GOLD RUSH ALASKA season 2

[Goodyguy]

On the Discovery Channel Friday, October 28, 2011 at 9PM e/p.

Well folks it wont be long until the drama continues
Here's a sneak preview...

 

[P.B. and Dylan]

Does anyone else think something fishy is going on with discovery channel concerning Gold Rush Alaska?
Why are they doing the behind the scenes and then the after show instead of episodes?

Something seems funny and weird at the same time

I'm thinking they may not have the normal amount of viewers over the holiday's. Or it could be that they are trying to stretch the "season" out a little longer, but if they wanted to do that I'm sure they have enough footage to do that. They don't find gold anyhow so a few more episodes of not finding gold wouldn't make a difference

Does it look like theres only one more regular show? If you check the website it looks like there is only one more left. I do enjoy the show but could do without the drama and other B.S.

Gork: I really enjoyed your in site and personal stories. Hope you enjoy Arizona and look forward to hearing more from you.

Paul

 

[clovis97]

Does anyone else think something fishy is going on with discovery channel concerning Gold Rush Alaska?
Why are they doing the behind the scenes and then the after show instead of episodes?

Something seems funny and weird at the same time

Good point, and something I wondered about myself. I personally think it is about selling more advertising, and stretching the show's season.

Friday's episode of "behind the scenes" was awfully close to the Christmas holiday, so I suspect they were worried about low viewership and ratings.

GRA seems to be a hit, at least to the people I talk to. Everyone talks about Pawn Stars and Pickers, but they don't mention GRA....but, when you ask them about GRA, their eyes light up and they respond with "YES!!! I love that show!!! You've seen it too?"

I have a good friend who has worked all of his adult life in video, and local TV, and he says that anytime you wonder why a TV station does something, "It is always about the money". For instance, a local station kept running live tornado warnings during a show, but aired every commercial. It was pretty laughable to listen to the dire warnings of life and death, but only between "Buy this Kia for no money down and $199 a month" and "This week at Kroger, get center cut chops for just $2.39 a pound!".

Just think...what would it cost to air a single 30 second commercial for GRA?

The show runs for approximately 42 minutes, less commercials. That leaves 17-18 minutes for ads and credits.

If a single 15 second spot only cost $20,000 (a very low guesstimate IMO), that is $80,000 a minute X 18 minutes = $1,440,000.

By adding a few extra shows, let's say three shows per season X $1,440,000 = $4,320,000.

I personally think my friend is right...It really is always about the money.

 

[clovis97]

Doesnt look like it?I am not at my computer but I have pics of my box like that and there wasnt 10 ounces?Dont take it that wrong....I trust if you say there is there is

No you don't or you wouldn't have made the implication. You see what I meant in my personal note to you and where this is going GoodyGuy? I'm out of here and off this forum.

Come on, Gork.

Please don't leave. As I mentioned in my PM to you, I have have immensely enjoyed what you have shared.

I've panned for gold exactly one time in my life, in a creek in southern Indiana, during a school field trip, and most likely, will never again.

I will never, most likely, have the health nor the money to see Alaska or the Klondike.

But I will say this: You have brought gold mining, the Klondike, and history to me, right here in my living room in central Indiana. I've been able to share some of my new found knowledge with my 10 year old, and have helped her understand how gold is mined, and the history behind it. You've shared a whole new world with me...something I will never, ever be able to afford, even if I had the health to do it.

It certainly will be a shame if you do leave. I'm a better person because of you.

Please reconsider.

 

[clovis97]

Oh, before I forget...

Gork, I think you mentioned that the Klondike area where GRA is being filmed "had been mined wall to wall".

Are there any claims left there?

Will there be a point where all the gold has been mined from that area?

In one of the episodes, I think when the Hoffman's decided to drill...Todd went to an experienced guy to ask his opinion of drilling. Who is that guy, and what is his brief story? Is he a heavy hitter in that area?

It seems that Todd and his crew was pretty complacent about drilling. It seems to me that anyone wanting to mine gold would drill first. (Agriculture acreage around here is rented, and the rent price on the ground is generally based on what the soil is tested in nitrogen, potash, etc.) I would assume and guess that claims are priced somewhat on what the test drilling said. True or not?

And one last question: I keep reading that the gold is found on the bedrock. Does anyone run the dirt above the bedrock? Let's say you have to remove 15 feet before hitting the bedrock. Do you just run the last foot above, or do you run the last 5 feet above, generally speaking?

Thanks

 

[calisdad]

Now that right there is Purty GG !

Did you notice the mat is parallel to the sluice? Contrary to popular thinking, but it must have something to do with the velocity of the flow, no?

Do you think they are losing gold because of this? Isn't that what the large expanded metal is for? There are some different methods that those who mine with large equipment and do it for a living than those who are hobby miners. These people don't have to deal with "float" gold. They have ground that will knock your socks off.
There are those in the Klondike that use different forms of "slick plate." I will not go into the technicalities of this here. This is one form of slick plate. Have you noticed how much gold is in the rubber mat? Like I said, that is what the large expanded metal is for. I helped these people set up their operation. There are always things that can be tweaked.
By the way, if you observe the photos of the sluice boxes they used there in 1898, you will notice that they use for riffles just poles going the length of the sluice boxes.

Criminey! Actually I thought you were capturing more gold. Perhaps 'turbulence' instead of 'velocity' would have elicited a different reaction.
I wasn't questioning your methods, only commenting on them. I'll chalk this one up to the longest night in the north country.

peace-

 

[Jeffro]

While Gork takes a breather I'll take a stab at answering some of the questions posed. Keep in mind I'm an Oregon miner and the Klondike is completely different territory.

Judging from the pictures shown here, and what we all see on TV, most of the gold is finer flakes. There is an old saying "Nuggets are nice, but the fines are your bread and butter".

That being said, most of the sluice setups I've seen on here and on the show are set up for volumes of material. If they're actually catching 60% to 70% of the fines present, I'd say they were doing pretty damned good. I believe Gork mentioned the guys up there aren't too concerned with losing a million dollars worth of gold if they're catching a lot more than that.

Going by Todd's numbers..... once they finally got set up and running, they were running 100 yards an hour, for a ten hour run and recovered 4 ounces. That's pretty pathetic in my opinion. Either their recovery was piss-poor or the ground was, take your pick. That's .004 ounces per yard, recovered.

When I'm out dredging, a pennyweight or more a yard is not uncommon at all. But then again, I'm running concentrated material, not bank run yardage. Big difference.

With fines, you can count on pay layers. Not necessarily on the bedrock, although your bigger stuff will be down there. You've heard of 100 year floods? Those are the layers you're looking for when going after fines. Maybe there wasn't enough water to scour everything right down to bedrock. So you will see cemented gravels pre-flood, with a layer of new deposit on top of it, and another on top of that, and so on. Hence moving yardage and lots of it. You really can't cherry pick with big equipment like you can with a dredge. I do test holes and track the layers for pay, then run what I think is best. Sometimes it turns out just skimming the surface is the best pay, don't even bother working your way down to bedrock.

Gork, you can count me among the ones who want to pick your brain as well. Don't assume T net is like a lot of other sites and give these guys a little break. One day I hope to move as much material as you and the other big timers!

I wince at posting this- but this was my bit for ICMJ a few years ago

Scott was a heckuva nice guy for even publishing it, let alone coming to our rally.

 

[tapoutking]

Oh, and I would love to hook up my trailer and take a long trip to the Yukon. I live in SoCal. The wife would probably be all for it and the kids would have a blast. I may run the idea across her. Anyone ever do the drive?

 

[kuger]

Oh, and I would love to hook up my trailer and take a long trip to the Yukon. I live in SoCal. The wife would probably be all for it and the kids would have a blast. I may run the idea across her. Anyone ever do the drive?

I know the drive to Alaska is majority gravel "highway" and will destroy a towed trailer!!

 

[tapoutking]

Ya, I don;t think the wife would appreciate that.

 

[kuger]

Ya, I don;t think the wife would appreciate that.

No they usually dont have much of a sense of humor

 

[Goodyguy]

Tonight's episode: Gold Rush Aftershow Special

 

[jeff of pa]

Tonight's episode: Gold Rush Aftershow Special

More Waste of Space

 

[RELICDUDE07]

Its Sad to watch these poor guys buy & build stuff in the middle of gold country & not find any thing .For Gods sake someone when all the stuff is broke grab a pan

 

[jeff of pa]

Its Sad to watch these poor guys buy & build stuff in the middle of gold country & not find any thing .For Gods sake someone when all the stuff is broke grab a pan

I think the same thing every show

 

[RELICDUDE07]

I mean really do you need a 20 ton shaker to find gold dust?

 

[jeff of pa]

at Least they could call the Panned stuff
Personal coffee Money.

Or like me "Gas Rebate"

Instead of crying Poverty.

Funny they cry they may loose their homes,
but if they need a piece of Equipment the money is there

 

[Jonsered]

I just appeared on an episode of another Discovery Channel show, which will air in March. I can tell you from personal experience, if its anything like Sons of Guns, its about 90% staged. That being said, its fun to watch, and a whole lot better than american Idol or Dancing with the stars.

 

[DigginThePast]

I just appeared on an episode of another Discovery Channel show, which will air in March. I can tell you from personal experience, if its anything like Sons of Guns, its about 90% staged. That being said, its fun to watch, and a whole lot better than american Idol or Dancing with the stars.

Sweet! A TreasureNet member on Sons of Guns.



"Gold Rush Aftershow Special" - Ugh............Get to the gold!

 

[airborne1092]

(bump!)



(Happy New Year!)

 

[airborne1092]

I just finished watching episode 10, The 'After show' Show, and I think I know why Jack's voice is so annoying. In that regard, I have a little more sympathy for him, and will be able to tolerate it better now.

He mentioned he was kicked in the face by his horse, knocking out all his teeth. I would hazard a guess that he also had quite a few bones in his face broken, namely his nose, causing a deviation in his septum. That would cause the nasally quality of his speech. For a guy who also fitted and made his own dentures, I would further reason he probably did not seek medical help to repair his deviated septum, either!

Just sayin'...