Original subtitles

Narrator: LAST YEAR,

SIX MEN VENTURED DEEP INTO THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS

TO RISK IT ALL.

Jack: YOU'RE ALL MILLIONAIRES.

THE ONLY THING IS, YOU'VE GOT TO GET IT OUT OF THE GROUND.

Narrator: IN THEIR QUEST FOR GOLD...

HELP HIM!

...THEY PUT THEIR BODIES...

3 MONTHS WITHOUT ANY GODDAMN MONEY.

...THEIR RELATIONSHIPS...

YOU BETTER LEARN TO SHUT YOUR [BLEEP] MOUTH!

...AND A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS ON THE LINE.

AFTER FIVE BACK-BREAKING MONTHS, THEY DUG A 75-FOOT HOLE --

THE GLORY HOLE --

BUT JUST FEET FROM GOLD-RICH BEDROCK,

THE ALASKAN WINTER FROZE THEM OUT.

THE HOFFMAN CREW LEFT ALASKA

WITH ONLY 14 OUNCES OF GOLD WORTH JUST $20,000.

THEIR SECOND GOLD-MINING SEASON IS MAKE OR BREAK.

WE'RE GONNA KICK SOME BUTT THIS SUMMER.

Narrator: NO LONGER ROOKIE MINERS,

THEY'RE BACK AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

LET'S ROCK AND ROLL!

Narrator: ...BIGGER, BETTER...

AND WITH SOME NEW BLOOD.

JACK, HANG ON.

ALL THAT STANDS BETWEEN THE CREW

AND MILLIONS IN BURIED GOLD

IS 60 FEET OF WATER.

IT'S PAYBACK TIME.

DIG!

JUST AS THE CREW GETS TO THE GOLD IN RECORD TIME...

WE DID IT! [ LAUGHS ]

OH, YEAH!

...DAKOTA FRED RETURNS TO PORCUPINE...

I JUST CAME BACK FROM TALKING WITH EARLE.

...AND DROPS A BOMBSHELL ON THE HOFFMAN CREW.

THIS IS [BLEEP] GET GREG OUT OF HERE.

Jack: OKAY, GUYS, WE'RE GONNA DO IT THIS YEAR.

Narrator: TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN ARE BACK IN ALASKA.

THEY'RE HEADED FOR PORCUPINE CREEK,

THE GOLD CLAIM THEY MINED LAST SEASON...

Jack: I'M BACK. NOW I GOT TO DO IT, YOU KNOW.

I'VE GOT TO DIG THAT GOLD OUT OF THERE

'CAUSE I KNOW IT'S THERE.

I'M COMING HOME WITH 500 OUNCES.

MINIMUM.

Narrator: THE OLD CREW IS BACK.

THEY'VE DECIDED TO PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LINE AGAIN

TO FIND THEIR FORTUNES IN GOLD.

I NEED 6 FIGURES OUT OF THIS SEASON.

YOU KNOW, I LOST MY BUTT LAST YEAR.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE ARE GONNA FIND GOLD THIS YEAR.

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH.

IT WAS TOUGH TO SLEEP ALL WINTER THINKING ABOUT THAT GLORY HOLE

AND WHAT'S REALLY AT THE BOTTOM.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT.

HOPEFULLY WE GET A PAYBACK.

Narrator: LAST YEAR, THE CREW DUG DOWN

IN SEARCH OF A BURIED ANCIENT WATERFALL KNOWN AS A GLORY HOLE.

THE CREW BELIEVES THAT WHEN THEY HIT BEDROCK AT THE BOTTOM,

THERE COULD BE $15 MILLION IN GOLD.

AT THE END OF LAST SEASON,

THEY WERE SURE THEY WERE JUST FEET FROM STRIKING IT RICH.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE HERE. HUH. HERE WE ARE, BOYS.

Narrator: AFTER 6 MONTHS OF PREP OVER THE LONG WINTER,

THEY'RE FINALLY READY TO CONTINUE THEIR QUEST.

GOOD. LOOKS LIKE WE SURVIVED.

NOTHING'S TORN APART.

ANTLERS A LITTLE ASKEW.

JUST LOOK AT IT. IT'S BEAUTIFUL HERE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD SEASON.

I CAN'T SEE WHY IT WON'T BE.

WE'RE ON THE MINE, BOYS. PUT YOUR LIDS ON.

Narrator: THIS SEASON, THE CREW ARRIVES AT PORCUPINE CREEK

JUST AS WINTER RECEDES OVER THE CHILKAT MOUNTAINS.

[ GRUNTS ] OKAY.

THEY ARE HERE ONE WEEK EARLIER THAN LAST YEAR.

IN ALASKA'S SHORT MINING SEASON, EVERY DAY COUNTS.

PUT JACK IN THERE.

OKAY. LET'S BACK THEM IN.

WITH THE GROUND STILL PARTIALLY FROZEN,

THE MINERS EASILY POSITION THEIR FOUR MOBILE HOMES.

TODD, RIGHT HERE.

Thurber: WE DON'T WANT TO RUIN ANYTHING

'CAUSE WE'RE GETTING OVERANXIOUS,

BUT WE'LL GET MINING HERE REAL QUICK.

KEEP COMING, DAVE.

Narrator: WITH THE FULL CREW AT PORCUPINE,

THE MINE COSTS $1,000 A DAY TO RUN.

EVERY DAY TODD'S NOT FINDING GOLD,

HE GOES DEEPER INTO THE HOLE.

HE IS IN A HURRY TO GET MINING.

WE'RE GONNA KICK SOME BUTT THIS SUMMER.

YOU'RE GONNA SEE SOME AMAZING THINGS

IF WE CAN START RIGHT HERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER.

Narrator: FIRST ON THEIR LIST...

HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE SOURCE OF THE GOLD,

THE GLORY HOLE.

LAST YEAR THEY DUG SO DEEP...

WATER CONTINUALLY SEEPED INTO THE HOLE.

WATER'S COMING IN ABOUT AS FAST AS WE'RE PUMPING IT OUT.

Narrator: THEIR 4- AND 6-INCH PUMPS

DRAINED 1,700 GALLONS OF WATER A MINUTE.

PUMPOLOGIST CHRIS DOUMITT RAN THE PUMPS DAY AND NIGHT

TO KEEP THE LEAKS AT BAY.

BAD DAY TO BE A PUMPOLOGIST.

GOOD LORD.

GEEZ. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

LAKE PORCUPINE. YEP.

Narrator: OVER THE WINTER, THE WATER LEVEL IN THE GLORY HOLE

HAS REACHED AN ALL TIME HIGH -- 60 FEET.

THAT'S QUITE A BIT OF WATER.

TO GET THE GOLD, THEY'LL NEED TO DRAIN IT.

BUT THIS SEASON, THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS COME PREPARED.

AFTER LEARNING THE HARD WAY LAST YEAR,

THE HOFFMANS SECURED GAME-CHANGING PUMPS.

THERE YOU GO. I'M SWEATING.

THOSE ARE SOME BADASS PUMPS.

[ HORN HONKS ]

THAT HOLE KICKED MY BUTT ALL LAST WINTER,

AND IT'S PAYBACK TIME NOW.

[ ENGINE RUMBLES ]

Narrator: THEIR NEW 6-INCH PUMP WEIGHS IN AT 5,000 POUNDS.

Todd: THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WE CAN MOVE WITH THIS PUMP

PER GALLON IS INCREDIBLE.

Narrator: WITH AN ENGINE THE SIZE OF A SMALL CAR,

IT SUCKS UP A MASSIVE 2,800 GALLONS A MINUTE.

THAT'S GOOD.

FIRST...

THEY HAVE TO CONNECT THE 20-FOOT SUCTION HOSE.

I'M ALL RIGHT.

IT'S VERY HEAVY.

AND THE FITTING HAS TO ALIGN PERFECTLY.

AROUND TOWARDS ME IF YOU CAN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

[ GRUNTS ]

NO. IT AIN'T GONNA WORK.

I GOT IT, DAVE. WE NEED TO CHEAT HER.

ONCE WE START PUMPING HERE, WE START SEEING THE BOTTOM,

WE CAN START DIGGING.

Narrator: THERE ARE HALF A MILLION GALLONS OF WATER

BETWEEN THE CREW AND THE GOLD.

THERE IS ONLY ONE PUMP...

ALL WE GOT TO DO IS GET THIS THING TO LOCK.

...AND IF THEY CAN'T GET IT TO WORK,

THERE'S NO CHANCE OF REACHING THE GOLD.

HAPPY DAYS!

WE ARE SO CLOSE.

OKAY, WE'RE ALL HOOKED UP.

I SAY WE PUT THE POWER TO IT.

LET'S DO IT.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

HERE IT COMES.

IT'S PAYBACK TIME!

THERE SHE GOES.

Jack: THAT'S SOME FREAKING SERIOUS WATER.

OH, MY GOSH, THAT THING IS AWESOME.

WHOO!

THIS IS MORE THAN WHAT BOTH PUMPS WERE DOING LAST YEAR.

OH, MAN. I GET TO SLEEP TONIGHT.

Jack: LOOK HOW MUCH IT'S DROPPED IT ALREADY.

YEAH, IT'S ALREADY GONE DOWN, WHAT, 4 INCHES?

AT LEAST.

Narrator: THE PUMP IS DRAINING THE GLORY HOLE

QUICKER THAN EXPECTED.

WE'VE BEEN RUNNING ABOUT 4 MINUTES,

AND THE SURFACE HAS ALREADY DROPPED ABOUT 4 INCHES.

IT'S NOT GONNA TAKE LONG AT ALL.

THE PROBLEM IS, WITH ONLY 20 FEET OF HOSE,

THE PUMP WILL NEED TO BE LOWERED TO REACH THE RECEDING WATER.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET SET UP AND MOVE THAT.

YEAH.

THEY'LL LIFT IT WITH THE 400 EXCAVATOR.

BUT JACK'S BELOVED 400 HASN'T STARTED

IN 6 FREEZING COLD MONTHS.

LOOK AT THE 400. LOOK HOW RUSTY IT GOT.

LOOK UNDER THE PADS AND THE TRACKS.

IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT, I THINK.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS MINED FOR GOLD TILL THE VERY LAST MINUTE

BEFORE ALASKA'S WINTER SHUT THEM DOWN.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO WINTERIZE THEIR HEAVY MACHINERY,

AND THAT DECISION COULD BE COSTLY.

TEMPERATURES AT PORCUPINE DROPPED TO 25 BELOW.

LET'S ROCK AND ROLL.

DAVE, ARE YOU GONNA STAY UP THERE

WHILE HE TRIES TO START IT?

YEAH, I'M GONNA LOOK FOR FLUID LEAKS.

OKAY, DAD. OKAY.

DAVE, ARE YOU READY?

YEAH, GO AHEAD, JACK. CLEAR.

OKAY.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

DUDE! NO WAY.

SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,

THAT'S AMAZING. DUDE.

TO BE SITTING THAT LONG AND IT FIRES UP JUST LIKE THAT.

THAT 400's SWEET.

IF THIS OLD 400 HADN'T STARTED UP,

WE WOULDN'T HAVE A MINING SEASON,

AND SO IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

IT'S A GOOD OMEN.

I BELIEVE THAT.

PULL OUT HERE. ALL RIGHT.

Narrator: BEFORE JACK CAN PUT THE 400 TO WORK AT THE GLORY HOLE,

HE HAS TO CLEAR THE COBWEBS.

Doumitt: THE STUFF'S BEEN SITTING ALL WINTER.

IT'S ALL STIFF AND SORE.

Jack: YEAH, IT'S RUSTY, BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT.

Todd: TRY THE BUCKET.

MOVE THE THUMB UP.

MOVE THE THUMB UP. IT WON'T WORK.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

IT'S NOT WORKING.

SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH IT.

Narrator: A BUTTON IN THE 400's CAB

IS SUPPOSED TO LIFT THE THUMB ON THE BUCKET.

NOPE, THUMB DOESN'T WORK.

AAH.

OKAY, PUT IT DOWN, DAD, AND SHUT HER OFF.

THE THUMB'S NOT WORKING, AND WE CAN'T DIG WITHOUT THE THUMB.

IT'S RIGHT IN THE WAY.

NOT ONLY THAT, WE CAN'T PICK ANY ROCKS.

WE CAN'T PICK ANY BIG ROCKS OUT, SO...

IT'S ALWAYS GOT TO BE SOMETHING.

PROBABLY WIRING.

OHH.

FOR TEAM MECHANIC JAMES HARNESS,

THIS IS NOT HOW HE WANTED TO START THE SEASON.

SOMEWHERE WE HAVE A SHORT,

AND IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS THESE BARE WIRES.

SO I HAVE TO TRACE FROM HERE TO THE BACK

AND FIGURE OUT WHICH WIRE HAS THE PROBLEM.

JAMES, CAN YOU FIX IT OR NOT?

IT'S EITHER LOOSE OR A BAD CONNECTION SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN.

I'LL JUST HAVE TO REWIRE IT.

OKAY. WELL, LET'S DO IT.

IT'S NOT GONNA BE QUICK.

YOU'RE PROBABLY TALKING A DAY, MAYBE TWO.

OKAY. IT'S A LOT OF WIRING.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, GET ON IT.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A TAXING SUMMER.

I WISH I HAD A LITTLE TIME TO REST

BEFORE DOING THIS KIND OF STUFF,

BUT I CAN SEE THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

Narrator: EVERY DAY THE HOFFMAN CREW LOSES

DURING THE SHORT MINING SEASON WILL COST THEM.

THIS DELAY COULD SET THEM BACK DAYS.

HEY! UP AHEAD...

THE CREW BATTLES TO GET THE MINE UP AND RUNNING.

I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

WAIT. WAIT.

THE HOFFMANS FIND GOLD...

THAT PAN THAT JACK HAS, THAT'S CRAZY.

THERE YOU GO.

Narrator: ...ONLY FOR DAKOTA FRED TO SHOW UP AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

Hurt: I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF GOOD NEWS,

BUT I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF BAD NEWS, TOO.

...AND BLOW THEIR SEASON APART.

Narrator: DEEP IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA...

...THE HOFFMAN CREW IS DRAINING 60 FEET OF WATER

FROM THE GLORY HOLE.

THAT PUMP IS AWESOME.

I WISH I HAD HAD THAT LAST YEAR.

Narrator: THEIR NEW PUMP IS A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT,

BUT THEY NEED TO LOWER IT CLOSER TO THE RECEDING WATER.

THE 400 EXCAVATOR IS THE ONLY MACHINE THAT CAN LIFT IT,

BUT THE THUMB IS BROKEN.

THIS IS BASICALLY THE TRIGGER.

YOU GOT A SWITCH TO GO UP AND A SWITCH TO GO DOWN,

JUST RIGHT HERE, AND THAT ALLOWS IT TO GO THROUGH THESE WIRES

TO THE SWITCH IN THE BACK

AND ALLOWS THE HYDRAULICS TO FLOW AND OPEN THE THUMB,

AND IT CLOSES THE THUMB.

Narrator: MECHANIC JAMES HARNESS

DETERMINES THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN THE ENGINE.

SEE, THESE CONNECTIONS ARE ALL DIRTY.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE PROBLEM.

BAD CONNECTIONS LIKE THIS ARE JUST UGLY.

IT GOES CLEAR BACK THERE, HUH?

YOU GOT ALL THESE CONNECTORS THAT WE DON'T NEED.

IT JUST FELL OFF. YEAH.

Narrator: THE QUICK FIX WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE CONNECTORS,

BUT HARNESS WANTS TO SOLDER THE WIRES TOGETHER.

I'M GONNA ELIMINATE ALL THAT AND SOLDER IT.

SOLDERING WILL TAKE MORE TIME,

BUT JAMES THINKS IT WILL PREVENT PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD.

IF THE WIRING IS GOOD, WE CAN'T BLAME ANYTHING ELSE.

OKAY, MAN, THANKS.

Harness: I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN DOING THINGS ONCE AND DOING IT RIGHT.

IT'S NICE TO DO IT RIGHT, BUT RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO GET GOING.

IN ORDER TO GET THE MATERIAL, THE 400's GOT TO BE GOING.

IF THE 400 ISN'T GOING, WE AREN'T GETTING ANYTHING.

SO, THAT'S JUST THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT.

HOPE IT WON'T TAKE TOO LONG.

Narrator: WITH THE 400 SHUT DOWN,

TODD AND GREG GO TO VISIT THEIR NEIGHBOR.

HEADING UP TO SCHNABEL'S HERE. SEE WHAT THEY GOT COOKING.

JOHN SCHNABEL OWNS THE BIG NUGGET MINE,

JUST ACROSS PORCUPINE CREEK.

HOW YOU DOING, TODD? MORNING.

MORNING, JOHN.

MORNING TO YOU ALL.

Narrator: JOHN'S WORKED THIS AREA FOR 25 YEARS,

AND TODD'S LOOKING FOR SOME INFORMATION

ON A FORMER HOFFMAN CREW MEMBER.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN DAKOTA FRED UP HERE, HAVE YOU, THIS YEAR?

I'VE ONLY SEEN HIM

WHEN HE CAME IN ON A WEEK AGO THURSDAY, I GUESS.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT AND SEE US.

SOMETHING'S UP, AND IT AIN'T GOOD.

IS HE IN TOWN?

WHAT I HEAR, HE'S IN TOWN.

LAST SEASON, EXPERIENCED MINER DAKOTA FRED

WAS FORCED ON THE HOFFMANS BY THE PORCUPINE CLAIM OWNER.

HEY, GUYS, THIS IS A NEW MEMBER OF OUR TEAM.

FROM THE MOMENT HE ARRIVED,

HE QUESTIONED THE CREW'S METHODS,

CAUSING TEMPERS TO FLARE.

YOU'RE SITTING THERE BEATING IT TO THREADS.

DON'T ARGUE WITH ME. HEY! STOP IT!

DAKOTA FRED SURVIVED HIS FIRST HOFFMAN MINING SEASON,

BUT IN THE OFF-SEASON, MADE HIS PLANS VERY CLEAR.

I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO WORK THE PORCUPINE CLAIM

BY MYSELF WITH MY OWN CREW.

ME AND FRED, WE GOT SOME ISSUES TO WORK OUT.

IF YOU SEE HIM, LET ME KNOW, WILL YOU?

YEAH. YEAH.

TELL HIM TO GET UP HERE AND LET'S TALK.

YEAH. TAKE CARE, TODD.

THANKS, JOHN. THANKS FOR HAVING US OVER.

Narrator: A THOUSAND MILES AWAY IN ANCHORAGE...

...DAKOTA FRED IS ON HIS WAY TO A MEETING

WITH THE OWNER OF THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM, EARLE FOSTER.

Hurt: LITTLE BIT UP IN THE AIR

AS TO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

I NEED TO GET THINGS SETTLED UP WITH EARLE...

SO I'LL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT DIRECTION

I'M GONNA BE TAKING THIS YEAR.

I FULLY EXPECT TO DO SOME MINING IN PORCUPINE,

BUT AT THIS POINT, IT'S STILL UP TO EARLE.

Narrator: LAST SEASON, MINE OWNER EARLE FOSTER

SENT FRED INTO PORCUPINE CREEK TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE MINE.

WHERE THE HELL IS EVERYBODY?

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW HAD FOUND JUST $3,000 OF GOLD

IN THEIR FIRST 3 MONTHS OF MINING,

AND EARLE WASN'T HAPPY WITH HIS CUT.

I MIGHT ASK THEM TO LEAVE.

THAT'S ALL A POSSIBILITY.

HELLO, FRED. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

Narrator: BECAUSE THE HOFFMANS FOUND ONLY $20,000 IN GOLD LAST YEAR,

EARLE FOSTER GETS TO THE POINT.

IN MY OPINION, THE HOFFMANS WERE JUST OVERWHELMED

WITH THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROJECT.

EVERY DAY WAS A DIFFERENT PLAN, IT SEEMED LIKE,

AND THEY WEREN'T GETTING ANYWHERE.

THE FINANCIAL SITUATION WASN'T GOOD FOR THEM OR MYSELF, EITHER.

WE WERE BOTH LOSING MONEY.

LIKE YOU SAY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE PARTICULARLY A MINING PLAN.

IT'S A GOOD CLAIM. THERE'S PLENTY OF GOLD THERE.

IT JUST TAKES SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE AND KNOW-HOW

TO GET IT OUT.

FROM MY STANDPOINT, THAT'S GREAT.

YEP.

WELL, GOOD LUCK, FRED.

ALL RIGHT.

Hurt: EARLE WAS NOT HAPPY.

APPARENTLY THE HOFFMANS HAVE DROPPED THE BALL.

PORCUPINE, HERE I COME.

Narrator: AT PORCUPINE CREEK IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,

THE HOFFMAN CREW IS CHECKING ON THE PROGRESS AT THE GLORY HOLE.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

WOW!

Narrator: IN NO TIME AT ALL,

THEIR NEW AND IMPROVED PUMP HAS SUCKED UP 20 FEET OF WATER.

IT NEEDS TO DRAIN THE REMAINING 40 FEET

FOR THE CREW TO GET TO THE MILLIONS IN GOLD

THEY BELIEVE IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS HOLE.

[ WATER GURGLING ] Jack: WE KNOW IT'S THERE.

ALL WE GOT TO DO IS GET IT.

Todd: WE GOT A HOLE HERE THAT'S 75 FEET DEEP.

BUT WE HAVE OUR PUMP,

AND THE HOSE THAT IT SUCKS THE WATER FROM IS ONLY 20 FEET LONG.

SO WE HAVE TO MOVE THE PUMP IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS

AS WE MOVE DOWN.

THAT'S CALLED STAGING.

Narrator: THE PUMP'S HOSE CAN NO LONGER REACH THE WATER.

TODD'S PLAN IS TO DIG SHELVES

ALONG THE SIDES OF THE GLORY HOLE

SO THE PUMP CAN BE MOVED DOWN IN STAGES.

THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PUMP FOR ANOTHER 20 FEET

FROM THE NEW SHELF.

THEN THEY REPEAT THE PROCESS UNTIL THE WATER IS GONE.

THEN JACK CAN ONCE AGAIN DIG FOR GOLD.

Remsburg: THE QUICKER WE GET THE WATER OUT OF THE HOLE,

THE QUICKER JACK'S DIGGING AGAIN,

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT -- WE WANT JACK DIGGING.

Narrator: BUT BEFORE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING,

MECHANIC JAMES HARNESS

HAS TO GET THE THUMB ON THE 400 EXCAVATOR WORKING AGAIN.

THESE ARE AWESOME FOR BEING OUT WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE POWER

BECAUSE THEY OPERATE ON JUST A LITTLE CIGARETTE LIGHTER

WITHOUT A FLINT IN IT,

AND IT'S THE TIP THAT MAKES THE HEAT,

AND YOU CAN SOLDER CLEAR UP TO COPPER PIPE WITH THIS STUFF.

I'M HOPING I CAN CLEAN IT UP AND MAKE IT WORK.

[ BLOWS ]

[ ENGINE RUMBLING ]

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT! HUH.

THAT'S GOOD!

I GOT IT...I THINK.

OH, YEAH. THERE YOU GO.

Narrator: AFTER 6 MONTHS IDLE,

THE 400 IS FINALLY UP AND RUNNING.

BUT THE REAL TEST...

CLEAR.

...WILL BE WHEN JACK STARTS TO DIG.

HE HEADS TO THE GLORY HOLE

TO BUILD THE FIRST SHELF FOR THE PUMP.

Harness: THIS WILL BE THE TEST.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

TIME WILL TELL ON THIS ONE.

Narrator: THE 400's NEWLY FIXED THUMB IS IMMEDIATELY PUT TO USE.

LITTLE MORE?

YEAH, A LITTLE BIT MORE.

Narrator: JACK IS IN CHARGE OF DIGGING AT PORCUPINE CREEK,

BUT IN THE GLORY HOLE WITH HIM THIS YEAR

IS TODD'S SECRET WEAPON, DAVE TURIN.

LAST SEASON DAVE VISITED THE MINE TWICE

TO ADVISE THE HOFFMAN CREW...

YOU PUT AN ANGLE IRON ON HERE, PUT A FLANGE IN HERE,

AND THEN YOU'RE READY TO GO.

...AND TO COACH JACK OUT OF HIS HELTER-SKELTER APPROACH

TO DIGGING.

WHAT IF YOU TOOK THE DOZER OVER HERE, JACK,

AND JUST GET THIS ALL LEVELED OUT?

TODD WANTED DAVE

AND HIS 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN EXCAVATION

AT THE MINE THIS YEAR.

I NEED YOU TO COME WITH ME FULL TIME.

WOW.

BUT IT WAS A GUT-WRENCHING DECISION

FOR DAVE TO LEAVE HIS FAMILY QUARRY BUSINESS.

I'VE WORKED AT ONE JOB MY WHOLE LIFE,

AND I WANT TO GO CHASE A DREAM.

HOLD IT. HOLD IT.

JUST GIVE ME A LEVEL SPOT DOWN THERE.

THAT'S ABOUT THE RIGHT LEVEL, JACK.

Narrator: UNDER DAVE'S DIRECTION,

JACK DIGS THE FIRST SHELF IN NO TIME.

OKAY.

RIGHT HERE.

NEW YEAR, NEW ATTITUDE.

JACK WAS LISTENING. I LIKE IT.

STAND DOWN.

Narrator: JACK NOW NEEDS TO REPOSITION THE PUMP.

OKAY, NOW UP.

AND WITH DAVE'S VAST EXPERIENCE RUNNING CREWS,

HE STEERS JACK AND THE PUMP INTO PLACE.

I GOT TO GET JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE OUT, JACK.

A LITTLE MORE OUT, JACK!

OKAY, NOW DOWN.

Todd: EVERYTHING'S GOING REALLY GOOD.

YOU KNOW, I THINK OUR MISSING LINK WAS DAVE TURIN.

OKAY, JACK.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA COME TOGETHER REALLY WELL AS A TEAM.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A VERY SUCCESSFUL SEASON.

MADE IN THE U.S.A.

Narrator: THE 400's THUMB HAS HELD FIRM.

WITH THE PUMP ON A NEW SHELF, THEY HOOK UP THE HOSE

TO CONTINUE DRAINING THE GLORY HOLE.

OKAY, GREG, THAT'S GOOD.

AS THE HOLE BEGINS TO DRAIN AGAIN,

THE CREW INCHES EVER CLOSER

TO WHAT COULD BE $15 MILLION IN BURIED GOLD.

AT FIRST LIGHT THE NEXT DAY, JACK AND CHRIS CHECK PROGRESS.

LOOKS LIKE A HOLE.

OH HO!

OH, MAN!

WE GOT IT DOWN PRETTY FAR.

WE GOT ANOTHER LOOKS LIKE 10, 20 FEET, AND WE'RE THERE.

Narrator: THEY NEED TO MOVE THE PUMP

TO THE DEEPEST PART OF THE 75-FOOT HOLE.

Turin: HANG ON, JACK.

BUT THE ARM OF THE 400 EXCAVATOR CAN ONLY REACH 40 FEET.

JACK NEEDS TO REPOSITION THE PUMP IN TWO MOVES.

Todd: THIS IS KIND OF TRICKY.

WE GOT TO SET THIS PUMP DOWN,

AND THEN HE'S GOT TO COME AROUND AND RE-GRAB IT

AND THEN STAGE IT DOWN HERE.

THAT'S A $30,000 PUMP.

AND WE WANT TO DO IT SAFE. THAT'S THE KEY.

BE CAREFUL NOW.

Narrator: THEY CAN'T AFFORD A MISTAKE.

WITH A GOLD RUSH ON, PUMPS ARE IN DEMAND.

GETTING ANOTHER ONE COULD TAKE WEEKS.

JUST TAKE YOUR TIME AND DON'T GET IN A HURRY, OKAY?

BUT JACK IS MOVING THE PUMP AROUND TOO FAST.

[ WHISTLES ]

JACK! HEY!

JUST WAIT A SECOND!

Todd: WELL, LET US KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

JUST WAIT A SECOND!

I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

Narrator: IF JACK DROPS THE PUMP,

THEIR CHANCE OF DRAINING THIS HOLE

AND GETTING TO THE GOLD WILL BE LOST.

WAIT. WAIT.

YOU GUYS LET HIM KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.

HEY, LISTEN TO ME!

JACK. JACK. HANG ON. HANG ON.

Narrator: ONCE AGAIN, DAVE TAKES CHARGE,

GUIDING THE PUMP INTO ITS FIRST POSITION.

JACK, OKAY, NOW DOWN.

OKAY, HOLD RIGHT THERE.

TO LIFT THE PUMP INTO THE SECOND POSITION,

JACK HAS TO DRIVE INTO THE HOLE.

YESTERDAY THIS ACCESS ROAD WAS UNDERWATER.

WHOA! LOOK OUT! LOOK OUT.

JACK BATTLES TO GET A GRIP WITH HIS TRACKS.

HEY. GET YOUR TRACKS THIS WAY.

I'M ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S ABOUT ALL I WANT YOU TO GO.

YEAH. THAT'S FINE.

LET'S RIG THAT PUMP.

OKAY.

TODD, YOU READY?

GO AHEAD AND SWING IT THAT WAY TO TODD.

HEY, HANG ON. HOLD ON. START TO LOWER IT.

JUST A SECOND. LET ME GET IT OVER GROUND.

START TO LOWER IT.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

Narrator: BUT JACK HAS DRIVEN THE 400 TOO FAR INTO THE HOLE

TO SET THE PUMP DOWN IN ITS FINAL POSITION.

CURL YOUR TEETH OUT, JACK.

Jack: I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE UP.

THAT'S IT?

HANG ON. HANG ON.

ROLL YOUR BUCKET OUT.

I CAN'T.

ROLL YOUR BUCKET OUT.

ROLL YOUR BUCKET AND BRING YOUR ELBOW IN.

NO, NO. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

ROLL YOUR BUCKET AND BRING YOUR ELBOW IN.

Narrator: ROLLING THE 400's BUCKET OUT AND BENDING ITS ARM

WILL LOWER THE PUMP,

BUT IT WILL ALSO SWING IT RIGHT INTO THE WALL.

AAH!

NO. YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

YEAH, I DO UNDERSTAND.

Narrator: THE 400's ARM IS FULLY EXTENDED.

IT CAN'T LOWER THE PUMP THE REMAINING 2 FEET.

JACK IS STUCK.

Jack: OKAY, WHAT DO YOU DO THEN?

Narrator: DAVE STEPS IN WITH A SIMPLE SOLUTION.

JUST BACK UP.

BY BACKING UP 6 FEET...

OH!

...THERE IS NOW ENOUGH ROOM TO LOWER THE PUMP.

SET HER DOWN.

Jack: THERE YOU GO.

Narrator: THE PUMP IS FINALLY IN PLACE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GLORY HOLE.

[ GRUNTS ]

[BLEEP]

WHO SAID GOLD MINING WAS EASY?

Doumitt: THAT WILL GET US CLEAR TO THE BOTTOM.

WE'LL FINISH PUMPING OUT THIS HOLE.

AND HOPEFULLY IN AN HOUR AND A HALF,

JACK WILL BE DIGGING.

IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD FEELING

TO GET THAT DIRT RUNNING THROUGH THAT PLANT AGAIN.

Narrator: DEDICATING THE OFF-SEASON

TO ACQUIRING BETTER PEOPLE AND BETTER GEAR IS PAYING OFF.

THEIR NEW PUMP HAS DRAINED THE GLORY HOLE IN JUST OVER A DAY.

THAT'S AS DEEP AS WE CAN PUMP IT, DAVE.

THE WATER'S NOT COMING IN AS FAST AS IT WAS LAST YEAR.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CHANCE AT IT, SO...

DIG!

LAST SEASON, THE HOFFMANS BEGAN MINING

10 WEEKS AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL.

NOW JACK IS DIGGING FOR PAY DIRT AFTER JUST 3 DAYS.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS ARE BACK AT PORCUPINE CREEK

FOR THEIR SECOND GOLD-MINING SEASON.

AFTER JUST 3 DAYS, THE CREW IS ALREADY STARTING TO MINE.

WE DID IT. [ LAUGHS ]

HOW'S IT LOOKING? PRETTY GOOD?

THAT'S WHERE WE GOT MOST OF THE GOLD LAST YEAR,

AND WE'RE RIGHT THERE NOW, SO WE'RE GOOD.

Narrator: IN LAST YEAR'S 5-MONTH MINING SEASON,

THEY FOUND JUST 14 OUNCES, OR $20,000, IN GOLD.

BUT 8 1/2 OF THE 14 OUNCES

CAME IN THE FINAL DAYS OF JACK DIGGING THE GLORY HOLE.

THAT JUST PROVES

THAT IT'S LAYING DOWN THERE ON BEDROCK,

AND THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF IT.

NOW JACK DIGS DEEPER IN SEARCH OF BEDROCK

AND THE ESTIMATED $15 MILLION OF GOLD

STILL UNDISCOVERED ON THIS CLAIM.

I'M LOOKING FOR THAT ELUSIVE NUGGET.

IF I GET ONE OF THOSE,

IT WILL MAKE THIS SEASON REALLY START OFF WITH A POP.

Narrator: WITH THE SEASON'S FIRST FRESH DIRT

FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE GLORY HOLE,

TODD STARTS UP THE WASH PLANT.

FIRE IT UP.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

AH, COME ON BABY.

HERE WE GO.

HEY, NEW SEASON.

LET'S TURN THIS FULL OF YELLOW.

TRY THE SHAKER.

[ ENGINE RUMBLES ]

Narrator: THE WASH PLANT SEPARATES GOLD FROM THE DIRT.

THIS IS OUR FIRST SCOOP. FIRST SCOOP.

Narrator: THE SHAKER WASHES THE ROCKS...

TRAPPING ANY GOLD IN A SLUICE BOX BELOW.

THEY'RE COMING CLEAN? REAL GOOD.

YEAH, GOOD. WASHING THE ROCKS REAL GOOD.

THEY'RE COMING OFF CLEAN, DAVE SAID.

LOOKING GOOD.

BENEATH THE SHAKER IS THE TROMMEL,

WHICH PROCESSES THE REMAINING DIRT,

THEN CATCHES FINER GOLD IN A SECOND SLUICE BOX.

I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL YEAR FOR THIS.

I FEEL AWESOME.

Narrator: FOR THE HOFFMAN CREW,

EVERYTHING THEY HAVE IS INVESTED IN PORCUPINE CREEK,

ALTHOUGH JUST ONE WEEK AGO, THEY HAD TWO CLAIMS TO MINE.

OVER WINTER, THE HOFFMANS VENTURED 600 MILES NORTH

INTO THE KLONDIKE.

WITH GOLD AT RECORD PRICES, THEY WANTED A SECOND CLAIM.

WHEN THEY FOUND ONE JUST OUTSIDE OF DAWSON CITY,

THE SEASON'S PROSPECTS LOOKED GOOD.

THIS RIGHT HERE IS A DROP-DEAD KILLER CLAIM.

Narrator: BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE,

THEY LOST THEIR KLONDIKE CLAIM AFTER A WATER LICENSE MIX-UP.

WITHOUT A WATER LICENSE, YOU'RE NOT MINING IN THE KLONDIKE.

Narrator: FINDING GOLD AT PORCUPINE CREEK

IS NOW THEIR ONLY HOPE.

Todd: I'M READY TO TAKE A LOOK

AND CLEAN OUT AND SHUT IT DOWN FOR THIS SHIFT.

Narrator: IF THIS CLEANOUT IS AS GOOD

AS THEIR FINAL CLEANOUT OF LAST SEASON,

IT COULD YIELD 8 OUNCES, OR $13,000.

WITH ANOTHER 150 DAYS TO MINE,

THE HOFFMAN CREW MAY JUST STRIKE IT RICH.

BEING OUR FIRST CLEANOUT OF THE YEAR

AND COMING OFF A HARD WINTER, WE NEED A GOOD ONE.

GOT IT.

THEY'RE EASIER TO WALK WITH TWO.

Todd: WE'RE GONNA GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER

AND SEE IF WE REALLY HIT SOME GOOD GOLD.

THE FUTURE OF OUR SUMMER IS RIGHT THERE.

Narrator: 10 MILES AWAY ON THE DALTON TRAIL,

DAKOTA FRED CLOSES IN ON PORCUPINE CREEK.

GOT A FEW THINGS TO DISCUSS WITH THE HOFFMAN CREW.

NOT EVERYBODY WILL AGREE WITH WHAT I DO OR HOW I DO IT.

I HOPE THEY'LL ACT LIKE BIG BOYS.

OH! OH! WHOA!

WHOO!

[ LAUGHS ]

IT'S THE MOTHER LODE.

Narrator: THE CREW PANS THE DIRT

FROM ONE HOUR OF RUNNING THE WASH PLANT.

THAT'S CHRIS' MOTHER LODE.

Narrator: AFTER ONLY THREE DAYS BACK AT PORCUPINE,

THE HOFFMAN CREW IS ON THE GOLD...

THIS IS A GREAT PAN, YOU KNOW.

FANTASTIC.

IT'S HOT STUFF. IT'S JUST PLAIN HOT STUFF.

Todd: GOOD START, BOYS. GOOD START. HEY!

THAT'S RIGHT, BROTHER.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF GOOD GOLD.

LAST YEAR IT TOOK US SO LONG JUST TO GET TO THIS POINT.

IT WAS LIKE PULLING TEETH.

THAT LOOKS GOOD, MAN.

THAT'S LIKE A HALF OUNCE, THREE-QUARTERS?

Narrator: THREE-QUARTERS OF AN OUNCE,

OR $1,200, IN GOLD FROM 1 HOUR RUNNING.

THAT PAN THAT JACK HAS, THAT'S CRAZY.

WE GOT SOME HOT PANS GOING HERE.

Narrator: IF THE HOFFMANS RUN DIRT FOR A FULL DAY,

THEY CAN AVERAGE 8 OUNCES, OR $13,000 DOLLARS.

WE ARE GONNA HAVE AS MUCH OUT OF THIS ONE CLEANOUT

AS WE HAD ALL SEASON.

PRETTY AWESOME. THERE YOU GO.

Narrator: AT THIS RATE, THE CREW CAN PULL IN

OVER A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN GOLD,

25 TIMES MORE THAN THEIR ROOKIE SEASON.

WE INVESTED BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS LAST YEAR,

AND IT'S OUR TURN.

THOUGHT ABOUT THIS ALL WINTER LONG.

Todd: WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: AS THE CREW CELEBRATES LONG OVERDUE SUCCESS...

HEY.

...A TRUCK PULLS INTO THE MINE.

FRED HURT.

TODD HOFFMAN.

DOING ALL RIGHT?

YEAH. I'M DOING FINE.

I SEE ALL THE BOYS ARE HERE.

Harness: I'M NOT WORKING WITH HIM.

IF HE'S COMING IN HERE, I'M NOT. I'M LEAVING.

Todd: WELL, CUT TO THE CHASE, FRED. WHAT'S UP?

WELL, FELLAS, I JUST CAME BACK FROM TALKING WITH EARLE.

HE'S PUT THE CLAIM UP FOR SALE.

THE VERY GOOD NEWS IS I OWN THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM.

NO KIDDING?

AND THE BAD NEWS IS I INTEND TO MINE THAT THING THIS YEAR.

RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR GLORY HOLE.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS HAVE JUST FOUND OUT

THAT THE CLAIM THEY HAVE BEEN LEASING

HAS BEEN SOLD TO RIVAL MINER DAKOTA FRED.

HEY, GUYS.

TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN NOW NEED TO TELL THEIR CREW

THAT PORCUPINE CREEK HAS A NEW OWNER.

COME ON OVER, BUT I WANT YOU GUYS TO KEEP A COOL HEAD.

REMEMBER WHO WE ARE, OKAY?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WHAT HAPPENED?

JUST LISTEN.

FELLAS...

I BOUGHT THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM FROM EARLE.

I'M GONNA MINE THIS CLAIM THIS YEAR.

SO YOU BOUGHT IT OUT FROM UNDER US?

THAT IS CORRECT.

I DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING FROM UNDER ANYTHING.

I'VE HAD A STANDING OFFER

TO BUY THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM FOR YEARS.

THAT NULLIFIES OUR LEASE, DON'T IT?

WELL, THE LEASE, I BELIEVE, IS TAKEN CARE OF ALREADY.

WELL, I'M PISSED ABOUT IT.

YOU LET US DIG IN AND DO ALL THE WORK.

NOW YOU'RE GONNA COME IN AND TAKE OVER.

THAT'S [BLEEP]

WELL, SIR --

WE OPENED OUR ARMS AND LET YOU IN,

AND THIS IS THE WAY YOU TREAT US.

FRED, LET'S GO TALK IN PRIVATE.

Harness: HOLD ON. HOLD ON. HOLD ON.

IS THAT IT? THAT'S IT -- YOU BOUGHT IT?

I DO HAVE PAPERWORK WITH ME.

COME ON, FRED, LET'S GO TALK.

ALL RIGHT.

DOESN'T HE HAVE TO HONOR THE LEASE EVEN IF HE TAKES IT OVER?

IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN,

AND TO TELL YOU THE HONEST TRUTH,

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE COVERED OUR BASES THERE.

Narrator: DURING THE OFF-SEASON,

TODD WAS SO FOCUSED ON GETTING A SECOND CLAIM

UP AND RUNNING IN THE KLONDIKE

THAT HE FORGOT TO MAKE A LEASE PAYMENT ON PORCUPINE CREEK.

BECAUSE OF TODD'S MISTAKE,

FRED NO LONGER HAS TO HONOR THE LEASE.

DUDE, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

NO, THIS IS FOR REAL.

THIS AIN'T A DREAM?

I'LL BRING OUT --

I'LL BRING OUT THE PAPERWORK IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT.

WE POURED OUR BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS INTO THIS DEAL.

WELL --

WE'VE GOT ALL OUR STUFF, ALL OUR EQUIPMENT.

WE'RE SET UP. WE'RE RUNNING.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

I'M IN A POSITION TO MAKE YOU AN OFFER,

IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED,

TO BUY ALL OF YOUR EQUIPMENT.

ALL OF IT -- THE 400, THE 270, THE LOADER.

I THINK I-I'M GONNA GO HAVE A LITTLE CHAT WITH FRED.

NO. COME ON. HEY, HEY.

Narrator: GREG REMSBURG IS NOT WILLING TO NEGOTIATE.

GREG. I'M SERIOUS.

IT AIN'T GONNA DO ANY GOOD.

HEY. NO, SERIOUS. RELAX, MAN.

LOOK.

THIS IS [BLEEP] DAVE.

I KNOW IT IS. LOOK.

COME ON, JUST RELAX.

[ DOOR RATTLING ]

COME ON, MAN, WE GOT TO JUST RELAX.

IT AIN'T GONNA DO ANY GOOD TO KILL HIM.

DAVE, GET GREG OUT OF HERE.

WELL, YOU TELL FRED THAT WE'RE NOT REAL HAPPY WITH HIM.

YOU BETTER KEEP HIM IN THERE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GUYS!

JUST WALKING AROUND LIKE THIS MEANS NOTHING.

IT'S EVERYTHING.

STAY IN HERE AND KEEP THE DOOR LOCKED.

ALL RIGHT. LAY LOW FOR A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY? I'LL BE BACK. ALL RIGHT.

I'M GONNA GO TALK TO JACK.

Turin: DID HE SHOW YOU ANY PAPERWORK?

ARE WE REALLY OUT OF HERE?

YEAH. WE'RE OUT OF HERE, DAVE.

I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL THINK

THAT I'M A LOWDOWN, CONNIVING CLAIM JUMPER --

WELL, UH... CLAIM-JUMPING SCOUNDREL.

BUT NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS HAVE NO CHOICE

BUT TO LEAVE THE CLAIM THAT HAS FINALLY STARTED TO PRODUCE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALL LEGAL.

WE'RE OUT OF HERE. WE GOT TO GO.

TODD'S NEW PUMP IS NOT FOR SALE,

BUT FRED WANTS TO BUY THE REST OF THEIR EQUIPMENT,

INCLUDING JACK'S PRIZED 400 EXCAVATOR.

HERE'S THE DEAL.

HE'S MADE US AN OFFER ON THE EQUIPMENT FOR EVERYTHING.

WELL, I'M NOT SELLING MY 400.

I DON'T GIVE A CRAP.

I KIND OF HAD A FEELING.

HECK WITH HIM. I'M NOT GONNA GIVE HIM THAT.

I'M SO [BLEEP] OFF AT HIM IT'S NOT FUNNY.

IT LOOKS LIKE I'VE PROBABLY SCREWED THIS WHOLE THING UP...

BIG-TIME, SO...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF

IS IF I CAN SELL THE EQUIPMENT TO FRED,

I COULD PROBABLY GO AHEAD AND AT LEAST GO UP TO THE KLONDIKE.

I DON'T HAVE A SOLUTION RIGHT NOW,

BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I COULD FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

Narrator: TODD HAS ALREADY EXPLORED THE KLONDIKE AREA.

HE SPENT MUCH OF THE WINTER LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT CLAIM

AND EQUIPMENT TO MINE THERE.

CASH FROM FRED COULD GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE

AT A CLAIM IN THE GOLD-RICH NORTH.

FRED!

$80,000. THAT'S IT.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE GONNA GET INTO A BATTLE.

I SUGGEST YOU TAKE IT AND GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.

THAT IS MORE THAN WHAT WE WANTED TO PAY.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE CHECK.

LET US COOL OFF.

LET US MOVE OUT. GIVE US 48 HOURS.

WE'LL BE GONE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

TODD NOW HAS SOME MONEY FOR THE KLONDIKE,

AND HE'S GOING TO NEED IT.

HE'S JUST SOLD THE HEART OF HIS MINING OPERATION --

THE WASH PLANT, THE LOADER, AND THE SMALLER EXCAVATOR.

Hurt: I KNOW THEY HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITIES

TO FIND SOME OTHER PLACES.

BUT THIS IS GONNA MAKE UP THEIR MIND.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN "B."

I'VE GOT A PLAN "B." I ALWAYS HAVE HAD ONE.

THIS JUST HAPPENS TO BE PLAN "A."

Narrator: DAKOTA FRED

IS THE NEW OWNER OF THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM.

HE'S JUST BOUGHT MOST OF THE HOFFMANS' MINING EQUIPMENT

FOR $80,000.

I KNOW I'VE BEEN ADVISED TO LEAVE.

I DON'T TAKE ADVICE VERY WELL LIKE THAT.

THIS IS MY OWN PROPERTY.

IT'S A LEGAL DEAL,

SO IT DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO LIKE IT.

IT JUST MEANS THAT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO NOW WHAT I'VE GOT TO DO IS TELL MY GUYS, NUMBER ONE.

THEN I'VE GOT TO CONVINCE THEM TO GO NORTH WITH ME.

I DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

Narrator: TODD MAKES SOME CALLS

TO FIND ANOTHER CLAIM IN THE KLONDIKE.

HI. THIS IS TODD HOFFMAN. I GOT YOUR NUMBER FROM BOB.

WE'VE GOT ALL THE EQUIPMENT. WE'RE READY TO GO, SO...

I DON'T KNOW IF GREG OR JAMES WILL COME WITH.

I THINK THE OTHER GUYS WILL, THOUGH.

BUT I'D LIKE TO GO UP THERE WITH EVERYBODY.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT -- I'LL CALL YOU IN A FEW DAYS.

Narrator: TODD HAS LEADS, BUT NOTHING FIRM YET.

THANKS. SEE YOU.

HE CALLS A HALT TO PACKING UP TO FILL THE CREW IN ON HIS PLANS.

Todd: OKAY, SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

IF EVERYBODY JUST STAYS COOL, WE'LL BE FINE.

LET'S GO TO THE KLONDIKE. I'LL FIND US A PLACE UP THERE.

OKAY?

I HAVE A COUPLE DIFFERENT GUYS THAT ARE CALLING ME BACK.

WE'LL FIND A PLACE.

WE'VE STILL GOT SOME TIME.

IF WE LEAVE AND GET OUT OF HERE, WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Narrator: IT WON'T BE EASY.

WITH GOLD PRICES AT A RECORD HIGH,

THE KLONDIKE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF ANOTHER GOLD RUSH.

HOME TO SOME OF THE RICHEST GOLD FIELDS ON EARTH,

CLAIMS ARE HARD TO COME BY,

AND THE MINING SEASON IS ALREADY A WEEK OLD.

MOVING NORTH ALSO MEANS ABANDONING PORCUPINE

AND THE GOLD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GLORY HOLE.

I BUSTED MY ASS ALL SUMMER AS A VOLUNTEER.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH BLOOD IS ON ALL --

EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF THIS CRAP.

DUDE, I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I GOT INTO THIS CRAP. I GET IT.

THERE'S A LITTLE PIECE OF THIS...

THE KLONDIKE'S GOT WAY BETTER GOLD THAN THIS FRICKIN' PLACE.

AND YOU'RE GONNA FIND US THAT PLACE?

I'M GONNA FIND IT. I'LL GUARANTEE YOU I'LL FIND IT.

IF YOU TRUST ME. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY GONE WAY OUT ON A LIMB

TO FOLLOW ME AROUND.

YOU DON'T THINK THERE'S TRUST HERE TO DO THIS?

DUDE, WE'RE GONNA DO BETTER. WE CAN DO BETTER.

YOU GOT TO TRY HARD ON THIS ONE, TODD.

WE NEED SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA WORK.

THAT'S GONNA TAKE US ALL TOGETHER.

DUDE, I WILL FRICKING -- DUDE.

I WILL FIND US SOMEWHERE.

YOU GUYS ARE WAY MORE SKILLED THAN ME,

BUT THERE'S ONE THING I'M GOOD AT,

IS FINDING STUFF AND PUTTING IT TOGETHER,

AND I'LL GUARANTEE YOU I WILL FIND US SOMETHING BETTER.

OKAY? I KNOW WE'RE LEAVING SOME SKIN

AND SOME BLOOD AND SOME TEARS HERE.

I GET IT. I'M WITH YOU.

BUT WE STICK, WE LIVE AND WE DIE AS A TEAM,

AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT AS A TEAM IF WE STICK TOGETHER.

LET'S THROW IT IN, YOU GUYS.

LET'S SAY A LITTLE PRAYER HERE.

LORD, WE KNOW YOU GOT A PLAN

THAT'S MUCH BETTER THAN ANYTHING WE GOT.

WE JUST ASK THAT YOU GUIDE OUR STEPS FROM HERE ON OUT

WHEREVER WE'RE GONNA GO. AMEN.

AMEN.

Narrator: THERE IS MORE DOUBT AMONGST THE CREW THAN EVER BEFORE.

Todd: LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

Narrator: BUT TODD HAS CONVINCED THEM TO STAY TOGETHER FOR NOW.

Todd: LET'S LOAD UP!

Thurber: I TRUST HIM.

HE KNOWS WHERE WE'RE ALL AT FINANCIALLY,

AND I WOULDN'T WANT THAT WEIGHT ON MY SHOULDERS,

BUT I KNOW TODD CAN HANDLE IT, SO WE'LL DO GOOD.

IF WE DON'T, I'M DONE.

Turin: I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN TODD,

BUT AS A BUSINESSMAN, IT ONLY GOES SO FAR.

I NEED TO SEE SOMETHING, AND I NEED TO SEE SOMETHING SOON.

HEY, GUYS, LET'S GET THE FRICK OUT OF HERE.

LET'S JUST GO.

Jack: YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M GONNA LEAVE HERE NOT KNOWING

EXACTLY WHAT'S DOWN IN THAT HOLE,

AND I WISH I DID.

BUT I CAN'T CHANGE HISTORY, I GUESS.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS WERE OFF TO A GREAT START

IN THEIR SECOND MINING SEASON.

THEY FOUND GOLD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GLORY HOLE.

BUT NOW, FOR THE SECOND TIME,

THEY HEAD DOWN THE ROAD FROM THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM DEFEATED.

Todd: I'VE GOT ABOUT A WEEK TO FIND SOMEPLACE IN THE KLONDIKE.

OTHERWISE, IT'S OVER.

WE'RE WAY BEHIND THE 8-BALL ON THIS.

Narrator: DAKOTA FRED IS LEFT BEHIND

TO GET THE GOLD HE KNOWS IS IN THE GROUND HERE.

Hurt: IF THEY FIND THEM A CLAIM,

AT THE END OF THE SEASON, THEY'LL COME AND SHOW ME GOLD

AND SHOW ME HOW WRONG I WAS ABOUT THEM.

I THINK I'LL HAVE TO PULL MY GOLD OUT AND SHOW THEM

THEY GOT A LONG WAY TO GO

BEFORE THEY CATCH UP TO THE OLD MAN.