Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH,"
AS GOLD PRICES HIT AN ALL-TIME HIGH...
Parker: HERE WE GO!
Narrator: ...PARKER SCHNABEL HAS A RADICAL NEW PLAN.
THE BIGGEST RISK IS THAT IT'LL ONLY WORK
IF THE GUYS WANT IT TO.
-WHOA! -LOOK OUT!
NOW I'M IN A BAD [BLEEP] MOOD.
FOR THAT KID BEING SUCH A GENIUS,
SOME DAYS HE'S A [BLEEP] MORON.
Narrator: DEEP IN DEBT AND CHASING REDEMPTION...
COME ON. WHAT THE [BLEEP]
Narrator: ...BROKEN EQUIPMENT...
COME ON, YOU [BLEEP] PIECE OF [BLEEP]
Narrator: ...FORCES RICK NESS TO PULL DOUBLE DUTY.
Rick: I KNOW IT'S HARD AFTER A 12-HOUR SHIFT,
BUT IF WE DON'T PUSH ON, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
BIG ROCKS, BIG GOLD!
Narrator: AND ROOKIE MINER FRED LEWIS
BRINGS IN A BAND OF COMBAT VETERANS...
Lewis: LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!
Narrator: ...WHO LEARN THE HARD WAY...
[BLEEP] DAMN!
Narrator: ...THAT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN ON THE MINE SITE.
Man: THAT TREE'S GOING DOWN. THAT TREE'S GOING DOWN.
HEY, GUYS, LET'S GET THE [BLEEP] OFF THE MINE
AND GET TO THE OPEN AREA NOW!
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
Narrator: ON INDIAN RIVER...
Parker: THIS MINE SITE HAS TURNED INTO QUITE THE MACHINE.
IT'S A MACHINE THAT IS CHOMPING THROUGH A LOT OF GROUND.
Narrator: ...AFTER LOSING FOUR PRECIOUS WEEKS
BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, 25-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL
IS IN A RACE TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.
I'M CONSTANTLY TRYING TO PUSH TO A POINT
WHERE, LIKE, YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE RAGGED EDGE
OF WHAT'S DOABLE AND WHAT'S EFFICIENT.
Narrator: ON THE PROMISED LAND, PARKER HAS WASH PLANT SLUICIFER
RUNNING 220 YARDS OF GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT AN HOUR.
HEY! CRANK IT UP!
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
YEE-HAW.
Narrator: 4 MILES AWAY IN THE LAST CUT,
PARKER IS ALSO RUNNING A SECOND MASSIVE WASH PLANT, BIG RED.
BUT IN A RADICAL CHANGE OF TACTICS,
HE'S ORDERED IT TO SHUT DOWN AND MOVE
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN JUST THREE WEEKS.
Parker: THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE'RE GONNA CHANGE THIS SEASON
IS MOVING THE PLANTS MORE OFTEN,
GETTING THE PLANTS CLOSER TO THE PAY
THAT THEY'RE SLUICING IN EACH SETUP.
IF THEY DON'T NEED TO TRUCK ANY PAY,
THEN IT'LL SAVE US A PILE OF MONEY.
Narrator: AS THE CREW DIGS PAY DIRT,
THE DISTANCE EACH ROCK TRUCK TRAVELS INCREASES,
COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EACH WEEK IN FUEL.
PLUS, THE TAILINGS PILE UP OVER TIME
AND MUST BE CLEARED BY FUEL-HUNGRY DOZERS,
COSTING THOUSANDS MORE.
PARKER'S SOLUTION -- SHUT DOWN THE PLANT MORE OFTEN
AND MOVE IT TO THE PAY.
IT'LL COST HIM IN SLUICING TIME
BUT SLASH HIS FUEL COSTS AND INCREASE HIS PROFITS
IF HIS CREW CAN MOVE THE PLANT IN LESS THAN A DAY.
MOVING A PLANT MORE OFTEN IS A LOT MORE WORK,
BUT IT'S MORE EFFICIENT WORK.
YOU DON'T BURN ANY FUEL MOVING A WASH PLANT.
SO IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST THE MANPOWER.
THE BIGGEST RISK IS THAT IT'LL ONLY WORK
IF THE GUYS WANT IT TO AND THEY DO WHAT I WANT TO DO.
♪♪
Mitch: OKAY, LET'S GO!
Narrator: PARKER TASKS CO-FOREMAN MITCH BLASCHKE
WITH THE FIRST FAST AND FURIOUS WASH PLANT MOVE.
♪♪
SO, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST GETTING READY TO BREAK DOWN
THE FEEDER HERE FOR BIG RED.
BRENNAN'S WORKING ON DIGGING IT OUT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE BIG RED.
WE'RE GONNA PUT IT ON THAT NEW WASH PLANT PAD,
DO IT FASTER THAN WE EVER HAVE.
Narrator: CHRIS DOUMITT PULLS THE MATS
FROM THE SLUICE BOX TO RECOVER THE GOLD.
♪♪
HOW'S IT GOING, CHRIS?HEY, MITCHELL.
ARE YOU GETTING READY TO MOVE THE PLANT?
I SWEAR WE'VE MOVED PLANTS MORE THIS YEAR ALREADY
THAN WE DID ALL LAST SEASON.
YOU KNOW, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT PARKER'S THOUGHT
AND REASONING IS BEHIND THAT. WE'VE GOT A SYSTEM
I THINK THAT WORKS REALLY WELL.YOU FIGURE
WE LOSE, WHAT, A DAY EVERY TIME WE MOVE THE PLANT.
YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU START ADDING UP ALL THOSE DAYS.
WHY NOT MAKE IT GO BACK TO HOW IT WAS?
I'M NOT SURE WHAT -- WHAT'S GOING ON.
HEY.
♪♪
Parker: WHAT'S THE HOLDUP?
WELL, WE WERE WAITING FOR AN EXCAVATOR.
WHY ARE WE --WHAT? WHY ARE WE WHAT?
WHY ARE WE MOVING THE PLANTS SO OFTEN THIS YEAR?
WHAT'S THE LOGIC ON THAT?
'CAUSE WE'RE PUSHING TAILINGS 400 FEET WITH A [BLEEP] DOZER.
OH. GOT IT.
♪♪
APPARENTLY, IT'S MORE COST-EFFECTIVE
TO MOVE THE PLANT MORE OFTEN
AND NOT DEAL WITH THE TAILINGS AS BAD.
SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.
♪♪
LET'S GET THE HECK OUT OF DODGE AND LEAVE IT UP TO THE BOYS.
Narrator: EVERY DAY THE PLANT IS SHUT DOWN
COSTS $85,000 IN LOST GOLD.
♪♪
Narrator: PARKER NEEDS BIG RED BACK SLUICING WITHIN ONE DAY,
OR ANY SAVINGS IN FUEL WILL BE LOST.
THE FIRST TASK --
SLIDE THE PLANT INTO POSITION LEVEL ON ITS NEW PAD.
♪♪
Mitch: RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS LINE UP BIG RED
TO THIS RADIAL PAD THAT WE'VE BUILT HERE,
AND I'M GOING TO KIND OF TRY AND SIGHT THIS.
LET'S TRY THAT!
♪♪
THE LAST FEW DAYS, WE'VE GOTTEN A TON OF RAIN.
WHEN WE WENT TO SPIN BIG RED,
IT'S JUST PIVOTING RIGHT ON THE VERY BACK
BECAUSE IT'S DIGGING IN SO BAD.
♪♪
WHOA! STOP!
♪♪
I MEAN, MY BIG CONCERN RIGHT NOW
IS JUST HOW MUCH IT'S BEEN SINKING IN.
EVERY TIME IT DOES THAT, IT DIGS IN.
Narrator: IF THE 100,000-POUND WASH PLANT
IS NOT LEVEL WHEN IT FIRES UP,
IT WILL LOSE GOLD.
MITCH AND BRENNAN NOW HAVE JUST FOUR HOURS TO LEVEL THE PLANT.
♪♪
Brennan: JUST UNBELIEVABLE PAIN IN THE ASS,
'CAUSE I'M JUST TRYING TO LIFT IT UP AND JAMMING DIRT UNDER IT
TO TRY AND GET IT TO LEVEL OUT.
♪♪
Mitch: COULD USE A LITTLE MORE.
YOU KNOW, WE'D REALLY LIKE TO HAVE BIG RED
BACK RUNNING BY THE END OF THE DAY.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MOVE IT IN ONE SHIFT BEFORE,
BUT IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD AT THE MOMENT.
THIS ISN'T WORKING.
GIVE US A LITTLE MORE.
COME ON.
WHOA! IT'S GOING OVER.
OH.
[ BOOM ]
[BLEEP] [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] DUDE, THIS IS MAKING ME SO ANXIOUS.
HERE, LET ME HELP YOU [BLEEP] RUN THAT THING.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THERE, MAN?
[BLEEP]
THERE YOU GO.WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU GUIDE ME?
I CAN'T SEE [BLEEP] ALL!
DUDE, YOU'RE LIKE AN OLD LADY IN THERE BITCHING.
Narrator: AFTER TWO MORE HOURS,
BIG RED IS STILL NOT LEVEL.
♪♪
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
Narrator: NOW RAIN IS MAKING THE PAD EVEN SOFTER.
♪♪
MITCH, WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET THIS LEVELED IN THIS RAIN, MAN.
THIS IS JUST [BLEEP] OUTRAGEOUS.
YEAH, AND I KNOW PARKER WANTS THIS PLANT RUNNING
AS SOON AS HE CAN,
BUT WE GOTTA LET THIS THING DRY UP A LITTLE BIT HERE.
WE'RE JUST MAKING A MESS.
MITCH AND BRENNAN HAVE LOST ANY CHANCE THEY HAD
OF MOVING THE PLANT IN ONE DAY.
[BLEEP] THIS.
YEAH, I'VE HAD ENOUGH.
LET'S GO, MAN. WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT THIS OUT.
♪♪
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
♪♪
I'LL BE HONEST. I WAS STARTING TO WONDER
IF WE'D EVER BE RUNNING DIRT AT ALL, BUT HERE WE ARE.
Chris: FEELS GOOD
Narrator: 100 MILES EAST AT LOWER DUNCAN CREEK,
RICK NESS IS SEVEN WEEKS BEHIND SCHEDULE
AND STILL HASN'T BANKED ANY GOLD
WE GOT TRUCKS RUNNING, LOADING WITH THE 700.
WE'RE PUTTING A SERIOUS DENT IN THIS.
Narrator: HE'S FIGHTING TO KEEP HIS MINING CAREER ALIVE
AFTER BARELY BREAKING EVEN LAST SEASON.
BUT SO FAR, HE ONLY HAS TWO CREW MEMBERS --
KARLA ANN AND CHRIS KRUSE.
Rick: THIS YEAR, IT'S BEEN A NIGHTMARE
TRYING TO GET CREW UP HERE.
I DON'T EVEN HAVE A MECHANIC AT THIS POINT.
IT'S A MIRACLE THAT WE'VE MADE IT THIS FAR.
SO, I MEAN, THERE'S ONLY THREE OF US HERE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP OUR HEADS DOWN AND WORK HARD
AND HOPEFULLY ENJOY THE REWARD AT THE END.
I MEAN, IF I DON'T MAKE A PROFIT THIS YEAR,
THIS MIGHT BE MY LAST SHOT.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
I DON'T HAVE A BIG BANKROLL BEHIND ME, SO...
♪♪
IT'S AWESOME WORKING WITH PEOPLE THAT WANT TO WORK.
Narrator: KRUSE HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO FEEDING THE PLANT
USING RICK'S 480 EXCAVATOR.
I'M RUNNING AN EXCAVATOR.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST JOKE OF EVERYTHING.
HOPEFULLY I DON'T TIP THIS PLANT OVER.
[ LAUGHS ]
RIGHT NOW, IT'S -- IT'S LEAN AND MEAN, MAN.
Narrator: RICK IS IN THE 700
LOADING KARLA'S ROCK TRUCK WITH GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT.
♪♪
[ HORN BEEPS ]
WAS THAT A HONK, RICK?
Rick: YEAH, IT WAS A HONK.
THE SOONER YOU HAUL THIS TO THE WASH PLANT,
THE SOONER WE'LL HAVE GOLD IN THE GOLD ROOM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, KARLA? I'M SURE YOU'RE PUMPED
TO BE BACK IN A TRUCK RIGHT NOW.
OH, I DON'T MIND DRIVING TRUCK. JUST LIKE RIDING A BIKE.
YOU'RE NOT PUMPED TO BE BACK IN A TRUCK,
AND YOU LIKE RIDING BIKES, SO DON'T LIE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
♪♪
OH, COME ON. WHAT THE [BLEEP]
Narrator: RICK'S LOST CONTROL OF HIS EXCAVATOR BUCKET.
Rick: WHAT IN THE [BLEEP] IS GOING ON HERE?
WHY WILL YOU NOT DIG?
COME ON, YOU [BLEEP] PIECE OF [BLEEP]
SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT. I SMELL HYDRAULIC OIL.
OH [BLEEP] IT'S DRIPPING ON MY TRACKS.
HEY, GUYS, GET THOSE TRUCKS OUT OF THE WAY.
I SMELL HYDRAULIC OIL.
I GOT TO GET IT OUT OF HERE AND GET TO A BETTER SPOT.
♪♪
[BLEEP] YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
Narrator: THE HYDRAULIC HOSE THAT CONTROLS THE BUCKET
HAS SPLIT. UNTIL IT'S FIXED,
RICK'S UNABLE TO MINE.
WE CAN'T STRIP, AND WE CAN'T HAUL PAY RIGHT NOW.
SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET IT BACK RUNNING.
CANNOT AFFORD THIS RIGHT NOW.
HEY, KRUSE, YOU GOT A COPY?
YEAH, GO FOR KRUSE.
YEAH, KRUSE, I FOUND A HOSE THAT WAS [BLEEP] IN THE 700.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPARES?
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON HAND. I KNOW THAT.
CARL USUALLY MAKES THOSE UP ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK
WHEN WE NEED THEM.
[BLEEP] YOU GOT TO BE [BLEEP] KIDDING ME.
JUST KEEP RUNNING THE WASH PLANT,
AND I'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
SURE THING, GUY. LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP YOU OUT.
WITHOUT A MECHANIC, I'M SCREWED.
I NEED THAT 700 BACK UP AND RUNNING.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO CALL CARL UP
AND CONVINCE HIM TO GET HIS ASS UP HERE.
I NEED HIM NOW.
♪♪
Narrator: AT THE END OF LAST YEAR,
RICK AND MECHANIC CARL ROSK FELL OUT.
♪♪
CARL: Hello?YEAH, CARL, IT'S RICK.
How you doing, buddy?
YEAH, WHAT DO YOU GOT GOING ON, MAN?
I NEED YOU UP HERE.
Well, we kind of went through this last year, buddy.
Like I said, I wanted stuff to change.
YEAH. I KNOW THINGS WERE [BLEEP] LAST YEAR,
BUT THINGS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT CARL. HONESTLY,
IF YOU CAN JUST GET YOUR ASS UP HERE,
I PROMISE YOU IT'S GOING TO BE WORTH YOUR WHILE.
I'M GONNA TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN
TO MAKE THIS [BLEEP] WORK THIS YEAR.
YOU'RE MY [BLEEP] MECHANIC. I CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
♪♪
Well, um...
I got a buddy here. You take him on,
I could get my ass up there for you.
WELL, WHO'S THAT? SOMEBODY I GOT TO TRAIN,
OR I CAN PUT HIM RIGHT TO WORK?
He can pull wrenches, he can weld,
and he can operate machinery.
He'd be a perfect guy for the job, right?
IF THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE, THAT'S FINE.
I JUST NEED YOU UP HERE QUICK.
Okay. Talk to you soon, dude. Goodbye.
ALRIGHT, BYE.
WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF PAY LEFT,
BUT AFTER THAT RUNS OUT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I MEAN, I NEEDED [BLEEP] CARL UP HERE YESTERDAY.
♪♪
GOOD?WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING
A LOT BETTER THAN WE WERE.
WE'RE IN THE LINES HERE ON THE BUBBLE.
AND THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE HERE
THAT LONG, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ONTO THE NEXT WASH PLANT SETUP.
♪♪
Narrator: ON INDIAN RIVER, THE STORM HAS PASSED.
MITCH AND BRENNAN HAVE LEVELED BIG RED,
BUT THEY'RE NOW A FULL DAY BEHIND
GETTING THE GOLD-PRODUCING PLANT BACK UP AND RUNNING
SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE?
THAT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR SURE.
GET SOME WATER RUNNING ON IT AND ADJUST.
THE SLUICE RUNS IN PLACE,
BRENNAN DRAGS THE RADIAL STACKER INTO POSITION.
♪♪
WE'RE GOOD TO GO!
I'M GONNA GO GET US SOME WATER.YEAH.
NOW MITCH JUST NEEDS TO CONNECT TO WATER SUPPLY
TO THE PLANT TO GET BACK ON THE GOLD.
♪♪
Mitch: DAMN.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PIPELINE
TO MAKE A RUN FROM THE RIVER AND GET IT RIGHT TO BIG RED.
I'M NOT EVEN 2/3 OF THE WAY
FROM THE WATER PUMP TO THE WASH PLANT.
AND THIS IS AS FAR RIGHT HERE AS OUR PIPELINE'S GOING TO GET US,
AND THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.
Narrator: EVERY HOUR BIG RED IS SHUT DOWN
COSTS $3,500 IN LOST GOLD.
THEY'RE NOW 30 HOURS INTO THE MOVE.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO CALL PARKER DOWN HERE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
HEY, PARKER. YOU GOT A COPY?Parker: YEAH. GO AHEAD.
YEAH, PARKER, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM DOWN HERE
WITH BIG RED. WANT YOU TO GET DOWN HERE,
AND WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THINGS.
♪♪
Mitch: HEY, WE GOT A ISSUE DOWN HERE.
WE GOT NO WAY TO GET WATER TO BIG RED.
WAS WONDERING WHAT OUR PROBLEM WAS.
WELL, WHAT I WAS THINKING -- IF WE HAD FRESH WATER
COMING IN HERE AND REGULATED IT COMING IN
AND THEN WE JUST LET IT CUT OUT AND GO OUT THE OTHER SIDE.
WHATEVER YOU GUYS WANT TO DO. I REALLY DON'T CARE.
OKAY.
♪♪
WE NEED TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT,
AND THAT PLANT NEEDS TO START SLUICING.
OKAY. WELL, YEAH, I'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT'LL WORK.
YEAH, WELL, WE GOT LOTS OF WORK TO DO HERE,
SO WE'RE GONNA GET AFTER IT.
♪♪
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
NOW I'M IN A BAD [BLEEP] MOOD.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE HIS HEAD'S AT, MAN.
PARKER DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A GAME PLAN.
HE JUST SAID, "GET BIG RED RUNNING
AND START SLUICING."EASY FOR HIM TO SAY
WHEN HE [BLEEP] OFF EVERY TIME WE GO TO DO ANYTHING.
OH, "HEY, MOVE THE WASH PLANT." PFFT. GONE.
YEAH.WE'RE ALL STRETCHED SO THIN,
AND WE'RE ALL TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING.
♪♪
SO, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT KID BEING SUCH A GENIUS,
SOME DAYS HE'S A [BLEEP] MORON.
♪♪
Lewis: WHEW. RECIPE FOR SUCCESS. GOT TO PUT THE WORK IN.
WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.
Narrator: 1,500 MILES SOUTH IN EASTERN OREGON,
OUT-OF-WORK SPECIAL FORCES MEDIC FRED LEWIS
HAS GAMBLED HIS LAST $20,000
TO LEASE THE 36-ACRE ELKHORN CLAIM.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AROUND HERE,
SO -- BUT THE FASTER WE'RE RUNNING PAY DIRT
IS THE FASTER WE'RE GETTING GOLD.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
Narrator: LAST WEEK, FRED AND KENDELL GOT THEIR WASH PLANT,
COLONEL NUGGET, READY TO RUN DIRT.
YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, KENDELL AND I ARE ON OUR OWN,
AND WE ARE EXHAUSTED.
DUDE, THIS IS SO MUCH DAMN WORK
WITH JUST TWO OF US.
Narrator: TO GET TO THE GOLD, FRED'S CALLED IN REINFORCEMENTS.
♪♪
THIS IS THE ROAD, MAN.
WE'RE WAY UP HERE, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
HAVE YOU EVER MINED?[ Chuckling ] NO.
[ Chuckling ] NEITHER HAVE I.NO.
Fred: OH, WE GOT A TRUCK HERE. HOLD ON.
AWW [BLEEP]
WHOO-HOO-HOO!
-GOOD SPOT RIGHT HERE. -AND THERE'S THE BOYS.
-WHAT'S UP, BABY?! -WHAT UP?
Narrator: FRED'S NEW CREW IS A BAND OF COMBAT VETERANS
WHO SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.
Fred: LET'S LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!
Narrator: AFTER LEAVING THE MILITARY AND HITTING HARD TIMES,
THESE ROOKIE MINERS NOW DREAM OF STRIKING IT RICH.
Fred: ALRIGHT, SO, THIS IS IT GUYS.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THE PLANT?
-I LOVE IT. -WHOA.
I KNOW YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT MINING,
BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE I WANTED TO BRING
A GROUP OF BROTHERS TOGETHER OUT HERE,
'CAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE ALL BEEN IN THE [BLEEP].
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT GOLD MINING.
IT'S ABOUT COMING TOGETHER AS BROTHERS,
LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM,
AND PULLING GOLD OUT OF THE GROUND
TO MAKE OURSELVES OUR OWN LIVING.
OH, YEAH.WE'RE GONNA BEAT THE ODDS.
DAMN STRAIGHT.
WE'LL SECURE OUR OWN FUTURE.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE ALL GOING TO LOVE IT.
SKY'S THE [BLEEP] LIMIT.
-THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. -SERIOUSLY.
YOU GUYS IN?
-HELL, YEAH. -HELL, YEAH.
WELL, LET'S [BLEEP] DO IT, THEN.
-LET'S GO. -1, 2.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GO GET SOME GOLD![ ALL CHEERING ]
♪♪
Narrator: WHILE FRED'S CREW ARE ALL HIGHLY TRAINED VETERANS,
THEY'RE ALL GREENHORN MINERS.
SO FIRST FRED NEEDS TO TRAIN THEM.
I LIKE THE WAY THIS SEAT FEELS, MAN.
I THINK I CAN DO SOME GOOD IN HERE, MAN.
YOU'RE GONNA LIKE IT A LOT.
I'M GONNA GO AND SHOW JOHNNY ALL HIS IRRIGATION.
I'LL BE BACK.ALRIGHT.
EVERYBODY HERE'S A NOVICE,
SO I KNOW WHERE THEIR HEAD'S AT RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE PROBABLY COMPLETELY OUT OF THEIR ELEMENT.
BUT I CAN RELATE TO THAT, SO I'M HOPING
I CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS PRETTY QUICK TO THEM.
JOHNNY!
POLO!
-WHERE ARE YOU? -OVER HERE!
Narrator: RETIRED MARINE JOHNNY "STINGRAY" STANZ
WILL BE IN CHARGE OF FRED'S WATER SYSTEM.
HE'LL PUMP 20,000 GALLONS OF WATER
FROM DITCHES WHERE WATER COLLECTS
TO A HOLDING POND THAT'LL FEED THE WASH PLANT.
♪♪
GRAB THAT. IF YOU START IT UP WITH A TWIST IN IT...
YEAH....THESE THINGS CAN BLOW OUT.
ALRIGHT.
THAT GETS HOOKED INTO THE HOLE RIGHT THERE.
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO USE THAT?
UH, I CAN FIGURE IT OUT QUICK ENOUGH.
HERE, I'M GONNA GO GRAB A BUCKET.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I'VE GOT THE HOSE IN. LET ME KNOW
WHEN YOU GOT IT PRIMED.GOTCHA.
Narrator: AFTER LEAVING THE MARINES ON A MEDICAL DISCHARGE,
JOHNNY'S LOOKING FOR A NEW DIRECTION IN LIFE.
I HAD TO RETIRE AFTER 10 YEARS IN THE MARINE CORPS
WHEN I GOT A REALLY BAD BRAIN INJURY
FROM GETTING BLOWN UP IN AFGHANISTAN
BY A ROADSIDE BOMB. I MEAN, I WAS INCREDIBLY LUCKY,
BECAUSE TWO GUYS IN THE -- IN THE VEHICLE DIED IMMEDIATELY.
♪♪
I ACTUALLY GOT SOME PICTURES ON MY PHONE.
I WAS IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK
MANNING THE SQUAD AUTOMATIC WEAPON
WHEN THE BOMB WENT OFF.
Narrator: JOHNNY WAS HURT SO BAD,
THE DOCTORS RATED HIS CHANCE OF WALKING OR TALKING AGAIN
AT ZERO.
Johnny: STILL NOT 100%,
BUT DEFINITELY BETTER THAN I COULD BE.
AND LOOK AT ME -- GOLD MINING.
HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THAT?
I HAVE ZERO PERCENT EXPERIENCE MINING GOLD, MINING ANYTHING,
BUT STARTED TO THINK, "MAN, I COULD STRIKE IT RICH."
SNAP IT IN.
SNAP IN THE OTHER SIDE.
THIS JOB IS GONNA PROVE DEFINITELY TO BE PRETTY TRICKY.
I MEAN, FOR A GUY WITH A BRAIN INJURY
THAT'S NEVER MINED BEFORE, IT'S GONNA BE A FREAKIN' TASK.
BUT I LIKE CHALLENGES.
WHY WOULD I HAVE BECOME SPECIAL OPERATIONS
IN THE MARINE CORPS IF I DIDN'T LIKE CHALLENGES?
GRAB THAT ONE OVER THERE AND HOOK IT UP HERE.
I'M GONNA GO GRAB A BUCKET.
MAKE SURE THERE'S NO TWISTS!
YEP.
WE'RE GONNA GET THIS PUPPY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER ONE
SO WE CAN START THIS OFF.
IT'S MY FIRST DAY ON THE MINE SITE,
AND HE'S ALREADY GOT ME OUT HERE SWEATING, HUFFING AND PUFFING.
BUT I'M WORKING WITH SOME OF THE BEST DUDES THERE ARE,
SO I DON'T MIND THIS IT ALL.
♪♪
ALRIGHT, SO, WE GOT THIS CONNECTED.
WE'RE ALL GOOD THERE. NOW WE'RE GONNA BASICALLY
JUST FEED IT INTO THE POND UP HERE.
ALRIGHT.
YOU WANT TO GRAB THIS SPOT RIGHT HERE AND FEED IT OUT?
YEP.
♪♪
Fred: ALRIGHT, AND THIS SUCKER JUST GOES WHOOP.
JUST THROW IT IN?
YEP. AND THAT'S IT?
THAT IS IT.
ALRIGHT, HOOKED UP.WHY DON'T YOU TO GO AHEAD
AND HEAD DOWN THERE? WALK THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE LINE.
IF YOU SEE ANY TWISTS, UNTWIST IT,
AND THEN PRIME IT UP. START IT. I'LL STAND DOWN HERE.
IF ANYTHING'S WRONG, I'LL TELL YOU TO SHUT IT OFF.
COOL.
I ALREADY SEE A TWIST.
GOTCHA.
[ GRUNTS ][ THUD ]
[BLEEP] JOHNNY.
JOHNNY!
JOHNNY. JOHNNY, ARE YOU OKAY?
JOHNNY, YOU WITH ME?
♪♪
ARE YOU WITH ME?
Narrator: ON FRED LEWIS' CLAIM,
WOUNDED MARINE JOHNNY "STINGRAY" STANZ HAS TAKEN A FALL.
WHAT THE HELL, MAN?
YOU DIDN'T HIT YOUR HEAD, RIGHT?
Johnny: I JUST FELL. NOTH-- NO BIG DEAL.
IF I -- NOW, IF I WAS AN ARMY SOLDIER,
I WOULD BE OUT FOR GOOD.
BUT I'M A MARINE.
DUDE, YOU OKAY?
YEAH.
Fred: JOHNNY HAS BALANCE ISSUES,
AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE GOT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO TRY AND MAKE THESE AREAS A LOT MORE SAFE
FOR SOMEONE LIKE HIM.
YOU GOOD?
I'M VERY GOOD. I GOT SOME WATER.
SO JUST -- ON YOUR STEPS DOWN, GO THE EASY ROUTE.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.YOU GOOD?
"EASY ROUTE." ARMY LOVES THE EASY ROUTE.
APPARENTLY, MARINES LOVE FALLING.
WE ALWAYS GET BACK UP.
LUCKILY, HE DIDN'T GET HURT. WHEW.
Narrator: PIPELINE IN PLACE, JOHNNY PUMPS WATER
TO THE WASH PLANT FEEDER POND.
WE'RE GOOD!
♪♪
TO GET ON THE GOLD NOW, FRED NEEDS PAY DIRT.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE READY TO ROLL. LET'S DO THIS.
OKAY.
FOR PAY DIRT, FRED PLANS TO DIG THE 2,700-SQUARE-FOOT SWAMP CUT,
THEN TRANSPORT THE PAY 120 FEET
TO HIS COLONEL NUGGET WASH PLANT.
♪♪
Fred: THE SWAMP CUT, IT'S ALREADY THERE,
AND IT'S BEEN OPENED UP FOR US BY THE PREVIOUS CLAIM OWNERS.
THEY ONLY MINED IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEY FOUND DECENT GOLD.
SO IT'S OUR BEST BET FOR PULLING GOOD GOLD OUT OF THE GROUND.
♪♪
YOU'LL GET IT. YOU'LL GET IT.
KEEP PULLING HER DOWN. OOH, DON'T --
Narrator: KENDELL MADDEN IS THE ONLY CREW MEMBER
WITH GOLD MINING EXPERIENCE.
SPECIAL FORCES MASTER SERGEANT STEFAN GENERALLY
IS HIS FIRST STUDENT.
TRY TO KEEP THE BOTTOM OF THE BUCKET FLAT
AND LEVEL AS YOU PULL IT IN.
STEFAN SERVED IN THE ARMY FOR 27 YEARS.
OOH. COME ON, NOW.
BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE'S EVER BEEN IN AN EXCAVATOR.
♪♪
Stefan: FRED AND I, I MEAN, WE DID DOUBLE TOURS TO AFGHANISTAN.
I CONSIDER HIM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS.
HE GAVE ME A CALL, SAYS, "GOT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GOLD MINE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK," YOU KNOW?
IMMEDIATELY, I WAS LIKE, "HELL, YEAH. I'M IN."
THERE YOU GO. KEEP CURLING. KEEP CURLING.
PULL TOWARDS YOU, AND THEN CURL A LITTLE MORE.
AND I SPENT MY FIRST 10 YEARS IN THE ARMY MECHANIZED INFANTRY
AND I SPENT YEARS,
YOU KNOW, DRIVING A BRADLEY INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLE.
ACTUALLY, THAT WAS MY JOB
DURING OPERATION DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM.
SO I'VE DRIVEN IN COMBAT.
I FIGURE DRIVING THIS THING SHOULD BE A PIECE OF CAKE.
I WAS WRONG.
YOU KNOW, I'M WORKING ON IT, BUT, DAMN.
SOME OF THE THINGS I'M TRYING TO DO HERE,
I'D RATHER BE BACK IN AFGHANISTAN
THAN DOING THIS [BLEEP]
[ CHUCKLES ] 'CAUSE THIS IS NOT EASY.
♪♪
PROBABLY HAVE TO THROTTLE UP ON THAT BAD BOY.
♪♪
Fred: PUT IT DOWN NICE AND SOFT.
♪♪
GET IT. GET IT. GET IT.
OH, BUDDY!
♪♪
[BLEEP]
[ CRASH ]
DAMN.
DAMN IT.
♪♪
ON A BIG ROCK LIKE THAT, NEXT TIME,
SET IT COMPLETELY ON THE GROUND BEFORE YOU LET GO OF IT.
I WASN'T TRYINGTO LET GO OF IT.[ BOTH LAUGH ]
I WASN'T.
YEAH, HEY, KENDELL.
SO RIGHT NOW, THAT BIG ROCK'S IN THE WAY.
WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LIFT THAT ROCK.
MAN, TALK ABOUT FRICKIN' -- UGH -- HAIRY.
♪♪
I THINK THE BEST THING FOR ME TO DO IS TO BACK UP,
AND I CAN ATTACK IT FRESH.
YEAH, DO IT HOWEVER YOU WANT. THIS IS YOUR LESSON TO LEARN.
Fred: WE'VE ALL PROVEN OURSELVES AS FAR AS TENACITY
AND OVERCOMING OBSTACLES.
THIS IS HIS OBSTACLE RIGHT NOW,
AND HE'S GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
Kendell: YES, AND JUST PUT IT TO THE LEFT. YOU GOT IT.
OH, THERE HE GOES.
PERFECT. LET IT BE.
WORKS FOR ME RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: STEFAN'S NEXT CHALLENGE -- FEED PAY DIRT
THROUGH THE GRIZZLY BARS TO FILTER OUT LARGE ROCKS.
♪♪
HERE WE GO.
THIS IS OUR FIRST BUCKET OF PAY COMING THROUGH THE GRIZZLY.
HE'S GOT SOME BIG ROCKS, AND THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
♪♪
BIG ROCKS, BIG GOLD!
[ CHUCKLES ] I LIKE IT.
YEAH.
THE GODS APPROVE.
[ WIND WHISTLING ]
♪♪
THESE TREES ARE MOVING REALLY FAST UP HIGH.
[ WOOD CRUNCHING ]
CAN HEAR IT CRACKLING.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE GOLD GODS
ARE TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR GOLD OR --
Narrator: IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, WIND SPEEDS
REACH OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR
Fred: LOT OF ROTTEN TREES.[ WOOD CRACKING ]
THAT TREE COULD GET BLOWN OVER.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS SAFE.
Man: THAT TREE'S GOING DOWN. THAT TREE'S GOING DOWN.
HEY, GUYS, LET'S GET THE [BLEEP] OFF THE MINE
AND GET TO THE OPEN AREA NOW!
♪♪
-COME ON! -BACK, BACK, BACK!
-GET DOWN, GET DOWN. -COME ON!
♪♪
Rick: I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER EXCAVATOR IN THE FIELD.
I GOT TO PULL THE ONE FROM THE PLANT,
AND IT'S JUST A BIG CLUSTER [BLEEP]
Narrator: IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE KENO,
THE EXCAVATOR RICK USES TO DIG PAY IS OUT OF ACTION.
IF WE CAN GET CARL UP HERE SOON -- I DON'T HOW MUCH LONGER
WE CAN GO ON BEFORE EVERYTHING FALLS APART.
Narrator: WHILE HE WAITS FOR HIS MECHANIC, CARL,
RICK HAS KRUSE FEEDING THE PLANT
USING THE 480 EXCAVATOR.
BUT THE STOCKPILE IS SHRINKING FAST.
RICK, YOU GOT A COPY, RICK?
Rick: YEAH, GO FOR RICK.YEAH, BUDDY.
UH, I WENT THROUGH ALL THE PAY DOWN HERE.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE TO STUFF IN THIS PLANT.
ARE YOU SERIOUS? CAN YOU SHUT THE PLANT DOWN?
YEAH, I'LL WAIT FOR YOU TO GET DOWN HERE,
AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO NEXT.
♪♪
RICK, WHAT'S UP?OHH, WHAT'S UP, GUY?
WELL, I WAS REALLY HOPING CARL WOULD BE HERE RIGHT NOW.
BUT WITHOUT HIM, THE 700'S DOWN,
AND WE GOT NO WAY TO DIG PAY.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WE GOT TO KEEP SOME SLUICING.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO.
YEAH, AND I KNOW WE ALREADY PUT IN A FULL DAY,
BUT IF WE DON'T PUT IN SOME MORE HOURS
AND GET SOME PAY UP TO THE PLANT,
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO FIRE IT UP AT ALL TOMORROW,
RIGHT? WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU GUYS TO DO ANYTHING THAT I WOULDN'T DO.
I'M GOING TO PULL A DOUBLE SHIFT.
I'M GOING TO WORK INTO THE NIGHT,
BUT I NEED YOU GUYS' HELP.
IF WE DON'T PUSH ON AND GET SOME PAY TO THE PLANT,
WE'RE IN TROUBLE. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
♪♪
SLEEP WHEN WE'RE DEAD, I GUESS?YEAH, YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: AT THE END OF A 12-HOUR DAY,
RICK'S CREW USE THEIR ONLY WORKING EXCAVATOR
TO STOCKPILE PAY
SO THEY'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO PUT THROUGH THE PLANT TOMORROW.
♪♪
Rick: I KNOW KARLA AND KRUSE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO KEEP THIS OPERATION GOING,
BUT I ALSO CAN'T BURN THEM OUT THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.
I MEAN, IT'S A BIT OF A MARATHON, AND RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE JUST FLAT-OUT SPRINTING.
I REALLY NEED CARL TO GET HERE.
I NEED EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING.
I NEED TO GET BACK TO FULL CAPACITY.
♪♪
Narrator: AT INDIAN RIVER, PARKER'S WASH PLANT SLUICIFER
IS RUNNING PAY DIRT FROM THE PROMISED LAND.
BUT OVER AT THE LAST CUT...
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
I'M SICK AND [BLEEP] TIRED
OF GETTING BITCHED OUT OVER DUMB [BLEEP]
Narrator: ...BIG RED HAS BEEN DOWN FOR 48 HOURS.
THE QUICK MOVE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FINISHED IN 12.
Mitch: PARKER DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A GAME PLAN.
HE JUST SAID, "GET BIG RED RUNNING
AND START SLUICING."
SO NOW HERE WE ARE, IT'S TIME TO SLUICE,
AND, YOU KNOW, NOW IT'S PROBLEM DROPPED IN MY LAP.
♪♪
Narrator: TO GET THE PLANT RUNNING,
MITCH NEEDS A WATER SUPPLY.
♪♪
Mitch: IDEALLY, WE'D BE PULLING FROM THE RIVER.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PIPELINE,
AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PUMPS
TO PULL FROM THAT LAST CUT THAT WE JUST DID,
SO I'VE GOT AN IDEA THAT I THINK MIGHT WORK.
I'M GOING TO TRY AND DAM THINGS UP DOWNSTREAM
AND SEE IF WE CAN'T FLOOD THIS CUTOUT.
HOPEFULLY IT WORKS, 'CAUSE IT'S MY ONLY OPTION.
Narrator: MITCH'S PLAN -- AT A DISUSED POND
FED FROM INDIAN RIVER,
BLOCK THE WATER FLOWING OUT
WITH A DAM HIGH ENOUGH TO FORCE WATER
2,000 FEET UPHILL TOWARDS BIG RED
SO HE CAN PUMP TO THE PLANT.
♪♪
IF WE PLUG THIS OFF, THE WATER SHOULD HAVE NO CHOICE
OTHER THAN TO HEAD BACK UPSTREAM.
♪♪
Narrator: MITCH TAKES LESS THAN AN HOUR TO BUILD THE DAM,
BUT THEY CAN'T START SLUICING UNTIL THE POND FILLS UP.
♪♪
Mitch: OH, YEAH!
WELL, THIS SEEMS TO BE WORKING REALLY NICE.
YOU CAN SEE THE WATER COMING OUT OF OUR POND HERE,
AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S FLOWING BACK UPSTREAM
HEADING BACK TOWARDS BIG RED.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED.
I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THE AMOUNT OF FLOW THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.
IT'S NOT JUST A TRICKLE. IT'S RIPPING OUT OF THIS
AND HEADING BACK TOWARDS THE WASH PLANT.
Narrator: IT TAKES ALL NIGHT FOR BIG RED'S NEW POND
TO FILL UP.
Mitch: I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY FINALLY READY
TO GET BACK TO SLUICING.
EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD AT THIS END.
WE'RE GONNA START SENDING SOME WATER UP HERE TO BIG RED.
WE'LL GET THE GENERATOR RUNNING.
HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING SHAKES. WE'LL GET THESE BELTS TRACKING
AND BACK TO MAKING SOME MONEY.
HERE WE GO!
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator: THE 60-HOUR PLANT MOVED
COST OVER $200,000 IN LOST GOLD,
MORE THAN DOUBLE THE SAVING IN FUEL
PARKER WAS HOPING FOR.
Mitch: HERE COMES THE FIRST SCOOP.
♪♪
THAT WAS TERRIBLE.
THAT WAS A [BLEEP] [BLEEP] PLANT MOVE.
THAT'S LIKE UNLACING YOUR BOOTS
AND GOING FOR A RUN, THERE.
WE WERE JUST TRIPPING ON OUR FEET ALL DAY.
OHH.
♪♪
THIS PLANT MOVE TOOK A LOT LONGER THAN WE WOULD HAVE LIKED,
BUT WE JUST KEPT AFTER IT, AND HERE WE ARE.
WE FIGURED OUT OUR WATER PROBLEM,
AND WE'RE GOING TO START MAKING SOME MONEY AGAIN HERE.
♪♪
-RIGHT HERE, BRO. -THAT'S THE ONE
Y'ALL WERE WORRIED ABOUT WAS GONNA HIT ME, HUH?
Narrator: FRED'S BAND OF BROTHERS RETURNS
TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE AFTER HIGH WINDS HIT ELKHORN CLAIM.
-THESE TREES ARE ROTTEN -UP THAT HILL
AND ALL THE WAY AROUND TO WHERE WE'RE MINING THIS YEAR,
THESE TREES ARE JUST SUPER DANGEROUS.
A LOT OF THEM ARE DEAD.
Narrator: FRED'S WHOLE CLAIM IS SURROUNDED BY WIDOW-MAKERS,
DEAD TREES THAT COULD FALL ANY MINUTE.
Fred: THE MAJOR ISSUE WE HAVE HERE --
LIKE, THIS IS ROTTEN, AND THIS IS NOT.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A TREE THAT HAS ONLY THIS MUCH SUPPORT
THAT WEIGHS FREAKIN' 15,000, 20,000 POUNDS,
AND YOU TAKE ITS ONLY SUPPORT OUT,
IT DOESN'T JUST FALL LIKE A NORMAL TREE.
IT EXPLODES LITERALLY LIKE THIS.
♪♪
DUDE, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER FREAKIN' HOLDUP, MAN.
WE GOT TO GET THESE TREES OUT OF HERE
TO GET THE GOLD OUT OF HERE.
Narrator: IF FRED DOESN'T CLEAR HIS SITE
AND BANK SOME GOLD SOON,
HIS SEASON WILL BE OVER BEFORE IT'S EVEN BEGUN.
Fred: DAMN IT.
♪♪
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SAFETY HERE.
THIS IS A LOT OF WORK FOR US TO DO
THIS IS PROBABLY THREE WEEKS OF HARD LABOR.
THAT'S THREE WEEKS. WE'RE NOT MINING GOLD.
THAT'S THREE WEEKS WERE NOT RUNNING COLONEL NUGGET,
AND WE DON'T HAVE THREE WEEKS.
Narrator: FRED HAS NO CHOICE
BUT SPEND THE LITTLE CASH HE HAS LEFT AND HIRE IN HELP.
JESSE, THIS IS FRED LEWIS.
I'M CALLING -- I'M A LOCAL MINER,
AND I HAD SOME ISSUES WITH SOME TREES,
AND I NEED SOMEONE URGENTLY TO COME AND REMOVE THEM.
♪♪
WHAT IS THAT?!
♪♪
FRED. JESSE?
WE'RE HERE. WHAT?
WHAT DO WE GOT?
HOLY CRAP. A LOT.
Narrator: JESSE REID IS A LOCAL LOGGER.
GIVE ME ABOUT A DAY,
AND I SHOULD HAVE THEM ALL OUT OF YOUR WAY.
-A DAY. -WOW.
THAT'S SAVES US WEEKS.
THAT GIVES US WEEKS OF MINING, WEEKS ON THE GOAL.
THAT'S BADASS.
I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH.
Narrator: HIS HARVESTER'S 50-INCH HYDRAULIC DISK SAW
CUTS THROUGH THE DEAD TREE TRUNKS IN JUST 3 SECONDS.
♪♪
OH, THAT IS CRAZY!
♪♪
JESSE'S JUST A LIFESAVER AT THIS POINT.
WE'RE ALMOST READY RIGHT NOW GET UP AND RUNNING,
SO AS FAR AS THIS GOES, TREES ARE DOWN,
WE'RE RUNNING. WE'RE RUNNING PAY, AND WE'RE GETTING GOLD.
♪♪
Narrator: IN THE KLONDIKE, TONY BEETS' COMEBACK SEASON
IS AT A STANDSTILL.
Kevin: UGH. IT'S FRUSTRATING,
VERY, VERY [BLEEP] FRUSTRATING.
Narrator: LAST WEEK, HE WAS FORCED TO SHUT DOWN HIS TROMMEL
WHEN THE OSCILLATOR GEARBOX BROKE.
EVERYTHING UP THERE SAYS IT SHOULD SPIN.
THE OSCILLATOR'S NOT [BLEEP] MOVING.
THE COLLAR'S SPINNING, BUT THE SHAFT TO THE GEARBOX IS NOT.
Narrator: NOW THE NEW GEARBOX HAS FINALLY ARRIVED.
Kevin: GOT TO GET THE TROMMEL GOING. IT'S WHAT MAKES THE MONEY.
SLIDE THIS IN. SLIDE IT DOWN.
THEN WE'LL SEE ABOUT GETTING THAT -- THIS SHAFT IN THERE.
Narrator: KEVIN FITS THE GEARBOX
AND ATTACHES THE OSCILLATOR.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]Kevin: YES.
IT WORKS.
Narrator: THE BEETS ARE BACK IN BUSINESS.
♪♪
Narrator: AT ELKHORN CREEK,
FRED'S CLAIM IS CLEAR OF WIDOW-MAKERS.
READY WHEN YOU ARE.
HE'S FINALLY READY FOR HIS CREW
TO RUN THEIR FIRST-EVER PAY DIRT.
MAKE SURE WHEN YOU GET UP HERE ON THIS RAMP,
YOU HIT IT AT THE RIGHT ANGLE.
JUST KEEP IT SLOW. KEEP IT STEADY.
DON'T WALK IT. GET READY TO STOP WHEN I SAY.
AFTER HIS CRASH COURSE RUNNING THE EXCAVATOR AT THE SWAMP CUT,
FRED TASKS STEFAN WITH FEEDING THE PLANT.
[BLEEP] DAMN, THAT'S A HELL OF A DROP.
PROBABLY THE WORST PART RIGHT HERE.
IT'S HIS FIRST TIME COMING TO THE EDGE.
NERVE-RACKING FOR HIM RIGHT NOW.
THERE YOU GO.
Narrator: STEFAN NEEDS TO POSITION THE EXCAVATOR
ON THE EDGE OF THE PAD.
♪♪
JUST KEEP IT SLOW. KEEP IT STEADY.
DON'T GET NERVOUS.
♪♪
YOU WANT TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE, BUDDY.
[ STEFAN LAUGHS ]
♪♪
NOW DON'T TOUCH THE PEDALS ANYMORE!
PULL YOUR SAFETY. GOOD JOB.
♪♪
YEAH, NO. THAT WAS SOME HAIRY [BLEEP]
[ CHUCKLES ]
HEY, OKAY, PUMPS READY.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator: MARINE JOHNNY TURNS ON THE PUMPS,
SENDING WATER TO THE PLANT.
♪♪
ALRIGHT, KENDELL. LET'S FIRE IT UP. LET'S GO.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Kendell: THERE SHE GOES.
ALRIGHT, GUYS, IT'S GOLD TIME! LET'S DO IT!
Narrator: FRED AND HIS CREW'S GOLD-MINING SEASON
FINALLY BEGINS.
Fred: PRETTY MUCH THE BIG MOMENT OF THE WHOLE MINE SITE
AT THIS POINT.
OH, FEED THE COLONEL!
-HELL, YEAH. -WHOO! LET'S GET SOME GOLD!
WHOO!
THIS IS THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS MINE SITE.
FINALLY MINING!
SUCH A GOOD FEELING.
♪♪
BEEN BASICALLY RUNNING THAT 480 TO DEATH TRYING TO LOAD TRUCKS
AND KEEP THE PLANT GOING, SO...
Narrator: IT'S THE END OF A WEEK OF DOUBLE SHIFTS
FOR RICK NESS' CREW.
♪♪
-WHAT'S UP, GUYS? -CARL!
HOW YOU DOING? THE REST OF THE "A" TEAM.
OH, YEAH, BUDDY. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, BOYS?
YEAH. WHAT'S UP, CARL?WHAT'S UP, BUDDY? HOW YOU DOING?
GOOD, MAN.THIS IS MARK.
-HEY. -NICE TO MEET YOU.
HEY, MARK. GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
BUDDY, YOU CAME AT A GOOD TIME. WE'RE JUST ABOUT
TO DO A GOLD WEIGH.IS IT GOOD ONE, OR WHAT?
WELL, I SUPPOSE YOU WANT THE GOOD NEWS FIRST.
THE GOOD NEWS WILL BE THE GOLD. THE BAD NEWS
WILL BE THE LAUNDRY LIST OF [BLEEP] YOU GOT TO FIX.
OH, I CAN IMAGINE.STARTING TOMORROW.
I CAN IMAGINE.
I MEAN, FOR THREE PEOPLE WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT DONE.
EXCELLENT, DUDE. I LIKE IT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THREE OF US UP HERE.
NO WAY.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
YOU'RE -- CAN I SEE THIS?YEAH.
HOLY SMOKES, MAN. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN BUSY.
YEAH.WOW. I'M IMPRESSED, MAN.
LET'S DO THIS. YOU GUYS READY?YEAH.
Narrator: THIS IS RICK'S FIRST GOLD WEIGH OF THE SEASON.
LAST YEAR, HE AVERAGED A MEAGER 24 OUNCES A WEEK.
ALRIGHT, WE GOT 10, 20,
30,
40, 50.
THERE'S 60,
AND 66.47.
-OOH. -THAT'S UNREAL, DUDE.
-HELL, YEAH. -WOW.
Narrator: WORTH $116,000.
-WOW. -YOU GUYS DID THAT.
I'M IMPRESSED.
THANKS, MAN. WOW.
NOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE HERE,
CARL, OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU.
MARK, LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU CAN DO.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. WE AIN'T GOT MUCH TIME THIS YEAR,
AND WE GOT A LOT TO PROVE.WELL, WE'RE WITH YOU, DUDE.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE. ALL I GOT TO SAY
IS YOU GUYS READY TO FIRE UP?READY TO FIRE UP, BUDDY.
-LET'S FIRE UP. -FIRE UP.
♪♪
♪ OH, YEAH
♪♪
4 FEET SHORT.
STUPID GAME.
Narrator: AT SCRIBNER CREEK,
PARKER'S CREW ASSEMBLES FOR THE GOLD WEIGH.
♪♪
Parker: IF IT LOOKS GOOD, LET'S GET A NUMBER.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE [BLEEP] LET'S GO GOLFING.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
WELL, MY BOSS WOULDN'T BE REAL HAPPY.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.
NO! NO -- NO.
[BLEEP] YOUR BOSS. HE'S A [BLEEP]
[ LAUGHS ]
AH [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] THIS STUPID GAME.
I HATE GOLF.
Narrator: FIRST ON THE SCALES IS SLUICIFER.
IT'S BEEN WASHING PAY ON THE PROMISED LAND ALL WEEK.
WELL, SLUICIFER HAD A FULL WEEK, AND IT SHOWS.
I MEAN, YOU GOT A HECK OF A PAN HERE.
Brennan: DON'T BREAK THAT THING IN HALF.
YEAH, REALLY.
-YOU GOOD, OR YOU NEED ME -- -YEAH, NO, I GOT IT.
ALRIGHT. WHAT DO YOU GOT?
Mitch: 50. 100.
140.
200. 220.
230.
300.
350. 380.
394.15.
DANG.
Narrator: WORTH $693,000.
394 OUNCES FOR SLUICIFER, THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW, MAN,
WHEN THEY'VE GOT THAT RUNTIME --
BUT, YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD WEEK.
NEXT UP, BIG RED.
SEE WHAT WE CAME UP WITH. DOING BIG RED.
-READY? -YEAH.
♪♪
10, 20, 50.
QUICK.
80. 100.
100 AND --
115.8.
Narrator: WORTH ALMOST $203,000,
LESS THAN 1/3 OF SLUICIFER'S TOTAL.
Parker: WHY ARE WE ONLY DOING 115-OUNCE CLEANUPS?
BECAUSE BIG RED WAS DOWN FOR 2 1/2 DAYS.
WHO GIVES A [BLEEP]
♪♪
WHAT IS YOUR STRATEGY HERE ON CONSTANTLY MOVING THE PLANTS?
YOU KNOW, YOU JUST DON'T MOVE A PLANT
IN A COUPLE HOURS AND GO BACK SLUICING.
SO THERE'S GOT TO BE A REASON
FOR WHY YOU'RE DOING IT LIKE THIS.
EASIEST THING TO DO IS PUT OUR PLANT IN ONE SPOT
AND TRUCK EVERYTHING TO IT,
AND YOU'VE GOT MOUNTAINS OF TAILINGS,
AND YOU'RE TRUCKING 2 MILES.
AND RIGHT NOW, IT'S FINE. GOLD PRICES ARE HIGH.
WE COULD DO WHATEVER WE WANTED
AND MAKE MONEY, REALLY.
BUT IF THE PRICE OF GOLD GETS CUT IN HALF,
WE'RE IN [BLEEP] TROUBLE.
♪♪
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES WE HAD ON THIS SETUP
AND GETTING BIG RED BACK RUNNING
WAS JUST GETTING WATER OVER TO US.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE A LOT FURTHER AWAY FROM THE INDIAN RIVER
THAN WE HAVE PIPELINE FOR. GOT US BACK RUNNING,
BUT TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME
TO FIGURE ALL THAT OUT AND MAKE IT WORK.
I SAW THAT. I LIKE THAT SOLUTION.
THAT'S LIKE WAY DOWN THE ALPHABET.
OH, YEAH, NO, I WAS LIKE --
WE'RE SCRATCHING OUR HEADS LIKE, "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?"
I WAS LIKE, I'M NOT EVEN SURE THAT I'D HAVE THOUGHT
OF DOING THAT, BUT --
I WAS LIKE [BLEEP] YEAH. THAT'S BADASS.
THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME WORDS SAID OUT THERE
WHILE WE WERE DOING THIS, 'CAUSE WE WERE REAL STOKED
ABOUT IT AT THE TIME, SO...THAT'S ALRIGHT.
IT'S ALL GOOD, MAN. THANK YOU GUYS.
-ALRIGHT. -THANK YOU GUYS.
DOUMITT, YOU GOT THIS?
YES, SIR. I GOT IT, KIDDO.
THANKS. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.LATER, MAN.
♪♪
Narrator: COMING UP ON "GOLD RUSH"...
...TONY BEETS LOOKS TO BREAK THE PIGGY BANK.
I'M JUST GONNA SAY IT RIGHT NOW. WE'RE GOING FOR 1,000 OUNCES.
Narrator: DAYS AFTER HIS FIRST GOLD WEIGH...
HOLY [BLEEP]
...RICK NESS' SEASON FACES DISASTER.
SHUT HER DOWN, MARK! SHUT HER DOWN!
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
DON'T STOP FOR NOBODY!
Narrator: AND ON A MISSION TO EXPAND HIS MINING EMPIRE...
WHOA!
Man: HOLY [BLEEP]
...PARKER PUSHES HIS CREW HARDER THAN EVER
TO DELIVER ON HIS NEW PLAN.
Parker: TELLING ME HE SCREWED UP
DOESN'T CHANGE THAT IT'S A $10,000 [BLEEP] UP.