1
00:00:00,934 --> 00:00:02,667
[Andy] I think I might have
screwed up.
2
00:00:02,667 --> 00:00:05,400
The whole pile is
moving towards the creek.
3
00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,066
[Todd] It's like a mudslide.
4
00:00:07,066 --> 00:00:10,200
[narrator]
After an engineering error
puts the Hoffman's mine
5
00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:14,100
-at risk...
-[Andy] I've never made
a mistake like this before.
6
00:00:14,100 --> 00:00:18,000
[narrator] A severe storm
pushes it to the brink of
collapse.
7
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,467
This is an absolute mess.
8
00:00:20,467 --> 00:00:23,700
Oh, yeah, that's turning
into slop really fast.
9
00:00:23,700 --> 00:00:28,100
[narrator] As heavy rain
drives mud toward
a fragile watershed...
10
00:00:28,100 --> 00:00:32,100
State and federal agencies
descend on the mine.
11
00:00:32,100 --> 00:00:34,300
Hey, Todd, there's some
inspectors here.
12
00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:37,667
That rainstorm we had,
it's going to bring
the people out
13
00:00:37,667 --> 00:00:39,300
because they know
we got hammered.
14
00:00:39,300 --> 00:00:41,767
[narrator] Facing fines
and work stop orders.
15
00:00:41,767 --> 00:00:43,367
[Todd] Every time we've been
inspected,
16
00:00:43,367 --> 00:00:45,000
there's always been something
that we need to fix.
17
00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,467
[Todd]
I just hope this doesn't throw
a wrench in our plans.
18
00:00:51,467 --> 00:00:55,000
[narrator] For the Hoffman
team, it's a race against time
and the elements...
19
00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,100
[Todd] There's over a million
dollars of gold sitting
underneath all that mud.
20
00:00:58,100 --> 00:01:00,100
[narrator] ...to re-engineer
their operation.
21
00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:01,233
Are you seeing this?
22
00:01:01,467 --> 00:01:03,100
Come on.
23
00:01:03,100 --> 00:01:06,800
[narrator]
Before the government
shuts down the mine for good.
24
00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,700
[Todd]
The point that we're at,
Jack's final season will be
25
00:01:09,700 --> 00:01:11,100
one of our worst seasons.
26
00:01:11,100 --> 00:01:12,500
[sighs]
27
00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,600
Kind of sick to my stomach
right now.
28
00:01:18,467 --> 00:01:20,100
[thunderclap]
29
00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,133
[rain pattering]
30
00:01:35,767 --> 00:01:36,834
It's kind of rainy.
31
00:01:36,834 --> 00:01:40,634
You know, this is some
rainy day, liquid sunshine.
32
00:01:48,867 --> 00:01:52,667
Sterling, this is,
I don't know,
this is an absolute mess.
33
00:01:52,667 --> 00:01:54,467
I don't know what
we're going to do.
34
00:01:54,467 --> 00:01:57,033
Yeah, this is turning into
slop really fast.
35
00:01:58,266 --> 00:02:00,266
What do you want to do
with all this?
36
00:02:00,266 --> 00:02:02,867
We don't have the time
to separate it.
37
00:02:02,867 --> 00:02:05,367
And any gravel that's in there
has got gold in it.
38
00:02:05,367 --> 00:02:08,000
I think we're just gonna have
to run the whole thing.
39
00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:09,867
All right.
Will the plant take it?
40
00:02:09,867 --> 00:02:11,867
[Andy] We'll be under
a lot of pressure.
41
00:02:11,867 --> 00:02:13,767
We're just gonna have to run
a lot more yardage,
42
00:02:13,767 --> 00:02:16,600
get the gold out of it,
but at least we'll get it
out of it.
43
00:02:16,867 --> 00:02:18,867
Okay, 10-4.
44
00:02:18,867 --> 00:02:20,567
[Andy] This mine's one of
the toughest mines
45
00:02:20,567 --> 00:02:21,533
I've ever had to work on.
46
00:02:21,533 --> 00:02:24,700
It rains, and it just never
seems to let up.
47
00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:27,567
The more rain we have,
the more problems we have.
48
00:02:27,567 --> 00:02:29,600
At this point, we just got
to run the pay
49
00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:32,100
because there's no point in
waiting for the rain to stop.
50
00:02:32,100 --> 00:02:33,800
We could be waiting
all season.
51
00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:35,500
Dakota, just fire up
the plant.
52
00:02:35,500 --> 00:02:37,467
We're just going
to run this slop.
53
00:02:37,467 --> 00:02:39,166
Everybody clear of
the trommel.
54
00:02:39,166 --> 00:02:39,934
Clear of the trommel.
55
00:02:55,367 --> 00:02:57,367
We're at least running
some dirt.
56
00:02:57,367 --> 00:02:59,000
It's been raining like crazy,
57
00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:00,800
but we're not going
to shut down.
58
00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:02,467
We're going to run
that wet pay.
59
00:03:02,467 --> 00:03:06,367
But because it's wet,
it's much heavier
than dry pay.
60
00:03:06,367 --> 00:03:09,100
That trommel's got a lot of
weight inside it.
61
00:03:09,100 --> 00:03:11,000
It's going to put stress
on the chains
62
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,000
and different things
like that, the rollers.
63
00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,400
So hopefully
we don't break something,
64
00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:16,767
but we can't shut down.
65
00:03:16,767 --> 00:03:18,300
We're going to run it through.
66
00:03:37,567 --> 00:03:40,367
With having everything wet
versus dry,
67
00:03:40,367 --> 00:03:41,800
you can't stack as high.
68
00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,100
And then Dakota's having
a heck of a time
69
00:03:44,100 --> 00:03:45,900
trying to push it up
to the guy
70
00:03:45,900 --> 00:03:48,467
that's loading it because
it won't stack.
71
00:03:48,467 --> 00:03:50,467
It just oozes back down
the pile.
72
00:03:50,467 --> 00:03:53,500
So it just makes everything
less efficient.
73
00:03:53,900 --> 00:03:56,500
But you got to do it.
74
00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:05,967
[man] Hey, Todd,
I'm going to push
some of this off
75
00:04:05,967 --> 00:04:07,266
and keep this pay out back.
76
00:04:07,266 --> 00:04:10,867
-[Todd] I think that's
a great idea.
-Okay.
77
00:04:10,867 --> 00:04:14,600
This stuff is so wet,
it just runs down the pad.
78
00:04:22,266 --> 00:04:25,400
We're going to dam it off
on either side
79
00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:27,800
and dump right in front of
the hopper there.
80
00:04:41,900 --> 00:04:43,767
[Sparky]
I'm like Jack of all trades.
81
00:04:43,767 --> 00:04:45,667
When I'm not welding,
I'm in a truck.
82
00:04:45,667 --> 00:04:48,800
Sometimes you gotta be
pretty malleable
and fit in where you can.
83
00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:50,567
We're delivering
the sloppy pay.
84
00:04:50,567 --> 00:04:53,066
As sloppy as it is,
it's a rich pay.
85
00:04:53,066 --> 00:04:54,834
It's gonna get us to our goal.
86
00:05:03,567 --> 00:05:07,600
[Todd] People say that some of
the great things, you know,
are hard,
87
00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,600
and that's why you don't see
many people doing them.
88
00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:11,900
And that's why you don't see
very many miners out here.
89
00:05:11,900 --> 00:05:12,667
It's hard.
90
00:05:12,667 --> 00:05:14,567
There's a lot of
water flooding.
91
00:05:14,567 --> 00:05:16,367
It's like, it's just crazy.
92
00:05:16,367 --> 00:05:19,300
It can get wild out here.
It's a wild animal.
93
00:05:34,467 --> 00:05:36,967
Gold's been really good.
94
00:05:36,967 --> 00:05:42,100
You know, I have not been on
ground that's been this good.
95
00:05:42,100 --> 00:05:45,567
This has been phenomenal,
Todd.
96
00:05:45,567 --> 00:05:47,900
Well, we're just going to
keep grinding away,
97
00:05:47,900 --> 00:05:49,567
keep running through
the plant,
98
00:05:49,567 --> 00:05:51,800
-bringing you guys
big cleanups.
-Yeah.
99
00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:53,133
[both chuckle]
100
00:05:53,767 --> 00:05:56,767
They may not all be that good,
101
00:05:56,767 --> 00:05:58,200
but I mean,
they just keep coming in.
102
00:05:58,200 --> 00:05:59,100
Why not?
103
00:05:59,100 --> 00:06:00,467
The ground's that good.
104
00:06:00,467 --> 00:06:01,567
I hope it is.
105
00:06:01,567 --> 00:06:04,400
It's just like you get
three ounces,
106
00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:05,700
you get three
and a half ounces,
107
00:06:05,700 --> 00:06:07,567
a hundred, now you get four.
108
00:06:07,567 --> 00:06:10,166
-So...
-If we make it,
that's going to be,
109
00:06:10,166 --> 00:06:12,567
you know,
just really cool.
110
00:06:12,567 --> 00:06:17,767
You know, I... I've never made
that kind of gold.
111
00:06:17,767 --> 00:06:22,467
We've never got to that point,
you know, that is phenomenal.
112
00:06:22,467 --> 00:06:23,934
And I think it's a...
113
00:06:24,667 --> 00:06:26,834
Everybody could go home
with a lot of gold.
114
00:06:27,166 --> 00:06:28,867
-Let's hope.
-Yeah.
115
00:06:28,867 --> 00:06:30,133
[Andy] Hey, Todd.
116
00:06:30,567 --> 00:06:32,667
Yeah, yeah.
117
00:06:32,667 --> 00:06:35,367
[Andy] Looks like we got some
inspectors here.
118
00:06:35,367 --> 00:06:37,000
I'm going to go see
what they want.
119
00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,166
Okay, everybody just give Andy
some space.
120
00:06:43,166 --> 00:06:46,266
Everybody just do what
you're doing.
121
00:06:46,266 --> 00:06:49,033
Leave Andy alone for now.
He's going to be busy.
122
00:06:50,066 --> 00:06:52,166
-What the crap's going on?
-I don't know.
123
00:06:52,166 --> 00:06:54,133
I'll figure it out.
I'll call you in a bit.
124
00:07:07,467 --> 00:07:09,867
I feel like I'm sick to
my stomach right now.
125
00:07:09,867 --> 00:07:11,133
I don't...
126
00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:16,567
[sighs] I knew it, man.
I knew it.
127
00:07:16,567 --> 00:07:19,500
Everything's going too good.
It was going too good.
128
00:07:28,667 --> 00:07:29,967
How are you guys doing?
129
00:07:29,967 --> 00:07:32,233
-We're good. How are you?
-Good.
130
00:07:45,867 --> 00:07:49,100
I'll take you guys around
and kind of show you.
131
00:07:49,100 --> 00:07:50,700
So I'll take you down
to our cut.
132
00:07:51,166 --> 00:07:52,500
We've got the inspectors here.
133
00:07:52,500 --> 00:07:54,000
We've had a lot of rains.
134
00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,867
This makes kind of
a stressful situation.
135
00:07:55,867 --> 00:07:58,800
But it's common for inspectors
to come after
136
00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,266
big storms, make sure that
we're doing the right thing.
137
00:08:01,266 --> 00:08:04,867
So hopefully,
if everything's okay,
we just get back to mining.
138
00:08:04,867 --> 00:08:07,200
Let's just hope this is just
routine and nothing more.
139
00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:08,800
That's good with you guys?
140
00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:10,100
-That works for us.
-Okay.
141
00:08:10,100 --> 00:08:11,867
You just follow me
on down there, okay?
142
00:08:11,867 --> 00:08:13,266
Okay.
143
00:08:15,667 --> 00:08:19,166
You know, these inspections
are routine for our mine,
144
00:08:19,166 --> 00:08:23,000
but if you find something
in noncompliance,
145
00:08:23,467 --> 00:08:25,333
they can shut you down.
146
00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,266
We've been having such
a good season.
147
00:08:33,266 --> 00:08:36,166
I just hope this doesn't throw
a wrench in our plans,
148
00:08:36,166 --> 00:08:39,900
but we're at the mercy of
these inspectors
149
00:08:39,900 --> 00:08:42,100
and the laws and rules.
150
00:08:42,100 --> 00:08:45,467
You just go through everything
in your head, you know.
151
00:08:45,467 --> 00:08:48,667
We had a lot of rain,
which created a mudslide
152
00:08:48,667 --> 00:08:51,800
last week and turned our cut
into soup this week.
153
00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,500
They're not going
to like that.
154
00:08:53,500 --> 00:08:55,500
Let's just hope it doesn't
kill our seasons.
155
00:08:55,500 --> 00:08:56,433
It can.
156
00:08:56,967 --> 00:08:58,233
It can shut you down.
157
00:09:09,567 --> 00:09:12,667
I hope this all works out,
because I don't want
158
00:09:12,667 --> 00:09:13,900
to shut down right now.
159
00:09:23,467 --> 00:09:25,667
Drive into that slot on
the next load,
160
00:09:25,667 --> 00:09:29,233
and then kind of crank it
to your right and fill
that hole, too.
161
00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,867
So we've been running
this pay out of the Lost Cut,
162
00:09:34,867 --> 00:09:39,700
and this stuff's been
super wet, which is a pain.
163
00:09:39,700 --> 00:09:42,233
We're just trying to keep up
with the plan at this point.
164
00:09:42,900 --> 00:09:44,300
We just don't have a choice.
165
00:09:44,300 --> 00:09:45,800
I mean, it's so late
in the season now.
166
00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:47,500
We just don't have the time
to dry it out.
167
00:09:47,500 --> 00:09:49,700
So we just got to get it
through the plant
168
00:09:49,700 --> 00:09:52,600
if we can and just take
what we can get.
169
00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:57,233
[gears grinding]
170
00:10:03,967 --> 00:10:05,533
Holy [bleep].
171
00:10:07,700 --> 00:10:11,300
Tater, Tater,
the Holy Roller
just shut down.
172
00:10:11,300 --> 00:10:13,500
I'm going to need you up here
ASAP.
173
00:10:13,900 --> 00:10:15,133
Copy that.
174
00:10:17,767 --> 00:10:19,200
[Dakota]
It's not looking good.
175
00:10:47,033 --> 00:10:50,367
[Todd] Heavy rains have been
messing us up this year.
176
00:10:50,367 --> 00:10:52,033
It shut us down last week.
177
00:10:52,033 --> 00:10:55,867
Now it's creating all kinds of
issues in our cut with mud.
178
00:10:55,867 --> 00:10:57,767
And as we're fighting
the fight,
179
00:10:57,767 --> 00:11:00,100
our environmental
inspectors show up.
180
00:11:00,100 --> 00:11:01,600
It's not good.
181
00:11:05,867 --> 00:11:11,266
Well, kind of what we feared,
that monsoon rainstorm we had.
182
00:11:11,266 --> 00:11:13,967
It's going to bring
the people out
183
00:11:13,967 --> 00:11:16,266
'cause they know good and well
we got hammered.
184
00:11:16,266 --> 00:11:18,066
And I think
they're just seeing
185
00:11:18,066 --> 00:11:20,500
how we survived the storm.
186
00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:31,066
So I think we're good,
but you never know.
187
00:11:31,066 --> 00:11:34,734
They seem not overjoyed,
but they just made
188
00:11:34,734 --> 00:11:37,867
a trek through the tundra,
and that can't be fun.
189
00:11:38,266 --> 00:11:39,767
Doesn't help to worry.
190
00:11:39,767 --> 00:11:42,000
We're doing everything
we possibly can.
191
00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:46,734
And if it comes to the point
where we can't run, well,
what do you do?
192
00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:53,834
[Todd] We're at the mercy of
193
00:11:53,834 --> 00:11:56,800
these inspectors
and the laws and rules.
194
00:11:57,667 --> 00:11:59,100
We're not perfect.
195
00:11:59,100 --> 00:12:00,667
Every time we've been
inspected,
196
00:12:00,667 --> 00:12:02,934
there's always been something
that we need to fix and do.
197
00:12:02,934 --> 00:12:05,767
But let's just hope it
doesn't kill our season.
198
00:12:05,767 --> 00:12:06,767
I'm worried and stuff.
199
00:12:06,767 --> 00:12:09,200
I really don't want to film
any more about it.
200
00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:11,200
I'm kind of sick to my stomach
right now.
201
00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:12,400
-Okay, we will.
-Thanks, guys.
202
00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:14,000
You're welcome.
203
00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:15,967
[Todd] I'll wait and see
what Andy says.
204
00:12:15,967 --> 00:12:18,800
Hopefully, it went better
than I think.
205
00:12:27,166 --> 00:12:30,233
Dakota, what'd you do?
206
00:12:31,066 --> 00:12:33,600
The spray bar had
a little too much vibration.
207
00:12:33,867 --> 00:12:34,734
Oh, yeah.
208
00:12:34,734 --> 00:12:36,900
-I can see it from here.
-It's hanging.
209
00:12:38,300 --> 00:12:39,767
That ain't no good.
210
00:12:39,767 --> 00:12:41,867
[Tater] The spray bar inside
the trommel's broken.
211
00:12:41,867 --> 00:12:45,066
We've been running some heavy,
dense, muddy material.
212
00:12:45,066 --> 00:12:49,100
It was causing vibration
and too much weight on
the plant.
213
00:12:49,100 --> 00:12:52,567
Unfortunately, it caused
the motor on the trommel
to stop.
214
00:12:52,567 --> 00:12:54,934
The spray bar bracket snapped.
215
00:12:54,934 --> 00:12:56,934
Hopefully, there's not
too much damage.
216
00:12:56,934 --> 00:12:59,367
One of the brackets that
actually holds the spray bar
217
00:12:59,367 --> 00:13:02,300
in place is completely
detached and off.
218
00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:07,500
[narrator] The first step in
fixing the spray bar
219
00:13:07,500 --> 00:13:10,667
bar is for Dakota
and Tater to use the excavator
220
00:13:10,667 --> 00:13:13,967
to set the bar back into
its correct position.
221
00:13:13,967 --> 00:13:17,667
Once set, Tater will use
a temporary strap to hold it
222
00:13:17,667 --> 00:13:21,967
in place while he welds
the broken strap
back together.
223
00:13:21,967 --> 00:13:25,367
[Dakota] The spray bar is
one of the most essential
parts in this trommel.
224
00:13:25,367 --> 00:13:27,166
All that pay
that's going through there
225
00:13:27,166 --> 00:13:29,166
needs to be washed.
226
00:13:29,166 --> 00:13:31,767
[Tater] It's really important
these straps stay on there
227
00:13:31,767 --> 00:13:34,100
and the spray bar stays
where we set it.
228
00:13:34,100 --> 00:13:36,567
It has a certain angle
that we set it at.
229
00:13:36,567 --> 00:13:39,567
It's actually hitting the rock
as it's tumbling
230
00:13:39,567 --> 00:13:41,367
and not just
as it's on the deal,
231
00:13:41,367 --> 00:13:43,100
so it'll clean
the rocks better.
232
00:13:43,100 --> 00:13:45,367
We're just going to use
the excavator up
on the pad
233
00:13:45,367 --> 00:13:49,900
right now and just sling this
water bar and then pick it up.
234
00:14:12,033 --> 00:14:12,900
Okay.
235
00:14:16,967 --> 00:14:18,000
You win.
236
00:14:18,567 --> 00:14:20,467
This thing's
a little bit broken.
237
00:14:20,467 --> 00:14:23,000
It used to be a round
half of an 8-inch pipe,
238
00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:25,266
but you can see this is
the clean break.
239
00:14:25,266 --> 00:14:26,834
But for now, we're going
to go up,
240
00:14:26,834 --> 00:14:28,900
and I'm going
to weld it back together
and make it round again.
241
00:14:34,767 --> 00:14:35,800
All right.
242
00:14:36,266 --> 00:14:37,867
Something 8-inch.
243
00:14:37,867 --> 00:14:39,734
That'll give you an idea
244
00:14:39,734 --> 00:14:41,166
how far out of round she is.
245
00:14:41,166 --> 00:14:42,400
Really bad.
246
00:14:42,667 --> 00:14:43,900
So...
247
00:14:51,166 --> 00:14:52,300
There.
248
00:14:52,500 --> 00:14:53,567
Not a bad fit.
249
00:14:53,567 --> 00:14:55,467
Hopefully that's
the same size.
250
00:14:55,467 --> 00:14:56,734
If not, I can drive it...
251
00:14:57,767 --> 00:14:59,400
I can drive it over our pipe.
252
00:15:00,266 --> 00:15:01,934
The spray bar strap is fixed.
253
00:15:01,934 --> 00:15:03,266
It's a great thing.
254
00:15:03,266 --> 00:15:04,166
We're back up and running,
255
00:15:04,166 --> 00:15:06,500
but we can't run
this material anymore
256
00:15:06,500 --> 00:15:09,266
because it's too heavy
and we don't need
any more problems.
257
00:15:09,266 --> 00:15:11,600
If we do, not only could
this break again,
258
00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:13,700
but there's other things
that can get damaged.
259
00:15:16,667 --> 00:15:18,300
Don't get your fingers
on there.
260
00:15:19,467 --> 00:15:20,500
There we go.
261
00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:23,233
Okay.
262
00:15:23,233 --> 00:15:26,967
I can work some miracles,
but there's a lot of work
to do.
263
00:15:26,967 --> 00:15:28,166
We need to get moving.
264
00:15:40,834 --> 00:15:42,600
-Where are they?
-They left.
265
00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,000
Oh, weird.
266
00:15:44,867 --> 00:15:47,834
Well, I'm sure we'll get
a report on it.
267
00:15:47,834 --> 00:15:50,266
-They looked at all
of our pond system.
-Yeah.
268
00:15:50,266 --> 00:15:51,667
We're not leaking anything.
269
00:15:51,667 --> 00:15:53,600
I mean, we busted our butt
to do it right.
270
00:15:54,266 --> 00:15:56,066
I think we're in compliance.
271
00:15:56,066 --> 00:15:58,867
I mean, there's always work
to do, but, like,
272
00:15:58,867 --> 00:16:04,667
nobody's ever mined
this whole valley like we are.
273
00:16:04,667 --> 00:16:08,734
We want to do what's right
and try to get, you know,
274
00:16:08,734 --> 00:16:11,600
if they do have things that
they want us to change,
275
00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:12,467
we'll do it, you know?
276
00:16:14,166 --> 00:16:16,867
We've been mining here
for a while now.
277
00:16:16,867 --> 00:16:19,200
We've had to do a lot
to get this place set up,
278
00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:20,767
and we've never cut
any corners.
279
00:16:20,767 --> 00:16:23,300
So hopefully,
inspectors recognize that.
280
00:16:24,033 --> 00:16:26,100
Mining's getting tough, boys.
281
00:16:26,100 --> 00:16:28,000
Mining's getting tough
out here.
282
00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:30,033
You know, sometimes
you wonder,
283
00:16:30,033 --> 00:16:31,967
is the chase worth it,
you know?
284
00:16:31,967 --> 00:16:34,600
-But...
-Days like this,
it seems like
285
00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:36,033
it's sometimes like it's not.
286
00:16:36,033 --> 00:16:38,867
But then you look at our guys,
and you look at what
287
00:16:38,867 --> 00:16:42,400
it means to them,
and you see the joy
that it brings them.
288
00:16:43,467 --> 00:16:44,500
Yeah.
289
00:16:46,066 --> 00:16:47,867
We're turning these guys
into men.
290
00:16:47,867 --> 00:16:50,266
They're running
huge equipment,
291
00:16:50,266 --> 00:16:53,467
and we're mining clean.
292
00:16:53,467 --> 00:16:55,000
We're doing the best we can.
293
00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,000
And I think there's something
bigger than
294
00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:00,200
just trying to go out
and line our pockets.
295
00:17:01,300 --> 00:17:05,467
The way our company
is turning out,
I'm proud of it.
296
00:17:05,467 --> 00:17:08,567
Even if they came in
and gave us some trouble,
297
00:17:08,567 --> 00:17:10,834
we would definitely fix it,
whatever it was.
298
00:17:10,834 --> 00:17:15,166
-You know, but...
-You can plan
everything right, but...
299
00:17:15,166 --> 00:17:17,767
-There's still a lot of things
that can go wrong.
-There's some...
300
00:17:17,767 --> 00:17:20,767
I'm still trying to figure out
what we're supposed
301
00:17:20,767 --> 00:17:23,233
to learn from all this, right?
You know, from God.
302
00:17:24,100 --> 00:17:26,467
So until we figure that out,
303
00:17:26,467 --> 00:17:28,734
I think we'll just
keep plugging forward.
304
00:17:28,734 --> 00:17:29,400
Yeah.
305
00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:31,600
-Oh, thanks, buddy.
-Yeah.
306
00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:35,734
-Hey, I appreciate going on
this journey with me, man.
-Yeah.
307
00:17:35,734 --> 00:17:37,266
-It's a journey.
-It's not always easy.
308
00:17:37,266 --> 00:17:38,233
No.
309
00:17:38,834 --> 00:17:40,133
It'll be worth it, though.
310
00:17:40,934 --> 00:17:42,367
[Todd] Get some sleep.
311
00:17:53,634 --> 00:17:57,433
Right now, the point that
we're at to not sugarcoat it,
312
00:17:57,433 --> 00:17:59,467
I'm completely screwed.
313
00:17:59,467 --> 00:18:01,767
If we don't get this mud flow
controlled quickly
314
00:18:01,767 --> 00:18:03,767
and it gets worse,
that could cause
315
00:18:03,767 --> 00:18:06,433
more inspectors to come
out to the mine.
316
00:18:06,433 --> 00:18:09,333
We have mud pumps here,
so I think the best plan
317
00:18:09,333 --> 00:18:12,000
is to build a big pond
to pump the mud into.
318
00:18:13,266 --> 00:18:15,634
[narrator] To eliminate
the confounding layer of mud,
319
00:18:15,634 --> 00:18:19,000
the crew will install
two gas-powered slurry pumps
320
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,867
to push the mud into
a retaining pond.
321
00:18:21,867 --> 00:18:24,967
If successful,
the crew should gain access
322
00:18:24,967 --> 00:18:26,700
to the underlying pay dirt.
323
00:18:38,834 --> 00:18:40,500
You got a copy, Andy?
324
00:18:41,934 --> 00:18:43,300
Yeah, go ahead.
325
00:18:49,734 --> 00:18:51,900
Hate when you find
more gravel.
326
00:18:52,634 --> 00:18:54,300
[bleep]
327
00:18:56,266 --> 00:18:59,567
[narrator] While construction
of the retention pond
is underway,
328
00:18:59,567 --> 00:19:03,867
the crew
works on the most crucial
component of Andy's plan,
329
00:19:03,867 --> 00:19:05,100
the mud pumps.
330
00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:07,133
If you hit it hard,
it should go easy.
331
00:19:07,133 --> 00:19:09,333
-Oh, really?
-Yeah.
332
00:19:09,333 --> 00:19:12,467
Trying to get these new
slurry pumps together.
333
00:19:13,767 --> 00:19:15,634
These have like
a rubber flapper
334
00:19:15,634 --> 00:19:17,367
pretty much that's
stomping the mud out.
335
00:19:17,367 --> 00:19:20,166
So just pump straight
silt and slurry.
336
00:19:20,166 --> 00:19:23,000
So should help out
in the cut a lot.
337
00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:25,934
[Sterling] We are putting
fittings on hoses
338
00:19:25,934 --> 00:19:27,567
and then we're going
to roll them up.
339
00:19:27,567 --> 00:19:30,433
These are the discharge hoses
for the slurry pump.
340
00:19:30,433 --> 00:19:31,767
That's going to go on
the cut
341
00:19:31,767 --> 00:19:34,000
so we can start controlling
some of this mud.
342
00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,734
These mud pumps, all it is is
a bladder inside of the pump.
343
00:19:37,734 --> 00:19:39,867
That's what's going
to suction the mud out
344
00:19:39,867 --> 00:19:41,467
so we can save that pay.
345
00:19:42,066 --> 00:19:43,767
I have nightmares about pumps.
346
00:19:44,634 --> 00:19:46,300
This guy has pump nightmares.
347
00:19:49,133 --> 00:19:51,367
[Framer] Andy's digging us
a retention pond right now.
348
00:19:51,367 --> 00:19:53,066
We're going to put
these pumps in,
349
00:19:53,066 --> 00:19:54,367
and we're going
to start pumping
350
00:19:54,367 --> 00:19:55,233
the mud out of the cut
351
00:19:55,233 --> 00:19:57,066
and over into
his new retention ponds.
352
00:19:57,066 --> 00:20:01,767
And hopefully, this afternoon,
he'll have some dry ground
353
00:20:01,767 --> 00:20:03,066
to start digging some pay on.
354
00:20:12,467 --> 00:20:13,667
Good thing it's ice under it.
355
00:20:13,667 --> 00:20:15,300
Yeah, it's nice and gooey.
356
00:20:16,634 --> 00:20:18,467
All right,
let's do this one first.
357
00:20:18,467 --> 00:20:19,967
Yep.
358
00:20:25,533 --> 00:20:27,967
We need to pick it up
and carry it all the way
over there.
359
00:20:27,967 --> 00:20:29,100
Okay.
360
00:20:29,100 --> 00:20:30,667
The end, this end needs to be
all the way down there.
361
00:20:30,667 --> 00:20:32,567
This one?
It needs to be that one?
362
00:20:32,567 --> 00:20:34,433
You want to roll it out
and drag it?
363
00:20:34,433 --> 00:20:35,900
You want to do that?
364
00:20:35,900 --> 00:20:37,967
Or do you want to just carry
the whole thing over there
and roll it back?
365
00:20:37,967 --> 00:20:39,367
-Yeah, I don't know.
-We can just go?
366
00:20:39,467 --> 00:20:40,400
Just go.
367
00:20:47,433 --> 00:20:50,634
Caleb, pull it out there.
368
00:20:50,634 --> 00:20:51,934
Want to go straight out?
369
00:20:51,934 --> 00:20:53,100
Yeah.
370
00:20:57,133 --> 00:20:58,367
[Andy] Great.
371
00:20:58,367 --> 00:21:01,800
That's good.
Just go towards the excavator.
372
00:21:02,266 --> 00:21:03,300
No.
373
00:21:04,100 --> 00:21:06,367
Caleb, go towards
the excavator.
374
00:21:06,367 --> 00:21:08,000
[Todd] So what we're going
to attempt to do,
375
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:09,333
we're going to pump mud.
376
00:21:09,333 --> 00:21:12,266
Hopefully, we can uncover
all this pay dirt here.
377
00:21:12,266 --> 00:21:14,567
We've got two little
tiny pumps.
378
00:21:14,567 --> 00:21:16,166
And it might work,
and it may not.
379
00:21:16,166 --> 00:21:17,100
We don't know.
380
00:21:17,567 --> 00:21:18,533
This has to work.
381
00:21:18,533 --> 00:21:20,867
Not only do we need to get
to our good pay,
382
00:21:20,867 --> 00:21:23,767
but we got these inspectors
here the other day.
383
00:21:23,767 --> 00:21:25,667
If they come back
for any reason
384
00:21:25,667 --> 00:21:27,867
and we have this mud
that's out of control
385
00:21:27,867 --> 00:21:30,066
in the cut,
it's not going to look good.
386
00:21:30,066 --> 00:21:31,634
We don't want to get
shut down,
387
00:21:31,634 --> 00:21:34,433
and hopefully these
little pumps will do
the trick.
388
00:21:34,433 --> 00:21:36,734
Straighten this hose out,
get some water in that pump,
389
00:21:36,734 --> 00:21:37,867
and then we can fire it.
390
00:21:37,867 --> 00:21:39,600
Is it going to work or no?
391
00:21:40,266 --> 00:21:41,867
What do you think, Andy?
392
00:21:42,533 --> 00:21:43,900
Framer's the expert.
393
00:21:44,433 --> 00:21:45,667
It's gooey.
394
00:21:45,667 --> 00:21:48,567
-If it don't work,
it's Framer's fault.
-Yep.
395
00:21:48,567 --> 00:21:50,100
All right, let's fire it up.
396
00:21:50,667 --> 00:21:51,700
Nice.
397
00:21:52,767 --> 00:21:54,400
We will see if this works.
398
00:21:55,567 --> 00:21:58,166
We got probably
a million dollars
399
00:21:58,166 --> 00:21:59,900
worth of pay dirt
sitting right there.
400
00:22:00,934 --> 00:22:02,767
All right, well,
we're pumping.
401
00:22:09,467 --> 00:22:11,300
Okay, here we go, here we go.
402
00:22:15,867 --> 00:22:18,967
Dig a hole right where
your bucket is,
like right there.
403
00:22:21,634 --> 00:22:23,767
There we go.
404
00:22:23,767 --> 00:22:26,133
[Caleb] Is he just burying
them, or are we putting them
in that hole?
405
00:22:26,133 --> 00:22:27,433
We're going to put them
in that hole.
406
00:22:27,433 --> 00:22:29,000
Don't bury the hoses.
Just dig the hole,
407
00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:30,700
and we'll throw the hose
in the hole.
408
00:22:33,567 --> 00:22:34,934
[Todd] This is tricky.
409
00:22:34,934 --> 00:22:36,934
This is very, very tricky.
410
00:22:36,934 --> 00:22:38,800
That's good.
Let him throw it in there.
411
00:22:41,166 --> 00:22:42,500
[Framer laughing]
412
00:22:43,634 --> 00:22:45,233
This is the part
where you say,
413
00:22:45,233 --> 00:22:47,000
I love my job, right there.
414
00:22:47,634 --> 00:22:49,567
Don't get much better
than this.
415
00:22:49,567 --> 00:22:52,367
[Todd] If it doesn't work,
we're going to have to go
to plan B.
416
00:22:52,367 --> 00:22:54,467
And that might be just wait
till it freezes up
417
00:22:54,467 --> 00:22:56,166
a little bit,
try to truck it out.
418
00:22:56,166 --> 00:22:58,266
But I don't know.
419
00:22:58,266 --> 00:23:00,300
That doesn't sound
like a good idea.
420
00:23:02,834 --> 00:23:04,266
It don't hold very much gas,
though.
421
00:23:04,266 --> 00:23:07,266
Somebody's going to be down
there about day
422
00:23:07,266 --> 00:23:10,433
and night refueling for
a couple of days anyway.
423
00:23:10,433 --> 00:23:13,166
[Todd] What we're trying to do
is move mud,
424
00:23:13,166 --> 00:23:17,100
this strip of mud
to that side of the cut.
425
00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:20,266
We probably have
a million dollars
worth of gold
426
00:23:20,266 --> 00:23:22,467
right through
this strip here.
427
00:23:22,467 --> 00:23:26,000
We can't get to it unless
we get that mud out of
the way.
428
00:23:32,166 --> 00:23:34,233
-[man] Hey, Todd,
you got a copy?
-Yeah.
429
00:23:34,233 --> 00:23:37,266
[man] Heads up, you have
inspectors coming your way.
430
00:23:40,133 --> 00:23:43,000
These inspectors didn't get
enough the other day.
431
00:23:54,367 --> 00:23:56,667
Are we seeing this?
Come on.
432
00:24:09,634 --> 00:24:10,667
[Todd] Stop!
433
00:24:11,033 --> 00:24:12,700
We gotta rethink this.
434
00:24:20,467 --> 00:24:21,600
[Todd] Stop!
435
00:24:22,667 --> 00:24:24,300
We gotta rethink this.
436
00:24:28,767 --> 00:24:30,233
Andy, you got a second?
437
00:24:30,567 --> 00:24:32,233
We gotta rethink this.
438
00:24:33,967 --> 00:24:36,166
Do you see the inspectors
are back?
439
00:24:37,266 --> 00:24:38,300
You know what?
440
00:24:38,300 --> 00:24:40,066
This is the second time
this week the inspectors
441
00:24:40,066 --> 00:24:43,367
are back,
which I don't exactly know
why they're here.
442
00:24:43,367 --> 00:24:45,667
But since they're back,
it makes me think
443
00:24:45,667 --> 00:24:47,166
that they found something.
444
00:24:47,166 --> 00:24:50,367
My gut tells me
they don't like the mud
in the cut.
445
00:24:50,367 --> 00:24:52,266
So we have to fix it quick.
446
00:24:52,266 --> 00:24:54,767
And these pumps are not going
to do it.
447
00:24:54,767 --> 00:24:57,433
There's just no manual
for this stuff, dude.
448
00:24:57,433 --> 00:24:59,667
You just got to look at it
and read it.
449
00:24:59,667 --> 00:25:00,300
And you know what?
450
00:25:00,300 --> 00:25:01,767
You're the best at it.
451
00:25:01,767 --> 00:25:03,834
It doesn't look like it
right now.
452
00:25:03,834 --> 00:25:07,066
How about you and I go up
and say a little prayer to God
453
00:25:07,066 --> 00:25:08,367
on this?
454
00:25:08,367 --> 00:25:09,767
Let's just figure it out.
455
00:25:09,767 --> 00:25:12,033
I don't care what you decide.
456
00:25:12,033 --> 00:25:13,200
We're with you.
457
00:25:15,133 --> 00:25:17,367
And let's just shut down
for now until
458
00:25:17,367 --> 00:25:18,767
the inspectors leave.
459
00:25:26,867 --> 00:25:29,800
-[thunder rumbling]
-[rain pattering]
460
00:25:56,567 --> 00:25:58,867
[Todd] We've really got to
figure out this mud.
461
00:25:58,867 --> 00:26:02,166
You know, these inspectors
are breathing down our necks.
462
00:26:02,166 --> 00:26:05,233
You guys realize if you do
the math under that mud,
463
00:26:05,233 --> 00:26:08,567
there's probably a million
dollars right along that edge.
464
00:26:08,567 --> 00:26:11,266
-Yeah.
-I mean, that puts us
over the hump.
465
00:26:11,266 --> 00:26:13,533
If we don't do something
drastic,
466
00:26:13,533 --> 00:26:16,100
-we're going to lose
everything.
-There's a lot, yeah.
467
00:26:16,100 --> 00:26:19,233
We got to treat it like
a landside, like on 101.
468
00:26:19,233 --> 00:26:21,266
This is our mountain
right here.
469
00:26:21,266 --> 00:26:23,266
Our pay is out here.
470
00:26:23,266 --> 00:26:27,667
Cowboy Carl,
he's a 30-year excavation guy,
471
00:26:27,667 --> 00:26:29,967
and so he knows his stuff.
472
00:26:29,967 --> 00:26:34,667
When Highway 101 was hit by
a huge mudslide,
473
00:26:34,667 --> 00:26:38,467
Carl was really instrumental
in clearing that slide.
474
00:26:38,467 --> 00:26:41,333
So his expertise in mud
is actually
475
00:26:41,333 --> 00:26:43,266
going to come in handy
right now.
476
00:26:44,367 --> 00:26:46,567
[Carl] It's the same principle
as the mud pumps,
477
00:26:46,567 --> 00:26:49,166
just moving the mud
in a different way.
478
00:26:49,166 --> 00:26:51,967
-Okay.
-This mountain sits right
here. It's a natural slide.
479
00:26:51,967 --> 00:26:54,734
We have a ditch
that goes along here.
480
00:26:54,734 --> 00:26:58,166
Then we have our pay is
out here, frozen.
481
00:26:58,166 --> 00:27:01,166
Gravity goes downhill.
This is water leak.
482
00:27:01,166 --> 00:27:04,100
We build a little trough
along this side,
483
00:27:04,100 --> 00:27:07,767
Andy's fast with the dozer,
really fast.
484
00:27:07,767 --> 00:27:12,000
He takes all that top stuff,
pushes it down here.
485
00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:14,233
That exposes all this pay.
486
00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:20,467
And stop the bleeding.
487
00:27:20,467 --> 00:27:23,066
And we can do it in a day
instead of two weeks.
488
00:27:24,266 --> 00:27:26,467
[narrator] Carl's plan
is to build a trough,
489
00:27:26,467 --> 00:27:29,867
a long, narrow channel,
to direct the mud downhill
490
00:27:29,867 --> 00:27:33,266
to the edge of the cut,
where it can be safely stored.
491
00:27:33,266 --> 00:27:36,767
Once the trough is complete,
Andy will use the dozer
492
00:27:36,767 --> 00:27:38,367
to push the mud through it,
493
00:27:38,367 --> 00:27:41,266
re-exposing the rich pay dirt
in the cut
494
00:27:41,266 --> 00:27:43,934
so the team can get back
to sluicing.
495
00:27:43,934 --> 00:27:46,467
But that's assuming
the inspectors don't flag
496
00:27:46,467 --> 00:27:48,900
other unanticipated problems.
497
00:27:50,033 --> 00:27:51,667
And like what Carl said,
you've got
498
00:27:51,667 --> 00:27:53,233
your overburdened mountain,
499
00:27:53,233 --> 00:27:56,567
which is your wall,
so it's not going
to ooze that way.
500
00:27:56,567 --> 00:27:58,266
There's a little bit of water
coming down.
501
00:27:58,266 --> 00:28:00,333
We just leave it right
in the ditch.
502
00:28:00,333 --> 00:28:02,667
Everything's just going to
keep oozing into that trough.
503
00:28:02,667 --> 00:28:04,033
It's just going to be water.
504
00:28:04,033 --> 00:28:06,767
You get that trough working,
I mean, it'll work just
like a canal.
505
00:28:06,767 --> 00:28:09,333
Once that stuff starts going,
it'll just run down there.
506
00:28:09,333 --> 00:28:11,533
You think we got enough room
to hold all of that?
507
00:28:11,533 --> 00:28:13,634
We have plenty of room.
This should hold.
508
00:28:13,634 --> 00:28:17,100
I say we take the Hail Mary
like this and go for it.
509
00:28:17,100 --> 00:28:19,033
You're the ultimate
decision, Andy.
510
00:28:19,033 --> 00:28:20,634
-What do you think?
-I like it.
511
00:28:20,634 --> 00:28:22,266
You know, the problem
is at this point,
512
00:28:22,266 --> 00:28:26,634
we're 900 feet short of what
our goal was with the cut.
513
00:28:26,634 --> 00:28:28,467
This will get us every
square inch,
514
00:28:28,467 --> 00:28:30,233
and like what Carl
was saying, too.
515
00:28:30,233 --> 00:28:33,166
We're running out of time
for if they're getting thawed.
516
00:28:33,166 --> 00:28:37,333
So it's like, I don't know
a faster way to do it.
517
00:28:37,333 --> 00:28:38,634
You know,
we've tried a lot of
518
00:28:38,634 --> 00:28:40,333
different ways to handle
this mud.
519
00:28:40,333 --> 00:28:43,100
We keep eating away at it
every day,
520
00:28:43,100 --> 00:28:45,266
but we just got to get it
out of here.
I think it'll work.
521
00:28:45,266 --> 00:28:48,333
Basically, our whole season
is on Cowboy Carl's idea.
522
00:28:48,333 --> 00:28:49,367
Yep.
523
00:28:50,100 --> 00:28:51,400
Newest guy here.
524
00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:53,100
Okay.
525
00:28:53,567 --> 00:28:56,066
We're going to call this
Operation 101.
526
00:28:58,667 --> 00:29:00,333
How do you like it, Carl?
527
00:29:00,333 --> 00:29:02,300
-It will work.
-This will move the mud.
528
00:29:02,867 --> 00:29:04,066
It'll move.
529
00:29:04,066 --> 00:29:06,367
It'll move it fast
and efficiently.
530
00:29:06,367 --> 00:29:07,300
So this is it.
531
00:29:07,300 --> 00:29:09,634
This is the pay dirt
for the whole season.
532
00:29:09,634 --> 00:29:13,800
We got to get every square
foot of that pay out of there.
533
00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:14,734
All right.
534
00:29:14,734 --> 00:29:16,734
Operation 101, Carl.
535
00:29:16,734 --> 00:29:17,767
Here we go.
536
00:29:17,767 --> 00:29:19,700
-[Andy] Let's get her done.
-Let's get to work.
537
00:29:20,266 --> 00:29:21,500
Yes.
538
00:29:21,967 --> 00:29:24,266
[thunder rumbling]
539
00:29:35,166 --> 00:29:38,300
I'll just check my fluids,
do my pre-check on the truck.
540
00:29:39,266 --> 00:29:40,667
I'm not going to be
the guy that
541
00:29:40,667 --> 00:29:42,367
gets in here and blows up
a motor.
542
00:29:43,767 --> 00:29:46,467
We're going to be running
these things pretty hard
today.
543
00:29:46,467 --> 00:29:47,767
And they're nice pieces
of equipment.
544
00:29:47,767 --> 00:29:49,934
I want to keep them that way.
545
00:29:49,934 --> 00:29:52,266
Sparky and I are going
to be hauling all
the excess mud
546
00:29:52,266 --> 00:29:54,367
that Carl digs out
so we can build the trough.
547
00:29:54,367 --> 00:29:56,266
But we have to make sure
that these vehicles
548
00:29:56,266 --> 00:29:58,767
are up to the task of
dealing with the rain.
549
00:29:58,767 --> 00:30:02,000
We really don't have time for
any setbacks at this point.
550
00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,233
This really is our last chance
to get rid of the mud
551
00:30:04,233 --> 00:30:05,667
from the cut
and get to the good pay dirt
552
00:30:05,667 --> 00:30:07,367
if we want to reach our goal.
553
00:30:19,367 --> 00:30:22,667
[narrator]
Carl's plan is to dig a trough
along the edge of the cut.
554
00:30:22,667 --> 00:30:25,333
He'll then load Sterling
and Sparky with the mud
555
00:30:25,333 --> 00:30:28,767
he's removing
so they can haul it
a safe distance
556
00:30:28,767 --> 00:30:30,400
from the valuable pay dirt.
557
00:30:33,667 --> 00:30:35,700
All right, 10-4.
558
00:30:41,166 --> 00:30:43,066
All right, easy does it.
559
00:30:45,100 --> 00:30:48,333
So Cowboy Carl's got a plan
to save the cut.
560
00:30:48,333 --> 00:30:50,467
You know, at first
we were using mud pumps,
561
00:30:50,467 --> 00:30:53,734
but I just had a feeling
it was not going to work out.
562
00:30:53,734 --> 00:30:56,333
So Carl's got an idea
of doing a trough
563
00:30:56,333 --> 00:30:58,867
and basically
just leading all this mud,
564
00:30:58,867 --> 00:31:02,033
the top layer,
down into this trough
565
00:31:02,033 --> 00:31:03,567
so we can get to the pay.
566
00:31:03,567 --> 00:31:05,567
And I really think
that's going to work.
567
00:31:15,767 --> 00:31:19,000
Hey, Ron, do you want me
to nose down there
or back down there?
568
00:31:32,967 --> 00:31:36,667
I've done this before in
a different situation,
569
00:31:36,667 --> 00:31:39,166
on a mudslide on a highway.
570
00:31:39,166 --> 00:31:41,100
And we kind of had
the same deal.
571
00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:42,300
We had a big hole.
572
00:31:42,300 --> 00:31:46,567
We just made us a dozer slot,
pushed it down in the slot.
573
00:31:46,567 --> 00:31:50,667
We used barriers and rocks
to stop it,
574
00:31:50,667 --> 00:31:53,834
but we got frozen tundra
and sand,
575
00:31:53,834 --> 00:31:55,667
which will work the same way.
576
00:31:58,834 --> 00:32:00,266
That'll work, Sterling.
577
00:32:13,066 --> 00:32:14,867
[Andy] So,
I think this is working.
578
00:32:14,867 --> 00:32:16,600
I think your idea
is working good.
579
00:32:17,133 --> 00:32:18,467
I'm going to start
pushing mud.
580
00:32:18,467 --> 00:32:19,867
You keep digging that trough.
581
00:32:20,467 --> 00:32:21,667
[Carl] All right, sounds good.
582
00:32:21,667 --> 00:32:23,300
[Andy] Okay,
I'll clean this up.
583
00:32:27,166 --> 00:32:30,767
I think Carl's plan will work,
because it's liquid mud.
584
00:32:30,767 --> 00:32:33,367
Push it downhill,
it'll go downhill.
585
00:32:34,667 --> 00:32:36,867
Everything will just kind of
keep oozing on the trough.
586
00:32:36,867 --> 00:32:39,367
And I'll just keep shoving
all this material down.
587
00:32:39,367 --> 00:32:41,734
And it'll just ooze out
into this big hole.
588
00:32:41,734 --> 00:32:42,667
And we'll get most of it.
589
00:32:42,667 --> 00:32:46,367
We'll probably have six
to 10 inches of slop
590
00:32:46,367 --> 00:32:49,266
still on top that
we'll just mix in
with the pay.
591
00:32:49,266 --> 00:32:50,367
And it won't be a big deal.
592
00:32:50,367 --> 00:32:52,800
It'll go right through
that plant. We'll just run it.
593
00:32:54,467 --> 00:32:56,100
[Carl] The solution that
I think that
594
00:32:56,100 --> 00:32:58,100
I've come up with,
with Andy dozing,
595
00:32:58,100 --> 00:32:59,967
he's a very good
dozer operator,
596
00:32:59,967 --> 00:33:01,200
and we have a natural slot.
597
00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,667
One side we got the mountain,
the other side we got ice,
598
00:33:04,667 --> 00:33:07,166
and it's about the dozer
width, and as fast as
599
00:33:07,166 --> 00:33:10,367
he can doze, I think we can
push it off in a day,
600
00:33:10,367 --> 00:33:14,166
and that'll get us to the pay,
and he'll be able to rip it.
601
00:33:14,166 --> 00:33:17,066
Once he gets it ripped,
we'll be able to load it
and haul it.
602
00:33:17,934 --> 00:33:19,667
[Andy] Carl had a great idea.
603
00:33:19,667 --> 00:33:21,266
We're getting rid of the mud.
604
00:33:21,266 --> 00:33:23,667
This might actually work,
and if it does,
605
00:33:23,667 --> 00:33:24,634
it'll be a huge relief.
606
00:33:35,367 --> 00:33:38,100
All right, Chambo,
let's get the skid steer,
607
00:33:38,100 --> 00:33:39,266
wherever that's at.
608
00:33:39,266 --> 00:33:43,133
My name is Chamberlain,
also known as Chambo
around here.
609
00:33:43,133 --> 00:33:44,467
I am from Oregon.
610
00:33:44,467 --> 00:33:46,266
Been friends with Todd
for a while,
611
00:33:46,266 --> 00:33:47,533
Hunter for a little bit.
612
00:33:47,533 --> 00:33:50,233
Okay, sit pretty right
in front of that welder.
613
00:33:50,233 --> 00:33:51,433
I'm going to get a chain.
614
00:33:51,433 --> 00:33:53,667
We're going to fly this thing
right in front of that Ford,
615
00:33:53,667 --> 00:33:55,533
and we're going
to start cutting up, okay?
616
00:33:55,533 --> 00:33:57,767
I have never been to a mine
before, you know?
617
00:33:57,767 --> 00:33:59,634
Never even seen big machinery
618
00:33:59,634 --> 00:34:01,066
like this in person,
to be honest.
619
00:34:01,066 --> 00:34:03,200
But I'm enjoying it, though.
I'm learning a lot.
620
00:34:03,200 --> 00:34:04,300
What are you doing?
621
00:34:05,667 --> 00:34:07,667
-We're going to get that.
-Oh.
622
00:34:09,233 --> 00:34:10,066
Come on, buddy.
623
00:34:10,066 --> 00:34:11,533
I thought we were grabbing
the plate.
624
00:34:11,533 --> 00:34:13,333
When else am I going
to get the opportunity
625
00:34:13,333 --> 00:34:16,000
to come out to
the middle of Alaska
626
00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:18,934
in the middle of nowhere
and do something like this?
627
00:34:18,934 --> 00:34:20,133
Like, I'm going to look back
on this
628
00:34:20,133 --> 00:34:23,867
and tell people
I was gold mining in Alaska
when I was 20.
629
00:34:23,867 --> 00:34:25,600
You know what I mean?
Who else can say that?
630
00:34:26,667 --> 00:34:28,000
Okay, you're good.
631
00:34:38,300 --> 00:34:40,934
[Carl] I'm not exactly sure
how much pay is here,
632
00:34:40,934 --> 00:34:44,266
but there's a lot of pay.
It's about two feet deep,
633
00:34:44,266 --> 00:34:47,367
and it's probably an acre
or half an acre of ground,
634
00:34:47,367 --> 00:34:51,066
so I can't tell you how much
pay is in there exactly.
635
00:34:51,066 --> 00:34:52,800
We'll know after
it goes through the plant,
636
00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:54,066
but there's a lot of pay,
637
00:34:54,066 --> 00:34:55,500
and it's been rich,
this ground,
638
00:34:55,500 --> 00:34:57,300
so we don't want
to leave it behind.
639
00:34:57,300 --> 00:35:00,066
[narrator] Carl's plan
to remove the mud
from the Lost Cut
640
00:35:00,066 --> 00:35:02,934
is nearly complete,
and the crew has done it
641
00:35:02,934 --> 00:35:05,066
in just under 24 hours.
642
00:35:09,300 --> 00:35:12,200
We're getting rid of the mud,
closing the gravel.
643
00:35:25,634 --> 00:35:27,767
[Hunter] Hey, Todd,
that's the last of the mud.
644
00:35:27,767 --> 00:35:30,166
We're finally ready
to start bringing pay.
645
00:35:30,900 --> 00:35:32,934
All right, guys,
let's fire it up.
646
00:35:34,266 --> 00:35:37,500
-[motor whirring]
-Everybody clear on firing
the Black Pearl.
647
00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:44,500
Ready to go. Go ahead.
648
00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:48,333
[Todd] Here comes the water.
649
00:35:54,033 --> 00:35:55,934
So we're back up
and running after
650
00:35:55,934 --> 00:35:59,166
a tough week of inspectors
and mud.
651
00:35:59,166 --> 00:36:00,233
And you know what?
652
00:36:00,233 --> 00:36:02,867
Watching the trommel spin
again, it's awesome.
653
00:36:02,867 --> 00:36:04,333
It's a good feeling.
654
00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:10,900
Any pay you guys can just
stack in the stockpile there.
655
00:36:11,467 --> 00:36:13,166
The cut looks great, Carl.
656
00:36:13,166 --> 00:36:15,100
-Good job.
-Thank you.
657
00:36:15,100 --> 00:36:17,700
[Sparky] It feels good to
finally be back on track.
658
00:36:17,700 --> 00:36:19,500
It's been obstacles
and obstacles,
659
00:36:19,500 --> 00:36:21,600
you know,
constantly during the season.
660
00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:23,300
It's not easy being on
the mine,
661
00:36:23,300 --> 00:36:24,867
but now we're back on track.
662
00:36:24,867 --> 00:36:26,433
Now it's time to get
that money
663
00:36:26,433 --> 00:36:28,500
and start processing
some gold, baby.
664
00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:47,567
It's standing right in
the worst spot to stand.
665
00:36:47,567 --> 00:36:49,333
Hey.
666
00:36:49,333 --> 00:36:51,567
You guys, take a screen out,
and you don't,
667
00:36:51,567 --> 00:36:53,900
and you roll it up.
You don't walk on it.
668
00:36:53,900 --> 00:36:54,934
You're walking on it.
669
00:36:54,934 --> 00:36:57,433
You're going to get,
you don't walk in the gold.
670
00:36:57,433 --> 00:36:59,533
After everything that's
happened this week,
671
00:36:59,533 --> 00:37:02,400
all the crazy stuff,
we actually got some time
672
00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:03,533
to do some mining.
673
00:37:03,533 --> 00:37:06,533
So we're going to pull
the mats and see what we have.
674
00:37:06,533 --> 00:37:08,200
We kind of forgot
how to do this.
675
00:37:10,433 --> 00:37:12,634
You don't know what you got
until you do a cleanup.
676
00:37:12,634 --> 00:37:13,834
So we'll find out.
677
00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:26,400
[Todd] Okay, tell us about
the cut, Andy.
678
00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,700
[Andy] Thanks to Carl
and Operation 101,
679
00:37:28,700 --> 00:37:30,033
we're back to running dirt.
680
00:37:30,033 --> 00:37:32,634
We did lose a couple days
dealing with the mud,
681
00:37:32,634 --> 00:37:35,300
so we weren't able to run
the amount of dirt
that we would have liked.
682
00:37:37,333 --> 00:37:39,500
So we also had
an inspector here.
683
00:37:40,500 --> 00:37:43,500
But we haven't heard from them
since they left the mine.
684
00:37:44,333 --> 00:37:46,400
We're still mining at
this point, anyway.
685
00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:48,233
So I don't know.
686
00:37:48,233 --> 00:37:49,300
Long or short, I don't know.
687
00:37:49,300 --> 00:37:52,533
I feel uneasy about it,
but there's nothing specific
688
00:37:52,533 --> 00:37:54,266
to fix or anything
at this point.
689
00:37:55,233 --> 00:37:57,700
You know, anytime
there's an inspector,
690
00:37:57,700 --> 00:38:00,300
one could walk through,
everything would be fine.
691
00:38:00,300 --> 00:38:02,233
One's gonna see all
the problems in the world.
692
00:38:02,233 --> 00:38:04,734
So, I don't know,
I'm a little bit nervous
about it,
693
00:38:04,734 --> 00:38:07,433
but if we're still running,
we're still running.
694
00:38:09,166 --> 00:38:11,634
It's been a big slowdown
this week.
695
00:38:11,634 --> 00:38:13,867
I guarantee you
we're not going to be in
696
00:38:13,867 --> 00:38:15,800
triple digits,
but we did get some gold.
697
00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:17,233
Dad, what do we got?
698
00:38:17,233 --> 00:38:19,467
[narrator] This is the sixth
weigh-in of the season,
699
00:38:19,467 --> 00:38:22,367
and the team is far away
from reaching their goal.
700
00:38:22,367 --> 00:38:26,166
Their current total is
495.1 ounces,
701
00:38:26,166 --> 00:38:30,400
and they need 3,033 ounces
to reach their goal.
702
00:38:33,300 --> 00:38:37,967
20, 30, 40.
703
00:38:39,533 --> 00:38:43,433
48, 49, 50, 52,
704
00:38:43,900 --> 00:38:50,333
54, 55, 55.4.
705
00:38:50,333 --> 00:38:52,700
That is what it is.
That's where we're at.
706
00:38:54,100 --> 00:38:57,400
And there was a time when
we did 55 ounces
707
00:38:57,400 --> 00:38:59,767
-and we'd be doing cartwheels
because we'd be so happy.
-Yeah. Yeah.
708
00:38:59,767 --> 00:39:02,634
It is quite a bit normally,
but not when you're going
709
00:39:02,634 --> 00:39:05,233
for 3,033 ounces.
710
00:39:05,233 --> 00:39:06,900
It's not going to cut it.
711
00:39:08,300 --> 00:39:10,900
We know the potential,
because we've seen it.
712
00:39:10,900 --> 00:39:12,567
We had several clean outs
in the hundreds,
713
00:39:12,567 --> 00:39:15,867
and I want it to be there
as much as everybody else
does, too.
714
00:39:15,867 --> 00:39:18,667
But you know,
with trying to get rid of
the mud out of the cut,
715
00:39:18,667 --> 00:39:21,533
I'm not really super
surprised that
716
00:39:21,533 --> 00:39:23,900
it's not triple digits
this time.
717
00:39:23,900 --> 00:39:26,634
Yeah, we kind of got spoiled
there for a minute, huh?
718
00:39:27,166 --> 00:39:29,033
Now we've got
a few down weeks,
719
00:39:29,033 --> 00:39:32,200
and it's going to be a grind.
720
00:39:32,200 --> 00:39:35,800
3,033 slipping away.
721
00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:37,700
You know, Thurber,
what's our total?
722
00:39:38,233 --> 00:39:41,533
550.8.
723
00:39:42,433 --> 00:39:45,000
I'm not going to call it yet
on this goal,
724
00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:48,400
but next week's got to be
a good one
725
00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:52,266
or we're definitely not going
to hit that goal.
726
00:39:52,266 --> 00:39:56,700
[narrator] As of now, the mine
has reached 550.5 ounces,
727
00:39:56,700 --> 00:40:02,033
but they'll need 2,482.5 more
if they want to hit their goal
728
00:40:02,033 --> 00:40:05,266
of 3,033 ounces.
729
00:40:05,266 --> 00:40:07,600
[Todd] Just do whatever
you got to do, Andy.
730
00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:10,100
Even if we've got to work
a few more hours, let's do it.
731
00:40:10,100 --> 00:40:12,667
Let's get this gold count up.
732
00:40:12,667 --> 00:40:14,567
We'll get the most we possibly
can get out of it.
733
00:40:14,567 --> 00:40:15,800
Keep the plant running.
734
00:40:16,400 --> 00:40:21,233
At the end of the day,
we're only accountable
735
00:40:21,233 --> 00:40:24,467
for the effort,
not the outcome.
736
00:40:24,934 --> 00:40:27,266
So if we put out the effort,
737
00:40:27,266 --> 00:40:30,066
the outcome is really out
of our hands,
738
00:40:30,066 --> 00:40:33,233
and we're going to get
the gold that God has
for us, period.
739
00:40:33,967 --> 00:40:35,700
But let's put the effort in.
740
00:40:35,700 --> 00:40:37,567
-Sound good, guys?
-Yeah.
741
00:40:45,867 --> 00:40:47,266
What's going on?
742
00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:51,600
It looks like the inspectors
are back on the mine.
743
00:40:53,867 --> 00:40:55,066
This makes me nervous.
744
00:40:55,066 --> 00:40:56,700
I don't know how this is
going to go.
745
00:40:58,433 --> 00:41:01,834
I just hope this doesn't throw
a wrench in our plans.
746
00:41:04,533 --> 00:41:06,634
With the kind of crew
that I have,
747
00:41:06,634 --> 00:41:09,033
we'll be able to tackle
anything that comes.
748
00:41:10,333 --> 00:41:12,900
All right, so I hate
to break it to you,
749
00:41:12,900 --> 00:41:16,000
but you cannot open
any more of that cut.
750
00:41:19,467 --> 00:41:22,166
That's going to cost me
millions of dollars.
751
00:41:22,967 --> 00:41:24,300
I am not asking.