Todd's claim owner arrives unannounced to take stock of the Hoffman's operation. Dustin returns from the mountains just in time for the final clean up. Unwilling to admit defeat, Parker uses a new piece of equipment to thaw his frozen paydirt.

94 year old mining legend John Schnabel convinces his grandsons Parker and Payson to return to Big Nugget to work together deep into the winter to prove, once and for all, that there is big gold buried deep under Smith Creek.