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-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
Doyle: TONIGHT ON "THE DIRT"...
LET'S ROLL! COME ON.
MAKE IT HAPPEN.
...WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO THE WIRE
ON A WILD, ROLLER-COASTER SEASON OF "GOLD RUSH."
WE'RE STILL IN THE GAME, AND WE'RE STILL RUNNING DIRT.
GET OUT OF HERE. LET'S GO. WE GOT [BLEEP] TO DO.
HERE TONIGHT, THE BRAINS AND THE BRAWN
OF THE HOFFMAN CREW --
THE GUYS MINING KNEE-DEEP IN JUNGLE MUD.
TODD'S GOT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON HIS PLATE.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S HAPPY WHEN YOU'RE PRODUCING.
WE HADN'T BY THIS POINT.
THEIR JUNGLE TROUBLES ALREADY HAVE THEM FANTASIZING
ABOUT NEXT SEASON.
THE NEXT JUNGLE WE MINE IN BETTER BE IN HAWAII.
[ TAPE REWINDS ]
DUSTIN PUFFS OUT HIS CHEST WHEN WE FIND OUT THE HARD WAY
THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CAHOON CREEK TENSION
BETWEEN FATHER AND SON.
[ LAUGHS ] I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS [BLEEP]
I'M STILL A LITTLE PISSED OFF ABOUT THAT.
I MANAGE TO TRACK DOWN THIS SEASON'S MYSTERY MAN --
THE ELUSIVE FREDDY DODGE,
AND IT'S QUICKLY APPARENT WHY HE LEFT THE JUNGLE SO SUDDENLY.
Doyle: GOOD LORD.
WHAT'S A PIECE LIKE THIS WORTH?
Dodge: OH, I COULD PROBABLY GET $7,000 OR $8,000 FOR THAT.
BUT LIKE A TRUE GOLD MINER,
FREDDY'S TIGHT-LIPPED WITH THE DETAILS.
TELL ME WHERE THIS CAME FROM. CAN YOU?
DEFINITELY NOT.
I CLEAR UP THE CONFUSION ON HOW "GOLD RUSH" ALL BEGAN
WITH DISCOVERY'S DEVELOPMENT GURU, MATT KELLY.
EVERYONE WOULD SAY, "GOLD WILL NEVER WORK."
CAN YOU REMEMBER EXACTLY WHO SAID THAT?
I THINK IT WAS CHRISTO DOYLE, ACTUALLY, WHO SAID THAT.
AND FINALLY, WE'LL GIVE YOU A TASTE
OF TONIGHT'S ALL-NEW EPISODE OF "GOLD RUSH."
Tallis: DUSTIN!
TRY TO CONTAIN YOUR EXCITEMENT.
[ SCREECHING ]
ARMS UP, DOWN. AND CLAP. UP! YES!
Doyle: THIS IS "THE DIRT."
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
TONIGHT, I'M TALKING TO TODD HOFFMAN'S FOOT SOLDIERS,
THE GUYS WHO DIG IN THE TRENCHES
AND WHO GO INTO BATTLE FOR HIM EVERY DAY IN THE JUNGLE --
MITCH, KEVIN, AND ANDY.
HOW COME YOU PUT ME DOWN HERE AT THE END?
Woman: QUIET, PLEASE.
GUYS, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU
WITHOUT TODD AROUND, ESPECIALLY.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME REAL ANSWERS.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST FEW EPISODES,
YOU GUYS HAVE HAD A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS.
A LOT MORE DEALINGS WITH MEKDECI THAN I THINK YOU'D WANT.
I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS.
Doyle: WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU GUYS,
FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN?
TODD'S GOT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON HIS PLATE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR US, WE HAVE A JOB TO DO.
TODD HAS HIS JOB TO DO,
BUT HE'S HAVING A LOT MORE PRESSURE THAN BEFORE,
AND IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GETTING WHAT WE CAME THERE TO GET.
SO WHEN YOU'RE GETTING GOLD, LIKE WE DID IN THE YUKON,
IT'S A LOT EASIER.
KEVIN, WHERE ARE YOU GUYS WHEN HE HAS TO MAKE
THESE KIND OF PAINFUL EITHER VISITS TO GEORGETOWN
OR PHONE CALLS WITH MEKDECI?
IN THE PIT GETTING ALL MUDDY AND WET.
SO YOU JUST KEEP PLUGGING AWAY.
YEAH, WE JUST KEPT PLUGGING AWAY.
IT WAS JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL.
I'D RATHER BE THERE THAN HAVING TO DO WHAT HE WAS DOING.
Blaschke: YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S HAPPY WHEN YOU'RE PRODUCING,
AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE HADN'T BY THIS POINT.
MEKDECI'S GETTING TIRED OF WAITING AROUND FOR US,
AND HE WANTS TO SEE RESULTS.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO SEE THEM, TOO.
I FELT LIKE WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME JUST SHIFTING GEARS
AND NOT A LOT OF TIME ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD.
WE SEE TODD ON CAMERA,
YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH DEALING, BEING A BUSINESSMAN.
BUT WHAT'S TODD LIKE OFF CAMERA?
DOES HE HANG HIS HEAD LOW? IS HE REALLY RATTLED?
DOES HE SEEM TO BE DOWN IN THESE SITUATIONS?
HE'S PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS GOT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
HE'S A VERY POSITIVE PERSON.
Hiatt: I'VE NEVER SEEN TODD RATTLED.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING, HE'S JUST CRACKING JOKES.
COME ON DOWN FOR A BEER!
HE JUST MAKES YOU LAUGH ALL DAY.
WHAT ABOUT YOU? THAT'S JUST LIKE YOU, RIGHT?
YOU'RE NEVER DOWN?
GLASS IS ALWAYS HALF FULL.
PRETTY MUCH, YEAH.
DEFINITELY HALF-FULL KIND OF GUY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING HOME.
I'M THE SAME, KEVIN.
OKAY, GOOD.
MITCH, ARE YOU GUYS THINKING
THAT MEKDECI'S BEING UNREASONABLE?
I MEAN, YOU'RE HEARING HIM SAY YOU'RE NOT PRODUCING,
"YOU GUYS ARE OUT OF HERE,"
THEN HE GIVES YOU AN ULTIMATUM --
14 OUNCES.
Blaschke: YOU KNOW, IF I WAS THE LANDOWNER,
I'D WANT TO SEE THE SAME THING.
YOU KNOW, AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA GO DOWN THERE
AND JUST CLEAN HOUSE.
NO BIG DEAL.
WELL, WE'VE BEEN THERE NOW FOR MONTHS
AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING.
HE WANTS HIS CUT. TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE.
HOW TOUGH WAS IT, KEVIN, TO KEEP MORALE UP?
I MEAN, REALISTICALLY, I MEAN,
I THINK THERE WAS SOME LOW, LOW DAYS.
Hiatt: WELL, LOOKING BACK TO LAST SEASON
WHERE YOU SEE GOLD IN A SLUICE BOX,
WE DIDN'T SEE THAT.
I DON'T THINK I EVER SAW --
THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT LIFTS YOUR SPIRITS.
I DON'T THINK I SAW ONE TIME
A PIECE OF GOLD IN OUR SLUICE BOX.
THAT'S 'CAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY THERE.
WELL, YEAH, EXACTLY.
SO WHEN YOU DON'T SEE THAT,
PAINFUL.
I MEAN, IT'S A LONG SEASON.
HOW DID YOU GUYS NOT LOSE YOUR MINDS?
I DID LOSE MY MIND.
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
GOOD GAME.
[ CROAKING ]
YOU GUYS ARE BARELY KEEPING MEKDECI AT BAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT THE VALUE OF THIS IS?
THAT'S PEANUTS. IT DOESN'T MEET, YOU KNOW.
BARELY GETTING WHAT HE NEEDS TO KEEP YOU GUYS ON THE CLAIM.
BUT HE SENDS IN SOMEONE TO KIND OF WATCH OVER YOU GUYS.
WELL, THAT LOOKS LIKE MEKDECI'S GUY.
HE'S HERE TO CHECK US OUT.
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
I THINK IT WAS MORE STRESSFUL ON TODD THAN US
BECAUSE WE BASICALLY STILL HAD OUR JOB TO DO.
AND IT'S NOT LIKE
BEFORE WE GOT THERE, WE WEREN'T WORKING.
WE GOT UP EVERY DAY, AND WE WENT TO WORK.
Doyle: IT PRETTY MUCH IRRITATED DAVE AND TODD THE MOST.
IT'S, LIKE, HOW TO MINE.
I'M REALLY NOT WILLING TO LISTEN
TO THOSE GUYS TELL US HOW WE'RE GONNA MINE.
SO IF THIS IS THE HOT SPOT,
WHY THE [BLEEP] IS THE EXCAVATOR OVER THERE?
IF HE COULD HAVE COME IN
AND SHOWN US WHERE THE GOLD WAS, FINE.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT. WHO CARES?
HE COULDN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT WHERE THE GOLD WAS.
NO.
Blaschke: TODD HAD SOMEBODY TO ANSWER TO,
AND THAT GUY WAS RIGHT THERE
FOLLOWING HIM AROUND LIKE A SHADOW EVERY DAY.
IT'S EASY BEING A LEADER WHEN YOU'RE SUCCESSFUL.
IT'S VERY HARD WHEN YOU'RE GETTING YOUR *** KICKED.
TELL ME ABOUT THIS FIRE SITUATION.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
FIRE!
OH [BLEEP]
YEAH, OUR PUMP SHOOK THE FUEL TANK OFF,
AND THEN IT WENT ACROSS THE BATTERY TERMINALS,
CAUGHT ON FIRE.
[BLEEP] KEVIN, THROW [BLEEP] ON THERE.
DAMN IT!
I MEAN, IT DIDN'T ONLY JUST TAKE OUT OUR PUMP,
BUT IT TOOK OUT A MEMBER OF OUR TEAM.
YEAH, IT THEN LEADS TO A DOMINO EFFECT.
IT THEN LEADS TO BRIAN GOING TO GET A PART,
AND THEN BRIAN HURTS HIS ARM.
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAN DOWN! BRIAN'S HURT. I NEED A MEDIC.
ARE YOU IN A LOT OF PAIN, BRIAN?
DUDE, LET GO OF ME AND BACK UP NOW.
YOU'RE NOT FILMING THIS RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, SHUT US ALL DOWN.
IS ANYONE THINKING THIS IS THE LAST STRAW?
LIKE, "SCREW IT.
"SOMEONE'S GETTING HURT, PUMP FIRE.
LET'S JUST LEAVE. LET'S GET OUT OF HERE."
WE MADE A COMMITMENT THAT WE WERE GONNA DO THIS
AND WE WERE GONNA FINISH IT.
AND WE WANTED TO FINISH IT, BUT IT WAS BRUTAL.
IT'S JUST CRAP LIKE THIS THAT JUST SCREWS EVERYTHING UP.
DO YOU HAVE PTSD FROM THE JUNGLE?
YOU KNOW, IT JUST MADE
EVERYTHING BETTER AT HOME FOR ME, I GUESS.
EVERYBODY KEEPS SAYING IT'S AN EXPERIENCE.
WELL, SO DOES HITTING YOUR HAND WITH A HAMMER.
IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU WANT TO DO IT EVERY DAY.
[ LAUGHS ]
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE DOWN THERE.
I MEAN, WE LIVED IT, WE DID IT.
PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO EXPERIENCE THAT AGAIN, THOUGH.
THE NEXT JUNGLE WE MINE IN BETTER BE HAWAII.
[ LAUGHS ]
TIME TO GO TO WORK.
CAN YOU SMELL THE PAY DIRT?!
WHOO!
[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ]
IT'S CLEAR THERE'S A LOT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT
DOWN IN THE JUNGLE.
WE GOT A LITTLE PACKAGE HERE ON YOU GUYS VENTING.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
I HEARD THAT YOU SAID
WE'RE, LIKE, REALLY NEGATIVE ALL THE TIME.
Woman: I DIDN'T SAY THAT.
WHAT? WE'RE NEGATIVE?
I'M READY TO GO HOME.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GO HOME.
EVERY DAY THAT I WORK
IS ONE LESS DAY I'LL HAVE TO SPEND HERE.
WE CAN'T ESCAPE.
I CAN'T ESCAPE ANDY. I CAN'T ESCAPE TODD.
IT'S JUST THE SAME OLD ROUTINE EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW?
I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE. I AM HERE.
I CAN'T GET AWAY FROM THESE GUYS.
HERE I'M A GLASS-HALF-EMPTY KIND OF GUY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HERE'S THE LIST OF WHAT I MISS AT HOME.
THIS IS WHAT I'LL MISS HERE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A P.O.W. CAMP, OR A JAIL WORK CAMP
WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.
PBHT!
SO I'M ALWAYS SHOCKED TO HEAR --
I GUESS I SHOULDN'T BE ANYMORE --
THAT YOU GUYS TEND TO GO FISHING WHEREVER YOU ARE.
DESPITE NO GOLD, NO DIAMONDS, YOU GUYS ARE GOING FISHING?
SERIOUSLY?
I THINK WE'VE FISHED MAYBE, WHAT, A DAY, DAY AND A HALF.
THAT WAS IT THE WHOLE SEASON.
WE PRETTY MUCH WORKED ALL THE TIME,
BUT WE DID TRY FISHING ONCE.
JUST TO BLOW OFF STEAM?
WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE MADE MORE MONEY SELLING FISH.
[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH, IT WAS -- YOU KNOW, IT WAS --
WE JUST WANT SOMETHING TO DO --
JUST SOMETHING TO GET AWAY FROM MINING,
YOU KNOW, JUST TO CLEAR OUR HEADS.
WE WENT FISHING WITH THURBER.
PRETTY TRAGIC TRIP. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
TIME TO FISH.
[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]
THEY ALWAYS BITE WHEREVER I'M NOT.
TWO WEEKS AGO, HELL, YOU COULDN'T EVEN PARK.
THEY WERE WALKING ACROSS THE STREET.
I THINK THE GRASS IS A LOT LONGER
THAN WHEN WE FIRST GOT HERE.
[ WHISTLING ]
WHEN YOU GO FISHING, YOU NEED THREE BUCKETS,
AND ALL OF THEM NEED TO BE FILLED WITH PATIENCE.
YOU'LL PROBABLY GO THROUGH THEM.
FOUND AN ELEPHANT ***. THAT'S JUST WHAT I NEEDED.
ALL RIGHT. THIS REALLY SUCKS.
[ BIRD SQUAWKING ]
I THINK THAT BIRD'S LAUGHING AT ME.
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
[ MUTTERING INDISTINCTLY ]
AND WITH THAT, GOOD NIGHT, FISH.
Doyle: COMING UP, DAKOTA FRED TAKES TO THE SKIES
IN SEARCH OF THE YELLOW STUFF.
Fred: I SUSPECT THERE IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF GOLD IN THERE.
WHOO! I LOVE IT!
Doyle: THEN FATHER AND SON TALK CAHOON CREEK.
AND AS USUAL, IT QUICKLY GETS UNCOMFORTABLE.
YOU GOT TO GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR THING, MAN.
[ LAUGHS ] I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS [BLEEP]
I'M STILL A LITTLE PISSED OFF ABOUT THAT.
AND WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT, WE'LL EXPOSE
WHAT THE PORCUPINE CREEK PRODUCTION CREW DOES
IN THEIR DOWN TIME -- MULE RACING...
THREE, TWO, ONE, GO!
...PITTING COCKNEY BRITS...
EASY PEASY. BE AFRAID.
...AGAINST BRASH AMERICANS.
[ SCREECHING ]
[ LAUGHS ]
I TRULY DO HATE THIS SHIRT. [ LAUGHS ]
SLUMPY. WE'RE LIKE...
I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D KNOW.
[ GROANS ]
FRED AND DUSTIN, WE'RE AT IT AGAIN.
ONE MORE TIME.
SO, DUSTIN, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING,
BUT YOU ARE FINALLY UP AT CAHOON.
I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS.
IT TOOK FOREVER.
HOW HIGH OR FAR ABOVE ELEVATION IS IT FROM PORCUPINE?
IT'S ABOUT 3,000 FEET DIFFERENCE.
WE'RE WAY UP. NO MORE TREES.
HOW DIFFERENT IS THE WEATHER JUST 3,000 FEET UP?
IT WAS AMAZING.
WE WOULD GO UP THERE AND WEAR ALL LONG JOHNS AND GIANT JACKET
AND TWO BEANIES, AND YOU'RE DYING COLD.
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN PARADISE.
YOU GET IN THE HELICOPTER, LAND ON THE BOTTOM,
AND IT'S 80 DEGREES ALMOST,
AND YOU'RE GOING, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
"THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN LIVING IN LATELY?
'CAUSE WE'RE FREEZING OUR *** OFF."
THE WEATHER CAN CHANGE ON A DIME, RIGHT?
YEAH. THE STORMS ARE JUST SO UNPREDICTABLE.
THEY WERE ON YOU IN AN INSTANT
'CAUSE WE HAD MOUNTAINS ALL THE WAY AROUND US.
THE LIGHTNING STORM THAT WE HAD WAS JUST UNREAL.
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
I ACTUALLY WAS IN FETAL POSITION ON TOP OF MY MATS.
YEAH, IT WAS HORRIBLE.
TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOU GUYS CAME UP WITH
TO KEEP SOME OF THE COLD OUT IN CAHOON.
MY GHETTO WRAP.
ALL RIGHT, MAKE SURE WE DON'T GO OVER ANY ENGINE PARTS
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT EXHAUST COMING IN.
Man: OKAY.
Dustin: WE WOULD TAKE SHRINK WRAP
AND WRAP IT AROUND 'CAUSE OF THE EXHAUST FUMES
AND MAKE IT WONDERFULLY HOT IN THERE.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY DO SOMETHING THIS STUPID.
WE MADE A LITTLE HOLE THAT WE CAME IN AND OUT,
AND YOU COULD STILL SEE OUT OF IT.
[ MAN LAUGHS ]
YEAH!
IS THERE WILDLIFE UP THERE?
THERE WAS THOSE BIG, GIANT...
MUSKRATS.
NO, NO, NO. THE SHEEP.
YEAH.
THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE FLEXING ON YOU.
[ BLEATS ]
DOLL SHEEP, YEAH.
Woman: DO THAT AGAIN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
SO, FRED, YOU'VE STUDIED THIS AREA, RIGHT?
I MEAN, YOU KNOW THE TOPOGRAPHY.
YOU KNOW THE MOUNTAINS.
YES. I HAD BEEN UP THERE MANY YEARS AGO.
GOT TO THINKING ABOUT THE GEOLOGY OF THAT AREA
BETWEEN THE BEDROCK SIDE AND THE SLATE SIDE.
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD SIGN THAT THERE'S
GONNA BE SOME GOLD RIGHT IN THERE.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET IN A PLANE,
DO A LITTLE, WHAT WE CALL, FLIGHT-SEEING WITH YOU.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
HEY, THERE, PAUL. HOW YOU DOING?
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU, FRED?
Doyle: TO GET A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF CAHOON CREEK,
FRED ENLISTED THE SERVICES
OF EXPERIENCED BUSH PILOT PAUL SWANSTROM.
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
PAUL'S BEEN FLYING OVER
THE MOUNTAINS AND GLACIERS OF SOUTHEAST ALASKA
FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
BOY, THIS AREA'S JUST ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
I'VE BEEN COMING UP HERE FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW,
BUT I AM STILL JUST FASCINATED BY THE MOUNTAINS UP THERE.
ALL THE SCENERY. NEVER GET TIRED OF IT.
IT'S 30 MILES TO THE GROUND FRED'S BEEN MINING OFF AND ON
FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
WE'RE COMING OVER PORCUPINE CREEK HERE, YEAH?
AND THE FAMILIAR SIGHT OF THE OLD GLORY HOLE.
WOW. THAT HOLE DOWN THERE DON'T LOOK TOO BIG.
[ LAUGHS ]
AND HALF A MILE NORTH, UP THE MOUNTAIN,
THE PROMISED LAND.
COMING UP CAHOON CREEK RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE FLYING DIRECTLY OVER IT.
LET'S SEE.
OUR CLAIMS ARE RIGHT DOWN IN THIS AREA HERE.
GOT THEM ALL STAKED UP.
FROM THE AIR, FRED GETS A CLEAR PICTURE
OF HOW THE LANDSCAPE WAS FORMED.
WITH RED EARTH ON ONE SIDE AND GREEN ON THE OTHER,
THE FAULT LINE IS UNMISTAKABLE.
BOY, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE
WHERE THE UPLIFT OCCURRED RIGHT THERE.
OH, YEAH.
THE LEFT SIDE IS WHAT WE CALL GREEN MOUNTAIN.
THE RIGHT SIDE -- GOT A LOT OF PYRITE IN IT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S TURNED TO RED.
ONCE IT'S EXPOSED TO THE AIR,
PYRITE STARTS RUSTING.
THERE'S A FAULT LINE
WHERE THE GREEN AND THE RED IS RIGHT HERE.
CUTS RIGHT THROUGH THERE.
IT CUTS RIGHT STRAIGHT ACROSS,
GOES OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS.
WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG UPLIFT OF THAT SITUATION,
USUALLY YOU HAVE FRACTURES IN THE EARTH
AND STUFF LIKE QUARTZ THAT SHOOT UP.
AND THE LIQUID QUARTZ IS LIKE A HIGHWAY FOR GOLD AND MINERALS.
THIS FAULT LINE COULD MEAN THERE IS BIG GOLD.
AND IF THERE IS,
IT WAS COVERED UP BY A GLACIER UNTIL JUST RECENTLY.
WE'RE GONNA MINE THE AREA FROM WHERE THE GLACIER WAS, UP.
BEEN 100 YEARS SINCE THE GOLD RUSH HAPPENED,
THERE'S A LOT OF NEW REAL ESTATE TO LOOK FOR GOLD IN.
BETWEEN McKINLEY AND CAHOON CREEK,
I SUSPECT THERE IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF GOLD IN THERE.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
UP AT CAHOON, DUSTIN FINALLY HAS THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
TO GET DOWN TO HIS FIRST PAY DIRT.
HOW DID YOU PICK WHERE TO START?
WE DID SOME TEST HOLES, AND MY HIGHEST AMOUNTS
LANDED IN THIS ONE AREA THAT WE HAD.
THIS WAS WHERE I THOUGHT IT WAS.
THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
IT'S LIKE A NIGHTMARE AT THIS POINT
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR IT
AND FIGHTING FOR IT THIS WHOLE TIME.
I FINALLY GET IT TOGETHER,
AND I GET, LIKE, EVERYBODY ALL RILED UP,
AND THEN NOTHING.
THAT'S WHEN I KIND OF STARTED FEELING
A LITTLE BIT -- HMM --
"WHERE ARE THEY DIGGING?"
YOU GOT TO GO AHEAD AND DO YOUR THING, MAN.
[ LAUGHS ] I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THIS [BLEEP]
[ LAUGHS ]
SO ANYWAY, WE DECIDE TO MOVE.
I'M STILL A LITTLE PISSED OFF ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS Y'ALL'S HOLE?
THIS IS THE HOLE.
I SEE THE PROBLEM RIGHT OFF.
IMMEDIATELY.
Fred: I JUST KIND OF POINTED OUT
THAT YOU REALLY NEEDED TO GET OUT A LITTLE BIT FARTHER
AND ONTO MORE OF THAT RED CRUSHED SLATE
'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT'S GONNA BE.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE IN THE BEDROCK,
BUT IT'S GONNA BE IN THE GROUND-UP SLATE.
SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
WHERE THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT COLORS CONVERGED?
WHEN ALL THIS IS GOING ON, FRED, UP THERE,
ARE YOU THINKING THEY'RE ACTUALLY GONNA FIND
GOOD GOLD UP THERE OR NOT?
I THINK THAT ONCE I WENT UP AND TOOK A LOOK
THAT WE MIGHT FIND A LITTLE BIT OF GOLD UP THERE.
Doyle: THE GUYS THAT FILM
THE DAKOTA BOYS UP IN ALASKA WORK HARD,
BUT THEY ALSO PLAY HARD.
All: OH!
Doyle: WHEN THEY'RE NOT TOSSING ROCKS,
THEY RACE A SINGLE LAP AROUND PORCUPINE CREEK
TO SEE WHO IN THE CREW CAN CLOCK THE BEST TIME.
ON A QUIET CLAIM IN HAINES, ALASKA,
TWO MEN FROM RIVAL PRODUCTION CREWS --
THE CURRENT HOT-LAP CHAMPION,
PRODUCER DAYVE HILLMAN FROM "GOLD RUSH,"
AND THE CHALLENGER, SOUND MAN AARON WEBSTER FROM "THE DIRT."
THEY'LL RACE ONE LAP FOR PRIDE, HONOR, AND COUNTRY.
SYNCHRONIZED WATCHES?
WE'RE GONNA SHOW THIS BOY HOW TO REALLY DRIVE.
IT'S NOW OR NEVER.
NOW OR NEVER.
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE.
YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE, YOU'RE NOT IN YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
I AM GOING TO SCHOOL YOU.
[ Distorted voice ] SCHOOL YOU.
THREE, TWO, ONE, GO!
I DON'T STAND A CHANCE.
I'VE NEVER FREAKING DRIVEN THE THING BEFORE.
[ LAUGHS ]
HERE HE COMES.
THIS MUST BE PROBABLY HIS WORST TIME EVER.
Woman: WOW.
SET THE BAR. BRILLIANT LAP.
EASY PEASY, BE AFRAID.
I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!
NO ONE HAS EVER KNOCKED ME OFF THAT SCOREBOARD.
[ SCREECHING ]
[ SCREECHING ECHOES ]
[ LAUGHS ]
YEE-HAW!
TOTALLY CRUSHED HIM.
YEAH, BABY!
[ "STAR SPANGLED BANNER" PLAYS ]
WHOO!
WHOO!
Doyle: WE'VE FOUND HIM --
EVERYONE'S FAVORITE GOLD GURU FOR FREDDY DODGE.
GOOD LORD.
AND HE SURPRISES US ALL
WITH A MASSIVE GOLD HAUL.
THERE'S ABOUT $60,000 WORTH OF NUGGETS THERE, CHRISTO.
BUT LIKE ANY GOLD MINER,
HE WON'T GIVE UP THE LOCATION OF HIS BIG FIND.
TELL ME WHERE THIS CAME FROM, CAN YOU?
DEFINITELY NOT.
Doyle: SINCE HE LEFT THE JUNGLE
HALFWAY THROUGH THE MINING SEASON,
HIS WHEREABOUTS HAVE BEEN UNKNOWN.
YOU'RE CUT OUT OF A DIFFERENT CLOTH, FREDDY.
AT ANY GIVEN TIME, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW
WHERE HE IS OR WHAT HE'S UP TO.
BUT ONE THING'S FOR SURE --
WHEN FREDDY DODGE DOES SURFACE, HE'S FULL OF SURPRISES.
HOW YOU DOING, CHRISTO?
I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE YOU HERE.
MY LITTLE JOKE IS "WHERE IN THE WORLD IS FREDDY DODGE?"
I PINNED YOU DOWN.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK OUT THERE THROUGH THIS SEASON
THAT YOU'VE KIND OF GONE M.I.A.
YOU KNOW, YOU WERE HELPING THESE GUYS GET SET UP,
AND THEN, POOF, NO MORE FREDDY DODGE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE I WENT.
YEAH? LET'S SEE.
I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT YOU HAVE GOLD, FREDDY.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
GOOD LORD.
SO THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE DOING WHEN YOU LEFT?
THIS IS WHY YOU LEFT GUYANA.
YEAH, THIS PARTICULAR SPOT HERE --
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW OF IT.
I MINE ON MY OWN AS WELL AS HELPING THESE GUYS.
DOES TODD KNOW ABOUT THIS?
YEAH, YEAH. TODD KNOWS.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN HE'S GOTTEN
OUT OF THE JUNGLE SO FAR, FREDDY.
IT WASN'T AN EASY DEAL DOWN IN THE JUNGLE.
Todd: THE JUNGLE'S GIVING US A BEATING,
AND WE'RE FINALLY FIGHTING BACK RIGHT HERE.
SO WHY DID YOU LEAVE?
BECAUSE OF THIS.
I'VE GOT MY OWN MINE,
AND IT'S MYSELF AND MY BROTHER.
AND HE WAS DOING EVERYTHING ON HIS OWN,
SO I HELPED THOSE GUYS
JUST AS LONG AS I COULD DOWN SOUTH,
AND THEN I HAD TO TAKE CARE OF MY OWN BUSINESS.
FIRST OF ALL, HOW MUCH GOLD IS IN HERE?
WHAT'S IT WORTH?
THERE'S ABOUT $60,000 WORTH OF NUGGETS THERE, CHRISTO.
DO YOU ALWAYS TRAVEL
WITH $60,000 WORTH OF GOLD IN YOUR BACKPACK?
DEFINITELY NOT.
NOPE.
AND I SEE YOU WALKING AROUND HERE.
YOU KIND OF ALWAYS HAVE YOUR BACKPACK ON, FREDDY.
CAN'T LET THIS GET OUT OF YOUR SIGHT.
I'M NOT GOING TO. NOT HERE.
SO IF YOU GO, YOU KNOW, TO DINNER TONIGHT,
YEP.
STRESSFUL.
BUT I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE GOLD WITH ME.
JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.
IF YOU SEE ME WITH A BACKPACK, THERE'S NO GOLD IN IT.
TELL ME WHERE THIS CAME FROM. CAN YOU?
[ CHUCKLES ] NO. NOT YET.
OF COURSE NOT. YOU'RE A GOLD MINER.
I KIND OF WANT TO KEEP THIS TO MYSELF.
SO YOU AND YOUR BROTHER HAVE FOUND KIND OF A SWEET SPOT.
A SPOT WITH SOME GOOD GOLD IN IT, BIG GOLD.
THERE'S NOT MANY PIECES LIKE THAT LEFT IN THE WORLD.
WHAT'S A PIECE LIKE THIS WORTH?
OH, I COULD PROBABLY GET $7,000 OR $8,000 FOR THAT.
AND HAS THIS GROUND BEEN MINED?
NO, IT'S ALL *** GROUND.
NEVER BEEN MINED. HOW WAS IT MISSED?
WELL, MY BROTHER -- IT'S IN A REGION
THAT WASN'T IN THE MAIN GOLD RUSHES,
AND IT'S A LITTLE FARTHER OFF THE BEATEN PATH.
YEAH.
YOU'VE GOT QUITE AN INTERESTING FAMILY HISTORY, TOO.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR DAD.
YOUR DAD LIVED KIND OF AN AMAZING LIFE.
YEAH, MY FATHER --
HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL JOCKEY IN THE '50s.
AT, LIKE, THE HEIGHT OF HORSE-RACING.
YEAH, WHEN HORSE-RACING WAS BIG.
AND HE WAS AT THE TOP OF IT.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS ONE OF THE TOP JOCKEYS.
THEN MY DAD WAS INTO MINING.
SO YOUR DAD WAS A GOLD MINER.
MY DAD MINED IN THE YUKON, YEP.
SO IT'S IN THE BLOOD -- THIS ATTRACTION TO GOLD, FREDDY.
I MEAN, YOUR BROTHER HAS IT. YOU HAVE IT.
[ CHUCKLES ] I LIKE GOLD-MINING.
YES, YOU DO.
WELL, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.
THIS IS A GOOD SIGN.
THIS IS MORE ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY GOLD IN IT.
SO THE GOLD MINING WAS SOMETHING YOU GUYS WERE BORN INTO.
KIND OF.
YOU KNOW, MY DAD ALWAYS HAD THE BUG.
MY DAD WASN'T EVER SUCCESSFUL WITH IT,
AS MOST GOLD MINERS AREN'T, YEAH.
SO MY BROTHER'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL...SO FAR.
THAT'S THE THING ABOUT GOLD -- IT CAN BEAT YOU.
YOU THINK IT'S THERE, YOU DO YOUR BEST,
AND THEN IT BITES YOU IN THE ***.
NOTHING.
MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW
IS THAT YOU'VE BUILT EVERY WASH PLANT
OR CUSTOMIZED EVERY WASH PLANT IN "GOLD RUSH."
IS THAT RIGHT?
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THEM IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
DAKOTA FRED'S DE-ROCKER,
MY OLDEST BROTHER, DEREK, BUILT THE ONE
THAT MINES WITH ME HERE IN, LIKE, 1987.
THE HOFFMAN'S PLANT -- I WAS INVOLVED WITH IT.
BIG RED -- INVOLVED WITH IT.
SO PRETTY MUCH, I'VE HAD MY FINGERS
OR MY FAMILY'S FINGERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.
YEAH, LIKE, YOU'RE LIKE THE GOLD GURU
IN "GOLD RUSH" RIGHT NOW.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT 'CAUSE I THINK --
I THINK ALL OF OUR GOLD CAN GET TIED BACK TO YOU.
GOT A LITTLE PACKAGE ON YOU WORKING YOUR MAGIC.
[BLEEP]
Doyle: WHEN YOU'RE DIGGING FOR GOLD,
NOTHING IS A SURE THING.
NOT GETTING THE GOLD HAS GOT US IN A FREAKING CORNER.
OFTEN THE MINERS OF GOLD RUSH TURN TO THEIR SECRET WEAPON --
FREDDY DODGE.
HOLY COW. WHAT A MESS.
WE GOT TO TEAR IT APART
BEFORE WE START PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
THIS YEAR, FREDDY'S IMPACT HAS SPANNED CONTINENTS...
WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE, BRIAN.
...AND CREWS.
OH, DEAR! [BLEEP]
Parker: SO, HOW BAD IS IT?
Dodge: IF I WERE YOU, PARKER,
I'D BE LOOKING FOR A NEW WASH PLANT.
FROM PROSPECTING NEW, GOLD-RICH GROUND...
GOOD SPOT.
...TO BUILDING A CUSTOM WASH PLANT...
Dodge: WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GETTING INTO,
SO I THINK THIS IS THE MACHINE TO GO WITH, TODD.
OKAY.
...AND ADVISING ON AN OLD ONE.
I TELL YOU WHAT,
YOU LEASE IT FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON,
WE'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
SOUNDS LIKE A DEAL TO ME, FRED.
DON'T BREAK IT.
FREDDY'S ADVICE IS ALWAYS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD.
FREDDY, GOD PUT YOU ON THIS EARTH
TO CHASE THIS YELLOW STUFF, MAN.
I'M JUST GLAD TO BE BUDDIES WITH YOU.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
FREDDY, THIS SEASON, YOU'VE SPENT, BY FAR,
THE MOST TIME DOWN IN THE JUNGLE.
TELL ME THE TRUTH. WHY DID YOU LEAVE?
I KNOW YOU HAD STUFF TO DO, BUT --
THIS IS WHY.
IS THERE A PART OF YOU THAT LEFT
BECAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TRAIN WRECK?
IT WAS A TOUGH SITUATION,
BUT WITHOUT ME HAVING TO GO OVER HERE,
I WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT.
I'D HAVE STAYED DOWN THERE LONGER.
I WAS TO THE POINT WHERE THERE WASN'T REALLY
ANYTHING I COULD HELP THEM WITH ON FINDING NEW GROUND
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE IN A SITUATION
THAT OTHER PEOPLE TOOK WHAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
WE TRAVELED ALL OVER SOUTH AMERICA,
AND THAT CREEK RIGHT THERE WAS THE BEST SPOT WE FOUND.
AND NOW IT'S GONE.
Doyle: FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE,
HOW HARD WAS IT TO READ THAT GROUND?
IT'S THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE.
THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON TO IT.
IT'S LIKE A PARADOX DOWN THERE.
IT'S STRANGE.
YOU COULD FIND IT, BUT THERE WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH,
AND IT WOULD JUST BE IN A LITTLE POCKET, SO...
NOW, YOU ALSO SPENT SOME TIME WITH PARKER.
WENT OUT HALF A DAY TO HELP HIM OUT WITH BIG RED.
WHAT WAS YOUR SURFACE-LEVEL OBSERVATION
OF PARKER'S OPERATION?
YOU KNOW, IT LOOKED LIKE
HE WAS DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB, YOU KNOW?
EVERYTHING WAS CLEAN. THINGS WERE RUNNING.
NOW, COULD YOU WORK WITH A PARKER?
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW HIM WELL ENOUGH
TO SEE IF WE WOULD CLASH HEADS OR NOT.
SO DO YOU THINK PARKER HAS A CHANCE AT 800?
I MEAN, THE HOFFMAN'S GOT -- YOU GUYS GOT 800.
COULD HE BEAT WHAT YOU GUYS GOT LAST YEAR?
IF THE GROUND'S DECENT FOR HIM, CHRISTO,
HE COULD BLOW IT AWAY.
WE SHOULD HAVE BLOWN 800 AWAY.
OUR GROUND SUCKED.
SO IF HE GETS ON DECENT GROUND AT ALL,
I COULD SEE HIM DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THAT.
IF IT'S AS [BLEEP] AS THE GROUND WE WERE ON, NO.
HE'LL DO THE SAME.
WHAT WE NEED IS MORE OF THIS IN "GOLD RUSH."
MM-HMM.
CAN YOU HELP ME MAKE THAT HAPPEN?
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
Doyle: I'M OFTEN GIVEN CREDIT
FOR "GOLD RUSH" GETTING ITS START.
THE TRUTH IS THE IDEA CAME THROUGH
DISCOVERY'S V.P. OF DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION MATT KELLY.
Kelly: THAT IS NUTS.
[ LAUGHS ]
HE'S HERE TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON HOW IT ALL BEGAN.
Woman: STAND BY, ROLL.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'M HERE WITH MATT KELLY.
MATT AND I WORK -- WE WORK VERY CLOSELY.
YOU DESERVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF CREDIT FOR "GOLD RUSH."
YOU TOOK THE ORIGINAL PITCH IN 2009, MATT.
TELL ME, LIKE, HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN.
IN REALITY, I TOOK A PITCH FROM AMAZING PRODUCERS
AND GAVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO GREENLIT IT.
HOW DOES A SHOW IDEA GET ON THE AIR IN DISCOVERY?
'CAUSE I GOT A TON OF CRAP IDEAS, AS DO YOU.
PEOPLE MAKE FUN OF THE KIND OF ELEVATOR PITCH,
BUT IT IS TRUE.
YOU REALLY DO NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE SHOW IS IN 30 SECONDS,
OR ELSE THE AUDIENCE IS NEVER GONNA BUY IT.
SIX DOWN-ON-THEIR-LUCK GUYS GO MINING IN ALASKA.
AND I WANT TO JOIN THEM.
WHAT IS THIS, A CIRCUS OR SOMETHING?
WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR?
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT "GOLD RUSH"
IS WE WEREN'T LOOKING FOR IT.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS TOTALLY NEW.
WE WEREN'T LOOKING FOR GOLD SHOWS.
NO, THIS WAS "DIRTY JOBS." THIS WAS "MYTHBUSTERS."
WE HAD HOSTS LEADING YOU THROUGH SOME SORT OF EXPERIENCES.
WE HAD VERY LITTLE IN THE --
FLY ON THE WALL.
AND JUST GOING ON THESE JOURNEYS WITH THESE PEOPLE.
I STILL REMEMBER DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS EARLY ON
WHERE EVERYONE WOULD SAY, "GOLD WILL NEVER WORK.
IT'S SO SMALL."
CAN YOU REMEMBER EXACTLY WHO SAID THAT?
I THINK IT WAS CHRISTO DOYLE, ACTUALLY, WHO SAID THAT.
SO, LET'S GET INTO THE INTRICACIES
OF HOW THE IDEA ACTUALLY CAME TO BE.
RAW TV, THE PRODUCTION COMPANY,
WAS CASTING FOR A SHOW IN ALASKA, RIGHT?
THEY BASICALLY SAID,
"PEOPLE ARE GONNA START, IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS,
"WORRYING ABOUT THE APOCALYPSE.
WE'RE GONNA GO OUT AND FIND
OUR, KIND OF, OWN APOCALYPTIC PREPPERS --
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING, SURVIVING" --
OFF THE GRID.
THEY HAD CASTING PEOPLE GOING OUT.
THEY WENT TO CHAT ROOMS AND DIFFERENT ONLINE POSTINGS.
AND GUESS WHO BUBBLED TO THE SURFACE?
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. OKAY?
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT APPARENTLY THE E-MAIL BACK WAS,
"IF YOU GUYS THINK THIS SHOW'S GONNA WORK,
YOU'RE CRAZY."
HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE, "I'VE GOT A BETTER SHOW."
"FORGET ABOUT THE SHOW YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT.
COME FOLLOW ME TO ALASKA."
HE'S STILL SAYING THAT TO BOTH OF US.
"IT'S SO GOOD. IT'S A CLASSIC."
IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST PITCH TAPES WE'VE EVER GOTTEN.
Narrator: MEET TODD HOFFMAN.
WHILE HE'S BEEN GOING BUST,
THE PRICE OF GOLD HAS GONE SKY HIGH.
Todd: THE ONLY THING YOU CAN COUNT ON RIGHT NOW IS GOLD.
RAW WENT OUT TO OREGON, SHOT WITH HIM,
AND ALSO WENT TO ALASKA AND SHOT WITH HIM,
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, HE REALLY --
YOU KNOW, HE PUT A LOT OF IT TOGETHER.
HE BROUGHT HIS FRIENDS THAT HE WAS GONNA BRING IN,
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE SOLD THEM ON THE IDEA
THAT A MAN CAN STILL MAKE IT IN AMERICA.
Narrator: BUT NONE OF THEM HAS EVER MINED BEFORE.
Man: EASY, EASY, EASY. CAREFUL.
OH!
OHH!
I MEAN, I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR ME
IS THAT GOLD-MINING IS INHERENTLY, INSANELY BORING.
[ CHUCKLES ]
SO WHAT I'M OBSESSED WITH IS CONSTANTLY,
FROM SEASON TO SEASON, HAVING BIG CHANGE.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PUT NEW CHARACTERS IN
AND KEEP IT FRESH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND SOME OF THE BEST, MOST MEMORABLE CHARACTERS
HAVE COME OUT OF THAT.
I MEAN, MY PERSONAL FAVORITE MINER --
JOHN SCHNABEL.
I DON'T SEE ANY GOLD.
WHERE ARE YOU GUYS HIDING IT?
AND WHAT ABOUT PARKER'S EMERGENCE?
I MEAN, NO ONE SAW THAT.
NO, HE WAS, WHAT, 16 WHEN WE STARTED?
AND NOW OUR TROMMEL'S FULL OF DIRT.
OUR FEEDER'S FULL OF ROCK.
IT'S COSTING MONEY, YOU KNOW?
AND I WANT YOU TO DISPEL ONE MYTH FOR ME.
YOU GOT TO ME THIS FAVOR.
OKAY.
MY BROTHER ALWAYS SAYS,
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU PUT YOURSELF ON TELEVISION."
I FEEL LIKE A MAN! YEAH!
AND I HEAR THAT ON TWITTER AND EVERYONE...
PLEASE TELL EVERYONE THAT I DID NOT PUT MYSELF ON TELEVISION.
NOT ONLY DID YOU NOT ASK FOR IT,
YOU'VE BEEN A VERY RELUCTANT DIVA,
AND IN THE HALLWAYS OF DISCOVERY,
YOU ONLY ASK FOR MINIMAL THINGS
LIKE MINERAL WATER ALL THE TIME AND GREEN M&M's.
BUT FOR AMERICA TO KNOW
THAT CHRISTO TAKES A LOT OF CRAP CONSTANTLY IN THE OFFICE FOR IT.
I MEAN, RELENTLESS.
ABSOLUTELY RELENTLESS.
Woman: [ CLAPPING ] LET'S HEAR IT FOR MATT!
[ LAUGHTER ]
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
Doyle: LOADERS...
EXCAVATORS...
WASH PLANTS.
WHETHER YOU'RE THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
OR A HUGE "GOLD RUSH" FAN,
IT'S TOUGH TO KEEP TRACK
OF ALL THE BIG, BAD MACHINES ON A GOLD MINE.
DAKOTA FRED GIVES US ALL A LITTLE LESSON
IN HEAVY MACHINERY.
Fred: THAT IS REALLY WHAT'S FASCINATING.
EVERY TIME I GO DOWN AND I LOOK AT EVERYTHING WORKING TOGETHER,
LOADER COMING UP AND LOADING THE PLANT,
THE WASH ROOM JUST WASHING ALL THE ROCK,
THE LOADER PICKING THE ROCKS UP, TAKING THEM AWAY.
IT'S JUST A WHOLE CHAIN OF EVENTS
THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN TO MAKE ALL OF THIS WORK.
ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A VOLVO 330 EXCAVATOR.
BASICALLY, ALL THIS IS IS JUST A VERY LARGE TOY.
THE 330 GENERALLY INDICATES THE TONNAGE.
IT'S ABOUT 33 TONS, BUT ACTUALLY,
THAT PARTICULAR MACHINE PROBABLY WEIGHS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 80,000 POUNDS.
AND HERE COMES MELODY ON THE 150 LOADER.
IT'S GOT ABOUT A FIVE-YARD BUCKET ON IT,
AND SHE JUST COMING DOWN THERE, SCOOPING ALL THIS DIRT UP.
MIKE KIND OF HELPING HER OUT TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF --
NICE, LITTLE, FULL BUCKET OF MATERIAL.
AND AWAY SHE GOES,
AND SHE HAS TO KEEP A NICE, LITTLE RHYTHM GOING
TO TRY TO KEEP THE PLANT
SUPPLIED WITH MATERIAL AT ALL TIMES.
THE DE-ROCKER --
THEY STARTED MAKING THEM BACK IN THE '70s.
IT WAS BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR GOLD MINING.
THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE BUILT FOR.
TROMMELS JUST DON'T HANDLE REAL LARGE ROCKS VERY WELL.
BIG ROCKS JUST TEAR UP EVERYTHING.
AND THIS THING HAD TO BE RUGGED ENOUGH
TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE ANYTHING YOU THROW AT IT.
AND AS YOU SEE, WE THROW SOME BIG STUFF THROUGH THERE.
AND THEN THE TAILING LOADER,
WITH PAUL RUNNING IT RIGHT NOW.
HE JUST SPLICES IN BETWEEN THERE AND GRABS THIS MACHINE
AND GOES OUT AND HAULS ROCKS AWAY.
SO HE'S HAULING
ABOUT 80% OF WHATEVER SHE IS LOADING INTO THAT PLANT
AND HAULING IT AWAY.
THE OTHER 20% TURNS INTO MUD AND DEBRIS.
ALL WE DO --
WE DIG THE GROUND OUT, WE PROCESS IT,
BUT WE PUT IT RIGHT BACK, MINUS THE GOLD.
Doyle: COMING UP, AS THE SEASON HEATS UP,
WE ANSWER SOME OF YOUR BURNING VIEWER QUESTIONS.
AND WITH THE JUNGLE LOOKING MORE AND MORE BLEAK,
I TALK ALTERNATE CAREERS WITH THE HOFFMAN CREW.
YOU COULD TEACH ANGER-MANAGEMENT CLASSES.
[BLEEP] DAMN IT!
I DON'T THINK I'D BE A GOOD TEACHER FOR THAT, CHRISTO.
Doyle: AND FINALLY, WE'LL HAVE A SNEAK PEEK
AT TONIGHT'S ALL NEW EPISODE OF "GOLD RUSH."
THIS STUFF'S NASTY.
IT'S THE WORST STUFF I'VE EVER RAN.
IT'S COMING DOWN TO THE WIRE ON ALL THREE CLAIMS.
Todd: BACK! ALL THE CAMERAS BACK!
Doyle: DAYVE HILLMAN IS A PRODUCER
ON THE PRODUCTION TEAM IN HAINES, ALASKA.
BUT HE'S KNOWN AROUND THESE PARTS
FOR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SKILL SET.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO CALL ME DANCING DAYVE.
I'M AN EXTRAORDINARY DANCER, YES.
I'VE BEEN KNOWN TO THROW DOWN A FEW MOVES.
I'M A COMBINATION OF WEDDING DAD AND DISCO FUNK.
I'M, LIKE, A BABE MAGNET IN HAINES ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.
I THROW DOWN A SPECIAL MOVE, WHICH IS CALLED THE SACK TOSS.
PEOPLE'S MINDS ARE BLOWN.
FIRST YOU TAKE OFF YOUR TIE.
THAT COMES OFF.
YOU'RE LOSING YOURSELF. YOU GET INTO THE GROOVE.
FIND YOUR SPACE. GET THE HIPS GOING.
HIPS ARE IN ACTION. THAT'S HAPPENING.
YOU'RE FEELING IT. PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS.
"WHAT'S THIS GUY DOING?"
THE ARMS ARE INVOLVED. THE ARMS ARE INVOLVED.
GOT ENOUGH SPACE? YES, MAYBE.
YOU'RE READY.
ARMS UP, DOWN, AND CLAP, UP, YES!
SACK TOSS.
[ LAUGHTER, APPLAUSE ]
Man: YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE SOME QUESTIONS FROM THE FANS.
HELLO, I'M WOUTER.
I'M 32 YEARS OLD, AND I'M FROM THE NETHERLANDS.
FIXING BROKEN EQUIPMENT.
[ LAUGHS ]
'CAUSE IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY, YEAH.
I GREW UP FARMING AND IN THE TREE BUSINESS,
SO I'D PROBABLY BE BACK INTO DOING SOMETHING IN THAT.
IT'S JUST WHAT I KNOW.
GOT IT. WHAT ABOUT YOU?
I'VE ALWAYS WORKED FOR SOMEBODY, SO I'D KIND OF LIKE
TO GET INTO DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF.
NO.
EW! OH! GEE-- GET OUT OF MY WAY.
I JUST WENT OUT THERE TO TAKE A LEAK,
AND SOMETHING FLEW IN TO MY FREAKING SHOULDER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA GO BACK TO SLEEP NOW.
ANGER MANAGEMENT, MAYBE?
YOU COULD TEACH ANGER-MANAGEMENT CLASSES.
I DON'T THINK I'D BE A GOOD TEACHER, FOR THAT, CHRISTO.
[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ]
FRICK!
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
FRICK! [BLEEP]
FRICK! FRICK!
[BLEEP] DAMN IT!
FREDDY, WE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU FROM FACEBOOK.
MY QUESTION IS FOR FREDDY.
I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN GOLD-MINING --
LIKE, THE HISTORY BEHIND IT
AND HOW YOU BECAME CONNECTED WITH TODD.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT A LOT IN THAT IMAGE.
BUT LET'S ANSWER A QUESTION --
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN GOLD-MINING?
MY DAD WAS INVOLVED IN MINING.
GOT THE GOLD BUG WHEN I WAS JUST A YOUNG BOY.
SO HOW DID YOU GET CONNECTED WITH TODD HOFFMAN?
BEFORE HE EVEN STARTED SEASON ONE FOR "GOLD RUSH,"
HE CONTACTED ME AND ASKED ME IF I COULD GIVE HIM A HAND.
TO HELP HIM BUILD HIS OPERATION.
YEAH, HE NEEDED HELP.
[ CHUCKLES ]
HE JUST WANTED SOME ADVICE.
MM-HMM.
Todd: I BELIEVE IN GOLD.
I JUST WISH I WAS BETTER AT IT --
[ Chuckling ] BETTER GOLD-MINER, YOU KNOW?
HE HAD THAT TROMMEL AND THAT SCREENER.
I SAID, "WELL, YOU GOT THEM IN THE WRONG POSITIONS."
YOU NEED THE SCRUBBER FIRST, THEN THE SCREEN.
HE WAS LIKE, "WELL, IT'S SET UP NOW.
I CAN'T CHANGE IT, SO..."
[ GROANS ]
ALL RIGHT, NEXT QUESTION. FACEBOOK.
WE DIG IT UP,
WE TAKE THE MINERALS OUT OF THE GROUND,
AND WE PUT THE GROUND BACK THE WAY IT WAS.
AND YOU PUT IT BACK LAYER BY LAYER THE WAY IT WAS.
THAT IS CORRECT.
AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS YEAR.
WE'RE GETTING SET UP FOR RECLAMATION.
WE GO ON OUT THERE,
AND WE'RE GOING TO START
FILLING THE BACK OF THAT HOLE UP AGAIN.
Dustin: IN 20, 30 YEARS,
NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW WE WERE THERE,
EXCEPT FOR THE TV SHOW.
AND MINING HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN GOOD ABOUT RECLAMATION.
MINING HAS A HORRIBLE REPUTATION.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO PUT TREES AND STUFF ON TOP.
WE'RE ACTUALLY SHOOTING IT
AND COVERING IT DOWN IN THE JUNGLE
'CAUSE IT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY SENSITIVE DOWN THERE.
NOW WE'RE KIND OF MINING IN REVERSE.
INSTEAD OF DIGGING EVERYTHING UP AND STOCKPILING IT,
WE'RE TRYING TO PUT IT ALL BACK.
THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS THAT WE'VE OPENED UP TO THE SUNLIGHT.
AND WHEN THAT SUNLIGHT HITS
ALL THESE SEEDS THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THE SOIL,
THEY WILL GERMINATE,
AND YOU WILL HAVE A JUNGLE AGAIN.
AND IT WILL GROW BACK IN HOW LONG?
WELL, WE'VE SEEDED UP.
THE BASIC GROUND COVER WILL BE BACK
WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
TREES -- THE FOREST DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY PLANNED
ON COMING OUT AND PLANTING TREES ON THE THING AND EVERYTHING.
WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
Doyle: TONIGHT, ON AN ALL-NEW EPISODE OF "GOLD RUSH,"
ALL THREE CLAIMS ARE IN A MAD DASH TO THE FINISH.
Tallis: WE'RE STRUGGLING.
IT COULD GO EITHER WAY.
Beets: ARE YOU GONNA GO HOME?
Doyle: IN SOUTHERN ALASKA, FRED AND DUSTIN
PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE, LITERALLY.
Dustin: ALL RIGHT, GUYS, YOU GOT ME?
THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
Doyle: TO KEEP CAHOON CREEK UP AND RUNNING...
I THINK I CAN GET IT!
...DUSTIN RISKS LIFE AND LIMB.
OH!
DUSTIN!
AND WITH PORCUPINE CREEK FLOODED...
NO AMOUNT OF GOLD IS WORTH ANYBODY'S LIFE.
Doyle: ...DAKOTA FRED COMES UP WITH A CRAZY NEW PLAN
JUST TO BREAK EVEN.
I THINK THAT'S ABOUT OUR LAST CHANCE FOR THIS SEASON.
Doyle: 600 MILES NORTH IN THE KLONDIKE,
WINTER IS BANGING ON THE DOOR.
Parker: THE GOLD WE NEED IS RIGHT THERE.
IT'S JUST FROZEN.
AND WITH TIME WASTING AWAY AS TEMPERATURES PLUMMET...
MAN, THAT'S FROZEN UP LIKE A BRICK.
Man: THAT'S THE WORST STUFF I'VE EVER RAN.
...TEMPERS FLARE.
[BLEEP] HEAD UP YOUR ***! GOD, I'M [BLEEP] PISSED!
AND PARKER'S CHANCE OF REACHING 800 OUNCES
STARTS TO LOOK LIKE A PIPE DREAM.
HOLY -- PARKER, WE GOT A REAL MESS ON OUR HANDS.
AS MUCH AS I HATE TO SAY IT,
I THINK WE'RE PRETTY WELL DONE HERE.
IN GUYANA, THE HOFFMAN CREW PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS
TO SAVE THEIR MINING SEASON.
DESPERATE TIMES MEAN DESPERATE MEASURES.
Doyle: BUT DESPITE ALL THE HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE...
I CAN HONESTLY SAY THINGS ARE WORKING REALLY WELL.
...THE CURSE OF THE JUNGLE LIVES.
Todd: YOU ARE FREAKING KIDDING ME!
Doyle: AND THIS TIME,
ALL HOPE FOR REDEMPTION MAY BE LOST.
IT'S AS BAD AS IT LOOKS.
THIS FREAKING JUNGLE'S CURSED.
"GOLD RUSH" STARTS RIGHT NOW.