"Gold Rush" Ends of the Earth: Gold Rush Special

1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:02,560 On this Gold Rush... 2 00:00:02,570 --> 00:00:04,060 Let's go. 3 00:00:04,070 --> 00:00:05,700 The greatest treasure hunts... 4 00:00:05,700 --> 00:00:06,900 Woo-hoo! 5 00:00:06,900 --> 00:00:08,940 Now that's what I call a big nugget. 6 00:00:08,940 --> 00:00:10,940 - Look at all that good stuff. - Whoa! 7 00:00:10,940 --> 00:00:12,940 that span the globe. 8 00:00:12,940 --> 00:00:15,880 I hope you guys like a little adventure in your life. 9 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:17,010 Oh, God. 10 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:19,080 Looking for the legendary hot spots... 11 00:00:20,780 --> 00:00:24,550 that hold fine gold and chunky nuggets. 12 00:00:24,550 --> 00:00:27,190 This could be the difference between me going home broke or not. 13 00:00:27,190 --> 00:00:31,130 Hunts that push miners' skills and instincts to the limit... 14 00:00:31,130 --> 00:00:32,360 Oh! . 15 00:00:33,060 --> 00:00:34,430 Gold's right there. 16 00:00:37,170 --> 00:00:39,930 and take them to the brink of disaster. 17 00:00:40,940 --> 00:00:41,870 Holy . 18 00:00:41,870 --> 00:00:43,240 Shut it down! 19 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:45,970 Forcing them to risk it all... 20 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,880 Don't fall in this water, you will die. 21 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:51,880 ...for a life-changing payday. 22 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:59,074 23 00:01:00,390 --> 00:01:03,090 The hunt to find gold, 24 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,060 gold fever. 25 00:01:06,060 --> 00:01:10,960 It gets into the blood, becoming an all-consuming passion. 26 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,970 2013. 27 00:01:16,100 --> 00:01:18,140 Mining legend John Schnabel 28 00:01:18,140 --> 00:01:23,010 has been working Big Nugget Mine for over 25 years, 29 00:01:23,010 --> 00:01:27,280 but there's one spot that's gnawed at him for decades, 30 00:01:29,020 --> 00:01:33,190 a location where he believes he'll make his biggest score. 31 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:35,060 Payson and Parker, 32 00:01:35,060 --> 00:01:39,060 I want to find out what there is in Smith Creek, 33 00:01:39,060 --> 00:01:44,230 and I am hopeful that you can find gold at least as big as this. 34 00:01:44,230 --> 00:01:46,470 Nuggets like this in Smith Creek? 35 00:01:46,470 --> 00:01:47,770 That's right. 36 00:01:47,770 --> 00:01:51,070 Before the weather chases us out. 37 00:01:51,070 --> 00:01:54,480 I want to know what's down there pretty bad, too. 38 00:01:55,940 --> 00:01:59,080 - I'm in. 39 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,880 Smith Creek is an ancient river that once ran down the hill 40 00:02:02,890 --> 00:02:05,990 above Big Nugget Mine. 41 00:02:05,990 --> 00:02:11,090 But over thousands of years, it was covered by earth and trees. 42 00:02:13,860 --> 00:02:17,530 I think the ground is 300,000 years, laying there, 43 00:02:17,530 --> 00:02:21,200 waiting for us, why, there must be something hidden underneath it. 44 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,670 Getting to the bottom could uncover millions in gold nuggets, 45 00:02:25,670 --> 00:02:27,880 but it won't be easy. 46 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:31,810 And what do we have now that we didn't have then? 47 00:02:31,810 --> 00:02:36,080 We have grandpa refusing to give up. 48 00:02:36,090 --> 00:02:39,350 Now, encouraged by their grandpa, 49 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,290 Parker and brother Payson, 50 00:02:41,290 --> 00:02:45,530 have just days left in the season to dig down 80 feet... 51 00:02:45,530 --> 00:02:47,060 Let's do this. 52 00:02:47,100 --> 00:02:51,100 clearing out an area the size of four football fields. 53 00:02:51,100 --> 00:02:52,500 Now we're moving some dirt. 54 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:03,480 Uh-oh. 55 00:03:04,250 --> 00:03:06,810 Holy crap. 56 00:03:06,820 --> 00:03:09,080 Are you kidding me? 57 00:03:11,820 --> 00:03:13,320 Stuck in a mud hole. 58 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:16,960 You've gotta be me. 59 00:03:22,060 --> 00:03:26,800 At this rate, it'll take three weeks to get down to the creek bed, 60 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,040 and winter could freeze them out at any moment. 61 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,010 We really need to do something different. 62 00:03:32,970 --> 00:03:34,440 When I was up in the Yukon, 63 00:03:34,580 --> 00:03:37,710 when we really needed to move a lot of dirt in a short amount of time, 64 00:03:37,710 --> 00:03:40,880 we brought in a water monitor, and... 65 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:42,120 you know, you spray the stuff down 66 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,250 and it makes a slurry and runs down the hill. 67 00:03:45,250 --> 00:03:47,350 Let's hope it's not a big huge mess. 68 00:03:51,060 --> 00:03:53,830 The monitor fires a high-pressure water jet... 69 00:03:53,830 --> 00:03:55,430 She's flowing. 70 00:03:55,430 --> 00:03:59,600 that washes mud and loose material into the drainage ditch, 71 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,440 and out of the cut. 72 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,070 - Looks like this thing's working pretty well, huh? - Yeah, it is. 73 00:04:04,070 --> 00:04:05,570 It's moving dirt. 74 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:11,040 But it's also washing away their access road. 75 00:04:14,220 --> 00:04:15,620 This is tight. 76 00:04:23,730 --> 00:04:25,160 All right, here he comes. 77 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:27,360 Look at that . It's a long way down from up here 78 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,300 and that's gonna hurt if he falls down that. 79 00:04:34,940 --> 00:04:36,970 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa . 80 00:04:36,970 --> 00:04:38,910 It slipped away when you rolled over it. 81 00:04:38,910 --> 00:04:40,340 . 82 00:04:40,340 --> 00:04:44,140 The road is collapsing under Parker's rock truck. 83 00:04:44,150 --> 00:04:45,450 I've got you. 84 00:04:53,020 --> 00:04:55,090 Pull forward, pull forward. 85 00:04:57,890 --> 00:04:59,930 We can't run the monitor and the rock trucks 86 00:04:59,930 --> 00:05:01,530 at the same time, it's just not safe. 87 00:05:01,530 --> 00:05:03,100 It's flushing our road away, 88 00:05:03,100 --> 00:05:05,130 I mean , you almost went off the edge right here, Parker. 89 00:05:05,130 --> 00:05:07,170 I won't say we stop monitoring, 90 00:05:07,170 --> 00:05:09,370 - then we're just back to what we've been doing. - I know. 91 00:05:09,370 --> 00:05:12,070 And that's not going to work, we're never going to get to the bottom. 92 00:05:12,470 --> 00:05:14,140 The only option I see is 93 00:05:14,140 --> 00:05:18,350 trying to reduce the area that we're trying to work on, you know. 94 00:05:20,150 --> 00:05:24,620 Narrowing the search means they'll get to the bedrock faster, 95 00:05:24,620 --> 00:05:28,760 but if they've picked the wrong spot, they'll miss the gold. 96 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:32,090 We're going from a pretty wide area that we started with 97 00:05:32,090 --> 00:05:35,960 to a very narrow, pinpointing location. 98 00:05:37,130 --> 00:05:38,870 Through the river gravel. 99 00:05:38,870 --> 00:05:40,570 You think so? 100 00:05:40,570 --> 00:05:43,600 Yeah, I think it's worth panning that. 101 00:05:43,610 --> 00:05:45,140 Rounded stones could prove 102 00:05:45,140 --> 00:05:48,280 the boys have reached the ancient riverbed. 103 00:05:54,950 --> 00:05:58,790 - Oh look at that, you got some color. 104 00:05:58,790 --> 00:06:01,820 Just think, as you get down towards the bedrock, 105 00:06:01,820 --> 00:06:04,060 The gold's going to get bigger and bigger, bigger. 106 00:06:04,060 --> 00:06:05,760 - Yeah. 107 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,630 - Hurry up. 108 00:06:10,060 --> 00:06:11,670 Parker and Payson 109 00:06:11,670 --> 00:06:14,430 truck the first of the paydirt to the plant. 110 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:21,140 The boys are finally in with a chance of finding Smith Creek gold. 111 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:30,050 Overnight, the temperature drops to 20 below. 112 00:06:30,050 --> 00:06:33,120 This little plant looks a little froze up. 113 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,090 I didn't know it was going to get that cold last night. 114 00:06:35,090 --> 00:06:36,360 Me neither. 115 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:43,300 - Oh, that's froze solid. - That's not good. 116 00:06:43,300 --> 00:06:45,600 The wash plant is frozen. 117 00:06:46,870 --> 00:06:49,140 Their season is over. 118 00:06:50,670 --> 00:06:53,340 John checks their concentrate for nuggets. 119 00:06:55,140 --> 00:06:57,440 I'm getting down to where I'm getting nervous. 120 00:06:57,910 --> 00:06:59,180 Oh! 121 00:07:02,450 --> 00:07:04,950 Certainly isn't any nuggets, that's for sure. 122 00:07:09,990 --> 00:07:14,830 I think we should take a look at the jig and see if something is there. 123 00:07:14,830 --> 00:07:17,260 I'll take a look. 124 00:07:17,270 --> 00:07:21,740 Their last hope is that the gold has blown out of the sluices, 125 00:07:21,740 --> 00:07:23,140 and into the jig. 126 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:25,010 You see anything in here? 127 00:07:25,010 --> 00:07:26,440 I don't see a whole lot. 128 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:28,280 Looks like pretty up. 129 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:31,850 Holy crap! 130 00:07:31,850 --> 00:07:35,380 Look at that. . Whoo! 131 00:07:35,380 --> 00:07:36,520 Look at that! 132 00:07:38,350 --> 00:07:40,220 Oh my! 133 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,990 Whoo, that is beautiful. 134 00:07:44,260 --> 00:07:45,960 Here's another one! 135 00:07:47,630 --> 00:07:50,100 - Isn't that awesome? - That's insane. 136 00:07:52,030 --> 00:07:56,740 - I won't be able to sleep. 137 00:07:56,740 --> 00:07:58,840 Parker and Payson's treasure hunt 138 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:02,080 has proved Grandpa John right. 139 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:07,250 This ancient creek bed could hold millions in gold nuggets. 140 00:08:08,950 --> 00:08:13,520 You've proven to me that there is gold in Smith Creek. 141 00:08:14,060 --> 00:08:16,120 Congratulations. 142 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,030 - Thank you. - Handshakes? 143 00:08:20,700 --> 00:08:23,060 - I agree. - Payson. 144 00:08:24,730 --> 00:08:27,430 My faith that there was going to be gold there 145 00:08:27,970 --> 00:08:30,200 has turned out to be true. 146 00:08:31,570 --> 00:08:36,140 - - And it's probably the highlight of my life. 147 00:08:40,850 --> 00:08:42,950 In the original gold rush, 148 00:08:42,950 --> 00:08:46,490 miners could pick chunks of gold right out of the ground. 149 00:08:47,090 --> 00:08:49,760 To find such rich ground today, 150 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:53,360 prospectors must travel deep into the wilderness, 151 00:08:58,900 --> 00:09:04,470 which is where the hunt for treasure took Todd Hoffman in 2013. 152 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,840 We pulled $1.2 million out of the ground 153 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:10,280 at ten bucks a yard. 154 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:14,150 I'm not gonna make these guys millionaires on ten bucks a yard. 155 00:09:14,150 --> 00:09:18,320 I have got to go get us better ground. 156 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,590 Even if I got to go to the ends of the Earth, I'll find it. 157 00:09:27,060 --> 00:09:30,500 Holy smokes! Look at the drop on that falls. 158 00:09:31,270 --> 00:09:35,000 Here we are in Guyana. I think this might be it. 159 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:37,840 Guyana, South America, 160 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,610 produces over $1 billion a year in gold. 161 00:09:44,050 --> 00:09:48,110 Gambling over $1 million for a slice of the action, 162 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:52,350 Todd flies his crew 5,500 miles to the jungle, 163 00:09:53,890 --> 00:09:56,290 on a high-stakes treasure hunt. 164 00:09:58,390 --> 00:10:01,330 I think this ground's going to be the best ground we've ever seen. 165 00:10:04,130 --> 00:10:06,870 I don't care how tough this road is, 166 00:10:06,870 --> 00:10:08,470 if there's gold at the end of it, 167 00:10:08,470 --> 00:10:10,040 let's mine it. 168 00:10:12,970 --> 00:10:16,510 Another 200 yards, you guys, and we'll be on the boundary line. 169 00:10:18,610 --> 00:10:23,850 - What the heck is this? - What the... 170 00:10:23,850 --> 00:10:28,190 But the ground they've been promised has been illegally mined out. 171 00:10:28,190 --> 00:10:30,090 Holy crap! 172 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:33,190 Is this what we came to see? 173 00:10:34,100 --> 00:10:37,100 There was good gold here and somebody else knew it too. 174 00:10:38,970 --> 00:10:41,500 I don't know what to say, uh... 175 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:46,110 Not much to say, Marshall. 176 00:10:46,110 --> 00:10:50,040 Gold mining in Guyana can be a lawless business. 177 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:56,120 Around 15,000 ounces are mined illegally each week. 178 00:10:59,050 --> 00:11:01,450 Rolling the dice one more time, 179 00:11:02,590 --> 00:11:05,960 Todd heads out to a neighboring claim on his map, 180 00:11:06,830 --> 00:11:09,300 owned by a different landlord. 181 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:19,370 Just take it slow and easy, watch your step for snakes. 182 00:11:21,540 --> 00:11:26,010 Okay, guys, this is the boundary line of the Q.O.D. property. 183 00:11:26,010 --> 00:11:30,050 I think we're into some territory that might be virgin. 184 00:11:30,050 --> 00:11:32,020 Let's set it up, huh? 185 00:11:36,290 --> 00:11:38,830 I sure hope there's gold in here. 186 00:11:38,830 --> 00:11:40,390 Start running material. 187 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:41,060 Okay. 188 00:11:42,630 --> 00:11:46,230 This yard of dirt will tell the Hoffman crew if this claim, 189 00:11:46,230 --> 00:11:49,970 called the Queen Of Diamonds, or Q.O.D., 190 00:11:49,970 --> 00:11:53,510 is rich enough to move their whole operation. 191 00:11:54,140 --> 00:11:55,180 That looks good. 192 00:11:55,180 --> 00:11:57,280 I like seeing that, boy. 193 00:12:00,210 --> 00:12:02,020 That's it, Freddy. 194 00:12:05,990 --> 00:12:08,090 Be honest Freddy, what do you think? 195 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:15,530 That's some beautiful gold. 196 00:12:15,530 --> 00:12:18,160 I'm guessing about 50 bucks a yard. 197 00:12:18,170 --> 00:12:21,430 - 50 bucks a yard! - That's what we've been looking for, Fred. 198 00:12:21,670 --> 00:12:23,170 Whoo! 199 00:12:23,170 --> 00:12:25,440 We're gonna go ahead and lease the Q.O.D. 200 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,070 Guys, the journey starts right here. 201 00:12:40,020 --> 00:12:43,120 Yeah, we're deep in it now. 202 00:12:43,130 --> 00:12:49,200 In 2013, Todd Hoffman and his crew have gambled $1 million 203 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,430 on a treasure hunt in Guyana, South America. 204 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:02,280 But before they even reach their claim, 205 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:06,210 the tropical jungle throws down its first challenge. 206 00:13:06,210 --> 00:13:08,080 Holy crap. 207 00:13:08,950 --> 00:13:11,520 That's the sketchiest bridge I've ever seen. 208 00:13:15,590 --> 00:13:21,030 Unable to move their 23-ton trommel any closer to his claim, 209 00:13:21,030 --> 00:13:25,200 Todd's season looks like it's over before it's begun. 210 00:13:26,130 --> 00:13:28,840 We want to rebuild this bridge. 211 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,570 - Will you guys help us? - You have the support. 212 00:13:31,570 --> 00:13:33,340 - Deal. - Deal. 213 00:13:33,340 --> 00:13:36,340 - Right here, put a new board in here. - Yeah. 214 00:13:42,180 --> 00:13:44,120 Board's coming your way, Jack. 215 00:13:45,050 --> 00:13:46,750 - Clear? - Clear. 216 00:13:48,590 --> 00:13:51,460 We've done everything we could do, now it's crunch time. 217 00:13:52,790 --> 00:13:54,190 Here we go, guys. 218 00:13:58,170 --> 00:14:00,600 Take it easy, nice and slow. 219 00:14:10,210 --> 00:14:11,780 - Woo-hoo! - Whoa! 220 00:14:11,780 --> 00:14:17,120 Yeah! Oh, God. Yeah. 221 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:20,320 Out, right there was the biggest thing we've done ever. 222 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:22,120 We did it, we did it. 223 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:23,960 - Woo-hoo! 224 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:30,800 Crank it up. 225 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:35,570 Just six weeks after arriving in Guyana, they are sluicing paydirt. 226 00:14:36,770 --> 00:14:38,040 We know there's gold here. 227 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:40,140 We're gonna give it our all and see if we can get this done, 228 00:14:40,140 --> 00:14:42,940 get it accomplished and get the dirt through the wash plant. 229 00:14:48,350 --> 00:14:51,250 - There's shoes in our tailings. - What the frick! 230 00:14:54,690 --> 00:14:56,460 This ground's not virgin ground. 231 00:14:56,460 --> 00:15:00,030 Oh . This is bull . 232 00:15:00,030 --> 00:15:02,930 Todd said we're going to go off to Guyana and find virgin ground 233 00:15:02,930 --> 00:15:06,570 and now we're mining other people's dump is what we're doing. 234 00:15:06,570 --> 00:15:08,900 After running 1,500 yards, 235 00:15:08,900 --> 00:15:12,710 they're questioning if their test pan was a fluke. 236 00:15:12,710 --> 00:15:16,210 I'm seeing no gold. Zip, nada, nothing. 237 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,010 With the crew losing faith... 238 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,110 You're quitting? 239 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,980 You find me some ground with gold and we'll move mountains for you, Todd, 240 00:15:23,990 --> 00:15:26,250 but right now, I'm done. 241 00:15:27,860 --> 00:15:30,390 and disasters on the mine site... 242 00:15:31,930 --> 00:15:35,030 Hey guys, we need more material through here. 243 00:15:35,030 --> 00:15:39,130 - So they got it, oh-- 244 00:15:39,130 --> 00:15:42,200 You are freaking kidding me! 245 00:15:43,300 --> 00:15:47,610 The Hoffman treasure hunt comes to an end... 246 00:15:47,610 --> 00:15:49,510 This freaking jungle's cursed. 247 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,120 with just two ounces to show 248 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,290 for their $1 million investment. 249 00:16:08,230 --> 00:16:10,760 Guyana is one of the most beautiful, 250 00:16:10,770 --> 00:16:13,600 but unforgiving places in the world. 251 00:16:14,570 --> 00:16:18,270 Anything I made last year, I lost right down here. 252 00:16:24,980 --> 00:16:29,920 In the United States, gold-rich virgin ground is rare, 253 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,790 but what the old-timers missed with their limited technology, 254 00:16:33,790 --> 00:16:37,220 could make a modern-day miner's fortune. 255 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:46,170 In 2018, Dave Turin strikes off on his own, 256 00:16:46,170 --> 00:16:49,970 hunting for the gold the old-timers left behind. 257 00:16:50,900 --> 00:16:52,840 So I've been to Montana, 258 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,270 I've been in Nevada, I've been to the Yukon. 259 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:56,980 I mean, I've been all over the place. 260 00:16:56,980 --> 00:16:58,980 And now, here I am in Arizona. 261 00:16:58,980 --> 00:17:03,420 I'm scared, I'm anxious, I'm really feeling the pressure right now. 262 00:17:05,120 --> 00:17:07,990 80 miles south of Flagstaff, 263 00:17:07,990 --> 00:17:13,330 Dave is about to meet local miner, Casey Morgan, at Lynx Creek mine. 264 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,360 He sent me pictures of a pan, 265 00:17:18,370 --> 00:17:22,540 and he got, like, 2.7 ounces out of 30 yards. 266 00:17:23,170 --> 00:17:25,300 Like, come on. 267 00:17:25,310 --> 00:17:27,710 So I'm excited. It's what I've been looking for. 268 00:17:27,710 --> 00:17:30,040 Hopefully something comes of this. 269 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,680 Lynx Creek is four miles of dried riverbed 270 00:17:35,680 --> 00:17:38,520 running east out of Prescott Valley. 271 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:42,720 Gold was discovered here in 1853. 272 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:49,130 A massive gold strike in 1862 caught President Lincoln's attention. 273 00:17:49,130 --> 00:17:53,100 He sent men to the Prescott Valley to protect its riches 274 00:17:53,100 --> 00:17:56,970 that he used to help fund the Civil War. 275 00:18:00,270 --> 00:18:06,910 Leaseholder Casey Morgan believes Abe Lincoln's miners left buried treasure behind. 276 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:08,580 - Hey. - How you doing? 277 00:18:08,580 --> 00:18:09,980 - Good nice to meet you. - Okay. 278 00:18:09,980 --> 00:18:11,720 How much gold you get out of this, you think? 279 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,890 To be honest with you, Dave, it's gonna shock you. 280 00:18:14,890 --> 00:18:17,990 - Up to an ounce for every ten yards. - Come on. 281 00:18:17,990 --> 00:18:19,390 Here's the big question. 282 00:18:19,390 --> 00:18:21,760 If the ground's that good, why aren't you mining it? 283 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:23,160 Didn't have the money. 284 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,100 - Show me where you dug that sample up. - Yeah, I will. 285 00:18:26,100 --> 00:18:28,070 Came right down through here, 286 00:18:28,070 --> 00:18:29,670 cut right through the middle. 287 00:18:29,670 --> 00:18:31,640 In the 19th century, 288 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:37,640 Abe Lincoln's miners made their way down the creek's main channel, 289 00:18:37,650 --> 00:18:43,380 but Casey thinks they missed a cache of gold in tributaries feeding the creek. 290 00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:47,520 Casey mined the easternmost tributary. 291 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:51,490 He pulled 30 yards of pay from the bank and bed, 292 00:18:51,490 --> 00:18:56,460 and found $3,000 worth of gold in less than a day. 293 00:18:59,270 --> 00:19:05,140 Dave only needs $25 a yard for the mine to be profitable. 294 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:08,440 This is the layer that I'd be interested in. 295 00:19:08,940 --> 00:19:10,580 It's a good sign. 296 00:19:10,580 --> 00:19:14,210 It's a traditional plaster, but here's the thing. 297 00:19:14,220 --> 00:19:15,580 How much gold is in there? 298 00:19:16,620 --> 00:19:17,950 I'm a little skeptical. 299 00:19:17,950 --> 00:19:20,950 I need to check out, see how much good, mineable gold 300 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:22,490 is in this valley. 301 00:19:22,490 --> 00:19:26,030 So we're gonna run a little test here and see if we can find some gold. 302 00:19:26,030 --> 00:19:30,700 Casey wants Dave to test some paydirt he pulled from the ground, 303 00:19:30,700 --> 00:19:35,230 before he ran out of money and was forced to abandon the mine. 304 00:19:36,470 --> 00:19:39,970 If Casey's telling me this is close to 100 bucks a yard, 305 00:19:39,970 --> 00:19:45,210 I need to see at least 40 or 50 chunky flakes of gold in my pan. 306 00:19:45,910 --> 00:19:47,780 All right. 307 00:19:47,780 --> 00:19:49,420 - Let me get this, I'll get this one-- - Wow, 308 00:19:49,420 --> 00:19:51,550 - look at all the black sand in there already. - Yeah. 309 00:19:57,290 --> 00:19:58,260 Holy . 310 00:19:58,260 --> 00:20:00,060 - Yep. - Look at that. 311 00:20:01,930 --> 00:20:06,070 There's at least 50 big colors in here. 312 00:20:06,070 --> 00:20:08,870 - Yeah. - And it's good chunky gold, look at that. 313 00:20:08,870 --> 00:20:10,670 Fifty colors in the pan 314 00:20:10,670 --> 00:20:14,340 indicates treasure the old-timers left behind. 315 00:20:14,340 --> 00:20:17,340 For two years, I've been looking for that pan right there. 316 00:20:17,350 --> 00:20:19,680 It looks freaking awesome, Casey. 317 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:23,350 I've been traveling for two years since I got out of the Hoffmans, 318 00:20:23,350 --> 00:20:27,990 and I've been all over this stinking place looking for exactly this. 319 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:29,590 Come on man. 320 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:31,320 - All right. - All right. 321 00:20:31,330 --> 00:20:34,390 I gotta see if I can make a deal that works for everyone. 322 00:20:35,430 --> 00:20:38,200 But I think we just hit a home run. 323 00:20:41,100 --> 00:20:43,000 Just a month later, 324 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,540 Dave has assembled a small crew to mine Lynx Creek 325 00:20:46,540 --> 00:20:48,370 for a five-week trial. 326 00:20:50,910 --> 00:20:55,150 But restrictions imposed on his lease by the landowners, 327 00:20:55,150 --> 00:20:59,320 prevented him from sluicing the spot he and Casey panned. 328 00:21:00,420 --> 00:21:03,320 Jesse. 329 00:21:03,820 --> 00:21:06,890 1.2 ounces. 330 00:21:06,890 --> 00:21:11,160 Got some bad news. This ground's not paying. I guess we go prospecting. 331 00:21:11,170 --> 00:21:13,700 Dave, no disrespect, none. 332 00:21:13,700 --> 00:21:15,130 Since day one we've pulled up here, 333 00:21:15,140 --> 00:21:21,040 all I've heard about is this magical, mythological east 334 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:23,910 that's supposed to have this pan that brought you here. 335 00:21:23,910 --> 00:21:25,810 And we're not there, why? 336 00:21:25,810 --> 00:21:29,050 They said, "Stay west of the pipeline." 337 00:21:29,050 --> 00:21:32,650 It's easier to beg for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. 338 00:21:32,650 --> 00:21:35,120 It's a lot easier to hand them a jar of gold that's-- 339 00:21:35,120 --> 00:21:36,690 - No, I get it. I get it. - Substantial and go, 340 00:21:36,690 --> 00:21:39,930 "I apologize for going over there but here, put this in your wallet." 341 00:21:39,930 --> 00:21:44,560 How about we go across that pipeline and they say, "You guys are done." 342 00:21:45,770 --> 00:21:48,270 - You truly believe the gold's there? - I saw it, it's there. 343 00:21:48,270 --> 00:21:51,040 So let's take the land owners a fat-ass jar gold. 344 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,070 We're gonna do it, let's do it right now. 345 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:56,040 From his current cut, 346 00:21:56,040 --> 00:22:01,810 Dave must drive a mile and a half east through a power company's yard 347 00:22:01,820 --> 00:22:05,020 to get to potential gold on the ground 348 00:22:05,020 --> 00:22:08,320 his landowners warned him not to mine. 349 00:22:20,130 --> 00:22:22,400 Dave, is that a cop car? 350 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:26,110 All right, we're just gonna act like we're meant to be here. 351 00:22:26,110 --> 00:22:30,340 Let's just get this done. Don't even look, just act like we know what we're doing. 352 00:22:37,220 --> 00:22:38,120 Yeah. 353 00:22:38,120 --> 00:22:39,250 And the five-0. 354 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,290 Looks good Jason, looks good. Let me grab a sample. 355 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:51,000 After striking gold 356 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:52,600 back in the eastern tributary... 357 00:22:55,170 --> 00:22:56,240 Dude! 358 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:58,270 Dave, look at the size. 359 00:22:58,270 --> 00:22:59,940 - Holy crap. - I didn't think this place had 360 00:22:59,940 --> 00:23:02,010 gold like that anywhere here. 361 00:23:02,010 --> 00:23:04,180 then getting approval from his landowners... 362 00:23:04,180 --> 00:23:05,440 - Hey. - Thanks, Brad. 363 00:23:05,450 --> 00:23:06,680 - Thanks for coming, appreciate it. - Yeah. 364 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:10,020 Dave is finally on the gold. 365 00:23:10,020 --> 00:23:15,120 Hey guys, I got good news. Whoo! We got the ground east of the pipeline. 366 00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:17,920 Whoo! Let's dig. 367 00:23:17,930 --> 00:23:19,990 We're going for it now, boys. 368 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:23,660 Oh yeah, baby. 369 00:23:23,660 --> 00:23:27,270 Hell yeah! Bring it on, big daddy. 370 00:23:27,270 --> 00:23:31,140 And the final days of the season paid out. 371 00:23:31,910 --> 00:23:34,840 Ooh yeah! 372 00:23:36,780 --> 00:23:38,740 - Two jars, gentlemen. - Oh my . 373 00:23:38,750 --> 00:23:42,450 - Whoa! - We've got 59 ounces in this. 374 00:23:42,450 --> 00:23:47,320 - Whoo! - We did that in four weeks and five days. 375 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:49,460 Last day, 21 ounces. 376 00:23:50,120 --> 00:23:53,090 80 ounces total, guys. 377 00:23:53,090 --> 00:23:54,830 - We did it. 378 00:23:54,830 --> 00:23:57,000 - Whoa, yeah! - What? 379 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:59,870 Not only did we get 80 ounces out of the ground, 380 00:23:59,870 --> 00:24:02,940 but we became a legitimate mining group. 381 00:24:02,940 --> 00:24:06,210 Lynx creek held the old-timers' treasure 382 00:24:06,210 --> 00:24:08,740 Dave Turin went there to find. 383 00:24:08,740 --> 00:24:10,010 Team Turin, gentlemen. 384 00:24:10,010 --> 00:24:11,940 - We're there! - Whoo! 385 00:24:18,790 --> 00:24:21,050 Since gold mining began, 386 00:24:21,060 --> 00:24:24,420 miners have hunted for a sacred prize, 387 00:24:24,430 --> 00:24:26,060 the mother lode. 388 00:24:31,100 --> 00:24:37,770 In 2019, Rick Ness set off on the biggest treasure hunt of his life, 389 00:24:37,770 --> 00:24:42,070 a nugget hunt near the source of gold on Mount Hinton. 390 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:46,850 I did okay last year and it was all right, 391 00:24:46,850 --> 00:24:51,150 and like that's... That's just not good enough for me, you know what I mean? 392 00:24:51,150 --> 00:24:55,650 I just, I want something better than okay, you know, and I think that, 393 00:24:55,660 --> 00:24:58,720 I don't think I can get anything better than okay in the Klondike. 394 00:24:58,730 --> 00:25:01,490 My worry is that you could very well go bankrupt. 395 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:06,230 The "X" on Rick's treasure map 396 00:25:06,230 --> 00:25:11,870 was a mountain claim on Duncan Creek in Canada's Yukon territory, 397 00:25:11,870 --> 00:25:15,110 owned by Stuart Gray and his son, Dean. 398 00:25:15,780 --> 00:25:16,480 Wow! 399 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:18,910 - Holy... 400 00:25:22,020 --> 00:25:23,780 The thing is a treasure hunt. 401 00:25:23,780 --> 00:25:27,150 They're probably twice as good when you get down there. 402 00:25:27,150 --> 00:25:29,020 What's that phrase? "Shut up and take my money." 403 00:25:30,830 --> 00:25:33,160 - Well, it drives the hunt and-- - Yeah. 404 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:37,500 The potential from what we know is huge. 405 00:25:39,930 --> 00:25:43,140 Lured by the promise of monster nuggets, 406 00:25:43,140 --> 00:25:46,040 Rick leases the claim from the Grays. 407 00:25:47,670 --> 00:25:49,140 Two months into the season, 408 00:25:49,140 --> 00:25:52,650 Rick has just 45 ounces of gold 409 00:25:52,650 --> 00:25:55,550 and has yet to find a single nugget. 410 00:25:57,820 --> 00:25:59,990 Where we've been digging, it's just not cutting it. 411 00:25:59,990 --> 00:26:03,790 I mean, it's just not giving us the gold that we're going to need. 412 00:26:03,790 --> 00:26:07,960 We came here under the promise of, you know, gold-rich pockets and big nuggets, 413 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:11,500 and uh, right now, that's what we need to save our season. 414 00:26:13,970 --> 00:26:19,970 Rick calls his dad, Rick Senior, back to the Yukon to help track down the gold. 415 00:26:28,950 --> 00:26:31,150 me, right runway. 416 00:26:31,150 --> 00:26:33,290 Good to see you, dad. 417 00:26:33,290 --> 00:26:36,960 Rick fills his dad in on a new plan of action, 418 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,430 a treasure hunt for new ground. 419 00:26:39,430 --> 00:26:41,760 So, our wash plant's right here, 420 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:44,060 - and we're digging into this right side. - Yep. 421 00:26:44,070 --> 00:26:46,570 I think the biggest stuff is going to be high up. 422 00:26:46,570 --> 00:26:48,030 We should probably jump in the airplane 423 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:51,000 and just have a look overhead at all these valleys. 424 00:26:51,010 --> 00:26:53,070 - You think you can fly your plane in there? - Oh, hell yeah. 425 00:26:53,070 --> 00:26:54,240 - Really? - Yeah. 426 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:56,240 I mean, this is like way more of a treasure hunt 427 00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:57,780 than any gold mining I've ever done. 428 00:26:57,780 --> 00:26:59,480 - No right? 429 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:02,580 - We're gonna fire up. - Go. 430 00:27:19,970 --> 00:27:22,170 Oh my , look at this up here. 431 00:27:23,100 --> 00:27:24,500 Mount Hinton right there. 432 00:27:25,570 --> 00:27:27,040 Wow. 433 00:27:27,040 --> 00:27:29,170 - Going down. - Holy . 434 00:27:34,110 --> 00:27:35,850 The big gold that we're looking for 435 00:27:35,850 --> 00:27:38,080 is going to be up in one of these tributaries. 436 00:27:38,090 --> 00:27:39,520 We got to get higher up, you know. 437 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:41,290 So, the farther down they come, 438 00:27:41,290 --> 00:27:45,960 the more opportunity they had to break up into smaller pieces, you know? 439 00:27:47,290 --> 00:27:49,160 I'd like to look for that one. 440 00:27:49,630 --> 00:27:51,430 I really think that's the spot. 441 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:56,840 After spotting the tributary from the air, 442 00:27:56,840 --> 00:28:02,340 Rick and Rick Senior need to work their way up Mount Hinton to run a test. 443 00:28:05,580 --> 00:28:08,150 Watch out. Easy. 444 00:28:09,950 --> 00:28:12,080 If Rick's hunch is right, 445 00:28:12,090 --> 00:28:16,290 he could be hot on the trail of monster nuggets from the mother lode. 446 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:23,300 See that? Like that's... 447 00:28:24,030 --> 00:28:26,200 - That's pieces of bedrock. - Yeah, yeah. 448 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:32,570 I'm gonna go straight to the creek. 449 00:28:34,310 --> 00:28:38,480 This pan could turn Rick's whole season around. 450 00:28:39,980 --> 00:28:41,410 It's not happening. 451 00:28:42,980 --> 00:28:46,120 - Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, what is that? 452 00:28:46,350 --> 00:28:47,420 Whoa. 453 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:51,990 That's more like it. 454 00:28:52,990 --> 00:28:54,290 What the hell. 455 00:28:55,030 --> 00:28:56,430 That's incredible. 456 00:28:57,030 --> 00:28:59,630 I've never been able to pick a piece out of a pan. 457 00:28:59,630 --> 00:29:02,600 I'm gonna have to have a picture of that, that's a first. 458 00:29:04,770 --> 00:29:08,110 If we lucked out with that, there's gotta be more here. 459 00:29:08,110 --> 00:29:09,910 This is gold country. 460 00:29:09,910 --> 00:29:10,980 Yeah. 461 00:29:11,410 --> 00:29:13,580 It's crazy. 462 00:29:13,580 --> 00:29:18,580 Rick wastes no time in digging more holes in his new hot spot. 463 00:29:18,590 --> 00:29:21,020 The whole season's riding on this right now. 464 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:24,560 Uh, I need a... break here is what I need. 465 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:27,330 I mean, I need to leave here with some big nuggets 466 00:29:27,330 --> 00:29:29,030 and that would be a huge success for me. 467 00:29:29,030 --> 00:29:32,260 To help, he's brought in gold recovery experts, 468 00:29:32,270 --> 00:29:34,970 Freddy Dodge and Gene Cheeseman. 469 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:41,870 But Mount Hinton doesn't give up its nuggets easily. 470 00:29:41,880 --> 00:29:44,410 Froze, huh, Rick? 471 00:29:44,410 --> 00:29:47,010 I'm just going to go up a little farther and I'll just dig right there. 472 00:29:47,010 --> 00:29:48,280 Okay. 473 00:29:54,950 --> 00:29:57,590 Yeah, that's just as frozen as the last spot. 474 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:04,730 Just like the other, huh, Rick? 475 00:30:04,730 --> 00:30:07,370 Oh, she's pretty frozen right there too, yep. 476 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:12,240 Rick's treasure hunt has hit a dead end, 477 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,940 and he's no closer to finding big gold. 478 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:19,110 It's a big waste of time. 479 00:30:19,110 --> 00:30:22,080 I mean, it don't matter how much gold's down there we ain't gonna get it. 480 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:25,150 Yeah, this really sucks. 481 00:30:25,150 --> 00:30:27,290 Back to the drawing board. 482 00:30:33,330 --> 00:30:34,930 Rick is forced to rethink. 483 00:30:34,930 --> 00:30:38,930 There is gold here, it's just a matter of figuring out where. 484 00:30:38,930 --> 00:30:44,770 The following year, he moves eight miles south to lower Duncan Creek... 485 00:30:44,770 --> 00:30:48,240 Hoping for a quick smash and grab, you know, dig a little pit, test it 486 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:51,980 and, uh, hopefully find my future. 487 00:30:51,980 --> 00:30:55,580 and carries on the nugget hunt. 488 00:30:55,580 --> 00:30:58,580 It's a little bit deeper than I thought it would be. 489 00:30:58,590 --> 00:31:02,220 But that's definitely the stuff we're looking for. 490 00:31:05,020 --> 00:31:06,790 There's a smile on your face. 491 00:31:06,790 --> 00:31:08,230 - You don't even know. - No? 492 00:31:08,230 --> 00:31:10,200 This is like what dreams are made of. 493 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:11,930 What? 494 00:31:11,930 --> 00:31:15,270 - I know! - Holy . Yeah! 495 00:31:19,570 --> 00:31:23,010 Oh, snap . Can you believe that? 496 00:31:23,010 --> 00:31:25,840 After two seasons of searching, 497 00:31:25,850 --> 00:31:30,750 a 1.54 ounce nugget worth at least $4,000... 498 00:31:30,750 --> 00:31:33,150 - Yeah buddy. - Whoo-hoo-hoo! 499 00:31:33,150 --> 00:31:36,790 which helps Rick hit his season goal for the year. 500 00:31:36,790 --> 00:31:38,890 So, we're at just over 1,080 ounces. 501 00:31:38,890 --> 00:31:41,260 - Whoo! 502 00:31:41,260 --> 00:31:43,760 Well, I'm learning to trust my gut out here, 503 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:46,600 and got good gold and on top of that, 504 00:31:47,070 --> 00:31:48,700 got that bad boy to show for it. 505 00:31:57,080 --> 00:32:02,920 The best miners will use whatever means they can to find the gold, 506 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:06,050 including the latest technology. 507 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:14,690 In 2014, in the Yukon, 508 00:32:14,700 --> 00:32:16,960 Freddy Dodge and his brother Derek 509 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:21,330 are on a treasure hunt for a life-changing amount of gold. 510 00:32:24,770 --> 00:32:27,070 This creek's a treasure hunt for me. 511 00:32:27,070 --> 00:32:30,680 It has the opportunity to really bring in some gold. 512 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:36,420 Not just a little bit here and there, but big nuggets. 513 00:32:36,420 --> 00:32:40,690 It's a game of chance. It's just like, you know, going to Las Vegas 514 00:32:40,690 --> 00:32:43,020 and rolling the dice. 515 00:32:44,060 --> 00:32:46,630 Their season is coming to an end, 516 00:32:46,630 --> 00:32:51,260 but they've only found 155 ounces of gold. 517 00:32:52,370 --> 00:32:56,570 Is it a treasure hunt or is it a place to go bankrupt on? 518 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:02,770 Desperate to turn things around, 519 00:33:02,780 --> 00:33:05,740 Freddy's taking their treasure hunt high tech... 520 00:33:05,750 --> 00:33:07,680 - How are you doing, how is it? - Good to see you. 521 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:09,350 and into the 21st century. 522 00:33:09,350 --> 00:33:11,150 So, we're going to fly the drone up above here. 523 00:33:11,150 --> 00:33:14,650 We're going to make a detailed map of what this ground surface looks like, 524 00:33:14,660 --> 00:33:16,920 and then the radar is going to make a detailed map 525 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:18,660 - of what the bedrock looks like. - That's what I'm after. 526 00:33:18,660 --> 00:33:20,960 - Yeah. That's exactly what we're looking for. - That's perfect. 527 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:23,400 - It's amazing, huh? - Put her in the air. 528 00:33:25,430 --> 00:33:28,430 - There it goes. - Now it's off to its mission. 529 00:33:31,740 --> 00:33:33,970 The drone will fly up the creek, 530 00:33:33,970 --> 00:33:37,540 taking detailed aerial photographs of the valley. 531 00:33:40,750 --> 00:33:44,580 Independently, the ground-penetrating radar device 532 00:33:44,590 --> 00:33:47,650 moves from side to side across the creek, 533 00:33:47,650 --> 00:33:51,090 sending out radio waves from a transmitter. 534 00:33:52,930 --> 00:33:58,130 The radio waves bounce back off the bedrock to a receiver. 535 00:33:58,130 --> 00:34:00,770 The time it takes the signal to return 536 00:34:00,770 --> 00:34:05,000 gives the exact depth and contour of the bedrock below. 537 00:34:05,010 --> 00:34:07,840 Hey, you know, I'm kind of old-time miner, 538 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:12,010 so it's all-new technology to me and I'll believe it when I see it. 539 00:34:18,220 --> 00:34:23,460 This new technology gives Freddy a vital clue on his treasure map. 540 00:34:25,590 --> 00:34:26,960 Have a look at this. 541 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:29,130 Look right here. 542 00:34:29,130 --> 00:34:31,260 See where it just fans out right there, 543 00:34:31,270 --> 00:34:32,860 that should be our alluvial fan. 544 00:34:32,870 --> 00:34:34,930 An alluvial fan 545 00:34:34,940 --> 00:34:38,270 indicates a potential deposit of gold-rich gravels 546 00:34:38,270 --> 00:34:41,370 spilling from a hillside into a valley. 547 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:46,010 I think our best gold's right here. 548 00:34:47,780 --> 00:34:51,050 That's a long damn way from down here where we're at. 549 00:34:52,850 --> 00:34:55,450 Mine every inch and wash every damn rock, 550 00:34:55,960 --> 00:34:58,160 and take every speck of gold 551 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:01,560 from down here where we're at, to up here. 552 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:03,260 That's how you gotta do it, Freddy. 553 00:35:05,770 --> 00:35:09,070 There's 700 feet of creek bed to mine 554 00:35:09,070 --> 00:35:12,240 before they'll reach the X on Freddy's treasure map. 555 00:35:12,240 --> 00:35:16,040 And winter is closing in fast. 556 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:20,750 This is where we want to get to this season. 557 00:35:20,750 --> 00:35:24,380 To me, this should be the best gold, right under our feet. 558 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:28,620 My goal is before this season ends, 559 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:32,960 to find out what kind of gold is under this tree. 560 00:35:34,130 --> 00:35:36,130 We just got to get to it. 561 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:47,440 The more material we move here, the faster we get up there. 562 00:35:48,310 --> 00:35:51,910 In the Yukon, Freddy Dodge and brother Derek 563 00:35:51,910 --> 00:35:57,380 have reached an alluvial fan they found using a ground-penetrating radar. 564 00:35:58,650 --> 00:36:01,290 There's my mark. That's why I'm here. 565 00:36:01,290 --> 00:36:03,390 That's why we've worked our ass off this season. 566 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:06,730 You know, you can see how close we are. 567 00:36:06,730 --> 00:36:08,230 We're stripping right now. 568 00:36:08,230 --> 00:36:11,630 You know, so come hell or high water, 569 00:36:11,630 --> 00:36:14,030 I want to see what's in that fan, right there. 570 00:36:14,870 --> 00:36:17,940 They're in the dying hours of the season, 571 00:36:17,940 --> 00:36:21,870 but are finally on the ground they were aiming for. 572 00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:25,380 This is where we were trying to get all season. 573 00:36:25,380 --> 00:36:28,180 I hope there's a pot of gold sitting under it. 574 00:36:29,180 --> 00:36:30,980 I want to see big nuggets. 575 00:36:32,020 --> 00:36:35,090 - Last bucket, Derek. - A couple more. 576 00:36:37,060 --> 00:36:41,160 The final cleanup will show if the drone and radar 577 00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:43,260 pinpointed treasure in the creek. 578 00:36:43,260 --> 00:36:44,600 That's it. 579 00:36:51,070 --> 00:36:53,000 Last cleanup of the year. 580 00:36:53,240 --> 00:36:54,270 Ten... 581 00:36:56,010 --> 00:36:57,110 Twenty... 582 00:36:57,110 --> 00:36:58,140 Thirty... 583 00:37:01,110 --> 00:37:02,110 Forty... 584 00:37:03,580 --> 00:37:05,620 42.14. 585 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:11,020 The nuggets from Freddy's treasure hunt 586 00:37:11,020 --> 00:37:15,130 added to their fine gold, means they've smashed their target... 587 00:37:17,030 --> 00:37:20,130 We got 109.18 ounces. 588 00:37:20,130 --> 00:37:23,770 We had 296, we're over 405. 589 00:37:23,770 --> 00:37:27,640 worth nearly half a million dollars. 590 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:30,140 Like, look at some of those nuggets, boy. 591 00:37:30,140 --> 00:37:33,310 That's, that's the final result of not giving up. 592 00:37:33,310 --> 00:37:34,480 This cleanup... 593 00:37:35,920 --> 00:37:38,050 is the best of the year. 594 00:37:38,050 --> 00:37:40,620 - I love you, buddy. - Love you, brother. 595 00:37:45,120 --> 00:37:47,890 Remote and hostile locations 596 00:37:47,890 --> 00:37:50,960 can pay out the greatest deposits of gold, 597 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:54,970 but only for those daring enough to try. 598 00:38:00,170 --> 00:38:03,480 The Chilkat mountain range, eastern Alaska, 599 00:38:05,610 --> 00:38:11,080 In 2019, Fred and Dustin Hurt need a new spot to mine, 600 00:38:11,080 --> 00:38:13,950 to see them through to the end of the season. 601 00:38:19,130 --> 00:38:22,330 We got some good gold, can we not go further up, I mean... 602 00:38:22,330 --> 00:38:25,960 I'd love to go upstream but it's not my land, so we can't do it. 603 00:38:25,970 --> 00:38:28,070 Where are you gonna go now? 604 00:38:28,070 --> 00:38:31,570 We're looking for something that we can get done in a short amount of time. 605 00:38:31,570 --> 00:38:34,170 It's just gonna, it's gonna be a challenge for sure. 606 00:38:35,980 --> 00:38:37,210 Go down to McKinley. 607 00:38:37,210 --> 00:38:41,110 So, there's some areas just above the big waterfall, 608 00:38:41,110 --> 00:38:44,580 that we can hit really fast, really strong. 609 00:38:44,580 --> 00:38:47,550 - Everything else looks like it'll take a half a season-- - Yeah. 610 00:38:47,550 --> 00:38:51,360 And we don't have a half a season left. 611 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:55,330 Dustin wants to go on a last-minute treasure hunt. 612 00:38:55,330 --> 00:38:58,000 High risk for high reward. 613 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:00,070 The hunt continues. 614 00:39:03,340 --> 00:39:07,110 The X on Dustin's treasure map could be perfect, 615 00:39:07,110 --> 00:39:09,410 but is dangerous to reach. 616 00:39:09,410 --> 00:39:11,040 Seriously guys, be safe. 617 00:39:12,850 --> 00:39:14,080 Ooh. 618 00:39:14,080 --> 00:39:17,050 They need to rappel down to McKinley Falls 619 00:39:17,050 --> 00:39:22,090 and then search the pools above for a potential dig site. 620 00:39:22,090 --> 00:39:23,190 There you go. 621 00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:33,370 Gold miners like Parker Schnabel 622 00:39:33,370 --> 00:39:37,970 aren't short of motivation for a treasure hunt, 623 00:39:37,970 --> 00:39:43,680 but sometimes a reminder of what could be in the ground can renew their hunger. 624 00:39:43,680 --> 00:39:45,140 Did you find those? 625 00:39:45,150 --> 00:39:49,280 Hey Parker, these are the two largest nuggets I have ever found. 626 00:39:49,950 --> 00:39:53,690 This one comes in at 2.4 kilograms, 627 00:39:53,690 --> 00:39:56,790 and this one is 1.4 kilograms. 628 00:39:56,790 --> 00:39:58,090 - Holy cow. - Do you mind if I hold them? 629 00:39:58,090 --> 00:40:00,560 77 ounces and 46 ounces. 630 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:01,990 - Wow. - That's amazing. 631 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:03,930 This is like the shiniest gold I've ever seen. 632 00:40:03,930 --> 00:40:05,230 - It's beautiful, isn't it? - Yeah. 633 00:40:05,230 --> 00:40:07,270 You wouldn't take less than a quarter-million for this. 634 00:40:07,270 --> 00:40:10,000 The premium would definitely be a quarter of a million dollars, you know, 635 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:12,140 it's worth something like that. 636 00:40:12,140 --> 00:40:15,010 - There's a retirement fund. - Yeah, exactly. 637 00:40:21,510 --> 00:40:23,080 Seriously guys, be safe. 638 00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:26,580 Dustin Hurt and his crew are on a treasure hunt 639 00:40:26,590 --> 00:40:29,020 that could cost them their lives. 640 00:40:33,330 --> 00:40:35,290 You gotta step first, there it is. 641 00:40:35,300 --> 00:40:37,100 There you go, you're all right, you're all right. 642 00:40:37,100 --> 00:40:38,930 I'm, I'm uh-- 643 00:40:38,930 --> 00:40:40,000 Terrified, I get it. 644 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:41,200 - Terrified. - I get it. 645 00:40:41,200 --> 00:40:42,870 - I'm trying. - I know, no, no, 646 00:40:42,870 --> 00:40:45,570 you're doing it. You're doing great, man. 647 00:40:45,570 --> 00:40:47,140 You got to take a second, take a second. 648 00:40:47,140 --> 00:40:48,670 Trust me on this. 649 00:40:48,680 --> 00:40:51,810 They're rappelling down to McKinley Falls 650 00:40:51,810 --> 00:40:55,150 to search the pools above in an end of season, 651 00:40:55,150 --> 00:40:58,580 last chance hunt for gold. 652 00:41:00,120 --> 00:41:03,290 - Oh man, look at that! 653 00:41:04,390 --> 00:41:07,930 That's McKinley Falls. 654 00:41:07,930 --> 00:41:13,570 Old-timers pulled around 4,500 ounces from beneath McKinley Falls, 655 00:41:13,570 --> 00:41:17,200 worth $8.1 million today. 656 00:41:19,770 --> 00:41:24,710 Dustin is counting on them having missed the plunge pools above the falls. 657 00:41:24,710 --> 00:41:26,880 And here we are, trying to get gold, you know, 658 00:41:26,880 --> 00:41:28,850 just the same thing that they were trying to do 100 years ago. 659 00:41:28,850 --> 00:41:31,720 They were tougher than we'll ever be. 660 00:41:31,720 --> 00:41:35,090 They did a lot of work. That's pretty amazing. 661 00:41:35,090 --> 00:41:37,320 There's no telling how much gold is still here. 662 00:41:37,320 --> 00:41:42,330 Holy . Don't fall in this water, you will die. 663 00:41:44,100 --> 00:41:45,560 It looks like a good pool. 664 00:41:46,300 --> 00:41:47,500 Especially over there. 665 00:41:48,700 --> 00:41:49,930 This is all bedrock, 666 00:41:49,940 --> 00:41:52,970 and it's got a tight turn, so, the water slows down. 667 00:41:52,970 --> 00:41:56,710 If it hits a slow area that gold will drop out because it's so heavy. 668 00:41:56,710 --> 00:41:59,210 This is what is going to have the nuggets in it. 669 00:42:03,980 --> 00:42:07,420 Here the creek is at its most powerful, 670 00:42:07,420 --> 00:42:09,950 as it rages through a bottleneck. 671 00:42:09,960 --> 00:42:15,090 Worse, the site is just feet above the giant McKinley Falls 672 00:42:15,100 --> 00:42:19,460 and one mistake could cost a miner his life. 673 00:42:23,140 --> 00:42:25,570 This is a gamble. 674 00:42:25,570 --> 00:42:27,840 We can dig or we can go home. 675 00:42:27,840 --> 00:42:29,940 What I'm trying to get at is, 676 00:42:31,110 --> 00:42:32,210 are you in? 677 00:42:35,850 --> 00:42:36,550 I'm in. 678 00:42:37,320 --> 00:42:38,380 I'm in. 679 00:42:38,980 --> 00:42:41,190 I vote... in. 680 00:42:42,960 --> 00:42:46,590 This is soon to be our next dig, man. 681 00:42:46,590 --> 00:42:51,100 Everybody, pucker up because this is gonna be a scary one. 682 00:42:54,030 --> 00:42:55,500 Now the hard part. 683 00:42:57,000 --> 00:42:59,040 Before they can mine for nuggets 684 00:42:59,040 --> 00:43:02,640 in the lethal plunge pool above McKinley Falls, 685 00:43:02,640 --> 00:43:05,940 Dustin and his crew must first figure out 686 00:43:05,950 --> 00:43:11,380 how to get a nearly half-ton dredge 400 feet down a cliff. 687 00:43:13,050 --> 00:43:15,850 All we got to do is get it from over there 688 00:43:15,860 --> 00:43:18,220 down into that hole down there. 689 00:43:20,160 --> 00:43:23,730 The last thing we want to do is drop the dredge. 690 00:43:23,730 --> 00:43:25,760 Hey Dustin, don't get in front of that thing, 691 00:43:25,770 --> 00:43:28,400 - I hear you, Fred. - All right, go ahead. 692 00:43:29,940 --> 00:43:31,270 I just got to keep a pull on it 693 00:43:31,270 --> 00:43:33,000 so it doesn't just shoot away. 694 00:43:33,010 --> 00:43:34,310 Keep coming down. 695 00:43:34,970 --> 00:43:36,640 Dustin's plan, 696 00:43:36,640 --> 00:43:39,580 rappel down the 400-foot cliff, 697 00:43:39,580 --> 00:43:44,180 alongside the dredge to keep it from getting caught on the rocks. 698 00:43:44,180 --> 00:43:47,020 All right, this is beyond crazy. 699 00:43:47,020 --> 00:43:51,560 It is extremely, extremely dangerous stuff. 700 00:43:52,690 --> 00:43:54,530 It's the wrong way to do this . 701 00:43:56,930 --> 00:43:59,360 - Dustin, you all right? - Yeah, I'm fine. 702 00:44:00,270 --> 00:44:02,230 Yeah! Come here. 703 00:44:02,240 --> 00:44:06,440 It's almost vertical right from here out. 704 00:44:06,440 --> 00:44:07,940 Ten feet out there... 705 00:44:07,940 --> 00:44:09,840 Straight down. 706 00:44:09,840 --> 00:44:12,410 A life or death situation right this minute. 707 00:44:18,280 --> 00:44:20,250 Dustin rock, rock! 708 00:44:20,590 --> 00:44:22,020 Ugh! 709 00:44:22,020 --> 00:44:23,290 Dustin! 710 00:44:26,360 --> 00:44:27,530 You all right? 711 00:44:31,200 --> 00:44:32,460 Dustin! 712 00:44:39,740 --> 00:44:43,010 Ah! A piece of slate hit me in my face. 713 00:44:43,010 --> 00:44:46,280 Knocked me-- just knocked this-- knocked me in the stars. 714 00:44:49,620 --> 00:44:51,150 Keep coming. 715 00:44:52,720 --> 00:44:55,390 We have to get some more gold. I'm breaking even right now, 716 00:44:55,390 --> 00:44:59,890 but man it would be sure great to have profit out of this. 717 00:44:59,890 --> 00:45:01,960 No, no, perfectly dude, watch! 718 00:45:01,960 --> 00:45:04,360 - All right. - Freaking effort dude. 719 00:45:05,630 --> 00:45:08,070 All right guys, what are we calling this place? 720 00:45:08,070 --> 00:45:11,840 Since you got hit in the head, we're going to call this Rockfall Ravine. 721 00:45:11,840 --> 00:45:15,910 All right. Watch out for the rocks, it is Rockfall Ravine. 722 00:45:15,910 --> 00:45:17,040 Let's get to work. 723 00:45:17,980 --> 00:45:19,940 Ready to dredge, man. 724 00:45:19,950 --> 00:45:22,980 I love it when a plan comes together. 725 00:45:24,720 --> 00:45:27,720 There's a lot of ways to die or get hurt here, 726 00:45:27,720 --> 00:45:30,290 but I'm convinced I'm gonna find the gold. 727 00:45:31,890 --> 00:45:33,520 I'm ready to start diving out, man. 728 00:45:36,930 --> 00:45:38,930 Too bad. 729 00:45:44,170 --> 00:45:46,340 Oh, bedrock already. 730 00:45:49,340 --> 00:45:50,410 There we go, James. 731 00:45:50,410 --> 00:45:51,580 Just stop over here. 732 00:45:57,950 --> 00:45:59,380 Where you at? Come here. 733 00:45:59,390 --> 00:46:01,850 - Okay. - Come here! 734 00:46:01,860 --> 00:46:03,120 What? 735 00:46:04,860 --> 00:46:06,560 That's for you, brother. 736 00:46:06,560 --> 00:46:08,090 Get the out of here. 737 00:46:11,160 --> 00:46:14,630 Within minutes, Dustin's treasure hunt pays off. 738 00:46:15,870 --> 00:46:18,000 If there was anybody that dug here, 739 00:46:18,000 --> 00:46:20,340 they've missed that nugget, for sure. 740 00:46:20,340 --> 00:46:24,080 - What a great first dive. - It doesn't get any better. 741 00:46:24,080 --> 00:46:27,980 To all you haters, you. 742 00:46:29,010 --> 00:46:31,050 - Holy! 743 00:46:35,090 --> 00:46:36,550 Oh, my ... 744 00:46:36,560 --> 00:46:38,920 Look at that, crazy. 745 00:46:38,930 --> 00:46:40,320 Whoa! 746 00:46:41,590 --> 00:46:43,230 Dude, that's awesome. 747 00:46:46,300 --> 00:46:48,370 Woo-hoo! 748 00:46:48,730 --> 00:46:50,070 Whoa! 749 00:46:50,070 --> 00:46:52,740 That's a one-in-a-lifetime find. 750 00:46:52,740 --> 00:46:55,810 - You see how big that was? Oh. 751 00:46:55,810 --> 00:47:00,550 Rockfall Ravine has delivered the bounty that Dustin believed in. 752 00:47:04,220 --> 00:47:06,850 At their final gold weigh of the season... 753 00:47:06,850 --> 00:47:09,550 Look at some of these nuggets, man. 754 00:47:09,560 --> 00:47:12,160 Can you still believe we did all this by hand. 755 00:47:12,160 --> 00:47:15,160 Twenty six, 27, 28. 756 00:47:15,160 --> 00:47:16,190 I would hope it would. 757 00:47:16,200 --> 00:47:18,100 Thirty. 758 00:47:18,100 --> 00:47:20,060 the nuggets from Rockfall Ravine... 759 00:47:20,070 --> 00:47:22,270 33.64. 760 00:47:22,270 --> 00:47:26,770 mean Dustin's treasure hunt has paid out big time. 761 00:47:26,770 --> 00:47:29,570 About $50,000 sitting right there. 762 00:47:30,080 --> 00:47:32,210 Way to end the season, man, right? 763 00:47:32,210 --> 00:47:35,310 - Hell yeah. - I'm glad to be a part of it, guys. 764 00:47:35,320 --> 00:47:38,020 - Hey, man. 765 00:47:41,150 --> 00:47:46,090 With more than 55,000 tons of gold left on the planet, 766 00:47:46,090 --> 00:47:48,960 the hunt for treasure continues, 767 00:47:51,130 --> 00:47:56,130 driven by men and women willing to risk it all. 767 00:47:57,305 --> 00:48:57,604 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm