In a testament to resilience and strategic maneuvering, Gold Rush star Parker Schnabel’s mining team has achieved one of their strongest weeks yet, pulling in 652.1 ounces of gold valued at over $1.6 million based on current prices. This impressive tally comes despite significant challenges, including a major equipment relocation at the long cut on Dominion Creek and mechanical setbacks that tested the crew’s mettle. As the season progresses, Schnabel’s operations across multiple sites continue to ramp up, pushing their season total to 2345.3 ounces and signaling a strong upward trajectory.
On the Indian River, a skeleton crew kept wash plant Bob humming along on the reliable Ken and Stewart ground, maximizing output from a site that’s proven consistent throughout the year. Meanwhile, at Dominion Creek, the expansive 114-acre bridge cut saw teams processing the top layer of pay dirt, contributing steadily to the weekly haul. The real action unfolded a mile and a half away at the 20-acre long cut, where the first section was fully mined out, prompting a swift and complex relocation of equipment to the upstream area.
Crew leader Tyson Lee spearheaded the move, emphasizing efficiency: “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” The operation involved shifting sluice runs, the shaker deck, and the entire Roxan wash plant over a mile— a daunting task that required careful navigation around a 25-foot-deep pond. “Don’t let me drown,” Tyson joked during the drag, recalling past mishaps like a wash plant tipping off an edge in earlier seasons. Armoring the bank to prevent disasters, the team completed the relocation in just five hours, only to face an air lock in the pump caused by a loose intake hose. Quick fixes got water flowing, and Roxan fired up again, resuming sluicing without major delays.
Mitch Blaschke, Schnabel’s right-hand man, reflected on the week’s chaos: “We finished the downstream of the long cut, then the plant move… It’s a lot of work, not much time.” He praised greenhorn David for handling a jam-up in the hopper feeder, noting the learning curve for new team members. Despite the hurdles, the cleanups delivered stellar results. Roxan, after averaging 138 ounces weekly in the first long cut section, surged to 222.5 ounces ($556,000) in the new area. Big Red at the bridge cut yielded 82.8 ounces ($207,000), while Bob at Ken and Stewart’s hit a season-high 346.8 ounces ($867,000)—prompting Schnabel to quip, “I didn’t know that scale went that high.”
This weekly total of 652.1 ounces marks a significant improvement, climbing fast toward season goals. “She’s climbing fast now,” Schnabel noted, underscoring the payoff from strategic site management and the push to open ground for next year to avoid past shortages.
As Gold Rush continues to chronicle these high-stakes endeavors, Schnabel’s team exemplifies the grit required in Yukon’s gold fields—balancing rapid expansions, like recent land acquisitions, with on-the-ground problem-solving. With operations firing on all cylinders, the season’s momentum suggests even bigger hauls ahead.
The Yukon Daily Miner will continue to monitor developments in Schnabel’s claims.
