♪♪
Narrator: IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE KENO...
YEAH, HEY, MAN, I JUST LEFT TROY'S, WE GOT THE DEAL,
WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
Narrator: ...RICK NESS HAS STAKED HIS MINING FUTURE
ON A 2,000 ACRE CLAIM ON LOWER DUNCAN CREEK.
YEAH, LET'S GET CARL UP HERE. LET'S START MOVING CAMP.
WE'VE GOT A TON OF WORK TO DO, MAN.
YEAH, BUDDY. ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU SOON.
Narrator: HE'S FIVE WEEKS LATE DUE TO LOCKDOWN,
TIME HE DESPERATELY NEEDED TO RECOVER FROM LAST SEASON.
ALL MY FRIENDS FROM BACK HOME DIDN'T COME WITH THIS YEAR.
THAT SUCKS, BUT I GET IT,
YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WAS TOUGH.
AND QUITE HONESTLY, I SPENT ALL WINTER
TRYING TO PROCESS HOW LAST SEASON WENT.
IT WAS JUST -- IT WAS SO OUT OF LEFT FIELD.
I NEVER SAW IT COMING.
NEVER HAD SUCH A KICK IN THE ASS LIKE THAT.
I'VE NEVER LOST THAT HARD.
FOR ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES IN MY LIFE,
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE IT, AND I KIND OF RAN,
YOU KNOW, I REALLY DID.
I-I BASICALLY HID I TRIED TO HIDE FROM IT.
AND THAT JUST MADE THINGS WORSE.
THAT'S ONE THING I FOCUSED ON THIS WINTER
IS GETTING BACK TO, YOU KNOW,
WHO I AM AND HOW I GET THINGS DONE.
♪♪
THAT'S WHY I'M GOING TO STAND MY GROUND
AND FIGHT NO MATTER WHAT.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF REDEMPTION WAITING FOR ME.
IF I DIDN'T THINK THAT, I WOULDN'T BE HERE.
♪♪
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
HERE WE GO!
♪♪
Narrator: IN THE YUKON,
THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC HAS PUT PARKER SCHNABEL
AND HIS CREW OVER A MONTH BEHIND SCHEDULE.
COAL FOREMAN MITCH BLASCHKE RACES TO CATCH UP
RUNNING PAYDIRT THROUGH WASH PLANT,
BIG RED, AT THE LAST CUT.
-HOW'S IT GOING? -NOT BAD. HOW ARE YOU?
OH, NOT TOO BAD. JUST TRYING TO GET SOME PAY UP.
YOU'RE...
MOTORING THROUGH THIS.
THIS STUFF OUT ALL THROUGH HERE
IS ALL PRETTY GOOD TO GO.
NICE LOOKING BEDROCK.
YEAH, THIS STUFF'S BEEN GOING THROUGH THE PLANT REAL NICE.
Narrator: DESPITE THE LATE START
THIS SEASON, PARKER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME
AS GOLD PRICES SKYROCKET.
-THANKS, MITCH. -YEAH, NO PROBLEM.
♪♪
WITH GOLD PRICES, YOU KNOW, ON THEIR WAY UP
AND FUEL PRICES LOW,
WE NEED TO -- WE NEED TO TRY TO FIND AS MANY OUNCES
AS WE CAN.
THIS YEAR, FOR ME, IT'S REALLY ABOUT
TRYING TO BUILD A GOOD WAR CHEST
AND GET SOME MONEY IN THE BANK IN ORDER TO BUY NEW GROUND.
Narrator: PARKER'S LEASED TWO CLAIMS THIS YEAR,
BUT HE HAS TO PAY ROYALTIES.
TO FIND GROUND HE CAN BUY FOR HIMSELF,
HE'S LOOKING BEYOND THE YUKON.
THE THING THAT MATTERS THE MOST IS HOW GOOD THE GROUND IS.
EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE WHERE IN THE WORLD YOU ARE
OR ALL THE OTHER STUFF IS SECONDARY.
IT'S GONNA BE A BIG LEARNING CURVE.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF EXPLORATION.
IT'S GONNA COST A LOT OF MONEY.
Narrator: TO RAISE THE MONEY HE NEEDS
AND MAKE UP FOR THE LATE START,
PARKER'S TAKING A MASSIVE GAMBLE
AND OPENING A SECOND MINING OPERATION.
SO ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED
SO FAR THIS YEAR,
WHILE BAD THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN THE WORLD,
BUT WE GOT OUR WATER LICENSE... [ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
SO WE'RE GONNA DIVE INTO IT.
-ABOUT 175 CLAIMS. -WOW.
Narrator: IN 2017, PARKER DID A DEAL
WITH OLD-TIME GOLD MINERS KEN TATLOW AND STUART SCHMIDT
TO LEASE NEARLY 2,000 ACRES OF LAND ON THE INDIAN RIVER.
WE'VE GOT A DEAL. [ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: BUT HE DIDN'T GET THE WATER LICENSE
HE NEEDED TO RUN A PLANT AND ABANDONED THE GROUND.
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET A COMPLIANCE?
GO THROUGH THE WATER LICENSE PROCESS.
HOW LONG DOES THAT TAKE?
I DON'T KNOW, SIX MONTHS.
♪♪
Narrator: NOW THREE YEARS ON,
HE HAS THE LICENSE FOR THE PROMISED LAND,
THIS VIRGIN GROUND FOUR MILES WEST OF THE LAST CUT
COULD HOLD OVER 15,000 OUNCES OF GOLD WORTH $26 MILLION
AND PROVIDE THE WAR CHEST
PARKER NEEDS TO MAKE HIS NEXT BIG MOVE.
HOW'S IT GOING?
♪♪
-HEY, PARKER. -HI, KEN.
Narrator: 81-YEAR-OLD LANDLORD KEN TATLOW
IS ALREADY ON SITE AND READY TO HELP.
HE'S BEEN MINING IN THE YUKON SINCE 1957,
WHEN HE WAS JUST 19 YEARS OLD.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING UP HERE AGAIN
AND EXPERIENCE YOU'VE GOT IS JUST INVALUABLE.
IT FEELS GOOD.
IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.
OTHERWISE, WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING?
SITTING AROUND BUGGING MY WIFE.
YOU DON'T PLAY GOLF, DO YOU?
NO, I USED TO, BUT QUIT.
YOU KNOW, THAT FIRST PIT IS JUST THE [BLEEP].
ON TONY'S GROUND, WE HAD PONDS, WE HAD BOGGED GROUND,
WE HAD A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF TO START WITH.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT NOW.
YEAH, NO. IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO START
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
HASN'T BEEN MINED CLOSE IN EITHER DIRECTION.
SO THERE'S NO PLACE TO PUT OVERBURDEN.
Narrator: STARTING FROM SCRATCH
ON VIRGIN GROUND THIS LATE IN THE SEASON IS A RISKY MOVE,
BUT COULD EARN PARKER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
TO DO IT, HE WILL STRIP A LAYER OF OVERBURDEN FROM AN AREA
THE SIZE OF THREE FOOTBALL FIELDS
TO GET DOWN TO THE GOLD RICH PAY DIRT BENEATH.
THEN DIG A POND, BUILD A PAD,
AND HAUL IN WASH PLANT SLUICIFER
TO START SLUICING IN JUST TWO WEEKS.
Parker: THE QUICKER WE CAN GET THIS DONE, THE BETTER.
YEAH, NO, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR YOU, PARKER,
BUT I KNOW THAT YOU CAN PULL IT OFF,
SO I'M NOT REALLY WORRIED ABOUT IT AT ALL.
I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
-IT'LL BE A GOOD CHALLENGE. -YEAH, IT WILL BE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT, TOO.
-ALL RIGHT. -GET SOME OF MONEY BACK, PARKER.
[ LAUGHS ] THANKS, KEN.
OKAY, I BETTER GET TO WORK.
♪♪
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator: ALMOST A QUARTER OF THE SEASON ALREADY GONE,
PARKER OPENS UP HIS SECOND FRONT,
DOUBLING THE SIZE OF HIS OPERATION
AND SPLITTING HIS CREW IN HALF.
♪♪
THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO.
I HOPE WE CAN GET IT DONE.
KEN'S WICKED TO HAVE AROUND. I REALLY LIKE HAVING KEN AROUND.
I HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR HIM.
SOMETIMES YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT EXPERIENCE.
I'LL BE 82 ON SEPTEMBER THE 4th.
MOST OF THE TIME, I CERTAINLY DON'T FEEL THAT OLD.
WE LEASED PARKER 2,000 ACRES
AND BY THE DRILLING INDICATES
THAT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME PRETTY GOOD GROUND HERE.
AND WITH THE PRICE OF GOLD,
I THINK HE'S GONNA MAKE SOME SERIOUS MONEY HERE.
♪♪
WHERE WE AT, BUDDY?
UH, COVER'S OFF.
Narrator: AFTER A FAILED SEASON LAST YEAR,
THIS IS RICK'S LAST CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF AS A MINE BOSS.
BUT FIVE WEEKS LATE BECAUSE OF LOCKDOWN,
HE'S ONLY JUST SECURED A NEW CLAIM.
AND HIS FIRST 100-OUNCE ROYALTY PAYMENT
IS DUE TO CLAIM OWNER TROY TAYLOR IN 30 DAYS.
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS HERE IS START GETTING STUFF FIRED UP.
Narrator: BEFORE HE CAN GET MINING,
HE HAS TO MOVE ALL OF HIS EQUIPMENT TO THE NEW SITE.
GENTLEMEN.
-LOOK AT THAT JALOPY. -HOW'S IT GOING?
Narrator: AND AS OF NOW, HE ONLY HAS TWO TEAM MEMBERS.
-WHAT'S UP? -HOW YOU DOING?
-GOOD, GOOD. -WHERE'S RYAN AND Z?
OH, THEY'RE NOT COMING
NO GO THIS YEAR?
WELL, Z, I PRETTY MUCH EXPECTED THAT.
YEAH, FAMILY.
JUST HAD A BABY AND THE RYAN, KIND OF LAST MINUTE.
IT DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR HIM EITHER.
OKAY, WELL, SO WE'RE DOING THIS.
LESS PEOPLE.
THERE'S ONLY THREE RIGHT NOW.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ] -YEAH.
YOU'RE THE LEAN ONE WHERE THE MEAN ONES.
OKAY, LET'S DO IT.
LEAN AND MEAN.
WELL, WE'RE JUST GONNA GET ALL THE [BLEEP] MACHINES
FIRED UP AND THEN WE'VE GOT A LOT OF [BLEEP] TO MOVE.
YOU READY? -YEAH, LET'S GET AFTER IT.
WELL, GET OUT OF THOSE OLD MAN SLIPPERS.
GET SOME BOOTS ON, LET'S DO THIS.
YEAH. OKAY, FAIR ENOUGH.
♪♪
WELL, WE'VE GOT TWO AND A HALF PEOPLE NOW.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
-SIZE-WISE, JUST SIZE-WISE. -JUST SIZE-WISE.
SHE MAKES UP FOR IT IN CHARACTER AND STRENGTH.
RIGHT.
♪♪
Narrator: THE TASK AHEAD,
FROM HIS OLD CAMP AT UPPER DUNCAN CREEK,
RICK MUST NOW MOVE HIS TRAILER SHACKS, GENERATORS,
WATER PUMPS, EXCAVATORS,
LOADERS, AND ROCK TRUCKS
ALONG EIGHT MILES OF WINDING MOUNTAIN DIRT ROAD
TO HIS NEW GROUND AT LOWER DUNCAN CREEK.
THERE'S ONLY ONE MAN FOR THE JOB,
MASTER TRUCK DRIVER, NATHAN THORNINGTON.
♪♪
-NATHAN. -HEY, MAN, HOW'S IT GOING?
-GOOD, HOW YOU BEEN? -NOT TOO BAD.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE CAMP FIRST.
YEAH.
I HAD 700 ON THIS SIDE.
WE'RE GET ANOTHER EXCAVATOR ON THE OTHER SIDE
SO WE'LL JUST DROP THEM OFF.
YEAH, I CAN PUT THEM ANYWHERE DOWN THERE.
YOU GUYS JUST DRAG THEM AROUND.
IT RAINED LAST NIGHT,
SO THESE ROADS ARE JUST SUPER SLICK.
-THE MORE WEIGHT THE BETTER. -GOOD, GOOD.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
ALL RIGHT, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
-YOU BETCHA. -WE'LL START GETTING YOU LOADED.
Narrator: THE FIRST TRAILER IS THE BATHROOM SHACK,
A 60-FOOT LONG 20,000 POUND MONSTER.
KARLA, YOU FEELING STRONG?
-ALWAYS. -GOOD.
READY TO GRAB THAT DUNNAGE.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
♪♪
GOOD HIGH-VIS, GOOD JOB.
HEY, I WANT TO STAY CLOSE TO THE TRAILER WITH THE BUCKET,
BUT NOT HIT IT, SO.
♪♪
IF YOU RUN THEM SIDEWAYS,
WE COULD PROBABLY GET ALL FIVE ON THERE.
YEAH, KIND OF ACTUALLY COOL TO SEE.
♪♪
THAT'S FAR ENOUGH, MAYBE JUST SWING IT THIS WAY.
SURE.
♪♪
Narrator: NATHAN LOADS THE FIRST SHACK ONTO HIS TRUCK
IN JUST 15 MINUTES.
AND THAT'S WHY I PAY THEM TO COME HERE AND DO THIS,
BECAUSE THEY CAN WINCH THAT [BLEEP] ON THERE SO FAST.
HE CAN GET TO THE OTHER END, HE CAN DROP IT RIGHT
EXACTLY WHERE I NEED IT.
BINGO, BANGO.
WHY THIS HOLE CAN'T MOVE BY THE END OF THE DAY,
PLUMB THE GENERATOR BACK IN.
WE'LL BE SLEEPING IN A WHOLE NEW SPOT TONIGHT,
THE NEW GROUND.
♪♪
Narrator: TO GET RICK MINING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,
NATHAN'S MISSION IS TO GET ALL SEVEN LOADS TO LOWER DUNCAN
BY THE END OF THE DAY.
♪♪
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
♪♪
[ BLEEP ]
♪♪
YOU GOT TO GET THOSE GUYS.
HOW FAR ARE WE FROM THERE?
[ BLEEP ]
[ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: THE TRAILER AND ITS ONE-TON LOAD
ARE NOW HANGING OVER A 200-FOOT DROP.
♪♪
Nathan: LEAST MY LIFE INSURANCE IS [BLEEP] MAXED OUT.
♪♪
[ BLEEP ]
HOW THE HELL...
Narrator: THE TRUCK CARRYING RICK NESS'S TRAILER
IS HANGING OFF A MOUNTAIN ROAD,
BLOCKING THE ONLY ROUTE TO HIS NEW CLAIM.
Nathan: SO SOON AS I CAME AROUND IT JUST SLID.
WE WORRIED ABOUT LEAVING THE OTHER SIDE.
WELL, YEAH, THE WHOLE THING FLIPPING.
OH, YEAH. AND THE TRUCK AND THE TRAILER.
♪♪
IT HAD TO RAIN LAST NIGHT.
YEAH, SEE AS SOON AS IT GOT HERE, IT JUST SLID.
♪♪
[ BLEEP ]
Narrator: EVERY MINUTE WASTED HERE
IS A MINUTE RICK IS NOT MINING,
AND THE ONLY MACHINE STRONG ENOUGH
TO PULL THE TRUCK OUT OF DANGER IS RICK'S 70-TON EXCAVATOR
FIVE MILES AWAY AT CAMP.
MAXIMUM SPEED?
1.7 MILES PER HOUR.
HE WANTS TO WALK IT.
HOW LONG IS THAT GONNA TAKE, RICK?
IT'S GONNA BE HOURS TO GET THAT 700 HERE.
I MEAN, IT'S GOT TO COME THIS WAY ANYWAYS,
BUT I DON'T SEE US GETTING ANYTHING DONE HERE WITHOUT IT.
DO YOU?
MIGHT AS WELL GO GET IT.
♪♪
I DON'T THINK SO, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO LOOK AT IT.
♪♪
I'M JUST LEAVING RIGHT NOW. SO I DON'T KNOW.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ] ...A WEEK AND A HALF, WHATEVER.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A WHILE.
THIS IS THE LAST THING WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, TWO MONTHS BEHIND GETTING UP HERE.
IF TROY WANTS HIS 100 OUNCES IN FOUR WEEKS FROM NOW,
AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA DO THAT
IS WE GET MINING RIGHT AWAY.
SO THIS IS NOT HELPING.
♪♪
Narrator: MIDNIGHT IN THE YUKON DUSK...
IT'S EITHER GONNA LIFT THIS THING OUT OF THERE OR IT'S NOT.
THIS IS AN UGLY SITUATION, REAL [BLEEP] UGLY.
AM I GOOD TO LIFT?
YEAH, HE'S HOLDING IT DOWN AND PULLING AT THE SAME TIME.
OKAY.
EASY...
Narrator: ONE FALSE MOVE AND THE TRAILER WILL FLIP DOWN
THE 200-FOOT DROP.
TRY PULLING A BIT MORE.
♪♪
YEE-HAW!
WHOO. [ LAUGHS ]
♪♪
[ LAUGHS ]
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN FOR A SECOND THERE,
BUT THIS THING'S GOT THE GOT THE GRUNT, MAN.
SAVED, UH...
PROBABLY THE FIRST OR SECOND MOST VITAL PART OF MY CAMP
THAT'S THE -- THAT'S THE BATHROOM SHACK.
DID IT SHIFT A LOT ON THE TRAILER?
NO. IT'S FROM [BLEEP] [BLEEP] [BLEEP] ON IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ BLEEP ]
THOSE MIGHT BE THE FOREMOST PATHETIC LOOKING YET
STRONGEST TREES IN THE [BLEEP] UNIVERSE.
ALL RIGHT, GET HER MOVING.
Narrator: RICK IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO REDEMPTION.
Rick: I CAN STILL MAYBE GET FOUR HOURS OF SLEEP TONIGHT.
WE ARE A DAY BEHIND IN MOVING CAMP SO.
A DAY BEHIND'S A DAY BEHIND.
♪♪
Narrator: TONY BEETS IS BACK AT PARADISE HILL
AND ON THE BACK FOOT.
WITHOUT A WATER LICENSE ON HIS TWO DREDGES AT THE INDIAN RIVER,
HE NEEDS THE HILL TO DELIVER A 3,000-OUNCE GOLD TARGET
AND GET HIS FAMILY BUSINESS BACK ON TRACK.
TONY'S BEST LAND ON THE HILL IS THE 18-ACRE MEGA CUT.
IN A BID TO MINE IT OUT IN JUST ONE SEASON,
HE'S PUT HIS WHOLE CREW ON IT.
[ HORN HONKS ] -[ LAUGHS ]
♪♪
Kevin: Hey, Tony, you copy?
HEY, TONY, CAN I GET YOU AT THE SLUICE BOX, PLEASE?
TONY, CAN I GET YOU AT THE SLUICE BOX?
[ BLEEP ]
♪♪
EVERYTHING UP THERE SAYS IT SHOULD SPIN,
THE OSCILLATOR'S NOT [BLEEP] MOVING.
I WENT DOWN THERE.
SPUN THE SHAFT UNDERNEATH
AND I COULD SEE THAT THAT PART IS SPINNING, ON THE CAUL IS
SPINNING BUT THE SHAFT TO THE GEARBOX IS NOT.
♪♪
COME ON, WIGGLE.
NOT AS YOUNG AS YOU USED TO BE.
♪♪
THERE'S THE PROBLEM.
Narrator: TONY'S OSCILLATING SLUICE BOX AND SHAKE
WITH THE HELP OF A WEIGHTED SPINNING ARM BENEATH THE PLANT.
THE MOTION SEPARATES OUT THE LIGHTER DIRT,
ALLOWING THE HEAVIER GOLD TO SETTLE.
A CABLE HAS CAUGHT AROUND THE SPINNING ARM AND JAMMED IT,
BUT THE MOTOR ABOVE HAS KEPT TURNING,
GRINDING AWAY AT THE KEY AND THE KEY SLOT
THAT CONNECTS THE ARM TO THE MOTOR.
YOU GOT LEAD ON YOU, CODY?
Narrator: WITH THE PANDEMIC DISRUPTING SUPPLY LINES,
THERE'S NO KNOWING HOW LONG HE'LL BE DOWN.
TO KEEP ON TRACK FOR HIS 3,000-ONCE GOAL,
TONY MUST TAKE A GAMBLE ON THE OTHER PIECE OF GROUND
READY TO SLUICE.
YOU'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS SPOT FOR 30 YEARS.
WHY DON'T I COME HERE?
Narrator: LAST SEASON,
MONICA BEETS OPENED UP A CUT ON HUNKER CREEK.
OLD TIME DREDGES PRODUCED A $1 MILLION A DAY HERE,
AND SHE BELIEVED THEY MISSED THIS SPOT...
Monica: LIKE WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
Narrator: ...BUT HIT ROADBLOCK AFTER ROADBLOCK...
♪♪
HOLY [BLEEP].
ARE YOU [BLEEP] SERIOUS?
YOU SHOULD'VE NAMED IT THE CURSED CUT,
NOT THE HUNKER CUT.
Narrator: ...AND WAS EVENTUALLY FROZEN OUT WITH UNDER 400 OUNCES
TO SHOW EARNING AT THE NAME OF THE CURSED CUT.
Monica: SEE YOU NEXT SPRING.
♪♪
[ BLEEP ]
[ CHUCKLES ]
UH-OH.
♪♪
Narrator: TREES WASHED DOWN BY WINTER STORMS
HAVE DAMMED HUNKER CREEK,
DIVERTING IT RIGHT INTO MONICA'S CUT,
SUBMERGING THE GOLD RICH PAYDIRT UNDER
2 1/2 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER.
NOW THE ORIGINAL CREEK BED IS BONE DRY.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER ROOTS AND THEN THERE'S THE BIG ONE.
HOW?
YOU KNOW ANY LOCAL BEAVERS?
Narrator: TONY HAS NO OPTION
BUT TO TRY AND REDIRECT THE WHOLE CREEK
AND DRAIN THE FLOODWATER.
♪♪
Narrator: IN OREGON...
ALL THIS WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THE CLAIM UP TO HERE
AND IT'S GO TIME RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: ...SPECIAL FORCES VETERAN FRED LEWIS HAS SIGNED
A LEASE ON A 36-ACRE CLAIM
HOPING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SKY HIGH GOLD PRICES
AND TO MAKE A BIG CHANGE.
I WAS 14 YEARS IN THE MILITARY, AND THEN WHEN I GOT OUT,
HAVING THAT PURPOSE WAS JUST GONE IN ONE DAY.
WHEN I GOT INVOLVED IN MINING WITH PARKER,
MY WIFE WAS THE ONE, CARRIE WAS THE ONE THAT TOLD ME
THAT THEY HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON ME PERSONALLY
AND GAVE ME THAT PURPOSE IN THAT DRIVE
AND IT GAVE ME SOMETHING TO WORK FOR.
LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW,
MY FINANCES ARE IN THE TANK,
I MEAN, EVERYBODY I KNOW IS STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.
I'M NOT WILLING TO TAKE THAT LAYING DOWN.
IT'S NOT THE KIND OF PERSON I AM.
THE AMERICAN DREAM IS TO GO OUT
AND GET IT WITH YOUR OWN HANDS.
I WANT TO CONTROL MY OWN FATE.
Narrator: HE SPENT HIS LIFE SAVINGS --
$20,000 -- ON THE DEPOSIT,
Fred: A LOT'S RIDING ON THIS.
I SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT I CAN FORM INTO A PURPOSE.
I MEAN, RUNNING A MINE
IS A LOT LIKE RUNNING A SPECIAL FORCES TEAM.
WHAT'S UP, BRO?
-HOW'D YOU SLEEP? -SAME AS ALWAYS.
HOW ABOUT YOU? -OH, PRETTY GOOD.
Narrator: THE FIRST MEMBER OF FRED'S CREW
IS A FELLOW VET, KENDALL MADDEN.
THE CLAIM OWNERS LEFT US SOME PRETTY GOOD PAY UP THERE.
I THINK WE SHOULD RUN IT,
TRY AND MAKE SOME MONEY. -IF YOU SAY SO, YOU KNOW.
Fred: KENDALL AND I MET AT WARRIOR GAMES.
HE'S AN AIR FORCE CREW CHIEF.
HE WAS INJURED IN THE BACK OF A C-130 AND HAD A HEAD INJURY
THAT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE KILLED HIM,
HIS FAMILY IS IN MINING. SO HE HAS A TON OF EXPERIENCE.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S A SPECIAL TIME.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF CRAZINESS GOING ON IN THE WORLD.
AND THE PRICE OF GOLD IS SKYROCKETING.
SO I'M OPTIMISTIC. LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
Narrator: DEEP IN THE ELKHORN MOUNTAINS,
FRED'S 36-ACRE CLAIM SITS NEXT TO TWO MOUNTAIN STREAMS.
FRED'S TEST SHOWED RICH GOLD DEPOSITS.
IT'S A TURNKEY OPERATION WITH A WASH PLANT EXCAVATOR
AND A CUT READY TO RUN.
THEIR MISSION -- ATTEMPT TO FIRE UP THE OLD WASH PLANT,
LEASED WITH THE CLAIM,
AND START RUNNING GOLD RICH PAYDIRT.
JEFF, WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS BEAST?
COLONEL NUGGET.
I LOVE IT, NOW I CAN REALLY SALUTE IT.
COLONEL NUGGET, I'D HAVE TO SEE A NUGGET OR TWO
BEFORE I START CALLING IT COLONEL.
Narrator: COLONEL NUGGET IS A UNIQUE JUNKYARD INVENTION
WITH A SHAKER, SLUICES, TWO TROMMELS,
AND A WHOLE LOT OF SCRAP METAL.
A TROMMEL WITH A SHAKER?
OOH, MAN.
THIS IS, UH...
THIS IS INTIMIDATING.
IT LOOKS VERY SKETCHY.
♪♪
JUST RUNNING THESE GLASS LITTLE WATER LINES TO THE PLANT
AND THEN HEADING UP THERE TO SEE HOW SHE FIRES UP.
FIRST, NEEDS TO GO THERE.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE THIS HOSE OVER RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE THERE'S NO COVER ON THE END OF IT.
IT'LL JUST SUCK UP MUD AND THEN TRY AND MOVE IT OVER HERE
A LITTLE BIT AND JUST KIND OF...
-WATCH YOURSELF, FRED. -OH, [BLEEP].
WELL, I'M IN.
[ LAUGHS ]
I HATE YOU.
-READY? -YEAH.
♪♪
OKAY, I SEE THE END. [ BLEEP ]
YOU'RE GONNA BE WETTER THAN HE IS.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, NO. I'LL PUMP -- THAT'S COLD WATER.
HE'LL BE FEELING THAT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, I'M SURE.
ALL RIGHT, PUMP'S PRIMED.
[ LAUGHTER ] -OH, MY GOD.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD SPLIT UP HERE AND MAYBE, KENDELL,
YOU GO ON THE GENERATOR.
-I'LL FIRE US UP. -YOU DOWN ON THE PUMP.
AND THEN, JEFF, COULD YOU MAYBE SHOW ME
SOME MORE OF THE EXCAVATOR AND...
YEAH, YOU WANNA FEED A BUCKET?
YEAH, LET'S TEST IT OUT.
I'VE NEVER OPERATED AN EXCAVATOR BEFORE,
BUT IF I'M GONNA RUN A MINE, I'M GONNA HAVE TO LEARN.
AND THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT. [ GRUNTS ]
I'M EXCITED.
-BUCKET. -BUCKET.
-IT SLINGS YOUR ARM OUT. -OKAY.
DOWN'S GONNA LOWER IT AND BACK IS GONNA RAISE IT.
PERFECT.
THAT IS EJECTOR BUTTON.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T HIT THAT [BLEEP] HOPPER.
ARE YOU GUYS READY TO GO?
READY IN THE EXCAVATOR.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, HOPPER'S ON. WATER'S COMING.
HOW COULD I NOT BE NERVOUS WITH THIS THING BEHIND ME?
THERE'S A LOT OF BUBBLE GUM AND DUCT TAPE ON THESE BAD BOYS.
ALL RIGHT, THE TROMMEL'S COMING ON.
♪♪
WE'VE GOT WATER IN THE HOPPER IN THE FEEDER.
YEAH!
ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA LOAD THE FIRST BUCKET.
♪♪
START THE SWING.
START TO SWING WITH THIS?
OH, AT THE SAME TIME. OH, THAT'S FREAKY.
[ LAUGHS ]
SET YOUR BUCKET DOWN A LITTLE. REAL EASY.
FRED'S A LITTLE GREEN ON THAT MACHINE UP THERE,
YOU CAN SEE HE DINGED THE CORNER
ALREADY WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES.
SLUICING, FINALLY!
♪♪
WE'RE FINALLY PUTTING THROUGH SOME PAY DIRT.
COULD SEE WHAT THIS LAND IS ACTUALLY MADE OF.
UH-OH.
FRED, WE GOTTA STOP.
KILL THAT WATER, KILL THAT WATER.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
POWER'S COMING DOWN. POWER'S COMING OFF.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
KENDELL, YOU OKAY?
DUDE, THAT WAS SCARY AS PISS.
THAT WHOLE [BLEEP] THING FLEW UP LIKE 20 FEET IN THE AIR.
THAT'S LIKE SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS OF STEEL.
[ GROANS, SIGHS ]
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE [BLEEP] WE'RE GONNA GET AROUND THIS ONE.
THIS SLUICE IS JUST THE BEGINNING
OF OUR PROBLEMS HERE.
EVEN IF WE GET IT FIXED UP,
WE'RE GONNA BE LOSING GOLD ALL OVER THE PLACE WITH THIS.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES
FOR STUFF LIKE THIS.
Narrator: FIXING THIS JUNKYARD PLANT IS NO SIMPLE JOB,
AND ALL OF FRED'S MONEY IS SUNK INTO LEASING THE CLAIM.
I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO.
GET A HOLD OF MY FAMILY, SEE IF THEY'RE INTERESTED
ACTUALLY, GIVING ME SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THIS.
ADVICE MIGHT BE BETTER THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT.
Narrator: THEIR ONLY HOPE IS TO CALL
ON THE HELP OF KENDELL'S GOLD MINING FAMILY.
YEAH, AND I THINK AT THIS POINT WE'RE BURNING DAYLIGHT.
LET'S GIVE THEM A CALL, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
♪♪
SO, PARKER, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
REALLY, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS GET THIS AREA
THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT HERE OVER
TO WHERE THAT GRAVEL IS CLEAN...
-OKAY. -...AND DONE.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL HAS OPENED UP
HIS FIRST CUT ON VIRGIN GROUND
LEASED FROM MINER KEN TATLOW.
HE WANTS TO GET DOWN TO PAY DIRT
AND START SLUICING FOR GOLD IN JUST TWO WEEKS.
PLUG THIS HOLE AND GET HER BACK.
JUST KEEP BAILING AS MUCH AS YOU CAN,
JUST KEEP STACKING IT HERE AND THEN BEHIND YOU
AND WHEREVER THE [BLEEP] YOU CAN PUT IT.
Narrator: BUT THE LATE SEASON START
HAS TURNED PARKER'S FIRST CUT
ON THE PROMISED LAND INTO A SEA OF MUD.
YEAH, I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE OPENING UP
A CUT LIKE THIS LATE IN THE SEASON,
ALL THE PERMAFROST JUST MELTS AND THE TRUCKS DRAG IT AROUND
AND IT TURNS INTO THIS GOOP THAT I'M SITTING IN RIGHT NOW.
♪♪
YEAH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF ALL THIS
OVERBURDEN, THIS CUT HERE, BUT IT'S A MASSIVE CUT.
WE'RE TRUCKING STUFF UP TO THE WASTE SITE.
WE JUST GOT TO GET DOWN TO PAY HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IF WE HAVE ANY HOPE IN HELL OF MAKING THIS TWO-WEEK DEADLINE
PARK HAS PUT OUT FOR US.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF HIRING ANOTHER FOREMAN,
PARKER HAS PROMOTED OPERATOR TYSON LEE
TO RUN HIS BIGGEST WASH PLANT.
Parker: RIGHT NOW I'M LETTING TYSON RUN SLUICIFER.
MITCH AND BRENNAN ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY BUSY
AND TYSON'S COME A LONG WAY.
SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD CHANCE TO SEE WHAT HE'S GOT
AND HOPEFULLY THIS DOESN'T BITE EITHER OF US IN THE ASS.
Tyson: THE HEAT'S ON MY SHOULDERS
TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE.
YOU KNOW, PARKER'S ONLY GIVING ME TWO WEEKS
TO GET THE PAWN SET UP,
THE ROADS BUILT, THE WASH PLANT PAD SET,
AND HE WANTS SLUICIFER SHAKING AWAY.
SO THERE'S -- THAT'S NOT MUCH TIME TO GET ALL THAT DONE.
♪♪
Narrator: FIVE YEARS AGO,
TYSON STARTED DRIVING ROCK TRUCKS FOR PARKER.
Tyson: PRETTY GREEN AT THE MINING ASPECT OF THINGS.
Narrator: AND WAS NEARLY FIRED.
TWO TIRES IN 20 MINUTES. SAME GUY.
DUDE, I DON'T CARE IF HE BREAKS SHOVELS.
WE GOT PLENTY. GO PUT HIM ON A SHOVEL AT THE WASH PLANT.
YEAH.
GREAT FUN. THAT'S WHY I CAME UP HERE.
BETTER GET BACK TO IT.
♪♪
Narrator: NOW PARKER IS TRUSTING HIM
WITH $600,000 SLUICIFER AND A BRAND-NEW CUT.
WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING THE WASH PLANT PAD
YOU WANT IT TO BE AS SECURE AS YOU CAN POSSIBLY GET IT.
IF YOU'RE ON ALREADY MINED GROUND
OR I'D BE USING TAILINGS.
SO I'M HAVING TO USE OVERBURDEN.
SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO ARMOR IT THE BEST WE CAN,
BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH TO WORK WITH.
Narrator: TAILINGS ARE THE WASTE ROCKS
THAT FALL FROM THE BACK OF A WASH PLANT.
THEY MAKE FOR A SOLID PAN TO SUPPORT THE 45-TON PLANT.
BUT ON THIS VIRGIN GROUND,
TYSON MUST USE SOFTER, OVERBURDENED MUD.
IF YOU'RE SITTING IT ON [BLEEP] MATERIAL,
IT'S ONLY GONNA BE THAT MUCH MORE SKETCHY.
♪♪
GO ON.
THIS WAY, BUD. JARV!
IT'S LOOKING ALL RIGHT, I THINK IT'LL WORK,
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT IDEAL, BUT IT'S WHAT WE HAVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S COME A LONG WAY.
SO ALL WE CAN DO IS GET SLUICIFER UP HERE
AND SEE HOW IT GOES.
COME ON.
♪♪
Narrator: IN THE CUT, PARKER'S STRIPPING CREW
IS WINNING THE BATTLE AGAINST THE OVERBURDEN.
SO YOU'RE PRETTY WELL DOWN TO PRETTY CLEAN GRAVEL, HUH?
-YEAH. -JUST A LITTLE SKIM OF MUD.
NO, IT LOOKS GOOD.
SURE AS HELL LOOKS PAY TO ME, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S SOME BIG ROCK IN THERE.
GARNETS.
Narrator: PARKER'S DOWN TO PAY AND READY
TO BRING IN HIS BIGGEST MONEYMAKING MACHINE.
Parker: WE JUST GOT TO GET SLUICIFER SORTED OUT
AND THEN WE'RE WASHING ROCKS.
♪♪
I JUST WANT IT TO BE FIXABLE, MAN.
Narrator: EX-SPECIAL FORCES VET
FRED LEWIS HAS PUT UP HIS LIFE SAVINGS TO MINE,
A GOLD CLAIM IN SUMPTER, OREGON.
DAY ONE AND HIS FRANKENSTEIN WASH PLANT HAS FALLEN APART.
WE'LL MAKE A MIRACLE HAPPEN OUT HERE.
Narrator: FRED'S MINING PARTNER,
AIR FORCE VETERAN KENDELL MADDEN,
HAS CALLED IN THE CAVALRY.
♪♪
-HOW'S IT GOING, GUYS? -WHAT'S UP, FREDDY?
♪♪
GOOD TO SEE YOU, BUD.
Narrator: HIS UNCLE AND LEGENDARY GOLD
RECOVERY EXPERT FREDDY DODGE.
I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT YOU.
-HOPE IT'S GOOD STUFF. -OH, SO FAR.
SO YOU'RE HAVING HELL?
HAVING HELL. THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER WHAT THEY HAVE HERE
TO SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT WORK, BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING.
SO WE GOT A STATIC HOPPER,
A SHAKER, RUNS GOING INTO TWO TROMMELS.
CORRECT.
-IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. -NOT AT ALL.
-LET'S LOOK AT IT. -LET'S DO IT.
I'VE BEEN AROUND FREDDIE MY ENTIRE LIFE.
A LOT OF WEIGHT OFF MY SHOULDERS BY HAVING HIM HERE.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN, KENDALL?
YEAH, YOU FORGOT MY BIRTHDAY, FREDDY.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]? -[ LAUGHS ]
IT'S NOT LOOKING ANY BETTER AS WE GET CLOSER.
I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
YOU AREN'T GONNA CATCH GOLD IN THESE.
LOOK, THEY'RE WARPED, BENT, CAKED.
YEAH.
IT'S A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.
PIECE OF JUNK.
♪♪
BUT THE SHAKER WORKED?
YES, YEP, SURE DID.
-LET'S GO LOOK AT IT. -YEAH.
YOUR ACCESS IS GOOD.
IF YOU'RE A MOUNTAIN GOAT.
IT'S A MESS INSIDE OF THERE, FROM WHAT I CAN SEE.
WHEN YOU CALLED ME FOR HELP, YOU SAID IT WAS BAD,
BUT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GONNA BE THIS BAD.
IF YOU JUST SENT ME A PICTURE I MIGHT NOT HAVE CAME.
[ CHUCKLES ] THERE'S A REASON WHY I DIDN'T SEND PICTURES.
NO, I'D HAVE CAME ANYWAY YOU KNOW THAT.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOW SOON DO YOU GUYS WANT TO GET SLUICING?
-AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. -LAST WEEK.
-YEAH. -SEASON'S RUNNING SHORT.
IF IT'S NOT GONNA BE DOABLE, THEN WE'RE [BLEEP].
THIS NEEDS TAKEN DOWN TO ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
THAT YOU GUYS CAN MAINTAIN.
WHAT'S THE BIGGEST PIECE OF GOLD
YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN OFF THIS PROPERTY?
ABOUT AN EIGHTH OF AN OUNCE. IT'S MOSTLY FINES HERE.
Narrator: FREDDY DRAWS ON 30 YEARS
OF GOLD MINING EXPERIENCE
TO QUICKLY DESIGN A FIX TO CATCH ALL THE GOLD ON THE CLAIM.
WE'LL START TEARING THOSE TROMMELS APART.
WE NEED TO BUILD NEW SLUICES. WE STICK WITH THE SHAKER.
WE GOT OUR TOP SCREEN. IT'S INCH AND A QUARTER.
AND THEN WE PUT A 3/8 SCREEN IN THE BOTTOM.
SOME MATERIALS GOING THROUGH THE TOP SCREEN,
GOING DOWN ONTO THE BOTTOM SCREEN
AND THAT WATER AND MATERIALS
THEN GOING DOWN THE SLUICE BOXES.
Narrator: THE SCRAP BUILD WASH PLANT COLONEL NUGGET
HAS A SHAKER DECK AND TWO TROMMELS.
FREDDIE'S PLAN,
REMOVE THE TWO TROMMELS, CREATING A SIMPLER WASH PLANT,
THEN ADD A SECOND SCREEN TO SEPARATE SMALLER ROCKS
FROM THE FINE GOLD.
FINALLY, EXTEND THE SLUICE RUNS
TO ENSURE THEY CATCH ALL THE GOLD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS PROJECT'S GONNA COST US?
WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY GOLD YET AND MONEY
IS JUST FLOWING OUT AT THIS POINT.
WELL, KENDELL'S ALWAYS HELPED ME OUT.
AND HE SAID YOU'RE ONE HELL OF A GOOD GUY.
I APPRECIATE THAT, KENDELL.
I WON'T CHARGE YOU A DIME, BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO --
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF MONEY OUT OF POCKET ON MATERIAL.
I'M GUESSING RIGHT NOW WE COULD PROBABLY GET IT RUNNING
FOR ABOUT $5,000.
OKAY, YEAH, WE CAN HANDLE THAT.
I'LL GO MAKE SOME CALLS AND LET'S GET AT IT.
FREDDY COMING OUT HERE AND DONATING HIS TIME
REALLY MEANS A LOT.
IT'S JUST A HUGE GESTURE.
HE'S A SUPERHERO TO ME RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: FREDDY'S FIRST CALL,
HIS OLD BUDDY FROM BACK ON THE HOFFMAN CREW,
TOP FABRICATOR...
JUAN, IT'S FREDDY.
Narrator: ...JUAN IBARRA.
Hey, Fred. What's going on?
MY NEPHEW, KENDELL,
HE'S STARTING TO MINE GOLD WITH A FRIEND OF HIS, FRED,
AND THEY'VE GOT THEMSELVES IN ONE HELL OF A MESS.
Okay.
IF YOU CAME UP, IT'LL SAVE MY ASS
AND REALLY SAVE THEIR ASS.
Okay, how much time are we talking about?
PROBABLY A WEEK ONE.
What's the pay look like?
NO, IT DOESN'T PAY ANYTHING. I JUST NEED YOUR HELP.
Okay.
THESE GUYS, IF THEY GET ROLLING, THEY'D PAY YOU BACK.
Okay, well, let me get everything finished up
here in Reno.
I'll get my truck ready to go tonight
and I'll be heading your way in the morning then.
THANK YOU, MY FRIEND. SEE YOU SOON.
FRED, KENDELL,
WE JUST GOT ANOTHER FABRICATOR
AND ALL HIS TOOLS COMING UP.
JUAN'S A GOOD GUY.
I TOLD HIM FOR FREE,
BUT WHEN YOU GUYS GET UP AND RUNNING,
IF YOU START MAKING A PROFIT, YOU PAY JUAN BACK.
ABSOLUTELY.
NOW, FIRST THING, I WANT THOSE TROMMELS
AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF OUT. -THAT'S EASY ENOUGH.
-OKAY. -WE CAN DO THAT.
SO LET'S BLOW AND GO.
♪♪
KEEP AN EYE ON THAT CHAIN HOOKS ON THAT SIDE.
NOBODY UNDER IT.
IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY.
SPIN THAT WAY A LITTLE BIT.
EASY PEASY. -WHOO!
[ LAUGHS ]
COMING DOWN.
♪♪
-GOT IT. -IT'S ALL YOURS.
Narrator: FREDDY SENDS THE TWO SCRAP METAL TROMMELS
INTO PERMANENT RETIREMENT.
♪♪
HERE WE GO.
DUDE.
WE GOT SO MUCH LEFT TO DO.
♪♪
Narrator: TONY BEETS' WHOLE OPERATION IS DOWN.
RECORD GOLD PRICES HAVE DRIVEN HIM TO REOPEN
MONICA'S FIRST CUT.
BUT FIRST HE MUST TRAIN
2 1/2 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER.
TONY'S PLAN TO GET SLUICING, BUILD A DAM WITH ROCKS AND MUD
TO STOP THE FLOW OF WATER INTO MONICA'S CUT
AND REDIRECT IT TO THE ORIGINAL CREEK BED,
THEN DIG A CHANNEL TO DRAIN THE FLOODWATER FROM THE CUT,
REVEALING THE GOLD RICH PAYDIRT UNDERNEATH.
♪♪
SNEAK THE EXCAVATOR AROUND MONICA, HOW?
♪♪
Narrator: TONY NEEDS THIS DAM BUILT FAST,
AND HE ISN'T GOING TO LET A LITTLE WATER GET IN HIS WAY.
♪♪
LOST TRACK.
OH, [BLEEP].
Narrator: THE CURSE OF THE HUNKER CODE STRIKES AGAIN.
♪♪
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST SPOTS
TO LOSE A TRACK.
HE'S HAVING TO USE HIS BOOM AND ARM
TO LIFT HIMSELF UP AND WALK THE STRONG TRACK.
Narrator: TONY USES HIS BOOM ARM TO LIFT THE BROKEN TRACK
OFF THE GROUND AND KEEPS RIGHT ON GOING.
THE ACTUAL [BLEEP].
HE HAS NO [BLEEP] TRACK.
I MEAN, IT'S TONY BEETS, HE'LL PROBABLY DO IT LIKE
IT'S JUST ANOTHER DAY.
♪♪
Narrator: WITH 38 TONS OF ROCK AND MUD,
TONY HAS CUT OFF THE CREEK FROM THE CUT.
HE'S ONE STEP CLOSER TO FINDING OUT IF HIS GAMBLE WILL PAY OFF.
♪♪
-LONG WEEK OF MOVING. -COOL.
NOBODY LIKES MOVING.
Narrator: ABOVE KENO, RICK LEAVES HIS OLD CLAIM
FOR THE LAST TIME, HEADING TOWARDS HIS NEW HOME
FOR THE SEASON AT LOWER DUNCAN CREEK.
♪♪
I BARELY BROKE EVEN LAST YEAR,
AND I WORKED PRETTY HARD ALL WINTER TO TRY
AND GET SOME MONEY TO GIVE THIS ANOTHER SHOT.
I NEED TO GET IN HERE AND I NEED TO START
GETTING GOLD RIGHT AWAY.
♪♪
SO THEN I'LL JUST BACK UP.
♪♪
BOB'S YOUR UNCLE. LAST LOAD TODAY.
♪♪
-I LIKE THIS NEW CAMP SPOT. -ME, TOO.
-I'M DIGGING ON IT BIG TIME. -YEAH.
PRETTY AMAZING THAT WE'RE HERE.
AFTER ALMOST SEEING PART OF OUR CAMP
GO OFF THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.
[ LAUGHS ]
[BLEEP] WE CAN START MINING TOMORROW.
THAT SEEMS CRAZY.
WELL, WE DIDN'T COME UP HERE TO MOVE CAMPS ALL DAY.
GOOD, 'CAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO START A MOVING COMPANY.
-YEAH, 'CAUSE MOVING SUCKS. -I AM NOT.
WHO DOES THAT? WHO STARTS A MOVING COMPANY?
-WHAT DO YOU SAY? -ALL THAT'S LEFT IS EVERYTHING.
-YEP. -CHEERS.
-CHEERS, GUYS. -CHEERS.
-I'M CALLING IT. I'M DONE. -YEAH?
SEE YOU GUYS TOMORROW.
-I'M OVER IT. GOOD JOB. -THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.
[ GROANS ]
TOMORROW, WE GO MINING.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO HELP ME GET UP.
Narrator: NOW RICK'S SMALL CREW FACES A MAMMOTH TASK.
BEFORE THEY EARN A CENT,
THEY MUST MINE 100 OUNCES FOR LANDLORD TROY TAYLOR.
OH, WHAT IS IT, LIKE, 1:00 A.M.? JEEZ, UGH.
♪♪
[ HORN HONKS ]
♪♪
Narrator: ON FIRST TIME MINER FRED LEWIS' OREGON CLAIM...
♪♪
...TOP FABRICATOR JUAN IBARRA ARRIVES...
FRED?
JUAN-O.
Narrator: ...TO WORK WITH OLD FRIEND FREDDY DODGE...
YOU'RE A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES, MY FRIEND.
-GOOD TO SEE YOU, FRIEND. -GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
Narrator: ...AND REBUILD FRED'S SCRAP METAL WASH PLANT.
WE'RE IN A HORNET'S NEST HERE.
LOOKS LIKE IT. HOLY CRAP.
♪♪
WELL, JUAN, THIS IS FRED.
-FRED, HOW YOU DOING? JUAN. -NICE TO MEET YOU, JUAN.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
-AND THIS IS KENDELL. -NICE TO MEET YOU, KENDELL.
JUAN, NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO, MAN.
SO WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO GET ON, FRED?
LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT A LOT TO DO.
MY THOUGHTS ARE MAKE A BOTTOM SCREEN IN HERE.
OKAY.
RIGHT NOW, THERE'S 1 1/4 INCH SCREEN ON THE TOP DECK,
ABOUT A 3/8ths PUNCH PLATE FOR THAT BOTTOM DECK.
OKAY, I GOT THE CUT TRAILER SET UP.
I'M READY TO START CUTTING. -OKAY.
SO HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE TO DO ALL THIS, FREDDY?
I TOLD KENDELL AND FRED WE GOT ONE WEEK TO DO THIS IN.
WOW. OKAY.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING HERE.
WE NEED IT.
YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
I WAS HAPPY TO GET FREDDY'S CALL.
IT LOOKS LIKE THESE GUYS ARE A LITTLE OVER THEIR HEAD,
BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THEM UP
AND SLUICING HERE BEFORE TOO LONG.
♪♪
Narrator: JUAN'S FIRST TASK...
Juan: HERE WE GO.
Narrator: ...CREATE A SCREEN FOR THE EXISTING SHAKER DECK
ENGINEERED TO SEPARATE OUT
THE WORTHLESS ROCKS FROM FINE GOLD.
♪♪
THE WAY THESE WORK,
THE SMALLER MATERIAL WILL FALL THROUGH
AND IT DOESN'T GET CLOGGED UP WITH BIG MATERIAL.
THIS IS A NEW PATTERN THAT WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.
YOU SEE EVERY OTHER ONE IS ANGLED THEN STRAIGHT,
THEN ANGLED THEN STRAIGHT AND THEN GOES BACK.
WHAT THAT ESSENTIALLY IS DOING IS GIVING US
MORE SCREENING TIME.
WE HAVEN'T TESTED IT OUT.
THIS IS GONNA BE THE FIRST TIME WE RUN IT
ON THE SCREEN PLAN LIKE THIS.
BUT I'M PRETTY HOPEFUL. I THINK IT'S GONNA WORK WELL.
♪♪
Narrator: AS JUAN CUTS THE SCREEN,
FREDDIE STARTS WORK
ON THE MOST CRITICAL PIECE OF THE WASH PLANT,
A NEW SLUICE RUN DESIGNED TO CAPTURE ALL THE SITE'S GOLD.
THIS IS SLUICE BOX OFF THE TROMMEL, ONE OF THEM,
THEY'RE BENT UP A LITTLE BIT
BUT WE'LL STIFFEN THEM THE BEST WE CAN, REUSE THEM.
THIS WILL SAVE THESE GUYS ABOUT 2,000 BUCKS IN STEEL.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST TYING THIS ALL TOGETHER
TO MAKE THESE TWO CHUTES INTO ONE WORKABLE SLUICE
AND ALSO MAKE AN EXTENSION.
FIRE IN THE HOLE, KENDELL. -GOT YOU.
♪♪
Narrator: FREDDY'S NEPHEW, KENDELL, CUTS WEDGES TO SECURE
THE RIFFLES AND CARPET IN THE SLUICE.
OH, IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING WORKING WITH FAMILY,
BUT THANKFULLY,
I'VE ALWAYS GOT ALONG WITH FREDDY OVER THE YEARS,
HE'S IT'S PRETTY FUNNY, DUDE, TO BE AROUND
SO IT'S ACTUALLY ENJOYABLE TIME.
I LOVE LAYING ON MY BACK IN FREAKING ROCKS
WELDING UPSIDE DOWN.
♪♪
HEY, KENDELL.
IT'LL WORK GOOD FOR YOU.
YES, IT WILL.
I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS 16,
YOU KNOW, I WAS LIVING ON MY OWN OUT OF MY CAR, RIGHT?
YOUR DAD HELPED ME GET A JOB.
I HAD TO LIE ABOUT MY AGE AND HE TOLD ME
TO ALWAYS BE THE FIRST PERSON THERE TO DO THE JOB.
ALWAYS BE.
WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH YOUR JOB, YOU GO DO THEIR JOB.
[ CHUCKLES ]
WITHOUT YOUR DAD'S INSPIRATION AND YOUR DAD'S TEACHING,
HE'S QUITE A BIT OLDER THAN ME, RIGHT?
I WOULDN'T BE WHERE I'M AT TODAY.
YOUR DAD'S STILL MY HERO. SO LET'S GET TO WORK.
ALL RIGHT, SOUNDS GOOD.
FREDDY LEARNED HIS CRAFT FROM MY FATHER,
WHO HAS BEEN BUILDING GOLD MINING EQUIPMENT
FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REALLY REMEMBER.
HEARING FREDDY SHOW HIS APPRECIATION FOR THAT
IS IT'S GOOD TO HEAR.
KENDELL IS WANTING TO DO
THE THINGS THAT I'VE ALWAYS DONE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT MAKES ME SMILE.
WHETHER OR NOT HE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IS ANOTHER STORY.
BUT HIM TRYING TO DO IT,
YOU KNOW, THAT MAKES ME PROUD.
WELL, LET'S GET THIS GREEN IN IT.
LET'S DO IT.
-NO REST FOR THE WICKED. -THAT'S RIGHT.
Narrator: NEXT JOB, FITTING JUAN'S HIGH-TECH
PLASMA CUT SCREEN INTO THE EXISTING SHAKER DECK.
THIS IS A THREE EIGHT SCREEN THAT'S GONNA BASICALLY
KEEP A LOT OF JUNK OUT OF THE SLUICE
AND FOCUS ON MORE GOLD WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH.
SO SUPER IMPORTANT.
♪♪
-LOOKS GOOD. -LOOKS GOOD.
LOOKS GOOD, GUYS.
Narrator: FREDDY'S REPURPOSED SLUICE BOXES
ARE NEXT WITH ONE FINAL EDITION.
JUAN PUT TOGETHER THESE BADASS SLUICE EXTENDERS FOR US.
THIS IS GONNA MAKE OUR ABILITY
TO CATCH GOLD SO MUCH MORE EFFICIENT
AND INCREASE OUR PRODUCTION QUITE A BIT.
CAN'T SAY ENOUGH THANKS TO THE BIG GUY FOR THAT.
-GO UP JUST A LITTLE BIT. -[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
WHAT THE...
-NOT BAD, HUH? -MAGIC.
TWO GUYS WORKING ON TWO SEPARATE THINGS AND IT WORKS.
WE SHOULD -- WE SHOULD DO THIS FOR A LIVING, FRED. [ LAUGHS ]
♪♪
NOW THAT IT'S PUT TOGETHER, WE'RE GONNA MOVE IT DOWN
TO THE PLANT ATTACHED TO THE COLONEL,
AND THE MAGIC'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
Narrator: ROOKIE MINE BOSS FRED'S
FIRST TIME IN AN EXCAVATOR WAS JUST A WEEK AGO.
NOW IT'S HIS JOB TO GET THE 24-FOOT SLUICES
SAFELY ACROSS THE SITE TO THE PLANT.
LET'S NOT MESS IT UP 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME
TO BUILD YOU ANOTHER ONE. -YES, SIR.
WE'LL DO IT ONCE AND WE'LL DO IT RIGHT.
YES, SIR.
AND BY THE WAY, FRED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL ME SIR.
-OH, SORRY. -THAT'S OKAY.
-IT'S A HABIT. -I KNOW.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
IT'S A BIG MOMENT RIGHT HERE,
MOVING THE SLUICE DOWN TO OLD COLONEL NUGGET,
THE SLUICE GETS BROKEN, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH SCREWED
SO THIS HAS TO WORK.
IT'S WHAT YOU CALL LEARNING ON THE FLY, FRED.
-I'M READY. READY? -LET'S DO IT.
♪♪
PERFECT.
WHOA.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, FRED. LET'S JUST TAKE IT EASY.
♪♪
-YOU CAN'T LET GO. -STOP!
STOP! -EASY.
♪♪
Freddy: EASY, EASY.
Narrator: FRESHMAN MINER FRED LEWIS HAS FREDDY DODGE'S
NEW SLUICES ON THE HOOK,
IF HE DROPS THEM, THEY COULD TAKE WEEKS TO REPAIR.
WE GOT TIME TO DO IT RIGHT GETTING IT THERE.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO BUILD ANOTHER ONE.
IF YOU START TIPPING, GET THIS WEIGHT OFF,
OKAY, DON'T SMASH IT, BUT GET IT OFF.
OKAY, LET'S SPIN IT AROUND HERE.
OKAY, WE'RE WORKING WITH EACH OTHER NOW, KENDELL.
-OKAY. -NOW YOU STOP IT.
PULL IT, PULL IT.
OKAY, LET'S COME IN EASY.
MY HANDS ARE SWEATING RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE LAST 10 FEET TO GO.
♪♪
NOW BOOM DOWN.
♪♪
COMING DOWN, COMING DOWN.
♪♪
GOOD JOB, FRED!
OH, I CAN BREATHE NOW.
♪♪
WHOO, THAT WAS STRESSFUL.
BUT HE DID ACTUALLY A PRETTY DARN GOOD JOB,
SO I CAN'T EVEN GIVE HIM CRAP ABOUT THAT ONE.
HE DID A GOOD JOB.
WELL, LET'S GET THIS SLUICE IN.
IT'S NOT GONNA CATCH GOLD WITHOUT IT.
-OOH, OOH, OOH. -THERE YOU GO.
-WHOO. -YOU'RE THERE.
UP, UP, UP.
IT'S GONNA GO THE OTHER WAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TWO INCHES.
COME UP WITH YOUR JACK.
Fred: VERY, VERY MINUTE ADJUSTMENTS THEY'RE MAKING.
BASICALLY PERFECTING THE SLUICE
SO IT CATCHES ALL THE FINE GOLD.
THIS IS A GAME CHANGER RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: NEXT, A DISTRIBUTOR PLATE,
SPRAY BARS, CARPETS, AND RIFFLES.
LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, I'M HAPPY WITH IT.
YEAH, IT LOOKS GOOD.
LAST ONE!
LET'S GET ROLLING, DUDE.
LET'S DO IT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED HERE,
UP HERE, WE HAD THIS BIG HOPPER FEEDER TROLL DOWN,
IT'S LIKE TWISTING GNARLY SLUICES DOWN INTO TWO TROMMELS,
AND NOW WE'VE GOT ONE PLANT SMOOTH OPERATOR.
FREDDY AND JUAN'S SIMPLE DESIGN
USES THE ORIGINAL SHAKER DECK WITH A NEW SCREEN
DESIGNED TO FILTER FOR FINE PAYDIRT RUNNING INTO
BRAND-NEW EXTENDED SLUICE BOXES TO CATCH FINEGOLD.
-WHAT DO YOU THINK, GUYS? -LOVE IT.
YOU GOT A WHOLE DIFFERENT PLANT NOW.
YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
IT'S WAY MORE THAN I HAD EXPECTED.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. -WELL, LET'S FIRE IT UP.
-YEAH, I'M READY. -IT'S READY TO ROLL.
TIME TO FEED THE COLONEL.
♪♪
FIRE UP THAT GENERATOR, KENDELL. LET'S GET IT WARMED UP.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
HERE COMES THE WATER.
♪♪
WHOO-HOO-HOO-WHEE!
♪♪
THEY LOOK PRETTY GOOD, JUAN!
YOU READY TO MAKE GOLD, FRED?
I'M READY TO SEE SOME GOLD, FREDDY.
SLOW AND EASY. TURTLE AND THE RABBIT.
SLOW AND EASY, I GOT YOU.
♪♪
WHOO-HOO-HOO-WHEE!
♪♪
LIKING IT, I'M LIKING IT.
LET'S JUST HOPE THERE'S SOME GOLD IN THERE.
♪♪
JARVIS, COME HERE. COME HERE, BUDDY.
Narrator: IT'S FIRE UP DAY FOR SLUICIFER
AND PARKER'S NEW PLANT BOSS, TYSON LEE IS UP AT 6 A.M.
GIVES ME ENOUGH TIME TO FEED JARVIS WITH SOME FOOD
AND BOTH OF US AND MAKE IT TO THE CUT BEFORE 7.
IT'S BEEN A HELL OF A PAST TWO WEEKS GETTING THIS THING SET UP,
BUT WE'RE FINALLY THERE, SO HOPEFULLY THINGS GO WELL.
I'VE HAD JARVIS FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF NOW,
AND I GOT HIM FROM A RESCUE.
HE JUST WAS THAT ABUSED IN CALIFORNIA.
SO FIRST COUPLE OF NIGHTS WE SAT THERE
LEANING AGAINST THE BENCH, LOOKING AT EACH OTHER.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF EACH OTHER.
AND HERE WE ARE A YEAR AND A HALF LATER,
HE'S BECOME SUCH A BIG PART OF MY LIFE.
I SPENT HOURS JUST TRAINING HIM AROUND EQUIPMENT AND NOW
HE LOVES IT, HE COMES EVERYWHERE.
IN THE GRATER, IN THE LOADER,
IN THE EXCAVATOR, IN THE ROCK TRUCK.
YEAH, WE'RE A PACKAGE DEAL.
WOULDN'T TRADE HIM FOR THE WORLD.
JARVIS, COME ON. GO TO WORK, JARVIS?
LIE DOWN.
♪♪
Narrator: PARKER'S PLAN TO DOUBLE DOWN
WITH A SECOND WASH PLANT
NOW RESTS ON TYSON'S SHOULDERS.
MORNING.
YEAH, SO THIS IS THE LAST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE
WE HAVE TO CONNECT THE WATER LINE AT THE WASH PLANT
AND THE WATER PUMP ONCE THAT'S DONE,
PRETTY MUCH GOOD TO FIRE UP HERE.
LITERALLY TRIES TO FOLLOW ME EVERYWHERE.
YOU OKAY, BUD?
MAKE HER WORK, RIGHT?
SO WE'RE GONNA FIRE UP
AND SEE HOW THIS NEW SYSTEM WORKS OUT.
DAYS ARE RUNNING OUT. WE'VE GOT TO START SLUICING.
YEAH. LET'S GET HER GOING.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator: THE PUMP SENDS 3,300 GALLONS OF WATER A MINUTE
TO THE PLANT.
♪♪
WHAT DO YOU THINK, SHANE?
GONNA START WASHING ROCKS HERE.
♪♪
GO ON, RISE TO THE OCCASION. OVER HERE. COME ON.
♪♪
LIE DOWN.
Narrator: NOW IT'S TIME TO LOAD THE GOLD RICH PAYDIRT.
Tyson: DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT. I'VE DONE ALL I CAN.
SO HERE'S TO HOPING.
♪♪
YEE-HAW.
♪♪
Narrator: AFTER THREE YEARS OF WAITING,
PARKER'S CREW IS FINALLY SLUICING GOLD
ON KEN'S GROUND.
IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO BE SLUICING OUR GROUND.
IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.
AND HE'S GOT A LOT HERE TO SLUICE.
SO IT'S COMING OUR WAY NOW.
♪♪
WHERE'S ALL THIS WATER COMING FROM?
[BLEEP] SEE.
HOLY CRAP.
TYSON!
♪♪
Narrator: PLANT BOSS TYSON LEE'S SOFT, OVERBURDENED PAD
IS BEING WASHED AWAY.
YOU GONNA GET UP THERE, MAN?
HEY, I'M GONNA SET IT DOWN NOW.
Narrator: PARKER RACES TO STOP THE 45-TON WASH PLANT
SLIDING OFF THE BANK.
Parker: JUST GONNA THROW SOME ROCK IN THERE
AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL KEEP HER SHORED UP HERE.
♪♪
THE PLAN...
WE NEED FOUR HOURS OF COURSE TAILING.
Narrator: PARKER USES THE ROCK TAILINGS
FALLING FROM THE BACK OF THE WASH PLANT
TO ARMOR THE BANK OF THE PATH.
BUT THE MORE HE RUNS THE PLANT TO GET TAILING,
THE MORE HE RISKS THE PAD COLLAPSING.
♪♪
Parker: I REALLY THINK IT'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
Narrator: AFTER AN HOUR OF SHOVELING ROCKS,
THE PAD IS STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD.
Tyson: COME ON, BUD.
DO YOU THINK IT HELPS? -OH, YEAH, IT HELPS A LOT.
NOW WE JUST HAVE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY GOLD IN THE GROUND.
-YOUR PROBLEM. -RIGHT ON, 10-4.
GRAB YOUR PENS.
YOU -- COME ON, YOU KNEW THAT WAS COMING.
YEAH.
Narrator: AFTER STARTING A FULL MONTH LATE,
PARKER FINALLY HAS TWO OPERATIONS UP AND RUNNING
AND A SHOT AT GROWING HIS EMPIRE.
♪♪
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SWEEPING OUT THE SLUICE BOX
GETTING ALL THE DIRT OUT
SO WE CAN PUT THE BOX BACK TOGETHER.
WE'LL FIND OUT IF THIS IS CUT IS WORTH ALL [BLEEP].
Narrator: AT HUNKER CREEK,
MONICA BEETS HAS ALMOST DRAINED HER CUT
AND STARTED TO STOCKPILE PAY TO RUN THROUGH THE KIWI PLANT.
KEVIN MUST'VE STACKED THESE ONES.
GOOD? GOOD.
-OH. -THAT'S REALLY HARD.
OW, WELL...
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
♪♪
Narrator: AFTER A WEEK WITH NO GOLD IN THE BOX,
TONY NEEDS THE CURSED HUNKER CUT TO PAY.
[ ENGINE STALLING ]
♪♪
Narrator: BUT NOW THE KIWI PLANT ON BUTTON ISN'T COOPERATING.
JUST NOT STAYING IN OR WHAT?
[ ENGINE STARTING ]
[ TAPE RIPS ]
Narrator: TONY BEETS IS BACK IN BUSINESS.
♪♪
NOW IT'S UP TO MONICA AND RUBY TO FIND OUT
IF THE OLD TIMERS LEFT ENOUGH GOLD
TO TURN THE FAMILY'S FORTUNES AROUND.
HOW DOES IT FEEL SITTING ON THAT PILE, LADY?
OH, YOU KNOW, LIVING THE DREAM.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN BEAT THIS CURSE.
♪♪
WE'RE GONNA BE BATTLING ALL YEAR FROM THIS LATE START.
BUT I DO OWE TROY 100 OUNCES OF GOLD.
I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAXIMIZING
EVERY MOVE WE MAKE.
Narrator: IT'S DAY ONE MINING ON TROY TILLER'S GROUND
ON LOWER DUNCAN CREEK.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE GOT EVERYTHING MOVED OVER
TO CAMP, EQUIPMENT, NOW IT'S TIME TO GET SOME MINING.
RIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THESE PILES RIGHT HERE
IS WHERE WE TESTED LAST YEAR.
THE VALUES ARE MUCH BETTER OVER THERE.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 FEET OF OVERBURDEN TO DO.
REALLY, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS I WANT TO GET STARTED
WITH THIS GROUND BACK HERE, BUT SOME REALLY SHALLOW GROUND.
SO THERE REALLY WON'T BE MUCH COST IN DOING IT.
WE CAN RUN IT FOR REAL CHEAP
AND THE GOLD WILL BE, YOU KNOW, MOSTLY PROFIT.
Narrator: A MILE AWAY FROM THE NEW CAMP
IS THE GOLD-RICH GROUND THAT RICK TESTED LAST YEAR,
BUT IT'S UNDER A DEEP LAYER OF OVERBURDEN.
SO RICK'S PLAN TO GET SLUICING QUICKLY
IS TO START ON THE SHALLOWER GROUND
NEAR THE CREEK WHERE HE CAN REACH PAY FAST
AS LONG AS THERE IS GOLD IN THE GROUND.
-HEY. -WE CAN GET STARTED.
IT'S LIKE A FOOT AND A HALF, TWO FEET OF OVERBURDEN.
EASY, GOOD WAY TO START THE SEASON.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST THE THREE OF US.
IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR THE THREE OF US TO GET STARTED.
I MEAN, WE GOT TO PUT SOME MONEY IN THE BANK
BEFORE WE START DOING ANYTHING CRAZY SO...
Narrator: RICK NEEDS HIS GAMBLE TO PAY OFF
IF HE'S TO HIT CLAIM OWNER TROY'S
100-OUNCE, 30-DAY DEADLINE.
WE'RE ALL FUELED UP.
SO, YEAH. -NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.
-RIGHT ON. -YES.
GOING TO WORK.
Narrator: AGAINST ALL THE ODDS AND NEARLY TWO MONTHS LATE,
RICK'S SMALL CREW STARTS THEIR SEASON.
RICK CLEARS THE FOOT OF OVERBURDEN.
AND THEN LOADS PAY INTO KARLA AND KRUSE'S TRUCKS.
♪♪
FEELS GOOD TO FINALLY BE DIGGING DIRT.
I MEAN, THERE'S ONLY THREE OF US HERE,
PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BET AGAINST THAT WEEKS AGO, THAT'S FOR SURE.
BUT IT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
Narrator: THEY DRIVE IT TO TROY'S LEASED WASH PLANT.
♪♪
Kruse: I'M AMAZED THAT WE'RE EVEN HERE AT THIS POINT.
IT'S A TESTAMENT TO RICK GETTING ALL THAT WORK DONE.
IT'S PRETTY [BLEEP] AMAZING.
WE'VE ALL GOT OUR NOSE
TO THE GRINDSTONE OUT HERE SUPPORTING RICK.
THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR.
IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT ENERGY THIS YEAR.
HE'S ALREADY STEPPED IT UP
AND HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S GOT TO DO.
WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THERE'S GOLDEN SLUICE BOX.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, KRUSE, GET THAT PLANT FIRED UP.
10-4.
♪♪
AND EVERYTHING UP UNTIL THIS POINT,
IT'S JUST BEEN COSTING ME MONEY, BUT, YOU KNOW,
IT HAD TO BE DONE AND NOW HERE WE ARE.
WE'RE ABOUT TO START MAKING MONEY,
ABOUT TO START PUTTING GOLD IN THE BOX.
Kruse: ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
AND JUST LIKE THAT, WE'RE UP IN SLUICING.
ONE SCOOP AT A TIME.
Narrator: SHEER DETERMINATION HAS GOT RICK AND HIS CREW
OF THREE MINING GOLD AGAIN.
♪♪
AFTER FOUR HOURS RUNNING...
STILL TOO MUCH WATER, GOT TO LET THE WATER GET OUT.
Narrator: ...RICK CHECKS THE SLUICE BOXES.
SHOULD SEE A LITTLE BIT.
♪♪
OH, YEAH. [ CHUCKLES ] WHOO!
THERE'S GOLD UP HERE.
EVERY SINGLE [BLEEP] RIFFLE'S GOT IT.
THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT PACKED UP ON THE OUTSIDES,
BUT INSIDE, THE MIDDLES ARE STILL PRETTY GOOD, SO.
I SEE GOLD.
I MEAN, I SEE A FAIR AMOUNT OF GOLD
YEAH, FOR WHAT WE DID. WOW.
WE GOT A COUPLE MORE DAYS OF POUNDING THROUGH LIKE THAT
AND DO A CLEAN OUT AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE,
BUT THIS PROMISING.
Narrator: RICK'S ROAD TO REDEMPTION BEGINS.
THERE IS GOLD. YEAH! GET IT ALL.
♪♪
Freddy: GO AHEAD, SHUT IT DOWN THERE.
Narrator: IN OREGON,
VETERANS FRED LEWIS AND KENDELL MADDEN
HAVE RUN 20 YARDS OF PAYDIRT
THROUGH THEIR BRAND-NEW REVAMPED PLANT,
COLONEL NUGGET.
-YOUR FIRST RUN, FRED. -I KNOW, HOW'S IT LOOK?
WE'RE GONNA SEE RIGHT NOW, HUH?
IT'S THE VERY FIRST TIME
WE'VE DONE A CLEANUP ON COLONEL NUGGET.
SO PRETTY EXCITING TIMES RIGHT NOW.
A LITTLE NERVOUS, NOT GONNA LIE,
BUT I THINK IF THERE'S GOLD HERE,
COLONEL NUGGET'S GONNA CATCH IT.
Narrator: THIS CLEANUP WILL TELL FRED IF THE CLAIM HE LEASED
WITH HIS LAST $20,000
HOLDS ENOUGH GOLD TO MAKE A PROFIT.
-WANNA GRAB HALF? -YEP. LET'S DO IT.
JUST HOPE THERE'S A LOT OF GOLD IN IT.
HERE'S THE FIRST PAN,
WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING TO HAVE A GOOD SEASON.
I WANT TO MAKE THE LEWIS FAMILY NAME
AND THE MADDEN FAMILY NAME WELL-KNOWN.
SO LET'S HOPE WE HAVE SOME GOOD CLEAN OUTS TO SUPPORT THAT.
♪♪
-WHOA! -LOOK AT THAT.
LOOK AT THAT LITTLE NUGGET THERE, FRED.
YEAH, THERE YOU GO, BUD. THAT'S YOUR FIRST REAL GOLD.
YEAH, LOOK AT IT'S ALL FLOATING RIGHT THERE.
THIS IS HOW BIG OF A CARPET?
THE SIZE OF THAT.
THAT IS INSANE.
OW, THAT HURT MY HAND.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WELL, LET'S QUIT STARING AT IT.
-YOU'RE RIGHT. -CLEAN THAT SLUICE BOX UP.
AND SEE HOW MUCH GOLD'S IN IT.
♪♪
WITH THE NEW SLUICES IN THIS PLANT MODIFIED PLANT,
WE RAN 20 YARDS, SO THIS WILL TELL US
IF THERE'S ENOUGH GOLD IN THE GROUND.
-YOU GUYS READY? -LET'S DO IT.
♪♪
-WHOA, YEAH. -YES.
THERE WE GO.
-WHAT? WHAT? -LOOK AT THAT.
-.25. -QUARTER OF AN OUNCE.
OUT OF 20 YARDS? -THAT'S PRETTY DARN GOOD.
-THAT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE. -FEW NUGGETS IN THERE, TOO.
THAT'S -- THAT'S A GOOD CLEAN UP.
THAT'S AN INCREDIBLY GOOD CLEAN UP,
THIS PROVES THERE'S GOLD HERE AND THAT YOU GUYS MADE IT
SO WE CAN CATCH IT.
Narrator: A QUARTER OUNCE WORTH OVER $400 FROM 20 YARDS
MEANS THEY SHOULD GET AROUND AN OUNCE PER HUNDRED.
IF THE GROUND STAYS GOOD.
IT COULD MEAN A SEASON TOTAL OF OVER 500 OUNCES,
WORTH ALMOST A $1 MILLION.
AND YOU GUYS GOT TO BE HAPPY, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ACTUALLY
HAVE A PLANT THAT'S GONNA BE MANAGEABLE
THAT YOU GUYS CAN RUN.
I LOVE IT. YOU GUYS KILLED IT. YOU GUYS KILLED IT.
WE DID A LOT WITH BASICALLY NOTHING.
I HOPE WE CAN WORK LIKE THAT ONE DAY.
ONE DAY.
JUAN AND MYSELF HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT.
WE THINK THE SAME. -THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.
-STAY BUSY. -OH, YOU KNOW IT.
OH, GOLD. DON'T FORGET THE GOLD.
WE GOT THEM UP AND RUNNING. ALL WE CAN DO HAS BEEN DONE.
I'M GONNA GET OUT OF HERE AND GET HOME.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Freddy: IT'S ON THEIR SHOULDERS NOW.
WE'VE GOT A PLANT THAT'S RUNNING FOR THEM,
SLUICES THAT'LL CATCH THE GOLD FOR THEM,
BUT IF THEY GET COMPLACENT,
IF THEY DON'T BUST THEIR BUTTS EVERY SINGLE DAY,
THEY WON'T MAKE IT.
WITH THIS LAND BEING AS GOOD AS IT IS,
I'M READY TO CALL IN THE TROOPS.
I'M GONNA BRING IN A BAND OF MY BROTHERS, A BAND OF GUYS
I'VE SERVED WITH AND BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH.
AND I THINK IT'S THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING HUGE.
♪♪
Narrator: IN OREGON, FRED LEWIS CALLS HIS WIFE, KHARA.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?
HEY, BABE.
SO I JUST HAD OUR FIRST TEST DONE
AND WE GOT A QUARTER OF AN OUNCE OUT OF A 20-YARD TEST.
OH, REALLY?
-IT'S GO TIME. -HOLY COW.
IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GET YOUR BUTT OUT HERE.
I NEED A MINE MANAGER,
AND I THINK IT'S TIME TO CALL IN THE TROOPS.
OKAY.
GET DOWN HERE AS SOON AS YOU CAN.
-OKAY, I LOVE YOU. -LOVE YOU, TOO.
YOU KNOW, I'M STOKED.
KHARA'S MOBILIZED, READY TO COME DOWN HERE.
I GUESS WE COULD SAY IT'S TIME FOR THE GOLD TO HIT THE PAINT.
♪♪
A-HA.
Narrator: AT THE BEETS CAMP, MONICA AND RUBY
ARE READY TO WEIGH GOLD
FROM 20 HOURS OF RUNNING AT THE HUNKER CUT.
WHO'S GOING TO DO THE HONORS?
I'LL POUR AND RUBY CAN COUNT.
OH, [BLEEP]. OKAY.
-EVERYBODY READY? -WE'RE READY.
OKAY, DON'T BLINK.
Narrator: THE CUT MUST PRODUCE
AT LEAST 20 OUNCES TO BE WORTH RUNNING.
♪♪
THREE, FOUR,
FIVE, SEVEN, EIGHT,
NINE...
HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
9.92.
Narrator: 9.92 OUNCES WORTH $17,000,
BUT UNDER HALF AN OUNCE AN HOUR WEIGH LESS THAN TONY HOPED FOR.
CAN WE GO BACK?
NOT FOR A WHILE.
THAT DOESN'T QUITE COVER THE COST.
Narrator: TONY'S LOST SEVEN DAYS OF CRUCIAL SLUICING TIME
AND CAN'T RUN AGAIN UNTIL MIKE'S TROMMEL IS FIXED.
FOR THE BEETS FAMILY,
THE CURSE OF THE HUNKER CUT LIVES ON.
♪♪
-HEY, T. -HEY, HOW'S IT GOING, GUYS?
GOOD.
Narrator: PARKER, MITCH, KEN, AND TYSON
GATHER TO WEIGH THE GOLD FROM BIG RED AT THE LAST CUT
AND SLUICIFER ON KEN'S GROUND.
WELL, MAN, I'M EXCITED TO SEE, YOU KNOW WHAT,
BOTH BIG RED AND SLUICIFER DID.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, KEN, YOU READY TO SEE SOME GOLD?
I HEARD YOU STAKED THAT, WHAT?
35, 34 YEARS AGO?
-I THINK IT WAS IN '85. -THAT'S CRAZY.
-YEAH, THAT IS. -YEAH.
THAT'S PROBABLY BEFORE YOU WERE BORN.
I WAS BORN IN '84, MAN. SO, YEAH.
THAT'S JUST BEEN DOWN THERE WAITING A LONG TIME.
BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.
-YEAH. THAT'S CRAZY. -YOU WANT TO SEE HOW IT HOLDS?
YEAH, DO YOUR THING THERE,
YOUNG FELLA. GOD, I LOVE THAT.
THAT MUSIC TO THE EARS. YOUNG FELLA.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: FIRST UP, BIG RED.
I PUT BIG RED'S GOLD IN THE RED THERMOS.
[ LAUGHTER ]
NOT JUST ANOTHER PRETTY FACE.
SEE WE GOT HERE.
20, 40, 60, 80,
102, 120.
130, 136.15.
NICE.
IT'S NOT A BAD WEEK.
Narrator: 136.15 OUNCES
IS WORTH NEARLY $240,000.
BIG RED'S JUST SETTLED IN AND MAKING MONEY.
Narrator: AFTER 35 YEARS OF WAITING
AND JUST FIVE DAYS OF SLUICING,
IT'S TIME TO SEE IF KEN'S PROMISED LAND PAYS.
♪♪
20, 40,
60, 80,
100.
112.5.
112?
112.05.
Narrator: 112.05 OUNCES
IS WORTH A $197,000
ALMOST AS MUCH AS BIG RED.
IT GIVES KEN NEARLY $20,000 IN ROYALTIES.
-NOT TOO SHABBY. -NO, IT ISN'T.
SO, KEN, YOU MADE A FEW BUCKS.
IT'LL BUY A LOT OF JELLY BEANS
FOR THE GREAT GRANDBABIES.
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
Narrator: THE SCHNABEL CREW IS NOW AT 470 OUNCES
FOR THE SEASON WORTH OVER $800,000.
BUT WHEN YOU THINK, I MEAN, NORMALLY IN THIS TIME
OF THE SEASON, WE GOT A LOT MORE GOLD,
BUT BIG RED'S BEEN RUNNING A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND SLUICIFER JUST FIRED UP 400 OUNCES, THAT'S NOT BAD.
YEAH, WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
Narrator: PARKER IS ONE STEP CLOSER
TO HIS DREAM OF EXPANDING HIS MINING EMPIRE,
REALLY HAPPY THAT WE'RE FINALLY --
THAT IT'S HAPPENING AND WE'RE
ACTUALLY GETTING REVENUE OUT OF IT,
SO THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING.
REALLY EXCITING, ACTUALLY.
♪♪
Narrator: ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...
I STARTED TO WONDER IF WE'D EVER BE RUNNING DIRT AT ALL,
BUT HERE WE ARE.
COME ON, WHY WILL YOU NOT DIG?
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET CARL ON THE PHONE.
WITHOUT HIM, WE HAVE NO WAY TO DIG PAY.
MOVING PLANTS MORE OFTEN
AND THEN IT'LL SAVE US A PILE OF MONEY.
WHOA!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THERE, MAN?
A TEAM OF ALL COMBAT VETS?
IS IT LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM
AND PULLING GOLD OUT OF THE GROUND.
LET'S GO RIGHT NOW!
THOSE TREES ARE MOVING REALLY FAST.
THAT TREE'S GOING DOWN.
OKAY, GUYS, LET'S GET THE [BLEEP] OFF THE MINE NOW!
♪♪