1 MINUTE AGO: Rick Ness Brings In His Biggest Haul Of Season

Been able to handle it, we would have been a little farther ahead than we are, but that 10-inch pump certainly has the power to do it. Unfortunately, that came with a price.

Rick has been able to pay off his royalties for the year to Troy and is starting to feel better about this year’s haul. Despite beginning his season two weeks later than everyone else, he is proud to say that he and his team have been moving along very well and working at full capacity. They have their hopper feeder in place and are working through their pay dirt steadily. His goal of 1,000 gold ounces for the season is more urgent than ever now that he has a clear path ahead of him with no debts hanging over his head.

The failure of last year cannot be repeated, as he failed to meet his goal and barely broke even. Rick plans to put some gold in the safe, as gold prices have shot way up. “This is great, I mean 206 o, that’s awesome! If we just keep going deeper in that, it’s going to get better,” Rick said. The next challenge is turning things around this year, or he will have to find a new career. After past failures, Rick commiserates with his other crew members, saying that last year felt like they were just moving dirt for fun rather than mining for gold.

The past four weeks have been spent making their way through the cheap cut, where the gold is found on the highest layer of dirt, practically sparkling in the sun. As they reflect on their mistakes and their work this season, they identify their biggest problem: they are almost out of pay dirt from the cheap cut. This means they have no pay to feed the wash plant “Rocky,” and no gold to collect. Even the new guy knows that with only a day’s worth of cheap cut pay left, they need to find new ground to mine.

As an experienced gold miner, Rick knew that this problem would arise sooner rather than later. He has been looking for a new area to mine. This pressing need for more pay dirt has driven the exploration of new ground. The success in the cheap cut has renewed Rick’s passion for gold mining. He believes his years of experience have given him an edge in gold and pay dirt prospecting.

While surveying the land, Rick points out piles of dirt that he feels could have the best gold content they’ve ever encountered. He points to a corner in the area that he has high hopes for, noting how all the dirt is piled together. But why does he feel this way?

The Marine

Twenty thousand years ago, on Lower Duncan Creek, a glacier pushed up a mound of rock and dirt, known as a moraine, to the edge of the cheap cut. Rick believes that this blockage has trapped gold over the centuries, all washed down from the motherlode. If his theory is correct, he has stumbled across a buildup of gold that has been growing for ages.

Rick gathers the dirt and rock where he believes the glacier created the moraine and puts it in his panning bowl. He hopes this could be the best gold they’ve found all year, and with gold prices only increasing, he stands to make significant profits. Carefully panning the dirt in nearby water, Rick determines that he needs to see at least 15 to 20 distinct colors in the pan to make the area viable for mining. Extending the cut is a decision that could make or break his career.

“You pull that big rock out of there?” he asks. “I did, two of them, building Stonehenge here. When you start hitting those big boulders, you’re in the right spot.”

The crew at Duncan Creek is busy extending the cheap cut, trying to determine if Rick’s hunch is correct. Mark keeps adding to a stockpile of pay dirt meant to keep the wash plant running. They can’t afford to shut down. However, a problem arises when they lose water pressure at the wash plant. The leak in the water pump is spotted, forcing them to shut down operations until it’s patched.

The Water Pump

Replacing the water pump entirely becomes the plan, as fixing the leak seems unwise. Carl brings in the backup, but after installation, it won’t start, bringing their hopes crashing down.

Rick needs to calculate if the decision to extend the cheap cut will pay off. They need an ounce of gold per 100 yards from this extension. They’ve run over 7,000 yards and need at least 70 ounces. When the gold is poured onto the scale, it measures 82.375 ounces—worth $144,000. Rick’s hunch, combined with his knowledge of Alaskan history and geography, has paid off. This is Rick’s biggest haul of the season. Everyone is amazed by the results, a stark contrast to last year’s struggles.

With the colder weather bringing snow and operations slowing, Rick realizes his wash plant “Rocky” is done for the season. Now, the focus shifts to their second wash plant, “Monster Red.” Despite doubts about his solo venture, Rick has proven many wrong, but challenges still loom.

The Flood

Rick has invested a quarter of a million dollars in his claims, but the end of the season is approaching, and he still needs 550 ounces to reach his 2,000-ounce target. Water continues to flood the valley, and their six-inch pump can’t keep up. The solution comes in the form of a 10-inch pump borrowed from Troy, but it comes with a $40,000 price tag. Despite the setbacks, Rick remains hopeful, pulling out a water bottle filled with gold.

In the end, Rick needs 550 ounces to hit his season goal. After weighing the gold, they have 206 ounces, bringing in $370,000. They need 300 more ounces to finish the season strong. Rick is determined to keep mining, believing there’s more gold waiting deeper in the rally valley.

This reformat adds some structure to the story, breaking it into readable segments for easier understanding.