Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 10, Episode 10 - When the Levee Breaks - full transcript
Rick's season hangs in the balance when an engineering disaster shuts him down. Parker sinks a ton of money into a new claim. Tony gets a third operation running.
Narrator:
ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
...RICK NESS FACES DISASTER...
IF YOU CAN'T FOLLOW THE RULES,
THEN YOU'LL BE OUT OF HERE.
[BLEEP]
Narrator: ...KLONDIKE LEGEND
TONY BEETS FIGHTS BACK...
Kevin:
WHOA! THAT'S HOT.
...AND PARKER SCHNABEL GAMBLES
ON THE UNKNOWN.
WE'VE NEVER BEEN QUITTERS.
WE'RE GONNA FINISH IT,
EVEN IF BREAKS US.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
-OH, [BLEEP]!
-WHOA!
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALREADY
HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON
AND NOT NEARLY HALFWAY
THROUGH THE GROUND.
Narrator:
PARKER SCHNABEL HAS GAMBLED
$500,000
BUYING A 115-ACRE CLAIM.
HE'S RACING THE CLOCK
TO MINE IT OUT
BEFORE HIS WATER LICENSE EXPIRES
AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
Parker: WITH THAT WATER LICENSE
EXPIRING,
WE'VE GOT TO KEEP
OPENING UP GROUND,
AND WE NEED TO GET ON IT
IN A HURRY.
Narrator:
FOR THE PAST 11 WEEKS,
HE'S FOCUSED ON THE CLUSTER CUT,
WHICH HAS PAID OUT NEARLY
2,000 OUNCES OF GOLD.
BUT THAT'S NEARLY MINED OUT,
AND HE NEEDS TO OPEN A NEW CUT.
Parker:
IF WE OPEN IT UP TOO LATE,
WE'RE NOT GONNA GET
THE GOLD OUT OF IT.
♪
Parker:
HEY, BRENNAN.
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
THIS IS GONNA BE
THE NEXT CUT,
RIGHT THROUGH THERE.
AND THE GUY WE BOUGHT
THE GROUND FROM
DID QUITE WELL ON
THE UPSTREAM END,
AND I WANT TO TRY TO
CHASE THAT IF WE CAN.
I MEAN, WITH THE CLUSTER CUT
OPEN, IT'S PRETTY BIG.
IS IT GONNA BE A RISKY GAMBLE
TRYING TO OPEN THIS UP AS WELL?
YEAH, I MEAN, WE'RE
A LITTLE LATE IN THE YEAR
IS THE ONLY THING,
BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO DEEP.
WE'VE JUST GOT TO
GET GROUND OPEN.
Narrator:
PARKER'S CLUSTER CUT IS THE SIZE
OF 11 CITY BLOCKS
WITH HIGH-GRADE PAY DIRT.
THE NEXT SPOT HE'S BETTING ON
IS A NARROW STRIP
WHERE DRILL RESULTS
SUGGEST HE'LL FIND
GOLD-RICH PAY AT 15 FEET.
PARKER NEEDS TO GET DOWN TO
THE PAY LAYER IN RECORD TIME.
WELL, BRENNAN, I MEAN,
YOU COULD DO THAT IN A WEEK.
SO AM I GONNA GET
ANY HELP DOWN HERE?
I'LL FIND YOU
SOME EXTRA HANDS.
THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE
RUNNING AROUND HERE.
YOU KNOW, WELL, I KNOW
YOU'LL GET 'ER DONE.
ALL RIGHT.
THE BIG THING IS JUST
GETTING GROUND OPEN.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE
REALLY GOOD GROUND UP THERE.
I THINK IT'S JUST
GONNA BE [BLEEP] HOT.
Narrator:
WITH NO TIME TO WASTE,
BRENNAN STARTS RIPPING THROUGH
THE FROZEN OVERBURDEN.
Brennan:
WELL, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE
EVERY YEAR WE COME HERE,
HE HAS HIGHER AND HIGHER
EXPECTATIONS.
IN REALITY,
IT SHOULDN'T TAKE TOO LONG
TO GET DOWN TO GRAVEL.
WE ALREADY GO AS HARD
AS WE CAN EVERY YEAR,
AND IT'S JUST [LAUGHS]
HOW MUCH HARDER CAN WE GO
WITHOUT HAVING MORE PEOPLE?
IN A TIME LIKE THIS, IT'S, LIKE,
ALL HANDS ON DECK.
WE NEED EVERYBODY.
Narrator: SHORT ON CREW,
PARKER HUNTS FOR EXTRA HANDS.
HEY, CHRIS.
UH-OH.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOW'S THE BACK?
GOOD.
DOING REAL GOOD.
-YEAH, REAL GOOD?
-YEAH, YEAH.
GOOD ENOUGH TO GO
DRIVE A ROCK TRUCK?
IT'S NEVER THAT GOOD.
DID I DO SOMETHING
TO OFFEND YOU?
NO, YOU DIDN'T.
WE JUST HAVE SO MUCH
GROUND TO MOVE
'CAUSE WE NEED
ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, NO PROBLEM.
BE DOWN THERE IN A MINUTE.
THANKS, CHRIS.
JUNIOR!
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
ARE YOU DOING HERE?
OH, I GUESS I'M IN
A ROCK TRUCK FOR A WHILE.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-HELL YEAH.
I TOLD HIM I NEEDED HELP,
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF
HE WAS GONNA HIRE ME A FEW.
HE PROBABLY COULDN'T FIND ANY,
SO HE GOT US.
YEAH.
BE GENTLE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
[ Laughing ] YEAH, YOU BETTER
GLUE YOUR DENTURES IN.
[ LAUGHING ]
OFF WE GO.
WELL, DOUMITT'S FIRST DAY
IN THE TRUCK HERE.
IT'S ACTUALLY GOOD TO SEE HIM
BACK IN THE SEAT OF SOMETHING.
I MEAN, WHEN I FIRST SHOWED UP
HERE FIVE YEARS AGO,
HE WAS RUNNING LOADER
FULL-TIME,
SO I BET HE'S HAPPY TO
GET OUT OF THAT GOLD ROOM
AND OUT OF CAMP
AND HELP OUT DOWN HERE.
YOU KNOW, I FORGOT HOW ROUGH
THESE THINGS ARE.
I THINK WHAT YOU OUGHT TO DO
IS PUT THEM OUT
IN FRONT OF A GROCERY STORE,
PUT A QUARTER IN IT,
AND YOU GET
ONE HECK OF A RIDE.
[ LAUGHS ]
THIS IS DEFINITELY
A YOUNG MAN'S SPORT.
Narrator:
BRENNAN AND THE ROCK TRUCKS
RACE TO OPEN THE NEW GROUND,
WHILE IN THE CLUSTER CUT,
BIG RED CHEWS THROUGH 200 YARDS
OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR.
REALLY, I BOUGHT THIS GROUND
TO BE ABLE
TO NOT BE IN A RUSH,
AND HERE WE ARE
HAVING TO JUST SLAM
EVERYTHING WE CAN AT IT.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT EVEN HALFWAY
THROUGH THE GROUND YET.
HOPEFULLY THE GUYS
CAN JUST COME TOGETHER
AND KEEP PLUGGING AWAY AT THIS.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THROUGH
THIS WHOLE PIECE OF GROUND.
♪
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
MAN, WE MUST HAVE HAD
THE DRIEST SPRING EVER,
BUT IT'S SURE MAKING UP FOR IT
RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: AT RICK NESS'S
DUNCAN CREEK CLAIM,
IT'S BEEN RAINING
SOLID FOR 24 HOURS.
Rick: YOU KNOW, FIRST WE HAD
WILDFIRES AND NOW THIS.
AS LONG AS MONSTER RED'S RUNNING
AND IT'S BRINGING IN THE GOLD,
I DON'T CARE, MAN.
THE WEATHER OUT HERE
IS WHATEVER.
I MEAN, IT CHANGES
ALMOST INSTANTLY.
I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE'RE
RUNNING DIRT THROUGH THIS THING
AND TRYING TO FIND SOME GOLD.
Narrator: RICK FINALLY HAS
HIS NEW WASH PLANT,
MONSTER RED, DIALED IN.
SO FAR, HE'S BANKED
JUST 162 OUNCES
TOWARDS HIS 2,000-OUNCE
SEASON GOAL.
BUT NOW HE'S RUNNING PAY DIRT
THROUGH ONE OF THE BIGGEST
SLUICE BOXES IN THE YUKON
AND SHOULD TRIPLE
HIS GOLD PRODUCTION.
Zee:
MONSTER RED'S TWICE AS BIG.
IT'S LIKE GOING FROM THE MINOR
LEAGUES TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES.
♪
MONSTER RED'S BEEN
RUNNING ALL DAY,
AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE
IT'S ACTUALLY BRIGHTENING UP,
SO [BLEEP] YEAH.
♪
CHAP, COME ON.
READY?
GO GET IT.
LET'S GO.
HOLY [BLEEP]!
RICK, WE HAVE
A SITUATION, BUDDY.
THIS IS BAD.
GET DOWN HERE NOW.
Rick: ROGER THAT.
Narrator:
MONSTER RED'S SETTLING POND
HAS BURST ITS BANKS.
MAN.
WE'RE [BLEEP].
HOLY [BLEEP].
WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
JUST, THING'S GONE, MAN.
WE'RE HOOPED.
WHAT THE...?
IS IT THE RAIN LAST NIGHT?
IT HAD TO BE THE RAIN
LAST NIGHT, MAN.
HOLY [BLEEP].
WE'RE [BLEEP], DUDE.
LIKE, THIS IS BAD.
THIS IS BAD.
Rick: I DON'T WANT TO BE SENDING
A BUNCH OF DIRTY WATER
INTO THE STREAMS.
IT'S JUST UGLY, AND IT'S NOT
SAFE FOR FISH AND ALL THAT.
Narrator: MONSTER RED DISCHARGES
180,000 GALLONS
OF SILTY WATER AN HOUR.
TO CLEAN IT, RICK FEEDS
THE WATER THROUGH FOUR PONDS
THAT SLOW IT DOWN,
ALLOWING SILT TO SETTLE OUT
BEFORE THE WATER IS RELEASED
INTO THE CREEK.
HEAVY RAIN HAS BROKEN THE BERM
ON THE FIRST POND.
AND DIRTY WATER HAS FLOODED
THE LOWER PONDS.
IF ANY MORE ENTERS THE SYSTEM,
IT COULD OVERFLOW AND ILLEGALLY
CONTAMINATE THE CREEK.
Rick:
TALK ABOUT CATASTROPHIC.
YEAH, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE,
BIG TIME.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT TO DO.
I MEAN, IT LOOKS BAD,
BUT I DID BUILD THIS POND SYSTEM
SO IT DIDN'T RELY
ON JUST ONE BERM.
BUT WE HAVE TO GET
THAT [BLEEP] HOLE FIXED
AS SOON AS WE CAN BEFORE
THE WHOLE [BLEEP] THING LETS GO.
I CAN'T RISK ANY MORE WATER
GOING TO THAT POND RIGHT NOW,
WHICH MEANS WE'RE SHUT DOWN
TILL IT'S FIXED.
OKAY, I BETTER CALL DEAN...
YEAH.
...[BLEEP] HOPE
HE'S NOT TOO MAD.
YEAH.
Narrator: IF RICK FAILS TO
COMPLY WITH MINING REGULATIONS,
THE GOVERNMENT COULD FINE HIM
OR SHUT HIM DOWN.
Carl:
CHAP, LET'S GO.
THEY COULD ALSO GO AFTER HIS
LANDLORD, DEAN GRAY.
HMM.
MM-HMM.
YEAH, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT
OF A BLOWOUT
WITH ONE OF OUR PONDS.
THIS IS SERIOUS.
I DIDN'T SEE IT COMING.
I THINK WE WERE TRYING TO
FIT TOO MUCH WATER IN HERE,
AND THEN IT JUST
SATURATED EVERYTHING.
AS A LANDLORD,
IT'S OUR WATER LICENSE.
YEAH.
AND BASICALLY, YOU'VE GOT TO
UPHOLD OUR REPUTATION
AS WELL AS YOUR OWN.
-YEAH.
-SO IT'S PRETTY CRITICAL.
WE WANT A CLEAN OPERATION,
AND WE DON'T WANT
ANY FUNNY BUSINESS
GETTING INTO THE CREEK.
YEAH.
IF WE CAN'T HAVE
A NICE, TIDY SHIP,
THEN, YEAH, WE'LL JUST
HAVE TO CALL IT A SEASON.
IF YOU CAN'T FOLLOW THE RULES,
THEN YOU'LL BE OUT OF HERE.
♪
♪
OH!
THIS COULD BE
THE END OF MY SEASON.
Narrator:
AT DUNCAN CREEK,
RICK'S CREW IS SHUT DOWN
AFTER HEAVY RAIN
DESTROYED A BERM ON
THEIR FIRST SETTLING POND.
Rick: WE HAVE TO GET THAT FIXED
AS SOON AS WE CAN.
IF THIS DIRTY WATER
HAD HIT THE CREEK,
AND WASHED ALL THAT
INTO THE CREEK,
I DON'T SEE
RECOVERING FROM THAT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY
IN CHARGE OF THE WATER
WOULD SEE THAT KIND OF MISTAKE
AND PROBABLY SHUT ME RIGHT DOWN
REAL QUICK.
Narrator: RICK'S LANDLORD HAS
GIVEN HIM AN ULTIMATUM --
FIX THE PROBLEM OR GO HOME.
RIGHT NOW, A SINGLE BERM IS
KEEPING ALL THE DIRTY WATER
OUT OF THE CREEK.
Rick: I WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO CHECK THE CREEK.
THE WATER'S CRYSTAL CLEAN
DOWN THERE.
LIKE, I WAS SURPRISED
HOW CLEAN IT WAS.
SO WE DODGED A BULLET
WITH THAT ONE,
BUT IT'S [BLEEP] SCARY.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
GO INTO PANIC MODE
AND TRY TO ARMOR IT UP
WITH BIG BOULDERS.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA
REBUILD THIS.
WE'LL GET SLUICING AGAIN.
YEP.
Man: POSITIVE --
THOSE WERE POSITIVES, RICK.
Narrator:
RICK'S ENTIRE CREW GETS TO WORK
FORTIFYING THE BERM
WITH A LAYER OF BOULDERS...
YOU'RE GOOD, BUDDY.
YOU'RE HEAVY, THOUGH,
SO JUST NICE AND EASY.
...AND FINISHING IT OFF
WITH COMPRESSED DIRT.
Rick:
IT JUST PUKED RAIN,
AND THIS BERM WAS, LIKE,
80-FEET WIDE AT THE BOTTOM,
AND FOR IT TO JUST
GET SMASHED OUT LIKE THAT,
I REALLY DON'T GET IT.
Karla Ann:
I SHOULD BE IN THE GOLD ROOM,
BUT WHEN THINGS COME ABOUT
LIKE THIS,
YOU GOT TO SET
YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.
I'LL ARMOR IT UP BETTER,
AND HOPEFULLY
WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
THE PRESSURE'S ON.
WE ARE FALLING BEHIND, YOU KNOW.
EVERY HOUR WE DON'T SLUICE
IS A LITTLE LESS GOLD.
Rick: JUST WHEN YOU THINK IT
CAN'T GET ANY MORE STRESSFUL,
IT DOES.
IT'S MY MONEY
INITIALLY ON THE LINE,
BUT IF WE DON'T MAKE ANY,
THESE GUYS DON'T GET PAID,
SO IT AIN'T FUN
BEING IN THAT POSITION.
NEED TO GET
[BLEEP] SLUICING AGAIN.
COME ON, KEEP ON COMING.
KEEP ON COMING.
YOU'RE GOOD, BUDDY.
Narrator: ZEE REVERSES DOWN
THE NARROW BERM.
THAT LOOKS GOOD.
BINGO.
LET 'ER GO.
I GOT -- LOOKS LIKE
TWO MORE LOADS HERE,
AND I'LL BE DONE
WITH THIS PART OF IT.
Karla Ann:
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO BE UP AND RUNNING
PRETTY QUICK.
AND THEN IT'S FULL BLAST
FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.
♪
AW, COME ON.
Rick: WHAT A [BLEEP]
GONG SHOW THIS IS.
♪
THERE'S JUST DEEPER
RUTS OVER HERE,
AND ONCE IT GOT UP AND VERTICAL
AND ALL THE WEIGHT GOT
PUSHED TO ONE CENTER POINT,
IT DROPPED DOWN ABOUT
A FOOT AND A HALF INTO THE MUD
AND KIND OF JUST TIPPED OVER.
LAST YEAR I WAS THE ONLY ONE
THAT DIDN'T TIP MY ROCK TRUCK,
BUT YEAH.
SO THIS YEAR I'M ON THE BOARD.
Rick: EVERYBODY'S USUALLY
GOOD FOR ONE,
AND I'VE ROLLED ONE.
AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANYBODY
ON SITE ROLL ONE TWICE YET.
AND I WATCHED IT GO OVER.
IT WENT OVER REAL SLOW.
THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY DAMAGE.
Narrator:
THE TRUCK IS UPRIGHT,
BUT THE TIRE HAS
COME OFF ITS RIM
AND LOST ALL PRESSURE.
HE'S GONNA HAVE TO QUIT
DOING WHAT HE'S DOING
TO GET THIS TRUCK
BACK UP AND RUNNING
SO WE CAN GET
THIS BERM FINISHED.
Narrator: IF THEY HAD
A REMOUNTING MACHINE...
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
...THIS WOULD BE
A STRAIGHTFORWARD JOB.
BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YUKON,
CARL HAS TO IMPROVISE.
DO IT RIGHT, BOYS.
HE SPRAYS STARTER FLUID,
WHICH CONTAINS ETHER,
ON THE INSIDE RIM.
IT'S GONNA GO POP,
AND THEN I NEED YOU
ON THERE RIGHT AWAY.
IT'S A QUICK CONNECT ON IT?
YEP. YOU PUSH THAT ON THERE,
YOU'LL BE GOOD.
OKAY.
ONCE IGNITED,
THE EXPLOSION SHOULD EXPAND
THE AIR IN THE TIRE
AND FORCE IT BACK ON THE RIM.
YOU CAN BLOW YOURSELF UP,
THOUGH.
I'VE HEARD STORIES OF
ETHER BOMBING TIRES
TO GET THEM TO SEAT,
BUT I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY
WITNESSED IT IN PERSON, SO...
I'VE SEEN IT GO WRONG.
[ LAUGHS ]
[BLEEP]
IT DIDN'T GO.
THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
GET A FRESH CAN.
LIKE, LAST TIME
WAS JUST A [BLEEP],
AND THIS TIME'S SERIOUS.
HA, HA!
Narrator: THE EXPLOSION WAS
TOO WEAK TO SHIFT THE TIRE.
BUT IF IT'S TOO POWERFUL,
IT'LL DESTROY IT.
HA, HA! IT'S GONNA [BLEEP]
BLOW GOOD THIS TIME.
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOO!
THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT, BOYS.
SO THAT'S HOW
YOU GET A TIRE ON.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-YEAH, HEY, THAT WAS FUN.
-[BLEEP] YEAH, BUDDY.
-HEY, WE DID GOOD THIS MORNING,
-YEAH, BUDDY.
YEAH, MAN.
WE'LL GET THIS GUY BACK UP
HAULING DIRT.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS.
Narrator:
BACK TO FULL STRENGTH,
THE CREW CAN FINISH
FIXING THE BERM.
Rick:
I'M NOT BROKE YET,
SO WE WILL GET RUNNING
HERE SOON,
AND THEN THINGS WILL
TURN AROUND.
♪
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL IS
FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS.
WHILE A SKELETON CREW
KEEPS BIG RED RUNNING
IN THE CLUSTER CUT,
EVERYONE ELSE IS
DIGGING DOWN TO PAY
IN A NARROW STRIP OF LAND
TO THE EAST.
Doumitt: I'VE NOT SEEN A CUT
THIS DEEP BEFORE.
USUALLY IT WOULD HAVE
ONLY TAKEN OFF
MAYBE 8, 10 FEET OF OVERBUDREN.
THERE MUST BE 25 FEET HERE.
Narrator: THE TEST DRILLS
INDICATE GOLD-BEARING GRAVEL
AT AROUND 15 FEET,
BUT THEY'VE BEEN DIGGING
FOR DAYS,
AND THERE'S NO SIGN OF IT.
Parker: THIS CUT
TURNED INTO A MONSTER.
I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
AS DEEP AS IT IS.
YEAH, CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT
FOR THE LIFE OF ME HERE.
FEELS LIKE I'VE BEEN
DIGGING FOR MONTHS.
WE THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA HIT IT
MAYBE 5, 10, 20 FEET, EH?
AND PROBABLY DOWN 30 NOW.
[BLEEP]
THIS [BLEEP]
LIKE, WHEN DO YOU CALL IT
ENOUGH'S ENOUGH?
WELL, I MEAN,
WE'VE NEVER BEEN QUITTERS,
SO WE'RE GONNA FINISH IT,
EVEN IF IT BREAKS US, BUT...
YEAH.
TALK ABOUT SOME MONEY
GOING INTO A [BLEEP] HOLE.
[BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
WHERE'S THE BOTTOM?
I DON'T KNOW WHERE
THE [BLEEP] BOTTOM IS,
BUT YOU BETTER GO FIND IT.
ALL RIGHT.
[ SIGHS ]
KEEP PLUGGING AWAY.
I'LL CALL YOU IN A MONTH.
HA, HA.
VERY FUNNY.
I JUST HAVE NO [BLEEP] IDEA
WHEN THE END'S
GONNA BE IN SIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I'M ALREADY DOWN
30 FEET UNDER MUD,
AND I JUST HOPE
IT'S NOT ANOTHER 30.
THIS IS [BLEEP] OUTRAGEOUS.
I JUST HOPE
THE GOLD'S GOOD DOWN HERE.
THIS IS A WASTE OF OUR [BLEEP]
TIME AND MONEY IF IT ISN'T.
Narrator:
AT 30 FEET, THIS CUT IS ALREADY
NEARLY TWICE AS DEEP
AS THE CLUSTER CUT,
BUT THE TEST DRILLS ARE GOOD,
SO IT SHOULD BE WORTH IT.
Parker:
IT'S HARD ON ALL THE EQUIPMENT.
IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.
WE'LL HAVE $1 MILLION INTO THIS
BY THE TIME WE SLUICE IT.
I JUST HOPE THIS WASN'T
A BIG MISTAKE.
Narrator:
TO HELP GET DOWN TO THE GOLD,
PARKER NEEDS A NEW RECRUIT.
Parker: SO WE'VE REALLY GOT TO
START THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
HEY, TRAVIS.
HEY.
YOU KNOW HOW TO DRIVE
A ROCK TRUCK, RIGHT?
IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS
SINCE I DROVE TRUCK, BUT YEAH.
WHY?
OKAY, GOOD.
BRENNAN'S JUST
UNDER THE GUN OUT THERE.
IF WE CAN JUST GIVE HIM A HAND,
IT'D BE A HUGE HELP.
YOU'VE STILL GOT SOME TIME
BEFORE DINNER, DON'T YOU?
YEAH,
I'M PRETTY WELL SORTED,
SO I CAN PROBABLY GIVE YOU
FOUR HOURS, FIVE HOURS.
ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, DUDE.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
HOPEFULLY THESE GUYS [LAUGHS]
REMEMBER WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
IT'S NOT A PLACE TO
SCREW AROUND, THAT'S FOR SURE.
CAMP COOK TRAVIS TAKES CHARGE
OF A ROCK TRUCK
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS.
SO RIGHT NOW, IT'S LIKE
ALL HANDS ON DECK, RIGHT?
I'M KIND OF CURIOUS
HOW TRAVIS IS GONNA DO.
TWO SEASONS AGO,
WHEN I WAS OUT HERE LAST,
THE GROUND WAS FROZEN,
AND IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THIS.
THIS IS MUD.
Narrator: AS THE SUMMER SUN
MELTS THE FROZEN GROUND,
THE ROCK TRUCKS
CHURN UP THE ROADS
BETWEEN THE CUT
AND THE DUMP SITE,
TURNING THEM INTO
DANGEROUS SLURRY.
THIS CUT HAS BEEN REALLY HARD
ON ALL THE EQUIPMENT.
THE TRUCKS IN PARTICULAR.
WE'VE GOT REALLY STEEP RAMPS
TO THE DUMP SITES,
AND EVERYTHING'S COVERED
IN WATER AND SLOP.
WE'RE RUNNING THE TRUCKS
AS FAST AS WE CAN,
BUT WE'RE JUST GETTING
BEAT THE HELL UP.
LIKE, THESE ROADS ARE
ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL.
BUT WE'VE REALLY GOT TO
GET THIS DONE.
WE JUST GOT EVERYBODY
SPREAD SO THIN.
WE NEED EVERY EXTRA PERSON
WE CAN
TO TRY AND GET
THIS CUT CLEANED OUT.
HOLY [BLEEP]!
OH, [BLEEP],
THIS DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.
WHOA, WHOA, TRAV, WHOA!
IT'S A LITTLE HAIRY,
A LITTLE SLIPPERY.
WHOA, WHOA!
OH, [BLEEP]!
♪
OH, [BLEEP]!
WHOA, WHOA!
IT'S A LITTLE HAIRY,
A LITTLE SLIPPERY.
WHOA, WHOA!
HOLY [BLEEP]!
Narrator: CAMP COOK TRAVIS
IS DRIVING A ROCK TRUCK
TO HELP PARKER'S CREW
GET DOWN TO PAY,
BUT HE'S DRIFTED OVER THE EDGE
OF A STEEP BANK.
-ZACK, ZACK, YOU ON HERE?
-YEP.
Brennan: HEY, BUDDY, I NEED YOU
TO RACE UP HERE, MAN.
TRAV JUST WENT
OFF THE ROAD HERE.
HE'S TEETERING
ON THE EDGE.
SO A COMBINATION OF
ROOKIE DRIVER AND SOFT SHOULDERS
HAS PUT ME IN
A LITTLE PREDICAMENT.
I MEAN, I'M NOT BLAMING TRAV
FOR THIS.
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
YOU BETTER HURRY UP
AND GET ME OUT OF HERE
OR THERE'S NO DINNER TONIGHT!
-[ LAUGHS ]
-PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON!
Brennan: YOU GUYS READY?
Narrator: ZACK WILL USE
THE BUCKET OF THE 700
TO ATTEMPT TO PULL HIM
TO SAFETY.
GUYS, START COMING AHEAD!
TURN!
A LITTLE SCARY HERE.
Narrator:
WHILE TRAVIS STEERS THE TRUCK
UP OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD...
TURN, TURN!
KEEP COMING!
I DON'T WANT TO ROLL
THE TRUCK OVER.
-WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
-WHOA.
HOLY [BLEEP].
WHAT HAPPENED THERE?
I GUESS THE TEETH
JUST SLID OFF
THE EDGE OF
THE ROCKS THERE.
WELL, LET'S JUST RESET.
I THINK WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
BUT LET'S JUST [BLEEP]
TAKE IT EASY, OKAY?
YOU READY?
READY?
LET'S GO.
YEAH, LET'S GO!
COME ON, LET'S GO!
TURN THIS WAY!
KEEP COMING.
-LET'S GO, BOYS, LET'S GET IT.
TURN.
I THINK WE GOT IT!
HIGH FIVE, BROTHER.
GOOD JOB, TRAV!
THANKS, BOYS!
THAT WAS A HEART-POUNDER,
FOR SURE.
WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!
WE WANTED TO EAT TONIGHT!
WE HAD TO GO SMOOTH.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST STICK TO
FLIPPING BURGERS.
ALL RIGHT, NOW GET
YOUR CAT OUT OF THE WAY.
LET'S GET BACK OUT HERE.
OH, LISTEN TO YOU GO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Brennan: GOT A GREEN DRIVER
HERE, BUT YOU KNOW,
WE ALL CAME TOGETHER
AND GOT THAT THING OUT SAFELY.
NOBODY GOT HURT, AND THAT'S
THE MAIN FACTOR HERE,
SO IT'S TIME TO GET BACK
TO PRODUCTION.
THIS CUT HAS ALREADY KILLED
THREE TRUCKS AND AN EXCAVATOR.
LIKE, IT MAY AS WELL
BE A DEATH VALLEY.
PERFECT NAME FOR THIS --
DEATH VALLEY.
ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.
EVERYTHING DOWN HERE
IS A CHALLENGE.
♪
♪
Narrator:
TONY BEETS LOST $500,000
WHEN HE WAS FORCED TO MOVE
FROM THE INDIAN RIVER.
TO RECOVER FROM THE DISASTROUS
START TO HIS SEASON,
HE NEEDS ALL THREE OF HIS KIDS
PRODUCING GOLD.
BUT 10 WEEKS ON, ONLY MONICA
AND MIKE ARE SLUICING.
IT'S GONNA BE MY FIRST WEEK
SLUICING ALL WEEK.
COULD YOU THROW TWO BUCKETS
INTO THE FEEDER
AND THEN SIT THERE?
PROGRESS IN MY CUT HASN'T BEEN
AS FAST AS IT COULD BE,
BUT NOW THAT WE GOT TRUCKS
AND AN EXCAVATOR IN HERE,
WE'RE AT LEAST DOWN TO GRAVEL
ON MOST OF IT.
Narrator: THREE WEEKS AGO,
KEVIN HIT THE JACKPOT.
WHILE DIGGING TEST HOLES
FOR HIS NEW CUT
ON THE TOP OF PARADISE HILL,
HE AND HIS BROTHER, MIKE,
FOUND A RICH SEAM OF PAY DIRT
RUNNING BETWEEN THEIR TWO CUTS.
OH, YEAH.
TONY DECIDES TO JOIN
MIKE'S CUT IN THE WEST
AND KEVIN'S IN THE EAST
TO MAKE A SINGLE
18-ACRE MEGA CUT.
HE ESTIMATES THEY COULD MINE
$5 MILLION WORTH OF GOLD HERE
BY THE END OF THE SEASON,
BUT ONLY IF BOTH MIKE AND KEVIN
RUN THEIR OWN PLANTS.
HEY, TONY.
CUT'S ABOUT READY TO GO.
OH, I THINK THE ONLY THING
WE HAVE, REALLY,
IS THE SHAKER DECK.
YEAH, POUR IT THROUGH,
SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
Narrator: THE SHAKER DECK
IS CURRENTLY SITTING IDLE
IN THE YARD.
LAST SEASON, IT PRODUCED
OVER $3 MILLION WORTH OF GOLD.
NOW WE'RE ABOUT TO PULL
THE SHAKER DECK INTO POSITION.
SO, GRAB A D10, HOOKING UP
THE CABLES, OFF WE GO.
Narrator:
TO TOW THE 50-TON PLANT
3/4 OF A MILE TO KEVIN'S CUT,
MIKE BREAKS OUT
THE 700-HORSEPOWER D10 DOZER.
♪
Kevin: BEAUTIFUL.
REALLY NICE TO ACTUALLY SEE
THIS THING [BLEEP] MOVING.
WE FINALLY PUT
SOME [BLEEP] DIRT
AND GET SOME GOLD
OUT OF THE [BLEEP].
♪
YEAH.
Narrator:
HAULING SUCH A MASSIVE WEIGHT,
THE DOZER CAN ONLY TRAVEL
AT ONE MILE AN HOUR.
♪
♪
♪
Narrator: MIKE IS TOWING
KEVIN'S 50-TON SHAKER DECK
TO THE MEGA CUT.
Mike:
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
HIT THE [BLEEP] BRAKE.
-THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
-THERE.
Kevin: WHOA!
THAT'S [BLEEP] HOT!
IT'S A RAD HOSE.
GOT A NEW ONE SOMEWHERE?
ONE SEC. I'LL BE RIGHT
[BLEEP] BACK.
Narrator:
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT,
THE DOZER'S ENGINE
WAS RUNNING SO HOT,
IT BLEW A RADIATOR HOSE.
20 MINUTES LATER,
KEVIN'S BACK WITH A NEW HOSE.
YEAH.
GOT THE HOSE.
YEP.
I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO
SHOW ME HOW IT'S DONE,
YOU'RE WELCOME
TO GET UP HERE.
SHE'S IN.
-GOT YOU SOME WATER, KID.
-PERFECT. UP YOU GO, MIKE.
FILL 'ER UP.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator:
KEVIN BRINGS IN A LOADER
TO HELP PUSH THE 50-TON PLANT.
GOOD AS SPOT AS ANY.
PLENTY OF ROOM EITHER SIDE.
Narrator: AFTER ATTACHING
THE CONVEYOR AND HOPPER,
IT'S TIME TO FIRE UP
THE SHAKER DECK.
[ MOTOR STARTS ]
UP!
SHAKER DECK.
HERE WE GO.
HERE'S THE FIRST BUCKET OF PAY
INTO THE SIDE OF THE PLANT.
♪
EH. TOOK FOREVER, BUT WE
MADE IT [BLEEP] HAPPEN.
Narrator: ALMOST THREE MONTHS
INTO THE SEASON,
THE KING OF THE KLONDIKE HAS
ALL THREE KIDS PRODUCING GOLD.
♪
♪
IT'S FAR FROM -- FAR FROM
A GOOD SITUATION HERE RIGHT NOW.
I GOT A LOT OF MONEY
WRAPPED UP IN MY OPERATION.
IT'S THE MOST MONEY
I'VE EVER SPENT ON ONE THING.
I COULD GO BANKRUPT.
Narrator: RICK NESS IS STARING
DISASTER IN THE FACE.
HE NEEDS TO REBUILD THE BROKEN
BERM ON HIS SETTLING POND
AND GET IT APPROVED
BY HIS LANDLORD,
OR HE'LL BE EVICTED
FROM HIS CLAIM.
Rick: YEAH, I MEAN, THIS IS
TURNING INTO A RECOVERY MISSION,
TRYING TO GET OUT OF HERE
WITHOUT LOSING MY HOUSE.
Zee:
IT'S DEFINITELY STRESSFUL.
EVERYONE'S GOT TO BE
ON TOP OF THEIR GAME
AND RUNNING ON A GOOD CLICK.
♪
Rick: [BLEEP] THAT'S ALL
WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
IT'S MAKE OR BREAK.
[ HELICOPTER WHIRRING ]
-STUART.
-HEY, RICK.
IT'S YOU DOWN HERE
MAKING ALL THAT DUST.
-YEAH. [ LAUGHS ]
-HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
-GOOD. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
-GOOD. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD. COMING TO CHECK ON
WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE SOME
PRETTY BIG ISSUES GOING ON.
YEAH, YOUR DAD PROBABLY BROUGHT
YOU UP TO SPEED ON THAT, HUH?
-YEAH.
-YEAH.
NOT REAL HAPPY ABOUT IT,
BUT...
YEAH, WELL,
YEAH, WE HAD AN ISSUE.
WE HAD A SPOT
IN A BERM BLOW OUT.
IT JUST KIND OF WENT OVER
AND WENT INTO
THE BOTTOM THREE PONDS.
BUT WE'VE PUT A TON OF WORK
INTO IT.
LIKE, WE REALLY
FORTIFIED IT.
AND YOU WANT TO JUST GO
OVER THERE AND LOOK AT IT?
YEAH, WE PROBABLY SHOULD
GO LOOK AT IT.
-OKAY.
-OKAY.
I'M NOT REAL PROUD
OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
SO WE JUST WENT
INTO EMERGENCY MODE
AND STARTED HAULING DIRT OVER
THERE AND JUST PLUGGED IT UP,
POURED A TON OF
COARSE ROCK INTO IT,
SO THAT IT'S GOT
NO CHANCE OF ERODING.
I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND
THE SEVERITY
OF WHAT WENT ON.
YEAH, NO I UNDERSTAND,
I'M NOT REALLY HAPPY
ABOUT IT AT ALL.
I WISH I WOULD'VE
SEEN IT COMING,
BUT WE'VE REMEDIED IT NOW,
AND WE DID A LITTLE WORK
ON WHERE IT GOES OUT
INTO THE CREEK, AS WELL.
IT'S ACTUALLY FLOWING
REALLY CLEAN NOW.
-IS IT?
-OH, YEAH.
I SHOULD BE GOOD.
I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING AGAIN.
IF IT WAS ANY WORSE
THAN IT WAS,
I WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED
TO SHUT YOU DOWN, LIKE --
UNDERSTOOD.
YEP.
WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN,
STUART.
PERFECT.
KRUSE, YOU GOT A COPY?
YEAH, MAN.
FIRE UP THAT PLANT.
WE'RE GOOD TO GO, BUD.
AWESOME.
Rick:
IT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT.
I JUST GOT TO DO WHATEVER
I CAN TO MAKE SURE
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
WE LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.
♪
♪
♪
OOH. I THINK WE MIGHT'VE
JUST FOUND SOME GRAVEL.
Narrator:
AT LAST, AFTER SIX DAYS DIGGING
IN DEATH VALLEY,
BRENNAN IS ON PAYDIRT.
Brennan:
WHOO! FINALLY!
HA, HA!
HEY, PARKER,
YOU GOT A COPY?
WE FINALLY GOT DOWN TO GRAVEL
HERE IN DEATH VALLEY
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND
GETTING DOWN AND TAKING A LOOK.
HOLY [BLEEP]!
4,000 FEET OF MUD LATER.
NEVER, EVER [BLEEP] FELT LIKE
THIS CUT WAS GONNA END.
♪
SHOULD WE SEE IF
THERE'S ANY GOLD IN THIS?
-HELL YEAH.
-THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
Narrator:
AFTER 40 FEET OF FROZEN DIRT,
PARKER CAN FINALLY
PAN THE GRAVELS
AND TEST DEATH VALLEY FOR GOLD.
Brennan: SURE HOPE THAT
ALL THIS TIME AND EFFORT'S
GONNA PAY OFF.
Parker: AND FUEL.
THE BREAK-EVEN IN HERE
IS GONNA BE 700, 800 OUNCES.
AND IT'S A THIRD THE SIZE
THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY GET
700 OR 800 OUNCES OUT OF.
[ WHISTLES ]
NOT A FLAKE OF GOLD.
NOT A THING.
SO NOT ONLY IS IT ABOUT
AT LEAST TWICE AS DEEP
AS WE THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE,
BUT...
A BIG OLD DUD
FOR THE FIRST PAN.
IT IS DEATH VALLEY.
[ LAUGHS ]
PRETTY UNEASY
ABOUT ALL OF THIS.
SPENT A LOT OF MONEY IN HERE
FOR THERE NOT TO BE
ANY [BLEEP] GOLD.
♪
♪
LUNCH IS READY WHENEVER
YOU GUYS WANT TO COME EAT.
Man: THERE'S ONE THING
WE'RE NEVER LATE FOR.
[ LAUGHS ]
HE JUST SAID "THERE'S ONE
THING WE'RE NEVER LATE FOR,
AND THAT'S MEAL TIMES."
FIGURED IF I WAS
HELPING OUT TODAY,
MIGHT AS WELL COOK SOME LUNCH
OUT HERE IN THE CUT.
JUST LET IT SLOW ROAST
AND SMOKE ALL MORNING.
IT LOOKS PERFECT.
IT'S GOT A NICE RED-PINKISH LINE
ALL THE WAY AROUND THE OUTSIDE,
MEANS HE'S GOT GOOD SMOKE,
AND THE TEMPERATURE
ON THE INSIDE'S PERFECT.
OH, YEAH, BABY!
Man: YEAH, LET'S GET YOU
DRIVING TRUCK EVERY DAY.
[BLEEP], MAN, THAT'S GOOD.
MAN, WHAT IS THAT SAUCE?
IT'S A COCA-COLA
BARBECUE SAUCE.
UNREAL.
I THINK WE GOT TO PUT THIS
IN THE CONTRACT --
YOU DO THIS LIKE FOUR DAYS
A WEEK NEXT YEAR.
♪
-HEY, GUYS.
-HOLA.
Narrator: AT PARADISE HILL,
THE BEETS FAMILY GATHERS
FOR THEIR WEEKLY GOLD WEIGH.
Monica:
NOT A WHOLE LOT.
Minnie: WHAT HAPPENED
THIS TIME, MIKE?
WE ONLY HAVE SLUICE
FOR TWO DAYS.
RUNNING OUT OF PAY AND
THE STUFF I HAD EXPOSED,
SO I'VE BEEN [BLEEP]
MAINLY UP THERE STRIPPING,
TRYING TO GET
MY CUT READY.
WELL, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
[ LAUGHTER ]
PRETTY SOLIDLY.
WE SLUICED ABOUT SIX DAYS
THIS WEEK.
EVERYBODY WAS ON THERE
ONE DAY OFF, SO...
WE GOT OUR SHAKER DECK
FIRED UP AND RUNNING SO...
WE'LL GET PROPER SLUICING
RIGHT QUICK.
WE MIGHT AS WELL WEIGH UP
THIS WEEK'S STUFF.
Narrator: THIS SEASON,
MIKE'S GOLD AVERAGE HAS BEEN
30 OUNCES A DAY.
30, 40, 50.
53.38.
WORTH $75,000.
Minnie:
THAT'S NOT BAD, THOUGH.
25 OUNCES A DAY IS
STILL PRETTY DAMN GOOD.
LET'S DO THE NEXT ONE.
Narrator: THIS IS MONICA'S
FIRST GOLD WEIGH
AFTER A FULL WEEK OF SLUICING
AT HONKER CUT.
Tony:
...40, 50, 60...
...62.18.
-YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?
-HUH?
YOU HAD MORE THAN HIM.
OH, YEAH.
Narrator:
FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON,
MONICA HAS BEATEN
HER BIG BROTHER
BY ALMOST 10 OUNCES.
HEY, KEVIN, AT LEAST
SHE'S BRINGING IN SOMETHING.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
THAT WAS GOOD. [LAUGHS]
THAT WAS VERY GOOD.
SOMEDAY YOU MIGHT SLUICE.
ARE YOU TELLING ME
NEXT TIME THERE WILL BE
A CLEAN-UP FROM YOU,
AS WELL?
YEP. YEAH.
I MEAN, I'M HOPING.
♪
♪
Narrator: AFTER A GRUELING WEEK
OPENING UP DEATH VALLEY,
IT'S TIME FOR PARKER
TO FIND OUT
HOW MUCH GOLD THE CLUSTER CUT
HAS PRODUCED.
SO, WHAT'S UP, BOYS?
-HEY, GUYS.
-HEY, GUYS.
I NEED A [BLEEP] BEER.
DID YOU DO SOMETHING
TO YOUR NECK
OR YOUR BACK OR WHAT?
NECK, NECK.
I THOUGHT DOUMITT WAS GONNA BE
THE ONE WALKING ALL CRAZY
AFTER BOUNCING AROUND
THAT TRUCK.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HOLY MOSES.
I FORGOT HOW BRUTAL
THOSE ROCK TRUCKS ARE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GO BACK
TO RUNNING LOADER?
IF I CAN HELP IT, NO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND DID BIG RED
STAY RUNNING ALL RIGHT?
YEAH, YEAH.
IT WAS A GOOD WEEK.
I MEAN,
JUST PRETTY CONSISTENT.
WE DIDN'T REALLY
HAVE ANY ISSUES.
SOME OF WHAT WE OPENED UP
IS QUESTIONABLE,
AND THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME,
IS THAT, LIKE,
THE COUPLE PANS I DID
WERE JUST DOG [BLEEP].
BUT YOU JUST DON'T HAVE
A CLUE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN
UNTIL YOU SLUICE IT, REALLY.
YEAH.
Brennan: THAT KIND OF MONEY
MEANT TO STRIP THAT CUT
AND NOT FIND ANY GOLD
IS BRUTAL.
OH, YEAH, FOR SURE.
WELL LET'S SAY WE THROW
SOME GOLD ON THE SCALE
AND SEE HOW WE DID?
Narrator: BIG RED HAS BEEN
AVERAGING 250 OUNCES A WEEK.
SEE WHAT WE GOT HERE.
30, 40, 50.
THERE'S 100.
-YO, TRAV.
-YO.
-140.
-ROCK TRUCK HERO!
-170.
-YOU'RE JUST IN TIME.
190.
198.4.
-OH! SO CLOSE.
-JUST SO CLOSE.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-SO CLOSE TO 200.
Narrator:
WORTH ALMOST $280,000.
HEY, MAN, THANKS FOR
THE HELP THIS WEEK.
-NO PROBLEM.
-APPRECIATE IT.
-HAVE A LOOK.
-WHAT IS IT -- 198?
-198.45.
-198.45.
ONE FOR ME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YEAH, I SAY
WE BAG THIS GOLD UP
AND GO GET SOMETHING
TO EAT, THEN.
-STEAKS?
-STEAKS.
-STEAKS!
-YEAH!
I'LL COOK THE STEAKS.
YOU BRING THE BEER.
-CHEERS. CHEERS, GUYS.
-HERE.
-I'LL BAG THIS STUFF UP.
-THANKS, GUYS.
THANKS, TRAVIS.
-NO PROBLEM.
♪
Narrator: RICK NESS HAS SURVIVED
THE THREAT OF EVICTION.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Kruse:
WHAT AM I GONNA DO?
LIKE, HONESTLY, AM I
GONNA GET MAD ABOUT IT?
LIKE, IT MAKES HIM SO HAPPY.
LIKE...
Narrator: BUT REBUILDING
THE BERM COST HIM
THREE PRECIOUS DAYS OF SLUICING.
OH, BOY, ALL RIGHT.
WELL, ANYWAYS,
ALL JOKES ASIDE,
WE LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.
BUT WE DID FACE A HELL
OF A LOT OF DOWN TIME.
I MEAN, THAT'S NO SECRET THERE,
RIGHT?
LET'S SEE
WHAT THE DAMAGE IS.
Narrator:
TO REACH HIS 2,000-OUNCE GOAL,
RICK NEEDS OVER 150 OUNCES
A WEEK.
Rick: AH, 10, 15.
WE'RE OVER 20.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE 30.
I DON'T TH-- NOT QUITE.
WELL, WE'RE ON
AN EVEN NUMBER HERE.
IT'S ACTUALLY 28.6.
♪
I MEAN, THE GOLD PRICES
THIS YEAR --
THAT'S HELPING BIG TIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT
$40,000 RIGHT THERE
AFTER MONEY GOES
IN THE BANK FOR FUEL, SO...
WELL, 28.6.
THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT
TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
IT'S GOLD.
IT'S GOLD TO ADD TO OUR TOTAL.
I KNOW EVERY TIME
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE JUST
GETTING ROLLING HERE,
SOMETHING KNOCKS US DOWN, RIGHT?
BUT EVENTUALLY THEY'RE GONNA
PUT UP SOME NUMBERS,
AND WE'RE GONNA DIG OURSELVES
OUT OF THIS HOLE,
AND IT'S GONNA BE GOOD.
SO AT LEAST WE'RE STILL
MOVING FORWARD.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE ALL
FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS, RIGHT?
-YEAH, MAN.
-ALL RIGHT.
-THANKS.
-OH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
Rick: SO, I MEAN, IT'S EASY
TO STAY POSITIVE
IN FRONT OF MY GUYS,
SAY, YOU KNOW, "HEY.
WE HAD A LOT OF DOWN TIME.
A LOT OF THINGS WENT WRONG."
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
I COULD LOSE MY ASS
AND MY GUYS WILL GO HOME
WITH NOTHING TO SHOW
FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
IT'S ALREADY GONE ON TOO LONG.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT
THESE 28-OUNCE CLEAN-UPS.
IT'S JUST -- IT AIN'T GONNA
WORK ALL SEASON, MAN.
THINGS GOT TO CHANGE.
Narrator: ON THE NEXT
"GOLD RUSH,"
TONY'S PLANS...
...CRASH AND BURN.
PLANT'S DEAD TILL
WE GET THAT REPLACED.
Narrator:
PARKER GETS SCHOOLED...
EVERY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT HERE IS
WASTING VALUABLE TIME.
...ON GETTING GOLD.
OH, YEAH.
RICK, CUT THE POWER!
Narrator: AND RICK'S HIGH-TECH
SOFTWARE FIGHTS BACK...
Rick:
BEEN RUNNING LESS THAN AN HOUR,
AND THAT STUPID COMPUTER
SHUT THE PUMP DOWN AGAIN.
Narrator: ...TAKING HIS WHOLE
OPERATION OFFLINE.
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
...RICK NESS FACES DISASTER...
IF YOU CAN'T FOLLOW THE RULES,
THEN YOU'LL BE OUT OF HERE.
[BLEEP]
Narrator: ...KLONDIKE LEGEND
TONY BEETS FIGHTS BACK...
Kevin:
WHOA! THAT'S HOT.
...AND PARKER SCHNABEL GAMBLES
ON THE UNKNOWN.
WE'VE NEVER BEEN QUITTERS.
WE'RE GONNA FINISH IT,
EVEN IF BREAKS US.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
-OH, [BLEEP]!
-WHOA!
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALREADY
HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON
AND NOT NEARLY HALFWAY
THROUGH THE GROUND.
Narrator:
PARKER SCHNABEL HAS GAMBLED
$500,000
BUYING A 115-ACRE CLAIM.
HE'S RACING THE CLOCK
TO MINE IT OUT
BEFORE HIS WATER LICENSE EXPIRES
AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
Parker: WITH THAT WATER LICENSE
EXPIRING,
WE'VE GOT TO KEEP
OPENING UP GROUND,
AND WE NEED TO GET ON IT
IN A HURRY.
Narrator:
FOR THE PAST 11 WEEKS,
HE'S FOCUSED ON THE CLUSTER CUT,
WHICH HAS PAID OUT NEARLY
2,000 OUNCES OF GOLD.
BUT THAT'S NEARLY MINED OUT,
AND HE NEEDS TO OPEN A NEW CUT.
Parker:
IF WE OPEN IT UP TOO LATE,
WE'RE NOT GONNA GET
THE GOLD OUT OF IT.
♪
Parker:
HEY, BRENNAN.
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
THIS IS GONNA BE
THE NEXT CUT,
RIGHT THROUGH THERE.
AND THE GUY WE BOUGHT
THE GROUND FROM
DID QUITE WELL ON
THE UPSTREAM END,
AND I WANT TO TRY TO
CHASE THAT IF WE CAN.
I MEAN, WITH THE CLUSTER CUT
OPEN, IT'S PRETTY BIG.
IS IT GONNA BE A RISKY GAMBLE
TRYING TO OPEN THIS UP AS WELL?
YEAH, I MEAN, WE'RE
A LITTLE LATE IN THE YEAR
IS THE ONLY THING,
BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO DEEP.
WE'VE JUST GOT TO
GET GROUND OPEN.
Narrator:
PARKER'S CLUSTER CUT IS THE SIZE
OF 11 CITY BLOCKS
WITH HIGH-GRADE PAY DIRT.
THE NEXT SPOT HE'S BETTING ON
IS A NARROW STRIP
WHERE DRILL RESULTS
SUGGEST HE'LL FIND
GOLD-RICH PAY AT 15 FEET.
PARKER NEEDS TO GET DOWN TO
THE PAY LAYER IN RECORD TIME.
WELL, BRENNAN, I MEAN,
YOU COULD DO THAT IN A WEEK.
SO AM I GONNA GET
ANY HELP DOWN HERE?
I'LL FIND YOU
SOME EXTRA HANDS.
THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE
RUNNING AROUND HERE.
YOU KNOW, WELL, I KNOW
YOU'LL GET 'ER DONE.
ALL RIGHT.
THE BIG THING IS JUST
GETTING GROUND OPEN.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE
REALLY GOOD GROUND UP THERE.
I THINK IT'S JUST
GONNA BE [BLEEP] HOT.
Narrator:
WITH NO TIME TO WASTE,
BRENNAN STARTS RIPPING THROUGH
THE FROZEN OVERBURDEN.
Brennan:
WELL, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE
EVERY YEAR WE COME HERE,
HE HAS HIGHER AND HIGHER
EXPECTATIONS.
IN REALITY,
IT SHOULDN'T TAKE TOO LONG
TO GET DOWN TO GRAVEL.
WE ALREADY GO AS HARD
AS WE CAN EVERY YEAR,
AND IT'S JUST [LAUGHS]
HOW MUCH HARDER CAN WE GO
WITHOUT HAVING MORE PEOPLE?
IN A TIME LIKE THIS, IT'S, LIKE,
ALL HANDS ON DECK.
WE NEED EVERYBODY.
Narrator: SHORT ON CREW,
PARKER HUNTS FOR EXTRA HANDS.
HEY, CHRIS.
UH-OH.
[ LAUGHS ]
HOW'S THE BACK?
GOOD.
DOING REAL GOOD.
-YEAH, REAL GOOD?
-YEAH, YEAH.
GOOD ENOUGH TO GO
DRIVE A ROCK TRUCK?
IT'S NEVER THAT GOOD.
DID I DO SOMETHING
TO OFFEND YOU?
NO, YOU DIDN'T.
WE JUST HAVE SO MUCH
GROUND TO MOVE
'CAUSE WE NEED
ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, NO PROBLEM.
BE DOWN THERE IN A MINUTE.
THANKS, CHRIS.
JUNIOR!
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
ARE YOU DOING HERE?
OH, I GUESS I'M IN
A ROCK TRUCK FOR A WHILE.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-HELL YEAH.
I TOLD HIM I NEEDED HELP,
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF
HE WAS GONNA HIRE ME A FEW.
HE PROBABLY COULDN'T FIND ANY,
SO HE GOT US.
YEAH.
BE GENTLE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
[ Laughing ] YEAH, YOU BETTER
GLUE YOUR DENTURES IN.
[ LAUGHING ]
OFF WE GO.
WELL, DOUMITT'S FIRST DAY
IN THE TRUCK HERE.
IT'S ACTUALLY GOOD TO SEE HIM
BACK IN THE SEAT OF SOMETHING.
I MEAN, WHEN I FIRST SHOWED UP
HERE FIVE YEARS AGO,
HE WAS RUNNING LOADER
FULL-TIME,
SO I BET HE'S HAPPY TO
GET OUT OF THAT GOLD ROOM
AND OUT OF CAMP
AND HELP OUT DOWN HERE.
YOU KNOW, I FORGOT HOW ROUGH
THESE THINGS ARE.
I THINK WHAT YOU OUGHT TO DO
IS PUT THEM OUT
IN FRONT OF A GROCERY STORE,
PUT A QUARTER IN IT,
AND YOU GET
ONE HECK OF A RIDE.
[ LAUGHS ]
THIS IS DEFINITELY
A YOUNG MAN'S SPORT.
Narrator:
BRENNAN AND THE ROCK TRUCKS
RACE TO OPEN THE NEW GROUND,
WHILE IN THE CLUSTER CUT,
BIG RED CHEWS THROUGH 200 YARDS
OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR.
REALLY, I BOUGHT THIS GROUND
TO BE ABLE
TO NOT BE IN A RUSH,
AND HERE WE ARE
HAVING TO JUST SLAM
EVERYTHING WE CAN AT IT.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT EVEN HALFWAY
THROUGH THE GROUND YET.
HOPEFULLY THE GUYS
CAN JUST COME TOGETHER
AND KEEP PLUGGING AWAY AT THIS.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THROUGH
THIS WHOLE PIECE OF GROUND.
♪
[ THUNDER CRASHES ]
MAN, WE MUST HAVE HAD
THE DRIEST SPRING EVER,
BUT IT'S SURE MAKING UP FOR IT
RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: AT RICK NESS'S
DUNCAN CREEK CLAIM,
IT'S BEEN RAINING
SOLID FOR 24 HOURS.
Rick: YOU KNOW, FIRST WE HAD
WILDFIRES AND NOW THIS.
AS LONG AS MONSTER RED'S RUNNING
AND IT'S BRINGING IN THE GOLD,
I DON'T CARE, MAN.
THE WEATHER OUT HERE
IS WHATEVER.
I MEAN, IT CHANGES
ALMOST INSTANTLY.
I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE'RE
RUNNING DIRT THROUGH THIS THING
AND TRYING TO FIND SOME GOLD.
Narrator: RICK FINALLY HAS
HIS NEW WASH PLANT,
MONSTER RED, DIALED IN.
SO FAR, HE'S BANKED
JUST 162 OUNCES
TOWARDS HIS 2,000-OUNCE
SEASON GOAL.
BUT NOW HE'S RUNNING PAY DIRT
THROUGH ONE OF THE BIGGEST
SLUICE BOXES IN THE YUKON
AND SHOULD TRIPLE
HIS GOLD PRODUCTION.
Zee:
MONSTER RED'S TWICE AS BIG.
IT'S LIKE GOING FROM THE MINOR
LEAGUES TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES.
♪
MONSTER RED'S BEEN
RUNNING ALL DAY,
AND IT'S LOOKING LIKE
IT'S ACTUALLY BRIGHTENING UP,
SO [BLEEP] YEAH.
♪
CHAP, COME ON.
READY?
GO GET IT.
LET'S GO.
HOLY [BLEEP]!
RICK, WE HAVE
A SITUATION, BUDDY.
THIS IS BAD.
GET DOWN HERE NOW.
Rick: ROGER THAT.
Narrator:
MONSTER RED'S SETTLING POND
HAS BURST ITS BANKS.
MAN.
WE'RE [BLEEP].
HOLY [BLEEP].
WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
JUST, THING'S GONE, MAN.
WE'RE HOOPED.
WHAT THE...?
IS IT THE RAIN LAST NIGHT?
IT HAD TO BE THE RAIN
LAST NIGHT, MAN.
HOLY [BLEEP].
WE'RE [BLEEP], DUDE.
LIKE, THIS IS BAD.
THIS IS BAD.
Rick: I DON'T WANT TO BE SENDING
A BUNCH OF DIRTY WATER
INTO THE STREAMS.
IT'S JUST UGLY, AND IT'S NOT
SAFE FOR FISH AND ALL THAT.
Narrator: MONSTER RED DISCHARGES
180,000 GALLONS
OF SILTY WATER AN HOUR.
TO CLEAN IT, RICK FEEDS
THE WATER THROUGH FOUR PONDS
THAT SLOW IT DOWN,
ALLOWING SILT TO SETTLE OUT
BEFORE THE WATER IS RELEASED
INTO THE CREEK.
HEAVY RAIN HAS BROKEN THE BERM
ON THE FIRST POND.
AND DIRTY WATER HAS FLOODED
THE LOWER PONDS.
IF ANY MORE ENTERS THE SYSTEM,
IT COULD OVERFLOW AND ILLEGALLY
CONTAMINATE THE CREEK.
Rick:
TALK ABOUT CATASTROPHIC.
YEAH, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE,
BIG TIME.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT TO DO.
I MEAN, IT LOOKS BAD,
BUT I DID BUILD THIS POND SYSTEM
SO IT DIDN'T RELY
ON JUST ONE BERM.
BUT WE HAVE TO GET
THAT [BLEEP] HOLE FIXED
AS SOON AS WE CAN BEFORE
THE WHOLE [BLEEP] THING LETS GO.
I CAN'T RISK ANY MORE WATER
GOING TO THAT POND RIGHT NOW,
WHICH MEANS WE'RE SHUT DOWN
TILL IT'S FIXED.
OKAY, I BETTER CALL DEAN...
YEAH.
...[BLEEP] HOPE
HE'S NOT TOO MAD.
YEAH.
Narrator: IF RICK FAILS TO
COMPLY WITH MINING REGULATIONS,
THE GOVERNMENT COULD FINE HIM
OR SHUT HIM DOWN.
Carl:
CHAP, LET'S GO.
THEY COULD ALSO GO AFTER HIS
LANDLORD, DEAN GRAY.
HMM.
MM-HMM.
YEAH, WE HAD A LITTLE BIT
OF A BLOWOUT
WITH ONE OF OUR PONDS.
THIS IS SERIOUS.
I DIDN'T SEE IT COMING.
I THINK WE WERE TRYING TO
FIT TOO MUCH WATER IN HERE,
AND THEN IT JUST
SATURATED EVERYTHING.
AS A LANDLORD,
IT'S OUR WATER LICENSE.
YEAH.
AND BASICALLY, YOU'VE GOT TO
UPHOLD OUR REPUTATION
AS WELL AS YOUR OWN.
-YEAH.
-SO IT'S PRETTY CRITICAL.
WE WANT A CLEAN OPERATION,
AND WE DON'T WANT
ANY FUNNY BUSINESS
GETTING INTO THE CREEK.
YEAH.
IF WE CAN'T HAVE
A NICE, TIDY SHIP,
THEN, YEAH, WE'LL JUST
HAVE TO CALL IT A SEASON.
IF YOU CAN'T FOLLOW THE RULES,
THEN YOU'LL BE OUT OF HERE.
♪
♪
OH!
THIS COULD BE
THE END OF MY SEASON.
Narrator:
AT DUNCAN CREEK,
RICK'S CREW IS SHUT DOWN
AFTER HEAVY RAIN
DESTROYED A BERM ON
THEIR FIRST SETTLING POND.
Rick: WE HAVE TO GET THAT FIXED
AS SOON AS WE CAN.
IF THIS DIRTY WATER
HAD HIT THE CREEK,
AND WASHED ALL THAT
INTO THE CREEK,
I DON'T SEE
RECOVERING FROM THAT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY
IN CHARGE OF THE WATER
WOULD SEE THAT KIND OF MISTAKE
AND PROBABLY SHUT ME RIGHT DOWN
REAL QUICK.
Narrator: RICK'S LANDLORD HAS
GIVEN HIM AN ULTIMATUM --
FIX THE PROBLEM OR GO HOME.
RIGHT NOW, A SINGLE BERM IS
KEEPING ALL THE DIRTY WATER
OUT OF THE CREEK.
Rick: I WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO CHECK THE CREEK.
THE WATER'S CRYSTAL CLEAN
DOWN THERE.
LIKE, I WAS SURPRISED
HOW CLEAN IT WAS.
SO WE DODGED A BULLET
WITH THAT ONE,
BUT IT'S [BLEEP] SCARY.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO
GO INTO PANIC MODE
AND TRY TO ARMOR IT UP
WITH BIG BOULDERS.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA
REBUILD THIS.
WE'LL GET SLUICING AGAIN.
YEP.
Man: POSITIVE --
THOSE WERE POSITIVES, RICK.
Narrator:
RICK'S ENTIRE CREW GETS TO WORK
FORTIFYING THE BERM
WITH A LAYER OF BOULDERS...
YOU'RE GOOD, BUDDY.
YOU'RE HEAVY, THOUGH,
SO JUST NICE AND EASY.
...AND FINISHING IT OFF
WITH COMPRESSED DIRT.
Rick:
IT JUST PUKED RAIN,
AND THIS BERM WAS, LIKE,
80-FEET WIDE AT THE BOTTOM,
AND FOR IT TO JUST
GET SMASHED OUT LIKE THAT,
I REALLY DON'T GET IT.
Karla Ann:
I SHOULD BE IN THE GOLD ROOM,
BUT WHEN THINGS COME ABOUT
LIKE THIS,
YOU GOT TO SET
YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.
I'LL ARMOR IT UP BETTER,
AND HOPEFULLY
WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
THE PRESSURE'S ON.
WE ARE FALLING BEHIND, YOU KNOW.
EVERY HOUR WE DON'T SLUICE
IS A LITTLE LESS GOLD.
Rick: JUST WHEN YOU THINK IT
CAN'T GET ANY MORE STRESSFUL,
IT DOES.
IT'S MY MONEY
INITIALLY ON THE LINE,
BUT IF WE DON'T MAKE ANY,
THESE GUYS DON'T GET PAID,
SO IT AIN'T FUN
BEING IN THAT POSITION.
NEED TO GET
[BLEEP] SLUICING AGAIN.
COME ON, KEEP ON COMING.
KEEP ON COMING.
YOU'RE GOOD, BUDDY.
Narrator: ZEE REVERSES DOWN
THE NARROW BERM.
THAT LOOKS GOOD.
BINGO.
LET 'ER GO.
I GOT -- LOOKS LIKE
TWO MORE LOADS HERE,
AND I'LL BE DONE
WITH THIS PART OF IT.
Karla Ann:
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO BE UP AND RUNNING
PRETTY QUICK.
AND THEN IT'S FULL BLAST
FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.
♪
AW, COME ON.
Rick: WHAT A [BLEEP]
GONG SHOW THIS IS.
♪
THERE'S JUST DEEPER
RUTS OVER HERE,
AND ONCE IT GOT UP AND VERTICAL
AND ALL THE WEIGHT GOT
PUSHED TO ONE CENTER POINT,
IT DROPPED DOWN ABOUT
A FOOT AND A HALF INTO THE MUD
AND KIND OF JUST TIPPED OVER.
LAST YEAR I WAS THE ONLY ONE
THAT DIDN'T TIP MY ROCK TRUCK,
BUT YEAH.
SO THIS YEAR I'M ON THE BOARD.
Rick: EVERYBODY'S USUALLY
GOOD FOR ONE,
AND I'VE ROLLED ONE.
AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANYBODY
ON SITE ROLL ONE TWICE YET.
AND I WATCHED IT GO OVER.
IT WENT OVER REAL SLOW.
THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY DAMAGE.
Narrator:
THE TRUCK IS UPRIGHT,
BUT THE TIRE HAS
COME OFF ITS RIM
AND LOST ALL PRESSURE.
HE'S GONNA HAVE TO QUIT
DOING WHAT HE'S DOING
TO GET THIS TRUCK
BACK UP AND RUNNING
SO WE CAN GET
THIS BERM FINISHED.
Narrator: IF THEY HAD
A REMOUNTING MACHINE...
[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]
...THIS WOULD BE
A STRAIGHTFORWARD JOB.
BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YUKON,
CARL HAS TO IMPROVISE.
DO IT RIGHT, BOYS.
HE SPRAYS STARTER FLUID,
WHICH CONTAINS ETHER,
ON THE INSIDE RIM.
IT'S GONNA GO POP,
AND THEN I NEED YOU
ON THERE RIGHT AWAY.
IT'S A QUICK CONNECT ON IT?
YEP. YOU PUSH THAT ON THERE,
YOU'LL BE GOOD.
OKAY.
ONCE IGNITED,
THE EXPLOSION SHOULD EXPAND
THE AIR IN THE TIRE
AND FORCE IT BACK ON THE RIM.
YOU CAN BLOW YOURSELF UP,
THOUGH.
I'VE HEARD STORIES OF
ETHER BOMBING TIRES
TO GET THEM TO SEAT,
BUT I'VE NEVER ACTUALLY
WITNESSED IT IN PERSON, SO...
I'VE SEEN IT GO WRONG.
[ LAUGHS ]
[BLEEP]
IT DIDN'T GO.
THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
GET A FRESH CAN.
LIKE, LAST TIME
WAS JUST A [BLEEP],
AND THIS TIME'S SERIOUS.
HA, HA!
Narrator: THE EXPLOSION WAS
TOO WEAK TO SHIFT THE TIRE.
BUT IF IT'S TOO POWERFUL,
IT'LL DESTROY IT.
HA, HA! IT'S GONNA [BLEEP]
BLOW GOOD THIS TIME.
[ LAUGHS ]
WHOO!
THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT, BOYS.
SO THAT'S HOW
YOU GET A TIRE ON.
[ LAUGHTER ]
-YEAH, HEY, THAT WAS FUN.
-[BLEEP] YEAH, BUDDY.
-HEY, WE DID GOOD THIS MORNING,
-YEAH, BUDDY.
YEAH, MAN.
WE'LL GET THIS GUY BACK UP
HAULING DIRT.
[BLEEP] YEAH.
WE'RE BACK IN BUSINESS.
Narrator:
BACK TO FULL STRENGTH,
THE CREW CAN FINISH
FIXING THE BERM.
Rick:
I'M NOT BROKE YET,
SO WE WILL GET RUNNING
HERE SOON,
AND THEN THINGS WILL
TURN AROUND.
♪
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL IS
FIGHTING ON TWO FRONTS.
WHILE A SKELETON CREW
KEEPS BIG RED RUNNING
IN THE CLUSTER CUT,
EVERYONE ELSE IS
DIGGING DOWN TO PAY
IN A NARROW STRIP OF LAND
TO THE EAST.
Doumitt: I'VE NOT SEEN A CUT
THIS DEEP BEFORE.
USUALLY IT WOULD HAVE
ONLY TAKEN OFF
MAYBE 8, 10 FEET OF OVERBUDREN.
THERE MUST BE 25 FEET HERE.
Narrator: THE TEST DRILLS
INDICATE GOLD-BEARING GRAVEL
AT AROUND 15 FEET,
BUT THEY'VE BEEN DIGGING
FOR DAYS,
AND THERE'S NO SIGN OF IT.
Parker: THIS CUT
TURNED INTO A MONSTER.
I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
AS DEEP AS IT IS.
YEAH, CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT
FOR THE LIFE OF ME HERE.
FEELS LIKE I'VE BEEN
DIGGING FOR MONTHS.
WE THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA HIT IT
MAYBE 5, 10, 20 FEET, EH?
AND PROBABLY DOWN 30 NOW.
[BLEEP]
THIS [BLEEP]
LIKE, WHEN DO YOU CALL IT
ENOUGH'S ENOUGH?
WELL, I MEAN,
WE'VE NEVER BEEN QUITTERS,
SO WE'RE GONNA FINISH IT,
EVEN IF IT BREAKS US, BUT...
YEAH.
TALK ABOUT SOME MONEY
GOING INTO A [BLEEP] HOLE.
[BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
WHERE'S THE BOTTOM?
I DON'T KNOW WHERE
THE [BLEEP] BOTTOM IS,
BUT YOU BETTER GO FIND IT.
ALL RIGHT.
[ SIGHS ]
KEEP PLUGGING AWAY.
I'LL CALL YOU IN A MONTH.
HA, HA.
VERY FUNNY.
I JUST HAVE NO [BLEEP] IDEA
WHEN THE END'S
GONNA BE IN SIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I'M ALREADY DOWN
30 FEET UNDER MUD,
AND I JUST HOPE
IT'S NOT ANOTHER 30.
THIS IS [BLEEP] OUTRAGEOUS.
I JUST HOPE
THE GOLD'S GOOD DOWN HERE.
THIS IS A WASTE OF OUR [BLEEP]
TIME AND MONEY IF IT ISN'T.
Narrator:
AT 30 FEET, THIS CUT IS ALREADY
NEARLY TWICE AS DEEP
AS THE CLUSTER CUT,
BUT THE TEST DRILLS ARE GOOD,
SO IT SHOULD BE WORTH IT.
Parker:
IT'S HARD ON ALL THE EQUIPMENT.
IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.
WE'LL HAVE $1 MILLION INTO THIS
BY THE TIME WE SLUICE IT.
I JUST HOPE THIS WASN'T
A BIG MISTAKE.
Narrator:
TO HELP GET DOWN TO THE GOLD,
PARKER NEEDS A NEW RECRUIT.
Parker: SO WE'VE REALLY GOT TO
START THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
HEY, TRAVIS.
HEY.
YOU KNOW HOW TO DRIVE
A ROCK TRUCK, RIGHT?
IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS
SINCE I DROVE TRUCK, BUT YEAH.
WHY?
OKAY, GOOD.
BRENNAN'S JUST
UNDER THE GUN OUT THERE.
IF WE CAN JUST GIVE HIM A HAND,
IT'D BE A HUGE HELP.
YOU'VE STILL GOT SOME TIME
BEFORE DINNER, DON'T YOU?
YEAH,
I'M PRETTY WELL SORTED,
SO I CAN PROBABLY GIVE YOU
FOUR HOURS, FIVE HOURS.
ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, DUDE.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
HOPEFULLY THESE GUYS [LAUGHS]
REMEMBER WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
IT'S NOT A PLACE TO
SCREW AROUND, THAT'S FOR SURE.
CAMP COOK TRAVIS TAKES CHARGE
OF A ROCK TRUCK
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS.
SO RIGHT NOW, IT'S LIKE
ALL HANDS ON DECK, RIGHT?
I'M KIND OF CURIOUS
HOW TRAVIS IS GONNA DO.
TWO SEASONS AGO,
WHEN I WAS OUT HERE LAST,
THE GROUND WAS FROZEN,
AND IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THIS.
THIS IS MUD.
Narrator: AS THE SUMMER SUN
MELTS THE FROZEN GROUND,
THE ROCK TRUCKS
CHURN UP THE ROADS
BETWEEN THE CUT
AND THE DUMP SITE,
TURNING THEM INTO
DANGEROUS SLURRY.
THIS CUT HAS BEEN REALLY HARD
ON ALL THE EQUIPMENT.
THE TRUCKS IN PARTICULAR.
WE'VE GOT REALLY STEEP RAMPS
TO THE DUMP SITES,
AND EVERYTHING'S COVERED
IN WATER AND SLOP.
WE'RE RUNNING THE TRUCKS
AS FAST AS WE CAN,
BUT WE'RE JUST GETTING
BEAT THE HELL UP.
LIKE, THESE ROADS ARE
ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL.
BUT WE'VE REALLY GOT TO
GET THIS DONE.
WE JUST GOT EVERYBODY
SPREAD SO THIN.
WE NEED EVERY EXTRA PERSON
WE CAN
TO TRY AND GET
THIS CUT CLEANED OUT.
HOLY [BLEEP]!
OH, [BLEEP],
THIS DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.
WHOA, WHOA, TRAV, WHOA!
IT'S A LITTLE HAIRY,
A LITTLE SLIPPERY.
WHOA, WHOA!
OH, [BLEEP]!
♪
OH, [BLEEP]!
WHOA, WHOA!
IT'S A LITTLE HAIRY,
A LITTLE SLIPPERY.
WHOA, WHOA!
HOLY [BLEEP]!
Narrator: CAMP COOK TRAVIS
IS DRIVING A ROCK TRUCK
TO HELP PARKER'S CREW
GET DOWN TO PAY,
BUT HE'S DRIFTED OVER THE EDGE
OF A STEEP BANK.
-ZACK, ZACK, YOU ON HERE?
-YEP.
Brennan: HEY, BUDDY, I NEED YOU
TO RACE UP HERE, MAN.
TRAV JUST WENT
OFF THE ROAD HERE.
HE'S TEETERING
ON THE EDGE.
SO A COMBINATION OF
ROOKIE DRIVER AND SOFT SHOULDERS
HAS PUT ME IN
A LITTLE PREDICAMENT.
I MEAN, I'M NOT BLAMING TRAV
FOR THIS.
IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.
YOU BETTER HURRY UP
AND GET ME OUT OF HERE
OR THERE'S NO DINNER TONIGHT!
-[ LAUGHS ]
-PUT YOUR SEATBELT ON!
Brennan: YOU GUYS READY?
Narrator: ZACK WILL USE
THE BUCKET OF THE 700
TO ATTEMPT TO PULL HIM
TO SAFETY.
GUYS, START COMING AHEAD!
TURN!
A LITTLE SCARY HERE.
Narrator:
WHILE TRAVIS STEERS THE TRUCK
UP OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD...
TURN, TURN!
KEEP COMING!
I DON'T WANT TO ROLL
THE TRUCK OVER.
-WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
-WHOA.
HOLY [BLEEP].
WHAT HAPPENED THERE?
I GUESS THE TEETH
JUST SLID OFF
THE EDGE OF
THE ROCKS THERE.
WELL, LET'S JUST RESET.
I THINK WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
BUT LET'S JUST [BLEEP]
TAKE IT EASY, OKAY?
YOU READY?
READY?
LET'S GO.
YEAH, LET'S GO!
COME ON, LET'S GO!
TURN THIS WAY!
KEEP COMING.
-LET'S GO, BOYS, LET'S GET IT.
TURN.
I THINK WE GOT IT!
HIGH FIVE, BROTHER.
GOOD JOB, TRAV!
THANKS, BOYS!
THAT WAS A HEART-POUNDER,
FOR SURE.
WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!
WE WANTED TO EAT TONIGHT!
WE HAD TO GO SMOOTH.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST STICK TO
FLIPPING BURGERS.
ALL RIGHT, NOW GET
YOUR CAT OUT OF THE WAY.
LET'S GET BACK OUT HERE.
OH, LISTEN TO YOU GO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Brennan: GOT A GREEN DRIVER
HERE, BUT YOU KNOW,
WE ALL CAME TOGETHER
AND GOT THAT THING OUT SAFELY.
NOBODY GOT HURT, AND THAT'S
THE MAIN FACTOR HERE,
SO IT'S TIME TO GET BACK
TO PRODUCTION.
THIS CUT HAS ALREADY KILLED
THREE TRUCKS AND AN EXCAVATOR.
LIKE, IT MAY AS WELL
BE A DEATH VALLEY.
PERFECT NAME FOR THIS --
DEATH VALLEY.
ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.
EVERYTHING DOWN HERE
IS A CHALLENGE.
♪
♪
Narrator:
TONY BEETS LOST $500,000
WHEN HE WAS FORCED TO MOVE
FROM THE INDIAN RIVER.
TO RECOVER FROM THE DISASTROUS
START TO HIS SEASON,
HE NEEDS ALL THREE OF HIS KIDS
PRODUCING GOLD.
BUT 10 WEEKS ON, ONLY MONICA
AND MIKE ARE SLUICING.
IT'S GONNA BE MY FIRST WEEK
SLUICING ALL WEEK.
COULD YOU THROW TWO BUCKETS
INTO THE FEEDER
AND THEN SIT THERE?
PROGRESS IN MY CUT HASN'T BEEN
AS FAST AS IT COULD BE,
BUT NOW THAT WE GOT TRUCKS
AND AN EXCAVATOR IN HERE,
WE'RE AT LEAST DOWN TO GRAVEL
ON MOST OF IT.
Narrator: THREE WEEKS AGO,
KEVIN HIT THE JACKPOT.
WHILE DIGGING TEST HOLES
FOR HIS NEW CUT
ON THE TOP OF PARADISE HILL,
HE AND HIS BROTHER, MIKE,
FOUND A RICH SEAM OF PAY DIRT
RUNNING BETWEEN THEIR TWO CUTS.
OH, YEAH.
TONY DECIDES TO JOIN
MIKE'S CUT IN THE WEST
AND KEVIN'S IN THE EAST
TO MAKE A SINGLE
18-ACRE MEGA CUT.
HE ESTIMATES THEY COULD MINE
$5 MILLION WORTH OF GOLD HERE
BY THE END OF THE SEASON,
BUT ONLY IF BOTH MIKE AND KEVIN
RUN THEIR OWN PLANTS.
HEY, TONY.
CUT'S ABOUT READY TO GO.
OH, I THINK THE ONLY THING
WE HAVE, REALLY,
IS THE SHAKER DECK.
YEAH, POUR IT THROUGH,
SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
Narrator: THE SHAKER DECK
IS CURRENTLY SITTING IDLE
IN THE YARD.
LAST SEASON, IT PRODUCED
OVER $3 MILLION WORTH OF GOLD.
NOW WE'RE ABOUT TO PULL
THE SHAKER DECK INTO POSITION.
SO, GRAB A D10, HOOKING UP
THE CABLES, OFF WE GO.
Narrator:
TO TOW THE 50-TON PLANT
3/4 OF A MILE TO KEVIN'S CUT,
MIKE BREAKS OUT
THE 700-HORSEPOWER D10 DOZER.
♪
Kevin: BEAUTIFUL.
REALLY NICE TO ACTUALLY SEE
THIS THING [BLEEP] MOVING.
WE FINALLY PUT
SOME [BLEEP] DIRT
AND GET SOME GOLD
OUT OF THE [BLEEP].
♪
YEAH.
Narrator:
HAULING SUCH A MASSIVE WEIGHT,
THE DOZER CAN ONLY TRAVEL
AT ONE MILE AN HOUR.
♪
♪
♪
Narrator: MIKE IS TOWING
KEVIN'S 50-TON SHAKER DECK
TO THE MEGA CUT.
Mike:
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
HIT THE [BLEEP] BRAKE.
-THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
-THERE.
Kevin: WHOA!
THAT'S [BLEEP] HOT!
IT'S A RAD HOSE.
GOT A NEW ONE SOMEWHERE?
ONE SEC. I'LL BE RIGHT
[BLEEP] BACK.
Narrator:
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT,
THE DOZER'S ENGINE
WAS RUNNING SO HOT,
IT BLEW A RADIATOR HOSE.
20 MINUTES LATER,
KEVIN'S BACK WITH A NEW HOSE.
YEAH.
GOT THE HOSE.
YEP.
I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO
SHOW ME HOW IT'S DONE,
YOU'RE WELCOME
TO GET UP HERE.
SHE'S IN.
-GOT YOU SOME WATER, KID.
-PERFECT. UP YOU GO, MIKE.
FILL 'ER UP.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator:
KEVIN BRINGS IN A LOADER
TO HELP PUSH THE 50-TON PLANT.
GOOD AS SPOT AS ANY.
PLENTY OF ROOM EITHER SIDE.
Narrator: AFTER ATTACHING
THE CONVEYOR AND HOPPER,
IT'S TIME TO FIRE UP
THE SHAKER DECK.
[ MOTOR STARTS ]
UP!
SHAKER DECK.
HERE WE GO.
HERE'S THE FIRST BUCKET OF PAY
INTO THE SIDE OF THE PLANT.
♪
EH. TOOK FOREVER, BUT WE
MADE IT [BLEEP] HAPPEN.
Narrator: ALMOST THREE MONTHS
INTO THE SEASON,
THE KING OF THE KLONDIKE HAS
ALL THREE KIDS PRODUCING GOLD.
♪
♪
IT'S FAR FROM -- FAR FROM
A GOOD SITUATION HERE RIGHT NOW.
I GOT A LOT OF MONEY
WRAPPED UP IN MY OPERATION.
IT'S THE MOST MONEY
I'VE EVER SPENT ON ONE THING.
I COULD GO BANKRUPT.
Narrator: RICK NESS IS STARING
DISASTER IN THE FACE.
HE NEEDS TO REBUILD THE BROKEN
BERM ON HIS SETTLING POND
AND GET IT APPROVED
BY HIS LANDLORD,
OR HE'LL BE EVICTED
FROM HIS CLAIM.
Rick: YEAH, I MEAN, THIS IS
TURNING INTO A RECOVERY MISSION,
TRYING TO GET OUT OF HERE
WITHOUT LOSING MY HOUSE.
Zee:
IT'S DEFINITELY STRESSFUL.
EVERYONE'S GOT TO BE
ON TOP OF THEIR GAME
AND RUNNING ON A GOOD CLICK.
♪
Rick: [BLEEP] THAT'S ALL
WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
IT'S MAKE OR BREAK.
[ HELICOPTER WHIRRING ]
-STUART.
-HEY, RICK.
IT'S YOU DOWN HERE
MAKING ALL THAT DUST.
-YEAH. [ LAUGHS ]
-HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
-GOOD. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
-GOOD. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
GOOD. COMING TO CHECK ON
WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE SOME
PRETTY BIG ISSUES GOING ON.
YEAH, YOUR DAD PROBABLY BROUGHT
YOU UP TO SPEED ON THAT, HUH?
-YEAH.
-YEAH.
NOT REAL HAPPY ABOUT IT,
BUT...
YEAH, WELL,
YEAH, WE HAD AN ISSUE.
WE HAD A SPOT
IN A BERM BLOW OUT.
IT JUST KIND OF WENT OVER
AND WENT INTO
THE BOTTOM THREE PONDS.
BUT WE'VE PUT A TON OF WORK
INTO IT.
LIKE, WE REALLY
FORTIFIED IT.
AND YOU WANT TO JUST GO
OVER THERE AND LOOK AT IT?
YEAH, WE PROBABLY SHOULD
GO LOOK AT IT.
-OKAY.
-OKAY.
I'M NOT REAL PROUD
OF WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
SO WE JUST WENT
INTO EMERGENCY MODE
AND STARTED HAULING DIRT OVER
THERE AND JUST PLUGGED IT UP,
POURED A TON OF
COARSE ROCK INTO IT,
SO THAT IT'S GOT
NO CHANCE OF ERODING.
I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND
THE SEVERITY
OF WHAT WENT ON.
YEAH, NO I UNDERSTAND,
I'M NOT REALLY HAPPY
ABOUT IT AT ALL.
I WISH I WOULD'VE
SEEN IT COMING,
BUT WE'VE REMEDIED IT NOW,
AND WE DID A LITTLE WORK
ON WHERE IT GOES OUT
INTO THE CREEK, AS WELL.
IT'S ACTUALLY FLOWING
REALLY CLEAN NOW.
-IS IT?
-OH, YEAH.
I SHOULD BE GOOD.
I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING AGAIN.
IF IT WAS ANY WORSE
THAN IT WAS,
I WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED
TO SHUT YOU DOWN, LIKE --
UNDERSTOOD.
YEP.
WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN,
STUART.
PERFECT.
KRUSE, YOU GOT A COPY?
YEAH, MAN.
FIRE UP THAT PLANT.
WE'RE GOOD TO GO, BUD.
AWESOME.
Rick:
IT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT.
I JUST GOT TO DO WHATEVER
I CAN TO MAKE SURE
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
WE LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.
♪
♪
♪
OOH. I THINK WE MIGHT'VE
JUST FOUND SOME GRAVEL.
Narrator:
AT LAST, AFTER SIX DAYS DIGGING
IN DEATH VALLEY,
BRENNAN IS ON PAYDIRT.
Brennan:
WHOO! FINALLY!
HA, HA!
HEY, PARKER,
YOU GOT A COPY?
WE FINALLY GOT DOWN TO GRAVEL
HERE IN DEATH VALLEY
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND
GETTING DOWN AND TAKING A LOOK.
HOLY [BLEEP]!
4,000 FEET OF MUD LATER.
NEVER, EVER [BLEEP] FELT LIKE
THIS CUT WAS GONNA END.
♪
SHOULD WE SEE IF
THERE'S ANY GOLD IN THIS?
-HELL YEAH.
-THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
Narrator:
AFTER 40 FEET OF FROZEN DIRT,
PARKER CAN FINALLY
PAN THE GRAVELS
AND TEST DEATH VALLEY FOR GOLD.
Brennan: SURE HOPE THAT
ALL THIS TIME AND EFFORT'S
GONNA PAY OFF.
Parker: AND FUEL.
THE BREAK-EVEN IN HERE
IS GONNA BE 700, 800 OUNCES.
AND IT'S A THIRD THE SIZE
THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY GET
700 OR 800 OUNCES OUT OF.
[ WHISTLES ]
NOT A FLAKE OF GOLD.
NOT A THING.
SO NOT ONLY IS IT ABOUT
AT LEAST TWICE AS DEEP
AS WE THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE,
BUT...
A BIG OLD DUD
FOR THE FIRST PAN.
IT IS DEATH VALLEY.
[ LAUGHS ]
PRETTY UNEASY
ABOUT ALL OF THIS.
SPENT A LOT OF MONEY IN HERE
FOR THERE NOT TO BE
ANY [BLEEP] GOLD.
♪
♪
LUNCH IS READY WHENEVER
YOU GUYS WANT TO COME EAT.
Man: THERE'S ONE THING
WE'RE NEVER LATE FOR.
[ LAUGHS ]
HE JUST SAID "THERE'S ONE
THING WE'RE NEVER LATE FOR,
AND THAT'S MEAL TIMES."
FIGURED IF I WAS
HELPING OUT TODAY,
MIGHT AS WELL COOK SOME LUNCH
OUT HERE IN THE CUT.
JUST LET IT SLOW ROAST
AND SMOKE ALL MORNING.
IT LOOKS PERFECT.
IT'S GOT A NICE RED-PINKISH LINE
ALL THE WAY AROUND THE OUTSIDE,
MEANS HE'S GOT GOOD SMOKE,
AND THE TEMPERATURE
ON THE INSIDE'S PERFECT.
OH, YEAH, BABY!
Man: YEAH, LET'S GET YOU
DRIVING TRUCK EVERY DAY.
[BLEEP], MAN, THAT'S GOOD.
MAN, WHAT IS THAT SAUCE?
IT'S A COCA-COLA
BARBECUE SAUCE.
UNREAL.
I THINK WE GOT TO PUT THIS
IN THE CONTRACT --
YOU DO THIS LIKE FOUR DAYS
A WEEK NEXT YEAR.
♪
-HEY, GUYS.
-HOLA.
Narrator: AT PARADISE HILL,
THE BEETS FAMILY GATHERS
FOR THEIR WEEKLY GOLD WEIGH.
Monica:
NOT A WHOLE LOT.
Minnie: WHAT HAPPENED
THIS TIME, MIKE?
WE ONLY HAVE SLUICE
FOR TWO DAYS.
RUNNING OUT OF PAY AND
THE STUFF I HAD EXPOSED,
SO I'VE BEEN [BLEEP]
MAINLY UP THERE STRIPPING,
TRYING TO GET
MY CUT READY.
WELL, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
[ LAUGHTER ]
PRETTY SOLIDLY.
WE SLUICED ABOUT SIX DAYS
THIS WEEK.
EVERYBODY WAS ON THERE
ONE DAY OFF, SO...
WE GOT OUR SHAKER DECK
FIRED UP AND RUNNING SO...
WE'LL GET PROPER SLUICING
RIGHT QUICK.
WE MIGHT AS WELL WEIGH UP
THIS WEEK'S STUFF.
Narrator: THIS SEASON,
MIKE'S GOLD AVERAGE HAS BEEN
30 OUNCES A DAY.
30, 40, 50.
53.38.
WORTH $75,000.
Minnie:
THAT'S NOT BAD, THOUGH.
25 OUNCES A DAY IS
STILL PRETTY DAMN GOOD.
LET'S DO THE NEXT ONE.
Narrator: THIS IS MONICA'S
FIRST GOLD WEIGH
AFTER A FULL WEEK OF SLUICING
AT HONKER CUT.
Tony:
...40, 50, 60...
...62.18.
-YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?
-HUH?
YOU HAD MORE THAN HIM.
OH, YEAH.
Narrator:
FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON,
MONICA HAS BEATEN
HER BIG BROTHER
BY ALMOST 10 OUNCES.
HEY, KEVIN, AT LEAST
SHE'S BRINGING IN SOMETHING.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
THAT WAS GOOD. [LAUGHS]
THAT WAS VERY GOOD.
SOMEDAY YOU MIGHT SLUICE.
ARE YOU TELLING ME
NEXT TIME THERE WILL BE
A CLEAN-UP FROM YOU,
AS WELL?
YEP. YEAH.
I MEAN, I'M HOPING.
♪
♪
Narrator: AFTER A GRUELING WEEK
OPENING UP DEATH VALLEY,
IT'S TIME FOR PARKER
TO FIND OUT
HOW MUCH GOLD THE CLUSTER CUT
HAS PRODUCED.
SO, WHAT'S UP, BOYS?
-HEY, GUYS.
-HEY, GUYS.
I NEED A [BLEEP] BEER.
DID YOU DO SOMETHING
TO YOUR NECK
OR YOUR BACK OR WHAT?
NECK, NECK.
I THOUGHT DOUMITT WAS GONNA BE
THE ONE WALKING ALL CRAZY
AFTER BOUNCING AROUND
THAT TRUCK.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HOLY MOSES.
I FORGOT HOW BRUTAL
THOSE ROCK TRUCKS ARE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GO BACK
TO RUNNING LOADER?
IF I CAN HELP IT, NO.
[ LAUGHTER ]
AND DID BIG RED
STAY RUNNING ALL RIGHT?
YEAH, YEAH.
IT WAS A GOOD WEEK.
I MEAN,
JUST PRETTY CONSISTENT.
WE DIDN'T REALLY
HAVE ANY ISSUES.
SOME OF WHAT WE OPENED UP
IS QUESTIONABLE,
AND THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME,
IS THAT, LIKE,
THE COUPLE PANS I DID
WERE JUST DOG [BLEEP].
BUT YOU JUST DON'T HAVE
A CLUE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN
UNTIL YOU SLUICE IT, REALLY.
YEAH.
Brennan: THAT KIND OF MONEY
MEANT TO STRIP THAT CUT
AND NOT FIND ANY GOLD
IS BRUTAL.
OH, YEAH, FOR SURE.
WELL LET'S SAY WE THROW
SOME GOLD ON THE SCALE
AND SEE HOW WE DID?
Narrator: BIG RED HAS BEEN
AVERAGING 250 OUNCES A WEEK.
SEE WHAT WE GOT HERE.
30, 40, 50.
THERE'S 100.
-YO, TRAV.
-YO.
-140.
-ROCK TRUCK HERO!
-170.
-YOU'RE JUST IN TIME.
190.
198.4.
-OH! SO CLOSE.
-JUST SO CLOSE.
-[ LAUGHS ]
-SO CLOSE TO 200.
Narrator:
WORTH ALMOST $280,000.
HEY, MAN, THANKS FOR
THE HELP THIS WEEK.
-NO PROBLEM.
-APPRECIATE IT.
-HAVE A LOOK.
-WHAT IS IT -- 198?
-198.45.
-198.45.
ONE FOR ME.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YEAH, I SAY
WE BAG THIS GOLD UP
AND GO GET SOMETHING
TO EAT, THEN.
-STEAKS?
-STEAKS.
-STEAKS!
-YEAH!
I'LL COOK THE STEAKS.
YOU BRING THE BEER.
-CHEERS. CHEERS, GUYS.
-HERE.
-I'LL BAG THIS STUFF UP.
-THANKS, GUYS.
THANKS, TRAVIS.
-NO PROBLEM.
♪
Narrator: RICK NESS HAS SURVIVED
THE THREAT OF EVICTION.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Kruse:
WHAT AM I GONNA DO?
LIKE, HONESTLY, AM I
GONNA GET MAD ABOUT IT?
LIKE, IT MAKES HIM SO HAPPY.
LIKE...
Narrator: BUT REBUILDING
THE BERM COST HIM
THREE PRECIOUS DAYS OF SLUICING.
OH, BOY, ALL RIGHT.
WELL, ANYWAYS,
ALL JOKES ASIDE,
WE LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.
BUT WE DID FACE A HELL
OF A LOT OF DOWN TIME.
I MEAN, THAT'S NO SECRET THERE,
RIGHT?
LET'S SEE
WHAT THE DAMAGE IS.
Narrator:
TO REACH HIS 2,000-OUNCE GOAL,
RICK NEEDS OVER 150 OUNCES
A WEEK.
Rick: AH, 10, 15.
WE'RE OVER 20.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE 30.
I DON'T TH-- NOT QUITE.
WELL, WE'RE ON
AN EVEN NUMBER HERE.
IT'S ACTUALLY 28.6.
♪
I MEAN, THE GOLD PRICES
THIS YEAR --
THAT'S HELPING BIG TIME.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT
$40,000 RIGHT THERE
AFTER MONEY GOES
IN THE BANK FOR FUEL, SO...
WELL, 28.6.
THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT
TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
IT'S GOLD.
IT'S GOLD TO ADD TO OUR TOTAL.
I KNOW EVERY TIME
IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE JUST
GETTING ROLLING HERE,
SOMETHING KNOCKS US DOWN, RIGHT?
BUT EVENTUALLY THEY'RE GONNA
PUT UP SOME NUMBERS,
AND WE'RE GONNA DIG OURSELVES
OUT OF THIS HOLE,
AND IT'S GONNA BE GOOD.
SO AT LEAST WE'RE STILL
MOVING FORWARD.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE ALL
FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS, RIGHT?
-YEAH, MAN.
-ALL RIGHT.
-THANKS.
-OH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
Rick: SO, I MEAN, IT'S EASY
TO STAY POSITIVE
IN FRONT OF MY GUYS,
SAY, YOU KNOW, "HEY.
WE HAD A LOT OF DOWN TIME.
A LOT OF THINGS WENT WRONG."
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
I COULD LOSE MY ASS
AND MY GUYS WILL GO HOME
WITH NOTHING TO SHOW
FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
IT'S ALREADY GONE ON TOO LONG.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT
THESE 28-OUNCE CLEAN-UPS.
IT'S JUST -- IT AIN'T GONNA
WORK ALL SEASON, MAN.
THINGS GOT TO CHANGE.
Narrator: ON THE NEXT
"GOLD RUSH,"
TONY'S PLANS...
...CRASH AND BURN.
PLANT'S DEAD TILL
WE GET THAT REPLACED.
Narrator:
PARKER GETS SCHOOLED...
EVERY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT HERE IS
WASTING VALUABLE TIME.
...ON GETTING GOLD.
OH, YEAH.
RICK, CUT THE POWER!
Narrator: AND RICK'S HIGH-TECH
SOFTWARE FIGHTS BACK...
Rick:
BEEN RUNNING LESS THAN AN HOUR,
AND THAT STUPID COMPUTER
SHUT THE PUMP DOWN AGAIN.
Narrator: ...TAKING HIS WHOLE
OPERATION OFFLINE.
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]