Gold Rush (2018) s05e19 Episode Script

Narrator: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MINING SEASON MAKE SOME GOLD.
Narrator: HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE CARMACKS Narrator: BROTHERS FREDDY AND DEREK DODGE TEAMED UP WITH EX-HOFFMAN FOREMAN DAVE TURIN.
Turin: HOPEFULLY, WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND KICK SOME ASS.
HERE IT GOES! Narrator: THEY BATTLED VIRGIN GROUND IN THE YUKON.
WHOA! Narrator: ON A TREASURE HUN FOR GOLD NUGGETS.
BIG, NUGGETY CARMACKS GOLD.
Narrator: BUT, AFTER JUST SIX WEEKS YOU GOTTA DO WHAT'S BES FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
Narrator: DAVE LEF THE DODGE BROTHERS.
I'M TALKING $3 MILLION WORTH OF VIRGIN GROUND.
Narrator: TO GO IN 50-50 WITH TODD HOFFMAN AT McKINNON CREEK.
I'LL DO I IF I'M A PARTNER.
Narrator: BUT FREDDY AND DEREK STUCK TO THEIR GUNS.
POW! Narrator: THEY BROUGHT IN HIGH-TECH EQUIPMENT IT'S A PUZZLE.
MAYBE THESE GUYS CAN SOLVE IT.
Narrator: FACED CONSTAN BREAKDOWNS.
IF IT BREAKS IN HERE, WE'RE -- PERIOD.
Narrator: AND FOUGH DROUGHT AND FLOOD.
NATURE'S GOT US BY THE NUTS RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: IN A HUN FOR WHAT FREDDY IS SURE LET'S GO! Narrator: LIES BURIED SOMEWHERE UP THEIR CREEK.
YOU KNOW, I'M SEARCHING FOR EL DORADO UP HERE.
Narrator: MILLIONS IN MONSTER NUGGETS.
Fred: I DIDN'T COME ALL THIS WAY TO MESS AROUND.
I CAME HERE TO SUCCEED.
-- Captions by VITAC -- CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS Narrator: HIGH IN THE YUKON WILDERNESS LIES THE FABLED FREEGOLD MOUNTAIN.
FOR OVER HALF A CENTURY, MINERS HAVE COME HERE TO SEEK THEIR FORTUNE.
NOW, ON ONE OF THE LAS VIRGIN CLAIMS, GOLD GURU FREDDY DODGE AND HIS BROTHER, MINING LEGEND DEREK, ARE LOOKING TO WRITE THEIR OWN PAGE IN THE HISTORY OF THE MOUNTAIN.
Freddy: THIS CREEK'S A TREASURE HUNT FOR ME.
IT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY BRING IN SOME GOLD.
NOT JUST A LITTLE BI HERE AND THERE, BUT BIG NUGGETS.
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE, 150 MILES NORTH, MINERS DEPEND ON FINE GOLD.
HERE IN CARMACKS, THE DODGE BROTHERS ARE MINING FOR POCKETS OF BIG NUGGETS.
IT'S A HIGH-RISK STRATEGY.
ON THIS MOUNTAIN, FORTUNES HAVE BEEN MADE AND LOST.
Derek: THE TREASURE COULD BE ANYWHERE.
IT'S A GAME OF CHANCE.
IT'S JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, GOING TO LAS VEGAS AND ROLLING THE DICE.
Narrator: OVER HALFWAY THROUGH THEIR SEASON, FREDDY AND DEREK ARE IN TROUBLE.
THEY'VE RECOVERED ONLY 155 OUNCES OF GOLD, WORTH JUST $186,000.
THEY HAVE ROUGHLY 50 DAYS LEF TO FIND THE PILE OF NUGGETS SOMEWHERE UP THEIR CREEK.
Freddy: SEASON'S COMING TO AN END.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ON GOOD GOLD YET, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD UNDERNEATH THE SIDE OF THIS MOUNTAIN, WE WANT TO GET IT OU BEFORE WE'RE FROZE OUT.
THAT WAS GOOD.
THIS MACHINE SMOKING OR? I JUST BLEW A HYDRAULIC LINE, DIDN'T I? FLIPPIN' HYDRAULIC LINE JUST BLEW OUT.
I MEAN, IT'S NO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, BUT IT'S STILL MORE DOWN TIME.
HEY, DEREK? YOU CALLING ME? YEAH, I JUST BLEW A HYDRAULIC LINE UP HERE.
HOPEFULLY, IT'S JUS AN O-RING IN THERE.
MAYBE I CAN FIND SOME PARTS TO GET IT GOING HERE.
SEE IF I CAN' GET IT FIXED.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S YOUR OWN FAULT, YOU RAMMING AND JAMMING AND BLOWING SOMETHING UP.
THIS STUFF CAN BE AVOIDED.
Narrator: FREDDY AND DEREK ARE 50-50 PARTNERS, BUT THEY HAVE VERY DIFFEREN APPROACHES TO GOLD MINING.
Freddy: YOU KNOW, DEREK, WE MAY BE BROTHERS, AND WE MAY HAVE QUITE A FEW THINGS IN COMMON, BUT WE'VE GOT DIFFEREN MINING PLANS.
DEREK'S A MORE SLOW AND METHODICAL TYPE MINER.
I'M MORE OF THE DREAMER TYPE MINER.
I WANT TO FIND THAT BUCKET OF GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW.
Derek: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE MINED TOGETHER.
I MEAN, WORKING WITH FREDDY'S FINE.
I MEAN, HE'S MY BROTHER.
BUT HE'S, YOU KNOW, ALMOS A GENERATION OFF OF ME -- HE'S QUITE A LOT YOUNGER.
I'M THE OLD-SCHOOL KIND OF A GUY HERE, AND HE'S KIND OF THE ONE THAT WANTS TO COME IN AND RIP IT UP AND GET IT DONE.
BUT HE'S KIND OF LEARNING NOW THAT YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT.
WELL, I GOT THE PARTS.
AS LONG AS THEY'RE RIGHT.
SEE THAT ONE O COUPLE-DOLLAR PIECE, BUT IT MAY COST YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE IT SHUTS YOU DOWN.
YOU'RE BROKE DOWN, YOU AREN'T MAKING GOLD.
LET'S KICK SOME BUTT.
Narrator: THE HYDRAULIC LINE IS FIXED.
Freddy: COME ON! Narrator: FREDDY GETS RIGHT BACK TO WORK.
Derek: YEAH, THIS CREEK IS A VERY DIFFICULT CREEK TO MINE.
IT'S SMALL, IT'S NARROW, THE SIDES ARE STEEP.
THERE'S VERY LITTLE WATER.
THIS THING'S GOT ABOU EVERYTHING NOT GOING FOR IT THAT A CREEK COULD HAVE, BUT IT'S GOT REALLY NICE, BIG GOLD IN IT.
Narrator: WITH THE LIMITED WATER SUPPLY, FREDDY AND DEREK DAMMED THE CREEK TO CREATE A HOLDING POND.
THEY PUMP WATER IN A PIPELINE FROM THE HOLDING POND UP THE CREEK TO A CUSTOM-BUIL WASH PLANT, DESIGNED TO FI IN THE NARROW VALLEY.
THE SMALL DEROCKER ONLY RUNS 70 YARDS AN HOUR, LESS THAN A QUARTER OF WHAT TODD'S MONSTER RED CAN RUN.
BUT IT INCLUDES A 13-FOO BOIL BOX TO CATCH THE LARGE GOLD NUGGETS THE VALLEY IS KNOWN FOR.
KEEPING THE PLANT FED, DEREK'S WIFE, IRENE.
MY WIFE IS A CITY GIRL -- SHE'S NEVER BEEN ON A PIECE OF EQUIPMEN IN HER LIFE.
THIS IS MY BIG ADVENTURE.
I'VE BEEN TO GIRL SCOUT CAMP, BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.
Narrator: TO REPLACE DAVE TURIN, FREDDY AND DEREK BROUGHT IN TERRY ROKOSH.
Freddy: WE MISS DAVE IN HERE FOR SURE.
DAVE'S A HECK OF AN OPERATOR.
AND SO IS TERRY THAT'S ON THAT HOE RIGHT THERE.
IT'S GREAT WORKING HERE WITH FREDDY, IRENE, AND DEREK.
Freddy: SHUT HER DOWN! Narrator: AT THE END OF A LONG WEEK, FREDDY AND DEREK STOP FOR A CLEANUP.
HOW'S IT LOOKING, DEREK? SEE ANYTHING? YEAH, THAT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, EH? Freddy: HOPEFULLY, THEY ALL LOOK LIKE THAT, DEREK.
NOT A BAD LITTLE GUY THERE, THOUGH.
THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD CLEANUP.
MIGHT NOT BE TOO BAD, EH? Freddy: I'M REALLY HOPING FOR 30 OUNCES.
WE KNOW WE'RE DOING GOOD THERE AND NOT WASTING OUR TIME.
LOTS OF NUGGETS IN THERE, DEREK.
YEAH, THOSE ARE NICE ONES THERE, FRED.
Freddy: 17.
73 OUNCES.
Narrator: 17 OUNCES OF GOLD IS WORTH JUST $20,000.
Derek: WE EXPECTED WAY MORE, BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THIS PARTICULAR PI THAT DIDN'T GIVE IT TO US.
Narrator: THE DODGE BROTHERS NOW HAVE A 172 OUNCES OF GOLD, WORTH AROUND $200,000.
WITH JUST SIX WEEKS LEFT, THEY ARE STILL 28 OUNCES SHOR OF EVEN COVERING THEIR SEASON'S RUNNING COSTS.
Freddy: IS IT A TREASURE HUNT? OR IS IT A PLACE TO GO BANKRUPT ON? I HAVE HOPED THA THERE COULD BE PLACES IN OUR CREEK WHERE THE BEDROCK CHANGES.
JUST LIKE A SLUICE BOX, IT COULD BE PHENOMENAL -- YOU KNOW, POCKETS AND BIG NUGGETS.
Narrator: DESPERATE TO SAVE THEIR SEASON FREDDY TAKES A DRASTIC STEP TO FIND NUGGET-RICH GROUND.
HOW YOU DOING, ISAAC? Narrator: ISAAC FAGE AND DAN MURRAY GOOD TO MEET YOU, DAN.
Narrator: USE A COMBINATION OF GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR AND AERIAL MAPPING TO INDICATE WHERE THE GOLD COULD BE HIDDEN.
SO WE'RE GONNA FLY THE DRONE UP ABOVE HERE, AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE A DETAILED MAP OF WHAT THE GROUND SURFACE LOOKS LIKE.
AND THEN THE RADAR IS GONNA MAKE A DETAILED MAP OF WHAT THE BEDROCK LOOKS LIKE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER.
YEP, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
Narrator: THE DRONE WILL FLY UP THE CREEK, TAKING DETAILED AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE VALLEY.
INDEPENDENTLY, THE GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR DEVICE MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE ACROSS THE CREEK SENDING OUT RADIO WAVES FROM A TRANSMITTER.
THE WAVES BOUNCE BACK OFF THE BEDROCK TO A RECEIVER.
THE TIME IT TAKES THE SIGNAL TO RETURN GIVES AN EXACT DEPTH AND CONTOUR OF THE BEDROCK BELOW.
Freddy: WE'RE OVER HERE! SO YOU'RE GONNA FIGURE IT OUT, ARE YOU? WELL, WE'RE GONNA DO OUR BEST HERE, SO WE BROUGHT A COUPLE GOOD TOOLS TO HELP US MAP THE BEDROCK.
WE CAN GATHER ALL THIS DATA IN A DAY NOW.
YOU KNOW, I'M KIND OF AN OLD-TIME MINER, SO IT'S ALL NEW TECHNOLOGY TO ME.
AND I'LL BELIEVE I WHEN I SEE IT.
THE TECHNOLOGY WAY, IT STILL DOESN'T TELL YOU WHETHER THERE'S ANY GOLD THERE.
IT TELLS YOU WHERE THE BEDROCK IS.
THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY TELLS YOU BOTH.
SO WE'LL SEE.
Narrator: TO BEGIN THIS SURVEY, DAN TRAVERSES THE CREEK WITH THE GPR UNIT.
Murray: SO ALL I'M DOING IS DRAGGING THIS GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE CLAIM.
THE SNAKE THAT I'M DRAGGING AROUND BEHIND ME HAS A RADIO TRANSMITTER AND A RECEIVER.
THAT GOES TO THIS LITTLE DATA LOGGER THAT'S IN MY POCKET.
AND BEFORE YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A REAL PRETTY PICTURE OF WHAT THE BEDROCK LOOKS LIKE UNDERNEATH US.
Narrator: TO CREATE AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE CREEK THAT WILL LATER BE MATCHED UP WITH THE GPR, ISAAC PREPARES THE DRONE.
Fage: IT'S A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY PACKED ON BOARD WITH THIS THING.
IT CAN FLY A MISSION COMPLETELY AUTONOMOUSLY.
IT UNDERSTANDS -- IT'S SENSING THE GROUND.
IT SENSES WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION.
YEAH, LET'S GET THIS THING IN THE AIR.
Freddy: AMAZING, EH? LET'S PUT HER IN THE AIR.
THERE IT GOES! Fage: NOW IT'S OFF TO ITS MISSION.
POW! YOU COULD SEE THE LITTLE THING ON HERE.
IT'S TAKING THE PHOTOS AS IT GOES DOWN THE LINE.
THAT'S HOW WE BUILD THIS COOL ELEVATION MODEL.
THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
I CAN'T WAI TO SEE THE RESULTS.
20 YEARS AGO, YOU'D HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOU A LITTLE PLANE HELPING YOU FIND GOLD.
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY TECHNOLOGY HERE, KEYED WITH THE GPR THAT DAN'S DOING UP THERE, IT MAY DICTATE THE MINING PLAN, HUH, DEREK? WELL, IT'S A FANCY LITTLE TOOL.
I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT.
IT'LL WORK.
Narrator: UP IN THE YUKON, FREDDY AND DEREK DODGE GET THE GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR RESULTS FOR THEIR CARMACKS CLAIM.
FREDDY IS HOPING THE BEDROCK IMAGES WILL PROVIDE A TREASURE MAP.
Freddy: ABOUT DINNER TIME? HOW'S IT GOING, FREDDY? I GOT THE RESULTS BACK FROM DAN AND ISAAC.
HAVE A LOOK AT THIS.
Derek: SO THIS IS THE FUNNY LITTLE AIRPLANE PICTURE, IS THAT RIGHT? YEAH.
Narrator: 728 PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY THE DRONE FORM A HIGH-RESOLUTION AERIAL MAP OF THE CREEK.
Freddy: LOOK HOW THIS VALLEY OPENS UP RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: WHEN THEY SUPERIMPOSE THE GROUND-PENETRATING DATA OVER THE PHOTOS, THE BEDROCK DEPTH, INDICATED BY COLORS, BECOMES CLEAR.
THE DODGE BROTHERS NOW HAVE THEIR TREASURE MAP.
LOOK RIGHT HERE.
SEE WHERE IT JUS FANS OUT RIGHT THERE? SO THAT SHOULD BE ALLUVIAL FANNING.
I THINK OUR BEST GOLD'S RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: A FAST-FLOWING CREEK HAS CARRIED GOLD DOWN FROM THE MOTHER LODE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
WHERE THE CREEK WIDENED AND LEVELED, THE WATER SLOWED, ALLOWING HEAVIER MATERIAL TO SINK DOWN ONTO THE CREEK BED.
FREDDY HOPES THIS HAS FORMED A GOLD-RICH ALLUVIAL FAN.
THAT'S WHERE YOU THINK IT IS, HUH? IT SHOULD BE.
THAT SHOULD BE A HOT SPOT.
Derek: THAT'S A LONG DAMN WAY FROM DOWN HERE WHERE WE'RE AT.
SO HOW DO YOU GET THERE? WELL, I'D JUST LIKE TO JUMP UP THERE AND DIG SOME HOLES AND SEE WHAT'S THERE.
HMM.
WELL THAT AIN'T THE WAY TO MINE A CREEK.
THERE'S A LOT OF SPECKS OF GOLD BETWEEN HERE AND THERE.
I KNOW THERE IS.
AND WE NEED TO PUT THEM ON THE SCALE.
YOU JUST CAN'T POTHOLE HERE AND POTHOLE THERE AND WISH YOURSELF RICH.
MINE EVERY INCH AND WASH EVERY DAMN ROCK.
AND TAKE EVERY SPECK OF GOLD FROM DOWN HERE WHERE WE'RE AT TO UP HERE.
THAT'S HOW YOU GOTTA DO IT, FREDDY.
I'D SURE LIKE TO GET THERE BY THE END OF THE SEASON.
HMM.
IT TAKES PATIENCE AND BEFORE THIS CREEK'S DONE, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA LEARN, IS PATIENCE.
YOU KNOW, I'D BE PLEASED AS HELL TO SEE THAT HE'S RIGHT, BECAUSE IT WOULD BENEFIT ME, TOO.
I MEAN, WE'RE PARTNERS IN THIS THING.
BUT I'VE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE MOVE IN ON CREEKS AND DIG A HOLE HERE AND DIG A HOLE THERE.
PRETTY SOON, IT'S SO UNORGANIZED AND YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE CREEK -- THEY'VE RUINED IT.
Narrator: DEREK REFUSES TO CHANGE HIS METHODICAL PLAN, BUT FREDDY WON'T GIVE UP HIS HUNT FOR TREASURE.
Freddy: THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO GET TO THIS SEASON -- THIS ALLUVIAL FAN HERE.
RIGHT HERE, THIS VALLEY WIDENS OUT.
TO ME, THIS SHOULD BE THE BEST GOLD RIGHT UNDER OUR FEET.
MY GOAL IS, BEFORE THIS SEASON ENDS, TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF GOLD'S UNDER THIS TREE.
WE JUST GOTTA GET TO IT.
Narrator: BUT THE ALLUVIAL FAN IS 700 FEE FROM WHERE THE DODGE BROTHERS ARE CURRENTLY MINING.
Freddy: THE MORE MATERIAL WE MOVE HERE, THE FASTER WE GET UP THERE.
Narrator: IN THE 400 EXCAVATOR, TERRY MOVES UP THE CREEK ONE BUCKET AT A TIME.
DEREK, IN HIS D8 DOZER, RIPS AND PUSHES DIR DOWN TO WHERE IRENE FEEDS THE PLANT.
Derek: THE CREEK ISN'T PUTTING OU LIKE WE EXPECTED SO FAR, YOU KNOW.
WE'LL JUST CONTINUE ON -- YOU NEVER GIVE UP.
EVERY MORNING, YOU TAKE YOUR SKIRT OFF AND PULL YOUR PANTS ON TO MINE THIS CREEK, AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE GONNA FAIL.
OH, .
FREDDY, YOU GOT A COPY? WHAT'S GOING ON, DEREK? WE GOT SOME REAL ISSUES, IT SOUNDS LIKE, HERE.
IT'S SQUEAKING LIKE HELL.
WHATEVER IT IS, WE GOTTA HAVE A LOOK AT IT.
I'LL BE RIGHT UP.
WELL, THE DOZER'S ACTUALLY THE HEAR OF THE OPERATION, REALLY.
IT USUALLY IS IN EVERY OPERATION.
I MEAN, IT'S IT'S YOUR MAJOR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR MOVING DIRT.
BUT I THINK WE GO AN ISSUE HERE.
IT MAY BE A BIG ISSUE.
ANOTHER PROBLEM? WELL, I FOUND OUR SQUEAK.
THESE PINS ARE ALMOS HALF WORN THROUGH, AND THAT'S WHAT'S MAKING ALL THE METAL AND SQUEAKING AND DOING ALL THE CARRYING ON.
Freddy: THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.
IT'S BARELY HANGING ON.
IF IT BREAKS IN HERE, WE'RE -- PERIOD.
'CAUSE IF A PIN BREAKS HERE, THIS DOZER DOESN'T MOVE.
AND THEN WE'RE SCREWED FOR DOING ANYTHING ELSE IN HERE.
IT'S GOTTA GO HOME AND BE REPAIRED.
NEW UNDERCARRIAGE IS THE ONLY OPTION WE GOT, SO ICING ON A IS WHAT IT IS.
I MEAN, IT'S DONE UNTIL WE -- UNTIL WE REPAIR IT.
THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE HERE.
I'LL GET ON THE PHONE, ORDER SOME PARTS, AND DEAL WITH IT.
THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.
Narrator: WITHOUT THE DOZER, THE DODGE BROTHERS ARE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN THE PLAN AFTER ONLY THREE DAYS OF RUNNING.
FREDDY PULLS THE MATS WHILE DEREK CALLS TO GE THE VITAL PARTS.
HEY, IS MIKE THERE? IT ISN'T LIKE CHANGING A TIRE ON YOUR CAR.
IT COSTS A FRICKIN' LO OF MONEY TO CHANGE THAT UNDERCARRIAGE ON THAT DOZER.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BIG DEAL HERE.
SO WHAT'S THE SCORE? WHAT? HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE BEFORE I CAN GET A NEW ONE? AW, .
THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
Derek: FREDDY? WHAT'S GOING ON? THEY CAN'T GET US AN UNDERCARRIAGE BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE PRETTY WELL .
YOU KNOW, THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST CLEANUP WE DO.
.
Freddy: YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO SEE WHAT'S AT THE END OF THIS PIT.
WITH THAT DOZER BEING DOWN, OUR SEASON'S PRETTY MUCH DONE.
CALL IT QUITS AND GO HOME.
Narrator: AT CARMACKS UP IN THE YUKON, THE DODGE BROTHERS ARE ON THE HUNT FOR GOLD NUGGETS.
BUT THEIR MINE IS AT A STANDSTILL.
THEIR ALL-IMPORTANT DOZER IS DOWN FOR THE SEASON.
ALL THEY CAN DO NOW IS WEIGH UP THE GOLD FROM THE LAST THREE DAYS' MINING.
Freddy: WE'VE GOT ABOUT FOUR WEEKS LEFT IN THE SEASON.
BUT THAT DOZER BEING DOWN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
BASICALLY, WHAT GOLD YOU SEE RUNNING ON THE TABLE HERE MAY BE IT FOR THE SEASON.
AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW THA THERE'S ENOUGH HERE TO GET US BROKE EVEN.
Derek: WE'RE HERE TO MINE GOLD TO MAKE MONEY.
NOW THE D8 DOZER IS DOWN, THE TRACK'S FAILED ON IT.
SO WE'VE GOT SOME DECISIONS TO MAKE HERE.
FINISH HERE IN ONE SECOND.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF FRICKIN' COARSE GOLD IN HERE.
A LOT MORE THAN I THOUGH THERE WAS GONNA BE.
I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS.
A LOT OF NUGGETS THERE.
Narrator: THE CREW'S PREVIOUS CLEANUP WAS A DISAPPOINTING 17 OUNCES, WORTH JUST $20,000.
SO WHAT DO WE GOT? 38.
1 OUNCES THERE, DEREK.
THAT'S WHAT A CLEANUP'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.
Narrator: FOR A CREW OF FOUR, 38 OUNCES OF GOLD, WORTH OVER $45,000, IS AN IMPRESSIVE CLEANUP FOR JUST THREE DAYS OF RUNNING.
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD, FREDDY.
Narrator: THEIR 210-OUNCE, $252,000 TOTAL HAS LIFTED THEIR SPIRITS.
WITH THAT GOLD RIGHT THERE, OUR EXPENSES ARE JUST ABOUT COVERED.
Narrator: THEY'VE FINALLY HI COARSE GOLD AND NUGGETS, BUT JUST WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST, THEY'VE LOST THEIR DOZER.
Derek: WHAT DO YOU THINK, FREDDY? I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP GOING.
RIGHT, SO HOW DO YOU DO THAT? INSTEAD OF PUSHING I WITH THE DOZER, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE AN EXCAVATOR FEEDING THE LOADER, AND THE LOADER FEEDING THE EXCAVATOR AT THE PLANT.
IT MAY COST MORE MONEY BECAUSE NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMEN WHERE WE HAD ONE BEFORE.
BUT WITH GOLD LIKE THAT, COULD BE WORTH IT.
Narrator: WITH THE GROUND GETTING RICHER BY THE DAY, FREDDY'S DEVISED A PLAN THAT COULD STILL GET HIM UP TO HIS HOT SPOT.
Freddy: WE'RE GONNA USE WHA EQUIPMENT WE'VE GOT.
WE'RE DOWN, BUT WE'RE NOT OUT.
Narrator: IT TAKES TWO MACHINES TO REPLACE THE BROKEN DOZER.
TERRY, IN THE 400 EXCAVATOR, STOCKPILES THE PAY DIRT.
DEREK THEN USES THE LOADER TO BRING IT DOWN TO IRENE AT THE PLANT.
Freddy: YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA END UP BURNING MAYBE 100 GALLONS OF FUEL MORE A DAY, BUT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN THAT CLEANUP, COULD BE WORTH IT.
Narrator: AFTER ANOTHER WEEK OF RUNNING AN OVERNIGHT STORM HAS DUMPED FOUR INCHES OF RAIN INTO THE VALLEY.
Derek: I'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE HERE, AND I KNOW IT'S COMING.
Narrator: DEREK HEADS OUT TO CHECK THE HOLDING POND THAT FEEDS THE WASH PLANT.
Derek: , THIS AIN'T GOOD.
UH FRED, YOU GOT A COPY? YEAH, DEREK, WHAT'S GOING ON? WE'RE STARTING TO GET SOME HIGH WATER HERE WITH THIS RAIN.
WE'VE ONLY GOT ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE INCHES OF FREEBOARD ON THE TOP OF THE DAM.
I KNOW WHAT'S COMING HERE.
WE MAY LOSE THIS DAM RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: THE DODGE BROTHERS' WHOLE OPERATION RELIES ON A CREEK THAT RUNS DOWN THE VALLEY.
FREDDY AND DEREK DAMMED I TO CREATE A HOLDING POND THAT STORES THE WATER THEY NEED TO RUN THEIR WASH PLANT.
THE HEAVY RAINS HAVE FILLED THE POND TO BREAKING POINT.
IF THEY DON'T GET THE WATER LEVEL DOWN -- AND FAST -- THE DAM WILL BURST, AND THEY'LL LOSE THEIR CRITICAL WATER SUPPLY.
Freddy: NOT LOOKING GOOD.
NO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN ISSUE HERE PRETTY QUICKLY.
YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA OPEN UP SOME OPTIONS HERE FOR US, 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS.
Freddy: IF THE DAM BREAKS, WE AREN'T GETTING ANY MORE GOLD, THAT'S FOR DAMN SURE, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REBUILD AND GET SLUICING AGAIN.
WONDER IF WE COULD LOWER THAT SPILLWAY A BIT.
Derek: WE START MESSING WITH THE SPILLWAY, WE'RE GONNA GET A BIG VOLUME OF WATER THROUGH THERE, IT'S GONNA WASH THE DAM OUT, COULD TAKE THE EXCAVATOR WITH IT, WHICH COULD TAKE THE GUY WITH IT.
WE CAN'T TAKE THAT CHANCE.
MY IDEA IS WE'LL RIG THAT PUMP UP SO IT CAN PUMP DOWNHILL.
Narrator: IF THEY DIG A DEEPER SPILLWAY, THEY RISK WEAKENING THE STRUCTURE OF THE DAM WALL AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.
DEREK'S SOLUTION -- LOWER THE POND BY PUMPING WATER OUT OVER THE TOP OF THE DAM.
GOTTA HAVE SOME FITTINGS FOR THAT PUMP, 'CAUSE IT'S PUMPING UPHILL NOW.
WE GOTTA TURN IT AROUND AND PUMP IT DOWNHILL, SO I KNOW THERE'S A FITTING ON THE DEROCKER THAT WILL FIT ON THERE.
SACRIFICE RUNNING THE WASH PLAN AND GET THIS WATER DOWNHILL.
LET'S GET HER, TERRY.
BREAK THOSE FITTINGS APART.
Narrator: DEREK PREPS THE PUMP, WHILE FREDDY AND TERRY HEAD UP TO THE DEROCKER FOR PARTS.
OKAY, I GOT HER PULLED, TERRY.
RIGHT HERE.
WHILE THIS IS FLOODING, THERE WILL BE NO PLAN RUNNING.
LET'S GO, TERRY! COME ON! WIGGLE THAT A LITTLE BIT.
THERE WE GO -- COME ON.
YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S GOOD.
IF IT GOES, IT GOES, BUT WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STOP IT FROM GOING.
THAT'S IT! TERRY, LET'S START PUMPING WATER DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
WELL, IT'S WORKING.
WELL, IT'S RAINING, TOO.
IF THE WATER COMES UP, WE'RE .
IF THE WATER GOES DOWN, WE'RE SAVED.
THERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
Narrator: AT THEIR CARMACKS CLAIM, THE DODGE BROTHERS HAVE AVERTED DISASTER.
THE RAIN HAS FINALLY STOPPED.
THE PUMP HAS LOWERED THE HOLDING POND TO A SAFE LEVEL.
FREDDY RECONNECTS THE PUMP TO THE WASH PLANT.
HEY, DEREK, I'M GONNA FIRE THE PUMP UP.
OKAY, FIRE IT ON UP.
Narrator: THE CREW CAN FINALLY START UP THE PLAN AND GET BACK TO MINING THEIR GOOD GROUND.
Freddy: LET'S TEAR THIS UP.
Narrator: WITH ONLY THREE WEEKS LEFT IN THE SEASON, FREDDY AND DEREK HAVE JUS 10 OUNCES OF PROFIT -- WORTH A PITIFUL $12,000.
BUT THEY ARE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE ALLUVIAL FAN WHERE GOLD GURU FREDDY DODGE HOPES THEY'LL SOON UNCOVER A MONSTER PILE OF GOLD NUGGETS.
Freddy: THERE'S MY MARK.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE WORKED OUR ASS OFF THIS SEASON.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE HOW CLOSE WE ARE.
WE'RE STRIPPING RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, SO COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, I WANT TO SEE WHAT'S IN THAT FAN RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: FREDDY PUSHES THE CREW TO GET THEM UP TO THE GROUND HE'S SURE WILL MAKE THEIR SEASON.
Freddy: IRENE, LET'S MAKE SOME GOLD.
Irene: YOU GIVE ME THE DIRT, AND I'LL FEED THE BEAST.
Derek: TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS OUR PROFI MONEY HERE.
WE CAN'T GIVE UP ON THIS PIT.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE WHATEVER STEPS IT'S GONNA TAKE TO FINISH IT AND GET IT DONE BEFORE WINTER SETS IN.
Narrator: AT THE END OF THE WEEK, IT'S TIME FOR A CRITICAL CLEANUP.
Freddy: THAT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.
I WAS THINKING THERE'D BE A LOT OF COARSE GOLD AND A LOT MORE GOLD.
BUT IF YOU DON'T THINK POSITIVE, YOU MAY AS WELL GO HOME.
I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST SEE 75 OUNCES TO PROVE THA WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
50.
66 OF FINE GOLD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, FREDDY? 50.
66 OUNCES, DEREK.
BUT THERE'S 36 OUNCES OF NUGGETS.
THAT'LL WORK.
THERE'S 86.
65 OUNCES THERE.
HOLY .
Narrator: 86 OUNCES -- WORTH OVER $100,000.
THAT'S A WONDERFUL SET OF NUGGETS.
NOT MANY MINERS SEE THAT IN THEIR LIFETIME.
NO, NOT NUGGETS LIKE THAT.
Narrator: THEIR GOLD TOTAL IS NOW 296 OUNCES -- WORTH OVER $350,000.
WE'RE ON THE RIGH PATH HERE, LOOKS TO ME LIKE -- OH, IT'S CLOSE.
WE'RE CLOSE.
LET'S GO FOR OVER A HUNDRED NEXT TIME.
Derek: YEAH.
Narrator: LARGER NUGGETS JUST MIGHT MEAN THEY'VE REACHED FREDDY'S HOT SPOT -- THE ALLUVIAL FAN.
Freddy: 36 OUNCES OF NUGGETS.
THIS PIT WE'RE MINING RIGHT NOW IS WHERE I WANTED TO BE THE WHOLE TIME.
YOU KNOW, IT'S DOUBLED OUR DOLLARS PER YARD.
I'LL TAKE THA ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
Narrator: FREDDY FINALLY GETS TO MINE THE "X" ON HIS TREASURE MAP.
BY THE NEXT CLEANUP, HE'LL BE PROVED RIGHT OR WRONG.
Freddy: TODAY, WE'RE GONNA START DIGGING IN THAT ALLUVIAL FAN.
THIS IS WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO GET ALL SEASON.
I HOPE THERE'S A POT OF GOLD SITTING UNDER IT.
I WANT TO SEE BIG NUGGETS.
I'M SEARCHING FOR EL DORADO UP HERE.
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING FREDDY WAKES UP TO SOME BAD NEWS FROM HOME.
Man: SO WHERE ARE YOU GOING, FREDDY? UH, I'M GOING HOME, I HAD A -- OH, I DON'T -- IT'S A TOUGH ONE HERE.
UH I GOTTA GO HOME FOR A FEW DAYS.
MY FATHER-IN-LAW, HE HE PASSED AWAY, SO MY WIFE'S PRETTY MY WIFE'S PRETTY TORE UP, AND HE'S A FRIEND OF MINE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I LIKE THE CAMERA ON ME LIKE Derek: FREDDY'S HAD TO LEAVE US FOR A FEW DAYS.
HE'S HAD A DEATH IN THE FAMILY ON HIS WIFE'S SIDE, AND HE'S GOTTA GO ATTEND THE SERVICE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S GONNA LEAVE US A LITTLE BIT SHORTHANDED HERE, BUT WE'LL LIMP ALONG.
YOU GOTTA TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY FIRST.
THAT'S MORE IMPORTAN THAN WHAT WE GOT -- REALLY WHAT WE GOT GOING ON HERE.
I MEAN, THIS IS IMPORTANT, TOO, BUT FAMILY IS FAMILY.
Narrator: AFTER SIX DAYS DEALING WITH A DEATH IN THE FAMILY, FREDDY DODGE IS ON HIS WAY BACK TO CARMACKS.
Freddy: IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT WEEK.
MY FATHER-IN-LAW PASSED AWAY, MY FAMILY IS PRETTY TORE UP.
MY WIFE'S TORE UP.
SHE REALLY DOESN'T LIKE ME BEING AWAY RIGHT NOW, BUT I'VE GOTTA FINISH THIS SEASON UP HERE.
I WANT TO FIND OUT IF THA GOLD'S IN THE GROUND BEFORE THIS SEASON'S DONE.
THAT'S MY GOAL.
Narrator: AT THE CARMACKS CLAIM, FREDDY HAS RETURNED AND BROUGHT THE HARSH YUKON WINTER WITH HIM.
BEFORE THEY CAN RUN ANY MORE OF THE PROMISING ALLUVIAL FAN DIRT, THEY FIRST HAVE TO THAW OU THE WASH PLANT.
Freddy: FROZEN STIFF! IT'S THE POINT THAT'S TELLING YOU THAT YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF DAYS.
THIS COULD BE OUR LAST DAY SLUICING.
WANT TO GO FIRE UP THE PUMP, DEREK? Rokosh: THERE'S NO WATER, FREDDY! WHAT'S THAT? THERE'S NO WATER! IT'S DRAWING HERE, SO THAT'S GOTTA BE PLUGGED, DEREK.
Narrator: THE PUMP'S INTAKE IS ON THE SURFACE AND FROZEN SHUT.
TERRY, LET'S HOOK IT UP TO THE FOUR-WHEELER! OKAY! TERRY? Narrator: FREDDY SETS OU TO BREAK UP THE ICE.
RIGHT NEX TO THERE, EH? THE SUCTION'S FROZE IN! WE'RE GONNA HOOK THIS UP TO THA FOUR-WHEELER AND TRY TO BREAK THAT LOOSE IN THE ICE.
YEAH, TERRY! DRIVE HER BACK, TERRY! Freddy: YEAH, TERRY, IT'S LOOSE! GOOD JOB! IT'S STARTING TO PUMP.
Narrator: FREDDY'S PLAN WORKS.
THEY CAN ONCE AGAIN PUMP WATER UP TO THE DEROCKER.
DEREK'S WIFE, IRENE, LOADS THE DAY'S FIRST BUCKE OF PAY DIRT, BUT IT'S TAKEN OVER FOUR HOURS JUST TO GET THE WASH PLAN UP AND RUNNING.
THAT GONNA RUN ALL RIGHT? IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT WE'RE RUNNING.
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GONNA BE AS LONG AS IT'S FREEZING HARD AT NIGHT -- IT'S GONNA GET WORSE.
Narrator: THE FORECAS PREDICTS EVEN COLDER WEATHER.
Freddy: ABOUT DONE NOW.
Derek: YEAH.
YOU WORK ALL DAY TO TRY TO GET GOING, YOU WON'T MAKE IT.
IT'S DISAPPOINTING FOR US, BUT NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.
WE'RE DONE.
Narrator: DEREK CALLS IT.
THIS IS THE LAST DAY OF THEIR SEASON.
FOR THE REMAINING SIX HOURS, THE CREW RUNS NUGGET-RICH DIR FROM THE ALLUVIAL FAN.
THEY PUSH HARD, PROCESSING 400 YARDS OF DIRT.
Derek: THAT'S IT! Narrator: FOR THE LAST TIME THIS SEASON, FREDDY WEIGHS THEIR GOLD.
IF HE'S RIGHT, THE FAN CU SHOULD PRODUCE A PILE OF CHUNKY GOLD NUGGETS.
Derek: WE NEED OVER 100 OUNCES SO IT'S WORTH ANOTHER SHO NEXT YEAR.
YEAH, HERE'S OUR FINE GOLD.
10 20 31.
20.
OKAY, HERE'S OUR MID-SIZE GOLD.
10 20 35.
84.
Derek: WELL, IT AIN' A HUNDRED YET, I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
WELL, LOOK AT THIS.
WELL NUGGETS ALWAYS WEIGH DIFFERENT THAN YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA.
Freddy: 10 20 30 40 42.
14.
109.
18.
Narrator: 109 OUNCES -- WORTH $131,000.
THIS LAST WEEK OF RUNNING HAS PRODUCED OVER A QUARTER OF THEIR GOLD FOR THE SEASON.
Freddy: WE GOT 109.
18 OUNCES.
WE HAD 296.
WE'RE OVER 405.
Narrator: THEIR TOTAL TAKE FOR THE SEASON -- 405 OUNCES, WORTH $486,000.
LIKE, LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE NUGGETS.
THAT'S -- THAT'S THE FINAL RESUL OF NOT GIVING UP.
THIS CLEANUP IS THE BEST OF THE YEAR.
Narrator: FREDDY'S ALLUVIAL FAN HAS DELIVERED -- BIG-TIME! Derek: THIS IS KIND OF VINDICATION OF THIS CREEK.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL WE'VE ALL SACRIFICED A LOT.
THAT'S LIVING, MAN.
IT AIN'T EASY FOR ME.
I LOVE YOU, BUDDY.
LOVE YOU, BROTHER! Derek: YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR.
WE SURVIVED IT, AND NOW WE'VE HAD A COMEBACK.
WE KNOW THE CREEK'S GOT GOLD IN IT.
IT'S NOT GONNA GIVE IT UP EASILY, BUT WHAT THE HELL -- THAT'S LIFE, MAN.
Freddy: WE JUST STARTED INTO THAT FAN CUT, AND LOOK WHAT'S IN THAT PAN.
42 OUNCES OF NUGGETS FOR JUS A LITTLE BIT OF DIRT.
SO THAT'S A VICTORY TO ME.
Narrator: COMING UP ON THE SEASON FINALE OF "GOLD RUSH" AN EPIC STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM.
Man: I COULD SHOW UP NEXT SPRING AND THIS COULD BE MINE.
Narrator: FOR FUTURE Man: I CAN'T GET THIS ICE THROUGH THE GRIZZLY BARS.
DO NOT SHUT THAT FRICKIN' PLANT DOWN! SO, DAD, TELL US WHAT WE GOT.
Narrator: AND FORTUNE.
Man: LET'S GET ON BOARD AND SEE WHAT THIS THING WILL DO.
GO! IS THERE GOLD IN THERE OR IS THERE GOLD IN THERE?