Kevin Beets, one of the leading miners on Gold Rush, has found himself under immense pressure as his crew faces significant challenges and dwindling resources. With experienced workers like Venon and Kaden leaving the operation, Kevin is struggling to maintain momentum. Despite these setbacks, he’s determined to get the job done, knowing that if he doesn’t turn things around quickly, his father, Tony Beets, will be quick to notice.
Crew Departures and a Tightening Timeline
Kevin’s frustration is clear as he talks about the recent departures of his crew members. “We’re all kind of hurting for our experienced crew,” Kevin says, noting that with fewer hands on deck, every loss is felt more deeply. With Kaden heading to Parker’s crew and Venon not returning, Kevin’s crew is getting smaller by the day. “On a small crew, when people leave, you feel it,” Kevin admits.
The clock is ticking as Kevin faces a looming deadline to reach his 2,000-ounce gold goal for the season. “2,000 ounces of gold seems a little further away now,” he says, while expressing some hope that their stockpiled pay from the links extension will help them push forward. But once that stockpile runs out, Kevin knows they’ll need to get new material from the Pyramid Cut, which brings its own set of problems.
A High-Stakes Plant Move
To make progress, Kevin needs to move his 35-ton wash plant to a new location. The operation calls for maneuvering the plant from its current spot at the Links Cut, through a 20-degree slope, around a tight corner, and then up a 400-foot, 30-degree incline to its final resting spot. This move is crucial for future-proofing the operation and getting closer to the Pyramid Cut, but it’s not going to be easy.
Kevin’s new recruit, Buzz, is thrust into the hot seat for the plant move. “This is going to be one of the first big projects Buzz is going to do for us,” Kevin explains. “We’ve got high expectations and high hopes.” But as the plant begins to move, it quickly becomes clear that the job isn’t as easy as they thought. “We definitely don’t want to flip that plant over,” Buzz warns, knowing the stakes are high. Damage to the plant could spell the end of the season.
As the plant begins to move, complications arise. The weight of the plant causes it to dig into the ground, making it difficult for the excavator to pull it up the incline. “The wash plant might be a bit too heavy with the angle and the hill,” Kevin says, clearly frustrated. The team decides that a bigger machine is needed. Enter the 63-ton D10 dozer, which has three times the pulling power of the excavator. “Let’s get the dozer lined up and… well, that’s going to move it guaranteed,” Kevin says with confidence.
A Successful Move and Encouraging Gold Weigh-In
After some tense moments, the D10 dozer successfully drags the wash plant up the hill to its new location. “Step one done,” Kevin declares, clearly relieved. “Good job, Buzz. Didn’t even have to break a sweat.”
With the plant in its new position, the crew turns their attention to the final gold weigh-in for the season. Kevin weighs the last of the stockpiled pay from the Piggy Bank Cut, which was run for three days before the plant move. The result is a promising 590 ounces of gold worth $198,000. While it’s not enough to hit their 2,000-ounce goal yet, Kevin remains optimistic. “It’s encouraging for everything else we’re going to run,” he says. “Definitely there’s gold in the ground.”
As of now, Kevin’s total for the season sits at 162.09 ounces. Although a long way from the 2,000-ounce target, he’s determined to keep pushing forward, even if the plant is temporarily down. “It’s not running, we’re not getting any gold,” Kevin admits, but he adds, “the bills don’t stop.”
A Steep Climb Ahead
The challenges are far from over for Kevin and his crew. With fewer workers and a tight deadline, Kevin is racing against the clock to keep his operation afloat and meet his goals for the season. But despite the difficulties, he remains focused on the task at hand, hoping that once the Pyramid Cut is fully operational, the team will be able to make up for lost time.
With his father Tony watching closely and the pressure mounting, Kevin Beets faces one of his toughest challenges yet. But if his track record is anything to go by, he’ll keep pushing forward, no matter the obstacles.
