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Title: Anyone Here Watch Gold Rush?
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URL Source: [None]
Published: Jan 7, 2013
Author: me
Post Date: 2013-01-07 09:47:32 by James Deffenbach
Keywords: None
Views: 196
Comments: 22

I have watched Gold Rush since the first show of the first season. Some of it is pretty good when they have actual miners who know what they are doing (like the young kid, Parker Schnabel and his grandpa) and the big guy from Sweden or Norway or wherever it is he's from. But I thought, and have for a while, that there was just too much about the show that was "off." I learned a bit more about it last night. There is a group on facebook called the Gold Rush Alaska Gossip and it pretty well lays out that the group the show centers on, the Hoffman crew, really don't know what they're doing, have sponsors (like Volvo) and leave when the producers get the footage they want. And Todd is always talking about "the American dream" yet now they are in Canada and using equipment made by a foreign company.

And when the show started out the storyline was they were all down on their luck and about to lose their homes and how they were going to Alaska and try to get rich mining gold. Well, the mechanic in the first season, James Harness, apparently wasn't all that broke. Here is a car he owned at the start of the first season (and may still for all I know). Does THIS look like a car owned by someone who is "broke"?

James Harness owns this 2004 GTO Banshee built by PFYC. Besides the body modifications the engine can put out 570 to 590 horsepower. This car was featured on the cover of Pontiac Enthusiast March/April 2005. Outside it has; over 1/3 carbon fiber and fiberglass to lighten it up (bumpers, skirts, hood, fenders, deck, & spoiler), Wilwood 6-piston Calipers with oversized slotted rotors, 4-piston rear Axis Milano wheels, and Toyo Proxes T1-s tires.

Interior Color: black
Visible Options: banshee, stripes, spoiler, ground effects
Owner: James Harness (audioproducts@comcast.net ) from Oregon OR
Posted: 11/21/2007

And, while Todd claims to have gone to all these colleges and everything the records indicate that he attended one semester at one college. Anyway, if you watch the show you might want to check out that facebook page. I will probably keep watching it because I like Parker Schnabel and his family but now I know more than I ever cared to about the rest of the show and won't be seeing it through the same eyes. (1 image)

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#1. To: All (#0)

Comment from one of the posters on the Gold Rush gossip page:

Here we go. Volvo is the big sponsor of Gold Rush in season 3 and "Volvo contruction Equipment is supplying the crews with Loaders, Articulated Haulers and Excavators." I'm assuming thats all 3 crews and not just the Hoffman's. So this is part of Todd's American Dream, to get a Swedish company to give free them equipment, so they can mine gold in a foreign country, Canada? Where exactly does America fit into this dream, Todd?

The pic is at the Volvo booth at the MineExpo in Sept. RAW is fiming it for the show. Parker was there too.

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-07   10:36:15 ET  (1 image) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#2. To: All (#1)

another interesting post from last August

August 25, 2012

Pay close attention to this. Todd is at the Indian River section of the Yukon, thats where Quartz Creek is. Quartz Creek is not even in the top 25 streams that produce gold in the area. In 2011 it produced less than 300oz from all the placer mines in the area. And Todd supposedly accounted for 90oz of this? I'm highly skeptical, I think they were lying thru their teeth.

The real question is, how is Todd's little operation of recreational miners going to find 1000oz of gold on a creek that year after year produces less than 300oz for all the miners in the area added together? The entire Indian River Basin, which includes scores of mines, some of them huge operations, the whole area produced 14,000oz last year.

Are we supposed to believe hobby TV miner Todd Hoffman is going to find 7% of all the gold in the whole area on a little claim on a creek that produces under 300oz a year?

If they try and make us believe they did, it a total lie. There is no way on earth this could be where Todd is mining. Just be prepared for some real BS when the show starts this fall.

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-07   10:38:23 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#3. To: All (#2)

They did an off season show down in Guyana which was just as big a fraud, if not more, than their excellent Alaska/Canada adventure.

The best way to bust this phony episode is to go right to the facts. If you look at the link I posted and read the requirements to get a prospecting permit in Guyana, there is no way on earth Todd walked into the gov't office and walked out with a license to prospect 5000 acres of jungle. You have to fill out forms, submit documents and if all is OK, the application has to be published in the local newspaper to see if there are any objections. After its in the paper for 10 days, its sent to the ministry for approval. If its approved, you have to pay 50 cents an acre rental fee and a 10% performance bond. Thats thousands of dollars up front before you can even dig your first prospecting hole. Did Todd do ANY of this? Did he jump thru ANY of the bureaucratic hoops needed to get a license? He waddled into the office and emerged an hour later with nothing except a meaningless copy of a platt map of where the mine site is. It takes months in Guyana for a prospecting license to be approved, yet the narrator says, as Todd is leaving the office: "He has secured the mining rights to a virgin claim." An absolute and bald faced lie. This entire episode is a lie from start to finish, but the biggest lie is that they had the mining rights to this claim.

www.ggmc.gov.gy/lm.html

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-07   10:45:50 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#4. To: James Deffenbach (#0)

Been thinking about watching it, since Netflix removed Ice Road Truckers and American Pickers.

"Mr. Prime Minister, there is only one important question facing us, and that is the question whether the white race will survive." -- Leonid Brezhnev to James Callahan

Prefrontal Vortex  posted on  2013-01-07   11:06:23 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#5. To: Prefrontal Vortex (#4)

It's ok but the best part of the show is Parker and his grandpa and that Tony Beets guy, all of whom are real miners, not hobby miners like Todd and his crew. The funniest thing I have heard, or one of the funniest anyway, is the person who does all the voice over on the show and how he always says that the fuel expense for every crew--whatever size it is or whatever equipment they use--is 1,000 dollars. Ridiculous. First of all, Todd and his crew aren't even paying for ANY fuel and, even if they were then an operation the size of the one he's running would most certainly use more fuel than Parker Schnable would. And Tony Beets has a huge operation and in all likelihood his operation would burn far more fuel (and he is a full time miner with a big overhead).

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-07   11:39:25 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#6. To: James Deffenbach (#5)

Todd obviously did zero research before undertaking this venture. His intentions are good, but then, that's what the road to hell is paved with. The guy's a moron who I wouldn't put in charge of operating a sandbox.

Oh, and Dakota Fred is a claim jumping, club footed douche nozzle.

Don't blame me. I didn't vote.

Obnoxicated  posted on  2013-01-07   12:01:51 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#7. To: Obnoxicated (#6)

Todd didn't lose his first claim because of Fred. That is what I thought too until I read so much on the site where all this came from. Apparently Todd and his crew violated so many rules and regulations that the state of Alaska banned them from mining there. Not that I like Fred, I don't. He has a terrible attitude but he really didn't take anything that Todd was ever going to get back.

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-07   16:37:49 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#8. To: James Deffenbach (#5)

the key to reality t.v. is to realize it is as close to reality as microsoft minutes are to actual time.

I used to be in a hurry, then I figured out I was just getting nowhere fast.

IRTorqued  posted on  2013-01-07   17:06:55 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#9. To: James Deffenbach (#2)

If they try and make us believe they did, it a total lie. There is no way on earth this could be where Todd is mining. Just be prepared for some real BS when the show starts this fall.

Money talks and BS walks. ;)

"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke

BTP Holdings  posted on  2013-01-07   17:30:40 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#10. To: James Deffenbach (#7)

He lost Quartz Creek because he missed a payment during the off-season. Fred was none too happy to run the Hoffman crew off the claim, especially after seeing Todd's dad find that glory hole. They did all the digging, then Fred, after running them off, made straight for the bottom of that hole. It's kinda karmic how that same year, Fred lost his home and belongings in that flood. That almost renewed my faith in god.

Don't blame me. I didn't vote.

Obnoxicated  posted on  2013-01-07   18:13:54 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#11. To: Obnoxicated (#10)

He lost Quartz Creek because he missed a payment during the off-season.

No, not so but you will have to go to the site I linked if you want to find out some of the truth about what actually happened.

www.facebook.com/pages/Go...ka-Gossip/298824030130812

The Hoffman's broke all kinds of rules and regulations and Alaska gave them the boot. And that is just a tiny part of what you can find out on that facebook page.

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-07   18:24:27 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#12. To: IRTorqued (#8)

the key to reality t.v. is to realize it is as close to reality as microsoft minutes are to actual time.

And as Micorsux alleged operating systems are to actual operating systems. Which is not very.

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-07   18:25:38 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#13. To: James Deffenbach (#12)

true, so very true.

I used to be in a hurry, then I figured out I was just getting nowhere fast.

IRTorqued  posted on  2013-01-07   19:01:02 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#14. To: Obnoxicated (#10)

Gold Rush Alaska Gossip
October 29, 2011

What have we here? Its a photo of the GRA miners, including Fred, taken on May 17th at the tourism party in Haines, AK. Why is this odd? The dust up between Fred and the miners happened the first week of May. We know this because snow is is still on the ground in places and in the tree's, go and review the video. The temps are in the 60's on May 17th, the snow is long gone. Here you have supposedly mortal enemies all in one place, smiling for the cameras. The whole feud thing is a fake, just like Doresy was faked in season 1. They all knew Fred bought the mine on Ap 12th, this was just faked drama. The show is scripted, just like Dorsey said it was.

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-07   19:13:48 ET  (1 image) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#15. To: Obnoxicated, all (#14)

I used to think Fred "stole" the Hoffman's claim too until I read stuff like this on the site I linked to.

For anyone still interested in what happened leading up to the total fabricated episode 1 in season 2, here's the story.

"Earle Foster never leased his claims for a television production. He was shocked to learn what was going on at Porcupine Creek. Fred and Earle did pay a visit, and Fred stayed at the request of the show's producers. He WAS NOT sent by Foster to straighten anything out.

The Hoffman's never had a mining permit (for Porky), only an exploration permit. Just about everything the Hoffman's did at Porcupine Creek was illegal. They cut down trees illegally, they shot the bear illegally, they withdrew water from Porcupine Creek illegally, they didn't abide by the exploration permit's excavation/reclamation plan. They didn't store fuel per methods allowed by their permit. And on and on.

Todd refused to make the lease payment to Earle required by their agreement. (I think it was due September 1) Instead, he pocketed the money given to him by the show's producers to pay for the lease. The entire debacle was very upsetting and personally and professionally embarrassing for Earle. He was not a happy camper.

Anyway, near the end of the 2010 season, Todd knew he would not be coming back to Porcupine Creek. Alaska wouldn't allow it, and Foster was stiffed for the rent, so he wasn't going to cooperate. And, of course, nobody knew at the time the show would become such a hit. There was much scrambling about to get things together for the second season, but that is another story.

BTW, I have a copy of Todd's exploration permit. You can't get this on the internet, I had to do a little "mining" myself to gain possession of it. I know what I'm talking about."

So thats what happened. Todd screwed everything up so badly with the state of Alaska that he probably will never be allowed to mine there again. Thats why they're in Canada, and Todd is pretending thats where he always wanted to be. The Hoffman's knew they wouldn't be going back to Porky, they knew Fred had bought the claim. When they went to Porky in the first episode, they had no permits, so they pretended to mine. It was all a setup so Fred could be blamed for claim jumping.

They already had a claim deal at Quartz Creek. Dozer Dave was already there setting it up when Todd was making all those frantic fake phone calls looking for a claim they already had. If it can be proven that all of this was faked, and it can, how much of the rest of the show is faked? Thats exactly what we're going to find out.

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-07   21:50:40 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#16. To: All (#15)

www.thegoldmachine.ca/Model_100.html

We found out this is the 'blue monster' Todd keeps babbling about on FB. Its a huge gold trommell from a company in Canada. Its The Gold Machine designed by Ray Brosseuk. These things are very expensive, over $100,000. Todd has always been equipment crazy, he apparently feels if you have the best toys the gold will find you. Real miners sink their money into finding where the gold is first, but not Todd. He feels if you are ready, and have spent a zillion dollars on equipment, gold will seek you out. I thought they were broke, yet they take trips to New Zealand and spend a fortune on stuff they don't need. Must be nice...

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-07   21:53:31 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#17. To: All (#16)

This has to be the funniest comment I have read yet on that site:

Gold Rush Alaska Gossip
August 4, 2012

Todd keeps asking if we think he should mine in Guyana in the winter. From what I'm finding out, I say heck YES, go for it, Todd.

Its the most dangerous country in Latin America. The bugs, especially spiders, are horrible, and can kill you dead. It will be the rainy season when Todd's there. Armed gangs roam the countryside, especially in gold mining territory. Just last week they stole all the mined gold from a camp at gunpoint.

Guyana has the highest AIDS stats in Latin America. Its at epidemic proportions. The US State Dept called Guyana 'a dangerous, corrupt, AIDS infested dump' in 2011. Americans are the targets of criminals because they are perceived as 'rich' and have to constantly be on the alert. Guyana is a very poor 3rd world country and a fat American (Todd?) is considered at the top of their food chain.

So go for it, Todd and Jack. I would PAY to watch you and your dad running thru the jungle, being chased by armed thugs. Jack screaming 'No guts no gloreeee', and you with your last case of Twinkies tucked under your arm. That'll put some actual 'reality' into your show, something thats been seriously missing.

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-07   21:59:43 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#18. To: James Deffenbach (#15)

Gossip.

Don't blame me. I didn't vote.

Obnoxicated  posted on  2013-01-07   22:21:25 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#19. To: Obnoxicated (#18)

Gossip.

And your point is what? Because people talk about it, it isn't true?

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-08   0:10:41 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#20. To: All (#19)

" Here's the hotel Todd and the camera crew stayed at in Guyana, probably the best hotel in the country. Rates start at $150 a night. This is Todd's idea of 'mining in the jungle'. A 5 Star buffet and clean sheets every night. Rumor is the buffet manager saw Todd coming and tried to pull the king crab legs, but Todd got there first. The buffet lost money that day, and Todd has been banned. Just like he's banned from gold mining in Alaska."

Pegasus Hotel Guyana, has long been hailed as one of the finest hotels in the Caribbean.

Graced by Royalty and Heads of State alike, it’s the true flag bearer of Guyanese hospitality since 1969.

Situated on the delta of the Demerara River and the Atlantic Ocean, the Pegasus Hotel Guyana holds the most stunning seascape views and is within walking distance of many of the major commercial and tourist sites, making it an ideal location for both business and leisure travelers.

The hotel continues to enjoy a well earned reputation for superior personalised service, suitably appointed accommodation and fine dining cuisine. We take enormous pride in our staff, some of whom have spent over 30 years with the hotel ensuring every guest has a memorable stay.

www.pegasushotelguyana.com/

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-08   0:18:57 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#21. To: James Deffenbach (#19)

No bro. People are free to entertain themselves as they see fit. My point, is that I addressed the issue in post #6. Todd's clearly out of his league, and it shouldn't require wasting time om a gossip site to make that judgement. You wanna see another good mining show, try to catch Bamazon on sunday nights. Yet another crew being led by a moron, but still watchable.

Don't blame me. I didn't vote.

Obnoxicated  posted on  2013-01-08   14:35:56 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

#22. To: Obnoxicated (#21)

I do watch Bamazon and can't disagree with what you said. The guy who is supposed to be the boss of the crew (Tim) didn't have enough sense and appreciation to tell Clayte "thank you, good job," even after it was apparent to everyone else that they would have never gotten the excavator to the site without Clayte and they would not have gotten all their pipes fixed so that they didn't leak so much they were worthless. I doubt Clayte will have any problem finding another job with all the resourcefulness and initiative he showed. And that crew will not be as good without him.

"It is the habit of unhappiness to rewrite our lives and from a different beginning come to a different ending. We cling to the past and what it could have been; what we wanted, or thought we wanted, before we were taught by a broken heart that our own good intentions have little effect on the way things are."
D. W. Buffa, Breach of Trust

James Deffenbach  posted on  2013-01-08   15:08:18 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

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