Gold Rush (2018) s05e90 Episode Script
Grandpa John
Parker: MY GRANDPA, HE'S AN AMAZING MAN.
HE'S BEEN SUCH A HUGE INSPIRATION TO ME.
John: WELL, THE GREATEST THING THAT I FEEL I'VE DONE IS INSTILL IN MY GRANDSON, "YOU GOTTA TRY.
DON'T EVER GIVE UP.
" Parker: WHERE I AM NOW, I OWE 100% OF IT TO MY GRANDPA.
John: PARKER HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.
I'M PROUD OF HIM.
Parker: SPENDING TIME UP AT THE MINE WITH MY GRANDPA, THAT'S PROBABLY THE GREATES GIFT THAT HE'S EVER GIVEN ME.
AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.
I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT SOMEDAY I CAN BE HALF THE MAN HE IS.
HEY, GRANDPA.
HELLO! PARKER! OOH! GIVE ME A HUG.
OH! OH! -- Captions by VITAC -- CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS Narrator: FOR TWO DECADES, JOHN SCHNABEL HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO HIS GRANDSON, BOTH AS A MAN AND AS A GOLD MINER.
NOW, THE 94-YEAR-OLD MINING LEGEND HAS TRAVELED 600 MILES TO VISIT HIS GRANDSON AT HIS YUKON CLAIM.
John: THERE'S A LOT OF PLEASAN THINGS IN LIFE I LIKE TO STILL DO, AND ONE OF 'EM IS TO COME AND SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU.
I GET THE SAME FEELING.
WHY DON'T I GO TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE PLACE? I'D APPRECIATE THAT.
SO HERE'S OUR OPERATION.
OH! WOW! THAT IS AN IMPRESSIVE AREA.
GOD, THIS IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
WELL, YOU WEREN'T SCREWING AROUND TOO MUCH WHEN YOU WERE 20, WERE YOU? OH, NO.
I WAS WORKING LIKE AN IDIOT LIKE YOU, ALL WORK AND NO PLAY.
YOU GONNA GET BIG, YOU GOTTA THINK BIG.
SO, WHEN I COME HERE AND SEE THIS, IT'S VERY UPLIFTING, AND I FEEL YOU ARE IN THE -- IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS MY ANCESTORS AND MYSELF.
PARKER JUST TURNED 20, AND THAT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE SAME AGE AS JOHN WAS WHEN HE LEFT HIS HOME AND MOVED TO ALASKA.
TO TAKE OFF AND HEAD TO THE YUKON WAS NO DIFFERENT THAN JOHN SCHNABEL GOING TO ALASKA.
YOU LOOK AT THAT SIMILARITY AND THAT VISION THAT THEY BOTH HAD, AND YOU THINK, "THESE TWO PEAS IN A POD.
" Nancy: THE RESEMBLANCE, PHYSICALLY, BETWEEN JOHN AND PARKER IS SHOCKING EVEN TO ME.
WHEN I SEE PICTURES OF THE TWO OF THEM, IT IS LIKE, "WOW, THAT IS, LIKE, A MINI-ME.
" I THINK PARKER AND JOHN BOTH HAVE ALWAYS LIKED THAT KIND OF SIMILARITY THING.
I THINK THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN A BIG CHUCKLE OUT OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALIKE IN A LOT OF WAYS.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALIKE IN A LOT OF WAYS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BEEN AROUND SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME WHY WE WENT SO BIG THIS YEAR.
OH, WELL, BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU LIKE THE CHALLENGE.
WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF IT, BUT I THINK A LOT OF I IS THAT THAT'S BEEN RUNNING IN THE FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME, TOO.
YES.
Narrator: BORN IN 1920, JOHN GREW UP THE SON OF A KANSAS WHEAT FARMER.
I WAS, UH, RAISED IN A RATHER POVERTY-STRICKEN ATMOSPHERE.
OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A LOAF OF BREAD AND A -- A PIECE OF CHEESE.
Narrator: BY THE TIME JOHN WAS A TEENAGER, THE UNITED STATES WAS IN THE MIDST OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, AND HIS FAMILY HAD LOST THE FARM.
John: MY FATHER HAD GONE TO ALASKA.
AND SO I PACKED UP EVERYTHING I HAD, AND, UH, I CAME TO HAINES, ALASKA, ON A STEAM SHIP.
ON MARCH THE 10th, 1939.
I'M 19 YEARS OLD, HUSKY, AND WORKED HARD.
I WAS FREE, AND I WAS IN A PLACE WHERE I HAD A CHANCE TO BE A SUCCESS.
SO, PARKER, I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL THING YOU'RE DOING.
THERE'S NOT MANY TEENAGERS TAKE ON SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
THANKS, GRANDPA.
Narrator: BY BUILDING ON THE SKILLS HE LEARNED AS A CHILD ON HIS GRANDPA'S GOLD MINE, PARKER MINED ALMOST $1.
5 MILLION IN GOLD LAST SEASON.
WE'RE A LONG WAYS FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO AT BIG NUGGET, HUH? OH, GOD, YES.
I CONGRATULATE YOU.
John: I ACTUALLY BOUGH BIG NUGGET MINE AS A DESTINATION TO TAKE MY CHILDREN IN THE SUMMERTIME WHERE THEY COULD DIG THE GRAVELS, FIND A LITTLE GOLD.
ROGER DIDN'T RESPOND TO IT, BUT MY GRANDSONS DID.
Nancy: PARKER WANTED TO GO TO THE MINE AND WASN'T POTTY TRAINED, AND JOHN SAID, "WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF DIAPERS, YOU CAN COME TO THE MINE.
" SO THIS YES.
YEAH.
I DON'T REMEMBER IT.
YOU DON'T REMEMBER IT AT ALL? NOT ONE BIT.
PARKER GOT ORGANIZED AND, UM, FIGURED OU HOW TO GET RID OF THE DIAPERS AND GOT TO GO TO THE MINE.
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE NO-MOM ZONE.
THERE WERE NO RULES.
THERE WAS NO RESTRICTIONS.
SO WE GO UP THERE, AND THERE'S NOBODY THERE BUT US.
AND SO WE JUST HAD A -- HAD A HECK OF A GOOD TIME.
Nancy: IT WAS LIKE HIS PLAYGROUND.
AND THEN, THE INTERES IN THE MINING JUST EVOLVED.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS -- HE WAS UP THERE HAVING A GREAT TIME AND DOING A LITTLE PANNING, AND HE WAS UP THERE HAVING A GREAT TIME AND DOING A LITTLE MINING.
John: HE'D FIND A GOOD SPO WHERE THE GOLD WAS ACCUMULATING, AND I SAID TO HIM, "WHATEVER ENDS UP HERE IS YOURS.
" FIRST THING I KNOW, HE'S GETTING GOLD.
SO, FROM THEN ON, HE SPENT ALL HIS YOUTH AND EVERY SUMMER AT BIG NUGGET MINE.
I NORMALLY DO ABOUT 20 TO 30 OF THESE EACH WAY.
GET KIND OF LIMBERED UP A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW? YOU WANT A COUPLE EGGS, PARKER? YOU'RE GONNA HAVE CEREAL OR WHAT? GOTCHA! IT LOOKS LIKE A PERSON, DOESN'T IT? GET THAT LIGHT OUT OF MY FACE.
MORNING, PARKER.
Nancy: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS FUN FOR PARKER UP AT BIG NUGGET ALL THOSE YEARS WAS HANGING OU WITH -- WITH GRANDPA.
AND SO, AS HE GOT OLDER, AND HE STARTED SPENDING MORE TIME KINDA HANGING WITH JOHN, I REALIZED HOW CONNECTED THEY WERE, THAT THAT BOND WAS BIGGER THAN I EVEN SAW.
Narrator: PARKER QUICKLY TOOK TO THE BUSINESS OF GOLD MINING.
THAT'S ABOUT A I WOULD JUDGE CLOSE TO A HALF AN OUNCE.
A LITTLE OVER, I BET.
275 GRAINS.
THAT'S, UH I WAS RIGHT.
PRETTY CLOSE.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW, THAT FIRST SEASON, I HAD A LOT OF GOOD TIMES WITH MY GRANDPA.
HE HAD A GREAT TIME.
PARKER HAS TAKEN WHAT STARTED OUT AS A REALLY FUN THING TO DO IN THE SUMMER, WORK ON EQUIPMENT, HANG OUT WITH YOUR GRANDPA, NOT HAVE YOUR MOM TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO.
UM, I MEAN, I THINK HE WAS LEARNING A LO WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING IT.
Narrator: JOHN ALLOWED THE TEENAGER TO DEVELOP HIS OPERATING SKILLS ON OLD EQUIPMENT.
WOO! I THINK PARKER IS A UNBELIEVABLE PLEASURE TO WATCH.
Narrator: HE WAS GIVEN MORE AND MORE FREEDOM.
THEN, WHEN PARKER WAS JUS 16 YEARS OLD, JOHN HANDED OVER THE MINE TO HIS GRANDSON.
I'VE HAD 25 VERY GOOD, PRODUCTIVE YEARS AT THE MINE.
I HAVE FAITH IN YOUR MANAGEMEN THAT IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.
THANKS.
SHAKE.
IT'S A BIG DAY FOR ME.
I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGH FOR MY GRANDPA TO PU THIS MUCH FAITH IN ME.
IT'S QUITE AN HONOR BECAUSE HE'S AN AMAZING MAN.
REALLY, WELL, HE IS A HERO, BU THAT'S WHAT HE'S ALWAYS BEEN.
Nancy: I THINK PARKER PROBABLY ALWAYS HAD IT IN HIS HEAR THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND I THINK JOHN RECOGNIZED THAT AND, YOU KNOW, GAVE HIM THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT JOHN'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR THAT, UM, SPARK IN HIS KIDS AND GRANDKIDS, AND TRYING TO HELP FULFILL THAT.
IT'LL BE MY CLAIM TO FAME.
Roger: PARKER STARTED TO TAKE OVER THE BIG NUGGET.
IF ANYTHING, HE HAD THE DRIVE AND THE AMBITION AND THE DESIRE, AND THAT COVERED A LOT OF INDISCRETIONS, YOU MIGHT SAY, AS FAR AS LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Parker: WHEN I FIRST TOOK OVER BIG NUGGET, IT WAS EYE OPENING, YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST, I THINK THAT I WAS TOO YOUNG.
A-HA-HA! THERE WE GO.
BOY, MADE ME LEARN FAST.
I'M ROCKIN'! OOPS.
THAT'S NOT GOOD.
Narrator: FOR 12 YEARS, JOHN SCHNABEL TAUGHT HIS GRANDSON HOW TO MINE FOR GOLD.
NOW, HE'S COME NORTH TO SEE HOW PARKER'S DOING IN HIS SECOND SEASON MINING THE LEGENDARY KLONDIKE.
John: WHAT YOU'VE GOT IS PRETTY CLASSY STUFF.
I HAVE TO ADMIRE YOUR OPERATION.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT IT DOWN PRETTY GOOD.
THANKS, GRANDPA.
I CAN REMEMBER, WAY BACK WHEN, YOU FINALLY TOOK OVER THE MINE.
WHY, THE FIRST THING YOU -- YOU SAID, "GRANDPA, "YOU ONLY RUN 200 TONS A DAY.
I GOTTA HAVE 600.
" Narrator: WHEN PARKER STARTED RUNNING BIG NUGGET, JOHN WOULD KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON HIM, BUT NO MATTER WHAT, 16-YEAR-OLD PARKER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MINE'S SUCCESS OR FAILURE.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING YET.
John: A FEW FLAKES IS ALL WE GOT.
I DOUBT IF WE MADE A DOLLAR.
IN NO TIME AT ALL, PARKER WAS RUNNING THE MINE AT A LOSS.
WELL, IF THERE'S NOTHING IN THAT, WE MIGHT AS WELL GO HOME.
IT'S A TEST.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
JUST KEEP WORKING TOWARD THE BETTER GROUND.
EVENTUALLY, YOU'LL HIT IT.
YEAH.
HAVE PATIENCE.
IT WAS REALLY PRETTY INTERESTING TO WATCH PARKER, UH, TAKE OFF WITH THE MINING BECAUSE IT ALSO PROVIDED A OPPORTUNITY FOR MY FATHER TO, UM, TEACH SOMEBODY.
WELL, ONCE YOU GIVE YOUR OPINION, YOU BACK OFF AND LET THEM DO THEIR THING, AND THEY DECIDE TO ACCEPT I OR REJECT IT.
AND THEY'RE ENTITLED TO, I THINK, LEARN THE HARD WAY.
Narrator: AFTER FAILING TO FIND GOLD, PARKER MADE A BOLD MOVE.
HUP! HERE WE GO.
HE BUILT A ROAD UP SMITH CREEK HILL TO SEE IF IT WOULD DELIVER A PILE OF NUGGETS.
BUT PARKER HAD MORE LESSONS TO LEARN.
GOIN' UP.
WHOA! WOW, I'M PRETTY LUCKY.
Narrator: JOHN STOOD BACK AS PARKER ATTEMPTED TO GET HIMSELF OUT OF A JAM.
WOO! BUT PARKER ONLY MADE MATTERS WORSE, GETTING HIS EXCAVATOR STUCK ON THE TRUCK.
COME ON! COME ON! THANK GOD.
Narrator: ONLY AFTER PARKER FAILED DID JOHN STEP IN TO OFFER A SAFER SOLUTION.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO HOOK ON TO THE BACK END WITH A CABLE.
PULL IT OUT BACKWARDS.
PUT IT AROUND AND WE'LL HOOK IT BACK TO THE OTHER END OF THE TRUCK.
THERE YA GO.
THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY.
Narrator: WITH 91-YEAR-OLD JOHN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THEY PULLED THE ROCK TRUCK OUT OF THE DITCH IN SECONDS.
STOP.
I -- SORRY.
I'M GONNA GO HOME.
IT PROVED ONE THING, THAT EVEN WHEN HE MADE A MISTAKE, HE DIDN'T CRY AND LAY DOWN.
AND HE EVEN LEARNED TO APPRECIATE MY ADVICE.
SORRY.
OH, I'M HAPPY WE GOT I OUT OF THERE.
I KIND OF LIKE THE ROLE WHEN -- GRANDFATHERS PLAY BECAUSE IT'S REWARDING, AND SOMETIMES -- AND SOMETIMES, IT'S FRUSTRATING.
AS YOUR FATHER SAID TO ME, "DAD, LET ME MAKE MY OWN MISTAKES.
" AND I THINK YOU'VE GOT A LO OF THE SAME BLOOD IN YOU THAT HE HAS.
OH, AND I MAKE A LOT OF MY OWN MISTAKES.
WELL, EVERYBODY MAKES THEM EVERY DAY, NO MATTER HOW PERFEC YOU ARE.
YEAH, BUT USUALLY, WHEN YOU'RE 20, YOUR MISTAKES DON'T COS 50,000 BUCKS A PIECE.
Narrator: PARKER'S FIRST SEASON IN CHARGE OF BIG NUGGE WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE.
DESPITE HIS BEST EFFORTS, THE TEENAGER JUST DIDN' FIND ENOUGH GOLD.
33 OUNCES.
IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF GOLD, BUT WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TO GET IT.
Narrator: GRANDPA LET PARKER CALL ALL THE SHOTS AND FACE THE MUSIC.
HERE'S THE ISSUE -- LOTS OF BILLS.
THESE ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PILING UP.
AND THEN, I GET -- I GE SOMETHING THAT SAYS "SERIOUSLY PAST DUE," PARKER.
WELL, THERE'S STILL -- SERIOUSLY PAST DUE.
I CAN'T PAY 'EM.
YOU NEED 45 GRAND.
SO YOU -- WHAT? I'M SUPPOSED TO TRY TO FIND 30 OUNCES OF GOLD IN A WEEK? YEAH, RIGHT.
I'M SORRY, BUT THAT'S THE NUMBER.
I SHARE YOUR DISAPPOINTMENT.
WE HAVE TO FACE REALITY.
HE OWED MONEY, AND HE COULDN' PAY THAT DEBT OFF.
NANCY AND I, WE SAT DOWN WITH MY DAD, UM, AND DISCUSSED, HOW EASY ARE WE GONNA MAKE LIFE HERE, YOU KNOW? WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT HE KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO REALLY LIVE LIFE PROPERLY, AND THINGS CAN'T BE JUST HANDED TO HIM.
I PLANNED, IN MY MIND, "HOW AM I GOING TO INSTILL IN MY GRANDSON, UH, A SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO OTHERS?" THE SCHNABELS REFUSED TO BAIL PARKER OUT.
THE YOUNG MINE BOSS HAD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
Parker: YOU WANNA KNOW MY PROBLEM? I'M STARTING TO RUN OUT OF IDEAS AND PLACES TO DIG.
Narrator: PARKER NEEDED TO FIND 30 OUNCES, OR $45,000, TO PAY OFF HIS DEBTS.
HE'D WORKED HARD, BUT FAILED TO FIND THE GOLD.
SO WE DUG QUITE THE HOLE HERE.
PARKER HAD ONLY ONE MORE OPTION -- TURN TO HIS GRANDPA'S EXPERTISE.
THE PROBLEM IS, WE GOT DOWN TO BEDROCK, AND THERE'S -- THERE'S NO GOLD.
THAT HAPPENS TO LOTS OF PEOPLE AND TO ME, TOO.
I DUG DOWN, GOT NOTHING.
I MOVED OVER 100 FEET, I GOT LOTS.
PARKER, UH, THAT SLOPE INDICATES THAT THE MAIN CHANNEL IS OVER THAT WAY, AND YOU'LL COME ACROSS IT PRETTY SOON.
THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT A LO OF DIRT TO MOVE.
NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED.
MY FATHER, HE NEVER GIVES UP.
IF IT DIDN'T WORK, HAVE ANOTHER PLAN AND GO AFTER THAT.
Roger: PARKER WAS LIKE A SPONGE.
HE'S GETTING A HECK OF AN EDUCATION.
THERE'S JUST NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
Parker: I THOUGH IT WAS GONNA BE EASY, BUT I THOUGHT WRONG.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO WORK A LOT.
Narrator: FOLLOWING HIS GRANDPA'S ADVICE, PARKER AND HIS CREW DUG DEEP IN SEARCH OF A GOLD-RICH CHANNEL.
John: I WAS A WORKAHOLIC.
MY SON BECAME A WORKAHOLIC, AND PARKER IS A WORKAHOLIC.
WHOA! HOLY COW, LOOK AT THE NUGGETS THERE! THAT'S WHAT WE'RE USED TO SEEING.
GOOD JOB, GUYS.
YOU FOUND THA CHANNEL WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
QUARTER OUNCE OF NUGGETS.
Narrator: WITH NUGGETS IN THE PAN, PARKER'S HARD WORK PAID OFF.
HE'D TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY AND, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS GRANDPA, FOUND THE GOLD HE NEEDED TO PAY HIS DEBTS.
WELL, THE GREATEST THING THAT I FEEL I'VE DONE IS INSTILL IN MY GRANDSON, "NEVER FORGET.
YOU'VE GOTTA TRY.
DON'T EVER GIVE UP.
" SO WE'RE GONNA DIG THE WHOLE DAMN THING OUT.
Narrator: JOHN SCHNABEL IS SPENDING TIME WITH HIS GRANDSON PARKER UP IN THE YUKON.
NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTAN TO EITHER THAN FAMILY.
WHEN WE SIT HERE, IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF SO MANY YEARS THAT WE SPENT TOGETHER.
HOW MANY IDEAS WE SHARED.
IT'S PLEASANT HISTORY.
REMEMBER THAT TIME WHEN MY BROTHER AND DAD CAME UP, AND WE BUILT THAT ROAD UP TO SMITH CREEK? OH, I REMEMBER.
I WAS SCARED TO DEATH.
Narrator: THE ROAD UP SMITH CREEK WAS WATERLOGGED AND UNSTABLE.
JOHN STEPPED IN TO KEEP HIS FAMILY SAFE.
THAT DON'T LOOK SOLID TO ME.
I SEE THE WATER COMING THROUGH THE ROCKS.
WELL -- I MEAN, CAN WE CLEAN IT UP AND USE THAT SAME ROAD? NO.
THE HILL IS DANGEROUS.
YOU SHOOT DOWN THERE LIKE A TOBOGGAN, FLOP INTO THIS RIVER AND JOIN THE REST OF THE PEOPLE WHEREVER HEAVEN IS.
WHAT, NOW WE HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING UP THERE, NO DIRT TO RUN THROUGH THE PLANT.
IT'S DAMN TOUGH TO SEE SOMEONE DIE BECAUSE OF YOUR JUDGMENT.
I'VE HAD A DOZEN PEOPLE KILLED WORKING FOR ME.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT.
NO WAY.
YOU DON'T -- YOU DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA FEEL WHEN YOU GO UP TO SOMEBODY'S WIFE AND TELL HER THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDENT.
I LOVE YOU.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE MISERIES THA I'VE HAD TO WALK THROUGH.
RESPONSIBILITY IS A BURDEN, REALLY.
LET'S BUILD A SAFE ROAD AND TAKE THAT OUT OF THE PICTURE.
AND, WHATEVER THE COST, IT'S A DAMN SIGHT CHEAPER THAN SOMEBODY BEING HAULED OUT OF HERE ON A STRETCHER.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
MY FATHER WOULD DO EVERYTHING HE COULD TO PROTECT HIM, BUT YOU LOSE THAT WHOLE CONCERN FOR A SPLIT SECOND, AND SOMEBODY CAN DIE.
I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY SON, YOU KNOW? I DON'T WANT TO LOSE EITHER ONE OF THEM, SO SAFETY'S A BIG DEAL.
Narrator: GRANDPA INSISTED ON A NEW, SAFE ROAD UP THE HILL, BUT PARKER COULDN'T BUILD I WITHOUT HIS FATHER AND BROTHER.
I'M GONNA GO TO A SAFE HAVEN AND BLOW THIS THING UP.
FIRE IN THE HOLE! MY DAD'S JUST KIND OF A ALWAYS FULL-SPEED-AHEAD KIND OF GUY.
I LIKE THAT BECAUSE, WHEN HE'S UP HERE, WE GET A LOT DONE.
HE'S THE BEST AT WHAT HE DOES.
WHAT MAKES THESE SCHNABEL MEN SO UNIQUE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THERE'S THREE GENERATIONS OF THEM INTERACTING REGULARLY.
THEY ALL HAVE THIS COMMON INTEREST AND THESE -- THIS COMMON SKILL SET.
AND I THINK HOW UNBELIEVABLY RARE THAT IS.
OH, MY GRANDPA'S HERE.
NOW WE'VE GOT THE A-TEAM.
I'M READY TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT ME TO DO.
IT'S LIKE THE BEST FEELING EVER.
YOU'RE SITTING IN THERE WITH PEOPLE FROM, AT THE TIME, LIKE 17, 18 YEARS OLD ALL THE WAY TO, LIKE, 91, AND IT'S THREE GENERATIONS OF THE SAME NAME ALL WORKING AND ACTUALLY ALL PARTICIPATING IN SOMETHING.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, A 75-YEAR GAP, AND IT'S -- IT'S CRAZY AND IT'S AMAZING.
IT'S, LIKE, A REALLY, REALLY GOOD FEELING.
Parker: WE'RE CLOSE TO THE TOP! WE'RE GONNA DO IT! WE'RE GONNA DO IT! SEE WHY I'VE GOT MY DAD UP HERE? HE KICKS ASS.
IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE JUST TO COME UP AND DO THAT, AND I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO HELP PARKER IF HE NEEDS IT.
WOO! PARKER, HE HAS LEARNED ALREADY THAT HE CANNOT DO IT ALONE.
THAT FORMULA HOLDS TRUE.
WE HAVE, PRESENTLY, A VERY, VERY CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY THAT WORKS WONDERFULLY WELL TOGETHER.
I'M DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL THAT WE HAD THESE YEARS TOGETHER.
THAT'S ONE THING I MISS BEING UP HERE IS WORKING WITH YOU, WORKING WITH MY BROTHER AND WORKING WITH MY DAD.
IT WAS OVER THE COURSE OF, WHAT, 10 YEARS? MM-HMM.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BUMMER TO HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM THAT, BUT WELL YOU GOTTA GO WHERE THE GOLD IS, RIGHT? RIGHT.
JOHN'S INFLUENCE ON PARKER, I SEE IT IN THE HAVING GOALS, THAT ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE NEXT THING.
PARKER, HE TOOK A TRIP UP TO THE YUKON, AND ONCE HE SAW THAT, THAT'S WHEN WE LOST HIM.
BECAUSE HE CAME HOME, AND HE SAID, "I'M PLAYING IN THE WRONG SANDBOX.
" Narrator: AT AGE 18, PARKER MADE THE BIGGEST DECISION OF HIS LIFE.
THE YOUNG PIONEER LEFT HIS FAMILY AND HIS HOME TO SET UP HIS OWN MINE IN THE GOLD FIELDS OF THE KLONDIKE.
Nancy: PARKER, BEING 20, GOING OFF TO THE YUKON AT ABOUT THE SAME AGE THAT JOHN WAS WHEN HE LEFT HOME AND CAME TO ALASKA, THAT -- THAT WHOLE COINCIDENCE IS NOT LOST ON US.
HE HAD TO HAVE BIGGER GOALS, BIGGER PRODUCTION, AND SO HE MADE THE DECISION TO QUIT BIG NUGGET MINE.
Parker: THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.
IT'S TAUGHT ME A LOT.
I LOOK UPON YOU LIKE THE EAGLE WHEN HE FLOPS HIS WINGS AND FLIES OUT OF THE NEST, HE NEVER COMES BACK FOR HELP.
YOU'RE GONNA BE ON YOUR OWN.
YOU'RE GONNA BE A SUCCESS.
I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
I KNOW SO.
Parker: I WISH I COULD JUST TAKE MY GRANDPA WITH ME, BUT IF I'M GONNA BE SERIOUS ABOUT GOLD MINING, YOU KNOW, THE YUKON IS THE PLACE TO BE.
Narrator: GRANDPA JOHN BELIEVED PARKER WAS READY TO BLAZE HIS OWN TRAIL, JUST AS THE ORIGINAL GOLD MINERS DID BACK IN THE LATE 1800s.
THAT'S A FANTASTIC STEP AWAY FROM EVERYONE THAT HE KNOWS, THAT HE HAS HAD WORKED WITH.
THAT DIDN'T SHAKE HIM AT ALL.
HE WENT AND PROVED THAT HE COULD COPE WITH IT.
Narrator: JOHN TAUGHT HIS GRANDSON EVERYTHING HE KNEW, BUT NOTHING COULD PREPARE PARKER FOR LIFE WITHOU HIS BELOVED GRANDPA.
HELLO? DID SOMETHING HAPPEN TO GRANDPA? HE'S IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW? Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL WOULD NOT HAVE ACHIEVED THE SUCCESS HE HAS WITHOUT HIS GRANDPA, BUT JOHN IS 94, AND THEY BOTH KNOW THEIR TIME TOGETHER IS LIMITED.
WELL, I'M GLAD YOU MADE IT UP HERE.
THERE'S FEW PEOPLE IN LIFE THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO ME, AND YOU'RE ONE OF THEM.
YOU MAKE ME FEEL BETTER JUST COMING UP HERE.
NO, I HEAR YA.
YEP.
I GET THE SAME FEELING.
HOW'S YOUR HEALTH DOING? ME? I'M MENTALLY 35 UP HERE, BUT THE REST OF ME IS A LITTLE OLDER.
I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE TO FACE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE.
Narrator: JUST THREE YEARS AGO, JOHN SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK.
AT AGE 17, PARKER WAS FORCED TO CONFRONT THE FAC THAT HE COULD LOSE HIS GRANDPA.
YOU KNOW, MY GRANDPA'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN MY LIFE.
AND FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO HIM JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN IS PRETTY TOUGH TO, UM I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL DO WITHOUT HIM.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIVE FOREVER.
YOU KNOW THAT.
BUT YOU WANT HIM TO LIVE MORE.
YOU WANT HIM TO LIVE MORE.
Parker: HE'S OLD, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THA EVERY TIME I SEE HIM MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME.
AND, ONE OF THESE TIMES, IT WILL BE.
WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE'RE GONNA SUDDENLY SEE THE LIGHT, IF YOU WANT TO USE THAT TERM.
BUT I NEVER GIVE UP ON MY FAMILY.
LOVE, UH MY FAMILY ALL SHOW GREAT LOVE TOWARDS ME, AND THE LEAST I CAN DO TO RETURN THAT LOVE IS TRY TO STAY HERE.
WHAT YOU NEED IS TO LET US TAKE CARE OF YOU, OKAY? JUST LET US DO IT.
IT'S A THRILL, DAD.
YEAH, I'M EMOTIONAL, THAT'S ALL.
WELL, I THINK IT'S GREAT.
Narrator: JUST DAYS AFTER SURVIVING HIS HEART ATTACK, JOHN ARRIVED BACK HOME IN HAINES TO REJOIN HIS FAMILY.
PARKER, I'VE HAD SOME VERY DIFFICULT PERIODS IN MY LIFE, AND I THINK THE MOST DIFFICUL WAS WHEN I FINALLY REALIZED I WAS, UH, A VICTIM OF -- AS THE DOCTOR WAS VERY UNKIND, HE SAYS, "YOU HAVE AGGRESSIVE CANCER.
" I LOOKED AT HIM AND SAYS, "CAN'T YOU FIND A BETTER ADJECTIVE THAN THE WORD 'AGGRESSIVE'?" AND YEAH, IT'S, UH I KNOW, THIS WINTER, EVERYBODY WAS PRETTY WORRIED.
Narrator: LAST WINTER, JOHN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAST-GROWING PROSTATE CANCER.
John: THIS'LL PROBABLY BE MY LAST TRIP UP TO THE MINE BECAUSE THE DOCTORS ARE SENDING ME UP ALL THE MEDICINES TO GO ON THE CHEMOTHERAPY, AND CHEMOTHERAPY TO ME IS SUICIDE.
Narrator: JOHN FEARED HE WOULDN'T SURVIVE THE WINTER.
John: WE CAN'T LIVE FOREVER.
Narrator: HIS DYING WISH WAS TO GIVE SMITH CREEK ONE LAST SHO WITH HIS GRANDSONS, PARKER AND PAYSON.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE LEAS I CAN DO, BECAUSE LOOK AT WHERE HE'S GOTTEN ME.
IF HE WANTS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S IN SOME HOLE IN THE GROUND, WELL, BY GOD, WE'RE GONNA GO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S IN SOME HOLE IN THE GROUND.
HEY, PARKER, PAYSON, THIS IS GRANDPA.
I COME UP TO SEE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, AND MY, I'M IMPRESSED.
OVER.
IS THAT MY DAD I HEAR? I'LL BE DARNED.
ROGER, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE UP HERE.
Narrator: EVEN ROGER GO ON BOARD TO HELP HIS FATHER BEFORE WINTER CLOSED IN.
I'm truly surprised to see you all working up there on that dirt pile.
LOOKS GREAT.
KNOW THIS IS A BIG DREAM OF YOURS, AND HOPEFULLY, WE'LL MAKE IT COME TRUE.
I THINK WE ALL SHARE THAT THOUGHT.
YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S TWO THINGS MY GRANDPA LOVES, IT'S HIS FAMILY AND TAKING ON A CHALLENGE.
YOU KNOW, LAST FALL, I THINK THAT'S WHY HE WAS SO STOKED ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING.
MY BROTHER AND I, AND EVEN MY DAD, WERE ALL PITCHING IN, AND IT WAS A HUGE CHALLENGE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE FOUGH A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE WORKED TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THAT MEAN A LOT TO HIM.
YOU FINDING ANYTHING? WHAT DO YOU THINK, GRANDPA? OH, MY! OOH, THAT IS BEAUTIFUL! HERE'S ANOTHER ONE! ISN'T THAT AWESOME? I WON'T BE ABLE TO SLEEP.
Narrator: EITHER THE CHEMOTHERAPY THAT HE FEARED SO MUCH PAYSON.
YEAH! OR THE BIG CHUNKS OF SMITH CREEK GOLD GAVE GRANDPA JOHN A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH HOW LONG THEY LIVE.
HE'S ALWAYS GOT A PROJEC THAT HE'S WORKING ON.
HE'S ALWAYS GOT SOME FIVE-YEAR PLAN ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GONNA BE WITH THE SMITH CREEK OR THIS OR THAT.
BUT HE'S ALWAYS SCHEMING SOMETHING.
Roger: AT 94, I DON'T SEE HIS MIND DETERIORATING MUCH.
YOU KNOW? HE'S SHARP AS SOON AS TACK, AND I THINK THAT CHALLENGES AND HIM TESTING HIMSELF AND KEEPING HIMSELF ACTIVE KEEPS HIM GOING.
Nancy: PUT ON YOUR BOOTS AND DO SOMETHING.
THAT'S LIKE THE NUGGET.
HE NEVER STOPPED HAVING PURPOSE.
HE NEVER STOPPED HAVING GOALS.
John: THE MINE IS TIED TO MY HEALTH.
THIS IS, UH, A, REALLY, HEALTH FARM FOR ME, MENTALLY AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY.
Narrator: UP IN THE YUKON, JOHN SCHNABEL IS CHECKING OU PARKER'S HIGH-TECH GOLD TABLE OH, WOW! THAT'S A PRETTY BIG STREAM.
A FAR CRY FROM THE GOLD PANS JOHN USED AT BIG NUGGET.
John: I WISH I HAD A RECOVERY SYSTEM WHEN I WAS MINING LIKE YOU'VE GOT HERE.
LOOK AT THAT YELLOW STUFF.
I CAN REMEMBER HOW YOU USED TO GRAB THE DIR AROUND THE RECOVERY PLAN AND PAN IT.
I NEVER REALLY KNEW WHAT YOUR GUYS THOUGHT OF ALL THAT.
WHAT WAS I, 14? I DIDN'T NEED IT.
I KNOW, BUT YOU NEEDED THE FUN OF BEING SUCCESSFUL.
I'M GETTING THAT NOW.
Narrator: PARKER'S YUKON OPERATION IS SO SUCCESSFUL NOW THAT, IN ONE GOOD WEEK, HE GETS MORE GOLD THAN JOHN GO IN A WHOLE YEAR AT BIG NUGGET.
YOU'RE DOING IT.
I'M PROUD OF YOU.
Narrator: JOHN SCHNABEL IS UP VISITING SCRIBNER CREEK, TAKING IN THE SCALE OF HIS YOUNG GRANDSON'S GOLD MINE.
John: GOD, YOUR OPERATION HERE IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF PEOPLE DIGGING A LOT OF DIRT.
Parker: YEAH, THERE IS.
YEAH.
HOW IS THAT V10 YOU GO DOING? THE NEW ONE? YEAH.
IT'S A NICE MACHINE.
IT IS? YEAH.
DID YOU GET A HEAVIER, UH, EXCAVATOR THIS YEAR? YEAH.
I THINK THAT'S WHY THIS SEASON, IT'S SO MUCH DIFFEREN THAN LAST YEAR, IS THAT WE'RE JUST ABLE TO DO THE YARDAGE, YOU KNOW? I HOPE THAT, UH, YOUR CLEANUP IS INCREASING, TOO.
SO THIS IS THE FAR CUT.
IT'S BIG.
IN THEORY, THAT SHOULD BE A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PAY SITTING THERE WAITING TO GET HAULED UP.
WELL, HURRY UP.
NO, I HEAR YA.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE -- IT'S A LITTLE RISKY OPENING UP THIS BIG OF AN AREA.
MM-HMM.
I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE ANY TEST HOLES IN IT.
WE DON'T DRILL ANY OF THIS.
THAT'S THE RISK YOU TAKE OR REWARD YOU GET, ONE OR THE OTHER.
Narrator: LAST SEASON, PARKER WENT NORTH TO THE YUKON TO MINE WITH HIS GRANDPA'S BLESSING AND 100 OUNCES OF GOLD.
AFTER SEVEN LONG MONTHS, WHEN PARKER FINALLY RETURNED HOME, HE COULDN'T WAIT TO PRESEN HIS TAKE TO HIS GRANDPA.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'LL JUS BE NICE TO PUT THE GOLD DOWN IN FRONT OF MY GRANDPA AND YOU KNOW, TELL HIM HOW THE SEASON WENT.
P-- PARKER! HEY, PARKER! IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.
YOU, TOO.
YOU LOOK -- YOU LOOK GOOD.
THANK YOU.
I FEEL A LO BETTER WHEN I LAUGH.
WAIT TILL YOU SEE THIS.
WHOA! LOOK AT THIS! OH, MY LOOK AT ALL THAT GOOD STUFF! WHOA! I'M GOING TO THE YUKON.
HOLY CRIMINY.
THAT'S OVER 1,000 OUNCES.
1,029.
OH, MY GOSH! WOW! I NEVER HAVE SEEN THAT MUCH GOLD IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
I'M OVERWHELMED.
Narrator: IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON IN THE KLONDIKE, PARKER TURNED 100 OUNCES OF GOLD INTO OVER 1,000, WORTH ALMOST $1.
5 MILLION.
PARKER'S SUCCESS WOULD NO HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT HIS LOVING GRANDPA.
GROWING UP ALONGSIDE JOHN SCHNABEL AT BIG NUGGET MINE HAS MADE PARKER THE MAN HE IS TODAY.
WELL, PARKER, I BROUGHT A GIFT FOR YOU.
OH, YEAH? OH, MAN.
HA! THAT'S THE SIGN FROM BIG NUGGET, HUH? YEAH.
IT WAS A SYMBOL OF SUCCESS FOR ME, SO I BROUGHT IT UP TO GIVE TO YOU BECAUSE I'M PROUD OF YOU.
THANKS.
SO, GIVE ME A HUG.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING UP, GRANDPA.
WELL, YOU -- YOU MAKE MY DETERMINATION TO LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO COME BACK AND SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.
GOOD.
PARKER HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.
TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE'S DONE, I'M PROUD OF HIM.
Parker: YOU KNOW, MY GRANDPA DOES HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN ME.
KEEPS ME ON THE RIGHT TRACK, AND IT KEEPS ME FOCUSED ON THE GOAL.
Roger: PARKER MIGHT CONTINUE TO PARALLEL MY FATHER, AND IF THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, HE'LL BE A GREAT ADULT, AND HE'LL LIVE A HAPPY LIFE.
I THINK THAT SEEING THA RELATIONSHIP THAT JOHN HAS WITH PARKER AND ALL THOSE YEARS OF BEING TOGETHER, IT'S GREAT.
IT'S -- IT'S -- IT'S A GIFT.
Parker: I HAD SOME GOOD TIMES WITH MY GRANDPA, YOU KNOW? HE'S AN AMAZING MAN, AND I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT SOMEDAY I CAN BE HALF THE MAN HE IS.
TO GET WHERE I AM NOW, I OWE 100% OF I TO MY GRANDPA.
I COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER MENTOR.
YOU'VE GOTTA TRY.
DON'T EVER GIVE UP.
SO, I'M GONNA DIE WITH MY BOOTS ON, AS THEY SAY.
Narrator: ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH" WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA! TONY BEETS IS FOUR WEEKS BEHIND SCHEDULE.
IT'S UNREALISTIC.
YOU'RE A DREAMER.
BUT IN JUST ONE DAY HE CRACKS THE WHIP AND GETS HIS DREDGE PLANS BACK ON TRACK.
TODD HOFFMAN RUNS THE FIRST DIR FROM HIS BIGGEST EVER CUT A THOUSAND OUNCES, HERE WE COME.
BUT DRIVES HIS CREW TO THE BRINK.
I'M DONE.
AND OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK RICK, WHAT'S UP? DISASTER STRIKES.
PARKER! HE'S BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
COME ON! PARKER! PARKER!
HE'S BEEN SUCH A HUGE INSPIRATION TO ME.
John: WELL, THE GREATEST THING THAT I FEEL I'VE DONE IS INSTILL IN MY GRANDSON, "YOU GOTTA TRY.
DON'T EVER GIVE UP.
" Parker: WHERE I AM NOW, I OWE 100% OF IT TO MY GRANDPA.
John: PARKER HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.
I'M PROUD OF HIM.
Parker: SPENDING TIME UP AT THE MINE WITH MY GRANDPA, THAT'S PROBABLY THE GREATES GIFT THAT HE'S EVER GIVEN ME.
AND I ALWAYS WANTED TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.
I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT SOMEDAY I CAN BE HALF THE MAN HE IS.
HEY, GRANDPA.
HELLO! PARKER! OOH! GIVE ME A HUG.
OH! OH! -- Captions by VITAC -- CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS Narrator: FOR TWO DECADES, JOHN SCHNABEL HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO HIS GRANDSON, BOTH AS A MAN AND AS A GOLD MINER.
NOW, THE 94-YEAR-OLD MINING LEGEND HAS TRAVELED 600 MILES TO VISIT HIS GRANDSON AT HIS YUKON CLAIM.
John: THERE'S A LOT OF PLEASAN THINGS IN LIFE I LIKE TO STILL DO, AND ONE OF 'EM IS TO COME AND SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU.
I GET THE SAME FEELING.
WHY DON'T I GO TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE PLACE? I'D APPRECIATE THAT.
SO HERE'S OUR OPERATION.
OH! WOW! THAT IS AN IMPRESSIVE AREA.
GOD, THIS IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
WELL, YOU WEREN'T SCREWING AROUND TOO MUCH WHEN YOU WERE 20, WERE YOU? OH, NO.
I WAS WORKING LIKE AN IDIOT LIKE YOU, ALL WORK AND NO PLAY.
YOU GONNA GET BIG, YOU GOTTA THINK BIG.
SO, WHEN I COME HERE AND SEE THIS, IT'S VERY UPLIFTING, AND I FEEL YOU ARE IN THE -- IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS MY ANCESTORS AND MYSELF.
PARKER JUST TURNED 20, AND THAT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THE SAME AGE AS JOHN WAS WHEN HE LEFT HIS HOME AND MOVED TO ALASKA.
TO TAKE OFF AND HEAD TO THE YUKON WAS NO DIFFERENT THAN JOHN SCHNABEL GOING TO ALASKA.
YOU LOOK AT THAT SIMILARITY AND THAT VISION THAT THEY BOTH HAD, AND YOU THINK, "THESE TWO PEAS IN A POD.
" Nancy: THE RESEMBLANCE, PHYSICALLY, BETWEEN JOHN AND PARKER IS SHOCKING EVEN TO ME.
WHEN I SEE PICTURES OF THE TWO OF THEM, IT IS LIKE, "WOW, THAT IS, LIKE, A MINI-ME.
" I THINK PARKER AND JOHN BOTH HAVE ALWAYS LIKED THAT KIND OF SIMILARITY THING.
I THINK THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN A BIG CHUCKLE OUT OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALIKE IN A LOT OF WAYS.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALIKE IN A LOT OF WAYS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BEEN AROUND SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ME WHY WE WENT SO BIG THIS YEAR.
OH, WELL, BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU LIKE THE CHALLENGE.
WELL, YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF IT, BUT I THINK A LOT OF I IS THAT THAT'S BEEN RUNNING IN THE FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME, TOO.
YES.
Narrator: BORN IN 1920, JOHN GREW UP THE SON OF A KANSAS WHEAT FARMER.
I WAS, UH, RAISED IN A RATHER POVERTY-STRICKEN ATMOSPHERE.
OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WAS TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY A LOAF OF BREAD AND A -- A PIECE OF CHEESE.
Narrator: BY THE TIME JOHN WAS A TEENAGER, THE UNITED STATES WAS IN THE MIDST OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, AND HIS FAMILY HAD LOST THE FARM.
John: MY FATHER HAD GONE TO ALASKA.
AND SO I PACKED UP EVERYTHING I HAD, AND, UH, I CAME TO HAINES, ALASKA, ON A STEAM SHIP.
ON MARCH THE 10th, 1939.
I'M 19 YEARS OLD, HUSKY, AND WORKED HARD.
I WAS FREE, AND I WAS IN A PLACE WHERE I HAD A CHANCE TO BE A SUCCESS.
SO, PARKER, I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL THING YOU'RE DOING.
THERE'S NOT MANY TEENAGERS TAKE ON SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
THANKS, GRANDPA.
Narrator: BY BUILDING ON THE SKILLS HE LEARNED AS A CHILD ON HIS GRANDPA'S GOLD MINE, PARKER MINED ALMOST $1.
5 MILLION IN GOLD LAST SEASON.
WE'RE A LONG WAYS FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO AT BIG NUGGET, HUH? OH, GOD, YES.
I CONGRATULATE YOU.
John: I ACTUALLY BOUGH BIG NUGGET MINE AS A DESTINATION TO TAKE MY CHILDREN IN THE SUMMERTIME WHERE THEY COULD DIG THE GRAVELS, FIND A LITTLE GOLD.
ROGER DIDN'T RESPOND TO IT, BUT MY GRANDSONS DID.
Nancy: PARKER WANTED TO GO TO THE MINE AND WASN'T POTTY TRAINED, AND JOHN SAID, "WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF DIAPERS, YOU CAN COME TO THE MINE.
" SO THIS YES.
YEAH.
I DON'T REMEMBER IT.
YOU DON'T REMEMBER IT AT ALL? NOT ONE BIT.
PARKER GOT ORGANIZED AND, UM, FIGURED OU HOW TO GET RID OF THE DIAPERS AND GOT TO GO TO THE MINE.
IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE NO-MOM ZONE.
THERE WERE NO RULES.
THERE WAS NO RESTRICTIONS.
SO WE GO UP THERE, AND THERE'S NOBODY THERE BUT US.
AND SO WE JUST HAD A -- HAD A HECK OF A GOOD TIME.
Nancy: IT WAS LIKE HIS PLAYGROUND.
AND THEN, THE INTERES IN THE MINING JUST EVOLVED.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS -- HE WAS UP THERE HAVING A GREAT TIME AND DOING A LITTLE PANNING, AND HE WAS UP THERE HAVING A GREAT TIME AND DOING A LITTLE MINING.
John: HE'D FIND A GOOD SPO WHERE THE GOLD WAS ACCUMULATING, AND I SAID TO HIM, "WHATEVER ENDS UP HERE IS YOURS.
" FIRST THING I KNOW, HE'S GETTING GOLD.
SO, FROM THEN ON, HE SPENT ALL HIS YOUTH AND EVERY SUMMER AT BIG NUGGET MINE.
I NORMALLY DO ABOUT 20 TO 30 OF THESE EACH WAY.
GET KIND OF LIMBERED UP A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW? YOU WANT A COUPLE EGGS, PARKER? YOU'RE GONNA HAVE CEREAL OR WHAT? GOTCHA! IT LOOKS LIKE A PERSON, DOESN'T IT? GET THAT LIGHT OUT OF MY FACE.
MORNING, PARKER.
Nancy: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS FUN FOR PARKER UP AT BIG NUGGET ALL THOSE YEARS WAS HANGING OU WITH -- WITH GRANDPA.
AND SO, AS HE GOT OLDER, AND HE STARTED SPENDING MORE TIME KINDA HANGING WITH JOHN, I REALIZED HOW CONNECTED THEY WERE, THAT THAT BOND WAS BIGGER THAN I EVEN SAW.
Narrator: PARKER QUICKLY TOOK TO THE BUSINESS OF GOLD MINING.
THAT'S ABOUT A I WOULD JUDGE CLOSE TO A HALF AN OUNCE.
A LITTLE OVER, I BET.
275 GRAINS.
THAT'S, UH I WAS RIGHT.
PRETTY CLOSE.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW, THAT FIRST SEASON, I HAD A LOT OF GOOD TIMES WITH MY GRANDPA.
HE HAD A GREAT TIME.
PARKER HAS TAKEN WHAT STARTED OUT AS A REALLY FUN THING TO DO IN THE SUMMER, WORK ON EQUIPMENT, HANG OUT WITH YOUR GRANDPA, NOT HAVE YOUR MOM TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO.
UM, I MEAN, I THINK HE WAS LEARNING A LO WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING IT.
Narrator: JOHN ALLOWED THE TEENAGER TO DEVELOP HIS OPERATING SKILLS ON OLD EQUIPMENT.
WOO! I THINK PARKER IS A UNBELIEVABLE PLEASURE TO WATCH.
Narrator: HE WAS GIVEN MORE AND MORE FREEDOM.
THEN, WHEN PARKER WAS JUS 16 YEARS OLD, JOHN HANDED OVER THE MINE TO HIS GRANDSON.
I'VE HAD 25 VERY GOOD, PRODUCTIVE YEARS AT THE MINE.
I HAVE FAITH IN YOUR MANAGEMEN THAT IT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.
THANKS.
SHAKE.
IT'S A BIG DAY FOR ME.
I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGH FOR MY GRANDPA TO PU THIS MUCH FAITH IN ME.
IT'S QUITE AN HONOR BECAUSE HE'S AN AMAZING MAN.
REALLY, WELL, HE IS A HERO, BU THAT'S WHAT HE'S ALWAYS BEEN.
Nancy: I THINK PARKER PROBABLY ALWAYS HAD IT IN HIS HEAR THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE DECISIONS, AND I THINK JOHN RECOGNIZED THAT AND, YOU KNOW, GAVE HIM THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT JOHN'S ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR THAT, UM, SPARK IN HIS KIDS AND GRANDKIDS, AND TRYING TO HELP FULFILL THAT.
IT'LL BE MY CLAIM TO FAME.
Roger: PARKER STARTED TO TAKE OVER THE BIG NUGGET.
IF ANYTHING, HE HAD THE DRIVE AND THE AMBITION AND THE DESIRE, AND THAT COVERED A LOT OF INDISCRETIONS, YOU MIGHT SAY, AS FAR AS LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Parker: WHEN I FIRST TOOK OVER BIG NUGGET, IT WAS EYE OPENING, YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST, I THINK THAT I WAS TOO YOUNG.
A-HA-HA! THERE WE GO.
BOY, MADE ME LEARN FAST.
I'M ROCKIN'! OOPS.
THAT'S NOT GOOD.
Narrator: FOR 12 YEARS, JOHN SCHNABEL TAUGHT HIS GRANDSON HOW TO MINE FOR GOLD.
NOW, HE'S COME NORTH TO SEE HOW PARKER'S DOING IN HIS SECOND SEASON MINING THE LEGENDARY KLONDIKE.
John: WHAT YOU'VE GOT IS PRETTY CLASSY STUFF.
I HAVE TO ADMIRE YOUR OPERATION.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT IT DOWN PRETTY GOOD.
THANKS, GRANDPA.
I CAN REMEMBER, WAY BACK WHEN, YOU FINALLY TOOK OVER THE MINE.
WHY, THE FIRST THING YOU -- YOU SAID, "GRANDPA, "YOU ONLY RUN 200 TONS A DAY.
I GOTTA HAVE 600.
" Narrator: WHEN PARKER STARTED RUNNING BIG NUGGET, JOHN WOULD KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON HIM, BUT NO MATTER WHAT, 16-YEAR-OLD PARKER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MINE'S SUCCESS OR FAILURE.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING YET.
John: A FEW FLAKES IS ALL WE GOT.
I DOUBT IF WE MADE A DOLLAR.
IN NO TIME AT ALL, PARKER WAS RUNNING THE MINE AT A LOSS.
WELL, IF THERE'S NOTHING IN THAT, WE MIGHT AS WELL GO HOME.
IT'S A TEST.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
JUST KEEP WORKING TOWARD THE BETTER GROUND.
EVENTUALLY, YOU'LL HIT IT.
YEAH.
HAVE PATIENCE.
IT WAS REALLY PRETTY INTERESTING TO WATCH PARKER, UH, TAKE OFF WITH THE MINING BECAUSE IT ALSO PROVIDED A OPPORTUNITY FOR MY FATHER TO, UM, TEACH SOMEBODY.
WELL, ONCE YOU GIVE YOUR OPINION, YOU BACK OFF AND LET THEM DO THEIR THING, AND THEY DECIDE TO ACCEPT I OR REJECT IT.
AND THEY'RE ENTITLED TO, I THINK, LEARN THE HARD WAY.
Narrator: AFTER FAILING TO FIND GOLD, PARKER MADE A BOLD MOVE.
HUP! HERE WE GO.
HE BUILT A ROAD UP SMITH CREEK HILL TO SEE IF IT WOULD DELIVER A PILE OF NUGGETS.
BUT PARKER HAD MORE LESSONS TO LEARN.
GOIN' UP.
WHOA! WOW, I'M PRETTY LUCKY.
Narrator: JOHN STOOD BACK AS PARKER ATTEMPTED TO GET HIMSELF OUT OF A JAM.
WOO! BUT PARKER ONLY MADE MATTERS WORSE, GETTING HIS EXCAVATOR STUCK ON THE TRUCK.
COME ON! COME ON! THANK GOD.
Narrator: ONLY AFTER PARKER FAILED DID JOHN STEP IN TO OFFER A SAFER SOLUTION.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO HOOK ON TO THE BACK END WITH A CABLE.
PULL IT OUT BACKWARDS.
PUT IT AROUND AND WE'LL HOOK IT BACK TO THE OTHER END OF THE TRUCK.
THERE YA GO.
THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY.
Narrator: WITH 91-YEAR-OLD JOHN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THEY PULLED THE ROCK TRUCK OUT OF THE DITCH IN SECONDS.
STOP.
I -- SORRY.
I'M GONNA GO HOME.
IT PROVED ONE THING, THAT EVEN WHEN HE MADE A MISTAKE, HE DIDN'T CRY AND LAY DOWN.
AND HE EVEN LEARNED TO APPRECIATE MY ADVICE.
SORRY.
OH, I'M HAPPY WE GOT I OUT OF THERE.
I KIND OF LIKE THE ROLE WHEN -- GRANDFATHERS PLAY BECAUSE IT'S REWARDING, AND SOMETIMES -- AND SOMETIMES, IT'S FRUSTRATING.
AS YOUR FATHER SAID TO ME, "DAD, LET ME MAKE MY OWN MISTAKES.
" AND I THINK YOU'VE GOT A LO OF THE SAME BLOOD IN YOU THAT HE HAS.
OH, AND I MAKE A LOT OF MY OWN MISTAKES.
WELL, EVERYBODY MAKES THEM EVERY DAY, NO MATTER HOW PERFEC YOU ARE.
YEAH, BUT USUALLY, WHEN YOU'RE 20, YOUR MISTAKES DON'T COS 50,000 BUCKS A PIECE.
Narrator: PARKER'S FIRST SEASON IN CHARGE OF BIG NUGGE WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE.
DESPITE HIS BEST EFFORTS, THE TEENAGER JUST DIDN' FIND ENOUGH GOLD.
33 OUNCES.
IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF GOLD, BUT WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TO GET IT.
Narrator: GRANDPA LET PARKER CALL ALL THE SHOTS AND FACE THE MUSIC.
HERE'S THE ISSUE -- LOTS OF BILLS.
THESE ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PILING UP.
AND THEN, I GET -- I GE SOMETHING THAT SAYS "SERIOUSLY PAST DUE," PARKER.
WELL, THERE'S STILL -- SERIOUSLY PAST DUE.
I CAN'T PAY 'EM.
YOU NEED 45 GRAND.
SO YOU -- WHAT? I'M SUPPOSED TO TRY TO FIND 30 OUNCES OF GOLD IN A WEEK? YEAH, RIGHT.
I'M SORRY, BUT THAT'S THE NUMBER.
I SHARE YOUR DISAPPOINTMENT.
WE HAVE TO FACE REALITY.
HE OWED MONEY, AND HE COULDN' PAY THAT DEBT OFF.
NANCY AND I, WE SAT DOWN WITH MY DAD, UM, AND DISCUSSED, HOW EASY ARE WE GONNA MAKE LIFE HERE, YOU KNOW? WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT HE KNOWS WHAT IT TAKES TO REALLY LIVE LIFE PROPERLY, AND THINGS CAN'T BE JUST HANDED TO HIM.
I PLANNED, IN MY MIND, "HOW AM I GOING TO INSTILL IN MY GRANDSON, UH, A SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO OTHERS?" THE SCHNABELS REFUSED TO BAIL PARKER OUT.
THE YOUNG MINE BOSS HAD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
Parker: YOU WANNA KNOW MY PROBLEM? I'M STARTING TO RUN OUT OF IDEAS AND PLACES TO DIG.
Narrator: PARKER NEEDED TO FIND 30 OUNCES, OR $45,000, TO PAY OFF HIS DEBTS.
HE'D WORKED HARD, BUT FAILED TO FIND THE GOLD.
SO WE DUG QUITE THE HOLE HERE.
PARKER HAD ONLY ONE MORE OPTION -- TURN TO HIS GRANDPA'S EXPERTISE.
THE PROBLEM IS, WE GOT DOWN TO BEDROCK, AND THERE'S -- THERE'S NO GOLD.
THAT HAPPENS TO LOTS OF PEOPLE AND TO ME, TOO.
I DUG DOWN, GOT NOTHING.
I MOVED OVER 100 FEET, I GOT LOTS.
PARKER, UH, THAT SLOPE INDICATES THAT THE MAIN CHANNEL IS OVER THAT WAY, AND YOU'LL COME ACROSS IT PRETTY SOON.
THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT A LO OF DIRT TO MOVE.
NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED.
MY FATHER, HE NEVER GIVES UP.
IF IT DIDN'T WORK, HAVE ANOTHER PLAN AND GO AFTER THAT.
Roger: PARKER WAS LIKE A SPONGE.
HE'S GETTING A HECK OF AN EDUCATION.
THERE'S JUST NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
Parker: I THOUGH IT WAS GONNA BE EASY, BUT I THOUGHT WRONG.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO WORK A LOT.
Narrator: FOLLOWING HIS GRANDPA'S ADVICE, PARKER AND HIS CREW DUG DEEP IN SEARCH OF A GOLD-RICH CHANNEL.
John: I WAS A WORKAHOLIC.
MY SON BECAME A WORKAHOLIC, AND PARKER IS A WORKAHOLIC.
WHOA! HOLY COW, LOOK AT THE NUGGETS THERE! THAT'S WHAT WE'RE USED TO SEEING.
GOOD JOB, GUYS.
YOU FOUND THA CHANNEL WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
QUARTER OUNCE OF NUGGETS.
Narrator: WITH NUGGETS IN THE PAN, PARKER'S HARD WORK PAID OFF.
HE'D TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY AND, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS GRANDPA, FOUND THE GOLD HE NEEDED TO PAY HIS DEBTS.
WELL, THE GREATEST THING THAT I FEEL I'VE DONE IS INSTILL IN MY GRANDSON, "NEVER FORGET.
YOU'VE GOTTA TRY.
DON'T EVER GIVE UP.
" SO WE'RE GONNA DIG THE WHOLE DAMN THING OUT.
Narrator: JOHN SCHNABEL IS SPENDING TIME WITH HIS GRANDSON PARKER UP IN THE YUKON.
NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTAN TO EITHER THAN FAMILY.
WHEN WE SIT HERE, IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF SO MANY YEARS THAT WE SPENT TOGETHER.
HOW MANY IDEAS WE SHARED.
IT'S PLEASANT HISTORY.
REMEMBER THAT TIME WHEN MY BROTHER AND DAD CAME UP, AND WE BUILT THAT ROAD UP TO SMITH CREEK? OH, I REMEMBER.
I WAS SCARED TO DEATH.
Narrator: THE ROAD UP SMITH CREEK WAS WATERLOGGED AND UNSTABLE.
JOHN STEPPED IN TO KEEP HIS FAMILY SAFE.
THAT DON'T LOOK SOLID TO ME.
I SEE THE WATER COMING THROUGH THE ROCKS.
WELL -- I MEAN, CAN WE CLEAN IT UP AND USE THAT SAME ROAD? NO.
THE HILL IS DANGEROUS.
YOU SHOOT DOWN THERE LIKE A TOBOGGAN, FLOP INTO THIS RIVER AND JOIN THE REST OF THE PEOPLE WHEREVER HEAVEN IS.
WHAT, NOW WE HAVE NO WAY OF GETTING UP THERE, NO DIRT TO RUN THROUGH THE PLANT.
IT'S DAMN TOUGH TO SEE SOMEONE DIE BECAUSE OF YOUR JUDGMENT.
I'VE HAD A DOZEN PEOPLE KILLED WORKING FOR ME.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT.
NO WAY.
YOU DON'T -- YOU DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA FEEL WHEN YOU GO UP TO SOMEBODY'S WIFE AND TELL HER THERE'S BEEN AN ACCIDENT.
I LOVE YOU.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE MISERIES THA I'VE HAD TO WALK THROUGH.
RESPONSIBILITY IS A BURDEN, REALLY.
LET'S BUILD A SAFE ROAD AND TAKE THAT OUT OF THE PICTURE.
AND, WHATEVER THE COST, IT'S A DAMN SIGHT CHEAPER THAN SOMEBODY BEING HAULED OUT OF HERE ON A STRETCHER.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
MY FATHER WOULD DO EVERYTHING HE COULD TO PROTECT HIM, BUT YOU LOSE THAT WHOLE CONCERN FOR A SPLIT SECOND, AND SOMEBODY CAN DIE.
I DON'T WANT TO LOSE MY SON, YOU KNOW? I DON'T WANT TO LOSE EITHER ONE OF THEM, SO SAFETY'S A BIG DEAL.
Narrator: GRANDPA INSISTED ON A NEW, SAFE ROAD UP THE HILL, BUT PARKER COULDN'T BUILD I WITHOUT HIS FATHER AND BROTHER.
I'M GONNA GO TO A SAFE HAVEN AND BLOW THIS THING UP.
FIRE IN THE HOLE! MY DAD'S JUST KIND OF A ALWAYS FULL-SPEED-AHEAD KIND OF GUY.
I LIKE THAT BECAUSE, WHEN HE'S UP HERE, WE GET A LOT DONE.
HE'S THE BEST AT WHAT HE DOES.
WHAT MAKES THESE SCHNABEL MEN SO UNIQUE RIGHT NOW IS THAT THERE'S THREE GENERATIONS OF THEM INTERACTING REGULARLY.
THEY ALL HAVE THIS COMMON INTEREST AND THESE -- THIS COMMON SKILL SET.
AND I THINK HOW UNBELIEVABLY RARE THAT IS.
OH, MY GRANDPA'S HERE.
NOW WE'VE GOT THE A-TEAM.
I'M READY TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT ME TO DO.
IT'S LIKE THE BEST FEELING EVER.
YOU'RE SITTING IN THERE WITH PEOPLE FROM, AT THE TIME, LIKE 17, 18 YEARS OLD ALL THE WAY TO, LIKE, 91, AND IT'S THREE GENERATIONS OF THE SAME NAME ALL WORKING AND ACTUALLY ALL PARTICIPATING IN SOMETHING.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE, A 75-YEAR GAP, AND IT'S -- IT'S CRAZY AND IT'S AMAZING.
IT'S, LIKE, A REALLY, REALLY GOOD FEELING.
Parker: WE'RE CLOSE TO THE TOP! WE'RE GONNA DO IT! WE'RE GONNA DO IT! SEE WHY I'VE GOT MY DAD UP HERE? HE KICKS ASS.
IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE JUST TO COME UP AND DO THAT, AND I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO HELP PARKER IF HE NEEDS IT.
WOO! PARKER, HE HAS LEARNED ALREADY THAT HE CANNOT DO IT ALONE.
THAT FORMULA HOLDS TRUE.
WE HAVE, PRESENTLY, A VERY, VERY CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY THAT WORKS WONDERFULLY WELL TOGETHER.
I'M DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE AND THANKFUL THAT WE HAD THESE YEARS TOGETHER.
THAT'S ONE THING I MISS BEING UP HERE IS WORKING WITH YOU, WORKING WITH MY BROTHER AND WORKING WITH MY DAD.
IT WAS OVER THE COURSE OF, WHAT, 10 YEARS? MM-HMM.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BUMMER TO HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM THAT, BUT WELL YOU GOTTA GO WHERE THE GOLD IS, RIGHT? RIGHT.
JOHN'S INFLUENCE ON PARKER, I SEE IT IN THE HAVING GOALS, THAT ALWAYS LOOKING AT THE NEXT THING.
PARKER, HE TOOK A TRIP UP TO THE YUKON, AND ONCE HE SAW THAT, THAT'S WHEN WE LOST HIM.
BECAUSE HE CAME HOME, AND HE SAID, "I'M PLAYING IN THE WRONG SANDBOX.
" Narrator: AT AGE 18, PARKER MADE THE BIGGEST DECISION OF HIS LIFE.
THE YOUNG PIONEER LEFT HIS FAMILY AND HIS HOME TO SET UP HIS OWN MINE IN THE GOLD FIELDS OF THE KLONDIKE.
Nancy: PARKER, BEING 20, GOING OFF TO THE YUKON AT ABOUT THE SAME AGE THAT JOHN WAS WHEN HE LEFT HOME AND CAME TO ALASKA, THAT -- THAT WHOLE COINCIDENCE IS NOT LOST ON US.
HE HAD TO HAVE BIGGER GOALS, BIGGER PRODUCTION, AND SO HE MADE THE DECISION TO QUIT BIG NUGGET MINE.
Parker: THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.
IT'S TAUGHT ME A LOT.
I LOOK UPON YOU LIKE THE EAGLE WHEN HE FLOPS HIS WINGS AND FLIES OUT OF THE NEST, HE NEVER COMES BACK FOR HELP.
YOU'RE GONNA BE ON YOUR OWN.
YOU'RE GONNA BE A SUCCESS.
I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT.
I KNOW SO.
Parker: I WISH I COULD JUST TAKE MY GRANDPA WITH ME, BUT IF I'M GONNA BE SERIOUS ABOUT GOLD MINING, YOU KNOW, THE YUKON IS THE PLACE TO BE.
Narrator: GRANDPA JOHN BELIEVED PARKER WAS READY TO BLAZE HIS OWN TRAIL, JUST AS THE ORIGINAL GOLD MINERS DID BACK IN THE LATE 1800s.
THAT'S A FANTASTIC STEP AWAY FROM EVERYONE THAT HE KNOWS, THAT HE HAS HAD WORKED WITH.
THAT DIDN'T SHAKE HIM AT ALL.
HE WENT AND PROVED THAT HE COULD COPE WITH IT.
Narrator: JOHN TAUGHT HIS GRANDSON EVERYTHING HE KNEW, BUT NOTHING COULD PREPARE PARKER FOR LIFE WITHOU HIS BELOVED GRANDPA.
HELLO? DID SOMETHING HAPPEN TO GRANDPA? HE'S IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW? Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL WOULD NOT HAVE ACHIEVED THE SUCCESS HE HAS WITHOUT HIS GRANDPA, BUT JOHN IS 94, AND THEY BOTH KNOW THEIR TIME TOGETHER IS LIMITED.
WELL, I'M GLAD YOU MADE IT UP HERE.
THERE'S FEW PEOPLE IN LIFE THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO ME, AND YOU'RE ONE OF THEM.
YOU MAKE ME FEEL BETTER JUST COMING UP HERE.
NO, I HEAR YA.
YEP.
I GET THE SAME FEELING.
HOW'S YOUR HEALTH DOING? ME? I'M MENTALLY 35 UP HERE, BUT THE REST OF ME IS A LITTLE OLDER.
I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE TO FACE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE.
Narrator: JUST THREE YEARS AGO, JOHN SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK.
AT AGE 17, PARKER WAS FORCED TO CONFRONT THE FAC THAT HE COULD LOSE HIS GRANDPA.
YOU KNOW, MY GRANDPA'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN MY LIFE.
AND FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN TO HIM JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN IS PRETTY TOUGH TO, UM I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL DO WITHOUT HIM.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIVE FOREVER.
YOU KNOW THAT.
BUT YOU WANT HIM TO LIVE MORE.
YOU WANT HIM TO LIVE MORE.
Parker: HE'S OLD, AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THA EVERY TIME I SEE HIM MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME.
AND, ONE OF THESE TIMES, IT WILL BE.
WE NEVER KNOW WHEN WE'RE GONNA SUDDENLY SEE THE LIGHT, IF YOU WANT TO USE THAT TERM.
BUT I NEVER GIVE UP ON MY FAMILY.
LOVE, UH MY FAMILY ALL SHOW GREAT LOVE TOWARDS ME, AND THE LEAST I CAN DO TO RETURN THAT LOVE IS TRY TO STAY HERE.
WHAT YOU NEED IS TO LET US TAKE CARE OF YOU, OKAY? JUST LET US DO IT.
IT'S A THRILL, DAD.
YEAH, I'M EMOTIONAL, THAT'S ALL.
WELL, I THINK IT'S GREAT.
Narrator: JUST DAYS AFTER SURVIVING HIS HEART ATTACK, JOHN ARRIVED BACK HOME IN HAINES TO REJOIN HIS FAMILY.
PARKER, I'VE HAD SOME VERY DIFFICULT PERIODS IN MY LIFE, AND I THINK THE MOST DIFFICUL WAS WHEN I FINALLY REALIZED I WAS, UH, A VICTIM OF -- AS THE DOCTOR WAS VERY UNKIND, HE SAYS, "YOU HAVE AGGRESSIVE CANCER.
" I LOOKED AT HIM AND SAYS, "CAN'T YOU FIND A BETTER ADJECTIVE THAN THE WORD 'AGGRESSIVE'?" AND YEAH, IT'S, UH I KNOW, THIS WINTER, EVERYBODY WAS PRETTY WORRIED.
Narrator: LAST WINTER, JOHN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAST-GROWING PROSTATE CANCER.
John: THIS'LL PROBABLY BE MY LAST TRIP UP TO THE MINE BECAUSE THE DOCTORS ARE SENDING ME UP ALL THE MEDICINES TO GO ON THE CHEMOTHERAPY, AND CHEMOTHERAPY TO ME IS SUICIDE.
Narrator: JOHN FEARED HE WOULDN'T SURVIVE THE WINTER.
John: WE CAN'T LIVE FOREVER.
Narrator: HIS DYING WISH WAS TO GIVE SMITH CREEK ONE LAST SHO WITH HIS GRANDSONS, PARKER AND PAYSON.
YOU KNOW, IT'S THE LEAS I CAN DO, BECAUSE LOOK AT WHERE HE'S GOTTEN ME.
IF HE WANTS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S IN SOME HOLE IN THE GROUND, WELL, BY GOD, WE'RE GONNA GO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S IN SOME HOLE IN THE GROUND.
HEY, PARKER, PAYSON, THIS IS GRANDPA.
I COME UP TO SEE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, AND MY, I'M IMPRESSED.
OVER.
IS THAT MY DAD I HEAR? I'LL BE DARNED.
ROGER, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE UP HERE.
Narrator: EVEN ROGER GO ON BOARD TO HELP HIS FATHER BEFORE WINTER CLOSED IN.
I'm truly surprised to see you all working up there on that dirt pile.
LOOKS GREAT.
KNOW THIS IS A BIG DREAM OF YOURS, AND HOPEFULLY, WE'LL MAKE IT COME TRUE.
I THINK WE ALL SHARE THAT THOUGHT.
YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S TWO THINGS MY GRANDPA LOVES, IT'S HIS FAMILY AND TAKING ON A CHALLENGE.
YOU KNOW, LAST FALL, I THINK THAT'S WHY HE WAS SO STOKED ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING.
MY BROTHER AND I, AND EVEN MY DAD, WERE ALL PITCHING IN, AND IT WAS A HUGE CHALLENGE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE FOUGH A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE WORKED TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THAT MEAN A LOT TO HIM.
YOU FINDING ANYTHING? WHAT DO YOU THINK, GRANDPA? OH, MY! OOH, THAT IS BEAUTIFUL! HERE'S ANOTHER ONE! ISN'T THAT AWESOME? I WON'T BE ABLE TO SLEEP.
Narrator: EITHER THE CHEMOTHERAPY THAT HE FEARED SO MUCH PAYSON.
YEAH! OR THE BIG CHUNKS OF SMITH CREEK GOLD GAVE GRANDPA JOHN A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH HOW LONG THEY LIVE.
HE'S ALWAYS GOT A PROJEC THAT HE'S WORKING ON.
HE'S ALWAYS GOT SOME FIVE-YEAR PLAN ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GONNA BE WITH THE SMITH CREEK OR THIS OR THAT.
BUT HE'S ALWAYS SCHEMING SOMETHING.
Roger: AT 94, I DON'T SEE HIS MIND DETERIORATING MUCH.
YOU KNOW? HE'S SHARP AS SOON AS TACK, AND I THINK THAT CHALLENGES AND HIM TESTING HIMSELF AND KEEPING HIMSELF ACTIVE KEEPS HIM GOING.
Nancy: PUT ON YOUR BOOTS AND DO SOMETHING.
THAT'S LIKE THE NUGGET.
HE NEVER STOPPED HAVING PURPOSE.
HE NEVER STOPPED HAVING GOALS.
John: THE MINE IS TIED TO MY HEALTH.
THIS IS, UH, A, REALLY, HEALTH FARM FOR ME, MENTALLY AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY.
Narrator: UP IN THE YUKON, JOHN SCHNABEL IS CHECKING OU PARKER'S HIGH-TECH GOLD TABLE OH, WOW! THAT'S A PRETTY BIG STREAM.
A FAR CRY FROM THE GOLD PANS JOHN USED AT BIG NUGGET.
John: I WISH I HAD A RECOVERY SYSTEM WHEN I WAS MINING LIKE YOU'VE GOT HERE.
LOOK AT THAT YELLOW STUFF.
I CAN REMEMBER HOW YOU USED TO GRAB THE DIR AROUND THE RECOVERY PLAN AND PAN IT.
I NEVER REALLY KNEW WHAT YOUR GUYS THOUGHT OF ALL THAT.
WHAT WAS I, 14? I DIDN'T NEED IT.
I KNOW, BUT YOU NEEDED THE FUN OF BEING SUCCESSFUL.
I'M GETTING THAT NOW.
Narrator: PARKER'S YUKON OPERATION IS SO SUCCESSFUL NOW THAT, IN ONE GOOD WEEK, HE GETS MORE GOLD THAN JOHN GO IN A WHOLE YEAR AT BIG NUGGET.
YOU'RE DOING IT.
I'M PROUD OF YOU.
Narrator: JOHN SCHNABEL IS UP VISITING SCRIBNER CREEK, TAKING IN THE SCALE OF HIS YOUNG GRANDSON'S GOLD MINE.
John: GOD, YOUR OPERATION HERE IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF PEOPLE DIGGING A LOT OF DIRT.
Parker: YEAH, THERE IS.
YEAH.
HOW IS THAT V10 YOU GO DOING? THE NEW ONE? YEAH.
IT'S A NICE MACHINE.
IT IS? YEAH.
DID YOU GET A HEAVIER, UH, EXCAVATOR THIS YEAR? YEAH.
I THINK THAT'S WHY THIS SEASON, IT'S SO MUCH DIFFEREN THAN LAST YEAR, IS THAT WE'RE JUST ABLE TO DO THE YARDAGE, YOU KNOW? I HOPE THAT, UH, YOUR CLEANUP IS INCREASING, TOO.
SO THIS IS THE FAR CUT.
IT'S BIG.
IN THEORY, THAT SHOULD BE A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PAY SITTING THERE WAITING TO GET HAULED UP.
WELL, HURRY UP.
NO, I HEAR YA.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE -- IT'S A LITTLE RISKY OPENING UP THIS BIG OF AN AREA.
MM-HMM.
I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE ANY TEST HOLES IN IT.
WE DON'T DRILL ANY OF THIS.
THAT'S THE RISK YOU TAKE OR REWARD YOU GET, ONE OR THE OTHER.
Narrator: LAST SEASON, PARKER WENT NORTH TO THE YUKON TO MINE WITH HIS GRANDPA'S BLESSING AND 100 OUNCES OF GOLD.
AFTER SEVEN LONG MONTHS, WHEN PARKER FINALLY RETURNED HOME, HE COULDN'T WAIT TO PRESEN HIS TAKE TO HIS GRANDPA.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'LL JUS BE NICE TO PUT THE GOLD DOWN IN FRONT OF MY GRANDPA AND YOU KNOW, TELL HIM HOW THE SEASON WENT.
P-- PARKER! HEY, PARKER! IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.
YOU, TOO.
YOU LOOK -- YOU LOOK GOOD.
THANK YOU.
I FEEL A LO BETTER WHEN I LAUGH.
WAIT TILL YOU SEE THIS.
WHOA! LOOK AT THIS! OH, MY LOOK AT ALL THAT GOOD STUFF! WHOA! I'M GOING TO THE YUKON.
HOLY CRIMINY.
THAT'S OVER 1,000 OUNCES.
1,029.
OH, MY GOSH! WOW! I NEVER HAVE SEEN THAT MUCH GOLD IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
I'M OVERWHELMED.
Narrator: IN HIS ROOKIE SEASON IN THE KLONDIKE, PARKER TURNED 100 OUNCES OF GOLD INTO OVER 1,000, WORTH ALMOST $1.
5 MILLION.
PARKER'S SUCCESS WOULD NO HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT HIS LOVING GRANDPA.
GROWING UP ALONGSIDE JOHN SCHNABEL AT BIG NUGGET MINE HAS MADE PARKER THE MAN HE IS TODAY.
WELL, PARKER, I BROUGHT A GIFT FOR YOU.
OH, YEAH? OH, MAN.
HA! THAT'S THE SIGN FROM BIG NUGGET, HUH? YEAH.
IT WAS A SYMBOL OF SUCCESS FOR ME, SO I BROUGHT IT UP TO GIVE TO YOU BECAUSE I'M PROUD OF YOU.
THANKS.
SO, GIVE ME A HUG.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING UP, GRANDPA.
WELL, YOU -- YOU MAKE MY DETERMINATION TO LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO COME BACK AND SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.
GOOD.
PARKER HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.
TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE'S DONE, I'M PROUD OF HIM.
Parker: YOU KNOW, MY GRANDPA DOES HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN ME.
KEEPS ME ON THE RIGHT TRACK, AND IT KEEPS ME FOCUSED ON THE GOAL.
Roger: PARKER MIGHT CONTINUE TO PARALLEL MY FATHER, AND IF THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN, HE'LL BE A GREAT ADULT, AND HE'LL LIVE A HAPPY LIFE.
I THINK THAT SEEING THA RELATIONSHIP THAT JOHN HAS WITH PARKER AND ALL THOSE YEARS OF BEING TOGETHER, IT'S GREAT.
IT'S -- IT'S -- IT'S A GIFT.
Parker: I HAD SOME GOOD TIMES WITH MY GRANDPA, YOU KNOW? HE'S AN AMAZING MAN, AND I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT SOMEDAY I CAN BE HALF THE MAN HE IS.
TO GET WHERE I AM NOW, I OWE 100% OF I TO MY GRANDPA.
I COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER MENTOR.
YOU'VE GOTTA TRY.
DON'T EVER GIVE UP.
SO, I'M GONNA DIE WITH MY BOOTS ON, AS THEY SAY.
Narrator: ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH" WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA! TONY BEETS IS FOUR WEEKS BEHIND SCHEDULE.
IT'S UNREALISTIC.
YOU'RE A DREAMER.
BUT IN JUST ONE DAY HE CRACKS THE WHIP AND GETS HIS DREDGE PLANS BACK ON TRACK.
TODD HOFFMAN RUNS THE FIRST DIR FROM HIS BIGGEST EVER CUT A THOUSAND OUNCES, HERE WE COME.
BUT DRIVES HIS CREW TO THE BRINK.
I'M DONE.
AND OVER AT SCRIBNER CREEK RICK, WHAT'S UP? DISASTER STRIKES.
PARKER! HE'S BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
COME ON! PARKER! PARKER!