Gold miners Boyce and Ben separately venture into the bush of British Columbia in search of the next big payoff. Alone for weeks, both men battle to stay alive for the chance to walk home with a fortune.
Ben is running out of food, but unexpected snow gives hope of tracking wild game, while a promising dig site motivates Boyce to haul in his heavy mining equipment. Hunger and freezing temperatures threaten gold production as survival becomes critical.
With winter just weeks away, Boyce takes a massive risk crossing a river to reach rich ground while Ben rappels down a cliff in search of legendary nuggets. 68 year-old mining veteran John Belcik makes his initial descent into the Canyon.
Desperate for a breakthrough, John's mining plans are derailed when a tree crushes his shelter. Ben discovers the best dig site he's ever seen, but without fresh meat has no energy to mine it. Boyce's only shot at gold leaves him with dire options.
Ben's season might be saved with a kill, but getting back on gold proves difficult. John uncovers a promising dig site but fights against fading stamina. Boyce's risks are rewarded with pay dirt, but transporting his gear will shake him to the core.
At the final push before winter, all three miners are short of their season goals. John's dig site proves nearly impenetrable, while Boyce's pump problems could force him everything behind. Ben's bushcraft skills will determine if he survives the freeze.
Ben Van Der Valk
Self
Boyce Goff
John Belcik
Matt Ostrom
Producer
Laura Palumbo Johnson