Parker Schnabel’s Tough Weeks Despite Running Three Wash Plants
“We’re behind on a lot of fronts — both on pay dirt and gold in the box,” Parker Schnabel admits. “I have no interest in running out of money or anything like that. We just need to get more gold coming in.”
At only 29 years old, Parker Schnabel is facing one of his toughest seasons yet. Nine weeks into the mining season, he has already spent $2.5 million chasing gold at Dominion Creek, but so far, he’s brought in just a little over $1 million. To dig himself out of the financial hole, Parker is about to try something he’s never done before — running three wash plants simultaneously.
A Risky Plan to Save the Season
Parker’s bold plan involves sending a third wash plant and an additional crew to Ken and Stewart’s ground on Indian River, hoping to pull in $2.5 million worth of gold in just three weeks.
“When we have three wash plants running,” Parker says, “that’s what it’s all about. You get to that gold weigh at the end of the week, and hopefully, we’ll have a good result from each one. It’s going to be a hell of a lot of gold — and a lot of stress on everyone — but it’s our only hope to get anywhere close to 10,000 ounces this season.”
Three Wash Plants, One Big Gamble
At Dominion Creek, Rock Sand is already processing pay dirt from the Long Cut, while Big Red is chewing through the top gravels at the Bridge Cut. Now, Parker plans to fire up a 45-ton shaker deck called Bob at Damian’s Cut on Indian River.
To move the massive plant, his crew hauls it 12 miles down a winding dirt track and across a 25-foot-wide creek. Helping with the job is Tyson Lee, assisted by his mentor and haulage expert Mike Tupper.
“Let her rip, Ty,” Tupper calls out as they load up. “Hopefully it doesn’t fall off — if it does, we’ve got problems.”
After a tense few moments maneuvering the massive machine through narrow turns and creek crossings, the crew finally makes it through.
“Those crossings are unpredictable,” Tupper says. “One wrong move and we’re stuck out here with no equipment to pull us out.”
A Promising Start — or So It Seems
Finally, at Ken and Stewart’s, the team meets Damian, who helps them get Bob unloaded and assembled before sundown.
“Once we hit this button,” Parker says, “there should be nothing stopping us.”
Moments later, the new wash plant roars to life. Gold starts flowing — but not nearly enough.
Bob’s first cleanup: 58.85 ounces, worth $147,000.
“Not good,” Parker mutters. “Makes me think Indian River wasn’t so bad after all.”
Rock Sand’s cleanup: 185.65 ounces, worth $464,000 — a better result, but still far below expectations.
Big Red’s cleanup: 58.45 ounces, worth $146,000.
That brings the season total to 1,117 ounces — a disappointing number for the amount of work and money invested.
Reality Check
“That’s embarrassing,” Parker admits. “That’s a lot of work for 300 ounces. We would’ve done that with one plant last year in the Money Pit.”
His crew nods quietly. The numbers don’t lie — three massive wash plants are finding less gold than one did last season.
“Insult to injury, right?” one crew member says. “Sorry to be the Debbie Downer, but we’re in trouble if we don’t change something.”
Parker looks over the muddy field, the heavy machines still roaring in the background.
“Yeah,” he says finally, “we’ve got three wash plants rolling away… but not enough gold. We’ve got a long road ahead.”
