Ep 4. Too Close for Comfort

In this episode of Gold Rush: White Water, the team faces some major setbacks as they continue their quest for gold in Alaska's McKinley Creek. The crew, led by Dakota Fred and his son Dustin, are determined to find the motherlode, but in order to do so, they must overcome a number of challenges, including dangerous rapids, unstable ground, and unpredictable weather conditions.

As they begin their search, the team faces their first obstacle: a boulder blocking their path. With no way to move it, they must devise a plan to go around it. They decide to build a makeshift bridge using logs and ropes, but as they start to cross it, they realize it's not strong enough to support their weight. They must retreat and come up with a new plan.

Meanwhile, Dustin and his crew continue dredging the river, hoping to find gold. They hit a promising spot, but as they start to extract the gravel, they notice the water turning murky. This is a bad sign, as it means they could be stirring up toxic sediment from the bottom of the creek. They stop dredging and do some tests to confirm their suspicions. It turns out they were right: the sediment contains high levels of mercury, a dangerous toxin that can cause serious health problems.

The discovery is a major blow to the team, as it means they must abandon their dredging operation in that part of the creek. They are running out of time and money, and need to find a new, safe spot to dredge if they want to have any chance of success.

Meanwhile, Dakota Fred and his team decide to try a new method of prospecting: drilling deep into the earth to search for gold deposits. They use a special rig to drill several test holes, hoping to strike it rich. However, the ground is unstable and they must be careful not to cause a landslide. As they drill, they get some promising results, but they also uncover some unexpected challenges that make their job more difficult.

Back at the river, Dustin and his crew have found a new spot to dredge, but it's too close to a dangerous section of rapids. They must use all their skills and experience to navigate the treacherous waters and avoid getting swept away by the current. But as they start to dredge, they realize the riverbed is much rockier than they anticipated, making it much harder to extract the gold.

Despite the setbacks, the team perseveres and continues their search for gold. Will they find the motherlode they've been seeking, or will they be forced to go home empty-handed? Tune in to this exciting episode of Gold Rush: White Water to find out!