Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
...AS THE PRICE OF GOLD HITS AN ALL-TIME HIGH,
TONY BEETS HUNTS FOR A NEW MONSTER MACHINE...
Kevin: YEAH.
...THAT COULD DOUBLE HIS GOLD HAUL.
YEE-HAW!
[ LAUGHTER ]
FRED LEWIS FACES THE BIGGEST DECISION OF HIS MINING CAREER.
I'LL TAKE THE BURDEN ON THIS.
IF THAT DOESN'T PAN OUT, IT'S ON ME.
OH, IT'S ALWAYS A GAMBLE, MAN.
RICK NESS...
...CONFRONTS THE UNEXPECTED...
...AND IS SHAKEN TO HIS CORE.
WE GOT A BAD ACCIDENT. [BLEEP]
Narrator: AND PARKER SCHNABEL GAMBLE'S BIG ON NEW GROUND...
READY TO GO DRILLING, SPEND SOME MORE MONEY.
...WHILE HIS CREW RACES TO CASH IN...
[BLEEP] GOT ALL KINDS OF [BLEEP] HITTING THE FAN AROUND HERE.
Narrator: ...AND BUILD THE ULTIMATE WAR CHEST.
-WHAT? -HOLY [BLEEP]
OH, YEAH. NO, THIS IS DEFINITELY A RECORD-BREAKER.
♪♪
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
Parker: WE'LL MEET YOU AT GOLD DAUGHTERS
AT 3:00 P.M. TODAY.
AWESOME. THANKS. JOHN.
Narrator: IN THE GOLD FIELDS OF CENTRAL ALASKA,
26-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL IS DETERMINED TO CASH IN
ON A 21st CENTURY GOLD RUSH.
Parker: I REALLY WANT TO START ANOTHER OPERATION
AND GET MORE GOLD COMING IN.
LIKE, GOLD PRICES ARE ON A TEAR RIGHT NOW, TOO.
THE ONLY THING WE NEED IS GROUND.
Narrator: AFTER STRIKING OUT ON HIS FIRST PROSPECT,
HE'S COME TO FAIRBANKS...
-I'M PARKER. -ELORA.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
...TO MEET ONE OF ALASKA'S BIGGEST PRIVATE LANDOWNERS...
-HELLO. -PARKER SCHNABEL.
-HOW'S IT GOING? -GOOD. HOW ARE YOU DOING, MAN?
...JOHN REEVES.
-COME ON IN, MAN. -OH-HO-HO-HO.
WHAT'S BRINGING YOU UP THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY?
OH, I'M ACTUALLY UP HERE DOING SOME EXPLORATION.
YEP.
AND SOMEBODY RECOMMENDED I COME TALK TO YOU.
GOOD. I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
COME ON OVER, MAN.
WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR, LIKE, LARGE BLOCKS OF GROUND,
FOR, LIKE, PRETTY BIG DIRT-MOVING SETUPS.
THE BIGGER, THE BETTER, REALLY.
WE HAVE SEVERAL LARGE BLOCKS OF MINING PROPERTIES
THAT WE'VE KEPT INTACT.OKAY.
AND THERE'S ABOUT 10,000 ACRES OF PATENTED LAND
AND THEN ANOTHER 10,000 OF STATE CLAIMS.
HOLY COW.
I HAVE SOME THAT YOU'D FIND OF INTEREST,
ABOUT 3,000 ACRES.
OH, WOW. I WANT TO DO SOME TESTING.
RICH, RICH CREEK,
JUST NORTH OF TOWN A LITTLE BIT.
SO YOU WANT TO DO A LITTLE DRILLING ON ONE OF THE BLOCKS?
I'D LOVE TO.
AND THE FACT THAT YOU'RE DRILLING
SHOWS ME YOU'RE PRETTY SAVVY A GOLD MINER.
NOT EVERYBODY DOES THAT.
IT'S A BIG MOVE TO COME TO A NEW AREA,
AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CROSS OUR "T"s
AND DOT THE "I"s.
AND AS FAR AS DEALS GO...
...I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TIME FOR US TO HAVE A CHAT
WITH THESE GUYS OUT OF HERE.
YEAH? YEAH.
-YEAH, LET'S HAVE IT. -GET OUT OF HERE, DAVE.
ADIOS, DUDE.
Narrator: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS,
PARKER NEGOTIATES A DEAL TO TEST GROUND AND CLEARY CREEK,
ANOTHER JOB FOR DRILL EXPERT LIAM FERGUSON.
Parker: JOHN SEEMS COOL, ACTUALLY.
HE'S FINE WITH US GOING IN THERE AND GOING DRILLING.
SO YOU'VE GOT THE TRUCK COMING
TO PICK THE DRILL UP IN THE MORNING?
OH, THAT'LL WORK.
Narrator: 20 MILES OUTSIDE FAIRBANKS,
THE CLEARY CREEK CLAIM IS HISTORICALLY RICH IN GOLD.
OLD TIMERS HERE GOT 10 OUNCES PER 100 YARDS OF PAY DIRT,
SEVEN TIMES WHAT PARKER NORMALLY GETS IN THE KLONDIKE.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE IT OUT TO ONE OF THESE BLOCKS OF GROUND
JUST NORTH OF TOWN, CLEARY CREEK,
AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOME GOLD.
♪♪
Narrator: HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON,
TONY BEETS IS ONLY A THIRD OF THE WAY
TO HIS 3,000-OUNCE GOAL.
NOW HE'S ON A MISSION TO BOOST HIS PRODUCTION
AND MAKE THE MOST OF RECORD GOLD PRICES.
IN THE REMOTE YUKON WILDERNESS,
HE'S GOT A LEAD ON A MOBILE WASH PLANT.
Kevin: THAT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF SOMETHING.
YEAH, YEAH, IT DEFINITELY DOES.
THIS 35-TON TROMMEL WAS DESIGNED AND BUILT
30 YEARS AGO BY A MAVERICK GOLD MINER.
IT HAS A 40-FOOT DRUM AND RUNS ON WHEELS,
BUT IT ONLY WORKED FOR ONE SEASON
BEFORE IT WAS ABANDONED.
NOW TONY HAS STRUCK A $400,000 DEAL TO BUY IT.
THE FIRST ISSUE IS GETTING ACROSS THE STREAM
WITHOUT GETTING WET FEET.
[ LAUGHING ]
WELL, IT'S DEFINITELY BIG.
THAT'S [BLEEP] HANDY.
Narrator: THE TROMMEL IS DESIGNED TO BE FED WITH PAY DIRT
DIRECTLY FROM THE CUT.
IT SPITS THE TAILINGS STRAIGHT OUT THE BACK.
WHEN IT IS SLUICED EVERYTHING IN RANGE,
IT MOVES ALONG ON FOUR GIANT WHEELS
TO SLUICE THE NEXT BIT OF GOLD-RICH PAY.
WELL, IT SHOULD.
SHOULD BE EASIER THAN MOVING A DREDGE.
YEAH.
I THINK SO, TOO.
♪♪
BACK AT TONY'S PARADISE HILL CAMP...
YES, I DO.
...HE PULLS TOGETHER A SEVEN-MAN CREW...
...AND A MASSIVE CONVOY OF EQUIPMENT...
...TO HAUL THE TROMMEL BACK OVER THE 100 MILES
OF MOUNTAIN ROAD AND DIRT TRACK.
HE HAS TO SHUT DOWN HIS WHOLE OPERATION UNTIL HE GETS BACK,
COSTING OVER $60,000 A DAY.
YOUNGEST SON AND HEAVY-LOAD SPECIALIST MIKE
LEADS THE CHARGE.
♪♪
THE HARDEST PART OF THIS TRIP IS PROBABLY GONNA BE
TRYING TO GET ACROSS THE FERRY.
WEIGHT-WISE, NOT AN ISSUE AT ALL RIGHT NOW.
LENGTH-WISE, THOUGH -- THAT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE
BECAUSE I'M GIVE OR TAKE 80 TO 85 FEET LONG,
AND THIS FERRY IS ONLY 80 FEET LONG.
IF THEY FEEL THAT I'M TOO LONG, THEY WON'T LET ME ON.
Narrator: IF MIKE CAN'T FIT ON THE FERRY,
THE NEAREST BRIDGE ACROSS THE MIGHTY YUKON
IS 175 MILES DOWNSTREAM IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
OH, I THINK THE CAPTAIN WANTS TO TALK TO ME.
♪♪
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M NOT THAT [BLEEP] HEAVY.
HOPEFULLY, YEAH.
♪♪
Mike: WE'RE ON THE FERRY,
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE LETTING US ACROSS.
♪♪
NOW WE'RE ON OUR WAY.
♪♪
Narrator: WITH THE RIVER BEHIND THEM,
THE CONVOY HITS THE TOP OF THE WORLD HIGHWAY,
ONE OF THE MOST NORTHERLY HIGHWAYS IN THE WORLD,
HEADING FOR THE ROAD HEAD ABOVE MOOSE CREEK.
♪♪
SO WHAT WE GOT OUT HERE SO FAR IS THE LUNCHROOM-SLASH --
THAT'S ALSO A BEDROOM IN THERE,
SO THAT'S ONE PERSON TO SLEEP IN THERE.
WE GOT A LOADER AND A D6, THE OSHKOSH.
WE GOT THE VOLVO 220 HOE.
WE GOT TWO TRUCKS.
WE GOT A PIPE LAYER.
WE GOT A FUEL TANK, AND WE GOT A MECHANIC'S TRUCK.
AND SO IT'S QUITE THE LITTLE OPERATION
JUST TO GET A LITTLE PLANT OUT OF THERE.
♪♪
HEY, STEFAN.
STEFAN, THIS IS FRED.
Stefan: YES.
HEY, BROTHER, YOU'RE HITTING THE SIDE OF THE WALL
OVER HERE PRETTY GOOD. IT'S DIGGING UP THE EXCAVATOR.
WE GOT A DENT ON THE BACK, SO JUST BE CAREFUL.
GOT IT.
IF I CONTINUE AT THIS CURRENT PACE,
I'D LOSE EVERY PENNY I INVESTED.
I NEED TO RECOUP.
I MEAN, RIGHT NOW I'VE RECOUPED NOTHING.
Narrator: FRED LEWIS AND HIS CREW OF COMBAT VETERANS
ARE HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON WITH LESS THAN AN OUNCE OF GOLD.
THIS WAS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY,
BUT IT'S KIND OF TURNING INTO A NIGHTMARE.
THESE GUYS CAME HERE TO MINE,
SO THEIR MINDSET RIGHT NOW IS, WHERE'S THE GOLD?
AND I'VE GOT TO HAVE TO SHOW THEM SOME GOLD
RELATIVELY QUICKLY IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM HAPPY.
Narrator: AS THE MOST EXPERIENCED MINER ON THE CREW,
SENIOR AIRMAN KENDELL MADDEN IS THE FORMAN.
Kendell: WE'RE GETTING LATER INTO THE SEASON NOW.
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH GOLD TO SHOW FOR IT,
WHICH IS PRETTY, PRETTY SAD AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW.
♪♪
[ LINE RINGING]
-HELLO. -PARKER! CAN YOU HEAR ME?
Lewis: HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?
I CAN HEAR YOU. HOW ARE YOU?
UGH! I MEAN, I'M ALIVE.
BUT EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO BE
FREAKIN' ABOUT AS HARD AS IT COULD POSSIBLY BE HERE.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF GOLD, AND I'M JUST SPENDING MONEY.
IT DEFINITELY TRIES THE PATIENCE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE FIRST STARTING OUT
AND DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE UNDER YOUR BELT.
SO I WAS HOPING I COULD RUN THINGS BY YOU
AND SEE WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW
WITH THIS SHORT PERIOD OF TIME --
YEAH, I MEAN, I'M HAPPY TO HELP.
A GOOD USE OF YOUR TIME WOULD BE TRYING TO DO
AS MUCH TESTING AROUND THE SITE AS YOU CAN,
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE SLUICING STUFF THAT HAS NO GOLD IN IT,
YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME.
YEP.
I WOULD RATHER DIE A VERY QUICK DEATH
AND REALIZE THAT, OH, THERE'S NO GOLD.
THERE'S NO -- THERE'S NO GROUND HERE
THAT I CAN ECONOMICALLY MINE.
THE SOONER YOU CAN REALIZE THAT, THE BETTER, RIGHT?
SO WE SHOULD BE DOING A LOT MORE PROSPECTING.
SLUICING A BUNCH OF STUFF JUST FOR THE SAKE
OF SEEING A WASH PLANT RUNNING IS PRETTY POINTLESS
'CAUSE YOUR TIME IS BETTER SPENT ELSEWHERE
AND MONEY IS BETTER SPENT ELSEWHERE.
OKAY.
WELL, I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK, FRED.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU EVER NEED,
DON'T BE AFRAID TO REACH OUT, MAN.
YEAH, DEFINITELY. AND FREAKING GOOD LUCK, DUDE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR ADVICE.
THANKS, MAN. IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU, FRED.
ALL RIGHT. TALK TO YOU LATER.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU CALLED PARKER
'CAUSE I THINK HE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD ADVICE.
IT'D BE DUMB NOT TO CALL ON EVERYBODY I KNOW
THAT HAS KNOWLEDGE AT MINING, I THINK.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE BANK ACCOUNT THIS MORNING.
WE'RE ALMOST BROKE AGAIN.YEAH.
WE'RE OUT OF MONEY.
SO WE'RE GONNA NEED EITHER MORE MONEY OR MORE GOLD.
WELL, I MEAN, ON THE GOLD SIDE OF IT,
WE GOT TO DIG MORE TO GET MORE.
THAT'S OBVIOUS.
WELL, IF WE FIND GOLD, THAT WOULD BE THE BIG THING.
YEAH, I KNOW.
SO MY DAD -- HE HAS ACCESS TO
SOME SCIENTIFIC, LIKE, X-RAY MACHINE.
HE SAYS THIS MACHINE, HE COULD, LIKE --
YOU GET THESE SAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT PLACES
AND THEN YOU COULD ZAP IT, LIKE, ZAP THE SAMPLE,
AND IT'LL BE LIKE, "THERE'S THIS MUCH GOLD IN THIS SAMPLE."
I MEAN, HE'S A SMART GUY. HE WORKS AT A UNIVERSITY.
HE PROBABLY KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
TELL HIM TO BRING IT. I'M NOT GONNA TURN THAT DOWN.
Narrator: KHARA'S DAD COULD BE THE SECRET WEAPON
TO CHANGE FRED'S FORTUNES AROUND.
Khara: HEY, LOOK. I THINK THAT'S MY DAD.
-OH, THAT'S THE OLD MAN. -YEP.
Lewis: DRIVING OL' RED.
Narrator: FRED MILLER SPECIALIZES
IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WHITMAN COLLEGE.
-HI, DAD. -HEY, THERE.
-HOW YOU DOING, OLD MAN? -OH, NOT TOO BAD, NOT TOO BAD.
-HEY. -OKAY. HEY.
-[ LAUGHS ] HOW YOU DOING? -HEY, MAN.
HOW'S THE MINE GOING?
-IT'S GOING. -GOOD.
Lewis: COULD BE GOING BETTER, BUT IT'S GOING.
YEAH, WELL, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER.
LET ME GET MY STUFF OUT HERE.
DO YOU HAVE, LIKE, A FUTURISTIC MACHINE?
-I DO. -YES!
SO, YEAH. HERE YOU GO. HANDLE THAT CAREFULLY.
THAT'S $15,000 WORTH OF UN.HOLY CRAP!
THIS LOOKS FUTURISTIC.
Narrator: THE XRF GUN USES X-RAY FLUORESCENCE.
IT FIRES X-RAYS INTO THE SAMPLES,
WHICH INTERACTS WITH THE ELEMENTS WITHIN,
MAKING THEM RELEASE RADIATION.
EVERY ONE RELEASES A UNIQUE PATTERN,
WHICH THE GUN READS TO IDENTIFY
HOW MUCH OF EACH ELEMENT IS PRESENT.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO ON THE CLAIM
IS GET SOME SPECIFIC SAMPLES IN LOCATIONS
WHERE YOU THINK IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT YOU'LL WANT TO DIG.
-YOU GOOD? I'LL GO DO THAT. -YEP.
-ALL RIGHT. AND I'LL GET SET UP. -I'LL BE BACK.
Narrator: FIRST UP, FRED HITS THE DEEPEST PART
OF THE SWAMP CUT.
RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO GET A SAMPLE
FROM DEEPER THAN WE'RE DIGGING PAY.
I WAS IN THE HOLE, BASICALLY, TOWARDS THE BEDROCK.
WE'VE DUG A LITTLE DOWN HERE,
BUT WE AREN'T REALLY PROCESSING THIS.
IT'S TOO DEEP.
SO WE'LL SEE WHAT KIND OF GOLD THIS HOLDS.
Narrator: FRED COLLECTS SIX SAMPLES FROM ACROSS THE CLAIM.
ALL RIGHT, WE GOT THE OLD SAMPLES.
GREAT. BRING THEM ON IN. SET THEM HERE ON THE TABLE.
OKAY, LET'S SHOOT OUR FIRST SAMPLE.
SO THIS IS BANK CORNER ONE.
IT COMES FROM THAT CORNER RIGHT THERE ON THE BEND.
WE PULLED A LOT OF LARGE BOULDERS OUT OF THERE.
Narrator: FOR THE GROUND TO BE WORTH MINING,
THE SAMPLE MUST SHOW A GOLD READING OF AT LEAST 4.
I'M NOT A GEOLOGIST, BUT I STAYED AT
A HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS ONCE.
Khara: OH, MY GOD.
AND DAD JOKE FOR THE WIN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU KNOW DAD JOKES HAVE TO BE PART OF THIS.
THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
-YEAH. -I'M KIND OF NERVOUS.
WHAT IF IT SAYS YOU GUYS HAVE A DUD?
[ GUN BEEPS ]
OKAY, SO WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?
TINY BIT OF IRON, A LOT OF COBALT.
SOME ZINC.
AND NOTHING ELSE WITHIN ITS LEVEL OF DETECTION.
-NO GOLD? -NO GOLD IN THIS SAMPLE.
MOVING ON TO BANK.
SAME ONE, JUST NUMBER TWO,
SO THIS IS FROM THE SAME GENERAL SPOT.
WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING OUT OF THIS ONE?
SOME GOLD.
[ GUN BEEPS ]YEAH.
OKAY.
ZERO. NO GOLD.
NO GOLD? [BLEEP]
DUDE, I WAS EXPECTING A LOT MORE THAN ZERO.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S KEEP GOING. -OKAY.
NEXT SAMPLE.
THIS ONE'S THE SWAMP CUT,
SO THIS SHOULD BE ONE OF OUR BETTER TESTS, HOPEFULLY.
THIS BASICALLY TELLS US CURRENTLY WHAT WE'RE DIGGING.
OKAY, SO THIS IS THE PAY WE'RE BRINGING IN RIGHT IN SECOND.
RIGHT.
THIS ONE DEFINITELY MAKES ME NERVOUS.
-0.22. -OH, MY [BLEEP]
IT'S JUST GETTING WORSE.
Narrator: THE PAY FRED'S RUNNING FROM THE TOP OF THE SWAMP CUT
HARDLY HAS ANY GOLD.
SO THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, I WENT DOWN
INTO THE MUCK OF THE SWAMP,
AS FAR DOWN AS I COULD GET.
OKAY. DEEPER IN THE PIT. HERE WE GO,
4.27.
OKAY, OKAY. I'LL TAKE THAT NUMBER.
DEFINITELY TAKE THAT NUMBER. -YEAH.
NOW I'M FEELING A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
30 FEET, THOUGH. THAT'S FROM ABOUT 30 FEET.
OKAY, LET'S DO THE BANK AT 4 FEET.
THIS ONE COMES FROM OVER HERE,
AND IT'S ABOUT 4 FEET DOWN IN THAT BANK.
A LOT OF LARGE BOULDERS OVER THERE.
THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE HOPING TO SEE SOMETHING?
MM-HMM.
OH, YOU'RE GONNA LIKE THIS NUMBER -- 4.51.
-WHAT? -OOH.
PUTTING A STAR NEXT TO THAT BAD BOY.
SO 4.51 ON THAT DEVICE TRANSLATES
TO ALMOST 1/2 OUNCE A 100.THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
SO THE XRF KIND OF CONFIRMED AN IDEA I HAD
ABOUT THE BANK OVER HERE.
BUT I FEEL LIKE THE MAIN FOCUS SHOULD BE THE SWAMP
WHERE WE'RE DIGGING NOW, BUT WE GOT TO GO DEEPER.
♪♪
HEY, STEFAN.
HEY, I'M GONNA APPROACH FROM THE FRONT.
Stefan: ROGER.
Narrator: THE TEST SHOWS THE BEST GOLD LIES AT 30 FEET,
JUST ABOVE THE BEDROCK.
ALL SEASON, FRED'S BEEN RUNNING THE LEAN SURFACE DIRT
WITH HARDLY ANY GOLD.
OH, MAN. AH!
ALL RIGHT. WHAT'S UP?
I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DIGGING HERE A LOT
AND YOU GOT A LOT OF PAY STOCKPILED,
BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA RUN ANY OF IT.
I'M SORRY. I KNOW YOU PUT SOME TIME INTO IT.
WHY ISN'T IT ANY GOOD?
YOU KNOW, THAT PAY I THOUGHT WAS GONNA BE BETTER,
BUT IT'S JUST NOT CONCENTRATED ENOUGH.
I THINK IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE MOST SUCCESS HERE,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DUMP ALL THIS LOW-CONCENTRATED PAY
AND GO STRAIGHT DOWN TO BEDROCK.
LAST PROBABLY 17 FEET HAS ABOUT 80% OF THE GOLD.
AND IF WE DON'T HIT THAT,
I DON'T THINK WE'RE MAKING MONEY THIS SEASON.
WE GOT TO MAKE MONEY.
SO YOUR NEW GOAL IN LIFE IS TO REACH BEDROCK.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL JUST KEEP GOING UNTIL I GET TO IT.
THAT'S WHY I PUT YOU HERE.
I KNOW YOU LIKE A CHALLENGE, BRO.
GOOD LUCK.
AH!
SO EVERYTHING'S ON MY SHOULDERS.
NO PRESSURE, RIGHT?
I KNOW THAT'S FRUSTRATING, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M THE BOSS,
I GOT TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS HERE,
AND I THINK THE BEST DECISION IS TO INVEST THE TIME
IN GETTING ON BETTER PAY.
AND WE HAVE A SHORT SEASON AND A SHORT AMOUNT OF YARDAGE.
WE'RE GONNA HIT THE GOLD HARD, AND WE'RE GONNA PUT
THE MOST CONCENTRATED PAY THROUGH OUR COLONEL.
♪♪
Rick: I'LL TELL YOU, THIS SPOT RIGHT HERE LOOKS GOOD.
Narrator: RICK NESS IS ALMOST HALFWAY TO HIS 1,000-OUNCE GOAL.
HE'S TAKING THE REST OF HIS SEASON
ON THE THREE-ACRE DEEP CUT, A SEAM OF RICH GLACIER GOLD
THAT GAVE HIM HIS BEST RESULTS ON THE CLAIM.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD TO GO DOWN
THROUGH OVER 60 FEET OF OVERBURDEN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S COST A SMALL FORTUNE.
Narrator: WITH GOLD PRICES AT A RECORD HIGH,
RICK'S 100 GRAND INVESTMENT IN THE DEEP CUT
COULD SEE A RETURN OF NEARLY $4 MILLION.
Rick: LAST YEAR WAS TERRIBLE.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO EASY WAY TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW.
THAT WAS ALMOST THE END OF MY CAREER RIGHT THERE.
BUT HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT.
Narrator: BEST BUDDY CHRIS KRUSE HAULS PAY DIRT TO THE WASH PLANT.
I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT WE'RE CHASING
AFTER SOMETHING THAT WE DID OUR HOMEWORK ON LAST YEAR.
I'M GONNA BE HONEST WITH YOU, THOUGH.
I DON'T EVER WANT TO PLAY THAT GAME AGAIN.
COST A LOT OF MONEY.
IT'S AN EXPENSIVE, EXPENSIVE GAME.
Kruse: THE DIFFERENCE WITH RICK THIS YEAR IS
COMPLETE NIGHT AND DAY.
HE'S DOWN HERE BUSTING HIS ASS.
HE'S WORKING RIGHT ALONGSIDE US
BECAUSE I THINK HE'S PUMPED UP JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.
EVERYBODY'S EXCITED.
[BLEEP] WHY IS IT DOING THAT?
UH-OH.
THAT IS DEFINITELY BEDROCK.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN GOING DOWN AFTER,
AND IT KIND OF FALLS DOWN IN THE WALL,
AND THERE'S A BENCH UNDERNEATH THIS.
THAT'S WHERE ALL OF OUR PAY DIRT IS SITTING ON.
FOR SOME REASON RIGHT HERE IN THE CUT, THIS BEDROCK,
INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN, IT'S JUST JUTTING OUT.
Narrator: RICK HAS HIT A WALL OF FRACTURED BEDROCK
WHERE HE EXPECTED TO FIND GOLD-RICH PAY DIRT.
OH, THAT'S NOT GOOD.
THAT IS CLEARLY BEDROCK.
DEFINITELY.
AND WITH NO GRAVEL ON IT.
IF THERE'S NO GRAVEL, THERE'S NO GOLD.
Narrator: IN THE SECTION OF THE DEEP CUT RICK TESTED LAST YEAR,
HE DUG THROUGH 60 FEET OF OVERBURDEN
TO HIT A RICH LAYER OF PAY SITTING ON BEDROCK.
THIS YEAR, HE'S WIDENED THE HOLE OUT FROM THE TEST SITE,
BUT NOW WHERE EXPECTED TO FIND MORE PAY DIRT,
HE'S FOUND A WALL OF BEDROCK JUTTING INTO THE CUT.
WAS JUST OVERBURDEN, SITTING RIGHT ON THE --
ON THE BEDROCK.
SO THIS WHOLE SECTION RIGHT HERE,
WE'RE CLEARING FOR NOTHING.
GOLD.
WE GOT THIS DOWN TO WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS PAY
BECAUSE STARTED GETTING
SOME BIG BOULDERS [BLEEP] POPPING OUT OF IT.
THAT'S JUST SOLID CLAY.
THERE'S LITTLE STRIPS OF GRAVELS IN IT, BUT...
IT'S ALL -- I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S JUST NOT --
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WHERE WE TESTED LAST YEAR.
I'M GONNA PAN IT AS MUCH AS I CAN
AND TRY TO FIND SOME GOLD IN IT.
I'M PRETTY, PRETTY NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: IF THIS DIRT CONTAINS NO GOLD,
THE CUT COULD BE A BUST.
♪♪
NOTHING.
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
♪♪
Rick: TRY TO KEEP MY CALM,
BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY [BLEEP] SENSE.
Narrator: AFTER DIGGING FOR 10 DAYS
TO GET DOWN TO PAY DIRT AT THE DEEP CUT,
RICK NESS HAS COME UP EMPTY-HANDED.
HIS LAST HAIL MARY TO SALVAGE THE CUT
IS TO DIG DEEPER AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY PAY GRAVEL
BENEATH THE BEDROCK.
WE WENT STRAIGHT DOWN LAST YEAR AND DUG A [BLEEP] PIT
AND GOT A BEAUTIFUL DEPOSIT WITH GREAT GOLD,
AND NOW I EXPAND THE PIT AROUND WHERE WE DUG.
AND SOMEHOW WE GOT SO [BLEEP] LUCKY LAST YEAR
THAT WE MANAGED TO PICK THE ONE SPOT WHERE THERE'S GOLD?
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. IT'S LIKE A [BLEEP] JOKE.
IT CAN'T BE.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST SOLID CLAY.
THERE'S NO GRAVEL IN IT AT ALL,
AND IT'S ANOTHER 20 [BLEEP] FEET DEEP IN THERE.
AND THERE'S NOTHING.
I DON'T KNOW. I'M GONNA HAVE TO TRY TO TALK TO TROY
AND SEE WHAT HIS THOUGHTS ARE ON THIS.
Narrator: LANDOWNER TROY TAYLOR'S FAMILY
HAVE MINED THIS PAY STREAK FOR 40 YEARS.
[ LINE RINGING]
-HEY, RICK. -HEY, TROY.
I'M IN THE DEEP CUT HERE THAT WE'RE DOING, RIGHT?
Troy: YEAH, OKAY.
I JUST DUG DOWN DEEP AS I COULD WITH MY 700,
AND IT'S JUST -- IT'S SOLID CLAY.
IT'S SOLID CLAY ALL THE WAY DOWN.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING IN HERE.
HOW MANY FEET OF CLAY IS THERE, DO YOU THINK?
-IT'S GOT TO BE 80, 90 FEET. -WOW. THAT'S NOT GOOD.
THE FACT THAT THERE'S NO PAY THERE --
THAT DOES INDICATE THAT THE GLACIER
CAME RIGHT UP AGAINST THAT RIM,
MAYBE IT ENDED RIGHT THERE.
THE PAY PROBABLY COMES BACK IN UPSTREAM.
BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO DRILL THAT.
Narrator: 20,000 YEARS AGO,
A RICH GOLD SEAM WAS COVERED BY THE McCONNELL GLACIER.
THE FRONT OF IT PUSHED UP A LAYER OF BEDROCK.
WHEN THE GLACIER RECEDED, THE BEDROCK WALL REMAINED.
WATER THEN ERODED GOLD-RICH GRAVELS UPSTREAM
AND DEPOSITED A LAYER OF CLAY.
TROY BELIEVES RICK HAS HIT THE LIMIT OF THE GLACIER
AND THE END OF THE GOOD GOLD.
Rick: THAT'S A PRETTY BIG [BLEEP] DEAL.
IT'S LOOKING LIKE WE LOST 80% FOR WHAT'S IN HERE.
[BLEEP] WORSE THAN FLASHBACKS TO LAST YEAR.
THERE AIN'T NOTHING IN THIS.
OH, THAT'S SWEET.
THAT'S A MAJOR, MAJOR [BLEEP]
I MEAN, I'M JUST BASING IT OFF OF WHAT WE TESTED LAST YEAR.
THIS MADE PERFECT [BLEEP] SENSE.
WELL, WE'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
I'M GONNA HAVE A THINK.
♪♪
TODAY HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH A PIECE OF [BLEEP]
I DON'T BLAME HIM.
HE WANTED TO GET OUT OF HERE,
THINK A MINUTE.
IF THERE'S NO PAY IN THERE, THERE'S NO GOLD IN THERE.
THEN WE END UP LOOKING LIKE IDIOTS,
LIKE LAST YEAR.
WE MIGHT AS WELL [BLEEP] GO HOME.
♪♪
Narrator: IN FAIRBANKS, ALASKA,
PARKER SCHNABEL AND DRILL MASTER LIAM FERGUSON
BRING IN THE SONIC DRILL TO PROSPECT
A 3,000-ACRE CLAIM AT CLEARY CREEK.
♪♪
Parker: READY TO GO DRILLING, SPEND SOME MORE MONEY.
-MAKE SOME MONEY. -GONNA MAKE SOME MONEY?
MINE IT? -NOT WORKING FOR YOU, WE DON'T.
MINING THE MINERS.
OLDEST TRICK IN THE BOOK, PARKER
Narrator: THE GOLD RUSH HIT THIS PART OF ALASKA IN THE EARLY 1990s.
THE FAIRBANKS AREA HAS SINCE PRODUCED
OVER 8 MILLION OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH, AT TODAY'S PRICES, OVER $15 BILLION.
PARKER AND LIAM HEAD OUT TO CHOOSE A LOCATION TO TEST
BASED ON HISTORIC DRILLING DATA.
ONE TO THREE HERE. RIGHT.
THIS IS THE MAIN CUT. THIS IS --
OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
YEP, SO THIS IS ALL --
FOR SURE THIS IS ALL VIRGIN ALONG HERE.
Narrator: CLEARY CREEK WAS DREDGED IN THE 1940s,
BUT STRIPS OF VIRGIN GROUND REMAIN.
IF PARKER FINDS ONE OF THEM, HE COULD HIT THE JACKPOT.
THERE'S ABOUT A 300-FOOT STRIP HERE
THAT WAS LEFT BY THE DREDGE.
SO WE'RE STANDING ON STRIPPED VIRGIN GROUND.
WE'RE HOPING TO PUT A FEW HOLES IN,
AND IF WE'RE GETTING RESULTS THE SAME AS WHAT
THE DREDGE DRILLING DID BACK IN THE '40s,
THEN IT'S LOOKING LIKE A PRETTY GOOD SPOT.
Parker: WE JUST GOT THE DRILL MOVED OVER HERE TO CLEARY CREEK.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME DRILLING DOWN
AND FIND SOME GOLD.
Narrator: IT'S PARKER'S LAST PUSH TO FIND NEW GROUND
BEFORE HE RETURNS HOME TO HIS OPERATIONS IN THE YUKON.
♪♪
260 MILES SOUTHEAST ON THE INDIAN RIVER...
Mitch: I THINK WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE HERE WITH BIG RED.
IT'S MOTORING ALONG PRETTY SMOOTH.
ALL RIGHT, YOU BET. I'M JUST GONNA HAMMER DOWN ON PAY HERE.
YEAH, COPY THAT.
...PARKER HAS LEFT FOREMAN MITCH BLASCHKE IN CHARGE
OF HIS ENTIRE OPERATION, RUNNING SLUICIFER
AT THE PROMISED LAND AND BIG RED AT THE LAST CUT.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO NOT ONLY SLUICE AS FAST AS WE CAN,
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO OPEN UP GROUND AS FAST AS WE CAN.
AND THAT'S BEEN THE CHALLENGE.
I JUST WANT TO KEEP EVERYTHING ON TRACK
AND HAVE IT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE WHEN PARKER GETS BACK.
I WANT TO HAVE THIS OPERATION RUNNING SMOOTH.
I WANT TO HAVE A LOT OF GOLD DOWN IN THE GOLD ROOM.
Narrator: THIS SEASON, THE MINE HAS AVERAGED
450 OUNCES A WEEK.
TO KEEP UP THE PACE FOR THE FOUR WEEKS PARKER'S AWAY,
MITCH NEEDS TO BRING IN A MASSIVE 1,800 OUNCES OF GOLD.
Mitch: IT'S NECESSARY TO KEEP THE PLANT RUNNING.
YOU CAN'T LET PARKER DOWN.
Narrator: IT'S A BIG ASK.
Mitch: IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE SUCCESS
WITH BIG RED AND SLUICIFER THIS YEAR,
WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THEM RUNNING 24 HOURS A DAY.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU DON'T WANT TO COME UP HERE
AND, YOU KNOW, BE AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY
AND SPEND THE WHOLE SUMMER, YOU KNOW,
WORKING UP HERE TO GO HOME BROKE.
THIS IS MY FOUR-YEAR ANNIVERSARY,
AND, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WISH THAT EITHER, YOU KNOW,
I COULD BE HOME OR MY WIFE COULD BE UP HERE,
BUT WITH ALL THE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS,
THAT JUST ISN'T HAPPENING, SO IT DEFINITELY MAKES IT TOUGH.
Narrator: BRENNAN RUAULT DIGS PAY DIRT IN THE LAST CUT.
Brennan: WE'RE MANPOWER SHORT AND EQUIPMENT SHORT,
SO EVERYTHING HERE HAS TO RUN EXTREMELY PERFECT
IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE.
I DEFINITELY KNOW MITCH IS FEELING THE PRESSURE.
I THINK HE HAS A LOT MORE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
THAN HE LETS ON, SO I HOPE EVERYTHING'S
GOING REALLY SMOOTH DOWN THERE FOR HIM.
Narrator: MECHANIC SHANE SMITH FEEDS PAY DIRT INTO THE PLANT.
Shane: BIG RED SEEMS TO BE CHEWING THROUGH THE GROUND PRETTY QUICK.
IT'S JUST WHETHER EVERYBODY CAN KEEP UP TO IT OR NOT.
♪♪
[ METAL SCREECHING, INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
♪♪
[BLEEP]
♪♪
AH, [BLEEP] [BLEEP] [BLEEP] [BLEEP] [BLEEP]
DAMN ROCKS.
THIS WHOLE BELT'S DESTROYED.
A ROCK GOT JAMMED RIGHT THROUGH,
JUST FIT RIGHT THROUGH THE GRIZZLY BARS PERFECTLY,
AND IT WAS SHARP.
AS SOON AS IT GOT WEDGED IN THERE,
IT JUST SLIT THE BELT JUST LIKE A KNIFE.
I SEE SOME OF THE ROLLER FRAMES ARE BENT.
SO UNTIL WE GET THE BELT OFF,
WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE WE GOT TO FIX UNDERNEATH THERE?
WE'RE NOT MAKING MUCH GOLD THIS WEEK, THAT'S FOR SURE.
Shane: GOOD MORNING!
IT'S A [BLEEP] HELL OF A MORNING.
RIGHT?
AND I SAW THE DIRT STOP.
I COME DOWN HERE TO LOOK, AND A BIG BOULDER STOOD UP,
JUST FIT RIGHT THROUGH PERFECTLY AND SLIT THE BELT RIGHT IN HALF.
SO NO FIXING THAT ONE.
IT'S GONNA BE A LONG DAY TODAY.
IT'S GONNA BE A LONG ONE FOR SURE.
Narrator: WITH EVERY HOUR THE PLANT IS DOWN,
MITCH'S CHANCE OF KEEPING UP THE PACE
AND HITTING THE 1,800-OUNCE GOAL SLIPS FURTHER AWAY.
YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT WHEN THE BOSS IS AWAY,
THAT'S WHEN EVERYBODY'S SUPPOSED TO JUST KICK BACK, RELAX.
NO, NEVER.
NOT AROUND HERE.
♪♪
GOT ALL KINDS OF [BLEEP] HITTING THE FAN AROUND HERE.
Narrator: IN THE LAST CUT, A TORN CONVEYOR BELT
HAS SHUT DOWN WASH PLANT BIG RED.
FOREMAN MITCH AND MECHANIC SHANE LIFT OFF THE HOPPER FEEDER
IN A RACE TO GET BACK RUNNING.
WE'RE GONNA TRY AND DO IT ALL IN ONE SHOT HERE.
IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T TRIED BEFORE,
SO WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT HERE IF THE 700 HAS ENOUGH
TO BE ABLE TO LIFT EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
Narrator: THE HOPPER FEEDER HAS A FULL LOAD,
NEARLY 30 TONS OF DIRT.
-OKAY, SHANE? -YEAH, GIVE HER A LITTLE BIT.
♪♪
-[ CHUCKLES ] -YEAH, SHE'S PRETTY HEAVY, MAN.
IT'S HEAVY, MAN.
COME ON, BABY. NICE AND EASY.
Mitch: COME ON, BABY.
THAT'S NOT LIGHT.
Shane: GO BACK JUST A BIT FURTHER,
AND WE CAN SET IT RIGHT THERE IF YOU WANT.
YEAH, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A LITTLE HEIGHT HERE.
ABOUT TAPPED OUT.
♪♪
HEY, I'VE GOT IT.
♪♪
COULDN'T HAVE WEIGHED ONE MORE POUND,
I DON'T THINK, AND DONE IT.
IT WAS EVERYTHING IT HAD THERE.
Mitch: WE'VE GOT THE HOPPER FEEDER LIFTED OFF, AND THAT'S HUGE.
NOW WE'VE GOT ACCESS HERE TO OUR BUSTED-ASS CONVEYOR BELT.
YEAH, SHE'S PRETTY GNARLY, MAN.
SHE'S RIPPED GOOD.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN THAT EASY TO CUT,
SO YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT ROCK WAS JAMMED IN THERE.
♪♪
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT A COUPLE
OF BUSTED ROLLER FRAMES HERE.
THIS ONE'S COMPLETELY TACO-ED.
NOT ONLY DID THE BELT RIP,
BUT IT DID A BUNCH OF DAMAGE TO THE ROLLERS
THAT ARE UNDERNEATH IT.
Narrator: WITH NO SPARE ROLLERS ON SITE...
HOPEFULLY WE CAN USE THE FORKLIFT HERE,
TRY AND PULL THIS BACK INTO SHAPE.
Narrator: ...MITCH ATTEMPTS A BUSH FIX WITH THE FORKLIFT.
NICE AND EASY!
IF THEY BREAK,
REPLACEMENT ROLLERS WILL TAKE DAYS TO ARRIVE,
AND MITCH WILL LOSE ANY CHANCE HE HAD
OF HITTING HIS 1,800-OUNCE TARGET.
WHOA!
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA QUIT WHILE WE'RE AHEAD
BEFORE WE RIP IT IN HALF.YEP.
YEAH, THAT WORKED LIKE A CHARM. THAT'S ACTUALLY AWESOME.
CERTAINLY NOT AS GOOD AS NEW, BUT GOOD ENOUGH TO WORK HERE,
SO WE'LL TAKE IT.
Narrator: NOW THEY MUST REALIGN THE 500-POUND BELT.
THIS IS HEAVY, SO YOU GOT TO USE THE MACHINES,
AND IT'S A VERY DELICATE AND TACTICAL PROCEDURE HERE
TO TRY AND GET THIS BELT BACK ON.
LAUNCHING STRAIGHT AHEAD.
OPEN THOSE ROLLERS!
♪♪
CLOSE, BUDDY. WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
-COME ON, BABY. -OKAY, GOOD.
WE'LL PUSH THAT END OUT, HAVE TO COME BACK UP MORE.
ALMOST THERE.
YOU'RE HOME, MAN. PERFECT.
THERE IT IS.
NOW IT'S JUST A MATTER OF BOLTING EVERYTHING BACK UP,
GRABBING THE SURGE BIN, PUTTING IT BACK ON.
♪♪
-HOW WE LOOKING THERE? -GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
DOWN A LITTLE MORE.
WHOA!
GOOD JOB.[ Laughing ] YEAH.
JUST GONNA UNDO THE SHACKLES.
[BLEEP] THAT ACTUALLY SWUNG ON PRETTY NICE, EH?
IT WENT GOOD, YEAH.
NOW WE JUST GOT TO CLOSE IT OFF, HOOK UP THE HYDRAULICS,
AND WE MIGHT EVEN MAKE IT FOR NIGHT SHIFT.
-THE FIX... -FIRE IT UP.
Narrator: ...HAS PUT MITCH A WHOLE SHIFT BEHIND
IN HIS ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE PLANT UP AND RUNNING
WHILE PARKER'S AWAY.
Mitch: COULD HAVE BEEN A HELL OF A LOT WORSE,
SO CAN'T THANK EVERYBODY ENOUGH.
APPRECIATE IT. BIG COUNTRY.
[ LAUGHS ]
WHERE'S MINE?AW, COME HERE.
DUDE, IT'S PRETTY HOT. I DON'T KNOW.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: MITCH HAS ONE MORE THING TO DO
BEFORE HE CALLS IT A NIGHT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN QUITE A FEW DAYS SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE
TO MESSAGE MY WIFE.
MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I GET BACK,
MY DAUGHTER'S ALREADY SLEEPING,
SO I HAVEN'T GOT TO SEE HER IN QUITE A FEW DAYS.
SO HOPING I CAN RUN BACK, TALK TO BOTH OF THEM,
WISH HER A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.
♪♪
-HI! -WHAT'S UP, BABY?
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. HOW SHE DOING?
YEAH, SHE'S AWAKE. SHE'S GOOD.
HEY, CHICKY.
SHE'S JUST CRAWLING AROUND, LAUGHING RIGHT NOW,
JUST HAVING A GRAND OLD TIME.
I WAS REALLY HOPING EITHER YOU'D BE ABLE TO BE UP HERE,
OR I'D BE ABLE TO BE HOME,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY.
-I KNOW. -ALL RIGHT, BABY.
WELL, I'M GLAD I GOT TO TALK TO YOU AND SEE YOU.
AND I'M GLAD SHE WAS AWAKE. THAT'S NICE,
INSTEAD OF GETTING IN HERE WHEN SHE'S ALREADY IN BED.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, AND WE LOVE YOU, TOO.
ALL RIGHT, TALK TO YOU LATER. LOVE YOU. BYE.
I LOVE YOU. BYE.
Mitch: WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON AT HOME RIGHT NOW,
YOU KNOW, THAT'S TOUGH.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED,
SO I'M THANKFUL TO BE WORKING
AND JUST TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY.
BUT I WISH WE WERE TOGETHER.
♪♪
TONY. [ LAUGHS ]
IT'S OUR COUSIN TONY.
Narrator: NEARLY 100 MILES FROM HIS CLAIM AT PARADISE HILL,
TONY BEETS HAS ASSEMBLED AN ARMY OF CREW AND EQUIPMENT
AT THE ROAD HEAD ABOVE MOOSE CREEK.
THEIR MISSION -- HAUL OUT THE ENORMOUS MOBILE TROMMEL
THAT TONY NEEDS TO TURBOCHARGE HIS SEASON.
YES.
♪♪
LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ABOUT TO GO TO WAR
WITH THE [BLEEP] TROMMEL HERE.
♪♪
Mike: TONY BEETS, DO YOU COPY? TONY BEETS?
DO I GO THROUGH THE CREEK WHERE YOU WENT THROUGH?
♪♪
Mike: THE FIRST TRIP SOMEWHERE WHERE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN BEFORE
ALWAYS SEEMS TO TAKE FOR [BLEEP] EVER.
♪♪
IS THAT WHAT I THINK IT IS OVER THERE?
♪♪
AH! GOTTA LEARN HOW TO WALK AGAIN.
[BLEEP] THAT'S A ROUGH RIDE, ISN'T IT?
JUST MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE GELATIN, DON'T IT?
THE INSIDE ONE'S GOOD.
SO IT'S JUST ABOUT THE OUTSIDE ONE,
SO I MUST HAVE CAUGHT SOMETHING GOING AROUND A CORNER.
[BLEEP]
BY THE LOOKS OF IT, TORE UP A RIM.
Narrator: WITH SEVEN CREW AND ALL HIS IRON
WRAPPED UP IN THIS MISSION,
TONY WANTS THE 35-TON, 20-FOOT-TALL TROMMEL
OUT OF MOOSE CREEK...
...IN JUST THREE DAYS.
THIS THING'S [BLEEP] AWESOME.
Narrator: TONY'S PLAN IS TO DISMANTLE
THE TROMMEL PIECE BY PIECE --
FIRST THE CONVEYOR, THEN THE SLUICE BOX AND HOPPER,
AND FINALLY THE MASSIVE 20-TON DRUM.
TONY HOOKS UP THE PIPE LAYER
TO HAUL OUT THE 50-FOOT CONVEYOR.
RIGHT THERE.
♪♪
EH, COME SEE WHERE I'M SLEEPING.
Narrator: BACK AT THE ROAD HEAD,
THE BUNK HOUSE WILL BE HOME FOR SOME OF THE CREW.
THAT'S MY BED, I GUESS.
OR THAT ONE. ONE OF THE TWO.
-BETTER MATTRESS. -GOTCHA. SO THAT ONE'S MINE.
♪♪
[ LAUGHS ]
♪♪
Narrator: IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE KENO,
RICK NESS'S OPERATION IS AT A STANDSTILL,
AND HIS CREW IS REELING
FROM COMING UP EMPTY AT THE DEEP CUT.
Carl: IT'S A DISASTER, RIGHT?
WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY ON THAT,
AND IT'S GONNA PRODUCE ZERO.
RICK'S OUT THERE LOOKING FOR DIRT,
BUT, YOU SEE, WE DON'T GOT MUCH TIME LEFT.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY GONNA AFFECT US THAT IT'S --
OUR GOALS AREN'T GONNA BE THE SAME AS WHAT WE EXPECTED,
I DON'T THINK, NOW, BUT...
IT'S NOT GOOD, MAN. IT'S NOT GOOD.
Narrator: RICK SPENT MORE THAN $100,000
GETTING DOWN TO BEDROCK AT THE DEEP CUT.
WITH NO GOLD TO SHOW FOR IT,
HE'S STILL 600 OUNCES SHORT OF HIS 1,000-OUNCE SEASON GOAL.
Rick: RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST SCRAMBLING
TO LOOK FOR THE FUTURE HERE FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON
BECAUSE THE DEEP CUT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IT.
SO THE PLAN IS GET OUT AND FIND SOME DIFFERENT GROUND.
I'M HOPING THAT THAT GOOD RED GRAVEL
WE WERE RUNNING CONTINUES ACROSS THE CREEK.
I DON'T SEE WHY IT SHOULDN'T.
Narrator: ALL OF RICK'S GOLD THIS SEASON
HAS COME FROM THE CHEAP CUT, A PAY STREAK OF RED PAY GRAVEL
JUST TWO FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.
RICK BELIEVES THE PAY STREAK CONTINUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CREEK.
IF HIS HUNCH IS RIGHT, IT COULD SAVE HIS SEASON.
Rick: CROSSING THE CREEK WAS NEVER PART OF THE PLAN THIS YEAR,
BUT WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE.
SO HOPEFULLY I CAN FIND SOMETHING WORTHWHILE
ON THE OTHER SIDE.
I MEAN, THIS IS JUST GIVING ME FLASHBACKS OF LAST YEAR.
IT WAS LIKE A [BLEEP] DAGGER BECAUSE ALL IT DID WAS GO,
"IT'S JUST LIKE LAST YEAR, RICK. NOTHING'S [BLEEP] CHANGED."
BUT I'VE GOT KRUSE HERE. I'VE GOT CARLY HERE.
AND I CAN'T SEE THEM GO AWAY EMPTY-HANDED.
SO WE JUST GOT TO FLAT GET IT THIS YEAR.
YOU KNOW, ONE MORE YEAR LIKE LAST YEAR AND, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE ALL DONE.
TRY A LITTLE BIT, SEE IF I CAN BUST THROUGH IT.
IT MIGHT JUST BE SURFACE FROST.
♪♪
YEAH, THERE'S NO [BLEEP] DOUBT ABOUT WHAT THAT IS.
PERMAFROST -- MUD WITH ICE MIXED IN IT.
AT THIS POINT IN THE SEASON, IT DOESN'T MATTER
IF THERE'S 1,000 OUNCES RIGHT UNDERNEATH THIS [BLEEP] HOLE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR THE CAPABILITY
OF GETTING TO IT IF IT'S FROZEN.
IT AIN'T THAWING MUCH ANYMORE,
AND I DON'T HAVE A BIG RIPPIN' DOZER HERE.
SO I'M THINKING MY BEST BET IS TO KIND OF HUG THE CREEK A BIT
'CAUSE THAT SHOULD AFFORD ME SOME THAW OFF THE CREEK.
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME THAWED PAY ALONG THE CREEK.
Narrator: TO FIND THAWED GOLD-RICH GROUND,
RICK HEADS 400 FEET DOWNSTREAM.
Rick: WELL, THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
I'M NOT HITTING ANY PERMAFROST RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE.
AND ALREADY SHOWING A LITTLE BIT OF ROCK.
OH, [BLEEP] YEAH. I'M SEEING RED.
WE GOT THAT SAME RED GRAVEL RIGHT HERE.
I'M ACTUALLY PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS THAT SAME LAYER
WE WERE CHASING.
I'M JUST GONNA GO WITH MY GUT ON THIS STUFF.
MAYBE I'M TOTALLY OFF-BASE HERE, WHICH COULD BE.
BUT WE'RE JUST GONNA START RUNNING IT AND SEE.
IT'S ALL WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: ALL THE GOLD RICK HAS PULLED OUT OF THE GROUND THIS SEASON
HAS COME FROM A PAY STREAK OF DISTINCTIVE RED GRAVEL.
IF THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT SAME PAY STREAK,
IT SHOULD CONTAIN GOOD GOLD.
HEY, KRUSE, YOU GOT A COPY, MAN
YEAH, GO FOR KRUSE.
LET'S GET THOSE ROCK TRUCKS ROUNDED UP.
WE'VE GOT -- WE GOT PAY GRAVEL.
OH, THAT SOUNDS GREAT, BUDDY.
IF HE'S GOT ENOUGH PAY OVER THERE,
WE'LL GET IT HAULED TO THE PLANT AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT
TO THE END OF THE SEASON.
♪♪
RIG UP!
♪♪
Narrator: WITH THE NEW CREEK CUT,
RICK'S BACK IN THE GAME.
Rick: YOU KNOW, THIS GROUND MAY NOT TURN OUT TO BE
AS GOOD AS THE GROUND THAT WOULD HAVE CAME OUT OF THE DEEP CUT.
BUT THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
♪♪
Narrator: TONY BEETS IS 160 MILES SOUTH
OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE
ON A MISSION TO BRING HOME A NEW MONSTER MOBILE TROMMEL.
Kevin: WE NEED TO GET THIS OUT OF HERE
BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY LATE IN THE SEASON.
AND IF WE DON'T HURRY THE [BLEEP] UP,
WE'RE GONNA BE SNOWED IN.
SHE'S GONNA BE A NEXT-YEAR PROJECT.
Narrator: CODY HUNTER MUST CUT THE SLUICE BOX OFF.
CLEAR!
[ METAL CLANGING ]
[ SIGHS ] NOW I WANT WAFFLES.
EVERYONE'S GOT TO WAIT UNTIL I CLIMB DOWN.
NOW I GOT CLIMB BACK UP.
I SWEAR.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: NOW IT'S TIME TO LIFT OUT
THE HEAVIEST PART OF THE TROMMEL,
THE 20-TON, 40-FOOT DRUM.
WELL, FIRST WE'RE GONNA GET THE D6 ATTACHED TO THE FRAME.
THIS IS GONNA GET ATTACHED TO THE TROMMEL.
AND THE 220 EXCAVATOR'S GONNA GET ATTACHED TO THE TROMMEL.
AND THEN ONCE WE GET THAT TROMMEL NICELY UP IN THE AIR,
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO PULL THE WHOLE FRAME OUT WITH THE 6.
Narrator: TONY'S PLAN?
RETRACT THE HYDRAULIC SUPPORTS
SO THE TROMMEL RESTS ON ITS WHEELS,
THEN LIFT THE DRUM AND PULL THE FRAME OUT FROM UNDERNEATH.
YEAH.
A STEEL PLATE HAS BEEN WELDED TO THE LEG TO HOLD UP THE FRAME
AND TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF THE HYDRAULICS.
CHECKING THE TIRE PRESSURE SO THAT WE KNOW
IF WE GOT TO PUMP THEM UP WITH IT
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA PULL THOSE LEGS UP TO GET IT LOWER.
♪♪
[ EXPLOSION ]
-WHOA! -WHOA!
♪♪
[ EXPLOSION ]
-WHOA! -WHOA!
-WHAT WAS THAT? -WHOO!
[ LAUGHS ] OH, SHE LET GO THERE.
THAT SCARED THE [BLEEP] STRAIGHT OUT OF ME.
YEAH, ME TOO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
WORRY ABOUT THE REST LATER.
Narrator: TONY BEETS IS TWO DAYS INTO A MASSIVE PROJECT
TO MOVE HIS NEW SECRET WEAPON,
A GIANT MOBILE TROMMEL,
FROM MOOSE CREEK BACK TO HIS CLAIM ON PARADISE HILL.
Mike: OKAY.
YEAH.
YEE-HAW!
♪♪
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪♪
Stefan: LOOKING AT THE GROUND IN FRONT OF ME,
IT LOOKS SOUPY AS HELL,
SO I GOT TO BE REALLY, REALLY CAREFUL WITH THIS.
Narrator: OVER 1,500 MILES SOUTH IN OREGON,
FRED LEWIS'S FUTURE IS ON THE LINE.
REALLY NEED TO WORK OUR WAY DOWN TO THE BEDROCK.
THAT'S WHERE ALL THE GOLD'S AT.
IF WE CAN'T GET TO BEDROCK,
OUR SEASON'S GONNA BE PRETTY DISMAL.
Narrator: IN THE SWAMP CUT, FRED'S TOLD OPERATOR STEFAN GENERALLY
TO DIG 60 FEET TO BEDROCK,
WHERE HE BELIEVES HE'LL FIND A GOLD-RICH PAY LAYER.
ALREADY NOTICED A COUPLE TIMES I SLIPPED A FEW FEET,
IN ONE INSTANCE, I SLIPPED ABOUT FIVE FEET FORWARD, BUT...
I'M ACTUALLY WATCHING TO SEE
WHETHER THE GROUND IN FRONT OF ME
ACTUALLY STARTS TO GIVE WAY.
IT'S PRETTY DAMN WET.
HOLY [BLEEP]
BIG ROCK JUST TUMBLED OFF THE WALL.
♪♪
HOLY [BLEEP]
UH...
[BLEEP] DAMN IT.
HEY, FRED, STEFAN.
FRED.
HEY, I NEED YOU TO COME DOWN HERE.
WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW.
[BLEEP]
HEY, DUDE, THAT WHOLE SIX-FOOT SECTION
JUST DROPPED OFF IN FRONT OF ME.
I STARTED TO SLIDE ON THE RIGHT. I DROPPED THE BUCKET.
AND I THINK THAT ROCK IN FRONT OF ME
IS THE ONLY THING STOPPING ME FROM GOING ANY FURTHER.
I CANNOT DIG HERE, MAN. IT'S NOT SAFE.
WHOA! HOLY [BLEEP]
I'M THINKING I NEED TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS PIT.
[BLEEP]
I DON'T THINK THE RISK THAT WE'RE TAKING IS WORTH IT HERE.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ABANDON IT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AND JUST MOVE.
YEAH, LET'S GET THIS THING OUT OF THE [BLEEP] PIT,
AND LET'S JUST FIGURE IT OUT.
ALL RIGHT.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SLOWLY WORK MY WAY OUT OF HERE.
STILL SPINNING.
THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PULLING STEFAN OUT OF THE SWAMP,
STEFAN'S BEEN SLIPPING MORE AND MORE INTO THE PIT
AND THE WATER'S PRETTY DEEP,
WALLS ARE STARTING TO CAVE IN.
IT'S JUST NOT A SAFE PLACE ANYMORE.
I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH GOLD'S DOWN THERE.
I'M NOT GOING AFTER IT.
Narrator: IT'S A MASSIVE SETBACK.
ALL THE GOLD FRED HAS MINED SO FAR THIS SEASON
COMES FROM THIS SWAMP CUT.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL FOR NOTHING RIGHT NOW.
PRETTY DEVASTATING.
[ SIGHS ]
OH, [BLEEP], DUDE.
Stefan: THE MOST FRUSTRATING PART ABOUT IT
IS THERE IS GOOD GOLD DOWN THERE,
SO HAVING TO ABANDON IT IS ABANDONING GOLD,
AND...
THAT'S WHAT PISSES ME OFF THE MOST.
♪♪
HEY, KENDELL, CAN YOU MEET IN THE MINE OFFICE?
HEY, BUD. THAT SWAMP CUT'S DONE.
I CAN'T PUT STEFAN DOWN THERE ANYMORE.
LOOK, MAN, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A LOT OF RISK COMING DOWN HERE.
IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE THROUGH AND THROUGH.
BUT WE GOT TO THINK ABOUT MAYBE REENGINEERING THIS SAFELY.
CAN WE DIG IT DOWN MAYBE A DIFFERENT RAMP,
MAYBE ON THE OTHER SIDE?
THAT'S A LANDSLIDE WAITING TO HAPPEN DOWN THERE.
SO WE HAD ALL THESE ASSAYS DONE WITH MY FATHER-IN-LAW,
WHEN FRED CAME OUT WITH THE GUN.
OKAY.
THE PIT DOES HAVE GOLD. WE KNOW THE SWAMP HAS GOLD.
HAS ALL THE CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD GOLD, TOO.
YOU'RE RIGHT. HOWEVER, WITH ALL THESE OBSTACLES,
WE'RE COMING UP AGAINST, THE OTHER ASSAY
THAT WAS REALLY GOOD WAS RIGHT THERE ON THE HILLSIDE.
I MEAN, YOU GOT TO THINK,
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOLD DOWN THERE.
SO WE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TREADING LIGHTLY
WHEN WE'RE STARTING TO MOVE IN OUR ABANDONED CUTS HERE.
I KNOW. I KNOW.
MAN...
I'M GONNA STICK TO MY GUNS ON THIS ONE.
I JUST GOT A GUT FEELING THAT THAT'S DANGEROUS,
AND I DON'T WANT TO BE THE GUY
THAT PUT STEFAN DOWN IN THERE TO GET HIM BURIED.
I MEAN, I SERVED IN COMBAT WITH STEFAN.
LIKE, I GOT HIS BACK.
WE GO BACK A LONG WAYS.
AND IF HE TELLS ME HE'S SCARED...
I'LL TAKE THE BURDEN ON THIS.
IF THAT CUT DOESN'T PAN OUT, IT'S ON ME.
IT'S ALWAYS A GAMBLE, MAN.
BUT WE'RE ON THE SAME SIDE NOW?
WE GOT -- WE'RE AGREEING?
-YEAH. -ALL RIGHT, DUDE.
LET'S HIT IT.
Lewis: THERE'S NO OTHER PLACE ON THE PROPERTY
WE CAN HIT IN THIS SHORT TIME,
AND IT'S REALLY CLOSE TO THE COLONEL.
THE XRF GUN THAT WE BROUGHT OUT HERE
MY FATHER-IN-LAW SHOT
TOLD US THAT THIS SPOT RIGHT HERE HAD THE MOST GOLD.
I THINK I WANT TO CALL IT THE LIBERATION CUT.
SO RIGHT NOW, THIS IS PROBABLY THE PIVOTAL POINT OF THE SEASON.
IF WE CAN'T PULL GOLD OUT OF THIS CUT,
THEN IT'S THE END OF THE SEASON.
I MEAN, I CAN'T PUT MONEY INTO IT
IF WE CAN'T PULL GOLD OUT OF IT.
IT'S A LITTLE NERVE-RACKING, DUDE.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S TOTALLY MAKE-OR-BREAK ON THIS.
LET'S KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED.
Stefan: THIS IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL HALF-BUCKET LOAD
OUT OF LIBERATION CUT.
IT SURE AS HELL WOULD BE NICE TO FIND GOLD HERE.
Lewis: EVERYTHING SHOWS US THAT THE GOLD'S IN THIS HILLSIDE.
THIS IS OUR MONEY MAKER.
IF THIS DOESN'T WORK,
THE CLAIM'S PROBABLY NOT WORTH IT.
♪♪
Narrator: WITH PARKER STILL IN ALASKA,
FOREMAN MITCH BLASCHKE RACES
TO SLUICE AS MUCH PAY DIRT AS POSSIBLE
TO HIT HIS 1,800-OUNCE,
$3.4 MILLION TARGET.
Mitch: FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME SLUICING IN HERE,
AND YOU LOOK AT THE GROUND WE'VE ALREADY COVERED,
WE'RE PUTTING A HELL OF A DENT IN IT,
BUT WE DEFINITELY GOT A LOT ON OUR PLATE STILL HERE.
DO YOU WANT THE CARPETS NOW, TOO, OR SOME MORE MATS FIRST?
-OH, YEAH, LET'S DO THE CARPETS. -ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: CHRIS DOUMITT CLEANS THE MATS
ON WASH PLANT BIG RED.
-HOW'S IT LOOKING, CHRIS? -LOOKS GOOD.
-YEAH? -I MEAN, WE'RE SEEING GOLD.
Doumitt: NOT MOUNTAINS OF IT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? LATER TODAY YOU'LL HAVE A NUMBER FOR US?
SHOULD. I SHOULD HAVE A NUMBER FOR YOU TONIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS.
Mike: YOU KNOW, YOU TRY AND GET AHEAD EVERY DAY,
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE MOST DAYS
YOU ONLY JUST SLIP FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND.
JUST TRYING TO KEEP EVERYBODY ON TRACK
AND TO WASH PLANTS RUNNING AND EVERYTHING ELSE --
IT'S CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST HEADING UP TO THE OFFICE,
HAVE A PHONE CALL WITH PARKER.
JUST GOT TO GIVE AN UPDATE, SEE WHEN HE'S GONNA BE BACK.
♪♪
[ LINE RINGING]
Parker: HELLO?
HEY, IT'S MITCH. HOW'S IT GOING?
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?YEAH, WE'VE BEEN --
MAN, EVERYBODY'S HAD THEIR HEAD DOWN OUT HERE
TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH BOTH THESE WASH PLANTS.
WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE BACK UP HERE?
I'LL BE THERE TOMORROW.
OH, OKAY. NICE. PERFECT.
WELL, I GUESS WHEN YOU GET HERE,
WE'LL GO OUT AND MAKE A GAME PLAN.
SWEET. YEAH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
ALL RIGHTY. I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.
THANKS, MITCH. THANKS FOR THE CALL.
YEP, NO PROBLEM.
Narrator: PARKER COMING BACK TOMORROW AFTER FOUR WEEKS AWAY
MEANS D-DAY FOR MITCH'S 1,800-OUNCE GOAL.
Mike: WE'VE BEEN MOBBING THROUGH DIRT HERE, MAKING SOME HEADWAY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT THE BOSS,
SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF HE'S HAPPY WHEN HE GETS BACK.
♪♪
YEP.
Narrator: TONY BEETS IS ATTEMPTING TO HAUL
HIS NEW MOBILE TROMMEL
OUT OF MOOSE CREEK TO THE HIGHWAY.
CODY WELDS ON EYES FOR THE CHAINS TO SECURE
THE 20-TON TROMMEL TO THE TRAILER.
MIKE BRINGS IN THE OSHKOSH,
A 500-HORSEPOWER MILITARY TANK TRANSPORTER,
TO HAUL THE TROMMEL OUT.
HE NEEDS TO GET TO THE HIGHWAY BEFORE NIGHTFALL IN THREE HOURS.
♪♪
OH, THIS IS A [BLEEP] GOOD LOAD,
ALTHOUGH IT'S TOP-HEAVY,
SO IF I GO TO FAST THROUGH THE CREEK
AND I HIT ONE ROCK WITH MY BACK TIRE,
IT GETS TOO MUCH OF A LEAN THAN THE WEIGHT --
WITH THE MOMENTUM AND THE WEIGHT,
COULD TIP MY TRUCK --
THE TROMMEL, THE TRAILER AND THE TRUCK,
WHICH IS NO FUN.
♪♪
MY TIRE CAME UP IN THE AIR.
IF I KEEP GOING SLOW BUT STEADY,
DON'T BE AN IDIOT, AND I WON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES.
Narrator: NOW FOR THE CLIMB UP 2,000 FEET OF SWITCHBACKS.
♪♪
COME ON, GIRL. COME ON.
YOU CAN DO IT.
WE'RE COMING UP ON THAT NICE SOFT SPOT.
HOPEFULLY I'LL MAKE IT.
CHUGGA-CHUGGA-CHUGGA-CHUGGA, CHUGGA-CHUGGA-CHUGGA-CHUGGA.
CHUGGA-CHUGGA-CHUGGA-CHUGGA, CHUGGA-CHUGGA-CHUGGA.
COME ON, GIRL! COME ON!
AH, [BLEEP] MY TIRES ARE SPINNING.
YOU JUST HADTO SAY IT.
I'M STUCK.
LIKE I SAID, YOU JUST HAD TO SAY IT.
WE'LL GET THAT CABLE OUT OF THE TROMMEL.
♪♪
GOOD. WE [BLEEP] PULLED HER OUT.
AH, [BLEEP], HEY.
SO NOW HE'S GONNA PULL ME UP TO THE [BLEEP] V9,
AND ONCE WE GET THERE, WE'RE GONNA DISCONNECT IT,
AND I SHOULD BE [BLEEP] GOLDEN CLEAR SAILING.
♪♪
SO NOW, THAT WENT [BLEEP] GOOD, THAT WENT REAL GOOD.
♪♪
IT'S ALL GOOD.
♪♪
Narrator: TONY HAS GOT THE TROMMEL OUT OF MOOSE CREEK
IN THREE DAYS.
ALL THAT'S LEFT NOW
IS TO TRUCK IT DOWN THE HIGHWAY TO PARADISE HILL.
♪♪
Rick: EVERY YEAR, IT'S A RACE AGAINST THE WINNER COMING HERE.
THAT'S GONNA AFFECT US MORE THAN IT EVER HAS.
Narrator: TWO DAYS AGO, THIRD-YEAR MINE BOSS RICK NESS
ABANDONED THE DEEP CUT WHEN HE COULDN'T FIND ANY GOLD.
WE JUST SPENT THE BETTER PART OF A MONTH DIGGING A HOLE
THAT HAS NOTHING IN THE BOTTOM OF IT.
I MYSELF WILL NOT BE TAKING ANY MORE DAYS OFF,
OR ANY TIME OFF, FOR THAT MATTER.
I WANT TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
Narrator: NOW THE CREW'S ONLY CHANCE
TO HIT THEIR 1,000-OUNCE GOAL
IS TO RUN PAY FROM THE NEW CREEK CUT.
I WANT TO GO HOME WITH A BUNCH OF GOLD IN MY POCKET,
AND I KNOW RICK DOES, TOO.
Narrator: BUT NO ONE KNOWS IF IT'LL BE BONANZA OR BUST.
RICK'S GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY
TO MAKE MORE MONEY THAN I'VE EVER MADE IN MY LIFE.
IT'S A CHANCE FOR ME TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE
FOR ME AND MY FIANCéE.
AND, I MEAN, FOR RICK TO JUST HAND THAT TO ME --
IT'S HUMBLING,
AND I DON'T WANT TO LET HIM DOWN.
Narrator: MECHANIC CARL ROSK SCANS THE PAY DIRT.
Carl: THESE ARE NICE BOULDERS,
THERE'S NICE-LOOKING ROCKS HERE, RIGHT?
SO WAY BIGGER ROCKS.
I LIKE THE COLOR, RIGHT? IT'S GOT A RED TINGE TO IT.
WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE WEIGH THIS GOLD UP FOR THIS WEEK,
BUT IT'S LOOKING A LOT BETTER HERE.
WE'RE BACK ON THE GOOD PAY.
♪♪
Rick: WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY.
WE HAVE KRUSE'S ROLLED HIS TRUCK IN THE DEEP CUT.
IT'S LOADED. GET DOWN HERE. IT'S BAD.
[BLEEP]
♪♪
Narrator: AT DUNCAN CREEK...
CARL, CAN YOU JUST HOLD THAT FIRST-AID KIT, PLEASE?
...CHRIS KRUSE HAS ROLLED HIS 30-TON ROCK TRUCK,
AND HE'S TRAPPED IN THE UPTURNED CAB.
Man: IS HE ALL RIGHT?
YOU OKAY? YOUR NECK DOESN'T HURT, NOTHING, BUDDY?
NO.
NO. OH.
YOUR BACK'S NOT HURTING, NOTHING?
YOU ALL RIGHT, BROTHER?
♪♪
OH, YEAH, I'M [BLEEP] GREAT.
[BLEEP] [BLEEP] SCARED THE [BLEEP] OUT OF ME, DUDE.
[ DOG BARKING ]
YEAH, I KNOW I [BLEEP] UP, CHAMP.
ALL OF A SUDDEN I TURNED AROUND. I DIDN'T SEE ANY OF IT HAPPEN.
AND I SEE A [BLEEP] TRUCK HERE LAYING ON ITS SIDE.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY MOVING AROUND IT.
[BLEEP] THESE BUGS.
I'M JUST HAPPY YOU'RE OKAY, DUDE.
WE CAN REPLACE ANYTHING HERE, NO BIG DEAL.
IT WAS SUPER [BLEEP] SLOW-MO.
I'VE GOT IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S PICKED UP
THAT FRONT WHEEL BEFORE,
AND IT STARTED FEELING LIKE THAT,
AND THEN IT DIDN'T STOP FEELING LIKE THAT.
PRIDED MYSELF AND DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB
OF TAKING CARE OF THESE TRUCKS,
AND NOW I [BLEEP] UP.
WELL, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A GOOD SPOT TO RIG IT HERE.
Man: YEAH.
IT'S GONNA BE PRETTY HILLBILLY.
Narrator: CARL RIGS THE ROCK TRUCK TO THE 480.
THIS IS NOT HOW YOU RIG STUFF,
BUT WE NEED TO GET THIS THING FLOPPED OVER
IN A TIMELY FASHION.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
OKAY, GO AHEAD. START PULLING.
YOU AND DOWN. GO STRAIGHT DOWN.
WATCH YOURSELF.
HOLD IT THERE. HEY, RICK.
HOLD IT THERE.
THE LOADER'S RIGHT HERE.
-YEP. -LET'S GET THAT LOADER.
Rick: THE STRAP'S ABOUT TO SLIP OFF,
SO I'M JUST GONNA GET A CHAIN, GET THE LOADER IN HERE,
AND GET IT THE REST OF THE WAY OVER
SO IT DOESN'T FLOP BACK DOWN AGAIN.
COSTING US TIME AND MONEY. IT'S NOT A GOOD FEELING.
COULD YOU TILT IT A BIT MORE? TILT IT.
JUST WANT TO GET BACK IN THIS TRUCK
AND START HAULING DIRT.
Carl: I LIKE THAT. SO NOW YOU CAN PUT IT DOWN.
JUST WAIT FOR IT, GET READY.
EVERYBODY GOOD? -GOOD.
♪♪
OKAY, JUST WAIT.
ABOUT HAD A [BLEEP] HEART ATTACK
'CAUSE I KNEW WHO IT WAS, AND I SAW IT,
AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY [BLEEP] MOVING AROUND.
AND, YEAH, IT DIDN'T FEEL GOOD.
SO I'M JUST GLAD HE'S OKAY.
I DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP] ABOUT THIS TRUCK.
I'M JUST GLAD YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.
IF YOU WANTED OUT OF A TRUCK THAT BAD,
YOU JUST HAD TO [BLEEP] TELL ME, DUDE,
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: TWO HOURS AFTER THE CRASH,
KRUSE AND HIS TRUCK ARE BACK TO WORK.
Kruse: ZERO PHYSICAL HARM,
QUITE POSSIBLY IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO MY PRIDE.
Narrator: ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CUT,
RICK AND CARLA CLEAN UP
THE FIRST OF THE PAY DIRT FROM THE NEW CREEK CUT.
RICK'S MINING FUTURE RIDES ON THE RESULT.
COME ON, KYLE.
WE'RE LATE FOR THIS CLEANOUT, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
REALLY HUSTLE ON THAT.
Rick: IT LOOKS LIKE THE SAME MATERIAL WE WERE DIGGING
WHEN WE WERE HAVING OUR BEST WEEK.
SO I'M REALLY HOPING THAT IT'S GOT THE SAME GOLD IN IT.
BUT LIKE YOU SAY, CARLA, WE WON'T KNOW
UNTIL WE PUT IT ON THE SCALE.
♪♪
ANOTHER LONG WEEK ON THE MINE, LOT OF NEW THINGS GOING ON,
FRED JUST RADIOED IN FOR A GOLD WEIGH,
SO HOPEFULLY SOME GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK.
WE PRETTY MUCH TOSSED OUR HATS IN WITH THE LIBERATION CUT HERE,
AND FROM LISTENING TO WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW,
THE TESTING AND EVERYTHING,
I HOPE, YOU KNOW, WE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
Narrator: AT ELKHORN CLAIM, IT'S THE END OF THE WEEK.
FRED LEWIS CALLS HIS CREW TOGETHER TO WEIGH GOLD
FROM THE NEW LIBERATION CUT.
Lewis: THIS EVERYBODY? ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
SO WE'RE NOW ALL IN ON THE LIBERATION CUT.
IT'S GOING A LOT EASIER UP THERE.
OH, IT IS, IT IS. MY BASE IS STABLE.
I'M NOT WORRYING ABOUT SLIDING AROUND,
OR OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NO WATER DRAINAGE ISSUES ON THAT CUT.
YOUR FATHER-IN-LAW SAID THAT IT TESTED THE BEST
OUT OF ANY PLACE ON THE PROPERTY, RIGHT?
IT DID. IT DID.
Narrator: FRED HAD TO ABANDON THE SWAMP CUT
WHEN IT GOT TOO DANGEROUS TO MINE.
NOW HIS SEASON DEPENDS ON THE LIBERATION CUT
DELIVERING AT LEAST 1/2 AN OUNCE OF GOLD
PER 100 YARDS OF PAY DIRT.
GUYS READY TO SEE WHAT WE GOT?
-YEAH. -ALWAYS.
-LET'S DO IT. -LET'S DO THIS.
-LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT. -COME ON, BABY.
NO WHAMMIES, NO WHAMMIES.
Narrator: THIS 60-YARD RUN NEEDS TO PRODUCE
AT LEAST 1/3 OF AN OUNCE.
0.36.
-NICE. -NICE!
THIRD OF AN OUNCE.
WORTH JUST $700,
BUT IF THE GOLD CONTINUES AT THIS RATE,
THE LIBERATION CUT COULD SAVE FRED'S SEASON.
Lewis: NO, GUYS, BUT THIS IS --
WE'RE MOVING UPWARD. WE'RE NOT MOVING DOWN.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING I GIVE A [BLEEP] ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT PUTS OUR GOAL TOTAL AT, RIGHT?
WHAT? HALF AN OUNCE?
-0.99. -OH! ALMOST.
LET'S PULL EVERY BIT WE CAN OUT OF THIS LIBERATION CUT
AND KEEP PUTTING GOLD IN THE PAN.
Man: ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S GO GET SOME MORE.
-GET BACK TO WORK. -ALL RIGHT.
-YEP. -GOOD JOB.
WE'LL HIT THE NEW CUT, START GETTING MORE GOLD.
AND IT SHOULD BE A LOT MORE EFFICIENT,
LOT EASIER TO MOVE DIRT AROUND, AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE.
HOPEFULLY WE GET SOME MORE GOLD.
WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE LIBERATION CUT
FOR GOLDER PASTURES, AND WE'RE ALL IN.
THERE'S NO OTHER OPTION FOR US AT THIS POINT.
SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD,
DRIVING ON, PULLING GOLD OUT OF THE GROUND.
Narrator: COMING UP...
Rick: HERE WE GO. HERE WE GO.
ARE THEY LIKE 200 APIECE OR 300 APIECE?
-THEY'RE LIKE 500 APIECE. -WHAT?!
♪♪
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL HAS A 400-MILE DRIVE
ACROSS THE NORTH AMERICAN WILDERNESS
TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE YUKON FOR THIS WEEK'S GOLD WEIGH.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S A REALLY GOOD TRIAL RUN TO SEE
IF THEY'RE ABLE TO KEEP THINGS ROLLING WITHOUT ME.
IF THEY CAN KEEP THAT PLACE GOING,
THEN WE CAN GET ANOTHER OPERATION UP AND ROLLING, RIGHT?
AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT SOMETHING
COMES OUT OF THAT TRIP TO ALASKA.
IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE MORE GOLD IN THE GROUND.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE TESTS WILL TELL US.
♪♪
Woman: DUDE, HE DOES NOT LIKE TO BE HUGGED.
-I DO ALL THE TIME! -YEAH, WELL, HE AIN'T A HUGGER.
WE'RE USUALLY OUT --
IT GOT REALLY QUIET ALL OF A SUDDEN.
WERE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING STUPID?
-WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU. -OH!
-NAILED IT! -THAT'S THE WORST.
-NAILED IT! -AH.
Narrator: AFTER THE DEEP CUT WAS A BUST,
RICK AND HIS CREW HAVE RUN THE NEW CREEK CUT PAY DIRT
FOR FOUR DAYS.
-NO ARGUMENT FROM ANYONE? -NO, NO.
WELL, NOT AFTER -- NOT AFTER THIS WEEK.
I MEAN, [BLEEP] BUT, YEAH.
I MEAN, IT WAS -- IT WAS REALLY TEMPTING
TO BURY MY HEAD, KIND OF LIKE I DID LAST YEAR, RIGHT?
-YEAH. -YOU KNOW?
I PROMISED MYSELF I WOULDN'T DO THAT THIS YEAR,
AND I PROMISED YOU GUYS THAT, TOO.
SO WE JUST [BLEEP] MOVE ON, RIGHT?
-YEAH. -SO...
I MEAN, A DOWN WEEK, YEAH.
BUT THERE IS STILL GOLD IN THE PAN.
Narrator: TO STAY ON TRACK FOR HIS 1,000-OUNCE GOAL,
RICK NEEDS THIS CLEANUP TO PAY AT LEAST 30 OUNCES.
Rick: HERE WE GO. HERE WE GO.
[ SIGHS ] WE DO HAVE 10. WE GOT 20, 30.
40.
SO WE HAVE...
45.06.
AIN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH $85,000, MY FRIEND.
OH! THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT, CARL.
Narrator: TEAM NESS IS STILL IN THE GAME.
Rick: IF WE CAN KEEP GETTING KICKED IN THE ASS
AND STILL PULLING THESE OFF, WELL, AT A CERTAIN POINT
WE'RE GONNA STOP GETTING KICKED IN THE ASS, RIGHT?
Carl: WE WENT FROM LOSERS TO HEROES NOW, MAN.
AND IF WE KEEP THIS UP, I'M HAPPY.
-LET'S KEEP OUR HEADS UP. -[BLEEP] YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, LIKE CARL JUST SAID, WE'LL KEEP MOVING ON.
THANKS A LOT, GUYS. -YES, SIR.
-KEEP ON KEEPING ON. -ONWARD AND UPWARD.
-KEEP ON KEEPING ON! -YEAH, MAN.
♪♪
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL IS BACK IN THE YUKON
AFTER HIS PROSPECTING TRIP IN ALASKA...
♪♪
WELCOME HOME.
...JUST IN TIME FOR A BIG FOUR-WEEK GOLD WEIGH.
I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT [BLEEP] GOLD LOOKS LIKE.
-[ LAUGHS ] -BEEN GONE SO LONG.
Doumitt: IT LOOKS LIKE THAT YELLOW STUFF RIGHT THERE.
SO HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?
DRILLING DIDN'T GO GREAT ON THE FIRST PROPERTY,
BUT THE SECOND ONE IT DID.
IT'S PLACE CALLED CLEARY CREEK.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A FEW YEARS TO DEVELOP.
A LOT MORE EXPLORATION THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE.
BOY, IT'D BE A HECK OF AN ADVENTURE, WOULDN'T IT?
Narrator: MITCH AND THE CREW ARRIVE TO SEE
HOW MUCH GOLD THEY PRODUCED IN THE MONTH PARKER'S BEEN AWAY.
WHAT'S UP, GENTLEMEN? OH, HEY, YOU MADE 'ER BACK.
I'M BACK, [BLEEP]
DID YOU FIND YOURSELF? DID YOU FIND YOUR CENTER?
[ LAUGHTER ]
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? ARE WE GONNA BE
MOVING WASH PLANTS THERE?IF GOLD PRICES STAY HIGH,
THERE'S A GOOD CHUNK OF MINING THERE, I THINK.
WE'D JUST NEED A PLANE,
AND THEN ANY OF US COULD GO BACK AND FORTH QUITE EASY.
IT'S LIKE AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTE FLIGHT.
OH, [BLEEP] I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. THAT'S COOL.
AND IT WAS GOOD.
IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING GREAT HERE.
-YEAH, WE WERE BUSY. -YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN BUSY.
-WE WERE VERY BUSY, YEAH. -DEFINITELY TIRED.
Narrator: FIRST UP --
THE GOLD FROM MITCH'S LAST WEEK IN CHARGE.
-THIS WAS FOR BIG RED. -OH, OKAY.
-OKAY. YEAH. -ALL RIGHT.
20, 30, 60, 80, 100,
120, 130, 140,
150, 160, 170
174.25.
SO TYSON, THIS IS YOURS.
Parker: AND THEN THIS IS NOT HIS,
JUST TO BE CLEAR.
Narrator: MITCH NEEDS 1,800 OUNCES TOTAL
TO PROVE HIMSELF AS A SECOND IN COMMAND,
AT LEAST 450 OUNCES EVERY WEEK.
119.30.
Narrator: SLUICIFER AND BIG RED TOGETHER HAVE 293 OUNCES,
WORTH $550,000,
WELL SHORT OF MITCH'S WEEKLY TARGET.
YEAH, NO, THERE WAS DEFINITELY SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD.
YEAH, THERE WAS DEFINITELY SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD ALONG THE WAY,
YOU KNOW, SOME ISSUES WITH BIG RED.
WE WORKED THROUGH THOSE.
NOW FOR THE GOLD FROM THE PREVIOUS THREE WEEKS.
-LET'S SEE THIS STUFF. -ALL RIGHT.
SO WHAT WE HAVE...
DON'T DROP IT.
♪♪
-THIS THE LAST ONE, CHRIS? -[ LAUGHS ]
ARE THEY LIKE 200 APIECE OR 300 APIECE?
-THEY'RE LIKE 500 APIECE. -WHAT?!
-5-5. -THAT'S A GOOD MONTH.
YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: IN THE FOUR WEEKS PARKER WAS AWAY,
MITCH SMASHED HIS TARGET OUT OF THE PARK
WITH 2,293 OUNCES OF GOLD,
WORTH $4.3 MILLION.
THERE'S YOUR AIRPLANE.
[ Laughing ] WE CAN ALL HAVE OUR OWN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THAT'S, LIKE, THE BIGGEST ONE WE'VE EVER HAD, ISN'T IT?
OH, YEAH. NO, THIS IS DEFINITELY A RECORD-BREAKER.
-THAT USED TO BE A SEASON. -OH, YEAH.
AND GOOD ONE, TOO.
FEELS GOOD TO SEE IT SITTING THERE.
-YOU GUYS CRUSHED IT. -NICE WORK, BUDDY.
-NO KIDDING. -[BLEEP] 2,000 OUNCES.
-THERE YOU GO. -GEEZ.
GOOD JOB, GUYS, REALLY. THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.
Mitch: DOESN'T EVEN FEEL REAL LOOKING AT THOSE PANS.
RIGHT?
SO WE GOT A SEASON TOTAL OF...
47...
87.
I SHOULD LEAVE MORE OFTEN.
I MEAN, IF YOU WANT. I MEAN, WE COULD...
CHEERS
Narrator: TAKING PARKER TO A TOTAL SO FAR
OF $8.75 MILLION.
I'M PUMPED.
AND, LIKE, TO BE ABLE TO BE GONE AND HAVE ONE OF THE BEST MONTHS
THIS COMPANY'S EVER HAD IS AWESOME.
AND, LIKE, I JUST CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH.
Mitch: YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW
WHAT A STRONG TEAM WE GOT HERE AND JUST WHAT WE CAN GET DONE
EVEN THOUGH PARKER WASN'T AROUND.
SO MUCH GOLD IS SUCH A GOOD FEELING.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY, REALLY HAPPY
THAT HE LIKED THE RESULT.
Parker: THE FACT THAT THINGS WENT SO WELL HERE TELLS ME
THAT I SHOULD BE MAKING SOMETHING ELSE HAPPEN.
WE HAD A 2,000-OUNCE A MONTH,
BUT WHAT IF WE HAD TWO OPERATIONS
THAT DID A 2,000-OUNCE MONTH?
MM. THAT WOULD BE FUN,
AND LOTS OF PAIN AND SUFFERING, BUT ALSO FUN.
Narrator: NEXT TIME ON "GOLD RUSH"...
CAN I COME IN?
...PARKER SCHNABEL NEEDS NEW GROUND
FROM AN OLD RIVAL.
WHAT THE [BLEEP] DO YOU WANT?
WE NEED THE WATER NOW.
FRED LEWIS'S WASH PLANT...
DAMN. I'LL GET RIGHT ON IT.
...THREATENS TO SINK HIS SEASON.
AH, [BLEEP]
AND TONY BEETS'S PLANS GO UP IN FLAMES.
[ EXPLOSION ]
GET OUT OF MY [BLEEP] WAY!
[ INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER ]
[ EXPLOSION ]