Narrator: NOW ON "BERING SEA GOLD"...
Zeke: WHEN PEOPLE TELL ME THAT MY IDEA ISN'T GOING TO WORK
AND THAT I'M STUPID FOR HAVING AN IDEA OR TRYING TO DO THINGS,
IT GIVES ME MORE FREEDOM TO JUST DO THE IDEA ANYWAY.
IF I DON'T FIND THE KIND OF GOLD THAT I'M HOPING I'D FIND,
MY SEASON'S PROBABLY OVER.
I've never had to go down an ice tunnel before.
Oh, [bleep].
Kris: WE HAVE A CHANCE TO GET MORE GOLD THAN SHAWN THIS YEAR,
AND I MEAN A REAL CHANCE.
MY DAD AND BROTHER SEE THIS NOW.
THEY SEE THIS BIG PICTURE OF MANSIONS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO PUSH TO EVERYBODY.
WE'LL ALL GET A MANSION OUT OF THIS.
Holy cow, Jay, you should see all the gold
that I'm getting down here.
THAT IS THE BEST GOLD CLEANUP WE'VE EVER HAD IN OUR LIVES,
IN OUR LIVES!
Shawn: GOLD MINING IS A STRESSFUL JOB.
ALL THESE MINERS ARE OUT HERE.
THERE'S LESS AND LESS GOLD.
AND YOU GET A BUNCH OF GUYS THAT DON'T HAVE
ANY GOLD OR ANY MONEY,
AND THINGS JUST GO DOWNHILL FROM THERE.
I'VE RISKED EVERYTHING TO GET TO THIS POINT.
Shawn: IF YOUR AIR GOES OUT RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.
Who has the air?
HOLD ON!
So overwhelmed by how truly horrifying it really is.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
**
[ WIND BLOWING ]
**
Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.
JUST DAYS INTO THE WINTER MINING SEASON,
THE PRESSURE OF THE BIGGEST GOLD RUSH
WESTERN ALASKA HAS SEEN IN DECADES
IS DRIVING THE FLEET TO EXTREME MEASURES.
IN THESE CONDITIONS, THE MINER THAT THRIVES
WILL RELY ON THE STRENGTH OF HIS CREW TO SEIZE THE DAY.
**
10 MILES EAST OF NOME
AT HASTINGS CREEK...
THIS IS STRAIGHT UP, THIS IS RIGHT, ISN'T IT?
THIS IS RIGHT WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
ZEKE TENHOFF AND HIS BROTHER SAM ARE WORKING TO SECURE
A MINERAL-RIGHTS CLAIM WITH THE STATE OF ALASKA.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE COULD BE MULTIPLE CAREERS'
WORTH OF GOLD OUT AT HASTINGS.
Narrator: ZEKE IS TARGETING AN UNEXPLORED,
ANCIENT BEACHLINE FAR OFFSHORE AND 45 FEET BENEATH THE SURFACE,
GROUNDS HE BELIEVES WILL YIELD A FORTUNE IN GOLD
THAT HE CAN WORK FOR DECADES.
IF THERE IS AWESOME GOLD HERE
AND IT'S UNCLAIMED, THAT'S ENORMOUS.
IT'D BE ENORMOUS FOR US.
Narrator: LAST SUMMER...
YOU SEE ANYTHING IN THERE?
NO, I DEFINITELY SEE A LITTLE GOLD BUILDING UP IN HERE.
ZEKE STRUCK PROMISING SIGNS OF GOLD AT HASTINGS CREEK.
HASTINGS CREEK'S SPITTING OUT GOLD RIGHT DIRECTLY THAT WAY.
THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
Narrator: HE'S DEDICATED THIS WINTER
TO STAKING CLAIM TO THE GROUND...
ZEKE: Place they left off on was a cobble field.
That's where we need to be.
Narrator: AN INTRICATE PROCESS...
IT'S A TINY LITTLE SPECK OF FINE GOLD.
THAT INVOLVES THOROUGHLY SURVEYING THE AREA.
I HAVE TO FIND A WAY
TO GET A LITTLE FURTHER NORTH WITH OUR HOLE.
NOW...
THIS IS THE SPOT THAT I KNOW I NEED TO BE AT
TO GET THE SAMPLES I NEED.
THE SWATH OF OCEAN FLOOR ZEKE HAS HIS SIGHTS SET ON
IS COVERED IN PRESSURE RIDGES,
FORMATIONS PRODUCED WHEN SHEETS OF SEA ICE COLLIDE,
CREATING A MASSIVE JUMBLE OF ICE BLOCKS
THAT CAN BE 20 FEET THICK OR MORE,
AND THE GROUND ZEKE NEEDS TO SURVEY
IS RIGHT UNDER THE THICKEST PART.
IT MAY BE THAT LIKE WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH
20 FEET OF ICE TO GET THROUGH THIS PRESSURE RIDGE,
WHICH SOUNDS INSANE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK,
UNLESS YOU PROVE ME WRONG.
INSPIRED BY DOUBT...
Zeke: JUST GOING TO GET STARTED ON CUTTING THESE PIECES
OF COPPER PIPE UP...
Narrator: THE FLEET'S MAD SCIENTIST ALREADY HAS A PLAN
TO BORE THROUGH THE 20 FEET OF ICE.
THE PRINCIPAL BEHIND A COPPER HOLE-MELTING DEVICE
IS THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE A LINE
IN WHICH TO EVENLY DISTRIBUTE PRESSURIZED HOT WATER.
FAIRLY EASY TO MAKE WITH BASIC PLUMBING SKILLS.
Narrator: ZEKE'S HOLE-MELTING DEVICE?
A 2-BY-4-FOOT COPPER SHOWER HEAD
THAT HE HOPES WILL EVENLY SPRAY HOT WATER
AND MELT A 20-FOOT LONG TUNNEL THROUGH THE PRESSURE RIDGE
LARGE ENOUGH FOR HIM TO SQUEEZE THROUGH
AND COLLECT THE SAMPLES HE NEEDS TO STAKE HIS CLAIM.
**
Zeke: THE GOLD PROBE.
Sam: LOOK HERE. WE CUT YOU A LITTLE 2-BY-2 HOLE
THAT GOES 15 FEET DOWN THROUGH ICE FIRST
BEFORE YOU GET TO THE WATER.
ABSOLUTELY NO LIGHT DOWN THERE AT ALL.
Zeke: WHEN PEOPLE TELL ME THAT MY IDEA ISN'T GOING TO WORK
AND THAT I'M STUPID FOR HAVING AN IDEA OR TRYING TO DO THINGS,
IT GIVES ME MORE FREEDOM TO JUST DO THE IDEA ANYWAY.
**
Narrator: 70 MILES EAST...
**
AT THE BLUFF...
THAT'S A HUGE PUDDLE OF GOLD RIGHT THERE.
DO YOU SEE THAT?
YEAH, THAT'S ALL GOLD, TOO.
THAT'S SWEET.
Narrator: THE FIGHTING IRISH
ARE CLEANING THEIR FIRST GOLD OF THE SEASON.
HONESTLY, I'D LIKE TO SEE 10 OUNCES TODAY.
10 OUNCES WOULD KEEP THE BALL ROLLING.
AND AFTER SPENDING EVERY LAST DIME JUST GETTING TO THE BLUFF,
CAPTAIN KRIS IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF A GOOD CLEANUP.
Kris: I'VE LOST QUITE A BIT IN LIFE
JUST BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND AND MY FAMILY'S SITUATION
AND I NEVER REALLY HAD THE RIGHT FOUNDATION.
THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS MINING THING
PAY OFF FOR ME IN SPADES.
I HAVEN'T WASTED FIVE YEARS OF MY LIFE FOR NOTHING.
I'VE ACTUALLY CARVED A FUTURE OUT WITH MY OWN TWO BARE HANDS,
AND I THINK I'VE DONE REALLY WELL DOING IT.
Narrator: AT THE START OF THE SEASON...
DUDE, WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW SHAWN TO THE BLUFFS.
NEWS OF THE POMRENKE FIND AT THE BLUFF
INSPIRED KRIS WITH AN IDEA.
WE [BLEEP] MADE IT!
HELL YEAH!
FOLLOW MR. GOLD TO THE GOLD...
YOU GUYS ARE A COUPLE [BLEEP] COWARD [BLEEP]
PIECES OF [BLEEP] MOTHER [BLEEP]
THAT GOT TO LEECH OFF OF OTHER [BLEEP] PEOPLE.
AND CLAIM A PIECE OF THE BLUFF GOLD RUSH
FOR HOUSE KELLY.
Oh, I found a thousand flakes all in here,
all underneath this one rock.
Narrator: NOW THE YOUNG CAPTAIN IS ABOUT TO SEE
IF HIS GAMBLE IS PAYING OFF.
Kris: OKAY, HERE WE GO.
THAT'S ONE.
TWO, FOUR, FIVE.
SIX, SEVEN.
All: EIGHT. NINE.
Kris: LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S IT, 9.3.
9.3! 9.3 OUNCES.
YAY!
[BLEEP] "A"!
Narrator: 9.3 OUNCES IS WORTH OVER $11,000.
THAT IS THE BEST GOLD CLEANUP WE'VE EVER HAD IN OUR LIVES.
IN OUR LIVES. THE RECORD HAUL
PUTS THE KELLYS WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE
OF KRIS' GOAL TO BECOME A MILLIONAIRE.
ONLY 824 MORE OUNCES TO GO.
Brad: CAPTAIN KRIS HAS GOT GOLD FEVER.
I MEAN, HE WAS PASSING IT AROUND TO ALL OF US.
I GOT THE FEELING THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST YEAR
FOR US OF ALL, YOU KNOW?
Andy: I BELIEVE IN MY BROTHER. I ALWAYS HAVE.
IF I DIDN'T, I WOULDN'T BE HERE WORKING WITH HIM.
IT'S A GIMME RIGHT THERE, BUT AT LEAST
HE PULLED IT OUT OF HIS ASS, SO HOPEFULLY HE JUST KEEPS
GOING THE WAY HE'S GOING NOW AND WE'LL BE FINE.
Kris: RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A CHANCE
TO GET MORE GOLD THAN SHAWN THIS YEAR,
AND I MEAN A REAL CHANCE.
WHO THE [BLEEP] COMPETES AGAINST MILLIONAIRES?
HEY, LET'S JUST BE MEN AND DO THIS.
MY DAD AND BROTHER SEE THIS NOW.
THEY SEE THIS BIG PICTURE OF MANSIONS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO PUSH TO EVERYBODY.
WE'LL ALL GET A MANSION OUT OF THIS.
Narrator: AFTER FIVE YEARS OF BATTLING WITH HIS FAMILY
JUST TO SCRAPE BY,
KRIS KELLY MAY BE ON THE CUSP OF GREATNESS.
ALL HE NEEDS TO DO IS KEEP THE FAMILY ON THE GOLD.
**
My ears just popped.
**
Okay.
**
HOW IS IT?
I'm trying to find these 10-ounce pockets
that everybody keeps talking about.
HEY, JAY, I CAN'T EVEN HEAR YOU ON THIS THING.
IT HUMS NONSTOP.
This is soft [Bleep],
so we could rip right through this.
I just wonder if it's a waste of time,
and there's nice quartz rock.
[ Noise ]
I CAN'T EVEN HEAR YOU, JAY.
[ Noise ]
**
KRIS, I CAN BARELY EVEN [BLEEP]
MAKE OUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING HALF THE TIME.
Something's wrong!
[ Noise ]
WHAT?
[ Noise ]
DID YOU HEAR HIM? BECAUSE I CAN'T.
I think I'm losing air!
**
[ BLEEP ]
**
Narrator: COMING UP...
EVERYBODY COULD USE A PAYCHECK.
THERE'S NUGGETS ON TOP. [ LAUGHS ]
THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY THE MOST TERRIFYING
DIVING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE SO FAR.
Narrator: 80 MILES EAST OF NOME
AT THE BLUFF...
I think I'm losing air!
**
[ BLEEP ]
**
Narrator: CAPTAIN KRIS KELLY'S QUEST
TO KEEP HIS FAMILY ON THE GOLD...
SOMETHING'S WRONG.
HAS BEEN CUT SHORT BY FAULTY EQUIPMENT.
I'M NOT GOING BACK UNDERNEATH THE WATER WITH THAT REGULATOR.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
I'M LOOKING AT IT.
IT'S [BLEEP] YOU.
I'M NOT THE [BLEEP] PROBLEM.
I COULDN'T [BLEEP] BREATHE.
YOU THINK I'M SCRAMBLING UP THE HOSE FOR MY HEALTH?
KRIS' DREAM OF BECOMING A MILLIONAIRE
AND BUYING NEW MANSIONS FOR HIS FAMILY...
IS DISAPPEARING BEFORE HIS EYES.
Kris: THE WHOLE MINING OPERATION IS DANGEROUS.
101 WAYS TO KILL YOURSELF THERE.
BUT ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S THE REAL DANGER
OF SUFFOCATING YOURSELF UNDERNEATH THE WATER.
IT'S NEVER A GOOD IDEA.
I DON'T KNOW ONE [BLEEP] THING THAT'S SAFE ABOUT ICE MINING.
I REALLY DON'T.
MAYBE IF YOU STAND THERE AND DON'T MOVE, IT'S SAFE.
THE REGULATOR IS [BLEEP] UP.
YEAH, WE'VE GOT TO DRIVE TO TOWN NOW.
STANDING ON A FORTUNE YOU CAN'T REACH
AND KNOWING THAT ALL OF YOUR PROBLEMS
CAN BE SOLVED RIGHT HERE AND I CAN'T [BLEEP]
GET THE MONEY OUT OF THE GROUND MYSELF.
I DIDN'T COME HERE FOR A HALF AN OUNCE AN HOUR.
I CAME HERE FOR MY 500-OUNCE SEASON.
WE ARE JUST TOO DAMN CLOSE TO BE STOPPED NOW.
**
Narrator: 300 FEET ACROSS THE ICE...
Shawn: TWEEDLY DEE AND TWEEDLY DUM.
KRIS' LITTLE ANNOYING, SQUEAKY LITTLE VOICE.
THEIR MINING STYLE IS GO JUMP ON SOMEBODY THAT FOUND GOLD
AND TRY TO STEAL IT FROM THEM.
Narrator: SHAWN POMRENKE IS LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT DIVE SPOT
WITH THE HELP OF AN UNDERWATER CAMERA.
HIS GOAL?
Shawn: THAT'S A BIG ROCK RIGHT THERE.
Narrator: LOCATE A BOULDER HE FOUND
AT THE END OF LAST SUMMER THAT HE HOPES MARKS BIG GOLD...
Shawn: NOT HAPPY WITH CHUMP CHANGE,
LITTLE, TINY BITS OF GOLD.
Narrator: GOLD HE'LL USE TO FUND A $6 MILLION MEGADREDGE.
Shawn: WE WANT THE BIG PILE OF GOLD.
Narrator: LAST SUMMER...
Shawn: 45 OUNCES.
WE'RE DOING $100 A MINUTE.
Narrator: SHAWN FOUND SIGNS
OF A MASSIVE NEW DEPOSIT AT THE BLUFF.
Shawn: THIS COULD BE A GAME CHANGER.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: BUT SO FAR THIS WINTER...
HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO RELOCATE THE PAY STREAK.
**
YOU [BLEEP] IDIOT!
Narrator: AND NEWS OF THE FIND...
WHAT'S UP, STUPID MOTHER [BLEEP]?
HAS BROUGHT AN UNWELCOME DISTRACTION...
THEY WANT TO PLAY DIRTY, WE'LL [BLEEP] PLAY DIRTY.
THAT PULLED HIM OFF THE HUNT FOR GOLD...
Just punching holes, but, I mean,
it's all the right-looking material.
I just am not seeing a lot of gold I want to see.
WASTING TIME AND EFFORT.
Aw, [bleep].
NOW...
SHAWN IS REFOCUSED ON THE RACE TO TRACK DOWN HIS GOLD...
KELLYS ARE A BUNCH OF ROOKIES, THIEVES.
BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE DOES.
GOLD MINING IS A STRESSFUL JOB.
YOU CAN BE ONE WRONG MOVE AND GET OFF THE TRACK.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE UNDER EACH ROCK.
PRETTY GOOD DIP RIGHT THERE.
LOOK AT THAT HOLE.
YEP, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD HOLE RIGHT BACK THERE.
LOOKS GOOD.
WE'RE READY TO MOVE.
START MAKING SOME MONEY.
I MEAN, I'VE GONE DIVING
AND I'VE DOVE FOR THREE WEEKS AND MADE $500.
I WAS READY TO THROW IN THE TOWEL.
AND THEN THE NEXT DAY, I HIT A $30,000 PATCH OF GOLD.
STILL HAVEN'T FOUND THE MOTHER LODE
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR, BUT WE'RE STILL ON THE HUNT.
**
NICE.
MATT'S GOT IT THROTTLED UP.
Okay.
[Laughing] Oh, yeah.
**
BEAUTIFUL.
**
I WORK WITH SHAWN BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT ANY OF THE LITTLE THINGS,
NOR THE BIG THINGS, SO, YOU KNOW,
SHAWN PUTS THE GOLD IN THE BOX AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
**
Narrator: 70 MILES WEST...
**
AT HASTINGS CREEK...
THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY
THE MOST TERRIFYING DIVING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE SO FAR.
HASN'T REALLY EVEN STARTED YET.
Narrator: AFTER SUCCESSFULLY BORING A 20-FOOT ICE TUNNEL,
ZEKE TENHOFF IS TAKING ON
THE MOST DANGEROUS DIVE OF HIS LIFE.
I'M GOING TO START GATHERING UP SAMPLES.
HIS GOAL? COLLECT GOLD-RICH SAMPLES
AND STAKE A CLAIM TO THE LOCATION,
GIVING HIMSELF GROUND HE CAN MINE FOR DECADES.
**
Good God!
Oh, [bleep]!
What have I gotten myself into?
**
I never had to go down an ice tunnel before.
**
It keeps going down.
How deep is this bastard?
**
WHAT'S IT LOOK LIKE DOWN THERE, ZEKE?
Just big dark shapes all around me.
They're big, free-floating, loose chunks of ice,
and they could break free at any moment and plug my hole.
Yeah, oh, there's a big boy over there.
Damn, I don't want to have to [bleep] around with him.
I'm going to pretend he's not there.
I don't like him at all.
**
So overwhelmed by how truly horrifying it really is.
**
[ Breathing ]
I like what I'm seeing about this stuff.
I mean, dude, I know there's gold around here somewhere.
Look at this bottom.
This is just, like... I mean, it's a cobble field.
There's big rocks kind of scattered about.
This is a reconcentration zone like I've never seen.
Narrator: THE COBBLE FIELD MARKS THE LOCATION
OF THE ANCIENT BEACHLINE WHERE GOLD SHOULD GATHER.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT ZEKE HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR.
HE BELIEVES THE ANCIENT BEACHLINE
AND THE PRESSURE RIDGES
WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A MASSIVE GOLD DEPOSIT.
IF HE'S RIGHT, THIS COULD BE THE RICHEST GROUND
IN THE HISTORY OF THE NOME GOLD GAME.
All right, I'm going to stop dillydallying
and I'm going to start gathering up samples.
**
JUST GOT TO CLEAR ALL THESE ICE CHUNKS OUT OF HIS HOLE.
THEY KEEP FLOATING UP FROM THE BOTTOM.
IF IT KEEPS COMING UP LIKE THIS AND I CAN'T MOVE IT OUT
FAST ENOUGH, IT'S GOING TO PLUG HIS HOLE UP.
All right, I just got a sample, but I want to keep looking.
It just takes time to go through these rocks.
**
Narrator: COMING UP...
EVERYTHING'S BARELY HANGING ON BY A THREAD.
Kris!
Kris, the air!
You just want to take your gloves off
and just start grabbing 'em.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: 10 MILES EAST OF NOME
AT HASTINGS CREEK...
IF IT KEEPS COMING UP LIKE THIS AND I CAN'T MOVE IT OUT
FAST ENOUGH, IT'S GOING TO PLUG HIS HOLE UP.
ZEKE: All right, I just got a sample,
but I want to keep looking.
Narrator: ZEKE TENHOFF IS UNDERTAKING
THE MOST DANGEROUS DIVE OF HIS LIFE --
DOWN A 2-FOOT-WIDE HOLE THROUGH 20 FEET OF ICE...
It just takes time to go through these rocks.
Narrator: ICE THAT IS SLOWLY FREEZING ABOVE HIM.
All right, I'm going to run up to you.
**
[ BLEEP ]
**
[ LAUGHS ]
**
Zeke: PROBABLY THE MOST HAZARDOUS THING I'VE EVER DONE
UNDER THE ICE, WITHOUT QUESTION.
Sam: I WAS LIKE SHOVELING CHUNKS
FOR LIKE HALF THAT DIVE.
I WAS LIKE THROWING THE CHUNKS UP,
AND I THINK WHEN I WAS WANDERING AROUND DOWN THERE,
MY TETHER WOULD LIKE CATCH A CHUNK,
AND THEN THAT CHUNK WOULD GO,
"OH, I'M JUST GOING TO GO UP INTO ZEKE'S HOLE NOW."
YEAH. BECAUSE THERE'S ALL THESE CHUNKS
THAT ARE LIKE ALL POISED TO JUST GO BOOH!
YEAH, I KNOW.
IT'S SCARY.
YEAH.
YOU KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO
IS IF I'M GOING TO SPEND ANY MORE TIME DOWN THERE,
I'M GOING TO MAKE TWO HOLES.
Narrator: AFTER A DECADE AS A MINER,
THIS ISN'T ZEKE'S FIRST BRUSH WITH DANGER UNDER THE ICE.
I THINK THE SCARIEST INSTANCES IN MY DIVING CAREER
WEREN'T SCARY WHEN THEY HAPPENED,
BUT IT'S SCARY TO THINK BACK ON JUST HOW RECKLESS I WAS.
HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN THAT FREAKING STUPID?
I'VE FOUND MYSELF IN SITUATIONS WHERE I HAD NO LIGHTS,
WHERE MY DIVE TETHER WAS LIKE FREEZING INTO THE CEILING
AND I HAD NO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS WITH TOPSIDE.
IT'S INKY BLACKNESS,
NO WAY TO KNOW WHAT DIRECTION TO GO.
YOU DO DO THAT KIND OF THING WHEN YOU'RE A YOUNG MAN,
I THINK. DO REALLY STUPID THINGS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S GOLD DOWN THERE YET,
BUT THERE IS GOLD GROUND.
IT'S LOOSE MATERIAL, IT'S MINERALIZED.
IT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE FOR THERE TO BE GOLD.
I MEAN, LIKE, REALLY, PRETTY MUCH WITH ALL OF THE DATA
THAT I HAVE AND EVERYTHING THAT'S POINTING TO THIS PLACE,
I MEAN, THERE REALLY ISN'T ANY REASON
WHY THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY GOLD HERE.
I MEAN, THIS IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE,
AND, LIKE, WE'RE SET UP, WE'RE HERE, WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
WE JUST NEED TO PAN OUT OUR SAMPLES
AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PROCEED FROM THERE.
I'M DEFINITELY FOLLOWING THE TREASURE-HUNTING FEELING.
THE SAMPLES THAT I COLLECTED UNDER THE PRESSURE RIDGE
COULD BE EVERYTHING THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.
IT COULD MEAN LIKE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
SOME OF MY INSTINCTS I THINK ARE RIGHT ON.
IF I DIDN'T THINK THAT THAT WAS A GOOD POSSIBILITY,
I WOULDN'T BE TAKING THOSE HAZARDOUS RISKS.
**
[ WIND BLOWING ]
Narrator: 70 MILES EAST...
**
AT THE BLUFF...
THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THIS OPERATION
THAN JUST DIVING UNDERNEATH THE WATER.
WE'RE MAKING IT WORK.
AFTER AN EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION STOPPED THE KELLYS' FIRST DIVE,
CAPTAIN KRIS IS GETTING THE IRISH BACK UNDER THE ICE.
PLEASE, FOR ME,
DON'T GO WAY, WAY FAR AWAY FROM THE HOLE.
PLEASE? I KNOW.
Kris: IF I WAIT FOR THE TIME THAT I HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT
AND THE MONEY BACKING ME, I'M NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT,
SO I HAVE TO TAKE WHAT I HAVE AND I HAVE TO MAKE THIS WORK.
WE'RE TAKING THE NEOPRENE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO WRAP IT AROUND OUR REGULATOR,
AND THERE ARE NO MORE FREEZE-UPS.
Narrator: KRIS' FIX FOR THE BUSTED REGULATOR?
WRAP IT IN STRIPS CUT FROM AN OLD DIVE BOOT
SO IT WON'T FREEZE UP...
YOU KNOW, THIS THING'S A LIFE SAVER.
SEND DOWN LITTLE BROTHER ANDY AND HOPE IT WORKS.
YOU LOOK GOOD TO GO.
**
JAY: Andy, I hate to depend on you,
but I'm telling you, brother,
I really need your help right now to try to make this work.
**
NOBODY GIVES A [BLEEP].
**
How's it going down there, Andy?
ANDY: It's going okay.
Give me a little time, dude. Don't worry.
HOW'S THE REGULATOR GOING?
Well, that's good.
ANDY: I got a little amount of gold
sitting here in front of me,
and it's getting better as I go that way through.
**
JAY: I hate to say it, but are you trying
to excite me or make me mad?
ANDY: I'm not trying to make you mad, Jay.
I hit something decent and it's going to lead into more.
JAY: Okay, that's the attitude I want to hear.
ANDY: I've just got to extend my hose out
and then I'm going to plow through
this whole [bleep] area and find good gold.
Give me more umbilical.
Narrator: EXTENDING THE UMBILICAL CORD
LETS ANDY COVER MORE GROUND,
BUT THE MORE GROUND ANDY COVERS, THE FARTHER HE GETS
FROM THE SAFE EXIT OF THE DIVE HOLE.
Holy cow, Jay, you should see
all the gold that I'm getting down here, man.
This ball's looking a lot better.
Grab the box.
As I rip through the ball, it looks better.
Oh, yeah, it's looking a lot better as I rip through it.
**
[Bleep], I'm sitting here with the nozzle,
and the gold's opening up right there, too.
JAY: Awesome!
**
[ BEEPING ]
[ BEEP ]
EVERYTHING'S BARELY HANGING ON BY A THREAD.
[ BEEPING ]
AND NOW OUR COM BOX IS [BLEEP] UP.
[ BEEPING ]
[ Noise ]
Um, Jay?
**
[ Bleep ]
[ Gasping ]
**
Kris! Kris, the air!
[ Coughing ]
[ BEEPING ]
NOTHING'S [BLEEP] WORKING FOR ME.
Kris!
Kris, the air!
HOLD ON!
**
Kris!
**
[ WIND BLOWING ]
Narrator: 80 MILES EAST OF NOME
AT THE BLUFF...
[ Squelch ]
ANDY: Kris, the air!
HOLD ON!
**
Narrator: OUT OF AIR AND WITHOUT COMS,
ANDY KELLY IS FIGHTING TO ESCAPE THE ICE.
ANDY: Kris!
**
Kris: THIS IS DANGEROUS.
WE'RE GOING TO KILL OURSELVES.
I LOVE MY BROTHER.
HE'S MY ONLY BROTHER AND THIS ISN'T --
THIS REALLY ISN'T [BLEEP] WORTH IT.
THERE'S A HUNDRED WAYS TO HURT YOURSELF.
Brad: KRIS IS SO PUMPED UP FOR GOLD THAT, YOU KNOW,
HE DOESN'T GIVE ANY THOUGHT TO WHAT HE'S DOING.
WE'RE USING EQUIPMENT NOW THAT'S NOT TESTED,
PROBABLY THE WORST MISTAKE YOU CAN MAKE AS A CAPTAIN.
YOU'RE A HUNDRED MILES AWAY FROM ANYWHERE.
ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.
AND KRIS IS MAKING THESE DECISIONS
LIKE IT'S JUST DOWN THE ROAD.
HIS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES ARE NOT THAT GOOD.
I MEAN, HE COULD BARELY LEAD US TO BLUFFS
WITHOUT KILLING SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW?
HERE, ANDY, LICORICE.
**
I'M GLAD YOU'RE OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I PUT YOU DOWN.
I TOLD YOU TO [BLEEP], UH...
**
WE'RE SHUTTING THIS [BLEEP] DOWN.
Narrator: WITH A BUSTED REGULATOR
NEARLY KILLING TWO KELLYS IN ONE DAY...
WE CAN TURN OFF THE ENGINE.
KRIS HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO SHUT DOWN THE OPERATION.
TOMORROW MORNING, WE'LL GO TO TOWN,
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND HIT IT TWICE AS HARD.
TOGETHER, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS WORK.
THE KELLYS ARE GOING TO MAKE
AT LEAST A THOUSAND OUNCES THIS YEAR.
I REALLY FEEL IN MY HEART THAT'S WHAT WE CAN MAKE.
**
Narrator: LESS THAN A HUNDRED YARDS AWAY...
**
SHAWN POMRENKE IS EIGHT HOURS INTO HIS DIVE.
WHAT YOU SEEING DOWN THERE?
HELL YEAH.
Narrator: HE'S SUCKING UP GOLD...
BUT STILL ON THE HUNT FOR THE PAY STREAK
HE NEEDS TO FUND HIS $6 MILLION MEGADREDGE.
A LOT OF THE TIME,
GUYS WHO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
KNOW THAT WHEN YOU FIND THE NUGGETS,
YOU'RE TOWARDS THE END OF THE PAY,
BECAUSE YOU'LL FOLLOW IT IN FROM THE FINER GOLD
UNTIL YOU GET TO THE COARSER GOLD TO THE COARSEST GOLD.
THEN IT'S GONE.
SHAWN: I think I've had enough, boy.
I'm going to come on up.
Narrator: AS SHAWN'S EIGHT-HOUR SHIFT ENDS,
THE OPERATION ROLLS ON AS NUMBER TWO DIVER
BIG JOE FULLWOOD SUITS UP.
Shawn: YOU HAVE TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH A GOOD CREW.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD CREW,
YOU'RE GOING TO END UP JUST LOSING ALL YOUR MONEY
AND NOT FINDING ANY GOLD OR MAKING ANY MONEY.
SO HEAD DOWN THERE AND FLIP EVERY ROCK
UNTIL HOPEFULLY IT TURNS INTO [BLEEP] SOMETHING AMAZING.
**
Ah, nice big chunk of weathered bedrock
right under the hole.
That's a good sign.
Run out here and see if I can put some gold in the box.
NICE TAN CLAY.
That's what the majority of the gold has been sitting on.
A lot of big rocks.
That's what a lot of the big gold has been under.
I'm going to go hunt around a little bit,
see if I can find a rock to flip down here.
WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THAT SIX-OUNCE-AN-HOUR MATERIAL
WE LEFT OFF ON, SO THERE'S BOUND TO BE MORE.
**
I got this pretty big piece of bedrock,
weathered bedrock sitting down in the clay.
I'm going to have to try to use the nozzle as a fulcrum,
get this thing popped out of here if I can.
All right, let's see if I can pop this.
**
It's a stubborn one.
The rocks are about the heaviest rocks
I've ever hammered for us.
YEAH, IT'S PRETTY CRAZY HOW HEAVY THEY ARE.
All right, I'm getting a little movement.
Shawn: JOE FULLWOOD.
HE'S GOT AS MUCH PASSION IF NOT MORE
FOR GOLD MINING THAN I DO.
HE'S A GREAT DIVER.
HE'S DEFINITELY A BIG ASSET TO THE BUSINESS.
SHAWN: Got her?
She's loosening.
HE'S BREATHING PRETTY HARD.
THIS IS WHEN IF YOUR AIR GOES OUT RIGHT NOW,
YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.
[Bleep]
Stubborn.
**
[ Grunts ]
**
All right. OH, HE GOT IT.
**
All righty.
What hath we here?
You know, when I see something like this,
I just want to say, "Will you look at that?"
**
ARE YOU BACK IN NUGGETVILLE?
Oh, yeah. I got a good --
good two or three, four or five, six,
seven of them sitting right in front of me.
You just want to instinctively take your gloves off
and just start grabbing 'em.
[ LAUGHS ]
I'M CHECKING YOUR GLOVES WHEN YOU GET UP HERE.
[ Laughs ]
Yeah.
Narrator: THE CONCENTRATED VEIN OF CHUNKY GOLD
COULD MEAN THAT SHAWN AND HIS CREW
ARE ZEROING IN ON THE BOULDER
HE BELIEVES MARKS A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR PAY STREAK.
SHAWN: Aw, you're making me jealous.
I was like, "Man, I didn't find that little spot."
[ Laughs ]
Seems like whenever you pop one of these rocks up,
you'll find at a minimum a couple ounces.
SOUNDS GOOD, BUDDY.
KEEP POPPING THOSE ROCKS AND SUCKING UP THAT GOLD.
All right, man, sounds good.
Oh, yeah.
**
Narrator: COMING UP... HERE WE GO.
FIRST CLEANUP OF THE SEASON.
[ LAUGHS ]
MY SEASON'S PROBABLY OVER.
WAIT A SECOND.
WHAT? THAT'S NO JOKE, DUDE.
LIKE, WE MIGHT BE INTO IT OUT HERE.
**
Zeke: I THINK QUITTING IS LIKE WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF IDEAS.
I HAVE A JEAN CLAUDE VAN DAMME QUOTE ON THAT
ON MY PHONE THAT I COULD READ.
**
THIS ONE'S UNRELATED, BUT HE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW,
"IN THE YEAR 3000,
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SPEAK WITH SOUND WAVES.
DON'T THINK I'M CRAZY.
WHALES DO IT.
DOLPHINS, TOO."
[ LAUGHS ]
WHO KNEW I'D BE GETTING, LIKE, A LOT OF MY INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
FROM JEAN CLAUDE VAN DAMME?
[ LAUGHS ]
**
[ WIND BLOWING ]
Narrator: 10 MILES EAST OF NOME
AT HASTINGS CREEK...
**
Zeke: WE'VE SPENT SO MUCH FREAKING TIME AND ENERGY
GETTING THESE SAMPLES THAT I BETTER SEE SOMETHING.
Narrator: ZEKE TENHOFF'S DREAM OF STAKING
THE FIRST MINING CLAIM OF HIS CAREER
RESTS IN A BUCKET OF DIRT.
I'VE GOT ALL MY EGGS IN THAT BASKET RIGHT NOW.
IF I DON'T FIND THE KIND OF GOLD THAT I'M HOPING I'M FINDING,
MY SEASON'S PROBABLY OVER.
JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME
TO START FROM SCRATCH THIS ICE SEASON.
JUST DON'T.
**
I DON'T EVEN SEE ANYTHING.
IT'S, LIKE...
LET'S TRY THIS ONE.
**
NO.
**
I MEAN, THERE SHOULD BE FREAKING GOLD IN THERE.
THIS IS THE LAST SAMPLE.
**
OH.
**
WAIT A SECOND. LOOK AT THAT.
WHAT?
DUDE, THAT'S -- THAT'S GOLD.
THAT'S NO JOKE, DUDE.
LIKE, WE MIGHT BE INTO IT OUT HERE.
DAMN. BEAUTIFUL, DUDE!
HIGH FIVE. YEAH.
BAM!
Narrator: AFTER THREE WEEKS OF COLLECTING
SAMPLE BUCKET AFTER SAMPLE BUCKET,
ZEKE MAY HAVE FOUND THE KEY TO A GOLDEN FUTURE.
ALL THIS WORK WE DID MELTING THROUGH PRESSURE RIDGES,
DEALING WITH ALL THIS HASTINGS CREEK STUFF,
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO PAY OFF FOR US.
THE STATE WANTS TO SEE THAT I REALLY ESTABLISHED
THAT THERE'S GOLD AT HASTINGS CREEK,
ENOUGH GOLD TO JUSTIFY A LONG-PERIOD BUSINESS PLAN,
SO MY BROTHER AND I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED STEP ONE.
THERE COULD BE, LIKE, THE REST OF OUR WORKING CAREERS'
WORTH OF MONEY JUST SITTING OUT THERE,
AND, I MEAN, THE FUTURE THAT'S AHEAD OF US,
I DON'T EVEN WANT TO HAVE TO SPECULATE ON IT,
BECAUSE THAT'S JUST BEEN MY DREAM.
DUE, HIGH FIVE.
YEAH. BAM!
**
Narrator: 67 MILES EAST...
AT THE BLUFF...
Shawn: THERE'S NUGGETS ON TOP.
[ LAUGHS ]
NICE.
MAN, THE FIRST CLEANUP.
EVERYBODY COULD USE A PAYCHECK, I'M SURE.
I WORK MY ASS OFF FOR IT
AND THEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COME AND TAKE IT.
GREAT. [ BLEEP ].
I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY MORE PEOPLE OUT HERE.
Narrator: AFTER THE DISTRACTION OF NEW NEIGHBORS,
SHAWN AND CREW ARE LOOKING FOR A SOLID CLEANUP
TO GET BACK ON TRACK.
Shawn: GOLD MINING IS A STRESSFUL JOB.
ALL THESE MINERS ARE OUT HERE, THERE'S LESS AND LESS GOLD,
SO HERE YOU GOT A BUNCH OF GUYS
THAT DON'T HAVE ANY GOLD OR ANY MONEY
AND HAVE BEEN WORKING THEIR ASS OFF
AND THINGS JUST GO DOWNHILL FROM THERE,
SO WE NEED SOME GOOD GOLD.
HERE WE GO.
FIRST CLEANUP OF THE SEASON.
**
10.
11.
**
12 OUNCES? 12 OUNCES, YEP.
NICE.
Narrator: 12 OUNCES OF GOLD NETS MR. GOLD OVER $14,000,
BARELY A DENT IN THE MILLIONS HE NEEDS TO FUND THE MEGADREDGE.
Shawn: I MEAN, WE'RE JUST BLESSED RIGHT NOW.
I BRING IN THE GOLD.
Narrator: BUT NEVERTHELESS, IT'S A START.
Shawn: I'M GOING TO BUILD THE MEGADREDGE.
A PROJECT OF THIS SIZE IS MULTIMILLIONS,
AND, YEAH, WE'VE MADE MILLIONS,
BUT WE STILL NEED TO MAKE A LOT MORE.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. GUARANTEE YOU.
I'M GOING TO KEEP PILING THE GOLD UP.
AIN'T GOING TO -- NOTHING'S GOING TO SLOW ME DOWN.
YOU CAN BE LIKE THE KELLYS AND BE WANNABES.
YOU CAN WANT TO BE ME, BUT YOU'LL NEVER BE ME.
I'M ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD OF THEM.
LIKE I SAID, KARMA WILL GET THOSE [BLEEP].
KARMA WILL GET 'EM.
Narrator: MR. GOLD AND THE FIGHTING IRISH
JOIN THE COUNT, AND THE RACE IS ON.
**
YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M BARELY HANGING ON HERE.
Emily: MY ICE SEASON IS ABOUT TO FALL APART.
Shawn: IT'S NOT WORTH DOING ALL THIS [BLEEP].
Emily: I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.
Shawn: GIVE HER A LITTLE NUDGE.
Gold just got a lot better.
WE'VE GONE YEARS WITHOUT SEEING NUGGETS THAT BIG.
WOO! GIVE ME SOME LOVE, EVERYBODY, LOVE!
SHAWN: I think we're close to --
ANDY: It's about a half a cup full.
OH! OH!
Aah!
Yeah!
Emily: OH, MY GOD.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M FREAKING AT THE BLUFF.
**