♪
Narrator: ON THE FINALE OF "GOLD RUSH: WHITE WATER"...
Wes: THAT'S DEATH WAITING TO HAPPEN.
-[BLEEP] [BLEEP] -WHOA! HEY!
Narrator: ...AFTER TWO SEASONS RISKING THEIR LIVES...
...DIVING FOR GOLD IN RAGING McKINLEY CREEK...
-WATCH OUT! -BRIDGE IS GONNA GO!
GET OUT! GET OUT!
YOU THOUGHT YOUR JOB WAS HARD!
Narrator: ...THE DAKOTA BOYS
ARE NOW IN A RACE TO BEAT THE ALASKAN WINTER.
Dustin: HEY, FRED, IF YOU FALL OFF THAT, YOU'RE DONE.
Carlos: QUICK! HYPOTHERMIA IS GONNA SET IN.
[BLEEP]
Narrator: AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT
IF ALL THEIR EFFORTS WILL TURN INTO A MONSTER PAY DAY.
[BLEEP] IS JUST PILING UP, MAN.
LOOK AT THIS! I'LL BE [BLEEP]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪
-LOOK AT THAT [BLEEP] -LOOK AT THE GOLD!
Narrator: AT McKINLEY CREEK,
THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE FINALLY DREDGED THE GOLD ON BEDROCK.
-[BLEEP] -OH, MY [BLEEP]
THIS IS WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
TIME TO MAKE SOME MONEY.
-LOOK! LOOK! -HOLY [BLEEP]
-OH, MY! -HOLY [BLEEP]
Narrator: DUSTIN IS BANKING ON A PAY DAY
THAT COULD MAKE THEM ALL RICH.
I DO LOVE MY JOB, BRO. I LOVE MY JOB.
-[ LAUGHING ] -LOOK AT THAT!
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE.
Dustin: WELL, WE GOT SOME GOLD, GUYS.
Narrator: THE FINAL GOLD WEIGH FROM THE McKINLEY DIVE SITE.
Dustin: MOMENT OF TRUTH.
Narrator: DUSTIN HAS SHELLED OUT OVER $75,000
TO RUN HIS OPERATION FOR THE SEASON.
Dustin: 7, THAT'S 8.
Narrator: BEFORE ANYONE GETS PAID,
HE NEEDS 60 OUNCES.
ONLY 10.3 OUNCES, GUYS.
[BLEEP]
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S ALL THE GOLD DOWN THERE.
10.3 IS JUST [BLEEP]
THAT DON'T EVEN COVER ALL OUR BILLS, DOES IT?
Dustin: NOT EVEN CLOSE.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA WALK AWAY WITH HUNDREDS OF OUNCES,
AND WE CAME OUT WITH $13,000 WORTH OF GOLD.
REALLY NOT WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT WE PUT IN.
10.3 OUNCES FOR THE SEASON?
WE PUT IN A [BLEEP] TON OF WORK
ON THAT AREA UP THERE.
WE'RE WASTING OUR TIME.
I WAS HOPING TO HAVE A FUTURE FOR MY LITTLE GIRL,
YOU KNOW, SCHOOL, COLLEGE.
10.3 OUNCES CAN'T EVEN BUY HER SCHOOL BOOKS.
I FEEL YOUR PAIN. IT'S KILLING ME, TOO.
I GOT EVERYTHING INTO THIS.
I KNOW THERE'S GOLD IN THIS CLAY.
WE JUST HIT THE WRONG SPOT.
BUT I STILL THINK THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF GOLD
TO FIND DOWN THERE.
McKINLEY, WE WERE GETTING INTO THAT CRACK.
I THINK WE GOT ALL THE GOLD
WE'RE EVER GONNA GET FROM THERE,
AND I THINK WE FINISHED THAT HOLE.
IT'S TOO DEEP, TOO DANGEROUS.
SOMEBODY IS GONNA DIE DOWN THERE.
I'M CALLING IT,
AND IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER SEASON MINING,
WE NEED TO MOVE ON.
WE NEED TO PROVE THAT THERE'S GOLD UP THERE.
I THINK IT'S TIME TO GO TO CAHOON.
I WANT TO GO UP TO CAHOON,
AND I WANT TO TEST AND SEE IF THERE IS GOLD FARTHER UP.
I THINK THAT'S A MISTAKE.
WELL, IT'S REALLY RISKING A LOT.
WELL, WE GOT TWO OPTIONS, FRED.
WE COULD EITHER MOVE ON
AND TRY TO FIND SOME GOLD, OR WE CAN QUIT.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
Wes: I CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND ANOTHER SEASON
LIVING ON FUMES.
I DON'T KNOW IF I EVEN WANT TO COME BACK UP HERE.
IT'S...GOLD MINING IS A GAMBLE.
THERE'S NO GUARANTEES.
YOU JUST GOT TO GET OUT THERE AND TRY.
YOU GUYS, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP TO CAHOON WITH ME?
♪
HELL. ANOTHER SEASON RIGHT NOW
DOESN'T SEEM LIKE... ANYBODY IS GONNA COME BACK.
I'LL HAVE TO TRY TO EARN EVERYBODY'S TRUST AGAIN
SOMEWHERE.
I HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM, OR TRY TO CONVINCE THEM
TO COME BACK OR FOLLOW ME UP TO CAHOON
AND PROVE THAT THERE'S GOLD UP THERE.
Narrator: IN THE CHILCUAGUE MOUNTAINS,
MOST MINERS COUNT THEMSELVES LUCKY
IF THE SEASON RUNS FOR 120 DAYS.
NOW PROSPECTING THIS NEW SITE
WILL PUSH THE DAKOTA BOYS DEEP INTO OVERTIME.
LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT, GUYS.
SEE WHAT YOU'RE GETTING US INTO, RIGHT?
DUSTIN, YOU KNOW, HE'S MY SON.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND I'LL LOOK AT IT.
I'LL GIVE HIM SOME ADVICE WHETHER HE LIKES IT OR NOT.
Paul: THE DUG-OUTS ARE READY.
2-HOUR HIKE, IT'S NOT GONNA BE FUN,
AND THIS BETTER BE WORTH IT.
Narrator: DUSTIN IS HEADING TO HIS HIGHEST CLAIM
CLOSEST TO THE MOTHER LODE.
THREE WEEKS AGO, DUSTIN AND PAUL DISCOVERED
A PERFECT GOLD CATCH UP REMOTE CAHOON CREEK.
Paul: THERE'S A WATERFALL RIGHT THERE.
A WATERFALL ON TOP OF A WATERFALL.
THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
OVER THE PAST 120 YEARS, 44,000 OUNCES OF GOLD
WORTH OVER $50 MILLION HAVE BEEN MINED IN THESE MOUNTAINS.
THE MOTHER LODE HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND,
BUT THE TRAIL OF DOCUMENTED GOLD STRIKES
ALL POINT TO CAHOON CREEK AS THE SOURCE.
[BLEEP] GET DOWN THERE?
NOW HE HAS TO CONVINCE HIS EXHAUSTED CREW
IT'S WORTH THE RISK.
-WE'RE MINING DOWN THERE? -MM-HMM.
-THAT'S A HELL OF A DROP, DUDE. -UGH.
Fred: WHAT, 250 FEET? AT LEAST.
MAYBE 300. -AT LEAST.
IT'S A PRETTY STEEP WALL, PRETTY MUCH STRAIGHT DOWN,
WOULD NOT WANT TO SLIP AND FALL FROM HERE.
THAT WOULD NOT BE SURVIVABLE.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.
Dustin: GUYS, WHEN WE GET DOWN THERE,
THERE'S A LOT OF LOOSE ROCK,
AND IF YOU STEP ON ANYTHING SMOOTH, YOU'RE GONNA SLIP.
WATCH YOUR FOOTING.
TRY NOT TO KNOCK ANYTHING DOWN ON TOP OF US.
Paul: AS LONG AS YOU PICKED A SPOT THAT'S GOT GOLD IN IT
AND WE CAN GET TO IT, IT'LL BE GOOD.
I HOPE THERE'S [BLEEP] GOLD IN IT.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME GOOD FEEDBACK AND GET STARTED.
HERE WE GO.
HEY, FRED! IF YOU FALL OFF THAT, YOU'RE DONE.
ONE SLIP AND I'M 300 FEET AWAY.
SAYONARA.
JUMP ROCK!
THE COMMUTE IS SCARY, MAN.
WE HAVE TO FRICKING MOUNTAIN GOAT ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE.
I MIGHT HAVE A GOATEE, BUT I AIN'T NO GOAT.
♪
Dustin: THERE IT IS.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS, THIS IS IT RIGHT HERE.
BEDROCK ON THREE SIDES AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT CAN HOLD GOLD.
-YEAH! -WOW!
-LOOK AT THAT! -THAT'S BADASS!
Fred: HOLY COW!
THIS IS THE END OF A GLACIER.
Paul: WE'VE GOT A PLUNGE POOL HERE.
IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE IT WOULD HAVE A GOOD CATCH RIGHT THERE.
IT'S GOT A SLIDE.
WE GOT THESE BIG-ASS BOULDERS UP THERE.
THERE COULD BE SOME BIG-ASS GOLD RIGHT DOWN IN HERE.
Dustin: I HOPE SO. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
YOU GUYS DOWN TO TEST THIS HOLE UP HERE?
-YUP. -HELL YEAH.
I LIKE THAT NICE LITTLE PLUNGE POOL.
THIS COULD BE ONE HELL OF A GOLD CATCH.
I GOT TO ADMIT THAT IT DOES LOOK GOOD RIGHT HERE.
Dustin: WHAT?!
FRED HURT SAID SOMEWHERE I PICKED LOOKS GOOD.
I DIDN'T SAY IT WAS GONNA BE EASY OR ANYTHING, BUT [BLEEP]
THAT DOES LOOK INCREDIBLE HERE THOUGH.
SELDOM DO I AGREE WITH DUSTIN'S METHODS OF DOING THINGS.
HE MUST BE LEARNING SOMETHING.
SO WHAT'S THE PLAN OF ACTION?
WE'RE GONNA CLEAN THIS AREA OUT,
MOVE SOME OF THESE TREES OUT OF THE WAY
AND THEN WE'LL DO SOME TESTS.
I'VE GOT TO GET MY DREDGE.
WE'RE GONNA DIG FOR A WEEK OR TWO
AND SEE HOW MUCH GOLD WE CAN GET.
Narrator: THIS PART OF THE CREEK HAS ALL THE SIGNS
OF THE PERFECT GOLD CATCH --
A PLUNGE POOL IN THE BEDROCK, WHICH IS FULL OF HEAVY BOULDERS.
DUSTIN WILL DREDGE A TEST HOLE TO PROVE IT CONTAINS
ENOUGH GOLD TO MAKE IT WORTH MINING.
DUSTIN, I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH YOU.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD, SOLID PLAN.
FRED IS ON BOARD WITH DUSTIN'S MINE PLAN,
BUT, AT 75 YEARS OLD, MUST MAKE A TOUGH CALL.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE IT
BACK DOWN HERE AGAIN.
IT'S JUST A HARD MOUNTAIN CLIMB.
IT'S TOO PHYSICALLY DEMANDING.
Dustin: YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO JOIN US ON THIS, MAN?
-EH. -THIS IS GONNA BE EPIC.
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET BACK UP THESE WALLS, MAN.
THEY DON'T HAVE... -NOT WITH THAT ATTITUDE.
Y'ALL ARE GONNA HAVE TO GET A LITTER
AND PULL ME UP THE DAMN HILL.
SEE YOU LATER.
I GOT TO GO.
Fred: I DON'T THINK A 75-YEAR-OLD MAN
NEED TO BE RUNNING DOWN THE DAMN HILLS THAT STEEP,
BUT I SURE WISH THEM LUCK.
Dustin: ALL RIGHT, GUYS,
WE CAN'T WORK WITH THIS OVER OUR HEAD.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE LOOMING DEATH.
DRAG THEM OUT.
CUT THEM UP AND THROW THEM OVER THE EDGE.
Wes: WELL, LET'S SEE ABOUT GETTING OUR CAP STAND
TO GET IT SET UP. -ALL RIGHT.
CAP STAND AND A CHAIN SAW, LET'S GO GET IT, MAN.
YEAH.
Narrator: THE LOGS COULD WASH DOWN WITHOUT WARNING
AND CRUSH ANYONE CAUGHT IN THEIR PATH.
TO REMOVE THESE WIDOWMAKERS, THE CREW HAS JUST A CHAIN SAW
AND A SMALL PORTABLE WINCH.
THIS LITTLE WINCH JUST TO PULL THESE LOGS OUT...
IT'S CAPABLE OF PULLING, LIKE, A TON AND A HALF ALMOST,
SO IT SHOULD HAVE THE POWER TO PULL THESE OUT.
SO THIS THING IS BURIED A LITTLE BIT ON THE END.
LET'S SEE WHAT THIS LITTLE GUY HAS GOT, MAN.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
WHOO. COME ON.
YOU CAN DO IT.
GET THAT [BLEEP]
THERE IT GOES. -YEAH!
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
Dustin: WATCH YOURSELVES. SPLASH ZONE!
WE GOT THE FIRST ONE DOWN, ANOTHER HALF DOZEN TO GO.
NEXT!
HEY, HEY! GET OVER HERE.
Paul: THESE CANYON WALLS ARE SO STEEP
THAT ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.
WE'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
IT'S NOT EASY TO GET ANYBODY OUT OF THIS SPOT
TO GET THEM TO SAFETY.
THIS IS NOT A GOOD SPOT TO GET HURT AT.
ALL RIGHT. WHAT'S NEXT?
Paul: REALLY GOT THAT ONE BAD HANGER RIGHT THERE.
ONCE WE GET THAT ONE OUT OF THE WAY, I THINK WE'VE GOT IT.
ALL RIGHT. READY TO GO.
LET'S GO LOOK AT THE ROOT WAD AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
♪
STUPID, STUPID.
WOO-HOO-HOO!
I'VE ONLY GOT ONE HAND.
I AIN'T [BLEEP] LETTING GO.
COPY.
GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE.
YIPPEE!
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
COME ON!
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THERE ANYMORE.
IT'S LOCKED IN TIGHT.
WELL, IT'S ALMOST 5:00.
LET'S GET THIS DONE.
Paul: THE ONLY THING WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO NOW
IS TO HANG OFF A ROPE AND CUT THAT [BLEEP] THING.
I REALLY DON'T WANT TO CUT IT.
[BLEEP] SCARES ME.
BRING ME THE CHAIN SAW.
LET'S GET [BLEEP] STUPID.
♪
IT'S A LITTLE BIT SKETCHY FOR ME RIGHT HERE.
YOU WANT THE BRAKE ON?
♪
Wes: [BLEEP]
THAT'S DEATH WAITING TO HAPPEN.
OH [BLEEP] WHOA! -HEY!
THAT'S A SLIPPERY [BLEEP] BOY.
WHEW.
♪
OKAY. TRY THAT.
SEE IF YOU BREAK IT.
♪
IT'S GOING!
-YEAH! -WOO-HOO!
Paul: THE THINGS WE DO FOR GOLD.
WHEW. YOU EVER SIT AROUND AND ASK
WHY YOU DO THE [BLEEP] YOU DO?
ALL THE TIME.
I DO.
LET'S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE.
THIS HOLE IS READY TO GO.
YEAH.
♪
Dustin: AIN'T MUCH TIME, MAN.
Narrator: HIGH IN THE CHILCUAGUE MOUNTAINS AT CAHOON CREEK,
DUSTIN IS ATTEMPTING TO DREDGE A TEST HOLE
AND PROVE THERE'S ENOUGH GOLD TO MAKE IT WORTH MINING
BEFORE THE ALASKAN WINTER SHUTS THEM DOWN.
I'M EXCITED TO GET DOWN THERE, MAN.
THERE COULD BE A LOT OF GOLD.
Narrator: TO SET UP HIS NEW SITE,
DUSTIN HAS TO REINVEST 2 OUNCES OF HIS MEAGER McKINLEY GOLD
TO COVER A $2,500 HELI LIFT.
TODAY IS KIND OF A PIVOTAL POINT TO SEE IF WE'RE GONNA BE
ABLE TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SITE OR NOT.
ONE OF MY BIG WORRIES, CAHOON IS A LITTLE TIGHT.
THE DREDGE WON'T FIT, OR WE SMASH IT UP.
IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN THERE'S REALLY NOTHING I CAN DO.
Narrator: FROM THEIR OLD DIVE SITE AT McKINLEY CREEK,
IT'S A 3/4-MILE FLIGHT UPSTREAM TO WHERE IT MEETS CAHOON
AND THEN ANOTHER QUARTER MILE INTO A CANYON SO NARROW
THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE DREDGE IN IS USING A LONGLINE.
IT'S A VERY, VERY TIGHT CANYON
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THIS DREDGE INTO.
YOU KNOW, IF WE USE LITTLE EAGLE NELL,
WE'RE NOT GONNA GET TO GET ANYTHING ELSE
DONE THIS YEAR AT ALL.
Carlos: YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.
THERE SHE IS.
Wes: I HEAR HER COMING. ALL RIGHT. GET READY.
I'M READY.
Narrator: BUSH PILOT MARY WILCOCK
IS A LONGLINE SPECIALIST.
-THERE YOU GO. -THERE WE GO.
-IT'S GONNA BE RIGHT TO YOU. -YUP. I GOT IT, GOT IT.
Carlos: OKAY. UP, UP, UP!
THAT'S ALL MARY. COME ON, MARY!
WOO-HOO!
Dustin: THERE GOES OUR FUTURE RIGHT THERE.
BE SAFE WITH IT!
♪
GO!
HELLO, MARY.
IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE TIGHT, SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IS WE'RE GONNA SET IT RIGHT NEXT
TO THE BARREL ON THE WATER SIDE AND SLIDE IT IN.
♪
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
♪
HEY, MAN. SHE'S GETTING CLOSE TO THAT TREE.
HEY, LOOK OUT FOR THAT TREE.
♪
IS SHE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT?
I DIDN'T HEAR HER RESPONSE.
WHERE'S SHE GOING, MAN?
I THINK SHE'S TAKING IT BACK.
THAT'S [BLEEP] UP, MAN.
♪
WELL, IF SHE CAN'T DROP THE THING IN HERE,
MY SEASON IS DONE.
YEAH!
Narrator: MARY RETURNS WITH THE LONGLINE EXTENDED TO 200 FEET.
IT SHOULD KEEP HER FROM CRASHING INTO THE TIGHT CANYON WALLS.
♪
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL.
♪
PERFECT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
OH, MAN. IT FIT LIKE A DAMN GLOVE.
EVERYTHING IS SET UP PERFECTLY DOWN HERE.
WHOO! DAMN.
IT'S IN.
YOO-HOO-YOO!
♪
DUSTIN HAS MADE THE DECISION TO GO UP TO CAHOON.
HE DIDN'T QUIT McKINLEY.
McKINLEY, TO ME, STILL HAS A GREAT AMOUNT OF GOLD IN IT.
Narrator: TWO DAYS AGO,
DUSTIN SHUT DOWN THEIR OLD DIVE SITE
ON McKINLEY CREEK, BUT FRED IS BACK,
AND HE'S ROPED IN RICH FOR ONE LAST SHOT
AT HITTING SOME BIG NUGGETS.
Fred: HEY, WE HAD 10 OUNCES COME OUT OF THAT CRACK,
THE MOST WE'VE GOT OUT OF TWO SEASONS.
I PERSONALLY THINK WE LEFT A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.
Narrator: TO ACCESS ANY REMAINING GOLD
LEFT IN THE NARROW NUGGET TRAP,
FRED HAS MacGYVERED HIS OWN TOOL.
SO WHAT I DID, I JUST...
I RAN OVER IT WITH THE LOADER DOWN AT PORCUPINE
AND SMASHED IT DOWN, AND IT STAYED.
WE'RE GONNA CALL THAT OUR CREVICE CLEANER.
Narrator: THE 6-INCH NOZZLE WAS TOO WIDE
TO GET INTO THE CRACK.
FRED'S 3-INCH CREVICE CLEANER
SHOULD SUCK UP ANY REMAINING GOLD.
Fred: SO WE GOT OUR VACUUM-CLEANER ATTACHMENT
ALL FIXED UP.
WHATEVER IS LEFT, I'M GONNA GO GET IT.
[ ENGINE STARTS ]
Rich: ALL RIGHT, FRED, WELL, YOU HAVE A SAFE DIVE.
BE CAREFUL. -ALL RIGHT.
IT'S A LONG WAY DOWN.
Narrator: THE NUGGET TRAP IS RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE DREDGED-OUT HOLE BENEATH AN UNSTABLE 18-FOOT WALL.
FRED!
FRED, YOU COPY?
FRED!
COPY.
MAYBE THERE'S SOME BIG GOLD IN THERE, FRED.
Fred: I'M LOOKING FOR BIG [BLEEP]
IF IT'S GOT GOLD IN THERE,
IT'S GONNA BE ON THE TOP OF THAT STUFF.
I JUST DON'T SEE REAL BIG, GIANT NUGGETS
HANGING AROUND IN THERE.
YOU'RE NOT SEEING ANY STUFF IN THERE LIKE THAT.
I DIDN'T SEE ANY [BLEEP]
ALL RIGHT.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S BEEN DREDGED OUT
AND DREDGED OUT REALLY CLEAN.
JUST CAME DOWN TO NOTHING.
THEY GOT EVERYTHING CLEANED OUT IN THAT CREVICE.
DUSTIN WAS RIGHT.
Narrator: UP AHEAD...
Fred: THAT MEANS WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE CLOSER
TO THE SOURCE.
THIS COULD DEFINITELY BE THE DIG THAT CHANGES OUR WORLD.
Man: THAT IS SOME CHUNKY GOLD.
Carlos: [BLEEP] QUICK! HYPOTHERMIA IS GONNA SET IN.
Woman on radio: BRINGING YOU THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR HAINES.
UP NEAR THE BORDER, THE MOUNTAINTOPS
GOT THEIR FIRST DUSTING OF THE WHITE STUFF,
AND WITH THE COLD FRONT SET TO MOVE IN
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR SNOW IN TOWN.
Dustin: GETTING LATE [BLEEP]
Narrator: UP REMOTE CAHOON CREEK WITH TEMPERATURES
PLUNGING TOWARDS THE FREEZING POINT,
DUSTIN IS ATTEMPTING TO DREDGE A TEST HOLE
AND PROVE TO HIS CREW
THERE'S ENOUGH GOLD TO MAKE A PROFIT MINING IT.
-PAUL! -YEP?
LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND, MAN.
IT'S TIME TO DIG UP CAHOON,
FIND OUT IF THERE'S ANY GOLD DOWN THERE.
FIRST ONE TO DIVE IN CAHOON!
IT'S LIKE DIVING IN A SWIMMING POOL,
OTHER THAN IT'S 34 DEGREES.
Narrator: THE WATER IN CAHOON FEEDS STRAIGHT OFF A GLACIER.
THE DIVERS' HOT-WATER SYSTEM IS ALL THAT STANDS
BETWEEN PAUL AND LETHAL HYPOTHERMIA.
THE WATER IS NOT VERY HOT, MAN.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO TAKE THIS?
SO FIRST, LET'S TRY TO GET THE LUMBER OUT.
I WOULD LOVE TO GET THIS SUCKER OUT
SO I COULD SHOOT THROUGH THERE.
SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.
HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOME GOLD THERE
SO THIS MAKES THIS ALL WORTH IT.
Rich: THIS WATER IS SO HARD TO HEAT, MAN.
-IT'S SO COLD. -IT'S SO HARD TO HEAT.
WE'RE REALLY AT THE LIMITATIONS OF OUR HEATERS.
THIS IS GONNA BE THE HARDEST PART OF OUR SEASON.
YEAH.
HERE, MAN.
WE GOT TO HOOK UP THE AIR.
ALL RIGHT. I'M READY.
ALL RIGHT.
AH!
Dustin: THERE HAS TO BE PROOF THAT THERE'S GOLD DOWN THERE.
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE'RE COMING BACK FOR A GOOD REASON.
WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A TREE WITH LIMBS,
AND IT'S MESSING UP OUR PROGRAM.
THERE COULD BE A LOT OF GOLD DOWN THERE, MAN.
SO WE GOT TO GET IT OUT OF THERE.
Wes: YEAH.
OKAY. LET'S DO THAT FIRST.
Narrator: THE TREES HAVE BEEN POUNDED INTO PLACE,
LOCKED IN WITH BOULDERS AND DIRT.
THEY'RE BLOCKING THE MINERS FROM A POCKET OF GOLD
ON THE BEDROCK THAT COULD BE WORTH MILLIONS.
WOO-HOO! IT FEELS GOOD!
WELL, I USUALLY DON'T SAY THIS, BUT, PAUL,
IT'S TIME TO TUNNEL DOWN AS FAR AS YOU CAN GO, MAN.
[ LAUGHS ]
WE'RE PLAYING A WHOLE NEW GAME, BABY,
A WHOLE NEW GAME.
ALL RIGHT. PAUL, YOU GET ENOUGH HOT WATER?
HERE WE GO.
[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. PULL ON IT!
NOPE. SHE AIN'T COMING LOOSE.
ALL RIGHT. BACK OFF ON HER.
IT AIN'T MOVING.
IT'S 4:42 OR 3 OR SO,
SO IT'S A QUARTER TO FIVE RIGHT NOW.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU STRAIGHT UP THAT
YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T STAY IN THAT LONG, MAN.
Paul: OKAY.
Narrator: TO GET OUT OF THE REMOTE CAHOON DIVE SITE
REQUIRES A 200-FOOT ASSENT.
DUSTIN HAS SET A 5:00 P.M. CUTOFF
TO AVOID THE DANGEROUS CLIMB IN DARKNESS.
Dustin: WE STILL HAVE TWO HOURS TO HIKE OUT OF HERE.
WE'RE IN THE BOTTOM OF A 200-FOOT CLIFF,
PRETTY MUCH DEATH AROUND EVERY CORNER.
GOOD JOB, BUDDY.
Carlos: GOOD DIVE, PAUL. GOOD DIVE.
GOOD JOB. YOU COLD?
LEAVE 'EM RUNNING. LET HIM WARM UP!
WHAT DO YOU THINK, MAN?
THE ONE WE'RE TRYING TO PULL,
THERE'S ANOTHER ONE RIGHT THERE.
THERE'S TWO MORE GOING STRAIGHT DOWN.
Carlos: HOLY [BLEEP] RIGHT THERE.
-WHAT'S THAT? -IT'S A [BLEEP] PIECE OF GOLD.
-OH [BLEEP] -YEAH!
-OH, YEAH, DUDE! -LOOK AT IT! THAT'S...
OOH, YEAH!
Dustin: THERE'S GOLD IN HERE, MAN.
HOLY [BLEEP]
THAT'S GOLD, MAN.
ON THE TOP, MAN [BLEEP]
-YEAH. -THAT'S CRAZY.
IF WE'RE GETTING THIS CHUNKY STUFF UP TOP,
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME NUGGETS DOWN THERE.
YEAH!
♪
TEMPERATURES TOOK A STEEP DIVE OVERNIGHT
AND ARE CONTINUING TO DROP.
AS THE SNOW LINE MOVES DOWN THE MOUNTAINS,
WE'RE GONNA SEE SNOW FALLING AT ANYTHING
ABOUT 1,000 FEET REAL SOON.
Dustin: WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO KEEP A REALLY CLOSE EYE
ON THIS WEATHER.
BECAUSE ALL IT'S GONNA TAKE IT ONE SNOWFALL,
AND WE WON'T EVEN GET OUR EQUIPMENT OUT OF THERE.
Fred: IT'S JUST GONNA HAPPEN.
WELL, I DON'T WANT IT TO.
IT'S GONNA.
I MEAN, WE BEEN PUSHING OUR LUCK.
IT SHOULD'VE ALREADY SNOWED UP HERE USUALLY,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU COULDN'T GET CAUGHT
IN A FEROCIOUS SNOWSTORM UP HERE AT ANY TIME.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
WHETHER WE GET INTO THE BOTTOM OF THIS THING
BEFORE THAT HAPPENS IS UP TO US.
I'VE DONE AMAZING THINGS IN MY LIFE
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S TOO HARD.
IT'S SCARY.
IT'S HOPELESS, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THIS MY WHOLE LIFE.
IT ONLY MOTIVATES ME TO PUSH HARDER.
I'M GONNA DIG IT OUT.
Narrator: DUSTIN NEEDS TO DREDGE A TEST HOLE
AND PROVE TO HIMSELF AND HIS CREW
THAT THERE'S ENOUGH GOLD IN CAHOON CREEK
TO MAKE IT WORTH MINING,
BUT HE'S RACING AGAINST THE ALASKAN WINTER.
IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GET SUITED UP.
I'M GONNA PUT A REALLY LONG DAY IN.
WE'RE GONNA GET RICH, GET AS MUCH HOT WATER
AS WE CAN GET TO STAY DOWN AS LONG AS WE CAN.
IT COULD BE OUR LAST CHANCE.
Rich: THE WATER UP HERE ON CAHOON,
I THINK IT'S IN THE LOW 30s AT THE WARMEST.
IF WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH HOT WATER, WE CAN'T DIVE,
SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS I'M GONNA PUT A VALVE
AND GIVE THE WATER JUST A LITTLE MORE TIME TO HEAT UP
BEFORE IT GOES UP TO OUR DIVER.
Narrator: RICH'S PLAN -- INSTALL A VALVE
TO SLOW DOWN THE FLOW OF WATER,
KEEPING IT IN THE HEATING CHAMBER LONGER,
WHICH SHOULD INCREASE THE TEMPERATURE
OF THE DIVER'S WATER SUPPLY.
Rich: THIS IS ABOUT AS MUCH AS I GOT.
Dustin: ALL RIGHT. [BLEEP] LET'S DO IT!
♪
ALL RIGHT.
Narrator: IN THE FIRST CAHOON DIVE,
PAUL DREDGED UP A GOLD FLAKE FROM NEAR THE SURFACE...
...BUT LOGS JAMMED IN THE CREEK BED
HAVE STOPPED ALL DREDGING.
I KNOW. I KNOW. I KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IN THE HELL WE'RE GONNA DO IT, MAN.
IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME BREAKING WORK, BRO.
HERE WE GO AGAIN.
♪
COME ON! DUDE!
PULL.
WOO-HOO!
[BLEEP] YEAH! THAT'S AWESOME!
WOO-HOO!
ONE THING, MAN, ALASKA HAS TAUGHT ME,
IF THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A FRICKING WAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
THERE MIGHT BE GOLD UNDER THAT TREE, MAN.
Narrator: THE LOGS CLEAR,
DUSTIN CAN DREDGE A TEST HOLE STRAIGHT DOWN,
SENDING 6 YARDS OF PAY DIRT AN HOUR ACROSS THE SLUICE.
FOR THIS PLUNGE POOL TO BE WORTH DREDGING,
THEY MUST MINE AT LEAST HALF AN OUNCE A DAY.
UGH!
[BLEEP]
HOLY.
[BLEEP]
DUSTIN, THE HOT WATER BLEW OFF.
QUICK. HYPOTHERMIA IS GONNA SET IN.
OH [BLEEP]
Narrator: AT CAHOON CREEK IN ALASKA
WEIGHING UP HIS CAREER CHOICE -- CARLOS MINOR.
GOLD, UNION JOB,
GOLD, UNION JOB.
RAT RACE FOREVER,
9 TO 5 UNTIL THE DAY YOU DIE,
ALASKA, COLD, COLD, ALASKA, ALASKA, DANGER, DANGER,
ADVENTURE, POSSIBLY MILLIONAIRE.
♪
Dustin: BOY, THAT WATER FEELS GOOD WHEN IT COMES OUT.
Narrator: DIVING IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES,
DUSTIN'S HOT-WATER LINE DETACHED FROM HIS SUIT,
REMOVING HIS ONLY DEFENSE FROM LIFE-THREATENING COLD.
Carlos: WHAT DO YOU THINK, BRO?
CALL IT, EVACUATE, MAN, BEFORE THINGS GET MORE CRAZY
AND SEE WHAT WE GOT?
Dustin: I'M JUST GETTING STARTED, MAN.
I NEED MORE DIRT THROUGH THE BOX.
ALL RIGHT. -LET'S DO IT.
Narrator: WITH THE BIG FREEZE ABOUT TO HIT,
TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR DUSTIN
TO PROVE THIS PLUNGE POOL IS RICH IN GOLD.
Dustin: OW.
DUDE, WE'RE DOWN DEEP IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE,
DOWN DEEP IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
IF HE GOES INTO HYPOTHERMIA AND HE PASSES OUT,
THERE'S NO 911 COMING RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD.
ANYTHING HAPPENS RIGHT NOW,
WE CAN'T GET HIM OUT OF HERE FAST ENOUGH, DUDE.
♪
FRICKING RAIN.
Dustin: HOLD ON.
Carlos: IF IT STARTS RAINING HARDER,
IT MAKES IT MORE DANGEROUS.
WE'RE SUCH IN A NARROW VALLEY,
IT WON'T COME UP A COUPLE OF INCHES.
IT'S GONNA COME UP A COUPLE OF FEET.
Dustin: [BLEEP]
AH.
Carlos: WHAT DO YOU DO, MAN?
WHAT DO YOU DO?
ALL RIGHT.
IT'S STARTING TO GET REALLY CRAZY.
LET'S BAIL OUT OF HERE, MAN.
PULL THE MATS, MAN.
TIME TO FIND OUT WHAT'S IN THERE.
HOPEFULLY WE FIND ENOUGH TO COME BACK NEXT SEASON.
Narrator: DUSTIN HAS CALLED TIME ON THE MINING.
BEFORE HEADING SOUTH, THE DAKOTA BOYS PACK UP CAMP
FOR WHAT COULD BE THE LAST TIME.
Paul: TRYING TO GET THINGS CLOSED UP
SO WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE IT FREEZES.
Narrator: RICH CLEANS UP THE CONCENTRATE
FROM WHAT ADDS UP TO JUST SIX HOURS DREDGING.
Rich: JUST...I'VE NEVER SEEN MATERIAL LIKE THIS,
A LOT OF GRANITE, A LOT OF BLACK SAND.
SO NOW WE JUST GOT TO PAN IT OUT AND FIND OUT WHAT WE'VE GOT.
Narrator: TO MAKE IT WORTH MINING NEXT SEASON,
THEY WOULD NEED MORE THAN HALF AN OUNCE.
Rich: OH, MY GOODNESS.
NO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BOULDERS.
DUSTIN, LOOK AT THIS, BUD.
WHEN HAVE YOU EVER BASICALLY DONE A TEST HOLE...
-YEAH. -...AND SEEN THAT KIND OF GOLD?
OH, MY [BLEEP]
Dustin: THERE'S PROBABLY AN OUNCE,
OUNCE AND A HALF OF GOLD HERE MAYBE.
SIX FRICKING HOURS OF DIVING, DUDE.
WOW.
Narrator: OVER $1,000 WORTH OF GOLD
FROM HALF A DAY'S DREDGING MAKES CAHOON CREEK
THE BEST GROUND THE DAKOTA BOYS HAVE EVER MINED.
-EASY, FRED. -DOGGONE. WOW!
HEY, MAYBE WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE SOURCE,
WHEREVER THE HELL THAT IS.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON. WE'RE BUTT-UP AGAINST IT.
I THINK WE'RE REAL CLOSE TO WHEREVER IT STARTS.
Paul: IF WE'RE GETTING THIS CHUNKY STUFF UP TOP,
WHAT HAVE WE LEFT BEHIND RIGHT NOW?
THAT'S WHAT KEEPS GOING THROUGH MY MIND.
THIS COULD BE THE SPOT THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
I KNOW I SAID THAT ABOUT McKINLEY.
I WAS WRONG ABOUT THAT, BUT NOW WE KNOW THERE'S GOLD HIGHER UP.
IT'S JUST THERE FOR US TO GO GET.
I'M GONNA WORK ALL WINTER LONG,
AND I'M GONNA MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO RUN THIS OPERATION
FOR ANOTHER SEASON, AND I REALLY HOPE...
I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WILL STICK WITH ME.
ARE YOU GUYS IN?
-AFTER SEEING THAT, YEAH. -YEAH.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER SEEN GOLD LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN HITTING IT HARD FOR THE PAST 2 SEASONS,
AND WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS GOOD EVER.
Wes: IF WE DIDN'T COME BACK AND WE PASS THIS UP,
WE'D REGRET IT THE REST OF OUR LIFE.
-YEP. -WE WOULD.
THAT'S GOOD GOLD, GOOD GOLD.
WHO'S CAHOON HUNGRY, MAN? WHO'S CAHOON HUNGRY NOW?
I'M GONNA BE BACK UP HERE NEXT YEAR.
Dustin: WE KNOW WHERE IT'S AT NOW.
THIS COULD DEFINITELY BE THE DIG THAT CHANGES OUR WORLD.
YEAH.
Narrator: THE DAKOTA BOYS GO BACK TO THEIR DAY JOBS
SO THAT IN SIX MONTHS,
THEY CAN RETURN FOR ANOTHER CHANCE AT STRIKING IT RICH.
ON THE NEXT SPECIAL EPISODE OF "GOLD RUSH: WHITE WATER"...
WHAT DO YOU GUYS WANT FROM ME?
Narrator: ...THE MINERS REVEAL ALL.
WHAT YOU DIDN'T SEE... I WENT OFF ON MY OWN EXPEDITION.
-BUDDY, WE GOT GOLD. -UH-HUH.
FRED TRIED TO RUN A MUTINY ON ME.
WHAT KIND OF [BLEEP] MEN ARE YOU?
GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!
[BLEEP]
I HAD NIGHTMARES FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.
Carlos: YOU LOST A MARINE,
YOU LOST A MAN, AND YOU PAID FOR IT.
I DON'T THINK HIS LIFE WILL EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.