KLONDIKE, YUKON — Equipment trouble nearly shut down Kevin Beets’ mining crew this week, as a missing water pump brought operations to a standstill and threatened the season’s ambitious 1,000-ounce gold target.
Operations Dead in the Water
The setback began when Kevin’s crew attempted to strip the Lynx Cut, only to find the pit saturated with groundwater. Without a functioning pump to drain it, work ground to a halt.
“We’re just shut down without a pump,” Kevin admitted, frustration showing. “It’s pushing us further away from our 1,000-ounce goal.”
Tony’s Pump Promise Falters
Kevin turned to his father, veteran miner Tony Beets, who had previously promised the loan of a pump. But Tony’s crew was still using the equipment.
“That ain’t going to happen,” Tony told his son. “We’re still using that one right now. By the time we get it organized, it’ll be a couple days.”
For Kevin, a two-day delay meant lost gold and idle workers. “I was relying on it,” he said. “This is kind of a big deal.”
No Help from Parker
In desperation, Kevin reached out to fellow miner Parker Schnabel, leaving voicemails in hopes of borrowing a pump. But Parker, who owns more than 20 pumps, wasn’t eager to help.
“I’m not going to jump to attention every time someone calls me for water,” Parker said bluntly. “Most of mining is just about not letting yourself get screwed — and that means having spares.”
Breakthrough — and More Headaches
Eventually, Tony’s spare pump was delivered to Kevin’s site. Relief turned to exasperation as the machine needed immediate fixes before it could start.
“Every time we borrow something, it’s nine days of repairs,” Brennan, Kevin’s right-hand man, joked. But with some adjustments — including resetting the Murphy switch, a safety mechanism — the pump roared to life.
“Look how quick that’s drying up already,” Kevin said with visible relief.
Back on Track — For Now
With the cut draining rapidly, Kevin’s crew was finally able to resume mining. But both father and son acknowledged that reliability is everything in the Yukon gold fields.
“Let’s just pray this thing doesn’t break down,” Kevin said. “Because right now, this pump is our lifeline.”
