**
Narrator: LAST SUMMER, ON "BERING SEA GOLD"...
OUR MISSION IS TO FIND SOME GOLD.
IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND THE GROUND
TO MAKE A GOOD LIVING.
Narrator: THE QUEST FOR NEW GOLD-RICH GROUND...
Woman: OH. WHOA.
IT'S TIME TO GO FIND A DIFFERENT PLACE TO MINE.
Narrator: PUSH THE ALASKAN MINING FLEET...
THROWING ANCHOR!
FARTHER THAN EVER BEFORE...
Woman: GO FIND US LOTS OF GOLD, ZEKE!
Man: WE'RE GONNA GO OUT ON MORE DANGEROUS MISSIONS,
TO GO FIND SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN FOUND.
Narrator: STRIKING PAY DIRT IN TWO REMOTE LOCATIONS.
HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!
Man: OUT THERE, IN FRONT OF THAT CREEK,
THERE IS A SOURCE OF EXPLOITABLE, GOOD GOLD.
Man: OH, YEAH! HERE WE GO, BOYS, HERE WE GO!
WE'RE IN THE GOLD, BUDDY.
LET THE GOLD STREAK BEGIN.
WE MIGHT HAVE HIT THE MOTHER LODE.
**
Narrator: NOW, AS THE WINTER MINING SEASON BEGINS,
THE DISCOVERY OF THE TWO NEW HOT SPOTS
HAS SET OFF A MODERN-DAY GOLD RUSH.
Man: THERE'S A FORTUNE DOWN THERE.
AND THEY WANT TO TRY TO FOLLOW ME UP.
COME ON.
WE'RE GONNA SHOW ALL THESE BOYS WHAT GOLD MINING'S ALL ABOUT.
YEAH!
THERE'S GOLD UNDER EVERY ROCK DOWN HERE!
WHOO.
THIS IS GONNA BE MY FAMILY'S CHANCE TO BECOME MILLIONAIRES.
RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE GONNA SEE
THE BEGINNING OF THE EMPIRE OF KRIS.
THIS IS THE FARTHEST YOU'VE EVER TAKEN US OUT OF NOME.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST GOLD WE'RE GOING AFTER.
Man: I BELIEVE THAT THERE COULD BE
MULTIPLE CAREERS WORTH OF GOLD
IN THE LOCATION THAT I'VE DISCOVERED.
I OWE IT TO MYSELF TO DO IT RIGHT.
I'VE NEVER HAD TO GO DOWN AN ICE TUNNEL BEFORE.
GOOD GOD.
Woman: THIS IS THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE,
AND ULTIMATELY, IT'S JUST ME.
MANY PEOPLE FAIL, AND I'M NOT GONNA BE THE ONE THAT FAILS.
OH! 14!
**
[ WHOOPS ]
Narrator: THIS SEASON...
I GOT TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!
THAT ICE IS BLOWING OUT FAST!
IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF WHERE THE GOLD IS...
SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?
HE'S GOT GOLD!
...BUT WHO CAN GET TO IT FIRST.
DID YOU FIND THIS?!
Woman: GOD, THAT'S GORGEOUS.
Man: LOAD THE RIFLES, BOYS.
THE OLD WEST RULES ARE IN EFFECT.
SO OVERWHELMED BY... [ INHALES ]
HOW TRULY HORRIFYING IT REALLY IS.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
**
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.
FOR OVER A CENTURY, GOLD FEVER
HAS BROUGHT TREASURE HUNTERS TO THIS REMOTE PORT.
1,970 MILES FROM THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES.
RISKING LIFE AND LIMB FOR A SHOT
AT THE RICHEST OFFSHORE MINING DEPOSIT IN THE WORLD.
SINCE 1898, MINERS HAVE FOUND OVER 3 1/2 MILLION
OUNCES OF GOLD.
80 MILES EAST OF NOME, THE RUSH CONTINUES.
**
Man: WHEW. MADE IT.
HERE WE ARE.
BACK AT THE BLUFF.
I CAN'T WAIT.
Narrator: MR. GOLD, SHAWN POMRENKE,
TURNS TO THE GROUNDS
HE BELIEVES WILL FORTIFY THE FAMILY EMPIRE.
I THINK, UH, WE COULD BE WALKING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS
RIGHT NOW -- THIS IS THE SPOT, THIS IS THE SPOT.
IT'S GONNA GET US -- MAKE US ALL RICH.
Narrator: LAST SUMMER...
Man: THAT'S A BIG NUGGET, THERE.
Narrator: SHAWN'S FAITH IN THE BLUFF
FINALLY PAID OFF,
WHEN HE UNCOVERED A MASSIVE PAY STREAK.
THERE IT IS. RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: AND HE STAKED A CLAIM TO SECURE THE GROUNDS
FOR THE FUTURE OF THE SHAWN POMRENKE FAMILY.
FIRST CLAIM I EVER STAKED.
AND IT'S ALL IN THE RICHEST OFFSHORE RESERVE IN THE WORLD.
Narrator: EXCEPT FOR ONE LITTLE PROBLEM.
WE WENT THROUGH ALL THE WORK, STAKING,
FILING ALL THE PAPERWORK,
SENDING OUT EVERYTHING,
AND THEY ISSUED US ALL THIS STUFF,
AND THEN AT THE END, THEY WANT TO TAKE IT BACK,
AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU ALREADY ISSUED THIS.
Narrator: THE CLAIM WAS REJECTEE,
LEAVING THE GROUNDS OPEN TO ANYONE.
PISSES A GUY OFF TO -- YOU DO ALL THAT WORK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT -- WHAT THE DEAL IS, BUT...
I'M STILL FIGHTING IT.
EVENTUALLY SOMEBODY WILL SHOW UP DOWN THERE, BUT...
BY THEN, I'LL HAVE THE MOTHER LODE SUCKED UP AND OUT OF THERE.
Narrator: THE SETBACK CAME RIGHT ON THE HEELS
OF ANOTHER MAJOR BLOW.
WELL, THEY DIDN'T ACCEPT OUR OFFER.
THEY SOLD NOME GOLD TO SOMEBODY ELSE WHO OUTBID US.
LAST SUMMER, THE POMRENKES ATTEMPTED TO PURCHASE
9,000 ACRES OF INLAND MINING GROUND.
BUT THEIR BID CAME UP SHORT.
I NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MY FRIEND AND FAMILY
AND MY WORKERS.
YOU'RE THINKING YOU'RE GONNA HAVE ENOUGH LAND TO MINE
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
IT WAS A PRETTY SAD DAY WHEN I FOUND OUT WE DIDN'T GET IT.
Narrator: WITH THE NOME GOLD PROPERTY LOST,
AND THE BLUFF SUDDENLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC,
SHAWN ALREADY HAS TWO STRIKES THIS YEAR.
HE CAN'T AFFORD A THIRD.
MY GOAL IS TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY
TO GET THE BIG BARGE UP AND RUNNING.
IT'S POSSIBLE.
ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE IN GOLD MINING.
Narrator: TO TURN THE FAMILY BUSINESS INTO A DYNASTY,
HE'S PLANNING THE BIGGEST PROJECT
IN THE FAMILY'S HISTORY --
A 165-FOOT-LONG, 45-FOOT WIDE MEGA DREDGE,
THAT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $6 MILLION.
WE HAD $3 MILLION SET ASIDE TO PURCHASE NOME GOLD,
BUT NOW I'M OUT LOOKING FOR ANOTHER $3 MILLION
TO BUILD THE MEGA DREDGE.
AND HOPEFULLY THE BLUFF IS GONNA PAY FOR THAT.
WE'RE JUST, UH, UPGRADING OUR MESS HERE.
WE'VE GOT, UH, LITTLE BIT OF PLUMBING,
STRAIGHTEN EVERYTHING OUT.
WE PUT 20 FEET OF HOSE ON.
NOW WE CAN REACH OUT, TOUCH SOMEBODY.
Narrator: TO EXTRACT GOLD FROM THE SEA FLOOR,
MINERS ARE TETHERED TO AIR,
HOT WATER, AND COMMUNICATIONS.
USING A SUCTION HOSE, THEY VACUUM UP DIRT,
AND HOPEFULLY GOLD, INTO THEIR SLUICE BOXES.
**
I'M GONNA GO DOWN, TRY TO FIND THAT BOULDER
AND THAT BIG PILE OF NUGGETS
I KNOW THAT'S UNDER IT.
Narrator: SHAWN'S PLAN?
LOCATE A BOULDER HE FOUND AT THE END OF LAST SUMMER.
A BIG ROCK THAT SHOULD LIE ON TOP OF BIG GOLD.
[ RESPIRATOR HISSING ]
[ GENERATOR CHUGGING ]
**
Narrator: BELOW FOUR FEET OF ICE,
THE BERING SEA DROPS TO A BONE-CHILLING
27° FAHRENHEIT.
Man: HOW'S IT LOOKING DOWN THERE, BOSS?
Man: LOOKING GOOD, MAN, LOOKING GOOD.
Narrator: WITHOUT A CONSTANT HOT-WATER SUPPLY,
HYPOTHERMIA WILL SET IN WITHIN MINUTES.
Man: HOW ABOUT THAT VISIBILITY?
CAN YOU SEE HERE?
Man: YEAH. GOOD VISIBILITY.
**
I'M COMING INTO A BOULDER PATCH HERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF BIG ROCKS.
**
BIG ROCKS, BIG GOLD.
START DREDGING HERE.
SEE WHAT I FIND.
TRYING TO GET BACK ON THE TRACK TO THE MOTHER LODE, HERE.
**
Narrator: 80 MILES TO THE WEST, AT THE PORT OF NOME...
WE'RE GONNA JUST TAKE A BUNCH OF SLEDS.
WE'RE GONNA LATCH EVERYTHING TO THEM.
THE FIGHTIN' IRISH ARE READY TO BATTLE
WITH THE FROZEN BERING SEA.
AND THE NEWS OF SHAWN'S DISCOVERY AT THE BLUFF
HAS INSPIRED CAPTAIN KRIS WITH AN ORIGINAL PLAN...
WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW SHAWN TO THE BLUFFS.
FOLLOW MR. GOLD TO THE GOLD.
WE'RE GONNA BUILD EVERYTHING --
FINISHING BUILDING EVERYTHING OUT THERE.
OKAY. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
SHAWN MESSED UP, TELLING EVERYBODY
THAT THERE WAS BIG GOLD DOWN THERE.
HE STARTED A NEW GOLD RUSH, AND I GOT TO GET DOWN THERE.
I GOT TO GO WHERE THERE'S THE BEST OPPORTUNITY IN MY LIFE
TO EVER GET RICH.
HEY, NOW THAT WE'RE AGREED ON THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING, UM,
WE NEED TO MAKE THIS WORK.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE BARELY GONNA MAKE IT THERE.
Narrator: FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS...
[ LAUGHING ]
WITH BRAD, AMERICA'S FAVORITE DAD, AT THE HELM...
Man: WELL, I'M NOT SEEING ANY GOLD AT ALL.
Narrator: THE KELLY FAMILY WAS ON THE FAST-TRACK TO FAILURE
IN THE MINING INDUSTRY.
IS HE STUPID? I TOLD HIM, KEEP MOVING.
HE JUST -- HE DOESN'T LISTEN.
BUT, LAST SUMMER...
Man: THIS SEASON, WE'RE GONNA DO THINGS MY WAY.
I GUARANTEE YOU WE'RE GONNA MAKE MORE GOLD
THAN WE EVER HAVE THE LAST FIVE [BLEEP] SEASONS.
Narrator: KRIS SEIZED CONTROL OF THE BUSINESS...
THAT'S THE SOUND OF MONEY!
AND FINALLY PROVED HE AND HIS FAMILY
BELONG AMONGST THE GOLD-MINING ELITE.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE HACKING IT,
AND I ACTUALLY APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS.
Man: LAST YEAR WAS A COMPLETE STRUGGLE,
TRYING TO GET ON CLAIMS.
FINALLY I GET ON THIS GREAT CLAIM, YOU KNOW,
BUT I'M ONLY GONNA MAKE A GOOD LIVING.
I CAME TO NONE TO GET RICH, I MEAN, REALLY RICH.
I REALLY SEE US HAVING MANSIONS --
MANSIONS IN HAWAII.
LOOK DAD, I NEED YOU TO JUST TRUST ME.
YEAH, WHATEVER. OKAY. WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.
YOU'RE THE CAPTAIN. YOU LEAD US ON -- WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE JUST GONNA, LIKE -- IT SOUNDS LIKE A CLUSTER [BLEEP]
TO ME, BUT I'M NOT SAYIN' NOTHIN'.
Narrator: CAPTAIN KRIS MAY HAVE LED THE FAMILY
TO GOLD AND RESPECTABILITY,
BUT BRAD IS HAVING TROUBLE LETTING GO.
Man: CAPTAIN KRIS IS A HIGH-STRUNG INDIVIDUAL.
GOOD INTENTIONS FOR HIS FAMILY.
BUT UH, QUALITIES OF A GOOD LEADER ARE --
SOMEBODY THAT CAN TAKE CHARGE, DESIGNATE JOBS,
AND UH, HIS DEMEANOR IS STILL PRETTY CALM.
KRIS GETS PRETTY EXCITED.
AND THEN THESE PIECES GO ON NEXT.
KID, YOU TAKE ONE OF THESE DOWN. LET'S SET IT UP ON --
ARGH! DID YOU GET YOUR HEAD?
HE'S LACKING A FEW OF THE QUALITIES
TO BE A GREAT LEADER, PUT IT LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW?
HEY, MAN. WHY'S IT GOT TO BE MY FACE TOO?
STALIN WAS A LEADER TOO, RIGHT?
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF LEADERS.
LEADERS CAN LEAD YOU DOWN THE DRAIN, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
I KNOW YOU DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA WORK.
I KNOW IT'S GONNA WORK.
IT'S JUST GONNA BE A CLUSTER [BLEEP].
ALL YOU DO IS, YOU TELL ME MY MILLION PROBLEMS,
AND YOU NEVER COME UP WITH ONE SOLUTION.
MY DAD'S A LITTLE BUTTHURT THAT HE'S NOT CAPTAIN.
HE'S WAITING FOR ME TO FALL DOWN
SO HE CAN GO BACK INTO LEADING EVERYTHING,
AND I'M NOT GONNA FALL DOWN.
I MAY TRIP, YOU KNOW, I MAY TRIP,
BUT I'LL GET BACK UP, AND I'LL KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
YOU DON'T HAVE A TENT, YOU DON'T HAVE SHELTER.
DOES HE THINK OF THE WEIRDEST [BLEEP] IN THE WORLD OR WHAT?
HOW -- HOW'S THAT WEIRD, KRIS? YOU HAVE TO GO PREPARED.
IS THAT WEIRD TO YOU, TO BE PREPARED?
Narrator: THERE ARE NO ROADS FROM NOME TO THE BLUFF.
THE WAY IS A PUNISHING OVERLAND TRACK
ACROSS 80-PLUS MILES OF TUNDRA,
OR A RISK PASSAGE THROUGH JAGGED ICE AND OPEN WATER.
HEY. HEY, CAN I GET EVERYONE'S ATTENTION, PLEASE?
MAN, WE'RE ALWAYS WAITING ON YOU.
YEAH, OKAY. 'KAY, LOOKIT.
THIS IS THE TRUTH --
WE'RE GOING ON THIS CRAZY ADVENTURE.
THIS IS THE FIRST DAY OF IT.
I PROMISE YOU, IF WE DO THIS WELL,
AND WE PULL THIS OUT OF OUR ASSES,
WE'LL GET 500 OUNCES FOR SURE.
I WANT TO GO FOR 1,000, AND I KNOW WE CAN DO IT.
WE'RE GONNA ADVENTURE.
LET'S GET THE [BLEEP] BELL CURVE, MAN.
LET'S GO.
HEY! GET THE [BLEEP] ONTO YOUR THING!
LET'S GO!
EVERYBODY THINKS IT'S SOME MALICIOUS ACT
THAT I'M GONNA FOLLOW SHAWN AROUND TO TRY TO STEAL HIS GOLD.
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
I'M GOING TO THE BLUFFS BECAUSE OF DESPERATION.
YOU ONLY GET A COUPLE CHANCES IN LIFE TO HIT IT BIG,
AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES.
LET'S ROCK AND ROLL, EH?
**
-Narrator: COMING UP... -Man: THE WIND'S PICKING UP.
IT'S A DANGEROUS SPOT TO BE.
GOOD GOD, IT'S DARK DOWN HERE!
**
Narrator: 12 MILES EAST OF NOME....
**
WITH LITTLE PLANNING, AND EVEN LESS FORESIGHT,
CAPTAIN KRIS KELLY
IS SHEPHERDING HIS FAMILY DEEP OFF THE GRID,
TO CLAIM A PIECE OF THE NEW GOLD RUSH, AT THE BLUFF.
Man: I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THIS.
WE HAVEN BROKEN-DOWN MACHINES.
WE HAVE A BUNCH OF CRAPPY EQUIPMENT.
BUT THE BLUFFS IS MY ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.
I HAVE TO JUMP ON THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE TAKES IT FROM ME.
YOU KNOW, AND I NEED MY BROTHER AND MY DAD TO STAND BEHIND ME,
'CAUSE THEY NEED TO SEE, THIS IS GONNA BE THE BEST THING
IN THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.
**
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!
GO!
**
OH, MAN.
KRIS'S 2,000-POUND SLED, DUDE.
HUNDREDS-OF-POUNDS STEEL SLED, TO PULL UP THESE MOUNTAINS.
I DON'T GET IT.
Narrator: KRIS'S SHED,
AN ABSOLUTE MARVEL OF MODERN ENGINEERING,
WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE DRAGGED 80 MILES ACROSS THE TUNDRA.
I'M NOT GONNA BITCH, BUT...
I JUST WANT GET EVERYBODY UP HERE SAFELY,
AND IT'S GETTING SO NARROW, THE WIND'S PICKING UP.
THE ICE CAN GO UP TO 50 MILES AN HOUR UP HERE.
IT'S A DANGEROUS SPOT TO BE.
REALLY BAD UP HERE.
Narrator: FOR THE FORMER CAPTAIN KELLY,
THE FORCED MARCH TO THE BLUFF MAY BE A STEP TOO FAR.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PLANNING. IT'S LIKE A FAMILY PICNIC.
"LET'S JUST DO IT TODAY.
LET'S JUST PACK UP ALL OUR STUFF AND GO."
THAT'S THE KIND OF DEAL IT IS.
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY COULD DIE FROM FREEZING.
KRIS, HE'S GOING OFF THE WALL.
I WANT TO GUT IT, AND THEN I WANT TO ZOOM UP THAT HILL.
Narrator: WITH 60 MILES STILL TO GO,
CAPTAIN KRIS AND CREW HAVE TO GET BACK ON THE MOVE,
OR RISK BEING CAUGHT IN THE TUNDRA,
WHERE NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES CAN DROP 50° BELOW ZERO.
Man: YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF -- YOU'RE JUST LIKE,
"KRIS, DID YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION?"
YOU KNOW? BUT YOU CAN'T --
YOU CAN'T SAY THAT TO EVERYBODY ELSE,
'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO PRETEND THAT YOU ALWAYS KNOW
THAT THAT'S THE RIGHT MOVE.
YOU DO A LOT OF PRETENDING.
GO AHEAD!
GO!
YEAH!
THIS SEASON IS A HAIL MARY PASS.
THAT'S WHY MY DAD AND BROTHER ARE SO PISSED AT ME.
BUT FOR A MILLION DOLLARS, THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT
I WON'T DO.
NO MATTER WHAT, I'M GONNA GET THERE.
I GUARANTEE THAT.
I TOLD YOU IT WAS GONNA WORK.
OH, MY GOD.
THAT'S NOT SMART.
Narrator: 20 MILES TO THE WEST, ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF NOME.
Man: YOU THINK IT WOULD GET GOIN'.
I'M GOING BACK OUT TO HASTINGS CREEK,
AFTER THAT PREHISTORIC BEACH LINE, AT 45 FEET,
THAT I WAS GETTING AFTER LAST FALL.
Narrator: THE FLEET'S MAD SCIENTIST IS STAYING TRUE TO FORM,
BETTING HIS FUTURE ON A SPOT AWAY FROM THE CROWD.
Man: KEEPING IT SUPER SMALL. I GOT MY BROTHER TO HELP ME.
SO WE CAN JUST GO OUT AND PROVE THE GROUND
THAT I FOUND LAST FALL.
I'M LIKE, REALLY THANKFUL THAT MY BROTHER
SAM IS HERE TO HELP ME DO IT.
RATHER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER, LIKE,
DREDGER-PARTNER-TYPE PEOPLE
THAT ARE OUT THERE, KIND OF IN THE DREDGE-O-SPHERE.
Narrator: LAST SEASON...
Man: I WANT TO CIRCLE THE ISLAND AND KIND OF SEE
WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE OUR SAFE HARBOR POINTS ARE.
Narrator: ZEKE WENT HUNTING FOR A NEW GOLD DEPOSIT,
WITH SOMETIMES BUSINESS PARTNER,
AND OTHER TIMES LOVE INTEREST, EMILY RIEDEL.
EMILY, NO GOLD HERE.
AFTER STRIKING OUT ALL SUMMER...
Man: NO ONE HAS EVER OCEAN-MINED IN FRONT OF HASTINGS CREEK.
Narrator: ZEKE ZEROED-IN ON A POTENTIAL HOT SPOT
ALONG A PREHISTORIC BEACH LINE...
Zeke: THE GOLD IS PRETTY MUCH ALL FINE,
AND SANDWICHED UP IN THESE ROCKS.
NOW THAT WE FOUND A PLACE THAT COULD BE PROMISING,
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO STOP DOING BUSINESS
WITH EACH OTHER.
I-I DON'T KNOW.
Narrator: AND THEN CUT TIES WITH EMILY
TO CLAIM THE GROUND FOR HIMSELF.
Zeke: I'M GOING OUT THERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THERE
COULD BE A CAREER'S WORTH OF GOLD
IN THE LOCATION THAT I'VE DISCOVERED.
IT'S SCIENCE, AND IT'S GUT INSTINCT, THAT'S TELLING ME
THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WORTHWHILE OUT THERE.
Narrator: BUT ZEKE'S PLAN TO STAKE THE FIRST CLAIM OF
HIS MINING CAREER COMES WITH ITS OWN SET OF RISKS.
Zeke: I DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING.
I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY DESIRE TO DO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING.
BUT IT CAN KINDA STING WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS GETTING
A BUNCH OF GOLD OVER THERE,
AND I'M OVER HERE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS A BETTER IDEA.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IS FUN TO ME, IS TO THINK ABOUT IDEAS
AND FOLLOW MY OWN IDEAS.
MAYBE I HAVEN'T, LIKE, HAD MY BIG, HUGE AHA MOMENT
THAT PROVES TO EVERYBODY THAT, UM,
THEY SHOULD'VE BEEN THINKING MORE LIKE ME, BUT...
MAYBE I WILL. I DON'T KNOW.
HYAHH!
Narrator: WHILE ZEKE MAY PLAY BY HIS OWN RULES,
THERE ARE AT LEAST A FEW ACTUAL RULES
THAT HE'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW IF HE WANTS TO CLAIM HIS OWN GROUND.
Zeke: THE STATE WANTS TO SEE THAT I'VE REALLY ESTABLISHED
THAT THERE'S GOLD THERE,
AND THAT I HAVE A PLAN TO MINE IT THAT IS VIABLE.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF TIMES IN THE PAST
WHERE I'VE NOT DONE MY HOMEWORK.
I'M TRYING TO LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES.
I'M TRYING TO ALSO LEARN FROM SHAWN'S MISTAKES.
I OWE IT TO MYSELF TO DO IT RIGHT.
Narrator: TO FILE A MINERAL-RIGHTS CLAIM
WITH THE STATE OF ALASKA,
ZEKE HAS TO PROVIDE
A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE GROUNDS.
Zeke: THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!
**
DEFINITELY A PREHISTORIC BEACH LINE RUNNING RIGHT THROUGH HERE.
AND UH, HASTINGS CREEK'S SPITTING OUT GOLD,
RIGHT DIRECTLY THAT WAY,
AND THIS IS JUST A CONCENTRATION AREA,
WHERE THE PRESSURE RIDGES JUST BUILD UP
AND JUST KINDA RECONCENTRATE HEAVY MATERIALS.
THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
Narrator: 10,000 YEARS AGO,
THE BEACH LINE AT HASTINGS CREEK
WAS A MILE OFF SHORE FROM WHERE IT IS TODAY.
THERE, SHEETS OF ICE COLLIDE TO PRODUCE PRESSURE RIDGES,
MASSIVE BLOCKS OF ICE ZEKE
BELIEVES AGGREGATE GOLD
IN THE ANCIENT BEACH LINE BELOW.
Narrator: MAPPING THE ANCIENT BEACH LINE COULD PLAY OFF,
BUT THERE'S A REASON THIS AREA IS STILL UNEXPLORED.
Zeke: THIS WINTER, I'M HAVING TO DEAL WITH, LIKE,
SERIOUS DEEP-WATER DIVING ON THIN ICE,
WITHOUT REALLY ANY SUPPORT STRUCTURE IN PLACE
TO KEEP ME SAFE.
Narrator: WITH HIS BROTHER SAM TENDING,
ZEKE WILL HAVE TO DIVE DEEP BELOW JAGGED, SHIFTING ICE.
Zeke: WHEN I GO DOWN THERE, AND IT'S MURKY AND IT'S DARK,
I TEND TO FREAK OUT.
IF YOU CAN'T SEE YOUR HOLE...
I PANIC, AND I'M DOWN THAT DEEP, AND THEN, LIKE,
JUST [BLEEP] DROWN.
LIKE, THAT CAN HAPPEN.
[ RESPIRATOR HISSING ]
OH, MY GOODNESS.
DAMN.
GOOD GOD, IT'S DARK DOWN HERE!
**
Narrator: COMING UP...
HERE WE ARE AT THE FORK IN THE ROAD.
THAT'S THE EASY PATH. THAT'S THE ROAD I WANT TO TAKE.
HORRIBLY DARK DOWN THERE!
KINDA SPOOKY!
WE GOT A RIDER APPROACHING THE DREDGE!
WONDER WHO IN THE HELL THAT COULD BE.
Narrator: AND LATER THIS SEASON, ON "BERING SEA GOLD"...
Man: I'D NEVER THOUGHT I WAS GONNA GET MILLIONS, BUT...
HERE I AM.
LET'S ROCK AND ROLL!
THEY'RE ALL HERE! ALL IN HERE!
ALL UNDERNEATH THIS ONE ROCK!
KARMA GETS YOU.
THEY WANT TO PLAY DIRTY, WE'LL PLAY DIRTY.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO, YOU [BLEEP] IDIOT?
WHATEVER IT IS OUT THERE, I'M GONNA FIND IT.
PAY ATTENTION WHAT THE [BLEEP] WE'RE DOING!
Man: DESPERATE PEOPLE ARE DANGEROUS.
Man: THIS IS [BLEEP] YOU'RE TOO [BLEEP] CLOSE.
OH [BLEEP] ME! THAT ICE IS BLOWING OUT!
I GOT TO GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!
OH, WOW! WOW, BILL.
-WHOO! -GIVE ME SOME LOVE!
ALL THE WAY LOVE! EVERYBODY LOVE!
Narrator: AT HASTINGS CREEK...
Zeke: OH, MY GOODNESS.
DAMN.
GOOD GOD, IT'S DARK DOWN HERE!
Narrator: ZEKE TENHOFF IS CHASING A MOTHER LODE
INTO DEEPER WATERS THAN EVER BEFORE,
IN ORDER TO STAKE THE FIRST CLAIM OF HIS CAREER.
Zeke: KINDA SPOOKY! ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I'M GONNA WORK MY WAY DOWN.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
YEAH, JUST HORRIBLY DARK DOWN THERE.
AND IT'S REALLY SCARY.
Narrator: UNLIKE TRADITIONAL MINING GROUNDS,
HASTINGS CREEK IS COVERED IN PRESSURE RIDGES,
UP TO 20-FEET THICK, CAUSING A NEAR-BLACKOUT UNDER THE ICE.
Zeke: I DIDN'T KNOW HOW DEEP IT IS, MAN!
IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 45 FEET.
I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE, LIKE, 37!
BUT I'M SCARED OF 37, DUDE!
I'M PLENTY MORE SCARED OF 45 FEET!
THAT'S THE SCARIEST!
JUST TRY TO THINK ABOUT WARM, SANDY BEACHES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK ABOUT, MAN!
Narrator: AT 33 FEET,
A DIVER EXPOSES HIMSELF TO NITROGEN POISONING,
ALSO KNOWN AS THE BENDS.
IT'S A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION,
AND THE NEAREST TREATMENT FACILITY --
OVER 500 MILES AWAY.
Zeke: THERE'S A LOT OF DEEP, INKY BLACKNESS SURROUNDING ME.
CAN YOU SEE THE LIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE HOLE?
I CAN STILL SEE THAT THERE'S LIGHT UP THERE, BUT...
MAN.
DOESN'T LOOK VERY REASSURING.
I'M GONNA TRY TO REORIENT MYSELF.
GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE HELL I'M GOING.
OKAY.
CALM DOWN, ZEKE. GO THAT WAY.
THIS BETTER BE WORTH IT!
I THINK THE QUESTION IS, HOW FAR CAN I GO?
RIGHT NOW, I'M IN SAND!
BUT IT'S NOT REALLY EXACTLY SAND!
IT'S KIND OF A PEBBLY GRAVEL.
LIKE, PERHAPS THIS COULD BE, YOU KNOW, AN ELEMENT
OF WHAT ONCE WAS A BEACH.
Narrator: TO ACCURATELY EVALUATE, AND ATTEMPT TO CLAIM,
THE PREHISTORIC BEACH LINE...
ZEKE IS RELYING ON SOME PRIMITIVE TOOLS.
Zeke: I'M GONNA GO AS FAR OVER HERE AS I CAN,
AS MY TETHER WILL LET ME, AND GET A SAMPLE!
NOW I JUST HAVE TO FIND PART OF THE GOLD!
IT WAS CONCENTRATING ON THIS OLD BEACH,
WHEN THIS BEACH USED TO BE HERE!
LOOSE-ASS BEACH GRAVEL WAY-THE-HELL OUT HERE.
I KNOW WE'RE IN THE RIGHT AREA!
'CAUSE OF THIS GRAVEL AND THIS BEACHY STUFF!
BUT THE PLACE I LEFT OFF ON WAS A COBBLE FIELD!
AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE!
WHERE'S THE GOLD? WHERE ARE YOU?
**
Narrator: 80 MILES TO THE EAST...
**
IT'S HERE. LOTS OF GOLD RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: SHAWN IS ALL IN, TO FUND HIS $6-MILLION-DOLLAR
MEGA-DREDGE PROJECT.
Shawn: THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT ROCK.
I WAS THINKING IT WAS THE BIG ROCK I WAS ON THIS SUMMER.
Narrator: BUT FIVE HOURS INTO HIS FIRST DIVE,
NO BIG ROCK, AND NO BIG GOLD.
Shawn: THERE'S SOME GOLD HERE,
BUT NOT AS MUCH AS AROUND THE ROCK
I WANT TO FIND.
PUNCHING ANOTHER HOLE, HERE.
WE'RE GONNA KEEP LOOKING.
THERE'S GONNA BE A PILE AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE.
YOU STILL MINING ABOUT SOUTHWEST OF THE DIVE HOLE?
YEAH. 10-4.
Narrator: TENDING TOPSIDE --
SHAWN'S RIGHT-HAND MAN, CODY MOEN.
Shawn: I MEAN, IT'S THE RIGHT-LOOKING MATERIAL.
I'M JUST NOT SEEING...
A LOT OF GOLD I WANT TO SEE.
IT TAKES A LOT MORE THAN ONE WOULD THINK TO GET DOWN THERE
AND DO WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
I THINK SHAWN'S THE BEST GOLD MINER IN THIS TOWN,
HIM AND HIS DAD.
THAT'S THE TEAM YOU WANT TO BE ON, IS THE POMRENKE TEAM.
IT'S BEEN YEARS OF THIS HARD WORK.
PEOPLE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO BE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
Shawn: THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF BOULDERS.
I GOT THE NOZZLE UNDERNEATH THIS ONE.
TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING LOOSE AROUND IT
SO I CAN GET UNDERNEATH IT.
FIVE-FOOT LONG, 2 1/2 FEET WIDE.
I'LL GET IT CLEARED OUT AROUND IT,
SEE IF I CAN GET IT LOOSENED UP ENOUGH.
MAYBE IT'LL ROLL.
Narrator: IT'S NOT THE BOULDER SHAWN'S BEEN LOOKING FOR,
BUT UNABLE TO FIND THE BOULDER HE LOVES,
HE'S GONNA LOVE THE BOULDER HE'S WITH.
Shawn: OH, THERE -- IT MOVED.
OH, YEAH. HERE WE GO.
[ GRUNTS ]
GET DOWN INTO THE PAY LAYER NOW.
THERE'S SOME NICE... OH, HERE WE GO.
**
YEAH! WHOA!
AHH!
THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.
THERE.
YEAH, YOU CAN SEE CHUNKS OF GOLD DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF IT.
SEEING GOOD GOLD DOWN THERE?
YEAH. I JUST SEEN A NICE CHUNK GO UP.
HIDING IN THE LITTLE CRACKS, HIDING DOWN IN THE CLAY.
HE'S SEEING CHUNKS.
THAT'S... THAT'S GOOD.
WE'RE ON THE GOLD.
HERE'S SOME NICE CHUNKS OF GOLD, THERE.
THERE'S SOMETHING BIG AROUND HERE.
IT'S GONNA PAY OFF BIG.
**
WE'RE MAKING MONEY RIGHT NOW.
WHO IS IT?
WE GOT A RIDER APPROACHING THE DREDGE!
OH, YEAH?
WONDER WHO IN THE HELL THAT COULD BE!
Narrator: 80 MILES EAST OF NOME...
**
WE GOT A RIDER APPROACHING THE DREDGE!
OH, YEAH? WONDER WHO IN THE HELL THAT COULD BE!
Narrator: SHAWN POMRENKE HAS RETURNED
TO THE MOST GOLD-RICH OFFSHORE GROUND HE'S EVER SEEN.
HIS GOAL?
SUCK UP ENOUGH PAY DIRT TO FUND HIS SECRET WEAPON --
A $6-MILLION MEGA DREDGE.
BUT NOW, THERE'S AN UNINVITED GUEST.
Shawn: THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME NICE, CHUNKY GOLD AROUND HERE.
**
THE HELL'S GOING ON AROUND HERE?
AH [BLEEP].
Narrator: WITH THE FUTURE OF THE FAMILY EMPIRE
HANGING ON SHAWN'S EFFORTS,
PATRIARCH STEVE POMRENKE
CAN'T HELP BUT CHIP IN HIS OWN TWO CENTS.
YOU WANT TO COME UP?
ALL RIGHT. I'M COMING UP.
AT LEAST WE GOT SOME GOLD IN THE BOX TO SHOW!
**
HOW ARE YOU? WE GOT SOME GOLD.
FLIP THAT FLAP UP, STEVE.
ONCE.
OH, YEAH. LOOK AT ALL THEM BIG CHUNKS.
I SEE A BUNCH OF GOLD IN THERE.
THAT'S A NICE FILL.
FIRST DIVE!
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE MAKING SOME MONEY.
WE ARE MAKING A LITTLE MONEY.
WHEW.
HAVEN'T FOUND THAT MOTHER LODE YET.
LOOKING PRETTY DAMN GOOD FOR THE FIRST RUN, AIN'T IT?
YES, IT IS. NOT TOO BAD.
YOU GUYS GONNA BE ABLE TO STAY ON THE GOLD HERE?
YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO PUT A MAJOR AMOUNT OF OUNCES IN THE BOX?
YOU KNOW DAMN WELL HOW MUCH WE BADLY NEED THESE OUNCES.
DAD DOES LIKE TO MICROMANAGE.
BUT THAT'S STEVE POMRENKE, SO...
I QUIT TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
I MEAN, I HAVE THIS VISION FOR THIS NEXT DREDGE,
AND I'M THE MOST EXCITED ABOUT IT
BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IN MY CAPABILITIES
OF DESIGNING AND BUILDING THIS THING,
AND MAKING IT THE BEST DREDGE ON THE BERING SEA.
I'LL STAY ON. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GOOD AT.
IF YOU'RE GONNA BE BUILDING THE BIG BARGE,
WE NEED THESE OUNCES.
WE NEED THEM BAD.
Narrator: AFTER LOSING THE NOME GOLD PROPERTY,
AND THE CLAIM AT THE BLUFF,
SHAWN CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER FAILED PROJECT.
I AM WORRIED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT,
WHEN I LEAVE THE WHOLE BUSINESS HERE,
WILL SHAWN KEEP THE BUSINESS RUNNING,
ND NOT RUN IT INTO THE GROUND?
IT'S GONNA BE HIS WHOLE BALL GAME, NOT MINE.
I WANT HIM TO RUN HIS OWN COMPANY.
I DON'T WANT TO BE THE BOSS OVER HIM ANYMORE.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THAT DANG NOME GOLD DEAL FALLING THROUGH,
I MEAN, THIS IS THE ONLY THING REALLY GONNA MAKE ANY MONEY,
HERE, STARTING OFF THE SEASON,
AND WE NEED THEM OUNCES IN OUR POCKET,
PUT THAT MEGA DREDGE TOGETHER,
OTHERWISE THAT PROJECT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
I'M TRYING.
I MEAN, ALL WE CAN DO IS KEEP PUSHING AND POPPING HOLES
AND SUCKING UP DIRT.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY, DAD.
I HOPE YOU FIND SOMETHING.
DAD AND I HAVE ALREADY DONE AMAZING THINGS TOGETHER,
BUT WE NEED TO KEEP GROWING THIS BUSINESS.
I WANT TO PROVIDE A LIFE FOR MY KIDS THAT I NEVER GOT.
I'VE WORKED THROUGH THAT WHOLE CHILDHOOD.
I WANT MY KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION,
AND NOT END UP HAVING TO WORK SEVEN DAYS
A WEEK, 16 HOURS A DAY.
**
Narrator: 22 MILES TO THE WEST...
**
'KAY. HERE WE ARE AT THE FORK IN THE ROAD.
ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, THAT'S THE IDITAROD PATH,
AND ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE IS WHERE I WANT TO GO.
Narrator: CAPTAIN KRIS KELLY IS ON A HAIL MARY MISSION
TO FOLLOW SHAWN TO THE BLUFF.
I CAN SEE WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO TAKE MY SHED.
THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS TO HUG THE ICE SPINE ON THE SHORE.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU COULD TAKE IT RIGHT THROUGH.
LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE GOING INTO A DAMN ROCK FACE.
Narrator: BUT THE GREAT ADVENTURE
MAY HAVE REACHED A DEAD END.
IT LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE, THIS.
THAT'S THE ROAD I WANT TO TAKE!
THAT'S THE EASY PATH!
THAT'S THE ONLY ONE I COULD TAKE, WITH OUR BIG BUILDING!
HEY, I'M ALL ABOUT TAKING THE EASY PATH.
BUT THAT LOOKS LIKE THE MOST DANGEROUS WAY.
THAT'S A CLIFF, ROCK FACE, RIGHT THERE.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS ADVENTURE IS DANGEROUS.
I KNOW I'M A GOOD LEADER, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE
THAT WANT TO FOLLOW,
YOU KNOW, THAT BELIEVE IN YOU, THAT WANT TO MAKE IT.
I'M GONNA DO ANYTHING I HAVE TO DO.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DO YOU THINK WE CAN MAKE IT THROUGH THIS?
NOT A CHANCE IN HELL.
THIS IS THE BLOW HOLE.
ALL THE WAY DOWN THE COAST, AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE,
IS NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING OPEN WATER,
BECAUSE THERE'S A NORTH WIND
THAT BLOWS INTO THIS BLOW HOLE
LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE.
PEOPLE HAVE COME CLOSE TO DEATH RIGHT HERE 'CAUSE OF WIND.
I GET IT, I GET IT.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE OLD SETTLERS THAT HAD TO CARRY
1,000 POUNDS OF EQUIPMENT
UP THIS HILL ON THEIR BACK?
THEY HAD HORSES, I'M PRETTY SURE.
I DON'T THINK THEY DID.
I SAW PICTURES, AND --
I THINK THEY ATE THE HORSES.
WELL, THAT'S WHY THEY BROUGHT HORSES,
JUST IN CASE THEY HAD TO EAT THEM.
OKAY WELL, LET'S GO THIS WAY.
DOESN'T GO THAT WELL.
NO.
'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY HORSES, DUDE.
WE NEED TO HAVE A BETTER ATTITUDE.
WE NEED TO GET OUR EQUIPMENT THROUGH THIS.
WE NEED TO BUILD!
SAYING, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE TRYING TO GO DOWN A CLIFF.
I CAN'T GO THAT WAY.
THIS IS THE FARTHEST YOU'VE EVER TAKEN US OUT OF NOME.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST GOLD WE'RE GOING AFTER.
LOOKIT. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO GET THEIR PANTIES ON, AND LET'S GO.
WE GOT 'EM ON.
RIGHT NOW, MY DAD AND BROTHER DON'T BELIEVE
IN A DAMNED THING THAT I'M TELLING THEM.
I MEAN, SURE IT WOULD BE EASIER TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE,
BUT THERE'S A MILLION DOLLARS AT THE BLUFFS,
AND I'M GONNA GO GET IT,
AND THERE'S NO ON THAT'S GONNA STOP ME.
THE ONLY WAY I CAN LOSE RIGHT NOW
IS IF I GET EATEN BY A GRIZZLY BEAR.
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
Narrator: COMING UP...
YOU WANT TO GRAB ONE OF THOSE SAMPLES, SAM?
HELL YEAH.
IT'S ALMOST DARK.
WE HAVE NO PLACE TO STAY.
WE'RE NOT GONNA FREEZE TO DEATH!
I CAN FIGURE IT OUT.
Man: GOLD MINING IN THE BERING SEA
IS A TOUGH WAY TO MAKE A LIVING.
YOU NEED TO TAKE CHANCES AND TAKE RISKS,
AND DO THINGS THAT NORMAL PEOPLE WOULDN'T DO.
MY DAD WAS THE ONE THAT ORIGINALLY STARTED
THE ICE-MINING IDEA.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 15 YEARS.
DAD BUILT A LITTLE FISH HOUSE,
AND THEN PUT A SIX-INCH DREDGE IN THERE, AND...
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER WENT DIVING.
ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, I COME UP, AND MY LIPS WERE BLUE,
AND I WAS HYPOTHERMIC, AND...
BUT THAT'S WHAT GOT ME INTO DIVING,
AND LOOKING FOR GOLD IN THE OCEAN.
Narrator: 10 MILES EAST OF NOME...
AT HASTINGS CREEK.
YEAH, YOU WANT TO GRAB ONE OF THOSE SAMPLES, SAM?
YEAH.
ZEKE TENHOFF AND HIS BROTHER SAM
ARE ASSESSING THE FRUITS OF THEIR DAY'S LABOR,
AS THEY WORK TO SECURE A MINERAL-RIGHTS
CLAIM ON THE GROUNDS
WITH THE STATE OF ALASKA.
YEAH, THIS IS THE SAMPLE THAT WAS FROM, LIKE,
FAR AWAY FROM THE HOLE AS I COULD GET.
MY IMMEDIATE GOAL FOR THE START OF THIS ICE SEASON
IS TO COLLECT ENOUGH SAMPLES TO BE ABLE TO PROVE
THAT THERE IS A LONG-TERM RESOURCE OF GOLD
OUT AT THAT PREHISTORIC BEACH LINE AT HASTINGS CREEK.
ONCE I HAVE THAT DATA, I CAN START
THE CLAIMING AND LEASING PROCESS,
TO HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO THE AREA FOR THE LONG-TERM.
I HATE TO BE THE PESSIMIST,
BUT THIS JUST LOOKS LIKE A BUCKET FULL OF SAND TO ME.
I DO KINDA WISH MAYBE I WAS PANNING FROM SAMPLES
THAT WERE FULL OF RED AND BLACK SAND,
INSTEAD OF JUST OLD PREHISTORIC PEBBLES.
OH, IT'S IN HERE.
I MEAN...
OKAY.
WE GOT ONE TINY LITTLE SPECK.
IT'S RIGHT THERE.
SPECK OF GOLD.
TINY LITTLE SPECK OF FINE GOLD.
THAT'S NOT GONNA PAY THE BILLS.
IT'S NOT GONNA PAY THE BILLS.
THE FIRST SAMPLES THAT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE, NOT LOOKING GOOD.
I MEAN, BY BROTHER'S NOT HAPPY.
IF I TAKE THAT MUCH ENERGY OUT OF SAM TO FOLLOW MY PLAN
AND IT TURNS OUT THAT MY PLAN WAS
JUST A LITTLE BIT HALF-ASSED IN ITS ARCHITECTURE, THEN...
I MEAN, THAT'S NOT COOL.
Narrator: THE FIRST TEST BUCKETS ARE BLANKS,
BUT HOPING TO STAKE A CLAIM HE CAN WORK FOR YEARS,
ZEKE'S NOT GIVING UP JUST YET.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND A WAY
TO GET A LITTLE FURTHER NORTH OF THE HOLE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE FAITH THAT THINGS ARE GOING
TO WORK OUT IN THE END.
FOLLOWING THE GEOLOGY, THERE'S A LOT OF REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT THERE MIGHT BE A LOT MORE GOLD OUT THERE
THAN ANYONE CAN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
**
Narrator: 70 MILES TO THE EAST...
[ SNOWMOBILE ENGINE SPUTTERING ]
WE [BLEEP] MADE IT!
HELL YEAH!
AFTER AN AGONIZING 13-HOUR JOURNEY...
WHOO!
KRIS KELLY IS WITHIN SIGHT OF THE BLUFF.
WE BARELY MADE IT.
IF THIS IS HALF AS GOOD AS EVERYBODY SAYS IT IS,
THIS IS GONNA BE THE GREATEST THING
THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO ME OR MY FAMILY.
NOBODY HAS THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THERE'S NO CHANCE IN AMERICA YOU CAN GO AND SAY,
"HEY, YOU GO DO THIS, THERE,
AND YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS."
NOBODY HAS THAT CHANCE.
Narrator: NOW, THE ONLY THING KRIS HAS TO DO
IS FIGURE OUT HOW TO SLEEP, HOW TO EAT, HOW TO MINE,
AND HOW TO AVOID A MUTINY.
VERY GOOD... OH, WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?
WE MADE IT.
WHAT'S MY PROBLEM IS, IT'S ALMOST DARK.
WE HAVE NO PLACE TO STAY.
YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT MY PROBLEM IS.
WE HAVE THE TENT. EVERYBODY --
YEAH, WE HAVE THE TENT! HAVE YOU SET ONE UP BEFORE?!
YEAH, SO I'VE NEVER SET ONE UP BEFORE!
BUT IT'S A [BLEEP] TENT, AND I CAN FIGURE IT OUT.
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA FREEZE TO DEATH, EVERYBODY.
WE WORK OUT IN THESE CONDITIONS ALL THE TIME.
I KNOW, BUT WE HAVE A PLACE TO GO TO AT THE END OF THE DAY.
HERE, WE DON'T.
I HAVE NO IDEA, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I BELIEVE MY DAD AND BROTHER WANTED ME SO WE'D GO BACK
TO THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS.
SO I'M BASICALLY SAYING, "HEY, YOU'RE GONNA GIVE UP
EVERYTHING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA COME LIVE WITH ME
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, AND THAT'S YOUR NEW LIFE."
IF I CAN'T MAKE MY FAMILY WANT TO MAKE A MILLION DOLLARS,
I'LL GET SOMEBODY ELSE.
Narrator: AS NIGHT FALLS ACROSS THE BERING SEA,
JUST ONE MILE AWAY...
WHOO! HELL YEAH!
SHAWN POMRENKE'S FIRST DAY OF THE WINTER MINING SEASON
COMES TO A CLOSE.
Shawn: THIS SEASON'S ABOUT STARTING OVER...
HELL YEAH.
AND GETTING THIS MEGA DREDGE BUILT.
WE GOT A LONG DAY AHEAD OF US, TOMORROW.
Narrator: IN THE GLOW OF THE GOLDEN NUGGET...
LET'S GO TO BED, MAN.
SHAWN HEADS FOR CAMP, UNAWARE THAT A DETERMINED RIVAL
HAS REACHED THE GATES.
Shawn: THAT MEGA DREDGE WILL KEEP NOME ALIVE.
I MEAN, YOU START BRINGING IN $100,000, $200,000
A DAY INTO A SMALL COMMUNITY LIKE THAT,
IT'LL DEFINITELY BE A REALLY GOOD THING FOR NOME.
I GUESS THIS IS WHERE WE'RE SETTING UP CAMP, BOYS.
THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT DEPEND ON MY BUSINESS AND ME.
I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE DEPEND ON ME, BUT...
LONG AS I KEEP FINDING BIG PILES OF GOLD,
IT SHOULD KEEP ALL THESE FAMILIES HAPPY.
WE'LL BE NICE AND WARM HERE IN A MINUTE.
I HAVE A FEELING THIS WINTER WILL BE THE BEST ICE-MINING
SEASON I'VE EVER HAD.
I THINK IT'S THE NEXT BIG GOLD RUSH, FOR ME,
AND I THINK IT'LL HAVE PEOPLE TRYING TO COME DOWN THERE
TO MINE, BUT...
NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT ANYBODY SHOWING UP ANYTIME SOON,
BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN ME YEARS TO GET READY FOR IT.
I MEAN, IF PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE GONNA COME UP HERE
AND DO IT IN ONE SEASON, THEY GOT...
THEY GOT ANOTHER THING COMING.
ANYTHING THIS TOUGH HAS GOT TO BE WORTH IT.
**
Narrator: ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF "BERING SEA GOLD"...
WE'RE THE REAPER, AND WE'VE COME HERE TO DO BUSINESS.
OH [BLEEP] RICKY!
THIS PLACE IS LOADED.
DID YOU FIND THIS?! NO.
DID YOU FIND IT?!