Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
PARKER SCHNABEL'S SEASON RESTS...
CAN I COME IN?
...IN THE HANDS OF ONE MAN.
WE NEED THE WATER, NOW.
FRED LEWIS AND HIS BAND OF BROTHERS...
Kyle: YEAH, MAN. I'LL GET RIGHT ON IT.
...WAGE A WASH PLANT WAR.
OH, [BLEEP].
HEY, HEY, HEY! CUT THE WATER, JOHNNY. CUT THE WATER!
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIX THE COLONEL SO IT'S FIXED RIGHT.
AND TONY BEETS' PLANS TO SUPER-SIZE HIS OPERATION...
...GO UP IN FLAMES.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
Parker: IT'S JUST A KILLER CREW THIS YEAR.
GOLD PRICES ARE HIGH, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT
GETTING THROUGH AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
Narrator: WITH GOLD PRICES SOARING TO A RECORD $1,900 PER OUNCE,
PARKER SCHNABEL IS ON A MISSION TO BANK ENOUGH GOLD
TO EXPAND HIS MINING EMPIRE.
Parker: WE'RE UP THERE, AND THE AMOUNT OF GROUND
WE'RE GOING THROUGH IS CRAZY.
JUST KEEPING GROUND OUT AHEAD OF BIG RED AND SLUICIFER
IS GONNA BE OUR BIG CHALLENGE.
Narrator: AFTER FOUR YEARS MINING THE LAST CUT,
HIS WASH PLANT, BIG RED,
IS DOWN TO UNDER A MONTH'S WORTH OF PAY DIRT.
THE GOLD PRICE IS JUST SO HIGH THAT IT'S GIVING US
EVEN MORE INCENTIVE TO GO AS HARD AS YOU CAN
WHILE WE'RE HERE AND MAKE THE BEST OF IT,
'CAUSE THIS MIGHT NOT LAST FOREVER.
Narrator: FOUR MILES AWAY, ON THE PROMISED LAND,
SLUICIFER IS EVEN CLOSER TO RUNNING OUT OF PAY.
♪♪
Mitch: EVERYTHING'S BEEN MOTORING ALONG REALLY NICE HERE,
BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY GETTING DOWN TO THE LAST OF OUR PAY DIRT.
Narrator: PARKER'S PROMISED LAND CLAIM
COVERS 2,000 ACRES OF GOLD-RICH GROUND,
BUT MOST OF IT IS LOCKED IN PERMAFROST --
GROUND THAT'S FROZEN SOLID.
THE SLUICIFER CREW IS CHURNING THROUGH 24 ACRES OF PAY DIRT,
OPENED UP AT THE START OF THE SEASON AND LEFT TO FALL.
NOW THERE'S ONLY A WEEK'S THAWED PAY DIRT LEFT TO RUN.
Mitch: I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH THIS GROUND.
WE GOT TO THINK ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH GROUND OPENED UP,
BUT IT IS THE YUKON.
THERE IS PERMAFROST, AND THE GROUND ISN'T THAWING RIGHT NOW.
WORST-CASE SCENARIO, WE'RE GONNA RUN INTO HERE
IS BEING OUT OF THAWED PAY DIRT
AND NO PLACE OPENED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO.
Narrator: TO KEEP HIS WASH PLANT SLUICING, PARKER NEEDS NEW GROUND, FAST.
I'VE GOT MY EYE ON A PIECE OF GROUND
HERE ON THE INDIAN RIVER
THAT LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD POTENTIAL.
Narrator: THE AIRSTRIP -- A MILLION-SQUARE-FOOT CLAIM
TWO MILES DOWNSTREAM FROM PARKER'S CAMP.
HE OWNS THE WATER LICENSE TO MINE IT,
BUT NOT THE GROUND ITSELF.
Parker: THIS PIECE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT ON THE LICENSE,
SO WE HAVE TO JUST GO IN AND WE MINE IT
AND GET IT OUT AND NO SCREWING AROUND.
THE BIG PROBLEM IS, YOU KNOW, TONY OWNS IT.
Narrator: LAST SEASON...
TONY BEETS LOST HIS WATER LICENSE ON THE INDIAN RIVER
AND ASKED PARKER TO SHARE HIS
SO THAT HE COULD MINE THE AIR STRIP.
THERE'S BEEN SOME BAD BLOOD AT TIMES, TONY,
BUT I'M GOING TO BE CALLING IN A FAVOR ONE OF THESE DAYS,
AND SO I'M FINE WITH IT.
Narrator: BUT THE DEAL FELL APART...
HEY THERE, YOUNGSTER.
...WHEN IT CAME TO THE CONTRACT.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE A BUSINESSMAN, TOO.
YEAH. AIN'T SIGNING IT.
Parker: TONY, RIGHT NOW, HE WOULD PREFER TO COME OUT HERE
AND MINE IT HIMSELF,
BUT HE'S STILL WAITING ON HIS OWN LICENSE.
I'M JUST GOING TO SEE HIM RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.
♪♪
HELLO?
CAN I COME IN?
SHOES ON OR OFF?
I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
PART OF THE REASON WHY I'M HERE
IS WE'RE JUST ABOUT DONE, LIKE, AROUND OUR CAMP.
THAT'S LICENSED GROUND RIGHT NOW DOWNSTREAM FROM US,
KIND OF AROUND THE AIRSTRIP.
I KNOW YOU'VE DONE SOME WORK IN THERE,
BUT WE'RE NOT FAR AWAY WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF EQUIPMENT.
I LOVE TO MINE IT, IF YOU'RE GAME.
♪♪
OKAY.
THIS IS A NEW TONY. I'M NOT USED TO THIS EXPERIENCE.
ALRIGHT.
WELL, YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT,
'CAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS HUNGRY FOR GROUND.
AND WITH THAT, I GUESS WE'LL BE PAYING YOU
A LOT MORE ROYALTIES THAN I THOUGHT WE WOULD,
BUT THAT'S OKAY, I GUESS.
THANKS, TONY.
WELL.
THAT WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MORE STRANGE MEETINGS
I'VE HAD WITH TONY BEETS.
GOOD RESULT, I'M JUST STILL CONFUSED BY THE EASE OF IT.
I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, WE GOT ANOTHER BLOCK OF GROUND,
SO THAT'S THE BEST PART.
Narrator: PARKER ORDERS AN EXCAVATOR AND ROCK TRUCK
TWO-MAN STRIPPING CREW TO MOVE TO THE AIRSTRIP
AND SETS THEM A MAMMOTH TASK --
STRIP A 600,000-SQUARE-FOOT CUT DOWN TO PAY DIRT
READY FOR SLUICIFER TO MOVE INTO NEXT WEEK.
GOTTA PREP THE CUT FOR THE PLANT,
'CAUSE WE'RE OUT PRETTY SOON.
Narrator: J.M. MERCIER, WHO JOINED PARKER'S OPERATION THIS SEASON,
LEADS THE CREW.
PARKER GIVE ME THE POSITION TO LEAD THE ENTIRE OPERATION,
WHICH I'M PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT THAT,
THAT THEY GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SHOW MYSELF A LITTLE BIT.
BUT AT SAME TIME, IT'S A LOT OF STRESS ON MY SHOULDER.
HOW'S THAT, BUD?
Narrator: FELLOW NEW RECRUIT NICK PATTERSON...
OOP! WRONG PEDAL.
...TRUCKS OUT THE OVERBURDEN.
COME ON, BABY. FIND SECOND GEAR. THERE WE GO.
WE'RE TAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL
AND DUMPING IT UP TOP.
WE GOT TO MOVE AS MUCH DIRT AS WE CAN PRETTY FAST.
PARKER'S TRYING TO CRANK EVERY PLANT TO THE LIMIT
SO WE CAN SLUICE AS MUCH GROUND
AS WE CAN TO CATCH MORE GOLD AS WE CAN,
AND WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT [BLEEP] DONE
SO THEY CAN BRING THE PLANT HERE AND START SLUICING.
IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO HERE.
♪♪
Narrator: DRIVEN BY THE RECORD-HIGH GOLD PRICES,
THE KING OF THE KLONDIKE, TONY BEETS,
IS RACING TO MINE EVERY INCH OF GROUND HE CAN FIND.
AT THE MEGACUT, HIS TROMMEL IS SLUICING
350 YARDS OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR, 24 HOURS A DAY.
Monica: WE GOT IT!
DAUGHTER MONICA RUNS 200 YARDS AN HOUR
OF OLD-TIMER TAILINGS THROUGH THE SHAKER DECK.
MORE POWER!
AND NOW, TONY IS BRINGING HIS NEW SECRET WEAPON
TO PARADISE HILL.
Narrator: SON MIKE TRUCKS IN THE 10-TON FRAME.
THIS [BLEEP] THING WAS A NIGHTMARE
TO PULL APART AND GET OUT, AND NOW WE GOT HER OUT.
WE GOT TO PUT THIS THING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE SHE WORKS,
TO MAKE SURE IF MY DAD SPENT HIS MONEY WISELY OR FRIVOLOUSLY.
Narrator: TONY SPENT $400,000 ON THIS TROMMEL,
BUT IT HASN'T RUN FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.
WITH ONLY TWO MONTHS OF THE SHORT YUKON SEASON LEFT,
HE NEEDS IT UP AND RUNNING FAST SO THAT HE CAN PAY IT OFF
AND HIT HIS SEASON GOAL OF 3,000 OUNCES.
[BLEEP] NICE.
Narrator: UNLIKE A NORMAL TROMMEL, THIS MOBILE TROMMEL
HAS ITS OWN ENGINE AND WHEELS AND DRIVES ITSELF TO THE PAY.
AN EXCAVATOR FEEDS PAY STRAIGHT FROM THE CUT.
IT PASSES INTO THE DRUM, WHERE FINE, GOLD-RICH MATERIAL
FLOWS INTO THE SLUICE RUNS.
THE CONVEYOR REMOVES WASTE TAILINGS.
AS SOON AS ONE SECTION'S FINISHED,
IT MOVES DOWN THE CUT TO THE NEXT AREA OF PAY.
Mike: I'LL EVEN MAKE SURE I GO ALONG THOSE SWITCHBACKS
NICE AND QUIET.
MIKE HEADS BACK TO MOOSE CREEK FOR THE FINAL PIECE --
THE CONVEYOR.
ONCE WE'RE DONE THIS LOAD, WE'RE DONE IN MOOSE CREEK,
AND THEN WE CAN FINALLY FINISH PUTTING TOGETHER THAT TROMMEL.
LEN, YOU GUYS PULL!
A LITTLE BIT!
THAT'S GOOD!
TONY, STOP.
TERRANCE, PULL IT OVER!
[ CREAKING ]
ONE SEC, TONY. ONE SEC. A LITTLE BIT MORE.
JUST A HAIR MORE.
Narrator: 13 MILES AWAY AT DAWSON CITY FERRY PORT,
[ FIRE CRACKLES ]MIKE'S TRUCK CAB IS AN INFERNO.
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
♪♪
[ SIRENS WAIL ]
Narrator: IN DAWSON CITY...
THERE SHE GOES!
...MIKE BEETS' TRUCK IS ON FIRE.
OH, SHE'S GOING UP NOW, EH?
[ RADIO CHATTER ]
[ CAR DOOR OPENS ]
♪♪
Mike: AW, MAN. I GOT TO REPLACE ALL MY [BLEEP].
IF THAT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING,
THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM.
Narrator: ON HIS WAY TO MOOSE CREEK TO PICK UP A CONVEYOR,
MIKE PARKED THE TRUCK BEFORE LOADING ONTO THE FERRY.
Mike: WE WERE GONNA BRING IT ACROSS, BUT I SAW IT WAS BUSY,
SO I DECIDED TO PARK IT OVER HERE.
I DON'T KNOW. MUST HAVE WENT...
I DON'T KNOW, BUT LIKE I SAID, NO POINT IN CRYING OVER IT,
'CAUSE IT'S BURNT.
ME WHINING ABOUT IT AIN'T GONNA BRING IT BACK.
OH MAN, IT SMELLS SOMETHING FIERCE.
YOU SHOULD SEE IF YOUR SLEEPING BAG'S STILL GOOD.
Narrator: TONY HEADS BACK TO FINISH ASSEMBLING THE TROMMEL...
...BUT NOW WILL HAVE TO WAIT DAYS FOR
MIKE TO BRING IN THE CONVEYOR.
Mike: NEED TO GET THE LAST OF THIS [BLEEP] DOWN TO MOOSE CREEK.
SO MY TRUCK DECIDED I WANT TO GO AND DIE.
THIS [BLEEP]'S JUST NOTHING BUT HOLDING THIS UP.
♪♪
HEY, MISFITS, THINK ABOUT THIS.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT 100 PERCENT OPERATION,
WE'RE FRICKIN' MINING!
Narrator: OVER HALFWAY THROUGH THEIR FIRST SEASON
WITH LESS THAN $1,800 WORTH OF GOLD,
FRED LEWIS AND HIS CREW OF COMBAT VETERANS
ARE ON A MISSION TO TURN THEIR MINING CAREERS AROUND.
YOU KNOW WHAT COLOR THAT DIRT IS?
GOLD.
Narrator: NOW THEY'RE BANKING ON THE LIBERATION CUT,
WHICH TESTED OUT AT HALF AN OUNCE PER 100 YARDS.
IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE SUCCESS HERE,
WE GOT TO START GETTING GOLD FAST.
WE NEED TO MOVE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF PAY THROUGH THE COLONEL
IF WE'RE GONNA CATCH UP THIS SEASON.
Narrator: INFANTRY SCOUT SNIPER STUART McKENZIE
FEEDS THE PLANT 20 YARDS OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR.
I'M JUST GONNA TRY AND PUT AS MANY BUCKETS
AS I CAN THROUGH.
KEEP THAT SUCKER FLOWING.
♪♪
Fred: THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE, RIGHT HERE,
IF WE CAN JUST KEEP THIS GOING THE REST OF THE SEASON.
[ STUART SIGHS ]
WHAT IS GOING ON?
HEY, FRED.
THE HOPPER'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S JAMMING UP PRETTY BAD.
♪♪
Kendall: ALRIGHT, STEWY! STEWY! THAT'D BE IT, BUD.
[BLEEP] DAMN IT.
[ MACHINERY STOPS ]
WE'RE GONNA CLEAN OUT THE HOPPER FEEDER.
YEAH, MAN, I'LL GET RIGHT ON IT.
Narrator: INFANTRY SERGEANT KYLE PLETZKE TAKES ON THE TASK.
[ SHOVEL SCRAPING ]
Fred: YOU KNOW, KYLE'S THE ONLY MAN HERE THAT I DIDN'T KNOW
BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON.
I TOOK KENDALL'S WORD FOR HIM, AND TO BE HONEST,
HE'S PROBABLY MY HARDEST WORKER.
HE GOES HEAD-FIRST INTO THINGS AND HE GETS [BLEEP] DONE.
Kyle: YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY NOT AFRAID OF HARD WORK.
AFTER BEING IN THE MILITARY FOR FIVE YEARS --
A LOT OF IT WAS SPENT IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ME,
AND THAT WAS PROBABLY HARDER WORK
THAN ACTUALLY GOING OUT AND BEING AN INFANTRYMEN.
Narrator: WHILE SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN, KYLE'S LIGHT ARMORED VEHICLE
ROLLED AND CRUSHED HIS LEGS AND PELVIS,
FORCING KYLE TO MEDICALLY RETIRE FROM THE MILITARY.
Kyle: HAD TO RELEARN HOW TO WALK,
AND DOCTORS KIND OF GAVE ME A BAD PROGNOSIS AT ONE POINT.
THAT WAS PRETTY DARK, HEARING THAT,
AND AFTER LEAVING THE HOSPITAL AND LEAVING THE MILITARY,
IT WAS TOUGH TO KNOW WHAT TO DO.
Narrator: MICHIGAN-BORN KYLE TRAVELED THE GLOBE TO FIND WORK,
PICKING UP DIFFERENT TRADES ALONG THE WAY.
THIS IS -- I THINK THIS IS WHAT I NEEDED, YOU KNOW?
BEING OUT HERE WITH A GOOD GROUP OF GUYS,
NOT ONLY PHYSICALLY BUT MENTALLY,
I FEEL GREAT BEING OUT HERE, RUNNING AROUND THE MINE SITE,
HOPPING UP, STILL ABLE TO FIX THINGS.
I THINK THIS MIGHT BE A REAL CALLING FOR ME.
I'VE GOT TO GIVE IT EVERYTHING I CAN.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S GONNA STOP ME
FROM MAKING THIS BE A SUCCESS.
[ SHOVEL SCRAPING ]
ALRIGHT, STU, LET'S FIRE IT UP. WE'RE GOOD, ALL CLEAN AND CLEAR.
Fred: FIRE UP THE PUMP.
[ MOTOR STARTS ]
WATER'S COMING!
♪♪
Stuart: I'M TRYING TO GET AT LEAST 20 YARDS AN HOUR.
♪♪
[BLEEP].
Narrator: 15 MINUTES LATER, THE HOPPER JAMS AGAIN.
[ GROANS ]
IT'S ABSOLUTE [BLEEP].
HEY, KYLE, THIS IS STUART.
GO AHEAD, MAN.
HEY, THE HOPPER'S JAMMING UP, MAN.
CAN YOU COME UP THERE AND KNOCK SOMETHING LOOSE?
IT'S JUST GUMMING UP REAL BAD.
[BLEEP] DAMN IT, DUDE.
Kyle: WE WANT TO RUN, WE WANT TO HAVE GOLD, BUT GUESS WHAT?
WITH THAT ISSUE, IT'S NOT HAPPENING.
WE'RE NOT GETTING IT.
HEY, LEAVE THAT THING RUNNING.
I GOT TO GO UP THERE AND FIX IT.
HEY, MAN, BE CAREFUL UP THERE.
YES, STILL WE'RE JAMMED UP REAL BAD HERE.
WE'RE RUNNING COMPLETELY JACKED UP.
[BLEEP], YEAH.
YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T BE UP ON THE WASH PAN WHILE IT'S RUNNING.
♪♪
EVERY TIME THIS THING GETS JAMMED, WE GOT TO STOP AGAIN.
WE'RE LOSING ALL KINDS OF TIME.
[BLEEP].
OH, [BLEEP].
HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!
[BLEEP]. CUT THE WATER.
CUT THE WATER, JOHNNY! CUT THE WATER!
♪♪
[BLEEP].
KYLE, YOU CAN'T BE UP THERE WHILE IT'S RUNNING!
WHAT'S GOING ON?
Stuart: [BLEEP]!
I WAS CLEARING, BROKE OFF A PIECE OF PLASTIC.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT,
'CAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE YOU GUYS UP HERE WHILE IT'S RUNNING.
YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT [BLEEP] UP.
♪♪
Jean-Michel: I'M CROSSING MY FINGERS THAT EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE DONE,
BUT WE'RE SO BEHIND SCHEDULE.
Narrator: AT THE AIRSTRIP, PARKER SCHNABEL HAS TASKED
NEW HIRE J.M. WITH STRIPPING A 600,000-SQUARE-FOOT CUT
READY FOR SLUICIFER TO MOVE INTO IN JUST FOUR DAYS.
I GOT 20 THINGS TO DO AND I ONLY HAVE TIME TO DO 10.
I MEAN, LIKE WE'RE TWO PEOPLE HERE,
AND IT'S LIKE, WE NEED AN ARMY RIGHT NOW,
BUT HEY, WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN.
Mitch: YOU KNOW, THIS SEASON,
EVERYBODY'S JUST BEEN PUSHED TO THE LIMIT.
Narrator: THREE AND A HALF MILES AWAY AT THE PROMISED LAND,
FOREMAN MITCH BLASCHKE CLOSES IN ON THE LAST OF THE THAWED PAY.
WELL, WE'RE MOTORING THROUGH THIS PRETTY QUICK,
A LOT FASTER THAN WE WERE ORIGINALLY THINKING WE WERE.
AND THESE WASH PLANTS HAVE BEEN RUNNING REAL NICE,
SO VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THE AIRSTRIP CUT OPENED UP.
WE WANT TO HAVE THAT CUT READY TO GO FOR WHEN
WE FINISH RUNNING THIS PAY DIRT.
WE WANT TO WHEEL RIGHT OVER THERE
AND GET RIGHT BACK TO SLUICING.
WE'RE COMING IN HOT.
Narrator: IF THE AIRSTRIP IS NOT DOWN TO PAY DIRT
BEFORE SLUICIFER ARRIVES,
PARKER'S BIGGEST MONEYMAKER WILL SIT IDLE,
COSTING HIM $4,000 AN HOUR IN LOST GOLD.
YEAH, I NEED TO TALK TO J.M. AND SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.
WE'RE CLOSING IN ON THEM QUICKLY.
YEAH, NO DOUBT.
JUST HOLLER ON THE RADIO IF YOU NEED ANYTHING.
SOUNDS GOOD.
YEAH, NO PROBLEM. HAVE A GOOD ONE.
♪♪
Jean-Michel: 'SUP, TYSON?HEY, MAN. HOW'S IT GOING?
STILL BEHIND SCHEDULE, BUT WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
I'M ALL BY MYSELF HERE.
BUT YOU GUYS ARE STILL SLUICING, OR YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE?
Tyson: SORRY FOR THE BAD NEWS, MAN. WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE.
I IMAGINE WE'LL HAVE TODAY, TOMORROW NIGHT,
AND THEN TOMORROW DURING THE DAY,
WE'LL PROBABLY FINISH IT UP
AND TRY AND GET THE CLEANUP DONE.
WE'RE GONNA BE READY TO MOVE TOMORROW.
[BLEEP]. THAT'S A LOT OF STRESS.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE'S ANOTHER
THREE, FOUR DAYS OF DIRT WORKS
BEFORE WE CAN EVEN THINK ABOUT BRINGING A WASH PLANT HERE.
IT'S JUST NOT READY OVER HERE.
YOU GUYS GOT TO STOP SAYING THAT, MAN.
I KNOW I'M BEHIND SCHEDULE, MAN.
[BLEEP].
ALRIGHT.OKAY, THANKS, TYSON.
NO WORRIES.
"BEHIND SCHEDULE. BEHIND SCHEDULE."
I KNOW I'M [BLEEP] BEHIND SCHEDULE.
Narrator: WITH ONE DAY LEFT ON THE PROMISED LAND
AND ONE DAY FOR THE WASH PLANT MOVE TO BE READY FOR SLUICIFER,
J.M.'S GOT TO FINISH 4 DAYS' WORTH OF STRIPPING IN 48 HOURS.
Jean-Michel: I MEAN, I'VE TRIED TO KEEP A SMILE ON MY FACE EVERY DAY
AND TRIED TO BE POSITIVE,
BUT SOMETIMES, MAN. [ GROANS ]
I JUST WANT TO [BLEEP] LOSE MY [BLEEP], YOU KNOW?
'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE LINE, I GOT PARKER ON THE OTHER END
WHO'S ASKING ME SO MUCH THING AND ASKED ME THE IMPOSSIBLE.
[ CRASHING ]
WHAT THE [BLEEP]?
DID HE JUST [BLEEP] ROLL HIS TRUCK?
Nick: J.M.!
PLEASE HELP ME OUT, BUD.
HOLY [BLEEP], BRO.
EMPTY OUT THE BOX, AND THEN I'LL PUT IT BACK ON WHEELS.
♪♪
Jean-Michel: CROSS OUR FINGER THAT IT DIDN'T WRECK ANYTHING.
♪♪
LIKE, I NEED THAT RIGHT NOW, MAN.
LIKE I [BLEEP] NEED THAT.
♪♪
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
I MIGHT HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF OVERTIME HERE
TO MAKE SURE THAT CUT IS READY.
[BLEEP].
LONG HOURS, MAN.Jean-Michel: I KNOW.
THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH DONE SLUICING AT THE OTHER END,
SO THAT PLANT SHOULD SHOW UP HERE PRETTY SOON.
HELP ME OUT?
OF COURSE I WILL.
Narrator: AT THE END OF A 12-HOUR SHIFT...
PEDAL TO THE METAL!
J.M. AND ROCK TRUCK DRIVER NICK WORK OVERTIME INTO
THE SHORT YUKON NIGHT TO TRY TO GET THE CUT READY FOR SLUICIFER.
DUMP, SHAKE, REPEAT.
I KNOW PARKER'S GOING TO SHOW UP EVENTUALLY,
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW HE'S GONNA THINK ABOUT THE CUT,
SO IT'S STILL A LOT OF STRESS ON MY SHOULDER.
WE'RE ALL GETTING TIRED. I'M TIRED AS [BLEEP].
♪♪
Fred: WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIX THE COLONEL SO IT'S FIXED RIGHT,
AND WE'RE GONNA GET IT GOING.
Narrator: AT FRED LEWIS' ELKHORN CLAIM, MINING IS AT A STANDSTILL
UNTIL THEY FIX COLONEL NUGGET'S HOPPER.
ALRIGHT, WE NEED TO FIND THAT CAN JACK, BRO.
WE GOT TO -- ALRIGHT, LET'S GET THIS DONE.
I GOT AN IDEA.
Kyle: THAT SCARES ME A LITTLE BIT.
EXACTLY.
[ LAUGHING ]
GO ON. Stuart: YEAH.
WE'RE GONNA JACK UP THE BACK LEG,
STICK SOME MORE SUPPORTS UNDER THERE,
AND JUST GET IT AT A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN ANGLE.
SOMETIMES MINOR ADJUSTMENTS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
I THINK IT'S GONNA TAKE A WAY MORE DRASTIC APPROACH,
LIKE, WE NEED --
HOW LONG IS THIS GONNA TAKE, THOUGH?
A COUPLE MINUTES.
OKAY, YEAH.
WE ONLY NEED ABOUT FOUR INCHES, I THINK.
JUST ENOUGH GRAVITY TO MAKE IT GRADUALLY FEED OFF.
SO, BABY STEPS.
[ GRUNTING ]
FRED'S ALWAYS GONNA DO THE CHEAP, QUICK THINGS
FOR FIXES, WHICH...
I'M NOT GONNA SAY IT'S GOTTEN US INTO TROUBLE BEFORE.
Stuart: I THINK THIS SHOULD DO IT, MAN.
Fred: STUART AND KYLE SEEM A LITTLE SKEPTICAL
OF MY JERRY-RIGGED FIX,
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.
WE NEED A QUICK FIX JUST TO GET BACK ON THE GOLD AGAIN,
SO I'M GONNA TRY THIS QUICK JERRY FIX.
IF IT WORKS, BOOM, MOVE ON.
IF NOT, I'LL TAKE [BLEEP] FROM THE GUYS.
HEY, WE ALL READY TO FIRE THE PLANT UP?
LET'S GET THIS THING TESTED.
YOU READY?
YEP.
YOU READY TO ROCK AND ROLL? THEY'RE ABOUT READY TO FIRE IT.
I'M READY TO ROCK AND ROLL.
[ MOTOR STARTS ]
WE'LL KNOW IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES IF THAT HOPPER'S GONNA
FEED IT CORRECTLY.
HOPE IT'S ENOUGH.
♪♪
RIGHT NOW, IT IS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD,
IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.
♪♪
THE HOPPER IS A LITTLE CROOKED.
WHEN THEY WERE MESSING WITH IT, THEY GOT IT OFF-CENTER.
ALL THAT WATER ON TOP, IT'S SURGING AND HITTING OUR BELT.
[ RATTLING ]
♪♪
[ THUD ]
[ WHISTLES ] HIT THE BUTTON!
[BLEEP]!
Narrator: WATER SURGING OFF THE EDGE OF THE SHAKER DECK
HAS MADE ONE OF THE DECK'S DRIVE BELTS SLIP OFF.
SO IT'S THAT FEET HITTING THE BELT?
Kendall: [BLEEP] THE BELTS. I CALLED THIS, LIKE, A MINUTE AGO.
JUST PUT IT ON THE TOP SIDE AND I'LL ROTATE IT.
COME ON! [BLEEP].
YEP! GOOD!
SO THAT JERRY-RIG DIDN'T WORK.
IT'S A WASTE OF TIME, PRETTY MUCH.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO STOP RIGHT NOW AND HALT ALL OPERATIONS,
WHICH I FREAKING HATE, AND FIX THE COLONEL
SO IT'S FIXED RIGHT.
THIS IS STARTING TO PISS ME OFF.
♪♪
Narrator: AT PARADISE HILL,
TONY IS HALFWAY THROUGH THE MOBILE TROMMEL REBUILD.
IN HIS SECOND TRUCK, MIKE FINALLY RETURNS
FROM MOOSE CREEK WITH THE CONVEYOR.
MIKE CRANES IN THE HOPPER FEEDER.
THE SLUICE RUNS ATTACHED.
THEY CRANE IN THE CONVEYOR.
Mike: ONLY GOT TO GET THE ENGINE RUNNING ON THE THING
AND HOOK UP A FEW MORE THINGS AND PLANTS READY TO GO.
WE'LL [BLEEP] DRAG HER INTO PLACE AND START SLUICING.
Len: IF YOU HOLD IT THERE AND THEN FEED IT THROUGH, IF IT'S --
I GOT IT.SHE SOME KIND OF TIGHT.
THEY DON'T GIVE YOU A WHOLE LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM, HERE.
Narrator: BEFORE TONY BOUGHT IT,
THE MOBILE TROMMEL SAT ABANDONED.
IT HASN'T FIRED UP FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.
TIME TO FIND OUT IF TONY'S $400,000 GAMBLE WILL PAY OFF.
WE'LL START IT UP, AND LET'S SEE.
WE DON'T HAVE A [BLEEP] CLUE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
[ TROMMEL WHIRS ]
[ TROMMEL SPLUTTERS ]
[BLEEP]. I DON'T LIKE THIS.
[ SWITCH CLICKS ]GIVE HER A MINUTE.
MAYBE WE SHOULD PUT THE OTHER TRUCK OVER HERE.
[BLEEP]. THE BATTERIES.BATTERIES.
Narrator: MECHANIC JORDAN EAGLES CONNECTS BATTERIES
FROM THE WATER TRUCK AND THE FUEL TRUCK TO THE TROMMEL.
HOPEFULLY THAT GETS JUST THE LITTLE BIT THAT WE NEED.
TRY IT AGAIN.[ SWITCH CLICKS ]
[ MOTOR TURNS OVER ]
[ MOTOR WHIRS ]
[ LEVER CLICKS ]
[ TROMMEL WHINING ]
THAT'S THE TROMMEL!
♪♪
GOOD!
NOT AT ALL.
Narrator: ONE SHORT WALK FOR A TROMMEL.
ONE GIANT LEAP FOR TONY BEETS' MINE.
I'LL BE DAMNED! IT LIVES! COOL!
Narrator: THE LAST PART OF HIS MASTER PLAN?
TONY NEEDS TO MOVE THE TROMMEL TO THE MEGACUT.
♪♪
WE'RE HERE TO MINE AND GO HOME WITH GOLD IN OUR HANDS.
WE CAN'T DO THAT WHEN THE COLONEL'S ASLEEP.
WE NEED TO WAKE THE BEAST AND WE NEED TO GET THINGS GOING.
OH, BOY.
Narrator: IN OREGON'S ELKHORN MOUNTAINS,
FRED LEWIS'S OPERATION IS SHUT DOWN...AGAIN.
Kyle: IT'S LIKE [BLEEP] CEMENT.
[BLEEP].
TO GET BACK ON THE GOLD, FRED'S CREW NEEDS TO STOP
PAY DIRT CLOGGING THE WASH PLANT HOPPER.
LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS A MESS.
THE BOTTOM OF OUR HOPPER IS JUST WAVY AS CAN BE,
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE PART OF OUR ISSUE IS.
Kyle: THE WATER IS NOT ABLE TO RUSH DOWN RIGHT, WHICH MEANS
THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE STARTING TO GET PILES AND BUILD UP.
WE'VE GOT TO WELD ON SOME NEW IRON.
TRY TO FLATTEN THIS OUT, GIVE IT MORE OF A STEEP BANK,
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE WATER HIT EVERYTHING EVENLY.
IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE
EVERYTHING COME OUT CLEANLY.
Narrator: KYLE'S PLAN?
COVER THE DENTED HOPPER BASE WITH A SLOPING SHEET OF STEEL.
THE SMOOTH SURFACE AND STEEPER ANGLE
SHOULD HELP PAY FLOW SMOOTHLY OUT OF THE HOPPER.
THE WATER IS GONNA FLOW OUT EVENLY,
WHICH MEANS OUR DIRT SHOULD COME OUT EASILY, AND THE PLANT
SHOULD BE OPERATING THE RIGHT WAY, AT THAT POINT.
Fred: ALRIGHT. LET'S JUST GET IT UP AND RUNNING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
Kyle: YOU GOT IT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A TON OF WORK,
BUT FRED'S COUNTING ON ME TO GET THIS THING DONE.
WE GOT TO GET THIS INTO THE HOPPER AS SOON AS WE CAN.
OTHERWISE, THE LONGER WE SIT HERE,
THE LONGER WE'RE LOSING TIME AND MONEY.
SO, GOT TO GET BACK TO IT. HOPE THIS THING WORKS OUT.
♪♪
ALRIGHT, WE GOT THIS THING READY TO GO.
I'M GONNA GET IT CHAINED UP,
GIVE IT OVER TO STU ON THE EXCAVATOR.
HE'S GONNA SWING IT OVER THE HOPPER FOR ME.
I'M GOING TO GUIDE HIM IN AND HOPEFULLY
WE CAN SET THIS RIGHT DOWN WHERE WE WANT IT
AND GET IT WELDED UP SO WE CAN GET BACK TO WORK.
ALRIGHT, STU, START BRINGING IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
[ METAL CREAKING ]
ALRIGHT.
BRING IT DOWN.
♪♪
[ THUD ]
♪♪
I'M GONNA TO GO GRAB SOME 3-INCH ANGLE IRON.
I'M GONNA, ESSENTIALLY, CREATE A LIP FOR THIS ALL THE WAY AROUND.
IT'S GONNA HELP US MAKE IT
A LITTLE MORE STURDY, STRUCTURALLY.
THEN WE'RE GONNA WELD THAT DOWN TIGHT.
WE'LL BE BACK IN BUSINESS.
♪♪
Narrator: FOUR HOURS LATER, KYLE COMPLETES THE FINAL WELD.
TIME TO WAKE UP THE COLONEL.
FRED, THIS IS KYLE.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TEST OUT THIS NEW HOPPER.
SAY AGAIN? OH!
YEAH, MAN. FINGERS CROSSED.
ALRIGHT, IS EVERYBODY STANDING BY?
LET'S GET THIS [BLEEP] GAME ROLLING.
WE NEED THE WATER NOW.
♪♪
LOOK OUT BELOW.
♪♪
IT'S LOOKING A LOT BETTER!
♪♪
WE'RE GOING! WE'RE GOING!
♪♪
THIS? THIS IS FREAKIN' AWESOME!
I'M PUMPED UP AS HELL!
JUST HAPPY THIS IS ALL WORKING.
♪♪
[BLEEP] YEAH.
KEEP FEEDING HER, STU! LET'S GET SOME GOLD, BABY!
♪♪
I LOVE IT. IT'S COMING OUT CLEAN!
WE'RE NOT LOSING ANY GOLD ANYMORE, THAT'S FOR SURE.
COME HERE, BROTHER.GOOD JOB, DUDE.
HELL, YEAH.
♪♪
HI, I'M RICK NESS. WELCOME TO "WILL IT SHAKE?"
TODAY, WE GOT A PUMPKIN, A FOOTBALL, AND AN ADULT BEVERAGE.
WILL IT SHAKE?
A PUMPKIN!
♪♪
NO!
AN ADULT BEVERAGE!
♪♪
NO!
A FOOTBALL!
♪♪
AMERICAN FOOTBALL. IT'LL SHAKE.
♪♪
EVERYTHING LOOKS REALLY GOOD, SO THEY'RE KILLING IT.
Narrator: ON THE PROMISED LAND,
THE SLUICIFER CREW HAS TWO HOURS OF PAY LEFT TO RUN.
Parker: WHEN I LEFT, THEY WERE JUST ABOUT TO MOVE TO THE AIRSTRIP.
Narrator: PARKER HEADS TO THE NEW AIRSTRIP CUT,
TO INSPECT IF IT'S STRIPPED AND READY TO MINE.
Parker: HOPEFULLY, EVERYTHING WENT SMOOTH
AND THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ANY SURPRISES.
♪♪
HOLY [BLEEP]. IT'S WARM IN HERE.
♪♪
HOW YOU DOING?
Parker: YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN BUSY MOVING DIRT.
THIS PLACE LOOKS GREAT.
YEAH, IT'S LOOKING GOOD.
♪♪
WE GOT A GOOD LAYER, LIKE, THAT BLACK STUFF'S REALLY GOOD.
IT'S NICE-LOOKING PAY. YEAH.
I SAW SOME [BLEEP] BIG ROCK.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RED? YEAH.
SO IT'D BE NICE TO GET THIS ALL SLUICED THIS YEAR,
WHICH I DON'T THINK IS AN UNREALISTIC GOAL.
I'M PUMPED.
THAT'S GOOD.
[BLEEP], I'M HAPPY. I'M [BLEEP] HAPPY RIGHT NOW.
♪♪
Narrator: PARKER'S NEXT STOP?
SCRIBNER CREEK, FOR THE WEEKLY GOLD WEIGH.
SORRY I'M LATE.
YOU GONNA GIVE ME A HUG, OR WHAT?
WE FIND ANY GOLD THIS WEEK?
OH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW BIG RED ALWAYS PAYS OUT, RIGHT?
YEAH.
DID WE BEAT TYSON?
[ LAUGHS ] AGAIN?
I THINK I'M GONNA BEAT YOU GUYS THIS WEEK.
Tyson: TO BE DETERMINED.
Narrator: THIS SEASON, BIG RED AND SLUICIFER HAVE EACH AVERAGED
OVER 220 OUNCES A WEEK.
FIRST ON THE SCALES IS BIG RED.
[ GOLD POURS ]
20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 110.
116, ON THE NOSE.
WORTH OVER $220,000, BUT DOWN ON ITS AVERAGE.
YOU KNOW, IT COULD ALWAYS BE MORE.
NEXT, SLUICIFER.
[ GOLD POURS ]
10, 20, 40, 60, 80, 90.
100. 107.
WORTH OVER $200,000 -- AGAIN, BELOW AVERAGE.
YEAH, THIS MIGHT BE A BIT OF A [BLEEP]SHOW OF A FALL,
BUT WE'LL GET THERE.
SO, FOR THE WEEK, WE GOT 223.5 OUNCES.
BUT FOR THE SEASON, WE BROKE 5,000.
WE'RE 5,011 OUNCES.[BLEEP].
SO WE'RE MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
NOT AT THE FASTEST PACE WE'VE EVER BEEN, BUT...
WELL DONE. WELL DONE.THANKS.
MY PAYOFF'S BEEN WORKING WELL.
THANKS, GUYS.YOU BETCHA. THANK YOU.
I'M NOT GONNA HUG YOU, BUT...
♪♪
Kyle: KEEP FEEDING HER.
ALL THAT HARD WORK WE PUT IN? TOTALLY WORTH IT.
GOT EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING. KEEP HER GOING, BUD.
Narrator: AT ELKHORN CLAIM,
COLONEL NUGGET IS FINALLY UP AND RUNNING.
Stuart: YEAH, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY ME AND KYLE
KIND OF SAVED THE DAY.
STUART RACES TO GET AS MANY BUCKETS OF PAY
THROUGH THE PLANT AS HE CAN BEFORE HIS SHIFT ENDS.
WE'RE GONNA GET SOME [BLEEP] GOLD.
Fred: I NEED TO KNOW YOUR BUCKET COUNT.
EIGHT-ZERO. EIGHT-ZERO.
EIGHT-ZERO?
SHUT IT DOWN.
Narrator: AT THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK
WASHING DIRT FROM THE LIBERATION CUT,
FRED PULLS THE MATS FROM THE SLUICE RUNS FOR THE CLEANUP.
Fred: IT'S PRETTY EXCITING.
HOW'S IT LOOK?
Kyle: I THINK IT'S JUST THE FIX THAT WE NEED
TO KEEP THIS PLANT MOVING ALONG,
GET BACK TO MINING, GET BACK TO MAKING MONEY.
I HOPE SO, MAN. GET SOME GOLD.
Fred: HEY-O!
CLEANING OFF THE TOP OF THE CLEANUP --
OH, [BLEEP]!
BIGGEST ONE WE'VE FOUND. THAT WAS JUST SITTING ON TOP.
LOOK AT THAT! WE'RE ACTUALLY MINERS. HOLY [BLEEP].
THAT'S CALLED GOLD, GUYS.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST NUGGET WE'VE FOUND.
Narrator: FRED FINALLY HAS A CHANCE OF TURNING A PROFIT.
SEE HOW YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT OF STRIATION ON THE BACK,
BUT THEN YOU ROLL IT OVER, IT'S NICE AND SMOOTH?
YEAH.
IT MEANS IT'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME,
WHICH MEANS IT'S CAUGHT IN THE HILLSIDE,
WHICH MEANS WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA FIND A LOT OF ITS COUSINS.
OH, I LOVE IT, MAN.
ALRIGHT! YEAH!
♪♪
HEY. Minnie: HEY, GUYS.
HOW ARE YA?
OH, LIVING MY BEST LIFE.
GOT SOMETHING.
Narrator: AT PARADISE HILL,
THE BEETS FAMILY GATHERS FOR THE GOLD WEIGH.
IT'S SAD TO SEE YOUR TRUCK GO UP.
IT SUCKED! I LIKED THAT TRUCK.
Narrator: SO FAR THIS SEASON, TONY HAS BANKED 1,040 OUNCES OF GOLD.
NOW HE NEEDS 220 OUNCES A WEEK
TO HIT HIS 3,000-OUNCE SEASON TARGET.
SO LET'S SEE WHAT THE SHAKER DECK DID THIS WEEK.
TONY'S DAUGHTER, MONICA, HAD THE SHAKER DECK
WASHING OLD-TIMER TAILINGS ALL WEEK.
5, 10, 15.
PREVIOUSLY, IT'S BROUGHT IN 72 OUNCES OF GOLD IN ONE WEEK.
40. 49. OH, 49.84.
WORTH ALMOST $95,000.
YEAH, BUT YOU DON'T STRIP FOR IT.
AND IT'S BEEN SLUICED BEFORE, SO...
SO SHOULD WE WEIGH THE BIGGER ONE?
NEXT, MIKE'S TROMMEL.
IT'S BEEN RUNNING 24 HOURS A DAY,
SLUICING 350 YARDS OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR.
5, 10, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50.
70. 100. 140, 150. 160.
180. 190.
195.
195.58.
WORTH OVER $370,000.
SO THAT'S OUR WEEK'S TOTAL?245.42.
Mike: WISH I MADE THAT IN WEEK.
Monica: IT'D BE NICE TO SEE WHAT IT CAN DO.
I'LL BE INTERESTING.
♪♪
[BLEEP] BADASS.
Narrator: ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...
PARKER FEELS THE NEED FOR SPEED.
WHOA! IT'S ABOUT TO FLIP!
THIS IS GOOD TO GO.
CHASING REDEMPTION, RICK HITS DISASTER.
[BLEEP]! YOU ALRIGHT?
WELL, LET'S FIRE THIS UP.
AND TONY'S SECRET WEAPON...
LET'S SEE WHAT IT CAN ACTUALLY DO.
...THREATENS TO SELF-DESTRUCT.
TURN IT OFF! TURN IT OFF!