Kelly Clan: A New Gold Hunt Begins
The Kelly family kicks off a new phase in their summer gold mining season.
They quickly realize the “Reaper” isn’t cutting it anymore. What they need is something fast, mobile, and wave-resistant.
So, they build it: an 8-foot square floating platform, powered by an 18-horsepower engine.
Light, fast, and tough — weighing only about 400 pounds. It might look like a toy boat, but it’s their best investment yet.
Partnered with “Sickle,” their speedboat, this mini dredge can now be towed at 20 knots — ten times faster than the Reaper. And thanks to its lightweight design, it rides the waves like a champ.
New Spot, New Hope
Chris uses Sickle to scout a zone over 20 miles from Bluff. Based on geological data, he believes ancient glacial flows dragged gold-rich material from the Darby Mountains straight into the sea — an untouched treasure field.
“This is the first marker. We’re stopping here.”
He dives down. But all he sees is sand. No cobbles — the usual companions of gold. A tough break… but not the end.
Plan B: Mining On the Move
Not ready to give up, Chris switches to Plan B — live boating: dragging a diver behind a moving boat to search while cruising.
Dangerous? Absolutely. But with so much invested, he’s willing to risk it.
“Stop! I hit cobbles — this is the place!”
And he’s right — there’s gold!
Risk Pays Off
After that bold first dive, they return to weigh their take:
6.22 ounces — worth over $7,400.
It’s not a jackpot, but it’s a solid start. And Chris is convinced: this coastline is sitting on untapped gold.
Myrtle Irene: The Gold Mining Giant
Meanwhile, across the Bering Sea, Captain Ken Kerr fires up the 600-ton Myrtle Irene — the biggest dredge in Nome.
“Last year, we pulled $1.4 million from this spot. This year? We’re aiming for 4,000 ounces.”
With serious firepower and deep-digging capability, Myrtle Irene is a beast.
“We move enough material to fill the Statue of Liberty — twice a day.”
A Golden Start
Their very first cleanup reveals:
12.45 ounces per hour — a killer start.
Ken Kerr’s feeling confident:
“We’re going to break records. If anyone can do it, it’s us.”
