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BRING IT IN.
Narrator: GUYANA, SOUTH AMERICA.
WE MESS SOMETHING UP, IT'S OVER WITH.
JUST WHEN THEY THOUGHT IT COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE...
Todd: IT DON'T LOOK GOOD RIGHT NOW.
...THE HOFFMAN CREW FACES DISASTER.
Man: WHOA!
Todd: YOU ARE FREAKING KIDDING ME!
Narrator: IN DESPERATION...
LET'S GET THIS THING MOVING, MAN.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
...THEY'RE FORCED TO REINVENT THEIR OPERATION...
DESPERATE TIMES MEAN DESPERATE MEASURES.
...AND END UP RESTARTING THEIR SEASON.
Todd: WE HAVEN'T HAD MANY WINS IN THE JUNGLE,
BUT TODAY, TODAY WE WON.
IN THE KLONDIKE...
Parker: THAT'S A NICE NUGGET.
...JUST AS PARKER SCHNABEL
IS CLOSING IN ON HIS $1 MILLION GOAL...
THAT'S THE BEST-LOOKING SLUICE WE'VE HAD.
...WINTER SUDDENLY CLOSES IN ON HIM...
THE GOLD WE NEED IS RIGHT THERE.
IT'S JUST FROZEN.
...LEAVING HIM WITH AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE.
AND IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA...
Fred: HOLD UP. IT'S STOPPED.
Narrator: ...WITH VITAL MINING EQUIPMENT STUCK OUT ON A CABLE...
I'M GONNA SLIDE OUT THERE, GO GET THIS THING.
...DUSTIN IGNORES FRED'S ADVICE...
THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
...AND RISKS HIS LIFE...
400 FEET OFF THE DECK.
...TO GET TO CAHOON CREEK GOLD.
OH [BLEEP]
DUSTIN!
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: MID-SEPTEMBER IN THE KLONDIKE.
PARKER SCHNABEL IS STILL 223 OUNCES SHORT
OF HIS 800-OUNCE, $1 MILLION GOAL.
AND TEMPERATURES HAVE HIT THE FREEZING POINT.
Parker: IT'S PRETTY LATE IN THE SEASON.
YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AROUND.
ALL THE LEAVES ARE CHANGING, ALL THE BIRDS ARE GONE,
AND ALL THE GRAVEL'S FROZEN.
GRIPPING LIKE THIS IS PRETTY *** EQUIPMENT,
BUT THIS IS THE BEST GROUND WE'VE HAD ALL SEASON, MAN.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S FROZEN DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T STAY AFTER IT.
NARRATOR: ONCE THEY'VE RIPPED THE FROZEN GRAVEL,
THEY LEAVE IT TO THAW IN THE SUN FOR TWO DAYS.
ONLY THEN CAN IT BE HAULED AND RUN THROUGH THE WASH PLANT.
RICK LOADS THAWED PAY FROM A SECTION RIPPED DAYS EARLIER.
OH, WHAT THE [BLEEP] IS THAT?
MAN, THAT'S FROZEN UP LIKE A BRICK.
PARKER!
Parker: WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
[ SIGHS ]
IT'S STARTING TO PULL UP
ALL THESE BIG BLOCKS OF FROZEN GRAVEL.
YEAH, I SAW A FEW AT THE PLANT.
WE CAN'T BE SLUICING THAT.
Narrator: THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER,
FROZEN PAY GRAVEL'S QUICKLY THAWED OUT.
NOW, WITH TEMPERATURES HOVERING AT THE FREEZING POINT...
Parker: WATCH OUT.
...PARKER HAS TO FIND A NEW WAY
TO KEEP HIS WASH PLANT SUPPLIED WITH PAY DIRT.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA DEAL WITH THAT [BLEEP]
Ness: IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT,
BUT, I MEAN, I CAN'T GUARANTEE
I'M GONNA CATCH EVERY ONE OF THOSE.
I KNOW THAT.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO SLUICE THIS STUFF, SO...
ALL RIGHT.
Ness: IF PARKER WANTS ME TO SMASH THOSE ICE BLOCKS UP,
I'LL SMASH THEM UP,
BUT I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO CATCH ALL OF THEM.
Narrator: PARKER'S STRATEGY IS TO CRUSH THE FROZEN PAY DIRT
INTO CHUNKS SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT THROUGH HIS HOPPER FEEDER.
THIS STUFF'S NASTY.
THAT'S A BITTERSWEET RIGHT THERE.
'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE HARDER THE MATERIAL IS TO RUN,
THE MORE GOLD'S IN IT,
BUT THAT'S THE WORST STUFF I'VE EVER RAN.
[ GRINDING ]
HOLY [BLEEP]
PARKER.
WE GOT A REAL MESS ON OUR HANDS.
WHAT HAPPENED?
THE BELT'S TORN -- I THINK COMPLETELY IN HALF.
OH, I THINK OUR 800 OUNCES JUST FLEW OUT THE WINDOW.
THAT BELT IS SCREWED. [BLEEP]
AND THAT THING RIGHT THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S STICKING OUT.
IT WAS A BELT-CUTTER IF I'VE EVER SEEN ONE.
Narrator: THE FROZEN FANTASY LAND PAY DIRT
IS TOO MUCH FOR BIG RED TO HANDLE.
PARKER FACES AN EARLY END TO HIS SEASON,
223 OUNCES SHORT OF HIS 800-OUNCE GOAL.
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
6,000 MILES SOUTH IN GUYANA,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS DESPERATE TO SALVAGE
ITS DISASTROUS MINING SEASON.
DAVE TURIN LOADS PAY DIRT INTO THEIR JUNGLE TROMMEL
AT PATIENCE CREEK.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN GUYANA,
I CAN HONESTLY SAY THINGS ARE WORKING REALLY WELL.
Narrator: A MILE AND A HALF AWAY AT REDEMPTION CREEK,
TODD HOFFMAN'S LAVADOR CREW IS RUNNING DIAMOND-RICH GRAVEL.
LOCAL PROSPECTOR TONY MELVILLE
DETERMINES THE DIRECTION OF THE PAY STREAK.
Jack: YEP.
BIG GRAVEL, BIG DIAMONDS, HUH?
OKAY. YEP.
HOW FAR UP DO YOU THINK I OUGHT TO GO?
ABOUT HALFWAY UP THERE?
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
WE GOT TO GET SOME PAY.
TO GET TO THE DIAMOND PAY STREAK,
JACK HAS TO CLEAR A 100-YARD STRIP BEHIND THE LAVADOR.
Todd: WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IS HAVE MY DAD CLEAR ALL THE WAY THROUGH HERE.
HE'S GOT A PILE OF LOGS UP HERE AND I WANT THEM ALL CLEARED OUT.
Jack: THERE ARE PROBABLY 100 TO 200 TREES HERE.
ONCE I GET THEM OUT OF THE WAY,
WE CAN GET DOWN TO THE PAY GRAVEL.
Todd: OKAY, THURBER.
YOU GOT THE PUMPS RUNNING, GOT EVERYBODY GOING.
CRANK IT UP, OKAY?
HEY, GUYS.
WE NEED MORE MATERIAL THROUGH HERE.
OH, THEY GOT IT -- OH!
YOU ARE FREAKING KIDDING ME!
THURBER!
THURBER, KILL THE MOTOR!
Narrator: JACK HAS SMASHED A LOG
RIGHT THROUGH THE DIAMOND-CATCHING LAVADOR.
KILL THE PUMP, KILL THE PUMP NOW.
HEY, DAD. WHAT THE FRICK?!
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.
I WANT EVERYBODY BACK, ALL THE CAMERAS BACK!
GIVE US A FEW MINUTES TO FIGURE OUT THE SITUATION, OKAY?
THURBS, ANY CHANCE WE CAN GET THIS GOING AGAIN?
IT'S AS BAD AS IT LOOKS.
MOTOR MOUNT'S BROKEN HERE. GOT ENGINE OIL LEAKING OUT.
THERE'S SOME INTERNAL DAMAGE.
LAVADOR WILL RUN NO MORE. WE'RE DONE.
THIS FREAKING JUNGLE'S CURSED.
Narrator: ALASKA.
3,000 FEET UP ABOVE PORCUPINE, DUSTIN AND HIS CREW ARE UP EARLY
TO CONTINUE THEIR QUEST FOR CAHOON CREEK GOLD.
ALL RIGHT, SO, WE GOT ABOUT FOUR MILES TO WALK DOWNHILL.
GONNA TRY TO MAKE IT DOWN TO FRED.
HE'S GONNA TRY TO GET US SOME STUFF ACROSS A CABLE, OKAY?
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GO FIND THIS CABLE.
Dustin: THERE'S A CORE DRILL THAT I NEED.
WE'RE GONNA GO DRILL THAT AREA RIGHT UP THERE
'CAUSE I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE A FAULT LINE.
I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THAT'S WHERE THE GOLD'S COMING FROM.
Narrator: DUSTIN PLANS TO DRILL INTO THE MOUNTAIN
AT A SITE THAT HE BELIEVES
IS THE SOURCE OF ALL THE REGION'S GOLD.
TO SAMPLE THE ROCK, HE NEEDS TO GET A CORE DRILL
FROM THEIR BASE BACK AT PORCUPINE CREEK.
Dustin: FRED DOESN'T WANT TO BUY ANY MORE HELICOPTERS,
SO WE GOT A 4½-MILE HIKE TO MAKE.
Narrator: WITHOUT A HELICOPTER,
THERE'S ONLY ONE LAND ROUTE TO CAHOON...
...AND IT IS BLOCKED BY UPPER PORCUPINE CREEK.
FRED WILL HAVE TO SEND THE DRILL ALONG A CABLE
SUSPENDED 400 FEET ABOVE THE CREEK,
THE SAME METHOD LOCAL MINERS HAVE USED FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
AFTER A THREE-HOUR HIKE,
DUSTIN AND HIS CREW FINALLY ARRIVE AT THE CABLE CROSSING.
Dustin: HERE IT IS, GUYS.
Man: OH, COOL.
FOUND IT.
FRED'S SUPPOSED TO BE OVER HERE SOMEWHERE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
FREDDY!
I DON'T SEE NOBODY.
NOTHING YET.
GIVE A CALL ON THE RADIO IN A LITTLE BIT.
Fred: [ In distance ] DUSTIN!
FREDDY!
Hey, Fred. You made it.
YEAH, MAN.
WE GOT THAT CORE DRILL LOADED IN THE BASKET.
ARE YOU READY FOR IT?
I am, Fred. Send that over.
ALL RIGHT. LET HER OUT.
IT'S COMING, DUSTIN.
Narrator: THE CABLE CAR WITH FOOD SUPPLIES AND THE CORE DRILL
HAS TO BE PULLED ACROSS THE CANYON BY HAND.
[ LAUGHS ] LOOK AT THAT THING GO.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ METAL GROANING ]
HOLD UP.
IT'S STOPPED.
Tallis: ARE THEY PULLING?
Man: ARE THEY PULLING, FRED?
DUSTIN, PULL ON THAT THING A LITTLE BIT.
Dustin: Hey, Fred.
It looks like it's hung up out in the middle there.
IT AIN'T DOING NOTHING.
We pulled as hard as we could and we can't get it to go.
Narrator: HALFWAY ACROSS AND 400 FEET ABOVE THE VALLEY FLOOR,
THE CABLE CAR IS STUCK.
NEITHER DUSTIN NOR FRED CAN PULL IT FREE.
HEY, FRED. I GOT AN IDEA.
I'M GONNA JUMP ON THIS LINE,
GO OUT AND SEE WHAT'S GOT THAT THING HUNG UP.
[BLEEP] YOU ARE.
We can't just leave it out there.
[ SIGHS ]
I'm gonna put on a harness. I'm gonna go get this thing.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA. NOT A GOOD IDEA.
HOPEFULLY, I CAN GET THIS THING UNTANGLED
AND YOU JUST PULL ME BACK UP.
Man: OKAY.
I GOT YOU.
WE'RE READY TO.
LET'S GO.
HERE WE GO.
Dustin: IT LOOKS A LOT HIGHER OUT HERE.
Tallis: IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN STOP HIM?
HELL NO.
Dustin: 400 FEET OFF THE DECK.
HE DOING THIS ON HIS OWN. WE'LL SEE HOW IT WORKS OUT.
IT'S FRAYED! IT'S STUCK IN A FRAY!
I THINK I CAN GET IT.
IT'S TOUGH TO WATCH WHEN YOU GOT YOUR SON
GOING OUT ON A CABLE YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.
OH! [BLEEP]
Tallis: DUSTIN!
Narrator: IN ALASKA, 400 FEET ABOVE PORCUPINE CREEK...
Dustin: OH! [BLEEP]
Fred: OH!
...DUSTIN HAS JUST LOST HIS SUPPLIES
TRYING TO FREE DRILLING EQUIPMENT
SNAGGED ON A FRAYED CABLE.
WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?
OH, MY GOSH. IS HE OKAY?
I GOT IT! I GOT IT!
CAN YOU GET IT LOOSE?!
I THINK I CAN GET IT!
[ GRUNTS ]
ALL RIGHT, I THINK I GOT IT, GUYS.
Man: ALL RIGHT. YOU READY TO COME BACK IN?
YEAH!
COME ON!
WHOO!
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, I FEEL A LOT BETTER. YEAH.
WHOO!
WAY TO GO, DUSTIN.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO NOW IS PULL IT IN.
HERE IT COMES.
YEAH!
Fred: Hey, man, congratulations.
Go up there and find some gold now.
We got some gold to go find ourselves down in porcupine.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS. WE GOT OUR CORE DRILL.
LET'S GET, ALL RIGHT? BACK TO CAHOON.
Narrator: ARMED WITH THE DRILL,
DUSTIN AND HIS CREW HEAD BACK UP THE MOUNTAIN
TO CONTINUE THEIR HUNT FOR THE SOURCE OF CAHOON GOLD.
UP IN THE KLONDIKE, FROZEN BLOCKS OF PAY DIRT
HAVE BROUGHT PARKER'S WASH PLANT TO A STANDSTILL.
I LOVE GOLD MINING. LOVE THIS.
Steve: I DO, TOO.
WASH PLANT EXPERT STEVE ROBBINS IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEM.
THE BELT'S RIPPED ALL THE WAY ACROSS.
CAN WE FIX IT THE WAY IT IS?
CAN'T GET TO IT.
THE HOPPER'S STILL 3/4 OF THE WAY FULL.
JAGGED ICE BLOCKS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE HOPPER FEEDER
HAVE PULLED THE BELT APART ALONG ITS SEAM.
OVER 10 TONS OF PAY DIRT
NOW TRAP THE BELT AGAINST THE ROLLERS.
IT'S GONNA BE QUITE A LENGTHY FIX.
MAYBE GET SOME LABORERS OVER HERE AND DIG HER OUT.
Cheeseman: HANG ON.
LET'S THINK THIS THROUGH FOR A MINUTE.
IT WOULD TAKE ALL DAY TO SHOVEL IT OUT.
WELL, WHY CAN'T -- IF YOU GRAB AHOLD OF IT UP HERE,
AND JUST HOOK ON TO IT WITH THE EXCAVATORS.
THEN YOU END UP RIPPING A BELT.
WHAT WE'VE GOT IS MANPOWER, SO...
WE'RE NOT DOING IT BY [BLEEP] HAND WITH FOUR OR FIVE GUYS.
THAT'S [BLEEP] DUMB.
[BLEEP] HEAD UP YOUR ***.
[BLEEP] PISSED.
Narrator: GENE'S PLAN IS TO PULL THE BELT FREE USING THE 460 EXCAVATOR.
IF IT WORKS, BIG RED COULD BE RUNNING DIRT
BY THE END OF THE DAY.
BUT IT'S A HIGH-RISK MOVE.
INSIDE THE HOPPER,
OVER 10 TONS OF PARTIALLY FROZEN DIRT
PRESS DOWN ONTO THE DAMAGED BELT.
AS THE EXCAVATOR DRAGS THE BELT OUT,
ONE SHARP ICE BLOCK COULD SLICE THE BELT LENGTHWISE,
DESTROYING IT COMPLETELY.
Cheeseman: JUST NICE AND SLOW.
IT'S HEAVY, MAN.
DON'T RIP [BLEEP] DON'T RIP.
UP.
COME ON. COME ON.
IT'S OUT.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT'S GOOD.
Parker: GOOD JOB.
Narrator: GENE'S PLAN WORKS.
THE BELT IS PULLED FREE, UNDAMAGED.
BUT THEY STILL NEED TO EMPTY THE CLOGGED HOPPER.
Cheeseman: OKAY. IT'S TIME TO CLEAR ROCKS.
Parker: LET'S DO SOME SHOVELING.
YEAH, BABY. THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THE CREW WORKS TOGETHER TO STITCH THE BELT
AND GET THE HOPPER FEEDER BACK UP AND RUNNING.
LITTLE MORE. OH!
GOOD JOB, GUYS.
SO, THE NEXT THING IS,
JUST GOT TO TURN ON THE GENERATOR
AND TEST IT TO MAKE SURE IT'S GONNA RUN TRUE.
NOW, THAT'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
SHE'S COMING RIGHT OVER WHERE WE WANT HER TO BE.
IT'S NOT A PERFECT JOB,
BUT IT'S A GOOD ENOUGH FIX,
GETS THIS BACK UP TO RUNNING PAY DIRT.
Narrator: AFTER JUST A DAY'S DELAY,
BIG RED IS RUNNING DIRT AGAIN.
BUT WITH HIS PAY DIRT STILL FROZEN,
PARKER WILL STRUGGLE IN HIS FINAL PUSH FOR 800 OUNCES.
IN GUYANA,
THE HOFFMANS' DIAMOND-CATCHING LAVADOR IS IN PIECES.
REDEMPTION CREEK IS NOW ABANDONED.
WHEN I STARTED TODAY, I HAD TWO PLANTS.
NOW I GOT ONE.
THE MOTOR'S BENT. THE SHAFTS ARE BENT.
IT'LL TAKE US A MONTH TO GET THAT THING RUNNING AGAIN
AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME.
JUST WHEN WE GET IT GOING,
SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS AND YOU'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
Narrator: WITHOUT THE LAVADOR,
REDEMPTION CREEK IS DONE FOR THE SEASON.
BUT A 1½-MILE DRIVE AWAY,
THE TROMMEL IS STILL RUNNING PAY DIRT,
WHICH DAVE TURIN'S CREW IS TRUCKING IN FROM HOPE CREEK.
DAVE CALLS TODD WITH A RADICAL PLAN
THAT JUST MIGHT KEEP BOTH CUTS RUNNING.
WHAT IF WE MOVE THIS TROMMEL CLOSER TO REDEMPTION CREEK
AND WE LOAD OUT OF HOPE AND REDEMPTION
STRAIGHT INTO THIS THING?
DUDE, I'M OPEN TO ANYTHING AT THIS POINT, DAVE.
DAVE'S PLAN IS TO HAUL THE TROMMEL
ALONG A MILE AND A HALF OF JUNGLE ROAD
AND POSITION IT BETWEEN THEIR TWO EXISTING CUTS.
FROM THERE, THEY CAN FEED THE WASH PLANT
WITH PAY DIRT FROM BOTH HOPE AND REDEMPTION CREEKS.
Turin: BEFORE, WE WERE MOVING THE DIRT TO THE TROMMEL.
NOW THE TROMMEL'S GOING TO THE DIRT.
WE'LL HOOK IT UP. WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GO.
THERE IT IS.
WE'RE IN BUSINESS. THAT'S IT!
WE'RE READY.
LOGAN, EVERYTHING GOOD?
GOOD, DAVE.
OKAY, ANDY. WE'RE CLEAR. GO AHEAD.
Take it easy.
IT'S ALWAYS RISKY MOVING THIS STUFF.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
IF WE MAKE A MISTAKE, WE MESS SOMETHING UP,
IT'S OVER WITH.
Narrator: WITH THE TROMMEL ON THE MOVE, NO ONE IS MINING.
THE PRESSURE IS ON TO QUICKLY GET IT TO THE NEW POSITION.
DESPERATE TIMES MEAN DESPERATE MEASURES.
CAREFUL ON THIS CORNER.
WE GOT A LOT OF SOFT, SOFT SAND RIGHT HERE,
SO LET'S GO NICE AND EASY.
START TURNING RIGHT THERE.
BE CAREFUL NOW.
SEE HOW HE'S SLIPPING?
OKAY, HOLD ON. WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
STOP.
WHAT THE FRICK?
THIS IS WHAT I'M DEALING WITH.
THIS IS HOW MUCH WATER'S IN THIS SOIL.
WE TIP THIS OVER, WE REALLY ARE DONE.
Narrator: TO REACH REDEMPTION CREEK,
DAVE'S CREW HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO HAUL THEIR 20-TON TROMMEL
THROUGH A PATCH OF QUICKSAND.
IF THE REAR AXLE SINKS,
THE TOP-HEAVY WASH PLANT WILL FLIP ON ITS SIDE.
[ CRASH ]
Turin: OKAY, ANDY. LET'S GO.
OKAY, NOW, HERE'S THE SOFT SPOT, YOU GUYS.
BE CAREFUL.
THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE IT'S GONNA TIP.
NICE AND EASY, ANDY.
SEE HOW THAT THING'S TIPPING?
WHOA! STOP!
STOP!
[BLEEP]
Narrator: DEEP IN THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA,
THE HOFFMANS' TROMMEL IS STUCK IN QUICKSAND...
STOP.
...HALFWAY TO ITS NEW LOCATION AT REDEMPTION CREEK.
OKAY, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. WHAT DO YOU THINK, MITCH?
IF WE RIG IT UP OFF ONE OF THESE EYELETS
AND KIND OF PULL IT OVER AND UP THE HILL?
Mitch: OKAY.
YOU KNOW, GIVE HIM SOME SIDE-PULL
AND HAVE SOME FORWARD MOMENTUM.
Narrator: TODD WILL ATTEMPT TO LIFT THE TROMMEL'S HEAVY BACK END
WITH THE 290 EXCAVATOR
WHILE ANDY PULLS IT FREE WITH THE D6 DOZER.
Todd: IT'S A RISKY MOVE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GO FROM TWO PLANTS TO ONE TO ZERO.
READY?
OKAY, ANDY.
GO AHEAD AND EASE INTO IT NICE AND EASY.
OKAY, THERE WE GO. WE'RE ROLLING, BOYS.
CAREFUL NOW.
LOGAN, WATCH THAT BACKSIDE!
KEEP SOME TENSION ON IT.
LITTLE TENSION. THERE YOU GO. GOOD.
GO UP A LITTLE BIT.
KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.
WE'RE DOING IT. WE'RE DOING IT.
ANOTHER 2 OR 3 FEET, ANDY, AND I'LL DISCONNECT.
I THINK WE MADE IT.
OKAY, WE MADE IT.
Good job.
Okay, we got to turn this thing around.
LET'S GET THIS THING MOVING, MAN.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
Narrator: CLEAR OF THE QUICKSAND,
ANDY PUSHES THE TROMMEL INTO ITS NEW POSITION
BETWEEN HOPE AND REDEMPTION CREEKS.
Turin: It's good. Leave her there.
THAT WAS A LITTLE HARDER THAN I EXPECTED, BUT IT'S THERE.
WE'RE READY TO GO.
Narrator: WITH THE SLUICE BOXES,
CONVEYORS, AND PUMPS ALL RECONNECTED,
THE HOFFMAN CREW'S TROMMEL IS ONCE AGAIN OPERATIONAL.
PERFECT.
NOW THE PLAN IS TO FEED PAY DIRT FROM HOPE CREEK AS BEFORE
USING THE 290 EXCAVATOR,
BUT TO RUN PAY DIRT FROM REDEMPTION CREEK,
THEY'LL USE THE PUMP FROM THE BROKEN LAVADOR
TO SEND A SLURRY DIRECTLY INTO THE TROMMEL'S HOPPER.
IF IT WORKS,
THE TROMMEL SHOULD CATCH GOLD AND DIAMONDS FROM BOTH CUTS.
FIRST, THEY NEED TO REROUTE THE PIPE
THAT USED TO FEED THE LAVADOR TO THE TROMMEL 200 FEET AWAY.
BUT TODD IS SKEPTICAL.
Todd: I'M NOT SURE THE PUMP DOWN THERE'S
GONNA HAVE HORSEPOWER TO GET THAT MATERIAL
ALL THE WAY OVER HERE ACROSS THAT RAVINE.
YEP.
I DON'T KNOW.
THE NEW PIPE REQUIRES ANOTHER 60 FEET
AND WILL NEED GREATER PUMP PRESSURE
TO GET THE SLURRY UP A STEEP INCLINE.
THE ENTIRE OPERATION DEPENDS ON THE POWER OF TODD'S 4-INCH PUMP.
WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT NOW. NOW'S THE TIME FOR TRUTH.
I'M NERVOUS.
WELL, WE'LL FIND OUT.
OKAY, THERE'S THE JET PUMP.
HERE WE GO!
HERE IT COMES, DAVE.
WHOO-HOO!
IT'S LANDING RIGHT IN THE FEEDER GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE TROMMEL.
AWESOME. [ LAUGHS ]
WE FRICKING DID IT.
NOW WE'RE GONNA START THROWING OUR MATERIAL IN AND WE'RE GOOD.
FIRST DIRT FROM HOPE CREEK COMBINED WITH REDEMPTION CREEK.
WE'RE FEEDING THIS PLANT FROM TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS,
TWO DIFFERENT CUTS.
IF WE'RE GONNA SAVE OUR SEASON, IT STARTS RIGHT HERE!
Narrator: NORTH, IN ALASKA,
THE DAKOTA BOYS' GOLD TOTAL STANDS AT 182 OUNCES,
WORTH A QUARTER OF $1 MILLION.
FRED AND HIS CREW HAVE RETURNED
FROM GETTING THE DRILL TO DUSTIN AT CAHOON.
BUT PORCUPINE CREEK IS AT A STANDSTILL.
I'M NOT ALLOWING ANYBODY BUT ME TO COME DOWN HERE.
NO AMOUNT OF GOLD IS WORTH ANYBODY'S LIFE.
Narrator: LAST WEEK, THE THREAT OF COLLAPSE...
Fred: HOLY...
...FORCED FRED TO ABANDON THE DOWNSTREAM CUT.
NOW, 138 OUNCES SHORT
OF HIS 320-OUNCE $450,000 SEASON GOAL,
FRED NEEDS TO FIND A NEW SOURCE OF PAY DIRT.
FELLAS, WE'RE DONE FOR IN THE BOTTOM OF THAT HOLE.
Skalicky: SO WHERE ARE WE GONNA DIG FROM HERE THEN?
I HAVEN'T MADE UP ANY DECISION ON THAT JUST YET.
WE'RE WAY SHORT OF 320 OUNCES,
BUT WE MAY HIT OUR BREAK-EVEN POINT,
200 OUNCES, THIS YEAR.
WHAT ABOUT MINING THE ROAD NEXT TO THE HOLE?
YOU MEAN THE HAUL ROAD?
THAT'S NOT A BAD IDEA.
I MEAN, WE WERE ON PRETTY GOOD GOLD TOWARD THAT EDGE.
WE WERE.
BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO PAY OFF BIG TO MEET OUR BREAK-EVEN POINT.
BUT I THINK THAT'S ABOUT OUR LAST CHANCE FOR THIS SEASON.
Narrator: THE HAUL ROAD RUNS ALONG THE EDGE
OF THE ABANDONED DOWNSTREAM CUT.
FRED AND MELODY ARE HOPING
THE GOLD-RICH PAY STREAK FROM THAT CUT
EXTENDS UNDER THE ROAD.
BUT IF THEY'RE WRONG, FRED WILL SINK FURTHER INTO DEBT.
Fred: ARE YOU READY?
THE HAUL ROAD IS NO MORE.
ONCE WE GET INTO SOME GOOD HARD MATERIAL HERE,
WE'LL BE PROCESSING IT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE GOOD GOLD IN THIS THING.
Skalicky: AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS.
WE NEED TO BREAK EVEN. WE NEED TO MAKE SOME MONEY HERE.
HOPEFULLY THAT ROAD SHOWS SOMETHING.
ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE ROCKING AND ROLLING.
Narrator: UNCERTAIN IF HE'S ON A PAY STREAK,
FRED DECIDES TO RUN A 100-YARD TEST.
THE RESULT WILL DETERMINE IF THE DAKOTA BOYS' SEASON
WILL BE A SUCCESS OR FAILURE.
WELL, WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT IF OUR ROAD IS LACED WITH GOLD.
I SURE HOPE SO.
Fred: ALL RIGHT, FELLAS.
LET'S SHUT THE PLANT DOWN, FIND OUT WHAT'S IN THIS ROAD.
Tallis: I'M NOT SEEING IT.
WELL, LET'S JUST HOPE THAT IT'S BURIED.
OKAY, NOW THAT IS A PIECE OF GOLD RIGHT THERE.
HEY, I FOUND A NICE PIECE. IT'S ONLY ONE, BUT IT'S THERE.
CHECK THAT OUT.
YEAH, ALL RIGHT. VERY NICE.
WELL, WE KNOW THERE'S GOLD IN THE BOX.
AT LEAST THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
COOL.
Narrator: A GOOD-SIZED NUGGET IN THE FIRST 100 YARDS
CONFIRMS MELODY'S HUNCH.
THE DAKOTA BOYS ARE ON THE GOLD.
FRED, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DIG AS MUCH OF THAT ROAD
AS POSSIBLE TO FINISH OUT OUR SEASON.
WE'LL JUST GET BACK THERE AND GET AFTER IT,
GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
WE GONNA FIND OUT HOW MUCH GOLD THERE IS THERE.
HOPEFULLY THE HAUL ROAD TURNS INTO THE GOLD ROAD.
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,
THE FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON HAS HIT SCRIBNER CREEK.
TEMPERATURES HAVE PLUNGED TWO DEGREES BELOW FREEZING.
Remsburg: IT'S THE KLONDIKE SAYING,
"YOU FELLERS BETTER HURRY UP 'CAUSE YOU ABOUT DONE."
Narrator: FOR PARKER'S CREW,
THE BATTLE FOR GOLD JUST GOT TOUGHER.
Remsburg: THERE'S NOTHING THAWED HERE FOR US.
EVEN THOUGH YOU ALWAYS KNOW IT'S COMING,
IT'S STILL KIND OF A KICK IN THE PANTS WHENEVER IT HAPPENS.
Narrator: PARKER IS STILL 223 OUNCES SHORT OF HIS 800-OUNCE GOAL.
BUT HE REFUSES TO GIVE UP
ON HIS $1 MILLION SEASON WITHOUT A FIGHT.
YOU KNOW, THE GOLD WE NEED IS RIGHT THERE.
IT'S JUST FROZEN.
IT MIGHT AS WELL BE IN FORT KNOX RIGHT NOW,
BUT...LET'S GO AHEAD AND TRY TO RIP IT OUT.
I GUESS WE COULD TRY IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
WE'LL NEVER KNOW UNTIL WE TRY.
TEAR INTO IT.
I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO.
Narrator: GENE FIRES UP THE D10 DOZER
TO START RIPPING THE FROZEN GRAVEL.
Cheeseman: THIS STUFF'S RIPPING UP OKAY RIGHT NOW,
BUT IT'S STILL GOT FROZEN CHUNKS IN IT.
WE GOT TO TRY AND GET OUR 800 OUNCES.
TIME WILL TELL HERE, I GUESS.
[ CLANK ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
BROKE THE SHANK OFF.
YEAH, WE GOT A PRETTY BIG PROBLEM.
[BLEEP] IT'S FROZE TO HARD TO BE TRYING TO RIP IT.
EVEN IF WE HAD ANOTHER SHANK, PUTTING IT IN THERE --
I DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH IT.
I THINK WE'RE DONE.
[ SIGHS ]
EVEN IF I CAN RIP THE STUFF, WAS ABLE TO RIP IT,
IT'S NOT GONNA THAW OUT ENOUGH TO GET IT THROUGH THE PLANT.
NO, I GET IT. IT'S JUST...
[ SIGHS ]
AS MUCH AS I HATE TO SAY IT,
I THINK WE'RE PRETTY WELL DONE HERE.
Narrator: WITH TEMPERATURES AROUND FREEZING
AND THE D10 NOW UNABLE TO RIP,
PARKER CAN'T PRODUCE ANY MORE THAWED PAY DIRT THIS SEASON.
WHAT WE'VE GOT IN THE PAD IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA SLUICE.
I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER WAY.
SOUTH AT PORCUPINE CREEK,
THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE BEEN RUNNING HAUL-ROAD PAY DIRT
FOR TWO DAYS IN A BID TO HIT THEIR BREAK-EVEN POINT
BEFORE THE ALASKAN WINTER ENDS THEIR SEASON.
Fred: WE HAVE 182 OUNCES RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET TO OUR BREAK-EVEN POINT OF 200 OUNCES.
MEL, I'M GONNA SHUT THE PLANT DOWN.
YOU SEEING ANYTHING UP THERE, MEL?
NO.
I'M STARTING TO LOSE THE FAITH.
Tallis: NO, USUALLY WHEN I SCRAPE THE TOP OF THIS,
I WILL SEE SOME NICE PICKERS AND A NUGGET OR TWO.
ANY FINE GOLD IN HERE WOULD BE MUSIC TO MY EYES,
BUT I'M NOT SEEING IT.
ARE YOU SEEING ANYTHING DOWN THERE?
NO. I'M NOT REALLY SEEING ANYTHING DOWN HERE.
AT ALL?
NO.
Tallis: WELL, FRED...
YEAH?
...I DIDN'T SEE MUCH IN THE SLUICE BOX.
OH. WE'LL SEE.
Skalicky: WE STILL NEED ANOTHER REALLY GOOD CLEANUP.
I MEAN, WE HAVE TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE BILLS.
WE HAVE TO BREAK EVEN.
WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT IN THIS.
WE'LL SEE HOW IT LOOKS WHEN WE CLEAN IT UP.
WE'RE STRUGGLING TO REACH 200 OUNCES.
IT COULD GO EITHER WAY. I DON'T KNOW.
NOW WE JUST WAIT.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE OUR GOLD AND WE'RE GONNA WEIGHT IT.
HOPEFULLY THIS MIGHT GET US OVER THAT 200 MARK
SO WE CAN PAY ALL OUR EXPENSES THIS YEAR
AND THEN HAVE SOME TO PLAY WITH.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M GONNA GO SHOW THE GUYS
WHAT THEIR HARD WORK HAS PRODUCED.
Narrator: THIS SEASON, THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE FOUND 182 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH A QUARTER OF $1 MILLION.
BUT JUST TO COVER HIS COSTS FOR THE SEASON,
FRED STILL NEEDS ANOTHER 18 OUNCES.
Fred: WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS
ON THAT HAUL ROAD,
AND I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA
TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAD ONE HELL OF A CLEANOUT.
24 OUNCES.
ALL RIGHT.
GREAT, GUYS.
AND, HEY, IT JUST -- IT BLEW ME AWAY WHEN I SAW THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
WE ARE AT 206 OUNCES WITH THIS.
KICK ***.
I'VE NEVER GOTTEN 200 OUNCES IN A SEASON EVER.
THAT OLD HAUL ROAD DOWN THERE TURNED INTO THE GOLD ROAD.
[ CHUCKLES ]
JUST HOPING THAT OLD ROAD JUST KEEPS ON GIVING AND GIVING.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S PAYING OFF. THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE.
Narrator: THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE PASSED BREAK-EVEN
WITH 206 OUNCES OF GOLD WORTH OVER $280,000.
WITH TWO WEEKS LEFT IN THE SEASON,
EVERY OUNCE OF GOLD THEY FIND IS MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS.
THE HAUL ROAD IS FULL OF GOLD. LET'S DIG IT UP.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: IN THE JUNGLES OF GUYANA,
THE TROMMEL'S PUMP IS CLOGGED.
Todd: WATCH THIS.
LOGAN, KEVIN, YOU AIN'T GONNA LIKE THIS.
I NEED YOU TO GET DOWN IN THERE.
I NEED THAT OUT THERE AT LEAST 10 FEET.
THERE'S FREAKING CAIMAN IN THERE.
OKAY. YOU WANT TO DO IT OR NOT?
ARE YOU OUT OR ARE YOU IN?
IF I DON'T DO IT, ARE YOU GONNA DO IT?
NO, I'M NOT DOING IT.
[BLEEP]
[ LAUGHS ]
[ GRUNTS ]
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
I'LL TELL YOU IF AN ALLIGATOR COMES.
JUST GET THAT THING IN THERE.
HOLY FRICK.
[BLEEP]
WHOO-HOO-HOO!
THAT'S SO FUNNY.
YOU KNOW WHAT I TAKE ISSUE WITH?
SOMEONE TELLING ME SOMETHING TO DO SOMETHING
AND THEY WON'T DO IT THEMSELVES.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[BLEEP] YOU!
Narrator: IN GUYANA,
THE HOFFMAN CREW IS RUNNING PAY DIRT
FROM TWO CREEKS THROUGH THEIR MODIFIED WASH PLANT.
ANDY DIGS DIRT FROM HOPE CREEK.
JACK THEN LOADS IT INTO THE TROMMEL.
Pierce: WE'RE FINALLY UP. WE'RE FINALLY RUNNING.
I MIGHT ACTUALLY GET A PAYCHECK THIS SUMMER.
Narrator: OVER AT REDEMPTION CREEK,
TODD'S CREW BLASTS THE PAY DIRT
THEN PUMPS THE SLURRY UP A PIPE INTO THE TROMMEL.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE SLUICING OUT OF TWO SOURCES.
I NEVER THOUGHT WE'D BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AFTER A 10-HOUR TEST RUN, IT'S TIME TO CHECK THE SLUICES.
HEY, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL IT FOR THE DAY.
SHUTTING IT DOWN!
IF THE HYBRID WASH PLANT IS WORKING,
THE SLUICE BOX WILL SHOW GOLD
AND THE MINERALS NORMALLY FOUND WITH DIAMONDS.
HERE'S SOME CARBON. I SEE JASPER.
QUITE A BIT OF JASPER.
Todd: HEY, GUYS. I'M NOT SEEING MUCH GOLD.
IT DON'T LOOK GOOD RIGHT NOW.
TONY, LOOK AT THIS RIGHT HERE. WHAT IS THIS?
THIS IS A DIAMOND.
YOU ARE FREAKING KIDDING ME.
NO WAY!
WHERE THERE'S ONE, THERE'S MORE.
Jack: NO KIDDING.
Todd: DUDE, I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU JUST PICKED THAT OUT OF THERE LIKE THAT.
LOOK AT THAT.
Narrator: ANDY UNCOVERS A GEM-QUALITY DIAMOND
BEFORE THEY EVEN START TO CLEAN UP THE CONCENTRATE.
THEIR MAKESHIFT WASH PLANT IS CATCHING DIAMONDS.
IF THE REST OF THE MATERIAL IN THE SLUICE BOX IS THIS GOOD,
THE HOFFMAN CREW MAY HAVE FINALLY FIGURED OUT
HOW TO MINE JUNGLE DIRT.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
GUYS, IF THERE'S ONE IN HERE JUST LIKE THAT,
IF YOU'RE SEEING THEM ON TOP,
THERE'S GONNA BE A PILE OF THEM DOWN THIS SLUICE
INSIDE THE MOSS.
IF THAT AIN'T A NEW BEGINNING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.
Turin: LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR BOTH SIDES WORKING TOGETHER.
WE JUST PRAISE YOU FOR THIS DAY.
AMEN!
WHOO!
Narrator: NORTH IN THE KLONDIKE, THE GROUND IS FROZEN SOLID.
WITH NO RIPPER, PARKER'S D10 DOZER IS USELESS.
AND WITH NO WAY TO STRIP OR THAW THE GROUND,
THE CREW RUNS THE LAST OF THEIR PAY DIRT.
Remsburg: ALL THEY'RE FINDING IS FROZEN CHUNKS OF GRAVEL.
UNLESS PARKER COMES UP WITH SOME KIND OF PLAN,
WE'RE DONE FOR THE SEASON.
Parker: WITHOUT SUMMER REAPPEARING,
SOME WAY OF MAKING ALL THE FROZEN GROUND THAWED,
THAT'S PRETTY WELL IT.
Remsburg: WELL, THIS IS THE LAST BUCKET RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS IT. NO MORE PAY DIRT. WE DONE.
Narrator: PARKER HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO SHUT DOWN HIS OPERATION.
Man: IT'S TIME TO TAKE A LOOK.
THIS SEASON, PARKER HAS BANKED 577 OUNCES WORTH OVER $800,000,
BUT IT'S STILL LESS THAN 3/4 OF HIS 800-OUNCE GOAL.
TO HIT $1 MILLION IN GOLD
IN HIS FIRST SEASON MINING THE KLONDIKE,
PARKER NEEDS THE BIGGEST CLEANUP OF HIS LIFE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HOLY [BLEEP]
Parker: SEE HOW GOOD IT LOOKS?
THAT'S THE BEST-LOOKING SLUICE WE'VE HAD.
WE'VE GOT GOLD IN THIS ONE.
REALLY NICE TO SEE BIG PIECES OF GOLD LIKE THAT.
THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S A NICE NUGGET.
I'M JUST A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT IT'S GONNA WEIGH UP TO.
Narrator: CLAIM OWNER TONY BEETS ARRIVES FOR THE WEIGH IN.
Parker: HEY, TONY.
YEAH. I MEAN, WE'VE KIND OF RUN INTO SOME ROADBLOCKS.
FROZEN GROUND.
SOUNDS GOOD.
Narrator: PARKER NEEDS ANOTHER 223 OUNCES,
WORTH MORE THAN $300,000,
OR HE WILL CONSIDER HIS SEASON A FAILURE.
MOMENT OF TRUTH, HUH?
5, 10...20,
30...40...
50...
51.6.
51.6 OUNCES, WORTH ONLY $70,000,
PARKER IS STILL 172 OUNCES SHORT OF HIS 800-OUNCE GOAL.
Parker: YEAH, WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR IT.
AND EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT'S FROZEN.
I MEAN, WE HAD A [BLEEP] WEEK.
BUT I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING 'CAUSE I'M NOT ABOUT TO GO HOME.
THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE LEAVING BEFORE WE HAVE 800 OUNCES.