1
00:00:00,467 --> 00:00:01,834
[wind blowing]
2
00:00:02,467 --> 00:00:04,800
[Todd] Ooh.
It's getting real cold.
3
00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,166
-[blows]
-[narrator] As winter
tightens its grip
4
00:00:07,166 --> 00:00:09,066
on the Mammoth Valley mine...
5
00:00:09,066 --> 00:00:10,900
The winter is really
starting to set in.
6
00:00:10,900 --> 00:00:14,000
[Todd] The season
could end pretty quickly.
7
00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,500
[narrator] ...time
is running out for
the Hoffman crew
8
00:00:16,500 --> 00:00:19,367
to hit their 1,023-ounce goal.
9
00:00:19,367 --> 00:00:21,767
Let's try to get
as much gold as we can.
10
00:00:21,767 --> 00:00:23,266
[on comms] Keep going, guys.
11
00:00:23,266 --> 00:00:24,867
-[air hissing]
-[Dakota speaking]
12
00:00:24,867 --> 00:00:26,066
[Sterling] Oh, [bleep]!
13
00:00:26,066 --> 00:00:27,867
[narrator]
But when disaster strikes...
14
00:00:27,867 --> 00:00:30,100
-[air hissing]
-[Todd on comms]
What's going on down there?
15
00:00:30,100 --> 00:00:31,967
The Black Pearl motor
caught on fire.
16
00:00:31,967 --> 00:00:32,900
[Todd exhales]
17
00:00:32,900 --> 00:00:33,867
[Tater] Whoa!
18
00:00:33,867 --> 00:00:35,467
[narrator] ...veteran miner
Jack Hoffman...
19
00:00:35,467 --> 00:00:37,300
If we raise the hopper,
20
00:00:37,300 --> 00:00:40,600
we can double the dirt
coming out of this one.
21
00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:42,800
[narrator] ...must re-engineer
his test plants.
22
00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,033
[Sparky]
All right, we're lit up.
23
00:00:45,033 --> 00:00:48,467
[narrator] And as mine boss
Todd orders round
the clock mining...
24
00:00:48,467 --> 00:00:50,033
[Todd speaking]
25
00:00:51,166 --> 00:00:54,867
[narrator]
...his crew asks if risks
to man and machine...
26
00:00:54,867 --> 00:00:56,800
[Hunter]
I've run a night shift
before on this mine,
27
00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:58,700
and it's hard, you can't see.
28
00:00:58,700 --> 00:01:01,467
-[thuds]
-Oh, [bleep]!
29
00:01:01,467 --> 00:01:05,400
[narrator] ...are worth
the gold they're struggling
to put in their pockets.
30
00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:07,333
Let's hope it all pays off.
31
00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,634
[Todd] Ooh!
It's getting real cold.
32
00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:33,700
Alaska's weather changes
are drastically different
33
00:01:33,700 --> 00:01:35,600
than the lower 48.
34
00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,266
Quite literally,
you can look like
spring one week
35
00:01:38,266 --> 00:01:39,900
and then look
like autumn the next,
36
00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:41,467
and we're heading
towards a cold front.
37
00:01:41,467 --> 00:01:44,266
It's getting pretty mean,
like it'll get to the point
38
00:01:44,266 --> 00:01:47,166
where you won't be able
to feel your hands
in the morning.
39
00:01:47,166 --> 00:01:52,000
That means, uh,
possibly our season
could end pretty quickly.
40
00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,600
[cranes calling]
41
00:01:59,367 --> 00:02:02,166
Once you start seeing
the Sandhill cranes,
42
00:02:02,166 --> 00:02:05,567
then you've got about 10 days
and you're done.
Done sluicing.
43
00:02:05,567 --> 00:02:07,367
You know,
it's starting to get cold.
44
00:02:07,367 --> 00:02:08,767
The thunder
is starting to change.
45
00:02:08,767 --> 00:02:10,367
Color's different.
46
00:02:10,367 --> 00:02:14,000
My plan is just
to keep churning through
this plateau pay dirt,
47
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,200
put as much
through the plant as I can.
48
00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:18,000
This is when guys start
49
00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,233
-itching to go home.
-[blows]
50
00:02:20,767 --> 00:02:21,734
[exhales deeply]
51
00:02:21,734 --> 00:02:23,667
But if we could get
a big win this week,
52
00:02:23,667 --> 00:02:27,066
maybe even triple digits
in this plant, oh, man,
53
00:02:27,066 --> 00:02:30,033
that would put a lot of wind
back in everybody's sails.
54
00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,900
[Hunter] We're just
trying to make the most
of the situation we're in.
55
00:02:42,500 --> 00:02:44,166
It's getting real cold.
56
00:02:44,166 --> 00:02:45,266
You're waking up
in the morning.
57
00:02:45,266 --> 00:02:46,700
Everything's iced up.
58
00:02:47,567 --> 00:02:49,934
We got really lucky
that we found the plateau.
59
00:02:51,367 --> 00:02:54,700
[narrator]
After the state of Alaska
shut down their open-cut mine,
60
00:02:54,700 --> 00:02:58,166
Hunter discovered
decades-old pay dirt
at the plateau,
61
00:02:58,166 --> 00:03:00,367
several miles
from their operation.
62
00:03:00,367 --> 00:03:01,767
[Hunter] This all looks
like thawed pay.
63
00:03:01,767 --> 00:03:03,467
This is what
we're looking for.
64
00:03:03,467 --> 00:03:05,533
It's just not
in the most convenient spot.
65
00:03:06,500 --> 00:03:07,667
[narrator] For the Hoffman's,
66
00:03:07,667 --> 00:03:11,800
the last best hope for hitting
their 1,023-ounce gold,
67
00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,266
and rewarding the crew
with a gold bonus,
68
00:03:14,266 --> 00:03:16,667
means racing
the plateau pay dirt
69
00:03:16,667 --> 00:03:20,000
back to the Holy Roller
and Black Pearl wash plants
70
00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:22,400
before the equipment freezes.
71
00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:25,600
[Hunter]
I'm hoping that, you know,
72
00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,100
it pays off
because we're out of time,
73
00:03:28,100 --> 00:03:31,834
and otherwise
it's just another season
where we come up short.
74
00:03:32,266 --> 00:03:33,133
And I don't want that.
75
00:03:37,867 --> 00:03:40,000
Give me, um,
ten shots in the U-joint,
76
00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:41,667
ten shots in the slip joint
77
00:03:41,667 --> 00:03:43,300
-on the whole
drive line. Okay?
-Okay.
78
00:03:43,300 --> 00:03:46,000
Just start from one end
and go all the way forward.
79
00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:47,700
Don't skip around
or you'll miss some.
80
00:03:47,700 --> 00:03:49,867
-Yeah, I'll start right here
and work back.
-Yep.
81
00:03:49,867 --> 00:03:52,967
We're winterizing
our heavy equipment today.
82
00:03:52,967 --> 00:03:56,166
It's important because
when it gets really,
really, really cold,
83
00:03:56,166 --> 00:03:59,667
the fluids in this machine
will expand and break stuff.
84
00:03:59,667 --> 00:04:01,100
So we want to make sure that
85
00:04:01,100 --> 00:04:03,100
it's all taken care of
before winter hits.
86
00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:04,333
[whirring]
87
00:04:07,100 --> 00:04:09,000
Nice.
88
00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:13,100
So we're just making sure
that they're hit with grease
before it freezes.
89
00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:15,233
That's part
of the winterization process.
90
00:04:19,900 --> 00:04:22,834
[Sparky]
Right now I'm draining
the water separator.
91
00:04:23,900 --> 00:04:27,033
This dirty diesel that
would filter out the water...
92
00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:29,500
We're just
gonna dispose of it.
93
00:04:30,567 --> 00:04:32,400
Right now we're winterizing
the rock trucks
94
00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,400
'cause it's a fatal winter.
95
00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,200
That will destroy
every piece of equipment
if you don't do it right.
96
00:04:38,900 --> 00:04:40,300
Dude, it's freezing.
97
00:04:41,567 --> 00:04:43,266
My hands are like, numb.
98
00:04:43,266 --> 00:04:47,133
This is a testament
to our audacious youth. So...
99
00:04:47,500 --> 00:04:48,600
There you have it.
100
00:04:49,066 --> 00:04:50,600
Well, we're getting there.
101
00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,000
[Sparky] Yeah.
This is it, man.
102
00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:53,066
Your last season.
103
00:04:53,066 --> 00:04:55,166
-[Jack] Well,
yeah, you know...
-Let's be real.
104
00:04:55,166 --> 00:04:56,500
You know how it is.
105
00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:58,567
Just gotta...
106
00:04:58,567 --> 00:05:01,867
Just gotta
keep plugging along
and do what you can, you know?
107
00:05:01,867 --> 00:05:04,266
Hey, man, you know what?
These little setbacks...
108
00:05:04,266 --> 00:05:06,000
-[Jack] Yeah.
-...only riles us up
109
00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:07,500
for bigger comebacks.
110
00:05:09,300 --> 00:05:11,133
[Todd on comms]
Let's get back to it, boys.
111
00:05:15,367 --> 00:05:17,600
[wind blowing]
112
00:05:33,367 --> 00:05:35,767
Since the, uh,
Lost Cut ran out,
113
00:05:35,767 --> 00:05:38,900
we just had to run this,
uh, pay from the plateau.
114
00:05:40,166 --> 00:05:42,200
This could be
our last shot right now.
115
00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,900
The only pay dirt we have.
So hopefully it's packed.
116
00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,400
Me and the guys
have been pushing ourselves
really hard
117
00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,467
the last few weeks.
118
00:05:56,467 --> 00:05:59,667
I'm on board.
I think everybody's on board.
119
00:05:59,667 --> 00:06:01,567
I really hope
we have a big weigh in
120
00:06:01,567 --> 00:06:04,834
'cause if it's bad,
I want to go home
and see my dog.
121
00:06:07,166 --> 00:06:08,934
[machines whirring]
122
00:06:20,266 --> 00:06:21,700
[crackling]
123
00:06:23,367 --> 00:06:24,200
[Dakota speaking]
124
00:06:25,667 --> 00:06:26,600
[Sterling speaking]
125
00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:30,000
[Dakota speaking]
126
00:06:34,700 --> 00:06:36,000
[Sterling] Oh, [bleep]!
127
00:06:44,867 --> 00:06:46,000
Oh, [bleep]!
128
00:06:49,100 --> 00:06:49,700
[bleep]
129
00:06:50,767 --> 00:06:51,600
[on comms] Shut it down.
130
00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:55,200
[bleep]
131
00:06:56,567 --> 00:06:57,400
[coughs]
132
00:06:59,900 --> 00:07:01,900
[Dakota] Holy [bleep]!
133
00:07:01,900 --> 00:07:04,166
-[comms beep]
-[Dakota] Tater. Tater.
You got a copy?
134
00:07:04,166 --> 00:07:05,533
[Tater on comms]
Yeah, go ahead.
135
00:07:05,533 --> 00:07:07,300
[Dakota] Hey, we need you
to come take a look
at the Black Pearl.
136
00:07:07,300 --> 00:07:08,600
It's on fire.
137
00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,000
[Tater] 10-4.
138
00:07:16,100 --> 00:07:17,400
[Sparky] I see
a little bit of smoke.
139
00:07:19,367 --> 00:07:21,667
Dude, what did Sterling do?
140
00:07:21,667 --> 00:07:23,100
I just heard over the radio
141
00:07:23,100 --> 00:07:24,767
that the Black Pearl
is on fire.
142
00:07:24,767 --> 00:07:27,000
I don't know
exactly what that means
143
00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,233
or what the damage is,
but we're gonna go
check it out.
144
00:07:38,300 --> 00:07:40,467
What do you guys got going on?
145
00:07:40,467 --> 00:07:42,600
The motor is on fire
when I came over here.
146
00:07:43,367 --> 00:07:44,700
Well, that's not good.
147
00:07:45,100 --> 00:07:46,934
Nice work putting it out.
148
00:07:49,100 --> 00:07:50,200
What's going on?
149
00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,900
The, uh, motor caught on fire
while we were running.
150
00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:54,867
-What?
-Yeah.
151
00:07:54,867 --> 00:07:57,300
[Hunter]
Well, what's burnt on it
and how do we fix it?
152
00:07:57,667 --> 00:07:58,967
[Tater] It ain't, uh...
153
00:07:58,967 --> 00:08:02,133
Its wiring's burnt,
hoses are burnt.
154
00:08:02,900 --> 00:08:05,467
[Hunter] Hey, uh, Dad,
you got a copy on here?
155
00:08:05,467 --> 00:08:07,767
[Todd on comms] Hey,
what's going on down there?
156
00:08:07,767 --> 00:08:10,000
The Black Pearl motor
caught on fire.
157
00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:11,634
[Todd] I'll be right down.
158
00:08:17,367 --> 00:08:19,367
Hopefully, everything's okay,
159
00:08:19,367 --> 00:08:21,667
but maybe
something's seized up.
I don't know.
160
00:08:21,667 --> 00:08:24,667
I don't really need
another problem at this point.
161
00:08:24,667 --> 00:08:26,033
Oh, yeah.
162
00:08:27,266 --> 00:08:30,233
It's definitely got hot.
I see smoke.
163
00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:34,800
Tater. How bad is it?
164
00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:35,500
[Tater] It's not good.
165
00:08:35,500 --> 00:08:37,400
It got hot. It's been on fire.
166
00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,066
[whistles] Still,
you can still feel it.
167
00:08:40,066 --> 00:08:41,900
-[Tater] Yeah.
-[Todd] Holy cow.
168
00:08:41,900 --> 00:08:44,700
-Well, some
of this stuff looks okay.
-[Tater] Yeah.
169
00:08:44,700 --> 00:08:46,667
Yeah, some of it does.
We've got to figure out why
170
00:08:46,667 --> 00:08:48,967
-it caught fire.
-Could be the head.
You think it got hot and...
171
00:08:48,967 --> 00:08:50,900
-[Tater] Yeah. Yeah.
-...warped the head or...
172
00:08:51,767 --> 00:08:54,166
It's hard to determine
till I take it apart.
173
00:08:54,166 --> 00:08:56,800
It obviously got some kind
of a leak somewhere,
174
00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:58,033
-and it caught that on fire.
-[Tater] Mm-hmm.
175
00:08:58,033 --> 00:09:01,166
Maybe something squirted
up here on the turbo.
I don't know.
176
00:09:01,166 --> 00:09:04,367
It looks like some oil
or something was on it. But...
177
00:09:04,367 --> 00:09:06,834
[groans and bleeps]
178
00:09:07,367 --> 00:09:08,967
What are we looking at here?
179
00:09:08,967 --> 00:09:11,133
Uh, I won't know
until we take it apart.
180
00:09:17,300 --> 00:09:18,867
[Todd]
To say that this summer's
181
00:09:18,867 --> 00:09:20,767
one of the hardest summers
182
00:09:20,767 --> 00:09:22,600
of my life
is an understatement.
183
00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,767
It's been very,
very difficult.
184
00:09:24,767 --> 00:09:26,967
With all the things we had,
and we feel like
185
00:09:26,967 --> 00:09:28,867
we're just fighting
for our life, and...
186
00:09:28,867 --> 00:09:32,500
without the Black Pearl
we're definitely gonna
even have
187
00:09:32,500 --> 00:09:35,066
a hard time
getting even to 1,000 ounces.
188
00:09:35,066 --> 00:09:36,000
I'll tell you what.
189
00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,967
Fiddle with it.
Let's try to clean this up.
190
00:09:38,967 --> 00:09:41,967
Fiddle with it
and then give me a...
Give me a word back.
191
00:09:41,967 --> 00:09:43,767
-Dig into it.
-[Tater] Okay.
192
00:09:43,767 --> 00:09:46,000
Right now, we need
both plants more than ever.
193
00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,200
We're trying to do
a final push, and...
194
00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:49,867
we're just trying
to get out of here
in one piece
195
00:09:49,867 --> 00:09:53,000
and, uh, trying to beat
what we did last year.
196
00:09:53,867 --> 00:09:55,767
And so, you know,
197
00:09:55,767 --> 00:09:57,734
it's another thing
taking the wind
out of our sails.
198
00:09:58,066 --> 00:09:59,000
All right.
199
00:10:02,266 --> 00:10:03,300
[Sterling] Good job, bro.
200
00:10:08,467 --> 00:10:09,767
[Todd]
Without the Black Pearl,
201
00:10:09,767 --> 00:10:11,767
beating, last year's total
202
00:10:11,767 --> 00:10:14,000
is gonna be
pretty much impossible.
203
00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,567
So hopefully Tater
can get this motor fixed.
204
00:10:16,567 --> 00:10:18,066
If he can't think
of something,
205
00:10:18,066 --> 00:10:20,900
these guys are probably gonna
pull out and head home.
206
00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:27,800
[wind blowing]
207
00:10:29,767 --> 00:10:31,800
[Tater] So at this point,
the Black Pearl's dead.
208
00:10:33,266 --> 00:10:35,166
We just had
a motor fire on it.
209
00:10:35,166 --> 00:10:37,867
Now I'm taking
a closer inspection
of the damage
210
00:10:37,867 --> 00:10:39,000
and hoping I can fix it
211
00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,800
so it's not done
for the season.
212
00:10:42,967 --> 00:10:44,533
Oh, [bleep].
213
00:10:46,567 --> 00:10:49,033
I notice there's
a bunch of electronics
that are burned up.
214
00:10:50,500 --> 00:10:53,700
I can work some miracles,
but not this one.
215
00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:56,734
There's no coming back
from that.
216
00:10:59,367 --> 00:11:02,700
[on comms] Guys, uh,
Black Pearl is down
for the season.
217
00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:04,200
[exhales]
218
00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:06,867
[Hunter] As if we haven't
had enough issues.
219
00:11:06,867 --> 00:11:09,667
We have
a catastrophic breakdown
on the Black Pearl.
220
00:11:09,667 --> 00:11:13,367
And, uh, I don't know
what exactly is going on.
221
00:11:13,367 --> 00:11:15,400
Some sort of an oil leak.
Something caused a fire.
222
00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,567
And I don't know how long
it was burning, but...
223
00:11:17,567 --> 00:11:19,734
this might be the end
of the Black Pearl
for this season.
224
00:11:20,567 --> 00:11:22,500
[Todd] This is not good.
225
00:11:26,300 --> 00:11:27,433
[Todd exhales deeply]
226
00:11:32,867 --> 00:11:35,600
Hey. Black Pearl's finished.
227
00:11:36,867 --> 00:11:40,166
Done. There's no time
to get the parts.
228
00:11:40,166 --> 00:11:41,467
She's cooked.
229
00:11:41,467 --> 00:11:42,900
So what happened to it?
230
00:11:43,467 --> 00:11:45,133
The motor fried.
231
00:11:46,100 --> 00:11:49,233
-[Jim] Like, seized up?
-[Todd] Got hot.
232
00:11:50,066 --> 00:11:52,500
Who knows? Who knows
what damage that did.
233
00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:55,467
I can't believe
this happened right now.
I mean,
234
00:11:55,467 --> 00:11:57,800
we've been tested
over and over,
235
00:11:57,800 --> 00:11:59,600
but I don't wanna give up.
236
00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:01,266
I wanna figure out something.
237
00:12:01,266 --> 00:12:03,667
I do, kind of,
have a plan forming
238
00:12:03,667 --> 00:12:06,233
and hopefully,
you know, it works out.
239
00:12:06,767 --> 00:12:08,367
The only thing we could do
240
00:12:08,367 --> 00:12:10,266
is get the Jack Rabbit up.
241
00:12:10,266 --> 00:12:13,867
But as of right now,
it needs to put more
yardage through it.
242
00:12:13,867 --> 00:12:16,467
How many yards an hour
were you running?
243
00:12:16,467 --> 00:12:19,567
We're running it really slow,
about ten yards.
244
00:12:19,567 --> 00:12:22,867
What the Black Pearl
and what the Holy Roller make,
245
00:12:22,867 --> 00:12:24,800
the Jack Rabbit can't do that.
246
00:12:25,266 --> 00:12:26,867
How did this get here?
247
00:12:26,867 --> 00:12:28,400
[Todd] We shifted up, man.
248
00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,100
The Jack Rabbit
is a small wash plant
249
00:12:31,100 --> 00:12:34,867
that my dad built
on his own at home.
250
00:12:34,867 --> 00:12:38,467
So far this season,
we've only been using it
for testing purposes.
251
00:12:38,467 --> 00:12:42,133
We've been running the dirt
that Hunter finds out there
on the claim.
252
00:12:43,467 --> 00:12:46,700
It wasn't built to be used
as a primary wash plant,
253
00:12:46,700 --> 00:12:48,200
but with the Black Pearl down,
254
00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,033
this is what
we need out of it.
We need production.
255
00:12:51,767 --> 00:12:53,300
It's our only option
right now.
256
00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,667
I really need
a big weigh-in this week.
257
00:12:56,667 --> 00:12:59,467
You know what?
We're gonna throw
everything we got at it
258
00:12:59,467 --> 00:13:01,000
to try to make this happen.
259
00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,767
Crank it up
as high as it'll go.
260
00:13:02,767 --> 00:13:04,200
-Whatever it'll take.
-[Jack] Yeah.
261
00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:05,300
[Todd] I'm gonna
need your plan.
262
00:13:05,300 --> 00:13:08,233
I never thought I'd say it,
but we're gonna need it.
263
00:13:08,667 --> 00:13:10,433
Whoo! Yeah.
264
00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:13,066
Okay.
265
00:13:14,467 --> 00:13:18,767
[Todd] It's times like this
where you just really have
to do everything you can
266
00:13:18,767 --> 00:13:21,166
so that you can come home,
whether you win or lose.
267
00:13:21,166 --> 00:13:24,667
But at least you
have done everything possible
268
00:13:24,667 --> 00:13:28,166
that you could
to try to make it a win
for everybody.
269
00:13:28,166 --> 00:13:32,133
So if I gotta run
Jack's little plant full-time,
then we're gonna do it.
270
00:13:38,467 --> 00:13:40,767
[Jack] Okay.
We can't be the Pearl,
271
00:13:40,767 --> 00:13:43,166
but I know
it's not steep enough,
272
00:13:43,166 --> 00:13:45,967
the angle for the hawk.
That's number one.
273
00:13:45,967 --> 00:13:51,100
Number two is I can speed up
the... the shaker plant motor,
274
00:13:51,967 --> 00:13:53,600
get a little bigger hop,
you know,
275
00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:55,734
so material will move faster.
276
00:13:56,667 --> 00:13:57,900
If we don't have
a Black Pearl,
277
00:13:57,900 --> 00:13:59,800
we still have to run material.
278
00:14:00,567 --> 00:14:02,066
Now, it... it comes down...
279
00:14:02,066 --> 00:14:04,000
Boils right down
to this plant.
280
00:14:04,467 --> 00:14:06,600
If we raise the hopper,
281
00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,266
we can, uh, probably double
282
00:14:09,266 --> 00:14:11,300
dirt coming out of this one.
283
00:14:11,667 --> 00:14:12,767
-Okay.
-All right.
284
00:14:12,767 --> 00:14:14,300
-Let's do it.
-Sounds good.
285
00:14:15,667 --> 00:14:18,767
[narrator]
To process more pay dirt
through the Jack Rabbit,
286
00:14:18,767 --> 00:14:23,266
the crew plans to elevate
the wash plants hopper
by 30 degrees.
287
00:14:23,266 --> 00:14:25,567
But moving the hopper
is risky,
288
00:14:25,567 --> 00:14:28,100
as it can easily collide
with the plant
289
00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:29,600
and cause major damage.
290
00:14:30,066 --> 00:14:31,900
Okay. We're good to go.
291
00:14:31,900 --> 00:14:33,567
[Hunter on comms]
All right. Coming up.
292
00:14:33,567 --> 00:14:36,700
[narrator] If that happens,
the team will only have
the Holy Roller
293
00:14:36,700 --> 00:14:39,000
to get them through
the rest of this season.
294
00:14:39,567 --> 00:14:41,100
I don't have any more boom up,
295
00:14:41,100 --> 00:14:44,200
so we have to go real short
with it or do something.
296
00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,867
I'd have to track farther away
and then try to lift it.
297
00:14:46,867 --> 00:14:48,266
[Todd on comms] All right.
298
00:14:51,100 --> 00:14:52,266
-[Hunter] Okay.
Hold that. Hold that.
-[Tater] Whoa!
299
00:14:52,266 --> 00:14:53,200
-[Hunter] Hold that.
-[Tater] Easy.
300
00:14:55,500 --> 00:14:57,867
[Hunter] Stick out.
There you go. Out now.
301
00:14:57,867 --> 00:14:59,867
-Cool.
-All right!
302
00:14:59,867 --> 00:15:01,667
[Jim]
Well, that probably is it.
303
00:15:01,667 --> 00:15:03,000
How are we looking, Jack?
304
00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,300
-That's pretty
damn good right there.
-Is that where you want it?
305
00:15:05,300 --> 00:15:06,900
-Yeah. Yeah.
-[Sparky] Yeah?
306
00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,667
[Jack] Okay.
There's no pinch places here.
307
00:15:11,667 --> 00:15:13,166
So there is right here.
308
00:15:13,166 --> 00:15:15,266
-[man] Yep.
-So I would
zip tie this to that.
309
00:15:15,266 --> 00:15:19,100
-That down here
and you're done there.
-[man] Okay.
310
00:15:20,767 --> 00:15:24,166
[Hudson] When I saw
my grandpa making this plant,
uh, back home,
311
00:15:24,166 --> 00:15:27,100
I thought it was cool,
but I didn't really think
we would be using it,
312
00:15:27,100 --> 00:15:30,200
uh, any much more
than just a test plant.
313
00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:32,667
For us to help him
run a plant that
314
00:15:32,667 --> 00:15:35,734
he made for his last season,
it means a lot.
315
00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:39,834
-Want me
to hold it right here?
-[Jack bleeps]
316
00:15:40,500 --> 00:15:42,867
Oh, God. Oh, God!
317
00:15:42,867 --> 00:15:44,600
[Jack groaning and inhaling]
318
00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:46,367
[Hudson]
All right, let's just...
Let's not do anything.
319
00:15:46,367 --> 00:15:48,367
[Jack] Yeah.
No, just get it on now.
320
00:15:48,367 --> 00:15:50,567
Get it over that hook.
There we go.
321
00:15:50,567 --> 00:15:52,333
Good. Okay.
322
00:15:53,300 --> 00:15:55,700
[bleeping and groaning]
323
00:15:56,967 --> 00:15:58,233
[exhales]
324
00:15:59,166 --> 00:16:00,200
[groans]
325
00:16:05,867 --> 00:16:07,433
[exhales deeply]
326
00:16:08,500 --> 00:16:09,934
-[Hudson] You all right?
-[Jack exhales]
327
00:16:10,500 --> 00:16:11,500
Yeah.
328
00:16:12,467 --> 00:16:13,767
[exhales]
329
00:16:13,767 --> 00:16:15,367
[Hudson] Wanna just go back
and lay down?
330
00:16:15,367 --> 00:16:17,767
[Jack] No, uh, no.
I'm okay right now.
331
00:16:17,767 --> 00:16:19,500
[Hudson] It's not worth
hurting yourself over this.
332
00:16:19,500 --> 00:16:20,600
-We can do it.
-[Jack exclaims]
333
00:16:21,100 --> 00:16:23,967
[Jack] God. I'm 78 years old.
334
00:16:23,967 --> 00:16:26,734
Not many people
were alive at 78.
335
00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:30,734
But I'm here and I'm not...
336
00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,500
gonna quit on this plant.
337
00:16:36,900 --> 00:16:39,300
All right. Looks good.
Let's give it a try.
338
00:16:39,300 --> 00:16:41,033
[Jack] I'll start the genny.
339
00:16:44,467 --> 00:16:46,166
We're firing it up!
340
00:16:46,166 --> 00:16:49,600
I think it's gonna
turn out all right, I hope.
341
00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,934
[machines whirring]
342
00:16:53,567 --> 00:16:55,767
This is how you speed it up,
343
00:16:55,767 --> 00:16:58,000
and this is how
you slow it down.
344
00:16:58,200 --> 00:16:59,800
This is slow.
345
00:17:01,967 --> 00:17:04,667
-This is a little faster.
-[machines whirring faster]
346
00:17:04,667 --> 00:17:06,867
Faster it's going,
347
00:17:06,867 --> 00:17:09,367
faster it'll move
the rocks along,
348
00:17:09,367 --> 00:17:11,467
jumping on this conveyor belt.
349
00:17:11,467 --> 00:17:13,867
Hey, Thurb, we're going
to fire up the water,
350
00:17:13,867 --> 00:17:16,367
and, uh, let's bring it up
351
00:17:16,367 --> 00:17:18,967
another 100 rpm
from where we started.
352
00:17:18,967 --> 00:17:22,867
Hey, there, we're at,
uh, 1200 rpm.
353
00:17:22,867 --> 00:17:24,266
[Randy] All right,
go ahead and run it up.
354
00:17:24,266 --> 00:17:25,934
Just give her all she's got.
355
00:17:30,367 --> 00:17:32,233
All right.
See if the dirt's coming in.
356
00:17:34,066 --> 00:17:37,433
Okay, Hunter, go ahead
and start feeding it.
357
00:17:47,266 --> 00:17:50,000
Here we go.
First bucket of the plateau...
358
00:17:51,667 --> 00:17:54,567
after we get the modifications
on the Jack Rabbit,
359
00:17:54,567 --> 00:17:56,033
so we'll see if it works.
360
00:17:59,867 --> 00:18:02,200
Pretty good. Looks perfect.
361
00:18:03,967 --> 00:18:06,367
Rocks are coming off clean.
362
00:18:06,367 --> 00:18:08,433
Shaker duct seems
like it's working good.
363
00:18:09,166 --> 00:18:11,300
I think we actually...
364
00:18:11,300 --> 00:18:13,300
made some major improvements
to this thing.
365
00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,100
[Hudson]
Everything looks good so far.
366
00:18:17,100 --> 00:18:18,900
We cranked
everything up and...
367
00:18:20,100 --> 00:18:22,667
now we're really moving
368
00:18:22,667 --> 00:18:24,300
about twice as much dirt now.
369
00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:30,000
Should be able to run
375 yards an hour
on this bad boy.
370
00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:39,266
[Jack] It really is exciting
to see Jack Rabbit run,
and, uh...
371
00:18:39,266 --> 00:18:41,467
it worked pretty darn good
372
00:18:41,467 --> 00:18:44,400
for, you know,
what I expected.
373
00:18:56,867 --> 00:18:59,000
[Todd] How's the plateau
dirt running?
374
00:18:59,467 --> 00:19:00,700
The dirt is running good.
375
00:19:00,700 --> 00:19:02,967
-It's the...
the haul that's killing us.
-[Todd] Yeah.
376
00:19:02,967 --> 00:19:05,266
It's tough
to keep up the plant, but...
377
00:19:05,266 --> 00:19:07,266
I mean, we don't have
any other dirt at the moment.
378
00:19:07,266 --> 00:19:10,367
So, I mean, it's just...
it's just a grind.
379
00:19:10,367 --> 00:19:12,867
Running out of time
is the main thing,
380
00:19:12,867 --> 00:19:15,000
and it's a long haul.
381
00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,467
But what if we go ahead
and just...
382
00:19:17,467 --> 00:19:20,166
bite the bullet
and run at night?
383
00:19:20,166 --> 00:19:22,166
Maybe have the young guys
run a night.
384
00:19:22,166 --> 00:19:25,567
Maybe us jump in there,
run in the day.
385
00:19:25,567 --> 00:19:28,667
So you wanna
haul dirt at night
is what you're saying?
386
00:19:28,667 --> 00:19:30,967
Yeah. We're gonna have
to haul dirt at night.
387
00:19:30,967 --> 00:19:35,367
If we run 24/7,
we still should be okay
for a good weigh-in.
388
00:19:35,367 --> 00:19:38,066
I know it's not ideal, but...
389
00:19:38,066 --> 00:19:41,000
I mean, we've run
lots of night shifts,
390
00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:42,500
but we don't...
we don't truck at night.
391
00:19:42,500 --> 00:19:45,367
-Okay.
-Because, I mean,
they can't see.
392
00:19:45,367 --> 00:19:46,433
They can see
what's in front of them,
393
00:19:46,433 --> 00:19:48,100
but they can't see alongside,
behind them, and...
394
00:19:48,100 --> 00:19:49,066
[Todd] We're gonna have to.
395
00:19:49,066 --> 00:19:51,467
We're just gonna
have to be careful and drive.
396
00:19:51,467 --> 00:19:54,467
You've got lights,
you've got backup cameras.
You know?
397
00:19:54,467 --> 00:19:57,266
Have a guy out there loading,
and we're just gonna
truck at night.
398
00:19:57,266 --> 00:19:58,900
I mean, we've tried it before
and done it before.
399
00:19:58,900 --> 00:20:01,166
We've always stopped it
because it just got
too dangerous.
400
00:20:01,166 --> 00:20:03,100
But, I mean,
at this point in the season,
401
00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:05,066
I guess we don't have
a lot of choice.
402
00:20:05,066 --> 00:20:06,800
I'll tell the guys
we're gonna swap it up.
403
00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:08,166
You and I are gonna probably
have to help out
404
00:20:08,166 --> 00:20:09,700
-during the day.
-[Todd] Yep.
405
00:20:09,700 --> 00:20:11,934
And running some plants,
and hopefully these guys...
406
00:20:12,567 --> 00:20:13,700
can keep it going. You know?
407
00:20:13,700 --> 00:20:15,500
If something happens...
408
00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,867
we're done.
Let's pull the plug.
409
00:20:17,867 --> 00:20:20,700
-Just make sure
it's safe, that's all.
-Yep. Okay. Yeah.
410
00:20:33,967 --> 00:20:36,266
[Tater] So we're starting
to see the effects of winter
411
00:20:36,266 --> 00:20:37,734
closing in.
412
00:20:38,567 --> 00:20:41,367
We keep seeing geese
and sandhill cranes
flying overhead,
413
00:20:41,367 --> 00:20:43,934
which means
it's getting colder.
414
00:20:43,934 --> 00:20:45,934
Uh, the winter's
really starting to set in,
415
00:20:45,934 --> 00:20:48,400
and this is where
it gets tough, really tough.
416
00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,533
Anytime you do anything,
you're fighting the weather.
417
00:20:53,367 --> 00:20:55,300
[Todd] I'm shooting for
a big weigh in this week,
418
00:20:55,300 --> 00:20:57,467
so we're gonna pull out
all the stops.
419
00:20:57,467 --> 00:21:00,066
So we got Jack's plant
ready to run full time.
420
00:21:00,066 --> 00:21:03,200
We have the young guys
prepping to run
the night shift.
421
00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:04,867
And then,
me and the older guys,
422
00:21:04,867 --> 00:21:06,667
we're going to run
the day shift.
423
00:21:06,667 --> 00:21:08,600
It's going to be hard,
but you know what?
424
00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:11,767
It might be worth it
if we can get a mound of gold
425
00:21:11,767 --> 00:21:14,133
on that scale
at the end of the week.
426
00:21:22,166 --> 00:21:24,200
[Sparky sighs]
Here we go, man.
427
00:21:26,266 --> 00:21:28,000
-[Dakota] Yep.
-[Sparky] Yeah.
428
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,033
[Dakota] I've never started
this, have you?
429
00:21:30,033 --> 00:21:31,667
[device cranking]
430
00:21:31,667 --> 00:21:33,333
[Sparky] Well,
we can figure it out.
431
00:21:44,667 --> 00:21:45,800
Dude...
432
00:21:47,100 --> 00:21:49,100
It could be perfect for me.
433
00:21:49,100 --> 00:21:50,934
I've ran
the night shift before.
434
00:21:50,934 --> 00:21:52,600
There is safety concerns.
435
00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,100
It can be dangerous,
but this is gonna be worth it
436
00:21:55,100 --> 00:21:57,667
because it can literally
put gold in my pocket.
437
00:21:57,667 --> 00:22:00,066
-All right, we're lit up.
-[Dakota] Here we go.
438
00:22:00,066 --> 00:22:01,567
We're ready for
the night shift.
439
00:22:01,567 --> 00:22:03,000
[Dakota] All right,
let's do it.
440
00:22:04,266 --> 00:22:06,266
-All right, man.
-[Dakota] See you, dawg.
441
00:22:06,266 --> 00:22:09,166
[Sparky] In hopes that
we can reach
our 1,023-ounce goal,
442
00:22:09,166 --> 00:22:11,266
we got to run
through the night.
443
00:22:11,266 --> 00:22:13,500
It's the only way
we're gonna get to that goal.
444
00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,066
I'm really hoping
that this plateau dirt
that we're running is rich.
445
00:22:23,066 --> 00:22:24,934
We tested it,
but you really never know
446
00:22:24,934 --> 00:22:26,667
how good it is
until you run it.
447
00:22:26,667 --> 00:22:28,667
If this plateau dirt
doesn't pay off,
448
00:22:28,667 --> 00:22:30,900
I may have to go back
and do bounce houses.
449
00:22:34,767 --> 00:22:37,166
[Hunter] This is
our first night
doing night shift.
450
00:22:37,166 --> 00:22:38,567
I'm on the Jack Rabbit.
451
00:22:38,567 --> 00:22:41,400
We got the rest of the boys
on the Holy Roller.
452
00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,200
Really just trying
to set a good pace.
453
00:22:45,100 --> 00:22:47,367
Keep an eye on what we can,
even though it's dark
454
00:22:47,367 --> 00:22:50,567
and, uh, the goal is
to make it through the night
455
00:22:50,567 --> 00:22:52,667
without any breakdowns
or any issues.
456
00:22:52,667 --> 00:22:55,266
So then we can get
some more gold out of here
457
00:22:55,266 --> 00:22:57,600
before we get froze out, so...
458
00:22:58,934 --> 00:23:01,133
We're running some of this pay
from the plateau,
459
00:23:01,133 --> 00:23:03,133
and I'm hoping
when we shut down,
460
00:23:03,133 --> 00:23:04,967
we have some good gold
in the box,
461
00:23:04,967 --> 00:23:06,800
but right now,
it's our only option.
462
00:23:14,834 --> 00:23:17,000
[Sterling speaking on radio]
463
00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:20,000
[Hudson on radio]
Yeah, what's up?
464
00:23:22,867 --> 00:23:26,266
I'm being safe as I can,
but can't see that good.
465
00:23:26,266 --> 00:23:27,700
How are you doing?
466
00:23:33,367 --> 00:23:35,867
Straight back, Toby.
467
00:23:35,867 --> 00:23:38,900
Keep going.
Little to your right.
Little to your right.
468
00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:48,200
Yeah, right there.
Go ahead, dump it.
469
00:23:54,500 --> 00:23:58,000
[Sparky sighs] You know,
this night shift
isn't for everybody,
470
00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,567
and I've ran
night shift before
on this mine.
471
00:24:00,567 --> 00:24:01,800
It's not my favorite.
472
00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:06,367
It's hard. You can't see,
it gets tiring,
it gets boring.
473
00:24:06,367 --> 00:24:08,100
I get cross-eyed.
474
00:24:09,934 --> 00:24:12,400
I'm barely keeping
my eyes open right now.
475
00:24:13,767 --> 00:24:16,200
It's been a tough season,
especially for Todd.
476
00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:17,767
He's got a lot on the table.
477
00:24:17,767 --> 00:24:20,033
He's pushing for
more gold in the box,
478
00:24:20,033 --> 00:24:22,667
and the least I can do is
just work my ass off for him
479
00:24:22,667 --> 00:24:23,834
so we reach our goal.
480
00:24:23,834 --> 00:24:26,467
Plus, I wanna make sure
I leave here
481
00:24:26,467 --> 00:24:28,500
with some serious gold
in my pocket.
482
00:24:44,133 --> 00:24:45,900
[man groans]
483
00:24:46,767 --> 00:24:49,000
-[Tater] How's it going?
-Yeah, here you go, dude.
484
00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:50,233
[Tater] All right, man.
485
00:24:50,767 --> 00:24:51,900
[Sterling] I'm beat.
486
00:24:54,100 --> 00:24:55,133
[Andy] How'd it go?
487
00:24:55,133 --> 00:24:56,567
[Dakota] Like clockwork.
488
00:24:56,567 --> 00:24:57,967
-Like clockwork?
-Always.
489
00:24:57,967 --> 00:25:01,200
Always does for you.
Tomorrow night.
490
00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,133
-[Jack] Hey. How'd it go?
-What's up?
491
00:25:03,133 --> 00:25:05,166
[Jack] Well, pretty good?
492
00:25:05,166 --> 00:25:07,133
[Hunter] The plant's
running good.
493
00:25:07,133 --> 00:25:09,133
Right now,
everybody's tapped out,
494
00:25:09,133 --> 00:25:11,367
and so I don't know
how many more nights
we can do this,
495
00:25:11,367 --> 00:25:13,700
but it's what we've got to do
right now.
496
00:25:19,300 --> 00:25:20,400
Night, boys.
497
00:25:25,767 --> 00:25:27,867
Keep going, guys. Good job.
498
00:25:31,500 --> 00:25:33,266
It's been a tough season.
499
00:25:33,266 --> 00:25:37,834
In my own way,
I'm just trying to make
my dad's dreams stay alive.
500
00:25:37,834 --> 00:25:40,400
You know, when you have
a good dad like I've had,
501
00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:42,734
you just want to honor him
the best you can.
502
00:25:42,734 --> 00:25:44,767
And, you know,
even though it's been tough,
503
00:25:44,767 --> 00:25:48,500
this this whole season
has been really hard on me.
504
00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:51,500
So I'm not in a good place.
But you know what?
505
00:25:51,500 --> 00:25:54,100
I'll do everything I can
to finish strong for my dad.
506
00:26:01,166 --> 00:26:03,033
[Jack] You know,
I built this plant at home
507
00:26:03,033 --> 00:26:06,166
and nobody expected
the little Jack Rabbit
508
00:26:06,166 --> 00:26:08,367
to do as well as it's doing.
509
00:26:08,367 --> 00:26:11,433
But I think it might make us
get to our gold.
510
00:26:13,166 --> 00:26:15,967
You know, I can't say
what it means to me
511
00:26:15,967 --> 00:26:18,867
to come through
for this group of guys.
512
00:26:18,867 --> 00:26:21,300
Todd's had
a really rough season,
513
00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:24,834
and I'm really proud of him
that he's, uh, stuck with it
514
00:26:24,834 --> 00:26:25,900
and he's led the guys
515
00:26:25,900 --> 00:26:30,266
and he has to
step up the plate,
hit a home run.
516
00:26:30,266 --> 00:26:32,700
You got to go through it
to be a winner.
517
00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:42,667
Well, did you get some sleep?
518
00:26:42,667 --> 00:26:44,467
-Yeah. Yeah, I'm ready to go.
-[Jack] Yeah?
519
00:26:44,467 --> 00:26:46,033
-All right. See you then.
-[Hunter] Slow and steady.
520
00:26:46,033 --> 00:26:47,400
All right.
521
00:26:49,166 --> 00:26:51,433
-[Sparky] What's up, man?
-[Todd] You ready for a...
522
00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,100
Ready for another all-nighter?
523
00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:56,467
I can go all day.
I can go all night, old man.
524
00:26:56,467 --> 00:26:58,033
All right, buddy.
I love you, man.
525
00:26:58,033 --> 00:26:59,266
Have a good one. Be careful.
526
00:26:59,266 --> 00:27:00,734
[Sparky] All right,
dude. [grunts]
527
00:27:11,367 --> 00:27:12,700
How you holding up, boys?
528
00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:16,600
I'm doing okay.
It's kind of a long haul,
and my eyeballs hurt.
529
00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:19,100
[Dakota on radio] All right,
just step it up.
530
00:27:19,100 --> 00:27:20,867
Just gotta go all night.
531
00:27:20,867 --> 00:27:25,266
I thought taking care
of my daughter when
she was a newborn was rough,
532
00:27:25,266 --> 00:27:27,900
but this is a whole new level
of sleep deprivation.
533
00:27:31,166 --> 00:27:35,100
[Sterling] I really hope
we have a big, you know,
gold weigh in this week.
534
00:27:35,100 --> 00:27:36,834
I think we could all
use the money.
535
00:27:36,834 --> 00:27:38,467
And, you know,
the only way to do that
536
00:27:38,467 --> 00:27:40,500
is to, you know,
push through the night.
537
00:27:43,066 --> 00:27:44,867
Shout out to Bagels, my dog.
538
00:27:44,867 --> 00:27:45,934
Uh, hopefully,
when I get home,
539
00:27:45,934 --> 00:27:49,300
we can take this gold,
buy a house with a big yard.
540
00:28:07,567 --> 00:28:10,066
-[crashes]
-[Sparky] Oh, [bleep]
541
00:28:11,266 --> 00:28:12,800
Sparky, are you good?
542
00:28:14,967 --> 00:28:16,400
[on radio] Sparky,
what just happened?
543
00:28:22,166 --> 00:28:24,400
-[crashes]
-[Sparky] Oh, [bleep]
544
00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:27,166
No, no, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no.
545
00:28:27,166 --> 00:28:29,333
Sparky, are you good?
What's happened?
546
00:28:29,333 --> 00:28:32,000
I hit the back of
the frickin' hopper, dude.
547
00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:36,934
I just hit the back
of the hopper.
548
00:28:36,934 --> 00:28:38,734
I really didn't mean to.
549
00:28:38,734 --> 00:28:39,767
I'm super tired.
550
00:28:39,767 --> 00:28:44,567
I'm exhausted, like,
I just, I really messed up.
551
00:28:44,567 --> 00:28:45,934
I really did.
552
00:28:45,934 --> 00:28:48,900
All right, just
be careful, dude.
Just go slow.
553
00:28:49,567 --> 00:28:51,166
Just go easy as we can.
554
00:28:51,166 --> 00:28:54,567
[Sparky groans]
The slower we go,
the more sleepy I get, dude.
555
00:28:54,567 --> 00:28:56,834
I don't think this
night shift's for me, dude.
556
00:28:56,834 --> 00:28:58,667
[Dakota on radio] All right.
557
00:28:58,667 --> 00:29:01,066
I know that we're all striving
for the same goal.
558
00:29:01,066 --> 00:29:02,567
But you know what?
559
00:29:02,567 --> 00:29:04,734
I think this is
infringing on our safety,
560
00:29:04,734 --> 00:29:08,266
and I think that
we should look
at the bigger picture.
561
00:29:08,266 --> 00:29:10,000
[on radio] Man,
this is not good.
562
00:29:10,834 --> 00:29:12,400
[Dakota] All right.
We'll figure something out.
563
00:29:13,066 --> 00:29:14,166
[radio beeps]
564
00:29:44,166 --> 00:29:45,467
Not so good.
565
00:29:45,467 --> 00:29:46,700
Why not so good?
566
00:29:47,667 --> 00:29:49,667
The guys are saying
it's a long haul.
567
00:29:49,667 --> 00:29:52,700
Can't really see,
having trouble staying awake.
568
00:29:53,367 --> 00:29:55,667
-It's dark.
-[Dakota] I know.
569
00:29:55,667 --> 00:29:57,500
And then,
part way through the shift,
570
00:29:57,500 --> 00:29:58,734
Sparky hit the hopper.
571
00:29:58,734 --> 00:30:00,066
He hit the plant?
572
00:30:00,867 --> 00:30:02,367
Can't be hitting the plant.
573
00:30:02,367 --> 00:30:03,967
-[Dakota speaking]
-Or wrecking stuff.
574
00:30:03,967 --> 00:30:05,500
That's why
I don't like night shift.
575
00:30:06,333 --> 00:30:08,734
All right. Well,
we'll get her going, okay?
576
00:30:17,967 --> 00:30:19,667
-[sighs]
-[Todd] How you doing?
577
00:30:19,667 --> 00:30:21,734
-Not good, dude.
-Really? Why?
578
00:30:21,734 --> 00:30:24,600
-Uh, I hit... I hit
the frickin' hopper, dude.
-No way.
579
00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:26,400
-[Sparky] All right.
-[Todd] Go get some rest.
580
00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:27,867
[Sparky] Thanks, man.
581
00:30:34,934 --> 00:30:36,867
[Todd] I was hoping
for a big weigh in
for the guys,
582
00:30:36,867 --> 00:30:40,066
but this isn't the way
to keep the morale up.
583
00:30:40,066 --> 00:30:43,033
Their safety is more important
than anything else.
584
00:30:43,033 --> 00:30:46,767
So we're going
to have a meeting
after we run today,
585
00:30:46,767 --> 00:30:50,400
and we're going to decide
if we want to continue
these night shifts.
586
00:31:20,166 --> 00:31:22,333
Well, what are you guys
thinkin', night crew?
587
00:31:22,333 --> 00:31:23,800
We're having some issues.
588
00:31:24,767 --> 00:31:26,100
I hate it.
589
00:31:27,033 --> 00:31:28,834
I'm super tired every day,
590
00:31:28,834 --> 00:31:31,834
and it's, like,
getting dangerous,
you know?
591
00:31:31,834 --> 00:31:34,000
We need sleep.
Everybody needs to sleep more.
592
00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:39,667
I think they've been working
over 110 hours a week.
593
00:31:39,667 --> 00:31:42,333
And they get rewarded
by workin' nights now.
594
00:31:42,333 --> 00:31:44,567
I know none of us
want to do it.
595
00:31:44,567 --> 00:31:46,867
And we're in a tight spot.
We need to get more gold.
596
00:31:46,867 --> 00:31:48,133
But...
597
00:31:48,133 --> 00:31:50,967
I think there's some
diminishing returns
at a certain point.
598
00:31:50,967 --> 00:31:52,333
If we're gonna break something
599
00:31:52,333 --> 00:31:54,767
or someone's gonna
make a huge issue
600
00:31:54,767 --> 00:31:57,467
and drive a truck
into a pond or something,
it's not really worth it.
601
00:31:58,367 --> 00:32:00,066
I definitely don't want
anybody to get hurt.
602
00:32:00,066 --> 00:32:02,100
I think it's coming down
to a safety issue,
603
00:32:02,100 --> 00:32:05,367
and when you can't see,
it becomes a problem.
604
00:32:05,367 --> 00:32:07,266
[Sparky] Well, it's just
not worth it either,
605
00:32:07,266 --> 00:32:08,767
'cause that's your investment.
606
00:32:08,767 --> 00:32:12,500
And I just hit it last night,
the back of the hopper.
607
00:32:12,500 --> 00:32:14,767
Something else, you know,
worse could have happened.
608
00:32:14,767 --> 00:32:17,600
I'm cross-eyed and it's dark
609
00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:19,967
and I just
don't want to do it.
610
00:32:21,734 --> 00:32:23,834
I was just trying
to think outside the box
611
00:32:23,834 --> 00:32:26,066
and try to get
as much gold as we can,
612
00:32:26,066 --> 00:32:27,667
and probably was not
a good idea.
613
00:32:27,667 --> 00:32:28,734
We're already tired.
614
00:32:28,734 --> 00:32:30,967
Things are already
going wrong.
615
00:32:30,967 --> 00:32:33,600
Let's be honest.
This season... [chuckles]
616
00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:36,266
You know, I'm still trying
to find the good in it,
617
00:32:36,266 --> 00:32:39,700
and I'm looking for the good,
and, um...
618
00:32:41,033 --> 00:32:46,400
In my opinion, the only good
coming out of this season is
619
00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:49,400
that we're all still here.
We're all still a team.
620
00:32:49,934 --> 00:32:51,567
And the, you know,
621
00:32:51,567 --> 00:32:54,166
if this is just
ruining the experience,
622
00:32:54,166 --> 00:32:55,533
it's not worth it.
623
00:32:56,266 --> 00:32:57,400
So you guys vote.
624
00:32:57,400 --> 00:32:59,767
You tell me.
625
00:32:59,767 --> 00:33:03,600
-My vote is we don't
do the night shift.
-[Todd] Nick?
626
00:33:04,133 --> 00:33:05,166
I agree.
627
00:33:05,166 --> 00:33:07,166
Yeah. I don't wanna
do it anymore.
628
00:33:08,166 --> 00:33:09,967
I would call off
the night shift.
629
00:33:10,667 --> 00:33:12,467
I think we need
to end night shift.
630
00:33:12,467 --> 00:33:13,634
Um...
631
00:33:14,467 --> 00:33:16,033
You know, we don't want
to end this season
632
00:33:16,033 --> 00:33:18,767
with any more things
going wrong, in my opinion.
633
00:33:18,767 --> 00:33:22,066
So, you know,
health as first priority
634
00:33:22,066 --> 00:33:23,600
and just try to leave here...
635
00:33:24,066 --> 00:33:25,600
Um, with no more issues.
636
00:33:26,133 --> 00:33:27,734
We'll cancel night shift.
637
00:33:28,166 --> 00:33:29,400
Hopefully, we'll get our...
638
00:33:30,266 --> 00:33:32,166
Get a little bit
of our joy back.
639
00:33:32,166 --> 00:33:33,333
That's... That's tough.
640
00:33:34,867 --> 00:33:37,133
Sorry about that.
Probably not
a great idea right now,
641
00:33:37,133 --> 00:33:40,133
but I want the best
for this little company,
642
00:33:40,133 --> 00:33:42,000
and I want the best
for you guys,
643
00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:43,734
and I want you guys
to get some rest.
644
00:33:43,734 --> 00:33:47,033
I want you guys to smile,
I want you guys to hang out,
645
00:33:47,033 --> 00:33:51,367
and let's try to make
some good memories
on the way out of here.
646
00:33:51,367 --> 00:33:55,166
And, uh, you know, we'll live
to fight again another day
647
00:33:55,166 --> 00:33:57,400
and try to
finish the season strong.
648
00:33:58,567 --> 00:33:59,967
You guys go get some rest.
649
00:34:01,667 --> 00:34:02,800
Will do.
650
00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:04,700
Especially you, Sparky.
651
00:34:06,133 --> 00:34:08,767
I knew I needed
a big weigh in this week.
652
00:34:08,767 --> 00:34:12,100
Otherwise, I was risking
losing all the guys.
653
00:34:12,100 --> 00:34:14,467
I'm running
the new plateau pay dirt,
654
00:34:14,467 --> 00:34:15,934
and you know what?
655
00:34:15,934 --> 00:34:17,600
It's unproven pay dirt,
656
00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:20,266
and I might have
pushed the guys
a little too hard.
657
00:34:20,266 --> 00:34:22,266
But I want to show the guys
658
00:34:22,266 --> 00:34:24,800
that their efforts
can pay off in gold.
659
00:34:26,367 --> 00:34:28,133
[Hunter] Okay, can we
go to bed now?
660
00:34:39,266 --> 00:34:42,266
What do you think about
all this winterization,
like, what...
661
00:34:42,266 --> 00:34:44,767
Do you have any idea
what's going on?
662
00:34:44,767 --> 00:34:49,266
[Nick] No idea. I just know
I'm just here to make
everybody's job easier
663
00:34:49,266 --> 00:34:51,000
and pull as much weight
as I can.
664
00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:53,734
[Sparky] I'm, like,
actually surprised
how well you're doing.
665
00:34:53,734 --> 00:34:55,133
[Nick chuckles]
That's all you, buddy.
666
00:34:55,133 --> 00:34:57,066
[Sparky] You're doing better
than what I did my first year
of mining.
667
00:34:57,066 --> 00:34:59,533
It's, like, my first time
up in Alaska, like,
668
00:34:59,533 --> 00:35:01,467
out... going out of the state,
669
00:35:01,467 --> 00:35:04,033
out of Oregon,
you know, 'cause, like,
I've been in Oregon
670
00:35:04,033 --> 00:35:05,166
for my entire life, so...
671
00:35:05,166 --> 00:35:07,800
Well, you know where I get
my inspiration from, buddy.
672
00:35:08,467 --> 00:35:10,734
-All you, my man.
-[Sparky] Shoot, man.
673
00:35:10,734 --> 00:35:12,867
It's like an opportunity
that I've never had before.
674
00:35:12,867 --> 00:35:15,467
So I'm just absorbing it
as much as I can
675
00:35:15,467 --> 00:35:17,867
and taking whatever
anyone can give me.
676
00:35:17,867 --> 00:35:20,667
-And I'm having a blast.
-Little dude, I love you.
677
00:35:20,667 --> 00:35:22,667
You know, you're doing great.
678
00:35:22,667 --> 00:35:23,767
I'm proud of
what you're doing.
679
00:35:23,767 --> 00:35:24,900
Couldn't have done it
without you.
680
00:35:25,867 --> 00:35:26,600
Shut up.
681
00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:28,467
-[Nick laughing]
-Just kidding.
682
00:35:28,467 --> 00:35:30,400
-Just kidding. I love you.
-Come here.
683
00:35:45,934 --> 00:35:48,367
[Todd] I know the guys
are down and tired,
684
00:35:48,367 --> 00:35:51,834
but we did still get
three full days in
685
00:35:51,834 --> 00:35:54,767
running the Holy Roller
and the Jack Rabbit.
686
00:35:54,767 --> 00:35:57,867
I have a feeling we're gonna
see some big gold this week.
687
00:35:57,867 --> 00:35:59,533
And if we don't get gold,
688
00:35:59,533 --> 00:36:01,567
some of these guys
are gonna just go home.
689
00:36:14,667 --> 00:36:16,767
[Sparky] All right, Nick,
get on the other side.
690
00:36:16,767 --> 00:36:18,166
-Right here?
-[Sparky] Yeah.
691
00:36:18,166 --> 00:36:19,867
You know, this...
692
00:36:19,867 --> 00:36:22,367
That night running, dude,
I don't like 'em.
693
00:36:22,367 --> 00:36:24,467
-Ah.
-It's really not
my favorite choice.
694
00:36:24,467 --> 00:36:28,467
But unfortunately,
it's what we had to do
and hopefully it's, uh...
695
00:36:28,467 --> 00:36:30,400
Our hard efforts
was actually worth it
696
00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:32,767
and shows up in the box.
697
00:36:32,767 --> 00:36:35,100
Man, I'm already
pretty beat and exhausted.
698
00:36:35,100 --> 00:36:36,533
I can feel it in my bones.
699
00:36:36,533 --> 00:36:38,033
Winter's right around
the corner.
700
00:36:38,033 --> 00:36:40,400
-Okay, well...
-[Nick grunts]
701
00:36:42,033 --> 00:36:44,734
But this week's weigh in
hopefully will reflect
702
00:36:44,734 --> 00:36:46,867
all our hard work
we've put in.
703
00:36:46,867 --> 00:36:48,867
So what do you think?
You seeing much in here?
704
00:36:49,934 --> 00:36:51,433
That looks pretty good.
705
00:36:51,433 --> 00:36:54,667
It's hard to tell, I mean,
until you get it up there
and start running it.
706
00:36:54,667 --> 00:36:57,867
Yeah. You shouldn't
be able to see it if the box
is working right.
707
00:36:57,867 --> 00:36:58,834
it should be
in the hydraulics.
708
00:36:58,834 --> 00:36:59,800
-So...
-[Dakota] Yeah.
709
00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:01,333
...we'll just get what
we can get out of this
710
00:37:01,333 --> 00:37:03,000
and run as much dirt
as we can.
711
00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:06,166
So, let's get it to Jack
and Thurber and let's see
what we get, uh,
712
00:37:06,166 --> 00:37:07,000
we get out of this.
713
00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,100
Yeah, I hope
we're getting good gold.
714
00:37:09,100 --> 00:37:11,600
Okay. Finish it up, guys.
Thank you.
715
00:37:12,033 --> 00:37:13,233
Thanks, man.
716
00:37:23,934 --> 00:37:25,567
[Todd] All right,
let's get started.
717
00:37:25,567 --> 00:37:27,233
As you know,
it's getting cold.
718
00:37:28,033 --> 00:37:31,467
So we don't know
how long we have.
719
00:37:31,467 --> 00:37:33,767
Everything could close in
on us right now.
720
00:37:33,767 --> 00:37:38,066
Who knows when this season
can end with this weather?
721
00:37:38,066 --> 00:37:41,000
If it got 15 degrees colder,
722
00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:43,100
-probably done, so...
-[Sparky] Yeah.
723
00:37:43,767 --> 00:37:44,700
[Todd] All right.
724
00:37:44,700 --> 00:37:47,867
You know, the Black
Pearl situation, uh...
725
00:37:47,867 --> 00:37:50,667
was really regrettable.
Sorry about that.
726
00:37:51,867 --> 00:37:54,133
Me and Hunter spent
a lot of hours welding,
727
00:37:54,133 --> 00:37:57,166
grinding just our blood,
sweat and tears
into this plant.
728
00:37:57,166 --> 00:38:01,567
And we trained the guys right,
but it's out of our control.
729
00:38:01,567 --> 00:38:03,300
I will say
it's really bad timing.
730
00:38:03,867 --> 00:38:05,133
Same as last year,
731
00:38:05,133 --> 00:38:08,233
it's, like, you know,
right when you want it
to run its best,
732
00:38:08,233 --> 00:38:10,333
we have
a catastrophic breakdown.
733
00:38:10,333 --> 00:38:12,166
So that's the way it is.
734
00:38:12,166 --> 00:38:15,133
It seems like
that's how it goes up here.
735
00:38:15,133 --> 00:38:17,634
So Holy Roller,
and then your little guy,
736
00:38:17,634 --> 00:38:19,567
-Jack Rabbit.
-[Jack chuckling]
737
00:38:19,567 --> 00:38:21,567
And, uh, we're going to
run 'em both to the end.
738
00:38:21,567 --> 00:38:23,967
See what we can...
Come out of these things.
739
00:38:23,967 --> 00:38:27,266
That's why I had you guys,
you know, run the night shift.
740
00:38:27,266 --> 00:38:29,233
I know it was
going to be risky.
741
00:38:29,233 --> 00:38:32,066
You know, it doesn't
really matter what skill level
you have in mining.
742
00:38:32,066 --> 00:38:34,266
It's, like, night shift
is a different animal.
743
00:38:34,266 --> 00:38:36,333
It's, like,
there's so many issues
and you can have
744
00:38:36,333 --> 00:38:38,133
all the light plants
you can have.
745
00:38:38,133 --> 00:38:39,533
But it's, like, it's...
746
00:38:39,533 --> 00:38:41,967
It's definitely...
It's definitely a hard push
747
00:38:41,967 --> 00:38:43,867
and you're definitely
risking it.
748
00:38:43,867 --> 00:38:46,066
[Todd] Well, we did get
some night runs in,
749
00:38:46,066 --> 00:38:49,000
and, uh, let's hope
it all pays off.
750
00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:51,100
Dad, you want to
see what we get?
751
00:38:51,100 --> 00:38:52,967
All right. I'm gonna pour.
752
00:38:52,967 --> 00:38:56,333
-Well, that's a good sign.
-Yeah.
753
00:38:56,333 --> 00:38:57,967
-[Todd] Yeah.
-[Jack] Big jar.
754
00:38:57,967 --> 00:38:59,634
[narrator] In order
to beat last season
755
00:38:59,634 --> 00:39:02,634
and hit their
1,023-ounce goal,
756
00:39:02,634 --> 00:39:06,066
the team still needs
258 ounces.
757
00:39:11,634 --> 00:39:12,900
[Jack] Yeah.
758
00:39:13,667 --> 00:39:17,100
Twenty. Got 40.
759
00:39:17,100 --> 00:39:19,500
Fifty, sixty.
760
00:39:20,266 --> 00:39:21,133
Seventy.
761
00:39:23,166 --> 00:39:24,500
Eighty.
762
00:39:25,834 --> 00:39:28,500
-Ninety.
-Oh, my gosh, come on.
763
00:39:29,066 --> 00:39:30,300
[Jack] 100.
764
00:39:31,734 --> 00:39:34,700
106, 107, 108...
765
00:39:35,133 --> 00:39:37,066
111, 112...
766
00:39:39,266 --> 00:39:42,800
118, 119...
767
00:39:43,667 --> 00:39:45,467
120...
768
00:39:46,967 --> 00:39:50,567
121.7.
769
00:39:50,567 --> 00:39:53,367
-That's great. yeah, boys!
-[Jack] Whoo! Whoo!
770
00:39:53,367 --> 00:39:55,100
Yeah! Whoo!
771
00:39:55,100 --> 00:39:57,133
[Sparky] That shift
was worth it.
772
00:39:57,133 --> 00:39:58,567
-[Todd] We're getting there.
-[Sparky] Whoa.
773
00:39:58,567 --> 00:40:00,433
[Jack] That's a nice pile
of gold.
774
00:40:00,433 --> 00:40:01,634
Yeah, dude.
775
00:40:01,634 --> 00:40:03,634
I'm so pumped about
this weigh in.
776
00:40:03,634 --> 00:40:05,433
The plateau dirt that
we just ran through,
777
00:40:05,433 --> 00:40:07,667
well, it turns out
it panned out good.
778
00:40:07,667 --> 00:40:09,867
So I think we're in
the money here.
779
00:40:09,867 --> 00:40:12,200
Now I think we're headed
towards our goal.
780
00:40:13,033 --> 00:40:14,166
[Todd] Nice.
781
00:40:14,166 --> 00:40:15,867
Well, that's pretty awesome.
782
00:40:15,867 --> 00:40:18,033
I mean, where are we at?
783
00:40:18,033 --> 00:40:21,166
We're at 886.7.
784
00:40:21,166 --> 00:40:22,767
Dude. All right,
getting there.
785
00:40:22,767 --> 00:40:24,667
That helped out a ton.
786
00:40:24,667 --> 00:40:30,634
[narrator] With a 121.7-ounce
haul, worth over $230,000,
787
00:40:30,634 --> 00:40:34,634
the Hoffmans now need
to mine 136 more ounces
788
00:40:34,634 --> 00:40:38,000
before Alaska's harsh winter.
freezes them out.
789
00:40:39,433 --> 00:40:41,233
[Todd] The pay dirt
looks pretty good, huh?
790
00:40:41,233 --> 00:40:44,500
You know, when you have
thawed gravels with no mud,
791
00:40:45,033 --> 00:40:46,567
there's no water in it,
792
00:40:46,567 --> 00:40:48,667
runs fast through the plant.
793
00:40:48,667 --> 00:40:51,467
It may not pay as well
for hundred,
794
00:40:51,467 --> 00:40:53,567
but you can run it
about twice as fast,
795
00:40:53,567 --> 00:40:56,266
so there's no
stripping involved.
796
00:40:56,266 --> 00:40:59,166
Your costs go way down,
so that's pretty dang good.
797
00:40:59,166 --> 00:41:00,667
-That's pretty dang good.
-[Todd] That's awesome.
798
00:41:00,667 --> 00:41:02,266
But thank you
for your sacrifice, guys.
799
00:41:02,266 --> 00:41:03,834
That run at night,
it's not easy.
800
00:41:03,834 --> 00:41:05,767
But you did it,
you ground it out.
801
00:41:05,767 --> 00:41:08,100
And it shows
right here on the scale.
802
00:41:08,100 --> 00:41:09,533
Good job.
803
00:41:09,533 --> 00:41:11,266
You know what?
It was a very tough week,
804
00:41:11,266 --> 00:41:14,667
but finally, we're getting
the big numbers again.
805
00:41:14,667 --> 00:41:18,967
At this point,
we've almost got
$1.7 million worth of gold.
806
00:41:18,967 --> 00:41:21,367
It's not where
we really wanted to be,
807
00:41:21,367 --> 00:41:24,266
but we're just about
where we were last year
808
00:41:24,266 --> 00:41:25,700
and hopefully, we can beat it.
809
00:41:26,266 --> 00:41:27,333
All right, let's get to work.