10x29 - Shutdown, But Not Out

[bunniefuu]

Narrator:
on this "Gold Rush"...

As the mining season begins,

The price of gold rockets.

Gold prices hit
a seven-year high.

Narrator: but a pandemic
grips the world.

Breaking news --
the world health organization

Officially declaring
the coronavirus a pandemic.

The country of Canada
is now denying entry

To almost everyone.

This is like a massive,
worldwide historical event.

The daily coronavirus death toll
might hit 3,000.

It's very surreal to watch this
on the news.

Narrator:
this time last year,

Parker, Tony, and Rick's crews

Were already up and running.

Rick: I think I actually have
goose bumps right now.

Unreal.

Narrator: but this season,
gold mining may never happen.

The Yukon is at a standstill.

Parker: nobody knows
what way this is gonna head,

But it's pretty bleak right now.

If I've got
no mining season at all,

I'd probably lose
the wash plant.

Narrator:
the miners are in lockdown,

And with no film crew
to capture the action,

They are filming themselves.

I'm gonna turn this camera
over to Cameron.

Thank you.
You're the cameraman.

Freddy:
that's just beautiful gold.

[ laughs ]

Narrator:
the clock is ticking

To the start of the season.

One of the options is to not do
any mining this season.

Maybe just mitch and I will
stay home this year.

Narrator: each miner fights
to get back in the game,

Hoping to overcome the crisis

And have their
biggest season ever.

I want to go move some dirt
and make some money

And pull a bunch of gold
out of the ground.

And if the world doesn't
want me to do that,

Then it kind of makes me want
to do it a little bit more.

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

Captions paid for by
discovery communications

Well, I'm still at home.

Coronavirus lockdown.

Unable to move around,
unable to do anything.

Narrator: the mining season
began one week ago.

Rick ness should already
have left for the Yukon.

But the Canadian border
is closed

Because of the pandemic.

[ ringing tone ]

Hey, dad.
How's it going?

Hey, son.
What's happening?

I'm sure you're surprised
to see me

Still sitting
in my living room.

[ laughs ]

Yeah, right.
I mean, yeah, by this time,

You're normally
up there mining.

I feel bad for all the people
that aren't working.

I mean, it's not
a good situation for anybody.

Yeah, I mean,
there's definitely people

In worse situations
than me.

But I'm getting pretty --

I'm getting pretty frustrated
here, you know.

I mean, border into Canada
is locked down.

And, you know, I don't know.
It's a mess right now.

I mean, mining is considered
essential in the Yukon,

Which helps me out,
but it's just getting there.

You know?
-It's a really strange time.

You know, I don't even know.

I don't have answers, either,
and I wish I did.

But you guys need all the time
you can get up there

To get your season in,
and you're already

Behind the eight ball
on that one.

Narrator: last season,

Rick gambled
half a million dollars

To buy his wash plant,
monster red.

Rick: I think I actually have
goose bumps right now.

Unreal.

We've got a serious
gold-catching machine here,

And this is literally gonna
boost us to the next level.

Narrator: he's staked his season
on Duncan creek,

But he barely covered his costs

And still owes 200 ounces
on monster red.

-Oh, man!
-That one's for you guys.

Means a lot.

I mean, if I'm being
completely honest,

Things did not go great
this year.

Narrator: if Rick can't
get to the Yukon

To start mining gold,

He will lose his wash plant.

His career as a mine boss
will be over.

Right now,
there's no guarantee

That he can even get across
the Canadian border.

I mean, at some point,
you know,

You've got to make
a decision here for the season.

And, I mean, if you don't --
you know what I mean? --

It could end in disaster.

So what are you thinking?

Well, I mean,
I'm going through

All the right avenues
right now,

But it's just kind of
a waiting game.

But, yeah, definitely,

A decision has to be made,
and soon.

I love you, and I hope --

You know, hopefully things
work out for you.

And I'll see you sometime soon.

Take care of yourself,
eh?

Yeah.
Love you too, dad.

Thanks.
Thanks for talking.

Alright. Bye-bye.

Alright. See you.

Narrator: since Milwaukee's
"Safer at home" order began...

Bingo!

Narrator: ...Rick's been trying
to figure out how to get mining,

With just his dog, ruby,
for company.

Rick: cooking with Rick.

Alright, I think this pan
should be hot enough.

Oh, ruby,
are you hungry, too?

Yeah, that's right.
Tonight I have a date,

So I'm cooking for two.

Got some coconut oil in there.

Oh, yeah. Look at that.
Look at that.

As far as tips to keep people
from snacking too much

During quarantine,
I don't really have

Any good ones for that
'cause I'm just as guilty.

Oh, they're looking good,
looking perfect.

I mean, that's quick,
that's easy,

And I always enjoy
eating them.

Just pretend
like I'm peppering it,

'cause she's watching.

Yeah, right.
There you go.

Getting a little pepper
on yours, too, ruby.

Alright. [ sighs ]

Dinner for two, served.

What do you want to watch, rube?

Tv on a date?

It's been so long
since I've been on a date,

I know how to act.
How about you?

[ ruby yips ]
Why don't you come up?

Come on. Come on up here.
Let's eat together.

I live by myself.
I've got ruby, my dog, with me.

That's about it.

I didn't think it was possible
for me to get annoyed with her,

But I already got mad
at her yesterday

For breathing too loud.
[ laughs ]

Which is ridiculous.

You're gonna take your time
now, right?

You're not gonna wolf this down?
You're gonna enjoy it with me?

Alright. You go ahead.

I am going a little crazy
right now, rubes.

I don't know how
you put up with me sometimes.

I have got everything
at stake right now.

You know, I mean, this is...

I've got a whole lot
of redemption

Waiting for me up in the north.

And at the moment,
I'm not able to get up there.

I endured last year, but I can't
have another one like that.

I can't endure another one.
To be taken out of the game

Before I could even
give it a shot

Is about the worst-case scenario
for me.

Like, I'll never be able
to accept that.

I never will.

Narrator: in the Yukon,

Parker Schnabel
is in quarantine

At an undisclosed location.

The number one way to get
through a quarantine

Is with one of these, though.

[ snaps fingers ]

There's doze.

Today is a gorgeous day.

And I've got four more days left
of my self-isolation here

To make sure
I'm totally good.

Nobody wants to bring this
into Dawson,

And that's actually like --
above all,

That's my number one priority.

Yeah, this is a time where
you really need some friends.

You know?

Narrator: last year, Parker
mined over $10 million in gold.


[ people cheering ]

After royalties...

-Our most successful season.
-Yeah.

So cheers to all you guys.
Thank you.

[ cheering ]

Narrator: BUT NOW,
a week into the season,

Parker has no crew

And no way to get them
to scribner creek.

Parker: the Yukon's considered
mining an essential service,

But we're having
such a hard time

Trying to plan for the season.

A couple people,
mitch and Chris doumitt,

Stuck in the states
that can't get into Canada.

One of the options is to not do
any mining this season.

But I feel like I owe a debt
to everybody that works with me

To keep them safe
and get them a paycheck.

Hey, g*ng. Doumitt here.

Listen, I'm still
in southern California.

Narrator: 2,000 MILES SOUTH,
in Palm Springs,

Parker's gold room operator,
Chris doumitt,

Has been stuck
at his vacation house

For the last month.

This is what I'm doing
with my spare time.

About this time last year,
I was already up at camp.

Everybody was there.
We had the gold room opened up.

Guys were stripping.

In fact, we were just about
ready to get sluicing.

So we are running
way behind now.

If we can't get up to the Yukon
and get on-site

And start pushing dirt
and rocks around,

Like everyone else
who loses their job,

You know,
we're gonna be hurting.

Narrator: Chris and his wife,
Sharon, need Parker

To figure out a plan
to get his crew out of lockdown

And safely up
to the frozen north.

[ ringing tone ]

Hi!

Hey, Parker!

How are you doing?
I'm doing very well.

We have 80 degrees today,
and I'm hanging laundry out,

And now we need
to get in the pool.

Oh, man!
It's like, uh...



[ both laugh ]

Well, you carry on, dear.

Alrighty.
Great to see you.

Not party time yet?

No, it's not
gin and tonic --

That's 3:00.
Yeah, right.

I keep explaining to him,
it's 3:00.

When's the last time
you waited till 3:00?

We do, every day.
I wait till 3:00.

It's true.

Eastern standard time.
[ both laugh ]

How's it going,
youngster?

Oh, you know,
it's a great time

To try to be
running a business.

I'm in the Yukon,

And I'm just touching base
with everybody,

Kind of letting everybody know
what the plan is,

Which is, I basically
don't have a plan.

For everybody down south,
like, especially you and mitch,

We're in a complete unknown
right now, right?

Right, right.
We just have --

They've got the borders closed.
We can't get in there.

Yeah, so I have no idea
what's gonna happen.

The Yukon's being very
protective, and rightfully so,

Of people showing up for work,
and so we really got to be

Careful about what we do
and how we do it.

I don't want to put myself
in harm's way,

And I definitely don't want
to put anybody else.

Right.

Maybe just mitch and I will
stay home this year.

Well, I definitely don't want
that to happen, Chris.

But it's a really personal
decision for everybody,

Like, whether they want
to do this or not,

And I won't hold it against
anybody that doesn't want to.

I'm confident that we'll be able
to get everybody up there

And keep everybody safe
and productive.

But the timing on that,

I don't know
when that's gonna be.

It's not a time to, like,
try to put work first, you know?

Sharon and I've been
kind of isolated down here

For a while, and I feel
pretty safe that we are safe.

And if I can get up there
safely,

Yeah, I'll go.

Eventually, we'll get on
to moving some dirt,

And hopefully it's not too long
after that you'll be there.

Oh, okay.

Well, take care
of yourself.

Keep me posted
on what's going on.

Will do.

Yeah.
You just be safe.

I will.
Okay.

We'll talk to you later.

Bye.
Bye.

It's a tricky time to run
a business and run a mine site.

And, you know,
I like a challenge,

And this is a massive challenge,

And I'm pretty dead-set
on beating it.

Narrator: as a pandemic
engulfs the world,

The king of the Klondike
is in quarantine,

His mining operation
at a standstill.

Last year, the Beets crew
had a disappointing season.

-Well, you tell them.
-We don't have a water license.

Narrator: they were forced
to abandon the Indian River...

-We have to leave.
-...and only just

Turned a profit
by the end of the summer.




that's our total for the season.

Narrator:
closing the Yukon border

Has shut out
the "Gold Rush" film crew.

So Tony's daughter Monica
steps up.

Alright, so,
giving you a warning --

These questions are
ridiculous.

You are our new cameraman,
I guess, eh?

Or woman -- camerawoman.
Sorry.

Yes.
Well, that must be hard.

Camerawork is hard.

So, do you have any
unique fitness routines?

And how are you motivating
yourselves during lockdown?

Narrator: Tony and his family
are on their claim,

But banned from mining

While they isolate
for two weeks of quarantine.

Monica: do you think
that if we have

A nice, quiet,
peaceful year,

That it'll be good
for your husband?

Or do you think he'll drive you
[Bleep] Bananas?

I think my husband is gonna be
driving all of us nuts.

Narrator: but for Kevin
and his girlfriend, faith,

It's a different story.

No, it's like every year.

Around this time,
Tony's always,

"Let's go, let's go,
let's go. Get!"

I mean, to be fair,
lockdown for us

Is not much different
than what we do in the winter.

No, it's not.

We stay home
and play video games.

That's what we do.

And annoy the cats.
And annoy the cats.

That's a lot of fun.
[ both laugh ]

What have you found easy
and what have you found hard

About isolating?

Mike: I was never
a big socialite.

The very few things
I did socially,

I can't do those anymore.

But again, like I said,
doesn't really bug me.

'cause out of the six
people I talk to,

I work with three of them.
[ laughs ]

Narrator: the only break
in their routine

Is a run for supplies.

I'm on my way to town to pick up
groceries for the week --

Curbside pickup because
we're not going into stores.

I miss the social contact.
I really do.

But it's part of life
right now,

So we'll live with it.

We'll be fine.

What time is it? Oh!
Snacktime!

It's dinnertime
at the blaschke household,

Narrator: down south,
in sandy, Oregon,

Parker's co-foreman,
and new dad, mitch blaschke

Is waiting with wife hailey
and baby mia

To hear if he has a job
this season.

We should be on our way
to the Yukon right now,

But unfortunately,
we can't get across the border.

And, well, that means I'm home,
which is awesome for being a dad

And doing dad-life things.

But, you know, also, well,
got a lot of bills to pay here

And need to go to work.

Narrator:
over the last eight summers,

Mitch wrenched first
for the hoffmans,

Then for Parker

On some high-horsepower
heavy equipment.

The whole transmission's
blown up.

-It's in!
-Just the Yukon chop shop.

Narrator:
but now the season's on hold.

Lockdown allows mitch to work
on something a little faster.

Since I can't be at work right
now, I've just been in the shop.

Show you some
of my projects here

And what I've been working on
when I'm not in the Yukon.

Well, this is pretty much
where you can find me.

Narrator:
mitch's off-season job

Is fixing cars,

For work and pleasure.

I've got a road-race car here.

This has got a ls3 in it --

Basically, the same kind
of engine that you'd find

In, like, an '08 corvette,
but it's been heavily modified.

It's a tube-chassis,
purpose-built racecar.

It's got a 2010 camaro body
on it.

This car weighs
about 2,800 pounds.

A stock 2010 camaro
would weigh about 3,800,

So this car's pretty light.
It's got way more horsepower.

There's nothing like
going 150 Miles an hour

And not worrying about
getting a ticket.

You know, being a mechanic,
you're always thinking about,

"Well, can I change gearing?

Can I change the tune-up
on the motor?"

And of course, you need
some luck involved, too,

If you're gonna win a race.

Alright, the sun's out,

And, well, I want to get
this baby on the track.

We've run into a problem,

As, you know, no different
than gold mining,

Well, racecars are the same way.

The issue that we're having
right now is our display in here

That gives us our, you know,
oil pressure, water temperature.

Sometimes the readings
are correct,

And then sometimes they're not.

Don't want to blow the thing up

Because you thought the gauge
was just malfunctioning

When you're actually
having a problem.

To build something
from nothing,

That's really the cool part
for me,

To take all these
bits and pieces

That were just a wheel or just
a frame or just a motor

And bring them all together

And make one piece
and all work together.

That's gonna be
an amazing feeling.

And there it is!

So, out with the old,
in with the new.

As much fun as I'm gonna have
driving it,

That same amount of fun
has been in the build.

[ baby cries, engine starts ]

Narrator:
the new gauge works,

But mitch still hasn't heard
from Parker

Since the lockdown began.

Mitch: I'm not somebody
that likes to sit around,

And I got bills to pay,
so, you know,

I'm hoping here
within the next couple weeks,

We can be back to work and,
you know, back to making gold.

But the biggest fear I have
is to get everything ready,

Get everybody up to the Yukon,

And then have a relapse
of this whole situation.

[ ringing tone ]

How are you doing?

Dude, been pretty good.

God, I need to shower
or something.

Dude, your hair grows
quick, man.

I know.

I don't know
what kind of shampoo you use,

But you should market that,
relabel it.

It's just clean living,
mitch.

[ laughs ]

Gotcha.

As far as the summer goes,

Where do you stand
on coming up to the Yukon?

I just don't know
right now, man.

It's just gonna
have to kind of wait

And see what happens here.

I mean, I got hailey and
a newborn baby down here.

Yeah, I hear you.

That's kind of the biggest
concern I have.

I totally get it.

But not many people
can sit around for, you know,

Six months or a year
and not work.

Like, I took more time off
this winter

Than I normally ever do with,
you know, having a new baby.

And I'm at a point now,

I need to get back
to collecting a paycheck.

So if there's work
up there...

That's where the work's at,

I'm going.

We're just gonna go
into full lockdown,

Nobody in or out,

Have people from town bring us
groceries and parts.

No better social distancing
than being in the Yukon.

I mean, dude, you're
in the middle of nowhere.

Yeah, exactly.

We can, you know, still
provide jobs, still make money,

Still put people to work.
And really, if we do it right,

We're probably keeping people
out of harm's way,

Because we are
totally isolated.

Oh, definitely.

But that's easy
for me to say.

Yeah.
Alright. Thanks, mitch.

I don't know how they're gonna
try to film a season

Of "Gold Rush" right now.
You and I might have to tape

Some phones to our foreheads
or something.

[ laughs ]
I don't know.

Narrator: up ahead...


Cheers.

...the fight to get back
on the gold heats up.

There is a chance that we might
not be going back this year.

I've got to find a way
to get up there.

Get up there, Michael!

[ groans ]

I want to go move some dirt
and make some money,

Pull a bunch of gold
out of the ground.

And if the world doesn't
want me to do that,

Then it kind of makes me want
to do it a little bit more.

Time for ruby's walk.

[ groans ]

Narrator:
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The coronavirus lockdown
has forced Rick Ness

To put off his departure
for the Yukon.

This way, rube. Come on.

Who's a good girl?!

Narrator: but he's making
the most of being at home.

[ sighs ] Wow.
Really nice day.

I don't usually get to see
these nice days at home.

Usually,
I'm gone mining already.

And now I'm actually seeing
my neighbors

'cause nobody's out working.

You know, now they're all --
everybody's home.

Everybody's walking around the
neighborhood with their kids.

People out doing yard work
all over the place.

Hear lawn mowers going
everywhere.

That's probably a signal
that I should maybe do the same.

[ laughs ]

It's kind of fun, actually.

Narrator: Rick should have left
for the Klondike two weeks ago,

And should already be
bringing in the gold.

But there's still no news

On when the border with Canada
will open

Or when it will be safe
for him to travel.

The best-case scenario for me
is to go mining --

Like, by far, by far, by far.

I can stay afloat here,
and that's about it.

And I'm pretty sick of just
staying afloat, you know.

I need to get up,
I need to get mining this year.

I've got a big season
ahead of me,

And I've got to figure out a way
to get up there

And make this happen.

This is gonna be "wheelie" fun.

[ laughs ]

[ banging, rattling ]

That is way better
than just mowing the lawn.

Narrator: Rick's not just
worried about himself.

He has a crew of friends

Who depend on gold mining
for a living.

Rick: well, you know,
as far as my crew goes --

Carl, karla --
like, you know, they're...

They plan their lives
around this.

Ryan's been working
most of the winter,

But, you know, he's ready to go.
Kruse's, you know, here.

He lives just eight minutes
away from me.

He hasn't been working,
you know.

And that's because he had a job
to come back to this winter,

But they kind of lost
a government contract

And they lost the work
and they couldn't take him back.

And now that's gonna
really start to hurt him, too.

This mining thing is for me...
like, I...

I love everything about it.
I love...

I like working.

I don't mind long hours.
I like the variety of work.

I like the fact that
we have to fix stuff on the fly.

I like the fact that
I get to run equipment.

I mean, it's a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,

And I can't thank Rick enough
for handing it to me.

There is a chance that we might
not be going back this year,

And that's super disappointing.

I just don't like
thinking about it.

Alright. My buddy kruse
coming over.

Sounds like him.

Little quarantine beer.

Safety first, though.

So, what's up, guy?
What's up, guy?

Quarantine beers?
Quarantine beer.

Alright. You -- oh.
You got yours?

Yeah.
Yeah.

Is it 6?


Sixer.
Yeah.

Alright, yeah.
Yeah, we're good.

Cool. Can we cheers with the
tape measures, then, or...?

Cheers.
Cheers.

You've been avoiding everyone?
Yeah.

Like always?
Yeah, grocery store runs,

And that's about it.
Quick in, quick out.

Yeah, people look at me
pretty funny

Wearing this helmet
in the grocery store.

[ laughs ]

At this point,

The absolute, absolute
worst-case scenario would be

That we don't get up
to go mining at all.

You know, financially
devastating for me,

And you know, just about
everybody in my crew.

There's another scenario
where, you know,

I can get across the border
and I can get up there.

You know, I do own
my mining company,

And it is based, you know,
in Canada.

So, mining is
an essential business.

I might be able to get
an exception,

You know, to get myself across.

That doesn't do any good for,
you know, my guys here

That work with me up there.

You know, kruse, Ryan,
and those guys.

You know, they're...

Just 'cause I can
get across the border,

Doesn't mean they can.

I'm guessing, like...
[ sighs ]

When it is go time,
it's probably gonna --

We're all gonna kind of
be leaving together,

I would imagine --
maybe more of a convoy, huh?

I mean, I think that,
but I just -- I don't know.

The longer the delay,

The more of an impact
that's gonna have.

I mean, at a certain point,
it's not gonna be worth it

To even try it at all.

This is not a scenario
you plan for.

I mean, what's too long?

Is a month delay too long?

Maybe not.

Two months?

Let me know
when you know something.

Yeah, yeah,
I'll keep you in touch.

I mean, it's kind of
a waiting game right now,

But, you know, hopefully,
be hearing something soon.

Alright, buddy.
Alright.

[ tape measures rattling ]
[ laughs ]

Little bit! Whoa!

Coming down!

Oh, oh! Easy!

Narrator:
in fort lupton, Colorado,

Gold guru Freddy Dodge
has been ready

For an event like this
for a long time.

Well, I've been
kind of a prepper for years.

I didn't go out and hoard stuff

Like people did
that emptied the stores.

I had good supplies
of food, toilet paper.

I have lots of drinking water,
I have firewood,

I have fuel, I have equipment.

I have all the things
that I could --

If I had to isolate here
for three or four years.

I'd be just fine.

Narrator:
local regulations mean Freddy
can keep his business running.

We've got everybody separated.

Everybody's got
their own working space.

This is nick's shop.

We got Cameron up top.
He's in another gold room.

We'll just keep working,

Keep our spirits
and our hopes up,

And we'll all get through this
together.

Narrator: Freddy has been
a gold recovery expert

For 30 years...

Slick plates
can't catch gold.

My suggestion is
get more pitch to this box

And complete riffles
all the way down.

...traveling the country
to help gold miners install

Or upgrade their wash plants.

Freddy, man,
am I glad to see you, buddy.

[ laughs ]

We need to get
long sluice boxes on it,

Not those 10-foot little things
you got there.

-Yeehaw!
-It's running.

♪ doo doo-doo! ♪

Freddy: I was gonna go
to the Yukon.

I was supposed to be
in southwest Colorado.

I had all kinds of plans.

I was supposed to go down
and help some guys

Fix some plants in Arizona,
British Columbia.

But all that's on hold now,
so we'll see what happens.

This time last year,

I was tearing a plant down
for Rick,

Hauling it to the Yukon.

This year, I'm just
working around here,

Just doing my own gold stuff,
trying to stay busy.

Narrator: Freddy's working
with Colorado gravel quarries,

Adapting their screen decks

To recover a byproduct
they usually leave behind --

Gold.

It's always good to see gold
running down the grooves, nick.

Yeah, good.

This lockdown is costing
all of us money.

Let's just hope
this thing gets over with

And we can get everybody
working again.

Gonna go check on Cameron,
see how things are going.

How's it going, Cameron?
-This cleanup's not too good.

Freddy: why not?

We got a bunch of gear oil
in that.

Ah, [bleep]

Yeah, it's been pretty bad.

Yeah, we'll have to
throw the carpets away.

Yep.
Yeah, you can smell it.

Problem is,
you know as well as I do,

It just makes the gold float
like a b*stard.

Yep.

Narrator: in a sluice box,

Water carrying dirt and gold
is washed over riffles.

The heavy gold sinks
and settles.

But if oil is present,
the gold sticks to it,

Causing it to float
and flush away.

[Bleep] Yeah,
we're probably gonna lose

Quite a bit of gold
on this cleanup.

Not good at all.

One mess-up like that,

We're gonna have
thousands of dollars in losses.

We got a bunch of gear oil
in that.

One mess-up like that,

We're gonna have
thousands of dollars in losses.

Narrator:
in fort lupton, Colorado,

Freddy Dodge has gear oil
mixed with his gold.

I don't know if I've ever seen
that much oil in one before.

-What a mess, huh?
-Yeah!

Freddy: [ laughs ] That's all
we can do, though --

Soak the hell out of it

Try to save as much
of the gold as we can.

Narrator:
Freddy's solution --

Add liquid soap
to the concentrate

To wash away the oil.

-You got a bubble bath going!
-Yeah!

Freddy: what a mess.

And it's loaded with soap,
loaded with oil.

We ended up
throwing all the mats away.

All the carpets,
all the miners moss,

So that's a pain in the a*s.

Narrator: three hours later,
the gold's washed.

After all that oil, it looks
pretty damn clean to me.

Narrator: time to find out
how much he's recovered.

We'll try to melt some gold and
show you guys how we do it here.

So I'm gonna turn this camera
over to Cameron.

Cameron: thank you.
You're the cameraman.

I've got my flux
already mixed up,

And it's just beautiful gold.

Wow.

Our furnace
is already running,

So we'll dump it in.

There we go.

We're gonna put some
acetylene smoke in our mold,

And that'll keep our gold
and our flux from sticking.

But it looks like it's melted,
so time to pour some gold.

Grab our tongs,
bring it up.

Curl it around
just a little bit.

You'll see the gold.

You'll see a heavy material.

Right there, was the gold.

So now it's just set and wait
for a minute.

We got to let that cool.

It's about 2,000 degrees
right now, guys.

At least I still have
revenue coming in.

There's a lot of people
out there that don't.

So, you know, I count my own
blessings as far as that goes.

Well, guys, we've let
this mold cool down here,

So I think we're safe
to flip it out,

See what we got for a bar.

Looks good so far.

We're gonna cool it off.

[ steam hisses ]

Nice and cool.

What do you think it weighs,
Cameron?

I'd say 9.95.

I'll say 9.7.



I was pretty close, though.
Wow!

Narrator: from the oil-soaked
concentrate,

Freddy's managed to recover
nearly 10 ounces of gold,

Worth $17,000 dollars.

From an oily mess to this.
It's a beautiful gold bar.

Gold's worth more
than it has been in years.

It's good
that we got most of it.

Narrator:
back in the Klondike,

The Beets family quarantine
is over.

Two weeks into
the gold mining season,

Tony is finally making
preparations to restart.

-Do you copy?
-[ humming ]

Monica: Mike's coming
with our last, uh...

Bunkhouse.

Narrator: Tony's plan
this season --

Double the dirt they run
to double the gold they pull in.

To do it, he's bringing in
extra crew

To make up for the lost time.

Oh, yeah.
[Bleep]

Oh, [bleep] Yeah.

One less headache
to deal with.

If you want,
you can walk off.

Am I hearing that semi
come up the hill?

I've got, like, super hearing
with these headphones on.

Narrator: because of
the travel restrictions,

The "Gold Rush" film crew

Has not been able
to enter the Yukon.

So Monica Beets
has been filming her family

Since they arrived.

Monica: so, how has your
camerawoman been doing?

Well, I mean, yeah.
[ laughs ]

Alright.

How's my favorite truck driver
this morning?

I don't know.
When you find him,

You can ask him.

Narrator: with Monica
behind the camera,

Brother Kevin is forced
to take the wheel

Of her a-series loader.

Monica:
so, t. Beets...

You don't have your star loader
operator on that loader.

[ laughs ]

How are you feeling,
Kevin?

You're doing
your least favorite thing --

Running equipment.

Aww!

Narrator: the crew bunkhouse
weighs five tons --

No match for Tony's equipment.

In just a few days,

The extra crew
Tony desperately needs

Will start to arrive.

Get up there, Michael!

[ groans ]

-Oh, [bleep] Yeah.
-They're nice.

Monica: so, how come I'm stuck
in a tiny-a*s bunk room?

Why don't you move in
with your parents?

[ Monica retches ]
[ laughter ]

No! [bleep]

[ laughter continues ]

Narrator: Rick Ness is still
under lockdown in Milwaukee.

[ camera beeps ]

So, just doing a check
of the gold price here.

Whew, wow.

Yeah, I mean...

Gold's so much higher
than it was last year.

Right now, I mean, it's well
over 1,700 bucks an ounce today.

This is the time
to be mining, right now.

I mean, fuel cost
is way, way down,

Gold price is way up.

So there's less cost going in,

And with gold being more,
there's more profit coming out.

Narrator: the biggest cost
in gold mining is fuel,

And the price of oil
just dropped below zero.

Rick weighs his options.

I've never been in business
for myself,

Mining for gold,
with a gold price this high.

So it's exciting,
and it's also driving me

Absolutely bat[bleep] Crazy
right now

Because I'm sitting here
on my couch

Staring at the price of gold
on a screen

Rather than being up
in the Yukon mining it.

So I've got to find a way

To get up there
and take advantage of this.

Narrator: karla Ann normally
runs Rick Ness' gold room.

But until he starts
mining again,

She's isolating in the Yukon.

Karla:
welcome to my home.

Supposed to be doing exploration
with Rick,

But instead,
I'm exploring the Yukon.

Yeehaw!

My favorite thing to do
is come into the mountains,

Explore new terrain.

Whoo! Always worth it.

Time we live in right now,
how I'm coping

And navigating
through this wild world

Is plenty of vitamin d,

And have fun.

We're gonna have a late start,
but it's time for us

To put all of our energy
together

And just charge this season.

Narrator: Rick Ness has decided
to drive thousands of Miles

To his Yukon gold mine.

Just gonna start packing here.

I'm beyond frustrated,
and I've just got to go.

Narrator: but this set off
on the three-day road trip

Is a massive gamble.

If I don't do that and I just
sit here and do nothing,

Then I'm just gonna feel
worse and worse.

So I'm just gonna pack it up,

And from where it goes
from there, who knows?

But at least
I'm doing something.

Narrator:
he still doesn't know for sure

If he'll be allowed
to cross the border.

Well, right now, I'm just

Backing my truck up
to my garage here.

Got a nice aluminum tidy tank

I got to get
in the back of this thing.

It holds an extra 90 gallons
of diesel fuel.

Hopefully, it's good to go.

Yeah, this is it right here.

Narrator:
Rick's best hope of being
allowed to drive across Canada

Is if he can do it
in quarantine.

Real nice. There we go.

Narrator: that means
restrictions on fuel stops.

This tank's actually really
important to my trip up there

Because I had to write out
a detailed plan, a travel plan.

And, you know,
this is part of it.

So I said that I would be able
to carry this much fuel

And that would limit my stops

And thus limit my exposure
to other people

And other people to me,
so I really need this to work.

There we go.

No problem.
It ain't that heavy at all.

Well, that's it.
It's in place, definitely,

Without [bleep] It up.
That's good -- good first step.

I just hardwire this in,
and bingo-bango, should be good.

Narrator: the tank
will keep Rick's pickup

Continuously fueled
with the aid of a 12-volt pump.

Alright, well,
tank's in place.

I ran the wire
down through the truck there.

I got to get down there,
re-cut the wires.

I left the pigtail
coming off the battery

That I'm just gonna
hardwire this in into,

And then it should be
all connected,

And fire this bad boy up and go.

[ groans ]

Yeah, it's coming
to the right place,

So I'm just gonna go ahead
and connect it to that pigtail.

That should do it.
Get out and try this thing.

Well, then...

Should be the last step.

She should fire up now.

Oh, come on.
[ switch clicking ]

[ sighs ]
You [bleep] Kidding me?

[ clicking ]

[ sighs ]
What the [bleep]?

Narrator:
without a working fuel pump,

Rick can't travel.

Yeah, that's not a good sign.

Makes me wonder what the [bleep]
I'm doing at all.

So I had a thought,
and I decided to check

The connection of the pigtail

That I plugged into
that fuel tank,

Or the fuel pump.

Well...tighten that up.

Hopefully, that is the answer.

We're gonna find out right now.

[ exhales slowly ]

[ inhales sharply ]

It's gonna work, or it's not.

Here we go.

[ motor whirs ]
Oh, baby!

[ laughing ]

That's success.

[Bleep] Yeah.

Well, that's done. Good to go.

Narrator: two weeks
into the mining season,

Rick is finally ready
to head north

And try his luck at the border.

And I'm already late
to the party.

But...

We're still gonna get moving.

We're still gonna have
a mine season.

I have to.

I've got too many guys
counting on me,

And I've got too many debts
to make up for from last year,

So it's go time.

I'm still not 100% that I'm
gonna make it across the border,

But it's time to quit waiting

And it's time to act, so...

[ rain pattering ]

[ engine starts ]
What do you say, rubes?

Let's get out of here.

Alright.

And we're off.

Gonna be a long ride.

Narrator:


Two weeks into their season,

The Beets crew can finally start
mining for gold

I know a lot of other sites
are not gonna get started

For a couple of months.

But we're ready to go
in about a day or two.

This is the time to hit
the ground running.

For us, this part
is working out.

Everything else in the world,
not so much.

Narrator: but first,

Tony has to let some
fresh-out-of-quarantine visitors

Into his paradise hill fortress.

Monica: SO...

Where we going?

Has it been
a peaceful spring

With no film crew around
to bother you?

Tell me what you got going on
here with the lockdown.

[ laughter ]

How long have you
been here for?

Four of us.
Just four of us.

Narrator:
a local "Gold Rush" film crew

Has completed
the 14-day Yukon quarantine.

So Monica can hand over
the filming duties,

And the Beets crew
can finally get on the gold.

-Here we go.
-We're in.

Narrator: with gold prices
at a seven-year high,

Tony, Rick, and Parker
could have

Their biggest seasons ever.

Rick: here, know, I feel like
I'm really set up good

For this year, and I want it.

I want it bad.

This could all add up
to a very successful season

For me and my guys.

Parker:
from a mining standpoint,

We're in pretty decent shape,

But I want to go hit it hard.

But the number one priority
has to be the safety of the crew

And doing things, you know,
the right way

And putting plans together
right now

To try to salvage the season.

I want to go move some dirt
and make some money

And pull a bunch of gold
out of the ground.

And if the world doesn't
want me to do that,

Then it kind of makes me want
to do it a little bit more.