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Discovery: Gold Rush Alaska Series

25312 Views 120 Replies 26 Participants Last post by fhall1, Feb 6, 2015

John Mason

Discussion Starter · Dec 5, 2010

Another interesting 'adventure' . Six guys, feeling the economic crunch, invest in bulky gold-mining equipment and head from Oregon to Alaska. Last week's opener showed a race to transport the heavy gear for just-in-time Seattle-to-Alaska barge departure. Then there's a tricky Alaskan bridge bypass, driving an overweight loader across a river to the gold-mining site. A bit over-staged here and there, and sure portrays 'average Joes', not expert miners or drivers, but the 1080i scenery and their mining exploits should help avoid the new season's HD dramas. -- John

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John Mason

Discussion Starter · #2 · Dec 11, 2010

They seem to be settling in, building a 'community' center, lining up their trailers for housing, even zapping a pesky bear. One of the kids left some crackers out that drew the bear, among many near the site. Prospects for finding enough gold seem dim; they're low on funds only one week into a summer's mining. Operations seem somewhat helter-skelter so far. -- John

John Mason

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 18, 2010

With part 3 yesterday it looks like they have a better chance of mining some gold. Prospects seemed dim until they called in a mining expert for a few days to help set up all the heavy mining gear, and visted their 90-year-old neighbor who claimed his rig could provide ~$25k in gold with one 'session'. A month had elapsed without much happening. A preview part-4 shot showed a large gold nugget in the processed mud--likely worth plenty if gold was around ~$1k/ounce at the time. -- John

Gandu

· #4 · Dec 20, 2010

I have watched the last 2 episodes. I gather the only one with any mining experience is Jack, who was in Alaska 30 yrs ago? All he wants to do is haphazardly dig holes looking for the 'honey pot' of gold nuggets. Not exactly a sound business plan. I have to guess these guys will find enough to break even. Watching several families with wives and kids become destitute is not exactly 'feel good' TV.

petesimac

· #5 · Dec 20, 2010

I've got a bad feeling about this.

blitzen102

· #6 · Dec 20, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by petesimac /forum/post/19677982

I've got a bad feeling about this.

So do I.

Am I mistaken or in the previous episode didn't they have a grizzly come in to camp and steal some graham crackers that some of the kids left out so they went out and shot a BLACK bear?

John Mason

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 20, 2010

Yeah, expect they'll milk the going-bust thing throughout. With odds so heavy against profitable gold mining, hard to picture a happy Hollywood ending. On the bear shooting, recall some grizzly.vs. black bear discussion, but thought they'd tracked the one that entered the camp site. Seems poor judgment to fly in more children as they did, with so many bears around. Only spotted one dude with a gun slung over his shoulder. Haven't seen that 50-cal (!) pistol being worn either. -- John

dm145

· #8 · Dec 22, 2010

Quote:
Originally Posted by blitzen102 /forum/post/19678068

So do I.

Am I mistaken or in the previous episode didn't they have a grizzly come in to camp and steal some graham crackers that some of the kids left out so they went out and shot a BLACK bear?

definitely was a grizzly in camp and black bear in woods that was killed

John Mason

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 8, 2011

Their second gold-nugget teaser preview this Friday showed an almond-size nugget on someone's finger tips. The previous teaser, also not yet explained, was a raisin-size nugget partially buried in mud. Next week: walnut size?

A young girl had a seizure but made it by ambulance and jet to a hospital, with apparent recovery. Speculation was the bug repellent DEET caused it, or their drinking water. Stunned to learn they're all drinking from a mountain stream without filtering or sterilization; camera captured some slimy decaying animal skin trapped upstream.

And a last-minute 300-gallon(?) diesel oil purchase ran their camp/mining gear only about 45 minutes. Stay tuned. Next week maybe attacks by rabid wolverines. -- John

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John Mason

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 15, 2011

Wow, that's one unorganized, unlucky mining expedition. Friday's show revealed one dude merrily building a cabin instead of helping the gold hunt; another member, feeling dissed, hires onto a fishing boat--after sawing off a key equipment part on his own. And their vintage 'shaker', for separating gold, fell apart from mechanical stress, while the back-injured mechanic ran out of morphine as he helped repair the gear. Still no significant gold. -- John

petesimac

· #11 · Jan 15, 2011

I STILL have a very bad feeling about this.

Gandu

· #12 · Jan 17, 2011

They needed to have 3 guys able to do the mechanical work. The injuried mechanic is the hero of the show, still don't understand why the able bodied guys don't/can't help him?

fhall1

· #13 · Jan 18, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gandu /forum/post/19845710

They needed to have 3 guys able to do the mechanical work. The injuried mechanic is the hero of the show, still don't understand why the able bodied guys don't/can't help him?

It's obvious.....having a nice wooden cabin for the wife and kids to come visit is a priority! For them all being broke they sure wasted a lot of money by having the families come up and stay with them (using up precious food and other resoruces) so soon.

blitzen102

· #14 · Jan 18, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by fhall1 /forum/post/19851211

It's obvious.....having a nice wooden cabin for the wife and kids to come visit is a priority! For them all being broke they sure wasted a lot of money by having the families come up and stay with them (using up precious food and other resoruces) so soon.

I have a feeling there wouldn't be a show at all without the families. ...and without the show (and the money it pays to the miners) -- probably this "operation" never gets off the ground.

[Edit below]

Here is the plot summary for the next episode:

"After 80 days, the miners are behind schedule and out of money. They need to find $10,000 worth of gold within two days or the families will be sent home. Meanwhile, after Dorsey struggles with the wave table, tensions flare and fists fly."

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John Mason

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jan 22, 2011

Have to wonder how much of the 'conflict' in reality shows is manufactured. Others seemed fed up with the ex-realtor's exploits from day one, but his supposed fist fight (not shown) and the cars speeding into town to file the first police report seemed phony. (Reminds me of the stagged chair tossing and exaggerated father-son arguments in that bike-builders series--unavoidable from the endless teaser ads.) With the families gone due to inadequate funds, it's down to serious gold mining. Expected some explanation of the various-size teaser-ad gold nuggets mentioned above; instead, the latest teaser has shrunk to a Wheaties-size gold flake. -- John

BiggAW

· #16 · Jan 22, 2011

Sure, some of it is a bit staged, but I like how they explain at least the basic parts of how the shaker, trommel, and such work, and what mechanical work they have to do. The mechanic definitely is the hero of the show, I don't think anyone else out there has a lot of mechanical know-how. Grandpa needs to get focused on gold, not just making a mess all over the place.

They also seem to have made quite a bit of a mess out of that site instead of digging in targeted locations and such.

John Mason

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jan 22, 2011

^^^Agree, good explanations/diagrams of the mechanical gear, typical of Discovery shows. Hard to fathom, with so much dependent on that last-stage wave table, why they'd turn its operation over to the ex-realtor. Then the grandfather dropped its use and settled for traditional gold panning. Next week's preview announces they've been doing everything wrong and have to start at square-one again! -- John

vurbano

· #18 · Jan 22, 2011

Its hard to believe that these people had access to $250,000 dollars to invest in this and they can be so completely incompetent. I have watched every episode but its just getting really hard to watch these morons anymore. Its just painful. These guys should have went and bought 250,000 scratch off tickets instead.

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maharg18

· #19 · Jan 23, 2011

This show kind of reminds me of Whale Wars. Lots of money spent and a total lack of competence.

WHY did they put the most inept guy in charge of the wave table, that's where the money is actually (supposed to be) made. It's just unbelievable... And to bring your families with small children up there to the wilderness... I just keep wondering what they were thinking! But I keep watching because it's entertaining watching these screw ups.

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vurbano

· #20 · Jan 24, 2011

And next week?

Quote:
Episode 7: GOING FOR BROKE

Premiere Jan. 28, 2011 at 10 PM

With winter weather closing in, a gold recovery expert comes to help the rookies. Todd discovers a major design flaw in the equipment and is forced to make huge modifications. With the credit cards maxed out, he is forced to take desperate measures.

Oh I can't wait.... after 200,000 dollars they discover they have been doing everything wrong. OMG these guys are the whale wars sea sheppard of gold mining.

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