Josh Gates Teams Up With Parker Schnabel — and What They Find in the Creek Stuns Him
Josh Gates Joins Parker Schnabel for a Crash Course in Placer Mining
On a soaking wet day in the field, Expedition Unknown host Josh Gates teamed up with Gold Rush star Parker Schnabel for a hands-on lesson in one of mining’s oldest traditions: placer mining.
It didn’t take long for Josh to realize he was in for more mud — and more work — than he expected.
“This Is Where You Placer Mine” — Parker Sets the Scene
Standing ankle-deep in chilly creek water, Gates questioned whether this was really the plan.
“Parker, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind,” he joked.
But Schnabel was unfazed.
“This is where you placer mine.”
He explained that placer mining involves recovering gold that has eroded from hard-rock sources and settled into creek beds over thousands of years.
“Gold’s really heavy, so it stays in those creek beds,” Parker said.
“Every gold rush — California, Alaska, the Yukon — it all started with placer mining.”
Guarantees of Gold… and Cold Feet
When Josh pressed him for expectations, Parker didn’t hesitate:
“You’re guaranteeing we’ll hit the motherlode today?”
“One hundred percent,” Parker replied. “Absolute guarantee.”
It was unclear whether he was joking — but it was enough encouragement for Josh to step into the water and get to work.
Parker’s Three-Step Guide to ‘Getting Rich’
Soon, Gates was playfully narrating the process:
- Get Parker Schnabel.
- Go to a shallow creek.
- Listen to Parker Schnabel.
Parker walked him through the basics:
- Gold sinks to the bottom of the pan
- The sediment must be agitated
- Larger debris gets discarded
“If you give it good motion and fluidity—if that’s a word,” Josh said.
“Yep,” Parker deadpanned.
Hands in the Creek: A Lesson in Gold Panning
Kneeling in the freezing water, Gates worked to swirl the sediment properly while Parker assessed his form.
“Everything moving — that’s it,” Parker instructed.
“Plants and whatnot will come out. Chuck it.”
When Josh successfully cleared a handful of debris, Parker nodded approvingly:
“Perfect. You’re a natural.”
Josh grinned at the camera:
“Everybody get that? I’m a natural.”
Whether he walked away richer remains to be seen — but the lesson revealed something else: placer mining may look simple, but under the guidance of one of the world’s most successful young miners, it becomes a blend of history, skill, and pure muddy determination.
