1 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,173 [narrator] as winter mining races to a finish... 2 00:00:08,175 --> 00:00:09,241 Left drive. 3 00:00:09,276 --> 00:00:11,143 [narrator] ...Who will take home the ice crown? 4 00:00:11,145 --> 00:00:13,012 [shawn speaking] 5 00:00:13,014 --> 00:00:16,382 [narrator] a titan fighting to retain his title. 6 00:00:16,384 --> 00:00:18,217 We're off to the races, baby. 7 00:00:18,219 --> 00:00:23,088 [narrator] or an unlikely underdog, risking it all to unseat a legend. 8 00:00:23,090 --> 00:00:25,257 [vernon speaking] 9 00:00:27,028 --> 00:00:28,160 [narrator] while the battle rages... 10 00:00:28,162 --> 00:00:29,395 [man speaking] 11 00:00:29,397 --> 00:00:31,030 we can push it one more day. 12 00:00:31,032 --> 00:00:34,833 [narrator] a new father hopes to water seeds for a future empire. 13 00:00:34,835 --> 00:00:36,835 He better put as much gold in there, 14 00:00:36,837 --> 00:00:39,638 because it's going to blow the ice away. 15 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:41,540 [narrator] and a trailblazing innovator, 16 00:00:41,542 --> 00:00:44,209 just tries to keep his operation alive. 17 00:00:44,211 --> 00:00:45,911 [zeke] if I can't make ends meet, 18 00:00:45,913 --> 00:00:49,148 I'm going to have a serious doubt about my future as a gold hunter. 19 00:00:49,150 --> 00:00:51,050 [narrator] where will the chips fall 20 00:00:51,052 --> 00:00:54,186 on the season finale of bering sea gold? 21 00:00:54,188 --> 00:00:56,588 -[man speaking] -this is it. 22 00:00:57,324 --> 00:00:58,524 Look at that nugget. 23 00:01:07,701 --> 00:01:10,936 [narrator] it's been the worst winter in 100 years. 24 00:01:17,545 --> 00:01:21,413 A relentless barrage of storms has assaulted nome. 25 00:01:22,950 --> 00:01:26,485 Now, in less than 24 hours, the brutal season... 26 00:01:28,022 --> 00:01:29,421 Will be history. 27 00:01:30,825 --> 00:01:33,992 A blizzard looms less than 100 miles away. 28 00:01:34,929 --> 00:01:37,996 With winds and downfalls so severe, 29 00:01:37,998 --> 00:01:42,301 there is no chance the rapidly deteriorating ice will survive. 30 00:01:43,838 --> 00:01:47,072 As most miners flee for the safety of shore... 31 00:01:48,809 --> 00:01:51,844 A brave few head out for one last chance 32 00:01:51,846 --> 00:01:54,346 to make their golden dreams come true. 33 00:02:10,898 --> 00:02:14,233 [vernon] so the weather report has changed. 34 00:02:14,235 --> 00:02:16,768 Now, it looks like the wind picked up some, 35 00:02:16,770 --> 00:02:19,238 it's going to be a toss-up, whether or not it's workable, 36 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,140 I'm thinking it's probably still going to be workable. 37 00:02:21,142 --> 00:02:25,511 [narrator] vernon adkison, currently the miner with the most gold in the fleet, 38 00:02:25,513 --> 00:02:29,114 readies to push his luck one last time. 39 00:02:29,116 --> 00:02:33,852 We got an open water lead out there that's struck down here by the nome river, 40 00:02:33,854 --> 00:02:35,687 and then it goes on out there. 41 00:02:35,689 --> 00:02:40,125 And then all the way to the west, as far as I can see. 42 00:02:41,228 --> 00:02:46,331 The ice has broken off and drifted out to sea, so it's encroaching on us. 43 00:02:47,134 --> 00:02:48,934 I knew this was too good to last. 44 00:02:48,936 --> 00:02:53,238 Best season of my life, but now this storm is going to put the kibosh on it. 45 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,842 And that lead has been exploding in the last day or two. 46 00:02:56,844 --> 00:03:00,012 More ice is breaking off every hour. 47 00:03:00,014 --> 00:03:04,650 With this wind bearing down on us, we're playing russian roulette for sure. 48 00:03:04,652 --> 00:03:06,218 [speaking] 49 00:03:16,797 --> 00:03:19,064 [vernon] you never can tell what the damn ice will do. 50 00:03:19,066 --> 00:03:23,168 I'm thinking, I'm always knocking on wood. 51 00:03:23,170 --> 00:03:26,705 Most people would run for cover under these circumstances, 52 00:03:26,707 --> 00:03:29,007 but I'm on the best gold of my life. 53 00:03:29,009 --> 00:03:32,044 I'm going for 200 ounces this season. 54 00:03:32,046 --> 00:03:32,978 Let's dive. 55 00:03:32,980 --> 00:03:34,079 Yeah. Let's dive. 56 00:03:34,081 --> 00:03:37,082 This is our last chance to grab the good stuff. 57 00:03:37,084 --> 00:03:38,884 There's no way we're sitting it out. 58 00:03:38,886 --> 00:03:39,952 You're ready to go get it? 59 00:03:39,954 --> 00:03:41,553 Going to get it. Yeah. 60 00:03:41,555 --> 00:03:42,955 All right. That's your last chance. 61 00:03:42,957 --> 00:03:44,089 Yeah. 62 00:03:44,091 --> 00:03:45,591 [narrator] 12 miles west... 63 00:03:49,363 --> 00:03:52,030 [shawn] heading out to the tomcod, 64 00:03:52,032 --> 00:03:54,833 got a storm brewing, 65 00:03:54,835 --> 00:03:55,934 that's coming, 66 00:03:55,936 --> 00:03:58,103 but we still want to keep going. 67 00:03:58,105 --> 00:04:00,138 [narrator] in the final hours of the season, 68 00:04:00,140 --> 00:04:03,375 mr. Gold's trying to tap into a jackpot 69 00:04:03,377 --> 00:04:07,045 and retake his place atop the gold count. 70 00:04:07,047 --> 00:04:08,280 Hey joe! 71 00:04:09,283 --> 00:04:11,083 [joe speaking] 72 00:04:11,085 --> 00:04:12,851 but we're going to get that gold, hey? 73 00:04:12,853 --> 00:04:14,686 [shawn] hmmm-hmm. 74 00:04:14,688 --> 00:04:16,622 Last chance at greatness. 75 00:04:16,624 --> 00:04:20,726 We've been searching for this jackpot all winter long. 76 00:04:20,728 --> 00:04:23,662 Last time out, we were on the hottest gold thus far. 77 00:04:23,664 --> 00:04:25,030 We're definitely at the cusp, 78 00:04:25,032 --> 00:04:27,866 but we're not at the epicenter yet. 79 00:04:27,868 --> 00:04:30,235 Today, we should be able to find the last three ounces 80 00:04:30,237 --> 00:04:32,271 I need to make up my payments. 81 00:04:32,273 --> 00:04:35,107 But that's not all I'm after, I want the motherlode. 82 00:04:35,109 --> 00:04:37,209 I want the stuff of legend. 83 00:04:38,312 --> 00:04:40,912 We're going to hop in this hole and see what's here? 84 00:04:40,914 --> 00:04:43,115 Might be a pile of gold down there. 85 00:04:44,685 --> 00:04:46,218 [shawn] gold's going to go down first 86 00:04:46,220 --> 00:04:48,553 and then I'll go down and finish this hole off. 87 00:04:48,555 --> 00:04:51,957 Storm's going to bear down on us fast, so I got to be tight. 88 00:04:51,959 --> 00:04:54,359 I want to get off the flicks and get into the nuggets. 89 00:04:54,361 --> 00:04:56,261 [shawn speaking] 90 00:05:14,281 --> 00:05:15,547 [gary speaking] 91 00:05:20,220 --> 00:05:21,920 okay, gary, 92 00:05:21,922 --> 00:05:24,923 why don't you try to give me an assessment 93 00:05:24,925 --> 00:05:27,993 on how much ground you think we've got to work? 94 00:05:27,995 --> 00:05:30,996 [gary speaking] 95 00:05:34,301 --> 00:05:36,101 I don't know. You tell me. 96 00:05:37,171 --> 00:05:39,071 [gary speaking] 97 00:05:44,044 --> 00:05:46,878 it's, I mean, pitch blackness down there. 98 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:50,248 [gary speaking] 99 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:54,252 so he's trying to figure out... 100 00:05:55,055 --> 00:05:57,622 What's been cleaned out and what hasn't. 101 00:05:57,624 --> 00:06:00,192 He's working in pitch blackness own there, 102 00:06:00,194 --> 00:06:03,261 except for what he sees with his light right in front of him. 103 00:06:04,431 --> 00:06:06,998 It's like looking through a tunnel. 104 00:06:12,139 --> 00:06:14,139 [gary speaking] 105 00:06:15,542 --> 00:06:17,175 [man speaking] 106 00:06:18,245 --> 00:06:21,279 oh [bleep] come on [bleep] break it down. 107 00:06:21,281 --> 00:06:24,249 [gary speaking] 108 00:06:24,251 --> 00:06:25,951 all right. 109 00:06:25,953 --> 00:06:27,085 We're starting to waste time here. 110 00:06:27,087 --> 00:06:29,221 [gary speaking] 111 00:06:36,964 --> 00:06:39,131 [vernon speaking] 112 00:06:44,972 --> 00:06:46,972 [gary speaking] 113 00:06:46,974 --> 00:06:49,441 [vernon speaking] 114 00:06:55,149 --> 00:06:57,482 [gary speaking] 115 00:06:58,819 --> 00:07:00,552 [gary] I see gold all through this. 116 00:07:01,855 --> 00:07:04,489 It's coming down on this rock. Quite a bit. 117 00:07:05,292 --> 00:07:07,225 See the gold all over it. 118 00:07:10,330 --> 00:07:12,197 [vernon] all right, gary. 119 00:07:12,199 --> 00:07:14,800 [gary speaking] 120 00:07:14,802 --> 00:07:17,035 [vernon speaking] 121 00:07:17,037 --> 00:07:19,471 [gary speaking] 122 00:07:23,911 --> 00:07:26,445 we're off to the races baby. 123 00:07:26,447 --> 00:07:31,917 [narrator] while the salty veteran rakes it in, back on tomcod... 124 00:07:31,919 --> 00:07:34,019 How's that gold looking down there? 125 00:07:34,021 --> 00:07:35,454 [joe speaking] 126 00:07:39,092 --> 00:07:43,295 [narrator] shawn and joe are still on the hunt for the jackpot. 127 00:07:43,297 --> 00:07:46,097 [joe speaking] 128 00:07:46,099 --> 00:07:48,066 [shawn speaking] 129 00:08:31,979 --> 00:08:33,178 tap the floor. 130 00:08:36,984 --> 00:08:38,884 This is not it. 131 00:08:38,886 --> 00:08:40,552 Last day, last chance. 132 00:08:41,121 --> 00:08:42,420 This ain't it. 133 00:08:43,123 --> 00:08:44,723 Look, we'll have a good day. 134 00:08:44,725 --> 00:08:46,825 Bills will get paid. 135 00:08:46,827 --> 00:08:50,829 But looking for that jackpot, all winter long and just missing it, 136 00:08:50,831 --> 00:08:53,064 it's not easy one to swallow. 137 00:08:54,067 --> 00:08:56,134 [joe speaking] 138 00:08:57,571 --> 00:08:59,137 yeah, this really sucks. 139 00:08:59,139 --> 00:09:02,974 But we're going to keep diving and keep making gold. 140 00:09:02,976 --> 00:09:04,409 [narrator] in the end of season battle, 141 00:09:04,411 --> 00:09:06,578 between the two captains, vernon, 142 00:09:06,580 --> 00:09:09,848 at least for now, has the upper hand in the gold count. 143 00:09:09,850 --> 00:09:14,019 Nothing would please me more than to stick it to mr. Gold. 144 00:09:17,958 --> 00:09:19,958 [narrator] as the storm that'll shut down 145 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:24,596 winter mining grows ever closer, nine miles west of town... 146 00:09:29,469 --> 00:09:31,937 [zeke] I was seeing gold, right over in there, 147 00:09:31,939 --> 00:09:33,538 and then I was within the call, 148 00:09:33,540 --> 00:09:35,574 edge of the call field went over there 149 00:09:35,576 --> 00:09:37,175 and I think that's my best bet. 150 00:09:37,177 --> 00:09:39,711 So we're going to go, just kind of like 30 feet over that way. 151 00:09:39,713 --> 00:09:42,047 And I think that's where the gold's going. 152 00:09:42,049 --> 00:09:46,885 [narrator] zeke tenhoff's looking for one last dive to save his season. 153 00:09:46,887 --> 00:09:49,921 [gabe] we got one more hole and we get to get this, 154 00:09:49,923 --> 00:09:53,024 put this bastard of an ice season in the rearview mirror. 155 00:09:53,026 --> 00:09:54,960 So it's all come down to this, 156 00:09:54,962 --> 00:09:57,862 with all the bad weather and the crappy ground, 157 00:09:57,864 --> 00:09:58,863 this season has been really rough. 158 00:09:58,865 --> 00:10:01,833 We're finally on to something good at tomcod. 159 00:10:01,835 --> 00:10:04,135 If I can stay ahead of the storm and have a good day today, 160 00:10:04,137 --> 00:10:07,806 I'll be able to get the eight ounces that I need to get through till summer. 161 00:10:07,808 --> 00:10:10,041 If not, then I don't know what I'm going to do. 162 00:10:10,043 --> 00:10:12,010 I mean, am I going to hang up my wetsuit? 163 00:10:12,012 --> 00:10:14,079 This could be it. 164 00:10:16,883 --> 00:10:20,952 This might be a really productive hole, might be a really good one. 165 00:10:20,954 --> 00:10:23,755 It's been a nightmare, an absolute slog, 166 00:10:23,757 --> 00:10:28,226 but she finally warmed up at the top of the mountain here. 167 00:10:28,228 --> 00:10:32,030 One more dive and we're done. 168 00:10:35,002 --> 00:10:36,067 Very excited. 169 00:10:41,608 --> 00:10:42,941 [zeke] okay. 170 00:10:45,312 --> 00:10:48,213 All right, I'm going to go kinda to the southwest of the hole. 171 00:10:49,950 --> 00:10:51,416 Let me go investigate. 172 00:10:57,324 --> 00:10:59,024 [gabe speaking] 173 00:11:02,396 --> 00:11:04,362 [zeke speaking] 174 00:11:18,078 --> 00:11:19,244 gotcha. 175 00:11:20,047 --> 00:11:23,248 [zeke speaking] 176 00:11:25,385 --> 00:11:27,385 [gabe speaking] 177 00:11:30,057 --> 00:11:33,024 [zeke speaking] 178 00:11:39,232 --> 00:11:42,834 seems like, from everything that he's said that it's been kind of patchy, 179 00:11:42,836 --> 00:11:44,069 so that can go a lot of different ways. 180 00:11:44,071 --> 00:11:45,470 [zeke speaking] 181 00:11:47,007 --> 00:11:48,406 [zeke] what the [bleep]. 182 00:11:49,543 --> 00:11:51,576 There's some gold here. 183 00:11:51,578 --> 00:11:53,311 [gabe laughs] 184 00:11:56,016 --> 00:11:58,083 [zeke speaking] 185 00:11:58,085 --> 00:12:00,185 tell me about it. 186 00:12:00,187 --> 00:12:02,087 [zeke speaking] 187 00:12:03,990 --> 00:12:05,090 it's a lot of coarse? 188 00:12:05,092 --> 00:12:07,058 [zeke speaking] 189 00:12:15,001 --> 00:12:16,367 [zeke] dude, look at this. 190 00:12:18,038 --> 00:12:20,338 [zeke speaking] 191 00:12:27,814 --> 00:12:29,547 -[phone rings] -[gabe] uh-oh. 192 00:12:29,549 --> 00:12:31,583 Weather advisory just popped up. 193 00:12:34,020 --> 00:12:35,887 -Hey, zeke. -Yeah. 194 00:12:35,889 --> 00:12:37,856 Hey, we got a weather advisory. 195 00:12:37,858 --> 00:12:42,193 So, in an hour, the wind is going to pick up to 35 miles an hour. 196 00:12:42,195 --> 00:12:43,528 [zeke speaking] 197 00:12:45,065 --> 00:12:46,131 what do you want to do? 198 00:12:46,133 --> 00:12:50,101 [zeke speaking] 199 00:12:50,103 --> 00:12:52,337 all right. It sounds like a great plan. Perfect. 200 00:12:52,339 --> 00:12:54,172 [zeke speaking] 201 00:13:02,149 --> 00:13:03,081 [gabe] last hole. 202 00:13:03,083 --> 00:13:05,316 Whoa! Let's make some money. 203 00:13:05,318 --> 00:13:09,487 [narrator] while zeke gets on the gold, one mile east... 204 00:13:17,197 --> 00:13:19,564 [kris speaking] 205 00:13:20,667 --> 00:13:22,967 my [bleep] baby's killing me all night long, 206 00:13:22,969 --> 00:13:24,536 waking up 10 times a night screaming. 207 00:13:24,538 --> 00:13:25,670 [man speaking] 208 00:13:25,672 --> 00:13:27,338 you are so lucky. 209 00:13:28,575 --> 00:13:30,208 Perks of being on the other side of the house. 210 00:13:30,210 --> 00:13:31,976 Anyway, but it's not going to be like this for long. 211 00:13:31,978 --> 00:13:34,012 I hope a couple of weeks of hell 212 00:13:34,014 --> 00:13:37,582 and then the baby gets on a sleep schedule and... 213 00:13:37,584 --> 00:13:40,018 -[man speaking] -[kris] yeah, couple of weeks. 214 00:13:40,020 --> 00:13:41,853 By the time, the baby's a month old, 215 00:13:41,855 --> 00:13:43,321 everything should be better in my life. 216 00:13:44,891 --> 00:13:47,091 [laughing] 217 00:13:47,093 --> 00:13:48,493 that's the strategy, okay. 218 00:13:48,495 --> 00:13:50,128 Don't [bleep] with me. 219 00:13:50,130 --> 00:13:53,064 The best strategy is throw the [bleep] out the door right now, buddy. 220 00:13:53,099 --> 00:13:55,834 [laughing] 221 00:13:55,836 --> 00:13:57,902 [narrator] as the kelly's head out for the last time, 222 00:13:57,904 --> 00:14:00,805 they're hoping the ground they're on is so rich, 223 00:14:00,807 --> 00:14:03,975 it'll be like taking candy from a baby. 224 00:14:03,977 --> 00:14:05,410 You know, we didn't do great. 225 00:14:05,412 --> 00:14:08,313 No, there's too many excuses. 226 00:14:08,315 --> 00:14:10,014 Got that right. 227 00:14:10,016 --> 00:14:11,983 Too many things to dial in. 228 00:14:11,985 --> 00:14:13,318 Throw a baby on top of that, 229 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:17,956 you know, throw a crazy winter on top of that, 230 00:14:17,958 --> 00:14:19,557 but nothing lit on fire yet. 231 00:14:22,929 --> 00:14:24,362 [man] get away. 232 00:14:24,364 --> 00:14:26,030 [man] [bleep]. 233 00:14:26,566 --> 00:14:28,967 Yet. Please don't light on fire. 234 00:14:29,669 --> 00:14:32,203 Look, most of the seasons sucked, 235 00:14:32,205 --> 00:14:34,973 but you never remembered for how you start, only how you finish. 236 00:14:34,975 --> 00:14:37,108 And right now, we're out of debt, 237 00:14:37,110 --> 00:14:40,178 making money on the best gold we've seen this season. 238 00:14:40,180 --> 00:14:42,180 That's where you want to be. 239 00:14:42,883 --> 00:14:44,849 We should be pulling out right now. 240 00:14:44,851 --> 00:14:48,453 Yeah, we shouldn't be, we can push it one more day and dive one more day. 241 00:14:49,990 --> 00:14:52,023 Almost every miner's off the ice, 242 00:14:52,025 --> 00:14:54,192 but we're the desperate guys still out here. 243 00:14:54,194 --> 00:14:56,060 Desperate equals crazy. 244 00:14:56,062 --> 00:14:57,161 Desperate equals desperate. 245 00:14:57,163 --> 00:14:58,763 Desperate is dangerous. 246 00:14:58,765 --> 00:15:00,832 But I have a family to take care of now, 247 00:15:00,834 --> 00:15:02,066 and I have huge plans for this summer. 248 00:15:02,068 --> 00:15:03,501 I need a war chest, 249 00:15:03,503 --> 00:15:06,404 so screw this storm coming, we're going for it. 250 00:15:08,541 --> 00:15:11,009 [andy] you better do something down there and put as much gold in there, 251 00:15:11,011 --> 00:15:13,611 because wind is going to blow the [bleep] ice away 252 00:15:13,613 --> 00:15:15,580 and we're going to lose all of our stuff, 253 00:15:15,582 --> 00:15:19,050 so we should be actually packing up right now and leaving too. 254 00:15:26,726 --> 00:15:28,526 [breathing heavily] 255 00:15:33,266 --> 00:15:39,304 [kris] hey, hot water works great, the air is good. 256 00:15:41,041 --> 00:15:43,708 I'm seeing some great material. 257 00:15:43,710 --> 00:15:46,277 Everything's going great down here. 258 00:15:46,279 --> 00:15:48,346 [andy] everything's going great up here. 259 00:15:48,348 --> 00:15:51,549 Fine. Finally, everything's going great. 260 00:15:51,551 --> 00:15:54,052 [kris speaking] 261 00:15:55,155 --> 00:15:58,356 hell, now we're kind of like the last man out here. 262 00:15:58,358 --> 00:16:01,960 [kris speaking] 263 00:16:03,229 --> 00:16:08,900 or it means we're making the wrong decision. Could work 50-50. 264 00:16:08,902 --> 00:16:11,436 [kris speaking] 265 00:16:27,253 --> 00:16:29,020 I'm on the gold. 266 00:16:33,927 --> 00:16:35,693 Uh, well, get as much as you can. 267 00:16:35,695 --> 00:16:37,061 The wind's picking up. 268 00:16:37,063 --> 00:16:40,832 We got to make this dive count man and get the [bleep] out of here. 269 00:16:40,834 --> 00:16:43,334 [kris] I told you we're going to do really good. 270 00:16:44,604 --> 00:16:47,071 It will be set up for the summer. 271 00:16:48,942 --> 00:16:52,610 [narrator] by nightfall, winter mining will be over, 272 00:16:52,612 --> 00:16:54,879 as the last storm of the season 273 00:16:54,881 --> 00:16:59,083 is about to terrorize nome and out on the ice... 274 00:17:04,691 --> 00:17:08,126 [kris speaking] 275 00:17:09,929 --> 00:17:14,966 [narrator] after four hours of trying to outrace the storm, one kelly down... 276 00:17:14,968 --> 00:17:17,935 [kris speaking] 277 00:17:17,937 --> 00:17:20,038 [narrator] and one left to go. 278 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:22,807 Well, you can man up and take it yourself if you want. 279 00:17:22,809 --> 00:17:24,542 [kris speaking] 280 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:42,827 right now, I'm going to get andy underneath the water 281 00:17:42,829 --> 00:17:45,563 and I'm going to figure out how to get this operation wrapped up. 282 00:17:47,233 --> 00:17:49,067 Andy, last dive. 283 00:17:49,069 --> 00:17:51,736 Get in the water. 284 00:17:51,738 --> 00:17:54,872 The gold looks great, I couldn't ask for more from that last dive. 285 00:17:54,874 --> 00:17:59,243 Now, we just have to get andy in there before the fat lady sings. 286 00:17:59,245 --> 00:18:01,979 Do what you do best right now, get down there and just clean this up. 287 00:18:01,981 --> 00:18:02,880 We're almost at the end. 288 00:18:02,882 --> 00:18:04,882 I need andy to come through. 289 00:18:04,884 --> 00:18:08,319 The more he gets, the better chance we can start the kelly empire this summer. 290 00:18:08,321 --> 00:18:10,455 -Hey, are you ready? -I'm ready. 291 00:18:10,457 --> 00:18:11,789 Hey, your light's good, go. 292 00:18:17,397 --> 00:18:20,565 [kris] okay. This is the end, are you ready to rock and roll? 293 00:18:22,001 --> 00:18:23,201 [andy] I'm ready. 294 00:18:27,273 --> 00:18:29,240 I'm seeing some good material. 295 00:18:33,847 --> 00:18:35,179 I'm on the gold. 296 00:18:35,582 --> 00:18:36,581 Oh, yeah. 297 00:18:37,917 --> 00:18:39,016 [kris speaking] 298 00:18:39,018 --> 00:18:40,985 [andy speaking] 299 00:18:41,788 --> 00:18:42,987 [kris] okay. Well, that's great. 300 00:18:42,989 --> 00:18:46,557 Just you and I now, finishing strong. 301 00:18:46,559 --> 00:18:50,528 [narrator] as the kellys press on, 11 miles east... 302 00:18:56,136 --> 00:18:57,502 [gary speaking] 303 00:18:59,038 --> 00:19:01,005 [vernon speaking] 304 00:19:02,575 --> 00:19:04,775 [narrator] fighting to keep his lead over shawn, 305 00:19:04,777 --> 00:19:08,980 vernon's playing chicken with a different kind of lead. 306 00:19:10,884 --> 00:19:14,886 We've got some dangerous open leads out there, 307 00:19:14,888 --> 00:19:16,587 but the wind seems to be picking up. 308 00:19:18,958 --> 00:19:20,458 [speaking] 309 00:19:34,874 --> 00:19:37,041 [gary speaking] 310 00:19:39,279 --> 00:19:40,378 [vernon] gary. 311 00:19:40,380 --> 00:19:42,914 [vernon speaking] 312 00:19:42,916 --> 00:19:45,283 [gary speaking] 313 00:19:58,998 --> 00:20:01,465 [wind whooshing] 314 00:20:04,237 --> 00:20:06,370 the wind has picked up quite a bit. 315 00:20:06,372 --> 00:20:09,006 [vernon speaking] 316 00:20:10,176 --> 00:20:12,476 [gary speaking] 317 00:20:13,146 --> 00:20:14,946 yeah, yeah, I got you. 318 00:20:14,948 --> 00:20:15,980 I mean, we got to... 319 00:20:15,982 --> 00:20:19,050 [vernon speaking] 320 00:20:25,391 --> 00:20:29,360 [vernon speaking] 321 00:20:38,204 --> 00:20:39,937 [gary speaking] 322 00:20:42,308 --> 00:20:44,508 [vernon speaking] 323 00:20:44,510 --> 00:20:47,478 [gary speaking] 324 00:20:49,115 --> 00:20:53,150 so, yeah, you know, when you're sitting there in your rocking chair, 325 00:20:53,152 --> 00:20:55,086 you know, 40 or 50 years from now, 326 00:20:55,088 --> 00:20:56,887 you just tell your grandkids, 327 00:20:56,889 --> 00:20:59,557 yeah, I used to dive with vernon on 56. 328 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:04,262 [gary speaking] 329 00:21:05,064 --> 00:21:07,131 I had to drag gary off that primo gold. 330 00:21:07,133 --> 00:21:09,367 It's hard to leave gold behind, 331 00:21:09,369 --> 00:21:12,003 but I don't want to leave any dead bodies down here. 332 00:21:12,005 --> 00:21:12,970 Yeah. 333 00:21:12,972 --> 00:21:15,339 We might end up dead ducks 334 00:21:15,341 --> 00:21:17,575 and I'm not in the dead duck business. 335 00:21:18,444 --> 00:21:20,211 You know, it's over. 336 00:21:20,213 --> 00:21:22,046 The ice is bad. 337 00:21:22,048 --> 00:21:23,681 We've got to move like right now, 338 00:21:23,683 --> 00:21:25,883 but we had one hell of a season 339 00:21:25,885 --> 00:21:29,820 and I'm hoping this last clean out will tie everything up 340 00:21:29,822 --> 00:21:30,821 in a pretty little bow. 341 00:21:30,823 --> 00:21:34,091 That maybe, just maybe, 342 00:21:34,093 --> 00:21:37,862 we got more gold than anybody else in the fleet. 343 00:21:37,864 --> 00:21:39,463 All right, well, let's get out of here, guys. 344 00:21:40,566 --> 00:21:41,532 [man] yeah. 345 00:21:41,534 --> 00:21:45,803 Going to gear up and get the hell out of here. 346 00:21:45,805 --> 00:21:49,173 [narrator] vernon ends his season as the current gold count leader... 347 00:21:50,076 --> 00:21:51,942 But 12 miles west... 348 00:21:55,381 --> 00:21:57,214 [shawn] how's it going down there, joe? 349 00:21:57,216 --> 00:21:59,050 [joe speaking] 350 00:22:03,556 --> 00:22:05,323 [narrator] as the storm grows closer... 351 00:22:07,493 --> 00:22:10,328 Shawn's not going down without a fight. 352 00:22:10,330 --> 00:22:12,396 [joe speaking] 353 00:22:13,366 --> 00:22:15,132 smooth! 354 00:22:17,937 --> 00:22:19,370 [joe speaking] 355 00:22:21,107 --> 00:22:22,573 [shawn] I'm going to have to accept it. 356 00:22:22,575 --> 00:22:24,909 No jackpot this winter. 357 00:22:24,911 --> 00:22:26,010 It's fine. 358 00:22:26,012 --> 00:22:28,079 We'll stay profitable. 359 00:22:28,081 --> 00:22:29,213 Keep moving ahead. 360 00:22:29,215 --> 00:22:30,214 I'll get over. 361 00:22:30,216 --> 00:22:32,516 [joe speaking] 362 00:22:38,891 --> 00:22:40,391 on top of black sand? 363 00:22:41,327 --> 00:22:42,460 [joe speaking] 364 00:22:49,202 --> 00:22:51,135 that's what we need. 365 00:22:51,137 --> 00:22:53,170 Come on up. I'm going to get suited up. 366 00:22:53,172 --> 00:22:55,072 We'll do a hot swap. 367 00:22:55,942 --> 00:22:58,576 Well, I got the nozzle sitting right here. 368 00:22:58,578 --> 00:23:00,978 I'll head on up to switch out. 369 00:23:03,082 --> 00:23:04,949 I can't wait to get down there. 370 00:23:04,951 --> 00:23:06,250 [joe] I'm heading up. 371 00:23:07,653 --> 00:23:09,954 We may have one last ray of hope. 372 00:23:09,956 --> 00:23:13,858 Seems to be getting coarser as we're coming up to that rock pile. 373 00:23:13,860 --> 00:23:17,294 Coarse gold, black sand, for a miner, 374 00:23:17,296 --> 00:23:19,830 this is the stuff dreams are made of. 375 00:23:19,832 --> 00:23:21,999 Outlook pretty good. 376 00:23:22,001 --> 00:23:23,868 Yeah, looks pretty good. 377 00:23:23,870 --> 00:23:25,469 Yeah, got nice big cuts. 378 00:23:26,572 --> 00:23:28,172 Look, it hasn't happened all winter, 379 00:23:28,174 --> 00:23:32,209 but this, this could be it, this could be the jackpot. 380 00:23:32,211 --> 00:23:34,779 Sounds like joe's got it right where we want it. 381 00:23:34,781 --> 00:23:37,248 [intense music] 382 00:23:45,892 --> 00:23:49,994 yeah, there was a nice soft sand patch, right where the nozzle dropped, 383 00:23:49,996 --> 00:23:54,965 and I worked, I worked that coming up to a big pile of rock. 384 00:23:54,967 --> 00:23:59,170 And it was getting pretty rich coming up to it right before shawn got in the water... 385 00:24:00,406 --> 00:24:02,473 So curious to see what he's going to find down there. 386 00:24:05,845 --> 00:24:08,979 [shawn speaking] 387 00:24:17,757 --> 00:24:20,090 come on. [groans] 388 00:24:25,965 --> 00:24:28,199 yeah, I wasn't seeing nuggets, where I was diving. 389 00:24:28,201 --> 00:24:29,934 I was just south in the... 390 00:24:29,936 --> 00:24:31,135 [shawn speaking] 391 00:24:36,676 --> 00:24:38,075 what's that? 392 00:24:41,547 --> 00:24:46,984 [shawn] look at that nugget, oh, that's a beauty. 393 00:24:49,055 --> 00:24:50,521 That one's going in the glove. 394 00:24:53,092 --> 00:24:54,391 Woo-hoo. 395 00:24:56,028 --> 00:24:57,294 [shawn] ah, here's another one. 396 00:24:58,030 --> 00:25:00,130 Ah, oh, oh! 397 00:25:01,267 --> 00:25:05,102 Finding nuggets coming in behind this big rock, you know. 398 00:25:07,139 --> 00:25:09,106 Holy [bleep]. 399 00:25:10,076 --> 00:25:13,043 There's like $5,000 right there. 400 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:15,279 Yeah. 401 00:25:15,281 --> 00:25:16,947 Woo-hoo. 402 00:25:16,949 --> 00:25:19,183 [joe speaking] 403 00:25:20,686 --> 00:25:23,020 he might have a whole glove full of gold. 404 00:25:23,022 --> 00:25:24,388 [shawn] I'm pulling it outta here. 405 00:25:25,391 --> 00:25:27,124 [shawn speaking] 406 00:25:27,126 --> 00:25:28,292 this is it. 407 00:25:28,294 --> 00:25:29,693 This is why we get here... 408 00:25:29,695 --> 00:25:31,529 [shawn speaking] 409 00:25:32,331 --> 00:25:34,265 ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching. 410 00:25:36,502 --> 00:25:37,401 Whoa! 411 00:25:49,982 --> 00:25:52,349 [shawn] oh, we're kicking ass now, boy. 412 00:25:53,819 --> 00:25:56,253 [narrator] suddenly, in the gold count battle, 413 00:25:56,255 --> 00:25:58,088 it's anybody's game. 414 00:26:15,341 --> 00:26:17,975 Hey, how are you doing down there bud, you're still seeing color? 415 00:26:18,878 --> 00:26:20,477 [zeke speaking] 416 00:26:24,951 --> 00:26:26,116 [gabe] okay. 417 00:26:26,118 --> 00:26:28,786 [narrator] determined to keep his operation afloat, 418 00:26:28,788 --> 00:26:33,290 zeke tenhoff is pushing into the face of a storm. 419 00:26:33,292 --> 00:26:36,560 Well, it looks like we're in a really consistent pay layer. 420 00:26:36,562 --> 00:26:37,861 It's amazing. 421 00:26:37,863 --> 00:26:41,365 And so, we're just kind of at that grind stage. 422 00:26:42,568 --> 00:26:45,135 [zeke] I don't really have any way to accurately assess 423 00:26:45,137 --> 00:26:47,071 what I think the cleanup is going to be. 424 00:26:47,740 --> 00:26:48,706 [gabe] all right. 425 00:26:48,708 --> 00:26:50,307 Just some stripper money, you know, 426 00:26:50,309 --> 00:26:52,376 it's all I'm asking for, I'm a simple man. 427 00:26:56,749 --> 00:26:58,248 All right. 428 00:26:58,284 --> 00:27:01,318 That northwest wind just hit, and it's starting to get real bitchy out here. 429 00:27:02,555 --> 00:27:04,154 How are you feeling down there? 430 00:27:04,957 --> 00:27:07,157 [zeke speaking] 431 00:27:17,236 --> 00:27:20,104 [gabe] all right. Yeah, the weather's really starting to pick up. 432 00:27:22,241 --> 00:27:24,508 [zeke speaking] 433 00:27:38,157 --> 00:27:39,423 yo. 434 00:27:40,693 --> 00:27:43,093 -It's a wrap? -It's a wrap. 435 00:27:43,095 --> 00:27:45,896 I'm not going to lie, this is not an easy season. 436 00:27:45,898 --> 00:27:47,765 I was really worried for a minute there 437 00:27:47,767 --> 00:27:50,434 that the whole thing was going to be a huge bust for me. 438 00:27:50,436 --> 00:27:52,136 -Looks good to me. -[gabe] hell, yeah. 439 00:27:52,138 --> 00:27:55,039 [zeke] but once we moved to tomcod, the fortunes turned around. 440 00:27:55,041 --> 00:27:56,940 I'm really happy that we found it in ourselves 441 00:27:56,942 --> 00:27:58,876 to keep our heads down and keep going. 442 00:27:58,878 --> 00:28:00,844 I'm psyched to see what we got today. 443 00:28:00,846 --> 00:28:02,279 Fingers crossed is what we need. 444 00:28:02,281 --> 00:28:03,547 [engine revving] 445 00:28:08,988 --> 00:28:12,589 [narrator] as the winds reach 30 knots, one mile east... 446 00:28:19,165 --> 00:28:21,098 How's it going down there? 447 00:28:21,100 --> 00:28:23,534 [andy] it's going good. Everything's good. 448 00:28:24,904 --> 00:28:27,838 [andy speaking] 449 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:31,909 [narrator] the brothers kelly may have taken it as far as they can. 450 00:28:31,911 --> 00:28:34,945 Andy's probably getting as much gold as we can 451 00:28:34,947 --> 00:28:36,980 before it's the end, it's the end. 452 00:28:36,982 --> 00:28:38,982 So we got to get out of here. 453 00:28:42,121 --> 00:28:45,989 Look, we pushed it like basically to the point of insanity, 454 00:28:45,991 --> 00:28:48,358 but the fat lady is losing her voice right now. 455 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:49,960 She's singing so loud. 456 00:28:52,264 --> 00:28:54,231 [kris speaking] 457 00:28:55,801 --> 00:28:57,935 [andy] this hole's basically finished. 458 00:28:57,937 --> 00:29:00,304 [kris] okay. Come on, let's get the hell out of here. 459 00:29:01,874 --> 00:29:05,309 You did a great job. I'm proud of you. We count this out together. 460 00:29:07,313 --> 00:29:09,446 Okay, I see you. Let's rock and roll. 461 00:29:10,616 --> 00:29:13,083 For where we came this season, disaster halfway 462 00:29:13,085 --> 00:29:16,019 through the season with no gold to where we ended up 463 00:29:16,021 --> 00:29:18,856 out of debt, making money, ready to kill this summer. 464 00:29:18,858 --> 00:29:20,657 I'm really proud of how we stuck it out 465 00:29:20,659 --> 00:29:22,359 and we came out on top at the end. 466 00:29:23,562 --> 00:29:25,763 The nozzle's at the bottom of the hole, hooked. 467 00:29:25,765 --> 00:29:28,565 [kris] okay. Good. Change. I'm going to start taking everything apart. 468 00:29:29,969 --> 00:29:32,069 Now we're done. Pack it up. Let's go. 469 00:29:33,005 --> 00:29:35,172 Time to get the hell out of here. 470 00:29:35,174 --> 00:29:37,574 [narrator] while the kellys head for the safety of shore, 471 00:29:39,111 --> 00:29:40,444 one mile west... 472 00:29:42,982 --> 00:29:45,015 [shawn speaking] 473 00:29:45,918 --> 00:29:47,117 woo-ee. 474 00:29:50,156 --> 00:29:53,390 [narrator] there's still one last miner under the ice. 475 00:29:54,026 --> 00:29:55,192 Woo-ee! 476 00:29:55,895 --> 00:29:57,461 [laughing] 477 00:30:03,235 --> 00:30:04,434 [shawn speaking] 478 00:30:05,204 --> 00:30:06,570 yeah. She's pretty brisk. 479 00:30:08,007 --> 00:30:09,373 [shawn speaking] 480 00:30:11,277 --> 00:30:13,043 [laughing] 481 00:30:17,049 --> 00:30:18,549 [shawn speaking] 482 00:30:23,189 --> 00:30:24,521 [wind whooshing] 483 00:30:38,370 --> 00:30:39,570 she's pretty brisk. 484 00:30:40,139 --> 00:30:41,939 [shawn speaking] 485 00:30:46,245 --> 00:30:50,113 it sounds like we've got a good end to a long winter. 486 00:30:50,115 --> 00:30:52,049 [shawn speaking] 487 00:30:57,156 --> 00:30:58,355 [laughing] 488 00:31:05,297 --> 00:31:07,030 look at this, joe. 489 00:31:07,032 --> 00:31:09,199 [joe] what we got? What we got? 490 00:31:09,201 --> 00:31:11,535 -[shawn] there you go. -[joe] oh, man. 491 00:31:14,373 --> 00:31:17,441 Thicker rocks [bleep], man, dude. 492 00:31:17,443 --> 00:31:19,176 [laughing] 493 00:31:20,679 --> 00:31:22,112 woo-ee! 494 00:31:23,282 --> 00:31:28,252 I'm a big believer in perseverance pays off. And today it did. 495 00:31:28,254 --> 00:31:29,720 Nugget. 496 00:31:29,722 --> 00:31:32,789 Oh, that's a dime. 497 00:31:32,791 --> 00:31:35,692 Wish we could have found it earlier in the season. 498 00:31:35,694 --> 00:31:39,029 But bottom line, it's one hell of a way to end the winter. 499 00:31:39,031 --> 00:31:41,131 It'll be a great way to start summer. 500 00:31:41,133 --> 00:31:43,100 The box is loaded. 501 00:31:43,869 --> 00:31:45,335 Man, look at that. 502 00:31:51,577 --> 00:31:53,510 [narrator] and now social hour with vernon. 503 00:31:55,714 --> 00:31:57,447 Ah, let's see. 504 00:31:57,449 --> 00:31:59,716 Somebody named billy's mullet. 505 00:31:59,718 --> 00:32:02,552 [reading] 506 00:32:02,554 --> 00:32:04,187 more than they're in the sluice box? 507 00:32:04,189 --> 00:32:05,555 [laughing] 508 00:32:05,557 --> 00:32:09,159 well, I've been known to eat a cookie or two. 509 00:32:10,996 --> 00:32:12,529 Okay. One more and I'm done. 510 00:32:13,766 --> 00:32:15,232 Have I been vaccinated? 511 00:32:15,801 --> 00:32:20,103 I was circumcised against my will, 512 00:32:20,105 --> 00:32:23,807 I might add, I mean, when you're making your way through this world, 513 00:32:23,809 --> 00:32:27,377 well, you need every edge you can get. 514 00:32:29,048 --> 00:32:29,780 [man] I didn't expect that. 515 00:32:29,782 --> 00:32:31,248 [laughing] 516 00:32:36,555 --> 00:32:40,657 [narrator] this has been another episode of social hour with vernon. 517 00:32:40,659 --> 00:32:43,760 Things are going down the tube real fast. 518 00:32:43,762 --> 00:32:47,264 I got to get out of here before I get canceled. 519 00:32:47,266 --> 00:32:49,967 I'd be canceled already, but you know what? 520 00:32:52,871 --> 00:32:54,371 [narrator] off the coast of nome, 521 00:32:54,373 --> 00:32:57,407 the spring breakup is officially underway. 522 00:32:59,378 --> 00:33:00,944 And in town... 523 00:33:07,286 --> 00:33:09,019 [zeke] this will be our last clean-up. 524 00:33:09,021 --> 00:33:12,055 I hope we're breaking even to be honest. 525 00:33:12,057 --> 00:33:14,558 Yeah, worst season I've ever seen. 526 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:16,126 It was well thought. 527 00:33:16,128 --> 00:33:18,795 [narrator] zeke tenhoff's hoping to spoils of war 528 00:33:18,797 --> 00:33:20,831 will be enough to keep he and his crew 529 00:33:20,833 --> 00:33:22,966 on the battlefield this summer. 530 00:33:22,968 --> 00:33:25,202 That doesn't look too shabby. I like it. 531 00:33:25,204 --> 00:33:26,103 I mean, I was seeing some good gold. 532 00:33:26,105 --> 00:33:28,538 So I'm super stoked 533 00:33:28,540 --> 00:33:32,409 to have color in this coming up after what we've been through, 534 00:33:32,411 --> 00:33:34,644 I mean, it's just amazing to see. 535 00:33:34,646 --> 00:33:38,715 I love it. I'm a happy, happy man. 536 00:33:38,717 --> 00:33:42,052 [zeke] I'm totally exhausted, but I'm feeling optimistic. 537 00:33:42,054 --> 00:33:44,554 We only need about two ounces to keep going, 538 00:33:44,556 --> 00:33:46,556 and I know we've given it everything that we've got. 539 00:33:46,558 --> 00:33:49,993 I think the gold gods will smiled down upon us on this day. 540 00:33:54,433 --> 00:33:56,466 Now, we got half an ounce. 541 00:33:57,336 --> 00:33:59,069 There's one, 542 00:34:00,973 --> 00:34:02,172 one-and-half, 543 00:34:02,841 --> 00:34:06,843 and we're coming right by 2, 544 00:34:06,845 --> 00:34:09,413 and 2.5, I think we're going to hit three. 545 00:34:10,382 --> 00:34:12,582 Come on. All right. 546 00:34:13,085 --> 00:34:16,753 3.63. 547 00:34:16,755 --> 00:34:21,792 [narrator] 3.63 ounces give zeke 8.67 ounces for the season. 548 00:34:21,794 --> 00:34:26,263 That's over $16,000, enough to carry the boys from winter... 549 00:34:26,265 --> 00:34:29,866 That's going to be enough of a payday to roll me over into the next season. 550 00:34:29,868 --> 00:34:30,901 [narrator] into summer. 551 00:34:30,903 --> 00:34:33,970 Yeah, I mean, the ocean's melting, as we speak. 552 00:34:33,972 --> 00:34:37,340 I mean, I only got a few weeks to get my boat ready for the summertime. 553 00:34:38,077 --> 00:34:39,810 I know that ice mining is hard, 554 00:34:39,812 --> 00:34:43,947 but this was way harder than I anticipated and it definitely tested me. 555 00:34:43,949 --> 00:34:46,249 I mean, how much can get thrown in our faces 556 00:34:46,251 --> 00:34:48,018 and we can still keep going and survive? 557 00:34:48,020 --> 00:34:50,554 That affirmation is very rewarding. 558 00:34:50,556 --> 00:34:53,557 And now, I'm super stoked about this summer. Let's do it. 559 00:34:53,559 --> 00:34:54,458 To one more ice season. 560 00:34:54,460 --> 00:34:56,093 Don't spend it all in one place. 561 00:34:57,029 --> 00:34:58,128 Daddy and a caddy. 562 00:34:58,130 --> 00:34:59,763 We'll get there. 563 00:34:59,765 --> 00:35:01,298 [narrator] down the road... 564 00:35:03,569 --> 00:35:05,402 [kris] yeah. The material is looking good right now. 565 00:35:06,839 --> 00:35:11,007 Oh, gold in here is starting to stack up. 566 00:35:11,643 --> 00:35:13,343 We did better than I thought we did. 567 00:35:14,546 --> 00:35:16,947 [narrator] despite starting the season deep in debt, 568 00:35:16,949 --> 00:35:19,116 the kellys crawl back 569 00:35:19,118 --> 00:35:23,420 and they're ready to see how high of a note they've finished on. 570 00:35:24,189 --> 00:35:25,989 [kris] we did great. We killed it. 571 00:35:25,991 --> 00:35:29,192 We're in the black now. Everything's going good. 572 00:35:29,194 --> 00:35:31,294 I'm glad we're done with the season. My body is done. 573 00:35:31,296 --> 00:35:32,129 I'm done too. 574 00:35:32,131 --> 00:35:34,197 You need to heal your [bleep] arm. 575 00:35:34,199 --> 00:35:37,000 We need to start going to the gym more or something, 576 00:35:37,002 --> 00:35:40,036 just because we need more stamina. 577 00:35:40,038 --> 00:35:42,072 You know, in the past, I'd be really pissed off 578 00:35:42,074 --> 00:35:44,541 when we had an unsuccessful season, 579 00:35:44,543 --> 00:35:46,776 but I would have just accepted it and move on. 580 00:35:46,778 --> 00:35:50,180 Not now, not with the baby. We had to succeed. 581 00:35:50,182 --> 00:35:54,184 And you know what? We did, now we're just counting how big our profits are. 582 00:35:54,186 --> 00:35:56,553 What a great feeling that is. 583 00:35:56,555 --> 00:35:58,021 Hey, let's see what we got. 584 00:35:59,992 --> 00:36:01,091 Come on. 585 00:36:01,860 --> 00:36:05,061 Three ounces, lots of chunky. 586 00:36:05,063 --> 00:36:08,765 That place has got everything chunky, fine. 587 00:36:08,767 --> 00:36:10,200 Oh, I love that gold. 588 00:36:12,638 --> 00:36:15,939 6.8 ounces, good day at work. 589 00:36:15,941 --> 00:36:20,911 [narrator] 6.84 ounces brings the kelly total to 45 ounces, 590 00:36:20,913 --> 00:36:22,946 worth over 85 grand, 591 00:36:22,948 --> 00:36:26,550 giving them a hearty war chest for summer. 592 00:36:26,552 --> 00:36:28,418 But now we're back on, not on top, 593 00:36:28,420 --> 00:36:29,986 but at least we're at one, two. 594 00:36:29,988 --> 00:36:34,191 We're at two, so we're slowly crawling back up there. 595 00:36:34,193 --> 00:36:37,227 This is the dawning of a new day for the kellys, 596 00:36:37,229 --> 00:36:39,029 money in our pockets to start with. 597 00:36:39,031 --> 00:36:40,931 Are you kidding me? 598 00:36:40,933 --> 00:36:42,365 This summer is going to be great. 599 00:36:42,367 --> 00:36:45,835 We're going to take this money and make this operation grow a lot. 600 00:36:45,837 --> 00:36:48,905 We're aiming for an empire. Mark my words. 601 00:36:48,907 --> 00:36:49,973 This summer, if everything works out, 602 00:36:49,975 --> 00:36:51,875 we'll have a brand new eight-inch boat. 603 00:36:51,877 --> 00:36:53,944 You know, we'll get out there and we'll just kill it. 604 00:36:53,946 --> 00:36:57,047 This is probably going to be a 200-ounce summer for us. 605 00:36:57,816 --> 00:36:59,683 [andy] I'm just looking forward to no snow. 606 00:36:59,685 --> 00:37:02,752 [kris] I am so looking forward to no snow. 607 00:37:02,754 --> 00:37:04,354 [narrator] on the outskirts of nome... 608 00:37:11,730 --> 00:37:14,731 The nuggets are just pouring out of the gravel, 609 00:37:14,733 --> 00:37:17,968 just kept pouring and it was like, tink, tink, tink. 610 00:37:17,970 --> 00:37:19,736 Did you hear them hitting the nozzle? 611 00:37:19,738 --> 00:37:22,138 [narrator] mr. Gold is about to find out 612 00:37:22,140 --> 00:37:26,076 just how big of a jackpot was at the end of his rainbow. 613 00:37:26,078 --> 00:37:28,578 [shawn] one of the hardest winters we've ever had. 614 00:37:28,580 --> 00:37:30,247 It's definitely worth pushing through, 615 00:37:30,249 --> 00:37:32,749 because that last hole was a hot one. 616 00:37:32,751 --> 00:37:34,284 [narrator] and across town... 617 00:37:39,458 --> 00:37:43,093 -Final weigh up right here. -Yeah. It's been a hell of a run. 618 00:37:43,095 --> 00:37:46,363 [narrator] shawn's unlikely competition for the gold crown 619 00:37:46,365 --> 00:37:47,764 is making his final weigh out. 620 00:37:47,766 --> 00:37:50,367 We've dug down right on top of it, 621 00:37:50,369 --> 00:37:55,972 I'm telling you buying 56 was the best move I've ever made in my life. 622 00:37:55,974 --> 00:37:57,274 That's quite a haul. 623 00:37:57,776 --> 00:37:59,609 For a little pan... 624 00:37:59,611 --> 00:38:01,978 Look at all those nuggets. 625 00:38:01,980 --> 00:38:04,514 You got to weigh it up, gary, let's see what we got there. 626 00:38:05,717 --> 00:38:09,352 [narrator] with 125 ounces to shawn's 117, 627 00:38:09,354 --> 00:38:13,023 vernon is clutching a slim 8-ounce lead. 628 00:38:13,025 --> 00:38:14,491 Lots of nuggets. 629 00:38:15,460 --> 00:38:17,160 [vernon] pour it up. Let's find out. 630 00:38:18,864 --> 00:38:21,464 One, two. 631 00:38:25,003 --> 00:38:26,403 [shawn] oh, nuggets. 632 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:30,307 Seven, eight. 633 00:38:30,309 --> 00:38:34,344 That's a heavy pan, joe, it's a heavy pan. 634 00:38:34,346 --> 00:38:36,012 [joe] and we're in it. 635 00:38:36,014 --> 00:38:36,980 [vernon] nine, 636 00:38:38,417 --> 00:38:40,216 10.44. 637 00:38:40,986 --> 00:38:42,319 [shawn] 53. 638 00:38:43,121 --> 00:38:46,089 -Ho, yeah. -Look at this. 639 00:38:46,091 --> 00:38:51,328 [narrator] 53.1 ounces give shawn 170 ounces for the season, 640 00:38:51,330 --> 00:38:54,931 worth a whopping $323,000. 641 00:38:54,933 --> 00:38:56,099 We're in it now. 642 00:38:56,101 --> 00:38:58,501 [narrator] while vernon's 10.4 ounces 643 00:38:58,503 --> 00:39:05,108 brings his final haul to 135.5 ounces, not enough to steal the crown, 644 00:39:05,110 --> 00:39:08,945 but enough to ring in at over a quarter million dollars. 645 00:39:08,947 --> 00:39:11,715 That's a nice little top up for the end of the season. 646 00:39:11,717 --> 00:39:12,949 [laughing] 647 00:39:12,951 --> 00:39:13,917 -yeah. -[vernon] I needed that. 648 00:39:13,919 --> 00:39:15,085 [gary] yeah. 649 00:39:15,087 --> 00:39:19,255 I may not have hit my 200-ounce gold, but 135 ounces, 650 00:39:19,257 --> 00:39:22,792 that's a real banger under any circumstances, I'll take it. 651 00:39:22,794 --> 00:39:25,862 -Yeah, 56 has got it. -56. 652 00:39:25,864 --> 00:39:28,865 And come the summer, when I've got months 653 00:39:28,867 --> 00:39:32,435 instead of a few weeks to mine this stuff, the sky's the limit. 654 00:39:33,772 --> 00:39:37,073 It is going to pile up this summer, we're going to kill it. 655 00:39:37,075 --> 00:39:38,975 Mining's not just about grinding it out, 656 00:39:38,977 --> 00:39:41,544 paying the bills, staying in the black. 657 00:39:41,546 --> 00:39:45,248 To me, it's something way bigger. That's following my dream. 658 00:39:45,250 --> 00:39:46,249 It's the hunt. 659 00:39:46,251 --> 00:39:49,352 It's finding something that nobody else can find. 660 00:39:49,354 --> 00:39:52,756 It's times like these, that rekindle my passion for mining. 661 00:39:52,758 --> 00:39:55,558 Reminds me of why I got into it in the first place. 662 00:39:55,560 --> 00:39:59,562 And let me tell you, it doesn't hurt when it's a boatload of money. 663 00:39:59,564 --> 00:40:01,064 Unstoppable. 664 00:40:01,066 --> 00:40:03,900 Yeah. This is going to fill up some buckets. 665 00:40:03,902 --> 00:40:06,469 [shawn] I can't wait to get back out there this summer. 666 00:40:08,006 --> 00:40:11,241 Days like that is what keeps you mining. 667 00:40:13,044 --> 00:40:14,911 [narrator] in the final moments of winter, 668 00:40:14,913 --> 00:40:20,150 shawn vaults to the top while vernon stand strong as a titan. 669 00:40:21,953 --> 00:40:24,120 Next summer on bering sea gold... 670 00:40:24,122 --> 00:40:26,089 Battle stations! 671 00:40:26,358 --> 00:40:28,892 It's a clash of empires. 672 00:40:28,894 --> 00:40:30,326 You're going to go down. 673 00:40:30,328 --> 00:40:32,095 Hey, you want to fight [bleep]. 674 00:40:32,097 --> 00:40:36,533 This is all very crazy, been using that word a lot, because that is what it is. 675 00:40:36,535 --> 00:40:38,568 You got jane kilcher here. 676 00:40:38,570 --> 00:40:40,003 It's like the wild wild west out here. 677 00:40:40,005 --> 00:40:41,204 -[bleep] you. -[bleep] 678 00:40:41,206 --> 00:40:44,174 yeah, baby, it's gold time. 679 00:40:44,176 --> 00:40:46,976 [kris] come on, andy, get in there. Yeah. 680 00:40:46,978 --> 00:40:49,312 I can see the hospital right there. That's good news. 681 00:40:49,314 --> 00:40:51,714 [kris] we took a big wave. He flipped over. 682 00:40:51,716 --> 00:40:52,849 It's not looking good. 683 00:40:52,851 --> 00:40:55,952 Now, they do call me the naked sponge diver. 684 00:40:55,954 --> 00:40:57,320 Biggest nugget I've ever found. 685 00:40:57,322 --> 00:40:59,189 That's huge! 686 00:40:59,191 --> 00:41:00,557 There's going to be more gold. 687 00:41:01,560 --> 00:41:03,092 We're making money, baby. 688 00:41:03,094 --> 00:41:04,694 We gave it our all. 689 00:41:04,696 --> 00:41:06,296 [narrator] so man, your battle stations. 690 00:41:06,298 --> 00:41:08,932 Not going to [bleep] quit and I'm not backing down. 691 00:41:08,934 --> 00:41:10,200 [narrator] because the fight-- 692 00:41:10,202 --> 00:41:11,935 I'm going to get your permit pulled. 693 00:41:11,937 --> 00:41:13,303 [narrator] is on. 694 00:41:13,305 --> 00:41:15,305 Not until I get my [bleep] damn money. 695 00:41:15,307 --> 00:41:17,040 [laughing] 696 00:41:19,511 --> 00:41:21,411 [911 operator] 911, what is your emergency?