Todd Hoffman: GOLD MINING IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
IT'S BASICALLY A MINEFIELD OF BROKEN DREAMS.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW IS DOWN TO THREE.
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE, AND IT'S GOTTA WORK.
Narrator: THE BEATEN MEN FIGHT A DESPERATE BATTLE...
TODD, TURN IT OFF!
...TO GET THEIR ANCIENT EQUIPMENT UP AND RUNNING.
STOP! IT BLEEDS DOWN.
I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
Narrator: THEY WORK HARDER THAN EVER BEFORE...
I'LL KEEP HER GOIN'.
...TO BEAT THE ODDS
FOR THEIR FIRST PAYDAY... [ ALL CHEER ]
HERE IT COMES.
THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD.
...AND THE CHANCE OF REDEMPTION.
THAT'S OUR BEST FIRST CLEANUP EVER.
Narrator: TONY BEETS HAS FALLEN WAY BEHIND...
...IN A FRANTIC ATTEMPT
TO GET HIS MASSIVE, 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE MINING GOLD THIS SEASON.
TONY TEARS INTO IT...
...BUT HIS RECKLESS ABANDON...
...SETS HIM BACK EVEN FURTHER.
YOU SEE ALL THAT TWISTED STEEL UP THERE, TONY?
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL'S 2,000-OUNCE GOLD
LOOKS LESS AND LESS LIKELY... WE'RE FALLIN' BEHIND.
THIS IS, LIKE, THE LEANEST GROUND WE'VE EVER SEEN.
...TO CHANGE HIS FORTUNE.
WE HAVE TO GET THE GOLD OUT OF THE GROUND.
Narrator: THE YOUNG MINE BOSS MAKES THE UNPOPULAR DECISION
TO RUN HIS CREW DAY AND NIGHT...
I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO IT RIGHT NOW.
EITHER WALK OUTTA HERE OR RUN 24/7.
Narrator: BUT FACES PROBLEM... Parker: DAMN.
WE GOT A HOLE IN THE BELT.
...AFTER PROBLEM... THIS JUST ISN'T WORKING.
...AS HE STRUGGLES TO TURN HIS SEASON AROUND.
THAT'S GOOD GOLD.
THAT'S A PRETTY DAMN GOOD PAN.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: TODD, JACK, AND THURBER
ARE ALL THAT REMAIN OF THE HOFFMAN CREW.
OKAY. GET OUT OF THE WAY!
Narrator: THEY'RE WORKING ALONE IN THE YUKON,
TRYING TO RESURRECT THEIR GOLD MINING CAREERS.
WE'RE, UH, STRUGGLIN'.
LAST SEASON WAS SUCH A HORRIBLE TRAIN WRECK
THAT, UH, GOT A COUPLE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AND, UH,
THEY WERE NEW A LONG TIME AGO.
Narrator: ALL THEY WERE ABLE TO SALVAGE
FROM THEIR DISASTROUS SEASON IN THE JUNGLE
WAS THEIR WASH PLANT, LITTLE RED.
THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE, AND IT'S GOTTA WORK,
OR IT -- IT'S OVER. WE'RE DONE.
Narrator: TO GET MORE GOLD
THAN THE PATHETIC 2 OUNCES THEY MINED LAST SEASON,
THE THREE OF THEM SOMEHOW
NEED TO GET LITTLE RED UP AND RUNNING.
WHY DON'T YOU LET ME JUST TELL YOU WHAT TO DO?!
I KNOW WHAT IT'S GOTTA DO.
[ EQUIPMENT CREAKING ]
WE'RE LACKING IN YOUTH AND ABILITY.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD,
BUT WE ARE A TEAM. [ CHUCKLES ]
ONE MINER, ONE OLD GUY, AND ONE FAT GUY.
YOU KNOW WE'RE BEHIND,
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE,
BUT LOOK AT THAT. IT'S ALL PAY DIRT OUT THERE.
WE DO NOT HAVE TO STRIP THIS DIRT,
SO WE CAN ACTUALLY RUN THIS THROUGH,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF PAY DIRT OUT HERE.
AND LET'S JUST GET SOME GOLD, US THREE.
OKAY? OKAY. WE'LL DO IT.
THURB, WE NEED TO, UH, LOAD THAT SLUICE BOX UP ON THE 400,
AND AWAY WE GO.
WATCH THAT TOWLINE.
NICE AND EASY, JACK.
TAKE IT EASY. SLOW.
THERE YOU GO. EASY, EASY, EASY!
[ GROANS ]
400 RUNNIN' PRETTY ROUGH, HUH?
YEAH.
WELL, JUST TRY TO MAKE IT UP HERE.
SEE IF WE CAN GET THE BOX SET.
GET YOUR SLUICE BOXES LEVEL
SO THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY CATCHIN' YOUR GOLD.
YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO DO ALL THIS
WITH PRETTY SHADY EQUIPMENT. GET RIGHT UP TO IT.
THINK "CHING, CHING," THURB, HUH?
[ CLINKING ]
YOU'RE AT THE LEVEL. I WANNA SEE WHERE WE'RE SITTIN' RIGHT HERE.
TRYIN' TO ACHIEVE 2 INCHES PER FOOT OF FALL.
3 INCHES.
SO WE GOTTA COME UP ON THIS END.
WE'RE GONNA HOOK YOU UP. YOU'RE GONNA BRING THE FRONT UP.
OKAY.
WHOA!
WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'?
YOUR OWN THING OR...
COME ON, DAD. STOP!
WE'RE BRINGIN' THIS SIDE OF THE BOX UP. OKAY?
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME. I CAN SEE IT.
IT'S AN INCH AND A HALF OFF.
NO ONE TOLD YOU TO MOVE IT AND NOW YOU'RE MOVIN' IT AGAIN.
IT'S JUST YOUR COMMUNICATION ISN'T RIGHT,
AND IT BLEEDS DOWN, SO YOU'RE GONNA KEEP DOIN' --
I GET IT. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO WHEN I MOVE IT, IT DON'T PAN IT.
I GET IT. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
YOU GOTTA GO DOWN!
I KNOW WHAT IT'S GOTTA DO.
IT JUST AIN'T DOIN' IT.
IT JUST BLEEDS AND BLEEDS AND BLEEDS.
IT MAKES ME WONDER IF I'M WASTIN' MY TIME HERE.
ALL RIGHT. CRAP.
SHE JUST DIED.
OKAY, THURBER, JUMP UP THERE
AND, UH, PUMP SOME MORE FUEL INTO THAT BABY.
ALL RIGHT.
THE FUEL PUMP IS GOIN' OUT.
HYDRAULIC PUMP IS GIVIN' UP.
THIS THING'S DONE.
IT'S WAY PAST ITS PRIME.
SO I HAVE TO KINDA BABY THIS THING ALONG,
BUT IF IT BREAKS DOWN,
WE ARE TOAST,
'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT.
OKAY. GIVE HER A SHOT.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS.
CURL THE BUCKET A LITTLE BIT.
THURBER, DO NOT GET UNDER THAT, THOUGH. OKAY?
SHOULD'VE GOT MY LIFE INSURANCE.
UP. GO UP, PLEASE.
UP.
THURBER, GOOD JOB. DAD, GOOD JOB. WE GOT IT IN.
DON'T BREATHE ON IT. IT'S PERFECT.
WE GOT A PERFECT FALL NOW.
LET'S GO WORK ON THE WATER SUPPLY, GUYS.
Narrator: JUST 200 YARDS AWAY...
LET'S ROLL IT OUT, THURB.
...THERE'S ALREADY A LARGE HOLDING POND
TO SUPPLY THE WASH PLANT.
THIS WILL BE THE FINAL STEP,
AND THEN WE THROW THE KEY TO SEE IF EVERYTHING'S RUNNING.
HAVE NO IDEA YET. BRING IT IN, DAD.
Narrator: ALL THEY NEED NOW IS TO DROP IN THE WATER FILTER.
THIS IS AWESOME.
IT FLOATS OUT THERE AND, UH, KEEPS THE BASKET OFF
OF THE BOTTOM WHERE IT COULD PULL SILT INTO OUR PUMP.
YOU DON'T WANNA PULL A BUNCH OF JUNK INTO YOUR PUMP.
IT COULD RUIN YOUR PUMP.
EASY!
OKAY!
[ THUD ]
WHAT...THE FRICK?
[ EQUIPMENT CREAKING ]
THAT THING'S SUPPOSED TO BE FLOATING.
WE'RE ABOUT 2 FEET SHORT OF WATER HERE.
THE LEGS ARE ON THE BOTTOM.
THAT BASKET'S BARELY UNDERWATER.
IF THAT FLOAT ISN'T FLOATIN', YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER.
I NEED AT LEAST -- I'M -- I'M GUESSIN',
ANOTHER FOOT AND A HALF TO 2 FEET IN HERE.
YOU CAN'T SLUICE WITH DIRTY WATER.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE SCREWED.
Narrator: 10 MILES TO THE EAST AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
19-YEAR-OLD MINE BOSS PARKER SCHNABEL IS GUNNING
FOR 2,000 OUNCES, OR $2.4 MILLION IN GOLD
THIS SEASON.
HIS GOAL -- TO BUY HIS INDEPENDENCE.
Parker: I CAN'T DEAL WITH TONY ANYMORE.
BY THE END OF THE SEASON, I'LL ABLE TO BUY MY OWN GROUND
AND BE MY OWN MAN LIKE MY GRANDPA IS.
Narrator: BUT WITH JUST 80 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH LESS THAN $100,000, AFTER 4 WEEKS OF MINING,
PARKER'S WAY OFF WHAT HE NEEDS TO HIT HIS GOAL.
LET ME KNOW WHAT -- HOW MANY BUCKETS YOU GET IN AN HOUR.
IF I HAVE TO, I'LL CRANK THAT THING UP.
HONESTLY, IF WE'RE GONNA HIT 2,000 OUNCES,
WE REALLY TO START MAKIN' UP GROUND.
WE NEED TO STEP UP PRODUCTION.
WE DON'T WANNA START OUR SEASON BEHIND.
Narrator: IF PARKER'S GOING TO HIT 100 OUNCES EVERY WEEK,
HE NEEDS TO MAKE A RADICAL CHANGE.
I THINK THIS IS, LIKE,
THE LEANEST GROUND WE'VE EVER SEEN,
BUT THIS IS THE ONLY GROUND WE'RE GOT,
SO IF WE CAN'T FIND BETTER GROUND,
THEN WE'VE GOTTA RUN MORE GROUND.
HEY, GENE.
HOW ARE THINGS GOIN'?
DOIN' DAYS RIGHT NOW ON THIS LEAN A GROUND
ISN'T GONNA GET US ANYWHERE,
SO I'M THINKING ABOUT TRYIN' TO CHANGE THINGS UP
AND START A NIGHT SHIFT ON THE PLANT,
START SLUICIN' 24/7
AND START PUMPIN' THIS STUFF THROUGH IT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I GUESS,
I DON'T REALLY AGREE WITH RUNNIN' 24/7.
YEAH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW HOW SHORT THE SEASON IS, GENE.
OH, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA KEEP PAY TO THE PLANT, YOU KNOW?
GOTTA GET MORE PEOPLE.
I CAN, ON NIGHTS, HAUL IN PAY --
I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO IT RIGHT NOW.
EITHER WALK OUTTA HERE
AND THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE TO WALK TO, OR GO 24/7.
THERE'S NO OTHER WAY.
WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE AND WE'RE JUST NOT READY YET.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOOD FOR ONE SHIFT TODAY,
BUT NOT TWO.
GUYS MAY NOT LIKE IT,
BUT WE HAVE TO GET THE GOLD OUT OF THE GROUND.
EVERY WEEK THAT WE DON'T DO
AT LEAST 100 OUNCES IS A WEEK WE'RE FALLIN' BEHIND.
Narrator: AT 7:00 P.M., PARKER STARTS THE NEW REGIME.
OH, NEW GUY!
CHRIS, THIS IS DAVID.
DAVID, HOW YOU DOIN'? HEY, CHRIS.
HE'S GONNA BE RUNNIN' NIGHTS, STARTIN' TONIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. YEAH.
SO IF YOU COULD, SHOW HIM THE ROPES ON THE PLANT?
HAVE YOU DONE ANY OPERATIN' OF PLANTS LIKE THIS?
YEAH, I'VE RUN A COUPLE PLANTS BEFORE.
[ CLOSES DOOR ]
LITTLE UNNERVING, WATCHIN' A NEW GUY ON THE PLANT.
WE FINALLY GOT IT DIALED IN.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE WISEST DECISION OR NOT.
NEW GUY AND I ARE GONNA TRY TO RUN THE PLANT TONIGHT,
SO I'M GONNA HAUL IN PAY. GOOD LUCK.
YEAH. THAT TRUCK READY TO GO? YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS, MAN. YEP.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO HOT SEAT HERE,
LOAD THESE TRUCKS, GET THE PAY UP TO THE PLANT,
AND HOPE I CAN KEEP UP.
Narrator: PARKER LOADS IN THE EXCAVATOR
AND THEN JUMPS IN THE ROCK TRUCK TO DRIVE PAY DIRT
OVER TO THE NEW GUY, DAVID.
BY 1:30 A.M., THE 2-MAN NIGHT CREW HAS ALREADY
RUN OVER 400 YARDS OF PAY DIRT.
I'M NOT LIVING THE DREAM. I'M COLD AND I'M TIRED,
AND I'M TOO SOBER TO STILL BE AWAKE AT 1:30 IN THE MORNING.
Narrator: PARKER'S WORKED 17 HOURS STRAIGHT,
AND HE'S STARTING TO LOSE IT.
HEY, PARKER, CAN YOU HURRY UP WITH THIS PAY DIRT?
THIS PILE'S GETTIN' PRETTY SMALL HERE.
ROGER THAT. I'LL TRY TO PICK IT UP.
I'VE GOTTA BE DOIN' EIGHT LOADS AN HOUR,
AND WITH THE WAY THIS HAUL IS, I'M DOIN' ABOUT SIX AN HOUR
SO THAT REALLY STARTS PUTTIN' ME BEHIND.
You're gonna have to pick up the pace there, Parker.
YEAH. I MEAN, I'M TRYIN', MAN. [ STATIC CRACKLES ]
WE'RE GONNA BE RUNNIN' OUT HERE IN A COUPLE MINUTES, I THINK.
Narrator: DAVID SCRAPES UP THE LAST OF THE DIRT
PARKER STOCKPILED.
HEY, PARKER. THE PAY DIRT IS GONE.
THIS JUST ISN'T WORKING.
I CAN'T KEEP UP.
[BLEEP] IT. [BLEEP] IT. WE'LL JUST SHUT IT DOWN.
ALL RIGHTY. THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO DO.
I CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE PLANT.
IT'S A LONG HAUL,
AND ONE GUY, AND IT'S JUST NOT GONNA DO IT.
Narrator: AT 3:00 A.M.,
AFTER AN 8-HOUR NIGHT SHIFT, PARKER CALLS IT.
HE JUST CAN'T HAUL ENOUGH PAY DIRT TO KEEP THE PLANT FED.
THE GROUND'S LEAN,
AND THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THAT IS TO RUN MORE OF IT,
AND SEEMS LIKE EVEN THAT RIGHT NOW IS NOT AN OPTION.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
Narrator: AT CLEAR CREEK,
TONY BEETS IS TAKING HIS 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE APART
TO MOVE IT 150 MILES TO HIS NEW CLAIM,
BUT HE'S ALREADY FALLEN A WEEK BEHIND SCHEDULE.
Narrator: BUILT IN 1939,
IN ITS BEST SEASON, THIS FLOATING GOLD FACTORY
CAUGHT $5 MILLION IN GOLD.
TONY IS DEAD SET ON RESURRECTING IT THIS SEASON.
HE'S FINALLY GOT HIS NEW CRANE ON SITE
TO REMOVE THE 6-TON GANTRY,
THE MASSIVE STRUCTURE USED TO SUPPORT THE BUCKET LINE.
IF WE CAN TAKE IT OUT IN ONE PIECE, FINE,
BUT IF IT BENDS, IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
RIGHT WHERE IT'S ATTACHED.
TAKE IT APART, AND THEN WE'LL LET IT DOWN IN TWO PIECES.
THEN WE DON'T TAKE A CHANCE ON BENDING IT UP THERE.
RIGHT.
Narrator: THE GANTRY IS A PIVOTING STEEL STRUCTURE
THAT SUPPORTS THE GOLD-CATCHING BUCKET LINE.
THE GANTRY IS HELD IN PLACE BY A BRACE.
BY REMOVING THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THEM,
TONY CAN LOWER THE GANTRY WITHOUT THE 3-TON BRACE
STRAINING THE 75-YEAR-OLD STEEL WORK.
BUT HE CAN'T RISK ANY MISTAKES.
THERE'S NOWHERE TO GET SPARE PARTS FOR THE DREDGE.
HEIGHTS? YEAH.
OH [BLEEP] JUST DON'T LOOK DOWN.
OH...
IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN GET ALL THE BOLTS OUT.
YEAH.
YEAH, WHEN YOU STAND RIGHT HERE WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH,
TAKE 'EM ALL OUT.
HEY! OH.
YIKES.
THIS WHOLE THING FELL THROUGH!
OKAY?
Narrator: THE 75-YEAR-OLD DECK IS ROTTEN.
TONY, THE LUMBER IS [BLEEP] UP.
I CAN HARDLY STAND ON IT WITHOUT FALLIN' THROUGH.
Narrator: AND TONY DOESN'T HAVE TIME
TO MAKE THE PLATFORM SAFE ENOUGH TO REMOVE THE BOLTS
AND DISCONNECT THE BRACE.
I THINK THAT'D BE THE BEST, THEN NOBODY'S UP THERE.
YEAH. BRACE WILL COME DOWN WITH THE GANTRY.
YEAH...
YOU GOT IT?
Narrator: TONY NEEDS SOMEONE TO CLIMB THE STEEL WORK
AND HOOK UP THE CRANE.
HE VOLUNTEERS HIS SON KEVIN.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
YEAH.
GOTTA GO UP ON TOP OF IT!
FEELS VERY WINDY!
I LIKE THAT PLAN.
JUST ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE.
Narrator: THE GANTRY AND THE BRACE
HAVE NOT BEEN MOVED FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
IF THEY GET DAMAGED, IT COULD BE NEXT SEASON
BEFORE TONY CAN CONSTRUCT A REPLACEMENT.
YEAH, THIS IS THE FINAL BOLT.
SO THIS WILL GET REALLY EXCITING
AND EVERYONE SHOULD STAND [BLEEP] BACK.
ARE YOU READY? GO.
[ DRILLS ]
GO THE RIGHT WAY. THAT HELPS.
[ DRILLING RESUMES ]
OKAY.
YOU GOT THAT...
I'LL NEED SOMEBODY TO PUT PRESSURE ON IT,
SO SHOULD JUST SLIDE OUT.
LET'S SEE.
NOW IS THE FUN BIT.
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN.
I CAN JUST SEE A PROBLEM HERE.
[ CREAKING ] HEY!
IT'S TWISTING.
HEY, TONY.
HEY!
HOLD IT DOWN, NOW. WE'LL WATCH. [ STATIC CRACKLES ]
WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE GANTRY IS A BIT TWISTED.
YOU SEE ALL THAT TWISTED STEEL UP THERE, TONY?
Narrator: 60 MILES SOUTH, AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMANS' HOLDING POND IS LOW ON WATER.
TODD'S HUNTING DOWN THE WATER SOURCE
USED BY THE MINERS THAT WENT BUST HERE LAST SEASON.
THE LAST GUYS THAT WERE HERE,
THEY MUST HAVE BEEN GETTIN' THEIR WATER
ALL THE WAY FROM DOWN THERE.
HERE'S THEIR SUCTION.
LOOK AT THIS PUMP.
IT PULLED THE WATER AND SENT IT
ALL THE WAY UP TO THE PLANT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LONG WAY TO PUSH THAT.
THAT IS GOOD WATER.
Narrator: TO FILL THEIR HOLDING POND,
THEY'LL HAVE TO PUMP THE WATER A HALF MILE UP THE PIPELINE.
BUT THE ONLY PUMP THEY HAVE IS OVER 50 YEARS OLD.
HOW DO YOU START THAT THING?
HECK, I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE SEEN ONE OF THOSE LEVERS, THURBER,
IN AN OLD WORLD WAR II MOVIE,
WHERE THEY DROP THE BOMBS OUT OF THE BOMBER.
YOU GOTTA SIT THERE AND THROW THAT IN.
THAT ENGAGES YOUR CLUTCH.
DAD, WHY DON'T YOU GO DOWN TO THE END
AND TELL ME HOW MUCH WATER'S COMIN' OUT OF THAT THING?
WHAT -- LET ME JUST FIRE IT UP, GIVE HER A SHOT, OKAY?
[ SWITCH CLICKS, WHIRRING ]
[ WHIRRING STOPS ]
Hey. We're up at the top. You can fire it up.
[ STATIC CRACKLES ]
OKAY. I'M TRYIN'.
[ GROANS ]
WE GOT FUEL AND HERE SHE GOES.
[ WHIRRING ]
COME ON. COME ON, COME ON.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE GOTTA GET THIS PRIMED UP.
GET THE PUMP PUMPIN' WATER!
HERE IT COMES. HERE SHE COMES.
THE PIPE IS TIGHT. WE'RE PUSHIN' WATER.
ALL I'M HEARING RIGHT NOW IS SOME SOUNDS,
BUT THAT'S, UH, THAT'S ABOUT IT.
I'M AT ABOUT 500 R.P.M.
I think I'm gonna throttle it up a little bit.
Bring it up to 700 RPM. [ STATIC CRACKLES ]
YEAH, I'M ABOUT 700 R.P.M.
Do you see anything coming up to that baby?
Not seeing anything yet.
OH, DAD, I SEE SOME SHOOTIN' OUT THE SIDE.
Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK, THE HOFFMAN CREW
IS DOWN TO JUST TODD, JACK, AND THURBER.
BEFORE THEY CAN FIRE UP THE WASH PLANT AND START MINING,
THEY HAVE TO PUMP WATER A HALF MILE
UP INTO THEIR HOLDING POND.
OH, DAD! I SEE SOME SHOOTIN' OUT THE SIDE.
HEY, SHUT IT OFF!
TURN IT OFF, TODD!
DAMN IT!
WE GOT A TORN GASKET OR NO GASKET HERE.
[ GROANS ]
IT'S FRUSTRATING. IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.
WE JUST CAN'T RUN DOWN TO THE HARDWARE STORE
AND PICK SOMETHIN' UP.
YOU GOTTA IMPROVISE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE BUSH.
WE DON'T HAVE THE EXACT PART,
BUT YOU FIND SOMETHIN' THAT YOU THINK WILL WORK
AND, UH, YOU GIVE IT A GO.
HERE'S SOME OLD HOSE.
I CAN CUT THIS STRIP, WRAP IT AROUND THAT PIPE,
CLAMP IT TOGETHER.
MAYBE IT'LL WORK.
I THINK I HAVE A FIX.
HEY, TODD. GO AHEAD AND FIRE IT UP.
OKAY, UH, WE'LL GIVE HER A SHOT HERE.
DON'T SEE ANYTHING YET.
Have you started it comin'? [ STATIC CRACKLES ]
WOULD YOU SHUT UP FOR ONE SECOND?
[ GROANS ]
WHAT DID HE SAY?
[ SWITCH CLICKS, ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
LOOKS LIKE SHE'S PUMPIN' WATER.
I can hear it!
[ WHIRRING ]
Okay, here she comes. Got about half a pipe full.
WELL, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. [ CHUCKLES ] ALL RIGHT.
THURB, YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
I WOULDN'T SAY WE'RE OUT OF THE WOODS YET,
BUT WE'RE ONE STEP CLOSER. HERE WE GO.
Narrator: OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S NIGHT SHIFT PLAN HAS FAILED.
HE'S OUT OF STOCKPILED PAY DIRT AND CAN'T RUN THE WASH PLANT.
PARKER'S HAD JUST FOUR HOURS SLEEP IN TWO DAYS,
BUT HE'S UP EARLY AND BACK AT IT.
SO WE'RE ABOUT TO CHANGE THINGS UP
A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: HE SHIFTS HIS ENTIRE CREW ONTO HAULING PAY DIRT.
[ ENGINE RUMBLING ]
Parker: WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PAY STOCKPILED AT THE PLANT
TO RUN ALL NIGHT,
SO WE ARE GONNA HAUL ALL THIS PAY OUT OF HERE
AND STOCKPILE IT,
AND HOPEFULLY OUR NIGHT SHIFT TONIGHT WILL BE SLUICIN'.
THIS IS A SHORT SEASON,
AND EVERY HOUR THAT WE'RE NOT SLUICING
IS AN HOUR WE DON'T GET BACK.
WE JUST GOTTA GO FOR IT.
IF WE NEED TO THE PLANT TO RUN 24/7,
THEN WE'LL DO WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
Narrator: PARKER'S LOST FIVE HOURS OF SLUICING.
IT'S 1:00 P.M. BEFORE THEY FIRE UP THE WASH PLANT.
WE'RE BACK UP AND RUNNIN' AGAIN.
ABOUT TIME. NOW MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME GOLD.
PARKER WANTS TO RUN THE WASH PLANT 24 HOURS A DAY,
WHICH MEANS WE GOTTA GET A LOT MORE MATERIAL UP TO THE PLANT.
PRESSURE'S TURNED ON.
WE'RE ALREADY WORKIN' PRETTY DAMN HARD,
BUT WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO BUST ASS AND GET IT FOR HIM.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD STOCKPILE HERE,
AND THIS SHOULD RUN DOUBLE SHIFTS,
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CAN CRANK UP 24/7
AS SOON AS WE'RE READY HERE,
BECAUSE WE'VE DEFINITELY GOT THE PAY.
Narrator: WITH A THOUSAND YARDS OF PAY DIRT STOCKPILED,
PARKER AND DAVID START THE NIGHT SHIFT ONCE AGAIN.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A PRESSURE.
SOMEBODY'S GOTTA DO THE JOB, I GUESS.
IT'S ALWAYS HARDER TO SEE THAT
EVERYTHING'S WORKIN' PROPERLY AT NIGHT.
Parker: WE REALLY NEED THIS TO WORK.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA FIND THE GOLD WE NEED IS --
IS JUST RUNNING THE YARDING,
BECAUSE WE'VE DROPPED DOWN WHAT WE'RE DOIN' PER HOUR.
AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, PISSIN' IN THE WIND.
David: [BLEEP] PARKER, WE GOT A PROBLEM.
WE GOT A PROBLEM. THIS TAIL END CONVEYOR -- SHE JAMMED RIGHT UP.
WHAT HAPPENED?
OH, WE GOT A HOLE IN THE BELT
ON THE TAIL END CONVEYOR. [BLEEP]
WE GOT A LOT OF FINE ROCKS BUILDING UP IN THERE,
WHICH CAN JAM IT UP,
AND THAT'LL SMOKE YOUR BELT ON THE TAIL END CONVEYOR.
UH, IF WE KEEP RUNNING IT,
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA RIP [BLEEP]
Narrator: IF PARKER DOESN'T STOP THE CONVEYOR,
THE DAMAGED BELT WILL RIP IN HALF,
PUTTING BIG RED OUT OF ACTION FOR DAYS.
Parker: I DON'T REALLY WANNA [BLEEP] THAT BELT UP.
WELL, I GUESS WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SHUT IT DOWN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, BUT RIGHT NOW
IT'S NOT CUTTIN' IT.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET THIS THING GOING 24/7?
Narrator: AT CLEAR CREEK,
TONY BEETS AND HIS TEAM ARE REMOVING A CRITICAL PIECE
OF HIS GOLD-CATCHING DREDGE --
THE 6-TON, STEEL GANTRY.
Narrator: THEY'VE LOWERED THE GANTRY TO THE GROUND
AND BENT THE STEEL IN THE PROCESS.
NOW THEY HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE GANTRY FROM THE DREDGE
BY REMOVING THE PINS IT HINGES ON.
OKAY.
RIGHT BEHIND YA.
HEY, ON THE BARREL BEHIND YA.
Narrator: WHEN TONY LOWERED THE GANTRY IN ONE PIECE,
HE TWISTED THE STRUCTURE.
NOW HE'S PAYING THE PRICE.
WELL, I THINK THAT BEAM TWISTED LIKE THAT.
IT'S PROBABLY PUTTIN' A PRETTY GOOD BIND
ON THAT OTHER PIN,
SO THAT OTHER PIN'S NOT GONNA COME OUT VERY EASY.
IF YOU CAN GET THINGS LINED UP PERFECTLY,
YOU CAN SLIDE IT IN WITH YOUR FINGERS.
WANT ME TO GET A TORCH, BURN THOSE OTHERS OFF?
I'LL JUST...
Narrator: THE TWISTED GANTRY IS LOCKED IN PLACE
BY THREE REMAINING PINS.
THE PLAN IS TO REMOVE THE BOLTS
THAT HOLD THE TWO OUTER BEAMS TO THE DREDGE.
THIS SHOULD RELEASE THE TWIST ON THE GANTRY
AND ALLOW THEM TO REMOVE THE FINAL TRAPPED PIN.
WELL, WITH HIM CUTTIN' THEM BOLTS OFF,
IT OUGHTA FREE THIS SIDE UP,
AND THAT'LL PROBABLY FREE THAT PIN UP
SO HE CAN GET IT OUT OF THERE.
HEAVE HER UP.
HOLD ONE SECOND.
Narrator: THE DREDGE WAS LEFT TO ROT HERE
AFTER ITS LAST SHIFT 27 YEARS AGO,
BUT TONY'S CONVINCED HE CAN RESTORE IT
AND CATCH THOUSANDS OF OUNCES OF GOLD, LIKE THE OLD-TIMERS.
Narrator: AT McKINNON CREEK,
TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN STARTED THEIR SEASON WITH NO CLAIM,
NO MACHINES, AND NO MEN.
NOT THAT ONE. OKAY.
Narrator: NOW IF THEY CAN JUST
GET CLEAN WATER TO THEIR WASH PLANT,
THEY CAN ONCE AGAIN CALL THEMSELVES GOLD MINERS.
FOR THE LAST 24 HOURS,
THEY'VE BEEN PUMPING WATER INTO THEIR HOLDING POND.
THEY'RE FINALLY READY TO FIRE UP LITTLE RED
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
FIRE UP THE GENERATOR. [ SWITCH CLICKS, WHIRRING ]
WORKING!
WORKIN' GOOD.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE GOT WATER!
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOO! YEAH!
LISTEN, DAD, I WANT YOU TO PUT THE FIRST BUCKET IN.
I'LL KEEP HER GOIN'.
YOU KNOW, ALL THIS WORK AND ALL THIS PLANNING
HAS COME DOWN TO THIS.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THIS THING'S ACTUALLY RUNNIN'.
OKAY. HERE IT COMES.
IT'S WORKIN' GOOD!
BIG ROCKS GOIN' THAT WAY,
THE MATERIAL WITH THE GOLD'S GOIN' THROUGH THE SLUICE.
ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.
I'M EXCITED. I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.
IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD SEASON.
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT DAY AND A HALF,
THE SKELETON CREW PUSH THEIR 36-YEAR-OLD LOADER
AND TRUSTED 400 EXCAVATOR HARDER THAN EVER BEFORE,
RUNNING 2,000 YARDS OF PAY DIRT.
THIS ISN'T IDEAL,
BUT I'M GETTIN' PAY DIRT.
[ CLANKING ]
THURBER, I NEED YOUR HELP.
WHAT'S GOIN' ON?
HOLY CRIPE, LOOK AT THAT.
YEAH, WHAT'S UP?
IT JUST QUIT.
CAN YOU JUST GET IT TO DUMP DIRT?
TODD, I KNOW WHEN ENGINES GO, AND THIS ONE WENT.
THIS PUPPY ISN'T GONNA GO ANYMORE.
IT SEIZED UP.
UGH!
WE DON'T HAVE AN EXCAVATOR TO LOAD THAT PLANT.
THURBER, LET'S GO CUT THE WATER.
[ WHIRRING ]
[ WHIRRING STOPS ]
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S CREW GETS STARTED ON A CLEANUP.
Parker: THIS LAST RUN HERE DOESN'T LOOK REAL GREAT.
HOW MANY HOURS ARE ON IT RIGHT NOW?
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T REALLY KEEP TRACK OF HOURS.
GEEZ. FIRST PICKER OF THE SEASON.
IT'S MORE THAN A PICKER. YOU WANNA DOOM IT?
NEVER FIND NUGGETS.
WELL, IF YOU USE PARKER'S HANDS,
THEY'RE SMALLER AND THE NUGGET LOOKS BIGGER.
HA HA, FUNNY.
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER FINISHES THE CLEANUP FOR THE WEEK.
WE TRIED TO GET THE NIGHT SHIFT TO WORK AND IT WOULDN'T,
SO...I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GONNA BE IN IT,
BUT THIS CAN'T BE UNDER 100 OUNCES,
OR IT'S NOT PAYIN' THE BILLS.
Narrator: TONY BEETS, PARKER'S CLAIM OWNER, ARRIVES
FOR THE GOLD WEIGH.
OH, KINDA ROUGH, REALLY.
WE TRYIN' TO GET NIGHT SHIFTS GOIN'
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SHORTHANDED,
SO I'VE BEEN THROWIN' IN.
MAYBE 20, 30.
Narrator: TO HIT HIS GOAL OF 2,000 OUNCES,
WORTH $2.4 MILLION,
PARKER NEEDS AT LEAST 100 OUNCES EVERY WEEK.
90.83.
Narrator: 90 OUNCES IS WORTH MORE THAN $100,000.
THIS IS TWO WEEKS NOW THAT WE'RE UNDER.
I DON'T KNOW EVEN IF WE'RE COVERIN' FUEL.
Narrator: PARKER WEIGHS OUT TONY'S CUT --
13 1/2 OUNCES OF GOLD, WORTH $16,000.
RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS, TONY.
Narrator: FOUR WEEKS INTO THE SEASON,
PARKER STILL HASN'T MANAGED A SINGLE 100-OUNCE CLEANUP.
Parker: I MEAN, ALL WE EVER TALK ABOUT
IS HOW SHORT THE SEASON IS.
IF YOU FALL BEHIND, IT'S SO HARD TO CATCH UP,
AND THE PROBLEM IS, THAT'S TRUE.
Narrator: BACK AT McKINNON CREEK,
THE HOFFMANS' ONLY EXCAVATOR IS DEAD.
THEY JUST GOT STARTED
AND SUDDENLY HAVE NO WAY TO MINE.
ONE OF THE WORST -- WORST DAYS OF MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S ONLY ONE GLIMMER OF HOPE IN THIS WHOLE SITUATION,
AND THAT IS THAT I GOT GOLD IN THE BOX.
Narrator: TODD'S ONLY CHANCE OF REPAIRING OR REPLACING
THE 400 EXCAVATOR IS TO GET A PILE OF GOLD
OUT OF THEIR FIRST CLEANUP.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE RAN THE YARDS
TO BE THAT BIG OF A CLEANUP.
MAYBE 5 OR 10 OUNCES MAX.
YOUR HANDS...
THAT WOULDN'T EVEN BUY A BUCKET FOR AN EXCAVATOR UP HERE.
SO...
YOU KNOW, THIS COULD TAKE, UH,
TAKE THE SAP RIGHT OUTTA YA, BUT WE'LL SEE.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S, UH, DRY IT OUT, DAD.
IT'S -- IT'S NOT OUR BIGGEST, IT'S NOT OUR SMALLEST,
BUT IT COULD BE OUR MOST IMPORTANT CLEANUP
WE'VE EVER DONE RIGHT HERE.
DAD, LET'S MEASURE IT UP.
ALL RIGHT. 3, THERE'S 4...
THAT SOUND JUST NEVER GETS OLD,
YOUR GOLD FALLIN' INTO A JAR.
10... 10.
11, 12...
18, 19, 20...
NOW WE'RE TALKIN'.
ALL RIGHT. STILL GOT SOME GOIN'.
27... YES!
28...
YEAH!
31...32...
33...
34.
WOW.
Narrator: 34 OUNCES, WORTH OVER $40,000.
THAT'S OUR BEST FIRST CLEANUP EVER.
THAT'S IT.
[ LAUGHS ] HUH?
Narrator: THEY MAY HAVE A BROKEN-DOWN EXCAVATOR,
BUT THEIR FIRST KLONDIKE CLEANUP
IS 17 TIMES MORE
THAN THEY GOT IN GUYANA ALL OF LAST SEASON.
34 OUNCES. GUYS, WE DID IT.
HOLY CRAP. 32 WITH LITTLE RED.
THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD. WE JUST MIGHT HAVE ENOUGH GOLD
TO GET AN EXCAVATOR, GUYS.
I NEED TO RIDE INTO TOWN.
I THINK I NEED TO TELL MY WIFE I'M STAYIN'.
FOR THE AMOUNT OF DIRT WE RAN, THIS GROUND IS FRICKIN' AWESOME.
YEAH. HERE WE GO, HUH?
WE'RE STILL IN THE GAME. WE'RE NOT GOIN' HOME.
THIS LAND HAS GOT SOMETHIN' SPECIAL,
AND I REALLY WANNA FIND OUT WHAT IT'S GOT FOR US.
ME, MY DAD, AND THURBER, WE'RE FRICKIN' BACK.
RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH,"
TONY BEETS MAKES A DRASTIC MOVE...
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I NEED? I NEED MONEY.
...TAKING TO THE SKIES... LET'S GO.
...AS HE STRUGGLES TO RECOVER LOST TIME.
PARKER SCHNABEL NEEDS TO GET BACK ON TRACK...
THEN LET'S DO IT.
...AND MAKES A RASH DECISION THAT SPLITS HIS CREW.
WASN'T FAST ENOUGH, THEN GET SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO IT.
THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
Narrator: AND A DEFEATED TODD HOFFMAN...
WHAT THE FRICK?!
GUYS, SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN.
...SUCKS UP HIS PRIDE...
WE NEED MORE MEN.
...AND CALLS THE ONE MAN WHO CAN SAVE HIS SEASON.
DAVE, IT'S TODD. I NEED YA.