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I was born to be a treasure hunter.
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I've seen every map.
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Heard every mystery.
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I've seen almost every
treasure story there is.
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But nothing compares to montezuma's
6
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$3 billion lost treasure.
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And I know it's somewhere
on blind frog ranch.
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Duane locked the gates
to blind frog ranch last year,
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but I have to keep going.
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So with Duane's blessing,
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I'm reopening the ranch and taking over.
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So I'm bringing in someone
with a long history of success
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in hunts like this, my father.
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My name's Ron feldman.
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For most of my life,
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my profession has
been treasure hunting.
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Over the past 50 years,
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Ron feldman has led
treasure expeditions
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at 24 sites across four countries.
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In the 1990s, Ron's discovery
of the lost dutchman mine
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00:02:06,934 --> 00:02:10,767
cemented him as the
greatest living treasure hunter.
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There's my dad.
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Dad!
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Hey! I made it!
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How you been?
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Good. It's good to see you.
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Good to see you.
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My dad taught me everything
I know about treasure hunting.
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He's the perfect guy to bring
in and help me lead this hunt.
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- Ron? James Keenan.
- Yep, James.
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We have been looking
for treasure for five years,
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and now we're about to find it.
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Legends of ancient treasures...
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It could go thousands of years back.
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And unexplained phenomena... This.
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I'm not messing with that.
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Meet at a 160-acre
property in northeast Utah,
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known as blind frog ranch.
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For decades, teams
have searched the land
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for long lost aztec gold.
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But the closer they get...
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- That's it.
- Look at that.
43
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- That's gold!
- Yeah.
44
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The harder the land fights back.
45
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The hell is going on?
46
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Now, a prolific miner...
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We're standing on a pile of gold.
48
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And a legendary treasure hunter...
49
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There must be another
tunnel entrance, something.
50
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Armed with new evidence...
51
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- Look at this.
- What did you find?
52
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And a fabled artifact...
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There's a date on that, 1912.
54
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Will take on a 500-year-old curse.
55
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Fire in the hole!
56
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A land littered with traps...
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- Go, go, go!
- Whoa, whoa, whoa!
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To find a $3 billion treasure.
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Whoa!
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They won't stop until
they uncover the mystery
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of what lurks below... Guys, it's caving!
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Run!
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At blind frog ranch.
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- All right, dad.
- Yeah.
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Let's take you for a tour.
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I wanna show you around
the whole ranch here.
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I'm telling ya, there's just...
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there's more there than you'd think.
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Getting inside the keyhole chamber
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has been the main focus
for us the past few years.
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We believe there's a
keyhole-shaped chamber
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300 feet below blind frog ranch.
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And inside is where the aztecs hid
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over a billion dollars worth of treasure.
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This treasure is my white whale.
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It would be a life-changing discovery.
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Maybe I'll have enough
input by the time I
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get some of this stuff under my belt.
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Well, that's why I brought you in.
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- Right.
- I figure there's...
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00:04:33,968 --> 00:04:35,901
you know, in my world,
there's nobody better.
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Treasure hunting is something
we used to do as a family.
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Working with my son on
one of these treasure hunts,
84
00:04:44,534 --> 00:04:46,267
that was the plus.
85
00:04:46,434 --> 00:04:48,067
Even when Josh was a baby,
86
00:04:48,234 --> 00:04:50,343
when we used to go
traipsing off in the high sierras,
87
00:04:50,367 --> 00:04:53,100
looking for gold, I
carried him as an infant
88
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in a knapsack on my chest.
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This would be the biggest
discovery of my career.
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If I can help my son find one
of the richest lost treasures
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00:05:03,467 --> 00:05:06,100
in history, what more can a dad ask for?
92
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And what I can lean on is my 60 years
93
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of treasure-hunting experience.
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00:05:12,167 --> 00:05:15,467
My method is researching stories first.
95
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I like following other people's footsteps
96
00:05:17,734 --> 00:05:20,601
that have gone before me,
looking for these lost places.
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This is the keyhole chamber, dad.
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Ok.
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00:05:24,968 --> 00:05:27,067
Duane has believed in this site,
100
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I think, ever since he's had the ranch.
101
00:05:28,968 --> 00:05:31,000
They did some sort of quantum mapping.
102
00:05:31,167 --> 00:05:34,300
The results were that there
was a big chamber right here,
103
00:05:34,467 --> 00:05:35,907
right where Duane thought there was.
104
00:05:36,868 --> 00:05:39,200
They've drilled this. They
can't quite get through.
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00:05:39,367 --> 00:05:40,910
They keep having
problems with drilling...
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all kinds of different issues.
107
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It just hit something hard.
108
00:05:47,367 --> 00:05:48,868
Looked like a chunk of metal.
109
00:05:50,167 --> 00:05:52,367
There's a... a fault that
we've been following
110
00:05:52,534 --> 00:05:54,574
that runs right through
there that Eric identified.
111
00:05:54,634 --> 00:05:56,074
- Right.
- And that's where you have
112
00:05:56,234 --> 00:05:58,467
these cave openings.
113
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Just over those hills there,
near the open-pit mine,
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I found an entrance I thought
could lead all the way back
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to the keyhole chamber.
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The cave Josh discovered
descended 250 feet underground,
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but was filled with
collapses and dead ends.
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And before exiting the cave,
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he found mysterious
symbols etched on the walls.
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Look at this.
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It looks like a marking.
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The biggest thing I
wanted you to see, dad,
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were those symbols.
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That, obviously, is not
an Indian petroglyph.
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No.
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It doesn't look anything
that would be Spanish
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or anything like that.
128
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It would have to be the mormons.
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They were the ones that were here.
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The big question is... what
were they doing in there?
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Studying the mormon
history, the mormons are tightly
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involved in this story.
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In 1845, mormons migrated
westward and settled in Utah.
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They developed their own writing system
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00:07:02,734 --> 00:07:04,801
called the deseret alphabet.
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The symbols Josh discovered
near the keyhole chamber
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appear to be deseret characters.
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Were they actually
looking for the aztec gold?
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That's what we need to find out.
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The mormons were
known treasure hunters.
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So if they found the mormon symbol
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that close to the keyhole chamber,
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this, to me, can only mean one thing...
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I believe that what they
were actually looking for
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was aztec treasure in
the keyhole chamber.
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They were looking for something
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that they heard of that was there.
148
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And they would have known
about montezuma's treasure
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- there's no question of that.
- Well, 100%.
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00:07:45,367 --> 00:07:46,887
You know, I'm just coming in here new.
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I'm excited just getting
on this mormon thing,
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because I think this has a lot to do
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with everything you guys
have been looking for.
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My dad is on to something here.
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Duane followed the aztec legends,
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because that's all he had to go on.
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But if the mormons were
looking for the keyhole chamber,
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they would have kept detailed records.
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If we're able to track
down their documents
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and combine that with our skill set,
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I think that gives us a great
chance of finding the gold.
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All we gotta do is get
our eyes on the ground
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and see what we can find,
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and that'll help us drive the hunt.
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- Let's do it.
- All right.
166
00:08:22,968 --> 00:08:24,167
Sounds like a plan.
167
00:08:37,868 --> 00:08:40,200
I reached out to a
fellow named Greg lowe.
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He is a treasure hunter,
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00:08:41,934 --> 00:08:44,167
knows more about mormon
treasure than anybody.
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He's been out there for over 50 years.
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And he's got 70 claims in the uintas.
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And if anyone has mormon documents
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that maybe we could
get, it would be him.
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Yeah.
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00:08:57,133 --> 00:08:59,000
We're heading out to
town to meet with Greg.
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He's been prospecting all
over the world since the 1970s.
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00:09:02,834 --> 00:09:06,267
I know he's got a lot of
information about the mormons.
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I'm hoping he can help get
us into the keyhole chamber
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under blind frog.
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But treasure hunters,
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00:09:12,734 --> 00:09:14,567
they're not forthcoming all the time.
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00:09:14,734 --> 00:09:17,167
They hold their information
tight to their chest.
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00:09:17,334 --> 00:09:19,367
They're not going to share it normally.
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00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:22,367
But, you know, we'll just go try.
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We'll see what he will talk to us about.
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Maybe he's done searching for it.
187
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He wants to pass it on.
188
00:09:28,167 --> 00:09:30,467
There's a lot of passing
on in treasure hunting.
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This is it.
190
00:09:45,567 --> 00:09:47,868
Ok, well, hopefully he's
got some good stuff for us.
191
00:09:48,033 --> 00:09:49,400
Well, we'll find out, I guess?
192
00:09:51,367 --> 00:09:53,501
Where are we supposed
to meet him, did he say?
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00:09:53,667 --> 00:09:54,767
- I think in there.
- Here?
194
00:09:54,934 --> 00:09:56,367
Yeah. He's in the garage.
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00:09:56,534 --> 00:09:57,601
All right.
196
00:09:57,767 --> 00:09:58,767
Greg?
197
00:10:03,067 --> 00:10:04,067
Greg?
198
00:10:05,167 --> 00:10:06,167
Yeah.
199
00:10:11,367 --> 00:10:13,868
- Greg lowe, I presume.
- I think I am.
200
00:10:14,033 --> 00:10:15,076
- Ron.
- Ron.
201
00:10:15,100 --> 00:10:16,510
- Pleased to meet you.
- Nice to meet you, too.
202
00:10:16,534 --> 00:10:18,043
- Yes, thanks for doing this for us.
- I bet you we've
203
00:10:18,067 --> 00:10:19,187
actually crossed some paths.
204
00:10:19,267 --> 00:10:21,100
- Might have, might have.
- Great.
205
00:10:21,267 --> 00:10:23,534
If you've been down around
Arizona, we probably did.
206
00:10:23,567 --> 00:10:25,367
- I have.
- Ok, there.
207
00:10:25,534 --> 00:10:27,567
I heard you guys own
the mammoth mine.
208
00:10:27,734 --> 00:10:28,894
- We do, yeah, we do.
- Yeah.
209
00:10:29,033 --> 00:10:30,033
Excellent.
210
00:10:30,133 --> 00:10:31,667
I actually did some samples from that.
211
00:10:31,834 --> 00:10:33,314
- Did you? Ok.
- Assay samples, yeah.
212
00:10:33,467 --> 00:10:34,443
- Come on in.
- Ok.
213
00:10:34,467 --> 00:10:36,100
Thank you.
214
00:10:36,267 --> 00:10:38,367
I never met Greg, but I've heard of him
215
00:10:38,534 --> 00:10:41,300
because in treasure
hunting circles, it's small.
216
00:10:41,467 --> 00:10:43,968
It's well known he has
extensive knowledge
217
00:10:44,133 --> 00:10:46,567
of treasure hunts in the Utah area
218
00:10:46,734 --> 00:10:49,067
and has worked closely
with a descendant
219
00:10:49,234 --> 00:10:52,868
of the famous mormon
family, Gale rhoades.
220
00:10:53,033 --> 00:10:55,467
How long have you been
searching for gold out here?
221
00:10:55,634 --> 00:10:59,200
I was first introduced to it, in 1972.
222
00:10:59,367 --> 00:11:02,767
And then later on, Gale
rhoades called me out of the blue,
223
00:11:02,934 --> 00:11:04,400
and he said, "Greg, I've seen..."
224
00:11:04,567 --> 00:11:06,287
"Seen your name on a
couple of claims here.
225
00:11:06,434 --> 00:11:07,467
I'd like to talk to you."
226
00:11:07,634 --> 00:11:09,314
We worked together
on a number of projects
227
00:11:09,434 --> 00:11:11,067
up until his death.
228
00:11:12,367 --> 00:11:15,100
Gale rhoades was a direct descendant
229
00:11:15,267 --> 00:11:19,267
of a legendary mormon gold
prospector... Thomas rhoades.
230
00:11:19,434 --> 00:11:21,701
For centuries, his descendants hunted
231
00:11:21,868 --> 00:11:24,000
for lost treasure in Utah.
232
00:11:24,167 --> 00:11:29,167
Gale and Greg spent 30 years
scouring the family's documents
233
00:11:29,334 --> 00:11:32,267
for clues that lead to gold.
234
00:11:32,434 --> 00:11:36,501
Now Greg has possession
of all the family's research.
235
00:11:36,667 --> 00:11:40,267
So you have basically all of
Gale rhoades' hunt on paper,
236
00:11:40,434 --> 00:11:42,367
- all of his information?
- Yes.
237
00:11:48,567 --> 00:11:51,667
So this is all handwritten,
238
00:11:51,834 --> 00:11:54,701
- and by Gale rhoades.
- Gale rhoades, yeah.
239
00:11:54,868 --> 00:11:56,367
- 1978.
- 1978.
240
00:11:56,534 --> 00:11:58,667
He updated that throughout his life,
241
00:11:58,834 --> 00:12:02,100
assembling all the
family entries and journals.
242
00:12:02,267 --> 00:12:05,167
Now we come over. This is blind frog.
243
00:12:06,501 --> 00:12:08,801
- Down in here.
- This is where blind frog is.
244
00:12:08,968 --> 00:12:10,200
Yes.
245
00:12:10,367 --> 00:12:13,767
And these were the
old mine tunnels here.
246
00:12:13,934 --> 00:12:15,968
I can let you look at it temporarily here.
247
00:12:17,167 --> 00:12:20,167
"This map and description
shows another source of gold,
248
00:12:20,334 --> 00:12:21,667
"known to Caleb rhoades.
249
00:12:21,834 --> 00:12:25,367
Start at the slope and head
east until you come to a fault."
250
00:12:28,767 --> 00:12:30,400
I mean, if this is legit,
251
00:12:30,567 --> 00:12:33,167
then we should be able to
find the location of this mine.
252
00:12:33,334 --> 00:12:34,467
It's legit.
253
00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,067
Greg has a compilation
of maps and passages
254
00:12:39,234 --> 00:12:41,267
about the rhoades family treasure hunts,
255
00:12:41,434 --> 00:12:43,801
including some on blind frog ranch.
256
00:12:43,968 --> 00:12:46,567
If the mormons were
looking for aztec treasure,
257
00:12:46,734 --> 00:12:49,567
I think it's possible, there
could be information in here
258
00:12:49,734 --> 00:12:52,100
that could lead us to
the keyhole chamber.
259
00:12:52,267 --> 00:12:54,200
So whatever they
wrote, we need to read.
260
00:12:54,367 --> 00:12:56,601
It's extremely important.
261
00:12:56,767 --> 00:12:58,567
And Greg knows a lot of things,
262
00:12:58,734 --> 00:13:00,643
but I'll bet you there's a few
things that maybe we know
263
00:13:00,667 --> 00:13:02,267
that he doesn't.
264
00:13:02,434 --> 00:13:04,701
Now, we gotta strike a deal with him
265
00:13:04,868 --> 00:13:07,501
and see what he'll let
us walk out of here with.
266
00:13:07,667 --> 00:13:08,987
Greg, we found something recently
267
00:13:09,033 --> 00:13:10,567
that put us on this trail.
268
00:13:10,734 --> 00:13:12,567
This information here
would be vital to us.
269
00:13:12,734 --> 00:13:14,067
It's in this binder.
270
00:13:14,234 --> 00:13:15,874
If we agree to share information together
271
00:13:16,033 --> 00:13:18,367
and also share any
treasure we may find...
272
00:13:18,534 --> 00:13:21,267
any way that we can take
some of that information with us?
273
00:13:21,434 --> 00:13:22,674
I mean, how do we move forward?
274
00:13:24,567 --> 00:13:27,367
Well, this binder is a copy.
275
00:13:27,534 --> 00:13:31,400
I may have something
I can, provide you with.
276
00:13:31,567 --> 00:13:34,367
There is a handwritten journal...
277
00:13:35,601 --> 00:13:37,300
and I happen to have it right over here.
278
00:13:42,601 --> 00:13:46,968
Original maps and all the
family entries and journals.
279
00:13:47,133 --> 00:13:48,133
Ooh.
280
00:13:49,167 --> 00:13:51,968
It may help you find
what you're looking for.
281
00:13:53,501 --> 00:13:55,868
According to Greg, this journal contains
282
00:13:56,033 --> 00:13:59,267
original notes and maps
written by the rhoades family
283
00:13:59,434 --> 00:14:01,868
on the hunt for aztec gold.
284
00:14:02,033 --> 00:14:03,300
We'd rather have the binder
285
00:14:03,467 --> 00:14:05,467
that has all of Greg and Gale's research,
286
00:14:05,634 --> 00:14:08,167
but the journal is the second best option.
287
00:14:08,334 --> 00:14:10,767
If this journal is legit, this thing is exactly
288
00:14:10,934 --> 00:14:12,467
what we need to push us forward.
289
00:14:12,634 --> 00:14:14,868
I mean, it is the... it is our key into this.
290
00:14:15,033 --> 00:14:16,968
Thank you for all of this. Appreciate this.
291
00:14:17,133 --> 00:14:18,667
- We'll be in touch.
- Great.
292
00:14:18,834 --> 00:14:20,567
- Ok.
- Thank you.
293
00:14:20,734 --> 00:14:22,109
The fact that these
could have possibly come
294
00:14:22,133 --> 00:14:25,667
from the original source...
These are very valid.
295
00:14:25,834 --> 00:14:27,634
And this is something
that we need to follow.
296
00:14:35,767 --> 00:14:37,067
2 let's get that thing open.
297
00:14:37,234 --> 00:14:39,267
Let's see what we got.
298
00:14:39,434 --> 00:14:40,601
Look at this, dad.
299
00:14:40,767 --> 00:14:43,100
"Gold as far as the eye could see."
300
00:14:44,267 --> 00:14:45,467
It sounds like treasure to me.
301
00:14:46,801 --> 00:14:51,167
After acquiring a copy of
a rhoades family journal,
302
00:14:51,334 --> 00:14:56,367
Josh and Ron eagerly
decipher its cryptic contents.
303
00:14:56,534 --> 00:14:58,000
See, this is different handwriting
304
00:14:58,167 --> 00:14:59,543
- than some of this other.
- This... that...
305
00:14:59,567 --> 00:15:01,501
this has to have been
done by multiple people.
306
00:15:01,667 --> 00:15:04,067
The journal contains maps and research
307
00:15:04,234 --> 00:15:05,701
from the rhoades family,
308
00:15:05,868 --> 00:15:09,200
legendary mormon treasure
hunters in the uinta valley.
309
00:15:11,100 --> 00:15:13,067
So, this book has been
in the rhoades family
310
00:15:13,234 --> 00:15:14,467
- for generations?
- Yes.
311
00:15:14,634 --> 00:15:15,667
Well, yeah.
312
00:15:15,834 --> 00:15:17,167
- Maybe.
- And multiple people
313
00:15:17,334 --> 00:15:19,200
in the family have written and logged,
314
00:15:19,367 --> 00:15:21,000
and probably searched for this thing.
315
00:15:21,167 --> 00:15:23,100
You know what... what's really cool
316
00:15:23,267 --> 00:15:25,567
is it... this is only,
maybe the rhoades family
317
00:15:25,734 --> 00:15:29,000
and Greg lowe that have ever seen this.
318
00:15:29,167 --> 00:15:33,701
We're the first removed
people from that line
319
00:15:33,868 --> 00:15:35,868
that has probably had
our eyes on this journal.
320
00:15:37,167 --> 00:15:39,567
This is interesting.
Somebody doodled out a mine.
321
00:15:39,734 --> 00:15:42,968
It says, "the entrance is
described as four-foot-tall..."
322
00:15:43,133 --> 00:15:44,210
Now, wait a minute. This it...
323
00:15:44,234 --> 00:15:45,868
there's a date on that... 1912.
324
00:15:46,033 --> 00:15:48,667
It looks like this is all mining stuff.
325
00:15:48,834 --> 00:15:50,567
Lots of written stuff.
326
00:15:51,868 --> 00:15:55,467
This journal that Greg lowe
gave to us is not an exact map.
327
00:15:55,634 --> 00:15:59,100
It's a compilation, I
believe, of rhoades' relatives
328
00:15:59,267 --> 00:16:01,701
that maybe searched for the aztec gold.
329
00:16:04,167 --> 00:16:06,877
- Here's another list...
- Yeah. - ...Of equipment.
330
00:16:06,901 --> 00:16:09,574
Look at this. This talks
about a powder horn.
331
00:16:09,598 --> 00:16:10,000
Yeah.
332
00:16:10,167 --> 00:16:12,754
A powder horn hasn't
been used for 150 years.
333
00:16:12,778 --> 00:16:13,778
I know, right.
334
00:16:13,834 --> 00:16:15,474
We're gonna have to decipher a lot in it.
335
00:16:15,634 --> 00:16:16,877
We're gonna have to study it.
336
00:16:16,901 --> 00:16:20,267
But it's... it's an artifact
that could absolutely help us
337
00:16:20,434 --> 00:16:21,667
locate what we're looking for.
338
00:16:22,701 --> 00:16:23,981
They have all these little notes
339
00:16:24,033 --> 00:16:25,367
that are, like, in here.
340
00:16:25,534 --> 00:16:27,510
- See, people were working out of this.
- Yeah, right.
341
00:16:27,534 --> 00:16:29,334
- This was a working journal.
- Right, right.
342
00:16:31,868 --> 00:16:33,367
Look at here.
343
00:16:33,534 --> 00:16:34,567
Whiterocks creek.
344
00:16:38,667 --> 00:16:40,868
Wait a sec. I know white rocks.
345
00:16:41,033 --> 00:16:44,167
There's a white rocks canyon
not too far from blind frog.
346
00:16:44,334 --> 00:16:46,120
It's down the uintas,
a bit further from us.
347
00:16:46,144 --> 00:16:47,009
Right, right, right.
348
00:16:47,033 --> 00:16:50,467
This note here says... directions.
349
00:16:50,634 --> 00:16:52,343
So it's saying... it's saying
that these are directions.
350
00:16:52,367 --> 00:16:53,810
- This note is saying...
- Yeah, that's what I'm reading here.
351
00:16:53,834 --> 00:16:55,510
That these are... these are
directions - that's what I'm reading.
352
00:16:55,534 --> 00:16:58,214
That's what we should be reading
right there. Go ahead, keep going.
353
00:16:58,801 --> 00:17:03,200
"Take the first branch right
canyon, and climb to the top
354
00:17:03,367 --> 00:17:04,901
of a flat mountain."
355
00:17:05,067 --> 00:17:08,501
It says, "travel in a straight
line across the canyon."
356
00:17:10,667 --> 00:17:13,000
What does this say?
Can you make that out?
357
00:17:14,767 --> 00:17:18,200
"Travel in a straight
line through the canyon,
358
00:17:18,367 --> 00:17:20,200
"using tree markings to guide,
359
00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,467
then at the end of it, the shaft."
360
00:17:24,634 --> 00:17:25,767
"The shaft"?
361
00:17:27,267 --> 00:17:29,100
Do you think shaft
could mean an entrance
362
00:17:29,267 --> 00:17:30,801
to the keyhole chamber?
363
00:17:30,968 --> 00:17:32,667
You know... I don't know.
364
00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:35,701
A shaft could be a cave, a tunnel,
365
00:17:35,868 --> 00:17:37,367
even a hole in the ground.
366
00:17:37,534 --> 00:17:39,868
And this passage sounds
like it's referencing an area
367
00:17:40,033 --> 00:17:41,267
near blind frog.
368
00:17:41,434 --> 00:17:43,801
I think that could mean
that this shaft is an entrance
369
00:17:43,968 --> 00:17:45,701
to the keyhole chamber.
370
00:17:45,868 --> 00:17:47,310
People have been hunting these things.
371
00:17:47,334 --> 00:17:49,467
They've written down what they've done,
372
00:17:49,634 --> 00:17:52,067
but they didn't know blind frog like we do.
373
00:17:52,234 --> 00:17:53,994
So, we can take
information in this journal,
374
00:17:54,033 --> 00:17:56,234
places they never could.
375
00:17:58,701 --> 00:18:01,200
Listen, there's so much in here to digest.
376
00:18:01,367 --> 00:18:03,400
I think when we get back, we'll get a topo
377
00:18:03,567 --> 00:18:05,567
and sit down with James and... and Eric.
378
00:18:05,734 --> 00:18:07,300
I think we need to go to white rocks
379
00:18:07,467 --> 00:18:10,601
and follow those instructions,
and see where it leads us.
380
00:18:10,767 --> 00:18:12,100
All right.
381
00:18:20,367 --> 00:18:24,868
Gentlemen, we got
some big news for you.
382
00:18:25,033 --> 00:18:26,400
This journal right here,
383
00:18:26,567 --> 00:18:28,100
- the journal that Greg gave us.
- Ok.
384
00:18:28,267 --> 00:18:31,267
There is information in
there from the rhoades family.
385
00:18:31,434 --> 00:18:33,100
So we're talking firsthand account.
386
00:18:33,267 --> 00:18:35,067
- Really?
- Yeah, their writings.
387
00:18:35,234 --> 00:18:36,510
And what do you think?
388
00:18:36,534 --> 00:18:39,767
There is information in here
that I have not heard of before.
389
00:18:40,801 --> 00:18:43,167
Have any of the sites
that we know about,
390
00:18:43,334 --> 00:18:44,601
show up in there?
391
00:18:44,767 --> 00:18:47,801
There's stuff in here that's familiar to me,
392
00:18:47,968 --> 00:18:49,567
that's right here on blind frog ranch.
393
00:18:51,367 --> 00:18:54,267
Let me get the topo
map. Let's... yeah, yeah.
394
00:18:54,434 --> 00:18:56,200
This passage that refers to white rocks
395
00:18:56,367 --> 00:18:59,567
seems like it put you right
here on blind frog ranch.
396
00:18:59,734 --> 00:19:03,567
The passage says, marked
trees lead us to the shaft.
397
00:19:03,734 --> 00:19:06,767
We think that could mean
some kind of an entrance.
398
00:19:06,934 --> 00:19:09,067
And if we're right, I think
this could be leading us
399
00:19:09,234 --> 00:19:11,601
to the chamber that we've
been calling the keyhole chamber.
400
00:19:14,067 --> 00:19:15,300
Up white rocks creek.
401
00:19:16,567 --> 00:19:18,767
Ok, so where's the
mouth of white rocks creek?
402
00:19:18,934 --> 00:19:19,976
It's gonna be to the west
403
00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:21,210
- of blind frog, right?
- West, correct.
404
00:19:21,234 --> 00:19:22,610
It's the next canyon over, isn't it?
405
00:19:22,634 --> 00:19:23,743
- Yes.
- There's mountain...
406
00:19:23,767 --> 00:19:25,210
yeah, so it's gonna be below chalk cliffs.
407
00:19:25,234 --> 00:19:26,234
It'll be down here.
408
00:19:26,334 --> 00:19:28,868
- It's white rocks canyon.
- Right.
409
00:19:29,033 --> 00:19:33,567
And then it says, "take
the first right canyon
410
00:19:33,734 --> 00:19:36,868
and climb to the top of a flat mountain."
411
00:19:37,033 --> 00:19:39,868
It seems that that could
be here somewhere.
412
00:19:40,033 --> 00:19:43,901
"Travel in a straight
line across the canyon.
413
00:19:44,067 --> 00:19:45,968
Using the tree markings to guide."
414
00:19:46,133 --> 00:19:48,367
That passage says
tree markings will lead us
415
00:19:48,534 --> 00:19:49,868
to some kind of a shaft,
416
00:19:50,033 --> 00:19:52,968
but it's hard to tell which
direction a flat mountain is
417
00:19:53,133 --> 00:19:54,467
from this map.
418
00:19:54,634 --> 00:19:57,267
I think if we get up
to this peak right here,
419
00:19:57,434 --> 00:20:00,067
we'll be able to figure out
which direction we have to go.
420
00:20:01,667 --> 00:20:04,000
That passage right there takes us
421
00:20:04,167 --> 00:20:07,167
to just above blind frog ranch.
422
00:20:07,334 --> 00:20:09,767
We need to get boots on the ground.
423
00:20:09,934 --> 00:20:12,400
If there's a possible
entrance that's right there,
424
00:20:12,567 --> 00:20:13,567
we need to uncover it.
425
00:20:14,667 --> 00:20:16,667
This journal gives us a starting point,
426
00:20:16,834 --> 00:20:20,167
but from there, we'll have to
figure out where to go next.
427
00:20:20,334 --> 00:20:22,667
We're looking for a
bank of marked trees.
428
00:20:22,834 --> 00:20:25,000
I don't know what it's leading us to,
429
00:20:25,167 --> 00:20:28,300
but I'm hoping it's an entrance
to the keyhole chamber.
430
00:20:28,467 --> 00:20:29,410
- Ok.
- Let's get to it.
431
00:20:29,434 --> 00:20:30,514
- Let's do it.
- All right.
432
00:20:41,067 --> 00:20:43,367
I wanna get an overview
of the whole area,
433
00:20:44,667 --> 00:20:47,200
so we'll be able to see all the canyons,
434
00:20:47,367 --> 00:20:48,901
the mountaintops, everything.
435
00:20:50,467 --> 00:20:54,000
To locate the entrance
scribed in the rhoades' journal,
436
00:20:54,167 --> 00:20:58,501
the team travels four miles
north into the uinta mountains.
437
00:20:58,667 --> 00:21:01,367
Sitting 10,000 feet in elevation,
438
00:21:01,534 --> 00:21:03,901
the mountain range provides a clear view
439
00:21:04,067 --> 00:21:05,801
of white rocks canyon,
440
00:21:05,968 --> 00:21:08,167
a location described as a starting point
441
00:21:08,334 --> 00:21:12,267
in the passage that could
lead to the keyhole chamber.
442
00:21:12,434 --> 00:21:14,200
Well, we're getting up in elevation here.
443
00:21:14,367 --> 00:21:15,501
Yeah, we are.
444
00:21:15,667 --> 00:21:17,100
I just... my ears are popping.
445
00:21:17,267 --> 00:21:18,267
- I can feel it.
- Yeah.
446
00:21:19,467 --> 00:21:21,167
Deciphering anything is hard.
447
00:21:21,334 --> 00:21:23,901
You don't know what
the author of that meant.
448
00:21:24,067 --> 00:21:25,801
It may have been obvious to them,
449
00:21:25,968 --> 00:21:28,367
but it's probably not
gonna be obvious to us.
450
00:21:28,534 --> 00:21:30,801
These passages
mention canyons, slopes,
451
00:21:30,968 --> 00:21:34,000
and flat ground, so
getting up high in elevation
452
00:21:34,167 --> 00:21:37,033
will give us a great vantage
point of the entire area.
453
00:21:39,501 --> 00:21:40,701
I think we're here.
454
00:21:42,868 --> 00:21:44,868
Wow! Look at that view.
455
00:21:45,033 --> 00:21:46,033
Sumbitch.
456
00:21:53,767 --> 00:21:55,367
Whoo! You get a little vertigo.
457
00:21:57,567 --> 00:22:00,367
So this is white rocks
canyon all through here.
458
00:22:00,534 --> 00:22:02,167
Ok.
459
00:22:02,334 --> 00:22:05,367
Whiterocks canyon
is a remote landscape
460
00:22:05,534 --> 00:22:08,467
stretching across more than 9,000 acres
461
00:22:08,634 --> 00:22:10,467
of unforgiving terrain.
462
00:22:10,634 --> 00:22:14,100
For thousands of years,
white rocks' harsh expanse
463
00:22:14,267 --> 00:22:17,667
was occupied by the
fremont and ute peoples,
464
00:22:17,834 --> 00:22:22,367
and later used by mormon
pioneers as a natural refuge.
465
00:22:24,667 --> 00:22:27,100
The journal entry says,
466
00:22:27,267 --> 00:22:29,767
"you will need to go up the
first branch of white rocks...
467
00:22:30,868 --> 00:22:34,267
"and take the first right
canyon and climb to the top
468
00:22:34,434 --> 00:22:35,667
of a flat mountain."
469
00:22:35,834 --> 00:22:38,100
This is white rocks here.
470
00:22:38,267 --> 00:22:39,767
So that's right down there.
471
00:22:41,667 --> 00:22:43,868
- Ok, so it's right over here.
- Yes.
472
00:22:44,033 --> 00:22:47,200
If we stay to the right and
follow along that canyon,
473
00:22:47,367 --> 00:22:49,601
we're supposed to see a flat area.
474
00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,501
And if you look out here, see that?
475
00:22:56,968 --> 00:22:58,743
And that's a flat area right
there, and there's a big grove
476
00:22:58,767 --> 00:23:00,367
of trees in there, too.
477
00:23:00,534 --> 00:23:02,901
And then that's where
they're supposed to be
478
00:23:03,067 --> 00:23:06,000
the markings in the trees is in that stand.
479
00:23:06,167 --> 00:23:08,767
From their vantage
point, the team believes
480
00:23:08,934 --> 00:23:11,000
the journal passage points east
481
00:23:11,167 --> 00:23:13,567
from the first branch
of white rocks canyon
482
00:23:13,734 --> 00:23:15,467
toward a flat stretch of land
483
00:23:15,634 --> 00:23:19,067
just a mile and a half north of blind frog.
484
00:23:20,167 --> 00:23:21,443
And that's where there's supposed to be
485
00:23:21,467 --> 00:23:23,400
all these markings that you can follow
486
00:23:23,567 --> 00:23:25,300
in a straight line.
487
00:23:25,467 --> 00:23:29,067
Then blind frog would just
be southeast of that, right?
488
00:23:29,234 --> 00:23:30,801
- Yes.
- Yeah, down here.
489
00:23:30,968 --> 00:23:33,367
So let's head that way right now.
490
00:23:33,534 --> 00:23:35,400
Yeah.
491
00:23:35,567 --> 00:23:37,847
I mean, I think that we need
to go search that whole site
492
00:23:37,968 --> 00:23:39,143
right there.
493
00:23:39,167 --> 00:23:41,167
- Let's do it.
- All right, let's do it.
494
00:23:41,334 --> 00:23:43,167
When you're following
history like we are,
495
00:23:43,334 --> 00:23:45,701
each one of these
discoveries puts us closer
496
00:23:45,868 --> 00:23:46,868
to finding the gold.
497
00:23:49,267 --> 00:23:51,000
We can see a grove of trees south of us,
498
00:23:51,167 --> 00:23:52,243
so we're headed that way to see
499
00:23:52,267 --> 00:23:54,267
if any of them have any markings.
500
00:23:54,434 --> 00:23:57,868
Every marker we find out here
could put us one step closer
501
00:23:58,033 --> 00:23:59,667
to finding the keyhole chamber.
502
00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:07,834
2 if you look out here, see that?
503
00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:09,400
- Yeah.
- That canyon does come up,
504
00:24:09,434 --> 00:24:10,510
and that's a flat area right there,
505
00:24:10,534 --> 00:24:12,310
and there's a big grove
of trees in there, too.
506
00:24:12,334 --> 00:24:13,610
And that's where there's supposed to be
507
00:24:13,634 --> 00:24:14,868
all these marked trees
508
00:24:15,033 --> 00:24:18,567
you could follow in a straight line.
509
00:24:18,734 --> 00:24:22,100
After decoding an entry in
the rhoades family journal,
510
00:24:22,267 --> 00:24:24,968
the team has identified a grove of trees
511
00:24:25,133 --> 00:24:28,367
that could contain markings
that lead to an entrance
512
00:24:28,534 --> 00:24:30,868
to the keyhole chamber.
513
00:24:31,033 --> 00:24:32,100
Ok, so then we're headed
514
00:24:33,501 --> 00:24:35,300
- this way, right here?
- Yeah.
515
00:24:35,467 --> 00:24:36,567
All right, let's do it.
516
00:24:53,100 --> 00:24:54,810
We just gotta stay
away from these younger,
517
00:24:54,834 --> 00:24:56,400
thinner Aspen.
518
00:24:56,567 --> 00:24:59,033
Gotta be these older coniferous trees.
519
00:25:09,267 --> 00:25:10,567
I see lots of marks on trees,
520
00:25:10,734 --> 00:25:12,574
but there... those are
all definitely natural.
521
00:25:17,100 --> 00:25:18,700
What's that right there, straight ahead?
522
00:25:21,067 --> 00:25:22,868
We got a marked tree over here, James.
523
00:25:24,834 --> 00:25:26,033
Look at this.
524
00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:27,467
Look how that's cut.
525
00:25:27,634 --> 00:25:29,033
That's not... that's not natural.
526
00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:31,167
And that's a definite
direction it's pointing.
527
00:25:31,334 --> 00:25:33,454
And this is an old tree,
too. Look at the size of it.
528
00:25:34,601 --> 00:25:35,721
This marking looks just like
529
00:25:35,767 --> 00:25:37,087
the one described in the journal.
530
00:25:37,934 --> 00:25:39,968
This is a directional arrow marking.
531
00:25:40,133 --> 00:25:41,834
If I can figure out what that is
532
00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,667
and what this artist was
actually trying to tell us,
533
00:25:44,834 --> 00:25:48,200
we can maybe get to
exactly where we wanna go.
534
00:25:48,367 --> 00:25:51,934
Tree markings have been
used as a form of communication
535
00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:53,367
for centuries.
536
00:25:53,534 --> 00:25:56,667
Native tribes carved
them to Mark boundaries,
537
00:25:56,834 --> 00:25:59,367
but early explorers and treasure hunters
538
00:25:59,534 --> 00:26:04,868
often used them to relay
information and directions.
539
00:26:05,033 --> 00:26:07,601
The journal entry says, "stand of trees
540
00:26:07,767 --> 00:26:09,167
with markings on them,
541
00:26:09,334 --> 00:26:12,067
follow the ones that
are in a straight line."
542
00:26:12,234 --> 00:26:13,543
We'll head this way. So we'll head this...
543
00:26:13,567 --> 00:26:14,543
- whatever this bearing is...
- Right.
544
00:26:14,567 --> 00:26:15,443
We'll stay on that bearing
545
00:26:15,467 --> 00:26:16,947
and see if we find any other markers.
546
00:26:18,267 --> 00:26:19,310
So we're thinking right in...
547
00:26:19,334 --> 00:26:21,000
- right in this direction here.
- Yeah.
548
00:26:21,167 --> 00:26:24,167
I'm gonna stand on the
opposite side of the tree
549
00:26:24,334 --> 00:26:26,868
and get an exact bearing.
550
00:26:27,033 --> 00:26:29,501
Seem about right,
Josh, where I'm pointed?
551
00:26:29,667 --> 00:26:31,067
- Yeah, yeah.
- Directly opposite?
552
00:26:31,234 --> 00:26:34,367
Yeah, you're directly opposite
of the arrow on the tree.
553
00:26:35,367 --> 00:26:39,934
This is pointing 130
degrees bearing southeast.
554
00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:42,834
- Ok.
- So this way, I'll keep the compass out.
555
00:27:00,367 --> 00:27:01,901
There's a little something here.
556
00:27:04,367 --> 00:27:05,868
That's like a perfect arrowhead.
557
00:27:06,033 --> 00:27:08,767
And that's old. That
tree's grown in on itself.
558
00:27:08,934 --> 00:27:10,601
Pointing in this direction?
559
00:27:10,767 --> 00:27:11,834
Take a bearing, Eric.
560
00:27:13,100 --> 00:27:14,734
What's that bearing?
561
00:27:16,834 --> 00:27:17,968
130.
562
00:27:18,133 --> 00:27:20,601
- It's 130?
- It's 130, man.
563
00:27:20,767 --> 00:27:22,934
So this is pointing
towards blind frog ranch.
564
00:27:24,767 --> 00:27:25,767
Let's go.
565
00:27:27,267 --> 00:27:29,567
- Straight down?
- Straight down.
566
00:27:29,734 --> 00:27:31,968
Somebody put a lot
of effort to create these.
567
00:27:32,133 --> 00:27:34,100
Now, on its own, it doesn't mean much.
568
00:27:34,267 --> 00:27:35,501
But when we put that together
569
00:27:35,667 --> 00:27:37,067
in conjunction with everything else
570
00:27:37,167 --> 00:27:39,167
that we found on this trail,
571
00:27:39,334 --> 00:27:42,501
in a straight line,
headed towards the ranch.
572
00:27:42,667 --> 00:27:44,267
Where the keyhole chamber is.
573
00:27:44,434 --> 00:27:46,601
This means something.
574
00:27:46,767 --> 00:27:47,934
Check this out up here.
575
00:27:48,100 --> 00:27:49,567
You got something?
576
00:27:49,734 --> 00:27:50,734
Look at that.
577
00:27:50,767 --> 00:27:52,000
I mean, that's deep carve.
578
00:27:52,167 --> 00:27:54,934
And that's pretty complex, like, petals.
579
00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,367
Those two arrows
brought us right to this.
580
00:27:59,534 --> 00:28:01,134
- Yeah.
- Well, let's stick to that 130.
581
00:28:01,267 --> 00:28:02,367
Let's go.
582
00:28:03,734 --> 00:28:05,467
When I go out there and I can prove this,
583
00:28:05,634 --> 00:28:07,410
and then that next thing
proves the next thing,
584
00:28:07,434 --> 00:28:09,114
and that next thing proves the next thing,
585
00:28:09,167 --> 00:28:11,767
that's how you get to the end of the trail.
586
00:28:11,934 --> 00:28:14,267
That's how you're
successful in treasure hunting.
587
00:28:16,734 --> 00:28:18,367
I think it opens up more over there.
588
00:28:25,868 --> 00:28:27,601
What is that over there?
589
00:28:29,467 --> 00:28:31,167
Yeah, I see that, James.
590
00:28:31,334 --> 00:28:32,654
A primitive shelter or something?
591
00:28:32,734 --> 00:28:33,934
Yeah, but it's dark from here.
592
00:28:34,100 --> 00:28:35,667
That's a lot of dark black.
593
00:28:37,767 --> 00:28:38,934
Yeah, look at this.
594
00:28:39,100 --> 00:28:40,868
That black goes right
here from the bottom
595
00:28:41,033 --> 00:28:42,567
- all the way up this way.
- Yeah.
596
00:28:42,734 --> 00:28:44,143
Right up the side of the cliff line.
597
00:28:44,167 --> 00:28:45,367
Yeah.
598
00:28:46,300 --> 00:28:49,467
It doesn't look natural, I
mean, as far as mineral goes.
599
00:28:49,634 --> 00:28:51,314
No, that's not like
manganese or anything.
600
00:28:51,434 --> 00:28:52,767
No, no, it's too black for that.
601
00:28:54,868 --> 00:28:55,868
Well, look down here.
602
00:28:57,868 --> 00:28:59,567
- Charcoal.
- It's charcoal.
603
00:28:59,734 --> 00:29:00,934
- It's charcoal, yeah.
- Yeah.
604
00:29:02,033 --> 00:29:03,633
Yeah, look, this is all charred up here.
605
00:29:03,767 --> 00:29:05,734
This is all burnt. That was white-hot.
606
00:29:07,567 --> 00:29:09,167
I think that's a piece of Clay.
607
00:29:09,334 --> 00:29:10,767
- You see that?
- Let me see that.
608
00:29:13,100 --> 00:29:14,460
Here's some more of it right here.
609
00:29:14,567 --> 00:29:16,267
Give it the Clay test.
610
00:29:17,934 --> 00:29:19,400
- Yeah, it smears.
- Yeah?
611
00:29:19,567 --> 00:29:20,567
It's Clay, yep.
612
00:29:23,067 --> 00:29:24,300
So what are you thinking?
613
00:29:25,167 --> 00:29:27,501
All this charcoal, all the
charcoal on the ground,
614
00:29:27,667 --> 00:29:29,667
this was a white-hot fire, we're finding...
615
00:29:29,834 --> 00:29:31,934
we're finding pieces of Clay.
616
00:29:32,100 --> 00:29:33,900
I think somebody built
the furnace back here.
617
00:29:35,467 --> 00:29:36,934
That's what all this is from.
618
00:29:38,467 --> 00:29:40,834
Clay furnaces, or smelters,
619
00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:44,167
have been used to
refine ore for centuries.
620
00:29:44,334 --> 00:29:46,734
Clay structures can
withstand temperatures
621
00:29:46,901 --> 00:29:49,567
above 2,000 degrees fahrenheit,
622
00:29:49,734 --> 00:29:52,868
making them ideal for melting metals.
623
00:29:53,033 --> 00:29:57,067
Smelters are typically the
last step in ore processing
624
00:29:57,234 --> 00:30:00,968
and the farthest from
the entrance to the mine.
625
00:30:01,133 --> 00:30:02,510
Guys, we're looking for an entrance
626
00:30:02,534 --> 00:30:04,868
to the keyhole chamber,
somewhere near here.
627
00:30:06,300 --> 00:30:09,200
If they're building a furnace,
they had to be smelting ore.
628
00:30:09,367 --> 00:30:11,167
Which means there's a mine close by.
629
00:30:11,334 --> 00:30:13,367
We need to look around
this entire area because
630
00:30:13,534 --> 00:30:16,267
what if that mine is our entrance?
631
00:30:17,601 --> 00:30:20,067
The journal says,
we're looking for a shaft.
632
00:30:20,234 --> 00:30:23,300
I didn't know exactly
what that meant until now.
633
00:30:23,467 --> 00:30:26,100
I mean, the journal got us here.
634
00:30:26,267 --> 00:30:30,100
We... we followed that thing
and it brought us right here.
635
00:30:31,300 --> 00:30:33,767
And now we found evidence of mining.
636
00:30:34,868 --> 00:30:38,067
I think that means what we're
looking for is a mine entrance
637
00:30:38,234 --> 00:30:39,934
into the keyhole chamber.
638
00:30:40,100 --> 00:30:42,734
The keyhole chamber
could be just at our reach.
639
00:30:49,367 --> 00:30:51,934
2 I think somebody
built a furnace back here.
640
00:30:52,100 --> 00:30:53,367
If they're building a furnace,
641
00:30:53,534 --> 00:30:55,167
they might have been smelting ore.
642
00:30:56,234 --> 00:30:58,167
The team is following a journal entry
643
00:30:58,334 --> 00:31:00,167
across the uinta valley.
644
00:31:00,334 --> 00:31:03,067
After finding a smelter, they now believe
645
00:31:03,234 --> 00:31:05,767
they're searching for a
mine entrance that will lead
646
00:31:05,934 --> 00:31:08,367
to the keyhole chamber.
647
00:31:08,534 --> 00:31:11,467
The mine we're looking for
should be somewhere near here.
648
00:31:12,868 --> 00:31:15,667
Finding this furnace means
that we're on the right track.
649
00:31:15,834 --> 00:31:18,267
It means that the
information in the journal
650
00:31:18,434 --> 00:31:20,467
is proving itself out.
651
00:31:20,634 --> 00:31:22,567
At this point, we've gone as far
652
00:31:22,734 --> 00:31:24,734
as the journal passage can take us.
653
00:31:24,901 --> 00:31:27,868
If what we're looking for
is actually a mine entrance,
654
00:31:28,033 --> 00:31:31,467
we can find useful clues
by looking around the area.
655
00:31:32,567 --> 00:31:33,777
- Let's have a look, guys.
- Yeah.
656
00:31:33,801 --> 00:31:34,944
Yeah.
657
00:31:34,968 --> 00:31:38,267
Get out here and start
canvassing this area.
658
00:31:38,434 --> 00:31:39,467
I'll go up higher.
659
00:31:46,033 --> 00:31:48,734
James, be looking for
quartz, any kind of ore.
660
00:31:48,901 --> 00:31:50,109
- Ok.
- Yeah.
661
00:31:50,133 --> 00:31:51,976
They would have mined
it and then brought it over
662
00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:54,634
to this area where it's more protected.
663
00:31:54,801 --> 00:31:56,667
To then actually process it.
664
00:32:06,567 --> 00:32:09,000
We're searching an area
where they processed ore,
665
00:32:09,167 --> 00:32:10,868
and we're looking for mineralization,
666
00:32:11,033 --> 00:32:12,267
depressions in the ground,
667
00:32:12,434 --> 00:32:14,367
where there might be an entrance.
668
00:32:14,534 --> 00:32:15,834
At the same time, we're looking
669
00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:19,267
for any evidence of mining,
rotted timbers, old tools,
670
00:32:19,434 --> 00:32:21,194
any proof that people
were here and working.
671
00:32:36,100 --> 00:32:37,767
Hey, guys!
672
00:32:37,934 --> 00:32:40,100
Look at this. I got something.
673
00:32:42,567 --> 00:32:44,647
It doesn't look natural.
It doesn't look like the...
674
00:32:44,734 --> 00:32:46,877
- that ain't natural, no.
- It's not like an iron nodule
675
00:32:46,901 --> 00:32:49,267
we've seen around here.
676
00:32:49,434 --> 00:32:52,100
I mean, this is a rusted-out
piece of iron, is what it is.
677
00:32:52,267 --> 00:32:54,027
- It was sitting here?
- Sitting right here.
678
00:32:54,100 --> 00:32:55,767
- Underneath that limb?
- Yep.
679
00:32:55,934 --> 00:32:57,667
If it was washed down,
that's a good place
680
00:32:57,834 --> 00:32:59,133
it would catch.
681
00:32:59,300 --> 00:33:00,934
Where could it have washed down from?
682
00:33:03,267 --> 00:33:05,000
When we're looking at arid climates,
683
00:33:05,167 --> 00:33:06,868
there's a term called "the wash."
684
00:33:07,033 --> 00:33:09,834
It's almost like a... a
dry stream bed, basically.
685
00:33:11,033 --> 00:33:13,267
The idea is during heavy rains,
686
00:33:13,434 --> 00:33:16,067
water would wash
heavier materials down,
687
00:33:16,234 --> 00:33:17,868
and they might be trapped by roots
688
00:33:18,033 --> 00:33:19,667
or behind rocks or things like that.
689
00:33:19,834 --> 00:33:22,167
So those are the areas
we'd like to focus on.
690
00:33:23,734 --> 00:33:25,267
These trees are covering stuff.
691
00:33:31,667 --> 00:33:33,467
What's this... this rock here?
692
00:33:35,267 --> 00:33:37,427
It looks a lot different from
the surrounding bedrock.
693
00:33:37,534 --> 00:33:38,934
Yeah, it does.
694
00:33:39,100 --> 00:33:41,334
It's got a big old flat
bottom on it, doesn't it?
695
00:33:41,501 --> 00:33:43,267
Yeah. This sucker's heavy.
696
00:33:43,434 --> 00:33:44,674
- That's...
- and this is hard.
697
00:33:44,701 --> 00:33:48,467
This is a lot harder than
the surrounding sandstone.
698
00:33:48,634 --> 00:33:49,834
This has been brought in here.
699
00:33:49,934 --> 00:33:51,294
It's not from these cliffs, is it?
700
00:33:54,167 --> 00:33:55,167
Look at this.
701
00:33:56,167 --> 00:33:57,567
Is that a hole?
702
00:33:57,734 --> 00:33:58,844
I don't think that's a natural hole.
703
00:33:58,868 --> 00:34:01,133
That's not... that's definitely not natural.
704
00:34:01,300 --> 00:34:02,780
Why would they have put a hole there?
705
00:34:04,567 --> 00:34:06,234
Well, if you're processing ore...
706
00:34:07,334 --> 00:34:09,667
You know, this could be a drag stone.
707
00:34:09,834 --> 00:34:13,200
- What's a drag stone?
- For milling ore.
708
00:34:15,667 --> 00:34:18,147
If that's the case, then there
has to be an arrastra somewhere
709
00:34:18,267 --> 00:34:20,868
around here, and an arrastra
was a way to crush ore.
710
00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:27,467
An arrastra is a rudimentary
mill often used by gold miners
711
00:34:27,634 --> 00:34:30,367
in the 1800s to crush their ore.
712
00:34:30,534 --> 00:34:33,667
It consisted of a large circular stone base
713
00:34:33,834 --> 00:34:37,234
with a drag stone tied
to a long wooden pole.
714
00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:40,667
The pole arm was
then attached to a mule.
715
00:34:40,834 --> 00:34:43,334
As the mule walked around the arrastra,
716
00:34:43,501 --> 00:34:45,868
the drag stone would crush the ore,
717
00:34:46,033 --> 00:34:47,567
readying it for smelting.
718
00:34:48,767 --> 00:34:52,567
The presence of an arrastra
could indicate a mine entrance
719
00:34:52,734 --> 00:34:54,334
is nearby.
720
00:34:54,501 --> 00:34:55,767
There's got to be more to this.
721
00:34:55,934 --> 00:34:57,009
There's... like the rest of this arrastra
722
00:34:57,033 --> 00:34:58,076
has to be near here.
723
00:34:58,100 --> 00:35:01,067
Then we're talking about
somewhat flat surface.
724
00:35:01,234 --> 00:35:03,194
And rocks that don't
look like they're from here,
725
00:35:03,234 --> 00:35:04,510
because this isn't the type of stone,
726
00:35:04,534 --> 00:35:05,810
- it's not hard enough...
- Yeah.
727
00:35:05,834 --> 00:35:07,000
To use for an arrastra.
728
00:35:16,767 --> 00:35:18,067
Guys, there's something flat.
729
00:35:18,234 --> 00:35:19,914
I'm standing on something flat right here.
730
00:35:22,234 --> 00:35:23,667
- Yes, there is.
- Yeah.
731
00:35:23,834 --> 00:35:24,810
Look at this.
732
00:35:24,834 --> 00:35:25,868
That's perfectly flat.
733
00:35:26,033 --> 00:35:27,567
That's been ground down.
734
00:35:27,734 --> 00:35:29,167
Look at that.
735
00:35:29,334 --> 00:35:29,595
Yeah.
736
00:35:29,619 --> 00:35:31,494
This is... this is the base of the arrastra?
737
00:35:31,601 --> 00:35:33,000
Yeah.
738
00:35:33,167 --> 00:35:36,133
Right about here,
you'd had a center post.
739
00:35:36,300 --> 00:35:37,420
- Ok.
- In the center of it,
740
00:35:37,567 --> 00:35:39,447
there'd be a post that
would go up with an arm.
741
00:35:39,601 --> 00:35:42,234
- Ok.
- And then that's what would drag
742
00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:43,667
that drag stone right there.
743
00:35:43,834 --> 00:35:45,777
Walk around a circle and
just keep dragging that rock
744
00:35:45,801 --> 00:35:48,367
and just keep adding ore into here.
745
00:35:48,534 --> 00:35:51,634
This smelter was the first clue
we were a lot closer to a mine.
746
00:35:51,801 --> 00:35:54,100
But this arrastra gives
us a lot more to go on.
747
00:35:55,434 --> 00:35:56,767
After you pull ore from a mine,
748
00:35:56,934 --> 00:35:59,067
the first place you go is to your arrastra.
749
00:35:59,234 --> 00:36:00,367
And if you do that enough,
750
00:36:00,534 --> 00:36:02,174
you're gonna leave a lot of clues behind.
751
00:36:03,767 --> 00:36:05,367
Foot traffic or wagon wheels
752
00:36:05,534 --> 00:36:07,868
can leave a lasting
impression in the earth,
753
00:36:08,033 --> 00:36:10,100
and ore fragments can
fall off along the way.
754
00:36:11,367 --> 00:36:13,510
If we find anything like
that, it could lead us directly
755
00:36:13,534 --> 00:36:15,067
to the mine entrance.
756
00:36:15,234 --> 00:36:18,033
I think we should metal
detect this entire arrastra.
757
00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:19,200
I agree.
758
00:36:28,734 --> 00:36:30,734
2 hey, reaves, thanks
for bringing this rig up.
759
00:36:31,767 --> 00:36:34,133
On the outskirts of blind frog ranch,
760
00:36:34,300 --> 00:36:36,767
Josh, James, and Eric have discovered
761
00:36:36,934 --> 00:36:41,133
the ruins of a 19th century
gold processing operation.
762
00:36:41,300 --> 00:36:44,868
They believe they've unearthed
the remains of an arrastra,
763
00:36:45,033 --> 00:36:47,968
a crude ore crushing
mill that was widely used
764
00:36:48,133 --> 00:36:50,834
during the American gold rush.
765
00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:52,567
We stumble across this arrastra,
766
00:36:52,734 --> 00:36:54,434
and this is absolute proof
767
00:36:54,601 --> 00:36:56,934
that people were out here working ore.
768
00:36:57,100 --> 00:36:59,934
There has to be a mine
site somewhere nearby.
769
00:37:00,167 --> 00:37:02,667
But the journal doesn't
tell us where to go next.
770
00:37:02,834 --> 00:37:05,267
If we investigate, we
should be able to find
771
00:37:05,434 --> 00:37:07,667
the path of where the
ore was coming from.
772
00:37:08,968 --> 00:37:11,067
Right here is the outer wall.
773
00:37:11,234 --> 00:37:14,334
Just clear out this right here.
774
00:37:14,501 --> 00:37:16,067
Copy that.
775
00:37:17,834 --> 00:37:20,467
I'm not only looking
for gold at the arrastra,
776
00:37:20,634 --> 00:37:23,367
but maybe artifacts left
behind that can tell us
777
00:37:23,534 --> 00:37:26,434
from which direction
this ore came in from.
778
00:37:28,067 --> 00:37:29,167
The ultimate goal here
779
00:37:29,334 --> 00:37:31,467
is to get us into that keyhole chamber.
780
00:37:34,934 --> 00:37:35,934
Yeah!
781
00:37:40,634 --> 00:37:42,467
Look it, see? There's
more of it coming up.
782
00:37:42,634 --> 00:37:44,834
- See what I'm saying?
- Yeah, where the edge stone is.
783
00:37:45,534 --> 00:37:47,167
That's awesome. You just exposed
784
00:37:47,334 --> 00:37:48,734
some more of the outer wall.
785
00:37:48,901 --> 00:37:50,200
Perfect.
786
00:37:51,434 --> 00:37:55,267
A grid system is really
important in an excavation,
787
00:37:55,434 --> 00:37:57,834
so that I know where it
came out of the ground.
788
00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:01,667
I'm gonna start on the
inner portion of the grid,
789
00:38:01,834 --> 00:38:04,033
expanding outwards from the arrastra.
790
00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:07,868
That way we keep good records
of where an artifact came out
791
00:38:08,033 --> 00:38:09,367
of the ground.
792
00:38:09,534 --> 00:38:13,267
That way I can label what
square it's coming out of.
793
00:38:13,434 --> 00:38:16,133
We're using string to help
create these search grids
794
00:38:16,300 --> 00:38:18,420
and then running the metal
detector through each one.
795
00:38:20,601 --> 00:38:22,467
Now that's a signal right there.
796
00:38:23,634 --> 00:38:24,634
Section two.
797
00:38:26,267 --> 00:38:28,267
If we get a hit, we'll collect that pile
798
00:38:28,434 --> 00:38:29,594
and run it through my sifter.
799
00:38:32,934 --> 00:38:34,234
Accretions?
800
00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:36,767
- Yeah, all the same thing.
- Accretions, yeah.
801
00:38:36,934 --> 00:38:38,467
- A lot... look at that.
- Yeah.
802
00:38:40,834 --> 00:38:42,767
So I have my first two sections.
803
00:38:42,934 --> 00:38:44,774
There was nothing in
those other two sections,
804
00:38:44,801 --> 00:38:46,567
so I'm gonna pull the grid for now.
805
00:38:54,100 --> 00:38:57,234
There are definite hits there,
so I'm gonna just shovel.
806
00:38:57,400 --> 00:38:58,868
This will be section...
807
00:38:59,033 --> 00:39:04,033
one, two, three. It's
section three, square one.
808
00:39:04,200 --> 00:39:06,667
What I'd like to do is just
concentrate right here.
809
00:39:07,767 --> 00:39:11,267
This is... this is just like a
crevice in a natural rock.
810
00:39:11,434 --> 00:39:14,667
And so if they were crushing
gold, it's very possible
811
00:39:14,834 --> 00:39:17,567
that it could find its
way down into that crack.
812
00:39:17,734 --> 00:39:19,467
I'm just gonna run this pinpointer over it
813
00:39:19,634 --> 00:39:22,334
to see if it can pick up
anything metallic, basically.
814
00:39:23,467 --> 00:39:25,834
- Do you need me to do anything?
- No, not at this point.
815
00:39:26,000 --> 00:39:27,510
I'm gonna pinpoint it to see if here...
816
00:39:27,534 --> 00:39:29,294
- maybe there's something in there.
- No way.
817
00:39:30,334 --> 00:39:31,667
- I'm getting a hit.
- All right.
818
00:39:32,968 --> 00:39:35,000
- It could just be iron.
- It could just be iron.
819
00:39:35,167 --> 00:39:37,467
But there's definitely
something right there.
820
00:39:37,634 --> 00:39:38,968
I'm gonna dig it a little bit.
821
00:39:41,334 --> 00:39:43,167
- It's right in here.
- Right.
822
00:39:43,334 --> 00:39:44,968
I'm seeing a little something there.
823
00:39:45,133 --> 00:39:46,143
- I'm seeing something.
- Eric, that looks like...
824
00:39:46,167 --> 00:39:47,634
it's unmistakable.
825
00:39:47,801 --> 00:39:48,710
My god!
826
00:39:48,734 --> 00:39:49,910
- You've got it!
- It's gold! It's gold!
827
00:39:49,934 --> 00:39:50,934
It's gold!
828
00:39:52,567 --> 00:39:53,868
- That's it!
- Look at that!
829
00:39:54,033 --> 00:39:55,233
- That's gold!
- Look at that.
830
00:39:56,367 --> 00:39:57,868
We've got gold!
831
00:39:58,033 --> 00:39:59,267
- Whoa!
- Look at this!
832
00:40:03,767 --> 00:40:06,033
Look at that!
833
00:40:06,200 --> 00:40:07,934
Holy! That's gold!
834
00:40:08,100 --> 00:40:09,367
Damn right it's gold.
835
00:40:10,734 --> 00:40:12,294
Everything's coming together here, man.
836
00:40:12,434 --> 00:40:13,667
Everything.
837
00:40:13,834 --> 00:40:15,376
All right, yeah, let's
get this thing bottled up.
838
00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:16,400
Yep.
839
00:40:18,834 --> 00:40:20,100
- Got it.
- Beautiful.
840
00:40:21,267 --> 00:40:22,767
That's a tiny one, but it's gold.
841
00:40:22,934 --> 00:40:23,934
Look at that.
842
00:40:24,100 --> 00:40:25,410
Hey, it's what it represents, you know?
843
00:40:25,434 --> 00:40:26,534
Yeah.
844
00:40:26,701 --> 00:40:28,367
That means the journal is right.
845
00:40:28,534 --> 00:40:31,100
There's a gold mine
somewhere near blind frog ranch.
846
00:40:31,267 --> 00:40:32,267
Hell yeah!
847
00:40:33,868 --> 00:40:35,667
The journal led us to this arrastra,
848
00:40:35,834 --> 00:40:37,567
and we found a piece of gold.
849
00:40:37,734 --> 00:40:40,133
This discovery could change everything.
850
00:40:40,300 --> 00:40:42,167
It gives me confidence in the journal
851
00:40:42,334 --> 00:40:44,567
that the information is correct.
852
00:40:44,734 --> 00:40:47,467
The journal is leading us towards gold.
853
00:40:47,634 --> 00:40:49,868
Now we're about to find it.
854
00:40:56,734 --> 00:40:59,100
Next time on blind frog ranch.
855
00:40:59,267 --> 00:41:00,777
- Look at that.
- What's that... right?
856
00:41:00,801 --> 00:41:03,734
The team unearths
artifacts pointing the way
857
00:41:03,901 --> 00:41:05,367
to the keyhole chamber.
858
00:41:05,534 --> 00:41:07,234
I think we're at the entrance of a mine.
859
00:41:07,400 --> 00:41:10,467
While Ron uncovers
a game-changing lead.
860
00:41:10,634 --> 00:41:13,167
You do feel there are other locations?
861
00:41:13,334 --> 00:41:15,434
I'm sure there's gold.
862
00:41:15,601 --> 00:41:19,467
But the path to gold...
may mean risking it all.
863
00:41:19,634 --> 00:41:20,634
I'm gonna go in.
864
00:41:24,367 --> 00:41:25,367
Guys, it's caving!
865
00:41:26,834 --> 00:41:28,167
It's moving! Pull out, pull out!