♪♪
-ALL RIGHT. -ARE YOU READY?
LET'S HEAD ON OUT. [BLEEP]
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
-YOU'VE NEVER SNOW MACHINED BEFORE? -NO.
WE SHOULD BE IN THE WATER RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE NOT.
WE GOT THE BIGGEST SNOWFALL EVER IN THE LAST 10 YEARS UP HERE.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Carlos: I'M DOING THIS TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY.
MAMA NEEDS GOLD.
WHOO, DON'T FALL DOWN THERE.
I CAN MOVE, DUDE.
♪♪
OH [BLEEP]
THE BRAKE!
Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH: WHITE WATER"...
HEY, IS THIS THING ON?
DO I NEED TO BE HORIZONTAL OR...?
Narrator: ...THE DAKOTA BOYS FILM THEIR OWN STORY...
TREE CUTTING 101.
Narrator: ...AS A GLOBAL PANDEMIC FORCES THE WORLD INTO LOCKDOWN.
THIS COVID THING, IT'S GOT CRAZY, MAN.
MY BROTHER GOT IT. I WAS TERRIFIED. I COULDN'T SLEEP.
Narrator: THEY PRACTICE EXTREME SOCIAL DISTANCING.
IT STARTS. [ LAUGHS ]
AS THEIR MINING SEASON HANGS IN THE BALANCE...
AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE A SEASON THIS YEAR.
Narrator: ...THEY FIGHT TO GET BACK UP NORTH...
THERE IS NOTHING EXCEPT FOR DEATH
THAT'S GONNA STOP ME FROM DIGGING THAT HOLE.
...AND BACK ON THE RICHEST GOLD DEPOSIT THEY HAVE EVER DREDGED.
THERE IS GOLD IN THAT THING AND LOTS OF IT.
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
Carlos: ARE YOU READY FOR HORSEY?
OKAY, DADDY, I READY.
OOH, DOGGY!
[ GRUNTS ]
HORSEY!
[ LAUGHING ]
DO I GOT THIS RIGHT?
LET'S SEE. DO I GOT THIS?
IS THIS IS WORKING?
THAT'S ME. OKAY. I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
RIGHT NOW, I'M A LITTLE BIT WORRIED
WITH ALL THIS COVID THING GOING ON.
HAINES OVERNIGHT JUST KIND OF SHUT DOWN.
IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IT HAPPENED, LIKE, OVERNIGHT.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE A SEASON THIS YEAR.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF BUYING THIS HOUSE,
SO IF WE DON'T HAVE A SEASON, WE DON'T HAVE --
WE DON'T HAVE A HOUSE. WE'LL HAVE TO MOVE OUT OF THIS HOUSE.
♪♪
GOOD MORNING! -HEY, CARLOS.
I'M SORRY I CAN'T MIC YOU UP. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO THAT YOURSELF.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. DON'T WORRY. I'LL MIC MYSELF UP.
Narrator: FILMING CARLOS FROM A DISTANCE
IS HAINES RESIDENT, SENIOR PRODUCER,
AND CREW MEDIC TARA BICKNELL.
CAMERA READY AND EVERYTHING. YOU READY TO DO THIS, HUH?
YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
CARLOS MOVED HIS FAMILY FROM CALIFORNIA TO ALASKA LAST SEASON
AND IS THE ONLY ONE ON DUSTIN'S CREW WHO LIVES IN HAINES.
ALL RIGHT.
[ COMPUTER CHIMES ]
[ LAUGHS ]
HE CAN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT HIS OWN --
I DON'T THINK HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE WEARING A MASK ON A CALL.
EVEN OVER A PHONE CALL, MAN, I'M FRICKIN' DOING MY SOCIAL DISTANCING.
[ LAUGHS ]
DAMN, DUDE, YOU LOOK PRETTY FRICKIN' ROUGH.
THAT'S COVID BELLY, MAN. [ LAUGHS ]
YOUR INTERNET IS SLOW AS HELL, MAN.
YOU'RE COMING THROUGH LIKE A ROBOT.
OH, DUDE, MAN, THIS FRICKIN' HAINES, ALASKA, MAN.
ANYBODY GETS ON THE INTERNET, MAN, IT'S FRICKIN...
SLOW, MAN.
WELL, I'M IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA, TOO,
BUT I'M PROBABLY 100 MILES AWAY FROM YOU RIGHT NOW.
THIS...
THIS COVID THING, IT'S GOT CRAZY, MAN.
WE JUST BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES, MAN, IN THE WHOLE TOWN,
AND WE'RE FRICKIN' COVID-FREE SO FAR, MAN, YOU KNOW?
[ KNOCKS ON TABLE ] KNOCK ON WOOD.
WHAT'S THE WORD WITH FRED AND EVERYBODY ELSE?
FRED SEEMS TO BE FINE.
WES IS ALL LOCKED DOWN IN TEXAS.
AND JAMES, HE'S GOOD.
AT 76, FRED'S OLD AS HELL,
SO I'M A LITTLE AFRAID FOR HIM TO START TRAVELING.
THIS COVID THING HAS GOT EVERYBODY ON LOCKDOWN.
WE SHOULD BE UP THERE DIGGING RIGHT NOW, MAN.
WE'RE ON GOLD, MAN. WE SHOULD BE UP THERE WORKING RIGHT NOW, MAN.
LAST SEASON...
I'M GONNA WORK AT TWO FISH THIS YEAR MYSELF.
...AFTER FRED AND DUSTIN SPLIT CREWS...
I THINK HE'S GONNA FIND OUT IT'S REAL HARD TO WORK WITHOUT ME.
...DUSTIN HIT THE BIG TIME AT ROCKFALL RAVINE...
AHH!
OH, MY [BLEEP] LOOK AT THAT PRETTY [BLEEP] THING.
...DISCOVERING THE RICHEST GOLD DEPOSIT THEY'VE EVER DREDGED...
WE GOT A NUGGET IN MINUTES.
...HAULING OUT HANDFULS OF GIANT GOLD.
LOOK AT THAT THING, DUDE!
HOLY CRAP!
Dustin: WE OBVIOUSLY GOT MORE GOLD THAN WE'VE EVER GOTTEN,
EVER, EVER ANYWHERE BEFORE.
HELL YEAH!
Narrator: THE CREW ENDED THE SEASON WITH THEIR BIGGEST HAUL EVER,
WORTH NEARLY $50,000.
DUSTIN, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT -- THAT'S ABSOLUTELY GREAT.
LARGE GOLD NUGGETS FROM THE SURFACE OF ROCKFALL RAVINE
HAS THEM CONVINCED THAT DOWN ON BEDROCK
IS AN EVEN BIGGER PILE OF GOLD.
Dustin: I AM ON GUARANTEED GOLD.
NEXT SEASON, THERE IS NO STOPPING US.
THIS COVID, MAN, TRULY MESSED US UP.
DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE, WITH ALL THIS STUFF GOING ON,
MAN, THAT WE'RE GONNA GO UP THERE SOMETIME THIS YEAR?
THERE IS NOTHING EXCEPT FOR DEATH
THAT'S GONNA STOP ME FROM GOING UP THERE AND DIGGING THAT HOLE.
HEY, IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN GET YOU TO GO CHECK ON THINGS?
TO GO TO CAMP?
YEAH, AND FIND OUT WHAT THE SITUATION IS UP THERE.
MAYBE TAKE SOME VIDEOS AND IF ANYTHING GOT SMASHED.
FIND OUT HOW MUCH SNOW IS UP THERE.
IF THERE'S TOO MUCH SNOW, IT WOULD BE TOO DANGEROUS.
WE NEED TO KNOW. THEY'LL LIFT ALL THIS STUFF,
AND WE CAN GO MINING.
NO, BRO. UH...
IT'LL BE A GREAT BREAK
FROM SITTING IN YOUR HOUSE ON YOUR COUCH.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
UH...
DUSTIN WANTS ME TO GO UP TO CAMP.
NO WAY. OY, CARLOS. FOR REAL?
YEAH. IF I DON'T DO THIS THIS SUMMER,
HOW ARE WE GONNA SURVIVE NEXT WINTER?
I KNOW IT'S TRUE.
IT'S CRAZY, JUST TO THINK ABOUT IT.
IN 10 YEARS, THIS IS THE WORST SNOW HERE THAT WE HAVE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW CRAZY IT'S GONNA BE OVER THERE.
IT LOOKS DANGEROUS.
WE NEED THIS. I -- WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SHORT SEASON.
THIS COVID THING REALLY MESSED US UP FINANCIALLY.
I -- AND I'M THINKING ABOUT NEXT WINTER,
TO KEEP THE HEAT ON, KEEP THE FOOD IN THE FREEZER.
OKAY, BABE, WELL, JUST BE SURE YOU KNOW THAT,
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST ME AND YOU AND, YOU KNOW...
NO, NO, I GET IT.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST -- WE JUST HAVE TO TRUST YOU GUYS.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS DO EVERYTHING.
[ LAUGHS ]
'CAUSE I NEED HIM BACK. -YOU GOT IT, TERESA.
YOU GOT IT, TERESA.
ALL RIGHT, MY BABY. I'LL BE SAFE.
OKAY, BABE. WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU.
MWAH! YOU WANT TO GIVE A KISS TO DADDY?
Narrator: THE THREAT OF COVID-19 IS ANOTHER RISK
TO ADD TO THE ALREADY LONG LIST OF DANGERS IN ALASKA.
-AMO. -AMO.
-LOVE YOU. -LOVE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE YOUR DADDY.
Carlos: YOU KNOW, WITH THIS COVID THING GOING ON
AND WITH US HAVING A 2-YEAR-OLD IN THE HOUSE,
WE GOT TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL.
ME AND MY WIFE GET SICK, WHO'S GONNA TAKE CARE OF OUR BABY, YOU KNOW?
I GOT MY LAYERS ON THAT'S GONNA PROTECT ME FROM THE COLD
AND THE SNOW.
EXTRA AMMO.
I JUST HOPE MAMA BEAR CAN KEEP HER DISTANCE.
ALL I NEED NOW IS A SNOW MACHINE.
AND I GOT AN IDEA ON WHO TO CALL.
Narrator: CARLOS' MISSION -- FIND OUT IF THE MASSIVE SNOWFALL
HAS CAUSED AVALANCHES AND WRECKED THEIR CAMP,
DESTROYED THE CABLE
AND THEIR ONLY ACCESS TO THE GOLD-RICH CLAIMS,
ENDING THEIR SEASON BEFORE IT'S EVEN BEGUN.
Carlos: WE'RE LITERALLY RIGHT THERE ON THE GOLD,
THE BIGGEST GOLD THAT WE EVER FOUND.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST GO AND PICK IT UP.
NO.
GONNA GO UP THE MOUNTAIN ON A TRAIL THAT SOMETIMES IT'S ICY.
IF I'M GONNA GO OFF THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN...
I CAN'T LIE, MAN.
I'M A LITTLE BIT [BLEEP] DANG WORRIED ABOUT THIS.
I GOT TO BE EXTRA SAFE 'CAUSE IF I GET HURT UP HERE...
...I'M IN A DEAD ZONE, BROTHER.
Narrator: TO REACH McKINLEY CAMP,
CARLOS FACES AN EIGHT-MILE SNOW MACHINE RIDE
ALONG THE BANKS OF THE KLEHINI RIVER...
...BATTLING ICY TRAILS TO REACH PORCUPINE CREEK.
FROM THERE, IT'S A STEEP ASCENT --
2,000 FEET UP THE MOUNTAIN TO GET TO THE MINERS' CAMP.
CARLOS MEETS UP WITH LOCAL GUIDE SEAN BROWNELL.
I NEED A SNOW MACHINE UP THERE, BRO.
AND THAT'S WHERE I'M HOPING YOU'LL COME IN, MAN.
WELL, I GOT A COUPLE SNOW MACHINES. WANT TO CHECK IT OUT?
YEAH.
SEAN HAS BEEN WORKING IN THESE MOUNTAINS FOR OVER 20 YEARS
AND KNOWS THE ROUTE TO McKINLEY LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND.
THIS IS THE SLED I GOT FOR YOU.
I NEVER SNOW MACHINED EVER, MAN.
REALLY? SINCE YOU'VE NEVER RIDDEN ONE BEFORE,
I PROBABLY OUGHT TO RUN YOU THROUGH THE WHOLE ROUTINE.
THIS ORANGE BUTTON IS WHAT STARTS IT.
NO GEARS. IT'S A BELT DRIVE.
SO THE MORE YOU PRESS ON THAT THROTTLE, THE FASTER YOU GO.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW? INJECTOR SEATS?
FRICKIN'...
IF YOU DO SOMETHING WRONG, YOU JUST GO FLYING OFF OF IT.
MAYBE I CAN GO THERE, DO SOME SHOVELING, MAN,
SHAVE A DAY OR TWO OFF OF PREPPING.
THIS IS GONNA BE A HICCUP OF A SEASON, DUDE,
SO EVERY DAY IS GONNA COUNT, MAN.
Sean: IT'S GONNA BE CRAZY FOR CARLOS TO GO UP ON SNOW MACHINES,
ESPECIALLY ON A MOUNTAIN FOR HIS FIRST TRIP.
WE'VE HAD A BIG, BIG WINTER,
ONE OF THE BIGGEST WINTERS I CAN REMEMBER.
Carlos: I NEED TO TAKE ON ALASKA TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY.
THAT'S MY MOTIVATION RIGHT NOW.
WE SHOULD BE IN THE WATER RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE NOT.
WE GOT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, AND WE GOT TO DO IT QUICK.
ALL RIGHT. -ARE YOU READY?
THERE WE GO.
♪♪
Carlos: WHOO-HOO-HOO!
YEAH!
WHOO-HOO!
YEAH-HA-HA!
WHOO, THIS IS SO FUN!
Narrator: SNOW MACHINES CAN GET YOU TO PLACES NO OTHER VEHICLE CAN.
BUT IN ALASKA, 3% OF ACCIDENTAL DEATHS
HAPPEN ON THESE MACHINES.
I CAN MOVE, DUDE.
OH [BLEEP] THE BRAKE!
♪♪
WHOO-HOO-HOO!
YEAH!
Narrator: IN AMERICA'S LAST FRONTIER,
MARINE CARLOS MINOR IS ON A RECON MISSION
TO GET TO McKINLEY CAMP...
I CAN MOVE, DUDE.
...TO SEE IF THEY COULD START MINING
AS SOON AS THE CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN ENDS.
♪♪
OH [BLEEP] THE BRAKE!
♪♪
WHAT HAPPENED, MAN?
YOU PUSHED ON THE THROTTLE SOMEHOW.
NO! I HIT THE BREAK!
I DIDN'T EVEN TOUCH THE THROTTLE ONE BIT!
YOU MIGHT HAVE TOUCHED IT WITH YOUR THIGH.
HOW?!
-WERE YOU STANDING UP? -YEAH.
THAT'S HOW.
LOOK AT THIS, MAN.
THREE TREES THAT BLEW OVER.
OH, BRO!
I THINK THIS IS ALL FROM THAT CRAZY TWO WINDSTORMS WE HAD.
UNBELIEVABLE.
TIME IS OUR ENEMY RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: IT'S TAKEN CARLOS AND SEAN TWO HOURS
TO TRAVEL BARELY A MILE OF THE TRAIL.
ONLY EIGHT HOURS OF DAYLIGHT REMAIN,
AND IT'S A 16-MILE ROUND-TRIP.
MAN, THIS IS A LOT MORE WORK THAN I EXPECTED, MAN.
I REALLY HOPE WE CAN GET UP THERE, GET BACK BEFORE SUNDOWN.
I DON'T WANNA GET CAUGHT OUT HERE.
TEMPERATURES CAN PLUMMET WAY BELOW ZERO AT NIGHT.
GETTING STRANDED OUT HERE AFTER DARK IS A DEATH SENTENCE.
-BROUGHT YOUR CHAINSAW. -I BROUGHT THE CHAINSAW.
I'M GLAD I BROUGHT IT, HUH?
WE'LL JUST MAKE A SLOT TO GET THROUGH
AND GET TO THE CAMP.
LET'S JUST HOPE THIS IS THE ONLY TREE THAT'S COMING DOWN ON THE PATH.
Narrator: 350 MILES SOUTH OF CARLOS, IN KETCHIKAN, ALASKA...
...CONSTRUCTION WORK PAYS THE BILLS FOR DUSTIN HURT
OVER THE WINTER.
TREE CUTTING 101.
Narrator: AN EX-WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER,
HE HAS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE RUNNING A CHAINSAW.
THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP OF OUR JOB.
GONNA DO A LOT OF BRUSH CUTTING.
CLEAR THE ROAD. THERE'S A LOT OF TREES AND BRUSH IN THE WAY.
GET THAT OUT THE WAY.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE AS MUCH AS I COULD HERE
JUST TO SUPPORT US THROUGH THE SEASON.
YOU KNOW, WORKING CONSTRUCTION,
SAVING AS MUCH AS I CAN THROUGH THE WINTER.
IT'S DEEMED ESSENTIAL.
SO, WE'RE DOING ROADWORK.
CONSTRUCTION WORK IS HARD, HARD WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF SHAPE, MAN.
IT'S BEEN A HELL OF A JOB.
I'M LOVING IT, BUT IT'S NOT WHAT I'M MADE FOR.
WHAT I'M MADE FOR IS DIGGING GOLD, MAN.
I NEED SOMETHING EXCITING IN MY LIFE.
Narrator: DUSTIN'S EXTREME APPROACH TO GOLD MINING...
YEE-HAW!
[ LAUGHS ] YEAH! WRONG WAY TO DO THIS [BLEEP]
...TAKES HIM PLACES NO OTHER MINER WILL GO.
Carlos: THIS GUY HAS, WHAT, NINE LIVES, MAN?
AHH-HA!
-[ LAUGHS ] -MY GOD, DUDE.
Narrator: DETERMINED TO FIND A BIG SCORE IN THE CHILKAT MOUNTAINS...
LET'S DO IT.
IF I DIE, I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY.
...HE PUSHES HIMSELF TO THE LIMIT...
THE CURRENT! WHOA!
PULL!
...AND PUTS HIS BODY ON THE LINE...
-WHOA! -DUSTIN!
A ROCK HIT ME IN MY FACE. KNOCKED ME INTO STARS.
...ON THE HUNT FOR A LIFE-CHANGING DEPOSIT OF GOLD.
ABOUT $50,000 SITTING RIGHT THERE.
HOPEFULLY, ALL OF THIS COVID-19 STUFF IS LIFTED,
I'LL BE ABLE TO GRAB MY CREW,
DRAG EVERYBODY UP TO ALASKA, AND WE COULD GET TO MINING.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S GOLD THERE.
THERE'S GONNA BE BIG GOLD, TOO.
Narrator: BACK UP NORTH, IN HAINES...
[ CHAINSAW WHIRRING ]
THIS IS THE REASON WHY I GOT SEAN DOG TO DO THIS.
...CARLOS AND MOUNTAIN MAN SEAN
HAVE SPENT THE LAST HOUR CLEARING A TREE
BLOCKING THE TRAIL EN ROUTE TO McKINLEY CAMP.
AT LEAST I KNOW I'M COVERED GETTING MY WOOD FOR THIS WINTER.
I THINK WE CAN GET THROUGH HERE.
LET'S HOPE SO, MAN.
YOU'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE LIKE AN ALASKAN EVERY DAY.
[ LAUGHS ] BRO!
♪♪
YEAH-HA-HA!
AS THE TRAIL OPENS UP,
CARLOS FINALLY MAKES SOME PROGRESS...
PORCUPINE CREEK!
...REACHING PORCUPINE CREEK MINE
AT THE FOOT OF THE CHILKAT MOUNTAINS.
THIS IS CRAZY, BRO.
[ BOTH GRUNT ]
LOOK HOW DEEP IT IS RIGHT HERE.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ LAUGHS ]
HOW IN THE HECK...?
Tara: I-I'D GIVE YOU -- I'D GIVE YOU A HAND, CARLOS,
BUT, YOU KNOW, COVID.
[ SCOFFS ] I WONDER WHAT FRED'S GONNA THINK ABOUT THIS.
PORCUPINE CREEK IS WHERE
THE DAKOTA BOYS' GOLD MINING ADVENTURE STARTED.
BACK IN 2010,
THE CLAIM OWNER BROUGHT IN VETERAN GOLD MINER FRED HURT
TO HELP TODD HOFFMAN'S FAILING CREW.
HEY, GUYS, THIS A NEW MEMBER OF OUR TEAM.
WELCOME ABOARD.
LET THE GAME BEGIN!
OHH!
IT'S A JUMP SHOT!
HA HA! [ LAUGHS ]
-AND WHEN THE HOFFMANS LEFT... -WHOO!
Narrator: ...FRED INTRODUCED SON DUSTIN TO GOLD FEVER.
-HEY, FRED, HOW ARE YOU? -YOU ALL RIGHT?
HEY, DUS. HUH? -I'M DOING GOOD.
Narrator: OVER THREE YEARS, THEY DUG DEEP...
OH, I'M GETTING -- GETTING INTO --
GETTING INTO SOME GOOD STUFF NOW.
Dustin: [ LAUGHS ] WE'RE GOLD CRAZY!
...TO REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE INFAMOUS GLORY HOLE...
WHOO! WE DIGGING NOW!
GONNA BE A GIANT POT OF GOLD AT THE BOTTOM.
...AND HAULED OUT OVER A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS
WORTH OF GOLD.
163 OUNCES.
-WHOO. -WE GOT IT.
Narrator: WHEN THE GLORY HOLE WAS TAPPED OUT,
THE TREASURE HUNT LED FRED AND THE CREW
HIGH ABOVE PORCUPINE,
INTO THE CHILKAT MOUNTAINS...
DUSTIN, THERE'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED, RIGHT IN THIS AREA.
LET'S SADDLE UP, BOYS. LET'S GO DIVE.
...WHERE PILES OF GOLD COULD BE BURIED
BENEATH RAGING WHITE WATERS...
Fred: BOY, DOES THIS REMIND ME OF OLD TIMES.
YEAH, FRED, YOU'RE DREDGING AGAIN
RIGHT NOW, HUH?
...ON THE HUNT FOR MILLIONS IN GOLD.
-I'LL BE DAMNED. -YEAH!
-WHOO-HOO-HOO! -WE FOUND GOLD!
YEAH!
Narrator: NOW, 3,000 MILES SOUTH OF ALASKA, IN OREGON...
YOO-HOO. I GOT MY NEW BOOTS.
Narrator: ...DESPITE BEING ON LOCKDOWN,
FRED HURT'S GOLD FEVER STILL RUNS STRONG
AS HE PREPARES FOR THE SEASON AHEAD.
Jen: COULD YOU BE EXCITED? I'M RECORDING IT.
LET'S SEE WHAT I GOT HERE.
OH, MY GOSH.
THAT THING WEIGHS ABOUT FIVE POUNDS.
BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT --
WE'RE READY TO GO UP AND GET SOME GOLD.
THIS BOOT IS GONNA HELP ME GET IT.
HEY, IS THIS THING ON?
I'M IN LOCKDOWN DOWN HERE IN OREGON,
BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR.
MY MINING SEASON, OF COURSE,
HAS BEEN JUST DELAYED, DELAYED, DELAYED
BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS.
YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THAT MINING IN ALASKA
IS THE FAMILY FARM.
THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE A LIVING.
FORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, I'VE KEPT VERY BUSY.
JEN AND I, WE BOUGHT US A NEW HOUSE.
Narrator: 76-YEAR-OLD FRED HAS SPENT THE WINTER
RENOVATING THEIR NEW HOME.
NOW WE CAN WALK FROM ONE ROOM TO THE OTHER.
MOST PEOPLE MY AGE JUST ARE SITTING IN A ROCKING CHAIR
ROCKING AWAY.
WHEW!
A THOUSAND TRIPS UP AND DOWN THE LADDER.
I WASN'T GONNA SIT AROUND ALL WINTER AND GET FAT AND LAZY.
YOU HAVE GOT TO PICK YOURSELF UP BY YOUR OWN BOOTSTRAPS,
JUST KEEP GOING, AND LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
THIS WINTER, I -- I GOT INVITED
TO GO WORK IN AN UNDERGROUND PLACER MINE.
Narrator: ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND NEW WAYS
TO IMPROVE HIS OWN GOLD RECOVERY...
Man: LET'S GIVE IT A SHOT, SEE WHAT WE GOT.
...FRED CONSULTED AT AN UNDERGROUND MINE
AND LEARNED HOW THEY FIND GOLD ON AN ANCIENT RIVERBED.
THAT IS MY DRIVE, IS TO LEARN AND WATCH OTHER PEOPLE,
PICK UP ON THE BEST THINGS THAT THEY DO.
AND I MAY SUGGEST WAYS THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE CERTAIN THINGS
THAT ARE NOT WORKING SO WELL.
OH, LOOK AT THAT!
NICE LITTLE FATTY.
-COUPLE GRAMS. -COUPLE GRAMS.
Fred: [ LAUGHS ] YEAH.
WOW.
ONE HELL OF A [BLEEP] DAMN FIRST DAY.
THAT'S ONLY TWO OR THREE HOURS OF WORK.
BUT WE FOUND US A NICE LITTLE NUGGET.
Narrator: FRED'S FOUND CREEK-BED GOLD
WITHOUT HAVING TO BATTLE RAGING WATER.
Fred: I LEARNED AN IMPORTANT THING ABOUT GOLD.
LET'S JUST SAY, IT MIGHT START ANOTHER GOLD RUSH.
Narrator: UP AHEAD...
TIME TO GO PLAY IN THE FIELD A LITTLE BIT
AND SEE IF I GOT FULL THROTTLE.
WE ARE GONNA KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK THIS YEAR.
WHOO-HOO-HOO!
BRO! -I'LL HAVE TO GET THAT ON VIDEO.
♪♪
Narrator: THE WORLD IS IN LOCKDOWN AS COVID-19 REACHES ITS PEAK.
HOPE EVERYBODY'S STAYING SAFE, STAYING AT HOME,
NOT GETTING SICK.
Narrator: AT THEIR WORKSHOP IN PIPE CREEK, TEXAS,
THE RICHARDSON BROTHERS, PAUL AND WES,
ARE FIXING UP A UNIQUE WAY TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING ALL THE HOSES ON OUR PLANES.
WE'VE BEEN WANTING TO FLY, BUT IT'S GOT SAFETY ISSUES.
WE NEED TO REPLACE THE HOSES. WE THINK THEY'RE LEAKING.
THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS FAILURE WHEN YOU'RE UP IN THE AIR.
PAUL AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER NOW FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS.
I WAS 18 WHEN HE WAS BORN, SO WE DIDN'T GROW UP AS KIDS.
BUT AS ADULTS, WE SEEM TO SPEND A LOT MORE TIME TOGETHER.
WE'RE LIKE 18-YEAR-OLD-APART TWINS.
WE BOTH LIKE TO BUILD THINGS.
Narrator: BACK IN 2012,
PAUL AND WES JOINED THE DAKOTA BOYS' CREW AT PORCUPINE CREEK.
-PAUL? HOW'S IT GOING, MAN? -HOW'S IT GOING, DUSTIN?
-WES? -HOW YOU DOING, DUSTIN? GOOD TO SEE YOU.
Narrator: THEY USE THEIR FABRICATION SKILLS
TO HELP IMPROVE THE OPERATION...
YEAH, WE GOT TO GET UP THERE AND GET GOLD.
Narrator: ...BUILDING A MOBILE WASH PLANT
FOR THE HURTS' FIRST PROSPECTING TRIP ON CAHOON CREEK.
THIS IS THE LAST LITTLE PIECE, SO WE'RE JUST ABOUT DONE.
IF THINGS WERE TOO EASY, IT WOULDN'T BE A CHALLENGE.
Narrator: OVER THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS,
THEY BECAME THE TEAM'S GO-TO ENGINEERS,
BUSH-FIXING DREDGES
AND FABRICATING CUSTOM CLAWS AND SLEDS
TO REMOVE GIANT RIVER BOULDERS...
Wes: WE'VE GOT OUR SUPER CLAW GOING TODAY.
ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP US GET THESE ROCKS OUT FASTER IS GREAT.
CAME UP WITH THIS SUPER CLAW,
AND, SO FAR, IT'S BEEN WORKING EXACTLY THE WAY WE WANT IT TO.
Narrator: ...ON THE HUNT FOR A FISTFUL OF NUGGETS
AND A LIFE-CHANGING PAYDAY.
I'M EXCITED TO KEEP MOVING UPSTREAM,
BECAUSE IF WE GOT THIS HERE, THERE'S BOUND TO BE
SOME MORE GOLD, AND IT MIGHT BE EVEN BIGGER.
GOING THAT GOLD'S THERE,
KNOWING WE DIDN'T GET IT ALL LAST SEASON,
IT'S JUST -- IT'S KILLING US NOT TO BE UP THERE RIGHT NOW.
I'M READY TO GO FLY. LET'S DO THIS.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
[ LAUGHS ]
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
THAT THING FIRED RIGHT UP.
GOT IT RUNNING.
GONNA DO SOME SOCIAL DISTANCING FROM 1,000 FOOT.
Narrator: WITH A TOP SPEED OF 35 MILES PER HOUR
AND ALTITUDES OF UP TO 10,000 FEET,
THESE POWERED PARACHUTES ARE THE PERFECT GETAWAY
FROM THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
♪♪
Paul: IN THESE CRAZY TIMES, WE'RE LITTLE BIT FORTUNATE
THAT WES AND I, WE CAN GET UP IN THE AIR
AND FLY AND SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE.
IT'S AMAZING.
Wes: PAUL AND I GOT INTO POWERED PARACHUTES THREE YEARS AGO.
ONE OF OUR ULTIMATE GOALS IS TO BRING OUR PLANES TO ALASKA
AND FLY AROUND AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND.
RIGHT NOW, WE'D RATHER BE IN ALASKA MINING FOR GOLD.
THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO BE. THAT'S THE ULTIMATE RIGHT THERE.
♪♪
Narrator: 4,000 MILES NORTH,
IN THE OLD MINING TOWN OF WILLOW, ALASKA...
I THOUGHT BEING OUT HERE IN REMOTE ALASKA,
IN A TOWN WITH A POPULATION OF LESS THAN 2,000,
THAT I WOULDN'T REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION
TO TOO MUCH OF THIS COVID-19 THING.
I FIGURED, "HELL, IT'LL NEVER GET OUT IN HERE.
THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE."
BUT THIS MORNING WHEN I WOKE UP,
THE LOCAL HEADLINES READ THERE'S A CASE,
AND IT'S RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM ME.
YOU KNOW, IF IT CAN REACH WAY OUT HERE,
THAT MEANS IT CAN REACH ANYWHERE.
ONE INFECTION COULD END OUR WHOLE MINING SEASON.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS TAKE THAT VIRUS
DOWN TO HAINES AND GET FRED SICK.
I THINK MY ONLY OPTION HERE IS TO PLAY HERMIT.
Narrator: RYAN CARDOZA, THE NEWEST MEMBER OF FRED'S CREW,
IS DETERMINED TO AVOID THE VIRUS AND GET BACK ON THE GOLD.
I'M HEADED DOWN TO THE CREEK TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF FISHING
AND A LITTLE BIT OF PROSPECTING.
AND, WITH ANY LUCK, BY THE END OF THE DAY,
I'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MEAT AND GOLD.
NORMALLY, WHEN I LEAVE FOR HAINES,
ALL THIS STUFF'S STILL FROZEN UP.
AND THEN, ACTUALLY, WHEN I RETURN FROM HAINES,
THE STUFF'S FREEZING UP,
SO I DON'T GET A REAL GOOD OPPORTUNITY
TO GO OUT INTO MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD
AND POKE AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND SEE WHAT'S THERE.
Narrator: OVER THE YEARS,
MORE THAN $18 MILLION WORTH OF GOLD
WAS MINED FROM WILLOW CREEK.
I'M HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME JUST STANDING UP IN THIS CURRENT.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY UGLY.
BUT, HEY, I NEED SOME FISH FOR THE FREEZER.
BEEN CASTING THAT FLY ROD NOW FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF,
AND I HAVEN'T GOT SO MUCH AS A HIT.
SO I'M GONNA TURN MY ATTENTION TO A LITTLE BIT OF GOLD MINING
AND SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND A LITTLE BIT OF GOLD TO TAKE HOME WITH US.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LITTLE SAMPLE OF THIS MATERIAL DOWN HERE,
PAN IT OUT, AND I BET WE GET SOME CLUES OUT OF IT.
THAT'S LOOKING REAL, REAL RUSTY.
I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE THE COLOR DIFFERENCE HERE.
RUST IS IRON, AND IRON HANGS OUT WITH GOLD.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND SOME GOLD IN THERE.
Narrator: UNABLE TO DIVE FOR GOLD IN HAINES,
RYAN HAS A RARE OPPORTUNITY
TO TRY TO FIND GOLD ON HIS DOORSTEP.
GOLD'S HEAVY. IT GOES TO THE BOTTOM. EVERYTHING ELSE IS ABOVE IT.
YEAH, I'M STARTING TO SEE A LOT OF BLACK SAND IN HERE.
THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
OKAY, SO WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF COLOR.
WE GOT ONE COLOR, TWO.
WE GOT A NICE LITTLE PIECE RIGHT HERE
AND A COUPLE LITTLE SPECKS.
YOU KNOW, JUST WALKING DOWN HERE AND TAKING A RANDOM PAN,
THAT'S PRETTY NICE.
Narrator: 2,500 MILES SOUTH, IN OREGON...
I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF PHONE CALLS FOR MY HELP.
A GENTLEMAN NAMED ERIC, HE HAD TROMMEL,
BUT HE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH IT
BECAUSE IT WAS A PROTOTYPE.
Narrator: FRED HAS SPENT HIS WINTER WORKING AS A CONSULTANT,
HELPING OUT SMALL MINING OUTFITS IMPROVE THEIR OPERATIONS.
IN CALIFORNIA, HE HELPED A FELLOW MINER
WITH A FAULTY TROMMEL.
WHAT'S HAPPENING, ERIC?
WHEN THE GRAVEL'S GOING OUT THE FAR END,
IT LIFTS UP THE BACK END OF THE TROMMEL
AND TAKES IT OFF THE DRIVE WHEEL.
-AHH. -SO IT SPINS AND BURNS THE TIRE,
WHICH ISN'T GOOD FOR LONG-TERM OPERATION.
ALL RIGHT. WE GONNA NEED SOME WELDING DONE.
THIS TECHNICAL-TYPE STUFF LIKE THIS, I LIKE THIS.
Narrator: FRED HAS BEEN MINING FOR OVER 18 YEARS.
LOOKS LIKE THE SHAFT IS BROKEN.
AND WITH MONEY IN PART SHOPS IN SHORT SUPPLY...
HE'S GONNA MAKE THIS THING RIGHT HERE OUT OF STEEL
THAT WE GOT FROM THE GRIZZLY BOYS.
...HE'S BECOME THE KING OF BUSH FIXES...
Fred: I'M GONNA WORK ON THIS THING NONSTOP
TILL I GET IT FINISHED.
Narrator: ...REPAIRING BUSTED EQUIPMENT
WITH WHATEVER JUNK HE CAN FIND...
FIND OUT IF THIS THING'S GONNA DO IT FOR US.
...TO GET HIS OPERATION BACK UP AND RUNNING.
OH! RIGHT THERE! IT'S ON! IT'S ON!
GOOD JOB, FRED.
ALL RIGHT, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS LIFTED UP THAT BARREL,
TAKEN OFF THE DRIVE CHUTE, THE SUPPLY CHUTE.
INSPIRATION FOR PUTTING A BIG RING AROUND THIS BARREL.
GETTING WELDED IN PLACE.
Narrator: TO STOP THE TROMMEL FROM BOUNCING...
COME BACK A LITTLE BIT WITH IT.
...FRED WELDS A STEEL RING AROUND THE BARREL
TO ACT AS A TRACK.
WE GOT OUR RING ON.
HE REPLACES THE OLD RUBBER TIRE DRIVE WITH METAL WHEELS
TO GUIDE THE NEW TRACK AND DRIVE THE BACK.
WHOO-HOO-HOO! WE GOT A BARREL!
GOOD JOB!
WE ARE DEFINITELY ON THE WAY
TO GETTING SOME GOLD WITH THIS MACHINE.
Narrator: UP AHEAD...
-OH! DUDE! -I THINK WE GOT SIX FEET OF SNOW UP HERE.
IF WE SINK THESE MACHINES, MAN, WE'RE FRICKIN' DONE FOR.
I GOT TO GET UP THERE. I GOT TO LET DUSTIN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
♪♪
Narrator: DEEP IN THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS...
Carlos: WHOO, DON'T FALL DOWN THERE.
...GOLD MINING MARINE CARLOS MINOR
IS RACING 2,000 FEET UP A STEEP MOUNTAIN TRAIL,
ON A MISSION TO REACH THEIR CAMP AND CABLE
TO ASSESS IF THE HEAVY WINTER SNOWFALL
HAS CAUSED SEASON-ENDING DAMAGE.
♪♪
Sean: I THINK WE GOT LIKE SIX FEET OF SNOW UP HERE.
HOLY MOLY, MAN.
-WHOA! -YOU ALL RIGHT?
YEAH, I JUST POST-HOLED UP TO MY WAIST.
OH! HOLY CRAP!
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD CALL,
TO NOT TAKE THESE ANY FURTHER.
Narrator: CARLOS AND SEAN HAVE BEEN ON THE TRAIL FOR OVER SEVEN HOURS.
IF WE SINK THESE MACHINES, MAN, WE'RE FRICKIN' DONE FOR.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DITCH THE MACHINES.
THEY'RE ONLY A MILE FROM CAMP
BUT ARE FAST RUNNING OUT OF DAYLIGHT.
THE SUN'S COMING DOWN, IT'S STARTING TO GET DARK.
TIME IS OUR ENEMY RIGHT NOW.
WE STILL GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
I JUST WANT TO LET DUSTIN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
AND GET BACK HOME IN ONE PIECE.
BUT WE'RE AT THE HIGHEST POINT WE'RE GONNA BE.
NOW IT'S JUST DROP INTO CAMP, RIGHT?
YEAH.
WE'VE GOT THE GEAR.
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST SNOWBOARD INTO CAMP.
SNOWBOARD TO THE CAMP?
OH, MAN.
YEAH. -YEAH.
A SNOWBOARD ADVENTURE, BRO.
THAT'S FRICKIN' AMAZING, MAN.
THE ONLY THING ELSE WE NEED IS A GOD DANG BEAR, MAN,
TO COME OUR WAY.
AND I DID SEE BEAR TRACKS ON THE WAY UP.
OH-OH-OH.
ALL RIGHT.
I THINK I'D RATHER BE DEALING WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW
THAN WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD'S DEALING WITH.
EXACTLY. PEOPLE ARE STUCK IN THEIR HOUSE.
CAN'T GET TOILET PAPER.
WE CAN WIPE OUR BUTTS WITH SNOW.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
WE'RE TAKING MINING TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL.
ONE FALSE MOVE, I'M OFF THE GOD DANG SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.
DUSTIN, CHECK THIS OUT, BRO.
THE SNOWBOARD HAS BECOME OFFICIALLY MINERS EQUIPMENT.
I HAVE TO BE QUICK ON MY FEET, WATCH OUT FOR THESE CRAZY ROCKS.
HOLY MOLY.
I KNOW YOU WOULD HAVE A BALL DOING THIS, MAN. I'M SORRY, BROTHER.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I KIND OF WISH THAT YOU WERE TAKING MY PLACE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GONNA LET YOU KNOW HOW THE CAMP IS,
AND WE'LL GET RIGHT BACK TO YOU, BROTHER.
ENJOY THE COUCH.
GET IN THERE AND ASSESS THE SITUATION,
'CAUSE IT'S LATE ALREADY.
READY TO ROCK AND ROLL, DAWG?
I'M READY.
LEAD THE WAY, BROTHER.
-DROPPING IN. -MARCH ON, BROTHER.
♪♪
HERE WE GO.
WHOO-HOO-HOO!
Narrator: RUNNING OUT OF DAYLIGHT, CARLOS ROLLS THE DICE
ON SNOWBOARDING DOWN TO CAMP,
BUT THE STEEP TRAIL SNAKES ALONG A CLIFF EDGE.
ONE WRONG MOVE,
AND IT'S A 4,000-FOOT DROP TO THE CREEK BELOW.
[ GRUNTS ]
[BLEEP]
THIS IS SOME UGLY SNOW.
I GOT SNOW IN MY BUM. THAT SUCKS.
AAH!
♪♪
Narrator: AFTER EIGHT PUNISHING HOURS...
FRICKIN' MADE IT, MAN.
HOLY CRAP!
...THEY ARRIVE AT McKINLEY CAMP.
Sean: WOW, THERE IS A LOT OF SNOW.
DUDE.
OH, WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!
-BRO! -HOLY [BLEEP]
I'LL HAVE TO GET THAT ON VIDEO.
Narrator: 1,500 MILES SOUTH, IN WASHINGTON,
THE NEWEST MEMBER TO JOIN DUSTIN'S CREW,
JAMES HAMM, PROSPECTS THE CREEKS NEAR HIS HOUSE.
I'M GOING DOWN TO THE STILLAGUAMISH RIVER.
GONNA GO PROSPECT FOR GOLD
DUE TO THE COVID-19 PUTTING A HALT ON OUR TRAVEL TO ALASKA.
MY BROTHER GOT IT.
HE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A FEW DAYS.
HE HAD A TEMPERATURE OF 102.
THAT'S VERY SCARY.
AND HE'S COUGHING SO HARD, A VEIN BURST.
HE WOULD SPIT UP BLOOD IN THE SHOWER.
AND HE WAS SO SCARED FOR HIS LIFE
THAT HE WAS SHIVERING IN THE SHOWER.
AND I'M LIKE, "GOD, HE'S TELLING THIS."
I'M LIKE, "THAT IS JUST TERRIFYING, MAN."
GOD.
HE GOT THROUGH IT. HE GOT THROUGH IT.
MY BROTHER IS TOUGHER NAILS, AND HE GOT THROUGH IT.
SO I HOPE THAT ANYBODY ELSE WHO'S CAUGHT IT,
I HOPE THEY MAKE IT, AND GOD BLESS WHO HASN'T MADE IT.
IT'S JUST TERRIBLE,
AND IT'S PUTTING THE WORLD ON HOLD.
THAT'S [BLEEP] CRAZY.
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS [BLEEP] WOULD PUT THE WORLD ON HOLD?
IT'S -- IT'S SCARY.
I MEAN...
UGH!
♪♪
I'VE ACTUALLY PROSPECTED A COUPLE OF TIMES HERE.
DO A LOT OF PANNING.
THEY GOT FUNNY LAWS HERE IN WASHINGTON,
SO YOU CAN ONLY DREDGE ONE WEEK OUT OF THE YEAR,
WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.
UP UNDER THOSE BIG TREES THAT ARE HANGING OUT,
GET A LITTLE -- PROSPECT THAT.
I BELIEVE THAT'S A GOOD CORNER THERE.
THAT'S WHERE THE GOLD'S AT.
ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE READY.
Narrator: LAST SEASON...
-ALL RIGHT, BROTHER. -ALL RIGHT.
-ROCK AND ROLL, RIGHT? -ROCK AND ROLL.
Narrator: ...JAMES JOINED DUSTIN'S CREW TO HELP DREDGE RAINBOW'S END.
I'M STUCK.
Dustin: BRO, YOUR HARNESS IS STUCK IN THE NOZZLE.
TAKE IT EASY. TAKE IT EASY.
AAH!
JUST DON'T PANIC.
THE GUYS CANNOT HELP YOU IF YOU FLIP OUT.
AFTER A ROCKY START...
MY BROTHER GOT THIS FOR GOOD LUCK
'CAUSE HE KNOWS I'M INTO GOLD MINING.
EVERYWHERE I GO MINING, I FIND GOLD WITH THIS.
...JAMES GETS A HANDLE ON THE DIVING.
OH, MY [BLEEP] THAT'S A NICE PIECE.
THERE'S PICKERS EVERYWHERE. -GET OUT OF HERE!
Narrator: ...AND DISCOVERS A MONSTER PILE OF GOLD.
GOOD JOB! [ LAUGHS ]
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, MAN.
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
Narrator: DURING THE LOCKDOWN,
JAMES HAS FABRICATED HIS OWN TROMMEL OUT OF JUNK
TO TAKE TO ALASKA THIS SEASON.
James: I GOT A PIECE OF AN AIR COMPRESSOR TANK
THAT I'M GONNA USE FOR MY HOPPER.
IT'LL FIT RIGHT INSIDE. I'M GONNA WELD THAT ON THERE.
THAT'LL BE THE CHUTE GOING IN.
SAVE ME SOME MONEY.
♪♪
JUST ABOUT DONE WITH IT.
A LOT OF WELDING, A LOT OF GRINDING.
IT'S GONNA TURN OUT REALLY SLICK, I THINK.
SO, I BUILT THIS HOPPER OUT OF A SHEET METAL DOOR
THAT MY BROTHER HAD.
AND THEN, OUT OF A PORTABLE AIR COMPRESSOR TANK,
FOR THE ROUNDNESS ON THE BOTTOM,
I WANTED IT TO GO RIGHT INTO THIS CYLINDRICAL PART
THAT I ROLLED AND WELDED UP.
I PUT THIS SPROCKET ON THERE.
THESE PARTS RIGHT HERE WERE THE SQUARE TUBING OUT OF THE RECLINER.
I DECIDED TO PUT THAT IN THERE 'CAUSE IT WAS FREE.
THIS STUFF'S EXPENSIVE IF YOU GO BUY IT.
KIND OF FUNNY HOW YOU CAN JUST FIND STUFF TO PUT IT TOGETHER.
ROLLED THIS, WELDED IT UP, BENT THIS OUT.
USED A PLASMA CUTTER TO CUT THIS ALL OUT AND WELD IT IN.
IT'S READY FOR ALASKA, I THINK
I'M GONNA SHIP IT UP THERE, SEE WHAT I CAN GET.
Narrator: BEFORE SHIPPING UP NORTH,
JAMES NEEDS TO KNOW HIS JUNKYARD TROMMEL ACTUALLY RUNS.
James: FIRST TEST RUN.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
♪♪
ALL RIGHT. SHE'S RUNNING GOOD.
SHE'S RUNNING REALLY GOOD.
LOOKING GOOD.
LET'S GET THE GOLD.
♪♪
Narrator: AFTER A HARD DAY TAKING ON THE ALASKAN WILDERNESS,
CARLOS IS BEAT.
Carlos: THAT MOUNTAIN KICKED MY BUTT.
LAST NIGHT, HAD TWO CRAZY CRAMPS ON EACH LEG,
ONE RIGHT AFTER ANOTHER.
MY WIFE, MY MY LITTLE GIRL WAS ALL FREAKED OUT
BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T DO NOTHING, YOU KNOW?
IT WAS VERY SCARY.
I RESTED THIS MORNING, HAD TWO CUPS OF COFFEE.
MY WIFE MADE ME A GREAT BREAKFAST.
I WAS TELLING HIM, "WELL, YOU HAVE TO GO AND CUT WOOD.
I MEAN, IT'S GONNA BE GOOD FOR YOUR MUSCLES."
[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
AS SORE AS I AM,
THE CHORES HERE IN ALASKA, IT DOESN'T STOP.
I AM BEAT TIRED,
SO I'M JUST GONNA LAY DOWN HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT.
[ GRUNTS ] THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA EAT SOME ICE CREAM BECAUSE I DESERVE SOME [BLEEP] ICE CREAM.
GOODBYE, AMIGOS.
[ LAUGHS ]
♪♪
Narrator: THE GLOBAL COVID PANDEMIC IS ON THE DECLINE.
AFTER MONTHS IN LOCKDOWN,
THE WORLD SLOWLY REOPENS ITS DOORS.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO THIS HERE. OKAY.
LOOKS LIKE EVERY-- ALL THIS CRAZINESS THAT'S HAPPENING EVERYWHERE
IS KIND OF DYING DOWN A LITTLE BIT,
ESPECIALLY HERE IN HAINES.
WHAT I MEAN BY DYING DOWN,
THEY'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE LAX.
EVERYBODY CAN COME DOWN HERE AND GET READY TO GO TO WORK.
Narrator: NOW, THE DAKOTA BOYS' SEASON WILL BE DECIDED
BY WHETHER THE HEAVY WINTER SNOW
HAS DESTROYED ACCESS TO THEIR GOLD-RICH CLAIMS.
Dustin: [ Chuckling ] HEY, GUYS.
HEY, DUSTIN. HOW'S IT GOING, MAN?
DUDE, YOU ARE WAY TOO CLOSE.
THERE YOU GO. THERE IT IS.
WHAT'S UP, JAMES?
WHAT'S UP, MAN?
CAN YOU SEE ME YET? I CAN'T SEE ME YET.
-NOT YET. - IT SAYS THAT IT'S RE-- IT'S --
I CAN'T EVEN SEE ME.
OH! [ LAUGHS ]
WHAT DID YOU FORGET TO DO?
SOME SORT OF STICKER OVER MY CAMERA.
WELL, I TRY NOT TO DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD HURT THAT I GOT FILMED,
SO I GUESS -- -YEAH. YEAH.
WELL [BLEEP] [BLEEP] YOU KNOW?
[ LAUGHTER ]
OH, HE'S FROZEN.
CARLOS CAME ON AND THEN LEFT, MAN.
DAMN, CARLOS.
THAT'S A CONSTANT THING, MAN. THAT'S HAINES FOR YOU.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
WHAT'S GOING ON, GUYS?
MAN, JUST THIS COVID STUFF.
STAYING HERE AND STAYING SAFE.
SO I JUST GOT A VIDEO.
CARLOS WENT UP AND CHECKED OUT THE CABIN AND EVERYTHING.
SO WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
SEE WHAT HE DID.
Carlos: ALL RIGHT, DUSTIN. I MADE IT TO GOD DANG CAMP, DUDE.
IT WAS NO FRICKIN' PICNIC.
CABIN'S STILL IN ONE PIECE. GOOD NEWS.
SNOW IS DEEP AS HELL, BRO. I MEAN, DEEP.
HOLY MOLY, MAN!
PICNIC FUN? THAT WENT AWAY A LONG TIME AGO.
HUH!
THERE'S -- OUR DOOR IS RIGHT HERE,
AND IT'S STILL BURIED IN SNOW, MAN.
WE'D HAVE TO DIG OURSELVES TO GET INTO OUR CABIN RIGHT NOW
IF WE HAD TO START.
CHECK THIS OUT.
I'M TOUCHING THE ROOF, BRO, AND I'M STANDING ON SNOW, MAN.
IT'S NOT LIKE I'VE GOTTEN ANY STEROIDS
AND JUST FRICKIN' HAD A GROWTH SPURT, MAN.
I MEAN, I'M ACTUALLY STANDING ON SNOW.
[ LAUGHTER ]
GOT TO CHECK OUT THIS CABLE.
THE CABLE'S STILL GOOD.
CHASTITY BELT IS STILL ON THERE.
WHAT THE CHASTITY BELT IS IS A DETERRENT.
AND THIS JUST KEEPS ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY OFF OF IT.
THIS MISSION,
I GOT TO GET MY EYES ON THESE FALLS RIGHT NOW,
AND I CAN SEE JUST BITS OF IT.
ALL RIGHT, DUSTIN,
I CAN ONLY TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF PEEKS OF THE FALLS.
OH, WAIT A MINUTE.
ON TOP OF THE FALLS, LOOK HOW HIGH THE SNOW IS.
HOLY MOLY, THAT'S A LOT OF [BLEEP] SNOW.
-CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING UNDERNEATH THAT? -NO.
-YOU'D BE DEAD. COMPLETELY BE DEAD. -YOU'D BE DEAD.
Carlos: THE GOLD IS STILL THERE.
THAT'S ALASKA. THAT'S FRICKIN' KILLING US RIGHT NOW.
I'M SIGNING OFF, MAN.
Dustin: IT IS VERY OBVIOUS THAT, IT GETS REALLY HOT,
THAT SNOW IS GONNA MELT, FLOOD US OUT.
-GOT ME? -OH!
HEY, CARLOS.
I HAD TO GO KICK EVERYBODY OFF THE INTERNET, DUDE.
THERE IS A BOATLOAD OF SNOW UP THERE, RIGHT?
THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH SNOW.
EVEN IF THIS COVID THING WASN'T HERE,
WE STILL COULDN'T GET UP THERE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
DAMN.
EVEN WITH ALL THE BULL[BLEEP] WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW,
WITH WHAT WE LEFT AT ROCKFALL RAVINE LAST YEAR,
IT'S GONNA BE EPIC WHEN WE GET THERE
BECAUSE WE KNOW WE LEFT A TON OF GOLD THERE.
AT THE END OF OUR LAST SEASON,
WE CAME OUT WITH A ONE-OUNCE NUGGET,
AND WE WERE NOT AT THE BOTTOM.
THAT'S ONE OF MANY NUGGETS TO COME, MAN.
THAT'S JUST MAYBE THE BABY BROTHER.
AND WE HAVE A WHOLE FRICKIN' FAMILY REUNION, MAN, TO CRASH.
I'M TELLING YOU, MAN. -WE'LL FIND OUT.
THERE'S GONNA BE SO MUCH GOLD THERE, WE'RE NOT GONNA KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
ONCE WE FINALLY GET THERE AND GET STUFF GOING --
AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE SUN'S COMING UP SO STRONG
THAT EVERYTHING'S MELTING JUST AS QUICK.
SO WE GOT A SHORT SEASON THIS YEAR.
LET'S GET UP THERE AND START DIGGING, MAN.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET AT IT LIKE TODAY IS YOUR LAST DAY TO DIG.
WATER'S GONNA BE HIGH BECAUSE OF THE SNOW
AND REALLY FAST.
GONNA HAVE TO STEP UP OUR GAME, MAN,
BECAUSE, WELL, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE A LITTLE MORE BRAVE
THAN WE HAVE BEEN. -YEAH, WE HAVE TO.
IT'S TIME TO GET UP TO HAINES SO WE CAN GO MINING.
GUYS, GET UP THERE QUICK.
I CAN'T WAIT TO BE UP THERE WITH YOU GUYS.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'LL SEE YOU ALL IN PERSON REAL SOON.
-COOL. -GOOD DEAL.
LATER.
Narrator: 1,500 MILES SOUTH OF KETCHIKAN, ALASKA,
IN OREGON.
[ COMPUTER CHIMING ]
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY HERE. WHERE ARE YOU GUYS AT?
READY TO GO GOLD MINING,
FRED RALLIES HIS CREW FOR THE SEASON AHEAD.
ALL RIGHT. THERE YOU --
ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE COMING ON. THERE WE GO.
HEY, HOW YOU DOING? -HOW'S IT GOING?
IS THAT A CORONA BEER I JUST SAW?
[ LAUGHS ] I WISH, RIGHT?
[ LAUGHS ]
HEY, RYAN.
I DON'T THINK RYAN CAN HEAR US.
I HEAR SOMEBODY NOW.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, LOOK --
THEY'RE EASING UP JUST A LITTLE BIT
AFTER A MONTH OR MONTH AND A HALF NOW.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA BE HEADING UP TO ALASKA.
WE WERE DOING PRETTY GOOD RIGHT AT THE END OF LAST SEASON.
OH, MY GOD, YEAH.
I HOPE ALL YOU GUYS ARE READY
TO REALLY JUST KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK THIS YEAR.
Narrator: LAST SEASON...
WE HAD TO WORK DAMN HARD TO GET THAT GOLD.
...FRED'S CREW HAD THEIR BEST SEASON EVER
AND HAULED IN MORE GOLD THAN EVER BEFORE.
-13 -- 13.1. -.1
[ LAUGHTER ]
THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE.
CHEERS, GUYS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: BUT IT WAS OVERSHADOWED...
HOW YOU ALL DOING?
...WHEN SON DUSTIN REVEALED
HE HAD MINED OVER DOUBLE THE AMOUNT.
WE JUST DID A WEIGH-IN OVER HERE.
TURNED OUT TO BE 33.6 OUNCES.
WOW.
THIS IS MINE -- 13.1.
THAT'S WHAT WE GOT.
Carlos: GOOD FOR YOU GUYS. THAT'S SOME GOOD GOLD, MAN.
GOOD JOB!
-CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS. -ALL RIGHT.
I'M EXCITED TO GET BACK UP THERE.
ME TOO.
IT'D BE REAL NICE TO WHOOP DUSTIN'S CREW'S BUTT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WILL IT MAKE ME FEEL GOOD?
-HELL YEAH. -YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THE SEASON GONNA BE SHORT?
I MEAN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
NO HORSING AROUND. WE'RE GONNA DOUBLE UP ON DREDGING.
I LIKE THAT.
I PLAN ON BRINGING IN ANOTHER DIVER.
WE COULD REALLY USE A HAND OUT THERE,
SO IT'S GONNA BE A BIG BENEFIT TO HAVE THE EXTRA HELP.
BEEN WORKING WITH AN UNDERGROUND MINE SITE.
DURING WINTERTIME, I LEARNED A LOT.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA FIND SOME MONUMENTAL FINDS.
-OOH. WOW. -OOH. THAT'S EXCITING, MAN.
THAT GETS ME REALLY EXCITED.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET UP THERE AS QUICK AS WE CAN,
HIT IT HARD, GIVE IT HELL.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
ALL RIGHT, FELLAS,
I'M GONNA SEE YOU GUYS UP IN ALASKA.
AND LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
ALL RIGHT, HAVE A GOOD ONE, GUYS. SEE YOU ALL UP THERE.
AU REVOIR. AU REVOIR.
LATER.
Fred: THIS WHOLE UNIT IS GONNA GO ON A BARGE
AND SHIPPED UP TO ALASKA.
-PERFECT. -GOT IT LOADED UP.
LET'S HEAD OUT. -ALL RIGHT.
-ALL THE WAY ALASKA, HERE WE COME. -LET'S DO IT.
ARE YOU READY? -YEP.
ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]