In the rugged heart of the Klondike, every second counts—and when your primary piece of equipment grinds to a halt, the clock turns costly. That’s exactly what happened this week to miner Rick Ness, when one of the 700’s critical carrier rollers failed, halting operations and threatening his gold production goals.
“We’re not quite sure why it happened,” Ness explained. “Something might have got in there—like a big rock—but the roller bent out of alignment, and the track couldn’t move.”
The damage turned out to be more than just a simple misalignment. When mechanic Carl dug in, he discovered the root cause: “The bearing’s gone. The whole thing’s shot.”
With each track relying on three carry rollers, the failure of one is more than an inconvenience—it’s a potential season-ender. Ness immediately scrambled for a solution.
Klondike Spirit: A Helping Hand from Tony Beets
Facing a potential week-long wait for a new part to ship in, Ness knew he couldn’t afford the downtime. “That’s my main machine up in the Yukon,” he said. “Every second counts.” So, he made a call to someone who understands mining setbacks better than most: Tony Beets, the legendary “King of the Klondike.”
Tony, who owns one of the largest mining equipment boneyards in the territory, didn’t hesitate.
“I got them here on-site,” Beets told Ness. “So if you need it, take it and get going with it.”
The gesture wasn’t lost on Ness. “It’s always good to see Tony and Minnie,” he said. “It’s good to have friends in the Yukon.”
A 6-Hour Drive to Redemption
Ness hit the road for the six-hour haul to retrieve the used carrier roller from Beets’ claim. Back at Duncan Creek, Carl and the crew wasted no time installing it. With some careful fitting and a few spins of the track, the mighty 700 was back in business.
“It sure is nice having the 700 back,” said crew member Cruisie. “When we were loading with the 480, I could take a nap. Now? We’re full speed again.”
Eyes on the Prize: Gold Weigh-In
Despite the delay, the team managed to keep sluicing, albeit at a slower rate. At the week’s gold weigh-in, tensions were high as they sought to stay on track toward Rick’s 1,000-ounce seasonal goal.
The tally? 51.55 ounces, worth nearly $100,000, but still below the weekly target of 70 ounces.
“It’s a little light,” Ness admitted. “But we’ve had two weeks of problems. Now the ground’s good, the 700’s running—we just need a few clean weeks.”
Gratitude and Grit
With operations back in motion, Rick took a moment to reflect. “I got to thank Tony for that roller. We owe him big time.”
The sentiment wasn’t lost on the crew or viewers following Rick’s journey this season. In a land where isolation and competition often define the gold game, it’s Yukon camaraderie that keeps dreams alive.
“Rick’s a good guy,” Tony said. “When you’re a good guy, other good people help you out in a pinch.”
