOOD FEELING.
DEFINITELY STARTING
TO GET CLOSE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TAKE
A LOOK AT THE DAMN THING
AND SEE WHAT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN HERE.
I'M PARKER.
PARKER, JOSH.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
THANKS FOR MAKING
IT OUT HERE.
HEY, NO WORRIES.
IT'S PERFECT TIMING.
ANY CLOSER TO THE FIRE,
WE'D HAVE TROUBLE GETTING IN.
REALLY?
YEAH, WE'RE JUST RIGHT
ON THE BORDER HERE.
**
**
**
**
[ BLEEP ]
**
**
**
**
Narrator: THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM
IS IN PLACE.
IT'S CAPABLE OF DELIVERING
OVER 100 GALLONS PER MINUTE,
BUT THE FIRE HAS NOW GROWN
TO NEARLY 400 ACRES.
YEAH, YEAH, IT'S [ BLEEP ]
NOT VERY FAR AT ALL.
I MEAN, THE WINDS WE'VE BEEN
HAVING LATELY IS
JUST RIDICULOUS,
AND THAT DOESN'T TAKE
ANY TIME FOR THOSE SPARKS
TO CATCH EVERYTHING ELSE.
PRETTY DRY THIS YEAR.
Parker: OBVIOUSLY, THE FIRE
IS PRETTY DAMN CLOSE.
WE FLEW OVER IT, AND IT'S
BASICALLY ONE VALLEY AWAY.
IF THE WIND STARTS BLOWING
THIS WAY AT 20 MILE AN HOUR,
IT'LL BE HERE TONIGHT.
I'LL STAY.
AS LONG AS WE CAN STILL SEE,
YOU KNOW,
I'M WILLING TO STICK IT OUT.
WHAT IF THE [ BLEEP ] THING
JUMPS OVERNIGHT
WHEN WE'RE ASLEEP,
AND WE CAN'T GET OUT OF HERE?
I WOULDN'T BANK ON MAKING IT
TO THE ROAD
BEFORE THE FIRE
GETS HERE, I THINK.
I MEAN, THE GOLD IS NOT GOING
TO BE GOING ANYWHERE.
I MEAN, WE COULD JUST LET IT
PASS, EVEN HIT TOWN FOR A WHILE
AND JUST KNOW THAT EVERYBODY
IS OUT OF HERE SAFELY.
EVERYONE HAS
A FAMILY TO GO SEE.
YOU'RE GOING TO STICK IT OUT?
YEAH.
I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE,
BUT I WOULDN'T BLAME ANY OF YOU
IF YOU WANT TO GO.
I WAS PLANNING ON TAKING OFF
TO GO SEE THE FAMILY
AND GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE THE
FIRE BLOCKS OUR ROAD, AND SO...
WELL, THAT DOESN'T HELP,
BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
TIME TO GO PACK MY BAGS
AND HIT THE ROAD
BEFORE THE FIRES BLOCK ME
IN DOWN LOW BY THE HIGHWAY.
GET OUT OF HERE.
I HOPE MY TRAILER IS STILL HERE
WHEN I GET BACK.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE A BIG
CHARRED PILE OF MY BELONGINGS.
I'LL HAVE A [ BLEEP ]
END OF MY SEASON.
[ FIRE CRACKLING ]
Narrator:
BACK AT CAMP, THE FIREFIGHTERS
TURN ON THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM.
FOR PARKER AND HIS
REMAINING CREW,
IT'S THEIR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.
I THINK MAYBE I'LL JUST HOOK
MY TRUCK UP TO MY TRAILER
BEFORE I GO
TO SLEEP TONIGHT IN CASE
I GOT TO EVAC IN THE MORNING.
**
**
Narrator:
IN THE KLONDIKE, TONY BEETS
VOWED TO RELOCATE
HIS SECOND DREDGE
AT THE START OF THE SEASON,
BUT HIS BARGE HAS BEEN DOWN
FOR 5 STRAIGHT WEEKS.
THOUGHT WE WERE MAKING
SOME PROGRESS.
NO.
WE'VE HAD BIG
WATER TANKS HERE.
WE FLUSHED THE ENGINES OUT,
PULLED ALL THE HEAT EXCHANGERS,
COOLERS OUT,
CLEANED THEM OUT.
YOU KNOW,
IT SHOULD BE WORKING,
BUT WE'RE JUST NOT GETTING
THE TRANSFER OF HEAT.
I THINK WE HAVE
SOME MORE SERIOUS ISSUES.
SO TO SPEAK.
**
**
JACK TO TODD.
HEY, TODD, CAN YOU SWING
BY THE GOLD ROOM?
Narrator: TODD'S FAIRPLAY MINE
HAS BEEN DOWN ALL WEEK,
SO HE'S RELYING
ON SACRAMENTO.
HE NEEDS TO DELIVER
OVER 270 OUNCES PER WEEK,
WORTH $324,000.
[ MOANS ]
NOT GOOD, HUH?
Jack: NO, NO.
WELL, WE HAD SOME BREAKDOWNS
THAT WERE TOUGH,
BUT WE WEREN'T
DOWN THAT LONG.
WE WEREN'T DOWN LONG
ENOUGH TO GET 18.85.
Narrator: 18.85 OUNCES
IS ONLY WORTH AROUND $22,000.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO,
BUT THIS ISN'T GOOD,
AND THIS ISN'T GOING
TO PAY ANY BILLS.
JUAN HAS WORKED HIS ASS OFF.
WE KEPT THAT BABY RUNNING.
YEAH.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
THAT'S DEMORALIZING,
AND I DON'T WANT
TO HURT OUR MORALE.
OKAY?
YEAH, YEAH.
I WON'T SAY NOTHING
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT GOOD.
NOPE, NOT GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, DAD.
THANKS.
ALL RIGHT.
SORRY.
WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A HELL
OF A LOT MORE GOLD THAN THAT,
SO I DON'T KNOW.
I HAVE SOME DECISIONS TO MAKE,
AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY
NOT GOING TO BE EASY.
IT'S NOT THE EQUIPMENT.
IT'S NOT THE GUYS.
I THINK IT'S THE GROUND.
IT'S OVER.
**
[ RAINFALL ]
Parker: NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY
TO SEE PUDDLES IN OUR YARD.
Ness: DUDE, YOU KNOW, I HEARD
IT START HITTING LAST NIGHT
AS I WAS GOING TO BED,
AND I JUST WENT TO
SLEEP WITH A SMILE. [ LAUGHS ]
SWEET.
THAT WAS SOME HARD RAIN, HUH?
I'D SAY THAT TOOK CARE
OF THE FIRE.
I WOULD THINK SO.
SURE LOOKS LIKE IT ANYWAYS.
YUP.
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,
A NIGHT OF HEAVY RAIN
HAS SAVED PARKER'S CREW
FROM THE ADVANCING WILDFIRE.
OVER 400 ACRES OF KLONDIKE
WILDERNESS HAVE BURNT,
BUT BY A MIRACLE, NO TOWNS,
CAMPS, OR HOMES WERE DESTROYED.
HEY, CHRIS.
Chris: HEY, RICK.
CRAZY [ BLEEP ] RAIN, HUH?
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A RAINSTORM
LIKE THAT BEFORE.
JUST IN TIME.
HOLY COW.
LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS
FOUND A DRY PLACE.
YEAH, BUDDY.
YEAH.
YOU GOT SOME GOLD?
WE GOT SOME GOLD.
THAT'S GOOD.
WHAT A [ BLEEP ] WEEK.
ALL RIGHT, RICK.
HERE'S BIG RED.
Narrator:
IT'S BEEN A CRAZY WEEK,
BUT TO STAY ON TRACK
FOR PARKER'S 5,000-OUNCE GOAL,
RICK NEEDS BIG RED
TO DELIVER 120 OUNCES.
THERE'S 15, 20, 30...
UGH. [ BLEEP ]
IT'S NOT PAYING.
...AND CHANGE, 42.3.
WORTH JUST $50,000.
THAT'S 10 OUNCES LESS THAN
WHAT YOU HAD LAST WEEK.
YEAH, IT'S BECOMING A COMMON
[ BLEEP ] THEME.
ALL RIGHT, YOUNGSTER.
YOU READY?
YEAH, THIS IS THE LAST
OF THE CREEK CUT?
THIS IS IT.
Narrator: RUNNING FOR JUST
3 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE FIRE,
PARKER WILL BE LUCKY TO GET
ANYWHERE NEAR 120 OUNCES.
SEVENTY, 83.
EIGHTY-THREE OUNCES,
WORTH ALMOST $100,000.
THAT'S ONLY HALF A WEEK.
YEAH.
YEAH, FOR 3 DAYS.
HUNDRED-AND-TWENTY-OUNCE WEEK,
125-OUNCE WEEK.
YEAH, BUCK AND A QUARTER.
WELL, I MEAN, FOR HALF A WEEK,
IT'S NOT BAD, REALLY.
SO WHAT'S OUR
SEASON TOTAL NOW?
TOTAL FOR THE
SEASON IS 1,269.
AT LEAST WE'RE STILL
PUTTING GOLD AWAY,
AND NOBODY GOT SINGED,
SO WE'RE GOOD.
WE DIDN'T HAVE
TO MOVE CAMP.
I MEAN, LOOK
AT THE BRIGHT SIDE.
BRENNAN IS GONE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, GUYS.
YUP.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE
CHALLENGING WEEKS
WE'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME,
PROBABLY SINCE IN THE 5 YEARS
I'VE BEEN UP HERE.
SO HOPEFULLY NOW,
WITH THAT FIRE BEHIND US,
WE CAN GET BACK TO FOCUSING ON
GETTING GOLD OUT OF THE GROUND.
WHAT THE HELL?
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...
[ BLEEP ]
ONE NIGHT, PROBABLY
3 MILLION GALLONS GONE.
DIVE DOWN IN.
GET REAL CLOSE.
COULD BE A TEAR ON A SEAM,
BUT IT'S REALLY CLEAN.
DUDE, WE GOT
SABOTAGED LAST NIGHT.
RAN LAST YEAR.
IT RUNS THIS YEAR.
ARE YOU EXCITED?
I MIGHT AS WELL DO SOMETHING
STUPID WHILE I'M AT IT.
WHOA!
YOU READY TO MOVE
THIS BIG DADDY?
IT'S A GOOD THING
SLUICIFER ISN'T ANY BIGGER.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
OH, NO, SPINNING ALREADY.
THAT'S IT!
THE DANGER ZONE HERE.
Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
OBVIOUSLY, THIS FIRE
IS PRETTY DAMN CLOSE,
AND I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE,
BUT I WOULDN'T BLAME ANY OF YOU
IF YOU WANT TO GO.
**
Christie: NO.
**
JUST ABOUT STRAIGHT-UP
GETTING THE MOST GOLD.
Poulson: HEY, HEY, HEY!
JUAN, STOP!
I GOT EQUIPMENT
BROKEN DOWN EVERYWHERE.
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ]
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
**
**
[ THUNDER ROLLING ]
**
WELL, TODAY
IS A PRETTY BIG DAY.
WE'RE FINISHING OFF THE CREEK
CUT THAT'S GIVEN US OVER
400 OUNCES,
WHICH IS REALLY GOOD.
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,
PARKER SCHNABEL
IS RUNNING THE LAST
OF THE STOCKPILED PAY DIRT
FROM HIS CREEK CUT.
WE'RE JUST ABOUT DONE WITH IT
NOW, AND IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON.
Narrator: IN TOTAL, THE CUT
HAS DELIVERED PARKER
NEARLY 2,000 OUNCES
OF GOLD WORTH $2.3 MILLION.
Parker: I'VE GOT HIGH HOPES
FOR OUR NEXT CUT.
HOPEFULLY, TODAY, WE CAN GET
THE REST OF THIS PAY RAN.
WE'VE GOT 1,100 OUNCES
SO FAR, WHICH IS GOOD.
IT'S A LOT OF GOLD, BUT IT'S NOT
NEARLY WHERE WE NEED TO BE
IF WE'RE GOING TO GET
5,000 OUNCES THIS YEAR.
SOON AS WE GET DONE
SLUICING HERE,
WE CAN JUST START BREAKING
EVERYTHING DOWN,
GETTING IT MOVED.
LET'S GO!
Narrator: THE NEXT STEP IS TO
MOVE THEIR $500,000 WASH PLANT,
SLUICIFER, TO THE NEW CUT.
FIRST, WE'VE GOT TO JUST
MAKE SURE WE GOT
ALL THE PAY
OUT OF THIS CUT
AND MAKE SURE WE DON'T
LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND.
LET'S JUST GET THIS DONE
WITH AND GET MOVED.
**
HEY, GUYS, CAN YOU
COME OVER HERE?
**
THAT'S BEDROCK RIGHT THERE.
WHAT'S PARKER
DOING OVER THERE?
Rick: I DON'T KNOW.
I GUESS HE THINKS
WE MISSED SOME PAY.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'LL JUST PARK
THIS HAULER OUT OF YOUR WAY,
AND I'LL GO SEE WHAT HE
WANTS ME TO DO AND [ BLEEP ].
**
YOU KNOW, BUT THIS
IS DEFINITELY PAY.
I DIDN'T THINK IT'D BE
COMING IN THIS FAR,
BUT WE OBVIOUSLY MISSED
THAT EDGE, HUH?
THIS IS THE BEST SIDE
OF THE CUT EVEN THOUGH
THAT'S A LOT OF DIRT
TO MOVE, HUH?
Ruault: THAT'S, LIKE,
40 FEET OVERBURDEN.
IT'S DEFINITELY
WORTH CHASING.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE NEVER HAD
THIS PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE
BUT, WHATEVER.
PARKER HAS MINED OUT
THE CREEK CUT,
AN AREA LARGER
THAN SIX FOOTBALL FIELDS.
HE'S ALSO STARTED TO STRIP
THE OVERBURDEN IN THE NEXT CUT.
BUT ON THE SIDE OF THE OLD CUT,
HE'S IDENTIFIED A CRUCIAL STRIP
OF GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT
BURIED BENEATH THE OVERBURDEN.
IT WILL TAKE DAYS TO CLEAR
THE 40 FEET OF WORTHLESS DIRT
TO GET DOWN TO THE GOLD.
IF WE CAN GET A FEW
THOUSAND YARDS OF THIS,
I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED
IF WE CAN GET AN EXTRA
50 OR 100 OUNCES
OUT OF THIS SIDE.
IT'S WORTH CHASING.
THAT'S FOR DAMN SURE.
CLEARING THE OVERBURDEN
WILL COST PARKER $15,000 A DAY.
Ruault: MITCHELL!
Poulson: WHAT'S UP, MAN?
WE HAVE TO PUT THE PLANT
MOVE ON HOLD.
WHY IS THAT?
WELL, PARKER WANTS
TO [ BLEEP ] GO DIG
40 FEET INTO A BANK
THAT'S PROBABLY BEEN ALREADY
MINED, AND NOW FOR WHAT?
WE'LL WASTE ALL OUR TIME ON THE
PLANT MOVE, FUEL, WAGES WITHOUT
[ BLEEP ] EVEN KNOWING IF
THERE'S
AN OUNCE UNDER THERE.
DUDE, YOU GOT
TO BE KIDDING ME.
I KNOW THERE'S BETTER THINGS
WE COULD BE DOING,
BUT THIS IS PARKER'S DECISION,
SO LET'S JUST GET IT DONE.
IS THERE SOMETHING
BURNING OVER THERE?
YEAH, FOREST FIRE, YEP.
LIGHTNING OR...
PROBABLY FROM
THE LIGHTNING, YEAH.
THAT WIND KEEPS BLOWING AT US.
[ BLEEP ], THAT FIRE IS GOING
TO MOVE FAST.
[ CRACKLING ]
**
Todd: THIS IS GOING TO BE THE
BIGGEST MINING OPERATION
WE'VE EVER TAKEN ON!
Narrator:
IN COLORADO, TODD HOFFMAN
HAS REALIZED HIS DREAM
OF RUNNING THREE WASH PLANTS.
WE'RE GOING FOR 5,000 OUNCES.
WE'RE ALREADY WAY BEHIND.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO
GET THERE IS THREE PLANTS.
ALL RIGHT.
TROMMEL LINE COMING ON.
FEEDER ON.
ALL RIGHT, TODD.
WE'RE RUNNING.
FEED IT.
Narrator: SO FAR, RUNNING JUST
DOUBLE TROUBLE AND MONSTER RED,
TODD HAS ONLY PRODUCED
625 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH JUST $750,000.
STARTING UP THE PLANT.
FEEDER COMING ON.
HE NEEDS DOUBLE THAT
TO CATCH UP WITH PARKER.
Hunter: WE'RE GOING TO RUN AS
MANY YARDS AS WE CAN TODAY,
AND HOPEFULLY, WHEN WE SHUT
DOWN, THE BOX LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
Narrator: BY THIS STAGE
IN THE SEASON,
HE SHOULD HAVE WELL
OVER 1,500 OUNCES.
LAST WEEK, FREDDY FINALLY
FIRED UP RUSTY RED
AND STARTED MINING THE
GOLD-RICH GROUND AT FAIRPLAY.
Dodge: WE'RE STARTING
OUR FIRST FULL WEEK
OF RUNNING HERE AT FAIRPLAY.
WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, KEVIN.
WE HAD SOME PROBLEMS
WITH FAIRPLAY,
BUT WE'RE BACK IN ACTION.
**
RUNNING 800 YARDS
AN HOUR FEELS UNBELIEVABLE.
Narrator:
IF TODD CAN KEEP HIS THREE
WASH PLANTS RUNNING NONSTOP,
HIS 5,000-OUNCE GOAL
IS STILL WITHIN REACH.
Todd:
WE'RE STRETCHED SUPER THIN.
WE'VE GOT EVERY SINGLE PIECE
OF EQUIPMENT IN ACTION,
BURNING A LOT OF FUEL,
BUT WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF GOLD.
THE PERSON I WORRY
ABOUT, THOUGH, IS JUAN.
Narrator:
IT'S UP TO MECHANIC JUAN IBARRA
TO MAINTAIN ALL
THREE WASH PLANTS.
Ibarra: RIGHT NOW, THE PLANT
IS RUNNING GREAT.
YOU KNOW, MONSTER RED MOVES
A LOT OF MATERIAL,
BUT WE MOVE A LOT OF MATERIAL,
AND WE RARELY BREAK DOWN.
**
Todd: GOT A PROBLEM.
JUAN, WE GOT
A BIG PROBLEM THERE.
GOT A JAM-UP.
MUST BE A ROCK IN THERE QUICK.
Ibarra:
THAT CHUTE IS OVERFLOWING.
**
**
**
IT'S OKAY, TODD.
I GOT IT LOOSE.
JUST A ROCK GOT JAMMED
HERE IN THE HOPPER.
THAT LOOKED BAD.
YOU OKAY?
I GOT IT BROKE LOOSE.
SHE'S DOING FINE NOW.
JUST A ROCK GOT CAUGHT IN THERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT
COULD'VE BEEN BAD.
LUCKILY, WE WERE ABLE TO BREAK
IT LOOSE AND KEEP ON RUNNING.
WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO SHUT
THE PLANT DOWN.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE GOT TO DO
ALL WE CAN DO KEEP THIS RUNNING.
WE CAN'T HAVE
BREAKDOWNS RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: A MILE DOWN THE ROAD
AT FAIRPLAY MINE,
FREDDY IS PUSHING
200 YARDS AN HOUR
OF GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT
THROUGH RUSTY RED.
Dodge: FAIRPLAY IS THE KEY
FOR 5,000 OUNCES THIS YEAR.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
WE GOT THE BEST GOLD HERE.
[ BANG ]
[ BLEEP ]
[ MACHINERY KNOCKING ]
KEVIN, SHUT THE PUMP OFF.
SHUT THE WATER OFF NOW.
SOMETHING IS BROKE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YET.
LOUD BANG, THOUGH.
HEY, JUAN, CAN YOU
GET OVER HERE ASAP?
WE JUST SNAPPED
A BEARING OVER ON
RUSTY RED ON THE CONVEYOR,
ON THE FEED CONVEYOR.
Ibarra:
I'm on my way.
A ROCK MUST'VE GOT IN THERE.
WE HAVE NO SHORTAGE
OF [ BLEEP ] ROCKS HERE.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
I'VE GOT ALL THIS
[ BLEEP ] ON HERE.
[ BLEEP ],
THAT'S ALL WE NEED.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
BEARING BLEW UP.
OH, MAN.
THE WHOLE TAIL PULLEY
IS BUSTED UP,
AND THE WHOLE BEARING
IS JUST LAYING HERE,
BROKEN ALL TO [ BLEEP ].
Dodge: YEAH, WE'RE DOWN
UNTIL WE GET THE BEARING.
OKAY.
WELL, I'LL HURRY UP,
SEE WHAT I CAN DO.
OKAY.
Juan to Todd,
Juan to Todd.
HEY, TODD, YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO BELIEVE THIS.
WE JUST BROKE DOWN
HERE AT FAIRPLAY.
DUDE, ARE
YOU KIDDING ME?
I'M GOING TO GET
SOME PARTS COMING.
I'M GOING TO FIX IT
AS QUICK AS I CAN, MAN.
I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I NEED YOU BACK HERE
AT DOUBLE TROUBLE REAL QUICK.
IF YOU CAN GET AWAY,
GET OVER HERE.
THANKS.
[ GROANS ]
[ PHONE RINGING ]
Hey, Dale.
Yeah?
It's Juan at Fairplay.
Uh-huh.
Hey, I need to get some bearings
for a tail pulley, the P212.
Okay.
I'll see what I can do.
Okay.
Can I have it in the morning?
Poulson: HEY, HEY, HEY!
JUAN, STOP!
[ BANG ]
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ] [ BLEEP ]
**
Poulson: HEY, HEY, HEY!
JUAN, STOP!
[ BANG ]
[ BLEEP ]
Narrator: IN COLORADO,
MECHANIC JUAN
IS HAVING A DAY FROM HELL.
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ] [ BLEEP ]
JUAN TORE HIS BUMPER OFF,
[ BLEEP ] THE FRONT
OF HIS TRUCK UP.
HIT A BIG ROCK.
UGH.
Narrator: JUAN'S 600-POUND
CHROME-AND-ALUMINUM FENDER
IS HANGING BY
A SINGLE MOUNT.
Ibarra: FUDGE!
THERE'S 20-GRAND WORTH OF DAMAGE
ON THAT [ BLEEP ] THING.
I'M GOING TO TRY
TO BACK UP, TREY.
ALL RIGHT.
EVERYBODY, GET BACK.
**
THAT WAS A HARD HIT,
TORE ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
THAT'S ALL I NEED,
IS MORE [ BLEEP ] WORK.
I GOT THREE WASH PLANTS
AND A [ BLEEP ]
BROKEN TRUCK NOW.
I DON'T WANT TO TALK RIGHT NOW.
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.
**
**
Todd: HEY, HUNTER, EVERYTHING
IS ON US NOW.
WE'RE ALL-IN AT SACRAMENTO.
FAIRPLAY IS DOWN AGAIN.
Narrator: UNTIL THE FAIRPLAY
MINE COMES BACK ON TRACK,
THE PRESSURE IS
ON TODD AND HUNTER
TO KEEP THEIR PLANTS
PRODUCING GOLD.
Todd:
WE'RE GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS.
WE'RE RUNNING UP
9,000 YARDS AN HOUR.
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE ABOUT
5 YEARS AWAY FROM DIAPERS
AND ME PUTTING
YOU IN A HOME,
SO I APPRECIATE
THE EFFORT, SERIOUSLY.
Narrator:
OPERATOR LOGAN PIERCE MUST SEND
AT LEAST 12 TRUCKLOADS
OF PAY DIRT PER HOUR
TO KEEP EACH PLANT RUNNING.
Pierce: FEEDING BOTH PLANTS
OFF THE SAME LAYER.
THIS GROUND ISN'T THE BEST,
BUT WE'RE RUNNING
A [ BLEEP ] PILE OF DIRT,
SO THAT MAKES UP FOR IT.
**
[ BELT CREAKING ]
THIS IS, LIKE,
MAKING A WEIRD SMELL
LIKE WE'RE BURNING
A BELT UP,
SO I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED
TO SHUT DOWN OR NOT.
WELL, DO WHAT
YOU GOT TO DO.
DON'T BURN IT UP.
UGH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT'S CUT THAT ENTIRE THING.
THAT'S BAD, BAD.
SEE THIS LINE?
IT JUST SAWED
THE ENTIRE THING.
OH, THAT SUCKS.
[ BLEEP ]
GET JUAN.
Hey, Juan, do
you have a copy?
WE HAVE A GIGANTIC SLICE
IN OUR FEEDER BELT.
Ibarra: I'm on my way.
**
A ROCK GOT STUCK IN THERE.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT,
IT SLOWLY TAPERS RIGHT THERE.
WELL, THAT'S THE ISSUE.
ROCKS GET IN HERE
THAT ARE BIGGER.
THEN THEY GET TRAPPED HERE
WHERE IT TAPERS,
AND THEY START
TEARING UP THE BELT --
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS
WE'RE GOING TO CUT SOME STEEL.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE STRIPS
AND ACTUALLY LINE THAT HOLE.
Narrator: AS PAY DIRT PASSES
THROUGH MONSTER RED'S HOPPER,
SMALL ROCKS ARE GETTING
TRAPPED IN THE GAPS
BETWEEN THE BELT AND THE WALLS.
HERE, THEY CAUSE FRICTION
AND TEAR THE SIDES OF THE BELT.
JUAN'S PLAN:
FABRICATE STEEL STRIPS
AND WELD THEM ALONG THE WALLS
TO CLOSE THESE GAPS.
THAT SHOULD GET RID
OF THAT PROBLEM.
IT SHOULD. MAYBE NOT.
WE'LL SEE.
**
**
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS,
WE GOT THESE STRIPS
THAT WE CUT OUT AND WE'RE GOING
TO PUT THEM RIGHT HERE
TO FILL IN THIS GAP.
WE GOT TO GET THIS BACK UP
AND RUNNING AS QUICK AS WE CAN.
YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, WE REALLY
NEED TO GET THIS FIXED.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BE DOWN.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IS
RELYING ON ME AND MY DAD,
SO HOPEFULLY JUAN
CAN WORK SOME MAGIC
AND GET US UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.
Narrator: AFTER 5 HOURS,
JUAN'S BUSH FIX IS COMPLETE.
THAT WAS THE LAST PIECE, HUNTER.
IT'S READY TO GO.
WANT TO FIRE HER UP?
[ ENGINE STARTING,
BEEPING ]
THAT POTENTIALLY COULD'VE CAUSED
US A LOT OF DAMAGE THERE.
HEY, TODD, GOOD NEWS,
WE'RE BACK UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.
LET'S ROCK AND ROLL.
MONSTER RED IS BACK IN THE GAME,
BUT UNTIL JUAN GETS
THE NEW PARTS FOR RUSTY RED,
THEY'RE ONLY OPERATING
AT TWO-THIRDS CAPACITY.
HEY, DARRELL, IT'S JUAN.
HEY, I WAS WANTING TO CHECK
ON THOSE BEARINGS, MAN,
BEEN WAITING ON THOSE
FOR A COUPLE DAYS.
NO.
CAN'T GET THOSE
OVERNIGHTED FOR ME?
I WAS SUPPOSED TO
HAVE THEM YESTERDAY.
NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME
I WON'T GET THEM
UNTIL THE END OF THE WEEK?
Darrell: Yeah, sorry, man.
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL JUST GO ELSEWHERE.
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLEEP ]
HEY, TODD,
I GOT SOME BAD NEWS.
Fairplay is going to be
down for at least a week.
I can't find those
bearings anywhere.
TELL ME YOU'RE
FREAKING KIDDING.
**
THE INSIDE HALF OF THIS CUT
GAVE US THE BEST GOLD,
AND IT LOOKS LIKE
WE MISSED THE EDGE.
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,
PARKER'S CREW HAS MOVED BACK
INTO THE CREEK CUT
AFTER PARKER FOUND
A STRIP OF UN-MINED PAY DIRT.
Parker: THAT EDGE WE MISSED
COULD HAVE 50 OUNCES,
COULD HAVE 150 OUNCES.
YOU NEVER KNOW.
THAT FOREST FIRE IS GETTING
A HELL OF A LOT CLOSER,
AND THE WHOLE SKY
IS FULL OF SMOKE.
THE WIND HAS REALLY BEEN BLOWING
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION
FOR US TODAY.
HOPEFULLY, THE WIND
CHANGES DIRECTION
AND BLOWS IT AWAY FROM US.
DON'T WANT TO SEE MY TRAILER
GO UP IN FLAMES.
WHAT'S THE EVAC PLAN?
**
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL BE RIGHT DOWN.
THERE'S NOT MUCH TO SAY OTHER
THAN THERE'S A LOT OF [ BLEEP ]
DIRT TO MOVE.
YEP.
HAVE FUN!
Narrator: THE FIRE IS HEADING
STRAIGHT FOR PARKER'S CLAIM,
AND THE LOCAL FIRE MARSHAL
HAS ARRIVED TO DISCUSS
EVACUATION PLANS.
**
**
Parker: I WAS NOT VERY WORRIED
ABOUT THIS UNTIL NOW.
IT'S ALL GOING TO DEPEND
ON THE WIND DIRECTION.
**
Narrator: IN THE CREEK CUT,
PARKER'S CREW
HAS FINALLY DUG
THROUGH THE OVERBURDEN.
HOLY [ BLEEP ].
OKAY.
I KNEW IT.
I [ BLEEP ] KNEW THAT
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH
TO WARRANT GOING INTO THIS BANK.
SHE'S ALREADY BEEN MINED.
WE GOT NOTHING ALL
THE WAY TO BEDROCK.
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK
THIS HAS BEEN MINED?
BECAUSE WE PULLED MOSS, LIKE,
A FOOT ABOVE THAT BEDROCK.
Narrator:
MOSS ONLY GROWS ON THE SURFACE.
FINDING IT 40 FEET DOWN
IS A SURE SIGN
THAT THE GROUND
HAS RECENTLY BEEN MINED.
Parker: WE CAN'T HAVE DONE
ALL THIS FOR NOTHING.
WE JUST BURNED TWO TANKS
OF FUEL IN A DAY.
JUST LEAVE. LEAVE ME.
JUST WALK OFF.
YUP.
PARKER HAS WASTED $15,000
DIGGING WORTHLESS OVERBURDEN.
YEAH, SO WE [ BLEEP ] UP.
[ LAUGHTER ]
ANYWAY...
WE?
THAT WAS YOU!
IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT.
WHATEVER.
SO, MITCH, I BLAME YOU
FOR THIS FIRE COMING AT US.
WHY?
WHAT DID I DO?
IT'S COMING FOR SLUICIFER.
YEAH, SHE'S [ BLEEP ] COMING.
YEAH, THAT LOOKS
PRETTY [ BLEEP ].
THAT LOOKS... YEAH.
IT LOOKS PRETTY
APOCALYPTIC, HONESTLY.
LIKE, THAT MOUNTAIN
JUST WENT OUT OF VIEW.
YEAH.
WHAT THE [ BLEEP ]?
WAIT. [ BLEEP ] NOW IT'S COMING.
IT'S ALL COMING THIS WAY NOW.
YEAH, YOU WOULD NEVER
SEE IT COMING
BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING
TO MOVE THIS DIRECTION,
IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE THIS.
THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN,
THAT THE FIRE IS THAT CLOSE.
IF THIS WIND WERE TO KEEP UP
LIKE THIS, HOLY [ BLEEP ],
IT COULD BE HERE TONIGHT.
**
**
Andrea: [ LAUGHS ]
Addison: THERE!
Andrea: YEAH!
YOU SEE DADDY?
HI!
Ibarra: HEY!
NARRATOR: IN COLORADO,
MECHANIC JUAN IS GRABBING
A 5-MINUTE LUNCH BREAK
WITH HIS WIFE, ANDREA,
AND DAUGHTER, ADDISON.
HI, SWEETHEART.
SOME CHICKEN?
MOUTH!
OH!
THAT'S A BIG BITE.
LET ME GET YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
HOW IS EVERYTHING GOING?
BUSY.
YEAH?
[ Sighing ] YEAH.
IT'S TOO MUCH,
JUST TOO MUCH.
Narrator: OVER AT SACRAMENTO,
THE REST OF THE CREW
IS PUSHING BOTH
PLANTS TO THE MAX.
LOGAN, WE'RE RUNNING AGAIN,
SO SEND ME SOME GOOD DIRT.
I GOT TO FUEL UP
THE 700 REAL QUICK.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK
AS SOON AS I CAN.
OKAY.
[ BANG ]
OH, [ BLEEP ].
OH, JEEZ.
HEY, JUAN, JUAN,
DO YOU HAVE A COPY?
YEAH, GO AHEAD.
GO FOR JUAN.
I have a catastrophic
meltdown on my 700.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M ON MY WAY.
BYE, ADDY.
MISS YOU, TOO.
BYE.
LOVE YOU.
IS DADDY WORKING?
MM-HMM.
YEAH.
WHERE'S MY PAY?
WHY DO WE NOT HAVE PAY UP HERE?
LOGAN: My 700 is toast.
The tracks are toast.
I THINK I BROKE A PAD.
IT'S NOT JUST A PIN.
HOLY [ BLEEP ] BOULDERS.
WHAT HAPPENED?
THE TRACK JUST
WENT [ BLEEP ].
OH, [ BLEEP ].
IT'S COMPLETELY TACO-ED.
IT'S BAD, MAN.
IT'S A BAD BREAK.
I HAVE TO LOAD PAY, JUAN.
WHAT NOW?
WHAT DO WE NEED?
A PIN?
WE'RE GOING TO NEED
A WHOLE NEW SECTION OF LINK.
HOW MANY PIECES?
SIX, BUT THIS IS
A TWO-MECHANIC JOB.
I CAN'T DO IT BY MYSELF.
HOW LONG IS
THIS GOING TO TAKE?
IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME HALF
A DAY, BUT THAT'S WITH HELP.
THE ONLY WAY THIS WORKS,
ME FEEDING TWO PLANTS,
IS A 700 OR BIGGER.
I CAN'T DO THIS WITH THE 480.
YOU NEED THE...
I GET IT.
OKAY.
I'VE BEEN ASKING YOU
FOR WEEKS FOR HELP.
I NEED ANOTHER MECHANIC.
YOU KNOW, I GOT EQUIPMENT
BROKEN DOWN EVERYWHERE.
I GOT PLANTS WE'RE TRYING
TO TAKE CARE OF,
MAINTENANCE GOING ON
ON EQUIPMENT.
I NEED HELP.
**
Todd: I GOT NO PLANTS RUNNING,
AND NOW WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS.
IT'S JUST TURNED
INTO A NIGHTMARE.
IT'S ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S A CURSE
ON COLORADO FOR ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
CAN'T CATCH A FREAKING BREAK.
**
**
Parker: I GUESS IT'S CLOSED
THE DISTANCE.
IT WENT FROM 20K
AWAY TO 7.
HOLY [ BLEEP ].
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,
A 350-ACRE WILDFIRE
IS FAST APPROACHING
PARKER'S CLAIM.
IT'S MOVING.
Ness: WOW.
THEY NEED A CAT OUT THERE.
OKAY.
FIRE LINES, LIKE,
THEY'RE GOING
TO TRY TO GET A BARRIER
SO IT DON'T BURN US OUT.
[ BLEEP ] THAT'S CRAZY.
YEAH.
SO, WHO'S
THE MAN FOR THAT?
IT DOESN'T
REALLY MATTER TO ME.
I THOUGHT AL HAS
DONE THIS BEFORE.
WE COULD SEND
HIM OUT THERE.
Parker: ALL RIGHT.
THE DOZER IS JUST UP HERE.
IF YOU COULD, TAKE IT UP
THAT RIDGE UP THERE
AND START
CUTTING FIRE LINES,
AND THEY NEED TO BE
AT LEAST 30 FEET WIDE
SO THE FIRE DOESN'T
JUMP OVER TO OUR SIDE.
THEN WE'RE [ BLEEP ].
Salewski: SWEET.
GOOD?
YEAH, WE'RE GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.
SOUNDS GOOD.
Salewski: WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT
AND GO DO WHAT WE CAN
AND BUILD A FIRE LINE,
PROTECT EVERYBODY SO EVERYBODY
CAN KEEP MINING.
GETS ANY CLOSER,
WE GET EVACUATED.
IT COULD BE THE END OF OUR
SEASON, AND WE WON'T BE MINING.
EVERYTHING WILL BE BURNT
TO THE GROUND AROUND HERE.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator: AL'S MISSION: DRIVE
4 MILES FROM SCRIBNER CREEK
TO WITHIN A MILE
OF THE 350-ACRE FIRE.
HE WILL USE THE DOZER
TO CREATE A FIRE LINE --
A BREAK BETWEEN THE TREES.
[ CRASHING ]
WHEN THE WILDFIRE HITS,
THIS BREAK SHOULD STARVE
THE FIRE OF FUEL,
PREVENTING IT FROM
REACHING PARKER'S CLAIM.
**
**
BUT THE RAGING FIRE
IS GAINING IN SPEED,
INCREASING THE THREAT
TO PARKER'S CAMP.
[ CRACKLING ]
**
[ FIRE ROARING ]
NEXT MORNING, THE FIRE IS JUST
3 MILES FROM SCRIBNER CREEK,
AND FOR SOME OF THE CREW, THAT'S
JUST TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.
WELL, THERE'S THE HOLE
THAT USED TO HAVE
AL AND FRENCHY'S TRAILERS.
FRENCHY AND AL [ BLEEP ] OFF
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
WITH THEIR TRAILERS.
WHAT?
YEAH, I WALKED OUT HERE
TO SEE TWO
[ BLEEP ] TRAILERS
HEADING DOWN THE ROAD.
I'M LIKE...
Parker: NO WAY.
Narrator:
DURING THE NIGHT, PARKER'S
TWO MAIN DOZER OPERATORS,
FRENCHY HENZ AND AL SILUSKI,
HAVE FLED.
WHAT'S DONE IS DONE HERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED TO THEM.
THEY'RE SCARED
OF THE FIRE OR...
WHAT A [ BLEEP ]
KICK IN THE BALLS.
[ BLEEP ]
**
**
**
**
**
**
WE'RE IN A BAD SITUATION
RIGHT NOW.
FREDDY'S PLANT IS DOWN.
THE OTHER TWO
ARE NOT GETTING PAY.
THE 700 IS DOWN.
Narrator: IN COLORADO,
TO KEEP HIS THREE-WASH-PLANT
OPERATION RUNNING,
TODD HAS MADE A TOUGH DECISION.
JUAN IS FREAKED OUT.
HE'S STRESSED OUT.
HE NEEDS HELP.
I CAN'T REALLY AFFORD
IT RIGHT NOW,
BUT I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO BITE THE BULLET.
**
TOADIE, THIS IS JUAN.
HEY, JUAN.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
HEY, TODD, HOW YOU BEEN?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
FREDDY'S BROTHER-IN-LAW,
HE'S A MECHANIC,
AND HE'S A HELL OF A MECHANIC.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE
SNAPPED THIS TRACK.
ALL RIGHT.
PROBLEM IS, WITHOUT THE 700,
PLANT AIN'T GOING TO RUN,
SO WE GOT TO GET
HER GOING QUICK.
COOL. ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GET ON IT.
OKAY, GO.
THIS JOB HERE,
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD-SIZE JOB.
IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO TAKE
TWO PEOPLE TO GET IT DONE.
Narrator: TOADIE HEATS THE
STEEL NUTS SO THEY'LL EXPAND
AND JUAN CAN WRENCH THEM OFF.
I'VE PRETTY MUCH BEEN
WORKING ON CARS
AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT
THROUGH ALL MY LIFE,
ON AND OFF.
**
**
ONE DOWN.
IT'S NOT BUDGING.
IS IT?
Godek: THESE BOLTS
ARE BEING STUBBORN,
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY
CUTTING THE NUTS OFF.
**
CUT THIS LINK.
THEN, ONCE YOU CUT THAT,
THIS IS GOING TO COLLAPSE.
[ CLANKING ]
BOOM.
A LOT OF DANG WORK
FOR SIX LINKS.
TOADIE IS GREAT.
HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
HE HAS HIS OWN SERVICE TRUCK.
HE'S GOING TO BE
A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR TEAM.
THERE YOU GO, LOGAN.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO REALLY START
MOVING SOME DIRT AGAIN.
Ibarra: WELL, NOW THAT TOADIE
IS HERE HELPING ME,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP UP
ON TOP OF THE PLANTS
AND KEEP THEM ALL RUNNING,
GET BACK ON THAT GOLD.
Narrator: WITH TWO MECHANICS,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS BACK
TO RUNNING 600 YARDS AN HOUR,
AND BACK WITH A CHANCE OF
HITTING TODD'S 5,000-OUNCE GOAL.
MONSTER RED, DOUBLE TROUBLE,
WE'RE BACK RUNNING AGAIN!
WE'RE HERE TO KICK SOME ASS!
**
**
Parker: I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT
WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL.
WE'RE RIGHT IN
THE DANGER ZONE HERE.
Narrator:
IN THE KLONDIKE, THE FIRE IS NOW
TOO CLOSE FOR PARKER TO MINE,
AND WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS HAVE
ARRIVED TO PROTECT THE CAMP.
Ness: IF THEY'RE SETTING THEM
SPRINKLERS UP,
THE [ BLEEP ] FIRE HAS
TO BE GETTING CLOSE,
AND IF WE'RE SEEING
ASHES LAND ON THE HOOD
OF OUR [ BLEEP ] VEHICLE,
THAT'S NOT A GOOD FEELING.
DEFINITELY STARTING
TO GET CLOSE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TAKE
A LOOK AT THE DAMN THING
AND SEE WHAT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN HERE.
I'M PARKER.
PARKER, JOSH.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
THANKS FOR MAKING
IT OUT HERE.
HEY, NO WORRIES.
IT'S PERFECT TIMING.
ANY CLOSER TO THE FIRE,
WE'D HAVE TROUBLE GETTING IN.
REALLY?
YEAH, WE'RE JUST RIGHT
ON THE BORDER HERE.
**
**
**
**
[ BLEEP ]
**
**
**
**
Narrator: THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM
IS IN PLACE.
IT'S CAPABLE OF DELIVERING
OVER 100 GALLONS PER MINUTE,
BUT THE FIRE HAS NOW GROWN
TO NEARLY 400 ACRES.
YEAH, YEAH, IT'S [ BLEEP ]
NOT VERY FAR AT ALL.
I MEAN, THE WINDS WE'VE BEEN
HAVING LATELY IS
JUST RIDICULOUS,
AND THAT DOESN'T TAKE
ANY TIME FOR THOSE SPARKS
TO CATCH EVERYTHING ELSE.
PRETTY DRY THIS YEAR.
Parker: OBVIOUSLY, THE FIRE
IS PRETTY DAMN CLOSE.
WE FLEW OVER IT, AND IT'S
BASICALLY ONE VALLEY AWAY.
IF THE WIND STARTS BLOWING
THIS WAY AT 20 MILE AN HOUR,
IT'LL BE HERE TONIGHT.
I'LL STAY.
AS LONG AS WE CAN STILL SEE,
YOU KNOW,
I'M WILLING TO STICK IT OUT.
WHAT IF THE [ BLEEP ] THING
JUMPS OVERNIGHT
WHEN WE'RE ASLEEP,
AND WE CAN'T GET OUT OF HERE?
I WOULDN'T BANK ON MAKING IT
TO THE ROAD
BEFORE THE FIRE
GETS HERE, I THINK.
I MEAN, THE GOLD IS NOT GOING
TO BE GOING ANYWHERE.
I MEAN, WE COULD JUST LET IT
PASS, EVEN HIT TOWN FOR A WHILE
AND JUST KNOW THAT EVERYBODY
IS OUT OF HERE SAFELY.
EVERYONE HAS
A FAMILY TO GO SEE.
YOU'RE GOING TO STICK IT OUT?
YEAH.
I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE,
BUT I WOULDN'T BLAME ANY OF YOU
IF YOU WANT TO GO.
I WAS PLANNING ON TAKING OFF
TO GO SEE THE FAMILY
AND GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE THE
FIRE BLOCKS OUR ROAD, AND SO...
WELL, THAT DOESN'T HELP,
BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
TIME TO GO PACK MY BAGS
AND HIT THE ROAD
BEFORE THE FIRES BLOCK ME
IN DOWN LOW BY THE HIGHWAY.
GET OUT OF HERE.
I HOPE MY TRAILER IS STILL HERE
WHEN I GET BACK.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE A BIG
CHARRED PILE OF MY BELONGINGS.
I'LL HAVE A [ BLEEP ]
END OF MY SEASON.
[ FIRE CRACKLING ]
Narrator:
BACK AT CAMP, THE FIREFIGHTERS
TURN ON THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM.
FOR PARKER AND HIS
REMAINING CREW,
IT'S THEIR LAST LINE OF DEFENSE.
I THINK MAYBE I'LL JUST HOOK
MY TRUCK UP TO MY TRAILER
BEFORE I GO
TO SLEEP TONIGHT IN CASE
I GOT TO EVAC IN THE MORNING.
**
**
Narrator:
IN THE KLONDIKE, TONY BEETS
VOWED TO RELOCATE
HIS SECOND DREDGE
AT THE START OF THE SEASON,
BUT HIS BARGE HAS BEEN DOWN
FOR 5 STRAIGHT WEEKS.
THOUGHT WE WERE MAKING
SOME PROGRESS.
NO.
WE'VE HAD BIG
WATER TANKS HERE.
WE FLUSHED THE ENGINES OUT,
PULLED ALL THE HEAT EXCHANGERS,
COOLERS OUT,
CLEANED THEM OUT.
YOU KNOW,
IT SHOULD BE WORKING,
BUT WE'RE JUST NOT GETTING
THE TRANSFER OF HEAT.
I THINK WE HAVE
SOME MORE SERIOUS ISSUES.
SO TO SPEAK.
**
**
JACK TO TODD.
HEY, TODD, CAN YOU SWING
BY THE GOLD ROOM?
Narrator: TODD'S FAIRPLAY MINE
HAS BEEN DOWN ALL WEEK,
SO HE'S RELYING
ON SACRAMENTO.
HE NEEDS TO DELIVER
OVER 270 OUNCES PER WEEK,
WORTH $324,000.
[ MOANS ]
NOT GOOD, HUH?
Jack: NO, NO.
WELL, WE HAD SOME BREAKDOWNS
THAT WERE TOUGH,
BUT WE WEREN'T
DOWN THAT LONG.
WE WEREN'T DOWN LONG
ENOUGH TO GET 18.85.
Narrator: 18.85 OUNCES
IS ONLY WORTH AROUND $22,000.
I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO,
BUT THIS ISN'T GOOD,
AND THIS ISN'T GOING
TO PAY ANY BILLS.
JUAN HAS WORKED HIS ASS OFF.
WE KEPT THAT BABY RUNNING.
YEAH.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
THAT'S DEMORALIZING,
AND I DON'T WANT
TO HURT OUR MORALE.
OKAY?
YEAH, YEAH.
I WON'T SAY NOTHING
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT GOOD.
NOPE, NOT GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, DAD.
THANKS.
ALL RIGHT.
SORRY.
WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A HELL
OF A LOT MORE GOLD THAN THAT,
SO I DON'T KNOW.
I HAVE SOME DECISIONS TO MAKE,
AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY
NOT GOING TO BE EASY.
IT'S NOT THE EQUIPMENT.
IT'S NOT THE GUYS.
I THINK IT'S THE GROUND.
IT'S OVER.
**
[ RAINFALL ]
Parker: NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY
TO SEE PUDDLES IN OUR YARD.
Ness: DUDE, YOU KNOW, I HEARD
IT START HITTING LAST NIGHT
AS I WAS GOING TO BED,
AND I JUST WENT TO
SLEEP WITH A SMILE. [ LAUGHS ]
SWEET.
THAT WAS SOME HARD RAIN, HUH?
I'D SAY THAT TOOK CARE
OF THE FIRE.
I WOULD THINK SO.
SURE LOOKS LIKE IT ANYWAYS.
YUP.
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,
A NIGHT OF HEAVY RAIN
HAS SAVED PARKER'S CREW
FROM THE ADVANCING WILDFIRE.
OVER 400 ACRES OF KLONDIKE
WILDERNESS HAVE BURNT,
BUT BY A MIRACLE, NO TOWNS,
CAMPS, OR HOMES WERE DESTROYED.
HEY, CHRIS.
Chris: HEY, RICK.
CRAZY [ BLEEP ] RAIN, HUH?
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A RAINSTORM
LIKE THAT BEFORE.
JUST IN TIME.
HOLY COW.
LOOKS LIKE YOU GUYS
FOUND A DRY PLACE.
YEAH, BUDDY.
YEAH.
YOU GOT SOME GOLD?
WE GOT SOME GOLD.
THAT'S GOOD.
WHAT A [ BLEEP ] WEEK.
ALL RIGHT, RICK.
HERE'S BIG RED.
Narrator:
IT'S BEEN A CRAZY WEEK,
BUT TO STAY ON TRACK
FOR PARKER'S 5,000-OUNCE GOAL,
RICK NEEDS BIG RED
TO DELIVER 120 OUNCES.
THERE'S 15, 20, 30...
UGH. [ BLEEP ]
IT'S NOT PAYING.
...AND CHANGE, 42.3.
WORTH JUST $50,000.
THAT'S 10 OUNCES LESS THAN
WHAT YOU HAD LAST WEEK.
YEAH, IT'S BECOMING A COMMON
[ BLEEP ] THEME.
ALL RIGHT, YOUNGSTER.
YOU READY?
YEAH, THIS IS THE LAST
OF THE CREEK CUT?
THIS IS IT.
Narrator: RUNNING FOR JUST
3 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE FIRE,
PARKER WILL BE LUCKY TO GET
ANYWHERE NEAR 120 OUNCES.
SEVENTY, 83.
EIGHTY-THREE OUNCES,
WORTH ALMOST $100,000.
THAT'S ONLY HALF A WEEK.
YEAH.
YEAH, FOR 3 DAYS.
HUNDRED-AND-TWENTY-OUNCE WEEK,
125-OUNCE WEEK.
YEAH, BUCK AND A QUARTER.
WELL, I MEAN, FOR HALF A WEEK,
IT'S NOT BAD, REALLY.
SO WHAT'S OUR
SEASON TOTAL NOW?
TOTAL FOR THE
SEASON IS 1,269.
AT LEAST WE'RE STILL
PUTTING GOLD AWAY,
AND NOBODY GOT SINGED,
SO WE'RE GOOD.
WE DIDN'T HAVE
TO MOVE CAMP.
I MEAN, LOOK
AT THE BRIGHT SIDE.
BRENNAN IS GONE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, GUYS.
YUP.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE
CHALLENGING WEEKS
WE'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME,
PROBABLY SINCE IN THE 5 YEARS
I'VE BEEN UP HERE.
SO HOPEFULLY NOW,
WITH THAT FIRE BEHIND US,
WE CAN GET BACK TO FOCUSING ON
GETTING GOLD OUT OF THE GROUND.
WHAT THE HELL?
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...
[ BLEEP ]
ONE NIGHT, PROBABLY
3 MILLION GALLONS GONE.
DIVE DOWN IN.
GET REAL CLOSE.
COULD BE A TEAR ON A SEAM,
BUT IT'S REALLY CLEAN.
DUDE, WE GOT
SABOTAGED LAST NIGHT.
RAN LAST YEAR.
IT RUNS THIS YEAR.
ARE YOU EXCITED?
I MIGHT AS WELL DO SOMETHING
STUPID WHILE I'M AT IT.
WHOA!
YOU READY TO MOVE
THIS BIG DADDY?
IT'S A GOOD THING
SLUICIFER ISN'T ANY BIGGER.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
OH, NO, SPINNING ALREADY.
THAT'S IT!