Original subtitles

Narrator: IT'S THE HOFFMAN CREW'S SECOND SEASON MINING FOR GOLD.

WE'RE READY TO GO.

Narrator: AGAIN, THEY ARE RISKING IT ALL

TO STRIKE IT RICH IN THE FROZEN NORTH.

IF WE DON'T GET GOLD THIS TIME, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.

Narrator: TO GET TO THE GOLD THIS SEASON,

THEY HAVE TO MINE THE KLONDIKE WAY.

THEY'RE BATTLING A SEA OF BLACK MUCK...

OH!

...TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS ANY GOLD ON THEIR NEW CLAIM.

I'M FRICKIN' NERVOUS.

DOWN SOUTH AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

HOLY COW.

..."DAKOTA" FRED IS HIT WITH DEVASTATING NEWS.

OUR HOUSE IS GONNA GO UNDERWATER.

Narrator: AND 16-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL

DESPERATELY SEEKS A NEW SOURCE OF GOLD.

OOH, WHAT'S THAT?

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK IN THE KLONDIKE...

IT'S 45 DAYS INTO THE 150-DAY MINING SEASON.

Todd: LOOKS LIKE A BIG PILE OF MUD,

BUT I CAN SEE A PLAN STARTING TO FORM, AND...

I DON'T KNOW. WE'LL FIND OUT.

Narrator: DAVE TURIN PUSHES ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF BLACK SLUDGE

OFF OF THE HOFFMAN DIG SITE WITH THE D8 DOZER.

Turin: WE GOT TO DO WHAT WE GOT TO DO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET IT OUT OF HERE.

Narrator: IF DAVE CAN REMOVE 8 FEET OF THIS MUCK,

HE SHOULD GET TO THE GRAVEL LAYER

THAT THEY HOPE HOLDS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS' WORTH OF GOLD.

Turin: YEAH, IT'S WORKING PRETTY GOOD.

I MEAN, I'M GETTING THE JOB DONE.

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW ALREADY WASTED $5,000

STRIPPING AN AREA ON THE CLAIM

THEY LATER FOUND OUT HAD BEEN MINED 60 YEARS AGO.

IT'S JUST FRUSTRATING.

Narrator: NOW, ON NEW GROUND,

THEY HAVE WON THE FIGHT AGAINST CENTURIES-OLD PERMAFROST.

WHOA! THERE WE GO!

THEY RIPPED IT UP...

THAT IS A BIG CHUNK OF ICE.

...SO THAT IT CAN MELT IN THE SUMMER SUN.

BUT THIS NEW GROUND IS UNTESTED,

THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS NO IDEA IF THERE IS GOLD HERE,

AND IT'S DANGEROUS WORK.

Turin: THE SOIL IN THE YUKON -- I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

YOU SEE THAT SINKHOLE?

OH [BLEEP]

[ BEEPING ]

WHOA!

THIS IS NOT GOOD.

EASY.

EASY.

WHOA!

Narrator: THE BLACK MUCK JUST ABOVE THE PAY GRAVEL

MELTS UNEVENLY,

CREATING HOLES ACROSS THE DIG SITE.

THE D8, THE ONLY MACHINE THEY'VE GOT TO GET DOWN TO THE GOLD,

IS SINKING IN AN 8-FOOT DITCH.

GREG REMSBURG GETS DAVE'S S.O.S. CALL.

TURIN: Might -- Might need some help.

Remsburg: DAVE'S STUCK, AND I GOT TO GO PULL HIM OUT!

Let's go. Come on, let's go!

Right there. Whoa, whoa.

Right there.

Pull back, pull back, pull back, pull back.

Whoa!

AH!

I'M GONNA GO BACK A LITTLE MORE.

Yeah, right there. Go ahead.

WHAT A [BLEEP] DAY!

Narrator: ON A DIG SITE 100 YARDS BY 50,

THERE MAY BE 15,000 TONS OF MUCK TO MOVE

BEFORE THEY HIT PAY GRAVEL.

THIS IS TERRIBLE TO PUSH WITH. IT'S TOO SOFT.

WHAT HAPPENS IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN?

YEAH, I'M WITH YOU.

BUT HOW ARE WE GONNA DEAL WITH THIS MESS?

Narrator: 1/3 OF THE WAY INTO THE SEASON, EVERY DAY IS PRICELESS.

BEFORE THE CREW SPENDS MORE TIME

RISKING THEIR LIVES CLEARING THE MUCK,

THEY WANT PROOF THAT THE GOLD IS THERE.

BREAKING THE RULES. YEAH, IT'S DANGEROUS.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

SHOW ME SOMETHING THAT'S TANGIBLE, THAT'S EVIDENCE.

YOU KNOW, GIVE ME SOMETHING.

Todd: WE'LL GET ON THE SAME PAGE, OKAY?

WE'RE NOT GONNA MOVE AHEAD UNLESS EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE.

WELL, HE BETTER HAVE SOMETHING.

I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO STRIP THAT AND RUN THAT.

BASED ON WHAT?

I'M WITH GREG. I DON'T GO OFF OF FEELINGS.

I'M SORRY, JACK, BUT SHOW ME SOMETHING, MAN.

YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, "LET'S GO ON A FEELING."

Narrator: LAST SEASON IN PORCUPINE CREEK,

JACK WAS CONVINCED THAT AT THE BOTTOM OF HIS PRIZED GLORY HOLE,

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GOLD WAS SITTING ON BEDROCK.

WE KNOW IT'S THERE. ALL WE GOT TO DO IS GET IT.

Narrator: THE CREW SPENT ALL SUMMER AND $250,000 ON JACK'S HUNCH,

BUT THEY PULLED ONLY $20,000 WORTH OF GOLD

OUT OF THE GLORY HOLE.

LAST YEAR, WE SPENT THE WHOLE SUMMER

DIGGING ON A HOLE BASED ON A FEELING,

A GUT FEELING.

AND THEN WE START STRIPPING HERE ON A FEELING.

I AGREE WITH THESE GUYS.

BEFORE WE START MOVING, BEFORE WE GO DOING SOMETHING ELSE,

I'D LIKE -- I'D LIKE TO SEE THE GOLD

BEFORE I START GOING AFTER IT.

WELL, HERE'S THE DEAL, DAD.

IF THESE GUYS AREN'T ON BOARD,

I MEAN, WE GOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

LET'S GO.

Remsburg: I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE WILLY-NILLY GOLD MINERS AGAIN THIS YEAR.

WE DID THAT LAST YEAR AND LOST OUR ASS.

I NEED TO SEE SOMETHING. I NEED TO FEEL IT.

IT HAS TO BE TANGIBLE,

HAS TO BE SOMETHING I CAN SEE, FEEL, AND TOUCH.

IT TOOK US A WHOLE SEASON LAST YEAR

UNTIL WE FINALLY GOT INTO STUFF,

AND THEN WE HAD IT TAKEN AWAY FROM US,

AND I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN.

WE GOT AN ISSUE. I GOT TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

I GOT TO GO SOUTH AND TAKE CARE OF IT.

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS LAID DOWN THE LAW.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RISK THEIR LIVES

UNTIL THEY ARE SURE THERE IS GOLD UNDER THE 8 FEET OF MUCK.

TO GET THE PROOF HE NEEDS, TODD NEEDS HELP.

HE HEADS TO SEE A KLONDIKE MINER

WHO'S WORKED THE BLACK MUCK FOR 20 YEARS.

Todd: I NEED HIM.

WE'LL JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

JUST... THIS OUGHT TO BE GOOD.

Narrator: 600 MILES SOUTH AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

DAKOTA FRED PLANS TO RUN DIRT ON AN UNTESTED MACHINE

HIS SON, DUSTIN, HAS NICKNAMED "THE BEAST."

THE BEAST IS PRETTY POWERFUL.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

SO WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT IF IT WORKS.

Fred: FIRE IT UP!

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

Narrator: EVER SINCE DAKOTA FRED REMOVED THE HOFFMANS' OLD WASH PLANT...

GET THAT THING OUT OF HERE!

...THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE BEEN DIALING IN THEIR NEW DEROCKER.

IT'S HERE NOW, AND WE'RE GONNA PUT IT INTO ACTION.

Narrator: THEY'RE BANKING ON THE DEROCKER

TO EXTRACT THE GOLD FROM PORCUPINE CREEK DIRT.

I NEED TO SEE SOME GOLD, KEEP MY BILLS RUNNING.

Narrator: AFTER 40 DAYS, FRED AND HIS SON, DUSTIN,

ARE FINALLY READY TO RUN DIRT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

BRANDING THE BEAST. THIS IS OUR DAKOTA BOYS MARK.

AND FIRE WATER PUMP UP.

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

Dustin: I THINK IT'S GONNA WORK JUST PERFECT, FRED.

YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK?

Fred: I THINK I'M READY TO RUN DIRT RIGHT NOW.

I'M GONNA JUST THROW SOME IN THERE

JUST TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, SEE HOW IT ACTS,

SEE IF IT'S DOING WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO.

Narrator: FRED LOADS HIS FIRST BUCKET OF DIRT OF THE SEASON.

THE DEROCKER IS DESIGNED TO WASH GOLD-RICH DIRT FROM BOULDERS.

THE MATERIAL FLOWS ALONG THE WAVY DECK

WHILE JETS WASH THE ROCKS.

ANY GOLD FALLS INTO THE SLUICE BOXES BELOW.

BUT FRED HAS NEVER RUN DIRT

THROUGH A MACHINE LIKE THIS BEFORE.

THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE NO IDEA IF THE DEROCKER

CAN HANDLE THE LARGE PORCUPINE CREEK BOULDERS.

BETTER GET BACK.

HEY, DUST! ANOTHER BIG ONE COMING THROUGH -- A BIG ONE!

I THINK IT'S GONNA FILL UP AND THEN JUST...

START FALLING OFF, I HOPE.

* DA DA DA *

Narrator: AFTER A TENSE MOMENT,

THE DAKOTA BOYS' NEW DEROCKER IS WORKING PERFECTLY.

THIS IS AWESOME. THIS IS...

IS A GREAT SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT RIGHT NOW.

IT REALLY FEELS GOOD -- EXHILARATING.

I FEEL CHARGED RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: UP AHEAD...

TODD SEEKS HELP FROM A KLONDIKE LEGEND

TO LOCATE THE GOLD AT QUARTZ CREEK.

DUDE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

PARKER SCHNABEL WAGES WAR... COME ON!

...AGAINST CENTURY-OLD MINING EQUIPMENT.

LOOK AT THAT BEAST!

Narrator: AND DAKOTA FRED AND HIS SON, DUSTIN...

START.

...HIT ONE BRICK WALL AFTER ANOTHER.

I'VE JUST NEVER SEEN SO MANY THINGS GO WRONG.

Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,

TODD HOFFMAN IS ON THE HUNT FOR INFORMATION.

TO CRUSH A CREW REBELLION AT QUARTZ CREEK,

HE HAS TO PROVE THAT UNDER 8 FEET OF THICK MUCK...

THERE'S GOLD.

THERE'S AN OFFICE RIGHT THERE.

Narrator: TODD'S BROUGHT DAVE

TO MEET NEIGHBORING MINER DUTCHMAN TONY BEETS.

HEY, MY NAME'S TODD. YEAH, I FIGURED THAT ONE.

[ LAUGHTER ] YEAH.

TONY BEETS. TONY.

YEAH. GOOD TO MEET YOU.

Turin: HEY, TONY. HEY.

Narrator: TONY RUNS TAMARACK MINE,

A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR GOLD-MINING CORPORATION.

Todd: I GOT TO GET SOME HELP FROM THIS GUY.

I'D RATHER DO IT ONCE AND DO IT RIGHT.

THIS GUY KNOWS HOW TO DO IT RIGHT.

Narrator: TODD WANTS TO SHOW DAVE TURIN

THAT IT'S WORTH RISKING EVERYTHING

TO GET DOWN TO THE GOLD.

THAT'S FUN TO WATCH.

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

Todd: I'D LIKE TO HAVE A WEEK LIKE THAT.

Narrator: FOR TONY, THIS IS A BAD WEEK --

220 OUNCES OF GOLD WORTH ABOUT $350,000.

I'D BE PRETTY HAPPY WITH 220 OUNCES.

TONY HAS GOLD MINING DOWN TO A SCIENCE.

Beets: THIS IS JUST PART OF WHAT WE GOT.

THIS IS NOT ALL OF IT THAT CAME OUT OF IT.

Narrator: LIKE THE HOFFMANS,

TONY ALSO FIGHTS A SEA OF BLACK MUCK,

BUT HE STILL PULLS THOUSANDS OF OUNCES OF GOLD

OUT FROM UNDER IT EVERY YEAR.

WHILE DAVE CHECKS OUT THE MINE...

[ LAUGHTER ] GET IN.

...TODD AND TONY MEET PRIVATELY.

TODD WANTS TO FIND OUT HOW HE CAN CONVINCE HIS CREW

THAT THERE'S GOLD AT QUARTZ CREEK.

WELL, OKAY, HERE'S THE DEAL.

I'M DOWN THERE ON QUARTZ CREEK. I'M STARTING TO STRIP.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING STRIPPING

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S UNDERNEATH IT?

HMM.

DRILL.

SEE, THIS WHAT YOU WANT.

TONY'S MINING CORPORATION IS THRIVING

BECAUSE IT STICKS TO ONE GOLDEN RULE.

NO DRILLING TEST HOLES -- NO DIGGING.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU DRILL.

YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE GROUND EVERY 3, 4 FEET.

OH, GREAT.

THERE'S NO DREAMING IN THIS KIND OF BUSINESS.

WELL, TONY, DUDE, I'M GLAD YOU TOLD ME THIS

'CAUSE I'M GONNA FRICKIN' DRILL IT.

IT'S THERE, YEAH.

YOU GOT TO GET THAT. NOW YOU GOT TO GO DRILL.

APPRECIATE IT.

DRILLING'S NUMBER ONE. NO DRILLING -- NO DIGGING.

NEVER MIND THE STORIES THE NEIGHBORS HAVE.

DRILL.

OTHERWISE, THEY'LL END UP

WITH THE SAME KIND OF SEASON AS THEY HAD LAST YEAR.

I GOT SOME CONFIRMATION ON SOME THINGS.

HE SAID, "DON'T EVEN -- DON'T EVEN TOUCH THE GROUND

UNLESS YOU DRILL IT."

AND SO, YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

Narrator: 600 MILES SOUTH AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE...

16-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL HAS A NEW SPOT TO MINE.

I THINK MY GRANDPA WAS KIND OF SAVING THIS AREA FOR...

A SPECIAL TIME, AND I GUESS THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME.

Narrator: JUST SIX WEEKS AGO, PARKER FINISHED 11th GRADE.

FOR HIS SUMMER VACATION, HE'S TAKING OVER THE BIG NUGGET MINE

FROM HIS 91-YEAR-OLD GRANDPA, JOHN.

HE'S GONNA MAKE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY DAY.

Narrator: BUT THE BIG NUGGET MINE IS IN TROUBLE.

IF HE DOESN'T TURN A PROFIT, WE WON'T RUN NEXT YEAR.

Narrator: ALREADY THIS SEASON,

PARKER HAS 10 OUNCES OF GOLD WORTH AROUND $16,000.

I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

Narrator: BUT HIS RUNNING COSTS SO FAR ARE DOUBLE THAT,

AND THE GOLD HAS DRIED UP.

I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I NEED EXCEPT DIRT WITH GOLD IN IT.

Narrator: PARKER IS DESPERATE

TO FIND A NEW SOURCE OF GOLD AND SAVE THE MINE.

Parker: MY GRANDPA'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT, "OH, THE BUCKETS, THE BUCKETS,"

FOR PROBABLY LIKE FIVE YEARS.

HE'S LIKE, "OH, IF I WANTED SOME EASY MONEY,

I'D JUST GO DIG THE BUCKETS OUT."

THAT'S WHAT HE KEPT TELLING ME, SO...

WE'LL SEE IF HE WAS RIGHT.

Narrator: THE BUCKETS ARE PART OF A 100-YEAR-OLD DREDGE --

A PRIMITIVE EXCAVATOR THAT DUG OUT GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT.

BUT A FLOOD 100 YEARS AGO WASHED AWAY

EVERYTHING BUT THE HEAVY IRON BUCKETS.

THE SCHNABELS THINK THE FLOOD

FORCED THE OLD MINERS TO LEAVE BEHIND A LOT OF GOLD.

Parker: I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET THE BUCKETS OUT AND SEE WHAT'S DOWN THERE,

AND IF WE'RE RIGHT, IT SHOULD BE PRETTY GOOD.

AND IF WE'RE WRONG, WE'LL LOSE...

10 GRAND.

Narrator: RUNNING THE 330 EXCAVATOR

CAN BURN UP TO $1,000 OF DIESEL A DAY.

JOHN SCHNABEL HAS WAITED 25 YEARS

TO FIND OUT WHAT'S UNDER THESE BUCKETS.

JUST TRYING TO SEE WHAT'S DOWN UNDERNEATH THERE, HUH?

WE LIVE IN EXPECTATION.

[ LAUGHS ]

[ MACHINE CREAKING ]

Narrator: BUT HE'S GONNA HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER.

IT'S BEEN SITTING IN THERE A LONG TIME,

AND IT DOESN'T WANT TO COME OUT, I DON'T THINK.

MAYBE WITH A CABLE ON OUR BIG LOADER.

[ GRUNTS ]

Narrator: GRANDPA JOHN JUMPS IN THE LOADER

WHILE PARKER ATTACHES A THICK CABLE

TO THE HEAVIEST PART OF THE OLD BUCKET SYSTEM, THE GEAR WHEEL.

[ MACHINE CREAKING ]

NOPE! NOT EVEN CLOSE.

Narrator: PARKER'S STEEL CABLE IS RATED TO PULL 10 TONS,

BUT IT SNAPS UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE BUCKETS.

John: IT DIDN'T EVEN JIGGLE.

Parker: IT MUST ALL BE CONNECTED.

I THINK THE BIG GEAR HAS A SHAFT,

A SPROCKET THAT THE CHAIN IS AROUND.

GOT TO DIG IT OUT. YOU CAN'T PULL IT OUT.

[ CLATTERS ]

BAD NEWS FOR PARKER.

THE MORE FUEL HE HAS TO BURN, THE MORE GOLD HE HAS TO FIND.

[ SIGHS ] I WISH THAT WOULD'VE JUST CAME RIGHT OUT,

BUT THAT'D BE TOO EASY.

Narrator: LESS THAN A MILE AWAY AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

Fred: YEAH, I CAN HEAR YOU.

...FRED GETS A CALL FROM HIS WIFE BACK HOME IN NORTH DAKOTA.

HOLY COW.

WHERE ARE YOU -- WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

I THINK OUR SATELLITE HAS GONE DOWN.

I GOT... NEWS THAT OUR HOUSE...

IS GONNA GO UNDERWATER IN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DAYS.

[ SIRENS WAILING ]

Narrator: MINOT, NORTH DAKOTA,

WHERE FRED LIVES IN THE OFF-SEASON,

IS FACING THE WORST FLOODING IN 40 YEARS.

FRED'S HOME IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOD ZONE.

WE'RE GONNA LOSE [CLEARS THROAT]

PRETTY MUCH JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE GOT.

TALKED TO MY WIFE.

I ASK HER IF I SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND LEAVE HERE.

AND SHE INSISTED I DO NOT.

SHE SAID, "FRED...

"WE'VE INVESTED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE GOT,

ANYTHING WE CAN AFFORD INTO THIS OPERATION."

SHE SAID, "STAY THERE. MAKE SOME GOLD."

IT'S JUST TOUGH.

REALLY TOUGH.

Narrator: FRED NOW NEEDS TO HIT THE MOTHER LODE

AT PORCUPINE CREEK MORE THAN EVER.

Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE,

TODD HOFFMAN IS BACK

FROM HIS MEETING WITH NEIGHBORING MINER TONY BEETS.

THE GUY, TONY, TODAY CONFIRMED IT FOR SURE.

THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT. I'M GONNA -- I'M GONNA DRILL.

HEY, GREG! DAVE! JAMES!

DAD. Jack: YEAH?

Narrator: IT'S BEEN 24 HOURS

SINCE THE HOFFMAN CREW DEMANDED PROOF

THAT GOLD LIES UNDER THE THICK BLACK MUCK AT QUARTZ CREEK.

LITTLE MEETING HERE.

TODD HAS A PLAN.

FIRST OFF, WE GOT TO GET DRILLING IMMEDIATELY.

THIS IS WHAT TONY TOLD ME TODAY.

DON'T EVEN LOOK AT IT UNLESS YOU DRILL IT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, GREG?

DRILLING -- IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY AWESOME STRIPPING GROUND

WHEN WE KNOW WHAT'S AT THE BOTTOM.

SO, DAVE... Turin: I'M SATISFIED.

WE MIGHT AS WELL START.

THIS IS OUR LAST SHOT. WE NEED SOME HOPE.

WE'RE PUSHING MUD.

WE NEED SOME HOPE. LET'S DO IT.

Narrator: WITH THE WHOLE TEAM BEHIND DRILLING,

JACK HAS NO OPTION BUT TO FALL IN LINE.

I DO AGREE WITH THE GUYS.

I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO DRILL IT

SO WE AREN'T WASTING A BUNCH OF MONEY OR TIME.

Remsburg: WE'VE BEEN AIMLESSLY MOVING DIRT HERE FOR THE PAST WEEK

AND SPENDING THE EQUIVALENT OF WHAT A DRILLER'S GONNA COST US.

AND RIGHT NOW, WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE SOME DIRECTION.

Narrator: NO MORE MUD WILL BE STRIPPED

UNTIL DRILL TESTS PINPOINT EXACTLY WHERE THE GOLD IS --

THAT IS, IF THERE IS ANY.

600 MILES SOUTH AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

...AFTER SIX GRUELING WEEKS OF PREP,

DAKOTA FRED'S DEROCKER IS FINALLY WORKING.

NOW HE CAN START FEEDING IT GOLD-RICH DIRT.

ALL RIGHT.

Narrator: FOR THAT, HE USES HIS AGING 980 LOADER.

Fred: COME ON, BABY, LET'S START.

[ ENGINE SPUTTERING ]

Narrator: AT LEAST THAT'S THE PLAN.

[ MACHINE CREAKING ]

[ GROANS ]

I NEED TO READ UP ON THE OLD 580.

I THINK IT'S A BRAKE PROBLEM.

Narrator: TO FIND OUT WHY THE BRAKES AREN'T WORKING,

FRED AND SON, DUSTIN, HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE 1/2-TON WHEEL.

WE HAVE ANOTHER CHAIN THERE. I'VE GOT ONE.

THAT'S ONE RIGHT HERE WE COULD USE FOR THAT.

COME ON, NOW.

[ MACHINE CREAKING, BEEPING ]

Dustin: ONE CHAIN SET.

COMING UP, COMING UP.

ALL YOURS.

WATCH OUT.

IT'LL BE INTERESTING

TO SEE WHAT 28-YEAR-OLD BRAKES LOOK LIKE.

NOW, I SEE MAYBE, MAYBE 3/16 OF AN INCH OF LINING LEFT.

SO THOSE ARE VERY, VERY WORN.

JUST ABOUT THE TIME THAT WE GET FINISHED WITH OUR DEROCKER

AND GETTING EVERYTHING SET UP WITH THE WATER

AND EVERYTHING READY TO MINE,

WE GET THE BAD NEWS

THAT THE BRAKES ON THIS LOADER JUST WILL NOT HOLD.

JUST CAN'T OPERATE THAT WAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE ON GRADES

AND SLOPES AND RAMPS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

GOT SOME BEARINGS HERE I WANT TO PROTECT

FROM GETTING DIRT ALL OVER IT.

Narrator: FRED CAN'T RUN THE LOADER WITHOUT NEW BRAKE PADS,

AND WITHOUT THE LOADER, FRED CAN'T RUN HIS DEROCKER.

Fred: THIS PARTICULAR MACHINE

IS AN ABSOLUTE KEY PART OF OUR OPERATION.

NO LOADER, NO GOLD.

Narrator: ACROSS THE CREEK AT BIG NUGGET,

PARKER SCHNABEL IS SPENDING CLOSE TO $1,000 ON FUEL A DAY.

HE'S SURE THERE'S GOLD

UNDER THESE CENTURY-OLD RUSTY MINING BUCKETS.

Parker: ALL WE NEED IS ONE OF THOSE LITTLE BUCKETS FULL OF GOLD,

AND THEN I'D HAVE A BEACH HOUSE IN THE HAMPTONS.

Narrator: PARKER PLANS TO FISH THE BUCKETS OUT,

BUT IT'S HARD TO FISH

WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CATCH.

Parker: I THINK I NEED TO SEE WHAT I'M DOING.

IT'S TOUGH NOT TO HOOK ONTO THE BUCKETS

OR WHATEVER'S DOWN THERE WITHOUT SEEING WHAT'S UNDER THE WATER.

[ ENGINE REVS ]

ONCE WE GET THE THING PUMPED OUT,

WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET ALL THIS STUFF OUT OF HERE.

SO, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT ONCE WE GET THE BUCKETS OUT,

THE LAYER OF GROUND UNDERNEATH THEM

IS UNWORKED GROUND

THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BUILT UP OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

[ MACHINE CREAKING ]

I NEED TO FLOP THIS UP OVER

AND LAY IT UP AGAINST THIS ROCK HERE.

[ THUD ]

OH, DAMN IT! IT BROKE!

Narrator: PARKER WORKS HALF A DAY AND BURNS HALF A TANK OF DIESEL

AND MANAGES TO PULL OUT HALF OF THE BUCKETS.

HEY, YOU GOT IT!

[ LAUGHS ]

THAT'S QUITE A PIECE OF IRON.

WE CAN SEND THAT TO AN ANTIQUE DEALER

FOR A DOLLAR A POUND -- WE'D BE RICH.

THERE MUST BE AN AWFUL LOT OF IRON.

THAT LIFT SYSTEM HAD A LOT MORE THAN JUST THIS.

HOW FAR DO YOU THINK IT IS TO BEDROCK?

IT'LL BE BELOW THE BUCKET.

I DON'T KNOW. THE BUCKETS -- I'VE GOT...

PROBABLY 8 FEET DOWN THERE

UNDER THE WATER LEVEL RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M STILL NOT HITTING THE BOTTOM OF THAT LAST CHAIN.

YOUR CURIOSITY IS GETTING TO THE POINT

WHERE YOU WONDER IF THERE'S ANY GOLD IN IT, HUH?

I CAN'T GET -- NO, I JUST CAN'T GET THE BUCKETS OUT.

UH-HUH. WELL, YOU CAN GET THEM. JUST KEEP WORKING AT IT.

BUT WHAT PARKER REALLY NEEDS TO DIG UP IS GOLD,

OR HE'LL BANKRUPT HIS GRANDPA'S MINE.

Narrator: AT THE QUARTZ CREEK GOLD CLAIM,

A DRILLING EXPERT HAS JUST ARRIVED.

Todd: YEAH, IT'S KIND OF A CRAZY-LOOKING, LITTLE VEHICLE,

BUT I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT ABOUT THIS.

Narrator: IN THE BOMBARDIER DRILL RIG...

AH! ...IS HENRY RENNIG.

CAN YOU GET THROUGH THERE OKAY?

OH, YEAH, I SHOULD BE GOOD. I GOT TO PUT A HOLE RIGHT HERE.

FOR 20 YEARS, HE'S DRILLED FOR GOLD

ON THE LARGEST CLAIMS IN THE KLONDIKE.

TODD NEEDS HIS EXPERTISE TO FIND OUT HOW DEEP THE MUCK IS

AND IF THERE'S PAY GRAVEL BENEATH IT.

Todd: SO, NOW HENRY'S GONNA GO AHEAD AND DROP A HOLE HERE.

WE'RE GONNA DO THIS RIGHT THIS YEAR.

WE'RE GONNA DRILL. WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE ADVICE FROM ALL THE GUYS THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL ON THIS CREEK.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE DRILLING.

Narrator: HENRY SINKS HOLE NUMBER ONE INTO THE BLACK MUCK.

TO LOCATE THE GOLD,

HE DRILLS DOWN THROUGH THE BLACK MUCK AND PERMAFROST,

ADDING SECTIONS OF DRILL BIT 5 FEET AT A TIME

TO GET DOWN TO THE PAY GRAVEL AND BEDROCK.

THE DIRT SAMPLE SHOULD PINPOINT

WHETHER THERE'S GOLD UNDER THIS PART OF THE CLAIM.

AFTER DRILLING EACH HOLE, HENRY COLLECTS THE DIRT INTO BUCKETS

TO BE PANNED FOR GOLD LATER.

Todd: WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT IF WE'RE GONNA BE EATING STEAK

OR IF WE'RE GONNA BE EATING HOT DOGS.

Todd: WHAT'S YOUR GUESS ON OUR PAY GRAVEL RIGHT IN THERE?

5 FEET OF GRAVEL AND 2 FEET OF BEDROCK.

Narrator: THE FIRST HOLE INDICATES THAT BENEATH THE MUCK,

THERE'S 5 FEET OF PAY GRAVEL.

IF THIS LAYER IS EVEN ACROSS THE CLAIM,

THERE COULD BE 8,000 TONS OF GOLD-BEARING GRAVEL

TO MINE AT QUARTZ CREEK.

THE GOLD IS JUST UNDER OUR FEET. AND STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

BUT IT'S WITHIN REACH.

Narrator: HENRY MOVES ON TO HIS NEXT TEST HOLE.

Doumitt: KIND OF CURIOUS NOW

AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT HE'S GONNA FIND.

GETTING REAL CURIOUS.

Narrator: JACK WAS NOT A FAN OF THE DRILLING PLAN,

BUT TWO DAYS AGO, HE HAD TO GIVE IN TO THE CREW'S DEMAND.

Jack: THIS IS 18 BUCKS A FOOT.

IT'S EXCITING, BUT I CAN HEAR THE THINGS KA-CHING, KA-CHING

GOING ON IN MY BRAIN, YOU KNOW?

Narrator: THE HOFFMAN CREW CAN ONLY AFFORD 12 HOLES AT A COST OF $4,000 --

MONEY WELL SPENT

IF HENRY CAN PROVE THERE'S GOLD ON QUARTZ CREEK.

Thurber: WHAT HE'S GONNA DO

IS TELL US HOW DEEP WE GOT TO DIG TO GET TO BEDROCK.

I MEAN, THIS IS ALL GREAT.

THIS IS A TOOL WE DIDN'T HAVE LAST YEAR.

WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO DRILL

INSTEAD OF GUESSING AND GOING BY OLD FOLKLORE HOW DEEP IT WAS.

THIS GUY WOULD TELL YOU STRAIGHT UP.

Narrator: THE CREW WATCHES NERVOUSLY

AS HENRY DIGS TOWARDS BEDROCK.

EVERY FOOT OF PAY GRAVEL ON THE WAY DOWN

IS POTENTIALLY FULL OF GOLD.

HENRY, WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE WHEN YOU HIT BEDROCK?

DEPENDS WHAT KIND OF BEDROCK IT IS.

SOMETIMES YOU GET SOFT BED,

AND THEN YOU DON'T HEAR ANY STONES GRINDING.

OKAY.

Jack: WELL, WE'RE LOOKING FOR CHUNKS OF BEDROCK.

THE GRAVEL WILL BE ROUNDED, AND THE BEDROCK WILL BE SHARP.

Thurber: I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SHAFTS HE'S IN THE GROUND,

BUT...THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

Jack: IT IS STILL GOING DOWN.

SEE, THIS IS ALL SHARP STONES, EH?

YEAH.

HE'S THROUGH THE GRAVEL.

YOU NOTICE IT'S GOT SHARP EDGES.

SO HE'S BREAKING UP BEDROCK.

HENRY, WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHAT'S YOUR PREDICTION?

I THINK THIS HOLE HAS A GOOD CHANCE.

PROBABLY 9 FEET DOWN IS WHERE THE BEDROCK IS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M GUESSING.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS GOOD GROUND.

I'M JUST SURE OF IT.

BUT I'VE BEEN SURE OF A LOT OF THINGS.

BUT I THINK YOU'RE GONNA FIND OUT I'M RIGHT.

Narrator: HENRY HAS ANOTHER 10 HOLES TO DRILL ACROSS THE CLAIM.

THE HOFFMAN CREW WON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE GOLD

UNTIL HE PANS EACH TEST SAMPLE.

600 MILES SOUTH.

DAKOTA FRED HEADS TO HAINES, ALASKA,

TO ORDER PARTS FOR HIS BROKEN-DOWN 980 LOADER.

SEE YOU LATER.

TAKE CARE.

IT'S ALSO A CHANCE TO FIND OUT FROM HIS WIFE

JUST HOW BAD THE FLOODING IS BACK HOME IN MINOT.

[ Ringing ]

Hello?

HELLO, HON. HOW YOU DOING?

Pretty bad day here today.

Of course, we're expecting 7 more feet of water, so...

WOW. 7 FEET?

FRED'S HOME HAS 3 FEET OF WATER IN IT.

SOON, IT WILL BE INUNDATED LIKE THE REST OF MINOT,

NOW DECLARED A DISASTER AREA.

GONNA BE JUST LIKE NEW ORLEANS.

ONCE IT BREACHES, YOU CAN'T STOP IT.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

FRED HAS INVESTED HIS LIFE SAVINGS IN PORCUPINE CREEK.

NOW HE HAS A GUT-WRENCHING DECISION --

GO HOME TO SAVE HIS HOUSE AND EVERYTHING HE OWNS

OR STAY AND FIND GOLD.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I MEAN, I KNOW WE GOT A TON OF MONEY INVESTED IN THIS THING.

WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING THIS YEAR.

I wouldn't come running home yet.

WELL, HON, I LOVE YOU.

I love you, too, baby.

AND...

Hang on. I WILL.

Okay, honey. I LOVE YOU.

Bye. BYE.

AS LONG AS THERE IS A CHANCE OF FINDING GOLD,

FRED IS STAYING AT PORCUPINE CREEK.

Narrator: AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE,

PARKER SCHNABEL HASN'T RUN DIRT NOW FOR FIVE DAYS.

HE'S STILL TRYING TO PULL ANCIENT GOLD-MINING BUCKETS

OUT OF WHAT HE'S CONVINCED IS GOLD-RICH DIRT.

Parker: I WISH THEY WEREN'T THAT DEEP

'CAUSE NOT ONLY CAN WE NOT GET THEM OUT

BUT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING ABOVE THOSE BUCKETS HAS BEEN WORKED.

EVERYTHING FROM THAT BUCKET LEVEL UP IS GARBAGE.

Narrator: PARKER HAS GIVEN UP HOPE OF GETTING OUT ALL OF THE BUCKETS,

BUT HE'S SHIFTED ENOUGH OF THEM

TO GET TO THE POCKETS OF DIRT UNDER THEM.

Parker: I'M JUST GONNA KEEP DIGGING ALONGSIDE OF THEM

AND HAUL IT TO THE PLANT 'CAUSE IT SHOULD BE GOOD DIRT.

Narrator: FINALLY, HE CAN GET

TO THE MATERIAL HE'S BANKING ON BEING RICH IN GOLD.

Parker: IF I WORK A LATE NIGHT,

I COULD GET ENOUGH DIRT HAULED TO RUN TOMORROW.

PARKER MUST UNEARTH AT LEAST 6 OUNCES OF GOLD WORTH $9,500

JUST TO COVER HIS FUEL COSTS.

BUT HE'S HOPING THIS OLD SPOT WILL YIELD A WHOLE LOT MORE.

Parker: I'VE GOT A PLAN. I'M GONNA EXECUTE MY PLAN.

SIMPLE AS THAT.

Narrator: NORTH IN QUARTZ CREEK,

THE HOFFMANS ARE IN THEIR SECOND DAY OF DRILL TESTING.

THAT'S A LOT OF MUD, DAVE. Turin: THAT'S A LOT OF MUD.

DRILLER HENRY RENNIG

HAS ALREADY DUG SIX TEST HOLES AND HAS SIX MORE TO GO.

Todd: HEY, HENRY, YOU GOT A NAME FOR YOUR LITTLE RIG?

NO, I CAN'T THINK OF ONE.

Todd: HOW ABOUT "LITTLE RED MAMA"?

IT'S MORE ORANGE, THOUGH.

WELL, NOT WHEN IT WAS NEW, IT WASN'T.

COME ON, LITTLE RED MAMA.

THE LAST SIX HOLES

WILL BE UP IN THE TREE LINE ABOVE THE DIG SITE.

THIS AREA IS TODD'S BACKUP PLAN

JUST IN CASE THERE'S NO GOLD UNDER THE BLACK MUCK.

Todd: THERE MIGHT BE AN ANCIENT CREEK THAT CAME DOWN.

SO I WANT TO PROVE IT, SEE IF THAT IS THE CASE.

WE'LL GET HENRY OUT HERE TO DRILL A FEW MORE HOLES OUT IN THAT BOWL AREA.

BUT ME AND DAVE ARE KIND OF THINKING

THAT THAT MIGHT BE A SPECIAL PLACE.

IF TODD'S RIGHT,

THEN THERE COULD BE ANOTHER PAY STREAK OF GOLD

ON THE QUARTZ CREEK CLAIM 30 FEET UP IN DENSE FOREST --

THAT IS, IF HENRY CAN GET HIS DRILL UP THERE.

TODD HAS MADE THE DECISION TO DRILL THESE SIX HOLES

AT A COST OF $2,000.

IF HENRY CAN'T HIT PAY GRAVEL, IT WILL BE A WASTE OF MONEY.

HEY, HENRY, WHAT'S THE BEST HOLE YOU EVER CAME UP WITH?

HOW MUCH GOLD IN ONE HOLE?

$30.

FOR ONE HOLE?

WOW!

HOPEFULLY, YOU HIT INTO THE GRAVEL.

THIS IS GOOD, THOUGH.

LOOK, HE HIT GRAVEL RIGHT THERE AT 8 FEET.

THAT'S NOT THAT MUCH TO MOVE.

HENRY HAS FIVE MORE HOLES TO DRILL AT THE TREE LINE

BEFORE THE HOFFMAN CREW CAN FIND OUT

IF THERE'S ANY GOLD ON THEIR CLAIM.

IF THERE ISN'T, THEY'LL HAVE TO PACK UP AND GO HOME BROKE.

AT PORCUPINE CREEK...

DAKOTA FRED IS STILL STRUGGLING TO RUN DIRT.

HIS 980 LOADER IS CRIPPLED, BUT HE REFUSES TO GIVE UP.

UNTIL HE CAN GET THE PARTS TO FIX THE 980,

HIS SON, DUSTIN, IS FORCED TO USE THE SMALLER D6 DOZER

TO MOVE PAY DIRT TO THE DEROCKER.

WE'RE ABOUT TO START RUNNING REAL DIRT.

SO, HOPEFULLY, BY THE END OF THE DAY, I'LL FEEL LIKE A MINER!

Narrator: IT'S FINALLY TIME FOR THE DAKOTA BOYS

TO FIND OUT IF THEY'RE ON THE GOLD.

DUSTIN'S BRINGING UP MORE MATERIAL.

WE'RE ABOUT READY TO GO.

YOU READY?

GET IT GOING, FRED. Fred: LET'S GO.

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

YEAH, THE WATER'S GOING.

DOESN'T THAT LOOK GREAT?

NICE AND SMOOTH -- THE PERFECT RIVER.

I LIKE THAT.

OH, YEAH. THAT IS NICE.

Narrator: FRED IS ABOUT TO LOSE HIS HOUSE TO FLOODS.

HE HAS PUT HIS LIFE SAVINGS ON THE LINE TO MINE.

HE HAS TO FIND GOLD NOW.

WITH HIS BIG LOADER BROKEN,

HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO FIRE UP THE 270 EXCAVATOR

TO LOAD DIRT INTO THE WASH PLANT.

[ CLICK ]

WHAT IN THE HELL'S THAT?

[ CLICKING ]

OH, CRAP!

GOD!

THERE'S DUSTIN. LET ME HOLLER AT HIM.

DUSTIN! COME HERE!

IT WON'T START?

Narrator: THE 270, FRED'S LAST HOPE, IS DEAD.

ALL RIGHT. DUSTIN? YEAH?

HIT THAT STARTER AGAIN.

GO!

NOTHING.

[ GROANS ]

Fred: I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW.

IF THIS MACHINE IS OUT OF OPERATION,

WE ARE OUT OF OPERATION.

THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.

I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF OUR KEY PIECES OF EQUIPMENT,

PARTICULARLY WITH JUST TWO OF US HERE.

IT'S SERIOUS -- VERY SERIOUS.

IF YOU COULD HOLD UP THAT RUBBER PIECE RIGHT THERE,

I COULD TAKE THAT BOLT OFF.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU GOT IT, HUH?

I HOPE THIS IS THE PROBLEM.

...KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS WITH THAT THING.

Dustin: IT'S THE STARTER.

SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THE STARTER.

LOOKS LIKE...

HEY, WE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE HERE WITH THIS THING.

WE JUST CAN'T DO ANY MINING.

IT'S ABSOLUTE DEAD RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS NO PLACE AROUND HERE

TO GET US ANY PARTS FOR THIS THING.

I NEED TO GO BACK DOWN TO MINOT.

I'VE JUST NEVER SEEN SO MANY THINGS GO WRONG ALL AT ONCE.

Fred: IT'S JUST A DIFFICULT TIME RIGHT NOW.

HOUSE IS GOING UNDER TONIGHT.

YOU JUST WONDER HOW MUCH A GUY CAN TAKE.

Narrator: AFTER NEARLY EIGHT WEEKS, FRED HAS NO GOLD,

AND HIS HOME BACK IN NORTH DAKOTA

IS ABOUT TO GO UNDERWATER.

THIS COULD BE THE END FOR THE PORCUPINE CREEK CLAIM.

Narrator: AT THE BIG NUGGET MINE IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA...

...PARKER SCHNABEL IS FINALLY MOVING THE DIRT

FROM UNDER THE OLD IRON BUCKETS TO HIS WASH PLANT.

HE NEEDS AT LEAST 6 OUNCES OF GOLD, OR $9,500,

TO COVER HIS COSTS.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW FOR SURE WHETHER IT'S THERE OR NOT.

Narrator: HE'S HOPING HE HAS HIT THE MOTHER LODE.

Parker: I MAY HAVE WASTED 10 GRAND.

YEAH, I'M WORRIED.

Narrator: BUT AFTER FIVE HOURS OF RUNNING, SIGNS AREN'T GOOD.

IF WE RAN DIRT THAT HAD ANY NUGGETS IN IT,

THIS IS WHERE THEY'D BE.

BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST A PILE OF NAILS.

IN THE PROCESSED DIRT, THERE'S A REWARD FOR HIS EFFORTS --

A NUGGET WORTH ABOUT 100 BUCKS.

BUT NOT MUCH ELSE.

Parker: WE DIDN'T MAKE MONEY.

IS THERE ANYTHING LEFT UP THERE ON THAT?

NOT REALLY. I WAS DOWN ON BEDROCK.

I DON'T THINK IT CHANGES ANYTHING.

IT HASN'T CHANGED A THING, HAS IT?

PARKER'S PLAN HASN'T PAID OFF.

THE GOLD HE FOUND UNDER THE OLD RUSTY BUCKETS

IS WORTH JUST $400.

BUT IT TOOK 10 DAYS AND $10,000 IN FUEL TO GET TO IT.

EIGHT WEEKS INTO HIS FIRST YEAR IN CHARGE,

PARKER IS HEADED FOR BANKRUPTCY.

Parker: I DIDN'T REALLY PREPARE MYSELF TO LOSE MONEY THIS MUCH.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

KEEP WORKING.

Narrator: AT QUARTZ CREEK,

IT'S CRUNCH TIME FOR THE HOFFMAN CREW.

THEIR DREAM OF STRIKING IT RICH

DEPENDS ON HENRY'S DRILL RESULTS.

THAT'S OUR FIRST HOLE, RIGHT? YEAH.

THE PAY GRAVEL FROM THE 12 DRILL HOLES ARE IN SEPARATE BUCKETS.

HENRY PANS EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY TO DETERMINE THEIR GOLD CONTENT.

THE FIRST SIX BUCKETS ARE FROM TODD'S BACKUP PLAN --

THE AREA IN THE TREE LINE.

THIS IS BASICALLY A SNAPSHOT OF YOUR FUTURE.

I'M FRICKIN' NERVOUS.

HEY, HENRY, IF THIS HOLE DOESN'T TURN OUT GOOD,

I MIGHT NEED A HUG.

WELL, YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF FINDING SOMETHING.

[ ENGINE REVVING ]

[ WATER RUSHING ]

I'LL LET YOU HAVE A LOOK AT IT.

COUNT THEM OUT.

Jack: THERE'S AT LEAST 15 COLORS THERE.

Turin: IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS I WAS HOPING.

Narrator: THE FIRST TEST SAMPLE IS ALMOST WORTHLESS.

HENRY PANS THE DIRT FROM DRILL HOLE NUMBER TWO.

Rennig: THIS ONE DOESN'T EVEN LOOK AS GOOD AS THE OTHER ONE, I DON'T THINK.

PRETTY DISAPPOINTING. DOESN'T LOOK TOO GOOD.

Todd: NOTHING?

LITTLE BIT BETTER -- NO BETTER THAN -- NO BETTER YET.

Narrator: THE FIRST SIX TEST HOLES FROM THE TREE LINE ARE A BUST.

THERE'S ALMOST NO GOLD IN THE PANS.

DISAPPOINTED -- EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED.

IT'S NOT EVEN GONNA PAY FOR THE POSTAGE TO PAY THE BILLS.

Remsburg: NOT GOOD.

IT'S NOT GOOD.

Narrator: BUT THERE ARE SIX MORE.

THE SECOND DRILL TEST RESULTS ARE FROM THE SLIPPERY SLOPE

WHERE THE HOFFMANS HAVE BATTLED THE MUCK.

IF THERE'S NO GOLD IN ANY OF THESE SIX REMAINING TEST HOLES,

THE HOFFMAN CREW IS OUT OF BUSINESS.

Todd: ALL RIGHT, BUD.

PAN REAL SLOW. REMEMBER WHAT I SAID.

I GOT TO HUG YOU. YOU GOT TO HUG ME.

IF THE NEXT HOLE'S OUTRAGEOUSLY RICH, DO I GET A HUG?

DUDE, YOU'RE GONNA GET MORE THAN A HUG, HENRY.

Remsburg: IT'S GONNA BE THE MOST-WATCHED PAN YOU'VE EVER DONE, HENRY.

I DON'T KNOW.

[ LAUGHS ]

THAT'S A LOT OF BLACK SAND. THAT'S A LOT OF GOLD.

THE DIRT FROM THE FIRST HOLE IN THE DIG SITE IS A HIT.

I SAW AT LEAST 20, 30 PIECES OF GOLD IN THERE.

Narrator: 20 TO 30 PIECES OF GOLD IN ONE PAN

MEANS THE HOFFMAN CREW HAS HIT PAY DIRT.

YOU CAN SEE GOLD ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TOP OF THIS PAN.

THIS SEASON IS MAKE OR BREAK.

THE HOFFMAN CREW NOW KNOWS THEIR CLAIM HOLDS GOLD,

THEY KNOW WHERE IT IS,

AND THEY HAVE PLENTY OF TIME LEFT IN THE SEASON

TO STRIKE IT RICH.

Turin: THIS IS EXCITING.

THERE'S GOLD UNDER THIS GROUND,

AND, LIKE JACK SAID LAST YEAR BUT NOW I BELIEVE IT,

WE JUST GOT TO DIG IT UP.

Doumitt: OH, I DEFINITELY HAVE GOLD FEVER.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

I CAUGHT IT LAST YEAR, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SHAKE IT.

Jack: IT'S MORE THAN SUCCESSFUL.

IT'S -- IT'S DROP-DEAD FANTASTIC.

Thurber: THAT'S PRICELESS

AND A LIFE-CHANGING EVENT FOR ALL OF US.