Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY DRILLING.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL...
Parker: MAY NOT WANT TO FOLLOW ME.
WHOA.
Narrator: ...IS ON THE HUNT FOR A NEW CLAIM...
IF THE GOLD'S NOT GOOD, IT'LL BREAK YOU.
WHOA!
Narrator: ...TO SECURE HIS MINING FUTURE.
Parker: A LOT OF PRESSURE RIDING ON THE BACK OF THIS LITTLE HOLE.
Rick: PUSH IT! LET'S GO!
CANNOT AFFORD THE PLANT TO SHUT DOWN RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: RICK NESS GOES DEEP...
Rick: WE'RE LOOKING AT AT LEAST 60 FEET OF OVERBURDEN.
SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO BITE THE BULLET AND JUST DO IT.
Narrator: ...TO SAVE HIS SEASON.
ALRIGHTY.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT GOLD MINING HAD A LOT TO DO WITH PLUMBING.
Narrator: AND FRED LEWIS'S FIRST SEASON AS A MINE BOSS...
JOHNNY!
HEY, TURN OFF THAT WATER.
Fred: TURN IT OFF!
Narrator: ...HANGS IN THE BALANCE.
Fred: WE KEEP GETTING KICKED, BUT WE KEEP GETTING BACK UP.
SO, YOU GUYS READY?
♪♪
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
Parker: RIGHT NOW, I'M ON MY WAY TO FAIRBANKS.
I REALLY WANT TO START ANOTHER OPERATION.
Narrator: AFTER SEVEN YEARS MINING IN THE YUKON,
25-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL IS BACK IN ALASKA,
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, ON A MISSION TO FIND NEW GROUND.
WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY ON A PIECE OF GROUND
THAT HAS HAD A LOT OF HISTORIC MINING.
IT'S FOR SALE.
GUY THAT OWNS IT WANTS 3 MILLION DOLLARS FOR IT,
WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY, SO HOPEFULLY,
EVERYTHING RUNS SMOOTHLY AT THE MINE SITE WHILE I'M GONE.
Narrator: TO PAY FOR A NEW CLAIM, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,
PARKER'S LEFT HIS CREW TO RUN HIS YUKON OPERATION WITHOUT HIM.
Parker: WE'VE GOT A GOOD SHOT AT MAKING A LOT OF MONEY,
AND WE'RE GONNA NEED A HELL OF A WAR CHEST BUILT UP.
IF THEY CAN KEEP THAT PLACE GOING,
THEN WE CAN GET ANOTHER OPERATION UP AND ROLLING.
THE ONLY THING WE NEED IS GROUND.
Narrator: NOW, PARKER IS 13 MILES OUTSIDE OF FAIRBANKS,
ON HIS WAY TO PROSPECT THE NEW, 3-MILLION-DOLLAR CLAIM.
I'VE ASKED LIAM FERGUSON,
WHO HAS A SONIC DRILL, TO COME UP.
LIAM IS THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS
WHEN IT COMES TO EVALUATING GROUND.
HOPEFULLY, IT WORKS OUT.
♪♪
THIS PROPERTY WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 2 MILES LONG --
THIS CREEK, STARTING UP THERE ABOUT A MILE
AND GOES DOWNSTREAM ABOUT ANOTHER MILE.
Narrator: THE SMALLWOOD CLAIM IS 397 ACRES OF GROUND,
3 MILES DOWNSTREAM FROM A HUGE GOLD VEIN,
WHERE A MINE CALLED FORT KNOX
HAS PRODUCED OVER 8 MILLION OUNCES OF GOLD.
NOW, PARKER MUST FIND OUT IF ENOUGH GOLD HAS WASHED DOWN
FROM THE MOTHER LODE TO MAKE SMALLWOOD WORTH MINING.
Parker: LOOKS LIKE YOU ALREADY BEEN WASHING ROCKS!
Liam: YEAH, WE'VE GOT A FEW DONE.
HE'S HIRED LIAM FERGUSON TO TEST-DRILL THE GROUND.
HEY, MAN. HOW'S YOUR SUMMER BEEN?
GOOD. GOOD.
YEAH.
BEATING ME TO THE PUNCH.
YEAH, WE GOT A FEW DAYS HEAD START ON YOU.
WE'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF DRILLING NOW.
FOR THE PAST FIVE DAYS, LIAM HAS BEEN DRILLING TEST HOLES
WITH HIS STATE-OF-THE-ART SONIC DRILL.
AT ALMOST $20,000 A DAY,
IT'S ALREADY COST PARKER NEARLY $100,000
JUST TO SEE IF THERE'S GOOD GOLD.
HOW MANY HOLES HAVE YOU DRILLED?
PROBABLY DONE ABOUT 25 OR 30.
OH, REALLY? YEAH.
SO AT LEAST NOW YOU KIND OF HAVE
A BIT OF AN IDEA ON WHAT'S GOING ON,
AND WE CAN MAKE A PLAN WHERE TO GO NEXT.
A LOT OF FINE GOLD WE'D MINING, HERE.
LIKE DUST? YEAH, LIKE FLOUR.
WE'VE SEEN GOLD, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE PRETTY SPOTTY.
THERE'S DEFINITELY GOLD HERE, BUT IS THERE ENOUGH?
SO FAR, LIAM HAS SUNK FIVE TEST LINES
THAT SHOW ONLY PATCHES OF GOLD.
PARKER NEEDS AT LEAST FIVE GOOD RESULTS IN A LINE
TO PROVE THIS PIECE OF GROUND IS WORTH
THE 3-MILLION-DOLLAR PRICE TAG.
FOR THE POTENTIAL THAT IS HERE, YOU WANT TO BE SURE.
YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT JUMPING DOWNSTREAM, THEN?
YEAH.
DO YOU WANT TO SHOW ME AROUND?
YEAH. LET'S GO FOR A WALK.
SWEET. OH, THIS LOOKS LIKE FUN.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH THIS
WHEN YOU'RE WALKING AROUND?
SWIMMING ACROSS.
OH [BLEEP].
MIGHT NOT WANT TO FOLLOW ME.
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOA! DON'T GO THERE.
[ THUD ]
Liam: THE FAIRBANKS REGION HAS JUST A LOT OF GOLD HERE,
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF HISTORIC MINING.
SO, FORT KNOX IS 3 MILES THAT WAY WAY
AND IT'S PRODUCING 1,000 OUNCES A DAY,
AND THIS DRAINAGE IS COMING RIGHT OFF THE BACK OF THAT,
SO WE KNOW THERE'S GOLD IN THE AREA.
ARE THERE ANY BEARS OUT HERE?
[ CHUCKLES ] HAVEN'T SEEN ANY.
THAT'S WHAT DOZER'S HERE FOR, RIGHT?
OH, YEAH. APPETIZER.
[ CHUCKLES ]
BREAKFAST TIME.
WE DIDN'T FIND ANY GOLD,
BUT WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA EAT A LOT OF BLUEBERRIES.
PERFECT. BOUGHT A NEW BLUEBERRY PATCH.
3 MILLION DOLLARS.
THIS IS THE [BLEEP] THING ABOUT THIS CREEK.
IT'S ALL SITTING ON TOP OF MUD.
SO WE SHOULD JUST COME DOWN HERE
AND SLAM A LINE IN SOMEWHERE IN HERE, HUH?
YEAH.
Liam: THIS IS KIND OF THE ZONE
THAT I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN LOOKING.
Liam: SO, DO YOU WANT TO AIM FOR THIS LINE?
THAT'S THAT ONE WE WALKED DOWN.
YEAH.
YOU COULD PUT TWO, LIKE, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS --
TWO LINES, LIKE, THERE? YEAH.
MAYBE WE DO, LIKE, FIVE HOLES A LINE?
Parker: YOU KNOW, THERE'S A HEFTY PURCHASE PRICE ON THIS PROPERTY,
AND THEN WE HAVE NO INFRASTRUCTURE HERE, RIGHT?
SO IT NEEDS TO BE GOOD GROUND TO JUSTIFY.
A LOT OF THIS GROUND'S 100 FEET DEEP,
SO IT'S NOT CHEAP MINING, RIGHT?
THAT'S THE KIND OF GROUND THAT, IF THE GOLD'S NOT GOOD,
IT'LL BREAK YOU, TRYING TO DO THAT.
Narrator: THE NEXT SITE PARKER WANTS TO DRILL
IS A QUARTER-MILE DOWNSTREAM.
THE RIG WEIGHS ABOUT 50,000 POUNDS.
IT'S PRETTY ROUGH TERRAIN.
[ RATTLING ]
Man: STOP!
WHOA!
[ GRINDING ]
YOU DID IT ON PURPOSE, DIDN'T YOU?
WELL, WE FOUND THE SOFT SPOT.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PULL IT OUT HERE PRETTY QUICK.
RIGHT HERE, THIS.
♪♪
KEEP IT REVVED UP.
Parker: THAT'S MORE LIKE IT.
Parker: IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE MINING THAT I'M USED TO.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY GOOD AT MINING, LIKE,
EXACTLY 20 FEET OF GROUND,
AND SOME OF THE DEEPER HOLES, I THINK, HAVE BEEN OVER 90 FEET.
SO IT'S A DEEP, CHALLENGING PIECE OF GROUND,
BOTH TO MINE AND DRILL.
♪♪
[ GROANS ]
WELL, WE HAD A LATE START TO THE SEASON,
BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE ALREADY PAID TROY HIS 100-OUNCE MINIMUM ROYALTY,
SO EVERYTHING FROM NOW ON IS GOING IN OUR OWN POCKETS,
AND THAT FEELS GREAT -- BUT IF WE'RE GONNA HIT
OUR 1,000-OUNCE GOAL, IT'S TIME TO GET SERIOUS.
Narrator: BECAUSE OF THE LOCKDOWN, RICK NESS WAS SIX WEEKS LATE
TO START HIS MINING SEASON, BUT HE'S MAKING UP GROUND FAST.
WITH 302 OUNCES,
HE'S ALMOST A THIRD OF THE WAY TO HIS 1,000 OUNCE GOLD.
NOW, HE'S READY TO TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
Rick: WHAT'S UP, YOU GOONS?
LATE AGAIN, HUH?
Mark: HEY, WHAT TIME IS IT?
[BLEEP] YOU.
[ LAUGHING ]
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO
THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.
YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE REALLY COMING ALONG GOOD.
WE'RE STREAMLINING,
AND WE'RE LOOKING LIKE WE KNOW WHAT WE DOING.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
Mark: TOOK A FEW YEARS.
Chris: HEY, FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT.
WE CAN CRANK THINGS UP, AND IT'S JUST IN TIME,
BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING ON FROM THE CHEAP CUT,
AND WE'RE OPENING UP THE DEEP CUT.
Mark: WICKED, MAN.YES, SIR.
SO THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME FOR US.
WE'RE MOVING OVER AT 60 FEET OVERBURDEN, IN A LOT OF PLACES.
THAT'S A LOT OF JUNK MATERIAL TO MOVE.
IT'S GONNA BE EXPENSIVE.
KARLA, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET IN THE ROCK TRUCK.
YEP.I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO KIND OF
THROW EVERYBODY INTO THE DEEP CUT,
TRY TO GET THAT STRIPPED DOWN.
SEE IF WE CAN GET IT ALL DONE, YOU KNOW?
IT'S DOABLE NOW. IT'S JUST LIKE I SAID,
ME AND YOU ARE GONNA JUMP IN TRUCKS?
WE'VE GOT TO GET THE BALL ROLLING,
SO WHATEVER WE GOT TO DO, RIGHT?
THE REWARD THERE IS, HOPEFULLY,
30 FEET OF PAY UNDERNEATH THAT, RIGHT?
AND GOOD STUFF, LIKE, TWO-OUNCE-PER-100 TYPE STUFF.
THAT'S WHAT WE TESTED OUT AT LAST YEAR.
Carl: THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
ALRIGHT. LET'S GET AFTER IT. DEEP CUT.
CARL, TRY TO KEEP YOUR PANTS ON.
I'M GONNA TRY MY BEST.
♪♪
IT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE MORE AGGRESSIVE THINGS I'VE DONE,
AS FAR AS MINING GOES.
Narrator: THERE ARE JUST THREE DAYS OF CHEAP CUT PAY LEFT
BEFORE THE WASH PLANT RUNS OUT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT AT LEAST 60 FEET OF OVERBURDEN.
SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO BITE THE BULLET AND JUST DO IT.
Narrator: TO GET THE THREE-ACRE DEEP CUT DOWN TO PAY DIRT IN TIME,
RICK PULLS IN THE WHOLE CREW.
Karla: WE HAVE A LOT OF OVERBURDEN TO MOVE,
SO THIS IS GONNA BE A TOUGH ONE.
I'M IN THE GOLD ROOM FULL-TIME, AND I'M PRETTY SWAMPED IN THERE.
IT KIND OF WORRIES ME.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT WITH OUR PANTS DOWN.
Chris: IT'S A TIME-CRUNCH THING.
WE'RE ABOUT OUT OF PAY IN THAT OTHER CUT,
AND WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO
AND A LOT OF DIRT TO MOVE TO GET TO THIS PAY,
BUT IT'S GONNA BE REALLY WORTH IT.
[ CLANKING ]
OH, [BLEEP].
[ CLANKING ]
SOMETHING IS JUST NOT RIGHT WITH THIS THING.
[ RATTLING ]
NO, THAT AIN'T GOOD.
HEY, CARL, YOU GOT A COPY?
Carl: 10-4.
YEAH, MAN, SOMETHING'S GOING ON WITH THE BUCKET.
GET YOUR TRUCK OUT HERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS THING.
WITHOUT A 700, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET DOWN TO PAY IN THE DEEP CUT
BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF PAY IN THE CHEAP CUT,
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIX THIS QUICK AND GET BACK ON TASK.
Narrator: THE 700 IS THE ONLY EXCAVATOR THAT CAN
MOVE ENOUGH VOLUME OF DIRT FOR RICK TO STAY ON TRACK.
IT JUST NEVER [BLEEP] ENDS WITH THIS THING.
Carl: NO. [ CHUCKLES ]
ALL THE WELDS BROKE.
IT CAUSES THIS PIN TO GO WHEREVER IT WANTS.
IT'S NOT IN GOOD SHAPE, DUDE.
I CAN STICK MY [BLEEP] FINGER IN THERE.
YEAH, AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.
MY THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW ARE, MY MAIN PRODUCTION MACHINE
IS JUST SHOT TO [BLEEP].
Rick: IT'S MY MAIN MACHINE. I NEED IT.
IT'S NOT WORKING. IT'S NOT GOOD.
♪♪
Carl: THAT'S [BLEEP] BAD, MAN.
Rick: I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THROUGH THE SEASON.
Narrator: RICK NESS HAS JUST THREE DAYS TO STRIP 60 FEET OF OVERBURDEN
AND GET DOWN TO PAY IN HIS NEW DEEP CUT,
BUT THE BUCKET ON HIS 700 EXCAVATOR IS BROKEN.
HOW DO WE GET THIS TO [BLEEP]...
TO WORK?
WE COULD TRY CENTERING IT,
GETTING THIS GOUGE OF IT WELDED BACK ON.
WELD, WELD, WELD, AND MAKE IT TIGHTER, RIGHT?
JUST TRYING TO BUILD THIS UP MORE.
UGLY.
THIS THING TAKES A LOT OF FORCE.
YEAH, I KNOW, MAN.
IT'S GONNA BE REAL LOW-BUDGET AND HOPE FOR THE BEST, RIGHT?
Rick: THERE'S A COLLAR ON THE BUCKET THAT HOLDS THE PIN IN PLACE
THAT THE BUCKET ROTATES ON,
AND NOW THE PIN WOBBLES IN THERE LIKE THAT,
AND IT CAUSES ALL KINDS OF DAMAGE, SO...
WE JUST NEED TO GET THIS BUCKET OFF,
RE-WELD THIS COLLAR BACK ON.
WE CAN'T JUST RUN IT LIKE THAT.
Narrator: THE BUCKET IS ATTACHED TO THE ARM BY TWO PINS.
ON ONE OF THE COLLARS THAT HOLD THE PINS IN PLACE,
THE WELD HAS SHEARED OFF.
WITHOUT IT, THE PIN WOBBLES, MAKING THE BUCKET UNUSABLE.
CARL PLANS TO WELD THE COLLAR BACK ON TO SECURE THE PIN.
Carl: SO, YEAH, MAN, THIS IS OUR MONEY-MAKER.
THIS IS OUR MAIN HOE.
WITHOUT THIS THING WE'RE [BLEEP], RIGHT?
SO, TRY TO GET THAT CENTERED AND WELDED UP, BUT WE'LL SEE.
THERE'S NO WARRANTY ON THIS JOB.
WE'RE DOING IT, THOUGH.
[ HAMMERING ]
I'M JUST ABOUT READY TO ATTEMPT TO THROW A PIN IN IT.
ALRIGHT, SHE'S HEAVY.
YEAH, I'M GONNA NEED A HAND HERE, RICK.
I'M STRONG, BUT I'M NOT THAT STRONG.
YOU WANT ME TO SHOW YOU HOW TO DO IT BY BLOWING ON MY BACK?
[ LAUGHING ]
[ GROANING ]
Carl: THERE YOU GO.
THAT-A-BOY. YOU GOT HER.
IS IT IN TIGHT? YEAH.
TIGHT!
THE BUCKET'S GOING BACK ON EASIER THAN IT NORMALLY DOES,
SO THAT'S NICE.
COUPLE NUTS, AND WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS.
YOU'RE GOOD TO MOVE IT IF YOU WANT.
Rick: OH, YEAH.
THAT'S IT?
YOU MADE IT LOOK EASY, BUDDY.
Narrator: CARL'S GOT THE 700 BACK UP AND RUNNING IN JUST 3 HOURS...
THAT WENT GOOD, MAN.
THAT WAS AWESOME.
...AND RICK STILL HAS A FULL TWO DAYS LEFT
TO GET DOWN TO GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT.
CARL SAVES THE DAY AGAIN.
I'M NOT CONVINCED YOU DON'T PULL THAT [BLEEP] ON PURPOSE.
[BLEEP]. "IT COULD BE DOWN FOR A WEEK, RICK,"
AND THEN YOU PULL IT OUT OF YOUR ASS IN A COUPLE HOURS.
I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN, THOUGH.
I LOVE IT.
THIS MACHINE IS DIGGING DIRT IN THE MORNING.
♪♪
Fred: I WOULD SAY CAMP LIFE, PRETTY MUCH LIKE DEPLOYMENT LIFE --
A BUNCH OF DUDES, AND KHARA, STUCK IN A SMALL, LITTLE PLACE,
NOT A LOT OF ROOM TO GET AROUND, AND THEY'RE ALL MESSY TEENAGERS.
Narrator: 1,500 MILES SOUTH, IN OREGON'S ELKHORN MOUNTAINS,
FRED LEWIS IS 9 WEEKS INTO HIS FIRST SEASON
RUNNING A GOLD MINE.
Fred: SO WE'VE GOT ALL THE EQUIPMENT NOW, AND THE TEAM IS
BITING THROUGH THEIR LIPS RIGHT NOW TO GET TO WORK, SO...
THE ATTITUDE IN THE MINE
COULDN'T BE ANY BETTER RIGHT NOW,
BUT I PUT MY LAST 20K DOWN ON THE MINE --
IF WE DON'T START SEEING A RETURN, I'M DONE.
Narrator: SO FAR, WITH HIS CREW OF COMBAT VETERANS,
FRED HAS LESS THAN AN OUNCE OF GOLD.
EVERYONE'S READY TO SLAY IT AND GET UP THERE AND PULL SOME GOLD.
JOHNNY'S THE FIRST ONE UP, BECAUSE HE'S GOT TO GO UP
AND CHECK HIS PONDS TO MAKE SURE THE WATER'S FLOWING
AND MAKE SURE OUR PONDS ARE FULL,
SO HE'S ALL CHIPPER AND DAPPER IN THE MORNING.
Johnny: GUTEN MORGEN, WORLD.
I WAKE UP AT 6:00 EVERY MORNING,
SO THAT I CAN GO AND HAVE THE PUMPS RUNNING BY 6:30,
SO WE CAN START THE PROCESS OF GETTING WATER
FROM THE LOWER CUT UP TO POND NUMBER 2.
I THINK THIS IS FRED TRYING TO PUT ME BACK
THROUGH BOOT CAMP, RIGHT NOW.
CRACK THE WHIP AND MAKE ME GET UP EARLY
AND START THE WHOLE THING PUMPING.
BUT HE CALLED ON A MARINE,
SO HE KNEW HE CALLED ON THE RIGHT GUY.
Narrator: STAFF SERGEANT JOHNNY STANZ RUNS THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM
THAT FEEDS THE WASH PLANT.
Johnny: THE GUYS COUNT ON ME, AND I LIKE BEING COUNTED ON.
Narrator: BUT THIS IS HIS FIRST JOB ON A GOLD MINE.
Johnny: SO, LET'S CHECK IT FIRST, TO MAKE SURE GAS IS FILLED,
BUT LUCKILY, I WENT WITH FILL IT UP AT THE END OF MY LAST CYCLE.
I NORMALLY DO THAT, BUT I STILL GOT TO CHECK,
'CAUSE WITH A BRAIN INJURY, SOMETIMES YOU FORGET.
AFTER I GOT BLOWN UP IN THE MARINE CORPS,
THEY TELL ME "YOU'RE RETIRED,"
SO I WAS LIKE, "WHAT THE FRICKIN' HECK DO I DO NOW?"
SO I DO WOUNDED VETERAN SPORTING CAMPS,
AND I MEET A GUY NAMED FRED --
WEIRD GUY, HAD A BIG, OLD BEARD.
WEIRD GUY, WHICH WAS PERFECT FOR ME, 'CAUSE I'M A WEIRD GUY.
YEARS LATER, HE CALLS ME UP AND TELLS ME,
"HEY, I'M STARTING A GOLD MINE OUT HERE IN OREGON.
YOU WANT TO JOIN ME?
TOOK ME ABOUT THAT LONG TO DECIDE, "YEP. SURE AS HECK DO."
SO, NOW THE PUMP'S ALL PRIMED. THE PUMP'S FULL OF GAS.
WE'VE GOT TO RECONNECT OUR HOSES --
GOT TO MAKE SURE THESE CONNECTIONS
ARE GOOD AND TIGHT, SEALED.
GOT TO BE THOROUGH, 'CAUSE THIS IS ONE OF MY DUTIES,
AND THE GUYS ARE COUNTING ON ME.
WITHOUT THIS, WHO KNOWS IF WE'RE GONNA GET GOLD.
I'M GONNA GO START THE WATER.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
WATER'S FLOWING, BABY! WATER'S FLOWING.
Narrator: DIRTY WATER FLOWS OUT OF THE WASH PLANT INTO POND 1.
THE TAILINGS SETTLE AND CLEAN WATER FLOWS INTO POND 2,
WHERE IT CAN BE PUMPED BACK TO THE PLANT.
BUT OVERNIGHT, THE PONDS DRAIN OUT,
SO JOHNNY NEEDS TO PUMP WATER UP TO FILL THE PONDS EACH MORNING
BEFORE THEY CAN FIRE UP THE PLANT.
SUCCESS!
UPPER POND IS FILLING UP.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT TAKES AWHILE,
BUT THAT'S WHY I GOT TO WAKE UP SO EARLY.
THIS WATER, I CONSIDER IT THE BLOOD OF THE OPERATION,
AND I'M THE HEART.
I'VE GOT TO PUMP IT TO THE BRAIN, THE KERNEL.
IT'S GOT TO FIGURE OUT THE DIRT FROM THE GOLD.
WE ALL GOT TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THIS MINE TO BE
AS SUCCESSFUL AS POSSIBLE,
AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO FRED FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.
HOW'S IT GOING, GUYS?
Kendall: GOOD MORNING.
OHH.
GIVE ME A LITTLE SPIN, JOHNNY.
WHAT THE -- YOU'RE DRY.
I'M GETTING BETTER AT THIS.
[ LAUGHS ] YOU'RE LEARNING.
ALRIGHT, YOU GUYS READY TO GET UP TO THE MINE?
YEAH.
LET'S GET FIRED UP! [ CLICKS TONGUE ]
Fred: JOHNNY'S GOT A PRETTY BIG RESPONSIBILITY.
HE'S OUR IRRIGATION SPECIALIST.
IT'S QUITE COMPLICATED.
A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, BUT AS LONG AS THE WATER'S FLOWING
FROM THE SWAMP TO THE POND TO THE KERNEL, WE'RE IN BUSINESS.
FIRE IT UP, JOHNNY.
HERE WE GO.
[ STARTING ]
WOO!
HERE COMES THE WATER!
WE'RE UP AND RUNNING!
START FEEDING IT, STUART.
♪♪
THAT WATER IS STARTING TO GET KIND OF LOW OVER THERE.
Stuart: FRED!
HEY! FRED!
HEY, HEY, HEY! TURN OFF THAT WATER!
JOHNNY! JOHNNY!
YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS! THERE'S WATER SHOOTING DOWN THERE.
[BLEEP] DAMN IT!
TURN IT OFF!
♪♪
[ WATER HISSING ]
Narrator: IN OREGON, FRED LEWIS
AND HIS CREW OF ROOKIE MINERS ARE SHUT DOWN.
IT'S THAT 90 DEGREES. IT KEEPS [BLEEP] LEAKING.
IF WE DON'T GET UP AND RUNNING QUICK, WE'RE SCREWED.
I WAS OVER THERE WORKING ON THAT,
AND THIS 90-DEGREE TURN BLEW.
Narrator: MARINE VETERAN JOHNNY STANZ
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WATER SUPPLY.
HERE'S OUR PROBLEM, MAN.
YOU GOT ONE CLAMP ON THERE, AND IT RIPPED IT RIGHT OFF.
SO, HERE'S OUR IRRIGATION LINE.
YOU NEED AT LEAST TWO CLAMPS HERE TO KEEP THESE SUCKERS ON.
THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE.
I'M NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
NO WATER EQUALS NO GOLD,
AND I'M ON THE VERGE OF LOSING EVERYTHING
IT TOTALLY RIPPED. RIPPED THE HOSE RIGHT OFF.
IT SURE DID.
WE'RE GETTING NOWHERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. THIS SUCKS, MAN.
WE WILL BE LUCKY TO GET 50 OUNCES OF GOLD,
AT THE [BLEEP] RATE WE'RE GOING.
AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING, WE'RE NOT GETTING ANYTHING.
I KNOW. I KNOW.
Fred: YOU GOT TO HAVE YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL DOWN HERE.
YEAH, MAN.I SAW IT FROM UP THERE.
THE GEYSER SHOOTING UP 20 FEET IN THE AIR.
Johnny: WHEN I'M WORKING OVER HERE,
I DON'T GOT EYES OUT ON TOP OF MY HEAD.
I COULD HEAR IT.
Kendall: YEAH, WE COULD ALL SEE IT FROM OVER HERE, DUDE.
I ONLY HEARD THIS PUPPY.
YOU GOT TO PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THAT STUFF AROUND YOU.
CHALK IT UP TO NEWBS.
BUT HEY, [BLEEP] HAPPENS. NOBODY GOT HURT.
LESSON LEARNED, JOHNNY. YEP.
TOLD YOU IRRIGATION AIN'T EASY.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT GOLD MINING HAD A LOT TO DO WITH PLUMBING.
YOU CLAMP THAT TO THE HOSE, AND JUST SCREW THIS INTO THERE.
IT IS MY JOB TO CHECK ALL THE CONNECTIONS.
I'LL ADMIT THAT. THAT WAS MY BAD.
FRED SEEMS LIKE HE'S LOSING CONFIDENCE IN ME --
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M NEW TO THIS.
NEVER DONE ANY OF THIS CRAP BEFORE.
DANG. SHE'S TIGHTENING.
I JUST GONNA DO MY BEST, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S A-OKAY,
THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, AND IF IT GOES WRONG,
I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT WHEN IT COMES.
Fred: SO, WE REPLACED THESE TWO PIECES.
OUR CLAMPS AREN'T HOLDING VERY WELL, SO WE'VE DOUBLE DOWN.
I GOT A MUFFLER CLAMP ON HERE.
IT CAN'T LEAK, OR WE'RE GONNA LOSE ALL OUR PRESSURE.
ALRIGHT. YOU GOOD?
YEAH.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE READY TO ROLL. LET'S DO THIS.
Fred: [ ON WALKIE-TALKIE ] ANY SIGN OF WATER, SHOUT.
SEEMS LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING MORE UP HERE IS SOLVING PROBLEMS,
AND WE'RE NOT REALLY DOING A LOT OF GOLD MINING,
AND I THINK THAT IS HURTING MY CHANCES
OF GETTING MY INVESTMENT BACK THIS SEASON.
[ SIGHS ] IT'S GETTING FRUSTRATING.
♪♪
Parker: THERE'S SOME HISTORIC DRILLING ON THIS PROPERTY
THAT SHOWED PRETTY GOOD PROMISE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME
REPLICATING THOSE RESULTS.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL IS PROSPECTING SMALLWOOD CREEK, ALASKA.
GONNA JUMP DOWNSTREAM, AND HOPEFULLY
WE CAN FIND SOME GOLD DOWN THERE.
WE'RE GONNA HEAD DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 2,000 FEET
INTO THE EAST SIDE OF THE VALLEY.
THE GOLD SEEMS TO BE FAVORING THAT SIDE,
SO WE'RE GONNA START THERE.
Narrator: IN A NEW TEST AREA DOWNSTREAM,
PARKER AND LIAM WILL DRILL TWO NEW LINES OF HOLES.
PARKER MUST FIND A CONSISTENT LINE OF GOLD
TO BE SURE THE GROUND IS WORTH THE PRICE TAG.
DRILL'S RUNNING ALRIGHT?
DRILL'S BEEN RUNNING REALLY GOOD.
SO FAR, THE GOLD THEY'VE FOUND IS 100 FEET DEEP,
AND WOULD BE FIVE TIMES THE COST
OF WHAT HE'S DIGGING NOW IN THE KLONDIKE.
Liam: SO NOW WE'RE BRINGING A CORE OUT.
SO, YOU DRILL THE CORE BARREL DOWN,
PUSH THE CASING OVER TOP, PULL IT OUT.
BRING IT OVER HERE.
♪♪
Parker: A LOT OF CLAY AND VINES, HUH?
YEP. IT'S KIND OF ALMOST LIKE A DECOMPOSED GRAVEL.
YOU CAN SEE BITS OF THAT BEDROCK THAT'S IN IT,
THAT'S BROKEN DOWN,
SO WHEN YOU WASH IT, IT'S MOSTLY ALL FINES.
WE WERE HOPING THE GOLD STARTING TO PICK UP DOWN HERE.
IN THE VALLEY'S A BIT NARROWER,
SO IT MIGHT CONCENTRATE THAT PAY ZONE.
[ RATTLING ]
♪♪
Narrator: LIAM RUNS THE FIRST SAMPLE
FROM THE NEW SITE THROUGH HIS TEST TROMMEL.
Parker: WAS THAT THE BOTTOM OF ONE OF THE HOLES?
YEAH. YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A PIECE OF GOLD IN THERE.
OH, GOOD. THERE'S ONE PIECE.
THAT MIGHT BE A SECOND.
YEP.
IT IS A BIT THERE.
Narrator: HE TAKES THE CONCENTRATE FROM THE SLUICE RUN,
TO PAN IT IN HIS MOBILE GOLD ROOM.
[ SLOSHING ]
I'M STARTING TO SEE SOME COLORS HERE, SOME.
THIS STUFF'S BEEN REALLY TRICKY TO PAN.
THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY FINE GOLD,
AND IT JUST WANTS TO FLOAT.
SO THAT PROBABLY LOOKS LIKE ABOUT TWO MGS OF GOLD.
FOR THESE HOLES TO BE VIABLE,
WE KIND OF WANT TO SEE ABOUT 200 MILLIGRAMS.
Parker: SO THIS IS THE BOTTOM OF THAT HOLE?
Liam: YEAH.
AND THAT'S AT 100 FEET?
BEDROCK IS AT 101.5.
101.5 FEET.
SO, YOU DON'T MINE 101.5-FOOT DEEP GROUND FOR THAT.
THE PLAN NOW IS, WE'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE, THIS LINE,
AND WE'RE GONNA HEAD DOWN TO THE NEXT ONE ACROSS THE VALLEY.
FINGERS ARE CROSSED THAT IT MIGHT BE VIABLE DOWN THERE.
Narrator: THE RESULTS ARE STILL WAY BELOW
THE 200 MILLIGRAMS THAT PARKER NEEDS TO SEE.
EVERYTHING NOW HINGES ON THE FINAL LINE OF HOLES.
SO, THIS IS THE LAST ONE ON THIS LINE.
YEAH.
ON ALMOST EVERY LINE, THERE'S BEEN ONE, MAYBE TWO GOOD HOLES
THAT PROBABLY WOULD BE MINABLE.
THE PROBLEM IS THEY AREN'T TOGETHER.
THEY DON'T LINE UP. THEY'RE NOT BACK-TO-BACK.
BUT WE'RE GETTING 50 TO 100 PIECES OF GOLD IN A GOOD HOLE,
SO YOU MIGHT BE HITTING POCKETS,
AND THE GROUND MIGHT HAVE RICHER POCKETS THROUGHOUT.
I THINK THIS IS SOME EXPENSIVE GROUND TO MINE.
100 FEET. TONS OF WATER. INTERMITTENT FROST.
YEAH. IT NEEDS TO BE EXCELLENT GROUND.
Liam: THERE'S DEFINITELY GOOD GOLD THERE,
AND WE'RE FINDING GOOD RESULTS,
BUT IT'S JUST NOT GONNA BE AN EASY CALL.
SO WE'RE REALLY GONNA HAVE TO SIT DOWN
AND WORK THROUGH THE NUMBERS
AND MAKE A SOLID PLAN BEFORE WE CAN DECIDE IF IT'S WORTH MONEY.
GONNA BE A SUPER TOUGH CALL FOR PARKER TO MAKE.
♪♪
[ EQUIPMENT RUNNING ]
SWEPT BY THE PLANT NOT TOO LONG AGO,
AND IT'S LOOKING PRETTY DESOLATE DOWN THERE,
SO IT'S GONNA BE A BIT OF A RISK
OPENING UP THE DEEP CUT HERE.
Narrator: RICK NESS IS RACING TO OPEN A NEW CUT
THAT COULD DOUBLE HIS GOLD YIELD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS SECOND CUT, KRUSEY?
YOU THINK IT'S GONNA PAY 2 OUNCES PER 100,
LIKE IT DID LAST YEAR WHEN WE TESTED IT?
WELL, I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT'S THE CASE.
IT'S WHAT WE NEED, MAN.YEAH, ME TOO,
'CAUSE WE'RE MOVING AN AWFUL LOT OF DIRT TO GET TO IT.
Narrator: RICK HAS JUST HALF A DAY'S OVERBURDEN TO STRIP,
BEFORE HE CAN RUN PAY DIRT TO THE WASH PLANT.
HEY, RICK, RICK. YOU GOT A COPY, RICK?
YEAH, GO FOR RICK.
YOU KNOW WE'RE RUNNING LOW ON CHEAP CUT PAY.
WE'RE GONNA RUN OUT BEFORE THE SHIFT.
YEAH, MAN, I GET IT.
YOU GUYS ARE KILLING IT OUT THERE,
BUT I JUST HEARD THE PLANT'S RUNNING LOW,
SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPEED IT UP.
Rick: DUDE, THIS IS A GLORY HOLE RIGHT HERE.
HOPEFULLY, BY THE END, WE'LL BE INTO THE GOOD STUFF.
OOH-WEE.
I GUESS, TAKE THAT AWAY.
Karla: WE FINALLY GOT THREE TRACKS RUNNING.
WE'RE ALL GOT OUR NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE.
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
♪♪
WE NEED TO GET THIS CUT DOWN IF WE WANT TO KEEP UP TO THE PLANT.
IT'S TWO INCHES OF DIRT,
SO WE NEED TO HAVE ALL HANDS ON DECK DOWN HERE, RIGHT?
Rick: WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
WE CANNOT AFFORD THE PLANT SHUT DOWN RIGHT NOW.
WE GOT TO [BLEEP] MAKE IT.
PUSH IT! LET'S GO!
OUR PAY PILE IS DWINDLING.
Carl: WE'RE GONNA BE FIGHTING IT FOR A BIT HERE,
BUT HOPEFULLY THINGS START TO COME TOGETHER FOR US, RIGHT?
Mark: HEY, RICK?
GOTTA LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST LOAD.
I DON'T THINK I CAN SCRAPE ANY MORE OUT OF THIS CHEAP CUT PAY.
[ GROANS ] THIS IS THE LAST THING WE NEEDED TO HAPPEN.
WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO GET THIS OVERBURDEN MOVED.
♪♪
Rick: YEE-HAW!
I'M PRETTY SURE I'M SCRAPING THE TOP OF PAY DIRT HERE.
THAT'S THE STUFF WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO.
THIS IS THE FIRST LOAD OF PAY DIRT OUT OF THIS SECOND CUT.
CHOCK FULL OF GOLD, THEY SAY.
Rick: I TELL YOU, I'M LOVING
THE MATERIAL COMING OUT OF THIS HOLE.
I BET YOU THERE'S GONNA BE SOME BIG, OLD [BLEEP] CLONKERS
IN THE BOX COMING OUT OF HERE.
TO THE PLANT WITH YOU!
MAN, THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY CLOSE,
BUT EVERYBODY SHOWED UP.
DISASTER AVERTED, AND ON TO BIGGER THINGS.
Narrator: IF THE DEEP CUT DELIVERS 2 OUNCES PER 100 YARDS,
RICK HAS A GOOD SHOT AT HITTING HIS 1,000-OUNCE GOAL THIS YEAR.
Rick: 30 FEET OF PAY IN HERE LIKE THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE --
IT SHOULD GET US THROUGH THE REST OF THE SEASON.
♪♪
EVERYTHING'S GOING REALLY WELL RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE UP AND RUNNING, WE'RE RUNNING PAY THROUGH THE KERNEL.
Narrator: IN OREGON, FRED LEWIS BROUGHT TOGETHER
A CREW OF VETERAN BUDDIES ON THE PROMISE OF GOLD.
BUT AFTER FIVE WEEKS OF FAILURES,
THEY HAVE LESS THAN AN OUNCE.
Fred: WHAT THE [BLEEP]'S GOING ON?
KENDALL!
HEY, KENDALL, THE WATERS OFF.
JOHNNY!
JOHNNY, WHERE THE [BLEEP] ARE YOU?
HEY, GET UP TO THE PUFF, NOW.
Johnny: ON MY WAY.
Fred: DUDE!
YOU'VE GOT TO BE HERE, MAN.
Johnny: I KNOW, BUT I GOT TO BE THERE, TOO.
WHERE WERE YOU?
I HAD TO GO DOWN THERE, TO THE OTHER PUMP.
THIS PUMP WAS RUNNING,
BUT THERE WAS NO WATER GOING TO THE PLANT.
YOU GOT TO BE HERE AT ALL TIMES, MAN.
LOOK AT HOW DIRTY THIS WATER IS, DUDE.
THIS FREAKIN' THING SUCKS.
WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE LETTING ME KNOW
IF THIS IS GETTING DIRTY.
I KNOW. THAT'S WHY I WASN'T AT THE PUMP.
I THOUGHT IF WE CAN PUMP SOME MORE WATER FROM THE CUT,
GET IT UP HERE, DILUTE IT A LITTLE BIT.
YEAH, I SEE YOUR THOUGHT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIX THIS, MAN.
HATE TO SAY THIS --
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PULL THE HOSE.
IF ANYTHING STOPPED THIS FROM RUNNING,
IT'S EITHER CLOGGED UP IN HERE OR CLOGGED DOWN IN THERE.
I FEEL LIKE JOHNNY'S NOT GIVING ME 100 PERCENT, AT THIS POINT.
I ALWAYS GIVE PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE,
SO I'M GONNA GIVE HIM A CHANCE
TO PICK HIS BOOTSTRAPS OUT OF THE DIRT
AND TO FIGURE THIS JOB OUT, AND IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN --
WELL, I'LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT SOME THINGS.
Narrator: FIRST TO CHECK IS THE FOOT VALVE.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?
DUDE.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS CRAP.
LOOK AT THAT.
THAT'S, LIKE, COMPACTED, TOO, DUDE.
YEAH, I KNOW.
[ SQUISHING ]OH, MAN.
IT'S COMPLETELY STOPPED UP.
OUR PROBLEM IS, OUR POND IS NOT SETTLING FAST ENOUGH.
YEAH. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO FILTER IT.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED A FILTER,
OR IF WE JUST NEED TO MAKE IT DEEPER,
BECAUSE THAT, I THINK, IS CAUSED BY THIS
SITTING TOO CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM.
THE VOLUME OF WATER IS OUR BIGGEST HURDLE RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THE FILTER. WE GOTTA FILTER ALL THIS CRAP OUT.
YOUR PLAN WOULD SHUT US DOWN FOR TWO DAYS.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? NO GOLD THIS WEEK.
PUTTING IN MY FILTER WOULD TAKE 24 HOURS.
ALRIGHT, WELL, IF YOU'RE RIGHT, THEN I'LL BE SHAMED,
AND IF I'M RIGHT, YOU'LL BE SHAMED.
ALRIGHT.NO SHAME, BABY, NO SHAME.
GET THAT FIXED.
CAN I GET KENDALL DOWN HERE?
I'M ON MY WAY.
RIGHT NOW, THE WHOLE POND IS DIRTY, SO I THOUGHT,
WHY DON'T WE BUILD A LITTLE BEAVER DAM TO FILTER IT OUT?
Narrator: JOHNNY'S PLAN?
BUILD A WALL OF ROCKS ACROSS THE POND,
LINE IT WITH SHEETS OF WIRE MESH TO FILTER OUT THE TAILINGS
AND PROVIDE CLEAN WATER TO PUMP TO THE PLANT.
I'M NOT 100 PERCENT CONFIDENT
THAT IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA CLEAN YOUR WATER.
Fred: WELL, THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO FIGURE IT OUT.
LET'S GET SOME ROCKS.LET'S DO IT.
FIRST STONE IS ABOUT TO GO INTO THE JOHNNY DAM.
ALRIGHT. STRETCH OUT AS FAR AS IT CAN.
HA-HA! PERFECT!
YEAH, WE GOT TO GET THIS DAM BUILT.
I'M LIKING IT.
NICE.
HOPEFULLY, THIS PAYS OFF IN THE END --
LET US RUN A LITTLE BIT LONGER,
SO WE ACTUALLY CAN GET MORE GOLD.
Johnny: IT'S REALLY STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE NOW,
IT'S GONNA ACT AS
A REALLY GOOD FILTER SYSTEM FOR THE WATER,
SO THAT NONE OF THIS GARBAGE WILL GET THROUGH.
ONE MORE ROCK OUGHT TO DO IT.
[ THUD ]IN SHE GOES!
Alex: UNBELIEVABLE.
YOU DID A REAL GOOD JOB ON THIS DAM, FELLAS.
WHY DON'T WE PACK IT IN FOR THE NIGHT?
♪♪
WE LET THE UPPER POND 2 DRY OUT.
I CAN GO DOWN THERE AND DO PHASE 2 OF THE JOHNNY DAM.
I'M GONNA THE MOLD SCREENS AROUND THE ROCKS,
MAKE A NICE FILTER.
NOTHING'S GETTING IN THAT SUCTION TUBE.
Narrator: THE METAL FENCING SHOULD STOP FINE MATERIAL
PASSING THROUGH THE DAM.
Johnny: WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO RUN WAY, WAY LONGER
THAN WE HAVE BEEN AND ACTUALLY FIND SOME GOLD.
Fred: HEY, HEY, HEY. HEY.
WELL, WHAT IN THE HELL HAVE YOU GOT GOING ON HERE?
OH, THIS IS A JOHNNY DAM.
STANDARD-ISSUE FILTRATION SYSTEM.
I LIKE IT.
I NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT, BUT I DO LIKE IT.
Fred: SO, JOHNNY'S FINALIZING THE STEPS ON THE JOHNNY DAM.
IT'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE ROCKS.
IT'S DEFINITELY A GOOD IDEA, TO STOP DEBRIS.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS MAYBE THAT FENCING
MAY GET A LITTLE CLOGGED.
LET'S [BLEEP] FIRE UP THE PLANT AND GET THIS THING TESTED OUT
AND START RUNNING PAY THROUGH THE KERNEL.
YOU THINK IT'S 100 PERCENT SUCCESS?
I DON'T WANT TO SAY 100 PERCENT, 'CAUSE THAT SOUNDS COCKY.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SAY 99.99999999 PERCENT.
50/50.
Fred: JOHNNY, IT'S ON YOU, BUDDY.
[ ENGINE STARTING ]
I'M A LITTLE ANXIOUS. GOT TO SEE HOW THIS WORKS.
WATER'S COMING!
Fred: RIGHT NOW, THIS WATER IS PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE.
IF WE CAN RUN THIS PLANT FOUR HOURS STRAIGHT,
THE KERNEL'S EATING GOLD THE WHOLE TIME, WE'RE WINNING.
Man: THE MORE WE RUN, THE MORE GOLD WE CAN FIND.
LET'S JUST PUT SOME DIRT THROUGH IT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN GET.
♪♪
Fred: THE WATER'S STILL LOOKING CLEAN COMING OUT OF THE KERNEL.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S CLEAR AS DAY.
THE JOHNNY DAM IS DOING PERFECT.
I COULDN'T IMAGINE IT DOING ANY BETTER.
WE GOT ALL THE GARBAGE ON THIS SIDE.
I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.
JOHNNY DAM'S WORKING PROPERLY -- I HATE TO ADMIT IT, BUT IT IS --
AND WE'VE GOT GOOD WATER SUPPLY IN POND 1 AND POND 2.
Fred: JOHNNY!
IT TAKES A BIG MAN TO ADMIT WHEN HE'S WRONG.
IT DOES, AND YOU'RE A BIG MAN.
WHATEVER YOU GOT TO TELL YOURSELF -- I WAS RIGHT.
JOHNNY, YOU TOOK ROCKS AND WRAPPED THEM IN FENCE.
WHY WOULD I THINK THAT WOULD WORK?
BUT IT CLEARLY WORKS.
I'M JUST I'M JUST SITTING OVER HERE IN PRIDE.
ACTUALLY, I'M STARTING TO FEEL MORE AND MORE CONFIDENT
THAT YOU CAN DO THIS, SO GOOD WORK.
I TRY --
DON'T TAKE THAT COMPLIMENT TO YOUR HEAD.
YOU KNOW, JOHNNY'S A FUNNY GUY.
I'VE BEEN FRIENDS WITH HIM FOR YEARS, BUT HE'S A GOOFBALL,
AND I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THE MISTAKES HE MADE
MAY HAVE BEEN BECAUSE HE WAS A LITTLE LAXED.
NOW THAT HE KNOWS HOW IMPORTANT HIS JOB IS, HE STEPPED IT UP,
AND I THINK HE'S TAKING RESPONSIBILITY,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED ON THIS MINE.
SO, EVERYBODY HAS A PINNACLE TO THEIR CAREER --
BUZZ ALDRIN LANDED ON THE MOON,
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL INVENTED THE TELEPHONE,
AND JOHNNY MADE THE JOHNNY DAM.
JOHNNY B. GOODE, BABY.
Fred: WE'VE GOT OUR WATER SITUATION SOLVED,
SO WE CAN NOW OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY,
AND IT'S ALL UP TO GOLD, AT THIS POINT.
WE'RE READY TO MINE, AND WE'RE READY TO MINE FULL-TIME.
♪♪
Narrator: TONY BEETS IS ALMOST 1,000 OUNCES TOWARDS
HIS 3,000-OUNCE SEASON GOAL, BUT IN THE MIDST OF MINING,
HE'S BEEN PULLED AWAY TO DEAL WITH AN EMERGENCY.
TONY'S 60-TON YUKON BARGE, THE JASMINE B, IS SINKING.
HE MUST REPAIR THE BOAT, BEFORE SHE'S LOST TO THE MIGHTY RIVER.
FIRST, HE HAS TO WINCH HER ON TO THE OSHKOSH.
ABOUT SIX INCHES!
YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE GOOD.
NOW THAT THE BACK OF THE JASMINE B IS PUMPED OUT,
THE HULL CAN BE REPAIRED.
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
♪♪
Fred: RALLY ON ME.
Narrator: IN OREGON'S ELKHORN MOUNTAINS...
YOU GUYS READY?
YEP.Kendall: LET'S DO THIS.
...AFTER SIX WEEKS GETTING THE MINE UP AND RUNNING,
FRED LEWIS GATHERS HIS ROOKIE CREW FOR THEIR FIRST GOLD WEIGH.
Fred: I REALLY WANT TO POINT OUT, YOU GUYS,
THAT WE HAD A LOT OF ADVERSITY THROWN AT US
THESE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
I KNOW WE HAD A LOT OF WATER PROBLEMS,
BUT THE JOHNNY DAM WAS A GREAT IDEA.
I THINK WITH SOME LITTLE TWEAKS HERE AND THERE,
YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY BE THE SERGEANT OF IRRIGATION ONE DAY.
I'LL TAKE A CORPORAL OF IRRIGATION, FOR NOW.
I'LL GIVE THAT TO YOU.
A LOT OF TEAMS MIGHT HAVE STOPPED BY NOW.
WE KEEP GETTING KICKED, BUT WE KEEP GETTING BACK UP,
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA DEFINE US, SO...
YOU GUYS READY?
YEAH, LET'S DO IT.
YOU'RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER PAN.
♪♪
ALRIGHT -- .28.
Kendall: YEAH!
QUARTER OF AN OUNCE.
Narrator: WORTH $490.
LOOK, GUYS, WE ARE A ROOKIE MINING TEAM.
THIS IS OUR VERY FIRST GOLD WAY.
WE SHOULD FEEL PRETTY PROUD ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE,
AND I'LL TAKE IT.
WE'RE GONNA GET BETTER. I KNOW WE'RE GONNA GET BETTER,
'CAUSE WE'RE STARTING AT THE BOTTOM,
AND THE ONLY WAY TO GO IS UP.
Johnny: DID YOU JUST THINK OF THAT?
YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.THAT WAS GOOD.
[ LAUGHING ]
FIRST GO AROUND. IT'LL GET BETTER.
Johnny: STARTED OUT A LITTLE BIT OF A ROUGH WEEK.
THE PUMPS WERE GIVING US PROBLEMS,
THE HOSES WERE GIVING US PROBLEMS,
BUT THE JOHNNY DAM WORKED PERFECT.
WE FINALLY GOT OUR FIRST GOLD WEIGH.
ONLY ONE WAY TO GO FROM HERE IS UP, BABY.
Man: IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER AFTER THIS GOLD WEIGH.
WE FINALLY GET TO SEE, KIND OF, THE FRUITS OF OUR LABORS.
SO IF WE CAN KEEP EVERYTHING WORKING,
KEEP EVERYTHING UP, AND KEEP GROWING AS A TEAM
AND GROWING AS MINERS, I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO REALLY WELL.
Fred: ALRIGHT, GUYS. LET'S GO BACK TO WORK.
ALRIGHT. OKAY.
AND THE SUN COMES OUT. SEE? IT'S A SIGN.
EVEN THOUGH OUR GOLD COUNT'S NOT TOO BIG,
THAT TELLS ME A LOT.
THAT SHOWS WE CAN PULL GOLD OUT OF THE GROUND,
AND WE CAN SUCCEED AS A MINE TEAM,
AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART TO ME.
♪♪
Narrator: OUT AT SMALLWOOD CREEK...
FOR THIS LINE, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW
WHAT WE'RE GONNA EXPECT HERE,
SO WE'LL JUST BE SAVING ALL THE GRAVEL WE FIND
AND WASH IT, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
...PARKER AND DRILLING CONTRACTOR LIAM FERGUSON
DRILL THE FINAL LINE OF TEST HOLES.
♪♪
Parker: LIAM'S JUST FINISHING UP
PANNING THE LAST COUPLE OF HOLES WE'VE DONE.
Narrator: PARKER'S SPENT NEARLY $20,000 ON DRILLING 8 LINES,
BUT STILL HASN'T SEEN THE RESULTS HE NEEDS.
WE'RE FINDING SOME DECENT STUFF, BUT IT'S JUST REALLY SPOTTY,
AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A REALLY NARROW PAY STREAK,
AND QUITE DEEP,
AND WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY DRILLING SO FAR --
SO WE'LL WEIGH THESE OUT.
Narrator: HE NEEDS A SOLID LINE OF GOOD HOLES TO MAKE
THIS DEEP GROUND WORTH THE 3-MILLION-DOLLAR PRICE TAG.
Liam: START WITH THIS ONE FIRST.
Narrator: THEY PAN THE FINAL DRILL SAMPLES.
THIS ONE LOOKS BETTER THAN THE OTHER ONES WE DID TODAY.
IT'S THE ONE WE GOT THE MOST HOPE FOR RIGHT NOW.
A LOT OF PRESSURE RIDING ON THE BACK OF THIS LITTLE HOLE.
Narrator: 200 MILLIGRAMS WOULD MAKE THE GROUND VIABLE.
♪♪
Liam: DO YOU WANT TO GO 100 FEET FOR 32 MGS, PARKER?
I DON'T KNOW WHERE ALL THE OTHER GOLD'S GONE.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE HITTING DEAD HOLES.
LIKE, THERE'S GOLD HERE.
YEAH, BUT NO MAJOR HITS.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA STOP DRILLING FOR NOW.
YEAH, I AGREE.
AS FOR BUYING THIS PLACE RIGHT NOW --
I'M NOT PUTTING ALL MY EGGS IN THIS BASKET,
'CAUSE 30 MGS AT 100 FEET,
THAT'S SOUNDS LIKE A NIGHTMARE WAITING TO HAPPEN.
YEAH, THAT'S AN EASY WAY TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY.
THE GOLD WASN'T AS EASY TO FIND AS WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING.
THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT HERE AND MAKING IT HAPPEN.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN
A LOT MORE FUN WAYS TO SPEND 200 GRAND, LIAM,
BUT I'M GLAD IT'S GOING TO YOU.
HEY, IF YOU JUST BOUGHT A HELICOPTER
AND SAID "WE'RE NOT GOING DRILLING,"
I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY. I'D BE LIKE, "SWEET."
♪♪
[ BUTTONS CLICK ]
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]SEE HOW EVERYBODY'S DOING.
Mitch: HELLO?
HI, HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
OH, WE'RE DOING GOOD.
Narrator: PARKER CALLS FOREMAN MITCH BLASCHKE
TO CHECK HIS PROGRESS ON INDIAN RIVER.
THE PLANTS ARE RUNNING ALRIGHT?
SLUICE FOR BIG RED'S BEEN PLUGGING ALONG REALLY NICE.
WE'RE MOBBING THROUGH IT HERE, MAN.
YOU'RE DEFINITELY GONNA NEED TO
FIND US A NEW GROUND HERE PRETTY SOON.
WE'VE HAD A HELL OF A TIME
TRYING TO HIT SOME GOLD WITH THE DRILL.
PRETTY FRUSTRATING, FOR SURE.
ALRIGHT. THANKS, MITCH. HAVE A GOOD REST OF YOUR DAY.
ALRIGHT. YOU TOO, MAN. BYE.
SOUNDS LIKE THEY HARDLY EVEN MISS ME.
Mitch: HOW'S IT GOING, CHRIS?
HEY, MITCHELL. WHAT'S HAPPENING, MAN?
Narrator: MITCH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
HITTING THE GOLD TARGETS WHILE PARKER'S AWAY,
BUT THEY HAVEN'T PUT ANY ON THE SCALE SINCE HE LEFT.
JUST BUSY.
YEAH, I BET. IT SHOWS, MAN. IT SHOWS.
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
WE'LL JUST WEIGH ALL THIS UP WHEN HE GETS BACK?
YEAH, I THINK SO.
IT OUGHT TO BE A CRUNCHER, FOR SURE.
IT'S GONNA BE A TROPHY.
YOU GONNA LET ME HAVE A LOOK, AT LEAST?
YEAH. CHECK THIS OUT.
[ CREAKS ]
[ LAUGHS ]
NO WAY, MAN. YEAH.
THOSE ARE TWO-HAND BUCKETS, RIGHT THERE.
YOU'RE LIFTING WITH TWO HANDS.
YEAH, THAT'S A LOT.
WE WON'T KNOW TILL WE GET ON A SCALE,
BUT THAT'S LOOKING PRETTY DAMN GOOD.
OKAY.ALRIGHT. THANKS, CHRIS.
YEP. NO PROBLEMS.
♪♪
Narrator: AT DUNCAN CREEK...
THAT'S THE RIGHT STUFF, RIGHT THERE.
...AFTER FOUR DAYS RUNNING PAY FROM THE CHEAP CUT
AND ONE FROM THE DEEP CUT,
RICK NESS AND HIS CREW ASSEMBLE FOR A DOUBLE GOLD WEIGH.
IN CLASSIC FASHION, WITH A BREAKDOWN,
WE CAME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO RUNNING OUT OF PAY.
JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME, BUDDY.
WELL, WOULDN'T HAVE NOTHING TO DIG IT WITH,
IF NOT FOR YOU, CARL.
HOW MANY OUNCES YOU THINK ARE IN THAT HOLE THERE?
OH, LAST YEAR, I MEAN --
WE PULLED 800 YARDS OUT OF THERE, RAN IT,
AND THERE WAS 17 OUNCES.THAT'S UNREAL, MAN.
SO, YEAH, WE'LL DO A LITTLE MORE MATH ON THE SCALE, I GUESS.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: FIRST UP, THE CHEAP CUT GOLD.
THAT LOOKS GOOD, RICK.
Rick: WE GOT...
10, 20, 30, 40...
56.36.
Narrator: WORTH OVER $98,000.
I COULD GET USED TO THIS, RICK.
THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING UP,
BUT YOU KNOW THE DEEP CUT'S BETTER THAN THAT, RIGHT?
SO THIS IS FROM ONE DAY
OF RUNNING THE DEEP CUT, RIGHT HERE.
[BLEEP]
HOLY SMOKES, DUDE.
Narrator: NEXT, THE GOLD FROM RUNNING JUST ONE DAY OF DEEP CUT PAY.
GET READY.
SO WE'VE GOT ANOTHER 10... ANOTHER 20...
ANOTHER OVER 30...[ LAUGHING ]
THAT'S ONE DAY?
...AND WE GOT 35.21.
OH, BUDDY.
OH, MAN.
Narrator: WORTH $62,000.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.YEAH, BUDDY.
Narrator: TOGETHER, IT'S THE BIGGEST WEEKLY GOLD WEIGH OF THE SEASON.
THAT BRINGS US TO 91.57.
WHICH BOOSTS THEIR SEASON TOTAL TO 393 OUNCES,
CLOSING IN ON THEIR 1,000-OUNCE TARGET.
Carl: I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S MORE IMPRESSIVE,
THE GOLD WEIGH, OR YOU FIGURING THAT OUT.
YOU GOT A GUY ON SITE THAT KNOWS MATH.
WE'RE [BLEEP] SET, BOYS.
Narrator: AT ALMOST 100 OUNCES A WEEK, RICK AND HIS CREW
COULD BE LOOKING AT A TWO-MILLION-DOLLAR SEASON.
TIME TO START HAMMERING DOWN, THROTTLING THAT DIRT OUT THERE.
DO IT, DUDE.YES, SIR.
Carl: SO ANOTHER BIG WEEK HERE,
AND A COUPLE MORE BAND-AIDS ON SOME PROBLEMS,
BUT WE'RE KEEPING THINGS ROLLING,
SO NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
WE'RE GETTING GOLD COMING IN. I'M HAPPY.
YEAH, I'M ECSTATIC, MAN.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT MUCH GOLD IN ONE GOLD WEIGH.
WE'LL KEEP AT IT.
WELL, WE ARE DONE WITH THE CHEAP CUT,
AND SO FAR, THE DEEP CUT'S LOOKING REALLY GOOD,
SO LET'S JUST HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY.
♪♪
Narrator: NEXT TIME ON "GOLD RUSH"...
Rick: GET DOWN HERE NOW! NOW!
RICK NESS'S 1,000-OUNCE MISSION...
YOUR BACK'S HURTING?[ GROANING ]
...HITS THE SKIDS.
THAT'S A MAJOR, MAJOR [BLEEP]-UP.
TONY BEETS' SEASON...
LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING I WOULD BUY.
HEADS FOR LIFTOFF.
LET'S HAUL IT OUT OF THERE,
THROW IT IN THE ROCKS, AND SEE WHAT IT DOES.
AND PARKER RETURNS FROM THREE WEEKS PROSPECTING...
Parker: DON'T DROP IT.
TO THE MOTHER OF ALL GOLD WEIGHS.
THERE'S YOUR AIRPLANE.THAT'S, LIKE, 20 AIRPLANES.