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Narrator: PREVIOUSLY ON "ICE COLD GOLD"...
FIND SOME GOLD.
Jack: THE PROBLEM IS HOW ARE WE GETTING DOWN THERE?
Josh: MY BIGGEST FEAR IS GETTING HURT.
AVALANCHE!
NOTHING.
Chad: WE DECIDED AS A GROUP
THAT ERIC'S GONNA MAKE THE DECISIONS
WHERE WE DIG.
THERE'S GOT TO BE GOLD IN THIS.
[BLEEP]
John: WE SHOULD'VE FOUND SOMETHING.
IF I WERE ERIC, I'D BE SCARED TO DEATH.
Eric: THEY RELY ON SOMEBODY TO TELL THEM WHERE TO [BLEEP] DIG.
AND THEY CALL THEMSELVES PROSPECTORS?
THERE IS THIS OPPORTUNITY
FOR SAPPHIRE AND RUBY HERE.
THERE IS ALL KINDS OF MINERAL WEALTH HERE IN GREENLAND.
IF YOU FOUND ENOUGH HIGH-QUALITY RUBIES TO FILL THIS COFFEE CUP,
IT COULD BE WORTH CLOSE TO A MILLION BUCKS.
IF WE MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT WITH EVERY TENT HERE,
I'D BE SURPRISED.
Jesse: ONE BAD STORM,
ALL OUR STUFF CAN GET ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED,
AND THE ENTIRE TRIP IS DONE.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
[ WIND HOWLS ]
IS THERE ROCKS IN HERE, JESSE?
THIS IS A DISASTER.
Narrator: THE FIRST STORM OF THE WINTER SEASON
HAS RELENTLESSLY POUNDED THE MINERS' BASE CAMP
FOR SEVERAL HOURS.
IT'S A MAJOR WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE AMERICANS,
REMINDING THEM THAT GREENLAND'S ARCTIC WINTER
WILL SOON SEND THEM HOME.
Chad: AT SOME POINT, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO STOP BECAUSE OF WEATHER.
TO TRAIPSE AROUND FOR SIX WEEKS
AND COME UP COMPLETELY EMPTY-HANDED --
THAT JUST TEARS ME UP INSIDE.
I GOT THIS.
Narrator: STOROE LIES DIRECTLY IN THE PATH OF THE STORM,
WHICH UNLEASHES 75 MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS
AND THREATENS THEIR CHANCES OF FINDING RICHES
IN THE COMING DAYS.
IF THEY CAN'T SECURE BASE CAMP IN TIME,
THEY WILL HAVE TO HEAD BACK TO THE MAINLAND,
AND ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE FOR THE PAST 32 DAYS
WILL HAVE BEEN FOR NOTHING.
Gator: BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THIS WIND'S BLOWING SIDEWAYS,
AND TENTS ARE FLYING OVER, AND WE BASICALLY NEED A POD
THAT'S LIKE BULLETPROOF TO SLEEP IN.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
[ WIND HOWLING ]
WE LOST SOME TENTS, AND WE TOOK DOWN A LOT OF GEAR,
AND WE'LL ASSESS MORE OF THE DAMAGE
AND PUT THINGS BACK TOGETHER AS WE CAN.
Narrator: THE TEAM DOES A WALKTHROUGH TO ASSESS THE WRECKAGE.
IS IT?
THE POLES SNAPPED AND EVERYTHING ON HIS.
GATOR TAKES CHARGE OF REBUILDING BASE CAMP
BEFORE THE NEXT WINTER STORM ROLLS IN.
GRAB A CORNER, AND, JOSH, GRAB THAT CORNER OVER THERE.
JUST PULL IT BACK.
Josh: WE GOT TO PREPARE FOR EVEN WORSE
THAN WHAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH JUST IN CASE.
Narrator: AFTER MORE THAN A MONTH IN GREENLAND,
THE MINERS HAVE YET TO MAKE A SINGLE DIME IN GOLD,
SO THEY'VE SHIFTED THEIR FOCUS EXCLUSIVELY TO RUBIES,
KNOWING ONE LARGE STONE COULD MAKE THEM ALL RICH.
BUT LAST NIGHT'S STORM IS A HEAVY-HANDED REMINDER
THAT WINTER WILL SOON BURY GREENLAND'S TREASURE UNDER ICE
FOR THE NEXT NINE MONTHS.
THE TEAM REACHES THEIR LOWEST POINT YET.
Jack: THE NEXT WEEK TO 10 DAYS IS GONNA GET DANGEROUS
JUST TO SURVIVE OUT HERE, SO...
John: THIS WHOLE CAMP IS A MESS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A [BLEEP]LOAD OF HARD WORK,
AND WE ALL REALLY -- EVERY ONE OF US HAS TO STEP UP.
YEAH, WE'RE DOG-TIRED,
BUT WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO COME BACK TOGETHER,
AND WE GOT TO JUST THROW OURSELVES AT IT
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, BITE ITS NECK.
Narrator: GREENLAND'S ICE SHEET
EXTENDS NEARLY 10,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.
WINDSTORMS LIKE THE ONE THE MINERS JUST ENDURED
CREATE THE EXTREME COLD THAT BRINGS THE GLACIERS
BACK TO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS.
THE DROP IN TEMPERATURE IS SUDDEN,
CREATING FREAK STORMS THAT RUSH OFF THE IMMENSE ICE SHEET.
THE ADVANCING WINDS THAT WHIPPED ACROSS THE ISLAND
ARE A CLEAR SIGN THAT WINTER WILL NOT WAIT
FOR THE MINERS TO FIND THEIR FORTUNE.
WE NEED TO BRING SOMETHING HOME THIS WINTER,
YOU KNOW, TO HELP PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, PAY SOME BILLS.
WE NEED TO GET OUT AND FIND SOMETHING.
Narrator: AFTER A TWO-DAY REBUILD OF BASE CAMP,
THE MINERS FINALLY GET BACK TO BUSINESS.
Gator: YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
ERIC KNOWS THAT HIS TEAM'S PATIENCE IS RUNNING THIN
AFTER SPENDING NEARLY FIVE WEEKS
HUNTING FOR GOLD AND GEMS ON STOROE
WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT,
HE LOOKS TO THE FINAL ACCESSIBLE LOCATION ON THE ISLAND --
AN AREA CALLED SOUTH CIRQUE.
HERE, GLACIAL RUNOFF HAS CREATED A HUGE DRAINAGE POOL
WHERE RUBIES COULD BE WAITING TO BE PLUCKED FROM THE MUD.
Eric: GETTING OUT OF CAMP AND LOOKING AT A COMPLETELY NEW AREA --
IT'S GONNA BE GOOD.
YOU GOT TO REALLY KEEP OPTIMISTIC IN THIS BUSINESS.
Narrator: ERIC LEADS THE TEAM TO THE AREA
THAT HOLDS THEIR LAST HOPE ON STOROE.
FIRST, THEY MUST CLIMB UP A STEEP SLOPE
TO GET TO THE DRAINAGE POOL.
AND NOW WE'RE AT THE SOUTH CIRQUE, LOOKING UP INTO THE TOP.
THIS IS AWESOME.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE MAY BE TEMPTED
NOT TO COME TO AN AREA LIKE THIS
JUST BECAUSE NOBODY'S LOOKED AT IT.
BUT FOR ME, THAT'S MORE OF A REASON TO LOOK AT IT.
MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING HERE THAT SOMEBODY OVERLOOKED,
AND IT'S HERE BECAUSE NOBODY SAMPLED IT BEFORE.
Narrator: HE BELIEVES THAT RUBIES MAY BE RESTING
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BASIN.
LET'S KEEP GOING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
Chad: A LITTLE FURTHER.
I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT IT'S GONNA BE A FIGHT OUT HERE
TO FIND WHAT WE'RE AFTER, AND IT'S GONNA BE A FIGHT
RIGHT UP INTO THE END.
I HAVE TO KEEP MY MIND IN THAT MIND-SET
THAT WE ARE GONNA FIND SOMETHING.
LOOK AT THAT, LOOK AT THAT.
Narrator: AS THEY APPROACH THE BASE, THEY QUICKLY REALIZE
THAT THIS IS NO NORMAL MUD THAT THEY'LL BE DEALING WITH.
BE CAREFUL OF SITTING IN ONE SPOT.
IT'S A MASSIVE PATCH OF QUICKSAND.
THAT SPOT RIGHT THERE LOOKS REALLY BAD.
YOU GUYS GO FIRST. I'LL FOLLOW YOU.
IT'S LIKE WALKING ON THE MOON.
Narrator: THE SUPERSATURATED SAND ENGULFS
ANY WEIGHT THAT LANDS UPON IT AND PULLS IT DEEPER.
IT'S CRAZY.
RUN!
YOU GOT TO KEEP MOVING, YOU GOT TO KEEP MOVING.
RUN, YOU ***! RUN!
RUN!
[ GROANS ]
[ LAUGHING ]
IT'S ALL RIGHT, GUYS! I MADE IT!
[ Laughing ] HE WAS PANICKING RIGHT THERE.
I'M OKAY!
Eric: BUT YOU HIT THE WRONG PATCH, YOU GO DOWN TO YOUR WAIST,
AND YOU'D BE STUCK.
IT'S ANOTHER UNEXPECTED HAZARD
THAT YOU COME ACROSS IN GREENLAND.
Chad: BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS TO GET IN HERE, AIN'T YOU?
IT HAS. IT'S BEEN MONTHS.
I'M GONNA HEAD UP TO THE TOE OF THAT SLIDE UP THERE.
OKAY.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE YOU SAMPLING PLAN.
AMERICO, YOU'RE GONNA TAKE CHARGE OF THAT, RIGHT?
YEAH.
Americo: WELL, THE GAME PLAN HERE NOW IS ERIC.
I'M GONNA TAKE HIS WORD FOR IT,
AND IF HE THINKS THERE'S SOMETHING HERE,
THEN I'M GONNA FOLLOW HIM AND TRY AND FIND SOMETHING.
SO, GUYS, WE'RE IN A BRAND-NEW SPOT.
WE'VE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S EVER REALLY SAMPLED THIS.
SO WE GOT TO HAVE ALL EYES OUT FOR ANYTHING.
BUT IF I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA LOSE OUT
AND I'M NOT GONNA GET WHAT I WANT
OR WHAT I THINK WE DESERVE AS A TEAM,
THEN I'M GONNA SPEAK MY MIND.
Eric: THANK YOU.
Narrator: TO COVER MORE GROUND,
ERIC SPLITS OFF FROM THE REST OF THE TEAM
TO PROSPECT A RECENT LANDSLIDE...
LOT OF MICA IN THIS STUFF.
I KNOW. IT'S JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE. PAIN IN THE ***.
...WHILE CHAD, AMERICO, AND JACK SEARCH THE RUNOFF POOL.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR TRACES OF RUBIES
OR ANY OTHER PRECIOUS GEMS THAT MAY HAVE SETTLED HERE.
CRYSTALLIZED MINERALS ARE HEAVIER THAN SAND,
AND ANYTHING OF VALUE SHOULD SHOW UP IN THEIR PANS.
REALLY FINE, FINE SAND. I'M NOT SEEING ANYTHING IN IT.
Americo: NO.
AS A PROSPECTOR, YOU WANT TO FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,
AND YOU WORRY DAILY THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIND IT.
I SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF PINK IN HERE.
SEEING PINK AND GREEN.
YEAH.
FOR ME, MAKING A BIG DISCOVERY OUT HERE
ABSOLUTELY WOULD VALIDATE MY LIFE'S DECISION.
SEEING ANYTHING?
NOTHING.
SO, IF ERIC DOESN'T FIND ANYTHING,
THEN THIS MIGHT BE A WASH.
SO, I'LL DO A PAN OR TWO RIGHT IN HERE AND SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.
LET THE HEAVY GO DOWN, AND THE LIGHTER MATERIAL COMES UP.
Narrator: IF THE BASIN COMES UP EMPTY, ERIC'S DECISION
TO SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THE MINING SEASON ON STOROE
WILL OFFICIALLY BE A BUST.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT HERE.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING OF VALUE.
THE HOURS WERE GOING BY, AND WE WEREN'T COVERING ANY GROUND.
NOPE.
IT WAS JUST COMPLETELY FRUSTRATING TO ME.
ANOTHER CURVEBALL GREENLAND THROWS US.
AND AT A CERTAIN POINT,
I REALIZED WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT,
BECAUSE GREENLAND STILL HOLDS THE CARDS.
GREENLAND STILL CONTROLS US.
WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF GREENLAND, AND GREENLAND WILL NOT BE BEAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE [BLEEP] WE'RE GONNA DO.
CAN'T EVEN GET TO A ZONE THAT I MAPPED TWO MONTHS AGO.
I DON'T WANT MY DESTINY IN JOHN OR CHAD'S HANDS.
THAT DON'T FLY WITH ME.
IN THE END, THERE'S GONNA BE A COUPLE GUYS REALLY PISSED OFF,
AND YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THEM.
Narrator: AFTER HIS FINAL LOCATION ON STOROE CAME UP EMPTY,
TEAM LEADER ERIC IS NOW DESPERATE
TO FIND NEW LOCATIONS OFF THE ISLAND
THAT THEY CAN PROSPECT IN THEIR LAST FEW DAYS,
SO HE RETURNS TO HIS MAPS.
SINCE DAY ONE, ERIC HAS HAD TWO DISTANT LOCATIONS IN MIND,
BUT HE WAS RELUCTANT TO SPEND THE TIME AND MONEY
ON THESE RISKY VENTURES
UNTIL ALL POSSIBLE LOCATIONS ON STOROE COULD BE EXPLORED.
NOW, WITH NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE,
HE REALIZES THEY MUST GO BIG OR GO HOME EMPTY-HANDED.
24 MILES TO THE NORTH,
A PENINSULA CALLED QUSSUK CAUGHT ERIC'S ATTENTION
BY SHOWING PROMISING SIGNS OF GEM-FORMING ZONES.
AND FISKENAESSET, ALMOST 100 MILES SOUTH OF STOROE,
IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO,
BUT LOCAL LORE HAS GIVEN THE ISLAND
A NEAR MYTHICAL REPUTATION FOR HOLDING RUBY DEPOSITS.
THE GROUP OVERALL IS A BIT DISAPPOINTED
THAT THEY HAVEN'T COME UP WITH A DECENT DEPOSIT SO FAR,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY,
A LOT OF THOSE AREAS THAT ARE HIGHLY MINERALIZED,
IT'S A LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE TO GET TO THEM.
Narrator: WHILE ERIC REMAINS HOPEFUL,
THE REST OF THE TEAM HAS SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT THEIR LEADER.
Americo: WE GOT TO REGROUP, 'CAUSE I THINK MORALE IS DOWN.
WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
Jack: WELL, OUR RESOURCES ARE DWINDLING.
YEP.
OUR TIME IS DWINDLING.
Gator: I CAN'T TAKE ANOTHER DAY OF BAD NEWS.
IT'S JUST ALL HALF-ASSED.
ERIC IS STUCK IN HIS OWN HEAD, AND WE DON'T HAVE TIME
TO LOOK IN THE WRONG PLACES FOR MINERALS THAT AREN'T THERE.
IT'S NOT WORTH TAKING THE TIME AND THE ENERGY
TO DO THE HIKES THAT WE'RE DOING TO COME UP WITH NOTHING.
John: YEAH, WE NEED BETTER INFORMATION.
HE'S BEEN POINTING AT THE MAP, AND WE'VE BEEN COMING UP EMPTY.
YOU KNOW, YOU THINK HE'S NOT FEELING THAT.
I'M SURE HE FEELS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
WE'RE ALREADY SMALL AS AN EIGHT-MAN GROUP FOR A COMPANY,
ESPECIALLY TO DO ANY KIND OF MINING,
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGHT THROUGH IT
AND HOLD THIS TEAM TOGETHER.
ANOTHER WILD GOOSE CHASE.
...TO GO ON WILD GOOSE CHASES, SO WE GOT TO MAKE DECISIONS --
IT'S GOT TO BE SEVERAL PEOPLE SAYING BASICALLY THE SAME THING.
MAN, I WON'T TAKE A HALF-ASSED "YEAH, MAYBE" ANSWER
AS SOMEWHERE WHERE WE NEED TO GO TAKE A BOAT.
I THINK DEEPER THAN JUST ERIC TELLING US
"OKAY, WE NEED TO GO TO THIS CANYON AND LOOK AT THIS PLACE."
I THINK WE NEED TO VERIFY INFORMATION
BEFORE WE GO ON A WILD GOOSE CHASE.
I'M LOSING PATIENCE, YOU KNOW, AND TIME.
HE KNOWS REALITY THAT THERE MAY BE SOMETHING HERE.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE FIVE YEARS TO FIND IT.
NO, WE DON'T.
WE'D BETTER DO THIS OR WE'RE GONNA FAIL.
John: I NEED THE TEAM.
I DON'T WANT TO BE IN COLORADO
THINKING WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS,
WE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS, WE COULD HAVE DONE THIS.
I WANT IT TO HAPPEN NOW.
I WANT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Narrator: THE ENTIRE TEAM SHOWS UP TO ERIC'S MORNING MEETING,
LOOKING FOR ANSWERS.
THEY MAY HAVE AS LITTLE AS A WEEK LEFT
BEFORE WINTER SENDS THEM PACKING,
SO THEY NEED A NEW PLAN FAST.
Gator: ALL RIGHT, SO, I HAVE AN AGENDA THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TRIP THAT WE HAVE COMING UP FIRST.
WHY DON'T WE DECIDE ON WHAT WE'RE GONNA DISCUSS?
WE STILL HAVE RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY.
YEAH. I WANTED TO SAVE THOSE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS PROSPECTING
WE DID FIRST, THOUGH.
OKAY, SO YESTERDAY, ERIC, CHAD, JACK, AND AMERICO
WENT TO THE SOUTH CIRQU DRAINAGE, AND WHAT DID WE FIND?
Josh: ERIC, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GEOLOGY UP THERE?
YEAH. IT'S REALLY YOUNG OUT THERE.
THERE'S NOT MUCH DEPOSITION OR EROSION GOING ON.
Gator: IN ONE MINUTE, ERIC, YOU CAN TELL,
DOESN'T WANT TO BE IN CHARGE OF EVERYBODY.
BUT THEN, IN THE NEXT MOMENT,
HE, LIKE, TRIES TO TAKE THE REINS BACK.
BUT NO MINERALIZATION AT THE CONTACT THAT YOU CAN SEE?
THERE IS SOME MINERALIZATION,
BUT NOTHING WORTH LOOKING AT ANY FURTHER, I DON'T THINK.
ERIC'S BEEN IN CHARGE OF TAKING US TO THESE PLACES.
THEY'RE HARD TO GET TO. THEY'RE DANGEROUS.
AND IS IT PAYING OFF? I DON'T KNOW.
SO, SOUTH CIRQUE DRAINAGE -- NO GOOD.
I'M LOSING FAITH
THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT CREW TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS,
AND NOW WE NEED TO SNAP OUT OF IT.
WE STILL HAVE OPTIONS. IT'S NOT OVER YET.
I JUST DON'T LIKE TO SEE THIS PESSIMISM SO MUCH.
RECOVERIES OBVIOUSLY AREN'T AS WE EXPECTED,
BUT IT TAKES A WHILE.
IF YOU LOOK AT ANY MINING COMPANY OR EXPLORATION COMPANY,
SOMETIMES IT CAN TAKE YEARS TO GET TO THAT POINT.
Josh: ERIC, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO TAKE YEARS?
WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?
I MEAN, OUR PERSONAL RESOURCES TO FUND THIS --
DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TO TAKE YEARS?
THAT'S THE SCARY PART.
YOU GET OUT HERE, YOU SPEND ALL THIS MONEY
AND ALL THIS ENERGY, ALL THIS TIME.
YEAH, YOU GET FRUSTRATED, YOU GET IMPATIENT.
IT'S NOT EASY.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, IF WE DON'T SUCCEED,
THIS CREW IS NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO COME HERE AGAIN.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PROSPECTING PHASE.
WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO FIND A DEPOSIT THAT CAN BE PRODUCED.
Eric: OF COURSE I'M FEELING PRESSURE FROM THE TEAM.
I'M THE ONE THEY'RE SAYING "WHY AREN'T WE FINDING ANYTHING?"
BUT I'M USED TO FEELING THAT PRESSURE.
AS A GEOLOGIST, I'M EITHER THE HERO OR THE PERSON TO BLAME,
AND HERE IN GREENLAND, I'M THE PERSON TO BLAME.
QUSSUK IS STILL AN OPTION.
IF WE'RE GONNA GO UP THERE, WE'RE GONNA DO AT SOME POINT
A HUNTING TRIP TO GET US SOME FOOD, JACK.
Narrator: DESPERATELY LOW ON RESOURCES,
THE TEAM HAS DECIDED TO PUT THE REST OF THEIR BUDGET
TOWARD PROSPECTING TRIPS ON REMOTE LOCATIONS.
WILDERNESS GUIDE JACK WILL LEAD A HUNTING EXPEDITION
TO A NEARBY ISLAND IN HOPES OF PROVIDING FOOD FOR THE TEAM.
Americo: IF WE TOOK A BOAT THERE, HOW FAR OF A HIKE WOULD THAT BE
TO GET UP INTO WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
Eric: IT'S GONNA BE AT LEAST A MILE AND THREE-QUARTERS,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, HIKE IN.
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE PRETTY STEEP.
THE PLACERS MAINLY UP THERE, ERIC -- PLACERS?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
IT COULD BE ANYTHING.
QUSSUK IS SORT OF A LAST-CHANCE, DITCH EFFORT.
I ALWAYS BELIEVED IN THIS PROSPECT.
YOU'RE GOING TO QUSSUK FOR SURE.
OKAY. I'D LIKE TO.
WE'RE GONNA GO, AS LONG AS WE CAN FIND TRANSPORTATION.
IT'S A TWO-DAY TRIP.
Jack: OKAY. IT'S 10 MINUTES TO 10:00, GUYS.
WE WANT TO GET OUR DAY STARTED?
YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
LET'S GO. TODAY'S THE DAY TO GET YOUR [BLEEP] TOGETHER.
QUSSUK IS ERIC'S LAST CHANCE.
HE'S GOT TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING.
Narrator: THE TRIP TO QUSSUK WILL TAKE TWO HOURS BY BOAT
AND MEANS AN OVERNIGHT STAY FOR ERIC, JOHN, AND CHAD.
THIS JOURNEY NORTH WILL BRING THEM MUCH CLOSER
TO THE ICE SHEET,
WHICH MAKES IT LIKELY THEY'LL RUN INTO ANOTHER STORM.
AND THE TERRAIN ON QUSSUK
IS KNOWN FOR BEING HARD TO NAVIGATE.
NEARLY OUT OF TIME AND MONEY,
ERIC IS GAMBLING THAT QUSSUK WILL BE WORTH THE TRIP.
I'VE GOT A JOB TO DO.
THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE TO PROVE MYSELF.
Narrator: BUT THE ARIZONA BOYS AREN'T THINKING ABOUT QUSSUK.
THEY ARE INFATUATED WITH THE FABLED ISLAND OF FISKENAESSET.
Josh: I DON'T HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR QUSSUK.
IT'S NICE THAT WE'RE GONNA GO CHECK IT OUT,
BUT THE INFORMATION WE HAVE IS SO LIMITED.
I WAS NEVER REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE QUSSUK THING.
I WAS BEFORE I FOUND OUT ABOUT FISKENAESSET.
SINCE ARRIVING IN GREENLAND,
THEY'VE HEARD STORIES OF GIANT RUBIES ON THE ISLAND,
SO THEY DECIDE TO STUDY THE GEOLOGICAL MAPS THEMSELVES
TO DETERMINE IF THERE COULD BE ANY TRUTH TO THE RUMORS.
THIS'D BE MY FIRST TARGET RIGHT HERE.
YEAH.
IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
THIS IS OUR LAST PUSH.
WE'RE GONNA BE IN A GOOD AREA THAT PRODUCES RUBIES.
LOTS AND LOTS OF RUBIES.
Gator: I THINK EVERYBODY IN GREENLAND
THINKS THERE'S RUBIES DOWN THERE IN FISKENAESSET.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THIS AND THIS ALONE,
'CAUSE WE HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO.
I GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET US TO FISKENAESSET.
YEAH.
Narrator: ON QUSSUK, ERIC, JOHN, AND CHAD
BEGIN THEIR TREK INTO THE FOREIGN TERRAIN,
AND THEY ARE QUICKLY GREETED
BY MILLIONS OF THE ISLAND'S RESIDENTS --
THE CONSTANTLY SWARMING BLACK FLIES
THAT ARE ATTRACTED TO THE WARMTH OF HUMAN CAVITIES.
THEY'RE JUST IN YOUR EYES.
THEY'RE IN YOUR NOSE. THEY'RE IN YOUR EARS.
I THOUGHT THERE WASN'T AS MANY BUGS UP HERE. [ GRUNTS ]
IT FEELS LIKE SOMEBODY'S THROWING SAND IN YOUR FACE.
THERE'S SO MANY BUGS HITTING YOU,
AND THEY'RE LANDING IN YOUR EYES.
THEY'RE GOING UP YOUR NOSE.
Chad: THE BUGS LIKE TO BITE.
THEY GET IN YOUR MOUTH. THEY GET IN YOUR EARS.
ONE FLEW UP MY NOSE AND ENDED UP IN MY NASAL CAVITY,
AND I COULD FEEL IT MOVING AROUND INSIDE THERE.
OH, MY GOD, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY LEVELS OF WRONG THAT FEELS.
Narrator: WITH NO TIME TO WASTE, THE TEAM QUICKLY SETS UP CAMP
AND GETS READY FOR A THREE-MILE HIKE.
GOLD IS THIS WAY STILL.
YOU CAN SEE IT THROUGH THE BUGS.
ERIC HOPES THAT HIS MAPS ARE CORRECT
SO THEY CAN GET TO THE PROSPECTING SITE,
DO THEIR WORK, AND GET BACK TO BASE CAMP BEFORE SUNDOWN.
IF WE CAN GET UP ONTO A LEDGE THERE
AND CONTINUE AROUND TO THE LEFT, WE DO THAT.
IF NOT, WE GO TO THE RIGHT.
OKAY.
WE NEED US A ZIP LINE.
YEAH.
Narrator: ONE THING ERIC'S MAPS DON'T REVEAL
IS QUSSUK'S STEEP, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Chad: HIKING WITH ERIC IS ALWAYS INTERESTING,
'CAUSE HE'LL LOOK AT A MAP
AND SAY, "EH, IT'S NOT THAT BAD."
AND THEN YOU GET OUT THERE,
AND YOU LOOK UP, AND IT'S MUCH WORSE.
RATHER THAN GOING UP THAT STEEP SECTION THERE,
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO ZIGZAG UP THIS WAY.
Eric: IT'S JUST VERTICAL.
GREENLAND HAS TAUGHT ME THAT WHAT YOU SEE ON THE MAP
AND WHAT'S ACTUALLY ON THE GROUND
ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BE MOVING DOWN THIS
NO.
Narrator: THE MINERS ARE ALONE,
MILES FROM CONTACT WITH THE REST OF THEIR TEAM,
AND THEY KNOW THAT NIGHTFALL
WILL BRING BELOW-FREEZING TEMPERATURES
AND TOTAL DARKNESS.
CAREFUL MOVING ABOVE ME.
I KNOW. I'M GONNA TRY AND GET OUT OF YOUR WAY.
WELL, JUST YELL IF YOU SLIP.
OH, BELIEVE ME, I WILL DO THAT.
Narrator: GETTING LOST OR FAILING TO RETURN TO BASE CAMP IN TIME
COULD BE A FATAL MISTAKE.
HEY, JOHN, WE GOT TO
GET DIRECTLY TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT KNOLL.
THAT'S NOT A KNOLL. IT'S A [BLEEP] CLIFF.
YEAH, IT IS A MOUNTAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHY I CALLED IT A KNOLL.
[ SIGHS ]
WOW.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE.
I FINALLY GET TO THE TOP OF THE RISE,
AND I LOOK OUT, AND I SEE A HUGE CHASM IN FRONT OF ME,
AND I'M NOT SEEING WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
Narrator: ERIC IS LOOKING FOR A CONTACT ZONE
THAT HE BELIEVED WOULD BE IN THE VALLEY, UNDER THIS RIDGE.
HE'S IDENTIFIED A SPOT ON QUSSUK WHERE TWO ROCK FACES MEET.
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE BIRTHPLACE
OF RUBIES OR EVEN DIAMONDS.
I'M NOT SEEING IT.
I SEE IT.
THAT IS IT.
ERIC HAS FOUND THE CONTACT ZONE.
BUT AT THIS TIME OF DAY,
THE TEAM WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROSPECT THERE
AND MAKE IT BACK TO BASE CAMP BEFORE NIGHTFALL.
BY THE TIME WE GET OVER THERE,
WE'D HAVE A CHANCE TO GRAB A COUPLE SAMPLES AT MOST,
AND THEN WE'D JUST HAVE TO GO BACK OUT.
WELL, IT TOOK US ABOUT 4 HOURS TO GET HERE -- 4 1/2 HOURS.
IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN TODAY.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION
IF WE CAN EVEN GET IT TOMORROW.
I REALIZE WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT.
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET OVER TO THAT SPOT.
EVEN TOMORROW IS PUSHING IT.
IF WE COULD GET TO THE WASH DOWN THERE WHERE IT'S COMING OUT,
MAYBE WE COULD DO A LITTLE PANNING.
I'M SICK OF [BLEEP] PANNING!
I AM, TOO.
CAN'T EVEN GET TO A ZONE THAT I MAPPED TWO MONTHS AGO.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?
Narrator: WITH JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT IN GREENLAND,
THE MINERS CAN'T AFFORD
FOR THE EXPENSIVE TRIP TO QUSSUK TO FAIL.
NOW THEY NEED TO DECIDE
WHETHER THEY SHOULD HEAD BACK TO BASE CAMP
OR ONCE AGAIN RISK THEIR LIVES IN SEARCH OF RICHES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE [BLEEP] WE'RE GONNA DO.
I DON'T KNOW.
[BLEEP]
Narrator: THE ANSWER WHEN WE RETURN.
Narrator: THE ANSWER IS EIGHT.
GREENLAND'S INDIGENOUS SPECIES INCLUDE THE POLAR BEAR,
ARCTIC HARE, ERMINE, ARCTIC WOLF, LEMMING,
ARCTIC FOX, MUSK OX, AND REINDEER.
WHILE ERIC'S TEAM SEARCHES FOR RUBIES IN QUSSUK,
JACK AND JESSE ARE ON AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT MISSION
ON A DIFFERENT ISLAND.
THE TEAM'S FOOD BUDGET IS NEARLY GONE,
SO IT'S UP TO THEM TO FEED THE CREW.
WE CANNOT WALK UP AND DOWN THESE MOUNTAINS DAY AFTER DAY
WITHOUT A LOT OF CALORIES.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO COME HOME AND TELL EVERYBODY
"NO, WE DIDN'T SEE AN ANIMAL."
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING TO EAT.
Jack: THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GREENLAND AND MAINE,
IN MAINE I HAVE TREES.
HERE, CARIBOU CAN SEE YOU AT FOUR OR FIVE MILES AWAY.
JACK, THERE'S A REINDEER UP ON THAT RIDGE.
I THINK SHE'S JUST A YOUNG ONE.
SHE MIGHT BE WITH A LITTLE HERD, BUT PROBABLY GOT CUT OFF.
WE RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY AN ORPHAN
AND WOULDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER, SO WE TOOK THE SHOT.
[ GUNSHOT ]
Jesse: IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL HUNT.
IT'S GONNA PROVIDE US A COUPLE GOOD MEALS.
I'M SATISFIED WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT.
Narrator: IT'S THE TEAM'S SECOND DAY ON QUSSUK,
AND ERIC KNOWS THAT HE CAN'T RETURN TO STOROE EMPTY-HANDED,
SO ERIC DECIDES TO MAKE A RISKY MOVE
AND LEADS THE TEAM ON AN UNMAPPED ROUTE
TO THE CONTACT ZONE HE BELIEVES HOLDS RUBIES.
IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF THAT WAY.
John: OKAY.
WE GOT A LONG WAYS.
Chad: LET'S GO. WE'RE WASTING TIME.
DAY TWO, WE HIKED AROUND THE END OF THE PENINSULA.
LOOK AT THAT.
WHEN WE GOT AROUND THE CORNER, THERE IT WAS,
AN EXTENSION OF THE MINERALIZED ZONE
JUST STARING US IN THE FACE.
Eric: THAT'S SOME GOOD-LOOKING ROCK.
SURE IS.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF STUFF WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
Narrator: THE TEAM FINDS A DEPOSIT OF GOSSAN --
EXTREMELY DECOMPOSED, RED-STAINED ROCK
WHICH IS THE NUMBER-ONE INDICATOR OF GOLD.
THIS IS A PERFECT PLACE FOR GOLD TO BE SITTING.
ALTHOUGH THE TEAM ALREADY DECIDED
TO SEARCH FOR RUBIES INSTEAD OF GOLD,
THEY DECIDE TO EXPLORE THE GOSSAN.
WHERE I'M FROM, A LITTLE BIT OF GOLD
COULD MEAN THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE, THERE'S A LOT MORE GOLD.
THIS MIGHT BE THE BEGINNING OF THE TRAIL.
I'M GONNA RUN UP ON TOP AND SEE IF I CAN TRACE IT UP THERE.
OH, WOW. AND LOOK AT THAT.
Narrator: THE GOSSAN STREAK IS THE FIRST THEY'VE SEEN IN GREENLAND,
AND IT IS SO UNUSUALLY LARGE THAT JOHN BELIEVES
THEY COULD BE CLOSE TO A HUGE BONANZA OF GOLD.
John: "GOLD WEARS AN IRON HAT."
THAT SAYING IS AS OLD AS GOLD MINING.
AND THIS COULD BE THE IRON HAT.
IT HAS ALL THE LOOKS OF EVERY PICTURE I'VE EVER SEEN
IN EVERY PROSPECTING BOOK THAT I'VE READ.
IT CUTS AT AN ANGLE LIKE THIS,
AND YOU CAN FOLLOW IT JUST LIKE THIS.
ALL THIS STUFF -- THAT'S INCREDIBLE-LOOKING STUFF.
THAT IS THE BEST STUFF I HAVE SEEN ON THIS WHOLE TRIP.
TO JUST BE HERE AND TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IT MIGHT BE IS...
...IT'S HUMBLING.
IT JUST LOOKS INCREDIBLE TO ME.
YEAH, YEAH. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
THERE COULD BE GOLD RIGHT UNDERNEATH MY FEET
RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW! [ LAUGHS ]
IT'S JUST BEEN THE WEATHER AND THE TERRAIN
AND LACK OF GOOD MAPS AND EVERYTHING, AND THEN,
ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE IT IS.
WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS ANOTHER, BIGGER SECTION OF THIS,
UP WHERE THIS CROSSES THAT CREEK.
I THINK THAT'S THE "X" ON THE SPOT.
WELL, LET'S GET GOING.
Narrator: ERIC WANTS TO PAN IN THE WATER NEXT TO THE GOSSAN STREAK.
THAT WAY HE'LL GET A READ
ON WHETHER A LARGE GOLD DEPOSIT LIES UNDERNEATH.
Eric: IF THIS TURNS OUT TO BE AS GOOD AS WE THINK IT IS,
THIS COULD BE REAL BIG.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS. THIS IS THE "X" SPOT RIGHT HERE.
JOHN AND I ARE GONNA GO UP TO THE TOP OF THE RIDGE,
SAMPLE ON THE WAY DOWN.
CHAD, YOU'LL STAY DOWN HERE, RIGHT?
Chad: YEAH.
Narrator: THE TEAM SPLITS UP TO SAMPLE THE GOSSAN STREAK.
I HOPE THIS IS THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
WE'RE ON THE CONTACT NOW.
RUNS RIGHT DOWN THROUGH HERE.
I NEED TO TAKE HOME SOMETHING TANGIBLE
TO SHOW MY WIFE I AM DOING SOMETHING PURPOSEFUL OUT HERE.
Narrator: CHAD PANS TO DETERMINE
IF THERE IS ANY GOLD NEXT TO THE RED ROCK,
WHILE ERIC SEARCHES FOR THE END OF THE GOSSAN STREAK
IN HOPES OF A HUGE DEPOSIT.
JOHN TAKE SURFACE SAMPLES TO GET A READ
ON THE UPPER LAYERS OF THE VEIN.
ERIC FINDS WHAT HE IS LOOKING FOR.
ALL OF THE SAND THAT'S RIGHT HERE CAME OUT OF THIS ROCK,
SO I'M JUST GONNA TAKE SOME OF THE LOOSE SAND
AND CLEAR AWAY SOME OF THE LOOSE MATERIALS.
ROCK!
LOOK AT THAT MATERIAL. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
LOOK AT HOW RED. LOOK AT HOW GOLDEN COLOR THAT IS.
IT'S JUST WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
Chad: WE DESPERATELY NEED TO FIND SOMETHING.
OH, MY GOD. THAT'S GOLD.
THAT'S AS MUCH GOLD AS I'VE SEEN IN MY PAN SINCE WE'VE GOT HERE.
I'M HAPPY BECAUSE I FOUND GOLD TODAY.
IT'S A GOOD DAY.
THIS IS MY HAPPY FACE.
I'M HAPPY.
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: EVERYONE COLLECTS THEIR SAMPLES
FROM THE GOSSAN STREAK TO BRING BACK TO THE CAMP.
THEY WILL BE ANALYZED
TO SEE EXACTLY HOW MUCH OF THE EARTH HERE IS GOLD.
IF THE CONCENTRATION OF GOLD IS HIGH ENOUGH,
THE ENTIRE TEAM COULD COME BACK HERE AND ATTEMPT TO EXTRACT IT.
30 POUNDS OF HOPE HERE.
LET'S TAKE THIS ONE HOME.
[ GROANS ]
ALL RIGHT.
HERE WE GO.
[ GROANS ]
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
IT WAS JUST LIKE [Laughing] WE GOT IT, JOHN.
TO SEE THAT KIND OF COLOR IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.
EXCELLENT WORK, FELLAS.
Eric: TODAY'S FIND REALLY BOLSTERED MY CONFIDENCE.
GOOD JOB, GUYS.
WHAT'S UP, GUYS?
WELCOME BACK.
ERIC!
OH, YEAH!
Jack: TAKE A LOOK, GUYS. SOMEBODY GRAB THIS FOR ME.
[ CHUCKLES ]
BRINGING MEAT BACK TO CAMP WAS THE GOAL OF THE HUNT,
AND EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE FRESH MEAT IN CAMP.
REAL NICE.
Josh: SO WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT HERE.
GOOD DEAL, JACK.
Jack: IT BEATS THE HECK OUT OF DRY NOODLES
WITH SOME KIND OF POWDERED SEASONING.
YOU GUYS LOOK PRETTY BEAT.
YEAH. THERE WERE SO MANY BUGS, BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY WORTH IT.
WE DID FIND GOLD AT QUSSUK.
YES.
VISIBLE GOLD.
AND A DRAINAGE?
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
WE'LL SEE.
THE GOLD THAT WE FOUND WAS IN THE SAMPLE ABOUT THAT BIG.
OKAY.
SO VERY GOOD NEWS.
Narrator: DESPITE ERIC'S ENTHUSIASM,
THE TEAM KNOWS THAT THE GOLD AT QUSSUK WON'T MAKE THEM RICH
IN THE FEW DAYS THEY HAVE LEFT.
Josh: THERE IS POTENTIAL THERE FOR GOLD.
THE INDICATIONS THAT WE HAVE LOOK DECENT.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE INCREDIBLE.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT, AND SO ARE OUR RESOURCES.
IF WE DON'T TURN SOMETHING SUCCESSFUL IN FISKENAESSET,
IT'S OVER.
Narrator: QUSSUK'S GOLD IS A GOOD FIND FOR THE LONG TERM,
BUT THE MINERS STILL HAVE DREAMS OF GETTING RICH THIS YEAR,
AND IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE RUBY FEVER SETS IN.
THE ALLURE OF FISKENAESSET
BECOMES THE ONLY TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.
I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE QUSSUK THING, 'CAUSE WE HAD TO BE.
Gator: THAT WAS OUR LAST HURRAH.
AND THANK GOD THAT WE HAVE A BETTER LAST HURRAH.
I LIKE SAYING THAT. I LIKE HEARING IT AND SAYING IT.
Both: FISKENAESSET.
I'M TALKING ABOUT A PLACE WHERE THE RUBIES FLOW LIKE GOLD.
FISKENAESSET.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Jack: SUPER REMOTE.
Josh: HOW WOULD YOU HAVE TO GET IN THERE?
IT'S THE REASON WE CAME HERE -- TO FIND LEADS.
WHERE DO WE GO? WHAT CAN WE DO?
AND THIS SEEMS SO HOPEFUL.
Jesse: AND I'M SURE THEY'LL BE PROSPECTING AT FISKENAESSET
AND PLENTY OF IT.
WE HAVE A CHANCE OF DISCOVERING SOMETHING
THAT COULD PUT MONEY IN OUR POCKET.
Narrator: IF ANY OF THE RUMORS OF FISKENAESSET
TURN OUT TO BE TRUE,
THE TEAM COULD MAKE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE LAST MONTH WORTHWHILE.
RUBIES.
RUBIES.
LET'S GO GET THEM.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING,
THE TEAM MEETS TO DISCUSS THEIR CHANCES
OF STRIKING IT RICH ON FISKENAESSET.
I KNOW WE WANT TO KEEP OUR EYES OPEN FOR GOLD,
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A CHANCE
FOR A MUCH MORE SURE THING HERE.
Eric: BUT EVEN AT THAT, OUR RESOURCES
ARE GONNA BE POOLED INTO THAT ONE SHOT AT IT.
SO, WE'RE IN LIMBO, THOUGH.
SO, THIS IS THE HOTTEST SPOT
THAT WE HAVE ANYWHERE CLOSE TO US.
I THINK FISKENAESSET IS GONNA BE A WORLD-RENOWN RUBY CENTER.
WELL, THIS IS BIG. THIS IS HUGE.
YEAH. IT'S GOOD NEWS. THIS IS HUGE.
RUBIES, RUBIES, RUBIES. I LOVE RUBIES.
RUBIES ARE SEXY.
I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A TURNING POINT FOR US,
AND WE'RE FINALLY GETTING A HANDLE ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
Eric: I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT
THAT FISKENAESSET IS GONNA BE ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES.
WELL, ISN'T IT NOW ACTUALLY OUR TOP PRIORITY?
IT IS OUR TOP.
Gator: THIS TRIP TO FISKENAESSET --
IT COULD BE OUR DEATH, OR IT COULD BE OUR SUCCESS.
NOTHING IN BETWEEN.
BUT IT'S A HUGE FINANCIAL RISK FOR OUR COMPANY.
IT'S A HUGE RISK TO GO THAT FAR WITHOUT AN EXACT --
AND IT'S A HUGE AREA. YOU KNOW, IT'S A MASSIVE AREA.
Josh: GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT WE CAN FIND.
WE JUST HAVE TO GET THERE. THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
Narrator: FISKENAESSET IS NEARLY 100 MILES SOUTH OF STOROE,
AND ITS LOCATION IS SO REMOTE THAT THE TEAM WILL HAVE TO TAKE
A COSTLY HELICOPTER RIDE TO GET THERE.
THERE ARE ONLY FOUR SEATS ON THE CHOPPER.
IT'S FOUR PEOPLE.
WE HAVE TO DISCUSS WHO THOSE FOUR PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE.
Gator: THIS LAST RECON IS OUR LAST SHOT,
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BEST PEOPLE THERE.
THERE'S ONLY FOUR PEOPLE THAT CAN GO.
YOU ARE GOING.
I WON'T ARGUE WITH THAT.
WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD GO.
WE HAVE THIS QUSSUK PLAY THAT IS LOOKING REALLY PROMISING,
AND WE'VE GOT THE RUBY THING.
I WISH I COULD BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE, BUT I CAN'T.
JACK AND I WERE PULLING OURSELVES OUT OF THIS TRIP.
I'M SICK.
I CANNOT HANDLE A THREE-, FOUR-DAY TRIP
WITH AN ARMY MARCH HIKE UP, YOU KNOW, STRAIGHT UP MOUNTAINS.
I'D REALLY LOVE TO GO DOWN TO THE RUBY DEPOSIT,
YOU KNOW, BEING A GEMOLOGIST.
John: I NEED TO GO ON THIS TRIP.
YOU KNOW, IF I'M NOT THE ONE GOING SOUTH,
I'M GONNA GNAW MY FINGERNAILS OFF.
YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA GRIT MY TEETH
AND SPIT OUT BROKEN PIECES OF THEM.
Americo: WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WHEN IT COMES TIME
TO GO TO THE RUBY SPOT, EVERYBODY'S GONNA WANT TO GO.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A TALK,
AND WE'RE GONNA SEND THE FOUR BEST GUYS,
AND I'M GONNA TELL THEM WHY I'M ONE OF THE BEST FOUR TO GO,
AND WE'RE GONNA VOTE, AND I'M GONNA BE OUT THERE.
AND THAT'S IT, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER GO DOWN AND LOOK AT THE RUBY DEPOSIT.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO DOWN TO THE RUBY DEPOSIT.
Narrator: WINTER IS COMING, AND THE AMERICAN MINERS
HAVE DECIDED TO SPEND ALL OF THEIR REMAINING MONEY
ON A RISKY MISSION TO FISKENAESSET.
WITH ONLY FOUR SEATS ON THE HELICOPTER
THAT WILL MAKE THE TRIP, HALF OF THEM WILL BE LEFT OUT
AND WILL INSTEAD GO BACK TO QUSSUK TO TRY AND RECOVER GOLD.
BUT THEY ALL WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RUBY HUNT
AND ARE LOBBYING HARD FOR A SPOT ON THE CHOPPER.
IT'S WHAT ALL OF OUR EFFORTS HAVE LED UP TO IS FISKENAESSET.
IT'S GONNA MAKE US MONEY FOR SURE.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
WE'RE JUST GOING OVER SOME [BLEEP] ABOUT FISKENAESSET.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO LAY OUT
WHY WE'RE SENDING THE FOUR GUYS THAT WE NEED TO SEND.
JESSE AND JACK BOWED OUT OF FISKENAESSET.
YES. I KNOW THAT WE NEED ERIC TO BE THERE AS A GEOLOGIST.
Gator: AGREED.
AND I DEFINITELY BELIEVE WE NEED EITHER YOU
OR YOUR BROTHER THERE.
AND YOUR BROTHER HAS BOWED OUT, SO YOU NEED TO BE THERE.
YOU WERE THE ONES THAT SET ALL THIS UP TO GET DOWN THERE,
AND YOU'RE THE THIRD ONE, SO THAT LEAVES ONE MORE SEAT
FOR ME, JOHN, AND CHAD.
I WANT A CHANCE TO HOLD MY DESTINY.
I DON'T WANT MY DESTINY IN JOHN OR CHAD'S HANDS.
I'M SORRY. I DON'T WANT IT.
BUT I WILL BE LOBBYING FOR THAT LAST SPOT,
AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO [BLEEP] FIGHT ME TO TAKE ME DOWN FOR IT,
BECAUSE I'M NOT TAKING NO FOR AN ANSWER.
YOU TAKE THE BEST PEOPLE THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU,
AND YOU PUT THEM ON THE BEST PATH.
EXACTLY.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW,
THERE AIN'T GONNA BE ANYBODY HERE
THAT'S GONNA CONVINCE YOU MORE THAN ME.
YOU, YOU'RE THE NEW GUY.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BEHIND YOU.
YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE DRIVE AND THE AMBITION.
CHAD AND JOHN BOTH HAVE EYES FOR THE GROUND,
AND THEY HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AT LOOKING AT IT.
WHAT DO THEY HAVE? [BLEEP] DONE BEFORE.
THEY HAVE NO LEG TO STAND ON.
I GOT TO THINK ABOUT MY SON, THOUGH. I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE'S TAKEN CARE OF.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO TAKE CARE OF MY DAUGHTER.
WHAT DOES STUFF IN THE PAST GET YOU RIGHT NOW?
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MINERALS AND GEMS?
WE ALL SIGNED A PAPER AND ALL STARTED
AT 60-DEGREE RESOURCES THE SAME TIME,
AND WE'RE ALL ON EVEN TERMS HERE.
I'LL BE DAMNED IF I'M GONNA LET SOMEBODY LIKE JOHN OR CHAD
GO AND HAVE MY DESTINY IN THEIR HANDS.
THAT DON'T FLY WITH ME.
AMERICO, YOU HAVE VALID ARGUMENTS, OBVIOUSLY.
I THINK CHAD'S GONNA HAVE VALID ARGUMENTS,
AND I ALSO THINK JOHN IS.
IN THE END, THERE'S GONNA BE A COUPLE GUYS
REALLY PISSED OFF, AND YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THEM.
Narrator: FOR JOHN AND CHAD,
THE ALLURE OF FISKENAESSET RUBIES IS SO GREAT
THEY FORGET ALL ABOUT QUSSUK
AND LOBBY FOR THEIR OWN SPOT ON THE TEAM.
John: I'M THE GEMOLOGICAL GUY,
AND SO I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF OUR SUCCESS HINGES
ON WHETHER OR NOT I GET TO GO.
I REALLY NEED TO GO ON THIS TRIP.
I KNOW A FEW FREAKING THINGS
ABOUT GEMSTONES AND ABOUT CLIMBING,
AND I WISH THAT THEY'D JUST GIVE ME THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
I HOPE THAT PEOPLE SEE THE QUALITIES IN ME
AND THAT THEY CAN FREAKING RECOGNIZE THEM.
Chad: YOU KNOW THAT I DESPERATELY WANT TO GO.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA BRING TO THE TABLE ON OUR TRIP DOWN THERE?
HEART, DRIVE LIKE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN OUT OF ME YET.
I DON'T QUITE HAVE THE WORDS FIGURED OUT
HOW TO SAY HOW MUCH GETTING DOWN THERE MEANS TO ME.
Chad: PERSONALLY, I NEED US TO SUCCEED,
'CAUSE IF WE SUCCEED AS A GROUP, THEN MY LIFE GETS BETTER.
MY FAMILY'S LIFE GETS BETTER.
WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS WITH EVERYBODY.
THAT'S WHAT HAS TO BE DONE AT A MEETING.
Narrator: AFTER NEARLY SIX WEEKS ON STOROE,
THE CREW HAS ONLY ENOUGH MONEY
TO STAY IN GREENLAND FOR A FEW MORE DAYS,
SO THEY MUST MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION
ON WHO TO BRING TO FISKENAESSET
OR THEY WILL LIKELY GO BACK TO AMERICA
WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR THEIR EFFORT.
John: I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA DECIDE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE PUT NAMES IN A HAT.
WE DRAW STRAWS.
Chad: IT'S GONNA GET UGLY IN THERE.
Gator: CHAD REALLY WANTS TO GO TO FISKENAESSET,
AND AMERICO REALLY WANTS TO GO TO FISKENAESSET,
AND JOHN REALLY WANTS TO GO.
THE FOURTH SEAT IS GONNA BE
WHOEVER CAN TALK THEMSELVES INTO THAT SEAT.
Americo: I'VE ALWAYS PERFORMED,
BECAUSE YOU'RE PERFORMANCE ISN'T WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.
IT'S WHAT YOU DO IN THE FIELD.
Gator: EXACTLY.
I COULD BE ONE OF THE PEOPLE STANDING HERE,
WAVING GOODBYE TO THESE GUYS.
I HAVE REAL MAJOR BUTTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: NEXT TIME ON "ICE COLD GOLD"...
Josh: LET'S GO, GUYS.
THIS IS BASICALLY OUR LAST CHANCE.
WE GOT TO GO NOW.
Josh: OH, MY GOD.
THE RAIN IS TURNING TO ICE, THE WIND IS TURNING TO GALE FORCE.
THIS IS GONNA BE A HELL OF A PLACE TO BE STUCK
IF THIS SLACKS IN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.
Gator: WHEN YOU SEE YOUR RIDE FLY DIRECTLY AWAY FROM YOU,
IT'S A LITTLE UNNERVING.
WHOO! THERE GOES OUR RIDE HOME.
HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO PROSPECT IN THIS, ERIC?
IF BAD WEATHER COMES IN, THAT HELICOPTER CAN'T PICK US UP,
AND THAT'S OUR ONLY WAY OUT OF THESE MOUNTAINS.
THEY'RE ALL THE WAY ALONG HERE.
HOLY [BLEEP] ARE YOU [BLEEP] KIDDING?
WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!