Gold Rush Alaska
Encyclopedia
Gold Rush is a directed and scripted reality
television series that airs on Discovery Channel
, with reruns also airing on TLC
.
(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 (59°24′35"N 136°14′23"W) and prospect for gold
.
region of the Yukon
as well as "Dakota" Fred's operation at the site of the original Hoffman mine, the Jim Nail Placer Mine, and Parker Schnabel's attempts to mine his grandfather's property at Big Nugget Mine.
The Klondike
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel Canada
): Alaska : La ruée vers l'or (Discovery Channel
): Goldrausch in Alaska (DMAX
): Aranyláz Alaszkában (Discovery Channel Hungary
): HaBehala LaZahav Alaska (Discovery Channel Israel): La Febbre dell'oro (Discovery Channel
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel
): Gorączka Złota (Discovery HD Showcase): Febre do Ouro (Discovery Channel
): Goana dupa aur : Alaska(Discovery Channel
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel
)
Season 2:: Gold Rush (Discovery Channel Canada
)
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
television series that airs on Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
, with reruns also airing on TLC
TLC (TV channel)
TLC is an American cable TV specialty channel which initially focused on educational content. Since 1991 TLC has been owned by Discovery Communications, the same company that operates the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and The Science Channel, as well as other learning-themed networks...
.
Season 1
The show's storyline: Six men from Sandy, OregonSandy, Oregon
Sandy is a city located in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States, and named after the nearby Sandy River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 5,385, however the 2006 estimate shows 7,070 people....
(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 (59°24′35"N 136°14′23"W) and prospect for gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
.
Season 2
For season 2, 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. The season will explore the Hoffman crew's new mine at Quartz Creek, in the KlondikeKlondike, Yukon
The Klondike is a region of the Yukon in northwest Canada, east of the Alaska border. It lies around the Klondike River, a small river that enters the Yukon from the east at Dawson....
region of the Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
as well as "Dakota" Fred's operation at the site of the original Hoffman mine, the Jim Nail Placer Mine, and Parker Schnabel's attempts to mine his grandfather's property at Big Nugget Mine.
Controversy
Jimmy Dorsey, a miner on Todd Hoffman's crew who left in the middle of season 1 due to personal conflicts, has stated in interviews that the show was scripted. Todd Hoffman has stated that Dorsey's statements are false.The Cast
| Seasons | Name | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1- | Todd Hoffman (age 41) | Remembering his father's gold mining adventures in the 1980s, Todd manages to secure a mining claim (from a friend of his father), then assembles the equipment and rest of the crew to move to Alaska. |
| 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. |
| 1 | Jimmy Dorsey (age 34) | A Realtor and self-confessed adrenaline junkie. He left the mining crew in season one. |
| 1- | 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. A Baltimore medical center donated a medical procedure to correct his back problem, which resulted in the need for yearly injections. |
| 1- | Greg Remsburg (age 41) | Lifelong friend of Todd, he is an experienced construction supervisor. However, he has not had steady work and has been forced to take handouts to feed his family. |
| 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, and one more late mortgage payment will result in foreclosure. |
| 1- | 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". |
| 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 and join the group and leave his job. |
| 2- | "Dakota" Fred Hurt (age 68) | After making appearances in several episodes in season 1, Dakota Fred returns for season 2 to purchase the Jim Nail Placer mine to mine himself with his own crew. |
| 2- | Parker Schnabel (age 17) | A high school senior, he has worked on his grandfather's Big Nugget Mine for several years. In season 2, he takes over running the mine. |
Locations
Alaskan Panhandle- Alaska, USA
- Porcupine Creek (closest airport being Haines, AlaskaHaines, AlaskaHaines is a census-designated place in Haines Borough, Alaska, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the area was 1,811. Haines was formerly a city but no longer has a municipal government...
)- Big Nugget Mine
- Season 2-
- Jim Nail Placer Mine (the "gloryhole")
- Season 1-
- Big Nugget Mine
- Porcupine Creek (closest airport being Haines, Alaska
The Klondike
- The Yukon, Canada
- Quartz Creek (outside of Dawson City, YukonDawson City, YukonThe Town of the City of Dawson or Dawson City is a town in the Yukon, Canada.The population was 1,327 at the 2006 census. The area draws some 60,000 visitors each year...
, near the confluence with Toronto Creek)- Quartz Creek Mine
- Season 2-
- Quartz Creek Mine
- Quartz Creek (outside of Dawson City, Yukon
Season 1 (2010-2011)
During season 1, the series was named Gold Rush: Alaska, and the mining occurred at Porcupine Creek, on the Alaskan panhandle.| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
Season 2 (2011-2012)
For season 2, the series was renamed to Gold Rush. The mining action moved from Porcupine Creek in the Panhandle of Alaska, USA, to the Klondike of the Yukon, Canada. No longer occurring in Alaska, necessitating a name change for the series.| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
Specials
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
Syndication
Season 1:: Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery ChannelDiscovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel Canada
Discovery Channel Canada
Discovery Channel is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel devoted to nature, adventure, science and technology programming. Discovery Channel is currently owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc...
): Alaska : La ruée vers l'or (Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
): Goldrausch in Alaska (DMAX
DMAX (TV channel)
DMAX is a men's lifestyle channel operated by Discovery Networks Deutschland free-to-air in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Though the channel is widely available throughout the rest of Europe...
): Aranyláz Alaszkában (Discovery Channel Hungary
Discovery Channel Hungary
Discovery Channel Hungary is an Hungarian television channel.Discovery Channel started broadcasting to Hungary in 1997. The Hungarian version was launched on March 1, 2005. Advertising sales are handled by a R-Time, which is owned by RTL Klub....
): HaBehala LaZahav Alaska (Discovery Channel Israel): La Febbre dell'oro (Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
): Gorączka Złota (Discovery HD Showcase): Febre do Ouro (Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
): Goana dupa aur : Alaska(Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
): Gold Rush Alaska (Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
)
Season 2:: Gold Rush (Discovery Channel Canada
Discovery Channel Canada
Discovery Channel is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel devoted to nature, adventure, science and technology programming. Discovery Channel is currently owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc...
)