TODD HOFFMAN
The Boss
AGE: 41
BACKGROUND: Aviation business
HOMETOWN: Sandy, OR
Todd Hoffman came up with his plan to mine for gold in Alaska after watching the steady decline of his aviation business in Oregon. While the economy stalled, he watched the price of gold rise and rise. Inspired by his father Jack's own gold mining adventures back in the 1980s, Todd sourced a viable gold claim, and then assembled a team of his unemployed buddies and the equipment they would need to start a full-scale mining operation. Todd has always been one for thinking big, and it's his hope to rekindle the American Dream and the frontier spirit on which this country was built. Fiercely independent, Todd is proud of the fact that he has never had a boss in his life, but admits that this is the most ambitious undertaking of his life. He hopes that if the mine is a success this team will be able to start a whole new community in Alaska, living entirely off the grid - provided of course that they strike gold. Todd values family above everything else and his young sons Hunter and Hudson will be following their father every step of the way.
JAMES HARNESS
The Mechanical Genius
AGE: 54
BACKGROUND: Mechanic, former musician
HOMETOWN: Portland, OR
James Harness is irreplaceable. He is the team's only mechanic, and built most of the mining equipment from scratch. He's never mined for gold before but he prides himself on being able to fix any machine that he lays his hands on. In Alaska, his hands are full, because without round-the-clock maintenance and running repairs, the mining will grind to a halt. No one doubts James' ability or his commitment, but there are fears that his body will not be able to cope with the strain. A life led in the fast lane has taken its toll, particularly a car wreck that left him James with a severe spinal injury and an ankle held together with metal pins. James is determined not to let the team down, and is prepared to push himself to the limit at any cost.
GREG REMSBURG
The Foreman
AGE: 41
BACKGROUND: Unemployed Construction Supervisor
HOMETOWN: Sandy, OR
Greg Remsburg is Todd's oldest friend and right-hand man. Since their days as high school locker partners and teammates on the basketball court, the pair has shared the good times and the bad. Now, they are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime together. After years of unemployment and frustration, Greg is determined to turn his fortunes around in Alaska. Fed up with relying on handouts, Greg is a dedicated family man and is prepared to do whatever it takes to put food on the table for them. He wants to start a new life for his wife and kids at the claim and if things work out, they may even stay there for good. Greg is one of the most proficient machine operators on the team and an experienced construction supervisor.
CHRIS DOUMITT
Carpenter turned Goldminer
AGE: 59
BACKGROUND: Carpenter
HOMETOWN: Portland, OR
Chris Doumitt can usually be found with a big smile on his face and a big Stogie between his teeth. Chris never actually intended to join the Gold Rush crew. 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 was drawn to the quest and the adventure and felt compelled to help the operation in any way he could. He became fascinated by the process of gold mining and says panning for gold gives him a thrill "like opening a Christmas present." As one of the hardest workers in the team he puts his legendary work ethic down to growing up on a farm. He remembers learning to drive a tractor before he was even tall enough to see through the windshield. "Being a farm boy, you don't have working hours," he says "You do the job for as long as it takes until its done." Chris worked for 25 years as a plant carpenter and, more recently, he and his wife have been buying, fixing up and selling homes. In his spare time he is an enthusiastic hunter and competitive rifle shooter. He also teaches responsible gun use to young people. He will have been married to his wife Sharon for 40 years this February. The couple have two children, but have had the privilege of having several more children call them mom and dad down the years.
PARKER SCHNABEL
The Young Master
BACKGROUND: Student, Gold Miner
AGE: 17
HOMETOWN: Haines, Alaska
Parker Schnabel has the drive, skill and intelligence to be a successful gold miner and hit the mother lode … and he's only 17! Hailing from Haines, AK, Schnabel has worked in his grandpa's Big Nugget mine since his feet could touch the pedals of mining equipment. A self-described outdoorsman, Schnabel spends his free time hunting and exploring the Alaskan wilderness. He is also a high school senior and is on the varsity basketball team. With years of early experience and aspirations to expand the family business, Schnabel hopes to take his expertise and supplement it with a college education in geological sciences or mining studies.
Last summer, while working at his grandpa's mine, he came over to the Porcupine Creek claim to help the rookies with their wash plant set-up. He came away amazed at how little the Hoffman's crew knew about the details that make all the difference. This year he's taking over the Big Nugget mine in the hope that he can pull enough gold to keep it afloat and in the family.
JACK HOFFMAN
The Inspiration
AGE: 65
BACKGROUND: Gold Miner, Bush pilot, Ex-Military
HOMETOWN: Sandy, OR
Jack Hoffman is a man on a mission. Twenty-five years ago, he mined for
gold in Alaska and came close to losing everything. The experience got
under his skin, and now he's getting a second chance to live his dream;
and this time he is determined to do it right. Driven by his desire to
find gold, Jack has boundless energy and is as tough as they come. He
gets up before dawn and works round-the-clock without stopping for food
or rest. By his own admission, he'll do whatever it takes — even if it
ends up killing him. A self-made man who served in the military and is
active in his local church, Jack is a sure shot with a rifle and
arguably the most skillful machine operator on the team. Whether he's
bow hunting bear or landing a bush plane in zero visibility, there isn't
a lot that scares Jack Hoffman. He's happy to take risks and follow his
gut instinct, which can cause friction with his son, Todd, who prefers a
more methodical approach.
DAVE TURIN
The Rock-Moving Expert
AGE: 52
BACKGROUND: Quarry Manager
HOMETOWN: Sandy, OR
Dave Turin has been moving rocks all his adult life. He has been
running a rock quarry business for the past 24 years with his dad and
three brothers. The former high school and college football star took a
degree in Civil Engineering and then joined the family business straight
from college. Last season the Hoffmans brought Dave in as an outside
consultant at their Porcupine Creek claim. He helped the rookie miners
to get their Alaskan operation running and was inspired by their dream
of digging gold out of the ground. This season, Dave was offered the
chance to join the team full time. He convinced his family to let him
take time out from their successful rock and paving business and seized
the opportunity. Dave doesn't pretend to know much about gold mining,
but he knows how to move a lot of earth safely and effectively. There
isn't a piece of construction equipment out there that Dave is not
qualified to operate. Focused and determined, Dave's never been one to
back away from a challenge. In fact he prefers to attack them head-on.
He hopes his faith in God, expertise and natural leadership skills will
give the Hoffman team the boost they need to strike it rich this season.
Dave is married to his high school sweetheart, Shelly, and together
they have three grown children and two grandkids.
JIM THURBER
The Safety Officer
AGE: 54
BACKGROUND: Retired Sheet Metal Worker, fisherman
HOMETOWN: Portland, OR
Jim Thurber is a hard-working and dependable guy who wears his heart
on his sleeve. He needs the Hoffmans' mining venture to succeed more
than most: the recession destroyed his business and if he misses another
mortgage payment he will lose his home. Jim has had to spend his
retirement fund to get to Alaska and if he doesn't find gold, his family
will be out of options. As an expert sheet metal worker with more than
thirty years of experience in construction, Jim brings invaluable skills
to the table. As the camp safety officer, he is also responsible for
making sure that no one gets hurt while working in one of the most
dangerous workplaces imaginable — an active mine site, patrolled by
grizzly bears.
FRED HURT
The Veteran
AGE: 67
BACKGROUND: Commercial Diver, Marine Construction, Gold Mining
HOMETOWN: Minot, ND
Fred Hurt is a veteran gold miner who pushes his team and his
equipment to their limits. He was sent to Porcupine Creek by claim owner
Earle Foster to oversee the rookie miners in their first season. He is
bold and uncompromising and not afraid to ruffle a few feathers to get
the job done. Fred began his construction career in the late sixties,
working as a Commercial Diver in the Gulf of Mexico. Here he learned
underwater construction, demolition and salvage — skills that he would
later apply to gold mining. In 2004, after nearly 25 years of running
his own construction company, he "retired". But it was now that the real
work started and Fred started gold mining exploration in Alaska. After
an unsuccessful few seasons of mining at Porcupine and Caribou Creek, he
moved on to claims in Nevada, Wyoming and Montana. Then in 2008 he
returned to Alaska — this time to the frozen wastes of the Arctic Circle
— to a claim at Little Squaw Lake. Here he helped design, build and
operate a gold processing plant. In one short season, his five-man team
managed to extract over 600 ounces of gold from the frozen ground. This
season he's the new boss at Porcupine Creek with the freedom to mine the
claim his way. But this new freedom means he now assumes sole
responsibility for making his investment pay off. Fred says that he's
been married for 42 years but its taken three women to do it! Today he
is happily married with four kids, six grandkids and five great
grandkids.
BLUE
The Dog
AGE: 8
HOMETOWN: Sandy, OR
Blue the dog has been Jack Hoffman's constant companion for the last
two years. Blue's previous owner was serving a prison sentence when Jack
found him, living outside and desperate for someone to throw a stick
for him. Jack says that Todd was afraid of the animal at first, but Jack
hit it off with him right away. The owner reluctantly agreed to give up
his dog and Jack and Blue have been inseparable ever since. Blue is an
Australian Shepherd: a breed that first came to the Western United
States during the California Gold Rush of 1849. Typically for the breed,
Blue has a naturally bobbed tail, but unusually, he has two blue eyes.
The breed is highly prized for their intelligence, trainability and
loyalty. Historically they were put to work on cattle ranches and today
they make excellent search and rescue dogs. Last year at Porcupine
Creek, Blue proved to be an excellent bear dog; defending the camp from
grizzlies on numerous occasions. However, this year, he came off second
best when he went up against a Porcupine. Blue got several quills
embedded in his face and neck, but fortunately Jack and a cameraman were
on hand to extract the quills and he has made a full recovery. Blue is
good with children and enjoys ice cream. On very special occasions he
likes nothing more than to be allowed to get up on Jack's bed.
