Narrator: IN THE LAST MINING SEASON,
SIX DOWN-ON-THEIR-LUCK MEN FROM THE LOWER 48...
...VENTURED TO ALASKA TO FIND GOLD.
WE'LL BE THERE IN A [BLEEP] MINUTE!
THEY SPENT A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS...
WHERE IS THE GOLD? OH, FRICK!
...BUT GOT LESS THAN $20,000 WORTH OF GOLD
BEFORE THE ALASKAN WINTER FROZE THEM OUT.
I LOST THE FIRST BATTLE.
Narrator: NOW THE CREW RELIVES THE EXPERIENCE...
I MEAN, THIS WAS THE SUMMER FROM HELL.
Narrator: ...WHAT WENT WRONG... THERE WAS NO PLAN.
...WHY THEY LEFT ALASKA WITH ONLY 14 OUNCES OF GOLD...
IT WAS CHAOS.
...AND HOW BAD THINGS REALLY GOT ON THE CLAIM.
I WAS CONSIDERING BEATING THE CRAP OUT OF DORSEY.
Narrator: THE ROOKIE MINERS REVEAL
THE UNTOLD STORIES OF PORCUPINE CREEK.
ARE WE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT?
Narrator: NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FOOTAGE
REVEALS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED DEEP IN THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS.
AND THE HOFFMANS LAY OUT A PLAN...
I REALLY THINK WE CAN DO IT THIS YEAR.
...TO RIGHT THE WRONGS OF THE PAST...
...AND VISIT A CLAIM DEEP IN THE YUKON.
ALL VIRGIN FROM HERE ON UP.
Narrator: BUT THIS TIME, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
THIS IS DOUBLE OR NOTHING. SUCCESS IS THE ONLY OPTION.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
Narrator: WAY BEFORE THE MINING SEASON STARTED,
IN FOOTAGE THAT'S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE,
TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN RECRUITED A BUNCH OF FRIENDS
TO GO GOLD MINING IN ALASKA.
YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS
FOR A LONG TIME.
I'M BEG, BORROWING, AND STEALING THE MONEY
TO PUT THIS THING TOGETHER.
AND I'M TRYING TO PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER, YOU KNOW?
AND WE'RE SHOOTING THIS FRICKIN' TV SHOW NOW,
AND ALL OF THAT THAT GOES ON...
AND I'M TRYING TO TALK THESE GUYS INTO COMING ON.
YOU GUYS ARE THE GUYS THAT I BELIEVE
CAN HELP US PULL THIS THING OFF.
WE TRAVELED ALL AROUND ALASKA.
WE LOOKED AT MANY CLAIMS.
AND IT'S A GOOD CLAIM.
I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU'RE IN.
AND I DON'T MEAN "KIND OF IN."
YOU GOT TO BE IN ALL THE WAY, OR YOU'RE OUT.
COREY?
[ Laughing ] WELL, THIS SURE ALL IS INSPIRATIONAL,
BUT I DON'T --
I DON'T THINK I'M IN.
IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY. IT IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY.
JUST CAN'T ROLL THE DICE RIGHT NOW.
IT'S KILLING ME, THOUGH.
DORSEY?
Dorsey: THERE WERE NO CONTRACTS, BUT AT THAT POINT
IT'S ONE OF THE BEST SCENARIOS THAT I CAN IMAGINE.
I'M ON FOOD STAMPS.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX MY TOOTH.
I MEAN, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
SO OF COURSE I'M IN, MAN.
I WAS EXCITED. I WAS OPTIMISTIC.
YOU KNOW, HERE'S A CHANCE. HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE GOING ON.
MY PURPOSE FOR GOING
IS 'CAUSE I'M A CONSTRUCTION SUPERINTENDENT HERE,
AND THERE'S NO CONSTRUCTION GOING.
SO MY FAMILY'S ALSO ON FOOD STAMPS,
AND WE'RE BARELY MAKING IT.
AND THIS IS A WAY TO MAKE A LIVING.
MAN, I APPRECIATE IT, AND IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD TIME.
I HOPE WE MAKE IT.
I HAD TO TAKE A GAMBLE. I WAS CLOSE TO BANKRUPTCY.
I'D LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF MY HEALTH.
I HAD TO CLOSE A BUSINESS DOWN.
I WAS JUST AT THE END OF MY ROPE.
YOU KNOW MY STORY, TODD.
I KNOW THAT YOUR BACK IS SCREWED UP.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION.
AND, HOPEFULLY, WE CAN PULL IT ALL TOGETHER FOR YOU.
I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU NEED ME TO DO.
THERE'S JUST NO WORK. THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE.
AND TODD CALLED AND ASKED IF I WANTED TO GO GOLD MINING,
AND I COULDN'T PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY.
NONE OF THESE GUYS WENT DOWN THE PRIMROSE PATH
WITH THE HOFFMANS.
THEY WENT AS MEN.
Narrator: LAYING THEIR FUTURES ON THE LINE,
THE CREW HIT THE ROAD.
[ HORN HONKING ]
2,000 MILES UP THE ALCAN HIGHWAY,
THEY HIT THEIR FIRST REAL TEST
WHEN TODD HAD TO DRIVE THE 400 EXCAVATOR
THROUGH THE KLEHINI RIVER.
HERE WE GO! HERE WE GO!
IT'S GLACIAL MELT. IT'S FAST-FLOWING.
IT'S VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS PRETTY NERVOUS.
QUICK! QUICK! QUICK! QUICK!
Jack: I'D BEEN WARNED
THAT YOU HAD TO LOOK OUT FOR SINKHOLES.
YOU HIT SAND THAT WAS OVER A PIECE OF ICE
THAT IS NOW MELTED,
AND NOW IT'S JUST GOT WATER HOLDING THAT UP.
AND YOU CAN GO ACROSS AND HIT THESE SINKHOLES
AND GO OUT OF SIGHT.
AT THE END, I COULD SEE THIS ONE
THAT WAS REALLY DEEP.
Jack: HEY, TODD, I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY
THE WORST PLACE TO COME ACROSS RIGHT HERE.
IT'S PRETTY DEEP.
Todd: SO, MY DAD RADIOS,
AND I'M JUST LIKE, "AAH, I JUST NEED TO GET THIS ACROSS.
I JUST WANT OUT OF THIS FRICKIN' RIVER."
Jack: HE DIDN'T PAY ATTENTION.
AND I KNEW IT WAS GONNA GO INTO IT.
Todd: HERE WE GO! HERE WE GO!
WHOA!
UNHOOK THE GATOR!
HE NEEDED HIS BUCKET TO PUSH HIMSELF UP.
BUT I GOT THE STINKIN' GATOR HANGING OFF OF IT.
UNHOOK THE GATOR!
HURRY UP! UNHOOK THE GATOR NOW!
HE WAS YELLING AT ME
TO "GET THE GATOR OFF, GET THE GATOR OFF."
HE'S PANICKED.
UNHOOK THE GATOR NOW!
LOSING THE 400 WOULD HAVE BEEN THE END OF THE SEASON.
HE WAS TRULY UPSET.
STOP! HURRY UP!
UNHOOK IT!
I WILL!
Jack: I'M THE OLD GUY, YOU KNOW?
I MOVE SLOW. MY LEGS MOVE SLOW, YOU KNOW?
BUT WE GOT THE GATOR OFF, AND HE STUCK THE BUCKET IN.
READY?
HANG ON.
I'M GETTING DEEPER AND DEEPER,
AND I'M LIKE, "UH-OH. THIS ISN'T GOOD."
FINALLY, I STARTED CLIMBING BACK OUT OF THERE.
Man: KEEP GOING. KEEP GOING.
STAND BACK! KEEP GOING!
Jack: DIG! DIG! DIG!
Man: YOU GOT IT.
WHOO-HOO! WHOO!
Remsburg: TRULY, IF WE HAD LOST A TRACK ON THAT 400
OR IF IT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN STUCK IN ANOTHER WAY,
WE'D HAVE BEEN DONE.
IF I WERE TO GO ACROSS THE RIVER AGAIN,
I WOULD NOT HAVE THE GATOR.
HE NEEDS TO LISTEN.
YEAH, IT WAS A LITTLE SKETCHY, BUT WE MADE IT ACROSS.
AND THEN ALL'S I'M THINKING IS, "OKAY...
THE CAMERA CREW'S STUCK BACK THERE ON SOME ISLAND."
THESE GUYS ARE STRAIGHT CITY SLICKERS,
AND THEY SEE THE WATER COMING UP,
AND THEY'RE STARTING TO FREAK OUT.
THE 400 IS THERE. THIS RIVER IS HERE.
AND WE ARE HERE.
[ LAUGHS ]
THEY'RE FROM LONDON.
[ LAUGHS ]
MY DAD'S YELLING AT ME TO GO BACK.
YOU CAN'T HEAR IT, BUT THE CAMERA-CREW GUY,
HE'S SCREAMING AT ME TO COME BACK.
"PUT YOUR BIG-BOY PANTIES ON AND JUST WADE ACROSS THERE."
THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW?
BUT, NO, WE WENT BACK AND GOT THEM.
I WOULD CROSS RIGHT UP THROUGH THERE,
UP TO THIS SIDE OVER HERE.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
Todd: IF YOU WANT A RIDE, YOU BETTER GET ON.
LET'S GO, GUYS. HURRY UP. HURRY UP.
IT'S GETTING UP THERE.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
[ CHEERING ]
Jack: PEOPLE WERE UPSET THAT WE CROSSED THAT RIVER.
AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND I HAD A PERMIT.
I DID NOT CRUSH FISH BEDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO CROSS.
Narrator: FINALLY, AFTER MONTHS OF PREPARATION,
THE CREW MADE IT TO THE CLAIM ON PORCUPINE CREEK.
Harness: TO ACTUALLY GET THERE
AFTER ALL THE STUFF THAT WE HAD DONE FOR THE LAST YEAR...
[SIGHS] ...IT WAS KIND OF EMOTIONAL.
I GOT OUT.
THEY KEPT DRIVING AND LEFT ME THERE.
SO I HAD TO WALK LIKE A MILE,
NOT KNOWING WHERE WE WERE GONNA BE.
AND THE BEAUTY IS JUST INSANE.
IT'S LIKE BEING ON ANOTHER PLANET.
IT'S LIKE AN EXTREME SENSE OF FREEDOM.
THERE'S NOT EVEN ANY KIND OF SMELL OF CAR EXHAUST
OR ANYTHING OUT HERE.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
[ LAUGHS ]
OHH! WHOO!
ALL RIGHT, MAN. WE MADE IT. OKAY.
THIS IS NUTS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
Jack: WE DID IT. WE DID IT. WE DID IT.
Boy: WE DID IT!
CONGRATULATIONS, TODD. GOOD JOB, BUDDY.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
GOOD JOB, TODD. Jack: HEY, GUYS, HEY.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT RIGHT HERE.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT.
WHEN JACK MADE HIS SPEECH, I MEAN, IT WAS JUST LIKE A --
THE HAIR ON THE BACK OF MY NECK STOOD UP, AND I GOT THE CHILLS.
YOU'RE ALL MILLIONAIRES.
THE ONLY THING IS YOU GOT TO GET IT OUT OF THE GROUND.
YOU KNOW?
I WAS A LITTLE SHOCKED ACTUALLY
THAT JACK SAID THAT WE WERE ALL GONNA BE MILLIONAIRES.
I WAS -- YOU KNOW, HAD TO DOUBLE-TAKE.
THAT'S THE WHOLE KEY,
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU WORK HARD, YOU'RE GONNA GET PAID.
I JUST REALIZED THAT THIS COULD BE SOMETHING
THAT CHANGES THE REST OF MY LIFE.
I COULD COME BACK WITH ENOUGH MONEY
TO GET MY BACK FIXED OR BE COMPLETELY OUT OF PAIN.
THIS IS CRAZY.
IT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL.
WHOO! WHOO!
I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL WE ACTUALLY STARTED DOING IT
HOW HARD IT WOULD BE.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS COMING UP.
[ PANTING ]
Narrator: UP AHEAD... SHE'S BLEEDING.
THE SHAKING AND THE TREMORS.
SHE'D STOPPED BREATHING.
...THE FULL STORY BEHIND THE MINE'S DARKEST HOUR...
EVERYTHING JUST WENT "CLICK. I'M DEAD. I'M DONE."
YEAH!
Narrator: ...HOW GOLD FEVER DROVE JIMMY DORSEY TO THE EDGE...
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THREE MONTHS! WE DON'T HAVE ANY [BLEEP] MONEY!
THERE'S NO GOLD.
THERE'S NOTHING.
...AND TODD REVEALS HIS GAME-CHANGING PLAN
FOR THE NEXT MINING SEASON.
WE'RE GONNA GO NORTH FROM PORCUPINE.
THERE'S SOME SECRET MINE.
WE'RE GONNA GET GOLD.
Narrator: TODD HOFFMAN AND HIS CREW OF ROOKIE MINERS
QUICKLY MADE A NEW HOME FOR THEMSELVES
IN THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS.
Dorsey: I'M SUPER EXCITED, 'CAUSE ALL OF OUR STUFF'S HERE,
AND WE'RE READY TO ROCK.
Narrator: BUT AFTER BUILDING THEIR CAMP,
THEY GOT A HARSH REALITY CHECK
FROM NEIGHBORING MINER JOHN SCHNABEL.
TODD. I'M JOHN.
HEY, GOOD TO MEET YOU, JOHN.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GET DOWN ON THE BOTTOM.
Todd: SCHNABEL BASICALLY SHOWS US NUGGETS
THAT CAME FROM OUR CREEK THAT WE'RE MINING ON.
IT'S EXCITING TO ME BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S THERE.
THAT IS AWESOME.
THEN IT DEPRESSED ME WHEN HE TOLD ME
THAT HE HAD DUG IN THIS ONE HOLE FOR TWO YEARS.
IN THAT AREA OF THAT HILL THERE,
WE WENT DOWN 100 FEET TO THE BOTTOM.
IT TOOK US TWO YEARS TO GET THE HEAVY GOLD.
Todd: IT TOOK HIM $200,000 AND A COUPLE YEARS
TO DIG HIS HOLE OUT.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SET UP EVERYTHING IN ONE SUMMER?
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COME HERE.
THEY'VE ALL GONE WITH NOTHING.
YEAH.
NOT A ONE OF THEM HAS SURVIVED, YOU KNOW?
Jack: WHEN WE LEFT JOHN SCHNABEL,
WE REALIZED THAT WE WERE IN TROUBLE.
I DON'T GET DEPRESSED, BUT IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT --
THAT'S AS CLOSE TO DEPRESSED AS I GET.
Narrator: IT BECAME APPARENT
THAT STRIKING IT RICH IN THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS
WAS NOT GOING TO BE EASY.
[ METAL CREAKING ]
THE ROOKIE MINERS FIRST BUILT THEIR WASH PLANT.
I DIDN'T FIND OUT HOW ANY OF THIS STUFF EVEN WENT TOGETHER
TILL WE GOT IT UP THERE AND STARTED PUTTING IT TOGETHER.
I THINK IT'S GONNA WORK...
'CAUSE WE'RE ALL JUST CRAZY ENOUGH TO HOPE SO.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
[ CHEERS ]
Narrator: A MONTH BEHIND SCHEDULE,
THE CREW STARTED RUNNING DIRT.
THE FIRST DAY OF MINING. YOU KNOW, THIS IS FANTASTIC.
Narrator: BUT JUST AS THEY GOT UNDER WAY...
Todd: LET'S GO!
...DISASTER STRUCK.
Harness: I HEARD SOMEBODY SCREAMING
THAT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO OLIVIA.
AND SO I JUST RUN.
[ PANTING ]
THE FIRST GUYS ON THE SCENE WERE THE TV CREW.
I GET THERE -- I SAW CAMERAS LAYING ON THE GROUND.
SHE'S FOAMING AT THE MOUTH. SHE'S BIT HER LIP.
AND SHE'S BLEEDING.
AND, YOU KNOW,
I CAN SEE HER LITTLE HAND DOING THIS, YOU KNOW?
SHE WAS HAVING A SEIZURE BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING AND THE TREMORS.
I'M JUST -- I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE SHE'S BREATHING
'CAUSE HER JAW WAS CLENCHED SO TIGHT.
SHE WAS UNRESPONSIVE. HER EYES WERE UNRESPONSIVE.
HER -- JUST EVERYTHING.
I'M LIKE, "WE GOT TO GET HER HELP. NOW."
GO! GO! GO!
[ ENGINE IDLING ]
WE DRIVE LIKE HELL.
TRY TO GET HER INTO TOWN.
THE DOCTOR YELLED OUT THAT SHE'D STOPPED BREATHING.
I THINK MY HEART BROKE RIGHT THEN.
EVERYTHING JUST WENT LIKE...
"CLICK. I'M DEAD. I'M DONE."
SHE FINALLY STABILIZED ENOUGH THAT THEY SAID
THAT "WE'RE GONNA FLY HER TO --
LIFE-FLIGHT HER TO ANCHORAGE."
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
Todd: THEY DO A WHOLE BATTERY OF TESTS
ON HER THERE AT THE HOSPITAL.
AND THEY CAN'T REALLY FIND ANYTHING.
WHEN I FOUND OUT SHE WAS GONNA BE OKAY,
IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE.
HI, BABY. DADDY!
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
UNLESS YOU'VE GONE THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.
TIGER, SORRY.
SORRY ABOUT ALL THIS, HUH?
I WATCH MY LITTLE GIRL THERE,
AND I LOOK BACK, AND I SAY, "HEY, YOU KNOW...
WAS I RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THIS?"
YOU KNOW, I HAD A FEW DIFFERENT REGRETS,
BUT I'M GONNA HAVE MY FAMILY UP THERE NEXT SEASON.
Narrator: UP AHEAD...
JAMES HARNESS IS FORCED TO GO OFF PAINKILLERS COLD TURKEY...
YOU NEVER FIGURE
YOU'LL GO THROUGH ANYTHING LIKE THAT YOURSELF.
Narrator: ...HIS BODY GIVES OUT...
I HAD THIS FEAR GO THROUGH ME.
IT'S "I'M GONNA BE STUCK HERE FOR SURE."
Narrator: ...AND JIMMY DORSEY'S FRUSTRATION BOILS OVER.
TODD HOFFMAN HAS LET ME DOWN. OF COURSE HE HAS.
WE'RE GONNA GET IT DONE IN 72 HOURS, OR I'M WALKING AWAY.
Narrator: AFTER EIGHT WEEKS OF BACKBREAKING WORK
AND ALMOST $200,000,
TODD HOFFMAN AND HIS CREW OF ROOKIE MINERS
STILL HADN'T FOUND ANY GOLD.
THE PRESSURE WAS MOUNTING.
PUT IT BACK! WE'RE GONNA RUN! YOU SAW US GETTING READY!
IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING ANYWAY!
WE'VE BEEN GETTING READY FOR THREE HOURS!
AND RIGHT WHEN THEY NEEDED IT MOST,
THE CREW LOST THE KEY PIECE OF THEIR WASH PLANT.
THE SHAKER BASICALLY DESTROYED ITSELF.
MY HEART SUNK BECAUSE THERE WAS JUST SO MUCH DAMAGE.
IT NEEDED TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT.
Narrator: THE SHAKER NEEDED HUNDREDS OF WELDS TO ITS FRAME
BEFORE THE TEAM COULD MINE AGAIN.
I GOT TO SEND HARNESS DOWN THERE TO FIX UP THE SHAKER.
THE THING IS, HARNESS HAS GOT DEGENERATIVE DISKS IN HIS BACK.
HE HAS PLATES IN BOTH ANKLES.
Harness: YOU CAN IMAGINE THE STRESS LEVEL.
YOU'RE IN A PRETZEL POSITION FOR HOURS.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE MUSCLE SPASMS
PULLING YOUR SPINE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS,
YOU GET PINCHED NERVES.
HE'S HAVING TO LIVE HIS LIFE ON MORPHINE.
EVERY DAY IS A BATTLE FOR JAMES.
[ GROANING ]
SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN UNKIND,
CALLING HIM "MORPHINE ADDICT" AND ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD MUCH RATHER
HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, TAKEN CARE OF.
Narrator: 2,000 MILES FROM HIS DOCTOR
AND WITH THE SHAKER STILL IN PIECES,
HARNESS' MORPHINE PRESCRIPTION RAN OUT.
Harness: IT'S HORRIBLE, YOU KNOW?
YOU SEE MOVIES ABOUT PEOPLE
WHO ARE DRUG ADDICTS ON HEROIN AND STUFF
GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWALS.
AND...
[SIGHS] ...STUFF LIKE THAT.
[ Voice breaking ] AND YOU NEVER FIGURE
YOU'LL GO THROUGH ANYTHING LIKE THAT YOURSELF.
Jack: JAMES WAS IN TROUBLE,
BUT HE WAS WILLING TO GO AHEAD AND, YOU KNOW, WORK.
Harness: I COULDN'T LET THEM DOWN.
THEN DORSEY CUT THE EXIT TUBE TO THE JIG.
THIS IS JUST COMMON SENSE.
NO, THIS SAND THAT WE GOT, WE RAN THIS ON THE TABLE.
THERE WAS NO GOLD IN IT. THIS IS BASIC PLUMBING.
SO HARNESS HAS TO GO DOWN THERE AND TIGHTEN THINGS UP.
Thurber: HARNESS -- YOU CAN'T STOP HIM.
BUT TO SEE HIM DOWN THERE STRUGGLING GETTING AROUND,
I REALLY GOT MADE AT TODD.
I SAID, "TODD, WHAT IN THE HELL
IS HE DOING DOWN THERE IN THAT HOLE?"
Thurber: EASY, EASY.
AND THEN, LIKE, BOOM, DOWN HE GOES.
JAMES HAS FALLEN!
I HAD THIS FEAR GO THROUGH ME.
IT'S "I'M GONNA BE STUCK HERE FOR SURE."
HANG ON, JAMES.
YEAH, MY LEGS ARE SHOT.
IT'S KIND OF SCARY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW
IF YOUR LEGS ARE GONNA COME BACK.
YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA GET OUT OF THE HOLE.
AND IT JUST KIND OF PUTS YOU IN SHOCK.
ALL THESE BAD FEELINGS STARTED TO COME AT ME,
AND I KNEW I HAD TO GET OUT OF THERE.
Todd: IF YOU HOLD ON, I'LL PULL YOU UP.
I GOT DOWN THERE, AND MY --
SOMETHING POPPED?
YEAH.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
I SPENT THE NEXT 24 HOURS
WITH EVERY SINGLE MUSCLE IN MY LEG AND FEET CRAMPED.
I WAS ABLE TO GET HIM SOME MORE MEDICINE
AND HAVE IT SENT UP TO ALASKA.
Harness: TODD WENT THE EXTRA MILE.
I WAS -- I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
YOU ARE THE FRICKIN' BEST MECHANIC IN THE WORLD.
YOU GUYS ARE LIKE FAMILY, AND I DON'T WANT TO LET YOU DOWN.
YOU WON'T LET US DOWN, AND YOU NEVER HAVE.
FINALLY.
I REGROUPED AND WENT BACK.
JUST PUSHED AS HARD AS I COULD.
GET THIS BABY BACK TOGETHER AND START ROCKING.
I WAS JUST DRIVING MYSELF TO A POINT
WHERE I DIDN'T THINK I COULD GO...
AND I PROVED I COULD.
[ GRUNTING ]
Todd: HE GETS IT DONE.
IT'S JUST FRICKIN' AWESOME.
WE'RE MINING TOMORROW.
HEAVY METAL, MAN.
Narrator: BUT AFTER MONTHS OF MINING WITHOUT FINDING GOLD
AND WITHOUT GETTING PAID A CENT,
REALTOR JIMMY DORSEY EVENTUALLY LOST FAITH IN THE DREAM.
I'VE GIVEN TODD HOFFMAN FIVE MONTHS OF MY LIFE,
AND HE'S LET ME DOWN IN EVERY WAY.
THERE'S NO GOLD, THERE'S NO PROMISE,
THERE'S NO...
THERE'S NOTHING. HE HASN'T GIVEN ME ANYTHING.
HE'S BEEN A TERRIBLE LEADER.
HE HASN'T LISTENED TO ME. HE'S TREATED ME LIKE A CHILD.
HE'S DEMEANED ME IN FRONT OF NATIONAL TV, INTERNATIONAL TV.
I MEAN, TODD HOFFMAN --
[ SCOFFS ] I DON'T HAVE MUCH RESPECT FOR HIM.
Todd: YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY WE BULLIED HIM
AND THIS AND THAT AND THE OTHER.
AND HE JUST DECIDED THAT...
YOU KNOW, HE WAS GONNA DO HIS OWN THING.
AND YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT.
DORSEY -- ABSOLUTELY A LIKABLE GUY,
FUNNY.
YEAH!
IS HE YOUR GOLD-MINING PARTNER?
I DON'T THINK SO.
I DON'T MEAN THIS IN A MEAN WAY,
BUT I DON'T THINK JIMMY REALLY HAD A MECHANICAL SENSE.
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
WHOA!
HE WAS OUT OF HIS ELEMENT.
Todd: STOP! STOP!
Thurber: MY GOD. I JUST WANT TO SHOOT HIM.
AND WHEN IT'S THE SAME PERSON MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE,
THE SERIOUSNESS GOES UP.
THERE'S ONE MISTAKE WE'VE BEEN MAKING,
WHICH IS NOT GETTING CRAP DONE
'CAUSE YOU'RE SO FOCUSED ON SAFETY ALL THE DAMN TIME.
Thurber: SOMEHOW HE'S NOT KILLED HIMSELF.
HE'S GONNA DO ONE OF US IN.
WE HAD LOST FAITH IN DORSEY.
HE SAID HE WANTED TO BE A TEAM PLAYER,
BUT HE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANT.
Narrator: FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF PROGRESS,
DORSEY THREATENED TO LEAVE.
WE'RE GONNA GET IT DONE IN 72 HOURS, OR I'M WALKING AWAY
BECAUSE I HAVE NO MORE MONEY.
THEN I'M WALKING OFF OF HERE.
I'M GOING DOWN TO TOWN. I'M GONNA GET A JOB.
I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THAT.
IF YOU JUST WALK AWAY EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A PROBLEM --
Dorsey: DON'T GIVE ME THAT [BLEEP]
COME ON. WHOSE TEAM ARE YOU ON ANYWAY?
I'M ON YOUR TEAM.
Todd: HE JUST WASN'T HAPPY THERE.
AND SO HE JUST -- HE STARTS LOSING IT.
Narrator: UP AHEAD...
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THREE MONTHS! WE DON'T HAVE ANY [BLEEP] MONEY!
DUDE, YOU WANT TO GO? WE'LL [BLEEP] GO.
...THE CREW REVEALS HOW THE DRAMA ON THE CLAIM
REACHED A BOILING POINT...
THIS IS SERIOUS.
I WAS CONSIDERING BEATING THE HOLY CRAP OUT OF DORSEY.
...AND EXPLODED INTO A FISTFIGHT.
HE PUT HIS HANDS ON THE WRONG GUY FOR THE LAST TIME.
HE HIT HIM FIRST, AND WE'RE GOING TO THE POLICE FIRST.
I'M GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.
ARE WE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT? Man: I DON'T KNOW.
ARE YOU SHOWING IT?
Narrator: BY MID-AUGUST, WITH NO PAYDAY IN SIGHT,
REALTOR JIMMY DORSEY WAS READY TO BLOW.
WHETHER IT WAS MONEY
OR JUST THE STRESS OF BEING UP IN ALASKA, YOU KNOW?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
IT WAS JUST BUILDING AND BUILDING.
HE HAD PUSHED ALL THE WRONG BUTTONS IN ALL THE WRONG PEOPLE.
ME, GREG, TODD.
Jack: I'M SO MAD AT HIM BY THIS TIME,
I WAS CONSIDERING BEATING THE HOLY CRAP OUT OF DORSEY.
HEY, JIM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
EMPTYING ALL THIS ROCK OUT OF HERE.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
LET ME PULL THIS THING OUT, AND LET'S GO AHEAD
AND PUT THE JIG DOWN WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
THEN I'LL BE -- YOU KNOW,
WATCH ME WORK FASTER THAN ANYONE ELSE.
THURBER'S A PRETTY PATIENT GUY. HE HAS A LONG FUSE.
DUDE, YOU'RE [BLEEP] PSYCHOTIC. I AM!
'CAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THREE MONTHS!
WE DON'T HAVE ANY [BLEEP] MONEY!
WHEN I BLEW UP, TRUST ME, I DIDN'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.
DUDE, YOU WANT TO GO? WE'LL [BLEEP] GO.
LOST ALL COMPOSURE.
YOU AND I, YOU WANT TO DO IT?
WE'LL [BLEEP] DO IT, AND THEN YOU'LL LEARN
TO SHUT YOUR [BLEEP] MOUTH AND MAKE SOME SENSE.
HE'D TAKEN ME TO WHERE I DIDN'T WANT TO GO.
I'M NOT GONNA PUT UP WITH IT. JUST STOP IT.
YOU'RE GONNA DRIVE YOURSELF [BLEEP] NUTS.
I AM GOING NUTS!
WELL, THAT'S OBVIOUS.
I AM TOTALLY GOING...
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
I'M COMING APART UP HERE.
I THINK HE HAD IT. HE WAS FED UP.
SO HE NEEDED A WAY OUT.
AND HE OPENED A DOOR THE HARD WAY.
BASICALLY, HE PUT HIS HANDS ON THE WRONG GUY FOR THE LAST TIME.
BY THE TIME I GOT OVER THERE, THEY WERE IN A FIGHT.
I JUST UNLEASHED ON HIM. I WASN'T GONNA TAKE IT.
Narrator: AFTER THE FIGHT,
THE CAMERAS CAUGHT UP WITH THE DORSEYS
JUST AS THEY LEFT THE CLAIM.
Man: WE GOT TO COME WITH YOU. WE GOT TO COME WITH YOU.
HE'S GOING TO THE POLICE
TO LIE AND SAY THAT HE HIT HIM FIRST.
AND WE'RE GOING TO THE POLICE FIRST.
I'M GOING TO THE HOSPITAL
TO MAKE SURE MY RIBS AREN'T BROKEN.
AND WE'RE PRESSING CHARGES.
Man: OKAY, HE'S GETTING IN THE CAR WITH YOU.
HE'S GETTING IN THE CAR WITH YOU.
WE'RE NOT GONNA SLOW YOU DOWN, I PROMISE.
WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT EVER COMING BACK.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM.
IT WAS TIME FOR THEM TO LEAVE, YOU KNOW?
IT WAS JUST -- THE ONLY THING THAT WAS HAPPENING
WAS JUST STRAIGHT NEGATIVITY.
WHAT A WASTE OF TIME THAT IS.
WHAT A WASTE OF MY TIME.
IT WAS A DARK PIT IS WHAT IT WAS.
I'M JUST REALLY GLAD TO BE LEAVING,
REALLY GLAD TO BE LEAVING.
BY THIS TIME...
PEOPLE'S TASTE OF DORSEY IN THEIR MOUTH WAS SOUR.
I THINK WE NEED TO REBUILD THIS LITTLE AREA OF TOWN OVER HERE.
Narrator: THE REST OF THE CREW DECIDED
THEY NO LONGER HAD ANY NEED FOR DORSEY'S CABIN.
YOU GOT A LITTLE DIESEL? GOT A LITTLE BIT.
[ CLANGING ]
ARE WE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT?
ARE YOU SHOWING IT?
THIS IS GONNA BE FUN.
WHAT DID TODD SAY?
WE GOT TO GET RID OF THIS PIECE OF CRAP.
[ LAUGHS ]
HE LIT IT ON FIRE.
[ LAUGHING CONTINUES ]
YOU KNOW, I DON'T REALLY CARE
TO HAVE SOMEBODY GLOAT OVER SOMEBODY'S ILL FORTUNE.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO STAND AROUND AND WATCH THAT GO ON.
THEY JUST WANT IT GONE.
AND SO I BASICALLY WALKED OVER WITH THE 400
AND TORE THE PLACE DOWN.
IT GAVE ME NO GREAT JOY.
BASICALLY, IT WAS AN END TO THE SITUATION.
Narrator: ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, DORSEY WAS REPLACED
BY ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE, "DAKOTA" FRED.
DORSEY JUST LEFT, YOU KNOW...
AND HERE WE GOT FRED IN THERE.
Narrator: TO GUARANTEE HIS SHARE OF THE GOLD,
THE CLAIM OWNER SENT IN HIS OWN MAN
TO WHIP THE HOFFMAN CREW INTO SHAPE.
I WANT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE OWNER, EARLE.
I LIKE THE GUY, BUT I FORGOT TO PUT IN HIS MEMO
"HEY, DON'T MESS WITH JAMES."
AND THEN FRED BLEW A HOSE ON THE EXCAVATOR BUCKET.
[ LAUGHS ]
STOP! STOP! STOP!
SINCE I BROKE IT, I WAS GONNA FIX IT.
JAMES CAME.
HE HAMMERED ON THAT SO MUCH,
IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE THE THREADS WERE MESSED UP.
I HAD PRETTY MUCH HAD IT WITH FRED AT THAT POINT.
I WASN'T DOING IT RIGHT, IN HIS OPINION.
IT'S MY CHOICE TO DO IT THE WAY I WANT TO DO IT.
HE WOULDN'T LET IT GO.
HE WOULDN'T GO OFF AND DO SOMETHING ELSE.
CAN YOU JUST ROLL THAT IN, OR...
I WOULD HAVE ALREADY IF I COULD.
YOU WANT TO DO THIS?
"SURE." I TOOK THE HAMMER.
JUST CALLED HIS BLUFF.
THAT'S LIKE GIVING ME THE MIDDLE FINGER.
THE NEXT THING I KNOW, HE IS EXPLODING BEHIND ME.
YOU'RE MESSING WITH THE THREADS DOWN THERE.
YOU'RE MESSING WITH ME.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET A HAMMER IN YOUR [BLEEP]
NO, SIR. OH, SWEET.
THAT WOULD FEEL SO GOOD.
HE WANTS TO SHOVE THAT BALL PEEN HAMMER
WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE ON FRED,
AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.
YOU'VE BEEN IN MY WAY SINCE THIS STARTED.
NOW, JUST QUIT [BLEEP] ARGUING WITH ME.
[ Laughing ] I WISH THAT HADN'T GONE ON CAMERA, BUT --
YOU'RE SITTING THERE BEATING ON THE THREADS!
DON'T ARGUE WITH ME.
DON'T. DON'T PUSH HIM.
Todd: DON'T PUSH ANYBODY.
I SAID YOU'RE MESSING THE THREADS UP!
OKAY, OKAY.
'CAUSE YOUR [BLEEP] NOSE IS IN MY WAY!
NOW GET OUT OF THE WAY! Todd: HEY, HEY, HEY.
LET'S WALK. LET'S TAKE A WALK.
I JUST ASKED YOU TO ROLL IT IN.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I'LL ROLL SOMETHING IN.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
JAMES, STOP.
JAMES, COME HERE.
IT WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE FELLAS CAME BETWEEN THE TWO OF US.
GRANTED, THE MAN MAY BE IN PAIN.
BUT IT'S NOT A SAFE SITUATION WHATEVER
TO HAVE A MAN THAT IS ON HEAVY MEDICATION
WHEN YOU'RE AT A WORK SITE.
HE WOULDN'T GIVE ME THAT RESPECT
TO SAY, "OKAY, I KNOW YOU'RE IN A LOT OF PAIN.
I'M NOT GONNA PUSH YOUR BUTTONS."
Hurt: AS FAR AS WORKING WITH JAMES AGAIN,
I WOULD NOT WORK WITH HIM DIRECTLY.
Todd: I THINK I'LL STEP OUT ON A LIMB --
JAMES DIDN'T SEND FRED A CHRISTMAS CARD THIS YEAR,
I'M GUARANTEEING YOU.
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOA! YEAH, BABY!
Narrator: UP AHEAD, THE HOFFMANS HEAD NORTH IN THE DEAD OF WINTER
TO FIND A NEW LOCATION FOR THEIR BIG COMEBACK...
THIS IS A DROP-DEAD, KILLER CLAIM.
Narrator: ...THE CREW GATHERS BACK IN THE LOWER 48
TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE...
MY HEART'S THERE. I WANT TO GO.
...AND FRED THROWS IN A CURVEBALL...
THAT COULD CHANGE THE ENTIRE MINING OPERATION NEXT SEASON.
I'M GONNA BRING MY OWN CREW.
RIGHT WHEN I JUST START LIKING YOU, FRED,
YOU GO AND DO STUFF LIKE THIS.
Narrator: IN THE QUEST FOR GOLD,
JACK HOFFMAN CHOSE A HIGH-RISK STRATEGY...
...DIG WHERE HE HOPED GOLD HAD COLLECTED
UNDER AN ANCIENT WATERFALL.
ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS FIND WHAT IS CALLED "THE GLORY HOLE."
FROM THE START,
THIS WHOLE EXPEDITION'S BEEN THE TALK OF THE GLORY HOLE.
"WHERE IS IT?"
"OH, I KNOW RIGHT WHERE IT IS... KIND OF."
I'VE SEEN SOME LITTLE SPECKS.
Narrator: JACK BASED HIS SEARCH FOR THE MILLION-DOLLAR GLORY HOLE
ON ADVICE FROM THE CLAIM OWNER, EARLE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S FOLKLORE.
"THERE'S A WATERFALL RIGHT HERE."
"WHO THE FRICK KNOWS?"
WE GOT A HOLE, AND I TESTED IT, AND I GOT GOLD.
SO I FINALLY WENT FOR IT.
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
Narrator: THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF DIGGING WEREN'T PROMISING.
IT DIDN'T HAVE OATMEAL-SIZE GOLD.
IT WAS -- IT WAS DUST.
Narrator: BUT JACK WAS CONVINCED HE WAS ON THE GOLD.
WE NEEDED TO GO FOR THE DEPTH.
WE HAD TO GO DOWN.
JACK IS JUST DIGGING. JACK IS DIGGING.
"WHERE'S JACK?" "HE'S DIGGING."
AND I WENT DOWN ANOTHER 30 FEET.
Harness: THE NEXT TIME I WENT DOWN THERE,
IT WAS, LIKE, THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL STADIUM.
WHAT'S TO SAY THAT THAT BOTTOM OF THAT WATERFALL
WASN'T 300 FEET?
I MEAN, WE'RE CHASING DREAMS.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW DEEP THAT BEDROCK IS DOWN THERE.
Narrator: BY MID-SEPTEMBER, FOUR MONTHS AFTER THEY STARTED,
JACK HIT 50 FEET,
AND THE DREAM SUDDENLY LOOKED LIKE A REALITY.
WE GOT OUR FIRST REAL NUGGET.
Man: WHOO-HOO!
THAT WAS JUST AWESOME.
[ CHEERS ]
NO ONE EVER IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND
HAS BEEN TO THIS BEDROCK.
WE'RE GONNA BE THE FIRST.
WE'RE JUST SEEING MORE GOLD LYING UP IN THAT SLUICE BOX.
[ CHEERS ]
Narrator: BUT THEY WERE STILL $260,000 IN DEBT.
NOW WE'VE GOT THE WEATHER MOVING IN OVERHEAD.
FINALLY, I REACH 75 FEET.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE BEDROCK, JUST THAT LAST LITTLE BIT.
"THE NEXT BUCKET.
IT'S GOT TO BE THE NEXT BUCKET."
"IT'S GOT TO BE."
Narrator: THEN, IN EARLY OCTOBER,
THE BIG FREEZE HIT.
OVERNIGHT, THEY WERE FROZEN OUT OF PORCUPINE CREEK.
AFTER FIVE MONTHS IN ALASKA...
$275,000...
AND THOUSANDS OF TONS OF DIRT...
THE HOFFMAN CREW PRODUCED
LESS THAN $20,000 WORTH OF GOLD.
Hurt: 14.6 OUNCES?
PITIFUL. [ LAUGHS ]
THERE'S NO REASON THEY COULDN'T HAVE HAD 80 TO 100 OUNCES
OUT OF THAT WHOLE SEASON.
SUPPOSEDLY, THERE'S $15 MILLION WORTH OF GOLD
RIGHT BASICALLY WHERE WE'RE DIGGING.
YOU KNOW? DID I SCREW UP? DID I SCREW US UP?
Jack: IF YOU THINK YOU'RE JUST GONNA GO UP THERE
AND DIG THE GOLD OUT OF THE GROUND REAL SIMPLY,
YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN QUITE THAT WAY.
I DON'T THINK THAT JACK KNEW ANY BETTER WHERE TO DIG
THAN ANY OF THE REST OF US.
Harness: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT
TO COME HOME WITH A DUMP TRUCK FULL OF GOLD.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF UNREALISTIC
FOR A BUNCH OF GUYS THAT DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
YOU KNOW, ANOTHER DREAM SHOT DOWN.
UM...
Narrator: THREE MONTHS AFTER THEIR FAILED MINING SEASON,
THE HOFFMANS ARE HOME IN OREGON,
TRYING TO PUT THEIR LIVES BACK TOGETHER.
DAD, I FEEL REALLY BAD.
I SCREWED UP A BUNCH OF THINGS THIS LAST YEAR, SO...
THIS NEXT SEASON, WE NEED NEW EQUIPMENT.
I NEED A NEW WASH PLANT.
AND I GOT TO BRING IN SOMEBODY
THAT KNOWS WHAT THE FRICK THEY'RE DOING. YEAH.
I MIGHT BE ABLE TO SCRAPE ENOUGH MONEY TOGETHER
TO DO IT ONE MORE TIME.
Narrator: THE REST OF THE CREW STRUGGLES TO GET BY.
Remsburg: RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO STEADY JOBS OUT THERE.
IT'S PRETTY BLEAK.
SO I'M DOING WHAT I GOT TO DO.
Thurber: MY FAMILY REALLY SUFFERED WHILE I WAS GONE,
SO I GOT TO SCRIMP AND SAVE WHEREVER I CAN.
Harness: I KNOW FOR A FACT I CAN'T PUT MYSELF THROUGH
WHAT I WENT THROUGH LAST YEAR.
IT'S GOT TO BE DIFFERENT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO.
Narrator: THE NEXT MINING SEASON IS TWO MONTHS AWAY.
THIS TIME, THE HOFFMANS ARE PLANNING TO DO IT RIGHT.
LOOK OUT, GUYS. MOVE. MOVE!
WHOA! YEAH, BABY!
THEY'RE LINING UP BIGGER AND BETTER EQUIPMENT.
THIS IS ONE FREAKIN' BAD BOY.
I'D LIKE THIS TRUCK. THE THING IS, I NEED A DEAL.
BUT EVEN WITH THEIR SUPERSIZED PLANS,
THE HOFFMANS STILL HAVE TO CONVINCE THEIR CREW
TO RISK IT ALL IN ALASKA AGAIN.
THE MAIN THING FOR NEXT YEAR, GUYS,
IS WE GOT TO COME IN WITH BETTER EQUIPMENT.
AND I KNOW A LOT OF THAT FALLS ON MY HEAD.
I'M GONNA GO OUT AND SEE IF I CAN GET AN INVESTOR
OR FIGURE OUT HOW I CAN GET THE CASH.
IF I CAN, WE'RE GONNA COME IN WITH SOME BETTER STUFF.
I REALLY THINK WE CAN DO IT THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE TO DO IT THIS YEAR.
WHO'S IN?
I NEED IT. AND MY FAMILY NEEDS IT.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO THROW IN.
THE DREAM'S STILL THERE. I'M GOING.
I WANT TO BE THERE WITH YOU GUYS.
Narrator: BUT DAKOTA FRED DROPS A BOMBSHELL.
I, PERSONALLY, WOULD LIKE TO WORK THE PORCUPINE CLAIM
BY MYSELF WITH MY OWN CREW.
RIGHT WHEN I JUST START LIKING YOU, FRED,
YOU GO AND DO STUFF LIKE THIS.
THERE ARE A FEW GUYS AT THIS TABLE, FRED,
THAT'LL GET PISSED OFF BY THROWING THE GAUNTLET DOWN.
I NOTICED THEY'RE ALL BIG BOYS HERE.
TODD, WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE THIS.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER IN PRIVATE,
NOT IN FRONT OF THE GUYS.
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER,
I'M GONNA BE AT PORCUPINE CREEK NEXT YEAR.
Jack: FRED WANTS OUR CLAIM.
AND I DON'T THINK HE WANTS TO PAY ANYTHING FOR IT, EITHER.
Narrator: TODD SUSPECTS
THAT FRED HAS BEEN WORKING ON A DEAL BEHIND HIS BACK
TO TAKE PORCUPINE CREEK FOR HIMSELF.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.
THE HOFFMANS COULD LOSE THE MINE
AND THE MILLIONS IN GOLD
THAT THEY BELIEVE IS STILL BURIED AT PORCUPINE CREEK.
Narrator: THE FUTURE OF PORCUPINE CREEK IS IN DOUBT.
TODD HOFFMAN HAS TO CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS.
I KNOW YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO PORCUPINE, DAD.
YOU KNOW AND I KNOW --
I FOUND IT.
IT'S THERE, AND IT'S BUCKETS FULL OF IT.
SO, YOU KNOW -- WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
I KNOW. WE'RE ALL SET UP. I GET IT.
IT RIPS YOUR HEART OUT. I KNOW. I KNOW.
AND I DON'T WANT TO GO SET UP SOMETHING NEW, EITHER.
WELL, I KNOW.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO GO LOOK NORTH.
I THINK THERE'S OTHER PLACES.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA GO,
WE GOT TO DO IT PRETTY QUICK.
I'M WILLING TO TRY.
Narrator: TODD AND JACK
ARE HEADING 400 MILES NORTH OF PORCUPINE CREEK
INTO THE YUKON TO LOOK AT NEW GOLD-MINING CLAIMS.
THAT'S IT, MAN. THAT'S THE END OF THE DALTON TRAIL.
THAT IS WHERE THE GOLD RUSH IS LANDING.
SO, IF WE'RE GONNA CUT A DEAL, WE GOT TO DO IT.
WE GOT TO TRY TO CUT A DEAL WHILE WE'RE UP THERE, OKAY?
YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT. YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S HEAD OUT. WELL, LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING NORTH.
WE GOT TO GET UP THERE QUICK.
WE GOT TO FIND A CLAIM.
I GOT TO CUT A DEAL WITH THE OWNER AND LOCK IT IN.
SUCCESS IS THE ONLY OPTION THIS YEAR.
THIS IS DOUBLE OR NOTHING.
Narrator: THEIR DESTINATION IS THE KLONDIKE,
HOME TO SOME OF THE RICHEST GOLD FIELDS ON EARTH.
THE HOFFMANS HAVE COME
TO MEET SOME LOCAL MINERS WHO KNOW THE AREA.
HEY, ARE YOU MARCEL? TODD, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
HEY, I'M DOING GOOD, MAN.
[ ALL GROANING ]
Todd: WELL, BASICALLY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A GOOD MINE
AND TRYING TO FIND A CLAIM.
AND EVERYBODY SAID YOU'RE THE MAN.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COME AND GONE FROM DAWSON.
THEY THINK THEY'RE GONNA DIG A HOLE
AND THEY'RE GONNA GET RICH.
THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
THERE IS ONE GUY.
I'M GONNA GO LOOK HIM UP FOR YOU.
OKAY.
AND I'LL LET HIM KNOW THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED.
DUDE, I'D APPRECIATE IT
'CAUSE I KNOW, BASICALLY, NOBODY HERE IN TOWN.
YEAH, IT'S GONNA BE TOUGH.
I'M GETTING THAT, YEAH.
OKAY.
Narrator: BY NEXT MORNING,
TODD AND JACK HAVE SEVERAL LEADS.
OUTSIDE, IT'S 40-BELOW ZERO,
AND THE ROADS ARE BURIED UNDER 4 FEET OF SNOW.
[ DOGS BARKING ]
BUT ALL THE GOOD CLAIMS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN.
OH, FRICK! Jack: IT IS A VIRGIN GROUND.
I THINK WE WASTED OUR TIME TODAY.
Todd: IF WE CAN'T FIND A GOOD CLAIM HERE IN THE KLONDIKE,
THAT'S IT -- THE DREAM IS OVER.
Narrator: AFTER THREE DAYS OF SEARCHING,
TODD IS ALMOST OUT OF OPTIONS.
THE HOFFMANS REACH OUT TO AN OLD MINING BUDDY OF JACK'S.
"KLONDIKE" STEVE IS THEIR LAST CHANCE.
SO THIS IS KLONDIKE GOLD.
Steve: YEAH.
HOLY CRAP.
NICE, HUH?
LOOK AT THAT BIG GUY.
THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING.
REALLY?
Narrator: KLONDIKE STEVE HAS AGREED
TO SHOW THE HOFFMANS ONE OF HIS 50 CLAIMS.
THIS IS IT FOR US, MAN. THIS IS PROBABLY OUR LAST HURRAH.
WE GOT TO MAKE IT WORK.
"DO OR DIE" TYPE THING, YOU KNOW?
YOU'VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE.
Out of all 50 claims, why this one?
It's a special property. It's all virgin ground.
Never been worked with machinery.
Right there, they found 50 million ounces.
Really?
Where does your claim start?
I think we're coming up on it.
Okay, we're on the property here now.
That's Ready Bullion Creek.
That's really "nuggety," nice, course gold
along this hillside.
VIRGIN GROUND THAT WAY. ALL RIGHT.
SO, ALL THAT IS ALL VIRGIN FROM HERE ON UP.
YEP.
Todd: OUR DREAMS START AT THAT LINE
AND MOVE RIGHT UP THIS VALLEY.
YOU'RE PROBABLY GETTING A LOT OF PHONE CALLS ON THIS PLACE --
I GET THAT.
WE GOT A MAJOR GOLD RUSH GOING ON.
BUT I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN PUT A DEAL TOGETHER ON THIS.
WE GOT TO MAKE IT WORK. GOT TO MAKE IT WORK.
I STILL DON'T WANT TO WALK AWAY FROM PORCUPINE.
'CAUSE I'M SITTING RIGHT ON A BUCKET OF GOLD.
BUT THIS RIGHT HERE,
THIS IS A DROP-DEAD, KILLER CLAIM, YOU KNOW?
THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE PLACE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
IF WE'RE GONNA MINE, OUR FUTURE STARTS RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: BUT THE HOFFMANS STILL HAVE TO STRIKE A DEAL
BEFORE THEY CAN MINE THE NEW CLAIM.
Steve: JACK AND TODD ARE GOOD GUYS, BUT I'M A BUSINESSMAN,
AND GOOD GUYS DON'T NECESSARILY BRING IN THE CASH.
Narrator: MINING THIS FAR NORTH IS TOUGH.
THE GROUND IS FROZEN, AND THE SEASON IS SHORT.
BUT WITH GIANT NUGGETS HIDDEN IN THE PERMAFROST,
THE REWARDS COULD BE HUGE.
Todd: WE'RE GONNA NEED A MINIMUM OF 300 OUNCES
TO MAKE THIS THING PAY.
I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO IT.
SO, WE'RE GONNA FRICKIN' FIND OUT.