Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 10, Episode 3 - The Nugget Hunter - full transcript

Big Rick: [ LAUGHS ]OH, [BLEEP].

BIG RICK ACTING LIKE IT'S
"TOP GUN" AROUND HERE.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator:
ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...

THIS IS WAY MORE OF A TREASURE
HUNT THAN I'VE EVER DONE.

IN HIS QUEST FOR
A BIG SECOND SEASON,

RICK GOES HUNTING
FOR MASSIVE GOLD NUGGETS.

Rick:
WHOA, THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

Narrator: WITH ONLY ONE SITE
PRODUCING GOLD,

THE BEETS' FAMILY EMPIRE
IS IN CRISIS,

[ SIGHS LOUDLY ]



DRIVE THAT FORWARD 10 FEET.
PUT ANOTHER HOLE DOWN.

Narrator:
BUT, MONICA MAY HAVE A SOLUTION

TO PUT THEM BACK
ON THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION.

[BLEEP] DAMN IT.
THERE'S NO [BLEEP] WATER.

Narrator:
PARKER RACES TO CATCH UP
ON A LATE START TO THE SEASON.

SO HOW ARE
THINGS GOING, BREE?

HOW DO THEY [BLEEP] LOOK?
THE WHOLE PLANT'S DOWN.

BUT SPREADS HIMSELF TOO THIN.

I FEEL LIKE JUST
SLUICING MYSELF.

[BLEEP] SAKE.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

♪♪

MY DAD'S FLYING ALL THE WAY HERE
FROM MICHIGAN IN HIS AIRPLANE.

I REALLY WANT HIM TO SEE
WHAT WE'RE DOING,



WHAT WE'VE
ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO DOUBLE
THE GOLD THIS YEAR.

Narrator:
RICK NESS IS ON A QUEST
FOR GOLD NUGGETS

IN THE LEGENDARY MOUNTAINS
ABOVE KENO CITY

WHILE HIS CREW RUNS PAYDIRT
AT THE MINE SITE FOR FINE GOLD.

YEAH MAN.
WE'RE WASHING ROCKS HERE,

WHICH MEANS THERE'S GOLD
IN THE BOX.

Narrator:
RICK BELIEVES THERE ARE
MASSIVE NUGGETS TO BE FOUND,

AND WITH GOLD PRICES SURGING,
HE WANTS TO CASH IN.

I KEEP THINKING THAT IF I
JUST WANDER AROUND OUT HERE

AND KEEP MY EYES PEELED,
TECHNICALLY I COULD SEE A NUGGET

JUST HANGING OUT THERE
IN THE DIRT.

BUT IN REALITY, IT'S STILL
A PRETTY MAJOR LONG SHOT.

TO HELP HIM FIND THE BIG GOLD,

HIS DAD IS FLYING OVER 2,000
MILES IN HIS LIGHT AIRCRAFT,

SO RICK NEEDS TO CREATE
A LANDING STRIP.

I'VE NEVER BUILT A RUNWAY
BEFORE,

BUT HE TOLD ME ALL HE NEEDS
IS 200 FEET FOR RUNWAY,

SO THAT'S ALL I'M GIVING HIM.

YEAH, I'M CALLING THIS GOOD.

MY DAD'S ASKING FOR A [BLEEP]
DAMN LANDING FLAG NOW.

THIS IS ALL I GOT.

[ CHUCKLES ][ PROPELLER PLANE APPROACHES ]

WHOO!
OLD GLORY.

I REALLY HOPE MY RUNWAY
DOESN'T KILL MY DAD. [ LAUGHS ]

Narrator:
RICK SR. HAS SPENT FOUR YEARS
MODIFYING THIS PIPER SUPER CUB

TO MAKE SURE IT CAN LAND
ON WILDERNESS AIRSTRIPS.

Rick:
OH, HE'S COMING IN.

OH, YEAH. IF IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S FALLING OUT OF THE SKY,

THAT MEANS HE'S COMING IN.

[ LAUGHS ]

HOLY [BLEEP].

[ LAUGHING ]

[BLEEP]
[BLEEP].

YOU MADE HER.

Big Rick:
[BLEEP] THAT AIN'T
[BLEEP] RUNWAY.

HOLY [BLEEP].
[ LAUGHS ]

I THOUGHT FOR SURE YOU WOULD
HAVE A LOT NICER

STRIP THAN THAT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.[ BOTH LAUGH ]

GOOD TO SEE.

SO TELL ME,
HOW IS IT GOING?

DID YOU FIND ANY OF
THOSE BIG NUGGETS

THAT THE GRAYS WERE
SHOWING US BACK IN APRIL?

I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY
QUITE THAT BIG YET.

Narrator: BACK IN THE SPRING,
RICK AND HIS DAD MET

WITH DEAN AND STEWARD GRAY

WHO OWN RICK'S CLAIM
AT DUNCAN CREEK.

[ Laughing ]
HOLY [BLEEP].

NO WAY.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Man: MM-HMM

Narrator:
150,000 YEARS AGO, A GLACIER
ERODED GOLD FROM THE SOURCE

ON MOUNT HINTON.

IT DEPOSITED
THE FINE GOLDEN FLAKES

THAT RICK'S CREW IS MINING,

BUT FURTHER UP
TOWARDS THE MOUNTAIN,

THERE COULD BE
MUCH BIGGER NUGGETS.

OUR WASH PLANT'S
RIGHT HERE,

AND WE'RE DIGGING
INTO THIS RIGHT SIDE.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE
GETTING OUT OF THERE ALREADY.

YOU GOT TO BE [BLEEP].

YEAH, YEAH.

HOLY [BLEEP].
THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

SO THAT'S GOT ME EXCITED.

WHAT I CAN'T SHAKE
IS THOSE MONSTERS

THAT THE GRAYS
WERE SHOWING US.

I THINK THE BIGGEST STUFF
IS GOING TO BE HIGH UP.

WE SHOULD PROBABLY JUMP
IN THE AIRPLANE, EH?

AND JUST HAVE A LOOK OVERHEAD
AT ALL THESE VALLEYS.

YOU THINK YOU CAN FLY
YOUR PLANE IN THERE?

OH, HELL YEAH.

REALLY?YEAH.

I MEAN THIS IS LIKE WAY MORE OF
A TREASURE HUNT

THAN ANY GOLD MINING
I'VE EVER DONE.

NO [BLEEP]. RIGHT?[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator:
RICK SR. WILL FLY HIS SUPER CUB

TOWARDS THE SOURCE OF THE GOLD
ON MOUNT HINTON,

LOOKING FOR SIGNS THAT INDICATE
A GLACIAL DEPOSIT OF GOLD.

WE GET ABOVE THE TREES
AND LOOK DOWN,

AND THEN WE'RE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO SEE

IF ANYBODY'S BEEN IN THERE
WORKING OR WHO KNOWS.

[BLEEP] ADVENTURE.

COOL.

♪♪

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

♪♪

OH, [BLEEP].

BIG RICK ACTING LIKE
IT'S "TOP GUN" AROUND HERE.

[ LAUGHS ]

OH, [BLEEP].
I'M LATE.

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE
IN THE CUT,

BUT I ALSO TOLD NOLAN
I'D BE DOWN IN THE OFFICE.

Narrator:
PARKER SCHNABEL HAS ACHIEVED
A LIFETIME'S AMBITION,

MINING HIS OWN KLONDIKE CLAIM.

BUT WITH ONLY ONE YEAR
LEFT ON HIS WATER LICENSE,

HE HAS JUST THIS SEASON
TO DIG UP ALL THE GOLD

ON THE 115 ACRE PROPERTY.

-HI, NONA.
-GOOD MORNING.

I'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON TODAY,
BUT I JUST WANTED TO STOP IN

AND SEE IF YOU NEEDED
ANYTHING.

OKAY. RIGHT NOW
I'VE GOT PAYROLL.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME PRESSING
OTHER THINGS WE NEED TO GO OVER.

OVER EIGHT YEARS,
THIS 24-YEAR-OLD MINE BOSS

HAS GONE FROM RUNNING
A TWO MAN OPERATION IN ALASKA

TO A CREW OF 17 AND A TURNOVER
OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

OKAY. I REALLY, I NEED
TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS STUFF,

BUT I JUST
DON'T HAVE TIME RIGHT NOW.

[ SIGHS HEAVILY ]

WITH DEAN GONE,
I'VE GOT TO TAKE ON

SOME OF
THE FOREMAN STUFF, SO...

A WEEK AGO PARKER'S FOREMAN,
DEAN TOSCZAK, QUIT.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THE PLANT
GOING LIKE,

HOW COME
THAT HASN'T HAPPENED?

I'M DONE WITH IT.

WHATEVER. DEAN'S DONE.

-BYE. HAVE A GOOD DAY.
-THANKS, NONA.

Narrator:
ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE,

PARKER HAS TAKEN
ON THE FOREMAN ROLE.

I KNOW THE OPERATION BETTER
THAN ANYBODY,

SO IT MAKES SENSE
FOR ME TO DO IT.

Narrator: HIS CREW IS MINING
THE CLUSTER CUT.

MECHANIC, MITCH BLASCHKE KEEPS
THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT RUNNING.

LET'S GET IT ALL SERVICED UP
AND READY TO GO BACK TO WORK.

Narrator:
LOADER OPERATOR, BREE HARRISON,

IS SLUICING GOLD RICH PAY
THROUGH BIG RED,

AND CLEARING THE WORTHLESS
PROCESSED ROCK AND DIRT.

EXCAVATOR OPERATOR,
BRENNAN RUAULT,

LOADS THE PAYDIRT FOR BREE
TO RUN THROUGH THE PLANT.

BUT THE STAND-IN FOREMAN
HASN'T SHOWN UP YET

TO GIVE THEM
THEIR INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DAY.

DEAN LEFT US AT THE WORST
POSSIBLE TIME HERE.

OUR SEASON'S ALREADY
STARTED OFF QUITE SLOWLY,

AND NOW WE'RE A GOOD
TWO WEEKS BEHIND HERE.

PARKER SAID HE WAS GOING TO BE
HERE FIRST THING THIS MORNING,

AND WE STILL HAVE
NO SIGN OF HIM.

Bree:
I'M RUNNING AROUND WITH MY HEAD
CUT OFF AND I'M STRUGGLING.

AND IF HE CAN'T BE DOWN HERE ALL
THE TIME TO KEEP THINGS GOING,

LIKE, IT'S GOING
TO MAKE IT A LOT WORSE.

♪♪

SO HOW ARE
THINGS GOING, BREE?

HOW DO THEY [BLEEP] LOOK?
LIKE... [SIGHS]

THE FINE TAILINGS
ARE JUST ABOUT IN THE SHOOT.

I'M RUNNING AROUND
WITH MY HEAD CUT OFF.

I CAN'T GET CAUGHT UP
ON THE COARSE TAILINGS.

WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE DOING
ALL [BLEEP]?

SO I'LL START TACKLING
SOME OF IT.

BREE SEEMS PRETTY STRESSED OUT.

I MEAN THE PLANT IS...
IT'S A LOT.

IT'S A LOT OF WASH PLANT
TO WRANGLE,

AND WITH ONE PERSON,
AND SHE JUST NEEDS HELP.

SO I'LL HOP IN THE FUEL TRUCK
AND AT LEAST HELP GET SOME...

START GETTING THINGS FUELED
AND MAKE SURE

THAT SHE CAN STAY RUNNING.

Narrator:
INSTEAD OF TACKLING HIS
TO-DO LIST AS FOREMAN,

PARKER DECIDES TO SPOT CHECK
WHETHER BRENNAN'S LEFT ANY GOLD

IN THE AREAS OF THE CUT
HE'S JUST EXCAVATED.

I'M REALLY CURIOUS
ABOUT THIS GROUND.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING
THAT IN YEARS PAST

I'VE ALWAYS MEANT TO DO MORE OF

IS DO A LOT MORE PANNING
IN THE FLOOR

BEHIND THE GUYS
THAT ARE PULLING PAY,

BECAUSE LEAVING ANY GOLD
IN THE CUT IS A BIG NO NO.

IS THAT PARKER DOWN THERE?

WHAT IS HE DOING?

THERE'S BETTER THINGS TO DO.

Mitch:
YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR NICKNAMES
FOR HIM IS SQUIRREL

BECAUSE, MAN, HE SEES SOMETHING,
HE'S OVER HERE,

THEN HE'S OVER THERE
AND KIND OF JUMPS AROUND A LOT.

♪♪

WHAT THE [BLEEP]?
THE WHOLE PLANT'S DOWN.

[BLEEP] DAMN IT.

I DON'T HAVE TIME.

[ POWERS DOWN ]

♪♪

[BLEEP] DAMN IT.

OH, [BLEEP]

♪♪

WHAT HAPPENED, BREE?

THERE'S NO WATER.

[BLEEP] SAKE.

Narrator:
WITHOUT WATER FROM THE PUMP,
BIG RED'S PREWASH

IS JAMMED FULL OF PAYDIRT.

WHAT HAPPENED?
THE PUMP BLOW UP?

SAW THE PRE-WASH BOILING OVER
AND I SHUT EVERYTHING OFF.

Mitch:
WELL, THERE'S YOUR PROBLEM.
NO FUEL. BONE DRY.

SERIOUSLY? PARKER SAID
HE WOULD FUEL IT.

Parker:
WHAT'S THE ISSUE, MITCH?

NO FUEL.

[BLEEP].

♪♪

I MEAN, WE GOT
FIGURE IT OUT LIKE...

YEAH, I KNOW.
I TOLD BREE I'D HELP FUEL,

AND I [BLEEP]
STARTED PANNING.

I GET DISTRACTED
BY [BLEEP] EVERYTHING,

SO IT'S TOTALLY ON ME.
I'M GOING TO SHOVEL [BLEEP].

Narrator:
EVERY HOUR BIG RED IS DOWN
IS ANOTHER $2,000

WORTH OF GOLD PARKER
MAY NEVER GET OUT OF HIS GROUND.

HE ABANDONS HIS PANNING

TO HELP GET THE WASH PLANT
BACK IN ACTION.

WHAT A [BLEEP] ROOKIE MOVE.
LET ME SHOVEL IN PEACE.

[BLEEP] OFF.

[ GRUNTS ]

FUEL DELIVERY,
WHETHER YOU NEED IT OR NOT.

OH, WAIT. YEAH, YOU DO.

IT'S A SIMPLE [BLEEP] JOB THAT
COULD HAVE SAVED A LOT OF TIME.

♪♪

I HAVEN'T DEALT WITH, LIKE,
MAINTAINING AN OPERATION

FOR A LONG TIME,
SO I JUST, YOU KNOW...

THERE'S NO [BLEEP] EXCUSE FOR IT
AT THE END OF THE DAY.

PEOPLE GET FIRED
FOR THIS KIND OF STUFF.

♪♪

UH, WE'RE READY FOR WATER.

THERE WE GO. HE SENT
THE WATER UP PRETTY QUICK.

ARE YOU [BLEEP] [BLEEP].

I FEEL LIKE
JUST SLUICING MYSELF.

PUMP'S RUNNING AGAIN,
TIME TO FIRE IT BACK UP.

[ WHIRS ]

♪♪

♪♪

MAN, THERE'S A LOT OF LITTLE
STUFF THAT GETS TAKEN CARE OF

OR IT NEEDS
TO GET TAKEN CARE OF.

AND WHEN IT DOESN'T,

HOW MANY HOURS DID WE LOSE
FOR SOMETHING SO SIMPLE?

YEAH, THANKS FOR THE REMINDER.

♪♪

♪♪

Narrator: TONY BEETS'
MINING EMPIRE IS IN TROUBLE.

HE IS UNABLE TO MINE
AT HIS SITES ON THE INDIAN RIVER

WHERE HE'S BANKED
MILLIONS IN GOLD.

NOW HE'S LOOKING TO HIS
THREE KIDS TO SAVE THE SEASON.

PRETTY GOOD.

[BLEEP] FLYING THROUGH THERE
FASTER THAN WE CAN [BLEEP]

ALMOST BRING IT TO HER.

BUT A MONTH IN, MIKE IS THE ONLY
ONE OF TONY'S THREE KIDS

MINING GOLD.

LIKE I SAID, DAD,
I'LL DO MY BEST.

TONY IS MEETING
MONICA BY HUNKER CREEK,

A PIECE OF VIRGIN GROUND,
12 MILES

EAST OF DAWSON CITY
AND JUST A MILE

FROM MIKE'S
PARADISE HILL CLAIM.

LAST TIME I CHECKED WE STILL HAD
OUR WATER LICENSE HERE.

YOU'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT THIS SPOT FOR 30 YEARS.

WHY DON'T I COME HERE?

BUT YOU SAID THIS WAS THE LAST
PIECE OF VIRGIN GROUND.

MM-HMM.

WHY DID THE DREDGE SKIP
A CHUNK?

OKAY.

YEAH.

IN 1898 AT THE PEAK
OF THE KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH,

PIONEERING PROSPECTORS FIRST
FOUND GOLD ON HUNKER CREEK.

UP TO 1966 DREDGES MINE
THE PRIME PAY DIRT

PULLING OUT TODAY'S EQUIVALENT
OF OVER $1 MILLION

WORTH OF GOLD EVERY DAY.

THE DREDGES MINE
THE CENTER OF THE CREEK,

BUT COULDN'T ACCESS
THE HIGH BENCHES ON EITHER SIDE.

IF MONICA'S IDENTIFIED ONE OF
THE SPOTS, THE DREDGES MISSED,

SHE'S HEADING
FOR A MONSTER PAYDAY.

TO FIND OUT IF THE GROUND'S
ALREADY BEEN MINED.

TONY BRINGS IN FELLOW DUTCHMAN,

LEN HOEKSTRA, TO OPERATE
HIS 30 YEAR OLD DRILL RIG.

Len: I NEVER USED
ONE OF THOSE DRILLS,

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME,
BUT WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT.

Narrator:
BOUGHT IN THE 90s...

...THIS B40L MOBILE DRILL

WILL DELIVER 7,000 FOOT POUNDS
OF TORQUE AT 20 RPM.

IF WE START OVER
BY THE TREE LINE

THEN AT LEAST YOU KNOW
WHERE WE'RE STARTING.

EW!

HE'S EVEN GOING TO EAT IT.

DOG LIKES IT OVER THERE AND
MAYBE WE'LL DRILL OVER THERE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

OVER THERE?
[ WHISTLES ]

Narrator:
THE PLAN IS TO DRILL TEST HOLES
ACROSS THE EIGHT ACRE SITE

TO SEE IF THE PREVIOUS MINERS
LEFT ANYTHING BEHIND.

[ CLANKS ]

I'VE GOT A LOT OF AUGERS HERE.

I CAN GO THROUGH THE MIDDLE
OF THE EARTH IF I WANT.

Monica: HIT IT.

[ RAPID TAPPING-LIKE NOISE ]

[ CLUNK ]WHAT WAS THAT?

SWITCH IT OFF TONY?

Monica: UGH!

[ CLATTERS ]

[ RAPID TAPPING-LIKE NOISE ]

[ CLUNK ]Monica: WHAT WAS THAT?

UGH.

Narrator:
THE BEETS FAMILY IS HAVING
A TERRIBLE START TO THEIR SEASON

WITH ONLY ONE SITE UP
AND RUNNING.

MONICA AND TONY ARE DRILLING
TEST HOLES AT HUNKER CREEK.

THE DRILL THEY NEED TO TEST
NEW GROUND HAS FAILED.

HE'S BEHIND YOU.
[ LAUGHS ]

ALRIGHT.
THAT LOOKS GOOD, LEN.

[ CLANK ]

DRIVE THAT FORWARD 10 FEET.
PUT ANOTHER HOLE DOWN.

[ WHIRRING ]

♪♪

Narrator:
MONICA DRILLS DOWN 15 FEET
THROUGH THE SURFACE MUD

TO DISCOVER IF THERE'S ANY FINE
GOLD IN THE SAMPLE BENEATH.

OR IF THE DREDGE
ALREADY MINED IT OUT.

♪♪

[ CLICKING ]

WE'VE DRILLED ALL THE HOLES.

WE'RE GOING TO BRING
OUR SAMPLES UP,

RUN THEM THROUGH
OUR MINI TROMMEL.

HOPEFULLY IT'S GOOD.

[ ENGINE REVS ]

AREN'T YOU JUST THE CUTEST?
YEAH, I KNOW.

♪♪

♪♪

Rick: HOLY, [BLEEP]

Big Rick:
THIS IS A JOKE.

Narrator:
RICK NESS HAS LEFT HIS CREW
IN DUNKIN CREEK

AND WITH HIS DAD,
RICK SR.

IS TREKKING FOUR MILES AWAY
IN THE FOOTHILLS OF MOUNT HINTON

ON THE HUNT
FOR MONSTER GOLD NUGGETS.

THAT'S SLIPPERY, THAT ROCK,
SO WATCH OUT.

-WAIT.
-DAMN IT!

AGH, SHOULD HAVE
PUT MY BOOTS ON.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator:
THEY FLEW OVER A CABIN
THAT COULD HAVE BELONGED

TO OLD TIME GOLD MINERS.

IF THEY'RE RIGHT,
IT SHOULD POINT THEM

TO THE NUGGET RICH GROUND.

LOOK IT'S RIGHT HERE.

THAT'S IT MAN.
THIS IS THE SPOT.

YEE-HAW.

-HERE SHE IS.
-HOLY [BLEEP].

♪♪

Big Rick:
THIS THING IS OLD.

STUFF LOOKS LIKE POST
WORLD WAR II.

Rick: HAD A STOVE
AND EVERYTHING IN THERE.

TORSKEROGN,
PRODUCT OF NORWAY.

NORWAY?
NORWEGIAN SPAM?

SO WE HAVE
NORWEGIAN HERITAGE

AS WELL AS
SWEDISH HERITAGE MY MAN.

HUH? THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

I THINK THE ORIGIN
THIS THING IS FOR HUNTING,

KIND OF LOOKS LIKE IT,

JUST BECAUSE OF SOME OF
THE ARTIFACTS WE'RE FINDING.

Narrator:
IF THIS IS JUST A HUNTING CABIN,

IT WON'T HELP
THEIR QUEST FOR NUGGETS.

HOLY [BLEEP]
THERE'S AN OLD GOLD PAN IN HERE.

WELL, NO KIDDING.

WOW.
I'LL BE DAMNED.

THAT'S [BLEEP] COOL.

SO THERE WERE HERE FOR GOLD.

[ LAUGHS ]

CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING THE FIRST
PEOPLE TO COME IN THIS PLACE?

FINDING GOLD ON THE SURFACE?

THE FACT THAT THERE'S GOLD PANS
AND [BLEEP]

THAT'S THAT OLD IN HERE.

I'D SAY THEY WERE DOING
SOME MINING UP HERE.

I MEAN IT'S RIGHT ON A CREEK.

THEY DID A LITTLE DIVERSION
IN THE CREEK.

IT'S AN OLD MINING CABIN.

Narrator: UP THIS HIGH,

THE EARLY MINERS
ONLY HAD PICKS AND SHOVELS.

RICK'S MODERN EQUIPMENT
WILL ALLOW HIM

TO RECOVER
THE GOLD THEY LEFT BEHIND.

SOMEONE SPENT ENOUGH TIME HERE,

FOUND ENOUGH GOLD TO JUSTIFY
BUILDING THE CABIN.

IT'S PROBABLY A PRETTY
GOOD SPOT TO START.

I SAY WE GET A MACHINE IN HERE
AND JUST DIG SOME HOLES.

FIND OUT WHAT'S
UNDER THE SURFACE.

YEAH, YEAH.

COME ON,
LET'S GO GET AN EXCAVATOR.

LET'S DO IT.

TELL YOU WHAT, THAT'S THE
LAST TIME I WALK IN HERE.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

♪♪

♪♪

Ruby: WHERE ARE WE
PUTTING THIS THING?

JUST RIGHT HERE IS FINE.

Narrator: TONY BEETS IS FACING
HIS WORST SEASON IN FOUR YEARS.

MONICA STEPS IN WITH A PLAN THAT
COULD SAVE THE FAMILY EMPIRE.

HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR
NOT THIS PLACE IS GOOD ENOUGH.

A LOT OF PRESSURE.

Narrator:
SHE'S DUG TEST HOLES ACROSS
EIGHT ACRES ON HUNKER CREEK.

NOW WITH THE HELP
OF FRIEND AND GOLD MINER

RUBY, SHE NEEDS
TO PROCESS THEM TO SEE

IF THE DREDGE HAS LEFT HER
ANY GOOD PAY TO MINE.

THIS IS SO ADORABLE.HANDY, RIGHT?

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY
AN OLD PROPANE TANK.

OH, REALLY?
THAT'S FUNNY. [ LAUGHS ]

DO YOU WANT TO TURN IT ON
AND SEE IF SHE SPINS?

[ ENGINE SPUTTERS, STARTS ]

OH, WE'RE TURNING.

PRETTY CUTE, EH?
ALRIGHT, FIRST PAIL.

JUST LIKE WITH ANY PLANT,

YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE
YOU DON'T OVERFEED IT.

THIS IS OUR SEASON
RIGHT HERE.

THE TROMMEL SEPARATES
OUT THE ROCKS.

WHILE THE GOLD
AND FIND MATERIALS

SETTLE IN THE MINI SLUICE.

CAN YOU HIT THE SWITCH?

[ POWERS DOWN ]

WE JUST RAN THE STUFF
FROM OUR FIRST DRILL HOLE.

WE'RE GOING TO WASH THE MAT OUT,

CLEAN ALL THAT UP
AND RUN OUR NEXT HOLE.

ROUND TWO.
LET'S DO THIS.

♪♪

OKAY.
ONTO THE NEXT.

♪♪

WE'VE RUN ALL OUR PAILS THROUGH.
THIS IS THE LAST ONE.

Ruby: JUDGMENT TIME.

HEY TONY, DO YOU COPY?

WE FINISHED ALL OF OUR PAILS,

YOU WANT TO COME
AND PAN THEM ALL?

YEP.

YES, PLEASE.

Narrator: TONY'S BEEN PANNING
FOR 35 YEARS.

HE'LL REVEAL IF MONICA'S GROUND
HAS BEEN MINED OUT

OR IS STILL FULL
OF HUNKER CREEK GOLD.

[ MONICA CHUCKLES ]

YEAH, THAT'S THE NEXT ONE.

♪♪

UGH.

♪♪

Narrator: MONICA AND TONY BEETS
ARE TESTING SAMPLES OF DIRT

COLLECTED AT DIFFERENT PLACES
IN A NEW MINING LOCATION.

Monica: YEP.

HALFWAY THROUGH THE TEST
THERE'S BEEN NO SIGHT OF GOLD.

DON'T FAIL US NOW,
LITTLE TROMMEL.

-LOOK.
-OH, MY [BLEEP].

-HOLY [BLEEP]
-BEAUTIFUL.

NO, THAT'S GOOD.

[BLEEP] YEAH.

AWESOME.

Narrator: THE BEETS
ARE FINALLY ON THEIR WAY

TO OPENING A SECOND CLAIM
AND SAVING THEIR SEASON.

SOME OF THE PANS
WERE GOOD ENOUGH

THAT WE'RE GOING
TO FIND THERE,

WHICH MEANS I DON'T HAVE TO FIND
SOMEWHERE NEW AND I'M PUMPED.

♪♪

♪♪

Parker:
I CANNOT BE DOING THIS
THE REST OF THE SUMMER,

HAVE TO FIGURE
SOMETHING OUT.

Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL CAUSED
A PLANT SHUTDOWN

THAT COST HIM $4,000
IN LOST GOLD

WHEN HE TOOK OVER
AS STAND IN FOREMAN.

BEING STUCK IN THE TRENCHES
IN THE DAY-TO-DAY STUFF.

IT DOESN'T REALLY BOTHER ME.
I OBVIOUSLY SCREWED IT UP

AND APPARENTLY I'M NOT
VERY GOOD AT IT.

Narrator: PARKER'S SEEKS ADVICE
ON HOW TO DEAL

WITH THE LACK OF A FOREMAN
FROM GOLD EXPERT CHRIS DOUMITT.

HI, CHRIS.

HEY THERE, YOUNGSTER.
LOT'S GONE ON THIS WEEK, HUH?

CHRIS, I JUST RAN THE PLANT
PUMP OUT OF FUEL.

THAT'S NOT GOOD.

NO, YOU'VE DONE THAT ONCE.
IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE.

ONCE, YOU SEE YOU DO IT ONCE AND
THEN NEVER LIVE IT DOWN, RIGHT?

I HAVE TO LIVE
IN A DIFFERENT WORLD

OF KEEPING THIS BUSINESS AFLOAT.
SO MUCH MONEY HAS GONE OUT

AND HARDLY ANYTHING'S
COME IN, RIGHT?

SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE A BIT
OF A PICKLE HERE.

HAVE YOU GONE THROUGH
THE PEOPLE WE HAVE HERE?

ANYBODY THAT YOU THINK COULD
STEP UP AND TAKE THAT POSITION?

MITCH IS A PHENOMENAL,

BOTH PEOPLE PERSON
AND BIG PICTURE GUY.

PROBABLY THE MECHANIC,
I GUESS HUH?

Narrator: CHIEF MECHANIC,
MITCH BLASCHKE,

HAS BEEN PARKER'S
GO-TO FIXER SINCE 2014.

SO GO AHEAD AND BRING IT UP.

[ WHIRRING ]

Narrator: THERE'S NOTHING
MITCH CAN'T REPAIR.

THAT'S IT.
IT'S ALL BACK TOGETHER.

READY TO GO HAUL SOME PAY.

NICE WORK, MAN.

AND ON THE DIRT SIDE,
BRENNAN'S KILLER.

Narrator:
BRENNAN RUAULT, A FORMER LOGGER,
HAD NEVER WORKED AT A GOLD MINE

WHEN HE JOINED
PARKER'S CREW IN 2015.

CANT' WAIT TO SEE THE LITTLE
YELLOW FLAKES ON THE SLUICE BOX.

Narrator: HE'S BECOME
PARKER'S BEST OPERATOR.

Brennan: I JUST HIT SOME PAY,
LOOK AT THE ROCK SIZE.

WHOO. [BLEEP] YEAH.

BRANDON AND MITCH, THEY JUST
MAKE SUCH A KILLER TEAM.

I HATE TO PULL THEM AWAY
FROM ANYTHING

THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE THIS ONE
SOME THOUGHT, HUH?

WELL, I'M SURE YOU'LL
WORK IT OUT YOUNGSTER.

ALRIGHT. THANKS, MAN.YEAH.

THE BOY HAS A FULL LOAD,
THAT'S FOR SURE.

♪♪

Narrator: AT DUNKIN CREEK,
RICK NESS'S CREW IS MINING

PAY DIRT TO CATCH
VALUABLE FINE GOLD.

Ryan: AH, [BLEEP]

[ LAUGHTER ]

Z, CAN YOU DO ME
A FAVOR AND TURN ON THE PLANT?

IN THE HOPE THAT SOON THEY'LL
HAVE WASHED ENOUGH MATERIAL

FOR THEIR SECOND GOLD WAY.

NOW WE'RE SLUICING.

♪♪

NARRATOR: BUT HIGH ABOVE,
ON MOUNT HINTON,

RICK AND HIS FATHER
ARE AFTER A BIGGER PRIZE.

WE'VE GOT TO GO DO SOME TESTING,

MAKE SURE THERE'S GOLD THERE
AND THEN JUST GO

[BLEEP] GET IT.

Narrator: IN THEIR SEARCH
FOR HUGE GOLD NUGGETS,

THEY'RE BRINGING IN AN EXCAVATOR
TO TEST THE GROUND.

WHAT DO YOU SEE UP THERE?
A GOOD SPOT TO DIG?

OH, HELL YEAH.
IT LOOKS GOOD.

I THINK WE'LL HAVE
A DRY SPOT HERE,

LIKE JUST RIGHT OUT
IN FRONT OF ME HERE, EH?

COOL, LET'S CLEAR A LITTLE SPOT,
GOT A NICE CREEK HERE TO PAN IN.

[ ROCKS RUMBLE,
MACHINERY CREAKS ]

WE NEED TO FIND A SPOT

WHERE THERE'S GOLD CLOSE
TO THE SURFACE.

AT THIS POINT,
JUST COMING UP HERE,

I DON'T KNOW
WHERE ANYTHING'S AT.

HOPING TO FIND A SPOT
WHERE THERE'S NOT MUCH MUD,

JUST GRAVEL UP TOP
AND IT'S GOT GOLD IN IT.

IF WE END UP FINDING
SOME PRETTY GOOD GOLD HERE,

IN THIS LITTLE TEST HOLE,
THAT CAN BE HUGE FOR RICK.

I MEAN I CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH.

I JUST,
I WANT TO SEE MY SON SUCCEED.

THE WORST THING
THAT COULD HAPPEN IS WE'D SPEND

ALL DAY UP HERE DIGGING HOLES
AND ALL WE FIND IS MUD.

WAIT.

SEE THAT? LIKE THAT'S,
THAT'S PIECES OF BEDROCK.

YEAH.YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

ALL FLAT. YEP.
THAT'S SHALE.

I LIKE THAT.

WANT TO GO DOWN ANOTHER
THREE FEET OR SOMETHING?

YOU CAN TRY IT.

GO DEEP.

THAT'S FOR SURE GLACIAL TILL.

GLACIAL TILL IS THE MATERIAL

BROUGHT DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
BY THE GLACIER.

IF RICK IS DIGGING
IN THE RIGHT PLACE,

IT COULD CONTAIN
NUGGETS OF GOLD.

I'M GOING TO GO STRAIGHT
TO THE CREEK.

Rick:
IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

Big Rick:
OH, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
WHAT IS THAT?

WHOA.

[ LAUGHS ]

Rick:
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT.

WHAT THE HELL?
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO PICK
A PIECE OUT OF A PAN.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE
A PICTURE OF THAT.

THAT'S A [BLEEP] FIRST.

Rick:
IF WE LUCKED OUT WITH THAT.
THERE'S GOT TO BE MORE HERE.

THIS IS GOLD COUNTRY.
YEP. CRAZY.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO
GET A GEOLOGIST IN HERE,
DO SOME DRILLING.

JUST FIND OUT EXACTLY
WHAT I'M DEALING WITH

BEFORE I COMMIT
TO COMING UP HERE.

BECAUSE IF I DO IT WRONG,
IT COULD BE AN EXPENSIVE MISTAKE

AND I'M NOT LOOKING
TO MAKE THOSE THIS YEAR.

SO, JUST COME UP WITH A
SOLID PLAN AND DO IT RIGHT.

♪♪

-HEY, GUYS.
-COMING UP.

LET'S DO THIS.

Narrator:
THE BEET'S FAMILY FUTURE
HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

AND PARKER MAKES HIS BIGGEST
DECISION OF THE SEASON.

Parker: AND SO,
WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO DO IS...

YOU ALL PACKED UP?

Narrator: RICK SENIOR IS LEAVING
AFTER A WEEK HELPING HIS SON,

RICK, HUNT FOR MONSTER GOLD.

APPRECIATE ALL THE HOSPITALITY
AND HAD A GOOD TIME.

OH, YOU CAN COME BACK
ANYTIME YOU WANT.

I THINK YOU'VE GOT SOME GREAT
OPPORTUNITY DOWN THERE.

HEY, THANK YOU.LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU TOO.RIGHT, FLY SAFE.

I WILL.

♪♪

♪♪

[ LAUGHS ]

WHAT A SHOW OFF.
[ CHUCKLES ]

♪♪

♪♪

-HEY, GUYS,
-BUENOS DIAS.

WHAT ARE YOU
BRINGING US, MIKE?

OH, THAT'S MY OWN HOME
COOKED MEAL.

Narrator:
WEEK FIVE OF THE MINING SEASON

AND IT'S THE FIRST GOLDWAY
FROM MIKE BEET'S

PARADISE OPERATION AFTER
A HUNDRED HOURS OF SLUICING.

Mike: NICE AND CLEAN.

I'M GLAD SOMEBODY IS GETTING
SOME GOLD FOR US.

SOMEONE AROUND HERE HAS TO.
-WHOA!

Narrator:
WITH ONLY MIKE SLUICING AND HIS
CLAIM'S CONSISTENCY

YET TO BE PROVEN,

THE OTHER KIDS ARE STILL
UNDER PRESSURE TO PRODUCE.

I GUESS YOU'RE GOING TO START
SLUICING ONE OF THESE DAYS TOO?

WHAT ARE THE DRILL HOLES
LOOK LIKE?

PRETTY HAPPY WITH DRILL HOLES
THAT WE DID.

NO, I'M STILL LOOKING.

I'M KIND OF INTERESTED TO SEE
HOW MUCH IS THERE

SO CAN WE WEIGH THIS STUFF?

Monica: LET'S DO THIS.

10, 25, 30, 60,
100, 120,

190...210...

246.08.

Narrator:
WORTH ALMOST $350,000.

Monica: THAT'S NOT BAD.

I'M IN THE LEAD.

OH, WOW!

WHAT'S OUR TOTAL THIS YEAR THEN.

SO FAR AS 344.48.
SO, IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

Narrator: WORTH OVER $480,000.

Monica:
REALLY NICE FOR MIKE SEEING
THAT MUCH GOLD ON THE TABLE,

IT'S AWESOME.

I'M PRETTY EXCITED
TO START MY OWN CUT NOW THAT

I KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING.

SO LET'S SEE
WHAT WE GET NEXT WEEK.

♪♪

♪♪

WHAT A WEEK, EH?THAT WAS PRETTY ROUGH, BUDDY.

Narrator: PARKER AND HIS CREW
ARE ABOUT TO WEIGH GOLD

FROM THE WEEKS' OPERATION
IN THE CLUSTER CUT.

Parker: WELL, LET'S SEE
HOW MUCH WE GOT HERE.

Brennan:
20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120.

-NO WAY.
-140...

185.15.

Mitch:
THAT'S NOT A BAD RUN.

Narrator: WORTH OVER A QUARTER
OF A MILLION DOLLARS.

FOR THE WEEK.
NOT BAD AT ALL.

AND MONEY WISE,
THIS IS ROYALTY FREE.

THIS IS OURS PERIOD.

-IT FEELS GOOD, DOESN'T IT?
-YEAH, IT DOES.

YOU KNOW,
I LOOK AT MY JOB,

NORMALLY WHEN WE'VE GOT
A FOREMAN,

AS WORRYING ABOUT PERSONNEL,
EQUIPMENT,

AND THE FUTURE
OF THE COMPANY.

LIKE THAT NEEDS TO BE
WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

THERE'S SO MANY LITTLE THINGS
THAT HAVE TO BE TAKEN CARE OF,

LIKE FUELING A PUMP.

Narrator:
PARKER IS ABOUT TO MAKE
THE BIGGEST DECISION

OF HIS SEASON SO FAR.

WE'VE GOT TO STAY SMART

AND WE'VE GOT TO STAY
ON TOP OF THINGS.

AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK
YOU GUYS HAVE NAILED IT

WITH WHAT THE FOCUS IS.
YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND.

WHEN DEAN LEFT, YOU GUYS
ARE ALREADY DOING THE JOB

OF FILLING IN THAT GAP
THAT GOT LEFT.

AND SO WHAT
I'D REALLY LIKE TO DO

IS FOR YOU GUYS TO SHARE
THE ROLE, THE TWO OF YOU GUYS.

SO, BASICALLY
YOU'RE JUST ASKING

IS TO HAVE SOME
CO-FOREMANS THEN.

YEAH. I GUESS THE BIG QUESTION
IS IF YOU GUYS ARE GAME FOR THAT

AND WILLING TO TAKE THE JOB.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE
NOT SPREADING OURSELVES

TOO THIN, THAT WE CAN'T
GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED.

NO, NO, FOR SURE.

AND I TRUST YOU GUYS
AND I TRUST YOUR JUDGMENTS.

LIKE I [BLEEP] LOVE YOU GUYS.

I KNOW I CAN'T DO IT
WITHOUT YOU.

SO I'VE YET TO HEAR A YES OR NO.

I DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT
IN THE KILL ZONE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE FOREMAN
AROUND HERE

HAS BEEN LIKE A DEATH ROW SENSE.
NEITHER OF US WANT THAT.

SO I WON'T TAKE ANY OFFENSE
IF YOU GO,

"HEY, WE NEED YOU TO GO BACK
TO DOING WHAT YOU WERE DOING

BEFORE, WE GOT
SOMEBODY ELSE IN HERE NOW."

I AGREE WITH MITCH,
I'D SAY THE SAME THING.

IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY
THEN I'D LIKE TO KNOW

BECAUSE THINGS ARE
GOING GREAT RIGHT NOW.

YEAH,
I'LL DEFINITELY STEP UP.

THAT'S JUST MAKING IT
OFFICIAL HERE.

YOU GUYS SAYING THAT IS WHAT
MAKES YOU THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

AND I'M REALLY,
I'M LOOKING FORWARD

TO THE REST OF THE SEASON,
YOU KNOW?

I REALLY AM. CHEERS BOYS.
CHEERS.

-CHEERS.
-TO A GOOD SEASON.

AND TO ME BEING
OUT OF THE CUT.

WHOO!
[ LAUGHS ]

NOW THERE IS SOMETHING
TO CELEBRATE.

Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...

YEAH, TONY,
YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE?

I'VE GOT A PLAN.

KEVIN BEETS LOOKS
FOR INSPIRATION IN A NEW SITE.

THAT IS REAL YUKON HISTORY.
THIS KEEPS THE COMPANY ALIVE.

Narrator: EQUIPMENT BREAKDOWN
THREATENS RICK NESS'S SEASON...

[ CLANKS ]Man: HOLY [BLEEP]

[BLEEP]

Narrator: AND WITH PARKER
CHASING THE GOLD.

NOT TRYING TO CREATE ISSUES
OR ANYTHING.

Narrator:
HE CAN'T HELP INTERFERING
WITH HIS NEW FOREMANS' PLANS.

POPPER'S JAMMED.

MAN, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU GOT
A SMILE ON YOUR FACE.

EVERY TIME WE DO THIS,
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.