Gold Rush, Gold Rush: Dave Turin's Lost Mine, Gold Rush: Winter's Fortune, Hoffman Family Gold, Bering Sea Gold, Ice Cold Gold
Gold Rush: White Water is a reality television series that airs on the Discovery Channel. A spin-off of Gold Rush, the series follows placer gold miners "Dakota" Fred Hurt and his son Dustin Hurt, returning to the wilderness of Haines Borough, Alaska, seeking their fortune by suction dredge diving within its raging whitewater creeks. The series debuted in 2018, and eight seasons have been aired through mid-2024.
"Dakota" Fred Hurt died from brain cancer on July 11, 2023, a day after his 80th birthday.[1][2]
Cast
Current cast
Seasons
Name
Details
1–present
Dustin Hurt
Gold miner, claim owner, carpenter; dredge diver, dredge tender, airboat operator; Fred Hurt's son, one of "The Dakota Boys".
1–present
Paul Richardson
Gold miner, dredge diver, dredge tender, fabricator; husband to Kayla Sheets, brother of Wes Richardson, one of "The Texans".
1–present
Wes Richardson
Gold miner, fabricator, mechanic, gold cleaner; brother of Paul Richardson, one of "The Texans".
1–present
Carlos Minor
Professional diver with 15 years diving in the U.S. Marines (becoming a drill instructor) and 13 years' oil platform diving experience in the Gulf of Mexico; dredge diver, dredge tender; season 1 representative of Todd Hoffman.
3–present
James Hamm
Washington State gold miner; 5 years experience working as a professional suction gold dredge diver in the Bering Sea offshore of Nome, Alaska; dredge diver, dredge tender, gold cleaner, the "Gold Hound", hired by Dustin Hurt.
Minor/former cast members
Seasons
Name
Details
1–8
"Dakota" Fred Hurt (July 10, 1943 – July 11, 2023)
Gold miner, claim owner, gold cleaner, fabricator; diver with 15 years' experience, dredge diver, dredge tender; Dustin Hurt's father, one of "The Dakota Boys". Died on July 11, 2023, at age 80 after being diagnosed with brain cancer four months earlier.[2][1]
Fred Hurt's fiancée, then wife,[3] mother to Zack and Kayla Sheets; season 2 McKinley Camp cook.
1
Zack Sheets
Miner, Season 1; general laborer; Jen Hurt's son, Fred Hurt's step-son, Kayla’s brother, Dustin's step-brother.
1
Todd Hoffman
Investor in The Trifecta Claim with $50,000 invested.
1
Hudson Hoffman
One of Todd Hoffman's sons.
1
Tony Beets
Hurt family friend; Hurt–Sheets wedding guest.
1
Minnie Beets
Hurt family friend; Hurt–Sheets wedding guest.
1, 2
Danielle Miller
Dustin Hurt's girlfriend; Hurt–Sheets wedding guest, Minor wedding guest.
1, 3
Darla Hurt
Eldest daughter of "Dakota" Fred and sister of Dustin; Hurt–Sheets wedding guest, Richardson-Sheets wedding guest.
1, 3
Pastor Darryl Hurt
Fred's eldest son and Dustin's older brother; Hurt–Sheets wedding celebrant, Richardson–Sheets wedding celebrant.
2, 4
Mary Wilcock
Helicopter pilot, aerial long-line cargo hauler.
2
Rich Webster
Gold miner, 5 years experience as a U.S. Army mechanic, electronics expert, 5 years experience suction gold dredge diving in Alaska; dredge diver, gold cleaner.
2
K.C. "Casey" Morgan
Arizona gold miner with 10 years experience suction gold dredge diving; dredge diver.
2, 3
Teresa Garcia Minor
Carlos Minor's wife, Richardson-Sheets wedding guest.
3, 5
John "Jag" Garrard
Helicopter pilot with 40 years flying experience, aerial long-line cargo hauler.
3
Kayla Sheets
Rookie dredge tender, mini dredge operator, rookie dredge diver; Jen Hurt's daughter, Zack Sheets' sister, Fred Hurt's step-daughter, wife to Paul Richardson; hired by "Dakota" Fred.
3–4
Ryan Cardoza
Gold miner from Willow, Alaska; 6 years experience recreational suction gold dredge diving in Oregon and Alaska; dredge diver, hired by Fred Hurt.
4–7
Scott Allen
Commercial diver from Battle Creek, Michigan; U.S. Marine veteran, firefighter, logger; rookie dredge diver, fabricator, rookie dredge tender, airboat operator, hired by Fred Hurt in season 4, then Dustin Hurt for Kayla Johanson's dive team in season 5. Fired in season 7.
5–7
Kayla Johanson
Gold miner from North Carolina; 14 years total experience working as a suction gold dredge diver (8 years in Arizona and 6 years in southeast Alaska); dive team leader, dredge diver, dredge tender, gold cleaner, hired by Dustin Hurt to lead the 2nd dive team in season 5.
5
Eric Foster
U.S. Navy veteran and recreational gold miner in California; 17 years experience commercial diving; rookie dredge diver, rookie dredge tender, hired by Dustin Hurt for Kayla Johanson's dive team.
5
Mark Stamper
Gold miner, diver, firefighter; 2 years experience working as a professional suction gold dredge diver in the Bering Sea offshore of Nome, Alaska; dredge diver, dredge tender, hired by Dustin Hurt for Kayla Johanson's dive team.
5, 6, 8
Mark Sebens
Alaska placer gold miner at a claim in upper Porcupine Creek; an upstream neighbor to "Dakota" Fred Hurt's claim at Porcupine Creek Mine.
Gold miner from Wasilla, Alaska; 30 years experience working as a placer gold miner; construction worker, powerlifter; dredge diver, rookie dredge tender, fabricator, gold cleaner, hired by Kayla Johanson for her dive team in season 6.
7
Al Gilliam
Alaska placer gold miner, former owner of the Nugget Creek claims; resident of Haines since 1976; prospector, former logger, and former professional hunting guide.
^Welch, Alex (January 22, 2018). "Friday Cable Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
^Welch, Alex (January 29, 2018). "Friday Cable Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
^Welch, Alex (February 5, 2018). "Friday Cable Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
^Welch, Alex (February 20, 2018). "Friday Cable Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
^Welch, Alex (February 26, 2018). "Friday Cable Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
^Welch, Alex (March 5, 2018). "Friday Cable Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
^Welch, Alex (March 26, 2018). "Friday Cable Ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
