1
00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:04,567
[Todd] So far,
everything's looking
pretty good.
2
00:00:04,567 --> 00:00:08,100
[narrator] Five weeks
into the summer
mining season in Alaska,
3
00:00:08,100 --> 00:00:09,767
the Hoffman team is on track
4
00:00:09,767 --> 00:00:12,000
for their most
lucrative season ever.
5
00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,367
It's our duty to hit
this 3,000 ounces for Jack.
6
00:00:15,367 --> 00:00:17,100
This is his last season.
7
00:00:17,100 --> 00:00:20,700
[narrator] But when
unseasonably warm temperatures
and rain
8
00:00:20,700 --> 00:00:23,233
bring unexpected changes
to the terrain...
9
00:00:24,266 --> 00:00:27,500
[Todd] I got
a serious problem up here.
10
00:00:27,500 --> 00:00:30,767
[Andy] What I'm seeing
right now is, uh...
it's not good.
11
00:00:30,767 --> 00:00:32,934
The, uh, hillside's moving.
12
00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:35,700
I don't know how to fix it.
13
00:00:35,700 --> 00:00:38,367
[narrator] One man's mistake
puts them all at risk
14
00:00:38,367 --> 00:00:41,166
of serious federal
and state violations.
15
00:00:41,900 --> 00:00:42,734
It's bad.
16
00:00:43,467 --> 00:00:45,500
If we don't
get this stopped...
17
00:00:45,500 --> 00:00:47,100
there's not gonna be
any stopping it.
18
00:00:47,100 --> 00:00:48,367
[narrator] Forcing
the Hoffman team
19
00:00:48,367 --> 00:00:50,066
to race against the clock
20
00:00:50,066 --> 00:00:52,734
to save the mine
and their entire operation.
21
00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,734
We have to get this done
or we're screwed.
22
00:01:17,767 --> 00:01:19,166
[Mike] We're doing
pretty good.
23
00:01:19,166 --> 00:01:23,166
It's actually great working
with the people
you love around you.
24
00:01:23,166 --> 00:01:25,967
When you're here at the mine,
everyone's a brother.
25
00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:28,367
We have a great team.
26
00:01:28,367 --> 00:01:29,567
We have good equipment.
27
00:01:29,567 --> 00:01:30,667
We have good pay dirt.
28
00:01:30,667 --> 00:01:31,734
What could stop us?
29
00:01:37,166 --> 00:01:39,734
[Todd] I'm actually
feeling pretty optimistic.
30
00:01:40,867 --> 00:01:42,567
Me and the guys,
we really wanna get
31
00:01:42,567 --> 00:01:44,734
a big payday for Jack.
32
00:01:45,867 --> 00:01:49,467
If this is
my dad's last hurrah,
33
00:01:49,467 --> 00:01:51,100
I'd sure like it to be good.
34
00:01:51,100 --> 00:01:52,734
I'd sure like
to get a lot of gold.
35
00:01:53,667 --> 00:01:56,266
So far, everything's
looking pretty good.
36
00:02:14,166 --> 00:02:15,467
[automated voice over phone]
37
00:02:23,166 --> 00:02:26,166
The weather in Alaska
could be pretty unpredictable
38
00:02:26,166 --> 00:02:27,200
here in the summer.
39
00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,000
You know,
rain could come in quickly
40
00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,767
and make conditions dangerous
for my crew.
41
00:02:32,266 --> 00:02:34,066
You can have flash floods,
42
00:02:34,066 --> 00:02:35,800
equipment gets stuck,
43
00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:37,467
visibility goes down.
44
00:02:37,467 --> 00:02:39,867
Sometimes you just
gotta shut down
45
00:02:39,867 --> 00:02:41,667
and that's
happening right now.
46
00:02:48,667 --> 00:02:50,567
Hey, guys,
it's raining pretty hard.
47
00:02:50,567 --> 00:02:52,000
I'm gettin'
a little bit nervous.
48
00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,634
[on radio] I think
we ought to shut down.
49
00:02:54,367 --> 00:02:56,367
And then, uh,
let this storm pass
50
00:02:56,367 --> 00:02:58,734
- and then fire back up.
-Copy that.
51
00:02:59,567 --> 00:03:01,133
Okay. ten-four.
52
00:03:02,166 --> 00:03:03,667
[Andy on radio]
Thanks, buddy.
53
00:03:03,667 --> 00:03:06,300
You know,
I get why Todd's
shutting us down right now.
54
00:03:06,300 --> 00:03:08,667
This much rain can cause
a lot of different issues.
55
00:03:08,667 --> 00:03:10,867
Extremely difficult
to run the plant.
56
00:03:10,867 --> 00:03:12,100
But, at this point,
I'm concerned
57
00:03:12,100 --> 00:03:14,166
about the cut holding up.
This much rain,
58
00:03:14,166 --> 00:03:16,734
you can get a lot of flooding
and a lot of mudslides.
59
00:03:22,066 --> 00:03:23,567
[Mike] We had
really good weigh-ins
60
00:03:23,567 --> 00:03:25,166
up until the storm rolled in
61
00:03:25,166 --> 00:03:27,734
and we're on track
for a really great week.
62
00:03:28,567 --> 00:03:30,934
So hopefully, the storm
passes by quickly.
63
00:03:32,467 --> 00:03:33,700
[Hunter] Okay, go get
a little nap in.
64
00:04:06,767 --> 00:04:10,567
[narrator] After
losing 48 hours
of valuable sluicing time,
65
00:04:10,567 --> 00:04:12,400
Todd returns
to the Holy Roller
66
00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:16,066
in hopes of restoring
his money-making operation.
67
00:04:16,066 --> 00:04:17,800
[Todd] We've had
a lot of water.
68
00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:19,467
We're just
double checking everything
69
00:04:19,467 --> 00:04:22,567
because once you get
all these storms,
you get flooding
70
00:04:22,567 --> 00:04:24,867
and, uh,
everything just heads down
71
00:04:24,867 --> 00:04:26,166
and then heads our direction.
72
00:04:27,100 --> 00:04:28,367
But it didn't do too bad.
73
00:04:28,367 --> 00:04:30,900
There wasn't too many issues,
but we gotta keep pushin',
74
00:04:30,900 --> 00:04:31,934
so we're gonna keep goin'.
75
00:04:32,367 --> 00:04:33,567
Good enough to sluice.
76
00:04:33,567 --> 00:04:36,166
Here we go.
All right, let's go.
You ready?
77
00:04:36,900 --> 00:04:37,767
[Mike] Yup.
78
00:04:37,767 --> 00:04:39,033
[Todd over radio]
Let's haul some dirt.
79
00:04:45,367 --> 00:04:48,333
You know, a bunch of bad luck
here with the weather.
80
00:04:49,266 --> 00:04:51,500
But, uh,
here we are goin' again.
81
00:04:51,500 --> 00:04:53,233
We're back up and running.
82
00:04:54,100 --> 00:04:55,166
We're working good.
83
00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:56,800
We're running gold.
84
00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,133
Hopefully, we have a good
cleanup on top of it.
85
00:05:05,300 --> 00:05:06,900
[narrator] Back at
the Lost Cut,
86
00:05:06,900 --> 00:05:11,033
Andy returns
to assess the impact
of two straight days of rain.
87
00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:17,467
[Andy sighs heavily]
88
00:05:20,767 --> 00:05:23,333
[Andy] Oh, man. It's exactly
what I was worried about.
89
00:05:24,467 --> 00:05:26,634
What I'm seeing
right now is, uh...
90
00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:28,767
It's not good.
91
00:05:29,367 --> 00:05:31,800
The, uh, hillside's moving.
92
00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,266
And it's moving
in the wrong direction.
It's moving downhill.
93
00:05:37,166 --> 00:05:38,266
[narrator] Here in
the Lost Cut,
94
00:05:38,266 --> 00:05:41,000
the overburden pile
is the top layer of earth,
95
00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,166
including moss, ice
and frozen topsoil.
96
00:05:45,467 --> 00:05:48,100
Early in the season,
Andy stripped that overburden
97
00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:50,200
and piled it
to the west side of the cut
98
00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,266
to expose
the underlying pay dirt
99
00:05:52,266 --> 00:05:54,533
the crew
is actively mining for gold.
100
00:05:56,266 --> 00:05:58,066
But as the warm weather
and heavy rains
101
00:05:58,066 --> 00:06:00,100
start melting the permafrost,
102
00:06:00,100 --> 00:06:03,400
the location Andy chose
is becoming unstable,
103
00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:04,700
threatening to collapse
104
00:06:04,700 --> 00:06:07,367
and contaminate
the nearby creek with silt.
105
00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,166
[Andy] It shouldn't
be like that.
106
00:06:12,166 --> 00:06:14,233
I may have been
the one that...
107
00:06:15,166 --> 00:06:16,900
made a really bad mistake
108
00:06:16,900 --> 00:06:18,967
and I don't even know
what I did wrong.
109
00:06:19,767 --> 00:06:21,667
Um, that's the scary part.
110
00:06:21,667 --> 00:06:23,467
I've never made a mistake
like this before.
111
00:06:24,166 --> 00:06:24,900
Um...
112
00:06:26,667 --> 00:06:28,400
We have to do something
to fix it.
113
00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:29,533
What it is, I don't know.
114
00:06:34,867 --> 00:06:36,600
For me to make mistakes,
115
00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:38,166
costs everybody.
116
00:06:38,166 --> 00:06:39,934
Costs money, costs gold.
117
00:06:40,567 --> 00:06:41,734
I gotta tell Todd.
118
00:06:42,467 --> 00:06:44,333
Not gonna be
a pleasant conversation.
119
00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:48,433
[Andy over radio]
120
00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:50,767
Yeah.
121
00:06:51,467 --> 00:06:52,900
[Andy] I need you to come down
122
00:06:52,900 --> 00:06:54,634
and look at
this overburden pile with me.
123
00:06:58,300 --> 00:06:59,567
Okay.
124
00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:10,900
[Andy] So I wanted
to bring you down here
and show you this.
125
00:07:10,900 --> 00:07:12,567
I think
I might have screwed up.
126
00:07:12,567 --> 00:07:16,500
The whole picking pile
is moving downhill
towards the creek.
127
00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:17,600
[Todd] I can see it.
128
00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,500
-[Andy] You see it slopin',
huh?
-I can see this, yeah.
129
00:07:19,500 --> 00:07:20,567
-It's like a landslide.
-[Andy] It's going...
130
00:07:20,567 --> 00:07:21,734
It's like a mudslide.
131
00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:24,367
And if that water goes
in the creek,
132
00:07:25,166 --> 00:07:26,133
I know we're screwed.
133
00:07:26,967 --> 00:07:28,834
That mud goes
in the creek, it's over.
134
00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:30,233
Yeah.
135
00:07:31,767 --> 00:07:33,634
[Andy] [bleep] I don't know
what I did wrong.
136
00:07:34,967 --> 00:07:37,867
If we can stop it,
we need to fight it right now.
137
00:07:38,900 --> 00:07:40,500
[narrator] Quartz Creek
is one of Alaska's
138
00:07:40,500 --> 00:07:42,700
major spawning grounds
for salmon
139
00:07:42,700 --> 00:07:46,333
and a nutrient rich habitat
to water dependent wildlife.
140
00:07:48,166 --> 00:07:51,266
If the overburden silt runoff
reaches Quartz Creek,
141
00:07:51,266 --> 00:07:53,266
it could endanger
the ecosystem.
142
00:07:54,867 --> 00:07:55,700
What's more...
143
00:07:55,700 --> 00:07:58,000
it could result
in citations and fines
144
00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,266
from multiple federal
and state agencies,
145
00:08:01,266 --> 00:08:03,667
shutting down
the entire operation.
146
00:08:04,867 --> 00:08:05,900
[Todd] It's bad.
147
00:08:05,900 --> 00:08:09,467
If that mud gets
into the creek,
it could be over.
148
00:08:09,467 --> 00:08:11,667
The whole summer
could be over.
The whole season.
149
00:08:12,266 --> 00:08:13,567
I don't know what to do.
150
00:08:13,567 --> 00:08:14,367
Like...
151
00:08:15,166 --> 00:08:16,166
I don't know how to fix it.
152
00:08:18,066 --> 00:08:19,333
We got a big problem.
153
00:08:20,367 --> 00:08:21,367
[Andy] Yeah.
154
00:08:21,367 --> 00:08:22,667
A really big problem.
155
00:08:26,266 --> 00:08:29,200
[narrator] Government
regulations require
overburden dirt
156
00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:30,767
on unmined ground
157
00:08:30,767 --> 00:08:34,000
to be set back 35 feet
from the creek.
158
00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:37,867
Andy set the pile back
150 feet from the creek,
159
00:08:37,867 --> 00:08:39,100
but the rain and heat
160
00:08:39,100 --> 00:08:42,600
are causing the overburden
to melt toward the creek.
161
00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,300
This could potentially
contaminate the freshwater
162
00:08:45,300 --> 00:08:49,033
and put the Hoffmans
at risk of being fined
and shut down.
163
00:08:49,867 --> 00:08:51,700
I don't even wanna
move anything right now.
164
00:08:51,700 --> 00:08:53,000
I don't even know
what to move
165
00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:53,700
or where to move it.
166
00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:54,900
I don't wanna compound it.
167
00:08:54,900 --> 00:08:55,800
So just...
168
00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:57,834
Let's just hold
until we figure it out. Okay?
169
00:08:58,100 --> 00:08:58,967
Yeah.
170
00:08:58,967 --> 00:09:00,667
[Todd] This is beyond us.
171
00:09:00,667 --> 00:09:04,367
We need a pro that specializes
in erosion management.
172
00:09:04,367 --> 00:09:05,734
I'm gonna call around
and get some help.
173
00:09:06,567 --> 00:09:08,100
Okay. You okay with that?
174
00:09:08,100 --> 00:09:09,333
-Yeah.
-[Todd] Okay.
175
00:09:10,266 --> 00:09:11,634
[line ringing]
176
00:09:14,100 --> 00:09:15,734
[line continues ringing]
177
00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:19,000
[Todd] Hey, Izak.
178
00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:19,967
[Izak on phone]
How you doing, Todd?
179
00:09:19,967 --> 00:09:21,166
[Todd] Hey, thanks
for picking up.
180
00:09:21,166 --> 00:09:23,100
I appreciate it. Um...
181
00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:26,166
I got a serious problem
up here.
182
00:09:26,166 --> 00:09:28,533
I wanna run it by you,
if you got a minute.
183
00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,200
We got, it looks...
184
00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,066
What looks like a landslide
off the back side...
185
00:09:34,767 --> 00:09:36,900
of our overburden pile.
186
00:09:36,900 --> 00:09:39,433
And it is heading
towards the creek.
187
00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:41,133
Mmm-hmm.
188
00:09:41,133 --> 00:09:44,233
I would love to see you
come up here, man,
if you could.
189
00:09:44,867 --> 00:09:45,667
All right.
190
00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:47,266
Perfect.
191
00:09:49,300 --> 00:09:50,300
Thank you so much.
192
00:09:50,300 --> 00:09:51,867
Yeah. I'll see you.
193
00:09:52,767 --> 00:09:53,767
I'll see you
when you get here.
194
00:09:57,567 --> 00:10:00,400
[Todd] I just wanted this
to be the best season
195
00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:02,767
for my dad,
the most gold he ever got.
196
00:10:02,767 --> 00:10:05,800
And I just don't think
that's gonna happen.
197
00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:07,667
But we may not
even be able to run.
198
00:10:07,667 --> 00:10:10,200
We don't get that stopped
on that back side,
199
00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,834
we're probably gonna
be done anyways.
200
00:10:22,867 --> 00:10:24,400
[Todd] I think
we're in trouble.
201
00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:26,467
[Izak] I heard that
in your voice
when you called me.
202
00:10:26,467 --> 00:10:28,100
-[Todd] Mmm-hmm.
-That's why I'm here.
203
00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:30,667
You're probably
the most knowledgeable guy
204
00:10:30,667 --> 00:10:33,867
on this type of thing
that I ever met.
205
00:10:33,867 --> 00:10:35,567
I think that the water content
206
00:10:35,567 --> 00:10:39,767
in the particular ice
on this section is way higher.
207
00:10:39,767 --> 00:10:42,166
Because we had rain
then heat,
208
00:10:42,166 --> 00:10:45,266
very hot day
and then more rain.
209
00:10:45,266 --> 00:10:48,700
And the back side
of that pile is just let go
210
00:10:48,700 --> 00:10:51,567
and it's heading
towards the creek.
211
00:10:51,567 --> 00:10:55,200
So if that silt
makes its way to the creek,
212
00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:56,333
gets in the creek,
213
00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:58,934
we would be shut down.
214
00:11:01,066 --> 00:11:02,567
Yeah. You can't have, uh,
215
00:11:03,567 --> 00:11:06,567
any sort of processed water
leaking into a water shed.
216
00:11:06,567 --> 00:11:08,967
Mud and creeks do not mix.
217
00:11:08,967 --> 00:11:10,900
Certainly sounds like
a mistake.
218
00:11:10,900 --> 00:11:13,667
You know, having this,
my dad's last season,
219
00:11:13,667 --> 00:11:15,934
hopefully, this doesn't
set us back too far.
220
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,266
What we need to do
is assess it really quick,
221
00:11:20,266 --> 00:11:23,467
get the plan of attack
and get on it right away.
222
00:11:23,467 --> 00:11:24,767
Absolutely.
223
00:11:24,767 --> 00:11:26,867
[Todd] We've got to stop it.
224
00:11:26,867 --> 00:11:29,066
[Izak] It's that or you guys
are shut down.
225
00:11:32,200 --> 00:11:33,133
[grunts]
226
00:11:37,767 --> 00:11:39,266
Right there
on the back side over there.
227
00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:43,834
Whoa.
228
00:11:48,700 --> 00:11:49,567
[Todd] What it looks like,
229
00:11:49,567 --> 00:11:52,667
that whole side has
got so much ice in it.
230
00:11:52,667 --> 00:11:57,066
it's just sliding
towards the creek,
literally moving.
231
00:11:57,066 --> 00:11:59,166
-[Izak] It's pushing
from the inside.
-[Todd] Yes.
232
00:11:59,166 --> 00:12:00,166
[Izak] This is
a little bit different
233
00:12:00,166 --> 00:12:01,800
than I've dealt with
in the past.
234
00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,867
This permafrost
is melting from the inside out
235
00:12:04,867 --> 00:12:06,667
on top of the rains
that they had,
236
00:12:06,667 --> 00:12:08,767
and it just
amplifies it dramatically.
237
00:12:08,767 --> 00:12:10,867
There's way more water
that we have to deal with,
238
00:12:10,867 --> 00:12:11,967
so we're gonna have
to hit this
239
00:12:11,967 --> 00:12:13,533
with something extremely hard.
240
00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:15,000
This is bad.
241
00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,166
We don't have any time left.
242
00:12:17,166 --> 00:12:20,700
If the runoff
from the overburden pile
goes into the creek,
243
00:12:20,700 --> 00:12:23,600
it could potentially
damage ecosystems,
244
00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,166
fish habitat,
drinking water supplies
245
00:12:26,166 --> 00:12:28,934
many other things, so this
is extremely important.
246
00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,367
That's why the EPA
has such a tight grip
247
00:12:32,367 --> 00:12:34,467
on mine activities
248
00:12:34,467 --> 00:12:36,834
such as this to make sure
that it doesn't happen.
249
00:12:37,567 --> 00:12:39,867
[Todd] Is there any way
to stop this?
250
00:12:39,867 --> 00:12:42,600
[Izak] There's a chance,
but we need to jump
on this right away.
251
00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:44,667
-You gotta put
lotta hands on it.
-Right.
252
00:12:44,667 --> 00:12:47,266
And I hope you got
a lotta good hands.
253
00:12:47,266 --> 00:12:48,166
-[Todd] I do.
-So if--
254
00:12:48,166 --> 00:12:49,266
-You do? Okay.
-Yeah.
255
00:12:49,266 --> 00:12:50,767
Well, let's... Let's get 'em
together right now.
256
00:12:50,767 --> 00:12:52,767
-Okay.
-[Izak] We get
one shot at this.
257
00:12:53,467 --> 00:12:54,467
We're gonna have
to get control
258
00:12:54,467 --> 00:12:56,000
of the water
that's coming down,
259
00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:57,567
to make sure
that we can manage that
260
00:12:57,567 --> 00:13:00,166
and put it elsewhere
where we can deal with it.
261
00:13:00,166 --> 00:13:03,200
If we can't get this done
and that stuff goes
in the creek,
262
00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,400
this is going to be
shut down for the season.
263
00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,667
It's gonna take
everything you have.
264
00:13:07,667 --> 00:13:10,400
Andy, I need everybody
to stop what they're doin'
265
00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,900
[on radio] ...and everybody
meet up at the dome right now.
266
00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:13,934
ASAP.
267
00:13:24,367 --> 00:13:26,333
[Todd] Hey, we got
a serious problem out there.
268
00:13:28,266 --> 00:13:32,533
We literally have silt
working its way
into the creek.
269
00:13:33,300 --> 00:13:34,500
Me and Andy...
270
00:13:34,500 --> 00:13:36,767
we watched
the back side of the pile,
271
00:13:36,767 --> 00:13:39,634
which has ice in it,
give way.
272
00:13:42,166 --> 00:13:44,700
And, guys,
if it gets to the creek,
273
00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:46,000
we're out of compliance.
274
00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:47,166
We're not gonna mine.
275
00:13:47,166 --> 00:13:47,867
We're done.
276
00:13:50,500 --> 00:13:52,967
So I brought
my friend in, Izak.
277
00:13:52,967 --> 00:13:57,166
He's got a lot of experience
with erosion control.
278
00:13:57,166 --> 00:13:59,567
Tell us your assessment.
279
00:14:00,867 --> 00:14:01,734
It's bad.
280
00:14:04,166 --> 00:14:06,100
If we don't get this stopped,
281
00:14:06,100 --> 00:14:08,166
there's not gonna be
any stopping it.
282
00:14:08,166 --> 00:14:10,767
It can shut you guys down
for the rest of the season.
283
00:14:11,166 --> 00:14:12,266
So, I got a plan.
284
00:14:12,266 --> 00:14:13,567
I'm gonna show
you guys right now.
285
00:14:16,166 --> 00:14:18,867
You got your mountain
over here of sludge.
286
00:14:18,867 --> 00:14:22,567
We need to stop this
from going into the creek.
287
00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:24,567
First thing is...
288
00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:27,500
as you're walking
along the creek,
289
00:14:27,500 --> 00:14:30,767
make a couple of tracks
with your excavator.
290
00:14:30,767 --> 00:14:33,867
It's gonna sink down.
It's gonna knock
the tundra down a little bit.
291
00:14:33,867 --> 00:14:35,767
You got a nice big berm there.
292
00:14:35,767 --> 00:14:37,700
We're gonna put a silt fence
in right here,
293
00:14:37,700 --> 00:14:40,266
2200, 2300 feet of it.
294
00:14:40,266 --> 00:14:41,400
This will be the primary.
295
00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,000
This will be the secondary.
296
00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:44,367
If this muck comes down
297
00:14:44,367 --> 00:14:47,100
and somehow breaches
this first silt fence,
298
00:14:47,100 --> 00:14:48,567
you have
a second one there.
299
00:14:48,567 --> 00:14:51,100
If it breaches
the second one
for some reason,
300
00:14:51,100 --> 00:14:52,166
you got a berm there.
301
00:14:52,166 --> 00:14:54,033
After our silt fence is in,
302
00:14:54,367 --> 00:14:55,433
straw wattle...
303
00:14:56,166 --> 00:14:57,867
is gonna go right here.
304
00:14:57,867 --> 00:15:00,367
And what that does
is if this starts to flow
305
00:15:00,367 --> 00:15:02,767
instead of the mud
picking up velocity
306
00:15:02,767 --> 00:15:04,000
and just going all the way
to the bottom
307
00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:05,667
and knocking
these fences down,
308
00:15:05,667 --> 00:15:06,800
it checks it.
309
00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:08,433
So if we can get that done...
310
00:15:09,300 --> 00:15:10,433
there's no chance...
311
00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:12,634
of it going...
312
00:15:13,467 --> 00:15:15,533
into your nice,
blue stream down here.
313
00:15:16,767 --> 00:15:19,400
[narrator] In order to protect
the creek from melting silt,
314
00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:21,367
the crew
must excavate a trench
315
00:15:21,367 --> 00:15:25,000
along the edge of the creek,
install two silt fences
316
00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,767
to limit water runoff
and lay multiple rows
317
00:15:27,767 --> 00:15:29,867
of fiber filled mesh tubes
318
00:15:29,867 --> 00:15:31,166
known as straw wattle,
319
00:15:31,166 --> 00:15:33,166
across the top
of the overburden,
320
00:15:33,166 --> 00:15:36,433
effectively stopping the silt
from entering the creek.
321
00:15:38,100 --> 00:15:42,567
Some of you have put
silt fence in before,
and it's not fun.
322
00:15:42,567 --> 00:15:46,967
Silt fence in this tundra
is gonna be even worse.
323
00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:49,266
Any questions?
324
00:15:51,367 --> 00:15:53,567
So are you saying
that we can't mine,
325
00:15:53,567 --> 00:15:55,400
we can't do anything...
326
00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:56,600
-until we do this?
-[Todd] No.
327
00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,967
We're shut down, guys,
until we get this fixed.
328
00:16:00,567 --> 00:16:01,734
[sighs]
329
00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,066
[Hunter] Honestly, we've been
killing it this season.
330
00:16:04,066 --> 00:16:05,467
We've been
bringing in good gold,
331
00:16:05,467 --> 00:16:07,100
you know,
over 100 ounces per week.
332
00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:08,600
And so right now
we're on track
333
00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,400
to make my grandpa's
last season the best one ever.
334
00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,367
We need to jump on this
and get it fixed immediately.
335
00:16:14,367 --> 00:16:17,367
We cannot let any dirty water
into the creek.
336
00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:22,467
[Izak] Sacrificing a few days
to fix this problem
337
00:16:22,467 --> 00:16:24,834
is better than sacrificing
your mining careers.
338
00:16:31,266 --> 00:16:33,533
I just don't usually make
these kind of mistakes.
339
00:16:35,667 --> 00:16:37,233
Not this kind
of a mistake.
340
00:16:38,567 --> 00:16:39,667
I just never...
341
00:16:40,667 --> 00:16:41,867
-[Todd] Hey, look at me!
-You know...
342
00:16:41,867 --> 00:16:42,734
[Todd] Get over it!
343
00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:43,967
Get over it.
344
00:16:43,967 --> 00:16:45,800
-[Andy] Yup.
-[Todd] Stop.
345
00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:47,567
-Forget it. Forget it.
-But it's like,
all the stuff--
346
00:16:47,567 --> 00:16:48,867
But all the stuff
we've ever done up here,
347
00:16:48,867 --> 00:16:50,967
it's like
I've never felt like...
348
00:16:50,967 --> 00:16:52,533
we're out of control. Ever.
349
00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:54,367
Yeah.
350
00:16:54,367 --> 00:16:57,467
[Mike] I've never seen Andy
this bummed out.
351
00:16:57,467 --> 00:16:59,667
I'm sure it's really
weighing in on him,
352
00:16:59,667 --> 00:17:01,567
but we're gonna try
to fix this problem
353
00:17:01,567 --> 00:17:03,400
the best, you know,
the best way we can.
354
00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,367
But If we can't,
it's really gonna crush Andy.
355
00:17:06,967 --> 00:17:07,767
You can't lose heart.
356
00:17:07,767 --> 00:17:09,100
You're our leader.
357
00:17:09,100 --> 00:17:10,533
But you don't know everything.
358
00:17:11,767 --> 00:17:13,400
I wanted to bring Izak in
359
00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,200
to help us with a plan.
360
00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,367
But we have to implement it
or we're done.
361
00:17:18,367 --> 00:17:20,900
Izak, you didn't have
to come up here.
362
00:17:20,900 --> 00:17:24,367
-[man] Yup.
-Thank you for comin' up
and helpin' us with this.
363
00:17:24,367 --> 00:17:26,000
Get us through
this thing, man. Will ya?
364
00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:27,266
Just... Just give us
the bet...
365
00:17:27,266 --> 00:17:29,166
What you've learned
over the years,
366
00:17:29,166 --> 00:17:30,900
help us get past this.
367
00:17:30,900 --> 00:17:33,767
We're just a little tiny team
up here by Siberia.
368
00:17:33,767 --> 00:17:36,467
There's no mines
anywhere around us.
369
00:17:36,467 --> 00:17:39,867
And, uh, we've...
We've carved out
a little home out here,
370
00:17:39,867 --> 00:17:43,266
a little weird spot,
and I don't wanna
see that end.
371
00:17:43,266 --> 00:17:44,567
Now, it ain't gonna be easy.
372
00:17:44,567 --> 00:17:46,400
Everybody's gonna be muddy.
373
00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:49,266
It's deep.
It's... it's... It's nasty.
374
00:17:49,266 --> 00:17:51,133
I'm not gonna...
I'm not gonna lie to you.
375
00:17:52,166 --> 00:17:53,166
It's not gonna be fun.
376
00:17:54,567 --> 00:17:55,433
I wanna win.
377
00:17:55,867 --> 00:17:58,500
To win is to fix this.
378
00:17:58,500 --> 00:18:00,867
I think everyone here
has seen enough
problems together
379
00:18:00,867 --> 00:18:02,400
that it's not gonna
be a problem.
380
00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:03,700
We're gonna figure it out.
381
00:18:03,700 --> 00:18:04,667
It's gonna be tough,
382
00:18:04,667 --> 00:18:07,266
but we got
a hell of a team so...
383
00:18:07,266 --> 00:18:10,367
I know you guys are taking
this pretty serious,
384
00:18:10,367 --> 00:18:13,000
which I think
all of you should.
385
00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:14,767
Do I think
we're going to beat it?
386
00:18:14,767 --> 00:18:15,567
Yes.
387
00:18:16,066 --> 00:18:18,800
Don't lose faith.
388
00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,734
Do what's right
and you'll be successful.
389
00:18:22,667 --> 00:18:24,767
[Todd] Get your clothes on.
Get your boots on.
390
00:18:24,767 --> 00:18:26,100
Go get the silt fence.
391
00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:27,500
Young guys get ready.
392
00:18:27,500 --> 00:18:29,100
We need shovels...
393
00:18:29,100 --> 00:18:31,000
axe, some hatchets.
394
00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:32,700
Let's get the 360.
395
00:18:32,700 --> 00:18:33,867
-[Andy] Yup.
-All right?
396
00:18:33,867 --> 00:18:34,867
-Yeah.
-[Andy] Let's do it.
397
00:18:34,867 --> 00:18:36,233
All right. Let's go.
398
00:18:42,100 --> 00:18:44,567
[narrator] While
the Hoffman crew awaits
for supplies to arrive
399
00:18:44,567 --> 00:18:46,300
to fix their silt problem,
400
00:18:46,300 --> 00:18:49,033
the team pulls the mats
from the sluice boxes.
401
00:18:49,967 --> 00:18:51,767
[Micah] We start
on this one...
402
00:18:51,767 --> 00:18:53,300
Then this one,
then this one, this one.
403
00:18:53,300 --> 00:18:55,834
[Sterling] Okay,
instead of doing
all four at once...
404
00:18:56,467 --> 00:18:57,700
-Yup.
-[Sterling] I like it.
405
00:18:57,700 --> 00:18:59,867
[Mike] We're clearly finished
running for the week.
406
00:18:59,867 --> 00:19:02,300
We got a few good days in,
so me and the boys
407
00:19:02,300 --> 00:19:03,767
are gonna go pull some mats
408
00:19:03,767 --> 00:19:05,100
and, uh, bring it up to Jack
409
00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:07,266
and Thurber in the gold room
and see what we got.
410
00:19:07,266 --> 00:19:09,166
[Sterling] Okay, I like it.
411
00:19:09,166 --> 00:19:10,967
Little nugget party in there.
412
00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:13,767
It's very important
that we get
413
00:19:13,767 --> 00:19:15,734
all the material
off these mats.
414
00:19:16,567 --> 00:19:18,667
-[man] That is...
-There is a technique
415
00:19:18,667 --> 00:19:20,934
taught and perfected
by Jim Thurber.
416
00:19:22,667 --> 00:19:24,533
First little rinse,
let everything run off.
417
00:19:25,467 --> 00:19:28,166
Let the face of it
kind of slap the water.
418
00:19:28,166 --> 00:19:30,533
Shake up anything
that might be stuck.
419
00:19:32,066 --> 00:19:32,834
And then...
420
00:19:34,100 --> 00:19:35,233
Lift it in and out.
421
00:19:35,967 --> 00:19:37,467
Going side to side
422
00:19:37,467 --> 00:19:38,433
as you come up.
423
00:19:39,967 --> 00:19:42,834
And in no time
all your gold's washed out.
424
00:19:48,900 --> 00:19:49,934
Look at all that.
425
00:20:10,367 --> 00:20:12,400
[Jack] You know, Thurb,
if they don't get
426
00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:13,867
this thing solved down there,
427
00:20:13,867 --> 00:20:16,467
we're not gonna have
any more cleanups.
428
00:20:16,467 --> 00:20:18,200
[Jim] Andy takes
a lot of blame for it,
429
00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:19,266
but the stuff's
out of his control.
430
00:20:19,266 --> 00:20:20,567
[Jack] If he
hadn't done that...
431
00:20:20,567 --> 00:20:21,900
-you know, we'd be done.
-Stacked all the ice.
432
00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:23,967
-Started thawing and...
-But he did do that.
433
00:20:23,967 --> 00:20:26,266
So now here we are
fightin' it.
434
00:20:27,066 --> 00:20:28,867
That was disheartening.
435
00:20:28,867 --> 00:20:30,200
Such a pain in the keister.
436
00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,266
I'm not kidding you.
It is so bad.
437
00:20:33,266 --> 00:20:36,266
I'm tired of fighting
that kind of fight.
438
00:20:36,266 --> 00:20:38,367
I can't be out there
helping 'em.
439
00:20:38,367 --> 00:20:40,100
They're doing it.
440
00:20:40,100 --> 00:20:44,266
Hopefully, they
are successful.
441
00:20:44,266 --> 00:20:47,567
And we get to do
some more cleanup.
442
00:20:47,567 --> 00:20:50,367
Otherwise, we're not even
gonna make it to 1,000.
443
00:20:50,367 --> 00:20:52,867
We won't have a mine.
They'll shut us down.
444
00:20:52,867 --> 00:20:53,934
-So...
-Yeah.
445
00:20:58,266 --> 00:21:00,467
[tense instrumental music]
446
00:21:09,667 --> 00:21:12,567
[Jim] We got 65 bundles
of the wattle.
447
00:21:12,567 --> 00:21:14,767
We got 19 bundles of stakes.
448
00:21:14,767 --> 00:21:17,667
Got 950 stakes in the bottom.
449
00:21:17,667 --> 00:21:19,767
I can't believe
we found this in town.
450
00:21:19,767 --> 00:21:21,900
[Mike] Yeah, I know.
What were the odds?
451
00:21:21,900 --> 00:21:24,166
I won't tell you
how much it costs.
452
00:21:24,166 --> 00:21:25,867
[Mike chuckling] I don't
wanna know.
453
00:21:25,867 --> 00:21:27,767
[Jim] Crazy, crazy.
454
00:21:27,767 --> 00:21:29,667
-Yeah, I'll do the wattles
and the second one up.
-[Sparky] Okay, cool.
455
00:21:29,667 --> 00:21:31,967
And all the silt fence
in the back.
456
00:21:31,967 --> 00:21:34,266
[Sparky] Okay, silt fence
in the back.
457
00:21:34,266 --> 00:21:37,100
Andy's already out
by the creek
stripping vegetation,
458
00:21:37,100 --> 00:21:39,800
so that he's prepping for us
to put in the silt fence.
459
00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,166
And I know it's killing him
right now.
460
00:21:42,166 --> 00:21:45,100
It's killing us, too, man.
I'd rather be out there
digging for gold.
461
00:21:45,100 --> 00:21:47,266
I have no idea
if this is gonna work.
462
00:21:47,266 --> 00:21:49,166
But, hey,
we're going to war.
463
00:21:49,166 --> 00:21:51,066
We're gonna stop
this mud pile,
464
00:21:51,066 --> 00:21:52,900
and we're gonna make it
to the end of the season.
465
00:21:52,900 --> 00:21:55,233
We're gonna work
our ass off.
466
00:21:57,567 --> 00:21:58,767
[Micah] We don't have any time
to waste.
467
00:21:58,767 --> 00:22:00,767
These guys gotta get
this stuff in here.
468
00:22:00,767 --> 00:22:03,166
We gotta get this out there
so they can get it installed
469
00:22:03,166 --> 00:22:05,266
before that mud
makes it to the creek.
470
00:22:05,900 --> 00:22:07,533
Burying Caleb alive.
471
00:22:08,500 --> 00:22:10,567
[Micah] So, if they can get it
installed tonight,
472
00:22:10,567 --> 00:22:13,367
we can hopefully
have an answer by morning
if this is gonna work.
473
00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:15,467
[Tater] Let's go.
474
00:22:15,867 --> 00:22:18,100
Sparky, let's go!
475
00:22:18,100 --> 00:22:19,300
Time to go, buddy.
476
00:22:19,300 --> 00:22:21,300
We're gonna become men today.
477
00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:23,300
[Tater] Are you guys
ready for this?
478
00:22:23,300 --> 00:22:24,634
All right, we're out of here.
479
00:22:27,066 --> 00:22:28,667
So Andy's ahead of us.
480
00:22:28,667 --> 00:22:30,900
He's just pulling off
the vegetation
481
00:22:30,900 --> 00:22:34,066
so that we're able to actually
put the silt fence in.
482
00:22:34,066 --> 00:22:36,266
You can't put it
over the vegetation.
483
00:22:36,266 --> 00:22:38,767
It'll just create places
where silt will make its way
484
00:22:38,767 --> 00:22:40,700
under the fence
'cause it's not sealed down,
485
00:22:40,700 --> 00:22:43,533
and it makes it a lot easier
for us to put it in.
486
00:22:48,367 --> 00:22:50,767
According to Izak's
erosion plan,
487
00:22:50,767 --> 00:22:52,367
we're gonna dig a trench
488
00:22:52,367 --> 00:22:56,367
right alongside the tall mound
from the stripped vegetation
and topsoil.
489
00:22:56,367 --> 00:22:57,500
We call this a berm.
490
00:22:57,500 --> 00:23:00,367
And it's going to be
a tight barrier
against the creek
491
00:23:00,367 --> 00:23:03,400
to protect the creek
from the runoff and silt.
492
00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:05,533
[tense instrumental music]
493
00:23:11,667 --> 00:23:13,567
Andy's building that berm.
494
00:23:13,567 --> 00:23:16,300
I've been out in front
marking the top edge
of the creek
495
00:23:16,300 --> 00:23:19,467
because this brush,
he can't see
in that excavator
496
00:23:19,467 --> 00:23:20,867
where the drop-off is.
497
00:23:20,867 --> 00:23:23,166
It hangs out five, six feet
over the creek,
498
00:23:23,166 --> 00:23:25,667
and the last thing we need
is him in the creek
with the excavator.
499
00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,767
After Andy builds the berm
and the trench,
500
00:23:32,767 --> 00:23:37,200
this is where the crew
is going to install
the two rows of silt fencing.
501
00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:40,300
The silt fence
is a semi-permeable fabric
502
00:23:40,300 --> 00:23:43,967
designed to filter sediment
from the melt and rainwater
503
00:23:43,967 --> 00:23:47,000
as it seeps
out of the overburden pile.
504
00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,400
[Tater] Hey, Andy,
we'll follow 100 feet
behind you with this fencing,
505
00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,500
'cause it
rolled out backwards.
506
00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:55,200
It'll save us
if we just do it that way,
507
00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,967
messing around,
trying to get a turnaround.
508
00:23:57,967 --> 00:24:00,066
[Andy speaking on radio]
509
00:24:00,066 --> 00:24:01,834
[Tater] Yes, we do. Thank you.
510
00:24:03,066 --> 00:24:04,900
[Hunter] This is something
we've never had to do before,
511
00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:08,734
literally dig through
the tundra and put up
two layers of silt fence.
512
00:24:11,367 --> 00:24:14,800
Go another 15 feet.
513
00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:18,200
It's all hands on deck.
Everybody's in here
getting muddy,
514
00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:20,166
digging trenches,
hammering stakes in.
515
00:24:21,467 --> 00:24:23,467
Our family's been mining
for a long time now,
516
00:24:23,467 --> 00:24:26,567
but we've really never
dealt with water issues
quite like this.
517
00:24:26,567 --> 00:24:28,533
So, we're just dealing with it
on the fly.
518
00:24:31,467 --> 00:24:34,200
My boots
were causing problems,
519
00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,166
so you do what you gotta do
and get rid of them.
520
00:24:38,100 --> 00:24:40,100
And, then, if I get frostbite
on my toes,
521
00:24:40,100 --> 00:24:43,066
I'll get a couple of days off.
So, I'm down to my socks.
522
00:24:43,900 --> 00:24:47,400
[Izak speaking]
523
00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:48,533
Why not?
524
00:24:49,467 --> 00:24:50,734
I didn't know that part.
525
00:24:57,400 --> 00:24:58,700
[Hunter] That won't
go in anymore.
526
00:24:58,700 --> 00:24:59,867
[man] This one's
frozen ground.
527
00:24:59,867 --> 00:25:01,066
[Hunter] Is that what's
happening? 'Cause everyone saw
528
00:25:01,066 --> 00:25:03,634
-I can't get the stake
in it anymore.
-[man] It's frozen.
529
00:25:06,266 --> 00:25:08,467
Went in about two inches.
530
00:25:08,467 --> 00:25:12,500
Underneath all of this moss
right here, we've got
what's called permafrost.
531
00:25:12,500 --> 00:25:17,166
The moss insulates the ground
that gets frozen every winter.
532
00:25:17,166 --> 00:25:20,000
Like, right here,
it is frozen.
533
00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:24,367
Eight inches under the ground,
you've got solid ice,
and it's almost August.
534
00:25:24,367 --> 00:25:27,166
It's just solid, clear ice
right here on the ground.
535
00:25:27,166 --> 00:25:29,000
And that's what makes
digging harder.
536
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,000
That's what makes putting
the silt fence in harder.
537
00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,867
And that's what makes
a lot of water, the stuff
we're dealing with.
538
00:25:33,867 --> 00:25:35,934
[somber instrumental music]
539
00:25:37,567 --> 00:25:40,400
[Hunter speaking]
540
00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,367
How far more
do you have to go?
Another four inches?
541
00:25:43,367 --> 00:25:44,634
[Hunter speaking]
542
00:25:44,634 --> 00:25:47,266
Okay, five inches?
Cut whatever the distance
you need to go off,
543
00:25:47,266 --> 00:25:49,567
but leave a little stub
for that to stick in
544
00:25:49,567 --> 00:25:52,100
so it has something
to go against.
545
00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:53,367
Yeah, don't...
546
00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,066
Give her a little
sharpen up, too, if you can.
547
00:26:00,567 --> 00:26:02,266
[Hunter] Yeah, we want
more there, yeah.
548
00:26:06,600 --> 00:26:07,634
[Izak] Perfect.
549
00:26:07,634 --> 00:26:11,800
We're doing good.
Coming up on 200 foot,
each side.
550
00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:13,900
So, 400 foot out of the...
551
00:26:13,900 --> 00:26:16,767
I think we're gonna
try to get, like,
1,200 feet in today.
552
00:26:16,767 --> 00:26:18,967
That'll contain
the bad part of it.
553
00:26:18,967 --> 00:26:21,900
Once we have it addressed,
you know, to where it's not
gonna go in the creek,
554
00:26:21,900 --> 00:26:24,567
we'll start extending it off
of either end,
555
00:26:24,567 --> 00:26:26,600
so we can expand the cut
and keep on moving
556
00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:28,100
and not have this problem
happen again.
557
00:26:28,100 --> 00:26:31,266
It's just tedious work,
and it's all hand work.
558
00:26:31,266 --> 00:26:33,967
You could have millions
and millions of dollars
worth of equipment,
559
00:26:33,967 --> 00:26:36,967
and this is where
the rubber meets the road.
560
00:26:36,967 --> 00:26:39,066
[sweeping instrumental music]
561
00:26:42,900 --> 00:26:45,800
[scoffs] It's dirty. It sucks.
We're getting eaten alive
by bugs.
562
00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:52,333
But we literally
have to get this done
or we're screwed, so...
563
00:26:56,100 --> 00:26:58,233
[tense instrumental music]
564
00:27:09,467 --> 00:27:11,266
[Hunter] We're literally
in the trenches now.
565
00:27:11,266 --> 00:27:14,400
We're literally
digging a trench, putting
in two layers of fence,
566
00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:17,300
building a berm.
And we're doing it all by hand
for the most part, so...
567
00:27:17,300 --> 00:27:19,867
We're putting up a silt fence
to try to keep
568
00:27:19,867 --> 00:27:22,967
the melting overburden pile
from going into the creek.
569
00:27:22,967 --> 00:27:25,367
If this doesn't work
and we get silt
into the creek,
570
00:27:25,367 --> 00:27:28,967
the EPA can shut us down
and, then, there's
no more gold at all.
571
00:27:28,967 --> 00:27:32,166
If Andy would have put
the overburden
on the east side of the cut,
572
00:27:32,166 --> 00:27:34,166
rather than the west side
where the creek is,
573
00:27:34,166 --> 00:27:35,700
we wouldn't be dealing
with this issue right now,
574
00:27:35,700 --> 00:27:37,667
and we wouldn't all
be fighting for our lives
575
00:27:37,667 --> 00:27:39,734
to try to save
Jack's last season.
576
00:27:41,100 --> 00:27:43,500
Most of the time,
this would be the last thing
we'd ever wanna do,
577
00:27:43,500 --> 00:27:45,367
but, right now,
we don't have a choice.
578
00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:47,533
It's just a pain in the ass.
579
00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:52,166
[Todd] The last step
of Izak's erosion plan
580
00:27:52,166 --> 00:27:55,600
is to install three rows
of straw wattle,
581
00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:59,367
basically 30 feet apart,
across the melting overburden
582
00:27:59,367 --> 00:28:01,667
to stop mud flow downhill.
583
00:28:01,667 --> 00:28:03,867
There's a couple
of little streams
through here.
584
00:28:03,867 --> 00:28:06,400
I'm gonna lay
some straw wattle
out across that,
585
00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:10,166
slow down the velocity,
let it build up and let
the silt fall behind that.
586
00:28:10,166 --> 00:28:12,100
These basically act
as a filter.
587
00:28:12,100 --> 00:28:13,500
Any water
getting to the stream
588
00:28:13,500 --> 00:28:17,767
will have to run
through those
and leave the silt behind.
589
00:28:18,567 --> 00:28:22,967
So, what we got going on here
is these.
590
00:28:24,567 --> 00:28:27,600
We've got little streams
coming down here
prominently over there.
591
00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,767
I wanna lay this out
across those and stop that,
592
00:28:30,767 --> 00:28:33,767
so it hits that
and starts building up
and filtering through this,
593
00:28:33,767 --> 00:28:36,066
so it can't get down
to that creek.
594
00:28:36,066 --> 00:28:38,600
Walk fast.
That's the key to this.
595
00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:42,567
Don't stand in one spot,
or you suction down
and you're done.
596
00:28:42,567 --> 00:28:45,200
Find a decent place
to walk on top of this stuff.
597
00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:46,700
Yeah, right.
598
00:28:46,700 --> 00:28:49,533
[grunting]
599
00:28:51,967 --> 00:28:53,333
Where is the end at?
600
00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:55,734
[man speaking]
601
00:28:56,667 --> 00:28:58,166
[Izak] No.
602
00:28:58,166 --> 00:29:00,166
[Izak] No, can't walk on it.
603
00:29:00,166 --> 00:29:02,900
But you can toss it out there
like that.
604
00:29:02,900 --> 00:29:03,900
[man speaking]
605
00:29:03,900 --> 00:29:05,266
[Izak] Thirty-two feet each.
606
00:29:05,900 --> 00:29:07,100
[grunts]
607
00:29:07,100 --> 00:29:09,400
[dramatic instrumental music]
608
00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:10,734
I'm screwed.
609
00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:13,533
[grunting]
610
00:29:17,567 --> 00:29:20,333
You gonna pull me out
now? [chuckles]
611
00:29:21,567 --> 00:29:22,734
[groans]
612
00:29:29,967 --> 00:29:31,233
You stuck?
613
00:29:36,867 --> 00:29:39,000
[Izak grunting]
614
00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:41,300
Overlap it a little bit.
615
00:29:41,300 --> 00:29:44,634
The water velocity
is low enough
that it's gonna just silt in.
616
00:29:46,467 --> 00:29:48,967
See if you can
just pull it out across that.
617
00:29:49,667 --> 00:29:51,934
[straining]
618
00:29:53,567 --> 00:29:55,233
If you can't get
to the far end of that...
619
00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:57,400
[grunts]
620
00:29:57,400 --> 00:29:59,033
and pull it
kind of straight.
621
00:30:01,100 --> 00:30:02,834
Throw me one stake over here.
622
00:30:03,567 --> 00:30:05,266
Throw me two stakes over here.
623
00:30:06,166 --> 00:30:08,634
Three stakes! [laughs]
624
00:30:09,467 --> 00:30:12,133
[grunting]
625
00:30:20,266 --> 00:30:22,100
[Andy] You know,
Izak's come up
with a good plan.
626
00:30:22,100 --> 00:30:23,767
The guys are putting in
the silt fence.
627
00:30:23,767 --> 00:30:26,100
I'm digging a ditch
and building a berm.
628
00:30:26,100 --> 00:30:29,400
We've gotta stop this mud
from sliding and I think
it's gonna work.
629
00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,000
If this doesn't work,
this is gonna be my fault,
630
00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:35,433
and this is not the way
that I wanted Jack
to have his last season.
631
00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:46,000
[narrator] If the crew
gets it right, the melting
overburden will run downhill.
632
00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:48,867
As it encounters
each line of defense,
633
00:30:48,867 --> 00:30:51,867
the straw wattle, silt fence,
and the berm,
634
00:30:51,867 --> 00:30:55,900
the velocity of the runoff
will slow, trapping the silt
in the barriers
635
00:30:55,900 --> 00:30:59,200
before it can contaminate
the creek.
636
00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:02,266
[Hunter] It's looking good.
We're gonna go over
above and beyond
637
00:31:02,266 --> 00:31:03,867
on the measures
that we need to take
638
00:31:03,867 --> 00:31:06,367
to make sure
that we keep all this silt
out of the creek.
639
00:31:06,367 --> 00:31:08,467
That's what
has to be done.
640
00:31:08,467 --> 00:31:10,567
We still have 1,000 feet
to go with this fence,
641
00:31:10,567 --> 00:31:12,767
and I'm really hoping
it works.
642
00:31:12,767 --> 00:31:16,934
Hopefully, this saves
the creek, our paychecks,
and Jack's last season.
643
00:31:23,900 --> 00:31:26,033
[soft instrumental music]
644
00:31:29,300 --> 00:31:31,433
[Jack] This is disheartening.
645
00:31:34,166 --> 00:31:36,400
You know,
it's kind of a joke.
646
00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:41,600
People say, "It's our turn.
It's our time to come.
Our ship came in."
647
00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:45,867
It's about time
'cause it's Jack's last year.
648
00:31:45,867 --> 00:31:48,233
[sobbing]
649
00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:57,967
But, you know, you have to
really run a lot of yardage
to do that.
650
00:31:57,967 --> 00:32:00,300
We're shutting down
because of the creek.
651
00:32:00,300 --> 00:32:02,900
I don't even think
we're gonna make 50 ounces.
652
00:32:02,900 --> 00:32:05,567
This thing just hit us
right in the teeth.
653
00:32:05,567 --> 00:32:08,634
I blame Andy.
It's Andy's fault.
654
00:32:10,567 --> 00:32:12,266
It's been tough.
655
00:32:12,266 --> 00:32:15,834
[Jim] I think if you stick
at it long enough,
your dream will pay off.
656
00:32:18,367 --> 00:32:20,066
[machine rumbling]
657
00:32:21,266 --> 00:32:22,767
[machine shuts off]
658
00:32:22,767 --> 00:32:24,433
Oh, for Pete's sakes!
659
00:32:26,700 --> 00:32:28,834
Something's going on
with the motor.
660
00:32:29,967 --> 00:32:31,266
[Jack] Uh-oh.
661
00:32:32,266 --> 00:32:34,100
I think the motor broke.
662
00:32:34,100 --> 00:32:36,166
[Jim] That's not a good sign
right there.
663
00:32:36,767 --> 00:32:38,533
I knew it was
going too easy.
664
00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:43,367
[Jack] I'll look around.
665
00:32:43,367 --> 00:32:45,867
I might have
some brand-new motors.
666
00:32:45,867 --> 00:32:49,500
-[Jim] Well...
-Listen, somebody's been
in here making a big-ass mess
667
00:32:49,500 --> 00:32:51,100
all right.
668
00:32:51,100 --> 00:32:54,367
Can't wash gold
with a broken jig motor.
669
00:32:54,367 --> 00:32:58,767
Before the season started,
I knew something like this
might happen.
670
00:32:58,767 --> 00:33:01,500
So I ordered all new motors.
671
00:33:01,500 --> 00:33:03,467
Somebody let me down
672
00:33:03,467 --> 00:33:07,266
and didn't get me
all the new motors. Dang it!
673
00:33:07,266 --> 00:33:14,000
Very fortunate thing
is that I had
another single jig.
674
00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:20,367
And it has everything
that this jig has in it,
including a motor.
675
00:33:20,367 --> 00:33:22,400
If this used motor
doesn't work,
676
00:33:22,400 --> 00:33:24,667
we won't be able
to clean any of the gold
677
00:33:24,667 --> 00:33:28,066
the guys brought in
before we shut down.
678
00:33:28,367 --> 00:33:29,634
[Jim] Okay.
679
00:33:29,634 --> 00:33:35,467
You know, this is how
we separate the gold
from the concentrate.
680
00:33:35,467 --> 00:33:39,066
You know, otherwise,
it's all hands on deck,
everyone panning.
681
00:33:39,066 --> 00:33:44,467
And here we are, down and out,
90 miles north of Nome,
682
00:33:44,467 --> 00:33:47,867
and we got a part.
683
00:33:47,867 --> 00:33:52,634
That motor has been with me
since about 2012.
684
00:33:53,667 --> 00:33:56,266
And most of the summers,
it's been running.
685
00:33:57,066 --> 00:34:02,567
There's a gear in here,
and it turns this,
686
00:34:02,567 --> 00:34:08,000
which, this turns our belt,
687
00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,266
which makes the pulsation,
688
00:34:10,266 --> 00:34:15,000
pull, push, on the diaphragm
that's underneath.
689
00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:19,767
And you see this beard?
You know? It's old.
690
00:34:20,367 --> 00:34:22,500
This motor got old.
691
00:34:22,500 --> 00:34:25,166
That motor has gray whiskers.
692
00:34:25,166 --> 00:34:27,567
-What I wanna do real quick,
I'm gonna--
-[Jack] Plug it in?
693
00:34:27,567 --> 00:34:32,567
Yeah, but not yet.
I gotta get it up there
in the hole.
694
00:34:32,567 --> 00:34:34,467
Just real quick.
695
00:34:34,467 --> 00:34:36,600
Let me hang on to it,
so it doesn't take off.
696
00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:38,600
-Hang on, don't--
-[Jack] I'm not. I'm not.
697
00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:43,500
You know, right now,
the amount of time
that this machine is down,
698
00:34:43,500 --> 00:34:46,100
is costing us
thousands of dollars.
699
00:34:46,100 --> 00:34:47,967
[Jack] Give it two squeezes.
700
00:34:49,900 --> 00:34:51,200
That's enough.
701
00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:54,033
[Jim] Okay, I think
I got everything started.
702
00:34:54,467 --> 00:34:56,934
Please be...
703
00:34:57,867 --> 00:34:59,166
We hope.
704
00:35:04,367 --> 00:35:06,433
[soft instrumental music]
705
00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:12,033
-[upbeat instrumental music]
-[grunting]
706
00:35:12,033 --> 00:35:13,767
Came down
to check the silt pits.
707
00:35:13,767 --> 00:35:15,367
[grunts]
708
00:35:15,367 --> 00:35:17,567
[Jim] I was walking down
and it was looking
pretty good.
709
00:35:17,567 --> 00:35:22,867
And, then, I looked up and saw
the camera guy
ass-deep in mud.
710
00:35:22,867 --> 00:35:27,166
So, being the guy I am,
I came up the hill to rescue.
711
00:35:27,166 --> 00:35:29,467
[man] Oh, [bleep]
Almost fell backwards.
712
00:35:29,467 --> 00:35:32,100
I've never seen
a camera guy scream.
713
00:35:32,100 --> 00:35:33,967
[man] Get my camera.
714
00:35:33,967 --> 00:35:37,667
Tell my mom I'm sorry
and I love her.
715
00:35:37,667 --> 00:35:40,834
Then, two more people
had to come rescue us,
too, so... [chuckling]
716
00:35:42,166 --> 00:35:43,400
No!
717
00:35:47,533 --> 00:35:48,834
[intriguing
instrumental music]
718
00:35:49,734 --> 00:35:52,934
[Jim] Okay, red goes
to white.
719
00:35:52,934 --> 00:35:55,033
Green, we've got black
and black.
720
00:35:55,033 --> 00:35:56,734
[Jack] The motor on her,
she broke.
721
00:35:56,734 --> 00:36:01,266
I have a spare motor,
but there's no guarantee
it's gonna work.
722
00:36:01,266 --> 00:36:03,867
We're not gonna even have
a cleanup this week
723
00:36:03,867 --> 00:36:06,233
if I can't get
this jig motor going.
724
00:36:06,233 --> 00:36:10,166
Of course, that means no gold,
and that would be
pretty depressing.
725
00:36:10,166 --> 00:36:11,834
[Jim] Okay, go ahead, Jack.
726
00:36:13,333 --> 00:36:15,500
[Jack] Okay,
cord's plugged in.
727
00:36:16,767 --> 00:36:19,467
-Oh, that worked.
-[Jim] Perfect.
728
00:36:19,467 --> 00:36:21,567
-[Jack] Okay.
-[Jim] Yeah.
729
00:36:21,567 --> 00:36:24,266
Well, she's running
really good.
730
00:36:24,266 --> 00:36:27,767
Fired her up,
we're going.
So, money in the bank,
731
00:36:27,767 --> 00:36:29,266
having extra parts.
732
00:36:29,266 --> 00:36:30,900
[triumphant
instrumental music]
733
00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:41,000
[bell tolls]
734
00:36:43,533 --> 00:36:45,667
[Andy] I feel a lot better
than I did the other day.
735
00:36:45,667 --> 00:36:49,734
We had a problem,
and those young guys,
they just stepped up
736
00:36:49,734 --> 00:36:51,667
did what they needed to do.
737
00:36:51,667 --> 00:36:53,767
The overburdened pile
has melted a lot more.
738
00:36:53,767 --> 00:36:56,767
But Izak came up
with a really good plan,
and we've implemented it.
739
00:36:56,767 --> 00:36:59,800
And it seems
to be stopping it, so I think
we're gonna be okay.
740
00:37:00,867 --> 00:37:02,767
I'm thankful for Izak.
741
00:37:02,767 --> 00:37:04,767
He came in
with a new perspective.
742
00:37:04,767 --> 00:37:06,567
He's dealt with
some of this stuff.
743
00:37:06,567 --> 00:37:10,367
He gave us a really good plan
and, right now,
it seems to be working.
744
00:37:10,367 --> 00:37:12,934
That crew is amazing.
745
00:37:12,934 --> 00:37:16,266
They got down in there.
They were losing their boots.
746
00:37:16,266 --> 00:37:18,834
Stuck clear up to their knees
in mud.
747
00:37:18,834 --> 00:37:23,000
They just hammered down
and kept putting in silt fence
and got it knocked out.
748
00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:24,934
I'm very satisfied
with the results.
749
00:37:28,266 --> 00:37:31,867
You know, I feel really good
how everybody came together
750
00:37:31,867 --> 00:37:36,033
to put in the berm,
the silt fences, the wattle.
751
00:37:36,033 --> 00:37:39,467
I'm pretty confident
that we're gonna
actually stop that silt
752
00:37:39,467 --> 00:37:41,667
from heading
towards the creek.
753
00:37:41,667 --> 00:37:43,767
Hopefully, you know,
we've done it right,
754
00:37:43,767 --> 00:37:46,667
and we've worked our hardest
to actually fix a problem,
755
00:37:46,667 --> 00:37:48,834
and we won't
get shut down.
756
00:37:48,834 --> 00:37:51,867
[Hunter] Besides the setbacks
and the mud
and everything else,
757
00:37:51,867 --> 00:37:54,767
saving Jack's last season
is really all that matters
to me.
758
00:37:54,767 --> 00:37:58,567
I think everybody, you know,
jumping in and working
side by side on this fence,
759
00:37:58,567 --> 00:38:02,166
it just really shows
how important it is for us
to work as a team
760
00:38:02,166 --> 00:38:03,867
if we're gonna
be successful.
761
00:38:03,867 --> 00:38:06,734
Now that we have control
of the erosion,
762
00:38:06,734 --> 00:38:10,533
we can get back to mining
and getting some gold
for my grandpa.
763
00:38:10,533 --> 00:38:12,567
[Andy] The tough part is
that we haven't been mining.
764
00:38:12,567 --> 00:38:14,934
I just hope that we can make
Todd's goal.
765
00:38:14,934 --> 00:38:17,333
And this is
Jack's last season.
766
00:38:17,333 --> 00:38:21,834
I can't imagine me
messing something up
on his last season
767
00:38:21,834 --> 00:38:24,867
and being a failure.
So, this has gotta work.
768
00:38:24,867 --> 00:38:26,934
I never wanna
let this team down.
769
00:38:30,033 --> 00:38:32,433
[tense instrumental music]
770
00:38:34,967 --> 00:38:36,567
[Todd] Hey, guys.
771
00:38:36,567 --> 00:38:39,667
We all know,
a very difficult week.
772
00:38:39,667 --> 00:38:44,266
Talk about a 180 with a pivot
in the wrong direction.
773
00:38:44,266 --> 00:38:49,867
But if that mud would have
made it down into the creek,
774
00:38:49,867 --> 00:38:52,367
we would have been
in violation of our permit,
775
00:38:52,367 --> 00:38:54,834
something we've never had
to deal with before.
776
00:38:54,834 --> 00:39:00,400
When I first saw it, I felt
like I should have caught it.
777
00:39:02,233 --> 00:39:06,333
It really messed
the season up, I mean,
for everybody.
778
00:39:07,367 --> 00:39:09,166
[Jack] Mining is this way.
779
00:39:09,166 --> 00:39:13,834
It's up and down,
and if it was just easy,
everybody would be doing it.
780
00:39:13,834 --> 00:39:17,166
There's gonna be
better days in the future.
781
00:39:17,166 --> 00:39:20,867
I know my dad
spends months and months
thinking about this.
782
00:39:20,867 --> 00:39:22,200
He takes it to heart.
783
00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:25,533
But this is the first year
that everybody's really felt
like a family.
784
00:39:25,533 --> 00:39:29,000
I feel like
everybody's here together,
and we're doing it as a team.
785
00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:31,467
-[Todd] We came together.
-Yeah.
786
00:39:31,467 --> 00:39:34,066
[Todd] But it's not moving,
and it's drying up.
787
00:39:34,066 --> 00:39:36,834
-So, we're good for now.
-Yeah.
788
00:39:36,834 --> 00:39:40,533
Well, we had some setbacks
this week, but we did get
some gold.
789
00:39:40,533 --> 00:39:44,333
So, Thurber, Jack,
let's find out.
790
00:39:44,333 --> 00:39:48,233
Here she goes.
There, weigh that for us.
791
00:39:48,233 --> 00:39:50,667
-Let's see what we have.
-[Jim] Still feels good.
792
00:39:51,467 --> 00:39:52,934
[Jack] Okay.
793
00:39:53,567 --> 00:39:57,533
And there's 12. And 20.
794
00:39:58,867 --> 00:40:03,033
-[Hunter] Doesn't feel like
a three-digit number.
-And 30, 35, 37, 38,
795
00:40:03,033 --> 00:40:05,100
39, 40...
796
00:40:05,600 --> 00:40:11,166
43, 44, 45, 47, 48...
797
00:40:12,033 --> 00:40:16,100
49.5.
798
00:40:18,367 --> 00:40:19,166
Wow.
799
00:40:19,166 --> 00:40:21,467
[somber instrumental music]
800
00:40:21,467 --> 00:40:25,266
It wasn't
one of our best days,
that's for sure.
801
00:40:25,266 --> 00:40:28,533
That really, really
messed us up.
Really messed us up.
802
00:40:29,133 --> 00:40:30,900
Not where we wanna be.
803
00:40:31,734 --> 00:40:34,767
But still, look,
it's almost 50 ounces.
804
00:40:34,767 --> 00:40:39,433
Probably $80,000 or $90,000.
It's not the end
of the world, okay?
805
00:40:39,433 --> 00:40:40,900
It's still a lot of gold.
806
00:40:40,900 --> 00:40:43,934
[narrator] With a minimal haul
before their shutdown
to save the creek,
807
00:40:43,934 --> 00:40:47,033
a cleanup just shy
of 50 ounces of gold
808
00:40:47,033 --> 00:40:53,600
barely moves
the Hoffmans closer
to their 3,033-ounce goal.
809
00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:57,467
To be honest with you,
I don't know what the total's
gonna be this year now.
810
00:40:57,467 --> 00:40:59,467
This is a curveball.
811
00:40:59,467 --> 00:41:01,967
But we're definitely
not gonna give up,
812
00:41:01,967 --> 00:41:05,066
and we're still
in the game, okay?
813
00:41:05,066 --> 00:41:08,133
Well, as long as
we learn from this
and move on,
814
00:41:08,133 --> 00:41:09,734
we're going to better places.
815
00:41:09,734 --> 00:41:12,567
[Tater] One setback
isn't the end of the world.
We got this.
816
00:41:12,567 --> 00:41:15,266
You just keep your head up.
Let's keep moving.
817
00:41:15,266 --> 00:41:17,567
Andy, you know
the gold's out there.
818
00:41:17,567 --> 00:41:19,767
Get back out there.
Go get it.
819
00:41:19,767 --> 00:41:20,867
Okay.
820
00:41:20,867 --> 00:41:22,767
All right, let's go.
821
00:41:22,767 --> 00:41:24,834
[dramatic instrumental music]