I WANT HILARIOUS GOLD.
Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH..."
Todd: WE GOT A CHANCE TO PROSPECT
THE RICHEST CREEK EVER FOUND IN NORTH AMERICA.
YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS, YOU GO FOR IT.
OUR BEST CHANCE IS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
Ness: THAT'S UGLY.
[ BLEEP ]
Doumitt: TWO TIRES IN 20 MINUTES.
I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THAT.
GEEZ.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. -STOP!
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY MORE WATER.
♪
WE ARE KICKING ASS.
Nice job, bud.
Narrator: SPIRITS ARE HIGH ON THE HOFFMAN CLAIM.
[ CHUCKLES ] WHAT?
THAT JUST HAPPENED.
I DIDN'T PUT ONE SCOOP IN HIS TRUCK.
Didn't get any dirt in there.
[ BLEEP ] YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
Narrator: AFTER JUST SIX WEEKS,
THE CREW ALREADY HAS 484 OUNCES OF GOLD.
AND THEY'VE JUST HAD THEIR BEST CLEANUP SO FAR --
204 OUNCES, WORTH $220,000.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA ASK YOU NOW, DAVE.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE MY DAD, HUNTER, AND FREDDY
TO TAKE A LOOK AT ELDORADO.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Narrator: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON,
THREE GENERATIONS OF HOFFMAN MEN
SCOUTED THE LEGENDARY ELDORADO CREEK
WITH CLAIM OWNER PETER TALLMAN.
Tallman: THIS IS THE RICHEST DOCUMENTED CREEK
IN NORTH AMERICA.
Narrator: SINCE DISCOVERING ELDORADO CREEK IN 1896,
MINERS HAVE PULLED OVER $1 BILLION WORTH OF GOLD
FROM THE AREA.
Jack: OH, MY GOSH.
BUT NO ONE HAS EVER FOUND THE SOURCE OF ALL OF THE GOLD.
I WANT TO DO IT.
TO PURSUE JACK'S DREAM,
DAVE TURIN HAS TO AGREE TO RUN McKINNON CREEK
WHILE THE HOFFMANS PROSPECT ELDORADO.
I HATE SPLITTING UP THE CREW,
BUT WE GOT A BIG MOUNTAIN OF PAY,
PLANT'S DIALED UP.
EVERYTHING'S RUNNING SMOOTH.
IF YOU GOT TO GO, NOW'S THE BEST TIME.
Todd: WE GOT A CHANCE TO PROSPECT
THE RICHEST CREEK EVER FOUND, BASICALLY,
IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND.
BE CAREFUL.
LOVE YOU. SEE YOU IN A BIT.
YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS, YOU GO FOR IT.
♪
Narrator: THE SHORTEST ROUTE UP TO ELDORADO
IS A MUDDY DIRT TRACK.
Todd: TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT PROSPECTING
WITH MY DAD AND MY SON,
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHERE YOU KIND OF DREAM OF.
SOME PEOPLE MAY LAUGH AT US, BUT IN THE END,
WE DO THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT.
HEY, FREDDY, WE GOT A TREE IN THE WAY.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO STOP.
HUNTER, YOU GET OUT. HOOK THE WINCH ON.
I'LL BACK THE POLARIS UP, AND I'LL JUST PULL IT.
Jack: COME ON.
COME ON.
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT IT.
WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I MEAN, COULD GOLD BE UP HERE THIS HIGH?
IT'S WHEREVER THE FAULT IS.
YOU GOT TO START AT THE TOP.
AND THEN IF IT'S NOT THERE, WE HAVE TO WORK OUR WAY DOWN.
Narrator: SOMEWHERE HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE ELDORADO,
THERE IS A GOLD-RICH QUARTZ VEIN.
OVER TIME, STREAMS HAVE ERODED THIS VEIN,
CARRYING GOLD DOWN INTO THE VALLEYS BELOW.
AS THE HOFFMANS WORK THEIR WAY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN,
THE HIGHEST GOLD THEY FIND
SHOULD REVEAL THE LOCATION OF THE VEIN --
THE SOURCE OF THE GOLD.
WE'RE ALMOST AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN HERE.
IF THE VEINS WERE UP THERE AND WE'RE CLOSER TO THEM
THE GOLD COULD BE DANG GOOD RIGHT HERE.
IF THE VEINS ARE DOWN BELOW US, THERE MAY NOT BE SQUAT HERE.
LET'S PAN SOME.
LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
Dodge: IT'S PRETTY DANG HARD TO FIND A FAULT LINE OR A VEIN.
WE'RE LOOKING AT FEET AND FEET OF BLACK MUCK
ON TOP OF WHO KNOWS WHAT UNDER US RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: FINDING A FAULT LINE
IS LIKE FINDING A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.
LOOKING FOR SOME ROUNDED GRAVEL, HOPEFULLY CLOSE TO BEDROCK.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE BETTER SPOTS TO HOPEFULLY FIND THE SOURCE.
Todd: WE ARE IN THE RIGHT AREA.
WE JUST GOT TO FIND THE RIGHT SPOT.
-NOTHING. -NOTHING.
NO GOLD HERE.
WE'RE ABOVE THE SOURCE.
WE GOT TO GO DOWNHILL BELOW THE SOURCE
'CAUSE GOLD FOLLOWS GRAVITY AND GOES DOWN.
WELL, WE'LL DROP DOWN LOWER, WE'LL PAN,
AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN FIND IT.
Narrator: OVER THE LAST 120 YEARS,
ELDORADO CREEK HAS BEEN MINED BY THOUSANDS OF PROSPECTORS.
BUT JACK HAS FAITH IN HIS QUEST.
CAREFUL, DAD.
THEY WORKED THIS PLACE HARD.
THEY GOT A LOT OF GOLD OUT OF HERE.
BUT THEY'VE MISSED THE SOURCE.
WATER'S NOT GETTING ANY WARMER.
OH, DUDE.
-YOU CAN DO IT. -NO.
YOU PUT YOUR HANDS IN THERE.
-YOU CAN DO IT! -DON'T PUSS OUT.
Todd: JUSTIN BIEBER OF THE NORTH.
-DUDE. -QUICK PAN.
COME ON, COLOR.
I'M NOT SEEING WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE YET.
YEAH, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING.
SAME RESULT AS THE LAST PAN, TODD -- NOTHING.
SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T HAD VERY GOOD LUCK.
LET'S KEEP MOVING.
LET'S GO TRY ANOTHER SPOT.
♪
THERE'S GOT TO BE VIRGIN BACK IN HERE.
-FREDDY. -YEAH?
I BROUGHT THAT DRONE UP HERE.
I WAS THINKING IF WE TOOK THE DRONE OUT, FLEW IT UP ABOVE,
WE CAN KIND OF GET A GOOD LOOK UP ON THE HILL HERE.
MAY BE A LITTLE VIRGIN PATCH UP THERE.
YOU CAN COVER MORE GROUND WITH THAT IN AN HOUR
THAN WE CAN IN A WEEK WALKING AROUND IN THIS THICK STUFF.
[ DRONE WHIRRING ]
Narrator: HUNTER IS BRINGING PROSPECTING
THE LEGENDARY ELDORADO CREEK INTO THE 21st CENTURY.
TAKE IT AS HIGH AS YOU CAN GET ME.
THE DRONE ALLOWS THE HOFFMANS TO SURVEY THE VALLEY
FROM 200 FEET ABOVE THE TREES...
GOOD, HUNTER. GOOD.
...SOMETHING THE OLD-TIMERS COULD ONLY DREAM OF.
WHAT'S UP HERE? LOOK AT THAT.
Dodge: HUH, WONDER IF IT'S AN OLD BENCH UP THERE --
AN OLD BENCH ON THE SIDE.
A BENCH IS WHERE THE CREEK USED TO BE.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN UP THERE 10,000 YEARS AGO.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN UP THERE A MILLION YEARS AGO.
SEE WHERE THOSE SPRUCE TREES ARE ON THE BENCH?
-YEAH. -WE KNOW THAT'S VIRGIN.
THOSE SPRUCE TREES ARE 150 YEARS OLD.
IT HASN'T BEEN MINED THERE.
LET'S GO FOR A LITTLE HIKE AND SEE WHAT'S UP THERE.
Narrator: THE HOFFMANS MAY HAVE JUST FOUND
THE LAST VIRGIN GROUND IN ELDORADO CREEK.
IS THIS IT, YOU THINK?
THAT SURE LOOKS LIKE THAT BENCH YOU HAD ON THAT DRONE.
YOU SEE WHERE IT GOES UP?
YOU CAN JUST SEE IT STARTING TO FLATTEN.
WE'RE RIGHT UP FROM WHERE WE WERE FLYING THE DRONE.
IT WAS JUST TO THE LEFT OF US, UP THE HILL
A COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS. -OKAY.
Narrator: JACK'S DREAM IS ALIVE.
ALL WE GOT TO DO IS FIND ONE PLACE THAT THEY MISSED.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT COULD HAVE ALL THE GOLD.
THIS COULD BE THE FAULT.
TELL YOU WHAT, I THINK I MIGHT WAIT HERE ON THIS ONE.
I'M BUILT FOR COMFORT, NOT CLIMBING.
-IT'S PRETTY STEEP RIGHT HERE. -YEAH.
WELL, THIS IS DEFINITELY VIRGIN GROUND.
THOSE TREES ARE 150 YEARS OLD.
LET'S PUNCH A HOLE RIGHT HERE, HUNTER.
SEE WHAT LIVES UNDER THIS.
Narrator: BUT IN THE KLONDIKE...
OH, GEEZ.
THAT'S NOT GOOD.
...VIRGIN GROUND NEVER COMES EASY.
OOH, FEEL THAT -- ICE-COLD.
LET ME TRY A PICK.
EVEN THE ROOTS ARE FROZEN.
HEY, TODD. -YEAH?
GROUND'S FROZE SOLID.
WE SURE AS HECK AREN'T DIGGING IT WITH A SHOVEL.
♪
Schnabel: YOU KNOW, ANY OTHER MACHINE COULD HAVE BROKE DOWN,
BUT WHEN THE WASH PLANT GOES,
YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY GOLD.
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER SCHNABEL'S TAILINGS CONVEYOR IS JAMMED.
AND HIS WASH PLANT IS SHUT DOWN.
THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA TAKE US A COUPLE HOURS TO GET IT GOING.
BUT LET'S GET IT CLEANED UP AND BACK TOGETHER AS FAST AS WE CAN.
I MUST HAVE DID SOMETHING WRONG YESTERDAY TO DESERVE THIS,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
SIX WEEKS INTO THE SEASON,
PARKER HAS ONLY 171 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH $180,000 --
HALF WHAT HE HAD THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
HEY, GUYS?
IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN THEIR OPERATION AROUND,
PARKER AND HIS FOREMAN, RICK, CALL A MEETING
WITH MECHANICS MITCH BLASCHKE AND CARL ROSK.
YOU KNOW, THE GOLD'S JUST NOT COMING IN LIKE IT NEEDS TO.
I MEAN, WE'RE SPENDING IT. WE NEED TO START MAKING IT.
Ness: AS YOU KNOW, AT BERM CUT,
WE DIDN'T GET THE NUMBERS OUT OF IT WE HOPED FOR.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED THIS TO PICK UP.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL BEEN WORKING HARD.
BUT THE GOLD JUST HASN'T BEEN THERE.
WE NEED ALL THE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD.
WE NEED TO KEEP THIS [BLEEP] RUNNING.
IF YOU GUYS CAN KEEP EVERYTHING RUNNING, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE GONNA START SEEING SOME GOLD.
WE NEED TO START DOING OVER 100 OUNCES A WEEK.
JUST BE ON IT. YOU GUYS CAN HANDLE IT.
Rosk: YOU BETCHA.
WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE CAN.
Narrator: BUT BEFORE THEY CAN GET EVEN AN OUNCE OF GOLD,
MITCH AND CARL HAVE TO FIX THE WASH PLANT.
I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET IT BACK UP AND GOING.
YEP.
THE TAILINGS HAVE BACKED UP,
WHICH HAS JAMMED THE CONVEYOR AND DISLODGED THE DRIVE BEARING.
THIS HAPPENED FROM [BLEEP] LAZY OPERATORS.
WHEN YOU SEE ROCKS STUFFED UP IN THERE --
PEOPLE SHOULD BE SHOVELING AROUND HERE, SO...
♪
-YOU LINED UP? -YEAH.
WE'VE GOT OUR NEW BEARINGS INSTALLED.
WE'RE GONNA FIRE THIS CONVEYOR UP.
WE'RE BACK TO SLUICING.
Narrator: NOW THE PRESSURE'S ON TO KEEP THE PLANT FED.
YEAH, LET'S GET THAT STUFF UP TO THE PLANT.
Narrator: THE CREW BEGINS TO MOVE PAY IN THE NEW CUT
THAT PARKER'S DUBBED TREASURE ISLAND.
IF IT DOESN'T LIVE UP TO ITS NAME,
PARKER IS IN TROUBLE.
♪
SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE SHOOTING FOR NOW,
AND IT'S 100 OUNCES A WEEK.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA GET THERE IS IF EVERYBODY
JUST PUSHES HARDER -- JUST START RUNNING MORE DIRT.
BAM -- YOU GOT A BANK OF ICE RIGHT HERE.
OH, MAN, THAT IS A BIG CHUNK OF FROST.
HOPEFULLY I CAN BREAK THAT UP A BIT.
[ BLEEP ] I'M SENDING IT.
WE GOT TO GET [BLEEP] DONE.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.
IT'S SOLID ICE.
JUST [BLEEP] EVERYTHING UP.
♪
[ GROANS ]
OH, THAT SUCKS, MAN.
THAT THING [BLEEP] THE TAILGATE RIGHT UP.
RIPPED THE THING CLEAN OFF.
-THAT'S UGLY. -YEAH.
THAT'S UGLY.
♪
RICK AND PARKER HAVE MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR.
PRIORITY NUMBER ONE -- KEEP MOVING DIRT.
THESE TRUCKS ARE OUR BIGGEST PART OF THAT,
SO WE GOT TO KEEP THEM RUNNING.
Narrator: MITCH IS FIXING THE TAILGATE THAT RICK JUST BROKE.
A FEW MORE BOLTS AND THIS
WILL BE ALL BACK TOGETHER, READY TO GO.
Narrator: PARKER NEEDS 100 OUNCES A WEEK
TO TURN HIS SEASON AROUND.
TO HIT THIS TARGET,
EACH ROCK TRUCK HAS TO HAUL OVER 2,000 YARDS OF PAY DIRT
TO THE WASH PLANT EVERY WEEK.
HEY, MITCH, I GOT SOME BAD NEWS FOR YOU.
THE ROCK TRUCK IS FLAT ON THE FRONT LEFT.
THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT 'CAUSE THIS ONE'S ALMOST FIXED.
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA GO CHANGE TIRES.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, YOU CAN TAKE THIS ONE,
AND I'LL GO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT OTHER TRUCK.
TO KEEP HIM ON THE ROAD,
MITCH HANDS OVER THE TRUCK HE JUST FIXED TO TYSON --
A ROOKIE DRIVER.
♪
[ BLEEP ]
THEY DID THIS ONE IN GOOD.
LET'S START BREAKING THE WHEEL DOWN.
Man: OKAY.
YOU GOT TO GET THIS TRUCK RUNNING,
OTHERWISE, WE'RE GONNA END UP LEAVING PAY.
AND NONE OF US WANT TO DO THAT.
WE'VE DONE ALL THE WORK TO GET TO IT,
AND WE WANT TO GET IT OUT OF THE GROUND AND UP TO THE PLANT.
Narrator: MITCH BRINGS IN THE LAST SPARE TIRE FROM THE YARD.
BLASCHKE: All drivers, you guys need
to start watching for each other.
If it looks like somebody's got a low tire,
let him know so he can take a look at it.
We're out of spares, so just keep an eye on things.
COME IN A LITTLE BIT.
PERFECT.
YEP.
Narrator: THE SECOND ROCK TRUCK IS FIXED
AND GETS RIGHT BACK TO WORK.
BUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
TYSON LIMPS BACK WITH YET MORE DAMAGE TO HIS NEW TRUCK.
TWO TIRES IN [BLEEP] 20 MINUTES -- SAME GUY.
LIKE, OBVIOUSLY, HE'S DRIVING OVER [BLEEP]
THAT HE SHOULDN'T BE.
[BLEEP]
LOOKS LIKE A BLOWN UP TIRE.
THEY DID THAT ONE IN GOOD.
LOOKS LIKE THEY WERE TRYING TO ROB A BANK HERE AND GOT CAUGHT.
THESE GUYS JUST THINK THESE TRUCKS ARE INVINCIBLE 'CAUSE
WHEN THEY BREAK THEM, THEY PARK THEM AND GRAB ANOTHER ONE.
THEY'RE BREAKING THEM FASTER THAN WE CAN FIX THEM TODAY.
THEY DRIVE IT LIKE IT'S STOLEN, RIGHT?
BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE [BLEEP] KICKING THEM, RIGHT?
DRIVE 'EM LIKE IT'S YOUR OWN, RIGHT?
TAKE CARE OF IT AS IT'S YOUR OWN.
I'VE TRIED TO BE NICE TO THE GUYS, RIGHT?
NOW I'M ON MY LAST STRAW.
Blaschke: WE'RE GONNA TRY AND TAKE THIS ONE UP TO THE PLANT
AND DUMP THE DIRT AND TAKE IT BACK TO THE YARD.
YEP.
THESE GUYS KEEP THIS UP, WE'RE GONNA BE HURTING.
Narrator: MITCH AND CARL HAVE ALREADY FIXED TWO TRUCKS,
BUT NOW A THIRD HAS A FLAT
AND THEY'RE ALL OUT OF SPARE TIRES.
Doumitt: WELL, I'M NO TRUCK MECHANIC.
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THAT.
Narrator: MITCH HEADS BACK TO THE YARD.
♪
HEY, WHOEVER JUST WENT ACROSS THE BRIDGE,
BACK UP TO MY TRUCK.
YOUR LEFT REAR TIRE IS ABOUT FLAT.
I'M JUST -- CAUGHT IT OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE.
SAW ONE OF THE TIRES ON IT'S ALMOST FLAT.
WE'VE GONE ALL SEASON WITHOUT BLOWING A TIRE.
THAT'S OUR THIRD TIRE TODAY.
Narrator: MITCH IS OUT OF OPTIONS.
TO KEEP THE DIRT MOVING, HE HAS TO IMPROVISE.
WHAT WE'RE GONNA RIGHT NOW IS JUST TRY
AND PUT A PLUG IN THIS TIRE.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET IT TO SEAL UP, QUIT LEAKING.
IF THIS PATCH DOESN'T WORK, THEN WE'RE OUT OF TIRES
AND WE'RE GONNA BE PARKING THIS TRUCK.
AND WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT GETTING ALL THIS PAY OUT.
BUT IF WE CAN GET THIS PATCH IN HERE RIGHT,
IT SHOULD HOLD FOR A WHILE TILL WE CAN GET A SPARE TIRE.
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE, IF YOU CAN KEEP MACHINES RUNNING,
YOU MAKE MONEY.
Blaschke: THROW SOME AIR IN THERE. SEE IF THAT WILL HOLD.
Narrator: IF YOU CAN'T, YOU GO BROKE.
Blaschke: THAT'S GONNA BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR TODAY 'CAUSE WE JUST
GOT TO GET THIS THING UP AND GET IT RUNNING
AND TRY AND GET THAT 100 OUNCES.
THERE WE GO. THIS ONE'S GOOD TO GO.
ROLL OUT, BUDDY.
ONE MORE FIX.
Ness: YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
THE TRUCK DRIVERS ARE PUSHING THEIR TRUCKS,
AND IT'S TAKEN ITS TOLL ON THEIR MACHINES.
THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD GROUND.
WE GOT TO HOPE THAT OUR -- YOU KNOW, OUR MACHINES HOLD UP.
♪
HOW YOU DOING, PUP? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT A GOOD DOG.
I'D PET YOU, BUT I GOT MY HANDS FULL.
Narrator: AFTER A MONTH AND A HALF OF DREDGING,
TONY BEETS HAS ONLY 92 OUNCES OF GOLD, WORTH AROUND $100,000,
BARELY A DENT IN HIS MILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT.
GENE CHEESEMAN AND CREW
HAVE TO GET THE 75-YEAR-OLD DREDGE DIALED IN.
FIRE IT UP.
♪
-WHAT THE [BLEEP] -WHOA!
Cheeseman: STAND BACK!
[BLEEP]
SHUT HER DOWN.
Thurber: THERE SHOULDN'T BE THIS MUCH WATER UP IN THE PAN.
NO, THAT'S WAY TOO MUCH.
I WAS ABLE TO SHUT THAT ONE VALVE DOWN.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
IT DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY [BLEEP] MORE WATER.
Narrator: GOLD SHOULD COLLECT IN THE FIRST THREE FEET
OF THE DREDGE'S SLUICE.
BUT IF TOO MUCH WATER HITS THE SLUICE TOO FAST,
THE GOLD WILL BE SWEPT DOWN INTO THE BOTTOM MATS
AND OUT OF THE DREDGE.
-YEAH. -YEP.
Narrator: TONY'S KIDS, MONICA AND KEVIN,
ARRIVE FOR A CLEANUP.
THEY'LL PULL THE MATS TO FIND OUT
IF GOLD IS BLOWING OUT OF THE END OF THE SLUICE.
-YEAH. -YEAH, THEN YOU KNOW.
SOUNDS GOOD.
OW!
WHEN IT'S COMES TO CLEANUP OR SOME [BLEEP] JOB,
YOU CAN BE GUARANTEED IT'S ME AND MONICA THAT'S GOT TO DO IT.
Monica: OH, THAT WAS GREAT.
I DON'T GET DAYS OFF, AND SO DAYS DON'T MATTER.
WEEKENDS DON'T MATTER.
TONY RUNS HIS KIDS 12 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK,
7 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.
GO, KEVIN.
NOW COMES THE FUN PART --
HAULING THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE TRUCK.
YAY!
Man: IS THAT HOW YOU GREW UP, AS WELL?
[BLEEP]
NORMALLY, WE DON'T DO A FULL-BLOWN CLEANUP.
WE ONLY DO THE TOP TWO MATS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WATER IS NOT WORKING THE WAY WE'D LIKE.
SO WE GOT TO CLEAN UP EVERYTHING,
WHICH IS A PAIN IN THE ASS.
Narrator: IF THERE'S GOLD IN THE LOWER MATS,
THEY'LL KNOW IT'S GETTING BLOWN RIGHT OUT OF THE DREDGE.
BACK!
THIS IS ONE PLACE
TONY AND HIS KIDS DON'T WANT TO SEE GOLD.
HUH, LOOK AT THIS, CHICK.
UH, DO I WANT TO?
THERE'S GOLD IN THAT [BLEEP]
HOLY...
-SEE THAT FLAKE? -I SEE.
RIGHT THERE. -YEAH.
Kevin: THERE'S DEFINITELY GOLD IN THERE.
I CAN SEE IT CLEAR AS DAY.
IDEALLY, THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANYTHING IN THERE.
BUT, RIGHT NOW, THERE'S GOLD'S ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO THE [BLEEP] BOTTOM.
♪
Narrator: UP THE LEGENDARY ELDORADO CREEK,
JACK'S DREAM IS HANGING BY A THREAD.
MOST OF THIS GROUND'S BEEN OPENED.
AND SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND SMALL BENCHES,
LIKE UP IN THIS AREA.
Narrator: THE ONLY VIRGIN GROUND
THE HOFFMANS HAVE FOUND IS FROZEN SOLID.
TO GET DOWN TO PAY,
JACK HAS BROUGHT IN AN EXCAVATOR FROM A NEIGHBORING CLAIM,
AND TODD HAS A ROCK TRUCK ON THE WAY FROM McKINNON.
Todd: IS THIS WHAT WE SAW FROM THE AIR, HUH?
Dodge: WE COME UP HERE EARLIER, WE MADE IT TO THERE BEFORE.
WELL, THIS IS VIRGIN OVER HERE.
WELL, THAT'S VIRGIN. THAT'S VIRGIN.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A BULK SAMPLE OF IT,
TAKE IT BACK, AND SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.
I THINK ONE ROCK TRUCK'S GONNA BE ABOUT 5,000 GOLD PANS.
THAT'S A HECK OF A TEST.
ABSOLUTELY.
OUR BEST CHANCE IS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, LET'S GET STARTED.
Narrator: THE EXCAVATOR WILL ALLOW JACK
TO PUNCH THROUGH THE FROZEN GROUND
TO GET DOWN TO PAY GRAVEL.
Jack: IT'S JUST OUR LAST HOPE.
IF THERE IS ANYTHING DOWN HERE, WE'LL FIND IT.
♪
I'M SEEING SOME INTERESTING STUFF.
GOLD IS WHERE YOU FIND IT,
AND THAT JUST MIGHT BE RIGHT HERE.
I DON'T WANT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF GOLD.
I WANT CRAZY GOLD.
I AM CHASING A DREAM, AND I KNOW THAT.
I'VE GOT REASONS FOR IT.
IT'S NOT FOR ME. IT'S FOR MY FAMILY.
IT'S FOR EVERYBODY.
Todd: HEY, WELCOME TO ELDORADO, DAVE.
HEY, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BRING THIS,
BUT THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT WHAT WE GOT HERE
IS JUST TAKE A BIG BULK SAMPLE.
LET'S AT LEAST RUN A TEST.
THEN WE KNOW ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
Turin: I'M TIRED OF CHASING DREAMS.
IT'S ONE TRUCKLOAD.
BUT YOU HAVEN'T SHOWED ME ANYTHING YET.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF --
HEY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
THINK THERE'S ANY GOLD HERE?
YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE SOMETHING SPECIAL.
AT LEAST TAKE ONE TRUCKLOAD OF IT,
AND LET'S SEE WHAT'S IN IT, DAVE.
WE'LL NEVER KNOW UNTIL WE RUN THE SAMPLE.
IT'S 25 YARDS.
WE'LL GET IT TO THE PLANT.
WELL, SO, THAT'S IT.
WE'LL DO IT FOR JACK.
WE'LL DO THE SAMPLE FOR JACK. -ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE GOOD. STRAIGHT BACK.
Narrator: HUNTER HELPS HIS GRANDFATHER LOAD THE TRUCK.
Todd: HE'S PROBABLY THE COOLEST GRANDPA A KID COULD HAVE.
JACK WANTS TO RUN SOME DIRT, WE'RE GONNA RUN SOME DIRT.
JUST THE WAY IT IS.
FIRST BUCKET, TODD.
THAT LOOKS GOOD.
LOTS OF BEDROCK.
THE 25 YARD TEST TAKES JUST 10 MINUTES TO LOAD.
BUT THEN DAVE HAS A LONG, SLOW DRIVE BACK TO McKINNON CREEK.
TO TEST JACK'S ELDORADO SAMPLE,
THE CREW HAS TO STOP RUNNING VALUABLE PAY DIRT
FROM THE SUPER CUT.
KEVIN, LAST BUCKET.
WE'RE SHUTTING DOWN. WE GOT TO PULL THE MATS.
Hiatt: YES, SIR.
HERE'S THE LAST SCOOP, YOU GUYS.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
TONY'S DREDGE IS SHUT DOWN.
THERE WAS TOO MUCH WATER IN THE SLUICES,
AND GENE FEARED THEY WERE LOSING GOLD.
TO BE SURE, THEY CLEANED UP THE LOWER MATS.
Cheeseman: TOO FAR DOWN THE RUNS, HUH?
I THINK GETTING RID OF SOME OF THAT EXTRA WATER
IS GONNA BE THE FIRST STEP.
KEVIN!
GENE TASKS NEW CREW MEMBER MATT BEAUDRY,
BIG MIKE'S YOUNGER BROTHER, WITH FIXING THEIR WATER PROBLEM.
YEAH, SO BEING A MECHANIC IN THE YUKON,
IT'S A LOT OF PROBLEM SOLVING.
NOBODY HAS A [BLEEP] DREDGE,
SO THAT'S A WHOLE NEW BUCKET OF PROBLEM SOLVING, RIGHT?
SO WE GOT TO GO THE BONEYARD AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND.
THERE'S A PIECE.
HOLY [BLEEP]
THAT SHOULD GIVE US OUR LENGTH.
♪
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH JUST A SIMPLE BYPASS.
SO I CUT INTO THE MAIN WATER LINE HERE.
THIS IS A 12-INCH PIPE.
SO WE HAVE 6-INCH GONNA BE DISCHARGE OUT THE SIDE.
SO WE'LL HAVE A VALVE RIGHT HERE SO WE CAN CONTROL IT.
Narrator: THE WATER PUMP ONLY RUNS AT ONE SPEED.
MATT'S PLAN --
DIVERT HALF THE WATER OUT THROUGH A BYPASS PIPE
BEFORE IT REACHES THE SLUICES.
Cheeseman: WELL, WE GOT OUR BYPASS IN THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE GOT IT ALL WELDED IN.
WE'RE READY TO FIRE UP THE WATER
AND SEE IF IT MADE A DIFFERENCE.
[ MACHINE TURNS OVER ]
I LIKE THE LOOKS OF THAT A LOT BETTER.
Narrator: MATT'S SIMPLE BYPASS WORKS.
HALF THE WATER FROM THE PUMP
SHOOTS OUT THE SIDE OF THE DREDGE.
AND THE WATER IN THE SLUICE IS NOW UNDER CONTROL.
Cheeseman: YEAH, NO, IT DOES.
♪
I COULD BE CHANGING TIRES AND OIL AND GREASE
CLEAR TO MY ELBOWS.
BUT, NO.
I'M ALL WET.
Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS STOPPED CATCHING GOLD WITH MONSTER RED
TO RUN A TEST ON JACK'S PAY DIRT FROM ELDORADO CREEK.
Hiatt: SO THEY SHUT US DOWN.
THEY'RE HAVING US PULL THE MATS 'CAUSE THEY WANT FRESH MATS.
THEY WANT ALL THESE MATS CLEAN SO WE CAN RUN 25 YARDS
FROM ELDORADO.
YOU KNOW, I'M ALL FOR BETTER GOLD,
BUT WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD.
YOU SEEM PRETTY GRUMPY TO ME.
-WHO? -YOU.
I AM GRUMPY.
LET'S FINISH THIS DREAM. -ALL RIGHT.
THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
Narrator: THE ELDORADO TEST
IS DOUBLING THE WORKLOAD IN THE GOLD ROOM.
TODAY'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT HERE.
I'M SHORTHANDED RIGHT NOW. I'M NOT A KILLJOY.
I HOPE THEY DO FIND SOMETHING BIG.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DREAM -- JACK'S DREAMING.
AND I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T TURN OUT TO BE A NIGHTMARE.
Narrator: IT'S FINALLY TIME TO RUN THE ELDORADO DIRT.
THIS IS FOR JACK, OKAY?
LET'S RUN THE ELDORADO.
LET'S FIND OUT IF THERE'S GOLD.
THERE IT GOES.
I HOPE IT'S GOOD.
IT'S BEEN MY DREAM --
SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO TOGETHER.
AND, UH...
FEEL THE PRESSURE ON US.
♪
THERE'S ELDORADO GOING THROUGH RIGHT THERE.
Hiatt: JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF WORK FOR NOTHING.
NOW WE GET THE FUN JOB OF PULLING THE MATS
WITH ROUGHLY 25 YARDS RUN THROUGH THE PLANT.
Narrator: BECAUSE MONSTER RED RUNS 300 YARDS AN HOUR,
THE 25-YARD ELDORADO TEST TAKES LESS THAN 15 MINUTES.
BUT PULLING ALL THE MATS TAKES AN HOUR AND A HALF,
LEAVING THE WASH PLANT SHUT DOWN FOR OVER THREE HOURS.
IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO PULL THESE MATS FOR 25 YARDS OF DIRT.
IT'S ACTUALLY A BUNCH OF CRAP.
Hiatt: YOU KNOW, WHILE THEY WERE THERE DIGGING THIS ALL UP,
PUTTING IT IN ONE ROCK TRUCK,
WE WERE ACTUALLY HERE GETTING GOLD.
SO, THIS CLEANUP, IT'S GONNA BE A BIG DEAL.
IT'S A BIG ONE FOR US.
IT'S A BIG ONE FOR MY DAD.
WE DON'T GET 100 OUNCES, I DON'T KNOW.
-I KNOW. -WE JUST DON'T KNOW.
WE DIDN'T PAN OR ANYTHING.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE ONLY VIRGIN GROUND WE FOUND.
WE HAD GROUND LIKE THAT,
WE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO GO MINE IT.
WE'D JUST GO PICK IT UP.
YEAH.
MY BASIC DREAM IS TO JUST FIND SOME CRAZY GOLD.
YOU KNOW?
NOT JUST MARGINAL GOLD, I'M AFTER CRAZY, YOU KNOW?
AND I WANT IT TO BE JUST...HILARIOUS.
YOU KNOW, I WANT HILARIOUS GOLD.
Turin: HOW'S IT LOOK?
Narrator: DAVE JOINS THE HOFFMANS TO FIND OUT
IF THEY'VE DISCOVERED THE SOURCE OF THE GOLD IN ELDORADO CREEK.
HOW MUCH WE GOT?
AFTER RUNNING 25 YARDS, THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
WHAT I AM USED TO IS THESE TWO TROUGHS RIGHT HERE
HAVING SO MUCH GOLD IN THEM
THAT THEY KIND OF START SPILLING OVER.
AND I'M NOT SEEING THAT AT ALL.
-IS THAT IT? -THAT'S IT.
THERE'S NOTHING -- JUST NOTHING.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HERE.
HUNTER, I'M SORRY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST -- IT WAS OUR DREAM.
YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT WE WERE ACTUALLY GONNA KICK BUTT.
BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING, MAN.
Hunter: EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING,
I'LL GO ON A TREASURE HUNT WITH YOU ANYTIME.
YOU GUYS ARE FORGETTING SOMETHING.
WE PULLED THE MATS THIS MORNING.
Narrator: DAVE HAS ALREADY CLEANED UP THE CONCENTRATE
FROM THEIR WEEK AT McKINNON.
Todd: HOW MUCH?
Turin: WE DID 138 OUNCES WHILE YOU GUYS WERE PROSPECTING AT ELDORADO.
WOW.
IN MY OPINION, THIS IS WHERE IT'S AT.
Narrator: 138 OUNCES FROM McKINNON CREEK
IS WORTH $150,000.
JACK'S BULK TEST FROM ELDORADO PRODUCED NOTHING.
McKINNON CREEK HAS GOLD.
WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON IT, FOCUS ON THIS, KEEP GOING.
WELL, WE KNOW THERE'S GOLD HERE,
BUT WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR ELDORADO?
IN MY ESTIMATION, HUNTER, ELDORADO IS DEAD.
♪
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK...
THAT'S CALLED A RUN FLAT.
...THE MECHANICS HAVE COME UP WITH A PUNISHMENT FOR TYSON,
THE ROCK TRUCK DRIVER WHO BLEW TWO TIRES IN ONE DAY.
CAN I GO GET THAT GUY TO GO START SHOVELING AROUND THE PLANT?
'CAUSE I'M MAD NOW.
DUDE, I DON'T CARE IF HE BREAKS SHOVELS.
WE GOT PLENTY. GO PUT HIM ON A SHOVEL AT THE WATER PLANT.
WATCH, HE'LL GET THE SHOVEL STUCK IN THE TAIL WHEEL
OR SOMETHING AND BREAK IT DOWN.
THE STANDARD PUNISHMENT WHEN A TRUCK DRIVER MESSES HIS UP --
HE GETS TO GO SHOVEL OUT THE WASH PLANT.
Lee: RICK SAID I WOULD COME OVER HERE
AND SHOVEL THIS OUT FOR THE NEXT HOUR
UNTIL THE ROCK TRUCKS ARE FIXED.
-YOU HAVING FUN? -OH, YEAH, ALWAYS.
GREAT FUN. THAT'S WHY I CAME UP HERE.
ANYWAYS, I BETTER GET BACK TO IT.
LUCKY DAY.
♪
IT'S GOING.
Narrator: TONY BEETS' DREDGE HAS RUN PAY DIRT FOR A FULL DAY
WITH THE NEW BYPASS REDUCING THE WATER FLOW IN THE SLUICES.
TONY HAS ORDERED A SHUTDOWN TO FIND OUT
IF GOLD IS STILL MAKING IT DOWN INTO THE LOWER MATS
AND OUT OF THE DREDGE.
LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
YEAH, NO, IT'S A BIG IMPROVEMENT FROM WHAT WE HAD.
THEY'RE NOT LOSING GOLD.
TONY CHECKS THE TOP SLUICE
TO FIND OUT IF THEY'RE CATCHING ANY.
YEAH, I CAN SEE IT.
-GEEZ, LOOK AT THIS ONE. -WOW!
YEAH.
YEAH, I'VE NEVER SEEN --
Kevin: ONLY 'CAUSE YOU ASKED SO [BLEEP] NICE
SO, UH...WHAT DO YOU GOT FOR ME?
OH!
DAD, I THINK YOU GOT TO LEARN HOW TO COUNT.
THAT'S MORE THAN 15.
THAT'S OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
♪
YEAH, OUR POOR MECHANICS ARE BEING RUN RAGGED.
WE'VE GOT TRUCKS BREAKING DOWN.
WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE PLANT.
Narrator: AFTER A WEEK OF BREAKDOWNS,
IT'S TIME FOR PARKER'S FIRST CLEANUP
FROM HIS NEW CUT, TREASURE ISLAND.
MORNING, YOUNGSTER.
-HOW ARE YOU DOING? -LOOKING GOOD.
-YEAH? -LOOKING REAL GOOD, YEAH.
YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING COOL?
WE HAVE GOLD PUDDLE AFTER GOLD PUDDLE AFTER GOLD PUDDLE.
[ LAUGHS ]
COME HERE, CARL.
WATCH THIS.
Rosk: HOLY [BLEEP]
WOW.
THAT LOOKS GOOD, EH?
[ LAUGHS ]
I THINK WE FOUND A TREASURE.
Narrator: PARKER HAS ONLY MINED 171 OUNCES OF GOLD THIS SEASON.
IF TREASURE ISLAND CAN DELIVER THE 100 OUNCES HE'S HOPING FOR,
IT'LL BE A BIG STEP TOWARDS GETTING HIS SEASON
BACK ON TRACK.
-HEY, BOYS. -WHAT'S UP?
-HEY, MAN. -HOW'S IT GOING?
-PRETTY GOOD. -GOOD NOW.
-SWEET. -THAT LOOKS PRETTY NICE.
Schnabel: I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT OUR...
THAT SHOOK THE TABLE.
...HUNDRED OUNCES A WEEK,
AT LEAST NOT THIS WEEK.
WOW.
AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF BREAKDOWNS.
WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING EQUIPMENT AND TIRES
AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
AND IT'S BEEN HARD TO KEEP THINGS RUNNING.
YEAH, WE HAD A LOT OF TIRE PROBLEMS.
AND, JUST, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF LITTLE THINGS
THAT JUST KEPT PULLING US AWAY.
A FEW HOURS HERE, A FEW HOURS THERE,
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT ALL PAID OFF.
-WOW. -HOPEFULLY.
GOOD JOB 'CAUSE YOU KEPT THE PLANT GOING.
AND IT WAS NOT AN EASY WEEK TO DO THAT REALLY.
YEAH, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE --
WE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT THERE WITHOUT YOU GUYS.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
SO THAT'S 100 RIGHT THERE, HUH?
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE AIMING FOR.
ALL RIGHT. -YEAH.
THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE IN THERE.
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE, GOOD MECHANICS ARE PRICELESS.
MITCH AND CARL PROVED THEIR WORTH
THIS WEEK BY KEEPING PARKER'S OPERATION RUNNING.
SO WE'RE AT 200.
THEN GOT ANOTHER 31.525.
IF IT KEEPS PAYING OFF LIKE THIS,
I'LL CHANGE TIRES ALL DAY LONG IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER 25.3.
SO WHAT'S THAT TOTAL?
256.825.
Narrator: 256 OUNCES, WORTH AROUND $280,000.
PARKER'S CREW HAS NOT ONLY
EXCEEDED HIS 100-OUNCE-A-WEEK GOAL --
IN JUST SEVEN DAYS,
THEY'VE MORE THAN DOUBLED THEIR GOLD TOTAL THIS SEASON.
TREASURE ISLAND IS LIVING UP TO ITS NAME.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD NOW.
WE'RE BACK ON TRACK WHERE WE SHOULD BE.
HOPEFULLY THE REST OF THE SEASON GOES LIKE THIS.
24 HOURS AGO, I WAS LIKE, "OH, $2,500 TIRES.
I DON'T KNOW."
-GOT A FEW TIRES IN THERE. -WE'LL ORDER SOME TIRES.
THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING -- THERE'S MORE DIRT
THAN WE THOUGHT IN TREASURE ISLAND, YOU KNOW?
256 OFF THE FIRST ONE --
WE'RE GONNA GO GET THE REST OF IT.
-GOOD JOB. -GOOD JOB, MAN.
GOOD JOB.
[BLEEP] UNREAL. GEEZ.
-MORE OF THAT. -LET'S KEEP HER GOING.
Narrator: ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH..."
Beets: GENTLEMEN, I GOT GOOD NEWS.
WANT TO RUN THIS THING NIGHT SHIFT.
12 HOURS ISN'T WHAT I WAS PROMISED.
WE DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP] WHAT YOU GUYS THINK.
WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH A GREEDY, IGNORANT MAN,
[BLEEP] LIKE THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN.
ALL FRICKIN' MUD.
SHUT DOWN. LAST BUCKET.
WE GOT PROBLEMS IN THE CUT.
Todd: I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE JUST SCREWED OURSELVES, GUYS.
I'M NOT ARGUING WITH YOU, BUT THAT'S PAY.
YOU EITHER TRUST ME TO GET THE JOB DONE, OR YOU DON'T.
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD LITTLE HAUL, HUH?
Schnabel: GEEZ.