The Haines Borough might again strike reality TV gold this fall.
Christo Doyle, a Discovery Channel executive producer for “Gold Rush: Alaska,” said a Discovery team is set to return to Haines this spring in anticipation of the show’s second season, with new episodes tentatively scheduled to air in the fall.
“The crew plans to be up in Alaska waiting for the thaw this year,” Doyle said in an e-mail to the Chilkat Valley News. “Both the miners and the production crew were a bit behind the eight ball last year. This year, everyone wants the most time possible to mine.”
In the Feb. 25 “Full Disclosure” epilogue to “Gold Rush: Alaska,” it appeared Todd Hoffman’s mining crew was headed to Dawson City, Y.T., after collecting only around 14 ounces of gold in the Porcupine mining district.
A man called “Dakota Fred” who represented the Porcupine claim’s owner told Hoffman and the other Oregon-based men that he wanted to mine Porcupine with his own crew, forcing Hoffman to look to Canada.
“We love Dakota Fred and he is part of season two plans,” Doyle said. “Fred is sure he can pull gold out of the claim. His know-how and determination is something we hope will be rewarded in the next season.”
As of press time Wednesday, Discovery representatives had not responded to a message asking whether the second season would depict two separate teams, one in Alaska and the other in the Yukon.
“Full Disclosure” closed by saying Hoffman had yet to reach a deal for a claim in Dawson City, but Rachel Wiegers, manager of marketing and events for the Klondike Visitors Association, earlier this month said she expects the miners to arrive there this spring.
“We have heard from one of our mining inspectors that they’ve been in touch with the mining recorder, and apparently it’s a go,” Wiegers said.
“Gold Rush: Alaska” debuted in December and had a 10-episode run Friday nights on Discovery. The Feb. 18 conclusion “set series highs with its finale and was Friday’s No. 1 program among men 18-49,” according to Variety.
Wiegers said she wondered if the show’s title would be changed due to a move across the border. Recent advertisements referred to the series simply as “Gold Rush,” and Doyle said that is the name of the program.