"Gold Rush" Against All Odds: Gold Rush Special

1 00:00:02,030 --> 00:00:05,100 [narrator] On this Gold Rush, a worldwide crisis... 2 00:00:05,100 --> 00:00:07,600 This is a massive challenge. 3 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,200 [narrator] ...locks down the Yukon. 4 00:00:10,210 --> 00:00:12,510 I'm still at home, not being able to do anything. 5 00:00:13,580 --> 00:00:16,240 [woman] Tony, Tony, Tony, it's the film crew here. 6 00:00:16,250 --> 00:00:18,050 [narrator] But out of the chaos... 7 00:00:18,050 --> 00:00:19,750 [Tony speaking] 8 00:00:19,750 --> 00:00:22,220 [narrator] The perfect storm... 9 00:00:22,220 --> 00:00:26,290 The more [bleep] up the world gets, the higher price gold should go. 10 00:00:26,290 --> 00:00:28,560 [narrator] Soaring gold prices... 11 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,760 [Tony speaking] 12 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:32,830 [narrator] And plummeting fuel costs... 13 00:00:32,830 --> 00:00:34,600 [Parker] Doesn't get better than this. 14 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,730 [narrator] Create the opportunity of a lifetime... 15 00:00:37,730 --> 00:00:40,000 - It's like the American dream, if you ask me. - [saluting] 16 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,140 [narrator] To strike it rich. 17 00:00:42,140 --> 00:00:44,970 We're trying to buy a piece of ground in Alaska. 18 00:00:44,970 --> 00:00:47,240 That's [bleep] badass. 19 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:48,310 I want to hit it big. 20 00:00:48,310 --> 00:00:49,940 I want to be a huge success. 21 00:00:49,950 --> 00:00:51,210 [Rick] That's a beauty. 22 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:55,120 [Tony speaking] 23 00:00:57,920 --> 00:00:59,390 I've emptied every penny I own on this. 24 00:00:59,390 --> 00:01:02,220 - Oh! - [man 1] That is insane. 25 00:01:02,220 --> 00:01:03,320 [man 2] Holy smoke. 26 00:01:03,330 --> 00:01:05,090 - [man 3] Wow! - Hell yeah! 27 00:01:05,090 --> 00:01:06,860 [narrator] Every second counts... 28 00:01:06,860 --> 00:01:08,160 Don't stop for nobody. 29 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,130 [narrator] In the shortest season ever. 30 00:01:11,130 --> 00:01:13,400 [Parker] This is definitely a record-breaker 31 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:21,074 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm 32 00:01:23,010 --> 00:01:25,310 [narrator] It's late May, 2020. 33 00:01:25,310 --> 00:01:26,780 [Parker] Home sweet home. 34 00:01:26,780 --> 00:01:28,950 [narrator] And the miners are only just returning 35 00:01:28,950 --> 00:01:32,590 from the long offseason lockdown. 36 00:01:32,590 --> 00:01:36,520 [Parker] It's the latest start we've had since showing up in the Yukon. 37 00:01:36,530 --> 00:01:39,130 With this virus going on and COVID, 38 00:01:39,130 --> 00:01:42,660 this is definitely gonna be probably one of the more challenging years 39 00:01:42,670 --> 00:01:44,230 that we've ever had. 40 00:01:45,300 --> 00:01:48,640 [narrator] The pandemic has put 25-year-old Parker Schnabel 41 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,270 over a month behind schedule. 42 00:01:51,270 --> 00:01:55,210 Now he's in a race to make up lost time 43 00:01:55,210 --> 00:01:59,210 and cash in on soaring gold prices. 44 00:01:59,220 --> 00:02:00,180 Gentlemen. 45 00:02:00,180 --> 00:02:01,620 [Mitch] What's happening? 46 00:02:01,620 --> 00:02:03,580 I mean, the best thing that's happened right now is 47 00:02:03,590 --> 00:02:05,590 fuel price is really low and gold price is up. 48 00:02:05,590 --> 00:02:08,590 That's a good thing because we're trying to buy 49 00:02:08,590 --> 00:02:10,360 a piece of ground in Alaska. 50 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,160 Now you guys need to make us some money 51 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:13,090 so that we can pay for it. 52 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:15,030 We need a war chest. 53 00:02:15,030 --> 00:02:16,830 Get a wash plant running and hopefully you can find us 54 00:02:16,830 --> 00:02:18,270 something in Alaska, that'd be nice. 55 00:02:18,270 --> 00:02:20,270 - Yeah, it would be. - Sweet. 56 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:23,900 Pull it up. 57 00:02:23,910 --> 00:02:26,740 [narrator] To build his war chest, Parker... 58 00:02:26,740 --> 00:02:27,980 [Parker] Let's do this. 59 00:02:27,980 --> 00:02:31,310 [narrator] Turns to the last cut, the richest ground 60 00:02:31,310 --> 00:02:32,980 they've ever mined. 61 00:02:36,780 --> 00:02:38,120 Here we go. 62 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,960 [narrator] Co-foreman, Mitch Blaschke and Brennan Ruautt 63 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:43,890 fire up Big Red. 64 00:02:43,890 --> 00:02:45,160 - [Brennan] Big cap. - [Mitch] Good to go. 65 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:46,930 Yay! 66 00:02:47,930 --> 00:02:51,930 [narrator] Four miles west on the 2,000-acre promised land, 67 00:02:51,930 --> 00:02:54,070 Parker takes a big risk with his premier 68 00:02:54,070 --> 00:02:57,300 wash plant, Slucifer. 69 00:02:58,110 --> 00:03:01,140 [Parker] Right now I'm letting Tyson run Slucifer. 70 00:03:01,140 --> 00:03:04,310 Mitch and Brennan are gonna be pretty busy. 71 00:03:04,310 --> 00:03:05,910 And Tyson's come a long way. 72 00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:08,880 So I think it's a good chance to see what he's got. 73 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,350 Hopefully this doesn't bite either of us in the ass. 74 00:03:12,350 --> 00:03:15,860 [narrator] Operator Tyson Lee has been on Parker's crew 75 00:03:15,860 --> 00:03:18,760 for five years, but this is his first time 76 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:20,790 in charge of a wash plant. 77 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:24,430 [Tyson] The heat's on my shoulders to step up to the plate. 78 00:03:24,430 --> 00:03:26,800 It feels good to have that responsibility on me. 79 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,100 It's, you know, it's kind of what I've been hoping for 80 00:03:29,100 --> 00:03:32,270 over the past few years and it's time to show them what I can do. 81 00:03:36,310 --> 00:03:37,340 Come on. 82 00:03:37,350 --> 00:03:38,450 Rise to the occasion. 83 00:03:38,450 --> 00:03:40,410 Over here. Come on. 84 00:03:46,020 --> 00:03:49,090 Done everything right. I've done all I can. So here's to hoping. 85 00:04:02,970 --> 00:04:06,140 [dramatic music playing] 86 00:04:19,890 --> 00:04:21,960 [Parker] Where's all this water coming from? 87 00:04:28,430 --> 00:04:29,930 [bleep]. 88 00:04:31,030 --> 00:04:31,870 Holy crap! 89 00:04:31,870 --> 00:04:34,270 Tyson! 90 00:04:34,270 --> 00:04:38,310 [narrator] A torrent of 3,300 gallons of water a minute. 91 00:04:38,310 --> 00:04:39,210 [Parker] Holy [bleep]. 92 00:04:39,210 --> 00:04:41,340 [narrator] Is undermining the pad... 93 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:48,780 threatening to crash the 45-ton wash plant into the pond. 94 00:04:48,780 --> 00:04:50,980 [Parker] I'm just gonna throw some rock in there and hopefully it'll... 95 00:04:50,990 --> 00:04:53,320 it'll keep her shored up here. 96 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,760 [narrator] Parker's solution, use coarse tailings 97 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:58,290 to strengthen the pad. 98 00:05:09,970 --> 00:05:11,610 [Parker] So hopefully I don't disappear. 99 00:05:19,010 --> 00:05:20,980 I really think it'll be all right. 100 00:05:22,250 --> 00:05:26,290 [narrator] An hour later, his fix seems to hold. 101 00:05:26,290 --> 00:05:27,420 [Tyson] Do you think it helped? 102 00:05:27,420 --> 00:05:28,820 Oh, yeah, it helped a lot. 103 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:33,390 [Tyson] Now we just have to see if there's any gold in the ground. 104 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:34,860 Your problem. 105 00:05:34,860 --> 00:05:37,430 Right on. Ten forward. 106 00:05:37,430 --> 00:05:39,030 [Parker] You... come on, you knew it was coming? 107 00:05:39,030 --> 00:05:40,400 [Tyson] Yeah. 108 00:05:41,900 --> 00:05:44,040 [narrator] Just two weeks after arriving, 109 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:48,610 Parker has both his operations up and running, 110 00:05:48,610 --> 00:05:54,750 and he is one step closer to his dream of expanding his mining empire. 111 00:05:54,750 --> 00:05:57,320 It's nice to finally see some money coming in, hopefully, 112 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,190 assuming there's gold in that [bleep]. 113 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:09,060 [Rick] Back in Keno, buddy. 114 00:06:09,060 --> 00:06:10,630 Oh, look at this, the bar's even open, Kruse. 115 00:06:10,630 --> 00:06:11,870 [Chris] Just my luck. 116 00:06:11,870 --> 00:06:14,600 Bars are back open and we've got [bleep] ton of work to do. 117 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,970 [narrator] Six weeks into the short mining season, Rick Ness 118 00:06:18,970 --> 00:06:22,340 and his buddy Chris Kruse are finally out of lockdown 119 00:06:22,340 --> 00:06:23,980 and back in the Yukon. 120 00:06:23,980 --> 00:06:25,810 I'm real late. 121 00:06:25,810 --> 00:06:27,580 I needed to get my equipment running. 122 00:06:27,580 --> 00:06:29,080 I need to get crew up here. 123 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:30,680 I'm actually starting off worse than I ever have, 124 00:06:30,690 --> 00:06:34,050 that I'm starting off in a hole this year, and that feels terrible. 125 00:06:34,060 --> 00:06:37,920 [narrator] Last season, Rick barely broke even. 126 00:06:37,930 --> 00:06:43,030 This is his last chance to prove himself as a mine boss. 127 00:06:43,030 --> 00:06:45,570 [Rick] Last year was [bleep] brutal. 128 00:06:45,570 --> 00:06:47,570 Quite honestly I spent all winter 129 00:06:47,570 --> 00:06:49,570 trying to process how last season went. 130 00:06:49,570 --> 00:06:52,040 I've never had such a kick in the ass like that, 131 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:54,610 but I worked pretty hard all winter to try and get some money to 132 00:06:54,610 --> 00:06:55,780 give this another shot. 133 00:06:55,780 --> 00:06:58,680 There's a whole lot of redemption waiting for me. 134 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,210 If I didn't think that, I wouldn't be here. 135 00:07:01,220 --> 00:07:03,680 [narrator] Rick has staked his mining future 136 00:07:03,690 --> 00:07:07,550 on a new 2,000-acre claim on lower Duncan Creek. 137 00:07:08,620 --> 00:07:11,260 But before he can run any figure, 138 00:07:11,260 --> 00:07:16,000 he has to move his entire camp eight miles to the new site. 139 00:07:18,270 --> 00:07:21,170 And there is only one man for the job, 140 00:07:21,170 --> 00:07:24,470 Yukon trucking legend, Nathan Thornington. 141 00:07:24,470 --> 00:07:26,440 - Good. How you been? - Moving camp first. 142 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,040 [Nathan] It rained last night so those roads are just super slick. 143 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:30,140 More weight the better. 144 00:07:30,150 --> 00:07:30,980 [Rick] Good, good. 145 00:07:30,980 --> 00:07:32,350 [Nathan and Rick laughing] 146 00:07:34,820 --> 00:07:38,250 [narrator] To get Rick mining as soon as possible, 147 00:07:38,250 --> 00:07:42,590 Nathan needs to haul seven loads down winding mountain roads 148 00:07:42,590 --> 00:07:44,220 by the end of the day. 149 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,000 [metal rumbling] 150 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,100 [Nathan] Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! 151 00:08:01,910 --> 00:08:04,110 You gotta get those guys. 152 00:08:05,110 --> 00:08:07,080 How far are we from there? 153 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:08,150 [producer speaking] 154 00:08:08,150 --> 00:08:09,550 [bleep]. 155 00:08:09,550 --> 00:08:11,180 Yikes. 156 00:08:13,090 --> 00:08:16,360 [narrator] The trailer and its 1-ton load are hanging 157 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,390 over a 200-foot sheer drop. 158 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:23,830 [producer speaking] 159 00:08:23,830 --> 00:08:24,900 I don't think so. 160 00:08:24,900 --> 00:08:26,570 I just don't even want to look at it. 161 00:08:31,340 --> 00:08:33,410 [Rick] It had to [bleep] rain last night. 162 00:08:33,410 --> 00:08:36,380 [Nathan] Yeah, see, as soon as it got here, it just slid. 163 00:08:39,010 --> 00:08:41,980 [Rick speaking] 164 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,790 [narrator] It takes Rick a full five hours to walk in 165 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:58,530 the only machine strong enough to pull the trailer out of danger. 166 00:08:58,530 --> 00:09:01,600 His 70-ton 700 excavator. 167 00:09:04,970 --> 00:09:08,140 It's either gonna lift this thing out of there or it's not. 168 00:09:08,140 --> 00:09:10,840 If it's got the power, but if it doesn't... 169 00:09:10,850 --> 00:09:13,150 [Rick speaking] 170 00:09:13,150 --> 00:09:14,480 [Rick] Am I good to lift? 171 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:16,150 - Yeah. - [Rick] Okay. 172 00:09:18,220 --> 00:09:19,490 Easy. 173 00:09:20,420 --> 00:09:22,460 [Nathan] Try pulling a bit more. 174 00:09:31,300 --> 00:09:33,970 [Rick laughs] 175 00:09:33,970 --> 00:09:34,770 More or less. 176 00:09:34,770 --> 00:09:37,000 [Nathan laughing] 177 00:09:37,010 --> 00:09:40,940 Saved probably the first or second most vital part of my camp, 178 00:09:40,940 --> 00:09:44,080 that's the, that's the bathroom shack. 179 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,910 [bleep], not a [bleep] scratch on it. 180 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:47,910 [Rick laughing] 181 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:49,420 What the [bleep]. 182 00:09:50,820 --> 00:09:53,120 [Rick] Those might be the four most 183 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:57,090 pathetic looking yet strongest trees in the [bleep] universe. 184 00:09:57,090 --> 00:09:59,590 All right, get her moving. 185 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:03,960 [narrator] The next day, Rick hauls in the final pieces of his camp 186 00:10:03,970 --> 00:10:07,700 and assembles his slimmed down crew. 187 00:10:07,700 --> 00:10:09,040 All right. 188 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:11,240 Well, we got everything moved over, the camp, the equipment, 189 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:12,910 now it's time to get to mining. 190 00:10:12,910 --> 00:10:15,740 We're all here, this is, uh, this is pretty much it. 191 00:10:15,740 --> 00:10:17,840 We're going for a thousand ounces this year. 192 00:10:17,850 --> 00:10:19,280 I know we've got a short amount of time, 193 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:22,480 but if we just work and pound it out together, I think we can get it. 194 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:24,120 Let's do this. We good? All right. 195 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:25,550 - Let's do it. - Yeah. 196 00:10:33,060 --> 00:10:36,030 And just like that we're up in sluicing. 197 00:10:38,270 --> 00:10:40,230 [narrator] Nearly seven weeks late, 198 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:43,840 Rick's crew finally start their season. 199 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:46,140 [Chris] I'm amazed that we're even here at this point. 200 00:10:46,140 --> 00:10:48,740 It's a testament to Rick getting all that work done. 201 00:10:48,740 --> 00:10:50,240 It's pretty damn amazing. 202 00:10:50,250 --> 00:10:52,680 This year, man, already a huge change. 203 00:10:52,680 --> 00:10:55,180 Rick stepping up, it's huge for us, right? 204 00:10:55,180 --> 00:10:56,920 [Karla] It's a whole different energy this year. 205 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:01,150 We can only hope that there's gold in this little spot. 206 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:05,630 [narrator] Rick is one step closer to redemption. 207 00:11:07,030 --> 00:11:08,830 [Rick] I'm taking this year very personal. 208 00:11:08,830 --> 00:11:11,730 Honestly, when we walk out of here this fall, 209 00:11:11,730 --> 00:11:14,970 I think we're gonna have a huge amount of victory in our corner. 210 00:11:22,940 --> 00:11:28,150 [narrator] In 2020, as gold prices soar to record highs, 211 00:11:28,150 --> 00:11:33,150 a greenhorn seizes the moment to set up his own gold mine. 212 00:11:36,290 --> 00:11:38,890 This is probably the biggest risk I've taken in my life. 213 00:11:38,890 --> 00:11:40,390 [Fred] I don't have a job right now. 214 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:42,830 I've got nothing coming in. 215 00:11:42,830 --> 00:11:45,170 I'm not willing to take that laying down. 216 00:11:45,170 --> 00:11:48,840 The American dream is to go out and get it with your own hands. 217 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:50,440 I want to control my own fate. 218 00:11:51,610 --> 00:11:54,070 [narrator] Former Green Beret medic Fred Lewis 219 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,180 got a taste for gold working with Parker 220 00:11:57,180 --> 00:12:01,610 in Papua New Guinea, Australia and the Yukon. 221 00:12:01,620 --> 00:12:03,620 [Fred] I was 14 years in the military, 222 00:12:03,620 --> 00:12:07,090 and then when I got out, having that purpose, it was just gone in one day. 223 00:12:07,090 --> 00:12:11,290 I was a wrestling coach, a girls volleyball coach, a farmer. 224 00:12:11,290 --> 00:12:14,560 I did all these things just trying to find a [bleep] purpose 225 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:17,160 and none of it made any sense to me, 226 00:12:17,170 --> 00:12:18,330 until I found gold mining. 227 00:12:19,870 --> 00:12:21,940 [narrator] Fred has gambled his life savings, 228 00:12:21,940 --> 00:12:23,900 $20,000, 229 00:12:23,910 --> 00:12:29,580 on a lease to mine a 36-acre claim in Oregon's Elkhorn Mountains. 230 00:12:31,050 --> 00:12:34,880 [Fred] I've emptied every penny I own on this and borrowed some, 231 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:37,880 but this is a place that we can pull gold out of the ground 232 00:12:37,890 --> 00:12:39,190 and give ourselves a living. 233 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:42,260 [narrator] To help him mine... 234 00:12:42,260 --> 00:12:43,190 This is the road, man. 235 00:12:43,190 --> 00:12:44,790 We're way up here. 236 00:12:44,790 --> 00:12:47,590 [narrator] Fred calls in a crew of combat veterans. 237 00:12:48,830 --> 00:12:50,360 I think that's Fred right there. 238 00:12:51,170 --> 00:12:53,230 [Fred] In my mind, these are my heroes. 239 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,600 These guys have gone through so much [bleep] in their lives 240 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,000 and fought so much adversity. 241 00:12:58,010 --> 00:13:01,880 So what I wanted is to give these guys not only an adventure 242 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,710 and a moment to have that camaraderie back again, 243 00:13:04,710 --> 00:13:08,010 but I could give them a whole new purpose in life. 244 00:13:09,220 --> 00:13:11,380 This isn't just about gold mining, 245 00:13:11,390 --> 00:13:14,120 it's about coming together as brothers, 246 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:16,160 living the American dream 247 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:19,060 and pulling gold out of the ground to make ourselves our own living. 248 00:13:19,060 --> 00:13:20,230 Yeah. 249 00:13:20,230 --> 00:13:21,960 We're gonna beat the odds. 250 00:13:24,100 --> 00:13:25,200 Seriously. 251 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:26,300 You guys in? 252 00:13:26,300 --> 00:13:27,870 - Hell yeah! - [man 3] Yeah! 253 00:13:27,870 --> 00:13:29,800 - Let's [bleep] do it then. - [man 4] Let's go. 254 00:13:29,810 --> 00:13:31,740 One, two, three... 255 00:13:31,740 --> 00:13:33,610 [narrator] There's just one problem, 256 00:13:33,610 --> 00:13:36,580 most of them have never mined before. 257 00:13:48,990 --> 00:13:53,030 [narrator] In Oregon, former Green Beret medic, Fred Lewis, 258 00:13:53,030 --> 00:13:57,230 and his crew of combat veterans are on the hunt for gold. 259 00:13:58,070 --> 00:14:00,570 [Fred] Everybody here is a novice, so I know 260 00:14:00,570 --> 00:14:02,070 where their heads at right now. 261 00:14:02,070 --> 00:14:03,900 They're... they're probably 262 00:14:03,910 --> 00:14:06,140 completely out of their element, but 263 00:14:06,140 --> 00:14:09,040 I can relate to that. So I'm hoping I can 264 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,140 shed some light on this pretty quick to 'em. 265 00:14:13,980 --> 00:14:19,120 I have zero percent experience mining gold, mining anything, 266 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:22,260 but I started to think, man, I could strike it rich. 267 00:14:22,260 --> 00:14:25,930 [narrator] Former marine, Johnny "Stingray" Stanz 268 00:14:25,930 --> 00:14:28,630 will be in charge of Fred's water system. 269 00:14:28,630 --> 00:14:31,830 I had to retire after ten years in the Marine Corps 270 00:14:31,830 --> 00:14:35,600 when I got a really bad brain injury from getting blown up 271 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,240 in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. 272 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:40,810 I actually got some pictures on my phone. 273 00:14:40,810 --> 00:14:42,940 Um, I was in the bed of the truck, 274 00:14:42,940 --> 00:14:47,610 manning the squad automatic weapon when the bomb went off. 275 00:14:47,620 --> 00:14:50,050 [narrator] Johnny was hurt so badly, 276 00:14:50,050 --> 00:14:54,590 doctors rated his chance of walking or talking again at zero. 277 00:14:54,590 --> 00:14:58,120 [Johnny] Still not 100%, but definitely better than 278 00:14:58,130 --> 00:15:00,830 I could be and look at me gold mining. 279 00:15:00,830 --> 00:15:02,530 How many people can say that? 280 00:15:02,530 --> 00:15:04,900 It's gonna be a freaking task, but 281 00:15:04,900 --> 00:15:07,670 why would I have become special operations in the Marine Corps 282 00:15:07,670 --> 00:15:09,200 if I didn't like challenges. 283 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:12,740 [narrator] To turn a bunch of injured marines, 284 00:15:12,740 --> 00:15:17,480 tank drivers and recon Scout Snipers into gold miners. 285 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:21,580 Fred's relying on Air Force veteran Kendell Madden, 286 00:15:21,580 --> 00:15:25,690 who learned the business from his uncle, gold catching legend, 287 00:15:25,690 --> 00:15:27,320 Freddy Dodge. 288 00:15:28,060 --> 00:15:30,860 [Kendell] One of the only guys here with mining knowledge, 289 00:15:30,860 --> 00:15:34,030 so teaching these guys something I take a lot of pride in. 290 00:15:34,030 --> 00:15:36,800 I'm really confident that these guys are gonna pull through, 291 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:38,530 be a bad-ass team by the end of the year. 292 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:41,330 [narrator] Kendell's first student... 293 00:15:41,340 --> 00:15:44,040 [Kendell] Try to keep the bottom of the bucket flat 294 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:46,040 and level as you pull it in. 295 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:48,680 [narrator] Retired Green Beret Master Sergeant, 296 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:50,380 Stefan Generally. 297 00:15:52,580 --> 00:15:56,620 I spent my first ten years in the army mechanized inventory. 298 00:15:56,620 --> 00:15:59,020 So I've driven in combat. 299 00:15:59,020 --> 00:16:02,390 I figured driving this thing should be a piece of cake. 300 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:04,760 I was wrong. 301 00:16:07,190 --> 00:16:09,400 [Fred over radio] Probably have to throttle up on that, bad boy. 302 00:16:11,100 --> 00:16:12,270 Say that again? 303 00:16:12,270 --> 00:16:13,270 Curl your bucket more. 304 00:16:13,270 --> 00:16:14,600 Gotcha. 305 00:16:20,470 --> 00:16:22,410 Put it down, put it down nice and soft. 306 00:16:22,410 --> 00:16:24,440 [Kendell] Get it, get it, get it. 307 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:27,410 Oh, buddy. 308 00:16:29,980 --> 00:16:31,950 [bleep]. 309 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:34,390 Damn. 310 00:16:35,220 --> 00:16:37,890 [Fred] On a big rock like that, next time, 311 00:16:37,890 --> 00:16:40,360 set it completely on the ground before you let go of it. 312 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:41,890 I wasn't trying to let go of it. 313 00:16:41,900 --> 00:16:42,930 [both laughing] 314 00:16:42,930 --> 00:16:44,230 I wasn't. 315 00:16:45,100 --> 00:16:47,130 So right now that big rock's in the way, 316 00:16:47,140 --> 00:16:49,200 we can't do anything. We're gonna have to lift that rock. 317 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:50,840 Man talk about frickin'. 318 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,240 Oh, Harry. 319 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:55,040 [Fred] We've all proven ourselves as far as tenacity 320 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:56,910 and overcoming obstacles. 321 00:16:56,910 --> 00:17:00,950 This is his obstacle right now and he's gonna figure it out. 322 00:17:00,950 --> 00:17:02,380 [Kendell] Yes, and just put it to the left. 323 00:17:02,380 --> 00:17:03,580 You got it. 324 00:17:03,590 --> 00:17:05,950 Oh, there she goes. 325 00:17:05,950 --> 00:17:07,220 Perfect. Let it be. 326 00:17:07,220 --> 00:17:09,260 Works for me right now. 327 00:17:09,260 --> 00:17:12,360 [narrator] After graduating from Excavator 101, 328 00:17:12,360 --> 00:17:15,130 Stefan is ready to feed wash plant 329 00:17:15,130 --> 00:17:17,300 Colonel Nugget. 330 00:17:17,300 --> 00:17:19,070 All right, Kendell, let's fire it up. 331 00:17:19,070 --> 00:17:20,130 Let's go. 332 00:17:20,140 --> 00:17:23,370 [engine starting] 333 00:17:23,370 --> 00:17:25,240 [Kendell] There she go. 334 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,110 RPMs are good. 335 00:17:36,850 --> 00:17:38,280 [Fred] All right, guys, it's go time. 336 00:17:38,290 --> 00:17:39,590 Let's do it! 337 00:17:41,060 --> 00:17:42,220 Roll it. 338 00:17:42,220 --> 00:17:44,590 Oh, feed the Colonel. 339 00:17:44,590 --> 00:17:45,930 [Stefan] Hell yeah! 340 00:17:45,930 --> 00:17:48,090 Whoo! Let's get some gold. Whoo! 341 00:17:48,100 --> 00:17:50,860 Finally mining! 342 00:17:50,870 --> 00:17:53,970 [narrator] Fred and his crew have taken the first steps 343 00:17:53,970 --> 00:17:57,400 towards their dream of striking it rich. 344 00:17:57,410 --> 00:17:58,910 Such a good feeling. 345 00:17:58,910 --> 00:18:00,170 Heyo! 346 00:18:00,180 --> 00:18:02,380 Cleaning off the top of the cleanup. 347 00:18:02,380 --> 00:18:04,110 Oh, [bleep]. 348 00:18:04,110 --> 00:18:07,110 We're actually mining. Holy [bleep]. 349 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:08,920 That's where you want to be right here. 350 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,950 If we can just keep this going the rest of the season. 351 00:18:23,030 --> 00:18:27,070 [Tony speaking] 352 00:18:29,670 --> 00:18:32,270 [narrator] After two disastrous seasons, 353 00:18:32,270 --> 00:18:36,980 king of the Klondike, Tony Beets is looking to make a comeback. 354 00:18:36,980 --> 00:18:41,050 [Tony speaking] 355 00:18:44,050 --> 00:18:46,250 [narrator] Son, Mike, leads the way. 356 00:18:46,250 --> 00:18:48,790 Running his trommel with the gold rich 357 00:18:48,790 --> 00:18:51,460 pay dirt from the Mega Cut. 358 00:18:51,460 --> 00:18:56,800 And after two weeks, has banked 140 ounces of gold. 359 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:57,930 [Monica] Got it. 360 00:18:57,930 --> 00:19:00,200 [narrator] But to hit his goal, 361 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,400 Tony needs to find more gold rich spots. 362 00:19:04,300 --> 00:19:07,140 [Tony speaking] 363 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:12,580 [narrator] Tony heads to a cut Monica opened up 364 00:19:12,580 --> 00:19:15,010 on Hunker Creek last year, 365 00:19:15,020 --> 00:19:20,190 where he believes the old-timer's dredge left behind a pile of gold. 366 00:19:22,360 --> 00:19:25,190 [Tony speaking] 367 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:38,200 [Monica] [bleep]. 368 00:19:40,140 --> 00:19:41,210 Uh-oh. 369 00:19:41,210 --> 00:19:45,410 [Tony speaking] 370 00:20:01,900 --> 00:20:04,230 [narrator] Trees washed down by winter storms 371 00:20:04,230 --> 00:20:06,470 have dammed Hunker Creek, 372 00:20:06,470 --> 00:20:08,970 diverting it into Monica's cut 373 00:20:08,970 --> 00:20:13,940 and submerging the pay dirt under two and a half million gallons of water. 374 00:20:13,940 --> 00:20:17,140 [Tony speaking] 375 00:20:18,980 --> 00:20:22,320 [narrator] Tony's plan, build a dam to stop the flow of 376 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:24,250 water into Monica's cut. 377 00:20:25,020 --> 00:20:27,220 Re-divert the creek, 378 00:20:27,220 --> 00:20:30,320 then dig a channel to drain the flood water 379 00:20:30,330 --> 00:20:33,230 and reveal the gold rich pay dirt underneath. 380 00:20:33,230 --> 00:20:35,160 [Tony speaking] 381 00:20:57,950 --> 00:20:59,220 Lost track. 382 00:20:59,220 --> 00:21:02,560 [Tony speaking] 383 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,260 But unfortunately, it's probably 384 00:21:11,270 --> 00:21:15,030 one of the worst spots to lose track. 385 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:18,400 He's having to use his boom and arm to lift himself up 386 00:21:18,410 --> 00:21:21,270 and walk the strong track. 387 00:21:22,210 --> 00:21:24,210 The actual [bleep]. 388 00:21:25,250 --> 00:21:27,410 Like, he has no [bleep] track. 389 00:21:27,420 --> 00:21:29,980 I mean, it's chilly beats, he'll probably 390 00:21:29,980 --> 00:21:32,620 do it like it's just another day. 391 00:21:32,620 --> 00:21:35,150 [Tony speaking] 392 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:53,670 [narrator] After piling 38 tons of rock and mud, 393 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,980 Tony has blocked off the creek from the cut. 394 00:21:57,710 --> 00:22:00,880 A week later, the cut is drained 395 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:06,250 and Monica has enough pay stockpile to fire up the Kiwi wash plant. 396 00:22:08,020 --> 00:22:10,120 [Tony speaking] 397 00:22:29,110 --> 00:22:31,080 How does it feel sitting on that pile lady? 398 00:22:31,080 --> 00:22:33,180 Oh, you know, I'm living the dream. 399 00:22:33,180 --> 00:22:36,380 [narrator] Monica and Ruby run for 20 hours 400 00:22:36,380 --> 00:22:41,250 before pulling the mats to see if Tony's second spot pays off. 401 00:22:42,390 --> 00:22:45,620 [Tony speaking] 402 00:22:49,100 --> 00:22:50,730 [Monica] Everybody ready? 403 00:22:50,730 --> 00:22:55,200 [narrator] The cut must produce at least 20 ounces to be worth running. 404 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:56,970 - Nine. - [Monica] Hold on, hold on. 405 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,070 9.92. 406 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:06,750 [narrator] Worth $17,000, way less than Tony hoped for. 407 00:23:06,750 --> 00:23:09,180 [Tony speaking] 408 00:23:13,020 --> 00:23:15,590 [narrator] Tony's fallen at the first hurdle, 409 00:23:15,590 --> 00:23:18,920 unless he finds new gold rich ground, 410 00:23:18,930 --> 00:23:22,830 he could be facing another failed season. 411 00:23:22,830 --> 00:23:25,360 [Tony speaking] 412 00:23:44,790 --> 00:23:47,190 Things here are running good. 413 00:23:47,190 --> 00:23:50,860 The biggest challenge we face right now is that we are 414 00:23:50,860 --> 00:23:53,260 running out of good ground. 415 00:23:53,260 --> 00:23:56,130 [narrator] A third of the way through this season, 416 00:23:56,130 --> 00:24:00,230 Parker is running two wash plants 24/7... 417 00:24:00,230 --> 00:24:01,700 Time to make some money! 418 00:24:01,700 --> 00:24:04,700 [narrator] To build a war chest. 419 00:24:04,710 --> 00:24:07,040 [Parker] You need to make some money up here and a lot of that 420 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:11,710 needs to go towards finding more and better ground. 421 00:24:11,710 --> 00:24:15,410 [narrator] Now, having already banked 2,500 ounces, 422 00:24:15,420 --> 00:24:17,880 over $4 million worth of gold... 423 00:24:17,890 --> 00:24:20,490 [all laughing] 424 00:24:20,490 --> 00:24:23,790 [narrator] Parker is about to make a big move to expand 425 00:24:23,790 --> 00:24:25,390 his mining empire. 426 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:30,760 For the first time ever, he is leaving his mine site 427 00:24:30,770 --> 00:24:31,900 during the season... 428 00:24:31,900 --> 00:24:33,870 Mitch, you'll be in charge while I'm gone. 429 00:24:33,870 --> 00:24:36,070 We'll try and keep her on track. 430 00:24:37,140 --> 00:24:41,070 [narrator] To hunt new ground in his home state of Alaska. 431 00:24:42,010 --> 00:24:44,140 [Parker] Right now I'm on my way to Fairbanks. 432 00:24:44,150 --> 00:24:47,080 We've got a really good opportunity on a piece of ground 433 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:49,380 that has had a lot of historic mining. 434 00:24:49,380 --> 00:24:50,880 It's for sale. 435 00:24:50,890 --> 00:24:53,790 Guy that owns it wants $3 million for it, 436 00:24:53,790 --> 00:24:55,650 which is a lot of money. 437 00:24:55,660 --> 00:24:58,290 [narrator] Buying this claim on Smallwood Creek 438 00:24:58,290 --> 00:25:01,390 could be the biggest risk of Parker's life. 439 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:05,900 So he's brought in drill expert... 440 00:25:05,900 --> 00:25:08,030 [Parker] Looks like he already been washing rocks. 441 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:09,170 [narrator] Liam Ferguson. 442 00:25:09,170 --> 00:25:10,140 Yeah, we got a few... 443 00:25:10,140 --> 00:25:11,100 few days, had a head start on. 444 00:25:11,110 --> 00:25:14,140 So we've done a little bit of drilling now. 445 00:25:15,010 --> 00:25:18,610 [narrator] For the past five days, Liam has been testing 446 00:25:18,610 --> 00:25:22,010 the ground with his state-of-the-art sonic drill. 447 00:25:23,180 --> 00:25:28,150 [Liam] We're seeing gold but seems to be pretty spotty. 448 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,990 For the potential that is here, you want to be sure. 449 00:25:31,990 --> 00:25:33,290 [Parker] Do you want to show me around? 450 00:25:33,290 --> 00:25:34,930 [Liam] Yeah, let's go for a walk. 451 00:25:34,930 --> 00:25:36,600 [Parker] Oh, this looks like fun. 452 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:38,200 How have you been going back and forth it? 453 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:39,900 [Liam] Swimming across. 454 00:25:39,900 --> 00:25:41,330 [Parker] Oh, [bleep]. 455 00:25:41,340 --> 00:25:43,100 You might not want to follow me. 456 00:25:44,100 --> 00:25:46,140 Oh, don't go there. 457 00:25:46,140 --> 00:25:48,040 So you should just come down here and slam a line in 458 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:49,710 somewhere in here, huh? 459 00:25:49,710 --> 00:25:52,980 [Liam] This is kind of the zone that I'd be interested in looking. 460 00:25:54,110 --> 00:25:57,580 [narrator] Liam drills two lines of five test holes 461 00:25:57,590 --> 00:25:59,250 deep into the ground. 462 00:26:01,890 --> 00:26:03,220 [Parker] A lot of this ground is 100 feet deep. 463 00:26:03,220 --> 00:26:06,130 So, it's not cheap mining, right? 464 00:26:06,130 --> 00:26:08,990 That's the kind of ground that if the gold's not good, 465 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:11,230 it'll break you trying to do that. 466 00:26:12,570 --> 00:26:16,070 [narrator] For this ground to be worth the $3 million price tag... 467 00:26:16,070 --> 00:26:18,600 [Liam] Start with the best one first. 468 00:26:18,610 --> 00:26:22,270 [narrator] Parker needs to see 200 milligrams per hole. 469 00:26:24,810 --> 00:26:28,110 [Liam] Do you want to go 100 feet for 32 milligrams, Parker? 470 00:26:29,980 --> 00:26:31,780 I don't know where all the other gold's gone, 471 00:26:31,790 --> 00:26:33,120 it's supposed to be there. 472 00:26:34,020 --> 00:26:35,960 [Parker] Not like we're hitting dead holes, 473 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:37,860 like there's gold here. 474 00:26:37,860 --> 00:26:41,590 Yeah, but no major hits. 475 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,200 I think we're gonna stop drilling for now. 476 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:45,560 [Liam] Yeah, I agree. 477 00:26:45,570 --> 00:26:48,170 As for like buying this place right now, 478 00:26:48,170 --> 00:26:50,840 I'm not putting all my eggs in this basket, 479 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:53,170 because 30 milligrams at 100 feet, 480 00:26:53,170 --> 00:26:56,140 that sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen. 481 00:26:56,140 --> 00:26:58,710 [Liam] Yeah, it's an easy way to lose a lot of money. 482 00:26:58,710 --> 00:27:01,150 [Parker] Thank you for coming out here and making it happen. 483 00:27:02,750 --> 00:27:05,050 [narrator] Back on the Indian River... 484 00:27:05,050 --> 00:27:07,150 Come on, big cat, you're falling behind out there. 485 00:27:07,150 --> 00:27:08,890 Trying my best. 486 00:27:08,890 --> 00:27:12,420 [narrator] Parker's left foreman Mitch Blaschke in charge 487 00:27:12,430 --> 00:27:15,030 of his entire Yukon operation. 488 00:27:16,030 --> 00:27:18,160 Over the last four weeks... 489 00:27:18,170 --> 00:27:19,870 [Mitch] The bottom line, Parker's not here 490 00:27:19,870 --> 00:27:21,870 and we're gonna do it my way. 491 00:27:21,870 --> 00:27:25,070 [narrator] He's helped rookie wash plant boss Tyson... 492 00:27:25,070 --> 00:27:26,110 [Mitch] Whoa! 493 00:27:26,110 --> 00:27:27,670 Hey, hey, hang on! 494 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:29,140 [narrator] Move Slucifer. 495 00:27:29,140 --> 00:27:31,140 If you're telling me you're cool with that setup, 496 00:27:31,150 --> 00:27:32,810 you need to [bleep] rethink your game, man. 497 00:27:32,810 --> 00:27:33,810 [Mitch] Whoa! 498 00:27:33,810 --> 00:27:36,050 [narrator] And struggled to keep Big Red... 499 00:27:36,050 --> 00:27:38,080 Got all kinds of [bleep] hitting the fan around here. 500 00:27:38,090 --> 00:27:39,720 [narrator] On the gold. 501 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:41,420 I want to have this operation running smooth. 502 00:27:41,420 --> 00:27:43,220 I want to have a lot of gold down the gold room, 503 00:27:43,220 --> 00:27:45,290 but I'm not the boss so we'll have to see if he's happy 504 00:27:45,290 --> 00:27:46,990 when he gets back. 505 00:27:46,990 --> 00:27:49,060 [narrator] When Parker was on site, 506 00:27:49,060 --> 00:27:52,770 they were averaging 450 ounces a week. 507 00:27:52,770 --> 00:27:57,940 For Mitch to match that, he needs a massive 1,800 ounces of gold. 508 00:27:57,940 --> 00:27:58,840 [Parker] Hey. You're back. 509 00:27:58,840 --> 00:28:00,010 [Parker] I'm back. 510 00:28:00,010 --> 00:28:01,910 It looks like things have been going great here. 511 00:28:01,910 --> 00:28:03,110 Like, you guys have been busy. 512 00:28:03,110 --> 00:28:04,280 Been very busy, yeah. 513 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:06,310 [Parker] About it, Brennan, let's see this stuff. 514 00:28:07,850 --> 00:28:11,420 [narrator] Mitch delivers 2,293 ounces... 515 00:28:11,420 --> 00:28:12,720 [Parker] Holy [bleep]. 516 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:14,190 That's a good month. 517 00:28:14,190 --> 00:28:19,530 [narrator] ...smashing his target with $4.3 million of gold. 518 00:28:23,730 --> 00:28:25,800 That's like the biggest one we've ever had, isn't it? 519 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,100 - Oh, yeah. - No, this is definitely a record-breaker. 520 00:28:28,100 --> 00:28:29,230 [Parker] I'm pumped. 521 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:30,940 I mean, like to be able to be gone 522 00:28:30,940 --> 00:28:32,640 and have one of the best months 523 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,140 this company's ever had is awesome, 524 00:28:35,140 --> 00:28:38,240 and like I just can't thank you guys enough. 525 00:28:40,810 --> 00:28:43,820 [narrator] Despite the late start, Parker's mined 526 00:28:43,820 --> 00:28:46,250 nearly 5,000 ounces. 527 00:28:47,190 --> 00:28:48,020 [Parker] It's never enough. 528 00:28:48,020 --> 00:28:49,860 [all laughing] 529 00:28:49,860 --> 00:28:53,260 [narrator] But he still needs to find new ground. 530 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:03,670 [Rick] Well, we had a late start to the season, 531 00:29:03,670 --> 00:29:06,140 but we're definitely making up for lost time right now. 532 00:29:08,070 --> 00:29:12,950 [narrator] At Duncan Creek, Rick Ness is fighting for his mining future. 533 00:29:12,950 --> 00:29:15,480 [Rick] This year's all about proving to myself 534 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:18,120 and to my crew that we can be successful out here mining. 535 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:20,050 If I don't get our 1,000 ounce gold this year, 536 00:29:20,050 --> 00:29:22,150 I don't see continuing on. 537 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:24,190 [narrator] Halfway through the season, 538 00:29:24,190 --> 00:29:28,760 he's still 600 ounces short of his 1,000 ounce gold. 539 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:31,160 [Rick] I've run the numbers and there's just no way 540 00:29:31,170 --> 00:29:34,730 we're gonna get to 1,000 ounces at the pace we're going. 541 00:29:34,740 --> 00:29:36,600 [narrator] To up his gold count, 542 00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:40,210 Rick is going for broke on the new Deep Cut, 543 00:29:40,210 --> 00:29:45,740 a three-acre piece of ground he believes is rich in gold nuggets. 544 00:29:45,750 --> 00:29:48,380 [Rick] There's 30 feet of pay in here, like they're supposed to be. 545 00:29:48,380 --> 00:29:50,050 It should get us through the rest of the season. 546 00:29:50,050 --> 00:29:53,120 You know, we've had to go down through over 60 feet of overburden, 547 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:55,120 you know, it's cost a small fortune, 548 00:29:55,120 --> 00:29:57,990 but sometimes you got to bite the bullet, just do it. 549 00:30:00,390 --> 00:30:02,930 The difference with Rick this year is 550 00:30:02,930 --> 00:30:04,400 complete night and day. 551 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:05,960 He's down here busting his ass. 552 00:30:05,970 --> 00:30:08,030 He's working right alongside us, 553 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:10,500 because he's pumped up just like the rest of us. 554 00:30:13,970 --> 00:30:15,310 [bleep], why is it doing that? 555 00:30:15,310 --> 00:30:17,180 Uh-oh. 556 00:30:18,110 --> 00:30:21,210 That is definitely bedrock. 557 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:25,250 [narrator] Rick has hit a wall of fractured bedrock 558 00:30:25,250 --> 00:30:29,250 where he expected to find gold-rich pager. 559 00:30:29,260 --> 00:30:32,060 [Rick] It was just overburdened sitting right on the bedrock. 560 00:30:32,060 --> 00:30:34,330 So this whole section right here we're clearing for nothing. 561 00:30:38,030 --> 00:30:39,360 [producer speaking] 562 00:30:39,370 --> 00:30:41,270 Gold. 563 00:30:41,270 --> 00:30:42,770 That's just solid clay. 564 00:30:42,770 --> 00:30:46,970 There's little strips of gravels in it, but that's all... 565 00:30:46,970 --> 00:30:50,210 I don't know. It doesn't look like where we tested last year. 566 00:30:50,210 --> 00:30:54,050 Getting it into the pan as much as I can and try to find some gold in it. 567 00:30:54,050 --> 00:30:57,120 I'm pretty, pretty nervous right now. 568 00:30:59,890 --> 00:31:02,890 [narrator] If the pan contains no gold, 569 00:31:02,890 --> 00:31:07,330 his dreams of a successful season could be over. 570 00:31:15,270 --> 00:31:17,100 There ain't nothing in this. 571 00:31:17,100 --> 00:31:19,140 That's a major, major [bleep]. 572 00:31:19,140 --> 00:31:20,110 [bleep]. 573 00:31:20,110 --> 00:31:21,440 [bleep]. 574 00:31:28,250 --> 00:31:29,920 [Rick] Right now I'm just scrambling 575 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:32,250 to look for the future here for the rest of the season 576 00:31:32,250 --> 00:31:33,790 because the Deep Cut was supposed to be it. 577 00:31:33,790 --> 00:31:37,820 So plan is get out and find some different ground. 578 00:31:37,830 --> 00:31:40,430 [narrator] In the mountains above Keno, 579 00:31:40,430 --> 00:31:43,030 Rick Ness' future as a gold miner 580 00:31:43,030 --> 00:31:46,970 hangs in the balance after striking out in the Deep Cut. 581 00:31:46,970 --> 00:31:48,270 That's a disaster, right? 582 00:31:48,270 --> 00:31:50,000 We spent a lot of time and money on that and it's... 583 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:51,970 it's going to produce zero. 584 00:31:51,970 --> 00:31:55,940 Rick's out there looking for dirt, but you see we don't got much time left, so. 585 00:31:55,940 --> 00:31:58,810 It's not good, man. It's not good. 586 00:31:58,810 --> 00:32:01,010 [Rick] I'm just gonna keep looking until I find us some 587 00:32:01,020 --> 00:32:02,180 ground we could run. 588 00:32:02,220 --> 00:32:04,150 I'm hoping that that good red gravel we were running 589 00:32:04,150 --> 00:32:05,220 continues across the creek. 590 00:32:05,220 --> 00:32:07,050 I don't see why it shouldn't. 591 00:32:07,050 --> 00:32:09,720 [narrator] All of Rick's gold this season 592 00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:13,860 has come from the Cheap Cut, a pay streak of red pay gravel, 593 00:32:13,860 --> 00:32:16,160 just two feet below the surface. 594 00:32:16,160 --> 00:32:19,100 Rick believes the pay streak continues 595 00:32:19,100 --> 00:32:21,370 on the other side of the creek. 596 00:32:21,370 --> 00:32:24,940 If his hunch is right, it could save his season. 597 00:32:26,040 --> 00:32:29,170 [Rick] Crossing the creek was never part of the plan this year. 598 00:32:30,510 --> 00:32:33,150 Thinking my best bet is to hug the creek a bit 599 00:32:33,150 --> 00:32:36,080 because that should afford me some thaw off the creek. 600 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:43,190 Oh, [bleep] yeah. 601 00:32:44,820 --> 00:32:47,260 We've got red gravel right here. 602 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:52,500 Hey, Kruse, let's get those rock trucks rounded up, we've got pay gravel. 603 00:32:57,140 --> 00:33:00,140 [Chris] Rick's given me an opportunity to 604 00:33:00,140 --> 00:33:02,810 make more money than I've ever made in my life. 605 00:33:02,810 --> 00:33:04,980 It's a chance for me to make a better life 606 00:33:04,980 --> 00:33:07,180 for me and my fiancee. 607 00:33:07,180 --> 00:33:09,780 I mean, for Rick to just hand that to me, 608 00:33:09,780 --> 00:33:13,090 it's humbling and I don't want to let him down. 609 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:20,230 [Rick] These are nice boulders, nice looking rock, so 610 00:33:20,230 --> 00:33:21,890 looking a lot better here. 611 00:33:21,900 --> 00:33:23,260 We're back on the good pay. 612 00:33:28,900 --> 00:33:31,140 We have an emergency, we have... 613 00:33:31,140 --> 00:33:33,070 Kruse has rolled his truck in the Deep Cut. 614 00:33:33,070 --> 00:33:34,110 [bleep]. 615 00:33:34,110 --> 00:33:35,970 [bleep]. [bleep]. 616 00:33:41,980 --> 00:33:46,420 [indistinct chatter on radio] 617 00:33:51,690 --> 00:33:53,390 It's all right. 618 00:33:53,390 --> 00:33:55,260 You okay? Your neck doesn't hurt nothing, buddy? 619 00:33:55,260 --> 00:33:56,400 [Chris] No. 620 00:33:57,400 --> 00:33:58,260 Oh. 621 00:33:58,270 --> 00:34:00,400 Oh. 622 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:01,970 [Rick] Your back's not hurting, nothing? 623 00:34:01,970 --> 00:34:03,240 You all right, brother? 624 00:34:08,980 --> 00:34:10,040 Oh, yeah, I'm [bleep] great. 625 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:11,140 [bleep]. 626 00:34:11,150 --> 00:34:13,110 You scared the [bleep] out of me, dude. 627 00:34:13,880 --> 00:34:16,180 Yeah, I know. I [bleep] up. 628 00:34:16,180 --> 00:34:18,220 No, I suddenly turned around, I didn't see any of it happen. 629 00:34:18,220 --> 00:34:20,190 I see the [bleep] truck here laying on the side. 630 00:34:20,190 --> 00:34:22,190 I didn't see anybody moving around it. 631 00:34:22,190 --> 00:34:24,160 [bleep] bugs. 632 00:34:24,160 --> 00:34:25,590 I'm just happy you're okay, dude. 633 00:34:25,590 --> 00:34:26,860 - Oh. - This is... 634 00:34:26,860 --> 00:34:28,290 [Chris] It was, it was... 635 00:34:28,300 --> 00:34:30,100 super [bleep] slow-mo. 636 00:34:30,100 --> 00:34:35,470 I've got it to the point where it picked up that front wheel before 637 00:34:36,500 --> 00:34:40,740 and it started feeling like that 638 00:34:40,740 --> 00:34:42,710 and then it didn't stop feeling like that. 639 00:34:42,710 --> 00:34:45,010 Prided myself in doing a pretty good job of 640 00:34:45,010 --> 00:34:49,280 taking care of these trucks and now I [bleep] up. 641 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:53,020 [narrator] Rick brings in the 480 Excavator 642 00:34:53,020 --> 00:34:55,120 and a loader to right the truck. 643 00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:57,290 Well, I'm just trying to figure a good spot to rig it here. 644 00:34:57,290 --> 00:34:58,990 [Chris] Yeah. 645 00:34:58,990 --> 00:35:00,460 It's going to be a pretty hillbilly. 646 00:35:03,660 --> 00:35:06,300 This is not how you rig stuff, but 647 00:35:06,300 --> 00:35:09,070 we need to get this thing flopped over in a timely fashion, 648 00:35:09,070 --> 00:35:10,100 so this is what we're gonna do. 649 00:35:10,100 --> 00:35:11,400 Okay. Go ahead, start pulling. 650 00:35:11,410 --> 00:35:14,970 Costing us time and money, that's not a good feeling. 651 00:35:14,980 --> 00:35:16,240 Just watch yourself. 652 00:35:16,240 --> 00:35:18,080 You should tilt it a bit more, tilt it. 653 00:35:20,710 --> 00:35:21,980 Okay. 654 00:35:24,250 --> 00:35:26,050 If you wanted out of a truck that bad, 655 00:35:26,050 --> 00:35:27,590 you just had to [bleep] tell me, dude. 656 00:35:27,590 --> 00:35:29,960 [Rick laughing] 657 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:31,820 Zero physical harm, 658 00:35:31,830 --> 00:35:34,460 quite possibly irreparable damage to my pride. 659 00:35:38,530 --> 00:35:41,170 [narrator] Later, Karla checks the sluices 660 00:35:41,170 --> 00:35:46,270 to see if Rick's decision to cross the creek has paid off. 661 00:35:46,270 --> 00:35:47,870 [Karla] It looks really good. 662 00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:49,370 [man 1] Oh, my [bleep]. 663 00:35:49,380 --> 00:35:50,910 [Karla] Holy [bleep], dude. 664 00:35:50,910 --> 00:35:52,140 I can't believe that. 665 00:35:52,150 --> 00:35:53,210 Wow! 666 00:35:53,210 --> 00:35:54,950 Look at that. 667 00:35:54,950 --> 00:35:57,080 [all laughing] 668 00:35:57,080 --> 00:35:59,080 [Rick] Holy [bleep]. 669 00:36:00,790 --> 00:36:02,290 [Chris] Christmas came early. 670 00:36:02,290 --> 00:36:04,190 That's like an ounce right there. 671 00:36:04,190 --> 00:36:07,130 That's a [bleep] beauty, like that's worth some serious money. 672 00:36:07,130 --> 00:36:10,000 Probably be [bleep] four grand right there. 673 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:11,900 As far as I know, that's bigger than anything 674 00:36:11,900 --> 00:36:13,770 Parker or Tony's pulled out of the ground. 675 00:36:13,770 --> 00:36:16,770 [narrator] Last season, Rick left the Klondike to 676 00:36:16,770 --> 00:36:19,040 come to the mountains above Keno 677 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:21,510 in the hope of finding monster nuggets. 678 00:36:22,910 --> 00:36:25,110 That's bigger than anything I expected ever out here. 679 00:36:25,110 --> 00:36:26,480 [Karla] Yeah. 680 00:36:27,750 --> 00:36:31,350 [narrator] His gamble is finally paying off. 681 00:36:31,350 --> 00:36:32,980 [Rick] This year just feels different, you know, 682 00:36:32,990 --> 00:36:36,790 and it's got a better vibe, but I still need to hit my 1,000-ounce target. 683 00:36:36,790 --> 00:36:38,690 As long as we don't hit any major snags, 684 00:36:38,690 --> 00:36:40,360 I think we're right on track. 685 00:36:47,730 --> 00:36:49,730 [Fred] All of you fought some pretty hard battles 686 00:36:49,740 --> 00:36:51,800 in your life and now we just need to do that here. 687 00:36:51,810 --> 00:36:55,210 [narrator] In Oregon, rookie miner Fred Lewis 688 00:36:55,210 --> 00:37:00,010 and his team of combat veterans dream of striking it rich. 689 00:37:00,010 --> 00:37:01,280 Fred's right. 690 00:37:01,280 --> 00:37:02,810 Let's get this [bleep] gold, boys! 691 00:37:02,820 --> 00:37:04,320 Oh, yeah! 692 00:37:07,350 --> 00:37:09,850 [Kyle] Came out here as a group of injured vets 693 00:37:09,860 --> 00:37:11,020 and yet here we are. 694 00:37:11,020 --> 00:37:14,090 We're doing everything we can in our power to 695 00:37:14,090 --> 00:37:17,260 try to bring money home, make life good again. 696 00:37:17,260 --> 00:37:20,500 [narrator] For three months, Fred's Greenhorn crew 697 00:37:20,500 --> 00:37:22,800 has struggled to get on the gold, 698 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:25,070 banking just one ounce. 699 00:37:26,170 --> 00:37:27,940 This is really bad. 700 00:37:29,180 --> 00:37:30,880 [narrator] They've battled breakdown. 701 00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:32,110 [coughing] 702 00:37:32,110 --> 00:37:33,250 [Stefan] I'm no mechanic. 703 00:37:33,250 --> 00:37:34,250 I don't know what that means. 704 00:37:34,250 --> 00:37:36,110 [narrator] Water problems. 705 00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:37,950 Hey, hey, hey, cut off that water. 706 00:37:37,950 --> 00:37:39,580 [narrator] And each other. 707 00:37:39,590 --> 00:37:41,790 Are you gonna [bleep] do anything right? 708 00:37:41,790 --> 00:37:43,120 Shut your fat mouth. 709 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:44,990 You know, morale is down. 710 00:37:44,990 --> 00:37:45,890 People want to see gold. 711 00:37:45,890 --> 00:37:47,230 They're not seeing gold. 712 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:50,200 This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, 713 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:53,200 but it's kind of turning into a nightmare. 714 00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:55,100 [narrator] But despite all their problems, 715 00:37:55,100 --> 00:37:58,240 the combat veterans aren't giving up. 716 00:37:59,240 --> 00:38:00,140 [Fred] Hurry up back there. 717 00:38:00,140 --> 00:38:02,070 Let's go. 718 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:04,840 We keep getting kicked, but we keep getting back up. 719 00:38:04,850 --> 00:38:06,180 If we can keep the plant up and running 720 00:38:06,180 --> 00:38:08,880 and not have as many issues, we'll get more gold. 721 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:11,050 [Kendell] Thankfully we got a team that won't quit, 722 00:38:11,050 --> 00:38:13,750 no matter how much you put problems or obstacles in their way, 723 00:38:13,750 --> 00:38:15,150 they're gonna keep fighting. 724 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:17,920 I might just kind of try and put as many buckets as I can through. 725 00:38:17,920 --> 00:38:19,220 [Stefan] We need to make some money. 726 00:38:19,230 --> 00:38:20,530 We need to find some gold. 727 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:29,300 [Stuart] Hey, Kyle, the... 728 00:38:29,300 --> 00:38:30,770 the hopper is jamming up, man. 729 00:38:30,770 --> 00:38:32,670 Can you come up there and knock something loose? 730 00:38:32,670 --> 00:38:34,310 - [bleep]. - [Kyle] Yeah, let's do it. 731 00:38:34,310 --> 00:38:36,410 Leave that thing running I gotta go up there and fix it. 732 00:38:39,750 --> 00:38:41,980 [Stuart speaking] 733 00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:44,720 Hey, man, be careful up there. 734 00:38:44,720 --> 00:38:46,790 [Kyle] Yeah, it's jammed up real bad here. 735 00:38:46,790 --> 00:38:48,890 We're running completely jacked up. 736 00:38:48,890 --> 00:38:51,360 [bleep]. You know, you shouldn't be up on the wash plant while it's running. 737 00:38:53,430 --> 00:38:55,760 [bleep] 738 00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:56,860 [Kyle] Hey, hey, hey. 739 00:38:56,860 --> 00:38:59,160 Cut the water, Johnny. Cut the water. 740 00:39:02,270 --> 00:39:04,240 Kyle, you can't be up there while it's running. 741 00:39:04,240 --> 00:39:05,500 What's going on? 742 00:39:06,970 --> 00:39:08,340 [bleep]. 743 00:39:16,720 --> 00:39:20,150 We're here to mine and go home with gold in our hands. 744 00:39:20,150 --> 00:39:22,390 We need to wake the beast and we need to get things going. 745 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:25,690 Oh, boy! 746 00:39:25,690 --> 00:39:28,890 [narrator] In Oregon's Elkhorn Mountains, Fred Lewis' 747 00:39:28,900 --> 00:39:32,700 operation is at a standstill again. 748 00:39:32,700 --> 00:39:34,500 [Fred] This... this is a mess. 749 00:39:34,500 --> 00:39:36,670 [narrator] To get back on the gold, 750 00:39:36,670 --> 00:39:41,910 Fred's crew needs to stop pay dirt clogging the wash plant's hopper. 751 00:39:41,910 --> 00:39:44,840 [Kyle] The bottom of our hopper is just wavy as can be 752 00:39:44,850 --> 00:39:46,610 and I think that's where part of our issue is. 753 00:39:46,610 --> 00:39:48,680 The water is not able to rush down right, which means 754 00:39:48,680 --> 00:39:51,120 that's where you're starting to get piles and build up. 755 00:39:51,120 --> 00:39:53,650 [narrator] Ex-army sergeant Kyle Pletzke 756 00:39:53,650 --> 00:39:57,590 comes up with a plan, cover the dented hopper base 757 00:39:57,590 --> 00:40:00,190 with a sloping sheet of smooth steel. 758 00:40:00,190 --> 00:40:02,230 [Kyle speaking] 759 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:09,700 [Kyle] Definitely not afraid of hard work, 760 00:40:09,700 --> 00:40:11,870 after being in the military for five years, 761 00:40:11,870 --> 00:40:14,010 a lot of it was spent in the hospital for me, 762 00:40:14,010 --> 00:40:18,140 and that was probably harder work than actually going out and be an infantryman. 763 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:21,210 [narrator] While serving in Afghanistan, 764 00:40:21,210 --> 00:40:26,150 Kyle's light-armored vehicle rolled and crushed his legs and pelvis. 765 00:40:27,020 --> 00:40:28,590 [Kyle] Had to relearn how to walk. 766 00:40:28,590 --> 00:40:31,960 Doctors kind of gave me a bad prognosis at one point. 767 00:40:31,960 --> 00:40:34,160 After leaving the hospital and leaving the military, 768 00:40:34,160 --> 00:40:35,590 it was tough to know what to do. 769 00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:38,230 This is... 770 00:40:38,260 --> 00:40:41,100 I think this is what I needed, you know, it's being out here 771 00:40:41,100 --> 00:40:44,200 with a good group of guys, running around a mine site, 772 00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:46,870 hopping up, still able to fix things. 773 00:40:46,870 --> 00:40:49,070 I think this might be a real calling for me. 774 00:40:49,910 --> 00:40:51,110 I've got to give it everything I can. 775 00:40:51,110 --> 00:40:52,780 There's nothing that's going to stop me from 776 00:40:52,780 --> 00:40:54,150 making this be a success. 777 00:40:55,750 --> 00:40:58,180 All right, let's fire up. We're clear. 778 00:41:00,690 --> 00:41:03,520 We'll know in about ten minutes if that hopper is gonna feed it correctly. 779 00:41:07,760 --> 00:41:09,860 Right now it is looking pretty good. 780 00:41:09,860 --> 00:41:12,100 It looks like we might have solved the problem. 781 00:41:12,970 --> 00:41:14,230 It's looking a lot better. 782 00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:16,030 Keep feeding it, Stu. 783 00:41:16,040 --> 00:41:18,740 Let's get some gold, baby! 784 00:41:18,740 --> 00:41:22,710 [narrator] Kyle's fix allows Fred's crew to run uninterrupted 785 00:41:22,710 --> 00:41:24,610 for the first time this season. 786 00:41:26,080 --> 00:41:28,150 - You guys want to see? - [man] Yeah, let's get it. 787 00:41:34,290 --> 00:41:36,020 [Fred] 0.24. 788 00:41:37,020 --> 00:41:39,890 [narrator] Despite stepping up to fix the plant 789 00:41:39,890 --> 00:41:44,530 on their own, the crew banks just $456. 790 00:41:45,130 --> 00:41:46,400 [Fred] I don't like it. 791 00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:52,070 [narrator] Fred's season gold hall is still only 1.2 ounces. 792 00:41:52,070 --> 00:41:54,110 [Fred] If we kept going the way we're going, I don't... 793 00:41:54,110 --> 00:41:56,410 I don't have another week, maybe two weeks in me 794 00:41:56,410 --> 00:41:59,140 running like this without something coming back in. 795 00:42:12,190 --> 00:42:16,760 [Tony speaking] 796 00:42:16,760 --> 00:42:19,300 [narrator] Twelve weeks into the short season, 797 00:42:19,300 --> 00:42:25,140 Tony Beets has mined only $1,000 ounces of his 3,000-ounce gold. 798 00:42:25,140 --> 00:42:28,270 [Tony speaking] 799 00:42:33,950 --> 00:42:37,450 [narrator] All season, Tony has been desperately searching 800 00:42:37,450 --> 00:42:40,650 for new gold rich pay streaks... 801 00:42:40,650 --> 00:42:43,220 [Tony speaking] 802 00:42:43,220 --> 00:42:45,860 [narrator] But so far has drawn a blank. 803 00:42:45,860 --> 00:42:48,160 [Tony speaking] 804 00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:55,000 [narrator] Now, Tony has come up with a new plan. 805 00:42:55,000 --> 00:42:58,440 [Tony speaking] 806 00:43:05,640 --> 00:43:08,110 [narrator] Just down the hill from Mike's trommel 807 00:43:08,110 --> 00:43:12,080 lies a huge pile of waste rocks and gravel 808 00:43:12,090 --> 00:43:15,520 left by miners more than 80 years ago. 809 00:43:15,520 --> 00:43:18,120 [Tony speaking] 810 00:43:29,940 --> 00:43:33,440 [narrator] Tony believes the old-timers' wooden sluice boxes 811 00:43:33,440 --> 00:43:35,240 were so primitive, 812 00:43:35,240 --> 00:43:39,210 they could have washed out hundreds of ounces in their tailings. 813 00:43:39,210 --> 00:43:43,350 [Tony speaking] 814 00:43:58,330 --> 00:44:00,130 [Monica] He's not the one that has to lift them. 815 00:44:00,130 --> 00:44:02,430 [Tony speaking] 816 00:44:04,470 --> 00:44:07,270 [narrator] If Tony finds gold in the tailings, 817 00:44:07,270 --> 00:44:12,240 it could be the monster payday he's been looking for all season. 818 00:44:14,710 --> 00:44:18,580 [Tony speaking] 819 00:44:23,420 --> 00:44:27,990 One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine ten. 820 00:44:27,990 --> 00:44:30,130 [Tony speaking] 821 00:44:38,000 --> 00:44:40,910 [narrator] To run the old-timer tails, 822 00:44:40,910 --> 00:44:44,580 Tony brings his 30-year-old shaker deck out of retirement... 823 00:44:44,580 --> 00:44:47,310 Let's get going. 824 00:44:47,310 --> 00:44:51,950 [narrator] And trucks it down the hill to a narrow pad beside the tailgate. 825 00:44:56,760 --> 00:44:58,390 [Tony speaking] 826 00:45:04,860 --> 00:45:07,970 [narrator] Tony hauls in two old dredge pontoons 827 00:45:07,970 --> 00:45:10,000 to help build the pad. 828 00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:12,540 [Tony speaking] 829 00:45:14,370 --> 00:45:15,570 [Ruby] No way. 830 00:45:15,580 --> 00:45:17,280 [Tony speaking] 831 00:45:20,810 --> 00:45:21,980 Where do you like to have it? 832 00:45:21,980 --> 00:45:23,950 [Tony speaking] 833 00:45:32,890 --> 00:45:37,130 I'm waiting for it to hit that thing. Oh, [bleep]. 834 00:45:37,130 --> 00:45:40,000 [Tony speaking] 835 00:45:49,040 --> 00:45:50,210 [Ruby] Tony! 836 00:45:51,410 --> 00:45:53,010 [Tony] Oh, no! 837 00:45:53,010 --> 00:45:54,280 Tony! 838 00:45:55,450 --> 00:45:57,380 [Tony speaking] 839 00:46:06,190 --> 00:46:07,260 Yes. 840 00:46:07,260 --> 00:46:08,990 [Tony speaking] 841 00:46:16,200 --> 00:46:18,100 Thank [bleep]. 842 00:46:18,100 --> 00:46:20,200 [Tony speaking] 843 00:46:48,330 --> 00:46:49,900 Should I get going? 844 00:46:49,900 --> 00:46:51,240 [Tony speaking] 845 00:47:03,220 --> 00:47:04,720 That's [bleep] beautiful. 846 00:47:04,720 --> 00:47:08,550 [Tony speaking] 847 00:47:11,920 --> 00:47:14,430 [narrator] Tony runs the plant for three days 848 00:47:14,430 --> 00:47:16,090 before pulling the mats... 849 00:47:16,100 --> 00:47:18,200 72.12. 850 00:47:18,200 --> 00:47:22,130 [narrator] Worth almost $130,000. 851 00:47:22,140 --> 00:47:23,100 [bleep] awesome. 852 00:47:23,100 --> 00:47:27,070 [Tony speaking] 853 00:47:29,470 --> 00:47:34,350 [narrator] Tony's plan to find gold in the old-timer tailings has paid off. 854 00:47:34,350 --> 00:47:40,020 If it continues to deliver, his 3,000-ounce gold is in his reach. 855 00:47:40,050 --> 00:47:42,350 [Tony speaking] 856 00:47:51,600 --> 00:47:53,360 [Parker] This season's been a hell of a season 857 00:47:53,370 --> 00:47:58,400 with the whole COVID thing, but, you know, we've had two wash plants, 858 00:47:58,400 --> 00:48:00,040 pounding away all season. 859 00:48:00,040 --> 00:48:01,710 It's been really good. 860 00:48:01,710 --> 00:48:05,240 [narrator] Over halfway through the shortest season ever, 861 00:48:05,250 --> 00:48:08,250 Parker's crew is tearing through ground, 862 00:48:08,250 --> 00:48:13,020 banking a war chest of over 5,000 ounces. 863 00:48:13,020 --> 00:48:14,150 [Brennan] Yeah, buddy! 864 00:48:14,150 --> 00:48:15,290 [Parker] It's about time. 865 00:48:15,720 --> 00:48:18,390 [narrator] But their success is creating a problem. 866 00:48:20,060 --> 00:48:22,330 They're almost out of the pay. 867 00:48:23,800 --> 00:48:25,960 Everything's been motoring along really nice here, but 868 00:48:25,970 --> 00:48:28,570 we're certainly getting down to the last of our pay dirt. 869 00:48:28,570 --> 00:48:31,200 [Parker] The amount of ground we're going through is crazy. 870 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:33,940 Just keeping ground out ahead of Big Red and Slucifer 871 00:48:33,940 --> 00:48:36,070 is gonna be our big challenge. 872 00:48:36,080 --> 00:48:37,910 [narrator] For his season to be a success, 873 00:48:37,910 --> 00:48:42,580 Parker urgently needs new gold rich ground. 874 00:48:42,580 --> 00:48:45,550 I've got my eye on a piece of ground here on the Indian River, 875 00:48:45,550 --> 00:48:48,090 that looks like it should have some really good potential. 876 00:48:48,090 --> 00:48:51,260 [narrator] The Airstrip Cut, a million square foot claim 877 00:48:51,260 --> 00:48:54,890 just two miles downstream from Parker's camp. 878 00:48:54,890 --> 00:48:58,000 He owns the water license, but to mine it, 879 00:48:58,000 --> 00:49:00,360 he needs to persuade the landowner. 880 00:49:01,430 --> 00:49:02,930 Hello. 881 00:49:02,940 --> 00:49:04,240 [Tony speaking] 882 00:49:05,000 --> 00:49:06,300 Can I come in? 883 00:49:11,040 --> 00:49:12,040 [Parker] I'm good. How are you doing? 884 00:49:12,050 --> 00:49:14,080 [Tony speaking] 885 00:49:17,780 --> 00:49:19,820 [Parker] Part of the reason why I'm here is 886 00:49:19,820 --> 00:49:24,160 we're just about done, like, around our camp 887 00:49:24,160 --> 00:49:27,730 and so I'm here... I know you've done some work in there. 888 00:49:27,730 --> 00:49:29,030 [Tony] Mmm-hmm. 889 00:49:29,030 --> 00:49:30,430 [Parker] But I'd love to mine around the Airstrip 890 00:49:30,430 --> 00:49:32,500 if you're game. 891 00:49:40,410 --> 00:49:43,410 [Tony speaking] 892 00:49:43,410 --> 00:49:44,680 Okay. 893 00:49:44,680 --> 00:49:47,610 [Tony speaking] 894 00:49:51,850 --> 00:49:53,880 This is a new Tony. I'm not used to this. 895 00:49:53,890 --> 00:49:56,190 [Tony speaking] 896 00:49:57,220 --> 00:49:59,820 Well, yeah, I appreciate that 'cause we're... 897 00:49:59,830 --> 00:50:01,330 we're always hungry for ground. 898 00:50:02,660 --> 00:50:05,260 And with that, we'll be... 899 00:50:05,260 --> 00:50:07,370 I guess we'll be paying you a lot more royalties 900 00:50:07,370 --> 00:50:08,970 than I thought we would, but that's... 901 00:50:08,970 --> 00:50:10,030 that's okay, I guess. 902 00:50:10,040 --> 00:50:11,400 [Tony speaking] 903 00:50:13,810 --> 00:50:14,870 [Parker] Thanks, Tony. 904 00:50:14,870 --> 00:50:16,140 [Tony speaking] 905 00:50:21,250 --> 00:50:22,980 [Parker] Wow. 906 00:50:24,120 --> 00:50:26,550 That was definitely one of the more strange meetings 907 00:50:26,550 --> 00:50:28,190 I've had with Tony Beets. 908 00:50:31,120 --> 00:50:32,960 I don't know. I mean, we got another block of ground, 909 00:50:32,960 --> 00:50:34,960 so that's the best part. 910 00:50:36,090 --> 00:50:38,960 [narrator] With only eight weeks left in his season, 911 00:50:38,970 --> 00:50:43,030 Parker goes all in on the Airstrip Cut. 912 00:50:43,040 --> 00:50:47,940 His crew races to open up ground before hauling Slucifer 913 00:50:47,940 --> 00:50:50,570 five miles to its new pad. 914 00:50:50,580 --> 00:50:52,140 That's [bleep] badass. 915 00:50:52,150 --> 00:50:55,350 [narrator] A week later, he doubles down 916 00:50:55,350 --> 00:50:59,180 and brings in Big Red from the last cut. 917 00:50:59,190 --> 00:51:00,480 Come on, old girl. 918 00:51:04,920 --> 00:51:07,160 [Mitch] Nice and easy. 919 00:51:07,160 --> 00:51:08,890 Hold there. 920 00:51:08,900 --> 00:51:10,590 Phew. 921 00:51:10,600 --> 00:51:11,960 [Mitch] Here we go. 922 00:51:14,070 --> 00:51:17,070 [narrator] With both plants running side-by-side, 923 00:51:17,070 --> 00:51:20,140 Parker's dreams of expanding his empire 924 00:51:20,140 --> 00:51:23,570 now rest on the Airstrip paying out. 925 00:51:32,220 --> 00:51:33,880 [Rick] You know, I'm always worried we're gonna get 926 00:51:33,890 --> 00:51:36,220 froze out of here before we hit our goal. 927 00:51:36,220 --> 00:51:38,990 This year that's just really not an option. 928 00:51:38,990 --> 00:51:42,560 [narrator] It's late summer in the mountains above Keno. 929 00:51:42,560 --> 00:51:45,730 In a few short weeks, temperatures will plummet 930 00:51:45,730 --> 00:51:49,800 and snow will blanket the area for six months. 931 00:51:49,800 --> 00:51:52,740 That plant's got to be running flat out 24 hours a day 932 00:51:52,740 --> 00:51:53,740 for the rest of the season. 933 00:51:53,740 --> 00:51:55,570 I've got to hit my target this year. 934 00:51:55,580 --> 00:51:57,980 Honestly, if I don't, this just could be my last year. 935 00:51:57,980 --> 00:52:00,980 [narrator] Rick has pushed hard all year 936 00:52:00,980 --> 00:52:06,880 but is still nearly 400 ounces short of his 1,000-ounce gold. 937 00:52:06,890 --> 00:52:09,690 If we don't find a sizeable amount of gold, I mean, 938 00:52:09,690 --> 00:52:12,020 that could be the same boat as last year. 939 00:52:13,890 --> 00:52:15,960 I want to go home with a bunch of gold in my pocket. 940 00:52:15,960 --> 00:52:17,330 I know Rick does, too. 941 00:52:20,030 --> 00:52:21,370 Coming your way. 942 00:52:21,370 --> 00:52:22,430 Coming your way. 943 00:52:25,070 --> 00:52:27,000 Holy [bleep]. 944 00:52:30,110 --> 00:52:32,210 What the [bleep] is going on here? 945 00:52:35,310 --> 00:52:38,050 Holy [bleep]. Yeah. 946 00:52:38,050 --> 00:52:39,750 That roller's piled right up. 947 00:52:39,750 --> 00:52:40,950 [bleep] damn it. 948 00:52:40,950 --> 00:52:43,450 [bleep] thing sitting there sideways. 949 00:52:43,460 --> 00:52:48,230 [narrator] One of the 700s' carry rollers has bent out of alignment. 950 00:52:48,230 --> 00:52:50,060 [bleep] me. 951 00:52:50,060 --> 00:52:53,130 [narrator] And the track is unable to move. 952 00:52:54,330 --> 00:52:56,100 Something might have got in there like a big rock 953 00:52:56,100 --> 00:52:58,070 and got jammed in there, who knows. 954 00:52:58,070 --> 00:53:01,470 We're gonna have to dig those bolts out and 955 00:53:01,470 --> 00:53:04,580 bolt that roller back in there if it's not too far gone, Rick. 956 00:53:04,580 --> 00:53:06,310 Yeah. 957 00:53:06,310 --> 00:53:08,050 - Watch out. - Oh, yeah. 958 00:53:08,910 --> 00:53:10,180 Dude, it's coming out. 959 00:53:10,180 --> 00:53:11,550 - Dude, that's pretty sweet. - [Rick] Wow! 960 00:53:15,990 --> 00:53:17,090 That thing is [bleep]. 961 00:53:17,090 --> 00:53:18,460 This is toast. 962 00:53:20,490 --> 00:53:23,860 [narrator] The 700 needs a new roller 963 00:53:23,860 --> 00:53:29,900 and the only man on site with the skills to replace it is mechanic Carl Rosk. 964 00:53:29,900 --> 00:53:31,800 [Carl] Let's pop it up. 965 00:53:31,800 --> 00:53:33,070 So, yeah, man, this is our money-maker. 966 00:53:33,070 --> 00:53:34,170 This is our main hole. 967 00:53:34,170 --> 00:53:36,010 Without this thing, we're [bleep], right? 968 00:53:36,010 --> 00:53:37,510 Yeah, fire it up, give me a spin. 969 00:53:39,040 --> 00:53:40,340 Yep, better. 970 00:53:43,110 --> 00:53:44,180 Back the other way. 971 00:53:46,890 --> 00:53:48,050 Looking good, mate. 972 00:53:48,050 --> 00:53:49,220 We're in business. 973 00:53:49,220 --> 00:53:50,320 Put it down there, buddy. 974 00:53:50,320 --> 00:53:51,620 [Carl] Coming down. 975 00:53:53,120 --> 00:53:54,590 [Rick] I like that. 976 00:53:54,590 --> 00:53:56,090 I like that. 977 00:53:57,230 --> 00:53:58,960 Oh, yeah. 978 00:53:58,970 --> 00:53:59,860 That's it? 979 00:53:59,870 --> 00:54:01,330 You made it look easy, buddy. 980 00:54:01,330 --> 00:54:04,200 [narrator] Carl's got the 700 back up and running 981 00:54:04,200 --> 00:54:06,040 in just three hours. 982 00:54:06,040 --> 00:54:07,440 Carl saves the day again. 983 00:54:07,440 --> 00:54:09,740 I'm not convinced you don't pull that [bleep] on purpose. 984 00:54:09,740 --> 00:54:11,940 [bleep] gonna be down for a week, Rick, 985 00:54:11,940 --> 00:54:14,210 and then you pull it out of your ass in a couple of hours. 986 00:54:14,910 --> 00:54:16,450 [Rick] We're back to full speed. 987 00:54:22,150 --> 00:54:25,590 I just got a message here from my doctor that he wants me to call him ASAP, 988 00:54:25,590 --> 00:54:28,090 so it could be something to do with my back. 989 00:54:29,660 --> 00:54:32,200 [narrator] Two years ago, Carl revealed 990 00:54:32,200 --> 00:54:35,200 he had a benign tumor growing on his spine. 991 00:54:35,200 --> 00:54:37,070 I have a tumor inside me on my lung. 992 00:54:37,070 --> 00:54:39,970 I got one on my spine and I got to get it looked at. 993 00:54:39,970 --> 00:54:41,870 - [bleep], man. - [Carl] Yeah. 994 00:54:41,870 --> 00:54:43,870 Tumor, do you have cancer? 995 00:54:43,880 --> 00:54:45,510 No, well, that's we got to check it out, right? 996 00:54:48,310 --> 00:54:49,610 What's up, man? 997 00:54:51,180 --> 00:54:53,050 Yeah, I got a little bad news here, dude. 998 00:54:53,050 --> 00:54:57,320 So, um, talked to my doctor and he wants 999 00:54:57,320 --> 00:54:59,120 me to go under the knife like right now. 1000 00:55:00,090 --> 00:55:01,530 Holy [bleep]. 1001 00:55:01,860 --> 00:55:04,230 Yeah, it's like non-negotiable, right, like, it's a special surgeon. 1002 00:55:04,230 --> 00:55:07,530 So you gotta go right away. 1003 00:55:07,530 --> 00:55:10,370 I'm obviously gonna leave all my stuff here for everyone, my tools and stuff, but 1004 00:55:10,370 --> 00:55:12,870 I don't know if I'll be able to come back to get everything or what. 1005 00:55:12,870 --> 00:55:14,740 Yeah. Well, I... 1006 00:55:14,740 --> 00:55:17,470 None of that should matter, I mean, it's gonna hurt us, 1007 00:55:17,480 --> 00:55:18,940 like you're my [bleep] guy here, right? 1008 00:55:18,940 --> 00:55:21,380 Like, this place doesn't go without you, but... 1009 00:55:21,380 --> 00:55:23,580 - I feel like I'm letting everybody down. - No, no. 1010 00:55:23,580 --> 00:55:25,680 You shouldn't, I mean, I was shocked at first, Carl, 1011 00:55:25,690 --> 00:55:26,620 but honestly I'm happy for you. 1012 00:55:26,620 --> 00:55:29,120 - I hate seeing you like that, so. - Yeah. 1013 00:55:29,120 --> 00:55:31,420 [Rick] You think about it, Carl, you won't have to do that all the time. 1014 00:55:31,420 --> 00:55:32,720 I know I can't wait. 1015 00:55:32,730 --> 00:55:33,990 Yeah. My man. 1016 00:55:35,960 --> 00:55:37,160 You're gonna be a new man, Carl. 1017 00:55:37,160 --> 00:55:38,560 You're gonna be a new man. 1018 00:55:38,560 --> 00:55:40,160 You know, losing my mom a couple years ago, 1019 00:55:40,170 --> 00:55:44,200 it helped me realize, you know, that health is really important and, 1020 00:55:44,200 --> 00:55:47,910 you know, it's gonna hurt us really bad not having him here, but 1021 00:55:47,910 --> 00:55:50,940 honestly it's what's best for him and I'm happy for him. 1022 00:55:50,940 --> 00:55:54,880 [Carl] Leaving the crew, the worst possible time, but, yeah, 1023 00:55:54,880 --> 00:55:56,810 you know, I will be back soon, so. 1024 00:55:56,820 --> 00:55:59,220 I'm leaving my stuff all here, I'm leaving my dog, so. 1025 00:55:59,220 --> 00:56:01,120 Yeah, I gotta come back, so. 1026 00:56:02,490 --> 00:56:03,390 I'm sorry, buddy. 1027 00:56:03,390 --> 00:56:05,020 You can't come with me, no. 1028 00:56:05,020 --> 00:56:07,960 I know, I know, I know. 1029 00:56:11,660 --> 00:56:14,030 [dog whimpering] 1030 00:56:15,700 --> 00:56:19,970 [narrator] With Carl gone, Rick's goal of hitting a 1,000 ounces 1031 00:56:19,970 --> 00:56:24,340 and securing his mining future is on a knife edge. 1032 00:56:24,340 --> 00:56:27,340 Carl, you know, my buddy, my mechanic, I mean, he's... 1033 00:56:27,350 --> 00:56:29,580 he's gonna be sorely missed. 1034 00:56:29,580 --> 00:56:31,220 Man, it's just... 1035 00:56:31,220 --> 00:56:32,250 I'm not gonna let my guard down. 1036 00:56:32,250 --> 00:56:34,790 I'm very, very aware of what time of year it is 1037 00:56:34,790 --> 00:56:36,250 and how every second counts. 1038 00:56:45,960 --> 00:56:48,230 We're all in on this right now. 1039 00:56:49,670 --> 00:56:53,640 [narrator] In Oregon, ex-Special Forces medic Fred Lewis 1040 00:56:53,640 --> 00:56:57,040 is fighting to save his first season as a mine boss. 1041 00:56:57,040 --> 00:56:59,110 [Fred] Any obstacles that come at this point, 1042 00:56:59,110 --> 00:57:01,180 we're just gonna punch 'em in the face and keep moving. 1043 00:57:01,180 --> 00:57:03,510 Pay dirt, plant, gold. 1044 00:57:03,520 --> 00:57:04,780 That's pretty easy. 1045 00:57:04,780 --> 00:57:08,690 [narrator] Fred sunk his life savings into the Elkhorn claim 1046 00:57:08,690 --> 00:57:13,520 with the dream of paying his crew of combat veterans in gold. 1047 00:57:13,530 --> 00:57:15,730 You know, this gold means a lot to all of us, 1048 00:57:15,730 --> 00:57:19,900 just another disabled vet who kind of, you know, come on rough times. 1049 00:57:19,900 --> 00:57:22,000 So this has to be a success or 1050 00:57:22,000 --> 00:57:24,130 I'm gonna end up living out of my truck for real. 1051 00:57:26,910 --> 00:57:29,710 [narrator] But with just weeks left of the season, 1052 00:57:29,710 --> 00:57:36,180 they've only mined 2.7 ounces, worth just over $5,000. 1053 00:57:36,180 --> 00:57:38,180 [Khara] Babe, we have a huge problem. 1054 00:57:38,180 --> 00:57:40,150 We're almost broke. 1055 00:57:41,850 --> 00:57:44,720 We need more gold or we need more money. 1056 00:57:44,720 --> 00:57:47,460 If we had the money, we can get more gold. 1057 00:57:49,590 --> 00:57:51,800 Actually, I think the only way we're gonna be able to do this 1058 00:57:51,800 --> 00:57:53,500 is with an outside investor. 1059 00:57:53,500 --> 00:57:55,800 [narrator] Fred asks old marine buddy 1060 00:57:55,800 --> 00:58:01,040 and successful businessman Karl Smith to invest $40,000 1061 00:58:01,040 --> 00:58:03,470 for a share of the gold. 1062 00:58:03,480 --> 00:58:04,980 All right. You got a deal. 1063 00:58:04,980 --> 00:58:06,640 Let's do it. 1064 00:58:06,650 --> 00:58:08,080 [Fred] It's great that we have an investor, 1065 00:58:08,080 --> 00:58:10,680 but that puts us under a lot more pressure. 1066 00:58:10,680 --> 00:58:13,220 It's not just my money now, it's one of my best friends' money, 1067 00:58:13,220 --> 00:58:15,820 but it gives us the financial freedom to keep mining 1068 00:58:15,820 --> 00:58:17,190 and to keep that dream alive. 1069 00:58:18,290 --> 00:58:19,920 Hey, everybody. 1070 00:58:19,930 --> 00:58:22,090 Karl is officially on board. 1071 00:58:22,090 --> 00:58:23,360 We have an investor. 1072 00:58:23,360 --> 00:58:25,600 Let's get that gold! 1073 00:58:25,600 --> 00:58:28,830 Back in business! 1074 00:58:28,830 --> 00:58:31,600 Getting Karl on board, getting the investor, that's [bleep] awesome, 1075 00:58:31,600 --> 00:58:33,140 that's exactly what we needed. 1076 00:58:33,140 --> 00:58:35,140 [Fred] We're gonna keep pushing and we're gonna give it 1077 00:58:35,140 --> 00:58:36,470 everything we got. 1078 00:58:42,910 --> 00:58:44,550 [Kyle] Whoa. What the [bleep]! 1079 00:58:47,020 --> 00:58:49,020 [bleep], this thing is overheating. 1080 00:58:49,020 --> 00:58:51,390 Fred! 1081 00:58:53,320 --> 00:58:55,390 Fred, yo, we got an issue here. 1082 00:58:56,860 --> 00:58:57,930 [Fred] Holy crap. 1083 00:58:57,930 --> 00:58:59,260 Listen to it. 1084 00:58:59,270 --> 00:59:00,800 [Kyle] This could be a bad head gasket. 1085 00:59:00,800 --> 00:59:02,000 That's the cheap part. 1086 00:59:02,000 --> 00:59:03,870 However, it could be weeks to get that thing torn apart 1087 00:59:03,870 --> 00:59:05,070 and get everything here that we need. 1088 00:59:05,070 --> 00:59:07,770 [Fred] It's if they have the part anywhere near here. 1089 00:59:07,770 --> 00:59:11,810 [narrator] Fred relies on the 988 Loader to haul pay 1090 00:59:11,810 --> 00:59:15,910 from the cut to the plant, while a much smaller L60 1091 00:59:15,920 --> 00:59:17,550 clears the tail ends. 1092 00:59:18,850 --> 00:59:22,120 Now, with the 988 out of action, 1093 00:59:22,120 --> 00:59:26,090 the L60 has to do the work of both loaders. 1094 00:59:27,060 --> 00:59:29,030 [Kyle] Just look at our buckets standing here, man. 1095 00:59:29,030 --> 00:59:31,130 I mean I've got less than half the amount of yardage 1096 00:59:31,130 --> 00:59:33,100 that I can move at one time. 1097 00:59:33,100 --> 00:59:35,270 [Fred] We're gonna have to do night shifts, I think. 1098 00:59:35,270 --> 00:59:38,400 Stockpiling the day and at night, keep the plant up and running. 1099 00:59:38,400 --> 00:59:39,440 That's the only way to do it. 1100 00:59:39,440 --> 00:59:40,900 Yeah. 1101 00:59:40,940 --> 00:59:45,610 [narrator] Fred's plan, split the crew into day and night shifts. 1102 00:59:45,610 --> 00:59:49,480 The day crew will use the L60 to stockpile pay dirt. 1103 00:59:54,290 --> 00:59:56,890 Then the night shift will use the same loader 1104 00:59:56,890 --> 01:00:00,760 to feed the plant and clear tails. 1105 01:00:00,760 --> 01:00:04,160 [Kyle] Pretty sunset on the mine, but not enough time to look up and enjoy it. 1106 01:00:04,160 --> 01:00:08,230 I got to keep my nose down in the ground and keep on working hard. 1107 01:00:08,230 --> 01:00:11,370 Longer we can run, the better chances we'd have 1108 01:00:11,370 --> 01:00:13,840 finding as much gold as possible. 1109 01:00:13,840 --> 01:00:17,740 Double shift is gonna get us about 20% more productivity here. 1110 01:00:17,740 --> 01:00:20,140 Well, trying to keep everything flowing is 1111 01:00:20,150 --> 01:00:24,180 a lot more difficult when you can only see a few feet in front of your face. 1112 01:00:24,180 --> 01:00:26,320 Bucket number 100 in the hopper. 1113 01:00:26,320 --> 01:00:27,580 Whoo! 1114 01:00:27,590 --> 01:00:29,190 Yee-ha! 1115 01:00:29,950 --> 01:00:33,090 Sometimes, we even impress ourselves. 1116 01:00:33,090 --> 01:00:36,490 [Kendell] Looks like close encounters of the third kind or something. 1117 01:00:44,170 --> 01:00:45,270 Whoa, whoa! 1118 01:00:45,270 --> 01:00:46,470 Stop, stop, stop. 1119 01:00:46,470 --> 01:00:48,810 Whoa, whoa, whoa. 1120 01:00:48,810 --> 01:00:50,170 Oh! 1121 01:00:50,180 --> 01:00:52,880 Stop, stop stop, stop. 1122 01:00:52,910 --> 01:00:54,240 Dude. 1123 01:00:55,080 --> 01:00:57,780 Rock slipped out under there or what? 1124 01:00:57,780 --> 01:01:00,450 This shift is getting a little tired or something. 1125 01:01:00,450 --> 01:01:02,420 I think you might have to help me back out of this, dude, 1126 01:01:02,420 --> 01:01:03,590 this is a little sketchy. 1127 01:01:03,590 --> 01:01:04,990 All right, yeah. 1128 01:01:06,760 --> 01:01:08,390 [indistinct radio chatter] 1129 01:01:11,300 --> 01:01:13,060 Scared the living [bleep] out of me. 1130 01:01:13,070 --> 01:01:14,830 Yeah, that makes two of us. 1131 01:01:14,830 --> 01:01:17,170 Let's keep all the wheels down on the ground, please. 1132 01:01:17,170 --> 01:01:19,240 - Yeah, sounds good, bro. - You got it, man. 1133 01:01:20,240 --> 01:01:23,810 [narrator] The late shift keep the plant running through the night, 1134 01:01:23,810 --> 01:01:26,610 but it takes its toll on the crew. 1135 01:01:29,110 --> 01:01:31,280 Doing the night shift is difficult and, you know, 1136 01:01:31,280 --> 01:01:33,450 it's been really wearing on me personally. 1137 01:01:34,650 --> 01:01:37,390 Got to come up with something else. 1138 01:01:37,390 --> 01:01:39,590 [narrator] To save his crew from burnout, 1139 01:01:39,590 --> 01:01:43,760 Fred uses the investment to lease a new loader. 1140 01:01:43,760 --> 01:01:45,300 [Fred] When I say all in, I mean all in. 1141 01:01:45,300 --> 01:01:47,600 This doesn't work, I'm gonna go down fighting. 1142 01:01:50,130 --> 01:01:51,570 Look at what we got. 1143 01:01:51,570 --> 01:01:53,000 Whoa! 1144 01:01:53,010 --> 01:01:54,140 [laughing] 1145 01:01:54,140 --> 01:01:55,210 Oh! 1146 01:01:55,210 --> 01:01:56,970 [indistinct chatter] 1147 01:01:58,210 --> 01:02:00,240 Looks like we got a new loader. 1148 01:02:02,210 --> 01:02:03,280 Awesome. 1149 01:02:03,280 --> 01:02:04,880 We got her till the end of the season. 1150 01:02:04,880 --> 01:02:06,980 - Really? - So we can go get it dirty. 1151 01:02:06,990 --> 01:02:09,150 - Yeah. - [Fred] All right, let's freaking fire it up. 1152 01:02:09,150 --> 01:02:11,620 [narrator] With the new loader on the site, 1153 01:02:11,620 --> 01:02:17,230 Fred has a shot of finding the gold he needs to pay his investor and crew. 1154 01:02:17,230 --> 01:02:20,460 Should be pretty easy to finish out the season in this big thing. 1155 01:02:20,470 --> 01:02:22,400 Just what we need to find a lot more gold. 1156 01:02:24,600 --> 01:02:28,040 [Fred] We got this new piece of equipment and I can tell morale is high. 1157 01:02:28,040 --> 01:02:30,410 We're gonna work as hard as we possibly can 1158 01:02:30,410 --> 01:02:32,310 and hopefully we can salvage the season. 1159 01:02:40,590 --> 01:02:43,190 [Tony speaking] 1160 01:02:48,660 --> 01:02:51,360 [narrator] The end of the season is in sight, 1161 01:02:51,360 --> 01:02:57,070 but Klondike legend Tony Beets is still 400 ounces short of his gold. 1162 01:02:57,070 --> 01:03:00,070 [Tony speaking] 1163 01:03:03,370 --> 01:03:05,410 [narrator] And he's running out of pay dirt 1164 01:03:05,410 --> 01:03:07,510 in the 18-acre Mega Cut. 1165 01:03:10,010 --> 01:03:13,120 [Tony speaking] 1166 01:03:56,060 --> 01:03:59,560 [narrator] Tony has taken one scoop too many, 1167 01:03:59,570 --> 01:04:02,330 punching a hole in the wall between the cut 1168 01:04:02,330 --> 01:04:06,000 and a two million gallon tailings pond. 1169 01:04:07,410 --> 01:04:11,170 [Tony speaking] 1170 01:04:15,110 --> 01:04:16,950 [Mike] Holy [bleep]. 1171 01:04:16,950 --> 01:04:18,980 That ain't gonna stop for a while. 1172 01:04:18,980 --> 01:04:22,320 [Tony speaking] 1173 01:04:24,090 --> 01:04:25,990 Okay, so if we're done in the Mega Cut, 1174 01:04:25,990 --> 01:04:27,490 where are we gonna get paid for the rest of the season? 1175 01:04:27,490 --> 01:04:29,260 [Tony speaking] 1176 01:04:29,560 --> 01:04:34,970 [narrator] Unless Tony can find new ground, his season will be dead in the water. 1177 01:04:34,970 --> 01:04:38,030 [Tony speaking] 1178 01:04:47,210 --> 01:04:50,050 [Tony speaking] 1179 01:04:55,620 --> 01:04:58,260 [narrator] With just weeks left in the season, 1180 01:04:58,260 --> 01:05:01,120 Tony's flooded the last corner of the Mega Cut, 1181 01:05:01,130 --> 01:05:04,090 his only source of gold. 1182 01:05:04,100 --> 01:05:09,200 If he can't find new ground fast, his season is over. 1183 01:05:12,700 --> 01:05:14,600 [Tony speaking] 1184 01:05:21,910 --> 01:05:25,320 [narrator] Tony is banking on an area of virgin ground 1185 01:05:25,320 --> 01:05:30,390 between the Mega Cut and an old cut he knows had good gold. 1186 01:05:30,390 --> 01:05:31,960 [Tony speaking] 1187 01:05:31,960 --> 01:05:33,090 Okay. 1188 01:05:33,090 --> 01:05:35,590 [Tony speaking] 1189 01:05:35,590 --> 01:05:36,560 Yeah. 1190 01:05:36,560 --> 01:05:39,560 [Tony speaking] 1191 01:05:46,040 --> 01:05:49,770 And the... the idea is to clear off the whole section down to pay. 1192 01:05:49,780 --> 01:05:51,710 It's a pain in the ass to deal with, when it rains, 1193 01:05:51,710 --> 01:05:53,910 it's almost impossible to deal with. 1194 01:05:53,910 --> 01:05:56,610 And unfortunately, it rained just before we're gonna be dealing with it. 1195 01:05:58,820 --> 01:06:01,320 [Richard] Here at the soupy mess. 1196 01:06:01,320 --> 01:06:04,090 It's like a skate rink, it's hard to turn the tire, 1197 01:06:04,090 --> 01:06:05,290 it just slides. 1198 01:06:07,090 --> 01:06:09,230 Holy [bleep]. 1199 01:06:11,330 --> 01:06:13,330 That [bleep] sucks. 1200 01:06:16,300 --> 01:06:17,900 Kevin, you got a copy? 1201 01:06:17,900 --> 01:06:19,300 Found a sinkhole here. 1202 01:06:19,300 --> 01:06:21,140 [Kevin] I'll come by, I'll pull you out. 1203 01:06:21,840 --> 01:06:23,840 [Richard] Copy that. 1204 01:06:23,840 --> 01:06:25,810 We'll get the cable. Hook it up, pull it out. 1205 01:06:25,810 --> 01:06:27,410 Not a [bleep] problem. 1206 01:06:30,110 --> 01:06:31,450 [Richard] We're good to go. 1207 01:06:33,420 --> 01:06:36,220 [engine revving] 1208 01:06:39,060 --> 01:06:40,290 Come on. 1209 01:06:40,290 --> 01:06:41,590 You stubborn [bleep]. 1210 01:06:44,260 --> 01:06:45,330 [bleep]! 1211 01:06:45,330 --> 01:06:47,230 Oh, whoa, whoa, Kevin. 1212 01:06:47,230 --> 01:06:50,770 [bleep] That's not good. 1213 01:06:50,770 --> 01:06:52,300 Well, [bleep]. 1214 01:06:53,940 --> 01:06:55,710 Yeah, that's in two pieces. 1215 01:06:55,710 --> 01:06:57,970 I've never seen a rock truck pull apart yet. 1216 01:06:57,980 --> 01:07:00,280 I've seen other breaks, I've seen frame breaks, 1217 01:07:00,280 --> 01:07:03,480 but I've not seen one pulling two, that's a new one for me. 1218 01:07:05,450 --> 01:07:07,480 [Tony speaking] 1219 01:07:33,980 --> 01:07:35,250 [Kevin] We got it. 1220 01:07:35,250 --> 01:07:37,150 [Richard] Very nice. 1221 01:07:40,580 --> 01:07:42,320 [narrator] After three days stripping, 1222 01:07:42,320 --> 01:07:45,360 Tony's down to pay dirt in the Upper Cut. 1223 01:07:46,560 --> 01:07:48,630 [Tony speaking] 1224 01:07:50,490 --> 01:07:52,800 [narrator] But with winter just around the corner, 1225 01:07:52,800 --> 01:07:56,970 he's in a race against time to hit his season goal. 1226 01:07:56,970 --> 01:07:59,670 [Kevin] Hopefully, we can get our 3,000 ounces, 1227 01:07:59,670 --> 01:08:02,570 just shoving through as much as we can, fingers crossed. 1228 01:08:13,080 --> 01:08:15,720 [Brennan] We got two plants side by side, you know, 1229 01:08:15,720 --> 01:08:19,190 we got to fill Parker's old war chest up with all this gold here, 1230 01:08:19,190 --> 01:08:21,420 so we can put it towards this new ground that we need. 1231 01:08:21,430 --> 01:08:24,890 [narrator] Just five weeks to the end of the season, 1232 01:08:24,900 --> 01:08:29,730 Parker's crew still has more than half of the Airstrip left to mine. 1233 01:08:29,730 --> 01:08:32,370 Hey! Crank it up. 1234 01:08:32,370 --> 01:08:35,710 [narrator] When his trusted right-hand man Mitch Blaschke 1235 01:08:35,710 --> 01:08:38,310 receives a call from home. 1236 01:08:38,310 --> 01:08:40,040 Can you see the fire from the house? 1237 01:08:40,050 --> 01:08:41,140 [woman on phone] It's really smoky. 1238 01:08:41,150 --> 01:08:42,680 Which way is the wind going? 1239 01:08:42,680 --> 01:08:44,150 [woman on phone] Towards our house. 1240 01:08:44,150 --> 01:08:46,180 Grab what you can and get out of there. 1241 01:08:47,120 --> 01:08:49,020 - Hey, Parker, you got a minute. - Yeah. 1242 01:08:49,020 --> 01:08:52,020 There's some really bad wildfires down there and they're getting close to us. 1243 01:08:52,020 --> 01:08:53,390 [Parker] Holy cow. 1244 01:08:53,390 --> 01:08:56,590 So my wife's down there trying to pack up everything she can 1245 01:08:56,600 --> 01:08:57,860 in the back of her car. 1246 01:08:57,860 --> 01:09:01,260 When it comes to your home being threatened by some fires, 1247 01:09:01,270 --> 01:09:04,600 it's obviously a lot more important than whatever we've got going on here. 1248 01:09:05,700 --> 01:09:08,340 I don't want you to even consider not going 1249 01:09:08,340 --> 01:09:10,070 after the conversation we've had. 1250 01:09:10,080 --> 01:09:12,840 [narrator] With Mitch making an emergency departure. 1251 01:09:12,840 --> 01:09:14,140 Let me give you a hug, brother. 1252 01:09:14,150 --> 01:09:16,180 Take care and drive safe. 1253 01:09:18,120 --> 01:09:21,920 [narrator] Co-foreman Brennan Ruautt must step up and run 1254 01:09:21,920 --> 01:09:24,020 the day-to-day operations. 1255 01:09:25,060 --> 01:09:27,090 It's a lot extra pressure on my shoulders. 1256 01:09:27,090 --> 01:09:29,090 At the end of the day, I have one job to do is 1257 01:09:29,090 --> 01:09:31,960 just to find as much gold as we possibly can. 1258 01:09:32,900 --> 01:09:34,700 [narrator] Parker's tasked Brennan with 1259 01:09:34,700 --> 01:09:38,600 finishing the remaining 13 acres of the Airstrip Cut 1260 01:09:38,600 --> 01:09:41,100 before the Yukon winter freezes them out. 1261 01:09:41,110 --> 01:09:42,670 [Brennan] There's still a lot of work to do here, 1262 01:09:42,670 --> 01:09:45,040 so we got to just put the hammer down to get it done. 1263 01:09:46,580 --> 01:09:50,180 [narrator] But while investigating a mined out corner of the cut... 1264 01:09:50,180 --> 01:09:52,580 What the [bleep]! 1265 01:09:52,580 --> 01:09:55,150 [narrator] Parker discovers a rookie error. 1266 01:09:55,150 --> 01:09:59,460 Someone has left behind gold bearing river rock. 1267 01:10:02,830 --> 01:10:04,130 I shouldn't have to walk your floor. 1268 01:10:04,130 --> 01:10:05,930 What's up, buddy? 1269 01:10:07,260 --> 01:10:09,330 I thought everybody knew how to dig pay, 1270 01:10:09,330 --> 01:10:11,530 but there are round rock everywhere. 1271 01:10:15,210 --> 01:10:18,440 Like, I shouldn't have to walk the floor and find like yards of the wrong. 1272 01:10:20,380 --> 01:10:22,050 I have hardly dug any of this. 1273 01:10:22,050 --> 01:10:23,480 I don't care. 1274 01:10:25,280 --> 01:10:27,920 You're in charge or you're not in charge? 1275 01:10:27,920 --> 01:10:29,250 [Brennan] Well, Mitch was in charge. 1276 01:10:29,250 --> 01:10:30,250 [Parker] Mitch ain't here. 1277 01:10:30,260 --> 01:10:31,820 Yeah, well. 1278 01:10:31,820 --> 01:10:34,820 [Brennan] There's quite a bit missed, whoever took the last strip in the back. 1279 01:10:34,830 --> 01:10:38,800 I don't give a [bleep] who it is, but it needs to get cleaned up. 1280 01:10:38,800 --> 01:10:41,060 I don't know if guys are in a rush to go home or whatever, 1281 01:10:41,070 --> 01:10:43,270 but if anybody wants to go home, they can [bleep] go home. 1282 01:10:43,270 --> 01:10:46,700 That's not a reason to rush through any cuts or do anything 1283 01:10:46,710 --> 01:10:49,240 sloppy or whatever is going on. 1284 01:10:49,240 --> 01:10:52,040 We've done this racket for eight years now. 1285 01:10:52,040 --> 01:10:54,040 I shouldn't have to walk our floors. 1286 01:10:54,050 --> 01:10:56,550 [Brennan] There's no need to come here and be [bleep] about it. 1287 01:10:58,350 --> 01:11:04,790 [Brennan groans] I'll pack and [bleep] leave right now. 1288 01:11:04,790 --> 01:11:07,020 [bleep] I don't give a [bleep] about any of this [bleep]. 1289 01:11:13,200 --> 01:11:15,370 [Chris] Hey, junior. Come here, boy. 1290 01:11:15,370 --> 01:11:17,100 [Brennan] Sick of being treated like that, 1291 01:11:17,100 --> 01:11:19,400 like it's just a nightmare. 1292 01:11:19,400 --> 01:11:21,640 I mean, when is enough enough around here. 1293 01:11:21,640 --> 01:11:22,810 Yeah. 1294 01:11:22,810 --> 01:11:24,970 In the ten years I've been here, I've noticed that 1295 01:11:24,980 --> 01:11:28,710 he pushes a little bit more at this point. 1296 01:11:28,710 --> 01:11:32,180 And sometimes, it creates more damage than good. 1297 01:11:32,180 --> 01:11:35,790 He forgets that a lot of us are 3,000 miles away from home. 1298 01:11:35,790 --> 01:11:36,820 That's the tough part. 1299 01:11:36,820 --> 01:11:40,020 What can you say, you know, it happens every year. 1300 01:11:40,860 --> 01:11:42,530 [narrator] After some cooling off time... 1301 01:11:44,160 --> 01:11:46,260 Brennan returns to the cut. 1302 01:11:47,000 --> 01:11:48,770 Just [bleep] angry still. 1303 01:11:48,770 --> 01:11:51,070 This isn't the first time he's been [bleep] miserable like that. 1304 01:11:51,070 --> 01:11:52,270 There's no need for it. 1305 01:11:52,270 --> 01:11:53,570 That's what I'm getting tired of. 1306 01:12:04,050 --> 01:12:04,780 [Brennan] Howdy! 1307 01:12:04,780 --> 01:12:06,280 Um... 1308 01:12:07,580 --> 01:12:13,020 I wanted to explain a little more my little blowup in the cut. 1309 01:12:15,130 --> 01:12:18,460 I apologize because I shouldn't do it that way. 1310 01:12:19,600 --> 01:12:22,230 [bleep], Brennan, since you've shown up here, 1311 01:12:22,230 --> 01:12:25,200 like you've come so far and you've been doing a great job, 1312 01:12:25,200 --> 01:12:27,070 honestly you have. 1313 01:12:27,070 --> 01:12:28,270 - Great. - [Parker] And that's... 1314 01:12:28,270 --> 01:12:30,110 I know you've got a lot on your plate, 1315 01:12:30,110 --> 01:12:35,210 but we still have to make sure that we are following the basics 1316 01:12:35,210 --> 01:12:37,210 and that's where I'm coming from. 1317 01:12:37,220 --> 01:12:38,750 [Brennan] Okay. Yeah. 1318 01:12:38,750 --> 01:12:40,150 - [Parker] Does that make sense? - [Brennan] Yep, fair. 1319 01:12:40,150 --> 01:12:42,020 Thank you. Appreciate it. 1320 01:12:42,020 --> 01:12:43,820 -[Parker] No sweat. Thanks, Brennan. -Yeah, no worries. 1321 01:12:43,820 --> 01:12:45,190 Appreciate it. Thanks a lot. 1322 01:12:45,190 --> 01:12:47,060 I definitely was taken aback a little bit with Parker. 1323 01:12:47,060 --> 01:12:52,060 I do really respect him coming to apologize in a sincere way, you know. 1324 01:12:53,730 --> 01:12:56,770 [narrator] Parker now needs Brennan to mine out the Airstrip 1325 01:12:56,770 --> 01:12:59,240 before winter shuts them down. 1326 01:13:00,240 --> 01:13:03,810 [Brennan] I want to try and conquer this season for Parker 1327 01:13:03,810 --> 01:13:05,270 and hopefully put some money in the bank 1328 01:13:05,280 --> 01:13:06,840 for some new ground for it. 1329 01:13:12,250 --> 01:13:17,250 [narrator] In Oregon, wildfires have ripped through Mitch's hometown. 1330 01:13:18,590 --> 01:13:20,060 [Mitch] This definitely isn't looking good here. 1331 01:13:20,060 --> 01:13:22,230 I mean, stuff still smoking. 1332 01:13:23,060 --> 01:13:26,000 Crossing my fingers here and hoping for the best but... 1333 01:13:28,870 --> 01:13:32,300 There she is and it's still standing. 1334 01:13:32,300 --> 01:13:35,070 [Mitch laughs] Oh, man. 1335 01:13:37,210 --> 01:13:39,140 I mean, everything's looking good. 1336 01:13:40,780 --> 01:13:42,040 [Parker] Hi, Mitch. 1337 01:13:42,050 --> 01:13:43,350 It looks like you're in your house? 1338 01:13:43,350 --> 01:13:44,750 Yeah, in the house. 1339 01:13:44,750 --> 01:13:46,180 We got really lucky. 1340 01:13:46,180 --> 01:13:47,780 Unfortunately, some people did lose their houses. 1341 01:13:47,790 --> 01:13:51,220 It was a bad deal, but I mean I was planning on trying to head back up. 1342 01:13:51,220 --> 01:13:54,990 [Parker] Whether you come back this fall or next spring, 1343 01:13:54,990 --> 01:13:56,590 you've always got a spot here. 1344 01:13:56,590 --> 01:13:59,100 All right, thanks. Let me know how things go. 1345 01:13:59,100 --> 01:14:01,130 It's just really nice to talk to Parker and know that 1346 01:14:01,130 --> 01:14:04,300 I've got a good place up there and, you know, I might not 1347 01:14:04,300 --> 01:14:07,370 make it back this season, but I'll certainly be back in the future. 1348 01:14:18,050 --> 01:14:20,280 [Rick] No disguising it now. 1349 01:14:20,290 --> 01:14:22,120 Snow's been coming down for a bit. 1350 01:14:22,120 --> 01:14:23,790 We're near the end here. 1351 01:14:23,790 --> 01:14:27,860 [narrator] At Duncan Creek, the big freeze has hit 1352 01:14:27,860 --> 01:14:32,130 and Rick is still 90 ounces short of his 1,000-ounce gold. 1353 01:14:32,130 --> 01:14:35,730 [Rick] I don't like one bad season and I'm not willing to go for two. 1354 01:14:35,730 --> 01:14:39,040 [narrator] But Rick has one last roll of the dice. 1355 01:14:39,040 --> 01:14:40,940 [Rick] This last ditch effort, for me it's all about 1356 01:14:40,940 --> 01:14:42,610 redemption from last year. 1357 01:14:42,610 --> 01:14:46,510 [narrator] To hit his goal and pay his crew a gold bonus, 1358 01:14:46,510 --> 01:14:50,080 Rick's embarking on a high-risk nugget hunt. 1359 01:14:50,080 --> 01:14:52,550 [Rick] I'm going to divert the creek next to this lazy bend 1360 01:14:52,550 --> 01:14:54,350 and run the creek bed. 1361 01:14:55,820 --> 01:14:59,290 The best gold that we got all season was right next to this creek bed. 1362 01:14:59,290 --> 01:15:02,890 It's where we found the big one and a half ounce nugget. 1363 01:15:02,890 --> 01:15:04,990 All right, here we go. 1364 01:15:05,000 --> 01:15:06,200 Water's coming. 1365 01:15:11,130 --> 01:15:13,040 Oh, yeah, I like that. 1366 01:15:13,800 --> 01:15:15,440 Really happy with how it looks. 1367 01:15:16,210 --> 01:15:17,940 The old creek bed should dry right up 1368 01:15:17,940 --> 01:15:19,740 and we can start to pull the gold out of it 1369 01:15:19,740 --> 01:15:21,580 and get it to the [bleep] damn wash line. 1370 01:15:23,050 --> 01:15:25,780 [narrator] Rick runs every yard of creek bed pay... 1371 01:15:25,780 --> 01:15:28,020 [Rick] That looks like that's the last bucket right there. 1372 01:15:28,020 --> 01:15:31,290 [narrator] Before shutting down for the season. 1373 01:15:31,290 --> 01:15:32,490 [Rick] Fingers crossed. 1374 01:15:35,560 --> 01:15:37,030 [narrator] The crew gathers... 1375 01:15:37,030 --> 01:15:39,760 Oh, back in time for the gold bonus. 1376 01:15:39,760 --> 01:15:41,560 - Yeah, man. - I don't blame you. 1377 01:15:41,570 --> 01:15:43,400 [narrator] To see if Rick's diversion 1378 01:15:43,400 --> 01:15:46,570 has delivered the nuggets he needs. 1379 01:15:46,570 --> 01:15:47,940 Part of the reason we diverted the creek was 1380 01:15:47,940 --> 01:15:49,770 we found that monster gold nugget there. 1381 01:15:49,770 --> 01:15:54,380 So I was hoping we'd find some chunky gold and here it is. 1382 01:15:54,380 --> 01:15:57,580 You know, we got some nice coarse gold out of there. 1383 01:15:57,580 --> 01:15:58,680 [man 1] Holy [bleep]. 1384 01:15:58,680 --> 01:16:00,020 [Rick] Oh, yeah. 1385 01:16:00,020 --> 01:16:02,890 [narrator] Rick's hunch has paid out big. 1386 01:16:02,890 --> 01:16:04,320 Well, I want to see that fine gold. 1387 01:16:04,320 --> 01:16:05,990 I know that's the stuff that adds up. 1388 01:16:05,990 --> 01:16:10,390 [narrator] To beat his goal, Rick needs 90 ounces. 1389 01:16:12,760 --> 01:16:15,330 It just kind of keeps going, it kind of keeps going. 1390 01:16:16,930 --> 01:16:19,040 And then the scale goes to E. 1391 01:16:19,770 --> 01:16:22,870 - Holy crap. - [bleep] yeah, buddy. 1392 01:16:22,870 --> 01:16:24,170 [Rick] It's actually too much for our scale, 1393 01:16:24,180 --> 01:16:25,310 but I already weighed it. 1394 01:16:25,310 --> 01:16:27,610 At the end of the day, I tell you guys that we did 1395 01:16:27,610 --> 01:16:29,210 178 ounces, just over. 1396 01:16:29,210 --> 01:16:30,080 [Karla] Yes. 1397 01:16:30,080 --> 01:16:33,120 And so we're at just over 1,080 ounces. 1398 01:16:33,120 --> 01:16:37,320 [narrator] A year ago, Rick was on the brink of bankruptcy. 1399 01:16:37,320 --> 01:16:42,990 This season, he's led his crew to a gold haul worth over $2 million. 1400 01:16:42,990 --> 01:16:45,290 [all laughing] 1401 01:16:45,300 --> 01:16:46,730 [Rick] I can't thank you enough for coming back. 1402 01:16:46,730 --> 01:16:49,230 If we hadn't done this this year, 1403 01:16:49,230 --> 01:16:52,300 I don't know that there would have been another year, and you guys made it happen. 1404 01:16:52,300 --> 01:16:53,470 Appreciate it! 1405 01:16:53,470 --> 01:16:54,200 - Cheers. - Cheers. 1406 01:16:54,210 --> 01:16:56,270 - Cheers! - Cheers! 1407 01:17:02,910 --> 01:17:06,820 [narrator] In Oregon, freezing temperatures have forced 1408 01:17:06,820 --> 01:17:11,920 Fred Lewis to call time on his first season. 1409 01:17:11,920 --> 01:17:14,660 [Fred] The season hasn't panned out like we wanted it to 1410 01:17:14,660 --> 01:17:17,360 and the ground has just not been as good as we needed it to be 1411 01:17:17,360 --> 01:17:19,830 to pay the bills, but my major focus here was to 1412 01:17:19,830 --> 01:17:22,430 give these guys a new purpose, you know, a lot of them 1413 01:17:22,430 --> 01:17:25,600 coming out of the military are in that awkward transition, 1414 01:17:25,600 --> 01:17:30,040 trying to figure things out, and I think that was a freaking success this season. 1415 01:17:30,040 --> 01:17:34,110 [narrator] After sinking $40,000 into Fred's operation 1416 01:17:34,110 --> 01:17:37,180 eight weeks ago, investor Karl Smith 1417 01:17:37,180 --> 01:17:39,780 is back for the final reckoning. 1418 01:17:39,780 --> 01:17:42,250 [Fred] It's kind of time to face the music here with Karl. 1419 01:17:42,250 --> 01:17:45,020 I've got to convince him, after losing all his money, 1420 01:17:45,020 --> 01:17:49,160 that we're good enough to invest in another season, if not we're done. 1421 01:17:51,130 --> 01:17:54,030 All right, guys, this is the last gold weigh of the season. 1422 01:17:54,030 --> 01:17:55,160 Shoot, man. 1423 01:17:55,170 --> 01:17:56,370 Let's see what we got. 1424 01:17:59,970 --> 01:18:01,370 Some big chunks. 1425 01:18:04,710 --> 01:18:09,280 1.93 ounces that's our best cleanup yet. 1426 01:18:10,610 --> 01:18:15,380 That puts our total at 6.39 which is honestly embarrassing. 1427 01:18:15,390 --> 01:18:17,050 [narrator] In their rookie season, 1428 01:18:17,060 --> 01:18:22,590 Fred's crew has mined just $12,000 worth of gold. 1429 01:18:22,590 --> 01:18:25,260 [Fred] But we've come up with every single obstacle thrown 1430 01:18:25,260 --> 01:18:27,000 at us and we've kicked it right in the face. 1431 01:18:27,000 --> 01:18:28,400 We pulled what we could out of this ground. 1432 01:18:28,400 --> 01:18:31,200 I don't think anybody could have done any better. 1433 01:18:31,200 --> 01:18:33,100 What do you guys think? 1434 01:18:33,100 --> 01:18:34,200 Is that a true statement? 1435 01:18:34,210 --> 01:18:36,570 - Yeah. 100%. - Yeah. 1436 01:18:36,570 --> 01:18:38,610 [Kyle] No way to get any more gold out of that ground. 1437 01:18:40,310 --> 01:18:43,310 If we can't get more gold out of this ground, 1438 01:18:45,250 --> 01:18:47,280 that means this is the end. 1439 01:18:52,090 --> 01:18:53,690 [Fred] If you're willing to go for another year, 1440 01:18:53,690 --> 01:18:58,130 I know with as much as we've learned, we can get you that money back. 1441 01:19:00,030 --> 01:19:04,930 The way I see it, I've got two options, walk away 1442 01:19:04,940 --> 01:19:10,240 or we can double down and you guys can go find some good ground 1443 01:19:10,240 --> 01:19:12,310 and we can make back my money. 1444 01:19:13,410 --> 01:19:15,240 [clears throat] 1445 01:19:15,250 --> 01:19:16,980 Why don't we do this? 1446 01:19:16,980 --> 01:19:20,150 You guys go find the ground and we'll talk. 1447 01:19:20,150 --> 01:19:22,890 Are you saying that you're still interested in... in investing? 1448 01:19:22,890 --> 01:19:25,520 This team is one hell of a team. 1449 01:19:26,920 --> 01:19:30,030 I want you guys to prove to me that the ground is good 1450 01:19:30,030 --> 01:19:31,860 and I'll invest more money. 1451 01:19:31,860 --> 01:19:33,230 We'll do that right now. 1452 01:19:33,230 --> 01:19:34,700 [indistinct chatter] 1453 01:19:34,700 --> 01:19:35,870 [Fred] Thank you. 1454 01:19:35,870 --> 01:19:37,830 [Karl] If I walk away now, I lose everything. 1455 01:19:37,840 --> 01:19:41,100 The only way for me to make more money is to put my faith in 1456 01:19:41,110 --> 01:19:44,110 Fred, tell him to go find a better claim, find that pay dirt. 1457 01:19:44,110 --> 01:19:46,010 [Fred] You know, we came out here, we learned a lot. 1458 01:19:46,010 --> 01:19:47,910 The next season, we're gonna hit the ground running. 1459 01:19:47,910 --> 01:19:50,180 We're gonna pay back all this debt and we're gonna get 1460 01:19:50,180 --> 01:19:52,920 to the point where we're actually gonna be putting gold in our pockets. 1461 01:19:52,920 --> 01:19:56,020 [all] Let's get that gold! 1462 01:20:02,930 --> 01:20:03,790 Hey, hey. 1463 01:20:03,800 --> 01:20:06,200 [Tony speaking] 1464 01:20:06,200 --> 01:20:09,060 [narrator] After five months racing to cash in 1465 01:20:09,070 --> 01:20:11,330 on record high gold prices, 1466 01:20:11,340 --> 01:20:15,300 the Beets gather for their final gold weigh of the season. 1467 01:20:16,340 --> 01:20:17,910 Ready to weigh up the trommel now? 1468 01:20:17,910 --> 01:20:19,610 [Tony speaking] 1469 01:20:20,780 --> 01:20:23,850 [narrator] To hit their 3,000-ounce gold, 1470 01:20:23,850 --> 01:20:27,180 they still need 321 ounces. 1471 01:20:29,390 --> 01:20:35,720 [Monica] 290, 350, 351.36. 1472 01:20:35,730 --> 01:20:37,030 [Tony speaking] 1473 01:20:37,030 --> 01:20:41,330 [narrator] Worth over $660,000. 1474 01:20:41,330 --> 01:20:43,270 So, Mom, what's our season total? 1475 01:20:43,270 --> 01:20:45,970 3,030.26. 1476 01:20:45,970 --> 01:20:47,100 [Monica] Whoa! 1477 01:20:47,100 --> 01:20:48,240 [Tony speaking] 1478 01:20:48,240 --> 01:20:51,040 3,030 is better than 2020. 1479 01:20:51,040 --> 01:20:52,010 [all laughing] 1480 01:20:52,010 --> 01:20:54,240 [narrator] In their shortest season ever, 1481 01:20:54,250 --> 01:20:59,250 the Beets have mined $5.6 million worth of gold. 1482 01:20:59,250 --> 01:21:01,350 [Tony speaking] 1483 01:21:10,960 --> 01:21:13,300 [narrator] Fired up by hitting his target, 1484 01:21:13,300 --> 01:21:16,700 Tony's already thinking big for next season. 1485 01:21:16,700 --> 01:21:19,940 [Tony speaking] 1486 01:21:25,240 --> 01:21:27,110 Want to have a little side bet here, buddy? 1487 01:21:27,110 --> 01:21:29,210 [Tony speaking] 1488 01:21:29,210 --> 01:21:32,410 If I win, I get a new truck, red one. 1489 01:21:32,420 --> 01:21:35,220 If you win, you'll get three SUVs. 1490 01:21:35,220 --> 01:21:37,390 [Tony speaking] 1491 01:21:39,020 --> 01:21:40,190 [Monica] Started. 1492 01:21:40,190 --> 01:21:42,160 No, no, no, we're closing up. 1493 01:21:48,400 --> 01:21:49,800 [man] Get into that thing. 1494 01:21:49,800 --> 01:21:52,000 Went right at it. 1495 01:21:52,000 --> 01:21:55,140 [narrator] This season, Parker has run his wash plants 1496 01:21:55,140 --> 01:22:00,940 and his crew hard to build a war chest and find new ground in Alaska. 1497 01:22:00,950 --> 01:22:03,250 This is what you're looking for right there. 1498 01:22:03,250 --> 01:22:06,920 Wait, Chris, where are we at right before these numbers? 1499 01:22:06,920 --> 01:22:10,750 Right now, we're at 6,988 ounces. 1500 01:22:10,760 --> 01:22:13,090 [bleep]. So we've had a hell of a good season. 1501 01:22:13,820 --> 01:22:18,160 The most we ever got in a year was 7,400. 1502 01:22:18,160 --> 01:22:20,330 [narrator] To top his best season ever, 1503 01:22:20,330 --> 01:22:23,570 he needs just over 400 ounces. 1504 01:22:23,570 --> 01:22:25,270 We're gonna weigh up Slucifer first. 1505 01:22:25,270 --> 01:22:27,040 - [Parker] Tyson, here we go. - [Tyson] Yes, sir. 1506 01:22:28,910 --> 01:22:30,040 20. 1507 01:22:30,070 --> 01:22:33,610 [narrator] Slucifer's rookie wash plant boss Tyson 1508 01:22:33,610 --> 01:22:36,980 delivers 290 ounces. 1509 01:22:40,020 --> 01:22:42,350 [Parker] Brennan, this is Red. 1510 01:22:42,350 --> 01:22:47,860 [narrator] While Brennan and Big Red bring in a further 226. 1511 01:22:47,860 --> 01:22:49,160 Yeah! 1512 01:22:50,800 --> 01:22:52,800 [all cheering] 1513 01:22:52,800 --> 01:22:57,170 [Chris] Our record is 7,400, and for the season, 1514 01:22:57,170 --> 01:23:01,070 we have 7,504.9 ounces. 1515 01:23:01,070 --> 01:23:02,170 [all cheering] 1516 01:23:02,170 --> 01:23:03,070 Cheers, guys. 1517 01:23:03,070 --> 01:23:06,010 [all cheering] 1518 01:23:06,010 --> 01:23:08,140 [narrator] In a season like no other, 1519 01:23:08,150 --> 01:23:12,980 Parker and his crew have mined more gold than ever before. 1520 01:23:12,980 --> 01:23:16,920 And at 2020's record high gold prices, 1521 01:23:16,920 --> 01:23:21,160 it's worth almost $14 million. 1522 01:23:21,160 --> 01:23:22,490 To many more. 1523 01:23:22,490 --> 01:23:24,560 Cheers, guys. 1524 01:23:24,560 --> 01:23:26,000 [man] Let's go home! 1525 01:23:26,000 --> 01:23:27,460 [all laughing] 1525 01:23:28,305 --> 01:24:28,654 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm