“Working on the show was tying me down” — Kayla Johanson explains why she left Gold Rush: White Water

Gold Rush: White Water follows divers and miners as they search for gold in Alaska’s McKinley Creek. One of the familiar faces on the show was Kayla Johanson, a diver who worked with Dustin Hurt’s crew. However, she left the series during the 2023 season, and her final appearance aired on June 8, 2023.

Kayla later confirmed her exit through a Facebook post, where she addressed her decision to step away. In her post, she wrote:

“Working on the show was tying me down too much and taking too much away from my own personal mining goals and business goals.”

She also said she couldn’t keep “following someone else around with way less than satisfactory results each year, while dealing with unnecessary amounts of drama.”

Her departure came after disagreements with Dustin and other members of the team, as well as frustration with how her role was portrayed. Since leaving the show, Kayla has continued mining independently and now runs her own Etsy shop, The Peeking Doe, where she sells jewelry made from the minerals she finds. She also shares updates about her gold mining on her YouTube channel.

Gold Rush: White Water star Kayla addresses her portrayal and team conflicts

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Kayla Johanson (@kaylanuggetjohanson)

Kayla’s decision to leave Gold Rush: White Water was based on several reasons, including creative differences and behind-the-scenes tension. She mentioned having disagreements with Dustin Hurt regarding work plans and team dynamics. Their differing strategies often led to friction during filming.

In addition to the on-camera clashes, Kayla later shared that her experience was not fully captured in the way she expected. In a Facebook post dated November 14, 2023, she addressed the way production portrayed her work.

“I had only worked in small streams... incorrect. I had already been working in fast current rivers before working on the show,” she wrote.

She also pushed back against the idea that she didn’t have team experience:

“Yes, I was running a solo dredging operation before joining the show, but I have also worked with other people dredging and on other jobs.”

Kayla said she hoped viewers wouldn’t believe everything they saw on television, indicating that her full contribution was not properly shown.

Life after Gold Rush: White Water

After leaving the show, Kayla wanted to focus on her own gold mining ambitions in Alaska. She is still using her diving/dredging experience to look for gold and other minerals in fast-moving river systems. Now, she is spending her time seeking out unique pieces and creating handmade jewellery that she sells on her Etsy store called The Peeking Doe.

Kayla is now documenting her mining documentary on YouTube. Kayla is uploading videos of her dives, equipment tests, and progress updates. Her most recent video was uploaded on June 27, 2025 called Keene RC1 G Force Rock Crusher Equipment Test.

These videos provide a clear view of her tools and techniques without any fancy editing like you’d expect to see on television. Due to her videos and shop, Kayla has gathered a group of supporters who truly appreciate her authentic work. She includes full dive videos to showcase the river conditions and then discusses the findings.

Kayla has also called out how the Gold Rush: White Water production represented her work. She said some things were left out or shown in a way that didn’t feel fair. Even after the show, fans continue to support her, follow her online, and buy her jewellery.

Though she’s no longer on Gold Rush: White Water, Kayla is still doing what she loves. She has created a career that shows her skills and love for mining, and she keeps sharing that journey with her followers.

Stay tuned for more updates.