Gold Rush: Alaska (2010–…): Season 10, Episode 6 - Monster Red Lives - full transcript
In search of big nuggets, Rick buys a monster washplant. A flood puts Tony Beets new claim into jeopardy. Parker needs to move Big Red in record time to get back on the gold.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
[ CRASH ]
[BLEEP] HOLY [BLEEP]
Narrator:
ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
[BLEEP] IS GOING ON?
...PARKER SCHNABEL
MAKES A BIG MOVE...
-FOR [BLEEP] SAKE.
-HEY!
Narrator:
...THAT COULD END IN DISASTER.
SHUT IT DOWN NOW!
TONY BEETS' PLANS
FOR THE SEASON...
...ARE SINKING.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
[BLEEP]
ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO.
WHOA.
OH [BLEEP]
HERE GOES.
THINK I ACTUALLY HAVE
GOOSE BUMPS RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: RICK NESS...
[ HORN HONKS ]
...TAKES HIS HUNT FOR
BIG NUGGETS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST GAMBLE
I'VE MADE.
-HOLY [BLEEP]
-STOP, STOP, STOP.
[ TIRES SPINNING ]
THIS IS NOT GOOD.
[BLEEP]
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
♪
Rick:
CAME A LONG WAY TO GET HERE.
A LOT RIDING ON THIS.
I REALLY GOT TO MAKE THIS WORK.
Narrator:
RICK NESS HAS LEFT BEHIND
HIS NEW NUGGET-RICH CLAIM
NEAR KENO CITY
TO DRIVE 3,000 MILES SOUTH
TO THE COLORADO ROCKIES
SEARCHING FOR
A NEW WASH PLANT.
THINGS ARE GOING PRETTY GOOD
AT DUNCAN CREEK
BUT I DO HAVE A HIGH GOAL
THIS YEAR, 2,000 OUNCES,
AND IF I'M GOING TO HIT
THAT, THEN I GOT TO GO BIG.
Narrator: SO FAR RICK HAS BANKED
JUST 80 OUNCES OF GOLD
USING A PLANT THAT RUNS
100 YARDS OF DIRT PER HOUR.
Rick:
OUR PLANT HAS BEEN FINE,
BUT IT JUST DOESN'T RUN
THE KIND OF YARDAGE WE NEED.
I NEED TO MAKE A PROFIT
THIS YEAR
SO I'M GOING TO NEED
A SERIOUS WASH PLANT.
Narrator: THE GOLD PRICE
IS AT A 7-YEAR HIGH.
IF RICK HITS HIS SEASON GOAL,
HE COULD POCKET $3 MILLION.
IT'S TIME TO JUST PONY UP
THE [BLEEP] DOLLARS AND GET ONE.
I JUST HOPE I BROUGHT ENOUGH
GOLD WITH ME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Narrator: TO FIND A PLANT,
HE'S TURNED TO AN OLD FRIEND...
THERE HE IS.
FREDDY!
-RICK!
-WHAT'S UP, BUDDY?
WELCOME TO FAIRPLAY.
THANKS, MAN.
...FREDDY DODGE,
WHO HAS BEEN DESIGNING
AND BUILDING WASH PLANTS
FOR 40 YEARS.
WELL, THERE IS RUSTY RED.
RUSTY RED.
I'VE HEARD THE NAME
AND HEARD ABOUT IT,
BUT NEVER SEEN IT
IN PERSON BEFORE.
-YEAH.
-NICE-LOOKING PLANT.
THANK YOU.
WHAT KIND OF YARDAGE
ARE YOU LOOKING TO RUN?
OH, WE GOT TO REALLY
STEP IT UP THIS YEAR.
WE'RE DOING ABOUT 100 YARDS
AN HOUR RIGHT NOW,
BUT I'M JUST THINKING, YOU KNOW,
250 YARDS AN HOUR MINIMUM.
WELL, THIS PLANT
WON'T DO THAT.
THIS ONE WAS BUILT
FOR THIS SITE.
IT DOES ABOUT 175 YARDS
AN HOUR.
YARDAGE-WISE, I'M GOING TO NEED
TO DO MORE THAN THAT, YOU KNOW?
THIS IS ALL I GOT.
Narrator: A CUBIC YARD IS
THE MEASURE BY WHICH GOLD MINERS
GAUGE THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL
THEY'RE RUNNING.
ONE LOADER BUCKET
IS AROUND 10 YARDS.
IF THIS ONE WON'T DO
THE YARDAGE YOU NEED,
I KNOW WHERE ONE IS SITTING
ABOUT 3 MILES HERE THAT WILL.
IT'LL DO BETWEEN 250
AND 300 YARDS AN HOUR.
-OKAY.
-WANT TO GO LOOK AT IT?
-ABSOLUTELY.
-LET ME THROW MY TOOLS IN.
FOLLOW ME DOWN.
-COOL.
Rick: WE JUST STOPPED AND LOOKED
AT RUSTY RED.
I MEAN, IT'S A NICE PLANT, BUT
IT JUST WON'T RUN ENOUGH YARDS.
♪
HOLY [BLEEP]
THAT'S MONSTER RED, MAN.
Narrator: MONSTER RED PULLED IN
ALMOST $3 MILLION OF GOLD
FOR THE HOFFMAN CREW.
All: YEAH!
IT CAN CHEW THROUGH 3 TIMES
AS MUCH DIRT
AS RICK'S CURRENT WASH PLANT.
OWNED BY LOCAL MINER
LANCE BALLER,
IT'S LISTED FOR SALE.
Freddy:
THERE IT IS, RICK.
FREDDY,
MONSTER RED, DUDE.
I AIN'T GOING TO BE ABLE
TO AFFORD THIS.
IF YOU WANT A WASH PLANT
THAT WILL DO
AROUND 300 YARDS AN HOUR,
THIS IS THE ONE.
IT'S BEEN
SITTING RIGHT THERE
SINCE THE HOFFMANS LEFT IT
SO YOU MIGHT HAVE
A MOTIVATED SELLER RIGHT NOW.
-HUH.
-GO HAVE A LOOK AT IT.
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.
♪
THIS THING IS A BEAST.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
THE ENORMOUS 50-TON WASH PLANT
PROCESSES A YARD OF DIRT
EVERY 12 SECONDS...
WOW.
...AND INCLUDES A NUGGET CATCH,
PERFECT FOR RICK'S DUNCAN CREEK
OPERATION.
THIS JUST SEEMS WAY
TOO HIGH CLASS FOR ME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD EVER
AFFORD SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
MAYBE
WE CAN MAKE A DEAL.
THERE'S LANCE.
SO YOU WANT TO PLAY
WITH THE BIG BOYS?
-HOW'S IT GOING, LANCE?
-DOING GOOD.
HOW YOU DOING,
FREDDY?
DOING ALRIGHT,
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
-RICK.
-LANCE. NICE TO MEET YOU.
I'VE GOT A TON
OF GROUND TO RUN
AND I JUST AIN'T GONNA
GET IT DONE WITH WHAT I'VE GOT,
AND THIS RIGHT HERE
IS WHAT I NEED.
WELL, THIS IS A PREMIUM PLANT,
AS YOU KNOW.
IT'LL AT LEAST DO
300 AN HOUR.
GOT RUBBER-LINED CHUTES.
YOU KNOW IT CATCHES GOLD.
SLUICE BOXES
ARE TOP-NOTCH.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND
A BETTER ONE AROUND.
IT IS FOR SALE,
BUT IT'S GOING TO COST YOU.
IT'S A HALF MILLION.
HALF MILLION.
YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THAT.
UM...
HOW MUCH DID YOU
BRING WITH YOU?
WELL, WHY DON'T I SHOW YOU
WHAT I DO HAVE?
OKAY.
SO I'VE GOT
150 OUNCES HERE.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING
I GOT ON THE SEASON SO FAR.
Narrator: 150 OUNCES OF GOLD
IS WORTH $210,000.
BY MY MATH, YOU'RE ABOUT
200 OUNCES SHORT.
WHERE IS THE REST
OF THE 200?
STILL IN THE GROUND.
SO WHAT ARE
YOU PROPOSING?
SOME KIND OF
AN INSTALLMENT DEAL.
NO WAY. I-I CAN'T.
HERE IS THE ISSUE.
IT GOES TO THE YUKON,
YOU DON'T MAKE PAYMENTS,
I GOT TO GET IT BACK HERE
TO THE STATES.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY
TO DO THAT.
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE
THAT'S IT.
-ALL RIGHT. PLEASURE.
-WHOA.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN STRAIGHT UP
WITH ME, LANCE.
AND OTHER PEOPLE
I'VE SEEN HIM DEAL WITH,
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN STRAIGHT UP
FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN.
IF I DIDN'T TRUST HIM,
I WOULDN'T HAVE
BROUGHT HIM OVER HERE.
Rick: IF I LEAVE YOU WITH THAT
AS A SHOW OF GOOD FAITH,
I COULD GET YOU THE REST BY THE
END OF THE SEASON, NO PROBLEM.
I'M TAKING
YOUR WORD ON IT,
BUT IF I DON'T GET THE REST
AT THE END OF THE YEAR,
I'M COMING UP THERE
AND I'M PULLING THE PLANT.
YEAH, THAT MAKES IT REAL.
YEAH.
WELL, I LEAVE YOU WITH THAT
AND I LEAVE WITH THIS.
OKAY.
FREDDY, I HOPE I DON'T
COME TO REGRET THIS.
YOU WON'T.
-OKAY.
-THANKS, LANCE.
THANKS.
-THANKS, LANCE.
THANKS, FREDDY.
SEE YA.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY
AND THAT SCARES ME
AND NOW I'VE GOT NO CHOICE
BUT TO PRODUCE.
OH, MAN.
WELL IF WE'RE GOING TO
GET THIS TO DUNCAN CREEK,
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK
TO DO.
LET'S GET AFTER IT.
[ BIRD CRIES ]
Narrator:
KLONDIKE LEGEND TONY BEETS
HAS BEEN FORCED OUT
OF HIS INDIAN RIVER CLAIM.
HE'S TRYING TO ENGINEER
A COMEBACK,
AND HE'S LOOKING TO HIS KIDS
TO LEAD THE CHARGE.
SO FAR ONLY HIS YOUNGEST SON,
MIKE, IS BRINGING IN ANY MONEY.
TONY HEADS TO HUNKER CREEK
TO CHECK ON DAUGHTER MONICA,
WHO SHOULD BE NEXT TO RUN.
THE CREEK WAS EXTENSIVELY
DREDGED UNTIL 1966.
IN THEIR HEYDAY,
DREDGING OPERATIONS
PULLED UP TO 800 OUNCES
OF GOLD A DAY FROM THE VALLEY.
TWO WEEKS AGO,
MONICA AND TONY DRILL-TESTED
AND DISCOVERED SOME GOLD-RICH
GROUND THAT DREDGES HAD MISSED.
Monica: BEAUTIFUL.
Narrator:
MONICA'S PRECIOUS PAYDIRT
IS SUBMERGED BENEATH
4 FEET OF MUDDY WATER.
MONICA'S HUNKER CUT IS WEDGED
BETWEEN HUNKER CREEK
AND A STEEP HILLSIDE.
MELTWATER FROM THE SPRING
THAW HAS COME OUT OF THE HILL,
FLOODING MOST OF THE CUT.
♪
HERE WE GO AGAIN.
HI.
Narrator: OLDEST SON KEVIN
BRINGS IN THE CUSTOM-BUILT
MOBILE PUMPING RIG.
HE MUST MANEUVER DOWN
THE STEEP 30-FOOT TRACK
BEFORE POSITIONING IT NEXT
TO THE FLOODED CUT.
GO THAT WAY YOU
[BLEEP]
Narrator: AFTER A SLOW START
TO HIS SEASON, TONY BEETS
IS RACING TO OPEN MONICA'S
NEW CUT AT HUNKER CREEK.
TO HELP HIS FAMILY
GET ON THE GOLD,
KEVIN NEEDS TO PUMP OUT
OVER A MILLION GALLONS
OF FLOODWATER.
UH, YES I AM.
WELL, STILL ALIVE
SO THAT'S NICE.
Kevin: ALL RIGHT.
NOW OUR PRIORITY
IS TO GET THIS CUT DRAINED
SO THAT WE CAN GET A PLANT
IN HERE AND SLUICE.
♪ DO-DO-DO ♪
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator:
THE MOBILE RIG CAN PUMP 200
GALLONS PER MINUTE FROM THE CUT.
IT'LL TAKE TWO DAYS BEFORE
THEY CAN GET BACK TO WORK.
♪
JUST ANOTHER MORNING
IN THE YUKON HERE.
Narrator: AT PARKER'S CAMP,
NEWLY PROMOTED FOREMAN
MITCH BLASCHKE
IS ABOUT TO START HIS SHIFT.
Mitch:
MY WIFE IS PREGNANT.
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE HER BABY
RIGHT AT THE END OF THE SEASON.
OBVIOUSLY SHE'D LIKE ME THERE,
I'D LIKE TO BE THERE.
MAKES IT TOUGH.
HELLO?
I'M DOING GOOD,
JUST GETTING READY FOR WORK.
HOW'S THE BABY DOING?
OOH, THAT DOESN'T SOUND
LIKE FUN.
SO THAT ULTRASOUND APPOINTMENT
YOU GOT COMING UP?
WELL, I'M GOING TO TRY
AND GET HOME FOR THAT.
YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY,
LOVE YOU.
BYE.
SHE WANTS ME HOME FOR ONE
OF HER DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS
AND I WANT TO BE THERE FOR IT
SO LET'S SEE
WHAT WE CAN MAKE HAPPEN.
♪
♪
Parker: WE'RE ALMOST 1/3 OF
THE WAY THROUGH THE SEASON.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU COULD
CALL THAT 15 PERCENT
OF THE CUT DONE.
LIKE, WE HAVE FROM HERE
TO THERE TO GET TO.
THAT'S A LONG [BLEEP] WAY.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL IS
MINING HIS OWN 115-ACRE SITE.
THIS MUCH GROUND
WOULD NORMALLY TAKE 3 YEARS.
♪
SO IF THE GOLD HOLDS UP,
IT'S GOING TO BE A KILLER YEAR.
Narrator: BUT HE MUST MINE IT
ALL THIS SEASON
BEFORE HIS WATER LICENSE
RUNS OUT,
OR ANY GOLD HE LEAVES BEHIND
COULD BE LOST FOREVER.
LAST SCOOP OF PAY GOING IN
FOR THIS CUT.
WE'VE MINED THIS PIECE
OF THE CUT.
THAT ENTIRE AREA.
THIS IS DONE.
Narrator:
HIS CREW IS STILL WORKING
IN THE FIRST 26-ACRE SECTION
KNOWN AS THE CLUSTER CUT.
♪
NOW IT'S TIME TO GET MOVED
TO A NEW AREA
SO WE NEED TO GET
THE PLANT MOVING TODAY,
AND WE'VE GOT TO GET
THAT DONE BEFORE MITCH LEAVES.
IT'S NOT REALLY A PLANT THAT'S
DESIGNED TO BE SUPER MOBILE,
BUT MITCH IS VERY DILIGENT
AND HOPEFULLY HE'LL BE ABLE
TO HANDLE THAT.
I'M GLAD HE'S HERE FOR IT,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
Narrator: PARKER HAS MINED
ALMOST HALF OF THE CLUSTER CUT.
♪
TO MINE THE NEXT SECTION,
HE MUST FIRST BUILD A NEW PAD
FOR BIG RED,
THEN MOVE THE WASH PLANT
350 YARDS ACROSS THE CUT
AND HAUL IT ONTO THE PAD
WHERE IT CAN START SLUICING.
♪
BIG RED IS PARKER'S
ONLY WORKING WASH PLANT.
HIS ENTIRE OPERATION
DEPENDS ON IT.
AS LONG AS THIS WASH PLANT
MOVE GOES GOOD,
I'LL BE ABLE TO GO SPEND
THAT TIME WITH MY WIFE.
Narrator:
HEAD MECHANIC MITCH BLASCHKE
AND CO-FOREMAN BRENNAN RUAULT
MUST FINISH THE NEW PAD.
IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK TODAY
TO GET THIS [BLEEP] DONE
AND GET READY TO BE SLUICING
AGAIN TOMORROW HERE
JUST BEFORE MITCH HAS TO LEAVE,
SO THAT'S THE BIG GOAL.
Mitch:
IT'S A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.
IT'S A LOT TO DO, BUT WE CAN GET
BIG RED SET UP,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO DO IT REAL SMART.
Brennan:
FINAL SCOOP AND THE FINISHING
TOUCH ON THE PLANT PAD HERE,
SO TIME TO GO START
TEARING THAT PLANT APART.
PHEW!
GLAD THIS CUT IS OVER.
Brennan: NOW THE REAL WORK
BEGINS, YOU KNOW?
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BIG
HEAVY PIECES TO MOVE HERE
AND A LONG DAY AHEAD OF US.
Narrator: NOW THEY MUST
DISMANTLE BIG RED...
LET'S GET THIS SHOW
ON THE ROAD.
...AND MOVE THE 50-TON
WASH PLANT
IN SECTIONS ACROSS THE CUT.
Mitch: BIG CONCERN RIGHT NOW
IS JUST TIME FRAME.
WE GOT TO PUT THIS ALL BACK
TOGETHER AGAIN
BEFORE I HAVE TO LEAVE
AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING.
Narrator:
AT 640 SQUARE FEET,
THE SLUICE RUN IS
THE LARGEST PIECE OF THE PLANT.
MITCH AND BRENNAN
MUST WORK IN PERFECT SYNC
TO CONTROL THE DOUBLE LIFT.
Mitch: THE SLUICE RUN IS WHERE
ALL THE GOLD IS CAUGHT,
SO ONCE THESE ARE
IN THEIR PLACE
I'LL FILL A WHOLE LOT BETTER
ABOUT ALL THIS.
IS THAT CENTERED?
YUP! LET'S GO!
WE'RE RUNNING AT 6:07
SO WE BETTER CHOP-CHOP.
Brennan:
OH, I HEAR YOU.
HEY, BRENNAN, I'VE NEVER DRAG
RACED EXCAVATORS BEFORE,
BUT IT'S PRETTY FUN.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
HE'S GOING TO FINISH THE RACE
IN REVERSE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
IT TAKES BOTH EXCAVATORS
TO PLACE THE 7.5-TON SLUICE RUN
AT A PRECISE 28-DEGREE ANGLE.
LET'S DO THIS, MAN.
THE SLIGHTEST INACCURACY
WILL COST THEM GOLD.
DEFINITELY A CRITICAL,
TENSE MOMENT HERE.
CRANK IT HARD!
GOOD!
I'VE JUST GOT TO WALK
AHEAD OF IT HERE.
NICE AND EASY, MAN.
HOW AM I LOOKING
BEHIND ME THERE?
YOU'RE ALL RIGHT BEHIND YOU,
JUST KEEP GOING.
BRENNAN, WHOA, WHOA!
[BLEEP]
HOLY [BLEEP]
WHAT'S GOING ON?
DID IT BREAK?
THE CHAIN
ALMOST COME UNDONE.
TRY AND SET HER DOWN.
IF YOU GET THIS DONE WITHOUT
SCREWING ANYTHING ELSE,
WE'LL GET YOU
SOME CHEESEBURGERS.
[BLEEP]
GO AHEAD
AND LOWER IT A BIT.
YOU'RE GOOD!
WHOO!
-THAT LOOKED GOOD!
-YEAH, BROTHER!
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT
HAPPENED THERE, BUT WE MADE IT.
Narrator: THE LAST COMPONENT TO
BE MOVED INTO POSITION
IS THE SHAKER DECK.
I THINK IT'S LOOKING
PRETTY GOOD, BRENNAN.
WE'LL JUST...
-CALL HER A DAY?
-YEAH.
WE'LL LEVEL THIS THING UP
IN THE MORNING.
I KNOW IT'S A LONG DAY
AND A LOT OF WORK
BUT, MAN, IT'S COME
TOGETHER PRETTY QUICK.
WE ONLY GOT ONE DAY
OF YOU LEFT, BUDDY,
SO WE WANT
TO GET IT TOGETHER.
WHOO-HOO!
-YEAH!
-PUSH IT!
-Narrator: UP AHEAD...
-[BLEEP]
-...RICK NESS'
HALF-MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT
SPINS OUT OF CONTROL.
STOP, STOP, STOP.
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
[BLEEP]
Mitch:
JUST GOT BIG RED MOVED
AND JUST TRYING TO LINE
EVERYTHING OUT HERE
BEFORE I TAKE OFF,
BUT IT'S A LOT OF WORK
AND VERY LITTLE TIME.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL HAS
MOVED HIS WASH PLANT,
BIG RED, TO ITS NEW PAD.
MECHANIC MITCH BLASCHKE
IS IN CHARGE OF FINE-TUNING
AND RESTARTING THE PLANT.
IT'S A JOB THAT USUALLY
TAKES THE WHOLE DAY,
BUT MITCH NEEDS TO GET HOME
TO HIS PREGNANT WIFE
FOR THEIR FIRST ULTRASOUND, AND
HIS FLIGHT LEAVES IN 6 HOURS.
♪
Mitch: I WAS HOPING I'D HAVE
ENOUGH TIME TO, YOU KNOW,
GO GET MYSELF A HAIRCUT
AND SHAVE AND, YOU KNOW,
TRY AND AT LEAST LOOK
PRESENTABLE FOR WHEN I GET HOME.
YOU READY TO ROCK,
BUDDY?
I'M REALLY HAPPY
WITH THIS NEW SETUP.
TIME TO FIRE IT BACK UP.
SEE WHAT SHE DOES.
♪
EVERYTHING IS GOOD
UP TOP.
FIRST SCOOP IN AND WE'RE
ONLY DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS.
-THERE IT IS.
-FIRST SCOOP BABY!
-WHOO!
-NICE JOB, BUDDY!
AWESOME JOB.
-GOOD JOB, MAN.
-THANKS, BUDDY.
-GOOD JOB, GUYS.
-THANK YOU.
YOU GUYS DID A KILLER JOB
MOVING THE PLANT.
YOU MADE HER LOOK EASY
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE
TO KEEP THIS THING
GOING WITHOUT YOU.
THANKS, MAN.
WHOO.
BUT, MAN,
AM I GLAD THAT'S OVER.
I THINK IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE
AFTER THAT ONE, MAN.
[BLEEP]
-GREAT.
CELEBRATE YOU GOING HOME TO GET
TO SEE SOME BABY PICTURES.
WHOO!
HOLD ON A SEC HERE.
OH [BLEEP]
THE SLUICE RUNS ARE [BLEEP]
MITCH!
MITCH!
SHUT IT DOWN NOW!
FOR [BLEEP] SAKE.
Mitch: TRYING TO GET OUT OF HERE
AND I HAD A FLIGHT TO CATCH
AND THINGS ALWAYS BREAK
AT THE WORST TIME.
Parker:
IT'S THE [BLEEP] SLUICE BOX.
SHE'S RUNNING LIKE A [BLEEP]
LIKE, PRETTY BAD.
IS THAT THING ALL BENT
OR IS JUST THE ANGLE WE'RE AT?
Mitch: LOOKS LIKE
IT'S GOTTEN BENT.
SAGGING IN THE MIDDLE.
YOU MUST HAVE HIT IT
WHEN WE MOVED IT.
BUT, DUDE, I JUST DON'T HAVE
ANY MORE TIME HERE.
YEAH, ALL RIGHT.
THEY'VE GOT TO ADDRESS IT
IN A HURRY.
YOU GUYS WILL SORT IT OUT,
I'M SURE.
THE RUNS, INSTEAD OF BEING FLAT
LIKE THEY SHOULD BE,
THEY'VE GOT A BIG BOW
RIGHT HERE IN THE CENTER
SO WE'RE GOING TO JACK UP
THE MIDDLE OF IT
AND PUT A BLOCK THERE,
GET THIS THING LEVELED BACK OUT.
Narrator: WATER WASHES
GOLD-RICH PAYDIRT
DOWN BIG RED'S FOUR SLUICE RUNS.
GOLD SETTLES IN THE RIFFLES,
AND THE SILT AND DIRT
ARE WASHED OUT OF THE END.
BUT THE DEPRESSION IN THE RUNS
IS CAUSING DIRT TO SETTLE
AND CLOG THE RIFFLES SO GOLD
WILL WASH OUT OF THE SLUICE.
STAND BACK.
WITH TIME RUNNING OUT,
THE ONLY TOOL
MITCH HAS TO LEVEL THE RUNS
IS HIS TRUCK'S BOTTLE JACK.
LET ME GO UP TOP
AND CHECK IT.
OKAY, KEEP GOING.
WHOA.
THESE THINGS ALWAYS [BLEEP]
SLIP OFF HERE
[BLEEP] AND KICK OUT.
-KEEP GOING?
-YUP.
DON'T BE ON THE SIDE
IT'S GOING TO BLOW OUT ON.
THERE IS JUST HALF
AN INCH OF CONTACT
BETWEEN THE BOTTLE JACK
AND THE 7.5-TON SLUICE RUNS.
-KEEP GOING?
-LITTLE MORE.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT
OF TIME HERE.
♪
GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS
NOW.
OKAY, WELL LET'S GO AHEAD.
PUT SOME BLOCKING IN THERE.
JUST SET IT DOWN. SET IT DOWN,
SET IT DOWN, SET IT DOWN.
IT'S GOING TO GO.
IT'S GOING TO BLOW UP.
LET IT OFF, LET IT OFF,
GOT TO USE THOSE PLIERS.
[ CRASH ]
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
OH, THAT WAS CLOSE.
RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'VE DONE
IS WE'VE PUT THIS BOARD IN HERE
AND SOME SHIMS AND WE
BROUGHT IT UP OVER AN INCH
AND WE'RE HOPING THIS
HAS FIXED OUR PROBLEMS.
WE'RE GOING TO FIRE IT UP
AND FIND OUT.
LET'S [BLEEP] GO!
FIRE IT UP!
THAT DOESN'T LOOK
TOO BAD, EH?
NAILED IT!
-WHOO!
-[ LAUGHS ]
THINGS ARE LOOKING
PRETTY GOOD.
Narrator: WITH BIG RED'S
SLUICE RUNS LEVEL,
THE WASH PLANT SHOULD BE BACK TO
CATCHING 96% OF THE GOLD.
IF THIS THING HAD A SET OF KEYS,
I'D HAND THEM TO YOU.
I DON'T WANT
THE [BLEEP] THINGS.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
HAVE A SAFE TRIP.
THANKS, MAN.
♪
Narrator: MITCH HEADS HOME
FOR HIS WIFE'S BABY SCAN.
Mitch: I'M REALLY GLAD WE WERE
ABLE TO GET BIG RED MOVED.
HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING
RUNS NICE AND SMOOTH,
BUT I'M HEADING HOME
TO SEE MY WIFE
AND SEE A PICTURE OF MY BABY
THERE IN AN ULTRASOUND.
♪
YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR FIRST KID
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORRY THERE.
HOW'S EVERYTHING GOING TO GO?
YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU DO
ONCE THE KID IS BORN?
I'M, YOU KNOW, IN MY MID-30s,
I'VE NEVER CHANGED A DIAPER.
RIGHT?
LIKE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW.
I CAN TEAR AN ENGINE APART
AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER,
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S SWADDLING?
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A LOT
OF STUFF TO LEARN HERE
WHEN IT COMES TO BABIES.
YOU KNOW, IT'D BE NICE TO BE
ABLE TO, YOU KNOW,
GET OFF WORK TO,
YOU KNOW, BE A PART OF IT.
YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY,
YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY JOB,
BUT, YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY
IS MORE IMPORTANT.
♪
♪
Monica: BEEN SICK PAST
THE COUPLE OF DAYS.
BEEN KIND OF HOME
TRYING TO GET OVER THIS COLD,
BUT I GOT CALL FROM TONY,
AND MY CUT IS FLOODED.
Narrator: TO SAVE
THE BEETS FAMILY BUSINESS,
MONICA NEEDS TO START
MINING THE HUNKER CUT
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS,
HER BROTHER, KEVIN,
HAS BEEN PUMPING OUT
THE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER
THAT FLOODED THE CUT.
STILL NEED TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT KIND OF [BLEEP] SHOW
WE'VE GOT IN THIS CUT.
[BLEEP]
EVERYTHING IS SATURATED,
SO YOU PUT ROCK TRUCKS IN HERE
AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES,
YOU'VE GOT A SINK HOLE.
HEY!
MY CUT IS WET AND SLOPPY.
WE'VE GOT OUR DITCH
ALONG THE CREEKSIDE.
YEAH. I'M GOING TO START
DIGGING IT DOWN
BECAUSE UNTIL WE HAVE
THAT DITCH OF BEDROCK,
THEN WE'RE NOT GOING
TO GET RID OF THE WATER.
NO [BLEEP]
Narrator:
MONICA'S CUT HAS A DRAINAGE
SUMP ALONG THE LOWER EDGE,
BUT IT'S NOT DEEP ENOUGH
TO DRAIN
THE LAST 20%
OF THE FLOODWATER.
MONICA'S FIX?
DEEPEN THE DITCH DOWN TO BEDROCK
TO INCREASE CAPACITY.
LET'S GO!
THE DEEPER I CAN GET THIS DITCH,
THE DRYER THIS CUT WILL BE,
AND THE DRYER THE CUT,
THE FASTER I SLUICE.
ALL RIGHT.
TIME TO START TRYING
TO DIG THIS DITCH.
♪
WHOA!
HOLY [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] ME.
LET'S TRY IT A BIT MORE FORWARD.
DAMMIT! THAT LOOKS REALLY
[BLEEP] FROZEN.
IT WON'T GO.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
ALL RIGHT.
TIME TO START TRYING
TO DIG THIS DITCH.
♪
WHOA!
Narrator: TO ACCELERATE
THE BEETS FAMILY'S SEASON,
MONICA IS OPENING
THE HUNKER CUT.
FIRST, SHE DIGS A DITCH
TO DRAIN THE FLOOD WATER...
Monica: [BLEEP]
Narrator: ...BUT THE GROUND
IS FROZEN SOLID.
♪
MICHAEL, DO YOU COPY?
MICHAEL, DO YOU COPY?
YEAH, GO AHEAD.
CAN YOU COME MEET ME
IN THE HUNKER CUT?
I NEED TO TO TALK TO YOU.
HOPEFULLY MIKE
GETS DOWN HERE QUICK.
♪
-HOLA.
-HEY, MIKE.
CUT IS FLOODED.
I FIGURE THAT'S FINE, GO DIG
A DRAIN, FIGURE IT OUT.
GET IN THERE AND MY [BLEEP]
DRAIN IS FROZEN.
THAT'S NOT SURPRISING.
NOTHING [BLEEP] THAWS UNDER IT.
ANY CHANCE I CAN GET YOU
DOWN HERE IN THE CAT?
GIVE IT A COUPLE OF RIPS?
OH, I CAN DO THAT FOR YOU.
ANYTHING FOR MY LITTLE SISTER.
IF YOU CAN STOP RIPPING,
THAT'D BE THE FIRST STEP
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
SO WE CAN START SLUICING.
YUP.
I'LL GO GET RIGHT ON IT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO IT.
BOOM. GET IT DONE.
♪
Narrator: HER BROTHER, MIKE,
BRINGS IN HIS NEWLY REPAIRED
85-TON D10 DOZER WITH
ITS 3-FOOT RIPPER TOOTH.
RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO MAKE
THE DITCH DEEPER.
I'M GOING TO RIP IT, MY SISTER
IS GOING TO DIG IT OUT,
AND THEN IT SHOULD BE SO [BLEEP]
DAMN DEEP
THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO START
PULLING ALL THIS WATER OUT.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
MY SISTER FOR YEARS.
SHE'S A SMART GIRL.
NOT GOING TO LIE.
WHEN MY SISTER WAS A CHILD,
SHE WAS A WEE BIT OF A PRINCESS.
BUT WE'VE HAD RESPONSIBILITY
EVER SINCE WE WERE YOUNG,
ALL OF US.
AIN'T [BLEEP] NEW TO US.
HEY, MIKE. DO YOU COPY?
WELL,
I CAN HEAR YOU AT LEAST.
MAN, THAT LOOKS PRETTY
[BLEEP] SQUISHY.
THAT DITCH IS STILL DEEPER
THAN SHE LOOKS.
YOU BE CAREFUL.
♪
Monica: SO MIKE HAS BEEN
RIPPING IN THE CUT.
I'M JUST BRINGING THE 360 IN
TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS
DRAIN A BIT DEEPER.
♪
♪
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT.
THIS DRAIN IS PEELING OUT
A LOT NICER THAN IT WAS BEFORE.
THERE'S DIRT COMING OUT,
WHICH IS NICE TO SEE.
GETTING THE JOB
DONE RIGHT.
HONESTLY, I LIKE IT
WHEN THINGS GO NICE.
WE'LL HAVE THIS CUT DRY
IN NO TIME.
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP
FOR THE HUNKER CUT.
Narrator: THE DEEPER DITCH CAN
NOW DRAIN THE WATERLOGGED CUT.
NEXT DAY, MONICA RETURNS
TO INSPECT THE CUT.
IT'S FINALLY NICE AND DRY HERE.
HOPEFULLY IT'LL STAY THIS WAY.
WE'VE GOT THIS NICE DITCH DUG
ALL ALONG THE SIDE.
SHOULD BE GOOD,
WE CAN GET SOME PAYOUT.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
YEAH.
THIS [BLEEP] IS DEEP ENOUGH
SO THAT OUR CUT
IS DRY IN THERE NOW.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
GET OUT OF HERE.
THEY'VE GOT TO BE
GETTING CLOSE, EH?
I HOPE SO.
Narrator: THREE MILES DOWN THE
MOUNTAIN ROAD FROM HIS CLAIM,
RICK NESS IS WAITING FOR
HIS HALF-MILLION DOLLAR
WASH PLANT TO ARRIVE.
Rick:
HAVEN'T BEEN REALLY TOO WORRIED
ABOUT IT UNTIL NOW, HONESTLY.
THEY'RE 99% OF THE WAY HERE,
BUT IF IT DOESN'T MAKE IT,
I GOT NO WAY TO PAY IT OFF.
THERE HE IS.
-THERE'S FREDDY!
THERE'S THE TRUCK.
BET IT'S A BIT OF RELIEF SEEING
THAT COME DOWN THE ROAD, HUH?
[ LAUGHTER ]
-GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
-GOOD TO SEE YOU.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.
I'M TIRED OF DRIVING.
-QUITE THE TRIP.
-I BET.
THAT'S SOME ROUGH ASS [BLEEP]
ROAD COMING IN.
-OH, [BLEEP] I KNOW.
-SHEESH.
WELL, YOU AIN'T SEEN
NOTHING YET.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 3,600 FEET
TO CLIMB.
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
♪
Freddy: HEY, TRUCKERS.
EVERYBODY MAKE SURE THEIR
POWER DIVIDERS ARE KICKED IN.
SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A BIG-ASS
HILL TO GO UP.
THIS IS WHAT THE BIGGEST
PURCHASE OF MY LIFE
LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ABOUT TO GO UP
A MOUNTAIN PASS
AND IF IT DOESN'T MAKE IT
IN ONE PIECE,
I'M HALF-MILLION IN THE HOLE
WITH NO WAY TO MAKE IT UP,
SO LAST LITTLE BIT OF THIS TRIP
IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING.
Narrator:
THE THREE 18-WHEELERS HAULING
RICK'S PRECIOUS WASH PLANT
MUST NOW ATTEMPT
THE 3,500-FOOT CLIMB
UP TREACHEROUS, UNMAINTAINED
ROADS TO DUNCAN CREEK.
IT'S A LONG WAYS
BACK IN HERE, RICK.
YEAH, YEAH.
ROAD IS ROUGHER THAN [BLEEP]
A LOT OF ROCKS STICKING UP.
YEAH, A LOT
OF TIRE-EATING ROCKS.
ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO END UP
GIVING YOU A LITTLE SPACE HERE
BECAUSE RIGHT AFTER
THIS LEFT-HAND CORNER HERE
WE GOT STRAIGHT UPHILL.
TRY TO GET AS MUCH MOMENTUM
AS YOU CAN AND SEE HOW IT GOES.
THIS IS THE SPOT
I'M REAL WORRIED ABOUT.
Narrator:
THIS 20-DEGREE MOUNTAIN GRADE
IS THE STEEPEST SECTION
OF RICK'S ROAD.
-ALL RIGHT, GUYS. LET'S DO THIS.
-OKEYDOKE.
♪
ROLLING OUT.
♪
I THINK WE CAN WAIT
RIGHT HERE.
ROGER THAT.
OH, YEAH, HERE HE COMES.
♪
♪
HOLY [BLEEP]
♪
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
STOP, STOP, STOP.
BACK IT UP.
-DAMMIT.
-JUST PULL FORWARD A BIT.
PUSH IT!
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
[BLEEP]
THIS IS NOT GOOD.
OH, HE JUST SPUN OUT
RIGHT AT THE TOP.
IT'S A TIGHT CORNER
AT THE TOP OF A HILL,
OPEN ON THAT SIDE DOWN
TO A [BLEEP] CLIFF.
Narrator: RICK'S HALF-MILLION
DOLLAR WASH PLANT
IS STRANDED ON A MOUNTAIN PASS.
THE LEAD TRUCK IN THE CONVOY
HAS SPUN OUT ON LOOSE GRAVEL
AND IS UNABLE TO MOVE.
I HOPE THIS WORKS.
JUST GOING TO HOOK
FREDDY'S TRUCK UP.
Narrator: FREDDY'S TRUCK IS
RATED TO TOW 21 TONS.
THE LOWBOY IS CARRYING 35.
WE'RE SO [BLEEP] CLOSE.
THEY HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO RISK IT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GIVE HER.
LET'S GIVE HER HELL.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
PUSH IT!
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
I'M STARTING TO SPIN THERE, PAT,
SO KEEP WITH IT.
OKAY.
WE'RE GOING.
DON'T STOP.
NOBODY STOPS.
THAT'S IT.
THERE WE GO.
-JUST A LITTLE WAYS TO GO.
-SHE'S LOOKING GOOD.
WOO-HOO HOO, BUDDY!
[BLEEP] BUDDY.
THIRD TRUCK
MADE IT UP TOO, RICK.
THE THIRD TRUCK MADE IT UP.
SHOULD BE SMOOTH SAILING
FROM HERE ON IN THERE, BOYS.
SOUNDS GOOD.
[ HORN BLARES ]
Rick: THINK I ACTUALLY HAVE
GOOSE BUMPS RIGHT NOW.
UNREAL. I MEAN, THIS IS ONLY
MY SECOND YEAR OUT ON MY OWN
AND TO HAVE SOMETHING
OF THIS SCALE, IT'S INCREDIBLE.
I'M HAPPY FOR MY GUYS.
I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT A SERIOUS
GOLD-CATCHING MACHINE HERE
AND THIS IS LITERALLY GOING TO
BOOST US TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
-WOW.
-THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
-LOT OF RED IRON THERE.
Rick:
IT'S [BLEEP] HUGE, HUH, GUYS?
LOOK AT THE SIZE
OF THESE SLUICE BOXES, HUH?
THESE THINGS
ARE BRAND-NEW, MAN.
-I KNOW.
-[BLEEP] YEAH, BUDDY.
-YEAH!
-YOU DID GOOD. YOU DID GOOD.
SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE TO DOUBLE UP
ON EVERYTHING WE DO.
IT'S GOING TO BE
DOUBLE THE DIRT,
DOUBLE THE MOVEMENT,
DOUBLE THE FUEL...
-DOUBLE THE EFFORT.
-...DOUBLE THE EFFORT.
WE'RE COMMITTED NOW.
HOPE YOU GUYS ARE WITH ME.
-YEAH, OF COURSE.
-YEAH.
LET'S GET THIS THING BUILT,
GUYS.
ONE, TWO, THREE.
-READY!
JUST GOT PICKED UP
FROM THE AIRPORT.
WE'RE JUST ON THE WAY
TO THE DOCTOR'S NOW
TO SEE HOW EVERYTHING IS GOING.
HOW YOU FEELING, BABE?
I FEEL FANTASTIC.
VERY EXCITED THAT YOU'RE HERE.
-YEAH.
LITTLE BABY SEEMS TO BE
GROWING QUITE NICE,
BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY SAY
WHEN WE GET IN THERE.
I'M REALLY GLAD EVERYTHING
CAME TOGETHER
AND I WAS ABLE TO
MAKE IT HOME FOR THIS,
BUT I'M DEFINITELY
STARTING TO SEE
JUST HOW FAST THINGS CHANGE WHEN
YOU GOT A BABY ON THE WAY
BECAUSE WHEN I LEFT THERE
WAS LIKE NO BABY BUMP THERE,
AND NOW DEFINITELY
SHE'S MAKING HER PRESENCE.
[ FETAL HEARTBEAT WHOOSHING ]
YEAH.
WE JUST GOT OUR FIRST GLIMPSE
HERE AT BABY BLASCHKE.
GONNA HAVE A LITTLE GIRL.
IT'S GONNA BE REALLY CLOSE
TO WHEN THE END
OF THE MINING SEASON IS
SO WE GOT A LOT OF DIRT TO MOVE
HERE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO FINISH
THIS THING OUT
SO I CAN BE HOME
TO SEE THIS BABY.
Man: GETTING SOME PRETTY
GOOD NUGGETS.
YOU GOT TO SEE THIS ONE
THAT'S SHAPED LIKE A CUBE.
CHECK THAT OUT.
GOT A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE.
-OH, YEAH.
Narrator: AFTER BEING DOWN FOR
TWO DAYS, PARKER'S CREW
IS READY TO WEIGH THE WEEK'S
GOLD FROM BIG RED.
[ HORN HONKS ]
YOU UGLY OLD DOG.
HOW ARE YOU FARING
WITH MITCH GONE?
MISS HAVING HIM AROUND?
THINK HE'S PRETTY EXCITED
ABOUT THE LITTLE ONE
ON THE WAY ANYWAYS.
HE WAS LIKING IT AND I KNOW
HALEY IS FOR SURE.
IT'LL PROBABLY BE BORN
WITH A WRENCH AND A WELDER'S...
WELDING MASK?
WELDING MASK, YEAH,
YOU BEAT ME TO IT.
Parker:
YEAH, MITCH WILL BE MISSED.
I HOPE EVERYTHING GOES WELL
FOR HIM AT HOME.
-YEAH, FOR SURE.
-I'M JUST CURIOUS.
WOULD HE BRING HALEY
AND THE NEWBORN UP HERE OR...
I'LL PROBABLY ASK HIM IF HE
WANTS TO DO SOME SORT OF SPLIT.
RATHER THAN SPENDING
SIX MONTHS AWAY,
IF HE WANTED TO DO 2 AND 2
OR SOMETHING, I'D DO IT.
[BLEEP] I'M GETTING PREGNANT,
TOO. [ LAUGHS ]
NO. RATHER...
JUG IS GETTING HEAVIER.
WELL, WHAT SAY WE THROW
SOME GOLD ON SOME SCALES?
Narrator:
SO FAR THIS SEASON, BIG RED
HAS AVERAGED 263 OUNCES A WEEK.
♪
20, 40...
100, 130, 180...
230, 300, 310.
310.5 OUNCES.
WOW.
Narrator: WITH GOLD PRICES
AT A 7-YEAR HIGH,
THIS HAUL IS WORTH OVER $400,000
AND BRINGS PARKER'S SEASON
TOTAL TO 1,364 OUNCES.
SO THAT'S WITH
TWO OR THREE DAYS OF DOWNTIME?
YEAH.
JUST THINK WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF WE COULD RUN A WHOLE WEEK.
-YEAH, NO [BLEEP]
-WELL DONE, JUNIOR.
YEAH, THANKS, POPS.
WELL DONE.
DON'T COMPLIMENT HIM
TOO MUCH.
GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.
-HE'S GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.
-GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.
-FAIRLY GOOD JOB THERE, JUNIOR.
FAIRLY GOOD JOB.
-[BLEEP]
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪
NICE JOB CLEANING
THE STUFF AS USUAL, CHRIS.
Chris: THANK YOU, PARKER,
FOR THAT LOVELY COMPLIMENT.
ABOUT 123.
Narrator:
AT THE END OF THE WEEK,
THE BEETS FAMILY GATHERS
FOR THE GOLD WEIGH.
KIND OF SUCKED.
I'M GLAD
THEY WERE AROUND.
NOW THAT WE'VE GOT A GOOD DITCH
IN THERE
KEEPING
THE WATER OUT OF THERE.
NO.
Narrator:
EIGHT WEEKS INTO THE SEASON,
TONY BEETS ONLY HAS ONE RUNNING
WASH PLANT,
AT YOUNGEST SON MIKE'S
PARADISE HILL CUT.
IT'S QUITE NICE, BUT THE WAY
I KEEP GETTING PULLED AWAY TO GO
HELP OTHER PEOPLE -- SORRY,
MONICA, BUT IT'S A SAD TRUTH.
YOU ACT LIKE I'M THE ONLY ONE
WHO HAS PROBLEMS.
OH [BLEEP] DON'T EVEN
START ON HIS PROBLEMS.
OH, YOU WANT TO HEAR
MY PROBLEMS?
NO, GOD NO.
[BLEEP]
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, I THOUGHT I WAS
JUST GOING TO TAKE IT HOME.
YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE SITTING
THERE ALL EXCITED.
Narrator: SO FAR, MIKE HAS MINED
JUST 613 OUNCES...
50, 70, 80, 100,
180, 200,..
265.18.
...OR $375,000.
-ALL RIGHT?
-YUP.
Narrator: THE BEETS FAMILY TOTAL
NOW STANDS AT 878 OUNCES,
WORTH $1.2 MILLION,
BUT STILL 30% DOWN
ON THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
WASN'T PLANNING ON IT.
HE'S FAIRLY CONSISTENT,
AND I LIKE THAT.
WELL, I SHOULD GO BACK
TO THE OFFICE, I GUESS.
ACTUALLY SOUNDS
LIKE A WONDERFUL IDEA.
LET'S GO FOR ICE CREAM.
HEY, WHAT THE [BLEEP]
IS GOING ON?
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH!"...
Man:
LOOKS LIKE AN ATOMIC BOMB.
LET'S GET THE [BLEEP]
OUT OF HERE.
...A RAGING INFERNO HAS
THE KLONDIKE ON HIGH ALERT.
THIS IS A FIRST.
-BURN, BABY, BURN.
-WHOA!
Narrator:
PARKER IS DEADLINED TO MINE
HIS ENTIRE CLAIM THIS SEASON.
IT'S BREAKING POINT.
WELL, THAT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN,
YOU KNOW?
AND RICK'S GAMBLE TO MINE
A REMOTE CLAIM
PUTS LIVES ON THE LINE.
THERE IS DEFINITELY FIRE
REAL, REAL CLOSE.
[ CRASH ]
[BLEEP] HOLY [BLEEP]
Narrator:
ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...
[BLEEP] IS GOING ON?
...PARKER SCHNABEL
MAKES A BIG MOVE...
-FOR [BLEEP] SAKE.
-HEY!
Narrator:
...THAT COULD END IN DISASTER.
SHUT IT DOWN NOW!
TONY BEETS' PLANS
FOR THE SEASON...
...ARE SINKING.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
[BLEEP]
ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO.
WHOA.
OH [BLEEP]
HERE GOES.
THINK I ACTUALLY HAVE
GOOSE BUMPS RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: RICK NESS...
[ HORN HONKS ]
...TAKES HIS HUNT FOR
BIG NUGGETS TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST GAMBLE
I'VE MADE.
-HOLY [BLEEP]
-STOP, STOP, STOP.
[ TIRES SPINNING ]
THIS IS NOT GOOD.
[BLEEP]
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
♪
Rick:
CAME A LONG WAY TO GET HERE.
A LOT RIDING ON THIS.
I REALLY GOT TO MAKE THIS WORK.
Narrator:
RICK NESS HAS LEFT BEHIND
HIS NEW NUGGET-RICH CLAIM
NEAR KENO CITY
TO DRIVE 3,000 MILES SOUTH
TO THE COLORADO ROCKIES
SEARCHING FOR
A NEW WASH PLANT.
THINGS ARE GOING PRETTY GOOD
AT DUNCAN CREEK
BUT I DO HAVE A HIGH GOAL
THIS YEAR, 2,000 OUNCES,
AND IF I'M GOING TO HIT
THAT, THEN I GOT TO GO BIG.
Narrator: SO FAR RICK HAS BANKED
JUST 80 OUNCES OF GOLD
USING A PLANT THAT RUNS
100 YARDS OF DIRT PER HOUR.
Rick:
OUR PLANT HAS BEEN FINE,
BUT IT JUST DOESN'T RUN
THE KIND OF YARDAGE WE NEED.
I NEED TO MAKE A PROFIT
THIS YEAR
SO I'M GOING TO NEED
A SERIOUS WASH PLANT.
Narrator: THE GOLD PRICE
IS AT A 7-YEAR HIGH.
IF RICK HITS HIS SEASON GOAL,
HE COULD POCKET $3 MILLION.
IT'S TIME TO JUST PONY UP
THE [BLEEP] DOLLARS AND GET ONE.
I JUST HOPE I BROUGHT ENOUGH
GOLD WITH ME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Narrator: TO FIND A PLANT,
HE'S TURNED TO AN OLD FRIEND...
THERE HE IS.
FREDDY!
-RICK!
-WHAT'S UP, BUDDY?
WELCOME TO FAIRPLAY.
THANKS, MAN.
...FREDDY DODGE,
WHO HAS BEEN DESIGNING
AND BUILDING WASH PLANTS
FOR 40 YEARS.
WELL, THERE IS RUSTY RED.
RUSTY RED.
I'VE HEARD THE NAME
AND HEARD ABOUT IT,
BUT NEVER SEEN IT
IN PERSON BEFORE.
-YEAH.
-NICE-LOOKING PLANT.
THANK YOU.
WHAT KIND OF YARDAGE
ARE YOU LOOKING TO RUN?
OH, WE GOT TO REALLY
STEP IT UP THIS YEAR.
WE'RE DOING ABOUT 100 YARDS
AN HOUR RIGHT NOW,
BUT I'M JUST THINKING, YOU KNOW,
250 YARDS AN HOUR MINIMUM.
WELL, THIS PLANT
WON'T DO THAT.
THIS ONE WAS BUILT
FOR THIS SITE.
IT DOES ABOUT 175 YARDS
AN HOUR.
YARDAGE-WISE, I'M GOING TO NEED
TO DO MORE THAN THAT, YOU KNOW?
THIS IS ALL I GOT.
Narrator: A CUBIC YARD IS
THE MEASURE BY WHICH GOLD MINERS
GAUGE THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL
THEY'RE RUNNING.
ONE LOADER BUCKET
IS AROUND 10 YARDS.
IF THIS ONE WON'T DO
THE YARDAGE YOU NEED,
I KNOW WHERE ONE IS SITTING
ABOUT 3 MILES HERE THAT WILL.
IT'LL DO BETWEEN 250
AND 300 YARDS AN HOUR.
-OKAY.
-WANT TO GO LOOK AT IT?
-ABSOLUTELY.
-LET ME THROW MY TOOLS IN.
FOLLOW ME DOWN.
-COOL.
Rick: WE JUST STOPPED AND LOOKED
AT RUSTY RED.
I MEAN, IT'S A NICE PLANT, BUT
IT JUST WON'T RUN ENOUGH YARDS.
♪
HOLY [BLEEP]
THAT'S MONSTER RED, MAN.
Narrator: MONSTER RED PULLED IN
ALMOST $3 MILLION OF GOLD
FOR THE HOFFMAN CREW.
All: YEAH!
IT CAN CHEW THROUGH 3 TIMES
AS MUCH DIRT
AS RICK'S CURRENT WASH PLANT.
OWNED BY LOCAL MINER
LANCE BALLER,
IT'S LISTED FOR SALE.
Freddy:
THERE IT IS, RICK.
FREDDY,
MONSTER RED, DUDE.
I AIN'T GOING TO BE ABLE
TO AFFORD THIS.
IF YOU WANT A WASH PLANT
THAT WILL DO
AROUND 300 YARDS AN HOUR,
THIS IS THE ONE.
IT'S BEEN
SITTING RIGHT THERE
SINCE THE HOFFMANS LEFT IT
SO YOU MIGHT HAVE
A MOTIVATED SELLER RIGHT NOW.
-HUH.
-GO HAVE A LOOK AT IT.
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.
♪
THIS THING IS A BEAST.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
THE ENORMOUS 50-TON WASH PLANT
PROCESSES A YARD OF DIRT
EVERY 12 SECONDS...
WOW.
...AND INCLUDES A NUGGET CATCH,
PERFECT FOR RICK'S DUNCAN CREEK
OPERATION.
THIS JUST SEEMS WAY
TOO HIGH CLASS FOR ME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD EVER
AFFORD SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
MAYBE
WE CAN MAKE A DEAL.
THERE'S LANCE.
SO YOU WANT TO PLAY
WITH THE BIG BOYS?
-HOW'S IT GOING, LANCE?
-DOING GOOD.
HOW YOU DOING,
FREDDY?
DOING ALRIGHT,
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
-RICK.
-LANCE. NICE TO MEET YOU.
I'VE GOT A TON
OF GROUND TO RUN
AND I JUST AIN'T GONNA
GET IT DONE WITH WHAT I'VE GOT,
AND THIS RIGHT HERE
IS WHAT I NEED.
WELL, THIS IS A PREMIUM PLANT,
AS YOU KNOW.
IT'LL AT LEAST DO
300 AN HOUR.
GOT RUBBER-LINED CHUTES.
YOU KNOW IT CATCHES GOLD.
SLUICE BOXES
ARE TOP-NOTCH.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND
A BETTER ONE AROUND.
IT IS FOR SALE,
BUT IT'S GOING TO COST YOU.
IT'S A HALF MILLION.
HALF MILLION.
YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THAT.
UM...
HOW MUCH DID YOU
BRING WITH YOU?
WELL, WHY DON'T I SHOW YOU
WHAT I DO HAVE?
OKAY.
SO I'VE GOT
150 OUNCES HERE.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING
I GOT ON THE SEASON SO FAR.
Narrator: 150 OUNCES OF GOLD
IS WORTH $210,000.
BY MY MATH, YOU'RE ABOUT
200 OUNCES SHORT.
WHERE IS THE REST
OF THE 200?
STILL IN THE GROUND.
SO WHAT ARE
YOU PROPOSING?
SOME KIND OF
AN INSTALLMENT DEAL.
NO WAY. I-I CAN'T.
HERE IS THE ISSUE.
IT GOES TO THE YUKON,
YOU DON'T MAKE PAYMENTS,
I GOT TO GET IT BACK HERE
TO THE STATES.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY
TO DO THAT.
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE
THAT'S IT.
-ALL RIGHT. PLEASURE.
-WHOA.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN STRAIGHT UP
WITH ME, LANCE.
AND OTHER PEOPLE
I'VE SEEN HIM DEAL WITH,
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN STRAIGHT UP
FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN.
IF I DIDN'T TRUST HIM,
I WOULDN'T HAVE
BROUGHT HIM OVER HERE.
Rick: IF I LEAVE YOU WITH THAT
AS A SHOW OF GOOD FAITH,
I COULD GET YOU THE REST BY THE
END OF THE SEASON, NO PROBLEM.
I'M TAKING
YOUR WORD ON IT,
BUT IF I DON'T GET THE REST
AT THE END OF THE YEAR,
I'M COMING UP THERE
AND I'M PULLING THE PLANT.
YEAH, THAT MAKES IT REAL.
YEAH.
WELL, I LEAVE YOU WITH THAT
AND I LEAVE WITH THIS.
OKAY.
FREDDY, I HOPE I DON'T
COME TO REGRET THIS.
YOU WON'T.
-OKAY.
-THANKS, LANCE.
THANKS.
-THANKS, LANCE.
THANKS, FREDDY.
SEE YA.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY
AND THAT SCARES ME
AND NOW I'VE GOT NO CHOICE
BUT TO PRODUCE.
OH, MAN.
WELL IF WE'RE GOING TO
GET THIS TO DUNCAN CREEK,
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK
TO DO.
LET'S GET AFTER IT.
[ BIRD CRIES ]
Narrator:
KLONDIKE LEGEND TONY BEETS
HAS BEEN FORCED OUT
OF HIS INDIAN RIVER CLAIM.
HE'S TRYING TO ENGINEER
A COMEBACK,
AND HE'S LOOKING TO HIS KIDS
TO LEAD THE CHARGE.
SO FAR ONLY HIS YOUNGEST SON,
MIKE, IS BRINGING IN ANY MONEY.
TONY HEADS TO HUNKER CREEK
TO CHECK ON DAUGHTER MONICA,
WHO SHOULD BE NEXT TO RUN.
THE CREEK WAS EXTENSIVELY
DREDGED UNTIL 1966.
IN THEIR HEYDAY,
DREDGING OPERATIONS
PULLED UP TO 800 OUNCES
OF GOLD A DAY FROM THE VALLEY.
TWO WEEKS AGO,
MONICA AND TONY DRILL-TESTED
AND DISCOVERED SOME GOLD-RICH
GROUND THAT DREDGES HAD MISSED.
Monica: BEAUTIFUL.
Narrator:
MONICA'S PRECIOUS PAYDIRT
IS SUBMERGED BENEATH
4 FEET OF MUDDY WATER.
MONICA'S HUNKER CUT IS WEDGED
BETWEEN HUNKER CREEK
AND A STEEP HILLSIDE.
MELTWATER FROM THE SPRING
THAW HAS COME OUT OF THE HILL,
FLOODING MOST OF THE CUT.
♪
HERE WE GO AGAIN.
HI.
Narrator: OLDEST SON KEVIN
BRINGS IN THE CUSTOM-BUILT
MOBILE PUMPING RIG.
HE MUST MANEUVER DOWN
THE STEEP 30-FOOT TRACK
BEFORE POSITIONING IT NEXT
TO THE FLOODED CUT.
GO THAT WAY YOU
[BLEEP]
Narrator: AFTER A SLOW START
TO HIS SEASON, TONY BEETS
IS RACING TO OPEN MONICA'S
NEW CUT AT HUNKER CREEK.
TO HELP HIS FAMILY
GET ON THE GOLD,
KEVIN NEEDS TO PUMP OUT
OVER A MILLION GALLONS
OF FLOODWATER.
UH, YES I AM.
WELL, STILL ALIVE
SO THAT'S NICE.
Kevin: ALL RIGHT.
NOW OUR PRIORITY
IS TO GET THIS CUT DRAINED
SO THAT WE CAN GET A PLANT
IN HERE AND SLUICE.
♪ DO-DO-DO ♪
[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Narrator:
THE MOBILE RIG CAN PUMP 200
GALLONS PER MINUTE FROM THE CUT.
IT'LL TAKE TWO DAYS BEFORE
THEY CAN GET BACK TO WORK.
♪
JUST ANOTHER MORNING
IN THE YUKON HERE.
Narrator: AT PARKER'S CAMP,
NEWLY PROMOTED FOREMAN
MITCH BLASCHKE
IS ABOUT TO START HIS SHIFT.
Mitch:
MY WIFE IS PREGNANT.
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE HER BABY
RIGHT AT THE END OF THE SEASON.
OBVIOUSLY SHE'D LIKE ME THERE,
I'D LIKE TO BE THERE.
MAKES IT TOUGH.
HELLO?
I'M DOING GOOD,
JUST GETTING READY FOR WORK.
HOW'S THE BABY DOING?
OOH, THAT DOESN'T SOUND
LIKE FUN.
SO THAT ULTRASOUND APPOINTMENT
YOU GOT COMING UP?
WELL, I'M GOING TO TRY
AND GET HOME FOR THAT.
YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY,
LOVE YOU.
BYE.
SHE WANTS ME HOME FOR ONE
OF HER DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS
AND I WANT TO BE THERE FOR IT
SO LET'S SEE
WHAT WE CAN MAKE HAPPEN.
♪
♪
Parker: WE'RE ALMOST 1/3 OF
THE WAY THROUGH THE SEASON.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF YOU COULD
CALL THAT 15 PERCENT
OF THE CUT DONE.
LIKE, WE HAVE FROM HERE
TO THERE TO GET TO.
THAT'S A LONG [BLEEP] WAY.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL IS
MINING HIS OWN 115-ACRE SITE.
THIS MUCH GROUND
WOULD NORMALLY TAKE 3 YEARS.
♪
SO IF THE GOLD HOLDS UP,
IT'S GOING TO BE A KILLER YEAR.
Narrator: BUT HE MUST MINE IT
ALL THIS SEASON
BEFORE HIS WATER LICENSE
RUNS OUT,
OR ANY GOLD HE LEAVES BEHIND
COULD BE LOST FOREVER.
LAST SCOOP OF PAY GOING IN
FOR THIS CUT.
WE'VE MINED THIS PIECE
OF THE CUT.
THAT ENTIRE AREA.
THIS IS DONE.
Narrator:
HIS CREW IS STILL WORKING
IN THE FIRST 26-ACRE SECTION
KNOWN AS THE CLUSTER CUT.
♪
NOW IT'S TIME TO GET MOVED
TO A NEW AREA
SO WE NEED TO GET
THE PLANT MOVING TODAY,
AND WE'VE GOT TO GET
THAT DONE BEFORE MITCH LEAVES.
IT'S NOT REALLY A PLANT THAT'S
DESIGNED TO BE SUPER MOBILE,
BUT MITCH IS VERY DILIGENT
AND HOPEFULLY HE'LL BE ABLE
TO HANDLE THAT.
I'M GLAD HE'S HERE FOR IT,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
Narrator: PARKER HAS MINED
ALMOST HALF OF THE CLUSTER CUT.
♪
TO MINE THE NEXT SECTION,
HE MUST FIRST BUILD A NEW PAD
FOR BIG RED,
THEN MOVE THE WASH PLANT
350 YARDS ACROSS THE CUT
AND HAUL IT ONTO THE PAD
WHERE IT CAN START SLUICING.
♪
BIG RED IS PARKER'S
ONLY WORKING WASH PLANT.
HIS ENTIRE OPERATION
DEPENDS ON IT.
AS LONG AS THIS WASH PLANT
MOVE GOES GOOD,
I'LL BE ABLE TO GO SPEND
THAT TIME WITH MY WIFE.
Narrator:
HEAD MECHANIC MITCH BLASCHKE
AND CO-FOREMAN BRENNAN RUAULT
MUST FINISH THE NEW PAD.
IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK TODAY
TO GET THIS [BLEEP] DONE
AND GET READY TO BE SLUICING
AGAIN TOMORROW HERE
JUST BEFORE MITCH HAS TO LEAVE,
SO THAT'S THE BIG GOAL.
Mitch:
IT'S A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.
IT'S A LOT TO DO, BUT WE CAN GET
BIG RED SET UP,
BUT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO DO IT REAL SMART.
Brennan:
FINAL SCOOP AND THE FINISHING
TOUCH ON THE PLANT PAD HERE,
SO TIME TO GO START
TEARING THAT PLANT APART.
PHEW!
GLAD THIS CUT IS OVER.
Brennan: NOW THE REAL WORK
BEGINS, YOU KNOW?
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BIG
HEAVY PIECES TO MOVE HERE
AND A LONG DAY AHEAD OF US.
Narrator: NOW THEY MUST
DISMANTLE BIG RED...
LET'S GET THIS SHOW
ON THE ROAD.
...AND MOVE THE 50-TON
WASH PLANT
IN SECTIONS ACROSS THE CUT.
Mitch: BIG CONCERN RIGHT NOW
IS JUST TIME FRAME.
WE GOT TO PUT THIS ALL BACK
TOGETHER AGAIN
BEFORE I HAVE TO LEAVE
AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING.
Narrator:
AT 640 SQUARE FEET,
THE SLUICE RUN IS
THE LARGEST PIECE OF THE PLANT.
MITCH AND BRENNAN
MUST WORK IN PERFECT SYNC
TO CONTROL THE DOUBLE LIFT.
Mitch: THE SLUICE RUN IS WHERE
ALL THE GOLD IS CAUGHT,
SO ONCE THESE ARE
IN THEIR PLACE
I'LL FILL A WHOLE LOT BETTER
ABOUT ALL THIS.
IS THAT CENTERED?
YUP! LET'S GO!
WE'RE RUNNING AT 6:07
SO WE BETTER CHOP-CHOP.
Brennan:
OH, I HEAR YOU.
HEY, BRENNAN, I'VE NEVER DRAG
RACED EXCAVATORS BEFORE,
BUT IT'S PRETTY FUN.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
HE'S GOING TO FINISH THE RACE
IN REVERSE.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator:
IT TAKES BOTH EXCAVATORS
TO PLACE THE 7.5-TON SLUICE RUN
AT A PRECISE 28-DEGREE ANGLE.
LET'S DO THIS, MAN.
THE SLIGHTEST INACCURACY
WILL COST THEM GOLD.
DEFINITELY A CRITICAL,
TENSE MOMENT HERE.
CRANK IT HARD!
GOOD!
I'VE JUST GOT TO WALK
AHEAD OF IT HERE.
NICE AND EASY, MAN.
HOW AM I LOOKING
BEHIND ME THERE?
YOU'RE ALL RIGHT BEHIND YOU,
JUST KEEP GOING.
BRENNAN, WHOA, WHOA!
[BLEEP]
HOLY [BLEEP]
WHAT'S GOING ON?
DID IT BREAK?
THE CHAIN
ALMOST COME UNDONE.
TRY AND SET HER DOWN.
IF YOU GET THIS DONE WITHOUT
SCREWING ANYTHING ELSE,
WE'LL GET YOU
SOME CHEESEBURGERS.
[BLEEP]
GO AHEAD
AND LOWER IT A BIT.
YOU'RE GOOD!
WHOO!
-THAT LOOKED GOOD!
-YEAH, BROTHER!
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT
HAPPENED THERE, BUT WE MADE IT.
Narrator: THE LAST COMPONENT TO
BE MOVED INTO POSITION
IS THE SHAKER DECK.
I THINK IT'S LOOKING
PRETTY GOOD, BRENNAN.
WE'LL JUST...
-CALL HER A DAY?
-YEAH.
WE'LL LEVEL THIS THING UP
IN THE MORNING.
I KNOW IT'S A LONG DAY
AND A LOT OF WORK
BUT, MAN, IT'S COME
TOGETHER PRETTY QUICK.
WE ONLY GOT ONE DAY
OF YOU LEFT, BUDDY,
SO WE WANT
TO GET IT TOGETHER.
WHOO-HOO!
-YEAH!
-PUSH IT!
-Narrator: UP AHEAD...
-[BLEEP]
-...RICK NESS'
HALF-MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT
SPINS OUT OF CONTROL.
STOP, STOP, STOP.
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
[BLEEP]
Mitch:
JUST GOT BIG RED MOVED
AND JUST TRYING TO LINE
EVERYTHING OUT HERE
BEFORE I TAKE OFF,
BUT IT'S A LOT OF WORK
AND VERY LITTLE TIME.
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL HAS
MOVED HIS WASH PLANT,
BIG RED, TO ITS NEW PAD.
MECHANIC MITCH BLASCHKE
IS IN CHARGE OF FINE-TUNING
AND RESTARTING THE PLANT.
IT'S A JOB THAT USUALLY
TAKES THE WHOLE DAY,
BUT MITCH NEEDS TO GET HOME
TO HIS PREGNANT WIFE
FOR THEIR FIRST ULTRASOUND, AND
HIS FLIGHT LEAVES IN 6 HOURS.
♪
Mitch: I WAS HOPING I'D HAVE
ENOUGH TIME TO, YOU KNOW,
GO GET MYSELF A HAIRCUT
AND SHAVE AND, YOU KNOW,
TRY AND AT LEAST LOOK
PRESENTABLE FOR WHEN I GET HOME.
YOU READY TO ROCK,
BUDDY?
I'M REALLY HAPPY
WITH THIS NEW SETUP.
TIME TO FIRE IT BACK UP.
SEE WHAT SHE DOES.
♪
EVERYTHING IS GOOD
UP TOP.
FIRST SCOOP IN AND WE'RE
ONLY DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS.
-THERE IT IS.
-FIRST SCOOP BABY!
-WHOO!
-NICE JOB, BUDDY!
AWESOME JOB.
-GOOD JOB, MAN.
-THANKS, BUDDY.
-GOOD JOB, GUYS.
-THANK YOU.
YOU GUYS DID A KILLER JOB
MOVING THE PLANT.
YOU MADE HER LOOK EASY
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE
TO KEEP THIS THING
GOING WITHOUT YOU.
THANKS, MAN.
WHOO.
BUT, MAN,
AM I GLAD THAT'S OVER.
I THINK IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE
AFTER THAT ONE, MAN.
[BLEEP]
-GREAT.
CELEBRATE YOU GOING HOME TO GET
TO SEE SOME BABY PICTURES.
WHOO!
HOLD ON A SEC HERE.
OH [BLEEP]
THE SLUICE RUNS ARE [BLEEP]
MITCH!
MITCH!
SHUT IT DOWN NOW!
FOR [BLEEP] SAKE.
Mitch: TRYING TO GET OUT OF HERE
AND I HAD A FLIGHT TO CATCH
AND THINGS ALWAYS BREAK
AT THE WORST TIME.
Parker:
IT'S THE [BLEEP] SLUICE BOX.
SHE'S RUNNING LIKE A [BLEEP]
LIKE, PRETTY BAD.
IS THAT THING ALL BENT
OR IS JUST THE ANGLE WE'RE AT?
Mitch: LOOKS LIKE
IT'S GOTTEN BENT.
SAGGING IN THE MIDDLE.
YOU MUST HAVE HIT IT
WHEN WE MOVED IT.
BUT, DUDE, I JUST DON'T HAVE
ANY MORE TIME HERE.
YEAH, ALL RIGHT.
THEY'VE GOT TO ADDRESS IT
IN A HURRY.
YOU GUYS WILL SORT IT OUT,
I'M SURE.
THE RUNS, INSTEAD OF BEING FLAT
LIKE THEY SHOULD BE,
THEY'VE GOT A BIG BOW
RIGHT HERE IN THE CENTER
SO WE'RE GOING TO JACK UP
THE MIDDLE OF IT
AND PUT A BLOCK THERE,
GET THIS THING LEVELED BACK OUT.
Narrator: WATER WASHES
GOLD-RICH PAYDIRT
DOWN BIG RED'S FOUR SLUICE RUNS.
GOLD SETTLES IN THE RIFFLES,
AND THE SILT AND DIRT
ARE WASHED OUT OF THE END.
BUT THE DEPRESSION IN THE RUNS
IS CAUSING DIRT TO SETTLE
AND CLOG THE RIFFLES SO GOLD
WILL WASH OUT OF THE SLUICE.
STAND BACK.
WITH TIME RUNNING OUT,
THE ONLY TOOL
MITCH HAS TO LEVEL THE RUNS
IS HIS TRUCK'S BOTTLE JACK.
LET ME GO UP TOP
AND CHECK IT.
OKAY, KEEP GOING.
WHOA.
THESE THINGS ALWAYS [BLEEP]
SLIP OFF HERE
[BLEEP] AND KICK OUT.
-KEEP GOING?
-YUP.
DON'T BE ON THE SIDE
IT'S GOING TO BLOW OUT ON.
THERE IS JUST HALF
AN INCH OF CONTACT
BETWEEN THE BOTTLE JACK
AND THE 7.5-TON SLUICE RUNS.
-KEEP GOING?
-LITTLE MORE.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT
OF TIME HERE.
♪
GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS
NOW.
OKAY, WELL LET'S GO AHEAD.
PUT SOME BLOCKING IN THERE.
JUST SET IT DOWN. SET IT DOWN,
SET IT DOWN, SET IT DOWN.
IT'S GOING TO GO.
IT'S GOING TO BLOW UP.
LET IT OFF, LET IT OFF,
GOT TO USE THOSE PLIERS.
[ CRASH ]
[BLEEP] [BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
OH, THAT WAS CLOSE.
RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'VE DONE
IS WE'VE PUT THIS BOARD IN HERE
AND SOME SHIMS AND WE
BROUGHT IT UP OVER AN INCH
AND WE'RE HOPING THIS
HAS FIXED OUR PROBLEMS.
WE'RE GOING TO FIRE IT UP
AND FIND OUT.
LET'S [BLEEP] GO!
FIRE IT UP!
THAT DOESN'T LOOK
TOO BAD, EH?
NAILED IT!
-WHOO!
-[ LAUGHS ]
THINGS ARE LOOKING
PRETTY GOOD.
Narrator: WITH BIG RED'S
SLUICE RUNS LEVEL,
THE WASH PLANT SHOULD BE BACK TO
CATCHING 96% OF THE GOLD.
IF THIS THING HAD A SET OF KEYS,
I'D HAND THEM TO YOU.
I DON'T WANT
THE [BLEEP] THINGS.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
HAVE A SAFE TRIP.
THANKS, MAN.
♪
Narrator: MITCH HEADS HOME
FOR HIS WIFE'S BABY SCAN.
Mitch: I'M REALLY GLAD WE WERE
ABLE TO GET BIG RED MOVED.
HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING
RUNS NICE AND SMOOTH,
BUT I'M HEADING HOME
TO SEE MY WIFE
AND SEE A PICTURE OF MY BABY
THERE IN AN ULTRASOUND.
♪
YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR FIRST KID
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORRY THERE.
HOW'S EVERYTHING GOING TO GO?
YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU DO
ONCE THE KID IS BORN?
I'M, YOU KNOW, IN MY MID-30s,
I'VE NEVER CHANGED A DIAPER.
RIGHT?
LIKE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW.
I CAN TEAR AN ENGINE APART
AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER,
BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S SWADDLING?
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A LOT
OF STUFF TO LEARN HERE
WHEN IT COMES TO BABIES.
YOU KNOW, IT'D BE NICE TO BE
ABLE TO, YOU KNOW,
GET OFF WORK TO,
YOU KNOW, BE A PART OF IT.
YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY,
YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY JOB,
BUT, YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY
IS MORE IMPORTANT.
♪
♪
Monica: BEEN SICK PAST
THE COUPLE OF DAYS.
BEEN KIND OF HOME
TRYING TO GET OVER THIS COLD,
BUT I GOT CALL FROM TONY,
AND MY CUT IS FLOODED.
Narrator: TO SAVE
THE BEETS FAMILY BUSINESS,
MONICA NEEDS TO START
MINING THE HUNKER CUT
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
FOR THE LAST 2 DAYS,
HER BROTHER, KEVIN,
HAS BEEN PUMPING OUT
THE MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER
THAT FLOODED THE CUT.
STILL NEED TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT KIND OF [BLEEP] SHOW
WE'VE GOT IN THIS CUT.
[BLEEP]
EVERYTHING IS SATURATED,
SO YOU PUT ROCK TRUCKS IN HERE
AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES,
YOU'VE GOT A SINK HOLE.
HEY!
MY CUT IS WET AND SLOPPY.
WE'VE GOT OUR DITCH
ALONG THE CREEKSIDE.
YEAH. I'M GOING TO START
DIGGING IT DOWN
BECAUSE UNTIL WE HAVE
THAT DITCH OF BEDROCK,
THEN WE'RE NOT GOING
TO GET RID OF THE WATER.
NO [BLEEP]
Narrator:
MONICA'S CUT HAS A DRAINAGE
SUMP ALONG THE LOWER EDGE,
BUT IT'S NOT DEEP ENOUGH
TO DRAIN
THE LAST 20%
OF THE FLOODWATER.
MONICA'S FIX?
DEEPEN THE DITCH DOWN TO BEDROCK
TO INCREASE CAPACITY.
LET'S GO!
THE DEEPER I CAN GET THIS DITCH,
THE DRYER THIS CUT WILL BE,
AND THE DRYER THE CUT,
THE FASTER I SLUICE.
ALL RIGHT.
TIME TO START TRYING
TO DIG THIS DITCH.
♪
WHOA!
HOLY [BLEEP]
[BLEEP] ME.
LET'S TRY IT A BIT MORE FORWARD.
DAMMIT! THAT LOOKS REALLY
[BLEEP] FROZEN.
IT WON'T GO.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
ALL RIGHT.
TIME TO START TRYING
TO DIG THIS DITCH.
♪
WHOA!
Narrator: TO ACCELERATE
THE BEETS FAMILY'S SEASON,
MONICA IS OPENING
THE HUNKER CUT.
FIRST, SHE DIGS A DITCH
TO DRAIN THE FLOOD WATER...
Monica: [BLEEP]
Narrator: ...BUT THE GROUND
IS FROZEN SOLID.
♪
MICHAEL, DO YOU COPY?
MICHAEL, DO YOU COPY?
YEAH, GO AHEAD.
CAN YOU COME MEET ME
IN THE HUNKER CUT?
I NEED TO TO TALK TO YOU.
HOPEFULLY MIKE
GETS DOWN HERE QUICK.
♪
-HOLA.
-HEY, MIKE.
CUT IS FLOODED.
I FIGURE THAT'S FINE, GO DIG
A DRAIN, FIGURE IT OUT.
GET IN THERE AND MY [BLEEP]
DRAIN IS FROZEN.
THAT'S NOT SURPRISING.
NOTHING [BLEEP] THAWS UNDER IT.
ANY CHANCE I CAN GET YOU
DOWN HERE IN THE CAT?
GIVE IT A COUPLE OF RIPS?
OH, I CAN DO THAT FOR YOU.
ANYTHING FOR MY LITTLE SISTER.
IF YOU CAN STOP RIPPING,
THAT'D BE THE FIRST STEP
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
SO WE CAN START SLUICING.
YUP.
I'LL GO GET RIGHT ON IT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S DO IT.
BOOM. GET IT DONE.
♪
Narrator: HER BROTHER, MIKE,
BRINGS IN HIS NEWLY REPAIRED
85-TON D10 DOZER WITH
ITS 3-FOOT RIPPER TOOTH.
RIGHT NOW I'M TRYING TO MAKE
THE DITCH DEEPER.
I'M GOING TO RIP IT, MY SISTER
IS GOING TO DIG IT OUT,
AND THEN IT SHOULD BE SO [BLEEP]
DAMN DEEP
THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO START
PULLING ALL THIS WATER OUT.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH
MY SISTER FOR YEARS.
SHE'S A SMART GIRL.
NOT GOING TO LIE.
WHEN MY SISTER WAS A CHILD,
SHE WAS A WEE BIT OF A PRINCESS.
BUT WE'VE HAD RESPONSIBILITY
EVER SINCE WE WERE YOUNG,
ALL OF US.
AIN'T [BLEEP] NEW TO US.
HEY, MIKE. DO YOU COPY?
WELL,
I CAN HEAR YOU AT LEAST.
MAN, THAT LOOKS PRETTY
[BLEEP] SQUISHY.
THAT DITCH IS STILL DEEPER
THAN SHE LOOKS.
YOU BE CAREFUL.
♪
Monica: SO MIKE HAS BEEN
RIPPING IN THE CUT.
I'M JUST BRINGING THE 360 IN
TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS
DRAIN A BIT DEEPER.
♪
♪
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT.
THIS DRAIN IS PEELING OUT
A LOT NICER THAN IT WAS BEFORE.
THERE'S DIRT COMING OUT,
WHICH IS NICE TO SEE.
GETTING THE JOB
DONE RIGHT.
HONESTLY, I LIKE IT
WHEN THINGS GO NICE.
WE'LL HAVE THIS CUT DRY
IN NO TIME.
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP
FOR THE HUNKER CUT.
Narrator: THE DEEPER DITCH CAN
NOW DRAIN THE WATERLOGGED CUT.
NEXT DAY, MONICA RETURNS
TO INSPECT THE CUT.
IT'S FINALLY NICE AND DRY HERE.
HOPEFULLY IT'LL STAY THIS WAY.
WE'VE GOT THIS NICE DITCH DUG
ALL ALONG THE SIDE.
SHOULD BE GOOD,
WE CAN GET SOME PAYOUT.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]
HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?
YEAH.
THIS [BLEEP] IS DEEP ENOUGH
SO THAT OUR CUT
IS DRY IN THERE NOW.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
GET OUT OF HERE.
THEY'VE GOT TO BE
GETTING CLOSE, EH?
I HOPE SO.
Narrator: THREE MILES DOWN THE
MOUNTAIN ROAD FROM HIS CLAIM,
RICK NESS IS WAITING FOR
HIS HALF-MILLION DOLLAR
WASH PLANT TO ARRIVE.
Rick:
HAVEN'T BEEN REALLY TOO WORRIED
ABOUT IT UNTIL NOW, HONESTLY.
THEY'RE 99% OF THE WAY HERE,
BUT IF IT DOESN'T MAKE IT,
I GOT NO WAY TO PAY IT OFF.
THERE HE IS.
-THERE'S FREDDY!
THERE'S THE TRUCK.
BET IT'S A BIT OF RELIEF SEEING
THAT COME DOWN THE ROAD, HUH?
[ LAUGHTER ]
-GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
-GOOD TO SEE YOU.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.
I'M TIRED OF DRIVING.
-QUITE THE TRIP.
-I BET.
THAT'S SOME ROUGH ASS [BLEEP]
ROAD COMING IN.
-OH, [BLEEP] I KNOW.
-SHEESH.
WELL, YOU AIN'T SEEN
NOTHING YET.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 3,600 FEET
TO CLIMB.
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
♪
Freddy: HEY, TRUCKERS.
EVERYBODY MAKE SURE THEIR
POWER DIVIDERS ARE KICKED IN.
SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A BIG-ASS
HILL TO GO UP.
THIS IS WHAT THE BIGGEST
PURCHASE OF MY LIFE
LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ABOUT TO GO UP
A MOUNTAIN PASS
AND IF IT DOESN'T MAKE IT
IN ONE PIECE,
I'M HALF-MILLION IN THE HOLE
WITH NO WAY TO MAKE IT UP,
SO LAST LITTLE BIT OF THIS TRIP
IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING.
Narrator:
THE THREE 18-WHEELERS HAULING
RICK'S PRECIOUS WASH PLANT
MUST NOW ATTEMPT
THE 3,500-FOOT CLIMB
UP TREACHEROUS, UNMAINTAINED
ROADS TO DUNCAN CREEK.
IT'S A LONG WAYS
BACK IN HERE, RICK.
YEAH, YEAH.
ROAD IS ROUGHER THAN [BLEEP]
A LOT OF ROCKS STICKING UP.
YEAH, A LOT
OF TIRE-EATING ROCKS.
ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO END UP
GIVING YOU A LITTLE SPACE HERE
BECAUSE RIGHT AFTER
THIS LEFT-HAND CORNER HERE
WE GOT STRAIGHT UPHILL.
TRY TO GET AS MUCH MOMENTUM
AS YOU CAN AND SEE HOW IT GOES.
THIS IS THE SPOT
I'M REAL WORRIED ABOUT.
Narrator:
THIS 20-DEGREE MOUNTAIN GRADE
IS THE STEEPEST SECTION
OF RICK'S ROAD.
-ALL RIGHT, GUYS. LET'S DO THIS.
-OKEYDOKE.
♪
ROLLING OUT.
♪
I THINK WE CAN WAIT
RIGHT HERE.
ROGER THAT.
OH, YEAH, HERE HE COMES.
♪
♪
HOLY [BLEEP]
♪
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
STOP, STOP, STOP.
BACK IT UP.
-DAMMIT.
-JUST PULL FORWARD A BIT.
PUSH IT!
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
[BLEEP]
THIS IS NOT GOOD.
OH, HE JUST SPUN OUT
RIGHT AT THE TOP.
IT'S A TIGHT CORNER
AT THE TOP OF A HILL,
OPEN ON THAT SIDE DOWN
TO A [BLEEP] CLIFF.
Narrator: RICK'S HALF-MILLION
DOLLAR WASH PLANT
IS STRANDED ON A MOUNTAIN PASS.
THE LEAD TRUCK IN THE CONVOY
HAS SPUN OUT ON LOOSE GRAVEL
AND IS UNABLE TO MOVE.
I HOPE THIS WORKS.
JUST GOING TO HOOK
FREDDY'S TRUCK UP.
Narrator: FREDDY'S TRUCK IS
RATED TO TOW 21 TONS.
THE LOWBOY IS CARRYING 35.
WE'RE SO [BLEEP] CLOSE.
THEY HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO RISK IT.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GIVE HER.
LET'S GIVE HER HELL.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
PUSH IT!
[ ENGINE REVVING ]
I'M STARTING TO SPIN THERE, PAT,
SO KEEP WITH IT.
OKAY.
WE'RE GOING.
DON'T STOP.
NOBODY STOPS.
THAT'S IT.
THERE WE GO.
-JUST A LITTLE WAYS TO GO.
-SHE'S LOOKING GOOD.
WOO-HOO HOO, BUDDY!
[BLEEP] BUDDY.
THIRD TRUCK
MADE IT UP TOO, RICK.
THE THIRD TRUCK MADE IT UP.
SHOULD BE SMOOTH SAILING
FROM HERE ON IN THERE, BOYS.
SOUNDS GOOD.
[ HORN BLARES ]
Rick: THINK I ACTUALLY HAVE
GOOSE BUMPS RIGHT NOW.
UNREAL. I MEAN, THIS IS ONLY
MY SECOND YEAR OUT ON MY OWN
AND TO HAVE SOMETHING
OF THIS SCALE, IT'S INCREDIBLE.
I'M HAPPY FOR MY GUYS.
I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT A SERIOUS
GOLD-CATCHING MACHINE HERE
AND THIS IS LITERALLY GOING TO
BOOST US TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
-WOW.
-THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
-LOT OF RED IRON THERE.
Rick:
IT'S [BLEEP] HUGE, HUH, GUYS?
LOOK AT THE SIZE
OF THESE SLUICE BOXES, HUH?
THESE THINGS
ARE BRAND-NEW, MAN.
-I KNOW.
-[BLEEP] YEAH, BUDDY.
-YEAH!
-YOU DID GOOD. YOU DID GOOD.
SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE ARE GOING
TO HAVE TO DOUBLE UP
ON EVERYTHING WE DO.
IT'S GOING TO BE
DOUBLE THE DIRT,
DOUBLE THE MOVEMENT,
DOUBLE THE FUEL...
-DOUBLE THE EFFORT.
-...DOUBLE THE EFFORT.
WE'RE COMMITTED NOW.
HOPE YOU GUYS ARE WITH ME.
-YEAH, OF COURSE.
-YEAH.
LET'S GET THIS THING BUILT,
GUYS.
ONE, TWO, THREE.
-READY!
JUST GOT PICKED UP
FROM THE AIRPORT.
WE'RE JUST ON THE WAY
TO THE DOCTOR'S NOW
TO SEE HOW EVERYTHING IS GOING.
HOW YOU FEELING, BABE?
I FEEL FANTASTIC.
VERY EXCITED THAT YOU'RE HERE.
-YEAH.
LITTLE BABY SEEMS TO BE
GROWING QUITE NICE,
BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT THEY SAY
WHEN WE GET IN THERE.
I'M REALLY GLAD EVERYTHING
CAME TOGETHER
AND I WAS ABLE TO
MAKE IT HOME FOR THIS,
BUT I'M DEFINITELY
STARTING TO SEE
JUST HOW FAST THINGS CHANGE WHEN
YOU GOT A BABY ON THE WAY
BECAUSE WHEN I LEFT THERE
WAS LIKE NO BABY BUMP THERE,
AND NOW DEFINITELY
SHE'S MAKING HER PRESENCE.
[ FETAL HEARTBEAT WHOOSHING ]
YEAH.
WE JUST GOT OUR FIRST GLIMPSE
HERE AT BABY BLASCHKE.
GONNA HAVE A LITTLE GIRL.
IT'S GONNA BE REALLY CLOSE
TO WHEN THE END
OF THE MINING SEASON IS
SO WE GOT A LOT OF DIRT TO MOVE
HERE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO FINISH
THIS THING OUT
SO I CAN BE HOME
TO SEE THIS BABY.
Man: GETTING SOME PRETTY
GOOD NUGGETS.
YOU GOT TO SEE THIS ONE
THAT'S SHAPED LIKE A CUBE.
CHECK THAT OUT.
GOT A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE.
-OH, YEAH.
Narrator: AFTER BEING DOWN FOR
TWO DAYS, PARKER'S CREW
IS READY TO WEIGH THE WEEK'S
GOLD FROM BIG RED.
[ HORN HONKS ]
YOU UGLY OLD DOG.
HOW ARE YOU FARING
WITH MITCH GONE?
MISS HAVING HIM AROUND?
THINK HE'S PRETTY EXCITED
ABOUT THE LITTLE ONE
ON THE WAY ANYWAYS.
HE WAS LIKING IT AND I KNOW
HALEY IS FOR SURE.
IT'LL PROBABLY BE BORN
WITH A WRENCH AND A WELDER'S...
WELDING MASK?
WELDING MASK, YEAH,
YOU BEAT ME TO IT.
Parker:
YEAH, MITCH WILL BE MISSED.
I HOPE EVERYTHING GOES WELL
FOR HIM AT HOME.
-YEAH, FOR SURE.
-I'M JUST CURIOUS.
WOULD HE BRING HALEY
AND THE NEWBORN UP HERE OR...
I'LL PROBABLY ASK HIM IF HE
WANTS TO DO SOME SORT OF SPLIT.
RATHER THAN SPENDING
SIX MONTHS AWAY,
IF HE WANTED TO DO 2 AND 2
OR SOMETHING, I'D DO IT.
[BLEEP] I'M GETTING PREGNANT,
TOO. [ LAUGHS ]
NO. RATHER...
JUG IS GETTING HEAVIER.
WELL, WHAT SAY WE THROW
SOME GOLD ON SOME SCALES?
Narrator:
SO FAR THIS SEASON, BIG RED
HAS AVERAGED 263 OUNCES A WEEK.
♪
20, 40...
100, 130, 180...
230, 300, 310.
310.5 OUNCES.
WOW.
Narrator: WITH GOLD PRICES
AT A 7-YEAR HIGH,
THIS HAUL IS WORTH OVER $400,000
AND BRINGS PARKER'S SEASON
TOTAL TO 1,364 OUNCES.
SO THAT'S WITH
TWO OR THREE DAYS OF DOWNTIME?
YEAH.
JUST THINK WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF WE COULD RUN A WHOLE WEEK.
-YEAH, NO [BLEEP]
-WELL DONE, JUNIOR.
YEAH, THANKS, POPS.
WELL DONE.
DON'T COMPLIMENT HIM
TOO MUCH.
GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.
-HE'S GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.
-GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.
-FAIRLY GOOD JOB THERE, JUNIOR.
FAIRLY GOOD JOB.
-[BLEEP]
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪
NICE JOB CLEANING
THE STUFF AS USUAL, CHRIS.
Chris: THANK YOU, PARKER,
FOR THAT LOVELY COMPLIMENT.
ABOUT 123.
Narrator:
AT THE END OF THE WEEK,
THE BEETS FAMILY GATHERS
FOR THE GOLD WEIGH.
KIND OF SUCKED.
I'M GLAD
THEY WERE AROUND.
NOW THAT WE'VE GOT A GOOD DITCH
IN THERE
KEEPING
THE WATER OUT OF THERE.
NO.
Narrator:
EIGHT WEEKS INTO THE SEASON,
TONY BEETS ONLY HAS ONE RUNNING
WASH PLANT,
AT YOUNGEST SON MIKE'S
PARADISE HILL CUT.
IT'S QUITE NICE, BUT THE WAY
I KEEP GETTING PULLED AWAY TO GO
HELP OTHER PEOPLE -- SORRY,
MONICA, BUT IT'S A SAD TRUTH.
YOU ACT LIKE I'M THE ONLY ONE
WHO HAS PROBLEMS.
OH [BLEEP] DON'T EVEN
START ON HIS PROBLEMS.
OH, YOU WANT TO HEAR
MY PROBLEMS?
NO, GOD NO.
[BLEEP]
[ LAUGHS ]
OH, I THOUGHT I WAS
JUST GOING TO TAKE IT HOME.
YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE SITTING
THERE ALL EXCITED.
Narrator: SO FAR, MIKE HAS MINED
JUST 613 OUNCES...
50, 70, 80, 100,
180, 200,..
265.18.
...OR $375,000.
-ALL RIGHT?
-YUP.
Narrator: THE BEETS FAMILY TOTAL
NOW STANDS AT 878 OUNCES,
WORTH $1.2 MILLION,
BUT STILL 30% DOWN
ON THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
WASN'T PLANNING ON IT.
HE'S FAIRLY CONSISTENT,
AND I LIKE THAT.
WELL, I SHOULD GO BACK
TO THE OFFICE, I GUESS.
ACTUALLY SOUNDS
LIKE A WONDERFUL IDEA.
LET'S GO FOR ICE CREAM.
HEY, WHAT THE [BLEEP]
IS GOING ON?
Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH!"...
Man:
LOOKS LIKE AN ATOMIC BOMB.
LET'S GET THE [BLEEP]
OUT OF HERE.
...A RAGING INFERNO HAS
THE KLONDIKE ON HIGH ALERT.
THIS IS A FIRST.
-BURN, BABY, BURN.
-WHOA!
Narrator:
PARKER IS DEADLINED TO MINE
HIS ENTIRE CLAIM THIS SEASON.
IT'S BREAKING POINT.
WELL, THAT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN,
YOU KNOW?
AND RICK'S GAMBLE TO MINE
A REMOTE CLAIM
PUTS LIVES ON THE LINE.
THERE IS DEFINITELY FIRE
REAL, REAL CLOSE.