Kevin Beets’ Race Against Time: Can He Still Hit 1,000 Ounces?

A Relentless Push for Gold

Kevin Beets and his crew have been working around the clock, determined to reach their ambitious 1,000-ounce season goal. They’ve been chewing through pay dirt at an incredible pace, knowing that without a steady stockpile, their chances diminish by the day. But keeping the operation running 24/7 is proving to be an uphill battle.

The Pay Dirt Problem

Without a consistent supply of pay dirt, the entire operation is at risk. With only 300 ounces banked, Kevin understands that stockpiling is critical. His team has been pushing hard, but setbacks keep piling up. The Lynx Cut extension—the key to long-term success—is still far from being fully stripped.

Breakdowns and Delays

As if struggling to strip new ground wasn’t enough, equipment failures have slowed progress. Kevin is running out of both pay dirt and time. Then, just as he starts to regain momentum, disaster strikes—his only working excavator catches fire, threatening to shut down the entire operation.

Disaster Strikes: The Excavator Fire

Mining is always a race against time, but for Kevin, this season feels like an endurance test. His crew has already mined out three acres of the Lynx Cut and started stripping a two-acre extension near the tailings pond, along with another 300-foot section to the north. To stay on track, they need to strip another three acres.

But resources are stretched thin. Kevin doesn’t have the luxury of a full crew, and multiple pieces of equipment are already sidelined. Then, the worst happens.

A Critical Moment for Chase

Chase Ger, a former gravel pit worker, has been hauling rock trucks all season. Now, he’s stepping up to his biggest challenge yet—running the excavator. If he can prove himself, it will be a huge help to the team.

But just as things seem to be falling into place, everything comes crashing down.

Smoke and Fire

While Chase is running the 700 excavator, he notices something off—a burning smell. At first, he brushes it off. But then, smoke starts pouring from the back of the machine.

He radios Brennan Rualt, who rushes over and immediately sees the problem—smoke is billowing from the engine compartment. If they don’t act fast, they could lose one of the most critical machines in the entire operation.

A Repeat of Past Failures

Kevin arrives and quickly identifies the issue—the starter has shorted out, melting metal and sparking a fire inside the engine. What makes it worse? This isn’t the first time it’s happened.

Earlier in the season, the same 700 excavator’s solenoid caught fire. Kevin replaced the starter motor, thinking it was a one-time issue. But now, history is repeating itself—bringing the entire mining operation to a standstill.

A Catastrophic Blow to the Season

Without a working excavator:

• Trucks can’t be loaded
• Pay dirt can’t be hauled
• The wash plant sits idle
• No pay dirt = No gold

Kevin is already nearly 700 ounces short of his goal. Every day of lost production makes hitting 1,000 ounces even more impossible.

The Only Option: Fixing It Himself

With no other choice, Kevin rolls up his sleeves and gets to work. He knows the issue is in the starter, but as he inspects the damage, he realizes the molten steel from the short-circuited starter has caused serious internal damage.

Determined to fix it properly this time, he makes crucial adjustments:

• Ensures all power cables are correctly connected and securely fastened
• Adds extra insulation to reduce the risk of another short
• Double-checks the entire electrical system for weak spots

After hours of meticulous work, it’s time for the moment of truth.

Will It Start?

Kevin hooks everything up and takes a deep breath. If the machine refuses to start, they’ll be back to square one.

First attempt: The engine coughs but doesn’t catch.
Second attempt: Still nothing.

Tension hangs in the air. If this doesn’t work, they face a massive delay.

Kevin tries one last time—and finally, the engine roars to life.

“She’s running! She’s all yours!” Kevin calls out triumphantly. The crew breathes a sigh of relief—the 700 is back in action.

The Final Push

With the excavator repaired, Brennan jumps into the cab and immediately gets to work. Every lost hour has cost them valuable time, and now, it’s a race to move as much pay dirt as possible before the stockpile runs dry.

“This season has been a fight from start to finish,” Brennan admits. “But we have to stay positive and push to the end.”

Can Kevin Still Hit 1,000 Ounces?

With just weeks left in the mining season, every minute counts. The 1,000-ounce goal is still possible, but only if they can:
✅ Keep the machines running
✅ Strip enough ground
✅ Move enough pay dirt

Kevin knows that giving up isn’t an option. His team immediately gets back to troubleshooting, knowing that one more breakdown could mean the end of their season.

Will they overcome the odds and finish strong? Or will another disaster push Kevin’s season to the brink of failure?

Stay tuned to find out!