Original subtitles

Narrator: SEVEN MINERS FROM THE LOWER 48...

WE'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF FRICKIN' NOWHERE.

...ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO FIND

THE 100 OUNCES OF GOLD THEY NEED TO TURN THEIR FORTUNES AROUND.

JUST BEING OUT HERE'S A GAMBLE. LET'S RAISE THE STAKES.

IN THE KLONDIKE, GOLD MINES ARE ALREADY SHUTTING DOWN

FOR THE LONG ARCTIC WINTER.

THEY'RE GETTING THEIR ASS OUT OF TOWN.

BUT FINALLY, THE HOFFMAN CREW

IS SEEING THE BEST GOLD OF THE SEASON.

HOLY SMOKES!

LOOKS REAL GOOD.

THEIR LEADER, TODD HOFFMAN...

THAT'S OUR FIRST KLONDIKE NUGGET.

Narrator: ...HATCHES A RADICAL PLAN...

Todd: I'M GONNA PROPOSE SOMETHING

THAT COULD BE A TURNING POINT IN OUR MINE.

Narrator: ...TO BANK MORE GOLD PER DAY THAN EVER.

IF WE CAN'T MAKE IT, WE'RE DONE.

WHOA!

Narrator: DOWN SOUTH, AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!

Narrator: ...TODD'S RIVAL, DAKOTA FRED,

GETS A TASTE OF THE SUCCESS THAT ELUDED THE HOFFMANS LAST YEAR.

[ High-pitched voice ] NO GUTS, NO GLORY!

Narrator: AND AS 17-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL

TOTALS UP $55,000 IN GOLD...

[ SIREN WAILS ]

...DISASTER STRIKES, PUTTING EVERYTHING IN PERSPECTIVE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL DO WITHOUT HIM.

Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK,

THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS ONLY WEEKS LEFT TO MINE.

THEIR GOAL -- 100 OUNCES OF KLONDIKE GOLD.

THEY'VE DUG 40 OUNCES OUT OF THEIR FIRST DIG SITE, CUT 1,

BUT ARE RUNNING OUT OF PAY DIRT TO PROCESS.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE 6, 7 FEET BELOW THE GRAVEL,

INTO THE BEDROCK,

AND I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE

GOLD WOULD TRAVEL THAT FAR INTO THE BEDROCK.

Narrator: THURBER PANS THE BOTTOM OF CUT 1

TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY GOLD LEFT.

YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THIS PANS OUT,

AT LEAST WE'LL HAVE AN IDEA --

DO WE KEEP GOING OR GET CRACKING ON CUT NUMBER 2?

WE'LL SEE.

NOT REAL GOOD.

WE GOT THIS ONE LITTLE SPECK OF GOLD.

Narrator: IT'S TAKEN ALMOST FOUR MONTHS...

HEY, MAYBE WE'RE DONE.

Narrator: ...BUT CUT 1 IS FINALLY OUT OF GOLD.

TWO WEEKS AGO,

THE CREW STARTED STRIPPING GROUND ON A SECOND CUT.

BUT THE PRESSURE OF GETTING DOWN TO THE GOLD

WITH THEIR SEASON SLIPPING AWAY

PUSHED ONE CREW MEMBER OVER THE EDGE.

HOW COME THE DOZER AIN'T RUNNING?

WHERE'D GREG GO?

I'M STARTING TO FEEL LESS HOPEFUL ABOUT MY CHANCES HERE.

Narrator: GREG REMSBURG QUIT,

LEAVING THE CLAIM, TO FIND WORK BACK HOME IN OREGON.

NOW WITH CUT 2 STILL DAYS AWAY FROM DELIVERING ANY PAY DIRT,

THE CREW IS EAGER TO FEED WHATEVER THEY CAN

INTO THEIR WASH PLANT.

JACK DIGS UP THE ACCESS RAMP TO CUT 1.

Jack: WE MIGHT AS WELL GET

AS MUCH GOLD OUT OF THIS ONE AS WE CAN

SO WE CAN GO TO CUT NUMBER 2.

Narrator: TODD AND JIM

RUN THE OLD ACCESS-RAMP DIRT THROUGH THE WASH PLANT.

Todd: HEY, JIM! LAST BUCKET!

YEAH, WE'RE GONNA SHUT DOWN, TAKE A LOOK AT THESE RIFFLES.

Turin: WHAT DO YOU THINK, JIM?

DON'T SEE MUCH GOLD.

THERE'S SOME GOLD IN THERE.

HOLY SMOKES! LOOK AT THAT THING!

HA HA!

[ LAUGHTER ]

OH, GEE. LOOKY THERE.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR EVER SINCE LAST YEAR.

Todd: DUDE, LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT BAD BOY.

I THINK THAT'S JUST AWESOME.

FRIGGIN' SWEET.

I THINK THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.

RIGHT THERE -- THAT'S OUR FIRST KLONDIKE NUGGET.

IT'S A NICE ONE.

GUYS, I HATE TO TELL YOU THIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A QUARTZ CREEK NUGGET.

THINK IT MIGHT BE TORONTO? YEP.

REALLY? I DO.

Narrator: TORONTO CREEK RUNS INTO QUARTZ CREEK

ON THE SOUTH END OF THE HOFFMANS' CLAIM.

THE NUGGET WAS PULLED FROM THE ACCESS RAMP

ON THE SOUTHERN END OF CUT 1.

BUT THE CREW HAS BEEN PREPPING THEIR SECOND CUT

FURTHER FROM TORONTO CREEK.

TODD AND JACK SCOUT OUT TORONTO CREEK,

WHERE TODD SUSPECTS THERE'S BETTER GOLD.

THEY DISCUSS A POSSIBLE CHANGE OF PLAN.

I KNOW THERE'S GOLD UP TORONTO.

THAT GOLD WORKED ITS WAY OUT TO THE MOUTH,

RIGHT HERE, SOMEWHERE IN THIS AREA.

Jack: I HEAR YOU. I KNOW.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE SITTING ON 40 OUNCES, TOTAL.

HALF THIS CUT ON CUT NUMBER 2 IS DONE.

THERE COULD BE -- WHO KNOWS? --

500 TO 1,000 OUNCES RIGHT AT THE MOUTH HERE.

YEAH, I KNOW.

WE GOT TIME FOR ONE MORE CUT.

WELL, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

I'M WILLING TO WORK WHATEVER WAY IT GOES.

TORONTO CREEK JUST MAY BE RICHER GROUND THAN CUT 2.

BUT IT'LL TAKE WEEKS TO STRIP,

THE CREW IS A MAN DOWN, AND WINTER COULD FREEZE THEM OUT

BEFORE THEY EVEN REACH PAY GRAVEL.

BACK AT THE WASH PLANT, THE CREW CONTINUES THE CLEANOUT...

...AND TAKES THE MATERIAL FROM THE OLD RAMP TO THE GOLD ROOM.

LAST ONE.

NICE LITTLE NUGGETS. THEY'RE CLINKERS.

SEEING SOME NICE PIECES.

LOOK AT THAT. THERE'S A NICE ONE.

FOUR NICE CHUNKS.

DUDE, THAT'S A NUGGET.

THEY GO CLINK IN THE PAN.

LOOK AT THAT.

THAT WAS IN, LIKE, ABOUT 30 SHOVELFULS.

THAT'S AS MANY NUGGETS AS WE'VE EVER FOUND.

[ MOTOR WHIRRING ]

I'M EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

WE DIDN'T WIND UP WITH A LOT OF MATERIAL PUT THROUGH,

BUT IT IS REALLY GOOD STUFF.

IT AIN'T GONNA TAKE LONG.

THAT'S IT.

NOT BAD FOR NOT RUNNING MUCH MATERIAL.

5...

ALMOST 7 OUNCES.

FOR A THREE-HOUR RUN, THAT'S NOT BAD.

THAT'S PRETTY FREAKIN' GOOD.

Narrator: JACK'S DECISION

TO RUN THE RAMP DIRT THEY ALMOST LEFT BEHIND HAS PAID OFF --

$11,000 IN GOLD FOR JUST THREE HOURS OF WORK.

BUT NOW THE HOFFMANS HAVE A SEASON-DEFINING CALL TO MAKE.

I'M GONNA PROPOSE SOMETHING

THAT COULD BE A TURNING POINT IN OUR MINE.

THIS SECTION OVER HERE, OKAY?

CUT NUMBER 3, LET'S CALL IT.

WHEN YOU GET TWO CREEKS WITH GOLD IN THEM CONVERGING...

YEP.

...YOU GET A POCKET OF GOLD.

WE'RE TALKING

POSSIBLY 500 TO 1,000 OUNCES ON BEDROCK

WHERE THE TWO RIVERS CONVERGE.

I WANT TO KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK.

I WANT TO TRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO IN 3,

BUT THE QUESTION IS THIS -- WE GOT TIME FOR ONE.

YEAH, WE ONLY GOT TIME FOR ONE CUT.

ONE CUT.

TODD, THAT'S A HUGE GAMBLE, GOING OVER THERE.

JUST BEING OUT HERE'S A GAMBLE, OKAY?

WE'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF FRICKIN' NOWHERE.

IF WE'RE GONNA GO OUT,

LET'S JUST RAISE THE STAKES, TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

I KNOW YOU'RE LIKE ME AND JACK.

YOU'D RATHER GO OUT OF HERE LIKE A HERO.

AND WHAT ABOUT THESE GUYS?

THEY NEED TO GET THROUGH THE WINTER.

YEAH.

IF WE GET HALFWAY THROUGH THAT AND WE CAN'T MAKE IT,

WE'RE DONE.

WE WALK AWAY WITH -- THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THAT'S ALL WE'VE GOT. RIGHT.

AT LEAST THERE I KNOW WE CAN GET THESE GUYS

SOME MONEY IN THEIR POCKET.

GET THEM A LITTLE BREAD MONEY. I GET IT.

WE DON'T NEED AN ANSWER NOW.

I WANT YOU TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT IT AND THINK TO YOURSELF,

"CAN WE GET DOWN IN TIME AND DO IT?"

AND SLUICE IT BEFORE THE SNOW FLIES.

AND IF WE CAN'T DRAW YOU ON BOARD, IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

Narrator: DOWN SOUTH,

JUST OUTSIDE THE BIG NUGGET MINE IN ALASKA,

17-YEAR-OLD MINE BOSS PARKER SCHNABEL

RECEIVES DEVASTATING NEWS.

Parker: I TALKED TO MY PARENTS, AND THEY TOLD ME

THAT MY GRANDPA'S HAD A, UM --

HAD A HEART ATTACK.

IT'S JUST NOT A [BLEEP] GOOD DAY.

YOU KNOW, MY GRANDPA'S PROBABLY...

THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN MY LIFE, AND...

FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO HIM JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN

IS PRETTY TOUGH TO, UM...

PRETTY TOUGH TO TAKE, TOUGH TO HANDLE.

Narrator: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER,

PARKER TOOK OVER THE BIG NUGGET MINE

FROM HIS 91-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER, JOHN.

THANKS, GRANDPA.

John: PARKER HAS A VISION

THAT HE'S GONNA MAKE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY DAY,

AND I HOPE HE'S RIGHT.

Narrator: JOHN WAS SUPPOSED TO RETIRE,

BUT HE'S BEEN A CONSTANT PRESENCE ON THE MINE...

OH, MY GRANDPA'S HERE! NOW WE'VE GOT THE "A" TEAM!

Narrator: ...MENTORING HIS 17-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON

WHENEVER HE COULD.

I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO HOOK ONTO THE BACK END WITH A CABLE.

THERE YOU GO. THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY.

NOW JOHN IS BEING AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL IN ANCHORAGE.

NO ONE KNOWS IF HE'LL MAKE IT.

Parker: SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT...

YOU KNOW, WHAT IT'LL BE LIKE --

WHAT'LL HAPPEN WHEN MY GRANDPA PASSES AWAY.

YOU KNOW, USUALLY, I THINK, "OH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, HE'S OLD.

I'LL BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT FINE," BUT...

THE TRUTH IS, IT'LL...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL DO WITHOUT HIM.

Narrator: AT PORCUPINE CREEK, IN ALASKA,

DAKOTA FRED HAS BEEN DIGGING FOR GOLD

ON THE HOFFMANS' OLD CLAIM FOR FOUR MONTHS.

Fred: THAT'S WHERE THE GOLD IS.

Narrator: THE CREW IS RUNNING THEIR DE-ROCKER HARD

AND CATCHING GOLD.

BUT WITH ONLY 41 OUNCES OF GOLD, WORTH $66,000,

FRED AND HIS CREW HAVE DECIDED TO TRY AND HIT BEDROCK

BEFORE WINTER CLOSES THEM OUT.

Fred: I SPENT MOST OF MY SAVINGS,

LOST MY HOUSE ALONG THE WAY, GOT IT FLOODED.

WE HOPE THIS PAYS OFF.

I'VE, UH...

KIND OF STAKED MY...

I GUESS WE STAKED OUR WHOLE SEASON

ON THE FACT THAT HOPEFULLY THAT BEDROCK MATERIAL

IS GONNA PAY A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT THE UPPER MATERIAL DID.

WE'D BETTER HAVE SOME GOLD TO PAY IT OFF.

I HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S AT BEDROCK, IF WE CAN FIND IT.

IF WE CAN FIND IT.

WHO KNOWS IF IT'S A THOUSAND FEET?

I HAVE NO IDEA.

Narrator: LAST SEASON, JACK HOFFMAN BET IT ALL

ON HITTING BEDROCK AT PORCUPINE CREEK.

Jack: I'VE JUST GOT A LITTLE WAYS TO GET, TOUCH BEDROCK.

THAT'S WHERE THE GOLD'S LAYING, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING.

Narrator: BUT WHEN FRED TOOK OVER PORCUPINE,

HE REJECTED THE HOFFMANS' GLORY-HOLE STRATEGY,

OPTING TO MINE SHALLOWER PAY DIRT ACROSS A WIDER AREA.

Fred: THE WAY JACK DUG TO GET DOWN AS DEEP AS POSSIBLE --

TOTALLY WRONG.

Narrator: BUT AS FRED DUG DEEP, HE FOUND MORE GOLD.

WE KNOW NOW WHAT'S REALLY DOWN THERE.

UH...

AS YOU GO DEEPER, YOU GET BETTER.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA TRY THIS...

Narrator: FRED IS NOW AFTER

THE DEEPEST GOLD HE HOPES IS SITTING ON BEDROCK.

TO GET AT IT, HE HAS TO INCH THE 270 EXCAVATOR

DOWN A DANGEROUS ROCKY BANK...

Fred: ...IF I DON'T DIE FIRST.

Narrator: ...70 FEET TO THE BOTTOM OF HIS PIT.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS MANEUVER HERE.

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.

ABOUT A 35-, 40-DEGREE SLOPE HERE.

WHOA.

WE JUST SLIDING RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M DOWN.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO.

WHOA! WE'RE ROCKIN' HERE.

GONNA HAVE TO BACK UP HERE A LITTLE BIT.

[ BEEPING ]

[ CRASH ]

OH, NO.

Fred: DUSTIN, COME DOWN HERE IMMEDIATELY!

I need some help! We're in big trouble.

BIG TROUBLE.

WHAT'D YOU DO?

COMPLETELY LOST THE TRACK.

I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

WELL, I GUESS A ROCK GRABBED IT, OF SOME KIND,

AND JUST UNROLLED IT.

ALL RIGHT, SO, CHECK THE BOX UP THERE

TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE A CHAIN.

I'M GONNA GET A CHAIN AND A SHOVEL

AND A COME-ALONG AND FEW OTHER LITTLE THINGS.

Narrator: BUT THERE MAY BE AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM.

FRED'S 6-INCH PUMP IS BARELY KEEPING UP

WITH THE GROUND WATER POURING INTO THE PIT.

WE'RE RIGHT DOWN HERE WHERE THE WATER COULD OVERTAKE THIS

IN ABOUT FOUR HOURS.

IT'S GONNA BE A RACE AGAINST THE WATER LEVEL COMING UP.

'CAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF RAIN, OUR RIVER'S HIGH.

THAT PUMP QUITS,

WE CAN JUST ABOUT KISS THIS EXCAVATOR GOODBYE,

'CAUSE IT'LL BE UNDERWATER.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A TRACK THROWN THIS BAD

TO WHERE THE IDLE WHEEL HAS COME OFF OF THE TRACTOR.

THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. IT COULD BE FATAL.

THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS SPOT FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING IN.

HEADS UP FOR BIG ROCKS RIGHT HERE COMING DOWN.

YEAH, I'M WATCHING THAT.

ALL RIGHT, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE BUCKET.

I'M GONNA TRY TO HIT IT WITH THE TOOTH AND PUSH IT IN.

WE HAVE AN ARTICULATING ARM,

WHICH REALLY HELPS TO PUT A TRACK BACK ON.

I'M GONNA MOVE OUT OF THE WAY.

YOU'RE TOUCHING.

OOH! THAT'S IT.

THERE YOU GO. BEAUTIFUL. DO IT AGAIN.

OH, YEAH.

STAND BY.

Narrator: WITH DUSTIN AT THE CONTROLS...

STRAIGHT BACK!

...FRED TRIES TO FORCE THE TRACK BACK INTO ITS GUIDE PULLEYS.

CURL UP A LITTLE!

STRAIGHT BACK!

HOLD IT!

MOVE DOWN!

WHOA!

WE'RE ON.

ALL RIGHT!

WHOO!

YO!

LOOKS GOOD. YEE-HAW!

FORTUNATELY, WE GOT IT FIXED.

RIGHT NOW, SHE'S RUNNING. LET'S SEE IF SHE LIKES DIGGING.

Narrator: THE DAKOTA BOYS LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

ALL RIGHT, BIG BOY. LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO HERE.

Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK, DAVE TURIN IS IN HIS ELEMENT...

WHOA!

...PUSHING HARD TO GET PAY DIRT IN CUT 2.

Turin: TODD AND JACK WANT TO GO TO CUT NUMBER 3

AND ABANDON CUT NUMBER 2.

SOMETIMES I DO MY BEST THINKING WHEN I'M RUNNING THIS DOZER.

WHEN YOU SPEND THIS MUCH TIME ON A DOZER, YOU CAN ACTUALLY,

YEAH, PUSH WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

SO I'VE BEEN THINKING WE COULD DO CUT NUMBER 2 IN ABOUT 3 DAYS

IF I GET ENOUGH TIME TO WORK AT IT PRETTY HARD.

I THINK I COULD GET CUT NUMBER 2 READY.

AND THEN IF I ADD ANOTHER OPERATOR IN THE 400,

I'D GO START ON STRIPPING CUT NUMBER 3.

IF I PROPOSE TO GREG

THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP A WHOLE NEW CUT,

CUT NUMBER 3 HAS BIG GOLD IN IT.

SO HOPEFULLY MAYBE WE CAN GET GREG REMSBURG BACK UP HERE.

Turin: I JUST GOT TO TALK TO TODD.

THERE'S NO WAY I'M GONNA EVEN

ATTEMPT THE THIRD CUT WITHOUT GREG.

HEY, TODD, YOU GOT A MINUTE? YEAH. WHAT?

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT...

CHANGING FROM CUT NUMBER 2 TO CUT NUMBER 3, RIGHT?

I MEAN, YOU AND JACK TALKED ABOUT DOING CUT NUMBER 3.

WE'RE A DOZER GUY DOWN. I CAN'T DO IT BY MYSELF.

THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN GET THAT DONE WITHOUT REMSBURG.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE BETTER WITH HIM THAN WITHOUT HIM.

I KNOW WE'D BE LIMPING INTO THE END OF THE SEASON.

SO, DUDE, I'M OPEN, AS LONG AS HE'S GOT HIS HEAD IN THE GAME

AND IF YOU'RE WILLING TO KICK HIM A FLIGHT.

I'M WILLING TO STEP UP AND HELP HIM WITH A PLANE TICKET

BECAUSE I KNOW HE'S GONNA MAKE IT BACK.

IF WE CAN GET THREE CUTS, WE COULD GET --

WHO KNOWS? -- 200 OUNCES. I DON'T KNOW.

AND HE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE WINTER.

AND I KNOW HE COULDN'T FIND A JOB

IN THIS SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

OKAY, I'M GONNA GIVE HIM A CALL

AND SEE IF I CAN'T GET HIM UP HERE.

I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO LEAVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

[ Dialing ]

Narrator: GREG REMSBURG LEFT QUARTZ CREEK,

FEARING FAILURE FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

[ Telephone ringing ]

DAVE HAS TO PERSUADE HIM

THAT THE NEW GROUND TODD HAS FOUND COULD MAKE HIM RICH.

HEY, GREG. REMSBURG: Dave.

HOW'S IT GOING, MAN?

Well, I'm doing all right.

YEAH? EVERYTHING GOING ALL RIGHT AT HOME?

It's still pretty slow down here.

You know how it is.

YEAH.

WE'RE JUST KIND OF IN A -- KIND OF IN A DILEMMA OUT HERE.

TODD THREW SOMETHING AT ME, AND HE WANTS TO GO ACROSS THE ROAD,

GO ALL THE WAY UP TO TORONTO CREEK, AND OPEN A THIRD CUT.

Whoa.

BUT HERE'S THE DEAL, GREG --

I CAN'T DO THAT THIRD CUT WITHOUT YOU.

I NEED YOUR HELP.

That's the last thing I expected to hear this morning.

I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL FINISH THE SECOND CUT,

SLUICE IT OUT, AND THEN WHILE THEY'RE SLUICING,

YOU AND I CAN BE WORKING ON THIS THIRD CUT.

I came home for my family, and, you know,

I don't know if I can gamble with them, in a sense.

WHY DON'T YOU THINK ABOUT IT, TALK IT OVER WITH SANDY?

Let me get back to you, and we can go from there.

OKAY, MAN. ALL RIGHT, BYE.

WE'RE LOSING TIME.

WE NEED HIM, AND WE NEED HIM BAD.

IT'S THE BEST THING FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY.

GET BACK UP HERE. LET'S FINISH WHAT WE STARTED.

Narrator: IN ANCHORAGE, TEENAGE MINER PARKER SCHNABEL

RUSHES TO BE WITH HIS 91-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER,

WHO HAS SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK.

JOHN SCHNABEL HAS JUST UNDERGONE SURGERY

TO PREVENT FURTHER ATTACKS.

John: PARKER!

I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU. [ GROANS ]

I'M NOT GONNA GET OUT OF BED, BUT GIVE ME A HUG.

[ LAUGHS ]

IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.

WELL, I HOPE SO.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I'M SORRY I'M IN SUCH CONDITION.

I'M KIND OF HELPLESS.

ON MONDAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO CASH IN...

[ CHUCKLES ]

JUST TO ESCAPE, IF NOTHING ELSE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

WELL, I'M GLAD YOU DIDN'T.

Narrator: TO LIFT HIS SPIRITS,

PARKER SHOWS HIS GRANDFATHER THE SEASON'S GOLD...

FEELS PRETTY NICE.

34 1/2 ALMOST.

...ALMOST $55,000 WORTH.

[ CHUCKLES ] THAT'S PRETTY NICE.

YEAH.

BE CAREFUL. DON'T DROP IT.

SO, WHAT -- DO YOU HAVE, LIKE, A NEW HEART NOW OR SOMETHING?

NO, THEY PUT TWO STINTS IN THERE.

JOHN HAD SURGERY TO OPEN UP TWO BLOCKED ARTERIES.

BUT JUST 24 HOURS LATER,

JOHN HAS ONLY ONE THING ON HIS MIND --

GETTING BACK TO THE MINE.

I WANT TO GO HOME.

YOU CAN'T EVEN WALK.

I'LL PROBABLY BE ABLE TO GET UP TO THE MINE

SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.

MAYBE THE MIDDLE OR THE END OF THE WEEK.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M JUST WONDERING IF IT WOULDN'T BE GOOD

FOR YOU TO STAY HERE FOR A FEW MORE DAYS.

AND I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S A LOT OF TRAVEL

IF YOU'VE ONLY GOT ONE FOOT AND HALF A HEART.

ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, HUH?

[ LAUGHS ]

THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID.

TRY TO UNDERSTAND, PARKER,

THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GO HOME TODAY.

Parker: AND I WISH HE WOULD JUST STAY HERE

AND LET HIS BODY KIND OF DEAL WITH EVERYTHING

THAT'S GONE ON IN THE LAST FEW DAYS,

BUT, UM...

I THINK A BIG PART OF MY GRANDPA'S WELL-BEING

IS HIS MENTAL HEALTH,

AND HE'S HAPPIEST IN HAINES, SO LET HIM GO TO HAINES.

Narrator: JOHN BEGINS THE 500-MILE JOURNEY HOME.

OHO.

I FEEL LIKE I'LL MAKE IT.

[ LAUGHS ]

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,

DAVE TURIN IS MAKING A PICKUP AT DAWSON AIRPORT.

I'M BACK.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.

HOW ARE YOU? I'M -- I'M GOOD.

YEAH? YEAH, I'M READY TO GO.

TODD GOES, "LET'S GIVE UP ON CUT NUMBER 2.

LET'S GO TO CUT NUMBER 3. LET'S JUST GO FOR BROKE."

AND I WASN'T GOING FOR IT.

I MEAN, ALL THAT WORK TO OPEN IT UP,

AND WE ALMOST WEREN'T GONNA RUN IT?

AND IT'S LIKE MONEY IN THE BANK?

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS.

SO THAT'S WHEN WE TALKED -- BRING YOU BACK.

THEY START SLUICING CUT NUMBER 2.

YOU AND I GO TO WORK ON CUT NUMBER 3.

BUT WITHOUT YOU IN THE 400,

I HAD NO CHANCE OF DOING CUT NUMBER 3.

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING, THE REUNITED HOFFMAN CREW GATHERS.

TODD NOW NEEDS EVERY MAN TO PULL TOGETHER TO MAKE ONE LAST PUSH.

AT BEST, THEY HAVE FOUR WEEKS TO MAKE THEIR SEASON PROFITABLE.

SO, GREG, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE BACK TO FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED.

YOU'RE GONNA FINISH IT OUT. I WANT YOU TO FINISH STRONG.

I'M IN. MY HEAD'S IN IT. GOOD.

I'M EXCITED TO GET INTO THIS GROUND.

LET'S GET EVERYTHING THAT'S THERE.

I REALLY THINK IT'S OVER THERE,

AND WE GOT A SHOT WITH YOU BEING HERE.

BRING IT IN, GUYS. DAD.

I SAY WE GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT, YOU GUYS.

SAY A QUICK PRAYER FOR SAFETY TODAY.

LORD, WE'RE TRULY GRATEFUL

THAT EVERYBODY'S HERE AND THAT THE TEAM'S COMPLETE.

AND, LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU JUST HELP US TO GET A LOT OF GOLD.

AND WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR NAME. AMEN.

AMEN. AMEN.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS. LET'S DO IT.

Narrator: DAVE AND GREG GET RIGHT TO WORK,

CLEARING THE DIRT IN CUT 2.

ONCE THEY HIT PAY GRAVEL,

THE CREW WILL RUN IT THROUGH THE WASH PLANT,

ALLOWING DAVE AND GREG TO MOVE OVER AND START STRIPPING CUT 3.

NICE TO BE BACK IN HERE!

WE GOT A LOT OF MUCK TO GET OUT OF HERE STILL, BUT...

THINK WE CAN GET 'ER.

Turin: YEAH, IT'S REALLY NICE HAVING GREG BACK.

HIM AND I THINK A LOT ALIKE, SO IT'S REALLY EASY TO COMMUNICATE,

AND WE'RE GONNA GET THIS CUT NUMBER 2 DONE,

AND WE'RE GONNA DO THIS IN ABOUT HALF THE TIME.

Narrator: AFTER FIVE HOURS OF TEAMWORK,

GREG REACHES THE FIRST LEVEL OF PAY GRAVEL.

GOT GOOD PAY HERE IN CUT 2.

IT'S ALREADY STARTING TO SHOW.

Doumitt: YEAH, THAT'S THE FIRST SCOOP.

YOU KNOW, I'M A PUMPOLOGIST, NOT A GEOLOGIST,

BUT, BY GOLLY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOLD-BEARING TO ME.

YEAH, MAN. WE GOT THE SECOND CUT.

FIRST COUPLE LOADS OF DIRT ARE HERE.

YEAH, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. WE'RE MOVING FORWARD.

Narrator: BUT CHRIS HAS TO MAKE A LONG TRIP TO THE WASH PLANT

WITH EVERY LOAD OF CUT 2 PAY DIRT.

HE'S BURNING TIME AND PRECIOUS DIESEL.

DAVE TURIN HAS A SOLUTION.

Turin: GOT TO GET FAST ACCESS TO CUT NUMBER 2,

AND THE QUICKEST WAY WE FOUND IS TO PUT IN A NEW ROAD

AND BYPASS THE ROAD THAT'S ALL THE WAY AROUND.

SHOULD BE A LOT MORE EFFICIENT.

Narrator: INSTEAD OF THE 250-YARD JOURNEY

THROUGH CUT 1 WITH EVERY LOAD,

DAVE PROPOSES A SHORTCUT FROM CUT 2

THAT WILL BE FOUR TIMES FASTER.

Turin: WE'VE GOT TO GET ACROSS OUR RETURN WATER.

WE'VE GOT A DITCH RIGHT NOW,

SO WE GOT TO PUT A CULVERT IN THERE,

AND THEN THE LOADER WILL BE BRINGING MATERIAL

FROM CUT NUMBER 2.

IF WE SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME DOING THIS RIGHT,

THEN THIS WILL SAVE US DAYS LATER ON,

AND WE NEED THOSE DAYS.

WE NEED EVERY DAY WE CAN GET NOW.

Narrator: THE NEW ROAD IS COMPLETE,

AND THE CREW GETS BACK TO WORK ON CUT 2.

Turin: ANYTIME YOU MOVE FROM ONE SPOT TO ANOTHER

AND YOU START MOVING YOUR PLANT, CONFIGURING ROADS AND STUFF,

AND YOU COULD BE RUNNING THE SAME DAY,

THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

STARTING TO GET THE HANG OF IT.

WE'RE STARTING TO FIGURE SOME THINGS OUT.

I'M PRETTY HAPPY THAT WE COULD KEEP RUNNING.

THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

Narrator: AFTER RUNNING FOR FOUR HOURS,

THE HOFFMAN CREW SHUTS DOWN

TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY GOLD IN THE CUT 2 PAY GRAVEL.

[ ENGINE SHUTS OFF ]

IS THAT CUT 2? THAT'S THE GOOD STUFF, I BET.

NOT BAD. LOOK AT THAT.

WOW, LOOK. LOOK AT THIS, AND THIS.

Doumitt: THAT'S AS GOOD AS WE'VE SEEN.

GUYS, THIS CUT 2 IS SICK.

LOOK AT THIS NUGGET TRYING TO MAKE ITS WAY OUT.

LOOK AT THAT LITTLE GUY.

AND YOU WANTED TO ABANDON CUT 2, TODD. SHAME.

GUYS, I GOT GOLD ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE.

WHAT?

I'M GLAD WE STUCK WITH CUT 2.

THIS IS AWESOME STUFF.

OH, YEAH. LOOKS REAL GOOD.

THIS IS NOTICEABLY BETTER THAN THE FIRST CUT.

BIG-TIME.

Narrator: AT PORCUPINE CREEK,

FRED IS 70 FEET DOWN IN THE PIT, ON THE HUNT FOR BEDROCK GOLD.

Fred: AAH!

THE HOFFMANS WERE DIGGING

BASICALLY THE SAME MATERIAL I AM,

EXCEPT JUST NOT QUITE AS DEEP.

THAT'S ALL. [ LAUGHING ]

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW SPENT ALL OF THEIR FIRST MINING SEASON

TRYING BUT FAILING TO REACH BEDROCK.

I THINK I'M ABOUT 3 OR 4 FEET BELOW

WHERE THE HOFFMANS DUG LAST YEAR

IN THE DEEPEST POTS I GOT OUT THERE.

FRED SEEMS TO THINK HE'S CLOSE TO

OR SOMETHING THAT'S SIMILAR TO BEDROCK.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, THIS IS GONNA YIELD

FOUR TIMES WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BEFORE.

[ CLATTERING ]

Narrator: FRED HITS SOMETHING THAT WON'T BUDGE.

Fred: I'M ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT THERE.

YEE-HOO-HOO-HOO! LOOK AT THAT STUFF.

Narrator: AFTER ALMOST TWO FULL SEASONS OF MINING,

SOMEONE HAS FINALLY HIT BEDROCK AT PORCUPINE.

Fred: WE HAVE GOT SUCCESS HERE.

Dustin: WE GOT GOLD!

Fred: YEAH, BOYS! YEAH! I KNEW IT!

YEAH! COME ON!

IF JACK WAS HERE, HE'D BE JEALOUS.

HE'D BE WANTING TO BE DOWN HERE TO DIG, JUST LIKE ME.

WAH!

FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT LITTLE SCRATCHY VOICE.

[ High-pitched voice ] NO GUTS, NO GLORY!

[ Normal voice ] I HOPE THERE'S GOLD

JUST DRIPPING OFF THAT STUFF, SO DON'T SPILL A DROP OF IT.

WHAT I'M TOLD IS THAT IT'S POSSIBLE

TO HAVE AN OUNCE EVERY YARD OF DIRT

INSTEAD OF AN OUNCE EVERY 100 YARDS OF DIRT

WHEN YOU HIT BEDROCK.

HOPING THAT THIS STUFF HOLDS A LOT OF GOLD IN IT.

BOY, IT WOULD BE NICE IF THERE WAS A LOT OF GOLD IN THERE.

[ BEEPING ]

Narrator: 40 MILES SOUTH, IN HAINES, ALASKA,

JOHN SCHNABEL ARRIVES BACK FROM ANCHORAGE

JUST DAYS AFTER HIS HEART ATTACK.

[ LAUGHING ] WELL, COME ON BACK.

John: COME ON.

OH, I'M SURE GLAD TO SEE YOU.

[ LAUGHTER ]

HI, DAD!

WHAT A WEEK, HUH?

GOOD TO SEE YOU!

ALL RIGHT!

DAD, YOU LOOK GREAT. YOU LOOK GREAT.

I LOOK PRETTY WEAK.

YOU'RE GONNA GO FOR IT? YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, DAD. WHAT A WEEK, HUH?

YEAH, EVERYTHING -- YOU'RE FEELING OKAY, THOUGH?

YEAH, I'M...EMOTIONAL. THAT'S ALL.

I THINK IT'S GREAT.

WHAT YOU NEED, AS FAR AS EMOTIONS GO --

WHAT YOU NEED TO PSYCH YOURSELF UP FOR

IS TO LET US TAKE CARE OF YOU, OKAY?

JUST LET US DO IT. IT'S A THRILL, DAD.

WELL, I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE TOO MANY PLANS.

[ LAUGHTER ]

WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU, MAN.

Parker: SO, HOW ARE WE GONNA DO THIS?

OH, I CAN GET IN. NO PROBLEM.

I'M GONNA GET IN. WHEREVER.

[ GROANS ]

IF HE CAN DO THAT, HE CAN RUN THE MINE.

IT JUST PROVES TO YOU THAT I'M NOT HELPLESS.

[ LAUGHTER ]

SEE? HE LOOKS GOOD.

Narrator: JOHN MAY BE BACK ON HIS FEET,

BUT HE'S 91 AND GETTING OVER HIS THIRD HEART ATTACK.

Parker: I WON'T LET HIM AT THE MINE FOR TWO WEEKS, AT LEAST.

I THINK THAT'S THE BEST THING TO DO IS JUST --

JUST TELL HIM TO TAKE TWO WEEKS OFF.

Narrator: BACK UP IN THE KLONDIKE...

THE HOFFMAN CREW IS RUNNING THE PAY DIRT FROM THEIR SECOND CUT.

NOW TODD'S READY TO PUT HIS AMBITIOUS PLAN INTO ACTION.

SO, THE SECOND CUT, THAT'S THE SURE THING, THE SURE ROUTE,

BUT I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT OTHER CUT HERE,

BECAUSE THAT BIG NUGGET WE GOT CAME OUT OF THAT TORONTO CREEK.

SO I REALLY THINK THAT THERE'S MORE GOLD

DOWN AT THE BASE OF TORONTO THAN THERE IS UP THERE.

WE'RE READY TO GO.

Narrator: DAVE AND GREG MOVE OVER FROM CUT 2

TO START STRIPPING THEIR THIRD CUT, JUST OFF TORONTO CREEK.

[ WOOD CRACKING ]

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, DAVE IS REMINDED

JUST HOW HARD IT IS TO GET DOWN TO KLONDIKE GOLD.

Turin: OH, MAN!

IT'S RIGHT BACK TO THE SAME GOO.

MUD IN ONE SPOT, PERMAFROST IN ANOTHER.

NASTY STUFF.

WELL, HERE WE ARE BACK IN THE MUD AGAIN.

AAH!

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS STRIP AT PRETTY MUCH THE WRONG TIME.

Turin: YEAH, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS

WHEN YOU START TO CUT REAL LATE.

YOU GOT PERMAFROST THAT MELTS, TURNS TO MUD,

SO IT MAKES IT REALLY DIFFICULT.

THAT'S ICE.

SEE HOW IT'S --

I CAN'T GET ANY TRACTION.

DANG IT.

NEED A LITTLE HELP, GREG.

Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK,

GREG REMSBURG AND DAVE TURIN ARE OPENING A THIRD CUT,

BUT THE D8 IS STUCK.

GREG COMES OVER TO PULL THE 84,000-POUND D8 OUT OF THE MUD.

TRY TO LIFT YOU A LITTLE BIT?

NO, JUST -- IT'S JUST, YOU'RE HUNG UP ON THAT RING,

SO GO THAT WAY AND CURL UP A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY.

[ BEEPING ]

WE'RE GONNA BE LUCKY

IF WE DON'T LOSE ONE OF THESE PIECES OUT HERE.

DAVE IS IN DEEPER THAN HE THOUGHT.

I'M GONNA NEED ANOTHER PULL, GREG.

WHAT A MESS.

Turin: THIS IS A REAL GAMBLE.

THE RISK IS THAT THIS MACHINE DOESN'T MAKE IT.

WITHOUT THIS MACHINE, WE'RE DONE.

WE MIGHT AS WELL JUST GO HOME AND CALL IT A WINTER.

Narrator: GREG WANTS PROOF THAT THERE IS GOLD IN CUT 3

BEFORE HE TAKES ANY MORE RISKS.

Remsburg: TODD THINKS THERE'S A PAY LAYER DOWN HERE.

I GOT TO SEE IT FOR MYSELF.

I'D SAY LET'S GET A PAN AND FIND OUT.

THIS IS JUST FROM A SMALL PILE OF DIRT

RIGHT OUT OF CUT NUMBER 3,

ABOUT 25 FEET FROM THE CREEK.

SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE GOLD, BUT I'M SKEPTICAL.

I'D LIKE TO FIND A BIG OLD NUGGET.

OH, LOOK AT THAT.

THERE'S PROBABLY 30 -- 30 PIECES.

TIMES LIKE THESE, I DON'T MIND BEING WRONG.

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF COLOR.

THAT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY NICE STUFF,

AND IT'S COMING FROM NOT VERY DEEP.

WHAT DO YOU GOT?

WHAT THE...

TOLD YOU.

RIGHT? IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.

THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR.

I TOLD YOU!

JUST NEEDED TO HEAR HIMSELF SAY, "I TOLD YOU SO."

I TOLD YOU SO.

I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S IN THERE.

THAT'S AS GOOD AS ANY PAN THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN.

THAT'S A LOT OF PIECES OF GOLD.

MAYBE CUT 3 HOLDS THE ANSWER TO THIS WHOLE SEASON.

Narrator: AT PORCUPINE CREEK,

FRED HAS BEEN DIGGING BEDROCK PAY DIRT FOR TWO DAYS.

DUSTIN HAS BEEN RUNNING IT THROUGH THE WASH PLANT.

HE SHUTS DOWN TO FIND OUT WHAT THE BEDROCK MATERIAL HOLDS.

WHAT'S THE PLAN, FRED?

GONNA DO A FULL CLEANOUT.

AND THEN?

CONCENTRATE IT AND PAN IT OUT.

THE DAKOTA BOYS CLEAN THE SLUICE BOXES.

Fred: CERTAINLY HOPING TO GET

A LITTLE BIT BETTER RETURN TODAY THAN WE NORMALLY GET,

BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GETTING READY

TO GO OVER AND DO A CLEANUP,

SEE IF WE CAN'T HIT THAT MAGIC 50 OUNCES.

Narrator: 50 OUNCES IS FRED'S BREAK-EVEN POINT.

WITH BREAKDOWNS, FLOODING, AND AN MSHA CLOSURE,

THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE ONLY RUN THEIR MACHINES FOR 80 DAYS.

THERE'S GOLD IN THERE. I CAN SEE IT.

Narrator: AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $1,000 A DAY,

THEY'LL SEE A PROFIT ONCE THEY PASS $80,000,

OR 50 OUNCES OF GOLD.

ANY GOLD IN THAT?

SEE THAT PRETTY GOLD?

FRED ADDS THE CONTENTS OF THE BEDROCK CLEANOUT

TO HIS EXISTING GOLD.

I'VE NOT WEIGHED ALL THIS GOLD EVER.

I'VE WEIGHED IT SEPARATELY, OCCASIONALLY,

BUT, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GONNA WORK OR NOT.

SINCE MAY, WE BEEN TRYING TO GET TO 50 OUNCES.

IF WE CAN GET 50 OUNCES, WE'LL BREAK EVEN.

THERE'S 10.

20, 30...

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HOPE WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS.

MAKE IT. COME ON.

THERE'S 40.

BEDROCK GOLD COULD PUSH THEM OVER 50 OUNCES...

COME ON.

...AND INTO PROFIT.

46...

47...

COME ON, NOW.

[ LAUGHS ] COME ON.

THERE'S 49 ON THE MONEY.

ALL RIGHT.

WHOO!

50.7! YEAH!

[ LAUGHTER ]

NOW, THAT'S CLOSE.

THAT'S CLOSE.

GOLD!

Dustin: THAT'S A LOT OF WORK PUT INTO THAT.

YOU FINALLY START REALIZING,

HEY, WE'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

FROM NOW ON, EVERY OUNCE OF GOLD

THEY CAN PULL OUT OF PORCUPINE CREEK

BEFORE THE WINTER FREEZES THEM OUT

IS MONEY IN THEIR POCKET.

WE STILL GOT TIME TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

WE GONNA START WORKING ON OUR SECOND 50.