Ep 15. The Viking Detective

The Viking Detective: A Detailed Description

Gold Rush is one of the most popular reality TV shows featuring the efforts of several crews majorly hunting for gold. This show follows these crews as they explore different territories in search of gold, and we see them use various technologies such as excavators, bulldozers, sluice boxes, and giant wash plants, among others, to mine gold. It always offers its viewers a thrilling and entertaining experience. The eleventh season of the show promises to be more exciting than its predecessors as we join each crew in their hunt for new discoveries.

In episode 15 of this season titled The Viking Detective, the cast continues with their quest for gold. The episode primarily focuses on the Fred Hurt Crew, which spent the better part of the season exploring Seward, Alaska. Before we dive into the intriguing elements of this episode, let us briefly recap the previous one.

In the most recent episode, we saw the Dakota boys make a major breakthrough after a long and uneventful period of digging. They discovered that a portion of the ground they had been working on had a high concentration of gold. We also saw Tony Beets' equipment failing terribly, while Rick Ness's crew had an emotional moment as they buried their trusty crew member, Ryan Hofer, who passed away midway through the season.

The Viking Detective starts off with the Fred Hurt crew making preparations to meet with a seasoned geologist, Terry Bradshaw, whom they hope will help them identify the best location for mining. On the way, we see a rare emotional side of Fred, with him reminiscing about his past vices and how they have led him to becoming a better person today. It is heartwarming to see that even cold-hearted gold hunters can appreciate the power of change.

Meeting Terry Bradshaw, the Fred Crew learns of the gold’s geology and the challenges that come with mining it at their chosen site. Terry unveils a unique idea that involves one of the most sophisticated pieces of technology ever used in the gold mining history. The Viking Detective, a machine built to find gold miles under the earth's surface, will do a seismic survey. The completed survey will immediately give them an estimate of the amount of gold under the earth, which will help the team identify the precise location of the gold and calculate the size of the potential deposit.

The Fred Hurt Crew has never used The Viking Detective, and we see them cautiously and excitedly anticipate the results. However, the team must work hard to calibrate the sensitive machinery for maximum functionality, given that the results rely solely on precise calculations.

Even while calibrating this machine, challenges arise as the machinery doesn't seem to be working appropriately. Anxious Fred tries to stay calm as Terry and his associates check the mechanism. In one particularly tense moment, a part of the machine comes loose and tumbles down a slope. It escapes any significant damage, but the crew is running out of time. Fred's entire season could go to waste if the results from the survey aren't favorable.

Thankfully, the machinery is repaired, and the crew can finally begin the seismic survey. They conduct a series of tests that take no less than two hours while monitoring the machine results continuously. After hours of trying to be patient, the machine finally provides a fairly positive result. The crew lets out a breath of relief. They can now begin the real mining process over the next few months.

In conclusion, The Viking Detective is an exciting episode of the Gold Rush season 11. The machine's introduction and the challenges faced by the Fred Hurt Crew in utilizing it make for an enthralling watch. The episode leaves us anticipating the next episode to see how the team will use the seismic survey results to obtain the gold from Seward, Alaska. An episode worth watching, full of intrigue and excitement, The Viking Detective reaffirms the excellence of Gold Rush, while offering new ideas and techniques required in gold mining.