Narrator: TODD AND JACK HOFFMAN ARE LEADING A TEAM OF GREENHORNS
INTO THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO LOSE YOUR HOUSE. DON'T LOSE FAITH.
THEY'RE RISKING IT ALL TO FIND GOLD...
LOOK AT THAT.
...AND SAVE THEIR FAMILIES.
HOLY [BLEEP] GET THE FRICK BACK!
LET'S GO. AMEN.
NOW THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE
AS THEY RACE TO GET MINING.
GET BACK! GET BACK!
[ METAL CREAKS ]
THEIR ONLY MECHANIC,
JAMES HARNESS, FALLS DANGEROUSLY ILL...
IF HE GOES, WE'RE SCREWED.
Narrator: ...THEIR MINING MACHINES RUN OUT OF CONTROL...
SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET KILLED.
Narrator: ...AND DORSEY GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH TODD.
DON'T TALK TO ME THAT WAY.
DON'T TRY TO INTIMIDATE ME. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
THE HOFFMANS AND THEIR TEAM OF MINERS
ARE READYING THE CLAIM FOR THEIR MINING MACHINES.
I PLACED A LOG RIGHT HERE.
I GOT A COUPLE MORE LOGS TO PLACE.
JACK AND GREG
ARE BUILDING THE RAMP WHERE WE'RE GONNA PUT THE SHAKER.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET THE TROMMEL
AND THE SHAKER IN PLACE TODAY.
SO THAT'D BE GOOD.
Narrator: THEY'VE BEEN HERE THREE WEEKS
AND HAVE JUST FOUR MONTHS LEFT
BEFORE THE BRUTAL ALASKAN WINTER FREEZES THE LAND,
MAKING MINING IMPOSSIBLE.
THE HOFFMANS' $100,000 WORKING CAPITAL WON'T LAST THE SUMMER.
THEY HAVE TO STRIKE GOLD.
Todd: I'M GUESSING WE'RE SOMEWHERE
IN THE $27,000- TO $32,000-A-MONTH RANGE.
DAD, IT'S -- IT'S BASICALLY 1,000 BUCKS A DAY.
WE'VE GOT TO GET -- GET MINING.
YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO MAKE SOME MONEY.
I GOT TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, DAD.
I'M GONNA PUT A LITTLE PLAN TOGETHER
TO GET US ALL GOING HERE.
TODD AND JACK HAVE BEEN DIGGING UP DIRT, LOOKING FOR GOLD,
BUT THE MACHINES TO EXTRACT IT SIT IN PIECES ACROSS THE CLAIM.
THE CREW HAVE TO PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER,
BUT NONE OF THEM HAS EVER DONE IT ON THIS SCALE BEFORE.
JAMES, YOU WANT TO RIDE WITH ME?
TO GET IT RIGHT, TODD'S TAKING HIS CHIEF MECHANIC,
JAMES HARNESS, FOR SOME ADVICE FROM AN EXPERT.
ACROSS THE CREEK FROM THE HOFFMANS
LIES THE BIG NUGGET MINE.
ITS OWNER IS 90-YEAR-OLD JOHN SCHNABEL,
A MINING LEGEND AND A VERY RICH MAN.
JOHN, I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY MECHANIC, JAMES.
Schnabel: YOU'RE A VALUABLE MAN.
[ LAUGHTER ] SOMETIMES.
SO, THIS IS YOUR PLANT, HUH?
Narrator: THIS IS A WASH PLANT,
JUST LIKE THE HOFFMANS PLAN TO BUILD.
IT SEPARATES TINY PARTICLES OF GOLD
FROM THOUSANDS OF TONS OF EARTH AND ROCK...
USING THREE MAIN COMPONENTS --
A SHAKER...
A TROMMEL...
AND A DUPLEX JIG.
FIRST, DIRT IS DROPPED INTO THE SHAKER.
THE GIANT SIEVE SHAKES AWAY THE BIG BOULDERS
AND ALLOWS GOLD AND SMALLER ROCK TO FALL THROUGH TO THE BOTTOM.
NEXT, THE DIRT MOVES THROUGH TO THE TROMMEL --
A BIG WASHING MACHINE THAT BREAKS DOWN THE DIRT
INTO EVEN SMALLER PARTICLES THAT TRAVEL DOWN TO THE DUPLEX JIG.
THE JIG IS THE FINAL FILTER IN THE WASH PLANT.
UNDER THE WATER LIES STEEL SHOT.
THE JIG VIBRATES THE MATERIAL THROUGH THE SHOT
SO THE HEAVIER PARTICLES FALL TO THE BOTTOM.
GOLD IS 18 TIMES HEAVIER THAN WATER,
SO WHEN IT WIGGLES, THE WATER LIFTS THE DIRT UP
AND GIVES ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE GOLD TO FALL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.
SO, IS IT, LIKE, LOOSENING UP THE DIRT? YEAH.
THIS FINELY TUNED SYSTEM
HAS TAKEN 10 YEARS FOR JOHN SCHNABEL TO PERFECT.
WELL, IT LOOKS COMPLICATED. I HOPE I CAN FIGURE THIS OUT.
[ LAUGHS ]
GETTING THEIR WASH PLANT SET UP RIGHT
WILL BE THE KEY TO MAKING MONEY.
Schnabel: IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO PICK UP
$25,000, $30,000 IN A SHIFT -- ONE DAY.
WOW.
THAT'S COOL, MAN.
THANKS FOR SHOWING US AROUND.
WE GOT TO HEAD OFF. LET'S GO.
GOOD LUCK, JACK.
OKAY. WE NEED IT.
I KNOW EVERY MINER NEEDS IT. [ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: ON THEIR WAY HOME, THE CREWS STOP OFF AT PORCUPINE BRIDGE.
WELL, WHAT'D YOU GUYS THINK OF HIS DEAL?
IT'S PRETTY COMPLICATED COMPARED TO WHAT I THOUGHT IT'D BE.
THE PROBLEM IS GONNA BE PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
WE GOT TO BUILD THINGS UP AND GET THE HEIGHT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO START TOO HIGH.
THEN YOU GOT TO DRIVE UP THIS RAMP TO GET YOUR STUFF UP.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO BOTH WAYS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BUILD UP AND PUT STUFF ON A HILL,
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DIG DOWN IN ORDER TO GET THAT DROP.
IT'S REALLY, ACTUALLY, PRETTY TRICKY.
YEAH.
YOU GOT TO FIGURE THIS OUT, MAN.
A LOT OF THIS IS GONNA BE RIDING ON YOUR SHOULDERS.
I -- I'VE NEVER LET YOU DOWN BEFORE, MAN.
I'M NOT GONNA DO IT NOW.
Narrator: HARNESS' PLAN IS TO PLACE THE WASH PLANT
BETWEEN THE CAMP AND THE CREEK
FROM WHERE THEY'LL DRAW THEIR WATER.
THEY'LL RAISE THE SHAKER ONTO A RAMP...
SET THE TROMMEL AT GROUND LEVEL...
AND DIG A HOLE TO PUT THE DUPLEX JIG IN.
THEY'LL LINK THE MACHINES USING SLUICE BOXES.
SET THEM TOO STEEP, AND THEY'LL FLUSH GOLD AWAY.
TOO FLAT, AND MATERIAL WILL COME TO A STANDSTILL.
THE ANGLES AND THE WATER FLOW HAVE TO BE JUST RIGHT.
WE ARE GOING TO PLACE THE TROMMEL.
Narrator: THE TROMMEL IS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE HOFFMAN'S WASH PLANT.
[ METAL CREAKING ]
Remsburg: BRING IT CLOSER TO YOU SO YOU GOT MORE CONTROL.
THIS IS A PRETTY IMPORTANT PIECE OF OUR PROCESSING EQUIPMENT.
WE STILL GOT SOME WORK YET TO DO ON IT.
Narrator: THEY HAND-BUILT THE TROMMEL FROM SCRATCH,
AND IT'S STILL UNFINISHED AND UNTESTED.
WE HAVE NO IDEA IF IT WORKS.
WE JUST HOPE IT LASTS ENOUGH FOR US TO GET SOME GOLD.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE HIM COME UP HERE, BACK IT IN,
AND SET IT RIGHT IN HERE...
ON THESE TWO LOGS.
DAD, WATCH THE LITTLE GUY.
LOOKING GOOD, JACK.
OH, NO, YOU'RE GOOD. THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S GOOD.
YOU'RE GOOD.
OKAY, COME DOWN, JACK.
WE'RE GONNA UNHOOK YOU, AND THEN WE'LL GO GET THE SHAKER. ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: THE SHAKER WEIGHS 22,000 POUNDS.
THE 400, THE EXCAVATOR, WILL MOVE IT,
BUT IT TAKES ALL THAT IT'S GOT.
IT'S KIND OF DANGEROUS.
Narrator: A WEEK AGO, JACK HOFFMAN ALMOST DESTROYED THE SHAKER
WHEN IT WAS DELIVERED TO THE CAMP.
OH! OH, NO!
GOOD LORD.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN DROPPED ONCE, SO...
WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE NOT TO DO THAT ANYMORE.
Narrator: JACK DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE.
Jack: HEY, TODD, YOU'RE HOOKED UP WRONG.
DON'T DO THAT.
Todd: DON'T DO WHAT?!
DON'T HOOK 'EM UP WRONG.
YEAH, YOU HOOK 'EM UP, THEN YOU GO OVER THE TOP.
HE GETS ME INTO TROUBLE,
AND I DON'T NEED ANY MORE TROUBLE, SO...
Todd: HEY, DON'T LISTEN TO HIM.
HE GETS HIMSELF INTO ENOUGH TROUBLE.
TRUST ME.
THERE'S ALL KIND OF MARKS ON THIS THING.
HE DID THOSE ALL BY HIMSELF.
LISTEN, I NEED ONE GUY TELLING ME STUFF.
GREG'S THE RIGGER. TODD'S NOT.
READY?
OKAY, KEEP IT LOW.
KEEP IT LOW! KEEP IT LOW!
COME UP A LITTLE.
Narrator: JACK'S KEEPING THE SHAKER CLOSE TO THE GROUND
SO THAT IF HE DROPS IT, IT WON'T GET DAMAGED.
SEE WHAT I MEAN? A LITTLE DANGEROUS.
BUT HE HAS TO LIFT IT UP TO GET IT ON THE RAMP.
HOP UP ON THE RAMP IF YOU CAN.
OKAY.
BRING IT UP, BRING IT UP.
[ METAL CREAKS ]
IF YOU DO ANY MOVEMENT, COME MY WAY.
LOOKING GOOD.
FINALLY, THE SHAKER IS SAFELY ON ITS RAMP, ABOVE THE TROMMEL.
IT'S PRETTY WELL CENTERED.
I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOOD FOR NOW.
WE CAN PUSH IT AROUND WITH THE 270.
NEXT, THE BEATING HEART OF TODD'S MINE ARRIVES --
A MASSIVE GENERATOR THAT WILL POWER THE WHOLE WASH PLANT.
IT KICKS OUT 200,000 WATTS,
CAN POWER 160 HOMES,
AND WEIGHS 25,000 POUNDS.
I WANT IT RIGHT ABOUT HERE.
IT'S TOO HEAVY FOR THE 400 TO LIFT.
I CAN HAVE HIM JUST BACK THAT DOZER DOWN IN HERE,
AND WE CAN JUST CHAIN OFF OF IT.
HE WANTS TO ANCHOR THE GENERATOR TO THE D-6 DOZER...
PUT THAT HITCH RIGHT HERE!
...AND DRIVE THE LOADER AWAY.
THERE'S ONLY ONE CHAIN, AND IT WILL BE AT BREAKING POINT.
IF THAT CHAIN SNAPS, BE CAREFUL 'CAUSE PIECES COULD FLY.
YEAH.
Todd: CHAIN CAN SNAP. IT'S NOT LIKE CABLE.
Narrator: TODD KNOWS THE DANGERS ALL TOO WELL.
BACK IN OREGON WHEN THE GENERATOR WAS BEING LOADED,
THERE WAS A NEAR-FATAL CABLE SNAP.
WATCH THAT CABLE.
[ CABLE SNAPS ] OH!
Dorsey: THAT COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEBODY.
Todd: HEY, YOU SHUT UP.
YOU DON'T TALK LIKE THAT.
LET'S DO IT.
OKAY, LET'S JUST DROP HER HERE.
OH!
THEIR ONLY CHAIN HAS BROKEN,
BUT THEY COME UP WITH A NEW PLAN.
YEAH, WE GOT ENOUGH HANGING OFF,
HE THINKS, THAT WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD
AND JUST PUT HER DOWN ON THE GROUND.
[ METAL CREAKING ]
SWEET.
AFTER ITS EPIC JOURNEY,
TODD GIVES THE GENERATOR A HEALTH CHECK.
Todd: UH-OH.
THOUSANDS OF MILES ON A BARGE.
IT LOOKS OKAY, THOUGH.
HERE'S THE JIG, THE PUMP,
PUMP TWO, PUMP THREE.
HERE'S THE TROMMEL AND THE SHAKER.
Narrator: THE LAST AND LOWEST PIECE OF THE WASH PLANT
IS THE DUPLEX JIG.
THE CREW MUST DIG A HOLE
EXACTLY 7 FEET DEEP TO PUT THE JIG IN
SO THE GOLD WILL FLOW DOWN THE SLUICE BOX
AS THEY PUT IT IN PLACE.
IF THE HOLE'S THE WRONG DEPTH,
THE JIG WON'T COLLECT ALL THE GOLD,
AND THEY'LL BE THROWING MONEY AWAY.
THIS TIME, TODD ISN'T TAKING ANY CHANCES WITH JACK.
IF WE SCREW THIS JIG UP, OUR SEASON'S PRETTY MUCH OVER.
Narrator: SO HE'S TAKING CONTROL HIMSELF.
YEAH.
OKAY, DOWN.
THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S PERFECT.
GOOD JOB, BUDDY. HEY.
THE JIG ALMOST COMPLETES THE WASH PLANT.
ALL THAT REMAINS IS TO LINK IT ALL TOGETHER.
UP AHEAD, THE HOFFMANS' PLANS COLLAPSE
AS THEIR ONLY MECHANIC, JAMES HARNESS,
FALLS DANGEROUSLY ILL...
[ COUGHS ]
IF WE DON'T HAVE HIM, THAT WOULD BE A DISASTER.
Narrator: ...TODD FACES MUTINY...
HEY, DON'T YELL AT ME, OR I'LL PUNCH YOU RIGHT IN THE FRICKIN' FACE.
DO YOU HEAR ME?
...AND THE FORCES OF NATURE THREATEN TO DESTROY THE CAMP.
GET THE FRICK BACK!
Narrator: TODD HOFFMAN AND HIS DAD, JACK,
ARE TRYING TO START A GOLD MINE IN THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS.
COME ON.
THEY'RE BURNING THROUGH THEIR $100,000 CAPITAL FAST,
AND THE SHORT MINING SEASON IS SLIPPING AWAY.
PROMISED THESE GUYS WE'D BE MINING A WEEK AND A HALF AGO,
AND WE'RE NOT.
WITH THEIR MINING MACHINES IN PLACE,
THEY STILL HAVE HEAVY ENGINEERING TO DO
BEFORE THEY CAN RUN DIRT.
BUT THE MAN WITH THE PLAN IS IN HIS TRAILER.
JAMES, YOU -- YOU ALL RIGHT, BUD?
Harness: [ COUGHS ] LOST MY LOWER BACK.
OH, NO.
Narrator: JAMES HARNESS INJURED HIS SPINE
10 YEARS AGO IN A CAR ACCIDENT
AND DEPENDS ON MORPHINE TO COPE WITH THE PAIN.
BUT TODAY, IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
YOU CAN'T WALK?
I DIDN'T BRING MY CRUTCHES.
ALL RIGHT, BROTHER. YOU GET SOME REST.
OKAY, MAN.
IT'S NOT JUST HIS BACK THAT'S CAUSING JAMES PROBLEMS.
HE'S ALSO SUFFERING FROM A CHEST INFECTION.
Harness: GOT A VIRUS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
IT'S TAKEN ME OUT -- UPPER RESPIRATORY.
A LOT OF BAD THINGS GOING ON.
[ COUGHS ]
Todd: IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE HAVE HIM HEALTHY AND READY TO GO.
HE'S ALREADY SAVED OUR BACON SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS TRIP.
[ SIGHS ]
JAMES IS SICK, AND SO...
IF WE DON'T HAVE HIM, THEN, TO ME, THAT WOULD BE A DISASTER.
[ JAMES COUGHS ]
Narrator: TODD CALLS THE DOCTOR.
Todd: I AM MINING WAY OUT IN PORCUPINE.
ONE OF MY CREW MEMBERS, HE'S SICK.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'RE GONNA HEAD IN.
[ COUGHS ]
I'M REALLY SORRY YOU'RE FEELING LIKE CRAP, DUDE.
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!
Narrator: WITH TODD AND JAMES GONE, THE REST OF THE TEAM MUST PUSH ON.
THEY'RE LOSING $1,000 EVERY DAY THEY'RE NOT MINING
AND NOW HAVE TO TRY AND GET THE SHAKER ASSEMBLED
WITHOUT THEIR LEADER OR CHIEF MECHANIC.
WATCH YOUR HEAD.
THE SHAKER HAS TO BE FITTED WITH PERFORATED PUNCH PLATES
THAT WILL ONLY ALLOW SMALLER ROCKS AND GOLD
TO FALL INTO THE WASH PLANT,
BUT THE PLATES DON'T FIT.
Thurber: WE HAVE A GRATE THAT WAS PERFECTLY FLAT.
THE BED THAT IT SITS ON IN THE SHAKER IS RADIUSED.
WE HAD TO BEND THIS TO CONFORM TO THE RADIUSED RAILS.
Narrator: EX-SHEET-METAL WORKER JIM THURBER
IS USED TO WORKING WITH PRECISION EQUIPMENT,
BUT TODAY HAS TO IMPROVISE WITH NOTHING MORE
THAN A BULLDOZER AND A BACKHOE.
THIS HAS GOT TO BE DEAD-NUTS PERFECT.
Narrator: THEY MUST BEND THE PLATES TO THE EXACT CURVE
SO THAT THEY'LL FIT PERFECTLY ON THE SHAKER.
[ METAL CREAKING ]
KEEP YOUR HAND UP SO I KNOW WHEN.
KEEP MOTIONING, KEEP MOTIONING.
WITH OVER 40 YEARS COMBINED EXPERIENCE
WORKING ON CONSTRUCTION SITES, GREG AND THURBER
HAVE MANAGED TO GET THE FIRST OF THE PLATES INCH-PERFECT.
THEY'VE ASKED REALTOR JIMMY DORSEY
TO ANGLE-GRIND THE EDGES.
MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT THROWING SPARKS AT SOMEBODY ELSE.
IN HIS RUSH TO GET MINING,
DORSEY'S IGNORING BASIC SAFETY RULES.
YOU GOT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER FACE SHIELD IN THERE...
FOR YOU.
MY GOGGLES AND A BEARD.
FACE SHIELD.
Dorsey: WE'RE SAFE GUYS, SLOW BUT SAFE --
UNPRODUCTIVELY UNPROFITABLE... SAFE.
Narrator: ALARM BELLS ARE RINGING FOR TEAM SAFETY OFFICER JIM THURBER.
Thurber: HE'S MY BIGGEST WORRY.
SOMEHOW, HE'S NOT KILLED HIMSELF.
HE'S GONNA DO ONE OF US IN.
HE SPOTS YET ANOTHER MISTAKE FROM DORSEY.
Thurber: WHEN WE USE A TOOL...
3,500 RPM, WHEN YOU TURN IT OFF, IT DOESN'T STOP.
WHEN YOU LAID IT DOWN, YOU KNOW, AGAINST THERE,
YOU KNOW, IT GROUND THROUGH THE JACKET.
I KNOW. IT'S ALL RIGHT, THOUGH.
IT'S NOT ALL RIGHT BECAUSE WHEN YOU CUT THROUGH THERE,
I CAN'T USE THIS TOOL.
DORSEY'S ATTITUDE FORCES TEAM FOREMAN GREG TO STEP IN.
I'M COUNTING ON YOU,
AND A FEW TIMES, I'VE GONE LIKE THIS, QUESTIONING, "AM I CLEAR?"
AND YOU'RE WALKING AROUND LIKE THIS, LOOKING AT THE MOUNTAINS.
WE'VE WALKING THIS SAME LINE, THOUGH, FOR ALL DAY LONG.
THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS.
WELL, I'M NOT GONNA TAKE YOU JUST YELLING AT ME.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, DORSE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME, TOO.
THEN YOU NEED TO TAKE THE INFORMATION.
I TOOK THE INFORMATION. I TOOK THE INFORMATION.
YOU'VE TAKEN IT MORE THAN ONCE,
AND WHEN IT'S THE SAME PERSON MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE,
THE VOLUME GOES UP AND 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.
AS SOON AS SOMEBODY GETS RUN OVER, YOU'LL EAT THOSE WORDS.
I'LL SHOW YOU PICTURES OF PEOPLE THAT THREW CAUTION TO THE WIND.
WE'RE GONNA BE THERE FOR A SECOND -- DEADER THAN DEAD.
I'LL SHOW YOU THE PICTURE
OF HIS WHOLE [BLEEP] INTESTINES COMING OUT OF HIS THROAT,
THEN HIS BRAIN BLOWN OUT THE TOP OF HIS HEAD.
DO YOU WANT TO SEE THAT, DUDE?
I JUST WANT THE DAMN THINGS DONE.
OH, WAY AHEAD OF YOU.
WELL, I WANTED TO BE MINING GOLD LAST WEEK, TOO.
SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET HURT AT THE MINIMUM -- AT THE MINIMUM.
SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET KILLED.
Dorsey: WE'RE AT THIS PACE WHERE WE WILL HAVE THIS THING DONE
BY THE END OF THE SUMMER,
AND BY THAT TIME, I'M BROKE --
GOLD MINING [SCOFFS] I'M DONE WITH GOLD MINING AT THAT POINT.
Narrator: JAMES AND TODD RETURN FROM THE DOCTOR.
[ COUGHS ]
IT'S MORE SERIOUS THAN THEY THOUGHT.
Harness: DID A LOT OF DIFFERENT TESTS --
HE SAYS I'VE GOT A HORRIBLE INFECTION.
AND IT'S MOST LIKELY PNEUMONIA.
I MAY HAVE TO GO IN THE HOSPITAL...
IF IT'S THE BAD KIND OF PNEUMONIA
THAT STARTS TO EAT YOU UP.
THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF.
YOU CAN'T EVEN BE IN THE SUN WHEN YOU TAKE IT.
Narrator: JAMES IS UNDER DOCTOR'S ORDER TO LAY LOW FOR THREE DAYS.
[ COUGHING ]
I FEEL...JUST REALLY SICK.
I COULDN'T FIX ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.
I CAN BARELY WALK.
Narrator: WITHOUT A MECHANIC,
THE HOFFMANS WON'T HAVE A WASH PLANT.
Todd: WE'RE REALLY, REALLY IN DEEP, DEEP TROUBLE.
IT COULD POSSIBLY JEOPARDIZE THE WHOLE OPERATION.
Narrator: THE HOFFMANS AND THEIR TEAM OF MINERS
HAVE BEEN IN CAMP FOR FOUR WEEKS.
BUT THEY STILL HAVEN'T GOT THEIR WASH PLANT WORKING.
100,000 POUNDS OF MACHINERY LIES UNFINISHED AND UNCONNECTED.
Dorsey: IF YOU NOTICE, THERE'S NO ELECTRICAL CORDS
GOING TO ANY OF THIS STUFF,
AND THERE'S NO WATER GOING TO ANY OF THIS STUFF.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET THE GOLD FROM THE GROUND
AND DUMP IT INTO A -- INTO THAT MACHINE UP THERE.
AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT THE OTHER END AS MONEY.
THIS ISN'T GONNA PAY MY BILLS.
IT DEFINITELY ISN'T GONNA TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY.
Narrator: LIKE THE REST OF THE CREW, DORSEY IS UNEMPLOYED
AND HAS COME HERE TO MAKE MONEY TO FEED HIS FAMILY.
TODAY, BOTH HE AND TODD ARE DRIVING THE 30 MILES
TO HAINES AIRPORT TO PICK UP THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN.
Todd: SO, I'M JUST EXCITED TO SEE MY LITTLE BABY GIRL AND MY WIFE,
YOU KNOW, LET THEM GET UP HERE AND BE A PART OF THIS, YOU KNOW?
SO, BUT, YEAH, I AM KIND OF SCARED THAT --
THAT WE'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH INFRA--
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THEM.
JIMMY DORSEY SPENT MOST OF HIS MEAGER SAVINGS
GETTING HIS WIFE, JOY, AND THEIR KIDS, ELLA AND HANK, TO ALASKA.
THAT IS HER.
THAT'S HER.
THIS HAS TO WORK FOR OUR FAMILY, AND, YEAH, I'M NERVOUS THAT,
YOU KNOW, IF SHE'S GONNA BE HAPPY UP HERE.
HEY, IT IS THEM.
SO GOOD TO SEE YOU!
OH.
HI, BUD.
HI.
I MISSED YOU.
YEAH, I MISSED YOU, TOO.
YAY!
Narrator: IT'S A BIG DAY FOR TODD, TOO,
AS HE'S REUNITED WITH HIS WIFE, SHAWNA,
AND THEIR DAUGHTER, OLIVIA.
DID YOU HAVE A GOOD TRIP? OH, I GOT A BIG HUG.
IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK.
I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT. I'M IN AWE.
HI, JOY. HOW YOU DOING?
I'M GOOD. DOING GOOD.
LIFE HERE IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM OREGON.
DO WE HAVE AN ESPRESSO MACHINE? NO.
I JUST WANT TO SEE WHERE OUR HOME IS.
NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS ARE... THE DORSEYS.
[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]
WOW. THIS WILL BE A NICE HOME.
HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.
Narrator: THE FAMILIES GET THEIR FIRST LOOK AT THEIR NEW HOMES.
THIS IS A NICE VIEW.
WOW, I DID NOT EXPECT THIS.
IT'S BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
IT'S AMAZING.
I MEAN, THE SCENERY IS INCREDIBLE AND BEAUTIFUL,
AND JIMMY HAS BLOWN ME AWAY WITH THIS CABIN.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE TINY AND TERRIBLE,
AND IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.
Narrator: AFTER FIVE WEEKS APART,
THE FAMILIES ARE FINALLY REUNITED.
BUT THIS IS NO VACATION.
DORSEY'S HERE TO MINE GOLD,
AND HIS DAUGHTER, ELLA, GETS STRAIGHT TO THE POINT.
DADDY? YEAH?
HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY GOLD YET IN?
CAN YOU SHOW ME GOLD WHEN YOU GET IT?
YEAH, I DON'T HAVE ANY GOLD YET.
WE HAVEN'T RAN ANY. BUT WE'VE DUG SOME HOLES.
YOU SEE THESE HOLES?
YOU OKAY?
Joy: I'M, LIKE, WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
THEY HAVE ALL THIS GIANT EQUIPMENT, AND THEY HAVE, LIKE,
A COUPLE BARRELS OF TUPPERWARE CONTAINERS,
AND THEY'RE, LIKE, PICKING THROUGH ROCKS.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
LOOK AT ALL THAT DIRT DADDY GOT.
COME HERE. I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT I'M DOING.
OKAY, SO, WHAT WE DO...
THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER A MONTH.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON HERE.
SO, YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANY GOLD MINING.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING UP HERE -- VACATIONING?
MOMMY!
NO, I KNOW. YOU'VE BEEN BUILDING ME A CABIN.
I KNOW. BUT THERE [LAUGHS]
WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING ABOUT?
IS IT FUNNY? NO.
IT'S NOT FUNNY.
YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING KIND OF PISSED OFF AT THESE GUYS
'CAUSE WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING.
THEY HAVEN'T GOT ANYTHING TOGETHER, AND I CAN'T DO IT.
AND I CAN'T WELD IT. WHY ARE YOU SMILING ABOUT?
WHY ARE YOU SMILING?
YOU KNOW...
IS IT FUNNY TO YOU?
NO, NOT AT ALL.
WELL, THEN, DON'T SMILE ABOUT IT.
Narrator: EVERYONE AT PORCUPINE CREEK
IS INVESTING FIVE MONTHS OF THEIR LIFE UNPAID.
AND THEY'RE SERIOUSLY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
IF THEY DON'T GET THIS WASH PLANT WORKING
AND START FINDING GOLD SOON,
THEY'RE FACING FINANCIAL DISASTER.
JIMMY DORSEY'S HAD ENOUGH
AND LEVELS WITH TEAM FOREMAN GREG.
WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE TALK.
WE DON'T NEED A COMMITTEE.
NO, WE NEED A PLAN, THOUGH,
AND RIGHT NOW, I CAN'T LIVE THE REST OF THE SUMMER
WITH WHAT I'VE GOT IN MY BANK ACCOUNT.
NEITHER CAN I.
WE'RE THINKING ALIKE HERE.
WE GOT TO APPROACH TODD WITH THIS.
HE'S GOT TO BE -- HE'S GOT TO STEP UP AND LEAD US.
HEY, TODD, COME HERE.
ARE WE MINING TODAY?
UM, NO, WE'RE NOT.
WHY?
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MEETING. I DON'T WANT A MEETING.
I'M GONNA CALL A MEETING HERE IN A BIT.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY WE'RE NOT MINING TODAY.
HEY, DON'T YELL AT ME, OR I'LL PUNCH YOU RIGHT IN THE FRICKIN' FACE.
DO YOU HEAR ME? DON'T TALK TO ME THAT WAY.
DON'T TRY TO INTIMIDATE ME.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? DON'T TALK TO ME THAT WAY.
DON'T TRY TO INTIMIDATE ME.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MEETING IN A SECOND.
YOU WANT TO COME HARD? COME HARD. I AM COMING HARD!
I WANT TO KNOW WHY WE'RE NOT MINING TODAY.
THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS. SOME OF IT'S YOUR FAULT.
SOME OF IT'S HIS FAULT. SOME OF IT'S MY FAULT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MEETING, AND YOU CAN AIR IT THERE.
EVERYBODY WILL BE THERE.
THE PRESSURE IS ON TODD TO GET HIS TEAM MINING.
WITH DOUBTS CAST OVER HIS LEADERSHIP,
HE CALLS A CRISIS MEETING FOR THE WHOLE CREW.
EVEN JAMES HARNESS DRAGS HIMSELF OUT OF HIS TRAILER TO MAKE IT.
Todd: I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF NOT BEING A GOOD LEADER.
SOME OF THAT IS TOTALLY TRUE,
BUT WE ARE SO CLOSE TO BE MINING.
WE HAVE...
9 THINGS THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IN 72 HOURS FROM THIS POINT,
AND WE COULD BE RUNNING ROCK.
OKAY, SO, HERE'S THE LIST.
THE SHAKER HOLD DOWNS -- YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IT.
YEAH. OKAY.
GREG AND THURBER, IF YOU COULD HELP JAMES WITH THE SHAKER.
DAD, FINISHING THE PLUMBING ON THE JIG AND SET IT IN THERE.
WE GOT TO BE ROCKIN' AND ROLLIN'.
DORSEY, YOU'RE GONNA BE WORKING WITH ME
SO THAT NOBODY ELSE HURTS YOU OR YOU DON'T HURT ANYBODY ELSE.
I DON'T WANT ANYBODY ELSE TO HURT YOU.
DON'T THROW ME UNDER THE BUS RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, FINE.
I DIDN'T HURT NOBODY ELSE SO FAR.
OKAY, SHUT YOUR MOUTH. DON'T INTERRUPT.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE GONNA DO IT.
I DON'T CARE IF WE GOT TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT.
WE CAN ACTUALLY TURN EQUIPMENT ON,
START TESTING IT WITHIN 72 HOURS.
Narrator: THERE'S A LOT RIDING ON TODD'S DEADLINE.
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, AND I'M GONNA GET A JOB.
I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THAT.
I WILL MAKE MONEY THIS SUMMER, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
Narrator: TODD'S PROMISED HIS CREW
THEY CAN BE UP AND RUNNING IN THREE DAYS.
IN 72 HOURS, THIS EQUIPMENT'S GONNA BE RUNNING --
72 HOURS FROM RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS AN AMAZING AMOUNT TO DO.
Narrator: HARNESS IS FEELING BETTER AND BACK IN THE SADDLE.
EVEN DORSEY IS ADJUSTING TO HIS ROLE AS TODD'S ASSISTANT.
TURN THE HEAT UP A LITTLE BIT.
Dorsey: THE MONEY SEASON'S ONLY A FEW MONTHS LONG.
WE GOT TO BE TURNING SOME STUFF ON IN 72 HOURS.
Narrator: BUT TODD KNOWS THEY WON'T HIT THEIR DEADLINE
UNLESS THEY GET HELP.
IF YOU COULD COME UP HERE, DUDE,
EVEN FOR A COUPLE FRICKIN' DAYS AND JUST...
IT WOULD BE HUGE FOR ME, DUDE.
HE'S ASKING A BIG FAVOR FROM AN OLD FRIEND -- DAVE TURIN.
DAVE RUNS A SUCCESSFUL QUARRY BACK IN SANDY, OREGON,
AND KNOWS EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT MINING.
I'LL COME PICK YOU UP AND FEED YOU SOME CRAPPY FOOD AND...
PUT YOU ON A -- PUT YOU ON AN AIR MATTRESS, YOU KNOW?
WHATEVER IT TAKES. YEAH.
AWESOME.
TAKE CARE. BYE.
[ BEEP ]
OOH, THAT'S HUGE.
WITHOUT DAVE FIGURING THIS OUT,
I HONESTLY THINK I'D SCREW THIS UP.
ME AND MY DAD WOULD SCREW THIS ONE UP ROYAL.
Narrator: WITH DAVE 24 HOURS AWAY AND THE CLOCK TICKING,
THE CREW HAS NO TIME TO WASTE
TO GET THE REST OF THE MINE UP AND RUNNING.
YEAH, HE'S GONNA START DIGGING THE WATER INTAKE OVER HERE.
Narrator: THE INTAKE IS A 60-YARD TRENCH
DIRECTING WATER FROM PORCUPINE CREEK
TO A HOLDING POND AS CLOSE TO THE WASH PLANT AS THEY CAN GET.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BRING IN ABOUT 1,000 GALLONS A MINUTE.
Narrator: ONCE THIS HUGE VOLUME OF WATER
IS FLOWING DOWN THE TRENCH TO THE HOLDING POND,
IT'LL ACT AS A RESERVOIR FOR THE WASH PLANT.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS WATER, YOU DON'T MINE.
IT'S JUST -- WE NEED IT.
WE'RE GONNA GET IT AND PRETTY SOON.
Narrator: BUT JIMMY DORSEY IS ANXIOUS THAT THE PLAN IS DANGEROUSLY FLAWED.
THIS LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY INNOCENT CREEK,
BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW FAST THIS WATER FLOWS.
I'M AFRAID THIS THING COULD NOT ONLY FILL UP OUR HOLDING POND,
BUT FLOOD OUR CAMP AND THEN WASH OUT THE ROAD.
Narrator: BUT JACK DOESN'T SEEM WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING
EXCEPT GETTING MINING.
SO, WE'RE OPENING UP OUR STORE.
JACK'S GOT THE TRENCH READY TO GO.
AND WE'RE GONNA RELEASE THE WATER,
AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL COME DOWN OUR TRENCH
AND FILL UP OUR INTAKE POND.
WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
THERE YOU GO.
WE DID IT.
HEY, YOU STAY AWAY FROM THE EDGE.
IT'S STARTING TO UNDERMINE RIGHT THERE. BACK UP.
Narrator: THE WATER IS CAUSING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE POND.
THE SIDES ARE COLLAPSING.
I THINK THIS IS THE PROBLEM.
WE'RE GONNA LOSE THIS BANK, AREN'T WE?
THERE IT GOES.
BACK IT UP.
Narrator: IF THE POND CAVES IN, IT'LL WIPE OUT THE ROAD BEHIND
AND TAKE OUT THE WASH PLANT.
THE HOFFMANS MUST MAKE A DECISION.
HEY, DAD, I THINK WE BETTER GET THIS SHUT OFF
OR WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BIG MESS ON OUR HANDS.
DO YOU WANT TO STICK WITH IT?
IF WE GET WITHIN A FOOT, I'LL SHUT IT OFF.
Todd: GONNA LET THE WATER FLOW TONIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT THE DAMAGE IS.
WE'RE GONNA PUT JIMMY ON POND WATCH TONIGHT.
Dorsey: GONNA SEE IF THIS THING HOLDS.
IF IT DOESN'T...
THEN WE'LL BE WORKING FOR ANOTHER WEEK
ON JUST TRYING TO REPAIR WHAT WE JUST DID.
Narrator: THEY ARE TAKING THEIR BIGGEST GAMBLE YET.
AT FIRST LIGHT, TODD, GREG, AND THURBER
ARE UP TO CHECK IF THE SIDES OF THE POND HAVE HELD OUT.
Todd: WE GOT BLESSED ON THIS ONE, GUYS.
COULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE DISASTER,
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S TURNED OUT LIKE WE PLANNED,
WHICH IS ACTUALLY PRETTY RARE.
THIS REALLY DOES MEAN WE CAN MINE.
Narrator: THE HOFFMANS HAVE TWO MORE DAYS
TO GET THEIR WASH PLANT UP AND RUNNING.
BOOSTED BY THE SUCCESS OF THE CHANNEL OPENING,
TODD WANTS TO TRY THE BIGGEST
AND MOST DANGEROUS PIECE OF MACHINERY
A DAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
TONIGHT, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO TEST OUT THE SHAKER.
THAT'S A BIG DEAL... WHETHER IT WORKS OR NOT.
I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GONNA WORK OR NOT
AND NEITHER DOES HARNESS HERE. IT'LL WORK.
IF IT DOESN'T, WE'VE PUT A LOT OF MONEY AND WORK AND ENERGY
INTO THAT STUPID THING.
I'M GONNA FRIGGIN' PUT A PIECE OF DYNAMITE UNDER IT
AND BLOW IT THE FRICK UP.
Narrator: THE HOFFMANS AND THEIR TEAM OF MINERS
ARE LOSING $1,000 EVERY DAY THEY'RE NOT MINING.
WE'RE $15,000 TO $20,000 BEHIND, AND WE'RE 2 WEEKS BEHIND.
Narrator: THE PRESSURE'S ON.
THEY'VE ALLOTTED THEMSELVES TWO MORE DAYS
TO GET THEIR MACHINERY WORKING AND START MAKING MONEY.
THIS MORNING, TODD AND JACK ARE ON THEIR WAY TO HAINES AIRPORT
TO PICK UP THEIR TRUMP CARD FROM OREGON.
DAVE TURIN IS COMING UP TO TRY TO HELP AND ADVISE US.
NOT ONLY DOES HE RUN A CONSTRUCTION CREW,
NOT ONLY DOES HE MINE,
HE IS ACTUALLY WILLING TO STEP IN AND HELP US.
I'M JUST GLAD HE'S COMING.
HEY.
HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?
GIVE ME A HUG, MAN.
YOU HAVE A GOOD FLIGHT?
HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.
I GOT IT.
I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE YOU'RE HERE, DUDE. WELCOME.
WE GOT THE EQUIPMENT,
I'M GUESSING, SOMEWHERE AROUND 80%, 90% SET UP.
WELL, THAT'S GOOD.
BUT THE MAIN THING IS, I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE SHAKER.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO MODIFY IT.
I WANT YOU TO KIND OF LOOK AT IT BEFORE WE FIRE IT UP.
THAT IS KIND OF THE MAIN THING
THAT IF YOU COULD HELP US OUT ON, IT WOULD BE -- PHEW!
IT'LL HAPPEN. WE'LL GET IT TOGETHER.
Narrator: DAVE'S HERE TO FIRE UP NOT JUST THE MACHINES,
BUT THE MINERS, TOO.
YOU GUYS ARE AN INSPIRATION.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY GUYS THAT ARE ON THEIR BUTTS,
SITTING AROUND AND WATCHING TV, COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? GUYS AREN'T MADE TO DO THAT.
SO, YOU GUYS START GENERATING SOME CASH FLOW,
YOU'RE GONNA ENCOURAGE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO... Jack: YOU'LL ENCOURAGE ME.
SO DON'T HANG YOUR HEADS,
KEEP YOUR HEADS UP, AND LET'S FIND SOME GOLD.
THIS SHOULD REALLY WORK GOOD IF WE CAN GET IT GOING.
I'M IMPRESSED. THAT'S NOT A BAD LITTLE TROMMEL.
AND I HAD TO MAKE IT ALL OUT OF SCRAP.
Narrator: BUT DAVE IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIES A BUNCH OF CHANGES
THEY NEED TO MAKE TO THE SHAKER.
YOU PUT AN ANGLE IRON ON HERE, PUT A 6-INCH ANGLE IRON HERE,
BRING ANOTHER ANGLE IRON UP, CUT OFF THE EXCESS WEIGHT OFF.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED THIS. PUT A FLANGE IN HERE.
CUT THIS BACK SO THAT THIS ISN'T FLOPPING AROUND.
RUN A WEB DOWN SO IT'S SUPPORTING THE OUTSIDE,
AND THEN YOU'RE READY TO GO.
Narrator: IT'S A TALL ORDER, BUT GREG AND JACK BEGIN WORK
ON DAVE'S MODIFICATIONS IMMEDIATELY.
Todd: YOU KNOW, DAVE TURIN IS ENERGIZING OUR TEAM.
HIS SUGGESTIONS -- THESE AREN'T COMING FROM BOOKS.
THESE ARE COMING FROM ACTUAL EXPERIENCE.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY ALL COMING TOGETHER.
THIS IS GREAT.
DUDE, WE CAME HERE FOR ONE REASON,
AND THAT'S TO FEED OUR FAMILIES BY FINDING GOLD.
EVERYONE'S OVERWHELMED WITH THE JOB AT HAND,
AND WE JUST NEEDED ONE PERSON TO COME IN AND SAY,
"HEY, YOU GUYS, YOU'RE ALMOST TO THE FINISH LINE."
Narrator: WITH TODD'S HELP,
HARNESS SUPPLIES THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO HIS TROMMEL.
I GAVE BIRTH TO THIS BABY.
AND IT HURT.
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR ARM?
THIRD-DEGREE BURNS FROM MOLTEN METAL.
I LITERALLY COLLAPSED WHEN I GOT DONE WELDING IT TOGETHER.
IT'S ALL THEORETICAL AT THIS POINT.
THE FACT THAT THIS WILL WORK,
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A HELICOPTER FLYING.
THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO, BUT THEY DO.
SO, I THINK IT'S GONNA WORK...
'CAUSE WE'RE ALL JUST CRAZY ENOUGH TO HOPE SO.
Narrator: WITH DAVE TURIN'S HELP,
THE CREW IS READY TO TEST THE FIRST PART OF THE WASH PLANT
A DAY AHEAD OF THE DEADLINE.
WE'VE BEEN PUSHING 72 HOURS REAL HARD.
WE'RE RIGHT ON THE BRINK OF FIRING UP THE SHAKER.
Remsburg: IF THIS DOESN'T WORK AS WE HOPE IT WILL...
BIG QUESTION MARK.
THERE'S MY FUTURE, SITTING ON THAT HILL RIGHT THERE.
I HAVE ONE NUT TO PUT ON,
AND WE'RE BASICALLY READY.
Narrator: HARNESS MAKES SURE THE GENERATOR IS WORKING
BEFORE SENDING POWER TO THE SHAKER FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WE'LL WARM UP THE GENERATOR
AND CRANK IT UP AND JUST SEE WHAT THE DAMAGE IS.
Narrator: WITH THEIR POWER PLANT RUNNING SMOOTHLY,
IT'S TIME TO TEST THE SHAKER.
THE FORCES UP HERE ARE SO GREAT
THAT THESE THINGS CAN ACTUALLY JUST EXPLODE OUT THE SIDE
AND STEEL CAN FLY EVERYWHERE.
SO WE'RE NERVOUS, REALLY NERVOUS.
YOU JUST HAVE TO DO A VISUAL
TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE ALL YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE,
AND THEN YOU JUST GOT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE OFF THE MACHINES,
EVERYBODY'S CLEAR.
YOU SAY, "ALL CLEAR," AND YOU FIRE STUFF UP.
YOU CAN'T EVER STRESS SAFETY ENOUGH.
LET'S GO.
[ METAL RATTLING ]
WHOA, WHOA, RIGHT THERE!
HEY, HEY, HEY!
WHOA!
[ ALARM BLARING ]
Turin: THIS EQUIPMENT CAN KILL SOMEBODY,
AND THAT'S THE LAST THING WE WANT TO HAPPEN.
[ RATTLING STOPS ]
Narrator: DAVE TURIN NOTICES A DESPERATE FLAW IN THE SHAKER'S SETUP
AND CALLS EVERYTHING TO AN EMERGENCY HALT.
THAT SHAKER WAS BOUNCING EVERYWHERE.
IT COULD HAVE FALLEN RIGHT OFF THAT HILL RIGHT THERE.
BASICALLY, DAVE COULD HAVE SAVED OUR MINING SEASON RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: WITH NO ANCHOR,
THE SHAKER BEGAN TO TEAR ITSELF OFF ITS BASE --
A POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS SITUATION.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHE, YOU KNOW?
Narrator: IT'S 11:00 P.M.,
AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S MIDSUMMER IN ALASKA,
THE LIGHT IS FADING.
Todd: BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT,
I THINK WE'RE GONNA KNOCK OFF FOR TODAY.
Narrator: THE TEAM HAS ONE DAY TO FIND A SOLUTION.
Narrator: THE CREW AT PORCUPINE CREEK HAS ONE DAY LEFT
TO GET THEIR MINING MACHINES UP AND RUNNING.
YESTERDAY, THE SHAKER BEGAN TO TEAR ITSELF OFF ITS BASE.
IF THEY CAN'T FIND A QUICK FIX,
THEY'LL NEVER HIT THEIR DEADLINE.
AS THIS THING'S SHAKING, IT'S MOVING THE ROCK DOWN THE WAY,
SO EVERY ACTION HAS AN EQUAL AND OPPOSITE REACTION.
SO AS THIS THING WANTS TO THROW THAT DOWN,
YOU GOT TO GET THAT BASE DOWN SOLID.
THROW SOME CABLES AROUND A LOG AND BURY IT,
AND THEN COVER IT BACK UP WITH DIRT,
THEN YOU'RE ANCHORING THAT THING DOWN.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, JAMES?
I THINK IT'LL WORK GREAT.
Narrator: DAVE PLANS TO BURY A LOG CALLED A DEADMAN
AND ANCHOR THE SHAKER TO THE GROUND,
BUT THE MAJOR EARTHWORKS WILL TAKE TIME.
THE 72-HOUR DEADLINE IS ALMOST UP.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE TO GET THE DEADMAN IN THERE,
BUT WE GOT TO GET IT DONE QUICK.
Narrator: JACK SETS ABOUT BUILDING THE ANCHOR.
IT'S NOW ALL THAT STANDS IN THE WAY
OF THE SAFE RUNNING OF THE SHAKER.
DORSEY, I WANT YOU TO WORK WITH JACK.
I PUT DORSEY WITH THEM.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A DEADLY COMBO,
BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING STUFF DONE, SO WHAT CAN I SAY?
I'M GONNA LEAVE THEM ALONE UNTIL SOMEBODY STARTS SCREAMING.
OKAY, DROP IT.
IT'S SUPER USEFUL HAVING DAVE HERE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
WE THINK, "IT AIN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
IT'S 20,000 POUNDS."
DAVE'S LIKE, "NO, THAT THING WILL WALK RIGHT OFF THE HILL."
HE SAID, "YOU GOT TO BURY A DEADMAN.
YOU GOT TO PUT CABLES AROUND IT."
DAVE'S A GENIUS.
LOOKS GOOD. I THINK IT'S GONNA WORK.
Dorsey: I'M OPTIMISTIC.
I REALLY THINK IT'S GONNA COME OUT OKAY.
Narrator: THE FINAL DAY OF THE DEADLINE IS DRAWING TO A CLOSE.
THE TEAM IS READY TO TEST THE WASH PLANT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I'M NERVOUS ABOUT THE MODIFICATIONS WE MADE.
BUT WE JUST GOT TO -- WE GOT TO GET IT DONE,
WE GOT TO TEST IT OUT, WE GOT TO GET SOME ROCK ACROSS IT
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT A TRY.
I THINK WE'VE CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT.
READY TO ROCK?
LET'S DO IT.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THIS.
JAMES IS DOING ALL HIS CHECKS.
READY?
OKAY.
FIRE UP.
[ METAL RATTLING ]
WATCH THIS ROCK!
IT'S WORKING ITS WAY DOWN!
THAT LOOKS GOOD, GUYS!
THAT'S WORKING.
ALL RIGHT!
YEAH!
WHOO!
HOLY CRAP.
IT WORKS. WHOO!
IT WORKS GOOD, MAN.
DID IT LOOK GOOD? THAT LOOKS GREAT.
MAYBE THIS WILL WORK, MAN.
MAYBE?! I NEVER HAD NO DOUBT.
I'M GLAD YOU DIDN'T. GEEZ!
NOW WE GOT SOMETHING WORTH PANNING RIGHT THERE.
Todd: WHEN WE START SEEING GOLD DOWN THERE IN THAT JIG,
I THINK WE'LL BE LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH, WE'RE PULLING THIS OFF."
Dorsey: YOU KNOW, 72 HOURS AGO, I WAS READY TO WALK OFF.
I WAS READY TO -- I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING HERE.
WHEN THIS THING TURNED ON,
IT'S LIKE, "OF COURSE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.
THAT'S WHAT WE CAME TO DO."
GOOD JOB, GUYS.
THANKS, DAVE, FOR COMING, MAN.
WE MADE OUR 72 HOURS -- NOT A PROBLEM.
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO WORK GOOD.
THE MAIN THING WAS THIS OLD GUY RIGHT HERE,
AND I THINK IT ACTUALLY WORKED BETTER THAN I HAD DREAMED.
WE'RE GONNA BE ROCK 'N' ROLL.
THIS SHAKER IS THE MOST VULGAR, DISGUSTING...
AMAZINGLY VIOLENT THING I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
I LOVE IT.