Gold Rush: Parker's Trail (2017–2019): Season 3, Episode 3 - Lethal Landslide - full transcript
Parker and his crew help a local family mine in the highlands, but a devastating landslide means they witness the harsh realities of living in this remote paradise.
Parker: I JUST WANNA GO ON
A BIG EPIC ADVENTURE
AND GET BACK TO THE BASIC
ROUTE OF GOLD MINING.
Narrator: PREVIOUSLY,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM
TREKKED THROUGH HOSTILE JUNGLE.
MAKE A CALL,
MAKE IT QUICK.
PARKER'S TRAIL,
PARKER MAKES THE CALL.
OH, MY [BLEEP].
IT'S A TUNNEL.
Narrator: FACED A GROUP
ARMED WITH MACHETES.
Parker: WE'RE GONNA SHAKE
ONE DOWN RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: AND ONLY FOUND TINY
TRACES OF GOLD.
Parker: LET'S MOVE IT ALONG.
Narrator: NOW, THEY'RE HEADING
TO THE SITE
OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S
LEGENDARY GOLD STRIKE...
Sam: [BLEEP] THIS IS STEEP.
....EDIE CREEK.
Parker: THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE
THE BIGGEST GOLD RUSH
OF THE 20TH CENTURY STARTED.
Narrator:
WHERE THE TERRAIN IS TOUGH.
I HAVEN'T SMOKED,
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP.
Narrator:
THE LOCALS ARE EVEN TOUGHER.
AND THE MINING...
PARKER.
...IS DEADLY.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
♪
WE GOT A PRETTY STEEP
CLIMB AHEAD OF US
GONNA KINDA HAVE
TO PUNCH IT.
Karla: YEAH I'D SAY
JUST PUNCH IT, FRED.
ALRIGHT. WE'RE GOING,
WE'RE GOING.
YEEHAW!
HERE WE GO.
♪
[ GRUNTS ]
[ BLEEPS ]
-YEEHAW!
-YEAH!
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
ALONG WITH FRIENDS KARLA,
SAM AND MILITARY MEDIC
FRED LEWIS ARE ON WEEK TWO
OF A FIVE WEEK EXPEDITION
TO DISCOVER GOLD
AND HOW IT'S MINED
IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA.
WE'RE DRIVING ON MARS.
HITTING EVERY
POTHOLE POSSIBLE.
-AND THIS ONE.
-SORRY.
[ GRUNTS ]
LAST WEEK,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM FOUND LESS
THAN A DOLLAR'S WORTH
OF GOLD IN RABAUL.
NOW, THEY'RE ON THE MAINLAND,
TRAVELING THROUGH BULOLO'S
OLD ABANDONED GOLD FIELDS
ON THEIR WAY TO THE GROUND ZERO
OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S
ORIGINAL GOLD STRIKE,
EDIE CREEK.
♪
YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN
ABOUT THREE FLAKES
OF GOLD SINCE
WE'VE BEEN HERE,
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE HEADING
TO A PLACE CALLED EDIE CREEK?
THAT'S WHERE THE GOLD
WAS ORIGINALLY FOUND,
WHAT LED TO THE BIG GOLD RUSH
HERE IN PNG IN THE '20s
AND '30s.
AND IT WAS PRETTY BIG STRIKE
AND PRETTY BIG GOLD RUSH.
THERE WAS A LOT OF BIG IRON,
CAME HERE FROM THE
YUKON ACTUALLY.
SO HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET THERE
AND SEE WHAT THE GROUND IS LIKE.
THAT'S BIG THING FOR ME IS,
YOU KNOW,
I DON'T THINK IT'D BE
FEASIBLE TO COME MINE HERE,
BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.
♪
Narrator: IN 1926,
AUSTRALIAN PROSPECTORS
DISCOVERED HUGE GOLD
DEPOSITS AT EDIE CREEK
DEEP IN THE MOUNTAINS
OF MOROBE PROVINCE.
IT KICK STARTED ONE
OF THE BIGGEST GOLD RUSHES
OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
SUCCESSFUL MINES
STARTED PRODUCING
AROUND 300 OUNCES IN A YEAR.
AT EDIE CREEK, THEY TOOK
240 OUNCES IN A SINGLE DAY.
THAT LEGENDARY CREEK
LIES AT THE SOUTHERN END
OF THE REMOTE AND GEOLOGICALLY
UNSTABLE HIGHLANDS.
EARTHQUAKES AND LANDSLIDES
ARE A CONSTANT HAZARD.
GETTING THERE,
EVEN WITH A FOUR BY FOUR,
IS GOING TO BE TOUGH.
-WHOA!
-HANG ON, HANG ON.
WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO.
OH [BLEEP]
[ CHEERING ]
FRED,
THAT WAS AWESOME.
HOW YOU DOING, KARLA?
I'M GOOD.
THE TERRAIN HAS CHANGED
WELL IN A LITTLE BIT
LIKE YOU SEE
SOME MOUNTAINOUS
AND LOTS OF CREEKS
AND RIVERS.
WE'RE DEFINITELY
GETTING MORE REMOTE.
THE ROADS ARE ROUGH,
BUT FRED,
YOU'RE DOING A WICKED
JOB OF DRIVING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU KARLA,
I APPRECIATE THAT.
OOH.
♪
HE WANTS ME TO PULL UP.
YEAH.
YOU GUYS DO ME A FAVOR.
DON'T MAKE
SUDDEN MOVEMENTS,
WAIT UNTIL WE KNOW
IF THESE GUYS NICE.
♪
♪
GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
YEAH,
IT'S A PRETTY BIG ONE.
SO WE CAN'T DRIVE
ANY FARTHER?
Sam: HOW FAR
IS EDIE CREEK FROM HERE?
IF WE WERE TO TREK,
WOULD IT BE SAFE FOR US?
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
WHAT DO YOU THINK PARKER?
IT'S SOME LONG WAYS
BACK TO DRIVE BACK.
I THINK WE'RE GOING
ON FOOT FROM HERE.
TIME TO GET THE BOOTS ON.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
NOW HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO FOLLOW A NEW ROUTE.
THEY'LL TREK OVER THE LANDSLIDE,
THEN 10 MILES ALONG
THE WINDING BULOLO RIVER
THAT CUTS THROUGH
THE MOROBE MOUNTAINS.
♪
WE'RE ON FOOT NOW.
I'M NOT REAL STOKED ABOUT THAT,
BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?
NOW LOOK AT THAT.
WOULDN'T WANNA FALL DOWN THERE.
THIS IS ALWAYS GONNA BE HARD.
JUST GOT TO SUCK IT UP.
Narrator:
THE TREK WILL TAKE THEM
THROUGH TREACHEROUS JUNGLE,
UP 7,200 FEET WHERE THEY
MUST REACH EDIE CREEK
AND SET UP CAMP
BEFORE NIGHTFALL.
THIS IS COFFEE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S
JUST WEEDS, I THINK.
LOOKS A LOT LIKE MORE
LIKE FARM COUNTRY
THAN IT DOES
MINING COUNTRY.
♪
♪
NO, JUST GIVE ME A...
-YOU WANT A BOOSTY?
-YEAH.
DAMN IT.
WHERE'S MY BOOSTY.
YEAH.
YOU TAKE THE CAMERA?
I'LL BOOST YOU.
ONE, TWO, THREE.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
Parker: DAMN IT.
OKAY, GET KARLA UP.
[ LAUGHTER ]
KARLA, YOU MADE
THAT LOOK SO EASY.
Karla: THANK YOU.
FRED, YOU MADE THAT
LOOK SO NOT EASY.
Fred: GET SPIKES IN MY ASS.
WATCH OUT FOR
SMALL LIGHT SNAKES.
IT'S ONLY THE THIRD
MOST POISONOUS.
YEAH,
I'M SNAKE PARANOID.
DON'T FALL, DON'T
FALL, DON'T FALL.
[ LAUGHS ]
I DIDN'T FALL.
SEE THAT TREE HOUSE
TO OUR LEFT?
UP THERE A MASSIVE TREE
HOUSE OR AT LEAST SOMETHING.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
PARKER, LOOK AT THIS.
Parker: OH, IT'S GOT METAL
TRUSSES AND EVERYTHING.
IT'S SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT'S A BIG-ASS
TREE HOUSE.
Karla: BIG-ASS METAL TREE HOUSE
YOU'VE EVER SEEN.
HMM.
OH, BOY.
I'M GONNA GO A LITTLE FARTHER.
THERE'S VERY BIG SPIDERS.
IS THAT A TROMMEL
IN THERE PARKER?
IT USED TO BE, IT LOOKS LIKE.
WOW.
YEAH,
IT'S A [BLEEP] DREDGE.
THAT'S WILD.
DID NOT EXPECT TO
SEE THAT OUT HERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
Narrator: DREDGES ARE FLOATING
PLATFORMS BUILT
FOR MINING GOLD IN PLACES
WHERE PAYDIRT IS COLLECTED
FROM RIVERBEDS AND SLUICED
TO COLLECT THE GOLD DEPOSITS.
DURING THE 1930s, EIGHT
DREDGES WERE FLOWN INTO BULOLO
FROM AS FAR AWAY AS THE KLONDIKE
IN SPECIALLY ADAPTED AIRCRAFT.
OVER 7,000 MEN WERE EMPLOYED
TO ASSEMBLE THE DREDGES
AND WORK THE GOLD FIELD.
THEY HELPED TURN BULOLO
INTO THE RICHEST GOLD
FIELD IN THE WORLD.
BY 1938, PRODUCTION HAD HIT
OVER 400,000 OUNCES A YEAR.
WOW.
Karla: YOU KNOW, WE'RE
HEADING TO EDIE CREEK.
WE JUST STUMBLED ACROSS THIS,
AND DEFINITELY MEANS
WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
WOW.
IT'S A BIG BEAST,
ISN'T IT?
PRETTY UNREAL, HEY?
YEAH, THIS IS INSANE.
Parker: THIS IS A PRETTY BIG
ONE.
LIKE I DID, YOU KNOW,
150 YARDS AN HOUR OR SO.
IT'S SOME HARDCORE PEOPLE
THAT BROUGHT THIS THING HERE
AND SET IT UP.
THERE MUST'VE BEEN A LOT OF GOLD
TO BE HAD FOR THIS DREDGE
TO BE ABLE
TO BE MOVED IN HERE.
Narrator: THE BULOLO AREA WAS
FINALLY MINED OUT OF GOLD
IN THE 1950s AND THE HARSH
MOUNTAIN TERRAIN
LEADING UP TO EDIE CREEK
STOPPED THE HEAVY MACHINERY
FROM ADVANCING ANY FARTHER.
THE DREDGES WERE ABANDONED
WHERE THEY STOOD.
♪
[ METAL CLANKS ]
OH, WOW.
-COOL, HUH?
-YEAH.
SO EDIE CREEK,
IT'S THAT WAY.
THAT'S A PRETTY FREAKING
STEEP MOUNTAIN.
Sam: LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN THEN.
Parker: I'VE ALWAYS SAID,
"GO WHERE THE GOLD IS."
♪
Sam: WOW.
SHOULD WE CROSS IT?
THAT FLATBED.
THIS IS GONNA BE
A LONG OL' TREK.
I LOVE WET FEET.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE TREKKING INTO THE MOUNTAINS
OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA
IN SEARCH OF EDIE CREEK
WHERE THE LEGENDARY GOLD STRIKE
OF 1926 KICK STARTED
A GOLD RUSH.
♪
MY BAG'S GETTING HEAVIER
FROM MY OWN SWEAT.
♪
Karla: WATCH YOUR STEP HERE.
GUYS,
LET'S STOP FOR A SECOND.
MY FEET ARE IN RIBBONS.
PLEASE TELL ME
EVERYONE ELSE IS EXHAUSTED.
YEAH. THIS IS NOTHING
LIKE I'VE EVER DONE.
REALLY?
YEAH, COMBAT'S HOT,
BUT IT'S NOT
THIS [BLEEP] STICKY.
MY FEET ARE IN PIECES.
THAT WAS NASTY.
YEAH,
OFF TOO A BAD START.
YEAH.
THAT'S GONNA BE A BURDEN
FOR THE REST OF THE TRAIL.
Fred: I THINK
WE SHOULD WRAP THEM.
THE SWEATIEST
POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENT.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS
IS GONNA HOLD TO BE HONEST.
[ Laughing ]
THIS IS GOING TO SUCK.
-ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE GOOD.
-NEXT.
-THANKS A LOT, FRED.
-YEP.
Parker: I'VE GOT WEIRD
LITTLE TOES.
YOU'VE GONE FROM MEDIC/SNIPER
IN THE SPECIAL FORCES
TO FIXING UP MY TOES IN THE
MIDDLE OF [BLEEP] JUNGLE.
OWW!.
-SORRY.
OKAY, THIS IS GONNA BE WEIRD.
I'M GONNA BLOW ON YOUR TOES.
Karla: YOU'RE LETTING HIM
DO THAT?
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE
FRED'S MOUTH HAS BEEN.
IT'S BEEN ALL OVER.
A BLISTER CAN TURN
INTO A TROPICAL ULCER
IN 24 HOURS HERE, YOU KNOW?
SO IT'S GONNA BE A LOT
OF DISCIPLINE
TO KEEP ON TOP OF THAT BECAUSE,
I MEAN,
PARKER OR MY FEET IF
THEY GET CONSIDERABLY WORSE,
WE'D END OUR TRIP.
Narrator: TROPICAL ULCERS
ARE ALSO KNOWN AS JUNGLE ROT.
A CHRONIC SKIN LESION.
IT'S OFTEN CAUSED BY A SMALL
WOUND BECOMING INFECTED
WITH TROPICAL BACTERIA.
IF UNTREATED, IT CAN LEAD
TO POTENTIALLY FATAL
BLOOD POISONING.
YEAH, THERE WE GO.
GOOD SEAL.
YEAH, I MEAN, THIS
CERTAINLY ISN'T IDEAL.
HIKING AND TREKKING
AND CHECKING OUT GOLD MINES.
IT ONLY
MAKES YOU STRONGER.
NO, IT DOESN'T.
Karla: [ LAUGHS ] I DON'T NEED
SOME COMPLAIN WORK.
BLISTERS DEFINITELY DON'T
MAKE YOU STRONGER, FRED.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MAKES YOU HAVE OLDER
[BLEEP] OLD MAN FEET.
LET'S GO.
LET'S GET TO THE GOLD.
Narrator: TO REACH EDIE CREEK,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM MUST
NOW CLIMB TO 7,200 FEET
ABOVE SEA LEVEL.
[ GROANING ]
Karla: USE YOUR HEELS
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
JUST LIKE DIG YOUR HEELS IN.
♪
♪
THERE'S JUST SOME
DUDE WITH A SLUICE BOX
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CREEK HERE.
HI.
HOW ARE YOU?
I'M PARKER.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
JERRY?
NICE TO MEET YOU, JERRY.
HI, KARLA.
-FRED
-FRED?
-YEAH.
-HOW ARE YOU?
SAM.
ONE DAY, HOW MUCH GOLD?
ONE DAY.
ONE GRAM.
OKAY.
SO HE'S GONNA WORK
WITH THE ONE SLUICE,
THEN THEY'LL GO HOME
AND THEY'LL COME BACK
AND THEY'LL GET
ANOTHER GRAM.
IT'S GOOD.
JERRY HERE, HE'S GOT
A VERY BASIC SETUP,
JUST A SLUICE BOX
SETUP IN THE CREEK.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY DO IS
THEY PUT UP A DAM LIKE THAT
WITH LOGS SO THAT THE
STUFF COMING DOWN THE CREEK
WHEN IT RAINS AND
WHAT NOT STAYS THERE
FOR A WHILE
WHILE THEY WORK.
HE'S JUST LETTING WATER
AND MATERIAL JUST RUN
THROUGH THE SLUICE BOX
AND JUST PICKING OUT ROCK
AND JUST LETTING THE DIRT
FLOW RIGHT INTO THE BOX.
SO DEFINITELY NOT
MY STYLE OF MINING,
AND THIS IS HOW MINING IN THE
YUKON STARTED 120 YEARS AGO.
AND THEY'RE STILL
DOING IT HERE TODAY.
Narrator: OVER 50,000 PEOPLE
IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
SCRAPE A LIVING
BY MICRO-SCALE GOLD MINING
IN RURAL AREAS.
MINERS LIKE JERRY EARN
AROUND $150 A MONTH,
JUST ENOUGH TO FEED HIS
FAMILY OF THREE CHILDREN.
THAT'S A PIECE OF GOLD THERE,
HUH?
-YEAH.
-WOW.
-IT'S GOOD.
-[ LAUGHS ]
Parker: FIRST PROPER GOLD
THAT WE'VE SEEN.
THAT'S REALLY HARD
TO COMPREHEND
WHAT THESE GUYS GO THROUGH
AND THE PAY OFF FOR IT.
IT KINDA PUTS A LOT OF THINGS
INTO PERSPECTIVE.
Sam: THANK YOU.
WE GO EDIE CREEK.
HERE.
UP.
LONG?
[ GROANS ]
ALL RIGHT,
LET'S MOVE IT ALONG.
♪
Karla: IF YOU DO SLIP OR FALL,
LET ME KNOW, SAM.
Sam: OKAY.
YOU'LL CATCH ME, RIGHT?
YEAH.
Narrator: IT'S NOW JUST THREE
HOURS UNTIL SUNDOWN
AND THERE'S STILL ANOTHER
THOUSAND FEET TO CLIMB.
-YOU ALL RIGHT?
-YEAH.
WATCH IT.
AT THIS HEIGHT, THE VOLUME
OF OXYGEN IN THE AIR
HAS DECREASED BY ALMOST 4%,
RAISING THEIR CHANCES
OF FATIGUE
AND ALTITUDE SICKNESS.
Parker: WE MUST HAVE
WALKED A LONG WAY.
Fred: WE STILL HAVE
A LONG WAYS TO GO.
♪
PARKER, DOES IT LEVEL UP
UP TOP?
I THINK
WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
I GOT US AT 6,900 FEET,
TOO
SO IT'S WHY
IT'S HARD TO BREATHE.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN LIKE COMING IN HERE
AS ONE OF THE EARLY PROSPECTORS,
WITH NO SUPPORT,
CARRYING EVERYTHING
ON YOUR BACK,
HAVING TO CUT TRAIL
AS YOU WENT.
YEAH, DON'T FALL THAT WAY,
WHATEVER YOU DO.
SO [BLEEP] STEEP.
OH MY [BLEEP].
LOOK AT THAT.
♪
HEY, PARKER, WE CAME FROM ALL
THE WAY DOWN THERE TODAY.
YEAH, WE WERE
A WAYS DOWN THERE.
Fred: THIS IS IT,
WE'RE RIGHT ON IT.
7,082 FEET PLUS OR MINUS
16 FEET.
SO WE'RE UP THERE, RIGHT?
WE'RE AT FROST LEVEL.
PRETTY COOL.
Karla: WHOA!
MADE IT TO THE TOP.
FEEL AWESOME.
NOW THAT'S
A [BLEEP] HIKE.
IT'S ALWAYS COOL TO BE
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS,
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING
THE HISTORY HERE.
SO,
YOU GUYS HEAR VOICES?
-YEAH.
-OH, WHAT THE [BLEEP].
CRAP.
♪
-HI.
-HELLO.
HI.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY
GO SAY HI
RATHER THAN STARE
AT THEM FROM UP HERE.
WE JUST HIKED UP HERE.
WE'RE JUST LOOKING
FOR GOLD MINES
AND CHECKING OUT THE
MINING AROUND HERE.
Sam:
CAN WE COME DOWN?
THANK YOU.
HI, I'M PARKER.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
YOU GUYS LIVE HERE?
Fred: THIS IS EDIE CREEK,
RIGHT?
OH, COOL.
HEY, WE GOT IT RIGHT.
-WE DID.
[ LAUGHTER ]
DO YOU FIND MUCH GOLD HERE?
SO THAT'S THE VEIN
THAT YOU'RE CHASING.
GOTCHA. THIS GOT ALL GOT
COVERED IN, HUH?
WELL, SHE HAS TO DIG IT OUT
AGAIN.
WOW.
Sam: HOW MUCH GOLD DID
YOU FIND TODAY?
NO GOLD?
BECAUSE OF THE LANDSLIDE?
WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD
PRETTY HARD HERE.
HIKING UP HERE
HAS TAKEN IT OUT ALL OF US.
TODAY WE TREKKED PRETTY FAR,
AND IT'S GETTING LATE,
AND WE WERE WONDERING
IF THERE'S A PLACE
THAT WE CAN STAY
FOR THE NIGHT
AND TOMORROW WE COULD HELP DIG
WHATEVER YOU NEED HELP WITH.
WE HAVE MUSCLES TO HELP.
DO YOU HAVE A PLACE?
IS IT OKAY IF WE WOULD STAY?
THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU.
Sam: WONDERFUL, THANK YOU.
Parker: AND KARLA VOLUNTEERED US
FOR A DAY'S WORK TOMORROW
FOR A NICE SLEEP TONIGHT,
WHICH I'M MORE THAN HAPPY
TO TAKE AT THE MOMENT.
Fred:
HOW ARE THOSE FEET DOING, GUYS?
Sam: MINE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE
GONNA COME OFF IN MY BOOT
WHEN I TAKE IT OFF.
Karla: I CAN'T WAIT
TO TAKE MY BOOTS OFF.
-WOW.
-LOOK AT THAT VIEW.
BEAUTIFUL.
♪
-HELLO. AFTERNOON.
-AFTERNOON.
-HOW ARE YOU?
-SHE'S MY MOMMY.
OH, WOW.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
MARTHA.
MARTHA.
MARTHA
IS MY SISTER'S NAME.
PLEASED TO MEET YOU,
MARTHA.
YEAH. [ LAUGHS ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
DEFINITELY A VERY COOL PLACE
THAT WE'VE STUMBLED UPON.
WE'VE LANDED
ON OUR FEET HERE.
Fred: YEAH, DEFINITELY.
SO IF WE'RE GONNA STAY HERE,
WE'D LIKE TO HELP YOU GUYS.
SO WOULD WE HELP TO DIG
THE LANDSLIDE WITH YOU?
YES.
SO THE GOLD
IS IN THE ROCK HERE?
YES.
IF IT'S IN A ROCK, THEY'D HAVE
TO HAVE A CRUSHER SOMEWHERE,
BUT THEY'RE JUST
USING PANS.
THEY'VE A CROWBAR
OR UH, WHAT'S THAT CALLED?
I THINK IT MIGHT
BE MANUAL CRUSHING.
REALLY?
YOU DIG THE GOLDS
IN THE ROCK, RIGHT?
DO YOU...?
YES.
A CROWBAR
AND AN IRON SPADE.
AND YOU CRUSH THE ROCK?
Parker: WOW.
THINK WE MIGHT HAVE
SOME QUITE HARD WORK
AHEAD OF US HERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪
[ WIND WHISTLING ]
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
Sam:
HOW'S DINNER COMING, KARLA?
OH, WE'RE PRETTY --
CABBAGE IS ALMOST DONE.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE CAMPING NEAR EDIE CREEK,
THE SITE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S
LEGENDARY GOLD STRIKE.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
SO, KARLA, THIS IS OUR
CONTRIBUTION TO THE MEAL, RIGHT?
-WHAT, THE NOODLES?
-YEAH.
BETTER THAN NOTHING,
YOU GOTTA SHARE.
DAMN RIGHT.
THESE GUYS FEEL REALLY FRIENDLY
AND YOU KNOW WE HAVE A SHELTER,
WE GET TO EAT WITH THESE GUYS.
IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE.
WORK WITH THE HANDS?
RIGHT.
IT'S A TOUGH LIVING
DOING THAT BY HANDS.
AND, IS THE VEIN THAT
YOU GUYS ARE CHASING,
IT'S JUST GOING RIGHT
INTO THE MOUNTAIN SIDE?
YES.
HOW THICK IS THE VEIN
THAT YOU'RE CHASING?
IS IT REAL SMALL?
YEAH.
REALLY? WOW.
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA GET
A BIG TASTE OF MINING HERE,
THE LIFESTYLE HERE,
WHAT THE GOLD'S LIKE,
AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN
LEARN IS A HUGE BONUS.
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
NOW, I DIDN'T BRING
ANY BOOKS WITH ME
BUT I HAVE A BUNCH OF PHOTOS
OF MICK LEAHY'S JOURNAL.
MICK DID A HUGE AMOUNT
OF EXPLORATION IN PNG IN,
WHEN DID HE COME HERE?
'27 OR SOMETHING?
Sam: YEAH,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
MICK LEAHY DISCOVERED
A WHOLE GROUP
OF TRIBES THAT NOBODY
IN THE WORLD KNEW ABOUT.
IT'S WILD STORIES.
I'VE GOT A FEW HERE.
"ON SIXTH OF MAY,
A BAND OF WARRIORS
ATTACKED THEIR CAMP
AT DAWN.
SNATCHED FROM THEIR SLEEP,
MICK AND PADDY BURST OUT
FROM THEIR TENT WITH
THEIR REVOLVERS.
MICK BARELY HAD TIME
TO FIRE OFF ONE SHOT
BEFORE HE WAS SMASHED OVER
THE HEAD WITH A STONE CLUB.
PADDY LEAHY WAS STRUCK BY
TWO ARROWS IN THE CHEST,
BUT CONTINUED TO FIGHT.
AT LEAST TWO KUKUKUKU
WERE KILLED AT THE SCENE."
THAT'S BRUTAL.
Narrator:
ALONG WITH HIS THREE BROTHERS,
MICK LEAHY WAS ONE OF THE MANY
MEN ENTICED BY THE GOLD RUSH.
IN 1931, HE PROSPECTED FOR GOLD
IN THE UNEXPLORED HIGHLANDS
AND MADE FIRST CONTACT WITH
THE ISOLATED KUKUKUKU TRIBE,
DISCOVERING THE
REGION WAS INHABITED
BY NEARLY ONE MILLION PEOPLE.
"FOR THE SINGLE JOURNEY,
THE MYTH OF THE EMPTY HEART
OF NEW GUINEA WAS
FOREVER LAID TO REST.
WE FOUND GRASS VALLEYS
TEEMING WITH VIRAL TRIBESMEN
IN A REGION
THAT WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE AN EMPTY
WASTE OF MOUNTAINS."
WILD.
HEY, BOYS.
DO YOU SEE THIS?
THESE ARE THE KUKUKUKUS.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE KUKUKUKUS?
YOU BOYS ARE?
FOR REAL?
[ LAUGHTER ]
Karla: GO [MUMBLES].
[ LAUGHTER ]
I'VE NEVER BEEN
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
WHERE YOU'RE SO CLOSE
TO THE PATH, YOU KNOW?
THESE KIDS ARE THE
ANCESTORS OF THE KUKUKUKUS
THAT ATTACKED
MICK LEAHY IN 1930.
ABSOLUTE,
JUST ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.
♪
♪
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
♪
Narrator: HAVING AGREED
TO HELP CLEAR A LANDSLIDE
ON THE MINE SITE...
Diana: COME ON, WE'RE
WAITING FOR YOU GUYS.
...DIANA IS KEEN FOR PARKER
AND HIS TEAM TO GET TO WORK.
♪
SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVEN'T
PRETTY FOUND ANY GOLD
SINCE THAT SLIDE HAPPENED,
HUH?
NO, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FINDING
MUCH AT ALL, I DON'T THINK.
JUST A LOT OF DIRT.
YEAH.
IT'S ONLY ABOUT 20 SCOOPS
WITH AN EXCAVATOR,
BUT WITH THE SHOVEL
IT'S A FEW MORE THAN THAT.
[ LAUGHS ]
-SHALL WE?
-YEAH, YEAH.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT,
WHERE'S DEMAS AT?
-MORNING.
-MORNING.
GOOD MORNING,
MORNING.
WHAT THEY'RE DOING UP HERE
IS ACTUALLY CHASING THE VEIN
OR LIKE THE SOURCE OF THE GOLD
IN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE,
WHICH IS PRETTY COOL.
THAT'S SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER BEEN A PART OF.
PARKER.
WHAT'S UP?
YEAH, YEAH.
HE WANTS TO SHOW YOU THE VEIN.
OOH.
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS BEFORE.
Narrator: THE MOUNTAIN ROCK
HOLDS A NETWORK
OF QUARTZ VEINS WHICH CONTAIN
SCATTERED GOLD DEPOSITS.
THEY WERE FORMED
WHEN SEISMIC ACTIVITY
PUSHED MINERAL-RICH MAGMA
TOWARDS THE SURFACE.
THE LAVA CRYSTALLIZED,
BECOMING A SILICA FLUID
WHICH THEN PUSHED ITS
WAY THROUGH CRACKS,
FORMING QUARTZ VEINS
WHERE THE GOLD NOW LIES.
♪
Parker:
SO WHAT DEMAS IS DOING HERE
IS ACTUALLY HARDROCK MINING.
WHAT WE DO IN THE
YUKON IS PLASMA MINING.
YOU KNOW, THE GOLD
IS IN THE CREEK BED
AND WE'RE JUST WASHING GRAVEL.
THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT
STYLE OF MINING.
THE GOLD THAT DEMAS IS FINDING
IS IN THE ROCK, IN THE VEIN.
I'VE NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN
ANY HARDROCK MINING BEFORE,
SO IT'S A VERY NEW
EXPERIENCE TO ME.
BOTH THE LANDSLIDE THAT
CAME DOWN, THAT'S A PROBLEM.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET IN THERE
AND HELP OUT.
SO ALL OF THIS
HAS TO GET MOVED?
-YES.
-WOW. WHAT A MESS.
Fred:
IT'S A LOT OF DIRT.
[BLEEP] DANGEROUS, TOO.
♪
SO ALL OF THIS HAS
TO GET MOVED?
-YES.
-WOW.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE WORKING
FOR A LOCAL FAMILY WHOSE
GOLD MINE HAS BEEN BURIED
UNDER 120 TONS OF LANDSLIDE.
WHAT A MESS.
ARE YOU'RE GONNA
USE WATER TO WASH IT AWAY?
AND THE WATER IS ALL THE WAY UP
AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN IS?
WELL, THAT'S A LONG WAYS
FOR THAT WATER TO COME.
♪
I THINK WE'RE JUST HEADING UP
TO THEIR WATER SPOT.
HE MUST HAVE SOME SORT
OF RAIN WATER RESERVOIR.
THIS DITCH GOES ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO WHERE THEIR LANDSLIDE IS
SO WE CAN WASH IT OUT HOPEFULLY.
WATER IS A VERY GOOD WAY
OF GETTING MATERIAL TO MOVE
IF YOU'VE GOT THE DROP FOR IT.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE ELEVATION
DIFFERENCE FOR THAT TO WORK.
♪
[ ALL PANTING ]
THIS IS YOUR WATER RESERVOIR?
GOTCHA.
DEMAS' SETUP HERE IS
AS BASIC AS IT GETS.
WELL, HE HAS A PUMP I GUESS.
WE'LL SEE IF IT WORKS.
♪
YEP.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Fred: WHOO-HOO!
THIS HOSE IS GONNA RUN
INTO THAT IRRIGATION DITCH
WE WERE WALKING UP BESIDE
AND THAT'S GONNA RUN
DOWN TO THE MINE SITE.
GUESS WE'RE OFF TO WORK.
♪
Karla: BLOCK IT?
♪
HERE IT COMES.
IT'S A GOOD SIGN
THAT THE PUMP IS WORKING.
[ ENGINE RUNNING ]
♪
Parker: THE BIGGEST THING
ABOUT THIS STYLE OF MINING
IS THAT YOU'RE FORCED
TO WORK WITH THE ELEMENTS.
WE WORK AGAINST THE ELEMENTS.
WHEN THERE'S TOO MUCH WATER,
WE PUMP IT OUT.
WHEN THERE'S NOT ENOUGH WATER,
WE PUMP IT IN.
THIS IS SUBSISTENCE.
♪
Narrator:
AT THE TOP OF THE LANDSLIDE,
KARLA IS WORKING AT A DAM
TO HOLD THE WATER BEING
PUMPED DOWN FROM ABOVE.
THE WATER WILL BE STORED
IN THIS MAKESHIFT POOL
UNTIL THERE'S
ENOUGH TO WASH AWAY
SOME OF THE LANDSLIDE BELOW.
Karla:
WELL, WE'VE GOT A WHOLE SYSTEM,
SO WHEN THEY NEED HIGH PRESSURE
THEY PULL THE DAM
AND GET A WATERFALL
AND SOME PRETTY GOOD PRESSURE.
OKAY, GO ON.
[ INDISTINCT YELLING ]
Karla: READY?
LET HER RIP!
-HERE IT GOES!
-OH, YEAH!
-IT'S COMING!
-WHOO!
♪
Sam: HOLY [BLEEP]!
Woman:
[ SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
IT WORKS GOOD.
Sam:
[BLEEP] YEAH, FRED!
WHOO-HOO!
THE OLD TIMERS IN THE YUKON
USED TO HAVE A GATE
WITH SOME WOOD HOOKED UP TO IT
THAT WHEN THE WATER LEVEL
HIT A CERTAIN POINT, IT WOULD
OPEN AND FLOOD THE WATER OUT,
AND THEN THE GATE
WOULD CLOSE AND THE DAM
WOULD BUILD BACK UP.
AND THIS IS SAME EXACT THING,
THEY'D JUST HAVE
THE PEOPLE UP THERE
RUNNING THE GATE.
MUCH MORE IMPRESSIVE
THAN I EXPECTED.
♪
I'M SMOKED!
I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP.
I DON'T THINK HE THOUGHT
I WAS DOING GOOD ENOUGH.
OKAY, I CAN DO THAT.
DIG DEEP.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
WITH ONE LITTLE WATER PUMP,
THEY'RE BASICALLY CREATING
MAN-MADE WATERFALLS TO BLOW
ALL THE OVERBURDEN AWAY.
THEY'VE CUT THIS BIG TRENCH
INTO THE MIDDLE OF IT.
HOPEFULLY, A FEW MORE OF THESE,
AND MORE MANPOWER
FROM US AND THEM,
WE'LL GET DOWN TO THE GOLD VEIN.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY
START MINING THE STUFF.
♪
FILMED IN A LOT OF GOLD
MINES AROUND THE WORLD,
AND I'VE NEVER SEEN IT
DONE LIKE THIS BEFORE.
♪
OH, YEAH!
♪
Sam: DEMAS!
PARKER'S DOING GOOD?
PARKER, YOU MIGHT FIND
YOURSELF A JOB HERE.
[ LAUGHS ]
BIG ROCK!
IT'S [BLEEP] HARD WORK!
IT'S REAL CLOSE.
I CAN ALMOST TOUCH IT.
[ SPADE CLUNKING ]
PARKER!
THIS IS THE VEIN
I CAN SEE HERE?
-YEAH, YEAH.
-THIS WHITE?
-YEAH, YEAH.
-WHOO!
THAT'S COOL.
Narrator: AT THE HIGHEST POINT
OF THE LANDSLIDE,
A TINY SECTION OF THE ROCK
THAT HOLDS
THE GOLD RICH VEIN
HAS BEEN EXPOSED.
Sam: THIS LITTLE VEIN HERE,
PROBABLY LESS THAN AN INCH THICK
IN SOME PLACES,
APPARENTLY THIS HAS GOLD IN IT.
NOT HAPPY
TILL WE GET THE GOLD?
-YES, YES.
-[ LAUGHS ]
DEMAS, DO YOU WANT
US TO KEEP DIGGING?
SO YOU'RE TRYING TO
OPEN A BIT MORE UP?
-YES.
-OH, YEAH. WE'RE ON IT.
♪
Sam:
HOW FAR OFF FILL IS IT?
ANOTHER FOOT AND A HALF!
OH, [BLEEP]!
WHOA! HEADS UP!
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
HATCH UP THE DAM!
I'M TRYING!
-LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU, MAN!
-LOOK OUT, LOOK OUT, LOOK OUT!
-[BLEEP]
-PARKER!
[BLEEP]
UGH! [BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
♪
Narrator: IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA,
THE UNSTABLE
GEOLOGY OF THE
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS,
COUPLED WITH FREQUENT
HEAVY RAINSTORMS
MAKES THE PATHS
AND ROADS TREACHEROUS.
Danny: OKAY, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM
HERE AT THE MOMENT.
Narrator:
PARKER'S SUPPORT TEAM USE
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES,
BUT EVEN THEY STRUGGLE WITH
THE UNPREDICTABLE LANDSCAPE.
Danny: THIS ROAD IS ABOUT
AS BAD AS IT GETS.
LANDSLIDES, BOULDERS, A LOT.
David: OVERNIGHT,
WE'VE HAD VERY, VERY HEAVY RAIN.
GETTING THE VEHICLES THROUGH
IS REALLY, REALLY TREACHEROUS.
AND WE'VE GOT A
THOUSAND METER DROP-OFF.
IF YOU GO OVER THAT,
IT'S GAME OVER.
Craig: IT'S JUST PART OF WHAT
THESE GUYS DEAL WITH
EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES,
YOU KNOW?
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET
UP AND DOWN THESE MINES,
AND IT'S NOT EASY.
THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THEY GO
BY FOOT MOST OF THE TIME.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
♪
Sam:
HOW FAR OFF FILL IS IT?
ANOTHER FOOT AND A HALF!
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE HELPING CLEAR
OVERBURDEN FROM
A STEEP GOLD MINE.
BUT AT THE TOP OF THE SITE...
OH, [BLEEP]!
THE DAMMED RESERVOIR HAS BURST.
WHOA, HEADS UP!
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
-LOOK OUT, LOOK OUT, LOOK OUT!
-LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU, MAN!
-[BLEEP]
-PARKER!
[BLEEP]
UGH! [BLEEP]
Fred: PARKER!
Parker: [ GRUNTS ]
♪
♪
PARKER!
WE GOT HIM!
UGH! [BLEEP]
[ COUGHING ]
HOLY [BLEEP]
[ COUGHING CONTINUES ]
ARE YOU OKAY?
WAIT, ARE YOU INTACT?
ARE YOU OKAY?
[ PANTING ]
THAT WENT FROM ZERO TO 100
IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
LET'S GET OUT
OF THIS [BLEEP].
-OKAY, THIS IS SLIPPING.
-YEAH.
LET'S GET OUT, LET'S GET OUT.
WALK.
I'VE GOT YOU BEHIND.
[ GRUNT ]
I JUST HAVE NUMB FINGERS.
[ GRUNTS ]
COME HERE.
-[ GRUNTS ]
-SIT, SIT, SIT.
SERIOUSLY.
UM, I [BLEEP]
OPEN MY EYES,
[BLEEP] IN MY MOUTH.
AW, THAT HURTS, FRED.
-THIS ONE?
-BOTH THOSE TWO.
[ BLEEP ]
LEGS OKAY?
THANKS, BUDDY.
[ GRUNTS ] UM...
ALL MY FINGERS ARE NUMB.
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLOWS ]
LET'S GET YOU UP TOP,
SIT YOU DOWN.
IT'S ALREADY
STARTING TO SWELL.
LET'S JUST GET YOU
UP THERE.
[ SIGH ]
AW. [ GRUNTS ]
♪
THAT WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL.
AT ONE POINT, IT LOOKED
LIKE HE WAS JUST GONNA
GET HIS FEET SWEPT FROM
UNDER HIM AND GO ALL THE WAY
DOWN THE VALLEY TO WHERE
WE STARTED OUR TREK, YOU KNOW.
EVEN PARKER WOULDN'T BE IN
A GOOD SHAPE AFTER THAT.
HONESTLY, I THOUGHT
HE WAS A GONER.
THE DAM UP HERE IS HELD
WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CLAY,
AND IT BROKE.
YOU KNOW, ONCE IT'S GONE,
IT'S GONE.
AND THERE'S POWER
BEHIND THAT WATER.
I WAS YELLING, BUT BY
THAT TIME IT WAS TOO LATE.
♪
♪
Narrator: AFTER SUCH A DANGEROUS
FALL OVER ROCKS
AND THROUGH COLD WATER,
PARKER MUST GET WARM
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
TO AVOID HYPOTHERMIA.
♪
-OH, THANK YOU.
-HERE YOU GO, BUD.
EXCELLENT.
[ CUP CLINKS ]
OOH.
OH, THE ADRENALINE'S --
-YOU'RE GONNA GET TIRED.
-YEAH, AND SAD.
I HAD A TEAMMATE GET SHOT
IN THE ARMPIT.
Fred: DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT,
AND HE WAS DEAD IN 10 MINUTES.
AND HE HAD NO IDEA.
LIKE, ADRENALINE'S CRAZY.
TWO OR THREE HOURS FROM NOW,
HE'S GONNA START FEELING PAIN.
HE'S REALLY NOT
GONNA FEEL VERY GOOD.
Karla:
THIS ONE SOUNDED SERIOUS.
YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY OF IT,
AT ALL, FROM UP THERE?
NO, NO!
WE THOUGHT
YOU HAD TRIED TO STOP
THE DAM FLOW FOR SOME REASON...
I DID, I DID.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IT WAS JUST LIKE --
I HEARD YOU GUYS YELLING,
"AH!"
SO I TRIED TO STOP IT.
WELL, YOU CAN'T HEAR
ANY COMMUNICATION
OVER A WALL OF WATER.
YEAH, BUDDY, YOU WERE
[BLEEP] WASHING MACHINING
DOWN THAT THING.
I DIDN'T THINK I WAS
GONNA BE ABLE TO STOP.
PEOPLE ALWAYS
UNDERESTIMATE WATER.
YEAH.
Sam: YOU ARE A [BLEEP].
YOU LOOKED LIKE YOU
WERE GOING UNDER
WHEN FRED GOT TO YOU.
Fred: HE WAS UNDER.
-I WAS JUST TRYING TO STOP.
-HE WASN'T GOING UNDER.
Karla:
IT'S KINDA SCARY TO THINK, TOO,
HOW REMOTE WE ARE.
WE ARE WAY IN THE BUSH,
WAY IN PNG.
JUST TO GET ANY ACTUAL HELP,
EVEN TO GET A HELICOPTER
IN HERE WOULD BE HOURS
OR MAYBE A DAY.
YEAH.
I HAVEN'T FELT LIKE
THAT OUT OF CONTROL
OF A SITUATION
IN A VERY LONG TIME.
IT SHOWS YOU HOW FAST THINGS
CAN GO TERRIBLY WRONG.
[ SIGHS ]
THIS IS PNG, THIS ISN'T CUSHY
UNITED STATES, OR ENGLAND.
THIS IS THE JUNGLE.
THINGS CAN TURN ON YOU FAST.
JUST KINDA CHANGES
THINGS A LITTLE BIT.
[BLEEP] DANGEROUS.
I DON'T HAVE MANY FRIENDS.
I CAN'T LOSE THE ONES I HAVE.
IT WAS SCARY. [BLEEP]
I'M JUST GLAD I DIDN'T GO
DOWN THE [BLEEP] MOUNTAIN.
IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ONE ROCK
TO KNOCK ME OUT,
AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A VERY DIFFERENT STORY.
♪
♪
Narrator: NEXT TIME...
MERCURY'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYTHING,
EXCEPT CATCHING GOLD.
Karla: SERIOUSLY,
IT WILL KILL YOU.
FOR THEM,
THE STAKES ARE VERY HIGH.
UH, IT'S JUST HORRIBLE.
WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP.
DO IT!
♪
HOPEFULLY IT WORKS!
CHEERS!
[ BLEEP ]
WE HAD A MASSIVE FLASH
FLOOD OUT OF NOWHERE.
WE'RE STRANDED OUT HERE.
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
A BIG EPIC ADVENTURE
AND GET BACK TO THE BASIC
ROUTE OF GOLD MINING.
Narrator: PREVIOUSLY,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM
TREKKED THROUGH HOSTILE JUNGLE.
MAKE A CALL,
MAKE IT QUICK.
PARKER'S TRAIL,
PARKER MAKES THE CALL.
OH, MY [BLEEP].
IT'S A TUNNEL.
Narrator: FACED A GROUP
ARMED WITH MACHETES.
Parker: WE'RE GONNA SHAKE
ONE DOWN RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: AND ONLY FOUND TINY
TRACES OF GOLD.
Parker: LET'S MOVE IT ALONG.
Narrator: NOW, THEY'RE HEADING
TO THE SITE
OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S
LEGENDARY GOLD STRIKE...
Sam: [BLEEP] THIS IS STEEP.
....EDIE CREEK.
Parker: THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE
THE BIGGEST GOLD RUSH
OF THE 20TH CENTURY STARTED.
Narrator:
WHERE THE TERRAIN IS TOUGH.
I HAVEN'T SMOKED,
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP.
Narrator:
THE LOCALS ARE EVEN TOUGHER.
AND THE MINING...
PARKER.
...IS DEADLY.
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
♪
WE GOT A PRETTY STEEP
CLIMB AHEAD OF US
GONNA KINDA HAVE
TO PUNCH IT.
Karla: YEAH I'D SAY
JUST PUNCH IT, FRED.
ALRIGHT. WE'RE GOING,
WE'RE GOING.
YEEHAW!
HERE WE GO.
♪
[ GRUNTS ]
[ BLEEPS ]
-YEEHAW!
-YEAH!
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL
ALONG WITH FRIENDS KARLA,
SAM AND MILITARY MEDIC
FRED LEWIS ARE ON WEEK TWO
OF A FIVE WEEK EXPEDITION
TO DISCOVER GOLD
AND HOW IT'S MINED
IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA.
WE'RE DRIVING ON MARS.
HITTING EVERY
POTHOLE POSSIBLE.
-AND THIS ONE.
-SORRY.
[ GRUNTS ]
LAST WEEK,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM FOUND LESS
THAN A DOLLAR'S WORTH
OF GOLD IN RABAUL.
NOW, THEY'RE ON THE MAINLAND,
TRAVELING THROUGH BULOLO'S
OLD ABANDONED GOLD FIELDS
ON THEIR WAY TO THE GROUND ZERO
OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S
ORIGINAL GOLD STRIKE,
EDIE CREEK.
♪
YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN
ABOUT THREE FLAKES
OF GOLD SINCE
WE'VE BEEN HERE,
BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE HEADING
TO A PLACE CALLED EDIE CREEK?
THAT'S WHERE THE GOLD
WAS ORIGINALLY FOUND,
WHAT LED TO THE BIG GOLD RUSH
HERE IN PNG IN THE '20s
AND '30s.
AND IT WAS PRETTY BIG STRIKE
AND PRETTY BIG GOLD RUSH.
THERE WAS A LOT OF BIG IRON,
CAME HERE FROM THE
YUKON ACTUALLY.
SO HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET THERE
AND SEE WHAT THE GROUND IS LIKE.
THAT'S BIG THING FOR ME IS,
YOU KNOW,
I DON'T THINK IT'D BE
FEASIBLE TO COME MINE HERE,
BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.
♪
Narrator: IN 1926,
AUSTRALIAN PROSPECTORS
DISCOVERED HUGE GOLD
DEPOSITS AT EDIE CREEK
DEEP IN THE MOUNTAINS
OF MOROBE PROVINCE.
IT KICK STARTED ONE
OF THE BIGGEST GOLD RUSHES
OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
SUCCESSFUL MINES
STARTED PRODUCING
AROUND 300 OUNCES IN A YEAR.
AT EDIE CREEK, THEY TOOK
240 OUNCES IN A SINGLE DAY.
THAT LEGENDARY CREEK
LIES AT THE SOUTHERN END
OF THE REMOTE AND GEOLOGICALLY
UNSTABLE HIGHLANDS.
EARTHQUAKES AND LANDSLIDES
ARE A CONSTANT HAZARD.
GETTING THERE,
EVEN WITH A FOUR BY FOUR,
IS GOING TO BE TOUGH.
-WHOA!
-HANG ON, HANG ON.
WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO.
OH [BLEEP]
[ CHEERING ]
FRED,
THAT WAS AWESOME.
HOW YOU DOING, KARLA?
I'M GOOD.
THE TERRAIN HAS CHANGED
WELL IN A LITTLE BIT
LIKE YOU SEE
SOME MOUNTAINOUS
AND LOTS OF CREEKS
AND RIVERS.
WE'RE DEFINITELY
GETTING MORE REMOTE.
THE ROADS ARE ROUGH,
BUT FRED,
YOU'RE DOING A WICKED
JOB OF DRIVING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU KARLA,
I APPRECIATE THAT.
OOH.
♪
HE WANTS ME TO PULL UP.
YEAH.
YOU GUYS DO ME A FAVOR.
DON'T MAKE
SUDDEN MOVEMENTS,
WAIT UNTIL WE KNOW
IF THESE GUYS NICE.
♪
♪
GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
YEAH,
IT'S A PRETTY BIG ONE.
SO WE CAN'T DRIVE
ANY FARTHER?
Sam: HOW FAR
IS EDIE CREEK FROM HERE?
IF WE WERE TO TREK,
WOULD IT BE SAFE FOR US?
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
WHAT DO YOU THINK PARKER?
IT'S SOME LONG WAYS
BACK TO DRIVE BACK.
I THINK WE'RE GOING
ON FOOT FROM HERE.
TIME TO GET THE BOOTS ON.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
NOW HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO FOLLOW A NEW ROUTE.
THEY'LL TREK OVER THE LANDSLIDE,
THEN 10 MILES ALONG
THE WINDING BULOLO RIVER
THAT CUTS THROUGH
THE MOROBE MOUNTAINS.
♪
WE'RE ON FOOT NOW.
I'M NOT REAL STOKED ABOUT THAT,
BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?
NOW LOOK AT THAT.
WOULDN'T WANNA FALL DOWN THERE.
THIS IS ALWAYS GONNA BE HARD.
JUST GOT TO SUCK IT UP.
Narrator:
THE TREK WILL TAKE THEM
THROUGH TREACHEROUS JUNGLE,
UP 7,200 FEET WHERE THEY
MUST REACH EDIE CREEK
AND SET UP CAMP
BEFORE NIGHTFALL.
THIS IS COFFEE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S
JUST WEEDS, I THINK.
LOOKS A LOT LIKE MORE
LIKE FARM COUNTRY
THAN IT DOES
MINING COUNTRY.
♪
♪
NO, JUST GIVE ME A...
-YOU WANT A BOOSTY?
-YEAH.
DAMN IT.
WHERE'S MY BOOSTY.
YEAH.
YOU TAKE THE CAMERA?
I'LL BOOST YOU.
ONE, TWO, THREE.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
Parker: DAMN IT.
OKAY, GET KARLA UP.
[ LAUGHTER ]
KARLA, YOU MADE
THAT LOOK SO EASY.
Karla: THANK YOU.
FRED, YOU MADE THAT
LOOK SO NOT EASY.
Fred: GET SPIKES IN MY ASS.
WATCH OUT FOR
SMALL LIGHT SNAKES.
IT'S ONLY THE THIRD
MOST POISONOUS.
YEAH,
I'M SNAKE PARANOID.
DON'T FALL, DON'T
FALL, DON'T FALL.
[ LAUGHS ]
I DIDN'T FALL.
SEE THAT TREE HOUSE
TO OUR LEFT?
UP THERE A MASSIVE TREE
HOUSE OR AT LEAST SOMETHING.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
PARKER, LOOK AT THIS.
Parker: OH, IT'S GOT METAL
TRUSSES AND EVERYTHING.
IT'S SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT'S A BIG-ASS
TREE HOUSE.
Karla: BIG-ASS METAL TREE HOUSE
YOU'VE EVER SEEN.
HMM.
OH, BOY.
I'M GONNA GO A LITTLE FARTHER.
THERE'S VERY BIG SPIDERS.
IS THAT A TROMMEL
IN THERE PARKER?
IT USED TO BE, IT LOOKS LIKE.
WOW.
YEAH,
IT'S A [BLEEP] DREDGE.
THAT'S WILD.
DID NOT EXPECT TO
SEE THAT OUT HERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
Narrator: DREDGES ARE FLOATING
PLATFORMS BUILT
FOR MINING GOLD IN PLACES
WHERE PAYDIRT IS COLLECTED
FROM RIVERBEDS AND SLUICED
TO COLLECT THE GOLD DEPOSITS.
DURING THE 1930s, EIGHT
DREDGES WERE FLOWN INTO BULOLO
FROM AS FAR AWAY AS THE KLONDIKE
IN SPECIALLY ADAPTED AIRCRAFT.
OVER 7,000 MEN WERE EMPLOYED
TO ASSEMBLE THE DREDGES
AND WORK THE GOLD FIELD.
THEY HELPED TURN BULOLO
INTO THE RICHEST GOLD
FIELD IN THE WORLD.
BY 1938, PRODUCTION HAD HIT
OVER 400,000 OUNCES A YEAR.
WOW.
Karla: YOU KNOW, WE'RE
HEADING TO EDIE CREEK.
WE JUST STUMBLED ACROSS THIS,
AND DEFINITELY MEANS
WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
WOW.
IT'S A BIG BEAST,
ISN'T IT?
PRETTY UNREAL, HEY?
YEAH, THIS IS INSANE.
Parker: THIS IS A PRETTY BIG
ONE.
LIKE I DID, YOU KNOW,
150 YARDS AN HOUR OR SO.
IT'S SOME HARDCORE PEOPLE
THAT BROUGHT THIS THING HERE
AND SET IT UP.
THERE MUST'VE BEEN A LOT OF GOLD
TO BE HAD FOR THIS DREDGE
TO BE ABLE
TO BE MOVED IN HERE.
Narrator: THE BULOLO AREA WAS
FINALLY MINED OUT OF GOLD
IN THE 1950s AND THE HARSH
MOUNTAIN TERRAIN
LEADING UP TO EDIE CREEK
STOPPED THE HEAVY MACHINERY
FROM ADVANCING ANY FARTHER.
THE DREDGES WERE ABANDONED
WHERE THEY STOOD.
♪
[ METAL CLANKS ]
OH, WOW.
-COOL, HUH?
-YEAH.
SO EDIE CREEK,
IT'S THAT WAY.
THAT'S A PRETTY FREAKING
STEEP MOUNTAIN.
Sam: LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN THEN.
Parker: I'VE ALWAYS SAID,
"GO WHERE THE GOLD IS."
♪
Sam: WOW.
SHOULD WE CROSS IT?
THAT FLATBED.
THIS IS GONNA BE
A LONG OL' TREK.
I LOVE WET FEET.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE TREKKING INTO THE MOUNTAINS
OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA
IN SEARCH OF EDIE CREEK
WHERE THE LEGENDARY GOLD STRIKE
OF 1926 KICK STARTED
A GOLD RUSH.
♪
MY BAG'S GETTING HEAVIER
FROM MY OWN SWEAT.
♪
Karla: WATCH YOUR STEP HERE.
GUYS,
LET'S STOP FOR A SECOND.
MY FEET ARE IN RIBBONS.
PLEASE TELL ME
EVERYONE ELSE IS EXHAUSTED.
YEAH. THIS IS NOTHING
LIKE I'VE EVER DONE.
REALLY?
YEAH, COMBAT'S HOT,
BUT IT'S NOT
THIS [BLEEP] STICKY.
MY FEET ARE IN PIECES.
THAT WAS NASTY.
YEAH,
OFF TOO A BAD START.
YEAH.
THAT'S GONNA BE A BURDEN
FOR THE REST OF THE TRAIL.
Fred: I THINK
WE SHOULD WRAP THEM.
THE SWEATIEST
POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENT.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THIS
IS GONNA HOLD TO BE HONEST.
[ Laughing ]
THIS IS GOING TO SUCK.
-ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE GOOD.
-NEXT.
-THANKS A LOT, FRED.
-YEP.
Parker: I'VE GOT WEIRD
LITTLE TOES.
YOU'VE GONE FROM MEDIC/SNIPER
IN THE SPECIAL FORCES
TO FIXING UP MY TOES IN THE
MIDDLE OF [BLEEP] JUNGLE.
OWW!.
-SORRY.
OKAY, THIS IS GONNA BE WEIRD.
I'M GONNA BLOW ON YOUR TOES.
Karla: YOU'RE LETTING HIM
DO THAT?
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE
FRED'S MOUTH HAS BEEN.
IT'S BEEN ALL OVER.
A BLISTER CAN TURN
INTO A TROPICAL ULCER
IN 24 HOURS HERE, YOU KNOW?
SO IT'S GONNA BE A LOT
OF DISCIPLINE
TO KEEP ON TOP OF THAT BECAUSE,
I MEAN,
PARKER OR MY FEET IF
THEY GET CONSIDERABLY WORSE,
WE'D END OUR TRIP.
Narrator: TROPICAL ULCERS
ARE ALSO KNOWN AS JUNGLE ROT.
A CHRONIC SKIN LESION.
IT'S OFTEN CAUSED BY A SMALL
WOUND BECOMING INFECTED
WITH TROPICAL BACTERIA.
IF UNTREATED, IT CAN LEAD
TO POTENTIALLY FATAL
BLOOD POISONING.
YEAH, THERE WE GO.
GOOD SEAL.
YEAH, I MEAN, THIS
CERTAINLY ISN'T IDEAL.
HIKING AND TREKKING
AND CHECKING OUT GOLD MINES.
IT ONLY
MAKES YOU STRONGER.
NO, IT DOESN'T.
Karla: [ LAUGHS ] I DON'T NEED
SOME COMPLAIN WORK.
BLISTERS DEFINITELY DON'T
MAKE YOU STRONGER, FRED.
[ LAUGHTER ]
MAKES YOU HAVE OLDER
[BLEEP] OLD MAN FEET.
LET'S GO.
LET'S GET TO THE GOLD.
Narrator: TO REACH EDIE CREEK,
PARKER AND HIS TEAM MUST
NOW CLIMB TO 7,200 FEET
ABOVE SEA LEVEL.
[ GROANING ]
Karla: USE YOUR HEELS
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
JUST LIKE DIG YOUR HEELS IN.
♪
♪
THERE'S JUST SOME
DUDE WITH A SLUICE BOX
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CREEK HERE.
HI.
HOW ARE YOU?
I'M PARKER.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
JERRY?
NICE TO MEET YOU, JERRY.
HI, KARLA.
-FRED
-FRED?
-YEAH.
-HOW ARE YOU?
SAM.
ONE DAY, HOW MUCH GOLD?
ONE DAY.
ONE GRAM.
OKAY.
SO HE'S GONNA WORK
WITH THE ONE SLUICE,
THEN THEY'LL GO HOME
AND THEY'LL COME BACK
AND THEY'LL GET
ANOTHER GRAM.
IT'S GOOD.
JERRY HERE, HE'S GOT
A VERY BASIC SETUP,
JUST A SLUICE BOX
SETUP IN THE CREEK.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY DO IS
THEY PUT UP A DAM LIKE THAT
WITH LOGS SO THAT THE
STUFF COMING DOWN THE CREEK
WHEN IT RAINS AND
WHAT NOT STAYS THERE
FOR A WHILE
WHILE THEY WORK.
HE'S JUST LETTING WATER
AND MATERIAL JUST RUN
THROUGH THE SLUICE BOX
AND JUST PICKING OUT ROCK
AND JUST LETTING THE DIRT
FLOW RIGHT INTO THE BOX.
SO DEFINITELY NOT
MY STYLE OF MINING,
AND THIS IS HOW MINING IN THE
YUKON STARTED 120 YEARS AGO.
AND THEY'RE STILL
DOING IT HERE TODAY.
Narrator: OVER 50,000 PEOPLE
IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
SCRAPE A LIVING
BY MICRO-SCALE GOLD MINING
IN RURAL AREAS.
MINERS LIKE JERRY EARN
AROUND $150 A MONTH,
JUST ENOUGH TO FEED HIS
FAMILY OF THREE CHILDREN.
THAT'S A PIECE OF GOLD THERE,
HUH?
-YEAH.
-WOW.
-IT'S GOOD.
-[ LAUGHS ]
Parker: FIRST PROPER GOLD
THAT WE'VE SEEN.
THAT'S REALLY HARD
TO COMPREHEND
WHAT THESE GUYS GO THROUGH
AND THE PAY OFF FOR IT.
IT KINDA PUTS A LOT OF THINGS
INTO PERSPECTIVE.
Sam: THANK YOU.
WE GO EDIE CREEK.
HERE.
UP.
LONG?
[ GROANS ]
ALL RIGHT,
LET'S MOVE IT ALONG.
♪
Karla: IF YOU DO SLIP OR FALL,
LET ME KNOW, SAM.
Sam: OKAY.
YOU'LL CATCH ME, RIGHT?
YEAH.
Narrator: IT'S NOW JUST THREE
HOURS UNTIL SUNDOWN
AND THERE'S STILL ANOTHER
THOUSAND FEET TO CLIMB.
-YOU ALL RIGHT?
-YEAH.
WATCH IT.
AT THIS HEIGHT, THE VOLUME
OF OXYGEN IN THE AIR
HAS DECREASED BY ALMOST 4%,
RAISING THEIR CHANCES
OF FATIGUE
AND ALTITUDE SICKNESS.
Parker: WE MUST HAVE
WALKED A LONG WAY.
Fred: WE STILL HAVE
A LONG WAYS TO GO.
♪
PARKER, DOES IT LEVEL UP
UP TOP?
I THINK
WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.
I GOT US AT 6,900 FEET,
TOO
SO IT'S WHY
IT'S HARD TO BREATHE.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN LIKE COMING IN HERE
AS ONE OF THE EARLY PROSPECTORS,
WITH NO SUPPORT,
CARRYING EVERYTHING
ON YOUR BACK,
HAVING TO CUT TRAIL
AS YOU WENT.
YEAH, DON'T FALL THAT WAY,
WHATEVER YOU DO.
SO [BLEEP] STEEP.
OH MY [BLEEP].
LOOK AT THAT.
♪
HEY, PARKER, WE CAME FROM ALL
THE WAY DOWN THERE TODAY.
YEAH, WE WERE
A WAYS DOWN THERE.
Fred: THIS IS IT,
WE'RE RIGHT ON IT.
7,082 FEET PLUS OR MINUS
16 FEET.
SO WE'RE UP THERE, RIGHT?
WE'RE AT FROST LEVEL.
PRETTY COOL.
Karla: WHOA!
MADE IT TO THE TOP.
FEEL AWESOME.
NOW THAT'S
A [BLEEP] HIKE.
IT'S ALWAYS COOL TO BE
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS,
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING
THE HISTORY HERE.
SO,
YOU GUYS HEAR VOICES?
-YEAH.
-OH, WHAT THE [BLEEP].
CRAP.
♪
-HI.
-HELLO.
HI.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY
GO SAY HI
RATHER THAN STARE
AT THEM FROM UP HERE.
WE JUST HIKED UP HERE.
WE'RE JUST LOOKING
FOR GOLD MINES
AND CHECKING OUT THE
MINING AROUND HERE.
Sam:
CAN WE COME DOWN?
THANK YOU.
HI, I'M PARKER.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
YOU GUYS LIVE HERE?
Fred: THIS IS EDIE CREEK,
RIGHT?
OH, COOL.
HEY, WE GOT IT RIGHT.
-WE DID.
[ LAUGHTER ]
DO YOU FIND MUCH GOLD HERE?
SO THAT'S THE VEIN
THAT YOU'RE CHASING.
GOTCHA. THIS GOT ALL GOT
COVERED IN, HUH?
WELL, SHE HAS TO DIG IT OUT
AGAIN.
WOW.
Sam: HOW MUCH GOLD DID
YOU FIND TODAY?
NO GOLD?
BECAUSE OF THE LANDSLIDE?
WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD
PRETTY HARD HERE.
HIKING UP HERE
HAS TAKEN IT OUT ALL OF US.
TODAY WE TREKKED PRETTY FAR,
AND IT'S GETTING LATE,
AND WE WERE WONDERING
IF THERE'S A PLACE
THAT WE CAN STAY
FOR THE NIGHT
AND TOMORROW WE COULD HELP DIG
WHATEVER YOU NEED HELP WITH.
WE HAVE MUSCLES TO HELP.
DO YOU HAVE A PLACE?
IS IT OKAY IF WE WOULD STAY?
THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU.
Sam: WONDERFUL, THANK YOU.
Parker: AND KARLA VOLUNTEERED US
FOR A DAY'S WORK TOMORROW
FOR A NICE SLEEP TONIGHT,
WHICH I'M MORE THAN HAPPY
TO TAKE AT THE MOMENT.
Fred:
HOW ARE THOSE FEET DOING, GUYS?
Sam: MINE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE
GONNA COME OFF IN MY BOOT
WHEN I TAKE IT OFF.
Karla: I CAN'T WAIT
TO TAKE MY BOOTS OFF.
-WOW.
-LOOK AT THAT VIEW.
BEAUTIFUL.
♪
-HELLO. AFTERNOON.
-AFTERNOON.
-HOW ARE YOU?
-SHE'S MY MOMMY.
OH, WOW.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
MARTHA.
MARTHA.
MARTHA
IS MY SISTER'S NAME.
PLEASED TO MEET YOU,
MARTHA.
YEAH. [ LAUGHS ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
DEFINITELY A VERY COOL PLACE
THAT WE'VE STUMBLED UPON.
WE'VE LANDED
ON OUR FEET HERE.
Fred: YEAH, DEFINITELY.
SO IF WE'RE GONNA STAY HERE,
WE'D LIKE TO HELP YOU GUYS.
SO WOULD WE HELP TO DIG
THE LANDSLIDE WITH YOU?
YES.
SO THE GOLD
IS IN THE ROCK HERE?
YES.
IF IT'S IN A ROCK, THEY'D HAVE
TO HAVE A CRUSHER SOMEWHERE,
BUT THEY'RE JUST
USING PANS.
THEY'VE A CROWBAR
OR UH, WHAT'S THAT CALLED?
I THINK IT MIGHT
BE MANUAL CRUSHING.
REALLY?
YOU DIG THE GOLDS
IN THE ROCK, RIGHT?
DO YOU...?
YES.
A CROWBAR
AND AN IRON SPADE.
AND YOU CRUSH THE ROCK?
Parker: WOW.
THINK WE MIGHT HAVE
SOME QUITE HARD WORK
AHEAD OF US HERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
♪
[ WIND WHISTLING ]
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
Sam:
HOW'S DINNER COMING, KARLA?
OH, WE'RE PRETTY --
CABBAGE IS ALMOST DONE.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE CAMPING NEAR EDIE CREEK,
THE SITE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S
LEGENDARY GOLD STRIKE.
[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]
SO, KARLA, THIS IS OUR
CONTRIBUTION TO THE MEAL, RIGHT?
-WHAT, THE NOODLES?
-YEAH.
BETTER THAN NOTHING,
YOU GOTTA SHARE.
DAMN RIGHT.
THESE GUYS FEEL REALLY FRIENDLY
AND YOU KNOW WE HAVE A SHELTER,
WE GET TO EAT WITH THESE GUYS.
IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE.
WORK WITH THE HANDS?
RIGHT.
IT'S A TOUGH LIVING
DOING THAT BY HANDS.
AND, IS THE VEIN THAT
YOU GUYS ARE CHASING,
IT'S JUST GOING RIGHT
INTO THE MOUNTAIN SIDE?
YES.
HOW THICK IS THE VEIN
THAT YOU'RE CHASING?
IS IT REAL SMALL?
YEAH.
REALLY? WOW.
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA GET
A BIG TASTE OF MINING HERE,
THE LIFESTYLE HERE,
WHAT THE GOLD'S LIKE,
AND ANYTHING THAT WE CAN
LEARN IS A HUGE BONUS.
[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]
NOW, I DIDN'T BRING
ANY BOOKS WITH ME
BUT I HAVE A BUNCH OF PHOTOS
OF MICK LEAHY'S JOURNAL.
MICK DID A HUGE AMOUNT
OF EXPLORATION IN PNG IN,
WHEN DID HE COME HERE?
'27 OR SOMETHING?
Sam: YEAH,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
MICK LEAHY DISCOVERED
A WHOLE GROUP
OF TRIBES THAT NOBODY
IN THE WORLD KNEW ABOUT.
IT'S WILD STORIES.
I'VE GOT A FEW HERE.
"ON SIXTH OF MAY,
A BAND OF WARRIORS
ATTACKED THEIR CAMP
AT DAWN.
SNATCHED FROM THEIR SLEEP,
MICK AND PADDY BURST OUT
FROM THEIR TENT WITH
THEIR REVOLVERS.
MICK BARELY HAD TIME
TO FIRE OFF ONE SHOT
BEFORE HE WAS SMASHED OVER
THE HEAD WITH A STONE CLUB.
PADDY LEAHY WAS STRUCK BY
TWO ARROWS IN THE CHEST,
BUT CONTINUED TO FIGHT.
AT LEAST TWO KUKUKUKU
WERE KILLED AT THE SCENE."
THAT'S BRUTAL.
Narrator:
ALONG WITH HIS THREE BROTHERS,
MICK LEAHY WAS ONE OF THE MANY
MEN ENTICED BY THE GOLD RUSH.
IN 1931, HE PROSPECTED FOR GOLD
IN THE UNEXPLORED HIGHLANDS
AND MADE FIRST CONTACT WITH
THE ISOLATED KUKUKUKU TRIBE,
DISCOVERING THE
REGION WAS INHABITED
BY NEARLY ONE MILLION PEOPLE.
"FOR THE SINGLE JOURNEY,
THE MYTH OF THE EMPTY HEART
OF NEW GUINEA WAS
FOREVER LAID TO REST.
WE FOUND GRASS VALLEYS
TEEMING WITH VIRAL TRIBESMEN
IN A REGION
THAT WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE AN EMPTY
WASTE OF MOUNTAINS."
WILD.
HEY, BOYS.
DO YOU SEE THIS?
THESE ARE THE KUKUKUKUS.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE KUKUKUKUS?
YOU BOYS ARE?
FOR REAL?
[ LAUGHTER ]
Karla: GO [MUMBLES].
[ LAUGHTER ]
I'VE NEVER BEEN
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
WHERE YOU'RE SO CLOSE
TO THE PATH, YOU KNOW?
THESE KIDS ARE THE
ANCESTORS OF THE KUKUKUKUS
THAT ATTACKED
MICK LEAHY IN 1930.
ABSOLUTE,
JUST ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.
♪
♪
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
♪
Narrator: HAVING AGREED
TO HELP CLEAR A LANDSLIDE
ON THE MINE SITE...
Diana: COME ON, WE'RE
WAITING FOR YOU GUYS.
...DIANA IS KEEN FOR PARKER
AND HIS TEAM TO GET TO WORK.
♪
SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVEN'T
PRETTY FOUND ANY GOLD
SINCE THAT SLIDE HAPPENED,
HUH?
NO, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FINDING
MUCH AT ALL, I DON'T THINK.
JUST A LOT OF DIRT.
YEAH.
IT'S ONLY ABOUT 20 SCOOPS
WITH AN EXCAVATOR,
BUT WITH THE SHOVEL
IT'S A FEW MORE THAN THAT.
[ LAUGHS ]
-SHALL WE?
-YEAH, YEAH.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT,
WHERE'S DEMAS AT?
-MORNING.
-MORNING.
GOOD MORNING,
MORNING.
WHAT THEY'RE DOING UP HERE
IS ACTUALLY CHASING THE VEIN
OR LIKE THE SOURCE OF THE GOLD
IN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE,
WHICH IS PRETTY COOL.
THAT'S SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER BEEN A PART OF.
PARKER.
WHAT'S UP?
YEAH, YEAH.
HE WANTS TO SHOW YOU THE VEIN.
OOH.
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS BEFORE.
Narrator: THE MOUNTAIN ROCK
HOLDS A NETWORK
OF QUARTZ VEINS WHICH CONTAIN
SCATTERED GOLD DEPOSITS.
THEY WERE FORMED
WHEN SEISMIC ACTIVITY
PUSHED MINERAL-RICH MAGMA
TOWARDS THE SURFACE.
THE LAVA CRYSTALLIZED,
BECOMING A SILICA FLUID
WHICH THEN PUSHED ITS
WAY THROUGH CRACKS,
FORMING QUARTZ VEINS
WHERE THE GOLD NOW LIES.
♪
Parker:
SO WHAT DEMAS IS DOING HERE
IS ACTUALLY HARDROCK MINING.
WHAT WE DO IN THE
YUKON IS PLASMA MINING.
YOU KNOW, THE GOLD
IS IN THE CREEK BED
AND WE'RE JUST WASHING GRAVEL.
THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT
STYLE OF MINING.
THE GOLD THAT DEMAS IS FINDING
IS IN THE ROCK, IN THE VEIN.
I'VE NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN
ANY HARDROCK MINING BEFORE,
SO IT'S A VERY NEW
EXPERIENCE TO ME.
BOTH THE LANDSLIDE THAT
CAME DOWN, THAT'S A PROBLEM.
WE SHOULD PROBABLY GET IN THERE
AND HELP OUT.
SO ALL OF THIS
HAS TO GET MOVED?
-YES.
-WOW. WHAT A MESS.
Fred:
IT'S A LOT OF DIRT.
[BLEEP] DANGEROUS, TOO.
♪
SO ALL OF THIS HAS
TO GET MOVED?
-YES.
-WOW.
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE WORKING
FOR A LOCAL FAMILY WHOSE
GOLD MINE HAS BEEN BURIED
UNDER 120 TONS OF LANDSLIDE.
WHAT A MESS.
ARE YOU'RE GONNA
USE WATER TO WASH IT AWAY?
AND THE WATER IS ALL THE WAY UP
AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN IS?
WELL, THAT'S A LONG WAYS
FOR THAT WATER TO COME.
♪
I THINK WE'RE JUST HEADING UP
TO THEIR WATER SPOT.
HE MUST HAVE SOME SORT
OF RAIN WATER RESERVOIR.
THIS DITCH GOES ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO WHERE THEIR LANDSLIDE IS
SO WE CAN WASH IT OUT HOPEFULLY.
WATER IS A VERY GOOD WAY
OF GETTING MATERIAL TO MOVE
IF YOU'VE GOT THE DROP FOR IT.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE ELEVATION
DIFFERENCE FOR THAT TO WORK.
♪
[ ALL PANTING ]
THIS IS YOUR WATER RESERVOIR?
GOTCHA.
DEMAS' SETUP HERE IS
AS BASIC AS IT GETS.
WELL, HE HAS A PUMP I GUESS.
WE'LL SEE IF IT WORKS.
♪
YEP.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Fred: WHOO-HOO!
THIS HOSE IS GONNA RUN
INTO THAT IRRIGATION DITCH
WE WERE WALKING UP BESIDE
AND THAT'S GONNA RUN
DOWN TO THE MINE SITE.
GUESS WE'RE OFF TO WORK.
♪
Karla: BLOCK IT?
♪
HERE IT COMES.
IT'S A GOOD SIGN
THAT THE PUMP IS WORKING.
[ ENGINE RUNNING ]
♪
Parker: THE BIGGEST THING
ABOUT THIS STYLE OF MINING
IS THAT YOU'RE FORCED
TO WORK WITH THE ELEMENTS.
WE WORK AGAINST THE ELEMENTS.
WHEN THERE'S TOO MUCH WATER,
WE PUMP IT OUT.
WHEN THERE'S NOT ENOUGH WATER,
WE PUMP IT IN.
THIS IS SUBSISTENCE.
♪
Narrator:
AT THE TOP OF THE LANDSLIDE,
KARLA IS WORKING AT A DAM
TO HOLD THE WATER BEING
PUMPED DOWN FROM ABOVE.
THE WATER WILL BE STORED
IN THIS MAKESHIFT POOL
UNTIL THERE'S
ENOUGH TO WASH AWAY
SOME OF THE LANDSLIDE BELOW.
Karla:
WELL, WE'VE GOT A WHOLE SYSTEM,
SO WHEN THEY NEED HIGH PRESSURE
THEY PULL THE DAM
AND GET A WATERFALL
AND SOME PRETTY GOOD PRESSURE.
OKAY, GO ON.
[ INDISTINCT YELLING ]
Karla: READY?
LET HER RIP!
-HERE IT GOES!
-OH, YEAH!
-IT'S COMING!
-WHOO!
♪
Sam: HOLY [BLEEP]!
Woman:
[ SPEAKS NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
IT WORKS GOOD.
Sam:
[BLEEP] YEAH, FRED!
WHOO-HOO!
THE OLD TIMERS IN THE YUKON
USED TO HAVE A GATE
WITH SOME WOOD HOOKED UP TO IT
THAT WHEN THE WATER LEVEL
HIT A CERTAIN POINT, IT WOULD
OPEN AND FLOOD THE WATER OUT,
AND THEN THE GATE
WOULD CLOSE AND THE DAM
WOULD BUILD BACK UP.
AND THIS IS SAME EXACT THING,
THEY'D JUST HAVE
THE PEOPLE UP THERE
RUNNING THE GATE.
MUCH MORE IMPRESSIVE
THAN I EXPECTED.
♪
I'M SMOKED!
I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP.
I DON'T THINK HE THOUGHT
I WAS DOING GOOD ENOUGH.
OKAY, I CAN DO THAT.
DIG DEEP.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
WITH ONE LITTLE WATER PUMP,
THEY'RE BASICALLY CREATING
MAN-MADE WATERFALLS TO BLOW
ALL THE OVERBURDEN AWAY.
THEY'VE CUT THIS BIG TRENCH
INTO THE MIDDLE OF IT.
HOPEFULLY, A FEW MORE OF THESE,
AND MORE MANPOWER
FROM US AND THEM,
WE'LL GET DOWN TO THE GOLD VEIN.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY
START MINING THE STUFF.
♪
FILMED IN A LOT OF GOLD
MINES AROUND THE WORLD,
AND I'VE NEVER SEEN IT
DONE LIKE THIS BEFORE.
♪
OH, YEAH!
♪
Sam: DEMAS!
PARKER'S DOING GOOD?
PARKER, YOU MIGHT FIND
YOURSELF A JOB HERE.
[ LAUGHS ]
BIG ROCK!
IT'S [BLEEP] HARD WORK!
IT'S REAL CLOSE.
I CAN ALMOST TOUCH IT.
[ SPADE CLUNKING ]
PARKER!
THIS IS THE VEIN
I CAN SEE HERE?
-YEAH, YEAH.
-THIS WHITE?
-YEAH, YEAH.
-WHOO!
THAT'S COOL.
Narrator: AT THE HIGHEST POINT
OF THE LANDSLIDE,
A TINY SECTION OF THE ROCK
THAT HOLDS
THE GOLD RICH VEIN
HAS BEEN EXPOSED.
Sam: THIS LITTLE VEIN HERE,
PROBABLY LESS THAN AN INCH THICK
IN SOME PLACES,
APPARENTLY THIS HAS GOLD IN IT.
NOT HAPPY
TILL WE GET THE GOLD?
-YES, YES.
-[ LAUGHS ]
DEMAS, DO YOU WANT
US TO KEEP DIGGING?
SO YOU'RE TRYING TO
OPEN A BIT MORE UP?
-YES.
-OH, YEAH. WE'RE ON IT.
♪
Sam:
HOW FAR OFF FILL IS IT?
ANOTHER FOOT AND A HALF!
OH, [BLEEP]!
WHOA! HEADS UP!
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
HATCH UP THE DAM!
I'M TRYING!
-LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU, MAN!
-LOOK OUT, LOOK OUT, LOOK OUT!
-[BLEEP]
-PARKER!
[BLEEP]
UGH! [BLEEP]
[BLEEP]
♪
Narrator: IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA,
THE UNSTABLE
GEOLOGY OF THE
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS,
COUPLED WITH FREQUENT
HEAVY RAINSTORMS
MAKES THE PATHS
AND ROADS TREACHEROUS.
Danny: OKAY, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM
HERE AT THE MOMENT.
Narrator:
PARKER'S SUPPORT TEAM USE
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES,
BUT EVEN THEY STRUGGLE WITH
THE UNPREDICTABLE LANDSCAPE.
Danny: THIS ROAD IS ABOUT
AS BAD AS IT GETS.
LANDSLIDES, BOULDERS, A LOT.
David: OVERNIGHT,
WE'VE HAD VERY, VERY HEAVY RAIN.
GETTING THE VEHICLES THROUGH
IS REALLY, REALLY TREACHEROUS.
AND WE'VE GOT A
THOUSAND METER DROP-OFF.
IF YOU GO OVER THAT,
IT'S GAME OVER.
Craig: IT'S JUST PART OF WHAT
THESE GUYS DEAL WITH
EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES,
YOU KNOW?
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET
UP AND DOWN THESE MINES,
AND IT'S NOT EASY.
THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THEY GO
BY FOOT MOST OF THE TIME.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
♪
Sam:
HOW FAR OFF FILL IS IT?
ANOTHER FOOT AND A HALF!
Narrator: PARKER AND HIS TEAM
ARE HELPING CLEAR
OVERBURDEN FROM
A STEEP GOLD MINE.
BUT AT THE TOP OF THE SITE...
OH, [BLEEP]!
THE DAMMED RESERVOIR HAS BURST.
WHOA, HEADS UP!
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!
-LOOK OUT, LOOK OUT, LOOK OUT!
-LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU, MAN!
-[BLEEP]
-PARKER!
[BLEEP]
UGH! [BLEEP]
Fred: PARKER!
Parker: [ GRUNTS ]
♪
♪
PARKER!
WE GOT HIM!
UGH! [BLEEP]
[ COUGHING ]
HOLY [BLEEP]
[ COUGHING CONTINUES ]
ARE YOU OKAY?
WAIT, ARE YOU INTACT?
ARE YOU OKAY?
[ PANTING ]
THAT WENT FROM ZERO TO 100
IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
LET'S GET OUT
OF THIS [BLEEP].
-OKAY, THIS IS SLIPPING.
-YEAH.
LET'S GET OUT, LET'S GET OUT.
WALK.
I'VE GOT YOU BEHIND.
[ GRUNT ]
I JUST HAVE NUMB FINGERS.
[ GRUNTS ]
COME HERE.
-[ GRUNTS ]
-SIT, SIT, SIT.
SERIOUSLY.
UM, I [BLEEP]
OPEN MY EYES,
[BLEEP] IN MY MOUTH.
AW, THAT HURTS, FRED.
-THIS ONE?
-BOTH THOSE TWO.
[ BLEEP ]
LEGS OKAY?
THANKS, BUDDY.
[ GRUNTS ] UM...
ALL MY FINGERS ARE NUMB.
[ BLEEP ]
[ BLOWS ]
LET'S GET YOU UP TOP,
SIT YOU DOWN.
IT'S ALREADY
STARTING TO SWELL.
LET'S JUST GET YOU
UP THERE.
[ SIGH ]
AW. [ GRUNTS ]
♪
THAT WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL.
AT ONE POINT, IT LOOKED
LIKE HE WAS JUST GONNA
GET HIS FEET SWEPT FROM
UNDER HIM AND GO ALL THE WAY
DOWN THE VALLEY TO WHERE
WE STARTED OUR TREK, YOU KNOW.
EVEN PARKER WOULDN'T BE IN
A GOOD SHAPE AFTER THAT.
HONESTLY, I THOUGHT
HE WAS A GONER.
THE DAM UP HERE IS HELD
WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CLAY,
AND IT BROKE.
YOU KNOW, ONCE IT'S GONE,
IT'S GONE.
AND THERE'S POWER
BEHIND THAT WATER.
I WAS YELLING, BUT BY
THAT TIME IT WAS TOO LATE.
♪
♪
Narrator: AFTER SUCH A DANGEROUS
FALL OVER ROCKS
AND THROUGH COLD WATER,
PARKER MUST GET WARM
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
TO AVOID HYPOTHERMIA.
♪
-OH, THANK YOU.
-HERE YOU GO, BUD.
EXCELLENT.
[ CUP CLINKS ]
OOH.
OH, THE ADRENALINE'S --
-YOU'RE GONNA GET TIRED.
-YEAH, AND SAD.
I HAD A TEAMMATE GET SHOT
IN THE ARMPIT.
Fred: DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT,
AND HE WAS DEAD IN 10 MINUTES.
AND HE HAD NO IDEA.
LIKE, ADRENALINE'S CRAZY.
TWO OR THREE HOURS FROM NOW,
HE'S GONNA START FEELING PAIN.
HE'S REALLY NOT
GONNA FEEL VERY GOOD.
Karla:
THIS ONE SOUNDED SERIOUS.
YOU DIDN'T SEE ANY OF IT,
AT ALL, FROM UP THERE?
NO, NO!
WE THOUGHT
YOU HAD TRIED TO STOP
THE DAM FLOW FOR SOME REASON...
I DID, I DID.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IT WAS JUST LIKE --
I HEARD YOU GUYS YELLING,
"AH!"
SO I TRIED TO STOP IT.
WELL, YOU CAN'T HEAR
ANY COMMUNICATION
OVER A WALL OF WATER.
YEAH, BUDDY, YOU WERE
[BLEEP] WASHING MACHINING
DOWN THAT THING.
I DIDN'T THINK I WAS
GONNA BE ABLE TO STOP.
PEOPLE ALWAYS
UNDERESTIMATE WATER.
YEAH.
Sam: YOU ARE A [BLEEP].
YOU LOOKED LIKE YOU
WERE GOING UNDER
WHEN FRED GOT TO YOU.
Fred: HE WAS UNDER.
-I WAS JUST TRYING TO STOP.
-HE WASN'T GOING UNDER.
Karla:
IT'S KINDA SCARY TO THINK, TOO,
HOW REMOTE WE ARE.
WE ARE WAY IN THE BUSH,
WAY IN PNG.
JUST TO GET ANY ACTUAL HELP,
EVEN TO GET A HELICOPTER
IN HERE WOULD BE HOURS
OR MAYBE A DAY.
YEAH.
I HAVEN'T FELT LIKE
THAT OUT OF CONTROL
OF A SITUATION
IN A VERY LONG TIME.
IT SHOWS YOU HOW FAST THINGS
CAN GO TERRIBLY WRONG.
[ SIGHS ]
THIS IS PNG, THIS ISN'T CUSHY
UNITED STATES, OR ENGLAND.
THIS IS THE JUNGLE.
THINGS CAN TURN ON YOU FAST.
JUST KINDA CHANGES
THINGS A LITTLE BIT.
[BLEEP] DANGEROUS.
I DON'T HAVE MANY FRIENDS.
I CAN'T LOSE THE ONES I HAVE.
IT WAS SCARY. [BLEEP]
I'M JUST GLAD I DIDN'T GO
DOWN THE [BLEEP] MOUNTAIN.
IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN ONE ROCK
TO KNOCK ME OUT,
AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A VERY DIFFERENT STORY.
♪
♪
Narrator: NEXT TIME...
MERCURY'S NOT GOOD FOR ANYTHING,
EXCEPT CATCHING GOLD.
Karla: SERIOUSLY,
IT WILL KILL YOU.
FOR THEM,
THE STAKES ARE VERY HIGH.
UH, IT'S JUST HORRIBLE.
WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP.
DO IT!
♪
HOPEFULLY IT WORKS!
CHEERS!
[ BLEEP ]
WE HAD A MASSIVE FLASH
FLOOD OUT OF NOWHERE.
WE'RE STRANDED OUT HERE.
Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.