Original subtitles

Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH"...

THERE'S NOT A CHANCE IN HELL WE'RE GONNA GET THROUGH THIS.

...TO MINE OUT THE REST OF HIS GROUND...

RIP EVERYTHING APART.

...PARKER SCHNABEL BRINGS IN THE BIG GUNS.

-WHOA, HOLD UP. -WATCH OUT.

WHOA, HOLD IT. HOLD IT. HOLD IT.

DON'T SOUND RIGHT AT ALL.

Narrator: RICK NESS' BATTLE TO SAVE HIS SEASON...

Rick: IT BEAT IT RIGHT THROUGH.

...TAKES A HIT.

Rick: WOW, WE HAVE NOTHING TO FIX IT WITH.

BOY, OH, BOY.

OH.

Narrator: AND TONY BEETS' ONLY WORKING WASH PLANT...

Mike: SOMEBODY LET A BIG ROCK THROUGH.

Narrator: ...RUNS INTO TROUBLE.

I'M ACTUALLY QUITE FURIOUS RIGHT NOW.

--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Zee: LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT ROCK.

IT'S LIKE A TABLETOP.

YEAH, IT'S LIKE 8 FEET LONG.

AT THIS POINT, WE'RE MORE THAN HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON,

AND TIME IS JUST RUNNING OUT.

Narrator: WITH JUST SIX WEEKS LEFT BEFORE WINTER HITS,

RICK NESS HAS ONLY MINED 320 OUNCES OF GOLD.

HE'S STRUGGLED WITH POOR GROUND AND CATASTROPHIC BREAKDOWNS,

BUT IF HE CAN HIT 500 OUNCES THIS SEASON,

HE'LL MAKE JUST ENOUGH TO PAY HIS CREW.

LAST WEEK, WE HAD OUR FIRST FULL WEEK OF RUNNING

WITH NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WASH PLANT,

AND THAT HAS GIVEN GENE THE CHANCE

TO REALLY STREAMLINE OUR OPERATION.

Narrator: WITH MINING EXPERT GENE CHEESEMAN ON SITE,

RICK HAS A FIGHTING CHANCE.

TODAY, I WANT TO WASH AND DRAIN THE BELTS.

EVERY SECOND COUNTS, YOU KNOW?

ELIMINATE WASTED MOTION, WASTED TIME.

GET THAT DOWN TO AS SMOOTH AND FAST AS YOU CAN MAKE IT.

HEY, RICK, THE PLANT IS MAKING ALL SORTS OF RACKET

OUT THE BACKSIDE OF THE SHAKER DECK.

WHAT THE IS THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

IT DON'T SOUND RIGHT AT ALL.

YOU BETTER SHUT THE THING DOWN.

WOW, IT BEAT IT RIGHT THROUGH.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.

Gene: THERE'S 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, MINIMUM.

HOLY

OH, IT DESTROYED THAT

THESE ARE JUST NOT MADE TO TAKE THE ROCK

WE'RE PUTTING AT IT.

THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.

CARL, YOU GOT A COPY?

YEAH. GO AHEAD, BUDDY.

I BLEW SOME SCREENS OUT IN OUR PLANT,

SO LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE ANYTHING TO REPLACE THEM.

OKAY, YEAH.

Rick: WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BIG ROCK COMING IN THIS PLANT,

AND THEY LAND IN THE SAME SPOT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN,

AND THEY JUST HAMMERED OUT THE SCREENS,

BUSTED THEM RIGHT THROUGH.

Narrator: RICK SET THE PLANT UP WITH GRIZZLY BARS,

SO ANY ROCKS WIDER THAN 6 INCHES ARE SCREENED OUT.

BUT LARGE ROCKS THAT ARE ONLY 5 INCHES WIDE

HAVE BEEN GETTING THROUGH...

...AND HAVE DESTROYED THE PLASTIC SCREEN DECK.

MECHANIC CARL ROSK RETURNS WITH A SPARE.

THIS IS OUR LAST PART OF OUR DECK HERE.

HEY, RICK.

DO WE HAVE MORE?

I CAN'T FIND MORE.

THAT'S THE ONLY ONE?

YEP.

SAKE.

Rick: WITHOUT THAT IMPACT, THESE SCREENS WILL GO MORE

THAN A SEASON, NEVER HAVE TO TOUCH THEM,

AND SO THEREFORE, I DON'T HAVE ANY REPLACEMENTS, OF COURSE.

Narrator: WITHOUT REPLACEMENT SCREENS,

MONSTER RED CAN'T RUN,

AND ONCE AGAIN, RICK'S SEASON IS AT A STANDSTILL.

BOY, OH, BOY.

Mitch: YOU GOT A COPY, BRENNAN?

HEY, BUDDY.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE ONE OF THOSE BIG CATS

THAT JUST LAYS IN THE GRASS,

YOU KNOW, IN THE SAVANNA THERE,

WAITING FOR YOUR LIONESS TO BRING YOU BACK A MEAL?

I'M LIKE GARFIELD.

Narrator: 25-YEAR-OLD PARKER SCHNABEL

IS ATTEMPTING TO MINE HIS ENTIRE 115-ACRE CLAIM

BEFORE THE END OF THE SEASON.

WITH SIX WEEKS LEFT, HE'S ONLY JUST STARTED MINING

HIS SECOND CUT, THE CRATER CUT.

Parker: MITCH AND BRENNAN

ARE DOING A GREAT JOB IN THE CRATER CUT,

BUT WE'VE STILL GOT A LOT OF PAY TO GET THROUGH

AND NOT A LOT OF TIME TO DO IT.

YOU KNOW, AT THAT RATE, WE'RE GONNA BE LEAVING BEHIND,

YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF OUNCES OF GOLD

IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

HEY, MITCH.

I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THIS GROUND.

NO PROBLEM.

THERE'S STILL A HELL OF A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE HERE.

HEY, MITCH.

HOW'S IT GOING?

OH, NOT TOO BAD.

WHAT DO YOU FIGURE WE HAVE LEFT, LIKE, 40%?

YEAH, AT LEAST.

Narrator: THE CRATER CUT COST PARKER

MORE THAN $750,000 JUST TO OPEN,

AND COFOREMAN MITCH BLASCHKE

IS WORRIED THE CURRENT SETUP WITH WASH PLANT BIG RED

WON'T BE ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH THE GROUND.

AT THE END OF THE DAY,

YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH HERE...

BIG RED IS PUTTING A DENT IN IT,

BUT IT'S NOT A BIG-ENOUGH ONE,

SO THE ONLY CHANCE WE HAVE

IS TWO WASH PLANTS ON ONE PAD THERE,

AND KEEP SLUICING UNTIL WE GET FROZE OUT.

PARKER DECIDES TO DOUBLE DOWN.

YEAH. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN.

WE JUST GOT TO GET TWO IN, RIGHT?

SLUICIFER IS IN THE LAST CUT,

AND WE REALLY NEED TO GET IT MOVED DOWN HERE.

YEAH.

SO WE JUST GOT TO TRY TO GET THAT DONE AS QUICK AS WE CAN.

ALRIGHT. WE'LL GET AFTER IT.

THANKS, MAN.

FOUR WEEKS AGO, PARKER SPLIT HIS TEAM TO RUN

SLUICIFER IN THE LAST CUT...

I'M TRYING TO DO SOMETHING

ABOUT THE PAY WE LEFT IN HERE.

THERE COULD BE 1,000 OUNCES IN HERE.

...TO MINE A QUICK 1,000 OUNCES

ON THE GROUND HE LEASES FROM TONY BEETS.

BUT NOW, FACED WITH THE PROSPECT

OF LEAVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF GOLD IN THE GROUND,

HE MAKES THE CALL TO REUNITE THE CREW

AND MOVE SLUICIFER TO THE CRATER CUT.

EVERYBODY WANTS THIS PLANT DOWN AT THE CRATER CUT.

YEAH.

WE'VE GOT TO GET IT DOWN THERE,

SO IF YOU COULD JUST RIP EVERYTHING APART,

GET IT READY TO MOVE. ALRIGHT.

YEP. WE'LL GET ON IT.HEY, THANKS.

OKAY, TYSON, LET ME KNOW.

WE'RE UP HERE READY TO SHUT DOWN.

Tyson: THIS IS HEARD, DOUMITT.

ALRIGHT. WE GOT IT. WE GOT IT UP HERE.

THERE YOU GO.

Ryan: ANYBODY WANT TO JUST SWING IN A BIT?

Narrator: FIRST, THEY REMOVE THE SLUICE RUNS...

-YOU'RE CLEAR. -I'M CLEAR ON MY END.

Narrator: ...THEN, THE CONVEYOR...

YEAH, IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD BACK HERE.

...AND FINALLY, THE MASSIVE SHAKER DECK.

IT'S JUST A BIG, HEAVY, AWKWARD PIECE OF EQUIPMENT

TO MOVE WITH ONE EXCAVATOR.

Narrator: AT 29 FEET LONG, THE 45-TON SLUICIFER

IS TOO BIG TO PUT ON A TRAILER.

SO PARKER WILL USE HIS MOST POWERFUL EXCAVATOR...

THE $1-MILLION, 75-TON 750...

...TO HAUL IT 3 MILES DOWNSTREAM

ALONG A SERIES OF DIRT ROADS TO HIS OWN GROUND,

WHERE HE'LL DRAG IT ONTO THE PAD

AND POSITION IT RIGHT BESIDE BIG RED.

Mitch: NICE AND EASY.

COME ON.

YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO GET YOUR ASS END OVER.

NICE TO HAVE THE BOSS IN THERE

BECAUSE AT LEAST IF IT GETS BROKEN,

HE'S THE ONE THAT'S BREAKING IT, BUT WHEN YOU DRAG

A 100,000-POUND WASH PLANT AROUND WITH AN EXCAVATOR,

IT'S DEFINITELY NOT WHAT THEY'RE DESIGNED TO DO.

THEY'RE DESIGNED TO SIT IN ONE SPOT AND DIG DIRT.

Parker: BIG RED IS ALREADY DOING SOME DAMAGE,

BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GROUND TO GET THROUGH,

SO WE NEED TO GET THIS BIG OLD GIRL DOWN THERE.

HOPEFULLY SHE MAKES IT.

Brennan: WHOA!

WATCH OUT.

WHOA.

SHE DON'T LIKE THAT.

NO.

THING IS HEAVY.

IT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT.

I'M BETTING IT'S STILL 70,000 POUNDS

HE GOT TO TRY TO YANK UP THERE.

THEY TOOK ALL THE AWKWARD BITS OFF,

THE SLUICE RUNS, THE CONVEYOR,

BUT ALL THE WEIGHT IS STILL HERE.

YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS DIDN'T WEIGH ANYTHING,

SO IT'S NOT REALLY ANY LIGHTER.

SHE'S STILL ONE HEAVY

WE'RE DIGGING IN PRETTY HARD.

LOOK OUT!

WHAT THE

HEY, MITCH, THIS THING SMELLS PRETTY WEIRD,

LIKE SOMETHING'S LEAKING.

Mitch: You got to be kidding me.

WHAT THE

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE DON'T NEED THIS.

HEY, MITCH, SOMETHING'S LEAKING.

Mitch: You've got to be kidding me.

CAN YOU COME HAVE A LOOK?

Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL IS ATTEMPTING

TO HAUL HIS WASH PLANT SLUICIFER

3 MILES DOWNSTREAM TO THE CRATER CUT,

BUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE MOVE,

HIS BRAND-NEW $1 MILLION 750 EXCAVATOR HAS STOPPED.

SOMETHING SMELLS LIKE GEAR OIL.

YEAH.

YEAH, YOU CAN SEE IT ALL RIGHT HERE.

IT MIGHT JUST BE THIS TOP ROLLER HERE.

YOU CAN SEE IT RUNNING OUT.

THAT ONE?

OH, YEAH, IT'S GOT TO BE THAT ONE.

Mitch: WE JUST HAVE ONE TOP CARRY-ROLLER THAT'S OVERHEATING,

PUSHED A BUNCH OF THE FLUID THAT'S SUPPOSED

TO KEEP EVERYTHING NICE AND LUBRICATED IN THERE OUT,

AND SO WHAT'S GONNA PROBABLY END UP HAPPENING

IS THE BEARINGS ARE GONNA FAIL,

AND THAT TOP ROLLER IS GONNA STOP SPINNING.

IF THAT HAPPENS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP MOVING

SLUICIFER HERE.

Narrator: IN AN ATTEMPT TO COOL DOWN THE OVERHEATED ROLLER...

THAT ONE IS SMOLDERING.

...PARKER POURS WATER OVER IT.

WOO-HOO, LOOK AT THE STEAM COME UP.

-OH, YEAH, THEY'RE HOT. -NOT GOOD.

Narrator: BUT WITHOUT A PERMANENT FIX,

THE PROBLEM COULD GET WORSE.

YOU GONNA WANT TO KEEP GOING?

IF WE KEEP GOING HERE, WE'RE JUST GONNA END UP

RUNNING ALL OF THE OIL OUT OF THESE TOP ROLLERS,

AND WE'LL END UP SMOKING THEM.

Parker: IT, WE'RE GOING.

COME ON. LET'S DO THIS

I WONDER IF WE SHOULD'VE DONE THIS WITH THE SPROCKETS IN FRONT

BECAUSE WE'RE PULLING THE WEIGHT OVER THE TOP.

YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT, BECAUSE DRIVING IT THAT WAY,

IT'S GONNA TRY AND SUCK THESE DOWN.

I CAN SPIN AROUND.

YEAH, THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD CALL.

I'LL SPIN AROUND.

ALRIGHTY.

Narrator: A FIX COULD TAKE HOURS.

PARKER COMES UP WITH A WORKAROUND --

SPIN THE TRACKS 180 DEGREES...

SO THEY RUN FORWARD,

REDUCING THE STRAIN ON THE TOP ROLLERS.

Parker: I SPUN AROUND SO THAT MY SPROCKETS ARE IN FRONT NOW.

I'M WALKING FORWARDS INSTEAD OF BACKWARDS NOW.

THE ROLLER THAT'S UP

SHOULD TAKE ALL OF THE STRESS OFF OF IT.

STILL CAN REALLY SMELL THE GREASE LEAKING,

BUT HERE WE ARE.

RISKY MOVE OF THE DAY.

HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE EASY NOW.

Brennan: PARKER HAS MADE SOME PRETTY GOOD TIME.

THE PLANT IS JUST COMING OVER TOP OF THE HILL RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: PARKER'S GAMBLE PAYS OFF.

AFTER FOUR HOURS, SLUICIFER ARRIVES ON HIS OWN GROUND.

I'M PRETTY EXCITED. IT'S FINALLY HERE.

THAT WAS A LONG HAUL.

OH, YEAH.

LOOKS LIKE YOUR RIGHT ROLLER

HAS COOLED DOWN A LITTLE BIT THERE.

-IT WENT FINE. -YEP.

Narrator: BY TURNING HIS SPROCKETS AROUND,

PARKER REDUCED THE PRESSURE ON THE TOP ROLLER

AND ALLOWED IT TO COOL DOWN.

I'M HAPPY IT'S DOWN HERE.

I'LL BE EVEN HAPPIER WHEN IT'S PUT BACK TOGETHER

AND ON A PAD, SLUICING DIRT.

Narrator: TONY BEETS' SEASON HAS GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE.

TWO WEEKS AGO, MONICA SHUT DOWN WHEN SHE HIT FROZEN PAY.

YEP.

Narrator: AND JUST LAST WEEK,

KEVIN WAS FORCED TO STOP WHEN HIS SHAKER DECK

COULDN'T HANDLE THE CLAY-RICH PAY DIRT.

SO NOW IT'S ON YOUNGEST SON, MIKE,

TO KEEP THE FAMILY EMPIRE AFLOAT

WITH HIS OPERATION AT THE GOLD-RICH MEGACUT.

Mike: PLANT IS RUNNING PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW.

GOT MOST OF THE LITTLE ISSUES WE HAD WITH IT

FIXED UP.

GOT THE CREW TRAINED ON IT,

SO IT'S NOT SO MANY ISSUES WITH THAT NO MORE.

Narrator: FROGGY LOADS THE PLANT...

THE ASPIRATION FOR THIS SEASON IS REALLY,

WE ALL GO HOME WITH SOME GOLD IN OUR POCKET.

Narrator: ...WHILE RUBY CLEARS THE TAILINGS.

I REALLY LIKE THIS PLANT.

I LIKE HOW THIS SYSTEM IS GOING SO FAR.

I HOPE THAT WE CAN JUST KEEP TRUCKING, AND WE GET SOME GOLD.

OH

Narrator: EVERY MINUTE MIKE FAILS TO RUN PAY

PUTS THE BEETS' OPERATION CLOSER TO RUIN.

HOLY

WOO-HOO.

OUR HULL OPERATOR, IT WASN'T CHECKING CAREFULLY,

AND HE LET A BIG ROCK THROUGH.

LUCKILY, I GOT MY LOVELY LITTLE BIG BROTHER

OVER HERE TO GIVE ME A HAND.

SOMEONE NEEDS TO BABYSIT. COME ON, NOW.

MY IDEA IS WE BOTH PUSH IT THIS WAY,

AND THEN IT SHOULD NICELY ROLL OFF.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS A ROCK.

THIS IS A CHUNK OF CLAY.

YEP, OH.

I GOT SOMETHING TO PUSH AGAINST.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

THAT HEAVY.

YEAH. THAT WAS FUN.

LET'S NOT DO THAT AGAIN.

PARDON ME.

IT'S TIME TO FIRE HER BACK UP.

KEVIN, DO YOU COPY? KEVIN, DO YOU COPY?

MY GENERATOR IS

Kevin: What's up with the generator?

I'M HITTING THE BREAKER AND GETTING NO POWER.

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS.

ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER.

Carl: THEY JUST MANGLED.

Narrator: AT DUNCAN CREEK, RICK NESS IS SHUT DOWN.

Rick: GROUND IS NO JOKE.

LARGE ROCKS HAVE DESTROYED THE SCREEN ON HIS WASH PLANT.

Rick: WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO A QUICK FIX.

Gene: I DON'T KNOW.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT AND FIGURE IT OUT.

WITHOUT A PERMANENT SOLUTION, THERE'S NO CHANCE OF RICK

MAKING ENOUGH GOLD TO TURN HIS SEASON AROUND.

Gene: YOU'VE GOT THAT 1/2-INCH PLATE DOWN THERE.

IT MIGHT BE BETTER JUST TO THROW A PIECE

OF 1/2-INCH PLATE HERE.

THAT WILL SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW, WITH THE TYPE OF MATERIAL WE'RE RUNNING,

WE'RE NOT LOSING ANY CAPACITY, I DON'T THINK,

BY BLOCKING IT OFF TO HERE.NO NO.

IT'D PROBABLY BE THE BEST PERMANENT FIX.

YEAH, I AGREE.

PIECE OF STEEL IT IS.

Narrator: GENE'S PLAN -- ATTACH A 1/2-INCH STEEL PLATE

TO THE DECK TO ABSORB THE IMPACT OF THE BIG ROCKS.

IF IT WORKS, IT'LL SAVE THE SCREEN DECK

AND KEEP THEM RUNNING.

GENE MOVES AT A PACE

THAT I DON'T THINK ANYONE HERE IS USED TO.

KIND OF NICE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

I'M GONNA MAKE AN IMPACT BED HERE

SO THE STUFF HAS GOT SOMETHING TO LAND ON.

Carl: OH, HE'S ALREADY ON IT. GOOD MAN.

Rick: HOW DO YOU WANT TO FASTEN THIS?

-SOME J-BOLTS. -DON'T GOT NO J-BOLTS.

GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SOMETHING.

YEAH. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE,

SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE OF THEM?

Narrator: RICK NEEDS NINE J-BOLTS

TO HOLD GENE'S IMPACT PLATE IN PLACE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE SOME J-BOLTS OR SOMETHING,

SO WE JUST HAVE TO HEAT THIS UP AND BEND THEM.

-MM-HMM. -THAT'S ALL WE GOT.

Rick: A J-BOLT IS JUST... IT'S GOT A HOOK.

IT'S GOT A "J" IN IT, AND IT'S JUST A LITTLE HOOK

UNDER THE STEEL BEAM,

AND THEN YOU JUST RUN A NUT ON IT AND TIGHTEN IT DOWN.

YOU CAN BUY J-BOLTS.

OF COURSE, I DON'T HAVE ANY ON SITE, SO WE'RE JUST MAKING SOME.

Carl: GET A GOOD HUFF OF THAT.

IS THERE A BOLT RIGHT THERE? CAN YOU PASS ME THAT?

Rick: DO WE HAVE ALL OF THE BOLTS MADE?

-I THINK THEY'RE GOOD. -YOU'RE SURE?

YEAH, THERE SHOULD BE NINE OF THEM.

LET'S GO, UP, UP, UP, UP.

Rick: NOW WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE.

PADDLE.

HOLD IT.

DOWN!

Man: WHOA, HOLD IT.

WHAT DO YOU FIGURE, PAL?

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO UNDERNEATH.

WELL, IF YOU'VE GOT ALL THE BOLTS MADE.

Ryan: I THINK THEY'RE GOOD.

Narrator: RICK PUSHES THE J-BOLTS THROUGH FROM BENEATH...

OH, YEAH.IS IT IN THE WAY?

THE SCREEN IS, BUT I CAN GET AROUND IT.

THERE WE GO, THERE.

...WHILE CARL AND GENE TIGHTEN THE NUTS.

YOU WANT TO GET THAT ONE IN?YEAH, I'M TRYING TO.

TOSS THE OTHER NUTS.I'LL DO THE ONE BELOW IT NEXT.

OKAY.

I THINK WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.

RIGHT WE ARE.

Carl: I GOT TO COME UP ANOTHER INCH,

AND THEN IT'LL JUMP OVER.

IS IT STILL WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE, RICK?

Rick: YEAH.

Gene: AND THE NEXT ONE.

OKAY. -RIGHT ON.

Rick: ALRIGHT. WELL, IMPACT PLATE IS IN PLACE.

START IT UP.

Gene: SO FAR, EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.

JUST KEEP AN EYE ON EVERYTHING REAL CLOSE

AND HOPEFULLY KEEP IT RUNNING.

Rick: WELL, WE DODGED A BULLET ON THIS ONE.

WE LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY.

Shane: YOU'VE GOT TO GET OVER THAT TUBE, ALEC.

GO UP A LITTLE BIT.

GO TOWARDS YOU.

COME DOWN A BIT.

HEY, HOW'S THAT FOR THREADING THE NEEDLE?

Narrator: PARKER SPENT THREE-QUARTERS OF $1 MILLION

OPENING THE CRATER CUT, AND HE NEEDS IT TO PAY OUT.

TO MINE THE GROUND OUT BEFORE WINTER HITS,

HE'S MOVING THE MASSIVE 300-YARD-AN-HOUR WASH PLANT

SLUICIFER ALONGSIDE BIG RED,

BUT GETTING HIS TWO GIANT PLANTS

ONTO THE SAME PAD IS PROVING DIFFICULT.

IT'S GONNA BE TRICKY, GETTING IT TURNED

AND NOT SMOKING THE CONVEYOR INTO BIG RED THERE.

Parker: I'LL DO IT. IT.

-ATTABOY. -WILL YOU JUST SHOW ME MY ROUTE?

SO THE TRICKY PART IS, OBVIOUSLY,

WE DON'T WANT TO GET HER TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE,

BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS HERE.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO KIND OF ALMOST IN A WHOLE CIRCLE.

LITTLE BIT OF ROOM, NOT MUCH.

Parker: THIS IS GONNA GET INTERESTING.

Narrator: PARKER MUST MANEUVER SLUICIFER PAST BIG RED

ALONG THE NARROW, 30-FOOT-HIGH PAD

TO ITS POSITION AT THE FAR END...

...THEN DO A 110-DEGREE TURN

SO THE TAILINGS CONVEYOR IS FACING AWAY FROM BIG RED

INTO THE TAILINGS POND.

IS EVERYBODY BEHIND YOU OUT?

Mitch: HERE WE GO.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS UP HERE.

Brennan: OH, COME ON, GIVE HER A GOOD OLD YANK.

LOOKING GOOD.

COME ON, BABY.

I'D GO STRAIGHT BACK FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

EASY, EASY, YOU'VE GOT ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF.

OH, I HOPE THIS GOES IN HERE NICE.

IT'S GONNA BE REAL TIGHT.

YOU GOT IT PAST BIG RED.

WATCH BEHIND YOU THERE.

YOU'RE GETTING CLOSE.

I'D JUST BE CAREFUL ON THAT SIDE, BUDDY.

IT SEEMS A LITTLE SOFT OVER HERE.

SHE'S SINKING IN A WAYS.

THAT EDGE IS SOFT. YOU'LL JUST KEEP GOING DOWN.

THE ISSUE IS, YOU CAN SEE JUST HOW MUCH

THE 750 IS SINKING IN,

AND THE 750 WEIGHS MORE THAN SLUICIFER,

SO IF THE 750 GOES OVER THE EDGE,

IT'S GONNA BE NOTHING TO TAKE SLUICIFER DOWN WITH IT.

DAMN IT.

WHOA, HOLD UP.

WHOA, HOLD IT. HOLD IT. HOLD IT.

STOP RIGHT THERE.

Mitch: WHOA, HOLD IT.

Shane: HOLD IT. HOLD IT. STOP RIGHT THERE.

Narrator: PARKER SCHNABEL IS ATTEMPTING

TO HAUL WASH PLANT SLUICIFER ONTO A NARROW PAD,

BUT HIS 75-TON EXCAVATOR IS HANGING

PRECARIOUSLY OVER THE 30-FOOT DROP TO THE TAILINGS POND.

FOR SAKE.

THE SIDE OF THE BANK IS JUST TAKING OFF ON US.

I'D LIKE TO DRAG IT FURTHER THIS WAY, BUT...

Mitch: I THINK YOU NEED TO,

BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO GET UP HERE FIRST.

I MIGHT HAVE TO UNHOOK.

LET'S JUST UNHOOK YOU, MAN.

Mitch: SO WE'RE GONNA GET HIM UNRIGGED.

WATCH YOUR TOES.

SLIDE THE 750 BACK UP HERE ON THE PAD WHERE IT'S SOLID.

Narrator: MITCH UNHITCHES THE WASH PLANT TO ALLOW PARKER

TO MANEUVER THE 750 TO SAFETY.

NEED TO GET BACK UP ON THE SHREDDER

WHERE SOMETHING IS SOLID.

CRANK IT UP.

Brennan: YOU GOT IT. NAILED IT.

SWING HIM OVER JUST A BIT.

DUDES, CAN WE GET IN THERE?

PARKER HAS GOT HIMSELF IN A BETTER POSITION,

BUT TRYING TO GET THOSE TURNS IS GONNA BE THE TRICKY PART.

Parker: WHERE IS IT GONNA PIVOT AT, THE ASS END?

-HE'S GOT TO GO THAT WAY. -THAT WAY, MORE, YEAH.

Narrator: PARKER MUST NOW TURN SLUICIFER

110 DEGREES INTO POSITION.

-COME ON, BABY. -NICE.

Mitch: COME ON, NICE AND EASY.

COME ON. KEEP HER GOING.

KEEP HER GOING. HE LOOKS GOOD.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PIVOT SLUICIFER INTO PLACE.

IT'S TURNING PRETTY NICE.

Alec: Little more, little more.

CALL IT, ALEC, WHEN YOU LIKE IT.

Little more. Right there.

IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

THERE IT IS.

Narrator: SLUICIFER IN POSITION,

THEY NOW JUST NEED TO CONNECT IT UP.

Man #2: YEAH, IT REALLY IS A RACE AGAINST TIME.

ALRIGHT.

Parker: SO WE'VE GOT THE FEEDER, WATER LINE.

YOU GUYS HAVE THE PUMP IN, SLUICE RUNS AND POWER, HUH?

YEAH, LET'S GET THIS RUNNING.

HERE WE GO.

THERE IT IS.

TYSON, GO AHEAD AND SEND IT.

LET'S GO.

HERE GOES THE FIRST SCOOP INTO SLUICIFER.

FINALLY HAPPENING. NICE JOB, BUDDY.

SAME TO YOU. AWESOME.

THIS IS KILLER.

WE FINALLY HAVE BOTH BIG RED AND SLUICIFER.

NOW WE'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO DO 500 YARDS AN HOUR.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA GET IT.

Narrator: PARKER HAS INVESTED MILLIONS,

BUT HE STILL HAS 40% OF HIS GROUND TO MINE

IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS OF THE SEASON.

BY RUNNING TWO PLANTS IN THE CRATER CUT,

HE'S JUST DOUBLED HIS CHANCES OF SUCCESS.

Parker: THIS IS DEFINITELY A PRETTY BIG STEP FOR US.

YOU KNOW, IT'S...

WHEN I FIRST STARTED UP HERE WITH, WHAT,

LITTLE BLUE FROM OLD TODD HOFFMAN

AND WHATEVER ELSE JUNKY EQUIPMENT

WE COULD SCROUNGE TOGETHER AND STARTED MINING,

I DEFINITELY NEVER THOUGHT WE'D BE HERE.

PRETTY COOL, MINING OUR OWN GROUND, TWO WASH PLANTS.

IT'S A COOL SETUP.

NOT GIVING POWER?

NO, I HAD POWER FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT ALL CUT OFF.

Narrator: AT PARADISE HILL, MIKE BEETS SHOULD BE SLUICING

300 YARDS AN HOUR, BUT INSTEAD,

THE BEETS' ONLY FUNCTIONING WASH PLANT IS AT A STANDSTILL.

OH HIT THE BREAKER ON MY GENERATOR,

AND I HAVE POWER FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS, AND THEN EVERYTHING

DIES, AND NOW I CAN'T GET NO POWER NOWHERE,

WHICH MEANS SOMETHING BUSTED SOMEWHERE,

AND I'M NOT AN ELECTRICIAN,

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THAT

Narrator: WITH HIS OWN PLANT SHUT DOWN,

MECHANIC KEVIN IS ON HAND TO HELP.

THIS SHOULD BE ABOUT 480, HEY?

Kevin: WELL, NO, ONCE YOU PUT A DRAW ON IT,

SHE DROPS A COUPLE OF VOLTS,

SO IT'S GOT TO BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN 480,

SO IT'S ACTUALLY AT 480 WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING

RIGHT NOW, SHE'S RUNNING ABOUT 470.

Narrator: THE OUTPUT FROM THE GENERATOR

ISN'T ENOUGH TO POWER MIKE'S PLANT.

I DON'T LIKE THIS GEN SET, SO WHILE I WITH IT,

YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET THE SPARE WIRE IN,

AND THEN AT LEAST WE'LL STILL PRODUCE.

WITH MY GENERATOR BEING DOWN, THERE'S NO POINT

STANDING AROUND TRYING TO FIX THAT ONE

WHEN WE'VE GOT SPARE GENERATORS SITTING AROUND.

HOOK UP THE SPARE GENERATOR,

I CAN GET SLUICING WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS.

I'M TIRED.

I AM ACTUALLY EXCESSIVELY TIRED RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: SISTER MONICA BRINGS IN THE SPARE.

WE'RE PICKING UP THE GENERATOR TO PULL IT BACK

SO THAT THE CRANE CAN LIFT IT UP.

WHERE IT'S SITTING RIGHT NOW,

WE HAVE OUR ELECTRICAL CABLES IN THE WAY.

Mike: AH, CRAP, HERE COMES TONY.

NOT HAVING A GOOD TIME RIGHT NOW.

THE GEN SET THE BED,

SO WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN THE SPARE.

MIKE'S ABOUT TO CRANE IT IN.

I'VE ALREADY LIFTED THIS THING

TWICE ALREADY AROUND THE FRONT THERE.

ALRIGHT.

Mike: HE DOESN'T WANT TO LIFT IT BECAUSE THE WAY

THAT THING'S HAVE BEEN GOING, WITH OUR LUCK,

THE THING WILL FLIP OVER, AND NOW YOU GOT NO GENERATORS.

Narrator: MIKE WILL NOW DRAG THE GENERATOR INTO POSITION

UNDER TONY'S SUPERVISION.

Mike: HE SHOWED UP.

HE WANTS TO GET DONE HIS WAY.

-YEAH. -I MIGHT NOT SHOW IT,

BUT I'M ACTUALLY VERY FRUSTRATED.

IN FACT, I'M ACTUALLY QUITE FURIOUS

RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THIS BULL

I WAS HOPING FOR A NICE, EASY, RELAXING DAY.

MY DAD SHOW UP, SAY, "OH, HEY, LOOK AT THAT.

EVERYTHING'S NICE AND GOING."

EXCEPT BREAKS DOWN ALMOST TO A COMICAL LEVEL.

IT'S ALMOST FUNNY IF IT WEREN'T SO SAD.

ALRIGHT. THAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.

THIS IS GOOD.

IT'S BEEN A BIT OF A AROUND,

BUT AT LEAST WE CAN GET BACK TO SLUICING NOW.

GONNA GO FIRE HER BACK UP.

Narrator: AFTER A WHOLE DAY DOWN,

MIKE'S TROMMEL IS FINALLY BACK UP AND RUNNING,

AND THE BEETS FAMILY IS ONCE AGAIN

PRODUCING GOLD TO KEEP THEIR SEASON ALIVE.

LOOKING GOOD SO FAR. EVERYTHING IS RUNNING NICE.

LET'S HOPE IT KEEPS RUNNING THAT WAY.

Narrator: AT DUNCAN CREEK, AFTER ANOTHER BREAKDOWN,

THE NESS CREW IS BACK ON TRACK.

ROCK TRUCK DRIVER CRUISEY IS HARD AT WORK.

Rick: CRUISEY, YOU HAVING A SEIZURE IN THERE?

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

A SEIZURE? NO, WHY?

ALL I CAN SEE IS YOU BOUNCING AROUND

LIKE YOU'RE HAVING A SEIZURE.

I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE OKAY.

YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT

I'M A SELF-PROCLAIMED AIR-GUITAR VIRTUOSO.

DRIVING ROCK TRUCKS IS REALLY A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY

TO HONE MY SKILLS.

IT'S VERY TRUE.

I'M NOT ACTUALLY SURPRISED.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO BE A

OH, ARE WE DONE HERE?

THE REST OF MY BAND IS WAITING ON ME.

-OH, HEY, GUY. -OH, HEY, GUYS.

Ryan: THERE'S RICK.

Narrator: AFTER SHUTTING DOWN TO FIX THE SCREEN DECK...

Rick: OH, HEY, GUYS.

...IT'S TIME FOR RICK NESS TO WEIGH SOME GOLD.

HEY, WE HAD A WEEK WITH THE WASH PLANT

BREAKING DOWN AND GENE BEING HERE NOW.

WE GOT TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS,

AND WITH THE STEEL PLATE TO TAKE ALL OF THE IMPACT...

THANKS, GENE.

-THANKS, GENE. -THANKS, GENE.

Rick: WELL, THAT BEING SAID,

WE DO HAVE SOME GOLD TO WEIGH, SO...

Narrator: TO AVOID MAKING A LOSS THIS SEASON,

RICK NEEDS 30 OUNCES A WEEK.

5, 10, 25...

A LITTLE OVER 30,

31.71.

Narrator: WORTH OVER $44,000.

WE GOT TO LOOK AT THE POSITIVES.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF TIME LEFT IN THE SEASON, YOU KNOW,

AND AS LONG AS WE KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING,

WE WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM,

AND JUST WORK SOMEHOW EVEN HARDER,

THAT'S ALL WE CAN HOPE FOR, RIGHT?

-YES, SIR. -ALRIGHT.

-HI, GUYS. -HI, MOM.

Narrator: UP ON PARADISE HILL,

THE BEETS FAMILY GATHERS TO WEIGH THE GOLD

FROM THEIR ONLY WORKING WASH PLANT.

HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

NOT SO GOOD, HAD A BOULDER GO THROUGH THE FEEDER.

I HAD TO GET KEVIN OVER THERE TO GIVE ME A HAND

TO THROW THE THING OUT BECAUSE WE...

THAT WAS FUN.

AND THEN THE GENERATOR DECIDED IT DIDN'T WANT TO WORK,

AND I'VE WITH THAT SINCE.

ALRIGHT. LET'S WEIGH THIS STUFF.

Narrator: THE BEETS ARE $1 MILLION BEHIND

WHERE THEY WERE LAST SEASON,

AND THE MEGACUT PAY HAS BEEN PATCHY.

Mike: 10, 20...

30.48.

WORTH $42,000.

IF THIS KEEPS UP, WE MIGHT AS WELL GO TO MEXICO.

SERIOUSLY.

ANYWAYS, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

WILL DO. SOMEONE AROUND HERE HAS TO.

I'LL SEE YOU GUYS LATER.

-SAYONARA. -BYE.

Parker: ALRIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU, GUYS.

THANKS FOR COMING.

Narrator: AFTER A TOUGH WEEK,

PARKER CALLS HIS CREW TO THE GOLD ROOM.

AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR GETTING THAT ALL MOVED

AND TEARING THOSE APART AND PUTTING THEM TOGETHER

AND... I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF WORK.

SHOULD WE SEE HOW WE DID?

-SURE. -THIS IS BIG RED, HERE.

Narrator: TO KICK OFF,

THE FIRST OF THE GOLD FROM THE CRATER CUT,

WHICH COST $750,000 TO OPEN.

Man #3: 60, 70,

100, 130, 140...

142.5.

WORTH ALMOST $200,000.

-HMM. -HUH.

WELL, THERE DEFINITELY ISN'T THAT MUCH GOLD IN IT.

-NO. -IS THAT PAYING THE BILLS?

NO, NOT QUITE.

MAYBE IT'LL PICK UP.YEAH.

Brennan: WELL, LET'S HOPE NEXT WEEK

IS BETTER THAN THAT, BUT...

YEAH, WE'LL SEE.

ANYWAYS, WE'LL BE POUNDING THROUGH IT

WITH THE TWO PLANTS UP THERE.

-YEAH. -HUH.

HOW'D THE LAST CUT FINISH OUT?

Narrator: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON...

Chris D.: THERE'S SLUICIFER.

Narrator: ...PARKER SET UP SLUICIFER

TO GET THE EASY GOLD OUT OF THE LAST CUT.

Man #4: DO IT, DOUMITT.

30, 40, 60, 80, 90, 120,

140, 150, 160,

170, 180, 200...

203.65.

Narrator: WORTH OVER $285,000.

NOT A BAD WEEK.

-NO. -IT'S NOT HORRIBLE, RIGHT?

NO, NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

Chris D.: YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A HECK OF A RUN OVER THERE.

WE'VE PULLED OUT OVER 1,400 OUNCES

OUT OF THAT CUT THIS YEAR,

SO IT WAS DEFINITELY WORTH GOING BACK FOR.

THANKS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.

-ALRIGHT. -ALRIGHTY.

-ALRIGHT. THANKS, GUYS. -LATER.

Narrator: THIS SEASON, PARKER HAS HAULED IN NEARLY $2 MILLION

FROM THE LAST CUT,

BUT HE OWES 15% OF IT TO TONY BEETS.

WE BROUGHT HIM 100 OUNCES WHEN WE STARTED,

BUT I OWE HIM ANOTHER... I THINK I'VE GOT 113,

SO I'M JUST BRINGING THAT UP TO HIM.

ALRIGHT.

THERE YOU GO.

WE PAID YOU 100 OUNCES UP-FRONT.

AND WE DID 1,423,

WHICH WORKS OUT TO 213,

SO I HAVE 113 PLUS THAT 100.

Narrator: IN TOTAL, PARKER HAS PAID TONY

NEARLY $300,000 IN ROYALTIES THIS SEASON,

A MUCH-NEEDED BOOST FOR THE KING OF THE KLONDIKE.

ALRIGHTY. DON'T SPEND IT ALL AT ONCE.

NOPE.

OH.

LAST YEAR, WHEN I DELIVERED TONY HIS FINAL ROYALTIES,

I SAID IT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME.

AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN, SO I'M NOT GONNA SAY

THAT THIS IS THE LAST TIME NOW BECAUSE WHO KNOWS.

Narrator: ON THE NEXT "GOLD RUSH"...

DEAL WITH IT NEXT YEAR.

...RICK NESS AND HIS CREW...

UP YOUR ASS.

...REACH BREAKING POINT.

TONY BEETS PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS...

WE SHOULD BE STANDING AROUND THAT TROMMEL DAY AND NIGHT.

Narrator: ...TO BOOST HIS GOLD TOTAL.

THROWING UP.

AND WITH TWO WASH PLANTS RUNNING...

PUT EVERY BODY IN A TRUCK AND KEEP UP.

...PARKER SCHNABEL'S CREW STARTS TO FALL APART.

Mitch: HOLY DENNIS!