Tony Beets’ Strong Start: Early Gold and High Ambitions

Tony Beets kicked off the season with impressive momentum, firing up his wash plant early as he chased a 6,500-ounce goal. The “King of the Klondike” quickly banked 417 ounces worth $1.5 million, putting him far ahead of schedule.

His plan was simple but bold:

• Mike operating at Paradise Hill
• Cousin Mike running Indian River
• *Two full-scale sites working simultaneously

But even the best-laid plans can hit unexpected setbacks.

A Flooded Cut and a Beaver Problem

When Tony arrived to check on Cousin Mike at Indian River, he immediately spotted trouble.
High water was flooding the area, and he ordered an instant shutdown.

The cause?
A beaver had plugged the culvert, blocking the flow between two ponds and sending water surging into the cut.

Cousin Mike jumped into action, using an excavator to pull out branches, mud, and debris. Once the culvert was finally cleared, they restarted Sluice-A-Lot and pushed forward.

Despite losing half a day to the unexpected wildlife sabotage, the Early Bird Cut still delivered 214.6 ounces, slightly below target but worth nearly $750,000.

This brought Tony’s season total to over 632 ounces—nearly one-tenth of his entire goal.

Rick Ness Hits a Wall: No Water License, No Mining

Meanwhile, Rick Ness faced a very different challenge.
His operation at Duncan Creek was completely paralyzed.
Without a water license, he couldn’t move a single yard of pay.

With no other choice, Rick looked elsewhere and set his sights on Lightning Creek.

A High-Stakes Deal: Rick Negotiates for New Ground

To move forward, Rick returned to a familiar face—his old landlord, Troy Taylor.
They began negotiating royalties:

• Rick offered 10%
• Troy wanted 20%
• Rick countered with 15%, reminding Troy of their six-year partnership

Troy eventually agreed, but with one condition:
Rick had to produce at least 100 ounces — worth about $350,000 — as an insurance policy.
If the Duncan Creek license came through, Rick would likely want to move back immediately, so Troy needed security.

Rick accepted the terms, knowing the pressure was now enormous.

New Ground, New Crew, New Hope

Despite the stress, Rick was relieved to finally get mining again.

Help arrived just in time:

• His best friend Brian “Z” Zaremba returned
• A new recruit joined the skeleton crew

Rick named the new digging area The Diamond Cut, symbolizing a fresh start under tough circumstances.

A Season of Challenges and Comebacks

For Tony, the season began with strong gold but unexpected setbacks — even from something as small as a beaver.

For Rick, the fight was administrative, financial, and emotional — but he clawed his way back into the game.

Both miners now face crucial weeks ahead as they push toward their targets, relying on grit, strategy, and a bit of Yukon luck.