Bering Sea Gold

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Shawn: We spend $1 million, it's a big risk.

One summer, and you can blow everything

Shawn: We spend $1 million, it's a big risk.

And be flat broke.

Shawn: We spend $1 million, it's a big risk.

Steve: You don't take risks, you're not gonna gain anything.

Shawn: We spend $1 million, it's a big risk.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Shawn: We spend $1 million, it's a big risk.

Shawn doesn't need to worry his little locks off.

Shawn: We spend $1 million, it's a big risk.

We're gonna make ends meet.

Shawn: We spend $1 million, it's a big risk.

Zeke: I've always been the little guy.

This is my chance to go big.

Zeke: I've always been the little guy.

Emily: I'm not a brand-new captain anymore.

It's time to really start showing it.

Emily: I'm not a brand-new captain anymore.

Vernon: This machine, all the nuts are in the basket.

Emily: I'm not a brand-new captain anymore.

I'll do whatever it takes to make this thing work.

Emily: I'm not a brand-new captain anymore.

Kris: This is kind of like my final stand.

Emily: I'm not a brand-new captain anymore.

I'm gonna push this to the brink.

Emily: I'm not a brand-new captain anymore.

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

Go get some gold!

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

It's so badass, dude.

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

I think we're gonna get a lot of gold here.

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

I can feel it. -Oh, my god.

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

First gold of the season!

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

Whoa!

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

Aah! I am taking a ride. We are no longer on the ground.

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

Ah!

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

Steve: Wide open! Go!

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

This is what we live for!

Steve: Got to be a gambler to be a gold miner this summer.

Damn it!

-Seeing some color now. -Gold!

Some nice chunkers in there.

-Oh! -Oh, yeah,

Joe, are you gonna hit me?

- - hit me!

Emily: That's a ton of gold you're in.

Yeah!

Captions paid for by discovery communications

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Emily: Well, we got to go make some gold!

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

For 117 years, this town has run on gold.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Emily: Nome is truly a place you can be somebody

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Who strikes out on their own

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

And makes a fortune for themselves.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

And I love that.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Narrator: What started in creeks and on the beaches

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Turned into a scrappy build-it-yourself free-for-all

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

On the bering sea.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

The gold rush is still going on.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

But all that easy gold

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

On that ocean floor is running out.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

You gotta have the knowledge and the know-how to get it.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Narrator: Now, with offshore gold running scarce...

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Lower the jet.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

...This summer, miners are taking the biggest gambles

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Of their lives, hoping to strike it rich.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Time to make some money.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Narrator: From new and remote mining claims...

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Nobody's been able to work this

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Because it's such a distance out.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Man: We ready?

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

...To state-of-the-art technology.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Okay. Here we go.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Sub-dredges, bottom crawlers -- that's the way of the future.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Narrator: Millions of dollars have been invested...

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

And I'm thinking, "we got a winner."

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

...And now it's go big or go home.

Narrator: Nome, alaska.

Seven miles west of nome harbor...

I love the cold!

Narrator: ...The bering sea is open for business.

I love the cold!

Came right back to where we left off last year.

I love the cold!

We got some good pans right here.

I love the cold!

Time to dig it all up, get it all.

I love the cold!

Pretty good feeling being out here

I love the cold!

Before the rest of the fleet.

I love the cold!

Narrator: First to the grounds, the massive 80-foot,

I love the cold!

80-ton christine rose,

I love the cold!

Helmed by mr. Gold himself,

I love the cold!

41-year-old shawn pomrenke.

I love the cold!

Shawn: Last season, we got over 1,000 ounces.

I love the cold!

I want to do better than that this year.

I love the cold!

Narrator: Banking over $6 million in the last 5 years,

I love the cold!

The pomrenke family wrote the book on gold mining in nome.

I love the cold!

-Yeah! -This year...

I love the cold!

Got to try to pay for the inland mining operation.

I love the cold!

Narrator: ...One member of the family

I love the cold!

Is writing a pricey new chapter.

I love the cold!

Getting to starting up

I love the cold!

A new mining operation is expensive.

I love the cold!

And to do it right is really expensive.

I love the cold!

It's pretty hard working with family.

I love the cold!

Narrator: Last summer...

I love the cold!

Are ya in on the inland mining or not -- out?

I love the cold!

...Shawn's old man, steve, pushed hard for his dream...

I love the cold!

Come on.

I love the cold!

...One last shot at an inland mining operation...

I love the cold!

Oh, wow. That's gonna take us inland.

I love the cold!

-Whoa. -Yeah!

I love the cold!

...A dream made reality

I love the cold!

By shawn's massive 1,145-ounce haul.

I love the cold!

Mr. Gold! You're getting good!

I love the cold!

-Whoa! -But now...

I love the cold!

Dad's spending all the money as fast as I can make it.

I love the cold!

Narrator: ...Even after all that gold,

I love the cold!

The family bank account is back at square one.

I love the cold!

He gets something set in his head.

I love the cold!

And that's what he's doing.

I love the cold!

He ain't gonna change his mind.

I love the cold!

I think he's tired of me

I love the cold!

Being the provider for the family.

I love the cold!