Bering Sea Gold

WAIT TILL IT STOPS! HEY!

NO, YOU DIDN'T.

IT WAS BOUNCING AND YOU REACHED BA-- I WATCHED IT.

YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO START LISTENING.

I'LL JUST SHUT THIS WHOLE THING DOWN AND SELL IT.

THAT'S WHAT I'LL DO.

Man: OH, MY GOD! LOOK OUT!

Narrator: NOME, ALASKA.

THIS HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A GREAT MINING AREA.

A LOT OF OUNCES OF GOLD CAME OUT OF THIS NECK OF THE WOODS.

THE 116-YEAR-OLD GOLD RUSH IS STILL GOING STRONG.

Steve: THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT BEING A MINER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL IT IS.

IT'S A TREASURE HUNT EVERY DAY -- THAT'S MINING.

Narrator: IN A TOWN THAT ONCE PRODUCED

A 182-OUNCE GOLD NUGGET,

THE SEARCH FOR THE MOTHER LODE RAGES ON.

TOSS IT AND RUN DOWN HERE.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MINING

IS THAT IT'S ENTIRELY BASED ON THE SELF --

YOU CAN EITHER MAKE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN FOR YOURSELF

OR YOU CAN FAIL.

IT'S A GAMBLE, BUT IT'S AN EXCITING GAMBLE.

Hank: MY FORTUNE IS AT STAKE RIGHT NOW.

I'VE INVESTED ALL MY MONEY IN THIS THING.

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.

Narrator: IN A SHORT SUMMER DREDGING SEASON,

CALM SEAS AND CLEAR SKIES

MEAN THE BERING SEA... IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

IT'S LOOKING REALLY GOOD.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN JUST KEEP IT GOING HERE.

Narrator: AS MINERS HIT THE WATER,

EVERY TRIP COULD BE THE BEST DAY OF THEIR LIVES.

MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF GOLD

WAITING FOR US OUT THERE.

SO ALL WE GOT TO DO IS JUST GO OUT THERE,

WALK AROUND ON THE BOTTOM, AND SUCK IT UP.

Narrator: ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF NOME...

Steve: THE BUCKET PINS LOOK ALL BRAND-NEW.

YOU KNOW, THE BUCKETS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.

THE TIRES ARE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

Narrator: ...FATHER AND SON, STEVE AND SHAWN POMRENKE,

KICK THE TIRES ON A PAIR OF 101-TON EARTHMOVERS.

THE ENGINE'S GOT 12 CYLINDERS, ONE CYLINDER IS NOT PERFECT.

Narrator: FOR 62-YEAR-OLD STEVE...

I'M GOING INLAND MINING. THAT'S WHERE MY HEART IS.

THAT'S WHAT I LOVE TO DO.

ARE YOU IN ON THE INLAND MINING OR OUT?

Narrator: ...STARTING A NEW INLAND-MINING VENTURE

SITS ATOP HIS BUCKET LIST.

Shawn: I'M PRETTY NERVOUS ABOUT THE INLAND MINING.

BEING A GOLD MINER, YOU COULD END UP BEING HOMELESS.

Narrator: BUT HIS SON SHAWN IS RELUCTANT

TO PUT THEIR HARD-EARNED GOLD AT RISK.

Steve: A LOT OF PEOPLE RETIRE WHEN THEY'RE 62,

AND RETIRING MEANS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO. I WANT MY ONE LAST HURRAH.

Shawn: MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS,

GO OUT AND YOU START SPENDING $25,000, $30,000 A WEEK IN FUEL,

YOU CAN LOSE A HELL OF A LOT OF MONEY IN A HURRY.

AND ALL THIS HARD WORK AND EVERYTHING WE'VE WORKED FOR

COULD BE GONE IN A MATTER OF MONTHS.

Steve: WOW.

THAT'S LIKE A PACKAGE RESPONSIBILITY FROM HELL.

WHEN YOUR WHEEL BEARING GOES OUT IN YOUR CAR, YOU PAY 300 BUCKS.

WHEEL BEARING GOES ON THIS, IT'S 5,000, 10,000 BUCKS.

THE TIRES ARE 20,000 BUCKS APIECE NOW.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR OIL LEAKS ON THE MAIN BOOM CYLINDERS.

OILS LEAK IN THERE,

YOU'RE TALKING 20,000, 25,000 BUCKS FOR A REBUILD.

THEY LOOK LIKE A GOOD DEAL, SO WE'RE GETTING THEM.

Shawn: YOU GET ONE BIG PIECE,

YOU GOT TO HAVE ANOTHER BIG PIECE,

AND THEN YOU GOT TO BUY ANOTHER BIG PIECE

BECAUSE YOU HAVE ANOTHER,

TWO OTHER, THREE OTHER BIG PIECES -- BIG INVESTMENT.

THIS MACHINE'S GOT THE MOTOR OUT OF IT,

AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT A PRETTY PENNY

JUST TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING.

YEAH, BUT YOU GOT STEVE POMRENKE --

HE REBUILDS THINGS THE CHEAPEST POSSIBLE WAY.

ONCE YOU SEE HOW MUCH GOLD'S ON THAT GROUND

THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DIGGING, YOU'LL BE YOUR PANTS.

IF I WORK A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO GET A BRAND-NEW DOZER FOR HIM,

IF I CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN,

AND MAKE HIS LAST RUN THE BEST THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN,

THEN I GOT HIS BACK.

WE GOT TO BUY THEM. WE GOT TO BUY THEM.

Narrator: TO SECURE THE EQUIPMENT FOR HIS OLD MAN,

SHAWN AND THE CHRISTINE ROSE

WILL HAVE TO PULL 5 POUNDS OF GOLD OUT OF THE BERING SEA.

BACK IN TOWN...

...OVER AT BELMONT BEACH...

HERE WE GO.

...FOUR WEEKS INTO THE SEASON, WHAT'S LEFT OF THE KELLY FAMILY

IS FINALLY LAUNCHING THEIR DREDGE.

Brad: IT'S SAD ANDY'S GONE. THIS IS A GOOD BUSINESS.

HE SHOULD BE HERE WORKING.

SIX DAYS AGO...

I HOPE YOU AND MY BROTHER LIVE GREAT.

YEAH, ANY TIME.

...ANGERED OVER HIS FATHER'S NEW FAMILY...

I'M SO DONE.

...BRAD'S SON ANDY QUIT THE REAPER,

LEAVING HIS DAD AND BROTHER HIGH AND DRY.

ANDY REALLY PISSES ME OFF. HE'S A LOSER.

YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GO HOME TO HAWAII, TOO,

BUT I WANT TO GO HOME WITH A POCKET FULL OF MONEY,

NOT GO HOME BROKE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE ABANDONED ME

AND I'M ALWAYS TAKING CARE OF HIM.

YOU KNOW, NOW I'M STUCK WITH MY DAD THIS WHOLE TIME.

WE'RE GOING OUT TO THE WEST REC AREA.

WE JUST GOT TO GET ON THE GOLD. IF YOU NEED TO MOVE, WE'LL MOVE.

Narrator: DOWN TO JUST TWO KELLYS,

THE LITTLE DREDGE IS HEADED FULL SPEED

TO THE WEST BEACH PUBLIC MINING AREA...

WE CAN STAY IN THE REC AREA, AND I'M GUARANTEED

TO MAKE A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS A DAY JUST AROUND HERE.

ARE YOU GOING AS FAST AS YOU CAN GO?

Narrator: ...OF COURSE, ON THE REAPER,

"FULL SPEED" IS A RELATIVE TERM.

WE'RE JUST -- THE ASS-END OF THE BOAT

IS DRAGGING TOO MUCH OF THE WATER.

DAD DOESN'T WANT TO SPEND ANY MONEY ON ANYTHING.

IT HAS NO FLOATS ON THE HOSE, IT HAS NO LADDER.

THERE'S NO DOOR -- OUR CABIN IS BASICALLY A WIND TUNNEL.

THE THING LOOKS LIKE A LOWRIDER.

THE BACK OF IT SITS RIGHT INTO THE WATER,

AND WE'RE JUST THE LAUGHINGSTOCK

OF THE OCEAN SOMETIMES.

Brad: I'M TRYING TO SAVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,

LEAVE HERE WITH A BUNCH OF CASH IN MY POCKET.

I ALWAYS SAY I'M BROKE.

THAT'S THE RULE OF THUMB --

ALWAYS SAY YOU'RE BROKE, NEVER BE BROKE.

ANCHOR AWAY!

KRIS IS GETTING READY TO DIVE.

OUR GOAL FOR TODAY IS A COUPLE OUNCES.

WE WANT TO GET AS MUCH GOLD AS POSSIBLE.

HAVING THIS NEW BABY HAS CHANGED MY WHOLE OUTLOOK ON MONEY.

YOU GOT A GOOD WOMAN, YOU GOT TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, YOU KNOW.

WHEN YOU HAVE THIS NEW FAMILY, IT MOTIVATES YOU.

NOW I'M MOTIVATED LIKE I WAS 20 YEARS OLD AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, I'M ON THE STRAIGHT HUSTLE TO GO TO THE TOP NOW.

KRIS, YOU'RE OUR NUMBER-ONE GOLD GUY NOW, MAN,

AND I'M REALLY DEPENDING ON YOU.

Narrator: EXPECTING A CHILD IN THE FALL AT THE AGE OF 52,

BRAD NEEDS HIS FIRST BORN TO HIT PAY DIRT.

YEAH, EVERYTHING'S GOOD.

Kris: OKAY, THE GROUND ALREADY LOOKS WEIRD.

IT LOOKS LIKE I'M ON KIND OF A SANDBAR.

AND THEN THERE'S LIKE PATCHES OF COBBLE EVERYWHERE.

SWEET, MAYBE YOU CAN FOLLOW THE COBBLE INTO THE GOLD.

YEAH, WELL, LET'S HOPE.

DOES IT LOOK LIKE THE LOOFAH SPOT?

YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE THE LOOFAH SPOT.

Narrator: IN THE HEAVILY WORKED PUBLIC REC AREA,

KRIS MUST SEARCH FOR GROUND THAT APPEARS UNTOUCHED

BY DECADES OF OTHER DREDGERS.

SEE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE LOOFAH ROCK AREA,

IS BECAUSE WHEN I FIND THIS,

I FIND THAT THE GROUND UNDERNEATH IT

HASN'T BEEN WORKED YET.

SO IT'S NOT GUARANTEEING THAT THERE'S GOLD THERE,

IT'S JUST GUARANTEEING THAT THE GROUND HASN'T BEEN WORKED YET.

IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A LOOFAH SPONGE, HUH?

KIND OF.

YEAH, LET'S PRAY FOR A LOT OF GOLD IN THE BOX, THEN.

I HOPE SO. THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING DOWN HERE.

AND NOT BEEN WASTING MY TIME.

WELL, I HOPE HE FINDS GOLD.

THERE'S A GOOD DESCRIPTION OF THE BOTTOM NOW.

I WANTED TO HEAR A "YEAH, I'M FINDING GOLD."

ONE HOT SPOT IS ALL IT TAKES TO MAKE YOUR SEASON -- THAT'S IT.

Narrator: AS KRIS' SEARCH BEGINS,

6 MILES TO THE WEST, ON THE TOMCOD CLAIM...

FIRST BUCKET OF THE DAY. HERE WE GO.

Narrator: OWNER HANK SCHIMSCHAT AND DECKHAND STAN MILLER

ARE FIRING UP THE 80-FOOT, 96-TON GOLD GRABBER.

HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOME GOLD HERE.

WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP AT IT. GOT TO KEEP TRYING.

Narrator: AFTER A 25-YEAR CAREER RUNNING A CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS,

HANK CASHED OUT AND SUNK HIS RETIREMENT INTO THE MEGA-DREDGE.

Hank: MY WHOLE FAMILY THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY FOR GOING GOLD MINING.

YOU KNOW, GOT CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS INVESTED IN THIS,

BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH EVERYTHING I'VE DONE.

Narrator: NOW, WELL INTO HIS SOPHOMORE SEASON,

HANK'S RECOVERED JUST 12 OUNCES OF GOLD --

BARELY ENOUGH TO COVER THE OVERHEAD ON HIS OPERATION.

Hank: WELL, WE GOT TO GET ON THE GOLD.

WE GOT TO STAY ON THE GOLD. WE GOT TO FOLLOW THE GOLD.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN DREDGED, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT HERE IN A MINUTE.

BOY, THIS IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

Narrator: LAST SUMMER, IN HIS FIRST YEAR ON THE BERING SEA...

YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT REALLY ON THE GOLD LIKE I WANT TO BE.

THEY'RE DIGGING RIGHT WHERE I DUG IT ALL OUT.

THAT'S FUNNY.

Narrator: ...HANK SPENT TOO MUCH TIME

MINING GROUND THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN WORKED.