Gold Rush (TV series)

Gold Rush
Format	Reality
Narrated by	Paul Christie
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	58 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time	approx. 45 minutes
Production company(s)	Raw Television
Broadcast
Original channel	Discovery Channel
Picture format	1080i 16:9
Original run	December 3, 2010 – present
Chronology
Related shows	Flying Wild Alaska, Bering Sea Gold, Jungle Gold
External links
	Website

"Gold Rush Alaska" redirects here. For other uses, see Alaska Gold Rush (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with the TV-tie in webshow Gold Rush (virtual contest). For other uses, see Gold rush (disambiguation).

Gold Rush (formerly Gold Rush Alaska) is a reality television series that airs on Discovery Channel, with reruns also airing on TLC. The show's third season began airing on October 26, 2012.

The show focuses on the mining of gold placer deposits found in Alaska and the Klondike, by various teams of miners.

Overview [edit]

Main article: List of Gold Rush episodes

Season 1 [edit]

The first season (show named Gold Rush: Alaska) featured six men from Sandy, Oregon (a small town 30 miles southeast of Portland) who, due to the economic downturn, have lost their jobs. They decided on an all-stakes gamble – travel to Porcupine Creek, Alaska and prospect for gold. Most of the people on the show have little or no previous gold mining experience and must learn on the job.

Season 2 [edit]

For season 2 (show renamed to Gold Rush), Todd missed a lease payment, and "Dakota" Fred Hurt buys the claim out from owner Earl Foster, not needing to break the lease due to the missed payment.^[1] The season explores the Hoffman crew's new mine at Quartz Creek, in the Klondike region of the Yukon, Canada as well as "Dakota" Fred's operation at the site of the original Hoffman mine, Porcupine Creek, and Parker Schnabel's attempts to mine his grandfather's property at Big Nugget Mine.

Season 3 [edit]

The third season began in October 2012. The Hoffman crew returned to the Klondike to once again mine the Quartz Creek site but also brought on additional crewmen to simultaneously work another site in the area to try to reach a goal of 1000 ounces. Parker Schnabel returned to the Big Nugget Mine site with larger and more efficient equipment while "Dakota" Fred Hurt and his crew returned to the Porcupine Creek site.

The 100 ounce mark was never met.

Other programming [edit]

Aftershows & Specials [edit]

Numerous "aftershows" and specials have been produced that document behind the scenes action as well as interviews with miners and crew.

Gold Rush: The Jungle [edit]

Between the second and third seasons Todd Hoffman and several crew members traveled to a remote site in Guyana in South America to determine the feasibility of opening up an operation there during the Klondike offseasons. The trip was covered in a single one hour episode. Although they did discover gold on the claim site, it was not of a sufficient quantity to cover the high expenses of mining the remote site which was accessible only by hiking through a trackless jungle after a harrowing river passage. Given the low probability of profitability, Hoffman chose not to pursue the venture.

Episodes [edit]

Main article: List of Gold Rush episodes

Cast [edit]

The Big Nugget mine used a crew of 4 for season 1 (John Schnabel crew), 4 for season 2 (Parker Schnabel crew), and 5 for season 3 (Parker Schnabel crew).
The Jim Nail Placer Mine used a crew of 7 for season 1 (Hoffman crew), 2 (3 at times) for season 2 (Dakota Fred crew), and 3 for season 3 (Dakota Fred Crew)
The Quartz Creek mine used a crew of 7 for season 2 (Hoffman crew), and 7 (2 extra workers between sites) for 1 half of season 3 (Hoffman crew).
The Indian River mine used a crew of 4 (5 at times) for 1 half of season 3 (Dave Turin crew), and 13 for the other half of season 3 (Turin/Hoffman Combined Crew).

Current Cast:

Seasons	Name	Details
1-	Todd Hoffman (age 41)	Remembering his father's gold mining adventures in the 1980s.^[2]
1-	Jack Hoffman (age 65)	Father of Todd, he previously mined for gold in Alaska 25 years ago, and joins the crew for a second chance to live his dream.^[3]
1-	Jim Thurber (age 54)	An expert sheet metal worker with more than 30 years experience, he serves as the crew's safety officer. The economic downturn cost him his business.
2-	Dave Turin (age 52)	A guest star for several episodes of season 1, he comes on full time for season 2. He is an experienced quarry foreman. Todd convinces him to chase his gold mining dream, join the group, and take some time off from his family's business.^[4]
1-	"Dakota" Fred Hurt (age 68)	After advising the Hoffman crew in the last half of season 1, Dakota Fred returns for season 2 to purchase the Jim Nail Placer mine to mine himself with his own crew.^[5]
2-	Dustin Hurt (age 44)	Dustin is "Dakota" Fred's son. He worked at the Jim Nail Placer mine in Season Two.
2-	Parker Schnabel (age 18)	Parker was given the Big Nugget mine in season 2 when his grandfather, John Schnabel, decided to step down.^[6] He guest starred and appeared to give advice in Season One.
1-	John Schnabel (age 93)	Recurring guest star, owner of Big Nugget mine and grandfather of Parker Schnabel.
2-	Roger Schnabel	Recurring guest star, part-owner of Big Nugget mine, father of Parker Schnabel, son of John Schnabel.
2-	Gary Grogan	Recurring guest star, employee at Big Nugget mine.
1-	Fred Dodge	Recurring guest star, helped the Hoffman Crew re-assemble their wash plant in Season 1. He returned to the Klondike in Season 2 to give the Hoffmans better gold recovery tools. He also went to Guyana with the crew in Season 3.

Former Cast:

Seasons	Name	Details
1	Jimmy Dorsey (age 34)	A Realtor and self-confessed adrenaline junkie. After an off camera physical altercation with Greg Remsburg, he left the mining crew in season one.^[7]
1-2	James Harness (age 54)	The crew mechanic, he prides himself on being able to repair nearly anything. However, a car wreck has left him with metal pins in his ankle and a severe spinal injury which, due to lack of finances, he cannot afford to have surgically repaired.^[8] A Baltimore medical center donated a medical procedure to correct his back problem, which resulted in the need for yearly injections.^[9] During season 2 when operations were halted due to dirty water, Todd asked him to build a water filter. Instead he left the camp to spend a week with his girlfriend in a motel. At the end of the season the crew fired him, blaming him for missing their 100 ounce target.
1	Earle Foster	Recurring guest star in season 1, owner of Jim Nail Placer Mine in season 1; cameo appearances in season 2 and 3
1	Michael Halstead	In the first season "Pastor Mike" was billed as the crew pastor. Mike was pastor of the Harvest Christian Church^[10] in Troutdale, Oregon at the time. He had done charity work in Mexico in the past and had met Jack Hoffman twenty years ago on one of those trips. Jack introduced Mike to elk hunting and the two of them shared an enthusiasm for outdoor adventures, often going on trips together. He took part in a few episodes in the first half of season one, but went home for an unknown reason and was never mentioned again.
1-3	Chris Doumitt (age 59)	Originally he was only meant to come to Alaska for ten days — to help build a cabin for Greg Remsburg and his family. But gold mining quickly got under his skin and he ended up staying for five months and becoming a key member of the team. He calls himself a "pumpologist". Chris retired after season 3.^[11]
1-3	Greg Remsburg (age 41)	Lifelong friend of Todd, he is an experienced construction supervisor. However, he has not had steady work. Greg left the Hoffman crew after season 3.^[12]

Locations [edit]

Alaskan Panhandle: Alaska, USA

Porcupine Creek (in the Chilkat Valley, closest airport being Haines, Alaska) (59°24′35″N 136°14′23″W / 59.40972°N 136.23972°W / 59.40972; -136.23972)
- Big Nugget Mine ("Emerson Trench" along the Porcupine Creek; & Smith Creek / Smith Creek Hill)
  
  Season 2-
- Jim Nail Placer Mine
  
  Season 1-

The Klondike: Yukon, Canada

Dawson City area (63°49′52.85″N 139°0′53.14″W / 63.8313472°N 139.0147611°W / 63.8313472; -139.0147611)
- Quartz Creek Mine (outside of Dawson City: on Quartz Creek, near the confluence with Toronto Creek; & on Calder Creek)
  
  Season 2-
- Indian River Mine (2 miles from Quartz Creek Mine)
  
  Season 3

Equipment [edit]

Season 1 [edit]

Description	Make / Type
Excavator	Hitachi EX400LC
Excavator	Hitachi EX270LC
Dump Truck	Peterbilt Tri-Axle
Loader	Caterpillar 980B
Bulldozer	Caterpillar D6H
Shaker/Trommel/Jig Plant	Custom Built
Wave Table	N/A
Magnetite Separator	Black Gold
Pump	Calama 6"
Pump	Honda 4"
Generator Plant	Detroit Diesel 150 kW

Season 2 [edit]

Description	Make / Type	Creek	Crew
Excavator	Hitachi EX400LC	Quartz	Hoffman
Excavator	Komatsu PC228-USLC	Quartz	Hoffman
Bulldozer	Caterpillar D8L	Quartz	Hoffman
Loader	Komatsu WA380-5L	Quartz	Hoffman
Pump	Pioneer 6"	Quartz	Hoffman
Wash Plant	Shaker Wash Plant 60 yds/hr (Little Blue)	Quartz	Hoffman
Clean-Up Equipment	MSI Xtruder 255/EnHancer 755	Quartz	Hoffman
Generator	Whisperwatt 100 kW	Quartz	Hoffman
Excavator	Hitachi EX270LC	Porcupine	Dakota Boys
Loader	Doosan DL-400	Porcupine	Dakota Boys
Loader	Cat 980B	Porcupine	Dakota Boys
Bulldozer	Cat D6H	Porcupine	Dakota Boys
Pump	Gorman-Rupp 6"	Porcupine	Dakota Boys
Wash Plant	RMS/Ross De-Rocker 8x20 100 yds/hr	Porcupine	Dakota Boys
Excavator	Cat 330BL	Porcupine	Schnabel
Articulated Hauler	Volvo A25C	Porcupine	Schnabel
Loader	Assortment of Cat 980/988 (8+)	Porcupine	Schnabel
Wash Plant	Shaker, Trommel, Jig 20 yds/hr	Porcupine	Schnabel

Season 3 [edit]

Description	Make / Type	Crew
Bulldozer	Caterpillar D9L	Hoffman/Turin
Bulldozer	Caterpillar D10N	Hoffman/Turin
Excavator	Volvo EC460B	Hoffman/Turin
Excavator	Volvo EC360B	Hoffman/Turin
Excavator	Volvo EC330B	Hoffman/Turin
Excavator	Hitachi EX400LC	Hoffman/Turin
Excavator	Komatsu PC228USLC	Hoffman/Turin
Loader	Volvo L220E	Hoffman/Turin
Loader	Volvo L180E	Hoffman/Turin
Articulated Hauler	Volvo A40C	Hoffman/Turin
Articulated Hauler	Volvo A35C	Hoffman/Turin
Articulated Hauler	Volvo A35C	Hoffman/Turin
Wash Plant	KPI-JCI Shaker/Conveyers, MSI Feeders & "Big Red" Sluice	Hoffman/Turin
Wash Plant	"Gold Machine" Turbo-Trommel	Hoffman/Turin
Pump	Pioneer 6x6	Hoffman/Turin
Pump	Pioneer 6x6	Hoffman/Turin
Excavator	Hitachi EX270LC	Dakota Boys
Excavator	Doosan DX340LC	Dakota Boys
Loader	Doosan DL400	Dakota Boys
Loader	Volvo L220E	Dakota Boys
Loader	Caterpillar 980B	Dakota Boys
Bulldozer	Caterpillar D6H	Dakota Boys
Wash Plant	RMS/Ross De-Rocker 8x20 100 yds/hr	Dakota Boys
Pump	Gorman-Rupp 10"	Dakota Boys
Pump	Gorman-Rupp 6"	Dakota Boys
Gold Dredge	Keene	Dakota Boys
Excavator	Caterpillar 330BL	Schnabel
Excavator	Volvo EC460B	Schnabel
Bulldozer	Caterpillar D8N	Schnabel
Articulated Hauler	Volvo A25C	Schnabel
Articulated Hauler	Volvo A25C	Schnabel
Loader	Volvo L90E	Schnabel
Loader	Caterpillar 988C	Schnabel
Generator	Atlas Copco QAS 120	Schnabel
Wash Plant	Shaker, Trommel, Jig & Sluice 60 yds/hr	Schnabel

Reception [edit]

As of its first season finale, Gold Rush Alaska was the most-watched Friday night program in all of US television among males 18-49 and 25-54.^[13] For 13 consecutive weeks in its second season, Gold Rush continued to hold Friday's top rating in the demographic of men 18-49.^[14]