OOH, THAT'S SOME DIRTY WATER TODAY,
KIND OF MILKY, GREENISH-LOOKING GLACIER SILT.
THIS IS EXTREME, TO SAY THE LEAST.
VISIBILITY'S NOTHING.
-PITCH BLACK. -CAN'T SEE HIM AT ALL.
Narrator: BENEATH THE RAGING WATERS OF CAHOON CREEK,
FRED HURT AND HIS CREW ARE BATTLING DEADLY WHITE WATER
TO DREDGE OUT AN AREA THEY THINK IS FILLED WITH GOLD.
THIS IS DANGEROUS RIGHT HERE.
Ryan: FEELS LIKE I'M STRUGGLING FOR AIR.
-WHAT WAS THAT? -I JUST...
...STRUGGLE TO CATCH MY BREATH THE WHOLE TIME.
I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
LISTEN, I'M REALLY STRUGGLING TO BREATHE.
I DON'T KNOW. IS SOMETHING WRONG?
GRAB MY UMBILICAL.
GET HIM OUT OF THERE! GET HIM OUT OF THERE!
PULL ME UP QUICK.
COME ON UP.
I'M REALLY HAVING TO GASP FOR AIR FOR SOME REASON.
HOLY .
LET ME SEE YOUR MASK HERE A MINUTE.
THE AIR PRESSURE IS NORMAL.
CLAUSTROPHOBIA OR SOMETHING.
Paul: YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON,
UNLESS HE'S JUST GETTING SICK.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S THE MASK.
I WAS BREATHING JUST FINE IN IT.
WE GOT ABOUT THREE MORE HOURS OF WORK TO DO.
THE BEST THING TO DO IS JUMP IN THERE,
TAKE OVER, AND CONTINUE.
Narrator: AFTER 6 WEEKS OF THE 20-WEEK SEASON,
FRED'S BANKED LESS THAN 1/4 OUNCE OF GOLD.
SO 3 DAYS SHORT OF HIS 76th BIRTHDAY, FRED STEPS UP.
IT'S TIME TO...
...TIME TO GET OUT.
MOST PEOPLE MY AGE ARE NOT DOING A WHOLE LOT.
YOU MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK.
I'M GONNA SHOW THESE FELLAS HOW IT'S DONE.
Kayla: OKAY, CAN YOU HEAR US?
I'M READY TO GO GET SOME GOLD!
FRED IS DEFINITELY A GO-GETTER. HE'S NOT GONNA QUIT.
THERE'S A CHANCE FOR GOLD, HE'S GONNA GET IT.
Fred: GOLD, OH, GOLD, WHERE ART THOU?
Narrator: ON THIS "GOLD RUSH: WHITE WATER"...
I GET TO GO DIVING ON MY BIRTHDAY.
READY? LET'S GO.
Dustin: HOW MANY 76-YEAR-OLDS YOU KNOW DO THIS?
WE MUST BE CRAZY.
TRYING TO KILL ME.
IT'S A CHEMICAL BURN, DUDE.
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT TO BE HERE?
MINERS NOTHING, ALASKA ONE.
COME LOOK AT THE BOX!
THOSE GUYS UP THERE HAVEN'T GOT NOTHING LIKE THIS.
HELL YEAH!
I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS LIKE THIS.
IT'S RAINING GOLD.
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Narrator: AT RAINBOW'S END,
DUSTIN HURT IS A THIRD OF THE WAY INTO THE SEASON,
DREDGING FOR GOLD UNDER A RAGING WATERFALL.
Dustin: DAMN!
WE ARE SO EFFICIENT AT OUR DIGGING RIGHT NOW.
OUR SETUP IS SO PERFECT.
JUST GOING THROUGH THE OVERBURDEN,
WE FOUND A BUNCH OF GOLD.
THE DEEPER WE'RE GOING, THE MORE IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
WE NEED TO COLLECT ALL THE GOLD FROM THE BOTTOM OF THIS THING.
THAT'S IT.
Narrator: DUSTIN'S ALREADY 12 FEET DOWN,
CHASING THE BEDROCK THAT COULD BE OVER 20 FEET DEEP.
LAST WEEK, THE CREW FOUND NEARLY AN OUNCE OF GOLD
IN THE TOP GRAVEL, EVIDENCE OF A LIFE-CHANGING PAYDAY
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PLUNGE POOL.
Carlos: WHAT DO YOU SAY THERE, JAMES?
DO YOU NEED AIR TO DIVE TODAY?
-I CAN'T BREATHE WATER, SO...
Dustin: YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS GUY?
HE COMES OUT HERE, GETS ALL HIGHFALUTIN.
NOW HE NEEDS AIR. GAH!
-YEAH! -I'LL GET SOME GILLS.
WHOO! ANOTHER DAY DIVING WITH THE BOSS, DUSTIN.
I'M EXCITED, MAN.
I CAME IN A LITTLE BIT GREEN WITH THE WHITE WATER,
AND HE'S GOT ME DIVING. HE'S GOT ME TAUGHT.
WE'RE GONNA GET THE GOLD.
TODAY I'M GONNA BE IN THIS BACK CORNER,
TRYING TO DIG DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.
THE GOLD'S ON THE BEDROCK.
WE GOT TO KEEP BOTH DREDGES RUNNING ALL DAY,
EVERY DAY WE'RE OUT HERE.
Narrator: BEFORE THE DIVE,
THE CREW CHECKS ALL THE VITAL EQUIPMENT.
THAT 'S STEAMING, BOY.
YO! HOW'S YOUR HOT WATER?
YOURS IS GOOD?
YOU GUYS HAVE A GOOD DIVE TODAY.
I'M READY. YOU READY?
LET'S GO.
Dustin: HEAVY YARDAGE TODAY, BOYS.
I WANT TO DIG THIS OUT.
I'M GONNA JUST DRILL STRAIGHT DOWN.
JAMES, I NEED YOU UP ON THE WALL.
Narrator: TO FIND THE LIMITS OF THE ANCIENT PLUNGE POOL,
JAMES IS SEARCHING FOR THE BEDROCK WALLS
USING THE SUCTION HOSE ON THE LITTLE DREDGE
TO REMOVE SIX YARDS OF GRAVEL EVERY HOUR.
DUSTIN USES THE TWICE-AS-POWERFUL BIG DREDGE
TO DIG DOWN FOR THE DEEPEST POINT IN THE PLUNGE POOL
AND A MASKED PILE OF GOLD.
TWO DREDGES, TWO DIVERS, TWICE THE...
WHOO! IT'S COLD.
James: YEAH, IT IS. IT'S COLD DOWN HERE.
OH, MAN, IT'S COLD DOWN THE BACK.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT WATER.
Man: YO, CARLOS IS GONNA PUMP HIM UP A LITTLE BIT,
GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE RPM.
HE'S DOING THAT NOW.
Narrator: THE CREW PUSHES DUSTIN'S HOT-WATER RIG
TO THE LIMIT IN THE FRIGID 33-DEGREE CREEK WATER.
I'M JUST LETTING THE HOT WATER KICK IN.
OH, OH, OH, OW!
Man: OKAY, YOU DOUBLED DOWN.
ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
-WHAT DO YOU NEED? -ALL RIGHT.
PULL ON THAT UMBILICAL. SOMEBODY BRING ME UP.
THAT GOT HOT!
MY WATER GOT SO HOT.
IT COOKED SOME OF MY SKIN, I'M SURE OF IT.
-LOOK AT THE FILTERS, MAN. -HUH?
-LOOK AT THE FILTERS. -THEY'RE BLACK.
I CAN SEE IT NOW.
Dustin: THE FILTERS CLOG UP, THERE'S LESS WATER FLOW.
GETS HOT. IT'LL BURN YOU DOWN.
Narrator: WHEN THE FILTERS GET BLOCKED UP
WITH DIRT AND GLACIAL SILT,
WATER STOPS FLOWING THROUGH THE SYSTEM,
REDUCING THE VOLUME OF WATER IN THE HEATING CHAMBER,
CAUSING IT TO BOIL,
SENDING SCALDING STEAM TO THE DIVER'S SUIT.
Carlos: IT'S ALL GOOPED UP IN THERE, MAN.
THESE FILTERS DON'T GET CHANGED,
ALL THIS UGLY GRIT GETS INTO OUR HOT WATER SYSTEM,
PLUGS IT UP, AND THEN WE'RE DONE.
Narrator: THE CREW HAS NO OPTION
BUT TO CLEAN AND RECYCLE OLD FILTERS
DESIGNED FOR JUST A SINGLE USE.
THEY'RE MADE TO BE THROWAWAYS, BUT .
THAT'S ALL WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I'M GONNA KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON IT.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING INJURED RIGHT NOW.
LAST YEAR, WE HAD SO MANY CLOSE CALLS
THAT I DON'T THINK I CAN STAND FOR THAT ANYMORE.
LET'S FIND OUT WHERE EACH OTHER'S AT
SO YOU'RE NOT DIGGING OVER THE TOP OF ME.
Man: YOU'RE ALMOST RIGHT UNDERNEATH JAMES' DREDGE HOSE.
I CAN SEE YOUR BUBBLES.
I'M DREDGING RIGHT WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE.
ALL RIGHT. I FOUND YOUR UMBILICAL.
I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT.
LET'S GET THE GOLD.
Narrator: AFTER FOUR HOURS OF NONSTOP PRODUCTION,
THE CREWS REMOVED OVER 70 YARDS OF GRAVEL AND ROCK
AND IS CLOSING IN ON THE BOTTOM.
OH, LET GO.
Carlos: WHAT'S GOING ON, MAN?
COME ON, .
IS IT BURNING?
IT'S, LIKE, MELTING MY SKIN.
James: MY BACK IS ON FIRE.
HERE. LET ME GET THIS OFF YOU.
SOMETHING'S WRONG.
DUDE! MAN!
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELLS THAT IS.
AGH!
HOLY .
I PUT SOAP DOWN MY SUIT.
YOU BURNED YOURSELF.
IT'S CHEMICAL BURN, DUDE.
DAMN! I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT.
THIS IS NOT FROM OUR HOT-WATER SYSTEM, EVERYONE.
NO.
Narrator: AT RAINBOW'S END,
NEW RECRUIT JAMES HAS SECOND-DEGREE BURNS
ALL OVER HIS LOWER BACK FROM AN UNLIKELY SOURCE.
James: OUR SUITS GET NASTY.
WE PEE IN THEM ALL DAY.
FIGURED I COULD PUT SOAP DOWN MY SUIT.
THE SOAP BURNED MY FRICKING BACK.
Narrator: EVERY DIVER HAS THEIR OWN TECHNIQUE
TO KEEP THEIR SUIT CLEAN UNDERWATER.
Carlos: BRO, I USE BABY SHAMPOO, MAN.
THERE'S NO CHEMICALS IN THAT.
Wes: THAT SOAP'S PROBABLY GOT LYE IN IT.
THINK IT'S LIKE ACID, AND IF IT GETS ON STUFF,
IT DOES BAD THINGS.
-EAT SKIN? -YEAH.
Man: WHEW.
Dustin: TRYING TO TAKE THE HEAT OFF, BRO.
-RIGHT NOW... -I MEAN, SUFFERING.
SUFFER THROUGH THE COLD FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
THAT JUST WAS STUPID, WHAT I DID.
-HE'S GONNA BE DOWN, DUDE. -HUH?
HE'S GONNA BE DOWN.
THAT'S ALL I NEEDED WAS DOWN A DIVER
'CAUSE OF STUPID LIKE THIS.
Narrator: A 1/4 MILE DOWNCREEK, AT FRED'S TWO FISH CLAIM...
Kayla: THE WATER'S A LITTLE CLEARER, BUT STILL MURKY.
YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOME GOLD
IF YOU CAN GET DOWN TO THE BEDROCK.
-YEAH. -WE COULD SURE USE IT.
THAT'S FOR SURE.
Narrator: CREW MORALE IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW.
WE'VE SPENT A MONTH DREDGING RIGHT HERE.
WE SHOULD HAVE FOUND SOMETHING GOOD BY NOW.
WE GOT ABOUT A 1/4 OUNCE OF GOLD,
BUT WE STILL HAVEN'T GOT DOWN TO WHERE I REALLY WANT TO BE.
I'D LIKE TO JUST STAY HERE,
KIND OF CLEAN IT UP A LITTLE BIT,
START FROM THE BOTTOM, WORK MY WAY UP METHODICALLY.
Narrator: FRED'S ULTIMATE SEASON GOAL
IS TO DREDGE A PLUNGE POOL UNDER A HUGE WATERFALL,
BUT UNLIKE DUSTIN, HE PLANS TO MINE EVERY GOLD CACHE
ALONG THE 150-FOOT SECTION OF THE CREEK,
STARTING AT THE BOTTOM WITH THE DOWNSTREAM GRAVEL.
SIX WEEKS INTO THE SEASON,
FRED IS STILL IN HIS FIRST DIVE SPOT
AND NOT FOUND BEDROCK.
Ryan: HEY, FRED, WE NEED TO TALK.
WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
YOU KNOW, I LOOK UPSTREAM,
AND I SEE A WHOLE BUNCH OF GOLD CACHES.
THEN I LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE DREDGING NOW,
AND THERE'S JUST NOTHING IN PARTICULAR THAT, YOU KNOW,
I THINK'S GONNA TRAP ANY GOLD.
DUSTIN'S CREW IS ON THAT WATERFALL,
AND THEY'RE GETTING SOME GOOD GOLD OUT OF THAT.
Narrator: LAST WEEK, DUSTIN'S FIRST CLEANUP OF THE SEASON
PRODUCED FOUR TIMES MORE GOLD THAN FRED'S.
THAT'S OUR FIRST CLEANUP, FRED.
WOW.
-LOOKS GOOD, MAN. -WE GOT ALMOST AN OUNCE.
-THAT'S ALL WE GOT. -OH.
-OH, YEAH. -THAT'S IT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE WATERFALL IS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL,
BUT OUR SITUATION IS A LOT DIFFERENT,
THAT WE GOT SO MANY HUGE ROCKS DOWN HERE
THAT WE MAY FIND A BIG POCKET UNDERNEATH,
SAY, THAT BIG ROCK RIGHT UP THERE.
WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE PIDDLING AROUND WITH SMALL GOLD.
WE ALL CAME FROM A LONG WAYS TO, YOU KNOW, COME OVER HERE
AND HOPEFULLY STRIKE IT RICH.
LOOK, WHY DON'T Y'ALL GIVE ME ONE MORE DAY?
NO GOLD IN THE BOX TODAY, WE'RE MOVING.
ALL RIGHT. I'M WITH YOU ON THAT ONE.
EVERYBODY'S GOT BILLS TO PAY,
AND WE CAN ONLY SIT ON NO GOLD FOR SO LONG.
SO IT'S TIME TO PAY THE PIPER.
IF I DON'T FIND GOLD TODAY, WE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
THIS AREA HAS GOT SOME GOLD UNDER IT SOMEWHERE,
BUT WE GOT SO MANY BIG ROCKS,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS WITH GOLD
GOING AROUND BIG ROCKS.
-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, FRED.
I WANT YOU TO FIND THE LOWEST PART OF THAT BEDROCK.
LET'S FIND OUT WHAT'S IN THE BOTTOM OF THAT THING.
VERY CAREFULLY MAKE YOUR WAY OUT THERE.
-GOOD LUCK THERE, RYAN. -THANK YOU.
HOW'S IT LOOK DOWN THERE, RYAN?
WHAT DO YOU RECKON ABOUT THAT BEDROCK?
Ryan: DIVING DOWN REAL DEEP.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF SPOTS FOR GOLD TO BE HIDING.
GIVE US A GOOD REASON FOR US TO STAY HERE,
KEEP ON DREDGING RIGHT HERE.
FIND ME THAT GOLD CACHE IN THAT BEDROCK.
GOT A MONSTER BOULDER DOWN HERE.
GOT TO BE SOMETHING UNDER IT.
YEAH, THAT THING IS SITTING ON BEDROCK, ISN'T IT?
YEAH, IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF MATERIAL UNDERNEATH IT SMASHED,
A BIG POCKET OF CLAY HERE.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN THERE A WHILE, HUH?
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN THERE A LONGTIME.
ALL RIGHT. IT SOUNDS LIKE A WINNER TO ME.
Narrator: THE MASSIVE ROCK COULD HIDE THE BIG GOLD CACHE
FRED IS HUNTING FOR.
HIGH IN THE CHILKAT MOUNTAINS, SOMEWHERE,
THE MOTHER LODE OF GOLD HAS BEEN ERODED OVER TIME,
CARRIED DOWNSTREAM
AND DEPOSITED IN LOW SPOTS UNDER LARGE BOULDERS.
THE CLAY LAYER THAT HAS SETTLED AROUND RYAN'S BOULDER
COULD HAVE SEALED IN A POCKET OF GOLD WORTH MILLIONS.
-GOT THERE? -THAT'S THAT CLAY LAYER.
THROW IT UP HERE IF YOU CAN.
PAUL, WHY DON'T YOU PAN THAT OUT?
LOOKS LIKE REALLY FINELY GROUND-UP GLACIAL SILT.
JUST LIKE ROCK POWDER.
I MEAN, THAT'S SOME REALLY, REALLY, REALLY FINE
BLACK SAND AT THAT, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY GOLD.
RIGHT NOW, WE DIDN'T GET ANY GOLD OUT OF IT.
I DON'T CARE.
WE'RE CONTINUING ON.
Narrator: UNDETERRED, THE CREW PREPARES TO LIFT THE BOULDER
IN THE HOPES OF STILL FINDING GOLD TRAPPED UNDERNEATH IT.
Ryan: BOY, THAT THING'S MASSIVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PULL IT.
OH, I BET WE CAN.
OKAY, LET'S GIVE IT A SHOT. HELL WITH IT.
SEND A DRILL BIT DOWN, AND I'LL PUT IT IN PLACE.
HOW YOU DOING THERE, RYAN?
I'M GOOD RIGHT NOW.
-CLEAR? -CLEAR.
Narrator: RYAN BOLTS IN THE WINCH KEY.
ALL RIGHT, FRED. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
Narrator: NOW FOR THE DIFFICULT PART.
THIS ROCK IS -- IT'S A MONSTER ROCK.
IT'S 3 TO 4 FEET ACROSS, PROBABLY 3,000 POUNDS.
FRED'S WINCH SYSTEM HAS NEVER BEEN TESTED
WITH A LOAD THIS BIG.
IT MAY NOT MOVE.
WE DON'T WANT TO BREAK ALL OUR RIGGING.
-HERE IT COMES. -IT'S COMING AROUND, BOYS.
HI-HO, SILVER, AND AWAY IT GOES!
THAT'S PERFECT.
THAT WAS A BIG DAMN ROCK.
HEY, WE RECOVERED IT.
GOT A HOLE DOWN THERE WHERE THAT THING CAME FROM?
OH, YEAH, BIG OLD HOLE.
IT'S GOT TO BE HOLDING A LITTLE BIT OF THAT SHINY STUFF.
FEELING A BIT OF PRESSURE FROM ALL THE GUYS.
IF WE DON'T FIND SOME GOLD IN HERE, WE'RE GONE.
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT A NICE THICK LAYER OF CLAY HERE.
IT'S ABOUT 4 INCHES THICK,
LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF GOLD HERE
SITTING ON THE TOP OF IT.
-ALL RIGHT! -YEAH, ALL RIGHT!
GIVE IT HELL.
GOT TO SLOW MY BREATHING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
I'M GETTING SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT I'M SEEING HERE.
LET'S SEE WHAT THE BOX SAYS.
Narrator: NOW THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
GOOD JOB. LET'S GET YOU UNHOOKED.
COME LOOK IN THE BOX! COME LOOK IN THE BOX!
Narrator: AT TWO FISH, FRED IS 6 WEEKS INTO THE SEASON
AND OUT OF TIME ON HIS DOWNSTREAM DIVE SITE.
IF THERE'S NO GOLD IN THE SLUICE,
HE'S MADE A DEAL WITH HIS CREW TO MOVE UPSTREAM.
Ryan: NOBODY EVER SAYS, "COME LOOK IN THE BOX,"
UNLESS IT'S A GOOD THING.
I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING.
THOSE GUYS UP THERE HAVEN'T GOT NOTHING LIKE THIS.
LET'S GO SEE, FRED.
LOOK AT THE LOOK ON HIS FACE, MAN.
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING IN THERE.
Fred: GOT TO BE SOMETHING GOING ON IN THERE.
Paul: OH, IT'S CLEAR AS DAY, DUDE.
THERE'S AT LEAST THREE, FOUR PIECES RIGHT THERE.
YOU GOT A COUPLE CHUNKIES IN THERE, FRED.
-GOOD JOB, MAN. -ALL RIGHT, MAN.
Fred: NICE LITTLE PIECE RIGHT THERE.
THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION.
WE AIN'T MOVING.
-LOOK AT THAT. -WE AIN'T MOVING UPSTREAM YET.
Ryan: THERE'S NO FEELING LIKE IT.
THAT'S WHY I DO IT.
YOU KNOW, THE GOLD SITTING THERE SHINING --
IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT'S SMILING AT YOU.
I'M HAPPY TO BE PROVEN WRONG.
YOU KNOW, WE SEE A LITTLE GOLD IN THE SLUICE BOX
AT THE END OF A HARD DAY, THAT MAKES A GOLD MINER HAPPY.
WE'RE GONNA STAY HERE IN THIS AREA
FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER BEFORE WE EVEN CONSIDER MOVING.
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD HAVE DONE THAT?
Narrator: AFTER SUFFERING A CHEMICAL BURN
FROM A BAR OF SOAP...
AGH!
...NEW RECRUIT JAMES HAS TO ENDURE A 45-MINUTE DRIVE
TO THE CABLE CROSSING TO GET MEDICAL TREATMENT.
Dustin: LOST ME A DIVER
BECAUSE HE PUT A BLOCK OF SOAP DOWN HIS ASS.
I CAN'T HELP BUT LAUGH BECAUSE IT'S A WEIRD, WEIRD MISTAKE,
BUT IT'S REAL SERIOUS FOR HIM RIGHT NOW.
Man: JAMES, HOW YOU FEELING, BUDDY?
HOW ABOUT YOU GET THAT CAMERA AWAY FROM ME, PLEASE?
I'M EMBARRASSED ABOUT IT.
ABOUT WHAT?
ABOUT THE SOAP BURN STUPID.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
-ALL RIGHT? -ALL RIGHT.
GO HEAL UP. YEP!
OW!
Dustin: HE'LL BE HEALED UP IN A FEW DAYS SO...
BUT HIS PUNISHMENT IS GONNA BE ENDURING
ALL THE JOKES ABOUT SOAP.
AH!
YOU CAN'T PUT SOAP DOWN YOUR ASS, BURN YOURSELF,
AND THINK THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET AWAY WITH IT.
WE'RE MISSING A CREW MEMBER TODAY.
HE'S ON SABBATICAL.
-SOAPY. -SOAP-BATICAL. YOU GET IT?
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH HE'S DOWN A MAN,
DUSTIN IS DETERMINED TO DIG DOWN TO BEDROCK GOLD.
MAN, HOW COME WE'RE NOT FINISHED THIS HOLE YET?
IT'S GONNA BE 18 FEET DEEP IN THE MIDDLE.
-AH. -IT'S HARD TO TELL, MAN.
SO, CARLOS, YOU'RE GONNA BE ON THE RIGHT BACK CORNER
WITH THE BIG DREDGE SIDE.OKAY.
AND I'M GONNA BE ON THE BACK LEFT CORNER
WITH THE LITTLE DREDGE SIDE.
OUR GOAL IS TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE,
SEE HOW FAR DOWN BEDROCK IS.
-I GOT YOU, MAN. -BOTH DREDGES JUST BLASTING.
WES IS GONNA BE ONE-MAN SHOW UP HERE.
THAT'S PUTTING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON GOD-DANG WES OUT HERE, MAN.
Wes: I'M GONNA BE ATTENDING BOTH DIVERS.
SO I'M DEFINITELY GONNA BE JUST SOLID BUSY TODAY.
WE'LL GET IT FIGURED OUT.
I CAN MULTITASK, I THINK.
Narrator: DUSTIN'S NOT PREPARED TO SHUT DOWN HALF HIS OPERATION,
SO WES WILL HAVE TO KEEP BOTH DREDGES RUNNING,
MONITOR TWO LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEMS,
AND RUN THE WINCHES.
Dustin: WE'RE DOWN A MAN TODAY.
NORMALLY I'D JUST PULL EVERYBODY OFF THE JOB.
THAT'S WHAT I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD DO.
IT'S JUST I NEED TO GET SOME GOLD.
RISKY MOVE ON MY PART.
WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!
GOOD DIVE TODAY, GUYS, GOOD DIVE.
Dustin: WHERE IS THE BOTTOM OF THIS THING?
Carlos: WE STILL GOT MANY FEET TILL WE HIT SECOND BEDROCK.
Narrator: AFTER YESTERDAY'S ABORTED DIVE,
DUSTIN'S BARELY 1/2 A FOOT CLOSER
TO ANY GOLD ON THE BEDROCK.
-IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK. -SEND THE BASKET DOWN.
Narrator: WES PREPARES THE BASKET TO LOAD OUT THE ROCKS
THAT BLOCK THE PATH TO GOLD.
THIS ENGINE JUST DIED ON THIS THING.
-WHAT? -YEAH, BOTH ENGINES DIED.
WHAT THE ?
NO, YEAH, COME BACK UP, COME UP, COME UP.
-AH! -WHAT THE ?
DIVER UP, DIVER UP.
Narrator: THE DREDGE ENGINE POWERS THE COMPRESSOR
THAT DELIVERS AIR TO THE DIVER.
I'M UP, BRO. I'M UP.
ALL RIGHT.
JUST RELAX. PULL IT OUT.
-DID IT RUN OUT OF GAS ALREADY? -YEAH, THAT'S OKAY.
-HOLY . -JUST RELAX, BRO.
HEY, YOU GOT A LOT ON YOUR SHOULDERS RIGHT NOW,
DON'T SWEAT IT.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
LET'S JUST NOT LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN.
ONE TENDER FOR TWO DIVERS -- THIS IS PRETTY TOUGH
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
I'VE GOT FOUR GAS CANS TO KEEP FULL,
PULL THE ROCKS UP, AND FORGET ONE LITTLE THING,
THE DIVER RUNS OUT OF AIR.
OKAY, GOT A BASKET COMING DOWN.
OKAY, SHOULD BE ON THE BOTTOM.
ALL RIGHT. YOU READY TO BRING THAT BASKET OUT?
-YEP. -OKAY, COPY THAT.
LET ME KNOW WHEN Y'ALL ARE BOTH CLEAR.
Dustin: I'M PRETTY SURE I'M CLEAR.
COPY THAT. COMING UP ON THE BASKET.
OH.
WAIT. I GOT SOMEBODY'S UMBILICAL.
I'M GONNA LOWER IT BACK DOWN.
WHAT?
YEAH, I PUT GASOLINE IN IT, MAN.
ARE YOU SERIOUS? THAT'S CRAZY.
I FOUND YOUR PROBLEM.
-OH, OKAY, HOLD ON. -WE GOT A KINK RIGHT HERE.
DIVER OUT, DIVER OUT.
COMING UP!
Narrator: THE HOSE HAS FOLDED OVER,
BLOCKING THE FLOW OF HOT WATER.
GOOD JOB. IT'S OUT. IT'S OUT.
Narrator: CARLOS MUST UNPLUG OR RISK BEING BURNED
BY THE SUPER-CHARGED STEAM.
Carlos: LOOK AT THAT STEAM COMING OUT!
WOW!
THAT WAS THAT DANG CLOSE, BRO.
YOU SEE THAT, MAN?
STEAM, STEAM!
CRAP HOT.
IT'S GONNA HAPPEN, MAN. IT DON'T MATTER.
IT'S NOT A PERFECT WORLD, MAN.
IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
COMING UP WAS THE PERFECT THING TO DO.
-YEAH. -THAT WAS THE THING TO DO.
WE GOT TO KEEP REALLY CLOSE ATTENTION
TO EVERYTHING ON THESE DREDGES.
YOU JUST CAN'T FORGET ABOUT ANY OF IT.
IT'S ALL SO IMPORTANT THAT -- TO KEEP OUR DIVERS ALIVE.
-LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN, HUH? -YEAH.
TAKE TWO!
OKAY, NO MORE SHENANIGANS.
LET'S JUST GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.
LET'S GET RICH.
Narrator: 13 FEET DEEP,
DUSTIN AND CARLOS DIG DOWN TO THE GOLD
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PLUNGE POOL.
I'M RUNNING RAGGED TODAY JUST TRYING TO KEEP EVERYBODY ALIVE.
Narrator: A MAN DOWN, WES IS STRUGGLING TO MONITOR
BOTH THEIR LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND KEEP TWO DREDGES RUNNING.
OH.
YEAH, YOU GOT A LOT OF WATER COMING OUT,
BUT I DON'T SEE ANY ROCK COMING OUT YET.
COPY THAT.
Narrator: TO CLEAR THE BLOCKAGE,
WES SNAKES THE HOSE WITH A 20-FOOT STEEL CABLE.
Carlos: HEY, WES.
Wes: WHAT'S THAT?
I SAID MY BREATHING GOT A LITTLE BIT HARD THERE FOR A MINUTE.
ANYTHING HAPPEN?
I DON'T KNOW. I'M TRYING TO PLUNGE THE DREDGE.
LET ME SEE.
JUST LOOK OVER IF THE ENGINE'S RUNNING.
YEAH, THAT QUIT AGAIN.
-LET'S GET OUT OF HERE, DUDE. -DIVER UP, DIVER UP.
THE BELT JUST BROKE ON THE COMPRESSOR.
COME ON, LET'S GO. I'VE GOT TO GET YOU UP.
-PULL ME UP.
TRYING TO KILL ME. OH.
WE'RE PUTTING OUR TO THE TEST TODAY
WITH THE THREE OF US, AREN'T WE?
OH, MY GOD.
WHOO! I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW LONG
I WAS STRUGGLING ON BREATHING.
IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE HAVE THAT TANK ON THERE
'CAUSE THAT GIVES YOU PROBABLY 15, 20 BREATHS.
IT GOT SCARY, MAN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WAS OFF,
BUT I DRAINED THAT WHOLE TANK OUT OF AIR.
BROKEN BELT -- THIS IS THE SECOND TIME
DUSTIN'S LOST AIR TODAY,
AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER BELT.
SO WE'RE DONE WITH THIS DREDGE FOR RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING.
ARE WE JUST GOING INSANE OR JUST TOO TIRED?
AM I WORKING US TOO HARD?
IS THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING?
THIS AREN'T LITTLE-BITTY THINGS RIGHT NOW.
THESE ARE BIG THINGS THAT ARE GOING WRONG.
THAT'S ENOUGH. THAT'S ENOUGH!
I'M SHUTTING US DOWN.
MINERS NOTHING, ALASKA ONE.
ALASKA WINS THIS DAY.
-WHAT THE HELL, DUDE? -A HORRIBLE, BAD CRAZY DAY,
I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE STILL IN ONE PIECE.
TWICE I RAN OUT OF AIR!
TWO TIMES.
WE'LL LICK OUR WOUNDS AND COME BACK TOMORROW
AND REPAIR THINGS AND GET BACK AT IT.
Dustin: POOR WES -- I THINK WE BROKE HIM TODAY
'CAUSE SO MANY THINGS WENT WRONG
THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ANY ONE OF US.
IT'S LIKE A TEST.
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT TO BE HERE?
HOW MUCH CAN YOU TAKE?
WE MUST BE CRAZY.
HEY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRED.
Dustin: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
-HOW YOU DOING THIS MORNING? -HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
-STILL WORKING. -YEAH, I'M STILL HERE.
76 YEARS OLD -- GOD THAT'S A LONG
DAMN TIME.
Narrator: FRED WAS BORN IN 1943,
WHEN F.D.R. WAS STILL PRESIDENT.
30 YEARS LATER, HE WAS WORKING AS A DIVER
ON OIL RIGS AND DEMOLITION PROJECTS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
AND THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI.
TODAY, THERE'S STILL NO STOPPING HIM.
WELL, TODAY I'M GONNA GO DIVING.
I'M ON THE HUNT, MAN.
GOT TO SEE A LITTLE GOLD IN THE SLUICE BOX TODAY.
THAT'D BE A GOOD BIRTHDAY PRESENT.
HOW MANY 76-YEAR-OLDS YOU KNOW GO DIVING IN ANY WHITE WATER?
NONE.
Carlos: AT 76, FRED, ARE YOU EVER GONNA RETIRE?
YEP, WHEN I'M ABOUT 6 FEET UNDERNEATH THE...
Dustin: THERE YOU GO.
ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO DO -- GET UP AND GO DO IT.
-YEP. -OH, MAN.
-LET'S GET STARTED. -SITTING OUT HERE TOO LONG.
Narrator: AFTER 6 WEEKS OF WORKING THE SAME SPOT,
FRED IS FINALLY ON THE GOLD,
AND NOW HE'S LOOKING FOR A BIRTHDAY PAYDAY.
OH! I GET TO GO DIVING ON MY BIRTHDAY.
LET ME GET OUT OF MY EASY ROCKING CHAIR HERE,
TURN THE TV OFF, AND I'M GONNA GO DIVING.
PLUG ME UP.
I CAME INTO THIS WORLD IN A DIAPER.
MAYBE I'LL GO OUT IN A WET SUIT.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA GO FIND SOME GOLD TODAY.
ARE WE READY? -YEP. YOU READY?
OH, OKAY.
WELL, GOOD LUCK, FRED, AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
AH-HA-HA.
DROPPED RIGHT DOWN TO THE BOTTOM HERE.
...CHEW UP A LITTLE BIT OF REAL ESTATE.
GOT TO KNOW WHAT THE BEDROCK DOES.
FRED'S MISSION -- PICK UP WHERE RYAN LEFT OFF
AND SEE IF THE BEDROCK DIVES DOWN FURTHER
TO FIND THE DEEPEST GOLD CACHE.
Fred: WE HAVE A LOT OF MATERIALS
THAT WILL NOT DREDGE UP BY ITSELF.
TAKES A LITTLE PERSUASION
TO GET IT TO COME OUT OF THERE.
KEEP AT IT.
YOU'RE DOING A GOOD THING THERE.
BOX IS LOOKING GOOD. EVERYTHING'S WORKING WELL.
TODAY IS THE DAY, FELLAS.
I CAN FEEL IT, MAN.
HOPEFULLY WHEN I'M 76, I'M DOING THE SAME THING.
THAT'S WHERE HE WANTS TO BE.
THAT'S WHAT HE WANTED FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.
SO WE'RE LETTING HIM DIVE.
IT'S HARD TO KEEP HIM OUT OF THE WATER ANYWAY.
Fred: I'M WORKING RIGHT TOWARDS THE TENT
AND MOVING ANY KIND OF MATERIAL I CAN DIG OFF
OR SCRATCH OFF OF THE BEDROCK TO GET DEEPER.
Ryan:
WE'VE GOT TO FIND THAT LAYER OF GOLD.
IT'S HERE SOMEWHERE 'CAUSE WE'RE FINDING PIECES.
JACKPOT!
I HIT THE BOTTOM.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE ANSWER --
WHERE'S THE DEEPEST SPOT IN THE BEDROCK?
WE GOT OUR ANSWER RIGHT HERE.
JUST BEFORE THE TENT, IT DIVES DOWN TO ABOUT 6 FEET.
Narrator: FOR THE LAST 6 WEEKS, FRED'S BEEN ON THE HUNT
FOR THE GOLD CACHE AT THE LOWEST POINT IN THE BEDROCK.
NOW HE'S FOUND IT.
WELL, FRED, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
CATCH IT ALL UP.
IT'S TIME TO GET PAID!
GUESS WHO'S BACK, BACK AGAIN?
MAN, YOU BELIEVE THIS GUY
BURNED HIMSELF WITH SOAP?
WHAT A WEIRD THING TO HAPPEN.
Narrator: AFTER 3 DAYS ON THE SIDELINES WITH A SOAP BURN,
NEWCOMER JAMES IS GOING BACK TO WORK.
HEY!
OH, IT'S BROKEN DOWN, BRO.
NO!
-YEAH.
THIS AIN'T FUNNY.
JAMES IS SCARED OF HEIGHTS.
I'M GLAD HE DIDN'T FREAK OUT. BUT WHAT COULD HE DO?
THERE'S NOTHING HE COULD DO ANYWAY.
-I LOVE YOU, MAN. -I LOVE YOU, TOO.
Fred: I THINK WE'RE IN FOR A HELL OF A PAYDAY HERE.
Narrator: AT TWO FISH, FRED HAS FOUND THE GOLD CACHE
AT THE LOWEST POINT IN THE BEDROCK,
AND AFTER 4 HOURS OF DREDGING,
HE'S COUNTING ON THE PERFECT BIRTHDAY GIFT.
HOO!
WELL, SIR, YOU MAY LOOK IN THE GOLD BOX,
DETERMINE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
ANYTHING?
NO, NOT THAT I CAN SEE, MAN.
NO GOLD?
NOTHING VISIBLE.
THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER I WANTED,
BUT THAT'S THE ANSWER I GOT.
Paul: THE MISSION NOW IS TO MOVE UPSTREAM.
WE'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL WATERFALL UP HERE
THAT WE STILL HAVEN'T HIT YET.
IF WE GOT GOLD HERE, SOMEWHERE UP HERE
THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT MORE OF IT.
GOING UPSTREAM.
Dustin: JAMES AND I ARE DIVING TODAY.
HE'S HEALED UP ENOUGH.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT?
YO. ALL HEALED UP.
Narrator: AT RAINBOW'S END, AFTER A TOUGH WEEK
OF CHEMICAL BURNS AND CLOSE CALLS,
DUSTIN'S CREW IS BACK TO FULL STRENGTH
IN THEIR HUNT FOR BEDROCK GOLD.
I DON'T FEEL ANY SORENESS ANYMORE.
A LITTLE BIT OF AN ITCHY FLAKE. FEELING PRETTY GOOD.
THE HOT-WATER SYSTEM DOES WORRY ME A LITTLE BIT,
BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WITH THIS .
ANYTHING COULD BACKFIRE AT ANY SECOND.
WHATEVER THIS HOLE IS, I DON'T CARE HOW DEEP IT IS,
I WANT IT ALL CLEANED OUT.
THAT'S THE GOAL, ANYWAY.
I'LL SEE YOU DOWN THERE IN A LITTLE BIT.
WHOO-HOO!
OH, YEAH.
JUST FOCUS.
IF YOUR BACK STARTS TO GET TENDER, MAN, COME ON UP, DUDE.
DIVER TWO IN.
YOU HAD TOO MUCH GOD-DANG VACAY TIME, BRO.
-DO YOU FEEL CLEAN DOWN THERE? -AH, SHUT UP.
YEAH, SO LET'S GET RID OF ALL OF THIS .
I NEED YOU TO CLEAN THE WALLS OUT AND MAKE THIS HOLE
JUST AS DEEP AND AS WIDE AS WE CAN.
Narrator: DUSTIN'S CREW IS BACK TO FULL PRODUCTION,
REMOVING 18 YARDS OF GRAVEL EVERY HOUR
TO GET TO THE GOLD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WATERFALL.
HOW YOU DOING, JAMES?
James: WELL, I'M DEFINITELY FOLLOWING A WALL NOW.
ALL THE MATERIALS CAME IN ON ME.
I KEEP SUCKING IT UP.
AND IT'S OPENING UP TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
HOLY .WHAT?
I JUST SUCKED UP A WHOLE POCKET OF GOLD.
-WHAT? -YEAH.
HOLY .
A POCKET.
-GOD. -I LIKE TO HEAR THAT.
IT'S BIG FLAKES. IT'S FALLING DOWN THE WALL.
THAT IS AWESOME, THAT.
Narrator: WES SLOWS DOWN THE WATER ACROSS THE SLUICE BOX
TO GET A BETTER LOOK.
Wes: HOLY . LOOK AT THE BOX!
LOOK AT THE GOLD THAT'S IN THAT BOX.
OH, MY GOD.
WHOO!
HELL YEAH!
LET'S GO GET ALL THIS DIRT CLEANED UP AND SEE WHAT WE GOT.
Narrator: DUSTIN'S STILL NOT HIT BEDROCK,
BUT ALL THE SIGNS POINT TO A LIFE-CHANGING PAYDAY.
Dustin: I LOVE SEEING GOLD IN THE BOX.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'LL EVER SEE ENOUGH.
LET'S CHECK IT OUT.
HOLY .
-HOW'S THAT LOOKING? -THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED.
WHEN WE GET TO THE BEDROCK HERE,
WE'RE NOT GONNA KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THIS GOLD.
BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE GOT, MAN.
I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS,
AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS LIKE THIS.
IN A DAY, THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
-WOW! -AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S JUST GONNA GET BETTER AND BETTER.
HERE'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING I'VE EVER SEEN OUT HERE.
YOU KNOW, IT GOES TO SHOW YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING,
NOT UNTIL YOU DIG IT UP.
THIS IS GONNA BE AWESOME.
Narrator: NEXT TIME ON "GOLD RUSH WHITE WATER"...
Ryan: OH! IT SOUNDED LIKE THUNDER MOVING.
Paul: OH! OH, STOP!
WE'RE BASICALLY OUT OF COMMISSION WITHOUT A WINCH.
James: IT'S A FRICKING CAVE.
Dustin: YOU THINK THAT'S A BEDROCK CAVE?
IT'S LIKE THE GOLD HIDING PLACE OF THE CENTURY.
WHOO-HOO!