DUNCAN CREEK, YUKON — With just two months left in the mining season, Rick Ness is clawing his way back from the brink. Starting six weeks late due to pandemic setbacks, Ness and his skeletal crew have been running against the clock — and the odds — to meet an ambitious 1,000-ounce gold goal.
After sidelining his prized 300-yard-per-hour wash plant Monster Red due to a $100,000 repair bill and lost time he couldn’t afford, Ness rolled the dice on grit and grind. That meant longer hours, night shifts, and pushing their smaller wash plant to its limits.
“We’re going to have to work twice as hard as we did last year,” Ness said. “We’ve got the creek cut opened up, but the ground is lean. Without Monster Red, yardage is everything.”
Despite mechanical setbacks — including a torn conveyor belt that could have stalled operations for days — mechanic Carl came through with a fast fix. With his wiper blade misaligned and shredding the belt, Carl made the call, made the adjustment, and got the plant back online.
“You know, a good mechanic is worth his weight in gold,” Ness remarked. “And tonight, Carl proved that.”
The gamble on a swing shift paid off — big time.
In their latest cleanup, Ness’s team weighed in a staggering 85.65 ounces of gold — worth over $180,000 — marking their second-largest haul of the season.
“This just goes to show the power of teamwork,” Ness said, beaming. “As corny as it sounds — I love this crew, and I love that pile of gold.”
At this rate, Rick Ness is not just chasing a comeback — he’s living it.
