Original subtitles

Narrator: IN THE FROZEN NORTH...

[ HORN HONKS ]

...SEVEN DOWN-ON-THEIR-LUCK MINERS

ARE BACK FOR A SECOND GOLD-MINING SEASON.

THIS YEAR, IT'S MAKE OR BREAK.

WE NEED SIX FIGURES OUT OF THIS SEASON.

WE'LL DO GOOD. IF WE DON'T, I'M DONE.

Narrator: THEY'RE BACK, BIGGER AND BETTER THAN EVER.

THAT'S PAYBACK TIME.

Narrator: JUST AS THEY GOT STARTED,

THEY HAD TO LEAVE THE CLAIM.

I OWN PORCUPINE CREEK.

BUT EVEN WITHOUT A CLAIM TO MINE,

THEY REFUSE TO GIVE UP THEIR DREAM.

Todd: THEY FOLLOWED ME AND MY DAD TO THE END OF THE EARTH.

WE'LL GET THE GOLD.

Narrator: NOW THE HOFFMANS ARE PLAYING CATCHUP.

THEY NEED A NEW GOLD CLAIM, AND FAST.

IF WE DON'T GET LAND, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MUTINY.

IT'S TIME TO PACK UP AND GO.

Narrator: AS THE HOFFMANS HUNT NEW LAND...

...FRED RIPS THEIR OLD CLAIM APART.

OH!

AND JUST ACROSS PORCUPINE CREEK, 16-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL...

WE'VE GOT WATER.

...PUTS HIS ELDERS TO SHAME

IN THE QUEST TO STRIKE IT RICH.

Parker: TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY.

Narrator: IN PORCUPINE CREEK, SOUTHEAST ALASKA...

...THE NEW CLAIM OWNER GETS TO WORK,

10 DAYS INTO THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON.

Fred: WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!

LET THE GAME BEGIN!

IT'S THE DAKOTA BOYS AGAINST THE HOFFMANS.

Narrator: 24 HOURS AFTER TAKING OVER PORCUPINE CREEK

FROM THE HOFFMANS,

"DAKOTA" FRED FILLS IN THEIR HOLDING POND.

Fred: ALL RIGHT!

OH!

THE JUMP SHOT!

YAY-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!

DAKOTA BOYS SCORE.

THEY'RE UP ON THE HOFFMANS.

TIGHT GAME, FOLKS.

BUT THE DAKOTA BOYS WIN.

YEAH!

Narrator: TO STRIKE IT RICH AT PORCUPINE CREEK,

FRED PLANS ON DOING THINGS VERY DIFFERENTLY THIS SEASON.

LAST YEAR, TODD AND JACK

DISAGREED ON HOW TO MINE PORCUPINE CREEK.

TODD PLANNED TO DIG FOR A PAY STREAK...

ON THIS CLAIM, THERE IS A PAY STREAK OF GOLD.

...UNTIL JACK CONVINCED HIM TO DIG FOR NUGGETS

AT THE BOTTOM OF AN ANCIENT WATERFALL CALLED A GLORY HOLE.

Jack: I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

BUT IN ONE SEASON, THEY FOUND JUST 14 OUNCES OF GOLD,

WORTH A MEASLY $20,000.

THIS YEAR, FRED'S GOING BACK TO TODD'S ORIGINAL PLAN.

THIS IS THE GLORY HOLE FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT.

WE INTEND TO MOVE THAT OUT ABOUT ANOTHER 75 FEET OR SO.

THE WAY JACK DUG, TO GET DOWN AS DEEP AS POSSIBLE --

TOTALLY WRONG.

Narrator: INSTEAD OF DIGGING DOWN TO BEDROCK

LIKE JACK DID LAST YEAR,

FRED WILL DIG HORIZONTALLY,

CLEARING THE FIRST 20 FEET OF DIRT.

HE CAN THEN PROCESS THE GOLD-RICH PAY STREAK

HE THINKS RUNS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CLAIM.

TO MOVE THIS MUCH PAY DIRT, FRED NEEDS A NEW ROAD.

HE'LL BUILD ONE RIGHT OVER THE HOFFMANS' OLD HOLDING POND.

FRED IS GAMBLING

THAT HIS RADICAL CLAIM WILL PAY OFF BIG-TIME.

I'D BE HIGHLY EMBARRASSED, HIGHLY EMBARRASSED,

IF I DON'T WIND UP WITH AT LEAST A HUNDRED OUNCES OF GOLD

OUT OF THIS PLACE.

Narrator: MEANWHILE,

AFTER A 600-MILE DRIVE FROM PORCUPINE CREEK,

THE HOFFMANS AND THEIR CREW ARRIVE IN DAWSON CITY.

THEY HAVE NO CLAIM TO MINE 10 DAYS INTO THE SEASON.

IF THEY CAN'T FIND LAND IN THE GOLD-RICH KLONDIKE SOON,

THEIR SECOND MINING SEASON COULD BE THEIR LAST.

OH!

[ LAUGHS ]

WHAT A DAY. YOU KNOW?

YEAH. WE'RE FINALLY HERE.

IT'S LIKE MIDNIGHT, AND IT'S STILL BRIGHT OUT.

THAT'S HOW FAR NORTH WE ARE, MAN.

WE'RE WAY NORTH. WE'RE UP IN THE KLONDIKE NOW.

SO THIS IS SWEET.

LAST TIME I WAS HERE, IT WAS ALL SNOWY.

Narrator: THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME

THE HOFFMANS HAVE BEEN TO DAWSON CITY.

THEY'RE BACK FOR A REASON.

BACK IN THE OFF SEASON,

THE HOFFMANS VENTURED NORTH INTO THE KLONDIKE.

THIS IS DOUBLE OR NOTHING.

Narrator: THEY GOT LUCKY AND FOUND VIRGIN GROUND

IN ONE OF THE RICHEST GOLD FIELDS IN THE WORLD.

THIS IS DROP-DEAD KILLER CLAIM.

Narrator: TO MINE IT, THEY SPENT $40,000

ON THE ONLY WASH PLANT THEY COULD FIND,

A MACHINE THAT SEPARATES GOLD FROM DIRT.

SO, THAT'S IT, HUH, WAYNE?

[ LAUGHS ]

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S IN PRETTY DECENT SHAPE.

AT THE LAST MINUTE, THEY LOST THE KLONDIKE CLAIM,

BUT NOT THEIR NEW WASH PLANT.

FOUR MONTHS AFTER BUYING IT,

THEY'RE BACK AT WAYNE FISHER'S YARD,

DESPERATE TO SET UP FOR THIS SEASON.

I THINK WE DID GOOD. PIECE OF CAKE. YEAH.

Man: GONNA WORK?

THOSE HAVE PRETTY DECENT BELTS ON THEM.

CAN WE START IT AND STOP IT

REAL QUICK? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL KNOW.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS SET TO FIRE UP THE WASH PLANT

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.

THIS HAS SAT THERE SIX YEARS IN ONE PLACE,

SO NOTHING'S BEEN RAN IN AT LEAST THAT LONG,

MAYBE EVEN LONGER.

Narrator: TODD NEEDS TO SALVAGE THEIR SECOND MINING SEASON.

TO KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE, THE WASH PLANT HAS TO WORK.

WE'LL FIND OUT.

JUST REAL QUICK.

TANKER START.

[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]

Man: STOP! STOP!

STOP! SHUT IT DOWN!

[ ENGINE STOPS ]

[BLEEP]

Narrator: AFTER RUNNING FOR JUST SECONDS,

IT'S CLEAR TODD'S NEW WASH PLANT NEEDS A MAJOR OVERHAUL.

ONE OF THE MOTORS MIGHT NOT BE HOOKED UP RIGHT.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY, FOR THE CREW,

THE BROKEN MOTOR IS NOT THE ONLY THING WRONG.

A WORKING WASH PLANT SEPARATES THE GOLD FROM THE DIRT.

TODD'S HAS A CONVEYOR BELT

THAT FEEDS GOLD-BEARING MATERIAL INTO THE WASH PLANT,

BUT IT NEEDS A NEW BELT AND REPLACEMENT ROLLERS.

AFTER LEAVING THE CONVEYOR,

THE MATERIAL FALLS ONTO SCREENS, WHERE IT IS WASHED.

BUT THE PLANT'S WATER PUMP AND PIPES ARE BROKEN.

FINALLY, ANY GOLD IS CAUGHT IN TRAYS OF HYDRAULIC RIFFLES.

TODD'S RIFFLES ARE IN BAD NEED OF REPAIR.

FOR CREW MECHANIC JAMES HARNESS, IT'S NOT A QUICK FIX.

Harness: THERE'S A LOT OF BAD WELDS,

A LOT OF RUSTY PARTS THAT ARE READY TO FALL APART.

IT NEEDS TO BE GONE THROUGH,

NOT ONLY JUST FOR SAFETY,

BUT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT EVERY DAY.

SEASON'S SHORT.

WE WANT TO GET GOING AS FAST AS WE CAN, SO THE ISSUE IS TIME.

Narrator: TODD HEADS INTO TOWN,

LEAVING THE CREW BEHIND TO START THE REPAIRS

AND TO QUESTION THEIR FUTURE.

RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A CLAIM TO MINE AT.

WE'RE FIXING THIS UP.

WE MAY BE FIXING IT UP FOR NOTHING,

UNLESS TODD FINDS A CLAIM.

I'M JUST KIND OF WATCHING MY CLOCK HERE, WAITING AND HOPING

THAT HE'S COMING BACK WITH SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THIS TEAM.

Narrator: ALREADY 10 DAYS INTO THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON,

THE HOFFMANS HAVE TO ACT FAST TO FIND A CLAIM,

OR THEIR DREAM OF STRIKING IT RICH WILL DIE.

AFTER LOSING PORCUPINE TO DAKOTA FRED,

TODD SPENT THE 24-HOUR JOURNEY UP TO THE KLONDIKE

ON THE PHONE WITH CLAIM OWNERS.

I NEED ANY MINE OWNER THAT WANTS TO DO A 10% LEASE.

ALL RIGHT, MAN. THANKS.

SAY A LITTLE PRAYER THAT WE CAN FIND A HOME.

MAN: Copy that.

I WILL FIND US A PLACE.

Narrator: NOW TODD FOLLOWS UP LEADS IN DAWSON CITY.

MAN: Hello?

MY NAME'S TODD HOFFMAN.

I WANTED TO KNOW

IF YOU HAD A CLAIM

THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE MINING YOURSELF.

BUT FINDING A GOOD CLAIM UP HERE IS NOT EASY.

GOLD IS MORE VALUABLE THAN EVER.

AND THERE'S A FULL-FLEDGED GOLD RUSH IN THE KLONDIKE.

LAST YEAR, $52 MILLION IN GOLD WAS PULLED FROM THE GROUND HERE.

THE COMPETITION FOR GOOD CLAIMS ON VIRGIN GROUND IS FIERCE.

14 PHONE CALLS LATER, TODD FINALLY GETS A BREAK.

WELL, THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

ALL RIGHT, MAN. WE'LL LOOK AT IT AND TALK TERMS.

THANK YOU.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE GOT SOMETHING HERE

THAT IS DEFINITELY WORTH LOOKING AT.

Narrator: 600 MILES SOUTH, ON THE ROAD TO PORCUPINE CREEK,

A YOUNG MINER IS ON HIS WAY TO AN IMPORTANT MEETING.

Parker: I'M ON MY WAY TO GO SEE FRED.

I THINK THAT THIS VISIT

WILL KIND OF SET THE STAGE FOR THE SUMMER.

YOU KNOW, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN BE ON GOOD TERMS ALL SUMMER.

Narrator: LAST SUMMER, 16-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL

WORKED WITH HIS 91-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER

AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,

JUST ACROSS THE CREEK FROM PORCUPINE.

BUT THIS SEASON, JOHN SCHNABEL IS RETIRING.

I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 25 YEARS.

Narrator: PARKER WILL TAKE OVER AS THE NEW BOSS OF BIG NUGGET.

10 DAYS INTO THE SEASON, JOHN HAS DE-WINTERIZED,

AND THE MINE IS READY FOR HIS GRANDSON.

PARKER IS JUST FINISHING UP 11th GRADE.

I'M PRETTY EXCITED TO GET OUT OF HERE.

Narrator: ON HIS WAY TO HIS CLAIM,

HE DROPS BY PORCUPINE CREEK.

NOT TOO MUCH. YOU DOING ALL RIGHT?

GETTING THROUGH SCHOOL. ALL RIGHT.

YOU JUST GOT DONE WITH SCHOOL.

YEAH.

I HEAR RUMORS YOU'RE GONNA PLAY OVER HERE

WHERE YOUR GRANDPA'S MINED. YEAH.

SO, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT GOLD THIS YEAR?

I'M GONNA FIND IT.

IS THAT ALL? HOW MUCH?

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA?

WOW.

[ LAUGHS ]

[ COUGHS ]

FRED, YOU NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE DIPLOMATIC.

SOMETIMES I JUST SAY WHAT I FEEL.

[ LAUGHS ] SOMETIMES THAT GETS YOU IN TROUBLE.

WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

YOU GOT A GOOD PLAN THERE.

GOOD LUCK, YOUNG MAN.

WE'LL SEE, HUH?

Parker: I'M NOT GONNA SAY TO FRED,

"I THINK I'M GONNA GET MORE GOLD THAN YOU."

BUT I THINK WE BOTH KIND OF TAKE IT AS A CHALLENGE

TO BEAT EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW?

Narrator: BACK UP IN DAWSON CITY...

THE HOFFMANS HEAD OUT TO CHECK AN AVAILABLE CLAIM.

I JUST HOPE THIS IS IT,

BECAUSE THE GUYS ARE REALLY APPREHENSIVE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? Todd: YEAH, I KNOW.

AND I DON'T BLAME THEM. THIS IS THE END OF THE ROAD.

IF WE DON'T MAKE IT HERE, IT'S --

IF WE DON'T MAKE IT, OH, MY GOD.

WE'RE DONE.

BACK IN TOWN, THE CREW DISCUSSES THE SITUATION.

PORCUPINE'S GONE, AND WE'RE UP HERE WITH NOTHING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I JUST WONDER WHAT TODD

WAS THINKING WHEN HE BROUGHT US UP HERE.

WHAT WAS I THINKING BY FOLLOWING HIM?

WE'RE WORKING ON A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT,

AND WE HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

I'M AFRAID WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME.

I TELL YOU WHAT -- I CAN'T STICK AROUND HERE MUCH LONGER, THOUGH.

THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS.

WELL, CRAP. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING.

I MEAN, I'M KIND OF THINKING WE GIVE THEM A TIME LIMIT.

IF HE CAN'T FIND A PLACE, IT'S TIME TO PACK UP AND GO.

Narrator: COMING UP...

REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE, GIVING DAKOTA FRED A BIG BOOST.

WHOO-OOH! GOLD-ZILLA, MAN!

AND FOR THE HOFFMAN CREW, IT'S DECISION TIME --

GAMBLE ON A CLAIM IN THE KLONDIKE OR QUIT AND GO HOME.

I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO TRUST ME AGAIN.

DID THEY SHOW YOU ANY GOLD?

THEIR MINING SEASON HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

Todd: OH, FRICK!

Narrator: 11 DAYS INTO THE MINING SEASON,

THE HOFFMAN CREW STILL HAS NO GOLD CLAIM.

INSTEAD OF MAKING MONEY EVERY DAY, THEY'RE LOSING IT.

Doumitt: IF TODD DOESN'T COME BACK WITH A CLAIM,

I THINK THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD JUST TURN AROUND AND GO HOME.

Narrator: BUT 30 MILES AWAY, TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN

ARE ON THEIR WAY TO CHECK OUT SOME PROMISING LAND.

HOLY CRAP.

THIS IS THE BIG LEAGUES HERE.

Jack: OH, MY GOD. LOOK AT THAT.

OH, YEAH. A DRILLING RIG.

THEY'RE GETTING PREPPED. THEY'RE ABOUT READY TO SLUICE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO UP OUR GAME A LITTLE BIT MORE

THAN WHERE WE'RE AT.

THE GOLD MINES HERE

ARE BIGGER THAN ANYTHING THE HOFFMANS HAVE EVER SEEN.

INTO THE SECOND WEEK OF THE SEASON,

THESE MINES ARE ALREADY RUNNING,

CHURNING OUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF GOLD.

THAT IT?

THAT IS IT.

ALLS I SEE HERE, THOUGH, DAD, IS TAILINGS.

JUST TAILINGS.

I DON'T KNOW.

I HOPE NOT.

[ GROANS ]

I DIDN'T PLAN ON TAILINGS.

I THOUGHT WE HAD SOME VIRGIN GROUND.

THERE'S NO VIRGIN GROUND IN SIGHT.

THIS CLAIM IS COVERED IN TAILINGS,

ROCKS LEFT OVER FROM PREVIOUS MINING.

I DON'T WANT TO MINE RIGHT HERE.

Narrator: TODD AND JACK SEARCH OUT THE CLAIM OWNER.

HI, GUYS. HEY, ARE YOU GREG?

YES. HEY, I'M TODD.

TODD. HEY. IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU.

THE ONLY CONCERN I GOT IS,

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN PRETTY MUCH

WORKED AND WORKED OVER, HUH?

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT --

IF YOU GUYS GOT TIME,

WE COULD JUST TAKE A LITTLE WALK, AND I COULD SHOW YOU --

LET'S DO IT. YEAH.

HERE ON QUARTZ CREEK...

YEAH.

THIS IS WHERE I WOULD GO, WHAT I'M GONNA SHOW YOU.

Narrator: ...GREG TAKES THE HOFFMANS AWAY FROM THE TAILINGS

TO THE OTHER SIDE OF HIS CLAIM, TO QUARTZ CREEK.

EVERYTHING FROM THIS SIDE --

IN FACT, MAYBE EVEN BACK A FEW FEET --

HAS NEVER BEEN TOUCHED

BY ANY KIND OF A MACHINE EVER.

Jack: WHAT? WE GOT SOME VIRGIN GROUND.

ALL THIS ON THIS SIDE IS VIRGIN GROUND.

THE DREDGE COULDN'T GET IT.

AND IT'S NEVER HAD A MACHINE ON IT.

Narrator: SITTING NEXT TO QUARTZ CREEK

IS A GIANT DREDGE THAT WORKED ITS WAY THROUGH THIS VALLEY

BETWEEN 1935 AND 1950.

ITS REVOLVING CHAIN OF BUCKETS

SCOOPED UP 7 MILLION CUBIC YARDS OF DIRT

INTO ITS INTERNAL WASH PLANT.

THE DREDGE EXTRACTED GOLD WORTH OVER A BILLION DOLLARS TODAY.

THE TAILINGS WERE LEFT IN ITS WAKE.

BUT AT THE EDGE OF THE VALLEY,

THERE'S ONLY A FEW FEET OF SOIL DOWN TO BEDROCK,

NOT ENOUGH DIRT FOR THE DREDGE BUCKETS TO MINE.

THESE STRIPS OF VIRGIN GROUND, CALLED SIDE PAY,

MAY STILL HOLD MILLIONS IN GOLD.

CLAIM OWNER GREG McNEIL

IS OFFERING THIS GROUND UP FOR LEASE.

YOU KNOW, THE OFFER WOULD BE THERE.

10% OFF THE TOP,

BEFORE ANY EXPENSES, ANY FUEL, ANYTHING'S PAID.

Narrator: NORMALLY, GROUND LIKE THIS

IS TESTED BEFORE A LEASE IS SIGNED,

BUT WITH THEIR SEASON SLIPPING AWAY

AND THEIR CREW READY TO QUIT,

TODD AND JACK ARE RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT WE WERE ALL SCREWED UP LAST YEAR.

IF WE DON'T GET SOME LAND -- AND I MEAN QUICK --

THE GUYS ARE GONNA -- WE'RE GONNA HAVE MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY.

WE HAVE NO PLACE ELSE TO GO BUT HERE.

YEAH.

WHILE THE HOFFMANS

DECIDE WHETHER TO RISK THEIR FUTURE ON QUARTZ CREEK,

600 MILES SOUTH, AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE...

[ LAUGHS ]

...16-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL

STARTS HIS FIRST DAY AS THE MAN IN CHARGE.

THANKS, GRANDPA.

PARKER IS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MINE

HIS GRANDFATHER RAN SUCCESSFULLY FOR 25 YEARS.

BUT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS,

THE CLAIM HAS BARELY BROKEN EVEN.

PARKER'S IN A POSITION NOW TO WHERE HE HAS TO MAKE THE MINE

MAKE A PROFIT TO STAY IN BUSINESS.

SO IF HE DOESN'T TURN A PROFIT THIS YEAR,

WE WON'T RUN NEXT YEAR.

Narrator: PARKER HAS A PLAN TO TURN THE MINE AROUND.

MY GRANDPA MINED THIS BENCH UP HERE.

HE MINED IT 20 YEARS EARLIER.

THEY GOT ABOUT A HUNDRED OUNCES IN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THIS IS ALL THE TAILINGS FROM THAT BIG TWO WEEKS.

Narrator: PARKER IS CONFIDENT THAT 20 YEARS LATER,

HIS MODERN MACHINERY CAN EXTRACT GOLD FROM THE TAILINGS

HIS GRANDFATHER THREW AWAY DECADES AGO.

IF THEIR SLUICE BOX CAUGHT 50% OF THE GOLD

AND THEY GOT 100 OUNCES THEN,

THEN THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER 100 OUNCES HERE.

SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE A CRACK AT IT.

Narrator: TODAY 100 OUNCES OF GOLD IS WORTH OVER $150,000.

PARKER FIRES UP THE 330 EXCAVATOR

TO BEGIN CLEARING THE UNDERGROWTH.

NEXT, HE STOCKPILES BUCKET LOADS OF FRESHLY DUG TAILINGS

THAT THEN GET DUMPED INTO THE WASH PLANT.

MATERIAL IS WASHED OFF THE ROCKS FALLING THROUGH THE SHAKER,

WHILE BIG BOULDERS ARE DISCARDED.

THE SPINNING TROMMEL SEPARATES GOLD,

DIRT UNDER QUARTER OF AN INCH, FROM THE REMAINING GRAVEL.

THIS GOLD-BEARING MATERIAL

THEN PASSES THROUGH THE TROMMEL'S SCREENS

INTO SLUICE BOXES BELOW.

BECAUSE GOLD IS 19 TIMES HEAVIER THAN WATER,

IT SINKS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SLUICE BOX.

BUT AFTER ONLY 30 MINUTES OF RUNNING...

Man: [BLEEP]

...PARKER'S WASH PLANT SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING.

HE CHECKS THE GENERATOR,

THE SOURCE OF POWER TO THE WASH PLANT.

IT'S DEAD.

[BLEEP]

THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO UP HERE, REALLY.

GO TALK TO MY GRANDPA.

IT SHUT DOWN, HUH?

I GUESS WE STOPPED.

Narrator: LUCKILY, HIS GRANDFATHER

HAS NOT YET LEFT THE MINE.

PARKER NEEDS HIS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

SOMEWHERE IN THE CIRCUITRY,

THERE'S A BAD TERMINAL CONNECTION,

AND WE LOSE THE VOLTAGE.

I WOULD ORDER A NEW REGULATOR.

WE HAD THIS PROBLEM ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.

WHAT WAS IT?

WE PUT A NEW REGULATOR ON IT.

AND IT WORKED? YEAH.

BEEN RUNNING FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.

OKAY.

NO PROBLEM.

[ LAUGHS ]

I GUESS.

THE REGULATOR MAINTAINS THE RIGHT VOLTAGE

COMING OUT OF THE GENERATOR.

PARKER HEADS INTO TOWN TO ORDER A NEW ONE.

IT'S A BAD FIRST DAY FOR THE NEW BOSS OF THE BIG NUGGET MINE.

Parker: FIRST THING WE'RE DOING IS LOSING MONEY

AND NOT RUNNING ANY DIRT.

IT COULD BE A PROBLEM.

Narrator: UP IN THE KLONDIKE,

THE SHORT MINING SEASON IS ALREADY 12 DAYS OLD.

THE HOFFMAN CREW OVERHAULS THEIR NEW WASH PLANT

WHILE THEY WAIT FOR TODD AND JACK

TO RETURN FROM THEIR HUNT FOR A NEW CLAIM.

Man: TODD AND JACK ARE HERE.

Todd: HELLO, GUYS.

HEY, WHAT'S UP?

FOUND IT. I CUT A DEAL.

WE GOT OURSELVES A MINE. Man: NO WAY.

Man #2: DO WE REALLY?

GUYS, WE GOT OURSELVES VIRGIN GROUND, SO...

Remsburg: TODD, WE WENT TO PORCUPINE

BELIEVING THERE WAS GOLD.

I KNOW.

THERE WAS GOLD.

BUT WE DIDN'T GET ANY OF IT.

I KNOW.

WHAT'S TO SAY THAT THIS MINE IS GONNA PAY?

DID THEY SHOW YOU ANY GOLD? I MEAN...

Man: SO YOU'RE TAKING HIS WORD FOR IT?

MY GUT FEELING IS GOOD.

THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING. I'VE ALREADY SHOOK ON IT.

THAT'S OUR HOME.

IT FEELS RIGHT.

I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO TRUST ME AGAIN.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

THERE'S EVERY POSSIBILITY I CAN BE WRONG, BUT...

I MEAN, AT SOME POINT, WE GOT TO TRUST SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE.

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME.

I THINK WE CAN DO IT. WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

Man #2: I HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAY OF THE LAND UP THERE, BUT...

RIGHT HERE.

Man #3: WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME ALREADY.

Narrator: THE RACE IS ON TO GET TO THE GOLD.

AS THE CREW REPAIRS THE WASH PLANT'S WATER PIPES,

DAVE TURIN MEASURES FOR THE NEW CONVEYOR BELT

THAT WILL FEED DIRT INTO THE WASH PLANT.

WE COULD BUILD THIS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT,

AND THEN WE NEED THE PARTS.

HOPEFULLY, THEY'LL BE HERE TOMORROW.

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW IS BEHIND

AND LOSING MONEY WITH EVERY PASSING DAY.

BUT NOW THEY HAVE A REAL CHANCE

AT STRIKING IT RICH IN THE KLONDIKE.

600 MILES SOUTH AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

DAKOTA FRED IS ALSO SCRAMBLING TO GET MINING.

TO BUILD A NEW ROAD OVER THE HOFFMANS' OLD HOLDING POND,

HE MOVES TONS OF DIRT.

Fred: A LOT OF GOLD'S GONNA COME UP THIS ROAD.

PROBABLY GONNA BE PLATED ON THE TRACKS BY THE TIME WE GET DONE.

Narrator: BUT FRED IS DOING THE WORK OF THREE MEN.

HIS CREW HASN'T ARRIVED YET.

THEY ARE STILL PREPPING THEIR MINING EQUIPMENT

DOWN IN NORTH DAKOTA.

WITH THE ROAD FINISHED,

THERE IS NOTHING ELSE FRED CAN DO.

[ SIGHS ]

Fred: SOMETIMES I DO WISH I HAD HELP.

Narrator: FRED'S CLAIM ISN'T THE ONLY ONE AT A STANDSTILL.

ACROSS THE CREEK AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,

POWER IS THE PROBLEM.

Parker: I WAS HOPING TO GET UP HERE

AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND RUN THE PLANT,

BUT THAT'S NOT QUITE HAPPENING.

Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL FINALLY HAS THE NEW REGULATOR

FOR HIS BROKEN GENERATOR.

IT SHOULD GET THEIR WASH PLANT UP AND RUNNING,

BUT HE NEEDS HIS CREW TO INSTALL IT.

OH, WELL.

WE'LL GET GOING SOMETIME TODAY, HOPEFULLY.

Narrator: GRANDPA JOHN HAS PARKER'S CREW

REPAIRING THE ROAD TO THE CLAIM.

IT'S CLEAR THAT PARKER ISN'T REALLY THE BOSS

OF THE BIG NUGGET MINE JUST YET.

I'M JUST CONFUSED,

'CAUSE I THOUGHT LAST NIGHT, I TOLD --

I THOUGHT I MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR

THAT THE PLAN WAS TO RUN THE PLANT.

I THOUGHT GARY WAS GONNA MEET ME UP HERE.

EVERYTHING'S SCREWED UP.

I HAVE TO HAVE THIS FIGURED OUT THIS MORNING.

LIKE, AS IN 20 MINUTES AGO.

I'LL GO GET THE MAN WITH THE TOOLBOX.

[ LAUGHS ] RELAX.

HE'S AWFUL IMPATIENT.

YOUNG PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY CAN DO EVERYTHING IN A BIG HURRY,

BUT YOU HAVE TO GET OLDER TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE, THE HOFFMAN CREW

WORKS TIRELESSLY TO REPLUMB THEIR WASH PLANT.

I'M IN.

THEY NEED TO HIRE A TRUCK

TO HAUL THEIR OLD 20,000-POUND WASH PLANT

UP TO THEIR NEW CLAIM.

THE 45-MILE ROAD FROM DAWSON CITY TO QUARTZ CREEK

RISES 4,000 FEET OVER KING SOLOMON'S DOME.

TRANSPORTING A HEAVY LOAD ON THIS WINDING DIRT ROAD

IS TREACHEROUS.

THIS IS KIND OF A BIG DEAL.

I'M HEADING OVER TO SEE, LIKE, THE ONLY TRUCKER

THAT'LL BRING OUR EQUIPMENT OVER THE PASS

AND DOWN INTO OUR GOLD MINE.

Narrator: ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF DAWSON CITY LIVES TOM FENTON.

HEY, ARE YOU TOM?

YEAH, I AM. YEAH.

HEY, TOM. I'M TODD.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

OH, I'M HANGING IN THERE.

I GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU.

YOU'RE THE ONLY GUY

THAT'LL GO UP AND DOWN THOSE BIG HILLS.

I'M THE ONLY GUY.

YOU'RE THE MAN, HUH?

NO. I'M JUST THE ONLY GUY.

OKAY.

I HAVE A LIST ABOUT AS LONG AS MY ARM OF OTHER PEOPLE.

THE GOLD-MINING CREWS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE KLONDIKE

KEEP TRUCKER TOM FENTON A BUSY MAN.

[ GROANS ]

DO YOU WANT TO DO THE PLANT ON MONDAY?

TOM HAS ONLY ONE FREE DAY

TO HAUL TODD'S WASH PLANT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

AND IF IT'S RAINING?

I AIN'T GOING.

ROGER.

NO PROBLEM. ALL RIGHT, MAN.

THANK YOU. SEE YA. HAVE FUN.

TOM'S LIMITED AVAILABILITY MEANS TODD'S WASH PLANT

HAS TO BE READY IN JUST TWO DAYS.

[BLEEP]

BUT IT'S STILL IN PIECES.

ALL THE OTHER GUYS ARE UP IN THE HILLS RUNNING RIGHT NOW,

SO I WANT TO GO UP THERE.

I WANT TO DIG GOLD.

THE GUYS WILL BE, YOU KNOW, ON MY BACK.

I DON'T CARE.

WE NEED GOLD. WE NEED TO GET IT FAST.

SO WISH ME LUCK.

Narrator: DAWSON CITY, THE KLONDIKE.

THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS FITTED THEIR WASH PLANT

WITH A NEW SCREEN TO FILTER GOLD-BEARING MATERIAL

AND NEW WATER PIPES.

THEY HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS,

BUT EVERY DAY THE HOFFMAN CREW

SPENDS MAKING FIXES IS ANOTHER DAY LOST.

THE WASH PLANT HAS TO BE HAULED

TO THEIR NEW CLAIM ON QUARTZ CREEK IN JUST TWO DAYS.

YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME?

I KNOW TIME IS AN ISSUE,

AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE IN A HURRY,

BUT I JUST DON'T FEEL WE'RE READY

TO TAKE THAT THING UP THERE.

WE HAVE THE SHOP HERE. WE'VE GOT TOOLS.

WE'VE GOT THE THINGS WE NEED.

ONCE WE GET UP THERE,

IT'S GONNA BE TWICE AS HARD TO WORK ON.

THING IS, I CAN ONLY GET THIS TRUCKER ON MONDAY,

SO IT'S NOW OR NEVER.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT UP THERE IN PIECES,

'CAUSE WE'LL LOSE HALF THE STUFF ON THE WAY UP THERE.

I BOOKED HIM. WITH THIS GUY, WE GOT TO GO.

CAN YOU LIVE WITH THAT?

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH CHOICE. ALL RIGHT.

STICK WITH IT.

HAULING A RICKETY OLD WASH PLANT UP TO QUARTZ CREEK

COULD END IN DISASTER.

THE JOURNEY COULD LEAD TO WEEKS OF REPAIRS.

Harness: BUT LIKE I SAID, TIME IS AN ENEMY.

WE HAVE TO BE OUT OF HERE AND HAVE THIS STUFF UP THERE,

SO I GUESS WE HAVE TO ROLL WITH IT.

Narrator: 600 MILES SOUTH AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

DAKOTA FRED HAS FINISHED HIS NEW ROAD.

IT'S DAY 14 OF THE MINING SEASON,

BUT FRED CAN'T BEGIN TO MINE PORCUPINE HIS WAY...

WITHOUT HIS CREW OR HIS MINING EQUIPMENT.

LUCKILY, FRED ISN'T ALONE FOR MUCH LONGER.

[ HORN HONKS ]

HIS CREW WINDS THEIR WAY UP TO THE CLAIM

IN AN 18-WHEELER LOADED WITH SUPPLIES FROM NORTH DAKOTA.

BOY, Y'ALL ARE A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES!

GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN. TAKE CARE.

PAUL IS FRED'S BUSINESS PARTNER, DUSTIN IS FRED'S SON,

AND DARREN IS THEIR TRUCK DRIVER AND RIGGER.

TOLD YOU I'D GET UP THERE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

WELL, WHAT'D HE DO -- HIDE YOU IN THE SLEEPER OR SOMETHING?

PUT YOU IN THE CARGO?

PUT ME IN A BOX THIS MORNING, RIGHT?

STUCK YOU IN A BOX? [ LAUGHS ]

OH!

WHAT'D Y'ALL GOT ON HERE?

OH, MAN. I DIDN'T EVEN LOOK.

Narrator: THE CREW HAS BRAND-NEW MINING EQUIPMENT,

INCLUDING A CONTAINER FULL OF TOOLS, A PUMP,

AND A NEW CLEAN-OUT TROMMEL TO EXTRACT THE GOLD.

WOW.

WHOO-OOH! GOLD-ZILLA, MAN!

THAT'S GOLD-ZILLA!

[ LAUGHS ]

DAKOTA FRED AND HIS CREW CAN FINALLY GET DOWN TO THE BUSINESS

OF PULLING MILLIONS IN GOLD OUT OF PORCUPINE CREEK.

Fred: WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK?

Man: LET'S START RAINING. [ LAUGHTER ]

GET THE WATER COMING.

ACROSS THE CREEK AT BIG NUGGET MINE,

PARKER SCHNABEL'S CREW

INSTALLS THE NEW REGULATOR ON THE WASH PLANT'S GENERATOR.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

THE VOLT METER ON THE LEFT THERE --

WHEN HE TURNS THE KNOB, WE WANT THAT TO ADJUST.

SEE, HE'S TURNING IT DOWN.

I THINK IT WORKED.

YOU TURN THE THING, AND THE VOLTAGE GOES UP AND DOWN.

SEE, IT'S HOLDING STEADY AT 484

AND WITH A 480-VOLT SYSTEM.

SO...

Narrator: WITH THE GENERATOR UP AND RUNNING,

THEY POWER UP THE WASH PLANT.

Parker: I THINK WE SHOULD RUN IT ABOUT TWO HOURS,

AND IF IT'S STILL RUNNING THEN, WE'LL PROBABLY BE GOOD,

SO I'LL GO FEED THE PLANT, AND WE'VE GOT WATER.

SO...

Narrator: ONCE AGAIN, PARKER

FEEDS HIS GRANDPA'S 20-YEAR-OLD TAILINGS INTO THE PLANT.

Parker: YOU KNOW, WE PUT THE PART IN.

I DID EVERYTHING I COULD, SO NOW YOU JUST GOT TO WAIT.

IT'S TOUGH.

WE GOT 20 MINUTES SO FAR. SO...

IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES, WE'LL START GETTING A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENT,

AND IN ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER THAT,

WE'LL BE PRETTY SURE WE FIXED IT.

Narrator: TWO WEEKS INTO THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON,

PARKER SCHNABEL'S MINE IS FULLY OPERATIONAL.

HOPEFULLY THERE'S A PILE OF GOLD SITTING IN THERE SOMEWHERE.

Narrator: AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA,

PARKER SCHNABEL'S GENERATOR IS BACK UP AND RUNNING.

Parker: SEE, YOU TURN IT UP, AND IT GOES UP.

SO...

Narrator: 15 DAYS INTO THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON,

HE IS CLOSING IN ON HIS FIRST CLEANUP

AS THE NEW BOSS OF THE BIG NUGGET MINE.

John: PARKER IS SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

HE HAS VISIONS

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

AND I HOPE HE'S RIGHT.

Narrator: PARKER SHUT DOWN THE WASH PLANT,

BUT LEAVES THE WATER RUNNING TO PUSH ANY REMAINING GOLD

THROUGH THE MACHINE AND INTO THE SCHNABEL SLUICE BOX.

THAT'S THE FIRST CLEANOUT OF DIRT

THAT I'VE PICKED OUT, I GUESS.

WHAT HE'LL DO NOW IS WORK IT AROUND

AND GET IT DOWN TO ABOUT A PANFUL OF DIRT.

Narrator: AS THEY WORK THE WATER INTO THE DIRT,

THE LIGHTER MATERIAL WASHES AWAY.

ONLY THE HEAVIEST MATERIAL, INCLUDING ANY GOLD,

STAYS IN THE SLUICE BOX.

SEE THOSE NUGGETS RIGHT THERE? WAIT.

SO THERE'S A FEW NUGGETS SITTING RIGHT UP TOP THERE.

[ LAUGHS ]

THE NUGGETS IN THE SLUICE BOX

ARE AN EARLY INDICATION THAT PARKER'S PLAN JUST MIGHT WORK.

HE WON'T KNOW FOR SURE

IF RUNNING HIS GRANDPA'S DISCARDED TAILINGS HAS PAID OFF

UNTIL HE CAN PAN ALL OF THE WASH-PLANT DIRT.

THE REASON I'M HERE IS, I RAN THIS DIRT A LONG TIME AGO

WITH A REAL PRIMITIVE SYSTEM OF JUST A SLUICE BOX.

AND WE THREW AWAY LOTS OF GOLD.

HE'S TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE AND SAY IT'S HALF THAT.

HOPEFULLY HE HAS A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: LESS THAN A HALF-MILE AWAY AT PORCUPINE CREEK,

DAKOTA FRED AND HIS CREW

RUSH TO UNLOAD THEIR GOLD-MINING EQUIPMENT.

BRING YOUR BUCKET OVER HERE, FRED.

BUT A CONTAINER WEIGHING 25,000 POUNDS

FORCES THEM TO THINK THROUGH THEIR NEXT MOVE.

Dustin: I TRUST HIS ABILITIES TO RUN AND OPERATE MACHINERY

ON EVERYTHING OUT HERE PRETTY MUCH.

SO I HAVE FAITH THAT HE'S NOT GONNA GET ME KILLED.

ONE ON EACH SIDE.

YOU GOT ONE RIGHT THERE, HUH?

[ BEEPING ]

[ GRUNTS ] GOD DAMN IT! Man: WHOA!

YOU ALL RIGHT?

YEAH.

Narrator: DARREN, THE CREW'S RIGGER, TAKES THE LEAD.

Zuck: WE'RE GONNA WALK AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE

OF THE CONTAINER AND THE TRAILER,

AND WE'RE GONNA LIFT UP

ON THE BOTTOM END OVER THERE.

AND AS SOON AS IT CLEARS THE TRUCK,

I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND PULL OUT FROM UNDERNEATH IT.

STEP BACK, FOLKS.

WE GOT A TURN HERE.

Narrator: DARREN RIGS ONE SIDE

OF THE CONTAINER TO THE EXCAVATOR

SO THAT THE TRUCK CAN SIMPLY PULL AWAY.

LOOKS LIKE THAT PLAN WILL WORK FINE FOR ME.

Zuck: LOOKING GOOD, FRED.

Fred: YAY!

Dustin: SO FAR, SO GOOD.

WE GOT IT DOWN, NO PROBLEMS.

YEAH.

Narrator: 15 DAYS INTO THE SEASON,

THE PORCUPINE CREW IS READY TO MINE FOR GOLD.

Man: ALL RIGHT.

MEANWHILE, JUST OUTSIDE DAWSON CITY,

TOM FENTON ARRIVES TO HAUL THE HOFFMANS' BROKEN-DOWN WASH PLANT

TO THEIR NEW CLAIM.

THE CREW HAS WORKED DAY AND NIGHT,

BUT THE WASH PLANT IS FAR FROM FINISHED.

Harness: WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE IT UP THERE IN PIECES.

HOPE THAT IT WORKS.

WON'T BE ABLE TO TEST IT, AND IT'S A MESS.

Narrator: WITH ONLY ONE SHOT AT THE MOVE,

THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS NO CHOICE

BUT TO MAKE THE REMAINING FIXES ON THE CLAIM --

45 MILES OUT IN THE YUKON WILDERNESS.

IT'S A LITTLE PREMATURE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE BOOKED THE TRUCKER. WE'RE GOING.

Todd: LET'S GO. GET IN THE TRUCK.

LET'S LOAD UP.

Narrator: FIRST, THEY HAVE TO GET THE 20,000-POUND WASH PLANT

ONTO THE TRAILER.

Jack: THE TRAILER'S UP HERE, AND THIS PLANT'S DOWN HERE,

AND ALL YOU'RE LIFTING IT WITH IS WHAT THEY CALL A BRA,

AND IT'S A CABLE.

I HOPE HE DOESN'T FLIP IT OVER.

Narrator: TOM'S WINCH DRAGS THE WASH PLANT TOWARDS THE LOWBOY,

BUT THE OLD MACHINE IS AGING AND NOT STRUCTURALLY SOUND.

IF IT FALLS OVER, IT COULD EASILY END

THE HOFFMANS' SECOND SEASON OF MINING BEFORE IT EVEN STARTS.

Todd: OH, FRICK!

GET BACK.

Narrator: UP IN THE KLONDIKE, THE HOFFMANS' WASH PLANT

IS GETTING WINCHED ONTO A TRAILER.

IT NEEDS TO MAKE THE TRIP TO THEIR NEW CLAIM IN QUARTZ CREEK,

BUT IT WEIGHS 20,000 POUNDS.

IF IT FAILS, THEIR MINING SEASON WILL BE IN JEOPARDY.

Todd: EASY, EASY. ENOUGH! STOP!

AH [BLEEP]

HOLD UP, TOM.

DID IT MAKE IT?

RIGHT HERE.

OH, YEAH.

IT ROLLED RIGHT OVER LIKE THAT.

HOW'D THAT OTHER SIDE LOOK?

OKAY?

Jack: YEAH.

Todd: HE'S GOT IT ON THE TRAILER.

IT LOOKED A LITTLE SKETCHY, BUT, I MEAN, OH, MY GOSH.

HE GOT HER ON THERE. WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Narrator: THE WASH PLANT IS SECURE...

FOR NOW.

Todd: GOING AROUND THOSE CORNERS --

THAT'S THE THING THAT REALLY SCARES ME.

Narrator: TOM FENTON HAS 20,000 POUNDS OF SHAKER

STRAPPED TO HIS TRAILER AND A TREACHEROUS JOURNEY AHEAD.

Todd: WE'RE FOLLOWING A TRUCKER WITH A TOP-HEAVY WASH PLANT.

BUT THAT'S IT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE MOVING IN.

WE'VE GOT OUR WASH PLANT. WE'RE GOING IN.

Narrator: THE HOFFMANS' CONVOY HITS THE ROAD TO THEIR NEW HOME.

IT'S A 45-MILE JOURNEY FROM DAWSON CITY TO THEIR GOLD CLAIM.

Jack: IT'S LIKE DRIVING ON A BUNCH OF MARBLES

ON A COOKIE SHEET.

Narrator: THEY SUMMIT KING SOLOMON'S DOME

AND HEAD DOWN INTO THE QUARTZ CREEK VALLEY.

Todd: THERE'S OUR MINE RIGHT DOWN THERE IN THAT VALLEY.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO ON INTO THE PROMISED LAND.

Narrator: WITH A 20,000-POUND LOAD BEHIND HIM,

TOM FENTON HAS TO CONTROL HIS SPEED,

OR THE TOP-HEAVY WASH PLANT COULD FALL OFF AT ANY TURN.

THIS HILL'S BASICALLY STRAIGHT DOWN.

I CAN HEAR HIS ENGINE REVVING UP.

Narrator: TOM'S AN EXPERIENCED KLONDIKE TRUCKER

AND USES A LOW GEAR TO STAY IN CONTROL.

HE NEGOTIATES THE 4,000-FOOT DESCENT TO THE CLAIM

WITH NO PROBLEMS.

THE HOFFMANS' NEW WASH PLANT SURVIVES THE TRIP.

MEANWHILE, AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,

PARKER SCHNABEL WEIGHS HIS FIRST GOLD.

TO KICK OFF THE SEASON, HE MADE THE RISKY DECISION

TO RUN HIS GRANDPA'S 20-YEAR-OLD TAILINGS.

I LIKE MY GOLD GOLDEN BROWN.

Narrator: NOW HE FINDS OUT IF IT'S PAID OFF.

[ BLOWS ]

SEE HOW FINE THAT STUFF IS?

Narrator: WEIGHING THE GOLD

HAS BEEN HIS GRANDFATHER'S EVENING RITUAL FOR 25 YEARS.

NOW IT'S PARKER'S TURN.

Parker: IT'S A BIG DAY FOR ME.

I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT

FOR MY GRANDPA TO PUT THIS MUCH FAITH IN ME.

IT'S QUITE AN HONOR BECAUSE HE'S AN AMAZING MAN.

REALLY, WELL, HE IS A HERO, BUT THAT'S WHAT HE'S ALWAYS BEEN.

3/5 OF AN OUNCE, WHICH IS ABOUT $800.

WE ONLY RAN FOUR HOURS,

SO I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD WEEK NEXT WEEK.

Narrator: IF EVERY DAY IS AS GOOD AS HIS FIRST,

PARKER WILL MAKE OVER $200,000

DURING THE 5-MONTH MINING SEASON --

10 TIMES WHAT THE HOFFMANS MADE LAST YEAR

AND ENOUGH TO KEEP HIS GRANDPA'S MINE IN BUSINESS.

Parker: YOU KNOW, I'M IN CHARGE NOW, AND HE'S NOT.

I HOPE THAT HE DOESN'T LOSE THE MOTIVATION TO KEEP GOING,

BECAUSE THAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE.

I COULD WALK AWAY FROM THE MINE IN A HEARTBEAT

IF IT MEANT KEEPING MY GRANDPA AROUND.

Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK, 45 MILES SOUTH OF DAWSON CITY,

THE HOFFMAN CREW ARRIVES AT THEIR NEW HOME.

THIS IS IT, GUYS. THIS IS OUR CLAIM RIGHT HERE.

Thurber: I GUESS THIS IS HOME.

IT DOESN'T REALLY LOOK LIKE IT, BUT APPARENTLY, IT IS.

THIS IS WEIRD-LOOKING. I DON'T KNOW.

THERE IS LOTS OF TAILINGS HERE.

I THINK SOMEONE MAY HAVE CHOCOLATE-COATED

SOME DOG POO HERE.

Narrator: NO ONE LIKES WHAT THEY SEE,

BUT TODD QUICKLY TAKES THEM OVER

TO SEE THE VIRGIN GROUND ACROSS QUARTZ CREEK.

THOSE TAILINGS THAT YOU SAW, OKAY?

THOSE CAME FROM THAT OLD DREDGE RIGHT THERE.

Narrator: IN THE 1950s, THE DREDGE

MINED WHAT TODAY WOULD BE OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN GOLD

OUT OF THIS VALLEY.

IF THE GROUND ACROSS QUARTZ CREEK

WAS UNTOUCHED BY THE DREDGE,

THEIR NEW CLAIM COULD HOLD A FORTUNE IN GOLD.

THEY NEVER COULD GET UP TO OUR CLAIM.

THAT VIRGIN GROUND OVER THERE HAS NEVER BEEN TOUCHED --

ALL THROUGH THE GOLD RUSH, ALL THROUGH ALL THIS TIME.

WE'RE GONNA FRICKIN' DO THIS,

'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA GO RIGHT OVER THERE,

AND WE'RE GONNA KICK SOME STRAIGHT BUTT.

DON'T GIVE UP. OKAY?

AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD TROUBLES.

LAST YEAR, WE HAD A HORRIBLE SEASON.

WE'VE LOST A LOT OF MONEY.

WE'VE HAD BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS INTO THIS, OKAY?

IF YOU GUYS GOT THE COJONES,

LET'S TEAM UP AGAIN AND REALLY HIT IT HARD, 100%.

WE WILL NOT HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE AT THIS.

WE REPRESENT THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE, THAT'S WHERE WE BORN,

AND PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR THE FREEDOMS THAT WE HAVE.

SO WHO'S WITH ME?

WHOO! WE CAN DO IT.

MY EXPECTATIONS JUST SHOT THROUGH THE ROOF.

THIS IS COOL. THIS IS REALLY EXCITING NOW.

TODD CAME THROUGH. ONCE AGAIN.

WHOO! HERE WE ARE.

GREAT. LET'S DO IT.

WE GOT TO START.

Todd: MY GUYS HAVE BEEN KICKED IN THE TEETH,

AND THEY FOLLOWED ME AND MY DAD TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.

[ LAUGHTER ]

WE'LL GET THE GOLD.

WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP THE FAITH.